Colmán Ó Clabaigh has been a monk at Glenstal Abbey for over thirty years. He is a medievalist specializing in the history of monastic and religious orders in medieval Ireland and has published and edited numerous books and articles in this field. His monograph, The Friars in Ireland, 1224–1540 (Dublin, 2012) was awarded the Prize for Irish Historical Research by the National University of Ireland in 2013. He is currently working on a book on religion and society in medieval Ireland.