Cork priest at centre of 'gender bender' controversy no longer school chaplain

Fr Michael O'Leary will no longer provide chaplaincy services to Gaelscoil Uí Riada, which is the only school in the parish. Picture Denis Minihane

A Cork priest has stepped back from his role as school chaplain after a guest speaker he invited to a school mass made a series of controversial remarks.

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Cork and Ross confirmed that Fr Michael O’Leary, parish priest of Wilton, took the decision to no longer provide chaplaincy services to Gaelscoil Uí Riada, which is the only school in the parish.

Many parents walked out of the school mass last week and subsequently complained to the school principal who issued an apology to all parents and said he had no prior knowledge of the speech.

The school's board of management has contacted parents this week informing them that Fr O'Leary will no longer be involved with the school.

During the Grandparents' and Special Friends' Mass on January 30, the guest speaker — who was invited to address the congregation by Fr O'Leary — told the gathered students to “téigh a chodladh” (go to sleep) before speaking for nearly 20 minutes. 

The speech saw him talk disparagingly of divorce and homosexuality, and use the derogatory term “gender benders” when discussing Ireland’s Eurovision entrant Bambie Thug, a Cork native who is non-binary.

In the wake of the Mass, the board’s chairman Séamus Ó Rinn and school principal Breanndán Ó Gréilligh wrote to parents saying that they “deeply and sincerely” regretted what had happened and the “upset” caused.

The school said it is to put in place “alternative arrangements” for future sacramental celebrations.

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Cork and Ross told The Echo that “Fr O’Leary has recognised that it’s best for the school that he step back from that role”.

The spokesperson said Wilton parish is one in a ‘family’ of four parishes, and the chaplaincy of Gaelscoil Uí Riada “will be provided by priests from the other parishes and lessons about guest speakers have been learned”.