Religion in the Republic of Ireland

The predominant religion in Ireland is Christianity, with the largest church being the Roman Catholic Church. Ireland's constitution states that the state may not endorse any particular religion and guarantees freedom of religion. In 2011, 84.2% of the population identified themselves as Roman Catholic, 2.6% less than 5 years earlier, although the number of Catholics increased by 179,889.^[1] According to a Georgetown University study, the country also has one of the highest rates of regular Mass attendance in the Western World.^[2] While daily Mass attendance was 13% in 2006 there had been a reduction in weekly attendance from 81% to 48% between 1990 and 2006, although the decline was reported as leveling off.^[3] In the 1970s a survery had given figures at 91%.^[4] In 2011, it was reported that weekly Mass attendance in Dublin was on average 18%, with it being lower among younger generations and in some areas less than 2%.^[5][6] A 2012 survey of Irish Catholics undertaken by the Association of Catholic Priests found the weekly mass attendance rate to be 35% on an all-island basis, while daily mass attendance was reported at 3%. ^[7]

Other significant Protestant denominations are the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, followed by the Methodist Church in Ireland. The second largest Christian denomination, the Church of Ireland (Anglican), declined in membership for most of the twentieth century, but has more recently experienced an increase, as have other small Christian denominations. The country's Hindu and Muslim populations have experienced significant growth in recent years, due chiefly to immigration.^[8] In the 2011 census, 269,811 people (5.9%) had no religion, with 3,905 and 3,521 people describing themselves as "atheist" and "agnostic" respectively. Those who did not state a religion numbered 72,914 (1.6%).^[1] Researchers debate the relative significance of secularisation as a general feature of Irish society,^[9] the interpretation of census results ^[10] and the extent to which religious syncretism is becoming more widespread.^[11]

Politics

St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland (part of the Anglican Communion).

Originally, the 1937 Constitution of Ireland gave the Catholic Church a "special position" as the church of the majority, but also recognised other Christian denominations and Judaism. As with other predominantly Catholic European states, the Irish state underwent a period of legal secularisation in the late twentieth century. In 1972, the article of the Constitution naming specific religious groups, including the Catholic Church, was deleted by the fifth amendment of the constitution in a referendum.

Article 44 remains in the Constitution. It begins:

The State acknowledges that the homage of public worship is due to Almighty God. It shall hold His Name in reverence, and shall respect and honour religion.

The article also establishes freedom of religion (for belief, practice, and organisation without undue interference from the state), prohibits endowment of any particular religion, prohibits the state from religious discrimination, and requires the state to treat religious and non-religious schools in a non-prejudicial manner.

Education

Despite a large number of schools in Ireland being run by religious organisations, a general trend of secularism is occurring within the Irish population, particularly in the younger generations.^[12] Many efforts have been made by secular groups to eliminate the rigorous study in the second and sixth classes, to prepare for the sacraments of Holy Communion and confirmation in Catholic schools. Parents can ask for their children to be excluded from religious study if they wish. However, religious studies as a subject was introduced into the state administered Junior Certificate in 2001; it is not compulsory and deals with aspects of different religions, not focusing on one particular religion. Schools run by religious organisations, but receiving public money and recognition, cannot discriminate against pupils based upon, or lack of, religion. A sanctioned system of preference does exist, where students of a particular religion may be accepted before those who do not share the ethos of the school, in a case where a school's quota has already been reached.

Christianity

Saint Patrick, shown here preaching to kings, was a Romano-Briton Christian missionary and is the most generally recognised patron saint of Ireland.

Christianity is the largest religion in the Republic of Ireland based on baptisms. Irish Christianity is dominated by the Roman Catholic Church which has 84.2% of the population as followers. Most churches are organised on an all-Ireland basis which includes both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

• Protestantism in Ireland
• Presbyterian Church in Ireland
• Methodist Church in Ireland
• Eastern Orthodoxy in the Republic of Ireland
• Mormonism in Ireland

Irish travellers have traditionally adopted a very particular attitude to the Catholic church, with a focus on figures such as "healing priests".^[13] More generally a tradition of visions continues, often outside of Church sanction.^[14]

Evangelical movements have recently spread both within the established churches and outside them.^[15] Celtic Christianity has become increasingly popular, again both within and outside established churches.^[16]

The patron saints of Ireland for Catholics and Anglicans are Saint Patrick, Saint Bridget and Saint Columba. Saint Patrick is the only one of the three who is commonly recognised as the patron saint. Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated in Ireland and abroad on 17 March.

Other religions

Islam

There are 49,204 adherents (1.07%) of Islam in Ireland as of 2011. Irish Islam has a long and complex organisational history.^[17] Islamic new religious movements such as Fethullah Gulen are also represented in Ireland.^[18]

Buddhism

The population of Buddhists in Ireland is 8,703 (0.19%). Irish Buddhists such as U Dhammaloka are recorded from the late nineteenth century on, with numbers growing particularly in the 21st century.^{[citation needed]} Beyond formal membership in Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana and Western Buddhist groups, there is increasing syncretism, with self-identified Christians and others using Buddhist meditation techniques, Buddha images, texts by figures such as the 14th Dalai Lama and so on.^[19] Reputed links between Buddhism and Celtic religion have long played a role in Irish literature.^[20]

Hinduism

Neo-paganism

Various Neopagan movements are active in Ireland, especially Wicca, Neo-druidry and Celtic Polytheism.^[21] Ireland is also a significant point of reference for various kinds of Celtic ^[22] and other neo-pagan spirituality and religious practice around the world, such as the Fellowship of Isis.^[23]

New Age

The New Age is increasingly significant in Ireland,^[24] often as a form of syncretism for members of established religions. Participation is strongly gendered, with a high proportion of women.^[25] A typical example is A course in miracles.^[26]

Demographics

Census 2011

The results of the 2011 census where as follows:^[1]

Religions in the Republic of Ireland, 2011

  Roman Catholicism (84.2%)

  Church of Ireland (2.8%)

  Orthodox (1%)

  Islam (1.1%)

  No Religion (5.9%)

  Not answered (1.6%)

  Other (3.4%)

Census 2006

The 2006 census showed the following results:

^[27]

Eurobarometer Poll 2005

According to the most recent Eurobarometer Poll 2005,^[28]

• 73% of Irish citizens responded that "they believe there is a God"
• 22% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force"
• 4% answered that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, God, or life force"

See also

• Saints of Ireland
• Religion in Northern Ireland
• Atheist Ireland
• Humanist Association of Ireland
• Category:Religion in the Republic of Ireland by county

External links

The Study of Religions (UCC)

References