Birdy Sweeney (14 June 1931 – 11 May 1999) was an Irish actor and comedian.

Birdy Sweeney
Born
Edmund Francis Sweeney

(1931-06-14)14 June 1931
Died11 May 1999(1999-05-11) (aged 67)
NationalityIrish
Other namesBirdy Sweeney
OccupationActor

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

edit

Sweeney 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
  1. ^ a b Exshaw, John: Obituary: Birdy Sweeney, The Independent, 14 May 1999.
  2. ^ a b Ballykissangel actor dies, BBC News, 12 May 1999
  3. ^ "Birdy Sweeney". BFI London. Archived from the original on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
edit