Great Island, the Irish production company established in Cork in 2020 by TV Producer Mark Kenny and software entrepreneur Jim Robinson, are bringing Headcase, their lead drama, to market from a slate of twelve projects in development. They are creating content across animation, drama and unscripted formats.

Headcase is a comedy-drama which follows a troubled, double-life leading Cork street artist, his former boxing champion sister and an agoraphobic friend in their search for a more meaningful life.

“We are making local content with global appeal,“ said Kenny. “Having promoted our 14 minute teaser of the show to MIPCOM and Content London, we have attracted interest in Ireland, the UK and France and also with several international distributors and broadcasters; we expect to move into production in late 2024.”

Great Island plans to open a comprehensive production centre in the city of Cork.

“Cork and the wider region is a huge source of previously untapped screen writing talent,“  added Robinson, “Until recently television production in Ireland was been focused on Dublin, Wicklow and Galway, now the Cork region is the new focus for tv production development.”

Television production is currently booming in Ireland; RTE and Screen Ireland, the national agency for the Irish screen sector, are keen to develop and support additional production centres and clusters. Cork based Great Island is placed at the forefront of this initiative, offering an opportunity for writers and programme makers to develop local content with international appeal.