It is not often that an Israel-related story comes out of Ireland and my blood pressure does not rise considerably. But yesterday was one of those rare occasions I actually found myself smiling while reading such a story.
Granted, the general topic is more antisemitism from Ireland: Irish broadcaster RTÉ decided to show a Eurovision-themed episode of sitcom Father Ted as part of its boycott over Israel’s participation. Because, Ireland.
But what happened next brought some Christmas cheer – and its not even Christmas (nor do I celebrate it).
Graham Linehan, a co-creator of Father Ted, ripped them a new one – for antisemitism.
Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has said he objects “in the strongest possible terms” to the comedy being shown in place of Eurovision and accused broadcaster RTE of an “antisemitic” boycott.
RTÉ will show the sitcom’s Eurovision-themed episode A Song For Europe, where priests Ted and Dougal perform My Lovely Horse, as part of its boycott of the contest over Israel’s participation.
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Linehan has accused RTÉ of using his show as “a tool of antisemitic harassment” and demanded the resignation of the director-general.
Linehan wrote on Twitter: “Please join me in demanding the resignation of RTÉ’s Director General for using Father Ted as a tool of antisemitic harassment.”
He shared a link to a petition calling for the departure of Kevin Bakhurst, saying: “I am writing this petition with anger, and with grief — for what RTÉ has become, and for what it is doing to Ireland’s reputation.
“RTÉ has chosen to boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest solely because Israel is participating.
“This is not a principled humanitarian stand. It is antisemitism — the oldest hatred — dressed up in the language of human rights.
“Singling out the world’s only Jewish state for exclusion, while no such standard is applied to any other nation, meets the internationally recognised IHRA definition of antisemitism.
“RTÉ has not boycotted Russia, Belarus, or Azerbaijan. It has boycotted Israel. The message is clear.
“To compound this disgrace, RTÉ has chosen to fill the Eurovision slot on Saturday night with my show — the Father Ted Eurovision episode, A Song for Europe — as an act of pointed, gleeful counter-programming.
“I did not give my permission for Father Ted to be used as a prop in an antisemitic political gesture. I object to it in the strongest possible terms.
“This is not the Ireland I know. This is not the Ireland that gave Father Ted to the world.
“RTÉ’s institutional antisemitism is poisoning Irish public life, normalising Jew-hatred under the guise of solidarity, and it must be confronted.”
The petition also calls for the Minister for Media to launch “an independent review of antisemitism within RTÉ’s editorial decision-making”.
A look at Graham’s X feed reveals he is well and truly on the right side of history.
And it seems while October 7 caused many to lose their senses, it caused Graham to regain his.
RTÉ tried to use “My Lovely Horse” to ride a wave of performative virtue signaling. Instead, they got bucked off by the man who gave them the show in the first place.
There’s a beautiful irony here that should not be lost on anyone. The man who gave the world Father Ted – a show that gleefully lampooned institutional Irish Catholic culture – is now the one standing up to Ireland’s new secular religion: performative antisemitism dressed up as human rights advocacy.
Ireland might have a long way to go in confronting its “oldest hatred,” but at least one of its most famous exports is leading the way.
