We meet with an entry, at the 1 8th of May, in the
published
Martyrology of Tallagh,^ regarding Midgus mac Eire, of Cill Taillten.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
3 Thus : tnometJoc-pe'DA "ouin.
t Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iv. ,
Mail xviii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 134.
* See Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves' edition of the " Martyrology of Donegal," pp. 132, 133.
1 See " Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. , p. Ixxxviii. The latter part of this pedigree seems to have been introduced, as an alternative conjecture.
^Seevol. iii. ofthiswork,Art. i.
5 See Archdall's "Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 351.
" See his Life, at the 31st day of January, in vol. i. of this work. Art. i.
" See Colgan"s " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
727.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp. 132, 133.
'3 gee " Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. no, III.
Article v. — ' See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. Ixxx.
^ See ibid. , p. Ixxxviii.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv. ''Thus: lllo'ooniiioc C1pl^AC jTaa.
s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iv. ,
Mali xviii. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 134.
^ See "Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. , p. Ixxx.
' See vol. ii. of this work. Art. i.
— —
5o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i8.
May. His Acts will be found, at the i3tli of February,? the date for his principal festival. This saint, likewise, bore the name of Domhnog. The commentator of ^ngus especially remarks, that the 13th of February was his Natalis day. Various authorities accord with a narrative already given, that St. jNIodomnocus or Dominic first brought bees to Ireland. However, this can only be understood of a particular species of bees, as Colgan observes
; for, it is certain, that before St. Modomnoc's birth, there were bees in Ireland. ^
Marianus O'Gorman and Cathal Maguire have a commemoration of St. Modomnoc of Tiprad Fachtna, at this date. Colgan concludes, that the i8th of May must have corresponded with some translation of his relics, or his commemoration, or some other festival regarding him, differing from that of his Natalis. 9 We find entered, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^" that venera- tion was given on this day to Domhnog, son to Saran, of Tiprat Fachtna. " He belonged to the race of Eoghan, son of Niall. Quoting the authority of PeterCanisius,ThomasDemjister'^ hasMottomagusConfessor,inIreland, at the 1 8th of May. '3 This appears to be only a mis-spelling of the present saint's name.
Article VI. Feast of St. Mark, Bishop and Martyr. In the "Feilire" of St. ^ngus,' and in the Martyrology of Tallagh, a feast is assigned toSt. Mark,atthe18thofMay. HeisconsideredtobetheEvangelist,^in the Augustan, Labboean and Tallagh Martyrologies, whose chief festival is on the 25th of April. In the additions to Greven, he is styled Bishop and Martyr. The Bollandists 3 insert his feast, among the pretermitted ones, at the 18th of May,4
Article VII. St. Bresal, of Derthach, thought to have been Abbot of Iona. We meet with an entry of this saint, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the i8th of May. In the Franciscan copy, it is nearly similar. ^ The Bollandists 3 also enter Bressalius de Durthach, at this date. Various places are compounded with the word Derthach, which means an Oratory. Thus, Dearthach-Aedhain * was struck with lightning, a. d. 804,5 and this place was called Oratorium Nodan, in the Annals of Ulster. This Oratory was probably at Disert-Nuudhain, now Flastersnow, near Elphin, in the county of Roscommon. Derthech-Chianain was plundered and destroyed,
* So that learned writer shows, in notes to this saint's Life, at the I3lh of Feliruary. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xx. Januarii, n. 25, p. 150, and xiii. Februarii, nn. 7> 8, p. 328.
* See " Acta Sanctorum Ilibernirc," xiii. Februarii, n. 19, p. 328.
'° Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. '32. 133-
^ See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iv. , Maii xviii. , p. 134.
They state " hujus omnino peculiaris alitjuis cultus videtur hocdie fuisseinAng'. ia: nam Kalendarium Melricum tomo 10 Spici- Icgii Acheriani, quatuor sohmi festa in Maio noians, sic finit mensem :
' Ter quinis Marcus meruit pulsare Kakndis. "
" It is placed in the west of Osraighe.
" In his "Menologium . Scoiorum," thus " In Hibernia Mottomagi Confessoris. "
:
— '
Article Vll. '^ See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Kelly, p. xxiv.
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Scottish Saints," p. 200.
Article vl — ' See " Transactions of
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscri|)t Series, vol. i. , parti. , p. lx. \x.
' The commentary on the " Feilire " states this ; and, it is added, tliat the honour of an apostle was paid to him in his tribes, after parting with I'elcr. See ibid. , p. Ixxxviii.
-' Thus :
bi\e]'ALo T5u]\c1k\c1i.
3 yee "Acta Sanctorum,' tomus iv. ,
. Maii Xviii. p. 135.
