Almost 60% of people plan on attending mass this Christmas, according to a new survey from Newstalk.
The latest in Newstalk’s series of polls carried out by Amárach Research has found nearly six-in-10 people will attend a religious service on either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
The survey finds that people aged 55 or over are most likely to attend a service.
Some 31% of respondents said they 'always' attend a religious service, and 26% said they 'sometimes' attend a religious ceremony at Christmas.
Some 43% of people said they will not be going to a religious ceremony this Christmas.
Deirdre in Letterkenny told Lunchtime Live she sees nothing wrong with people just going to mass at Christmas.
"I think that it's a very personal thing and there's nobody standing judging you," she said.
"I don't believe in the big old man with the white beard and the stick.
"I think if you feel like going and listening to beautiful music, a little bit of meditation, peace and quiet - whatever experience it gives you at Christmas - away you go and enjoy it".
"I'm a regular churchgoer, I got most Sundays when I can, but why should we judge other people?
"The Church is there; it doesn't belong to the priests, it belongs to the people.
"So whenever you feel like going in - wether that's once a year or every Sunday - you should feel very comfortable working through the doors".
'Stick to your guns'
John said he doesn't go to mass at anytime of the year.
"Maybe it's a sign of the times that people just aren't interested anymore mass," he said.
"People go to christenings, communinions, confirmations and they never cross the church from one end of the year to the other.
"I think you should stick to your guns - I don't believe in God so I don't got to mass."
Another caller, Brendan, said he was surprised the 57% figure wasn't higher.
"If you'd ask that maybe five years ago, I think it might have been higher," he said,
I think COVID damaged that particular whole thing, a lot of people gave up during COVID and never came back," he added.
School play
Similarly people were asked whether their child's school holds a nativity or Christmas play.
Of those who have school-aged children, 67% said their school puts on a 'Christmas Concert or Winter Play'.
Some 27% said their children's school will be putting on a 'nativity' plan this Christmas.
Meanwhile 14% did not know if their child's school offered either.
The nationally representative sample of 1,200 adults was taken in December 2023.
