The ancient stones of Slane Castle have witnessed centuries of Irish history, but nothing quite like what unfolded when twenty-four strangers gathered within its walls for THE TRAITORS IRELAND this past Sunday. In a dramatic shift from her beloved role as the sharp-tongued Sister Michael in DERRY GIRLS, BAFTA-winning actress Siobhán McSweeney has traded her nun’s habit for the role of puppet master, orchestrating a game where paranoia reigns supreme and trust is the deadliest currency.
McSweeney’s journey to hosting THE TRAITORS IRELAND represents a fascinating evolution in her recent career trajectory. Since January 2021, she has been the presenter on The Great Pottery Throw Down on Channel 4, proving her hosting chops in an entirely different arena where creativity flows through clay rather than deception. The transition from guiding amateur potters through their artistic challenges to overseeing psychological warfare among strangers showcases McSweeney’s remarkable range as a presenter. Her work on THE GREAT POTTERY THROW DOWN, where she nurtures contestants through their creative struggles, provides the perfect counterpoint to her new role presiding over deliberate betrayal and calculated manipulation.
McSweeney’s most recent venture, however, has taken her behind the camera. She’s made her directorial debut with Spud (2024), a short comedy film for the BBC, demonstrating her expanding creative ambitions beyond both acting and presenting. This directorial work, combined with her hosting duties and her continued presence in the entertainment landscape, positions her as one of Ireland’s most versatile performers, equally comfortable commanding attention from behind the camera as she is in front of it.
The setting itself becomes a character in this Irish edition of the international phenomenon. Slane Castle in County Meath, with its Gothic towers and ancient secrets, provides the perfect backdrop for a game built on hidden identities and midnight eliminations. Within these walls, contestants from across Ireland – from Cork to Donegal, from Dublin to Waterford – must navigate a psychological minefield where the Traitors, chosen in secret during the opening episode, work to systematically eliminate the Faithful while maintaining their cover.
The stakes could not be higher, with a prize pot of up to €50,000 awaiting those clever enough to outwit, outlast, and outmaneuver their fellow competitors. But in THE TRAITORS IRELAND, money is secondary to survival, and survival depends entirely on reading the room, interpreting glances, and deciphering whether that friendly smile conceals a knife poised to strike.
What makes McSweeney’s casting particularly inspired is how her natural authority, honed through years of commanding stages and television screens, translates perfectly to this role of orchestrating chaos. She brings the same commanding presence that made Sister Michael unforgettable in DERRY GIRLS, but now that authority serves a different purpose – overseeing a game where deception is not just encouraged but essential for victory. The producers’ promise that this Irish edition will deliver all the paranoia, twists, and shocking revelations that have made THE TRAITORS an international sensation feels entirely credible with McSweeney at the helm.
As THE TRAITORS IRELAND premiered Sunday evening at 9:30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, viewers witnessed the beginning of what promises to be a masterclass in psychological manipulation wrapped in the elegant brutality that only Irish storytelling can deliver. The game of lies, loyalty, and lethal betrayals has officially begun, and with Siobhán McSweeney presiding over the proceedings, audiences can expect nothing less than television that cuts as deep as the Irish wit that guides it.
Andrew Scott`s hot streak continues 🔥
From the Hot Priest in FLEABAG to his heartbreaking turn in ALL OF US STRANGERS, he`s now bringing that signature intensity to BLUE MOON as composer Richard Rodgers.
The film hits theaters Friday, more at irishfilmtv.com.
Michael Fassbender is trading the big screen for Netflix royalty!
The Irish-German powerhouse is set to play Joe Kennedy Sr. in KENNEDY, an 8-episode drama diving deep into America`s most mythologized family. No release date yet, but with Fassbender leading, this one`s already on our watchlist. 👑
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🔥 The feud that stopped a nation.
SAIPAN brings the explosive 2002 World Cup confrontation between Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy to the big screen—and it`s not about football glory, it`s about ego, standards, and two men whose rivalry became bigger than the game itself.
