Lanigan's
of
^4 It is said, a tombstone was to be seen
there, inscribed with Danish characters.
of
^4 It is said, a tombstone was to be seen
there, inscribed with Danish characters.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
, p.
396.
His-
the original is preserved in the Franciscan Convent, Dublin. In his Lives of the Irish Writers, book i. , cap. ii. . Ware sup-
poses, that Augustine Magradin, an Irish
Canon Regular, was writer of those Lives,
which are to be found in that MS. See
"
Februarii, n. 9, p. 328. Nicholson, in his
Colgan's
Acta Sanctorum Hibernia;," xiii.
*'
Irish Historical Library," pp. 83, 84, con- founds this writer, Magraidin, with Magraith
February 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 513
embark. 25 There can be no doubt, moreover, but this legend has been in cir-
culation, from a very early period. It is said, that being unwilling to deprive the brothers of their accustomed luxury, Modomnoc again returned to his
master, the bees following him, and taking refuge in their former hives. A
second, and a third time, Modomnoc took leave of his master and brethren,
but, the bees, in like manner, moved with him. Then, St. David and his
other disciples, bestowing their blessings on our saint, at length gave him
permission to depart. ^"^ St. David, likewise, imparted his benediction to the
"
bees, and said :
May the land, to which you are brought, abound with your
progeny, and there may your species and generation never fail ; but, our city
shallbeforeverdeprivedofyou; norshallyourseedanylongerincrease
in it. " The popular belief was held, in after time, that St. David's prophecy
had been fulfilled ; for, if bees were even brought to Menaevia, whence they
were taken, these did not long survive their transport thither ; whilst, in Ire-
land, they were afterwards found, in great abundance. ^7 The foregoing
incidentsarerelated,byGiraldusCambrensis; and,headds,thatbeeswere
known to have become extinct in Menevia, even in his own time. ^^ After
Modomnoc's arrival in Ireland, it is said, those bees, that accompanied him,
were left at a place near or in Fingall, named from the circumstance, Lann
"
Beachaire,^9 or
the Church of the Bee-keeper. " 3° This place, therefore,
either derived its name from our saint, for the reason assigned, or from St.
Molagga,3^ its patron. It has been identified with Bremore, near Balbriggan,
county of Dublin. The ruins of an old chapel there measure 36 feet in
length, by 16 in width ; besides, a chancel, 20 feet in length, is attached. The walls are two and a-lialf feet, in thickness. A close hawthorn fence surrounds the cemetery her;e. r-nd several trees grow within this enclosure.
CHAPTER II.
ENQUIRY REGARDING BEES AND HONEY HAVING BEEN IN IRELAND FROM THE EARLIEST KNOWN TIMES—ST. MODOMNOC SETTLES AT A PLACE, FORMERLY CALLED TIPRAD- FACHTNA, AND NOW KNOWN AS TIBBERAGHNY—ITS ANTIQUITIES—HIS SUPPOSED RANK IN THE CHURCH—HIS NATALIS AND TIME OF HIS DEATH—CONCLUSION.
That St. Modomnoc was the first to introduce bees into Ireland, has been conjectured, from the account already given. Yet, we have sufficient testi- mony to assure us, that our island abounded in bees and honey, at a far earlier period, than when he lived. Although Solinus had said,^ that in his
=s Colgan has a comment, in which he frequently found in Welsh topography,
cites authorities for this account of the mira-
culous removal of the bees with Modomnoc.
Thus, Peter Lombard, Archbishop of Ar-
magh, Giraldus Cambrensis, in his " Topo-
graphia Hibernise," the Calendar of Cashel,
From the Welsh, it was probably taken, and used by the Irish, as denominating an ecclesiastical place. Beach is an Irish word,
signifying "a bee :" and Beachuire signifies "onewhohasthecareofbees. " beACAi)\e
and St. the in his " ^ngus Culdee,
areseverallyfoundtorelateit.
nevensis, lect. vii. , p. 396.
^7 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xiii. Februarii. Vita S. Dominici, cap. iv. , v. , p. 327.
^^
See Giraldi Cambrensis' "Opera," vol. iii. Edited by J. S. Brewer, M. A. , "His- toria de Vita S. Davidis Archiepiscopi Me- nevensis," lect. vii. , pp. 396, 397.
'^ Lann or Lan is a Britisli word, and it is Vol. II. —No. 9.
means "a bee-hive. " See Edward
"Sanas Gaoidhilge-Sagsbhearla, or An Irish-English Dictionary," sub voce.
3° See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xiii. Februarii, n. lo, p. 328.
