Poor Clares Monastic Expereince Day, September 2026

The Poor Clare community in Galway offers Monastic Experience Days for women who are interested in exploring the contemplative life within a monastic community.

Date:    Saturday 19th September from 10am - 5pm

This is an opportunity to discover more about the daily rhythm of prayer, work, and community life lived by the Poor Clares.  You may pray the Divine Office with the sisters, spend time in silent prayer, Adoration and reflection, and learn about the Poor Clare Order.  There is also some informal conversation with the sisters, and time for questions and guidance in discernment.

For more information see www.poorclares.ie/monastic-experience-days 

Cherished Daughters Half-Day Retreat

The Poor Clare Monastery in Galway City are hosting a Cherished Daughters Half-Day Retreat for women 18-40.

This gathering celebrates the God-given uniqueness of each woman in a spirit of faith, friendship, and sharing, providing a warm and welcoming space to connect and grow, and features featuring Louise Mc Guinness, co-director of Star of the Sea Retreat Centre in Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo.

Date:  Sunday, Septmber 6  •  2 PM - 6 PM

Book on the CherishedDaughter's Eventbrite page.

Adoration for Priestley vocations - August 2026

 A series of adoration sessions to pray for priestly vocations have been organised in the diocese in August / September 2026.

These will use a monstrance (ie host-display cabinet) that was blessed by Pope Leo in November 2025 for use in Ireland to aid prayer for diocesian priesthood.

Dates and times:

• Monday 24 August - Ennistymon church, 7-8pm
• Tues 25th - Clonfert church, 7:30 - 8:30pm
• Wed 26th - Loughrea cathedral 11:30am - 12:30pm
• Thurs 27th - Renmore church 10am - 9pm
• Fri 28th - Gort church 10am - 6pm
• Sat 29th - Spiddal church 10-11am
• Sun 30th - Spiddal church 5-6pm
• Mon 31st - Galway cathedral 8-9pm
• Tues 1 Sept - Claregalway church, 10-11am

Workshops for church choirs

Ignite Gospel Choir are hosting a series of informal workshop retreat evenings for parish choirs in the  Galway diocese.

Each evening will include new music, refreshed traditional hymns, some moments for reflection and tea/ coffee with home baked goods.

They will be held at Croi Nua in Taylors Hill, from 7:30 - 9:30pm, on selected evenings between October 2026 and May 2027.

 

Parish choirs which would like attend should email  Ignitegospelchoirgalway@gmail.com

Men's Camino in the Boyne Valley - 2026

The Irish Dominican's have organised a guided 25km one-day pilgrimage camino (walk) in the Boyne Valley.

It is a day of Pilgrimage, Prayer, Brotherhood and Renewal, open to all men age 18+

Date:  Saturday 12 September 2026.

Registration is at 7:30am at St Peter’s Church, Drogheda.   The day will include:

• Morning Prayer at St Peter's 
• Mid-morning prayer at Old Mellifont Abbey
• Lunch in Tullyallen Hall.
• Eucharistic Adoration in Tullyallen Church, with priests available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation 
• Holy Mass at approx 5:15pm in the Drogheda Augustinian Church, folllowed by praying the Consecration to St Joseph
• Evening meal in the Marcy Hotel, followed by a keynote talk from Fr Mark Quinn, founder of the Men of St Joseph Fraternity in the Archdiocese of Tuam, on “Spiritual Authority”, encouraging men to embrace their vocation as leaders in faith within their families, workplaces and communities.

Registration and more information, including practical details re accommodation, transport etc, is available on the Dominican's website.

Blessing of the Bay / Blessing of the Boats

The Blessing of Galway Bay is an annual tradition honouring the traditions associated with the fishing community based in the Claddagh, and their relationship with the God and the sea. 

Date:  Sunday 16 August 2026

3-7 pm:  Community Summer BBQ at the Claddagh Snooker Hall and Claddagh Hall, featuring music, food, and Irish dancing.

7pm:  Blessing of the Bay ceremony begins. Traditional boats (including Galway Hookers) will leave Claddagh Quay to sail out to Mutton Island for the blessing.

Burren Outdoor Retreat, 2026

This Outdoor Retreat is a journey through the beautiful Burren with its spectacular limestone landscape, rare flora and ancient sacred sites.   It is an opportunity to take time to renew your mind, body and spirit in the peace and beauty of creation.

This is a Residential retreat, with a option for day-attendance for participants who live nearby.

