Colm Meaney has said he hopes to soon move back to Ireland, citing his unhappiness with Donald Trump’s America. 

The award winning actor has lived in the United States for many decades but said the nation had taken a dark turn in recent years. 

Speaking on The Claire Byrne Show, Mr Meaney described the current administration as “terrifying” and its treatment of immigrants as “naked fascism”. 

“At least the Brown Shirts, unlike these ICE guys, the Brown Shirts would wear a uniform [and] didn't wear masks,” he said. 

“And a lot of these ICE agents, so-called federal agents are actually Proud Boys.

“What's their obsession with trans people? What's that about? Less than two percent of the population are trans.”

Colm Meaney in 2010. Picture by: Alamy.com.

Mr Meaney and his wife currently own a house in Spain, where they spend a significant amount of time. 

The couple have adopted four sheep but Mr Meaney said he thinks it likely they will move back to Ireland. 

“I mean, we can't stay in America at the moment,” he explained. 

“And my kids, one's in New York, one's in London; the one in New York is hoping to move. 

“Who's born in America, lives in America - but her and her American husband.

“And I think they're going to move here as well.” 

Colm Meaney. Picture by: Alamy.com.

Where in Ireland is another question. Although he described Dublin as his “home turf”, he added that he is “tempted” by some of the other “beautiful places” around the country. 

“The fact that, you know, all these great restaurants exist around the country, there's so many places to go and get great food,” he said. 

“The weather's a problem, of course.” 

Grass is always greener?

While he is keen to leave America, Mr Meaney is keenly aware that life in Ireland is far from a utopia. 

He singled out the revival of the Irish language as a cause of great joy for him, but described the health service as “terrible” and the housing crisis as “appalling”. 

“I mean, the house I grew up in was built by Dublin Corporation,” he said. 

“At a time when we had no money in the country - and it was great.

“All our building became developer-led development; as a result, you have no infrastructure either. 

“You have no trains. You've no, you know, shops, schools, all that has to be provided by the State. 

“Housing needs to be seen, I think, as a right; it's a social need and social needs should be taken care of by the State.”

Main image: Claire Byrne and Colm Meaney. Picture by: Newstalk.