Ballykissangel (1996–2001) User Reviews

Just plain enjoyable day to day life with a twist of humor

[spamobile · 9/10 · 4 October 2013]

It is not for everybody most likely but as you can see at my rating it is for me. I never saw this originally when it came out but a re-run about 6 years or so ago. I really enjoyed the simple humor, the simple drama, the stories as a whole, the characters. It's nearly real life with a bit of a twist at times but you could imagine is to actually have taken place. It never left my mind so this year I bought the DVD's to watch it all again and, so far, not disappointing, it has not lost it's charm. You like action, hero's, spectacular drama, belly aching laughter, this is not for you. You like good humor that puts a smile on your face, a nice story line, things that could be happening next door (if you would live there), this is for you.

One of my all-time favourites.

[jhsteel · 9/10 · 13 March 2009]

Now being re-run on ITV3, I am really enjoying BallyK all over again. For me, the acting of the whole ensemble cast is wonderful and particularly Stephen Tompkinson as Father Peter Clifford. His relationship with Assumpta is fascinating, even when I know what happened, because it shows them actually relating to each other as people and not in the roles that they play in the village. Peter goes beyond the traditional remit of the priest, while executing it faithfully, and his kindness and good judgement are an inspiration to all. He is an example of a really good man, although he has his own inner conflicts which are played convincingly. Most of all, I feel that all the characters in BallyK are friends who I want to visit - I feel as if I know them. It also hasn't dated too much and I think new viewers would enjoy it as much as those of us who remember it warmly from the first time around.

A Memorable and Enjoyable Television Series

[hjmsia49 · 9/10 · 19 December 2007]

Bally K is the kind of quality television series I never tire of watching. The acting by an ensemble cast is first rate as is the script. I thought it gave foreigners an interesting picture of life in an Irish town. I thought the series lagged a bit after the initial two characters (Father Clifford and Asumpta) left but still had enough to continue interest. I noticed a strange commonality between almost all the main characters. Did anybody else note what all these pivotal characters had in common: Asumpta the local bar owner, Brendan the local teacher, Siobhan the local vet, Dr. Ryan, local yokels Liam and Donal, entrepreneur Quigley, storekeeper Kathleen, Garage owner Padraig and his successor in the later series, father O'Comnnell's sister Orla, Eamon and his elderly replacement and stable owner Avril? Not one of them was married? Rather unusual for a "typical" Irish town. Finally, one can wonder why Ireland, a country that sends priests all over the world, has to import them from England and Australia? I do recommend the series as an example of quality television, all too rare on local schedules.

Pleasing Irish series

[Steffen_John · 15 November 2001]

One of my favourite series. Ballykissangel is an example of how Ireland can produce quality family drama with wonderful characters and good writing against a picturesque backdrop of the Irish countryside.

Filmed at Avoca in Ireland it follows the characters in the fictional town of Ballykissangel, mainly the Catholic priest Father Peter Clifford. Hidden underneath the weekly episodes was the quietly growing attraction of Father Peter and Assumpta Fitzgerald (pub owner of Fitzgeralds)

The series had a slightly quirky edge to it and its humour helped make the series such a ratings winner. The show went for 6 seasons but the best episodes were the first 3 seasons. After the end of the first 3 the two main characters left and the the creator and writer, Kieran Prendiville, also handed over the reins to other writers. The show was never the same and lost some of its humour. Then Peter Hanley (Ambrose) left the show. Later on the series suffered more blows with actors, Birdy Sweeny (Eamonn) and Tony Doyle (Brian Quigley), dying in real life.

With falling ratings Season 6 saw Ballykissangel given some new life with the arrival of a more charismatic priest, Father Vincent Sheahan (played by Australian Robert Taylor) and the return of the original writer Kieran Prendiville. Despite Season 6 being more enjoyable, and showing more promise, it was decided to end the show after 58 episodes.

Personally I think it could have continued as long as Kieran Prendiville held its reins but it was not to be.

Ballykissangel will go down in television history as an example of how good an Irish production can be, which, at its best, was extremely likeable.

character driven

[pensman · 10/10 · 10 November 2010]

This is a great series. As you watch you get pulled into the lives of the various characters living in a small village. While there is a tendency to romanticize the rural life in many films (and in part here), there is a greater depth than the average show. There is much humor in this series and also much heat break. As much as the viewer yearns for things to go right in the characters lives, things tend to go wrong and the characters must deal with personal loss, death, divorce, and financial ruin. For a show billed as a comedy, it is more drama with an overlay of humor. I am being somewhat vague in this review because this is a series to be dipped into for episodes that are uplifting and heart warming but ultimately overshadowed by reality. If you watch it once you will find find that after the passage of a few years you are longing to revisit Ballykissangel and share in the lives of what almost become real people.

