Ireland. A History. A Nation Once Again? Part I. Иностранный язык. Фомина И.В - 5 стр.

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Christianity shone from Gaelic Ireland through the dark ages after the fall of
Rome like a beacon in Europe. There has ever since remained an especially close
relationship between Irish identity and the Christian Church.

II. Answer the questions.
    1. What was Gaelic-Irish society of the fifth century AD like?
    2. Were Gaels’ High kings real rulers of Ireland in modern centralized sense?
    3. Was Ireland a nation in a modern centralized sense? Why?
    4. What do you know about St Patrick and his role in the process of the
       conversion of Ireland to Christianity?
    5. Where does the statue of St Patrick stand now? What do you think it marks?
    6. Why can we consider Irish monasteries the setting for a Gaelic golden age?
    7. What books first report us the details of ancient Irish history?

III. Retell the text.

                                         Unit Three.

I Read and translate the text

   The work of a missionary from somewhere in the west of Britain was crucial to
the conversion of Ireland to the Christian faith in the 5th century AD. He was a
romanised Celt called Patricius, son of a deacon and grandson of a priest. At the age
of sixteen ha was seized by an Irish raiding party near his home and brought across
the sea to this country, where he was sold as a slave. After several years herding
animals in lonely places, he managed to escape, and made his way to the Continent,
where he studied for the priesthood. One night in his sleep he dreamed that a voice
called to him to return to Ireland and to ‘walk once more amongst us’. The
compassionate and determined way in which he answered that mystical request has
caused him to be known and lived ever since as Naomh Padraig, or Saint Patrick,
patron of Ireland.
   We know this much of his life-story from one of the few documents written by
Patrick himself, his Confessio. But, unfortunately, we know little else of the precise
details of his actual mission, for he gives but very scant detail of either time or place.
To whom his work was principally a spiritual task, the gaining of souls for God, and
thus he wrote in a private rather than an annalistic mode. Traditionally the dates 432
AD to 461 AD have been given for his mission in Ireland, and there is little doubt but
that his feast-day, March 17, was the date of his death. Although there were some
scattered Christian communities in Ireland before his arrival, it is clear that the
impetus for the general change to Christianity throughout the land was due to him
personally and to his work.
   Almost two hundred years after his time, two biographies of him were written, by
monks called Muirchu and Tireachan. Both of these were acquainted with the
writings of the saint himself and also with some traditions concerning him. But they
invented much, and borrowed material from the bible and other early Christian