No More Learning

he his hand put
for a
behind him, and so taking hold of the youth by his neck, St. Columkille
placed him in presence of all the people. Then, all that were there cried out :
" Let him go, and dismiss him ; why do you detain that unhappy and unpro-
mising boy ? " Breathing out from his pure breast, the saint pronounced these
:
prophetical words " Make way now, brethren, and give me permission to
act. " to the who Then, turning youth,
1
Standing still,
moment,
he said: "O
shall not only cease to displease, but he shall even prove very pleasing to you ; in virtue and holy conversation, he shall daily go forward ; and hence- forth, his wisdom and prudence are destined more and more to increase. In this our congregation, he shall become a worthy member, while his tongue shall be indued by God with gifts of wholesome doctrine and of great eloquence. "66 That youth was named Emeus, son of Crasen,6? who after- wards became so famous, and who was so well known, throughout all the
child, open The youth did so accordingly. The saint, thereupon, extending his holy hand, and blessing his tongue, pro- nounced this prophecy regarding him : "Albeit, this youth seemeth to you uncouth and despicable, let none therefore contemn him ; for henceforth, he
your mouth, and put out your tongue. "65
churches of Ireland. 68 He told these
words to the Abbot
trembled,
prophetic
Segienus, While St. Colum-
says of St. Trajan :
amphibolum induisset, cum quo processurus
diocesim
menti a diversis
De Gloriosis Confessoribus, cap. 59, col. 941, Paris edition of 1699; also "Bibliotheca Veterum Patruum," tomus xi. , p. 8S4, Lug-
duni, a. d. 1677.
64 Ussher explains the word by " vestis
circumiret, diripiebantur. "
"
Opera"
65 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Prima Vita S. Columba? , cap. xxxi. , p. 324. 66 See Le Comte de Montalembert's " Les Moines d'Occident," tome iii. , liv. xi. , chap.
Si novum, ut adsolet,
fimbriae — vesti- hujus
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 499
kille enjoyed hospitality at the monastery of Clonmacnoise, he was inspired by the Holy Ghost to reveal many other things. Among these were his pre- dictions regarding those differences, which afterwards arose among the Scot- tish churches, concerning the time for celebrating Easter. For many long years, the Fathers of the Church both in Ireland and Britain were divided in opinion, until at last Christian peace and union were accomplished, through submissiontothatriteprescribedbytheApostolicSee. Healsorevealedto a few of the seniors at Clonmacnoise various events and vicissitudes of the Irish Church in after times. " Moreover, certain places at Clonmacnoise were said to have been frequented, at that period, by the Angels of God ; and it was believed, that our saint was there favoured with many heavenly
visions.
A—gain, St. Columba visited a place—probably in the northern part of Ire-
land where he asked, that a boy of elegant form and of good ability should be sought for and brought to him. Munna,71 the son of Tulchan, and of the
Hy-Nialls, answered to such requirements. He was brought to Columba, who predicted his future great sanctity, and those honours he should bring to his family. 72 This happened, most probably, when St. Columba returned to Ireland from Iona, and therefore somewhat late in the sixth century. " In due course, St. Munnu embraced a life of sacred study 74 and received his first education from St. Comgall. 75 Afterwards, it is said, he studied in St. Columba'sschoolatKillmoirDitruimhe7° orDeathrib,"whenmoreadvanced in learning. While a large class of scholars was collected, and while the students were listening to St. Columba's instructions, the latter asked St. Baithen which of his pupils best deserved to sit near him, at the head of his
class. Baithen said Munnu deserved most to sit at his right hand. Columba
''And indeed, I tell
said " this Munnu is filled he,
you/'
with the graces of the Holy Spirit, and he shall altogether surpass others in
this school for his wisdom and erudition. "? 8 At another time, as Columb—a was staying some days in Ireland, he saw a cleric mounte—d on a chariot
instantly rejoiced.
which was a usual mode of conveyance in our saint's day 7 °
and that cleric
was the driving pleasantly along
plains
of 8° or Breg,
Bregia.