Firt 3 seasons the best of BBC TV

[lilawisotzki · 10/10 · 13 June 2014]

I discovered Ballykissangel earlier this year (2014) and I now watch an episode or 2 every night. I bought DVD's of the first 3 seasons. I find the people of BallyK to be wonderful, funny, down to earth and most of them very likable- even Quigley and on rare occasions Father Mac. I find that I laugh and cry and have my heart strings pulled very tightly when I see the way Father Clifford looks at Asumpta. I have started on season 4 but it has not drawn me in the way the first 3 seasons did. When some of the major characters left the show I too "left it" and just continue to review the episodes from the first 3 season. I love Father Clifford and the feisty Asumpta. And as a non-Catholic (I'm Protestant) I really appreciate the way Father Clifford is portrayed as a thinking modern priest. However some of the pomp and beauty makes me want to become a Catholic. And the Irish countryside is just captivating. I am recommending Ballykissangel to all my friends and MAY lend them my DVD's.

Starts Well but Then.....

[pilot1009 · 6/10 · 3 April 2020]

First three series are fine a nice light comedy drama, light and easy to watch. Unfortunately the writers obviously decided to "sex" up the series, out went the comic and in came poorly writen drama and when they reached an enpasse the kill the characters avoid any controversial areas by just knocking off the character. So series four and Five are pretty rubbish and the resurrection series six is just bizarre... another character killed off only a few of the earlier series and just did not scan at all.

watch the first three series and be happy but bin the rest.

I can't wait for the next episode to arrive from Netflix today

[katie-35 · 10/10 · 16 July 2008]

In 1998, I toured Ireland with a group of Aussies. We stopped in Avoca only because Ballykissangel was filmed there. All the Aussies were excited to see the church, the store, and Fitzgerald's just as seen on their BBC back home. I remembered the cute name for the town (Ballykissangel) when I joined Netflix. The characters are so well developed. No U.S. TV series is ever this good. Only when PBS shows a series of BBC programs is there any quality, and this has never been shown where I have been. The quirky people of BallyK just keep on coming. Some better than others, but each disc always leaves me wanting more. This show could have continued longer that six seasons with Kieran Prendiville back in the helm, but alas, it didn't. I will be sorry when I watch the last disc. Should it ever appear on PBS, I will become an avid watcher again. It is worth seeing again and looking forward to each episode. Ballykissangel wins my highest praise as quality storytelling.

The series was good till season 3

[sushantkumar-ce · 7/10 · 16 October 2020]

I somehow started liking the series, the chemistry between priest and the pub owner was good, there was good humor, the family drama, the amateurity writings ,the smalltown character they were going good somehow. But they killed the main character immaturely, they killed the show at the end of the season 3. And I stopped watching it then.

A Gem!

[Blkynboy · 10/10 · 30 December 2006]

Very-well crafted and acted series. Totally absorbing story-lines and characters.

Truly enjoyable,entertaining and original! An Irish soap opera on a grand scale.

Nothing detracts from this production. The scenery and locales are great. Excellent casting, direction and acting.

The series starts off with a humorous scene and has very deep character development. The trials and tribulations of the village residents is totally entertaining on all levels.

Total entertainment.

Post-script- I just saw the show where Assumpta accidentally dies. It looks like Dather Clifford is leaving the Priesthood. I don't know if the series can survive without these 2 leading characters. They really made the show and were supported by a strong cast. Alas!

Pleasant surprise

[ctomvelu1 · 7/10 · 28 July 2013]

I was never much of a U.K. TV series fan, until I stumbled across this show and "Doc Martin." These two shows now have me hooked. "Bally" reminds me of gentle Irish comedy movies like "Waking Ned Devine." And the nice thing, with "Bally" I have six years worth of episodes to watch. In my home state, Connecticut, we have a huge Irish American population and Connecticut Public Television airs "Bally" episodes at least once a week, which is how I became acquainted with the show. I have since watched a couple of episodes on youtube. I can't get enough of it! You can have "Dontown Abbey." Me, I'll stick with "Bally." I also watch occasional episodes of the various police dramas like "Inspector Morse" and "DCI Banks." But without guns and gun play, they tend t be very dull.

