Brigid,
daughter
daughter
to Doma, in the plain of the Liffy, at this day.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
Dr.
Kelly, p.
xviii.
Article i. 'See "Acta Sanctorum
Hiberniae," ix. Martii. De S. Sedna sive
Sedonio Abbate de Kill-Aine, p. 565.
p. 2.
^
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
the
Martii ix.
sixth century.
' It is called in the
Among
3 Such is the pedigree, furnished by the
pretermitted saints,
Inquisitions, Killenny, aliasAnaghalone,orAnaghdoloun. Atthe dissolution, the rectory, which extended
S
274 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March g. and its ancient graveyard, enclosed by a ring fence, but without traces of
former
in
lies in the southern
of the '° It is parish.
any
ahttlesouth-eastofLoughHenny,locallycalledLoughinney. Theinsertion, Setna of Cille ane, of Sliabh Breagh, is entered in the Martyrology of Tal- lagh," in that of Marianus O'Gorman, and of Maguire, as also in the Calendar
ofCashel,atthe9thofMarch. TheMartyrologyofDonegal"mentions,as having a festival, at this date, Sedna, of Cill-Aine, in Sliabh Breagh. The year of his death is not known, nor even the exact age in which he flourished ;
but as Loarn,'3 who died a. d. 513, according to O' Flaherty's computation,'* was great grandfather to our saint, it might be a fair conjecture, that Sedna lived, towards the close of the sixth, and at the commencement of the
seventh century.
Article II. —St. Setna, Sidonius, or Sedna, of Druim-mac-ubla, CountyofMeath. [FifthorSixthCentury^ InColgan's'andintheBol-
^
landists' work, there is an account of St. Sedna or Sedonius, at the 9th of
March. Sedna or Setna is the Irish form : Sedonius or Sidonius is the Latin forhisname. Thus,SeJ;naofDromamicBlae,appearsintheMartyrology
ofTallagh,3atthe9thofMarch. Heflourished,asearlyasthefifthcentury. His father was named DuUan, or Dalian. * Colgan ascribes his period subse- quently to that time, when St. Patricks had founded the Church of Armagh, supposed to have been 445, according to Ussher,^ or 457, as stated in the " Annals of the Four Masters. " 7 The place over which our saint exercised apastoralchargewasDruimMacUbla,andit wassurroundedbyadesert. It is said to have been situated, not far from Kill-aine, with which the former St. Sedna had been connected. ^ We find Sedna, of Druim-mac-Ublai, or Ua-Bla, entered in the Martyrologies of Cashel, of Marianus O'Gorman, of Maguire, and of Donegal,9 as being venerated on this day. The present saint lived, in his earlier years, as we are told, on the confines of Meath and of Ulster, intheterritoryolUiCreamhthainn,orUiCriomhthainn. Thechurchinwhich his memory was venerated must have been situated, within the baronies of Upper or Lower Slane,'° in the northern part of Meath county j but, there is no church, bearing such a name, to be found, at present, within these baronies. However, a church here existed in 830, when our Annals relate,
over seven townlands, became appropriate Article ii. —' See "Acta Sanctorum to the Abbey of Moville. Hibernise," Marlii ix. De S. Sedna sive '° See " Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Sedonio Abbate de Druim-Mac-Vbla, p.
Down, Connor and Dromore. " Appendix
M. , p. 217. See also Calendar LL,, p.
377.
" Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xviii.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
s See his Life, at the 17th of March,
* See Index " Britannica- Chronologicus,
rum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," p. 518.
' See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
pp. 142, 143.
building
it,
extremity
Colgan's
relating to this family alliance, we are Ixxxv. , p. 165, and nn. no, III, p. 188.
72, 73.
'3 For confirmation of the statement, Vita Tripartita S. Patricii, lib, iii. , cap.
referred to the " logy," chap, xviii. ,
Genea- where there is an ac- count of St. Sedna, with his brother, St. Berchan, and of his sisters, Saints Brigid, Gorba, Lassara, and Lemania, and about
sixteen other
writer brings their pedigrees, lii^k by link, to Ere, the son of Eochad, from whom the kings of Albanian Scotia are descended.
saints,
Sanctilogic
565. ^"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Martii ix. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 2.