31 See his Life—, at the 20th of January.
^
Chapter ii. Solinus, who wrote con-
Felire,"
Opera," vol. iii. Edited by J. S. Brewer, M. A. , " His- toria de Vita S. Davidis Archiepiscopi Me-
O'Reilly's
^^ *' See Giraldi Cambrensis'
cerning Ireland, before the birth of Christ, "
notes in these terms : lUic nullus anguis, avis rara, apis nulla ; adeo ut advectos inde
pulveres seu lapillos, siquis alibi sparserit inter alvearia examina favos deserant. " St. Isidore of Seville, also, has the same ac- counts, regarding our island. But it is
514 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February13.
time, there were no bees in Ireland, it is more than probable, that he was mistaken on this point, as he certainly was, in what he adds, concerning the
scarcity of birds. ^ However, both native and foreign writers justly reproach himforhiserror. Regardingmanyotherthings,whichherelates,inreference to Ireland, he had not sufficient authority or foundation to sustain various statements. That there were bees in this country, long before his time, appears from the rule of St. Ailbe of Emly, in which it is ordered,3 that a portion of honeycomb should be allowed the monks at their meals. * Now, St. Albeus flourished in Ireland contemporaneously with St. Patrick, and . even, it has been asserted, some years before his arrival in this country,
which is generally referred to about a. d. 432.
Were we disposed to admit the truth of a narrative, contained in St.
David's Acts, it can only be allowed, that Modomnoc first introduced bees of a certain kind into his native island. s Dr. Lanigan suspects,^ that the importation of bees by St. Domnoch is a story made up, to account for the scarcity of them at Menevia ; for, Giraldus says,7 that they continued to fall oif there, from that time when the swarms had followed Domnoch to Ireland. He tells us, likewise, that Domnoch was, when with St. David at Menevia, charged with the care of the bee-hives. ^ Now, as it happened that the number of bees in that district began to decrease, some wiseacre 9 undertook to explain this phenomenon, by saying, that they accompanied Domnoch on his return to Ireland. This story, however, made its way over to us, before the times of Giraldus. Connected with what Solinus, and others after him, had said, concerning there having been no bees in Ireland, induced some Irish writers of the ninth and tenth centuries to attribute the introduction of them to St. Domnoch. Colgan concludes, that as St. -^ngus and others state our saint was the first, who introduced bees into Ireland, we can only
receive these statements, as implying a certain particular species of this insect. In Ireland, there were for centuries domesticated and wild bees, with bees of different forms and colours. ^°
After St. Modomnoc's return to Ireland, he settled at a place called Tiprad-Fachtna, abbreviated to Tibrach," in the county of Kilkenny. " It
certain, that in the time of this latter, who flourished about A. D. 600, and who died in the 63rd year of his age, that bees and honey
s in a long note, Colgan here remarks, that, this account of St. Dominick having been the first to introduce bees into Ireland
then abounded in Ireland ; for the Venerable
" *'
Bede writes : Dives lactis et mellis insula,
nee vinearum —
expers, piscium volucrumque
sed et cervorum venatu insignis. "
"Historia
Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. , chap.
i. , p. 24. The fact of vines, growing in Ire-
land, shows that its summers were warmer in
the eighth century, than they are in our own time.
= The account of Solinus must have been received by St. Isidore, without due exami- nation. Yet, St. Modomnoc himself, who is said, first to have introduced bees into Ireland, flourished many years before St. Isidore's time, and in the Acts of our early saints, frequent mention about the existence of bees and honey in Ireland occurs.
3 Num. 37.
*' Cum sedent ad men-
* Thus we read
sam adferantur herba sive radices aqua lota in mundis scutellis j item poma, cervisia, et ex alvearis mellis ad latitudinem pollicis > id est, aliquot favi. "
:
rests upon the authority of two Menologists, with that of other historians. See Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xiii. Februarii. De S. Dominico qui Modomnocus, nn. 7, 8, p. 328.
* On such subject, he remarks that this curious anecdote is mentioned, not only in the Lives of St. David, but likewise in the passage of Giraldus* "Topographia," and, what seems of more weight, in the Calendar of Cashel, and in the Life of St. Molagga.
' In his Life of St. David,
^"
See Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , section v. , n. 71, pp. 320, 321.
' Such is the expression of Dr. Lanigan, and only one of many other quaint words, with which his notes are filled.
" See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xiii.
Februarii, nn. 7, 8, p. 328.
" It lies, nearly three miles E. S. E. from
Carrick-on-Suir, on the road to Waterford. See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of
February 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 515
lay near the River Suir. It is also called Tibberaghny, a townland in the
parish, having a like denomination, and in the barony of Iverk. ^3 The ruins of a church, here, bear evidences of a very remote antiquity. Here, too, are the remains of an ancient town, thought to have been of great importance,
in olden times. The antiquities near are of great interest,'-* especially a conical mound, presenting a considerable area on its summit, and encircled by a spacious fosse. 's St. Modomnoc is thought to have been honoured
with the
writers he is called Dominick. '7
^^ some By
episcopal dignity,
about the middle of the sixth
century.
At Tibberaghny, his feast was chiefly celebrated, and of that place, he
appears to have been the chief patron. '^ His natalis, or departure from this
life, is celebrated on the 13th day of February, according to Maguire and other writers. Another festival is kept in his honour, however, on the 18th day of May, according to the same authorities. '9 The year of his death is
not known he
; but, flourished,
about the middle of the sixth ^° century.
in his " commemorates not 13th February, ^ngus, Feilire,"
At the of St.
only St. Modomnoc, but also the account of his having introduced bees into Ireland. ^'' The Calendar of Cashel,^^ the Martyrology of Tallaght,=3 Marianus 0'Gorman,=^4CathalMaguire,^^andtheMartyrologyofDonegal,*^agree. In the Circle of the Seasons, he is commemorated, as a bishop and confessor. ^7 In Scotland, his memorial was kept. At the Ides, or 13th of February, the festival of St. Modomnoc, confessor in Hibernia, is set down in the Kalendar
Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 627.
noise, IS 533.
