Joshua Bennett
Ireland is predominantly Catholic, with the religion playing a significant social and political role in the country. The country is divided into the Republic of Ireland, which is mostly Catholic, and Northern Ireland, which is predominantly Protestant. The division between the two dates back to the partition of Ireland in 1922, when most of Ireland gained independence from Britain, while the North, with its Protestant majority, chose to remain under British rule.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Partition of Ireland | 1922 |
| Percentage of Catholics in the south at the time of partition | 92.6% |
| Percentage of Protestants in the south at the time of partition | 7.4% |
| Percentage of Protestants in the south in the early 21st century | 4.2% |
| Percentage of Catholics in Northern Ireland | About two-fifths or 35% |
| Percentage of Presbyterians in Northern Ireland | More than one-fifth |
| Percentage of Anglicans in Northern Ireland | About one-sixth |
| Catholic policy that helped uphold Catholic hegemony | Ne Temere |
| Northern Ireland's predominant landscape | Scattered and isolated farms |
| Northern Ireland's residential pattern | Segregated |
| Northern Ireland's sectarian geography impact on working-class residents | Severe constraints on physical mobility |
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What You'll Learn
Northern Ireland's demographic balance
Northern Ireland is the smallest of the four parts of the United Kingdom in terms of both area and population, with 2.9% of the total population and 5.7% of the UK's total area. It is home to over 1.8 million people, constituting approximately 30% of Ireland's total population. The Belfast Metropolitan Area is the most populous, with over a third of Northern Ireland's inhabitants. The region has a population density of 133 people per square kilometre, and if it were a sovereign state, it would have the 16th-highest population density in Europe.
Northern Ireland's population has grown annually since the late 1970s. The 2011 census recorded a 7.5% increase in population since 2001. As of 2021, 50.2% of the population lived in the 217 most densely populated electoral wards, covering 460.1 km2, or 3.3% of Northern Ireland's total area. These wards include the largest settlements and track the region's rail lines and major roads.
In terms of demographics, Northern Ireland has a significant Catholic population. While the country was partitioned in 1922, with a Protestant majority in the north and a Catholic majority in the south, the 2001 census revealed that the Protestant share of the population in Northern Ireland had dropped below 50%. The same census showed that 91% of the population were born in Northern Ireland, 7.2% in other parts of the UK and Ireland, and 1.8% elsewhere. By 2021, the proportion of immigrants from outside the UK and Ireland had risen to 6.6%, while those born in other parts of the UK and Ireland fell to 6.9%. The biggest non-white ethnic groups are Chinese and Indian.
While the Catholic Church's influence has waned, it has historically played a significant social and political role in Ireland. For decades, Catholic influence and the rural nature of Irish society meant that family-oriented social policies were upheld longer than in many Western countries. For example, divorce and remarriage were not permitted from 1937 until 1995, and pornography, abortion, and contraception were resisted. The Church also controlled many hospitals and schools and provided various social services.
Today, Northern Ireland is largely industrialised, and its economy has been on an upswing since the late 1990s. An agreement in 1998 also helped pave the way for a more peaceful region.
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Religion's role in Irish conflict
Ireland has two main religious groups: Roman Catholics, who make up the majority, and Protestants (mostly Anglicans and Presbyterians). In the northern province of Ulster, Catholics outnumber Protestants. While the country is mostly Catholic overall, the level of religious observance varies, with higher rates in rural areas.
The relationship between religion and Irish nationalism is complex. While most bishops and high clergy supported the British Empire, a significant number of local priests were more sympathetic to Irish independence. When Ireland achieved independence, the Catholic Church came to play an increasingly significant social and political role in the Irish Free State and, later, the Republic of Ireland. The church influenced social policies, with divorce and remarriage, pornography, abortion, and contraception all opposed by Catholics. The church also controlled many of the state's hospitals and schools and was the largest provider of many social services.
The term "The Troubles" is used to describe the violent conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted from the late 1960s until the Good Friday Agreement of 1998. It was an ethno-nationalist conflict with a strong sectarian dimension, fueled by historical events and fought over the status of Northern Ireland. Unionists and loyalists, mostly Ulster Protestants, wanted Northern Ireland to remain within the United Kingdom, while Irish nationalists and republicans, mostly Irish Catholics, wanted Northern Ireland to leave the UK and join a united Ireland. Despite this religious division, the conflict was not primarily a religious war. It began during a campaign by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association to end discrimination against the Catholic-nationalist minority by the Protestant-unionist government and local authorities. The police, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), were overwhelmingly Protestant and known for sectarianism and police brutality. The violence escalated with the formation of the Provisional IRA and its determination to wage an "armed struggle" against British rule in Northern Ireland.
The Irish Republican Army (IRA) fought on the Catholic side, while the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and Ulster Defence Association (UDA) fought on the Protestant side. The conflict resulted in the deaths of nearly 500 people in 1972, the worst year of the conflict. While "The Troubles" primarily took place in Northern Ireland, violence sometimes spilled over into parts of the Republic of Ireland, England, and mainland Europe.
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Catholic influence on social policies
Ireland has a complex history when it comes to religious affiliation and its influence on social policies. While the island has historically been predominantly Catholic, with a strong presence of the Roman Catholic Church, there are regional variations and a changing religious landscape over time.
Northern Ireland, for example, has a significant Protestant population due to the historical settlement of Protestants in the region during the 17th century. This has resulted in a more diverse religious landscape in Northern Ireland compared to the rest of Ireland, often referred to as the Republic of Ireland. That said, even within Northern Ireland, there are areas with a strong Catholic majority, particularly in counties like Tyrone, Armagh, and Derry. These areas have often been associated with a stronger Irish nationalist sentiment and a desire for unity with the Republic of Ireland.
