'Posh English actor playing Roy Keane in Saipan? That would have been a nightmare...'

Niall McNamee, an actor and singer, has been involved in the music industry from a young age and is on the verge of releasing his debut album.

This is a significant year for him. He has also completed production on the highly anticipated film Saipan, in which Éanna Hardwicke stars as Roy Keane, while he takes on the role of Alan Kelly, recalling the controversial events in the Ireland soccer camp before the 2002 World Cup.

McNamee, of Tullamure, is set to embark on an extensive tour to promote his new album and will play in the Sea Church venue in Ballycotton this October.

He says getting the role in Saipan was a dream, partly because it meant starring alongside Steve Coogan, who plays Ireland manager Mick McCarthy.

“It was a dream come true because I am the biggest Alan Partridge fan, so working with Steve was fantastic,” McNamee said.

“As a football fan, I think many people will want to see this because we are curious about how these events unfolded.

“I had the opportunity to watch it just like everyone else and see the story develop.”

The film follows the sensational events at a training camp on the island of Saipan which saw Roy Keane and Mick McCarthy come to verbal blows, a rift that divided the nation.

McNamee was a child when the events unfolded but remembers much of what happened.

“I remember that, since the event was in Japan, we would be up first thing in the morning, watching soccer with bacon sandwiches.

“I remember being taken out of class to watch the games.

“Saipan became a massive talking point for the entire country, especially for people in Cork, due to Roy Keane’s involvement.

“As a football fan, getting to play Alan Kelly was a dream come true.”

Goalkeeper Kelly won 34 caps for Ireland, and in 2002 was the under-study to Shay Given.

McNamee says that Glanmire actor Hardwicke is perfectly cast as Keane.

“I am so delighted for Éanna. They could have cast a famous posh English actor to play Roy, but that would have been a nightmare.

“The fact that they cast a Cork lad to play Roy shows how serious they were about getting this right.”

McNamee also says that Hardwicke stepped into the role of a leader on set, much like captain Keane on the football field.

“In any role, and speaking from my own experience, if you’re in the lead role of a film, you need to ensure you deliver top-notch performance in terms of acting but it’s also crucial to be a leader.

“The attitude of the main actor influences the entire cast. Éanna handled this perfectly; he guided the cast just as effectively as Roy led the team, and it felt appropriate for the part.

“You would willingly follow Éanna into battle.”

McNamee says he was always inclined towards music and acting, and as a small baby would hum songs.

“My mother said before I could talk, I would sing, which she thought was normal, but she later found out it was unusual.

“I’d always wanted to do both, maybe that’s greedy, but it’s the dream. I know many actors who sing, but they don’t pursue it as a career, and vice versa. However, they both came together for me.

“I moved to London when I was a teenager to find a way to do both, and luckily, I have been able to.”

Despite singing for many years, McNamee explains that he is late to releasing music.

“This is my debut album. I’ve released a few singles and a couple of EPs before, and I’ve been making music for a long time. I didn’t start releasing my work until four years ago. I was a bit naive. I thought you needed a record deal, so I was waiting, but then I had to make a decision and go for it.”

The singer says the album is a mix of old and new music, all of which tells a story about who he is.

“I wanted it to be a statement. This is who I am. I wrote some of the songs as a teenager, others before we recorded the album, and some while we were recording.

“It’s a mixed album; it feels like a big moment for me. It is a footprint of who I am.”

McNamee has supported many prominent bands and says it is always an opportunity to learn.

“You can learn a lot from other bands. While I won’t name any specific ones, there are some that I admire and think, ‘I really want to do what they’re doing’, but I’ll probably die.

“Some bands are smart and really look after themselves, but that seems boring. It is about finding a balance. I want a bit of both worlds.

“I remember being backstage with Rod Stewart; he’s part of that generation of party animals, but he was warming up for ages nonstop. I realised, of course he is, because his voice is amazing. That was the lesson: you don’t get it for free; you’ve got to keep on top of it.”

McNamee, who fought Jackie Chan in one of his first film roles, is looking forward to bringing his music to Cork audiences.

“I’ve never been to Sea Church before, but I’ve heard amazing things about it.

“I have a fantastic local artist from Cork who will be supporting me. His name is Andrew Fletcher, and he is truly talented.

“Cork has always been incredibly good to me, and I have a special fondness for the city. Audiences can expect laughter, tears, and leave feeling better about themselves”

For information on the tour, see www.niallmcnamee.com

Saipan will have its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival next month