Regular readers will know how unhappy I am with media treatment of controversial social issues. I find so many presenters pushing their own viewpoints and being unwilling or unable to ask the hard questions of those promoting a supposedly liberal viewpoint, while being well able and willing to grill those of a conservative leaning. I’ve…
Mozart’s two Piano Quartets date from the mid 1780s – a period that also brought, among many other things, five of his major piano concerti, two important string quartets and his opera Le nozze di Figaro. While there were earlier incursions by less well-remembered figures into the piano quartet arena, it took Mozart to raise…
A History of Silence: From the Renaissance to the Present Day by Alain Corbin (Polity Press, £14.99) When Silence Speaks: The Life and Spirituality of Elisabeth Leseur by Jennifer Moorcroft (Gracewing, €20.00) Silence, they say, is golden. But all too often we read about strenuous objections being made to the ringing of church bells in rural parts,…
The Lost Gaeltacht: the Land Commission Migration – Clonbur, County Galway to Allenstown, County Meath by Martin O’Halloran (Homefarm Publishing, €29.00. Available online from Mayo Books) Ian d’Alton On March 29, 1940, two buses left Clonbur village, sandwiched between Loughs Mask and Corrib, Co. Galway. They carried 24 apprehensive families to a hopeful new life in…
Pastoral Ministry in Changing Times: The Past, Present & Future of the Catholic Church in Ireland by Aidan Ryan (Messenger Publications, €12.95) Aidan Ryan has been occupied for many years with pastoral retreats for the clergy. This has brought him very close to the problems, fears and hopes of those who serve in parishes across the…
Mainly About Books by the Books Editor The lockdown came when many were planning summer excursions. Plans for travel have been postponed. So, being well supplied with books of all kinds, I have been rereading with pleasure some older travel books. One is European Detours (1981), subtitled ‘A travel guide to unusual sights’ –…
One of the ironies of the coronavirus (Covid-19) virus is that at a time when we really need films to give us some escape from the crisis unfolding around us, we can’t go to cinemas. I mentioned the New Faith Network a fortnight ago. Another option is Netflix. Many of you may already have access…
There are so many good dramas on TV at the moment, so it’s great to have all this extra time to indulge. One of the best last week was Quiz (ITV, Monday-Wednesday), based on the true story of an alleged scam involving contestants on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? I found it completely absorbing,…
The Hidden Power of Kindness: A Practical Handbook for Souls Who Dare to Transform the World, One Deed at a Time by Lawrence G. Lovasik (Sophia Institute Press, Kindle edition $US9.99) Here is another book for these lockdown days. The author sets out to provide a practical handbook for those who wish to make kindness a…
Creation Walk: The Amazing Story of a Small Blue Planet by Brian Grogan SJ (Messenger Publications, €9.99) Brian Grogan is a well-known writer and teacher, author of many books. But this new book may well be one of the most effective that he has written some may feel. I have often wondered, reading or listening to…
Brendan O’Regan
Peter Costello
Aubrey Malone