Latest news with #RoryCowan
Dublin Live
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Dublin Live
Rory Cowan bids farewell to Fair City after five years and fans have seen final scenes
Rory Cowan has left Fair City after five years, it has been confirmed. The former Mrs Brown's Boys actor joined the RTÉ soap back in 2019 as John 'Bosco' Walsh. Bosco was introduced to Carrigstown as part of the O'Brien family, and looked after his mum Rose, who was ill with dementia. The storyline was particularly poignant for Rory, whose own mother, Esther, also suffered with the condition. Bosco quickly integrated himself into Carrigstown and became a notable community character in recent years. But now, Rory has decided to retire from work ahead of his 66th birthday and quietly exited the soap earlier this year. A Fair City spokesperson told RSVP Live: "Rory Cowan made the decision to retire from Fair City earlier this year. "Following his success in Mrs. Brown's Boys, Rory joined the cast in 2019 as John 'Bosco' Walsh - a character known for his kind-hearted personality, wit and comedic timing. Rory brought warmth, humour and depth to the role, quickly becoming a much-loved member of the Fair City family. "His contribution to the series, both on-screen and behind the scenes, has been greatly valued by colleagues and viewers alike. Rory will be missed by the cast, crew and fans across the country. We extend our thanks to him for his time on Fair City and wish him every happiness and fulfilment in his retirement." At the time of joining Fair City back in 2019, Rory said he was a long-time fan of the soap. He explained: "Since the very beginning, thirty years ago, yes I have been a fan. But for a good few years, when I was touring the world with Mrs Brown's Boys, I lost touch with what was happening in Carrigstown. "But when I left Mrs Brown's Boys to care for my mother, who had dementia, I got back into watching it again. Myself and my ma used to watch the omnibus on Sunday afternoons. "I've lovely memories of those Sundays with my mam watching Fair City." For Rory, comedy acting and working on a soap are two different beasts. "The timing and pace is different. It's another skill altogether," he added. "So acting in Fair City is totally different to acting in Mrs Brown's Boys, but that's what I find so interesting about it. "If I'd been asked to go into another situation comedy I probably would have said no, but being offered a role in Fair City was never going to be something I'd refuse." In 2024, Rory took part in Dancing With The Stars, and shared his plans to retire in the near future. The actor and TV personality will turn 66 in July, and recently told that while he is retiring from showbiz, he will "still be around" - joking he will be "a bit older but not wiser." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Extra.ie
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Rory Cowan's next big career move: 'I'm going to become a burden on the state'
'I'm totally retired,' funnyman Rory has told 'I'm turning 66 in July so I'm officially a pensioner and I can't f***n wait,' he laughed. And apparently taking to a life of retirement like the proverbial fish to water, Rory said he can't wait for this next chapter saying; 'the world is my lobster' 'I am going to become a burden on the state. I get the free travel pass so I'm planning on taking myself off and going for lunch and Kilkenny one day and Cork the next,' Rory said. Rory Cowan. Pic:As he approaches the ripe young age of 66, Rory said he has no plans to change his ways. 'I'm retiring from show business, but I'll still be around,' said Rory before adding, 'I'll still be the same me, just a bit older but not wiser.' Mrs Brown's Boy actor Rory, who has been a stalwart of Irish entertainment for decades, said he thoroughly enjoyed all of the opportunities that have come his way over the course of his career. Rory Cowan and Brendan O'Carroll on Mrs Brown's Boys. Photo: BBC. 'When I left Mrs. Brown's Boys, it was a big decision. But then I was in two Pantos, I wrote a book and then I got the gig in Fair City. I would have had none of those opportunities if I had stayed in Mrs. Brown's Boys,' he reflected. And Rory's Fair City character Bosco proved such a hit with viewers that directors tried to coax him to stay by offering to extend his contract with the soap. 'About a year-and-a-half ago, around last January, I said I was retired. I just had to finish off the Fair City contract that I had,' said Rory. 'And they got back to me in September, and they said, 'are you really retired?,' and I panicked.' Mrs Brown's Boys D'Movie gets an airing. Pic: Gerry McDonnell/Cathal Burke/ 'So I was thinking if I retire now, I'll have nothing. You can't just walk back into the gig when you walk out. So I said 'maybe I'll stay on with Fair City and I won't do anything else.' 'So they sent me out a new contract, and they said, 'return it by the second or third of October,' Rory recalled. 'So I just thought, ' I really have to go for this'. However, after reflecting for some time, Rory decided to walk away and not sign on for another run in Carrigstown. 'So it came to October 3rd and the contract was still sitting there and I was thinking 'will I sign it?' But then I thought to myself 'no'.' Pic: Kyran O'Brien So as he rides off into the sunset, Rory told Extra that Fair City was his most rewarding and enjoyable gig. 'I absolutely adored that gig in Fair City. It was a lovely gig to have, and I would advise any actor who is ever thinking, or ever offered a chance, to jump at it straight away. ' 'It's a f*****g brilliant gig. And the people are all lovely, the crew are lovely. Everybody is fabulous. I absolutely enjoyed every minute. I was there for five years, and I enjoyed every single minute,' said Rory.
Extra.ie
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Rory Cowan says he will vote for Israel's Eurovision act
Mrs Brown's Boys star Rory Cowan, who has been an unapologetic supporter of the Israeli people, has said he will be voting for Yuval Raphael in tonight's Eurovision Song Contest. Former Dancing with the Stars contestant Rory told he hopes Israeli singer Yuval, who survived the Nova Festival massacre, sings 'her heart and soul out' when she performs on the world stage in Basel, Switzerland. 'I'll be voting for the Israeli act,' Rory told us. 'The song is fantastic, it's brilliant.' Rory Cowan. Pic: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos The Dubliner who has come in for torrential abuse has praised Yuval, who survived the slaughter by hiding under the bodies of her dead friends for four hours after the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7th 2023. 'She is such a lovely girl. And to survive what she went through, to survive by lying silent under the dead bodies of your friends for four hours takes incredible courage,' said Rory. While the Dubliner has never wavered from his staunch support of Israel, he said he also has enormous sympathy for the suffering of the citizens in Gaza. Yuval Raphael will represent Israel at Eurovision 2025. Pic: European Broadcasting Union 'The situation of Palestinians is terrible. The citizens in Gaza are in dire straits, there is no denying that,' said Rory. 'There is terrible suffering going on with them too, yeah, but you can't have, you can't have that living on your doorstep, letting things like what happened on October 7 go on just whenever they feel like it, and they're promising to do it again.' While Rory acknowledges the plight of the Palestinian people, he says the protests in Dublin City Centre are overshadowing every other cause in Ireland. 'The protests here are disgraceful. I can only talk about Ireland on this, but I've seen, because when I go into town, I'm always around the Baggot Street area so I would be passing by the Dail quite a lot on my way through,' he explained 'And the Palestinian protests always seem to be there.'
