Ciarán McMenamin always enjoys working in Northern Ireland, but filming for the new police drama series, ‘Hope Street’, was particularly special for the Enniskillen actor, who was able to spend most weekends between filming back in his home county of Fermanagh, fishing on Lough Erne.

“It’s always brilliant coming home to work, but this time, thanks to the pandemic, it was extra special for everyone involved.

“The show was pretty much the first time any of us had interacted with other humans outside of our family units for a very long time.

“There was a sense of celebration and release, and lots of laughter every day,” he told The Impartial Reporter, adding: “I spent many weekends in Fermanagh as I couldn’t fly back to London with our Covid restrictions.

“I pretty much filmed every week, and was on Lough Erne fly-fishing every weekend.”

In Hope Street, which aired on BBC One NI at 7pm yesterday (Wednesday, November 24) and is available now on iPlayer, Ciarán plays the role of Duty Inspector Finn O’Hare.

The 10-part drama is set in the fictional town of Port Devine and was filmed in Donaghadee on the coast of Northern Ireland.

The seaside setting for the show was one of the highlights for Ciarán.

“We spent a lot of time on boats out at sea in one episode, which I really enjoyed,” he said, adding: “The police work and different crime stories were always enjoyable, but the scenes with my teenage kids come to mind now as the scenes I enjoyed filming the most.

“They were played by two incredibly talented, infectiously optimistic young actors, and it made me think a lot about parenthood and the challenges to come in the future now that I’m a daddy.”

He went on to explain that it was a tough time playing the role of a dad on the show, as he barely saw his own two-year-old daughter due to Covid restrictions.

“They couldn’t fly over without doing quarantine for 10 days, and I couldn’t nip back to London, as the cast weren’t allowed on planes. So the scenes with my onscreen kids definitely had a very natural layer of emotion bubbling away under the surface,” he told this newspaper.

In the first episode of Hope Street, the sudden arrival of English Detective Constable Leila Hussain in picturesque Port Devine sets tongues wagging. Duty Inspector Finn O’Hare, played by Ciarán, knows the real reason Leila’s been transferred, but he’s keeping it to himself.

When asked what viewers can expect from Hope Street, Ciarán said: “Hope Street is a great blend of important social questions and light entertainment. The characters are varied and relatable – I’d say everyone in Fermanagh knows a Concepta or a Barry!

“There’s plenty of warmth and humour and plenty to think about. At its best, the show shines a light on the marginalised in our society.”

Alongside his work as an actor, many will also know Ciarán as an esteemed writer, with the great success he has experienced with his two novels, ‘Skintown’, and ‘The Sunken Road’, both of which are to be adapted for the screen.

“The critical response to The Sunken Road has been incredible, really,” said Ciarán, going on to comment that getting a cover quote from William Boyd, who wrote his favourite novel, ‘Any Human Heart’, was definitely a personal career highlight for him, to date.

“The film adaptation is full steam ahead and in great hands with Parallel Films and director Brian Kirk,” he explained, noting that the film adaption for Skintown has been in the pipeline for longer, so will likely shoot first. “Hopefully, toward the end of 2022.”

When asked if he is interested in acting in the film adaptations of his novels, Ciarán said: “I have no intention of acting in either film, no – I’m too old, for starters, and I have enough on my hands with the screenplays!

“We will be looking soon for two teenage lads to play the leads in Skintown. I’d love them to be authentically Northern Irish, and authentically from Fermanagh would be even better!”

After a lengthy period of research, Ciarán has just started writing his third novel.

“This time, I’ve been immersing myself in the Iraq War and the refugee trail through Europe into Southern England,” he told this newspaper.