^^ The stanza, from the Leabhar following
Breac copy, with its English translation, was kindly furnished by Professor O'Looney :—
" Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , section v. , p. 319- 1'his historian remarks, that it does not "appear whether his establish- ment at Tibrach was a monastery or simply
a church. " Ibid.
^3 Both townland and parish have the
same extent, and are shown on the "Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the
^^ See Dr.
Lanigan's
of
^4 It is said, a tombstone was to be seen
there, inscribed with Danish characters. Most probably they are Irish.
County
Kilkenny. "
Sheets
38, 39.
*currach,'
^5 See Lewis' "
of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 627.
^^SeeRev. AlbanButler's"Livesofthe Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," vol. ii. , February xiii.
^^ See ibid.
^^ There is a Toberaghny, near Carric—k-
on-Suir, in Ivaerk. Ciob^AiT) 'pAchcriA. MS. note of William M. Hennessy.
'5 See notices at the in
day question.
^°
This conclusion is arrived at, because
Topographical Dictionary
our saint was renowned for his miraculous
powers, in the time of St. David, Bishop of
Menevia, who died it is supposed about the
year 544, and because Murchertach, King of Ireland, was his uncle, who flourished A. D.
500, and died A. D. 527, according to the Annals of the Four Masters, or in A. D. 533, according to Ussher. See Ussher's " Bri- tannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates. " In- dex Chronologicus, p. 530, and O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp.
174 to 177, and notes (i, j, k), ibid. The
year of Murchertach's death, as given by the Annals of Ulster, and those of Clonmac-
b. i. ix) Vi-I
" In Modomnoc's little
Westward over the bright sea ; Wasbroughtwithgreatrenown, The auspicious seed of the bees
of Erin. "
: ^"^Thereisfoundwritten "S. Dominicus,
de Tobar-Fachtna inter Ossorios & Desios, ad ripam Siuri fluvii : ipse est qui apes primo tulit in Hiberniam. Hie autem est dies obitus ejus, aut dies quo cum apibus
appulit. "
=^3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xv. He
is there " Modimoc o Facht- styled Tiprat
na. "
'^ In the text of Marianus, he is called
Domangen ; but, in an interlineal gloss, it is remarked, he was Modomnoc, of Tiprat Fachtna, in the western district of Ossory.
=^5 At this day, he observes, it was the natal feast of St. Modomnoc, of Tiprat Fachtna, in Ossory.
=^ On this day was venerated, according to the " Martyrology of Donegal," Modhom- hnog, of Triprat Fachtna, in the (south) westofOsraighe. Hesprungfromtherace of Eoghan, son of Niall. See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' edition, pp. 48, 49.
"7 See p. 44.
Cu^cliAti lllo-ooTrinoc,
-AriAi^ 'OA]\ inui|v n-5te"oeiTo ; "Oo byvecli b]\i5Ach n-UAiAn-o, Sil m-buA'OAch beAC n-eTAenx).
5i6 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February13.
of Dnimmond. This is also stated to be the date for his departure to Christ. =^ There can be no doubt, but this holy man was one who possessed, in an eminent degree, all the higher attributes of human excellence, purified, sanctified, and elevated by supernatural virtue.
Article II. —Festival of a Reputed St. Domhangin. As we have already seen, the commentator on the text of Marianus O'Gorman makes Domangen the same as Modomnoc of Tiprat Fachtna ; it is probable, we are not to consider the present Domhangin, as a different person. Yet, there is a distinct entry of both names, in the Martyrology of Tallagh. Perhaps, however, this is the result of interpolation, in the latter Calendar. The name, Domhangin, simply appears in tlie Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 13th of February; but, in other Calendars, it does not appear, if we except that of Marianus O'Gorman.
Article III. —Festival of St. Conan, or Canoc, Pilgrim, Abbot OF Gallen, King's County, and of Kilmuccraise. \Fifth or Sixth Century? ^ From what Colgan states, in his note,' that St. Canoc or Mo- chanoc, pilgrim,^' was venerated on this day, under the name Conan, it would seem, that we can find little difficulty, in identifying this saint. Conan is entered, in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 on this day. It appears to be the second festival, to his memory \ another was held, on the i8th of November.
Article IV. —St. Ermen, Virgin. We are at a loss to identify the
— flourished. At this date, holy virgin
and Marianus O'Gorman ha—
time
when,
place
where, this
s a St.
from this pious woman in his Calendar. In the Martyrology of Donegal,'
"
Ernengilda probably
we find Ermea,^ virgin, registered on this day. Her virtues were very
Queen of Virtues," was her special characteristic. It so pervaded her every thought, word, and act, that she was never heard
many, but charity, the
to say an unkind word ot anyone, much less to do an unkind act.
Article V. —St. Darcus. A festival, in honour of St. Darcus, is said
to have been celebrated, at the 13th of February, as we find the name
entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh. ^ Elsewhere, we do not find Jiim noticed.
