Ardal's role as TD gets pat on back from dad
Monday November 30 2009
COMEDIAN Ardal O'Hanlon has revealed how his politician father Rory has given his new RTE comedy series, Val Falvey TD, a big thumbs-up.
The former Father Ted star claims that his father, who has served as Fianna Fail TD for Cavan-Monaghan, as leas ceann comhairle, and in a number of ministerial posts in the past, sees the funny side of the satirical show.
"My father's a very honourable man and he's always been ultra cautious and always been very clean in terms of politics," Ardal explained.
"He's a reasonable enough chap, he's a good laugh. He sees the funny side of it. Of course he would watch it every week.
Bizarre
"He knows how ridiculous politicians are. It's just one of those bizarre coincidences that I'm in this and he happens to be in politics.
"I'm ridiculing politics but he's got his job and I've got mine.
"There's also another show on RTE at the moment by David McSavage, whose father was also a Minister. It is ridiculous -- it could only happen in Ireland."
Ardal's grandfather, Michael O'Hanlon, was also a well-known political figure and was a member of Michael Collins' squad which assassinated 20 British secret service agents in 1920 during the War of Independence.
The popular comedian discovered the full details of his family history when he took part in RTE's Who Do You Think You Are series last year.
Val Falvey TD has been well received by critics and is expected to be back for a second series.
And while there have been many comparisons between Ardal's new series and cult TV show Father Ted, the man who shot to fame playing the role of Fr Dougal Maguire says the two characters are very different.
"He's not as dim-witted, more up his own a***.
"Val is an incompetent TD, self-centred and cynical.
"He's not aware of what's going on around him. He's not interested in constituents. You have to like the character of Val though, which is ironic given that none of us like politicians at the moment," said Ardal.
lnolan@herald.ie
- Lorna Nolan
