Show Early Records of Irish Note Their Advancement Assertion that Ireland was once known as the Island of Saints and Scholars and that at one time most of the colleges and universities of Europe were located in Ireland may be based on the following information information information in in- formation taken from an nn encyclopedia encyclopedia encyclopedia The tiThe first probable records of the Irish people show that for the times they were advanced in civilization The ancient bards were called or wl which ch means philosophers Caesar in his Gallic Wars Vals mentions their advancement In the reign of the First more than 1000 B. B C C. C men of learning learning learn learn- learning ing eminent scholars were by law ranked next to royalty A repose from strife enjoyed by Ireland at ata ata a time when southern Europe was overrun with the Germanic hordes favor favored d the progress of learning The schools and monasteries founded found found- ed by St. St Patrick in the Fifth century century century cen cen- tury became the centers from which went forth many scholars evena's even as a's as s early as the Sixth century Ireland became the seat of western learn learn- ing Its monasteries were the schools from which missionaries proceeded throughout continental Europe In the Eighth and Ninth centuries the scholars of Ireland were among the most distinguished at the courts of the kings especially especial especial- ly at that of Charlemagne |