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Land of Saints and Scholars
Tír na Naomh, Tír na Léinn
Ireland’s manuscript tradition speaks to us of a of scientific, astronomical and philosophical works. A
time long before the advent of the printing press. monastery would have had a room called a scriptorium
All the great knowledge of mankind was, first of all where manuscripts were copied. In these days long
held within memory as Oral Tradition. The great before the advent of the printing press, entire books had
literate civilizations, Greece Rome and Ancient Persia to be copied by hand.
– preserved for us the knowledge of earlier times.
During Europe’s Dark Age, a deep chaos ruled upon Saint Colmcille, in his intellectual enthusiasm copied a
the Continent. In these years of turbulence roughly book today known as The Cathach or Battle book as a
6th -13th centuries, following the fall of the Western battle was fought in the wake of his copying of it. This
Roman Empire, Ireland had her Golden Age as “the was the first ever recorded copyright controversy. It
land of Saints and Scholars”. It is thanks to the efforts of was customary for books to be held in high esteem as
Irelands’ monks and a committed manuscript tradition precious repositories of knowledge.
– that the great literary and philosophical works of the
past have been passed down to us today. The civilized The remains of many monastic settlements on Ireland’s
and Christian world owes a great debt to Ireland and islands, around the coast and inland give some
the contribution that has been made on a world stage indication of the intensity of productivity of this era.
– painstakingly and conscientiously. Not for glory of These were indeed thriving communities, integral to the
power or riches but in a humble service to humankind spiritual and intellectual life of Ireland. In the margins
as a divine creature were there manuscripts created. of these manuscripts we can see Ogham glosses, notes
The Book of Kells which is held on view at Trinity written in an even more ancient form than the Irish
College in Dublin, is one of the most lavish and language itself. We can only marvel at the education
beautiful manuscripts in the world. Containing the four that was available in Ireland at this time. Theirs was the
gospels it speaks of a time of great peace in Ireland and literature and philosophy of ancient Greece and Roman
holds within it a wealth of decorative ornament and civilization, the mathematics of Persia, the languages;
innovation. Greek, Latin, Spanish, French and Irish.
‘Cat and Mouse’ - Book of Kells The Ogham alphabet and corresponding letter sounds
One of the finest libraries of Irish manuscripts is held in are of a pedigree akin to that of ancient Greek. Of all
St. Gallen in Switzerland. The town itself was founded by known languages, only Ancient Greek shares such a
St. Gall who was accompanying Colmcille on his journey depth whereby each letter tells a story and extends a
across Northern Europe. mystical power. In it’s original form, the Irish alphabet
Having seen Gallarus’s oratory in Kerry one can is a tree alphabet. It speaks directly to the environment.
appreciate the great character of these Irish monks. Thus we see inscribed, even to the letters of early Irish
Apart from their spiritual courage, knowledge of writing – an indivisible bond to the natural world. Today
languages and philosophy these monks were physically we can be assisted by such an implicit understanding of
strong and skilled in many ways including sailing, the oneness of Man and Nature as we prepare to meet
farming and fishing. The legacy that they have left is that the challenges of our lives.
of the great knowledge of Ancient Greece and a wealth
I arise today
Through a mighty strength,
the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness.
Of the Creator.
Of Creation.
This is an extract from a poem attributed
to Ireland’s patron Saint – Saint Patrick.
It is known as “The Deers Cry” or
“St. Patricks Breastplate”.
171
Tír na Naomh, Tír na Léinn
Ireland’s manuscript tradition speaks to us of a of scientific, astronomical and philosophical works. A
time long before the advent of the printing press. monastery would have had a room called a scriptorium
All the great knowledge of mankind was, first of all where manuscripts were copied. In these days long
held within memory as Oral Tradition. The great before the advent of the printing press, entire books had
literate civilizations, Greece Rome and Ancient Persia to be copied by hand.
– preserved for us the knowledge of earlier times.
During Europe’s Dark Age, a deep chaos ruled upon Saint Colmcille, in his intellectual enthusiasm copied a
the Continent. In these years of turbulence roughly book today known as The Cathach or Battle book as a
6th -13th centuries, following the fall of the Western battle was fought in the wake of his copying of it. This
Roman Empire, Ireland had her Golden Age as “the was the first ever recorded copyright controversy. It
land of Saints and Scholars”. It is thanks to the efforts of was customary for books to be held in high esteem as
Irelands’ monks and a committed manuscript tradition precious repositories of knowledge.
– that the great literary and philosophical works of the
past have been passed down to us today. The civilized The remains of many monastic settlements on Ireland’s
and Christian world owes a great debt to Ireland and islands, around the coast and inland give some
the contribution that has been made on a world stage indication of the intensity of productivity of this era.
– painstakingly and conscientiously. Not for glory of These were indeed thriving communities, integral to the
power or riches but in a humble service to humankind spiritual and intellectual life of Ireland. In the margins
as a divine creature were there manuscripts created. of these manuscripts we can see Ogham glosses, notes
The Book of Kells which is held on view at Trinity written in an even more ancient form than the Irish
College in Dublin, is one of the most lavish and language itself. We can only marvel at the education
beautiful manuscripts in the world. Containing the four that was available in Ireland at this time. Theirs was the
gospels it speaks of a time of great peace in Ireland and literature and philosophy of ancient Greece and Roman
holds within it a wealth of decorative ornament and civilization, the mathematics of Persia, the languages;
innovation. Greek, Latin, Spanish, French and Irish.
‘Cat and Mouse’ - Book of Kells The Ogham alphabet and corresponding letter sounds
One of the finest libraries of Irish manuscripts is held in are of a pedigree akin to that of ancient Greek. Of all
St. Gallen in Switzerland. The town itself was founded by known languages, only Ancient Greek shares such a
St. Gall who was accompanying Colmcille on his journey depth whereby each letter tells a story and extends a
across Northern Europe. mystical power. In it’s original form, the Irish alphabet
Having seen Gallarus’s oratory in Kerry one can is a tree alphabet. It speaks directly to the environment.
appreciate the great character of these Irish monks. Thus we see inscribed, even to the letters of early Irish
Apart from their spiritual courage, knowledge of writing – an indivisible bond to the natural world. Today
languages and philosophy these monks were physically we can be assisted by such an implicit understanding of
strong and skilled in many ways including sailing, the oneness of Man and Nature as we prepare to meet
farming and fishing. The legacy that they have left is that the challenges of our lives.
of the great knowledge of Ancient Greece and a wealth
I arise today
Through a mighty strength,
the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness.
Of the Creator.
Of Creation.
This is an extract from a poem attributed
to Ireland’s patron Saint – Saint Patrick.
It is known as “The Deers Cry” or
“St. Patricks Breastplate”.
171
