Irish missionaries are renowned for their work in developing countries throughout the world. Although there are not as many missionaries working abroad as there once was, they continue to maintain a central role in important developmental projects throughout the world. The organisation Misean Cara supports the development work of missionaries around the world, chanelling Irish state funds to vital areas such as education, health care, humanitarian relief and environmental protection.
Political Editor of Raidió na Gaeltachta, Beirní Ní Chuinn, spent four years doing volunteer work in Africa in the nineties, and she recently returned to Africa agus visited some of the projects supported by Misean Cara that Irish missionaries are involved with there. She met Irish priests and nuns who are working with communities in the townships in Cape Town, including Connemara priest Fr. Pádraig Ó Neachtain. In this programme we hear about his work there, as well as the work of other Irish missionaries working to help some of the poorest communities in South Africa.
Tá cáil ar mhisinéiri na hÉireann le blianta fada mur gheall ar a gcuid oibre i dtíortha neamhfhorbartha an domhain mhóir. Cé nach bhfuil an oiread misinéirí thar lear anois agus a bhí tráth, áirítear ról lárnach a bheith acu fós i dtograí fiúntacha ar fud na cruinne. Cuireann an eagraíocht Misean Cara tacaíocht agus maoiniú de chuid an stáit ar fáil do na misinéirí seo ó bhliain go bliain.
Chaith Eagraí Polaitíochta Raidió na Gaeltachta Beirní Ní Chuinn seal ceithre bliana i mbun oibre deonaigh san Afraic ins na naochaidí, agus le deireanaí d’fhill sí ar an Afraic agus thug sí cuairt ar chuid de na tograí a dtacaíonn Misean Cara leo a bhfuil misinéirí na hÉireann ag forbairt san Afraic Theas. Bhuail sí le sagairt agus le mná rialta de chuid na hÉireann atá ag obair go dian le daoine i mbailecheantair bhochta Chape Town. Ina measc siúd atá ag obair ar son phobal bocht na hAfraice Theas ó 1959, tá an tAthair Pádraig Ó Neachtain ó Chonamara ó dhúchas. Insítear scéal an Athar Uí Neachtain san Afraic, maraon le hobair mhisinéirí na hÉireann go ginearálta, sa chlár seo.