Faith in anything, once lost, is not easily restored, writes David Quinn Lately I’ve taken to calling myself a ‘lapsed’ or a ‘non-practicing’ Fine Gaeler. You might be the same, or else you might be a lapsed Fianna Fáil supporter who perhaps returned to the party at the recent election or maybe opted for one…
Month: March 2016
Vatican’s abuse commission needs proper funding
“The commission has recognised its duty to create policies with global application, which send very clear messages about what must be done everywhere in the world. We have seen that it is capable of this”, writes Nuala O’Loan Pope Francis established the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, because, he said, “Many painful actions…
The All-Ireland football final played behind barbed wire
Sarah MacDonald One hundred years after a unique All-Ireland football final was played among the men interned in the wake of the 1916 Rising in Frongoch in north Wales, an RTÉ documentary revisits the scene and reveals the story behind the match between Kerry and Louth. In the wake of the 1916 Easter Rising, over…
Pilgrims of mercy in Knock
Pilgrims from the parishes in the St Joseph cluster in the Diocese of Killaloe (Aghamore, Ballyhaunis, Ballinlough, Bekan and Knock) at the Door of Mercy, marking the end of their pilgrimage to Knock Shrine on Sunday for the ‘Engaging the Heart’ weekend.
Pop up shop brings message of mercy to shoppers
Weekend Dublin shoppers were recently introduced to Pope Francis’ message of mercy thanks to a team of parish volunteers working from a ‘Mercy pop up shop’. A rota of parishioners spent a sunny Saturday working from a former hairdressers in the main shopping area of Ballyfermot as part of the ‘24 hours for the Lord’…
Missionary raises doubts on killing of his kidnapper
A Columban missionary who was held for ransom by militants in the Philippines has raised doubts on reports that the leader of the kidnapper gang was killed by security forces at the weekend. Fr Michael Sinnott, originally from Co. Wexford, was snatched outside his house in Pagadian City in October 2009 and held hostage for…
Armagh goes green for St Patrick
Both Armagh cathedrals – St Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral and St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral – have gone green this week for the St Patrick’s Festival in Armagh and Down which runs until March 20 featuring more than 100 events showcasing the best of culture, music, song and dance. For more information visit www.armagh.co.uk Photo:…
St Patrick’s Day in Britain shows changed relations
“time heals all wounds between nations, and history puts everything into a constantly changing perspective”, writes Mary Kenny The history of St Patrick’s Day in Britain is interesting. Up until 1916 – significantly – it was well-marked and well-observed in London, particularly, as a great day for the Irish. The tradition of a royal family…
News in Brief
New Irish language missal welcomed Galway’s Bishop Martin Drennan has welcomed the announcement that an altar edition of the new Roman Missal in the Irish language will be published by Veritas later this year. Dr Drennan, who chairs the bishops’ Council for Liturgy said, “The publication of An Leabhar Aifrinn Rómhánach is hugely significant not only for the Church…
EU fully capable of handling migrant crisis – Sutherland
Claims by EU politicians that it cannot cope with the Mediterranean migrant crisis have been dismissed as “rubbish” by special UN envoy Peter Sutherland. Irishman Mr Sutherland, a former Attorney General, who now serves as the UN special representative for migration said it was “utterly excessive” to claim that it would be “impossible for a…

David Quinn
Nuala O’Loan



Mags Gargan

Mary Kenny

Greg Daly