Exclusive Stradbally Church robbed in broad daylight A Dublin priest has called on whoever took a much-loved relic during the Ploughing Championships to give it back so it may “give consolation to a wider scope of people”. Fr Bryan Shortall OFM Cap. of Priorswood parish in Dublin borrowed the relic of Italian teenager and saint-to-be Carlo…

Two politicians have voiced their “relief” in the aftermath of Minister for Justice Helen McEntee’s decision to drop the controversial ‘hate speech’ section of the proposed Criminal Justice Bill, but have warned that the issue may not yet have been kicked to touch as it’s likely the decision was made “to avoid backlash and divisive…

Knock Shrine hosted a group of Italian parliamentarians who visited Ireland’s International Eucharistic and Marian Shrine, as part of a three day pilgrimage to Ireland last Sunday. Spiritual director for the pilgrimage was Archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelisation. The pilgrimage group arrived in Dublin on Friday, September 20  where they…

Bear Grylls, renowned adventurer, writer, and television presenter, is well-known for taking every opportunity to share his faith. Having published the devotional ‘Soul Fuel’ and former guest of the faith formation course ‘Alpha’, Mr Grylls, alongside the creators of The Chosen – ‘5&2 Studios’ – takes viewers on a journey through the global hit series,…

Pope Francis has recently approved a Catholic spiritual devotion centred in Medjugorje. However, the Vatican’s doctrinal office clarified that the Pope was not affirming the authenticity of the messages from the claimed apparitions of Our Lady. Instead, it stated that the Pontiff recognised the “positive fruits” for Catholics who engage in the spiritual experience associated…

In the recent report ‘Strength in Diversity II’ released last week, The Immigrant Council of Ireland showed how one in three candidates coming from a migrant background experienced racism frequently during their campaign for the local elections in 2024. Fianna Fáil’s Cllr John-Kingsley Onwumereh told The Irish Catholic he experienced racism mainly on social media.…

In the wake of Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announcing his intention to make contraceptives legal for 16-year-olds, although the legal age of consent in Ireland is 17, a member of a group that encourages young people to form healthy relationships in the Faith has said that young people “deserve better” than Government concession to…

Catholic patrons of primary schools are fully in favour of the reconfiguration of schools to better reflect the pluralist nature of society but this is being blocked by a discrimatory provision which forces (only) Catholic schools to take children whose families may not subscribe to the Catholic ethos, according to Alan Hynes, chief executive of…

The annual Peña Francia celebration took place in St Joseph’s, Berkeley Road, last Sunday in the church, with hundreds of devotees processing in the north inner city before Mass was celebrated by the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Dublin, Paul Dempsey. Our Lady of Penafrancia in Ireland, is an organisation to promote devotion to…

Religious communities have been a key presence among retailers, farmers, and businesses participating in the retail section of the National Ploughing Championships for many years. It is held annually over the course of three days and typically draws an audience of around 250,000 people. These attendees come from all corners of Ireland and beyond, from…