"
•
" Menologium discipuli discipulorum
une 29.
•
" Menologium discipuli discipulorum
une 29.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
Petrie inter- parsons
prets it
" Hie jacet mise (myself) O'Breen. "
"The Irish vine is characteristic enough of
an Irish — for such O'Breen or chieftain,
Briiun was and if I mista
—ke not, of the dis-
trict in which L—ecan lies at all events it was near to it. " "Letters containing Infor- mation relative to the Antiquities of the County of Westmeath, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1837," vol. ii. Letter of Mr. O'Donovan, dated Newpass, November 5th, 1837, pp. 277 to 282.
:
" Three score years thrice over
34 A considerable ruins.
its name "fons sounds sacred enough ; and Mr. O'Donovan had no but that it had
35 See Rev.
Anthony Cogan's
doubt,
been considered so in the primitive ages, and
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , chap,
xviii. , sect. 13, p. 477.
that it had been called after a St. Lua, a dis-
portion
of it is in
never a Lugadii
Holy Well, though "
" Diocese of
36 "
ciple of Patrick. See
ing Information relative to the Antiquities of the County Westmeath, collected during the
Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1837," decessor of that priest, during his adminis- vol. ii. Letter John O'Donovan, dated
It is stated, that the parish priest living in 1837 put an end to this practice, owing, probably, to some abuses connected with
such assemblages. The immediate pre-
Was the age of the pious Crummain ;
Without infection, without disease,
he
After Mass, after celebration. "
39 He was led into this error by the Name Book of the Irish Ordnance Survey, in which the name of a well is given as " Crummeen
changed colour,
instead of "Tober a Choimin,''
Well,"
which means
of the Commons," and is so called from lying in the townland called Coitnin Cuaij\,orthe"CommonsofToor. " That error, however, has been since corrected, both on the plan and in the Name Book.
There is another fine spring in the townland of Lecain called Toberloo.
However, according to tradition, it was
nothing
" more than the Well
Letters, contain-
its a'
June 28. ] LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. 819
his name entered, in the Martyrology of Donegal,* at this same date, as
Cruimmin, Bishop, in Lecain, of Meath, /. <? . , in Ui-Mac-Uais. Under the
head of Leacan of Meath, Duald Mac Firbis likewise enters, Cruimin, bishop,
1
atJune28th/ St. CruminisstillheldingreatvenerationthroughoutWest-
and his name is familiar to the very
2 The and foot-prints
meath,
traces of the saints should never be effaced ;
people. *
and, yet how many of our early
holy ones have been forgotten, although the memory of good men ought
always be preserved, as a light to guide and encourage others on their journey over the wilderness. The world gives us no better memorials ; yet, have we to regret a total loss of the intellectual accomplishments and mental charac- teristics of so many, who doubtless in their day, gave lustre and example to theircontemporaries. Thosevirtueshavehadtheirreward,althoughwemay be unable, to present them in an exact order and review, for the edification of persons who survive in the present generation
Article II. —St. Ernin, of Cluain-finn. At the 28th of June, we
find set down in the of 1 a festival in honour of Ernine, Martyrology Tallagh,
Cluain-find. ThereisaClonfane,atownlandintheparishofKinawley,barony of Knockninny, and county of Fermanagh ; and another townland similarly
named, in the parish of Moymet, barony of Upper Navan, and county of Meath. ThereisaClonfinane,intheparishofLoughkeen,baronyofLower Ormond, and county of Tipperary. There is a Clonfinlogh parish, in the barony of Clanwilliam, in the same county. There is a Clonfinlough, in the parish of Clonmacnoise, barony of Garrycastle, and King's County. There is a Clonfinnan, in the parish of Dulane, barony of Upper Kells, and county ofMeath. ThereisaCloonfinintheparishofGranard,baronyofGranard, and county of Longford. There is also a Cloonfineen in the parish of Kil- tullagh, barony of Castlerea, and county of Roscommon. There is a Cloon- finlough, in a parish of the same name, barony and county of Roscommon. There is a Cloonfinnan, in the parish and barony of Mohill, county of Letrim. Again, there is a Cloonfinnaun in the parish of Kilconduff, barony of Gallen, and county of Mayo. These are the only townland names in Ireland, that may be suspected to be identical in etymology with the place here named, and which does not as yet appear to have been identified. 2 In the Martyr- ology of Donegal^ at the 28th of June, the feast of St. Ernin of Cloonfinn is found.
Article III. —St. Bigesg, Bicsecha, qr Bigsech, Virgin, of Kilbixy, CountyofWestmeath. Thesimplyentry,Bigsech,Virgin,appearsinthe
1 at the 28th of
This woman is called holy
of
the daughter of Bressal, and she was a saint of the Hy-Fiachra family. descended from the race of Fiachra,3son to Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin. The
Martyrology
June.
the Townlands and Towns, Parishes and
Baronies of Ireland," for the Census of 1861
pp. 254, 267.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Tallagh,
Newpass, November 5th, 1837, p. 284.
*° Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
2
She
180, 181. « See "
of the
Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. ,
1
ARticle 11. — Edited by Rev. Dr. pendix, cap. ii. , p. 248.
Kelly, p. xxviii. 3 According to the Menologic Genealogy
3
Proceedings part i. , pp. 116, 117.
Royal
42 See Rev.
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. hi. , chap. lxxiv. , p. 581.
Anthony Cogan's
Hiber- nise," iii. Februarii. Vita S. Colmani, Ap-
" Diocese of
See General Alphabetical Index to of the Irish Saints, cap. 9.
182, 183.
Article in. —1
Kelly, p. xxviii.
a "
Edited by Rev. Dr.
See Colgan's
Acta Sanctorum
82o
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 28.
—
place apparently
—is written Cill
4 Bigsighe, t. e. ,
called after this
" the church of St. Bigseach," and it has been Anglicized into Kilbixy,s now a parish, in the barony of Moygoish, in the county of Westmeath. This appears to have become an English town of considerable importance, as Sir Henry Piers, who wrote in 1682, relates. 6 Even then it had decayed. ? Dr. O'Donovan visited this place in 1837, but he found only a few traces of the ancient town. 8 There was a holy well, near the church, then bearing the
Bighsighe,? i. e. ,
Bigseach. "
This saint
appears
holyvirgin
" the well of St.
name of Tobar
to have had another festival, at the 4th of October. 10 The Rev. Mr. Cogan visitedthisplaceonthe4thofAugust,1863. Thenhefoundoneoftheold fonts, belonging to a former church, and stuck in the wall of a donkey-stable,
atoneoftheprivateentrancestothechurchyard. " Hegivesaninteresting account of this ancient place. At the same date, the name of this saint
12
occurs in the Martyrology of Donegal, Virgin, of Cill-Bigsighe, in Meath.
with the designation of Bigsech,
Article IV. —Translation of the Relics o—f St. Livinus, Martyr.
A — Translation of the relics of St. Livinus a duplicate holy
Irish
Martyr
in
Belgium iscelebratedonthisday. Thefirstofthesetranslationstookplace
in the year 842 ; another translation is recorded, as having occurred, about
the year n 73, according to the most reliable accounts. The particulars of St.
Livinus' biography will be found detailed, at the 12th of November. This is
thedateassignedforhismartyrdom. Atthe28thofJune,ThomasDemp-
"*
ster in his Menologium Scotorum," has a festival for the Elevation of St.
Livinus, Archbishop, by Theodoric, Bishop of Cambary, a. d. 842. Yet, in
his " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis to the 26th of June. 3
Scotorum,"
2 this Elevation seems referable
Article V. —Festival of Jonas, Disciple of St. Columbanus. At the28thofJune,ThomasDempsterx entersafeast2 forJonas,theDisciple of St. Columban, and the writer of his Acts, as being a Scotus. 3 The Bollan- dists 4 who note this memorandum state, however, that Jonas was born at Susa, among the Alps, and at the foot of Mount Cenis. s
4 In Irish Cill bigpje. The ancient town of Kilbixy, where a castle had been built by Sir Hugh De Lacy, in 1192, for-
merly had borough privileges.
5 See an account of this place, in the
Article iv. — Thus entered: "In Hautem elevatio Livini Archiepiscopi per Theodoricum —Camaracensem antistitem anno 842. ML. " Bishop Forbes' "Kalen-
dars of Scottish Saints," p. 204.
"a Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland,"
vol ii. , p. 365.
6 See "Chorographical Description of the County of Westmeath. "
7 See
Hibernicis," vol. i. , num.
8
the site for a gallows.
9 Written in Irish Cobarx bigpge.
*
a mere ruin
house, ; secondly,
Thus: "Ionae
S. Columbani viri sanctissimi, MA. " Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 204.
" Collectanea de Rebus
See tomus ii. , lib. xi. , num. 789, p. 428. 3 It is thus recorded: "Idem die xxvi. Junii : "In Gandavo Elevatio S. Livini martyris, et translatio secunda corporis
Vallancey's
These consisted of First, the Leper-
ipsius. "' ARTICLE V.
the site of the castle, but there were no remains whatever of its walls ; thirdly, a moat, which had been surrounded by a circular fosse ; and fourthly,
—
10
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
3 See also Dempster's " Historia Ecclesi- astica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. ix. , num. 706, pp. 375, 376.
Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (x), pp. 93, 94. ""
4 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Junii xxviii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 334.
See Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap, lxxiv. , p. 577.
12
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 182, 183
s For this, they refer also to the Life of St. Attala, Abbot of Bobbio, written at the 10th
—i. , pp. 76, 77.
In his
— Scotorum.
"
•
" Menologium discipuli discipulorum
une 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
821
ArticleVI. —St. Flavianus. Inthe"Feilire"ofSt.
28th of June, there is a festival for St. Flavianus entered. In a comment annexed,2 he is designated Flovianus, Pope at Rome. There was no such Pope so named ; but, there was a St. Fabianus, who presided from a. d. 236 to a. d 250. 3 However, the present seems to have been a St. Fabianus, who withcertaincompanionssufferedmartyrdominAfrica; and,noticesofthem occur, at this date, in the Bollandists,* as found in the Martyrology of St. Jerome, and in other old Martyrologies.
