# Peter Caffrey

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**Peter Caffrey** (18 April 1949 – 1 January 2008) was an [Irish](/source/Republic_of_Ireland) actor best known for playing Padraig O'Kelly on Series 1–4 of *[Ballykissangel](/source/Ballykissangel)* and Christy Barry on [Bracken](/source/Bracken_(TV_series)).[1] He was also known for playing the role of the [Eurosong selection](/source/UK_national_selection_for_the_Eurovision_Song_Contest) judge Charles Hedges in the Irish comedy *[Father Ted](/source/Father_Ted)* on the episode "[A Song for Europe](/source/A_Song_for_Europe_(Father_Ted))" and for voicing a popular Christmas radio advertisement for [Barry's Tea](/source/Barry's_Tea) in 1994.

Peter Caffrey was born in [Dublin](/source/Dublin) on the day the [Republic of Ireland Act 1948](/source/Republic_of_Ireland_Act_1948) came into effect to create the [Republic of Ireland](/source/Republic_of_Ireland). He studied at a seminary for two years before leaving to pursue an English degree at [University College Dublin](/source/University_College_Dublin). He worked for a year as a primary school teacher, before becoming involved with Dublin's Project Theatre.[2] He appeared in nearly thirty television and film roles, and also had a solid theatre career in both Dublin and [London](/source/London).

He married a woman named Brenda Banks in 1980.[citation needed]

After moving to London in 1983, he became a familiar face on UK television,[3] with minor roles in *[Casualty](/source/Casualty_(TV_series))*, *[The Bill](/source/The_Bill)* and *[Peak Practice](/source/Peak_Practice)*.

After overcoming [cancer of the mouth](/source/Oral_cancer) (a diagnosis he received in 1990), and despite a divorce from his wife in 1990, he achieved success in *[Ballykissangel](/source/Ballykissangel)*.

Despite suffering a [stroke](/source/Stroke) in 2000, which left him paralysed on his right side, he managed to play a character with a similar affliction in *Sweet Dancer* in 2005 (a film which was never released).[citation needed]

He never fully recovered from the effects of his stroke, and died at the age of 58 on 1 January 2008 in [Shrewsbury](/source/Shrewsbury), [Shropshire](/source/Shropshire).[4] His body was returned to Ireland for cremation in [Mount Jerome Cemetery](/source/Mount_Jerome_Cemetery_and_Crematorium), Dublin, on 8 January 2008. Caffrey was survived by three sisters, Linda, Carol, and Sheila. His brother David had pre-deceased him in July 2007.[citation needed]

## References

1. [Veteran Irish actor Peter Caffrey (58) dies - News & Gossip, Entertainment - Independent.ie](https://archive.today/20120804174837/http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/veteran-irish-actor-peter-caffrey-58-dies-1255742.html)

1. [Peter Caffrey: Padraig in 'Ballykissangel' - Obituaries, News - Independent.co.uk](http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article3307560.ece) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20080105034325/http://news.independent.co.uk/people/obituaries/article3307560.ece) 2008-01-05 at the Wayback Machine

1. [[http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0101/caffreyp.html](http://www.rte.ie/news/2008/0101/caffreyp.html) RTÉ News: Actor Peter Caffrey dies at 58

1. Death notice, page 29, *[The Irish Times](/source/The_Irish_Times)*, 8 January 2008

## External links

- [Peter Caffrey](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0128460/) at IMDb

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Peter Caffrey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Caffrey) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Caffrey?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.