Actor and comedian Ardal O'Hanlon is to present his first ever show as Gaeilge.
The series, Inis na nIontas, kicks off on TG4 on 10 January and sees O'Hanlon exploring the islands of Ireland, "unearthing the history, observing the wildlife and meeting the islanders trying to live sustainably within their extraordinary environment."
Sa tsraith seo, tugann Ardal O'Hanlon ar thuras muid, ag nochtadh stair na hoileáin, ag breathnú ar an bhfiadhúlra agus ag bualadh leis na hoileánaigh atá ag iarraidh maireachtáil ar aon dul lena dtimpeallacht iontach.
O'Hanlon's mother, Teresa, is a native Irish speaker and with this series, he says that he fulfils a longstanding ambition to practice and improve his Irish and promote its use to a wider public.
The first episode will focus on Rathlin Island off Co Antrim, famous for its countless seabirds and, unique to the island, the golden hare. Here, O'Hanlon learns how an astonishing archaeological find has rewritten Irish history and he tastes noodles made from kelp, sustainably farmed on the island. He will also explore Tory Island and Arranmore.
Also being explored throughout the series are the Aran Islands, the abandoned Great Blasket Island, Valentia, and Skellig Michael, a UNESCO world heritage site made internationally famous in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
In the final episode, Garnish Island, Sherkin Island and Cape Clear will be featured.
Speaking about the series, O'Hanlon said, "It was remarkable for me to witness the extraordinary diversity of our islands and to meet such a range of astonishing people."
He continued, "As an Irishman, I'd obviously heard of a lot of these places, but I was quite taken aback by visiting and seeing for myself - I was genuinely moved.
"We have some of the most breathtaking scenery and wonderful nature. There's truly nowhere like an island, and I now know there's no island like an Irish island!
"We need to cherish these places. And I'm especially proud of doing the whole thing in Irish! It just seemed so fitting," he said.
Inis na nIontas begins on TG4 on 10 January at 9.30pm.
