News

1 August 2019

A Secular State Protects A Pluralist Society – Part 4 of 5 – Education

In July 2019 Atheist Ireland took part in a meeting of the Dialogue Process between the Government, Churches, and Non-Confessional Organisations in Ireland. This page is part 4 of Atheist Ireland’s policy document submitted to the Irish Government as part of this process. The parts...

1 August 2019

A Secular State Protects A Pluralist Society – Part 5 of 5 – Other Issues

In July 2019 Atheist Ireland took part in a meeting of the Dialogue Process between the Government, Churches, and Non-Confessional Organisations in Ireland. This page is part 5 of Atheist Ireland’s policy document submitted to the Irish Government as part of this process. The parts...

12 July 2019

Please ask your TDs to ensure that all abuse victims in Louise O’Keeffe case get compensation

Please contact your local TDs and ask them to ensure that all the victims of abuse in Irish schools, similar to that in the Louise O’Keeffe case, get justice and compensation. The Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar has apologised to victims of abuse in day schools. But...

question 12 of the 2016 census on the question of religion
11 July 2019

Minimalist change to census question on religion will not stop rise of the nonreligious

The minimalist change to the religion question in the 2021 Irish census will mask, but not stop, the relentless increase in the number of nonreligious people in Ireland. Some change to the religion question was inevitable, as the results were increasingly not reflecting reality, but...

4 July 2019

Atheist Ireland calls for ethical secularism at meeting with Taoiseach and Government

Michael Nugent and Jane Donnelly of Atheist Ireland are today calling for an ethical secular State at a meeting of the Dialogue Process between the Taoiseach, the Government, Churches, and Non-confessional Bodies, in Dublin Castle. The meeting is addressing three themes: Effective Structured Dialogue, Inclusive...

29 June 2019

Remembering Grania Spingies (video and photos from her memorial event)

Grania Spingies died on Sunday 16 June 2019, a week before her 49th birthday. She was a founding member and first secretary of Atheist Ireland, and a contributor to Jerry Coyne’s website Why Evolution is True. Her family and friends gathered to remember her in...

25 June 2019

How parents stopped Castleknock Educate Together school using Catholic agency Accord to deliver sex education

Guest post by Graeme Carter, of the parents’ group No Accord in Educate Together As of Friday 7th June, the Catholic charity agency Accord will no longer be delivering the Relationship and Sex Education curriculum in Castleknock Educate Together National School. The school’s announcement of...

18 June 2019

Remembering Grania Spingies

We at Atheist Ireland were shocked to hear of the untimely death of our friend Grania Spingies, a week before her 49th birthday. She was one of the founders and the first Secretary of Atheist Ireland, and one of the moderators of the online forum...

24 May 2019

Atheists, Muslims, and Evangelicals protecting freedom of religion and belief in asylum process

Atheist Ireland, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Ireland, and the Evangelical Alliance of Ireland, have made the following joint submission to the Committee on Justice and Equality Consultation on Direct Provision and the International Protection Application Process. 1. Introduction Irish Atheists, Evangelicals and Ahmadiyya Muslims...

22 May 2019

Who should you vote for if you want State-run schools to respect the rights of atheists and secularists?

This Friday, 24th May, we will elect Local Councillors, who will also be members of Education and Training Boards and the Boards of Management of ETB Schools. Three weeks ago, Atheist Ireland wrote to all political parties, asking them to support the right of students...