Seán McGinley known as Seán Mac Fhionnghaile, was an Irish

Irish people

The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 actor from County Donegal

County Donegal

County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...

. He was known primarily for his comic roles, particularly for his leading roles in the TG4

TG4

TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland....

 sitcoms C.U. Burn

C.U. Burn

C.U. Burn is a cult Irish language television comedy broadcast on the Irish language television channel TG4. It tells the tales of the County Donegal undertakers Charlie and Vincie Burn who run a turf-fueled crematorium. They are rivalled by another group of more professional undertakers led by...

and Gleann Ceo as well as RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta

RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta , abbreviated RnaG, is the Irish-language radio service of the public-service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. The station is available on FM in Ireland and via satellite and on the Internet.- History :...

 comedy series Cois Cuan. He was executive producer for the 12-part series, FFC and was a member of Aisteoiri Ghaoth Dobhair

Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair

Amharclann Ghaoth Dobhair , anglicized as Gweedore Theatre, is a local theatre in the Gaeltacht region of Derrybeg in the parish of Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland. It seats over 200 hundred patrons, and ever since it was opened by actress Siobhán McKenna, it has staged hundreds of plays in the...

an actors group.

Early life

He was born Seán McGinley in Gaoth Dobhair

Gweedore

Gweedore is an Irish-speaking district located on the Atlantic coast of County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. Gweedore stretches some 16 miles from Meenaclady in the north to Crolly in the south and around 9 miles from Dunlewey in the east to Magheraclogher in the west, and...

, County Donegal

County Donegal

County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...

. His mother, Grainne, was to outlive him.

Career

Best-known for his leading roles in television shows such as CU Burn and Gleann Ceo, he was executive producer for a further 12-part series, FFC, for TG4

TG4

TG4 is a public service broadcaster for Irish language speakers. The channel has been on-air since 31 October 1996 in the Republic of Ireland and since April 2005 in Northern Ireland....

. He was involved in the RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta comedy programme Cois Cuan. He also established Cul a Tigh, a television production company. He transformed a run-down factory near his home into a training school and production centre.

Personal life

His wife was Theresa. The couple had two daughters and two sons together. He died from cancer

Cancer

Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...

 at the age of 57 on November 1, 2009. He fought the disease for two years before dying on 1 November 2009. His funeral took place at Saint Columba's Church in Brinalack, Gaoth Dobhair two days later.