Fair City is an Irish television soap opera first broadcast on RTÉ One in 1989. The following is a list of characters who currently appear in the programme and a list of former characters, listed in order of first appearance. Some characters have been recast since their first appearance.
| Character | Actor | Character duration |
|---|---|---|
| Paul Brennan[1] | Tony Tormey | 1989–present |
| Hughie Phelan[2] | Joe Hanley | 1990–1997, 2008, 2014–present |
| Dolores Molloy[3] | 1992–present | |
| Kira Cassidy[4] | Carla Young | 1995–2004, 2008–2009 |
| Lynseyann Mulvey | 2022–present | |
| Leo Dowling[5] | Dave Duffy | 1996–present |
| Dean Dowling | Aidan Kelly | 1996 - 1998 |
| Michael Sheehan | 2008 - 2013, 2015 - present | |
| Damien Halpin[6] | Maclean Burke | 1998–present |
| Renee Phelan[7] | Úna Crawford O'Brien | 1998–2009, 2012, 2014–present |
| Carol Foley[8] | 1999–present | |
| Orla Kirwan[9] | Sorcha Furlong | 2000–present |
| Ray O'Connell[10] | Mick Nolan | 2001–present |
| Sean Cassidy | Andrew Duane | 2002, 2007 |
| 2008 - present | ||
| Mondo O'Connell[11] [12] | 2002–2005, 2008–2009, 2013–present | |
| Juliet O'Connell | Uncredited | 2003 - 2004, 2008 - 2009 |
| Laoise Murphy | 2014 - 2015 | |
| Ella Barton | 2017 - present | |
| Bob Charles[13] | 2005–present | |
| Doug Ferguson[14] | Wesley Doyle | 2007–present |
| Pete Ferguson[15] | 2007–present | |
| Patrick "Cass" Cassidy | 2009 - present | |
| Ruth Brennan[16] | Kacey Wallace | 2010–present |
| Tommy Dillon[17] | Geoff Minogue | 2010–present |
| Dearbhla Dillon | Kerrie O'Sullivan | 2010–2012 |
| Maria Oxley Boardman | 2018–present | |
| Jack Gleeson[18] | Ryan Keogh | 2011–present |
| Sasha "Sash" Bishop[19] | Stephanie Kelly | 2011–2012, 2015–2021, 2023–present |
| Charleigh Bailey[20] | 2021 | |
| Zoe Allen | Lauren Kinsella | 2011–2017, 2022–2023 |
| Connie Doona | 2023–present | |
| Junior Molloy[21] | Uncredited | 2014–2015 |
| Charlie Duffy | 2016–present | |
| Hayley Collins[22] | Rebecca Grimes | 2015–present |
| Nikki Duff | Kiara Noonan | 2015 - 2017, 2024 - present |
| Nora Keogh[23] | Ruth Hegarty | 2016–present |
| Melanie Ryan | Nyree Yergainharsian | 2016–present |
| Alex Petrosian[24] | Adam Karim | 2017–present |
| Anto Collins[25] | Paul Ronan | 2018–present |
| Sharon Collins[26] | Neili Conroy | 2018–present |
| Erica Allen | Roxanna Nic Liam | 2018–present |
| Mairead Casey | Amy Kirwan | 2018–present |
| John "Bosco" Walsh | 2019–present | |
| Liam Plunkett | Aidan Kelly | 2020, 2024 - present |
| Phelim Drew | 2020–2021 | |
| Anna MacShane | Colleen Keogh | 2021–present |
| James Rafferty | Matthew O'Brien | 2021–present |
| Joan Howley | Noni Stapleton | 2022–present |
| Con Rafferty | Liam Carney | 2022–present |
| Nora Ferguson | Poppy Dixon Hollywood | 2022–present |
| Maxine Stapleton | Elaine Purdue | 2022–present |
| Gareth Boyle | Shane Quigley Murphy | 2022–present |
| Georgie Dennis | Shaun Dunne | 2023–present |
| Jacinta Boyle | Deirdre Donnelly | 2023–present |
| Gwen Connolly | Emily Lamey | 2023–present |
| Babs Mullen | Ali Fox | 2023 - present |
| Ruby Mullen | Rachel Wren | 2023 - present |
| Jess Mullen | Ciana Howlin | 2023 - 2024 |
| Aoife Bawle | 2024 - present | |
| Greg Kiely | Shane McCarthy | 2023 - present |
| Fergal Boyle | Craig Connolly | 2023 - present |
| Victor Mullen | Mark Asante | 2023 - present |
| Stephen "Steo" Nash | Gerard Jordan | 2023 - present |
| Taylor Kiely | Leon Durkin | 2023 - present |
| Emma Rafferty | Tara Flynn | 2024 - present |
| Detective Michael Buckley | Aiden O'Hare | 2024 - present |
| Nick Jones | Paul Butler Lennox | 2024 - present |
The following characters departed Carrigstown.
