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The Walsh family has held a special warm place in the hearts of many since Marian Keyes first started mustering them into existence with Watermelon in 1995. Over the course of the intervening 30 years, the clan have cropped up in seven more Keyes titles, each giving us a little more insight into lives of all five sisters, mammy Walsh, and their bemused (but largely silent) father.
Written with Keyes’ signature warmth and sense of familiarity, these stories are hearteningly honest, at times utterly heartbreaking and crucially, laugh out loud funny. At first, Keyes’ characters remind you of close friends or people you knew in a past life, but the more you get to know their intricacies, they become real life-adjacent figures in your life. You worry about them, you wonder what they’re doing now, you want to find out what happens next for them.
All of this is to say: word that Rachel’s Holiday and Anybody Out There are on track to be adapted into a six-part television series came as very good news indeed.
Now, let’s talk casting.
Louisa Harland, who played Orla in Derry Girls will be playing the role of the troubled Anna, while Helen will be played by the BAFTA-nominated Máiréad Tyers, who you may recognise from Disney+’s Extraordinary. Danielle Galligan (House of Guinness) will be taking on the role of oldest sister Claire and rising star Caroline Menton will play Rachel.
Debi Mazar, who you might recognise from Younger and Kaos, is on board to play the role of Chaquie, Aidan Quinn (Practical Magic, This Is My Father) will play the put-upon Jack ‘Daddy’ Walsh, and Carrie Crowley (An Cailín Ciúin, Smother) will be bringing Mammy Walsh to life.
Naturally, you’ll want to know who the love interests will be played by Jay Duffy (Wheel of Time, Northern Lights) will play Rachel’s paramour, Luke Costello, and Samuel Anderson (Amandaland) has been cast as Aidan, Anna’s beau.
Filming is now underway, and it’s safe to say that this is a television adaption that many Irish households will be eagerly looking forward to.