ArticleVII. —FeastofSt. Merenus,AbbotinBennchor. Atthe
1 28thofJune,DavidCamerariushasentered afestivalforaSt. Merenus,
said to have been an Abbot in that monastery called Benchor, which had
been so celebrated among the Scots. The Bollandists 2 also record this
Murenus, at the same date, referring to notices of him, which had been already given, at the 12th of May.
Article VIII. —The Blessed Malchus,Monk of Mellifont, County of Louth. [Twelfth Century^\ At this date, the Bollandists * have a feast for the Blessed Malchus, of the Cistercian Order in Ireland, on the authority of Henriquez and Chalemot.
Ctoattp=mntl) ©ap of 3fune.
ARTICLE I. —ST. COCHA OR COCCA, ABBESS OF ROS-BENNCHUIR. [FIFTH CENTUXY.
WEhave to regret, that indications are not more clear, in reference to
the female whose celebration in our Calendars has been pious saint,
assigned to this day. However, we can only present, as we find them, the few particulars, that seem to be on record. This holy virgin has her name
written Coca or Cocca x ;
it has been converted into Life 3 of St. Kieran of Saighir we find this
usually
Concha and Cota. 2 In an
but, incorrectly, English
of March.
Article vi. — • See "Transactions 'of
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu-
dino, p. 357.
Article vii. — z Thus " Sanctus Mere-
:
nus Abbas in celebri illo apu—d Scotos monas- terio cui Benchora nomen. " Bishop Forbes'
p. 334. — Article viii.
On the Calen- dar of Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. ,
script, Series, vol. i. , part i.
" 2
p.
xcvi.
2 See ibid. , p. cviii.
3 See Sir Harris Nicolas'
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 238. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Junii xxviii. Among the pretermitted saints,
History," p. 209.
* See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Junii
xxviii. De Sanctis Martyribus Afris, Fabiano, Felice, Arione, Capitolino, Nisia, Elapha, Venusto Eunocho, Crescente, Alexandro, Theona, Pleoso, Asthesio, Apollonio, Amphamone, Phisocio, Meleo, Dionysio, Hino, Panno, Plebrio, Panubvio, Dioscoro, Tubono, Capitulino, Nica, Gur-
'" See
Acta Sanctorum," Among the preter-
"
Chronology of
tomus v. , Junii xxviii. mitted feasts, p. 335.
Article l— * So she is called in Vita
S. Baraei, cap. x.
2 So called See Col- by John Capgrave.
gan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," v.
Martii, n. 29, p. 465.
3 Belonging to Mr. John O'Daly, book-
yEngus,
1atthe
822 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 29.
saint called " Coinche. " I—n the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the iii. of the Kalends of July— June 29th and included with that of other saints, there is a festivalforCocca,ofRuisBeandchoir. * ThegreaterportionoftheLifeofSt. Cocchea is to be found interspersed and interwoven, so to speak, with the Life of the great St. Kieran,* whose nurse and guardian it was her privilege to be. Owing to these circumstances, it appears to be altogether probable, that she was born, or at least, that she lived for some time, in the Island of Cape Clear, in the present county of Cork. She is stated to have been the nurse of St. Kieran of Saigir ; and if so, her period should date to the beginning of the fifth century. She may have been converted from the errors of paganism, by receiving baptism at the hands of her Apostolic foster-son. St. Cocca is related, to have embraced a religious life, and to have presided over the monastery of Ros-bennchuir. 6 That it was situated on the sea-coast appears from the Life of St. Kieran of Saigir, who was one of the principal coadjutors of St. Patrick, in the southern parts of Ireland. St. Cocchea rendered the greatest assistance to St. Kieran, in propagating the Christian faith. The religious establishment of Ross-bennchuir was possibly situated on the western
8 coastofClareCounty,? ashasbeenstated, butonwhatancientauthorityis
not cited. Perhaps this place was identical with the townland of Ross, on the sea-shore, in the parish of Kilballyowen, in the barony of Moyarta, —in
of—
the of Clare. There St. Cocha's
the south-western
according to one writer 9 was situated, about twelve miles W. S. W. from Kil- kee, in that county, and within a few hundred yards of the Natural Bridges of Ross. The ruins, we are told, present no interesting architectural features. 10 In the Life of St. Kieran, we are told, that he sent oxen each year from Saigir to this place ; and, although the distance was considerable, it is said, they always went in a direct course to Ros-benchuir, without being even conducted by a driver. These oxen were sent to plough the lands of St. Cocca, and
Teampull-an-naonmhar-naomh, i. e. , the church of the nine saints. 12 Of this edifice, the west gable and side walls remain to the full height, with 4 feet of the under part of the east gable. It measures 34 feet 4 inches in length, by 15^2 in breadth. 13 At the distance of 24 feet, south from the ruin, is what the
seller, 9 Anglesea-street, Dublin. out proof, in his "Ecclesiastical History of 4 " Moeldoid i Failbhe mac Daire ocus Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sect, ix. , n.
part county
nunnery
season was over each
There is a small ruined church in the townland of Ross, and which is called
after the
ploughing
year, they
returned
again
Fealdobor ocus Cocca Ruis Beandchoir. "
"
115, p. 405.
