A Catholic Irish journalist has responded to critics who shamed him for appearing on television on Ash Wednesday with ashes on his forehead by calling them “bigots” and questioning whether Ireland is as open-minded as it claims to be.
Newstalk reported that the Irish Independent’s Fionnán Sheahan appeared on Virgin Media’s “The Tonight Show” Feb. 18 and immediately received pushback. Discussing the incident on the “Newstalk Breakfast” podcast, Sheahan said he didn’t take issue with the negative reactions, calling it typical for social media. Rather, he said he was surprised by “sane and sensible people saying ‘Oh, but you should expect to be slagged off in a situation like that.’”
He continued, “To which I would say, ‘Well, why? So, somebody who now professes to be Catholic or identifies as such, should now be subject to opprobrium?”
According to Newstalk, Sheahan said he wouldn’t describe himself as an especially devout Catholic and said he gets ashes every Lent in remembrance of his late father. However, he pointed out that “in days gone by, the fellow reading the news used to have the ashes” and said that Catholic signs of devotion are no longer well received by the public. He also said that the people who shamed him on social media for wearing ashes were those who claim to be open-minded but noted that “when it comes to this, you become a bigot.”
“So, why is that?’” he asked. “I don’t know, is it potentially a Catholic thing? Or is it just that maybe we’re not as open-minded a society as we claim to be?”
According to a 2025 poll commissioned by Catholic think tank and advocacy group The Iona Institute, the Irish have split views on the Catholic Church. Twenty-seven percent had a favorable view of the Church, and 40% said they had an unfavorable view. Forty-five percent said Catholic teachings are still of benefit to society, while 32% said they are not. One in four said they would be happy if the Church vanished from Ireland, and half disagreed.