She furtively took what is
indifferently
called in the Latin Life of our
a " Habellum,"37 or " Kabellum," which formed a of that saint, large portion
tribute due to the holy bishop.
a " Habellum,"37 or " Kabellum," which formed a of that saint, large portion
tribute due to the holy bishop.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
He then presented himself with his family and town, to the holy Bishop for ever ; and, to his great joy, he and his people were baptized.
Dercan also asked our saint, that he would bless some place within this territory, and which should afterwards bear his name in perpetuity.
Then St.
Declan blessed a ceitain stone near that habitation.
9 The saint
" If the chieftain and people of the Desies, going to war with their enemies, or to avenge any injury against another nation, shall pass around that stone, invariably they shall return invincible, and obtain a victory over their enemies. But evil must befall this people, if through pride they shall not pass around this stone, because being unworthy of victory, they ought not
then said
obtain it. " That
disciples.
brought
St. Ultan with him, from his 5 monastery. '
10
sect.
Meaning
Ilibernia, cap. vii. ,
55, 56, 57,
:
was then called Teach Dercain to it was after- ; but,
11* He afterwards Then,theholyBishopwenttohisancestralcountryofBreigh, inwhichThe-
8 I4
See "Acta Sanctorum. " tomus v. , Colgnn remarks, that the ancient writer
Julii xxiv. De S. Peclano Episcopo Aid- of our saint's Acts indicates, that he saw
village 11
to circumstances connected with this miracle. 12
wards named
Thither came the holy men, Conan, Mochoba, Ultan, son of Ere, and the son of Laisre,'3 to St. Declan, presenting themselves to God under his magis- tracy and rule. St. Declan founded a monastery in that village of Dercan, called Coninga, and there he placed those saints, already named, with other
Coninga, owing
morise in Ilibernia, cap. vi. , sects. 53, 54,
Declan's own disciples, from these words
"
ferlur nobis ex antiquis ejus disci- pulis," tbid. , n. 4.
p. 603. used, 9 From that time to the period, when the
author of our sanl's Acts wrote, it was called the Stone of St. Declan.
" the House of Declan. "
" At that time when the Life of St.
Declan had been wiitlen.
12 " Ab ilia ungula canina vocatur. "
n For an account of these different saint*,
Ave mity refer to Colgan's "Acta Sancto-
rum Hibernise," xiv. Martii. ^Vita S. UUani, p. 608.
' 5 Sec "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
:
Truly, do I see Satan's servant
Julii xxiv.
morise in
De S. Declano Episcopo Ard-
pp. 603, 604.
,0 Abo called Dreg and Breach, which
w,as a large and level district in East Meath,
comprising five cantreds, and extending northwards so far as the Cassan, now the
Annagassan stream, near Dundalk.
'7 Jn commenting on these words;
"
Et
16
;
nevertheless,
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 337
moria was situated. There, the King of Taraand the nobles of Breagh received him with great honour. For, being a native of that district, its people deemed and loved St. Declan as a countryman, and the ties of con-
sanguinity were acknowledged. It is said, that the holy man constructed a 1
monastery of Canons, ? in a field which was granted to him, and which had
been called after his name. 18 There, he left a celebrated Book of Gospels,
which he brought with him. This book was afterwards preserved in that
locality, with great honour, and miracles are said to have been wrought
through its instrumentality. Having blessed that place, our saint then retired
x into Munster. 9
While on his journey homewards through the Ossorian territory, St.
Declan turned towards a certain castle in which he purposed resting for the
night; but, the evil-disposed inhabitants of that fort, not alone inhospitably refused him admittance, but even drove him away by force, and loaded him
with reproaches.
Our saint, with his disciples, prayed to God, that in their
" Mine is
what is found written in Sacred
case
ment, and I will repay. " Accordingly, the inhabitants in that part of the country, to the number of three score, died on that night; only two men and ten women, who felt indignant at how others had treated our saint, were exemptfromthisfatalpunishment. Theselattercameinanhumblemanner to St. Declan, on the day following, and told him concerning the miserable deaths of their companions. Of this, however, he had a foreknowledge. Doing penance for their sins, the survivors presented the saint with lands and othergifts. Wherethedeadbodieshadbeenburied,heconstructedafamous
which was called Celcolum 20 The saint dherig.
might happen,
Scripture :
judg-
monastery,
superior a pious and holy man, from amongst his disciples.
appointed
21 which is Latinized Columbus
derived from the eastern part of Leinster. From him, this monastery obtained itsname. Havingblessedthatplace,St. DeclanreturnedtotheDeciester- ritories. On the evening of another day, our saint with his disciples came to that place already mentioned, and which was called Atrium Bressail. But, its inhabitants would not suffer him to enter their castle or fort. They had pre- viously hidden their vessels, so that our saint might not be able to pass over into his island. This dislike, which they bore to God's pious servant, was wholly unprovoked, on his part. But, the Almighty converted the sea into
Columdearg,
construxit ibi sanctus Declanus monasterium in agro sibi dato Canonicorum," &c, the Bollandist editor very correctly states, that there were no Canons in
Ireland,
of St. Declan, judged to be in the fifth or
sixth century, n. (b). Originally the title of
Canons was derived from the Greek word Kavwv, which has the signification of the
Roll or Catalogue of every church, wherein
the names of ecclesiastics were written, and
which meant the Rule for knowing to which
church they belonged. In this sense, it is
often used by the Council of Nice. The
Council of Antioch calls ayios /cavthv, or the Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Sacred Roll ; while the Apostolical Canons
have KaraXoyos tepari/cos, or the Catalogue of the Clergy. Even, at an early date, all those whose names were set down in the Books of the Church, to entitle them to re- ceive maintenance from the church, such as
the monks, virgins and widows, &c, were known as Canonici. See Rev. Joseph Bing-
p. 604.
20 In Latin it is written, " Columbi Ruffi
Cella. " It has not been identified.
3I Under the many saints, called Colum, in the Irish Calendars, we do not find any one designated Colum Dearg, which means
Red Colum.
in the time
RurTus,
ties of the Christian Church," vol . i. , book i. ,
chap, v. , sect. 10, pp. 15, 16. London edi-
tion, 1878, 8vo.
l8 Weare thatin informed, by D'Achery,
the ancient Irish Canons, some of which he has edited, although there is frequent men-
tion of monks, clerics, and priests, there is no account of canons. See "Veterum
""
ham's OriginesEcclesiastical,orAntiqui- Inrelatingthiscircumstance,theauthor
as its He was called and whose was
aliquot Scriptorum, qui in Galliae Bibliothe- cis, maxime Benedictinorum latuerant Spici-
legium," &c, tomus i. , p. 492. Parisiis, 1655 to 1677.
