The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1910-03-26
THE ALPHABET OF
ANCIENT IRELAND
Borrowed by the Britons
From the Old Schools of
North Umbria.
Founded in Sixth Century by
St. Columbkille, the Irish
Missionary.
Irish Characters Used in the
Great Charter of
British Liberty.

While some writer's claim for the
igothic or Lombardic origin, because
Of its early usage by these races, the
best early examples of it's usage are
found in Ireland, says Thomas A.
OShaughnessy in the Inland Printer.
1t was in Ireland that this alphabet
reached its best development, and
while it is found in the early centuries
of modern history among most of the
races Of Europe, it is probable that
this alphabet was carried to those
peoples by the students who, as his
tory tells, went from all Europe to
Ireland to secure advantages Of the
free schools of that land which had
no equal elsewhere. 1t is significant
that this alphabet wherever found in
the early centuries Of the Christian
era was usually associated with the
decorative features of the art which
Is so purely Irish. ....
The earliest alphabet claimed by
the English emanated from the schools
of North Umbria, which were estab-
lished by the Irish. scholar, St, .Columb
kille, In the sixth century.
The great impetus given to the use
Of letters under Charemagne was
through the introduction of the Irish
alphabet by learned men brought over
from the schools of Ireland by that
great patron of education.
The Caroline letters of Charlie
magne's time are among the most
beautiful of all Irish letters, preserv-
ed, and are excelled in beauty only by
the letters found in the book of "Kells,"
made in Ireland in the sixth century,
or three centuries earlier, and in the
Lormabdic lettering of the thirteenth
century. preserved in the convent Of
La Cava.
In the Uncial alp1abets Of the sixth
century, the half uncial and Latin al
phabets and in the Gospels of St.
Cuthbert, written in England in the
seventh century, are found these same
letters of which such beautiful ex-
amples are preserved in Ireland in
the "Rules of st. Benedict" the "Book
Of Durrow," and other manuscripts Of
the sixth century.
While some writer's hold to the the
ory that letters were introduced into
Ireland by st. Patrick, the reference
by st. Patrick to letters received by
him from Ireland seems to prove the
reverse of such q theory and to indi-
cate that this great missionary re-
ceived his knowledge of Irish letters
along with his education, when as a
youth he was a hostage in Ireland.
However obscure the written history
of this alphabet, which is the best
medium for the writing of history
tradition, which is usually the most
origin Of lower-cas letters to Ireland
Whether the Irish written alphabet
is older than the sculptural alphabets
of Greece and Rome; whether in re-
mote pre- Christian times it came to
the people of Ireland as an heirloom
of Phoenician ancestry or whether 1t
came to that land through the semi
barbaric races of continental Europe
in the first centuries Of Christianity
is matter Of secondary Importance
The vital truth Is, that this alphabet
without losing the identity Of any OF
it's members, has been woven by the
Irish scribes into the continuous, flow
ing, graceful lines of an ornamental
art. It has made writing q pleasure
and makes of each well-written page
beautiful example with ever-chang.
ing curves to please the eye as to leat
: the reader on into the story told ou
Of sheer pleasure in the beauty Of the
way in which the lines are fashioned
The Irish alphabet is pre-eminentll
tho literary alphabet Of the world.
1reland's place in literature Is OBJ
Q scured through centuries of war, mad
y by invading armies. During thou
sand years of these hostile invasions