Above : Picture of St Patrick Banishing Snakes

The wonderful success of St. Patrick’s mission was not more remarkable than the great outburst of religious zeal which followed it, and which continued for centuries. Easy as had been the conversion of Ireland, it was profound. St. Patrick was immediately followed by many disciples of noble sanctity and pious fervour, and these again were succeeded by numerous others, who devoted their lives to religion and learning. During the three centuries after Patrick’s death the history of the country is mainly devoted to the records of spiritual and intellectual work—for upon such work were the energies of the Irish people almost entirely poured forth during that period. It was the era in which Ireland won the title of ” Insula Sanctorum et Doctorum.”

Above: The Church

The spread of the faith suffered no check by the death of St. Patrick; for churches, monasteries, and convents continued to be founded all over the country. The founders of monasteries in Ireland may be said to have been of two classes. Those of the one class settled in the inhabited districts, and took on themselves functions of education and religious minis- tration. Those of the other class gave themselves up to a life of prayer and contemplation; and these took up their abode in remote islands or mountain valleys, places generally hard to reach, and often almost, in- accessible.