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Ballykissangel

TV·1996–2001·6 seasons, 57 episodes·BBC One·Comedy, Drama·50m·Created by Kieran Prendiville

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A young British priest adjusts to life in a rural Irish community where life revolves around the church and the local pub. Everyone knows everyone else's business, and everyone usually has an opinion on it. While characters come and go, the small-town qualities remain.

Highest-rated episodes all ranked

  1. 01The Waiting GameS03E08 · 10.0The town catches lottery fever after it is announced that the winner bought the Lotto ticket in Kathleen's shop. The win is worth £6 million. Nobody knows who it is and the normally calm community begin to suspect each other. Ambrose's latest mission is an undercover job in Cildargan. It's a dangerous task and Niamh's worries are entirely justified. Peter is visiting his dying mother in Manchester and Father Mac's superiors are desperate for him to find the lottery winner so that the church can benefit from the win, a suggestion which appals him. In fact, the whole town has become engulfed in greed and jealousy. It is finally revealed that the winner was a tourist. Siobhan and Brendan begin to come to terms with their new relationship.
  2. 02When a Child Is BornS03E01 · 9.0With the birth of Niamh's baby approaching the last thing she needs is a stressful visit from Ambrose's mother, Imelda. Kathleen discovers a miracle at the church 0 a statue has started to sweat. Within hours the town is filled with people and Peter is suspicious that several residents stand to gain from the 'miracle': Assumpta's doing good business at the pub; Padraig's got his first scoop for the local paper; Liam's and Donal's fast-food van is doing a roaring trade; and father Mac is happy to see the donations increase. Padraig's journalistic talent is also put to good use trying to find out what Brian is up to. He's buying land from Eamonn, but he also wants two access roads and he's not saying why. The 'sweat' on the statue is finally identified as chip fat, and Peter gives Liam and Donal an angry lecture on the evils of exploiting the church for their own gain. Ambrose's mother is sent home on the advice of Dr Ryan, but Niamh gives birth in the car on the way back, with Ambrose d
  3. 03The ReckoningS03E10 · 8.0Peter returns to BallyK with a lot of things on his mind. Ambrose catches him, and most of the regulars, at Fitzgerald's after hours, and all face charges. Assumpta's pleas that it was a private party fall on deaf ears. Assumpta and Peter are double-booked to baby-sit for Kieran, and it gives Peter the opportunity to tell her how he feels. She wants to know exactly what he wants, but it is clear that he still doesn't know himself. The pub regulars are let off the hook after it is revealed that they were only drinking cans bought from Kathleen's shop. Peter and Assumpta discuss their situation again, and Peter takes time to make his decision. A disparaging remark about Assumpta, made by Father Mac, helps Peter to make up his mind. He wants Assumpta, whatever it takes. They make plans for him to leave the priesthood and work at the pub. But tragedy strikes at the pub, that night. Assumpta has been having problems with the fuse box and she is electrocuted as the lights fail again. Father

Castfull cast & details

Episodes by season

Season01Best seasonEpisode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode6Episodes1996Aired 6.7Season avg
  1. S01E01Ballykissangel S01E01Season's bestTrying to Connect YouFebruary 11, 1996 7.0Father Peter Clifford's journey from England ends in his new parish, the small Irish town of Ballykissangel. It's a change from his previous
  2. S01E02Ballykissangel S01E02The Things We Do for LoveFebruary 18, 1996 6.0As Peter Clifford settles into his new parish, Brian Quigley's holiday home development seems stalled by a young couple living in a caravan
  3. S01E03Ballykissangel S01E03Live in My Heart and Pay No RentFebruary 25, 1996 6.0Niamh's wedding plans are disrupted when a stone statue falls off the church and through her fiancee's car. As he had only just got out of t
  4. S01E04Ballykissangel S01E04Fallen AngelMarch 3, 1996 7.0Angel FM, a pirate radio station in the village, keeps Ambrose busy, while Father Peter is told he must get his own transport or lose his jo
  5. S01E05Ballykissangel S01E05The Power and the GoryMarch 10, 1996 7.0Brian Quigley is persuaded to stand for election against Sean Dooley, after the death of the local representative to the Irish Parliament -
  6. S01E06Ballykissangel S01E06Missing You AlreadyMarch 17, 1996 7.0Father Peter is told that he must return to England, but the BallyK community is determined to put a stop to that idea In the meantime, Bri

