On a day appointed, they all entered into a church and prayed,
expecting
the accomplishment of a Divine mystery.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
Fin Barre, chap, xviii.
Although materially agreeing in substance, the texts of the Codex Kilkenniensis Manuscript Life of our Saint is quite a different version from
"*" If we as is suppose,
"
are n—ot named in the Codex Bodleiensis
copy. Ibid. , p. 20. Among the foregoing,
Mr. Caulfield has Mocholmog or Colman Cham rendered "Colman the crooktd," perhaps Colman de Caem-Achaidh, vene- rated at the 31st of March, and he adds, that Segenus is said to have been Abbot of Hy, and to have built a church at Rechrann in Dalriada, in Ultonia. If this be so, he is venerated on the 12th of August. At those respective dates notices of them are to be found respectively in the Third Volume of this work, Art. iii. , and in the Eighth
Volume, Art. iv.
"3 See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni-
cum," p. 62, and note (c), 16, where he cites for authority Conry's MS.
Life. 111
ing extract, with the introduction of the figures, which indicate variations of reading
as found in the Trinity College Codex, have been introduced by Mr. Richard Caulfield to illustrate his version. See " Life of Saint Fin Bane," pp. 17, 18.
1,2 The Codex Kilkenniensis states: "In illo autem loco Sanctus Barrus usque ad obitum suum mansit, et ibi in honore ejus
That in the Codex Kilkenniensis Manu-
nominibus aliqui nominantur, Factna, filius 12
Mongich, et Mocolmoc filius Gilliani et 3 Mocholmoc, 4 Caunch, et Fachtnanus, et
highly probable, that when founding it he was a bishop, and
add the 17 years of his incumbency, his
—Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
death may be assigned to 623. "
September 25. ] LIVES Of THE IRISH SAINTS. 567
In the ancient acts of Senan, Abbot of Iniscathy, it is said that during the life of this saint, Barr presided over a community of monks at Cork. 115 But, as St. Senan died a. d. 544, Papebroke considers this prefecture to have been placed at too early a date Il6 for he supposes, St. Barr had not then exceeded
;
the period of early youth, even if it be allowed he was born. ? However,
it is reasonably allowed, that St. Barr flourished in the latter part of the sixth
and of the seventh 8 While St. Senanus was at Innis- beginning century. "
carra, near Lua, fifty Roman monks came to him. These he divided into five bands or companies. Ten of those monks he is said to have given to
11 Barreus. ?
Our saint is generally supposed to have become distinguished, about the commencement of the seventh century, when he was raised to the
On account of their sanctity, the disciples of St. Bairre went to other places, which with themselves were offered to their own holy master. At the time the Life of our Saint, as contained in the Codex Kilkenniensis, had been written, these places were subject to St. Barr's successors. This writer's meaning must have been, that those new monasteries were or had beensubjecttotheCorkestablishmentj but,withregardtoallofthembeing subordinate to the latter, we require better authority. Being probably a member of Cork monastery, the writer in question may have been willing to adopt rather hasty and unjustifiable conclusions. "
dreaming
Nessan, patron
of
Mungret,
tomus i. , Martii viii.
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
116
iv. , pp. 313, 314, Although Ware is silent, as to the time when our saint became bishop of Cork, his editor Harris has inserted in the
Fasti Ecclesise Hibernicae,"
121 This is the more if we allow him to have been probable,
episcopacy.
acquainted with St. David of Menevia in Wales, and a contemporary with St. Maidoc of Ferns. 122 UssherI23 and Harris12* state, that he was bishop in the commencement of the seventh century, and that he flourished about the year 630. Smith argues, that if St. Nessan, his disciple, died in the year 551, as the Four Masters allege,125 our saint must have lived almost a hundred years earlier than Sir James Ware allows. 126 However, Smith must have been
ofSt.
identicalwithSt. NessanofCork. Wearetold,thatwiththeaidofmany good men, St. Finnbarr built the old Church of Cork,128 to which he annexed
land," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, iv. , n. 68, p. 318.
1,5 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
Vita ex MSS. Hibernicis, cap. hi. , sect. 21, p. 772.
De Sancto Senano
I22
"
Ecclesiastical Episcopo et Abbate in Hibernia. Secunda History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect.
Archdeacon Henry Cotton places the
" "—"
episcopate of St. Barr over Cork, a. d. 606
text ot his author
to 623. See vol. i. , p. 215.
"7
Cork," p. 556.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. ,
Septembris xxv. Vita S. Barri, sect, ii. ,
n. 22, p. 145.
1,8
on Finn Barr in Leslie Stephen's "Die-
See the Rev. Thomas Olden's article
53f.
,24 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
Cork," p. 556. 5"
"
tionary of National Biography," vol. xix. , pp. 35, 36.
" See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
119 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," Martii viii. Supplementum Vitae S. Senani,cap. xx. ,p. 533(rede529).
Four Masters," vol. i. , and n. (f), pp. 188,
,2e " Some of the monasteries ascribed to
the so-called disciples of Barr might have
been colonies from that of Cork, established
from time to time at various periods after
County and City of Cork," vol. i. , book ii. ,
chap, ix. , p. 362.
12? His feast occurs on the 25th of July, at
which date, notices of him may be found in
his (Barr's) death. "—Rev. Dr. Lanigan's the Seventh Volume of the present work,
"
chap, xiv. , sect, iv. , n. 69, pp. 318, 319.
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Art. ii.
12? near whowasnot Limerick,
I21 " See Father Francis Porter's
Com- pendium Annalium Ecclesiasticorum Regni
Hibernize," sectio v. , cap. vii. , p. 197.
the beginning of the seventh century. " See vol. i. , Bishops of
"3 " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum See
Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 503, and Index Chronologicus ad ANN. dcxxx. , p.
189.
,26 "
128
In his account of Irish localities,
See AncientandPresentStateofthe
11
Bishops of
568 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 25.
a " faire " Church-yard. "9 There he gathered around him a numerous
company of monks, who according to primitive usage lived in separate cells. He also established a school, which obtained great distinction in his time. Nor are we to take the statement, as quite exact, that St. Barr erected a special cathedral at Cork ; for, it is probable, such a church differed not from his monastic one. There can be little question about his having been consecrated bishop, as many other abbots were ; but, for a long time after his death, we obtain only very uncertain and imperfect accounts concerning the Cork bishops, who were his successors. The school of St. Barr or of his monastery is only particularly alluded to in the tract called his Life. It is
Old Cathedral of Cork.
little spoken of in our more ancient documents. 130 It seems probable that the early cathedral of Cork was of very moderate size, and of primitive construction ; as during the middle ages and down to the last century, the church which served that purpose was one of very humble architectural pretensions. It passed into Protestant possession, and was used for their
I
worship until i725,'3 when it fell into decay and was then taken down, in
order to be rebuilt. An ancient round tower formerly stood in the church- yard, a little detached Jrom the cathedral. The new church was erected on
William
" Here on a
Priests and their in Theology,
Allingham says :
hillock, Bairre, alias Finn Bairre, ' the fair
dices, against
his own
quaint
founded his little church in the seventh History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. ,
'— — Barry probably from his complexion
•
,3°
"
century. "
129 See Dr. Hanmer, who adds to the
sect, iv. , and n. 63, pp. 314 to 317.
131 It is represented in the accompanying illustration, copied from that contained in
foregoing account, "wherein now standeth
a watch Tower builded the Danes. '— by
the
of the Cork Historical
and
"Journal
"Chronicle of Ireland," pp. 108, 109. The Archaeological Society," voi. i. , p. 97, by
Doctor then introduces a Legend, in which Gregor Grey, and by him drawn and very amusingly he displays peculiar preju- engraved on the wood.
terms.
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 569 the site of the former one, and finished in 1735, when it was opened for
2
religious service. ^
According to the legend given in one of our Saint's Lives, St. Bairre went
from Cork to Rome in company with Eolang, Maedhog of Ferns, David of
Cill Muine, and twelve monks, so that he might take the grade of bishop. ^
Gregory, who was successor to Peter at that time, raised his hand over the
head of our saint to confer consecration, when a flame came on it from
Heaven while he was reciting the words of the ritual. Then Gregory said :
" Go to your house, and the Lord himself will read the gradation of Bishop
for you. " This prophecy was fulfilled, when Bairre returned to his own
church. Again it is related, that some time after our Saint settled at Corcaid.
1
St. Maccuirp, 34 the master of Barrus, returned from Rome, and was received
withhonouronhisarrival. HerelatedtothesaintallthingsthatSt. Gregory toldhimwhenatRome. Theseincidentsbeingheardof,severalothersaints came from various churches.
On a day appointed, they all entered into a church and prayed, expecting the accomplishment of a Divine mystery. Whileprpying,theAngelsofGoddescendedandappearedtothem. The Angels raised St. Barr and St. Maccuirp aloft with them, and consecrated them as Bishops. Then letting them down near the altar, the manner of their episcopal consecration was manifested. Accompanying such a mira- culous occurrence, we are told, that oil broke forth from the earth near the altar, until it came over the shoes of those there standing. Then, all gave thanks to God for such miraculous events, and glorified those Saints, whom the Angels had thus consecrated. x35 On that very day, St. Barr and St. Maccuirp, as Bishops, with other clerics, marked out the cemetery of St. Barr's Church, which is called Corchadh. They afterwards consecrated it. This they also promised in the Lord's name, that after the Day of Judgment, hell should not close on any person, who should have been interred in it.
When the burial-ground attached to Cork Cathedral had been consecrated, the holy bishop Maccuirp requested that his body should be the first laid in that cemetery. His prayer was heard ; for immediately he was seized with illness. Having happily died, he was the first to be honourably interred within the Cemetery at Corchaige, by the venerable Bishop Barrus and other
holy clergymen. The deceased Bishop Maccuirp was a very saintly man, and possessed of much wisdom. ^6 If we are to admit, that Mac-corb, the preceptor of our Saint, had heard the instructions of Pope Gregory the Great, Barr must have been too young to have been consecrated bishop, about the year 600. Nor did St. Barr obtain distinction, it is supposed, until several lateryears had elapsed. ^ We may regard the account of Cork having grown into a large city, astrueonlyatatimelongsubsequenttooursaint'sdeath. Probablyavillage sprung up around Barr's monastery, situated in a part of the present city, and that it gradually grew into a large town before the arrival of the Danes.
