No More Learning

\_Sixteejith andSeventecjith
69
70
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 3.
. the wreck of human hopes, Divine Providence had preserved the Church, to emerge from her darkest days of persecution, and to enlarge her spiritual con- quests in distant lands. To Christianity was due our preservation from the shades and blighting influences of an effete and a degrading heathenism. Ire- land had her own internal and calamitous storms of anti-social and convulsive throes, although laws, arts, sciences, and imperfect philosophy, seem to have received some cultivation and a rude development, even during pre-Cliristian times. While our glorious Apostle, St. Patrick, aroused our Island from her torpor, and transmiued the glad tidings of Redemption to her people, every- where does he seem to have planted fructifying seed, which, during his life- time, ripened into a harvest of souls. From every quarter of the Island were its fruits gathered. Soon were heathen superstitions and rites abandoned for the life and vigour of a spirit, which guided our people into the true fold, and whichgavethempeaceandsecuritywithintheUniversalChurch. Numbers of holy persons grew up in the strength of wisdom, goodness, and faith, hav- m^ received from our earlier Missionaries those truths of religion, which could alone sanctify their works, and make these contribute to the lasting benefit of their souls.
It had been Father John Colgan's intention, to publish the Acts of St. Conlaeth, at this day. In nearly all our Irish Ecclesiastical Histories and Biographies, some space is devoted to this holy man, in connexion with the early church of Ireland. ' At the date for St. Conlaeth's Feast—the 3rd of I^Iay—he is found included with the Sancti Prcetermissi -^ nor do his Acts appear, in the great collection of the Bollandist writers. Yet, references are given to those dissertations on, and to their various lives of, St. Brigid, which had been published, at the 1st day of February. 3 These notices, indeed, serve partially to illustrate the present holy bishop's incomplete biography. To such incidental observations are we mainly indebted, for a few particulars relating to him. -* The exact time of this saint's birth has not been recorded, nor do we know whether he was born of Christian parents. His first name is said to have been Roincenn ; in the Acts of St. Brigid, 5 Patroness of Ire- land, he is variously called Conlath, Conlaeth, Conlaith,^ Conlaid,? and Con-
Vita Secunda S. Brigidce, cap. xxix. , xxxv. , pp. 522, 523.
currence of his name in the latter published metrical Acts, Colgan says, that in the ori- ginal MS. Conleth's name was written Gel- lanus, "sod quod Conlaidus sit legendum constat, ex vita prima, cap. 40. Secunda, cap. 29. " Ibid. , n. 14, p. 598.
* Ibid. Vita Teitia S. Brigidn? , cap. li. , p. 532. Also, Vita Quarta S. Biigidre, lil). ii. , cap. xix. , p. 552. In the " Third Life of . St. Brigid," it would appear that he had b^'cnalsocalledCoelianus. Thisappellation h'ld been corrected by Colgan, who adds in a note, "Rectius ergo Conlaidus, velConlrethus legendus, ut alii authores habent. " He then refers to the 3rd of May, where he intended to treat about St. Conleth, n. 24, p. 543. It need scarcely be observed, Culgan did not live to treat of St. Conleath. at the 3rd of May, his "Acts of the Irish Saints" not hav- ing I'cen yet published, beyond the close of
Article XII. — ' See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendarsof Scottish Saints," p. 237.
Article xiii. — ' See " Menologium Scoticum," at 2nd of May.
' Ibid. Vita Prima S. Brigidae, sect. 41, p. 517- Also, Vita Sexta S. Brigidse, sect. ^ See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scot- xliii. , p. 591. In a note, affixed to the oc-
tish Saints," p. 198. — Article i. —Chapter i.
' See an account of him, in Rev. Michael Comer- ford's " Collections relating to the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin," Bishops of Kildare,
p. I to 4.
^ See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. Tertia
Dies Mail, p. 359.
3 See ibid. . Prima Dies Februarii, pp. 99
to 185. This renowned Father John Bol- landus, himself, was the Editor of St. Brigid's Acts.
