Casey Walsh on Tall Tales and True Crime

Casey Walsh Secures Lead Role in Stuart Carolan’s Tall Tales & Murder

Rapper-turned-actor Casey Walsh stars as want-out car thief Paul in RTÉ One’s darkly comic series Tall Tales & Murder, created by Love/Hate writer Stuart Carolan. The series follows Paul and worn-out retirement home nurse Bridget, played by Ella Lily Hyland, as they embark on a chaotic misadventure involving gags, guns, and gold. According to Walsh, the role represents a major breakthrough following a four-year personal journey that included meeting his partner and finding faith together. Walsh learned he had secured the lead part four weeks after auditioning for director Chris Addison, besting competition for a character he describes as having a good heart despite making poor decisions.

A Decade-Long Journey from Sing Street Extra to Co-Star

Walsh’s path to the screen included early support from actor John Connors, who gave Walsh his first feature film role in The Black Guelph after connecting with Stuart Carolan. Walsh admitted he grew up watching Love/Hate and aspired to act before falling into a career in music by chance. During production, Walsh reunited with Aidan Gillen, who plays the previously comatose Dublin criminal Grinner. Walsh previously met Gillen 11 years prior as a 16-year-old featured extra on the set of Sing Street. The ensemble cast also features Aisling O’Sullivan as Bridget’s icy-yet-amorous boss, The Matron, and Brian Doherty as Bunny, a GAA-obsessed detective who tries to look out for Paul.

Drawing on Personal Experience for a Chaotic Character

Walsh connected deeply with Paul’s background, noting that the character never stood a chance from the beginning and bears the scars of growing up in chaotic environments. Having experienced making mistakes at a young age while growing up in the public eye, Walsh stated that Paul’s innocence and softness resonated with him. Before cameras rolled, Walsh prepared for the role with his wife Kim, who helped him perfect his audition and managed his preparation. The series breaks away from standard crime dramas, blending grounded realism with sudden bursts of chaos and madness that Walsh compares to the work of Martin McDonagh.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Tall Tales & Murder premiere?

The series begins on RTÉ One on Sunday, 27 September at 9:40pm, with all episodes dropping simultaneously on the RTÉ Player.

Who created Tall Tales & Murder?

The darkly comic series was created by Stuart Carolan, best known as the creator of the hit RTÉ drama Love/Hate.

Who stars alongside Casey Walsh?

The main cast includes Ella Lily Hyland as Bridget, Aidan Gillen as Grinner, Aisling O’Sullivan as The Matron, and Brian Doherty as detective Bunny.