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Former priest marries young mother just months after quitting the church

Sligo parishioners welcome Kennedy wedding news

PATRICK COUNIHAN,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Thursday, August 30, 2012, 7:33 AM

Updated Thursday, August 30, 2012, 8:03 AM

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Ian Kennedy

Photo by sligotoday.ie

A County Sligo priest has wed his girlfriend just eight months after he left the church.

Ian Kennedy and girlfriend Maria Cunningham were married last week according to newspaper reports.

The Sligo Champion stated that Cunningham gave birth to a baby boy just weeks before Kennedy quit the Church.

The Irish Sun reports that the family are now living in the village of Ballinacarrow near Sligo town.

The 42-year-old priest took to the pulpit in Ballinafad church last January to tell parishioners he was leaving the priesthood for personal reasons.

At the time he said he was starting a new chapter in his life.

Locals have welcomed his marriage and wished the happy couple all the best.

One former parishioner told the Irish Sun: “They deserve every happiness. They are lovely people.

“People knew of his close friendship with Maria and wondered if that is why he left the priesthood.

“Maria is over the moon at becoming Mrs Kennedy. They made no secret of their friendship.”

When he quit the priesthood, Kennedy told local newspaper the Sligo Champion he had left of his own ‘free will and choice’.

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NickOHara | Sep 02, 2012, 01:48 AM EDT

He who so loved his flock.....

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McNamara31 | Aug 31, 2012, 01:40 PM EDT

He's living authentically. Good luck to them both.

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SingleDonald | Aug 31, 2012, 10:25 AM EDT

I too feel that Ian Kennedy did the right thing, by marrying Maria. It is high time the Church came to grips with its archaic, authoritarian and repressive celibacy rule!

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esatdigiwank | Aug 31, 2012, 06:40 AM EDT

Does he not resemble Peter Griffin in that profile picture?? ))

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cillowen | Aug 31, 2012, 12:20 AM EDT

Without a ST Patrick model the saving of civilization by the irish makes a mockery of all that good man wrought.

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seanomelb | Aug 30, 2012, 10:08 PM EDT

Racist "georgy boy woundedknee" is at it again, the village idiot has escaped.

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mairint | Aug 30, 2012, 08:04 PM EDT

If Ian Kennedy could not keep his vow before God Himself it is better he left the priesthood. Those of us who practice the faith are finding the growing number of good young men now going through the seminaries and being ordained in the full Tradition, is encouraging and consoling. I appreciate the Malaysian, American and Canadian priest at the Church I attend. GOOD GUYS.

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KathleenBerrio | Aug 30, 2012, 05:57 PM EDT

I don't see celibacy among priests coming to an end (although I welcome it). The Vatican would then have to address premarital sex among its priests, and thus its faithful.

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WoundedKnee | Aug 30, 2012, 02:52 PM EDT

"The ban on married priests is coming to an end". Mcolan, there is no such ban. There are countless married priests, especially those who have come to the Church from the Episcopalian tradition. I agree that it is only a matter of time till the whole priesthood is opened to married men. I would have no problem with that. Better a married |Irishman ministering to Irish people than a celibate foreign migrant.

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handsome68 | Aug 30, 2012, 02:46 PM EDT

I remember hearing years ago that at one time in Ireland one of the only ways to get an education was to become a priest. Well, say one becomes a priest at 25. What happens when he's, say, 35 and tiring of the enforced celibacy? One can tire of Mrs. Hand and her five daughters, although some never do, I suppose. St. Peter was married, while St. Paul was not. We really don't know all that much about Jesus, except that there was likely no Jesus, Junior. All the above being stated, I too am for priests being able to marry.

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CitizenWhy | Aug 30, 2012, 02:23 PM EDT

Congratulations and good luck to the new couple. Not very long ago married priests were not that rare in the west of Ireland.

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pilib04 | Aug 30, 2012, 02:00 PM EDT

A shame he was not encouraged to continue ministering to the faithful.

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mcdolan | Aug 30, 2012, 10:21 AM EDT

Hope it won't be too long before Fr. Kennedy can reclaim his priesthood and serve in the RC church. The bann on married priests is coming to an end but not fast enough.

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