Among the
pretermitted
saints, p.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
, part ii.
,
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus. By Whitley Stokes. LL. D. , p. Ixxx.
° Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxv.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Mail xxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
* See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," Mar- tii xvi. De Sancto Finano Cognomento Leproso, n. 2, p. 628.
5 This is rendered by Colgan "lepra aut ulcerosa diuturna infirmitate percussum.
pp. 413 to 636. Dublin, 1774, Svo.
? This parish is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Clare," sheets 13, 20, 21, 28, 29. The tovvn-
land proper is on sheets 21, 29.
''See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 920, 921, and n. (h), ibid.
* yee ibid. , n. (h).
" The Rev. Dr. Todd has in a note, "Lobhar, i. e. , the Leper.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 134, 135.
539
—— —
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [xMay 21.
a skin distemper, corresponding with the bodily infirmity to which allusion has been made.
Article VIII. St. Brigid, daughter of Dima, or DIO^rMAN. At the 2ist of May, the Martyrology of Tallagh has a Brighit inghen Dimmain. ' The Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Charles Maguire place her festival at this date. ^ The Bollandists 3 also notice Brigid, daughter of Dimanus,atthe21stofMay. Wehavenotbeenabletodiscoveranydocu- mentary evidence, which might tend to throw light on that locality, with which she had been formerly connected, or where, after death, she had been specially commemorated. On this day, Brighit, daughter of Diomman, had veneration given her, as we read, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal. 4
Article IX. St. Colman Cron. At this date, the Martyrology of Tallagh ' registers the name of a St. Colman Cron ; and, on the same autho- rity, his feast is entered in the Bollandist collection. ^ But, no effort has been made to throw any light on his history, age, or place. This day, the MartyrologyofDonegal3 recordssimply,thatvenerationwasgiventoaSt. Colman. -*
Article X. St. Maeldeid, of Lismore, County of Waterford. The name of this holy man appears, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 2istofMay. The Bollandists,^ quoting the same record, have entered a feast for Moeldodius, of Lismore, at the same date. Subsequent to the arrival of Henry II. , the bishops of this city were usually nominated by the crown, and generally through the influence of the Pope ; although on some occasions, on the death of the bishop, the king granted a license to the Dean and Chap- ter to elect a successor to that See. 3 Tiie name Maeldeid, of Lis-mor, occurs, also, in the Martyrology of Donegal,-* on this day.
ArticleXI. TranslationoftheRelicsofSt. Paternus,Bishop OF Vennes, France. This is said to have been the date, at which the Translation of the Relics of St. Paternus, Bishop of Vennes, in Lesser Britain, took place. His Life will be found, already written, at the 15th of April. '
S40
Article vixi. — ' See Rev. Dr. Kelly's Calendar of Irish Saints, p. xxv.
^ " Filia Dimani a M. TamL ab aliis filia Dimoe vocatur ; estque juxta eosdem diversa a S. Brigida fdia Domre, de qua supra. " Colgan's " Trias Thauniaturga," Ap,)endix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidae, cap. i. , p. 612.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 3.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
^34' '35*
Article IX. —' Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxv.
'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Maii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints,
P-3
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
134, 135.
• A note by Dr. Todd here says, that the
more recent hand adds, Colmjin Cpon, Marianus O'Gorman and the Martyrology of Tamlncht are quoted, also, as authorities, by the writer. —
Article x. ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxv.
^ . See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Maii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints,
P- 3-
'•See the " History, Topography and An-
tiquities of the County and City of Water-
foni," &c. , bythe Rev. R II. Ryland, sect.
ii , P- 335-
< Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
134, 135 —
Article xt. • See Volume the Fourth
of this work, Art. ii.
— "
May 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 541
On the 2 1 St of May, likewise, he was venerated, in his own Diocese, where an ecclesiastical office of a Double Rite commemorated the present festival. ^
Article XII. St. Ronan. We find it mentioned, in the Martyrology of Donegal,' that a festival to honour St. Ronan had been celebrated, on this day. Neither genealogy nor place, quoted in any available record, attests his period; but, not having been entered in the Martyrology of Tallagh seems to indicate, that he lived in the later times, or middle ages of Irish Chris- tianity.
