Cork islands to feature on new TG4 TV series

From Cape Clear in the south to Rathlin in the north, the islands off the coast of Ireland have long been a source of inspiration and of myth. But they’re home to a rich diversity of wildlife too – and a wide range of people.

In ‘Inis na nIontas’, actor and comedian Ardal O’Hanlon takes a journey, unearthing the history, observing the wildlife and meeting the islanders trying to live sustainably within their extraordinary environment.

‘Inis na nIontas’ is Ardal O’Hanlon’s first Irish-language show. His mother, Teresa, is a native Irish-speaker and, in this series, Ardal fulfils a longstanding ambition to practise and improve his Irish and promote its use to a wider public.

The first episode will be broadcast on TG4 on 10 January at 9.30pm. While the series features Rathlin, the Aran Islands and Valentia, there is also a focus on Cork islands.

On his journey, Ardal discovers beautiful Garnish Island (pictured above right), warmed by the Gulf Stream. Garnish is a paradise filled with gorgeous, lush gardens. It’s also a breeding ground for the rare and majestic white-tailed eagle. By kayak, Ardal sees its thriving seal colony, before heading further south to Sherkin Island, where he’s at sea once more, being introduced to a playful pod of dolphins. A local historian tells of the island’s piratical past and a resident artist explains why Sherkin has become a painters’ paradise.

A short hop takes Ardal to Cape Clear, Ireland’s southernmost island, where he’s taken on a tour in one of the island’s electric buses – the only in Ireland. We meet the island’s resident ornithologist, who explains the huge importance of the island for migratory birds, and visit a gin distillery that uses foraged kelp. A climactic clifftop view, out across the Atlantic, marks the end to an unforgettable journey.

From mighty, windswept cliffs to sub-tropical Edens, the islands of Ireland are extraordinary in their diversity and, for Ardal, the filming has been a revelatory experience.

“It was remarkable for me to witness the extraordinary diversity of our islands and to meet such a range of astonishing people,” he said.

“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 added.