The Land of Saints & Scholars
Ireland has been known to be the land of the Saints & Scholars but how did it managed to receive that label? You need to take a look back at the history of Ireland to a time when Christianity was spreading across the island as did monks and the construction of Irish monasteries.
Religion, learning and teaching
When missionaries such as Saint Patrick came to Ireland they did more than introduce Christianity to the people on the island, they brought about change that would last thousands of years.
Missionaries moved around Ireland creating dioceses and setting up churches or monasteries, like Colum Cille (Saint Columba) did. Scholars from all over Europe would flock to the Irish monasteries to learn the scriptures and theology among other skills Irish monks had. Monks in Ireland believed living a life devoted to religion and education passing these beliefs onto the local community which is evident in some of the illuminated manuscripts written by the monks. They had a great skill in reading, writing and speaking Latin. They were fantastic artists and their spiritual way made them great poetry writers.
Many missionaries and monks became very important influences in Ireland setting up key churches and monasteries that would help educate people for years to come. Some would later achieve status of saint such as Saint Columba, Saint Brigid, Saint Enda, Saint Finnian and Saint Brendan to name a very few.