*A considerable portion of the present Bio"raphy appeared in the Carlow College Magazine, in successive Numbers of the Se- cond Volume. A few emendations—chiefly in form—are here introduced.
s See her Life, already published, in vol. ii. of this work, at the ist of Feb- ruary.
'See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," the month of March.
May 3-] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
71
lian. s ThesenamesarealsoLatinizedundervariousforms. TheMartyrology ofDonegal9 informsus,thatRoincennwashisfirstname,anditstates,thathe descended from the race of Laeghaire Lore, son to Ugaine Mor. From this Laeghaire Lore, who was. monarch of Erin, the Leinster men are also descended.
The earliest notices we can find regarding him gives us to understand, that St. Conleth lived the life of a recluse, and continued the occupant of a cell. This was situated, in a southern part of its plain, on the right bank of the River Liffey. '° We are informed, that besides his distinctive reputation for extraordinary sanctity, Conleth was also gifted with a prophetic spirit. " From those terms applied to him, in the Fourth Life of St. Brigid, it might seem, that this holy man had been a bishop, before his appointment to the See of Kildare, or perhaps, even before the time of his first introduction to St. Brigid. Yet, the text may be understood as conferring such a title on him, in anticipation of a dignity subsequently assumed, and, as the usual one, by which he was distinguished, in after times. "
Tradition has yet faithfully preserved that exact spot, Avhere St. Conlath lived. '3 It is known, now, as Old Connell, near the present town of New- bridge, and it is located in the county of Kildare. His former chantry lay less than a quarter of a mile from the River Liffey, on its southern and right bank. It presents every appearance—even in its dismantled and neglected state—of dating back to the most remote period of our ecclesiastical history. At present, nothing can be seen there like a church, but we find an overcrowded graveyard, filled with human remains, and covered with elder trees, nettles and rank weeds. A rather modern stone enclosure may be observed, just over the burial-ground surface. This, however, was built only to protect the remains ofsomepriestsandotherpersonsthereinhumed. '* OldConnellgraveyard is now surrounded by close fences, and it is covered over with several trees of large growth. Foundations of the old building are partly disclosed, when in- terments take place. '5 They lie at some depth, under the present mounds of earth, formed in a great measure by the dust of many successive human
generations here interred. No very ancient monuments can be seen, after a long lapse of ages, within this churchyard. '^ It has always been a favourite place for burial ; yet, history has recorded little regarding its past. '? Old Connell would seem to have been in a state of total decay, when Great Con-
9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. ri8, 119.
" 111 the "Third Life of St. Brigid" it is said, that he dwelt "in dextra Liffi Campi," &c. See Colgan's "Trias Thau- maturga," Vita Tertia S. Brigidse, cap. li. , p. 532.
now far^buried under earth, were obligingly traced out for the writer, by the very intelli- gent lady ah-eady mentioned.
'* In Great Connell, however, portions of the east gable are visible, together with some old sculptures, built into the walls or de- tached in adjoining situations. One of these formed the tomb ol Walter Wellesley, Bishop
" /i^/^. , Vita Quarta S. Brigid^e, lib. ii. ,
cap. xix. , p. 552. Also, Vita Tertia S. Bri- of Kildare, and Prior of this house, de-
gidse, cap. li. , p. 532, ibid.
" See Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Irelanii," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sect. xi. , and nn. 130, 131, 132, pp. 409, 411.
'3 Such was the information conveyed to the writer, in the month of September, i860, by Mrs. Hurley, a lady whose beautiful resi- dence immediately adjoins the oldgiaveyard, to which an ancient road leads.
•*By order of Government Commissioners, the cemetery has been lately closed for general interments.
'5 But the exact lines of these foundations,
scribed in Harris' Ware as having died in 1539. See vol. i. , " Bishops of Kildare," pp. 389, 390.
'? The accompanying illustration of this cemetery, drawn on the spot, by the writer, in August, 1S83, has been transferred tothe wood, by William F. Wakeman, and it was engraved by Mrs. Millard.
