Derg, is very like an
American
river.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
^^ It consisted of a nave^?
and choir.
^^ Its choir is entirely destroyed.
^9 The south walls of the nave are gone, with the exception of a very small fragment.
3° St.
Maidoc blessed this place, as alsothechieftain,whoruledov—erthatdistrict.
Heretooheerectedamon-
denomination is still pronounced
Cluain Cath,"^' by the parishioners. ^^ It
3'
astery. Af having probably
—terwards he left it
established a 3^
fra- ternity there and set out towards his own city of Ferns. In the following
Clabdig's descendants. See pp. 244, 567. 'S He is also said to have been the king's
son-in-law. See ibid.
'* See Rev. Dr. Reeves " On Some Ec-
&c. T—heBollandistshave"CluanaClaidblasch.
Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 499, 500. See like- wise "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Limerick," Sheets 19, 20, 28, 29, 37.
clesiastical
'' According to St. Maidoc's Irish life.
^'* Some few old monuments there.
remain
"
Bells,"
yet
Acta Sanctorum," tomus iu, xxxi. Jan- uarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. vi. , p. 1117.
'^ See much local and family information regarding it in Dr. O' Donovan's "Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book of Rights," n. (c), pp. 76, 77.
'9 This place, wntten Cluancagh, is sup- posed by Archdall to be the Cluain Claid-
^
The west gable is up, but its little belfry
'' ^'^ iieach built by St. Maidoc. See Monas-
ticon " Wecan Hibemicum, p. 420. very
The choir dimensions cannot be deter- mined.
^9 The choir-arch is much on its injured
sides, but its semi-circular head remains. This is II feet from the present groimd level.
3° This lies near the south-west comer, from which it appears, that the wall was 2 feet 1 1 inches thick.
3' It is doubtful if any trace of this now remains, but Mr. O'Donovan has admirably described the old church of Cloncagh. See
believe that it is for the natives as- ;
easily
sert, that St. Maidoc is still remembered in
"
this parish. See its contents on Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Limerick," Sheets 29, 37.
^ It is bounded on the north by the parish of Rathkeale, on the east by the parish of Ballingarry, on the south by Kilmeedy, and on the west by Mahoonagh and Cloonelty.
^' In the Rev. W. J. Rees' " Lives of the
Cambro-British Saints," this place is called
the Irish Ordnance Survey,
''
County Li-
Cluam Claidbich. See pp. 244, 567. "" ''
merick Letters containing Information re-
lative to the Antiquities," vol. i. , pp. 171,
172. Mr. O'Donovan's Letter, dated Bal-
lingarry, July 25th, 1840. After this de-
If correct, it would signify Battle-
field," according to Dr. O'Donovan. See
•'County Limerick Letters Containing In- formation for the Irish Ordnance Survey,"
"
^s The north wall is in good preservation :
it is 9 feet 7 inches in height, and built of
large stones, cemented with very good mortar.
scription, historical notices of the parish fol- vol. i. , pp. 170, 171. Letter, dated Ballin- low. See ibid. , pp. 173 to 182.
garry, July 2Sth, 1840.
*3 See an account of this town and parish
in T»w;c> <*
in Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of
3^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nias," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. xxxviii. , p. 212.
is nearly destroyed, as well as its semi-cyclo- pean doorway, which is now reduced to a formless breach. •
^7 The nave was 37 feet in length, and 16 feet in breadth.
religious
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS
559
January 31. ]
account, taken from the saint's acts, we are left to infer that the rehgious
community at Ferns must have grown into a large society during Maidoc's life-time. 33 To decide the exact period for its establishment, however, ap- pearstobesurroundedwithmuchuncertainty. KingBrandubh34paidavisit to our saint one day, while he, with one hundred and fifty of his brethren, was engaged at their harvest labours. 3S Seeing the humility and charity, which prevailed among this large band of brethren, the king expressed his admiration of their conduct to the holy bishop. Our saint, whose mind was wonder- fully illuminated, replied, that they were all children of life, with one excep- tion. The king wished to know him, so that he might be removed from the rest of those brethren, and receive the infliction of a severe punishment.
*' Thou shalt not put him to death, but however thou shalt know him just now, when the hour for celebrating God's praises shall have arrived. 36 All those brothers, except this man, shall prostrate themselves on the earth, while performing God's work, and this example he shall not imi- tate. " When the monks were about to say that part of the Divine Office, peculiar to the third hour,37 the bishop and his monks prostrated themselves on the ground. He was the singular exception. Whereupon Brandubh asked that particular monk, why he had not inclined himself with others. He replied, that his mind had been occupied with far different thoughts. Afterwards,hereturnedamonghispeopletotheworld; yetbeforeaweek had passed over, he met with a violent death. 3^ We are informed,39 likewise, that on a certain occasion, no less than fifty British bishops came on a pil- grimage from Cill-Muine4° to visit Moedhoc of Ferns, because he was a dis- cipletoSt. DavidofMenevia. Byoursainttheywerekindlyandhospitably received. '^*
Maidoc
repHed :
33 It has been supposed, this foundation at Ferns must be registered in the Pontificate of Pope John III. , and not later than 570, inasmuch as it had been established during St. Molaisse's (of Devenish) life-time, and 571 is the latest period assigned for his death. See " Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , p. 363.
