The Galway Bay Murders: Cast Profiles and Everything to Know About the New RTÉ Crime Drama

The Irish television landscape shifts tonight as The Galway Bay Murders premieres on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player at 9:30pm.

Written by An Cheathrú Rua-raised creator Eithne Verling, the series is one of RTÉ’s flagship dramas of 2026, following a year that saw the delivery of 142 hours of original homegrown productions.

The series is a collaborative effort produced by Two Cities Television, AS I AM Productions, and Keeper Pictures, with co-production support from Umedia and associations with ITV Studios, uFund, Coimisiún na Meán, and Screen Ireland.

Its distribution strategy aims for international viability, and reports show ITV has already secured rights for the show. The narrative follows NYPD detective Nora Savage, played by Kate Mulgrew, who takes a career break to return to her family home in Galway, only to find herself investigating a murder on a Conamara bog.

The plot centers on a discovery at Free Farm, a global farming and scientific research organisation. James Ó’Quinn, who portrays Ronan Feeney, describes his character as someone who finds his world flipped upside down as he deals with the consequences of the investigation.

Declan Rodgers, cast as the estate’s head of security, Moss Ballard, noted the complexity of the script, which requires a massive jigsaw for the directors Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor.

While the mystery drives the plot, the series focuses heavily on the interpersonal friction within the local Garda station. India Mullen plays Detective Inspector Martina Daly, who finds herself in a difficult position after being appointed Senior Investigating Officer.

The Galway Bay Murders: Cast Profiles and Everything to Know About the New RTÉ Crime Drama — Photo: Connacht Tribune

“I think both Ger and Martina struggle with ‘The Yank’s’ arrival. Both are a little bit apprehensive about her place in the station and what that means for their own positions,” Mullen said.

Detective Sergeant Ger Hayes, played by Cillian O’Sullivan, serves as a source of internal conflict. O’Sullivan describes his character as problematic, fueled by resentment over a promotion he was hoping to get. The actor noted that the role required a distinct physical change, saying, “I had a bit of a beard going on and I shaved and I kept the moustache just for the audition.”

The series originated from a chance meeting between Verling and Mulgrew while the actress was in Galway working on her memoir. John Connors, who plays Detective Eddie McDonagh, praised the production for its focus on human relationships. He highlighted the “unusually close working relationship” he developed with Mulgrew during the shoot.

The production also aims to integrate themes of power, fanaticism, and Traveller culture—a narrative element Verling prioritized due to her work with the Galway City Museum for over 12 years.

As the series begins its run, the tension between the global ambitions of the Free Farm organisation and the local reality of the investigation will serve as a primary engine for the story.

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