The Bible War in Ireland: The 'Second Reformation' and the Polarization of Protestant-Catholic Relations, 1800-1840

At the end of the eighteenth century, an evangelical movement gained enormous popularity at all levels of Irish society. Initially driven by the enthusiasm and commitment of Methodists and Dissenters, it quickly gained ascendancy in the Church of Ireland, where its unique blend of moral improvement and conservative piety appealed to those threatened by the democratic revolution and the demands of the Catholic population for political equality. "The Bible War in Ireland identifies this evangelical movement as the origin of Ireland's Protestant "Second Reformation" in the 1820s. This effort, in turn, helped provoke a revolution in political consciousness among the Catholic population, setting the stage for the emergence of the Catholic Church as a leading player in the Irish political arena. Extensively researched, Irene Whelan's book puts forward a uniquely challenging interpretation of the origins of religious and political polarization in Ireland.