3^ During his reign, he was'the great friend
of our saint ; while his boimties and endowments at Ferns may not neces- sarily prove, that Maidoc had only established himself there subsequent to Brandubh's ac-
cession.
35 The Rev. Robert King remarks, that
"the early monasteries, besides compre-
nise," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. xl. , p. 213. In the life of our saint, the chapter thus numbered in Colgan, follows xxxviii. , the intermediate number xxxix,, being omitted.
and
patron
" :
in themselves the see-house and cathedral (and in fact the nucleus of the fu- ture diocese, at least in many cases) supplied
said the ' we shall not of bishops ; partake
them, but let beef or pork be brought to us. ' Moedhoc permitted the oeconome to comply
with their request ;
hending
also the place of parish churches, at a time when those in the land were few. "—" Primer of the Church History of Ireland," vol. i. , book ii. , chap. vii. , p. 247.
but the next day, com-
must be reprimanded for eating meat, and
refusing the bread, in this time of Lent. '
brated the Third Hour, and had sung Pater
Noster. See ibid. The BoUandist version
only has the celebration of the Third Hour.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xxxi.
Januarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. vi. , p. H17. it. '" "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol.
3^ W. "Livesofthe See Rev. J. Rees'
The '
Cambro-British Saints," pp. 244, 245, 567,
568.
37 Another life has it, when they had cele-
bishops replied : it was not your learn- ing, O Maedhog, that inspired you with such asentiment foritiswiththemilkoftheir
38 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- vii. , p. Colgan's
395-
"
-^ngus, at the 31st of January, in the
"
Leabhar Breac. "
4° Another name for Menevia.
4' "The following curio—us story is added
39 In a Gloss to the
Feilire" of St.
regarding these bishops
The pilgrims
coming to Moedhoc were conducted to the
guest's house, and it was the Lent-time of
spring. Fifty cakes and leeks, with watery
whey, were set before them for dinner.
'
Why have these things been brought us ? *
ing
to the
strangers,
he said to them—'
you
;
mothers that the swine and cow are nourished,
and they eat nought but thp grass of the field : but three hundred and sixty-five in- gredients are in the cake that was set before us, a—nd therefore it is that we did not use
560 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
At one time, wishing to visit Cashel,<''the regal city of Munster, the horses under St. Maidoc's chariot stopped suddenly, to the great astonishment of
the holy bishop. The angel of God then appeared, saying to him " The
;
Lord wishes thee to visit another country, namely, the province of Connaught. Guaire Aidhnij-^s King of Connaught, is at the point of death,^^ suffering great torture, in Killmacduagh monastery ;<s but the Almighty hath destined thee
:
requested two men, who were in an adjoining field, to point out a good road forthem. Thesemenreplied,inthispartofthecountry,noroadwasthen
" If
cried " The Lord knoweth what sort of out,
to heal him. " The man of God at once answered " I shall
do whateverthemessengerofmyLorddirectsforme. "^^ Theangelreplied; " Therefore do I wish thee to go thither, and because the Lord wills it, thou shalt go even if unwilling, and thy horses shall not travel any other way. " The saint then told his charioteer to give the horses liberty to advance whi- thersoever they inclined. Immediately they proceeded northward. When they had come to a lake, called Dergderc,^^ the horses are stated miracu- louslytohavepassedoverthislake. Wearetold,theyboreMaidoc'schariot, asifitweremovingoverland. HavingpassedLoughDerg,*^theholybishop
open. One who was present said to our saint, and to those with him youweregoodclerics,youshouldmaketheroughwayssmooth. " Theholy
bishop,
on
blessing
the
place,
persons we are, but as thou sayest, He can make the way easy for us. " At
these words, a road opened through mountains, woods and bogs. This led
without interruption to Killmacduagh monastery, where Guaire King of Con-
naught was ill. '*9 This place is said to have been constituted an episcopal
*^ A beautiful drawing by George Petrie, elegantly engraved by J. and H. S. Storer, ornaments Brewer's "Beauties of Ireland," vol. ii.
Cambro-British Saints" it is stated the saint
expressed at first his unwillingness to go, until he ascertained God's will. See pp.
245, 568.
*^ Now Lough Derg, on the River Shan-
non. Towards the close of last century.
Lord Macartney, when departing for his government of Madras, in 1791, had some poetic and hopeful foreshadowings of this
No description accompanies it, however, as Mr. Brewer did not live, or realize means, to complete his valuable topo- graphical work on Ireland. For some curi- ous and important historical notices regard- ing this ancient city and see, the reader is
''
referred to Sir John Gray's
lishment in Ireland. " Second Report, pp. lantic trade, when addressing it in these
31 to 48. Third Report, pp. 49 to 65.
lines "
— :
3 totheFour Ma—idoc According Masters,
Already stores,
Commerce
spreads
her
ample
"
Ecclesiastical Architecture and Round
P. Willis says : "The Shannon from Por-
in the and Guair—
e correctly printed Colman in Colgan
in- died in 662. Hence Guaire should have lived, not only more than thirty years, after his cure by Maidoc ; but even thirty-eight years, after the saint's death, accepting a very
common date given for that occurrence.
