This article explores the relationship between Catholicism and nationalism in Ireland. It firstexplains the historic relationship between the Church and the Irish nationalist movement in thelate nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It then briefly summarizes the historic role of theChurch in Irish politics after independence. Finally, the article examines the diminishing politicalinfluence of Irish Catholicism in Irish politics by exploring the utility of various theories ofsecularisation. Like other recent work on secularisation, it attempts to historicize the debateregarding secularisation. While not agreeing with all aspects of historic secularisation theory, thisapproach is much more useful in explaining the dwindling power of the Catholic Church inIreland today than more recent theories of secularisation that emphasize the vitality of religion ina more pluralistic and competitive setting.nter-wa