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: Mary – Queen of May
The month of May, traditionally is associated with devotion to Mary mother of Jesus.
Mary holds such an important role, not just in the life...
Fr Paddy – Amazing Grace and a new prayer
After a long period of grey clouds and heavy rainfall, it was such a joy to welcome blue sky and sunshine.
I hope that farmers...
Fr Paddy – Finding God
We have become accustomed to bad news.
Images on our screens of immense burden placed on vulnerable people.
The horrendous conflict in the middle-East.
Recent flooding in...
Fr Paddy – Seeing Jesus in others
It is hard to go through a day without feeling negative towards someone who crosses our path.
It could be a flippant remark passed in...
Fr Paddy: Time to think – the wisdom of life
George Carlin at age 102, offered the following wisdom that is deeply relevant for us all.
If you don’t read this to the very end,...
Fr Paddy: Easter – A time to celebrate
“’Did you not know what the Holy one can do with dust?’
It’s a line from a poem for Ash Wednesday by Jan Richardson. In...
Fr Paddy: Easter – A Time of Grace
Easter 2024 has arrived very early. This is one of the earliest dates possible for Easter.
The great St Laserian established a particular way of...
Fr Paddy – St Patrick inspires faith
Saint Patrick's feast day is now a global event. The Irish diaspora, have contributed significantly to the four corners of the world.
In this regard,...
Fr Paddy – A Prayer in Gratitude for Our Mother
As I write this article, citizens across this Republic, are voting regarding the proposed amendments to our constitution.
One such article, is about removing the...
Fr Paddy: Authentic faith
What we can see we can achieve. What we can see in the depth of our heart and soul we can materialise in our...
Fr Paddy: Martin Luther King’s letter to white Church leaders
In 1960, Martin Luther King was imprisoned after leading a civil rights march. His dream seemed a long way off.
Criticised by white church leaders,...
Fr Paddy: Lent a Time to Grow
We live in an instant culture. Perhaps the greatest challenge of our time is to acquire the gift of patience.
We don't do waiting very...
Fr Paddy – Blessings on all who care for the sick
February 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and also World day of Prayer for the sick.
Behind many hall-doors in our Parish and...
Fr Paddy: Giving our brains a rest from time to time can bring us...
The person who has probably done most in the Christian world to promote the idea of concentrating on our breathing as a form of...
Fr Paddy – Anniversary of St Brigid’s Day
This week we reach the midpoint of winter, marked by the cross-quarter day of Imbolc.
Traditionally, Imbolc begins at sundown on February 1 and continues...
Fr Paddy – The Last Priests of Ireland
Ardal O’Hanlon, played one of the most famous fictional priests of all time as Father Ted’s lovably dim Dougal McGuire.
He was hilarious, but there...
Fr Paddy – Reflect on the past, focus on the future
As we continue to make early footprints into 2024, already we see signs of brighter evenings and earlier mornings.
The small stretch, offers hope, early...
Fr Paddy – Happy New Year 2024
I pray that 2024, will be a blessed and healthy one for us all.
Every New Year brings with its expectation, uncertainty, hope and a...
Fr Paddy – Christmas is all about gratitude
I recently heard a funny little story of a mother who complained one day to her own mother that it was getting harder and...
Fr Paddy – Visiting the crib
I love visiting the cribs in various churches this time of year. Many of you, have by now placed your crib, in a sacred...
Fr Paddy: Ireland’s lonely
An Irish pub's Christmas video of a lonely, old man has left people in tears.
Viewers were "bawling” after watching the heart-wrenching video for Charlie's...
Fr Paddy – Waiting for the Christ-Child
Christmas seems to come earlier every year. Already we are well accustomed to Christmas songs, selection boxes have been on sale in our supermarkets...
Fr Paddy: ‘Grant me the serenity to accept the people and situations I cannot...
It’s so easy to feel resentful that others are not as we would want them to be. We want them to change but can...
Fr Paddy – The Gift of Kindness
There is story in the Gospel about a leper coming to Jesus on his knees and pleading with him, saying, ‘If you want to,...
Fr Paddy: Winter darkness can weigh heavily on our mood and energy
It's hard to believe that this time, three years ago, we were in the heart of a national lockdown.
The second lockdown was harder than...
Fr Paddy: Remembering loved ones gone before us
This week we begin the new month of November. Traditionally this is the time of year, in the Christian liturgical calendar, when we remember...
Fr Paddy – Round Tables
The universal Synod continues throughout this month of October in Rome.
I find it refreshing, following the proceedings, with images of women and men actively...
Fr Paddy: Reflections from Asia
Recently, I enjoyed the enormous privilege, visiting Asia, for the first time. It was a wonderful and unique experience, to engage in a very...
Fr Paddy – St Francis … an iconic saint
Throughout this month of October, a universal Synod of the church, takes place in Rome.
This is a historic moment, where discernment, reflection and pragmatic...
Fr Paddy – Story of a Soul
This year seems to be flying by. It's hard to believe that we are now beginning the month of October.
I pray, this new month...