FOR MORE than 175 years, St Joseph's Catholic Church in Nechells has stood as a symbol of Birmingham's Irish story. Built to serve Irish families who fled the Famine, the church has welcomed generations of people, and has marked countless baptisms, weddings and funerals. But now the historic church is falling apart. A structural inspection has found its bell tower to be unsafe, … [Read more...] about Appeal to save Birmingham’s historic Irish Catholic church
Appeal to save Birmingham’s historic Irish Catholic church
Blazes Boylan
Compiled by Brian Rohan March 1992
So far 1992 has been a deadly time in Northern Ireland. In fact the first two months of the year were deemed to be the most violent ones since 1976, as scores of people, Catholic, Protestant, Republican, and Loyalist, were killed. The British government's answer to the sharp escalation in the fighting was to import almost 1000 additional troops to the North, while the British … [Read more...] about Blazes Boylan
The First Word: An Chead Fhocal
There are so many things that I love about being Irish. I love the language. When I hear it spoken it touches the very essence of my being, reinforcing my connection to that ancient place called Gaeldom. I will never forget how once on holiday in Kerry, I woke to the sounds of the bean an tí (woman of the house) having an early morning chat with her son. After years abroad the … [Read more...] about The First Word: An Chead Fhocal
Grandmother fulfils lifelong dream to graduate with children’s nursing degree
A BELFAST based grandmother has fulfilled a lifelong dream by graduating with a degree in Children’s Nursing. Donna Marie Henry completed her course at Queen’s University at the age of 49, fulfilling plans that she put on hold while she raised her four children. The busy mum, who is also a now a grandmother, left school early with few qualifications, and worked as a waitress to … [Read more...] about Grandmother fulfils lifelong dream to graduate with children’s nursing degree
Fire at former convent believed to have been started ‘deliberately’
A FIRE which ripped through the site of a former convent in Co. Down is believed to have been started deliberately. The former Convent of Mercy building in Downpatrick went up in flames on the evening on June 28. Some 70 firefighters, with 10 appliances from fire stations across the county, worked overnight to extinguish the blaze. “Our firefighters worked tirelessly throughout … [Read more...] about Fire at former convent believed to have been started ‘deliberately’