Dominic Cooper found a profound sense of healing and connection while filming The Lightkeeper in Donegal, Ireland, a period coinciding with the recent loss of his mother. The actor shared his experience on Ireland’s The Late Late Show with host Patrick Kielty, alongside co-star Sarah Bolger, as the film prepares for its weekend release.
Cooper described Donegal as a place that immediately resonated with him, offering solace and beauty during a difficult time. “I fell completely in love with it, actually. It was a very healing, beautiful place to be and the people there were wonderful as well,” he said. The serendipitous connection to his family history further deepened his experience. His mother’s maiden name was Herron, and he discovered a local family bearing the same surname.
“We lived in this community, in fact I had just lost my mother very, very close to filming. Her maiden name was Herron, and the family that I met there were all the Herrons,” Cooper explained. This shared lineage led to moments of communal connection and emotional release. “We just used to sit together and sing, and play instruments, and talk, it was sort of almost the perfect remedy or cure, it was just exactly what was needed.”
Beyond the personal resonance, Cooper was struck by the unique energy of the Irish landscape, particularly in Donegal. He articulated a feeling of something ancient and spiritual permeating the land. “(There’s) this expanse of land, it’s beautiful, the ocean… and I’ve always felt this in Ireland the soil, it’s just so rich, something’s going on, it’s fizzing with something,” he observed. He went on to say, “It’s so much energy, it’s unlike anywhere I’ve ever been, you feel something’s inhabiting you sometimes. It feels like people who have gone, are there, because it’s very spiritual.”
The Lightkeeper, initially developed under the title Cry From the Sea, is set in Ireland in 1924. The film centers on Seamus Óg McGrinna, played by Cooper, a lighthouse keeper who has constructed a solitary existence governed by elaborate rituals, awaiting the mythical Each Uisce (Water-Horse). The arrival of three individuals – an American war widow seeking closure, a protective housekeeper, and a challenging priest – disrupts his carefully maintained isolation and forces him to confront his past and his future.
The film promises a complex exploration of grief, isolation, and the search for meaning. Cooper’s experience suggests that the setting itself became an integral part of the film’s emotional landscape, offering a backdrop of both stark beauty and profound spiritual resonance. The actor’s comments highlight the power of location to not only inform a story but also to provide a space for personal healing and connection.
Cooper’s reflections on Donegal echo a sentiment often expressed by artists and visitors to Ireland – a sense of being drawn to the land’s inherent energy and history. His experience underscores the enduring appeal of Ireland as a location for filmmakers seeking both visual splendor and a deeper, more evocative atmosphere. The film’s release this weekend offers audiences a chance to experience the beauty of Donegal and the compelling story of The Lightkeeper, a project that clearly left a lasting impression on its star.
The timing of Cooper’s comments, coming shortly after the film’s promotional appearances, suggests a deliberate effort to highlight the significance of the location and its impact on the production. This focus on Donegal not only adds a layer of authenticity to the film’s narrative but also serves as a tribute to the community that welcomed the cast and crew.
The film’s exploration of themes like loss and redemption, coupled with Cooper’s personal story, positions The Lightkeeper as more than just a cinematic offering. It’s a testament to the power of place, the enduring strength of the human spirit, and the unexpected ways in which art and life can intertwine.