133 See Dr. Charles Smith's "Ancient and Present State of the County and City of Cork,'' vol. i. , book ii. , chap, ix. , p.
372«
the Office of our saint, to which allusion has been made by the Bollandists. By them we are told, regarding St. Barr, "ad preces Ealongi elevatur in aera," ic.
I36 So also says Hanmer, speaking of this
"
133 The Rev. Thomas Olden remarks :
Barra's tra—vels are scarcely referred to in interment at Cork, but giving a different '"""
his Life. '
Leslie
Stephen's Dictionary
name
:
Torpereus, Bishop
of Cloan, his
of National Biography," vol. xix. , p. 36.
134 In the Coaex Kilkenniensis, this name
is spelled Meccuirp, and in the Bodleian
copy Maccuyribius.
135 Some reference to these miraculous
occurrences appears to have been found in
(Barr's) school-master, was the first—man that "
was buried in that church-yard. " Chro-
nicle of Ireland," p. 109.
x3? See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesias-
tical History ol Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, iv. , p. 314.
"
57© LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Septembersj.
These foreigners are said to have been founders of Cork, according to
x8
received tradition. 3 This statement has been questioned,'-^ however, and
the account we find in the Irish Annals of abbots presiding there, long before the arrival of the invading Danes, proves sufficiently that it had been a town of importance, which grew around the monastic school established, even so early as the seventh century.
CHAPTER III.
PERIOD OF ST. FINBARK'S SOJOURN AT CORK—DEATH OF HIS MASTER, BISHOP MACCUIRP, AND HIS BURIAL THERE—FINBARR's SELECTION OF A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR—HE VISITS I- 1 AMA AT DESERTMORE TO OBTAIN RELICS—FINBARR's VISIT TO CLOYNE, WHERE HIS DEATH TAKES PLACE—HIS INTERMENT AT CORK—ECCLESIASTICAL TRADITIONS OF THE SEE—CALENDAR CELEBRATIONS OF ST. FINBARR's FEAST— M KMORIALS—CONCLUSION.
Aperiodoffour 1 issaidtohave fromthetimeoursainterected years, elapsed,
the church of Corcach, until his death. In that place, St. Barry remained, but for what period is not exactly known, our ecclesiastical historians being
divided in on the opinion
subject.
2 After the death of his
master, Bishop
Maccuirp, St. Barr had some hesitation as to the selection of his father
confessor. He therefore thought of going to the holy senior, Eoling,3 that
he might have him as his spiritual director, or to ask him if this were
not possible, what other person could be recommended. It was supposed,
by those well informed, this holy Senior, Eoling,* had baptised our Saint.
Inspired with a prophetic spirit, Eoling had a presentiment, that St. Barry
would visit him. He thus announced the matter to his monastic family :
"
This day a holy guest, with his companions, will come to us : therefore, prepare a bath and refreshments for their arrival. " Soon, the man of Cod was received with honour. On saluting the guests, St. Eoling's attendant
said
:
* The holy Senior, our Master, is very much rejoiced at your arrival.
Letyourshoesbetakenoff, thatyourfeetmaybewashedwithwater,and
afterwards bathe. " St. Barr said, that it would be more pleasing to salute
the senior, than to bathe. When the attendant related these words to Eoling,
"
accept our hospitality for this night, that on to-morrow he may proceed to his
he thus replied :
own cell. There I will salute him ;
•3s See the local historian, Smith's " An-
cient and Present State of the County and
City of Cork," vol. i. , book ii. , chap, ix. , pp.
362, 363, 364. Also Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
"
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, iv. , and n. 62, pp. 314, 316. '» The Rev. C. B. Gibson, in his " His-
Tell St. Barr to allow his feet to be washed, and let him
"
nion ;" but he says, that the Danes may stone
indignantly rejects Smith's
received opi- and r—aths. In the church-yard is Olan's
have built the walls of Cork, when they first
quietly possessed this city in 1172. Pre- viously, they are only recorded in ancient annals, as having burnt or plundered it. See, vol. ii. ,chap. xiii. , p. 306.
Chapter hi. —' The MS. Codex Kil-
"
kenniensis has it,
'See Archdeacon Henry Cotton's
height— and
iv. annoium erat," &c.
"
for, on the seventh day, I must go to
saint's Life the name is found written Colin-
gus or Coling. In the Bodleian copy it is
written Eolyngus.
* Eoling is thought to have been the same
as St. Olan, patron of Aghabulloge, a parish in the diocese of Cloyne. In the vicinity of the church are many remains of olden times,
tory of the County and City of Cork," such as pillars, circles, oghams, rock-basins
Fasti
Ecclesiae Hibernicse," vol. i. , Diocese of St. Olan's well, by Mr. Windale, in August,
Cork, p. 215. 1851. See Mr. Richard Caulfield's "Life In the Codex Kilkenniensis copy of our of St. Fin Barre," n. (a), p. 19.
