Ted Fest is the annual celebration of the legendary TV sitcom Father Ted, held on the wild and windswept island of Inis Mór (aka Craggy Island). Packed with surreal events like the Lovely Girls competition and priests’ football, it’s a unique mix of comedy, community, and chaos.
The event already had a cult following, but the original website didn’t reflect the quality or energy of the festival — and it hadn’t evolved alongside modern browsing habits. The organisers needed a redesign that would retain the humour of the event, but present it in a clearer, more functional format.
Jonathan Hurley Design was asked to rebuild the Ted Fest website from the ground up — keeping the quirky, characterful tone, but improving usability and visual design.
Our objectives:
- Bring order and clarity to the site while maintaining a sense of fun
- Ensure easy access to travel, booking, and event info
- Make the site mobile-friendly and fast-loading
- Preserve the spirit of Father Ted without relying on outdated visual clutter
Design Approach
The old site leaned heavily on in-jokes and a ‘90s DIY aesthetic. While that charm was important to keep, the new site needed to serve modern users. We opted for a cleaner, responsive layout, with:
- Light-hearted typography and colour cues inspired by the show
- Sprinklings of catchphrases and character references throughout
- Clear calls to action for booking, FAQs, and programme info
- A structure that’s easy to expand as the festival grows
Rather than chaos, the new site offers controlled mischief — a more polished window into a gloriously unpolished event.
Technical Highlights
- Built in WordPress with custom theme development
- Fully mobile-responsive with improved accessibility
- Streamlined navigation and optimised page structure
- Embedded YouTube videos and galleries, with better performance
Results
- A smoother user experience for festivalgoers
- Easier updates for the organisers
- Increased engagement with media coverage and social links
- A site that finally reflects what Ted Fest has become: oddball, brilliant, and worth the trip
