This page will feature a range of reading and reference material.  The recommendations that follow should not be considered comprehensive but rather, are designed to give you an insight into Ferns and its varied history. 

This page is a work in progress. If you know of an article, book or online resource we could feature on this page, please contact: [email protected].  While we may not feature every suggestion if the topic is already covered, we will hold the suggestion in case we have an enquiry for further information on a topic.

Online sources:    

Excavations – The Ferns Research Project by the Irish Archaeological Field School: An overview of Ferns from a historical and archaeological perspective in advance of an upcoming archaeologoical field school as part of the ‘Rediscovering Ancient Connections – The Saints’ project.

Ferns Augustinian Abbey. A great scholarly work by the Monastic Ireland project giving site plans and photographs on the history and context of St. Mary’s Augustinian Abbey.

National Monuments Service article, giving an overview of Ferns and its monuments.

This article and video entitled ‘The RIC Had Gone By The Time We Came Back’ featured in an RTE programme marking the 50th anniversary of the 1916 rising. The video is an interview with Patrick Ronan, Acting O/C, Ferns Company

Online article entitled ‘Man Shot by Police in Ferns’ by Barry Lacey. The article covers an event which took place during the period of the War of Independence (1919–1921).

YouTube videos

Visit the FernsVillage YouTube channel for a range of videos including the annual Ferns Medieval Conference and other history related videos.

Visit Alan Owens channel to get a glimpse of Ferns, its people and activities over the years – a terrific resource!

Printed sources

‘Diarmait – King of Leinster’ by Nicholas Furlong                                 Published by Mercier Press

‘The abbey and cathedral of Ferns’ by Tadhg O’Keeffe, & Rhiannon Carey Bates – a chapter in ‘Medieval Wexford’                                                                                     Published by Four Courts Press.

Ferns Parish Journal 2007 Compiled by Denis Kinsella

Ferns Parish Journal 2011                                                              Compiled by Denis Kinsella

A History of Ferns by Christopher Power