Medieval Conference in Lorrha
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Guest speakers at this year’s Lorrha & Dorrha Medieval Conference. From left: Maeve Sikora, MA; Dr Treacy Collins, Timothy O’Neill, Br Colmán Ó Clabhaigh, OSB; Dr Niamh Wycherley and Laura Fitzachary, MA. Photos: Pádraig Ó Flannabhra / PhotoartImage 2 of 5
Organising committee and speakers at the Lorrha and Dorrha Medieval Conference, held at The Friar’s Tavern, Lorrha, courtesy of Daniel Maher. Pictured are Éamonn O’Meara, Frank Semple, Maeve Sikora, Daniel Maher, Trish Broderick, Denis Maher, Timothy O’Neill, Paul Houlihan, Br Colmán Ó Clabaigh, OSB; Michael Quirke, Dr Niamh Wycherly, David Broderick, Laura Fitzachary, Ann Corcoran, James Heenan, Neilius O’Meara (President).Image 3 of 5
Katrina Kennedy, Coleesa Egan and Noreen Harrington at the Lorrha & Dorrha Medieval Conference.Image 4 of 5
Kevin O’Leary, Teresa O’Leary and Maura Norris at the Lorrha & Dorrha Medieval Conference held in Lorrha village.Image 5 of 5
Fr Tom O’Halloran, PP, Borrisokane; Frank Semple, Lorrha & Dorrha Historical Society; Karina Kennedy, Richmond, Nenagh and Noreen Harrington, Galway.The fourth annual Lorrha & Dorrha Comhdháil Mheánaoiseah / Medieval Conference was held at The Friar's Tavern, Lorrha, on Saturday, July 19 last.
Lorrha was an ecclesiastical centre from the early period through to the establishment of both the Augustinian and Dominican foundations, right up to the late Penal period. From the early ninth century, it appears that Lorrha was a centre for manuscript production, with strong evidence that the Lorrha (Stowe) Missal was produced there.
At this year's conference, Timothy O'Neill examined how scribes wrote, focussing on some pages of the Lorrha Missal, concluding with an account of the design and writing of the Ros Cré Missal. Within the same period, Dr Niamh Wycherley spoke on the Irish Church in the ninth and tenth centuries, focusing on power, patronage and the impact of the Vikings.
Br Colmán Ó Clabhaigh examined how religion was practised in the medieval village, using surviving archaeology to illustrate this. Although the Lorrha Augustinian Priory was dedicated to St Mary, there is no evidence of female monasticism in the village. However, Dr Tracy Collins examined women religious in a broader context within medieval Tipperary. The Augustinian Priory features a fifteenth century carved head of a lady wearing a horned headdress.
Laura Fitzachery, MA, discussed various fashionable items from the late medieval period in Europe and how these fashions also reached Ireland.
The Conference was booked to capacity and kindly co-funded by Comhairle Contae Thiobraid Árann.