I could hardly write this column without reference to last week’s weather event. It dominated media news and current affairs, perhaps to an excessive degree. I certainly thought it was going over the top when it was prominent on Claire Byrne Live, as far back as last Monday night, and until the snow actually arrived much…
Month: March 2018
So what do priests do all day? You’d be surprised!
The Notebook It’s the million-dollar question: what do priests do all day? It’s a hard question to answer, because firstly priests vary, but also ministry situations differ. To give a definitive answer, you’d have to survey every priest in Ireland and feed the results into some massive computer to get an average for the…
Versatile coconut is so at home in a cake!
Sweet Treats Coconut can be used in a variety of ways throughout cooking, but my favourite time to use this versatile taste is when baking. Coconut cake is a delicious light dessert that can be enjoyed by all. This soft, crumbly sponge brings a tropical taste to any party. The flavour packs a solid…
Top pianists convey charm of Francis Poulenc’s work
Pat O’Kelly I was regaled at the National Concert Hall recently by two award-winning young pianists – Alexander Bernstein and Fiachra Garvey, both former pupils of John O’Conor at the RIAM. Accompanied with spontaneous aplomb by the RTÉ NSO, they conveyed the wit and charm of Francis Poulenc’s effervescent Concerto for Two Pianos written…
Cold Shoulder for Sr Frosty…
Sr Gabriel and Sr Paul from Galway’s Poor Clare Sisters with ‘Sr Frosty’, briefly the newest member of the community. Photo: Kristina Vykukalova
Lough Derg prior reveals prayer plans for WMOF and year ahead
With the World Meeting of Families (WMOF) less than six months away the new prior of Lough Derg is looking forward to the major event, and hoping he can encourage pilgrims to pray for its success. Fr Laurence (La) Flynn has been behind the wheel at Lough Derg since October last year, and has a…
Where faith and reason agree
Youth Space Missionaries have to trust their labours will bear fruit when they’re gone, writes Kelly Koerwer “Hi my name is Kelly and I’m a recent graduate of the University of Notre Dame. I live in Dublin and I work at the Notre Dame-Newman Centre for Faith and Reason at University Church on St…
Loughgilly ‘Family Planting Day’
WMOF Brendan McKiernan In mid-2017 our parish invited Sr Ann and Sharon Dunne from the Armagh Diocesan Pastoral Centre, to a sharing of ideas gathering. At this gathering, requested by Fr Malachy Murphy PP and the Parish Pastoral Council, the parish discussed initiatives which had the potential to bring families together as a faith…
Faith in the Family
I’m off the coffee for Lent. I thought I would be struggling. Usually half way through the morning I feel that I simply need to get a cup of coffee. It turns out…I don’t! Now perhaps by the end of Lent I will be walking past coffee shops simply to get a whiff of the…
Pope has chance to reform Irish Church structures
The Church doesn’t exist for itself – it exists to serve the world. It may seem like the most obvious of things to say, but too often we cling to old structures and patterns of behaviours that have long since outlived their usefulness as if they are things that matter in and of themselves. The…

Brendan O’Regan




Chai Brady


Bairbre Cahill
Michael Kelly