^* Colgan thinks, that an error must have
occurred in the foregoing date, assigned for Guaire's death, which he supposes to have
taken place, in the year 641 or 642. This, it is imagined, may be collected from the life of St. Maidoc.
•5 See various beautiful illustrations and historic notices by the Venerable Petrie in
departed year 624,
Church Estab-
river becoming a great entrepSt for an At-
his
Towers of
pp. 175, 176, subs. 3, pp. 385, 404, 405.
Derg, is very like an American river. " W.
Ireland," part ii. , § iii. ,
subs,
i,
The parish of Kilmacduagh, in the barony of Kiltartan is to be found delineated on the
H. Bartlett's "Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 105.
^9 "The great church of Kilmacduagh,"
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
of Gal
** In the Rev. W. J. Rees' "Lives of the
' ' was erected about the year 610, for St. Colman Mac Duach, by
County
way,"
Sheets 128. 113, 122,
says Dr. Petrie,
Pours Afric's riches on lernia's shores Brings either India's treasures to her view, Brazilian gold and silver of Peru !
Bids wandering navies on thy billows
ride,
Rolls the world's wealth, O Shannon, to
thy tide ! "
That period of national prosperity has since
gradually lessened ; and sanguine, indeed, must be the enthusiast, who should now dream of the poet stateman's expectations being speedily realized.
*^ Many scenes along this lake are of un-
rivalled beauty and magnificence. , Mr. N.
tumna to — Castle-Connell, including Lough
willingly
:
;
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 561
see in the beginning of the seventh century. It is one of small extent, 5° but to attest the former consequence of the present wretched hamlet, a large round tower of very rude and ancient masonry remains. ^' Nothing but the
Killmacduagh Round Tower and Ruins.
walls of Killmacduagh's former cathedral, standing near the ruins of a monas- tery and several chapels, were to be seen towards the close of the last cen-
s^ tury,
When the holy bishop Maidoc had offered up a prayer for him, at once Guaire was healed from all his infirmities. Then our saint predicted, this generous monarch should reign for thirty years^s from that time over his subjects ; and towards the close of life, he was destined to suffer infirmity for three years before his death. Afterwards, it was promised, he should possess the kingdom of heaven, on account of his alms and largesses. This
and offered a prayer, our saint took his leave of St. Colman,55 the founder of Kill- macduagh city and monastery. It is said, Maidoc established a firm bond
was
his kinsman Guaire Aidhne, King of Con- naught. "—" Ecclesiastical Architecture and
blessed the
celebrated for his
s-^
mentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 495 to 497-
53 remarks, from this passage it Colgan
would seem, that those historians were in
error, who only assigned a reign of fifteen Guarius Ayni. See "Acta Sanctorum," or even of twenty years, to Guaire ; while
king
very
liberality,
Having
king,
Round Towers of
subs. 3, p. 405. The Bollandists' copy calls
Ireland," part ii. , § iii. ,
this place Keall Muduach, and the king
tomus ii. , xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. vi. , p. II 17.
5° It measures about i8, by 12 Irish miles.
5' The accompanying illustration was
drawn on wood and engraved by Mr. Gregor
Grey, Dublin, from a drawing preserved among the Irish Ordnance Survey sketches for the County of Galway, and hitherto un- published.
those who give him a reign of thirty-eight years, appear to be nearer the truth.
s-* In him, we are told, might be found this mandate fulfilled, "Omni petenti te da. " When in after time, any person was known to be extremely generous, it was pro- verbially remarked, that he was as liberal as Guaire.
ss See the Life of this saint at the 29th of October.
2 O
5= Beaufort's "Memoir of a Map of Ire- "
land," part iii. , pp. 133, 134. Sec Parlia- VOL. I.
562 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
of friendship with him. ss jj- h^s been stated, that St. Maedhog of Ferns and St. Natalis57 of Cill-Naile, with their monks, suffered from thirst, at this latter place, and that they were relieved from it owing to a miracle. 5^ In the acts of our saint, we find no allusion whatever to a Donegal visit. If this at all tookplace,itmusthavehappenedafterhehadbeenwithSt. Colman. Yet, in all likelihood, another Maedhogss may have been the real participator in those benefits, procured through St. Natalis, at Inbher Ndile, unless we treat
the account as a fable.
The holy Molua,^ once came and told our saint, he had a great desire to
make a pilgrimage to Rome. Maidoc declared, Molua should not do so
with his consent. Then the latter *' Most if I see not replied, assuredly
Rome, I shall soon die. " Upon this declaration, St. Maidoc took him into
his chariot, and neither of them appeared to the monks, until the day follow-
ing. It afterwards seemed to St. Molua, that they had spent a night in Rome,
and that they had offered up their vows at the tomb of the apostles. ^' The
day following both came to Ferns city ; when our saint asked Molua, if now
he had desire to visit Rome. Molua " should I desire to any replied, Why
do so ? Have I not there on yesterday, and during the past night, offered my devotions ? but I am ashamed to return so soon to my monastery. "^"
Immediately the holy bishop conducted him to his own house, stating at the sametime,thatMoluahadbeeninRome. ^^ Itisrelated,thatwhilstneara cross,*4oursaintwroteapsalmforaboy,whowaswithhim. ^s Afterhehad written it, this youth saw St. Maidoc taking his own waxen tablet^^ and as- cending a golden ladder, placed between earth and heaven. After some time, when Maidoc returned, the boy could not look upon his face, on ac- count of its extraordinary brightness. Then telling this youth to take care
and not relate what he had seen, during Maidoc's life-time, the boy answered, " If you confide to me whither you have gone, I shall conceal what I have
in the
xlii. , The writer of our saint's life p. 213.
seen. " The saint said to him "
I
of heaven because of St. Columba's arrival,^^ for he is very dear to
:
s* " Acta Sanctorum
Colgan's Hiberniae,"
xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, chap, xli. , p. 213.
