Faughart Shrine in Dundalk, widely regarded as St Brigid’s birthplace and described as the “second national shrine of St Brigid in Ireland, is the focus of a new fundraising push ahead of St Brigid’s Day. “Faughart Shrine is the birthplace of St Brigid,” organiser Kathleen Maddy told The Irish Catholic. “Kildare was where the abbeys…
“The increase over the past year has been particularly steep,” said Ms Sophie Johnston, spokesperson for Cork Simon Community. The latest Department of Housing data shows 736 adults were living in emergency accommodation in Cork in November, up from 589 in 2024 and 545 the year before. Yet, Ms Johnston said, “behind every figure is…
Irish Franciscans have welcomed the announcement of the jubilee year of St Francis a chance to renew a Gospel based life and share Francis’ message of peace and mercy. Fr Eugene Barrett OFM, in Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal, said the community was “delighted” and “pleasantly surprised” by the news, coming so soon after the Jubilee of…
As the Jubilee Year of Hope draws to a close, priests at Ireland’s major pilgrimage sites say conversations are already under way about what might come next, following a year in which Knock, Lough Derg and Croagh Patrick were linked through a shared pilgrim passport and commemorative pin that encouraged cooperation and renewed interest in…
The permanent diaconate in Ireland is steadily growing, with new ordinations, expanding formation programmes and increasing confidence about the role deacons play in the life of the Church. Fr Eddie McGee, national director of the permanent diaconate, said that 26 men were ordained this year alone, bringing the total number of ordained deacons in Ireland…
Bishop Fintan Gavin has said a year-long process of prayer, listening and discernment across the Diocese of Cork and Ross is now providing a clear pastoral direction for the year ahead. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, the bishop said the initiative, which began in September with the feast of St Finbarr at Gougane Barra, was…
Homelessness has risen to another record high, with almost 17,000 people now living in emergency accommodation, including more than 5,300 children, according to the latest figures from the Department of Housing. The November data shows 16,996 people were homeless, an increase of 230 in one month and nearly 12% over the past year. Child homelessness…
The director of Mean Streets and Silence sees his life as a journey through fear, failure, and the surprising grace found in ordinary moments There is a moment early in Scorsese on Filmmaking and Faith when Martin Scorsese recalls what he asked Pope Francis back in 2018: “Holy Father, How can a human being…
Young Catholics are not looking for easy answers or a watered-down faith, according to Bishop Fintan Gavin of Cork and Ross. Instead, he says, they want clarity, challenge, and to be taken seriously by the Church. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Bishop Gavin said one of the clearest messages to emerge from listening to young…
Evangelium Ireland has said there is a growing hunger among young Catholics for apologetics, as the organisation confirmed that its 2026 annual conference will take place in Cork. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Evangelium’s public relations officer James Bradshaw said this year’s annual conference in Maynooth highlighted a strong appetite for discussion, reasoning and formation.…