Figure 1.--This is a scene at some event at the Anglican Church of Ireland Holy Trinity, Killiney, we think in the 1950s. Killiney is a seasiude resort on the Irish Sea near Dublin.

Religion is another important activity and has played an especially important role in Irish history. This has meant primarily the Roman Catholic Church. Some 85 percent of the population is Catholic. Most Irish churches are despite the political division organised on an all-Ireland basis which includes both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the south. We have little infirmtion before the advent of the Celts. The ancient Irish were pagan polytheistic, worshipping gods and goddesses of Celtic origin. Christianity came to Ireland from Roman Britain. St. Patrick was a major force is Christianizing the Irish, but not the only missionary involved. The Celtic Irish largely cut off from wider European developments, eveloped their own destinctive religion. They played a role in Chrianizing the Anglo-Saxons who invaded Britin, especially in the north, but it was Roman Catholocism that evetually prevailed, although with a continuing influence of the Catltic Church. The Anglo-Norman invasion enforced greater conformity within the Irish church to Catholic standards. The later Ellizabethan invasion and adoption of Protestantism by Ireland's nobility brought the Reformation to Ireland. Presbyterian and Anglican settlers established a Protestant tradition, leading to centuries of conflict with Irish Catholics. It was the common people who never falted in their faith who unlike Scotland and Wales who help keep Ireland a Catholic country. And of course there are imprtant activities roles for boys in the Church. This incluses chorieters, altars boys, and first communions. Christianity is historically the most imporant religion in Ireland and continues to be so.

History

Religion has played an especially important role in Irish history. This has meant primarily the Roman Catholic Church. We have little informtion before the advent of the Celts. The ancient Irish were pagan polytheistic, worshipping gods and goddesses of Celtic origin. Christianity came to Ireland from Roman Britain. St. Patrick was a major force is Chritinizing the Irish, but not the only missionary involved. The Celtic Irish largely cut off from wider European developments, eveloped their own destinctive religion. They played a role in Chrianizing the Anglo-Saxons who inbaded Britin, especially in the north, but it was Roman Catholocism that evetually prevailed, although with a continuing influence of the Catltic Church. The Anglo-Norman invasion enforced greater conformity within the Irish church to Catholic standards. The later Ellizabethan invasion and adoption of Protestantism by Ireland's nobility brought the Reformation to Ireland. Presbyterian and Anglican settlers established a Protestant tradition, leading to centuries of conflict with Irish Catholics. It was the common people who never falted in their faith who unlike Scotland and Wales who help keep Ireland a Catholic country.

Ancient Celts

We have little information before the advent of the Celts. The ancient pre-Christian Irish Celts like the British Celts were pagan polytheista, worshipping gods and goddesses of Celtic origin. The Celtic pantheon of deities was called the Tuatha De Danann. They included the war goddesses Badb, Macha and Nemain, a divine king named Nuadu of the Silver Hand, Lug of the Long Arm who defeated the sinister Balor, a father god named the Dagda or "the good god". Dagda's children were Oengus the god of youth and Brigit the goddess of poetry, healing and smithcraft, along with many other deities of varying importance. It isinteresting that the ancient Celts admired poetry give that Irish poets were so important in our modern age.

Christianizing the Celts

Christianity came to Ireland from Roman Britain. The first contact was Irish warriors were raiding Roman Britain and as part of their booty taking Christians captives back to Ireland back to Ireland as slaves (4th century AD). One of them of course was Patrick. St. Patrick was a major force is Chritinizing the Irish, but not the only missionary involved. Papal records reveal that that there enough Christians living in Ireland for Pope Celestine to send them a bishop (431). This was Palladius, but about all we know is his name. Patrick had esczped his captors and arrived as aissionary a few years later. The number of Christian converts gradually increased and the ancient Celtic religion eventually disappeared.

The Caltic Church

As in other countries, element of the old Celtic religion were incorporated into the Celtic church (5th-6th centuries). Monstaries were founded throughout Ireland. Irish economic and intellectual activity developed around these monastaries (7th centuty AD). Their monks played an invaluable role in saving many clssical works. And their illuminated Bibles are masterpieces of mdieval art. Becuse many of the Irish monastaries were wealthy instiutution, Viking raiders targeted them (9th century). The Celtic Irish largely cut off from wider European developments, dveloped their own destinctive characteritics. It was not, however, fundamentally different from Christianity elsewhere in Europe. But they had destinctly Irish artistic styles. The Irish Church was very cinservative. And th monasteries tended to be reluctnt about adopting new ideas like the Catholic Benedictine and Cistercian monastic reforms. The Celtic Church played an important role in Christianizing the Anglo-Saxons who invaded Britain, especially in the north. It was Roman Catholocism that evetually prevailed, although the Celtic tradiions had a profound influence on the Irish Church.

