Roscrea Spring History Conference

The community of Mount Saint Joseph Abbey were delighted to have hosted the 58th Roscrea history conference with the theme “From Rahan to Lismore, via Ros Cré – Carthage’s expulsion or Triumphant Retreat” on the first weekend in April. Both guesthouses at the monastery were full and the participants were treated to a wonderful cornucopia of learning delivered in an engaging manner.

The Abbot Dom Richard Purcell ocso, welcomed all on the Friday evening to the Abbey.

During the weekend Prof Padraig and Dr Dagmar O Riain, archaeologist Con Manning,  Prof  Dáibhi Ó Cróinín, Dr Michael Ryan (on new thinking on the makeup of the Derrynaflan chalice) and Dr John Feehan all had new insights and  gave outstanding presentations in entertaining fashion.

On Saturday Bishop Michael Burrows of Ossory and Cashel gave personal insights into how a modern bishop, a coarb (successor) of these saints continued to be influenced spiritually by them. Bishop Michael led an ecumenical service at Seir Kieran during the field trip on Saturday afternoon.  History was made as the Anglican Bishop was joined by Cistercian Abbot Emiratis Dom Laurence Walsh ocso and an Ossory parish priest Fr Jim Dollard in the service.

The history conferences are run by Roscrea People in association with Roscrea Heritage  Society. We eagerly await the 59th gathering in the Autumn which will take as its theme: Living off the land in Medieval Ireland.

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