Article VI. —St. Cuachnat, or Cruachnat, Virgin, of Ros-raithe. Very scant information can be obtained, regarding this holy woman's time, and the place, where she had been venerated, is equally difficult to be identified. Her name is found differently spelled, in our Martyrologies. She is called, Cruachnat, of Cros Fachtna, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^
=*See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
*
Article iv. — Edited by Drs. Todd
andReeves, 48,49. pp.
ScottishSaints,^'— p. 5.
"The later hand notes here, in Roman characters,
Article ii.
Kelly, p, XV. Article hi.
*
Rev. Dr. "Acta Sanctorum
=In a note Todd Dr.
— Hiberniae," xi. Februarii.
" Videtur esse nengildam voca—t. "
n. 29, p. 314.
=*
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
*
quam
Edited by See
says,
Marianus hoc die Er-
See notices of this saint, already given, at the nth of this month.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 48, 49.
*
Edited
by
Rev. Dr.
Vita S. Canoci,
Article v. p. xv.
Article vi Kelly, p. xv.
*
—
not to be
distinguished
February 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 517
atthat13thofFebruary. CroshereisprobablyamistakeforRos. Yet,
we find, in Irish local topography, the nearest approach to this denomination,
in Crossrah,^ parish of Kilbride, barony of Clonmahon, county of Cavan ; in
Crossreagh,3 parish of Ballywillan, barony of Lower Dunluce, county of
Antrim; inCrossreagh,4parishofMullagh,andbaronyofCastlerahan,also
in Crossreagh,5 parish of Castleterra, and barony of Upper Loughtee—both
oftheseinthecountyofCavan; inCrossreagh,^parishofBallyvvillin,barony
North- East Liberties of Coleraine, county of Londonderry ; in Crossreagh,
parish of Killeevan, barony of Dartree, county of Monaghan ;7 in Cross-
reagh,^ or Doohat, in the parish of Derrynoose, barony of Tiranny, county
of . Armagh ; in Crossreagh^ East, parish of Ballyaghran, barony North East
Liberties of Coleraine, county of Londonderry, as also in Crossreagh'° West,
in the same parish, barony and county. Besides the foregoing notice in our
earliest Calendar, we find, that Cuachnat, virgin, of Ros-raithe," is mentioned,
in the of ^^ on this We meet with a townland Martyrology Donegal, day.
denomination of Rossreagh,^3 in the parish of Tullyfern, barony of Kilma- crenan, and county of Donegal.
Article VII. —St. Columbanus, or Columban, Abbot and Recluse, AT Ghent, in Belgium. [Tenth Century. '] At the 13th of February,
^^ It is described on the "Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Cavan. " Sheet42.
Mart, of Tallaght reads, 'of Ros-Fachtna. ' The gloss over the name Cuachnat in the BrusselsMS. oftheMart,ofO'Gormanis
3 It is described on the Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Antrim. " Sheet 6.
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cavan. "
Sheet 40.
s See ibid. . Sheets 20, 21.
^ See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Londonderry. " Sheet 3.
65, oc lloff flAiche, virgin of Ross Raithe ;' and the Mart. Taml. , in the sam—e
MS. , has Cruachnat, oc Ros Fachtna ''
4 It is defined on the
Cruachnat, at Ros Fachtna, there is there- fore some confusion. "
7
See
Townland Survey Maps
of — Sheets County Donegal. " 45, 46.
"Ordnance
48, 49.
'3 its bounds are marked, on the " Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the
for the County of Monaghan. " Sheet 17.
^ See its limits on the " Ordnance Survey
TownlandMapsfortheCountyofArmagh. "
'
Sheets 19, 23.
9 Its lands are shown on the
"
tholicse Iberniae Compendium," tomus i. , lib.
iv,, cap. xi. , p. 49, and cap. xii. , p. 53.
"
3 in SeehisActs,atthei8thofJanuary.
s See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus ii. , Februarii xiii. Prsetermissi et in
alios dies rejecti, p. 664. Also, xv. Feb- ruarii. De S. Columbano Abbate, sect. 2,
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Menologium Scoticum. "
Londonderry. " Sheet3.
" See ibid.
" In a note, Dr. Todd says at this word,
" The later hand adds here, '6 Uof IT^ccnA, M. T. ,' meaning that the
Ros-raithe,
"
'^
Catalogus aliquorum Sanctorum Ibernise Columbanus, abbot and recluse. Reference is made to Molanus. ^ In the
""
anonymous catalogue of Irish Saints, Columbanus Recluses is entered at
this day,=' and there is every reason to suppose it has reference to the holy recluse at Ghent, in Belgium, about whom we have already treated, at the
seconddayofthismonth. TheBollandists,amongthepretermittedsaints, have allusion to this recorded festival, at the present date, where they take
occasion to reprove the Scotchman, Dempster, for the error he commits, by citing Molanus, in reference to the Columban, as understood by the Irish Calendarists. At the 13th of February, Dempster has a notice of St. Columban, Abbot of Sutri, and styled a recluse. 3 This holy man is men- tionedintheActsofSt. Deicolus. * DempsterconfoundshereSt. Columban, AbbotofLure,withSt. Columban,RecluseofGhent. s Wesuspect,how-
Henry Fitzsimon in his
enters
** '
"
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
His-
the original is preserved in the Franciscan Convent, Dublin. In his Lives of the Irish Writers, book i. , cap. ii. . Ware sup-
poses, that Augustine Magradin, an Irish
Canon Regular, was writer of those Lives,
which are to be found in that MS. See
"
Februarii, n. 9, p. 328. Nicholson, in his
Colgan's
Acta Sanctorum Hibernia;," xiii.
