How many Catholics?
2011 84.2%Proportion of the population – or 3,861,300 people – who said they were Catholic in the 2011 census
1930s 93.5%Proportion of the population – or 2,773,920 people – who said they were Catholic in the 1936 census
1920s 92.6%Proportion of the population – or 2,751,269 people – who said they were Catholic in the 1926 census
LOUGH DERG:1952 was the most successful year, with 34,645 pilgrims. A one-day retreat that Lough Derg introduced in 1992 may account for some of the reduction in numbers. About 4,000 people went that year. After reaching 12,645 in 2000, numbers have dropped; last year 8,321 people went on the one-day retreat
Numbers going on the island’s three-day pilgrimage
193212,316
196025,878
199025,390
20118,311
KNOCK SHRINEThe advent of the car saw a big increase in visitors to the Marian shrine in Co Mayo. Judging by inquiries, the shrine expects an increase in group visitor numbers of up to 3,000 in the week before and the week after this month's Eucharistic congress. Individual visitors will further boost these figures
1930s250,000-300,000 a year
20111.6 million
Sex before marriage: Always wrong?
1970s 71%Percentage of respondents who said yes in 1973-74
2000s 6%Percentage of respondents who said yes in 2004-05
Ireland in churches
1930s 2,473Number of Catholic churches in Ireland's 26 dioceses (covering 32 counties) in 1932
1960s 2,534Number of Catholic churches in Ireland's 26 dioceses in 1964
2010s 2657Number of Catholic churches in Ireland's 26 dioceses in 2011
Sources: Central Statistics Office; Irish Catholic Directory; Department of Education; Families in Ireland
