Ardán is a weekly Irish language chat show produced by RTÉ for TG4. It is presented by Páidí Ó Lionáird and is broadcast on Sundays at 20:30.
Overview
Ardán (pronounced awrd-awn and meaning "platform") has been on the TG4 (Gaelic Public Sector Broadcaster) schedule since 2000. This series concept was initially created to provide a "platform" for those in the Gaelic speaking areas of Ireland (Gaeltacht) to engage with its own public and to act as a conduit between national and local broadcasting, in which national issues could be engaged with on a local basis. It still fulfills an element of this function, albeit more often than not stationary and studio based in RTÉ Dublin, from where it is produced. Formerly a live studio show, the show is now pre-recorded; thus allowing for English subtitling and possibly extending the broadcaster's target audience.
Hosts
Although first presented by entrepreneur Páraic Ó Céide (of Aer Arann, Foinse and Clódóirí Lurgan), his successor after just 13 episodes in 2000 has been Páidí Ó Lionáird. Originally from County Cork (but now residing in Galway) Ó Lionáird began with the fledgling TG4 in 1997 on a similar studio-based chat show: Seó Bóthair. He quickly became one of the channel's most prominent personalities garnering many loyal fans and awards along the way. A fluid and erudite speaker (apparently he uses no auto-Q) Ó Lionáird is fluent in both Irish and English, and has a high command of French. He is educated to Hon Degree level, holds Diplomas in both Religious Studies and Public Relations, is a member of the Irish Academy of Public Relations and of the National Union of Journalists. He has been awarded the TV Personality Of The Year by Oireachtas na Gaeilge and has also been nominated for the same accolade by the Irish Film and Television Awards. He is credited for many programs including: "The Pure Drop", "Seó Bóthair", "Cleamhnas", "An Tuath Nua", "Míle Fáilte Míle Slan", "Showband Show", "Ceol Tíre", "Gradam Ceoil TG4", and "7Lá".
