IRELAND DURING THE MIDDLE AGES

ST  PATRICK  CIRCA  387 - 481 AD

Ireland in the Middle Ages had a golden age when Europe was in turmoil after the fall of the Roman Empire.   Pagan hordes kept sweeping across Europe.

To begin with, Ireland in the Middle Ages had many kingdoms. These kingdoms were constantly at war with each other. The Roman Empire never reach or conquered Ireland. Therefore, the tradition, language and blood were never influenced by Rome. By the 6th century AD most of the Irish-speaking Celts were converted to Christianity.

Some of the 'kingdoms' were so small that they only ruled over a few farms. These kings pledged alliances to more powerful kings. Each little kingdom had its own king (ri tuath) and judge (brehon). The judges introduced a legal system called Brehon Laws which ensured property, trade and contracts were dealt with correctly. A fine example, a woman manage her own land but never the land of her husband.

Poets played an important role in Ireland. They kept all the myth and legends alive and handed them down to the next generation. Their great power lies in that they were allowed to criticize their rulers in their verse. There are still four great collections to be seen which had survived. It is 'The Cattle Raid of Cooley' (Tain Bo Chulaighne), the adventures of Cu Chulainn and Fionn MacChughaill and the tragedy of Diarmuid and Grainne

CORMAC'S CHAPEL WAS PART OF THE CATHEDRAL ON EITHER SIDE
KING CORMAC III OF MEATH BUILT IT  IN 1127
THE CATHEDRAL WAS BUILT IN 1235 - 1270

Rock Cashel was the seat of the kings of Munster for about 1000 years before the Norman invasion. Few of the original structure survived. It was built between 12th century and 13th century. Apparently it was at Cashel where St Patrick converted the king of Meath to Christianity, in the 5th century.

According to legend the rock of Cashel came from the Devil Bit. It is a mountain 30km north of Cashel. St Patrick banished Satan from the cave and the rock landed in Cashel.

CASHEL - OLD VIEW

CASHEL IN 1986

In the 8th century there were five major kingdoms: Munster, Leinster, Connought, Ulster and Meath. They were ruled by a High King (Ard Ri) who had his hall in Meath at Tara.

St Patrick arrived in Ireland in 432 AD and was travelling all over the country. He was preaching and converting the people to Christianity. He worked very hard to organize a network of priests and bishops. When he died, they continued his work and within 100 years  Ireland was mostly Christians.

Ireland played a great part in keeping Christianity alive in the following turbulent years in Western Europe during the 6th century. It became known as the island of saints and scholars. Irish missionaries spread out into Western Europe and built monasteries and universities.

St Columbia went from Ireland to Scotland and spread Christianity there. He built a monastery in Iona and the gospel was spread to Northumberland and Lindisfarne. St Columbanus was another famous monk. He travelled to Burgundy and Switzerland to teach Christianity. St Killian went to Italy.

Stories and legends grew about Irish saints and poets (filidh) and they spread with the increasing literacy among the clergy. A tradition developed of illuminated manuscripts. The Book of Kells is the best known example.

THE BOOK OF KELL

At the beginning of 500 AD and for the next 300 years Ireland had its golden age. It was safe from invasion of the pagan tribes and therefore became a mainstay of Western European culture. The Clonmacnoise has books by all the Fathers of the Church. Monasteries became the centre for art, law and literature. Libraries in Kildare, Chlonard and Clonmacnoise had books by all the Fathers of the Church. 

These books were used for issuing legal documents. The Collectio canonum hibernesis of 730 AD contained all the law of the church and was used throughout Western Europe. Irish teachers were employed in the royal schools of Charlemagne's court.

Irish people became world famous for their craftsmanship in gold, silver and other metals. They richly decorated the wine chalices, book covers, bishop's croziers and altar pieces. The Ardagh and Derrynaflan chalices and the Tara Brooch became famous for their fine workmanship.

In the 9th century Ireland was disrupted by the Vikings. They invaded many coastal towns and villages, including monasteries. In spite of never being able to conquer Ireland the Viking still managed to change its Celtic nature forever.

Around 840 DC the Vikings started to build bases called 'long-phorts' where Dublin is standing now. They lived there over the winter months. These basis developed into a town. It was that sort of thing which changed the Irish landscape.