Article XIII. Reputed Feast of St. Chroniacus. \_Sevenih Century. ^ It is stated, that in the time of Donald, the fifty-third King of Scotland, and in the seventh century,' flourished Chroniacus, who led a most holy life, and who, therefore, set a noble example to the people in Scotland. He is said to have been a Bishop f while again, Thomas Dempsters has it, that he was not assigned to any particular See. The latter writer enters him in the Scottish Menology, while Camerarius and others have wholly omitted
him. In the Calendar of Ferrarius,'* he is not only called a Bishop, but also an Abbot, ruling over a monastery called Manuallum. The Bollandists,^ without vouching for their correctness, enter the foregoing particulars, at the 2ist of May.
Article XIV. Reputed Festival of St. Sidonius, or Saens. The BoUandists ' remark at this date, that a St. Sidonius, a Confessor, in Nor- mandy,^ was venerated on this day, according to the Scottish Menology of Camerarius,whomentionshimwithmuchpraise. Hisfeasthasbeenassigned, however, to the 14th of November, by Saussay, Menard, and Bucelin. To that date, the reader is referred, likewise, for further particulars, regarding this Irish sainc.
Article XV. Festival of St. Timothy and of his Companions, Martyrs. In the Irish church, at the 21st of May, was observed the feast of St. Timothy, the Martyr, and of his companions. ' Whatever little has been known, about this holy man and his companions in suffering, is set down by the BoUandists,^ at this date. All the ancient Martyrologies relate, that their glorious crown was obtained in Mauritania.
* See the BoUandists "Acta Sanctorum," tomus V. . Mail xxi. Among the pretermitted feasts, p- 2.
Article xiv. —'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maiixxi. Among the pretermitted festivals, p. 4.
Article xii. — ' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 134, 135.
^ Arturus de Monstier, has well described the monastery of St. Sidonius or St. Saens,
'
Article xiii. — —
1578, 4to.
^ See Hector Boece, " Historic Scoto-
'
tions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. Ixxx.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxi. De Sanctis Martyribus Timotheo, Pollio, et Evtychio Diaconis in Mavritania, pp. 4, 5.
rum," lib. ix. , fol. 176.
3 See " Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis
Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , p. 151.
• He writes : " Chroniacus Episcopus et
Abbas Manuallo monasterio.
s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii
xxi.
Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
According to John in his work "Neustria Pia. " See idid.
Lesley, " De Origine, Moribus, et Rebus Article xv.
According to the Gestis Scotorum," lib. iv. , p. 159, Romae, " Feilire "of St. yEngus. See " Transac-
542
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 22. CU)entj). geronti Qap of iBap.
these may be found, in Lieut-Col. \V. G. Wood-Martin's "Lake Dwellings of Ire- land : or Ancient Lacustrine Habiiations of Erin, commonly called Crannogs," Dublin, 18S6, 8vo.
^ Sometimes, at low water, the Island of Inishkeel is connected as a peninsula with the mainland, and over the sands it is pos- sible to walk dry-shod.
' This river runs through a very romantic valley, and from the mountains surrounding
s—
ARTICLE I. —ST. CONALL OR CONALD COEL, ABBOT OF INISCOEL, COUNTY OF DONEGAL.
\SEVENTH CENTURY. ']
WHILE the interior scenes of Donegal consist of fine mountain ranges and deep valleys, througli which restless torrents flow ; on its sea- board are steep cliffs and indented caverns, with the rolling Atlantic waves ever moaning beneath. Clouds of white gulls and other sea-fowl sweep round on expanded wings, over the water surface, and they float at every con- ceivabledegreeofaltitudearoundthosecrags. Hereandthere,islandsex- tend along the shores, whence views of a most romantic and varied character can be obtained. On some of these, many ascetics chose to live, as did the lake dwellers in their own almost inaccessible crannogs and stockaded forts. ' Among the island hermits and abbots, St. Conald Coel was a remarkable saint in his day. Colgan promised to give some particulars, regarding him, on the day of his feast ;'' but, he did not live to accomplish that object. The Bollan-
dists 3 only present a meagre account of him, at this date. The Rev. Alban Butler,* who calls our saint Abbot of Ennis-Chaoil, in the county of Tyr- connel, has some notices of him.
