Eilish O'Carroll

Eilish O'Carroll (born 5 November 1952) is an Irish actress, writer, comedian and cast-member of the popular BBC sitcom, Mrs. Brown's Boys, where she plays the title character's best friend and neighbour, Winnie McGoogan. She also played Dr Flynn in the stage version of the show. Eilish is the sister of Mrs. Brown's Boys star and creator, Brendan O'Carroll.

Career O'Carroll has been a cast member of Mrs. Brown's Boys since its incarnation, and has played the role of Winnie McGoogan since the show's debut in 2011. She reprised her role in the 2014 film Mrs. Brown's Boys D'Movie and the 2017 chat show All Round to Mrs. Brown's.

In 2013, O'Carroll wrote and starred in an autobiographical one-woman stage show entitled 'Live Love Laugh'. She debuted the show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, for which she received positive reviews. She subsequently toured Live Love Laugh throughout the UK and Ireland up until 2018.

It was announced that O'Carroll would be a contestant on the third series of the Irish version of Dancing with the Stars in 2019.

Personal life She married her husband in 1971, with whom she had two sons, Stuart and Lee.

In 2003, O'Carroll began a relationship with a woman. She has stated she was homophobic until she came out in her forties. She now resides in Cork with her partner, Marian O'Sullivan.

In 2015, she was extremely outspoken in favour of the Together for Yes campaign during the referendum to amend the Irish constitution via the Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland.

In June 2025, while speaking to Joe Duffy on Liveline, her brother Brendan said: "Eilish is getting treatment at the moment and she's going through the hard bit but she's doing extremely well". He also added that his sister was "tough as nails, tough as nails." Brendan did not reveal which illness she is suffering from. In January 2026, O'Carroll revealed during an interview on The Six O'Clock Show that she had been receiving treatment for breast cancer.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2014 Mrs. Brown's Boys D'Movie Winnie McGoogan 2020 Tina Times Two Dance Teacher Short film

Television Year Title Role Notes 2002–2008 Mrs. Brown's Boys: The Original Series Hillary Nicholson / Winnie McGoogan Episodes 1–5 2011–present Mrs. Brown's Boys Winnie McGoogan Series 1–5, plus Christmas & New Year Specials; 50 episodes 2016 The Boring Diary of Frances Noone Granny Noone Television short 2017–2020 All Round to Mrs. Brown's Winnie McGoogan Series 1–4; 17 episodes 2019 Dancing with the Stars Herself - Contestant Series 3; episodes 1–3 (weeks 1–3) 2021 The Madame Blanc Mysteries Niamh Series 1; episode 5 2022 The Hit List Herself - Contestant Series 5; episode 12: "Christmas Special" (with Fiona O'Carroll) 2024 The Dry Old Lady Series 2; episode 1: "Birthday" 2025 Love of the Irish MJ Television film

Stage Year Title Role 1999 Mrs. Brown's Last Wedding Winnie McGoogan 2002, 2011–2012, 2017 Good Mourning Mrs. Brown 2002, 2012, 2014 Mrs. Brown Rides Again 2007, 2013, 2018 For the Love of Mrs. Brown 2009, 2015 How Now Mrs. Brown Cow 2013–2018 Live Love Laugh Herself