Fr Paddy
Fr Paddy is the parish priest of Abbeyleix. From Carlow town, he was educated in Carlow CBS and studied Business and Politics in Trinity College Dublin before training to be a priest in Carlow College.
He writes for a number of media outlets. He has almost 31,000 followers on Twitter.
Fr Paddy: A mother’s love – A blessing
Sure I love the dear silver that shines in your hair. Does anyone recognise that song? An old, old Irish favourite, Mother Machree.
I remember...
Fr Paddy: Spring – a blessed season of Hope
According to the English Catholic priest-cardinal John Henry Newman, “Growth is the only evidence of life.”
Life is then most apparent in the springtime with...
Fr Paddy: St Patrick’s Day – a celebration of our Irishness and our faith
On St Patrick’s Day we celebrate our Irishness and our faith.
For so long in our history they have been intertwined, perhaps at times identified....
Fr Paddy: Lent – a time to embrace positivity
Lent is an old English word meaning 'lengthen'. Lent is observed in spring, when the days begin to get longer.
Lent is a good time...
Fr Paddy: Being merciful and responsive in time of Lent
The Trócaire Lenten Campaign for 2019 focuses on land-rights. The four-sided “Trócaire Box” has stories to tell.
One about families forced from their homes, another...
Fr Paddy: Where is my brother?
“Where is your brother?” This is the question that God asks each one of us in our hearts regarding our brother who is sick,...
Fr Paddy: The Weight of the Glass
The Art of Letting Go is about deciding to stop making the same mistakes and choosing to take a different path.
It has been...
Fr Paddy: Fr John… A lovely man
The recent tragic death of Fr. John Cummins, following a freak car accident has left me numbed and deeply saddened.
It resonates with ancient...
Fr Paddy: From beyond hope to Amazing Grace
John Newton was a cruel and vile man who seemed beyond hope, but he became an example of God’s amazing grace.
His true story...
Fr Paddy: It’s nearly Spring… A Time of Hope
On Friday, February 1 we celebrate St. Brigid's Day, a day which brings great hope.
St Brigid brings with her a story of compassion, generosity,...
Fr Paddy: Helpful tips to overcome Blue Monday
After the buzz and good cheer of the festive season, January can feel like one long and exhausting slog.
Researchers have dubbed January 21st as...
Fr Paddy: 10 New Year’s resolutions from the Pope
Pope Francis's 10 New Year Resolutions
In a very frank interview published in the Argentine weekly “Viva”, Pope Francis gave out 10 very sensible pieces...
Fr Paddy: Remembering the enigmatic TV art critic and nun Sr Wendy Beckett
Sister Wendy Beckett, recently died aged 88, could be dismissive of the high-profile television work that made this hermit nun with owl-like glasses into...
Fr Paddy: Christmas … A Time to Ponder
Some years ago, a few weeks before Christmas, I observed a flustered young mother who had been dragged into the toy section of a...
Fr Paddy: The story of Silent Night as this year marks 200th anniversary of...
Christmas carols remind us that Jesus is very much the reason for the Season.
In a secular culture, these wonderful traditional hymns seems to be...
Fr Paddy: Christmas – A Time to Hope
The Advent Season is a time to get ready for the approaching feast of Christmas. Liturgically this is a time when we prepare for...
Fr Paddy: Direct provision centres have no place God’s Kingdom
On this, the last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year, the Feast of Christ the King, The Gospel reading was about the Last Judgement.
It...
Fr Paddy: Dealing with stress in our lives
A motivational speaker walked confidently around the room holding a glass of water while leading a seminar on stress management.
Everyone guessed she was going...
Fr Paddy: How to handle adversity
How do you handle adversity? What are you thinking when the sun goes down on those cold, windy nights, when you're trying to get...
Fr Paddy: Generosity is contagious and beneficial
Generosity is a wonderful gift. To have a big heart is a blessing, that is to be open and compassionate in love to the...
Fr Paddy: November… A time to remember
It's the time of year when the shadows lengthen, evenings fall quickly and our busy lives slow down, all of which is this is...
Fr Paddy: Letting go of things that aren’t good for us
Anything that you have to control, controls you.
There are many variations to this story, but it’s quite instructive.
In South America, Africa and Asia, the...
Fr Paddy: Oscar Romero – How the good will always prevail
This week Oscar Romero will become Saint. A life that gave tremendous witness to the poor and vulnerable people from South America.
Archbishop Romero was assassinated...
Fr Paddy: How the Franciscan movement was born
Recently, the feast of Francis of Assisi was celebrated on Thursday, October 4. Francis the radical reformer of the 13th century, although in our...
Fr Paddy: How best can we celebrate Sacraments?
Current debate and reflection regarding school patronage is both necessary and relevant. Recent Census statistics however regarding the vast majority of citizens subscribing to...
Fr Paddy: The misery of need
Intolerance and harsh judgments always create a sense of division, separation and exclusiveness. Those who cannot conform to the confines of acceptability often find...
Fr Paddy: Grandparents are a family’s greatest treasure, their strong foundation
His hands were age-spot-ridden and weathered by time, and they seemed enormous in comparison to the one-week-old puppy he scooped up from the litter.
“Here...
Fr Paddy: Life is a gift – Live it, Enjoy it, Celebrate it and...
Next weekend here in Portlaoise we celebrate our Harvest Thanksgiving. An occasion of gratitude and pryer that will happen in many places of worship...
Fr Paddy: Reflection on Papal visit
Now that the visit of Pope Francis has concluded, it is good to pause and reflect.
Anyone who gave the visit even a small amount...
Fr Paddy: Tough time for so many members of our church as Pope Francis...
This is an historic week here in Ireland as we welcome Pope Francis. His visit is an important one. The papal mass on the...