Latest news with #Confirmation
Irish Times
13-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Times
Children making Confirmation asked to include vaping in their abstinence pledge
Children making their Confirmation in Ireland will be invited, from next year, to take an expanded 'pledge'. As well as vowing to abstain from alcohol until adulthood, they would abstain from vaping and smoking. The pledge has long been a rite of passage for 12- and 13-year-olds receiving the Catholic sacrament, traditionally involving a promise to abstain from alcohol and drugs. The development forms part of Church leaders' efforts to encourage children to make healthier lifestyle choices in their formative years. The Irish Bishops' Drugs and Alcohol Initiative, in partnership with the Catholic Primary School Management Association, which provides advice and support to the boards of management of over 2,800 schools, will make a new online module available to all schools whose students wish to take the updated pledge. READ MORE The expanded pledge seeks to honour Matt Talbot who died 100 years ago last week. Talbot was first exposed to alcohol aged 12 and became a heavy drinker before quitting when he was 28 and devoting his life to spirituality. He was described as 'a person of hope, faith, and charity' by Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell. The Irish Catholic Bishops Conference said that the updated pledge 'supports our young people in terms of physical and mental health, and goes some way to address the concerns of parents regarding new and harmful substances impacting the health and wellbeing of their children'. [ Child-related benefits lift 150,000 children out of poverty, ESRI finds Opens in new window ] Chris Macey, director of advocacy with the Irish Heart Foundation, said such practices 'normalise vaping in the eyes of children'. A ban on the sale of vaping products and e-cigarettes to people under 18 came into effect in 2023. According to a 2024 Growing up in Ireland survey, almost 10 per cent of 13-year olds had tried vaping.
The Journal
13-06-2025
- Health
- The Journal
Kids to be asked to take Confirmation pledge not to vape
FROM NEXT YEAR, the Catholic Church in Ireland will encourage children making their Confirmation to take an additional pledge not to vape until they are 18 years old. The updated Confirmation pledge will see children abstain from alcohol, smoking and vaping until the age of 18. It has been a longstanding tradition in Ireland for children to take a pledge at their Confirmation, at the age of 12, not to drink until they are 18. Advertisement It comes in a bid by church leaders to encourage healthier lifestyle choices during young people's formative years. From next year, the Irish Bishops' Drugs and Alcohol Initiative, in partnership with the Catholic Primary School Management Association, will make a new online module available to all schools whose students wish to take the updated Confirmation pledge. The initiative is being rolled out in honour of Matt Talbot, the Apostle of Hope, whose centenary death has just been marked by the Archdiocese of Dublin. Talbot, a Dublin native, has been described by the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference as a 'figure of deep faith and personal transformation, whose legacy of prayer, penance, and devotion to the sacraments offers real hope for those struggling with addiction today'. The decision to include vaping in the pledge is being made to honour Talbot's legacy, while also supporting young people's physical and mental health, the church has said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Times
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Gary Cooke: ‘With the football team formerly known as Manchester United, it feels that hope is gone'
How agreeable are you? Agreeable? I would say yes, although I heard a psychologist say that agreeable people tend to get paid much less and disagreeable people a whole lot more. What's your middle name and what do you think of it? My middle name is Colin, but I don't use it. It wasn't a Confirmation middle name, and there's no other family member called Colin. It was just a name my parents liked. What's your favourite place in Ireland? My favourite place is where I come from, which is Howth. I live in Baldoyle , west Howth (laughs). It's a place where I grew up and where I spend most of my time. The views of Dublin Bay and all that openness are why I would say it's my favourite. I quite like Cork, too. I haven't been there for a long time, but it's got such a sense of identity that I just like physically being there. Describe yourself in three words. Decent, searching, 60. READ MORE When did you last get angry? Last night. I was playing tennis, but it had nothing to do with the game. It was just niggling injuries, endless knee and tendon problems. They won't go away; they're embedded like an algorithm. I don't play tennis so much now because of various injuries, but it was something I spent a lot of time trying to get good at. We didn't play a full match, but I'd say if we had, I would have lost. What have you lost that you would like to have back? A sense of the future, that open-ended thing rolling out right in front of you and seeing beyond the horizon. I miss the optimistic days of Alex Ferguson and Manchester United – they went on for a long time and, even with some lows in between, it felt like something could happen. Those things are very much like glue in your life, they give you a sense of hope. I understand why people support football teams because they give people that sense of hope, but nowadays, with the football team formerly known as Manchester United, it feels that hope is gone, and hope being gone is not a nice thing. What is your strongest childhood memory? Playing football in the garden with my mates. Yeah, just endless days of playing football