The Great Escape (TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Great Escape is an Irish
television series broadcast on RTÉ One
each Tuesday night at 22:15. It follows Irish families who leave Ireland to travel across the world in search of a better life. Two series have thus far been produced, with each series documenting four families who leave Ireland in search of a better life. The series details how they cope in their new surroundings, without any support from friends or family as they set up businesses, develop new careers, meet new friends and overcome cultural differences. Produced by Coco Television, it has thus far featured Irish families who have relocated to such countries as France, South Africa, Spain (thrice), Australia, Austria and Italy. The second series in 2009 was part of a group of programmes dealing with the topic of emigration
. Others included J1 - Summer in the Sun
, Death or Canada
, Blood of the Irish
and Who Do You Think You Are?
.
, they moved to Bordeaux
, France
in 2004. Ger was laid off
and, having always dreamed of setting up a Pitch'n Putt style golf course in France, decided then was the best opportunity. They sold their home in Swords, County Dublin
. After some travelling they settled near Montpon, a town located about forty minutes from Bordeaux. Their three-bedroom home cost €
104,000 and Ger, along with his brother in law, purchased a strip of land nearby in order to develop his golf course. The episode follows the children's struggles with the French language and their father's difficulties in obtaining planning permission
for his golf course.
in October 2005 where they set up a small vineyard and opened their own business, Pielows Restaurant. This change came about after the couple holidayed in Tulbagh
, a place located one hour and twenty minutes north of Cape Town
which they loved very much. They sold the restaurant they owned in Cobh
(Robin Hill), rented their Enniskerry
cottage and left for South Africa with their two labrador retriever
s. The Pielows purchased a traditional cape Dutch style house with 1.5 hectare
s for €
220,000 down the street from their new restaurant, part of the well-established guesthouse "De Oude Herberg". They planned to cultivate the land as a vineyard. The Pielows are both trained chefs and have owned and successfully run restaurants and a wine business in the past. This episode details their experiences in the different culture as they manage their restaurant, cultivate their vineyard and produce their own wine.
, County Wicklow
. In 2005 they moved to the town of Guadalajara
, near Madrid
in Spain
. Sonia is originally from Guadalajara, but was studying English in Bray when she met Mark sixteen years previously. Mark helped run a pub called "Jim Doyles" located on Bray's seafront. After fourteen years together in Bray Mark and Sonia decided to move to Sonia's home town, with Sonia moving first with her daughters to settle them into school life, whilst Mark remained for a time in Bray to overlook the sale of the family home and his share of the business. Sonia's family still live in Guadalajara and the Doyles initially stay with Sonia's parents. By December 2005 Mark is full-time in Spain and the family has moved into a new home.
in Dublin. They witnessed a significant rise in value in their three-bedroom semi-detached home. Pam is a trained hairdresser who managed a local salon, whilst Russell worked as a panel beater in a garage. They have two children, twelve-year-old Ryan and two-year-old Charlotte. A couple of years previously they holidayed in Australia
for three months, visiting Pam's only sister, who had already been living there for a number of years. When they returned to Ireland they decided to move to Australia and applied for visa
s. After two years of red tape
, they left Ireland on Saint Patrick's Day
in 2006. The Whittakers settled in Ipswich
in Queensland
forty minutes from Brisbane
, where Pam's parents have since retired. Within weeks of arriving Pam and Russell buy a large detached house on stilts by a river with a large garden and Russell obtains a job in a local garage. Pam settles Ryan into a suitable school and spends time with Charlotte, something she was unable to do in Ireland as she was a working mother.
in Dublin. They moved to Marbella
, Spain
in July 2007. Suzanne set up a wedding planning business for Irish couples hoping to marry in Spain, whilst Howard hoped to set up his own antiques business. The episode follows their first year in Spain.