^ Edited by ReV. Dr. Kelly, p. xviii.
* See
"Trias
Thaumaturga. "
his relations. The ^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
niae," Martii ix. De S. Sedna sive Sedonio
Abbate de Kill-aine, p. 565.
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
'"See O'F'laherty's "Ogygia. " Scotise
Regiim Catalogiis Clironologo-Geuealogicus, Latinized, Sidonius. See ibid. , pp. 468 p. 470. 469.
72,73. In the table appended, his name
March 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 275
that Druim-Mic-h-Ua-Blae, with other churches, had been burned by the foreigners. " Colganhasaromanticstory,regardin ihisplace,witlimention of the present saint, at the 9th day of March. Sr. Sedna is said to have been abbot here, in 558. " To a saint of this name is ascribed the gift of
'3
Article III. —St. Lughaidh, of Cill-Cuh. k, or Kilcoole, probably INTHECountyofWicklow. TheBoUandists'barelynoticeSt. Lugidiusor
Lugadius of Kill-cuile, at the 9th of March, according to the Irish Calendars. There is a Latin " Vita S. Lugidi," among the Manuscripts of the Burgundian Library, Bruxelles f but, without an opportunity for examination, we cannot pronounceit,ashavingreferencetothisholyman. TheMartyrologyofTal- lagh3 records an almost similar entry, at the same date. There is a place,
prophecy.
Kilcoole Old Church, County of Wicklow.
mentioned in the Irish Annals, as Cill-Cuile-Dumha, i. e. , the Church of the Angle of the Mound. In the opinion of that learned topographer, Dr. O'Donovan, this is probably the present Kilcoole,* near Newtown-Mount- kennedy,5 in the barony of Newcastle, and county of Wicklow. ^ Here
'" See Dr. O'Donovan's " Leabhar na g-
tomus ii. , Martii ix. Among the preter-
mitted
" It is classed, vol. xxii. At fol. 94.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xviii.
* This parish is shown on the " Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Wicklow," Sheets 8, 12, 13. The town and townland are on Sheet 13.
This town and townland, in the parish
of Upper Newcastle, and Imrony of New- castle, is to be found also on Sheet 13.
*
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (1), pp. 397, 398.
Cpart, or Book of Rights," p. 152, n. (f). ""
saints, p.
2.
See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 444, 445, and n. (f). Ibtd.
" See Rev. A. Cogan's " Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. chap. Ixxiii. , p. 548.
•3 The XV. vol. of
the R. I. A. , contains St. Sedna's Prophecy, delivered to St. Colunikille, 80 verses' p 172.
Article hi. —' See "Acta Sanctorum,"
5
O'Longan MSB. , in
2 76 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 9.
there is to be found an ancient church. It consists of a choir and nave : the former is 15 feet 9 inches in length, by 9 feet 3 inches in width, while the latter is 57 feet long, by 16 feet 10 inches wide. ? A beautiful choir-arch unites them, and over that stood a belfry. A stone roof covered the choir. The interior of this building is enclosed, and it is kept for the interment of favoured families. The graveyard without is much used for burials. The ruined walls are covered with ivy. The church—at least in parts—is evidently an ancient structure. But, whether or not, it must be connected with the present saint and his locality, as recorded on this day, admits of question, and the writer will not undertake to detennine. ^ It is recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ that on this day was celebrated a festival, to honour Lughaidh, of Cill-cuile.
Article IV. —Festival of St. Mella, said to have been Abbess of DoiRE Melle. Some of our Martyrologies commemorate St. Mella, at the 9th of March. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,' there is barely mention of her name, at this date, and the BoUandists also record her. * Notices regard- ing St. Mella will be seen, at the 31st of this month.
Article V. —St. Brigid, Daughter of Doma, in the Plain of the LiFFY. The Martyrologies of Tallagh,' of Marianus O'Gorman, and of Donegal, as we are told, place the festival of a St.
Brigid, daughter to Doma, in the plain of the Liffy, at this day. But Colgan, who seems to consider the present saint, as identical with St. Brigid, daughter to Doma, already mentioned at the 7th of February, says, that all other authorities place the Natalis of Brigid, daughter to Doma, at this latter date. * We do not find the name or place of this holy woman recorded, in the published Calendar of the O'Clerys. Her name, without further notice, is simply given, and that a festival, in honour of a Brighit, was celebrated on this day, is all we read, in
the Martyrology of Donegal. 3 The BoUandists^ notice Brigid, daughter of Doma, in the plain of the Liffy, at the 9th of March, following the authority
of Colgan. By the latter, she is classed among the saints, veiled by St. Patrick ;5 howe\ er, this statement rests on no very substantial groimds. Colgan thinks her to be identical, with that St. Briga, who is mentioned in St. Ultan's Acts of the illustrious Abbess of Kildare. ^ This is also uncertain. Another conjecture of Colgan makes this saint, possibly identical with St. Brigid, daughter to Neman, son of Aid, son to Loarn, son of Ere, son to Eochad, surnamed Muinreamhuir, Prince of Dalaradia. It is thought, she
' These measurements the writer had an
opportunity for taking, in March, i8;8 ; while, his sketch of the church here repre- sented was drawn, on the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and engraved by Mrs. Millard.
* A local resident told the w—riter, how he
had heard from a — a gentleman very ques-
tionable authority, however that the church
had been built by St. Cool Kevin, brother
to St. Kevin of Glendalough.
9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
72, 73. —
Article iv. 'See Rev. Dr. Kelly's
edition, p. xviii.
"" See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xxiii. ,
Martii ix. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 2.
p. *
i. ,
p. 3
Article v. —'The "Martyrology of "
Tallagh calls her, Bngit inghen Doma i Maighlipi. See Dr. Kelly's "Calendar of Irish Saints," at 9th of March, or vii. /dus. ,
p. xviii. *"
See, Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidse, cap.
s
612.
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
72, 73.
•See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Martii ix. Among the pretermitted saints,
2.
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap.
p.
270.
See ibid. Tertia Vita S. Brigidae, cap.
XXX. and note 18, pp. 530, 543.
March 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 277
mayhavebeenveneratedatAbernethy,inScotland. 7 JohnMajorprobably confounded this latter St. Brigid, with the great Patroness of Ireland. ^ The reader is referred to certain remarks, already made, in reference to a St. Brigid, called daughter of Doma or Droma, as set down, at the 7th of Feb- ruary,9 Avhich is tlie day assigned for her festival, in some of our Irish Calen- dars. Besides, as Colgan has another conjecture, about the St. Briga, venerated on the 9th of March, having been a contemporary with the great St. Brigid, Abbess of Kildare, it may be as well to consult, what has been recorded, in the notices already written, referring to St. Briga, or Brigid, of Kilbride, in the diocese of Lismore, county of Waterford, and of Kilbride, or Brideschurch, county of Kildare. '° Thus, it may be inferred, how uncertain is our information regarding her.
Akticc. k Vf. —St. Bkigid, of Mona Milain. A saint, named Brigit,
Mona Milain, occurs in the Martyrology of Tallagh, as distinguished from another St. Brigid, whose festival is set down, at the same day, the 9th of
March. ' We are informed, likewise, that the Martyrologies of Donegal and of Marianus O'Gorman make a like distinction, at this same day. They record, that our present saint was venerated, at a place called Moin Miolain. There seems to be little consistency, in Colgan's statements ; when, in one place, he notes her, as the daughter of Neman, and at another, as mentioned by Keating, the Brigid, daughter to Aidus, son of Eochad, son to Colle, son to Cselbad, King of Ireland. ^ Colgan says, Moin-Miolain is to be found, in Dalaradia, where the posterity of Caelbadius, a supposed progenitor to this saint, had extensive sway. 3 The Bollandists have notices of Brigidade Moi- miolain, at the 9th of March. * The researchful Dr. Reeves seems to have forgotten this saint, when compiling his Calendar, appended to the " Eccle- siastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore. " If Colgan's conjecture be correct, her place lay within that scope of territory, described in Dr. Reeves' learned work. Brighit, of Moin Miolain, is thus entered, in the Martyrology of Donegal,5 as having veneration paid her, at this date. It has been conjectured, that the present saint may have been that holy virgin, called Brigh, and mother of the handmaids of Christ, mentioned in the Acts of her great namesake, St. Brigid of Kildare. ^ However, her history is in- volved, in great obscurity.
