Churches in Early Medieval Ireland: Architecture, Ritual and Memory (The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art)

This Is The First Book Devoted To Churches In Ireland From The Arrival Of Christianity In The Fifth Century To The Early Stages Of The Romanesque Around 1100, Including Those Built To House Treasures Of The Golden Age Of Irish Art Such As The Book Of Kells And The Ardagh Chalice. The Authors Comprehensive Survey Of The Surviving Examples Forms The Basis For A Far-reaching Analysis Of Why Those Buildings Looked As They Did, And What They Meant In The Context Of Early Irish Society. Introduction -- Opus Scoticum : Churches Of Timber, Turf And Wattle -- Drystone Churches And Regional Identity In Corcu Duibne -- Relics And Romanitas : Mortared Stone Churches Before 900 -- Pre-romanesque Churches Of Mortared Stone, 900-1130 : Form, Chronology, Patronage -- Architecture And Memory -- Architecture And Ritual -- Sacred Cities And Pastoral Centres After 900 -- Architecture And Politics : Dublin And Glendalough Around 1100 -- Relics And Recluses : Double-vaulted Churches Around 1100 -- Epilogue -- Appendix. Descriptive List Of Irish Pre-romanesque Churches. Tomás Ó'carragáin. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.