I9 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Ardmoriae in Hibemia, cap. vii. , sect. 58,
origin
338 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [J uly 24.
dry land, according to the prophetic expression, on account of that injustice offered to St. Declan, and because of his servant's holiness, when offering his prayers. The saint remained for that night in a deserted shed on the highway, not being even able to obtain any fire from the neighbouring inhabi- tants. 22 However, the Almighty was justly avenged on them. For, while they felt unwilling charitably to bestow fire for the use of God's servants; fire came on them around the sea, so that the inhabitants and their castle were
entirely consumed, owing to the Omnipotent's avenging wrath. ** We are next told, that on another day, while Bishop Declan had been proceeding on a
journey through the mountains of Gua, in the Decies' territory, ahorse under his chariot became so lame, that he could not walk. Then, seeing a distant herd of deer on the mountain, our saint ordered a servant, named Dor- managh, to bring one from that herd, which should be strong enough to put in harness, and to take the place of his jaded horse. Not doubting that he should find a tame deer, as the man of God had predicted, the servant pro- ceeded on his errand, and the herd quietly awaited his arrival, until he selected therefrom a strong stag. This animal bore the saint in his chariot, without exhibiting any signs of weariness that whole day, until the plain of Femhyn was reached. On arriving at a house of entertainment, St. Declan com- manded that stag to return to the herd ; and, when the holy man had thus spoken, the animal took his prescribed way in presence of all. St. Declan bestowed his blessing on Dormanagh,2* and gave him a town, called Magh-
gubra,25 in a northern part of the Decies' territory, and near the Eoghanaght 26
country.
At another time, and while Declan, with a large crowd, had been
travelling in his usual manner,3? one of his disciples chanced to fall on the
road, and a compound fracture of the thigh ensued. On seeing this, our saint ordered a companion to bind the fractured limb, lest the man to whom the accident had happened might die through loss of blood. But, on account of a shock occasioned to all present when seeing his wound, they severally declined this until one of the named Dualach,28
office, company,
and cheerfully approached. He said
Patron Declan, I will act as surgeon in this case. " This he said, also, in a light
:
and sportive manner; however, he skilfully bound up the wounded man's limb,andinthepresenceofall blessedhim,inthenameofGodandofSt. Declan. Immediately, the brother began to grow better. After a short interval, his wound closing, this disciple was perfectly restored, without suffering the least pain. When the bandage was ordered to be removed, a mark only was found on the limb, where the flesh and skin had been united over the fractured bones. All who were there gave thanks to God and to St.
of our saint's Acts precedes his narrative
with these words, " De hoc quidcm audis-
tis,"&c.
23 After this account, the author of our
"
saint's Acts adds :
desertum sub maledicto sicut scriptum est ; Civitas eorum destruxisti. "— " Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus v. , Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Ardnftorise in Ilibernia, cap. vii. , sed. 59, 60, p. 604.
** This man's descendants were considered respectable, at a time when the author of our saint's Acts wrote, and that they dwelt there, in St. Declan's service, we are also in-
formed on his authority. Probably, these peoplelivedastenantsonthemonasticlands.
3= This denomination appears to be in- capable of identification.
it immediatelysurroundingCashel.
cum. "— Ussher's "BrhannicarumEcclesiarumAm
Et illud est usque hodie
confidently " In the name of Christ, and of our
2? Theancientwriterremarks
et turboe cedenlium et Christi pauperes et
peregrini semper sequebantur tiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 450.
*8
This person seems to have no other his- toric or traditional record than the present one, such as it is. There is a saint Duileach of Clochar venerated in our Calendars, at the 1 7th of November, but it is not likely he can be identical with the Dualach mentioned in the text,
8» See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
:
"Discipuli
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 339
Declan, together with that clisciple, who thus had been restored to the use of his limb. Our saint then addressed Dualach, who had cured this disciple,
:
inthefollowingwords "Youhavepromisedtobecomeasurgeoninthecase
of this limb, and in the name of Christ and of Declan, the Lord hath willingly bestowed health on your patient by his power, while in obedience you bound the fracture. Wherefore, from this moment, you shall prove a most skilful physician ; and your posterity, until the end of time, shall become approved and respectable physicians. If they shall sign any infirm person with a sign of the cross in my name, and in that of Christ, God's grace shall assist patients, through their healing practices, provided they entertain no hatred to mortal man, nor place their hearts on obtaining an exorbitant fee. " The author of our saint's Acts assures us, that according to the holy bishop's promise, the descendants of that man, whether male or female, were distinguished as skilful medical practitioners, through all subsequent time. Their entire family and kindred, likewise, served the successors of St. Declan. 29
While the saint was journeying in the western part of Femhyn plain, and near the river Suir's course, some persons carrying an infant to be baptized by a certain priest, met him. Filled with the spirit of prophecy, Declan said,
" Wait
persons who bore the child, not having indicated to the holy bishop or to
any of his servants the occasion of their journey, were greatly surprised. St. DeclancalledthatinfantSabe. "3° Hisfriendsremarked,thatneitheravessel31 nor salt could be found, to serve for the child's baptism, at that place in which
sign of the cross over it, while he mentally offered a prayer. Immediately, the earth which he held in his hands assumed a whitish and salt appearance,
before all the spectators present. These admired the Omnipotent's wonders, and those gifts bestowed on his great servant. The holy prelate there
on those seeing
persons :
here,
I shall
baptize
this infant. " Those holy
they were. 32 AVhereupon, the bishop said
vessel, which is the adjoining river, and by the power of Christ, salt shall be given to us. For this infant shall be holy and a wonder-worker before God and man, while through him with God's grace many miracles shall be wrought. " Atthistime,theystoodontheRiverSuir'sbanks,andataplace called Herend. 33 This was far from any village. Weare told, that taking some earth in his hands, St. Declan moistened it with saliva, and made a
baptized that infant, and bestowed on him the name of Kiaran. 3 *
Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Ard- at the time when the writer of these Acts
said to those who were
"
the
nourish this spiritual son, and, in due course of time, deliver him to Catholics for instruction, because he shall be a luminous pillar in Christ's Church. " We are then told, that this Kieran, was son to Heodach, and that after a venerable old age, and the performance of many miracles, he departed this life, in a holy place, being buried in his celebrated monastery, called Tibrada, 3 5 now Tubbrid, in the baronies of Ififa and Offa West, in the county of Tipperary.
baptism,
holy bishop
present :
Carefully
morise in Hibernia, cap. viii. , sect. 62, 63, p. 605.
