The Pride of Malahide

From Malahide Woman to panto star, the fabulous James Patrice is a tour de force, with a flourishing career that encompasses TV presenting and reporting, social media stardom, live events and acting.

It will probably come as a surprise to most people to learn that the 33-year-old wasn’t always the all-singing, all-dancing entertainer that he is today.

James, aka James Butler, grew up in Malahide living with his parents Veronica “Fron” and Jim Butler and older sister Vanessa.

“I was painfully shy and quiet as a child,” he says. “Mum and Dad put me into speech and drama classes to help build my confidence and I really flourished in drama class. When you’re playing someone else, you get away with murder, and as you grow up, you take those lessons of freedom with you and it starts to become part of your own character.”

Growing up as a gay teenager was difficult for James, who only came out when he was at college. Back then being 'straight' was presented as the only scenario, rendering the school experience difficult for those who were in any way different.

“You were afraid to be gay as it was always, ‘When you’re older and you fall in love with a girl’,” he explains. “It was never an option that you might fall in love with a man or that you might never fall in love at all. It was all very linear and heteronormative, and you definitely carry that with you as you go through life.”

James does some work with BelongTo, which supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex young people in Ireland. He is happy for younger people that there is so much more acceptance these days, but says it still isn’t perfect.

James knows from talking to Vanessa, who is a secondary school music teacher, that schools have made great strides since his day. Many have LGBTIQ committees and there is zero tolerance for the abuse he experienced himself.

“There was constant bullying, being slagged and being called a 'faggot', which made you form a protective barrier within yourself,” he says. “I was lucky because I had a great home life and could come home from school and be safe. I really feel for kids nowadays with social media and Whatsapp, because the bullying doesn't stop when school finishes.”

Making His Own Way

James studied drama and French at Trinity College, which he loved, and came out when he was spending time in France as part of his course. He admits to being nervous telling his family but they were wonderful and very supportive. “I was so fortunate,” he says. “It was a real weight off the shoulders.”

James wanted to become an actor and he also did a presenting course when he left college. Things didn’t exactly go his way initially, but he now has a hectically busy career and he is very grateful for the opportunities that have come his way.

“I thought I’d leave college and get a part in Fair City and then I’d be in Hollywood,” he laughs. “What actually happened was that I worked in retail for like three years and absolutely hated it, because as a creative person, I felt really stifled. I started doing Snapchat and Instagram and from that I began to get some TV work, and it all went from there.”

James says that as the entertainment industry is an unstable one -  and indeed it was brought to its knees during the pandemic - he tries not to overthink things. “You’ll never be able to predict the path you’re going to go on so you have to trust the process,” he says.

Fron has been a huge influence in his life and his biggest inspiration. She won the Celebrity Mum of the Year award at the 2021 Woman’s Way & Beko Mum of the Year Awards, and is a familiar face on Fair City, where she works as a featured extra behind the community centre’s coffee dock and reception.

Award-Winning Mum

Magazine publisher Norah Casey explained how Fron’s strength and courage as a mother was put to the test when James contracted meningitis and septicaemia at the age of 11. Luckily Fron and Jim recognised the symptoms and got James to hospital. He was critically ill and Fron didn’t leave the hospital for 10 days, but thankfully he made a full recovery.

“Mum hadn’t a clue that she was getting an award,” explains James, who is on this year’s judging panel. “Our jaws were on the floor hearing the incredible stories of the other mums, who were all phenomenal and inspirational. Mum couldn’t believe she had won and I told her that she was inspirational in her own right because she helps to make people laugh.”

“When I saw Norah with this gorgeous award, I couldn’t believe it was for me,” Fron told Woman’s Way afterwards. “I thought I must be dreaming. Being a mum is the most important role in my life and it has been such a lovely journey since Vanessa and James were born.”

James attributes his love for chatting to people and getting to know their stories to Fron. “She’s so personable,” he says. “I think she’s the kindest person I know. She’s so thoughtful and is my best friend and I could tell her anything. She’s always very supportive and cheers me on in anything I want to do.”

Creativity is of course a huge part of James’ life, being known for his fabulous creations and characters, including Malahide Woman.

