Frank O'Donovan

Frank O'Donovan (10 October 1900 – 28 June 1974) was an Irish actor, singer and songwriter. He is best remembered for playing the character of Batty Brennan for 10 years in Ireland's first TV soap, The Riordans.

Personal life He was born in Dublin, Ireland to a family interested in amateur dramatics, which included his brother Harry O'Donovan. In the 1940s he set up his own acting company and for years toured Ireland and England with the "Frank O'Donovan Show" or the "Dublin Follies".

While on the road he composed and sang songs. In 1940 he recorded "The Road by the River" which was later covered by many singers in Ireland, including Margo O'Donnell who had a hit with it in 1968, and T.R. Dallas.