THE TRAITORS IRELAND is set for its RTÉ debut this weekend, and while the format may be familiar to international fans, this version aims to deliver something homegrown.

Earlier this year, Slane Castle – better known for hosting music legends than reality contestants – was transformed into the backdrop for the latest adaptation of The Traitors, offering a rare glimpse behind the usually closed doors of the historic estate.

Set on the banks of the River Boyne, The Traitors Ireland puts a spin on the reality franchise – originally launched in the Netherlands and since adapted in the UK, US, and New Zealand, to name a few. 

Outside Slane Castle, the home of The Traitors Ireland The Traitors Ireland The Traitors Ireland

The format is deceitfully simple as a group of strangers enter the castle, each hoping to win €50,000. But (of course) there’s a catch –  hidden among them are the Traitors, secretly working to eliminate their opponents. It’s a game of suspense and psychology, where anyone could be plotting your downfall.

While wandering around the set, it’s easy to forget that Slane is a family home – until you bump into Alex Conyngham, son of the late Lord Henry Mountcharles, longtime owner of the castle. Asked how the family felt about sharing their home with the production, he said his father was “amused” by the whole thing.

Conyngham added that he was no stranger to life on a set, having previously hosted productions like The Great Train Robbery. “It’ll make for a few stories for the kids in the future,” he said.

You can either be a Traitor, or unknowingly sit next to one The Traitors Ireland The Traitors Ireland

Bringing a global franchise to Irish soil needed more than a change of scenery – it required being reimagined through an Irish lens.

From the beginning, the producers knew the series would need to resonate with Irish audiences. “We wanted to tap into Ireland’s own style of lying,” said Darren Smith, managing director of Kite Entertainment, referencing a national desire for storytelling and mischief that naturally aligns with the show’s format. To reflect this, an open casting call recruited a diverse group of contestants that reflect modern Irish identities.

Darren Smith of Kite Productions walked us through the set of the upcoming series The Traitors Ireland The Traitors Ireland

The casting team purposely avoided selecting superfans or reality TV regulars, explaining that the show would “become less interesting” if people consciously play the game. The crew aimed to keep unpredictability at the heart of the show by keeping interactions as genuine as possible.

In fact, authenticity was such a priority that the production team took a similar approach behind the scenes. “We had to unlearn producing,” they said, describing how they resisted heavy-handed direction. Instead, they allowed the story to unfold organically, intervening only in private moments to speak to contestants in the story booth (think Big Brother’s diary room style).

One striking detail about the production team itself is that all but one of the story producers are women, contributing to a primarily female-led crew. From commissioning onwards, women took the reins in key creative and production roles – including the series producer, director, heads of set design, production and construction, and production manager. And, of course, the show is hosted by the charismatic Siobhán McSweeney.

Best known for her role as Sister Michael in Derry Girls, McSweeney brings her wit and dry humour to The Traitors. McSweeney said that she approached the hosting role as another performance – slipping into the theatrics of the series while maintaining a grounded presence.

McSweeney believes the show’s format “lends itself to Irish personalities,” citing a tradition of storytelling as a reason for this. She’s also quick to stress that The Traitors Ireland isn’t just an import of international versions and aims to look and feel as Irish as possible.

That commitment to national identity extended into the show’s design. The crew leaned heavily into Celtic iconography by featuring establishing, inclusive Irish designers to provide a familiar Irish aesthetic. “We wanted to show off the wealth of talent that exists here,” McSweeney said.

The Traitors Ireland feels both familiar and refreshingly new, the series is a classic game of loyalties and lies that stays true to its Irish roots.

The Traitors Ireland premieres on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Sunday, 31 August at 9:35pm.