Among the pretermitted saints,
< See Dr. O'Donovan's " . Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 414, 415, and n. (f), ibid.
s Qr rccte, A. D. 809.
I
——
May 1 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 507
by the foreigners, a. d. 878. ^ Derthach-Mochua was burned by the foreigners, A. D, 919. 7 Derthech Maehsa Ua Brolchain was burned, a. d. 1116. ^ It is not certain, however, that the present Saint's Oratory can be identical with any of the foregoing Derthechs. According to the Martyrology of Done- gal,9Bresal,ofDethach,wasveneratedonthisday. AccordingtoColgan, this saint would seem to have been the son of Segen, and Abbot of Iona. '° If so, he died a. d. 796, or rede 801.
Article VIII. St. Saran. In a Manuscript Florarium is the simple entry of Sarai, as the Bollandists ^ state, at the i8th of May; and Saran, Confessor, in Hibernia, is noticed by Greven, Canisius, Fitzsimon and Ferrarius. However, when treating about the saints resting at Trim, Colgan ^ enumerates various Sarans, who were venerated on eleven different days ; but, he has no record of one so called for this date. Thomas Dempster, at the
i8thof May, enters 3 the feast of Saran, Bishop, quoting the authority of Peter Canisius. '^
Article IX. Feast of St. Mommolin, Bishop of Novon and TouRNAY, France. \_Seventh Cenfwy. '] In the Benedictine Kalendar, the Bollandists' observe, at the iSthof May, that St. Mommolin, at first Abbot of St. Bertin, and afterwards Bishop of Noyon and Tournay, is venerated. However, they refer his chief feast to the i6th of October.
Article X. Translation of the Relics of St. Malachy O'Morgair, to Avignon. The Cistercian Kalendar, printed at Dijon, has a notice, regarding the Translation of St. Malachy O'Morgair's Relics, at the i8th of May. The BoUandists,' who introduce it, refer to his Natalis, at the 3rd of November. ^
Article XI. St. Miodhguss, Son of Erc, of Tigh-Taillten, or Teltown Church, County of Meath.
We meet with an entry, at the 1 8th of May, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh,^ regarding Midgus mac Eire, of Cill Taillten. ^ This place is now known as Teltown, near the River Boyne, and nearly midway between Kells and Navan, in the county of
Meath. Itwasanotedplace,eveninearlypagantimes. 3 Atthei8thof May, the Bollandists have the entry Midgassius, filius Erci de Killtailtin. The name of Miodhguss, son to Erc, of Tigh Taillten, occurs in the Martyr- ology of Donegal,5 as having veneration paid him, at this date.
^ See ibid. , pp. 526, 527.
^ See ibid. , vol. ii. , pp. 606. 607.
* This is thought to have been at Lis-
more, county of Waterford. See ibid. , pp. 1002,1003,andn. (c),ibid.
9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 132, 133-
" See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap- pendix ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. iii. , sect. V. , p. 501. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 404, 405. —
3 Xn his " Menologium Scotorum. "
* Thus : "Ad Mulum Galvviae Sarani Episcopi. Pet. Canis. B. "—Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 200.
ing volume. —
Article viii. ' See "Acta Sancto- Article xi. ' Edited by Rev. Dr.
rum," tomus iv. , Maii xviii. Among the Kelly, p. xxiv.
pretermitted saints, p. 135.
^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hiliernise," Feb-
ruarii xvii. De aliis diversis Sanctis Ath- rumige quiescentibus, p. 367.
^ In the Franciscan copy, we read, inm- juf rriAC ei|\c C1II1 CAlcen.
^ See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (u), p. 22.
ARTICLEIX. —' See"ActaSanctorum," tomus iv. . Mail xviii. Among the preter- mitted saints, p. 136.
—'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iv. , Maii xviii. Among the preter-
Article x.
mitted saints, p. 136.
^ See his Life, at that date, in a succeed-
Ari ICLE Xll. — ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv. The Franciscan copy has p]\-oAclnMch.
' Thus found Gp]- ColniAin.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 132, 133.
• See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iv„ Maii xviii. Among the pretermitted saintSt p. 135.
Article xiv. —' Edited by Drs. Todd
" See " Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap- pendixadActaS. Columba',cap. iii. , sect. v. , p. 502.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iv. , Maii xviii. Among the pretermitted saints. p. 135.
and Reeves, pp. 132, 133.
— 5
5oS LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 19.
