Northern Ireland

Tim McGarry reveals he once considered religion before finding his calling in comedy circuit

Comedian Tim McGarry has spoke about his life for The St Patrick’s Podcast
Comedian Tim McGarry has spoke about his life for The St Patrick’s Podcast

TIM McGarry has revealed he once considered a religious career path before finding his calling in the comedy circuit.

The Belfast funnyman has described how he almost became a Christian Brother after being inspired by a cleric at school.

"I genuinely thought about becoming a Christian Brother at a very early stage," he said.

Mr McGarry also spoke about the impact of the Troubles on his life, particularly hearing the experiences of his father, a surgeon who treated victims of the conflict.

The star of the Blame Game - who is also known for playing Da in Give My Head Peace - was speaking to former Adoration Sisters turned pilgrim guides Martina Purdy and Elaine Kelly for The St Patrick’s Podcast.

Ms Purdy asked him about his faith and how he became an atheist and patron of NI Humanists after being raised a Catholic.

"I became an atheist when I was about 14, just around the time of confirmation," he said.

"I am a natural sceptic…I think the chances of there being a God are virtually zero…I just don’t buy it.

"I’m sorry. I don’t buy any religion."

He did say as a young person he was "quite devout".

"You know at one stage I was going to become a Christian Brother because I was taught by the Christian Brothers, Park Lodge," he said.

"There was a Brother Holian, who was a lovely, lovely man and my mother was very religious and I genuinely thought about becoming a Christian Brother at a very early stage."

During the podcast Mr McGarry shared his own experiences of the Troubles, including when his family home on the Antrim Road was set alight in 1981 by loyalists.

"I woke up to dense smoke and the feeling of panic and fear," he recalled.

Members of the Hole in the Wall Gang comedy troupe
Members of the Hole in the Wall Gang comedy troupe

He said he was able to see the funny side after learning that the attackers had spelled the word Protestant with a 'D', to which he thought: "Oh for God’s sake, someone is trying to kill me and they can’t even spell".

He also spoke about his father, who worked at the Mater Hospital during the worst of the Troubles. He recalled how upset his father became at the brutal deaths of milkman Eric Guiney and his son Desmond in the New Lodge area.

He said his father had to operate on the victims after they were set upon by a mob following the death of Bobby Sands in 1981.

"The child died first and then the father died a few days and I remember my father saying 'the father isn’t going to do' and he was shaking and it really affected him," he said.

Mr McGarry has made a career out of poking fun at politicians and paramilitaries and recently celebrated 25 years as a full-time comedian, which has seen him co-found The Hole in the Wall Gang with comedy partners Damon Quinn and Michael McDowell.

Away from the comedy circuit, he recently launched the St Patrick’s Way by the Coast - a six mile ancient pilgrimage route from Ballyhornan to Ardglass.

"You know I like a wee dander now and again. But the weather was superb the company was great.

"There was about a dozen of us on it, a very nice gentle walk with a break in the middle. I didn’t know that part of the country at all and I didn’t know Ballyhornan.

"The scenery was stunning and the company was great. I would recommend it to anybody."

The podcast is available on www.saintpatrickcentre.com

Members of the Hole in the Wall Gang comedy troupe
Members of the Hole in the Wall Gang comedy troupe