When monasticism became general in the sixth century most, if not all, of those ecclesiastical seminaries which we have listed as being founded in the fifth century, became monastic schools. Some of them such as the School of Armagh attained a high degree of excellence ranking with Clonard, Bangor, and the other great schools which date from the sixth century. We give a list of the better-known monastic schools which were founded during the sixth and seventh centuries, the most famous being printed in CAPITALS. These schools were all established in Ireland by Irishmen, who, as far as we have been able to discover, received their own education for the most part in schools already in existence in Ireland. This list makes no pretence to completeness. According to the calculations of Sir James Ware the number of famous schools in Ireland amounted to 164.[102] Another writer[103] gives the names of 168 monasteries founded prior to 900 A.D. Even this list is incomplete. We have checked this latter list for Co. Louth with one compiled by a recent reliable investigator[104] with the result that 19 or 20 should be credited to Co. Louth whereas there are only 2 out of the 168 so accredited. Similarly, we find only 4 monasteries ascribed to St. Columba while, as we have shown, Reeves found 37 monasteries in Ireland whose foundation is accredited to this energetic saint. As we have reason to believe that all these monasteries had schools, we can easily see how abundant were the facilities for acquiring such an education as these schools provided.
MONASTIC SCHOOLS FOUNDED IN IRELAND
BETWEEN 500 AND 700 A.D.
| SCHOOL | DATE | LOCATION | FOUNDER |
| Aghaboe[1a] | —[1b] | Co. Kilkenny | St. Canice, 528–600
A.D.[1c] |
| BANGOR[2a] | 559 A.D.[2b] | Co. Down | St. Comgall d. 601–2 A.D.[2c] |
| Birr[3a] | c. 560 A.D.[3b] | King’s Co. | St. Brendan of Birr[3c] ? 490–573 A.D. |
| Cleenich[4a] | 6th cent.[4b] | Co. Fermanagh | St. Sinnel[4c] |
| Clogher[5a] | —[5b] | Co. Tyrone | St. Macartin, c. 506 A.D.[5c] |
| CLONARD[6a] | c. 520 A.D.[6b] | Co. Meath | St. Finnian, 470–549 A.D.[6c] |
| Clonenagh[7a] | c. 548 A.D.[7b] | Queen’s Co. | St. Fintan, 525–592 A.D.[7c] |
| Clonfert[8a] | 553–7 A.D.[8b] | Co. Galway | St. Brendan the Navigator[8c] 484–577 A.D. |
| Cork[9a] | —[9b] | Co. Cork | St. Finnbar, 570–630
A.D.[9c] |
| CLONMACNOISE[10a] | 544–8 A.D.[10b] | King’s Co. | St. Ciaran, d. 549 A.D.[10c] |
| Cluainfois[11a] | c. 500 A.D.[11b] | Co. Galway | St. Iarlaith, c ? 510 A.D.[11c] |
| Devenish[12a] | 530 A.D.[12b] | Co. Fermanagh | St. Molaise,
d. 563–71 A.D.[12c] |
| Derry[13a] | 545–6 A.D.[13b] | Co. Derry | St. Columba, 520–597 A.D.[13c] |
| Dromore[14a] | c. 500 A.D.[14b] | Co. Down | St. Colman[14c] |
| Durrow[15a] | 553 A.D.[15b] | King’s Co. | St. Columba, 520–597 A.D.[15c] |
| Glasnevin[16a] | —[16b] | Co. Dublin | St. Mobi, d. 544 A.D.[16c] |
| Glendalough[17a] | —[17b] | Co. Wicklow | St. Kevin, d 618–22 A.D.[17c] |
| Inishmacsaint[18a] | —[18b] | Co. Fermanagh | St. Ninnidh, d. post 530 A.D.[18c] |
| Kells[19a] | 550 A.D.[19b] | Co. Meath | St.Columba, 520–597 A.D.[19c] |
| Kilkenny[20a] | —[20b] | Co. Kilkenny | St. Canice, 528–600 A.D.[20c] |
| LISMORE[21a] | 635 A.D.[21b] | Co. Waterford | St. Carthach[21c] |
| MONASTERBOICE[22a] | c. 500 A.D.[22b] | Co. Louth | St. Buite, c. 521 A.D.[22c] |
| Mayo[23a] | 655 A.D.[23b] | Co. Mayo | St. Colman[23c] |
| Movilla[24a] | 540–55 A.D.[24b] | Co. Down | St. Finnian[24c] |
| MUNGRET[25a] | c. 551 A.D.[25b] | Co. Limerick | St. Nessan, d. 551 A.D.[25c] |
| Ros-Ailithir[26a] | 6th cent.[26b] | Co. Cork | St. Fachtna[26c] |
| Swords[27a] | —[27b] | Co. Dublin | St.Columba, 520–597 A.D.[27c] |
| Scattery Is.[28a] | c. 537 A.D.[28b] | Co. Clare | St. Senan[28c] |
| Terryglass[29a] | 634 A.D.[29b] | Co. Tipperary | St. Colman of Terriglass[29c] |
| Tuam[30a] | —[30b] | Co. Galway | St. Iarlaith, c. 545 A.D.[30c] |
[1a]. Warren, F. E., op. cit. pp. 14, 15. [1b]. Unknown. [1c]. Conyngham, D. P., op. cit. p. 268. ibid. Joyce, P. W. Short History of Ireland, p. 180, gives (517–600).
[2a]. Plummer, Charles, op. cit. I, p. lxxix. [2b]. Joyce, P. W., Concise History of Ireland, p. 82. [2c]. Revue Celtique, XXX, p. 113.
[3a], [3b], [3c]. Plummer, C., op. cit. I, xlii.
[4a], [4b], [4c]. Conyngham, D. P., op. cit. p. 541.
[5a], [5b]. Conyngham, D. P., op. cit. p. 541. [5c]. op. cit. p. 132.