The World of Books by the Books Editor At this time of the year many people are thinking about and booking their summer holidays. Not many I suspect, planning that annual stay in the sun- drenched Umbrian region of central Italy, will be considering its connection with Lough Derg and with the medieval shrine…
The various TV companies often launch new drama series at this time of year and so far this year’s crop is a mixed bag. The best I’ve seen so far is Next of Kin (ITV/TV3, Monday nights, with ITV a week ahead) – it’s a rollercoaster of emotion and conflict, with more emphasis so far…
There’s a mouth-watering pairing of Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep in Steven Spielberg’s The Post. The title refers to The Washington Post, the newspaper that brought down Richard Nixon after the Watergate scandal. Set in 1971, this centres on a leaked government study of the Vietnam war which basically admitted it was unwinnable. Streep plays…
Brexit & Ireland: The Dangers, the Opportunities, and the Inside Story of the Irish Response by Tony Connelly (Penguin Ireland, €20) Joe Carroll Tony Connelly is RTÉ’s European Correspondent based in Brussels. He reports on EU affairs with clarity and precision and he analyses developments as they affect Ireland with insight and detachment. In other words…
Quality Time at St Chinian by Patrick Masterson (Liberties Press, €14.99) Many people have enjoyed Ronald Searle’s The Terror of St Trinians and its sequel of comedy films. With an unmistakable reference to it in the title, Masterson provides a foretaste of this debut novel. Just as Searle described the eccentricities and idiocies of the staff…
Collusion: How Russia Helped Trump Win the White House by Luke Harding (Guardian / Faber. £14.99) Peter Hegarty It’s no secret that Vladimir Putin supported Donald Trump in the recent presidential election. The two men are kindred spirits, white nationalists who dream of returning their countries to past greatness. They have cooperated, and more closely than is…
Pat O’Kelly As well as his very active performing career at home and abroad, the Dublin-born pianist Finghin Collins is also artistic director of two important events occurring outside the capital. The first is the New Ross Piano Festival, which since its foundation in 2006 takes place in late September and is centred on…
The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) has a ‘Code of Fairness, Objectivity and Impartiality in News and Current Affairs’. One quote is of particular interest – “a presenter and/or a reporter on a current affairs programme shall not express his or her own views on matters that are either of public controversy or the subject…
Interpreting art – including religious art – can be a tricky and contentious business. Take, for instance, a photograph posted by Crisis magazine columnist Austin Ruse of Cardinal Raymond Burke following Christmas Midnight Mass in Florence. “A stunning photo!” proclaims lifesitenews.com author Diane Montagna from her @dianemontagna Twitter account, thanking @austinruse for posting it in…
Journey of Ten Thousand Smiles by Patricia Keane (Rebuild for Bosnia, Monasterevin, €16.95; for over the phone sales call 045 532 410) In November 1996 I accompanied Fr Kevin Doheny, CSSp, on a journey from Medjugorje to Sarajevo. He had been a missionary in Biafra, where there were thousands of displaced people and refugees after…
Peter Costello
Brendan O’Regan
Aubrey Malone
Greg Daly