Actor Bill Murray no 'Scrooge' as he buys drinks and chats to fans

Five people posing for a photograph outside a garage. One man standing in the middle of four women. All smiling at the camera. All of the women wear black work uniform. The man is pictured wearing black tracksuit bottoms a black jumper and a black hat. Lynch's Eurospar Greysteel

Bill Murray stopped for a photo with shop staff on Friday Morning

Paddy Magee
BBC News NI

Hollywood actor Bill Murray was anything but a "Scrooge," when he stopped to talk to fans in a shop in Greysteel, County Londonderry on Friday morning.

The 75-year-old actor, star of films such as Ghostbusters, Lost in Translation and Groundhog Day, has been travelling across the island of Ireland this month.

Staff working at Lynch's Eurospar were quick to ask the actor for a photograph after spotting him outside the shop.

The actor's brother Joel volunteered to take the photo of Murray and a few of the deli counter staff.

A photo is taken of four people sat down at a wooden table outside. The centre of a photo is a man with his back turned wearing a grey body warmer with a black baseball cap. To the right is a man with a blue and black jacket he has grey hair. Another man is pictured to the left with a navy raincoat. A woman is also pictured with her phone in her hand. Some pint glasses filled with dark beer are also sitting on the table. The Beach Bar Sligo

Bill Murray (right) pictured at The Beach Bar in County Sligo

In the last week he has travelled to County Sligo, where he bought some of the regulars in a local pub drinks, and to Ardara in County Donegal.

On Tuesday, Murray stopped into The Beach Bar in County Sligo alongside his brother and fellow actor Joel as well as Irish comedian Joanne McNally.

Darren McDermott, who is a manager at the bar, told BBC News NI he knew that some celebrities were making an appearance later, "but we didn't quite know who".

However, he had an inkling about who might turn up.

"I suspected that it might be Bill as he was about the local area that day, we just didn't know until he showed up," he said.

A woman does the peace sign with Bill MurrayInstagram/GhostBustersIreland

Murray delighted a Ghost Busters Ireland member

"He bought some of the locals a few drinks, had a few laughs but he was very down to earth."

The bar manager, who is no stranger to celebrity visitors, took it in its stride.

"We've had film crews pass by before, with a few celebrities like Cillian Murphy and Peter Dinklage," said Mr McDermott.

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