Reland Its Saints and Scholars
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H i g h Cr o s s o f M o n as ter b m e o . PR E FAC E This book i c om an ion work is ntended as a p , and , of in some sense, a sequel a small volume recently Irelan d : Its M ths an d written by me, entitled y Le e of g nds . The publishers were desirous having the early Christian period of Irish history treated in the same manner as the pagan period had been its Irelan d Its Sain ts treated in forerunner , and an d Scholars represents the attempt to give within a small compas s a concise survey of the most glorious epoch in the annals of our country . The subject is a vast and an extremely important on h as e . A great deal of study and research been to given it by learned and devoted workers , and a great amount of literary and archaeological research still remains to be done before we c an assure ourselves that we have gained a really com prehensive view of Early Christian Ireland . The size of this volume will n ot therefore be taken as ’ the author s measure of the importance of a period of of history surpassing human interest , and the book itself is only intended as an introduction to the study of larger an d more ambitious treatises covering the same ground . 206059 4 PREFACE No useful purpose could be served by overload ing with references a book of this kind which is , intended f or popular use . I have not , however spared any pains in consulting the various , authorities , Irish , English , French , and German W who have written on this subject , and hile reference is not always made to the sources from which information is derived , there is no statement in the book which cannot be substantiated by learned and thoroughly competent authorities . ’ ’ Dr . Healy s Ireland s Ancient Schools and ’ of Scholars contains a mine information , and he treats the subject in a manner at once learned and Z ’ popular . Professor immer s Ueber die Bedeutung des irischen Elements fur die Mittel ” alterlich e Cultur is an important contribution to the history of the influence of Irish thought on the Continent from the fifth to the twelfth century . ’ Gou aud s Ch retien tés Pere g Les Celtiques is , perhaps , the ablest and most authoritative study which has yet been published on the Early Irish Church , a work which combines the most pain s taking and up - to - date research with the lucidity and clearness of presentation which is a character istic of ’ French litterateurs . Miss Margaret Stokes ’ Sketch of E arly Christian Art in Ireland though s a o h as n ot written thirty year g , yet in any degree diminished in value by the publication of subse a on th e quent and l rger books subject, and the PREFACE vii ’ author s deep and unique knowledge of Irish Archaeology will always make her work extremely on useful to students . Every modern writer Irish S of history owes much to the plendid work Dr. P . W . Joyce . While I have endeavoured to be concise, I have at the same time striven to omit nothing essential , and I hope I have been able to give my re aders a fairly comprehensive idea of a splendid period our sa in national history . I may y , in the words l b . Co um an us of St , that I wished to include every to thing , but I found it impossible compress every thing within a small compass . There is much to to reason believe that , in trying make a selection from a great amount of material , and to combine the net results of great learn ing and research into f a small volume , faults both o commission and omission may have occurred . It is consolatory, e to th refore , reflect that the most competent of judges such a book as this , will undoubtedly ‘ its a be kindest critics , since they who c n most easily detect any errors that may have occurred , will also be most capable of judging its difficulty . Any effort that has been expended in the writing of th e book has been more than rewarded by the closer study which its preparation h as entailed of some of the greatest personalities that have lived h and worked in Ireland . Dr . Healy remarks wit truth that while we Speak glibly of the Saints and vi i i PREFACE . Scholars of the early times , we know , in general n very little about them , and that the informatio concerning them is contained in volumes not easily ac cessible to the general reader . The author hopes that the present little work may in some degree supply this deficiency . The greate st results may be expected from a closer knowledge of first centuries of the Faith in of Ireland . In the words a distinguished Irish or man , it is no vain retrogressive study for Ire land to look back and ponder well upon her old Christian past . The lessons that can be learned a of from th t distant time can never be out date , or no matter what may happen in the world , who may come or go in it ; for they teach eternal truths — they are indeed the sole needs of men and s . i d nation Educat on , industry , knowle ge of the , arts the practice of justice , temperance , fortitude , judgment and mercy . Above all , they teach the beauty and the power of faith in God,and of the fi f or unsel sh labour the welfare of His creatures . “ nd let us remember ” A , continues Sir William Butler, that these old teachers belonged entirely to . was us It not a strange race of beings w , ho o thus t iled and taught - , and triumphed they were our o glorious wn people . The dust of many of them is in our midst , and the simple words in which they asked our prayers , can still be read upon their mouldering ” tombstones . C O NT E NT S CH APT E R PAG E I TH I L ND OF IN AND CH O AR S . E S A SA TS S L II. TH E C OM IN G or ST . PATRICK III. ST . C OLUM C ILLE IV . ST . C OLU M BAN US TH I I IN V . E R SH SA TS VI. TH E IRISH M ISSION II M M I I M I I I V . SO E FA O US R SH SS ONAR E S III TH I IS LS V . E R H SCHOO I" . TH E IRISH LE ARNING " . EARL" CHRISTIAN AR T IN IRE LAND ix . ILLUSTR ATIONS t s e e H igh C ro ss of M o n aste rboice F ro n i pi c l Ir sh ra t Lib r n . C In itial l ette r L. i T c T i o l Dub . Tara Brooch Faci n g p . Cross of Co n g ’ t at r s e Sh ri n e of S . P ick B ll t e r e . Fro n ti spi ece of E pistle of S . J om Book of Du rrow Faci n g p Ca ta s an d M d n s C lon m acn ois pi l oul i g , ' h t C ulan us e Fa n . S ri n e of S . B ll ci g p “ r H n s In itial lette S. Book of ym C lon m acn ois H ead of Celtic Pin . M d n a G re n e oul i g , Tu im i ' Fr n t s e e to t h n s Fa n S . o i p i c Jo ci g p . ’ Fr n t s e e to t e s o i pi c S . Luk In itial I N Book of K e lls In t a ette r R K e s i i l l . Book of ll rt P n f I m n ated M n ram . B f K e s o io o llu i o og ook o ll . Fa n ci g p . Th e West S de f th e Cr ss at M n as terb e i o o o oic . Fa n ci g p . D r a ' w f St . Faran n an s Ch r h D n a h m r oo y o u c , o g o e . a n F ci g p . ’ C r a s Ch a e R Cash e o m c p l , ock of l M a n y of th e i llu s t ra tion : m thi s b r ook a e M u ted f rom bloc ks kin dly len t b th e Na t . M u y s eu m . Du bli n . IRE LAND IT S ° SAINT S 89 SC HOLARS C HAPTER I . T h e Islan d of Sai n ts an d Sch ol ars The sixth an d seventh centuries of the Christian era must be regarded as the Golden Age of Ireland . The story of our country during this period is one of the most glorious epochs in the history of European n ot Christianity . St . Patrick had been half a century in his grave when the whole island was studded with the monasteries and schools of the of new faith .