One of the Best TV shows of all time!

[glong131 · 9/10 · 1 November 2008]

This show is (or was) fantastic!! Definitely worth purchasing. The first 3 series are the best. With the departure of the 2 leads (and the series writer)in the final episode of series 3, the show loses some of it's chemistry. Also, the way that series 3 ended left me unsatisfied. Intellectually, it was excellent work, but the heart wasn't satisfied.

The rest of the run(series 4&5) was good and really worth watching but didn't have as much of the spirit established in the first 3. It's a testament to the ability of the remaining original actors that the show continued. Then, in series 5, the original writer/creator returns and just as he starts to get it all working again, the show is canceled!

I really feel that this is one TV show that can and should be brought back! It was amazing acting, writing,and scenery.A few of the original actors have,sadly,died and some of the the characters were killed off, but the meat of the show is still there. From the research I've tried to do, it seems a fairly accurate portrayal of rural Ireland as well.

Seasons 1-4 I'd give a 10... after that 0

[sunnydale2004 · 6/10 · 31 March 2024]

Seasons 1-4 are wonderful I love the quirky town trope. The characters were endearing and engaging especially Assumpta & Peter. When Assumpta dies my heart was broken. My second favorite character was Ambrose and let me tell ya they did Ambrose's character as dirty as they did Assumptas. The characters they brought in to fill the void those being Orla, Aidan, Emma, Danny and Sean now Father Aidan was ok but not a lead character like Father Peter but his grown sister following her priest brother around from post to post is kinda cringy. It could be the actress for me I despised her in Trials and Retribution she's basically the same Moral less compass she was in Trials and Retribution. Emma, Sean and Danny were wonderful additions to the cast but the Sean- Niamh relationship storyline BEFORE Ambrose's death was completely unnecessary. They knew Peter Hanly (Ambrose) wanted to leave the show the didn't need to give his character such a harsh ending. The complete downfall for me was the addition of the Dooleys Oonagh, Paul their two horrible kids Dermot and Grainne these people are absolutely unredeemable human beings. Their storyline completely ruined Ballykissangel. Did the writers change or did they want out ? To sum up seasons 1-4 are worth the watch after that be prepared to say WTF a lot.

Ballykissangel took easy way out

[stevens-melody · 5/10 · 4 April 2009]

The first 3 seasons were very exciting. The storyline between the priest and the publican (Assumpta)was dangerous, edgy and romantic. Then the writers took the easy way out by killing off Assumpta. Then they did it again when they killed off the husband (Ambrose)of the woman (Niamh) who fell in love with someone else!

I was shocked at the first death. Although it was a cowardly way to settle the story line, it did work, although it could have been so much better had they explored the ramifications of a priest falling in love. But then they did it again with the next troubled romance.

Other serious flaw:People disappeared without comment: Eamon, Padraig, Danny, Emma, Orla. They just disappeared.

The series never recovered from the killing off of Assumpta and Father Peter's exit.

I wonder how much the story being in Ireland and funded with Irish government $$ (very Catholic) limited the writers.

Ballykissangel reminds me of Hamish MacBeth, which actually was much more fun and even though that also had some deaths, did not use them to artificially stop exploring interesting story lines.

It could happen next door

[CorineJC · 31 May 1999]

For some time now, I am following the TV-series "Ballykissangel". Why? Simply because it´s one of the few TV-series which is worth being watched: no unnecessary violence, no stupid, easy-to-see-through jokes, and a good storyline, combined with a set of good actors. I call this a real top british TV-product, and it´s a shame that the Dutch TV stations don´t show it on prime time! Ballykissangel is all about the life and complications of the people of a small irish village, where there has been assigned a new young catholic priest, which happens to be british. The main characters are the english priest, father Clifford, and the owner of a local pub, Assumpta, who gets sick from everything connected to the church. The fundamental differences of character of these two (Assumpta is verbally aggressive, sarcastic and sometimes even vicious, whereas Clifford is friendly, sweet, helpful, and unbelievably naive sometimes) result in a mutual love/hate relationship and neither of them knows what to do with it. Most episodes can be watched separately, however watching most of them gives you the best clue as to the development of the relationship of the main characters, or should I say, the non-development. However, it is very easy to identify yourself with one or more of the main characters. This, combined with the misunderstandings and tricks in every episode, makes it a joy to watch this series, time after time.

Series 1-3 only....the rest was drab.

