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MANY IRISH EMIGRANTS in America are facing a tough and lonely environment, according to the New York Irish Centre.
The assessment comes as Minister for the Diaspora, Jimmy Deenihan, announced more than €72,258 to provide counselling and suicide prevention services for the Irish community in New York.
Paul Finnegan, the executive director of the New York Irish Center, told TheJournal.ie: “This is a timely development, given the increasing emotional difficulties being faced by Irish emigrants in a tough and lonely environment, where there is often little hope, especially among the undocumented.”
‘People are scared’
An Irish service provider in Boston who did not wish to be named said that undocumented people have ongoing fears about being deported:
“Enforcement numbers have gone up which creates more fear in the community and you know of family and friends who are in immigration custody or have been deported.
Anybody in a shirt and tie is official, and they are also afraid that even if you are not going to rat them out that you are in contact with people that might.
“They are like the suspect community of the Irish in London in the early 90s where the threat was terrorism, here it is illegal status and they are scared.
“We estimate there could be up to 10,000 undocumented people living in the Boston area.”
Barriers
The UCD Clinton Institute report on the Emigrant Support Programme found that “multiple interviewees noted that young professionals are willing to overstay once their short term visa expires.”
A spokesperson for the New York Irish Centre said, “The younger generation who may have been here for 10 years but don’t have any children are a particular concern as people got their hopes up before Obama’s immigration reforms and then they were left very disappointed.
The undocumented who can’t go home can find this time of year very difficult. The loss of a relative is also another very difficult time for people who can’t go home.
Undocumented emigrants are not eligible for public assistance and routine medical procedures are not covered in the US.
Another service provider in New York spoke about the barriers the undocumented often face in terms of healthcare:
Health insurance and coverage is a big problem…people only go [to hospital] if it is an accident or illness, they will sooner ignore something that is a very serious issue because of the thought of ‘what will this cost me?’
“It is awful that people have neglected something until it is too late.”
It’s also reported that many of the older generation who emigrated in the 1950s, 60s and 70s may now find themselves in an economically vulnerable situation with little savings to meet rising healthcare costs.
Mind Ur Buddy
The new funding from the Irish government will enable Pieta House to set up the first Pieta Room outside of Ireland – in the New York Irish Center – for Irish people in crisis. It will also support the training of counsellors and counselling services.
The three main Irish centres in New York – the Aisling Center, the New York Irish Center and the Emerald Isle Immigration Center – are involved in the pilot programme.
Pieta House will also work with the GAA to deliver the ‘Mind Ur Buddy Programme’ to GAA members in New York.
Mind Ur Buddy is a peer support programme designed to help individuals spot when a colleague or teammate may be in suicidal crisis.
Pieta House is aiming to train 500 GAA members in New York. GAA Community & Health Manager, Colin Regan, said: “The important support network provided by GAA clubs to their members abroad is well documented.
“Having recently launched our Striving & Surviving in Australia resource at the International Rules game in Perth we are pleased to see Pieta House making available the Mind Ur Buddy programme to GAA members in New York.”
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RTÉ puts out a lot of programming. Personally, I don’t ‘get’ the Angelus, but I don’t watch the football either. I’m not calling for RTÉ to stop putting out the football. FFS people, quit being so offended by everything.
This is what we should do with visiting celebs and dignitaries, instead of sticking a pint in their hand. Get them to cameo in the angelus. I can see it now Ban Ki Moon gazing toward the horizon, pondering lifes mysteries to the sound of………. Bong, bong, bong. Next week Tom Cruise.
TV is only ‘chewing gum for the eyes’ – taking a little while to reflect must always be a good thing.
