The statistics are stark. The average age of priests in Ireland is now over 70 - for nuns, it's over 80 - and the supply of vocations to religious life has slowed to a trickle. In a pair of authored films, actor and comedian Ardal O’Hanlon and writer and broadcaster Dearbhail McDonald explore the role of Catholic clergy and religious sisters in Irish life and ask, what if these are the last priests and nuns in Ireland? In this short preview clip, McDonald looks back at the role of nuns in setting up our health and education systems - and how their world was transformed by Vatican II.
The Last Priests in Ireland airs 15th January at 21.35 on RTÉ One. The Last Nuns in Ireland airs on 16th January at 22.15 on RTÉ One. Both will be available on RTÉ Player.
The Last Nuns in Ireland is a Scratch Films production for RTÉ made with the support from the Sound & Vision Fund of Coimisiún na Meán.
