For our third Spring lecture, we welcome speaker Dr Alison Lennon. In this lecture, she will discuss the foundation of St Leonard’s Priory in Seatown, Dundalk in the late 12th century. She will analyse the involvement of Bertram de Verdon, the Anglo-Norman knight who founded the town of Dundalk and the Fratres Cruciferi or Cross-Bearers, the brethren who administered the hospital that was established at this site. She will ask why Bertram dedicated the priory to St Leonard and will also discuss how the priory played an important role as the town developed. Finally, she will try to disentangle some of the mysteries surrounding the Fratres Cruciferi and which of their many branches came to Dundalk to help minister to the ill and poor within the town.

Dr Alison Lennon  graduated from Trinity College in 2010 with a PhD in Medieval History and Archaeology. Her main focus of study has been Anglo-Norman castles and religious foundations in Counties Louth and Down. In addition to lecturing on this subject, she provides workshops for primary and secondary level students, encouraging their interest in their local history and archaeology. She currently works in the County Museum, Dundalk.

The lecture will be held online via Zoom on Thursday 24 April 2025 at 8.00p.m. The Zoom link will be emailed to members and posted on this page the day before the lecture.

Join Zoom meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84789852439
Meeting ID: 847 8985 2439

Attendance is open to all. No registration is required.
Log on will be possible from 7.45. The lecture will begin at 8.00 sharp.