Father Ted cast reunite after 30 years at Northern Ireland Comic Con

Father Ted enthusiasts were absolutely beside themselves with laughter as three stars from the legendary Channel 4 sitcom had a mini-reunion almost three decades on.

The delightful trio comprised of Patrick McDonnell, Michael Redmond, and Ben Keaton, who were all faces on the hit '90s show, got together for a snapshot during NI Comic Con this week. The beloved programme, which graced our screens from 1995 to 1998, followed the misadventures of three somewhat wayward priests tasked with leading the parish on Craggy Island.

Fast-forward 26 years since we bid farewell to Father Ted's antics with its last ever episode, Patrick, Michael, and Ben caused quite the stir on social media as they struck a pose at the Lisburn location hosting Comic Con. Adding to the fun, Patrick, also known for his portrayal of Eoin McLove in the series, took to Instagram to share a video clip filmed alongside his former co-stars.

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From behind the camera, he quips: "I'm at the Icon Centre in Lisburn for Comic Con and I smell wee."

Chiming in next was Michael, recognized for his role as Father Stone, with a succinct: "I'm fine thanks! " Meanwhile, Ben, who brought to life Austin Purcell in the sitcom, chimed in light-heartedly: "We're missing [someone]. Who's the short fella we're missing today on Saturday? " Not missing a beat, he continued with a jest: "I'll baptise your babies. Bring them! ", reports the Irish Mirror.

Lastly, Patrick rounded off their banter commenting: "We're here all day today and Father Damien (Joe Rooney) is joining us tomorrow. See you then! " Keeping in character, he even threw in one of his renowned lines: "I could have you killed."

Fans erupted in excitement seeing the legendary group back together, calling them "iconic" and expressing pure joy with comments like: "This is brilliant."

Excitement kept building as another fan insisted: "We need the play! " while another shared their enthusiasm, saying: "Missed this badly! ! Would've been great to meet you lads."

Yet another added a cheeky note of humour describing a rather unique fan encounter: "U got on my bus a while back and I had to fight the urge to tell u I could have u killed."

The unforgettable Father Ted boasts a huge thumbs up with a 93 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes, cementing its legacy as one of the most cherished sitcoms in television history.

In a romantic throwback, it was in June last year when Joe Rooney, famously known for his role as Father Damo, took the exciting leap to propose to his girlfriend Nerea, announcing gleefully on Instagram: "We are engaged! " Overflowing with happiness, he couldn't help but share his admiration for her: "I'm so happy to have met Nerea. She is kind, smart and beautiful and without doubt my soulmate. I'm looking forward to sharing my life with her," Joe warmly commented.

Fast forward to May 14, 2024, and the couple's love story saw them exchange vows, capturing the special day in a heartfelt Instagram post: "I got married today to the beautiful, wonderful @nerea.inked. It's been an incredible journey, meeting, falling love with and marrying the love of my life. She is such a genuinely kind soul. I'm so grateful she took a chance on me. I'm proud to call her my wife. #married."

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