IRELAND

A. THE COUNTRY

The Republic of Ireland, in Europe, comprises 80% of the island of Ireland, with a population over 4.5 million.  (The remaining 20% of the island is Northern Ireland, a constitutional part of the United Kingdom.)  Transformation has rapidly overtaken Ireland, by the EU membership in 1973 and the economic boom since the 1990’s.  But the new affluence benefited only some and many were left downcast from the effects of the 2008-9 recession.

B. THE PEOPLE

Anglo-Celtic ~91% (Irish ~88%, British ~3%) Other ~9%: Increasing numbers of immigrant groups, including Eastern European, Latino, Asian, African, represent 90% of the population growth. Official languages are Irish and English.  Irish is spoken as first language by less than 4%; 40% of the Irish population can speak Irish.

C. RELIGION AND CHRISTIANITY/PENTECOSTALISM

~92% claim to be Christian, of which ~82% are Catholics.  The next largest denomination is the Church of Ireland (Anglican), followed by Orthodox.  Over 7 % are non-religious. Catalysed by secularism, the rapid onset of modernity and a series of high-profile scandals and cover-ups in the priesthood, the nation is rapidly losing the deep Catholic tradition that once tied it together. However the Charismatic Catholic movement has seen growth. Muslims are increasing faster than evangelicals. Evangelicals, charismatics and Pentecostals are experiencing sustained growth.  Evangelicals represent 1.5% (the lowest percentage of evangelicals of any English-speaking nation).  Charismatics represent 1.2% (of those Pentecostals are 0.2%).  The recently formed Evangelical Alliance is drawing believers together.

Donna Siemens

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org

Operation World, Jason Mandryk. Colorado Springs: Biblica Publishing, 2010.