Dates:   Friday 4 to Sunday 6 September, 2026

Location:  The Burren, Co Clare - with accommodation at Red Gates, Killeen, Corofin

Information:  phone Mary – 087 970 1130

Bookings, phone Des – 085 161 4951

New church opening in Gort

A new organsiation called Trinity Church Gort has announced that they plan to start meeting in September 2026.

They have  a website and Facebook page, and are collecting contact details of interested people.  But so far there is no information about their affiliations, or meeting time or venue.

Contact details

Email:   hello@trinitychurchgort.com   

Phone: + 353 (0)89 270 4660

Web:   https://trinitychurchgort.com/

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590867565301

Catholic Marriage Encounter weekend, October 2026 in Kildare

The Irish branch of the worldwide Marriage Encounter movement are running a residential weekend workshop for married couples who are "seeking to improve communication and reconnect".   

Date:         2 - 4 October 2026

Location:   Focolare Centre, Prosperous, County Kildare

Bookings  /  more information:   https://www.marriageencounter.ie/marriage-encounter-weekend

Legion of Mary Young Adult Catholic Conference, 2026

The Legion of Mary are running a 1-day programme of talks, workshops, celebration of the sacraments for young adults (ages 18-40).

Date:  Saturday, August 29, 2026:   9:30am to6pm

Venue:   Legion of Mary international headquarters, Morning Star Ave, Brunswick St North, Dublin 7

Bookings:  Eventbrite ($20)

Enquiries:    deusetpatria@gmail.com 

Titled Embrace the Grace, the day will include  the following:

Speakers

• Catherine McMahon - 'The Everyday Apostle: Bringing Christ into Daily Life with Our Lady'.
  Founder and leader of Beloved, a community for young adult women focused on friendship and faith. Linked to the spirituality of Opus Dei
  
  
• Fr Brian Doyle OP -  'Is the Blessed Virgin Mary the Mediatrix of all Graces? Church Teaching Explained'. 
  Fr Brian is a Dominican friar and prior, theologian and previously a Civil Engineer.

Workshops 

• Mary-Aoife Ong - St Carlo Acutis
• Neil Mather - Bible Study: How to Evangelise your Friends
• Christine O'Hara -the Rosary, 
• Sean Blackwell - Photography.

Mass in the afternoon in St Mary of the Angels Capuchin Church, with an opportunity to avail of the sacrament of Confession 

Visits to

• The house of Servant of God Frank Duff and see memorabilia from his life. 
• The chapel of the Regina Coeli hostel for homeless women, running since the 1930's by volunteer Legionaries

A post-conference social at 'The Black Sheep' located on Capel Street - own cost.

Celebrate the feast of St Clare, 2026

The Poor Clare sisters in Galway invite people to join them to celebrate the feast of St Clare (11 August).

Dates

• Monday 10th of August @ 5.30pm - Evening Prayer and Transitus (*)
• Mass: Tuesday 11th of August @ 8am

Location:     Poor Clare Chapel, Nuns' Island - H91 CAV2.   
Entry is at the top of the road called "Nuns island", to the right of the NUIG Education building.  The chapel entrance is to the right of the main door.

(*)Transitus is general name for an evening service of "passage" or "crossing over" - many Franciscan orders have particular prayers for it on special days.

Day retreat at Kylemore - August 2026

Sister Genevieve Harrington, OSB, at the Monastery of the Immaculate Conception at Kylemore Abbey is a leading a Day Retreat honouring the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In addition to reflections and discussions, there will be an opportunity to join the Benedictine community for Midday Prayer and Mass.

Date:  August 15, 10:30 am - 3:30 pm

Lunch at your own discretion.  No charge; donations welcome.

Register by contacting: retreats@kylemoreabbey.ie or phone+353 (0)95 52098.

Choral singling skills workshops - preparing for Galway Messiah 2026

Galway Community Voices is a singing skill-building and training programme open to adults interested in joining community or other choirs.  It aims to:

• Enable adult singers of all ages and abilities to find their voices.
• Bring the joys of choral singing into underserved communities across Galway City.
• Nurture the skills of aspiring choir members so that they can take part in life-changing musical experiences, such as Handel’s Messiah.

This will help people who might like to join a church choir, or people who want to take their current church-choir to a higher level.  

