20 Facts About Eamonn Casey

Eamonn Casey was an Irish Catholic priest who served as bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh in Ireland from 1976 to 1992.

Eamonn Casey's resignation in 1992, after it was revealed he had had an affair with an American woman, Annie Murphy, was a significant event in the history of the Irish Catholic Church.

Eamonn Casey was born on 24 April 1927 in Firies, County Kerry.

Eamonn Casey was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Limerick on 17 June 1951 and appointed Bishop of Kerry on 17 July 1969.

Eamonn Casey was a co-founder of the British housing charity Shelter while chaplain to Irish diaspora in London in the 1960s.

Eamonn Casey held this position until 1976, when he was appointed Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and apostolic administrator of Kilfenora.

Eamonn Casey held a prominent position within the Irish Catholic hierarchy during his tenure, and served as bishop until his resignation in 1992.

Eamonn Casey was a friend and colleague of another highly prominent Irish priest, Father Michael Cleary.

Eamonn Casey attended the funeral of the murdered Archbishop of San Salvador, Monsignor Oscar Romero.

Eamonn Casey witnessed first hand the massacre of those attending the funeral by government forces.

Eamonn Casey then became a vocal opponent of United States foreign policy in Central America, and, as a result, opposed the 1984 visit of United States President Ronald Reagan to Ireland, refusing to meet him when he came to Galway.

When Murphy became pregnant, Eamonn Casey was determined that the child should be given up for adoption in order to avoid any scandal for himself or the Catholic church.

Eamonn Casey made covert payments for the boy's maintenance; these payments were fraudulently made from diocesan funds and channeled through intermediaries.

Eamonn Casey resigned as bishop amidst controversy and subsequently left the country.

Murphy published a book, Forbidden Fruit, in 1993, revealing the truth of their relationship and the son she bore by Eamonn Casey and highlighting alleged systemic issues within the Irish Catholic Church.

Eamonn Casey was ordered by the Vatican to leave Ireland and became a missionary alongside members of the Missionary Society of St James in a rural parish in Ecuador, whose language he did not speak.

Eamonn Casey was succeeded by his secretary, James McLoughlin, who served in the post until his own retirement on 3 July 2005.

Eamonn Casey returned to Ireland in 2006 with his reputation destroyed and was not permitted to say Mass in public.

Eamonn Casey is the subject of Martin Egan's song "Casey", sung by Christy Moore.

Eamonn Casey is the subject of the Saw Doctors' song "Howya Julia".