A significant milestone was marked in Belfast on Friday January 4 with a celebration to mark the 30th edition of the Le Chéile journal. Published by St Mary’s University College, Belfast the journal seeks to celebrate and promote the values and work of Catholic education across the North. Rev. Dr Niall Coll, Managing Editor of Le…
Category: Irish News
Readers divided over hospital name
IC readers are split down the middle as to whether a Louth-based hospital named after Our Lady should drop its name given that it is now providing abortions. On the newspaper’s Facebook page, online users were asked: “There is controversy over the naming of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co. Louth. Some locals…
Today’s divisions make Christian unity more urgent – priest
Ecumenism should be taken far more seriously, an Irish priest has urged, ahead of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Fr Martin Browne OSB, a Benedictine monk based at Glenstal Abbey, Co. Limerick, and a member of the international group tasked by the Vatican and the World Council of…
Worldwide threat to missionaries set to worsen, religious warn
The number of priests, religious and lay people being persecuted for spreading the Faith will continue to worsen, missionaries across Ireland have said. While Christians should always remain hopeful, Fr Fachtna O’Driscoll SMA, Superior General of the Society of African Missions, told The Irish Catholic that the number of missionaries being killed globally will continue…
‘Nasty nuns’ sub-plot twists new RTÉ historical drama
A forced-adoption subplot in RTÉ’s new drama about the War of Independence is an example of an “astonishing” lack of balance in Irish public debate about historical relations between Church and State, it has been claimed. Stressing the importance of investigating and honestly facing the darker aspects of Church history, Fr Conor McDonough OP lamented…
Overburdened GPs won’t sign up for abortion says doctor
Large numbers of GPs are not signing up to be part of abortion provision because of the “disdain” they have been shown by Government as well as, or because of, their pro-life stance, according to a Kerry-based general practitioner. So far under 10% of Ireland’s GPs have agreed to perform medical abortions since the legislation…
‘Sacrilege’ if Louth hospital keeps Catholic name
A leading theologian has said former Catholic institutions should not keep their names after the Church gives up governance, especially if they ‘violate Catholic teaching’. Almost 1,000 people attended a march to preserve the name of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, Co. Louth, on Monday after it was discovered there was a proposal…
Archbishop rejects resignation reports
Dublin’s Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has moved to quash rumours that he submitted his resignation to Pope Francis in 2015, five years before he would have been expected to do so. The Irish Times reported last week: “It is said that Archbishop Martin’s letter of resignation was submitted to Rome in 2015 when he reached the…
Croagh Patrick pilgrims to get path upgrade as planning begins
With planning beginning this month to build a path along the Croagh Patrick pilgrimage to counteract extensive erosion along the trail, a local priest has said it will “enhance” the experience. The Croagh Patrick Stake-holders Group, established in 2015, have already built a 20-metre path in a trial run and have begun an evaluation process…
Famous singer calls for women to ‘choose life’
Well-known pop singer and actress Kaya Jones has revealed why she is so openly pro-life and said that we need to “expose the truth” about how damaging abortion can be. Writing on Twitter, the former Pussycat Doll said that she is one of many women who feel “ashamed” to speak publicly on this issue but…




Colm Fitzpatrick
Greg Daly
Chai Brady



