{"id":337791,"date":"2026-03-09T23:56:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T23:56:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/337791\/"},"modified":"2026-03-09T23:56:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T23:56:09","slug":"local-boy-lands-acting-role-after-spotting-culdaff-film-set","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/337791\/","title":{"rendered":"Local boy lands acting role after spotting Culdaff film set!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Article by Tracey Villa<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been an exciting time for schoolboy Se\u00e1n \u00d3g Hasson, who has been basking in the spotlight after starring in the new film, \u2018The Lightkeeper\u2019.<\/p>\n

Se\u00e1n \u00d3g, 8, received the opportunity of a lifetime, by chance, in a tale that is nothing short of incredible.<\/p>\n

The Derry boy features in the film \u2018The Lightkeeper\u2019, starring Hollywood stars Dominic Cooper, Sarah Gadon, Sarah Bolger and Aidan Quinn.<\/p>\n

The film premiered at the Dublin Film Festival two weeks ago.<\/p>\n

When Se\u00e1n \u00d3g saw himself on the screen for the first time, he grabbed his proud mother Dearbhla\u2019s hand, amazed.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cAw Mammy, I\u2019m so happy!\u201d<\/p>\n

The Irish \u2013 Canadian film was directed by Vic Sarin, written by Ciaran Creagh and produced by Sepia films and Shinawil.<\/p>\n

Filming commenced September 2023, in locations all around the west and north west of Ireland, such as Mayo, Culdaff and Malin Head.<\/p>\n

IDBM\u2019s description states: \u2018The film tells the tale of Seamus, a lightkeeper whose elaborate rituals keep him at a distance from the outside world as he awaits the Each \u2013 Uisce to take him. His carefully constructed prison is blown open by three people who will change the course of his life.\u2019<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Se\u00e1n \u00d3g Hasson with Sarah Bolger and Dominic Cooper on the Red Carpet of the Dublin International Film Festival at the Lighthouse Cinema, Smithfield. Photo: Simon Lazewski<\/p>\n

A September day in Culdaff in 2023, saw Se\u00e1n \u00d3g and his family make their way to the pier to jump. They stopped after spotting filming taking place.<\/p>\n

Mum Dearbhla said: \u201cWe were just going down to the pier to jump, and they were doing all this filming and we were like- look at this, thinking this was class.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe stopped and we just looked, we didn\u2019t get out of the car. A year later, exactly a year later, we heard about this film.\u201d<\/p>\n

The twist of fate happened in 2024.<\/p>\n

The film had already been made and wrapped up, however it was decided that the filmmakers wanted to add in flashbacks scenes of the lead character Seamus\u2019s (Dominic Cooper) wife and son who had passed on.<\/p>\n

Friends of Dearbhla\u2019s from Culdaff, Susan and Jeff Miller, made her aware that production was looking for a specific child and that they thought Se\u00e1n \u00d3g would be perfect.<\/p>\n

Susan stated: \u201cThey (production) were looking for a wee boy, around 4 to 6 with dark hair and brown eyes, and I just thought of you.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were really looking for somebody so young, with acting skills \u2013 Se\u00e1n \u00d3g was a wee bit older, but I think he just won them over completely, as he was just so naturally talented and had such a beautiful wee face- he was perfect.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Se\u00e1n \u00d3g Hasson on set forThe Lightkeeper<\/p>\n

This got the ball rolling, after sending off a photograph of Se\u00e1n \u00d3g, they then had a video call with production company Sepia.<\/p>\n

Although other children with acting skills were being considered, it was decided that Se\u00e1n \u00d3g, who had no acting training, was perfect for the role and that they wanted to meet him.<\/p>\n

Dearbhla describes the experience: \u201cThey sent us an email and they said \u2018we really want to meet him\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just brought him down with dinosaurs and he was sitting and he met them all. They gave him the wee costumes, the wee old costumes, they\u2019re gorgeous, so he had to try on a few.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sepia said to Dearbhla after the meeting that he fit the part.<\/p>\n

Dearbhla also said: \u201cHe had to do about five scenes from Culdaff and Malin head, and the bar up in Culdaff \u2013 McGuinnesses bar.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe went out in the boat then. I was a nervous wreck but he loved it. Then he did three days filming.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Se\u00e1n \u00d3g Hasson behind the scenes of The Lightkeeper<\/p>\n

At the Dublin International Film Festival, Se\u00e1n \u00d3g had his big moment on the red carpet alongside Sarah Bolger and Dominic Cooper.<\/p>\n

Dominic complimented Se\u00e1n \u00d3g on his suit, saying \u201cI love your style, your blazer, it\u2019s just like mine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Proud mother Dearbhla explained: \u201cWhen the film came out on Saturday night, he was in the first few minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just looked absolutely gorgeous and I thought \u2013 oh my God my wain, I couldn\u2019t believe it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Se\u00e1n \u00d3g Hasson on the Red Carpet of the Dublin International Film Festival at the Lighthouse Cinema, Smithfield. Photo: Simon Lazewski<\/p>\n

Dearbhla said that this amazing experience has given Se\u00e1n \u00d3g the interest in pursuing drama \u2013 however not at the expense of his hurling.<\/p>\n

The Na Magha Hurler is dedicated to his club. When his prospective drama class clashed with his hurling Se\u00e1n \u00d3g told his mum: \u201cMammy, I could never give up my hurling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dearbhla said during filming: \u201cIt was brilliant, he just took to it, he just went in there, did his bits and in between \u2013 he had his hurl with him in between sets.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dearbhla summarised the proud parents\u2019 experience by saying: \u201cMe and Sean were buzzing, we just couldn\u2019t believe it, it was such a lovely lovey experience, and I think it\u2019s just because he might not have been in it because the film was already made. And it just so happened, he just happened to fit it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Local boy lands acting role after spotting Culdaff film set! was last modified: March 9th, 2026 by Contributor<\/p>\n

Tags:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Article by Tracey Villa It\u2019s been an exciting time for schoolboy Se\u00e1n \u00d3g Hasson, who has been basking…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":337792,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[321,93,61,60,155016,144517],"class_list":["post-337791","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-celebrities","tag-celebrities","tag-entertainment","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-sean-og-hasson","tag-the-lightkeeper"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/337791","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=337791"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/337791\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/337792"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=337791"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=337791"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=337791"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}