I have been reading Pope Francis on the call to holiness in today’s world. My heart sings when I see him draw upon images of the family to illustrate what he means by holiness. As always with Pope Francis, it is a very down-to-earth holiness. He says, ‘We are all called to be holy by…
Personal Profile Colm Fitzpatrick speaks with a Dublin catechist about Faith development Many people of Faith oftentimes do not understand the symbols, gestures or language of the Church, especially in an Ireland where religious education is not a priority. In an attempt to combat this problem, one woman is giving parishioners the opportunity to…
Magic in the forest Kids love nothing more than a day out where they can dress up and have fun with their friends and family. For the tenth year running, fairies and elves of all ages are being summoned to Rathwood in Tullow for a magical day out to remember. During this whimsical May 19-20…
Sweet Treats One of my favourite ingredients to use while baking, especially during the summer months, is lemon. The zesty, bitter taste of lemon is perfect for a warm summer day. As we’ve finally had a spot of sun these past few weeks, I’ve created a tray bake to satisfy the senses. This lemon…
Colm Fitzpatrick examines the value of marriage today Irish society has been transformed considerably in the last half-century or so: people are more likely to marry older; youth are more career-driven; and the likelihood of being able to afford and own a house is decreasing. All of these factors raise questions as to whether…
A Parent’s Perspective “What’s abortion, Mammy?” is one question that many parents have been hearing over the past few weeks. With a referendum on abortion approaching rapidly, the arguments and passion around the subject are going to reach fever pitch leaving concerned adults struggling with how they should deal with it. Children are inevitably…
There is always a snake in the grass. A primitive, but crucial, part of the human mind is always alert for dangers. parents immediately discover a heightened sense of awareness of all the dangers that their new baby faces in the world. When we were expecting our first baby, I had a man over with…
Personal Profile Chai Brady discusses the social justice work of an Irish friar A scuba-diving Franciscan friar who has fought against human trafficking and drug abuse all his life says sometimes being a true Christian means breaking the rules. Hailing from Ballygerdra, Co. Kilkenny, Fr Seán Cassin (69) now works as the CEO of the…
Kerry sci-fi festival Families often debate about what movie is the greatest of all, and more often than not, Star Wars is part of the list. It’s good news for fans of the movie then, as it will be theme of a céilí in Portmagee’s village square, Kerry, over May 4-6. The Fáilte Ireland initiative…
Green Fingers May can be the end of spring or the start of summer depending on what weather we are getting. Watching forecasters becomes part of the daily routine for gardeners. Longer evenings and warmer weather make all gardening tasks a pleasure. The garden is changing almost daily. Trees come into leaf, shrubs burst…
Bairbre Cahill
Colm Fitzpatrick
Maria Byrne
Chai Brady
Paul Gargan