#ArTeilifis: TG4’s Award-winning Western series An Klondike returns tonight

Abú Media’s award-winning Western series, An Klondike, returns to Irish TV screens tonight, at 9.30pm on TG4.

The critically acclaimed first season of An Klondike was nominated for 10 awards at last year’s IFTAs, winning five, including the prestigious award for Best Drama Series. Season 2 picks up a few weeks after the climactic events that brought the first season to a close and continues the story of the Connolly brothers (played by Owen McDonnell, Dara Devaney, and Seán T. O’Meallaigh) as they struggle to forge an empire for themselves during the Klondike gold rush of the 1890’s. The Connollys are united, and have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the Yukon territory, but against a backdrop of growing lawlessness in Dominion Creek the Connollys must face a challenge that threatens to destroy everything they hold dear.

Series creator and director Dathaí Keane spoke about the production of the second season:

In the first season we were telling a more linear story that revolved around the Connollys getting to Dominion and establishing themselves in the town. This time round we knew we didn’t want to tell the same story again. We talked a lot about what we wanted to explore next and how the events of the first season would affect the various characters and how it would change them. We left some major dangling threads at the end of the first season that propels the action across these new episodes and allows us to really get under the skin of the Connolly brothers. The relationship between the brothers is the emotional centre of the story and we wanted to explore the impact that a town like Dominion, where civilisation hangs by a thread, has on them. Their old world of Irish tradition, family and religion is gradually replaced by this New World – a world where all those values are lost.

Series producer, Pierce Boyce of Abú Media, spoke of the challenges that the team faced in putting the series together:

Logistically this season was a lot more challenging to shoot than the first one. We had more action scenes, more scenes on horseback, and the town of Dominion has grown since the first season. We are very proud of what we have achieved so far with the success of An Klondike and I think we have raised the bar again with Season 2. Dathaí Keane’s vision and the creative team’s execution of that vision have resulted in a story that epitomises what great TV drama should aspire to. I think viewers will be excited by what’s in store. An Klondike is not like anything else that has been made in this country.

New cast members joining the action for Season 2 include Timothy V Murphy (True Detective, Sons of Anarchy), Native American actor Duane Howard (The Revenant), Tim Creed (My Brothers) and Donncha Crowley (Kings). Season 2 comprises four episodes and will be broadcast over consecutive weeks on TG4 before moving onto international platforms. All episodes of Season 1 are currently available on Netflix under the series’ international title Dominion Creek.

An Klondike is created and directed by Dathaí Keane. It is produced by Galway based company Abú Media and producer is Pierce Boyce. Season 2 has been written by Marcus Fleming, line producer is Cathleen Dore, production designer is Mark Kelly, director of photography is Cathal Watters, costume designer is Triona Lillis, editing is by Julien Ulrichs and music is by Steve Lynch.

The series was funded by TG4, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (through its Sound and Vision scheme), Content Media Corp, Abú Media Teo, and tax incentives under the Government of Ireland’s Section 481 supports. Check out anklondike.com for further updates.