Irish Catholic Socializing

Abstract

Chapter 3 first focuses on the rebuilding of the Catholic Church in the three Western towns describing the particular financial and spiritual needs of Irish parishioners. The Scoto-Irish tensions within the Catholic clergy and laity in the 1860s are also revisited. Next, an examination of Irish Catholic sociability is conducted, with a review of the various existing associations. Particular attention is paid to the nationalist tone of certain Catholic societies, along with their varying definition of Irishness to restrict their membership. A sociological analysis of Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations and a study on the ways in which those gatherings evolved ends the chapter.