Ardal O'Hanlon (born 8 October 1965 at Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, in the Republic of Ireland) is a comedian and actor, best known for his role as Father Dougal McGuire in the comedy television series Father Ted. His father is Rory O'Hanlon, an Irish politician and doctor.
Ardal O'Hanlon graduated from the National Institute for Higher Education, Dublin (now Dublin City University) in Communications Studies in 1987. He started out as a stand-up comedian, and was spotted by Graham Linehan, who was to cast him in Father Ted.
He has also had his own television series, My Hero, in which he plays a superhero juggling the duties of his heroic role with the ordinary day-to-day crises of life in the suburbs.