ONE OF Britain’s most beloved comic actors visited Bala this week, following in the footsteps of his uncles who were here almost a century ago.

On Monday, 23 November, TV star Brendan O’Carroll, who plays the foul-mouthed Mrs Brown in Mrs Brown’s Boys, visited Meirionnydd whilst filming a documentary for BBC 2.

Pictured are Brendan O’Carroll, Lyn Ebenezer and Jennifer Gibney, Brendan’s wife who also acted in Mrs Brown’s Boys

The new TV show, due to come out next year, will remember the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising which took place in Dublin in 1916 where disillusioned Irish citizens rose up to fight against British colonial rule.

After the rebellion, 1,800 Irish soldiers were imprisoned in Frongoch camp, an old whisky distillery which was transformed into a Prisoner of War camp at the start of the First World War.

Mr O’Carroll has a personal link with Frongoch, which became known in rebel circles as the ‘University of Revolution’, as two of his uncles were incarcerated in the camp following the Easter Rebellion.

The comedian was joined on the day by local historian Lyn Ebenezer who has written two books about Frongoch Camp and its history.

He very much enjoyed his time with the popular Irish comic.

“Brendan was delightful, a hell of a character,” Mr Ebenezer told the Cambrian News. “He swears more off screen than he does on it would you believe!

“Brendan interviewed me about Frongoch because I know quite a lot about the camp and the area in general, he asked me what happened there and what the conditions would have been like.

“He seemed fascinated by what I had to say, especially since his uncl­es had actually been situated here all those years ago.”

Mr O’Carroll was also joined by his wife Jennifer Gibney who plays Cathy Brown, Agnes Brown’s daughter, in the hit comedy show.

“They were both lovely,” Mr Ebenezer continued.

“Throughout the day a lot of locals came in and out of the Frongoch Café where we spent a lot of our time between shots, they made time for everyone.

“They had a lot of photos taken and signed plenty of autographs.

“Brendan was quite struck by the fact that everyone spoke Welsh, I don’t think he was really expecting that.”

There are plans to host a centenary commemoration at the Frongoch camp next year.

Irish premier Michael D Higgins has been invited to the event which will take place in spring 2016.