Fair dues: City celebrates 2,000th episode

DESPITE being at the centre of recent gangland shootings, it was all smiles in the fictitious suburb of Carrigstown yesterday as the cast and crew of Fair City gathered to celebrate the 2,000th episode of the popular soap.

Real champagne was being poured for once in the fictitious pub, McCoy’s, as the close-knit community of actors and production staff toasted the enduring success of the series.

Fair City’s executive producer, Niall Mathews, noted that it had taken 12 years to clock up 1,000 episodes but only five years to reach its second major landmark, as a result of increasing the number of weekly episodes from two to four.

“There was life before Fair City but it didn’t add up to much,” he joked.

Fair City, which averages around 450,000 viewers per episode, is also set to take overtake its one-time rural rival, Glenroe, as the longest-running RTÉ soap next year.

In recognition of the achievement, special presentations were made to five members of the current cast who have been with the show since it was first aired on September 18, 1989 — Jim Bartley, (Bella Doyle); Tony Tormey, (Paul Brennan); Sarah McDowell (Suzanne Doyle), Tom Jordan (Charlie Kelly) and Pat Nolan (Barry O’Hanlon).

“It’s a very good feeling to be involved in a little bit of TV history,” said actor, Tom Jordan.

“We hope all those who watch Fair City continue to get as much fun and pleasure from watching it as we do making it.”

Pat Nolan, who won Best Soap Actor in the international Rose d’Or Festival, attributed the show’s longevity to its ability “to keep a finger on the pulse of the nation.

“If the ratings weren’t there, we wouldn’t be here,” he laughed.

In addition to surviving recent criminal attacks, several characters also recalled how they were lucky to survive the first series which faced the axe after 16 episodes due to poor audience reaction.

“They had some advisors who had worked on Eastenders but it wasn’t working. Then they developed good storylines that engaged Irish audiences,” said Tony Tormey, who plays Paul Brennan.

RTÉ director general, Cathal Goan praised Fair City’s role as “anchor tenant of RTÉ 1’s schedule”.

“Fair City provides around 104 hours of TV each year, which is phenomenal,” said Mr Goan.

Tributes were also paid to former cast members, Charlie Roberts, Pat Leavy and Brendan Caldwell, who died during the making of the series.