Donna: It’s Christmas time and there’s not a better person I could think of to speak with at this time than a Brisbane legend, really. Sr Angela Mary Doyle. Tell us about your early life coming from Ireland. Sr Angela Mary: I belonged to a family of nine. Christmas was a wonderful time for us and we were a happy ... Read More »
Tag Archives: ireland
‘A truly sad day for Ireland’: Irish Catholic women living in Australia mourn abortion vote
IRISH mum Susan Erbacher was with her six children in their Forest Lake home when Ireland voted ‘Yes’ to legalising abortion up to 12 weeks. “I was here with my children on Saturday morning, and they had been asking me about it because they had prayed hard for a ‘no’ vote,” Mrs Erbacher said. “I didn’t tell them for a ... Read More »
Yeppoon couple to lead Australian pilgrimage to World Meeting of Families conference in Dublin
A QUEENSLAND couple with seven children will lead the official Australian pilgrimage to the ninth World Meeting of Families conference in Dublin in August. Mark and Tink Boyd, from Yeppoon, first attended a World Meeting of Families conference in Mexico City in 2009 after an invitation from then Rockhampton Bishop Brian Heenan. “It just opened our eyes to the evangelising ... Read More »
Irish priest has received more love in Brisbane than anywhere in the world
“ONE day we buried twelve children …” – victims of war and famine, and as Fr Pat Doran thinks of them almost 60 years later the memories come flooding back, and so do the tears. Those children and thousands like them are close to the heart of the Holy Spirit Father nearing retirement from his Brisbane parish. In the little ... Read More »
Yeppoon primary teacher represented Ireland in AFL International Cup
PLAYING football at the 2017 AFL International Cup for his native Ireland at the MCG and finishing third in the world was an unforgettable experience for Yeppoon primary school teacher, Robert McElhone. Mr McElhone and his Irish team joined 20 other nations for the two-week amateur carnival in Melbourne from August 5-19. A teacher at Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School ... Read More »
Easter Rising hero remembered 100 years on
BRISBANE Catholics are rallying to make sure the unmarked grave of an Irishman who risked his life for the independence of Ireland soon has a headstone. About 130 people gathered around the grave of William Ryan at Nudgee cemetery last Sunday on the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising in Dublin. Mr Ryan joined fellow Irish citizens on Easter Monday, ... Read More »
When life, spirituality and theology meet: A missionary’s tribute to Jesuit Fr Michael Gallagher
Verbum Dei missionary Dr Maeve Louise Heaney found a mentor and friend in Jesuit Father Michael Paul Gallagher, who died on November 6. Dr Heaney writes this personal tribute to a man always on her side. “FIND your question … and then seek to answer it.” Those who have taken a theology unit with me during the time I have ... Read More »
A walk of faith on Ireland’s holiest mountain
IF you’re ever on the west coast of Ireland, take some time out, strap on your walking shoes and take a spiritual adventure to Croagh Patrick. Croagh Patrick, which overlooks Clew Bay in County Mayo, is considered the holiest mountain in Ireland. It is renowned for its Patrician Pilgrimage in honour of St Patrick, Ireland’s patron saint. It was on ... Read More »