text: And I thought Ireland in the 1930's was bigoted (but of course we lived in the Republic). Our next -door neighbor  was a farmer like ourselves but the family was Protestant (Church of Ireland).  However they were recognized as the most Christian family in the parish. When my father fell ill, Fred organized a group to harvest the crops. When the Catholic Church needed a new roof Fred headed the committee to raise the necessary funds. Fred never entered that church. He attended funerals but stood outside and went to the grave for the internment. Fred dropped in several times a week to chat, read the paper and keep in touch. When his mother died in 1962 her funeral procession was several miles long.Fred's own funeral was much smaller and was 90% Catholic including the local Catholic pastor. 
  So please don't tar us all with the same brush.