Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning has just been released. Taking up where 2023’s Dead Reckoning Part One left off, has Tom Cruise trying to stop assassin Gabriel (Esai Morales) destroying Civilisation as we know it with an AI thingamabob called The Entity. Somebody once said they should never have been allowed to make all those…
Month: May 2025
Following the inauguration of Pope Leo, cardinals reflect on the conclave
As the Cardinals who participated in the Conclave reflect on the election of Pope Leo XIV, their statements offer a glimpse into the atmosphere and guiding principles behind the selection. While the Conclave’s discussions remain private, the Cardinals have shared their insights into the new pontiff and their hopes for his papacy. Cardinals Burke and…
The importance of Irish religious history in our times
Religion, Landscape & Settlement in Ireland, Kevin Whelan (Four Courts Press, €24.95 / £39.99) The cover of Kevin Whelan’s new book, which shows early Christian beehive cells on the Skelligs, might give the hesitating purchaser the impression that he deals in detail with developments from the introduction of Christianity to Ireland. But in fact the text…
Small things give hope that change is afoot…
Reams of paperless columns have already been written about our new Pope, Leo XIV, analysing every little look or utterance, every handshake, his dress, his repossession of the Papal Apartments. It seems to me that, among Catholics, there is a change in sentiment – a ‘vibe shift’, if you will – and a sense of…
Getting our hearts ready to receive Him
When two companions or close friends part company, they promise each other to stay in touch with each other. How is it possible to keep this bond of friendship alive, when they are physically separated? Like anyone else, who is close to us who is preparing to leave while packing, doing those last little jobs…
A teacher, father, coach and a quiet role model
Jamesie O’Connor, one of Clare GAA’s most storied names and now a veteran teacher at the great Munster hurling nursery, St Flannan’s College in Ennis, isn’t one for romanticising the past. But when he speaks about the challenges of raising children in a modern age of smartphones and social media, you can hear the quiet…
Irish people are deeply divided about the Catholic Church
What does the Irish public think of the Catholic Church after all the scandals and all the reports about those same scandals down to the present day? It will probably not surprise you to discover that public attitudes are deeply split. Amarach Research has carried out a major poll on the matter which was commissioned…
Saint of the week – St Rita of Cascia: Holiness as priority
St Rita of Cascia is a unique saint, in that during her life she was a wife, a mother, and later, a nun. Born in 1381 in Cascia, a republic in the Umbrian valley of Italy, Margherita Lotti was the daughter of noble parents. Given the nickname of ‘Rita’ from her youth, St Rita was…
Ceasefire brings hope for peace in India-Pakistan conflict amid calls for dialogue
A recent ceasefire between India and Pakistan has brought a temporary halt to the violence, offering a glimmer of hope amid escalating tensions. The ceasefire, brokered by international mediation, followed a deadly four-day conflict in Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of over 60 people. This fragile peace comes after retaliatory strikes from both nations,…
The Venerable Matt Talbot Centenary Year
Celebrating a legacy of faith and recovery This Matt Talbot Centenary Year marks a century since the death of Venerable Matt Talbot, known for his dedication to faith and recovery from alcoholism. This year is an opportunity to reflect on his life, contributions to our Catholic faith, and his lasting impact on addiction recovery programs…

Aubrey Malone


Peter Costello
Maria Steen
Fr John McCarthy

David Quinn
Renata Milán Morales