30 We cannot find any saint bearing this
name in our Irish Calendars. The nearest
approach to it seems to be Suibhne, and seven different holy men so called are vene- rated at different days.
31 Probably, by this term is meant a church font.
32 The relations of such incidents as these serve to illustrate our ancient religious rites and the ceremonies accompanying baptism,
lived.
33 if this be the correct form of name for
the locality, it now seems to be obsolete or unknown.
34 See an account of him, and of his place, at the 10th of November.
3S As Anglicised, this place may be deno- minated "the fountains. " The Bollandist editor remarks, that in the course of his read-
ing,
respecting this monastery, or was he able sufficiently to pronounce who was the holy
:
" We have both a long and a wide
he had not hitherto found mention made
After his
34o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24. T—his place was situated —on the western part of the Decies, and in its diocese
between the mountains ofCua and and now that Crost,
6
of Waterford
the tribe of people there it was called Hayth. 3 The wife of a certain villager
came with an offer of her service to St. Declan's monastery, not far from the
city.
She furtively took what is indifferently called in the Latin Life of our
a " Habellum,"37 or " Kabellum," which formed a of that saint, large portion
tribute due to the holy bishop. But, in presence of those who were passing
along the way, the earth swallowed her up, she being thus punished for injuries
inflicted on the monastic revenue, not only in the present instance, but on
former occasions. The legend further adds, that although she was thus
swallowedupwithintheearth,thestolenobjectejectedfromits bosomwas
converted into a stone, and in the view of all who were present. Meantime,
the holy bishop knew in spirit all that had occurred ; and, he related these
events to his brethren, who had being living with him in the monastery.
Those persons, who were present at the time of this miraculous occurrence,
speedily brought the stone to St. Declan, and they gave him an account of
what had been witnessed. Thenceforward, St. Declan's reputation was greatly
magnified by all, and his power when absent was respected, as much as if he
8
were present. 3
According to some accounts, St. Declan founded a seminary, so early as
416, and the light of Christianity proceeded from it to all the contiguous dis- tricts, which lay around Ardmore. 3$ This place was called in the Irish lan- guage, after the name of our saint, Ardmor Daglain,* and had its origin, when he began there to establish a monastery. The exact date for his foundation cannot now be ascertained, with any great degree of accuracy ; but, probably, it was either towards the close of the fifth or the beginning of
the sixth century.
At all events, it seems to have had existence before the
long
but, it
which took
the community in question continued to remain there is unknown ;
death of St.
Ailbe,
place early
seems that its members have 2 It is probable, long ages ago disappeared/
supposed/*3 that the ancient monastery of Ardmore followed St. Declan's
person here named Kieran. There were Handbook for Youghal," containing Notes many saints having the same name, among and Records of the Ancient Religious
the Irish, concerning whom, and various other homonymous saints, we have a refer- ence in the Introduction to the Monastical History of Ireland, edited at Paris, in the year 1690, at p. 6.
36 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , xxiv. Julii. De S. Declano Episcopo Ard- mnrise in Hibernia, cap. viii. , sect. 64, 65,
p. 605.
37 The Bollandist editor observes that he
Foundations, and the Historical Annals of
the Town," p. x. Youghal, John Lindsay, 1858, 8vo.
4° In Irish -djvomori "OedshLain. See
knew not what "habellum" meant, but tember," A. D. 541. Yet, in a note to this*
when in subsequent passages it is constantly
passage, the learned editor observes : "In the Annals of Ulster, and the Bodleian copy of the Annals of Innisfallen, the death of Ailbhe is entered under the year 526, which seems the true year ; but it is repeated in the Annals of Ulster at 541," ibid. , n. (c),
*3 More than likely, the isolated position of Ardmore, and the probability of no parti- cular chronicle having been compiled in its monastery, leave the place without any his- toric record in our Irish Annals,
43 By the Bollandist editor.
"
tribute which was paid to St. Declan, he
written
Kabellum," and as it refers to a
"
thinks the reading should be
which has the meaning of a sum of money or of some tribute which had been taken from the monastery of St. Declan.
38 The author of our saint's Life tells us, that the object, thus converted into a stone, was preserved through future time, and in a conspicuous position. It stood within the cemetery of St. Declan, at his city of Ard- more, as a memorial of that miracle.
gabellam,"
44 According to the Annals of Youghal, » See the Rev. Samuel Hayman's "New understood to have been compiled by the
in the sixth 1 How century. '*
Ussher's
"
Britannicarum Ecclcsiarum Anti-
quitates,"cap. xvii. , p. 450.
41 In Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 182, 183, we find
"
St. Ailbhe, Archbishop of Imleach-Inbhair, died on 12th day of Sep-
it stated, that
among
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 34i
peculiar rule or institute ; while a famous school is said to have existed in connexion with it. 44 A small city subsequently sprung up at Ardmore 4S
of its history
6 —after the time of St. Declan— ; yet,
little seems to be
Besides the ecclesiastical remains,*? there were trac—es of a castle there, in the beginning of the last century. At present Ardmore situated to the west of
has dwindled into a small 8
a bay similarly named— fishery town,* containing
however, many good houses. *9 It rises over a cliff-bound coast, and it has a
harbour possessing many natural advantages ; but, no pier or quay is there constructed to shelter vessels. There is not even a slip, which
should be of great service, and which might readily be planned to haul up boats. 50 To the east the bay is open, but on the south and west, there
St. Declan's Catholic Church and Town of Ardmore.
is partial shelter from the ocean currents and storms, owing to the position of Ardmore Head. It is stated, morever, that Ardmore had been constituted an episcopal See,51 by St. Declan ; as also, that he was its first Bishop, not alone his Acts relate, but it has been the constant local tradition, that he exercised such an office after he had become Abbot. Again, it is related, that he was immediately succeeded by St. Ultan. Long after Ultan's
Rev. Samuel Hayman, A. B. Third Series,
peared, and in the last century, plate iv.
48 A recent and an extended account of this place may be met with, in the Rev. Samuel Hayman's "New Handbook for
Youghal," pp. ix. to xv.
49 A view of the town and of the Catholic
church—dedicated to St. Declan—in the
foreground is here presented from a photo-
p.
I.
45 There is an interesting account of Ard-
more parish, and of its Antiquities to be
"
Present State of the County and City of
Waterford," chap, iii. , pp. 46 to 50.