According to the Naemhshenchus, and other authorities, St. Conall descended from the Cinel Conaill. ^ His father was ISIanius Coelius, son of Caither, son to Ennius, surnamed Bagan, son of Conall Gulban, accord- ing to the Genealogies of the Irish Saints. 7 This lioly man was Abbot over a monastery, which had been built in the Island of Inis-coel,^ near the mouth of Gweebarra River 9 and Bay,'° on the coast of Donegal, adjoining Boylagh and Bannagh Baronies. St. Conall Cael was abbot here, and at an early period,inthehistoryofournationalchurch. " AcelebratedChristianpoet, St. Dalian '^ wrote a work, in praise of this saint ; but, Colgan was not aware of its existence, in his own time. '3 However, Dalian '"^ appears to have been his most intimate friend, and to have met his death, whilst visiting our saint,
Article i. — ' An interesting account of Columboe, cap. iii. , num. 10, p. 4S0.
^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," xxix.
Januarii. De S. Dallano, Martyre, n. 16, Glenties—a village at no great distance
p. 205.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Mali xxii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 125.
* He refers his readers to Colgan's MSS. , at the 22nd of May, as the basis for this ac- count.
5 See "Lives of tlie Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May 22.
*See the " Martyrology of Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 136, 137.
most extensive and magnificent views of Lind and ocean scenery are revealed. See " Use- ful Hints to Donegal Tourists," by Lord George Hill, p. 35.
"' I'heformationofthisBay,withitsre- lation to the adjoining shores and islands, is shown, on the "Ouinance Survey Town- land Maps for the County of Donegal," sheet 64.
" See Kinnfaela's "Cliff Scenery of South- western Donegal," chap, xxi. , p. 146.
" His festival is on the 29th of Januaiy.
"'He writes: "Hoc memoratur in pra:- dicta prxfatione : sed an hodie cxtet mihi turga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. incomperlum est. Quse hie scquentia ha-
' Chap. i. See Colgan's " Trias Thauma-
May 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
543
at his monastery. When that holy man's dead body was brouglit to Conald, the head being cut off and thrown into the ocean, our saint earnestly besought the Almighty, with fervent prayers and burning tears, to reveal that exact spot, where Dallen's head should be found. Shortly afterwards, it appeared float- ing on the waves, which bore it towards the shore. There, the head of Dalian was recovered ; and, being united to the Martyr's trunk, it became firmly joined once more to the body.
The antiquities, which are very interesting and yet remaining on Inis- coel, consist chiefly of two ancient and ruined churches. That church, which appears to have been most ancient, and which probably dates back to the time of St. Conald Caol, lies towards the south. It is about 45 feet in length, by 16 in width. It stands near the shore, and on a rocky foundation. Various alterations, from time to time, appear to have bien made, in its doors and windows. Theoldgraveyard,surroundingthischurch,hasbeenmuchused, from a remote period, for purposes of interment. Several antique tombs are seen, partially buried in the soil ; and, it is probable, many are completely covered by the green sward. Within the southern old church, there may be observed a very curious horizontal slab,'5 supported on loose stones,'^ and it measures about three feet or more, in length, by two and a-half, in width; but, it was shaped irregularly, and undoubtedly, it had been of much greater length. Near one end, a hole had been bored quite through it ; and, the sur- flice seemed covered with strange Runic-shaped and raised tracings. A ceme- tery,^? still greatly frequented, is on the Island. Bearing northwards- from the church already described, there are ruins, belonging to another very old structure, apparently once divided into nave and chancel. The nave is about 30 feet in length, by 15 in width ; while the chancel is about 18 feet in length,
by 13 in breadth. This building has an old Gothic doorway in the side, with a few finely turned antique window arches yet visible. The walls are rudely constructed. They consist of large and small stones alternating. Both churches are mostly constructed with shale flagstone. Some finely fluted pieces of shafts and capitals seem to have been built into the upper parts of walls yet remaining, in order to replace materials removed—probably by acts of Vandalism. On one corner of Inis-coel ruins, fluted quoins are to be seen.
Most probably, the 22nd day of May was that of St. Conall's death. '^ The year of his departure is not known, but it occurred sometime in the seventh cen- tury, and this seems a probable opinion, when we come to examine his parent stem, ^9 and to compare it with that of the illustrious St. Columkille,^° among whose disciples this holy Abbot is classed. St. 'Conald Coel was buried in the church, or monastery, of Iniscoel. After the death of St. Conald Coel, his memory was held in due veneration, on the Island, where his feast was kept, on the 22nd of May,^^ Not far from this island, on the
bentur, ex prsedicta prjefatione desumpta covers some old tracery. Another small up-
sunt. "—Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- ni£e,"xxix. Januarii, Vita S. Dallani, n. 15, p. 205.