81 This 82 territory
unluckily, its situation is wrapped up in ob- to the writer. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adam- scurity. See "Ecclesiastical History of nan's "Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, x. , p. 133,
predecessor, narrated all previously stated, 3,pp,23to28,andnn. (a. b. c,d,e,f,g, andnn. 120,121,pp. 142,143.
71 Without it stating where, Colgan places
h, i, k, 1).
70 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," in Connaught. See "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. Hi. , cap. xvii. ,
xviii. . . xix. , p. 434.
71 See his Life, at the 21st of October, the
Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columba:, cap. ii. , p. 494, num. 36. Elsewhere he has it in Cavan. See ibid. , Vita Quarta S. Co-
day for his feast.
a. d.
His death is assigned to
lumbse, n. 108, p. 381. 8
635.
72 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," lib. i. , cap. ex. , p. 407.
Columba? ,
Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. cix. , p. 407.
73 A comparison of the respective dates for the ages and deaths of St. Columb and St. Fintan Munnu seems to establish such a conjecture.
74 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba," lib.
nn. (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, k, 1, m, n, o, p, q, r), pp. 18 to 23.
75 His feast occurs, at the 10th of May.
76 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan observes, that its establishment is usually ascribed to St. Co- lumba, and probably on just grounds ; but,
79 St. Columba himself used such a con- veyance in Ireland. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 43, pp. 171 to 173.
8o The great plain of Meath, which in- eluded the greater parts of the present counties of Meath and Dublin, was known by
the name of " ihe MaghBreagh,signifying
magnificent plain. "
8l
Bregia is said to have extended from Dublin to Drogheda, and thence to Kells. Seethe "Annals of the Four Masters," edited by Messrs. Connellan and M'Dermott, at p. 6, n. 5.
i. , cap. 2,
and
' See
ibid. , Quinta
VitaS.
5°° LIVES OF 2HE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
8
comprised at that time five triochacheds, 3 in the eastern portion of ancient
Meath f* afterwards, it reached from Dublin northwards to near Dundalk, and
8 s a Milesian chief. On asking who the person was, the cleric's friend said : "This is Lugudius Clodus, a rich m:in, and much respected by the people. "
"Not so," said the saint, "but a poor creature, to be despised by all, and who on the day of his death shall have within his own Maceria,86 or enclo-
the very time that he has sinned grievously against the holy virtue of chastity. But the first morsel that he eats shall cause instant death. "8?
We are informed,? that after the Convention 0I of the kings at Drumceat,02
north-westwards to the Fews Mountains. It received the name from
Brega,
82
In Irish, it is written fll ag t>ne§.
83 Also called Cantreds. According to the
have its origin in the Saxon hundred. "
" Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," on the Townland Distribution of Ireland,
read on Monday, April 22nd, 1861, vol. vii. , p. 483.
84 Its name is still preserved, within the former territory, in Slieve Bregh. This de- nomination belongs to a hill, on the north- east part of the county of Meath. See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Meath," sheet 13.
scientia Viri. " In the body of the chapter,
reference is made to the Titulus, by the
words " memorata. " Theomission supra
of the Title to the Chapter by the Bollan- dists leaves their text in this place imperfect. See " Acta Sanctorum, tomus ii. , Junii ix. De S. Columba, Presbytere, Abbate. Vita Secunda, lib. i. , cap. v. , num. 39, p. 211. The same observation applies to the text of the shorter recension, represented by Codd, C. D. F. S. Thistooexhibitsthewordssupra memoratamunitione,butit hasnoantece- dent mention of the name. These instances prove, that there has been an omission, and
consequently, the text in that family of MSS. is an abridged one.
Rev. Dr. Reeves, the
in Ireland of the Tricha-ced or "thirty hundreds" savours of foreign extraction, and seems —to
application
8sHewasthesonofBreogan. SeeHalli- """
day's Keating's History of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 286.
