‘Great man’: Tributes for Emmet Bergin, the rogue of Glenroe
Actor played the suave Dick Moran in hit soap
THE actor brother of former Glenroe star Emmet Bergin, who has died suddenly, has praised his sibling as ‘an inspiration and a great man’.
The late star – best known for playing roguish businessman Dick Moran in the soap – died last Friday, March 15, surrounded by his loved ones.
He is survived by his wife Sarah and their two children, Gavan and Tara.
In a statement to RTÉ, his daughter Tara said: ‘Sadly, dad died on Friday morning [March 15] at home. It was unexpected.
‘He had only recently been alerted to a possible heart issue and had been discharged from a short stay in hospital.’
She continued: ‘We thought and hoped he would be okay. We were all at home when it happened – my mum Sarah, my brother Gavan and me.
‘He was such an important presence in our lives. He will be greatly missed.’
Bergin was best known for his appearances in Glenroe from the beginning of the soap in 1983 up to 2001, when it was broadcast from September to May, each Sunday night at 8.30pm.
Following the lives of the people living in a fictional rural village in Co. Wicklow, the hugely popular show also starred Mick Lally, Joe Lynch, and Mary McEvoy.
Bergin played the suave Dick Moran, whose frequent philandering rocked the nation and tormented his on-screen wife Mary, played by Geraldine Plunkett. Dick and Mary split, and he went on to marry Venetia, portrayed by Maria McDermottroe.
Emmet’s brother Patrick Bergin, 73, also a famous actor, is best known for his leading role opposite Julia Roberts in the film Sleeping With The Enemy.
He also played the title character in Robin Hood, terrorist Kevin O’Donnell in Patriot Games and the villainous Aidan Maguire in the BBC soap EastEnders from 2017 to 2018. Paying tribute to his sibling online, he wrote: ‘Sharing the sad passing of our brother Emmet who was an inspiration and a great man.
‘Love you Emmet. RIP.’
In addition to his work on Glenroe, Emmet also starred in Excalibur in 1981 and the RTÉ thriller The Burke Enigma. He also appeared in the drama The Clinic. His extensive stage work with the Abbey Theatre included True West, The Silver Tassie and Philadelphia, Here I Come!.
He also played former Sunday Independent editor Aengus Fanning in the 2003 biopic about journalist Veronica Guerin opposite Cate Blanchett.
He lived in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, and his family were originally from Carlow.
His father Patrick was a former Carlow Sugar employee, local trade union official and Labour Party politician who failed to get elected to the Dáil in the Carlow Kilkenny constituency in 1948 but was later nominated by the Taoiseach to the Seanad in 1954.
The actor will be reposing on Monday from 5pm to 7pm in the Carnegies funeral home in Monkstown, Co. Dublin.
A service to celebrate Emmet’s life will be held on Tuesday at 3.15pm in the Victorian Chapel, Mount Jerome Crematorium, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6.
Announcing his death, Emmet’s family said: ‘Dearly beloved husband and best friend of Sarah and loving dad to Gavan and Tara. He will be very sadly missed by his wife, son, daughter, son-inlaw Alan, his cherished grandson Jack, sister Siobhán, brothers Pat, Pearse and Allen, nieces, nephews, extended family and many friends.’
‘Such an important presence’
‘He will be very sadly missed’