[2] Giraldus lists these three bishops, as well as Cadla Ua Dubthaig, Archbishop of Tuam[note 2] among the clergy of Ireland attending the synod, "with their suffragans and fellow-bishops, together with the abbots, archdeacons, priors, and deans, and many other Irish prelates".
[5] Giraldus relates that his absence was due to "infirmities and advanced age", and that he afterwards came to Dublin to give his assent "to the royal will in all these matters".
According to Marie Therese Flanagan,[7] some historians have interpreted this as an actual decree of the synod, and have seen in it the origins of a policy of anglicisation of the Irish church pursued by the Angevin kings in Ireland.
[7] Martin Holland does not include this part in his overview of the enacted decrees, but adds:[2]It was also decided that in Ireland, all matters relating to religion were to follow the observances of the English church.
Some have interpreted this as referring to liturgical practices only; others see it as encompassing more, and therefore being much more fundamental, especially since it is claimed that the Irish bishops swore fealty to Henry at around this time.