Protestants did not come into Ireland until 1530s, when King Henry VIII of England declared the

Act of
Supremacy in 5134, the declaration of English Protestant secession from the Church of Rome. From that
point on English warfare against the Irish became by definition Protestant warfare against Irish
Catholics.

The Early Christian period in Irish history was between 400AD – 800AD. The
first Christians to arrive in Ireland most likely travlled from Britain and Gaul
(France).

There is no written historical records for the begining of the early Christian
period in Ireland. Written records didnt start until the monastic started settling
and began composing manuscripts.

Before Christianity was introduced to Ireland the Irish were practising Druids.
They built some of the most impressive ritual sites found in Europe, such as the
famous passage tomb of Newgrangeconstructed in the Stone Age
period of ancient Ireland. The Druids built monuments all over Ireland, a
sign of how important their own beliefs and worshipping of the sun had been to
them.

ancient Celtic priesthood appearing in Irish and Welsh sagas and Christian
legends as magicians and wizards.

Members of a learned class of priests, teachers, and judges among the

ancient Celtic peoples, the druids instructed young men, oversaw sacrifices,
judged quarrels, and decreed penalties. They did not engage in warfare and
paid no tribute. They studied ancient verse, natural philosophy, astronomy,
and religious lore; their principal doctrine was belief in the immortality of the
soul and the belief that the soul passed into another body after death. They
sometimes practiced human sacrifice to cure gravely ill people or protect
warriors in battle. The druids were suppressed in Gaul by the Romans in the
first century CE and in Britain a little later. After Christianity came to Ireland,
they lost their priestly functions, but survived as poets, historians, and
judges.
This leads to the belief that four “Palladian bishops” who ministered in the
southern part of Ireland (Munster) were the first Christians to settle. The four
Bishops are believed to be St Ailbe of Emly, St Ciaran of Saigir, St Abban of
Moyarny, and St Declan of Ardmore.
Although the mission of Palladius in Ireland failed, Saint Patrick did seem to be
more successful. At first people were weary of his arrival and perceived him as a
warrior or pirate. However, as they met St Patrick and discovered his gentle
approach they gave little reluctance to be baptised and converted over as
Christians.

St Patrick may have used a number of ways to convert the native Irish pagans to
Christianity. One popular belief is he used the Shamrock to teach his followers
about the holy trinity. Another example was using something the pagan’s were
familiar.

Converting the pagans was not an overnight success, it would take years to
happen along with the help of other Christians who were was converted by St
Patrick.

Some important figures to rise from the popularity of Christianity in Ireland

would include St Brigid of Kildare, Saint Enda, St Brendan, St Finnian of Clonard,
and Columcille.

Christianity in Irish History

The newly arrived Christians in Ireland would play an important role in Irish
society and the history of Ireland. Christianity flourished in Ireland producing
many disciples who built monasteries all over Ireland. They taught languages,
literature, and art becoming renowned all over Europe. Not only did this attact
Scholars to Ireland it also became a target for Viking raids all over the island.

By the 12th century the English became involved in Irish affairs after the invasion
of the Anglo-Normans. New laws were being introduced to oppress the Irish
Catholics. The Crown of Ireland Act 1542 ordered all monasteries in Ireland to be
shut down.

Oliver Cromwell’s invasions in 1649 would see the removal of many places of
worship. The Cromwellian Act Of Settlement 1652 was introduced to remove the
Irish from ownership of land. However, this was reversed by the Act of
Explanation passed in 1665 that ordered Cromwellian settlers to give back one
third of the land as a compensation to the Catholics.

In 1669 Rome appointed Oliver Plunkett as Archbishop of Armagh and he started

a programme of reviving and reorganising the structures of the Church which had
been all but destroyed in Ireland.
Saint Oliver Plunkett

In 1673 more Penal Laws were introduced in Ireland with the Test Act ordering
clergy and lay to take Holy Communion in the manner of the Anglican Church.
Oliver Plunkett refused to obey the Act and was arrested in 1679, charged with
treason, and executed on 1st July 1681 in London. To this day Oliver Plunkett is
recognised as an Irish martyr and celebrated as Saint.

After the Flight of the Wild Geese 1691 and conquering of Ireland by William of
Orange more stricter anti-catholic penal laws were introduced which outlawed the
Catholic clergy.

