Islamophobia in Ireland; Executed Carmelite nuns; Church closures

Irish lawmakers are currently debating a bill on hate speech. The aim is to update 35 year old legislation that the Irish Justice Minister has called “ineffective”. A spate of anti-immigration protests in the country are said to have a pronounced Islamophobic focus. We speak to an academic to explore Ireland’s relationship with issues of racism and immigration.

South African soprano Golda Schultz talks about her role as Madeleine Lidoine in the opera, Dialogues of the Carmelites, which depicts the powerful and moving true story of 16 nuns executed in 1794. It is currently being staged at Glyndebourne. She describes how the role has strengthened her own Catholic faith.

The Church of Scotland will have to close hundreds of its churches in the next few years and this isn't just a problem for Scottish Presbyterians, who now have twice as many buildings as they have ministers. Across the UK, six thousand churches and chapels have closed in the past decade. William Crawley speaks to the Reverend David Cameron, Convenor of the Assembly Trustees, and to Sir Philip Rutnam, Chair of the National Churches Trust.

Prsenter: William Crawley Editor: Jonathan Hallewell & Tim Pemberton Producers: Bara'atu Ibrahim & Linda Walker Production Coordinator: David Baguley Studio Managers: Sharon Hughes & Simon Highfield