A sad Irish truth in religion's lost creed of certainties

By Frank O'Shea
Updated April 19 2018 - 12:15am, first published May 13 2013 - 3:00am

When I read of the dramatic decline in the influence of the Catholic Church in modern Ireland, I admit to a feeling of sadness. This is less because of my own shaky religious convictions than on what I perceive as a loss of a core element of Irish culture. For several hundred years, outsiders tried to replace our version of belief with an alternative import. The first Elizabeth used a big stick, as did Cromwell; when that approach was not successful, later colonisers tried a carrot. Those who accepted were immortalised in the scornful couplet:

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

$0/

(min cost $0)

or signup to continue reading

See subscription options

Get the latest Canberra news in your inbox

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.