The Church of the Assumption in west county Dublin is very proud of its claim to have the longest serving promoter of The Irish Catholic in Ireland. The sprightly Nicky Brennan is the proud bearer of that achievement and it will be very hard to find someone who can beat his record of over 70 years promoting the…
Mags Gargan
Community talks lead to peaceful Twelfth
“It was easily the most manageable Twelfth that we have seen”
Escaping from ordinary life
Mags Gargan offers thoughts from a recent visit to Glenstal Abbey
UN lacks fairness on abortion – PLC
The Pro Life Campaign (PLC) has accused the UN’s Human Rights Committee of totally ignoring the right to life of the unborn child. The PLC was one of the official NGOs represented at a two-day hearing in Geneva where Ireland was criticised for not having more explicit access to abortion. Barrister Lorcán Price, who represented…
New bishop warmly welcomed in Elphin
Bishop Kevin Doran ‘s episcopal ordination
Bishop Daniel Delany commemorated
A large crowd of Brigidine sisters, Patrician brothers, and people from near and far gathered at the Delany homestead on the Bennett family farm in Paddock, Co. Laois on July 8 for a Ritual of Remembrance to mark the 200th anniversary of the death of Bishop Daniel Delany, Founder of the Brigidine Sisters and the…
Descendants of apparition witness visit Knock shrine
On July 6 a descendant of one of the witnesses of the Knock apparition paid a visit to Knock Shrine, Co. Mayo. Joe Loftus from NJ, USA is the grandnephew of Catherine Murray, who witnessed the apparition when she was nine-years-old. Joe made a recording for the Knock Museum collection and met his fourth cousin,…
Meelick church celebrates 600th anniversary
On July 5 St Francis’ Church, Meelick, Co. Galway, celebrated 600 years since its foundation. The church was originally a Franciscan friary, becoming a diocesan church after the Famine, and the association with the Franciscans was marked by the presence of a number of the order. The Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown arrived by boat…
De La Salle Brothers commemorative Mass
A large gathering of family, relatives and friends of deceased De La Salle Brothers from all over Ireland were in Castletown, Portlaoise, for a commemorative Mass and social recently. The chief celebrant and homilist was Fr Peter from Nigeria, a former student of the Brothers in Yola. The organist was Br Tim McLaughlin and the…
Northern dioceses ‘thank you day’ for volunteers
The directors of youth ministry in the five Northern dioceses recently organised a joint ‘thank you day’ for the volunteers in each of their dioceses who have worked tirelessly with their young people to provide a range of opportunities to share and celebrate the Faith. These volunteers in collaboration with their parish priests, school principals…