section_path: Demographics/Religion
section_name: Religion
paragraph_text: Religion
  
  Religious freedom is constitutionally provided for in Ireland, and the country's constitution has been secular since 1973. Christianity is the predominant religion, and while Ireland remains a predominantly Catholic country, the percentage of the population who identified as Catholic on the census has declined significantly in the early 21st century, from 84.2 percent in the 2011 census to 69.1 percent in 2022. Other results from the 2016 census were: 4.2% Protestant, 1.3% Orthodox, 1.3% Muslim, and 9.8% having no religion. According to a Georgetown University study, before 2000 the country had one of the highest rates of regular mass attendance in the Western world. While daily attendance was 13% in 2006, there was a reduction in weekly attendance from 81% in 1990 to 48% in 2006; the decline was reported as stabilising, though. In 2011, it was reported that weekly mass attendance in Dublin was 18% and even lower among younger generations.
  
  The Church of Ireland, at 2.7% of the population, is the second largest Christian denomination. Membership declined throughout the twentieth century but experienced an increase early in the 21st century alongside other Christian denominations. Other significant Protestant denominations are the Presbyterian Church and Methodist Church. Immigration has contributed to a growth in Hindu and Muslim populations. In percentage terms, as of the 2006 census, Orthodox Christianity and Islam are the fastest growing religions with increases of 100% and 70% respectively.
  
  Ireland's patron saints are Saint Patrick, Saint Bridget, and Saint Columba; Saint Patrick is commonly recognised as the primary patron saint. Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated on 17 March in Ireland and abroad as the Irish national day with parades and other celebrations.
  
  As with other traditionally Catholic European states, such as Spain and Italy, Ireland underwent a period of legal secularisation in the late twentieth century. In 1972, the article of the Constitution naming specific religious groups was deleted by the Fifth Amendment in a referendum. Article 44 remains in the Constitution: "The State acknowledges that the homage of public worship is due to Almighty God. It shall hold His Name in reverence, and shall respect and honour religion." The article also establishes freedom of religion, prohibits endowment of any religion, prohibits the state from religious discrimination, and requires the state to treat religious and non-religious schools in a non-prejudicial manner.
  
  Although most schools in Ireland are patronised by religious organisations, government policy has been to "transfer" some schools to non-denominational or multi-denominational patronage, and a secularist trend is occurring among younger generations.