Islands clash in unholy row over Father Ted festival
Monday January 22 2007
Two of the three Aran Islands off the Galway coast are battling over which has more of a claim to celebrate the TV comedy priest.
And the unseemly row is even more bizarre as neither of the islands actually featured as the fictitious Craggy Island, the home of long-suffering Fr Ted, Fr Dougal McGuire and Fr Ted Hackett.
Inis Mor, the largest of the islands, plans to mark the ninth anniversary of the death of comic Dermot Morgan, who played Fr Ted, by holding a three-day 'Friends of Ted' event from February 23 to 25 next.
However, the big island's decision has upset inhabitants of Inis Oirr, the smallest of the islands. They claim to have a stronger association with the Channel 4 series, pointing out that local scenes, including the Plassey shipwreck, are shown in the opening credits of the hit comedy.
The Inis Mor festival is already sold out - unsurprisingly as, due to the size of the island and its venues, only 100 tickets were issued. Tickets cost €130, with €10 going to Croi, the West of Ireland Cardiology Foundation.
Local hotels, hostels and B&Bs are basking in the Fr Ted glow as dozens of fans rush to book rooms ahead of the festival - much to the resentment of some of their colleagues on Inis Oirr.
"It's unfair that Inis Mor is cashing in on Fr Ted when obviously we have closer links with the show," argued one irrate B&B owner on Inis Oirr.
"Fans and tourists would have come here in the past just to view the Plassey shipwreck. Inis Mor is trying to pull a fast one, to be honest, and we're not very impressed."
The comedy, written by Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan, earned legions of fans following its debut in 1995. It ran for just three seasons before coming to an end in May 1998, shortly after Morgan's sudden death.
Most of the the location footage was shot in Co Clare, including at Ennis, Kilfenora, Ennistimon and Kilnaboy. The parochial house is at Glenquin, near Kilnaboy.
The 'Friends of Ted' event will feature a Fr Jack Cocktail Evening, Fr Dougal Breakfast Movie Charades, a Lovely Girls Contest and a midnight Crazy Golf Championship.
One of the highlights of the weekend should be 'A Song For Europe', which aims to recreate the success of 'My Lovely Horse', Ted and Dougal's Eurovision entry.
There will also be Ludo Aerobics, Toilet Duck Comedy Awards and a fancy dress five-a-side football match where priests will be pitted against nuns.
- Senan Hogan and Breda Heffernan
