So Offaly holy!

The latest statistic from the 2016 census, showing Offaly to be the ‘most Catholic county in Ireland’, is an auspicious title for the county famed as the home of Brian Cowen and, well, not much else.

For hundreds of years, Ireland was regarded as one of the world’s most Catholic countries in the world. Therefore, it could be argued that Offaly is the most Catholic place on the planet.

In view of this newly acquired prestigious status, is it unreasonable to expect that Pope Francis favour Tullamore with a visit next year over such conventional Catholic locations as Maynooth, Ballinspittle or Knock?

Not for nothing is Offaly nicknamed The Faithful County!

John O’Sullivan, Carrigaline, Co. Cork.