Early Christian Ireland How did Christianity come to Ireland?

5 th century Celts in Ireland became Christians Druids lost their power Pagan traditions continued alongside Christianity Christian church adapted to the customs of the Celts

How did Christianity come to Ireland? The Romans ruled most of Europe when Christ lived. In AD 43 they conquered Britain AD 312 Christianity spread rapidly throughout the lands ruled by the Romans The Romans never ruled Ireland Some historians believed there were some Christians in Ireland before AD 430 Could be traders from Roman Britain, settled over Leinster

Who was St. Patrick Young Patrick lived in Roman Britain, his family were Christians We think he came to Ireland between AD 430 and 490 He was captured by Irish raiders and sold as a slave to a farmer in Co. Antrim After 6 years he escaped from Ireland He became a priest and returned as a missionary to convert the Irish people to Christians

St. Patrick

We know this because he wrote two books:  The Confession: account of his life in Ireland and explains why he came to preach Christianity to the Irish  A letter to the Soldiers of King Coroticus: Patrick wrote this book asking Coroticus, a king in Britain to stop the raids of Irish people and selling them as slaves.  The Confession tells us how he baptised thousands and ordained clerics everywhere  The Celts didn't accept this new religion straight away because he wrote that he lived in ‘daily expectation of murder, treachery or captivity.’

St. Patrick Even after Ireland became Christian, they still lived the same way as they always had done The tuath still ruled by a ri However the power of the druids ended, Christians priests and bishops gradually replaced them After, St. Patrick died he became a hero

Early Christian Monasteries During the third century, some people believed that they could get closer to God by devoting their lives to prayer in remote places Some lived alone Others went in small groups who shared their wish to dedicate their lives to God They became known as monks (men) and nuns (women) They lived in monasteries

Monastery Monk

Monks Followed strict rules Produced their own food Wore long tunics with woolen cloaks, and shoes and sandals

Round Towers Round Towers were built in some monasteries at this time, and were used for storage and safety.

Work The main work was prayer, they had 6-8 services a day but most of the other work was done on a farm Monks were also famous for their works of art, as well as producing manuscripts and metal works

Celtic Monasteries Examples 1.Inis Mor: first Irish monastery in Ad 490 by St. Enda on Inis Mor. Place of learning 2.St. Brigid: women set up monasteries, St. Brigid of Kildare, stories of myths and legends.