46 In his work, " De Hiberniaet Antiqui- tatibus ejus," Sir James Ware has no notice of
seen in Dr. Charles Smith's
Ancient and
graph, procured for the author by Very Rev. the religious foundation here, in the Monas- John Walsh, P. P. That view has been
teriologia Hibernica, at cap. xxvi.
"
Ancient and present State of the County and City of Waterford," oppo- site to p. 92, there is a copperplate engrav- ing of Ardmore Round Tower, as it then ap-
drawn by William F. Wakeman on the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard
5° See " Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire-
land," vol, i. , p. 61.
51 It is classed among the more ancient
47 In Smith's
known/
342 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24.
time,Eugene52isknowntohavebeenBishophere,in1174; andinthisyear, along with Donat, Abbot of Maig, and Gregory of Cuanga, he was a sub- scribing witness to a charter granted to the Monastery of St. Finbar at Cork, byDermot,KingofMunster,sontothefounder. " Again,itisstated,that Moel-ettrimO'Duibhe-Rathra5* becameBishopofArdmore,anddieda. d.
1203.
This ancient See was annexed to that ofLismore,55 from which town,
it is only twelve miles distant. A certain writer maintains, there was a
monastery of Augustinian Canons Regular, at this place •& but, he advances
no authority, to sustain that opinion. " It is more than doubtful, if that monastery—at first established by St. Declan—afterwards belonged to Canons Regular, or whether, like so many other houses of a similar kind in Ireland, it became simply a parochial residence.
It is recorded, that the wife of a certain rich man, named Fintan, was without offspring, even to an advanced age. The couple came to St. Declan, and entreated him to beg of God, that they might be favoured with children. On their part, to procure his favour, they engaged to offer alms, and to per- form pious works. They declared, moreover, that they had most unbounded confidence, in theefiicacy of St. Declan's prayers. The bishop then bestowed
sumed, that his successors in the monastery claimed their fealty in likemanner. s The holy Albeus,5? Archbishop of Munster, knowing that the period of his
his blessing on them. He also said
<c Fulfil what you have promised, and through God's bounty, you shall be blessed with children. " After this pro- mise and benediction of the holy bishop, they returned to their house. Soon after this event, the wife of Fintan conceived, and in due course, two sons were born to her ; and these were named respectively Eoch and Fiacha. They and their posterity became St. Declan's dependants, and it is to be pre-
8
:
"
and pay a visit to my beloved companion and fellow-servant in Christ, Bishop
Declan, before I die. " Then Ailbe proceeded on his journey, to accomplish that purpose which he thus expressed. An Angel came to St. Declan, and told him, that the holy old man, his friend Albeus, was coming to visit him.
On learning it, the saintly Prelate Declan told his people to prepare every- thing necessary to receive his pious guest. Afterwards, he went from his own
60
Sees of Ireland, by Rev. Robert King, in his 58 The Acts of our saint remark, that this "Primer of the Church History of Ireland," dependency continued, "usque ad finem
departure was approaching, said to his disciples :
Brethren, I desire to see
that he might meet St. Albeus. On his arrival mere, St. Albeus was honourably received by St. Declan and by his people. Subsequently, Albeus remained fourteen days with our saint. This interval was spent in a mutual interchange of spiritual offices, and in holy
city, to a place called Druim luchtri,
vol. iii. , Appendix, No. ix. , p. 996.
5* To him has been attributed a Life of St.
Cuthbert.
53 See Rev. Samuel Hayman's "New before St. Patrick's coming, a. d. 432. See
Handbook for Youghal," p. xi.
s* It is probable, that with this name, the
list of the Bishops of this ancient See closes. See ibid.
55 When such union took place is not agrees,
known with certainty ; but, it has been thought by some writers, that Ardmore was
not a separate episcopal See, in the year
1152.
s6 See the '' Historia Monastica Hiber-
niae," p. 54, published at Paris in 1690.
57 This too has been advanedd by Rev.
Samuel Hayman, A. B. , in his "AnnaUf ol Youghal," Third Series, p. I.
6o
In a subsequent passage, the name of this place is written, " Druim luchri. " It seems probable enough, that this had been the name formerly given to that dividing chain of hills on the borders of the barony of Decies within Drum, and the barony of
I ><cies without Drum, in the present county ol Waterford.
6l Now a town and parish, in the barony
seculi. "
59 TJssher infers, that St. Albeus is not
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvi. , p. 409, and cap. xvii. , p. 453. Also Index Chronologicus, a. d. dxxxii. , p. 528. In this opinion of Ussher, Dr. Lanigan
likely to have preached the faith in Ireland,
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 343
charity, to the great interior consolation of those great servants of God. After such term was at an end, the venerable Ailbe returned to his own city,
61
at Emly,
which was situated on the great Munster plain ; when, with a con-
siderable number of people, St. Declan accompanied his departing guest to the
aforesaid Druim luchri. There,' St. Ailbe requested our saint's return towards
his own city. Having a presentiment, that they would not again behold each
other in this life, and full of mutual affection, these celebrated saints burst
into a flood of tears, on the instant. Offering up their prayers to God for its
long continuance, the holy prelates renewed the old fraternal alliance, already
existing between themselves and their disciples. Then, St. Albeus blessed
the Decies' city, its people, and its clerics, when St. Declan in turn bestowed
like spiritual favours on Bishop Ailbe and his charge. With the kiss of peace,
and with a sorrowful but holy resignation, having true love for God and for
their neighbour implanted in their breasts, these holy bishops and their dis-
ciples parted from each other, and returned to the places of their respective
62
habitations.
At one time, the Fort 6 3 f a Decies' chieftain, who was named Canicus,
tookfire,andtheflamesbeganragingtoafearfuldegree. VenerableBishop Declan, who felt much concerned at this accident, ran towards the castle. Taking in his hand that remarkable staff already mentioned, and with which he miraculously removed the sea, Declan threw it from the place where he stood, towards the burning edifice. By Divine permission, the staff flew through air, and fell over the topping flames and into the very middle of the forti- fication,which,atthattime,hadbeenhalfconsumed. Inaninstantaneous manner, the fire was extinguished. The distance between that place where our saint stood and the burning castle was computed, as a long mile, and
the name of Cuirt. 6^ On this witnessing
near the a spot lay
grove, bearing
miracle, the chieftain Canic, with all others present, were in admiration, and
they gave thanks to God. 6s This castle, here alluded to, was situated not
far from the River Suir, and on its southern bank. It was at a place which,
"
in our saint's Acts, is Latinized, Collis Stabilis. " But, that place, from
which St. Declan threw his staff, was situated near a shallow or ford of the same river, and it was opposite to the monastery of certain holy virgins, who
were — to this Canic. 66 Their daughters
locha 68 derived from its local probably
6? bore the name monastery Magh-
of Clanwilliam, and in the South Riding of the county of Tipperary. This ancient
episcopal seat had a long line of bishops,
obsolete. The grove in question grew not far from the present Clonmel.
