Emotional scenes.
Aisling O’Neill has received high praise for her performance during last night’s instalment of Fair City.
Her character, Carol Foley, is still grieving the loss of Robbie Quinn after discovering that he had been shot and killed in South Africa while acting as security for a diamond transport job.
This storyline came after Fair City actor Karl Shiels passed away suddenly.
The 47-year-old’s final scenes were aired over a month ago depicting him saying goodbye to Carol and asking: “Are you sure you’re going to manage without me?”
During last night’s episode, Carol’s grief continued as she struggled to comprehend why Robbie would risk leaving his family to travel for the job.
“What sort of a man deceives his wife to go off soldiering knowing he could get himself killed?” she screamed at Nora.
“Why would he do that, why? Why would he do that to me?”
Fair City‘s upcoming plot was rewritten following Shiels’ unexpected passing in July.
“We all miss Karl, who was a wonderful actor and friend, and Fair City will miss Robbie Quinn, who was a blaze of trouble and fun during his time in Carrigstown,” said Brigie de Courcy, the soap’s executive producer, at the time.
O’Neill’s performance, raw with emotion and overt pain, was praised by viewers online last night.
There aren't enough words that can say how wonderful Aisling O'Neill is as an actress. She is spectacular in this storyline and one that must be incredibly hard to film. #faircity
— Fair City Fans (@faircityfans) October 1, 2019
'What kind of man deceives his wife?!'
Someone give Aisling O Neill all the awards…. what a heartbreaking, raw, real performance.
And that keyring… that's alright lads, I didn't need my heart for anything anyway. 💔 #faircity
— Ellen Madigan 🌈 (@black_sheep1981) October 1, 2019
Poor Carol, my heart is broke for her 😭 #FairCity
— Lauren McCarthy (@laurenm45729039) October 1, 2019
Genuine tears there, matching my own, farewell Robbie, RIP Karl #Faircity
— Mel Hickey (@chellymagic) September 29, 2019
God this is tough, fair play to everyone that was hard to do everyone was in tears that killed me #faircity
— Ciara Nash (@Kiks31) September 26, 2019
Shiels passed away suddenly at the age of 47 in July.
His death was confirmed by his agent Lisa Richard who said that she was “deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden passing of our client and friend Karl Shiels.”
“Karl was a uniquely talented individual, simultaneously intense, light hearted, funny, sharp witted, outspoken and intensely powerful as an actor, director and artistic director (…)
“Karl was a remarkable force in Irish theatre and hugely loved and respected by all who worked with him.
“Our hearts are broken but today our thoughts are with his partner Laura and his family, his children and their mother Dearbhla and his many close friends among whom we count ourselves lucky to have been for so many years.”
Fair City continues tonight at 8pm on RTÉ One.
