Navan takeover of Carrigstown with local director and writer on Fair City
Eamonn Norris and Paul Webster working on this week's episodes
This week sees a Navan takeover of Carrigstown as 'Fair City' episodes are directed and written by creatives from the town, writes John Donohoe.
Episodes of RTÉ’s hit show directed by Navan filmmaker Eamonn Norris, air this week on RTÉ 1.
“I was really excited to get the opportunity to head to Carrigstown and work with such a talented crew and cast. I’ve loved the show since I was young and it was a really great experience directing Fair City,” says Norris, from Commons Road.
“The executive producer Brigie de Courcy and series producer, Nigel Power were very supportive and gave me great guidance.”
Norris has worked in the film and television industry for over ten years in Ireland and the USA.
He regularly directs on the long running TG4 show, 'Ros na Rún' and has also worked as VT director on the Daniel O’Donnell show, 'Opry le Daniel'. His feature film directing debut, 'Making It' was well received on the film festival circuit.
Earlier in his career he worked on the show Blue Bloods in New York City. Episodes of Ros na Rún directed by Norris will air on TG4 at the end of February and into early March.
“I feel especially lucky to be back at work during the pandemic. Our front line workers have been working tirelessly to keep us all safe and I am extremely grateful”.
Fair City airs on RTÉ 1 on Sundays at 8.30pm, and Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 8pm.
“Thursday night’s episode is written by Paul Webster also from Navan which is a great coincidence” says Norris. “I am looking forward to sitting in front of the TV this week and seeing the episodes go out on air”.
Paul Webster, the director of The Vasectomy Doctor, an award-winning 'docudrama' on the first doctor in Ireland to perform vasectomies, grew up in Navan and went on to study film in GMIT and NUIG in Galway.
"I've been working as a filmmaker for the last 10 years," he explains. "I started out as an assistant script editor on Fair City and then went on to become an episode writer about three years ago. My most recent documentary was made as part of the 'Finné' series on Tg4 and is now available on the TG4 player.
As writers on Fair City, we don't know who is going to direct them when we are writing, so it was really nice to hear that Eamonn's first week included my episode. I'm looking forward to seeing it."