| Character | Actor | Character duration | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mark Halpin | 2001 - 2010 | ||
| Cal Kenealy | 2010 - 2011, 2018, 2022, 2024 | Left following his sister Laura's funeral | |
| Bela Doyle | Jim Bartley | 1990 - 2023 | Departed off-screen after the actor retired |
| Jane Black | Rachel Pilkington | 2013 - 2023 | Departed off-screen |
| Dermot Fahey | Seamus Power | 1997 - 2007, 2022 - 2023 | Left for a new job after being released from prison for killing Cian Howley. |
| Isaac "Zak" Dillon | Kevin Joyce | 2010–2012 | |
| Peter Corboy | 2019 | ||
| Stephen O'Leary | 2021–2024 | Fled to Spain to avoid being arrested for kidnapping Carol Foley. | |
| John Deegan | Tommy O'Neill | 2001 - 2023 | Departed off-screen due to the actor's health troubles |
| Jon McCarthy | Paul McQuaid | 2022 - 2023 | Went on a World tour with his band. |
| Lee Collins[27] | Dave Kelly | 2018–2021 | Moved to London after the death of Will Casey. |
| Darragh Collins | Ben Condron | 2018–2021 | |
| Mikey Moen | Brian Quinn | 2021 | |
| Cristiano San Martin | Rodrigo Ternevoy | 2017–2022 | Moved to Brussels with his boyfriend Patrick. |
| Laura Halpin | Ruth Gilligan | 2001 - 2005 | |
| Liana O'Cleirigh | 2011–2022 | Moved away from Carrigstown for a fresh start and was later murdered. | |
| Wayne Molloy | Stephen Swift | 1999, 2005, 2008 | |
| Victor Burke | 1992 - 1997, 2009 - 2019 | Departed offscreen after splitting from wife Orla Kirwan | |
| Farrah Phelan | Fiona Glascott | 1998–1999 | |
| Sinead Keenan | 1999 | ||
| Denise McCormack | 2001–2003 | ||
| Caroline Harvey | 2014–2019 | ||
| Emmett Fitzgerald | Colin O'Donoghue | 2005 | |
| Barry O'Hanlon | Patrick David Nolan | 1989–2011, 2019–2020 | Locked up in jail in 2011 |
| Suzanne Halpin | Sarah Flood | 1989–2013 | |
| Yvonne Doyle | Alex MacDowall | 1991–1998 | |
| Ciara O'Callaghan | 1998–2004, 2008–2014 | Leaves Carrigstown for a fresh start after being raped. | |
| Heather Daly[28] | Úna Kavanagh | 2003–2009, 2014–2019, 2021 | Moved to Brazil. |
| Eleanor Daly[29] | Uncredited | 2005 | |
| Susie Power | 2008–2009, 2015–2021 | ||
| Anthony Brady[30] | Ciaran Reilly | 2002–2009 | Moved to Cork to accept a job as a publisher. |
| Adam Bermingham[31] | Alan McMahon | 2007–2008 | Moved to Manchester to continue his studies. |
| Xavier "Zumo" Bishop[32] | Patrick Fitzpatrick | 2007–2013, 2016 | Left with his mother and sister after his father was murdered. He returned briefly in 2016 for Decco's wedding. |
| Connie Boylan[33] | Lisa Harding | 2009–2010 | Moved back to Australia to care for her father, Ronan. |
| Russell Brown[34] | Conor Delaney | 2011 | Moved to the United States with his partner Ingrid and her children Clara and Joey. |
| Caitriona Cassidy[35] | Louise Meade | 1999–2014 | Moved to Manchester to stay with her sister Kira. |
| Patricia Collins[36] | Bairbre Ní Chaoimh | ????–2010 | Moved to Mullingar, County Westmeath, with severe liver damage from alcohol abuse. |
| Jennifer Conway[37] | Karen Ardiff | ????–2010 | Applied for a job transfer to Galway, her home county. |
| Kay Costello[38] | Sheila McWade | 1989–2008 | Moved to Limerick to find employment there. |
| Malachy Costello[39] | Gerard Byrne | 1996–2009 | Moved out of Ireland, with his partner Lara and her daughter Jane. |
| Ursula Cruise[40] | 2004–2009 | Moved to live in England with her son, Enda. | |
| Robert Daly[41] | Sam Peter Corry | 2009–2012 | Moved to Belfast to accept a job as a lecturer. |
| Terry Deegan | Julie Hale | 2001–2007 | Moved to Dublin to look after her elderly parents. |
| T. J. "Tony Jr" Deegan[42] | Ian Kenny | 2006–2007 | Moved to Dublin with his mother, Terry, to look after his grandparents. |
