Dublin’s inner city is abuzz with the success of one of its own, Barry Keoghan. Born and raised in the heart of the city in Summerhill, Keoghan has become one of Ireland’s most sought-after actors in recent years, inspiring many young people from working-class backgrounds to pursue their dreams in the arts.
Keoghan’s rise to stardom has been meteoric. He began his career as a teenage motorcycle thief in the crime-drama ‘Love/Hate’ on RTE, Ireland’s national broadcaster. His portrayal of his character’s fragile masculinity won critical acclaim and opened doors to bigger and better things.
In 2017, Keoghan starred in Christopher Nolan’s World War II epic ‘Dunkirk’. The film was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $526 million worldwide and earning eight Academy Award nominations. Keoghan played a young soldier named George, who is trying to escape the beaches of Dunkirk, and his performance was praised by critics worldwide.
Most recently, Keoghan has starred alongside Colin Farrell in ‘The Killing of a Sacred Deer’, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. The film premiered at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Best Screenplay Award. It’s a tense and haunting psychological thriller that challenges mainstream cinema’s conventions.
But it’s not just Keoghan’s body of work that has inspired people. His determination to succeed against all odds and to use his platform to help others is what sets him apart. Keoghan grew up in one of Dublin’s most deprived areas, where issues such as drug addiction and gang violence were commonplace. However, he refused to let his circumstances dictate his future, and instead turned to acting.
In an interview with The Guardian, Keoghan said, “I was always interested in acting, but I didn’t know how to do it, you know? I didn’t know who to talk to, or who to ask. But then I saw an advert online for an acting school, and I went for it. I worked in a bar at night, and I studied during the day. And then Love/Hate came along, and it all just took off from there.”
Keoghan is also an ambassador for Inner City Helping Homeless, a charity that helps Dublin’s homeless population. He has used his celebrity platform to raise awareness and funds for the charity, highlighting the plight of those who are affected by homelessness.
“There are so many people out there who are struggling just to get by,” Keoghan said in an interview with the Irish Mirror. “Inner City Helping Homeless does amazing work, and I want to do what I can to help them. It’s important to give back to the community that brought you up.”
His philanthropic work is not surprising given his own difficult experience of growing up in the inner city. Keoghan’s father passed away when he was a child, and the family struggled to make ends meet. However, he credits his tough upbringing for giving him the will to succeed.
“I think growing up in the inner city toughens you up, you know?” he said in the same interview with The Guardian. “It wasn’t easy, but it made me who I am today. It gave me the drive to succeed, and I’m grateful for that.”
Keoghan’s success is not just important for the inner city of Dublin, but for Ireland’s arts scene as a whole. He represents a significant shift in the country’s film industry, which has traditionally been dominated by the upper classes. Keoghan’s rise to fame has highlighted the need for greater opportunities for young people from working-class backgrounds in the arts.
The success of Barry Keoghan has been a source of pride for Dublin, and he has become a symbol of hope for many young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. His story shows that with hard work, perseverance, and a little bit of luck, anything is possible.