The Dry Final Season: Actresses Siobhán Cullen and Roisin Gallagher Reflect on the Series Finale

Roisin Gallagher and Siobhán Cullen have shared their reflections on the conclusion of the RTÉ comedy-drama The Dry. The actresses, who portray on-screen sisters in the series, discussed their characters and the production ahead of the third and final series.

In an interview with the Irish Independent published on April 12, 2026, Gallagher, who plays the lead role of Shiv Sheridan, described her initial connection to the character. She noted that during her audition, she felt an instant note of recognition when reading a scene in which Shiv describes being 35 years old and not being in the place she felt she should be.

Gallagher expressed a desire to explore the experience of being a 35-year-old woman who does not feel she has reached her expected milestones, noting that her own professional circumstances were strange at the time she joined the project.

Series Premise and Narrative

Written and created by Nancy Harris and directed by Paddy Breathnach, The Dry follows Shiv Sheridan, a woman recovering from alcoholism. The story begins with Shiv returning to Dublin for her grandmother’s funeral after spending ten years in London attempting to establish a career as an artist.

The narrative focuses on the challenges of maintaining sobriety while living with a family that is not supportive of her recovery. The plot highlights a family dynamic where members drink to excess and Shiv’s brother uses cocaine, complicating her efforts to remain sober.

Siobhán Cullen stars as Caroline, Shiv’s sister. Both actresses have discussed how they identified with their respective roles and observed how roles for women in the industry have evolved.

Production and Broadcast History

The series is produced by Element Pictures, Screen Ireland, and ITV Studios. In addition to Gallagher and Cullen, the cast includes Moe Dunford and Ciarán Hinds.

The production timeline and distribution of the series include the following milestones:

• The series premiered as a BritBox original on May 5, 2022.
• A second series was released on ITVX on March 14, 2024.
• A renewal for a third and final series was announced on January 8, 2025.

The second season of the series also expanded its cast to include actors such as Thommas Kane Byrne, Seán Doyle, Helen Norton, and Ruth Codd.

As the production moves toward its conclusion, the lead actresses have acknowledged the emotional weight of ending the series, with Gallagher and Cullen noting that saying goodbye to the production will be really strange.