"* The Acts of this Saint will be found, at the 29th of January, in the First Volume of this work, Art. v.
'5 This may have been used formerly as an altar-stone, for it is still held in great rever- ence by peasants, who assemble in thousands each year, to make stations at this stone, and around the church.
^^ When seen by the writer.
'7 In it, there are two singularly curious upright stones. One of those has a cross carved on either side, and the other dis-
right stone—probably monumental—is less remarkable.
'S See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xxix. Januarii, Vita S. Dallani, cap. viii. , ix. , x. , p. 204.
'9 As found in the Irish Genealogy of Saints. See Colgan's "Trias Thauma- turga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Co- lumbce, cap. iii. , num. 10, p. 480, also, cap. x. , num. 32, p. 489.
^° See his Life, in the succeeding volume of this work, at the 9th of June, Art. i.
-' " Hsec Ecclesia est Insula Oceano cir- cumfusa in regione Tyrconallias quae Bugel- laigh appellatur ; et Dioecesi Rathbothensi
;
—:
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 22.
mainland, there is a beautiful cascade, known as Eas-nangach, or the Wrinkled
Cataract, descendini^ from a great height, and tumbling down a mountain
steep, near the hamlet of Lia-Conaill ^^—no doubt, taking its name from the
present holy Abbot. He is titular saint, however, and the most celebrated
patron over a very extensive parisli, Iniskeel, in which he is honoured with
extraordinary devotion. ^3 Springing from the cavity of a rock on the Island,
there is a celebrated well, which, with the church not far distant, bore our
saint'sname. Itwasyearlyvisitedbyagreatconcourseofpilgrims,^tonthe
22nd of each returning MaVi^^s and the custom is still continued. A very
curious relic, called the Bearnan Chonaill,^^ or Bell of St. Conall,^? had long
beenpreserved,inthisimmediateneighbourhood. ^^ Thatbellwasenclosed
in an elaborately ornamented case or shrine. There was an inscription on it, in
blackletter,butgreatlydefaced. ^9 ThepresentSt. Conallappears,also,tohave
been connected with a holy well and with a relig or cemetery at Bruckless,
not far from Killybegs, in the parish of Killaghtee, barony of Banagh, and
county of Donegal. Various interesting objects of antiquity are there pre-
3°
served.
The entry regarding Conaill, Inse Cail, appears in the Martyrology ot
Tallagh,3'atthe22ndofMay. AccordingtotheMartyrologyofDonegal,3^ veneration was paid on this day to Conall, Abbot of Inis Caoil, in Cinel Conaill. At this date, also, the Rev. Alban Butler places his festival, and he says, it was most famous. A festival of St. Conall, Abbot, is entered, likewise, in the Circle of
544
in qua S. Conallus 12, Maii colitur. "—Col- gan's ''Acta Sanctorum Ilibernise," xxix. Januarii, h. 16, p. 205. Tlie 12th is apparently a typographical mistake for the 22nd.
" "To the inhabitants of this group of cot- tages, the sun for months in the winter time never seems to rise, as during that space they are completely immerged in the shadow of the mountain. The principal curiosity at Lia-Conaill is an ancient stor. e cross, said to have been erected here by St. Conall of Inis- Caoill, and having the name Lia-Conaill, which signifies the stone or flag of Conall. " Kinnfaela's "Cliff Scenery of South- Western Donegal," chnp. xxi. , p. 149.
*3 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May 22.
°* This fountain is said to have been blessed by St. Conald Coel, and from it, these pilgrims drink three different times.
^= See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 100.
precious relic, at the same time (which must have been many centuries ago) when it was deposited and sealed up in its new and costly shrine. "—Kinnfaela's " Cliff Scenery of South-Western Donegal," chap, xxi. , p. 146, note.
°7 Engravings of this bell and its cover, with a notice by Dr. Petrie, in his " Essay on Ancient Irish Consecrated Bells," may be seen in "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy. " This Essay was read, February 26th, 1838.
*^ In 1835, we are informed, that had been sold to a Major Nesbitt of Woodhill, by Conall Mac Michael O'Breslen, then living at Glengesh. From an Inquisition, takeninthe7thofJamesI. , O'Breslenap- pears to have been one of the Erenachs of Iniskeel. The poor man who sold the bell was regarded as the senior of liis name, and a representative of the original herenach. On the death of Major Nesbitt, a. d. 1844, this bell of St. Conall unaccountably disappeared. See Dr.
