In a Word... goodbye 2020Rarely in any of our lives can the phrase happy new year have had such resonance as nowSat Dec 26 2020 - 00:30
Bono captured essence of Christmas on Late Late Show, says bishopChurch of Ireland makes choirs available online, as ‘live’ singing not allowedWed Dec 23 2020 - 19:15
Archbishop urges vulnerable faithful to ‘follow Mass online’Diarmuid Martin advises avoiding risk and gathering in crowds beyond what is approvedMon Dec 21 2020 - 21:22
Fond farewell for former State pathologist John Harbison‘Returning to stardust, he will be bathed in the light of Jupiter’s rare marriage with Saturn’Mon Dec 21 2020 - 19:00
Annual Dublin ‘Black Santa’ charity appeal launched in DublinChristmas Music concert recorded in aid of the appeal is now available onlineMon Dec 21 2020 - 13:18
Let us Dream by Pope Francis: A good man but no radical reformerThis slim book makes clear that the church cannot be changed by one genial pope aloneSat Dec 19 2020 - 06:00
In a Word ... SiblingOne Christmas, I was stunned to find out Santy Claus knew my mother personallySat Dec 19 2020 - 00:30
UAE ambassador takes part in ‘extraordinary’ Chanukah ceremonyEnvoy lights first candle at prayer service in symbolic gesture following end of hostilitiesThu Dec 17 2020 - 23:59
Arriving home for Christmas: ‘We got three negative tests before we came’Oh so quiet in Dublin airport as early morning US flight touches downSun Dec 13 2020 - 16:56
In a Word . . . vowel‘Beware the misplaced vowel. Verily, I say unto you, it can land one in deepest doo-doo’Sat Dec 12 2020 - 00:30
Shock and sadness after death of former Fermanagh footballer Shane O’Brien35-year-old died in car crash in South Africa where he was working with UN Refugee AgencyThu Dec 10 2020 - 12:42
Faith groups celebrate missed festivals at Mansion House in DublinCommemoration of Rohatsu 2020, Buddhist Day of Enlightenment, starts event seriesTue Dec 08 2020 - 19:05
Trócaire chief executive says hunger ‘the next pandemic the world is facing’‘The next five months are going to be like nothing we have seen before’Thu Dec 03 2020 - 17:05
Galway couple receive Christine Buckley Volunteer of the Year Award 2020Arthur and Deborah Carr set up mental health support line and patrols that aim to prevent deaths in city’s watersThu Dec 03 2020 - 13:21
Bishops ‘strongly encourage’ people to view Christmas Masses onlineChristmas Mass can be attended in church between December 24th and January 6thThu Dec 03 2020 - 13:17
Treatment of elderly during Covid-19 ‘not far short of a disgrace’ says C of I PrimateJohn McDowell: ‘Safety is important but it’s not everything in such circumstances’Wed Dec 02 2020 - 14:42
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin appeals for online donations to Crosscare agencyOrganisation’s annual December food-drive cannot go ahead due to Covid-19 pandemicWed Dec 02 2020 - 10:10
Bishops should direct that all Christmas Masses be online, says priest‘The best and safest option’ to avoid overcrowding and turning people awayTue Dec 01 2020 - 16:20
Church of Ireland to mark 30 years of women priestsOrdination of women priests and bishops was approved by General Synod in May 1990Mon Nov 30 2020 - 02:30
Archbishops welcome return of public worship but ‘testing times’ for NorthVital to show solidarity with doctors, health workers and carers, says Eamon MartinSun Nov 29 2020 - 12:49
In a Word . . . People‘Hell is other people’ is a line from the play Huis Clos/No Exit by French philosopher Jean- Paul SartreSat Nov 28 2020 - 00:30
Diarmuid Martin’s successor must be cut from the same clothFears Rome will impose an archbishop more interested in protecting its own interestsThu Nov 26 2020 - 01:47
All faith communities call for public worship to be allowed if Level 3 introduced next weekMove is important as pandemic crisis will continue well into 2021, says archbishopMon Nov 23 2020 - 21:49
