I agree that the Irish Catholics of Ireland are only a drop in the ocean but let's not forget the descendants of Irish Catholics found worldwide. These people (like the American Irish) are deeply rooted in their ancestry and to some extent still deeply rooted in their Catholicism. For instance in the United-States alone, there are more or less 36.200 000 Americans of Irish descent. On top of this, there's Australia, New-Zealand, Canada and Britain.
So no, Irish Catholicism is not minimal. This does not go to say of course that all these people practice Catholicism and attend church.
It's worth to be noted that Eire has shut down their embassy in Iran and in Timor Leste but for them to claim that they shut down their embassy to the Holy See because it was proving to be too expensive is ludicrous. No way.
Let's go back in time, in July, the Vatican recalled its ambassador to Ireland. He has since reintegrated the Vatican's embassy in Ireland.
In my personal opinion, the only reason why Eire closed it's embassy in Rome is down to the fact that the Irish prime-minister accused the Holy See of obstructing the investigations into sexual abuse by clerics.
In a word, it's tit of tat and nothing more. But I personally believe that Eire does have a very important role to play in the future of Catholicism and that it should maintain its relationship with the Vatican solid and in place.

This being said I'm sure that it will all pan itself out eventually.

Hey Rhemes, hi I do not deny that the Irish Church produced many, many saints. However, these were the exception to the rule and not in modern times. Just read the Irish Poenitentials of St Columba and Ninian, etc.

Do do the research before you speak dear man. Everything must be contextualised. I think they need to be brought to naught, then rebuild more firmly in Caritas et amor Dei.

Louella, I am glad that I follow a Shepherd who cares for
the one lost sheep as He does for the other ninety-nine.

Ireland does have a small Catholic population compared
to the 136 million Catholics in Brazil, but since when did
the smaller parts of the body of Christ no longer matter?

If I had one wish for the Irish Catholic Church, I would
like to see all the Irish Bishops / Vicar Generals annually
walk bare foot up the hill of Croagh Patrick to atone
for their predecessors handling of child abuse cases.

Louella,

Do you believe that Prime Minister Kenney is mistaken when he said:

"The rape and torture of children were downplayed or 'managed' to uphold instead, the primacy of the institution [the Catholic Church], its power, standing and 'reputation'," he said. "For the first time in Ireland, a report into child sexual abuse exposes an attempt by the Holy See to frustrate an inquiry in a sovereign, democratic republic as little as three years ago, not three decades ago."

And, if Kenney, indeed, believes the Holy See did “frustrate an inquiry” in Ireland's attempts to prosecute sexual abuse, do you believe that this may have had any role in Ireland's closing their Vatican embassy?

Hardly a huge blow to the Vatican's prestige if we must talk in those terms. There are 4 million Irish people.... and though most are Catholic there are more Catholics in Vietnam than in Ireland. So it is really a drop in the ocean.

The Government said the reason for closing the embassy is to save money. They are very hard up for cash now that the Celtic tiger is well and truly dead!