Person to Person: 'I make an incredible meat pie, but it costs about €40..thank god for the vouchers'

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026 - 07:56

Tell us about yourself;

I’m Shane Casey, an actor who writes plays on occasion. It’s something I want to do more of, to be honest. I do workshops in schools and for businesses about resilience and communication. It’s something I take great pride and enjoyment in. I’m in a show called The Young Offenders, and the kids get a great bit of excitement when I turn up at their school for a ‘chat’. I know it can affect them in a positive way, and I’ve had great feedback from them and their teachers, too. I’m also an Ambassador for Irish Guide Dogs, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, and they have been honoured as Grand Marshal of the Cork St Patrick’s Day parade.

Where were you born?

I was born in Berlin the day the wall came down. Apparently, there were a lot of celebrations, and my father got stuck trying to make it to the hospital. Ironically, he got involved in a small car accident and ended up in another part of the hospital overlooking a garden my mother could also see...how odd. He is fine.

Where do you live?

I live in Cork again after years in Dublin. I wanted to see what living in the country was like, so I briefly lived in Glenville during covid. I liked it a lot, but the city drew us back in.

Family? Yes, I have one, but I tend to be private enough about them. I overshare in day-to-day life. I also tend to lie about where I was born in interviews.

Best friend? The best friend question is a tricky one; life isn’t Top of the Pops. I have to work on being a better friend myself. I love it when you can just pick up where you left off with friends. Lots of different ones, let’s say. I’ll be diplomatic.

Earliest childhood memory? My earliest memory is visiting my baby sister in the hospital. I can remember what my mother was wearing.

Person you most admire? The person I most admire is people who volunteer. I love the Irish Guide Dogs and have been blessed to see the work that they do. Some of the volunteers are amazing.

Person who most irritates you? Guess! I suspect a lot of people would answer the same.

Where was your most memorable holiday?

Youghal in East Cork or Ownahincha in West Cork... Garretstown... loads of cousins around and Sam Spud crisps. Blessed honestly. City breaks are amazing too. The parks of Lisbon. Finding out you are going to be a dad in San Sebastian... but they wouldn’t have the crisp selection of the holidays of my youth.

Favourite TV programme?

The A Team.

Favourite radio show? Demi from The Young Offenders has one, so I’m gonna say her. You can’t buy loyalty these days (that’s €5 Demi. No rush).

Your signature dish if cooking? I do make an incredible meat pie. But I realised it was costing me about €40 to make... Thank God for the Dunnes vouchers, am I right!?

Favourite restaurant? Goldie is exceptional, but Cork has amazing places that I haven’t been to yet.

Last book you read? Adrian Russell has a brilliant children’s book about Irish sports stars. He had one about Cork winning the double also...the name of the last book I read escapes me at the minute.

Best book you read? I remember really enjoying On the Road. McQueen, a biography on Steve McQueen, it was something I returned to a few times. Biographies on actors were my diet for years... but it’s top of my list to read more short novels.

Last album/CD/download you bought? Embarrassingly, it’s Spotify, and this is only because I know a really annoying couple who bought/stole a record player, and I can’t face it... or them to discuss “Greatest Hits albums” being albums. THEY ARE NOT. I’m not lying. I’m just jealous they got a record player before us.

Favourite song? This week it is (again) After all by the Frank and Walters. Someone else in my house loves it, and that has given me even more joy from the song. Paul, who wrote it, is also a beautiful person, and I owe him a lot. Peter Foott made me sing it on a bus once, lucky me.

One person you would like to see in concert? I’m gonna say Neil Bourke in Man of La Mancha in Carrig un suire. Andrew Holden is directing it, so I know it will be great.

Do you have a pet? No pets, but love to visit the Irish Guide Dogs! Support them, please. I’ll be bingo caller at their 50th anniversary bingo night later this year!

Morning person or night owl? Morning person at the moment... I don’t have much of a choice, but it’s great.

Your proudest moment? What comes to mind is doing a show I wrote called Wet Paint in the Opera House. The response we got on the Friday night was very rewarding and emotional. My good friend Michael Sands and Tommy Harris knocked it out of the park that night. And our director Pat Talbot often brings it up to me...

Spendthrift or saver? Another thing I have to work on... let it with me.

Name one thing you would improve in your area in which you live? Safety for bus drivers and the bus service. Speed limits in my area annoy me. 30km on one road and 50km through a private park... The event centre fiasco was very frustrating, but Cork has gotten so many things right lately. I still think light rail could solve a lot of issues... breathe new life into towns and help with housing.

Some incentives to open up empty shops.... stop online shoppers from giving out about empty shops (wink). Decentralise parts of the Government to rural towns around the country and see how they like it.... (wink wink). Ask not what Cork can do for you but......

How would you like to be remembered? Hopefully, as someone who made people happy enough with shows I’ve been in or yet to be in. Or someone sound enough who sent someone a hello when they needed it. As a good dad or husband or friend or who knows... I might be none of those things... I’m like everyone else. I’m a pr*ck sometimes too.

I remember people like my grandparents who were kind, and the man who lived next door who talked to me and listened... I remember good teachers more than ever now... To be remembered is something on its own, I guess. We can’t dictate that and probably shouldn’t, but I hope it’s not for something stupid like being terrible on Dancing with the Stars.

What else are you up to at the moment?

I’m getting excited about directing a short film with two brilliant actors in Cork over the summer. I’m waiting on the release of The Young Offenders’ new season. Doing bits for the Irish Guide Dogs (watch this space) and I’m answering questions for The Echo at 5 to 2 in the morning (I’m only messin’).