SYNPOSIS

Inspired by some of Ireland’s most renowned female ghosts, Haunting Women is a week of stories which take us through the centuries to relive the five tragic tales of women who are doomed to haunt the isle for eternity, still wandering through castles, streets and woodlands.

Some of these female apparitions lament a lost Love, others seek revenge, and a few must continue in their quest for forgiveness, all want their souls to find rest.

A week of ghost stories to put us all in the Halloween spirit!

Episode 1 THE LINEN MILL
The beautiful singing of a young girl is often heard in a Belfast office block but why is she doomed to haunt this building forever?
Episode 2 THE WEDDING BOUQUET
Emma longs for her father to grant her freedom and allow her to marry a soldier in his regiment. Her father finally consents but will her wedding day be everything she desires?
Episode 3 THE WAITING WALL
The arrival in the village of a travelling Salesman fills local girl, Siobhan, with an even greater desire to escape small town life. Is she willing to sacrifice her relationship with local farmer, Sean, and if so, at what expense?
Episode 4 THE SHIMMERING DRESS
Having constantly rebuked Squire Burke’s ardent proposals, Cecilia decides to leave Westmeath and return to London to escape his pursuit, or does she?
Episode 5 THE RIDING CROP
When Anthony chooses Beatrice over her older sister, Lucinda, sibling rivalry simmers to a dark and twisted fate.

WRITER
Award winning writer, Dermot Bolger, has been at the heart of the new wave of Irish writers. His novels include: The Former People, Temptation, The Valparaiso Voyage, The Journey Home, Father’s Music, Night Shift, The Woman’s Daughter, The Journey Home, Emily’s Shoes and A Second Life. His plays include The Lament of Arthur Clearly, In High Germany.
Dermot devised and edited the highly acclaimed Irish novel Finbar’s Hotel and it’s sequel Ladies Night at Finbar’s Hotel (which he adapted for Radio 4 and 10 May 2000 and repeated last year). His play Temptation (adapted from his novel) was broadcast in June 2003 and received great critical acclaim. Dermot also wrote Hunger Again for R4 which broadcast earlier this year.

Dermot is also editor of the New Picador Book of Contemporary Irish Fiction.
The author of various volumes of poetry, he has received, among others, The Samuel Beckett Award, The A. E. Memorial Prize, The Stewart Parker BBC Award, an Edinburgh Fringe First, The Macaulay Fellowship, A Hennessy Literary Award and the O.Z. Whitehead Prize.

CAST:
Doreen Keogh Cold Feet (ITV), The Royale Family (BBC), David Copperfield, Coronation Street (ITV)
David Kelly Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (dir. Tim Burton,) Waking Ned
Alison McKenna The Actors (dir. Conor McPherson), The American (BBC)
Jodi O’ Neill PS, I love You (R4),
Dawn Bradfield King Arthur,Disco Pigs, Rebel Heart (BBC)
Simon Delaney Pulling Moves, Bachelor’s Walk, The Actors,
John Hewitt The Boxer, Life after Life (BBC)
Luke Griffin Borstal Boy (dir. Peter Sheridan), The Nephew, Band of Brothers
Hannah R. Gordon Various productions for R4
Roseena Brown Short, Back & Sides, Pulling Moves (BBC)