Ballykissangel - The Ultimate Resource

Spoiler Guide by Rebecca Stunell, Synopsis by BBC Drama Publicity

Written by Kieran Prendiville
Directed by Paul Harrison
Produced by David Shanks
First UK Broadcast: 1st March, 2001, BBC1
Viewing Figure:

Vincent Sheahan, the new Australian priest, arrives in Ballykissangel. One of his first tasks is to answer questions from a journalist about a Ballykissangel online confessional. All Vincent can say is that he knows nothing about it. When he finds the website he realises that people are paying to have their sins forgiven and decides to investigate. Firstly he notices that the money is being sent to a nearby address. He stakes out the address and he soon sees Dooley and Dermot arrive to collect the post. Later he finds Dermot by the river. He gently questions him and realises that although Dermot started the site Dooley is now the driving force behind the scam. Vincent also realises that Dermot doesn't want to be involved anymore and promises to help. Dooley eventually stops the website when he receives an email from Vincent, pretending to be God, threatening to notify the taxman about the money he's making.

Liam and Donal find a pile of clothes on the beach and realise that they are Quigley's. They tell Frankie who in turn notifies the Cilldargan detective branch. No one is sure whether Quigley is dead or alive. When Niamh arrives she finds out that her father has left a huge amount of debt. The Dooleys become worried when they realise that the bank might repossess the pub leaving them without a home or any income. During the investigation the detectives treat Frankie in a condescending manner. She feels she is too soft and decides to change her image and attitude.

One morning Niamh, Liam and Donal receive cheques from Brazil. Niamh doesn't know what to do with the money and goes to see Vincent. He agrees to take the money and buy the pub himself so the Dooleys can stay there. Niamh also receives an email from Brazil. It contains a picture of her father in Rio di Janeiro waving goodbye.

Trivia
This was Kieran's first episode for three years - Welcome back Kieran!

Typical Quotes

Frankie:	Waiter, there's a priest in my soup.

Frankie:	I'm part of the community.
Siobhan:	Yes... in the sense that every community has an 'us' and a 'them'. You're a 'them'.

Liam:	Will I kill you now Donal, or do you want to finish your drink first?

Memorable Lines

John:	Quadruple your money dot com. So he thought. You know, these internet companies which make millions overnight. He found one, borrowed up to his jacksie, piled in...
Niamh:	Struck out.

Niamh:	The only way my father could die, God would have to ask his permission.

Continuity
The scene from the Aussie soap opera is a throwback to the Peter/Assumpta days. The hi-tech confessional from episode 1.1 is also mentioned again and guiltgone.com is the logical extension of this. Like Peter, Vincent is cornered by the local TV reporters on his first day.

Extra Locations
First appearance of the stables.

Critical Review
This episode marks the start of the third 'volume' of BallyK. It starts with brand new titles and theme music - a clear line is drawn between this series and those which went before.

As I'm now totally biased, I won't give this episode a rating, suffice to say that when I first read the script, it restored my faith in the show.