Singer Daniel O’Donnell says he loves Mass but feels it’s a “shame” the Catholic Church has lost the trust of many people in Ireland. The 58-year-old Donegal native, who recently released his new single ‘Halfway To Paradise’, insists that he is a man of Faith but prefers to stay private on matters regarding his religion.…
Category: Irish News
Igniting the Faith flame on campus
About 130 people attended a Catholic retreat in UCD from January 16-18 where discussion ranged from community building to challenges people of faith face in college. Speaking to The Irish Catholic co-ordinator of Ignite, Sarah Kate Moynihan, said the “response was insane, it went so well”. “It was a university event – all the Catholic…
‘Surprise’ as top Catholic college rejects course in Catholic ethics
A leading academic has said he hopes that the Catholic ethos of the country’s largest Catholic college will not be affected after authorities there rejected a new course on Christian ethics in healthcare. Academics at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick had been approached by hospital chaplains for professional training to deal with some of the…
Final Penal law in Ireland repealed
After 283 years, the last of the Penal Laws in Ireland has been repealed by proposals to restore power-sharing that was backed by Stormont parties on January 10. The proposals put forward by Tánaiste Simon Coveney and Northern Secretary Julian Smith will repeal the Administration of Justice Act (Irish Language Act) 1737. Recognition It will…
Irish pilgrims urged to support ‘dwindling’ Christians in Holy Land
Irish Catholics can support “dwindling” Faith communities in the Holy Land by visiting them and showing solidarity as they face increasing threat from Muslim extremism, an Irish bishop has said. During a visit to Palestinian Christians in the occupied territories of the Holy Land this week Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ of Raphoe said the number…
Derry pupil’s beard goes viral
A secondary school pupil in Derry is causing waves on social media after refusing to follow school policy and shave his beard. Carrick McClean of St Columb’s College Derry received a huge reaction on Twitter with almost 3,000 likes and hundreds of comments of support after he published a letter he sent to his principal…
Peace plea priest hails return of power sharing
Fr Martin Magill says the return of power sharing is the new beginning he had hoped for. “Listening to people and politicians there’s no doubt about it, it has changed the atmosphere and lifted the mood, the fact that we have people dedicated to key issues.” said Magill, the parish priest of St John’s on…
Aontú hopes for a strong voice with election boost
The political party Aontú is set to have at least 20 candidates in the general election on February 8, according to Meath TD and party leader Peadar Tóibín. He says they hope to obtain 4% of the vote, which would mean about 40,000 first preferences – twice the amount needed for the party to begin…
Christians face increasing peril in Nigeria, missionaries warn
An Irish missionary has decried the violence and kidnapping of religious in Nigeria as “complete anarchy”, after four seminarians were abducted last week in Kaduna state. Fr Kevin O’Hara SPMS, who is based in the country, said that “scores of priests and sisters have been kidnapped in the past few years”, with many being killed…
Parish priest calls for new Government to tackle crime
Capuchian friar Fr Bryan Shorthall has called for the next Government to prioritise tackling crime after a bag of human body parts was found near his church in his parish in Coolock, Dublin on Monday night. The bag was left near the church in Priorswood, outside a row of houses at Moatview Gardens and Moatview…