Commissioned by the Iona Institute, and carried out by Amárach Research, the survey found that a slim majority (53%) of pre-coronavirus Mass-goers have not come back yet, while 47% say they are now back regularly attending Mass.

Parishioners cite a number of reasons for not yet returning including ongoing concerns about Covid-19, a dislike of wearing masks and a weakening of faith.

Of those who attended pre-pandemic, but no longer do now, 31% of them said they will return to Mass when all pandemic restrictions are lifted. However, 23% (almost one in four) said that they had no intention of returning to Mass while 46% of former regulars said they did not know whether or not they would ever return to Mass.

If the figure for those who are adamant that they will not return comes to pass, it would represent an overall fall in regular Mass attendance of 12% in just two years.