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Star Wars: Mark Hamill meets seriously-ill teenager from Derry Star Wars: Mark Hamill meets seriously-ill teenager from Derry
(35 minutes later)
Star Wars actor Mark Hamill has taken time out of his filming schedule to meet a seriously-ill teenager from Londonderry.Star Wars actor Mark Hamill has taken time out of his filming schedule to meet a seriously-ill teenager from Londonderry.
Hamill met Jamie Harkin, 17, who has Hodgkins Lymphoma, at a hotel in County Donegal.Hamill met Jamie Harkin, 17, who has Hodgkins Lymphoma, at a hotel in County Donegal.
The actor, who plays Luke Skywalker, also met two-year-old Ciaran Murphy who has leukaemia.The actor, who plays Luke Skywalker, also met two-year-old Ciaran Murphy who has leukaemia.
The Hollywood star was in County Donegal to film scenes for the latest installment in the Star Wars franchise.The Hollywood star was in County Donegal to film scenes for the latest installment in the Star Wars franchise.
On Sunday, he and co-star Daisy Ridley visited pubs near Malin Head.On Sunday, he and co-star Daisy Ridley visited pubs near Malin Head.
Filming has now finished in County Donegal and the cast have moved on to County Cork, but Hamill found time to meet with Jamie, Ciaran and their families before leaving.Filming has now finished in County Donegal and the cast have moved on to County Cork, but Hamill found time to meet with Jamie, Ciaran and their families before leaving.
Jamie told BBC Radio Ulster's Evening Extra that he was "still in shock" from the meeting.
"It's been a dream for me to meet Mark Hamill ever since I first saw the Star Wars films more than 10 years ago.
"To actually meet him and sit down and chat with him for over an hour - it was absolutely incredible."
Jamie said that the actor spoke to him about his diagnosis and that he had read about it on a Facebook page that details his journey.
"He just said that after he read through everything we'd done over the past year, with Jamie's journey, that to him I am his hero.
"But what he said, I would rather keep as a personal thing."
The meeting was organised by Jamie's mother, Patricia.The meeting was organised by Jamie's mother, Patricia.
She set up a social media campaign to try to get the star to get in touch.She set up a social media campaign to try to get the star to get in touch.
Mrs Harkin said the Star Wars actor was "very charismatic" and told Jamie to "keep strong". "I wasn't starstruck, to be honest, because when Mark came in he just put everyone completely at ease," she said.
She said her son was "starstruck" throughout the meeting that went on for over an hour. "It was just unbelievable that a man of his magnitude could just come in and sit down, almost like a father figure.
Writing on Facebook, Jamie said he was "speechless" at having "finally met my idol". "Jamie couldn't speak for about 15 minutes and Ciaran's older brother Caolan couldn't speak for the entire hour."
"I'm absolutely elated, incredibly humbled, honoured and just completely overwhelmed." She said that the family were told on Saturday that the Star Wars actor wanted to meet Jamie.
He said: "I promised myself that I wouldn't cry, but I just couldn't help it, and then Mark hugged me and as he was sitting down, I saw that he was crying too. "When his assistant rang me, I just burst out crying.
"Seeing him like that, in normal clothes as opposed to Jedi robes, talking about normal things as opposed to saving the galaxy, he really is an extraordinary actor, not just because he played my childhood hero but because despite being the star of the biggest franchise ever, he is still completely down to earth." "I really knew it was going to happen and when I met Mark today, he's just such a humble, genuine, caring man."
He added: "He is one of the most charismatic, down to earth people I have ever met. Sinead Barr, the mother of Ciaran Murphy, said it was "a fantastic experience".
"I'm completely sure that were it not for the fact he had a plane to catch, he would have stayed there all day." "He was very approachable, he sat and talked as if we had been friends all our lives.
"He chatted about the film, about his other passions. He spoke to us as parents of children who are fighting.
"He spoke to Jamie specifically around what an amazing young person he is, which is true - he's a fantastic young man and an inspiration to so many."