Cripes almighty, this month marks 20 years since Irish comedy Father Ted first graced television sets. Written by Graham Linehan and Arthur Matthews, it starred Dermot Morgan as the eponymous Ted, Ardal O’Hanlan as otherworldly moron Dougal, Frank Kelly as Father Jack, and Pauline McLynn as the utterly bizarre, borderline violent, tea obsessed Mrs. Doyle.
They’re an assortment of societal misfits thrust onto the fictional Craggy Island away from real life, but they’re also priests, don’t you know? A kind of touchy subject for many people, but the show isn’t really about religion. It’s about flat out lunacy.
Father Ted’s essentially the “straight man” character who’s intelligent but is on the island after stealing donations intended for a children’s charity, although he relentlessly claims the money was “just resting in my account”. He’s left to cater for loyal but bizarre Dougal whilst the intemperate Mrs. Doyle flits around with incessant tea making, often exploding in rage if her demands aren’t met.
Then there’s Father Jack. Half insane, the OAP is on the island due to some unspeakable act which is never really made clear. Perpetually drunk and violent, he communicates (pretty much solely) by roaring, “Drink!”, “Feck!”, “Arse!”, and “Girls!”. Behold!
Ironically, actor Frank Kelly is a highly respect Shakespearean thespian in Ireland, but only found widespread fame as a crazed drunken lunatic. Cool. Initially irritated by being the only real acting talent on set, yet stuck to playing a buffoon, he’s now (aged 78) delighted to have been part of this legendary show. Innit.
The show ran for three series, ending in 1998 whilst being hailed as one of the best sitcoms of all time. Which it is. Episodes focused on the misadventures of the priests, and we could go on about certain episodes, but the best thing you can do is pay tribute by watching the whole thing. Get it done, fool!
The really sad thing, though, is a day after filming the final episode, on February 9th 1998, Dermot Morgan sadly died of a heart attack at only 45. Many people think the show ended due to this, but the final episode of Season 3 was genuinely The End, but it’s a real shame as Morgan had numerous other projects lined up, but his legacy lives on with Father Ted. Oh yes.