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

Season02Episode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode8Episodes1997Aired 6.6Season avg
  1. S02E01Ballykissangel S02E01Season's bestFor One Night OnlyJanuary 5, 1997 7.0Assumpta doesn't hold a very high opinion of the church. In the annual slave auction she is sold to Father Mac who does not hold a very high
  2. S02E02Ballykissangel S02E02River DanceJanuary 12, 1997 6.0Local school teacher, Brendan, faces losing his job because of falling numbers at the National School in BallyK But parents and fiends disco
  3. S02E03Ballykissangel S02E03In the CanJanuary 19, 1997 6.0Brian makes a video to attract American tourists to Ballykissangel, but the locals' acting skills are tested to the limit - and it's not a p
  4. S02E04Ballykissangel S02E04The Facts of LifeJanuary 26, 1997 7.0A baby that has been abandoned on Peter's doorstep cause him and Assumpta a sleepless night. As the hunt continues for the baby's mother, Pe
  5. S02E05Ballykissangel S02E05Someone to Watch Over MeFebruary 2, 1997 7.0Every village has a busybody, and Kathleen is best places in BallyK. As the owner of the grocery shop she keeps track of everybody's busines
  6. S02E06Ballykissangel S02E06Only Skin DeepFebruary 9, 1997 7.0Brian is organising a beauty contest as part of the village festival, to find the new model for a bottled water company. Every entrant has t
  7. S02E07Ballykissangel S02E07Money, Money, MoneyFebruary 16, 1997 6.0Kathleen's house goes up in flames and as she has no insurance the villagers start a collection, although Peter is hard pressed to find any
  8. S02E08Ballykissangel S02E08Chinese WhispersFebruary 23, 1997Two mysterious strangers have the villagers intrigued. They come to the conclusion that they are revenue men, and everyone apparently has so

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

Season03Episode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode11Episodes1998Aired 8.5Season avg
  1. S03E01When a Child Is BornMarch 1, 1998 9.0With the birth of Niamh's baby approaching the last thing she needs is a stressful visit from Ambrose's mother, Imelda. Kathleen discovers
  2. S03E02Changing Times!March 8, 1998 7.0Brian's latest business venture to attract Korean investors involves bulldozing a local beauty spot. It's not something the locals are going
  3. S03E03Stardust in Your EyesMarch 15, 1998With Assumpta on a break in London, Niamh is left to look after the pub, but the new baby is taking it's toll her and she agrees to let Ambr
  4. S03E04The Fortune in Men's EyesMarch 22, 1998Brian is depressed but not defeated after the loss of a major investment. The bank has repossessed his house and car, and when he learns tha
  5. S03E05I Know When I'm Not WantedMarch 29, 1998Peter returns to BallyK to discover a pair of scantily clad young women in his house. It transpires that Brian's bankruptcy has forced him t
  6. S03E06Personal CallApril 5, 1998Assumpta's marriage isn't going well. Leo is finding it difficult settling in and an article written he is writing confirms Assumpta's suspi
  7. S03E07Lost SheepApril 12, 1998A young woman arrives in BallyK hoping to find news of her family. Kathleen and Father Mac are particularly uncomfortable around her and Pad
  8. S03E08Season's bestThe Waiting GameApril 19, 1998 10.0The town catches lottery fever after it is announced that the winner bought the Lotto ticket in Kathleen's shop. The win is worth £6 million
  9. S03E09Pack Up Your TroublesApril 26, 1998Assumpta returns from talking to Leo in Dublin and is upset to discover that Peter's mother is dying and he is visiting her in England. Bria
  10. S03E10The ReckoningMay 3, 1998 8.0Peter returns to BallyK with a lot of things on his mind. Ambrose catches him, and most of the regulars, at Fitzgerald's after hours, and al
  11. S03E11Amongst FriendsMay 4, 1998Peter says a final goodbye to Assumpta and takes off on a long walk. Ambrose eventually finds him at the statue of the Blessed Virgin where

Season 3 ranked & reviewed

Season0412Episodes1998AiredSeason avg
  1. S04E01All Bar OneSeptember 20, 1998Fitzgerald's is waiting for its new owner and there are plenty of prospective bidders: Brian wants Niamh to run it; but his main competition
  2. S04E02He Healeth the SickSeptember 27, 1998Father Aidan's alleged healing hands land him in trouble when it transpires that the woman he helped is making a fraudulent compensation cla
  3. S04E03Bread and WaterOctober 4, 1998With the birth of Siobhan's baby approaching she starts to look at all her options for the big event, but Brendan is disturbed when she deci
  4. S04E04Par for the CourseOctober 11, 1998Brian is still planning to buy the golf course, but he can't find the necessary funds without some help. Orla knows a man who might have the
  5. S04E05The Odd CoupleOctober 18, 1998Donal becomes very secretive about the new woman in his life, Suzie. He's taking time off work and it's affecting his relationship with Liam
  6. S04E06TurfOctober 25, 1998Dr Ryan's winning streak in the local horse race is threatened by Razor, who belongs to Danny. He is betting on himself in order to raise th
  7. S04E07It's a Family AffairNovember 1, 1998Brian is preparing for the pre-opening tournament at his golf course. Micky Keeler doesn't approve of the tournament list but he eventually
  8. S04E08Rock BottomNovember 8, 1998A statue is discovered on Sean's land. It's a 'sheelnagig' - a fertility symbol. Kathleen is disgusted by it and even more disgusted by Aida
  9. S04E09As Stars Look DownNovember 15, 1998Henry, an African Bishop who was once one of Father Mac's curates, pays a flying visit to the town. Aidan has organised a bingo night but th
  10. S04E10Births, Deaths and MarriagesNovember 22, 1998Siobhan and Brendan are secretly planning their wedding but Aidan is not convinced that their reasons are genuine. Having kept it quiet, Sio
  11. S04E11It's a Man's LifeNovember 29, 1998Niamh's and Ambrose's relationship is disintegrating and he takes it out on everyone else by applying the letter of the law. He doesn't know
  12. S04E12The Final FrontierDecember 6, 1998A big storm threatens the town, all the animals on Eamonn's farm are acting strangely and Donal's Uncle Minto thinks the storm could be a si

