TedFest 2019: Careful now, the annual Father Ted festival is returning to Galway this weekend
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TedFest 2019: Careful now, the annual Father Ted festival is returning to Galway this weekend

THE isle of Inis Mór off the coast of Galway will transform into Craggy Island this weekend as Father Ted fans gather for the 13th annual TedFest.

The two-day festival, which pays homage to the cult Channel 4 sitcom, kicks off on Saturday with over 300 milkmen and lovely girls – and everyone in between – expected to travel down.

Dozens of Ted-tastic events have been planned, including old favourites such as Ted's Got Talent, Human Bingo and a Lovely Girls Competition.

TedFest is held each year on the last weekend of February to mark the anniversary of lead star Dermot Morgan's untimely death in 1998.

The late comedian played Fr Ted Crilly in 25 episodes of the iconic series from April 21, 1995 to May 1, 1998 – alongside Ardal O'Hanlon as his hapless sidekick Fr Dougal McGuire, Frank Kelly as the perma-drunk Fr Jack Hackett and Pauline McLynn as tea-pest Mrs Doyle.

Speaking about TedFest to Travel Ireland Magazine, co-founder Peter Phillips said: "The real beauty of TedFest is the people who come.

"It takes a certain type of individual who will find their way to the Aran Islands in February to celebrate a TV show that is 20 years old.

"One of the regular attendees brought his wife over one year. She said ‘Jesus – this is like Lord of the Flies on crack!’ It’s a wonder to behold and long may it continue."

Details and tickets for this year’s TedFest are available at tedfest.org