Mayo writer's hit drama Obituary returns this week

THE dark crime comedy drama Obituary, written by Castlebar native Ray Lawlor, returns to RTÉ for a second season this week.

Season two sees Siobhán Cullen in the lead role of obituary writer Elvira and she is joined by Máiréad Tyers (The Walsh Sisters, Extraordinary) as the new editor of local newspaper The Kilraven Chronicle.

The small-town obituary writer turned murderer is struggling with the death of her beloved father and seeks relief through killing unpleasant local residents. Things get even more complicated this season with the new editor coming in to shake up the newspaper and a mysterious second murderer in town.

Death-obsessed Elvira turned to murder in the first season to avoid going broke, after learning that she would only be paid per obituary. Having discovered her taste for killing, she balances a new romantic relationship with the paper’s crime correspondent Emerson Stafford (Ronan Raftery) (who has plans and secrets of his own), and grief at the loss of her father, as well as fear of discovery when a new murderer comes to town.

Eccentric editor Vivienne (Máiréad Tyers) pits Elvira and Emerson against each other in the newsroom, and the walls start to close in on Elvira as disgraced former editor Hughie (David Ganly) sets out to reveal her as a killer. Meanwhile Detective Rose Mulcahy (Noni Stapleton) investigates Elvira for a murder she ironically didn’t commit.

Obituary was filmed between Bundoran and Ballyshannon in Co. Donegal, and has a decidedly west of Ireland feel in its dark humour, its weather, and its penchant for storytelling.

Ray Lawlor credits his home town, Castlebar, and its ‘characters’ with inspiring much of the dialogue for his comedy creation.

Season 2 of Obituary kicks off on RTÉ One on Tuesday, October 14, at 10.15 p.m. and runs for six episodes until November 18. All episodes of Season 2 will be available to stream on RTÉ Player.