Selja: The Story of Sunniva
The Irish-princess-virgin-martyr, St Sunniva, is one of the most enigmatic of Scandinavian saints. The site of her martyrdom, the island of Selja on the west coast of Norway, became an important monastic and episcopal centre during the eleventh century. Towards the end of the twelfth century her relics were translated to Bergen, the new centre of the bishopric, and she became the patron saint of Bergen. This short film provides an overview of her legend and the historic site at Selja, Norway’s holy island. Filmed on Selja with Shoshana Rae Stark in October 2014.
The Monk Who United Europe
I served as a historical consultant for the BBC/ RTE co-production of the film documentary “Mary McAleese and the Man Who Saved Europe” broadcast on BBC and RTE in November 2015.
Saint Columbanus: The First European
A radio discussion with former President of Ireland Mary McAleese and Columban missionary Father Sean McDonagh on the legacy of Saint Columbanus for the 14th centenary of his death in November 2015. Broadcast on RTE Radio 1.
RTE Radio One: Saint Columbanus
Presentations and Book Launch of new book to commemorate the 850th anniversary of Saint Sunniva in Bergen, September 2020
An Irishman’s Diary, The Irish Times on Saint Coloman of Melk, the first patron saint of Austria:
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/an-irishman-s-diary-1.549893
Columcille Lecture, Trinity College Dublin
The sixth lecture in the Columcille lecture series hosted by Loyola Institute and Trinity Long Room Hub on 15th November 2021 to commemorate the 15th centenary of the birth of Saint Columba (Colum Cille) of Iona.
The Formation of Identity in Medieval Ireland, NYU Roundtable
This roundtable discussion at Glucksman Ireland House at New York University held on 7th October 2022 examined some of the earliest ideas of what it means to be ‘Irish’ and the perception of Ireland and the Irish in sources from the medieval period. Ranging from early views of an island at the very edge of the world to the development of a multifaceted Irish identity incorporating different peoples and narratives of the past, this discussion featured contributions from Dr. Alexander O’Hara and Justin Colvin, authors of the forthcoming book Savage/Saint Island: Imagining Ireland and the Irish from Classical Antiquity to the Anglo-Norman Conquest, Dr. Patrick Wadden, co-editor of the recently published Origin Legends in Early Medieval Western Europe and Dr. Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, Professor of Celtic and Medieval Studies at the University of Cambridge and Principal Investigator for the Leverhulme Trust Project, ‘Mapping the Medieval Mind: Ireland’s Literary Landscapes in a Global Space’. This event was hosted by Dr. Sarah Waidler, lecturer at Glucksman Ireland House.
Freemen outwith the Tribe: Exiles for Exiles for Christ from Saints Patrick to Kilian, 400 to 700 AD
Lecture given at Christendom College in November 2021
The Irish at the Carolingian Court and the Europeanization of Europe
Lecture given at University of Notre Dame in February 2022
Theologies of Despair and Indifference: Theological Themes in the Paintings of Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Lecture given at Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in March 2022
The Irish at the Carolingian Court and the Europeanization of Europe
Lecture given at MIT, April 2022
MIT lecture on Irish at Carolingian Court
Interview with Liverpool University Press about Jonas of Bobbio and translation of the Life of Columbanus
Saving Europe documentary: How the Irish Helped Save Civilisation
The Christian Foundations of Europe: The Idea of Europe from Saint Columbanus to the Origins of the European Union
This lecture presents two Catholic leaders at different ends of the spectrum of European History namely St. Columbanus, who inspired the establishment of nearly one hundred monastic foundations in Europe, and Robert Schuman, the founder of the European Union. This talk was given at the Roundtower Association Conference in Galway City, Ireland, in January 2020.