RTÉ announces new seasons of KIN and The Walsh Sisters

RTÉ have announced season three of KIN and season two of The Walsh Sisters, in an effort to promote homegrown Irish drama.

KIN is returning for season three, produced by Metropolitan Pictures and House of Juno.

Debuting on RTÉ One in 2021, the Dublin crime drama follows the fictional crime family, the Kinsellas, in the throes of a gangland war featuring Aidan Gillen, Clare Dunne and Ciarán Hinds among the cast.

The series was taken off air in 2023 due to the collapse of Bron Studios, who co-produced the drama with Headline Pictures in association with RTÉ, AMC, and Nordic Entertainment Group.

The synopsis for the new series says: "KIN season three reunites the nation with the Kinsella crime family. As they consolidate power, buried betrayals and festering rivalries turn inward, and the greatest threat to the family empire becomes the family itself."

In 2022, KIN received 13 nominations at the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) awards, including Best Drama, Actress and Actor in a Lead Role and Director. The series was awarded in seven categories.

No further details about casting or plot lines have been released and season three is likely to air next year.

Also in production is Season 2 of The Walsh Sisters. Based on the books by Marian Keyes, the series follows the lives of Rachel, Claire, Maggie, Anna, and Helen.

The Walsh Sisters Photo Credit: RTÉ

The new series synopsis adds: "Helen is struggling behind silent psychological walls, confronting crippling anxiety, Maggie is preparing to become a mother while desperately pursuing a 'perfect’ family life, and Anna is left to find a way to heal from the profound shadow of her grief".

Louisa Harland, who plays Anna, won the IFTA Film and Drama Award for Rising Star for her role in the series. Also among the cast are Caroline Menton, Danielle Galligan, Máiréad Tyers and Stefanie Preissner.

The national broadcaster unveiled its new television drama schedule, with over 160 hours of Irish storytelling for 2026, an increase from last year's 142 hours.

The new schedule is also set to feature a new series with the working title of The Yank, which is a six-part drama that will star actress Kate Mulgrew, best-known for Star Trek: Voyager. It also includes a new "darkly comedic drama" from LOVE/HATE creator Stuart Carolan titled Tall Tales & Murder.

"We're heading into our biggest year for new Irish drama on RTÉ," Steve Carson, director of video at RTÉ, said.

“The scale of the 2026 slate will support hundreds of jobs across the Irish screen industry, including writers, directors, producers, crews, post-production teams, designers, and technical specialists, reinforcing RTÉ’s central role in the continued growth of Ireland’s audiovisual economy."