Sean McGinley

Sean McGinley was born in 1956, in Pettigo, County Donegal, Ireland.He later attended University College Galway.  While there he was involved with the UCG Drama Society and with fellow members, Garry Hynes, Marie Mullen and Mick Lally who went on to found the world famous Druid Theatre Company, Ireland’s first professional theatre company outside of Dublin. McGinley is an the internationally acclaimed actor constantly in demand both in his homeland and in an international context. 

Most he appeared in the acclaimed RTE production of ‘Love and Hate’ consolidating an earlier well received appearance in another RTE series ‘Family’.  These appearances are among many he has made on Irish TV but he is no stranger to BBC, appearing in series such as ‘Minder’, ‘Midsomer Murders’, ‘Waking the Dead’ and numerous other respected series. 

He has created a new role in a Canadian detective  series ‘The Republic of Doyle’, playing the eponymous role of Malachy Doyle.  He is in demand as a film actor too having appeared in ‘The Wind that Shakes the Barley, ‘Gangs of New York’, ‘The Butcher Boy’ and ‘The Field’.  Sean McGinley is supportive of his native county and in particular of the town he grew up in, and gave his time to launch The Allingham Arts Festival. 

In a subsequent interview he praised Ballyshannon, calling it ‘one of the most beautiful towns in the country’.  In the same interview the modest McGinley said he was ‘honoured and surprised’ to be asked to open the Festival, praising the inclusive nature of the Festival and singling out the hard work invested by the people of Ballyshannon in their town and activities.