No More Learning

5" See his Life, at the 24tli of July.
s- The same remarks are made, in the
Lives of St. Albeus {cap. xvi. ), and of St.
Declan (cap. xiv. )
53 See Vita S. Kierani ex Codice Kilken-
impersonated by
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 133
drew to Saigir many neophytes, who became his disciples, and who embraced
a fervent life, under his direction. This increasing religious family obliged him to erect a monastery, for their accommodation, at the place of his retreat. S3 Here necessaries of life were supplied to St. Kieran, and to his disciples, in a miraculous manner. One day, the steward of his monastery told our saint, that swine were wanting for their use, and that it would be necessary to purchase some. But, Kieran replied, that the Lord, who already granted themwhathadbeenrequired,wouldalsosendthese. Onthedayfollowing, a sow, with her numerous litter, was seen within their enclosure, and from thisstockasufficientnumberofswinewasafterwardsprocured. s* Inlike manner, his steward declared, that sheep were wanting, and should be bought. But the saint answered, that he who sent the swine would also present sheep to them. On going forth, without the gate of their monastery, the steward beheld twenty-sevenss sheep grazing, and from that number, in due course, a large flock issued. s^
CHAPTER IV.
ST. LIADAIN AND HER NUN BRUINECHA—ST. KIERAN RESTORES FINTAn'S SON TO LIFE— ^NGUS, SON OF NATFRAICH, KING OF MUNSTER—RESTORATION OF HIS H4. RPERS— THE QUEEN, ETHNEA HUATHACU—ST. PATRICK BECOMES THE GUEST OF ST. KIERAN —THE KING OF TEMORIA INVADES OSSORY—ST. KIERAN'S RULE—MIRACLES OF THE SAINT—THE HOLY MEN WHO ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN HIS CONTEMPORARIES.
We learn from the Acts of St. Kieran, that his mother Liadain^ embraced a religious life—probably after the death of his father—and she lived under her
son's protection, at a place, called Killyon^ after her, and where a nunnery was founded not far from Saigher. Among her nuns was a virgin, named Bruinecha. 3 Further accounts of these must be sought for in other pages of this work. Among the many miracles of St. Kieran must be recorded in- stances, in which the dead were even raised to life, through his merits. A certain rich man, named Fintan, brought his son's dead body to our saint, requesting him, in the name of Christ, to resuscitate the deceased. Kieran approached the corpse of this young man, who had been named Leogaire ; when, through his faith in Christ, Finlan's son was restored to life, and i^resented to his father. The young man lived, afterwards, for a lengthened period. As a mark of grati- tude, he presented the village of Rathfera,+ with its lands, to the saint. s About this time, too, it is said, that ^ngus, son of Natfraich, King of Mun- ster, had been baptized, by St. Patrick, in the city of Cashel. A son of Ere, a descendant of Duach, and inhabiting the region of Ossory, had maliciously killed a horse, belonging to St. Patrick. Being apprehended, by the soldiers of ^ngus, that man was cast into chains previous to his being put to death.
niensi, cap. ix. , p. 459, and Vita S. Kierani
^ It is now a townland, in the parish of
DramcuUen, and barony of EgUsh. It is
sliown on the " Ordnance Townland Survey
ex MS. Salmanticensi, Officium, lect. iii. ,
in berniae. "
" Acta Sanctorum Hi-
p. 467,
Colgan's
5+ See Vita S. Kierani ex Codice Kill^en-
Maps of the King's County," Sheet 36.
3 Colgan has a conjecture, that she may be identical with a St. Brunsecha, or Brun- Trea, and who is venerated on the 29th of May. See "Acta Sanctorum
Ilibernias," n. 18, p. 464.
'•"The land called Rath-fearainn this
day," according to the English MS. Life.
s See Vita S. Kierani ex Codice Kilkeu-
niensi, cap. xiii. , p. 459. Ibid.
