Ardal O’Hanlon was born in County Monaghan in 1965. Starting out as a standup comedian in Dublin, he got his big break in 1995 playing the gormless Father Dougal McGuire in Channel 4’s hit sitcom Father Ted. In 1998, he published a novel called The Talk of the Town. On BBC, he played the lead roles in My Hero and Death in Paradise. Now O’Hanlon stars as Jack in a new production of Brian Friel’s Dancing at Lughnasa at the National Theatre until 27 May. He lives in Dublin with his wife, Melanie, with whom he has three children.
1. Book
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
I’ve always been a fan of Claire Keegan’s writing and her latest is a very elegant, understated novel with not a word out of place. It’s set in Ireland in the 1980s and the lead character is a coal supplier in a Wexford town. The big theme is the Magdalene laundries, which blighted Irish society for the best part of the 20th century, but despite the grimness this is a really hopeful book about the potential goodness in people. It’s not shouty and it’s all the more powerful for that.
2. Art
Rebel Rebel: Soheila Sokhanvari at the Barbican
Whenever I go to London, I get very giddy and try to cram in as many shows as possible. I stumbled upon this exhibition by Iranian-born British artist Soheila Sokhanvari at the Barbican and absolutely loved it. It was a series of miniature portraits of Iranian women in the pre-revolutionary period – singers, actors, intellectuals and poets who evoke this heady, glamorous era. It was a very timely exhibition, with the eruption of protests and brutal repression in Iran. It spoke volumes and the portraits were exquisite.
3. Film
Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (dir Chantal Akerman, 1975)
I watched this out of curiosity, because a recent poll by Sight & Sound magazine declared it the greatest film of all time. It’s a very political film. It’s about the drudgery of housework – it could be subtitled A Woman’s Work Is Never Done – but it’s really interesting and strangely enjoyable. There’s a five minute scene of the main character kneading mince and another of her polishing shoes. Calling it the greatest film of all time is a bit contrarian – for me, a great film has to engage the heart as well as the head – but I was very engaged by it.
4. TV
A Whole Lifetime with Jamie Demetriou (Netflix)
I really enjoyed this sketch show by Jamie Demetriou. Like all sketch shows, it’s a bit hit and miss, but what Demetriou does really well is social awkwardness. He pushes every idea to its limit and then a little bit beyond. There’s a brilliant parody of a Love Island-style reality show and another very simple sketch where an office worker repeatedly snags himself on a door. It’s fresh and new and a bit sick. I laughed out loud quite a few times – and I’m hard to please.
5. Architecture
Fallingwater, near Pittsburgh, PA
I was on a standup tour of America with my wife and I had to conjure up a gig in Pittsburgh, just to have an excuse to go and see this 1930s Frank Lloyd Wright building in rural Pennsylvania. I’ve always loved Wright’s architecture and this was a bit like a pilgrimage to a holy place. It didn’t disappoint in any way. It is ingenious in terms of its construction and just really beautiful. I actually got quite emotional walking around it.
6. Restaurant
Dublin has a pretty decent restaurant culture these days, though you’re always taking a chance going to higher-end restaurants. But you really feel safe in Uno Mas, where we celebrated my wife’s birthday in January. It’s got a Spanish influence. The olives and smoked almonds are just the best you’ve ever tasted and they do great vermouth cocktails, which I’ve tried to recreate at home. They do amazing stuff with cauliflower and artichokes (whenever I see artichoke on a menu, I have to go for it). I’m surprised they don’t have a Michelin star.
