Ardal O'Hanlon visits Donegal islands in new TG4 series

Actor Ardal O'Hanlon will visit Donegal as part of a new TG4 series that focuses on all that is wild and beautiful about islands. The comedian visits both Arranmore and Tory Islands as he travels along the coast. 

Islands have always been regarded as mystical but they also contain a variety of wildlife and many kinds of people. 

Inis na n'Intonas is the first Irish program made by Ardal O'Hanlon. His mother, Teresa, is a native Irish speaker, and, in this series, Ardal fulfills his long-held desire, which is to practice and improve his Irish and promote the use of Irish in the general public.

The first program will be broadcast on TG4 on January 10 at 9.30pm. That program focuses on the north, starting in Reachlainn, an island that is famous for having so many seabirds and, and something specific to the island, the golden hare. It is here, Ardal learns about the huge impact a remarkable archaeological discovery has had on Ireland and tastes noodles made from kelp, which is sustainably farmed on the island.

From Reachlainn, Ardal goes to remote Tory, where he learns about the island's musical tradition and its mystical history, and we get an insight into how farming practices are being adapted to help the brook, which is in danger. After that, Ardal goes to Arranmore where he learns how the people of the island are encouraging new people who are coming to live here. He also learns how the little tern, which is endangered, has found a sanctuary for herself on the island.

In the second episode, Ardal continues down the west coast to the Isles of Arran, where he learns from a man who is still a monk about their ancient Christian heritage and, in their surroundings, the great flora that is abundant and flourishing, with the help of traditional farming methods.

Continuing south, Ardal visits Blascaod Mór which is now abandoned, but where the Irish author Peig Sayers once lived. There is now a thriving seal colony with two young keepers living there. On nearby Valencia Ardal is shown fossilized evidence of early life coming from the sea. On the coast of the island, our only Mormon wine producer in Ireland is in search of ingredients, and in the surrounding sea oyster preservers are hard at work. The program ends with a visit to Skellig Michíl, a UNESCO world heritage site that gained international fame because of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. With Luke Skywalker collecting for a long time, the island is home to a large number of puffins, as well as the most dramatic ancient monastery in the world.

In the last episode, Ardal is in the southernmost part of the country, where he arrives at the beautiful Island of Gharinse. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, Garinis is a paradise full of beautiful, lush gardens. It is also a breeding ground for the rare majestic bird, the sea eagle. Traveling by kayak, Ardal sees the seal colony that is doing so well, before heading further south to Ennis Arcain, where he is once again in the sea, introducing him to fun run of dolphins. A local historian tells him about the history of pirates on the island and a resident artist explains why Inis Arcáin has become a painter's paradise. Another very short trip and Ardal is in Cléire, Ireland's most southerly island, and is taken on a tour in one of the island's electric buses – the only part in Ireland. The crew meet an ornithologist who lives on the island, who explains how important the island is to migratory birds, and they visit a gin distillery that uses kelp collected from the shore. The highlight of this trip, and one that will not be forgotten, is the spectacular view from the top of the cliff across the Atlantic.

From majestic, jagged cliffs to subtropical paradises, the islands of Ireland are incredible in terms of diversity and the filming has made a huge impression on Ardal.

He said: "It was amazing for me to see the remarkable diversity of our islands and to meet so many wonderful people. As an Irishman, I've certainly heard of many of these places, but it was really taken away from me when I visited and saw them for myself. They really impressed me. We have some of the most beautiful scenery and nature. There is no place like islands, and I now know that there is no better island than an Irish island! We have to take care of these places. And I am extremely proud that I had done the whole thing in Irish! It seems to me that it is worth it."

Inis na n'Ontas is a One Tribe and Boulder Creek International production for TG4, BBC NI and SBS, with additional funding from Tourism Ireland.