By the 19th Century the state of affairs in Ireland was grim with poverty being
common and land in the hands of non-Catholics. In 1823 Daniel O’Connell
founded the Catholic Association to fight for full emancipation in a peaceful
manner in which he succeeded. Later in the century the fight for land would turn
violent in the land wars.

Christianity today in Ireland

According to the last Cenus in 2011 Christianity is the predominant religion in

Ireland. 84% of the Irish population identify themselves as Catholics and the
Church of Ireland being second. It’s still taught and practised in schools and
many Irish families are devote followers of the Church.

Newgrange is known as a passage tomb and was wonderfully constructed by the

Neolithic people. As you approach this magical tomb, a large rock sits at an
opening to a passage. This rock is beautifully carved with Celtic designs and is
known to have the only triple spiral motif Celtic design ever found. Around the
circumference of the Newgrange tomb are 97 large stones, known as kerbstones,
with each one also having carvings of Celtic designs.

The inner section of the large circle is a large mound of earth and leans against an
angled wall composed of Quartz and Granite. The angle of the quartz wall is a
remarkable piece of architecture & construction even by today’s standards and
was build on top of the large ring of carved rock.

Newgrange Celtic artwork

Celtic design carved into the large tomb stones

As you walk around the site you can see the beautiful Celtic designs carved into
the face of each rock, although very little is known about the Celtic designs it does
allow us to interrupt our own meaning and to let our imagination run wild.

We do know these Celtic designs were most likely to have been carved into the
rocks later and is believed the carvings had been done by a man who had
travelled from France or Italy and the Celts didn’t arrive in Ireland until later
during the Iron Age Period.

As you enter the passage of the height of the passage is at first small but gets
higher as you enter the main chamber. Inside the main chamber, which is a cross
shape, there are large rocks that form part of the walls of the passage.

Beautiful Celtic designs can be found on the rocks along the walled passage and
inside the main chamber with the roof towering to 19m in height. The main
chamber served a main purpose as a tomb and when excavated the remains of
five bodies had been found.

Newgrange or the whole area of Brú na Bóinne must have had a major
significance for the people who has first build the sites as the design and
construction of the tombs were very complex, to say the least. The quartz &
granite would have come from miles away from Newgrange as this type of stone
is not found in the area. The large rocks and standing stones would have also
been transported (somehow) from miles away as again, these type of rocks are
not generally found in the area where the site is located.

It was not until the 17th Century until Newgrange was discovered and was later
excavated in 1962 & 1975.

The winter solstice

The most magical part of Newgrange is how it is aligned perfectly with the sun
during the winter solstice. The sun shines through a roofbox, located above the
passage entrance, and rises to light up the main chamber tomb lasting over 15
minutes. Each year people in Ireland gather at the site of Newgrange to
experience this amazing event but only those who hold special invite are allowed
to be within the tomb as it happens.

EDUCATION

Education in Ancient Ireland: Pre-Christian Times

Children in the past did not always go to school to learn. Early farmers
learned how to plough and to tame animals instead. Long ago in
Ireland from about 600 B.C. people who have been called 'the Celts'
had the custom of sending their child to another family to be reared
and taught certain things. This was called fosterage. Children would be
taught practical things. A boy might learn how to herd cattle, how to
horse-ride, play sports or use weapons. A girl who was fostered might
learn about cooking and looking after animals or how to sew and make
clothes.

As there were no books then, children did not study reading or writing.

What were Bardic Schools?

Different groups of people went to Bardic schools. The judges
(breitheamh) went to study Irish Law, also known as Brehon Law.

Bardic Poet
Courtesy of Katharine Simms.
 Enlarge image

Bards, who were poets or fili, had to learn off long and complicated
traditional Irish stories and poems over 7 years. Then they travelled
around Ireland and entertained the noble families by reciting and
composing songs and stories.

To go to these schools you needed a very good memory as you could

not write things down. You could also study to be a druid. Druids were
pagan priests knew a lot about cures. They were also said to be able
to perform magic and to predict things in the future.

