archbishop lorcán left ireland in 1179 to attend the third council of the lateran in rome, accompanied by five other bishops. from pope alexander iii he received a papal bull, confirming the rights and privileges of the see of dublin. alexander also named him as papal legate. on his return to ireland he kept up the pace of reform to such an extent that as many as 150 clerics were withdrawn from their offices for various abuses and sent to rome.