The late Frank Kelly, whose death was announced on Sunday afternoon, always thought there was a Father Jack in every parish in Ireland.
Speaking to TEN last year about the foul-mouthed, hard-drinking character he made his own on Father Ted, the actor said: "Over the years as we did Father Ted, a couple of young priests asked me, `how did you know about ours?'
"Because the way the church has gone with its recruitment and its drop in recruitment, you'll find very young men taking care of very old men and for that reason I had that question asked - how did you know about ours? They had one at home. He mightn't have been as eccentric or mad as Father Jack but it's not without foundation in reality."
As a tribute to Frank Kelly, RTÉ2 will show a Father Ted double-bill from 11.00pm on Sunday night.
Noel Curran, Director General, RTÉ, was among the many who paid tribute to Frank Kelly.
"Frank Kelly was an Irish television institution whose career spanned decades and, in later years, countries," he said. "He was a versatile writer, satirist, performer and actor, and became a household name to loyal audiences of classics such as Wanderly Wagon, Hall's Pictorial Weekly, and Glenroe.
"And of course, he achieved iconic status to for audiences around the world as Fr Jack in Channel 4 sitcom, Father Ted. I would like to extend my sincere sympathies on behalf of RTÉ to his wife Bairbre, his seven children and 17 grandchildren."
Watch our interview in which Frank also talks about why it why so dangerous to approach Father Jack and why Father Ted will live on forever.
