Years ago, I had a friend in Belfast called Matt, who was known as Tracker. He was a prophet of sorts: the racing tipster for The Irish News. He has long since gone to God, but he came to mind this Advent. One year, Matt, in a moment of inspiration, decided to surprise his friends with a visit…
The Federation of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) has decided to withdraw its missionaries from Europe at the end of this academic year. This sudden and surprising decision will have a concerning impact on the services they provide on campuses in Dublin, Cork and Belfast. FOCUS (which is unrelated to the Irish housing charity founded by…
A suicide on All Souls Day adds to parish depression All Souls Day is bad enough without a man going missing in the parish. He was absent for all of a cold winter’s night: “He never did that before”. A hardworking husband and father, he kept a low profile in the parish. After just…
The National Primary School Survey recently launched by the Department of Education & Youth is an opportunity for parents/guardians, for school staff and for members of boards of management to have their say on three issues in Primary education, school patronage/ethos, the language of instruction, and co-education versus singlesex schooling. Whereas the questions around single sex/co-education or the language of instruction…
Andrea was an 8-year-old girl in a town in Zambales when her parents separated, after which her mother moved in with Christopher, who became her stepfather. In January 2024, when she was 11, Christopher sexually abused her. She was afraid to tell anyone, lest he would hurt her and her mother. During a counselling session…
Clarification regarding Allianz correspondence Dear Editor, I am writing in response to the letter from Fr Joe McVeigh of Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, published in your 27th November edition, in which a number of factual inaccuracies regarding Allianz were stated. Allianz P.l.c is not an Israeli-owned insurance company. Allianz p.l.c is an Irish-incorporated and Irish-regulated entity,…
My aunt celebrated her 102nd birthday a few days ago. She is a remarkable woman who, to this day, has a twinkle in her eye and a firm hold on life. She married my uncle in America in the late 60’s and later they came to live in Ireland, building a new home a short…
As Dublin comes alive with the spirit of Christmas, St Martin Apostolate at 42 Parnell Square West stands as a beacon of faith, community, and welcome in the heart of the city. Home to the much-loved Moving Crib, the Apostolate also offers visitors a peaceful Oratory, where Mass is celebrated Monday to Friday at 1…
Historians, and the world in general, have been in agreement that Adolf Hitler was a bad man who committed heinous deeds. But now that his DNA has been analysed (from a scrap of fabric stained with his blood found in his bunker), there are fresh speculations as to whether his disabilities, rather than his choices,…
When Belfast priest and board member of the pontifical charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Fr Tim Bartlett recently suggested that BBC Northern Ireland shows a subconscious bias against Catholics, (and should be investigated) and when Aid to the Church in Need Director Harry Casey speaks of “polite persecution” in Ireland, many Catholics…
Martina Purdy
Breda O'Brien
Mary Kenny