Gothic and Renaissance Irish Architecture

In early medieval Ireland the churches although large on faith were small on detail. The churches were made for monks that wanted their privacy and their quiet. The buildings did not have to be ornate nor dramatic because to the monks and the religious people that attended it did not influence their faith. However with the Anglo-Norman invasion this all changed. The hierarchy of the church changed dramatically allowing Bishops to come in and take over the church. Along with this came Romanesque and Gothic Architecture to medieval Ireland.

The Romanesque architecture was known for its eye for detail. Duly named for its similarity to the architecture in Rome that had pillars and intricate design. It was coined as Romanesque by Charles Alexis Adrien de Gerville. The plainest definition of Romanesque is Roman Architecture with differences. When the architecture was brought over it was done so by the Anglo Normans which were famous for their adaptation. Anglo Normans would slip into a society and become one, so when they brought the Romanesque style over it was with their changes incorporated.