The role of the Catholic Church during the Irish Civil War is to be examined this weekend at a conference in Dublin.
Taking place on the St Patrick’s Campus of Dublin City University on Saturday, topics of conversation will include ‘Rebels’ priests’ and ‘Praying for deliverance from disunion, anarchy and ruin.’
A closing address will be delivered by the Primate of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamon Martin.
Professor Alison Forrestal from the University of Galway helped to organise the event and said that although many events have been held to commemorate the Irish Revolution, War of Independence and the Civil War – the role of the Catholic Church in society at the time remained “frustratingly incomplete”.
As Secretary of the Catholic Historical Society of Ireland, she added: “This gap is all the more notable given the omnipresence of the Catholic Church in Irish society at the time, and for decades since.”
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With a range of national and international scholars contributing, the discussions aim to highlight the divisive nature of the Civil War among both lay and clergy.
“While the Church became one of the most important pro-Treaty organisations in the country, some individual clerics, and religious, offered support to the anti-Treaty side during the Civil War,” Professor Forrestal said.
“Talks on the day will assess the position of the Catholic hierarchy in respect to political and military developments, but also explore the role of religious orders in the conflict, as well as interactions between Church personnel, the laity and within families.”
Everyone is welcome to attend Saturday’s event at the Seamus Heaney Centre on the St Patrick’s campus, but are asked to book in advance through Eventbrite.ie.