*'
Irish Historical Library," pp. 83, 84, con- founds this writer, Magraidin, with Magraith
February 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 513
embark. 25 There can be no doubt, moreover, but this legend has been in cir-
culation, from a very early period. It is said, that being unwilling to deprive the brothers of their accustomed luxury, Modomnoc again returned to his
master, the bees following him, and taking refuge in their former hives. A
second, and a third time, Modomnoc took leave of his master and brethren,
but, the bees, in like manner, moved with him. Then, St. David and his
other disciples, bestowing their blessings on our saint, at length gave him
permission to depart. ^"^ St. David, likewise, imparted his benediction to the
"
bees, and said :
May the land, to which you are brought, abound with your
progeny, and there may your species and generation never fail ; but, our city
shallbeforeverdeprivedofyou; norshallyourseedanylongerincrease
in it. " The popular belief was held, in after time, that St. David's prophecy
had been fulfilled ; for, if bees were even brought to Menaevia, whence they
were taken, these did not long survive their transport thither ; whilst, in Ire-
land, they were afterwards found, in great abundance. ^7 The foregoing
incidentsarerelated,byGiraldusCambrensis; and,headds,thatbeeswere
known to have become extinct in Menevia, even in his own time. ^^ After
Modomnoc's arrival in Ireland, it is said, those bees, that accompanied him,
were left at a place near or in Fingall, named from the circumstance, Lann
"
Beachaire,^9 or
the Church of the Bee-keeper. " 3° This place, therefore,
either derived its name from our saint, for the reason assigned, or from St.
Molagga,3^ its patron. It has been identified with Bremore, near Balbriggan,
county of Dublin. The ruins of an old chapel there measure 36 feet in
length, by 16 in width ; besides, a chancel, 20 feet in length, is attached. The walls are two and a-lialf feet, in thickness. A close hawthorn fence surrounds the cemetery her;e. r-nd several trees grow within this enclosure.
CHAPTER II.
ENQUIRY REGARDING BEES AND HONEY HAVING BEEN IN IRELAND FROM THE EARLIEST KNOWN TIMES—ST. MODOMNOC SETTLES AT A PLACE, FORMERLY CALLED TIPRAD- FACHTNA, AND NOW KNOWN AS TIBBERAGHNY—ITS ANTIQUITIES—HIS SUPPOSED RANK IN THE CHURCH—HIS NATALIS AND TIME OF HIS DEATH—CONCLUSION.
That St. Modomnoc was the first to introduce bees into Ireland, has been conjectured, from the account already given. Yet, we have sufficient testi- mony to assure us, that our island abounded in bees and honey, at a far earlier period, than when he lived. Although Solinus had said,^ that in his
=s Colgan has a comment, in which he frequently found in Welsh topography,
cites authorities for this account of the mira-
culous removal of the bees with Modomnoc.
Thus, Peter Lombard, Archbishop of Ar-
magh, Giraldus Cambrensis, in his " Topo-
graphia Hibernise," the Calendar of Cashel,
From the Welsh, it was probably taken, and used by the Irish, as denominating an ecclesiastical place. Beach is an Irish word,
signifying "a bee :" and Beachuire signifies "onewhohasthecareofbees. " beACAi)\e
and St. the in his " ^ngus Culdee,
areseverallyfoundtorelateit.
nevensis, lect. vii. , p. 396.
^7 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xiii. Februarii. Vita S. Dominici, cap. iv. , v. , p. 327.
^^
See Giraldi Cambrensis' "Opera," vol. iii. Edited by J. S. Brewer, M. A. , "His- toria de Vita S. Davidis Archiepiscopi Me- nevensis," lect. vii. , pp. 396, 397.
'^ Lann or Lan is a Britisli word, and it is Vol. II. —No. 9.
means "a bee-hive. " See Edward
"Sanas Gaoidhilge-Sagsbhearla, or An Irish-English Dictionary," sub voce.
3° See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xiii. Februarii, n. lo, p. 328.
31 See his Life—, at the 20th of January.
^
Chapter ii. Solinus, who wrote con-
Felire,"
Opera," vol. iii. Edited by J. S. Brewer, M. A. , " His- toria de Vita S. Davidis Archiepiscopi Me-
O'Reilly's
^^ *' See Giraldi Cambrensis'
cerning Ireland, before the birth of Christ, "
notes in these terms : lUic nullus anguis, avis rara, apis nulla ; adeo ut advectos inde
pulveres seu lapillos, siquis alibi sparserit inter alvearia examina favos deserant. " St. Isidore of Seville, also, has the same ac- counts, regarding our island. But it is
514 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February13.
time, there were no bees in Ireland, it is more than probable, that he was mistaken on this point, as he certainly was, in what he adds, concerning the
scarcity of birds. ^ However, both native and foreign writers justly reproach himforhiserror. Regardingmanyotherthings,whichherelates,inreference to Ireland, he had not sufficient authority or foundation to sustain various statements. That there were bees in this country, long before his time, appears from the rule of St. Ailbe of Emly, in which it is ordered,3 that a portion of honeycomb should be allowed the monks at their meals. * Now, St. Albeus flourished in Ireland contemporaneously with St. Patrick, and . even, it has been asserted, some years before his arrival in this country,
which is generally referred to about a. d. 432.