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus. By Whitley Stokes. LL. D. , p. Ixxx.
° Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxv.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Mail xxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
* See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," Mar- tii xvi. De Sancto Finano Cognomento Leproso, n. 2, p. 628.
5 This is rendered by Colgan "lepra aut ulcerosa diuturna infirmitate percussum.
pp. 413 to 636. Dublin, 1774, Svo.
? This parish is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Clare," sheets 13, 20, 21, 28, 29. The tovvn-
land proper is on sheets 21, 29.
''See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 920, 921, and n. (h), ibid.
* yee ibid. , n. (h).
" The Rev. Dr. Todd has in a note, "Lobhar, i. e. , the Leper.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 134, 135.
539
—— —
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [xMay 21.
a skin distemper, corresponding with the bodily infirmity to which allusion has been made.
Article VIII. St. Brigid, daughter of Dima, or DIO^rMAN. At the 2ist of May, the Martyrology of Tallagh has a Brighit inghen Dimmain. ' The Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Charles Maguire place her festival at this date. ^ The Bollandists 3 also notice Brigid, daughter of Dimanus,atthe21stofMay. Wehavenotbeenabletodiscoveranydocu- mentary evidence, which might tend to throw light on that locality, with which she had been formerly connected, or where, after death, she had been specially commemorated. On this day, Brighit, daughter of Diomman, had veneration given her, as we read, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal. 4
Article IX. St. Colman Cron. At this date, the Martyrology of Tallagh ' registers the name of a St. Colman Cron ; and, on the same autho- rity, his feast is entered in the Bollandist collection. ^ But, no effort has been made to throw any light on his history, age, or place. This day, the MartyrologyofDonegal3 recordssimply,thatvenerationwasgiventoaSt. Colman. -*
Article X. St. Maeldeid, of Lismore, County of Waterford. The name of this holy man appears, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 2istofMay. The Bollandists,^ quoting the same record, have entered a feast for Moeldodius, of Lismore, at the same date. Subsequent to the arrival of Henry II. , the bishops of this city were usually nominated by the crown, and generally through the influence of the Pope ; although on some occasions, on the death of the bishop, the king granted a license to the Dean and Chap- ter to elect a successor to that See. 3 Tiie name Maeldeid, of Lis-mor, occurs, also, in the Martyrology of Donegal,-* on this day.
ArticleXI. TranslationoftheRelicsofSt. Paternus,Bishop OF Vennes, France. This is said to have been the date, at which the Translation of the Relics of St. Paternus, Bishop of Vennes, in Lesser Britain, took place. His Life will be found, already written, at the 15th of April. '
S40
Article vixi. — ' See Rev. Dr. Kelly's Calendar of Irish Saints, p. xxv.
^ " Filia Dimani a M. TamL ab aliis filia Dimoe vocatur ; estque juxta eosdem diversa a S. Brigida fdia Domre, de qua supra. " Colgan's " Trias Thauniaturga," Ap,)endix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidae, cap. i. , p. 612.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 3.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
^34' '35*
Article IX. —' Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxv.
'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Maii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints,
P-3
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
134, 135.
• A note by Dr. Todd here says, that the
more recent hand adds, Colmjin Cpon, Marianus O'Gorman and the Martyrology of Tamlncht are quoted, also, as authorities, by the writer. —
Article x. ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxv.
^ . See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Maii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints,
P- 3-
'•See the " History, Topography and An-
tiquities of the County and City of Water-
foni," &c. , bythe Rev. R II. Ryland, sect.
ii , P- 335-
< Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
134, 135 —
Article xt. • See Volume the Fourth
of this work, Art. ii.
— "
May 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 541
On the 2 1 St of May, likewise, he was venerated, in his own Diocese, where an ecclesiastical office of a Double Rite commemorated the present festival. ^
Article XII. St. Ronan. We find it mentioned, in the Martyrology of Donegal,' that a festival to honour St. Ronan had been celebrated, on this day. Neither genealogy nor place, quoted in any available record, attests his period; but, not having been entered in the Martyrology of Tallagh seems to indicate, that he lived in the later times, or middle ages of Irish Chris- tianity.
