Some of the things I like about Sunday Sequence (BBC Radio Ulster) are the variety of items and the decent length of the show, facilitating thorough discussion. Last Sunday’s episode started with the state of charities in the wake of the Oxfam controversy. Andrew Dougal, a former charity CEO, mounted a robust defence of the…
From a life of music to a life of silence, one chaplain is now listening to the voice of students. Born in 1967, Fr Gerard Magee was reared in a turbulent period when the “troubles were about to break out”. He received a Catholic education from St. Malachy’s College, North Belfast, which was also complemented…
Dear Editor, Bishop Sorondo’s recent statement: “Right now, those who are best implementing the social doctrine of the Church are the Chinese” focuses fresh attention on the said “social doctrine”. Does the said “doctrine” embrace the detention of a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, forced abortions, a regime that ties religion to extremism and terrorism, subjecting…
The 90th anniversary of the Oscar ceremonies is being held this year in the Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles on March 4. Sadly, the possibility that home favourite Saoirse Ronan will reprise her Golden Globe victory for Lady Bird has been ruled out by the bookies. They make Frances McDormand the hot favourite for Three Billboards…
A festival for the whole family One of Dublin’s most inclusive and creative community events, The Five Lamps Arts Festival, will be shining a light on the north inner city’s unique arts, culture and social life. The Festival centres around and takes its name from the ‘Five Lamps’ – a decorated lamppost with five lanterns…
Fr Martin Delaney The recent death of one of my parishioners got me thinking about how the smallest acts and gestures can have an enormous impact. I was reminded of when Communist rule fell in the former Soviet Union. In August 1991 a group of Russian generals were determined to turn back the tide of…
The Government has been accused of misinformation over a controversial new rule insisting that schools provide alternative tuition for students who wish to opt out of religious instruction, despite not providing schools with new resources. The move has been severely criticised by the Religion Teachers’ Association of Ireland. According to the RTAI, which represents over 250…
Family Histories of the Irish Revolution edited by Ciara Boylan, Sarah-Anne Buckley and Pat Dolan (Open Air, €24.95) J. Anthony Gaughan This collection of interesting essays concern persons who in one way or another were involved in the revolutionary years from 1913 to 1923. The essays are by relatives of these activists, some of whom were well-known,…
There is nothing less relaxing than a holiday. That is an axiom all parents of small children should bear in mind when gazing naively at travel brochures. This axiom is all the more burning in its bitter truth if your holiday involves – as ours did last week – travelling through four snow-and-ice-covered countries in…
Protesting several actions described as a systematic campaign “against the churches and the Christian community in the Holy Land”, the heads of Christian churches announced they were closing the doors of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Bewildered pilgrims milled around the square in front of the church as Greek Orthodox Patriarch Theophilos III, who…
Brendan O’Regan
Colm Fitzpatrick
Aubrey Malone
Susan Gately
Rory Fitzgerald