Malachi O'Doherty

25 Comments »

25 Responses

1. on May 9, 2008 at 12:45 am | Reply Edra Moraes

   Hi teacher. How are you doing? I am great, going back to Brazil in september, now is true. So I am doing a page dedicate to you in my blog. I wanna a “quote”, from you. Something you wanna being regonized for brazilians.

   I read about the “more sexy” , I just think the writer just describe a “english intercourse”, isn’t? kakaka. Sorry is my brazilian roots.

   Thanks for give the pleasure to be your pupil.

   
   
2. on July 1, 2008 at 9:31 pm | Reply Dr John Coulter, Irish Daily Star

   Hi Malachi, John Coulter here. Enjoyed your piece on the ECC. Did you see my IDS column yesterday? Its now on Nuzhound. I visited ECC’s 3 hour ordeal on healing to see Madden and Sullivan in action. I am now totally convinced the Florida Healing is nothing more than the Toronto Blessing Mark 2. Give me a call if you want a chat on what I heard and saw. Best wishes, John C.

   
   
3. on July 13, 2008 at 6:16 pm | Reply Dr. Kaushik

   Dear Mr.O,Doherty, It is about Brij Ghat India.After Haridwar and Rishikesh went to newly created state of Uttrakhand, Brij Ghat went for rapid development.Plans are to develop it on the pattern of Haridwar. Billions of ruppies are alotted for constructions
   of bathing ghats temples and rest houses. Infrastructures are also improved. It is a lovely and vibrant place .

   
   
4. on August 19, 2008 at 7:16 pm | Reply Turgon

   Dear Mr. O’Doherty,

   I am sorry to contact you so publicly but I wanted to say that I regard it as an honour that you have read and commented on some of my blogs. I have been a great fan of yours ever since I first heard you on Talkback about 20 years ago.

   Your writing and radio commentary are always extremely enlightening and engaging.

   Kind regards

   David

   
   
5. on January 14, 2009 at 6:12 pm | Reply Frank McManus

   Dear Malachi

   as probably one of the few priests in possession of a signed copy of ‘Empty Pulpits’ I want to say that I enjoyed the read very much. (My sister was at the launch in Belfast).

   Also I took your advice regarding preaching at tragic funerals especially where a lot of
   young people are present. I had the funeral of a young man who died because of alcohol and drug abuse and I made the theme of my homily – Life is difficult, recounting that one time I was told that the most difficult thing we do is get out of bed in the morning and face the struggle of life. Rarely have I got so much praise for a sermon, with people saying it was inspirational and consoling. The funeral was attended by a local journalist and he even published a summery of it in the local newspaper. So maybe you are right about connecting with experience, perhaps that was what Jesus was doing in the parables.

   Regarding the book and your analysis, very briefly since Constantine made Christianity the religion of the empire Christians have been taking short-cuts with evangelisation ever since. However with the removal of the political and cultural propts we are find the true extent of real devotion. We are heading back to pre-Constantine levels of Church belonging estimated by some to have been about 10% of the then Roman population. And I believe we will be the better for it, despite it being a painful transformation.

   Take care and all the best- Frank McManus

   
   
6. on March 10, 2009 at 9:48 pm | Reply Niamh

   Hi malachi
   Superb interview on channel 4.

   
   
7. on April 10, 2009 at 7:23 pm | Reply markcoughlan87

   Hi Malachi

   I’m a journalism student in Dublin, I met you briefly at the Cleraun Media Conference last December and have been following your work ever since. I only found your blog today, one would of thought typing your name into google would have been the obvious thing to do instead of scanning the BelTel and Radio Ulster online sites!

   Anyway, I’m glad to have found the blog and just thought I’d leave you a quick comment saying I’ve enjoyed and learned from the work of yours I have found in the last number of months and look forward to continuing to do so in the future.

   Regards

   Mark Coughlan.

   
   
8. on April 10, 2009 at 7:24 pm | Reply markcoughlan87

   Oh, and if you could sort an RSS feed for this blog it would make it much easier for people to keep up to date!

   Mark

   
   
9. on April 20, 2009 at 4:51 pm | Reply Walter Ellis

   Father McManus seems a nice man and a good priest. And he may be right about Christianity declining to cult status, as has already happened in the UK, France and Spain. Speaking for myself, I have no faith and believe in no God. But it seems odd for a priest almost to wish for a return to the days of the early church, when Christians met in each others’ houses and dreamed their dream of world domination. Or is that the point? Does Fr Mac want to take us back to the start and try again? If so, let’s hope it all works out better next time around.

   
   
10. on August 31, 2009 at 1:29 pm | Reply Niall P Mac Allister MD

    Greetings Malachi –

    Did you get a chance to read the book, The Tides of Men, I left with you at the JHSSS after the panel discussion on Friday, 31 July?

    I really enjoyed the discussion and look forward to your thoughts regarding the story of a returned Irish/American, re: a just resolution of the ongoing conflict.

    Regards,

    Niall

    
    
11. on September 16, 2009 at 3:52 pm | Reply Elaine McKay

    Dear Mr O’Doherty

    Professor Graham Walker, School of Politics, QUB is organising a talk by Diarmuid Whelan, University College Cork, on ‘Conor Cruise O’Brien: making politics out of the personal’ on 22nd October 09 at 5pm. The talk will be held at QUB and we would like to invite you to attend.

    Regards
    Elaine McKay
    Queen’s University Belfast

    
    
12. on September 28, 2009 at 9:54 pm | Reply Colin T Mercer

    Malachi
    I do hope this finds you and it finds you well, I want o thank you for your intro to my reading last night in bangor at the aspects Irish Litrature Festival 2009. The word you said to me and even just the handshke mean alot and are a great help.

