Lorrha & Dorrha Historical Society hosts third Medieval Conference

LORRHA & Dorrha Historical Society held its third Medieval Conference on Saturday July 20^th at the Friar’s Tavern, Lorrha.

This sold-out event was attended by a great variety of people, from those with local interest, various historical societies, and academics from around the country. James Heenan (Hon. Secretary) was host for the day and introduced Dr Christy Cunniffe, who officially opened the conference. Christy referred to the success of the Lorrha conference which filled the void of the former successful Roscrea Conference which had a great reputation.

The first speaker was historian and chairman of the society, David Broderick M.A. His talk focused on the discovery of important graffiti found at Lackeen Castle in 2017. These finds have previously been printed in the Archaeology Ireland magazine and the Tipperary Historical Journal. Older inscriptions discovered at Lackeen by David include protection marks such as ‘Virgo Virginum’ and a concentric compass circle. The graffiti discovered is a later date of 1657 and inscribed by Donogh O’Kennedy, the last chieftain of Lackeen. Importantly, this graffiti highlights the anguish of Donogh which was felt by Gaelic society in the later Commonwealth period of Ireland.

Manuscripts was the topic for the next two speakers. Dr Donncha MacGabhann presented his paper Scribal Hands in Midland Manuscripts: The Curious Case of the MacRegol Gospels. The MacRegol Gospels were written in Birr in AD 800 by MacRegol and an unnamed scribe. Donncha through his meticulous study of the manuscript’s letters and form concluded that MacRegol, who was thought to be the main scribe, was in fact a student of the unnamed scribe.

Dr Joseph J. Flahive followed up with his paper The St Gall Gospels: The Case for a Lorrha Origin. The St Gall Gospels are housed in the Abbey Library of St Gallen in Switzerland. This manuscript is of an Irish origin and Joseph using various historic references and identical styles of the Lorrha (Stowe) Missal and the Faddan More Psalter concluded that the monastery of Lorrha presented itself as having a great scriptorium and the most likely producer of St Gall’s Gospels.

After Lunch, Dr Christy Cunniffe presented his paper A doorway fit for a Bishop: The West door at Clontuskert. Christy looked at the iconography of this 15^th century doorway. This doorway features carvings of Archangel Michael weighing the souls, Augustine of Hippo, Catherine of Alexandria and John the Baptist. Other carvings include a pelican feeding her young, a mermaid and a pair of griffins.

The last lecture The Dominican Priory of St Peter Martyr, Lorrha – Thoughts on the Seen and Unseen Structures was presented by Christiaan Corlett of the National Monuments Service. Chris has a vast experience of ecclesiastical buildings across Ireland and presented some thought-provoking suggestions on the 13^th century priory in Lorrha. He suggested that that this priory may have been built in two phases looking at evidence from the walls and windows. Referring to the ‘mill’ at Lorrha, he suggested that this building was too elaborate for a mill but may have had other functions such as a scriptorium or a study for novices.

The Conference was officially closed by David Broderick who thanked speakers, attendees and all who helped to make the conference a success. Afterwards, James Heenan led the group to the Dominican Priory. He gave an insight of its history and brought the group into the adjoining Catholic Church and spoke about its tabernacle which replicated panels of the 11^th shrine of the Lorrha missal. The tour concluded with an analysis of ‘The mill’.

Lorrha & Dorrha Historical Society would like to thank their speakers: David Broderick M.A., Dr Donncha MacGabhann, Dr Joseph J. Flahive, Dr Christy Cunniffe and Christiaan Corlett. Once again, they are grateful to Denis & Lil Maher and staff of The Friar’s Tavern for hosting the event. Thanks to the following: Mike Quirke & Paul Houlihan for traffic control; Olivia Horan and Aglish Hall for use of chairs; Lorrha Hall for extra chairs and lectern; Pádraig Ó Flannabhra for photography; The Nenagh Guardian, Midland Tribune, Connaught Tribune and Archaeology Ireland for promoting this event; and to all that travelled near and far for the conference. The success of this conference is attributed to the hard work of the society’s organising committee of James Heenan, David Broderick, Nelius O’Meara, Fionnula O’Crowley, Frank Semple, Eamonn O’Meara, Trish Broderick, Mike Quirke and Paul Houlihan.

The society are grateful to Tipperary County Council for part-funding this Medieval Conference.