In this, his sixth book on the Roman Catholic church in Ireland, Larkin focuses on the church's role in the first stage of the emergence of the modern Irish political system. This system depended upon the convergence of three crucial elements -- the leader, the party, and the Irish bishops as a body -- and in the 1870s, these elements began to coalesce. The refusal of the bishops to come to terms with the Home Rule movement was fortunate; otherwise their dominance would have altered the shape of Irish politics. Originally published in 1990. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.