Comedian John Bishop presents a new four-part series in which he travels around Ireland exploring its history and culture.
Ireland will always mean a huge amount to Bishop. It was whilst gigging the small clubs and bars there that he decided to quit his job in pharmaceuticals and give stand-up comedy a proper go - a decision that changed his life beyond recognition.
In this brand new series, John will embark on a once-in-a-lifetime, 600 mile road trip around the Emerald Isle, taking a deep dive into Irish culture.
It’s a voyage that will not only follow John discovering iconic sights and quirky customs, but will also see him perform his comedy along the way, from a small and cramped gig in a Limerick pub, through to the biggest stage in all of Ireland.
In episode one, John goes to watch the All Ireland Gaelic football final. Like an Irish Super Bowl, it’s a match that sees over half the country crowd around the TV in pubs and living rooms for the culmination of a competition involving all of the 32 counties in the north and south. Since winning in 1951, Mayo has lost the final seven times which many put down to a curse – Is this the year they will finally lift the curse?
Next, John travels on to Cork, where he goes to the local university for a lecturer on Folk law and fairies and meets a fisherman, who like him, has met the Queen.
In episode two, John visits Lisdoonvarna, where he meets Ireland’s last traditional matchmaker, Willie Dalyand and his world famous magic book, at a 200-year-old festival. He then travels to Knock, where he meets Father Richard Gibbons, and finds out why, despite having a population of just 972, it annually hosts more than 1.5 million visitors who travel from all over the globe.
John Bishop's Ireland, Fridays from 26 April, 8pm, ITV1.
