Deirdre Donnelly

Deirdre Donnelly
Born1950
Dublin, Ireland
EducationAbbey Theatre School
University College Dublin (BA, MA)
OccupationActress
Years active1971–present
AwardsIrish Theatre Award (nomination)


Deirdre Donnelly is an Irish actress of stage and screen. Best known for her work on television, from 1975-1979 she portrayed Kathy Peters on the long-running RTÉ drama serial The Riordans.[1] From 1996-2001 she starred as Siobhan Mehigan on the BBC comedy-drama series Ballykissangel.[2] She has had recurring roles on Vikings: Valhalla, Fair City, Brassic, The Virtues, Striking Out, The Frankenstein Chronicles, The Clinic, The Irish R.M., and Last of Summer.

Donnelly made her film debut in Academy Award winner Joseph Strick’s 1977 film A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, adapted from the James Joyce novel of the same name. She would go on to have supporting roles in Attracta, The Fantasist, The Lilac Bus, Cracks, Rialto, and Barber. Also veteran stage actress, Donnelly has appeared in numerous plays, including over 50 productions with the National Theatre of Ireland.[3]

Early life

Donnelly is the third of four daughters. Her father was from Rathfarnham, Co. Dublin and her mother from Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan. Her sister Terry Donnelly is also an actress.[4]

Donnelly grew up in Cullenswood House, Ranelagh,[5] and was educated at Mount St. Anne's School in Milltown, South Dublin. She studied for two years at the Brendan Smith Theatre Academy[6] and a further two years at the Abbey Theatre School of Acting.[7]

In 2004, Donnelly completed postgraduate studies at UCD, receiving a first-class master's degree in Modern Drama Studies.[7]

