Clonard Monastery in Belfast is bringing the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help out into the community in anticipation of the arrival of the icon pilgrimage this weekend and to build awareness and devotion of the image. The icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help, newly written in Poland and blessed by Pope Francis,…
Mags Gargan
Six-school campus a flagship for NI education
An ambitious shared education project in Omagh, is leading the way in cross community relations, writes Mags Gargan
Homeless centre is hitting the high notes
Mags Gargan visits a rehearsal of the Brother Kevin Singers at the Capuchin Day Centre
Sabina Higgins criticised for abortion remarks
President Michael D. Higgins’ wife has attracted sharp criticism for her “inappropriate” comments supporting abortion in the case of unborn children diagnosed with life limiting conditions. Following a debate by midwifery students in Trinity College Dublin about Ireland’s maternity care, Sabina Higgins gave an unscripted speech in which she described circumstances in which a woman…
Vatican memorial unveiled for heroic Irish WWII priest
The Irish embassy to the Holy See and the Teutonic (German) College in the Vatican came together at the weekend to honour the memory of a Kerry priest who saved thousands of Jews and prisoners of war during the World War II. Some 60 members of the Hugh O’Flaherty memorial society joined Irish ambassador Emma…
Sr Clare was a ‘striking example of womanhood’
A Derry nun who was killed in an earthquake in Ecuador last month was described as a “striking example of womanhood” at her funeral on Monday. Sr Clare Crockett (33) was killed three weeks ago while trying to bring children to safety when a stairwell collapsed in Playa Prieta where she had been serving as…
1916 concert by Mayo International Choral Festival
The Mayo International Choral Festival is presenting an inaugural concert at the newly refurbished Knock Basilica, to commemorate the 1916 Easter Rising and World War I on Saturday, May 14 at 8pm. The concert will be presented by RTĖ Lyric FM’s Liz Nolan and will include excerpts from Karl Jenkins’ choral sensation, The Armed Man:…
Papal medal for Drumconrath’s Larry Ward
Larry Ward was awarded the Bene Merenti medal for over 40 years dedicated service as organist and choir master in Drumconrath, Co. Meath, at a presentation in a packed church of family and well-wishers. Larry was accompanied by his wife Attracta and daughter Sarah Jane for this special ceremony which was concelebrated in Ss Peter…
NI bishop ‘surprised’ at SDLP support of integrated schools
The bishop at the head of the Northern Ireland Commission for Catholic Education (NICCOSA) has expressed surprise at an SDLP manifesto pledge supporting integrated education over the shared campus model. The Shared Education Campuses Programme was launched in the North in January 2014 and invests in projects where schools from both communities co-locate and share…
Judge calls for ‘spirit of 1916’ amnesty for asylum seekers
A retired High Court judge who headed a Government working group which recommended reform of the processing of asylum seekers in Ireland has called for an amnesty “in the spirit of 1916” for those in the direct provision system for five years or more. Judge Byran McMahon made the suggestion at the launch of an…