Stephen Fry has filmed a cameo for the popular Irish soap Ros na Rún – in an Irish speaking part.

According to the Independent, Fry said:

“I’m doing a documentary on languages and this is the heartland of Irish-speaking Ireland — we’re just having conversations about the language and how it goes forward and whether the young generation are picking it up and the rest of it.

“I will be playing a bewildered tourist on ‘Ros na Run’. The great thing is, because I’m a tourist, I don’t have to speak it very well, just make an effort”.

Around 350,000 people in Ireland say they speak Irish regularly (according to the 1996 census) – the attention that Fry will bring to the language will surely be a boost to its popularity.