    I hope to make something of myself in the poetic/writing word and look forward tohear you and or meeting you again
    regards
    Colin T Mercer

    
    
13. on September 28, 2009 at 9:56 pm | Reply Colin T Mercer

    Malachi
    I do hope this finds you and it finds you well, I want o thank you for your intro to my reading last night in bangor at the aspects Irish Litrature Festival 2009. The word you said to me and even just the handshake mean a lot and are a great help.

    I hope to make something of myself in the poetic/writing word and look forward tohear you and or meeting you again
    regards
    Colin T Mercer

    
    
14. on October 27, 2009 at 3:23 pm | Reply Quincey Dougan

    Malachi

    Had the pleasure of your advice and experience in the not too distant past on the Spectrum Centre, Shankill Road.

    Was wondering if we are going to hear some comment on the recent BNP ‘media circus’. Less interested in your views on the BNP to be honest (they are probably the same as most of us)- moreso the media’s approach prior, during and subsequent to ‘Question Time’.

    Quincey

    
    
    • on October 27, 2009 at 6:16 pm | Reply Admin

      Good to hear from you. I had a big set to with Eamon McCann on this on Good Morning Ulster.

      
      
15. on October 27, 2009 at 11:04 pm | Reply Quincey Dougan

    Thanks, ill attempt to look for that. In this technological age its out there somewhere.

    Quincey

    
    
16. on October 28, 2009 at 11:53 am | Reply jo conaty

    hi malachi, I was at the `my story` day at bbc last week and I would like to submit something but don`t know what to send. do you think you could give me some advice as to what would be most appropriate? I haven`t been able to attend your class this autumn but perhaps I could call in this evening towards the end of class and have a word with you? I would really appreciate some advice. Hope this is ok, jo. I

    
    
    • on October 28, 2009 at 12:13 pm | Reply Admin

      email me at malachi”malachiodoherty.com and we’ll make an arrangement

      
      
17. on November 29, 2009 at 5:46 pm | Reply Joe Curran

    Malachi

    Keep up the good work. Objective journalism that is at one level descriptive and at another level analytical is a difficult task but worth doing. You have the knack of not giving answers ( though you do contextualise brilliantly) but of evoking or prevoking reflection. You have enhanced my intellectual life. You and William Crawley are main men!
    I wish you well.
    Joe Curran

    
    
18. on February 22, 2010 at 3:33 pm | Reply Thomas Doyle

    Dear Malachi. I saw a reference to Empty Pulpits in a book I recently read. It doesn’t seem to be available here in the US so I asked a friend from Derry to send me a copy. I finished it this morning. It is outstanding. Your insights are brilliant and the way you weave various strands together creates a highly credible explanation of what has been happening in Ireland over the past few years.
    I happen to be a priest. I have been to Ireland many times since 2002 because I work as a consultant for attorneys who represent victims of clergy sex abuse. Thus I have been involved in more than a casual fashion with the Irish culture, especially the religious culture. When I first started visiting Ireland I was advised by friends there to read several books that would give me insight into the role of the RC church in the Irish culture and life. I read Moral Monopoly and the McQuaid biography…Ruler of Catholic Ireland. Despot would have been far more accurate. Now I add your book as one that has given me a deeper understanding of the land and religion of my family. I agree with everything you say. I believe that the de-clericalization of Ireland can be the best thing to happen to the Irish people since the invention of sliced bread. Thank you for your work. Sincerely, Tom Doyle, J.C.D.

    
    
    • on February 22, 2010 at 3:38 pm | Reply Admin

      Thank you very much Tom. I appreciate that and wish you well in your work.

      
      
19. on February 27, 2010 at 11:09 am | Reply jim

    Hi Malachi, as a journalist from a nationalist background it gives me hope that somebody like yourself can be well known. I think to myself, if a dense little twat like Malachi who acts like a monkey to the unionist gallery by revealing his life `as a teenage catholic’ can make it, then anyone can. I’ve read your articles and, remarkabley, they are devoid of anything intelligent to say. Still, you can prance around like a latter-day Maura Lyons and they’ll throw you a few bannanas, you twat. Get a life, get a brain, get an identity.

    
    
20. on February 27, 2010 at 2:47 pm | Reply Terence

    How dare you. This is exactly the problem with this type of forum it gives people devoid of anything intelligent to say the opportunity to metaphorically throw up in cyberspace without revealing who they are. It is assault by internet and you should be ashamed. Malachi O’Doherty has for years been an intelligent, challenging, enlightening journalist. And Malachi has an identity – one he is happy to reveal along with his intellligent thoughts while you skulk in front of your dirty keyboard and don’t reveal yours. You get a life it’s too late for the brain.

    
    
21. on March 24, 2010 at 10:00 am | Reply harold brooks

    hi malachi,
    whats your view on all the inquiries, truth commissions, h.e.t., victims commissioners etc. the whole industry of finding the elusive truth.
    do you think any good will come of it. i thought we were to draw a line under it all. to try to forget the horror, to let sleeping dogs lie. lets not go there again and rekindle old hatreds.
    do you think any good will come of it malachi?

    
    
    • on March 24, 2010 at 10:15 am | Reply Admin

      It’s a tricky one: Hume’s idea that we could draw a line and put th epast behind us hasn’t worked; there is too much hurt. But the piecemeal
      approaches to reviewing the past have been expensive and selective and created animosity among those who feel left out. I actually thought Eames Bradley were right; a universal payment of recognition, to put everyone on a level playing field, and then a time limited tribunal to assess the past and give as much information as possible to the aggrieved.