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<p>Hildegarde Naughton confirmed that there will be no obligation on religious-run schools to switch to a non-religious ethos. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photos</p>

news

Religious patrons to have 'ultimate say' on ethos of primary school, says minister

It comes after a landmark survey found strong demand for more multi-denominational education

<p>The majority of primary schools remain under Catholic patronage, despite moves in recent years to increase the number of non-denominational schools. File picture</p>

news

73% of parents with children in single-sex primary schools favour move towards co-education

Colin Sheridan.png

Colin Sheridan: 21st century would be incompatible with a modern-day Jesus

Colin Sheridan: For the faithful, to visit the Holy Land is to inhabit two timelines at once

spotlight

Colin Sheridan: For the faithful, to visit the Holy Land is to inhabit two timelines at once

Hundreds of students apply to study at US‑run third‑level campus in former Mount Melleray

munster

Hundreds of students apply to study at US‑run third‑level campus in former Mount Melleray

The Pat Kenny Show review: A confident start with politics, sport and science on the agenda

culture

The Pat Kenny Show review: A confident start with politics, sport and science on the agenda

Symbols of religion : bread and wine

David O'Mahony: Reaching milestones reminds me time is what you make of it

Small people have their own way of interpreting the universe and, most of the time, it’s a lot more interesting than what we’ve collectively — if grudgingly — agreed constitutes adulthood

Sat, 07 Mar, 2026

Clodagh Finn: A woman’s toolkit for change for the next 100 years

Clodagh Finn: A woman’s toolkit for change for the next 100 years

As we mark International Women’s Day, a new book looks at how women overcame the barriers and restrictions imposed on them

Sat, 07 Mar, 2026

Ireland among most religious countries in Europe, new study finds

Ireland among most religious countries in Europe, new study finds

New research shows Ireland remains highly religious, with notable growth in faith practice among young adults

Wed, 04 Mar, 2026

Irish Examiner view: Iran strikes could spark unintended consequences

Irish Examiner view: Iran strikes could spark unintended consequences

Already, Iran has retaliated with missile strikes in Kuwait, Saudi, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE, while also targeting the cities of Haifa and Beit Shemesh in Israel, among others

Mon, 02 Mar, 2026

Order which owns Cork's St Augustine's Church describes its closure as 'akin to a death'

Order which owns Cork's St Augustine's Church describes its closure as 'akin to a death'

The church’s closure will bring to an end the order’s presence in Cork, which dates back 755 years to the foundation of Red Abbey in the South Parish.

Sat, 28 Feb, 2026

St Augustine's Church in Cork city centre to close this year

St Augustine's Church in Cork city centre to close this year

Once visited by Pope Leo, St Augustine's Church is set to close, with the decline in vocations to the priesthood behind the decision

Fri, 27 Feb, 2026

LA inspired by murdered Cork bishop to create education curriculum about peacemakers

LA inspired by murdered Cork bishop to create education curriculum about peacemakers

The project called Blessed are the Peacemakers will feature clips and videos from Bishop David O’Connell's life

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

'I have no desire to go anywhere': Inside the enclosed community of Tyburn nuns in Cork

S 'I have no desire to go anywhere': Inside the enclosed community of Tyburn nuns in Cork

Officially known as the Adorers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Montmartre, the nuns form part of a cloistered Benedictine contemplative order dedicated to perpetual Eucharistic adoration

Sun, 15 Feb, 2026

Pope Leo XIV Holds Epiphany Mass and Jubilee Closing

Will Pope Leo speak truth to power to Donald Trump?

The Vatican's money problems mean Pope Leo’s freedom to act as an independent moral player on the world stage is compromised

Mon, 02 Feb, 2026

'A time of great hope': Former engineer is looking forward to his first Christmas as a priest

'A time of great hope': Former engineer is looking forward to his first Christmas as a priest

52-year-old Stuart McGovern worked in telecoms and ran his own firm but always wanted ‘more than what the world had to offer’ — a quest that has led to his ordination as a Catholic priest

Mon, 15 Dec, 2025

AUSTRIA-CHURCH-RELIGION-SOCIAL-NUNS

Rebel nuns who fled care home and broke into convent can stay — if they give up social media

Catholic authorities in Austria say three nuns in their 80s who broke out of care home can remain in their Salzburg convent

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

Sarah Harte: Church's dismissal of Our Lady as a co-redeemer seems like bad PR

Sarah Harte: Church's dismissal of Our Lady as a co-redeemer seems like bad PR

The Catholic Church seems determined to take the least popular path — latest for the chop is the concept of Our Lady's role as a co-redeemer

