A Galway priest has defended his church’s broadcast of Mass through their outdoor speakers after two noise complaints were made to the council. Fr Tadhg Quinn PP of St John the Apostle Church in Knocknacarra said they have been broadcasting the Mass outside the church and online since the last lockdown in March. “We’re getting…
Independent TD Carol Nolan has criticised out at Government secrecy regarding post-abortion care, questioning the absence of a national data collection mechanism. Ms Nolan was frustrated with the Health Minister’s response to a question regarding the number of patients who received post-abortion care in maternity hospitals from January 2019 to present. “It almost beggars belief…
The community of Ballyheigue, Kerry, fear a new telecommunications mast near Our Lady’s well and grotto will take away from its spiritual look. The Ballyheigue holy well attracts upwards of 5,000 people for the annual Pattern Festival held in September. Ballyheigue local Brendan Moriarty said that the move “doesn’t make sense” and says the community…
Knock Shrine want to celebrate the “heart-warming” work being done “under the radar” by local parishioners over the course of lockdown. Nominations are invited from parishes throughout the island of Ireland, with the nomination window closing on December 4. In a statement on the award, Fr Richard Gibbons, rector of Knock Shrine, said the “enormous…
Senator Mullen has voiced opposition to legislation that has come before the Seanad, viewing it as being full of errors and “dangerous to the legitimate freedom of human expression”. The Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2020, was initiated on November 6, and seeks to provide that a court may impose the maximum penalty for offences…
GAA legend and devout Catholic Mickey Harte has stepped down as Tyrone senior football manager after 18 years. Although he was “disappointed” not to lead Tyrone for another season after his request was not granted by the Tyrone management committee, he said he had “immense gratitude for having had the privilege of managing Tyrone at…
Dwindling vocations and an aging sisterhood has lead to the closure of St Joseph’s Carmelite convent in Loughrea, Co. Galway, founded 1680. Of the five remaining sisters there, three will join the Carmelite convent in New Ross, Wexford, one will go to Dublin and one will return to her country of origin, the Philippines. Speaking…
Only one-third of Irish dioceses have an exorcist despite the Vatican requiring each diocese to have at least one specially trained priest, researchers have discovered. Out of Ireland’s 26 dioceses there are nine exorcists according to a group of European academics, fewer per diocese than other countries in their study. However, the limited new research,…
The Catholic chaplaincy at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) has partnered with L’Arche Belfast to provide them with shelter and space for their activities over the winter months. L’Arche Belfast is part of a worldwide organisation which seeks to provide support for those with intellectual disabilities. With the arrival of Covid-19 in Ireland in March and…
NET Ministries Ireland has finished six weeks of training and has sent their five teams off to their local areas despite a “battle” due to Covid-19, NET Ministries Ireland Director Tony Foy has told The Irish Catholic. Following a day of celebration of their commissioning, Mr Foy said, “The day was great. It was very,…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones