Booking demand for public transport in the North of Ireland is “strong” ahead of the papal visit events later this month, a spokesperson for Translink has said. Translink, which provides train and bus services across the North of Ireland and to Dublin, said that there are numerous transport services available on August 25-26 to bring…
The Great Cover-Up: The Truth About the Death of Michael Collins by Gerard Murphy (The Collins Press, €19.99) The death of Michael Collins at Bealnablath, Co. Cork, on August 22, 1922 has prompted much comment and writing. No fewer than five books have been published on the subject, as well as numerous articles and countless columns…
Dear Editor, Breda O’Brien and Greg Daly’s articles on Pope Francis’ ruling that henceforth Catholics should regard the death penalty as ‘inadmissible’ (IC 9/8/2018) show just how natural a development this is in Catholic teaching, and show too how absurd it is that a handful of vociferous Catholics are complaining about this. Absurd? What other…
Pat O’Kelly Enthusiastic reviews greeted Co. Tipperary soprano Jennifer Davis following her recent Covent Garden debut as Elsa of Brabant in Wagner’s Lohengrin. Latvian diva Kristine Opolais was the scheduled Elsa in this new production that opened in June, but she withdrew from the staging relatively close to opening night. Jennifer Davis, who is…
The Notebook Fr Vincent Sherlock I met him in a hotel in Rome. “What do you think of Rome?” I asked him. “I don’t like it,” he replied, “it’s too hot and I find it hard to get used to the food”.w He told me he was there because his daughter was getting married…
With the most prominent Jesuit of all coming to town next week it was apt that other key Jesuits figured in the media last week. On Wednesday of last week, Nationwide (RTÉ1) explored some of the more essential aspects of the life and work of Blessed Fr John Sullivan. That familiar black and white drawing…
Sometimes you’d be forgiven for thinking that there is nothing to celebrate in being Catholic and Irish in modern Ireland. Hostility towards the Church is extremely high and truth be told it was always going to intensify in the run up to the visit of Pope Francis and the World Meeting of Families. A poll…
The World of Books by the Books Editor These days papal visits, such as Pope Francis will make to Ireland next week, are taken for granted. They have become commonplace, but in the perspective of the two thousand years of history they are a very recent development. Indeed, there is a great need for…
10 commandments for driving to Knock Mayo County Council has issued ‘10 Commandments of Road Safety’ for pilgrims planning on joining the Pope at Knock Shrine later this month. With 45,000 people due to join Pope Francis at the shrine on August 26, Mayo council has encouraged people to travel to Knock by public transport, but have advised the 91%…
Irish prisoners should be given amnesty for papal visit Hundreds of unfairly-incarcerated prisoners across Ireland should be released to mark the Pope’s visit to the country this month, Jesuit campaigner Fr Peter McVerry has said. The prominent priest said that there are a “significant number” of people in prison who are there for relatively…
Colm Fitzpatrick
Brendan O’Regan
Michael Kelly
Peter Costello