Elopement in Galway. After having eight children with her husband a devout woman elopes with a Roman Catholic clergyman, followed by her husband in hot pursuit. Let’s hope it was worth it. The priest had access to a large number of novices through his role as their confessor. It’s Jimmy Savile with a Catholic twist. “Get thee to a nunnery”, indeed.
“Extraordinary elopement.–The Dublin Daily Express publishes an extraordinary story, received through its correspondent at Galway, relative to a Roman Catholic clergyman. “For the last few days,” says the writer, “the most painful rumours have been afloat, involving the honour of a family of high respectability in Galway. For self-evident reasons, I for the present withhold the names of the parties ; but as to the facts there is no second opinion. The report is prevalent, and believed to be true, that a Roman Catholic Priest, officiating in a chapel in Galway, and high in the confidence of his bishop, has eloped with the wife of a professional man, who leaves a young family of eight children and an affectionate husband. The lady was of very attractive appearance and manners, and was very constant in her attendance at the confessional where this priest officiated. Her husband has started in pursuit of the fugitives. What adds to the excitement is the fact that this priest was confessor to one of the Galway nunneries, where there are a large number of nuns and young novices : the friends of these ladies are, of course, in a very painful state of mind.”
Stamford Mercury, 27 March, 1863.