Kentucky Irish American., 1906-12-22
LEARNING
FlOurishe ed In Ireland Even Il =
fore St. Patrick's
Time.
But It Was ia the Exclusive
Possession of Privileged
Glasses.
The Druids and Bards Did Not
Commit IL to Writ
ing.
ANCIENT SCHOOLS AND SCHOLARS

ing was not committed to writing
but was handed down by oral tradi-
tion. 1t was in the exclusive pos
session of the privileged classes, such
as the Druids and Bards. These
wished above all things to keep their
learning to themselves and to inspire
the people with a mysterious awe
for their own power and wisdom.
Bishop Healy, of Clonfert, has writ
ten most interesting work on Ire
lands Ancient Schools and Scholars.
The Bishop places the Druids in the
first order of learning. 1t has been
said by some writer's that Druidism
was a philosophy rather than re-
ligion; but this statement can not be
admitted against the express testi-
mony of Caesar. who must have often
seen the Druids both in Gaul and
in Britain. He asserts most distinctly
ship. offered sacrifice both in public
and in private, and also eXpounded
omens and oracles. We must bear
in mind what Caesar says of the
Druids of Gaul and Britain; because
il is quite evident that the Druids of
the three great Celtic nations about
this period had practically the same
religion. A course of twenty years
was required for the profession in
Gaul as in Ireland. The British
Druids in the time of Caesar were
very famous both as priests and
scholars; so that it was customary
for the young Druids of Gaul to be
sent over to Britain to finish their
education. The chief establishment
was in the Isle of Anglesey, anciently
called Mona Caesar gave that name
to the Isle of Mani. During the
period Immediately preceding the ar
rival of st. Patrick in ireland, it
seems highly probable that Mona was
occupied by a colony of the Irish
Celts. 1t is certain, at least, that
very freuent and friendly inter
course took place between Ireland
and Anglesey. from which it may be
safely inferred that if the Druidism
of Anglesey was not of Irish origin,
certainly educated i'm that island.
Tara was the chief seat of Druid
ism of Erin. but we also find them
at Cruachan in Connacht, and in Kill
lala beyond the Moy-both royal
seats of the kings of that province.
They accompanied the kings i'm their
journeys and were present some
times on the field of battel. They
were generally dressed in white. but
wore an inner tunic to which refer
ence is sometimes made. They were
sworn enemies of Christianity. and
frequently tried to take st. Patrick's
life by violence or poison. Their New
Years day was about March 10. and
was deemed as the great day on
which they cut the mistletOe on the
sacred oak. The first of May was
kept as a festival in honor of the
Sun-God; and probably gave origin to
that custom of lighting fires in
honor of the god which was after
wards transferred to the eve of June
"a.
St. Patrick i'm his Confession
refers to this sun-worship
as an idolatrous practice. "That
sun" he says, (which at His bidding
we see rising daily for our sake will
never reign. and its splendor will not
last forever: but those who adore it
will perish miserably for all eter-
nitv." The great November festival
called Samuin, seems to have been
held especially in honor of the side,
or fairv-gods. who dwelt in the
bosom of the beautiful green hills of
Erin, and were supposed to hold a
festival throughout all the land on
November eve.
Bishop Healy discusses Bards of
pre-Christian times. The functions
of the Bard or poet was to eulogize
and satarize. In time the poet be-
came a pest and a nuisance. He was
willing enough to eulogize when he
expected liberal rewards; but if he
were disappointed in his hopes, or if
from any other cause he wished to
nflict the last of his satire on any
person, he never spared the poisoned
shafts of his flashing wit. Hence
Tormac MacCullinan. who knew the
tribe well, derives File. the old Irish
word for poet. from fl, poison, and
il, brightness; because in eulogy the
poet is bright, but in satire he is
No man was qualified TO
become Chief-poet. or Doctor in
was not
able to compose an eXtempore stanza
)n any subject proposed to him. The
thief duty of the Historic Poet or
1hronicler. was to REGISTER the gen.
of the men of Erin, and to
'ecite lays of battle, and rhymed
stories or tales of incidents. The
was required by law TO
spend at least twelve years in careful
for his final degree, and
o have prepared for public recita-
ion. seven times fifty tales or stor-
es. He was also required TO be per-
'ectly familiar with the pedigrees
lbroad. and the etymologies of
he principal families, their topo-
graphical distribution, and the re-
events both at home and
names in Erin. He was besides re-
Iuired to know the artistic rules of
poetry, and to have a knowledge of
he seven kinds of verse and their
Tarious metres. 1t is evident that
hese manifold accomplishments re-
Iuired long and careful study; and
he necessity of this training ex-
,lains, what many persons think in
the wonderful accuracy of |
reland's ancient historical and |