--- name: "Tommy Tiernan" canonical: "https://film.one/person/tommy-tiernan" roles: ["Actor"] born: "16 June 1969" reviewed_on_fi1m: 2 average_fi1m_score: 69 average_as: "actor" average_over: 2 updated: "2026-09-17T16:04:31.928046+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Tommy Tiernan Actor. Born 16 June 1969 in Carndonagh, Donegal, Ireland. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 16 June 1969, Carndonagh, Donegal, Ireland - **Active:** 2018–present - **Average Fi1m score:** 69, as actor, over 2 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 2010s 83 (1), 2020s 55 (1) - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Tiernan, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7703642, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0862916/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/107682 ## Streaming the US now - **Netflix:** [*Derry Girls*](https://film.one/tv/derry-girls.md) (83) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Tommy Tiernan > Tommy Tiernan knows how to be funny while letting someone else make the fuss. His Gerry in *Derry Girls* is a fine ensemble performance, built on the patience of a man who knows his defence will not be heard. In *Derry Girls* (2018), Gerry Quinn has done nothing to deserve Granda Joe’s hostility, which offers him no protection from it. Tommy Tiernan plays the son-in-law opposite Ian McElhinney’s tireless antagonist, giving the household someone who understands how unreasonable it is. We laughed at the unfairness of Joe’s campaign because Tiernan makes Gerry’s resignation so convincing. The joke depends on Gerry knowing this will never end, however well he behaves. It is a fine piece of supporting comedy, attentive to the other actors without letting Gerry disappear. His early screen work included *Father Ted* (1998), as Father Kevin, and *About Adam* (2000), as Simon. Stand-up then became his main occupation, with international touring taking precedence over acting. That makes the restraint of his return in *Derry Girls* worth noticing: a performer accustomed to holding an audience alone is content to serve a crowded scene. There is little here of the reckless manner associated with his stage work. He seems entirely content not to have the biggest laugh. Lisa McGee’s sitcom gives him useful opposition in Tara Lynne O’Neill’s Ma Mary, who runs the house through threats, as well as McElhinney’s Joe. Tiernan gives Joe’s hostility a credible recipient; the unfairness needs to register for the joke to work. There is a limit to the part, though. The series’ repeating plots can leave him in much the same thankless position, with less opportunity than the more unreasonable characters to surprise us. We value the precision, but would not pretend this one role tells us everything he can do. Later work includes voicing Seán Óg in *Wolfwalkers* (2020) and playing Dennis in *Conversations with Friends* (2022). Those credits take him into animation and drama, but Gerry remains our reason to recommend his acting. We would welcome another ensemble part with room for him to be less accommodating. Start with *Derry Girls*, and notice how much of the family comedy depends on the person getting the least respect. ## Biography Tommy Tiernan is an Irish actor, comedian and writer. He was born on 16 June 1969 in Carndonagh, County Donegal. He is known for his stand-up career and for hosting *The Tommy Tiernan Show* since 2017. His television acting roles include Da Gerry Quinn in *Derry Girls* (2018–2022) and Dennis in *Conversations with Friends* (2022). Earlier credits include Father Kevin in *Father Ted* (1998) and Simon in *About Adam* (2000). He also provided a voice in the animated film *Wolfwalkers* (2020). *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (2) - *Conversations with Friends* (2022), Fi1m 55, as Dennis — [page](https://film.one/tv/conversations-with-friends.md) - *Derry Girls* (2018), Fi1m 83, as Da Gerry Quinn — [page](https://film.one/tv/derry-girls.md) ## Complete filmography (26) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Tommy Tiernan: Tomfoolery* (2024), Writer - *Tommy Tiernan's Epic West* (2022), series, as Creator - *Joyride* (2022), as Ferryman - *Conversations with Friends* (2022), series, as Dennis — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/tv/conversations-with-friends.md) - *Wolfwalkers* (2020), as Sean Óg (voice) - *Dark Lies the Island* (2019), as Richard Tobin - *Tommy Tiernan: Under the Influence* (2018), Acting - *Captain Morten and the Spider Queen* (2018), as Senor Cucaracha (voice) - *Dave Allen at Peace* (2018), as Cully Tynan O'Mahony - *Derry Girls* (2018), series, as Da Gerry Quinn — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/derry-girls.md) - *The Poor Mouth* (2017), as Martin O'Bannasa - *Tommy Tiernan Stray Sod* (2014), Acting - *Tommy Tiernan: Cracked (The Comedian's Cut)* (2010), Writer - *Steamin' + Dreamin': The Grandmaster Cash Story* (2009), as Tommy Tiernan - *Tommy Tiernan: Bovinity* (2008), Tommy Tiernan, Writer - *Tommy Tiernan: OK Baby* (2007), Tommy Tiernan, Writer - *Tommy Tiernan: Loose* (2005), as Tommy Tiernan - *Tommy Tiernan: Cracked* (2004), Writer - *Stop! You're Killing Me* (2004), Acting - *Riblock Foundation* (2001), as Ernest - *About Adam* (2001), as Simon - *Small Potatoes* (1999), series, as Ed Hewitt - *Hold Back the Night* (1999), as John - *The Matchmaker* (1997), as Vince - *Angela Mooney Dies Again* (1997), as Timmy - *Father Ted* (1995), series, as Father Kevin --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/tommy-tiernan