Catholic Comment - Ronan Mullen's media training operation

[Dr. FIVE]

Perhaps for decades now there has been much grumbling from below about inertia in the Irish hierarchy as the faithful watched a small but seemingly omnipotent band of femomarxist extremists tear down society around them. As power and anything close to moral authority disintegrated, RCC PR found itself on the backfoot against the leftist monolith that passes for an Irish press..

Ronan Mullen has launched an initiative to equip speakers with 'the knowledge and skills to communicate clearly and competently in the media.'
It looks to emulate Opus Dei's Catholic Voices front in the UK and has support from the usual Iona gang.

The hope is to 'prepare a team of lay people to speak confidently and clearly about the Catholic faith' which they will though I suspect skills of omittance and manipulation will take precedence over anything resembling honest debate. Looks like it's currently in the recruitment and fund-raising stages but should be up and going in time for the children's referendum no doubt.

http://www.catholiccomment.ie/index.html

[Baron von Biffo]

"the leftist monolith that passes for an Irish press"

Tippex fumes. Must be.

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

Surprising. I'm sure Ronan Mullen will be well aware of the media training operation called 'Kairos' which operates out of Maynooth and trains RTE technicians and runs training courses for both print and broadcast journalists as well as supplying a fair amount of catholic programming for RTE radio and television as an 'independent' broadcasting company

Then again there are no liars quite like religious liars. This little chapeen who is I believe a former secretary to an Archbishop and highly likely in my opinion to be an Odious Dei member is also Senator to the distinctly rotten-smelling pocket borough of Maynooth and is unlikely to be unaware of 'Kairos' in his own constituency.

Speaking of media bias I wonder are RTE still pretending to get independent research from a chap attached to the Religious Affairs Unit who is a Jesuit priest but a forgetful one in that he signs off such claims as the millions just gasping everyday for a continuation of the Angelus on RTE without putting the title 'Fr' or using the letters 'SJ' after his name?

What will the new effort be? 'Liars For Jesus'? You'd have to really hate the Romans to be a member of the LFJ...

[Andrew49]

Their Facebook page reveals they are the Beast from Revelations



Wasn't Ronan employed by Dessie Connell in some kind of a media job around the time the Archbishop was shuffling 65,000 secret documents on priests who'd raped children?

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

I think he was an assistant to O'Connell at one time. Smell of Odious off him that would knock a catholic horse..

[Andrew49]

I think he was an assistant to O'Connell at one time. Smell of Odious off him that would knock a catholic horse..

Mullan made a strange comment in the Seanad on the Ryan Report - which reported on the widespread and systemic abuse in Cathlic-owned institutions - Mullan said that it was important to remember that the children didn't commit any sins!

[Justin Casey]

The church, state and media have always formed an unholy trinity in order to keep Paddy mis-informed – but we wouldn't have it any other way!

In the 1960s, responding to the developments that had come about in media and how Irish people were receiving their information, the Communications Centre was founded in Booterstown by the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference, under the directorship of Fr Joe Dunn. In 1969 it merged with the Catholic Truth Society to become the Catholic Communications Institute of Ireland, later being renamed Veritas Communications.

In 1970 ["Bunny" Carr – best known for having robbed the "black babies" *] went to work as Director of the Catholic Communications Centre where he trained priests in media skills. In 1973 he left to set up his own PR firm, Carr Communications. It was a one-stop shop for many a politician looking for media training and Bunny boasts six former Taoisigh as graduates.

Bunny finally left RTÉ in 1984.

The communications group that Carr founded largely specialised in media training, drawing on its founders extensive broadcasting experience to coach politicians and businessmen on the dos and don'ts of media appearance.

Carr has become best known for its links to politicians, particularly those wearing the Fianna Fail colours.

Initially the brainchild of entertainer Bunny Carr, husband and wife team Terry Prone [whom Carr met when she was thirteen] and Tom Savage were at the helm of Carr Communications for the 25 years.

[During a] 2004 management buyout, some €7.5m was paid at that time to Ms Prone, Mr Savage and Bunny Carr.

Prone went on to found the Communications Clinic – her CV is an interesting glimpse of the relationship between the media and the Dáil gombeens. And, of course, Prone is a constant fixture on RTÉ (along with various News International hacks). An indispensable "safe" member of the constant, expensive panels who do the job that the actual RTÉ "talent" is paid handsomely to do.

A straight line from the Bishops' Conference to RTÉ.

About Veritas

TV 50: Bunny Carr

How the leading PR firm came asunder


*He didn't actually rob the "black babies".

[Griska]

Your comments are very appreciated

As are yours.
Anything to add to the discussion?

[Andrew49]

Heard Ronan on the radio the other morning in a tête-à-tête with Patsy McGarry - Ronan was a bit annoyed - and showed it - at Patsy's ability to prove things with facts. I KID YOU NOT!

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

That would be anathema to Ronan Mullen types. That langball actually shows every sign of believing if he asks a passing cloud for guidance he'll be answered. In other countries he'd be in a corner of a day-room somewhere discussing the conquest of Europe with his friend 'Napoleon'.

