Attacks on a UN base in Timbuktu have “almost certainly” been perpetuated by an Islamist group, according to the secretary general of the Episcopal Conference of Mali. Claiming that Tuareg rebel groups are committed to peace agreements signed with the government, and that there is no fighting between them and either the Malian army or…
In what is being hailed as the biggest ecumenical development in decades, Pope Francis is to meet with the Russian Orthodox Patriarch on February 12 during a two-hour stopover on the way to Mexico. Describing the first ever meeting of a Pope and Russian patriarch, as “an event that, in the ecumenical journey and in…
“the God who calls is the God who loves, who forgives, the God who sees into our hearts and gently but very definitely coaxes us to be the very best person we can be”, writes Fr Martin Delaney Recently I returned to my home parish for the funeral of one of my neighbours, a Kiltegan…
The hidden past of Viking Dublin A few weeks before Christmas, there was published what was among the most important Irish books of last year. This was Patrick Wallace’s Viking Dublin: The Wood Quay Excavations (Irish Academic Press, €60.00 hb), the final magisterial report on archaeological investigations into Viking Dublin, which began in Christ Church Place…
Arthur Griffith by Owen McGee (Merrion Press, €27.00) Colum Kenny Arthur Griffith, the first president of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State in 1922, deserves more respect than he gets. This intriguing and polemical volume will help to redress the balance. Born in Dominick Street in 1872, and having shared the hardships of so…
Brendan O’Regan reflects on “something of a good news bad news week” It was something of a good news bad news week. Síle Ní Chonaonaigh (fresh from the wonderful Garraí Glas gardening programme) gets to apply her infectious enthusiasm and good humour as she dips into rural life as presenter of Dúiche (TG4) which last…
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (G) We’ve had dinosaurs ruling the Earth. We’ve had robotoid cowboys on a virtual reality game show. We’ve even, for God’s sake, had vampires from outer space. But what filmgoers really needed was, yes, an episode of American Idol featuring a trio of singing chipmunks. This is what’s…
Chloe Mangan Chloe Mangan describes what it means to have a Catholic ethos in her school I feel really lucky to be a student in a Catholic school managed by the CEIST Trust. Our prayer room is a wonderful facility. It is a room of escapism, tranquillity and silence. Moments of appreciation, forgiveness, or sorrow…
A bouquet of roses and champagne with strawberries make the perfect treat for St Valentine’s Day. You can hit three birds with one stone by baking this strawberry and champagne sponge decorated with royal icing roses. For an alcohol free version, just omit the champagne from the buttercream. 275g self-raising flour 275g unsalted butter 275g…
We have just completed our fourth session of the Confirmation programme ‘You shall be my witnesses’ with over one hundred children who will be confirmed in our parish on February 13. Our fifth and final session will take place a couple of weeks after the children have been confirmed. I have really enjoyed these weeks,…
Brendan O’Regan
Aubrey Malone
Erin Fox
Bairbre Cahill