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Birdy Sweeney (14 June 1931 – 11 May 1999) was an Irish actor and comedian.
Birdy Sweeney | |
|---|---|
| Born | Edmund Francis Sweeney 14 June 1931 |
| Died | 11 May 1999 (aged 67) |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Other names | Birdy Sweeney |
| Occupation | Actor |
Born Edmund Francis Sweeney in Dungannon, County Tyrone, he garnered his nickname "Birdy" from his childhood ability to imitate bird calls which he demonstrated on BBC Radio Ulster. He was a stand-up comedian on the club circuit for more than thirty years before he gained his first acting work as an extra in BBC Northern Ireland's adaptation of the play Too Late to Talk to Billy in 1982.[1]
Sweeney made minor appearances in several major films, including The Crying Game (1992), The Hanging Gale (1995), The Snapper (1993) The Butcher Boy (1997), and Angela's Ashes, and made his stage debut in the 1989 Dublin production of The Iceman Cometh at the Abbey Theatre.[1] From 1996, he played farmer Eamon Byrne in the first four series of the BBC drama series Ballykissangel.[2]
Death
editSweeney died on 11 May 1999 at St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, aged 67, He was survived by his wife Alice and their eight children.[2]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Every Picture Tells a Story | Blakes Barman | |
| 1986 | The End of the World Man | Workman | |
| 1988 | Reefer and the Model | Instant Photo | |
| 1991 | Murder in Eden | Crubog | BBC Miniseries |
| 1992 | The Crying Game | Tommy | [3] |
| 1996 | Moll Flanders | Doctor of Sorts | |
| 1996 | Space Truckers | Mr. Zesty | |
| 1996-1999 | Ballykissangel | Eamon Byrne | 34 episodes |
| 1997 | The Butcher Boy | Man in Well | |
| 1997 | Downtime | Pat | |
| 1998 | The Nephew | Old Codger | |
| 1998 | Divorcing Jack | Lift Attendant | |
| 1998 | Joint Venture | Arthur | Short |
| 1998 | Green Oranges | Tommy | Short |
| 1999 | Angela's Ashes | Old Priest | |
| 2011 | The Poorhouse Revisited | Gravedigger | (final film role) |
References
edit- ^ a b Exshaw, John: Obituary: Birdy Sweeney, The Independent, 14 May 1999.
- ^ a b Ballykissangel actor dies, BBC News, 12 May 1999
- ^ "Birdy Sweeney". BFI London. Archived from the original on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
External links
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