Spoiler Guide by Rebecca Stunell, Synopsis by BBC Drama Publicity

Written by John Flanagan and Andy McCulloch
Directed by Frank Smith
Produced by David Shanks
First UK Broadcast: 18th March, 2001, BBC1
Viewing Figure:

Brendan is out fishing one night when the weather closes in. A tree is hit by lightening and when he looks down his fishing bag has disappeared. He hurries back to the pub. Donal suggests that it might have been the ghost of Finbar Corcoran, a highwayman who was hanged in the 18th century. Dooley dismisses talk of a ghost but his ears prick up when he hears that the innkeeper at Fitzgerald's was granted fishing rights, in perpetuity, after he handed Corcoran over to the authorities. Dooley convinces Vincent that the trust will benefit if he can start organising tours for anglers using the fishing rights. Brendan is annoyed that his fishing will be disturbed.

Kathleen asks Edso for driving lessons after winning a car in a competition. He realises she'll never pass her test but he enjoys the lessons because he can talk to her about Avril. Realises that Kathleen will never be able to drive the car and tries to sell it to Father Mac. His idea backfires when the car arrives covered with advertisements for tights. Father Mac refuses to take the car.

As Dooley's plans progress strange things start to occur. One night Liam and Donal see an apparition. Another night Edso and Kathleen see a horse and rider. Oonagh also hears horses hooves in the pub. Meanwhile the anglers start to arrive in Ballyk but so do television crews looking for information about the ghost. The TV crews make such a distraction that the anglers leave. Dooley's business plans are in tatters. Eventually Vincent and Frankie go to look for the ghost. They see a horse and rider and pursue only to find out it is Grainne and Dermot making a film in the style of the Blair Witch Project about Corcoran's ghost. They admit that they were responsible for frightening Edso and Kathleen but they swear they had nothing to do with the other hauntings. One night Dooley goes down to the cellar and gets the flight of his life when the 'ghost' appears. The next morning he goes straight to Vincent and asks for an exorcism. Vincent has a hunch and goes to see Louis who admits that he was behind the ghost scam all along. Louis explains that he wanted to ruin Dooley's angling plans after being stitched up in episode 2.

Typical Quotes

Memorable Lines

Continuity
The driving lessons with Kathleen harks back to Peter's lessons with Assumpta.

Critical Review
Another big storyline for the Dooley kids, this time a take on the Blair Witch Project. Paul of course cashes in on the sudden publicity, but it's bound to backfire...