Month: January 2014

Frank Litton These days we worry about how the social media is affecting our relationships. Is the diligent Facebook user dodging the task of sustaining friendships for a less demanding and rewarding electronic substitute? If Facebook does little for friendship, its ubiquity bears witness to the importance of the idea of friendship. Friendship is important.…

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J. Anthony Gaughan His Cork-based publisher describes Richard McElligott as “a Kerry partisan”.  That, however, does not prevent the author from providing a splendid account of the GAA in his native county. The earliest chapters are the most important. They describe consistent progress, but there was considerable chaos and confusion. Clubs were established, but some soon…

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Dear Editor, I wasn’t overly impressed by the two articles concerning the faith of Munster’s Ronan O Gara (IC 9/11/14) and Donncha O’ Callaghan(IC 19/12/13).  Yes they both mentioned that they believed in God, but, so do so many in our society and yet do not attend weekly Mass or the other sacraments.  When one…

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Dear Editor, As I understand the purpose and objective of Reform Alliance, it is definitely not to establish another political party, since I believe we have sufficient already, in fact too many! Personally I think the objective of Reform Alliance is what it says, namely to reform the existing and outdated draconian political system that has…

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Dear Editor, As I understand it, there are six days in the Church’s calendar, as well as Sundays, which are designated Holy days of Obligation in the Irish Church. These are: December 8, Feast of The Immaculate Conception; Christmas Day; St Patrick’s Day; August 15, Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary; November 1,…

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Dear Editor, Regarding ‘The Francis effect bringing people back to the Church (IC 14/11/13), the impact of Pope Francis on Catholics and non-Catholics alike has been heart-warming, impressive and very positive. I would be concerned, however, that the religious practice of a considerable number of ‘returned’ Catholics appears to be based on the personality of one man.…

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Dear Editor, I was interested to read David Quinn’s piece ‘Why the Church cannot be all inclusive’ (IC 2/1/14). I’d like to take up two points in relation to his thoughts: 1.That “horrible and impossible to contemplate turn of events” that he fears, has already taken place. The fact is that God Himself is ‘pro-choice’…

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In his deeply insightful book, Violence Unveiled, Gil Bailie takes us through a remarkable section of the diaries of Captain James Cook, the famed British scientist and explorer. Visiting the Island of Tahiti in 1777, Cook was taken one day by a local tribal chief to witness a ritual where a man was sacrificed as…

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