The Republic of Ireland was established in 1922 as a dominion of the British Commonwealth. It gained formal independence in 1949.
Disillusionment with the established Church, materialism and the global financial crisis have created a deep sense of hopelessness in Ireland. Many people are searching for meaning, but evangelical Christians comprise just 1.2% of the population.
Country Facts
- Region: Europe
- Capital: Dublin
- Population: 4.7 million
- Area: 70,273 km2
- Religions: Roman Catholic 80.2%, no religion 7%
- Languages: English and Irish (both official though English is more widely spoken)
