The significance of these fifth century schools from the point of view of the present study lies in the fact that they were the precursors of the great monastic schools which sprang up in such numbers in the sixth century. We have good reason for believing that it was in these early schools and by the labours of Gallic scholars and their pupils that the foundations were laid of that classical scholarship that drew the eyes of Europe upon Ireland during the sixth, seventh and eighth and ninth centuries. IRISH SCHOOLS IN THE FIFTH CENTURY SCHOOL DATE LOCATION FOUNDER Ardagh[1a] —[1b] Co. Longford St. Patrick, d. 465 A.D.[1c] and St. Mel, d. 488 A.D. Ardmore[2a] —[2b] Co. Waterford St. Declan*[2c] Armagh[3a] 450–5 A.D.[3b] Co. Armagh St. Patrick[3c] Arran[4a] ante Co. Galway St. Enda[4c] 484 A.D.[4b] Beg Eri[5a] —[5b] Co. Wexford St. Ibar*[5c] Dysart[6a] c. 450 A.D.[6b] Co. Louth SS. Patrick and Dachonna[6c] Emly[7a] —[7b] Co. Tipperary St. Ailbe*[7c] Elphin[8a] —[8b] Co. Roscommon St. Asicus, d. 470 A.D.[8c] Kildare[9a] c. 487 A.D.[9b] Co. Kildare SS. Brigid, d. 525 A.D.[9c] and Conlaeth, d. 419 A.D. Louth[10a] c. 454 A.D.[10b] Co. Louth St. Mochta[10c] Nendrum[11a] c. 450 A.D.[11b] Co. Down St. Caelan or Mochaoi [11c] d. 497–9 Rath —[12b] Co. Antrim St. Patrick[12c] Muighe[12a] Saul[13a] —[13b] Co. Down St. Patrick[13c] Slane[14a] —[14b] Co. Meath St. Patrick[14c] Seir[15a] —[15b] King’s Co. St. Ciaran,* the Elder[15c] Trim[16a] —[16b] Co. Meath St. Patrick[16c] For a discussion of the chronology of SS. Declan, Ibar, Ailbe and Ciaran the Elder, see Power, Rev. Patrick, _Lives of SS. Declan and Mocuda_, pp. xix–xxii, _Irish Texts Series_. 1a. Conyngham, D. P., _Irish Saints and Martyrs_, p. 540. Conyngham relies mainly on Walter Harris’s ed. of Ware’s _Monasticon Hiberniae_ and Lanigan’s _Ecclesiastical History of Ireland_. 1b. Unknown. 1c. St. Patrick’s death, see Conyngham, D. P., _op. cit._ p. 2; St. Mell’s _op. cit._ p. 117.