Moves to celebrate St Brigid as a Celtic goddess, following reports a new national holiday will be celebrated in the saint’s name, have been described as “nonsense”. The founder of a monastery at the saint’s birthplace, Sr Briege O’Hare, a Poor Clare sister based in Faughart, Co. Louth, said “St Brigid is no goddess”. “She…
US property group Hines has received permission for almost 1,600 build-to-rent apartments on Clonliffe Road in Drumcondra, Dublin, the site of the old Holy Cross Seminary. Residents and locals have reportedly expressed disappointment over the move, feeling it ignores the sentiments of the community. An Bord Pleanála in its decision acknowledged that the height and…
Bishop Donal McKeown has defended bishops against the Association of Catholic Priests’ (ACP) claims that they are targeting priests, saying that both he and the bishops he knows “are trying to ensure that they do the best for their priests”. Speaking on Good Morning Ulster alongside ACP priest Fr Roy Donovan, Bishop McKeown responded to…
Chai Brady and Brandon Scott Farmers must be supported in their transition to more sustainable farming methods and the fact consumers want food as cheap as possible must be addressed, according to the bishop of Kilmore diocese. Bishop Martin Hayes, who attended COP26 in Glasgow and is the episcopal coordinator for Laudato Si’ – the…
When it comes to the relationship between religion and politics in the future, it’s the job of Churches to help people find “the better part of ourselves”, Irish EU Commissioner Mairead McGuinness has said. Speaking recently on RTÉ’s The Meaning of Life with Joe Duffy, Ms McGuinness said that the relationship the Churches have with…
200 parish churches in the Archdiocese of Dublin will now be equipped with with “tap-and-donate” card machines. The installation of card machines in parish churches was previously mooted and subsequently trialled by the archdiocese in 2019, with a spokeswoman for the archdiocese saying that “later this year [2019] we plan to roll out the ability…
The bishops will undertake a pilgrimage to the International Eucharistic and Marian Shrine in Knock this Sunday in memory of those who have died in Ireland during the pandemic and their families. All 26 dioceses will be represented at the pilgrimage to the National Marian Shrine and there will be a special reflection given to those who…
Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford, who this week was made an MBE for services to vulnerable children, has previously spoken of his family’s faith in God. Speaking to the Guardian, Mr Rashford said he’s “definitely” religious, and that his faith comes from his mum. “My mum is very religious,” he said, continuing “the faith we…
Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop-elect Francis Duffy to succeed the retiring Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary, it was announced today, November 10. The archbishop-elect was “surprised and humbled” by the announcement, he told the congregation gathered at the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Tuam, Galway. In his address, he added…
Ruadhán Jones and Brandon Scott Rising energy costs are having a dramatic impact on parishes’ ability to heat churches, with some forced to resort to rationing and leaving it off for large parts of the week. Recent months have seen a huge increase in energy prices which are predicted to continue to rise. Coupled with…
Chai Brady