A prominent Irish Catholic book publisher will be closing three of its stores due to “trading difficulty” and is making moves to invest more on online sales. Veritas announced its decision to shut outlets in Sligo, Monaghan and Naas today (November 30) with closure taking place by the end of January 2019. Mr Aidan Chester,…
Maynooth chapel re-opens to the public
One of Ireland’s most iconic churches has re-opened to the public having been closed for visits due to acts of vandalism. The college chapel of the national seminary at Maynooth will re-open for four hours a week and members of the public are invited to come and pray or visit the historic neo-Gothic structure. While…
Ballymurphy Massacre victims endure ‘harrowing’ inquest
Families of the Ballymurphy Massacre are reliving the “harrowing” details of the killing of their loved ones as the inquest into their deaths continues, according to the parish priest of Ballymurphy. Fr Patrick McCafferty said that revisiting the tragedy for the victims’ families is “as raw today as it was almost 50 years ago”. This…
Port chaplains’ ‘vital role’ in confronting human trafficking
Priests located near ports play a “vital role” in combatting and identifying human trafficking and modern day slavery at sea, according to the Bishop of Ferns. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Bishop Denis Brennan said that locally there is an effort made to encourage priests to mention human trafficking in their homilies, on local radio…
Ossory makes ‘positive’ moves towards lay-led Church
The diocese of Ossory is determined to move forward with plans to identify, recruit and train lay people to help run the diocese and local parishes according to the Coordinator of the Diocesan Pastoral Plan. After a conference of clergy and laity over the weekend Gemma Mulligan said there was a “really positive feeling that…
Homeless crisis set to get worse this Christmas, warns agency
A leading agency working with people experiencing homelessness has said it expects the crisis to get worse as Christmas approaches. Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) has predicted a “surge” in demand for vital services warning that it has already seen an increased demand on last year in recent months. “We do our best, but we do…
‘First step towards justice’ for Ballymurphy Massacre victims
The beginning of an inquest into the shooting of 10 innocent people during the Ballymurphy Massacre is the “first step on the road to justice” according to campaigners. The inquest began in Belfast on Monday, with relatives of the victims gathering outside the Laganside Court and holding pictures of their loved ones. Ballymurphy parish priest…
Charities fight to stop ‘anxious’ refugees being made homeless
Church-based charities are fighting to “ensure” refugees faced with homelessness in a direct provision centre in Dublin find accommodation before time runs out. Clondalkin Towers houses almost 250 people, with 70 of them having received their refugee status. Residents were told in October that the centre’s management company Fazyard Ltd would be closing the facility…
Pro-life movement gives up on Fianna Fáil
The Pro-Life Campaign has urged supporters not to vote for Fianna Fáil in the next general election to protest against the party’s refusal to back amendments to limit the scope of abortion legislation. In a hard-hitting statement as the Oireachtas Health Committee debated the proposed legislation, a spokesperson for the PLC pointed out that one…
Irish politicians highlight Christian persecution blight
Christian persecution must be pushed up the political agenda in Ireland to highlight the dire cases people face globally, according to an Irish MEP and TD. Irish politicians spoke in light of the “horrible dilemma” a persecuted Christian in Pakistan faces after violent protests broke out after her blasphemy acquittal. The case of mother of…

Chai Brady








