| Dara Ó Briain Tickets married his wife Susan, a | | | | broadcast at Christmas 2009. |
| doctor, in 2006 and they have a daughter, born in | | | | In 2005, Ó Briain's show at the Edinburgh Festival |
| 2008.He describes himself as looking like "one of | | | | Fringe was the biggest selling solo comedy show of |
| Tony Soprano's henchmen", and admits that, "living in | | | | the festival.On 14 September 2005, he appeared as a |
| London I probably only get recognised about once a | | | | guest on Room 101, where he got rid of children's |
| day. And that's okay by me. I'm not a celebrity. And | | | | television presenters (originating from his |
| I certainly don't see myself as one." | | | | co-presenters on Echo Island) and once-in-a-lifetime |
| Ó Briain has said he sees himself as an atheist, but | | | | experiences (he was given a once-in-a-lifetime |
| "ethnically Catholic": "I'm staunchly atheist, I simply | | | | experience on the show, by being the second guest, |
| don't believe in God. But I'm still Catholic, of | | | | the first being former host Nick Hancock, to pull the |
| course.Catholicism has a much broader reach than | | | | lever that opens the chute to Room 101), banter, |
| just the religion. I'm technically Catholic, it's the box | | | | Gillian McKeith (host of You Are What You Eat) and |
| you have to tick on the census form: ‘Don't | | | | magicians. |
| believe in God, but I do still hate Rangers.'" | | | | Ó Briain conducted his third and largest multinational |
| His surname is the original Irish form of O'Brien, | | | | tour of the United Kingdom and Ireland in early 2006. |
| indicating his descent from King Brian Boru (c. | | | | This included 66 shows across London, Manchester, |
| 941-1014). He admitted, "My dad was involved in the | | | | Birmingham, Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast, as well as 9 |
| Irish language movement and changed it. Even Irish | | | | nights in Dublin. His second night in the Theatre Royal, |
| people are now confused by it". | | | | Drury Lane in London was recorded for his first live |
| He is a keen Arsenal F.C fan. | | | | DVD. His fourth multinational tour followed in late |
| Ó Briain was one one of fifteen members of a | | | | 2007, which as he says in his routine has "no title" but |
| racing greyhound syndicate for several years. The | | | | was almost entitled "You Had to Be There". Ó Briain |
| December 2009 transmission of "Three Men Go To | | | | has also been an extensive newspaper columnist, |
| Ireland" featured their dog Snip Nua, who by the time | | | | with pieces published in many national papers in both |
| of transmission had been put down following injuries | | | | the UK and Ireland, from the Sunday Times to the |
| sustained in a race. Ó Briain was so upset about the | | | | Daily Telegraph. On 9 August, 2006, he hosted the |
| death that he and his fellow syndicate members | | | | first episode of his new celebrity chat show, Turn |
| immediately disbanded the syndicate permanently. | | | | Back Time. |
| Other notable television work includes hosting the | | | | Ó Briain released his first book on 1 October 2009, |
| BBC sitcom writing competition "Last Laugh", and | | | | the book is entitled Tickling the English and is about |
| three documentaries which re-created the British | | | | what he perceives it means to be English. As part of |
| comedy novel Three Men in a Boat. For this, Ó | | | | its promotion he has stated that he is a great fan of |
| Briain rowed up the River Thames with Griff Rhys | | | | English culture and a student of English history, his |
| Jones and Rory McGrath. A sequel, Three Men in | | | | favourite periods being the Gin Craze and the civil |
| Another Boat, in which they raced from the Tower | | | | war. His favourite historical Englishman is Oliver |
| Bridge to the Isle of Wight, was first aired in January | | | | Cromwell.In a review of 'Tickling the English' O'Briain |
| 2008, and the third in the series, Three Men in More | | | | was described as Terry Wogan's heir apparent as |
| Than One Boat, was broadcast in January 2009. A | | | | Britain's 'favourite Irishman'. |
| further series, Three Men go to Ireland, was first | | | | |