Media Reports

6,007 people complete website form to defect from Catholic Church
Published 23rd January 2010, Irish Times.

Bishop respects move to leave Church. Article on Andrew Madden defecting using CountMeOut
Published 19th January 2010, Irish Examiner.

CountMeOut.ie facilítalle o proceso de deserción da Igrexa Católica a 5 mil irlandeses. Profile of CountMeOut in Spanish website Vieiros.
Published 11th January 2010, Vieiros.com.

Mention of CountMeOut in France24’s news roundup.
Published 30th December 2009, France24.

L’Irlande gagnée par le doute. Interview with Gráinne and details of CMO in an article on the fallout from the Ryan and Murphy reports.
Published 28th December 2009, Le Monde.

Thousands click to leave church. Text of an article that appeared in the Sunday Mirror and News of the World.
Published 20th December 2009, Sunday Mirror and News of the World, Ireland editions.

I was so happy when I defected: I felt so good. Eoghan Kidney describes how and why he defected from the Church.
Published 12th December 2009, Irish Independent.

RTE Frontline discusses the fallout from the Ryan and Murphy reports, featuring a contribution from Gráinne of CountMeOut (end of part 1, beginning of part 2).
Broadcast 7th December 2009, RTE;

4,000 ‘quit Church’ online.
Published 5th December 2009, Irish Examiner.

Former Catholic – Paul Dunbar. Profile of Paul of CountMeOut in the Cork Independent.
Published 3rd December 2009, Cork Independent.

Disillusioned Catholics flock to site set up by Dundalk man
Published 2nd December 2009, Dundalk Democrat.

Small reference to CountMeOut in the Dublin Metro freesheet.
Published 1st December 2009, Metro freesheet.

Encounter – An Irish Childhood. Wendy Barnaby of ABC Australia travels to Ireland to examine issues arising from the Ryan Report. Includes an interview with Gráinne of CountMeOut
Broadcast 29th November 2009, ABC Radio National;

Thousands defect from Church, website claims.
Published 25th November 2009, Irish Examiner.

Interview with Paul of CountMeOut and Fr. Iggy on 4FM.
Broadcast 18th November 2009, 4FM;

The (officially) lapsed Catholics
Published 18th November 2009, Irish Times.

Prime Time segment, “Opting Out”, featuring interview with Gráinne of CountMeOut
Broadcast 10th November 2009, RTE1. Also available on YouTube.

Article “‘Irish Times’ takes web award”
Reference to CountMeOut’s win at the Irish Web Awards. Published October 12th 2009, Print and web edition of the The Irish Times.

Irish Web Awards 2009 – Winners
CountMeOut.ie wins “Best Social Media Campaign” at the 2009 Irish Web Awards. Held in Raddisson Hotel Dublin, October 10th 2009.

Letter “Defecting from the church”
Published August 22nd 2009, Print and web edition of the The Irish Times.

Article “We can’t continue to stand on sidelines”
Published August 21st 2009, Print and web edition of the The Laois Nationalist.

Conversation between Paul Dunbar of CountMeOut and David Quinn of The Iona Institute (mp3)
Broadcast August 21st 2009, Shannonside FM;

Article “2,000 sign up to defect from church”
Published August 20th 2009, Print and web edition of the Irish Times.

Debate between Paul Dunbar of CountMeOut and Mr. Stephen McElligott, on “Dundalk Daily” (mp3)
Broadcast July 29th 2009, DundalkFM. Article referenced is this article;

Interview with Cormac Flynn of CountMeOut on “Dundalk Daily” (mp3)
Broadcast July 24th 2009, DundalkFM.

Interview with Gráinne of CountMeOut on “Northside Today” (mp3)
Broadcast July 22nd 2009, Near FM.

