As a nation, we have a lot to be proud of when it comes to homegrown TV.
Programmes like Love/Hate and Red Rock have put us on the map as a force to be reckoned with, but long before these shows were even a twinkle in a producer’s eye, Fair City has been pulling in viewers weekly as the nation tunes in to see what’s going on in Carrigstown.
Now it has been revealed that producing the soap doesn’t come cheap – in fact it costs the national broadcaster €11m a year – which works out at roughly €56,000 an episode.
According to figures obtained by the Irish Sun, the programme, which airs four nights a week on RTE 1, cost €11,361,670 in 2014 and €11,087,030 the year before.
George McMahon, who plays Mondo, recently spoke to the Irish Independent about the positive reception the show receives.
George McMahon plays loveable rogue Mondo in the soap. He said: “I do find that there is a huge following around the country.
“I get a lot more people coming up to me when I’m outside Dublin – I feel like a rock star. I guess the city is quite fast-paced and you could see anyone walking down the street, whereas down in Limerick you definitely hear more about it.”
