Birdy Sweeney

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
Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Died11 May 1999(1999-05-11) (aged 67)
Dublin, Ireland
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

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
Year Title Role Notes
1983Every Picture Tells a StoryBlakes Barman
1986The End of the World ManWorkman
1988Reefer and the ModelInstant Photo
1992The Crying GameTommy[3]
1996Moll FlandersDoctor of Sorts
1996Space TruckersMr. Zesty
1996-1999BallykissangelEamon Byrne34 episodes
1997The Butcher BoyMan in Well
1997DowntimePat
1998The NephewOld Codger
1998Divorcing JackLift Attendant
1998Joint VentureArthurShort
1998Green OrangesTommyShort
1999Angela's AshesOld Priest
2011The Poorhouse RevisitedGravedigger(final film role)

References
  1. Exshaw, John: Obituary: Birdy Sweeney, The Independent, 14 May 1999.
  2. Ballykissangel actor dies, BBC News, 12 May 1999
  3. "Birdy Sweeney". BFI London. Retrieved 6 February 2019.


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