| Troy Dowling[43] | Andrew Macklin | 2008–2009, 2017, 2020 | Moved to Benidorm to accept a job as a DJ. He returned for two weeks in March 2017 to visit his family. |
| Jimmy Doyle | 1991–2008 | Emigrated to Australia after his mother, Rita, was placed in a nursing home. | |
| Geraldine Fahey[44] | Carmel Stephens | 2002–2009 | Moved out of Ireland after becoming impoverished. |
| Ali Foley[45] | Doreen Corrigan | 2005–2009, 2020 | Moved to Leeds to live with her partner Colm Joyce and her son Lorcan Foley, Jr. |
| Lorcan Foley, Jr[46] | Kyle Finnerty | 2007–2010 | Moved to Leeds to live with his mother Ali Foley and her boyfriend Colm Joyce. |
| Sylvester Garrigan[47] | Frank O'Sullivan | 2005–2006 | He is assumed to be in prison. |
| Felix Jones[48] | Yare Jegbefume | 2009–2010 | Returned to South Africa to become a patron for a local charity. |
| Kylie Kavanagh[49] | Vicky Burke | 2004–2009 | Moved to live with her mother Siobhan in Spain after being dumped. |
| Bernie Kelly | Mary McNamara | 1989–2009 | Moved to Canada with relatives after the death of her mother, Mags. |
| Fionnula Murphy | 2023 | ||
| Gloria Leahy[50] | Meagan Keogh | ????–???? | Left Ireland searching for her real father, confused over his identity. |
| Avi Bar Lev[51] | Asaf B. Goldfrid | 2009–2011 | Abandoned business partnership with Pete and fled to London. |
| James "Ringo" Leyden[52] | Keith Duffy[53] | 2008–2009 | Moved to Sierra Leone to become involved in work for a charity. |
| Seamus McAleer[54] | Vinnie McCabe | 2005–2008 | Left Ireland to stay with daughter Lauren in Spain after Bill murdered Annette. |
| Philip McGuckian[55] | Joe Taylor | ????–???? | Fled after being unable to pay back a loan taken from a loanshark. |
| Tracey McGuigan[56] | 2001–2008 | Fled to Manchester after a dispute with a gangster. | |
| Robin McKenna[57] | 2001–2009 | Moved to accept a job in Cork, offered by her ex-boyfriend Lennie. | |
| Paschal Mulvey | Brendan Cauldwell | 1996–2005 | Left to go live with his girlfriend Lily abroad. |
| Lara Newman[58] | Eilis O'Donnell | 2009 | Moved out of Ireland, leaving with her daughter Jane and Malachy. |
| Cliodhna Norris[59] | 2009 | Followed her boyfriend Ringo to Sierra Leone. | |
| Una Norris[60] | Sandra Curran | 2007–2009 | Moved to Sierra Leone, recovering from the devastation caused by her brother Turlough's death. |
| Shelly O'Connor | Hilary Reynolds | 1999, 2000, 2004 | Left Carrigstown. |
| Baz O'Reilly[61] | Pat Ainscough | 2004 | Followed his female companion to a hideout in Surrey. |
| David Osbourne[62] | 2010–2011 | Left to accept a job in Limerick alongside his brother. | |
| Duncan Stonehouse[63] | Nathan Gordon | ????–2010 | Left Ireland and enlisted with the Army in London. |
| Aoife Stringer[64] | Laoisha O'Callaghan | ????–???? | Moved to Manchester to continue with her studies. |
| Judith Dillon[65] | Catherine Byrne | 2010–2014 | Moved to Munich. |
| Neasa Dillon[66] | Aobhin Garrihy | 2010–2013 | |
| Caoimhe Dillon[67] | Aoibheann McCaul | 2010–2018, 2019 | Moved to Munich. |
| Harmony Collins | Eleanor O'Brien | 2018 | |
| Aaron White | Ethan Dodd | 2018–2020 | |
| Samantha "Sam" Bishop | Mia Rongavilla | 2018–2020 | Moved to Spain with her father, Decco. |
| Character | Actor | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kerri-Ann Bishop | Jenny Dixon | 2013–2018 | Stabbed by Aoife O'Neill after she murdered her daughter, Karen. |
| Paddy Bishop[68] | Andrew M. Connolly | 2013 | Stabbed by his daughter Charlotte after a struggle in the house. |
| Gina Cassidy[69] | Deirdre Lawless | 2007 | Was killed by Barry O'Hanlon on her wedding day outside the church on Ray's motorbike. |
| Luke Dillon | Liam Heffernan | 2012–2013 | Killed when he was trapped under a slab of concrete while trying to rescue his brother from a fire in Leo's factory. |