The programme has three modules, run by members of Resurgam (Ireland's best project-based professional choir).  These are paid for by Galway City Council through its Creative Communities Fund, and will run between late August to early October 2026: 

1. Find Your Voice: Activities for which no previous musical experience is required
2. In Tune: The choral art of singing in an ensemble and musical team-building
3. Handle on Handel: Introduction to Handel’s Messiah.

The goal of these workshops is to enable communities in  Galway an opportunity to take part in Galway Messiah 2026 - which is on Sunday, 6 December 2026.  

Any person or group which interested in taking part can contact Linda O'Shea Farren,  CEO of Resurgam at info@resurgam.ie

More information is on their website:  https://www.resurgam.ie/galway-community-voices

Icon Writing Retreat at Knock - September 2026

A residential icon-writing workshop is being held at Knock Shrine

Dates:  31st August to 5th September 2026 

Leader:  Mihai Cucu, a Romanian artist and teacher, creator or the triptych icon of The Holy Family, commissioned for the World Meeting of Families 2018.

This will included the whole process of creating a hand-written icon as a contemplative journey of prayer, presence and attentive seeing.

Cost: €695 per person - this includes:

• Full icon writing tuition
• All materials provided
• Personal creation of your own icon to bring home
• 5 Nights single-room accommodation at the Retreat Village, inc. light breakfast

Contact for information:  John Farrelly -  retreatvillage@knockshrine.ie or phone +353 (086) 0108623 

Outpouring Convention 2026

The Power House International is holding a three-day Outpouring Convention of worship, revival, prayer and ministry.   

The theme is Ezekiel 39:29 — “And I will not hide my face anymore from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD”.

Date:  Friday, August 14, to Sunday, August 16, 2026

Location:  The Power House International, Unit 22, Oldenway Business Park, Ballybrit, Galway - H91 958A

Convenor:  Rev. David Richman, working with Dr Francis Wale Oke of the Calvary Grace College of Bishops

Guest speakers / ministers: Bishop and Mama Francis Wale Oke (Nigeria) Felix ‘Remi’ Adejumo (Nigeria), Segun Lana (North America), Bimbo Animashaun (Nigeria), Nick Park (Ireland), Pastor John Ahern (Ireland) and Olumuyiwa Ojo (North America).

Programme 

• 6:30pm Friday:  Worship and Revival Service 
• 1.30pm Saturday:  Episcopal Ordination 
• 11am Sunday:  a Thanksgiving Celebration

Admission is free. 

Register to attend at https://www.thepowerhouseinternational.org/events/outpouring-2026

"How to Build a Church" - craft workshops

St Nicholas Collegiate Church are hosting a series of workshops,  as part of National Heritage Week

These look at the craft-skills needed to build and maintain medieval church-buildings and include woodworking, stone carving, iron forging, textile design, and stained glass creation.

One session (Woodcarving on 17th August: spatula carving) will be free.    Others are charged at commercial rates.

See details and book tickets on their website:  www.stnicholas.ie/events - numbers are limited and bookings are needed for all sessions.

 

Lady Day Mass in Athenry

A gathering of hope, healing and community on the feast of the Assumption  (15 August 2026).

Meet in Market Square at 2:15pm  for the 1.3km walk to Lady's Well, Kingsland, South Athenry

National Novena to Our Lady of Knock, 2026

 The 2026 National Novena to Our Lady of Knock is being held from 13 - 21 August.

The theme is "Sheltered in God's Love"

Daily programme

• A guided tour at 11am, beginning at the Information Centre
• Workshops with guest speaker at 12.45pm in the Prayer Centre
• Anointing of the Sick at 2.30pm
• Ceremony in the Basilica at 3pm and 8pm
• Rosary procession after the afternoon ceremony
• Candlelight procession after the evening ceremony
• ‘An Acre of Shelter’ Celebrating 50 years of Knock Basilica - a temporary exhibition at Knock Museum

Themed Guided Tours will focus on a number of themes including behind the scenes tours of Knock Basilica, Artworks at Knock Shrine and the Apparition Witnesses.

