It would be great to live in a world where life was valued. At the moment, the right to life is undermined so often, whether through war, capital punishment, euthanasia or abortion. And that’s not an exhaustive list. The news during the week featured a man, Marcellus Williams, who was executed in the USA despite…
Life in modern times can be fractious, fractured, frustrating… and that’s only the fs! Seeking calm in such an environment can be a very attractive proposition. Last Monday morning on Oliver Callan (RTÉ Radio 1) the host had a timely conversation with Capuchin Brother Richard Hendricks, priest and poet, about the ideas in his new…
In the modern media landscape that is so fragmented it is rare to find a programme that draws huge numbers, but we got one last week. Yes, it was the much-anticipated Harris v Trump the US Debate (Sky News, Wednesday) – too early in the morning. It was a sign of its significance that it…
There are some stories you just can’t ignore, even if you want to because they are so repulsive. And so it was with the release last week of the O’Toole Report into child sexual abuse at schools run by religious orders, effectively Catholic schools. It should be immediately clear that something is wrong here –…
Prequels and sequels have a mixed history. I prefer the latter, because if I’m into a story I like to see it continued rather than reversed. Rings of Power (Amazon Prime, Wednesday), a Lord of the Rings prequel of sorts, is back for a second series, with the first three episodes ‘dropped’ already. I nodded…
With TV and Radio, I yearn for something different, unexpected and original. I rarely get it – predictability is the order of the day. The interview with Irish Times Religious Affairs correspondent Patsy McGarry on Brendan O’Connor (RTÉ Radio 1, Saturday) fell for the most part into the ‘predictable’ category as the host teased out…
Regular readers will know I’m a big fan of TV drama, especially drama series. I don’t watch too many comedies, but I have a few favourites. One of these is Young Sheldon (RTE One, Fridays). Comedy or not, of late it has been tackling some serious matters, like the mother, Mary (Zoe Perry), being alienated…
Modern Ireland, conceived by many in positions of power and influence as a secular entity that has thrown off the shackles of religion, is more complex that one might think. This Ireland has its heroes, heroines and gurus, including the late Sinead O’Connor and recently deceased writer Edna O’Brien. It is ironic that both of…
Last week I finished the good, the bad and the ugly of the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Since then, I’ve enjoyed the genuine sportsmanship and especially the impressive achievements of the Irish competitors. Watching Paris Olympics 2024, on RTÉ 2 for the most part, I’ve found it noteworthy to see so many participants blessing…
sometimes the secular media takes an interest in religious faith only when it involves some sort of distorted version of religion. Having reviewed it a few episodes in, last Monday I finally got to the end of Under the Banner of Heaven (RTÉ One)– the true crime drama about murder in a Mormon community. I…