Article “Angry Catholic Lashes Website”
Published July 22nd 2009, Print and web edition of the Dundalk Democrat.
Scan of article “1500 Have Turned Backs on Church Over Abuse Shame“
Published July 21st 2009, Irish print edition of The Daily Mirror.
Article “Ungodly Intentions“
Published July 18th 2009, Irish print and web-edition of The Irish Times.
Scan of article “1000 Quit Church“
Published July 17th 2009, print-edition of The Irish Sun.
Scan of “Faithfully Departed“, full page feature on defection
Published July 16th 2009, Irish print-edition of The Irish Examiner.

Article “No records kept on people leaving Church“, that mentions CMO.
Published July 16th 2009, Irish print and web edition of The Irish Examiner.

Debate between John Waters and Cormac Flynn of CountMeOut on “The Tom McGurk Show” (mp3)
Broadcast July 15th 2009, 4fm.

Article “Local man behind defection site“
Published July 15th 2009, The Argus.

Preview of article “Dundalk man sets up website for people to change their religion”
Published July 15th 2009, Dundalk Democrat.

Interview with Paul of CountMeOut on “The Pat Kenny Show” (mp3)
Broadcast July 15th 2009, RTE Radio 1.

Interview with Paul of CountMeOut on Midlands 103 (mp3)
Broadcast July 14th 2009, Midlands 103.

Interview with Gráinne of CountMeOut on PhantomFM (mp3)
Broadcast July 14th 2009, PhantomFM.

Interview with Cormac and Paul of CountMeOut on LMFM
Broadcast July 13th 2009, lmfm.

Interview with Paul of CountMeOut on “The Ray Darcy Show” (mp3)
Broadcast July 13th 2009, TodayFM.

Video of Gráinne of CountMeOut on “Ireland AM”
Broadcast July 13th, TV3.

Scan of “Blasphemy Law a Return to Middle Ages – Dawkins” (Thanks Sean)
Published July 13th, The Irish Times. Note: Despite what the article says, CountMeOut was not setup by Atheist Ireland. Original text here.

Interview with Paul Of CountMeOut on BBC Radio Ulster
Broadcast July 13th 2009, BBC Radio Ulster. Starts from around 47th minute.
Interview with Cormac of CountMeOut on BBC Radio Foyle
Broadcast July 13th 2009, BBC Radio Foyle. Starts from around 47th minute.
Scan of “Irish Catholics go online to lose religion“
Published July 12th 2009, Irish print and web-edition of The Sunday Times. Original text here

Responses to Defections

Below, some letters and emails received by people who have already requested a defection. Note that opinions expressed in the following correspondance are not necessarily those of CountMeOut.ie.