Brehon Law
Courtesy of www.irishclans.com
Under this law, anyone who insulted or assaulted a student was guilty of
insult or assault to the teacher. It was, therefore, to the teacher that a
fine was paid. It was also the law that a student pay to their teacher the
first fee earned by them when they got a job after education. Even
though the mass of the people was not educated, all, including women,
who desired an education could get one under the law.
Van Helmont of Brussels, a distinguished physician and writer on medical subjects, gave a brief but very
correct account of Irish physicians of his time, their books, and their remedies, and praised them for
their skill. “Accordingly the Irish are better managed is sickness than the Italians, who have a physician in
every village.”
In Northern Ireland it is compulsory for children to attend school between the ages of 4 and 16.

Education at a local level is administered by Education and Library Boards covering several
geographical areas. All schools follow the Northern Ireland Curriculum which is based on the
National Curriculum used in England and Wales. On entering secondary education, all pupils study a
broad base of subjects which include geography, english, mathematics, science, physical education,
music and modern languages.

Publicly funded secondary education is provided in secondary schools or grammar schools. Entry to
grammar schools is through academic selection and grammar schools set their own transfer tests
and invite pupils to sit these tests in their own schools. Pupils enter secondary education at age 11
or 12 and follow the National Curriculum. At age 16 students sit their GCSE examination which also
marks the end of compulsory education. Most students either transfer to sixth form at secondary
school, or grammar school, or a Further Education College to study A-levels or vocational
qualifications and training. The results of these examinations help determine entry into higher
education.

An allowance is available to UK Nationals ages 16-19 that stay on at school after completing their
GCSE’s. The grant is intended to help students cover their day-to-day costs.
tudents from the Republic of Ireland can apply to their local Education and Training Board for a
student grant towards maintarnce. Students are also potentially eligible for a student loan for course
fees and should apply to the Student Finance Division in the Department of Education. Generally a
Non-UK resident is only entitled to a student loan towards fees from the UK, not maintenance
support, whether this is grant or a loan. A Republic of Ireland resident may, subject to a means test,
qualify for a higher education grant towards his/her maintenance from Student Universal Support
(SUSI).
FOOD

It was quite sophisticated, with farmers growing crops of oats and barley, ploughing fields
using ox drawn ploughs and building enclosures to keep livestock.

For thousands of years the staple diet was grain based, mainly oats and barley, generally
eaten in the form of porridge but also ground into flour to use for bread. It was the most
important part of the diet of both rich and poor.

Meat was important at some periods of history but not always. There are periods when
farming seems to concentrate on crop production and during these times animals such as
cattle and sheep would mainly have been kept for milk production and the making of cheese
or curds, a common food.
At other times, little farming of crops took place and people ate a lot of meat, both from
animals kept for the purpose and wild animals. Birds, wild boar and goats, deer and even
hedgehogs were commonly eaten. Meat was always more commonly eaten by the better off
rather than the poor.

Fish was important, from both the sea and the many inland rivers and lakes. Shellfish was
widely eaten but was considered inferior and was a food of the poor, especially mussels,
periwinkles, limpets, crabs and razor clams which could be gathered without the need for
boats. The same was true of edible seaweed, which was commonly mixed with milk and
honey to make a sweet dish still popular with some people today.
Vegetables were not cultivated at all in Ireland until around the 8th century, before that wild
leaves, roots, berries and fungi were eaten. When they did arrive, the main vegetables
grown were carrots, parsnips, celery, turnip, cabbage and onion.
Throughout history people ate wild fruit and nuts, especially hazelnuts, but until the mid
1500’s apples were the only cultivated fruit.

English colonists who arrived in the middle of the 17th century developed extensive
vegetable gardens and orchards around their houses and brought with them pears,
strawberries, plums and cherries. They even grew exotic fruits such as peaches, nectarines
and figs, presumably under cover. The poor Irish of course had none of these delicacies,
other than those which they stole from time to time.
Bread was commonly eaten by the 16th century, and even cake, though this would not
have been everyday fare. The wealthy kept a store of exotic spices and various types
of sugar, while the poor seasoned their food mainly with salt and honey, using the latter
even on fish, which sounds particularly revolting.
n early times there would have been little difference in the diet of rich and poor, aside from
quantity, since what was grown could only be used locally and what was foraged or hunted
for was available to all. After the Normans arrived in the 12th century, things changed.
As land was increasingly taken over by Norman and then English landlords and settlers the
native Irish were reduced to the status of tenants or relegated to small farms on poor land.
The Normans forbade the Irish from hunting game, deer in particular. A hierarchy emerged
with English landowners at the top, their agents, merchants in the growing towns and the
remaining larger Irish landowners in the middle and servants and poor farmers or farm
labourers at the bottom.