Guest Speakers

• Thursday 13th: Mary Kenny (broadcaster and author) - Faith in Full View
• Friday 14th: ‘Aidan Gallagher -  Cenacolo Community, an international Catholic community founded to help people rediscover hope, purpose, and freedom through a life of prayer, friendship, and shared work. 
• Saturday15th: 
  3pm  Bishop Niall Coll, Bishop of Raphoe - Our Lady, Quiet Shelter of God's Love
  8pm Niamh Mc Cann - Beyond the Rainbow
• Sunday 16th
  3pm Bishop Kevin Doran, Achonry and Elphin  - Rebuilding the City of God  - Pope Leo XIV and the New Technology
  8pm  Dr Sandra Cullen, Associate Professor of Religious Education at Dublin City University - Faith in the Era of AI
• Monday17th: Sheila Murphy, Mayo County Council Biodiversity Officer - From Mass to Meadow, living our faith outdoors
• Tuesday, August 18th: Mario Nunis - Faith in my Pocket
• Wednesday, August 19th: David Wells - Enjoy your Life - Making it Happen
• Thursday, August 20th: Deacon Mark Paine, Archdiocese of Birmingham, primary education and special needs educator
• Friday. August 21st
  3pm Fr Paul F. Murphy  - Defence Chaplain
  8pm  Fr. Richard Gibbons l

Daily Workshops

• Thursday August 13th: ‘Come Away To A Quiet Place’ - Knock Shrine Prayer Guidance Team
• Friday, August 14th: ‘Hope House: Where recovery begins’ - Sr Dolores Duggan and Sr Attracta Canny
• Saturday, August 15th: ‘CJ’S Rainbow: Never Stop Living’ - Niamh Mc Cann
• Sunday, August 16th: ‘Who will show us the way?’ (Ps. 4:6) - Sandra Cullen
• Monday, August 17th: ‘Church Return to Nature’ - Sheila Murphy
• Tuesday, August 18th: ‘Youth Ministry in Action’ - Knock Youth Ministry Team
• Wednesday, August 19th: Do not give up meeting together! Rethinking the meetings we hold. - David Wells
• Thursday, August 20th: ‘A Church for Everyone: Building a Community of Welcome - Deacon Mark Paine
• Friday. August 21st: ‘Sheltered in God’s Love’ - Knock Shrine Prayer Guidance Team

One-day events

Witness Walk - Friday 21st, 6:45pm - 7:45pm

From the Chapel of Reconciliation to the Apparition Chapel

Family Day:  Sunday, August 16th 2026, 11am to 3pm
Begins with the Blessing of Families in the Parish Church, followed by of activities for children and adults across the Shrine grounds.

Byzantine icon course August 2026

 A Byzantine Icon course is being held in Galway city this August.

Date:  21-29 August 2026

Venue:  Croi Nua Spirituality Centre, Taylors Hill - H91WY2A

Tutor Mihai Cucu  (https://mihaicucu78.wordpress.com/)

For more information email  mihaicucu78@gmail.com  or whatsapp 0870903568

Medjugorie peace Mass

A Medugorje Peace Mass is being held:

Date:   Thursday 29 July, 2026, at 8pm

Venue:   St John the Apostle church in Knocknacarra 
                      (see Catholic churches in Galway city for Eircode and parish links)

Firstborn Annual prayer summit

Faith Christian Fellowship Ministry, who are a Pentecostal church based in the East of Galkway city, are holding a Firstborn Annual Prayer Summit 2026, led by Mrs. Pastor Gloria Ovie, ministering alongside Pastor Dr. Larry Ovie.

Titled “Born to Excel” (Proverbs 22:29 ), this weekend-event will challenge every participant to break free from generational limitations, overcome life’s hidden battles, and step confidently into God’s ordained destiny.

Date / time

• Friday, 24 July, 6pm
• Saturday, 25 July - 12-Hour Online Chain Prayer 
• Sunday, 26 July - 10:30am Anointing & Breakthrough Service

Venue:  Faith Arena, Maragoni House, Ballybrit, Galway, H91 KWC8

Enquiries:  phone +353 89 983 9493 or see www.fcfgalway.com

Cemetery Masses 2026

 Dates and times for 2026 summer-seas Cemetery Masses have started to be announced.

More details will be added to this post as they become available.

Ballinacourty (Clarinbridge):  Friday 31 July, 7:30pm

Bohermore (Galway city east) - Sunday 16 August at 11am - with Benediction at 4:30pm

Claregalway:  Monday 1 June, 7:30pm

Kilcamin (Maree) Friday 7th August, 7:30pm

Oranmore Village:  Monday 3 August, 7pm

Rahoon (Galway city west) - Sunday 13 September at12-noon

Cemetery Masses or  Blessing of the Graves is an annual tradition in Ireland.  

One day every year, a priest visits each cemetery and says an outdoor Mass in memory of all the people who have been buried there.    In large graveyards, this usually happens on Sunday - so the day becomes known as Cemetery Sunday.  In small cemeteries, it often happens on a weekday.

