Organisers move to stem Father Ted festival feud

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Written by Brenda Carney

Wednesday, 24 January 2007

The organisers of the 'Friends of Ted' festival to take place on Inis Mor next month have extended an olive branch to the natives of the two other Islands, who were said to be miffed at not having landed the festival for themselves.
It was widely reported in the Irish and UK media that a bitter battle was taking place between the residents of Inis Mor and Inis Oirr because of the 'Friends of Ted' festival, which will be held on Inis Mor in February. Natives of Inis Oirr were said to resent the festival and claimed to have stronger links with the Channel 4 comedy sebecause the island features in the opening credits of the show.

Most of the on-location footage was actually shot in Co. Clare and the parochial house is at Glenquin, near Kilnaboy. All the interior scenes were shot in a studio in London.

An anonymous B&B owner on Inis Oirr was quoted in the majority of the reports as saying; "It's unfair that Inis Mor is cashing in on Father Ted when obviously we have closer links with the show.

"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."

However, according to a resident on Inis Oirr, the general consensus is "there are no hard feelings whatsoever" and "no-one had decided there was a row". The woman, who did not want to be named, said it makes logical sense to hold the festival on the larger of the two islands.

"Inis Mor is bigger, it has better facilities and the pier is better able to accommodate visitors, especially in bad weather," she said.

In an attempt to pacify any feelings of unjust favouritism the residents of Inis Oirr might be harbouring, the organisers of the festival have decided to introduce a 'Ted Trail'.

The trail will involve a UK press delegation going on a tour of all the places associated with Father Ted, including Co. Clare and Inis Oirr where the media will get a good look at the Plassey Wreck. That way, says Mr Fergal McGrath of Friends of Ted, "everyone gets acknowledgement".

Mr McGrath said he is "bemused" at the coverage the "row between the islands" received.

The 100 tickets available for the event cost ?130 each and have sold out. Out of the ?130, ?10 will go to Croí, the West of Ireland Cardiology Foundation.

The festival features Ted-themed events, including the Father Jack Cocktail Evening, the Father Dougal Breakfast Movie Charades, the Lovely Girls contest and A Song for Europe.

Dermot Morgan, who played Fr Ted, died at the age of 45 when he had a heart attack 24 hours after he recorded the last episode of the show. The event is to mark the ninth anniversary of his death and runs from 23 to 25 February.

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