Hedge School

This is an illustration of a hedge school, or secret school. These existed in Ireland for Catholic children, though sometimes Protestants attended. This image is from The Irish Hedge School and Its Books, 1695-1831, by Antonia McManus.

Courtesy of Four Courts Press.

Hedge School
Courtesy of Four Courts Press.

Hedge School

This is an illustration of a hedge school, or secret school. These existed in Ireland for Catholic children, though sometimes Protestants attended. This image is from The Irish Hedge School and Its Books, 1695-1831, by Antonia McManus.

Courtesy of Four Courts Press.

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This is a drawing of a hedge school. Many hedge schools were literally situated in hedges and ditches. Some were held in makeshift cabins.

Hedge schools educated children in Irish history and the Roman Catholic religion. Therefore, these schools were illegal under laws introduced by the British authorities to stamp out Catholicism.