» Marcus Keane.
See Rev. Dr. Kelly's Saints," &c, p. xxviii.
Calendar of Irish
s See his Life, at the 5th of March, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
Ireland," p. 376.
sisted in presiding over the education of
" See
6 The principal work of St. Cocchea con- niae," v. Martii, p. 461. Vita S. Kierani
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- ex codice Kilkenniensi, cap. xxiv.
7 Yet, from a careful examination of the
Index Map of this county, and the Manu-
script Index to the Names of Parishes and
Townlands of the same county, we are unable
to discover the name of Ros-benchuir, with-
in its limits. Even the denomination does
not appear on the ancient and large Map of
Clare County, compiled with such elegance
and laborious accuracy, by Mr. John wide inside ; it is 2 feet 8 inches in height and
who were entrusted to her care, some for a time, and others for life.
" to Mr. According
noble
virgins,
Eugene O'Curry's description of the Parish of Kilballyowen,
O'Donovan, and which is at present among
the Irish Ordnance Survey Records.
4 inches in breadth at top, and 6 inches at bottom on the outside. The walls are 2% feet thick, and about 10 feet high, and there
8
So Rev. Dr. Lanigan asserts, but with-
,0
See "Towers and Temples of Ancient
Colgan's
County of Clare.
* 3 At the distance of 9 feet 3 inches from
the west gable, on the south side is a pointed
doorwaywiththesidesdestroyed, andmea-
suring 6 feet in height on the inside, and 5^
feetontheoutside. Atthedistanceofio1 /*
feet from this, in the same side, is a quadran- gular window 3 feet 8 inches high, and 3 feet
to 11 Saigir.
June 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
823
peasantry call the grave of the nine saints. 1 * We are also told, that on each
festival of our Lord's Nativity, after the people had received Holy Com-
munion from St. Kieran's own hands, in the monastery of Saigir, he was
accustomed to proceed to the monastery of St. Cocca, at Ros-bennchuir, that
he might again offer up the Holy Sacrifice there, and on the same morning.
After St. Cocca and others had received communion from him, he returned
again to Saigir, before the dawn of daylight. Relating these circumstances,
the ancient writer of St. Kieran's Life remarks, that he and others knew not
by what means this saint went and returned, as he concealed such matters
from them *5—meaning his monks. We are informed, that there was a large
stone on the sea-shore, which had been surrounded with water, near the
monasteryofRos-bennchuir. TothistheAbbessoftenretired,anditwas
of 1? as ofRos-Bennchair. 20 Martyrology Donegal, Cocha,
Article II. —St. Conuan, Bishop, of Tigh Collain, or Tigh Con-
" 16
called, the stone of St. Cocca, because on it she
1 ? As an old legend has it, St. Ciaran went one day on that Rock, and it floated over the waters with him, and returned to its own place again, it being Ciaran's wish it should so happen. The Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Cathal Maguire state, that the Natalis of this saint had been celebrated, on the 29th of July, in the church of Ros-bennchuir. 18 We do not find her name occurring on this day, in the copy of the Irish Calendar, belonging to theOrdnanceSurveyOffice,PhoenixPark. Sheisentered,however,inthe
nain,inCremhthanna,nowStackallan,CountyofMeath. Inthe 1
Martyrology of Tallagh, a festival occurs, at the 29th of June, in honour ot Conuan, Bishop, of Tigh Collain. The land of Ui-Crimhthainn comprises thepresentbaronies ofUpperandLowerSlane,in thecountyofMeath. 2 It is thought to be highly probable, 3 that the Four Masters are wrong, when they write the name of this place Teach Collain,'* as it is locally pronounced by the
natives; and, itis supposed, the true form of the name had bee—n Teach-Conain,s
" *. «,,
6 deredintoStaorSti,asinthepresentinstance. Stackallenisasmallvillage,
—n's house. " This house of Collan or Connan now known as Stackallen was situated nearly midway between Navan and Slane, in the county of Meath. It is curious to remark, that in some of those districts colonized by the Danes and English, the Teach or Tigh of the Irish was ren-
Cona
is not a cut or chiselled stone in the whole.
Kilkenniensi, cap. xxvi. , p. 461.
l8 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," v. Martii, n. 29, p. 465.
I9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
182, 183.
14 This measured grave
feet in
from north to south, 7 feet 9 inches in breadth, and it was 2 feet in height. The sides were built up of loose stones, after the
" 20 ordinary manner of graves. See Letters
33
length,
containing Information relative to the Anti- quities of the County of Clare, collected
during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1839," vol. ii. Mr. Eugene Curry's letter, dated Kildisart, I Ith November, 1839, pp. 70, 71.
