The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-10-18

ture, belonged to monastery that was
not founded till 657; Dante, the morn
ing star of Italian literature, will not
shine forth till the end of the thir-
tenth century; Chaucer is not born till
1910, yet in the sixth century Ireland
/ is thronged with scholars who come to
hear her learning poured forth in the
Irish tongue. All the early saints and
masters had been educated from boy
hood in the Gaelic and most distin-
guished teachers were at the same time
poets who wrote in Gaelic.
1.-The scope of the great monastic
, schools of the sixth and especially of
the seventh century was broad enough
to meet the wants Of the laymen who
desired to become an allamh or master
| in literature, architecture. law, history
or medicine. This fact explains the
; recorded accounts Of the large number
of lay students who Joined with the
clergy in seeking wisdom.
'Thus we have record of 5000 monks
and students at one time in the sixth
century, attending the school of Ban
gor in Ulster, and living under the rule
of st. Comgall, and in Cork. Ross ALL
ithir, the wood Of the pigeons receiv-
ed its name from the throng of stud
ents that flocked there, while Emiligh
under st. Tilbhi had so many students
about the year 740, in the reign Of Ca
thall ii. e. Cahill) McFinguine, that
they were forced to live in huts in the
neighboring fields
Indeed, 1t may be safely said that
the students of many Irish schools in
the sixth century and for some time
after found lodging in individual tent
like houses or huts constructed some-
where in the vicinity of the masters
cell of oratory.
Even the great monastic schools Of
much later date were not at all like the
monastic settlements, a noble pile of
buildings with stately church rising in
the center surrounded by beautiful
cloisters, dormitories and Kitchen the
cottages of the villagers clustered close
to the protecting walls.
"Some authorities say that stone
buildings were not at all common in
Ireland even in the seventh century
and that the majority Of the churches
were built of wood. although there are
some few stone churches that date
from the sixth century.
But there was no need of college
buildings such as libraries, laborator.
les and gymnasia. The instruction in
the sixth century Irish school was
chiefly oral. There were no books and
the manuscripts were but few and
highly priced. Instruction was often
given in the open air, the preceptol
taking his stand on the summit of a
hill, his auditors seated round on Its
f, slopes. thus hundreds and even thou.
sands could be accommodated.
MANY Of the students were transi.
ents. travelling from school to schoo
and getting their food and lodging from
the country folk in return for enter.
j, tainment. Many of the bit of histor,
and folklore was passed on from gen
GRAFTON to generation through thes'
travelling scholars.
"Those who stayed on at the schoo
throughout the year built their owl
huts, planted, herded the cattle o.
ground their own corn at the quern be-
tween study periods. Many saint in
tending to spend his life in solitud,
soon found his cell in the wilderness,
surrounded by the huts Of scholar.
brought through the fame of his learn
ing to become his disciples.
THE sons of gentlemen were train
ed by their tutors in horsemanship
chess, swimming and the use of tn,
spear. Football and polo were not We
developed. but there was plenty Of ath
lively peaceful days Of the seventh ant
eighth centuries.
Parties Of noble youth would som,
times leave the school and ride ava,
into the neighboring countryside t,
chastise someone who had insulted o.
injured some member Of the clan. THU
we read of Prince Cathal (Cahill), tn,
second son of the king Of Connacht
leaving Clonard in the year SAG at tn,
head of party Of ~ students Of hi
own people to avenge the murder O
his father.
!, 1.-THE monks themselves, when de.
manded, could lay aside books To-
bucklers ana were not at all averse t,
taking part with their students ant
+, clansmen in whatever battle was wag
ing for the honor of the clan.