Irish Sunday Mirror

Act of vengeance

Resistance star Aoife on uncle killed by Tans

- BY JIM GALLAGHER

The Resistance actress learned a lot of history while researchin­g her role as Eithne Drury who was arrested, stripped and searched in a jail cell in last Sunday’s episode.

The 35-year-old, from Co Kerry, told how the series made her try to find out more about relative James Cronin who was shot dead in 1921 during the War of Independen­ce.

She said: “I knew about it before doing the TV series. There is a monument to him on the beach near where I grew up in Castlegreg­ory.

“I’m talking about it to my aunt to find out more but there is little informatio­n.

“We don’t have pictures, we don’t even know where he is buried which gives you an indication how hush hush the family were about it.” The Moone Boy star explained he was killed trying to escape in a currach, possibly after an operation had gone wrong.

Aoife said she loved playing the spirited reporter whose colleague Diarmuid was beaten to death in a police cell in last week’s episode.

She added: “She’s a republican. Tribute to James Cronin People say she is feisty but she is just someone with strong beliefs like the other characters.

“She believes in a republic and that’s what she is fighting for and she is not going to accept any more or less.

“I shy away from things. I’m more of a hermit than Eithne but I understand the fire in her belly. That is something I definitely understand.”

Aoife said she auditioned unsuccessf­ully three years ago for Rebellion, RTE’S series about the Easter Rising, so she was thrilled when she got a part in Resistance.

She added: “What was funny, a lot of guys playing the British soldiers who were coming in and dragging us out were these very polite young English actors.

“In between takes they would be apologisin­g in case they hurt you. If my grand uncle saw that... the whole thing is bizarre.”

Resistance is on RTE One tonight at 9.30pm.

news@irishmirro­r.ie

 ??  ?? FIERY ROLE Aoife Duffin as reporter Eithne Drury MEMORIAL
FIERY ROLE Aoife Duffin as reporter Eithne Drury MEMORIAL

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Ireland