Ballybofey actor Laura Heeney has joined the cast of TG4’s Ros na Rún to play the part of the bubbly and brazen Penny Fallon.

A graduate of Maynooth University, Laura Heeney has an honours degree in Irish and Spanish. Her passion for the Irish language followed her from St Mary’s Primary School to St Columba’s College, Stranorlar.

Her ambition to gain fluency in our native language has taken her on a varied career so far.

Laura has worked as an Irish language volunteering as a digital content creator with the Irish News in Northern Ireland. In addition, she has volunteered with Gael Linn, their online video channel Gaelbhratach along with BLOC, Raidio Fáilte and Raidio na Life.

Laura has also spent a year employed at TG4’s Social Media team where she was involved in creating innovative content for a variety of the Irish Language Broadcasters online platforms.

This is Laura’s first venture into TV acting and she’s thrilled to have been selected from a competitive auditioning process for the only rural based drama series on Irish TV, Ros na Rún. “It’s an ambition I’ve held for many years since college, that is, a role with Ros na Rún, and I’ve landed the part of Penny Fallon who’s a fun character to play. She’s lively and a little egotistical with her Influencer notions and online following”, says Laura.

“I’m loving it, I’ve been made to feel extremely welcome by all the actors, crew and production team, Ros na Rún has very much a family vibe behind the camera which is wonderful for a first time TV actor.”

Laura’s character Penny Fallon is a confident and friendly cosmetics sales person with big ambitions to become a high-profile influencer and digital creator. Her razor-sharp tongue and zealous attitude will raise some eyebrows!

Ros na Rún Series Producer, Marion Ní Loingsigh says, “We’re continuously developing new characters in Ros na Rún and Penny Fallon is another exciting one and we’re delighted to welcome Donegal actor Laura Henney into the role. Season 29 will see quite a few new exciting characters unfold which our loyal audience will enjoy, so please do stay tuned”.

TG4’s Ros na Rún features many of Donegal’s finest Irish Language actors including Niall Mac Earmharcaigh, Máire Uí Rabhartaigh, Colm Mac Giolla Easbuic which Laura Heeney is needless to say “honoured to follow and work alongside”.

Filmed at an Cuasnóg in an Spidéal in the Connemara Gaeltacht, the TG4 drama series, Ros na Rún, is a co-production between Dánú Media and Tyrone Productions. Proudly sponsored by XL Ireland since 2017, Ros na Rún has welcomed big names including HBO TV’s Conan O’Brien, Fiachna O Braonáin of the Hot House Flowers, Nathan Carter, Francis Brennan, Stephen Fry and Country Music star, Daniel O’Donnell.

Broadcast on Tuesdays and Thursdays on TG4 at 8.30pm it also has an omnibus on Sunday evening at 7.30pm and is available on both the TG4 and RTE players worldwide.