Tragic - Comic

Clerical Sex Abuse

In the past clergy in Ireland could expect blind loyalty from the faithful. It was taken for granted that priests were free from criticism, they were untouchable. Men of the cloth could do no wrong and to question their venerable status was unthinkable.

However we now know better. The mask of saintliness has slipped and those under the ‘care’ of the Christian brothers are now vindicated. A litany of abuses has shamed the religious in Ireland and it is a disgrace that those members of the clergy were allowed to take advantage of vulnerable young children.

The rumours were true and we are now moving into an era of disbelief rather than deference – Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has been badly let down by his predecessors, who have implicated themselves in the abuse by not co-operating with the relevant authorities.

These days sniggering has replaced worship and moving statues are scoffed at. Our young are sceptical of the church. Canon law is no longer a sufficient reason to excuse what we now call paedophilia and those who were abused are now taken seriously.

The Catholic Church has much to answer for, hopefully we can start anew. But maybe it’s too late. It is certainly too late for the hundreds, if not thousands who have had their childhood callously stolen.

The lessons are there for us to learn - life may never be the same in the land of saints and scholars. The word ‘reverend’ will never be as closely associated with priests as it was so in the past.

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Val Falvey TD

In this new RTE comedy series Ardal O’Hanlon plays TD, Val Falvey where he comes off as a sort of superhero. At one point, in the first episode, the TD says ‘Feck Bodenstown’ when reminded of his duty to the party he represents, before being told of the importance of the event. “Linda Martin beat the British, unlike Wolf Tone”, sighs Falvey.

Slapstick comedy, Irish style, is what we get as Val is being persuaded to hop out of his chauffer-driven car and take up cycling, to look good for the voters. Falvey gets everything done for him and in one scene even has his sidekick (Owen Roe), tying his laces.

This half-hour show is full of clichés. However all successful sit-coms need strong material and VFTD is thin on this score. At times it is even slightly cringy. There could be plenty of scope for satirical expression but fails miserably. O’Hanlon has a good track record in television comedies, alas it stops short with this disappointing attempt.

After viewing the second episode I have come to the conclusion that VFTD is more trouble than it’s worth. Sure, it sends up politicians (check the juvenile behaviour of Falvey’s colleagues) but is that enough? I have experience of the silliness of our politicians: the posh meals, the tailored suits and the untouchable attitude. This, needs to be ridiculed, but is sadly ineffective here.

Everything is blown out of proportion and the humour is not as piercing as ‘Father Ted’. The latter also starred Ardal O’Hanlon and one of the writers of the clerical comedy is also involved in VFTD.

The best thing about this wheeze is the 7.30pm time slot – it will undoubtedly turn any young person off politics (very few would have those aspirations anyway), but hopefully they won’t be turned off comedy.