Host: Kathy Sinnott with guest Dr. Gabriel Doherty

Ireland is still reeling from the devastating result in the Irish abortion referendum. The vote was 2 to 1 in favour of abortion in the Republic of Ireland. So it begs the question: How did Ireland come to this? Where does Ireland go from here? Who are the Irish people in 2018? What does it really mean to be an Irish patriot? Dr. Gabriel Doherty a is college lecturer in history at the School of History in University College Cork. Doherty has researched and written extensively about the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin. To help understand what it means to be Irish, Kathy talks to Dr Doherty to explore who the patriots and fathers of the modern Irish republic were - and what was it that they believed that drove them to pay the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Host: Kathy Sinnott and Paul MacAree with guest Myles Dempsey

Myles Dempsey was one of Britain's most important and effective lay evangelists. Sadly, Myles passed away on Tuesday this week June 12th in Liverpool at age 90. Born in County Kildare Ireland, Dempsey founded the New Dawn Catholic Conference which is held annually at the National shrine of Our lady of Walsingham England. He also founded the Prince of Peace community, an evangelistic lay community in Liverpool. He initiated New Dawn Conferences of evangelisation in Africa, including in Uganda and Zambia. There are also New Dawn conferences in Portugal, Slovakia, The Czech Republic and in Scotland. In 1986, when Russia was still under communist rule, Dempsey and his companions found themselves in the centre of Moscow and in the Kremlin itself. Listen to what happened next in just one remarkable episode in a life well lived, Myles Dempsey RIP

Host: Kathy Sinnott and Paul MacAree with guest Myles Dempsey

Myles Dempsey was one of Britain's most important and effective lay evangelists. Sadly, Myles passed away on Tuesday this week June 12th in Liverpool at age 90. Born in County Kildare Ireland, Dempsey founded the New Dawn Catholic Conference which is held annually at the National shrine of Our lady of Walsingham England. He also founded the Prince of Peace community, an evangelistic lay community in Liverpool. He initiated New Dawn Conferences of evangelisation in Africa, including in Uganda and Zambia. There are also New Dawn conferences in Portugal, Slovakia, The Czech Republic and in Scotland. In 1986, when Russia was still under communist rule, Dempsey and his companions found themselves in the centre of Moscow and in the Kremlin itself. Listen to what happened next in just one remarkable episode in a life well lived, Myles Dempsey RIP

Host: Kathy Sinnott with guest Frances Hogan

Scripture scholar, teacher and EWTN host Frances Hogan has a message for the Irish. Its a message she has been giving for some years. Following the Irish abortion referendum, Hogan’s message seems more relevant now than ever before. Kathy talks to Hogan about her book 'Path to healing a Nation’ and her message of repentance and reparation which is rooted in the scriptures and the lives of the saints.

Host: Kathy Sinnott with guests Fr. Marius O'Reilly and Frances Hogan

Part 1. On an historic day, the Irish people have voted in a national referendum on the issue of abortion. Which way will Ireland choose? Kathy talks to Cork priest Fr. Marius O'Reilly who has been at the forefront of the massive prayer movement arising from the referendum. Kathy and Fr. O'Reilly share a faith analysis - and reflect soberly on the Ireland of May 2018.

Part 2. In light of today’s abortion referendum, Frances Hogan, scripture scholar, author and broadcaster, has a timely message for the Irish nation. "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Headlines: Saints John Paul II and Mother Teresa speak to Ireland about Abortion

Host: Kathy Sinnott with Saints John Paul II and Mother Teresa

On the eve of Ireland's abortion referendum, the saints speak plainly to the Irish about abortion. Saints John Paul II and Mother Teresa visited Ireland and brought with them unambiguous messages, challenging the Irish to choose life and not death. On this week’s Celtic Connections, these saints' unprecedented messages are heard here together for the first time. Join Saint Teresa of Calcutta at Ireland's National Shrine of Our Lady of Knock - and pray with her the Holy Rosary to stop Ireland legalising abortion. Podcast now available at EWTN Ireland: ewtnireland.com

Hosts: Kathy Sinnott and Paul MacAree with guests Dawn McAvoy, Mark Baillie and Katie Ascough

With only two weeks left before the Irish Abortion Referendum, Kathy looks at the crucial issues from an all Ireland perspective. Legalised abortion in the Irish Republic will have profound implications for Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom. Dawn McAvoy and Mark Baillie from bothlivesmatter.org have analysis. Twenty-one year old Katie Ascough is one of Ireland's best known, and highly respected, pro-life advocates. As a former Students’ Union president of Ireland’s UCD College, Katie paid the price for standing up for the human rights of the unborn. Newman College Ireland presented Katie with its first annual award for 'Courage in the Public Square'. Katie tells Paul MacAree her inspiring story - and about how the national pro-life effort is going.

Host: Kathy Sinnott and Paul MacAree with guest Fr John Walsh OP

For nearly 800 years the Irish have been praying the rosary. Irish “Rosary Priest” Fr. John Walsh OP tells the story of the Irish and the Rosary, the prayer that kept the Faith alive in Ireland through times of persecution, division and famine. Today the Irish are praying to stop abortion being legalised in the country. Fr Walsh tells us how to pray it well and it’s powerful effect as a weapon against the culture of death. Join the EWTN Ireland rosaryfor life at: www.rosaryforireland.com

Host: Kathy Sinnott with guests, Caroline Simons and Sr. Dr. Miriam Duggan

Part 1.

The Irish government proposed and passed a referendum targeting Ireland's 8th Amendment, which affords constitutional protection for unborn children in Ireland. The referendum will be held on May 25th. EWTN Ireland is inviting the world to pray a 54 day rosary novena for life, rosaryforireland.com. Caroline Simons, Pro-Life Campaign, is one of Ireland’s most respected pro-life leaders. In today’s show Simon’s shares an impassioned message about the current crisis in Ireland brought about by the government's proposed referendum.

Part 2.

Sr. Dr. Miriam Duggan, Missionary Sisters for Africa, began Uganda's faith based chastity programme 'Youth Alive’ in the early 1990’s. It soon became the most successful programme in the world in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Once known as the Aids capital of the world, following 10 years of the Youth Alive programme, Uganda boasted the lowest HIV/AIDS rates in Africa. Sr. Dr. Miriam Duggan tells the story of Youth Alive.

Host Kathy Sinnott and Paul MacAree with Antonia Moffat

Rosary on the Coast For Faith, Life and Peace in the British Isles will take place along the vast coast of England, Scotland and Wales, on Sunday April 29th, at the hour of Mercy, 3pm. Pilgrims from across Britain will gather at over 250 locations to pray the Glorious Mysteries of the rosary for life - and for the salvation of the British nation. Attracting numerous bishops, priests, religious and laity, Rosary on the Coast team member Antonia Moffat tells Celtic Connections about what could be the greatest prayer movement in modern British history.