Parishes across the county are embracing the information age with new websites coming online on a weekly basis.

Priests and local commnuites are benifiting from easy-to-use content management systems that allow them to communicate quickly and effectively with parishioners as well as those further afield. As Fr. Tom Ryan says of the Shannon parish website, ” We had many reasons to hesitate before entering the online world. Now it has become another part of parish life and how we communicate as a community. The mystery is gone, there is no downside and more people than ever are involved.”

While websites fulfil a myriad of functions, the most popular content is local information e.g. Mass times, death notices and contact details.

Pictures and virtual tours help to promote churches while a webcam can bring funeral masses to friends and relatives accross the globe.

Of course, many parishes just require a relatively simple website – a no-frills solution!