Working in pubs kind of ruined #StPatricksDay for me and I generally bowed out of it, but I’ve come back to it over the last few years as a day of joy and thankfulness for being a Catholic, and of the debt owed to the Saint and my ancestors for that. ☘️
A few thoughts on Catholic Schools’ Week in the Mail on Sunday.
Was this not an entirely foreseeable consequence of Government policy?
We were chatting to friends of ours yesterday who are renting in a town in Co. Galway. They are living with the fear of being evicted from their rental home prior to the changes on March 1st. Ten (ten!) families in their estate have received notice to quit.
An observation on the launch of the National Conversation and Convention on Education.
The scope of attention will need to run beyond the strict remits of the Depts of Education and of Children.
No objection here. I think it could be quite funny.
The Holy Saturday blessing of the food for breakfast on Easter Sunday in Athenry, Co. Galway this morning. A Polish tradition.
#HolyWeek2025 #HolySaturday2025 #HolySaturday
Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you life.
#HolySaturday #LiturgyOfTheHours
This particular ‘straight white male’ (other than male, I’m not all that conscious of the other two categories, nor think it helpful to primarily understand people by such categories) wasn’t really expecting any woman’s heart to bleed for him. I’m not such others were either. What a weird article.
Less than a week here and already a settled part of our home.
O King whom all the peoples desire, you are the cornerstone which makes all one. O come and save man, whom you made from clay.
#OAntiphons #Advent
It was a joy to be able to write this week’s soul food reflection for the Irish Spiritan website. The Visitation is one my favourite Gospel accounts, for a short passage it covers so much from family, love and faith to helping and encouraging others spiritan.ie/reflections/...
Even as an opening gambit in a negotiation this is eyebrow raising. There’s mention of linking US-EU trade terms to defence spending. Implications for Ireland? (Defence spending: 0.2% of GDP)
Trump wants 5% Nato defence spending target, Europe told
www.ft.com/content/35f4...
The first gathering around our new table (chairs to follow!) over and all tidied away. Little events building on the sense of home in our new house.
O Rising Sun, you are the splendour of eternal light and the sun of justice. O come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
#OAntiphons #Advent #Vespers
No shit. Even the most economically illiterate among us know this. And yet, we walk, as if blindfolded, towards the cliff edge.
#IrishPol
O key of David and sceptre of Israel, what you open no one else can close again; what you close, no one can open. O come and lead the captive from prison; free those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
#OAntiphons #Advent #Vespers
O stock of Jesse, you stand as a signal for the nations; kings fall silent before you whom the peoples acclaim. O come to deliver us, and do not delay. #OAntiphons #Advent
An excellent article by @hlinehan.bsky.social, flagging an increasingly likely chance that #Bluesky becomes just a different echo chamber to Twitter. Can it "hold the line on its aspiration to be an open and respectful space or just end up as Musk’s black mirror?"
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2024...
O Adonai and leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in a burning bush and you gave him the Law on Sinai. O come and save us with your mighty power.
#OAntiphons #Advent
📢 In this week's #sharinggoodnews #ezine⬇️
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Trade war fallout could trigger deep Eurozone rate cuts, Pimco warns
www.ft.com/content/08c155fa-fd5d-48...
Something is not as it should be.
The French parliament voted to oust premier Michel Barnier over his proposed deficit-cutting budget, plunging the country into deeper political turmoil. on.ft.com/4g3z6Co
This CD player was my birthday present in 1997 along with the incomparable Fresh Hits 1997. I found it recently and COULD NOT BELIEVE how rich the sound was, after years of streaming Spotify on my phone. My column today is about this phenomenon, which I’m calling “qualitynesia” on.ft.com/3ZlwHf5
That solidarity we owe the dead, the salute to common mortality we all share, is a part of Irish culture that I admire.
May Mary rest in peace. May angels lead her to Jerusalem, the Holy City, our rest, our Home.
Will do, and I’ll look forward to that.