and hanging out, on our bikes, that kind of stuff. In those days, it didn't take very much to put you in a really happy place. The other thing is that as kids, we were very elastic. You might have fights or disagreements, but 10 seconds later, we'd be best friends again. Where do you come in your family's birth order, and has this defined you? I am the second of two. It's very hard to get away from the fact that you're always used to having somebody who is older. Being second means you're a silver medallist, and there's nothing wrong with that. Barry Murphy, Gary Cooke and Risteard Cooper in Après Match What do you expect to happen when you die? I expect the lights to go out and that's it, but I'll never be able to verify it, to go, 'yeah, I was right'. So no, I don't expect anything. I just hope there isn't somebody replaying your life like an Eamon Dunphy -type analyst. That would be a moment of disagreeability. When were you happiest? I've been happiest when our kids were small. It was a lovely time that brings you back to your childhood, but I'm content now, I'm happy enough. Which actor would play you in a biopic about your life? I'd like Paul Giamatti , but he probably wouldn't be available. I'm not one of those people who look at great actors and think I'd like them to play me. That would be the ultimate act of vanity to think your life is that important. But if there was a choice, then sure, Paul Giamatti because he's wonderful. What's your biggest career/personal regret? There are a couple of things that I hoped would get more attention than they got. In 2013, there was a show I co-wrote with the brilliant writer and actor/director Barbara Bergin – it was called On the Couch. I thought it was great, and it was received very well, but TV3 scheduled it after football late at night because it was the only half-hour slot they had. In my opinion, putting it on at the times they did – it was repeated twice, once at about 2am and once at about 5am – meant they just didn't buy into it. It deserved so much more than it got. Personal regrets? I wish I had read more when I was younger. I realise the value of it now in that it's a form of meditation, very calming to the brain, and that it also opens up other neural pathways. Any more? I wish I had better hair, and I wish I'd been a rock star. Actually, another regret is that I didn't get into a band when I was younger. I sometimes sing with a Howth punk/pop band called The Guilty Party, and that is easily more fun than comedy, more fun than acting. Have you any psychological quirks? The process of being Gary Cooke is enough, thank you very much. In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea Gary Cooke stars in Ollie ... One Love, One Life, at The Helix, Dublin, Saturday, May 17th & Sunday, May 18th
Mid East Info
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Mid East Info
The Department of Culture and Tourism Unveils the Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection though a series of Exhibition-Dossiers
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates –April 2025: Over the past decades, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has developed the inspiring and comprehensive Abu Dhabi Collection, offering a global discourse of the world's artistic production. Bringing together spectacular artworks and artefacts from around the world and spanning prehistory to the present, the Collection further positions Abu Dhabi as a world-leading cultural centre engaged in the creation and sharing of research and knowledge. DCT Abu Dhabi continues to expand and enrich the Abu Dhabi Collection as a whole, as well as through the addition of artworks and artefacts which form the Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection, a grouping of the most significant pieces within the Abu Dhabi Collection. Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection spans a plethora of art movements and genres of art history, adopts the best practices and ethics of collection management and fosters global conversations on the world's art scene. Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection signals Abu Dhabi's commitment to forging a cultural legacy of exceptional quality and significance and highlights the emirate's dedication to building a collection that communicates cross-cultural and universal narratives. The Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection affirms the dynamic cultural vision of Abu Dhabi while enhancing and complementing other collections in the emirate's museums and reflects a commitment to fostering pluralistic dialogues and promoting the exchange of knowledge in the arts. H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: 'Developing this comprehensive collection, featuring masterpieces from across the history of art, supports the growth of a vibrant cultural scene across Abu Dhabi and the wider region. Creativity holds immense power to drive education and social change, and offering access to such remarkable works is intrinsic to Abu Dhabi's cultural engagement, nurturing a cultural scene, and fostering strategic partnership and exchange opportunities with the world.' The DCT Abu Dhabi is presenting a selection of the Masterpieces Collection in a series of exhibition-dossiers, offering a way to understand the vision of the Collection and illustrating its principle to cover all techniques and periods of civilisations, from prehistory to present time. Three inspiring works that launched the series of exhibition-dossiers Organised at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, the inaugural exhibition-dossier showcased three remarkable works from the Masterpieces Collection: Confirmation by the 17th-century master Nicolas Poussin, Self-Portrait by the 20th-century artist Pierre Bonnard, and Triptyque 2000 – 23.12.2001 by the contemporary artist Zao Wou-Ki. Confirmation (ca. 1637–1640) by Nicolas Poussin is part of the artist's renowned Seven Sacraments series. This painting holds a central place in the history of Western art, created by an artist regarded as a pivotal figure in the history of art in general. Touching on both spiritual and social themes, the work's inclusion in the Masterpieces Collection aims to attract a new global audience and to inspire future generations. Self-Portrait (1939) by Pierre Bonnard is a key component of the artist's late series of self-portraits. In its depiction of an intimate and enclosed world, the painting creates a powerful emotional impact, standing as one of the most sensitive and deeply affecting self-portraits of its time. Triptyque 2000 – 23.12.2001, (2000-2001) by contemporary artist Zao Wou-Ki is an important work that highlights the expressive possibilities arising from the intersection of different cultural traditions and pictorial languages. Blending traditional Chinese aesthetics with Western modernist techniques, the triptych is a lyrical representation of nature that transcends visual perception. The first exhibition-dossier of the Masterpieces Collection immersed viewers in the unique creative universes of these three artists, showcasing works that represent the pinnacle of their artistic achievements.. As Abu Dhabi continues to innovate and invest in the arts, DCT Abu Dhabi remains dedicated to promoting cross-cultural understanding and showcasing timeless works that will inspire future generations. New exhibition-dossiers from the Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection will be unveiled over the coming months, offering further exciting opportunities for engagement and discovery.
Al Etihad
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Department of Culture and Tourism unveils Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection
19 Apr 2025 16:04 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) has unveiled artworks and artefacts which form the Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection, a grouping of the most significant pieces within the Abu Dhabi comprehensive Abu Dhabi Collection offers a global discourse of the world's artistic together artworks and artefacts from around the world and spanning prehistory to the present, the collection further elevates Abu Dhabi's status as a world-leading cultural centre engaged in the creation and sharing of research and Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection spans a plethora of art movements and genres of art history, adopts the best practices and ethics of collection management and fosters global conversations on the world's art Dhabi Masterpieces Collection signals Abu Dhabi's commitment to forging a cultural legacy of exceptional quality and significance and highlights the emirate's dedication to building a collection that communicates cross-cultural and universal narratives. The Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection affirms the dynamic cultural vision of Abu Dhabi while enhancing and complementing other collections in the emirate's museums and reflects a commitment to fostering pluralistic dialogues and promoting the exchange of knowledge in the Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: "Developing this comprehensive collection, featuring masterpieces from across the history of art, supports the growth of a vibrant cultural scene across Abu Dhabi and the wider region. Creativity holds immense power to drive education and social change, and offering access to such remarkable works is intrinsic to Abu Dhabi's cultural engagement, nurturing a cultural scene, and fostering strategic partnership and exchange opportunities with the world.'DCT Abu Dhabi is presenting a selection of the Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection in a series of exhibition-dossiers, offering a way to understand the vision of the collection and illustrating its principle to cover all techniques and periods of civilisations, from prehistory to present at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, the inaugural exhibition-dossier showcased three remarkable works from the Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection: Confirmation by the 17th-century master Nicolas Poussin; Self-Portrait by the 20th-century artist Pierre Bonnard; and Triptyque 2000 – 23.12.2001 by the contemporary artist Zao (ca. 1637–1640) by Nicolas Poussin is part of the artist's renowned Seven Sacraments series. This painting holds a central place in the history of Western art, created by an artist regarded as a pivotal figure in the history of art in general. Touching on both spiritual and social themes, the work's inclusion in the Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection aims to attract a new global audience and to inspire future (1939) by Pierre Bonnard is a key component of the artist's late series of self-portraits. In its depiction of an intimate and enclosed world, the painting creates a powerful emotional impact, standing as one of the most sensitive and deeply affecting self-portraits of its 2000 – 23.12.2001, (2000-2001) by contemporary artist Zao Wou-Ki is an important work that highlights the expressive possibilities arising from the intersection of different cultural traditions and pictorial languages. Blending traditional Chinese aesthetics with Western modernist techniques, the triptych is a lyrical representation of nature that transcends visual first exhibition-dossier of the Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection immersed viewers in the unique creative universes of these three artists, showcasing works that represent the pinnacle of their artistic achievements. New exhibition-dossiers from the Abu Dhabi Masterpieces Collection will be unveiled over the coming months, offering further exciting opportunities for engagement and discovery.