The Angelus is also a reminder of our Judeo-Christian heritage, to which we owe a great debt,
And before the usual mob start whingeing about paedophile priests, workhouses etc. it could’ve been a lot worse,- if Charles Martel’s Christian army hadn’t beaten the Muslims at the Battle of Tours (October 732), and the Pope’s fleet hammered them again, at the battle of Lepanto(1571), – We would now be listening to wailing from minarets, 5 – times a day, stoning rape victims to death, beheading non-believers & 50yo. men would be marrying 9yo. little girls.
Look around the streets Francie they are here , the brave liberals who find Christianity an easy target will tie themselves into knots defending the wearing of veils / burkas , forced marriages and all the ” cultural ” delights on offer from Islam
That’s a bad caricature of liberals. There are plenty of liberals like myself who would never defend Islam and the horrible ‘customs’ that come with that death cult.
You are a neo liberal
What you need to ‘get’ is how unfair it is.
One religion is allowed to dominate Irish lives.
Get human rights instead. Separate Church and State.
Be fair.
Sad day when people are not allowed to reflect for a minute in the given day… Regardless of what your religion is….
It’s a sad day that people still believe in farytales.
Sadder day when they can’t spell it
If you need a bong from the telly at 6pm to remind you to reflect, maybe you need to look at your devotion to your faith.
Well said Daisy. To add to that, if you’ve got ‘faith’ then you shouldn’t need to go to a church to practice it; religious organisations feed off these ‘faith’ people. Let’s ban all religions goddammit!
Used to like this when I was younger people so busy now it’s ok to take time out for a few secs in the busy life to even just take a breath and reflect on life
It’s sad day when respect for the faith of others is tarnished by the likes of you…. You don’t have to believe, but religion world wide was and will continue to be there well after you are long gone… You don’t change it… It changes you…
well said. wilm j
Having a war about religion is like having a fight over whose got the best imaginary friend.Yasser Arafat.
To be honest it doesn’t bother me one way or the other, I think people who find it so offensive are looking for something to be offended about, if they looked as diligently for reasons to be happy their lives would be better for it.
If this were to be banned you’d presumably need a reason, and if you had one then it would naturally follow that other calls to worship like church bells and a muezzin, the muslim call to prayer could also be banned. An eye for an eye and everyone’s blind.
What about some nice classical music instead.
This modern ireland shît is really starting to annoy me
It’s got to the stage where it’s nearly an offence to be a white right wing catholic.
Or straight. lol !
How did come to that conclusion, Tony? What rights are being denied to straight, white guys these days?
Jaysus George, have you ever heard of humour ? Lighten up !
Oh, is that an example of what passes for humour these days!?! Creep!
“20k to revamp the angelus”?
I can see a hike in the TV licence. You’ve got to laugh. It looks like father Ted episodes weren’t too far from the truth.
$20000 ??? have you lost the run of yourselves at home?
At €55 a day…..it’s hardly pushing the boat out…….are things that bad in the States for you Micheal that you feel outraged at the expense. Of course, you won’t get anything like it in the US where you might see a program in between the advertisements and no second is wasted on anything that doesn’t make revenue.
Not 20,000$ it’s 20,000€. Great value.
Al, just think its a total waste of money. lots of that BS here too.
Couldn’t find the € sign
It is not €55 per day. This is 1 minute per day of prime advertising time handed over to the Catholic Church for free. The lost revenue can be calculated in the thousands every day.
Micheal, I’m not religious at all…..but the Angelus is very traditional and is nowadays just a pause for thought.
Although when I hear it now, I chuckle and picture some one with that letterbox headgear rushing to turn it off before it infects their fundamentalist view.
You can write that another way too. How about €3300 per hour. Does that sound like good value. It should be done away with not revamped.
Emachine……I’ll pause to think about it the next time I hear it ;)
Gives me sixty seconds to clear the decks and prep for the news.
so would 60 seconds of paid ads.
Yeah Jake….think of all the extra dosh that Tubridy and Finucane are missing out on.
Exactly the way I feel, too!
stupid comment Al. They get their pay cheques regardless of where the money comes from. currently more of it than necessary is funded from the licence fee thanks to the angelus.
