For many years before I left Ireland in 2016, the problem of homelessness in Dublin had been an absolute disgrace. Back in the day when I was young – in the 1970s and ′80s – there was basically no homelessness in Dublin. Those were the days of the “bad old Catholic Ireland”, which, despite my pretty good memory, I cannot for the life of me recall. St Paul writes that faith works through charity. In recent times there has seemingly been a small but significant turn (back) to the Christian faith, particularly Catholicism, elsewhere.

Source: The Irish Times January 04, 2026 13:19 UTC