I enjoyed several thought-provoking interviews last Sunday. First up, on Sunday Sequence (BBC Radio Ulster) was philosopher Julian Baggini, author of a new book, The Edge of Reason.  I could relate to his notion that public debate nowadays is very often guided by emotion or poorly thought out ideas rather than rational thought. He made…

The culture wars were firing on several fronts last week, and it started early. In the ‘gay cake’ controversy the Ashers bakery decision was announced on Monday of last week in Belfast. The appeal by the McArthur family, owners of Ashers, was rejected by the Court of Appeal, which led to quite a bit of…

‘Challenging’ was the description that most came to mind as I watched Beyond Redemption? A Would You Believe? Special, last Thursday night on RTÉ 1. After years of concentration on the victims of sexual abuse this programme focused on the perpetrators and what could be done to support them in such a way that they…

It’s great to hear people being enthusiastic about their faith…it can be inspirational and infectious. These thoughts were prompted by last Saturday night’s The Conversation on BBC World Service. Two religious sisters were interviewed: Mother Hildegard a Benedictine sister from Australia but now in Tyburn Convent, London and Sr Tracy Kemme, a young American woman…

It was probably the most watched TV broadcast ever, with around 100 million viewers – the first US Presidential Debate (BBC News channel) was a lot to wade through last Tuesday morning and the advance hype didn’t lead to the anticipated drama.   I have no time for either candidate, and it amazes me how…

Robert Duvall is one of my favourite American actors so I was glad to see him interviewed on The World Over Live (EWTN) last Thursday afternoon. Presenter Raymond Arroyo was well informed on Duvall’s films and had some acting experience himself which helped when they discussed various acting coaches and styles.    I had forgotten…

Last week was the first for Newstalk’s new schedule, and they’ve had some thorough changes.  I’m glad to see Shane Coleman at the helm on the new Breakfast show. The laddish approach of the Donoghue/Yates combo has given way to a more serious tone, and it looks like Morning Ireland will now have a worthy…

The Church is at its most attractive when faith is combined with service, at its worst when it is combined with arrogance or domination.  I was prompted to these thoughts by Peter McVerry:  A View From the Basement (RTÉ 1, Tuesday of last week), a worthwhile profile of the Jesuit human rights campaigner. Looking back,…

Usually you have to wait for the new season to find some good new dramas, but BBC One got off to an interesting but early start Tuesday of last week with an intriguing new crime drama, One of Us. It was all a bit confusing at first with an array of seemingly unrelated characters, but…