The Vice-President of the United States, Joe Biden, caused a little merriment over on these shores last night when the tweeted:

"Father Ted is one of the reasons I’m proud to be a Catholic."

"He inspired so many to stand up for civil rights," he added, signing "vp" to let his followers know it was from Biden himself.

Hang on, what now?

Ahhhh. Biden was referring to the recent passing of Father Ted Hesburgh of the University of Notre Dame, a well-known religious figure in the area, a member of the first US Civil Rights Commission - known simply by his Christian name as 'Father Ted'.

Still, that didn't stop the Irish from having a chuckle at the idea that Father Ted Crilly from craggy Island was a personal friend of the VP. Even the show's creator, Graham Linehan, enjoyed the idea.

Coincidentally, Dermot Morgan passed away suddenly on this day in 1998 - and what finer remembrance could the comedic genius ask for than a nod from the White House itself?