Jake…does sarcasm always go over your head?
No, it doesn’t and nor does the claim of sarcasm in an attempt to cop out on ok one’s idiocy.
LOL…Jake…I couldn’t give two f**ks about religion but equally I have no objection to something that many Irish people feel is a public service and not everything should be about making money…if you want that worship of money feeling…move to America like Micheal.
Al, kindly leave me out of this pissing match. I’m in the middle of BBQing a few pork chops so gotta go…
You were the very first poster in this topic….so you peed first. Enjoy your crispy carbon.
Good point. If the US had the Angelus they’d have a commercial in it or those reflecting would be drinking Pepsi. On a serious note, the Angelus has no business on a publicly paid for station. Why isn’t the Islamic call to prayer on it?
because Ireland isn’t predominantly Islam. I’m not sure of the exact figure but according to the last cencus the vast majority of the country claim to be Catholic. I’m not but complaining about a 60 second tv spot. I don’t pray, the lad next door does. live and let live.
It makes no difference what faith is predominant. The simple fact is you cannot take tax payers money and shove a religious viewpoint down someone’s throat. You can’t do it.
The census question is loaded. The pointless nature of the results has been demonstrated by several surveys that have demonstrated th a t the vast majority don’t give a crap about the religion they label themselves under. Most catholics in Ireland don’t even agree with the basic teachings of the church. Most don’t believe in transubstantiation, the virgin birth or the existence of heaven and hell. Some don’t even believe in god.
I hate bells, could they change it to some birds chirping or something nice like that?
you could always change the channel.
Why should I? I pay €160 a year for it.
Most of us go through our predominantly Catholic schooling in Ireland whether we believe in God or not……but I will say that most come out the other side whether they believe in God or not with a pretty good moral compass as to what is good or bad and above all a very tolerant nature.
I would rather live in Ireland with its Angelus, where I can safely express my opinion about my beliefs or lack of…..without fear of actually losing my head to some extreme fundamentalist.
Ireland has come through a change in mindset about being tolerant over the last forty years If the cost of this reminder of tolerance is €20,000 a year…….then it is quite a cheap price to pay to remind us all of being tolerant of each other and our views.
But equally we must be on our guard that intolerant religions do not take hold and destroy the status quo of our wonderful country.
al cal , you’re spot on there !
But Susie, don’t you think that RTÉ, as a State agency, should demonstrate an equal policy to all religions of the State. I know they must follow a policy of neutrality when they present programmes on referendums. The only time we had a State religion was with the Established Church of Ireland, this is no longer the case, so I think people would be happier if all religions (or none) had equal access to the State’s national, tax-funded TV channel.
George , no I don’t . I respect other people’s religion but I certainly wouldn’t want to see their pray callings on TV .
Then, perhaps you understand how others may feel about your call to prayer, no?
but George nobody is forcing anyone to listen to it , there is a mute button on the remote control
Hardly the point Susie. There are people of many different religions and none in this country paying licence fees to RTÉ, yet those of different religions do not have their daily calls to prayer aired. In fact, you offered that you would like them to have that equal right. Just seems unfair to me.
Sorry, Susie…you said you would not want to hear their calls to prayer.
George , I don’t know of any other country that shows all different types of prayer callings on one single channel . people take offence way too easily these days to all sorts of things and I just don’t think that because some people take offence to it that we should stop the Angelus . could you just imagine what the stations would be like to watch if it had to stop and show all the different religious pray callings ?
I don’t believe the offence is as a result of the religious aspect, it’s about equality. As I wrote further down in this thread, I believe that Islam, as the fastest growing religion in the State, has a legal case for its calls to prayer to be aired. RTÉ has an obligation to be impartial in all areas pertaining to religion. It would be interesting to see how RTÉ would respond to such a challenge.
