Controversial pundit George Hook talks to Chai Brady about faith, the politics of outrage and advice for modern Ireland Undoubtedly the year 2020 will go down in history, with the extent of the worldwide response to stop the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic unprecedented and severe. For that reason there has been an abundance of…

A productive lockdown leads a Belfast man to carving crosses for Christians, writes Chai Brady Although the start of Jim Deeds’ wood carving journey had a few hiccups – his dog ate one of the first crosses he made – he’s now receiving orders across Ireland and as far away as Malta and the US.…

Today’s world is confusing, the cure is to think less about ourselves and more about others, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks tells Michael Kelly This interview was first published in the March 12 edition of The Irish Catholic. Rabbi Sacks died on November 7, 2020. May his memory be a blessing. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks is one of the…

Famed Welsh chorister Aled Jones speaks to Ruadhán Jones about faith, Christmas and his new album With his features still youthful and boyish, it’s not hard to link Aled Jones as he is today with the fresh-faced 15-year-old who shot to fame for his performance of Walking in the Air. A cover of a song…

Devout defender Joey O’Brien tells Chai Brady about his faith, football and Christmas traditions Christmas is a time for faith and family and in difficult circumstances such as the current coronavirus pandemic the world is facing, God will always be there, according to Shamrock Rovers defender Joey O’Brien. Joey started off playing for Bolton Wanderers…

Traditions offer us a Christmas full of meaning, writes Jason Osborne This year we find ourselves moving thorough an Advent like no other, facing a Christmas like no other. Forced apart by the year’s events, the chances of enjoying the cosiness and warmth – both social and physical – so typical of the season seem…

God remains the key ingredient, young couples tell Jason Osborne Relationships have changed a lot in recent decades, with rates of dating, engagement and marriage plummeting amongst the young. According to the Central Statistics Office, the average age of marriage for a bride in Ireland is 34.8 years old, while it’s 36.8 for the groom.…

Ruadhán Jones explores how religious orders around the country celebrate Christmas We are blessed in Ireland by the presence of so many different religious orders, men and women. Cistercians, Benedictines, Dominicans, Franciscans and many, many more – each have a lively presence, even if it’s one we may not always see. The way in which…

Living with uncertainty is key for Christians, Alister McGrath tells Jason Osborne In his latest book, Through a Glass Darkly: Journeys through Science, Faith & Doubt, famed theologian and author Alister McGrath recalls a quote attributed to the mastermind behind the Manhattan Project – the American quest to create the atomic bomb during the Second…

For many young people, a journey of doubt leads them to the Church, writes Chai Brady Despite the decrease in Mass attendance across western Europe and fewer young people engaging with religion, there are still those who feel the call of the Church in later life and decide to wholeheartedly engage with the Catholic Faith.…