Category: Irish Catholic Church

My review of Crawford Gribben’s ‘The Rise and Fall of Christian Ireland’, on Slugger

I have a new post on the Slugger O’Toole blog, my review of Crawford Gribben’s excellent new book, The Rise and Fall of Christian Ireland (Oxford, 2021).… Read more...

RTE Brainstorm post on Women in Ministry in Ireland

I have a new post on RTE Brainstorm on women in ministry in Ireland, ‘How Women feel Undervalued by the Catholic Church’.

While the headline focuses on the Catholic Church, it also includes discussion of women’s roles in other denominations.… Read more...

Listening on the Twelfth: My Thought for the Day on BBC Radio Ulster

For the day that’s in it, my Thought for the Day on BBC Radio Ulster reflects on listening.

You can listen here, or read the text below.

Listening on the Twelfth

My first summer in Northern Ireland, I lived … Read more...

Religion Media Centre Conversation on Post-Brexit Religious and Political Divide

Earlier this month I took part in a conversation organized by the Religion Media Centre on Northern Ireland’s Post-Brexit Religious and Political Divide.

Moderated by broadcaster William Crawley, the panel included:

  • Dr Eamon Phoenix – political historian and head of
… Read more...

Why Secularisation is Good for the Churches – New Article in ‘Reality’ Magazine

I have a new article in Reality magazine, ‘Choice and Uncertainty: Why Secularisation is Good for the Churches.’

Reality is published by Redemptorist Communications Ireland. You can purchase a copy here.

I have reproduced the first few paragraphs of the … Read more...

New Article in Irish Political Studies: Praying for Paisley – Fr Gerry Reynolds and the role of prayer in faith-based peacebuilding

I have a new article published online in Irish Political Studies, ‘Praying for Paisley – Fr Gerry Reynolds and the role of prayer in faith-based peacebuilding: a preliminary theoretical framework’. 

The article is part of a special issue celebrating the … Read more...

Clare FM Interview: The Pandemic’s Effects on Churches

I was interviewed about my research on churches during the pandemic on Clare FM’s Beyond Belief programme, which was presented by Stephen Fletcher and aired last night.

We cover a number of topics featured in my reports on my research, … Read more...

Church during Coronavirus Survey: Have Your Say

Researchers at Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education, Dublin City University and York St John University in the UK are conducting a second survey on religious practice during the pandemic: ‘Covid-19 and Church-21’.

Ordained clergy and laity from all denominations … Read more...

Churches during Covid on RTE Radio 1’s ‘The Leap of Faith’

I was interviewed about my research on religion during the Covid-19 pandemic on RTE Radio 1’s ‘The Leap of Faith’ programme, Friday 5 February. It draws primarily on my latest research report, Something Other than a Building: Churches during … Read more...

Can Ireland’s Churches be Something Other than a Building? Post on Slugger O’Toole

My post, ‘Can Ireland’s Churches be Something Other than a Building?’ was published on Tuesday on the Slugger O’Toole blog.

It outlines the results of my latest research on churches in Ireland during the Covid-19 pandemic.… Read more...