" If the chieftain and people of the Desies, going to war with their enemies, or to avenge any injury against another nation, shall pass around that stone, invariably they shall return invincible, and obtain a victory over their enemies. But evil must befall this people, if through pride they shall not pass around this stone, because being unworthy of victory, they ought not
then said
obtain it. " That
disciples.
brought
St. Ultan with him, from his 5 monastery. '
10
sect.
Meaning
Ilibernia, cap. vii. ,
55, 56, 57,
:
was then called Teach Dercain to it was after- ; but,
11* He afterwards Then,theholyBishopwenttohisancestralcountryofBreigh, inwhichThe-
8 I4
See "Acta Sanctorum. " tomus v. , Colgnn remarks, that the ancient writer
Julii xxiv. De S. Peclano Episcopo Aid- of our saint's Acts indicates, that he saw
village 11
to circumstances connected with this miracle. 12
wards named
Thither came the holy men, Conan, Mochoba, Ultan, son of Ere, and the son of Laisre,'3 to St. Declan, presenting themselves to God under his magis- tracy and rule. St. Declan founded a monastery in that village of Dercan, called Coninga, and there he placed those saints, already named, with other
Coninga, owing
morise in Ilibernia, cap. vi. , sects. 53, 54,
Declan's own disciples, from these words
"
ferlur nobis ex antiquis ejus disci- pulis," tbid. , n. 4.
p. 603. used, 9 From that time to the period, when the
author of our sanl's Acts wrote, it was called the Stone of St. Declan.
" the House of Declan. "
" At that time when the Life of St.
Declan had been wiitlen.
12 " Ab ilia ungula canina vocatur. "
n For an account of these different saint*,
Ave mity refer to Colgan's "Acta Sancto-
rum Hibernise," xiv. Martii. ^Vita S. UUani, p. 608.
' 5 Sec "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
:
Truly, do I see Satan's servant
Julii xxiv.
morise in
De S. Declano Episcopo Ard-
pp. 603, 604.
,0 Abo called Dreg and Breach, which
w,as a large and level district in East Meath,
comprising five cantreds, and extending northwards so far as the Cassan, now the
Annagassan stream, near Dundalk.
'7 Jn commenting on these words;
"
Et
16
;
nevertheless,
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 337
moria was situated. There, the King of Taraand the nobles of Breagh received him with great honour. For, being a native of that district, its people deemed and loved St. Declan as a countryman, and the ties of con-
sanguinity were acknowledged. It is said, that the holy man constructed a 1
monastery of Canons, ? in a field which was granted to him, and which had
been called after his name. 18 There, he left a celebrated Book of Gospels,
which he brought with him. This book was afterwards preserved in that
locality, with great honour, and miracles are said to have been wrought
through its instrumentality. Having blessed that place, our saint then retired
x into Munster. 9
While on his journey homewards through the Ossorian territory, St.
Declan turned towards a certain castle in which he purposed resting for the
night; but, the evil-disposed inhabitants of that fort, not alone inhospitably refused him admittance, but even drove him away by force, and loaded him
with reproaches.
Our saint, with his disciples, prayed to God, that in their
" Mine is
what is found written in Sacred
case
ment, and I will repay. " Accordingly, the inhabitants in that part of the country, to the number of three score, died on that night; only two men and ten women, who felt indignant at how others had treated our saint, were exemptfromthisfatalpunishment. Theselattercameinanhumblemanner to St. Declan, on the day following, and told him concerning the miserable deaths of their companions. Of this, however, he had a foreknowledge. Doing penance for their sins, the survivors presented the saint with lands and othergifts. Wherethedeadbodieshadbeenburied,heconstructedafamous
which was called Celcolum 20 The saint dherig.
might happen,
Scripture :
judg-
monastery,
superior a pious and holy man, from amongst his disciples.
appointed
21 which is Latinized Columbus
derived from the eastern part of Leinster. From him, this monastery obtained itsname. Havingblessedthatplace,St. DeclanreturnedtotheDeciester- ritories. On the evening of another day, our saint with his disciples came to that place already mentioned, and which was called Atrium Bressail. But, its inhabitants would not suffer him to enter their castle or fort. They had pre- viously hidden their vessels, so that our saint might not be able to pass over into his island. This dislike, which they bore to God's pious servant, was wholly unprovoked, on his part. But, the Almighty converted the sea into
Columdearg,
construxit ibi sanctus Declanus monasterium in agro sibi dato Canonicorum," &c, the Bollandist editor very correctly states, that there were no Canons in
Ireland,
of St. Declan, judged to be in the fifth or
sixth century, n. (b). Originally the title of
Canons was derived from the Greek word Kavwv, which has the signification of the
Roll or Catalogue of every church, wherein
the names of ecclesiastics were written, and
which meant the Rule for knowing to which
church they belonged. In this sense, it is
often used by the Council of Nice. The
Council of Antioch calls ayios /cavthv, or the Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Sacred Roll ; while the Apostolical Canons
have KaraXoyos tepari/cos, or the Catalogue of the Clergy. Even, at an early date, all those whose names were set down in the Books of the Church, to entitle them to re- ceive maintenance from the church, such as
the monks, virgins and widows, &c, were known as Canonici. See Rev. Joseph Bing-
p. 604.
20 In Latin it is written, " Columbi Ruffi
Cella. " It has not been identified.
3I Under the many saints, called Colum, in the Irish Calendars, we do not find any one designated Colum Dearg, which means
Red Colum.
in the time
RurTus,
ties of the Christian Church," vol . i. , book i. ,
chap, v. , sect. 10, pp. 15, 16. London edi-
tion, 1878, 8vo.
l8 Weare thatin informed, by D'Achery,
the ancient Irish Canons, some of which he has edited, although there is frequent men-
tion of monks, clerics, and priests, there is no account of canons. See "Veterum
""
ham's OriginesEcclesiastical,orAntiqui- Inrelatingthiscircumstance,theauthor
as its He was called and whose was
aliquot Scriptorum, qui in Galliae Bibliothe- cis, maxime Benedictinorum latuerant Spici-
legium," &c, tomus i. , p. 492. Parisiis, 1655 to 1677.