“I think creativity is the essence of everything,” he says. “I love thinking of ideas and the notes section on my phone is always full of observations from when I’m out and about. You want to create something to be enjoyed, appreciated and seen, so when you get a reaction from a theatre audience or your online followers saying that they loved a sketch or parody, that’s the real reward.”

While James had always done some sketches and parodies, it was during lockdown that he was able to devote more time to them. It was this creative expression that got him through the pandemic.

“I felt very stifled because a lot of my work had come to a halt, and it was as much to save my sanity as to entertain people,” he says. “It was Mum who suggested that I should write some sketches while I had the time and could really go for it. My whole family got involved and it gave us a bit of a laugh, and we got good feedback from people. They really seemed to enjoy it.”

As Norah explained to the audience at the Mum of the Year Awards, it was through James’s funny sketches that more people became acquainted with Fron.

“The star of the show of course? Fron, in all her singing and dancing glory,” she said. “So much so that even Simon Harris tweeted James to keep the videos of him and his mum going. It’s amazing what a wig, some glitter and a little bit of hope can do.”

James is also a big fan of his father Jim, a retired barman with 50 years of service under his belt. Jim also takes part in the sketches and is very funny in them too.

“My dad is a very quiet man but he’s one in a million,” says James. “He worked himself to the bone for me, Vanessa and Mum and he’s just brilliant. He’ll get dressed up and will do whatever I want as long as I don’t give him any lines as he can’t handle the pressure. He likes to be the silent character - the scene-stealer - and he and Mum together are a force to be reckoned with.”

New Arrival

Fron and James are also Breast Cancer Ireland’s Great Pink Run ambassadors. All money raised by the runs support its pioneering research into metastatic disease progression and awareness programmes nationally. 

“The work Breast Cancer Ireland does towards finding a cure is phenomenal,” says James. “It’s a really great charity and the people behind it are incredible.”

There is a five-year gap between James and his sister Vanessa, which is nothing now that they are both in their thirties. They hang out all the time and James is godfather to Áine, Vanessa’s adorable ten-month-old baby with her husband Seán.

“And sometimes I’m her fairy godmother,” he laughs. “Being an uncle is the best feeling in the world. Áine is the light of our lives and we’re all besotted. Her arrival changed everything and having her really gives you a great perspective on life. Everything is so much more fun and there is great excitement all the time.”

While James is currently single, he would love to become a dad himself one day. He would more than likely have to experience fatherhood through adoption or surrogacy, which are routes that generally take people abroad. They also cost a lot of money.

“I’d really, really love to be a dad, but I’d probably have to sell a kidney or remortgage the house - even though I don’t have one myself,” says James, who still lives with his parents. “It’s certainly something I’d endeavour to do when I’m older. I’d love for Áine to have a cousin to have the craic with and they could hang out together and become best friends.”

James admits ruefully that his love life isn’t exactly sizzling at present, and being unable to actively date during the past few years of the pandemic hasn’t helped.

“It’s very slim pickings,” he says. “I suppose I’m not actively looking, but I’d definitely be open to meeting someone and hopefully it might happen in the near future. I never let it get me down though and always keep busy and focus on work.”

James says that he and Vanessa never take for granted how lucky they are to have Fron and Jim as parents. “They didn’t go on holidays or dinners out as every penny went into singing lessons, drama classes and all the things that helped shape who we are today,” he says. “Mum always taught Vanessa and I to put the best foot forward and always tried to have us looking our best.”

James has two seasons as presenter of Battle of the Food Trucks under his belt and has been backstage reporter at The Rose of Tralee for several years. He is looking forward to returning as a reporter on the Today show in Cork, and will be starring in Olly, Polly and the Beanstalk at the Olympia alongside Ryan Andrews, Maclean Burke, Erin McGregor and Michaela O’Neill this Christmas.

Does he have any ambitions that he would love to see fulfilled? “I would love to have my own chat show or variety show one day,” says James. “It would be great to have guests on, do sketches and finish with a nice song. Once I’m having the craic and entertaining people and putting a smile on their faces, that makes me very happy.” 

The Great Pink Run takes place at Leopardstown Race Course and  surrounding area in Dublin on October 9  and Kilkenny Castle Park on October 16. Visit greatpinkrun.ie

Follow us on Instagram