Reformation Women in Ireland 1660-1760

This book illuminates the often-overlooked story of earlymodern Irish women, particularly those from the Protestant colonial community. Drawing from aristocratic, gentry, farming, business, and trade families, thesewomen were shaped by the religious and intellectual currents of their time. Raised within the Church of Ireland or the Church of England, as adults theywere enriched by European influences of the Reformation andCounter-Reformation: Swiss and Dutch Calvinism, Gallicanism, Jansenismand the spirituality of Port Royal. The book explores how these women engaged with RenaissanceHumanism, the early French Enlightenment, and cultural discussions on topicssuch as pre-existence, 12th-century Arabic culture, Judaism, and the LurianicKabbala. Central to their lives was Reformation spirituality, which fosteredliteracy, critical thinking, and personal faith through vernacular Biblereadings and church services. Despite living in patriarchal societies that largely relegatedwomen to subordinate roles, these women demonstrated remarkable resilience andintellectualism. The book highlights their struggles and triumphs, showing howthey navigated and sometimes resisted the constraints imposed on them. Byfocusing on their narratives and voice, the book reveals the courage and agencythese women exhibited in shaping their own destinies and laying out theirlegacies. Through detailed biographical accounts, the bookrestores these women to their rightful place in history, offering a nuancedunderstanding of their contributions and the broader social and religiouscontexts in which they lived. Researchers and general readers with an interestin women's history, gender studies, and early modern Irish history will findthis a useful addition to those fields.