Brolly was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The son of Clark Brolly, 1930-2014, a colorful salesman, and Rosemary Brolly, formally Griffin. The third of four siblings, he has two brothers: Clark and Michael 1968-2006, and one sister, Cathy. At age ten, Brolly's father got him into boxing, but his mother, whose brother was a former professional boxer and punched drunk, pulled him from the sport and suggested tennis, as there were courts nearby. Within three years Shane was ranked #3 in N. Ireland and #1 in doubles. At fourteen, a nasty fall out of a four story hotel window at the Portrush Tennis Tournament broke every bone in both his legs and sadly ended his hopes at a career as a tennis player.Growing up in Belfast in a mixed religion home was difficult for the young Brolly. His mother was a Catholic and father a Protestant, a big no-no as there was a sectarian war going on between Protestants and Catholics. Tired of the mindless violence, Shane left Belfast at age fifteen and moved to London with a friend. Broke and nowhere to stay, Shane's first accommodation was a soup kitchen in the West End. Unfortunately, he wasn't old enough to enter and had to sleep on the street the first night. The second night he lied and said he was sixteen and happily took a bunk in the flea infested flop house. After working odd jobs Shane saved enough to come to America; where once again, he had to sleep on the streets as his money only lasted one month at a motel. Park benches, construction sites and abandoned cars were Shane's first glimpse at the American dream, but it was better than the war zone he left behind.Using the Valley College for showering and cheap food Shane ran into some theater students who suggested he sign up for their class. Soon thereafter he was cast as an Irish cop in the play:"Wait until Dark" at the college's Horse Shoe Theater. Shane finally left the college and started working in construction, getting his contractor's license, which allowed him no time for the theater. After a five year hiatus he started back at acting, taking classes, studying the Meisner technique. In 1997 Shane landed his first role as Jack in the indie Movie "Flypaper" alongside Robert Loggia and Craig Sheffer.