How Ireland Became The Most Learned Country In Europe
In old pagan times, long before the arrival of St. Patrick, there were schools in Ireland taught by druids. And when at last Christianity came, and was spreading rapidly over the land, those old schools were still held on; but they were no longer ... How Irish Handicraftsmen Excelled In Their Work
All the chief materials for the work of the various crafts were produced at home. Of wood there was no stint: and there were mines of copper, iron, lead, and possibly of tin, which were worked with intelligence and success. From the most remote... How Irish Missionaries And Scholars Spread Religion And Learning In Foreign Countries
Towards the end of the sixth century the great body of the Irish were Christians, so that the holy men of Ireland were able to turn their attention to the conversion of other people. Then arose an extraordinary zeal for spreading religion and lear... How Kings Chiefs And People Were Subject To The Brehon Laws
The ancient Irish had a system of laws which grew up gradually among them from time immemorial. And there were lawyers who made law the business of their lives, and lived by it. When a lawyer was very distinguished, and became noted for his knowle... How The Ancient Irish Excelled In Art
The old Irish people became wonderfully skilful in some branches of Art; and many specimens of their handiwork still remain--preserved through the wreck of ages--which exceed in beauty of design and in perfection of execution all works of the kind... How The Ancient Irish Excelled In Music
From the very earliest ages Irish musicians were celebrated for their skill, not only in their own country but all over Europe. Our native literature, whether referring to pagan or Christian times, is full of references to music and to skilful mus... How The Ancient Irish Lived As Pagans
When Ireland was pagan the people were taught their religion, such as it was, by Druids. These druids were the only learned men of the time, and they had in their hands all the learned professions--they were not only druids, but judges, prophets, ... How The Ancient Irish People Were Governed By Their Kings And Chiefs
There were in Ireland, from times beyond the reach of history, kings, who were of various grades according to the extent of the country or district they ruled over. The highest of all was the king of Ireland, who lived in the royal palace at Tara.... How The Ancient Irish Physicians Were Skilled In Medicine
Among most nations of old times there were great leeches or physicians, who were considered so skilful that the people believed they could cure wounds and ailments as if by magic. In some countries they became gods, as among the Greeks. The anc... How The Ancient Irish Wrote Down All Their Literature And How Books Increased And Multiplied
Printing was not invented till the fifteenth century, and before that time all books had of course to be written by hand. According to our native records the art of writing was known to the pagan Irish, and the druids had books on law and other ... How The Character Of The Old Irish People Showed Itself In Various Circumstances And On Various Occasions
Some of the modes of salutation and of showing respect practised by the ancient Irish indicate much gentleness and refinement of feeling. When a distinguished visitor arrived it was usual to stand up as a mark of respect. Giving a kiss, or more ge... How The Irish Derived Amusement And Instruction From Historical And Romantic Tales
From the earliest date, the Irish people, like those of other countries, had Stories, which, before the introduction of the art of writing, were transmitted orally, and modified, improved, and enlarged as time went on, by successive shanachies, or... How The Irish People Lived As Christians
It is not our business here to tell how the Irish were converted to Christianity; for this has been already related in our Histories of Ireland. Whether St. Patrick was born in Gaul or in Scotland, we know at any rate that he brought with him to I... How The Irish Scholars Compiled Their Annals
Among the various classes of persons who devoted themselves to Literature in ancient Ireland, there were special Annalists, who made it their business to record, with the utmost accuracy, all remarkable events simply and briefly, year by year. The... How The Irish Travelled On Land And Water
That the country was well provided with roads we know from our ancient literature, and from the general use of chariots. They were not indeed anything like our present hard, smooth roads, but constructed according to the knowledge and needs of the...

How The Ancient Irish Lived As Pagans How The Ancient Irish People Were Governed By Their Kings And Chiefs How The Ancient Irish Physicians Were Skilled In Medicine How They Built And Arranged Their Houses How The Irish People Lived As Christians How The Irish Scholars Compiled Their Annals How The People Dressed How The Ancient Irish Wrote Down All Their Literature And How Books Increased And Multiplied

How The Warlike Old Irish Conquered Foreign Lands How They Fenced In And Tilled Their Land How The People Held Great Conventions And Fairs And How They Amused Themselves How They Prepared And Made Up Clothing Materials How The Ancient Irish Excelled In Art How Kings Chiefs And People Were Subject To The Brehon Laws How The Ancient Irish Excelled In Music How The Irish Derived Amusement And Instruction From Historical And Romantic Tales