People prepare for this by cleaning and decorating family graves 

Jubilee pilgrimage to Ennis Franciscan priory

A Jubilee Pilgrimage from Galway to the Ennis Franciscan friary is proposed.

Date:  Saturday 25 July 2026

Departing from Galway Cathedral, and visiting Ennis Friary and Poor Clare convent, the medieval friary museum, Ennis Cathedral, Clare County Museum.

Cost:  €20 for the bus - plus entry fees and lunch as chosen.

Book at Galway friary, or phone Marie  (086-812 2201)   Brian  (087 273 7503   )  or   Ben  (087 635 2747)   ).

Rosary Procession for Life - July 2026

The Galway branch of 40 Days for Life are hosting a rosary procession.

Date: Saturday 25th July 2.30pm

Starting from: Forster Street, beside St. Patrick's Church

Guest speaker is Bernadette Smyth of Precious Life.

Priory Institute summer school 2026

The Prioriy Insititue's 2026 Summer School is titled "Man and Woman He Created Them", and is about themes in Pope John Paul II’s teaching on the “Theology of the Body”.

The school 100% online, and is made up four filmed lectures and one live video conference, all by Rev Dr Alan O’Sullivan OP. 

One video will be released each day from on Monday August 10.  Topcs:

• 10 August Lecture 1: The Pursuit of Love: Earlier Writings of Karol Wojtyla
• 11 August Lecture 2: Theology of the Body: Masterwork of St John Paul II
• 12 August Lecture 3: Theology of the Body: The Masterwork II
• 13 August Lecture 4: Man and Woman in the Image of God
• 17 August 7.30pm: Live Discussion of Presentations

Participants can watch the lectures whenever suits them, and revisit lectures they have already viewed. 

At 7.30pm on Monday 17 August there will be a final live Zoom discussion.

The cost to take part is €85, or  €65 for current students or unwaged pepole.

Enrol at:  

https://prioryinstitute.com/events/2026-online-summer-school-man-and-woman-he-created-them

Healing mass in Headford, July 2026

A Healing Mass is being held in Headford church (H91 C9W8).

Date:  Friday 24 July, 2026 7pm.

It will be followed by a general blessing with a first-class relic.

50 year anniversary of Knock Basilica

Knock Shire is holding a celebration to mark 50 years since the opening of their Basilica.

Date:  Saturday 18 July, 2026

The day will include

• A morning gathering in St John's centre, 10:30am - 1pm:  showing a commemorative film and interview with Fr Richard Gibbons and Tommy Maren.
• Guided tours of the basilica at 10am, 10:30am and 1pm.
• Anointing of the sick at 2:30pm
• Mass of Thanksgiving at 3pm.

RCIA season 2026/27 - programme for people who want to become a Catholic

The Galway and Clonfert diocese formation centre is offering an RCIA programme for adults who are interested in joining the Catholic church, starting in Autumn 2026.

RCIA stands for "Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults" - and this sometimes called Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA).

The programme has four steps:

• Inquiry - asking initial questions
• Catechumenate - deep study of Catholic teaching, the Bible and and church traditions.
• Purification and Enlightenment - deep prayer and reflection, usually during Lent - which ends with Baptism, Confirmation and reception into the church
• Mystagogy - a time after Easter when new church members think about what has happened, and fit into a local parish or other community.

You can find out more on their website.

For more information:

• Contact your local priest (see our list of churches if you aren't sure where to find them)
• Email   rcia@anghailil.ie
• Phone 091 563 566  or  091 841 560

Q&A about religious life with the Poor Clares - July 2026

The Poor Clare sisters are running an online questions-and-answers session for women aged 18-35 who may be wondering if they have a vocation to religious.

Date:   Wednesday 22 July, 2026

Time:   7 - 8:30pm

For information, email events@poorclares.ie

Abide In His Love - Women's Conference

The Abide in His Love Women's Conference 2026 is on:  

• From 5:30pm, Friday, November 20
• To 2pm, Sunday, November 22 

The Great Northern Hotel Bundoran, County Donegal.

This event "brings together women aged 18+ from across Ireland to explore and celebrate the beauty and gift of their feminine identity in Christ. The program includes:

• Speakers, including
  
  • Sarah Swafford - from the USA, founder of Emotional Virtue Ministries, international speaker and contributor to Ascension’s Chosen. She
  • Bishop Fintan Gavin (Cork and Ross), celebrateing Holy Mass on Sunday, 22 November, the Feast of Christ the King.
  • Fr. Barry Braum,
  • the Nashville Dominican Sisters,
  • Fr. Mark Wharton,
  • Danielle Noonan,
  • Fr. Oisin Martin,
  • Fr. David Nugent.

