The world’s most “unfashionable” persecuted minority is arguably Christian. Despite being persecuted in far more countries than any other religion, Christians are simply not on the radar of Western consciousness. At a time when the persecution of Rohingyas in Myanmar, Uyghurs in China and Yazidis in Iraq is being under-reported, the world has done little […]
In ancient Rome, a few times each year, the populace would troop down to the amphitheatre to take their seats and cheer as a series of animals and people were torn apart for their entertainment. In the modern era, the equivalent happens with more regularity, and slightly less gore. Yesterday, the chosen victim for the […]
More than eighty complaints, would you believe, led to the ad being banned. If you haven’t had the chance to see it, here’s the scandalous tampon ad that the advertising authority of Ireland don’t want you to see: Is it a bit crude? Sure. But it’s hardly an advert for some kind of sexual debauchery, […]
Director Lulu Wang reflects on family ties, caring for an ageing population, and the clash between East and West The other night my husband and I watched the movie The Farewell. We picked it out randomly, but it turns out we are a little behind. Upon further research, the 2019 film comes highly recommended by […]
A fun little story from the weekend that’s too good not to write about. Every Saturday, the Irish Times publishes a relationship advice column, where readers send in letters detailing the difficulties they face in navigating romantic relationships in the modern era. In fairness to the paper, it’s a great read, with previous highlights including […]
Great pipers to the singers and storytellers,
Is fadscannán é Arracht atá léirithe ag Macalla Teo. le cabhair ó TG4, Bord Scannán na hÉireann agus Údarás Craolachán na hÉireann. Scríobtha agus faoi stiúir ag Tom Sullivan, léirithe ag Cúán Mac Conghail. Beifear in ann féachaint air ar líne ó 9 i.n. oíche Dhomhnaigh beag seo, 12ú Iúil, mar chuid de Fhleadh Scannáin […]
‘Mr Jones’ is an old-fashioned “news-hound” thriller, set in an age where reporters actually went into the danger zone in search of the truth. Set in the Soviet Union in the winter of 1933, a brooding and fearful atmosphere constantly simmers just beneath the surface. The film tells of a Welsh Journalist, Gareth Jones, who, […]
Is it time we stop badmouthing fathers and instead step up to support them? _ _ _ _ _ _ A recent post on Imgur caught my eye for its startling glimpse into the true state of American families. Seeking to be a help to others, a young man posted a link to his father’s new YouTube […]
Ba é Naomh Máel Ruain bunaitheoir agus abb-easpag Mhainistir Thamhlachta, Co. Bhaile Átha Cliath. Meastar go raibh sé ar dhuine is mó le rá den ghluaiseacht mhainistreach ar a dtugadh na Céilí Dé. Is beag atá ar eolas faoina shaol. Ní hé Máel Ruain a ainm pearsanta a thugtar air ag am a baistí, ach […]
Fun fact: Iconoclasm was last in vogue, in the Christian world, during the reign of Leo the Armenian as Byzantine Emperor, from 815 to 843AD. Since then, most societies have shied away from the destruction of images of Jesus, because, well, it’s not very popular. Until now, anyway. A leading figure in the Black Lives […]
If you happen to be a disinterested observer of Ireland’s decades-long abortion debate, you could be forgiven for thinking that things unfolded something like this. First, Catholic Ireland implemented the oppressive 8th Amendment, designed to inflict moral dogmas on a helpless population. Then, despite many horrifying happenings in between, the last vanguard of the patriarchy […]