Joe Steve is well-known for his role as Peadar in the TG4 soap Ros na Rún. However, it was on stage that he began his acting career in 1956 and he has taken on many roles in various plays ever since. They include Deireadh an Aistir, Oíche na Marbh, An Strainséara Dubh, Mo Thriúr Aingeal and An Pháirc with Aisteoirí an Spidéil. He also appeared in various pantomimes with Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe in the sixties.
He won a Jacob’s Award for his radio soap Baile an Droichid which he wrote and also appeared in on Raidió na Gaeltachta. Baile an Droichid ran for ten years on radio. Pléaráca Teo. has produced three of his pantomimes.
He has twice won a Cló Iar-Chonnachta literary award for his short-story collection Clochmhóin and for his novel Lámh Láidir. He has been awarded Oireachtas na Gaeilge’s main literary prize three times with novels and a short-story collection and he has twice won Oireachtas na Gaeilge’s main drama award. His plays Níor Mhaith Linn do Thrioblóid, In Ainm an Athar and Faoi Dheire Thiar enjoyed a packed house every night for a fortnight’s run when staged in Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe. He was presented with a Stewart Parker Award for Níor Mhaith Linn do Thrioblóid.
He appeared as ‘Tom Rua’ in Mac Dara Ó Fátharta’s production of Cré na Cille in An Taibhdhearc and also in the feature film of the same name produced by ROSG Teo.