Collegium versus University

Irish society has, since time immemorial placed a high value on “artistic creation”. This tradition is an aspect of continuity from the Celtic respect for three classes of poets: The druids, the ovates and the bards. In the distant past, poets were a highly respected segment of society. Druids and ovates had a greater spiritual role, whereas Bards had more of an integrative role within society. The poets of Ireland all started as Bards and that began with twelve years of education.

Historically, Bards had to study a total of twelve years to achieve any stature in Bardic Collegium. Their study curriculum included letters, language, grammar, self-defence, philosophy, numbers, law, writing, tales and poems, and analysis. Much of this was done by: way of rote, discipline and sheer tenacity. Bardic teachers would exact absolute discipline from their pupils. In turn, students learning the bardic traditions would be expected to make music, record history and act as pioneers in the different parts of Ireland after twelve years of study. (Basically, Bards have to be brave enough to pioneer different creative forms and different techniques relating to herbal treatments and practical animal husbandry for self-preservation).

If the Bardic Collegium is an allegory to university as you know it, then the past is not so far away from you. Like the Bards of old, you will go through an arduous journey and you will emerge a consummate professional once you have completed your degrees. We know for certain that it will not take you twelve years, though. You will not be expected to study animal husbandry or old Irish Law or tales and poems but your professors will expect you to be masters of your own fields.

Perhaps, what is telling is that you too, like the Bards, will be pioneers. Some of you will go on to research, create and invent in the old Irish Collegium’s “artistic” tradition. Who knows, there may be a Dr. Robert Graves among you.

Did you know that Dr. Graves also invented the seconds hand on your clock, he just wasn’t credited with it. He invented it out of necessity in his work.

Amazing, isn’t it? Bet you didn’t realise that you had any kind of link to the ancient Bards of Ireland. Such is the continuity of indigenous wisdom with a vision for the future. Aren’t you glad you are a part of it?

Reference articles

http://www.lehigh.edu/~incntr/publications/perspectives/v19/Carone.PDF

http://www.jcpa.org/JCPA/Templates/ShowPage.asp?
DRIT=4&DBID=1&LNGID=1&TMID=111&FID=253&PID=0&IID=2369&TTL=Ireland%E2%80%99s_Jews

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_language

http://www.iicp.at/communications/publications/articles/Korowicz_Deep%20Culture%20Ireland.pdf

http://ingeniousireland.ie/2011/02/how-the-ingenious-irish-changed-the-world/

http://www.druidry.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=PagEd&file=index&topic_id=1&page_id=73