Ardal O’Hanlon returns
Ardal O’Hanlon is best known as the gormless, witless and hilarious Father Dougal McGuire from ‘Father Ted.’ He has consistently proven himself to be one of Ireland’s greatest living comedians since winning the Hackney Empire New Act of the Year Award back in 1994. With many more gongs on his mantelpiece since then, Ardal is rightly acclaimed as one the greatest stand-up comedians to emerge in recent years.
Back in the early nineties when there was no comedy ‘scene’ to speak of in Ireland, Ardal along with Kevin Gildea and Barry founded the International Comedy Cellar upstairs in the Dublin’s International Bar, which still runs, making and breaking comedians seven nights a week.
While on stage Ardal was spotted by Graham Linehan and cast as Father Dougal in C4’s ‘Father Ted.’
Ardal has certainly developed a comedy style all his own which seems to be working extremely well. He regularly sells out shows with 2,000 capacity audiences on tours across the U.K and his acting career both on T.V and on the big screen has shown the extent of his range. From his small role in The Butcher Boy to his award winning part in the short feature Flying Saucer Rock n’ Roll Ardal has proved there is more to him than Dougal. “There are two sides to it because if it wasn’t for Father Ted I wouldn’t have an audience but at the same time I am getting a mainstream audience with a preconceived idea about comedy who watch TV on a Friday and don’t get out enough.
Ardal’s delivers wry observations on everything from casual sex to family relations in an easy conversational style. Although he stars in movies and tv shows, publishes books, writes both comedy and film, it is on stage as a stand up that he seems most at home, which is all the more reason not to miss his new show at Forum Waterford.
Tickets for Ardal O’Hanlon at Forum Waterford on Friday February 12th are priced at €25 (incl booking fee) and are available from Next Door Forum Waterford, 051-871133 or online at www.forumwaterford.com