I9 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Ardmoriae in Hibemia, cap. vii. , sect. 58,
origin
338 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [J uly 24.
dry land, according to the prophetic expression, on account of that injustice offered to St. Declan, and because of his servant's holiness, when offering his prayers. The saint remained for that night in a deserted shed on the highway, not being even able to obtain any fire from the neighbouring inhabi- tants. 22 However, the Almighty was justly avenged on them. For, while they felt unwilling charitably to bestow fire for the use of God's servants; fire came on them around the sea, so that the inhabitants and their castle were
entirely consumed, owing to the Omnipotent's avenging wrath. ** We are next told, that on another day, while Bishop Declan had been proceeding on a
journey through the mountains of Gua, in the Decies' territory, ahorse under his chariot became so lame, that he could not walk. Then, seeing a distant herd of deer on the mountain, our saint ordered a servant, named Dor- managh, to bring one from that herd, which should be strong enough to put in harness, and to take the place of his jaded horse. Not doubting that he should find a tame deer, as the man of God had predicted, the servant pro- ceeded on his errand, and the herd quietly awaited his arrival, until he selected therefrom a strong stag. This animal bore the saint in his chariot, without exhibiting any signs of weariness that whole day, until the plain of Femhyn was reached. On arriving at a house of entertainment, St. Declan com- manded that stag to return to the herd ; and, when the holy man had thus spoken, the animal took his prescribed way in presence of all. St. Declan bestowed his blessing on Dormanagh,2* and gave him a town, called Magh-
gubra,25 in a northern part of the Decies' territory, and near the Eoghanaght 26
country.
At another time, and while Declan, with a large crowd, had been
travelling in his usual manner,3? one of his disciples chanced to fall on the
road, and a compound fracture of the thigh ensued. On seeing this, our saint ordered a companion to bind the fractured limb, lest the man to whom the accident had happened might die through loss of blood. But, on account of a shock occasioned to all present when seeing his wound, they severally declined this until one of the named Dualach,28
office, company,
and cheerfully approached. He said
Patron Declan, I will act as surgeon in this case. " This he said, also, in a light
:
and sportive manner; however, he skilfully bound up the wounded man's limb,andinthepresenceofall blessedhim,inthenameofGodandofSt. Declan. Immediately, the brother began to grow better. After a short interval, his wound closing, this disciple was perfectly restored, without suffering the least pain. When the bandage was ordered to be removed, a mark only was found on the limb, where the flesh and skin had been united over the fractured bones. All who were there gave thanks to God and to St.
of our saint's Acts precedes his narrative
with these words, " De hoc quidcm audis-
tis,"&c.
23 After this account, the author of our
"
saint's Acts adds :
desertum sub maledicto sicut scriptum est ; Civitas eorum destruxisti. "— " Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus v. , Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Ardnftorise in Ilibernia, cap. vii. , sed. 59, 60, p. 604.
** This man's descendants were considered respectable, at a time when the author of our saint's Acts wrote, and that they dwelt there, in St. Declan's service, we are also in-
formed on his authority. Probably, these peoplelivedastenantsonthemonasticlands.
3= This denomination appears to be in- capable of identification.
it immediatelysurroundingCashel.
cum. "— Ussher's "BrhannicarumEcclesiarumAm
Et illud est usque hodie
confidently " In the name of Christ, and of our
2? Theancientwriterremarks
et turboe cedenlium et Christi pauperes et
peregrini semper sequebantur tiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 450.
*8
This person seems to have no other his- toric or traditional record than the present one, such as it is. There is a saint Duileach of Clochar venerated in our Calendars, at the 1 7th of November, but it is not likely he can be identical with the Dualach mentioned in the text,
8» See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
:
"Discipuli
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 339
Declan, together with that clisciple, who thus had been restored to the use of his limb. Our saint then addressed Dualach, who had cured this disciple,
:
inthefollowingwords "Youhavepromisedtobecomeasurgeoninthecase
of this limb, and in the name of Christ and of Declan, the Lord hath willingly bestowed health on your patient by his power, while in obedience you bound the fracture. Wherefore, from this moment, you shall prove a most skilful physician ; and your posterity, until the end of time, shall become approved and respectable physicians. If they shall sign any infirm person with a sign of the cross in my name, and in that of Christ, God's grace shall assist patients, through their healing practices, provided they entertain no hatred to mortal man, nor place their hearts on obtaining an exorbitant fee. " The author of our saint's Acts assures us, that according to the holy bishop's promise, the descendants of that man, whether male or female, were distinguished as skilful medical practitioners, through all subsequent time. Their entire family and kindred, likewise, served the successors of St. Declan. 29
While the saint was journeying in the western part of Femhyn plain, and near the river Suir's course, some persons carrying an infant to be baptized by a certain priest, met him. Filled with the spirit of prophecy, Declan said,
" Wait
persons who bore the child, not having indicated to the holy bishop or to
any of his servants the occasion of their journey, were greatly surprised. St. DeclancalledthatinfantSabe. "3° Hisfriendsremarked,thatneitheravessel31 nor salt could be found, to serve for the child's baptism, at that place in which
sign of the cross over it, while he mentally offered a prayer. Immediately, the earth which he held in his hands assumed a whitish and salt appearance,
before all the spectators present. These admired the Omnipotent's wonders, and those gifts bestowed on his great servant. The holy prelate there
on those seeing
persons :
here,
I shall
baptize
this infant. " Those holy
they were. 32 AVhereupon, the bishop said
vessel, which is the adjoining river, and by the power of Christ, salt shall be given to us. For this infant shall be holy and a wonder-worker before God and man, while through him with God's grace many miracles shall be wrought. " Atthistime,theystoodontheRiverSuir'sbanks,andataplace called Herend. 33 This was far from any village. Weare told, that taking some earth in his hands, St. Declan moistened it with saliva, and made a
baptized that infant, and bestowed on him the name of Kiaran. 3 *
Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Ard- at the time when the writer of these Acts
said to those who were
"
the
nourish this spiritual son, and, in due course of time, deliver him to Catholics for instruction, because he shall be a luminous pillar in Christ's Church. " We are then told, that this Kieran, was son to Heodach, and that after a venerable old age, and the performance of many miracles, he departed this life, in a holy place, being buried in his celebrated monastery, called Tibrada, 3 5 now Tubbrid, in the baronies of Ififa and Offa West, in the county of Tipperary.
baptism,
holy bishop
present :
Carefully
morise in Hibernia, cap. viii. , sect. 62, 63, p. 605.
30 We cannot find any saint bearing this
name in our Irish Calendars. The nearest
approach to it seems to be Suibhne, and seven different holy men so called are vene- rated at different days.