5' His acts have been entered at the 27th
of January.
5' The incidents related would tally pretty
well with chronology, as both saints were
possibly contemporaneous with St. Columba, and lived in the sixth century. This was certainly the case, so far as Maidoc of Ferns is concerned.
59 Perhaps it was St. Mac Coge, called
participated
rejoicings
Just now,
also St. Mogue, the patron saint of Rosinver,
in the county of Leitrim. See notices of age, in the very words of one, who had
him, at the Sth of January.
*°
See the Life of this saint at the 4th of August. Also he is called Luan or Lugid by the Bollandists. "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani,
been a contemporary of both saints. See note 41, p. 220.
** See Rev. W. J. Rees' " Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," pp. 246, 247.
*5 This is said to have occurred at the door of the house of the abbot, perhaps,
cap. vii. , and n. (a), pp. iii8, 11 19. '* "
Molua or Molocca. ^ " Ceraculum found in the original.
See the Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii , p. 396.
See ibid.
*' In the Rev, W. J. Rees' "Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," this saint is called Molucca, and the anecdote varies in details. See pp. 245, 246, 568, 569.
"7 If the Columba named, be the great
apostle of the Picts, who died in the year
590, according to the " Annals of Clonmac*
noise in to the " Annals of ;" 592, according
the Four Masters ;" in 594, according to the
" Acta Sanctorum Hibcr-
'3 See
niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap.
Colgan's
adds ;
"
Misterium hujus rei J. )ominus scit,
sed scimus quia ille sanctus peritus erat
Romae, quasi fuisset ibi longo tempore. "
From this sentence, Colgan infers, that the
compiler must have lived contemporaneously, not only with St. Maidoc, who died in the year 624, but with St. Molua, who died in the year 605. Otherwise, he could not have been aware of this local knowledge, regard- ing Rome, attained by the latter saint, unless he had seen him. Another supposition in- deed remains, that he transcribed this pas-
pueri"
are the
words,
as
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 563
me. "^^ After St. Maidoc's death, this youth, who had grown to manhood, and who was a credible witness, narrated what had occurred, in a public manner. ^9
quiring
done,
replied :
you
day,
:
To-day
One day, the (Economus or steward of St. Mochua at Lothra or Lochre,7°
how this could be
have
we have left nothing
the saint
his cook came to St. Maidoc and said
now,
:
" We have but a small quantity of grain — :
came to St. Maidoc. He said
shall we sow it, or give it to the brethren ? " Our saint answered •* Sow a quantity, and yet distribute sufficient to the brethren. " On the steward in-
" What
shall not fail in sowing, and you shall have provision, until bread come to you, from the earth. " And according to this saying, so it happened. Another
inthestore-roombutasmallvesselofmilkandalittlebutter shallthisbe ;
to our ? " Our saint guests
" Give in abundance to as if all,
given
you had drawn from a mountain. "7'
replied :
His command was obeyed, and on that
night all were helped abundantly. Some imposters and deceitful persons, having hidden their garments in the woods, afterwards presented themselves to the bishop, asking means for clothing themselves. 7^ Our saint then said : " Wait awhile, until you receive what you ask for. " The holy bishop then sent his servant to where their clothes had been hidden, without those im- postors having been made aware of his intention. On returning with the garments, which the schemers recognised as their own, they immediately departed in disappointment and confusion. 73
There are certain particulars in our saint's life, regarding the death of Brandubh.
Theseseemtobeworthyofrecord. Accordiagtogenerallyreceivedaccounts, Brandubh was killed^* by the Airchinneach or Herenagh of Senboithe-Sine church, and by his own tribe, in the year 6oi. 7S Xiie m irderer was a tributary chief, jealous of his superior power. 7^ The death of this king, however, is re- ferredtoA. D. 604,bytheAnnalsofTigernachandofUlster. 77 Havingfreeaccess
"
Annals of Ulster ;" or in 597, according to Colgan, the narrative of this vision should precede the miraculous cure of Guaire, King of Connaught.
xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. vii. , p. 1118.
^Colgan asserts, that this St. Columba spoken of is no other than St. Columbkille. Yet there is nothing to warrant such a suppo- sition, but the fact, that no other distinctive appellation has been added to this name, simply written, St. Columba.
nounced the following sentence j
:
Colgan's
Muireadhach, for the sake of Aedh Allan. "
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
^ See
niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. xliii. , p. 213. It may be suspected, from the account contained in this chapter, that vari- ous incidents of our saint's life are not re- lated in exact chronological order.
