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Interviews - Declan Rooney
Hi to everybody out there. I'm Declan Rooney - who cares? Ah the hell with it... I do.
Having qualified from the prestigious Dublin Theatre School, Declan Rooney performed several service roles delivering the immortal lines: "Today's specials are... " in restaurants and cafes around the world.
But it was his critically acclaimed work as a telemarketing specialist that has seen him endure years of soul-destroying work. Along with paying off a mortgage on a house that has since landed him in negative equity, he has worked in the underworld of Irish comedy as both a club promoter and writer/performer.
He was a finalist in RTE's New Comedy Competition 2001 but luckily lost out to another contender who hated his old day job more.
Despite all this stagnation, Declan has continued to write and perform; working collaboratively with some of the hottest talent on the burgeoning comedy scene in Dublin. All the burgeoning talent meets once a week at the centre for burgeoning talent and they create a scene - Declan works with them.
He is delighted to be part of Headwreckers; it gives him hope without making him feel too anxious.
What do you think your part is in the dynamic of Headwreckers?
To get the rest of them on the telly.
What's your hidden talent?
Mash and gravy.
Did you always want to be a comedian?
No. I wanted to be Buzz Aldren and walk out of a space ship alive
Did the writers' room style of Headwreckers provide more freedom when you were coming up with ideas for sketches?
No. I felt alone in there sometimes and in the dark but then I read some stuff and I am brighter now... thank God.
What's your favourite sketch in Headwreckers and why?
The stuff that sparkles.
How did you feel when you were told Headwreckers would become a Comedy Lab?
I thought of all those guinea pigs who went before and froze like a petri dish.
If you could do a sketch with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be?
Peter Sellers
If you weren't a comedian what would you be?A disco king.
