In a speech to the American Bar Association in July 2000 the then Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Harney, made a profound observation about Celtic Tiger Ireland. “Geographically”, she said, “we are closer to Berlin than Boston. Spiritually, we are probably a lot closer to Boston than Berlin.”…
Years ago, I had a friend in Belfast called Matt, who was known as Tracker. He was a prophet of sorts: the racing tipster for The Irish News. He has long since gone to God, but he came to mind this Advent. One year, Matt, in a moment of inspiration, decided to surprise his friends with a visit…
The Federation of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) has decided to withdraw its missionaries from Europe at the end of this academic year. This sudden and surprising decision will have a concerning impact on the services they provide on campuses in Dublin, Cork and Belfast. FOCUS (which is unrelated to the Irish housing charity founded by…
A suicide on All Souls Day adds to parish depression All Souls Day is bad enough without a man going missing in the parish. He was absent for all of a cold winter’s night: “He never did that before”. A hardworking husband and father, he kept a low profile in the parish. After just…
The National Primary School Survey recently launched by the Department of Education & Youth is an opportunity for parents/guardians, for school staff and for members of boards of management to have their say on three issues in Primary education, school patronage/ethos, the language of instruction, and co-education versus singlesex schooling. Whereas the questions around single sex/co-education or the language of instruction…
In January 17, 1991, the world witnessed the beginning of a devastating bombardment of Iraq with the start of the combat phase of the Gulf War. A NATO-led coalition launched its attack in response to Saddam Hussein’s annexation and invasion of Kuwait. Just twenty-four hours earlier, however, a new pair of lungs had drawn in…
Andrea was an 8-year-old girl in a town in Zambales when her parents separated, after which her mother moved in with Christopher, who became her stepfather. In January 2024, when she was 11, Christopher sexually abused her. She was afraid to tell anyone, lest he would hurt her and her mother. During a counselling session…
Clarification regarding Allianz correspondence Dear Editor, I am writing in response to the letter from Fr Joe McVeigh of Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, published in your 27th November edition, in which a number of factual inaccuracies regarding Allianz were stated. Allianz P.l.c is not an Israeli-owned insurance company. Allianz p.l.c is an Irish-incorporated and Irish-regulated entity,…
I recently read in an article that for young people today, “faith is often less an inherited identity, rather an informed choice”. This statement really struck a chord with me, especially in relation to the young people that I am fortunate to encounter and accompany in the course of my ministry in the Archdiocese of…
During the Advent season, it can be helpful to have the guiding hand of a saint to help us ponder faith and life and prepare ourselves for Christmas and the New Year. Hence, it is a good time to read again what has always been, and after the election of the first Augustinian pope, Leo…
Martina Purdy
Breda O'Brien