Roy Keane surprises artist as he finishes mural in his honour

Olivia Kelleher

An artist from the Netherlands was left speechless earlier this week when Roy Keane happened to stop and admire a mural he was painting of the former Ireland, Manchester United and Celtic player.

Roy Valk, who completes artwork for all the restaurants in the Fat Phill’s chain, had put the final touches on a mural facing their new restaurant on Cook Street in Cork city when his namesake stopped for a quick chat.

Keane jokingly asked Valk if his hair was really as grey in real life as it was in the mural.

Valk told the Neil Prendeville show on Cork's Red FM that he was taking a picture of the mural when a few passersby paused to look at it.

He very politely asked them if they could move on for a very short period to allow him to take a few photographs for work purposes.

Valk heard a laugh and realised Keane was in front of him.

The 54-year-old former manager turned football pundit told Valk that he had to go to a meeting but would return within the hour for a proper conversation.

"He ( Keane) came back about thirty minutes later, and we got a photograph taken.

"He was very nice and said he liked the mural."

Valk said that Keane was clean-shaven in person and looked “a lot younger” than in the mural where he is sporting a grey beard.

Fat Phill’s is a Dutch chain which also has restaurants in the UK. They are well known for their smash burger.

The company had been keen to set up an outlet in Cork for some time. They opened a restaurant in Temple Bar in Dublin last year.

Their offering in Cork city will open on March 15th.