20 years after the last episode of
Father Ted aired, it remains arguably Ireland's most-loved TV show ever.
Like, in the entire history of the nation. And you know what? We don't think it'll ever be topped.
The creative geniuses of Graham Linehan and Arthur Matthews took a keen look at society in Ireland at the time and turned it into a comically clever spin of over the top priests, dirty old milk men, and a fuck loada tea.
These 13 classic moments from the series will make you want to watch every single one of the 25 episodes all over again. (Now they're not in order, picking just 13 was hard enough!)
1. "Small... Far away"
Poor Dougal just doesn't get it. "Okay, one last time. These are small…but those out there are far away. Small…far away."
2. The lingerie department
Fr Ted and a bunch of other priests get lost in the biggest lingerie department in Ireland. Fun fact: the ginger priest is Dr Owen Hunt from
Grey's Anatomy.
3. Easter punishments (aka Lent)
Sister Asumpta comes to stay, and puts Ted and Dougal through their paces. The ICE BATHS.
4. Down with this sort of thing!
Bishop Brennan tasks Ted and Dougal to protest the controversial sex film The Passion of Saint Tibulus but it doesn't quite go to plan...
5. Kicking Bishop Brennan up the arse
Let's face it, we've all dreamed of doing this. The giant life size poster makes it.
6. My Lovely Horse
"I want to shower you with sugar lumps, and ride you over fences,
Polish your hooves every single day, and bring you to the horse dentist"
7. Every single scene with Pat Mustard the milk man
There were a lot of suspiciously hairy babies on Craggy Island...
8. Dougal's bad influence
A rebellious new priest, Father Damien "Damo" Lennon, who behaves like an insolent teenager, comes to stay, with a bad affect for little Dougal.
9. The lovely girls competition
"Doesn't Mary have a LOVELY bottom?"
10. "I love my brick!"
Father Jack becomes very attached to his pet brick.
11. That would be an ecumenical matter...
Father Ted tried to teach Jack not to say ‘Drink’, ‘feck’, ‘women’ and ‘arse’ when a visit from the Bishop is coming up, and manages to teach him to say ‘that would be an ecumenical matter’. An Irish legendary response ever since.
12. The gas arguments between John and Mary
Rosy as pie when they knew you were looking, but verging on psychotic when they were alone. So awfully grim it's gas.
13. And of course... Go on, go on, go on, go on
Mrs Doyle says 'go on' for five whole minutes. "YA WILL YA WILL YA WILL!"
There'll never be anything quite like it.
