Are We There Yet? Ireland

Presented by former Coronation Street star, Charlie Lawson and Daniel Coll from Emmerdale with a host of celebrities on this trip around Ireland with hilarious consequences

In "Are We There Yet?", soap star Charlie Lawson (Coronation Street’s Jim McDonald) and former Emmerdale actor Daniel Coll embark on an audacious vintage Land Rover road trip around Ireland – with no cash.

The penniless duo charm celebrity guests into joining them for novelty fundraising ideas to hopefully pay for their accommodation and food on this epic 10-day journey covering 2,400km of the most amazing Irish countryside meeting some great characters on their way.

And if they don’t raise enough money – they sleep in the jeep.

What's it all about?

  • On the road

    EPISODE ONE:

    Dan and Charlie set off on the road trip.

    Dan arrives in Ireland and we see him explain to the audience what the show is about.  He sets off to pick up Eilish O’Carroll (Winnie McGoogan) in Mrs Brown’s Boys. On the way Dan travels through Dublin City. He has a phone call from Charlie who is stuck in the airport in Manchester so goes to meet Eilish on his own.

    They chat in the Landrover about Eilish and her life. Living in London, her Mother who was the first Lady MP in Ireland, Marriage, Life in the UK for 20 years her brother and being gay and happy (plus Catholic Guilt!).

    Eilish busks with Dan on Grafton Street and they make quite a bit of money.

    Both head to the Theatre where she is about to perform and they meet Rebecca Storm (Famous Musical Theatre Actress in Ireland)

    Charlie Calls (he is still stuck in the Airport) Rebecca and Dan go through Dublin being recognised and meeting people on the way. Rebecca shows Dan her Hand Prints outside the Gaiety Theatre and they go into the Theatre where Dan interviews her and chats about her life in Ireland.  She gives 50 Euro to Dan to help the guys out. As they are saying their goodbyes Charlie arrives at last and goes with Dan to their accommodation for the night (given that they have raised 150 Euro) a Hostel. Charlie is not best pleased. We end seeing them go in.

    EPISODE TWO:

    We see Charlie and Dan in their luxurious accommodation looking like they have not slept well, and they head off to the best Hotel in Dublin to meet Lady and Sir James Galway.

    Interview takes place in the Grand surroundings of the Hotel. The couple talk about their Childhood, how they met, future plans and reveal some really funny stories. Dan and Charlie leave the grand surroundings of the Hotel and go off out of Dublin to the famous Johnny Foxes pub to meet with an Irish Dance team who will instruct them in Irish Dancing – they are to perform that evening at the venue to make the money for the next leg of the Journey.

    That evening they dance (in a manner of speaking) and sing for the assembled crowd who love what they do and provide them with the funds to continue on their journey.

    EPISODE THREE:

    Dan and Charlie are at Waterford Crystal where they blow glass and cut the crystal. They tour the Factory and talk to many of the staff. Charlie gets a little emotional with fond memories when the glass he is challenged to cut turns out to be the exact same pattern that his late Mother and Father had collected.  They move along the picturesque coast line to meet Irish Chef Rachel Allan.

    Rachel takes the lads on a tour of her family cookery school and organic growing plots. She is interviewed in the Landrover and much laughter and merriment takes place.

    This is followed by a cookery lesson (Rather in the style of Celebrity Chef) where Dan and Charlie make the most luscious Salmon meal on a bed of organic salad; the aim is to sell the food that evening at the local pubs.

    The lads head off to the local pubs and meet a very grumpy publican who turns out to be great fun, followed by two rather inebriated lads in the next pub and over 50 students in the third pub.

    They sell all of their food and stay the night at a discounted rate in a very high end Hotel where they finally relax after an exhilarating day.

    EPISODE FOUR:

    Dan and Charlie leave the grounds of a glorious Hotel, then further travel through stunning countryside to Blarney where they meet Michael Lawson (winner of the Voice Ireland 2016). They are given a tour of Blarney Castle and Gardens by the head Gardener and then kiss the stone itself. Both Dan and Charlie seem to have developed more verbal abilities since this point!

    They interview Michael in the Landrover and chat about his thrill of winning the voice and future plans he even sings for them!

    We then move along the coast further up to Killarney followed by the stunning sights of Dingle Bay where it is hoped a very special guest will make an appearance. They boys set out to sea in search of the legendary Fungie (a Dolphin) who has been in the bay since 1983. He does not fail and Charlie and Dan are both very moved to witness him at close quarters.

    They have had a wonderful day and head off over the tops into the stunning Mountain Pass on their way to the next point of their Journey. They have very little money left only enough for fuel and spend the night parked up and have to sleep in the car.

    EPISODE 5:

    Dan and Charlie wake up feeling pretty rough after a night of little sleep then move on their way to Galway, where they are to meet DANA.  They head for a famous fish restaurant on the outskirts of Galway where they get talking to the owner who turns out to be an international judge in Oyster  Shocking.  Dan and Charlie set about preparing Oysters for the customers and are offered a delicious meal in return.

    Charlie notices a group of Race Horses who are being taken for a swim in the River and goes off to look at them. We see him helping the owner who turns out to be a famous trainer Stephen Mohan. Stunning shots of Charlie and the Swimming horses in the river.

    Dana arrives and she takes the lads off on a tour, sitting in the middle of them, Dan and Charlie chat to Dana about her life, her family, her political life and lots about her future plans. They touch on the peace process and end having a huge outrageous laugh following a singing session. The boys are still in need of lots of cash to continue on the journey and Dana suggests that they go into Galway on the main street and busk.

