Eucharistic Congress 1932

What was it?

• An international Catholic religious festival bringing in people from all over the world.

• It was held in Dublin in 1932 to celebrate the 1,500 year anniversary of St. Patrick’s arrival in Ireland.

• The Congress was the idea of the Cumann na nGaedheal government but Fianna Fail were in power when it took place.

What happened?• Dublin was decorated with flowers, banners and

religious pictures• There was a massive mass in the phoenix park• Religious people came from all over the world

(mainly priests and nuns )• A live papal broadcast from Rome.• Worlds largest PA system was used to broadcast

message from the pope• Performances from John McCormack the famous

Irish Tenor singing religious songs

What did it show?• How Catholicism was the most important religion in

the new state (93% of people considered Catholic)• There was a close relationship between the

government and the Catholic Church.• That Independent Ireland could organise a large

international event• Religions other than Catholicism were marginalised

despite the 1922 constitution saying all religions would be treated equally in the eyes of the state

• People such as Bishop John Charles McQuaid were powerful and could influence government decisions

• This influence was evident in the laws of the period, for example: The Intoxicating Liquor Act 1924 Censorship of Films Act 1923Censorship of Publications Act 1929The Criminal Law Amendment Act (banning contraceptives)

• That politicians wanted to build a state that would reflect Catholic values which almost everyone shared.

• That Catholicism could bind together those of both anti and pro treaty opinions

• Catholic Church would ultimately take over the running of many hospitals, schools and orphanages. This made the church a central part of Irish society