In a Word . . . assassinationThe assassination of JFK was one of those rare events people remember forever afterSat Nov 21 2020 - 00:30
Finances at Knock shrine hit hard since March by Covid-19 pandemicMass for all on island who died from virus to take place at Basilica on November 22ndWed Nov 18 2020 - 11:03
Taoiseach urged to allow religious services under Covid rulesReligious leaders hold online meeting with Micheál Martin to discuss shutdownTue Nov 17 2020 - 21:57
In a Word . . . ugly‘Looking at those old photos is to realise how little we regarded ourselves by appearance’Sat Nov 14 2020 - 00:30
Irish teenagers drink and smoke less than European peers, study showsAlmost 40 per cent spend over six hours daily on social media at weekends/holidaysThu Nov 12 2020 - 21:19
Catholic Church’s record on clerical child sexual abuse censuredSenior clerics found to have downplayed or dismissed allegations in damaging reportsTue Nov 10 2020 - 17:37
Sharp rise in Covid infections justifies restrictions on Masses, says ArchbishopAdvance bookings for Christmas Masses may be necessary, according to Diarmuid MartinTue Nov 10 2020 - 12:37
In a Word . . . mask‘Wearing a mask is so uncomfortable and damns me to foostering along in a fog’Sat Nov 07 2020 - 00:30
People bereaved by Covid-19 remembered on All Souls DayArchbishop of Dublin said many were left to grieve alone due to pandemic restrictionsMon Nov 02 2020 - 11:32
Improved testing and tracing system for schools from Monday, says FoleyPublic health officials have committed to weekly meetings with teachers’ unionsSun Nov 01 2020 - 18:22
Early exit from Level 5 ‘unlikely’ as State reports 552 Covid-19 casesDecline in recent cases down to impact of restraints, says health expert Dr Cillian De GascunSun Nov 01 2020 - 17:06
Halloween: Our annual opportunity for official mischiefIn a Word ... HalloweenSat Oct 31 2020 - 00:30
Restrictions on religious services to stay after archbishops meet TaoiseachCatholic clerics stress importance of gatherings as source of hope at Christmas timeThu Oct 29 2020 - 21:52
Catherine Corless sceptical about delay in publishing Mother and Baby Home reportCommission set up following her uncovering of 796 child deaths at Tuam HomeThu Oct 29 2020 - 19:32
No grand conspiracy to protect those responsible for mother and baby homesWithout such confidentiality there would be no Ryan, Murphy, Cloyne or Magdalene reportsThu Oct 29 2020 - 00:01
Irish birth rate continues to fall amid sustained increase in deathsMarriages as part of religious ceremonies drop below 60% for first timeTue Oct 27 2020 - 00:01
McAleese warns of potential Brexit toll on Belfast AgreementSmall constituencies may ‘still have a grá for old violence’, former president tells podcastMon Oct 26 2020 - 20:09
Care in nursing homes should be prioritised in Level 5, says bishop‘The lives of those who live in such facilities should be valued, respected, and enhanced’Mon Oct 26 2020 - 20:02
Church leaders press Government to allow public worshipFour Catholic archbishops ask to meet Taoiseach to discuss Covid-19 restrictionsMon Oct 26 2020 - 19:28
Concern grows for older people living alone under Level 5 restrictions‘They struggle at this time of year anyhow, with the days getting shorter’Fri Oct 23 2020 - 14:54
Pope’s comments on homosexual unions ‘a very strong message’Idea church cannot live with gay civil unions is unacceptable, Archbishop of Dublin saysThu Oct 22 2020 - 21:39
Pope must follow through on support for same-sex civil unions, says McAleeseFrancis suggests in documentary ‘civil union law’ should be created for gay peopleThu Oct 22 2020 - 02:15
Coronavirus: Schools safer than wider community, officials sayRate of positives in school testing running at about a third the rate in overall communityMon Oct 19 2020 - 02:57
Anglican archbishops say UK Brexit law will have ‘enormous moral’ impactChurch leaders ask ‘on what foundations does our democracy stand?’ if Bill is passedMon Oct 19 2020 - 00:01
