Joe Rooney

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Joe Rooney, 54, is by no means a novice to stand-up and acting, but one of his roles in particular has a tendency to follow the Irish comedian around. In 1996, he appeared in an episode of Irish sitcom Father Ted as the rebellious Father Damo, who hilariously tried to lead naive priest Dougal astray, and Rooney says the character has stuck with people. “I didn’t know when I was doing Father Ted that I would still be talking about it 20 years later, but that’s the way things go!” he said. “I am always trying new things and you never know what part or what show will have an impact on your career.” While he continues to enjoy acting, the immediacy of the stand-up stage is where he feels most at home. “I do love becoming another character, but you have to wait to get a good part. Someone else has to choose you for a role. With stand-up, I can get on the phone and book a room and just do it.” He also appreciates the opportunities stand-up gives him to travel, such as his latest gig in Barcelona. “I’ve performed here before and I was pleasantly surprised by the warmth and enthusiasm of the audience. I did some material about Spanish curse words, which went down well, and this time I’m thinking about learning some Catalan phrases too.”

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