[Scaramouche2004 · 8/10 · 1 December 2021]

Back in the early to mid 90's I was madly in love with Dervla Kirwan. My love first germinated whilst she was playing 1940's pub landlady Pheobe Bamford in the Nicholas Lyndhurst time travel sitcom Goodnight Sweetheart and when she left that show at the end of series 3 she disappeared from my TV Screen and my life. I was distraught and broken hearted and promised myself I would never love again.

A few months later when I found out that my lost love was returning in a new show filmed and based entirely in her native Ireland to be called Ballykissangel I was literally turning cartwheels in the living room.

This new show not only transported Dervla into the present day, but gave us all a chance to hear her amazingly sexy natural Irish brogue and you can take it from me it is heart-meltingly wonderful.

Another big attraction for me to watch this show is that her costar was to be Stephen Tompkinson who was coming hotfoot from his hilarious portrayal of the unethical and immoral news reporter Damian Day in Channel 4's award winning comedy Drop the Dead Donkey, another one of my favourite sitcoms ever (review coming up)

The premise was simple, a Roman Catholic priest from England is appointed as the new curate for a small rural Irish church and its parishioners.

His adjustment to rural irish life and the friends he makes there serve as the backbone of the series as we see the fish out of water finally become accepted as part of his adoptive community.

The villagers themselves are a hodgepodge of loveable and likeable characters who are all well portrayed by the supporting cast although the writers seemed to have pandered to every known stereotypical Irish cliche in the book,

The two slightly thick and inept LOCAL handy men Liam and Donal, who work for the LOCAL tweed clad and slightly dodgy businessman Brian Quigley who's next money making scheme always sets him up against the rest of the villagers. The LOCAL village Doctor Michael Ryan, the LOCAL school teacher Brendan Kearney, The LOCAL vet Siobhan Mehigan, the LOCAL mechanic Padraig O'Kelly, the goodhearted but overly officious LOCAL Garda Ambrose Egan and his wife Niamh, the LOCAL devout busybody Kathleen Hendley and finally the elderly and extremely dishevelled LOCAL pig farmer Eamon Byrne who reinforces the thick Irishman cliche to the max.

Dervla plays Assumpta Fitzgerald, a pub landlady (again) and self proclaimed atheist, who hates the Catholic Church and all that it represents, a hatred made all the worse by the fact that over the next three series she slowly starts to fall in love with the new priest..it becomes clear that he is the only man she can ever love yet he is the only man she knows she cannot have.

In turn Father Peter Clifford, fights his own inner torments and a full on crisis of faith as he too is irresistibly drawn to the woman who seems to hate everything he stands for.

It's the will they?/won't they? Love story aspect that really reels you in. One 'yes they almost did' episode just leaves you hungry for the next instalment and one 'they've fallen out again' episode leaves you desperate to watch the next episode because you just can't leave them like that and you HAVE to see them make up again.

Sadly, once again Dervla (as with Goodnight Sweetheart) decided to quit a hit show after just three series (an act I have since christened as "doing a Dervla") and as a result the essential characters of Assumpta and Father Peter were written out at the end of the season.

At that point I'm afraid Ballykissangel lost its heartbeat and it's magic..all you were left with were the stereotypes and the cliches and boring and bland storylines. The programme limped on through three more disappointing seasons and each was met with ever dwindling viewing figures until at last the BBC finally put it out of its misery at the end of season 6.

I hadn't seen this gem of a show for over 20yrs until this week when BritBox added the first four seasons to its streaming service, and I binge watched the first three again in as many days, a feat I could only dream of back in 1996 when it first came out.

I remember having to wait a whole seven agonising days until the following Sunday night to find out what was going to happen. Thank god those days are all but over.

I heartily recommend seasons 1-3 but at that point, put it down and walk away!

Sometimes it wobbles, but...

[mcguire-60448 · 8/10 · 5 May 2021]

I suspect it's difficult to sustain a long story line without occasional lapses into soap-opera territory. The occasional agonized glances and cryptic dialogue remind me I should say, "Offer it up."

That said, the writers do a masterful job with the various roles. It's reminiscent of some of Peter DeVries, whose dotty Irish characters alternately delighted and irritated. I've watched three series, and it's remarkable how the actors vanish into their roles, unlike other bar-themed productions like Cheers. Frazier was a great character, but he was still Kelsey Grammer.

Sidenotes--If Gary Whelan (Brendan) isn't a reincarnated Joe McCarthy, I don't know who could be, and if If the late Niall Tobin as the pastor wasn't a priest, he should have been.