Article XIII. Reputed Feast of St. Chroniacus. \_Sevenih Century. ^ It is stated, that in the time of Donald, the fifty-third King of Scotland, and in the seventh century,' flourished Chroniacus, who led a most holy life, and who, therefore, set a noble example to the people in Scotland. He is said to have been a Bishop f while again, Thomas Dempsters has it, that he was not assigned to any particular See. The latter writer enters him in the Scottish Menology, while Camerarius and others have wholly omitted
him. In the Calendar of Ferrarius,'* he is not only called a Bishop, but also an Abbot, ruling over a monastery called Manuallum. The Bollandists,^ without vouching for their correctness, enter the foregoing particulars, at the 2ist of May.
Article XIV. Reputed Festival of St. Sidonius, or Saens. The BoUandists ' remark at this date, that a St. Sidonius, a Confessor, in Nor- mandy,^ was venerated on this day, according to the Scottish Menology of Camerarius,whomentionshimwithmuchpraise. Hisfeasthasbeenassigned, however, to the 14th of November, by Saussay, Menard, and Bucelin. To that date, the reader is referred, likewise, for further particulars, regarding this Irish sainc.
Article XV. Festival of St. Timothy and of his Companions, Martyrs. In the Irish church, at the 21st of May, was observed the feast of St. Timothy, the Martyr, and of his companions. ' Whatever little has been known, about this holy man and his companions in suffering, is set down by the BoUandists,^ at this date. All the ancient Martyrologies relate, that their glorious crown was obtained in Mauritania.
* See the BoUandists "Acta Sanctorum," tomus V. . Mail xxi. Among the pretermitted feasts, p- 2.
Article xiv. —'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maiixxi. Among the pretermitted festivals, p. 4.
Article xii. — ' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 134, 135.
^ Arturus de Monstier, has well described the monastery of St. Sidonius or St. Saens,
'
Article xiii. — —
1578, 4to.
^ See Hector Boece, " Historic Scoto-
'
tions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. Ixxx.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxi. De Sanctis Martyribus Timotheo, Pollio, et Evtychio Diaconis in Mavritania, pp. 4, 5.
rum," lib. ix. , fol. 176.
3 See " Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis
Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , p. 151.
• He writes : " Chroniacus Episcopus et
Abbas Manuallo monasterio.
s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii
xxi.
Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
According to John in his work "Neustria Pia. " See idid.
Lesley, " De Origine, Moribus, et Rebus Article xv.
According to the Gestis Scotorum," lib. iv. , p. 159, Romae, " Feilire "of St. yEngus. See " Transac-
542
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 22. CU)entj). geronti Qap of iBap.
these may be found, in Lieut-Col. \V. G. Wood-Martin's "Lake Dwellings of Ire- land : or Ancient Lacustrine Habiiations of Erin, commonly called Crannogs," Dublin, 18S6, 8vo.
^ Sometimes, at low water, the Island of Inishkeel is connected as a peninsula with the mainland, and over the sands it is pos- sible to walk dry-shod.
' This river runs through a very romantic valley, and from the mountains surrounding
s—
ARTICLE I. —ST. CONALL OR CONALD COEL, ABBOT OF INISCOEL, COUNTY OF DONEGAL.
\SEVENTH CENTURY. ']
WHILE the interior scenes of Donegal consist of fine mountain ranges and deep valleys, througli which restless torrents flow ; on its sea- board are steep cliffs and indented caverns, with the rolling Atlantic waves ever moaning beneath. Clouds of white gulls and other sea-fowl sweep round on expanded wings, over the water surface, and they float at every con- ceivabledegreeofaltitudearoundthosecrags. Hereandthere,islandsex- tend along the shores, whence views of a most romantic and varied character can be obtained. On some of these, many ascetics chose to live, as did the lake dwellers in their own almost inaccessible crannogs and stockaded forts. ' Among the island hermits and abbots, St. Conald Coel was a remarkable saint in his day. Colgan promised to give some particulars, regarding him, on the day of his feast ;'' but, he did not live to accomplish that object. The Bollan-
dists 3 only present a meagre account of him, at this date. The Rev. Alban Butler,* who calls our saint Abbot of Ennis-Chaoil, in the county of Tyr- connel, has some notices of him.
