3R Productions Ltd

Past Tapes

E-mail: 3rproductions@tinet.ie

Tape Date: 28th May 1997

On this 3R tape, with the election looming, we have an interview with Prof. Joe Lee on why people should vote. We have pieces to tie in with Corpus Christi and the Feast day of St. Colmcille. The plight of the Romanian Babies has in many ways been forgotten, we have an interview with a Portlaoise Woman who has worked extensively in Romania. Holy Ghost Fr. Tony Byrne recently launched a book on the extraordinary Airlift during the Biafran War, we interviewed him at the launch along with novelist Frederick Forsyth. As well as all this, we have pieces on training for former prisoners (PACE), the launch of a new book on what priests really think, and Native American Spirituality. We also have a piece on the Notre Dame Folk Choir currently touring the country.

Side One:

1.    Crossways: News in the Church and the World.  The country will be going out to vote on June 6th. In the run up to the election, voters will have the opportunity to question politicians about their stance on certain issues. Trocaire is calling on voters not to forget the needs of the world's poorest people, to "vote with a view on the bigger picture". They also ask that candidates  be questioned on their views of third world problems. In our main report Elaine Comerford spoke to Trocaire's Director, Justin Kilcullen, and asked him why Trocaire has become involved in this election. The news was read by Alan McGuckian, SJ, and Elaine Comerford.

Time: 6.36

2.  Corpus Christi: The feast of Corpus Christi has been a colourful event in the Church calendar for hundreds of years. This year it will be celebrated on Sunday 1 June. The feast of the Body of Christ raises all sorts of questions about the mystery of Christ's brief stay on this earth as both God and human being. In the past, the Church has tended to ignore his humanity in favour of his divinity. Jim Corkery, a lecturer in theology and philosophy at the Milltown Institute discussed some of these issues with Maria O'Loughlin. She asked him to explain exactly what is being celebrated during Corpus Christi.

In:(Corkery) "It's the celebration of ....denying that he was divine." Out:(Corkery)
Time: 5.14

3.  Colmcille: Comcille died on Iona in 597. So this year his feast day on June 9th has added significance. Mairead Ashe Fitzgerald has recently written a book entitled The World of Colmcille in which she attempts to give an all round account of St. Colmcille, detailing the historical context, the folklore, and the influence of Colmcille. She spoke to Andrew Lawless.

In: (Lawless) "Mairead, can ............centuries after his death." Out: (Ashe Fitzgerald)
Time: 5.29

4. Children, Music, Liturgy:  One of North America's leading liturgical music ensembles, the university of Notre Dame Folk Choir from Indiana is touring Ireland between May 19th and June 5th.  The choir's very first engagement when they arrived in Ireland was a workshop for primary school children. After the workshop, Martin Browne caught up with the director of the folk choir, Steve Warner.

In: (Browne) "It is important......................................a catholic family." Out: (Warner)
Time: 5.14

5.  Romanian Babies:    Jody Connolly is a native of Portlaoise. She has lived and worked with orphan children in Romania. Most of the children were H.I.V. positive. Jody believes that because the media has shifted its attention to crisis in other parts of the world, the Romanian children are fast becoming the forgotten children of the Globe. She talked to Lorcan Brennan.

In: (Connolly) "My first experience................at this present moment." Out: (Connolly)
Time: 4.40

6.   The Work of our Hands:  The Apostolic Work Society was founded in Belfast over seventy years ago and now has branches in nearly every Irish Diocese. Its all female membership supports foreign missionaries through fundraising and craftwork, and in particular through the making of liturgical vestments. Recently Archbishop Seán Brady launched the society's video, 'The Work of our Hands' . The co-ordinator of the project, Maureen Sanders, spoke to Martin Browne about Apostolic Work and how the society is adapting to current needs.

In: (Browne) "Apostolic Work is a...............needs they would have." Out: (Sanders)
Time: 5.06

Side Two:

1.  Céile Dé - Marcus Losack:    Ireland is increasingly seen as a favoured holiday destination  which has many things to offer the discerning tourist. One of the many attractions that now brings travellers to Ireland is the lure of Celtic Spirituality. One Irish organisation which caters for foreign visitors who want to rediscover the spiritual riches of our Celtic past is Céili Dé, based at Glendalough. Alan McGuckian, SJ, spoke to the Rev. Marcus Losack one of the organisers of Céili Dé.

In: (Losack) "For us Céili Dé.........................very strong." Out: (Losack)
Time: 5.46

2. PACE - Sean Redmond: Getting out of prison doesn't always mean freedom. Because of the past, a home and a job can seem beyond reach. PACE is a voluntary organisation which provides accommodation and training for former prisoners. PACE director Sean Redmond spoke to Maria O'Loughlin about the problems and prejudices which face people who've done time. She asked him about his claim that a spell in prison increases the likelihood of further convictions.

In:( Redmond) "It does seem rather .................make the streets safer" Out: (Redmond)
Time: 6.09

3.    Airlift to Biafra - Tony Byrne and Frederick Forsyth:   The Biafran war in the late 1960's was for many the first televised war, and saw the first televised reports of mass starvation of African Children.  When the independent state of Biafra was declared in the eastern province of Nigeria, the Nigerian Army responded by imposing a blockade which effectively led to widespread starvation. Tony Byrne, a Holy Ghost Father, initiated the Joint Church Aid airlift which through the course of the war managed to save countless children's lives, and helped inspire future aid operations throughout the world. After the war it was decided that due to political sensitivity, members of JCA would wait 25-30 years before telling their unique story. Tony Byrne has now written that book, and Andrew Lawless spoke both to him and novelist Frederick Forsyth (an international correspondent in Biafra at the time) at the launch of Airlift to Biafra

In: (Lawless) "Tony Byrne you've written........a million small children." Out: (Forsyth)
Time: 5.41

4.   Why vote?: With the General Election coming on June 6th Marie Stuart, RSM, talked to Professor Joe Lee, UCC. about the importance of exercising our right to vote, the trend of spoiling votes and the difficulty of choosing who to vote for in the context of the current complex, economic debate.  First Marie asked Joe Lee why he thought so many people do not vote.

In: (Lee) "Well I think probably ................the worst criterion for voting" Out: (Lee)
Time: 5.10

5.   Native American Attitudes to life and the Environment: Native American Indians are noted for their closeness to nature and their reverence for the earth.  Skyhorse of the Lakota Nation (Sioux Indian) is in Ireland at present teaching the native wisdom of the Sioux people.  Marie Stuart, RSM, talked to him about the spirit and ways of his people.  Information about the workshops he is running is available from John Bowler (01)8308001 or (087)2394692

In: (Stuart) "Tell me about your ........ lesson that can fit into their life" Out: (Skyhorse)
Time: 5.17

6. What priests really think:  For the first time ever, a scientific survey has been carried out into what priests actually think. Commissioned by the Dublin Diocesan Council of Priests, the survey put 143 questions to each priest in the Dublin Diocese. Over sixty percent replied. The results of the survey are produced in a book entitiled Reading the Signs of the Times, which is being launched this week. The survey examined priestly morale, supports and stresses, desires for the future and job satisfaction. Martin Browne spoke to the editor of the book, Fr Dermot Lane, Chairman of the Dublin Priests' Council.

In: (Browne)" Reading the signs...................in that vocation." Out: (Lane)

 

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