Fair City Star Maclean Burke Navigates Career Shift, Breakup, and Health Challenges
Maclean Burke, best known for his 27-year portrayal of Damien Halpin on the Irish soap opera Fair City, is navigating a period of significant personal and professional change. The actor recently departed the long-running RTÉ series, experienced a split from his fiancée, and has been recovering from a serious health scare.
Departure from Fair City
Burke’s character, Damien Halpin, left for Munich in the show following a series of dramatic events. The actor described having “mixed feelings” about his exit, acknowledging it frees him up for recent opportunities. He told The Irish Sun, “I feel the character needed a break anyway.” While he doesn’t rule out a return, Burke emphasized, “I would never utilize the word guaranteed. We don’t use that in my business.”1 He fondly remembers his time with Fair City, stating it “will always be really close to my heart.”1
New Projects on the Horizon
Burke is already looking ahead to new roles, with a project on a major streaming service in the works. He shared, “There’s always stuff going on. It can’t be named at the moment but that’s always nice to do small things like that.”1 He added that working with streaming services can lead to further opportunities, as they often cast from the same pool of talent.1
Personal Life Changes: Split and Family
In addition to his career transition, Burke recently ended his seven-year relationship with Cat Nolan. He described the split as recent and unfortunate, stating, “It’s only recent. Unfortunately, it’s just reach to an conclude.”1 Despite the breakup, they remain close friends, with Burke emphasizing there was no loss of love.1 He continues to be involved in the lives of Nolan’s children, having blended their families well during their relationship.1
Burke’s eldest daughter, Ava, recently moved to Australia for a “life adventure,” joining his son Jude who has lived there for three years.1 He noted a trend of young Irish people seeking opportunities abroad, citing a desire for a better standard of living.1
Health Scare and Recovery
In December 2024, Burke collapsed after a performance in the 3Olympia panto show, Freezin’, and was hospitalized. He was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a rare and potentially life-threatening condition involving the rapid breakdown of muscle tissue.2
Burke described the experience as “crazy” and acknowledged a long recovery process.2 He explained that the condition impacted his kidneys and required a significant period of rebuilding his physical health.2 He is now on the mend but remains mindful of his physical limits.2 He recounted waking up in the hospital and initially wanting to return to operate, but was informed of the seriousness of his condition.2 He also developed cysts on his brain as a result of the dehydration caused by the condition.2
Mental Health and Online Criticism
Burke has been open about his struggles with depression, previously discussing it on live television. He explained that speaking publicly about his mental health was a therapeutic experience.2 He acknowledged that while some may criticize his openness, he believes it can help others feel less alone.2 He also addressed the issue of online trolls, advising people to avoid reading negative comments, comparing it to “a form of self-harm.”2
Recent Death Hoax
In March 2026, Burke addressed false rumors circulating online about his death, marking the second time he has been targeted by such hoaxes.2 He shared snippets of fake news articles on Instagram, commenting, “So apparently second time I’ve been declared dead in the press – still available for work kinda feels like a rehearsal.”2 Other Fair City actors, including Bryan Murray and Jim Bartley, have also been victims of similar death hoaxes.2
1 https://evoke.ie/2026/03/18/entertainment/fair-city-star-splits-fiancee
2 https://www.rsvplive.ie/news/celebs/fair-citys-maclean-burke-responds-36892077