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Coventry Telegraph

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February 02, 2026

Ballykissangel launched 30 years ago, starting the unlikely romance between Stephen Tompkinson's English priest and Dervla Kirwan's atheist barmaid. MARION MCMULLEN looks back

LOVE IRELAND

STAR-CROSSED LOVERS: Assumpta Fitzgerald (Dervla Kirwan) with Father Clifford (Stephen Tompkinson) in Ballykissangel

AN English priest from Manchester transplanted into an Irish town filled with colourful characters was at the heart of Sunday night drama Ballykissangel.

The comedy drama launched on BBC1 30 years ago on February 11, 1996, and starred Drop The Dead Donkey’s Stephen Tompkinson as Catholic priest Father Stephen Clifford with Dervla Kirwan as Assumpta Fitzgerald serving up drinks at the local pub.

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LOVE IRELAND

Ballykissangel launched 30 years ago, starting the unlikely romance between Stephen Tompkinson's English priest and Dervla Kirwan's atheist barmaid. MARION MCMULLEN looks back

time to read

1 mins

February 02, 2026

Coventry Telegraph

Tax rises to offset fall in the cost of motor insurance

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time to read

1 min

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Coventry Telegraph

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'Open dialogue with China offers hope in Jimmy case'

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time to read

1 mins

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