The fee-paying members of the Golfing Union of Ireland and its constituent clubs have dropped by 43,795 (or 5%) over the last 10 years, according to the union’s financial controller, Michael Malone.

THE revelation that a Galway-based priest has resigned after fathering a child by a 31-year-old woman has re-ignited the debate about celibacy in the Church.

THE shock retirement of Fr Maurice ‘Mossie’ Dillane for fathering a child sparked a massive outpouring of public support and sympathy yesterday.

The Catholic Church is losing its best priests because they can’t get married, supporters of a cleric forced to retire after fathering a child today claimed.