Article VII. —St. Colman, or Colmus, or Colmoc, Bishop of the
—who refers us to the Scottish Annals a holy Bishop Colman' or Colmus was venerated, on the 9th of March. There is a St. Com, in the Litany of Dunkeld. '' The Bollandists have a passing allusion to this saint, at the present date ;3 how-
OrkneyIslands,S—cotland. AccordingtoCamerarius
7 See what has been
ference to this matter, in the Second Volume
•'
Lives of the Irish
treating about St. Brigid, Virgin, First
Abbess of Kildare, at the ist of February, Article i. , chap, ii. , and n. 58.
^See Colgan's remarks, in his "Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix Quarta ad Acta
"
••See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Martii ix. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 2.
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
72, 73.
"See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
Tertia Vita 8. Brigidae, n. 18, p. 543.
of the
Saints,"
when
pedigree,
logic Genealogy," chap, xxiii.
S.
Brigidae, cap. iv. , p. 617.
9 See our "Lives of tlie Irish Saints,"
vol. ii. , Seventh day of February, Article viU.
'"See ibid. , vol. i. , Twenty-first day of January, Article ii.
already stated, in re-
Article vi.
See, Dr. Kelly's
Calen-
—'
dar of Irish Saints," p. xviii.
"^ For this he cites the " Meno-
3 See, " Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix Quarta ad'Acta S. Brigidse, cap. i. , pp. 6li, 612,613.
278 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 9.
ever, they preferred relegating his notices, to the 6th of June/ the day set apart, by Dempster, for his festivals He is said to have flourished, a. d.
Article VIII. —Reputed Festival of a St. Maccaldus, Bishop in THE Isle of Man. \_Fifth Century? ^ The facts, relating to the life of St. Maccaldus, Bishop of Man, Colgan promised to produce in his Acts of that saint, with their accompanying notes, at the 9th of March. But, in turning to that day, in his " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," we do not find such a promiseredeemed. Yet,elsewhere,inthissamework,itisstrange,afterhis distinction drawn between Maccalleus and Maccaldus, in the " Trias Thau- maturga," Colgan confounds both persons, when stating that the latter was com- memorated by the Irish Martyrologists, on the 25th of April, where the Acts ofSt. Maccaldusareagainpromised. ^ Wearetold,thathavingreturnedto Ulster,St. Patrick^convertedawickedrobber,namedMachaldus. 3 Hewas bound in chains, and banished into the Isle of Man, that he might become a penitent, under tlie care of Romulus,'* and of Conindrius or Conidrius,^ dis- ciples of St. Patrick. It is added, that these had been deputed to exercise the episcopacy, in Man, by St. Germanus f and that, Maccaldus succeeded them, after a long course of penance, having performed many miracles there before his death. These matters are still more diffusely treated, by the very old writer of St. Patrick's Tripartite Life. 7 We prefer treating more at length, regarding him, at the 25th of April.
Article IX. —Reputed Festival of St. Carecha, Dergamensis, of Clonburren, Parish of Moore, and County of Roscommon. {Sixth CenticryP\ This saint is said to have been daughter to Conall the Red, and a sister to St. ^ndeus' of Aran, to St. Lochina,* to St. Darenias and to St. Fanchea. * Her remains were deposited at Cloonburren, in the territory of Imania, near the Shannon's banks. Such a statement is found in the Calen- dar of Cashel. 5 It is stated, that the Martyrologies of Tallagh, and of Marianus O'Gorman, as also St. Angus' Commentator, on this day, have her Natalis observed, at Cluain boiren church. ^ This, however, is one of Col-
Article VII. —"^ He
"de eo Con-
or to another according
account,
on the
30th
says, sule Annales Scoticos," p. 113.
of the same month.
'See ibid. Septima Vita S. Palricii,
pars, iii. , cap. Ix. , Ixi. , pp. 160, 161. Article ix. —' See his Life, at the 21st
of March.
^ See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 305.
3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tonius ii. . Martii ix. Among the pretermiUed saints, p. 3.
See, likewise, our notices, at the same
'^
She is venerated, at the 12th of June.
day.
s See
"
July.