    She does this with them singing her famous Eurovision hit “All Kinds Of Everything” and is mobbed by hundreds of fans who cannot believe what they are seeing. They make a lot of money.

    A much needed Hotel is taken up for the boys.

    EPISODE 6

    Dan and Charlie have a long drive to Sligo, on the way they stop off at the horse trainer again and interview him. Charlie has a go at riding out with one of the race horses, hanging on for dear life he gallops and canters with a huge grin on his face. Not bad for a 57 year old.  They are given a little money for cleaning and mucking out the stables so can travel up to Sligo and a little beyond.

    They then head off though yet more stunning countryside to meet a Historian.

    He tells them all the local History about a Priest who worked tirelessly during the troubles to help the locals keep the right to cut peat. Charlie steps inside a Catholic Church for the first time in his life. The Historian then takes the boys off to chat about William Butler Yeats who is buried in a churchyard nearby.

    Charlie and Dan have no money left and are desperate as they have  no fuel to run the vehicle and nowhere to sleep, let alone how to eat.  They go to meet a group of local musicians who are playing traditional Irish music. Dan has an Idea and sells the amp he has brought along to busk for a hundred and fifty euro. They have enough fuel and a bed for the night.

    EPISODE 7:

    Rested after their night in a B and B the lads head off to Kelebeg in Donegal, where they are supposed to meet a master of Irish Speaking. On the way through yet more glorious countryside in stunning sunshine they stop off to chat to some fishermen who tell them some wild tales.

    They then finally get to the Language School in the heart of the Countryside and Coast but are two hours late. A local Chef tells them that the Principle of the School had to go. They are a little stuck as they were supposed to read some poetry in Gaelic at a local pub that night to earn more money.

    They push on to the next destination at the very tip of Ireland, its most Northern Point on the way they stop at the North Sea and Dan bets Charlie’s partner over the phone that he will take his clothes off and go for a swim there and then for £300 . Dan takes his clothes off (maintaining a little modesty) and throws himself into the ice cold water. He wins the bet. With the money in the Bank the lads head off up the Coast to Fanad Lighthouse where they are given a tour and History of the Building by two guides. They stay the night in the Lighthouse with stunning Vistas.

    EPISODE 8:

    Early morning start, Dan and Charlie are refreshed and head into the North of Ireland taking in some remarkable Countryside on the way to Lough Neigh where they meet international investigative award winning reporter Patricia Devlin. She brings a big of glamour to their Landrover and the two flirt shamelessly with her as they interview her about her life and the way in which she takes on the most risky part of Journalism putting her life at risk.

    When they bid farewell they still have not made any money and head off toward  Sheep’s Island where appropriately they are to be instructed in sheep shearing by both  Father and Son who are farmers in this idyllic place.  This is conducted by Dan and Charlie with hilarious undertaking much to the sheep’s distain who would no doubt much prefer a professional to give them a haircut next time. The vista is amazing here, Soring hills, stunning sunsets with the North Sea at its best.

    The farmers invite Dan and Charlie to a lovely dinner as a reward for their hard work and offer them a comfortable bed for the night. Relaxed but broke again the chaps enjoy a good night’s sleep.

    EPISODE 9:

    An early start and the intrepid travellers move back South, on the way they travel along what is probably one of the finest coastal roads in Britain The Causeway Coastal Route much admired by former Top Gear Presenter Jeremy Clarkson.

    Dan and Charlie then make their way to the Famous Bush Mills Distillery in County Antrim. Here they are given a guided tour of the Distillery taking in the History and the ambience of this historic site. No drink is allowed as the boys have a racing date ahead!

    The problem is that they have run out of money and have run out of fuel. The boys are finally helped out with a bet by the crew that they will not beat the race track record when they get to famous Eddie Irvine race track in Hollywood.

    Bet accepted and a small loan in place from the crew the boys head off to the track. An almighty crash ensues between Dan and Charlie as they race each other and the time to get around the track. Both come out unscathed and continue speedily around the track in a death defying race.

    Finally when the results are announced they win the bet and have enough to complete the next leg of the tour plus enough money to gain a little place to stay for the night.

    We end the programme in the stunning grounds of Culloden  Hotel in Bangor where Dan chats to Charlie about his experiences during the troubles and how he and the culture has changed for the better.

    EPISODE 10:

    Early morning start and it’s off to meet Presidential Blood in the guise of Henry Healy who is 8th Cousin of US President Barack Obama. They meet the man himself who does have a very remarkable resemblance to Obama and are given a tour of the Town and Visitors Centre plus a History of Obama and his links. Henry reveals some personal and interesting insights whilst being interviewed in the Landrover about Obama and his family.

    The final stretch and Dan and Charlie head off to meet Marion Fossett of Fossetts, Irelands Oldest Circus. Established in 1888. Marion has some specials plans ahead for the evening for Dan and Charlie as she explains in a very vivid and lively interview whilst in the Land Rover.

    Charlie is to use his dulcet tones and theatrical ability to play the Ringmaster that evening while Dan is to perform a death defying stunt! The evening is upon them before they know it and with Charlie showing off his showmanship and captivating the audience and ends in a grand finale as Dan has a piercingly sharp killer arrow fired at him whilst holding a balloon. The arrow hits its target (to the relief of all) and the balloon burst with aplomb a collection ensues and the both Dan and Charlie have enough to celebrate that evening and pay for the ferry home.

     

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