According to the Naemhshenchus, and other authorities, St. Conall descended from the Cinel Conaill. ^ His father was ISIanius Coelius, son of Caither, son to Ennius, surnamed Bagan, son of Conall Gulban, accord- ing to the Genealogies of the Irish Saints. 7 This lioly man was Abbot over a monastery, which had been built in the Island of Inis-coel,^ near the mouth of Gweebarra River 9 and Bay,'° on the coast of Donegal, adjoining Boylagh and Bannagh Baronies. St. Conall Cael was abbot here, and at an early period,inthehistoryofournationalchurch. " AcelebratedChristianpoet, St. Dalian '^ wrote a work, in praise of this saint ; but, Colgan was not aware of its existence, in his own time. '3 However, Dalian '"^ appears to have been his most intimate friend, and to have met his death, whilst visiting our saint,
Article i. — ' An interesting account of Columboe, cap. iii. , num. 10, p. 4S0.
^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," xxix.
Januarii. De S. Dallano, Martyre, n. 16, Glenties—a village at no great distance
p. 205.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Mali xxii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 125.
* He refers his readers to Colgan's MSS. , at the 22nd of May, as the basis for this ac- count.
5 See "Lives of tlie Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May 22.
*See the " Martyrology of Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 136, 137.
most extensive and magnificent views of Lind and ocean scenery are revealed. See " Use- ful Hints to Donegal Tourists," by Lord George Hill, p. 35.
"' I'heformationofthisBay,withitsre- lation to the adjoining shores and islands, is shown, on the "Ouinance Survey Town- land Maps for the County of Donegal," sheet 64.
" See Kinnfaela's "Cliff Scenery of South- western Donegal," chap, xxi. , p. 146.
" His festival is on the 29th of Januaiy.
"'He writes: "Hoc memoratur in pra:- dicta prxfatione : sed an hodie cxtet mihi turga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. incomperlum est. Quse hie scquentia ha-
' Chap. i. See Colgan's " Trias Thauma-
May 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
543
at his monastery. When that holy man's dead body was brouglit to Conald, the head being cut off and thrown into the ocean, our saint earnestly besought the Almighty, with fervent prayers and burning tears, to reveal that exact spot, where Dallen's head should be found. Shortly afterwards, it appeared float- ing on the waves, which bore it towards the shore. There, the head of Dalian was recovered ; and, being united to the Martyr's trunk, it became firmly joined once more to the body.
The antiquities, which are very interesting and yet remaining on Inis- coel, consist chiefly of two ancient and ruined churches. That church, which appears to have been most ancient, and which probably dates back to the time of St. Conald Caol, lies towards the south. It is about 45 feet in length, by 16 in width. It stands near the shore, and on a rocky foundation. Various alterations, from time to time, appear to have bien made, in its doors and windows. Theoldgraveyard,surroundingthischurch,hasbeenmuchused, from a remote period, for purposes of interment. Several antique tombs are seen, partially buried in the soil ; and, it is probable, many are completely covered by the green sward. Within the southern old church, there may be observed a very curious horizontal slab,'5 supported on loose stones,'^ and it measures about three feet or more, in length, by two and a-half, in width; but, it was shaped irregularly, and undoubtedly, it had been of much greater length. Near one end, a hole had been bored quite through it ; and, the sur- flice seemed covered with strange Runic-shaped and raised tracings. A ceme- tery,^? still greatly frequented, is on the Island. Bearing northwards- from the church already described, there are ruins, belonging to another very old structure, apparently once divided into nave and chancel. The nave is about 30 feet in length, by 15 in width ; while the chancel is about 18 feet in length,
by 13 in breadth. This building has an old Gothic doorway in the side, with a few finely turned antique window arches yet visible. The walls are rudely constructed. They consist of large and small stones alternating. Both churches are mostly constructed with shale flagstone. Some finely fluted pieces of shafts and capitals seem to have been built into the upper parts of walls yet remaining, in order to replace materials removed—probably by acts of Vandalism. On one corner of Inis-coel ruins, fluted quoins are to be seen.
Most probably, the 22nd day of May was that of St. Conall's death. '^ The year of his departure is not known, but it occurred sometime in the seventh cen- tury, and this seems a probable opinion, when we come to examine his parent stem, ^9 and to compare it with that of the illustrious St. Columkille,^° among whose disciples this holy Abbot is classed. St. 'Conald Coel was buried in the church, or monastery, of Iniscoel. After the death of St. Conald Coel, his memory was held in due veneration, on the Island, where his feast was kept, on the 22nd of May,^^ Not far from this island, on the
bentur, ex prsedicta prjefatione desumpta covers some old tracery. Another small up-
sunt. "—Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- ni£e,"xxix. Januarii, Vita S. Dallani, n. 15, p. 205.