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum," tomus i.
Article i. 'See "Acta Sanctorum
Hiberniae," ix. Martii. De S. Sedna sive
Sedonio Abbate de Kill-Aine, p. 565.
p. 2.
^
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
the
Martii ix.
sixth century.
' It is called in the
Among
3 Such is the pedigree, furnished by the
pretermitted saints,
Inquisitions, Killenny, aliasAnaghalone,orAnaghdoloun. Atthe dissolution, the rectory, which extended
S
274 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March g. and its ancient graveyard, enclosed by a ring fence, but without traces of
former
in
lies in the southern
of the '° It is parish.
any
ahttlesouth-eastofLoughHenny,locallycalledLoughinney. Theinsertion, Setna of Cille ane, of Sliabh Breagh, is entered in the Martyrology of Tal- lagh," in that of Marianus O'Gorman, and of Maguire, as also in the Calendar
ofCashel,atthe9thofMarch. TheMartyrologyofDonegal"mentions,as having a festival, at this date, Sedna, of Cill-Aine, in Sliabh Breagh. The year of his death is not known, nor even the exact age in which he flourished ;
but as Loarn,'3 who died a. d. 513, according to O' Flaherty's computation,'* was great grandfather to our saint, it might be a fair conjecture, that Sedna lived, towards the close of the sixth, and at the commencement of the
seventh century.
Article II. —St. Setna, Sidonius, or Sedna, of Druim-mac-ubla, CountyofMeath. [FifthorSixthCentury^ InColgan's'andintheBol-
^
landists' work, there is an account of St. Sedna or Sedonius, at the 9th of
March. Sedna or Setna is the Irish form : Sedonius or Sidonius is the Latin forhisname. Thus,SeJ;naofDromamicBlae,appearsintheMartyrology
ofTallagh,3atthe9thofMarch. Heflourished,asearlyasthefifthcentury. His father was named DuUan, or Dalian. * Colgan ascribes his period subse- quently to that time, when St. Patricks had founded the Church of Armagh, supposed to have been 445, according to Ussher,^ or 457, as stated in the " Annals of the Four Masters. " 7 The place over which our saint exercised apastoralchargewasDruimMacUbla,andit wassurroundedbyadesert. It is said to have been situated, not far from Kill-aine, with which the former St. Sedna had been connected. ^ We find Sedna, of Druim-mac-Ublai, or Ua-Bla, entered in the Martyrologies of Cashel, of Marianus O'Gorman, of Maguire, and of Donegal,9 as being venerated on this day. The present saint lived, in his earlier years, as we are told, on the confines of Meath and of Ulster, intheterritoryolUiCreamhthainn,orUiCriomhthainn. Thechurchinwhich his memory was venerated must have been situated, within the baronies of Upper or Lower Slane,'° in the northern part of Meath county j but, there is no church, bearing such a name, to be found, at present, within these baronies. However, a church here existed in 830, when our Annals relate,
over seven townlands, became appropriate Article ii. —' See "Acta Sanctorum to the Abbey of Moville. Hibernise," Marlii ix. De S. Sedna sive '° See " Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Sedonio Abbate de Druim-Mac-Vbla, p.
Down, Connor and Dromore. " Appendix
M. , p. 217. See also Calendar LL,, p.
377.
" Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xviii.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
s See his Life, at the 17th of March,
* See Index " Britannica- Chronologicus,
rum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," p. 518.
' See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
pp. 142, 143.
building
it,
extremity
Colgan's
relating to this family alliance, we are Ixxxv. , p. 165, and nn. no, III, p. 188.
72, 73.
'3 For confirmation of the statement, Vita Tripartita S. Patricii, lib, iii. , cap.
referred to the " logy," chap, xviii. ,
Genea- where there is an ac- count of St. Sedna, with his brother, St. Berchan, and of his sisters, Saints Brigid, Gorba, Lassara, and Lemania, and about
sixteen other
writer brings their pedigrees, lii^k by link, to Ere, the son of Eochad, from whom the kings of Albanian Scotia are descended.
saints,
Sanctilogic
565. ^"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Martii ix. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 2.
^ Edited by ReV. Dr. Kelly, p. xviii.
