Actor and writer Ciarán McMenamin has traced his career back to a youth drama group at the Ardhowen Theatre in Enniskillen.

McMenamin attended St Michael’s Primary School and St Michael’s College in Enniskillen. He played for Enniskillen Gaels and Enniskillen Town FC. A history teacher, the late Tommy Sheridan, spoke to McMenamin’s mother in the town to say he believed her son had a natural talent for acting. That conversation led her to find a drama class.

McMenamin joined a youth drama group run by Eamonn Bradley at the Ardhowen Theatre around the age of 14. He later successfully auditioned for the Ulster Youth Theatre and spent summers performing in Derry and Belfast.

After leaving St Michael’s, he moved to Belfast, worked in restaurants and saved money to travel to auditions for drama schools in Britain. At 19 he earned a place at the Royal Scottish Academy in Glasgow.

His screen credits include the Channel 4 comedy drama The Young Person’s Guide to Becoming a Rock Star, David Copperfield, and Hope Street. On David Copperfield he worked alongside Maggie Smith, Bob Hoskins and Ian McKellen. McMenamin said Smith took him under her wing during the production.

McMenamin travelled to Australia to film The Last Confession of Alexander Pearce alongside fellow Enniskillen actor Adrian Dunbar. The production’s producer was Nial Fulton, who attended Portora Royal School in Enniskillen before moving to Australia. McMenamin said Dunbar had been an influence on him before they met, simply by proving someone from Enniskillen could become an actor.

McMenamin published his debut novel Skintown, a story inspired in part by the Enniskillen he grew up in. The novel has been adapted into a film. He described having the novel published as his real dream and said Skintown is the biggest personal achievement of his career.

McMenamin remains a fly fisherman and returns to Fermanagh regularly. He said he expects to move back to the county once his daughter Marnie, aged seven, is older. Marnie attends drama classes. McMenamin said he and her mother, actor Annabel Scholey, would support her if she pursued acting, but they want her to enjoy childhood first.

McMenamin credited his parents with supporting his career choice and said Fermanagh has fed and nurtured his life.