Article XII. St. Feradacius, or St. Ferdachrichus. A St. Feradachrichus, \vas]venerated on this day. This name is solely inserted, in the IMartyrology of Tallagh,^ at the i8th of May. It is not known, whether he can be identical with St. Feradacius, Abbot of lona, some notices of whom willbefound,atthe31stofthismonth. Itislikely,however,thatthepre- sent Ferdacrioch was a different person from him just mentioned; although, we have no clue left, to trace his period or locality. Colgan thinks,^ he was the same Fredach, who died a,d. 577. There was a Ferdachricus, son of Subnei, son to Ronan, who was Abbot at Armagh, and who had a reputation for sanctity. Tiie Bollandists 3 commemorate him, at the 1 8th of May. He died A. D. 771, and he is said to have been venerated on this day, and also on the 31st of May. '' This day was venerated Ferdacrioch, as we tind simply registered, in tlie Martyrology of Donegal.
Article XIII. St. Colman, Bishop. A record of Bishop Colman is found in the published ' and in the Franciscan copy^ of the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the iStli of May. Tlie name of Colman, Bishop, is set down in theMartyrologyofDonegal,3 ashavingafestival,atthisdate. TheBollan- dists 4 enter Colmanus Episcopus, w-ith the simple observation, that there are many saints bearing his name in the Irish Calendars.
Article XIV. St. Aghna, Virgin. The Martyrology of Donegal' mentions, that Aghna, Virgin, had a festival at this date. Nothing more is related of her, in the Irish Calendars.
f\. \\\titt\\i\) ©ai) of iBay*
ARTICLE I. —ST. RICHELLA, VIRGIN.
THERE is no alloy to be traced in the religious motives of Christian virgins ; since they are noble and disinterested in the most sublime degree. No stain can be found in their actions, because of their purity in heart and affection, owing to their comprehensive benevolence and desire in allthingstofollowtheDivineLaw. IntheMartyrologyofTallagh'—pub-
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iv. , Maii xviii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 135.
5 Edited by I'rs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 132, 133.
Article xiii. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
In the Rev. Dr. Kelly's edition of it, the entry stands, * See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," " Ricilli Vir. " See "Calendar of Irish
Septima Appendix ad Acta S. Palricii, Saints," p. xxiv.
pars. iii. ^ In the Franciscan Manuscript, we read.
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 132, 133.
Article
— I. '
May 19] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 509
lished and unpublished^—we find this saint's festival set down, on the 19th ofMay. MarianusO'GormanandCharlesMaguirementionthisholyvirgin, likewise, in their Calendars, and at the same date. According to the accounts ofancientwriters,St. Patrickshadasisterbearingthename. But,asthere were two other Richellas,^ in our list of Irish Saints, it may be difficult to determinethevirgin,whosefestivalisthisdaycommemorated. Wedonot know, if she was that person, related to the great Apostle of Ireland, in the first degree of kindred. There was a certain church or monastic establish- ment, in the territory of Lugne, within the Connaught province, and there a St. Richella is said to have lived. s Kill-Richille, in the diocese of Clonfert, was probably connected with the residence of a saint bearing this name; yet, it is not easy to determine that particular Richella—if indeed she was one among the three mentioned—who had been venerated in either of those places. ^ In a list of St. Patrick's five sisters, the name Cinnenus is substituted forRichella,byUssher;7 andColganfound,likewise,inanoldfragmentary vellum Life of St. Patrick, the name of a fifth sister to the Irish Apostle, as Cinnenus, and not Richella. ^ But, as the form of the name Cinnenus is not applicable to a female, Colgan thinks we ought rather read, Cinne noem, signifying St. Cinna. 9 Now, it would seem, that Richinne has the signification regia Cimief° wherefore, Colgan argues, it is possible, the doubtful word may be properly resolved into Richinne or Richella. The same researchful hagiologist tells us, he could not discover, whether or not Richella became a mother. It might come within the range of possibility, also, that Barbanus, or Banbanus, of Mag-slecht, and a kinsman of St. Patrick,'' had been her son; although,Colgandidnotknow,whethertliis relationshiphadbeenthrough a brother or sister, or in what collateral line. ^^ This, however, is only a very groundless conjecture; and, also, any attempt to represent our saint as a sister to the illustrious St. Patrick '3 must prove equally futile. In the Irish Tripar-
KiciLle ui]\. but from the circumstances referring to her, 3 See his Life, in the Third Vohime of she appears to differ from the present
this work, at the 17th of March, Art. i.
" One of these was St. Richelia, the daughter of Attractus, and of King Lea- gaire's race. Her descent will be found, in the " Menelogium Genealogicum," cap. 3. The other was Richella, or, according to others, Richenna, called also Reynach, or Regnacia. She was daughter to Fintan, and sister to St. Finnian of Clonard, asmay be seen in a Life of the latter, published by Colgan. Her Life will be found, at the i8th
of December.
5In Vita S. Dagei, cap. 18. See Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," vi. Februarii, De S. Mele Episcopo Ardachadensi, nn.
