You should try out an eco-friendly Christmas this year, writes Colm Fitzpatrick The environment has a litany of enemies who are all determined to suffocate and destroy it. The list is almost endless; carbon emissions, deforestation, plastic pollution and oil spills all contribute to ensuring the planet will not be in a fit state…
Advent feels like a good time to be thinking about parenting. We are conscious of Mary and Joseph – parents to be – their expectation, their anxiety, the advice coming from all sides, the whispers in the background about Mary’s pregnancy, the prospect of a long journey with Mary heavily pregnant. As well as being…
Personal Profile Students can be a source of hope and encouragement, Colm Fitzpatrick learns It’s tough being a chaplain, especially when it involves providing pastoral support to students in one of Northern Ireland’s most popular universities. Fr Dominic McGrattan has recently been appointed as chaplain in Queen’s University, Belfast, replacing Fr Gerard Magee. He describes…
Robin Hood Panto He steals from the rich and gives to the poor – the famous story of Robin Hood will be performed this December in Liberty Hall Theatre Dublin. The whole family will get to watch the legendary outlaw, along with Maid Marion, Nursie Nellie Nu Nu and the Merry Men as they try…
Mindful Living Since Advent began, we have been waiting for Christmas. For most children, since they returned to school after Halloween, they have been inundated with messages about Christmas. Between targeted ads on television and social media and huge displays on the streets and in the shops, the overriding message has been about wanting more.…
Children’s Corner If you’re a natural performer or just want to move out of your comfort zone, why not try entertaining your family and friends over Christmas with some magic? This is a time of year when all of your family are together under one roof, making it the perfect opportunity to show off all…
Everyone procrastinates but it can become a problem when it takes over our lives, writes Colm Fitzpatrick There’s washing to be ironed, bills to be paid and that murder-mystery novel you’ve always wanted to write (but never found the time). With all the tasks that need to be completed in your life, it’s hard…
A Parent’s Perspective I have a daughter who is 13 years old, a year younger than Ana Kriegel was when she was cruelly murdered. The early teenage years should be lovely, carefree happy years, those precious years between childhood and adulthood. My mother used to love an old Val Doonican song titled ‘The Special…
Eat your vegetables! – study Meat and spuds is a staple in every Irish home but a new study has suggested that staving off the poultry might reduce your chances of cognitive decline. According to research carried out by Prof. Koh Woon Puay which has been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, eating…
Personal Profile Bro. Tony Dolan’s agricultural initiatives have changed lives, writes Colm Fitzpatrick The Italian friar St Francis of Assisi is renowned for his love of nature and is globally known as the Patron Saint of Ecologists. While few can claim that they have successfully captured the attention of birds through preaching, one Irish…
Colm Fitzpatrick
Bairbre Cahill
Maria Byrne