The RTÉ rural soap 'Glenroe' celebrates topping the TAM ratings for the 200th time.
First broadcast on 11 September 1983, 'Glenroe' is now in its thirteenth series. The soap opera was devised by Wesley Burrowes, who also wrote the first episodes. It was shot on location in Kilcoole, County Wicklow, which acted as the fictional village of Glenroe.
Since 1989, 220 Glenroe programmes have been broadcast, 200 of which have reached the number one slot in the ratings, reaching over a million viewers.
Actor Mick Lally, who plays Miley Byrne, says it is great to reach such a large audience and is hopeful that this success continues.
Glenore has had five on screen weddings, three funerals, thirteen pregnancies, and innumerable accidents and illnesses.
Storylines included the return from the dead of Uncle Peter, played by Cyril Cusack and Sylvie Dolan, played by David Kelly. A sex scene caused outrage among some viewers but led to a hundred thousand additional viewers for the following episode.
Actor Joe Lynch, who plays Dinny Byrne, welcomes the news of the record viewing numbers but is at a loss as to how they are counted.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 31 January 1996. The reporter is Colm Murray.
