Quirke
Quirke (we never get to know his first name) is the consultant pathologist at the Holy Family Hospital in Dublin.
Quirke is a loner and he鈥檚 often to be found propping up the bar in McGonagle鈥檚, brooding over a solitary drink.
Quirke grew up in the harsh environment of Carricklea Industrial School for orphaned boys. He was rescued by , a rising star in Dublin鈥檚 legal profession, who took Quirke in and raised him as his own son. Garret and his wife had another son, , but Garret鈥檚 favourite was always Quirke. Garrett lavished attention on Quirke as Quirke was growing up 鈥� attention that he did not give to Mal. As a result, Quirke鈥檚 relationship with his adoptive brother has always been difficult.
In the 1930s, Quirke and Mal went to Boston to work in a local hospital. There they met their future wives, Delia and Sarah Crawford. Quirke鈥檚 wife Delia died twenty years ago and he has never remarried. He can鈥檛 help but wonder what his life would be like if he had married the woman he really loves, , Delia鈥檚 sister and Mal鈥檚 wife.
Gabriel Byrne
Gabriel Byrne is one of Ireland鈥檚 most respected actors, with a career spanning over three decades and multiple award nominations to his name.
Gabriel received rave reviews and an Irish Film and Television Award nomination for his role as Tom Dawkins in the Channel 4 thriller Secret State. His role as Dr. Paul Weston in the HBO drama In Treatment led to widespread critical acclaim, winning him a Golden Globe Award for Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series and two Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
On Broadway, Gabriel received a Tony nomination for his highly praised performance in Eugene O'Neill's Moon for the Misbegotten and won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Actor for his performance in A Touch of the Poet.
Gabriel is well known for his role as Dean Keaton in Bryan Singer鈥檚 Oscar nominated crime thriller The Usual Suspects, alongside Kevin Spacey and Benicio Del Toro, and as Tom Reagan in the Coen Brothers film Miller鈥檚 Crossing.
He recently appeared in the historical drama series Vikings聽and was also nominated for an Irish Film and Television Award (Best Actor) for his performance as Quirke. Forthcoming projects include The 33 directed by Patricia Riggen and Nobody Wants the Night directed by Isabel Coixet.