, Dublin and Welsh
man Lee Darch are a couple with two young daughters and Barbara has a 17-year-old son, Marti. They managed to sell their Knocklyon home in July 2008 just before the property bubble burst in order to fund their move to Dénia
, Spain
. Lee is a builder by trade but plans to set up a fishing business in Spain.
and Cork
have been married for two years and left behind a daily commute from Kildare to Dublin and two well-paid jobs in finance and IT
to move to Austria
in July 2007 where they set up a ski
chalet
business.
and Dublin moved to Northern Italy
for a six-month trial due to their belief that it would have better mountain cycling training resources. They intend to set up a mountain biking
tour business. As professional athletes they do not earn very much and they have short careers. Tarja is helped in her endeavours by local hotel owner Merco but Niall's focus is on training which presents difficulties for Tarja.
referred to the Dankers of series two's opening episode as a "charmless couple" he was willing to "hurriedly bypass" in his argument that the BBC
had entertained him more than RTÉ.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
television series broadcast on RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
each Tuesday night at 22:15. It follows Irish families who leave Ireland to travel across the world in search of a better life. Two series have thus far been produced, with each series documenting four families who leave Ireland in search of a better life. The series details how they cope in their new surroundings, without any support from friends or family as they set up businesses, develop new careers, meet new friends and overcome cultural differences. Produced by Coco Television, it has thus far featured Irish families who have relocated to such countries as France, South Africa, Spain (thrice), Australia, Austria and Italy. The second series in 2009 was part of a group of programmes dealing with the topic of emigration
Emigration
Emigration is the act of leaving one's country or region to settle in another. It is the same as immigration but from the perspective of the country of origin. Human movement before the establishment of political boundaries or within one state is termed migration. There are many reasons why people...
. Others included J1 - Summer in the Sun
J1 - Summer in the Sun
J1 – Summer in the Sun is an upcoming RTÉ documentary television programme, documenting the experiences of eighteen students working in the United States. The students range from ages 18–23 and are divided into three "gangs": the Chicago Gang, the Hawaii Gang and the San Diego Gang...
, Death or Canada
Death or Canada
DEATH or CANADA staring Kieran 'Larry' O leary and Shane Gaffey is a Gemini and IFTA nominated two-part Canadian-Irish docudrama which was broadcast in Ireland on RTÉ One in November/December 2008, in the UK on The History Channel UK in January and February 2009 and in Canada on History Television...
, Blood of the Irish
Blood of the Irish
Blood of the Irish is a two-part documentary miniseries broadcast on RTÉ One and presented by the professional gardener Diarmuid Gavin. It commenced airing on 5 January 2009 and completed broadcasting seven days later. In the documentary, Gavin sought 'the truth' about Irish genealogy...
and Who Do You Think You Are?
Who Do You Think You Are? (Irish TV series)
Who Do You Think You Are? is a six-part Irish genealogy documentary series that first aired on RTÉ One in 2008. In each episode, a popular Irish personality embarks on a journey to trace their family tree...
.
Series one
Series one was filmed in 2005 – 2006.| Relocation | Family |
|---|---|
 France BordeauxBordeaux Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture... |
Casserleys |
 South Africa TulbaghTulbagh Tulbagh is a town in the Tulbagh valley and is situated in the Witzenberg Local Municipality, with the valley called "Die Land van Waveren" locally. Closest towns are Wolseley, Prince Alfred's Hamlet, Gouda and Ceres in the Boland district of the Western Cape Province, South Africa.The valley has... |
Pielows |
 Spain GuadalajaraGuadalajara, Spain Guadalajara is a city and municipality in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha, Spain, and in the natural region of La Alcarria. It is the capital of the province of Guadalajara. It is located roughly 60 km northeast of Madrid on the Henares River, and has a population of 83,789... |
Doyles |
 Australia IpswichIpswich, Queensland Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre... |
Whittakers |
Episode one
The Casserley family are Ger, Eimer and their three children, 14-year-old Eoin, 12-year-old Niamh and 10-year-old Ciara. Despite being unable to speak the French languageFrench language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, they moved to Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 2004. Ger was laid off
Layoff
Layoff , also called redundancy in the UK, is the temporary suspension or permanent termination of employment of an employee or a group of employees for business reasons, such as when certain positions are no longer necessary or when a business slow-down occurs...
and, having always dreamed of setting up a Pitch'n Putt style golf course in France, decided then was the best opportunity. They sold their home in Swords, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
. After some travelling they settled near Montpon, a town located about forty minutes from Bordeaux. Their three-bedroom home cost €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
104,000 and Ger, along with his brother in law, purchased a strip of land nearby in order to develop his golf course. The episode follows the children's struggles with the French language and their father's difficulties in obtaining planning permission
Planning permission
Planning permission or planning consent is the permission required in the United Kingdom in order to be allowed to build on land, or change the use of land or buildings. Within the UK the occupier of any land or building will need title to that land or building , but will also need "planning...
for his golf course.
