Ardal O’Hanlon was born in 1965 in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan.   He is the son of the politican Dr Rory O’Hanlon.   While studying in college in Dublin, he began to do stand-up comedy.   He was spotted by Graham Linehan who cast him as the innocent Fr Dougal McGuire in the iconic “Fr Ted” with Dermot Morgan as the lead character, Pauline McLynn as the housekeeper Mrs Doyle and Frank Kelly as the cranky Fr Jack Hackett.   The series ran from 1995 until 1998.   In 2000, he starred in the comedy series “My Hero”.   On film, he had a featured role in Neil Jordan’s “The Butcher Boy”.   Interview in “Irish Central” with Ardal O’Hanlon here.