Aifric facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aifric |
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| Genre | Teen drama |
| Created by | Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin Paul Mercier and Micheal ó Domhnaill |
| Developed by | Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin and Paul Mercier |
| Starring | Clíona Ní Chiosáin |
| Narrated by | Clíona Ní Chiosáin |
| Country of origin | Ireland |
| Original language(s) | Irish |
| Production | |
| Camera setup | Single-Camera |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | TG4 |
| Picture format | PAL (16:9) |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | November 2, 2006 – 2007 |
Aifric was an Irish-language TV series aimed at young adults, co-created and written by Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin and co-created and directed by Paul Mercier. The show has won multiple IFTA awards for "Best Children's/Youth Program".
The first of the weekly thirteen-part series began broadcasting on 31 October 2006, the date of TG4's tenth anniversary.
The series followed the life of Aifric whose wacky family have just moved to a new town in the West of Ireland. The 14-year-old wants nothing more than to fit in but feels her family will not make it easy for her. Her mother is a new-age hippy who has banned television, while her father is a wannabe rock star, and her little brother is annoying.
As well as on TG4, Aifric has also been shown on BBC Alba, where it was dubbed into Scottish Gaelic. It was also shown on HBO Latin America where it was dubbed into Portuguese and Spanish.
Characters
| Role | Actor | Information |
| Aifric de Spáinn | Clíona Ní Chiosáin | The lead role. Aifric is a shy and quirky teenage girl. |
| Sophie | Gráinne Bleasdale | Aifric's best friend. |
| Claudia | Sláine Hutchinson | Aifric's rival; Claudia is blonde, wealthy, arrogant, and selfish. |
| Traolach de Spáinn | Kevin O'Dwyer/(Hanzel Cian Shanley, in earlier episodes) | Aifric's younger brother. He is an intelligent and quirky child and has a keen interest in Eastern philosophy. |
| Janis de Spáinn | Mairéad Coneely | Aifric and Traolach's mother. |
| Tom de Spáinn | Barry Barnes | Aifric and Traolach's father. He is an accountant by profession, but rock musician by aspiration |
| Bróna | Gráinne Pollack | Eccentric classmate of Aifric's; has few (if any) friends; plays the cymbals. |
| Beartla | Colin Murray | Aifric's classmate. He is the seemingly attainable "Hottie" of the group. |
| Maidhc | Josef Hrehorow | Aifric's classmate. He has a crush on Aifric. |
| Jimín | Cárthach Bán Breathnach | Maidhc's right-hand man and the chief messer |
| Leo | Christy Leech | The "surfer dude" of the series, who Aifric had a crush on at the start of season 2. |
| Bertie | Eoin O'Dubhghaill | The strange character with an odd fondness for jellyfish. |
Trivia
- Over 95% of the production budget was spent in the Galway region.
- The production employed over 170 crew and a cast of almost 150 actors.
- In August 2004, there was a national talent search which auditioned hopeful teenagers for the many young roles in the show, including that of Aifric.
Awards and nominations
Aifric won best Children's/Youth programme at the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Irish Film and Television Awards, and was nominated for Best Irish Language show. It won best Youth programme at the Celtic Film and Media Festival, 2009
