Figure 1.-- This is the work of Romantic Ebglish painter John Martin. It is entitled The Bard (1817). Ireland had not been invaded by Romans or Anglo Saxons. It was ravaged by the Vikings and than the Normans after comquering England (1066), the Plantagenebts began invading Irekand and (late-12th century) Edward I ordered his men to track fough and kill the Bards who perpetuated the tales of Celtic great leaders and bravery. This dramatic landscape painting depicts the fate of the last surviving Welsh bard who has been tracked down by Edward's men. The bards survived longer in Ireland where the English hold wa more tenuous.
There appear to have been two types of schools in medieval Ireland, the secular bardic schools and the Christian monastic schools. The bards or appeared during the pre-Christian Druidic era of antiquity, although no one knows just when. Bard refers to the wandering medieval minstrel-poets who composed and recited poems that celebrated the feats of Celtic chieftains and warriors. They also played an role in spreading learning, although it is unclear just how many children learned to read and do sums in these schools. The operation of these schools were largely unknown outside of Europe.
The Christian era began later than in Europe (5th century AD), th monastic era in the other hand began earlier than on the Continent. The monasteries became a very important part of the Irish medieval economy. And monasteries of any size would found schools. Some of the monastic schools were major undertakings with a few thousand students. These monastic schools and the work of their scholars became known and admired throughout Christian Europe. The existence of monastic texts is far greater than the written record left by the Druidic bardic schools.
These two types of very different schools are both part of the literary history of Ireland. They do not seem to have interfered with each other and worked contemporaneously (5th- 17th century). We have no information as to how the students at these schools may have dressed other than the standard garments of the day.
Bardic Schools (? -17th century)
The bardic era was a well estabkished tradition developed during Druidic times. There is little actual evidence to substantiate that actual schools existed during the Drudic period of antiquity. They may have, but but the actual record to substantiate their existence abnd wgebn trhet were founded is limited. One rare piece of evidence is that Julius Caesar reports large schools run by druids for the youth of Celtic Gaul (first century BC). We know next tyo nothing about the education of poets and other men of learning in early Ireland during antiwquity or the early medueval era. The status of bard over time became an inherited role that became the preserve of individual families that were particularly successful For several generations the Bardic tradition continued. Over time, bardic schools appeared. Many Scholars believe that the formal bardic schools may have developed during the Christian era with the development of monastic schools, although there is no definitive evidence that they did not exist during Drudic times and unknown antiquity. There just is so little evidence that any definitive statement is impossible. Much of the information available comes from the late-middle ages. The Ó hUigínns originated in Leyney, Co. Sligo. They were one of Ireland's leading bardic families. They founded schools in a number of areas (15th century). They may have been active even earlier. They operated the Milltown’s Bardic School. Apparently this family role dos not mean strictly blood relatives. Some family members were apparently fostered to other families Ó hUiginns may have occasionally accepted a child from another distinguished family. One authir tells us, "Written records are few but one source claims that the school was founded during the reign of Briain Mac Domhnaill Ó Conchubhair who ruled from 1403 to 1440. It may have been under the patronage of the local O’Connor chiefs who also had their roots in Sligo. One bardic poem of Tadhg Dall Ó hUiginn (1550-1591) who probably got much of his education in Kilclooney, states that pupils came there from Ulster and also possibly from Scotland." [Carney] The written record on bardic schools is very limited. We suspect that Irish nationalists want to make more of them than was actually the case in terms of educating the Irish people in terms of literacy and math. Rather the focus was on poetry, but included other skills and arts. And only a select number of individuals were being educated--future bards. We have found a rare contemporary description of the Bardic Schools from a period shortly before they were banned. ‘The students upon thorough examination being first divided into classes, wherein a regard was had to every one’s age, genius, and the schooling had before, if any at all, or otherwise. The professors (one or more as there was occasion) gave a subject suitable to the capacity of each class, determining the number of rhymes, and clearing what was to be chiefly observed therein as to syllables, quartans, concord, correspondence, termination and union, each of which were restrain’d by peculiar rules. The said subject (either one or more as aforesaid) having been given over night, they work’d it apart each by himself upon his own bed, the whole next day in the dark, till at a certain hour in the night, lights being brought in, they committed it to writing. Being afterwards dress'd and come together into a large room, where the masters waited, each scholar gave in his performance, which being corrected or approv’d of (according as it requir’d) either the same or fresh subjects were given against the next day.’ [O’Sullivan]
Monastic Schools (5th-17th century)
Ireland was Christianized by St. Patrick and others (5th century). The Irish Church would play an important role in the re-Chritianization of England. Monasteries were becoming important (6th century).
Ireland had one of the most important monastic movements in Europe and became a rare center of learning and scholarship during what is referred to as the Dark Ages preserving many classical works that otherwise would have been lost. Patrick and others founded monasteries, but the Great Monastic Movement began (6th century). Monasteries needed schools to function. Choristers were an important part of religious services, but literacy was important to read the Bible and for the long-term functioning of the monastery. Monasteries were not just religious institutions, they were important economic units. Thus math was also important. Thus the monks taught young acolytes preparing for a life in the church. This led led to the establishment of monastic schools. Schools and colleges were founded throughout Ireland. Virtually every important monastery established a school. Some were small, but there were a number of substantial schools with large numbers of students. While these schools were founded for acolytes preparing for a life in the Church, over time they attracted students with mire secular orientation as well. There are records for some if these schools. Each of the three primary Church fathers after Patrick (St. Finnen in Clonard, St. Comgall in Bangor, and St. Brendan in Clonfert) oversaw schools of 3,000, which must have meant acolytes as well a individuals with a secular orientation. St. Molaise had 1,500 students. St. Gobban had 1,000. And there were many smaller schools such as the school of Glasnevin, where St. Mobi taught 50 students. These very large numbers of students required not only classrooms, but living and sleeping accommodation. The curriculum was impressive. There was of course religious instruction, divinity study of the Scriptures. The classics were also studied. The curriculum seems to have been different for those preparing for the Church than those with a secular orientation. Here the focus was more on general literature and what may now be called science. Many of the students were the sons of Irish nobility, the kings and chief. They were being prepared for a life of government and rule. Martial skills were learned elsewhere. One source suggests, "Those great seminaries were in fact the prototypes of our modern universities." This is not really the case. Irish universities have an entirely different foundation. These schools were known on the Continent and their art and scholarship admired.
The Book of Kells created by Irish monks (800 AD). It is one the most beautiful and ornate manuscripts ever created and a jewel of early medieval medieval Christianity. The Irish monastic schools were known and celebrated all over Europe during the Dark Ages for their work in preserving classical texts and beautiful illuminated texts. Tragically, many of the Irish monasteries were destroyed by the Vikings (9th century). Even more were destroyed by the Cromwell's New Model Army (17th Century). This meant the destruction of countless classical texts and art treasures as well as medieval documents with invaluable information on now lost Irish history.