8i
91Inthepresentnarrative,Adamnanuses the Latin word condictum to express it.
Not understanding its true meaning, Messing- ham, in his version, has suggested "conflic-
This is represented by the Irish word,
" a walled enclosure. " The remarkable charter dated A. D. 1004, and which is entered in the Bonk of Armagh,
See "
seized for 88 The fattest he trespass.
8? three of his
shall order to be killed for his own use, and the meat to be served up roast,
sure,
neighbours' cows,
CAipob, Anglice
in the
Insula? Sanctorum, Vita S. Columbae, p. 157. The Rev. Dr. Reeves rightly observes,
styles the Southern Kings Reges Maceriae,"
that this was a most unhappy emendation
as the result of the Convention of Drumceatt
"
Kings of Cashel," at fol. 16b b.
that is,
^ It is a curious fact, that in Italy, like-
proves. "
92 Where the princes and noblemen of the
Inglese," sub voce. Londra, 1798, 4to.
93 He became chief of the Scotch Dal- riadian tribes, about a. d. 574.
b8 Here " " as we are prsetersoria means,
94 His death occurred A. D.
to the " Annales Cambrise," p. 4.
95 If the date for the Convention at Drum- ceat, as given in the Annals of Ulster be correct, Aedh was monarch of Ireland be- fore A. D. 575. He began to reign a. d. 56S, according to Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 206, 207. But much uncertainty prevails regarding the year ofhis accession. Altera reign of 2 7 years, he was slain by Bran Dubh, King of Leinster.
96 He reigned over Ireland from A. D. 564 to A. D. 566, when he was slain by Fearghus, son of Nellin. See Rev. Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 204, 205.
97 The celebrated founder and Abbot of
Bangor. He was born in 516, and he died
** A. D. 601. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ec-
told by Colgan and others, stray cows or sheep feeding on other person's grounds. Sec
"Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Co- lumba? , lib. i. , cap. xxxviii. , p. 347, and n. 83. P- 379-
89 To the foregoing account, Adamnan adds : These things, as we heard from well-informed persons, afterwards happened
according to the saint's prophecy. See Rev. "
Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 38, and nn. (a, b, c, d, e), pp. 74, 75-
50 In the Rev. Dr. Reeves' edition of Adam- nan, we find the following title for the chap- ter containing the present narrative " De
:
Bello quod in Munitione Cethirni post multa commissum est Tempora, et de quodam Fon- dculo ejusdem Terrulce proximo beati Pra? -
""
wise, the fortified farm-houses, which are
scattered over the Campagna, are still
known by the name of Masseria. See also,
for the meaning of this word Baretti's more at length in the preceding chapter. " Dizionario delle Lingue Italiana ed
turn,"
margin. '
Florilegium
kingdom were assembled with St. Columba, and the heads of religious houses, as noticed
558, according
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 501
heldbetweenAedh,93sonofGabran,94andAedh,95sonofAinmurech,96 the saint returned to the sea-shore. On a cloudless day in summer, he and the abbot Comghaill 97 sat down not far from the Fort of Cethirn,98 which de- rived its name from Cethem,99 its founder, the son of Fintan. 100 He was one of those famous heroes of the Red Branch, and he flourished in Ulster, about the Christian era. Dun Cethirn has been identified 101 with a called
hill,
the country people The Giant's Sconce. It is situated about four miles west from the town of Coleraine, in the parish of Dunboe. This most conspicuous hill is near the old Newtown road. At some five miles towards the east was the ancient fortress of Dun-da-bheann, on the north-western edge of the true Ultonian territory, while Dun-Ceithern, 102 on the border of Cianachta,'°3 was within the debateable ground, which now constitutes the north of the county of Londonderry. The former name of this historic spot has passed
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xii. , pp. 61 to 69.
derry charter. See "Concise View of the
Irish Society," Appendix, p. 36.
160 by 90 feet.