The Catholic Church in the Republic of Ireland has traditionally held significant influence over social policies. This influence has waned in recent decades with societal changes and secularization, especially after various scandals involving the Church and shifting social values. Nonetheless, the Catholic social teaching has left an indelible mark on Ireland's social landscape and continues to inform policy debates today.
One of the most significant ways the Catholic Church has influenced social policies in Ireland is in the area of family and social mores. The Church's teachings on the sanctity of life and the traditional family structure have shaped policies on abortion, divorce, and same-sex marriage. Until recent years, abortion was largely illegal in Ireland due to the Eighth Amendment, which gave equal right to life to the unborn and the mother. This was largely influenced by the Catholic Church's stance on abortion. Similarly, divorce was illegal in Ireland until 1995, and while the law has since been liberalized, the influence of the Church's teachings on marriage as a sacred and lifelong union is still evident in the relatively low divorce rates in the country.
The Catholic Church in Ireland has also been involved in social justice issues and the provision of social services. The Church has run numerous schools, hospitals, and charities, often catering to the most vulnerable members of society. This has had a significant impact on Irish society, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare, with many Irish people having attended Catholic schools or received care in Catholic-run hospitals. However, this influence has also been a source of controversy, particularly in cases where abuse or mistreatment has occurred in these institutions.
In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in the relationship between church and state in Ireland, with the influence of the Catholic Church on social policies diminishing. This is evident in the legalization of same-sex marriage through a popular vote in 2015 and the subsequent referendum result in 2018, which removed the Eighth Amendment and paved the way for the legalization of abortion. These changes reflect a broader shift in Irish society towards a more secular and socially liberal outlook.
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Catholic emancipation in the 19th century
In the 19th century, the majority of the population of Ireland was Catholic, and they had been subject to various legal and political disabilities for centuries. These disabilities were a result of the country's conquest and colonization by England, and the establishment of the Protestant Church of Ireland as the state religion during the Reformation.
Catholic emancipation became a major political issue in the early 19th century, as it was seen as a key test of the reformist credentials of the British government. The Catholic middle class, which had grown in numbers and influence during the previous century, led the campaign for emancipation. They argued that Catholics should have the same civil rights as their Protestant counterparts, including the right to hold public office, serve in the military, and attend university.
The campaign for Catholic emancipation gained momentum in the 1820s, led by figures such as Daniel O'Connell, who founded the Catholic Association in 1823. The Association mobilized support for emancipation through a combination of mass meetings, petitions, and lobbying of politicians. It also provided a focus for Catholic grievances and aspirations, and its success in electing pro-emancipation candidates to Parliament helped to force the government to address the issue.
Catholic emancipation was finally achieved in 1829 with the passage of the Catholic Relief Act, also known as the Emancipation Act. This Act removed many of the remaining disabilities affecting Catholics, including those relating to public office, the military, and education. It also allowed Catholics to become members of Parliament, providing they first swore an oath of supremacy to the Crown. This was a key demand of the Catholic middle class, who saw political representation as essential to securing their rights and improving their social and economic position.
The passage of the Catholic Relief Act was a significant milestone in the history of Catholic emancipation, and it had a profound impact on the development of modern Ireland. It marked a major step towards the full participation of Catholics in public life and the emergence of a more inclusive and pluralistic political system. However, it did not end all discrimination against Catholics, and further reforms were needed in the areas of land ownership, education, and the law to fully address the inequalities faced by the Catholic majority in Ireland.
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Catholic-majority areas in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has no majority religion, either in terms of people's current religious position or their family background. In the 2021 census, 42% of the Northern Ireland population described themselves as Catholic, while 46% said they were brought up in the Catholic religion. This amounts to less than half of the respondents.
The Catholic Church is the largest single church in Northern Ireland. It is organised into four provinces, though these are not coterminous with the modern political division of Ireland. The seat of the Archbishop of Armagh, the Primacy of Ireland, is St. Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh.
The relationship between the Catholic Church and Irish nationalism is complex. While most bishops and high clergy supported the British Empire, a considerable number of local priests were more sympathetic to Irish independence. Following the reform of local government in Northern Ireland, the twenty-six districts created in 1973 were replaced with eleven "super districts". The first election using these districts took place on May 22, 2014, electing councillors who sat in shadow form until April 1, 2015.
Secularisation in Northern Ireland has followed different paths within its two main communities. In the mainly Protestant community, it is reflected by a formal move away from the churches and by expressing no formal religious attachment, mirroring the pattern in Great Britain. In the mainly Catholic community, it is reflected by declining mass attendance but often retaining a formal Catholic identification, mirroring the pattern in the Republic of Ireland.
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Frequently asked questions
The Republic of Ireland is predominantly Catholic. In Northern Ireland, Catholics constitute about two-fifths of the population, while Protestants make up the majority.
For centuries, Ireland was ruled by Britain, which was predominantly Protestant. However, most of the Irish were Catholic, leading to a deep-seated cultural divide. London also planted Protestant settlers from Scotland in Northern Ireland, resulting in centuries of conflict.
Northern Ireland is marked by residential segregation, with Catholics and Protestants tending to live separately, even within the same regions. This segregation is particularly evident in Belfast and poorer neighbourhoods. While Protestants remain the majority, the demographic balance is delicate, with a slight increase in atheism and a higher Catholic birth rate.
