An Irish Tragedy: How Sex Abuse by Irish Priests Helped Cripple the Catholic Church is an investigative work by journalist Joe Rigert, published in 2008. The book examines the pervasive issue of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, focusing on the significant role of Irish priests. Rigert explores how the strict sexual repression in Irish society and the priesthood inadvertently fostered deviant behaviors, leading to widespread abuse. He also discusses how Ireland, despite its small size, became a major source of abusive priests in America, contributing to the Church's profound crisis. The book offers insights into the ethnic components of clergy abuse, a perspective not extensively covered in previous analyses. Catholic historian Terrance Dosh describes it as "a riveting read with many remarkable insights.