Have you ever wondered where your Irish ancestors might have received their education? In a time when formal schooling was forbidden for many, a unique and resilient form of education emerged—one that defied the harsh penal laws of the British Crown. Welcome to the world of Irish Hedge Schools, where knowledge was passed down in secret, hidden away in the countryside, beneath the very hedgerows that gave these schools their name. Join me as we uncover the history of these remarkable institutions and the brave souls who kept the flame of learning alive in the face of adversity.
For about two hundred years, this was an illegal, informal, and unofficial local education system.
In the mid-1600s, Oliver Cromwell’s arrival in Ireland led to the outlawing of bardic schools (secular institutions.) Cromwell’s notorious reputation for the massacre of Irish people and the confiscation of their lands has made him an unpopular figure in Irish and English history. Cromwell referred to the bardic schools as popish schools due to his belief that they taught superstition, idolatry, and evil Celtic customs.
A few decades later, when William of Orange was the British king, the British enacted the penal laws. These banned Catholicism and banned priests, which, of course, prohibited the teaching of Catholicism, whether in church or school or anywhere else, for that matter.
In response to discrimination, communities began taking control of their education. This led to the developing of a network of informal schools, referred to as hedge schools, throughout the country. These schools were strategically located to avoid detection by local authorities ‘beneath the sunny side of a hedge’ and were run by schoolmasters who charged a fee for their services. Hedge schools provided instruction in various subjects, including Latin and Greek.
It’s believed that by the 1820s, Hedge Schools educated up to 400,000 students in 9000 schools. This remained in force until it was repealed in 1782. It wasn’t until 1967, with the Free Secondary Education Act in the Republic of Ireland, that secondary school education became open for all.
Because of the secrecy and illegalities, there are few records concerning these schools. Although you can scour the internet and find some teacher’s names in some places.
The story of the Irish Hedge Schools is a testament to the indomitable spirit of a people determined to preserve their heritage and educate their children, no matter the obstacles. While the records of these schools are scarce, their legacy lives on in the countless descendants who carry the torch of knowledge passed down through generations. As we reflect on this hidden chapter of Irish history, let us remember the resilience and ingenuity of our ancestors, who found a way to nurture minds even in the darkest of times.
19.2.20 hedge schools. 19.2.20 Hedge Schools – Department of Classics – Trinity College Dublin. (n.d.). https://www.tcd.ie/classics/livinglatin/hedge-school.php
McDonnell, D. (2021, February 24). The Irish Hedge School. ClanDonnell. https://clandonnell.net/the-irish-hedge-school/
Costello, G., & Name. (2023, July 17). Hedge schools. Skehana & District Heritage. https://skehana.galwaycommunityheritage.org/content/topics/education/hedge-schools
Category: Sheephaven history. The Workhouse. (2023, September 4). https://dunfanaghyworkhouse.com/category/sheephaven-history/
Photo Credit
Kenneth Allen / The Hedge School, Doagh /
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