Pat Shortt

Pat Shortt, born Patrick Shortt on 12 December 1967 in Thurles, County Tipperary, is a celebrated Irish actor, comedian, writer and entertainer whose career has spanned more than three decades. From his early days after studying at the Limerick School of Art and Design, Shortt launched into stand‑up comedy, quickly becoming a household name through the partnership with Jon Kenny as the wildly popular duo D'Unbelievables. Their sketch‑laden videos—One Hell of a Video, D'Unbelievables, D'Video, D'Telly, D'Mother and D'collection—captured the quirks of rural Ireland, with Shortt’s memorable characters such as Dan Clancy, the raconteur of “his stories”, earning sold‑out runs at Vicar Street for fourteen consecutive weeks. After the duo halted touring in 2000 due to Kenny’s illness, Shortt transitioned seamlessly to television, delivering a standout performance as the eccentric, unibrowed Tom in the cult classic sitcom Father Ted, a role that cemented his place in Irish pop‑culture. In 2003 RTÉ commissioned Shortt to helm the comedy series Killinascully, where he revisited many beloved D'Unbelievables characters and expanded his repertoire over five seasons and six Christmas specials. His film breakthrough arrived with Lenny Abrahamson’s 2007 Cannes‑selected Garage, where his portrayal of the titular garage‑owner won him the Irish Film & Television Academy’s Best Actor award in 2008, and even earned a postal stamp featuring his image as "Josie". Subsequent work includes guest‑starring in Moone Boy, creating the Garda‑station comedy Mattie (later re‑worked), and collaborating with his daughter Faye on online sketches and live shows such as “Well”. A father of three, married to Caroline Shortt, he remains an influential figure in Irish entertainment, continuously blending satire, heart, and an unmistakable rural charm.