The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-08-06
The Irish Have Had a Passion for
Learning From the Earliest
Times
From the Fifth Century to the Ninth,
Universities Flourished
in Ireland
English Distrust in Irish Schools
Led to Founding of Trinity
College, Dublin.

All readers of Irish history, says g.
Norman in the Dublin Independent
know the passion for learning that has
existed in Ireland from the earliest
times, and the royal honors that were
paid to the scholar by the Irish chiefs
in the old chronicles the latter wee
called "The Sheltering Tree of the
Learned" But it is with early Chris
t1an Ireland, university life is asso-
ciated
The golden age OF Irish learning was
from the sixth to the ninth century.
but even in the fifth century there
were great schools of Irish learning,
notably those at Emily, Armagh, Ar
dagh and Sletty. The sixth century
can boast of seven vast and remark
able universities as those of Clanmac-
noise, Lismore, Clonard and Bangor.
The greatest of Ireand's scholars and
Saints went forth from these places.
Students attracted by the reputation
of the ireland of Saints and Schol-
ars' Hocked from all parts Of Europe
to these seats of learning, King AL
fred of Northumbria among the rest.
Indeed, the Saxon chroniclers, usu-
ally so churlish about giving praise to
ireland, write in the most exalted
terms of praise about the learning of
our country in these early times. Ad-
helm describes Ireland as rich in the
wealth of science, and as thickly set
with learned men as the poles are
with stars The Saxons should be
particularly grateful to Ireland, as her
universities taught the sons of Eng
land without fee or reward. The En-
peror Charlemagne later showed his
appreciation of Irish learning by ap-
pointing Claud Clemens and John AL
bin over the two universities which
he founded at Paris and Pavia.
Clonard and Clanmacnoise We're
perhaps the most interesting of the old
Irish universities, as their names are
associated with such extraordinary
holiness and learning as Colmcille,
Ciernan @nd Finnian. Finnian was
called "the teacher of the Saints OF
Ireland" because SO many boys who
afterwards became Saints were taught
by him. The great Colmcille was his
pupil whose name is ever beloved in
Ireland, and whose reputation is
spread all over Europe. Life in those
early Irish schools was very different
from our modern ideas about univer-
sity life. Hard mental study. much
prayer and manual labor was expect
ed from all the pupils. At Clonard a
rule existed that the scholars should
by turns grind the corn with a gueran
There were, of course, no large build
ings or class rooms in those ancie,it
institutions. A tiny stone church was
the center of many groups of other
little stone buildings or cells. Often
the students built these themselves,
and where wood was plentiful they
used it instead of stone. Comfort was
not valued by the students. and many
went through great hardships jour-
neying from afar to come to these
seats of learning Extraordinary gen.
erosity and hospitality were, charac-
teristics of these early schools. No
student was asked for money for his
schooling, and if he We're needy even
food and clothes were given him. H.
could stay as long as he liked, the only
return asked Of him was that he took
his share of the dairy work.
Armagh Once a Center Of Learning.
At the present day no trace of the
great University of Clonard remains,
but Clanmacnoise ruins can still DC
seen. 1t had group Of seven churches
like Glendalough, and in later times
beautiful crosses and round tower
were added. 1t is lamentable fact
that only one book is in existence be-
longing to famous Clanmacnoise, THE
Eook of the Dun Cow" The English
did their work well when banishing all
signs of Irish learning. Armagh was
another great center of learning, and