Shannon brothers join Gogglebox Ireland for Season 12

Shane and Conor O’Donnell from Shannon have been added to the cast of Gogglebox Ireland for its twelfth season, which began on Wednesday, 16 September.

The 18‑year‑old Shane is in his first year of theatre and drama studies at the Cork School of Music, while his 21‑year‑old brother Conor works as a filmmaker, drama teacher and occasional stage performer. Both describe themselves as theatre enthusiasts who “have the chemistry for it”.

In their debut episode the brothers offered reactions to dramatic storylines in the British soap East Enders and to US President Trump’s recent visit to Dublin, Shannon and Doonbeg.

Local reaction has been swift, with neighbours and family members reporting frequent questions about the show. Their grandmother, who shops in Shannon each Friday, says she is often stopped by strangers asking about Gogglebox.

Both brothers credit their early training at Eclipse Stage School in Shannon for preparing them for the spotlight. Shane says the experience has helped him overcome stage nerves, and Conor adds that being filmed feels “great craic”.

Beyond the television programme, Shane continues his studies, and Conor teaches drama on weekends, appears in Ennis pantomimes and creates short films. They say they look forward to the rest of the season and to watching “nothing boring”.

Source: Clare Champion. Photo: MART PRODUCTION / Pexels.