Packing Notes #1: Calling Father Ted Fans
While packing my world into cardboard boxes I came across something I’d like to give away.
I do like Father Ted, and more so as it ages, but I’m no fanatic and you won’t see me going to that Father Ted Festival that started this year on an island off the west coast of Ireland (Will the real Craggy Island please stand up?)
Ardal O’Hanlon, who played Father Dougal, was at college when I was. Now called DCU (Dublin City University) it was then called NIHE. (National Institute for Higher Education).
While I was there Ardal ran for President. Students’ Union President that is. If I remember that election properly, there was the standard Students’ Union candidate, and against him was the ‘alternative’ sincere candidate with no union experience, no left wing ambitions, and no interest in politics.
And then there was the 3rd force. The comedic candidate. Ardal.
I might be imagining this, but I have a recollection of a very funny presidential debate. In CG86.
Anyway, I have Ardal’s brochure for that election. It’s an A4 page folded over to make a 4-page leaflet. It’s a cheap photocopy of course because those were cheap photocopy times. But it is an original contemporaneous document.
The front has a photo of Ardal underneath his name with a subtitle of “The Concerned & Caring One”. And it’s marked 13p.
Inside is an introduction, a cartoon, a list of 21 election promises (e.g. #12 I promise to collect people’s grannies at Heuston Station when they come up for the weekend), and then there’s some blurb before finishing with a campaign slogan or two, including Don’t Be A Goat, Give O’Hanlon Your Vote, and An Fear Is Fearr.
I would scan it for you but I’m trying to move countries.
Since I’m not the biggest Ted Head I thought somebody else, a bigger fan, might like to have it more than me. If you’d like it stick your reason why in the comments and I’ll pick somebody and send it to them.
If nothing else you’ll get an envelope from Ireland with an Irish stamp on it - which won’t be too exciting if you’re already in Ireland, but hey, you’ll get post.
That’s all.
See Also:
• Readying for Ireland on the Streets of Kansas City
• I Have Hankies, But I’m a Publisher
• I’m Reminded of the British Police by Valentine’s Day in the USA
Eolaí gan Fhéile:
The festival was brilliant, Eolaí. You would have loved every minute of it. They had hide a nun and seek and weddings followed by tea and sandwiches.
Anyway, put my name in the hat, because … I’m an awful eegit.
Update: I’ll close this before too long, and obviously if there is just one person asking for it in the comments then they get it. Email requests are not being counted.
Hey! I love Father Ted, we were just in the West of Ireland in May and there was a “Craggy Island B&B”, but when we went out to it, it was not on an island! Which island was the festival on?
Anyway, we love Father Ted and Ardal O’Hanlon and would like that election flyer if we have a chance at it?
Karen - as it stands you have a 50/50 chance at it. I might drag it out a bit longer though and try and persuade the email suitors to leave comments.
Maybe it’s just me - but I never did get Father Ted - just didn’t do it for me
Jeff, at the time when it was being made and first broadcast I thought it was over-rated - so much of the humour seemed to be impacted by the changes in attitudes that Ireland itself was going through. But now years later, with Ireland having made those changes, I find it stands up quite well all by itself.
And oops - I need to pick a winner of the Ardal document. Will get to it.
Curses.
Okay, I’d like the said flyer, because I found the blasted thing in the attic a few years ago.
You must remember? You were wearing your blue jumper.