Description

The introduction of the National Education system in 1831 was a landmark moment in Irish social history, but its implementation on the ground was filled with local conflict and sectarian tension. In Parson Priest and Master, acclaimed local historian Ned McHugh delivers a fascinating micro-history focusing on County Meath during these critical formative decades.

McHugh expertly examines how the local Church of Ireland parson, the Catholic parish priest, and the schoolmaster fought for control over school management, funding, and religious instruction. Utilizing detailed school inspector reports, letters, and parish archives, this book reveals the harsh conditions faced by early teachers, the struggles for literacy among the rural poor, and how education became a cultural battlefield in pre-Famine Meath.

Key Features:

• Granular Local History: An exceptional reference work for anyone researching County Meath heritage and genealogy.

• Academic Excellence: Richly detailed with specific records of early school houses, attendance lists, and religious divides.

• Insightful Social Study: Tracks the foundational roots of the modern Irish primary school system.