"^ In Clyn's "Annals," we find the follow- ing entry, at A. D. 1202, " Eundatur domus de Conale per Meylerum filium Henrici. " See Very Rev. Richard Butler's " Annals of Ireland," by John Clyn and Thady Dow-
72
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 3.
nell—a mile or two higher up and on the same side of the Liffey River—had been founded, at the commencement of the thirteenth century. '^
It is no easy matter to determine that exact spot, where the first inter- view between St. Conlaeth and St. Brigid took place. The most minute account of this meeting, remaining on record, is substantially as follows. A certain saint, whose proper name was Conlaidus, came to visit St. Brigid, from among a people, dwelling not far away from her ; as he had a great
ai^^^^^^^Hs. '
May 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 73
duly performed, St. Brigid received her pious visitor, and then brought her nuns,introducingthemtotheirholyguest. AllhersisterhoodwelcomedSt. Conlaeth, with a kindly and cordial greeting. He remained with the reli- gious community for some days. He piously instructed the nuns, through his edifying counsels, and he planted in their hearts those germs of Christian virtues, Avhich were destined to bear fruit in abundance, when the Lord of the vineyard proposed to gallier His harvest. Then, St. Conlaeth bade them adieu, and desired his chariot to be prepared, for a return to his own habita- tion. A boy in attendance was ordered to ])ut their yokes on the necks of his horses. Before starting on this journey, however, the chariot-wheel became
tunately he had escaped from accident. Although a wheel was loose on its axle, the chariot nevertheless bore himself and his attendant safely to the end of their journey. On alighting from the vehicle, St. Conlaeth gave heartfelt thanks to God.
He likewise extolled the merits of St. Brigid, to whose bles- sing he attributed this almost miraculous preservation. ^9 These incidents are briefly related, in the Third and Fourth Lives of St. Brigid. In these Acts, it is said, that the attendant of Conlaeth, when yoking the chariot, forgot to place the roset(Z,^° as a security against the movement of the wheels. Thus, it may be seen, how the holy eremite had been enabled to return home, under circumstances of more than ordinary difficulty and danger. ^^ The route of St. Conlaeth homewards lay probably across that well-known plain, denominated the Curragh of Kildare, now deemed the finest common in Europe, and con- taining three thousand acres of land. Nothing can exceed the softness and elasticity of its surface, diversified, as it is, by gentle swells or irregularities, and on which some scattered vestiges of circular entrenchments yet remain.
The soil is a fine loam, resting on a gravelly bottom. ^^
In the Life of St. Tighernach,23 it is related, that a certain nobleman, of
Leinster origin, who was named Corrnoc,^* had adopted him for a foster-son. Soon afterwards, taking his youthful charge, as the companion of his journey, that chief prepared for a return towards his home ; but, on their way, both entered Kildare, the city of St. Brigid. Tliis holy virgin intimated to her nuns, as distinguished guests were about to visit their house, that they should cordially and hospitably receive those visitors. St. Brigid met them, and taking the infant gently into her arms, she called him by the name of Tyger- nach, at the same time, declaring him to have descended from a royal pedi- gree. She asked St. Conlaid, or Collaid, the bishop, to baptize him. After
yet, no danger was apprehended, for Conlaeth appears to
loose on its axle
have been unaware of this fact, at the time of parting from St. Brigid. This illustrious abbess came out from her nunnery, to take leave of him, when he had ascended the vehicle. Conlaeth then asked her to extend her holy hand, and to bestow her blessing on him, that so he might felicitously prosecute his journey. The sainted Abbess gave both himself ind companion her blessing, with a sign of the cross. The pious recluse discovered, afterwards, how for-
;
meant certain iron fastenings or bosses, attached to the chariot's axle, in order to prevent the wheels from falling off. See ibid. , Vita Tertia S. Brigidas, cap. ii. , p. 532, and n. 25, p. 543. Also, Vita Quarta S. Brigidaa, lib. ii. , cap. xix. . xx. , p. 552, ibid.