7° See Rev. W. J. Rees' "Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," pp. 246, 569.
denomination is still pronounced
Cluain Cath,"^' by the parishioners. ^^ It
3'
astery. Af having probably
—terwards he left it
established a 3^
fra- ternity there and set out towards his own city of Ferns. In the following
Clabdig's descendants. See pp. 244, 567. 'S He is also said to have been the king's
son-in-law. See ibid.
'* See Rev. Dr. Reeves " On Some Ec-
&c. T—heBollandistshave"CluanaClaidblasch.
Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 499, 500. See like- wise "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Limerick," Sheets 19, 20, 28, 29, 37.
clesiastical
'' According to St. Maidoc's Irish life.
^'* Some few old monuments there.
remain
"
Bells,"
yet
Acta Sanctorum," tomus iu, xxxi. Jan- uarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. vi. , p. 1117.
'^ See much local and family information regarding it in Dr. O' Donovan's "Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book of Rights," n. (c), pp. 76, 77.
'9 This place, wntten Cluancagh, is sup- posed by Archdall to be the Cluain Claid-
^
The west gable is up, but its little belfry
'' ^'^ iieach built by St. Maidoc. See Monas-
ticon " Wecan Hibemicum, p. 420. very
The choir dimensions cannot be deter- mined.
^9 The choir-arch is much on its injured
sides, but its semi-circular head remains. This is II feet from the present groimd level.
3° This lies near the south-west comer, from which it appears, that the wall was 2 feet 1 1 inches thick.
3' It is doubtful if any trace of this now remains, but Mr. O'Donovan has admirably described the old church of Cloncagh. See
believe that it is for the natives as- ;
easily
sert, that St. Maidoc is still remembered in
"
this parish. See its contents on Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Limerick," Sheets 29, 37.
^ It is bounded on the north by the parish of Rathkeale, on the east by the parish of Ballingarry, on the south by Kilmeedy, and on the west by Mahoonagh and Cloonelty.
^' In the Rev. W. J. Rees' " Lives of the
Cambro-British Saints," this place is called
the Irish Ordnance Survey,
''
County Li-
Cluam Claidbich. See pp. 244, 567. "" ''
merick Letters containing Information re-
lative to the Antiquities," vol. i. , pp. 171,
172. Mr. O'Donovan's Letter, dated Bal-
lingarry, July 25th, 1840. After this de-
If correct, it would signify Battle-
field," according to Dr. O'Donovan. See
•'County Limerick Letters Containing In- formation for the Irish Ordnance Survey,"
"
^s The north wall is in good preservation :
it is 9 feet 7 inches in height, and built of
large stones, cemented with very good mortar.
scription, historical notices of the parish fol- vol. i. , pp. 170, 171. Letter, dated Ballin- low. See ibid. , pp. 173 to 182.
garry, July 2Sth, 1840.
*3 See an account of this town and parish
in T»w;c> <*
in Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of
3^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nias," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. xxxviii. , p. 212.
is nearly destroyed, as well as its semi-cyclo- pean doorway, which is now reduced to a formless breach. •
^7 The nave was 37 feet in length, and 16 feet in breadth.
religious
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS
559
January 31. ]
account, taken from the saint's acts, we are left to infer that the rehgious
community at Ferns must have grown into a large society during Maidoc's life-time. 33 To decide the exact period for its establishment, however, ap- pearstobesurroundedwithmuchuncertainty. KingBrandubh34paidavisit to our saint one day, while he, with one hundred and fifty of his brethren, was engaged at their harvest labours. 3S Seeing the humility and charity, which prevailed among this large band of brethren, the king expressed his admiration of their conduct to the holy bishop. Our saint, whose mind was wonder- fully illuminated, replied, that they were all children of life, with one excep- tion. The king wished to know him, so that he might be removed from the rest of those brethren, and receive the infliction of a severe punishment.
*' Thou shalt not put him to death, but however thou shalt know him just now, when the hour for celebrating God's praises shall have arrived. 36 All those brothers, except this man, shall prostrate themselves on the earth, while performing God's work, and this example he shall not imi- tate. " When the monks were about to say that part of the Divine Office, peculiar to the third hour,37 the bishop and his monks prostrated themselves on the ground. He was the singular exception. Whereupon Brandubh asked that particular monk, why he had not inclined himself with others. He replied, that his mind had been occupied with far different thoughts. Afterwards,hereturnedamonghispeopletotheworld; yetbeforeaweek had passed over, he met with a violent death. 3^ We are informed,39 likewise, that on a certain occasion, no less than fifty British bishops came on a pil- grimage from Cill-Muine4° to visit Moedhoc of Ferns, because he was a dis- cipletoSt. DavidofMenevia. Byoursainttheywerekindlyandhospitably received. '^*
Maidoc
repHed :
33 It has been supposed, this foundation at Ferns must be registered in the Pontificate of Pope John III. , and not later than 570, inasmuch as it had been established during St. Molaisse's (of Devenish) life-time, and 571 is the latest period assigned for his death. See " Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , p. 363.
3^ During his reign, he was'the great friend
of our saint ; while his boimties and endowments at Ferns may not neces- sarily prove, that Maidoc had only established himself there subsequent to Brandubh's ac-
cession.