Credits

Theatre

Year Title Role Playwright Venue Ref.
1969 The Assasin Housewife John Boyd Dublin Theatre Festival [8]
1971 Today The Bullfinch Ensemble Jack White Abbey Theatre
Hall of Healing Old Woman Sean O'Casey Abbey Theatre
The Shadow of a Gunman Stage Manager Sean O'Casey Abbey Theatre
The Blue Demon Squinch Lin Ford Abbey Theatre
1972 Arrah-na-Pogue Ensemble Dion Boucicault Abbey Theatre
The Silver Tassie The Sister of the Ward Sean O'Casey Abbey Theatre
The Blue Demon Squinch Lin Ford Abbey Theatre
Picnic on a Battlefield Ensemble Fernando Arrabal Abbey Theatre
1973 The Silver Tassie The Sister of the Ward Sean O'Casey Abbey Theatre
The Importance of Being Earnest Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax Oscar Wilde Abbey Theatre
The Scatterin' Sue Raftery James McKenna Abbey Theatre
Sceal ScealaiíEile Ensemble Tomás Mac Anna & Eamon Kelly Abbey Theatre
The Doll In The Gap Ellen Helen Cahill Abbey Theatre
Rites Woman Maureen Duffy Abbey Theatre
In the Shadow of the Glen Nora Burke John Millington Synge Abbey Theatre
1974 The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui Ensemble Bertolt Brecht & George Tabori Abbey Theatre
The Whiteheaded Boy Jane Lennox Robinson Abbey Theatre
Blood Wedding The Bride Federico García Lorca Abbey Theatre
The Whiteheaded Boy Jane Lennox Robinson Abbey Theatre
The Gathering Carmel Edna O'Brien Abbey Theatre
The Vicar of Wakefield Miss Wilmot Oliver Goldsmith & Thomas Murphy Abbey Theatre
Struensee Lady/Whore John MacKendrick Abbey Theatre
1975 Tarry Flynn Mary/Birdie P. J. O'Connor & Patrick Kavanagh Abbey Theatre
The Vicar of Wakefield Miss Wilmot Oliver Goldsmith & Thomas Murphy Abbey Theatre
Tarry Flynn Mary P. J. O'Connor & Patrick Kavanagh Abbey Theatre
Twelfth Night Olivia William Shakespeare Abbey Theatre
A Short Walk to the Sea Toni O'Mahoney Desmond Hogan Abbey Theatre
Witches Brew Princess Red Lin Ford Abbey Theatre
1976 The J. Arthur Maginnis Story Chrissie Daftigan Tom Murphy Irish Theatre Company [8]
1977 Catchpenny Twist Monagh Cahoon Stewart Parker Abbey Theatre
As You Like It Rosalind William Shakespeare Gaiety Theatre [8]
1978 As You Like It Rosalind William Shakespeare Irish Theatre Company, National Tour [8]
1979 The Well of the Saints Molly Byrne John Millington Synge Abbey Theatre
Epitaph Under Ether 4th Woman Thomas Murphy Abbey Theatre
Crooked in the Car Seat Helen Crowe Brian Lynch Dublin Theatre Festival [8]
1980 The Blue Macushla Roscommon Thomas Murphy Abbey Theatre
1981 The Scythe and the Sunset Emer Nic Ghabhann Denis Johnston Abbey Theatre
Scenes from an Album Honoria William Trevor Abbey Theatre
All My Sons Ann Deever Arthur Miller Abbey Theatre
Not I Mouth Samuel Beckett Abbey Theatre
1983 Boesman and Lena Lena Athol Fugard Field Day Theatre Company [9]
1989 Too Late For Logic Monica Tom Murphy Abbey Theatre
You Can't Take It With You Gay Wellington George S. Kaufman & Moss Hart Abbey Theatre
1994 Down Onto Blue Julie Fox Pom Boyd Project Arts Centre
1995 She Stoops to Conquer Kate Hardcastle Oliver Goldsmith Gate Theatre
1996 She Stoops To Folly Mrs. Primrose Tom Murphy Abbey Theatre
2002 Da Mrs. Prynne Hugh Leonard Abbey Theatre
2005 Nuts and Bolts Marie Fiona Looney Bewley’s Cafe Theatre [10]
2006 A Month in the Country Anna Semyonovna Islayeva Ivan Turgenev & Brian Friel Abbey Theatre
Dream of Autumn Mother Jon Fosse Project Arts Centre [11]
2007 The Crucible Rebecca Nurse Arthur Miller Abbey Theatre
The Big House Mrs. Alcock Lennox Robinson Abbey Theatre
2008 An Ideal Husband Lady Markby Oscar Wilde Abbey Theatre
2009 Moment Teresa Deirdre Kinahan Solstice Arts Centre
2010 Bookworms Dorothy Bernard Farrell Abbey Theatre
Death of a Salesman Linda Loman Arthur Miller Gate Theatre [12]
2011 Little Women Aunt March Louisa May Alcott & Anne-Marie Casey Gate Theatre
2012 Bookworms Dorothy Bernard Farrell Abbey Theatre
2013 Sush Breda Elaine Murphy Abbey Theatre
Sush Breda Elaine Murphy Abbey Theatre, National Tour
2014 Of This Brave Time Performer Jimmy Murphy Abbey Theatre
Conservatory She Michael West Abbey Theatre
Owners Alec's Mother Caryl Churchill Abbey Theatre
2015 Pride and Prejudice Lady Catherine de Bourgh Jane Austen Gate Theatre / Hong Kong Arts Festival
2016 Donegal - A Musical Play Magdalene Carolan Frank McGuinness Abbey Theatre
The Importance of Being Earnest Lady Bracknell Oscar Wilde Gate Theatre / Spoleto Festival USA [13]
2019 'Evening Train Kathleen Mick Flannery Everyman Palace Theatre [14]
2020 A Letter To The Manager Performer Sonya Kelly Abbey Theatre
2022 Joyce's Women May Joyce Edna O'Brien Abbey Theatre

