School: Christian Brothers, Athlone
- Location:
- Athlone, Co. Westmeath
- Teacher: Brother Meskill
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0749, Page 260
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“Clonmacnoise was at once a seat of learning, a School of Art and a University...”
Clonmacnoise was at once a seat of learning, a School of Art and a University. Soon after Ciaran's death its halls became crowded with students from every part, who afterwards bore the renown of her learning to distant lands. Alouim of York, the most distinguished scholar of his day, was a student of Clonmacnoise, and his no less famous professor, Colgu (to whom, we read, Charlemagne made princely presents.)
During the 11th century, despite the ravages of the Danes, "Ciaran's City" still flourished on and produced several eminent scholars, among them being Tighernagh, the Annalist, "the greatest glory of the School of Clonmacnoise."
His annals, though greatly defaced, and little read, prove the extent of his learning and intellect. The Four Masters, when compiling their immortal work, had the annals before them, and frequently quote Tighernagh's testimony for their statements therein.
To Clonmacnoise we also owe the book known as the "Chronicle of the Scots," valuable for the records of Clonmacnoise and its vicinity. Another book undoubtedly composed at Clonmacnoise is the "Leabhar na hUidre" (now in the Royal Irish Academy), written by Maelmuire, presumably a lay Brother of Clonmacnoise.
There is very good reason to believe also that Dicuil, the celebrated geographer, was trained at Clonmacnoise. Such was Clonmacnoise before its decline-a veritable city with its monastery, churches, its towers and sculptured crosses, the long, low wooded [?ats] of the Monks, and the lecture halls, [ro?]ofed by the canopy of heaven, where the professors lectured, with the ripple of [riv?]er and the trilling of bird songs in their [ea?]rs.
The monastery lands (the cemetery alone containing about 20 acres) were extensive, thanks to the generosity of the Irish [pa?]trons. the whole establishment was a [be]e hive of industry, where the Monks [f?]ed the land, reaped the crops, tended the [?]ks, turned the mill wheels, and even [?] and dyed their own garments.(no title)
“The existing ruins of Clonmacnoise, though sadly dilapidated, are of interest in so far as they indicate the character and generosity, as well as the names of their erectors, as also the standard of perfection to which Irish art and architecture had attai”
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