35 The Rev. Robert King remarks, that
"the early monasteries, besides compre-
nise," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. xl. , p. 213. In the life of our saint, the chapter thus numbered in Colgan, follows xxxviii. , the intermediate number xxxix,, being omitted.
and
patron
" :
in themselves the see-house and cathedral (and in fact the nucleus of the fu- ture diocese, at least in many cases) supplied
said the ' we shall not of bishops ; partake
them, but let beef or pork be brought to us. ' Moedhoc permitted the oeconome to comply
with their request ;
hending
also the place of parish churches, at a time when those in the land were few. "—" Primer of the Church History of Ireland," vol. i. , book ii. , chap. vii. , p. 247.
but the next day, com-
must be reprimanded for eating meat, and
refusing the bread, in this time of Lent. '
brated the Third Hour, and had sung Pater
Noster. See ibid. The BoUandist version
only has the celebration of the Third Hour.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xxxi.
Januarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. vi. , p. H17. it. '" "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol.
3^ W. "Livesofthe See Rev. J. Rees'
The '
Cambro-British Saints," pp. 244, 245, 567,
568.
37 Another life has it, when they had cele-
bishops replied : it was not your learn- ing, O Maedhog, that inspired you with such asentiment foritiswiththemilkoftheir
38 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- vii. , p. Colgan's
395-
"
-^ngus, at the 31st of January, in the
"
Leabhar Breac. "
4° Another name for Menevia.
4' "The following curio—us story is added
39 In a Gloss to the
Feilire" of St.
regarding these bishops
The pilgrims
coming to Moedhoc were conducted to the
guest's house, and it was the Lent-time of
spring. Fifty cakes and leeks, with watery
whey, were set before them for dinner.
'
Why have these things been brought us ? *
ing
to the
strangers,
he said to them—'
you
;
mothers that the swine and cow are nourished,
and they eat nought but thp grass of the field : but three hundred and sixty-five in- gredients are in the cake that was set before us, a—nd therefore it is that we did not use
560 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
At one time, wishing to visit Cashel,<''the regal city of Munster, the horses under St. Maidoc's chariot stopped suddenly, to the great astonishment of
the holy bishop. The angel of God then appeared, saying to him " The
;
Lord wishes thee to visit another country, namely, the province of Connaught. Guaire Aidhnij-^s King of Connaught, is at the point of death,^^ suffering great torture, in Killmacduagh monastery ;<s but the Almighty hath destined thee
:
requested two men, who were in an adjoining field, to point out a good road forthem. Thesemenreplied,inthispartofthecountry,noroadwasthen
" If
cried " The Lord knoweth what sort of out,
to heal him. " The man of God at once answered " I shall
do whateverthemessengerofmyLorddirectsforme. "^^ Theangelreplied; " Therefore do I wish thee to go thither, and because the Lord wills it, thou shalt go even if unwilling, and thy horses shall not travel any other way. " The saint then told his charioteer to give the horses liberty to advance whi- thersoever they inclined. Immediately they proceeded northward. When they had come to a lake, called Dergderc,^^ the horses are stated miracu- louslytohavepassedoverthislake. Wearetold,theyboreMaidoc'schariot, asifitweremovingoverland. HavingpassedLoughDerg,*^theholybishop
open. One who was present said to our saint, and to those with him youweregoodclerics,youshouldmaketheroughwayssmooth. " Theholy
bishop,
on
blessing
the
place,
persons we are, but as thou sayest, He can make the way easy for us. " At
these words, a road opened through mountains, woods and bogs. This led
without interruption to Killmacduagh monastery, where Guaire King of Con-
naught was ill. '*9 This place is said to have been constituted an episcopal
*^ A beautiful drawing by George Petrie, elegantly engraved by J. and H. S. Storer, ornaments Brewer's "Beauties of Ireland," vol. ii.
Cambro-British Saints" it is stated the saint
expressed at first his unwillingness to go, until he ascertained God's will. See pp.
245, 568.
*^ Now Lough Derg, on the River Shan-
non. Towards the close of last century.
Lord Macartney, when departing for his government of Madras, in 1791, had some poetic and hopeful foreshadowings of this
No description accompanies it, however, as Mr. Brewer did not live, or realize means, to complete his valuable topo- graphical work on Ireland. For some curi- ous and important historical notices regard- ing this ancient city and see, the reader is
''
referred to Sir John Gray's
lishment in Ireland. " Second Report, pp. lantic trade, when addressing it in these
31 to 48. Third Report, pp. 49 to 65.
lines "
— :
3 totheFour Ma—idoc According Masters,
Already stores,
Commerce
spreads
her
ample
"
Ecclesiastical Architecture and Round
P. Willis says : "The Shannon from Por-
in the and Guair—
e correctly printed Colman in Colgan
in- died in 662. Hence Guaire should have lived, not only more than thirty years, after his cure by Maidoc ; but even thirty-eight years, after the saint's death, accepting a very
common date given for that occurrence.
^* Colgan thinks, that an error must have
occurred in the foregoing date, assigned for Guaire's death, which he supposes to have
taken place, in the year 641 or 642. This, it is imagined, may be collected from the life of St. Maidoc.
