Ballybraddan
Encyclopedia
Ballybraddan is an Irish
animated television series first broadcast on RTÉ TWO, in April 2009. The series is produced in Ireland
by 'Monster Animation' in association with RTÉ, and The Irish Film Board
.
. It comprises 20 X 13 minute episode
s, and the action covers nine months in the lives of a disparate and lively group of characters. The series focuses on the fifth class pupils of Ballybraddan National School. The show follows them through their challenges and experiences they face through life in Ballybraddan, the fictional Irish town in which they live. However, it is their love of hurling
, an Irish sport and pastime, that brings the characters together, and allows them to cope with life's challenges.
Beacon - Voiced by Ciaran Fagan - Is the most competitive hurler in the team. He is easily irritated, and is called Beacon because of his frequent blushing
. He has two sisters, Grainne and Fiona, while his mother Mary owns the local café.
Aisling - Voiced by Doireann Ni Chorragain - Isn't interested in hurling, however is proud of her team's achievements and supports them in every match. She is Sam's best friend. She is known for her sense of humour, but can stick up for herself very easily.
Sam - Voiced by Lucy O'Byrne - Is from Australia
. She and her parents moved to Ireland
recently. She likes hurling, and is part of the team.
Soc - Voiced by Joseph Dylan - Got his nickname from his initials (his real name is Seamus). Is twins with Aidan. He's the team's goalkeeper.
Aidan - Voiced by Joseph Dylan - Is Seamus' twin brother, however he isn't interested in becoming a hurler, he much prefers to watch the team and support them in any way he can. He is embarrassed by his Aquaphobia
. He often sketches in his sketch book, with much critisim from some of the gang.
Solo - Voiced by Eoin Kavanagh - Known for taking being enigmatic too far. Although he often carries a hurley, he claims not to be a hurler. He moved recently to Ballybraddan from Crattan. He is very secretive and doesn't talk much about his old life in Crattan. Although the gang doesn't know, Solo was often bullied in his old town, but was strong enough not to let it bother him.
Ziggy - Voiced by Cathy Downes - Moved from Poland
with his family. He loved hurling the minute he discovered the game, and is now an expert when it comes to game facts and famous players; Ziggy isn't very good at playing the game, but practises more than anyone, simply to improve.
Speedy - Voiced by Aaron Gleeson - Is the bully figure. He, with his two sheepish sidekicks, Gerry and Seany, often mocks the other gang members, however they aren't afraid of him. He declares himself the best at everything, saying "I am the 'champeen!". He secretly has a crush on Aisling.
Gerry - Is Speedy's sidekick, who doesn't always agree with some of Speedy's actions, but often joins in anyway.
Seany - Is another of Speedy's sidekicks. He is very bright, and will automatically do what Speedy tells him to do.
Snips - Is the Ballybraddan team captain. He is responsible for motivating the team. He has a crush on one of the Ballybraddan girls, but doesn't tell anyone this secret.
The Bantor - Voiced by Paul Tylak
- Is the team coach. He wears the traditional tracksuit of Irish hurling managers, with 'Bainisteoir', Irish
for "manager" written on the back, however because some letters have faded with time, he has become known as the Bantor. He can be very strict, but fair on his team.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
animated television series first broadcast on RTÉ TWO, in April 2009. The series is produced in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
by 'Monster Animation' in association with RTÉ, and The Irish Film Board
Irish Film Board
The Irish Film Board is Ireland’s national film agency and major film funding body. It was recommended for abolition by the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes in 2009.-Formative years:...
.
About the show
Ballybraddan, based on an original idea by Gerard O'Rourke, was created and written by Noel McGee and Nora King, and directed by Jason TammemagiJason Tammemagi
Jason Tammemagi is the creator, writer and director of preschool show, Fluffy Gardens. He also directed Roobarb & Custard Too and Irish animated drama, Ballybraddan....
