Mark gets his oar in with Game of Thrones debut

HE'S ruled the world of rowing this year, terrorising opposing crews with his dominance – and now Mark O'Donovan wants to sit on the Iron Throne.

The Poundlick, Skibbereen man appeared as a prominent extra in the world's biggest TV show, Game of Thrones, watched by millions across the world, earlier this week.

Eagle-eyed fans of the show will have done well to spot Skibbereen Rowing Club star Mark (28) in the opening scene of Episode 3 of the current series, kitted out in full armour and beard.

He was brought on set to share his rowing expertise with the cast. 

He explained to the Star: ‘I knew someone who knew someone who was building a boat for the show, and they had to provide rowers – I always knew my rowing would come in handy some day!'

The scene was filmed in Zumaia, Spain in late October, with Game of Thrones fan Mark sharing the screen with some of the show's biggest characters, Jon Snow and Lord Tyrion.

‘There were four soldiers with Jon Snow, I was one of them, and since we were on a boat I could teach the rest of them how to row,' Mark said.

‘It was a bit of craic, alright,' Mark laughed.

 ‘I had to grow a beard for it, to look the part, they wanted me rough and ready, and that's what they got!

 ‘We spent a couple of days in Spain shooting the scene, the main actors were knocking about, they were nice enough.'

Already this year Mark and his colleague Shane O'Driscoll, in the Irish men's lightweight pair, have won four gold international medals, including at the Europeans, and they are big favourites to win gold at the World Rowing Championships in Florida this September.

By then, Mark could well be sitting in the Iron Throne, as he gave nothing away about next week's episode. ‘You'll have to wait and see,' he teased.