
The only depictions of Irish monks are in Giraldus' manuscript, depicting them in long tunics, hooded, with a separate mantle. The mantles are brownish and the tunics are off-white, yellowish, brown and similar.
This makes me ask - what about pre-Norman period? Are there any good depictions of clerics and monks?
What about their equipment? Many would be scribes or rubificators or did the illuminations, so parchment, quills and ink are common. At this stage, believe it or not, scribes didn't have desks or other such luxuries, most were writing with parchment on their lap (as I'm told at paleography classes at the University). But writing is another subject.
Now - weapons. Despite Cornwellian images of monks and priests believing their God will protect them from Danish and Norse swords, it seems logical, that at the time they could have some arms to defend themselves against heathens. However I'm not familiar with restrictions or lack of them, regarding weapons for clergy. Anyone?