“But equally we must be on our guard that intolerant religions do not take hold and destroy the status quo of our wonderful country,” ye say Al Ca.
Like those that shoved girls into slavery in Magdalene Homes, that stole and sold their babies, that keep people ignorant of sex education, that make a sin of all to do with sex, that deny women control over their own bodies, that flung the bones of almost 800 babies in a septic tank in Tuam, that protected pedophiles, that seized control of 90% of schools so it almost impossible to avoid having one religion shoved down your throat in school? That kind of fundamentalism, d’ya mean?
Put human rights #1, not proselytism. Let religious instruction/propaganda happen in religious centers for those that choose that; not on our airways and not in our schools.
We have euro’s here back home.
It’s scandalous that it continues in my opinion. Separation of church and state should be respected. Everyone free to follow whichever religion they choose. It’s not the fact of a bell ringing for a minute on the telly, it’s that the state broadcaster is actively, daily, promoting a religion. This just doesn’t happen in other European countries in this day and age.
I notice tuigim that you did not quote where I mentioned we have had a change in mindset in the last forty years to the point where people will get up and walk out of mass if a priest lectures them on SSM.
Every religion has horrors in it past but it appears now that people in Ireland of the RC faith are willing to stand up and try to change what they are being taught…….and actually be…..christian.
What about some nice classical music instead. I think those bells are depressing. It reminds me of
The old heavy Catholic Ireland. I agree with Biscuits and Tuigim. Separate the Church and State
Completely.
Because Christianity is the best religion?
Sez who?
Don’t you think all religions think their’s is best?
Why should one be supported on radio?
Because the pedophile, McQuaid, pushed his fascist version of control on us long ago so we should not question that?
No thanks. I prefer freedom to propaganda.
Love the Angelus.
At noon I always stop working, fall to my knees and start praying loudly while sprinkling myself with Holy water.
The look on people’s faces is priceless.
The liberals go ballistic (which is the part I love the best – especially when I remind them that their license fee is paying for it)
Stop boasting you have a job.
Silence. Id like Silence.
Mute it every time , how can u think or reflect with those annoying bells?!
I bet ur not even from Dublin or irsh
bangin acid techno…played over a chior singing silent night
That’ll do!!!
Get RID of it!!!
It’s traumatic to those who suffered Church Abuse to hear the Church’s power on the airways every single bloody day of their lives. A horrible reminder they can’t escape from.
It tells them the Church still controls this Theocracy of ours.
It’s proselytism.
It’s wrong.
Separate Church & State NOW.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/call-for-separation-of-church-and-state-in-ireland
I believe the separating you’re talking about already happened in 1972, it was the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution and Amended Article 44 removing the special recognition of the Catholic Church in the constitution.
Actually the fifth amendment didn’t really do anything. The passage it deleted was just a bunch of words devoid of any legal effect.
Really? With 90% of schools under Curch rule, religion taught in all, and no abortion in Ireland?
Are you sure?
completely embarrassing that in 2015 we are still playing a Catholic call to prayer and forcing all residents to pay for it regardless of religion. If we must keep it, this prime broadcast time should be paid for in full by the church.
Jake, not that I’m any big fan of the Angelus, but I think you might find it has become a little more non denominational over the years. I think rte would rather explain it as a peaceful minute. So if you’re not Catholic, you can still have a quiet reflective moment. ( except for the chiming bells, which I said earlier).
Yes, definitely! I see no other religion getting to air their chimes or chants for free. If Buddhists or muslims asked Rte to air something for them on a daily basis would they do it?
I’m sure there is a very good reason why rte wouldn’t do that for other religions
Jenni the “angelus” sounds like the angelus and is called the angelus because it is the angelus. you have fallen for Catholic propaganda.
How is it possible to ‘quietly reflect ‘ in the midst of a rake of bongs?
Smoking a bong always makes me rather reflective.
Maybe you need a stronger mix Rashers.
