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Thread: During the centuries of persecution following the Reformation, the Continental Colleges were established to provide education to Catholic Irishmen. 34 such colleges were eventually established throughout Europe, providing education to both clergy and laymen.
During the Tudor and Elizabethan conquests,the Irish Church was subject to severe persecution, resulting in the closure of the nation's monasteries, which had hitherto served as the educational centres of the Ireland.The Penal Laws would subsequently outlaw education of Catholics
In response to such developments, Irish colleges were founded in Madrid and Salalmanca (where students attended lectures at the world-famous university). Fr.James Archer,a participant in the Desmond Rebellion and the Nine Years War, supervised the colleges.
More colleges would be established in Acála, Santiago De Compostela and Lisbon. In 1607 , Archbishop Eugene McMahon founded the famous Irish College at Louvain, The Colleges trained seminarians, most of whom would return to Ireland, with many dying as martyrs.
The Irish Colleges played a crucial role in preserving Irish culture during the period. Although many of Ireland's monastic libraries had been destroyed during the invasions, the Irish Colleges succeeded in preserving much of Ireland's ancient literature and history.
As the monastic libraries of Ireland were burnt, and the old Bardic poets began to vanish, Fr.Ó Cléirigh was sent back to Ireland to salvage knowledge of the nation's history, lest it should be lost forever. He would lead the production of the famous Annals of the Four Masters.
The Friars at Louvain acquired a printing press and would pioneer printing in Irish. (In Ireland, printing in the native language was restricted by law and usually took the form of Anglican propaganda). The college entrance reads "For the Glory of God and Honor of Ireland"
The Irish Colleges would be the birthplace of modern Irish patriotism, with their scholars developing the idea of Ireland as the "Patria"-Fatherland. The influence of the Colleges would prove crucial in raising foreign military support for the Catholic Irish (Spanish etc)
The Irish College produced numerous Catechisms and religious works, which were smuggled into Ireland, providing Irish Catholics with intellectual defenses of the Faith against Protestant proselytizers.
The English government sent dozens of spies to monitor the activities of the colleges, and ultimately succeeded in persuading the local authorities to shut down the Louvain printing press. New Colleges would be established in Antwerp, Douai, Bourdeaux, Toulouse,and even Poland.
Several convents were also established, which provided education to women, notably the Dominican Sisters of Lisbon. The Lisbon Convent would remain occupied by Irish Sisiters until the late 20th century.
The Irish Colleges also provided education to laymen, and were instrumental in creating an influential group of Irish Professionals on the Continent. Instruction in Medicine and Law was offered. Daniel O'Connell received his education in Douay.
The gradual relaxing of the Penal Laws would remove the need for foreign education, leading to the closure of most Colleges. The Parisian College survived until 1905, when the French government forced its closure. Since 2002, the Irish Cultural Centre has been based there.
The Irish College in Rome has played a prominent role in Irish Catholic history, producing many of Ireland's Bishops. Cardinal Cullen was rector of the college for some time. Unfortunately, its closure seems imminent.
The Irish Colleges, now mostly forgotten, played a crucial role in preserving the Catholic Faith in Ireland, alongside preserving much of the nation's cultural patrimony. Hopefully the piety and patriotism of the men who occupied such institutions may inspire future generations.
