The Irish standard., 1894-10-13
went to far off lands to preach Christ
Crucifed, and one of it's sons, st. Killian

What Bangor was to Ulster, Cork was
to Munster, a guiding light, an oasis ir
the desert.
The education given in schools such
as that of Cork was of very extensive
character and, according to recent
writer, it was beyond doubt the BEST ol
it's kind in any part of the civilized world
This is high praise. One fact abundant.
| ly justifee 1t. Men came from ell ns,
tions in hundreds to seek it, and in those
days Of slow and difficalt travelling by
land OF by sea, they were not likely to
journey long distances to seek what they
might have found nearer their own
| homes. The course Of studies embraced
the Irish language and literature, the
Greek and Roman classics, foreign Ian
;. ages, the physical sciences, and for
eoclessaaatScs, theology, scierce and sacred
scripture. We have the highest author
ity for the statement that their is scarce
ly an eminent ecclesiastic from the fifth
century who was not distinguished for
his knowledge of this Gaelic language
and history. Most of the books which
have come down to us from that period,
show that these Irish writer's possessed
large and accurate knowledge OF the
Latin, and still more perhaps, of the
Greek language, and recent investiga-
tions have brought to light in Germany
and Itely manuscripts of Horace and
Ovid, as we'll as the Old and New Testa-
ments, whose delicate tracery proves an
Irish band. In celebrated controversy
OF the seventh century Irish writer's
gained brilliant distinction for their
knowledge of astronomy, whilst the large
number Of references to foreign works,
ancient and modern, proved the wealth
of Irish libraries, as we'll as their owners
intimate acquaintance with them.
The School of Cork continued to
flourish after the death of St. Finn Barr
for upwards OF FIVE centuries. In A. d.
664 the famous Colman O'Cluasaighe
was professor OF this school, and it was
he who wrote the Liber Hymnorum, or
Book of Hymns, which is still preserved
in the library of Trinity College, Dublin.
This cid manuscript volume is written
in magnificent Irish hand and splen-
didly illuminated Prof. O'Curry re-
garded 1t as "certainly ore of the most
valuable ecclesiastical documents in Eu-
rope" It was written as shield of
protection" against the rayages OF the
Buidhechair, or yellow disease, which
ragged in Ireland in the year 664 and
| which :Flefs only one out of every three
persons alive in Enn." In it's present
form the hymn consists of fifty-two lines
with an added prayer, but it is quite
evident that it originally consisted of
forty-six stanzas, the remaining six,
| asking the blessing and protection of the
patron saints of Irsland-Patriok, Brig,
ct, Columcilse and Adamnan, being
subsequently aided. The language is,
with one or two exceptions, the very
oldest form Of the Gaedhlic which has
| come down to us, and, as DE-. Todd re-
| marks, 'it fully confirms the early date
assigned to it by the Schollast."
When the plague was at its highest
Coleman and his pupils left the School
of Cork. and as the Scholiast informs ne,
they went to sa certain island in the sea
of Erin, /. because the plague did not
extend farther than nine waves from the
| land, as the learned relate" It was on
their voyage to this unknown island that
the hymn was composed; and some
| writer's affirm that Coleman composed
only the first stanza, his pupils compos,
,, ing the remaining forty-five. The poem
begins thus:
Mag the blessing of God come upon US,
| Maylii son of Mary screen us;
Nav HI protect us this night
Whereyer5we go-though great our numbers
| The writer then invokes the interces-
sion of the patliarcha, the prophets, the
apostles, the Blessed Virgin, st. Joseph
st. Stephen and many other saints OF
the New Testament by nfme. The ref
erence to the Blessed Virgin and St.
| Joseph is as follows:
| Mary, Joseph guard US
With the spirit of Stephen;
May it deliver us from every difficulty
| To invoke the name Of Ignatius.
From the seventh to the ninth century
/ we find but scant mention made OF the
School Of Cork by the old writer's. St
1 AenRue describes it il the year 800 as
still filled with monks and scholars, and
in his Felire Of Festiology he commemor.
ates Seventeen holy bishops" and quite
q fabulous number OF. .prisste and other
degrees" educated in That school, "who
i rest at Cork with Finn Barr and Neesan.
During the Danieh occupation Of Ireland
the School Of Cork was plnndered -four
Tor five times; but after the defeat oi
those maraudsrs ut CloDt tart. in AZ 3D.
ll013, it was again restored TO the prince
.Ily McC Carthys and continued 70 enjoy
career Of prosperity Tor nigh two hundred
wears. until the arrival of the Angie Nor