Episode two
Colin and Teresa Pielow are from Dublin but relocated to South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in October 2005 where they set up a small vineyard and opened their own business, Pielows Restaurant. This change came about after the couple holidayed in Tulbagh
Tulbagh
Tulbagh is a town in the Tulbagh valley and is situated in the Witzenberg Local Municipality, with the valley called "Die Land van Waveren" locally. Closest towns are Wolseley, Prince Alfred's Hamlet, Gouda and Ceres in the Boland district of the Western Cape Province, South Africa.The valley has...
, a place located one hour and twenty minutes north of Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
which they loved very much. They sold the restaurant they owned in Cobh
Cobh
Cobh is a seaport town on the south coast of County Cork, Ireland. Cobh is on the south side of Great Island in Cork Harbour. Facing the town are Spike Island and Haulbowline Island...
(Robin Hill), rented their Enniskerry
Enniskerry
Enniskerry is a village in County Wicklow, Ireland. It had a population of 2,672 at the 2006 census.- Location :...
cottage and left for South Africa with their two labrador retriever
Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is one of several kinds of retriever, a type of gun dog. A breed characteristic is webbed paws for swimming, useful for the breed's original purpose of retrieving fishing nets. The Labrador is the most popular breed of dog by registered ownership in Canada, the United...
s. The Pielows purchased a traditional cape Dutch style house with 1.5 hectare
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s for €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
220,000 down the street from their new restaurant, part of the well-established guesthouse "De Oude Herberg". They planned to cultivate the land as a vineyard. The Pielows are both trained chefs and have owned and successfully run restaurants and a wine business in the past. This episode details their experiences in the different culture as they manage their restaurant, cultivate their vineyard and produce their own wine.
Episode three
The Doyles are Mark, his wife Sonia and their two daughters, 13-year-old Rebecca and 3-year-old Ambar are originally from BrayBray
Bray is a town in north County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a busy urban centre and seaside resort, with a population of 31,901 making it the fourth largest in Ireland as of the 2006 census...
, County Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
. In 2005 they moved to the town of Guadalajara
Guadalajara, Spain
Guadalajara is a city and municipality in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha, Spain, and in the natural region of La Alcarria. It is the capital of the province of Guadalajara. It is located roughly 60 km northeast of Madrid on the Henares River, and has a population of 83,789...
, near Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Sonia is originally from Guadalajara, but was studying English in Bray when she met Mark sixteen years previously. Mark helped run a pub called "Jim Doyles" located on Bray's seafront. After fourteen years together in Bray Mark and Sonia decided to move to Sonia's home town, with Sonia moving first with her daughters to settle them into school life, whilst Mark remained for a time in Bray to overlook the sale of the family home and his share of the business. Sonia's family still live in Guadalajara and the Doyles initially stay with Sonia's parents. By December 2005 Mark is full-time in Spain and the family has moved into a new home.
Episode four
The Whittakers are Pam and Russell from KnocklyonKnocklyon
Knocklyon is a suburb of Dublin in Ireland, situated south west of Dublin city, and north of the Dublin Mountains.There is currently a debate among locals whether the correct name is cnoc linn, or cnoc liamhna....
in Dublin. They witnessed a significant rise in value in their three-bedroom semi-detached home. Pam is a trained hairdresser who managed a local salon, whilst Russell worked as a panel beater in a garage. They have two children, twelve-year-old Ryan and two-year-old Charlotte. A couple of years previously they holidayed in 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...
for three months, visiting Pam's only sister, who had already been living there for a number of years. When they returned to Ireland they decided to move to Australia and applied for visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
s. After two years of red tape
Red tape
Red tape is excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision-making...
, they left Ireland on Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick , the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of :Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion , the Eastern...
in 2006. The Whittakers settled in Ipswich
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
forty minutes from Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, where Pam's parents have since retired. Within weeks of arriving Pam and Russell buy a large detached house on stilts by a river with a large garden and Russell obtains a job in a local garage. Pam settles Ryan into a suitable school and spends time with Charlotte, something she was unable to do in Ireland as she was a working mother.
