Colin Farrell's father Eamon who played soccer professionally dies 'after a long illness' at 83

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Actor Colin Farrell is mourning the devastating loss of his father, Eamon Farrell. 

The 48-year-old Irish actor’s father, a former pro soccer player, died on Wednesday, April 9. According to a death notice issued on the same day, Eamon passed away “peacefully” in Dublin, Ireland, aged 83.

Colin Farrell’s father Eamon died peacefully in Ireland

According to the notice, as reported by People, Eamon Farrell "passed peacefully, after a long illness bravely borne, in the loving care of his family and the excellent staff of the Whitworth Ward, Beaumont Hospital," in Dublin, Ireland. 

The passing of ‘The Penguin’ actor’s father was also confirmed by the Dublin-based professional soccer club Shamrock Rovers through an Instagram post on Thursday, April 10, writing, “The death has occurred of former Rovers player Eamon Farrell.”

Shedding light on Eamon’s professional soccer career, they wrote that he “joined Rovers in 1960 at 18 years of age from the famous schoolboy nursery club Home Farm.”

“A half back who was a minor and schoolboy Ireland international, Eamonn played alongside his older brother Tommy during his time at Milltown,” continued the soccer club in their post, which they accompanied with a grainy black-and-white photograph of Farrell’s father.

“Both were on the team that beat Shelbourne in the FAI Cup final in 1962 played in front of an attendance of 32,000,” the post continued. 

They ended with a phrase in Irish, “Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam,” that translates to "May his soul rest in peace."

As reported by People, Eamon is survived by his son Colin, and other children, including Catherine, Claudine and another son named Eamon, along with his wife, Colin’s mother, Eileen.

Colin Farrell's father made his life ‘more special’

While accepting the SAG Award for the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series for his performance in HBO’s ‘The Penguin’, Farrell gave a shoutout to his parents and his family. 

"My mom, Rita, my dad, Eamon, and the two people in my life who have made my life so much more special and so much more meaningful, so much more joyful than I ever truly thought possible: my son James and son Henry," said the ‘In Bruges’ actor. 

Previously in 2023, the actor told Variety about his upbringing, "I come from working-class stock. My parents weren't into films," before adding, "Now, films are the cornerstones of my relations with my two sons. We watch them and talk about them. Little moments in a movie can be so huge, and it’s important as a father to discuss them. I’ve always learned a lot from films."