"Strong performances, beautifully paced story-telling, and a nice feel for the period make this an excellent entertainment "
Time Out

"contain(s) terrific special effects and some fine acting. My heart was pounding."
The Mirror

"As a piece of drama this is as good as television gets."
The Irish Post

"Beautifully filmed with an exceptional cast and fine dialogue."
The Guardian

"It is an elegant, beautifully filmed affair."
The Observer

"This is a pleasure to watch."
The Observer

"From the makers of Sharpe, the production values of this four-part drama are similarly rich, so if you can avoid becoming too deeply entrenched in the (still relevant) political issues and can stomach all the bloody killing - stick with it."
TV Times Pick of The Day

"The first (episode), covering only the Easter Rising of 1916, is historically about as impeccable as any historical account of an event elaborately worked on by a good professional writer is ever very likely to be"
The Observer

(cast) James D'Arcy Frank Laverty Vincent Regan Paloma Baeza Dawn Bradfield Brendan Coyle Lorcan Cranitch Bill Paterson Nuala O'Neill Frank MacCusker Daragh O'Malley Liam Cunningham John Kavanagh Dermot Crowley Andrew Connolly	Ernie Coyne Kelly Tom O'Toole Ita Feeney Ursula Feeney Michael Collins Inspector Nelson James Connolly Eileen O'Toole Patrick Pearse James Grace Michael Malone Eugene O'Brien Mr. Coyne Eamon De Valera