I don’t care. All I know is the old one of the guy washing the car and pausing wasting all that water seriously stressed me out.
never mind the water Niamh, it’s the water streaks on the paintwork when you don’t wash them off straight away that annoys. Moral ? don’t wash you car around 6pm…:)
No place in a secular state.
Lol ! A what ? lol ! Did you not know this is a Catholic country ?
That comment always makes me think of poor Savita!
It needs to go. Its 2015, we are a multi-denominational state, and the state broadcaster should not be imposing a call to prayer for ANY religion when it accepts license money from people of all faiths and none.
We should be a secular state with multi-denominational people.
We are. The two are not mutually exclusive.
Prove it.
It’s hardly imposed on us. I have no interest in Nationwide so I don’t watch it. It’s not imposed on me, abs I don’t lose any sleep over it either.
Get rid now
Waste of time and money
Pathetic, you’d think they’d scrap it after generations of them molesting generations of us..
Were you molested Druid?
No fortunately not but my brother, father and my uncles were. By the clergy. Your God’s representatives on earth.
I can’t believe that people have red-thumbed you for your disclosure that so many in your family were molested by the Roman Catholic Clergy: probably the same people who want that dreadfully annoying Angelus to continue to be funded by the tax payer! If the Roman Church wants airtime, they should pay for it like any other organisation. But, as the victims of Catholic Child Sexual Abuse soon discover, the Church likes to take the money in, but doesn’t like paying out money!
Yep.
The mindless support for The Angelus in the face of all we know about Church abuses reminds me of the support for the war on Iraq in the States. I could not understand where all the votes against humanity were coming from. At that time many soldiers were paid to be online stoking up support for the war. I have to wonder if Iona has a team working on Angelus support here.
I am truly sorry for what your family went through, Druid Dearg.
If people really stopped to think how many the church damaged, if they really understand the pain, they would not want a daily reminder of the Church’s power on the airwaves.
Get rid of it via winding down RTE.
If you want a peaceful moment turn off your TV. No reason to schedule it in the programming.
The angelus is one of a number of reasons why I avoid RTE. It has no place in a modern pluralist republic, which of course Ireland isn’t. The angelus is just one more measure of the backwardness of Irish society. If it was replaced with a pleasant reflective space I wouldn’t object but that truly dreadful, intrusive, depressing monstrosity of a death bell drives me crazy. Frankly, to me it’s an offence against everything wholesome.
Michael. It is a reflective space. Better than ads for the late late or something.
Good man Michael keep up your Irish Times subscription
Agree Michael. RTÉ is for old people and people who live in the country!
Ah here George. I live in the country. Half of us out here are quite sane
Only joking Michael! Trying to have a pop at RTÉ. Am fully aware of our beautiful country and our wonderful people!
You have a strange idea of reflective Bio. The sound of a stream, or rain drops might be reflective. The angelus bell is like a hammer to the head, in my humble opinion :)
Got that George. The wee smiley face got censored :)
At this stage it is just an advertisement for the catholic church, make them pay for it like everyone else.
Evidence please.
When I moved to Ireland back in 2004 and heard it for the first time I thought it was the most bizarre thing I had even heard. Something from another century….get rid of it.
Go on.
Off with you.
Next Ryanair flight.
One way.
Hope the plane is full of snakes.
I’d love to hear something from another century! Just imagine if I could share it. I’d probably get a free Ph D. Time travel through the Angelas.
How about we get rid of you instead Paul
Ah no. Paul is a time traveller.
How about we get rid of you, Tom, and make everyone happy!
Why is that George? Tommy’s comments made me laugh after a multitude of frankly s*i t comments from a bunch of hateful, hypocritical turds. Probably the same bunch who celebrated Ireland’s modern, accepting culture for equality when we voted ‘Yes’ recently, and now calling the country backward.
