Last night, Mick sadly passed away in the Northern Ireland Hospice.
He was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease 1st February 2023.
He was admitted 10 days ago and was cared for by the incredible team there. He passed peacefully surrounded by family and friends.
Words can’t describe how broken-hearted we are.
It’s been said more than once that Mick was an inspiration to everyone who was privileged enough to come into contact with him, not just in the past few years during his illness but in every day of his life. He lived a life as full as any human can live. Joy, abundance of spirit, infectious laughter. A titan of a ginger haired man.
We are so grateful for every person who supported us through the last few years.
Mick loved this quote from Brendan Behan and this feels appropriate now:
“The most important things to do in the world are to get something to eat, something to drink and somebody to love you.”
So, don’t overthink it.
Eat. Drink. Love.
Naomi - Mick’s wife
Well that's Richard III over.
A true once in a lifetime experience... (Unless another theatre fancies picking it up 😉)
I have never felt more love and support. Thank you to everyone who made the show, and everyone who came to see it. Couldn't be prouder of what we made.
A lot of people have been asking me about the final monologue - here it is (along with where we took the lines from).
#RICHARDIII #shakespeare #thetragedyofrichardiii
#irishtheatre #theatre
3 years of having mnd.
Still shite craic.
Health update: Basically me and @nomsheehan were in hospital for over a week there - speaking to doctors and getting tests done etc. Talking about risks and implications of getting the trache put in. What day to day life would be like after the operation.
In short I'm not going ahead with the tracheostomy.
I had confirmation from it would be around 6-12 months before I could get home due to lack of staffing resources. Thanks so much to everyone who helped push this - from senior social workers, to politicians, to the chief executive of the hospital. Everyone has tried so hard, but there just isn't the staff.
Also, my neurologist gave us the news that I likely have about 1 year left (obviously he can't say for definite and we still have hope for the drug trial to buy some more time too). So I don't want to risk a significant amount of that time being in a hospital bed.
Thanks so much for all the donations to the GoFundMe, even though I didn't go ahead with the trachesotomy - it will still go towards providing me with specialist care as I enter the final stages of life. I'm still overwhelmed by all your generosity.
Anyway - still lots to live for and lots planned - here's my wee godson Micheál visiting me in hospital.
2025: a year in sandwiches.
1. Home smoked pastrami
2. Meatball sub
3. Char siu pork bao
4. Lobster roll
5. Coppa & mortadella ciabatta
4. Bacon and cream cheese bagel
5. Fools gold (peanut butter, jam and bacon)
6. Hotdog with onions and sourkraut
7. Christmas sandwich (including a moistmaker)
8. Ham and cheese on sourdough with a fried egg & ballymaloe
9. Classic bacon
10. Classic sausage and egg bap
Shout out to my wife @nomsheehan for making almost all of these. Here's to many more sandwiches next year.
My ma takes wee notions every now and again.
This year was a blind sausage roll tasting.
Fair play to my auntie bronagh - her home made ones were the clear winner. Stay away from lidls finest. Rotten.
Merry Christmas.
One of the (very few and far between) good things about having a terminal illness is seeing all the love that exists in this world.
To every single person who donated and/or shared the link - thank you from the bottom of my heart. I genuinely cannot believe it.
I was planning on writing a load of stuff here, but I don't really have the words.
I love you all. But especially Conal, Andy, Gerard, Mark, Gavin, Smith, Steen, Nathan, Rory, Danny and Neal. (But especially you all.)
Helpless is now on iplayer!
It's a taster for a series we've been pitching as a Fargo-esque crime drama - normal people who get in over their head.
If that's your bag - give it a watch.
Then write to your local MP and tell them that helpless needs to be a full series! (I have a limited view on how these things work) Search 'helpless' on iplayer
Thank you to @belfastmediafest for hosting the preview screening of SO YOU’RE GOING TO DIE
SO YOU’RE GOING TO DIE is a short, proof of concept film written by the creative partnership, Michael Patrick and Oisín Kearney best known for BBC Three’s critically acclaimed MY LEFT NUT.
The film is a story, supported by NI Screen and inspired by Michael’s diagnosis with motor neurone disease and serves as a proof of concept for a returnable series in development.
Starring James Nesbitt, Conor MacNeill, Abigail McGibbon, Tara Lynne O’Neill, and special guests Ian McElhinney and Marie Jones, it also features the musician and singer @muireann_bradley , songs by Rory Gallagher, and an original score composed by @timwheeler1977 , of ASH.
DOP @conor_rotherham_camera
Production Designer @helenmlogan
Costume Designer @inmysoloera
Hair & Make up Design @nataliereidmakeuphairdesign
Editor @steph.mccutcheon
Produced by @two_cities_tv@connor1994richmond@rachelloganfee@carylbenee@sarah_hew
Two Cities Television is very proud to be screening SO YOU’RE GOING TO DIE on Thursday 13th November 2025 at 16:30, as part of the @belfastmediafest
SO YOU’RE GOING TO DIE is a short, proof of concept film written by the creative partnership, Michael Patrick and Oisín Kearney best known for BBC Three’s critically acclaimed MY LEFT NUT.
The film is a story, supported by @ni_screen and inspired by Michael’s diagnosis with motor neurone disease and serves as a proof of concept for a returnable series in development.
Starring James Nesbitt, Conor MacNeill, Abigail McGibbon, Tara Lynne O’Neill, and special guests Ian McElhinney, Marie Jones, it also features the musician and singer Muireann Bradley, songs by Rory Gallagher, and an original score composed by Tim Wheeler, of ASH.
Join us for a post-show panel discussion with the writers and cast and you can also tune in to the VINNY and CATE show on @bbcradioulster to hear an exclusive interview with James Nesbitt, Conor MacNeill and Michael Patrick on (Wednesday 12th November) at 11:35/11:40 and by following this link
- /programmes/m002lyvc
For more information on the screening and panel, visit
- /schedules/so-youre-going-to-die-screening-and-qa/
The Border Game by @michaelpatrick314 and @oisinkearney is now available for licensing!
Set on a farm on the border, a fence is in need of repair. When Sinead finds Henry hungover in her field, she ropes him in to help. But rebuilding a fence is more complicated than it seems. What begins as a simple task soon turns to talk of their past, a reliving of old memories and a relentless competition to come out on top.
A timely and powerful reflection on 100 years of the border in Ireland and how it has impacted those who live along it. Inspired by 100 testimonies from real people who live on the border.
Find out more via the link in bio. 🎭
