Overview

A compelling account of why Ireland was so very Catholic for so long, and why that changed When Berlin-based journalist Derek Scally visited Christmas Vigil Mass in his hometown of Dublin, he found that like its congregants, the once-packed suburban church where he was an altar boy was quiet and slowly ageing. A collective identity lost, the dwindling power of the Church in Ireland was undeniable. The Best Catholics in the World is Scally's response - an empathetic and engaging voyage into the story of Irish Catholicism. Researched over three years, and including dozens of interviews conducted in Ireland and further afield, The Best Catholics in the World is a lively, original, moving and thought-provoking account of a country grappling with its troubling past and confusing present.

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9781844885275

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Reviews

An extraordinary story ... At once intimate and epic, this is a landmark book -- Fintan O'Toole A great achievement ... brilliant, engaging and essential -- Colm Toibin An engaging and incisive book that asks what keeping the faith cost us, how it shaped us and what it means now -- Caelainn Hogan * author of Republic of Shame * Remarkable ... [Scally] examines the past with disarming honesty and a sense of compassion. His book is essential reading for anyone concerned about history and forgetting -- Michael Harding Offers some challenging end-of-an-era reflections on being Catholic in the scandal-ridden church of contemporary Ireland -- Mary McAleese Absolutely thrilling. A wonderful blend of personal story, journalism and history - it goes to unexpected places and asks questions we don't usually consider -- Oliver Callan Accessible, original, thought-provoking and very engaging -- Marie Collins A wonderful book -- Catriona Crowe Reflective, textured, insightful and original ... rich with history, interrogation and emotional intelligence -- Diarmaid Ferriter * Irish Times * A highly intelligent, patriotic work * Business Post * Compelling * Irish Examiner * Excellent and timely * Sunday Times *

An extraordinary story ... At once intimate and epic, this is a landmark book -- Fintan O'Toole A great achievement ... brilliant, engaging and essential -- Colm Toibin An engaging and incisive book that asks what keeping the faith cost us, how it shaped us and what it means now -- Caelainn Hogan * author of Republic of Shame * Remarkable ... [Scally] examines the past with disarming honesty and a sense of compassion. His book is essential reading for anyone concerned about history and forgetting -- Michael Harding Offers some challenging end-of-an-era reflections on being Catholic in the scandal-ridden church of contemporary Ireland -- Mary McAleese Absolutely thrilling. A wonderful blend of personal story, journalism and history - it goes to unexpected places and asks questions we don't usually consider -- Oliver Callan Accessible, original, thought-provoking and very engaging -- Marie Collins A wonderful book -- Catriona Crowe Reflective, textured, insightful and original ... rich with history, interrogation and emotional intelligence -- Diarmaid Ferriter * Irish Times * A highly intelligent, patriotic work * Business Post *

Author Information

Derek Scally has written for the Irish Times since 2000. He is based in Berlin. His first book, The Best Catholics in the World, was a number one bestseller and was shortlisted for Non-Fiction Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards 2021.

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