The Aran islands’ “TedFest” has sold out several months before it kicks off on Inis Mór in early March.
Organisers of the celebration of one of Ireland’s best-loved television shows advise people not to travel to Inis Mór unless they have already reserved accommodation.
The festival, initiated in 2007, was inspired by the Channel 4 sitcom, Father Ted, created by Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews.
“Everything subject to change without notice nor comeback, whether due to acts of God or straightforward incompetence,” is the mantra for the event from March 2nd to 5th, when Inis Mór becomes “Craggy island” for the weekend.
The organisers promise the “biggest ever TedFest”, involving “all the ecumenical craic”, with “copious cups of tea and sandwiches, a lot of red tank-tops, nuns on the run, priests on the pull, map-cap costumes and of course a bishop getting a kick up the arse”.
Highlights include “the annual Lovely Girls Competition, Blind Date with Eoin McLove (Patrick McDonnell), King of the Sheep, Pat Mustard Lip SyncShowdown, The Craggy Cup, Ted's Got Talent, The Screeching Competition in a very Dark Cave and Matchmaking with Nellie”, they state.
They also promise a “ Priests Dance Off, The Ghost Town Disco, The Craggy Comedy Craic Den, The Pan Asian Zen-Off, The Reverse Wheel of Death, the Father Ted Prizeless Quiz, Hide a Nun and Seek, and a finale on Sunday night titled 'We Made the BBC' with revellers dressed as their favourite BBC broadcasters”.
The website states, “please do not buy a ticket unless you have privately sourced accommodation or permission from another ticket holder to sleep with them”. The organisers say there is availability in Inis Mór’s glamping village.