Irish Archaeology. 79 



code of laws, a regular government, orders of learned men, and 

 public schools. After the introduction of Christianity these laws 

 were revised to suit the altered conditions of society, and for over 

 one thousand years after, with very slight alterations, these laws 

 called the Seanchus Mor, were those which ruled the lives and 

 liberties of Irishmen, and by which they were governed. In the 

 early Christian period the island made great progress in rehgion 

 and culture, so much so that it became known as the Island of 

 Saints. During this golden age of Irish history for a period of 

 over 200 years, commencing with the early part of the 6th 

 century, the country produced a host of Christian missionaries, 

 whose names became well known over Western Europe, and 

 caused Irishmen to be loved and respected wherever they went. 

 Theywere knownabroadas Scotsof Erin,thoughtheythemselves 

 prefered to be called Gaels. After the invasion of the Northmen 

 and their kindred, the Normans, religion and progress received 

 a serious check. Men had to turn from the arts of peace to 

 those of war, with all its train of attendant evils. During the 

 peaceful period from the year 600 to the middle of the 9th 

 century. Irishmen were unequalled in the art of illuminating 

 manuscripts, whilst her learned men were advanced in all the 

 essentials of a liberal education. They understood Latin, Greek, 

 and even Hebrew, were thoroughly read in the sacred scriptures, 

 and it was probably from their love of Holy Writ that they spent 

 all their artistic genius in illuminating its pages so profusely, 

 They were well versed in mathematics and astronomy as then 

 known, and some had advanced views on the latter science much 

 ahead of their times. To the great schools of Armagh, Clonard, 

 Durrow, Clonmacnois, Bangor, and Moville, flocked thousands 

 of youths, many of noble birth, who came from Britain and Gaul, 

 so celebrated were these ancient Irish seats of learning. The 

 insular position of the country saved it for a long period from the 

 dark cloud of ignorance that spread over the rest of Europe after 

 the downfall of the Roman Empire, until the northern hordes 

 arrived, who were quite as much at home on sea as on land. 

 They ravaged the monasteries, carrying off the sacred vessels, 



