Ground Breaking Research At The 44th Roscrea Conference   You are in · RoscreaOnline · Community · Features

A full house of over 100 attendees were treated to the latest research on all aspects of the late Iron Age and Early Christian period (transition from paganism to Christianity) in Ireland during the weekend of the 44th conference at the Cistercian Abbey Roscrea.

A full house of over 100 attendees were treated to the latest research on all aspects of the late Iron Age and Early Christian period (transition from paganism to Christianity) in Ireland during the weekend of the 44th conference at the Cistercian Abbey Roscrea.

The transitional period from pagan to Christian took place over centuries. The evidence is gleaned from the archaeological record, from pollen analysis and from the early texts which survive in later forms.

A huge new project on Mapping Death during these times is underway at the Micheal O Cleirigh Institute at UCD and Drs Edel Bhreatnach and O Brien were on hand to reveal the exciting new results.

Dr John Feehan and Professor Daibhi O Croinin set the scene on the Friday evening after a welcome from Dom Kevin Daly ocso and an official opening by Fr Nivard Kinsella ocso.  ‘The Problem of St Patrick’ was well aired.

Over 100 attendees gathered for the 44th Roscrea Conference

Professor Valerie Hall of QUB explored the agricultural practices of the time; Dr Niamh Whitfield ‘the function of the Holy Well; and Professor Etienne Rynne on the archaeology of the period; All talks had many references to the immediate locality.

On Saturday afternoon the conference had practical demonstrations on the benefits of the Laser Stone Project from NUIG where heritage stones and architecture are scanned in and faded inscriptions may be read.  Practical demos were conducted on some carved stones from east Galway.

Many of the attendees then availed of the opportunity to visit Roscrea Heritage where they were loud in their praise of the work at both sites – at the Castle and the Black Mills.
The Roscrea Credit Union hosted a small reception to honour the reprint of John Feehan’s Landscape of Slieve Bloom. John, of course, was on hand to sign the many copies bought.

After dinner the much lauded ‘Wish I had been there’ session was followed by a teasing piece by Fr Richard and Dom Laurence on the new book on the stained glass windows of MSJ which will be ready for the Autumn conference.  The director George Cunningham then held his conference illustrated quiz on the conference theme with a special section on St Patrick.

On Sunday many rose for vigils at 3.45am on the Sunday morning. At 9.30 am Fr Ciaran gave a fascinating short talk on the customs and folklore of growing up the 1920s and 30s in South Armagh. This was followed by a talk on early burials and the Mapping Death project. The conference ended with a seminar of the transition theme during which the participants were shocked to learn of the recent destruction for road material for the N7 of the precincts of the massive and hugely important Moatquarter Motte outside Dunkerrin.

George Cunningham brought the proceedings to a close with his summing up and announcing the conference theme for the 45th gathering in the Autumn: Irish Saints and the Lilturgy.

A date for your Diary

The 45th Roscrea Conference

30th October – 1st November 2009

Theme: Irish Saints and the Liturgy