Series two
Series two was broadcast from 13 January – 3 February 2009.| Relocation | Family |
|---|---|
| Spain Marbella Marbella Marbella is a town in Andalusia, Spain. It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea, in the province of Málaga, beneath the La Concha mountain. In 2000 the city had 98,823 inhabitants, in 2004, 116,234, in 2010 approximately 135,000.... |
Dankers |
| Spain Dénia Dénia Dénia is a city in the province of Alicante, Spain, on the Costa Blanca halfway between Alicante and Valencia, the judicial seat of the comarca of Marina Alta... |
Owens/Darch |
 Austria AustriaAustria Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the... |
Barrys |
 Italy Northern ItalyNorthern Italy Northern Italy is a wide cultural, historical and geographical definition, without any administrative usage, used to indicate the northern part of the Italian state, also referred as Settentrione or Alta Italia... |
Owens/Davis |
Episode one
The Dankers are stay-at-home mother Suzanne, former antiques dealer Howard and their two young sons from TerenureTerenure
Terenure is a mainly residential suburb of Dublin, Ireland, largely in the administrative area of Dublin City Council but with parts in the administrative county of South Dublin County .-Location and transport:...
in Dublin. They moved to Marbella
Marbella
Marbella is a town in Andalusia, Spain. It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea, in the province of Málaga, beneath the La Concha mountain. In 2000 the city had 98,823 inhabitants, in 2004, 116,234, in 2010 approximately 135,000....
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in July 2007. Suzanne set up a wedding planning business for Irish couples hoping to marry in Spain, whilst Howard hoped to set up his own antiques business. The episode follows their first year in Spain.
Episode two
Barbara Owens from KnocklyonKnocklyon
Knocklyon is a suburb of Dublin in Ireland, situated south west of Dublin city, and north of the Dublin Mountains.There is currently a debate among locals whether the correct name is cnoc linn, or cnoc liamhna....
, Dublin and Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
man Lee Darch are a couple with two young daughters and Barbara has a 17-year-old son, Marti. They managed to sell their Knocklyon home in July 2008 just before the property bubble burst in order to fund their move to Dénia
Dénia
Dénia is a city in the province of Alicante, Spain, on the Costa Blanca halfway between Alicante and Valencia, the judicial seat of the comarca of Marina Alta...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Lee is a builder by trade but plans to set up a fishing business in Spain.
Episode three
Adrian and Michelle Barry from KildareCounty Kildare
County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...
and Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
have been married for two years and left behind a daily commute from Kildare to Dublin and two well-paid jobs in finance and IT
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
to move to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
in July 2007 where they set up a ski
Ski
A ski is a long, flat device worn on the foot, usually attached through a boot, designed to help the wearer slide smoothly over snow. Originally intended as an aid to travel in snowy regions, they are now mainly used for recreational and sporting purposes...
chalet
Chalet
A chalet , also called Swiss chalet, is a type of building or house, native to the Alpine region, made of wood, with a heavy, gently sloping roof with wide, well-supported eaves set at right angles to the front of the house.-Definition and origin:...
business.
Episode four
Tarja Owens and Niall Davis from BrayBray
Bray is a town in north County Wicklow, Ireland. It is a busy urban centre and seaside resort, with a population of 31,901 making it the fourth largest in Ireland as of the 2006 census...
and Dublin moved to Northern Italy
Northern Italy
Northern Italy is a wide cultural, historical and geographical definition, without any administrative usage, used to indicate the northern part of the Italian state, also referred as Settentrione or Alta Italia...
for a six-month trial due to their belief that it would have better mountain cycling training resources. They intend to set up a mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
tour business. As professional athletes they do not earn very much and they have short careers. Tarja is helped in her endeavours by local hotel owner Merco but Niall's focus is on training which presents difficulties for Tarja.
Reaction
John Boland of the Irish IndependentIrish Independent
The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
referred to the Dankers of series two's opening episode as a "charmless couple" he was willing to "hurriedly bypass" in his argument that the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
had entertained him more than RTÉ.