Letters & Responses

• Diocese of Galway, February 12th 2010. Confirmation of defection from Diocese, followed by confirmation from the parish.
• Diocese of Meath, February 5th 2010. Confirmation of defection, and request for meeting.
• Archdiocese of Dublin, January 27th 2010. Confirmation of Decfection including this amended baptismal certificate.
• Diocese of Ferns, January 27th 2010. Confirmation of Defection, including this letter from the Parish.
• Archdiocese of Dublin, January 12th 2010. Confirmation of receipt, and acknowledgement that request has been forwarded to the Diocese of residence.
• Diocese of Ferns, December 11th 2009. An amended baptismal certificate for the Diocese of Ferns.
• Diocese of Down and Connor, December 7th 2009. Confirmation of Defection.
• Diocese of Limerick, November 24th 2009. This was a response to a letter, requesting an update, sent two days previously;
• Archdiocese of Tuam, November 24th 2009. Confirmation of defection;
• Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, November 20th 2009. Letter describing the consequences of defection;
• Diocese of Galway, November 11th 2009. Confirmation of Defection. Also included, this confirmation from the parish;
• Diocese of Ferns, October 2009. Confirmation of Defection;
• Diocese of Ferns, 28th October 2009. Confirmation of Defection;
• Diocese of Moncton, Canada, 22nd October 2009. Confirmation of Defection;
• Diocese of Wagga Wagga, Australia, 6th October 2009. Confirmation of Defection;
• Diocese of Limerick, 5th October 2009. Confirmation of Defection;
• Archdiocese of Dublin, 30th September 2009. Letter from the Archbishop, followed by this amended baptismal certificate;
• Archdiocese of Dublin, 8th September 2009. Confirmation of receipt of request, with consequences explained. This was followed by this letter of confirmation of the defection and a letter from the Archbishop. Finally, an amended baptismal certificate was received;
• Archdiocese of Dublin, September 2009. This standard letter acknowledging receipt of the defection was followed by this letter outlining the consequences and, finally, a letter of confirmation;
• Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh, 8th September 2009. Confirmation of defection;
• Diocese of Cork and Ross, 27th August 2009. Confirmation of defection;
• Diocese of Waterford and Lismore, 26th August 2009. In response to a defection request, the Diocese sent this letter suggesting a meeting. The individual responded with this email explaining their reasons for not attending the meeting. Finally, on the 7th October, this letter of confirmation was received;
• Archdiocese of Dublin, 24th August 2009. The archidiocese confirmed the request in this letter and then forwarded the defection to the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. A response was then received from the parish, followed by this amended baptismal certificate;
• Diocese of Ardagh (and Clonmacnoise), 24th August 2009. Confirmation of defection;
• Diocese of Killaloe, 21st August 2009. Confirmation of defection, followed by this Certificate of Defection;
• Archdiocese of Armagh, 20th August 2009. A copy of Cormac from CountMeOut’s confirmation of defection;
• Archdiocese of Cashel(-Emly), 18th August 2009. Confirmation of defection;
• Diocese of Kerry, 17th August 2009. Confirmation of defection;
• Archdiocese of Dublin, 17th August 2009. Confirmation of defection, followed by copy of amendment confirmation from the Church of the Holy Family, Aughrim Street, Dublin 13th July 2009;
• Diocese of Kerry, 13th August 2009. Confirmation of defection, accompanied by this handwritten confirmation from the parish;
• Diocese of Elphin, 1st August 2008. Confirmation of defection;
• Diocese of Elphin. A copy of Paul of CountMeOut’s defection confirmation;
• Archdiocese of Dublin, 30th July 2009. A further letter from the Archbishop, expressing sadness at the defection;
• Archdiocese of Dublin, 30th July 2009. Confirmation of defection, including a copy of an amended Baptismal Certificate;
• Archdiocese of Armagh, 27th July 2009. Confirmation of defection;
• Archdiocese of Dublin, 23rd July 2009. Confirmation of defection, with description of consequences;
• Diocese of Cork and Ross, 22nd July 2009. Confirmation of defection, followed by confirmation from the Parish of Kinsale, 7th August 2009;
• Diocese of Limerick, 17th July 2009. Confirmation of defection was followed 2 months later by this screenshot of the amended Baptismal database;
• Archdiocese of Dublin, 17th July 2009. Notification of forwarding of defection request;
• Archdiocese of Dublin, 15th July 2009. Request for meeting;
• Archdiocese of Dublin, 9th July 2009. Request for meeting;
• Archdiocese of Dublin, July 2009. Confirmation of defection, with description of consequences;
• Catholic Communications Office Statement, 17th July 2009;
• Diocese of Cork and Ross, 9th July 2009 (PDF). Response to CountMeOut queries.;
• Archdiocese of Dublin, 9th July 2009. Request for meeting;
• Diocese of Elphin, 6th July 2009. Confirmation of defection;
• Diocese of Meath, 28th November 2007. Amended Baptismal Certificate;
• Archdiocese of Armagh, 29th October 2007. Confirmation of defection;
• Archdiocese of Dublin, 10th January 2006. Initial letter outlining the consequences of defection, followed by this confirmation on the 13th January and then an amended baptismal certificate dated 12th January.

E-mails & Letters

In response to questions we posed on the Church’s involvement in the education system in Ireland, we received the following letter from Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe, on the 21st October 2009.

Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4 (1st page of statistics), Page 5 (2nd page of statistics).

The following email is an exchange between a CMO user and his diocese, requesting a defection by email. Although successful in this instance, this is typically not standard practice for a diocese who usually require a signed letter and, in some cases, a meeting.