Buildings of worship in Ireland, c.950-1150

This chapter comprises a summary of current scholarship on ecclesiastical architecture at both major and minor establishments in Ireland in the period c. 950–1150. Rather than presenting new research, its purpose is to provide a brief overview to act as a point of comparison with the other contributions in the volume. While the effects of the Gregorian Reform are discussed, no consideration is given to the establishment of new monastic orders, for in Ireland the architectural impact of these only becomes evident at the end of the period in question: the first definite example of a cloister is the Cistercian abbey of Mellifont (Louth) founded in 1142. Especially from c. 1000 churches were being founded in the Hiberno-Scandinavian ports of Dublin, Waterford, Cork and Limerick; and by c. 1100 Dublin in particular had a substantial number of churches. Very few traces of these survive, however, and the ports are here dealt with only in passing.