Birdy Sweeney (14 June 1931 – 11 May 1999) was an Irish actor and comedian.
Birdy was born Edmund Francis Sweeney in Dungannon, County Tyrone. He was one of 10 children. Growing up, Sweeney was a good whistler as a boy. He was nicknamed "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.Exshaw, John: Obituary: Birdy Sweeney, The Independent, 14 May 1999.
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. From 1996, he played farmer Eamon Byrne in the first four series of the BBC drama series Ballykissangel.Ballykissangel actor dies, BBC News, 12 May 1999
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, 6 boys who lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and 2 girls who stayed in Ireland.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1983 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 Miniseries1992 The Crying Game Tommy 1996 Moll Flanders Doctor of Sorts 1996 Space Truckers Mr. Zesty 1996-1999 Ballykissangel Eamon Byrne 34 episodes1997 The Butcher Boy Man in Well 1997 Downtime Pat 1998 The Nephew Old Codger 1998 Divorcing Jack Lift Attendant 1998 Joint Venture Arthur Short1998 Green Oranges Tommy Short1999 Angela's Ashes Old Priest 2011 The Poorhouse Revisited Gravedigger (final film role)
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