Derry schoolboy stays up past bed-time to meet Luke Skywalker
By Laura Lynott @Ly211
A SCHOOLBOY stayed up way past his bed-time – waiting nine hours – to meet his hero Luke Skywalker.
Shea Healy, 8, from Derry, convinced his father Gregory Healy, 42, and mother, Laura,also, 42, to drive from their Derry home on Sunday to stake out actor Mark Hamill, aka Luke Skywalker – at the star‘s top secret hotel in Redcastle, Co Donegal.
The family had been so determined to find the star – they got the information out of a journalist as to where the Star Wars actor was staying – and drove 24 kilometres to find Hamill at his four star hotel.
Greg said: “It was a struggle for Shea to get up for school this morning but it was worth it because he is buzzing.“We found out where Mark was staying from a journalist and drove up to the hotel but he was filming so we decided to wait.
“We waited from 3pm until just after midnight because Shea just had to meet Mark. He is a huge fan of Skywalker.”
The Chapel Road Primary School pupil is experiencing his own slice of fame as his school friends all enquire just what the famous Jedi is like in the flesh.
“We waited in the hotel lobby, watched the football, had something to eat and we didn’t want to give up, but we almost missed him – because it was very late and we were about to leave,” Greg said.
“Mark was an absolute gentleman and he was happy to pose for photos. But it was a struggle for Shea to get up for school this morning.”
Mark Hamill tweeted about his meeting with Shea: “He may be more handsome, but I was easily MUCH taller. #LessHandsomeHamill.”