The Schools

Above : Picture Of St. Patrick With Blue Robe

The establishment of the schools began before the death of St. Patrick, and they increased rapidly and spontaneously. Nearly all were founded during the century after his time. All over the country they sprang until every locality had its school. Ireland, in fact, was ” honeycombed with schools.” They were not, of course, located in great buildings, but were more like little towns. The students lived in small round houses built of timber and laid out in streets. The only stone building was the little oblong church. Instruction was given in the open air from the top of a little mound, and after the lecture the students retired to their houses to ponder over what they had heard. The Abbot presided over the monastery and school, and frequently a bishop was attached for episcopal functions. The monasteries and schools were independent, each following the rules laid down by its founder. The Columban monasteries under the jurisdiction of Iona were the only instances of an ” affiliated ” system.

Many of the schools were attended by great numbers of students. At one time there were 3,000 students at Clonard, and the same number at Bangor. These were by no means all Irishmen. Every nation of the civilised world was represented. From Britain came Gaels and Picts, Britons and Saxons : from the Continent came Franks, Germans and Italians ; some came even from Egypt. Two Kings, at least, received their education in Ireland—Aid/rid of Northumbria, and Dagobert of the Western Franks. In the peaceful schools of Ireland they found the learning which anarchy was banishing from their own countries.

The subjects of study included all the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew learning of the time ; theology and philosophy ; and the practical sciences—astronomy, geometry, geography.

In addition to the monastic schools there were also lay or professional schools in which the beads, historians and lawyers of Eire were trained. In early times famous Bards were attended by groups of pupils, who followed them from place to place. Afterwards, however—probably at the convention of Drumceat [section VI)—lands were allotted for the support of bardic colleges. We know little of those institutions, but they are said to have existed down to the seventeenth century.

The following were the more celebrated of the Saints of Ireland and the schools with which most of them were connected :

• St. Benignus, a native of Meath, was the favourite disciple of St. Patrick and succeeded him as Archbishop of Armagh. He is the Patron Saint of Connacht. Died a.d. 468.
• St. Brigit, born at Faughart, near Dundalk, founded convents in many parts of Ireland and eventually settled at KiJdare, where she established the most famous convent in Ireland and also a monastery for men, and a school. She is one of the Three Patrons of Ireland—{the others being St. Patrick and St. Columba), and the title of ” the Mary of Ireland ” is also given to her. Died a.d. 523.
• St. Finian (of Clonard), born in Leinster and educated amongst the British Christians, founded several churches in his native Kingdom. Eventually he settled at Clonard in Meath on the banks of the River Boyne, where he founded a school, which became the greatest in Ireland and existed until the 13th century. Many of the greatest of the Irish Saints were educated by St. Finian, so that he is styled ” the tutor of the Saints of Ireland.” Died a.d. 549.
• St. Ciaran, born in Meath, founded the famous monastery and school of Clonmacnoise on the banks of the Shannon, in which many important Irish annals were compiled. Died a.d. 549.
• St. Brendan, ” the navigator,” a native of West Munster, made a great voyage on the Atlantic. He founded the monastery of Clonfert. Died A.d. 577.
• St. Finian (of Moville), a native of Ulaidh, educated in Britain and Rome. Founded the great school of Moville* in his native Kingdom. Died a.d. 579.
• St. Comhgall, a native of Ulaidh, founded in that district the monastery of Bangor, whose fame rivalled that of Clonard. Many of the Irish missionaries were educated there. Died a.d. 602.
• St. Carthach, born in West Munster, founded first a school at Rahan in Leinster. Driven out by local jealousy, he founded at Lismore another school which became very famous. Died A.D. 637.

Amongst the other famous Saints and schools were the following ; St. Kevin of Glendalough ; St. Ibar of Beg-Erin (Wexford); St. Laserian of Leighlin ; St. Aidan of Ferns ; St. Fiac of Sleaty (near Carlow) ; St. Ciaran of Saighir (Ossory) ; St. Fintan of Clonenagh (Queens Co.); St. Ailbe of Emly ; St. Declan of Ardmore ; St. Finbar of Cork ; St. Ita—” the Brigit of Munster ” ; St. Enda of Arran in Gaiway Bay ; St. Jarlath of Tuam; St. Mobhi of Glasnevin; St. Mailruan of Tallaght; St. Buite of Monasterboice ; St. Mochta of Louth ; and the monasteries of Kells, Swords, Durrow, and Derry, founded by St. Columba.