Ireland is Christianity

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 2006, 86.8% of the population identified themselves as Roman Catholic, 1.4% less than 4 years earlier, although the number of Catholics increased by 218,800.[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]

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. In percentage terms, Orthodoxy and Islam were the fastest growing religions, up by 100% and 70% respectively.[7] The 2006 census recorded 186,318 people (4.4%) who described themselves as having "no religion." An additional 1,515 people described themselves as agnostic and 929 as atheist. A further 70,322 (1.7%) did not respond to the question.[8] 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] Religion will completely disappear from nine western countries (including Ireland) sometime this century, estimates a group of three US researchers.[12]

Christianity is technically the largest religion in the Republic of Ireland based on baptisms, however the vast majority of the population do not practice religion on a regular basis, and a growing number of the population is moving more towards No-Religion, or Atheism. Irish Christianity is dominated by the Roman Catholic Church which has 86.8% of the population as followers. Most churches are organised on an all-Ireland basis which includes both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Irish travellers have traditionally adopted a very particular attitude to the Catholic church, with a focus on figures such as "healing priests".[14] More generally a tradition of visions continues, often outside of Church sanction.[15]

Evangelical movements have recently spread both within the established churches and outside them.[16] Celtic Christianity has become increasingly popular, again both within and outside established churches.[17]

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

32,000 adherents as of 2006 (0.8%). Irish Islam has a long and complex organisational history.[18] Islamic new religious movements such as Fethullah Gulen are also represented in Ireland.[19]

Buddhism

6,500 adherents as of 2006 (0.15%). 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.[20] Reputed links between Buddhism and Celtic religion have long played a role in Irish literature.[21]

Hinduism

Neo-paganism

Various Neopagan movements are active in Ireland, especially Wicca, Neo-druidry and Celtic Polytheism.[22] No official statistics exist, but presumably Neopagan religions account for a fraction of the 8,576 people stating adherence to "other religions", the 1,691 "pantheist" or the 70,322 "not stating" in 2006. Ireland is also a significant point of reference for various kinds of Celtic [23] and other neo-pagan spirituality and religious practice around the world, such as the Fellowship of Isis.[24]

New Age

The New Age is increasingly significant in Ireland,[25] often as a form of syncretism for members of established religions. Participation is strongly gendered, with a high proportion of women.[26] A typical example is A course in miracles.[27]