Were we disposed to admit the truth of a narrative, contained in St.
David's Acts, it can only be allowed, that Modomnoc first introduced bees of a certain kind into his native island. s Dr. Lanigan suspects,^ that the importation of bees by St. Domnoch is a story made up, to account for the scarcity of them at Menevia ; for, Giraldus says,7 that they continued to fall oif there, from that time when the swarms had followed Domnoch to Ireland. He tells us, likewise, that Domnoch was, when with St. David at Menevia, charged with the care of the bee-hives. ^ Now, as it happened that the number of bees in that district began to decrease, some wiseacre 9 undertook to explain this phenomenon, by saying, that they accompanied Domnoch on his return to Ireland. This story, however, made its way over to us, before the times of Giraldus. Connected with what Solinus, and others after him, had said, concerning there having been no bees in Ireland, induced some Irish writers of the ninth and tenth centuries to attribute the introduction of them to St. Domnoch. Colgan concludes, that as St. -^ngus and others state our saint was the first, who introduced bees into Ireland, we can only
receive these statements, as implying a certain particular species of this insect. In Ireland, there were for centuries domesticated and wild bees, with bees of different forms and colours. ^°
After St. Modomnoc's return to Ireland, he settled at a place called Tiprad-Fachtna, abbreviated to Tibrach," in the county of Kilkenny. " It
certain, that in the time of this latter, who flourished about A. D. 600, and who died in the 63rd year of his age, that bees and honey
s in a long note, Colgan here remarks, that, this account of St. Dominick having been the first to introduce bees into Ireland
then abounded in Ireland ; for the Venerable
" *'
Bede writes : Dives lactis et mellis insula,
nee vinearum —
expers, piscium volucrumque
sed et cervorum venatu insignis. "
"Historia
Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. , chap.
i. , p. 24. The fact of vines, growing in Ire-
land, shows that its summers were warmer in
the eighth century, than they are in our own time.
= The account of Solinus must have been received by St. Isidore, without due exami- nation. Yet, St. Modomnoc himself, who is said, first to have introduced bees into Ireland, flourished many years before St. Isidore's time, and in the Acts of our early saints, frequent mention about the existence of bees and honey in Ireland occurs.
3 Num. 37.
*' Cum sedent ad men-
* Thus we read
sam adferantur herba sive radices aqua lota in mundis scutellis j item poma, cervisia, et ex alvearis mellis ad latitudinem pollicis > id est, aliquot favi. "
:
rests upon the authority of two Menologists, with that of other historians. See Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xiii. Februarii. De S. Dominico qui Modomnocus, nn. 7, 8, p. 328.
* On such subject, he remarks that this curious anecdote is mentioned, not only in the Lives of St. David, but likewise in the passage of Giraldus* "Topographia," and, what seems of more weight, in the Calendar of Cashel, and in the Life of St. Molagga.
' In his Life of St. David,
^"
See Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , section v. , n. 71, pp. 320, 321.
' Such is the expression of Dr. Lanigan, and only one of many other quaint words, with which his notes are filled.
" See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xiii.
Februarii, nn. 7, 8, p. 328.
" It lies, nearly three miles E. S. E. from
Carrick-on-Suir, on the road to Waterford. See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of
February 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 515
lay near the River Suir. It is also called Tibberaghny, a townland in the
parish, having a like denomination, and in the barony of Iverk. ^3 The ruins of a church, here, bear evidences of a very remote antiquity. Here, too, are the remains of an ancient town, thought to have been of great importance,
in olden times. The antiquities near are of great interest,'-* especially a conical mound, presenting a considerable area on its summit, and encircled by a spacious fosse. 's St. Modomnoc is thought to have been honoured
with the
writers he is called Dominick. '7
^^ some By
episcopal dignity,
about the middle of the sixth
century.
At Tibberaghny, his feast was chiefly celebrated, and of that place, he
appears to have been the chief patron. '^ His natalis, or departure from this
life, is celebrated on the 13th day of February, according to Maguire and other writers. Another festival is kept in his honour, however, on the 18th day of May, according to the same authorities. '9 The year of his death is
not known he
; but, flourished,
about the middle of the sixth ^° century.
in his " commemorates not 13th February, ^ngus, Feilire,"
At the of St.
only St. Modomnoc, but also the account of his having introduced bees into Ireland. ^'' The Calendar of Cashel,^^ the Martyrology of Tallaght,=3 Marianus 0'Gorman,=^4CathalMaguire,^^andtheMartyrologyofDonegal,*^agree. In the Circle of the Seasons, he is commemorated, as a bishop and confessor. ^7 In Scotland, his memorial was kept. At the Ides, or 13th of February, the festival of St. Modomnoc, confessor in Hibernia, is set down in the Kalendar
Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 627.
noise, IS 533.
