A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Mandalay-Sagaing region March 28, causing widespread destruction and a rising death toll. As of March 29, at least 1,000 people had died in Myanmar, with hundreds more missing. The death toll may surpass 10,000 according to US Geological Survey’s estimates. In neighbouring Thailand, Bangkok city authorities said so far six…
A recent analysis of U.S. survey data found that children bring ‘high levels of happiness’ to activities like mealtimes, socialising, and traveling. Ken Burchfiel of the Institute for Family Studies analysed American Time Use Survey (ATUS) data, showing that everyday activities are more enjoyable when children are present. He noted that a 2013 Time article…
The release of Seong-ho Jay Hang’s The King of Kings (PG) makes perfect timing for Easter. Telling the story of Christ in animated form through the voices of household names like Oscar Isaac, Kenneth Branagh and Uma Thurman, it has Charles Dickens, of all people, as the narrator. Many people won’t be aware that Dickens…
Premiering on Good Friday, April 18, Sins of Ireland explores the legacy of the Catholic Church in Ireland through the lens of confession. Directed by Alex Fegan (Older Than Ireland, The Irish Pub), the documentary features fifteen priests reflecting on a sacrament that once shaped Irish identity but has since faded. Confession, first introduced in…
Holy Communion fair helps children in need Cork based charity Cork Penny Dinners hosted their 11th edition of the ‘Holy Communion Fair’ in Sacred Heart Church, Wilton Road on March 23, to guarantee families struggling will have all they need for their child’s Confirmation. They offered everything for free: dresses, suits, socks, underwear, accessories, prayer…
The Sorrow and the Loss: The Tragic Shadow Cast by the Troubles on the Lives of Women, by Martin Dillon (Merrion Press, €19.99 / £15.50). This book provides an account of the grief, sorrow, hurt and tragedy visited on women by the so-called ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland. Reading it brought to mind those scenes…
Ireland has a long history of giving generously to people in need overseas, reflecting the value our culture has placed on loving our neighbours both near and far. We can choose what good causes to support at individual, parish and church level. But for the funds donated overseas by the Irish Government, collected from us…
In my previous article, we discussed how percentages of self-declared Catholics and other religions have changed globally over time and the rise of the ‘nones’ in the West. Census figures show that those identifying as having no religion is on the increase across the island of Ireland. What does this mean? Religiosity still has a…
Fr John Harris Growing up we often sang the song ‘Take me up to Monto’, never thinking it was a real place. But a very real place it was. For over a hundred years it was said to be the largest red-light district in Europe. It is said that there was anything up to 1,600…
Aubrey Malone
Eilis Mulroy