On this episode of The Niall Boylan Podcast, Niall speaks with journalist and founder of the The Iona Institute, David Quinn, about a surprising new report commissioned by the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference which suggests Ireland is still more religious than many people might think.

The report, Turning the Tide? Recent Religious Trends on the Island of Ireland, examined a wide range of data sources including the European Social Survey, research from Amárach Research, the Central Statistics Office and international studies.

One of the key findings is that Irish Catholics rank toward the higher end of religious practice in Europe. Around 31 percent of Catholics in Ireland say they attend Mass at least once a week, placing Ireland fourth overall in Europe alongside Italy and behind countries such as Poland and Slovakia.

Prayer is also relatively common. About one third of Irish Catholic adults say they pray daily, putting Ireland near the top among Western European countries.

However, the report highlights a major generational gap. Mass attendance among young people fell dramatically between 2002 and 2022, dropping from 41 percent of young Catholics attending weekly to just 7 percent. But interestingly, recent data shows a small rebound. Between 2022 and 2024, weekly Mass attendance among young Catholics rose from 7 percent to 17 percent, suggesting what some observers are calling a possible “quiet revival.”

That’s exactly what David Quinn believes may be happening. He argues that religious belief among young people may be stronger than many assume, even in a modern Ireland that is often seen as increasingly secular and independent minded.

The report also notes that immigration has changed the religious landscape, with the proportion of Catholics in Ireland who were born abroad rising from 6 percent in the early 2000s to 18 percent today. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland remains the most religious part of the island, with around 35 percent of adults attending religious services weekly, far higher than the UK average.

But the picture is complex. Many younger believers still disagree strongly with church teachings, particularly around issues such as sexuality and relationships. Surveys suggest large majorities of young people believe the Church’s views on sexuality and homosexuality are outdated.

So what does this all mean?

Is religion quietly making a comeback in Ireland?

Are young people rediscovering faith in a world that often feels uncertain?

Or is Ireland continuing its long move toward a more secular society?

Niall and David Quinn explore the data, the cultural shifts and what belief looks like in Ireland today.

And Niall wants to hear from you.

Do you consider yourself religious?

Do you believe there is a higher power?

Or has modern Ireland moved beyond religion entirely?

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Ten years ago, Niall had one of the most outrageous and hilarious episodes in the show’s history. A caller rang in with a story that had everyone in stitches — and maybe slightly horrified. She was fed up with what she called the “supermarket runway”: women in lycra wandering the aisles, bending over and allegedly rubbing parts of themselves on the bread, and young men and women strutting around like the grocery store was their personal catwalk, showing off every toned muscle and tight outfit.

Niall and the team couldn’t believe some of the visuals painted by the caller, sparking laughs, disbelief, and a flood of listener reactions. The episode turned into a chaotic, cheeky conversation about fashion, public decency, and why supermarkets suddenly felt more like a gym and less like a place to shop.

Relive the madness, the laughs, and the stories that had listeners calling back with their own supermarket horror tales. It’s a classic mix of comedy, social commentary, and pure chaos — a reminder of why Niall’s show has kept people talking for over a decade.

On this episode, Niall reads a powerful email from a listener who says she feels completely torn about the future of her marriage.

The woman explains that before they got married her husband admitted he once had a gambling problem but promised he had stopped. Ten years later, while planning a family holiday, he told her he was short of money despite earning a good salary. Curious, she checked his phone while he was asleep and discovered that he had spent more than €600 on online gambling in just one month.

When confronted, he said it was only small bets and insisted he could stop anytime. But her friends say he has already had his second chance and blew it. They believe gambling is an addiction that rarely goes away and are urging her to leave while she is still young.

What makes the situation even more painful is her past. She grew up with a father who drank and gambled, often losing the mortgage money and causing constant stress at home. She fears history could repeat itself.

The couple have a four year old child together and she says she still loves her husband, but she is terrified that if the gambling continues it could eventually destroy their family financially and emotionally.

Should she walk away now before things get worse, or should she stay and try to help him get support? Can gamblers truly change, or is it only a matter of time before the problem returns?

Niall opens the phone lines and asks listeners what they would do in her situation.