The Year of the French(1982)

The Year of the French is a television serial directed by Michael Garvey and based on Thomas Flanagan's novel, first broadcast in 1982. Set during 1798, it dramatises the arrival of French troops in Ireland to aid Irish rebels fighting British forces under Lord Cornwallis. A co-production between Irish broadcaster RTÉ, British Channel Four, and French FR3, the series premiered on RTÉ on 18 November 1982, reaching French audiences as L'année des Français the following May. The production featured an acclaimed original score composed and arranged by Paddy Moloney, performed by The Chieftains alongside the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and conducted by Proinnsias O'Duinn, with Ruairi Somers on bagpipes. The accompanying album was released in 1983.