You know that feeling when you're watching a detective show and the lead actor just looks like they’ve spent the last decade drinking too much whiskey and sleeping in their clothes? That’s basically the entire vibe of the Jack Taylor TV series. If you’ve spent any time wandering the rainy, cobble-stoned streets of Galway—or even if you’ve just seen them on screen—you know it’s the perfect place for a noir story. But it wasn't just the setting. The Jack Taylor TV series cast brought a specific kind of Irish grit that felt real, even when the plots got a little wild.
Honestly, the show lives and dies by Iain Glen. Before he was Ser Jorah Mormont in Game of Thrones, he was Jack Taylor. And even though Glen is actually Scottish, he managed to capture that specific brand of Irish "world-weary" that Ken Bruen wrote so well in the original novels.
The Heavy Hitters of the Jack Taylor TV Series Cast
Let's talk about Iain Glen for a second. Most people know him for his loyalty to Daenerys Targaryen, but in this series, he’s a disgraced ex-Garda. He was fired for punching a politician (classic Jack), and now he’s a "finder"—essentially a private eye who doesn't like being called one. Glen has this growly, gravelly voice that makes every line of dialogue sound like it’s been dragged through a hedge. It’s perfect.
Then you have the sidekicks. The show changed a bit over its three seasons, particularly when it came to who was helping Jack navigate the seedy underbelly of the West of Ireland.
Killian Scott as Cody Farraher
Cody was the heart of the first two seasons. Killian Scott played him with this eager, slightly naive energy that balanced out Jack’s cynicism. He starts off as a fanboy of sorts, wanting to learn the ropes of being a detective.
The chemistry between Scott and Glen was one of the best things about the early episodes. You really felt Cody’s desperation to be respected by this broken man, and Jack’s reluctant fatherly affection for him. When Cody eventually left for Boston—after a brief and tragic appearance in later episodes—the show felt a bit emptier.
The Kate Noonan Evolution
This is where things get a bit confusing for casual viewers. The character of Garda Kate Noonan was the bridge between Jack’s unofficial investigations and the actual police force.
- Nora-Jane Noone (Series 1 & 2): She brought a sharp, focused energy to the role. There was always a "will-they-won't-they" tension between her and Jack, despite the age gap.
- Siobhán O'Kelly (Series 3): When the show returned for its final set of films, O'Kelly took over the role. Recasting a major character is always risky, but she brought a different, perhaps more hardened perspective to Kate that fit the darkening tone of the show.
Jack Monaghan as Darragh Noonan
By the time we got to the third season, the dynamic shifted again. Jack Monaghan joined the Jack Taylor TV series cast as Darragh, Kate’s nephew. He was a Manchester lad, a bit of a rebel, and he stepped into that "sidekick" vacuum left by Cody. He wasn't just a replacement, though; his background in criminal psychology (and a stint in jail) gave him a different edge when helping Jack solve cases like the "Cross" crucifixion murder.
The Supporting Players and Cameos
You can't have an Irish crime drama without a few stalwarts. Pádraic Breathnach played Father Malachy, who popped up frequently. In a town like Galway, having a priest in your corner—or at least one you can trade barbs with—is pretty much essential.
Frank O'Sullivan played Superintendent Clancy, the man who basically represented everything Jack hated about the Gardaí. Their scenes together were always tense, filled with the kind of bureaucratic friction that makes you want to root for the guy drinking Guinness in the corner of the pub.
We also saw some great guest turns. For instance, in the first episode, The Guards, Tara Breathnach played Anne Henderson, the woman who hires Jack to find her missing daughter. Her performance set the tone for the entire series: desperate, slightly dirty, and very, very Galway.
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Why the Casting Felt So "Galway"
There’s a specific texture to the acting in this series. It doesn't feel like a polished Hollywood production. It feels like a group of people who are genuinely cold and probably a bit damp from the Atlantic mist.
Filming on location at spots like Eyre Square, the Spanish Arch, and the Crane Bar wasn't just about the scenery. It influenced how the actors moved. You see Iain Glen huddled in that iconic blue greatcoat, and you just know he’s feeling that West of Ireland wind.
Ken Bruen, the author of the books, famously lives in Galway, and while the TV show "sanitized" some of the darker parts of his novels (Jack is even more of a wreck in the books, believe it or not), the cast kept that soul intact.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Cast
A common misconception is that the show was a standard procedural. It wasn't. Because the Jack Taylor TV series cast stayed relatively small and focused, the show felt more like a series of character studies.
People often ask why the cast changed so much between the "movies." It's important to remember these weren't weekly episodes; they were feature-length films produced over several years (from 2010 to 2016). Actors like Killian Scott became huge stars in the interim (check him out in Love/Hate or Dublin Murders), so scheduling became a nightmare.
Practical Insights for Fans
If you’re looking to revisit the series or watch it for the first time, keep an eye on how the relationships evolve.
- Watch the shift in sidekicks: The transition from Cody to Darragh represents Jack’s aging process. He goes from being a mentor to someone he cares about, to someone who is almost a peer in cynicism.
- Look for the recurring locals: Actors like Midie Corcoran (Jeff) and Síghle Ní Chonail (Mrs. Bailey) provide the "background radiation" of Galway life that makes the world feel inhabited.
- The Greatcoat is its own character: Seriously, that blue coat is as much a part of the cast as Iain Glen himself. It represents his past as a cop and his refusal to move on.
If you want to see these actors at their best, start with The Guards and The Magdalen Martyrs. These early installments really showcase the core chemistry that made the show a cult hit internationally, from the US to Germany.
The best way to appreciate the work of the Jack Taylor TV series cast is to watch the episodes in order. While they are "standalone" mysteries, the emotional arc of Jack’s self-destruction—and his occasional attempts at redemption—only makes sense if you see how his friends and enemies treat him over the years. You'll see a man who is consistently his own worst enemy, supported by a cast that makes his struggle feel worth watching.