General Information » Culture & Lifestyle » Religion

The right of Irish citizens to religious liberty is manifested in Article 44 of the Irish constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann, including the freedom to practice any religion as well as the freedom of conscience. Consequently, an Irish citizen cannot be discriminated against on the grounds of religion unless in an effort to protect public order or morality. The state is obliged to refrain from endowing or favouring any religion, and the same aid has to be granted to schools of different denominations.

Roman Catholics accounted for roughly 88% of the population in 2002. The figures speak volumes about the identities the majority of Irish citizens assume, but they bear little evidence to the changing nature of religious conviction in Ireland.

Dublin’s move towards a cosmopolitan European capital has come hand-in-hand with a departure from traditional views often associated with the Catholic Church. Feeling that the church has missed the bandwagon to the 21st century in key issues such as divorce, contraception or homosexuality, many Dubliners have distanced themselves from everything it represents. The results are plummeting church attendances and an increase in the number of purely nominal Christians. The last straw for many was the series of well-publicised scandals relating to child abuse and embezzlement that shook the foundations of the Irish religious establishments in the 1990s and aroused a sense of betrayal in many followers. While some have turned their backs on the institutional side of things and have started to view religion as a spiritual quest from within, others have grown so disillusioned that they have completely drifted away. Today, a strong Catholic Polish community joins those still firmly devoted to the church and Christian values in regular attendance at church services.

Other denominations in Ireland include the Church of Ireland (followed by 3% of the population in 2002), Presbyterians (0.5%) and Methodists (0.25%). Smaller minorities, such as Jews and Muslims make up the rest.

Outside of Ireland, the Irish church retains its strong missionary outreach with around 3,000 priests, brothers and nuns following their vocation in over 90 countries.

Listings

Christ Church Cathedral

ChristChurch Presbyterian

Dublin Jewish Progressive Congregation, Knessett O

Dublin Machzikei Hadass Congregation

Dublin Mosque

Dublin Terenure Hebrew Congregation

Dun Laoghaire Evangelical Church

Dundrum Methodist Church

Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation

Romanian Orthodox Church - Exaltation of the Holy

Saint Patrick's Cathedral

Saint Patrick's Cathedral

St Bartholomew's with Christ Church, Leeson Pk

St Columcille

St Mark's Family Worship Centre

St Mary's

St Mary's Pro Cathedral

St Matthias' Church

St Michael's

St Vincent de Paul

Swords Baptist Church