Watch the new trailer at irishfilmtv.com.
Pierce Brosnan is trading martinis for mountains.
The legendary Irish actor stars in the CLIFFHANGER reboot as Ray Cooper, a seasoned mountaineer running a luxury chalet in the Dolomites with his daughter.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Brendan Gleeson is bringing all the feels in H IS FOR HAWK 🎬🦅
Playing the beloved father in this beautiful 2025 drama based on Helen Macdonald`s bestselling memoir, Gleeson delivers a performance that`s both tender and powerful.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Netflix`s BALLAD OF A SMALL PLAYER has an amazing new trailer!
Colin Farrell plays an Irish fugitive hiding in Macau`s neon underworld as "Lord Doyle," gambling desperately to outrun his past.
The film opens in theaters Oct. 15 and starts streaming Oct. 29 on Netflix.
Watch now via link in bio.
Saoirse Ronan is heading back to the `60s! 🎸
The four-time Oscar nominee is reportedly set to play Linda McCartney in Sam Mendes` wildly ambitious THE BEATLES project—four separate films, each following a different Beatle.
She`ll star opposite Paul Mescal (her FOE co-star) as Paul McCartney, with Barry Keoghan as Ringo, Joseph Quinn as George, and Harris Dickinson as John.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Cillian Murphy just confirmed THE IMMORTAL MAN drops in 2026 and Tommy Shelby is coming back with a vengeance. 🔥
Fresh off STEVE hitting Netflix, Murphy spilled the tea on The Graham Norton Show that the Peaky Blinders film has wrapped.
Watch now at irishfilmtv.com.
Graham Norton isn`t going anywhere!
The BBC has locked in three more series of THE GRAHAM NORTON SHOW - with 2.9 million viewers tuning in and clips going viral weekly, Norton continues to prove why he`s the gold standard for celebrity interviews.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
Cillian Murphy isn`t chasing blockbusters—he`s back in the classroom.
The Irish actor`s latest role in Netflix`s STEVE sees him playing a struggling teacher at a last-chance reform school, proving once again that he`s more interested in transformation than validation.
Watch Cillian`s TODAY interview via link in bio.
🖤⚡️ JESSIE BUCKLEY IS COMING BACK TO LIFE! ⚡️🖤
Ireland`s Irish powerhouse transforms into a Gaga-esque flapper brought back to life as the companion of Christian Bale`s creature in Maggie Gyllenhaal`s electrifying new take on THE BRIDE!
New trailer at irishfilmtv.com.
🌟 From THE WITCHER to DUNGEONS AND DRAGONS to EVERYTHING NOW.
Dublin`s @niamhhmccormack_ has been quietly building one of the most impressive portfolios in Irish acting.
Don`t miss her in HOUSE OF GUINNESS, now streaming on @netflix.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🌊 When Oscar-nominated Stephen Rea (THE CRYING GAME, MICHAEL COLLINS, V FOR VENDETTA) lends his legendary voice to a haunting tale of shipwreck and survival, you know something magical is about to happen.
📍 @irishculturalcentre, Hammersmith
🗓️ November 8-9 ONLY
🎭 Don`t miss this exclusive London run!
More at irishfilmtv.com.
🎬 Cillian Murphy is absolutely unstoppable right now!
Three incredible performances in a row: Oscar winner OPPENHEIMER ✨ SMALL THINGS LIKE THESE 💫 and now STEVE - a powerhouse drama about a school headteacher fighting his own demons while saving troubled kids.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
THE WEIR is haunting London`s Harold Pinter Theatre until 6 Dec, and it`s pure magic. Brendan Gleeson makes his West End debut alongside an incredible cast in Conor McPherson`s modern masterpiece - with the playwright himself directing for the first time!
"It`s already a classic in the canon of world theatre," says Seán McGinley, and honestly? We believe him. Sometimes the most powerful stories happen over a pint, in the space between words, where kindness becomes community.
More at irishfilmtv.com.
