Insula Sanctorum et Doctorum; Or, Ireland's Ancient Schools and Scholars

The book surveys the intellectual and religious life of early Ireland, tracing the development of learning from pre-Christian orders through monastic schools up to the Anglo-Norman arrival. It examines institutions and traditions — Druids, bards, brehons, the ogham script, and monastic communities — and outlines curricula, literary production, and modes of instruction. Profiles of notable scholars and saints are interwoven with accounts of scholarly practice, ascetic discipline, and the natural and spiritual outlook that shaped study. The narrative relies on both ancient sources and modern scholarship, includes maps and indexes, and aims for a popular but well-documented presentation of the period.