“The LORD will be King over Ireland!”
The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.(Zechariah 14:9,NIV)
》 Country Profile
Continent | Europe
Population | 5.38 million
Area | 70,237㎢, Occupies 80% of the island of Ireland in the western Atlantic Ocean of Europe.
Capital City | Dublin (1.25 million)
People Groups | Total 45 groups, Irish 76.6%, British 2%, Polish 2%, Asian 3.3%, others 8.7%
Unreached People Groups | 5 (1% of the population)
Official Language(s) | English, Irish (Gaelic)
Total Languages | 34
Bible Translations | Completed 29, New Testament 2, Partial 1
Religion | Christianity 91.4% (Protestant 0.9%, Catholic 80%), Non-religious 7.1%, Muslim 0.8%, Hindu 0.4% Evangelical 1.6% (8,000 people)
》 About Ireland
Ireland was settled by the Celts around 600 BC and began to form a nation in the 4th century BC. The name ‘Ireland’ combines the Celtic goddess Ériu (modern Éire) and ‘land’. Ireland experienced British interference beginning in the 12th century and was fully annexed by Britain in 1801. British rule led to famine and disease, causing mass emigration and rising anti-British sentiment, eventually sparking a war of independence. In 1921, the southern 26 counties, mostly Catholic and Celtic, became independent, while the 6 counties of Northern Ireland, mainly Protestant and Scottish Anglo-Saxon, remained part of the UK. Ireland became a republic in 1949, and religious conflict and discrimination led to violence in the 1960s. In 1998, the Irish government, along with the UK and US, signed the Good Friday Agreement, starting a new phase of cooperation. In this historical context, Catholicism had long been a symbol of resistance and national identity. However, in 1980, it suffered a major decline and loss of trust due to decades of sexual scandals by Catholic clergy and attempts to cover them up. As a parliamentary republic, Michael D. Higgins took office as president in November 2011, was re-elected in 2018, and continues to serve to this day. Simon Harris became prime minister in April 2024.
Ireland’s economy is small but modern and heavily dependent on trade. Since the 1990s, it has transformed into a knowledge-based economy, led by IT services, and the modernization of life sciences, finance, agriculture, and food industries. After a downturn in 2008 due to the global financial crisis, Ireland recovered quickly thanks to large foreign investment by US multinational companies. In 2017, 14 of the top 20 companies were American multinationals, prompting criticism from the EU and Western Europe for serving as a tax haven. The main risks to the economy include Brexit, potential changes to international tax policies, and global trade tensions.
Ireland’s GDP per capita is approximately $107,316.
》 Scripture Focus
| Zechariah 14:7–9, 16, 20–21(NIV) 7 It will be a unique day—a day known only to the LORD—with no distinction between day and night. When evening comes, there will be light. 8 On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem, half of it east to the Dead Sea and half of it west to the Mediterranean Sea, in summer and in winter. 9 The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name. 16 Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. 20 On that day HOLY TO THE LORD will be inscribed on the bells of the horses, and the cooking pots in the LORD’s house will be like the sacred bowls in front of the altar. 21 Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the LORD Almighty, and all who come to sacrifice will take some of the pots and cook in them. And on that day there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the LORD Almighty. |
》 Prayer Points
1. In 2024, the Irish government released a report documenting 2,395 cases of child sexual abuse involving 884 individuals across 308 Catholic schools from 1927 to 2013. This revealed that the scandals of Catholic clergy, first exposed in the 1980s, had continued for decades. Let us pray for true repentance, forgiveness, and restoration for all who were involved. Although Protestants in Ireland are a minority, they have preserved a tradition of the Word and prayer, serving as a small flame of truth in an increasingly secularized society. Signs of revival are emerging, especially with the noticeable rise of adult baptisms in places like Dublin. Since the legalization of same-sex marriage in 2015, Ireland has become even more secularized. Many young people have been drawn into homosexuality, as well as the culture of alcohol, drugs, entertainment, and pleasure, leading to brokenness in both body and spirit, along with depression, selfishness, and idleness. Let us pray that the children and youth—who make up about 21% of the population—would thirst for the truth and turn to the LORD. Organizations such as Scripture Union, Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), Faith Mission, and IFES are engaged in campus ministries and Christian camps. Through the service of these ministries and churches, may the light of the gospel shine into the darkness of the next generation and youth, and may the living water of the LORD flow from east to west.
2. We are thankful that missionaries are active in all 26 counties of Ireland. Key mission agencies include GEM, AoG, OM, TEAM, IMB, and Christian Associates. Though Ireland has a strong Celtic mission heritage, the number of missionaries is declining. The Irish Bible Institute, now merged with an AoG college, is training biblical leaders. Ministries like Urban Soul and Serve the City focus on blessing neighbors and sharing the gospel. Other ministries help urban poor, children, AIDS patients, and the unemployed. Let us pray that Irish churches fully trust God’s sovereignty and become faithful messengers of salvation.
3. With the increase of immigrants and refugees, the number of Muslims and Hindus in Ireland has been rising, and some Roma communities also reside in the country. Differences in language, culture, and religion have led to social tensions and prejudice in certain areas. Yet, this influx of immigrants has become a significant factor in the growth of evangelical churches in Ireland, bringing fresh spiritual vitality into a society once dominated by Catholicism. Notably, immigrants from Africa and Eastern Europe have been especially active, joining together under the Evangelical Alliance to carry out a dynamic gospel movement. Let us pray that the power of the gospel—which demolishes every argument and makes all things one in Christ—would be revealed in Ireland. On that day, may the living water of the cross spring forth to bring salvation and life to the nations, and may these people offer holy worship to God.
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