House-hunter Gabriel Byrne parties with Schull fire brigade members

HOLLYWOOD star Gabriel Byrne was house-hunting in West Cork last week.

It is the second visit by the actor – who first came to prominence on Irish TV in the hit series Bracken – in as many years.

Last year, he and his wife, Hannah, and their daughter, Maise, enjoyed a quiet break at Liss Ard, but his most recent three-night stay was at Grove House in Schull.

The central location provided them with a base to search for a new home – holiday or otherwise – and it is understood that one house they visited in Castletownshend caught their eye.

Last Saturday night, December 15th, the couple ran into the local firefighting crew from Schull, and their partners, who were enjoying their Christmas night out at Grove House.

Station officer, Paul O’Brien, who coincidentally happens to be a native of Castletownshend, said the Hollywood couple were ‘very engaging, very down to earth’ and spoke about the beautiful houses in the area.

When asked if meeting the couple made their party night, Paul laughed and said: ‘We made theirs!’