XS
See Colgan's
nise," v. Martii. Vita S. Kierani ex codice n. 9, p.
prets it
" Hie jacet mise (myself) O'Breen. "
"The Irish vine is characteristic enough of
an Irish — for such O'Breen or chieftain,
Briiun was and if I mista
—ke not, of the dis-
trict in which L—ecan lies at all events it was near to it. " "Letters containing Infor- mation relative to the Antiquities of the County of Westmeath, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1837," vol. ii. Letter of Mr. O'Donovan, dated Newpass, November 5th, 1837, pp. 277 to 282.
:
" Three score years thrice over
34 A considerable ruins.
its name "fons sounds sacred enough ; and Mr. O'Donovan had no but that it had
35 See Rev.
Anthony Cogan's
doubt,
been considered so in the primitive ages, and
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , chap,
xviii. , sect. 13, p. 477.
that it had been called after a St. Lua, a dis-
portion
of it is in
never a Lugadii
Holy Well, though "
" Diocese of
36 "
ciple of Patrick. See
ing Information relative to the Antiquities of the County Westmeath, collected during the
Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1837," decessor of that priest, during his adminis- vol. ii. Letter John O'Donovan, dated
It is stated, that the parish priest living in 1837 put an end to this practice, owing, probably, to some abuses connected with
such assemblages. The immediate pre-
Was the age of the pious Crummain ;
Without infection, without disease,
he
After Mass, after celebration. "
39 He was led into this error by the Name Book of the Irish Ordnance Survey, in which the name of a well is given as " Crummeen
changed colour,
instead of "Tober a Choimin,''
Well,"
which means
of the Commons," and is so called from lying in the townland called Coitnin Cuaij\,orthe"CommonsofToor. " That error, however, has been since corrected, both on the plan and in the Name Book.
There is another fine spring in the townland of Lecain called Toberloo.
However, according to tradition, it was
nothing
" more than the Well
Letters, contain-
its a'
June 28. ] LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. 819
his name entered, in the Martyrology of Donegal,* at this same date, as
Cruimmin, Bishop, in Lecain, of Meath, /. <? . , in Ui-Mac-Uais. Under the
head of Leacan of Meath, Duald Mac Firbis likewise enters, Cruimin, bishop,
1
atJune28th/ St. CruminisstillheldingreatvenerationthroughoutWest-
and his name is familiar to the very
2 The and foot-prints
meath,
traces of the saints should never be effaced ;
people. *
and, yet how many of our early
holy ones have been forgotten, although the memory of good men ought
always be preserved, as a light to guide and encourage others on their journey over the wilderness. The world gives us no better memorials ; yet, have we to regret a total loss of the intellectual accomplishments and mental charac- teristics of so many, who doubtless in their day, gave lustre and example to theircontemporaries. Thosevirtueshavehadtheirreward,althoughwemay be unable, to present them in an exact order and review, for the edification of persons who survive in the present generation
Article II. —St. Ernin, of Cluain-finn. At the 28th of June, we
find set down in the of 1 a festival in honour of Ernine, Martyrology Tallagh,
Cluain-find. ThereisaClonfane,atownlandintheparishofKinawley,barony of Knockninny, and county of Fermanagh ; and another townland similarly
named, in the parish of Moymet, barony of Upper Navan, and county of Meath. ThereisaClonfinane,intheparishofLoughkeen,baronyofLower Ormond, and county of Tipperary. There is a Clonfinlogh parish, in the barony of Clanwilliam, in the same county. There is a Clonfinlough, in the parish of Clonmacnoise, barony of Garrycastle, and King's County. There is a Clonfinnan, in the parish of Dulane, barony of Upper Kells, and county ofMeath. ThereisaCloonfinintheparishofGranard,baronyofGranard, and county of Longford. There is also a Cloonfineen in the parish of Kil- tullagh, barony of Castlerea, and county of Roscommon. There is a Cloon- finlough, in a parish of the same name, barony and county of Roscommon. There is a Cloonfinnan, in the parish and barony of Mohill, county of Letrim. Again, there is a Cloonfinnaun in the parish of Kilconduff, barony of Gallen, and county of Mayo. These are the only townland names in Ireland, that may be suspected to be identical in etymology with the place here named, and which does not as yet appear to have been identified. 2 In the Martyr- ology of Donegal^ at the 28th of June, the feast of St. Ernin of Cloonfinn is found.
Article III. —St. Bigesg, Bicsecha, qr Bigsech, Virgin, of Kilbixy, CountyofWestmeath. Thesimplyentry,Bigsech,Virgin,appearsinthe
1 at the 28th of
This woman is called holy
of
the daughter of Bressal, and she was a saint of the Hy-Fiachra family. descended from the race of Fiachra,3son to Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin. The
Martyrology
June.
the Townlands and Towns, Parishes and
Baronies of Ireland," for the Census of 1861
pp. 254, 267.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Tallagh,
Newpass, November 5th, 1837, p. 284.
*° Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
2
She
180, 181. « See "
of the
Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. ,
1
ARticle 11. — Edited by Rev. Dr. pendix, cap. ii. , p. 248.
Kelly, p. xxviii. 3 According to the Menologic Genealogy
3
Proceedings part i. , pp. 116, 117.
Royal
42 See Rev.
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. hi. , chap. lxxiv. , p. 581.
Anthony Cogan's
Hiber- nise," iii. Februarii. Vita S. Colmani, Ap-
" Diocese of
See General Alphabetical Index to of the Irish Saints, cap. 9.
182, 183.
Article in. —1
Kelly, p. xxviii.
a "
Edited by Rev. Dr.
See Colgan's
Acta Sanctorum
82o
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 28.
—
place apparently
—is written Cill
4 Bigsighe, t. e. ,
called after this
" the church of St. Bigseach," and it has been Anglicized into Kilbixy,s now a parish, in the barony of Moygoish, in the county of Westmeath. This appears to have become an English town of considerable importance, as Sir Henry Piers, who wrote in 1682, relates. 6 Even then it had decayed. ? Dr. O'Donovan visited this place in 1837, but he found only a few traces of the ancient town. 8 There was a holy well, near the church, then bearing the
Bighsighe,? i. e. ,
Bigseach. "
This saint
appears
holyvirgin
" the well of St.
name of Tobar
to have had another festival, at the 4th of October. 10 The Rev. Mr. Cogan visitedthisplaceonthe4thofAugust,1863. Thenhefoundoneoftheold fonts, belonging to a former church, and stuck in the wall of a donkey-stable,
atoneoftheprivateentrancestothechurchyard. " Hegivesaninteresting account of this ancient place. At the same date, the name of this saint
12
occurs in the Martyrology of Donegal, Virgin, of Cill-Bigsighe, in Meath.
with the designation of Bigsech,
Article IV. —Translation of the Relics o—f St. Livinus, Martyr.
A — Translation of the relics of St. Livinus a duplicate holy
Irish
Martyr
in
Belgium iscelebratedonthisday. Thefirstofthesetranslationstookplace
in the year 842 ; another translation is recorded, as having occurred, about
the year n 73, according to the most reliable accounts. The particulars of St.
Livinus' biography will be found detailed, at the 12th of November. This is
thedateassignedforhismartyrdom. Atthe28thofJune,ThomasDemp-
"*
ster in his Menologium Scotorum," has a festival for the Elevation of St.
Livinus, Archbishop, by Theodoric, Bishop of Cambary, a. d. 842. Yet, in
his " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis to the 26th of June. 3
Scotorum,"
2 this Elevation seems referable
Article V. —Festival of Jonas, Disciple of St. Columbanus. At the28thofJune,ThomasDempsterx entersafeast2 forJonas,theDisciple of St. Columban, and the writer of his Acts, as being a Scotus. 3 The Bollan- dists 4 who note this memorandum state, however, that Jonas was born at Susa, among the Alps, and at the foot of Mount Cenis. s
4 In Irish Cill bigpje. The ancient town of Kilbixy, where a castle had been built by Sir Hugh De Lacy, in 1192, for-
merly had borough privileges.
5 See an account of this place, in the
Article iv. — Thus entered: "In Hautem elevatio Livini Archiepiscopi per Theodoricum —Camaracensem antistitem anno 842. ML. " Bishop Forbes' "Kalen-
dars of Scottish Saints," p. 204.
"a Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland,"
vol ii. , p. 365.
6 See "Chorographical Description of the County of Westmeath. "
7 See
Hibernicis," vol. i. , num.
8
the site for a gallows.
9 Written in Irish Cobarx bigpge.
*
a mere ruin
house, ; secondly,
Thus: "Ionae
S. Columbani viri sanctissimi, MA. " Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 204.
" Collectanea de Rebus
See tomus ii. , lib. xi. , num. 789, p. 428. 3 It is thus recorded: "Idem die xxvi. Junii : "In Gandavo Elevatio S. Livini martyris, et translatio secunda corporis
Vallancey's
These consisted of First, the Leper-
ipsius. "' ARTICLE V.
the site of the castle, but there were no remains whatever of its walls ; thirdly, a moat, which had been surrounded by a circular fosse ; and fourthly,
—
10
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
3 See also Dempster's " Historia Ecclesi- astica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. ix. , num. 706, pp. 375, 376.
Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (x), pp. 93, 94. ""
4 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Junii xxviii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 334.
See Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap, lxxiv. , p. 577.
12
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 182, 183
s For this, they refer also to the Life of St. Attala, Abbot of Bobbio, written at the 10th
—i. , pp. 76, 77.
In his
— Scotorum.
"
•
" Menologium discipuli discipulorum
une 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
821
ArticleVI. —St. Flavianus. Inthe"Feilire"ofSt.
28th of June, there is a festival for St. Flavianus entered. In a comment annexed,2 he is designated Flovianus, Pope at Rome. There was no such Pope so named ; but, there was a St. Fabianus, who presided from a. d. 236 to a. d 250. 3 However, the present seems to have been a St. Fabianus, who withcertaincompanionssufferedmartyrdominAfrica; and,noticesofthem occur, at this date, in the Bollandists,* as found in the Martyrology of St. Jerome, and in other old Martyrologies.
ArticleVII. —FeastofSt. Merenus,AbbotinBennchor. Atthe
1 28thofJune,DavidCamerariushasentered afestivalforaSt. Merenus,
said to have been an Abbot in that monastery called Benchor, which had
been so celebrated among the Scots. The Bollandists 2 also record this
Murenus, at the same date, referring to notices of him, which had been already given, at the 12th of May.
Article VIII. —The Blessed Malchus,Monk of Mellifont, County of Louth. [Twelfth Century^\ At this date, the Bollandists * have a feast for the Blessed Malchus, of the Cistercian Order in Ireland, on the authority of Henriquez and Chalemot.
Ctoattp=mntl) ©ap of 3fune.
ARTICLE I. —ST. COCHA OR COCCA, ABBESS OF ROS-BENNCHUIR. [FIFTH CENTUXY.
WEhave to regret, that indications are not more clear, in reference to
the female whose celebration in our Calendars has been pious saint,
assigned to this day. However, we can only present, as we find them, the few particulars, that seem to be on record. This holy virgin has her name
written Coca or Cocca x ;
it has been converted into Life 3 of St. Kieran of Saighir we find this
usually
Concha and Cota. 2 In an
but, incorrectly, English
of March.
Article vi. — • See "Transactions 'of
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu-
dino, p. 357.
Article vii. — z Thus " Sanctus Mere-
:
nus Abbas in celebri illo apu—d Scotos monas- terio cui Benchora nomen. " Bishop Forbes'
p. 334. — Article viii.
On the Calen- dar of Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. ,
script, Series, vol. i. , part i.
" 2
p.
xcvi.
2 See ibid. , p. cviii.
3 See Sir Harris Nicolas'
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 238. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Junii xxviii. Among the pretermitted saints,
History," p. 209.
* See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Junii
xxviii. De Sanctis Martyribus Afris, Fabiano, Felice, Arione, Capitolino, Nisia, Elapha, Venusto Eunocho, Crescente, Alexandro, Theona, Pleoso, Asthesio, Apollonio, Amphamone, Phisocio, Meleo, Dionysio, Hino, Panno, Plebrio, Panubvio, Dioscoro, Tubono, Capitulino, Nica, Gur-
'" See
Acta Sanctorum," Among the preter-
"
Chronology of
tomus v. , Junii xxviii. mitted feasts, p. 335.
Article l— * So she is called in Vita
S. Baraei, cap. x.
2 So called See Col- by John Capgrave.
gan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," v.
Martii, n. 29, p. 465.
3 Belonging to Mr. John O'Daly, book-
yEngus,
1atthe
822 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 29.
saint called " Coinche. " I—n the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the iii. of the Kalends of July— June 29th and included with that of other saints, there is a festivalforCocca,ofRuisBeandchoir. * ThegreaterportionoftheLifeofSt. Cocchea is to be found interspersed and interwoven, so to speak, with the Life of the great St. Kieran,* whose nurse and guardian it was her privilege to be. Owing to these circumstances, it appears to be altogether probable, that she was born, or at least, that she lived for some time, in the Island of Cape Clear, in the present county of Cork. She is stated to have been the nurse of St. Kieran of Saigir ; and if so, her period should date to the beginning of the fifth century. She may have been converted from the errors of paganism, by receiving baptism at the hands of her Apostolic foster-son. St. Cocca is related, to have embraced a religious life, and to have presided over the monastery of Ros-bennchuir. 6 That it was situated on the sea-coast appears from the Life of St. Kieran of Saigir, who was one of the principal coadjutors of St. Patrick, in the southern parts of Ireland. St. Cocchea rendered the greatest assistance to St. Kieran, in propagating the Christian faith. The religious establishment of Ross-bennchuir was possibly situated on the western
8 coastofClareCounty,? ashasbeenstated, butonwhatancientauthorityis
not cited. Perhaps this place was identical with the townland of Ross, on the sea-shore, in the parish of Kilballyowen, in the barony of Moyarta, —in
of—
the of Clare. There St. Cocha's
the south-western
according to one writer 9 was situated, about twelve miles W. S. W. from Kil- kee, in that county, and within a few hundred yards of the Natural Bridges of Ross. The ruins, we are told, present no interesting architectural features. 10 In the Life of St. Kieran, we are told, that he sent oxen each year from Saigir to this place ; and, although the distance was considerable, it is said, they always went in a direct course to Ros-benchuir, without being even conducted by a driver. These oxen were sent to plough the lands of St. Cocca, and
Teampull-an-naonmhar-naomh, i. e. , the church of the nine saints. 12 Of this edifice, the west gable and side walls remain to the full height, with 4 feet of the under part of the east gable. It measures 34 feet 4 inches in length, by 15^2 in breadth. 13 At the distance of 24 feet, south from the ruin, is what the
seller, 9 Anglesea-street, Dublin. out proof, in his "Ecclesiastical History of 4 " Moeldoid i Failbhe mac Daire ocus Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sect, ix. , n.
part county
nunnery
season was over each
There is a small ruined church in the townland of Ross, and which is called
after the
ploughing
year, they
returned
again
Fealdobor ocus Cocca Ruis Beandchoir. "
"
115, p. 405.
» Marcus Keane.
See Rev. Dr. Kelly's Saints," &c, p. xxviii.
Calendar of Irish
s See his Life, at the 5th of March, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
Ireland," p. 376.
sisted in presiding over the education of
" See
6 The principal work of St. Cocchea con- niae," v. Martii, p. 461. Vita S. Kierani
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- ex codice Kilkenniensi, cap. xxiv.
7 Yet, from a careful examination of the
Index Map of this county, and the Manu-
script Index to the Names of Parishes and
Townlands of the same county, we are unable
to discover the name of Ros-benchuir, with-
in its limits. Even the denomination does
not appear on the ancient and large Map of
Clare County, compiled with such elegance
and laborious accuracy, by Mr. John wide inside ; it is 2 feet 8 inches in height and
who were entrusted to her care, some for a time, and others for life.
" to Mr. According
noble
virgins,
Eugene O'Curry's description of the Parish of Kilballyowen,
O'Donovan, and which is at present among
the Irish Ordnance Survey Records.
4 inches in breadth at top, and 6 inches at bottom on the outside. The walls are 2% feet thick, and about 10 feet high, and there
8
So Rev. Dr. Lanigan asserts, but with-
,0
See "Towers and Temples of Ancient
Colgan's
County of Clare.
* 3 At the distance of 9 feet 3 inches from
the west gable, on the south side is a pointed
doorwaywiththesidesdestroyed, andmea-
suring 6 feet in height on the inside, and 5^
feetontheoutside. Atthedistanceofio1 /*
feet from this, in the same side, is a quadran- gular window 3 feet 8 inches high, and 3 feet
to 11 Saigir.
June 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
823
peasantry call the grave of the nine saints. 1 * We are also told, that on each
festival of our Lord's Nativity, after the people had received Holy Com-
munion from St. Kieran's own hands, in the monastery of Saigir, he was
accustomed to proceed to the monastery of St. Cocca, at Ros-bennchuir, that
he might again offer up the Holy Sacrifice there, and on the same morning.
After St. Cocca and others had received communion from him, he returned
again to Saigir, before the dawn of daylight. Relating these circumstances,
the ancient writer of St. Kieran's Life remarks, that he and others knew not
by what means this saint went and returned, as he concealed such matters
from them *5—meaning his monks. We are informed, that there was a large
stone on the sea-shore, which had been surrounded with water, near the
monasteryofRos-bennchuir. TothistheAbbessoftenretired,anditwas
of 1? as ofRos-Bennchair. 20 Martyrology Donegal, Cocha,
Article II. —St. Conuan, Bishop, of Tigh Collain, or Tigh Con-
" 16
called, the stone of St. Cocca, because on it she
1 ? As an old legend has it, St. Ciaran went one day on that Rock, and it floated over the waters with him, and returned to its own place again, it being Ciaran's wish it should so happen. The Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Cathal Maguire state, that the Natalis of this saint had been celebrated, on the 29th of July, in the church of Ros-bennchuir. 18 We do not find her name occurring on this day, in the copy of the Irish Calendar, belonging to theOrdnanceSurveyOffice,PhoenixPark. Sheisentered,however,inthe
nain,inCremhthanna,nowStackallan,CountyofMeath. Inthe 1
Martyrology of Tallagh, a festival occurs, at the 29th of June, in honour ot Conuan, Bishop, of Tigh Collain. The land of Ui-Crimhthainn comprises thepresentbaronies ofUpperandLowerSlane,in thecountyofMeath. 2 It is thought to be highly probable, 3 that the Four Masters are wrong, when they write the name of this place Teach Collain,'* as it is locally pronounced by the
natives; and, itis supposed, the true form of the name had bee—n Teach-Conain,s
" *. «,,
6 deredintoStaorSti,asinthepresentinstance. Stackallenisasmallvillage,
—n's house. " This house of Collan or Connan now known as Stackallen was situated nearly midway between Navan and Slane, in the county of Meath. It is curious to remark, that in some of those districts colonized by the Danes and English, the Teach or Tigh of the Irish was ren-
Cona
is not a cut or chiselled stone in the whole.
Kilkenniensi, cap. xxvi. , p. 461.
l8 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," v. Martii, n. 29, p. 465.
I9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
182, 183.
14 This measured grave
feet in
from north to south, 7 feet 9 inches in breadth, and it was 2 feet in height. The sides were built up of loose stones, after the
" 20 ordinary manner of graves. See Letters
33
length,
containing Information relative to the Anti- quities of the County of Clare, collected
during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1839," vol. ii. Mr. Eugene Curry's letter, dated Kildisart, I Ith November, 1839, pp. 70, 71.
XS
See Colgan's
nise," v. Martii. Vita S. Kierani ex codice n. 9, p.