^^ See "The Traveller's New Guide through Ireland," &c. County of Kildare,
7. Published at Dublin, by John Cum- ming, A. D. 1S15.
^3 gee his Life, given in vol. iv. of this work, and at the 4th of April.
-•• He was a warrior or chief of a king called Echad, and a grandson, likewise, as the daughter of this prince had been his
'
^' The foregoing incidents are briefly nar-
rated in the Fourth Life of St. Brigid, as pub-
lished by Bollandus. See "Acta Sancto- mother.
rum," tomus i. , Vita Quarta S. BrigidK, cap. -5 See ' Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. Prima iii. , n. 15, p. 162, Dies Februarii. Vita S. Brigid^. Com-
p. 1
1
;
74 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 3.
this event, the foster-father with his adopted son went to his own place, wherehecarefullytendedthechild. 's Fromtheforegoingnarrative,Bollan- dus infers, that as Conlaid had been a bishop, when he baptized St. Tigher- nach, his elevation to the episcopal rank must have been accomplished previous to a. d. 480. For, St. Maccarthen ^^ died in the year 506; and, he wasimmediatelysucceededintheSeeofClogherbySt. Tighernach. ^? Sup- posing correctness in the foregoing account, it is conjectured,^'^ his baptism must have taken place, at least thirty years before the latter date, and during the younger days of his godmotlier, St. Brigid. ^^ The reputation of Conleth, this pious servant of God, for great sanctity daily increased, and his virtues were a subject of admiration, to all living within that extent of country imme- diately surrounding him. We cannot doubt, but he infused the light of a good example, and impressed a right spirit throughout the district blessed by his ministrations. We find it difficult to obtain any very correct notions, re- garding the real state of society, at that remote period ; but, there appears to have been a new awakening to the dawn of a happier epoch, and a steady perseverance in the doctrines and teaching of St, Patrick,3° who had early visited Naas, the royal city of Leinster, and of Auxilius,3^ who dwelt near the Liffey's banks.
It is expressly stated, in the Fourth Life of St. Brigid, that this holy virgin selected St. Conlaeth to be the first bishop over her newly- established city of Kildare. It is probable, this pious man lived in retirement, not far from the place. This circumstance, connected with his first introduc- tion to St. Brigid, her influence with other Irish bishops, as likewise his own great virtues and merits, may have contributed to point him out, as one eminently suited to fill the position to which he was elevated. There can hardly be a doubt, regarding St. Conlaeth having been the first prelate over that See, notwithstanding some statements of certain writers, that other per- sons had there preceded him, in such an office. 3^ According to these, Lon,
mentarius Prsevius, sect, xiii. , n, 102, p. 116.
-^ His feast has been assigned, to the 24th of March, and to the 15th of August.
^7 See "Acta Sanctorum," ibid. , n. 104, p. 116. BoUandus considers, that Colgan allows him not less than twenty-four years in the episcopate, and he argues that Tigher- nach could not have been baptized after A. D. 500. Now St. Duach, or Dubtach, Arch- bishop of Armagh, is said by Colgan to have died A. D. 512 ; or as Ussher states, from an- cient annals, a. d. 514. Bollandus says, this latter saw Tighernach invested with the episcopal dignity, and afterwards he adds : " Ut nondum lumc solveret Colganus, dum quae de S. Tigernaco narraviuius, ex nostro Salmanticensi codice recitat, consulto S. Conlaidi nomen dissimulavit ; ab Episcopo, inquiens,baptizaricumfecit. AtMS. habet ab Episcopo Conlatheo baptizari eum fecit. Nos alio usi exemplari sumus, in quo Collai- dus, pro Coidaido, scriptum erat. " Bollan- dus, however, seems to have forgotten, that there might have been a later l3ubtach, as Archbishop of Armagh, tlian he who died A. u. 512, 513, or 514. Dubtach, the second of this name, in the See of Armagh, died A. D. 547 or 548. Now, this latter might have been the prelate, who saw St. Tighernach
advanced to the episcopacy. See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , " Archhisliops of Armagh," pp. 36, y], and 38 ; also Dr. O'Donovan's " Annal, of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 168, 169, and pp. 184, 185, withn. (p). Ibid.
