FR IGGY O'DONOVAN (56) is sensationally leaving his role as prior of the Augustinian Church in Shop Street.
In a moment that stunned the congregation at Sunday's packed 1.15pm mass, it was revealed by a parishioner that the popular priest would be gone by September.
The shock announcement was made by Donal Lynch.
'We are behind you,' he declared. 'There's more to this than meets the eye and there is a trail of shame attached to this,' he claimed.
Fr Iggy then received a sustained standing ovation, with many people in tears.
It is widely held that his removal is due to his being named in the dedication section in the latest book from Fr Brendan Hoban and knives having already being sharpened in Ara Coeli, they were now used.