He is even a Senator for a notoriously rotten pocket borough which coincidentally has a large catholic seminary in it- Maynooth. Imagine the chances of that.

Pygmy society in some ways, intellectually speaking, and Ronan is one of the leading pygmies in it. No offence intended to the pygmy section of the community intended. I'm well aware that pygmies can actually rationalise their culture which puts them significantly in advance of the Ronan Mullins of Ireland.

[Dr. FIVE]

Speakers have been selected.

http://www.catholiccomment.ie/speakers/

Tony Curran, from Firhouse in Dublin, is married to Marie and has three children and three grandchildren. He works in the construction industry, and is a keen musician, a songwriter and a student of Theology at the Priory Institute, Tallaght.

Kathleen Pacious, 25, is originally from Washington, DC, USA. She is doing an MPhil in Comparative Literature at Trinity College, Dublin and will begin a PhD in English at NUI Galway in September. She currently lives in Dublin.

Robbie Butler is in his early 30s and is a junior doctor living in Dublin. When he's not working hard, he enjoys walking in the Wicklow hills.

Wendy Grace is a graduate of journalism and visual media. She is currently working in marketing and is also involved with running the Temple Bar TradFest. She has a twice weekly radio programme on Spirit radio.

Karl Melady is 29 years old and comes from Wicklow. He is a graduate of Trinity College, currently working in Finance and he also regularly contributes to programmes on Spirit Radio.

Kevin Leavy is a primary school principal from Co Roscommon. He is 29 years old. He is actively involved in parish choirs and is particularly interested in music.

Gavin Dixon is from Sligo and is now living in Dublin. He is 31 years old and is engaged to Olivia. He works as a panel beater and has also trained as a psychotherapist.

Martin Daly lives in Ballina, Co Mayo and is married with three young children. He is a secondary school teacher of Religion, English and Economics.

Paddy Scully lives in Kanturk, Co Cork and is married with four adult children. He is an engineer and also holds an MBA.


Lorcán Price is a 26 year old barrister from Galway City, but now living and working in Dublin. He is a graduate of the National University of Ireland, Galway BA & LLB and the Honourable Society of the Kings Inns.

Catriona Curran from Galway, is a mother working part time as a Parish Pastoral Worker in Dublin. She is a qualified Chaplain and has previously worked as a Manangement Consultant with Deloitte and as a Secondary School Teacher.

Maura Garrihy is 22 years old and is from Ennistymon, Co Clare. She has just completed a degree in Theology and Business at NUI Maynooth and is currently public relations manager for Elation Ministries.


Gene Dalton completed a degree in Chemistry and French and a Master of Science by research before entering the field of education. Originally from Laois, she now works as a primary school teacher in the South Dublin area.

Joseph Quinn is 27 years old and is from Longford town. He studied for his BA degree and Masters at NUI Galway before moving to Dublin. He is currently researching for a PhD in Modern Irish History at Trinity College Dublin.

Michael Leahy graduated as an architect in 1981 after studying at the University of Virginia and at UCD. He obtained a masters degree in Regional and Urban Planning in 1984. He has worked mainly in the private sector as an architect in practice. He lives with his wife and son in Corrofin, Co. Clare.

Quite a few seem to be doing the rounds since the start of this month. A couple of appearances on newstalk and most made contributions to the catholic series the Irish Times were running long side the EC. On politics, Lorcán Price is a Fianna Fáiler while Martin Daly has been active over the years, No to Lisbon 1 & 2, Libtertas European Election Campaign in Mayo, Pro-Life referenda groups and the fiscal treaty with the 'Mayo Reform Movement'. He stood as an Independent in the GE picking up 1.2% of the vote.

While CATHOLIC COMMENT is an independent organisation, it has already received encouragement from several Church leaders. "A project like this could be a real blessing for the Church," says Bishop Denis Brennan, co-chair of the Episcopal Commission for Communications.

"Though we are not an official body of the Catholic Church, we aim to support the Church's own communications efforts by offering a team of well informed lay people," says coordinator Petra Conroy.

Other founding members include solicitor Declan Moylan, NUIG's Dr Gearóid Barry and barrister Maria Steen (Iona Institute board member, regularly on Newstalk)


The project is being set up as a charity and depends on donations to cover its expenses.

[PaddyJoe]

Maura Garrihy is 22 years old and is from Ennistymon, Co Clare. She has just completed a degree in Theology and Business at NUI Maynooth and is currently public relations manager for Elation Ministries.

This is some kind of convoluted avant garde satire that I'm not quite clued up enough to get, right?

[Binn Beal]

Binn Beal studied religion at the hands of the Christian Brothers. He is married with three godless children. When not campaigning against religion he enjoys sailing in the Wicklow hills.

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

Ha ha ... nice one Binn ... 'sailing in the Wicklow Hills' is well worth stealing...

[Dr. FIVE]

This is some kind of convoluted avant garde satire that I'm not quite clued up enough to get, right?

If you only knew PJ, http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/wo...-16054179.html