Synod of Cashel

1171. A meeting of Irish bishops with a representative of Henry II of England to reform the Irish Church. It dealt with such matters as the collection of tithes, the paying of Peter's Pence* to Rome, the regulation of marriages, and baptisms. The archbishop of Armagh was recognized as primate of Ireland directly responsible to the pope, but in fact English dominance was obvious, for although no mention was made of the superiority of the archbishop of Canterbury, all native liturgies were replaced by that of the Church of England. This was another aspect of Henry II's conquest of Ireland.