"* The Acts of this Saint will be found, at the 29th of January, in the First Volume of this work, Art. v.
'5 This may have been used formerly as an altar-stone, for it is still held in great rever- ence by peasants, who assemble in thousands each year, to make stations at this stone, and around the church.
^^ When seen by the writer.
'7 In it, there are two singularly curious upright stones. One of those has a cross carved on either side, and the other dis-
right stone—probably monumental—is less remarkable.
'S See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xxix. Januarii, Vita S. Dallani, cap. viii. , ix. , x. , p. 204.
'9 As found in the Irish Genealogy of Saints. See Colgan's "Trias Thauma- turga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Co- lumbce, cap. iii. , num. 10, p. 480, also, cap. x. , num. 32, p. 489.
^° See his Life, in the succeeding volume of this work, at the 9th of June, Art. i.
-' " Hsec Ecclesia est Insula Oceano cir- cumfusa in regione Tyrconallias quae Bugel- laigh appellatur ; et Dioecesi Rathbothensi
;
—:
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 22.
mainland, there is a beautiful cascade, known as Eas-nangach, or the Wrinkled
Cataract, descendini^ from a great height, and tumbling down a mountain
steep, near the hamlet of Lia-Conaill ^^—no doubt, taking its name from the
present holy Abbot. He is titular saint, however, and the most celebrated
patron over a very extensive parisli, Iniskeel, in which he is honoured with
extraordinary devotion. ^3 Springing from the cavity of a rock on the Island,
there is a celebrated well, which, with the church not far distant, bore our
saint'sname. Itwasyearlyvisitedbyagreatconcourseofpilgrims,^tonthe
22nd of each returning MaVi^^s and the custom is still continued. A very
curious relic, called the Bearnan Chonaill,^^ or Bell of St. Conall,^? had long
beenpreserved,inthisimmediateneighbourhood. ^^ Thatbellwasenclosed
in an elaborately ornamented case or shrine. There was an inscription on it, in
blackletter,butgreatlydefaced. ^9 ThepresentSt. Conallappears,also,tohave
been connected with a holy well and with a relig or cemetery at Bruckless,
not far from Killybegs, in the parish of Killaghtee, barony of Banagh, and
county of Donegal. Various interesting objects of antiquity are there pre-
3°
served.
The entry regarding Conaill, Inse Cail, appears in the Martyrology ot
Tallagh,3'atthe22ndofMay. AccordingtotheMartyrologyofDonegal,3^ veneration was paid on this day to Conall, Abbot of Inis Caoil, in Cinel Conaill. At this date, also, the Rev. Alban Butler places his festival, and he says, it was most famous. A festival of St. Conall, Abbot, is entered, likewise, in the Circle of
544
in qua S. Conallus 12, Maii colitur. "—Col- gan's ''Acta Sanctorum Ilibernise," xxix. Januarii, h. 16, p. 205. Tlie 12th is apparently a typographical mistake for the 22nd.
" "To the inhabitants of this group of cot- tages, the sun for months in the winter time never seems to rise, as during that space they are completely immerged in the shadow of the mountain. The principal curiosity at Lia-Conaill is an ancient stor. e cross, said to have been erected here by St. Conall of Inis- Caoill, and having the name Lia-Conaill, which signifies the stone or flag of Conall. " Kinnfaela's "Cliff Scenery of South- Western Donegal," chnp. xxi. , p. 149.
*3 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May 22.
°* This fountain is said to have been blessed by St. Conald Coel, and from it, these pilgrims drink three different times.
^= See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 100.
precious relic, at the same time (which must have been many centuries ago) when it was deposited and sealed up in its new and costly shrine. "—Kinnfaela's " Cliff Scenery of South-Western Donegal," chap, xxi. , p. 146, note.
°7 Engravings of this bell and its cover, with a notice by Dr. Petrie, in his " Essay on Ancient Irish Consecrated Bells," may be seen in "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy. " This Essay was read, February 26th, 1838.
*^ In 1835, we are informed, that had been sold to a Major Nesbitt of Woodhill, by Conall Mac Michael O'Breslen, then living at Glengesh. From an Inquisition, takeninthe7thofJamesI. , O'Breslenap- pears to have been one of the Erenachs of Iniskeel. The poor man who sold the bell was regarded as the senior of liis name, and a representative of the original herenach. On the death of Major Nesbitt, a. d. 1844, this bell of St. Conall unaccountably disappeared. See Dr.
