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The 46th consecutive conference will take place from 9th - 11th April 2010 at Mount St Joseph Cistercian Abbey, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. The Theme for the conference is The Gaelic world and Irish Christianity before the Vikings And Reflections on Creation, Evolution and Faith.
Once again the conference, which is run by Roscrea People in association with Roscrea Heritage Society, will take place at Mount St Joseph Cistercian Abbey, Roscrea. As always the conference organizer is popular local man, George Cunningham, Dept. of History, College Of Humanities, University of Limerick and Parkmore, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary.
When the first Roscrea Conference started in November 1987 little did anyone, let alone the organizer, think that twenty three years later the event would be celebrating its 46th gathering and not only that but getting stronger and more international each year.
For the 46th gathering at the end of the month some of Ireland’s leading scholars from a wide range of disciplines will be at Mount St Joseph.
And there are many side events which are sure to attract large audiences: for example John Feehan’s field trip exploring the landscape and Dom Laurence Walsh’s walk studying at first hand the stained glass of Mount St Joseph Abbey.
John’s new book, the “Singing Heart Of The World” will be launched on the Friday evening by Fr Nivard with a response from Fr Tom Corbett PP. The theme of the 46th conference Gaelic World and Irish Christianity before the coming of the Vikings is proving very popular as both guesthouses at the Abbey are fully booked for some time and accommodation is becoming increasingly difficult to get in the town. Among the other speakers are Profs Peter Harbison, Daibhi O Croinin, Valerie Hall and Michael Ryan of the Chester Beatty Library. Fr Ciaran adds his own inimitable style on the Sunday morning.
Part attendance is still possible. Contact georgencunningham@eircom.net (0505 21619) or Mt St Joseph 0505 21711.
FRIDAY 9th APRIL
6.00pm Snack Supper
6.30pm Reception hosted by Roscrea Heritage Society
7.20pm Welcome from Dom Richard Purcell ocso, Abbot of
Roscrea
7.30pm Official launch by Fr Nivard Kinsella ocso of The
Singing Heart of the World – creation, evolution and
faith by John Feehan.
7.40pm Faith of our Fathers: living still?
Dr John Feehan UCD, author and environmentalist
8.20 pm Personal response to the The Singing Heart of the
World
Very Rev Tom Corbett, DD, PP Roscrea, Professor
emeritus of Systematic Theology, St Patrick’s
College, Maynooth
8.45pm Discussion
9.10pm End of Session
Hospitium
SATURDAY 10th APRIL
3.45am Optional rise for vigils
9.30am Ringforts and the new farming in Ireland.
Professor Valerie Hall, QUB and Parnell Fellow,
Magdalene College, University of Cambridge
10.10am Pagan and Christian in an Age of Anxiety!
An tOllamh Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, Roinn na Staire,
NUIG.
10.50am Discussion
11.00am Coffee
11.30am A Christian Language – symbolism on metalwork
Dr Michael Ryan, Director Chester Beatty Library,
Dublin
12.10am Ireland’s Scriptural Crosses: a re-assessment.
Professor Peter Harbison, author and art historian
12. 50am Discussion
1.10am Snack Lunch
Field Trips:
2.30pm The Landscape and Wildflowers of Mount St Joseph
with John Feehan
4.00pm Explore the stained glass windows of Mt St Joseph
with Dom Laurence Walsh, author of Lumen Christi
During the afternoon there will be a display (from a
private collection) in the guesthouse of incunabula
fragments, 1471-1500.
5.30pm Vespers
5.55pm Sherry reception hosted by Roscrea Chamber of
Commerce to honour the recent publication of The
Wildflowers of Offaly by John Feehan
6.20pm Dinner
8.00pm Wish I had been present – lecturers share a wish or a
special moment.
8;45pm illustrated quiz on some of Ireland’s heritage sites
and books.George Cunningham
9.15pm Hospitium
SUNDAY 11th APRIL
3.45am Optional rise for vigils
9.30am Tóraíocht ar lorg Íosa
An tAthair Ciarán Ó Sabhaois ocso, Cartlannaí
MSJ
9.50am How do we reconstruct Irish climate in the 7th and
8th centuries AD?
Valerie Hall
10.30am Community High Mass
11.30am Coffee
11.55am Are the Ahenny crosses pre-Viking?
Peter Harbison
12.25pm Faith and Faction in Ireland Then
Dáibhí Ó Cróinín
12.55pm Discussion on conference themes
1.25pm Summing up
George Cunningham
1.45pm Lunch and end of conference
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