Irish Background Information (Katte)

Irish Religion and Supernaturalism

Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion in the Republic of Ireland today. There is a small yet persistent number of people involved in neo-pagan religions, of which Celtic Polytheism and Druidry are the most relevant to the native culture. Celtic polytheism encompasses the pantheon and religious practices of the Celtic people from whom modern Ireland is descended. Animism, or the belief in spirits residing within all things, is perhaps one of the key aspects of Celtic belief. Druidry is related to this Celtic religion, as it is described as polytheistic, but druids have no specific pantheon of gods. It focuses on the connection to spirituality via nature and veneration of ancestors. These ancient religions and practices relate to By the Bog of Cats in their ancestral traditions and connection to the land, especially of one's home.

Irish Classism

As in all cultures, classism exists in Ireland. Not unlike our American society, it is often correlated with race and gender — for example, a white Irishman's baseless fear of a working-class black man or an independent working woman. The middle and working classes feel particularly strongly towards improving their social standing against a powerful, affluent upper class. The upper class still dominates in higher education despite attempts from universities to even the social divide. Discrimination by politicians and citizens alike exists against the ethnic group known as Irish Travelers, which is of particular relevance given that Hester is addressed by the pejorative term tinker.

https://www.ireland101.com/page/religion
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtic_polytheism
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druid
https://www.headstuff.org/topical/equality-classism-ireland/
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/new-figures-expose-class-divide-in-higher-education-1.2965895
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Travellers#Religion