But oh! That’s last weeks agenda, time to move on with our complete erosion of tradition in Ireland and wipe the Catholic Religion and its followers off the streets. It sickens me to be honest. If you want equality and tolerance then bloody practice what you preach.
It’s a traditional moment of reflection that lasts one minute. Most people don’t mind it.
so why not off back too where ever you came from if you went to any Muslim country would you make that statement !!!
@John
My comment was referenced to Tom Kenny, not Tommy. You seem to be quite angry, Tom? Angelus not doing it for you, then?
There is nothing wrong with having a time eacwhat’sor reflection. Taking stock of what’s happening and what’s important in you life. Most of us need a reminder that sometimes you should get off the merry go round and put your life in perspectate. Keep the Angelus and use it to serve your own personal needs (religious or not).
Scrap it. It’s complete and utter religious nonsense. It’s a symbol for the choke hold that the vile Catholic church still has over a lot of weak minds in this country.
Gary ‘Pope ! ! , the only grip on us these days is that of the liberal left who are as every bit intolerant as the Catholic Church was in the past
Yes you have my name correct. This is not about a liberal left. This is about a vile organisation getting airtime to air their crap every day at taxpayer expense. I’m tolerant of people’s need to have a “comfort story” to appease their mental weaknesses. If that’s what they want then fine, but I don’t want nor need that dung in my life, least not when it’s taxpayer funded.
Nice tolerant post Gary, I’m glad we have so many people like you in Ireland to drag us from our shameful past.
It’s difficult to be tolerant of an institution that’s responsible for brainwashing, racketeering, money laundering, tax evasion, child sex abuse, symphiosectomy, and the murder of children (Tuam that we know about). I also wonder how many they’ve killed indirectly through the fact their so called teachings leaving those outside of it feel worthless to the point of suicide, most notably gay people and unmarried mothers before that. And all of that is just this past century. So yeah, I do struggle to be tolerant of that organisation and its brainwashed followers. Brainwashing that started at your baptism and got stepped up at your communion. If we could all be religion free till 18 and then were told all about it you’d rightly laugh at it. But since your brainwashed young people are so invested in the churches nonsense that they will defend it at any sign of criticism. Ultimately because they don’t want to be wrong and realise you just die and it goes back to how it was before you were born. Anyhow, that’s what I have to say about it for what it’s worth. Now I’m away to get some breakfast. Way too early in morning for a heavy debate
Will I have to apologise for been Irish and Christian as there seems to be no more moral fibre in this country where I was born !!!
Tony, being Irish or Catholic isn’t synonymous with morality. In many instances, Irish Catholicism proved to be the antipathy of morality.
Tony,
You do not need to be Irish or Christian to be a good person.
Many Irish have different faiths. Many have none. Many of them are wonderful people who do good.
We don’t all have to be Christian, or Catholic to be precise, despite the Vatican’s power-grip on education.
Does the country belong to the Vatican or are we independent?
silence
Keep the Angela’s in any form. Leave a gap and there might be some other form of call to prayer. The devil you know is better than the devil you don’t , if you know what I mean.
I have no idea what you mean, I’m kinda glad about that though.
Donggggg….donggggg…..dongggggg…..dongggggg….. Good huh?
I’d keep it purely to offend the easily offended.. it’s been there for years and it’s nice that we have something unique in our society as it seems we are giving away all our other cultural identities so we don’t offend anyone. it doesn’t do any harm on the tv so I don’t see the point in losing it
Get rid of it
Fock you.
Have to laugh at all the God haters getting all upset over a minute of bells !!! lol.
Don’t think anyone is upset. We want equality for all religions and not just show preference to one. I think Islam, as the fastest growing religion in the State, certainly has a legal case for their call to prayer to be aired too. RTÉ is a State broadcaster and must be seen to be impartial.
Is that a comment bait statement George? I hope so because if not then you really need a good slap of reality, or maybe go and live in Saudi Arabia or even the new Caliphate for a bit.
