The Oath of the Hearth: Ireland's Hedge Schools

In this episode of The History of Ireland, Lucas and Luna explore the clandestine world of hedge schools, the informal Catholic education network that thrived under the Penal Laws. Discover how 'poor scholars' traveled from family to family, how the Irish language and classical learning survived in muddy fields and hidden cabins, and why the hedge schools became a symbol of defiance. We'll meet famous hedge school masters like Donnchadh Rua Mac Conmara and examine the remarkable curriculum that included Latin, Greek, and mathematics alongside Gaelic poetry. The episode also delves into the role of hedge schools in preserving Irish culture and the transition to the National School system in the 1830s. #HedgeSchools #PenalLaws #IrishEducation #DonnchadhRuaMacConmara #PoorScholars #IrishLanguage #CatholicHistory #18thCenturyIreland #NationalSchools #IrishCulture #Latin #GaelicPoetry #Defiance #HistoryOfIreland #History #FexingoHistory #EducationHistory #Ireland Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo