DRAFT CONSTITUTION OF THE IRISH FREE STATE

SECTION I.—FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

Article 8

From The Irish Constitution Explained by Darrell Figgis 1922

Freedom of conscience and the free profession and practice of religion are inviolable rights of every citizen, and no law may be made either directly or indirectly to endow any religion, or prohibit or restrict the free exercise thereof or give any preference, or impose any disability on account of religious belief or religious status, or affect prejudicially the right of any child to attend a school receiving public money without attending the religious instruction at the school, or make any discrimination as respects State aid between schools under the management of different religious denominations, or divert from any religious denomination or any educational institution any of its property except for the purpose of roads, railways, lighting, water or drainage works or other works of public utility, and on payment of compensation.

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An American widow’s account of her travels in Ireland in 1844–45 on the eve of the Great Famine:

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