RTÉ, in association with Banijay Rights and Screen Ireland, announces new John Butler Comedy-Drama ‘These Sacred Vows’
- Treasure Entertainment to produce six-part series
- Series stars Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Justine Mitchell, India Mullen and Jason O’Mara
RTÉ, in association with Banijay Rights and Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, announces These Sacred Vows. The new comedy-drama series is written and directed by award-winning Irish screenwriter John Butler, about an Irish wedding in Spain; a week of day-drinking and chaotic nights where secret fears, jealousy and desire bubble to the surface.
With a stellar Irish cast including Tom Vaughan-Lawlor (Love/Hate, Avengers: Infinity War/Endgame), Justine Mitchell (Derry Girls, Smother), Jason O’Mara (Agents of SHIELD, The Man In The High Castle) and India Mullen (Normal People, Say Nothing), the show starts production on location in Tenerife today (Monday 7 April).
Banijay Rights will handle the global distribution of the series. The show will be produced by Rob Walpole and Rebecca O’Flanagan from Award-winning Irish independent production company Treasure Entertainment, whose credits include the John Butler feature films Papi Chulo, Handsome Devil and The Stag along with the IFTA-winning TV sketch show Your Bad Self, Paddy Breathnach’s Oscar-shortlisted Viva and most recently John Carney’s Flora and Son and his upcoming Power Ballad. These Sacred Vows was commissioned by David Crean, Acting Head of Drama, RTÉ.
These Sacred Vows series (6 x 60min) opens the morning after the wedding, when the body of a priest is found floating face-down in the swimming pool of the young guests’ villa. Over the course of six episodes, the action jumps back in time to revisit the key events of a wild previous week, each from the perspective of a different character.
Fr. Vincent is played by Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, mother-of-the-bride Sandra by Justine Mitchell, father-of-the-bride Jerry by Jason O’Mara. The cast also includes Adam John Richardson (Vikings: Valhalla, The Dry), Tom Hanson (Brassic, The Outlaws), Jade Auguste (His Dark Materials, Trauma), Aaron Heffernan (Brassic, Femme) and Aoife Hinds (Normal People; Dune Prophecy). Also joining the cast are Irish comedians Shane Daniel Byrne and Catherine Bohart.
Executive Producers of These Sacred Vows are for RTÉ David Crean, Acting head of Drama and Dermot Horan Director of Acquisitions and Co-Productions; Rob Walpole and Rebecca O’Flanagan will produce for Treasure Entertainment; Cathy Payne and Simon Cox for Banijay Rights and Kate McColgan for Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland.
David Crean, Acting Head of Drama RTÉ said: “RTÉ is excited to bring John Butler’s brilliant new drama to screen. His story leaps of the page with life and fun and naughtiness and will be such a treat for Irish audiences in what is a big year for RTÉ drama . These Sacred Vows underlines RTÉ’s commitment to showcase the very best of Irish talent and deliver a range of fantastic local drama to audiences in Ireland.”
John Butler, who recently wrote and directed on three series of The Outlaws with Stephen Merchant for BBC One and Amazon Prime (winning an RTS award), added: “I love the idea of six films of the same style, all set in the same place on successive days, with each of those characters experiencing the madness of an Irish wedding very differently. Irish weddings are unique – and uniquely mad – and can be related to by everyone because (as with vermin) you’re never too far away from the looming spectre of Someone’s Big Day.”
Rebecca O’Flanagan and Rob Walpole for Treasure Entertainment said: “We are so happy to working with our collaborator and friend John Butler on this bitingly funny yet moving project. John is a master at combining the sublime with the ridiculous and never more so than in these beautifully crafted scripts. RTÉ have been enthusiastic supporters of this project from the very first verbal pitch; Screen Ireland have been long time supporters of our work with John; and to have Banijay on board across global distribution rounds out the finance beautifully. In front of the camera we have assembledour dream team of established talent and exciting fresh faces. We are so excited for this one”.
Simon Cox, EVP Content & Acquisitions, Banijay Rights: said: “With a stand-out script, acting line-up and creative team, These Sacred Vows is set to be the latest in a long line of hit TV dramas to hail from Ireland. We’re excited to build on our long term relationship with RTÉ as the international partner on this returnable drama, which we are presenting to the market later this year.”
Kate McColgan, Head of Television, Fís Éireann/ Screen Ireland said: “Screen Ireland is delighted to support the production of These Scared Vows. I would like to congratulate John Butler and the entire team at Treasure for creating a very clever, funny and compelling television series that will be destination viewing, not just for Irish audiences, but for those who love great TV around the world. Screen Ireland is very proud to have supported John Butler throughout his career and we look forward to Irish audiences seeing this major TV series on RTÉ next year.”
These Sacred Vows will air on RTÉ in 2026.
ENDS
Issued on Monday 7th April 2025
RTÉ Communications: Sarah Neville
Notes to the editor:
About RTÉ:
Ireland’s national television and radio broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) strives to enrich Irish life with television, radio and online content that challenges, educates and entertains, celebrates the country’s rich diversity and cultivates home-grown talent. Launched in 1961, it is one of the oldest continuously operating public-service broadcasters in the world. Headquartered in Dublin, RTÉ’s current network consists of four main TV channels — RTÉ One, RTÉ2, RTÉjr, and RTÉ News — alongside a number of FM radio stations and digital radio services. The broadcaster also operates online services, including streaming service RTE Player, and a news website and app.
Treasure Entertainment:
Treasure Entertainment is one of Ireland’s leading independent production companies, with a proven record in producing commercially and critically successful films and television for Irish and international audiences. Notable film credits include the John Butler feature films Papi Chulo, Handsome Devil and The Stag, Paddy Breathnach’s Oscar-shortlisted Viva, BAFTA-nominated Good Vibrations and John Carney’s feature films Flora and Son and the upcoming Power Ballad. For television, they have produced a number of notable series, including Smother, Finding Joy and the sketch show Your Bad Self.
Banijay Rights
Leading global distributor, Banijay Rights, represents a world-class, multi-genre portfolio of over 205,000 hours of standout programming. Handling the distribution for content powerhouse, Banijay Entertainment, the division specialises in the exploitation of premium scripted and non-scripted brands to broadcasters worldwide.
Representing quality, excellence and experience in the business of linear and non-linear television and ancillary activity across all platforms, Banijay Rights’ catalogue encompasses a host of top titles from Banijay’s 130+ in-house labels, and a number of third-party producers, spanning drama, comedy, entertainment, factual, reality, family, formats and theatrical.
Delivering high-quality IP, which was born locally and travels globally, the distributor offers the best stories told the best way. Its landmark brands include Survivor, Big Brother, MasterChef, Peaky Blinders, Rogue Heroes, Marie Antoinette, Grantchester, Deal or No Deal, Home and Away, Mr Bean and Black Mirror. Built on independence, creative freedom, entrepreneurialism and commercial acumen, Banijay Rights operates under the direction of Chief Executive Officer, Cathy Payne.
Fís Éireann Screen Ireland
As the national agency for the Irish film, television drama, animation and documentary industry, Fis Eireann/Screen Ireland is the creative partner to the sector, investing in talent, creativity and enterprise. Through a wide range of practical funding supports across development, production, distribution, promotion and skills development, Screen Ireland supports the sector at every stage.