Standard works include:
Kathleen Hughes, THE CHURCH IN EARLY IRISH SOCIETY
N.K. Chadwick, THE AGE OF THE SAINTS IN THE EARLY CELTIC CHURCH
John Ryan, IRISH MONASTICISM
D. Pochin Mould, THE IRISH SAINTS
P.J. Corish, early series of A HISTORY OF IRISH CATHOLICISM
Eoin MacNeil's work on early Irish law in EARLY IRISH LAW AND INSTITUTIONS
J. A. Watt, THE CHURCH IN MEDIEVAL IRELAND
somewhat later materials in :
Aubrey Gwynn, MEDIEVAL RELIGIOUS HOUSES: IRELAND
Michael Richter, MEDIEVAL IRELAND.
I am a modern historian of Ireland so this list is a bit off the cuff.
Some of these works, such as MacNeil's, are standard but a bit dated.
Richter should give some bibliographic indications and in any event
Hughes is still the standard work I believe. The early volumes of the
Gill Series (THE GILL HISTORY OF IRELAND edited by J.F. Lydon and Margaret
MacCurtain from the early seventies) and the more recent early volumes of
THE HELICON HISTORY OF IRELAND edited by Art Cosgrove (early 80s?) should
be consulted as well. I cannot recall the individual volumes and authors
but the Helicon Series was pretty up to date.
Hope this helps.
sean farrell moran
dept of history
oakland univ.
moran@oakland.edu
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