The news cycle last week was dominated by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the Beirut bombing and the death of John Hume, and in a way they were all connected. As if the people of Lebanon hadn’t enough to put up with, what with political turmoil and the pandemic, that massive explosion earlier in the week…
It’s a pure fluke that the programmes under review this week all begin with the letter M! I’ve been catching up on the TV drama series Mrs America (BBC Two) which came to an end last Thursday. It was an absorbing dramatisation of the culture war between radical feminists and activist conservatives over the Equal…
‘End of an era’ would be too strong; it was more a case of significant change in the media landscape. Last Friday saw Ivan Yates’ last outing as presenter on the evening show The Hard Shoulder (Newstalk). He could come across as cynical, brash, crude and laddish, but was open to diverse viewpoints, and in…
Religious TV shows aimed at a young audience are pretty rare, but last week I week I caught up with a few. Life on the Rock (EWTN) has a more youthful feel than most of that channel’s output but the format needs to be more energised. It can be more than a bit staid but…
At the end of every year I look back to see what outstanding religious programmes were broadcast on mainstream media and usually there’s not a huge lot, but last week there was one strong contender. Priest School (BBC Two, Tuesday) was an endearing insight into the training of priests in the Scottish College in Rome.…
There was some low level controversy in the media late last week relating to the death toll due to Covid-19 – was it 1,700 or was it 1,200? Important to get the facts right of course, at the same time a much higher death toll barely caused a ripple – the 6,666 unborn babies who…
So we have, finally, a new Government. It’s often said that if you don’t like a Government you can vote them out in the next election. Well, living through the last few months, you’d be forgiven for wondering about that. As described by presenter Justin McCarthy on last Monday’s Morning Ireland (RTÉ Radio 1), the…
In a recent column, I wrote that I’m never ashamed to be Irish despite reservations about aspects of culture and government policies, but I was certainly proud when, last week, we got a seat on the UN Security Council. The issue was discussed when Samantha Power, former US ambassador to the UN, was interviewed on…
I get a sense of the anticipation that’s growing with the prospect of public Masses being back from June 29. Some have wanted them sooner, others have urged caution, but unlike the anti-racism protestors the Church has shown great restraint and civic responsibility. Last Monday Archbishop Diarmuid Martin was interviewed on The Pat Kenny Show (Newstalk)…
In these strange and wearying times, I tend to welcome feel-good programmes, perhaps too uncritically, and if they manage deeper meaning as well, it’s a bonus. Unsung Heroes (RTÉ1) on Wednesday night of last week was conductor David Brophy’s third outing with special focus choirs – previously there was the High Hopes Choir (for people…
Brendan O’Regan