The Hedge School; The Midnight Mass; The Donagh Traits And Stories Of The Irish Peasantry, The Works of William Carleton, Volume Three

"The Hedge School; The Midnight Mass; The Donagh" by William Carleton is a story that explores education among the Irish countryside. It is set in the early 1800s and is about the hedge schools of Ireland and the poor people who wished to get some form of education. At the center of the book is Mat Kavanagh, a smart hedge schoolmaster. The book shows how much the Irish wanted to learn, even though hedge school teachers were not always respected. The story shows Kavanagh's special way of teaching and gives us a peek into his life, highlighting how the community viewed him but also the troubles he had to face in society. This part of the book paints a clear picture of the hardships and dreams of the Irish as they chased after knowledge, despite the tough times and cultural differences they had to deal with.