• Spiritual Events: Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, healing services, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
• Fellowship.

It is organised by speaker Angela McMorrow, alongside Franciscan Friar of the resurrection  Father Joseph Mary Deane, CFR

Book on Eventbrite:   tickets   €70 + Eventbtite fees, or €50 for students.

 

One year Certificate course: Religious Education for Primary School children

This is a one-year part-time, certificate-level course for people who are providing religious education to primary-school aged children.

Originally the course was for:

• Qualified primary school teachers;
• Qualified post-primary school teachers who wish to transfer to primary school teaching.

and the description says it "aims to contribute to the theological and pedagogical development of qualified primary school teachers and other teachers of children of primary school age and to equip them with the necessary knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes to teach Religious Education within Irish primary schools and for sacramental preparation."    

However as changing models of church and school are being adopted, the course  may also be open to parents, sacramental preparation teams and parish catechists with a specific interest in the area of primary religious education.

 The course is mainly on-line, with two days of face-to-face lectures in the year.  Examinations may also be face-to-face.

More information is available from  https://www.atu.ie/courses/certificate-religious-education-for-primary-school.

St Benedict Week events at Kylemore Abbey

Kylemore Abbey is hosting a number special events from July 11 to July 19 to celebrate St. Benedict Week.

Saturday, July 11: 

Mass for the Feast Day of St. Benedict will include the blessing of St. Benedict medals.

Sunday, July 12, 4PM: 

Brother Colmán Ó Clabaigh, a medievalist from Glenstal Abbey speaks on Women in the Wall: The Anchorites and Recluses of Medieval Ireland.” Register to attend this presentation at Eventbrite.

Monday, July 13: Oblate Day:

• Enquiry sessions at 11:00 and 3:00 for people interested in exploring the vocation of being a Benedictine Oblate.  More information about this here.
• Mass at 12:15 will welcome a new Oblate into the community.

Wednesday, July 15

USA-based Metropolitan Flute Orchestra performs in Ostyn Hall at 3:00 PM.

Talk by the The Knights of Saint Michael the Archangel

The Holy Family Prayer Group in Moycullen are hosing a talk by the The Knights of Saint Michael the Archangel.

Attendees will receive a St Michael sword, the opportunity to become a Knights of Saint Michael the Archangel, and a blessing with the relics of St John Paul II and St Faustina.

Date:  Sunday 12 July 2026

2pm - talk about Saint Michael the Archangel

3pm - Divine Mercy Chaplet and talk about St Faustina

5pm  - Mass celebrated by Fr Martin Whelan

Venue:   Moycullen - H91F38E

Contact:   Don  phone 085 724 7188

Reek Sunday pilgrimage, 2006

The annual national pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick (known as "Reek Sunday")  is on  Sunday 26 July 2026.

Mass will be celebrated at the summit hourly between 8am and 2pm.

Confessions will be available between 7:30am and 2pm.

See Westport parish's website for more details.

Book launch: Challenge Courage and Call

The book Challenge Courage and Call:  The Word of God and Priestly Ministry by Archbishop Emeritus Michael Neary is being launched.

Host:  Archbishop Francis Duffy, Tuam / Killala

Date:  Saturday 11 July,  11:30am

Venue:  Knock Bookshop

The book can be ordered from ACN Church Resources

Logos scripture summer school, 2026

Logos scripture summer school is a four-day intensive study opportunity presented by Dominican friar and scripture scholar, Fr Terence Crotty OP.

It aims to give students the opportunity to "learn about the stories of genius found in the Bible, to savour the brilliance of both God and the human authors and so to understand and love the Scripture all the more."

Date:    

Course 1:   Friday 3  - Tuesday 7 July, 2026.    Old Testament Heros

Course 2:   Friday 17 - Tuesday 21 July 2026.   St John the Evangelist 

Location:   Our Lady of Silence Cistercian Abbey, Roscrea, Co Tipperary

Cost:     Enquire at enrolment

Presented by Fr Terence Crotty OP this is an opportunity over four intensive days to learn about the stories of genius found in the Bible, to savour the brilliance of both God and the human authors and so to understand and love the Scripture all the more.