•5 See various beautiful illustrations and historic notices by the Venerable Petrie in
departed year 624,
Church Estab-
river becoming a great entrepSt for an At-
his
Towers of
pp. 175, 176, subs. 3, pp. 385, 404, 405.
Derg, is very like an American river. " W.
Ireland," part ii. , § iii. ,
subs,
i,
The parish of Kilmacduagh, in the barony of Kiltartan is to be found delineated on the
H. Bartlett's "Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 105.
^9 "The great church of Kilmacduagh,"
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
of Gal
** In the Rev. W. J. Rees' "Lives of the
' ' was erected about the year 610, for St. Colman Mac Duach, by
County
way,"
Sheets 128. 113, 122,
says Dr. Petrie,
Pours Afric's riches on lernia's shores Brings either India's treasures to her view, Brazilian gold and silver of Peru !
Bids wandering navies on thy billows
ride,
Rolls the world's wealth, O Shannon, to
thy tide ! "
That period of national prosperity has since
gradually lessened ; and sanguine, indeed, must be the enthusiast, who should now dream of the poet stateman's expectations being speedily realized.
*^ Many scenes along this lake are of un-
rivalled beauty and magnificence. , Mr. N.
tumna to — Castle-Connell, including Lough
willingly
:
;
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 561
see in the beginning of the seventh century. It is one of small extent, 5° but to attest the former consequence of the present wretched hamlet, a large round tower of very rude and ancient masonry remains. ^' Nothing but the
Killmacduagh Round Tower and Ruins.
walls of Killmacduagh's former cathedral, standing near the ruins of a monas- tery and several chapels, were to be seen towards the close of the last cen-
s^ tury,
When the holy bishop Maidoc had offered up a prayer for him, at once Guaire was healed from all his infirmities. Then our saint predicted, this generous monarch should reign for thirty years^s from that time over his subjects ; and towards the close of life, he was destined to suffer infirmity for three years before his death. Afterwards, it was promised, he should possess the kingdom of heaven, on account of his alms and largesses. This
and offered a prayer, our saint took his leave of St. Colman,55 the founder of Kill- macduagh city and monastery. It is said, Maidoc established a firm bond
was
his kinsman Guaire Aidhne, King of Con- naught. "—" Ecclesiastical Architecture and
blessed the
celebrated for his
s-^
mentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 495 to 497-
53 remarks, from this passage it Colgan
would seem, that those historians were in
error, who only assigned a reign of fifteen Guarius Ayni. See "Acta Sanctorum," or even of twenty years, to Guaire ; while
king
very
liberality,
Having
king,
Round Towers of
subs. 3, p. 405. The Bollandists' copy calls
Ireland," part ii. , § iii. ,
this place Keall Muduach, and the king
tomus ii. , xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. vi. , p. II 17.
5° It measures about i8, by 12 Irish miles.
5' The accompanying illustration was
drawn on wood and engraved by Mr. Gregor
Grey, Dublin, from a drawing preserved among the Irish Ordnance Survey sketches for the County of Galway, and hitherto un- published.
those who give him a reign of thirty-eight years, appear to be nearer the truth.
s-* In him, we are told, might be found this mandate fulfilled, "Omni petenti te da. " When in after time, any person was known to be extremely generous, it was pro- verbially remarked, that he was as liberal as Guaire.
ss See the Life of this saint at the 29th of October.
2 O
5= Beaufort's "Memoir of a Map of Ire- "
land," part iii. , pp. 133, 134. Sec Parlia- VOL. I.
562 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
of friendship with him. ss jj- h^s been stated, that St. Maedhog of Ferns and St. Natalis57 of Cill-Naile, with their monks, suffered from thirst, at this latter place, and that they were relieved from it owing to a miracle. 5^ In the acts of our saint, we find no allusion whatever to a Donegal visit. If this at all tookplace,itmusthavehappenedafterhehadbeenwithSt. Colman. Yet, in all likelihood, another Maedhogss may have been the real participator in those benefits, procured through St. Natalis, at Inbher Ndile, unless we treat
the account as a fable.
The holy Molua,^ once came and told our saint, he had a great desire to
make a pilgrimage to Rome. Maidoc declared, Molua should not do so
with his consent. Then the latter *' Most if I see not replied, assuredly
Rome, I shall soon die. " Upon this declaration, St. Maidoc took him into
his chariot, and neither of them appeared to the monks, until the day follow-
ing. It afterwards seemed to St. Molua, that they had spent a night in Rome,
and that they had offered up their vows at the tomb of the apostles. ^' The
day following both came to Ferns city ; when our saint asked Molua, if now
he had desire to visit Rome. Molua " should I desire to any replied, Why
do so ? Have I not there on yesterday, and during the past night, offered my devotions ? but I am ashamed to return so soon to my monastery. "^"
Immediately the holy bishop conducted him to his own house, stating at the sametime,thatMoluahadbeeninRome. ^^ Itisrelated,thatwhilstneara cross,*4oursaintwroteapsalmforaboy,whowaswithhim. ^s Afterhehad written it, this youth saw St. Maidoc taking his own waxen tablet^^ and as- cending a golden ladder, placed between earth and heaven. After some time, when Maidoc returned, the boy could not look upon his face, on ac- count of its extraordinary brightness. Then telling this youth to take care
and not relate what he had seen, during Maidoc's life-time, the boy answered, " If you confide to me whither you have gone, I shall conceal what I have
in the
xlii. , The writer of our saint's life p. 213.
seen. " The saint said to him "
I
of heaven because of St. Columba's arrival,^^ for he is very dear to
:
s* " Acta Sanctorum
Colgan's Hiberniae,"
xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, chap, xli. , p. 213.
