Here we observe the troubled legacy of British colonial rule. About 55 percent are Protestant and 44 percent are Catholic. Catholic's accuse London as well as the Protestant dominated administration of discrimination and Protestants accuse Catholic's of seeking union with the Republic of Ireland. The local resource base is poor, unemployment is high and economic prospects are bleak. The Republic of Ireland is 95 percent Catholic.
Few countries have a larger portion of people of one religion.
The religion has played a major role in the country's history. Almost every city and town has at least one catholic church. When Irish take their vacations, they are often pilgrimages to their country's many holy places. Great Britain ruled Ireland for hundreds of years before Ireland gained independence in 1921. Most of Irish people descended from peoples who settled in Ireland over 7,000 years ago, which include Celts, British, and Vikings.