People need to take time to ‘reflect’

The ringing of the Angelus bell, which airs on RTÉ twice daily as well as other broadcast outlets including local radio, was a topic of conversation at a recent meeting of the Ballyjamesduff Municipal District Authority.

The motion was raised by Independent Councillor Shane P O’Reilly who revealed he heard “calls for the Angelus to be taken off RTÉ”.

He stated he was not coming from a place of “religion or politics”.

“Faith is very important to me,” continued the Mullagh man.

“People need to take that time to reflect,” he added.

Cllr O’Reilly queried how a “small minority” of the public could find “the ringing of a bell 18 times” offensive.

“There is no offence given in it,” he said, stating that all religious images had been removed from the Angelus broadcast previously, and now it only features people taking a moment to reflect.

He also made reference to Leeds in the UK where he states the number of practising Muslims have tripled.

During their time of prayer each day, “people respect it for what it is. It’s not inappropriate,” he says. “There are bigger problems on RTÉ than the Angelus,” insisted Cllr O’Reilly.

His argument then became more general as he opined that the country is “being attacked by the woke brigade”.

“The Angelus is part of what makes us who we are,” he concluded before requesting the issue be brought to the main council meeting.

His motion provoked huge support from all other members of the meeting.

Fine Gael Councillor Trevor Smith agreed, remarking that the country “is headed a bit that way where everyone is offended by everything”.

Fellow party member, Cllr TP O’Reilly, added “everyone is entitled to their beliefs”, agreeing a small minority are getting easily offended.

A third Fine Gael councillor, Winston Bennett was in agreement and also highlighted how some want the name of “Christmas” changed.

“It’s a step too far,” he says.

Fianna Fáil’s Philip Brady chimed in, stating: “We’re a Catholic Country, it’s Irish.

“There are too many minority groups having too much to say.

“There’s a lot of people coming into this country, too many in my opinion,” he concluded.

All members agreed to bring the issue forward into the next full meeting of Cavan County Council.