Missionaries now flocking to our shores

WE have exported missionaries for centuries but now Ireland is considered "mission territory", according to the head of the Catholic Church here.

Speaking in Cooley, Co Louth, as he marked Mission Sunday, Archbishop Sean Brady said Ireland had a long history of sending missionaries abroad. 

However, there were now many coming to these shores from as far afield as Australia, India and Nigeria.

"There are many who see Ireland itself as mission territory right now. We have missionary priests from Nigeria working in Ardee, Dundalk and Newry. There are Sisters of Saint Clare who have come from Australia," he said.