^^ By Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
*' See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect, li. , p. 434, and n. 16,
pp. 436, 437. St. Tighernach, Bishop of
Clones and Cloglier, is said to have died
A. D. 549. See ibid. , vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect,
xiii. , p. 70.
^o
g^g hjg Life in vol. iii. of this work, and at the 17th of March.
3' His festival has been assigned to the l6th of September.
3= In Harris' Ware, vol. i. , we read : " I do not know upon what authority it is grounded ; but the Red Book of the Earl of Kiidaie saith that one Lonius was the first bishop of Kildare ; Ivorius the next ; and thai Conlius or Conlaeth succeeded Ivorius. And out of that book, Richard Stanihurst, in his English description of Ireland (which is cxt. un in the printed lIoling>hed), gives the same account ; but, in my opinion, they are both in error. " "Bishops of Kildare," p. 3S1.
33 jn commenting on this statement, Col- gan declares himself to be completely igno-
May 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
75
or Lonius, had been the first bishop there ;33 Ivor,34 or Ibhar,35 was the second prelate ; and then Conlius or Conlaeth succeeded as the third. Cogitosus represents the latter as a holy ascetic, who lived in retirement, until he had attracted the notice of St. Brigid. It is thought, likewise, that he was a skilled artificer in gold and silver, and that he wrought the ancient crozier, which afiierwards belonged to St. Finnbharr 36 of Termon Barry in Connaught, and which is now preserved in the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy. 37
By most of our early ecclesiastical writers, we are told, that Conlaeth was an illustrious man, adorned with every virtue, and that the Almighty had been pleased to effect great wonders through him. He appears to have been called from his solitude, almost immediately after his first interview with St. Brigid, to receive episcopal unction and jurisdiction over the newly-established See of Kildare. A great increase in the number of applicants for admission to St. Brigid's religious institute, at this venerable spot, as also the increasing size and population of a rising city, required the presence and ministrations
of a bishop, in the opinion of its renowned AbLess. So long as Conlaeth lived in Kildare with her, most cordial relations oi'holy friendship and mutual esteem prevailed between them. Cogitosus also seems to say, that the ap- pointment of St. Conlaeth to his episcopal dignity was effected by St. Brigid. 3^ But, it cannot be supposed, that the holy and humble Abbess could have arrogated to herself a privilege opposed to the ecclesiastical canons, nor is it probable such assumptions, if they were made, should have commanded the approval of the Irish bishops. 39 That her influence to procure Conlaeth's
rant of any grounds on which it may rest, for
in the Irish Marlyrologies there is only one
St. Lonius, surnamed Garadh, known.
Marianus O'Gormau and Charles Magmre
tell us, that on the 24th of June, Lonius was
venerated in the church ot Killgaura, and
they also, together with St. yEngus and the
Calentlar of Cashel, declare that, on the 3rd
of September, he was especially honoured in
the churches of Killagaura, in Slievemarigue,
in Magtuathad, and in Garadh, a desert place
in the northern part of Ossory. This Lonius,
however, lived in the lime of St. Columkille
—that is, about the year 550, or afterwards,
as Charles Maguire and the scholiast of
. (Engus state. Wherefore, he could not have
been a bishop of Kildare before St. Con-
laeth, who died in the year 515, or before
St. Ibar, who is said to have departed this
life A. D. 506. Colgan thinks it probable, therefore living at Kildare. See " Ecclesias-
that the supposed affinity of these words, Garadh, Killgaradh, or Kilguara, with Kil- dara, gave occasion to Ware and other writers, for placing Lon over the See of Kil- dare. Notwithstanding, Colgan seems to have overlooked Sir James Ware's avowal of his disbelief, in these statements, made by previous writers.
tical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sect, xi. , n. 134, p.