Forming the Catholic Imagination - retreat for university students

An An Intellectual Retreat for current university students is being organised by the Thomistic Institute in Ireland.

Date:    12-noon on July 18 to 1:30pm on July 20, 2026 

Venue:  Glencomeragh House Retreat Centre,  Clonmel, Co. Tipperary E91H584

Cost:     Meals and housing will be free for accepted applicants. 

              Limited travel scholarships are available upon request.

The programme will include talks with theologians and scholars, praying the Liturgy of the Hours, attend Mass, personal prayer, and meals and times of fraternity with the Dominican friars and other students.

Speakers:    

• Fr Stephen Fields SJ
• Fr. Chris Vincent Gault OP,    
• Fr. Alan O’ Sullivan OP
• Fr. Irenaeus Dunlevy, OP

Apply to attend on their website.

Youth 2000 Summer Festival

The Youth 2000 Ireland Summer Festival is being held at Dominican College, Newbridge, Co Kildare.

Date:  13th to 16th August!

For:  Young people ages 16-35

Cost:  Donation only, and free buses are available from various locations   (Galway pickup is Oranmore Town Centre, or Oranmore Railway Station)
Suggested donation is €80, but we ask attendees to only give what they can afford. People who are in a position to donate to cover the cost for those who cannot will make a huge difference for the young people who could not otherwise attend.

The programme includes  "great activities each day as well as excellent speakers, inspiring talks and fantastic workshops ... lots of time for prayer and time to chill out, meet new people and experience the best of what it means to be young and Catholic today"

This is a live-in event:  you need to take a sleeping bag as well as the usual necessities for an overnight.

Attendees must register in advance on their website - and show an original photo ID when you arrive.

Patristic Summer School with icon painting

A patristic summer school, with icon painting is being organised by the St Ephrem Academic Centre for Oriental and Occidental Studies (STEP)  in co-operation with  ITI Catholic University,  Trumau (Austria).

Date:   6-11 July 2026

Venue:   Newman Insittue, Ballina, Co Mayo

Fee: €100 for the morning sessions only

Leaders: Pd. Dr. Fr. Ephram G. Lomidze and Prof. Dr. Michaela C. Hastetter.

The programme incudes readings from the the church-fathers in the morning, and icon painting in the afternoon.

Registrations by email to     info@step_wien.au

Fr Bill retreat in Bundoran, Sept 2026

A 5-day silent faith-renewal and healing Fr Bill Retreat, given by Fr Anthony Saji VC,  is being held:

Date:  Mon 28 Sept to Friday 2 October 2026

Venue:   Allingham Arms Hotel, Bundoran, Co Donegal.

People of all ages, and from all walks of life are invited.  Priests and religious are warmly welcomed.

For more information, call

• Róisín +353 (0)86 893 7399, or
• Maeve +353 (0) 866 6199

Franciscan pilgrimage to Knock, June 2028

The Secular Franciscan Order (Third Order) are organising a pilgrimage to Knock to mark the 800-year anniversary of St Francis (1226- 2026).

Date:  Saturday 28 June 2026

Cost:  €20

Book:  The Abbey, St Francis Street.

Beginner theology course - "Credenda"

The  Irish Dominican are running a course for beginners in the study of Theology for people who want to learn more about their Catholic faith.

Dates:  September 2026 to May 2027.

The course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the foundations of the Catholic faith. 

No previous knowledge of theology or philosophy required, and there are no exams and no essays.

People taking part need to do one hour of personal study each week, and attend a 90 minute tutorial session. 

There are 24 tutorials from September to May.  Sixteen are Zoom.  Eight are person (in  Cork, Galway, Sligo or Dublin - and will be held on Saturdays, two sessions per day.

Subject in the course include:

• The Existence of God. 
• The Structure of Human Nature. 
• Habit and Virtue. 
• The Person of Jesus Christ. 
• The Person of the Holy Spirit. 
• The Sacraments. 
• Personal Prayer. 
• Witnessing to Christ.

Cost is €190 for the year (Sept to May).

For details and to enroll, see https://dominicans.ie/credenda/

Grandparents Pilgrimage 2026

The National Catholic Grandparents’ Association are holding their annual pilgrimage to Knock, to celebrate World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly.

Date:   Sunday 26 July, .  

Time:  Anointing at 2:30pm.   Mass at 3:00pm followed by a rosary procession, (weather permitting)

Main celebrant:  Archbishop Eamon Martin.

