Ireland

The Latest

The Knock Shrine. Public domain.

Pope Francis: Our Lady of Knock brings a message of hope

Mar 19, 2021

By CNA Staff

Pope Francis said that Our Lady of Knock exemplifies the importance of prayer and hope as he officially designated Knock... Read more

Irish immigrants in Kansas City, Missouri.

How the Irish built Catholic America

Mar 17, 2021

By Kevin J. Jones

The history of Catholic America is, in many ways, an Irish story, with immigrant congregations and their descendants putting their... Read more

The Apparition Chapel at Knock Shrine, Co Mayo, Ireland

Pope Francis to give Knock Shrine new international status on St. Joseph’s feast

Mar 11, 2021

Pope Francis will officially designate Knock Shrine in Ireland as an International Marian and Eucharistic Shrine on the feast of... Read more

Ireland’s Catholic bishops: Assisted suicide bill ‘fundamentally flawed’

Mar 11, 2021

Ireland’s Catholic bishops have said that a bill seeking to legalize assisted suicide is “fundamentally flawed.” Read more

Irish flag.

Ireland’s Catholic bishops announce national synodal assembly

Mar 11, 2021

Ireland’s Catholic bishops have announced that they will hold a national synodal assembly “within the next five years.” Read more

Irish High Cross at the Rock of Cashel in Co. Tipperary, Ireland. Credit: Marie-Lise Van Wassenhove via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0).

Bishops voice concern over treatment of religion in Irish reopening plan

Mar 4, 2021

By CNA Staff

As Ireland marks the first anniversary of the novel coronavirus arriving, local Catholic bishops are calling for the government to... Read more

Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary General of Synod of Bishops. Credit: Diocese of Gozo (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Cardinal Grech to Irish bishops: ‘A synodal process promises an ecclesial springtime’

Mar 4, 2021

Cardinal Mario Grech told Irish bishops that embarking on a “synodal process” could lead to an “ecclesial springtime.”  Read more

Irish High Cross at the Rock of Cashel in Co. Tipperary, Ireland. Credit: Marie-Lise Van Wassenhove via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0).

How a former heroin addict unearthed a book of Irish martyrs

Feb 27, 2021

Damien Richardson rediscovered his faith and overcame addiction. Then he unearthed an extraordinary book about Ireland’s Catholic history...  Read more

Celtic Cross on the hill at Cashel, Tipperary, Ireland.

As Lent begins, Irish bishop urges that political leaders be told worship is essential

Feb 17, 2021

The worship of God is ‘utterly essential’ and political leaders need to be told this, the Bishop of Raphoe wrote... Read more

Irish bishops decry bill to legalize euthanasia

Feb 13, 2021

By CNA Staff

Catholic leaders and human rights advocates have expressed concern over a bill that would legalize physician-assisted suicide in Ireland.  Read more

Amid complaints, Irish broadcaster again apologizes for blasphemous NYE sketch

Jan 11, 2021

After receiving thousands of complaints from citizens and vocal criticism from religious leaders, Ireland’s state broadcaster has apologized after a... Read more

Photo

‘It places Christ at the center’: All-Ireland Primate’s rosary crusade against COVID-19

Oct 9, 2020

By Luke Coppen

The Primate of All Ireland has launched a nationwide Family Rosary Crusade, encouraging Catholics to pray the rosary daily in... Read more

Irish flag.

6,666 abortions performed in Ireland last year after repeal of pro-life law

Jun 30, 2020

A total of 6,666 abortions were performed in Ireland in the first year following the repeal of the country’s pro-life... Read more

Stock Image via Shutterstock.

Ireland highlighted in State Department human trafficking report

Jun 26, 2020

By Matt Hadro

Ireland received its lowest rating ever by the U.S. State Department for its efforts to combat human trafficking, in the... Read more

Interior of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.

Irish churches exempted from 50 person limit during coronavirus reopening

Jun 26, 2020

Churches and other places of worship in Ireland will be permitted to open to more than 50 people, following a... Read more

Msgr Hugh O'Flaherty bronze memorial by Alan Ryan Hall, located on Mission Road, Kilarney, Ireland.

Ireland’s Msgr. Hugh O'Flaherty, a Vatican ‘defender of the weak’

Mar 17, 2020

By Courtney Mares

Msgr. Hugh O’Flaherty, an Irish priest who hid Italian Jews from the Nazis and went on to baptize the former... Read more

Knock Shrine. Public domain.

Filmmakers point to Knock Shrine as a place of hope for Ireland

Feb 2, 2020

By Courtney Mares

As Ireland grapples with high rates of depression and suicide, Irish filmmakers point to the Knock Shrine as a place... Read more

Push for buffer zones in Ireland follows pro-life vigil outside Dublin hospital

Jan 2, 2020

By Matt Hadro

A pro-life rosary vigil on New Year’s Day outside Dublin’s National Maternity Hospital sparked calls by abortion supporters for “exclusion... Read more

Catholic Church discovered in Dublin archeology dig

Dec 5, 2019

Following the demolition of a Dublin building, archaeologists recently discovered the foundations a 300-year-old Catholic Church that was used during... Read more

First Communion.

Dublin archdiocese to shift sacrament prep from schools to parishes, families

Dec 4, 2019

Catholic sacramental preparation must change to stress the primary role of families and to reach students who do not go... Read more