6 feet 6 inches in cap, a circular concave stone, about which there are many tradi- tions. A very fine stone, 12 feet 6 inches
in height, with an ogham inscription, was for many years used as a bridge across a narrow part of the river Dallaheena, which runs near. This stone was removed and placed upright in its original position near
a fine
ogham
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 571
him, and then we shall both salute each other, for this is pleasing to God. Such a great man should not undergo so much labour on my account ; and therefore, I will not see him, until I have had some labour for his sake. " So
it happened, as he required ; for St. Barr returned the day following. Sevendayshavingelapsed,Eolingwenttovisithim. Asthevisitorentered the church of Corchagia, he was honourably received by its venerable Bishop Barms. TheSeniorimmediatelyfelldownbeforethebishop'sfeet,saying, " Promise to accept from me, whatsoever I shall give you. " When Barrus had
u
promised compliance with that request, the holy Senior said : forever,mybody,mysoulandmyplace,toGodandtoyou. " Oursaintthen
Behold, I offer wept, and declared, that he desired to make precisely the like offering to Eolang.
"Thisshallnotbeso foryouaredearertoand replied : ;
The
greaterwithGodthanIam. ButIdemandaremunerationformyoffering from you, namely, that we should expect resurrection in the same place. "5
"
Senior
St. Barrus replied :
holy
That shall be granted you ; but you have not yet solved
my enquiry regarding your being my father confessor, for which purpose I have come to you. " St. Eoling said to him: "You will have the true confessor and friend of your soul, who is Christ ; he will now take your hand out of my hand, and hear your most pure confession. " We are told, that a great multitude of Archangels and Angels being then present, and a choir of faithful and holy men standing around, Christ our Lord took the hand of the most blessed pontiff, Barrus, from the hand of the holy senior Eoling. Having heard Barr's religious confession, our Lord dismissed him. The
6 preceding occurrence took place," it is said, at the cross of Coling, and from
such day until the death of St. Barrus, on account of its excessive brightness, his hand could not be looked upon by men, as a glove was always placed about it.
Before he had been called away from life, the holy Bishop prayed for an increase of saintly relics for his grave-yard. Then came his Angel who said :
44 Go to the up
of Criomthann, for there are relics of On Bishops. "
country
the morrow, he went to Desertmore, where he met Fiama, son of Eogan, and a synod was there engaged burying relics which he desired to obtain. He
asked what had been they
when Fiama ,l An
of the Lord spoke to me last night, and told me to come for those relics, and so I brought them away from where they had been. " Bairre then said, that very
cause brought him from home, and when Fiama asked what was to be done,
doing,
replied
;
Angel
received for reply, that the relics should be left with him. said Fiama, M and I will announce to you its reward.
That is well,"
" At
be the place good, and let there be veneration on earth for your successors. '' Wherefore, Fiama deserved giving the body of Christ to our
saint, on the day of his death. ?
When the departure of Holy Barrus was near, he told a few of his favoured
disciples that he should die in his own church. By this we are probably to understand the one he had founded at Cloyne, as appears from the context met with in his Lives. Knowing where he was to depart from this life, Barr
8
proceeded towards the cell of Cluain, to the holy Cormachus and
Buchenius. 9 Fiama also went there to meet him. Bairre then said " It is
:
5 See Dr. Hanmer's "Chronicle of Ire- 7 Such is the account as given in the land," p. 109, where Coling is called, Burgundian Manuscript Life of Fin Bairre,
chap. xxii.
8
The Codex Kilkenniensis MS. has it, "ad cellam Cluaine. "
'The Codex Kilkenniensis MS. adds:
relics be "
yours
from this to the of
Day Judgment. "
first," replied
Bairre,
" Cloane. "
Calangus a reverend Man, then Abbot of
6 In the Codex Kilkenniensis, it is called, " Crux Colingi. "
"
Let this place and its
57* LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 25.
time for me to be released from the prison of this body, and go to the King of Heaven, since now I have His summons. " When this amiable champion of Christ came to the cell of Cluain, and saluted ihe monks that
10
Having received the holy Viaticum of Christ's body and blood from Fiama," he gave up his most happyspirittoGod. ThereacrossinthemiddleofCluaincellafterwards
stood. 12 A
A multitude of men, wearing divers habits, 1 ? having been assembled, our
saint's body was brought with due honour to his own city of Corcaid. There it was buried. It is also related, that our saint died at Cloyne. 14 Moreover, it is stated, that on the occasion of his interment, the sun stood in the
lived there he was immediately seized with infirmity.
great
number of saints were around him at that time.
Heavens for fifteen 1 * his
days. Thence, body
had been translated to Cork,
to be deposited in a silver shrine.
16
Afterwards, his relics were raised by the
venerable Bishops, Abbots, Monks, Clergymen, Nuns, by numbers of the
common people assembled for this occasion. Miracles were wrought at the
in their silver shrine. ? These are said to have been preserved in the Cathedral. 18 When he was in the City of Cork, the holy bishop Fursaeus10 sawagoldenladderplacedatthetombofthismanofGod. TheLegend states, it was intended for taking up souls, to the Kingdom of Heaven. Thither, the topmost part of that ladder appeared to reach. The exact year
time. With psalms, hymns and spiritual canticles, these relics were placed 1
ao The city of Cork is situated on the River Lee21 in the southern part of a
of Finbar's death, not being known, it is conjecturally placed about a. d. 623.
county bearing the like name, and forming part of Munster province.
22
This
"Quorum memoriam superius fecimus. " Yet, we look in vain for their names, in the previous part of this Life. Perhaps, in its
present state, it may be regarded as imper- lect.
