Brendan Grace facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brendan Grace
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Grace with Frank Sinatra in Dublin, 1991
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| Born | 1 April 1951 |
| Died | 11 July 2019 (aged 68) Galway, Ireland
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| Occupation | Comedian, singer |
| Years active | 1969–2019 |
| Spouse(s) |
Eileen Doyle
(m. 1973) |
| Children | 4, including Bradley |
Brendan Grace (born April 1, 1951 – died July 11, 2019) was a famous Irish comedian and singer. He was best known for his funny schoolboy character called 'Bottler'. He also acted in the 1995 movie Moondance and appeared in the Irish TV show Father Ted in 1996. His song "The Combine Harvester" was a number one hit in Ireland in 1975. His 1982 song "The Dutchman" is still loved by many.
Early Life in Dublin
Brendan Grace was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1951. He grew up on Echlin Street in a part of the city called The Liberties. His dad, Seamus, worked many different jobs to support their family. Like many young people in Dublin back then, Brendan left school when he was 13 years old to start working. His first job was delivering messages. He often joked about this job in his comedy shows.
Music and Comedy Career
When Brendan was 18, he started a band called the Gingermen. They played folk music and toured around Ireland in the 1960s. One night, two band members couldn't make it to a show. To keep the audience happy, Brendan was asked to go on stage and tell some jokes. He was naturally funny and great at observing everyday life in Ireland. The crowd loved him!
From that moment, Brendan Grace became a huge star. He performed in sold-out venues all over the world. He even shared the stage with famous singers like Frank Sinatra and John Denver. Frank Sinatra once called Brendan his "man in Europe."
Some of Brendan's most popular songs include "Cushie Butterfield" and "The Combine Harvester". "The Combine Harvester" was a number one hit in Ireland in 1975. His song "The Dutchman" is also very well-known.
Acting Roles
Brendan Grace also had a successful acting career. In 1995, he starred in the movie Moondance. The next year, he appeared in an episode of the popular TV show Father Ted called "New Jack City". In this episode, he played a character named Father Fintan Stack.
Later, in 2007, he played Big Sean in another TV show called Killinaskully. In 2015, he starred in a film called The Gift. He also brought back his famous 'Bottler' character for a TV movie in 2013. This movie, also called Bottler, showed what Bottler was like when he was younger.
Personal Life and Legacy
Brendan Grace married Eileen Doyle in 1973. They had four children: Melanie, Brendan, Amanda, and Bradley. Bradley is known for being a member of the American band Poison the Well.
In 2009, Brendan Grace released his autobiography, a book about his life, called Amuzing Grace. Later in his life, he spent his time between his home in Jupiter, Florida, USA, and his pub in Killaloe, County Clare, Ireland. He named his pub Brendan Grace's Bar.
Brendan Grace passed away on July 11, 2019, at the age of 68. He had been diagnosed with pneumonia and died from lung cancer. His funeral was held in Dublin and thousands of fans came to say goodbye. They lined the streets outside the church and along the procession route. A year later, his family scattered his ashes on Lough Derg, a lake near their home in Killaloe. A special seat was also placed in Killaloe at his favorite spot, where he used to feed the ducks and swans.
