The O'Kennedy family had many tall castles and they held broad lands, in the
immediate
neighbourhood of Durrow old church ; and many of their posterity, nowreduced to the farmingclass, yet dwell in that part of the country.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
" shall not be buried
" Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
Masters" relate the manner, in which this
prophecy had been fulfilled, under A. u. 558.
See vol. i. . pp. 200, 201. After twenty years
of sovereignty over Ireland, the Monarch rilis xv. Vita S. Ruadani, cap. ii. , sect. 13, Diarmaid was slain by Aedh Dubh, son of
Suibhne, King of Dal-Araidhe, at Rath
Beag, in Meagh Line.
"The Legend adds: "super druUam. "
The editor says : "Videtur/«/a ituHpalium esse : foite tndla—a trull« csementariae simi-
'''
It has been identified, by Rev. Dr. Reeves, as adjoining Antrim parish. Some particulars, regarding Diarmaid's death, are
"
lilsewise given, in the
quilies of Down, Coimor and Dromore," Appendix Y, p. 279.
^1 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," v—ol. i. , pp. 200, 201.
'
litudine dictum. " "Acta Sanctorum,"
to- mus ii. , Aprilis xv. Vita S. Ruadani, cap.
ii. , n. (m), p. 385.
"3 To us, it seems, that the sea here meant
was no other than Lough Derg, a magnifi- cent expansion of water, well described, in William F. Wakeman's "Three Days on the Shannon. "
Chapter iv.
Now or Loghroe
'* The Rev. S. Baring-Gould remarks, that
where his Life may be found.
me,
" You defend iniquity, and
^5 yee "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- pp. 384, 385.
Lurg- hoe, in the county of Tipperary, says Bishop Challenor, in "Britannia Sancta, Part i. ,
April 15, p. 227, note,
"His feast occurs, at the 5th of March,
Ecclesiastical Anti-
April 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 161
Acts of this latter saint, we read, that on a certain occasion, Ruadan paid him a visit, at Saigair monastery ; where, on his arrival, the fire had been
extinguished in the morning, and through the negligence of a monk, named Baythemus. Thisbrotherfeltgrievedattheaccident,andheaskedpardon for it, since there was no fire in the monastery, either to warm the guests, or topreparefoodforthem. Itisthentold,thatBishopKieranblessedacer- tain stone, which was near ; when, instantly, it emitted flames, while the Abbot of Saigir brought it blazing in his hands, to St. Ruadan. 3
The desertion of Tara* has been generally referred to about a. d. 554. ' This is said to have been in retribution, for the violation of St. Ruan's sanc- tuary. A striking memorial of the Church's triumph, on this occasion, is said to have been preserved in a name of distinction, given to a certain religious house, afterwards called "The Monastery of the Curses of Ireland. "' The learned ecclesiastical historian of Meath seems to connect this establishment, with Rathbeggan,? or Kilrue,* in the county of Meath.
After St. Ruadan had returned from Temoria city, certain lepers met him on the way, and asked alms. Our Abbot is said to have presented the horses under his chariot to them ; when immediately, two deer rushing from the woods became tame, and placed their necks in harness under our saint's chariot, until he arrived at his residence. Another day, while St. Ruadan, with his companions, was journeying in his chariot, the Abbot of Lorrha found a large tree obstructing a road, across which it lay. Whereupon, he blessed the tree, which stood upright, and afterwards, it continued to remain so, for a long time. On another occasion, St. Ruadan, ordered his monks, on the arrival of certain guests, that they should eat flesh meat, on Lenten days; but,heblessedthismeat,'anditwaschangedintobread. '"Therewas a certain laic, who refused to eat of this food, with the brethren. Wherefore, all the monks are said to have seen that bread, which the laic eat, converted into raw and bleeding flesh meat. Again, St. Ruadan imparting his blessing, this raw flesh was restored to its natural state of bread, and the laic did pen- ance. '- At another time, during the summer season, twelve lepers came to St. Ruadan, and asked alms from him. Then, forcing his staff" into the ground, a well of water instantly gushed forth, and there the Abbot fashioned a piscina, in which the lepers washed themselves, and they were cleansed from their leprosy. At the time, when the Acts of our saint were written, this was called int piscina of St. Ruadan. " On a particular day, when a vessel, in which fire had been carried, was not at hand, St. Ruadan sent coals of fire, heaped against a boy's bosom, that he might bear them hastily to guests, who were cold ; and, not only were the bearer's garments unburned, but even their colour was not stained. We are then told, that a certain deer, issuing from thewoods,cametoSt. Ruadan. Aboutsunset,andateven-tide,thisanimal was milked by the Abbot. This same deer fleetly passed over a considerable
3 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibcr-
nise. " V. Martii. Vita S. Kierani, cap. xxxvi. ,
"Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
p. 463.
* An account of this remarkable
See Rev. A. Cogan's Ecclesiasti-
place may be seen, m Mr. and Mrs. Hall's " Ireland :
cal of the Diocese of Meath, An- History
cient and Modern," vol. ii. , chap, xvii. ,
p. 384.
9 Similar accounts are given, in the Acts
of St. See Vita Prima, cap. xvii. , Brigid.
and Vita Quarta, lib. ii. , cap. xviii.
'" "Videturhocmiraculumobdefectum
its Scenery, Character," &c. , vol. ii. , pp. 385, 390.
5 See the remarkable "
on the His-
Essay
tory and Antiquities of Tara Hill," by
George Petrie.
' See Moore's " of
History Ireland,"
voL
—"Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Aprilis xv. Vita S. Rudani, cap.
L, chap, xii. , p. 254.
'This townland and parish are in the
barony of Ratoath, and they areshown, on the
iii. , n. (a), p. 386.
"See ibid. , sect. 14, p. 385.
County of Meath," Sheet 44. «"
panis patratumfuisse. "
L
l62 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April 15.
space of ground, at another hour, on the morning, and it was milked, by St. Colman-Ela. '3 —
Aplace,calledDare-Enech,issaidtohavebeentenanted occasionally atleast—bySt. Ruadhan,andbyhismonks. Perhaps,thisistheplace,now distinguished as Dorrha or Durrow '"t old church and cemetery,'s only a few miles from Lorrah. Over a beautiful valley, and on a gentle eminence, beside Pallas stream, as it wends on to join the Brusna river, in the parish of Dorrha, aretheruinsofanoldchurch,ontherightbank. '^ Thegableremainingis nearlyperfect,andshadedbyamassofdarkivyononeside. Ontheother, the former well-dressed coping stones run upwards to the very apex. The two angles of this once quadrangular church, now remaining, are ornamented with fine ashlar masonry. All fragments of the old building now visible indicate firmness and finish; but, only small portions of the side walls stand. "' Within the ruin, and centrally situated, under the apex of the gable, a perfect and well-designed limestone covering altar-slab crowns solid masonry be- neath, and in the very centre of this slab there is a small square excavation
of some '^ trifling depth.
and in the centre of very
over the
the gable, is a fine muUioned but narrow stone window-space, on the outside. ''
Itsplaysinwardlytoamuchgreaterwidth. ''" Overthiswindow-cill,ontheout- side, is a grotesquely carved human head. Over the altar, this end gable-window
" In the stream, near Durrow old church,
there is a deep pool, called by the country
tinued, to the best of this aged man's me-
mory.
' the old church, on the rise Approaching
of a hill, and now surrounded by a farm- stead and some enclosures, are the remains of an old ruin, known as Graigue Castle. Its last inhabitant was a gentleman, named Arthur Taylor. Patt Carroll, of Derry, near this place, conveyed such information to the writer, when he visited this spot, on the loth of August, 1869. This oldest living inhabi- tant recollected its tenancy by Mr. Taylor, in his younger days. The traces of this castle yet remain, although its strong walls and outworks are now a complete wreck.
' The building was long in proportion to
its width, and as it stands beside a modem
Protestant church, within the graveyard, its
sides have been tastelessly built up, to secure
complete enclosure, from the cattle, in the
adjoining rich pastures.
'^
This is nearly always filled with water ; but, doubtless, it afforded room for a portable altar-stone, wlien placed, in situ, for the cele- bration of Mass. Near the altar and within the wall, a small square recess, for the vessels
" a cleave," in which diseased sons used to wash themselves.
people
per-
he had a
'3 The Bollandist editor says,
Life ofSt. Colman Ela, which wastohave been
published, at the 26th of September. From
this we could learn, that the wood whence his cognomen was derived had been situated in the lands of Niall's posterity, that is, in Meath, and that this place was given to him, at a certain assembly of kings, before Aldus, son to Anmireus, who reigned, from the year 572 to 598, as stated in a chronotaxis. But, in such Life, there occurs no notice of that deer here mentioned. Nor does it appear, why the Almighty, wishing to honour St. Colman by this deer's miraculous obedience, in presenting itself to be milked, should have caused an animal at a great distance to jire- sent itself, when a numl)er of other deer were to be found, and at a distance less removed
from St. Colman Ela. See "Acta Sancto- "
rum, tomus ii. , Aprilis xv. . cap. iii. , n. (b), p. 386.
'< The parish of Dorrha, in the barony of "
Immediately
altar,
Lower Ormond, is described, on the Ord- holding wine and water, may be seen.
nance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Tipperary," Sheets i, 2, 4, 5.
'S Near the ruins of Durrow an old well
is shown, with a stone having five marks,
indicating the supposed impression of a thumb and four fingers. These marks are
Another nearly similar may be observed, in the side wall, on the Epistle side.
attributed to St. Ruadan, according to the
account of a very old man, Patt Carroll, who
was ninety-seven years of age, in August,
1869, as he told the writer, and who had a masonry. It is probable, the original mul-
remarkably retentive memory for local and general events, that transpired in his time.
Long after the year 1798, a patron was held here, but about fifty years ago, it was discon-
lioned stone window had been in great part destroyed, to accomplish such a purpose.
'' Two rather modern slabs are
mediately beneath this window, into the under part of which they have been inserted, by some Vandalic hand. They have been erected to the memory of some noteless oc- cupants of graves beneath, and which are surrounded by a square enclosure of modern
'"
execution, is extremely beautiful.
Tlie workmanship, although of a remote
placed,
im-
April 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 163
has been stopped up with raodem masonry. On the outside of tlie adjoining wall, and, on the Epistle side of the altar, a narrow pointed window, with cut
stone mouldings, may be seen, and bedded round with Cyclopean masonry. ^' While himself and his community were at Dare-Enech, the son of Darane Dairimoir, sent to St. Ruadhan a great measure full of butter. And, when this measure " on a particular morning had been placed upon two wild oxen, these animals passed through a bog, from Daire-moir. ''3 Through this bog,^'* they discovered a road, very firm and level, such as no person had seen there before, or since. That measure of butter served St. Ruadan and his 150 monks, from the beginning of spring, until the day of Pentecost, when it was found to have been yet full, having suflfered no apparent diminution in quantity. At a cer- tain time, when Ruadan was in Araib,^5 a sorrowing mother approached ; and,intears,shebesoughthimtoraiseherdeadsontolife. WhentheAbbot prayed,herboywasagainrestored. IntheterritoriesofLugdeck'sposterity,''* he raised another youth, from the dead ; for, when the boy was placed under St. Ruadan'schasuble,"'heimmediatelycametolife. Oursaintsimilarlypre- served a third boy's life in Hi-Cuillin,'* within the territory of Heli;"' and, the place where this miracle was wrought, bore the name of Tulach Ruodan, at that time, when the Acts of our saint were written. We are told, more- over, this boy's father presented him for ever to St. Ruadan, together with that field, in which he had been restored. 5°
" On the Gospel side-wall, and near the old altar, towards the comer, a well cut stone slab in raised letters may be seen. This is a family monument, erected by Bernard Kennedy of Culross, in memory of his wife, Klinora Kennedy, alias Tubman, and of his son James Kennedy, who died in the year
1704, The Latin inscription records, like- wise, that the tablet in question was erected "27 mensis Februarii 1705," as well to com- memorate his ancestors there buried, as for the use of his posterity.
The O'Kennedy family had many tall castles and they held broad lands, in the immediate neighbourhood of Durrow old church ; and many of their posterity, nowreduced to the farmingclass, yet dwell in that part of the country. We can bavelittle doubt, but severaldistinguished in- dividuals of the clan rest within the walls of this ruined chantry, and beneath the afore- said tomb.
"
In Latin, it is called, "cortex. " It was
customary, with the ancient Irish, to
stow butter within the hollow, or bark, of
certain trees. Many of these rude vessels,
having rancid butter contained within them,
have bieen discovered, in our bogs. A speci-
men of these is yet preserved, in the Museum S. Rodani," &c. See cap. iii. , sect. 16, of the Royal Irish Academy, and it is an
object of great curiosity.
'3 In all probability, the old chtirch at
Durrow was formerly so called, because cf
its importance. Was it the original founda- tion, it may be asked, where St. Columkille's Churchhadbeenfounded? SeeDrs. Todd's
and Reeves'
"
Martyrology of Donegal. "
Appendix to the Introduction, p. xl. The
cC^nn eochAgaiTi, according to O'Dugan,
ruled over the Cinel Fiachach, down to the fourteenth century. This was known as the
Mageogh^an's country, originally extend- ing from Birr, in the Kmg's County, to the Hill of Uisneach, in the county of West-
meath. Subsequently, that territory was di- vided into a northemand a southern portion; the latter part having come under the O'MoUoyfamily. Seefurtherparticulars,in " The Topographical Poems of John O'Dub- hagain and GioUa na Naomh O'Huidhrin," by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , pp. I, 2, 8, 9, and pp. viii. , ix. , n. 30. To a rather late period, in Ihe reign of Queen Elizabeth, the Mac Egans lived in Redwood Castle, in the parish of Dorrha, and they were hereditary Brehons to the O'Kennedys of Lower Ormond. . See "Irish Folk-Lore," by La- geniensis, chap. xxvi. Memorials of Red- wood Castle, pp. 220 to 233.
"* Several extensive bogs are yet to be
seen, in the parish of Dorrha, and in the
parishes adjoining.
'5 This place has not been identified.
" Under this denomination, as found in St.
Ruadhan's Acts, it is not easy to identify the
locality, but we may suspect some error in
the orthography. ''TheVitaS. Rodanireads "subcasula
:
name of which was derived from Eile, the seventh in descent from Cian, son of Oiliol Olum, King of Munster, in the third cen- tury. Its situation is pointed out in "The Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , p. Ixxxiv. , n. 759.
3° The Bollandist editor remarks, after the foregoing relation, that another leeentj fol-
p. 386.
^ Anglicised O'Cnllen.
•* Most probably the territory of Eile, the
j64
lives of the IRISH SAINTS.
[April 15.
St. Ruadhan is said to have written the following works
:
' Contra Diar-
" " De mirabili Fontium in Hibernia Natura, Lib. 1. modReeem Lib. i.
" De miraculosa Arbore," Lib. i. 3' A very ancient vellum book as has been mentioned, in St. Brigifs Life, at the ist of February, states that Ruadhan of Lothra in manners and life, was like to Matthew the Apostle. ^^ „ . p „,
To St Ruadhan is attributed the foundation of an old church, calledBona- hum,33or"Bonaghum, in the parish of Dorrha, anditobe seen, about five miles from Lorrah. This very ancient structure is apparently one of the oldest Irish churches, now remaining. It measures 43 feet, in length, by 24 leet, inwidth,ontheexterior,whilethewallsarenearlythreefeet mthickness.
A fine fragment of a carved window-head, formed from cut limestone, was found lyinl on the ground, and within the ruins. 34 The old churcn was qua- drangular in shape, and the walls are vejy perfect all around excepting both
end gables, which only exhibit mere fragments, above the side walls. Many headstones and tombs lie around, and within the ancient building. The grave-
on one side, towards a rich pasture, was altogether unenclosed ; but, the extended graves proved, that its dimensions were formerly very consider- able The rude and massive limestone church walls are well jointed and cemented. A ruinous and narrow east-window, splayed on the mside, appears,inoneofthegables. Onthesouthside-wall,andneartheformer,was a vvindow of nearly similar shape. The entrance door of this antique church
lav farther down, on the same side-wall, and it appears to have been the only one entering this structure. The arch of this doorway was rudely, but com- pactly turned, with narrow upright stone, and on the modern principle of con_ struction. The country people have a great reverence for this place, and
yard,
they relate many curious traditions regarding it. 35
It is recorded, by Tighernach, in his Annals, that St. Ruadan died at
Lothra, in the year 584. 3^
,
35 Indeed, according to the account of Pal;t Carroll, he was nearly thirty years old, m the memorable year of 1798. At his t,me, he said, a man named Billy Haverty, imph- cated ik the rebellion, had been chased by some soldiers. He fled for protection tothe
lows in which it is Slated, that the soul of a certain Ode Egmech, a wicked man, had wTiberated from the lower regions, and
A . . r. ^Hp^vPn hv St Columkille,St. conducted to '^y
fh^°,„'^ t"^ric. Vhi:* lattT'as °St. ifdus, whose life should follow, at the loth of No- vei^ber At th s meeting of the three saints. St Co umba left his tablets, in St. Ruadan's
? hfedi'toTsa'y ;
his he knees,
^^^^^^^^i^'
^^
At this, or any other year, the O'Clerys have
hands and afterwards received them from
his dbctple BUhTn, or St. Baithen. This -fi^'yP^-^'. '^^^ ^^
discinle succeeded Columkille, in the govern- Soflona monastery, and like his mas-
vene~on the 9th of June. The editor add r-Sed rem totlm ne scandalo fore° ut plenam fabulosarum circumstantia- TMmomittimus aliostyloquilegerevolet, Covrum ade;t n Append. 2 Id Acta S. ColumbT cap 3," See " Acta Sanctorum. " tornus if; Ipr U xv. Vita S. Rodani, cap.
mterposition, m his b'e^hla^l^f',J^t. hfa. t'^trh^ence-' forward, he dropped Ins former name and would only allow his neighbours to call h. m
Ur he is
iHsect 86 /;i
This is the name actually cut on a headstone which he erected to in- dicate the grave of his father niother, bro- thers, sisters and ch, dren. AH this was very but, the continuation of this epitaph seemed buried far beneath the surface of the
tX 7
and n. (c), p. °'
where this local celebrity probably lie, interred, and where his own name might be
pp. 38s. 386,
earth,
'\ ^^k^T^t 'p' ;7""^
'"itch"^^ A ctn 'a's g? ;enin the " ^««. /. «„/eadem anno (ut Tigemaci
n-riP^s' Calendar
^snt'^ inthetownlandofDerry,and,itis
marked on the "Ordnance Survey Town-
"nd Maps fo^ the County of Ti/perary," '^
t, .
3. When visited by the writer, August lOlh,
,869.
Z«/^TM«« ^;W^I^n^d^e^x^^L^hro-
old church, where fallmg on
prayed for -St. Ruadhan's protection, and
gave himself up to he holy pat. on.
lost of him pursuers completely sight
His and
;
Billy Bonagham.
ligible
;
''^M^t'^ DI. XXXIV. , Ussher says =
cent Annales) mortuus est m
condito -^io
-^f lUe cognomentum
ados^e
a quo et ;—
-logi-^^- ;' Ecci^i^^a^r^r^i^^s^ rum Antiquitates, p. 533. bee, also,
Ware, vol, ii. . "Writers of Ireland. Book I, chap, ill. , p. 17-
accepit.
'^e Br. tann. carum
, ,. , .
April 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 165
made no allusion to his death, in their Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland. The Irish Calendars assign St. Ruadan's festival day, to the 15th of April. 37 Then he is noticed, by St. ^ngus, the Culdee, and with a high eulogy, in the Feilire. 38 In the Martyrology of Tallagh,39 we find entered the name of Ruadhan, Lothra, at the 1 5th of April. The Martyrology of Donegal <° at this
day registers Ruadhan—Latinized Ruffinus or Ruffilliis^'-—
son of
Abbot of Lothra. Under the head of Lothra, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Ruadhan, Bishop of Lorrha. ''" Veneration for this saint extended to Scot- land, where we find his festival celebrated, on the 15th of April, according to the Kalendar of Drummond. « The " Circle of the Seasons " has a notice
ofhis festival, for this day. ''*
A holy well, dedicated to St. Ruadhan, was pointed out at Lorrah. In
this was found a curious bell of the antique Celtic form ;*5 and this is thought*'
to have been the one used by Ruadhan, when his imprecations were directed
againstTara,andagainsttheMonarchofIreland,DiarmaidI. Itisofsquare
form, but somewhat projecting at the four sides, in the centre of each ; and,
it tapers upwards, to a loOp-like handle, which joins the bell, in two dra-
gonesque or serpent-shaped heads, having open mouths. The whole is of cast bronze. " We are informed, also, that the head of St. Ruadhan had been
preserved in a silver case, kept in his monaster)', at Lorrah, until the time of the suppression. ** About the year 1733, an ancient Book, called after St. Ruadhan of Lothra,*' had been kept, in the house, belonging to O' Kennedy
of Ormond ; and, this was seen, by Andrew M'Curtin, who composed an Irish Poem,5° in reference to it.
In closing the Acts of our saint, the author of these states, that Ruadhan had attained the extraordinary stature of seven feet, according to the most reliable accounts. s' We are told, that in reality he was a king, so outwardly he presented a monarch's majestic form; but, while beautiful, exteriorly, he was stillmoreso,interiorly; and,nobleinman'sestimation,hewasstillmoreso, in the esteem of God. Large he was in stature, and abounding in grace ; great before God and man ; higiily distinguished in the present, and in a fu-
^See Dr.
HistoryofIreland,"vol. ii. , chap,xii. ,sect.
lo.
Lanigan's
p.
xii. , and nn. 184, 185, pp. 233, 234.
*• In the Leabhar Breac copy we read
plMniT)A bneo n4t>AicVibe A^xpch C0U4 cochLd t)4C<iin mil A lu-igrndp RuADAti UjcVidpn LocVipA.
— :
lection of Irish
"Ecclesiastical
"
The is an translation — Christian Times," First series, Lecture v. .
in Joseph Anderson's following English : p. 187.
Scotland in early
" An excellent flame that wanes not :
he
<* See Archdall's " Monasticon Hibemi- cum," p. 667. He quotes War mon.
*' This seems to have been undiscoverable since, nor is it enumerated among the many lost books of ancient Erinn, in Professor
vanquished urgent desires : fair was ihe pre- cious stone, Ruadan lamp of Lothra. "
» Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxi. Franciscan copy has Tlua'OAtji Loch)va.
The pp.
" Lectures on the Manuscript Ma- terialsof Ancient Irish History," Lect. i.
5° This is a prophetic and political poem, consisting of 28 stanzas. It is yet preserved. among the Manuscripts, belonging to the
Royal Irish Academy.
s' The Bollandist editor adds, in a note,
"MS. xii. pedum: verum non forma Regis sed gigantis hsec fuisset. "—"Acta Sancto-
*" Edited 102, 103.
by
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
O'Curry's
*' See ibid. , pp. 462, 463.
'See "Proceedmgs of the Royal Irish Academy. " Irish MSS. Series, voU i. , Part i. , pp. 118, 119.
«J Thus, at xvii. Kl. Mail. , " In Hibemia Isola .
" Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
Masters" relate the manner, in which this
prophecy had been fulfilled, under A. u. 558.
See vol. i. . pp. 200, 201. After twenty years
of sovereignty over Ireland, the Monarch rilis xv. Vita S. Ruadani, cap. ii. , sect. 13, Diarmaid was slain by Aedh Dubh, son of
Suibhne, King of Dal-Araidhe, at Rath
Beag, in Meagh Line.
"The Legend adds: "super druUam. "
The editor says : "Videtur/«/a ituHpalium esse : foite tndla—a trull« csementariae simi-
'''
It has been identified, by Rev. Dr. Reeves, as adjoining Antrim parish. Some particulars, regarding Diarmaid's death, are
"
lilsewise given, in the
quilies of Down, Coimor and Dromore," Appendix Y, p. 279.
^1 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," v—ol. i. , pp. 200, 201.
'
litudine dictum. " "Acta Sanctorum,"
to- mus ii. , Aprilis xv. Vita S. Ruadani, cap.
ii. , n. (m), p. 385.
"3 To us, it seems, that the sea here meant
was no other than Lough Derg, a magnifi- cent expansion of water, well described, in William F. Wakeman's "Three Days on the Shannon. "
Chapter iv.
Now or Loghroe
'* The Rev. S. Baring-Gould remarks, that
where his Life may be found.
me,
" You defend iniquity, and
^5 yee "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- pp. 384, 385.
Lurg- hoe, in the county of Tipperary, says Bishop Challenor, in "Britannia Sancta, Part i. ,
April 15, p. 227, note,
"His feast occurs, at the 5th of March,
Ecclesiastical Anti-
April 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 161
Acts of this latter saint, we read, that on a certain occasion, Ruadan paid him a visit, at Saigair monastery ; where, on his arrival, the fire had been
extinguished in the morning, and through the negligence of a monk, named Baythemus. Thisbrotherfeltgrievedattheaccident,andheaskedpardon for it, since there was no fire in the monastery, either to warm the guests, or topreparefoodforthem. Itisthentold,thatBishopKieranblessedacer- tain stone, which was near ; when, instantly, it emitted flames, while the Abbot of Saigir brought it blazing in his hands, to St. Ruadan. 3
The desertion of Tara* has been generally referred to about a. d. 554. ' This is said to have been in retribution, for the violation of St. Ruan's sanc- tuary. A striking memorial of the Church's triumph, on this occasion, is said to have been preserved in a name of distinction, given to a certain religious house, afterwards called "The Monastery of the Curses of Ireland. "' The learned ecclesiastical historian of Meath seems to connect this establishment, with Rathbeggan,? or Kilrue,* in the county of Meath.
After St. Ruadan had returned from Temoria city, certain lepers met him on the way, and asked alms. Our Abbot is said to have presented the horses under his chariot to them ; when immediately, two deer rushing from the woods became tame, and placed their necks in harness under our saint's chariot, until he arrived at his residence. Another day, while St. Ruadan, with his companions, was journeying in his chariot, the Abbot of Lorrha found a large tree obstructing a road, across which it lay. Whereupon, he blessed the tree, which stood upright, and afterwards, it continued to remain so, for a long time. On another occasion, St. Ruadan, ordered his monks, on the arrival of certain guests, that they should eat flesh meat, on Lenten days; but,heblessedthismeat,'anditwaschangedintobread. '"Therewas a certain laic, who refused to eat of this food, with the brethren. Wherefore, all the monks are said to have seen that bread, which the laic eat, converted into raw and bleeding flesh meat. Again, St. Ruadan imparting his blessing, this raw flesh was restored to its natural state of bread, and the laic did pen- ance. '- At another time, during the summer season, twelve lepers came to St. Ruadan, and asked alms from him. Then, forcing his staff" into the ground, a well of water instantly gushed forth, and there the Abbot fashioned a piscina, in which the lepers washed themselves, and they were cleansed from their leprosy. At the time, when the Acts of our saint were written, this was called int piscina of St. Ruadan. " On a particular day, when a vessel, in which fire had been carried, was not at hand, St. Ruadan sent coals of fire, heaped against a boy's bosom, that he might bear them hastily to guests, who were cold ; and, not only were the bearer's garments unburned, but even their colour was not stained. We are then told, that a certain deer, issuing from thewoods,cametoSt. Ruadan. Aboutsunset,andateven-tide,thisanimal was milked by the Abbot. This same deer fleetly passed over a considerable
3 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibcr-
nise. " V. Martii. Vita S. Kierani, cap. xxxvi. ,
"Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
p. 463.
* An account of this remarkable
See Rev. A. Cogan's Ecclesiasti-
place may be seen, m Mr. and Mrs. Hall's " Ireland :
cal of the Diocese of Meath, An- History
cient and Modern," vol. ii. , chap, xvii. ,
p. 384.
9 Similar accounts are given, in the Acts
of St. See Vita Prima, cap. xvii. , Brigid.
and Vita Quarta, lib. ii. , cap. xviii.
'" "Videturhocmiraculumobdefectum
its Scenery, Character," &c. , vol. ii. , pp. 385, 390.
5 See the remarkable "
on the His-
Essay
tory and Antiquities of Tara Hill," by
George Petrie.
' See Moore's " of
History Ireland,"
voL
—"Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Aprilis xv. Vita S. Rudani, cap.
L, chap, xii. , p. 254.
'This townland and parish are in the
barony of Ratoath, and they areshown, on the
iii. , n. (a), p. 386.
"See ibid. , sect. 14, p. 385.
County of Meath," Sheet 44. «"
panis patratumfuisse. "
L
l62 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April 15.
space of ground, at another hour, on the morning, and it was milked, by St. Colman-Ela. '3 —
Aplace,calledDare-Enech,issaidtohavebeentenanted occasionally atleast—bySt. Ruadhan,andbyhismonks. Perhaps,thisistheplace,now distinguished as Dorrha or Durrow '"t old church and cemetery,'s only a few miles from Lorrah. Over a beautiful valley, and on a gentle eminence, beside Pallas stream, as it wends on to join the Brusna river, in the parish of Dorrha, aretheruinsofanoldchurch,ontherightbank. '^ Thegableremainingis nearlyperfect,andshadedbyamassofdarkivyononeside. Ontheother, the former well-dressed coping stones run upwards to the very apex. The two angles of this once quadrangular church, now remaining, are ornamented with fine ashlar masonry. All fragments of the old building now visible indicate firmness and finish; but, only small portions of the side walls stand. "' Within the ruin, and centrally situated, under the apex of the gable, a perfect and well-designed limestone covering altar-slab crowns solid masonry be- neath, and in the very centre of this slab there is a small square excavation
of some '^ trifling depth.
and in the centre of very
over the
the gable, is a fine muUioned but narrow stone window-space, on the outside. ''
Itsplaysinwardlytoamuchgreaterwidth. ''" Overthiswindow-cill,ontheout- side, is a grotesquely carved human head. Over the altar, this end gable-window
" In the stream, near Durrow old church,
there is a deep pool, called by the country
tinued, to the best of this aged man's me-
mory.
' the old church, on the rise Approaching
of a hill, and now surrounded by a farm- stead and some enclosures, are the remains of an old ruin, known as Graigue Castle. Its last inhabitant was a gentleman, named Arthur Taylor. Patt Carroll, of Derry, near this place, conveyed such information to the writer, when he visited this spot, on the loth of August, 1869. This oldest living inhabi- tant recollected its tenancy by Mr. Taylor, in his younger days. The traces of this castle yet remain, although its strong walls and outworks are now a complete wreck.
' The building was long in proportion to
its width, and as it stands beside a modem
Protestant church, within the graveyard, its
sides have been tastelessly built up, to secure
complete enclosure, from the cattle, in the
adjoining rich pastures.
'^
This is nearly always filled with water ; but, doubtless, it afforded room for a portable altar-stone, wlien placed, in situ, for the cele- bration of Mass. Near the altar and within the wall, a small square recess, for the vessels
" a cleave," in which diseased sons used to wash themselves.
people
per-
he had a
'3 The Bollandist editor says,
Life ofSt. Colman Ela, which wastohave been
published, at the 26th of September. From
this we could learn, that the wood whence his cognomen was derived had been situated in the lands of Niall's posterity, that is, in Meath, and that this place was given to him, at a certain assembly of kings, before Aldus, son to Anmireus, who reigned, from the year 572 to 598, as stated in a chronotaxis. But, in such Life, there occurs no notice of that deer here mentioned. Nor does it appear, why the Almighty, wishing to honour St. Colman by this deer's miraculous obedience, in presenting itself to be milked, should have caused an animal at a great distance to jire- sent itself, when a numl)er of other deer were to be found, and at a distance less removed
from St. Colman Ela. See "Acta Sancto- "
rum, tomus ii. , Aprilis xv. . cap. iii. , n. (b), p. 386.
'< The parish of Dorrha, in the barony of "
Immediately
altar,
Lower Ormond, is described, on the Ord- holding wine and water, may be seen.
nance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Tipperary," Sheets i, 2, 4, 5.
'S Near the ruins of Durrow an old well
is shown, with a stone having five marks,
indicating the supposed impression of a thumb and four fingers. These marks are
Another nearly similar may be observed, in the side wall, on the Epistle side.
attributed to St. Ruadan, according to the
account of a very old man, Patt Carroll, who
was ninety-seven years of age, in August,
1869, as he told the writer, and who had a masonry. It is probable, the original mul-
remarkably retentive memory for local and general events, that transpired in his time.
Long after the year 1798, a patron was held here, but about fifty years ago, it was discon-
lioned stone window had been in great part destroyed, to accomplish such a purpose.
'' Two rather modern slabs are
mediately beneath this window, into the under part of which they have been inserted, by some Vandalic hand. They have been erected to the memory of some noteless oc- cupants of graves beneath, and which are surrounded by a square enclosure of modern
'"
execution, is extremely beautiful.
Tlie workmanship, although of a remote
placed,
im-
April 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 163
has been stopped up with raodem masonry. On the outside of tlie adjoining wall, and, on the Epistle side of the altar, a narrow pointed window, with cut
stone mouldings, may be seen, and bedded round with Cyclopean masonry. ^' While himself and his community were at Dare-Enech, the son of Darane Dairimoir, sent to St. Ruadhan a great measure full of butter. And, when this measure " on a particular morning had been placed upon two wild oxen, these animals passed through a bog, from Daire-moir. ''3 Through this bog,^'* they discovered a road, very firm and level, such as no person had seen there before, or since. That measure of butter served St. Ruadan and his 150 monks, from the beginning of spring, until the day of Pentecost, when it was found to have been yet full, having suflfered no apparent diminution in quantity. At a cer- tain time, when Ruadan was in Araib,^5 a sorrowing mother approached ; and,intears,shebesoughthimtoraiseherdeadsontolife. WhentheAbbot prayed,herboywasagainrestored. IntheterritoriesofLugdeck'sposterity,''* he raised another youth, from the dead ; for, when the boy was placed under St. Ruadan'schasuble,"'heimmediatelycametolife. Oursaintsimilarlypre- served a third boy's life in Hi-Cuillin,'* within the territory of Heli;"' and, the place where this miracle was wrought, bore the name of Tulach Ruodan, at that time, when the Acts of our saint were written. We are told, more- over, this boy's father presented him for ever to St. Ruadan, together with that field, in which he had been restored. 5°
" On the Gospel side-wall, and near the old altar, towards the comer, a well cut stone slab in raised letters may be seen. This is a family monument, erected by Bernard Kennedy of Culross, in memory of his wife, Klinora Kennedy, alias Tubman, and of his son James Kennedy, who died in the year
1704, The Latin inscription records, like- wise, that the tablet in question was erected "27 mensis Februarii 1705," as well to com- memorate his ancestors there buried, as for the use of his posterity.
The O'Kennedy family had many tall castles and they held broad lands, in the immediate neighbourhood of Durrow old church ; and many of their posterity, nowreduced to the farmingclass, yet dwell in that part of the country. We can bavelittle doubt, but severaldistinguished in- dividuals of the clan rest within the walls of this ruined chantry, and beneath the afore- said tomb.
"
In Latin, it is called, "cortex. " It was
customary, with the ancient Irish, to
stow butter within the hollow, or bark, of
certain trees. Many of these rude vessels,
having rancid butter contained within them,
have bieen discovered, in our bogs. A speci-
men of these is yet preserved, in the Museum S. Rodani," &c. See cap. iii. , sect. 16, of the Royal Irish Academy, and it is an
object of great curiosity.
'3 In all probability, the old chtirch at
Durrow was formerly so called, because cf
its importance. Was it the original founda- tion, it may be asked, where St. Columkille's Churchhadbeenfounded? SeeDrs. Todd's
and Reeves'
"
Martyrology of Donegal. "
Appendix to the Introduction, p. xl. The
cC^nn eochAgaiTi, according to O'Dugan,
ruled over the Cinel Fiachach, down to the fourteenth century. This was known as the
Mageogh^an's country, originally extend- ing from Birr, in the Kmg's County, to the Hill of Uisneach, in the county of West-
meath. Subsequently, that territory was di- vided into a northemand a southern portion; the latter part having come under the O'MoUoyfamily. Seefurtherparticulars,in " The Topographical Poems of John O'Dub- hagain and GioUa na Naomh O'Huidhrin," by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , pp. I, 2, 8, 9, and pp. viii. , ix. , n. 30. To a rather late period, in Ihe reign of Queen Elizabeth, the Mac Egans lived in Redwood Castle, in the parish of Dorrha, and they were hereditary Brehons to the O'Kennedys of Lower Ormond. . See "Irish Folk-Lore," by La- geniensis, chap. xxvi. Memorials of Red- wood Castle, pp. 220 to 233.
"* Several extensive bogs are yet to be
seen, in the parish of Dorrha, and in the
parishes adjoining.
'5 This place has not been identified.
" Under this denomination, as found in St.
Ruadhan's Acts, it is not easy to identify the
locality, but we may suspect some error in
the orthography. ''TheVitaS. Rodanireads "subcasula
:
name of which was derived from Eile, the seventh in descent from Cian, son of Oiliol Olum, King of Munster, in the third cen- tury. Its situation is pointed out in "The Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , p. Ixxxiv. , n. 759.
3° The Bollandist editor remarks, after the foregoing relation, that another leeentj fol-
p. 386.
^ Anglicised O'Cnllen.
•* Most probably the territory of Eile, the
j64
lives of the IRISH SAINTS.
[April 15.
St. Ruadhan is said to have written the following works
:
' Contra Diar-
" " De mirabili Fontium in Hibernia Natura, Lib. 1. modReeem Lib. i.
" De miraculosa Arbore," Lib. i. 3' A very ancient vellum book as has been mentioned, in St. Brigifs Life, at the ist of February, states that Ruadhan of Lothra in manners and life, was like to Matthew the Apostle. ^^ „ . p „,
To St Ruadhan is attributed the foundation of an old church, calledBona- hum,33or"Bonaghum, in the parish of Dorrha, anditobe seen, about five miles from Lorrah. This very ancient structure is apparently one of the oldest Irish churches, now remaining. It measures 43 feet, in length, by 24 leet, inwidth,ontheexterior,whilethewallsarenearlythreefeet mthickness.
A fine fragment of a carved window-head, formed from cut limestone, was found lyinl on the ground, and within the ruins. 34 The old churcn was qua- drangular in shape, and the walls are vejy perfect all around excepting both
end gables, which only exhibit mere fragments, above the side walls. Many headstones and tombs lie around, and within the ancient building. The grave-
on one side, towards a rich pasture, was altogether unenclosed ; but, the extended graves proved, that its dimensions were formerly very consider- able The rude and massive limestone church walls are well jointed and cemented. A ruinous and narrow east-window, splayed on the mside, appears,inoneofthegables. Onthesouthside-wall,andneartheformer,was a vvindow of nearly similar shape. The entrance door of this antique church
lav farther down, on the same side-wall, and it appears to have been the only one entering this structure. The arch of this doorway was rudely, but com- pactly turned, with narrow upright stone, and on the modern principle of con_ struction. The country people have a great reverence for this place, and
yard,
they relate many curious traditions regarding it. 35
It is recorded, by Tighernach, in his Annals, that St. Ruadan died at
Lothra, in the year 584. 3^
,
35 Indeed, according to the account of Pal;t Carroll, he was nearly thirty years old, m the memorable year of 1798. At his t,me, he said, a man named Billy Haverty, imph- cated ik the rebellion, had been chased by some soldiers. He fled for protection tothe
lows in which it is Slated, that the soul of a certain Ode Egmech, a wicked man, had wTiberated from the lower regions, and
A . . r. ^Hp^vPn hv St Columkille,St. conducted to '^y
fh^°,„'^ t"^ric. Vhi:* lattT'as °St. ifdus, whose life should follow, at the loth of No- vei^ber At th s meeting of the three saints. St Co umba left his tablets, in St. Ruadan's
? hfedi'toTsa'y ;
his he knees,
^^^^^^^^i^'
^^
At this, or any other year, the O'Clerys have
hands and afterwards received them from
his dbctple BUhTn, or St. Baithen. This -fi^'yP^-^'. '^^^ ^^
discinle succeeded Columkille, in the govern- Soflona monastery, and like his mas-
vene~on the 9th of June. The editor add r-Sed rem totlm ne scandalo fore° ut plenam fabulosarum circumstantia- TMmomittimus aliostyloquilegerevolet, Covrum ade;t n Append. 2 Id Acta S. ColumbT cap 3," See " Acta Sanctorum. " tornus if; Ipr U xv. Vita S. Rodani, cap.
mterposition, m his b'e^hla^l^f',J^t. hfa. t'^trh^ence-' forward, he dropped Ins former name and would only allow his neighbours to call h. m
Ur he is
iHsect 86 /;i
This is the name actually cut on a headstone which he erected to in- dicate the grave of his father niother, bro- thers, sisters and ch, dren. AH this was very but, the continuation of this epitaph seemed buried far beneath the surface of the
tX 7
and n. (c), p. °'
where this local celebrity probably lie, interred, and where his own name might be
pp. 38s. 386,
earth,
'\ ^^k^T^t 'p' ;7""^
'"itch"^^ A ctn 'a's g? ;enin the " ^««. /. «„/eadem anno (ut Tigemaci
n-riP^s' Calendar
^snt'^ inthetownlandofDerry,and,itis
marked on the "Ordnance Survey Town-
"nd Maps fo^ the County of Ti/perary," '^
t, .
3. When visited by the writer, August lOlh,
,869.
Z«/^TM«« ^;W^I^n^d^e^x^^L^hro-
old church, where fallmg on
prayed for -St. Ruadhan's protection, and
gave himself up to he holy pat. on.
lost of him pursuers completely sight
His and
;
Billy Bonagham.
ligible
;
''^M^t'^ DI. XXXIV. , Ussher says =
cent Annales) mortuus est m
condito -^io
-^f lUe cognomentum
ados^e
a quo et ;—
-logi-^^- ;' Ecci^i^^a^r^r^i^^s^ rum Antiquitates, p. 533. bee, also,
Ware, vol, ii. . "Writers of Ireland. Book I, chap, ill. , p. 17-
accepit.
'^e Br. tann. carum
, ,. , .
April 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 165
made no allusion to his death, in their Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland. The Irish Calendars assign St. Ruadan's festival day, to the 15th of April. 37 Then he is noticed, by St. ^ngus, the Culdee, and with a high eulogy, in the Feilire. 38 In the Martyrology of Tallagh,39 we find entered the name of Ruadhan, Lothra, at the 1 5th of April. The Martyrology of Donegal <° at this
day registers Ruadhan—Latinized Ruffinus or Ruffilliis^'-—
son of
Abbot of Lothra. Under the head of Lothra, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Ruadhan, Bishop of Lorrha. ''" Veneration for this saint extended to Scot- land, where we find his festival celebrated, on the 15th of April, according to the Kalendar of Drummond. « The " Circle of the Seasons " has a notice
ofhis festival, for this day. ''*
A holy well, dedicated to St. Ruadhan, was pointed out at Lorrah. In
this was found a curious bell of the antique Celtic form ;*5 and this is thought*'
to have been the one used by Ruadhan, when his imprecations were directed
againstTara,andagainsttheMonarchofIreland,DiarmaidI. Itisofsquare
form, but somewhat projecting at the four sides, in the centre of each ; and,
it tapers upwards, to a loOp-like handle, which joins the bell, in two dra-
gonesque or serpent-shaped heads, having open mouths. The whole is of cast bronze. " We are informed, also, that the head of St. Ruadhan had been
preserved in a silver case, kept in his monaster)', at Lorrah, until the time of the suppression. ** About the year 1733, an ancient Book, called after St. Ruadhan of Lothra,*' had been kept, in the house, belonging to O' Kennedy
of Ormond ; and, this was seen, by Andrew M'Curtin, who composed an Irish Poem,5° in reference to it.
In closing the Acts of our saint, the author of these states, that Ruadhan had attained the extraordinary stature of seven feet, according to the most reliable accounts. s' We are told, that in reality he was a king, so outwardly he presented a monarch's majestic form; but, while beautiful, exteriorly, he was stillmoreso,interiorly; and,nobleinman'sestimation,hewasstillmoreso, in the esteem of God. Large he was in stature, and abounding in grace ; great before God and man ; higiily distinguished in the present, and in a fu-
^See Dr.
HistoryofIreland,"vol. ii. , chap,xii. ,sect.
lo.
Lanigan's
p.
xii. , and nn. 184, 185, pp. 233, 234.
*• In the Leabhar Breac copy we read
plMniT)A bneo n4t>AicVibe A^xpch C0U4 cochLd t)4C<iin mil A lu-igrndp RuADAti UjcVidpn LocVipA.
— :
lection of Irish
"Ecclesiastical
"
The is an translation — Christian Times," First series, Lecture v. .
in Joseph Anderson's following English : p. 187.
Scotland in early
" An excellent flame that wanes not :
he
<* See Archdall's " Monasticon Hibemi- cum," p. 667. He quotes War mon.
*' This seems to have been undiscoverable since, nor is it enumerated among the many lost books of ancient Erinn, in Professor
vanquished urgent desires : fair was ihe pre- cious stone, Ruadan lamp of Lothra. "
» Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxi. Franciscan copy has Tlua'OAtji Loch)va.
The pp.
" Lectures on the Manuscript Ma- terialsof Ancient Irish History," Lect. i.
5° This is a prophetic and political poem, consisting of 28 stanzas. It is yet preserved. among the Manuscripts, belonging to the
Royal Irish Academy.
s' The Bollandist editor adds, in a note,
"MS. xii. pedum: verum non forma Regis sed gigantis hsec fuisset. "—"Acta Sancto-
*" Edited 102, 103.
by
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
O'Curry's
*' See ibid. , pp. 462, 463.
'See "Proceedmgs of the Royal Irish Academy. " Irish MSS. Series, voU i. , Part i. , pp. 118, 119.
«J Thus, at xvii. Kl. Mail. , " In Hibemia Isola .
