New grounds for discrimination need Govt support

The European Anti-Poverty Network Ireland (EAPN) is calling for the Irish Government to show its full and immediate support for the inclusion of socio-economic status as an additional ground for discrimination under current Irish equality legislation. The ground will ensure that those who have experienced discrimination and exclusion based on their housing status, address, income…

Willing to wait

Matthew Carlson meets those celebrating chastity   On a typical Thursday night, you might expect young people to be visiting the pubs or enjoying a pleasant Dublin night. If you however find yourself at 23 Merrion Square on a Thursday night, you will find something very different: a group of young people attending Mass, participating…

Biggest battle yet as Yemen crisis worsens

The Saudi-led coalition’s assault on Hodeida, Yemen’s main port city, will have a “catastrophic impact” on the ability of relief groups to get food, medicine and other aid to vulnerable Yemeni families in urgent need of assistance, a Catholic aid agency warned. CAFOD, the overseas aid agency of the bishops of England and Wales, made…

A maker of modern Ireland

Brendan O’Regan: Irish Innovator, Visionary and Peacemaker by Brian O’Connell with Cian O’Carroll (Irish Academic Press, €34.99) Joe
 Carroll   In the awful depression of the 1950s and early 1960s, Brendan O’Regan was a household name for his pioneering, job-creating work at Shannon Airport. What was happening at Shannon with its industrial zone, new town, duty-free shop,…

North should not have been overshadowed

Dear Editor, Martin O’Brien’s investigation into the Pope’s decision not to visit Northern Ireland this year (‘No Pope here?’ IC 14/6/2018) invites serious questions about links between our local Church and the Vatican. The Pope’s decision not to visit the North has, understandably, caused dismay and continues to cause confusion across both Northern communities, and…

Family News and Events

A welcome 
haunting Stories of ghosts and the supernatural will be among those told at the Dublin Ghost Story Festival from June 29 to July 1. The event is to be put on by publishing house Swan River Press and will feature several writers that explore Dublin’s connection to literary ghost stories. The event will also…

Vatican Roundup

Listen
 to 
those 
in 
need
 says 
Pope 
on 
World 
Day
 of 
Poor How is it that God in heaven can hear the cries of the poor, but so many people watching or standing nearby either cannot or just do not care, Pope Francis asked on the World Day of the Poor. The recently established commemoration is meant to give Christians a chance to follow Christ’s example…

Time for the work of Debussy to take the spotlight

Pat O’Kelly   Although this year commemorates the centenary of the death in Paris on March 25, 1918 of Claude-Achille Debussy, celebratory events here have, so far, been relatively low-key. The RTÉ NSO did bring us the composer’s Poème dansé – Jeux in February as part of its season and the recent Dublin International Piano…

Loneliness 
epidemic
 ‘needs 
attention’

People of all age groups are susceptible to loneliness, and initiatives must be implemented to alleviate this problem in Ireland, a social justice organisation has said. The Loneliness Task Force, which was established in collaboration with the CEO of ALONE, Sean Moynihan, to coordinate a response to the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation, said…