Patsy McGarry

Patsy McGarry

Contributor

Patsy McGarry is a contributor to The Irish Times having spent over 25 years as the paper's Religious Affairs Correspondent. He previously reported for Magill magazine, the Irish Press, the Irish Independent and the Sunday Independent. He is the author of First Citizen: Mary McAleese and the Irish Presidency.

In a Word... The Irish

For a full analysis of who we were – and still may be – we must obviously go back to the 12th century, no less

Meet the former garda who found a new role in the Church of Ireland after retirement and divorce

Meet Mike Buchanan ... ex-garda and Catholic, a pilot, divorcee and now Church of Ireland rector in south Dublin

Irish nun is first woman appointed to lead Vatican’s network of missionaries

Donegal native has worked as missionary in Nigeria and Tanzania, helping to improve status of women

New papal nuncio likely to continue radical downsizing of Catholic dioceses in Ireland

Polish nuncio succeeds Archbishop Montemayor, who oversaw some of most radical changes in 900 years

Survey seeking information on sexual abuse at Irish schools opens

People who were sexually abused at schools between 1927 and 2013 are being invited to take part in survey

In a Word... Curse

Mayo’s infamous All-Ireland ‘curse’ that never was is not forgotten, you know

Beckett is bleak only to those with no sense of humour

In a Word ... Distress

Called to the church: ‘I broke her heart but I felt I could do more for people by being a priest’

Fr Tiernan Burke, who is 41, is one of just two priests ordained in Maynooth seminary this year

Grandson of Roscommon emigrants and famous Catholic TV host beatified in Missouri

Archbishop Fulton Sheen, who inspired actor Martin Sheen to take his name, became a household name in US through his broadcasts

In a Word ... Population

Within 75 years, the issue worldwide will be depopulation

A sort of homecoming as Trevor Sargent made rector at church close to Leinster House

Former Green Party leader will take over at St Ann’s Church that was a ‘sanctuary’ during his time in politics

I heard some terrific news the other day: ‘The happiest men over 40 are 25lbs overweight’

‘If you’re 61 and you have washboard abs, you’re making a big sacrifice for that’

‘My proposal was to stop Confirmation’: Ireland’s ageing priests under pressure as numbers drop

The decline in numbers joining the priesthood means the prospect of there not being enough priests for funerals and other religious services is very real

Loudon Wainwright’s simple, catchy tune that I always find impossible to shake

In a Word ... Worm

How could God allow human bodily functions?

In a Word ... Body

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