The problem with comments like yours is that many of Ireland’s ‘sheep’ would happily allow that to happen, until the mask comes off and you realise the Pandora’s box you opened, by which time it’s too late.
@John
I think the Irish people understand only too well well the Pandora’s Box they opened with the revelations of Catholic Clergy Sex Abuse Cases. You appear to be singularly unaware of Islam if you speak of Saudi Arabia and the Caliphate in the same breath. Clearly, you hold both States in contempt, yet you wish to turn this State into one ruled by Rome!
The 5th Amendment removed any special arrangement between Rome and this State. As a result, if you wish to have Catholic daily calls to prayer on the national, State-funded channel, then, RTÉ as an impartial service provider should extend that privilege to other religions too! As Islam is the fastest growing religion in the State, it makes perfect sense for RTÉ to broadcast the Muslim Call to Prayer just as they do with the Catholic Angelus.
Easier to leave it out altogther.
Otherwise it turns out like the ‘Educate Together’ praiseach where they try to teach about all religions, including ones they know little or nothing about. I wonder how much time they devote to Paganism?
Imposssible and futile.
Let the ‘religious’ do their own work to promote their own beliefs in their own institutions.
Separate Church and State.
Islam the fastest growing religion in the state ! Now that is something to be very concerned about !
I think he’s just stirring the pot , I certainly would be very concerned if the Muslim call of prayer was shown on rte
Susie, in what way am I stirring the pot? I’m using facts and logic. You appear to deride that which you do not understand. You also seem to labour under the selfish misapprehension that it is acceptable for people to listen to your calls to prayer while you completely ignore others’ rights to have their calls to prayer played on the State’s national airwaves. Seems very hypocritical to me!
would your opinion be the same if it was state endorsed called to muslim prayer? I’ve no issue with people being Christian but the concept of this ‘being a Catholic country’ is disrespectful to all the others who do not buy into it.
We live in a secular state. Having a twice daily call to prayer on the state broadcaster is bizarre.
The new Angelus on RTE should consist of Seth Rogan smoking from 18 BONGS in order to appeal to the youth Catholic demographic
Just tune the bells and speed them up a tad.
I think its the bell chimes that put me off, listening on the radio anyway, if they’re going to keep them on the radio, maybe reduce the amount, and reduce the sound.
They dont bother me so much on tv, but thats because there are pictures, and the sound/volume seems to be much more calm.
as part of the Angelus there has to be a certain about of rings / chimes . it doesn’t really bother me because we have a choice to switch it off if we want to . it’s not like we are being forced to listen to them .
No, but we’re being forced to pay for them. RTÉ is a State channel and shouldn’t be an organ of religion, neither should it favour one group’s religion over another!
George , do you know of any other country that plays every other religion prayer callings apart from their own one ?
Their own religion? Susie, there are many religions in Ireland. Ireland doesn’t have a State religion. This is also a republic, where all citizen’s are treated equally. For that reason it is unfair to favour one group.
*citizens (autocorrect)
the predominate religion in this country is still Roman catholic .
Who cares? RTÉ is a TV channel, not a centre for promotion of Roman Catholic ideals and prayer!
I agree but really nowadays its just a minute for reflection more than anything else
A Catholic minute, though! I can understand how a previously powerful entity within the State might feel aggrieved that the rights and privileges they felt they had been entitled to are slowly being stripped away. The Roman Catholic Church is really just another organisation in the State vying for control. In reality, there are those who love the Catholic Church, those who despise it and those who are unconcerned one way or t’other! The new order, mostly brought about by wider access to education, is that its position is no longer guaranteed.
So why don’t they stop the bells and gave it at a different time?
Absolutely agree. I listen to the angelus on the radio because I know the news is about to start but it is WAY WAY TOO LOUD. I have to quickly reach for the volume and have to put it back up at the end. I actually hate the angelus.
that is completely irrelevant. the state should not endorse a specific religion. then you get ridiculous situations like people having to baptize their kids against their wishes to attend state funded religious schools!
