More atheists than Church of Ireland believers

The percentage of Catholics in both Westmeath and Roscommon increased significantly in the five years prior to the last census new figures have revealed. The figures were part of the latest publication in a series of Census 2011 reports by the Central Statistics Office. The statistics also reveal that there were more atheists than Church of Ireland adherents in both counties. In Westmeath, some 75,432 people representing 87.5% of the population were Catholic, an increase of 5.5% since 2006. In Roscommon, 57,641 people representing 90% of the population were Catholic, an increase of 6.1% since 2006. These percentage increase compared with an increase of 4.9% to 84.2% of the population for the State as a whole. The total of those with no religion, atheists and agnostics increased almost six-fold between 1991 and 2011 to stand at 3,143 or 3.6% of the population of Westmeath in 2011. There were 2,030 members of the Church of Ireland in Westmeath accounting for 2.4% of the population. In Roscommon, the total of those with no religion, atheists and agnostics increased more than seven-fold between 1991 and 2011 to stand at 2,344 or 3.7% of the population of the county in 2011. There were 1,325 members of the Church of Ireland in County Roscommon accounting for 2.1% of the population.