J. Anthony Gaughan  These essays discuss how Irish people identified themselves throughout the vicissitudes of their history.  It is no surprise that religion is an ever recurring theme in that regard. Even before the time of St Patrick, Christianity was a factor in their self-consciousness. This was particularly the case in the middle ages. Social life…

This book is flagged as the “first Bloomsbury Lent Book”. The author Ann Widdecombe is well remembered as a forthright and strong minded member of the British parliament. As a writer and columnist, she continues to be just as forthright and strong minded, even if her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing went a very long…

Thomas Aquinas is usually thought of in terms of the Summa Theologica, even if the long shelves of that compendium are rarely consulted by many of the faithful today. However, in this most interesting book, Paul Murray an Irish Dominican and poet, deals with very different aspect of Aquinas; not with the philosopher and theologian,…

Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path of Knowing and Following Jesus, by Sherry A. Weddell (Our Sunday Visitor, €12.75 / £10.50 / $16.95)

Wild Child, by Alan Croghan (Penguin Books, €9.99/£7.99)

The Monastery Murders: An Unholy Communion by Donna Fletcher Crow (Lion Fiction)

Priesthood Today: Ministry in a Changing Church ed. by Eamon Conway (Veritas, €19.99 / £16.99)

The Irish Dancing: Cultural Politics and Identities, 1900-2000 by Barbara O’Connor (Cork University Press, €39.00/£32.00)

Massacre in West Cork: The Dunmanway and Ballygroman Killings by Barry Keane (Mercier Press, €19.99 / £16.99 – also available as an eBook).