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AIBU?

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Original poster

Ah you're a Catholic!

435 replies

Appleday11 · 24/02/2026 19:50

I moved to England to work last year. I'm Irish.

When I arrived at my workplace, one of my colleagues said "Ah you are Irish, this is a nice city, there is a Catholic church down the road that you can go to".

I think she was trying to be helpful but I thought it was quite bizarre. I'm not Catholic and I told her so.

Second time - I was out in the pub with a mixed group of people. Some of them I had never met before. One man said "ah you're Irish, you're a Catholic!" I told him Im not.

Third time- I was at another group. A woman said to me "you are Irish. Ah so you like such and such. And you are a Catholic". I told her I am not.

I found it strange as I have never really thought about religiom. Do some people here think that all Irish people are Catholics? My family were not religious at all and I was never brought up any religion

OP posts:
Evaka · 24/02/2026 20:04

This is bizarre. I'm Irish in London with a very Oirish name and in 20 years no one has said such a thing to me. I wonder if you're in a town with a particular history of anti Irish/Catholic sentiment and people try to compensate?

Original poster
Appleday11 · 24/02/2026 20:03

ShamrockShenanigans · 24/02/2026 20:01

I'm also Irish and living in London and I think this is quite bizarre.

Then again, I don't know many Irish or English people who are particularly religious, or who tend to talk about religion.

I think London is more multi cultural anyway and also more busy. People have barely said hello to me when Ive been in London, let alone comment on my religion.

Its very different in the smaller cities and towns in England. I find that people often comment on anything thats slightly different to their way of life

OP posts:
4ad4ever · 24/02/2026 20:03

How old are you?
Were you christened and then didn’t practice or literally raised no religion?
Were your parents raised catholic/ other religion?

InterestedDad37 · 24/02/2026 20:03

It's a common assumption, based on the past, when it had a strong chance of being true. I've worked with many Arabic people over the years who pretty much all assumed I'd be a Christian (which I'm not) - I just took it as their assumption based on probability.

ShamrockShenanigans · 24/02/2026 20:01

I'm also Irish and living in London and I think this is quite bizarre.

Then again, I don't know many Irish or English people who are particularly religious, or who tend to talk about religion.

Original poster
Appleday11 · 24/02/2026 19:58

ErrolTheDragon · 24/02/2026 19:57

It’s a very weird thing to come out with that assumption in this day and age, imo.

It is right! Even if a country has a majority religion , I have never assumed what religion anyone is. I was born at time when the Catholic church were popular but families still did their own thing.

Spain has been traditionally Catholic, but my good Spanish friend has no religion. Her family didnt believe in it. Never baptised.

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 24/02/2026 19:57

It’s a very weird thing to come out with that assumption in this day and age, imo.

Original poster
Appleday11 · 24/02/2026 19:56

clementmarot · 24/02/2026 19:53

I think it’s a common assumption amongst the older generation because religious observance was very high in Ireland (highest in Western Europe) until relatively recently. Obviously Ireland has changed a great deal in the last 40 years though.

My colleague, who said it, is 38! That is not very old.

OP posts:
Ablondiebutagoody · 24/02/2026 19:56

No, I hate cats

clementmarot · 24/02/2026 19:53

I think it’s a common assumption amongst the older generation because religious observance was very high in Ireland (highest in Western Europe) until relatively recently. Obviously Ireland has changed a great deal in the last 40 years though.