An excerpt from Patrick Weston Joyce, English as We Speak it in Ireland (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1910), pages 324-325. In his essay on the “Skellig Lists” in Irish folk life contributor Shane Lehane overlooks this interesting and important notice of the custom by the Victorian scholar of all things Irish, Patrick Weston…
Petition for release of Nicaraguan bishop given to embassy in Mexico The Actívate and Solidart platforms have delivered a petition with 11,000 signatures to the Nicaraguan embassy in Mexico City condemning the human rights violations committed by dictator President Daniel Ortega and demanding the release of the Bishop of Matagalpa, Rolando Álvarez. Members of both…
Dear Editor, I have only recently become familiar, via a conversation with one of my granddaughters, with the concept of gaslighting. Gaslighting is characterised as a form of psychological manipulation in which a dominant party attempts to sow self-doubt and confusion in the mind of someone else. Typically, gaslighters are seeking to gain power and…
Prayers for peace needed this Lent – Archbishop Martin Prayers, charity and sacrifice for peace and refugees are needed this Lent, Archbishop Eamon Martin said on Ash Wednesday, February 22. The world has experienced death and suffering on a large scale in the last year, the Primate of All-Ireland said in a statement. “I encourage…
Newly-discovered asteroid named after a pope The Vatican Observatory announced the naming of four newly-discovered asteroids after notable Catholics, including Pope Gregory XIII, who began the tradition of papal astronomers and observatories. Christopher Graney, a scientist at the Vatican Observatory, said in a press release that the Working Group for Small Bodies Nomenclature (WGSBN) of…
As we mark the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the issue of immigration has spilled over onto the streets of our country, amid acrimonious protests and counter-protests. Yet most Irish media outlets still refuse to discuss the issue in a balanced and reasonable way. Ireland has a remarkable and positive story to tell…
As the European synodal assembly closed on Sunday, the gathered bishops praised the “frank” and respectful dialogue between bishops, priests, consecrated and lay men and women. Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin along with 13 other delegates from the island of Ireland attended the European assembly from February 5-12. In their final remarks released on February…
With the law to create exclusion zones around abortion clinics receiving Royal Assent February 6, pro-lifers have vowed not to take the measure “lying down”. This comes after a priest in England faced criminal charges for praying for free speech outside an abortion clinic after business hours. At least two others have faced charges for…
Bishop Rolando Álvarez of Matagalpa was convicted and sentenced by a Nicaraguan court to 26 years in prison on February 10 – barely a day after the outspoken prelate defied President Daniel Ortega by refusing to go into exile. The court convicted Bishop Álvarez on charges of conspiracy to undermine national integrity and spreading false…
The FBI says it is retracting a leaked document published on the internet February 8 that appears to reveal that the bureau’s Richmond division launched an investigation into “radical traditionalist” Catholics and their possible ties to “the far-right white nationalist movement”. In response to an inquiry from CNA, the FBI said it will remove the…