Moone Boy

While Fidelma joins the church choir, Martin's confirmation service leads to an epiphany: he wants to become to an altar boy. Has he got what it takes?

The sacrament of confirmation is something of a landmark moment in the life of a young Christian lad. And what a moment it is for 12-year-old Martin Moone.

As well as accepting the Holy Spirit into his life and gaining an extra name (albeit the same one thanks to Grandad), Martin, or Martin Martin if you will, experiences quite the epiphany during his confirmation service: he wants to become an altar boy. In awe of the cool lads who serve Jesus, Martin's dreams of donning a cassock are realised when choir leader Dessie accepts his application to serve.

Making his debut on the altar at an early-morning mass, Martin's natural ability and quick thinking impress his colleagues and he's eagerly accepted into the altar boy mafia, where he soon learns that these aren't quite the innocent and devout lads they appear to be. Operating a ring of corruption and theft, even Father Linehan appears to be intimidated by them.

Elevated to the privilege of serving on Holy Thursday, Martin embarks on a strict training regime and, with the help of Sean Murphy, sets out to become the best altar boy Boyle has ever seen. But is life in the mob, no matter how holy, the right calling for him?

Meanwhile, Fidelma joins the choir and, as well as singing for the baby Jesus, sets her sights on Dessie. With two of their four children suddenly eager church-goers, Debra and Liam can't help but wonder where they went wrong.