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

Clodagh Finn: Imagine a Church in which Sr Stan had been a bishop

Clodagh Finn: Imagine a Church in which Sr Stan had been a bishop

It is time that the work of women who improved so many people’s lives is at least acknowledged in the hierarchy of the Church they served

Sun, 09 Nov, 2025

Irish Examiner view: Security at Ipas centres needs review

Irish Examiner view: Security at Ipas centres needs review

To terrorise innocent people in this way is almost beyond comprehension and there is little by way of consolation in the fact that the forces of law will inevitably catch up with the person responsible

Tue, 04 Nov, 2025

King and Queen state visit to the Holy See

Quiet unifier Pope Leo looks likely to lead buttoned-up papacy

Unlike his fellow countryman, who bestrides the world stage like a blond colossus, the ‘new’ Pope continues to hide his light under a bushel six months in, writes TP O’Mahony

Sat, 01 Nov, 2025

Ballyea v Clooney Quin - Clare County Senior Club Hurling Championship Semi-Final

S Christy O'Connor: Young talent on show in county final a reflection of Clare’s exciting future

Over the last six years, no manager has given league and championship game time to more players than Clare boss Brian Lohan.

Fri, 03 Oct, 2025

Éamon de Valera and Archbishop McQuaid

Presidential oath means only Christians need apply

The United Nations Human Rights Committee has expressed concern over Ireland's constitutional oath. Simon Tierney asks why we aren't changing it

Wed, 24 Sep, 2025

Pope Leo XIV declares 15-year-old computer whiz, known as ‘God’s influencer’, a saint

Pope Leo XIV declares 15-year-old computer whiz, known as ‘God’s influencer’, a saint

Leo canonized Carlo Acutis, who died in 2006, during an open-air Mass in St. Peter’s Square before an estimated 80,000 people

Sun, 07 Sep, 2025

Priest criticises Tuam excavation describing nuns who ran mother and baby home as 'outstanding'

Priest criticises Tuam excavation describing nuns who ran mother and baby home as 'outstanding'

Appearing to question the decision to carry out excavation works in Tuam, Fr Brendan Kilcoyne asked whether anyone knew where 'the 60,000 Irish children who have been murdered since abortion was brought in' were buried

Thu, 28 Aug, 2025

Italy Pope

Pope Leo XIV prays for peace as US-Russia summit over Ukraine war gets under way

Pope Leo XIV prayed for a peaceful end to the “increasingly deafening violence” of wars around the world as he celebrated a Catholic feast day on the same day as a high-stakes US-Russia summit over the war in Ukraine.

Fri, 15 Aug, 2025

APTOPIX Italy Pope Youths Jubilee

Pope Leo urges crowd of one million young Catholics to ‘spread enthusiasm and faith’

The young people camped in sprawling fields south-east of Rome overnight after attending a vigil service for the Jubilee of Youth on Saturday

Sun, 03 Aug, 2025

Papal visit to UK - Day Four

Pope to bestow one of Catholic Church’s highest honours on John Henry Newman

Pope Leo XIV has decided to declare St John Henry Newman a “doctor” of the church, bestowing one of the Catholic Church’s highest honours on the deeply influential 19th century Anglican convert who remains a unifying figure in both the Anglican and ...

Thu, 31 Jul, 2025

Reek Sunday climb: Why Croagh Patrick still draws pilgrims despite Ireland’s secular shift

Reek Sunday climb: Why Croagh Patrick still draws pilgrims despite Ireland’s secular shift

Pilgrims of all ages are expected to scale Croagh Patrick this weekend, continuing a 1,600-year-old tradition of faith and resilience

Sun, 27 Jul, 2025

Fergus Finlay: Thanks, but no thanks — some apologies not worth the paper they're written on

S Fergus Finlay: Thanks, but no thanks — some apologies not worth the paper they're written on

Fergus Finlay replies to a letter from the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God after Brother Aidan Clohessy was jailed last week for four years for indecently assaulting two boys in the 1980s

Tue, 01 Jul, 2025

Bishop leads tributes after death of Fr Oscar O’Leary

Bishop leads tributes after death of Fr Oscar O’Leary

Bishop Fintan Gavin paid tribute to the late priest who had ministered to Cork’s Traveller community for more than three decades

Mon, 30 Jun, 2025

'I don’t forgive you but I don’t judge you': Ex-school principal jailed for indecently assaulting six boys

'I don’t forgive you but I don’t judge you': Ex-school principal jailed for indecently assaulting six boys

The injured parties were aged between 10 and 13 when Aidan Clohessy's offending took place at St Augustine's School, Blackrock, Co Dublin

Tue, 24 Jun, 2025

Thousands take part in Cork's Eucharistic Procession amid 'a very uncertain world'

Thousands take part in Cork's Eucharistic Procession amid 'a very uncertain world'

