How do you pronounce it?

The Father Ted star will play "Eamonn, the awkward, middle-aged mummy's boy of the Quinn/McCool extended family".

Hampstead ****

Cork producer Fionn Greger has served his time on blockbusters, but was happy to scale down for an abortion-related drama, writes Esther McCarthy

Could Ardal O’Hanlon’s new comedy on Sky really exorcise the ghosts of Father Ted? He’s not bothered either way, writes Keeley Bolger

David O’Doherty is back at Edinburgh with a new show, but the Irish comedian has also been busy writing a new children’s book, writes Hannah Stephenson.

Looking for something to do this week? Here are five suggestions.

It’s hard to believe it but today marks the 20th anniversary of the first episode of the greatest Irish sitcom ever — the inimitable Fr Ted.

As World Book Day comes around and concern mounts that children aren’t reading because of technology. Jonathan de Burca Butler talks to well-known faces about why reading made them who they are.

Diageo, the country’s largest drinks company and owner of Guinness, is to pour millions into a public awareness campaign aimed at preventing excessive drinking.

The best way to deal with crippling anxiety attacks is to challenge the cause of the catastrophic thoughts, writes Áilín Quinlan.

POLITICS is rock ’n’ roll for the ugly, and the shucksters, bounders and bumpkins who hang about in Leinster House are a motley crew.

Highlights include Orange Is The New Black and The Mill.

MUSIC NEWS: Shane MacGowan has told the Quietus website that some of his best songs were written by ghosts.

The world of acting is a hard graft and actors need buckets of perseverance, says Shane Nestor

Where once under-achieving Spanish players were more virility and machismo than style and substance, now they go in search of a hat-trick of major tournament titles.

Fishamble’s Tiny Plays for Ireland project affords ordinary people the opportunity to speak their minds, writes Pádraic Killeen

NOW celebrating its fifth anniversary, the Bulmers Comedy Festival in Clonmel has just announced its biggest line-up to date with more than 20 world-class comedians set to tickle the ribs next month.

WELLIES at the ready!

WHEN the advance word came through that Shay Given didn’t want to talk about Manchester City, I was reminded of comedian Ardal O’Hanlon’s dream of interviewing Neil Armstrong on a chat show – and never once mentioning the moon.

SCOOTING across the lawns of RTÉ yesterday, presenter Ryan Tubridy looked confident but cautious as he approached a wall of journalists.

This is a buddy comedy that fails to be funny or even worth watching.

AN award-winning film by acclaimed Dublin playwright Conor McPherson will be among a raft of Irish productions showcased at the Cannes Film Festival this week.

An award-winning film by acclaimed Dublin playwright Conor McPherson will be among a raft of Irish productions showcased at the Cannes Film Festival this week.

IT HAS been a weekend for everybody.

AN EPISODE of The Bill shown on RTÉ last December which featured a man committing suicide has been deemed “totally inappropriate” for a daytime schedule by the Broadcasting Complaints Commission.

FESTIVAL fever infected the country this bank holiday weekend with events taking place celebrating cat-themed comedy, gardening, jazz, maritime culture and traditional music.

The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival kicks off in Kilkenny today.

COMEDIAN, Ardal O’Hanlon, has hit out at a “mob” that spat at and attacked his father during a protest in his home county.

AS SELF-HELP guides go, this Thursday’s new series on RTÉ is pretty much out on its own.

THE country was spoilt for choice when it came to festival fun over the Bank Holiday weekend — and for once the weather didn’t spoil the mood.

Apart from being Irish comedians, what have Tommy Tiernan, Ardal O’Hanlon, Dara O’Briain and Des Bishop (well, he’s half Irish) got in common?

THE Jameson Dublin International Film Festival sparkled all the way to its end last night with the first screening of The Ballad of Jack and Rose, in the Savoy Cinema.

Hollywood legend and ex-motor racer Paul Newman was back behind the wheel today as he took a “New Generation” Porsche 911 for a spin around a race track.

Ten of Ireland's top comedians launched the Murphy’s Cat Laughs Comedy Festival today.

Actress Patsy Kensit was making her West End debut tonight alongside Ardal O'Hanlon at the premiere of a comedy in which she plays a mistress.

Actor Nigel Havers has spoken movingly of his wife’s battle with ovarian cancer.

Former minister Dr Rory O’Hanlon - father of Father Ted star Ardal O’Hanlon - was today chosen as Ceann Comhairle of the newly-elected 29th Dáil.