A Guide to Sources for the History of Irish Education, 1780-1922

Book excerpt: This book is an introductory guide for students and researchers in the history of Irish education from 1780 -1922. The nineteenth century saw the foundation of the national school system of primary education, the setting up of the Intermediate Board examination system for secondary schools and the foundation of the Queen's Colleges to provide university education. The guide outlines the key issues of education policy and evaluates the wealth of official reports available to the historian of Irish education, both in the British Parliamentary Papers and in archival repositories, such as the National Archives of Ireland and the National Library of Ireland. It offers guidance on the use of these sources, particularly for local education studies.