Additional Coverage:
- Conan O’Brien shares true feelings about the Irish language after his surprise role on Irish soap opera (irishstar.com)
Comedian and late-night host Conan O’Brien recently showcased his acting chops in an unexpected setting: an Irish-language soap opera. Known for his affection for Ireland, with family ties to Counties Limerick and Tipperary, O’Brien has often expressed his connection to the Emerald Isle.
On his podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, Conan welcomed Irish actor Andrew Scott, star of All of Us Strangers. During their conversation, O’Brien revealed a surprising tidbit-he had appeared on Ros na Rún, a long-running soap opera broadcast exclusively in the Irish language.
“You may not be aware that there is an Irish show, that is in the Irish language exclusively,” O’Brien shared, prompting Scott to immediately recognize the show’s name. O’Brien confirmed, “I was on Ros na Rún,” much to the amusement of Scott and others off-camera.
The comedian explained that he taped his scenes in Dublin and agreed to the role once he learned about the opportunity. However, his lines were entirely in Irish, a language he does not speak. When Scott asked if he had learned the dialogue phonetically, O’Brien admitted he had simply sounded out his lines from cue cards, without knowing their meaning.
O’Brien had expected a “cool” role but ended up playing a balloon delivery man, a detail that added humor to his story. Although the appearance was in season 28 of the show, which has been airing on TG4 since 1996, Ros na Rún continues to run to this day.
The clip of O’Brien’s performance quickly circulated online, drawing playful reactions from viewers. Comments ranged from praise for his surprisingly good Irish pronunciation to jokes about his struggle with a door rather than the language itself. One social media user even dubbed his effort “an Emmy award performance.”
In addition to reminiscing about the soap opera, O’Brien and Scott discussed their shared Irish heritage, the host’s signature red hair, and the experience of Catholic guilt, adding a personal touch to their engaging conversation.
Conan’s unexpected foray into Irish-language television adds another unique chapter to his diverse career and deepens his well-known connection to Ireland.