The Best Catholics in the World. The Irish, the Church and the End of a Special Relationship by Derek Scally

Derek Scally's 'The Best Catholics in the World' challenges the myth of Celtic Christianity, revealing that Irish Catholicism was always subservient to Rome. The book explores the cataclysmic changes in Irish Christian history, from the arrival of St Patrick to modern-day abuse scandals, using a journalistic approach with extensive research and vivid storytelling. Scally's pilgrimage-like journey through significant sites like Skellig Michael, Glendalough, and Dublin institutions such as the Central Catholic Library and Mercy International, highlights the complex relationship between Ireland and the Church, culminating in a call for a process of coming to terms with the past akin to Germany's 'Vergangenheitsbewältigung'.

Bradley, B. (2021). The Best Catholics in the World. The Irish, the Church and the End of a Special Relationship by Derek Scally. Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review, 110(440), 480–487. https://doi.org/10.1353/stu.2021.0030