This year marks the 300th anniversary of the appearance of Gulliver’s Travels in the autumn of 1726 from a printer in London. The publication date is usually held to be November 30, but it is today often compounded with the date of the demented Swift’s death on October 19 (in 1745), which is to be…
Méiní: The Blasket Nurse, by Leslie Matson (Mercier Press, €15.99 / £13.99) This book was first published back in 1999, and I cannot believe that at the time I missed it. But as it has remained in print down to today, I think it worth saying a few words about it now, as for…
John Boyle, the Freeholder and pre-Famine Cork Society, by Neil Cronin (Four Courts Press / Maynooth Studies in Local History, €12.95 / £11.95) The despicable John Boyle was a man of appalling character. His current biographer, Neil Cronin, must have had to hold his nose while shovelling through the toxic detritus of gutter journalism…
In September I had the chance to visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery with some friends. We happened on the ‘Changing of the Guard’, and it was an impressive ceremony. I took out my phone to try to record but the day was bright, and I could not really see the…
Assembly decisions should not be presented as ‘authentic voice’ of Irish Catholics The Synodal Pathway is “offering the Church here little more than a political-type programme”, a senior priest has warned on the eve of its National Assembly in Gormanston. Fr Andrew McMahon, a Dromore priest, writer and commentator, said the proposals going before…
Like those involved in overseeing the synodal process all along, the people who served on working groups producing proposals for this weekend’s National Assembly deserve appreciation for their efforts. Nevertheless, their proposals require close scrutiny, as the Synodal Pathway is not simply another venture in renewal, but makes the extraordinary claim of having determined the…
“There is no single stereotype of an ideal family or indeed ideal couple,” said Bishop Denis Nulty in his homily delivered to new Accord marriage facilitators and marriage counsellors on October 10. “You will work with couples and indeed families. There is no single stereotype of an ideal family or indeed ideal couple – no…
Mission Sunday is an opportunity to “show the amazing amount of impact and work that our congregations continue to undertake in exceptionally increasingly difficult circumstances,” said Misean Cara CEO John Moffett to The Irish Catholic, speaking on behalf of the non-profit, which works with 77 member organisations across Africa, Asia and Latin America. The goal…
Archbishop of Perth speaks to The Irish Catholic as Pope Leo calls for families to be put back at the centre Preparation for marriage must begin in the family home and not in the weeks before a wedding, the president of the Australian bishops has told The Irish Catholic, as Church leaders from around…
Canon Francis Brown Our recent nine-day Novena in honour of St Carlo Acutis at Newry Cathedral was a wonderful celebration of faith, bringing together people of all ages for prayer, reflection and spiritual renewal. Throughout the Novena, we were privileged to welcome inspirational speakers whose personal testimonies reminded us that faith can transform lives and…
Peter Costello