Birdy Sweeney began acting when he was in his 50s having spent much of his earlier life as a comic and bird impersonator. He won his distinctive nickname while still a schoolboy making his debut mimicking blackbirds as an 11-year-old on BBC Radio Ulster. Sweeney had a heart attack when he was only 40 and suffered from diabetes throughout his life. Despite his late start as an actor he managed to pick up many credits.