55 "
Twenty-eight," according
lish MS. Life.
to the
Eng-
sech, ofMagh
"
niK. " Vita S. Kierani ex Codice Kilken-
niensi, cap. xiv. , p. 459.
Chapter iv. —-' See her Life, at the nth
of August.
y^ See Colgan's
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niensi, cap. xv. , pp. 459, 460,
134 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 5.
At the intercessioa of friends, however, St. Ciaran procured his ransom from -^ngus, on paying a considerable amount of money. But, after this
prisoner's hberation, the gold and silver disappeared. The royal recipient angrily asked our saint, how he had dared to impose a phantom treasure on a king. To this query, our saint answered, that all precious metals were made from nothing, and must be reduced to nothingness. The king's anger not being appeased by such reply, he held forth threats against Kieran. Immediately, as the legend states, ^Engus became blind, and fell on the ground. At this time, St. Carthage,^ grandson to ^ngus, was a disciple of our saint, whom he entreated to restore again the king's sight. Kieran re-
" He
ing the prostrate form, and after giving a sharp admonition, the servant of God was thought to have raised the king to life, ^ngus, giving thanks to God for his recovery, and being restored to the use of sight, bestowed many gifts upon St. Kieran. 7 This same ^ngus had certain harpers in his court, who were accustomed to sing the praises of heroes, accompanied by the music of their instruments ; and, while passing through the territory of Muscrya Thire,^ in the province of INIunster, these bards were murdered, by some enemies. Their bodies were afterwards thrown into a lake, in a retired part of the country, and their harps were suspended from a tree, on the borders of this lough. The king was ignorant regarding his harpers' fate, for a long time ; when, recollecting that Kieran was gifted with a spirit of prophecy, and being unwilling to consult Magi or diviners, after he had be- come a Christian, ^ngus came to our saint, and learned from him all parti- culars, concerning those murdered men. On being asked by the king, Kieran accompanied him to the lake ; and, having flisted there a whole day, towards its close, the waters of t—his lake dried up, and then the bodies of his seven harperswerediscovered amonthhavingalreadyelapsed,sincethetimeof their death. In the name of the Most Holy Trinity, Kieran commanded them to arise ; when, awaking as it were from a profound sleep, and taking their harps, they played sweet strains before King ^ngus, the bishop, and a crowd then present.
in his
and now suffers
to death. "
punishment
Then, it was said, by some persons, that the king had died. Carthage, with others, entreated our saint to restore him the use of his faculties. Approach-
plied,
sought gold
power,
This lake, in which they were drowned, was afterwards
which " Lake of the
signifies, Harpers ;"
Loch na
although, from that time forward, it contained no water. Having received the thanks and blessings of ^ngus and of the people present, St. Kieran re- turned to his own city of Saigir. 9 On another occasion, a chief of yEngus, while passing through Ossory'° with his retainers, saw swine, belonging to St. Etchean. " This chief ordered his soldiers to kill one of them ; but, whilst they were preparing to roast it in the wood, their enemies surprised them. This chief and twenty of his soldiers were killed, on the banks of a rivulet, calledBrosnach. " AnaccountofthisdisasterbeingbroughttoSt. Kieran,
* The festival of this saint is celebrated on this same day, the 5tk of March.
7 See Vita S. Kierani ex Codice Kilken- niensi, cap. xvi. , p. 460. Also, Vita S.
named,
Cruitireadh,
Kierani ex MS. lect. vi. , p. 468.
Salmanlicensi, Officium,
saint. " Acta Sanctorum
See, Ilibernia;,"
V. Martii, n. 23, p. 464. His Life has been
already given at tiie nth of February, if he be the same to whom allusion is made,
" The territory was formerly the principa-
lity of the O'Kenedys. See Harris' Ware,
" '*
vol. ii. , Antiquities of Ireland," chap, vii. , sect, i. , p. 52.