^^ The stanza, from the Leabhar following
Breac copy, with its English translation, was kindly furnished by Professor O'Looney :—
" Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , section v. , p. 319- 1'his historian remarks, that it does not "appear whether his establish- ment at Tibrach was a monastery or simply
a church. " Ibid.
^3 Both townland and parish have the
same extent, and are shown on the "Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the
^^ See Dr.
Lanigan's
of
^4 It is said, a tombstone was to be seen
there, inscribed with Danish characters. Most probably they are Irish.
County
Kilkenny. "
Sheets
38, 39.
*currach,'
^5 See Lewis' "
of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 627.
^^SeeRev. AlbanButler's"Livesofthe Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," vol. ii. , February xiii.
^^ See ibid.
^^ There is a Toberaghny, near Carric—k-
on-Suir, in Ivaerk. Ciob^AiT) 'pAchcriA. MS. note of William M. Hennessy.
'5 See notices at the in
day question.
^°
This conclusion is arrived at, because
Topographical Dictionary
our saint was renowned for his miraculous
powers, in the time of St. David, Bishop of
Menevia, who died it is supposed about the
year 544, and because Murchertach, King of Ireland, was his uncle, who flourished A. D.
500, and died A. D. 527, according to the Annals of the Four Masters, or in A. D. 533, according to Ussher. See Ussher's " Bri- tannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates. " In- dex Chronologicus, p. 530, and O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp.
174 to 177, and notes (i, j, k), ibid. The
year of Murchertach's death, as given by the Annals of Ulster, and those of Clonmac-
b. i. ix) Vi-I
" In Modomnoc's little
Westward over the bright sea ; Wasbroughtwithgreatrenown, The auspicious seed of the bees
of Erin. "
: ^"^Thereisfoundwritten "S. Dominicus,
de Tobar-Fachtna inter Ossorios & Desios, ad ripam Siuri fluvii : ipse est qui apes primo tulit in Hiberniam. Hie autem est dies obitus ejus, aut dies quo cum apibus
appulit. "
=^3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xv. He
is there " Modimoc o Facht- styled Tiprat
na. "
'^ In the text of Marianus, he is called
Domangen ; but, in an interlineal gloss, it is remarked, he was Modomnoc, of Tiprat Fachtna, in the western district of Ossory.
=^5 At this day, he observes, it was the natal feast of St. Modomnoc, of Tiprat Fachtna, in Ossory.
=^ On this day was venerated, according to the " Martyrology of Donegal," Modhom- hnog, of Triprat Fachtna, in the (south) westofOsraighe. Hesprungfromtherace of Eoghan, son of Niall. See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' edition, pp. 48, 49.
"7 See p. 44.
Cu^cliAti lllo-ooTrinoc,
-AriAi^ 'OA]\ inui|v n-5te"oeiTo ; "Oo byvecli b]\i5Ach n-UAiAn-o, Sil m-buA'OAch beAC n-eTAenx).
5i6 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February13.
of Dnimmond. This is also stated to be the date for his departure to Christ. =^ There can be no doubt, but this holy man was one who possessed, in an eminent degree, all the higher attributes of human excellence, purified, sanctified, and elevated by supernatural virtue.
Article II. —Festival of a Reputed St. Domhangin. As we have already seen, the commentator on the text of Marianus O'Gorman makes Domangen the same as Modomnoc of Tiprat Fachtna ; it is probable, we are not to consider the present Domhangin, as a different person. Yet, there is a distinct entry of both names, in the Martyrology of Tallagh. Perhaps, however, this is the result of interpolation, in the latter Calendar. The name, Domhangin, simply appears in tlie Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 13th of February; but, in other Calendars, it does not appear, if we except that of Marianus O'Gorman.
Article III. —Festival of St. Conan, or Canoc, Pilgrim, Abbot OF Gallen, King's County, and of Kilmuccraise. \Fifth or Sixth Century? ^ From what Colgan states, in his note,' that St. Canoc or Mo- chanoc, pilgrim,^' was venerated on this day, under the name Conan, it would seem, that we can find little difficulty, in identifying this saint. Conan is entered, in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 on this day. It appears to be the second festival, to his memory \ another was held, on the i8th of November.
Article IV. —St. Ermen, Virgin. We are at a loss to identify the
— flourished. At this date, holy virgin
and Marianus O'Gorman ha—
time
when,
place
where, this
s a St.
from this pious woman in his Calendar. In the Martyrology of Donegal,'
"
Ernengilda probably
we find Ermea,^ virgin, registered on this day. Her virtues were very
Queen of Virtues," was her special characteristic. It so pervaded her every thought, word, and act, that she was never heard
many, but charity, the
to say an unkind word ot anyone, much less to do an unkind act.
Article V. —St. Darcus. A festival, in honour of St. Darcus, is said
to have been celebrated, at the 13th of February, as we find the name
entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh. ^ Elsewhere, we do not find Jiim noticed.
