Derry Girls actor Jamie Beamish inspires Ballymena students through creative cross-border project

Derry Girls and Bridgerton actor Jamie Beamish delivers a workshop to performing arts students at St Patrick's College in Ballymena. (IMAGE: Steven McAuley)

Waterford actor Jamie Beamish, best known for his roles in hit television series Derry Girls and Bridgerton, has been inspiring performing arts students in Mid and East Antrim as part of the Creative Communities on a Shared Island initiative.

The acclaimed stage and screen star delivered an engaging workshop at St Patrick’s College in Ballymena on Thursday 9 October, sharing honest insights about his journey in the performing arts industry, the challenges faced by young actors, and advice on how to thrive in an increasingly competitive field.

Beamish – known to audiences as the hapless Ciaran from the Photoshack in Derry Girls and as the villainous Nigel Berbrooke in Bridgerton – later joined Ballymena-born author Jan Carson for an evening of conversation at Ballymena Central Library.

The two events marked the finale of the Building Shared Creative Communities project between Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and Waterford City and County Council, designed to support creativity and explore local heritage across both regions.

Speaking about the importance of encouraging young people to pursue creative careers, Jamie reflected on how success is possible regardless of background or geography.

“I knew Liam’s Auntie Betty well – she ran the corner shop where I grew up,” he said.

“What an amazing role model to have in Ballymena. Liam and I are from a working-class background and we come from small places – but if you work hard, it’s possible to attain your dreams.

“You don’t have to come from a rich family, you don’t necessarily have to be from London or big metropolitan areas. If I can do it, anyone can do it…”

As part of the project’s conclusion, visitors from Waterford also toured a Community Hub in Cullybackey, where work is underway on a new mural by Dublin-based French artist Claire Prouvost.

The mural, inspired by Cullybackey’s rich textile mill heritage, will be the result of a series of local workshops guiding its design.

This latest artwork follows a creative exchange between the two regions, with Co Antrim artist Zippy having completed an industrial heritage-inspired mural in Portlaw, Co Waterford, earlier in 2024.

Guests also visited Arthur Cottage, the ancestral home of U.S. President Chester Alan Arthur, where the Council is developing improved interpretation and accessibility features. The works are expected to be completed by the end of the year, ahead of the 2026 tourist season.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Councillor Minford Jackson, said it was a pleasure to welcome guests and celebrate the success of the initiative.

“It was my pleasure to welcome our guests from Waterford along with our local participants who have all contributed to the delivery of this project,” he said.

“As a Council, we aim to support all aspects of our creative industries harnessing the potential to support not only our tourism offering, but also the ambitions of our young people in the arts.”

Katherine Collins, Creative Ireland Coordinator for Waterford, also praised the collaboration between the two councils:

“Our visit to Ballymena, Cullybackey and Arthur Cottage has been a wonderful finale to this two years project. Developing knowledge and new ways of working on a cross-border basis with culture, heritage and creativity has been at the heart of our work.

“Strong relationships between staff and communities of both Waterford and Mid and East Antrim are cemented and we look forward to building on the future legacy of this project.”

The Building Shared Creative Communities project is supported by Creative Communities on a Shared Island, funded by Creative Ireland.

The two-year cross-border initiative between Waterford City and County Council and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council aims to strengthen shared community connections through culture, heritage, and creativity.