Film and television roles

  • The Riordans (1974 - TV Series - RTE) as Cathy.
  • The Last of Summer (1978 - TV Series - RTE) as Jo.
  • Farmers (1978 - TV Drama - RTE) as Nuala.
  • Miracles and Miss Langan (1979 - TV Drama - RTE) as Miss Langan.
  • Criminal Conversation (1981 - Feature Film - BAC Films) as Margaret.
  • Painted Out (1982 - TV Drama - RTE) as Maura Doyle.
  • Attracta (1983 - Feature Film - BAC Films) as Geraldine Carey.
  • The Irish RM (1984-85 - TV Series - RTE/Channel 4) as Miss Fraser.
  • The Fantasist (1986 - Feature Film - ITC Films) as Fionnuala O'Sullivan.
  • Molloy (1989 - TV Series - RTE) as Mrs. Molloy.
  • Connemara (aka La Rouge) (1990 - Feature Film - Lapaca Films) as La Reine.
  • The Hamster Wheel (1993 - TV Drama - BBC NI) as Jeanette.
  • Runway One (1995 - V Drama - BBC) as Mrs. Connaughton.
  • Ballykissangel (1996-2001 - TV Series - World Productions/BBC) as Siobhan.
  • Legend (2006 - TV Series - RTE) as Bernie Molloy.
  • The Clinic (2006-07 - TV Series - RTE) as Carol O'Dwyer.
  • Cracks (2009 - Feature Film - Scott Free/Element Pictures) as Miss Lacey.
  • Homemade (2012 - Short Film - Park Films) as Joan.
  • Quirke (2014 - TV Series - BBC/RTE) as Sister Dominic.[15]
  • Amber (2015 - TV Series - RTE) as Maureen O'Donoghue.
  • The Frankenstein Chronicles (2015 - TV Series - ITV) as Mrs. Townsend.
  • Goodbye, Darling (2016 - Short Film - Fantastic Films) as Kathleen.
  • Striking Out (2017 - TV Series - Blinder Films/RTE) - as Judge O'Sullivan.[15]
  • The Lonely Battle of Thomas Reid (2018 - Feature Film - Park Films) as Supreme Court Judge.
  • The Virtues (2019 - TV Series - Warp Films/Channel 4) as Susan.[15]
  • Rialto (2019 - TV Series - Marcie Films) as Miriam.
  • The Ferry (2019 - Short Film - Media Factory) as Bertha.
  • Brassic (2019 - TV Series - Calamity Films/ Sky 1) as Mo Dennings.[15]
  • The Lady on the Hill (aka The Bog Lady) (2019 - Short Film - Red Spider Films) as The Mother.[7]
  • Fair City (2023 - RTE Soap Opera) as Jacinta Boyle.

References

  1. ^ Burrrowes, Wesley, The Riordans: A Personal History (Gilbert Dalton, Dublin 1977) p.105
  2. ^ "2019 Gala: Irish Repertory Theatre Celebrating 30 Years".
  3. ^ https://www.theabbeytheatre.ie/archives/person_detail/14586
  4. ^ Gutierrez, Danielle. "BWW Interview: Terry Donnelly Talks Irish Rep and THREE SMALL IRISH MASTERPIECES". BroadwayWorld.com.
  5. ^ White, Victoria, ed., Cullenswood House: Old Ghosts & New Stories (A & A Farmer, Dublin, 2009) pp.38-50
  6. ^ Jordan, Eamonn & Weitz, Eric, eds., The Palgrave Handbook of Contemporary Irish Theatre and Performance (Palgrave MacMillan, London, 2018) p. 332
  7. ^ a b c "Deirdre Donnelly". agency.
  8. ^ a b c d e Playography Ireland. "Deirdre Donnelly." Irish Theatre Institute. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://irishplayography.com/person?personid=31296.
  9. ^ O'Toole, Fintan, Voices On - Review of Boesman and Lena - Sunday Tribune 25 September 1983
  10. ^ "Bewley's Cafe Theatre | Dublin, Ireland".
  11. ^ musingsinintermissions.blogspot.com/2019/.../irishtimes-theatre-awards-complete.html
  12. ^ "Irish Theatre Magazine | Reviews | Current | Death of a Salesman". Archived from the original on 6 December 2017.
  13. ^ Jasper. "SPOLETO REVIEW: The Importance of Being Earnest." The Jasper Project, May 29, 2016. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://jasperproject.org/jasper-magazine-online/7961.
  14. ^ Brennan, Marjorie. "Review: Flannery Premiere, Evening Train, The Everyman." Irish Examiner, June 17, 2019. Accessed April 3, 2025. https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30931213.html.
  15. ^ a b c d Lavender, Jane (6 November 2020). "Where are the Ballykissangel cast now- from major successes to tragic break ups". Irish Mirror.
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