One participant who spoke to the 'Irish Examiner' echoed Bishop Fintan Gavin's sentiments, saying: 'More people are looking to God as the world is such an unsafe place now'

Sun, 22 Jun, 2025

Establishment of 24-hour adoration is 'a real sign of hope' for the church, says Cork bishop

Establishment of 24-hour adoration is 'a real sign of hope' for the church, says Cork bishop

Access to the night-time chapel is controlled via a fob, with security systems and procedures in place

Fri, 20 Jun, 2025

Good Friday Service in Chicago

Number of historical abuse allegations against Church rise by over 50% in a year

It is the highest number of new allegations in any reporting period since figures began to be published annually in 2009

Tue, 10 Jun, 2025

IFTA Awards 2025

Kneecap join O’Connor in hall of fame for calling out injustices

How long will it take for the Belfast band to be seen as standing on the right side of history, asks David Kent

Sat, 24 May, 2025

Symbol of law and justice in the empty courtroom

State's legal strategy hurts and denies abused children all over again

Whatever the legal responsibility owed by religious orders to individual survivors, the State has a standalone responsibility to every one of them

Wed, 21 May, 2025

Vatican Pope

Pope Leo XIV vows to work for unity during inaugural Mass in St Peter’s Square

His call for unity was significant, given the polarisation in the Catholic Church in the United States and beyond.

Sun, 18 May, 2025

Gareth O'Callaghan: Is Pope Leo XIV the spiritual leader America needs with Trump in power?

Gareth O'Callaghan: Is Pope Leo XIV the spiritual leader America needs with Trump in power?

As America reels from Trump’s return and global tensions rise, Pope Leo XIV could offer more than spiritual guidance — he may be the world’s needed moral compass

Sat, 17 May, 2025

Pope Leo XIV: Irish priests recall 'the quiet guy' who went on to inherit the chair of St Peter

Pope Leo XIV: Irish priests recall 'the quiet guy' who went on to inherit the chair of St Peter

'He always struck me as being a very disciplined, abstemious, quiet guy, and I would say we Irish would have been a bit more, shall I say, celebratory'

Fri, 09 May, 2025

Vatican Conclave New Pope

Unearthed comments from new Pope Leo XIV alarm LGBTQ+ Catholics

Previous negative remarks by Pope Leo XIV about ‘homosexual lifestyle’ at odds with papacy of Pope Francis

Fri, 09 May, 2025

Conclave Elects Pope Leo XIV

Taoiseach and president lead congratulations for new Pope Leo XIV in Ireland

Micheál Martin said the celebrations in St. Peter’s Square are a reflection of the 'hopes and goodwill' felt by Catholics

Fri, 09 May, 2025

VATICAN-RELIGION-POPE-CONCLAVE

Robert Francis Prevost: the moderate, good-humoured first US pope

Colleagues recall a calm and grounded leader capable of moderating between factions, with a strong connection to his predecessor

Fri, 09 May, 2025

VATICAN-RELIGION-POPE-CONCLAVE

Irish Examiner view: Welcome and best wishes for Pope Leo

Pope Leo has considerable challenges on his hands within the Church — financial issues, declining vocations, and, notoriously, the litany of sex abuse scandals involving the Church

Fri, 09 May, 2025

'He will return to Ireland' says Irish priest who is a friend of Pope Leo XIV

'He will return to Ireland' says Irish priest who is a friend of Pope Leo XIV

Fr Tony Finn says Pope Leo XIV, who visited Ireland during his time as Augustinian leader, is likely to return soon

Thu, 08 May, 2025

VATICAN-RELIGION-POPE-CONCLAVE

American cardinal Robert Prevost announced as Pope Leo XIV

His election means he will become the first American pope in the 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church

Thu, 08 May, 2025

Vatican Holds Conclave To Elect New Pope

Watch: Cardinals enter conclave to decide who follows Pope Francis

Roman Catholic cardinals have begun the task of electing a new pope, locking themselves away from the world until they choose the man they hope can unite a diverse but divided global Church.

Thu, 08 May, 2025

Vatican Conclave

Black smoke emerges from chimney as cardinals fail to agree on new pope

Signal from Sistine Chapel chimney shows deliberations will continue over new leader of the Catholic church

Thu, 08 May, 2025

Vatican Conclave

Black smoke emerges at Vatican as conclave fails to elect pope on first vote

Voting will resume on Thursday, and up to four rounds of voting can take place each day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon

Wed, 07 May, 2025

VATICAN-RELIGION-POPE-MASS

ieExplains: How does the conclave work and when will a new pope be chosen?

Cardinals will enter the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday to begin the process of electing a pontiff

Wed, 07 May, 2025