Father Ted. Image shows from L to R: Father Ted Crilly (Dermot Morgan), Mrs Doyle (Pauline McLynn), Father Dougal McGuire (Ardal O'Hanlon), Father Jack Hackett (Frank Kelly). Image credit: Hat Trick Productions.

Father Ted

Father Ted Crilly

Parish Priest.   Played by: Dermot Morgan
Father Ted. Father Ted Crilly (Dermot Morgan). Image credit: Hat Trick Productions.

Father Crilly was first sent to Craggy Island following a minor scandal and "financial irregularities" that saw him holidaying in Las Vegas whilst a little boy didn't visit Lourdes ("the money was just resting in my account"). Ted still dreams of a parish in America, television stardom and all the luxury trappings that would go with it...

Due to the insane world in which he resides, Ted continually finds himself in evermore embarrassing situations from which he has to extricate himself, often through a hugely complex web of lies. Despite his various vices, Ted has a good heart and does try to help people (even if it's only because they owe him money).

Father Dougal McGuire

Curate.   Played by: Ardal O'Hanlon
Father Ted. Father Dougal McGuire (Ardal O'Hanlon). Image credit: Hat Trick Productions.

Banished to Craggy Island following the notorious 'Blackrock' incident in which the lives of many nuns were irreparably damaged, Dougal is the cause of most of Ted's embarrassment and misfortune. With no grasp of the religion he professes to practice, a belief that Bishops love sci-fi and fumigate houses, and an inability to understand most of real life (Dougal has charts listing the difference between dreams and reality, and various things that do not exist), Dougal continually infuriates Ted. Nevertheless, he is Ted's best friend and immortal sidekick - even if he shouldn't be allowed to do funerals.

Father Jack Hackett

Played by: Frank Kelly
Father Ted. Father Jack Hackett (Frank Kelly). Image credit: Hat Trick Productions.

Jack was sent to the island following a particular wedding in Athlone, and other assorted incidents that are best not mentioned.

In a state of near-constant inebriation, past tipples for Jack have included 'Toilet Duck', 'Windoleen', various floor polishes, and an entire bottle of 'Dreamy Sleepy Nighty Snoozy Snooze' - which resulted in him being asleep for more than two weeks straight.

In his drunken state, Jack's vocabulary rarely stretches behind the four exclamations of "drink", "arse", "feck" and "girls", and he tends to rely on violence for further explanation. Naturally, Ted's often on the receiving end.

Mrs Doyle

Housekeeper.   Played by: Pauline McLynn
Father Ted. Mrs Doyle (Pauline McLynn). Image credit: Hat Trick Productions.

The priest's housekeeper, Mrs Doyle is a woman with a tea obsession, who manages to get cocaine and raisins confused, and can change the mood of a conversation instantly. No one knows what happened to her husband (she only mentions him once) but her existence now seems primarily tea-and-cake based. Also noted is her talent for falling off the window sill when cleaning.