This appears to have been the Little Brosna River, which, from this passage, may be inferred as running formerly on the bounds of Ossory, or perhaps flowing through them, at that time.
9 See Vita S. Kierani, ex Codice Kilken- niensi, cap. xvii. , p. 460.
" The Lnglisli MS. Life substitutes,
" and " in- Musgraidhe Tiie," steward,"
stead of " one amongst the chiefs. "
" Colgan prefers this emendation to the name Ecianus, as written in the Life of our
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 135
his disciple, Carthage, besought him to have the bodies removed, lest they shouldbedevouredbywildbeasts. But,whenKierancametothatspot,he found only a few vehicles, which were quite insufficient to remove the dead bodies \ he then cried out, with a loud voice, that all who were killed should arise, in the name of Christ, and follow him. All of those men, thus miracu- lously restored to life, afterwards became monks, under St. Kieran's rule, and they lived, in a religious manner, to the time of their respective deaths. *3 One day, it is said, St. Kieran spread some clean linen, over a bush, which bore many black berries. Tiiis he did, that they might be preserved during winter, for an occasion of which he had some foreknowledge. After the ensuing Easter, ^ngus. King of Cashel,^+ with his queen, Ethnea Huathach,'S came to the castle of Conchryd, or Conchrydhius, Chieftain of Ossory. Here, this distinguished retinue had been entertained, at a great banquet, by the chief, who was a man remarkable for his personal attractions. But, unfortunately, the queen conceived an unlawful passion, which was accompanied by a dis- honorable proposal, on her part. Being a man of probity and virtue, Con- chryd rejected these advances ; when, the queen feigned sudden illness, that she might remain in his castle, after her husband's departure. Being asked, what might prove an effecual cure for her illness, Ethnea replied, that if blackberries could be procured, these should cure her on being eaten. She supposed, most naturally, at that season they could not be obtained. At this
time,'^ the whole region of Ossory was a missionary district, under St. Kieran's charge. To him the chief repaired, with an account of the foregoing circumstances ; at the same time, he expressed some apprehension and dis- Lke, should the queen remain in his castle, after the king's departure. On hearing this statement, Kieran had a measure of blackberries taken from bushes growinginthewood. Thesehadbeencovered,fromtheprecedingautumn, until that present month of April, and their berries were sent to the queen. On eating them, Ethnea found her passion for the chieftain yield to the require- ments of reason and religion. On recognising such miraculous effects, the queen prostrated herself at the feet of our saint, confessed her crime, and
asked absolution from him. The with a holy bishop replied,
"
Oh, queen, I cannot release you, from a death impending ; for, my daughter, your enemies shall kill both yourself and our sovereign, the king, on the
same day. " This prediction was accomplished, a. d. 489,'? when yEngus and his queen were killed,'^ at the battle of Cell Osnadha,'9 now Keniston,='° in
3 See Vita S. Kierani, ex Codice Kilken- '7 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
niensi, cap. xviii. , p. 460. Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 152 to 154, and '* He is said to have ruled as king of nn. (n, o). Ibid.
for
•s She was sister to Crimthann, son to
Endeus Kinsellagh, according to some ac- counts ; while, the old Life of St. Kieran makes her to have been the daughter of Crimthann. The latter is held to have been the slayer of Oilioll Molt, King of Ireland,
'^ The MS. Life has it, that such English
Munster,
thirty-six years.
an occurrence took place, on " the 8th Ides of the month of October, A. D. 493, and St. Patrick died the same year. "
at the battle of A. D. Ocha,
Failghe. =°In the
"
Anthologia Hibernica,"
vol.
478. Colgan thinks, that Lughaidh, who succeeded to the Irish throne, had been a captive to
iv. , at p. 105, we have an engraving, which repre- sentstheruinsofachurchandaroundtower, " The tower, which stands ou his death, viz. , A. D. 503.