Season 4 ranked & reviewed

Season0512Episodes1999AiredSeason avg
  1. S05E01Two Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestSeptember 26, 1999It is still the night of the bonfire party. Niamh decides she must tell Ambrose that the marriage is over. The next day, Niamh leaves Kieran
  2. S05E02Hello and FarewellOctober 3, 1999The sudden loss in Ballykissangel has left everyone in tears, particularly Niamh who must deal with the new changes in her life. In the mean
  3. S05E03Catch of the DayOctober 10, 1999Liam and Donal have been sent to buy washed sand for a bunker on Brian's golf course. With fifty pounds in their pockets they reckon that sa
  4. S05E04Moving OutOctober 17, 1999Niamh has decided that she must move away from BallyK. The decision spurs Brian to sell Fitzgerald's. Two parties are interested. One is a r
  5. S05E05EurekaOctober 24, 1999A woman representing Australian mining interests arrives in BallyK looking for a ""man called Quigley"". If Brian can prove his relationship
  6. S05E06Behind BarsOctober 31, 1999Paul Dooley is released from prison, having spent six months inside for tax fraud. Now bankrupt he does not know that his wife, Oonagh, has
  7. S05E07Brendan's CrossingNovember 7, 1999The Headmaster's post is soon to be vacant and Brendan is in line for the job. He withdraws his name from the list of candidates when he see
  8. S05E08A Few Dollars MoreNovember 21, 1999Uncle Minto reckons that there is a fortune to be made with illegal spirits. He enlists the help of Liam and Donal to make it, and soon conv
  9. S05E09The OutsidersNovember 28, 1999Conor tells Orla that he has been offered some work in Spain, and wants to know if there is a future for them. She tells him to go. Frankie
  10. S05E10With a Song in My HeartDecember 5, 1999Sean decides to go and see Niamh, although it turns out to be a far bigger experience than he had expected, what with ruining the market and
  11. S05E11Love's LaboursDecember 19, 1999Mairead has a crush on Aiden, but he doesn't realise this until she kisses him. Her mother wants answers, and Frankie has to question Aiden,
  12. S05E12The WeddingDecember 28, 1999It is the day before Niamh and Sean's Wedding and the men of the village are desperate for him to have a stag night. Sean isn't too excited

Season 5 ranked & reviewed

Season068Episodes2001AiredSeason avg
  1. S06E01Ballykissangel S06E01God.comMarch 1, 2001It's all change at BallyK. There's a new priest, Father Vincent Sheahan, who has arrived from Australia, there's a new stable owner, Avril B
  2. S06E02Ballykissangel S06E02DrinkMarch 4, 2001Father Vincent has got troubles: he's tested positive for drink driving, and the bank is about to take away the cottage which used to belong
  3. S06E03The Cat and Daddy GMarch 11, 2001The Dooley's new pet goat, Daddy G, is causing havoc at the pub, and is moved to Avril's stables. Avril, however, has money worries, and is
  4. S06E04Ballykissangel S06E04Spirit ProofMarch 18, 2001Brendan goes fishing, and sees the ghost of Finbar Corcoran, a highwayman who was hanged in the 18th century. In telling the story he also i
  5. S06E05Ballykissangel S06E05Paul Dooley Sleeps with the FishesMarch 25, 2001Donal and Liam are after Paul to repay the money he borrowed, and the only way Paul can get the money is to sell the priest's house. Also, O
  6. S06E06Ballykissangel S06E06In a JamApril 1, 2001News spreads that Father Vincent will be organizing the annual parish fete, so Liam and Donal set about arranging the 'Cow-in-the-Field' com
  7. S06E07Ballykissangel S06E07Getting Better All the TimeApril 8, 2001A faith healer, Conseula Dunphy, comes to the area: Father Mac is worried, Michael Ryan is contemptuous, and Vincent has an open mind. Vince
  8. S06E08Ballykissangel S06E08Smoke SignalsApril 15, 2001Father Mac is outraged when he learns that Vincent has married Barry and Lyn, and to make matters worse the Bishop has found out as well. Al

Season 6 ranked & reviewed

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