Why is Ireland popularly called the "land of saints and scholars"?

Question

I want valid educational sources with links.

Answer 1

In the 7th century paganism had disappeared. Monastic schools had overshadowed all schools and the best of the irish students went abroad to bring knowledge to western europe. Missionary monks from Ireland were reintroducing secular ideas to western europe.  Ireland had become the "Isle of Saints and Scholars"

Answer 2

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ancientireland/r...

http://www.libraryireland.com/JoyceHisto...

Those are 2 solid websites with Irish history. The whole 'saints and scholars' thing is b/c Ireland has a strong monastic tradition (St. Patrick supposedly appeared on the scene in the 5th century). The monks and the filidh/filí were keepers of all sorts of knowledge. I think the scholars part of that moniker comes from ... maybe the middle ages. While the rest of Europe was kind of in the dark, if you will, during this time - Ireland wasn't hit so hard (I guess b/c it's an isolated island). But the monks really kept things going at this time when lots of documents/what not were lost on the continent.

Answer 3

Ireland has always produced clever people (like Scotland) - the education system is held in high esteem.  Saints because Southern Ireland is a predominately Catholic so Saints abound, as it were.