See "Acta elevated ground, about five miles N. E. of Carlow, and not on the Barrow, as asserted in some late publications, is built of grit stone with which the county abounds, and about twelve feet internal diameter, but at
Crimthann, before the period, assigned for now Sanctorum Hibernije," Martii v. , nn. 25,
destroyed.
26, p. 464.
_
"^
St. Kieran's elevation to the Episcopacy of
Dr. Lanigan appears willing to allow
Saigir, not until about the year 538. See present much destroyed. The church ap-
"
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , pears to be very ancient, with semicircular
chap. X. , sect, ii. , p. 7. arches, but all the sculptured stones aie
'» The English Manuscript Life states, that Cill Uosny was in Magh Feimhin
sigh,
136 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 5.
the county of Carlow,^'' and which was fought against them, by Muircheartach Mac Erca, by Illann and AiUU, sons of Dunlaing, and by Eochaidh Guin- each. ^^ These events are rendered very notorious, through the accounts left, in our ancient annals. ^3
At one time, St. Patrick, the King of IMunster, and twenty'* chiefs, with their attendants, were guests of Kieran, who ordered eight oxen, with various other refreshments, to be prepared for their entertainment. When it was said, that this should not be sufficient for their refection, our saint replied, that through the grace of God, who fed many thousands on a few loaves and fishes, their guests should be satisfied with what was already prepared. It is
stated, so long as this company remained, they found a sufficiency of food \ and that the saint, having blessed a fountain, wine of a good quality was therein found. ^s
The King of Temoria,'^ who was the supreme monarch of Ireland, came with an army, to subjugate the Munster people ; but, he was met by Ailill, called King of Cashel,'? who hastened towards Saigir to give him battle. St. Kieran endeavoured to effect a reconciliation between them, yet he could not
succeed. However, offering his prayers to the Almighty, when both armies were about to engage, an effective obstacle was presented to their approach. For, the trees of a wood, which intervened, were torn from their roots, and directed against the van of the Munster army ; while, the River Brosnnch*^ became swollen to such a degree, that the Temorian king's forces were un- able to pass it. Both armies were affi-ighted, at these portents. The King of Temoria, with his forces, retired from the river, which, at first, had been fordable for man and horse.
near St. Kieran's monastery. as a present to their king.
taken away. It is said to have been built by St. Patrick, and dedicated to him. The
Second Life, lect. vii. Officium, pp. 460' 468.
was and is at cemetery frequently,
'* Ina noteat " marginal
viginti Duces,"
present, Under the church are vaults appertaining to the ancient family of the Cummins ; a name still surviving, and numerous in that part of the
country. "
" Such is Dr. O'Donovan's identification,
in his "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , p. 152, n. (n. ) The parish of Kellistown
is situated, partly in the barony of Forth and partly in the barony of Carlow, and it is shown on the " Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Carlow," Sheets 7, 8, 12, 13, 17. The townland itself, divided into East and West, is in the barony of Car- low, and defined on the four first sheets. Ibid.
"The martial prince Aongus, son of Nad-
fraoch,
Fought in Cill Osnach's bloody field, and
fell
By the victorious sword of Oilioll, Son of Dunluing,"
—Dermod O'Conor's "
"
*s See Vita S. Kierani ex Codice Kilken-
a much frequented burying ground.
alias novem. "
niensi, cap. xx. , pp. 460, 461. Ibid.
'*
Capgrave, iti his Life of St. Kieran, and the Irish Life of this saint, represent the aforesaid King of Temoria, as no other than theincredulousmonarchLaeogaire. But,if the order of occurrences were observed in St. Kieran's Life, it must be observed, this Laeogaire did not live, in the time of Alild, King of Cashel
reason to suppose, that the miracle here re- corded took place, after the death of yEngus. i^ilill, who is here called King of Cashel, was brother to this ^ngus.
