Category: News

All Hallows €14m sale is complete

The €14m sale of a former seminary to Dublin City University has been completed, amid speculation that the campus grounds will become home to an Educate Together school. All Hallows College in Drumcondra signed preliminary contracts with DCU in June last year, accepting the bid after, it is understood, turning down offers of over €20…

Knock launches pilgrimage season

The pilgrimage season at Knock Shrine in Co. Mayo will get underway on Sunday, April 24 and the programme of events includes a concert to commemorate the 1916 Rising and World War I. The RTÉ concert orchestra will perform on Saturday, May 14 in the newly refurbished Basilica, with a performance from mezzo-soprano Anne Marie…

Mass attendance a crude measure of chaplaincy support services

Catholic chaplains have rejected suggestions that low Mass attendance at institutes of technology might provide a meaningful way of measuring the contribution of chaplaincies to college life. Following Freedom of Information requests to 13 institutes of technology, Atheist Ireland criticised how third level colleges annually provide over €1.5 million for Catholic-run chaplaincies. Citing an average…

Priest’s charity challenge up the Reek

To mark his 25th year in the priesthood, Fr Gary Donegan CP, rector of Holy Cross Ardoyne in Belfast, has committed to a ‘Silver Jubilee Climb’ of Croagh Patrick on Saturday, May 14 to raise money for the MS Society NI and Marie Curie. To donate visit www.mssociety.org.uk/ms-events/fr-garys-croagh-patrick-challenge-1 Photo: Hugh Russell/The Irish News

Priest defied death by switching duties

Staff reporter A last minute decision to attend the funeral of a colleague saved the life of a 79-year-old priest. Fr Michael Coen of Kilconly in Co. Galway was due to hear Confessions at Knock Shrine but decided instead to concelebrate the funeral Mass of Fr Michéal Mannion in Clonbur. However, Fr Coen suffered a heart…