‘Exorcism’ in Cork was not an official ritual by the church

With requests for exorcism on the rise, Louise Roseingrave looks back at an incident in Inchigeela, Co Cork, 30 years ago.

THIRTY years ago, the then Cork Examiner carried the story of an apparent exorcism at a grotto in Inchigeela, Co Cork on its front page.

“Priests exorcise shrine of ‘Devil’s shadow’” ran the headline. The story stated that two priests carried out an ‘unapproved exorcism’ at a Marian shrine in the tiny West Cork village, where a young girl had reportedly seen a ‘sign of the devil’ while praying.