^' No Ailill is to be found, among the
** A
us, in these lines
poet
of suff—icient credit thus informs :
princes
of Munster, after the Christian faith
The Munster army encamped, for that night, The bishop sent a cow, and one of his swine, The Munster soldiers feasted upon these animals
of
Keating's History O'Dugan's Kings
Ireland," book ii. , p. 350. Duffy's edition. '3 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Iliber-
nire," Martii v. First Life, chap. xix.
as edited and translated, by Mr. John
O'Daly.
Colgan has
had been in Ireland. preached
; for, the author leaves us
Wherefore, this particular Ailill seems to have been called King of Cashel, because he was son to that king, and because he lived at Cashel.
"
See, Colgan's
V. Martii, nn. 27, 28, pp. 464, 465. I find Colgan's assertion fully borne out, that there
had been no Ailill, as King of Cashel, after the preaching of St. Patrick, by referring to " of the Race of Ebhear,"
"^
Thus do the Bollandists rightly name
Acta Sanctorum HiberniK,"
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 137
to repletion, and afterwards left fragments uneaten. All, who were encamped
there, gave thanks to God ; and, the saint's reputation was widely divulged, in consequence of this miracle. ^9
Among his other Acts, St. Kieran, first Bishop of Saigir, is said to have composed a rule for monks. It was traditionally held, by local antiquaries, that it had been written, in St. Crohan's hermitage,3° at Kilcroghan, or Kil- crohanes^ parish, in the barony of Dunkerron South, and within the present countyofKerry. s^ Abandofrobbers,havingpenetratedintotheterritories of Munster, caused devastation and loss of life, during their foray. A Mun-
ster chief, named Lonan,33 opposed them, and put them to flight ; when, despairing of escape, they threw themselves under the protection of St. Kieran. WhenLonanwishedtofollowuphisvictory,bytheirutterdestruc-
tion,afieryglobe^*fellbetweenhisforcesandtheretreatingband. Being terrified at this apparition, the pursuers returned, without further molesting theirenemies. Theselatter,knowingthattheyhadbeensaved,throughour saint's intervention, gave him an account of what had taken place. After
mature deliberation, they became monks, under his guidance, persevering in a religious life, for the remainder of their days. 3S Another time, a Leinster robber, named Carbre, stole an excellent cow, belonging to the monks of our saint. On coming to the mountain, Smoil, now better known as Slieve Bloom, a sudden darkness surrounded him. Then, losing his way, and falling into a river, he was drowned ; while the cow returned, by a direct path, to the herd, from which she had been taken. 3^ A holy woman, named Cocchea or Coca,37 who had been his nurse, lived a holy life, at Ross-Benn- choir. We are told, in his Irish Life,38 that St. Kieran of Saigir often went to the sea-rock, which was far distant from the shore, where his nurse, i. e. Coca lived, and this he used to accomplish, without ship or boat. He was
wont to return again, as appears from his own Life. 39
A woman, named Eathylla fell, and such a severe fracture of her body
had been caused, that death soon followed ; but, in three days afterwards,
it ; apparently, through a press error, it is printedBroscach,inColgan'saccount.
=^9 See Vita S. Kierani, ex Codice Kilken- niensi, cap. xxi. , p. 461. Vita S. Kierani, ex MS. Salmanticensi, Officium, lect. 8, p. 468.
Mount Kea, and who was visited by St. Pati-ick? Ifsothereaderwillfindmorere- garding him, in the Life of St. Montan or Mantan, at the 2nd of this month.
^ The writer cannot forbear mentioning a remarkable phenomenon, of a nearly similar character, which took place, ^d on a bog-
3° In a wild mountain range, —the writer
visited this remarkable cave whether road, not many miles distant from Seir
natural or artificial he cannot undertake to
Kieran. I have been told, by a highly re-
—in
say July, 1871,
with the
and— her servant—now spectable lady by
in
Rev. James GafFney, M. R. I. A. , and Rev.