If they want it to be a non-denominational moment of peace why do they have to fill it with the Angelus bells? RTÉ’s own site highlights this self-contradiction perfectly. They highlight it’s not just religious to people, but insist any proposals must contain the Angelus bells. Ergo it is religious. By all means leave a “moment of peace” in that minute, not least of all because the “Six-One” news has a ring to it. But when it clearly IS religious call a spade a spade.
True, Gerard.
Also, it is not replayed at 7.00 pm on RTÉ +1, because clearly, it is a prayer to be said at 6.00. In effect, even though RTÉ +1 is advertised to start broadcasting at 7.00pm, it in fact, starts at 7.01. RTÉ need to man up and call a spade, a spade!
EXACTLY, Gerard.
Succint.
That face you pull when you start coming up on a really strong pill, over Fatboy Slims Praise You. As the week goes on the jaw gets more twisted and twisted.
bit of drum and bass in the background should work wonders
I say get rid. I am not paying for an increase in TV licence for RTE to fork out 20k on that fairy tail bull shit.
It should be revamped into the dustbin where it belongs. It’s an embarrassing anachronism!
In sure God will guide RTE to making the right decision…… Oh wait…. No scrap that.
dinosaur
I photo of a bell would make more sense.
iPhoto is owned by Apple. What’s that got to do with it?
It could be rotated as we are a mutl-cultural society now we could have Angelus one day, Muslim call to prayer another, etc etc could be fun, still useless but fun and mutli-cultural at the same time. Disney religious Ireland like…
Change it to hells bells by ac/dc
Whether it should be on tv or not, a €20,000 budget is really not that big for a production of any decent standard. If your gonna do it, do it right… I dont identify as a catholic anymore but id be sad to see this scrapped. I suppose thats good old fashioned irish catholic guilt for ya;-)
Just delete this embarassing anachronism.
Isn’t their schools an hospital that wud physical aid from this kind of money!!?
A minute of baby’s laughter always makes me laugh. It comes from a good place & no motives. Alternate the child & give that a lash. We were all there.
George I’m not angry, my comment was more in jest than anything, but I should have guessed the policemen would be in on top of it. No anger here, nothing to see, move on please
Soz Tom, the anger comment wasn’t meant for you…was meant for John!
I can think of a lot of charities and services for people in need who could do some good with 20,000 of tax payers money. In a modern Ireland we don’t need bongs at 6 o’clock, we need to be looking after the old, sick, and disabled in our society. If it must stay, leave it as it is and donate the money.
Just do away with it. It’s a waste of time. No more “Bongs” please.
too many people are god,that’s what is wrong with society today.
There’s many masters of the universe but only one real God.
Allah
@mdmak33
Are you the only true God?
nope.
Silence
Islam is a growing religion because it’s followers have no inhibitions about expressing their faith.
All the interviewees were traditional people. Nice to realise there are still a lot of us. No immigrants were asked?
I see the Journal haven’t included any of the interviews of people in favour of scrapping the angelus. There should be separation of church and state, so as the state broadcaster, RTE shouldn’t be showing a christian prayer.
Whenever I hear the Angelus I take time out. Love it.
Is this April 1st ?
September 24 2015
Maybe we should have a referendum on it we have it on every thing else
We only have referendums on matters which require constitutional change.
‘Hi-octane. . . mixes, kinda’
Heaven help us.
WHY NOTIF IT MAKES SOME PEOPLE SPIRITUAL FULFILLED?
the majority of Irish viewers would oppose it being scrapped, according to audience research.
1 show us the research
2 a majority does mean a public station get to favour one religion above all others and none
No they should stay everyone in my home are not allowed to talk while there on at 6,I’m 46 years old and grew up listening to them and now my kids and grand are a well I live in Dublin there part of us Irsh people
have your say