Essays in the History of Irish Education

This book provides a complete outline of the development of education in Ireland alongside an overview of the development, issues, challenges and future of education in the country within the context of historical studies. While some readers will find the chapters invaluable as an introduction to the variety of contemporary work undertaken on the history of education in Ireland, others will find the text useful in augmenting their current study of the field.

A clear evolution of education within Ireland is presented in the book, including recurring issues such as religion, national identity and the position of the state. For example, the complex issue of how, and if, religion can coexist with education is explored, as well as how the answer to this has developed over previous decades following changing demographics and circumstances across the country. The book also highlights how national identity can be aided through Irish language teaching and the different methods that have been promoted to encourage the use of particular languages. Providing a fascinating account of Ireland’s educational history, this book is essential for those interested in the field.

Brendan Walsh is a research fellow at The Centre for Evaluation, Quality and Inspection (EQI) at Dublin City University, Ireland. He is currently researching the relationship between Irish schools and the British Armed Forces in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and is writing a history of secondary schooling in Ireland.