Inner Healing Retreat, Renmore, July 2026

Ruach Catholic Ministry are sponsoring a short Inner Healing Retreat in Renmore in July.

Leader:   Fr. Prince Clarence SJ

Date: Friday 10 July 2026

Time:      4pm - 8pm

Location: St. Oliver Plunkett Church, Renmore, Galway, H91 PX95

The evening will present faith formation based on the teachings of the Catholic Church and Inner Healing Adoration. 

Programme: Rosary, Talk, Holy Mass, Inner Healing Adoration. 

Confession will be available before Holy Mass if you have not attended in the past week. 

For more information

• Phone: Dympna +353 87 2302681 or Margaret +353 87 2312066 
• Email: ruachministry5@gmail.com  

National Pilgrimage for Life

The Council for Life of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference have announced their 2nd National Pilgrimage for Life, 

This will culminate with Mass, including Anointing of the Sick at Basilica.

Date: Saturday 20 June 

Time:   Anointing at 2:30pm, Mass at 3pm, Rosay Procession afterwards

Venue:  Knock Shrine.

Main celebrant and homilist: Bishop Niall Coll

Icon Writing Retreat

St Mary's the Claddagh is hosting an icon-writing retreat

Date:   

• Saturday 20 June, 2026 8am - 6pm.  Starting with Holy Mass, and praying the Angelus at 12 and Divine Mercy chaplet at 3pm, and

• Sunday 21 June, from 9:30am - for finishing touches and varnishing, finishing with blessing the icons and Holy Mass at 12-noon.

Programme

• First-time participants will write the icon "Mother of God holding the Holy Spirit"  
• Experienced participants will choose from St Rita or the Good Shepherd .

Cost:  €80 / €90

No experience or art skills required - instruction and all materials are provided.

The process is called icon-writing,  not painting, because the end product is a sacred work, and visual theology, not just a painting. 

Spiritual patron  Fr Wojciech Szynk OP

Instructor:    Joanna Alina Stempel OVd

To enrol, or for more information,  phone Julian Drapiewski, 086 81 85 188.

Triduum in honour of St Pier Giorgio Frassati

The Dominican community at St Mary's in the Claddagh, in confunction with St Mary's Lay Dominican Fraternity and You-Fra (a Franciscan-led young-adult group) present a triduum to mark the 100th anniversary of the death of  Italian lay-Dominican and social activist, St Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925).

Dates:   

• Friday 3 July, 7:30pm - speaker Grace Murray, celebrant Fr Jacopo Pozzerle OFM
• Saturday 4 July, 7:30pm - speaker Irish-born academic and Legion of Mary member Robert Bradley, celebrant Fr Matthew Farrell OP
• Sunday 5 July, 12-noon - speaker Irish adverturer Daragh Morgan, celebrant Fr Conor McDonogh OP

Each session will start with input from the lay speaker, and be followed by Mass.

Confession will be available after each Mass.

Churches of Galway guided walking tour

The Galway Civic Trust are running a guided walking of Galway’s churches starting in summer 2026.  

The tour looks at the history, architecture, art, and spirituality preserved within the places of worship in the city (primarily the city centre).

Guide:   Dr John Jennnings

Date: from Wednesday, 10 June 2026, then every Wednesday  (possibly just for the summer season.

Time:  2 PM

Meeting point: Hall of the Red Earl, Druid Lane, Galway

Duration: Approximately 2 hours

Cost: Free, but donations to the Trust are welcome.

Bookings:  On the TickeTailor website

 

Centreing prayer day retreat - June 2026

The Benedictine Nuns at Kylemore Abbey in Connemara are hosting a Centering Prayer Day Retreat on Saturday 13 June 2026.

Centering Prayer is a method of prayer that strives to develop a relationship with God, beyond words, thoughts and emotion.   Through this silent prayer, retreatants will strive to consent to God’s presence and action in their lives.

Participants will also have opportunities to pray the Office with the Benedictine Nuns in their Monastic Church and to participate in the Eucharist.

Facilitated by Caroline Field, OblSB, and Sister Josephine Yator, OSB

No charge; donations accepted.

Register by emailing  retreats@kylemoreabbey.ie or phone +353 (0)95 52098

St Anthony's Triduum

A triduum in honour of St Anthony's will be held at the Franciscan Abbey in Galway city.

Date:  Wednesday 10 to Saturday 13 June, 2026 

Time:  10:30am and 7:30pm

Preacher: Fr Joseph Walsh, OFM