Scripted

RTÉ has commissioned new six-part crime thriller The Yank, starring Kate Mulgrew and Colm Meaney, with filming now underway in Connemara, County Galway. The series is produced by Two Cities Television, AS I AM Productions and Keeper Pictures, in partnership with Screen Ireland.
Mulgrew leads the cast as NYPD detective Nora Savage, joined by Colm Meaney alongside John Connors, India Mullen, Cillian O’Sullivan and Jack Rowan. Created and written by Eithne Verling in her first television drama credit, the project was developed specifically for Mulgrew following a chance meeting between the two in Galway.

Set on Ireland’s west coast, the drama follows Nora Savage as she takes a break from the NYPD after a traumatic event and returns to her family home. What begins as a search for a quieter life quickly turns into a complex murder investigation involving a female climate activist, drawing her into a tense and escalating hunt for the killer.
Connemara plays a central role in the storytelling, with its landscape, language and cultural heritage shaping the tone of the series. The drama explores themes of power, control, fanaticism and deception, while also incorporating elements of Traveller culture, reflecting Verling’s long-standing work with Galway City Museum.

The series is produced for RTÉ by David Crean, Head of Drama, with Dermot Horan also executive producing. Kate McColgan serves as Executive Producer for Screen Ireland. Directors are Joe Lawler and Christine Molloy, with James Mather as Director of Photography. The Yank is backed by Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán and uFund, and is produced in association with ITV Studios, which will handle international distribution outside Ireland.

David Crean, RTÉ Head of Drama said: “We are so excited to be in production with The Yank and to add another new title to what has been RTÉ's biggest year for original Irish drama, with over 142 hours of high quality, homegrown storytelling delivered last year, with more to come in '26. Congratulations to Eithne Verling for creating and writing a brilliant set of scripts, and to the team at Two Cities and Keeper for putting a fantastic cast and crew together. Good to welcome back directors Joe Lawler and Christine Molloy after their amazing job on KIN. This is the very best of Irish talent and it’s great to showcase it to audiences in Ireland and internationally who love Irish drama.”
Eithne Verling said: “Writing, for me, is the easiest way I can think of to manage the parade of thoughts that pass through my head. The Yank deals with some of the bigger thoughts, which I have set in a story about a woman’s attempt to find meaning in the world following a deep personal trauma. I wrote The Yank for Kate, who I met a number of years ago. Our meeting felt like it had been pre-ordained, a friendship both instant and familiar.”

Kate Mulgrew added: “The Yank was borne out of my love for Ireland, and the luck and perspicacity I have enjoyed when it came to knowing who will matter to me both emotionally and creatively. That person is Eithne Verling, and the character we contrived is Nora Savage – a woman very like myself, had I been slashed with grief, blessed with raw courage and born a natural hunter of that which destroys. The Yank is the intriguing and unexpected story of a woman who has nothing to lose, and her obsessive attraction to what lies beneath.”
Stephen Wright and Jonathan Arun said: “The connection between Eithne and Kate has shaped a compelling character-led drama set against a rugged and beautifully atmospheric backdrop. It’s a gripping story that will keep audiences invested from the very first minute. We’re thrilled to collaborate closely with our partners in bringing this series to life for RTÉ.”

Yvonne Donohoe added: “This is such a special series conceived of by Eithne Verling. It depicts the beauty of the landscape of Connemara in contrast to the often-dark deeds of the humans who haunt her shores. It’s a great yarn and we have the most wonderful cast but in addition to all that, there’s an ethereal quality to what Eithne and our directors Joe and Christine are building together that will beguile audiences here & across the world.”
Kate McColgan said: "Screen Ireland is delighted to support The Yank - a rich and layered crime series with a distinctive point of view, all shot against the stunning landscapes of Connemara. The project brings together Irish creative talent at every stage with international partners, and we're looking forward to audiences around the world getting to grips with its twists and turns."