Early Christain Ireland

Question 1

Nuns

Answer 1

Nuns were women who devoted their lives to God and lived in convents

Question 2

Round tower

Answer 2

A round tower was used as a bell tower to call the monks to religious services and as a look out post and hiding place for the monks and their valuables when the Vikings attacked the monasteries

Question 3

Scriptorium

Answer 3

The scriptorium was where manuscripts were copied

Question 4

Refectory

Answer 4

The refectory was where the monks had their meals

Question 5

Cell

Answer 5

The cells were where the monks lived, in singles huts (beehives)

Question 6

St. Patrick

Answer 6

Patrick came to Ireland between AD 430 Nd 490. He wrote two books: ‘The Confession’, this is an account of his life in Ireland and explain why he came to preach christianity to the Irish. ‘A Letter to the Soldiers of King Coroticus’, Coroticus was a king in Britain. His soldiers raided Ireland and kidnapped people to sell as slaves. Patrick wrote this book asking them to stop the raids.

Question 7

Celtic monasteries

Answer 7

Inis mór,
sceilig mhichíl,
clonmacnoise,
glendalough

Question 8

Golem age / dark ages

Answer 8

Dark ages, a time after the fall of the romna empire when tribes were at war all over the continent. Art and learning were kept alive by the Celtic monks, and Ireland because known as ‘the Island of saints and scholars’. By AD 800 the Irish monasteries had become famous all over Europe. Many students came to study at them. The period is known as the golden age in irish learning

Question 9

Monks

Answer 9

Monks were men who devoted their loved to God and lived in monasteries