The Irish Society
Encyclopedia
The Irish Society, or to give it its full name, The Irish society for promoting the scriptural education and religious instruction of the Irish-speaking population chiefly through the medium of their own language, was founded in Dublin, Ireland
, in 1818 by members of the Church of Ireland
. It remained in existence until 1914.
The main movers in setting up the society were Henry Joseph Monck Mason
and Bishop Daly. Its offices were located at 16 Upper Sackville St., Dublin. Mason acted as its secretary for many years, besides writing several tracts in furtherance of its objectives.
The Society claimed to be interdenominational and respect religious differences. However, the organisation's literature, often published to attract donations from England, demonstrates that the eventual objective was one of conversion. Missionaries liked to concentrate on aspects of the Bible which they believed contradicted Catholic teaching.
Members of the Society placed emphasis on education, which would allow the Irish natives access to the scriptures for the first time. A teaching mission was set up in the Kingscourt
area of County Cavan
, and the success of the venture encouraged the Society to establish charity schools to promote education through the Irish language
. Catholic teachers were employed as few Protestants knew Irish. These teachers were prized for their local knowledge and the fact that they could draw upon networks of friends and family.
However, school inspectors were Protestants.
In 1835 the Society reported that it had 514 salaried teachers and that over 14,000 pupils had been inspected. By 1844 the Society reported that it had in place a system of elementary education in twenty-four counties, including schools, teachers, supervisors and delivery-men for religious literature. In 1849 it reported that it had distributed more than 30,000 books, mostly in Irish, to teachers and scholars.
The Catholic church condemned the schools and those who worked in them. Sometimes violent conflicts arose between supporters and objectors. On occasions the police were needed at the funerals of converts and at public appearances by ministers who were converted priests.
At Mason's suggestion the committee of the Irish Society founded in 1844 two Bedell scholarships and a premium in Dublin University for encouraging the study of the Irish language. He was mainly instrumental in the establishment there of a professorship of Irish.
In 1848 the Irish Society in partnership with the controversial Irish Church Missions to Roman Catholics
(ICM) undertook projects in Galway and Mayo. This was a difficult alliance due to the aggressive evangelical zeal of the ICM founder, Rev. Alexander Dallas
, and his anti-Catholic tirades, which caused much bitterness in the areas, as well as with members of the Irish Society particularly in Trinity College.
In 1861 the society was instrumental in the translation into Irish of the Book of Common Prayer
/ Leabhar na nUrnaighe Comhchoitchoinn.
The society existed up until 1914, and in the early years of the 20th century during the Home Rule movement offered its belief in Scripture to solve issues. In the last 20 years of its existence it sold off its property and schools to survive.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, in 1818 by members of the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
. It remained in existence until 1914.
The main movers in setting up the society were Henry Joseph Monck Mason
Henry Joseph Monck Mason
Henry Joseph Monk Mason was an Irish writer who, although not a native speaker, specialised in Irish-language activities...
and Bishop Daly. Its offices were located at 16 Upper Sackville St., Dublin. Mason acted as its secretary for many years, besides writing several tracts in furtherance of its objectives.
The Society claimed to be interdenominational and respect religious differences. However, the organisation's literature, often published to attract donations from England, demonstrates that the eventual objective was one of conversion. Missionaries liked to concentrate on aspects of the Bible which they believed contradicted Catholic teaching.
Members of the Society placed emphasis on education, which would allow the Irish natives access to the scriptures for the first time. A teaching mission was set up in the Kingscourt
Kingscourt
Kingscourt, historically known as Dunaree , is a town in County Cavan, Ireland. It is located near the Cavan-Meath border and has a population of over 3,000 making it the fourth largest town in Cavan. The town was founded near the site of the old village of Cabra, by Mervyn Pratt, towards the end...
area of County Cavan
County Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and the success of the venture encouraged the Society to establish charity schools to promote education through the Irish language
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
. Catholic teachers were employed as few Protestants knew Irish. These teachers were prized for their local knowledge and the fact that they could draw upon networks of friends and family.
However, school inspectors were Protestants.
In 1835 the Society reported that it had 514 salaried teachers and that over 14,000 pupils had been inspected. By 1844 the Society reported that it had in place a system of elementary education in twenty-four counties, including schools, teachers, supervisors and delivery-men for religious literature. In 1849 it reported that it had distributed more than 30,000 books, mostly in Irish, to teachers and scholars.
The Catholic church condemned the schools and those who worked in them. Sometimes violent conflicts arose between supporters and objectors. On occasions the police were needed at the funerals of converts and at public appearances by ministers who were converted priests.
At Mason's suggestion the committee of the Irish Society founded in 1844 two Bedell scholarships and a premium in Dublin University for encouraging the study of the Irish language. He was mainly instrumental in the establishment there of a professorship of Irish.
In 1848 the Irish Society in partnership with the controversial Irish Church Missions to Roman Catholics
Irish Church Missions
The Irish Church Mission to the Roman Catholics is a conservative and semi-autonomous Anglican mission. It was founded in 1849 chiefly by English Anglicans with the backing and support of the Church of Ireland clergy and Bishops.-History:...
(ICM) undertook projects in Galway and Mayo. This was a difficult alliance due to the aggressive evangelical zeal of the ICM founder, Rev. Alexander Dallas
Alexander Dallas (Anglican Priest)
Rev. Alexander Robert Charles Dallas was an author, Church of England minister and Rector of Wonston in Hampshire from 1828 to 1869, a member of the family that descended from James Dallas Rosshire in Scotland....
, and his anti-Catholic tirades, which caused much bitterness in the areas, as well as with members of the Irish Society particularly in Trinity College.
In 1861 the society was instrumental in the translation into Irish of the Book of Common Prayer
Book of Common Prayer
The Book of Common Prayer is the short title of a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion, as well as by the Continuing Anglican, "Anglican realignment" and other Anglican churches. The original book, published in 1549 , in the reign of Edward VI, was a product of the English...
/ Leabhar na nUrnaighe Comhchoitchoinn.
The society existed up until 1914, and in the early years of the 20th century during the Home Rule movement offered its belief in Scripture to solve issues. In the last 20 years of its existence it sold off its property and schools to survive.