31 Probably, by this term is meant a church font.
32 The relations of such incidents as these serve to illustrate our ancient religious rites and the ceremonies accompanying baptism,
lived.
33 if this be the correct form of name for
the locality, it now seems to be obsolete or unknown.
34 See an account of him, and of his place, at the 10th of November.
3S As Anglicised, this place may be deno- minated "the fountains. " The Bollandist editor remarks, that in the course of his read-
ing,
respecting this monastery, or was he able sufficiently to pronounce who was the holy
:
" We have both a long and a wide
he had not hitherto found mention made
After his
34o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24. T—his place was situated —on the western part of the Decies, and in its diocese
between the mountains ofCua and and now that Crost,
6
of Waterford
the tribe of people there it was called Hayth. 3 The wife of a certain villager
came with an offer of her service to St. Declan's monastery, not far from the
city.
She furtively took what is indifferently called in the Latin Life of our
a " Habellum,"37 or " Kabellum," which formed a of that saint, large portion
tribute due to the holy bishop. But, in presence of those who were passing
along the way, the earth swallowed her up, she being thus punished for injuries
inflicted on the monastic revenue, not only in the present instance, but on
former occasions. The legend further adds, that although she was thus
swallowedupwithintheearth,thestolenobjectejectedfromits bosomwas
converted into a stone, and in the view of all who were present. Meantime,
the holy bishop knew in spirit all that had occurred ; and, he related these
events to his brethren, who had being living with him in the monastery.
Those persons, who were present at the time of this miraculous occurrence,
speedily brought the stone to St. Declan, and they gave him an account of
what had been witnessed. Thenceforward, St. Declan's reputation was greatly
magnified by all, and his power when absent was respected, as much as if he
8
were present. 3
According to some accounts, St. Declan founded a seminary, so early as
416, and the light of Christianity proceeded from it to all the contiguous dis- tricts, which lay around Ardmore. 3$ This place was called in the Irish lan- guage, after the name of our saint, Ardmor Daglain,* and had its origin, when he began there to establish a monastery. The exact date for his foundation cannot now be ascertained, with any great degree of accuracy ; but, probably, it was either towards the close of the fifth or the beginning of
the sixth century.
At all events, it seems to have had existence before the
long
but, it
which took
the community in question continued to remain there is unknown ;
death of St.
Ailbe,
place early
seems that its members have 2 It is probable, long ages ago disappeared/
supposed/*3 that the ancient monastery of Ardmore followed St. Declan's
person here named Kieran. There were Handbook for Youghal," containing Notes many saints having the same name, among and Records of the Ancient Religious
the Irish, concerning whom, and various other homonymous saints, we have a refer- ence in the Introduction to the Monastical History of Ireland, edited at Paris, in the year 1690, at p. 6.
36 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , xxiv. Julii. De S. Declano Episcopo Ard- mnrise in Hibernia, cap. viii. , sect. 64, 65,
p. 605.
37 The Bollandist editor observes that he
Foundations, and the Historical Annals of
the Town," p. x. Youghal, John Lindsay, 1858, 8vo.
4° In Irish -djvomori "OedshLain. See
knew not what "habellum" meant, but tember," A. D. 541. Yet, in a note to this*
when in subsequent passages it is constantly
passage, the learned editor observes : "In the Annals of Ulster, and the Bodleian copy of the Annals of Innisfallen, the death of Ailbhe is entered under the year 526, which seems the true year ; but it is repeated in the Annals of Ulster at 541," ibid. , n. (c),
*3 More than likely, the isolated position of Ardmore, and the probability of no parti- cular chronicle having been compiled in its monastery, leave the place without any his- toric record in our Irish Annals,
43 By the Bollandist editor.
"
tribute which was paid to St. Declan, he
written
Kabellum," and as it refers to a
"
thinks the reading should be
which has the meaning of a sum of money or of some tribute which had been taken from the monastery of St. Declan.
38 The author of our saint's Life tells us, that the object, thus converted into a stone, was preserved through future time, and in a conspicuous position. It stood within the cemetery of St. Declan, at his city of Ard- more, as a memorial of that miracle.
gabellam,"
44 According to the Annals of Youghal, » See the Rev. Samuel Hayman's "New understood to have been compiled by the
in the sixth 1 How century. '*
Ussher's
"
Britannicarum Ecclcsiarum Anti-
quitates,"cap. xvii. , p. 450.
41 In Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 182, 183, we find
"
St. Ailbhe, Archbishop of Imleach-Inbhair, died on 12th day of Sep-
it stated, that
among
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 34i
peculiar rule or institute ; while a famous school is said to have existed in connexion with it. 44 A small city subsequently sprung up at Ardmore 4S
of its history
6 —after the time of St. Declan— ; yet,
little seems to be
Besides the ecclesiastical remains,*? there were trac—es of a castle there, in the beginning of the last century. At present Ardmore situated to the west of
has dwindled into a small 8
a bay similarly named— fishery town,* containing
however, many good houses. *9 It rises over a cliff-bound coast, and it has a
harbour possessing many natural advantages ; but, no pier or quay is there constructed to shelter vessels. There is not even a slip, which
should be of great service, and which might readily be planned to haul up boats. 50 To the east the bay is open, but on the south and west, there
St. Declan's Catholic Church and Town of Ardmore.
is partial shelter from the ocean currents and storms, owing to the position of Ardmore Head. It is stated, morever, that Ardmore had been constituted an episcopal See,51 by St. Declan ; as also, that he was its first Bishop, not alone his Acts relate, but it has been the constant local tradition, that he exercised such an office after he had become Abbot. Again, it is related, that he was immediately succeeded by St. Ultan. Long after Ultan's
Rev. Samuel Hayman, A. B. Third Series,
peared, and in the last century, plate iv.
48 A recent and an extended account of this place may be met with, in the Rev. Samuel Hayman's "New Handbook for
Youghal," pp. ix. to xv.
49 A view of the town and of the Catholic
church—dedicated to St. Declan—in the
foreground is here presented from a photo-
p.
I.
45 There is an interesting account of Ard-
more parish, and of its Antiquities to be
"
Present State of the County and City of
Waterford," chap, iii. , pp. 46 to 50.
46 In his work, " De Hiberniaet Antiqui- tatibus ejus," Sir James Ware has no notice of
seen in Dr. Charles Smith's
Ancient and
graph, procured for the author by Very Rev. the religious foundation here, in the Monas- John Walsh, P. P. That view has been
teriologia Hibernica, at cap. xxvi.