* See
"Trias
Thaumaturga. "
his relations. The ^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
niae," Martii ix. De S. Sedna sive Sedonio
Abbate de Kill-aine, p. 565.
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
'"See O'F'laherty's "Ogygia. " Scotise
Regiim Catalogiis Clironologo-Geuealogicus, Latinized, Sidonius. See ibid. , pp. 468 p. 470. 469.
72,73. In the table appended, his name
March 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 275
that Druim-Mic-h-Ua-Blae, with other churches, had been burned by the foreigners. " Colganhasaromanticstory,regardin ihisplace,witlimention of the present saint, at the 9th day of March. Sr. Sedna is said to have been abbot here, in 558. " To a saint of this name is ascribed the gift of
'3
Article III. —St. Lughaidh, of Cill-Cuh. k, or Kilcoole, probably INTHECountyofWicklow. TheBoUandists'barelynoticeSt. Lugidiusor
Lugadius of Kill-cuile, at the 9th of March, according to the Irish Calendars. There is a Latin " Vita S. Lugidi," among the Manuscripts of the Burgundian Library, Bruxelles f but, without an opportunity for examination, we cannot pronounceit,ashavingreferencetothisholyman. TheMartyrologyofTal- lagh3 records an almost similar entry, at the same date. There is a place,
prophecy.
Kilcoole Old Church, County of Wicklow.
mentioned in the Irish Annals, as Cill-Cuile-Dumha, i. e. , the Church of the Angle of the Mound. In the opinion of that learned topographer, Dr. O'Donovan, this is probably the present Kilcoole,* near Newtown-Mount- kennedy,5 in the barony of Newcastle, and county of Wicklow. ^ Here
'" See Dr. O'Donovan's " Leabhar na g-
tomus ii. , Martii ix. Among the preter-
mitted
" It is classed, vol. xxii. At fol. 94.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xviii.
* This parish is shown on the " Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Wicklow," Sheets 8, 12, 13. The town and townland are on Sheet 13.
This town and townland, in the parish
of Upper Newcastle, and Imrony of New- castle, is to be found also on Sheet 13.
*
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (1), pp. 397, 398.
Cpart, or Book of Rights," p. 152, n. (f). ""
saints, p.
2.
See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 444, 445, and n. (f). Ibtd.
" See Rev. A. Cogan's " Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. chap. Ixxiii. , p. 548.
•3 The XV. vol. of
the R. I. A. , contains St. Sedna's Prophecy, delivered to St. Colunikille, 80 verses' p 172.
Article hi. —' See "Acta Sanctorum,"
5
O'Longan MSB. , in
2 76 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 9.
there is to be found an ancient church. It consists of a choir and nave : the former is 15 feet 9 inches in length, by 9 feet 3 inches in width, while the latter is 57 feet long, by 16 feet 10 inches wide. ? A beautiful choir-arch unites them, and over that stood a belfry. A stone roof covered the choir. The interior of this building is enclosed, and it is kept for the interment of favoured families. The graveyard without is much used for burials. The ruined walls are covered with ivy. The church—at least in parts—is evidently an ancient structure. But, whether or not, it must be connected with the present saint and his locality, as recorded on this day, admits of question, and the writer will not undertake to detennine. ^ It is recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ that on this day was celebrated a festival, to honour Lughaidh, of Cill-cuile.
Article IV. —Festival of St. Mella, said to have been Abbess of DoiRE Melle. Some of our Martyrologies commemorate St. Mella, at the 9th of March. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,' there is barely mention of her name, at this date, and the BoUandists also record her. * Notices regard- ing St. Mella will be seen, at the 31st of this month.
Article V. —St. Brigid, Daughter of Doma, in the Plain of the LiFFY. The Martyrologies of Tallagh,' of Marianus O'Gorman, and of Donegal, as we are told, place the festival of a St.