Eugene Murphy, C. C. of the place, and a very learned Irish scholar, since dead, and
who compiled a valuable Irish Dictionary, yet extant, but unpublished.
3' Its bounds are described on the " Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kerry," Sheets 82, 90, 91, 92, 98, 99, 100, loi, 105, 106, 107, 108.
"
3^
adds Smith. " Be this as it may, the stalac- tical exudations of the above-mentioned cell are held in great estimation by the country people, who carefully preserve them, as imagining them to have many virtues in
over forty years ago
a fashionable vehicle, a globe of fire sud-
denly appeared, beside the road, and almost as instantly vanished. The horse became
terrified, and with much difficulty could be
restrained from running away, or causing imminent danger Lo the travellers,
33 See Vita S. Kierani, ex Codice Kilken- niensi, cap. xxii. , p. 461. Vita S. Kierani, ex MS. Salmanticensi, Officium, lect. 9, pp. 468,469.
35 See Vita S. Kierani, ex Codice Kilken- niensi, cap. xxiii. , p. 461. Vita S. Kierani, ex MS. Salmanticensi, Officium, lect. 9, p. 469.
37 See her Life, at the 29th of June,
38 Chapter xix.
39 See Rev. Drs. Todd's and Reeves'
" Martyrology of Donegal," pp. 64, 65.
t° See Vitu S, Kierani, ex Codice Kilken-
Others sayit wasinan adjacent grotto,"
them from the supposed sanctity of the place "
they grow in. "— Natural and Civil His- tory of Kerry," chap, v. , p. 93.
33 It may be asked, could this have been the Lonan, the chieftain, who lived on
company
that while in driving
138 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS [March 5,
she was restored to life, through the prayers of our saint. As a mark of her
gratitude for this favour, she bestowed a portion of her property on St. Kieran, giving thanks at the same time to God, for his mercies to her. This
" the wood of
An officer of the Munster king, called Keandfoylius, having killed a man named Cronan, the friend of our saint, Kieran restored him to life in the name of Christ, after an interval of seven days had elapsed. '^' One day, Ailill, King of Munster, spoke certain reproachful words, in presence of the saint. Immediately afterwards, he was deprived of the use of speech, for seven whole days. ^^ At the end of this time, he returned a penitent to Kieran,andprostratedhimself,atthefeetofoursaint. Seeinghiscontrition for the former offence, St. Kieran blessed Ailill's tongue ; when, in the presence of all, the king spoke, and employed his speech thenceforward, in magnifying the power of God. Having received the saint's blessing, Ailill
returned towards the palace, together with his retinue. ''^
A most interesting and an elaborate modern work supplies many inci-
dents, connected with Seir-Kieran and its patron saint, with a history and dissertation regarding the antiquities of this locality. The letter-press
descriptions are accompanied, by beautifully engraved illustrations. '''^ That very ancient and interesting place, commonly called St. Kyran's, is reputed to have been the seat of the oldest bishopric in Ireland. ts While St. Ciaran
lived here, besides the holy persons already mentioned, St. Carthage''^ and St. Baythen"*' were disciples under him ; and, he was visited by St. Medran^^ and St. Odhran,*^ who were brothers ; by a religious pilgrim, called Ger- man f° by St. Kieran,si Abbot of ClonmacnoisejS^ who is said to have been his fellow-disciple, 53 under St. Finian,54 Abbot of Clonard ; by the two Saints
place
was called from her own
name,
in after
time,
Eathylla. "<°
niensi, cap. xxix. , p. 461. In the English MS. Life of our saint, this place is called, Leim Eitill, or " Etell's Leap. " Most pro- bably this is the townland, now known as Leap, in the parish of Aghancon, in the barony of Ballybritt, and which is shown on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for
the King's County," Sheet 39.
*' See Vita S. Kierani, ex Codice Kilken-
niensi, cap. xxx. , p. 461. The English MS. Life of St. Kieran adds, " and on his being
made whol^, in .