| Lana Dowling | 2003–2007 | Kidnapped from her own home, and then murdered. | |
| Helen Doyle | Kira Carroll | 1989–1998 | Died in hospital after a car accident. |
| Rita Doyle | Jean Costello | 1989–2008, 2010 | Died of natural causes after her daughter Yvonne granted her wish not to be resuscitated. |
| Eunice Dunstan[70] | 1994–2007 | Died of natural causes after the actress died. | |
| Lorcan Foley, Snr[71] | Killian O'Sullivan | 1999–2006 | Shot dead by Rory after a vicious struggle. |
| Mike Gleeson | Seamus Moran | 1996–2008 | Electrocuted by a number of rogue loose electrical wires in a substation. |
| Marty Halpin | Paul Lee | 2002–2003 | Killed himself after he murdered his wife Tess Halpin. |
| Tess Halpin | Sabina Brennan | 2001–2003 | Murdered by husband Marty. She was a victim of domestic abuse and ultimately strangled by her husband, who went on to kill himself. She is survived by sons Damian and Mark and daughter Laura. |
| Dominic Kavanagh[72] | Joe Gallagher | 2005–2008 | Died alone in London after embarking on a drink and drugs binge in regret of the awful treatment of his partner and daughter. |
| Charlie Kelly[73] | Tom Jordan | 1989–2019 | Charlie died off screen in Canada in his sleep. |
| Mags Kelly[74] | 1989–2009 | Died in Canada after a natural disaster. | |
| Tony Kelly | Darragh Kelly | 1989–1997 | Killed by a London criminal (Reg) who he owed money to. It was the first on-screen murder in the show. |
| Billy Meehan | 2000–2001 | Battered to death with a golf club by Lorcan. | |
| Harry Molloy | Paul Raynor | 1990–2005 | Missing, assumed dead. |
| Jessica Molloy[75] | Victoria O'Connor | 2003–2005 | Drug overdose on an ecstasy tablet that had been lost under the family home's suede couch after a night of babysitting went awry. |
| Lorraine Molloy | Maeve McGrath | 1991–2000 | Killed in a hurricane on her honeymoon. |
| Angela O'Connell[76] | Anne Kent | 2005–2009, 2016 | Ran away, after being exposed as a thief, returns for 3 months in 2016 but died of heart attack in December. |
| Sarah O'Leary[77] | Gemma Doorly | 2001–2011 | Killed by Barry in a freak accident. |
| Karen O'Neil | Kate Gilmore | 2016–2018 | Stabbed By Kerri-Ann Bishop. |
| Christy Phelan | Tom Hopkins | 1998–2014 | Collapsed from a couch and died from a heart attack months after suffering a stroke. |
| Floyd Phelan | Simon Keogh | 1998–2008 | Died from cancer. |
| Robbie Quinn | Karl Shiels[78] | 2014–2019 | Robbie died off screen as actor Karl Shiels had died unexpectedly. |
| Bill Taylor[79] | 2009 | Died through injuries sustained in a fire while murdering his wife. | |
| Gabriel Udenze | George Seremba | 2005–2006 | Burned to death in an arson attack on his home. |
| Will Casey | John Cronin | 2018–2021 | Killed by Lee Collins. |
| Cian Howley | Adam Weafer | 2018 - 2022 | Stabbed to death by Dermot Fahy with a chubb key on a building site. |
The following famous faces have appeared in Fair City. Reg E. Cathey has expressed a wish to appear in Fair City,[80] as has Verity Rushworth.[81]
| Character | Year | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Appeared as a musical guest in The Station | ||
| 2011 | Appeared at Bob's fundraiser | ||
| Maeve Binchy[82] | 2011 | Appeared at Bob's fundraiser | |
| 2010 | Bob talked to him on his Liveline radio programme about getting compensation from Louie | ||
| Larry Gogan[83] | 2008 | Officially opened the community centre | |
| Shane MacGowan[84] | 2008 | Appeared at a concert held in the city | |
| Marty Whelan[85] | 2005 | Officially reopened McCoys | |
| 1990 | Appeared as himself when former character Lily Corcoran was featured in audience of The Late Late Show |