As in England, there are a variety of historical schools of various types. The British founded National Schools. Irish nationalists attempted tp perpetuate Irish culture through Hege Schools. The Christian Brothers were active in Ireland. There has been three types of schools in Ireland, state schools, private schools, and Catholic schools--kind of a cross between private schools and state schools. There are many similarities among these schools, but also some notable differences. The trends have of course varied overtime. Many of the schoolwear fashions are essentially English fashions and reflect trens in comparable schools. The Catholic schols are run by a board of managment. They run on a government grant per pupil and funding from parents. The Public secondary schools are state run they get all funding from the state. The private secondary schhols are mostly boarding schools. They ar primarily supported by school ees, but do get some grants from the govenment but not much.

Historic Schools

Our information on historic types of schools is still quite limited. There were no free schools for children until the late 19th century. As in England, there are a variety of historical schools of various types. The British founded National Schools. Irish nationalists attempted tp perpetuate Irish culture through Hege Schools. The Christian Brothers were active in Ireland.

National schools

Britain was behind much of Europe in oproviding free schools for children. We believed the Government established National Schools in the late 19th century. We know nothing about them at this time. Presumably they were staffed with Loyalists (loyal to the British).

Hedge schools

Irish Nationalists founded hege schools to perpetuate the Irish language and culture and to provide an Irish view of history. They are called Hedge Schools because they were held in the country side, often in the open air in places like hedges away from prying English eyes. Hedge Schools were founded after the English implemented laws prohibiting instruction in the Catholic faith. Not only was Catholcism banned, but the legally authorized schools had religious classes designed to covert the children to Protestantism (Anglicanism) of the Church of Ireland. The Hedge Schools were in fact illegal. No all Irish children attended these schools. While there were usually no buildings, they were regularized to the etent that teachers were paid small sums. This meant that for the most part only children whose parents could afford to pay attended the classes. Without buildings there could be very little reaching material such as books. Teaching thus was mostly oral.

Christian Brothers schools

The Christian Brothers were a Catholic order which concentrated on education. I'm not sure just when the British allowed Catholics to have schools, presumably in followed from Catholic enfranchisement. Some Christian Brother schools may have evolved from Hege Schools.

State Schools

The state schools are entirelly funded by the state. I have no details yet about the history of state education in Ireland. I do not think school uniforms were required at the elementary schools. I'm not sure at this time about what was worn at secondary schools. A Irish HBC reader, G. Jones, reports that in the late-1950s and early 60s Ireland had two types of secondary schools for further education, after Primary Level (age 11/12). Firstly, Secondary School was for academic education leading to the Intermediate Certificate (15/16) and ultimately to the Leaving Certifuicate. (17/18) and Vocational (Technical) School for training for a trade. Whilst there is still a distinction Vocational (Technical) Schools do have a curriculum for Intermediate and Leaving Certificate.

Figure 1.--Almost all of the senior boys at this Irish school where long pants, except for the one boy at the front. Click on the image for a close up.

Private Schools

Irish private schools closely followed the pattern of English schools, including uniform styles. The private secondary schhols are mostly boarding schools. They ar primarily supported by school fees, but do get some grants from the govenment but not much.

Catholic Schools

I do not have details on Catholic schools. During the centuries of English rule, the Irish were supressed and their land taken away. I am not sure what restrictions the English placed on Catholic education on the 19th Century. In 1800, Ireland was technically made one with England, Scotland and Wales, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. In some ways, this was a Good Thing for Ireland, as it led toelectoral reform, land reform, and the disestablishment of the Church of Ireland and its right to taxthe whole population. But the colonial relationship remained, and as freedoms grew without realequality with England and the English, so did Irish nationalism develop and flourish. As the 19thcentury moved on, independence became inevitable.

Created: June 5, 1999
Last updated: 10:05 PM 7/21/2004