In her talk – entitled ‘Mavericks, Mother Superiors and Architects Manquees’ – Dr Ellen Rowley will share some ongoing research into the relationship between the Irish Catholic Church (namely the Dublin Archdiocese) and the built environment during the heady decades of expansion, from 1940 to c.1980.

Richly illustrated and in some instances, barely cooked, Ellen’s presentation will venture into the territory of Planned Giving campaigns, the influence of Liberation Theology on Irish social services emerging in the 1980s, the architectural agency of the parish priest and the maverick nun; as well as issues around architectural style, perception and reception to modernism in Ireland’s Catholic church design.

Traditional methods of archive and site investigation are joined by alternative means like participatory drawing and oral history workshops; to the monograph and academic paper, Ellen adds other media of film, radio talks and exhibition.

Note: Booking essential.