Historically, the relationship between the Irish Catholic Church and the Irish State has always been a close knit one. Intertwined with both political complexities and a dominant moral dimension that would continue to shape and impact the country up to this very day. The influence of the Catholic Church was at its most powerful within Ireland between 1940 and 1972, under the leadership of the Archbishop of Dublin, John Charles McQuaid. The following essay will in particular assess the question as to whether Archbishop John Charles McQuaid could be deemed the ‘ruler of Catholic Ireland.’ McQuaid proved academically gifted, coming from a highly educated background his first ascension to a position of authority was of that when he was appointed President of Blackrock College. During his time at Blackrock McQuaid began to establish a strong power-house of political allies. The college itself at this time already had a tradition of links with political figures, as John Cooney notes in his book John Charles McQuaid: the ruler of Catholic Ireland: ‘Early on in his career McQuaid realized that he had a talent for networking, this encouraged him to become friendly with the Head of Government, W.T. Cosgrave, and before long this resulted in Cosgrave and his wife Louisa agreeing to speak at the Blackrock College Sports Day. Government ministers like John Marcus, Patrick McGilligan and Michael Corrigan became regular sights at Blackrock functions.’ This gives an insight into the mind-set of McQuaid from an early point in his professional life. He was infinitely aware of the importance of developing political links and partnerships, thus appealing to those politicians of a generation that were receptive to the place of the Catholic Church in society. 2 His most important ally was to come in the form of past pupil of Blackrock College and leader of the Irish State, Éamon de Valera. The relationship between McQuaid and de Valera is spoken about in O’Carroll’s article ‘Inspired Educator and Ecumenicist of Sorts.' De Valera entered McQuaid's life at about the time the latter became President of Blackrock College in 1931, de Valera was a past pupil with an amazing attachment to the college. His sons were educated there and he lived nearby. He and his wife Sinead got to know Dr McQuaid and a friendship between them blossomed. The college President was a regular guest in the de Valera household and eventually his advice was sought in a very important de Valera achievement, the drafting of a new constitution for the country.’ Cooney examines the role that McQuaid had in the drafting of the new constitution in 1937. From the beginning of the drafting it was evident that McQuaid wished to consolidate the power and place of the Catholic Church in Ireland as the one true and official church of the country. These persistent efforts were ‘frustrated’ by de Valera, nonetheless he [de Valera] valued the opinion and suggestions of McQuaid, of which - according to Cooney, there were many; ‘De Valera was bombarded with letters daily – sometimes twice a day – from Fr. John McQuaid C.S.Sp. They were crammed with suggestions, viewpoints, documents and learned references on nearly every aspect on what was to become Bunreacht na hEireann.’ McQuaid’s suggestions went further than simply guidance on the ecclesiastical or spiritual elements of the Constitution. Within his correspondence to de Valera he offered his suggestion on economic and social issues such as strikes, which he noted as being ‘the most potent form of social agitation.’ He advised de Valera that a significant amount of the Communist sentiment would be alleviated if an independent body, equal and fair to both sides was formed to help bring about a solution. He suggested an insertion of a small paragraph to do this that would be ‘both correct in social doctrine and capable of averting immense evils.’6 On the issues of social protection, widows and old aged pensioners he added that an attitude of family caring for their own in a compassionate and charitable nature should be adopted deeming it unfair to expect as so many did that ‘the State would take care of everything.’ Nonetheless, the most contentious issues between McQuaid and de Valera surrounded the national stance of the Church and the importance of the traditional family unit. Wishing to preserve the sanctity of marriage McQuaid suggested that: ‘the State guarantees the constitution and the protection of the family as the basis of moral education and social discipline and harmony, and the sure foundation of ordered society.’ Both men disagreed over the issue of contraception; McQuaid wishing to make the use, buying or selling of contraception as a punishable act by law, to which de Valera rejected, believing the legal provisions around contraception to be sufficient enough. In the matter of divorce he proposed state encouragement of large families, marrying young