The online publication of the 1926 Census, available to all without charge, is a great achievement by the National Archives, and its director, Orlaith McBride. As the writer Joseph O’Connor has commented – it “will bring revelation and amazement to Irish people all over the world, a sense of belonging when we most need it.”…

Frances Geary grew up in a house full of noise and people, seven girls and six boys gathering in the kitchen each evening for the family Rosary, full of laughter and what she called its many trimmings. The Sisters who taught her brought a different kind of life into view, and when missionary priests visited…

At 18 years of age, the twin girls may have been seasoned revellers or maybe they felt a bit nervous. Younger Gen Z are wary. They don’t drink much and they feel the edge in town. They know all about the feral youth who roam in gangs and can take a man down like a…

I recently completed a piece of research involving students across ten post-primary schools in Ireland, which demonstrated that there are inextricable links between religion and the psychological wellbeing of young people in this country. This research emerged through my work in schools as a psychologist, where conversations with young people about the factors influencing their…

The first sign that something was seriously threatening the unity of the Anglican Communion came on October 3, when, following the official announcement of Dame Sarah Mullally’s appointment as the next Archbishop of Canterbury – the first woman to hold the post in over 1,400 years – Laurent Mbanda, President of the Council of Primates…

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) held its annual congress this year in Killarney, Co. Kerry, bringing together hundreds of primary school teachers from across the country for three days of debate and decision‑making. As a delegate for the third year running, I have witnessed a marked shift in the tone and focus of our union’s…

Moya Brennan’s death saddened many people. Whatever the opposite of having notions is, Moya Brennan epitomised it. She had a God-given talent and used it in service of Him. After her death, Oliver Callan interviewed Donal Lunny, who collaborated with Clannad and later, Moya Brennan in her solo career. He said, “She carried it in…

We hear an awful lot about the ‘manosphere’, that is, online discussions that sometimes tell young men to treat women in sexist, exploitative ways. There was a huge public debate about ‘toxic masculinity’ last year when a series called Adolescence was aired. The central character was a 13-year-old boy who murdered a girl who went…

The Minister of Education and Youth’s announcement of the opening of “Inclusive special classes” in September has sparked criticism from advocacy groups who say they were not consulted. The initiative, announced last week, represents the latest phase in the ongoing rapid expansion of provision for students with additional educational needs. Five postprimary schools have been…