5' His acts have been entered at the 27th
of January.
5' The incidents related would tally pretty
well with chronology, as both saints were
possibly contemporaneous with St. Columba, and lived in the sixth century. This was certainly the case, so far as Maidoc of Ferns is concerned.
59 Perhaps it was St. Mac Coge, called
participated
rejoicings
Just now,
also St. Mogue, the patron saint of Rosinver,
in the county of Leitrim. See notices of age, in the very words of one, who had
him, at the Sth of January.
*°
See the Life of this saint at the 4th of August. Also he is called Luan or Lugid by the Bollandists. "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani,
been a contemporary of both saints. See note 41, p. 220.
** See Rev. W. J. Rees' " Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," pp. 246, 247.
*5 This is said to have occurred at the door of the house of the abbot, perhaps,
cap. vii. , and n. (a), pp. iii8, 11 19. '* "
Molua or Molocca. ^ " Ceraculum found in the original.
See the Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii , p. 396.
See ibid.
*' In the Rev, W. J. Rees' "Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," this saint is called Molucca, and the anecdote varies in details. See pp. 245, 246, 568, 569.
"7 If the Columba named, be the great
apostle of the Picts, who died in the year
590, according to the " Annals of Clonmac*
noise in to the " Annals of ;" 592, according
the Four Masters ;" in 594, according to the
" Acta Sanctorum Hibcr-
'3 See
niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap.
Colgan's
adds ;
"
Misterium hujus rei J. )ominus scit,
sed scimus quia ille sanctus peritus erat
Romae, quasi fuisset ibi longo tempore. "
From this sentence, Colgan infers, that the
compiler must have lived contemporaneously, not only with St. Maidoc, who died in the year 624, but with St. Molua, who died in the year 605. Otherwise, he could not have been aware of this local knowledge, regard- ing Rome, attained by the latter saint, unless he had seen him. Another supposition in- deed remains, that he transcribed this pas-
pueri"
are the
words,
as
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 563
me. "^^ After St. Maidoc's death, this youth, who had grown to manhood, and who was a credible witness, narrated what had occurred, in a public manner. ^9
quiring
done,
replied :
you
day,
:
To-day
One day, the (Economus or steward of St. Mochua at Lothra or Lochre,7°
how this could be
have
we have left nothing
the saint
his cook came to St. Maidoc and said
now,
:
" We have but a small quantity of grain — :
came to St. Maidoc. He said
shall we sow it, or give it to the brethren ? " Our saint answered •* Sow a quantity, and yet distribute sufficient to the brethren. " On the steward in-
" What
shall not fail in sowing, and you shall have provision, until bread come to you, from the earth. " And according to this saying, so it happened. Another
inthestore-roombutasmallvesselofmilkandalittlebutter shallthisbe ;
to our ? " Our saint guests
" Give in abundance to as if all,
given
you had drawn from a mountain. "7'
replied :
His command was obeyed, and on that
night all were helped abundantly. Some imposters and deceitful persons, having hidden their garments in the woods, afterwards presented themselves to the bishop, asking means for clothing themselves. 7^ Our saint then said : " Wait awhile, until you receive what you ask for. " The holy bishop then sent his servant to where their clothes had been hidden, without those im- postors having been made aware of his intention. On returning with the garments, which the schemers recognised as their own, they immediately departed in disappointment and confusion. 73
There are certain particulars in our saint's life, regarding the death of Brandubh.
Theseseemtobeworthyofrecord. Accordiagtogenerallyreceivedaccounts, Brandubh was killed^* by the Airchinneach or Herenagh of Senboithe-Sine church, and by his own tribe, in the year 6oi. 7S Xiie m irderer was a tributary chief, jealous of his superior power. 7^ The death of this king, however, is re- ferredtoA. D. 604,bytheAnnalsofTigernachandofUlster. 77 Havingfreeaccess
"
Annals of Ulster ;" or in 597, according to Colgan, the narrative of this vision should precede the miraculous cure of Guaire, King of Connaught.
xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Aidani, cap. vii. , p. 1118.
^Colgan asserts, that this St. Columba spoken of is no other than St. Columbkille. Yet there is nothing to warrant such a suppo- sition, but the fact, that no other distinctive appellation has been added to this name, simply written, St. Columba.
nounced the following sentence j
:
Colgan's
Muireadhach, for the sake of Aedh Allan. "
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
^ See
niae," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. xliii. , p. 213. It may be suspected, from the account contained in this chapter, that vari- ous incidents of our saint's life are not re- lated in exact chronological order.
7° See Rev. W. J. Rees' "Lives of the Cambro-British Saints," pp. 246, 569.