"
Ancient and present State of the County and City of Waterford," oppo- site to p. 92, there is a copperplate engrav- ing of Ardmore Round Tower, as it then ap-
drawn by William F. Wakeman on the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard
5° See " Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire-
land," vol, i. , p. 61.
51 It is classed among the more ancient
47 In Smith's
known/
342 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24.
time,Eugene52isknowntohavebeenBishophere,in1174; andinthisyear, along with Donat, Abbot of Maig, and Gregory of Cuanga, he was a sub- scribing witness to a charter granted to the Monastery of St. Finbar at Cork, byDermot,KingofMunster,sontothefounder. " Again,itisstated,that Moel-ettrimO'Duibhe-Rathra5* becameBishopofArdmore,anddieda. d.
1203.
This ancient See was annexed to that ofLismore,55 from which town,
it is only twelve miles distant. A certain writer maintains, there was a
monastery of Augustinian Canons Regular, at this place •& but, he advances
no authority, to sustain that opinion. " It is more than doubtful, if that monastery—at first established by St. Declan—afterwards belonged to Canons Regular, or whether, like so many other houses of a similar kind in Ireland, it became simply a parochial residence.
It is recorded, that the wife of a certain rich man, named Fintan, was without offspring, even to an advanced age. The couple came to St. Declan, and entreated him to beg of God, that they might be favoured with children. On their part, to procure his favour, they engaged to offer alms, and to per- form pious works. They declared, moreover, that they had most unbounded confidence, in theefiicacy of St. Declan's prayers. The bishop then bestowed
sumed, that his successors in the monastery claimed their fealty in likemanner. s The holy Albeus,5? Archbishop of Munster, knowing that the period of his
his blessing on them. He also said
<c Fulfil what you have promised, and through God's bounty, you shall be blessed with children. " After this pro- mise and benediction of the holy bishop, they returned to their house. Soon after this event, the wife of Fintan conceived, and in due course, two sons were born to her ; and these were named respectively Eoch and Fiacha. They and their posterity became St. Declan's dependants, and it is to be pre-
8
:
"
and pay a visit to my beloved companion and fellow-servant in Christ, Bishop
Declan, before I die. " Then Ailbe proceeded on his journey, to accomplish that purpose which he thus expressed. An Angel came to St. Declan, and told him, that the holy old man, his friend Albeus, was coming to visit him.
On learning it, the saintly Prelate Declan told his people to prepare every- thing necessary to receive his pious guest. Afterwards, he went from his own
60
Sees of Ireland, by Rev. Robert King, in his 58 The Acts of our saint remark, that this "Primer of the Church History of Ireland," dependency continued, "usque ad finem
departure was approaching, said to his disciples :
Brethren, I desire to see
that he might meet St. Albeus. On his arrival mere, St. Albeus was honourably received by St. Declan and by his people. Subsequently, Albeus remained fourteen days with our saint. This interval was spent in a mutual interchange of spiritual offices, and in holy
city, to a place called Druim luchtri,
vol. iii. , Appendix, No. ix. , p. 996.
5* To him has been attributed a Life of St.
Cuthbert.
53 See Rev. Samuel Hayman's "New before St. Patrick's coming, a. d. 432. See
Handbook for Youghal," p. xi.
s* It is probable, that with this name, the
list of the Bishops of this ancient See closes. See ibid.
55 When such union took place is not agrees,
known with certainty ; but, it has been thought by some writers, that Ardmore was
not a separate episcopal See, in the year
1152.
s6 See the '' Historia Monastica Hiber-
niae," p. 54, published at Paris in 1690.
57 This too has been advanedd by Rev.
Samuel Hayman, A. B. , in his "AnnaUf ol Youghal," Third Series, p. I.
6o
In a subsequent passage, the name of this place is written, " Druim luchri. " It seems probable enough, that this had been the name formerly given to that dividing chain of hills on the borders of the barony of Decies within Drum, and the barony of
I ><cies without Drum, in the present county ol Waterford.
6l Now a town and parish, in the barony
seculi. "
59 TJssher infers, that St. Albeus is not
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvi. , p. 409, and cap. xvii. , p. 453. Also Index Chronologicus, a. d. dxxxii. , p. 528. In this opinion of Ussher, Dr. Lanigan
likely to have preached the faith in Ireland,
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 343
charity, to the great interior consolation of those great servants of God. After such term was at an end, the venerable Ailbe returned to his own city,
61
at Emly,
which was situated on the great Munster plain ; when, with a con-
siderable number of people, St. Declan accompanied his departing guest to the
aforesaid Druim luchri. There,' St. Ailbe requested our saint's return towards
his own city. Having a presentiment, that they would not again behold each
other in this life, and full of mutual affection, these celebrated saints burst
into a flood of tears, on the instant. Offering up their prayers to God for its
long continuance, the holy prelates renewed the old fraternal alliance, already
existing between themselves and their disciples. Then, St. Albeus blessed
the Decies' city, its people, and its clerics, when St. Declan in turn bestowed
like spiritual favours on Bishop Ailbe and his charge. With the kiss of peace,
and with a sorrowful but holy resignation, having true love for God and for
their neighbour implanted in their breasts, these holy bishops and their dis-
ciples parted from each other, and returned to the places of their respective
62
habitations.
At one time, the Fort 6 3 f a Decies' chieftain, who was named Canicus,
tookfire,andtheflamesbeganragingtoafearfuldegree. VenerableBishop Declan, who felt much concerned at this accident, ran towards the castle. Taking in his hand that remarkable staff already mentioned, and with which he miraculously removed the sea, Declan threw it from the place where he stood, towards the burning edifice. By Divine permission, the staff flew through air, and fell over the topping flames and into the very middle of the forti- fication,which,atthattime,hadbeenhalfconsumed. Inaninstantaneous manner, the fire was extinguished. The distance between that place where our saint stood and the burning castle was computed, as a long mile, and
the name of Cuirt. 6^ On this witnessing
near the a spot lay
grove, bearing
miracle, the chieftain Canic, with all others present, were in admiration, and
they gave thanks to God. 6s This castle, here alluded to, was situated not
far from the River Suir, and on its southern bank. It was at a place which,
"
in our saint's Acts, is Latinized, Collis Stabilis. " But, that place, from
which St. Declan threw his staff, was situated near a shallow or ford of the same river, and it was opposite to the monastery of certain holy virgins, who
were — to this Canic. 66 Their daughters
locha 68 derived from its local probably
6? bore the name monastery Magh-
of Clanwilliam, and in the South Riding of the county of Tipperary. This ancient
episcopal seat had a long line of bishops,
obsolete. The grove in question grew not far from the present Clonmel.
