Owen McDonnell was born in Galway the youngest of four children. Having long nurtured a desire to act he studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, rather than at any Irish academy, simply, he says, because it was the cheapest. Upon graduation he made London his home, along with partner Jill, who works in corporate finance. He has returned to Ireland on several occasions to appear on stage at the Abbey Theatre in plays such as 'The Plough and the Stars' and 'A Doll's House', playing Torvald and has a wide theatrical resume of English stage roles. 'Single-Handed', filmed in Connemara, is his first regular television series.