School of Ross

The School of Ross was a monastic institution located in what is now called Rosscarbery, County Cork, Ireland, but formerly "Ross-Ailithir", from the large number of monks and students who flocked to its halls from all over Europe.

It was founded by St. Fachtna, who is generally regarded as the same person who founded the Diocese of Kilfenora; the feast in both cases is kept on 14 August, and in both the saint's descent is traced to the princely race of "Corca Laighde". Fachtna was born at a place called Tulachteann, and died at the early age of forty-six, in what year we cannot say, but probably late in the sixth century, and is buried in his own cathedral church in Rosscarbery. The "Annals of Innisfallen" (Dublin copy) mark A.D. 600 as the date of his death: "Died Fachtna first Bishop of Ross-Ailithre in Corca-Laidhe which goes by the additional name of O'Laeghaire of Ross i.e. Corca Laidhe-I-LaeghaireRuis" [John O'Donovan, ed. 'The Genealogy of Corca Laidhe' in "Miscellany of the Celtic Society", Dublin, 1849, p. 384] . Like many other Irish saints, he received his first lessons in religion from Saint Ita of Killeedy, the "Brigid of Munster", from whose care he passed, according to some writers, to St. Finbarr's seminary at Loch Eirce, near Cork. He is reported by some to have founded Molana Abbey, on the little island of Dairinis in the River Blackwater, not far from the town of Youghal. Returning to his native territory, he set about a more important foundation on a rocky promontory situated in the midst of woods and green fields between two bays.

This was the monastic School of Ross, called in the "Life of St. Mochoemoc" "magnum studium scholarium", for it quickly became famous for its study of Scripture, and the attention given to all the branches of a liberal education. One of the assistant teachers was St. Brendan the Navigator, whom Fachtna had known and loved as a companion when under the care of St. Ita. One old document represents Brendan as being at Ross in 540. While engaged in teaching there, St. Fachtna was stricken with total blindness; but it was reported that his sight was miraculously restored. Fachtna, it is generally thought, received episcopal orders, and became the first Bishop of Ross. He is sometimes called Facundus, in allusion to his eloquence.

His immediate successor in the School of Ross was St. Conall, and we read also of a St. Finchad, a former schoolmate at Loch Eirce. Both were probably tribesmen of his own, for we are told that he was succeeded by twenty-seven bishops of his own tribe, whose names have not been preserved. Under several ninth-century dates we find in the Annals of the Four Masters reference to the abbots of the School of Ross; and under date 840 we are told that the institution was ravaged by the Danes. Once only in the two centuries that followed is there mention of a bishop, Neachtan MacNeachtain whose death is set down under date 1085. In all other references to Ross the word "airchinnect" is used, as if showing that the government of the school had fallen into the hands of laymen, who no doubt employed ecclesiastics to perform the spiritual duties and functions.

Nevertheless the School must have continued to flourish, for we read under date 866 - according to the "Chronicon Scotorum", 868 - of the death of Feargus who is described as a celebrated scribe and anchorite of Ross-Ailithir. More evidence of the extent and variety of the literary work done at Ross is furnished by the geographical poem in the Irish language still extant, composed by MacCosse or Ferlegind, a lecturer at this school, and used no doubt as a text-book in the different classes. The Diocese of Ross was upheld at the Synod of Kells and the O’Learys became the Hereditary Wardens of the monastery and university [Peter O'Leary, http://www.inchigeelagh.com/History.htm] . Of the later history of the School we have but few details, but mention of the native spoiler is not missing in them. In 1127, according to the "Chronicon Scotorum", one Toirdhealbach O Conor sailed to Ross-Ailithir and laid waste the land of Desmond. He was followed by the Anglo-Normans under Robert Fitz-Stephen, who towards the close of the century completed the destruction. All record of this ancient seat of learning is then lost.

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