Actor, comedian and celebrity golfer Bill Murray is to feature in a new six-part travel documentary that follows him on a golfing road trip around the island of Ireland.
Joined by members of his extended family, a cast list of celebrity friends, including Chris O’Dowd, Joanne McNally, and Jason Kelce, and long-time golfing companion and author Tom Coyne, A Course Called Ireland sees the 75-year-old Hollywood star play his way across some of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland’s most iconic golf courses.
Coyne, an American with Irish heritage, wrote book called A Course Called Ireland: A Long Walk in Search of a Country, a Pint, and the Next Tee in 2010, a nostalgic travelogue charting a golfing journey made entirely on foot around Ireland, which included rounds at Royal Country Down, Portrush, Old Head and Ballybunion, as well as many less well-known courses. He has since followed it up with two further books – A Course Called Scotland and A Course Called America.
The A Course Called Ireland TV show was co-produced by Skydance Sports and Stellify Media and was commissioned by the BBC with funding from Northern Ireland Screen.
BBC Commissioning Editor Cal Turner commented: “A Course Called Ireland is a hilarious and unpredictable love letter to the game of golf. The series captures candid, unscripted moments woven with the wit, warmth, and wonder of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Audiences will get a unique insight into Bill Murray, his family, his friends and his love of the emerald isle.”
Kieran Doherty, CEO & Co-Founder, Stellify Media, added: “There was never much chance of a trip around Ireland with Bill Murray and his friends going entirely to plan – and that’s part of what made it so special. It was a genuine privilege for Stellify to be along for the ride, and we’re enormously proud of the series we all made together.”
A Course Called Ireland airs on BBC One Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer from October 23, before launching on BBC Two on October 25 at 9.30pm.