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| Dara Ó Briain | |
|---|---|
| Name | Dara Ó Briain |
| Caption | Ó Briain in 2016 |
| Birth date | 4 February 1972 |
| Birth place | Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland |
| Occupation | Comedian, television presenter, writer |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Spouse | Susan O'Gorman |
Dara Ó Briain
Dara Ó Briain is an Irish comedian, television presenter and writer known for his stand-up, panel show hosting and science communication. He has presented high-profile programmes and live events across Ireland and the United Kingdom, combining observational comedy with interest in science and technology themes and frequent collaborations with broadcasters and fellow comedians.
Born in Bray, County Wicklow, Ó Briain grew up in a family with roots in County Tipperary and attended primary and secondary school in Bray before studying at University College Dublin where he read mathematics and theoretical physics. During his time at UCD he became involved with the college comedy scene and student media, sharing stages with contemporaries from the Irish and British comedy circuits and interacting with societies linked to Trinity College Dublin and the University of Galway.
Ó Briain began performing stand-up in the mid-1990s on the Irish and British club circuits, appearing at festivals such as the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and touring with shows that drew audiences from venues associated with Gaiety Theatre, Apollo Theatre, and provincial arts centres. He won recognition at competitions and awards alongside peers from the British stand-up scene, performing gigs with comedians from London, Manchester, Glasgow and international festivals like Montreal Just for Laughs. His comedy often references cultural figures and institutions including David Attenborough, Stephen Hawking, Bill Gates, Apple Inc., NASA and media outlets such as BBC and RTÉ.
Ó Briain's broadcasting career includes presenting panel shows, factual entertainment and live specials for broadcasters including BBC One, BBC Two, RTÉ One and commercial networks. He is best known for hosting long-running panel programmes and science-related series, sharing studios and stages with personalities like Graham Norton, Armando Iannucci, John Cleese, Stephen Fry and presenters from Channel 4 and Sky Arts. He has appeared as a guest and host on radio and television programmes affiliated with BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live and national broadcasts tied to events such as Comic Relief and election-night coverage, and has fronted live gala shows at venues linked to the Royal Albert Hall and the National Concert Hall, Dublin.
Ó Briain has undertaken acting and voice roles in television, film and animated projects, collaborating with production companies connected to Aardman Animations, independent film companies in Dublin and UK studios in London. His voice work has featured in children's programming and documentary narration alongside actors and voice artists associated with Channel 5, CBBC and international distributors, and he has performed in televised comedy dramas and sketches with performers from Monty Python, The Fast Show and the BBC Comedy troupe.
As a writer, Ó Briain has contributed material for stand-up shows, television scripts and columns in newspapers and magazines with links to publishing houses and editorial teams at outlets like The Guardian, The Observer, The Times and Irish broadsheets. He has authored essays and pieces on science communication, comedy and popular culture, engaging with scientific communicators including Brian Cox (physicist), Richard Dawkins, Neil deGrasse Tyson and institutions such as Imperial College London and the Royal Institution.
Ó Briain is married to Susan O'Gorman and has two children; the family has lived in Dublin and has connections with cultural institutions in County Wicklow and County Dublin. He is publicly associated with charitable organisations and advocacy campaigns connected to medical research, mental health charities and event fundraisers like Comic Relief and national telethons, and is often seen at public events alongside figures from entertainment and science such as Rowan Atkinson, Michael Palin, Bill Bailey and Adam Buxton.
Ó Briain has received nominations and awards from bodies linked to the British Comedy Awards, the Irish Film & Television Academy, festival honours at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and recognition from science outreach organisations tied to universities and museums such as the Science Museum, London and the Royal Society. His broadcasts and live performances have earned critical praise in national press including reviews in The Irish Times, The Independent and The Telegraph.
Category:Irish comedians Category:Irish television presenters