By Sandra Mallon

Copyright irishmirror

Top actor Aidan Quinn has said he hopes Donald Trump does not succeed in shutting down international filmmaking in Ireland. Earlier this year, the US President called for a 100 per cent tariff on films made abroad, including Ireland. Reacting to the news, Aidan – who plays dad Jack Walsh in RTE’s upcoming drama The Walsh Sisters – said he hopes Trump’s suggestion never becomes a reality. Aidan said: “Yeah, the creative pool, obviously, the landscape, you know, there’s so many reasons. Obviously, the tax breaks in Ireland, section 481, they all make it very, very attractive. And people love working here. “I hope not. I obviously sincerely hope not. But let’s see what happens in the next six months, and that’s because, you know, let’s see what happens.” Aidan is set to take on the role of dad Jack Walsh in the Marian Keyes adaptation, which airs on RTÉ One on September 28, and opened up about how he got involved in the show. “Well, I was doing a production of a Sam Shepard play with Steve Buscemi at the Abbey theatre. “My agent, the lovely Joe Powell, had the idea to bring the director and the producer to the show. And he had the idea of me for this part. I had no idea. He didn’t even tell me, and so he said, I want you to go meet them afterwards or go for lunch the next day. So we did. “I was like, oh, I’m just meeting a nice director and a nice producer. I still didn’t know. And then he mentioned that there was this project, and then I ended up getting offered the part.” Aidan said he would consider moving to Ireland if it wasn’t for his 37-year-old autistic daughter, Ava, who has a routine in America. “Oh, I would have. I would have always considered that. I have an autistic daughter, who’s 37, who is pretty involved, and she comes home every second weekend and she’s in a great place and on a great farm that she works on, and it’s great facilities for her there. “And so because of that, I wouldn’t (move), but my wife and I are, I’ve already, I did another film after we did this this summer in West Cork. So we’re already looking to spend more and more time here. You know, I’m an Irish citizen; that helps getting cast here in the things too.” Aidan also stars alongside Jay Duffy, actor and son to Boyzone star Keith Duffy. The American star praised Jay for his incredible talent in the series, saying Jay’s character Luke has been given a “brave task” in the show when he has to deal with Rachels’ addiction. Jay said: “Yeah, it’s something I don’t have any experience with in my own life, personally. “I had done a project a couple of years ago where I was playing someone with mental health problems, and that education for me kind of gave me an entry into what Rachel might be going through, even though it’s not so much mental health. Maybe it is. That’s where it stems from, but her battle is with her addiction.” Aidan said Jay’s character has been given a “brave task” in the show. “His character has the very brave task that is usually not given a lot of weight and shift in these pieces of the person that is standing up to her and saying, no more, this is it. I’ve had it. Boom, boom, boom. “And then having to then explain all the stuff that she did that, you know, in front of the whole group.” Jay explained: “You’re an ISO and it means you’re an involved significant other, so it’s your job to come into the facility your partner is in and to have an opportunity to speak uninterrupted, you know, warts and all of how, how I’ve been affected by your behaviour. “And, yeah, that was, that was probably, and it was my first day on set doing that scene. So yeah, I was safe to say it was nervous, but you just use that energy. “You know, Luke would have been nervous going in there to disclose such personal difficulties he’s been having with Rachel. “You just kind of use what comes to you naturally. And I was nervous, and he would have been nervous, so it was great to not have to act too much. And just hopefully, remember the words, remember the work you’ve done, and just let it come out. And hopefully it’s real.” The Walsh Sisters will air on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at 9:30pm. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.