The Catholic Church in Ireland is dying. Are so we are led to believe. The media quotes figures such as only 8 priest were ordained in the country in 2005 and this number is described as

“For the first time in 20 years there was a significant rise in the number of new seminarians in 2004 and already there have been signs that the last days of Pope John Paul II had a profound effect on young people which may inspire them to reflect more deeply on the implications of their Christian vocation,”

by National Director for Vocations Fr Kevin Doran.

An interesting post about the subject is here