IO
lie "received the Sacrament at the hands of Calangus, ended his days, and was
16
The Bollandists remark, that the fables
"
brought to the church-yard of old Corke, xxv. , De S. Barro vel Finbarro Ep.
"*" If we as is suppose,
"
are n—ot named in the Codex Bodleiensis
copy. Ibid. , p. 20. Among the foregoing,
Mr. Caulfield has Mocholmog or Colman Cham rendered "Colman the crooktd," perhaps Colman de Caem-Achaidh, vene- rated at the 31st of March, and he adds, that Segenus is said to have been Abbot of Hy, and to have built a church at Rechrann in Dalriada, in Ultonia. If this be so, he is venerated on the 12th of August. At those respective dates notices of them are to be found respectively in the Third Volume of this work, Art. iii. , and in the Eighth
Volume, Art. iv.
"3 See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni-
cum," p. 62, and note (c), 16, where he cites for authority Conry's MS.
Life. 111
ing extract, with the introduction of the figures, which indicate variations of reading
as found in the Trinity College Codex, have been introduced by Mr. Richard Caulfield to illustrate his version. See " Life of Saint Fin Bane," pp. 17, 18.
1,2 The Codex Kilkenniensis states: "In illo autem loco Sanctus Barrus usque ad obitum suum mansit, et ibi in honore ejus
That in the Codex Kilkenniensis Manu-
nominibus aliqui nominantur, Factna, filius 12
Mongich, et Mocolmoc filius Gilliani et 3 Mocholmoc, 4 Caunch, et Fachtnanus, et
highly probable, that when founding it he was a bishop, and
add the 17 years of his incumbency, his
—Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
death may be assigned to 623. "
September 25. ] LIVES Of THE IRISH SAINTS. 567
In the ancient acts of Senan, Abbot of Iniscathy, it is said that during the life of this saint, Barr presided over a community of monks at Cork. 115 But, as St. Senan died a. d. 544, Papebroke considers this prefecture to have been placed at too early a date Il6 for he supposes, St. Barr had not then exceeded
;
the period of early youth, even if it be allowed he was born. ? However,
it is reasonably allowed, that St. Barr flourished in the latter part of the sixth
and of the seventh 8 While St. Senanus was at Innis- beginning century. "
carra, near Lua, fifty Roman monks came to him. These he divided into five bands or companies. Ten of those monks he is said to have given to
11 Barreus. ?
Our saint is generally supposed to have become distinguished, about the commencement of the seventh century, when he was raised to the
On account of their sanctity, the disciples of St. Bairre went to other places, which with themselves were offered to their own holy master. At the time the Life of our Saint, as contained in the Codex Kilkenniensis, had been written, these places were subject to St. Barr's successors. This writer's meaning must have been, that those new monasteries were or had beensubjecttotheCorkestablishmentj but,withregardtoallofthembeing subordinate to the latter, we require better authority. Being probably a member of Cork monastery, the writer in question may have been willing to adopt rather hasty and unjustifiable conclusions. "
dreaming
Nessan, patron
of
Mungret,
tomus i. , Martii viii.
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
116
iv. , pp. 313, 314, Although Ware is silent, as to the time when our saint became bishop of Cork, his editor Harris has inserted in the
Fasti Ecclesise Hibernicae,"
121 This is the more if we allow him to have been probable,
episcopacy.
acquainted with St. David of Menevia in Wales, and a contemporary with St. Maidoc of Ferns. 122 UssherI23 and Harris12* state, that he was bishop in the commencement of the seventh century, and that he flourished about the year 630. Smith argues, that if St. Nessan, his disciple, died in the year 551, as the Four Masters allege,125 our saint must have lived almost a hundred years earlier than Sir James Ware allows. 126 However, Smith must have been
ofSt.
identicalwithSt. NessanofCork. Wearetold,thatwiththeaidofmany good men, St. Finnbarr built the old Church of Cork,128 to which he annexed
land," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, iv. , n. 68, p. 318.
1,5 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
Vita ex MSS. Hibernicis, cap. hi. , sect. 21, p. 772.
De Sancto Senano
I22
"
Ecclesiastical Episcopo et Abbate in Hibernia. Secunda History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect.
Archdeacon Henry Cotton places the
" "—"
episcopate of St. Barr over Cork, a. d. 606
text ot his author
to 623. See vol. i. , p. 215.
"7
Cork," p. 556.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. ,
Septembris xxv. Vita S. Barri, sect, ii. ,
n. 22, p. 145.
1,8
on Finn Barr in Leslie Stephen's "Die-
See the Rev. Thomas Olden's article
53f.
,24 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
Cork," p. 556. 5"
"
tionary of National Biography," vol. xix. , pp. 35, 36.
" See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
119 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," Martii viii. Supplementum Vitae S. Senani,cap. xx. ,p. 533(rede529).
Four Masters," vol. i. , and n. (f), pp. 188,
,2e " Some of the monasteries ascribed to
the so-called disciples of Barr might have
been colonies from that of Cork, established
from time to time at various periods after
County and City of Cork," vol. i. , book ii. ,
chap, ix. , p. 362.
12? His feast occurs on the 25th of July, at
which date, notices of him may be found in
his (Barr's) death. "—Rev. Dr. Lanigan's the Seventh Volume of the present work,
"
chap, xiv. , sect, iv. , n. 69, pp. 318, 319.