How people ate depended largely on their position. The poor

largely subsisted on a diet of vegetables and grain, while the wealthy ate a diet rich in meat,
game and fish. Feasting on special occasions was indulged in by all but mainly by the rich.
Food was not always plentiful, especially in the harsh wet winters which were not conducive
to easy storage. By the 16th and 17th centuries the country was in a state of conflict
between the native Irish and the Norman and English rulers, which made producing a
consistent food supply difficult.
In addition a lively export trade had developed, not just in grain but also in salt meat and
butter, and the pressure to pay rent meant that most of the rural Irish were forced to sell
almost all they could produce.
Survival was becoming a real struggle for those at the bottom of the pile. All that was about
to change with the coming of the potato.

Then of course, during the famine in Ireland, the potato was one of the main sources of food the
Irish could grow on small plots of land.

Great Famine, also called Irish Potato Famine, Great Irish Famine,
or Famine of 1845–49, famine that occurred in Ireland in 1845–49 when
the potato crop failed in successive years. The crop failures were caused
by late blight, a disease that destroys both the leaves and the edible roots,
or tubers, of the potato plant. The causative agent of late blight is the water
mold Phytophthora infestans. The Irish famine was the worst to occur
in Europe in the 19th century.

In the early 19th century, Ireland’s tenant farmers as a class, especially in the
west of Ireland, struggled both to provide for themselves and to supply the
British market with cereal crops. Many farmers had long existed at virtually the
subsistence level, given the small size of their allotments and the various
hardships that the land presented for farming in some regions. The potato,
which had become a staple crop in Ireland by the 18th century, was appealing
in that it was a hardy, nutritious, and calorie-dense crop and relatively easy to
grow in the Irish soil. By the early 1840s almost half the Irish population—but
primarily the rural poor—had come to depend almost exclusively on the potato
for their diet. The rest of the population also consumed it in large quantities. A
heavy reliance on just one or two high-yielding types of potato greatly reduced
the genetic variety that ordinarily prevents the decimation of an entire crop by
disease, and thus the Irish became vulnerable to famine. In 1845 a strain
of Phytophthora arrived accidentally from North America, and that same year
Ireland had unusually cool moist weather, in which the blight thrived. Much of
that year’s potato crop rotted in the fields. That partial crop failure was
followed by more-devastating failures in 1846–49, as each year’s potato crop
was almost completely ruined by the blight.

The famine proved to be a watershed in the demographic history of Ireland.

As a direct consequence of the famine, Ireland’s population of almost 8.4
million in 1844 had fallen to 6.6 million by 1851.

About one million people died from starvation or from typhus and other
famine-related diseases. The number of Irish who emigrated during the
famine may have reached two million. Ireland’s population continued to
decline in the following decades because of overseas emigration and lower
birth rates. By the time Ireland achieved independence in 1921, its population
was barely half of what it had been in the early 1840s.
The British government’s efforts to relieve the famine were inadequate.
Although Conservative Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel continued to allow the
export of grain from Ireland to Great Britain, he did what he could to provide
relief in 1845 and early 1846. He authorized the import of corn (maize) from
the United States, which helped avert some starvation. The Liberal (Whig)
cabinet of Lord John Russell, which assumed power in June 1846, maintained
Peel’s policy regarding grain exports from Ireland but otherwise took a laissez-
faire approach to the plight of the Irish and shifted the emphasis of relief
efforts to a reliance on Irish resources.

The British government’s efforts to relieve the famine were inadequate.

Although Conservative Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel continued to allow the
export of grain from Ireland to Great Britain, he did what he could to provide
relief in 1845 and early 1846. He authorized the import of corn (maize) from
the United States, which helped avert some starvation. The Liberal (Whig)
cabinet of Lord John Russell, which assumed power in June 1846, maintained
Peel’s policy regarding grain exports from Ireland but otherwise took a laissez-
faire approach to the plight of the Irish and shifted the emphasis of relief
efforts to a reliance on Irish resources.