The Best Catholics in the World: Taking the temperature of Ireland’s stormy marriage with the Church

Journalist Derek Scally draws some sobering conclusions in this multi-layered study of Irish Catholicism

Scally’s book opens with the visit to Dublin of Pope Francis in Augus 2018. Photo: Getty

RELIGION

The Best Catholics in the World: The Irish, the Church and the End of a Special Relationship

By Derek Scally

Penguin Sandycove, €18.99

Derek Scally’s sombre and multi-layered study of Irish Catholicism opens with a scene near Heuston Station in Dublin in 2018. He observes the gentle good humour of people on their way to see Pope Francis say Mass in the Phoenix Park and the apathy of passers-by who prefer to go shopping ...