105 On the west and south, opposite Brat-
well and Formoyle, the face of the hill is very precipitous ; on the north and east it is less so, and at a lower level it has a small semicircular platform, formed by an expan- sion of the hill. On the north-east is a well, and on the south-east is the entrance to the fort, five feet wide, ascending abruptly by rude steps.
106 On the north-east of the hill was a long gallery, formed against the side of the apex by large stones regularly laid with an inclination inwards, and covered with cross flags. This was 40 feet long, by 2 broad, serving as a covered way, and_also as a breast work on the accessible side. This feature makes it appear somewhat similar to the
recollection. The whole crest of that 10* on which hill,
from
the old fortress stood, was enclosed by a cyclopean wall, of which some
10*
and either carried away for building purposes elsewhere, or suffered to lie in
debrisatthefoot. 106 ThiscelebratedfortofCethern,whobelongedtothestock
away
traces remain, though the mass of it has been precipitated down the sides,
popular
of IQ7 Ir,
rivalraces. 108 Thelastmentionmadeofthisfortressin
to the sons of and remained so until the Niall,
from his
battle of Ocha, when it was temporarily restored to the Dalaradians or Picts. Again this fortress was recovered by the Hy Neill, after the battle of Moin-doire- lothair, in 563 ; and thenceforward, it was a scene of contention between the
passed
family
'^ In Irish it was written 'Oim
and it is Latinized Munitio Cethirni, by and the top, which is a table-land, measures
Adamnan.
99 This hero occupies a veiy prominent place in the ancient historical romance called
the Tain-bo-Cuailgne. In this, he is repre- sented, as coming from Dun-da-bheann or " fort of the two peaks," which was situated about five miles eastward from Dun Ceit- hirn. See the Book of Leinster, fol. 62a a.
100 He was the father of Niall Niemh- glonnach, or "of the shining deeds," who was son of Ross Ruadh, son of Rudhraighe, ancestor of the Clanna Rury, and who had his residence in that majestic earthen fort over the River Bann. and anciently called Dun-da-bhaann. It is now known as Mountsandal, near the Cutts of Coleraine,
according lo " Cathrcim Conghail Clairing- "
Ceichi|\n,
nech, a Manuscript belonging to the Royal cyclopean structure of the Grianan Ailech.
Irish Academy, at p. 12. I01
See " Memoir of the City and North West-
ern Liberties of Londonderry. " Antiquities, sect. 2, p. 217, also p. 221.
,0? From him the Irish Picts are said to derive their origin. See a further account of them, in Roderick O'Flaherty's "Ogygia,"
By John O'Donovan, in the Ordnance Survey Letters for the County of London-
.
derry. p. 60.
Letter dated
August 18th, 1834,
102 On the Ordnance Survey Maps, the hill
on which it rises is placed in the townland, pars iii. , cap. xviii. , pp. 188 to 193.
denominated Sconce, which is a modern de-
signation, See " Ordnance Survey Town-
land Maps for the County of Londonderry," sheet 7, east edge.
103 Properly, three townlands meet at
the spot, now called Lenacarron,Belgana,and Knockmult, and these are comprehended in Lennagorranand Knockmult, in the London-
108
In 573, the joint sovereigns of Ireland, who were of the race of Eoghan, were slain by Cronan, King of Ceanachta. Suibhne Meann, a sovereign of the race of Eoghan, fell by Congal Claen, King of Uladh, himself a Dalaradian or Pict, who is supposed to have undertaken the deed^ upon the consideration of receiving from Domhnall, the successor to
history
io9waswhenthe
104 It is feet above the level of the sea, 797
by
5P2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9. lords of the Dalaraidhe and Cianachta were ranged against the chief of the
110
house of Eoghan. Probably soon afterwards, it. ceased to be occupied.
