Breda O'Brien columns
The key to understanding the former Bob Prevost, say those who met him in Ireland, is not as an American pope or a liberal or conservative one, but as a South American one
Ireland's schools are facing a polycrisis
No matter who emerges as Pope, the name that he chooses will be immediately analysed
If hospitals were funded like schools, nurses would have to fundraise to keep wards open
Insta-therapy or therapy-speak should not be confused with real, very valuable therapy
By 2029, 41 subjects will have been redeveloped. Most will have an additional component such as a project or investigation
Women can participate in the paid workforce if they want to, even if the work is often precarious and 'greedy'. What they often can’t do is afford a home within reasonable distance of family and workplace
Most Catholic traditions have faded away, but the idea of giving something up for Lent persists. But many have lost sight of the idea that it should be about solidarity, rather than just sacrifice
The message of a new film about his life is that heroism but can be achieved by fallible people stumbling along
Bishop emeritus Willie Walsh’s simple goodness changed my view of him. Sr Máire Hickey sought to forge a connection between spirituality and the environment
A great follower is aware of the human tendency to excuse or rationalise the behaviour of our own tribe, but is still willing to challenge it
It would be unwise to pin our hopes on a religious revival saving our declining fertility. We could, however, encourage more supportive attitudes towards those who have faith, and those who want to have more children
Most of the Irish debate concerns potential for cheating in the assessment components of new senior cycle. Why are widespread calls for a delay being ignored?
Thirty principals recently published a list of circumstances faced by their students. It includes a parent in prison, suicide in families, neglect of every conceivable kind
How did we get here, where a successful woman’s deepest desire is to lick milk from a saucer on the floor under orders from her intern?
A 2023 study found that young people in State care, particularly girls, were being targeted by older men who plied them with gifts, drink and drugs and then exploited them sexually
It is impossible to understand the former US president without taking seriously his faith, which underpinned his whole life, both public and private
Cynics suffer more depression, drink more heavily, earn less money and die younger; hope is what helps us endure
If even Ebenezer Scrooge can change, perhaps there is hope for the rest of us and for our planet
There is no incentive for students to admit to using AI and every incentive to cheat, while teachers have been woefully underprepared for a revolution likened to Gutenberg’s printing press
Rather than foist assisted suicide on healthcare professionals who don’t want it, why don’t we do something progressive?
It is less easy to hate someone with baffling ideas when you know and like them as a person
By embracing abortion in the 1970s, feminism accepted that pregnancy is damaging to women’s lives, rather than something fundamental to human experience
The top five costs for schools have nothing to do with education but just keeping the buildings heated, lighted, clean, safe and insured. And they’re increasingly unsustainable
People need, want and deserve a proper accounting of the successes and failures of the handling of the pandemic
While being young and female is still no picnic, young men are struggling in multiple ways
Everyone wants senior cycle reform to succeed, but if junior cycle is an indication, there are real grounds for concern
Traditionally, the only non-bishops with voting rights were 10 members of male religious orders but Pope Francis has changed that to five men and women religious
Same students facing frustration at mediocre marks in the Junior Cycle are about to be the guinea pigs for the new Senior Cycle. This is doubly unfair
Our culture is not breastfeeding friendly. We should focus instead on changing that instead
The Catholic Church cannot and should not attempt to compete with a spirituality which is essentially whatever a couple wants it to b
The proliferation of ugly, misogynistic, violent porn online is testament to the fact that sexuality without love or boundaries is damaging
Lina Khan, the Biden-appointed chair of the Federal Trade Commission, has enemies on both sides of the aisle
Seeing teachers as human being who deserve respect would help a great deal to allow more teachers to do what they truly love
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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