The Last Furlong
Encyclopedia
The Last Furlong is a short-lived Irish comedy-drama television series which was aired on RTÉ
from November 14 to December 19, 2005. Originally created by Simon Delaney
and co-written with director Kieran Carney, the series dealt with Diogo Bernardo Furlong (Simon Delaney), a Portuguese cabaret singer and songwriter, who travels to Ireland to scatter his mother's ashes over the grave of his Irish father.
, and he was raised by his mother in Alentejo, Portugal
. His only clue to his father's grave is a postcard that his mother gave to him with a picture of a church.
Leaving behind his fiancée Claudia, he arrives in Dublin and is met by an acquaintance and music promoter David Daly (Garrett Keogh). He persuades Diogo to take a musical tour Ireland and, promising to help Diogo find his father's grave, he also persuades Diogo to take a musical tour Ireland with he and his daughter Margaret (Orla Fitzgerald), an aspiring filmmaker, who reluctantly agrees to manage Diogo. A backup band is hired and, joined by Margaret’s boyfriend John Ford (Simon Keogh) and his friend Sean Flanagan (Domhnall Gleeson), Diogo and The Fandango’s begin a tour of Ireland’s graveyards and other lesser-known legendary venues including Ballymore Eustace
, Roscommon
, Strokestown
, Ballaghderreen, Ballagh
and Westport
.
, the series received poor reviews from critics. Delaney's general acting and musical performance were particularly criticized. His portrayal of Diogo, a character he used to perform as during takes between Bachelors Walk "just to keep the crew amused" , was seen by critics as too similar to his character on Bachelors Walk as in other film and television appearances.
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidió Teilifís Éireann is a semi-state company and the public service broadcaster of Ireland. It both produces programmes and broadcasts them on television, radio and the Internet. The radio service began on January 1, 1926, while regular television broadcasts began on December 31, 1961, making...
from November 14 to December 19, 2005. Originally created by Simon Delaney
Simon Delaney
Simon Delaney is an Irish television and theatre director, whose works include the RTE series Bachelors Walk as one of three bachelors living together in a flat on the quays in Dublin....
and co-written with director Kieran Carney, the series dealt with Diogo Bernardo Furlong (Simon Delaney), a Portuguese cabaret singer and songwriter, who travels to Ireland to scatter his mother's ashes over the grave of his Irish father.
Plot
After the death of his mother, Diogo Bernardo Furlong visits Ireland to scatter his mother's ashes on the grave of his father. His father had died some years before in a boating accident on Lough AllenLough Allen
Lough Allen is a lake situated on the River Shannon, in the north-central part of Ireland, near Ireland's border region. Most of the lake is in County Leitrim, with a smaller portion in County Roscommon. The lake lies to the south of the river's source, near the Iron Mountains, and is the...
, and he was raised by his mother in Alentejo, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. His only clue to his father's grave is a postcard that his mother gave to him with a picture of a church.
Leaving behind his fiancée Claudia, he arrives in Dublin and is met by an acquaintance and music promoter David Daly (Garrett Keogh). He persuades Diogo to take a musical tour Ireland and, promising to help Diogo find his father's grave, he also persuades Diogo to take a musical tour Ireland with he and his daughter Margaret (Orla Fitzgerald), an aspiring filmmaker, who reluctantly agrees to manage Diogo. A backup band is hired and, joined by Margaret’s boyfriend John Ford (Simon Keogh) and his friend Sean Flanagan (Domhnall Gleeson), Diogo and The Fandango’s begin a tour of Ireland’s graveyards and other lesser-known legendary venues including Ballymore Eustace
Ballymore Eustace
Ballymore Eustace is a small town situated in County Kildare in Ireland, although until 1836 it lay within a "pocket" of County Dublin...
, Roscommon
Roscommon
Roscommon is the county town of County Roscommon in Ireland. Its population at the 2006 census stood at 5,017 . The town is located near the junctions of the N60, N61 and N63 roads.-History:...
, Strokestown
Strokestown
Strokestown, historically called Bellanamullia and Bellanamully , is a town in County Roscommon, Ireland. It is located at the junction of the N5 National primary route and the R368 regional road in the north of the county....
, Ballaghderreen, Ballagh
Ballagh
Ballagh may refer to:* Faugh-a-Ballagh, a Thoroughbred race horse* Faugh A Ballagh, a battle cry of Irish origin* Oulart the Ballagh, a Gaelic Athletic Association club in County Wexford* Robert Ballagh , an Irish artist...
and Westport
Westport, County Mayo
Westport is a town in County Mayo, Ireland. It is situated on the west coast at the south-east corner of Clew Bay, an inlet of the Atlantic Ocean....
.
Reception
Although coming off of a successful run on the sitcom Bachelors WalkBachelors Walk
Bachelors Walk was a comedy-drama based around three single men living in a house in Dublin’s Bachelors Walk. The drama was shot in and around Dublin. The programme was first broadcast on RTÉ on 1 October 2001...
, the series received poor reviews from critics. Delaney's general acting and musical performance were particularly criticized. His portrayal of Diogo, a character he used to perform as during takes between Bachelors Walk "just to keep the crew amused" , was seen by critics as too similar to his character on Bachelors Walk as in other film and television appearances.