Michael Cleary (23 November 1933 – 31 December 1993)[1] was an Irish Roman Catholic priest, who also became a radio and TV personality.[2] Described in some sources as a "powerful and charismatic figure" in the Catholic Church in Ireland,[2] he presented a late-night radio phone-in show in Dublin in the 1980s and hosted his own television chat show. He also published a book about maintaining faith in the modern world. After he released two albums of songs, he was nicknamed "The Singing Priest".
After his death it was revealed that he had lived with Phyllis Hamilton and fathered two children with her, while she acted as his housekeeper. They lived as a family in secret.[2]