Connemara man Patrick Keeney has spent much of his life in the background shot of our favourite stories, and is celebrating 21 years as an Extra.
Originally from the Dunkineely, Ardara area of South Donegal, Patrick Keeney is now retired in Ballyconneely where he works as an extra for the Spiddal-based TG4 each year, and travels to other sets around the country.
Since retiring from Retail management in the UK, Patrick has been a TV and Movie Extra with many Irish productions.
As well as working with Ros na Rún, he has also worked on the Irish TV shows Obituary and Normal People. His most recent movie was Liam Neeson’s Irish Film, In the Land of Saints and Sinners which was filmed in Donegal last year.
Patrick started out life in Ardara as a Guilder, he was forced to emigrate to London where he forged a successful career in Retail Management, which ultimately led him to the small screen.
One of the places where he worked was based close to the Thames TV and Channell 4 studios and from here Patrick got his taste for being an extra.
Advertising agents would include him in the background of consumer TV commercials and he enjoyed being part of it. Little by little he featured more and more in commercial advertising. This led him to signing with an agent, and in 2002 he retired from Retail Management pursuing his growing interest in TV Extra work.
He went on to feature as an Extra in the hit TV series EastEnders, Holby City, The Bill and he also spent 7 weeks working with Sir Tom Courtney on a movie set. He also featured as an Extra in the Bloody Sunday Movie.
In 2000 he retired from Retail Management working full-time as a TV Extra before retiring to Ireland at 50 with his wife and together they’ve made Ballyconneely and Connemara their home.
“We weren’t too long at home in Ballyconneely, when a neighbour told me about the TG4 drama series Ros na Rún and the possible opportunity of being an extra. I made contact and the rest is history.”
“I’m either a watcher, a Taxi driver or a Courier and on occasion, I’ve been a Postman too but that’s before Seán Misteál who plays the well-known character David in Ros na Rún was cast as the local postman.”
Patrick added that, “I enjoy it thoroughly, there’s a wonderful team here from actors to crew and it’s one big happy family, I really do love it”.
Now a professional TV and Film Extra, when Ros na Rún finishes filming every February, Patrick takes himself to other TV or Film sets all over Ireland and he’s well-recognised and established in the industry for his professionalism.
“I guess I learnt the trade well in London and it was a nice sideline job to my retail management position and at the time, they somewhat complimented each other,” Patrick says.
“I feel very lucky to have worked with some of Ireland’s, the UK’s and the World’s greatest actors as well as Film and TV Directors. It’s the perfect job for anyone who’s retired”.
Patrick has also been a volunteer radio presenter with Connemara Community Radio, has a huge interest in country music, and has been part of a two-piece band for several years too.