The ensemble simply shines from top to bottom. Deirdre Donnelly as the vet and Bosco Hogan as the town GP make you wish they were treating you or your pets, and Peter Caffrey as Padraig is the barfly you'd always buy a drink for.

Addictive comfort entertainment

[acutler · 8/10 · 13 April 2013]

Great series, certainly for the first three seasons. After that, it loses its way somewhat.

People debate, defend or prevaricate as to whether Father Clifford and Assumpta should have consummated their relationship, but it wouldn't be true to the heart of the series if they did. It is the very point that Peter cannot turn against his beliefs thus providing the seeds for his downfall: a downfall which would have happened in some way regardless of the fate of Assumpta. This is why I think I find the first three seasons so eminently re-watchable - it displays a human struggling for an unattainable ideal - ultimately failing - but the struggle was noble and inspiring. It isn't the failure that is important - it is the struggle - we all struggle.

A ton of fun!

[cheepnispc · 8/10 · 5 December 2009]

My folks got me hooked on BKA, and I just finished watching the last of the series.

The first three seasons are nothing but light, rollicking fun. The most improbable things happen in this quaint Irish town, starting with the welcoming comment from the town atheist to the new parish priest, "Just what we need, another English priest (in Ireland)." The characters are well developed, and you just want to sneak into the bar with them, and get to know them better.

Going towards the end of season 4, and the beginning of season 5, the series gets VERY dark, though, and I really didn't enjoy watching. Why did I stick with it? I guess, in hopes that it would turn around. The last season was better, but as the majority of the cast had turned over, it really didn't feel like the same series as much as the same set.

Bottom line - the first three seasons were the best, but it's not a complete waste of time to watch the last three, either.

Only a 10 the 1st 3-4 Seasons

[candidcamel · 10/10 · 5 August 2022]

I loved it in the beginning, it was nice and quirky. Then, when someone would leave the series, they would be killed off. I never liked the rich mans daughter and I liked the series even less when they made her the focus. When they killed off her husband, I killed my desire to view any more.

this could have and should have been so much better

[SamPamBam · 1/10 · 15 September 2022]

1-production values were exceptionally poor...grainy production, bad camera work, poor set design and art direction 2-really poor acting 3-questionable casting 4-really poor writing.

BUT.. Even with all that.. The constant women bitching, moaning complaining yelling (at the men) makes one start to think Irish women are somehow horrible creatures, able to outdrink the men, promiscuous, greedy, and shrieking at the least discomfort, and one wonders why they watched beyond the 2nd season.

Oner word: DON'T watch beyond the second season.

(Neighbor of ours from Ireland suggested we drink shots while watching)

Lovely but only with Peter and Assumpta!

[Manicheus · 27 February 2003]

I really liked the original run. It was very fresh and innocent in a sense. It brought the vogue of Irish small-town comedy to the mainstream feature films(like "Waking Ned Devine"). The success of TV comedy overwhelmingly depends on the cast chemistry: in"BallyK" the chem was just perfect, so I wouldn't miss a new episode! The vagaries of the "illicit" liaison between the utterly charming Father Peter Clifford and the frisky innkeeper Assumpta Fitzgerald were a wonderful love interest motif, around which various (mis)adventures of the Ballkissangelians evolved. Alas, WARNINGPLOT GIVEN AWAY: Assumpta tragically dies; Father Cliffored defrocks and leaves BallyK ---with a new priest, it is different series, without much charisma left.

Watch until series 3

[jamisonjohn · 9/10 · 16 February 2021]

Never does a show have this much heart and chemistry between the actors. Great care was taken in the directing and writing. However, after series 3 was over, the budget was obviously increased. As a consequence, the depth and substance went down the toilet.

Allegory and Love Letter to the Church and to the Lost Sheep as Well

[yfarrell-73881 · 9/10 · 29 November 2020]