English invasion

The Anglo-Norman invasion enforced greater conformity within the Irish church to Catholic standards. The Normans invaded England and conquered the Saxons (11th century). Soon Anglo-Norman knights began to invade and conquer areas of Ireland. The Anglo-Normans had the full support of Pope Adrian IV. Adrian was English and saw this as an opportunity to bring the Irish Church more in line with Catholic practices. He though that the Irish Church had been influenced by too many pagan influences. The Anglo-Normans never conquered all of Ireland. The Church in the outlying counties (Gaelic or native Irish areas) retained more of the traditions of the Celtic Church.

The Refornation

Martun Luther launched the Reformation (1517). It gradually became inbedded in nother Germany, Scdanaviam and the Netherlands. English King Henry VIII opposed the reformation and was awarded the title 'Defender of the Faith' by the Pope. Ireland also remained staunchy Catholic. Kinf Henry without really desiring to, launched the English Reformation. Henry had no doctrinal differences with Rome, but he wanted to control the English Church so he could marry the young, vivacious Ann Boeyln. Henry seized complete control of the English Church. The areas of Ireland under English control thus became controlled of the Church of England. After Henry's death CoE became nore Protestant under his son Edward VI so did the Church of Ireland. And Queen Elizabeth I succeeded in extending English rule over most of the island. Irish opposition to the English had been more political than religious. his chnged during Elisabth's rule. Is it at this time that loyalty to the Catholic faith became a symbol of Irish national resistance to the English. The later Ellizabethan invasion and adoption of Protestantism by Ireland's nobility brought the Reformation to Ireland. Presbyterian and Anglican settlers established a Protestant tradition, leading to centuries of conflict with Irish Catholics. It was the common people who never falted in their faith who unlike Scotland and Wales who help keep Ireland a Catholic country. After Elizabeth's death, the English began to focus on the north. The English during James I rule began to encourage Protestants from England and Scotland to establish colonies in the northern Irish province of Ulster--the Irish Plantations. Janes although king of England was Scottish and king of Scotland which had become much to his displeasure fervently Protestant. As on the continent and England, Orelabd became involved in the bloody relgious wars. Catholic rebels with French aid tried to drive the Protestants out of Ulster (1641). They failed. Irish Catholics backed the English Catholic-leaning Stuart monarchy, Charles I, against the Protestan dominated monarch in the English Civil War. As part of that war, English Protestant Parlimentary commander invaded Ireland (1649). He conducted a brital campaign of pacifucation and targeted the Catholic Church. Ireland subsequently supported King James II in his cinfrontstion with Parliament. Protestant King William of Orange defeated the Stuart forces in Ireland (1689). Parliament disenfranchised Catholics in Ireland (1690). The Scotts-Irish in Ulster became estranged from King James, many emigrated to America. While they would resist Catholic Irish nationalism in Ulster, they would play a mjor role in Defearing the English during the Rvolutionary war.

Independence Struggle

There were economic consequences to disenfranchisement, the most important being land ownrship. Catholics lost most of their land. Most Irish Catholics were reduced to tennant farmers eaking out a meager resistance on estates owned by absentee English Protesrtant landlords. English Law also favored the Church of Ireland over other Protestant denominations such as Presbyterians. Some Presbyterians joined the Catholic rebels seeking Irish independence (1798). After the failure of the uprising, Protestantism in geberal became increasingly associated with loyalty to British rule. The Irish peasantry through it all remained steadfastly devoted to the Catholic Church. And Catholicism remained associated with Irish nationalism. Home rule in the 19th century became a major issue in Ireland and England. If recolciliation betwwe Rngland amd Irelans was ever possible, the policies of the English Governent during the Potto Famine (1840s) made that an impossibility. And the Catholic Church would become a major factor in the subsequent struggle for independence.

Activities

And of course there are imprtant activities roles for boys in the Church. This incluses chorieters, altars boys, and first communions.

Modern Religious Faiths

Some 85 percent of the population is Catholic. Most Irish churches are despite the political division organised on an all-Ireland basis which includes both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in the south. Christianity is historically the most imporant religion in Ireland and continues to be so.