An early Irish monastery round tower graveyard oratory
scriptorium guesthouses
fi elds wall
• The oratory or church, made of wood or stone, was where the monks attended Mass or prayed. • The scriptorium was where manuscripts were copied by hand and illustrated.
• A manuscript is a book written by hand. The monks who did this work were called scribes.
• The refectory was where the monks ate their meals.
• The round tower was a bell tower and a safe place for people (and treasures) if the monastery came under attack. A round tower’s door was many metres above ground and could not be reached without a ladder. Its few windows were very high up, so that a lookout could spot attackers and access would be diffi cult. Many round towers are still visible in Ireland, including Glendalough in Co. Wicklow, Kells in Co. Meath and Ardmore in Co. Waterford.
• Large monasteries had a guesthouse for travellers or visiting tradesmen.
• All monasteries had fi elds to grow crops and graze animals. • There was a cemetery (graveyard) for the monks’ simple graves. • Large monasteries had a circular wall or bank for protection.
CHECKPOINT!
1. How did Christianity arrive in Ireland and when? 2. Explain the terms monastery and beehive hut. 3. Name three examples of Early Christian Ireland monasteries. 4. Explain the terms scriptorium, refectory, oratory, round tower and manuscript.
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I can explain how Christianity came to Ireland and what monasteries were like in Early Christian Ireland.
