The first advertising campaign in the Republic to promote the image and work of priests has been unveiled by the Archdiocese of Dublin.
The adverts, which begin today, are part of a campaign to "tackle recent stereotypes" about priests, including the characters in the television series, Father Ted, according to the Archdiocese. They will feature the question: "Who are the men in black?" and carry a phone number for anyone requiring further information.
Announcing the campaign yesterday, the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Desmond Connell, said the true role of the priest in society got little discussion at the moment. The campaign was an attempt to talk to young people in their own language.
A spokesman for the Archdiocese said the campaign would aim to point out that the life of a priest was exhausting but ideal for those who wanted a deeper involvement in the church.
The campaign has cost £10,000 and was sponsored by St Joseph's Young Priests' Society, which promotes the priesthood through prayer.