Brigid, daughter to Doma, in the plain of the Liffy, at this day. But Colgan, who seems to consider the present saint, as identical with St. Brigid, daughter to Doma, already mentioned at the 7th of February, says, that all other authorities place the Natalis of Brigid, daughter to Doma, at this latter date. * We do not find the name or place of this holy woman recorded, in the published Calendar of the O'Clerys. Her name, without further notice, is simply given, and that a festival, in honour of a Brighit, was celebrated on this day, is all we read, in
the Martyrology of Donegal. 3 The BoUandists^ notice Brigid, daughter of Doma, in the plain of the Liffy, at the 9th of March, following the authority
of Colgan. By the latter, she is classed among the saints, veiled by St. Patrick ;5 howe\ er, this statement rests on no very substantial groimds. Colgan thinks her to be identical, with that St. Briga, who is mentioned in St. Ultan's Acts of the illustrious Abbess of Kildare. ^ This is also uncertain. Another conjecture of Colgan makes this saint, possibly identical with St. Brigid, daughter to Neman, son of Aid, son to Loarn, son of Ere, son to Eochad, surnamed Muinreamhuir, Prince of Dalaradia. It is thought, she
' These measurements the writer had an
opportunity for taking, in March, i8;8 ; while, his sketch of the church here repre- sented was drawn, on the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and engraved by Mrs. Millard.
* A local resident told the w—riter, how he
had heard from a — a gentleman very ques-
tionable authority, however that the church
had been built by St. Cool Kevin, brother
to St. Kevin of Glendalough.
9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
72, 73. —
Article iv. 'See Rev. Dr. Kelly's
edition, p. xviii.
"" See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xxiii. ,
Martii ix. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 2.
p. *
i. ,
p. 3
Article v. —'The "Martyrology of "
Tallagh calls her, Bngit inghen Doma i Maighlipi. See Dr. Kelly's "Calendar of Irish Saints," at 9th of March, or vii. /dus. ,
p. xviii. *"
See, Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidse, cap.
s
612.
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
72, 73.
•See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Martii ix. Among the pretermitted saints,
2.
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap.
p.
270.
See ibid. Tertia Vita S. Brigidae, cap.
XXX. and note 18, pp. 530, 543.
March 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 277
mayhavebeenveneratedatAbernethy,inScotland. 7 JohnMajorprobably confounded this latter St. Brigid, with the great Patroness of Ireland. ^ The reader is referred to certain remarks, already made, in reference to a St. Brigid, called daughter of Doma or Droma, as set down, at the 7th of Feb- ruary,9 Avhich is tlie day assigned for her festival, in some of our Irish Calen- dars. Besides, as Colgan has another conjecture, about the St. Briga, venerated on the 9th of March, having been a contemporary with the great St. Brigid, Abbess of Kildare, it may be as well to consult, what has been recorded, in the notices already written, referring to St. Briga, or Brigid, of Kilbride, in the diocese of Lismore, county of Waterford, and of Kilbride, or Brideschurch, county of Kildare. '° Thus, it may be inferred, how uncertain is our information regarding her.
Akticc. k Vf. —St. Bkigid, of Mona Milain. A saint, named Brigit,
Mona Milain, occurs in the Martyrology of Tallagh, as distinguished from another St. Brigid, whose festival is set down, at the same day, the 9th of
March. ' We are informed, likewise, that the Martyrologies of Donegal and of Marianus O'Gorman make a like distinction, at this same day. They record, that our present saint was venerated, at a place called Moin Miolain. There seems to be little consistency, in Colgan's statements ; when, in one place, he notes her, as the daughter of Neman, and at another, as mentioned by Keating, the Brigid, daughter to Aidus, son of Eochad, son to Colle, son to Cselbad, King of Ireland. ^ Colgan says, Moin-Miolain is to be found, in Dalaradia, where the posterity of Caelbadius, a supposed progenitor to this saint, had extensive sway. 3 The Bollandists have notices of Brigidade Moi- miolain, at the 9th of March. * The researchful Dr. Reeves seems to have forgotten this saint, when compiling his Calendar, appended to the " Eccle- siastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore. " If Colgan's conjecture be correct, her place lay within that scope of territory, described in Dr. Reeves' learned work. Brighit, of Moin Miolain, is thus entered, in the Martyrology of Donegal,5 as having veneration paid her, at this date. It has been conjectured, that the present saint may have been that holy virgin, called Brigh, and mother of the handmaids of Christ, mentioned in the Acts of her great namesake, St. Brigid of Kildare. ^ However, her history is in- volved, in great obscurity.
