Glenroe creator Wesley Burrows dies, aged 85

Wesley Burrows, the creator of RTÉ’s long-running series Glenroe, has died.

The screenwriter and playwright passed away yesterday morning following a long illness. He was 85.

Noel Curran, RTÉ director-general said Mr Burrowes had made “the defining contribution to televised serial drama in Ireland”.

“From Tolka Row to The Riordans, Bracken to Glenroe, Wesley did not simply create plotlines, he created entire worlds, populated with original characters who themselves became household names on a scale unheard of before or since.

“Universally respected, beloved by his actors and crews, he captured facets of Irish life, and the Irish people, that resonated deeply with audiences.”

He said his place as the master of Irish TV serial drama is assured.