Councillors’ prayers answered over Angelus bells

Response to council query.

That the Angelus ringing on RTÉ TV and radio twice daily is being preserved was welcomed by one councillor who had attacked “woke culture” as being behind attempts to have the tradition taken off air.

Last month Cavan County Council wrote to RTÉ urging them to continue ringing the bells on foot of a motion tabled by Independent Shane P O’Reilly, first at a meeting of Ballyjamesduff Municipal District, and subsequently at a monthly gathering of elected members proper.

In his address, Cllr O’Reilly claimed that the national broadcaster was coming under increased pressure to remove the Angelus as some viewers took “offence” to it being broadcast.

“This is more of the woke culture” he slammed. “If RTÉ wants to deny the Irish people of what they’ve done for years, shame on them.”

Several other councillors also backed Cllr O’Reilly’s stand.

However, Roger Childs, Senior Production Executive and Commissioning Editor for Religious Content with RTÉ put their minds at rest. Responding to to Cavan County Council's earlier dispatch, Mr Childs said there was “no plan to axe the tradition, although it is reviewed from time to time”.

He notes the decision to replace “overtly Marian imagery” with alternative sequences was taken “approximately 30 years ago - actually, by my predecessor, a Catholic priest - to reflect the reality that Ireland is now an increasingly diverse society”.

The Angelus prayer, Mr Childs adds, has “never been broadcast in this slot”.

Regarding the commissioning of a “new cohort” of films, and acknowledging that “all faiths and none pay the TV licence fee”, the hope of those within RTÉ was that the slot has “over time, become more inclusive”.

Mr Childs pointed to independent audience research from 2018 and 2022 which returned a “clear majority” of 60% in favour of the Angelus with images of everyday Irish life compared with religious depiction.

“That is not to dismiss that minority position,” Mr Childs concluded. “We are aware that some viewers and listeners still take great comfort from saying the Angelus prayer at this time every day, but the current presentation does nothing to prevent from doing so.”

Acknowledging the response, Cllr O’Reilly welcomed the contents of the letter.