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Art. ii.
12? near whowasnot Limerick,
I21 " See Father Francis Porter's
Com- pendium Annalium Ecclesiasticorum Regni
Hibernize," sectio v. , cap. vii. , p. 197.
the beginning of the seventh century. " See vol. i. , Bishops of
"3 " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum See
Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 503, and Index Chronologicus ad ANN. dcxxx. , p.
189.
,26 "
128
In his account of Irish localities,
See AncientandPresentStateofthe
11
Bishops of
568 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 25.
a " faire " Church-yard. "9 There he gathered around him a numerous
company of monks, who according to primitive usage lived in separate cells. He also established a school, which obtained great distinction in his time. Nor are we to take the statement, as quite exact, that St. Barr erected a special cathedral at Cork ; for, it is probable, such a church differed not from his monastic one. There can be little question about his having been consecrated bishop, as many other abbots were ; but, for a long time after his death, we obtain only very uncertain and imperfect accounts concerning the Cork bishops, who were his successors. The school of St. Barr or of his monastery is only particularly alluded to in the tract called his Life. It is
Old Cathedral of Cork.
little spoken of in our more ancient documents. 130 It seems probable that the early cathedral of Cork was of very moderate size, and of primitive construction ; as during the middle ages and down to the last century, the church which served that purpose was one of very humble architectural pretensions. It passed into Protestant possession, and was used for their
I
worship until i725,'3 when it fell into decay and was then taken down, in
order to be rebuilt. An ancient round tower formerly stood in the church- yard, a little detached Jrom the cathedral. The new church was erected on
William
" Here on a
Priests and their in Theology,
Allingham says :
hillock, Bairre, alias Finn Bairre, ' the fair
dices, against
his own
quaint
founded his little church in the seventh History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. ,
'— — Barry probably from his complexion
•
,3°
"
century. "
129 See Dr. Hanmer, who adds to the
sect, iv. , and n. 63, pp. 314 to 317.
131 It is represented in the accompanying illustration, copied from that contained in
foregoing account, "wherein now standeth
a watch Tower builded the Danes. '— by
the
of the Cork Historical
and
"Journal
"Chronicle of Ireland," pp. 108, 109. The Archaeological Society," voi. i. , p. 97, by
Doctor then introduces a Legend, in which Gregor Grey, and by him drawn and very amusingly he displays peculiar preju- engraved on the wood.
terms.
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 569 the site of the former one, and finished in 1735, when it was opened for
2
religious service. ^
According to the legend given in one of our Saint's Lives, St. Bairre went
from Cork to Rome in company with Eolang, Maedhog of Ferns, David of
Cill Muine, and twelve monks, so that he might take the grade of bishop. ^
Gregory, who was successor to Peter at that time, raised his hand over the
head of our saint to confer consecration, when a flame came on it from
Heaven while he was reciting the words of the ritual. Then Gregory said :
" Go to your house, and the Lord himself will read the gradation of Bishop
for you. " This prophecy was fulfilled, when Bairre returned to his own
church. Again it is related, that some time after our Saint settled at Corcaid.
1
St. Maccuirp, 34 the master of Barrus, returned from Rome, and was received
withhonouronhisarrival. HerelatedtothesaintallthingsthatSt. Gregory toldhimwhenatRome. Theseincidentsbeingheardof,severalothersaints came from various churches.
On a day appointed, they all entered into a church and prayed, expecting the accomplishment of a Divine mystery. Whileprpying,theAngelsofGoddescendedandappearedtothem. The Angels raised St. Barr and St. Maccuirp aloft with them, and consecrated them as Bishops. Then letting them down near the altar, the manner of their episcopal consecration was manifested. Accompanying such a mira- culous occurrence, we are told, that oil broke forth from the earth near the altar, until it came over the shoes of those there standing. Then, all gave thanks to God for such miraculous events, and glorified those Saints, whom the Angels had thus consecrated. x35 On that very day, St. Barr and St. Maccuirp, as Bishops, with other clerics, marked out the cemetery of St. Barr's Church, which is called Corchadh. They afterwards consecrated it. This they also promised in the Lord's name, that after the Day of Judgment, hell should not close on any person, who should have been interred in it.
When the burial-ground attached to Cork Cathedral had been consecrated, the holy bishop Maccuirp requested that his body should be the first laid in that cemetery. His prayer was heard ; for immediately he was seized with illness. Having happily died, he was the first to be honourably interred within the Cemetery at Corchaige, by the venerable Bishop Barrus and other
holy clergymen. The deceased Bishop Maccuirp was a very saintly man, and possessed of much wisdom. ^6 If we are to admit, that Mac-corb, the preceptor of our Saint, had heard the instructions of Pope Gregory the Great, Barr must have been too young to have been consecrated bishop, about the year 600. Nor did St. Barr obtain distinction, it is supposed, until several lateryears had elapsed. ^ We may regard the account of Cork having grown into a large city, astrueonlyatatimelongsubsequenttooursaint'sdeath. Probablyavillage sprung up around Barr's monastery, situated in a part of the present city, and that it gradually grew into a large town before the arrival of the Danes.
133 See Dr. Charles Smith's "Ancient and Present State of the County and City of Cork,'' vol. i. , book ii. , chap, ix. , p.
