A short film about Roy Keane's early life in 1980s Cork is to be made by an Irish film director.

Dave Tynan, a graduate from the Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology in Dublin, will direct Rockmount which is being funded by the Irish Film Board's Signatures project.

Named after the player’s boyhood club, the film will be based on Keane’s life growing up in 1980s Cork.

The player enjoyed a hugely successful playing career with Manchester United, the Republic of Ireland and finally Celtic before moving into management.

His decision to leave Mick McCarthy’s world cup squad divided the nation.

He is currently the assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland.

"I think about Roy Keane a lot, he fascinates me," Mr Tynan said.

“Whether you like him or don’t like him, you’re never bored by him.”

He says the short film is not an historical account of Keane’s life, but there will be recognisable elements. “It’s about how it’s not raw talent but drive that gets you places.”

Dave Tynan is a Dublin-based director who recently moved home after living in London. He rose to YouTube fame last year when his latest short film, Just Saying, went viral.

The five minute short has had nearly 400,000 online views.

The production of Rockmount will be funded by Signatures, an Irish Film Board project which supports up to four films each year and creates a platform for "Irish creative talents aspiring to write, direct and produce films for the cinema".

“Short films are very important for us,” says Louise Ryan from the Film Board, adding that there were between 50-150 applications this year for funding. Mr Tynan and producer Michael Donnelly, along with three other film production companies, will be given up to €65,000 to produce an 8-10 minute film.

Mr Tynan hopes to premiere the film at the 2014 Galway Film Fleadh in July.