St Oliver Plunkett was hung, drawn and quartered at Tyburn, London on July 1, 1681. He was the last Catholic martyr to die in England. What a way to go. We casually use the phrase, unthinkingly, without pausing to reflect on what it actually entails. To be hung, drawn and quartered was a method of torturous capital punishment used principally to execute men convicted of high treason in…
By Renata Steffens and Pedro Esteva The Year of Hope was marked by many events worldwide. In Ireland, it was not different, as the Irish faithful celebrated the Jubilee Year with nationwide and local events. In addition to those events, Irish Catholics saw a number of other important events taking place. Commemorating the Jubilee of…
The gift of friendship and what it means to be blessed with a friend, has taken a new meaning with the explosion of social media. We might have many virtual friends, but no virtual friendship can ever replace the gift of a real friend in life. The sad irony is that despite us being connected…
Long before he was the successor of St Peter, Pope Leo XIV had a different name to the faithful of St Joseph the Worker Parish in Chulucanas. “We called him Fr Robertito, because we were very close to him,” Elena Lozada Seminario told the National Catholic Reporter inside the church where a then-30-year-old Fr Robert…
Christmas is a sacred time marking the birth of Christ and the dawn of Christianity. In Ireland, preparations begin weeks, and for some, months in advance. After Halloween, children write to Santa, and families make travel plans from faraway places to reunite for the festivities. Traditional celebrations include a four-course meal of chicken soup, roast…
Each person has their own favourite part of the Christmas celebrations. Some people love the food, while for others, the decorations bring joy and colour to a dark, cold month. For Daniel O’Donnell, the best part is Christmas Mass. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Mr O’Donnell said he loves “the services at Christmas. I love…
In 2018, Declan Hannon became the first Limerick man in forty-five long years to climb the steps of the Hogan Stand and raise the Liam McCarthy Cup, as a county starved of success finally reached the promised land after generations of hurt. From there, Limerick would go on to enjoy a remarkable period of dominance,…
In the modern GAA, few names evoke such power and presence as Hegarty. Immediately, images of the towering figure of Limerick’s six-foot-six giant in the half-forward line spring to mind. With colossal strength and the finesse of a craftsman, Gearóid Hegarty has combined wristwork, skill, and agility with raw athleticism to become one of the…
Matt Talbot lived in stirring times; the Lockout of 1913, the First World War, The 1916 Rising, The War of Independence, The Civil War. Some believe mistakenly that these events didn’t impact on him. Although it’s true that no checkpoint would keep him from daily Mass, he was well aware of the intense suffering that…
Halfway through Advent, when Christians are invited to look for hope in darkness, The Irish Catholic spoke to Roscommon native Sr Margaret Hosty, who’s been living in Brazil for 40 years and founded an organisation to support people living with HIV/AIDS. Speaking about Christmas celebrations, Sr Hosty recalls her first December 25 in the south…
Renata Steffens