Reformation Women in Ireland, 1660-1760: By Their Authority - Hardcover

by Phil Kilroy (Author)

This book illuminates the often-overlooked story of early
modern Irish women, particularly those from the Protestant colonial community.
Drawing from aristocratic, gentry, farming, business, and trade families, these
women were shaped by the religious and intellectual currents of their time.
Raised within the Church of Ireland or the Church of England, as adults they
were enriched by European influences of the Reformation and
Counter-Reformation: Swiss and Dutch Calvinism, Gallicanism, Jansenism
and the spirituality of Port Royal.

The book explores how these women engaged with Renaissance
Humanism, the early French Enlightenment, and cultural discussions on topics
such as pre-existence, 12th-century Arabic culture, Judaism, and the Lurianic
Kabbala. Central to their lives was Reformation spirituality, which fostered
literacy, critical thinking, and personal faith through vernacular Bible
readings and church services.

Despite living in patriarchal societies that largely relegated
women to subordinate roles, these women demonstrated remarkable resilience and
intellectualism. The book highlights their struggles and triumphs, showing how
they navigated and sometimes resisted the constraints imposed on them. By
focusing on their narratives and voice, the book reveals the courage and agency
these women exhibited in shaping their own destinies and laying out their
legacies.

Through detailed biographical accounts, the book
restores these women to their rightful place in history, offering a nuanced
understanding of their contributions and the broader social and religious
contexts in which they lived. Researchers and general readers with an interest
in women's history, gender studies, and early modern Irish history will find
this a useful addition to those fields.