There are so many details to the allegory of series one of Ballykissangel that I cannot fit them all into a review. I will give you a representative sampling. There are 13 main characters, who represent aspects of the main "characters" in the Gospel portrayals of Christ and indeed of those who choose to follow Him: Peter ("on this rock shall I build My church") the contemporary church and intermediary/scapegoat/priest/counselor and lover of souls; Assumpta (a sort of Mary character/virgin/lost sheep); Quigley (the business side of the church perhaps); Fr Mac (the tradition/intermediary/priest/father in more ways than one); Dr Ryan (healer); Ambrose (judge/the law/named for St Ambrose); Niamh (wife/has miscarriage - of child, of justice); Liam and Donal (the two thieves as those crucified with Christ/carpenters like Joseph); Brendan (skeptic to some extent/father without benefit of Holy Matrimony); Siobhan (mother without benefit of Holy Matrimony); Kathleen (Sunday stalwart, represents the traditional worshippers and followers of Christ); and Padraig (to me he represents the fishermen who were ordinary people taken up with a special calling nonetheless). It starts with a priest (Fr Mac) near a church roof ("nearer to God") and ends with a publican (read "tax collector" in the New Testament), who is also a virgin who has been "stoned" in St Joseph's Church no less, dying of an (electrical) shock in a pub basement (can't get much farther away from Heaven than that, yet she is saved when Peter says the Last Rites of the Roman Catholic Church over her). Words come up again and again in every or nearly every episode and here is a sampling of the double-meanings: shock (electrical/spiritual "round teabags would come as a shock to some of the people around here" says Siobhan), Father (Godfather - what is a priest but a God father/natural father/Father of all things=God); play (Passion play/staged play/"I'm playing barman", says Leo); "housekeeper" (which is what the Greek word Diocese means, right?); call (altar/ordination/phone/needed/Last Call, as in a public house). What is a public house but a secular church? The church writ large and the lost sheep or nonbelievers outside the Church need each other (that is another word that figures frequently in the series), though they keep denying it. People sleep during the day (see the episode after baby Kieran is born) and are awake at night (see the episode where Ambrose and Peter stay up in church all night "looking for the hoaxer" only to entrap Fr Mac, who is a "good man" but is a kind of hoaxer too because he as a Roman Catholic priest preaches celibacy without practicing it. His daughter comes to BallyK in the "Lost Sheep" episode where she is introduced and only Kathleen and Fr Mac recognize her for what she is ("Father Geraghty's housekeeper" is mentioned in another reference to diocesan and bishop roles). I think, and I have not seen Kieran Prendiville address this, that Ballykissangel is a love letter to the church, imploring it not only to reach out to the lost sheep in trying to follow Jesus' command, but also to nurture those within it ("...and drive the faithful out!", Kathleen exclaims as she leaves a Folk Mass - what is a folk mass but an outreach like fishers of men were called to do). Also a warning that the time is short to make that "connection" before it is "Gone with the Wind" or a "Brief Encounter". Other references are: "Dark Rosaleen" which is a poem about Ireland by James Clarence Morgan(allegorical), Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon" - a look at the titles on that album will give you more comparisons and aspects of BallyK ("Speak to Me"..."On the Run"..."Money", etc). "She doesn't want it; she told me!", Peter cries in one of the final scenes of "The Reckoning" (what reckoning? - a totaling up, a story being told, balances of two sides?) "What if she needs it anyway?", Niamh replies. This is the whole point. "I am an innocent bystander caught (there is another word used several different ways) up in a bitter feud", Peter says. Indeed this is the situation between church and those outside it who say they are spiritual but not religious. "...bringing people together, helping them make sense of their lives...", Assumpta says of Peter, and this can be said of church. I encourage people who watch this series, the first season with the Peter and Assumpta main characters, to think allegorically, to find in it meaning, deeper meaning, to search for the double and treble meanings in frequently-used words in this series. I think you will get more out of it, and will come away from viewing it, whether for the first time or the three hundredth time, with a focus for thought, contemplation, outreach, sympathy, and spirit. I thank Mr. Prendiville for having written it and for the actors for having so carefully followed what he and his writing partners wrote. A meaningful piece of work, hidden behind a "forbidden love" story that conceals what it is really about. The only flaw, other than the fact that I have never read a review of this show which "gets it", some of the humor is a bit slapstick, but that is only this reviewer's taste and might not be yours. Watch Ballykissangel again, and see it in a new Heaven and a new Earth!

Summary

[aliciacurrie49 · 10/10 · 14 May 2009]

I would like to thank God (and Kieran Prendiville) for Father Vincent played by the Aussie actor (Rob Taylor) - he should call himself 'Rob' or 'Robbie' as there was another famous actor called Robert Taylor. How do we never get Priests like him !! His smile is just absolutely 'Captivating'. The programme is just Grand !!! The acting is superb, as is the scenery. I visited Ireland six times in a row and to me this portrayal is very accurate. I would be interested in Rob's views of playing the role of a Priest compared to his previous parts where he would have no bother at all attracting the ladies - unlike in this role where it is 'Taboo' (or is it ?) There is no info online whether Rob is married or not ... please advise.