372«
the Office of our saint, to which allusion has been made by the Bollandists. By them we are told, regarding St. Barr, "ad preces Ealongi elevatur in aera," ic.
I36 So also says Hanmer, speaking of this
"
133 The Rev. Thomas Olden remarks :
Barra's tra—vels are scarcely referred to in interment at Cork, but giving a different '"""
his Life. '
Leslie
Stephen's Dictionary
name
:
Torpereus, Bishop
of Cloan, his
of National Biography," vol. xix. , p. 36.
134 In the Coaex Kilkenniensis, this name
is spelled Meccuirp, and in the Bodleian
copy Maccuyribius.
135 Some reference to these miraculous
occurrences appears to have been found in
(Barr's) school-master, was the first—man that "
was buried in that church-yard. " Chro-
nicle of Ireland," p. 109.
x3? See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesias-
tical History ol Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, iv. , p. 314.
"
57© LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Septembersj.
These foreigners are said to have been founders of Cork, according to
x8
received tradition. 3 This statement has been questioned,'-^ however, and
the account we find in the Irish Annals of abbots presiding there, long before the arrival of the invading Danes, proves sufficiently that it had been a town of importance, which grew around the monastic school established, even so early as the seventh century.
CHAPTER III.
PERIOD OF ST. FINBARK'S SOJOURN AT CORK—DEATH OF HIS MASTER, BISHOP MACCUIRP, AND HIS BURIAL THERE—FINBARR's SELECTION OF A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR—HE VISITS I- 1 AMA AT DESERTMORE TO OBTAIN RELICS—FINBARR's VISIT TO CLOYNE, WHERE HIS DEATH TAKES PLACE—HIS INTERMENT AT CORK—ECCLESIASTICAL TRADITIONS OF THE SEE—CALENDAR CELEBRATIONS OF ST. FINBARR's FEAST— M KMORIALS—CONCLUSION.
Aperiodoffour 1 issaidtohave fromthetimeoursainterected years, elapsed,
the church of Corcach, until his death. In that place, St. Barry remained, but for what period is not exactly known, our ecclesiastical historians being
divided in on the opinion
subject.
2 After the death of his
master, Bishop
Maccuirp, St. Barr had some hesitation as to the selection of his father
confessor. He therefore thought of going to the holy senior, Eoling,3 that
he might have him as his spiritual director, or to ask him if this were
not possible, what other person could be recommended. It was supposed,
by those well informed, this holy Senior, Eoling,* had baptised our Saint.
Inspired with a prophetic spirit, Eoling had a presentiment, that St. Barry
would visit him. He thus announced the matter to his monastic family :
"
This day a holy guest, with his companions, will come to us : therefore, prepare a bath and refreshments for their arrival. " Soon, the man of Cod was received with honour. On saluting the guests, St. Eoling's attendant
said
:
* The holy Senior, our Master, is very much rejoiced at your arrival.
Letyourshoesbetakenoff, thatyourfeetmaybewashedwithwater,and
afterwards bathe. " St. Barr said, that it would be more pleasing to salute
the senior, than to bathe. When the attendant related these words to Eoling,
"
accept our hospitality for this night, that on to-morrow he may proceed to his
he thus replied :
own cell. There I will salute him ;
•3s See the local historian, Smith's " An-
cient and Present State of the County and
City of Cork," vol. i. , book ii. , chap, ix. , pp.
362, 363, 364. Also Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
"
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, iv. , and n. 62, pp. 314, 316. '» The Rev. C. B. Gibson, in his " His-
Tell St. Barr to allow his feet to be washed, and let him
"
nion ;" but he says, that the Danes may stone
indignantly rejects Smith's
received opi- and r—aths. In the church-yard is Olan's
have built the walls of Cork, when they first
quietly possessed this city in 1172. Pre- viously, they are only recorded in ancient annals, as having burnt or plundered it. See, vol. ii. ,chap. xiii. , p. 306.
Chapter hi. —' The MS. Codex Kil-
"
kenniensis has it,
'See Archdeacon Henry Cotton's
height— and
iv. annoium erat," &c.
"
for, on the seventh day, I must go to
saint's Life the name is found written Colin-
gus or Coling. In the Bodleian copy it is
written Eolyngus.
* Eoling is thought to have been the same
as St. Olan, patron of Aghabulloge, a parish in the diocese of Cloyne. In the vicinity of the church are many remains of olden times,
tory of the County and City of Cork," such as pillars, circles, oghams, rock-basins
Fasti
Ecclesiae Hibernicse," vol. i. , Diocese of St. Olan's well, by Mr. Windale, in August,
Cork, p. 215. 1851. See Mr. Richard Caulfield's "Life In the Codex Kilkenniensis copy of our of St. Fin Barre," n. (a), p. 19.
6 feet 6 inches in cap, a circular concave stone, about which there are many tradi- tions. A very fine stone, 12 feet 6 inches
in height, with an ogham inscription, was for many years used as a bridge across a narrow part of the river Dallaheena, which runs near. This stone was removed and placed upright in its original position near
a fine
ogham
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 571
him, and then we shall both salute each other, for this is pleasing to God. Such a great man should not undergo so much labour on my account ; and therefore, I will not see him, until I have had some labour for his sake. " So
it happened, as he required ; for St. Barr returned the day following. Sevendayshavingelapsed,Eolingwenttovisithim. Asthevisitorentered the church of Corchagia, he was honourably received by its venerable Bishop Barms. TheSeniorimmediatelyfelldownbeforethebishop'sfeet,saying, " Promise to accept from me, whatsoever I shall give you. " When Barrus had
u
promised compliance with that request, the holy Senior said : forever,mybody,mysoulandmyplace,toGodandtoyou. " Oursaintthen
Behold, I offer wept, and declared, that he desired to make precisely the like offering to Eolang.
