New Ros na Rún bad boy Adam Ó Murchu (Seán Ó Baoill) offers Niamh drugs. Photos: Telegael
BY SEÁN P. FEENY
A YOUNG actor from West Donegal has this season joined the cast of Ros na Rún as a ‘bad boy’ college student who is sure to stir things up on TG4’s hit Irish language soap.
Seán Ó Baoill from Loughanure was cast in the role of Adam Ó Murchú during the summer and his storyline is about to get very interesting.
Adam is introduced as a college friend of Evan, who quickly finds himself drawn to their mutual friend Niamh creating tension between the two boys.
The 25-year-old said although Adam is your ‘typical bad boy, he is also a complex character. “Adam doesn’t care about anyone but himself, he likes the thought of Niamh being dependent on him and gets a rise out of winding Evan up as his rival for Niamh’s affection.
“But I will admit I have a soft spot for Adam, I feel there is a reason that he is acting out. He comes from a good background, yet acts the way he does. But will we find out what that reason is further into the season,” Seán said.
Seán is the son of well-known local businessman, Seán ‘The Paint’ Ó Baoill and his wife Roma and he has one sibling, Lauren (23) is going to college in Derry.
A former student of Loch an Iúir NS and Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola in Falcarragh, Seán first studied arts (Irish, Geography and Drama) at University College Dublin (UCD).
He then completed his third level studies with a master’s degree in Irish and Media Studies from the Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge Centre in An Cheathrú Rua.
Loughanure native Seán Ó Baoill.
Seán then began working in the television industry joining the Belfast-based production company, Below The Radar TV, two years ago, working his way up from a position as researcher to assistant producer on a recent hour-long documentary and video journalist.
He said: “I was the assistant producer on Bronntanas na Beatha which aired on BBC NI and TG4 recently and that was a real hightlight for me.
“I am also am one two video journalists working for Below The Radar’s Irish language news website www.meoneile.ie.”
Both during his time at Loch an Iúir NS and PCC Seán did various plays and always enjoyed acting, but it was when he went to college and studied drama and joined drama society, that the Loughanure man really caught the acting bug.
He said: “I found myself as an actor, being surrounded with people with the same interest and passion for drama as I had.
“It’s where I got my confidence in my acting abilities, being complimented by my peers on performances. It was at that stage I knew I was good enough and wanted to act.”
Seán had done a number of acting workshops in Donegal and Galway with the Ros na Rún crew before he was invited to audition for the role of Adam.
Still being based in Belfast working on the documentary and website, Seán found himself successfully juggling three ‘roles’ for a number of months.
He said: “I filmed through September and October right up until last week and now I am on a break for a couple of months while the drug abuse story unfolds. I haven’t really seen much of the footage that I filmed so it’s exciting to watch it all come together.”
Seán said he was very nervous at first, meeting actors he had grown up watching on television (apart from Niall Mac Eachmharcaich, of course), but the Ros na Rún ‘family’ welcomed the young Donegal actor with open arms.
“From the canteen staff, floor managers, lighting crew to actors, it’s like one big family on the set of Ros na Rún and everyone has been so welcoming to me since I started in Spiddal.
“It has been such a fantastic experience and it has really given me the confidence to see what else is out there for me in the acting world. In the meantime, I would love to continue to work with Ros na Rún, I grew up watching the show and it’s a dream come true to feature in it.”
Don’t miss Ros na Rún every Tuesday and Thursday at 8.30pm, only on TG4