The
introduction of St. Comgall's name and his presence there is very natural, as like-
1
wise the church of Cambus," mentioned a little further on, and which was
foundedbyhim. 112 Itisaparish,situatedonthewestsideoftheRiverBann,"3 in the next parish to that where this interview took place, being distant about fourmileseastofDun-Cethern,ortheSconce. Itisalsointhedioceseof
Londonderry.
of Camus. "6
Irish words, 11 ?
All traces ofthe church have 1 '* from the "5 disappeared, cemetery
The name of this parish is supposed to be a compound of two
signifying
" a crooked 8 and in Ireland, there are stream,""
twelve townlands bearing this name. In the twelfth century, an abbey110 was
foundedinanotherpartoftheparish; andaccordingtothecivilusage,the
Irish name I2° name to it. After the saint had a little
Macosquin gives got
water brought to him, from a well that was close by, and to wash his hands,
hesaidtotheabbot "Adayshallcome,whenthewell,whencethiswater :
"
was drawn, shall be no longer fit for man's use. "
"shall the water be " corrupted? "
Why," said Comgall,
Because/' replied
filled with human blood of my relatives and yours ; that is, the descendants
of Neill and the Cruithnii "' shall wage war 122 at the neighbouring fortress of
the throne, a restoration of the territory,
which had been seized by the Cinel Eoghain.
Londonderry," at p. 484.
115 An island in the Bann,
the churchyard of Camus, was formerly called Imp LocViAin, according to the "Annals of theFourMasters,"atA. D. 1170,1544. Be- side this was a shallow spot, known as feaj\- bustio regum in Dun Ceithirn, i. e. , Dungal z&y Camp*, or "the ford of Camus. "
See the Banquet of Dun na n-gedh, and
"The Battle of Magh Rath," pp. 38, 39. 109 In the year 681, it was the scene of a
conflict, as related by Tighemach : "Com-
mac Scandail ro [rex] Cruithne et Cendfae-
ladli mac Suibhne m Cianachta Glinne
Geminin initio estatis L&fperJMaelduin mac
Maelefithrigli. " See also Rev. Dr. O'Conor's
" Rcrum Hibernicaruin Scriptores," tomus partments, each containing three human
ii. , Tigernachi Annales, p. 211.
"° The remarkable g. illery, which has been
just mentioned, was disturbed and reduced
to its present condition, winch is little
better than a great ridge of dry stones, by a
person, who, about thirty years ago, brought Reeves'
a number o( men to the spot,
"
to search the cave for money," and, with them he . 'eft a
Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of
Derry, a. d. , Mcccxcvn. ," pp. 83, 84, n. (j).
barrel of beer to stimulate their exertions.
1,1 This monastery was founded by St.
Comgall, probably under the patronage of the Pictish residents in Dun-da-bheann or
Mountsandal, and Dun-Ceithern, whose oc-
cupation of this territory is still attested by
" 7 These are Cdm and
the townland of Drumcroon, or Picts Ridge, Claro Fonte. See Martene, " Thesaurus
in the same parish, and Duncroon, <>r
" Picts Fort," in the adjacent parish of Ma-
Novus Aneedotum," tomus iv. ,coll. 1460, I524-
"°
co]-ccfVAin. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," at A. D. 1505, vol. , v. ,
'"'
Written in the Irish characters, ttUMsje- 938, Muircertach Camsa, that is—"of p. 1280.
gilligan.
,la The connexion of Bangor with the pre-
sent monastery w. is long maintained, for in
Camus," was abbot of Bangor. Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Mas-
ters," vol. ii. , pp. 638, 639, and n. (z).
"3 For distinction's s. \ke, this place is called Camus juxta Bam/, there being another of the same name in the Tyione part of the diocese, and styled from the
The Cruithini, Cruithnii, Cruithnigh weretheseinhabitantsof1 >alAraidhe,called Picts, from being descended of Loncada, daughter of Eochaiuh, Eichbheoil, a Pict of Noith Britain. See Dr. O'Donovan's '• An- nals of the Four Masters," at a. d. 552, vol.