Fionnán Sheahan: In liberal Ireland, you can now expect to be Catholic-shamed for having ashes on your forehead

It was spitting rain as I headed up Talbot Street. Approaching O’Connell Street, I detoured right on to Marlborough Street to duck into the former Pro Cathedral — now called St Mary’s Cathedral — to get some ashes. Often churches leave a bowl inside the door for anyone who can’t or doesn’t want to sit through mass on Ash Wednesday.