Article VI. —St. Cuachnat, or Cruachnat, Virgin, of Ros-raithe. Very scant information can be obtained, regarding this holy woman's time, and the place, where she had been venerated, is equally difficult to be identified. Her name is found differently spelled, in our Martyrologies. She is called, Cruachnat, of Cros Fachtna, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^
=*See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
*
Article iv. — Edited by Drs. Todd
andReeves, 48,49. pp.
ScottishSaints,^'— p. 5.
"The later hand notes here, in Roman characters,
Article ii.
Kelly, p, XV. Article hi.
*
Rev. Dr. "Acta Sanctorum
=In a note Todd Dr.
— Hiberniae," xi. Februarii.
" Videtur esse nengildam voca—t. "
n. 29, p. 314.
=*
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
*
quam
Edited by See
says,
Marianus hoc die Er-
See notices of this saint, already given, at the nth of this month.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 48, 49.
*
Edited
by
Rev. Dr.
Vita S. Canoci,
Article v. p. xv.
Article vi Kelly, p. xv.
*
—
not to be
distinguished
February 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 517
atthat13thofFebruary. CroshereisprobablyamistakeforRos. Yet,
we find, in Irish local topography, the nearest approach to this denomination,
in Crossrah,^ parish of Kilbride, barony of Clonmahon, county of Cavan ; in
Crossreagh,3 parish of Ballywillan, barony of Lower Dunluce, county of
Antrim; inCrossreagh,4parishofMullagh,andbaronyofCastlerahan,also
in Crossreagh,5 parish of Castleterra, and barony of Upper Loughtee—both
oftheseinthecountyofCavan; inCrossreagh,^parishofBallyvvillin,barony
North- East Liberties of Coleraine, county of Londonderry ; in Crossreagh,
parish of Killeevan, barony of Dartree, county of Monaghan ;7 in Cross-
reagh,^ or Doohat, in the parish of Derrynoose, barony of Tiranny, county
of . Armagh ; in Crossreagh^ East, parish of Ballyaghran, barony North East
Liberties of Coleraine, county of Londonderry, as also in Crossreagh'° West,
in the same parish, barony and county. Besides the foregoing notice in our
earliest Calendar, we find, that Cuachnat, virgin, of Ros-raithe," is mentioned,
in the of ^^ on this We meet with a townland Martyrology Donegal, day.
denomination of Rossreagh,^3 in the parish of Tullyfern, barony of Kilma- crenan, and county of Donegal.
Article VII. —St. Columbanus, or Columban, Abbot and Recluse, AT Ghent, in Belgium. [Tenth Century. '] At the 13th of February,
^^ It is described on the "Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Cavan. " Sheet42.
Mart, of Tallaght reads, 'of Ros-Fachtna. ' The gloss over the name Cuachnat in the BrusselsMS. oftheMart,ofO'Gormanis
3 It is described on the Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Antrim. " Sheet 6.
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cavan. "
Sheet 40.
s See ibid. . Sheets 20, 21.
^ See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Londonderry. " Sheet 3.
65, oc lloff flAiche, virgin of Ross Raithe ;' and the Mart. Taml. , in the sam—e
MS. , has Cruachnat, oc Ros Fachtna ''
4 It is defined on the
Cruachnat, at Ros Fachtna, there is there- fore some confusion. "
7
See
Townland Survey Maps
of — Sheets County Donegal. " 45, 46.
"Ordnance
48, 49.
'3 its bounds are marked, on the " Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the
for the County of Monaghan. " Sheet 17.
^ See its limits on the " Ordnance Survey
TownlandMapsfortheCountyofArmagh. "
'
Sheets 19, 23.
9 Its lands are shown on the
"
tholicse Iberniae Compendium," tomus i. , lib.
iv,, cap. xi. , p. 49, and cap. xii. , p. 53.
"
3 in SeehisActs,atthei8thofJanuary.
s See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus ii. , Februarii xiii. Prsetermissi et in
alios dies rejecti, p. 664. Also, xv. Feb- ruarii. De S. Columbano Abbate, sect. 2,
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Menologium Scoticum. "
Londonderry. " Sheet3.
" See ibid.
" In a note, Dr. Todd says at this word,
" The later hand adds here, '6 Uof IT^ccnA, M. T. ,' meaning that the
Ros-raithe,
"
'^
Catalogus aliquorum Sanctorum Ibernise Columbanus, abbot and recluse. Reference is made to Molanus. ^ In the
""
anonymous catalogue of Irish Saints, Columbanus Recluses is entered at
this day,=' and there is every reason to suppose it has reference to the holy recluse at Ghent, in Belgium, about whom we have already treated, at the
seconddayofthismonth. TheBollandists,amongthepretermittedsaints, have allusion to this recorded festival, at the present date, where they take
occasion to reprove the Scotchman, Dempster, for the error he commits, by citing Molanus, in reference to the Columban, as understood by the Irish Calendarists. At the 13th of February, Dempster has a notice of St. Columban, Abbot of Sutri, and styled a recluse. 3 This holy man is men- tionedintheActsofSt. Deicolus. * DempsterconfoundshereSt. Columban, AbbotofLure,withSt. Columban,RecluseofGhent. s Wesuspect,how-
Henry Fitzsimon in his
enters
** '
"
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
