Archdiocese reveals scale of requests for exorcisms across the county

More than half a dozen exorcisms have been sought across Galway over the past decade, it has been revealed – those who contacted priests felt that there was ‘an internal battle’ going on in their minds.

But one senior priest said that he came across a case in which a member of the public had a violent reaction to a blessing he received from the Archbishop of Tuam.

“It was frightening enough to see,” admitted Fr. Fintan Monahan who is Secretary to the Archdiocese of Tuam who said that he had come across around six or seven cases of people who wanted exorcisms carried out on them.

When people approach the clergy claiming to possess demons, they are assessed for psychiatric or psychological problems before being sent to priests who are expert in carrying out exorcisms.

There are three priests in the country who are trained to carry out exorcisms including a Jesuit in Galway city, a Franciscan in Carlow as well as a priest based in the Killaloe Diocese.

Those who have approached priests in the Tuam Archdiocese have complained of being depressed, having someone else in the room with them, having an internal battle in their minds, witnessing things moving around in their rooms and their minds playing tricks with them.

Fr. Monahan said that normally the local priest or the Archbishop would come to their homes and say prayers as well as blessing the dwelling with holy water.

But if this did not work, then they would be sent to one of three practising clergymen who have been taught how to perform the ancient ritual on people who believe they have been possessed by demonic spirits.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.