Monasteries were important because monks schooled people [in them], provided food and rest to travelers, and offered hospital care for the sick. They taught carpentry and weaving and developed better methods of farming. They also helped to preserve knowledge.
Sources:
Journey Across Time [textbook]
Many students from other parts of Europe went to study in Irish monasteries and they became famous for their learning. Studies included poetry, arts literature, and gospel.
Christianity came to Ireland in the 5th century. In the centuries that followed many monasteries were set up in Ireland, and became places of study attracting both Irish and people from other countries. Many of these Irish scholars travelled to other countries to preach Christianity and founded other monasteries and places of study. This activity continued for many centuries and even today many Irish people still travel to do missionary work in other countries.
Ireland is a European country, so all Irish people are in Europe. If you mean why did they travel to other parts of Europe, then there are various reasons, like searching for work or a better life. In older times many travelled to set up monasteries and help build Christianity in Europe. A main reason the Irish came specifically, though, was because of the potatoe famine which struck Irland. and potatoes were their main source of food.
They preserved scriptures such as the bible, and also secular literature, traditions, and history. Monasteries also served as a haven for scholars.
Saint Columbanus was a sixth century Irish missionary who founded several monasteries in northeastern France.
Europe
Irish Culture predates the Roman Conquest of Britannia in the first and second centuries CE.
the Irish are from Europe and Americans are from North America.
He talks about the influence the Irish clergy had in Europe through their missions and the setting up of monastries through which many people were educated. He says that the monks "single-handedly refounded European civilization throughout the continent." Well known Irish saints, such as St. Patrick and Saint Columba were major figures in this work. All of this was around and after the time of the collapse of the Roman Empire and the implications that had on Europe. Over many centuries this work continued and it did help to change Europe.
Irish and Scots?
The only country that fought for language independence was Ireland. The Irish struggled for centuries to preserve their native Gaelic language against English colonization and promote its use in education and public life. This effort to maintain the Irish language's importance and presence is still ongoing today.
Between the 9th and 12th centuries AD.