Ireland’s oldest extra celebrates 90th birthday on Fair City

Edward Quinn started working on the show a year ago when his wife Oonagh died

Edward Quinn celebrating his 90th birthday on the set of Fair City with actor Tony Tormey. Photograph: Conor Healy
Edward Quinn celebrating his 90th birthday on the set of Fair City with actor Tony Tormey. Photograph: Conor Healy

Popular Irish television drama Fair City turns 30 this year, but it is also celebrating another milestone this year: being home to Ireland's oldest extra at 90 years old.

Edward Quinn, started working on Fair City a year ago when his wife Oonagh died.

Mr Quinn initially thought it might be a way to keep himself busy and help with the loss of his wife, but he is now a regular on the show and has been on set nearly every two weeks.

Before retirement, Mr Quinn was a quantity surveyor and had no experience in television or film. Recently he was featured in a number of Christmas episodes and had his 83-year-old brother Vincent join him on set for one of the days of filming.

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"It is fantastic to be involved in Fair City and experience something I have been watching for the last 30 years," Mr Quinn said.

"I feel like I am part of the Fair City family. I've made some great friends. I thought at 89 when my wife sadly passed, there would not have been much for me to do but I now have a new lease of life. I'm only sorry I didn't do this decades ago."

Mr Quinn got involved in the show through MovieExtras.ie, which is a casting company for extras on Irish television shows.

The Fair City casting manager at MovieExtras.ie, Debbie Byrne, said of Mr Quinn: "He is a gentleman and much loved by everyone on the set. We wish he had made the decision to become an extra years earlier."

Colin Gleeson

Colin Gleeson

Colin Gleeson is an Irish Times reporter