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Ireland is perhaps the most Catholic country in Europe. The Irish Churchbwas at the center of preserving Irish nationality and asa result contious to have an enormous influence in modern Ireland. Most persons in the Irish Republic are Catholic and many remember their First Communion as one of their earliest experiences.
Ireland is perhaps the most Catholic country in Europe. The Irish Churchbwas at the center of preserving Irish nationality and asa result contious to have an enormous influence in modern Ireland.
I believe that most Irish boys prepare for First Communion at their school. I do not have details at this time, but I believe that the Church has a major role in Irish education, including state schools.
Most persons in the Irish Republic are Catholic and many remember their First Communion as one of their earliest experiences.
One report from the 1930s describes boys wearing both long and short pants suits--some boys received their first long pants for First Communion. Some boys wore sailor suits. Plain navy suits were the most common. Boys had white Communion badges. An Irish source reports that some boys in 1958 wore white short pants suits for First Communion. His was a white speckled suit which he wore with fawn knee socks.
A few individual experience are available.
Castlegar (Gaelic: An Caisleán Gearr) is a village in County Galway, Ireland. The photograph shows a group of children who received their First Communion (1921). They are all wearing similar white clothes and are barefoot. Ireland was still a very poor country at the time. It is likely that the parish provided the outfits. For the girls they seemed to have gone for a traditionl look. For the boys it was mote of a practical approach. But both in all white.
Our greatest 'first' event was that of our First Holy Communion. Napoleon Bonaparte was once asked what his greatest childhood memory was, and he replied, "The day I received my First Holy Communion". It is most special because we are conscious of being really fussed over by our parents and our teachers. Again it is our first realisation that we are
"somebody"--we are somehow important in this life - being centre stage - and being Irish, and especially being coveys, we play it to the hilt!
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