Hedge school

Hedge schools (Irish names include scoil chois claí, scoil ghairid and scoil scairte) were small informal secret and illegal schools, particularly in 18th- and 19th-century Ireland, designed to secretly provide the rudiments of primary education to children of 'non-conforming' faiths (Catholic and Presbyterian). Under the penal laws of the time, only schools for those of the Anglican faith were allowed. Instead, Catholics and Presbyterians set up secret and illegal schools that met in private homes.