The Galway Bay Murders: RTÉ Start Date and Cast
The Galway Bay Murders is a crime drama of 6 episodes starring Kate Mulgrew, and as of Saturday 3 October RTÉ has not confirmed its start date, channel slot or night; RTÉ has said it will be on RTÉ Player. Because RTÉ commissioned it, the first showing is in Ireland, and this page changes the day an official date appears.
- Start date: not confirmed. RTÉ's 21 July announcement put its arrival in autumn 2026.
- Cast: Kate Mulgrew leads as Nora Savage, with Colm Meaney, John Connors, India Mullen, Cillian O'Sullivan and Jack Rowan.
- Length: six episodes of about an hour, filmed in Conamara, County Galway.
- Earlier name: RTÉ first announced it in April under the working title The Yank.
When does The Galway Bay Murders start on RTÉ?
Nobody has a date yet. RTÉ's 21 July drama announcement listed the series, still called The Yank (working title), among the shows arriving in autumn, and its 26 August season launch gave the final title without a date or a time. As of 3 October, RTÉ's press centre has nothing newer.
Compare that with Tall Tales and Murder, the other new RTÉ drama this autumn: RTÉ gave its start date in the same August announcement. The Galway Bay Murders got no such date, so until RTÉ names one, it is not confirmed.
Is The Galway Bay Murders the same show as The Yank?
Yes. RTÉ's April announcement introduced a crime thriller called The Yank, led by Kate Mulgrew as Lieutenant Nora Savage. The August announcement describes The Galway Bay Murders with the same set-up: a seasoned NYPD detective on a career break on the west coast of Ireland, drawn into a murder investigation. The cast, the six-part length and the Conamara setting match, so we treat it as one series that changed title.
Who is in the cast?
RTÉ named six actors when it announced the series, and one role.
| Actor | Known for (per RTÉ) | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Kate Mulgrew | Star Trek: Voyager, Orange Is the New Black | Lieutenant Nora Savage |
| Colm Meaney | Gangs of London, Star Trek: The Next Generation | Not named |
| John Connors | The Gentlemen, Irish Blood | Not named |
| India Mullen | Normal People, Under Salt Marsh | Not named |
| Cillian O'Sullivan | Daredevil: Born Again, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | Not named |
| Jack Rowan | A Town Called Malice, Wreck | Not named |
Only Mulgrew's character has been named so far. We will add the others if RTÉ publishes them.
What is it about?
Nora Savage is a New York police detective who takes a break from the job after a traumatic event and goes back to her family home on the west coast of Ireland. She expects a quieter pace, but a murder involving a female climate activist pulls her in, and her inquiry puts her up against a ruthless environmental businessman. That is RTÉ's own summary; we have not seen episodes.
The writer is Eithne Verling, and this is her first television drama script. RTÉ says she wrote the lead part for Mulgrew after the two met in Galway while the actor was on holiday.
Who made it?
Two Cities Television, Keeper Pictures and AS I AM Productions produce it for RTÉ with Screen Ireland. The directors are Christine Molloy and Joe Lawlor, who also directed Kin. ITV Studios distributes the series outside the Republic of Ireland.
Where can you watch it in Ireland?
RTÉ's August announcement said the series will be available on RTÉ Player alongside Tall Tales and Murder. It did not say which RTÉ channel or night, so we are not giving one. If you're in Northern Ireland, no UK broadcaster or date has been announced in anything we checked.
For what else is on around it, see The Late Late Show guests on Friday nights, Fair City four nights a week and the soaps by night guide. RTÉ's big December date is on our Late Late Toy Show page, and if you finished The Traitors Ireland, every winner is on one page.
More sections: RTÉ · Guide · Christmas & Events · Winners
FAQ
How many episodes are there?
Six, according to RTÉ's April announcement and the ITV Studios catalogue listing, each about an hour long.
Is it on RTÉ Player?
RTÉ says it will be. No date has been given for when the episodes go up.
Is it based on a true story?
RTÉ describes it as a new drama created and written by Eithne Verling, and its announcements do not point to a real case.
Sources
- RTÉ Communications: new crime drama The Yank (15 April 2026): cast, six episodes, production
- RTÉ Communications: biggest ever year for new drama (21 July 2026): autumn arrival, working title
- RTÉ Communications: Coming soon to RTÉ (26 August 2026): final title, RTÉ Player
- C21Media: ITV Studios catalogue listing for The Galway Bay Murders