Colin Farrell was born in Castleknock, Dublin, the son of Rita (née Monaghan), a homemaker, and Eamon Farrell, who operates a health food store and was a footballer who played for Shamrock Rovers FC. Farrell has three siblings, two sisters, Claudine (who is his personal assistant) and Catherine, and a brother, Eamon Óg. Farrell was educated at St. Brigid's National School Castleknock followed by Castleknock College and Gormanston College. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he was a promising young football player for Dublin team, Castleknock Celtic, as a goalkeeper and dated Angie Miller. Farrell auditioned for the Irish group Boyzone when he was still unknown, but was unsuccessful as he was tone-deaf. Farrell attended The Gaiety School of Acting, but dropped out and was cast in the part of Danny Byrne on Ballykissangel, a BBC television drama. Farrell appeared on the show from 1998 to 1999.