A radio broadcast from Limerick – Bishop Cornelius O’Dea and his mitre and crozier.

Detail from the volute of the O’Dea Crozier of 1418. The moment the Virgin accepts the word of the Angel – the finest medieval Irish depiction of the Annunciation. (Diocese of Limerick)

On Wednesday last, 12th August, I gave a radio interview to John O’Carroll for the History Show on Limerick City Community Radio on the topic of Cornelius O’Dea, Bishop of Limerick 1400-1426, and his mitre and crozier. The subject sounds very esoteric, but actually it was a way of introducing the public to the a different view of medieval Ireland, especially medieval Limerick. It is also the topic I researched for my MA dissertation. The programme covers the bishop’s life, his peccadilloes (he had a mistress, and three sons!), his appointment as bishop and his connections, the context (why did they have two popes at the same time?), the theology, the craftsman and the artistic influences on the images used on the mitre and crozier. The jewelled mitre and crozier are the greatest medieval treasures from Limerick and are of European importance.  Tune in to Limerick City Community Radio online at 12.00 noon Irish time on Sunday 16th August to be sure of catching the broadcast. If you miss it they should have available on a podcast within a day or two..