An Irish College was established in Rome in 1628 to prepare priests for the Irish mission. As part of an elaborate network of such colleges across the continent, the Irish College was always more than a seminary; it served as an ‘embassy’ and focus of Irish Catholic interests in Rome and remained such until the 20th century when Ireland established formal diplomatic relations with the Holy See. This collection illustrates that dual role; based upon the archival holdings of the College it presents an insight into the history of the Irish College and its complex world. The contributors are Patrick Corish, Thomas O’Connor,  Charles Burns, Hugh Fenning OP, Clare Carroll, Fearghus Ó Fearghail,  Colin Barr, Eileen Kane,  Michael Olden,  Amy McKinney, Ciaran O’Carroll, Ambrose Macauley, Rory Sweetman, Peter Anthony Boyle, Dermot Keogh, +Michael Smith and Vera Orschel.

This volume was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Oliver Plunkett Union (The Union of the Alumni  of the Pontifical Irish College, Rome) on 9 September 2008 in the Slieve Russell Hotel, Ballyconnell, Co Cavan.  It was launched in the Pontifical Irish College, Rome on 16 October 2008.

Dáire Keogh & Albert McDonnell, editors

Hardback      344pp ills. 2008        ISBN: 978-1-84682-054-0