Derry Girls actress Siobhan McSweeney pays surprise visit to Saint Patrick Centre

The star – who plays Sr Michael in Derry Girls – also met former real-life nuns Martina Purdy and Elaine Kelly and their colleagues at the Centre as she filmed the new More4 show.

McSweeney who is filming St Patrick’s Way on a bicycle also gave centre director Dr Tim Campbell a go on the electric bike.

“I have walked St Patrick’s Way and canoed St Patrick’s Way but the electric bike is another great way to see the sites here,” said Dr Campbell.

“Our Centre is opening soon and in the meantime it was great to greet Siobhan and the film crew and staff from Brian Waddell media.

“We are finding more and more people interested in St Patrick and drawn to the beauty, history and heritage offered by Downpatrick and Saint Patrick’s Way walks,” he added.

McSweeney and the crew were filming outside the Centre en route to locations which included Saint Patrick’s grave when they met Ms Purdy, who is now a pilgrim guide for Saint Patrick’s Centre pilgrim walk.

“It was a pleasure to meet Siobhan. My niece Alexis from Toronto is fan of Derry Girls. It is kind of weird that Siobhan plays a nun and I was once a sister.”

Elaine Kelly, who was Sr Elaine for five years before becoming a pilgrim guide, added the star “enjoyed the craic”.