"Thisshallnotbeso foryouaredearertoand replied : ;
The
greaterwithGodthanIam. ButIdemandaremunerationformyoffering from you, namely, that we should expect resurrection in the same place. "5
"
Senior
St. Barrus replied :
holy
That shall be granted you ; but you have not yet solved
my enquiry regarding your being my father confessor, for which purpose I have come to you. " St. Eoling said to him: "You will have the true confessor and friend of your soul, who is Christ ; he will now take your hand out of my hand, and hear your most pure confession. " We are told, that a great multitude of Archangels and Angels being then present, and a choir of faithful and holy men standing around, Christ our Lord took the hand of the most blessed pontiff, Barrus, from the hand of the holy senior Eoling. Having heard Barr's religious confession, our Lord dismissed him. The
6 preceding occurrence took place," it is said, at the cross of Coling, and from
such day until the death of St. Barrus, on account of its excessive brightness, his hand could not be looked upon by men, as a glove was always placed about it.
Before he had been called away from life, the holy Bishop prayed for an increase of saintly relics for his grave-yard. Then came his Angel who said :
44 Go to the up
of Criomthann, for there are relics of On Bishops. "
country
the morrow, he went to Desertmore, where he met Fiama, son of Eogan, and a synod was there engaged burying relics which he desired to obtain. He
asked what had been they
when Fiama ,l An
of the Lord spoke to me last night, and told me to come for those relics, and so I brought them away from where they had been. " Bairre then said, that very
cause brought him from home, and when Fiama asked what was to be done,
doing,
replied
;
Angel
received for reply, that the relics should be left with him. said Fiama, M and I will announce to you its reward.
That is well,"
" At
be the place good, and let there be veneration on earth for your successors. '' Wherefore, Fiama deserved giving the body of Christ to our
saint, on the day of his death. ?
When the departure of Holy Barrus was near, he told a few of his favoured
disciples that he should die in his own church. By this we are probably to understand the one he had founded at Cloyne, as appears from the context met with in his Lives. Knowing where he was to depart from this life, Barr
8
proceeded towards the cell of Cluain, to the holy Cormachus and
Buchenius. 9 Fiama also went there to meet him. Bairre then said " It is
:
5 See Dr. Hanmer's "Chronicle of Ire- 7 Such is the account as given in the land," p. 109, where Coling is called, Burgundian Manuscript Life of Fin Bairre,
chap. xxii.
8
The Codex Kilkenniensis MS. has it, "ad cellam Cluaine. "
'The Codex Kilkenniensis MS. adds:
relics be "
yours
from this to the of
Day Judgment. "
first," replied
Bairre,
" Cloane. "
Calangus a reverend Man, then Abbot of
6 In the Codex Kilkenniensis, it is called, " Crux Colingi. "
"
Let this place and its
57* LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 25.
time for me to be released from the prison of this body, and go to the King of Heaven, since now I have His summons. " When this amiable champion of Christ came to the cell of Cluain, and saluted ihe monks that
10
Having received the holy Viaticum of Christ's body and blood from Fiama," he gave up his most happyspirittoGod. ThereacrossinthemiddleofCluaincellafterwards
stood. 12 A
A multitude of men, wearing divers habits, 1 ? having been assembled, our
saint's body was brought with due honour to his own city of Corcaid. There it was buried. It is also related, that our saint died at Cloyne. 14 Moreover, it is stated, that on the occasion of his interment, the sun stood in the
lived there he was immediately seized with infirmity.
great
number of saints were around him at that time.
Heavens for fifteen 1 * his
days. Thence, body
had been translated to Cork,
to be deposited in a silver shrine.
16
Afterwards, his relics were raised by the
venerable Bishops, Abbots, Monks, Clergymen, Nuns, by numbers of the
common people assembled for this occasion. Miracles were wrought at the
in their silver shrine. ? These are said to have been preserved in the Cathedral. 18 When he was in the City of Cork, the holy bishop Fursaeus10 sawagoldenladderplacedatthetombofthismanofGod. TheLegend states, it was intended for taking up souls, to the Kingdom of Heaven. Thither, the topmost part of that ladder appeared to reach. The exact year
time. With psalms, hymns and spiritual canticles, these relics were placed 1
ao The city of Cork is situated on the River Lee21 in the southern part of a
of Finbar's death, not being known, it is conjecturally placed about a. d. 623.
county bearing the like name, and forming part of Munster province.
22
This
"Quorum memoriam superius fecimus. " Yet, we look in vain for their names, in the previous part of this Life. Perhaps, in its
present state, it may be regarded as imper- lect.
IO
lie "received the Sacrament at the hands of Calangus, ended his days, and was
16
The Bollandists remark, that the fables
"
brought to the church-yard of old Corke, xxv. , De S. Barro vel Finbarro Ep.
