Friday, January 26, 2007

Celebrating All Things Father Ted

It's been far too long in coming. At last, Ireland will celebrate Father Ted, and already there is controversy.

If you're not familiar with Father Ted, you can find clips from the program on YouTube, and it's well worth the time and effort. Unless you're offended by Irishmen making fun of Irish clergy, but you'd not be interested in a festival then, would you?

Inis Mor will host the event, three full days of Father Ted in all its glory, to take place next month. The good folks of Inis Oirr are quite put out, seeing as the opening of the show featured a shipwreck that is a landmark on that windswept island off the coast of Galway. All is not lost, however, as cooler heads have prevailed. Added to the myriad activities of the festival is a five-a-side soccer match, with the winning island being proclaimed the official "Real Craggy Island" of Father Ted fame. No word on whether or not the over-65 retired priests will be playing, but that would be appropriate.

There will be a Lovely Girls contest, and we all hope that the thrills and spills of the Craggy Island carnival are reproduced for the amusement and edification of the tourists. Should you wish to attend, you could participate in a vote for best program guest. Comedian and talk show host Graham Norton is reputed to be leading the pack, but I'm all for Gerard McSorley in his Y-fronts.

Inis Mor is a lovely island, though small. You'll want to make your reservations early. And you happen to run into the bishop...remember, don't call him Len or ask about his son.

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