Catholic Baptisms Fall Sharply in Cork as Births and Religious Affiliation Decline

Catholic baptisms fall sharply in Cork as births and religious affiliation decline

New research attributes the decline to falling birth rates and secularisation, while highlighting continued cultural Catholic identity among parents

Catholic baptisms in Ireland drop 30pc in ten years - ZENIT

(ZENIT News / Dublin, 08.19.2026).- A new briefing note from The Iona Institute, based on data from almost every Catholic diocese on the island of Ireland has found that over the past 10 years, the number of baptisms taking place annually has fallen by 30pc. The research finds that the two big drivers of the decline are falling births, and rising secularism. Falling births account for about 60pc of the decline with the rest accounted for by secu…

Falling births help drive 30pc drop in Catholic baptisms

A new briefing note from The Iona Institute has found that over the past 10 years, the number of baptisms taking place annually has fallen by 30pc. The research finds that the two big drivers of the decline are falling births, and rising secularism. Falling births account for about 60pc of the decline with the rest accounted for by secularisation. In the same ten years during which baptisms have fallen by 30pc, births on the island have fallen b…