Outlander: Blood of My Blood casting: Who is Conor MacNeill?

In the latest Outlander: Blood of My Blood casting announcements, we got confirmation that a young Ned Gowan will be in the story. Northern Irish actor Conor MacNeill will take on the role, previously played by Bill Paterson.

While a younger Murtagh and the MacKenzie brothers made immediate sense, there were a few questions about why Ned would be in the story. It makes sense when you remember that he was connected to Jacob MacKenzie before Colum. It was because of Jacob that Ned ended up being loyal to the MacKenzie Clan, and that was after Jacob robbed him! Please can that story be fully told in the prequel series just for fun?

So, now eyes are on Conor MacNeill and where you can see him before the Outlander prequel. He is the most experienced out of the four recently announced.

Where you’ve seen Conor MacNeill before

The actor made his first on-screen appearance back in 2004 in an episode of Pulling Moves. He then didn’t act on-screen until 2008.

Since then, he has landed roles in the TV movie Saving the Titanic, 12 episodes of An Crisis, and three episodes of The Fall with Jamie Dornan. In fact, he has been in a few shows and movies with Dornan. After that, he appeared in Belfast (also with Outlander’s Caitriona Balfe) and most recently in The Tourist Season 2 as Detective Ruairi Slater.

You can also watch him in Derry Girls, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, and Industry. He certainly has a varied experience, and we can’t wait to see what he brings to the Outlander prequel.

We’re still waiting to see who will take on the role of Jacob MacKenzie, as he’s sure to be in the story. We would also love to see a young Uncle Lamb considering Claire’s parents’ story is being told as well.

Outlander: Blood of My Blood is coming to STARZ.