~Assumpta~

Okay, so I admit I thought he was okay until I realised that he was a priest. That was a
little disconcerting to say the least. I, Assumpta Fitzgerald, official loather of the
clergy was giving a priest a lift! But I did believe what I told Niamh later, he did look
about twelve.
I did begin to feel sorry for him though when Brian put that strange confessional in
the church. Poor Father Clifford. And when the television crew were interviewing
him! Poor man.
The highlight of my week would have had to have been Fr Clifford and Brian Quigley
being hauled out of St Josephs in the confessional by a crane! I wonder what Quigley
was confessing......

~Peter~

An English priest in an Irish town. Great. I met a lot of new people in Ballykissangel.
The one that I still can’t figure out is the publican, Assumpta Fitzgerald. She gave me
a lift into the town. I have gathered that she hates priests and church, although why,
still remains a mystery to me. She is very strong though, and has clear ideas about her
life and how it is run.
My first official job was advising another young woman in the parish, Niamh
Quigley, about her relationship with the guard, Ambrose Egan. Then I met Brian
Quigley, who was intent on installing a new confessional in the church. Lucky me
even got interviewed by a television crew. I can still see Assumpta smiling wickedly.
Next piece of luck was getting stuck in the confessional with Brian Quigley. We had
to be taken out of St Josephs roof by a crane. I’m beginning to think that Manchester
may have been easier than this.

Episode 1.2  “The Things We Do For Love”

~Assumpta~

Well, well, well. It seems that Fr Clifford may have a dark side. A young English girl
came to Ballykay, looking for him. I’m not exactly sure what happened, but I did go
to his house and saw them having dinner together. For some strange reason, it made
me feel upset. Probably just working in the bar too much. Later that evening, he came
to the pub, wanting a room. It makes one wonder.
Fr Clifford and I had a wonderful argument this week. He found out that the field I
own, is the one that Liam and Donal have been trying to kick a homeless family out
of. We had an awful tiff and eventually made a deal. I would place money on
Cilldargen in the football game and if I won, give the money to them to move on.
Next thing I find out is that Fr Clifford had to play goalkeeper for Ballykissangel. He
refuses to rig the game but they lost anyway. Bad luck Father.
 
 
 

~Peter~

My luck does not seem to be changing. Jennie came to Ballykissangel looking for me.
From what I heard in the pub, the rumours were running rife. Jennie insisted on
cooking me dinner and guess who turned up in the middle of it? Yes, Assumpta
Fitzgerald.  Jennie wanted something to happen that night, but I took myself off and
stayed at Fitzgerald’s. Like I told Father Mac, the only woman I “spent” the night with
was Assumpta Fitzgerald. (AN: We wish. Sorry back to the story)
I met a young family who live in a caravan. The field they live next to, Quigley was
dumping organic fertiliser in. But then Father Mac told me that the person who owned
the field is none other than Assumpta. We had a talk and she agreed to back
Cilldargen and with the money she won, would ask them to move on. Then I got
picked as goalkeeper for the game and lucky for her, we lost. I’m beginning to
wonder about this town.

Episode 1.3  “Live In My Heart and Pay No Rent”

~Assumpta~

Niamh is marrying Ambrose. Somehow, I know I should be happy for her, but I don’t
know. For starters I’ve never really liked Ambrose and he’s never really liked me.
Then I begin to wonder if I will ever have a family like she will. I should stop feeling
sorry for myself.
Then a piece of concrete nearly hit him on the head and he decided to become a
priest. That was the laugh of the century.
So, me and Peter  talked him out of it. But before that, Niamh decided to have a
wedding reception after all. It was going to be called “Hardly A Wedding Reception”.
Peter came in and gave us the lecture about he doesn’t want Niamh to get hurt, he
doesn’t want Ambrose to get hurt. Ambrose came in that night at the reception and re
proposed. He didn’t even get down on one knee!
I gave the takings of the night for the stout to Peter, for the church roof. I also let my
mouth run away with me. I told him that if two people are meant to be together, no
force can keep them apart. You can delay the inevitable like Ambrose did, or help
speed it up like we did. If it was meant to happen, it’ll happen. I’m beginning to
wonder who I was really applying it to.

~Peter~

This town gets stranger the longer I’m in it. Ambrose nearly got pulvarised by St John
the evangelist, the patron saint to priests. So, logically he decided he wanted to be a
priest. Niamh did not take it very well and decided to have her “Hardly a Wedding
Reception”.
Assumpta and I had another one of our little “chats”. She told me that I had to do
something. That woman is so hard headed! But, I did my bidding and talked Ambrose
out of being a priest. That night he re proposed to Niamh.
The next day, Assumpta gave me the takings of the stout from that night for the
church roof. She also told me something which I haven’t been able to get out of my
mind. It’s like it haunts me, with her voice repeating it over and over again. I’m
starting to get a little bit worried.
Episode 1.4 “Fallen Angel”

~Assumpta~

Me and my big mouth. For Peter’s birthday, I gave him six free driving lessons. I must
have been under the influence at the time. He was not a good driver to start with and
proceedingly got bad enough to crash us. I told him about the priest’s perk and that he
didn’t need driving lessons. He asked me why I was bothering to give them to him. I
answered that I didn’t want to see him kill himself behind the wheel. I’m beginning to
think that there was some hidden meaning behind that....

