Bards, Seanachies, Brehons and Bardic Schools in Ireland. Armagh.Hedge #13

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• published: 26 Apr 2016
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We feature weekly videos on Irish Genealogy; History, Heraldry and Old Style 'sean nos' song, with leading author Michael C. O'Laughlin. Founded in 1978 with headquarters at http://www.irishroots.com/ Subscribe here: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=Mickthebridge Random notes on todays show Before the time of Patrick The Irish Bardic School existed before the coming of St. Patrick. Written in the 7th c., Memoir of St. Patrick, there was a contest between St. Patrick and the Druids. Each was to throw a book into the water and see which came out uninjured. Same story is told in the Tripartite Lives of St. Patrick. Could they write ? Tradition says ancient Irish used Ogham, as in the pillar stones by chiefs graves with a name carved in the stone. Bardic Literature and Lives of St. Patrick both speak of finding literary and professional men, all pagan, druids, poets, antiquarians, and and elaborate code of laws. Immediately after the arrival of Christianity in the 5th century, they began writing it down in the Irish language, which tells us they understood letters already. Irish poetry also developed in pay schools, with many Irish terms used. End of the Bardic era The Ancient Professional Schools that lasted until 1641 in General. Generally stopped in 17th century when patrons (Great Families) became homeless or exiles. Closer to a University type system, but some may have migrated to Hedges as teachers, or even students. Started out Pagan, then Christian fr. Rom trdrs & Pat. Bardic Schools were secular (taught in Irish as Hedges were at first). Focus was Irish Language, Irish History, and Brehon Law, and used intensive scientific study Long succession of Poets, Brehons and Historians. 1st English Language account was in 1561? Four Levels of Study: 1) Brehon or Judge 2) Shankee or Pettigrer 3) Aoesdan = Bard 4) File : Poet, Scholar, Guardian of Values, above the bard. Hedge Schools arise Hedges arise from Cromwellian suppression, and further under Wm. III’s Penal code, increasing in severity till 1782. The Clanrickarde Memoirs Clanrickarde Memoirs: London 1722: was a school of Poetry, for descendants of Poets and of some note already in their tribes. Day 1 : Student told to write a poem, and went to his cubicle in the dark. Day 2 : Evening, candles brought to write by, then Professors examined. The School year Open from Michaelmas to 25 March, then went home with report on them. Memoir say it took 6 or 7 years to attain mastery, but maybe not. The Bardic Schools were very exclusive. Students came from traditional families serving traditional tribes. Very conservative in nature. Study of Latin taken up early by the time of St. Patrick at least. O’Curry says 10th and 11th century classical knowledge is good with these sch. Quiggin say the poets of the 13th - 15th century knew religious lit in Latin. Latin was also used in Irish medical schools at varying levels. English Tudors brought decline in Bardic Schools. The wars of Eliz. and Henry 8 hurt Irish and Anglo-Norman Lords. Bards Forbidden Earl of Desmond had to pledge no bard would appear in his territory, as they were a threat to those who ‘occupied’ Ireland. Entire country is dominated, land confiscations, Flight of the Earls. Cromwell then sealed their fate later in the century, i.e. 1641, 1691 Treaty of Limerick Still, some educated survived, some mention of antiquaries and deducers of pedigrees for noble families. - per Sir Henry Piers in 1682. Low point for native learning. Clanrickarde says reduced to just read and write a common dialect. “not one country school’ was frequented since 1641. Schools declined into ‘Courts of Poetry’ for reciting and talking. Remains of the Bards Bardic Practice, per a Doctor before 1767, described his visit: After work day, sit down in house, in bad weather, without doors in fair weather; telling stories of ancient heroes and times in an amazing style. Protestant Rector of Dungiven, Derry, says tradition preserved in winter evenings when Seannachies met, taking turns reciting. If any variance between 2, then decided by vote ! Galway Seanch. reciting 55 stanzas of 4 lines each from 13th century work. The above are only rough notes on todays broadcast, please do listen in for the full account ! https://twitter.com/IrishRootsCafe https://www.facebook.com/IrishSong http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/MichaelCOLaughlin