A series of best-selling novels by Cork author Chloe Walsh is being adapted for TV
Neela Debnath Screen Time Reporter
10:32, 25 May 2026
A fresh YA drama that falls into the vein of Normal People is in the works(Image: BBC)
Admirers of Sally Rooney’s cherished coming-of-age romance Normal People will want to mark their calendars for an exciting new series heading to television, reports Dublin Live.
Boys of Tommen, adapted from the bestselling book series by Cork writer Chloe Walsh, is being brought to life by Amazon Prime Video, which is making substantial investments in young adult programming.
Taking place in the fictional Cork town of Ballylaggin spanning 1992 to 2007, the books chronicle the star-crossed romance between Johnny Kavanagh, a rising rugby talent on the cusp of turning professional, and Shannon Lynch, a gifted yet reserved newcomer to the elite Tommen College.
The series tackles trauma and authentic challenges in an unflinching way, earning widespread acclaim from the GoodReads community.
One enthusiastic reviewer declared: “I am not exaggerating. I am not being dramatic. This is my favorite [sic] book of all time.”
Normal People fans can’t afford to miss out on forthcoming YA drama Boys of Tommen(Image: BBC)
“The way I feel about every single one of these characters is something I haven’t felt since ACOTAR. I am so emotionally involved, I genuinely feel like I KNOW them.”
They continued: “I laughed, I cried, I laughed while crying. This was a masterpiece and I will absolutely be continuing in this series IMMEDIATELY. This is my whole personality for the foreseeable future.”
Another reader shared: “This was simultaneously heartbreaking, beautiful, innocent, hilarious and wholesome. I need to read the next book asap after that cliffhanger.” A third admirer remarked: “This book had me in a choke hold from start to finish.” They continued: “The pacing, the characters, the drama, all of it kept me flipping pages like my life depended on it.”
Prime Video has recently announced casting details for its screen version of Boys of Tommen.
Boys of Tommen has similar themes to hit series Normal People(Image: BBC)
Emerging talent Nancy Surridge has been cast as Shannon Lynch, while BBC’s Mix Tape star Conor Sánchez will portray Johnny Kavanagh.
Irish-American performer James O’Donoghue, known for Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale and Fair City, has secured the part of Joey Lynch.
Completing the ensemble is Sophie McGibbon, set to feature in the upcoming Jane Austen adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, who will play Aoife Molloy.
Brendan Canty will helm the Boys of Tommen series, with Poppy Cogan serving as lead writer and executive producer.
Discussing the production, Cogan commented: “These characters have lived in the hearts and minds of millions of readers, and the response to them has been overwhelming, so finding the right cast was incredibly important.
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“Chloe has created such a rich, emotionally vivid world in these books, and as the writer adapting this story for screen it’s been a privilege to be entrusted with bringing that world to life.
“I’m thrilled beyond words that we’ve found our Shannon, Johnny, Joey and Aoife in Nancy, Conor, James and Sophie – they are the perfect people to embody these roles.
“Knowing that everyone behind this production and at Amazon MGM Studios shares my passion for telling this story authentically makes this moment even more special. I cannot wait for the world to see what’s coming.”
Boys of Tommen is in production on Prime Video