Article VII. —St. Colman, or Colmus, or Colmoc, Bishop of the
—who refers us to the Scottish Annals a holy Bishop Colman' or Colmus was venerated, on the 9th of March. There is a St. Com, in the Litany of Dunkeld. '' The Bollandists have a passing allusion to this saint, at the present date ;3 how-
OrkneyIslands,S—cotland. AccordingtoCamerarius
7 See what has been
ference to this matter, in the Second Volume
•'
Lives of the Irish
treating about St. Brigid, Virgin, First
Abbess of Kildare, at the ist of February, Article i. , chap, ii. , and n. 58.
^See Colgan's remarks, in his "Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix Quarta ad Acta
"
••See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Martii ix. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 2.
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
72, 73.
"See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
Tertia Vita 8. Brigidae, n. 18, p. 543.
of the
Saints,"
when
pedigree,
logic Genealogy," chap, xxiii.
S.
Brigidae, cap. iv. , p. 617.
9 See our "Lives of tlie Irish Saints,"
vol. ii. , Seventh day of February, Article viU.
'"See ibid. , vol. i. , Twenty-first day of January, Article ii.
already stated, in re-
Article vi.
See, Dr. Kelly's
Calen-
—'
dar of Irish Saints," p. xviii.
"^ For this he cites the " Meno-
3 See, " Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix Quarta ad'Acta S. Brigidse, cap. i. , pp. 6li, 612,613.
278 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 9.
ever, they preferred relegating his notices, to the 6th of June/ the day set apart, by Dempster, for his festivals He is said to have flourished, a. d.
Article VIII. —Reputed Festival of a St. Maccaldus, Bishop in THE Isle of Man. \_Fifth Century? ^ The facts, relating to the life of St. Maccaldus, Bishop of Man, Colgan promised to produce in his Acts of that saint, with their accompanying notes, at the 9th of March. But, in turning to that day, in his " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," we do not find such a promiseredeemed. Yet,elsewhere,inthissamework,itisstrange,afterhis distinction drawn between Maccalleus and Maccaldus, in the " Trias Thau- maturga," Colgan confounds both persons, when stating that the latter was com- memorated by the Irish Martyrologists, on the 25th of April, where the Acts ofSt. Maccaldusareagainpromised. ^ Wearetold,thathavingreturnedto Ulster,St. Patrick^convertedawickedrobber,namedMachaldus. 3 Hewas bound in chains, and banished into the Isle of Man, that he might become a penitent, under tlie care of Romulus,'* and of Conindrius or Conidrius,^ dis- ciples of St. Patrick. It is added, that these had been deputed to exercise the episcopacy, in Man, by St. Germanus f and that, Maccaldus succeeded them, after a long course of penance, having performed many miracles there before his death. These matters are still more diffusely treated, by the very old writer of St. Patrick's Tripartite Life. 7 We prefer treating more at length, regarding him, at the 25th of April.
Article IX. —Reputed Festival of St. Carecha, Dergamensis, of Clonburren, Parish of Moore, and County of Roscommon. {Sixth CenticryP\ This saint is said to have been daughter to Conall the Red, and a sister to St. ^ndeus' of Aran, to St. Lochina,* to St. Darenias and to St. Fanchea. * Her remains were deposited at Cloonburren, in the territory of Imania, near the Shannon's banks. Such a statement is found in the Calen- dar of Cashel. 5 It is stated, that the Martyrologies of Tallagh, and of Marianus O'Gorman, as also St. Angus' Commentator, on this day, have her Natalis observed, at Cluain boiren church. ^ This, however, is one of Col-
Article VII. —"^ He
"de eo Con-
or to another according
account,
on the
30th
says, sule Annales Scoticos," p. 113.
of the same month.
'See ibid. Septima Vita S. Palricii,
pars, iii. , cap. Ix. , Ixi. , pp. 160, 161. Article ix. —' See his Life, at the 21st
of March.
^ See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 305.
3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tonius ii. . Martii ix. Among the pretermiUed saints, p. 3.
See, likewise, our notices, at the same
'^
She is venerated, at the 12th of June.
day.
s See
"
July.
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum," tomus i.
