The Friars in Ireland, 1224-1540

Beginning with the arrival of the Dominicans in Dublin in 1224 and concluding with the Dissolution Campaign of 1540-1541, this book surveys the history, lifestyle, and pastoral and cultural impact of the the mendicant friars in medieval Ireland - Dominicans, Franciscans, Augustinians, Carmelites, Friars of the Sack, and the Dominican and Franciscan Regular Tertiaries. The first section give a chronological overview of developments within each order from arrival and initial expansion in the 13th century, through the upheavals of the 14th century, and to the emergence of vigorous revival movements within each body in the 15th and early 16th centuries. The second section examines various aspects of the friars' lives and ministry. These include analyses of the relationships between the friars, their patrons, and their critics. The book concludes with an epilogue detailing the developments and upheavals in Irish mendicant life during the decade between 1530 and 1540.