Michael Kelly is an award-winning writer and broadcaster specialising in religious and social affairs. Born and raised in Northern Ireland, he attended the Pontifical University St Patrick’s College, Maynooth where he obtained degrees in philosophy and theology and the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome where he studied social institutional communications. From 2002-2005 he was an Editor in the Central Information Service of Vatican Radio. In this role, he travelled with Pope St John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI on overseas trips. In 2005, he returned to Dublin to take up the position of Deputy Editor with The Irish Catholic newspaper, succeeding as Editor in 2012. He is a regular contributor to programmes on RTÉ, BBC, UTV, CNN and Al Jazeera. He also have extensive experience offering media training and coaching in the voluntary sector. Mr Kelly is a weekly columnist with Ireland’s largest-selling secular newspaper the Irish Independent and has been published in The Irish Times, the Irish Examiner, The Irish News, The Guardian, Our Sunday Visitor, Catholic World Report, the National Catholic Reporter and the National Catholic Register. He writes from Ireland for Catholic News Service of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Micheal finished his stint as Editor of The Irish Catholic in January 2024 and has taken up the position of Director of Public Affairs for Aid to the Church in Need Ireland.
An old Irish superstition is that at the stroke of midnight on December 31, those seeking good luck were recommended to enter their house through the front door and leave through the back. It’s not obvious to me how that particular custom arose, but like many superstitions the origins are clouded in a combination of…
In choosing the new Archbishop of Dublin, the Vatican is signalling that much-needed reforms are on the agenda writes Michael Kelly Archbishop Diarmuid Martin – who steps down today (Tuesday) as leader of the country’s largest diocese – is widely, and correctly, credited with taking decisive action on the issue of child abuse. It was…
Pope Francis has named the Bishop of Ossory Dr Dermot Farrell as the new Archbishop of Dublin. The announcement came in a communique from the Vatican this morning (Tuesday). Dr Farrell (66) will succeed Archbishop Diarmuid Martin as the leader of the country’s largest diocese and is expected to be installed early in the New…
O little town of Bethlehem How still we see thee lie Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight. We all have our favourite Christmas carols. My own is probably…
Normally at this time of year our parishes and churches would be abuzz with preparations for carol services. Christmas has the ability to turn the heart of even the most devoted cynic. Who can fail to be moved by the sight of wide-eyed children dressed as Mary and Joseph carrying a doll to a makeshift…
Demand for tickets for outstrips capacity, but those who have been longing to go for years will have a chance to participate in the famous Maynooth Christmas carol service tonight. The iconic college chapel plays host to the event, but Covid-19 pandemic restrictions means that the service will be streamed online this year on www.maynoothcollege.ie…
The hierarchy has welcomed as “encouraging news” the fact that a number of vaccines for Covid-19 “are at an advanced stage of preparation and are likely to be available for use in the near future”. They have also called on Catholics to support the vaccination programme. In a statement the Irish bishops’ conference said that…
“God has abandoned you all,” was the quip from an aggressive secularist to me on social media recently. Of course, the irony was my correspondent didn’t believe in God. What was it C.S. Lewis said about atheists not believing in God and yet hating him? Still, feeling abandoned by God is an authentic experience and…
Ellen’s Coyne journey through faith could have been gripping – unfortunately it ended up confirming her pre-existing beliefs writes Michael Kelly I was 17-years-old in 1996 when then finance minister Ruairi Quinn referred to Ireland as what he described as a “post-Catholic, pluralist republic”. The comments provoked controversy at the time with many people asking whether…
One of the most edifying things about Church history is that in every generation the Christian community rises to the challenge and response to crises as they occur. And the Faith emerges stronger and the faithful discover God in a new way. Covid-19 is far from the greatest test that the Church has ever faced.…