A party of tourists was taking in the sights on the west coast of Ireland. Having driven for a couple of hours, the coach pulled up at a monastery where the holy hospitalers had prepared tea and cakes.

After the snack, the tourists were being shown around the historic building. Entering the kitchen they found a brother slicing potatoes and dropping them into a pan of boiling fat.

'Oh I see,' said a smart-alec Englishman, 'you're obviously a chip-monk?'

'No,' was the reply from Father Tommy, 'I'm the fryer.'