~Peter~

Assumpta gave me driving lessons for my birthday. I have to admit I was doing quite
well until she distracted me and I crashed the van. She explained to me that I didn’t
need driving lessons, and when asked why, she told me that it was a priest’s perk. So,
I asked why she was bothering to give them to me in the first place. She told me that
she didn’t want to see me kill myself behind the wheel. That made me wonder why,
such a upfront hater of the clergy would actually give a priest driving lessons out of
concern.
Along with that thought, I was asked by a friend I met, Michael Bradley, whether I
had ever been in love. I told him the usual priests thing that I don’t know anyone who
hasn’t been in love at one time or another.
Love. It mystifies even priest I suppose. Well, its really got this priest baffled.

Episode 1.5  “The Power and The Gory”

~Assumpta~

Just my luck. Leo came back to town. He had to cover the election campaign going on
between Quigley and Sean Dooley. I don’t know why I was so uncomfortable when
Leo was around Peter. It confused me I guess. I was not pleased with the way that Leo
treated Peter sometimes, acted as though he was inferior. Look at me! Defending a
priest! Leo was difficult one night. He obviously wanted to get back together.
However I didn’t. When he was leaving, he asked me to go back with him. I refused.
He said that there was nothing keeping me here. He took one look at Peter and said
that maybe he was wrong. There is something keeping me here. And I am scared to
death that Leo was right.

~Peter~

Assumpta’s old college boyfriend came back. Now why this should make me feel
uncomfortable I have absolutely no idea. Quigley and Sean Dooley were going head
to head in the election campaign and Leo was covering it. Quigley dug up some old
bones on his site and demanded I bury them. I did this, but not before Doc Ryan and I
convinced Quigley to let Ambrose and Niamh get married. When I watched Leo
leave, I felt for Assumpta. She looked the closest to tears I had ever seen her. For
some reason, I wanted to go over and hug her. What am I saying!? I’m a priest.

Episode1.6 “Missing You Already”

~Assumpta~

This has not been my week. For starters, Quigley decided to set up a bar for the
Ballykissangel festival. Of course all the punters went there.
Then there’s Peter. Somethings happening to me and I don’t know what it is. I went
up to the church and sat down. We talked for awhile and then he told me that I could
talk to him at any time. How can he be serious!? I can’t talk to him when he’s one of
the problems! When he had left, someone through a stone through the window and it
caught me. Peter came down to the bar and saw what had happened. He wanted to fix
it and I told him not to. But when he took my face in his hands, I swear that my heart
was jumping around in my chest. He was so gentle and caring.
Anyway he told me that he had been told to leave. That was what really hit it. I am
falling for him. And it’s scaring the hell out of me.
One night, when Siobhan got drunk and we had to return a ram to Eammon’s field
(please don’t ask), I nearly lost it. I told him pretty much outright that I liked him!
After Niamh and Ambrose married, I was in a publican’s race against Quigley. I won,
he closed down his pub. During the reception I watched Peter slip away. I followed
him out. He was sitting on the steps of Hendley’s and I went and sat down next to
him. I showed him the list of names that I had collected. The whole town wanted him
to stay. Then he asked me did I want him to stay. Well what was I supposed to say?
That I was falling in love with him!? (AN: YES!!!)
So I handed him the pages and left.

~Peter~

I was told that I had to leave Ballyk. I was not fitting in. I told Assumpta who did well
covering up her surprise. She wasn’t having an easy time either. Quigley had set up
the pub for the Ballykissangel festival and frankly, it was taking business from her.
She came up to the church one evening. I let her in and we talked. When I came back
from Niamh’s she was gone. There was broken glass on the floor. My heart jumped. I
was so afraid, more afraid than I’d ever been before. I ran down to the pub and found
her there. She had been hit on the head by a rock. I fixed it up and discussed the pub
with her.
Quigley and Assumpta decided that they would have a publican’s race. Assumpta won
it (thank God) and Quigley closed his pub.
At the reception I watched Assumpta. She was the one I dreaded leaving the most. I
smiled at her and slipped away. She followed me out and handed me some pages, on
which were many signatures. She told me the whole town wanted me to stay. I asked
her if she did. I saw the ghost of a smile and then she left. That was when I knew..