Martina Purdy, is a former print and TV journalist currently training to be a nun. Born in Belfast, she moved at an early age with her family to Canada in 1971. She earned a degree in international relations from the University of Toronto after working in local journalism in Ireland, she returned to Canada for postgraduate study at the Ryerson School of Journalism.[1] Purdy was a business editor with the Irish News and then the Belfast Telegraph, before joining the BBC in 1999, and becoming the political correspondent for BBC Northern Ireland Television.[2] In 2014 she left the BBC to become a nun with the Sisters of Adoration, on the Falls Road, in West Belfast, along with former Barrister Elaine Kelly.[3] In 2019 due to the convent not having enough nuns meeting the church's rules, she and another trainee nun left formation.[4] In 2020 she became a guide for the St. Patricks' Way, at the St. Patrick's Centre, Downpatrick[5] In 2021, moved to continue her formation as a nun this time with Poor Clares monastery at Faughart, north of Dundalk, in Co Louth.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ A life handed over to God by Martin O'Brien, Irish Catholic, 11 August 2016.
- ^ 'I know many people won't understand' - BBC star Martina Purdy quits for new life as nun by Amanda Ferguson, Irish Independent, 12 October 2014.
- ^ Martina Purdy Today with Sean O'Rourke, RTE Radio 1, 20 September 2018.
- ^ Martina Purdy and Elaine Kelly leave Belfast Convent NI Politics, BBC, 25 September 2019.
- ^ Ex-BBC correspondent Martina Purdy launches St Patrick’s Way pilgrimage route in Co Down By Philip Bradfield, Newsletter, Friday, 26 June 2020.