Matthew Carlson On May 31, An Post released a new stamp in honour of the 1,400-year anniversary of the death of St Kevin. St Kevin was an Irish saint, born in 498 in County Wicklow and played an instrumental part in the role of Christianity in Ireland and Europe. St Kevin reportedly died on June…
Category: News
In brief
Partnership study to investigate adult Faith New research to be carried out over a three-year period hopes to provide a broad picture of current practice in adult religious education and faith community development in Ireland today. The research will be conducted in partnership with DCU’s Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education and the Presentation Sisters. The announcement of a three-year…
IC readers reject baptism ban – poll
A vast majority of readers of The Irish Catholic believe that baptism should not be refused to the children of same-sex couples and that the Church should not reconsider this position. A poll carried out by this paper revealed that out of 670 votes, 81% of respondents believed that children should be baptised regardless of…
Freedom of conscience being ‘trampled’ – pro-life group
A prominent pro-life group has said that forcing GPs to participate in abortions that are unrelated to healthcare is an “extreme and unjust attack” of freedom of conscience and should be resisted at all costs. Pro Life Campaign spokesperson Dr Ruth Cullen said: “It is unconscionable for Minister Harris and the Government to compel doctors…
What is the biggest threat young people face? Mediocrity, Pope says
Pope Francis said today that the greatest danger modern youth face is not the array of problems that surround them, but rather, the temptation to mediocrity – preferring to stay immobile rather than making a leap toward the next step. Pointing to the Gospel reading from Mark in which a rich young man kneels in…
Archbishop Eamon Martin speaks about the papal visit and WMOF preparations
Archbishop of Armagh, Eamon Martin, today speaking about his disappointment of no papal visit to the North and his excitement for the World Meeting of Families this August.
Archbishop says Pope’s trip a ‘gift’ to Ireland
Papal schedule announced Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has said that the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland in August “must not be just a once-off event” and insisted that the Church has to see it as an opportunity for renewal. Speaking as the Vatican announced details of the Pope’s visit, Dr Martin said…
Human rights welcome UK decision on North’s abortion laws
Human rights activists in the North have welcomed a decision by the UK Supreme Court to dismiss an attempt to overturn the region’s laws on abortion. The challenge to the law was brought by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) but judges said it would have required the case to have been brought by…
Disappointment across North as papal visit looks impossible
There is huge disappointment across the Catholic community in the North as hopes fade about the prospect of a papal visit to the region, Derry’s Bishop Donal McKeown has said. With a visit by Pope Francis to Northern Ireland now looking almost impossible, Bishop McKeown has said Protestants and Catholics would have welcomed a visit.…
Bumper opening weekend for Lough Derg
Over 500 pilgrims visited St Patrick’s Purgatory in Lough Derg for the opening weekend of the island shrine’s 2017 Three-Day Pilgrimage season last weekend. Speaking about the high turnout, communications officer at Lough Derg Sharon Hearty said: “The current demographic of the Three-Day Pilgrimage is better balanced than ever, between men and women, younger and…








Greg Daly
Colm Fitzpatrick