ANCIENT IRISH UNIVERSITIES

New Zealand Tablet, 14 April 1910, Page 572

ANCIENT IRISH UNIVERSITIES

The foundation of the National University in 1909, and the stir that its opening has made in educational circles, naturally sets one thinking about the record of learning and about university life in the past in Ireland (says Mr. B. Norman in the Irish Independent). A proud and glorious record it is, and its forced decline has no more shameful parallel in the history of the world. All readers of Irish history 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 were called ‘ The Sheltering Tree of the Learned.’ But it is with early Christian Ireland, university life is associated. 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 Emly, Armagh, Ardagh, and Sletty. The sixth century can boast of seven vast and remarkable universities as those of Clonmacnoise, Lismore, Clonard, and Bangor. The greatest of Ireland’s scholars and saints went forth from these places. Students, attracted by the reputation of the ‘lsland of Saints and Scholars,’ flocked from all parts of Europe to these seats of learning, King Alfred of Northumbria among the rest. Indeed, the Saxon chroniclers, usually 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. Aldheira 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 England without fee or reward. The Emperor Charlemagne later showed his appreciation of Irish learning by appointing Claud Clemens and John Albin over the two universities which he founded at Paris and Pavia. Clonard and Clonmacnoise were, # perhaps, the most interesting of the old Irish universities, as their names are associated with men of such extraordinary holiness and learning as Colmcille, Ciernan, and 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 university life. Hard mental study, much prayer, and manual labor was expected 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 buildings or class rooms in those ancient institutions. A tiny stone church was the centre of many groups of other, little stone buildings dr 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 journeying from afar to come to these seats of learning. Extraordinary generosity and hospitality were characteristics of these early schools. No student was asked for money for his schooling, and if he were needy even food and clothes were given him. He could stay as long as he liked, the only return asked of him was that 'he took his share of the daily work. At the present day no trace of the great University of Clonard remains, but Clonmacnoise ruins can still be seen. It had a group of seven churches like Glendalough, and in later times beautiful crosses and a round tower were added. It is a melancholy fact that only one book is in existence belonging to famous Clonmacnoise, ‘ The Book of the Dun Cow.’ The English did their work well when banishing all signs of Irish learning. Armagh was another great centre of learning, and as late as 1153 had 3000 scholars. It was celebrated for its teachers, who were under a high professor, and could truly be called a national university. Greek, Irish, and Latin were, the languages of all those Irish universities. Latin was the second language of the educated classes, and traders, women, chiefs, and students spoke it fluently. After those golden ages came centuries of the most ruthless persecution of learning by the English. Native culture was feared and hated by them, and they even grudged the Irish the learning they got abroad when deprived of it at home. The Irish endeavored to keep learning alive by the ‘ town schools,’ and there were many famous colleges in towns in Ireland in the bad times. In 1566 Dominick Lynch founded a college in Galway, St. Nicholas’. _ There Lynch gathered 1200 students, and by the beginning of the seventeenth century it really occupied a position of a national university. Irish and Latin were the languages of this college, and so great was its fame that men begged their way to learn in Galway. The learning that the town schools were trying to keep alive in Ireland was much distrusted by the English, and they bethought themselves that it would be useful to their cause to have an ‘ orthodox university ’ founded in Dublin, and so negotiations were begun which ended in the founding of Trinity College in 1593. A great many difficulties at” tended the launching of the scheme, but it was not allowed to fail, so in 1593 Dublin University was founded on the site of the Monastery of All Hallows,’ given by the Dublin Corporation. Everyone knows the history of Trinity Collegehow it has stood apart from the national life of Ireland, and how its patriotic students have been the exception and riot the rule.