Michael Cleary (priest)

Michael Cleary (23 November 1933 – 31 December 1993) was a Irish Roman Catholic priest, who also became a radio and TV personality.

Coming to public knowledge due to frequent appearances on RTE's Late Late Show, Cleary has been described in some sources as a "powerful and charismatic figure" in the Catholic Church in Ireland, . He was a magnetic personality, but seen as approachable. 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". Cleary toured often under this moniker singing at fundraising events and cabaret shows.

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. One child was adopted, the other remained with Cleary and Hamilton where they lived as a family in secret.