Despite his parents being told at birth that it was likely he would never speak, Belfast-born actor James Martin became the first person with Down syndrome to win an Academy Award at the weekend. An Irish Goodbye won the Oscar for best live action short film. The film follows the story of two estranged brothers,…
The new curriculum framework for primary schools announced last week reconfirms the importance of religion and spirituality, a body representing Catholic schools has said. The curriculum, launched last week by Minister for Education Norma Foley, will come into play in 2026. The Irish bishops’ conference and the Catholic Education Partnership have both welcomed the updated…
The decision by the Council of Europe to call for full compliance regarding human rights in proposed legislation to deal with the legacy of the Troubles has been welcomed by a well-known human rights professor in Belfast. Professor Colin Harvey, Director of the Human Rights Centre at Queen’s University Belfast told The Irish Catholic that the…
There is “delight” following the decision by the Irish bishops to recommend that 30% of parish grounds be returned to nature by 2030. Jane Mellett, the Laudato Si’ Officer of Trócaire, said that the announcement by the bishops after their spring meeting directly responds to the call of Pope Francis. She said that for parishes…
The pastoral style of Pope Francis’ has laid down the challenge for Ireland to go the peripheries, Bishop Paul Dempsey has said. Pope Francis celebrated the tenth anniversary of his election to papacy on Monday, March 13. The bishop of Achonry told The Irish Catholic that the Pope has “very profoundly reached out to the…
Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said that his department will consider how best to “most effectively” continue Ireland’s work on freedom of religion and belief in light of the findings of the Church in Chains Global Guide’s contents and findings. Church in Chains recently launched their 4th Global Guide which lists 60 countries where 200 million Christians…
A homeless charity has decried the fact 4,741 people were given notices to leave their rented accommodation in the summer of last year, following data provided by the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB). The charity Depaul believes that while the Government’s decision to end the eviction ban should be reversed, now the consequences of the decision must…
Bishop Fleming welcomes Ukrainians to plant 500 trees Bishop of Killala John Fleming welcomed members of the Ukrainian community for the planting of 500 trees to mark the anniversary of Russia’s invasion. Bishop Fleming said he was delighted to welcome them, adding that “their lives have been uprooted and they have put down roots in…
All 26 Irish dioceses have now been awarded or are in the process of finalising Covid-19 insurance claims arising out of a loss of vital weekly donations when parishes were ordered to shut by the Government during the pandemic. The Irish Catholic understands that a number of dioceses, including Ferns, Cork and Ross and Cloyne…
Music legend Nick Cave has opened up about the role faith has had in dealing with grief after the death of his son Arthur (15) in 2015 and then the death of a second son Jethro (31) last year. Regarding his recent book, which is made up of conversations with music journalist Sean O’Hagan, Faith,…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady