" Then, added the
fugitive
: " To the most holy virgin Brigid, I recommend my safety.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
xiv.
, p.
12.
See Most siastical History of Ireland," vol.
ii.
, chap.
Rev.
Patrick Francis Moran's "Acta Sancti x.
, sect, vii.
, n.
102, p.
33.
Brendani. "
^' The feast of this saint has been assigned,
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 445
ciple, St. Talmach,3' telling him to go and open the door in Chiisi's name. Immediately, his hand was extended for the purpose, when the locks within disappeared ; and going, in like manner to the teampiill^ they found it closed against them. However, knowing that this was a trial for him, St. Brendan placed his hand on the two valves, and said : " True mother, Church of Christ,opentome. " Immediately,thelocksofthechurchwerebroken,and they entered into the choir. Then, St. Gildas had a missal, traced in Greek letters,32 and he placed that book upon the altar. 33 The custodian of the church, by order of St. Gildas, said to St. Brendan : "Man of God, our holy senior orders you to offer the Body of Christ ; behold ! there is an altar here, as also a book written in the Greek characters, and sing from it as does our Abbot. " Then, opening the book, St. Brendan said : " Teach me, O Lord Jesus, these Unknown letters, as thou hast opened the closed doors before us. " Indeed, all things are possible to those believing. Instantly, St. Brendan learned the Greek letters well as those Latin ones, he knew from infancy and,hebegantosingtheMass. Then,thevenerableseniorGildasandhis monks came to receive the Eucharist from the hand of St. Brendan, when a wonderful miracle was wrought. 3+ Our saint remained there for three days and three nights. 35 Afterwards, the venerable senior Gildas said to St. Brendan : " Very fierce and strong animals abound in the desert parts near us, and often they attack men and prowl about our city. The Almighty hath granted, that you drive those away from the people, for by such a sign you shall know that the sin, which conducted you hither, shall be pardoned. " Taking his disciple Talmach with him to the desert, many men mounted on horses followed them to witness the result. Coming to a certain place, they found about noon—probably a she-wolf—with her cubs sleeping. Then, said Brendan : " Follow us tamely with your young. " The horsemen in fear turned to fly ; but, soon, to their amazement, instead ofattacking St. Brendan and his companion, the animals followed them, as if they had been docile house-dogs. St. Gilas himself saw them before the gates of his monastery, and he thanked God for all his wonderful works. Then, St. Brendan com- manded the animals to retire into their desert, and thenceforth to molest no person. People knew not what became of them, but afterwards, they dis- appeared. 3^ Then, venerable old Gildas said to our saint : " Father, receive me as thy disciple, and here be the patron of my city and people. " St. Bren-
" Here, I shall not wait, for the place of my resurrection must Then, both holy men gave each other a mutual benediction, and, St. Brendan left the school of Gildas for another region
dan answered :
be in Ireland. "
before parting ;
ofBritain,supposed—tobeLesserBrittanyorFrance; and,inwhich—accord- ing to some writers
the territory of Helh was to be found. In that he built a church,37 while a city grew up around it.
to the 26th of February.
3^ The Most Rev. Dr. Moran remarks,
that this probably refers to a Latin missal, written wholly or partly in Greek letters. Such Manuscripts of the early Irish Church have survived to our own times.
place,
Dei. Cui ait Sanctus Brendanus : nostra oracio protegat te a vindicta. Tempus jam modo dimmittendi est qui satis probasti Xti peregrinos. Iterum orante Sancto Brendano corpus Dominicum in specie consuetudinaria in disco apparuit et sanguis in calice in
33 The Gospel of St. Matthew gives the vinum. Et postea illi sancti communionem Latin text of the Lord's prayer, written in dominicam cum gratiarum actione sump- Greek letters, as found in the Book of serunt. "
Armagh. Seethe"Atlantis,"No. ix. ,pp.
80, 82, A. D. 1S70. _
34 It is thus related, in the Latin : " Vidit-
que Sanctus GiUdas carnem crudam in disco et sanguinem in calice et ait : Quid mihi praebui judicium Dei temptando te O homo
3sSeeMostRev. PatrickFrancisMoran's "Acta Sancti Brendani," Vita S. Brendani, cap. xv. , pp. 12 to 14.
36 At least to that time, when St. Bren- dan's Life had been written.
3? See Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesia-
;
446
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
There, the holy man wrought wonderful miracles. It is stated. ^^ also, that he presided as Abbot over an elegant and a noble monas- tery, situated in a valley called Carruan, at a time when St. Maclovius was born. 39 St. Brendan founded the monastery of Ailech, which is said^° to be identical with the ancient Alectum, in Brittany,*^ and of which St. Maclovius or Malo became bishop. *^ He was a native of that district, and some accounts have it, that he was baptized, by St. Brendan j'>3 yet, this does not appear to be probable. It is only known, that from his youth, St. Brendan instructed him in sacred letters, and trained him in the practice of a religious life;'''* while, owing to the inspirations re- ceived,heresolvedonaccompanyinghismastertotheLandofPromise. It may be observed, according to some writers, it was after our saint went to Britanny, and had formed the acquaintance of St. Malo, that he returned to the district of country, wliere he was born, and where he received his early training, St. Maclovius having set out with him on his celebrated voyage. '*5 On the authority of SigebertuSjt^ Autbertus Miraeus, in his Belgic Annals, makes St. Maclovius a disciple of St. Brendan, and afterwards, a bishop over that place, with which his renown is so inseparably connected. ''7 In future times, it took the name of St. Malo, from Maclovius. Matthew of Paris
states,^^ that Macutus or Malo was a companion of St. Brendan, during his seven years' navigation. In Britain, his miracles and sanctity rendered him illustrious. He was persecuted by the Britons, and owing to his malediction, they suffered various defeats. However, he pardoned them, and gave them his benediction. He passed over to the Gauls, and among them, under Bishop Leontius, he was distinguished for his many virtues.
Subsequently,St. Brendanreturnedtohisnativecountry. ''? Weareinformed, that St. Abban 5° desired to hear from his own mouth, the wonderful things St. Brendan had seen and heard, during his celebrated voyage on the ocean, and for that purpose paid him a visit, which lasted for some days. Then, a firm
rum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494. miraculis claruit ; qui a Britannis exacerba- 3^ In the Acts of St. Maclovius, edited tus, eis maledictis, transivit ad Gallias, et
fey John A. Bosco, in the Bibliotheca Floria- censis.
39 His birth took place in Brittany, ac- cording to Lobineau, in his " Histoire de Bretagne,'' tome ii. , p. 75.
•'° By Rev. Dr. Lanigan. See " Ecclesi- astical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. X. , sect, vii. , p. 29.
4' See ibid. , n. 104, p. 34.
*' Sigebert of Gemblours wrote the Life of St. Maclovius. It is published by Surius, at the 15th of November.
^3 This is stated, in the Acts of St. Maclo- vius, as edited by John a Bosco.
sub Leontio Sanctorum episcopo multo tem- pore virtutibus clamit. '' Hucusque vetus editio : addit nova, "Britannos vero, prop- ter suam maledictionem variis cladibus ad- dictos, data rursus benedictione absolvit et sanavit. " See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gen- tis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. ii. , num. 148, pp. 81, 82.
"' At A. D. 561, we read : "Fuit autem S. Maclovius Alethie in Britannia minore Epis- copus : quae urbs hodie ab ipso Maclouiopo- lis, 6". Malo, nuncupatur. Portio o. ssium ejus adservatur Gemblaci in Benedictino- rum Abbatia. Ejusdcm vita Histoiiam
** According to the " Acta Sanctorum scripsit, sen potius emendavit Sigcbertus
Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , num. i. , p. 217.
<5 Such is the statement, in his Life, by Sigebert; but, it is easy to understand, how his biographer may have mistaken the vague traditions coming down to him, on this sub-
ject.
** Thomas Dempster thus quotes him, in
Chonico ad annum DLXi. , "In Scotia Brendanus claruit, qui Foitiinatas Insulas septennali navigatione rcquirens, multa mira- culo digna vidit ; a quo Macutcs, qui et Maclovus, rcgulariter cducatus, ct ipsius na- vigationis socius, in Britannia sanctitate et
Gemblacensis. "—Autbertus MivKus' " Re- rum Belgicarum Aniiaies," p. 165.
"'In his "Chronica ALijora," edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. , vol. ii. , p. 246.
••^ " Brendan's departure from Brittany niay be placol between 540 and 550. "—Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, vii. , n. 103, p. 34,
5° Some notices of this saint will be found, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. ii. , at the i6th of March. His chief feast, how- ever, is at the 27th of October, where his
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 447
friendship was established between them, and until they parted, that interval was spent in holy and edifying conversation. s' He also visited Gildas, it is said, before he returned to Ireland. s^ One day, while St. Brendan was en- gaged in his voyage by sea, he saw two monsters of the deep, alternately fighting and swimming, one seeming to have yielded during that struggle. S3 The vanquished monster, when pursued and nearly taken, cried out with human voice to St. Brendan : " I recommend my protection to St. Patrick, Archbishop of the Scots. " The other animal replied in like manner: " His protection in no way shall avail you. " Then cried the fugitive : " Now, I com- mend myself to St. Brendan's protection. " The persecutor cried out : "In- deed, Brendan's defence shall not profit you.
" Then, added the fugitive : " To the most holy virgin Brigid, I recommend my safety. " Immediately, the victorious fish seemed vanquished, for he turned away and said : " Father, I dare not follow thee, because thou hast trusted to the holy Brigid for pro- tection. " Then, that persecuted monster escaped. Giving praise to God, St. Brendan also venerated St. Brigid. Afterwards, coming to Ireland, he visited this holy virgin, and he told her then what he had seen and heard far away on the ocean. Wherefore, Brendan asked : " Why, O virgin of Christ, do the sea-monsters fear thee more than other saints. " She replied : " How often is thy intention directed to God ? " He said : " At least in every seventh step I take, do I think of God ; however, it sometimes happens, that during a very long interval, I think of God solely. " Then said St. Brigid : " There- fore, sometimes thou thinkest about things on earth, and sometimes on God; but, from that day, when my mind was placed on God, never did it turn again upon any other object ; and, by how much man looks to God and loves liim, in that same measure do animals fear men. " St. Brendan was greatly edified, bythispronouncementofthemostsaintlyvirginBrigid. Withmutualbless- ings, they took leave of each other, and Brendan returned to his place. 5+
On this occasion, St. Brendan of Clonfert is said to have waited upon the great St. Brigid,ss Patroness of Kildare, to receive instruction regarding some religious topic. Possibly, however, this celebrated virgin may have been mis- taken for his own sister, Briga, who was a nun, and who is generally believed to have been living under her brother's direction, at Enach-duin,56 or Annagh- down, on the banks of Lough Corrib, in the county of Gal way. It is stated, 57 that Aodha, son of Eochy Tirmacarna, King of Connaught, bestowed that place on God and on St. Brendan, w^hen he there established a nunnery. At present, some monastic ruins of round undressed stones are to be seen,58 on the north side of a rocky inlet of the lake, into which a small stream pours its waters. 59 TheAbbeychurch^° lay to the north ofthe monastery; the west gable and the north walls are still standing, as also a portion of the south walls at the west. There, the church is supported by a remarkably well-built buttressofdressedstone,evidentlyofamuchlaterdate. Thenorthernentrance hasadeeplymouldedpointedarch; but,thatonthesouth,whichwasprobably
Acts are treated more at length.
5' See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Iliber-
niDs,"xvi. Martii. Vita S. Abbani Abbatis de Magharnuidhe, cap. xliii. , p. 619.
5^ See Miss Mary Frances Cusack's
" History of the Kingdom of Kerry," chap, the bog. " In modern Irish, it has been
iii. , p. 47.
S3 This account will be found, in Colgan's
" Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix Secunda ad Acta S. Brigidee, cap. xviii. , p. 605.
5't Most Rev. Patrick Francis Moran's "Acta Sancti Brendani," Vita S, Brendani,
cap. xvii. pp. i6, 17.
ss See her Life, in the Second Volume of
this work, Art. i. , at the 1st day of Feb- ruary.
called Enagh-coin, " the fort of the bog. " s? Jn the book of Ballymote.
^s xhese were originally sketched, on the
spot, by William F, Wakeman in 1867; the drawing was transferred by him to the wood for the accompanying illustration, engraved
^6 \y h^s been rendered, " the fortress of
—. —
448 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[May 1 6.
nearertheeastfortheacconimodationoftheclerics,isundisiinguishable. The choir-archhasbeencompletelydestroyed; but,severalstonesoftheclustered pillars that supported it can be seen strewn around, or forming head-stones for modem graves. The dwarf elder grows luxuriantly in and around the ruins; while the brambles and underwood render it difficult to discover or explore their plan. The oldest structure there remaining is supposed to be thenunnerychurch,tothenorth-eastoftheAbbey. Thewestgablehasa smallbell-tower,andaGothicpointeddoorwayisinthenorthwall. Around
^^. ^VN^ v\-^K. H
Annaghdown Ruins, County of Galway.
it, on all sides, are vestiges of stone foundations, which it seems probable are the relics of old nunnery buildings. There appear to be no architectural features, claiming a greater antiquity than the fourteenth or fifteenth century, for any of these ruins ; although, it is more than probable, that the present remains occupy the site of a foundation, dating back to the sixth century. ^'
The illustrious Abbot Brendan is thought to have erected a convent,'"^ at Anneighdown, or Enachdune, which was placed under the charge of his sister, St. Bryga, or Brig. This was situated, among the people of Hua-Bruin, in the province of Connaught. ^3 It is a very doubtful statement, however, that she was a canoness of the Augustinian Order. ^4 From an early period, Enach- dune gave name to an ancient bishopric, and several of its prelates are named
by Mrs. Millard.
59 See Sir William R. Wilde's " Lough
Corrib : its Shores and Islands," with
Notices of Lough Mask, chap, iv. , pp.
" granted to the Earls of Clanrickarde. " Cobbett's " History of the Reformation," vol. ii. County Galway.
*' . See Most l\ev. Patrick Francis Moran's " Acta . Sancti Bicndani," Vita S. Brendani,
63, 64.
"• " The entire length of this Domhnach- cap. xxviii. , ]i. 24.
mor, or large cathedral cluiich, is 108 feet 9 inches, by 21 feet 2 inches broad in the clear, of which space the chancel occupies l^^^ feet by 14'/^. having a reveal of four feet on each side. " Jhit/. , p. 67.
*' See iliid. , pp. 67 to 7 1
''' At the suppression, this Nunnery was
°* See . Sir William Wilde's "Lough Corrib : its Shores and Islands, with Notices of Lough Mask," chap, iv. , p. 64.
*5 The Bishop of Cong was one of the pre- lates, who attended the synod of Rath- breasil. Sec " Irish Penny Journal," vol. i. , No. 2, p. 9.
May i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIISTS. 449
in tlie Irish Annals. It is probable, that the ancient See of Cong was trans- ferred here, early in the twelfth century. ^5 Among the prelates present, at the coronation of Richard I. , King of England, on September 3rd, a. d, 1189,^^ was Concord, Bishop of Enaghdun, in the province of Tuam ; he was also at the Council of Pipewel],^7 and he ordained Henry, brother to William Marshall, as asubdeacon and deacon. ^^ The See of Enaghdun was united, in 1324, to the archiepiscopal See ofTuam. °9
While St. Brendan travelled through a territory of Connaught, it is related, that he entered an Island,7° called Hynis-meic-ichuind, or more correctly written Inis Mac Hua Cuin. There the King of Connaught was accustomed to pasture his horses. Without obtaining the requisite per- mission, St. Brendan built a cell there, and even he used the king's horses to draw loads. The holy Bishop Moenu t- was wivh him. ^dus,? ^ the son of Eathach, was then ruler over that province. 73 He felt incensed, when in- formed about that proceeding, and he vowed vengeance against St. Brendan. Full of passion, he went towards the Island, but desiring to cross over in a vessel, a storm arose, which raged for three successive days, the waves rolling with great fury. During this time, the king hoped for a more propitious state of the weather. On the third night, the Almighty appeared to him in sleep, saying : " See that you harm not, my servant Brendan, otherwise you shall
speedily die. " A calm then came, on the lake, as also, over the king's dis- turbed mind. He made a gift for ever to St. Brendan of the Island and of his horses. 74 A celebrated ccenobium he then built on the Island of Inisquin, in LoughCorrib,countyofGalway. Here,itissaid,St. Brendannurturedhis nephew Fintan, the son of Finloga, a King of Munster, and afterwards the fatherofSt. Fursey. " Healsoaffordedaplaceofrefugeandprotectionto Gelghes, his mother, who there gave birth to her celebrated son, who was baptized by St. Brendan. 7^ The latter, also, gave to Fursey the earliest rudi- ments of religious and secular instruction, while he trained the future holy missionaryandabbot,inthecourseofmonasticlife. Aboutthattime,hkewise, St. Brendan sent five monks to the aforementioned Island of Detrumma, that they might dwell in it. However, some mutual discord was excited by the tempter, and one of them struck a senior on the head, with great violence. He died from the effects of this stroke, when certain monks went speedily to St.
^^ See "Chronica Masjistri Rogeri de over Connaught in 555, when he figured in Houedene," edited by William Stubbs, the baUlc of Cul-Drcimhne, according to Dr.
M. A. , vol. iii. , Pars Posterior, p. 8, and n. 5, ibid.
^^ See ibid. , p. 15.
^^ See ibid. , pp. 17, iS. This happened "in una die ;" and, he was appointed, by King Richard I. to the Deanery of York, but the clergy and precentor of that church refused to install him.
^ See James Hardman's "History of Galway," part iii. , and n. (b), p. 234.
7° This appears to have iDeen on Lough Orbsen, now Lough Corrib. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum liibernia;," Januarii xvi. Vita S. Fursaei Confessoris, lib. i. , cap, vii. , and n. 10, pp. 76, 89.
7' He is also called Moinend and Maoin- eann, bishop of Clonfert. His festival was kept on the ist of March, at which date some account of him will be found, in the Third Volume of this work. Art. v.
7^ He is otherwise called Aodha or Aedh, son of Eochaidh Tirmcharna. He ruled
Vol. v. —No. 8.
O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 192,, 193. He was killed by the Ui-Briuin, in '574. See ibid. , pp. 208, 209.
"His death is placed, under A. D. 576, in the " Annales Ultonienses. " See some in- teresting notices of him, in Rev. Dr. O'Cono'i's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scripto- res," tomus iv. , p. 10, n. 2, p. 17, n. i, and p. 28, n. 3.
" See Most Rev. Patrick Francis Moran's "Acta Sancti Ijrendani," Vita S. Brendairi, cap.
Brendani. "
^' The feast of this saint has been assigned,
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 445
ciple, St. Talmach,3' telling him to go and open the door in Chiisi's name. Immediately, his hand was extended for the purpose, when the locks within disappeared ; and going, in like manner to the teampiill^ they found it closed against them. However, knowing that this was a trial for him, St. Brendan placed his hand on the two valves, and said : " True mother, Church of Christ,opentome. " Immediately,thelocksofthechurchwerebroken,and they entered into the choir. Then, St. Gildas had a missal, traced in Greek letters,32 and he placed that book upon the altar. 33 The custodian of the church, by order of St. Gildas, said to St. Brendan : "Man of God, our holy senior orders you to offer the Body of Christ ; behold ! there is an altar here, as also a book written in the Greek characters, and sing from it as does our Abbot. " Then, opening the book, St. Brendan said : " Teach me, O Lord Jesus, these Unknown letters, as thou hast opened the closed doors before us. " Indeed, all things are possible to those believing. Instantly, St. Brendan learned the Greek letters well as those Latin ones, he knew from infancy and,hebegantosingtheMass. Then,thevenerableseniorGildasandhis monks came to receive the Eucharist from the hand of St. Brendan, when a wonderful miracle was wrought. 3+ Our saint remained there for three days and three nights. 35 Afterwards, the venerable senior Gildas said to St. Brendan : " Very fierce and strong animals abound in the desert parts near us, and often they attack men and prowl about our city. The Almighty hath granted, that you drive those away from the people, for by such a sign you shall know that the sin, which conducted you hither, shall be pardoned. " Taking his disciple Talmach with him to the desert, many men mounted on horses followed them to witness the result. Coming to a certain place, they found about noon—probably a she-wolf—with her cubs sleeping. Then, said Brendan : " Follow us tamely with your young. " The horsemen in fear turned to fly ; but, soon, to their amazement, instead ofattacking St. Brendan and his companion, the animals followed them, as if they had been docile house-dogs. St. Gilas himself saw them before the gates of his monastery, and he thanked God for all his wonderful works. Then, St. Brendan com- manded the animals to retire into their desert, and thenceforth to molest no person. People knew not what became of them, but afterwards, they dis- appeared. 3^ Then, venerable old Gildas said to our saint : " Father, receive me as thy disciple, and here be the patron of my city and people. " St. Bren-
" Here, I shall not wait, for the place of my resurrection must Then, both holy men gave each other a mutual benediction, and, St. Brendan left the school of Gildas for another region
dan answered :
be in Ireland. "
before parting ;
ofBritain,supposed—tobeLesserBrittanyorFrance; and,inwhich—accord- ing to some writers
the territory of Helh was to be found. In that he built a church,37 while a city grew up around it.
to the 26th of February.
3^ The Most Rev. Dr. Moran remarks,
that this probably refers to a Latin missal, written wholly or partly in Greek letters. Such Manuscripts of the early Irish Church have survived to our own times.
place,
Dei. Cui ait Sanctus Brendanus : nostra oracio protegat te a vindicta. Tempus jam modo dimmittendi est qui satis probasti Xti peregrinos. Iterum orante Sancto Brendano corpus Dominicum in specie consuetudinaria in disco apparuit et sanguis in calice in
33 The Gospel of St. Matthew gives the vinum. Et postea illi sancti communionem Latin text of the Lord's prayer, written in dominicam cum gratiarum actione sump- Greek letters, as found in the Book of serunt. "
Armagh. Seethe"Atlantis,"No. ix. ,pp.
80, 82, A. D. 1S70. _
34 It is thus related, in the Latin : " Vidit-
que Sanctus GiUdas carnem crudam in disco et sanguinem in calice et ait : Quid mihi praebui judicium Dei temptando te O homo
3sSeeMostRev. PatrickFrancisMoran's "Acta Sancti Brendani," Vita S. Brendani, cap. xv. , pp. 12 to 14.
36 At least to that time, when St. Bren- dan's Life had been written.
3? See Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesia-
;
446
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
There, the holy man wrought wonderful miracles. It is stated. ^^ also, that he presided as Abbot over an elegant and a noble monas- tery, situated in a valley called Carruan, at a time when St. Maclovius was born. 39 St. Brendan founded the monastery of Ailech, which is said^° to be identical with the ancient Alectum, in Brittany,*^ and of which St. Maclovius or Malo became bishop. *^ He was a native of that district, and some accounts have it, that he was baptized, by St. Brendan j'>3 yet, this does not appear to be probable. It is only known, that from his youth, St. Brendan instructed him in sacred letters, and trained him in the practice of a religious life;'''* while, owing to the inspirations re- ceived,heresolvedonaccompanyinghismastertotheLandofPromise. It may be observed, according to some writers, it was after our saint went to Britanny, and had formed the acquaintance of St. Malo, that he returned to the district of country, wliere he was born, and where he received his early training, St. Maclovius having set out with him on his celebrated voyage. '*5 On the authority of SigebertuSjt^ Autbertus Miraeus, in his Belgic Annals, makes St. Maclovius a disciple of St. Brendan, and afterwards, a bishop over that place, with which his renown is so inseparably connected. ''7 In future times, it took the name of St. Malo, from Maclovius. Matthew of Paris
states,^^ that Macutus or Malo was a companion of St. Brendan, during his seven years' navigation. In Britain, his miracles and sanctity rendered him illustrious. He was persecuted by the Britons, and owing to his malediction, they suffered various defeats. However, he pardoned them, and gave them his benediction. He passed over to the Gauls, and among them, under Bishop Leontius, he was distinguished for his many virtues.
Subsequently,St. Brendanreturnedtohisnativecountry. ''? Weareinformed, that St. Abban 5° desired to hear from his own mouth, the wonderful things St. Brendan had seen and heard, during his celebrated voyage on the ocean, and for that purpose paid him a visit, which lasted for some days. Then, a firm
rum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 494. miraculis claruit ; qui a Britannis exacerba- 3^ In the Acts of St. Maclovius, edited tus, eis maledictis, transivit ad Gallias, et
fey John A. Bosco, in the Bibliotheca Floria- censis.
39 His birth took place in Brittany, ac- cording to Lobineau, in his " Histoire de Bretagne,'' tome ii. , p. 75.
•'° By Rev. Dr. Lanigan. See " Ecclesi- astical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. X. , sect, vii. , p. 29.
4' See ibid. , n. 104, p. 34.
*' Sigebert of Gemblours wrote the Life of St. Maclovius. It is published by Surius, at the 15th of November.
^3 This is stated, in the Acts of St. Maclo- vius, as edited by John a Bosco.
sub Leontio Sanctorum episcopo multo tem- pore virtutibus clamit. '' Hucusque vetus editio : addit nova, "Britannos vero, prop- ter suam maledictionem variis cladibus ad- dictos, data rursus benedictione absolvit et sanavit. " See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gen- tis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. ii. , num. 148, pp. 81, 82.
"' At A. D. 561, we read : "Fuit autem S. Maclovius Alethie in Britannia minore Epis- copus : quae urbs hodie ab ipso Maclouiopo- lis, 6". Malo, nuncupatur. Portio o. ssium ejus adservatur Gemblaci in Benedictino- rum Abbatia. Ejusdcm vita Histoiiam
** According to the " Acta Sanctorum scripsit, sen potius emendavit Sigcbertus
Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus i. , num. i. , p. 217.
<5 Such is the statement, in his Life, by Sigebert; but, it is easy to understand, how his biographer may have mistaken the vague traditions coming down to him, on this sub-
ject.
** Thomas Dempster thus quotes him, in
Chonico ad annum DLXi. , "In Scotia Brendanus claruit, qui Foitiinatas Insulas septennali navigatione rcquirens, multa mira- culo digna vidit ; a quo Macutcs, qui et Maclovus, rcgulariter cducatus, ct ipsius na- vigationis socius, in Britannia sanctitate et
Gemblacensis. "—Autbertus MivKus' " Re- rum Belgicarum Aniiaies," p. 165.
"'In his "Chronica ALijora," edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. , vol. ii. , p. 246.
••^ " Brendan's departure from Brittany niay be placol between 540 and 550. "—Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, vii. , n. 103, p. 34,
5° Some notices of this saint will be found, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. ii. , at the i6th of March. His chief feast, how- ever, is at the 27th of October, where his
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 447
friendship was established between them, and until they parted, that interval was spent in holy and edifying conversation. s' He also visited Gildas, it is said, before he returned to Ireland. s^ One day, while St. Brendan was en- gaged in his voyage by sea, he saw two monsters of the deep, alternately fighting and swimming, one seeming to have yielded during that struggle. S3 The vanquished monster, when pursued and nearly taken, cried out with human voice to St. Brendan : " I recommend my protection to St. Patrick, Archbishop of the Scots. " The other animal replied in like manner: " His protection in no way shall avail you. " Then cried the fugitive : " Now, I com- mend myself to St. Brendan's protection. " The persecutor cried out : "In- deed, Brendan's defence shall not profit you.
" Then, added the fugitive : " To the most holy virgin Brigid, I recommend my safety. " Immediately, the victorious fish seemed vanquished, for he turned away and said : " Father, I dare not follow thee, because thou hast trusted to the holy Brigid for pro- tection. " Then, that persecuted monster escaped. Giving praise to God, St. Brendan also venerated St. Brigid. Afterwards, coming to Ireland, he visited this holy virgin, and he told her then what he had seen and heard far away on the ocean. Wherefore, Brendan asked : " Why, O virgin of Christ, do the sea-monsters fear thee more than other saints. " She replied : " How often is thy intention directed to God ? " He said : " At least in every seventh step I take, do I think of God ; however, it sometimes happens, that during a very long interval, I think of God solely. " Then said St. Brigid : " There- fore, sometimes thou thinkest about things on earth, and sometimes on God; but, from that day, when my mind was placed on God, never did it turn again upon any other object ; and, by how much man looks to God and loves liim, in that same measure do animals fear men. " St. Brendan was greatly edified, bythispronouncementofthemostsaintlyvirginBrigid. Withmutualbless- ings, they took leave of each other, and Brendan returned to his place. 5+
On this occasion, St. Brendan of Clonfert is said to have waited upon the great St. Brigid,ss Patroness of Kildare, to receive instruction regarding some religious topic. Possibly, however, this celebrated virgin may have been mis- taken for his own sister, Briga, who was a nun, and who is generally believed to have been living under her brother's direction, at Enach-duin,56 or Annagh- down, on the banks of Lough Corrib, in the county of Gal way. It is stated, 57 that Aodha, son of Eochy Tirmacarna, King of Connaught, bestowed that place on God and on St. Brendan, w^hen he there established a nunnery. At present, some monastic ruins of round undressed stones are to be seen,58 on the north side of a rocky inlet of the lake, into which a small stream pours its waters. 59 TheAbbeychurch^° lay to the north ofthe monastery; the west gable and the north walls are still standing, as also a portion of the south walls at the west. There, the church is supported by a remarkably well-built buttressofdressedstone,evidentlyofamuchlaterdate. Thenorthernentrance hasadeeplymouldedpointedarch; but,thatonthesouth,whichwasprobably
Acts are treated more at length.
5' See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Iliber-
niDs,"xvi. Martii. Vita S. Abbani Abbatis de Magharnuidhe, cap. xliii. , p. 619.
5^ See Miss Mary Frances Cusack's
" History of the Kingdom of Kerry," chap, the bog. " In modern Irish, it has been
iii. , p. 47.
S3 This account will be found, in Colgan's
" Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix Secunda ad Acta S. Brigidee, cap. xviii. , p. 605.
5't Most Rev. Patrick Francis Moran's "Acta Sancti Brendani," Vita S, Brendani,
cap. xvii. pp. i6, 17.
ss See her Life, in the Second Volume of
this work, Art. i. , at the 1st day of Feb- ruary.
called Enagh-coin, " the fort of the bog. " s? Jn the book of Ballymote.
^s xhese were originally sketched, on the
spot, by William F, Wakeman in 1867; the drawing was transferred by him to the wood for the accompanying illustration, engraved
^6 \y h^s been rendered, " the fortress of
—. —
448 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[May 1 6.
nearertheeastfortheacconimodationoftheclerics,isundisiinguishable. The choir-archhasbeencompletelydestroyed; but,severalstonesoftheclustered pillars that supported it can be seen strewn around, or forming head-stones for modem graves. The dwarf elder grows luxuriantly in and around the ruins; while the brambles and underwood render it difficult to discover or explore their plan. The oldest structure there remaining is supposed to be thenunnerychurch,tothenorth-eastoftheAbbey. Thewestgablehasa smallbell-tower,andaGothicpointeddoorwayisinthenorthwall. Around
^^. ^VN^ v\-^K. H
Annaghdown Ruins, County of Galway.
it, on all sides, are vestiges of stone foundations, which it seems probable are the relics of old nunnery buildings. There appear to be no architectural features, claiming a greater antiquity than the fourteenth or fifteenth century, for any of these ruins ; although, it is more than probable, that the present remains occupy the site of a foundation, dating back to the sixth century. ^'
The illustrious Abbot Brendan is thought to have erected a convent,'"^ at Anneighdown, or Enachdune, which was placed under the charge of his sister, St. Bryga, or Brig. This was situated, among the people of Hua-Bruin, in the province of Connaught. ^3 It is a very doubtful statement, however, that she was a canoness of the Augustinian Order. ^4 From an early period, Enach- dune gave name to an ancient bishopric, and several of its prelates are named
by Mrs. Millard.
59 See Sir William R. Wilde's " Lough
Corrib : its Shores and Islands," with
Notices of Lough Mask, chap, iv. , pp.
" granted to the Earls of Clanrickarde. " Cobbett's " History of the Reformation," vol. ii. County Galway.
*' . See Most l\ev. Patrick Francis Moran's " Acta . Sancti Bicndani," Vita S. Brendani,
63, 64.
"• " The entire length of this Domhnach- cap. xxviii. , ]i. 24.
mor, or large cathedral cluiich, is 108 feet 9 inches, by 21 feet 2 inches broad in the clear, of which space the chancel occupies l^^^ feet by 14'/^. having a reveal of four feet on each side. " Jhit/. , p. 67.
*' See iliid. , pp. 67 to 7 1
''' At the suppression, this Nunnery was
°* See . Sir William Wilde's "Lough Corrib : its Shores and Islands, with Notices of Lough Mask," chap, iv. , p. 64.
*5 The Bishop of Cong was one of the pre- lates, who attended the synod of Rath- breasil. Sec " Irish Penny Journal," vol. i. , No. 2, p. 9.
May i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIISTS. 449
in tlie Irish Annals. It is probable, that the ancient See of Cong was trans- ferred here, early in the twelfth century. ^5 Among the prelates present, at the coronation of Richard I. , King of England, on September 3rd, a. d, 1189,^^ was Concord, Bishop of Enaghdun, in the province of Tuam ; he was also at the Council of Pipewel],^7 and he ordained Henry, brother to William Marshall, as asubdeacon and deacon. ^^ The See of Enaghdun was united, in 1324, to the archiepiscopal See ofTuam. °9
While St. Brendan travelled through a territory of Connaught, it is related, that he entered an Island,7° called Hynis-meic-ichuind, or more correctly written Inis Mac Hua Cuin. There the King of Connaught was accustomed to pasture his horses. Without obtaining the requisite per- mission, St. Brendan built a cell there, and even he used the king's horses to draw loads. The holy Bishop Moenu t- was wivh him. ^dus,? ^ the son of Eathach, was then ruler over that province. 73 He felt incensed, when in- formed about that proceeding, and he vowed vengeance against St. Brendan. Full of passion, he went towards the Island, but desiring to cross over in a vessel, a storm arose, which raged for three successive days, the waves rolling with great fury. During this time, the king hoped for a more propitious state of the weather. On the third night, the Almighty appeared to him in sleep, saying : " See that you harm not, my servant Brendan, otherwise you shall
speedily die. " A calm then came, on the lake, as also, over the king's dis- turbed mind. He made a gift for ever to St. Brendan of the Island and of his horses. 74 A celebrated ccenobium he then built on the Island of Inisquin, in LoughCorrib,countyofGalway. Here,itissaid,St. Brendannurturedhis nephew Fintan, the son of Finloga, a King of Munster, and afterwards the fatherofSt. Fursey. " Healsoaffordedaplaceofrefugeandprotectionto Gelghes, his mother, who there gave birth to her celebrated son, who was baptized by St. Brendan. 7^ The latter, also, gave to Fursey the earliest rudi- ments of religious and secular instruction, while he trained the future holy missionaryandabbot,inthecourseofmonasticlife. Aboutthattime,hkewise, St. Brendan sent five monks to the aforementioned Island of Detrumma, that they might dwell in it. However, some mutual discord was excited by the tempter, and one of them struck a senior on the head, with great violence. He died from the effects of this stroke, when certain monks went speedily to St.
^^ See "Chronica Masjistri Rogeri de over Connaught in 555, when he figured in Houedene," edited by William Stubbs, the baUlc of Cul-Drcimhne, according to Dr.
M. A. , vol. iii. , Pars Posterior, p. 8, and n. 5, ibid.
^^ See ibid. , p. 15.
^^ See ibid. , pp. 17, iS. This happened "in una die ;" and, he was appointed, by King Richard I. to the Deanery of York, but the clergy and precentor of that church refused to install him.
^ See James Hardman's "History of Galway," part iii. , and n. (b), p. 234.
7° This appears to have iDeen on Lough Orbsen, now Lough Corrib. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum liibernia;," Januarii xvi. Vita S. Fursaei Confessoris, lib. i. , cap, vii. , and n. 10, pp. 76, 89.
7' He is also called Moinend and Maoin- eann, bishop of Clonfert. His festival was kept on the ist of March, at which date some account of him will be found, in the Third Volume of this work. Art. v.
7^ He is otherwise called Aodha or Aedh, son of Eochaidh Tirmcharna. He ruled
Vol. v. —No. 8.
O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 192,, 193. He was killed by the Ui-Briuin, in '574. See ibid. , pp. 208, 209.
"His death is placed, under A. D. 576, in the " Annales Ultonienses. " See some in- teresting notices of him, in Rev. Dr. O'Cono'i's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scripto- res," tomus iv. , p. 10, n. 2, p. 17, n. i, and p. 28, n. 3.
" See Most Rev. Patrick Francis Moran's "Acta Sancti Ijrendani," Vita S. Brendairi, cap.
