Church Reforms and Religious Orders with Conor McDonough

About this episode

Fr Conor McDonough discusses the variety of religious life and church reforms in medieval Ireland.

Welcome back all! This month we are joined by Fr Conor McDonough OP, an exceptional Research Ireland funded PhD researcher in Classics, University of Galway. Conor elucidates the variety of religious life in the Middle Ages focussing on the new religious orders introduced as part of wider church reforms in the 11th and 12th centuries. This episode touches on a number of big themes such as the conflict between 'church and state', colonisation, language, ethnicity, patronage, and decline. What is the difference between a monk and a priest? Why were there two Cathedrals in Dublin? Why did the Cistercians in Ireland build a 'fortress against God'? Did the Irish prefer living in 'nests' rather than stone buildings? Conor answers all of these questions and much more. We learn all about the new international networks of the Cluniacs, Cistercians, Augustinians, Premonstratensians, the Rule of Benedict, drama at Mellifont, bishops as barons, the Anglo-Norman Conquest and the appeal of religious life. Suggested reading and resources: Treasure Ireland Youtube series https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdPbRZbumpDdJjMBmh_wlGVdx_rQVH38O -Edel Bhreathnach, Monasticism in Ireland, AD…

People in this episode

Guest: Fr Conor McDonough OP

Topics covered

• church reforms
• religious orders
• medieval Ireland
• monasticism
• conflict between church and state
• Cistercians
• Cluniacs

Keywords

• church reforms
• religious orders
• medieval Ireland
• Cistercians
• Cluniacs
• monks
• priests
• Anglo-Norman Conquest
• patronage
• colonisation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Galway

Books & works: Monasticism in Ireland, AD 900-1250, The Cambridge History of Ireland. 1. 600–1550, Review Article: The “Reform” of the Irish Church in the Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries

Places: Dublin

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