The Iona Institute’s poll offers a compelling snapshot of a society at a crossroads, where a younger generation appears to be re-engaging with spirituality
Newsroom (08/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) A significant resurgence of interest in religion among young people in Northern Ireland has been revealed by a major new poll commissioned by the Iona Institute, a Christian advocacy group. The survey, conducted by Amarach Research with a representative sample of 1,200 adults, highlights shifting attitudes toward religion, Christianity, and individual churches among Catholics, Protestants, and the non-religious, signaling a departure from decades of declining religious engagement.
David Quinn, spokesperson for the Iona Institute, described the findings as evidence of “a clear reversal of the previous continual decline” in religious interest, particularly among the youngest age group surveyed, those aged 18-24. “The fact that some kind of revival of interest in religion is occurring among the youngest age group should encourage all the Churches,” Quinn said. He suggested that a growing number of young people may be turning to religion as secularism fails to address life’s fundamental questions.
The poll found that 30 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds hold a “very positive” attitude toward Christianity, compared to just 4 percent with a “very negative” view—a stark contrast to older age groups, including those over 65. This trend aligns with similar findings in the Republic of Ireland, Britain—where the phenomenon has been dubbed the “Quiet Revival”—and the United States. Notably, 17 percent of this younger cohort expressed a very positive view of the Catholic Church, a higher proportion than in any older age group.
The survey also underscores a broader societal shift in Northern Ireland, where the traditional Catholic-Protestant divide is being reshaped by the rise of the “nones”—those who claim no religious affiliation. This group has emerged as a significant demographic, often displaying a “plague on both your houses” attitude toward organized religion, with the most unfavorable views of religion overall.
Other key findings include:
-
40 percent of Catholics in Northern Ireland are regular Mass-goers, double the rate in the Republic of Ireland.
-
The 18- to 24-year-old demographic is more likely to pray and engage with religious content, such as reading or watching spiritual material, than those aged 25-34.
-
Scandals remain a significant factor driving negative perceptions of the Catholic Church.
-
Catholics tend to view Protestant churches more favorably than Protestants view Catholic churches.
Quinn predicted a future with fewer “cultural Christians”—those who identify as Christian but do not practice—suggesting society may increasingly polarize between the religious and the non-religious. “This seems to be what is happening in both the North and the South,” he said. “The overall conclusion, however, is that religion is not disappearing, contrary to past predictions.”
The poll’s findings come amid heightened public discourse on faith in Ireland, spurred by Maria Steen’s recent presidential campaign. Steen, an outspoken Catholic, gained significant support for her unapologetic stance on morality and religion, despite being marginalized by the political establishment. Her candidacy has been seen by some as a sign that Ireland may be rediscovering the faith of its ancestors.
The Iona Institute’s poll offers a compelling snapshot of a society at a crossroads, where a younger generation appears to be re-engaging with spirituality in ways that challenge long-held assumptions about the decline of religion in Northern Ireland.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Catholic Herald
Related Images:
