Filmed in Connemara, North Sea Connection is a contemporary thriller set within an isolated and traditional rural Irish fishing community. The drama tells the story of the Kenny family, Aidan Kenny (Kerr Logan), his sister Ciara Kenny (Lydia McGuinness) and their mother Moira Kenny (Sinead Cusack).

In the six-part series, the Kenny family start out as relatively ‘clean’, involved in low key illicit smuggling activity but having taken one misstep, the Kenny’s are trapped and given no option but to learn how to be bad people – fast. As the series progresses, Ciara’s resilient canniness, pragmatism and ambition propel her into morally compromising territory. How far will she go?

North Sea Connection is about the extreme and violent situations that will challenge the family, divide them and establish their new role in hock to a group of vicious people. Darkly humorous and ultimately heroic, the story is about survival first, then growth and finally empowerment.

Actor Lydia McGuinness described her preparation for the role: “Playing a character like Ciara Kenny was such a gift, she’s pretty unique in the world of crime drama. The first thing I did when I heard I secured the role was book a trip on a fishing boat in Connemara, which subsequently was the boat that would be used in the show! The second was getting in touch with Ashley Mullenger, ‘The Female Fisherman’. Those moves were key in unlocking the essence of this character.” 

North Sea Connection airs Sunday nights at 9.30pm on RTÉ One and is available to watch back on RTÉ Player.  

Watch the trailer for North Sea Connection here