. It comprises 20 X 13 minute episode
Episode
An episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. An episode is a part of a sequence of a body of work, akin to a chapter of a book. The term sometimes applies to works based on other forms of mass media as well, as in Star Wars...
s, and the action covers nine months in the lives of a disparate and lively group of characters. The series focuses on the fifth class pupils of Ballybraddan National School. The show follows them through their challenges and experiences they face through life in Ballybraddan, the fictional Irish town in which they live. However, it is their love of hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
, an Irish sport and pastime, that brings the characters together, and allows them to cope with life's challenges.
The Characters
Dylan - Voiced by Aileen Mythen - He and Beacon are unofficial leaders of the gang. He spends most of his time practising his hurling skills. He is without question the team's best hurler, and is known as 'The Special One'.Beacon - Voiced by Ciaran Fagan - Is the most competitive hurler in the team. He is easily irritated, and is called Beacon because of his frequent blushing
Blushing
Blushing refers to the involuntary reddening of a person's face due to embarrassment or emotional stress, though it has been known to come from being lovestruck, or from some kind of romantic stimulation. It is thought that blushing is the result of an overactive sympathetic nervous system...
. He has two sisters, Grainne and Fiona, while his mother Mary owns the local café.
Aisling - Voiced by Doireann Ni Chorragain - Isn't interested in hurling, however is proud of her team's achievements and supports them in every match. She is Sam's best friend. She is known for her sense of humour, but can stick up for herself very easily.
Sam - Voiced by Lucy O'Byrne - Is from Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. She and her parents moved to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
recently. She likes hurling, and is part of the team.
Soc - Voiced by Joseph Dylan - Got his nickname from his initials (his real name is Seamus). Is twins with Aidan. He's the team's goalkeeper.
Aidan - Voiced by Joseph Dylan - Is Seamus' twin brother, however he isn't interested in becoming a hurler, he much prefers to watch the team and support them in any way he can. He is embarrassed by his Aquaphobia
Aquaphobia
Aquaphobia is an abnormal and persistent fear of water. Aquaphobia is a specific phobia that involves a level of fear that is beyond the patient's control or that may interfere with daily life. People suffer aquaphobia in many ways and may experience it even though they realize the water in an...
. He often sketches in his sketch book, with much critisim from some of the gang.
Solo - Voiced by Eoin Kavanagh - Known for taking being enigmatic too far. Although he often carries a hurley, he claims not to be a hurler. He moved recently to Ballybraddan from Crattan. He is very secretive and doesn't talk much about his old life in Crattan. Although the gang doesn't know, Solo was often bullied in his old town, but was strong enough not to let it bother him.
Ziggy - Voiced by Cathy Downes - Moved from Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
with his family. He loved hurling the minute he discovered the game, and is now an expert when it comes to game facts and famous players; Ziggy isn't very good at playing the game, but practises more than anyone, simply to improve.
Speedy - Voiced by Aaron Gleeson - Is the bully figure. He, with his two sheepish sidekicks, Gerry and Seany, often mocks the other gang members, however they aren't afraid of him. He declares himself the best at everything, saying "I am the 'champeen!". He secretly has a crush on Aisling.
Gerry - Is Speedy's sidekick, who doesn't always agree with some of Speedy's actions, but often joins in anyway.
Seany - Is another of Speedy's sidekicks. He is very bright, and will automatically do what Speedy tells him to do.
Snips - Is the Ballybraddan team captain. He is responsible for motivating the team. He has a crush on one of the Ballybraddan girls, but doesn't tell anyone this secret.
The Bantor - Voiced by Paul Tylak
Paul Tylak
- Television :Like many Irish comedians of his generation, Paul Tylak got his first TV break on Nighthawks, a late night RTE arts, media, chat show in 1989, 1990 and 1991....
- Is the team coach. He wears the traditional tracksuit of Irish hurling managers, with 'Bainisteoir', Irish
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
for "manager" written on the back, however because some letters have faded with time, he has become known as the Bantor. He can be very strict, but fair on his team.