Of course I don’t think we should all be taking religion to the extreme like some of the images we get from Israel etc. I have seen images and videos of people ‘re-living’ Jesus’ last walk bearing the cross and being nailed to it also.
Imagine seeing that at the top of O Connell St!
But I do believe there should be more respect for religion in Ireland. Its not that it is non existent, in any town in Ireland there is always less graffiti and rubbish around the churches, although the same cannot be said for graveyards unfortunately.
They seem to have become places for ‘knacker drinking’ where youths conjugate to drink alcohol in little known areas. Now im not saying all youths do this, but some do.

But Jesus (supposedly) gave his life for us, he died for sins we committed. So where has the respect for him disappeared to in the last 50 years or so?
The generation before this one still holds respect for church holidays and actively participate in church activities. Yet how many younger people will obey church 'rules' such as fast days and refraining from use of contraception.

On Holy Thursday the off license in the town near me had three other people buying crates of beer and spirits in the brief time I was there. This was, presumably, to get them through the next day; Good Friday, where alcohol cannot be served. One day! Our nation cannot go one day without drinking, or at the very least, stocking up on alcohol in case they are in dire need of it.
Good Friday was also a fast day, where traditionally we don't eat meat. But look at any menu in a pub or a restaurant that day and you would have been spoiled for choice with any meat you wanted to eat. There would be, of course, a non meat alternative supplied but it is still a shame to see our holy traditions being overlooked.
But come Easter Sunday, we were all Catholics once again. This was a day for celebration, a day to go to the pub, to drink at home with the family, or to hit the dancefloor that night with your mates. Isn't it fantastic to be living in Catholic Ireland where we get this long weekend where we can so thoughtfully appreciate and celebrate being part of this religion

So Easter is nearly upon us now and the shops are filled with.......chocolate. Is it just me or has Easter become almost as commercial as christmas? The first Cadburys Creme Egg (the number one confectionary sold during Easter no less) was out....wait for it....before Christmas.

So have we gone too far? Thinking about the next holy celebration even before we have one over and done with?

There has been a backlash in recent years about religious feasts becoming far too commercial and Easter seems to prove this. While the retailers seem to think it is ok to force their products on us in 'celebration' of Jesus rising from the dead on Easter Sunday, it is a tad ironic that we are mourning his death just 3 days earlier. 

So just where did this association with chocolate eggs and Easter start? And how has it taken over so quickly? It makes me feel old just to look in the shops at the Easter decorations and I'm still a student! The Easter Bunny phenonomon also seems to have spiraled out of control, the shops are full of cutesy little Spring animals, all in shades of pastel, inviting us to buy them as 'Spring is here! Winter is over! It's time for Easter!'

But is this too far, would our Lord approve of this farcical celebration of Spring, which has pagan connotations by the way. 

Just how many children care about the celebration of Easter? It is supposed to be a day of celebration for the rising of Jesus, who died for our sins. Yet there is no sign of this in any of the shops around Dublin City. How are kids supposed to associate Jesus and Easter when all they see around them are bunnies and baby chicks.