Chapet 4: Early Christian Ireland

Question 0

Who wrote about Pallidius?

Answer 0

A Roman writer called Prosper Tiro.

Question 1

Who was Pallidius?

Answer 1

A bishop who was sent to Ireland in 431AD.

Question 2

Who was the most famous Christian missionary to arrive in Ireland?

Answer 2

St. Patrick.

Question 3

What happened to St. Patrick when he was 16?

Answer 3

He was captured by an Irish warrior during a raid and brought to Ireland as a slave.

Question 4

When did St. Patrick escape Ireland and what did he do?

Answer 4

6 years after being captured by the Irish, he returned home and became a priest.

Question 5

Why did the Druids not welcome Christianity?

Answer 5

It led to the decline of their importance.

Question 6

Why did St. Patrick return to Ireland and in what year?

Answer 6

He claimed that he heard voices telling him to covert the Irish to Christianity in 432AD.

Question 7

How did St. Patrick set about converting the Irish to Christianity?

Answer 7

He converted the Kings and nobles first, in the hope that the rest of the tuath would follow in their lead.

Question 8

When did St. Patrick die?

Answer 8

461AD.

Question 9

When were monasteries first set up?

Answer 9

Around 50 years after St. Patrick’s death, in around 510AD.

Question 10

Where was the first monastery in Ireland set up?

Answer 10

On Inis Mór on the Aran Islands by St. Enda.

Question 11

Why were monasteries situated in isolated areas?

Answer 11

So there would be no distraction, and the monks could live a peaceful life, full of prayer.

Question 12

What were some of the main buildings in a monastery?

Answer 12

An oratory-a small rectangular church-, a round tower, a refectory-where meals were eaten-, a scriptorium-where manuscripts were copied- and the monks lived in beehive huts.

Question 13

Name two areas where round towers still stand.

Answer 13

Glendalough, Co. Wicklow and Ardmore, Co. Waterford.

Question 14

What was written in manuscripts?

Answer 14

Gospel, psalms and stories of Celtic heroes(sagas)

Question 15

What is the most famous manuscript in Ireland and where was it found?

Answer 15

The Book of Kells, which was found in Kells, Co. Meath.

Question 16

Where is the Book of Kells kept, and what century is it from?

Answer 16

It is kept in Trinity College, Co. Dublin and it if from the eighth or ninth century.

Question 17

What is in the Book of Kells?

Answer 17

The four gospels

Question 18

What are high crosses, and what were they used for?

Answer 18

They are highly decorative stone crosses used to mark graves or placed in the middle of a monastic settlement.

Question 19

Name an example of a high cross.

Answer 19

St. Muireadach’s Cross, in Munasterboice, which is divided in panels depicting scenes from the bible.

Question 20

Who were the most skilled crafters of all?

Answer 20

Metalworkers.

Question 21

How were chalices decorated?

Answer 21

With coloured stone and gold wire.

Question 22

What is filgree work?

Answer 22

The art of twisting and weaving gold wires.

Question 23

What were the monks robes made from?

Answer 23

Coarse, undyed wool, from which white tunics, a cape and a hood were made from.

Question 24

On what are the manuscripts copied out on? And what is used to make ink?

Answer 24

The manuscripts are copied out on parchment made from sheepskin, or vellum made from calfskin. Herbs and plants were used to make ink. Quills (a tail feather from a goose or swan) were used to write with.

Question 25

How were the monks warned when the monastery is attacked, and what did they do?

Answer 25

A bell on top of the round tower was rung, and all the monks go to the round tower, with all the manuscripts and gold and silver objects. The door of the tower, is three metres above the ground is reached by a ladder, which is pulled up when all the monks are inside.

Question 26

What simple instructions were the monks expected to follow?

Answer 26

Pray daily, fast daily, study daily and work daily.

Question 27

What are the monks that travelled to Europe and established other monasteries called?

Answer 27

Missionaries.

Question 28

Who is Ireland’s best known missionary, and what did he do?

Answer 28

St. Colmcille. He was born in Garten, Co. Donegal, and set up monasteries in Derry and Durrow before going to Scotland where he founded a monastery in the island of Iona. Iona became one of the most important centres of learning in Europe.

Question 29

Name other examples of Irish missionaries.

Answer 29

St. Columbanus, who founded a monastery in Luxeuil, France and St. Fergal and St. Killian who spread the gospel in Wurzburg amd Salzburg.

Question 30

Who was the abbot?

Answer 30

The monk in charge of the monastery.