^ ^ee "Acta
Sanctorum
Hiberni^," xxviii.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
TheSchoUastaddsacomment,^thathewaspossiblytheDeaconJust3 of Fidarta, now Fuerty,+ in Mag Aei,s who baptized St.
Ciaran ^ of Cluain
;
while, according to others, he was St. Eustinus, the Deacon. ?
Article VII. Reputed Feast of St. Tigernach, in Scotland. At the 5th of May, Dempster has inserted the Invention ^ or Discovery of a Tigernach, Abbot, in Scotland ;- but, we know not on what authority.
Article VIII. Festival of St. Hilary, Bishop and Martyr, in Gaul. In the Feilire of St. ^Engus, at the 5th of May, there is an entry of St. Hilary's Feast. The Scholiast remarks, that he was St. Hilary, Bishop and Martyr, in Gaul. ^ The particular acts of this saint are set forth by the Bol- landists,^ in their great collection.
Article IX. Festival of St. Ultan, Abbot of Fosse, Belgium. The Bollandists ^ enter at this date a festival for St. Ultan, the Abbot, whose Acts have been inserted already, at the ist of May.
* It would seem, that the Martyrologists Manrolycus, Canisius, Menard, and Buceli- nus, have confounded St. Egbert, who is venerated on the 24th of April, with the St. Eadbert, who succeeded St. Cuthbert, in the See of Lindisfaine. The place of his birtli is not known for a certainty. The Bollan- dists furnish his Acts—taken chiefly from Venerable Bede's " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iv. , cap. xxix. -—in their great collection, "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Maii vi. De Sancto Eadberto Episcopo Lindisfarnensi in Anglia, pp. 107, 108.
Article vi. — ' In the Leabhar Breac copy, we have the following stanza :
In oeochAiii luiTinuy" tAheb<M|\ ]'echpiAnu LocA]\ tAiche LichA p^lf l\0CAlb A]A]:iA'Ot1.
Thus rendered into EngHsh, by Dr. Whitley Stokes:—" The deacon Justinus with Hilary beyondpains theywenton(the)dayoffes-
On the Calendar
St. Patrick, at the 17th of March, chap. xi. in the Third Volume of this work.
• This is a parish, in the Barony of Ath- lone, described on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Roscom- mon," sheets 34, 35, 38, 39, 41. The town and townland are on sheet 39.
s The plain of Roscommon, extending west of the River Shannon.
* His feast occurs, on the 9th of Sep- tember.
7 The commentator on the Feilire of St. yEngus observes, that he and Hilary died, on thedayofthesolarmonthofthefirst resur- rection. See the " Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , p. Ixxxiv. —
"
Article vii. ' Thus In Scotia
tival (whereon) our God arose. "—"Trans- actions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish
See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. On the Calendar of Oengus,
p. Ixxxiv.
° See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Maii
V. De Sancto tlilario Episcopo Arelatensi in Gallia, pp. 24 to 43.
Manuscript Series, vol. i. ofOengus, p. Ixxviii.
;
Article ix. —'See " Acta Sanctorum," 3 He was possibly the Deacon Juis, who tomus ii. , Maii v. Among the pretermitted
^ See ibid. , p. Ixxxiv.
was left by St. Patrick, in the territory of saints, p. 2. Ui Maine, as already related in the Life of
Tigernaci Abbatis inuentio. " Scoticum. "
: —
" Menologium
^ See Bishop Forbes"" Kalendars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 198.
Article viii. —'
— —
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 6.
^ijrtf) ©ay of i^ap.
ARTICLE I. —ST. COLMAN, OF LOCH ECHIN.
ANentrv, Colman Locha ethin, appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at this date. The Bollandists ^ quote from this authority, likewise, but in a somewhat different manner. 3 However, among the various Irish saints bearing the name of Colman,'^ they could obtain no certain indications, ref^ardinf^thepresentholyman. Again,wefindanothernote,thatthefeast
of'st. Colman,LochEichan,waskept,onthe6thofMay. s Wecannotfind any lake in Ireland, which is now similarly named. On this day was vene- rated, Colman, of Loch Eriin, as we find registered, also, in the Martyrology of Donegal. *
Article II. St. Inneem, Dromtariff Old Church, County of Cork. InthedioceseofKerrv,thereisanoldchurchatDromtariff,inthe parish so called, and county of Cork, where a female saint, called Inneen, wasvenerated,onthe6lhofMay. Accordingtopopulartradition,shewas the sister of St. Lateerin,' who is likewnse popularly known, at Cullin,^ in that part of the country, and to an older sister, who lived at Kilmeen. 3 It it stated, according to a local tradition, that the angels of Heaven made a road, one nif^ht,fromKilmeen* throughDromtariffandontoCullin,sothatthethree sislers might the more conveniently visit each other once every week. s Much obscurity hangs over their history, as their celebrity appears to be merely local ; although, the people, in their part of the country, have a great venera- tion for those sisters.
Article III. Festival of St. INIatthew, the Apostle. The Feilire ofSt. ^no-us hasnoticedatthe6thofMay,thatafestivalofSt. Matthew,
Article i. — ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiii. In the Franciscan copy, the read- ing is, CotniAin tochA ediin.
== See "Acta Sanctorum, tomus ii. , Maii
3 The remains of an ancient paved way may be traced between the places. It ex- tends to the distance of fully ten English miles.
* The parish of Kilmeen is in the barony of Duhallow, and shown, on the "Ordnance Survey Townlnnd Maps for the County of Cork," East Riding, sheets 4, 12, 13, 21, 22, 23. 29> 30. 31-
5 For a further account, the reader is re- ferred to Edward Walsh's Popular Legends
vi.
Among the pretermitted saints, p. 97. 3 Thus, they have, " Colmanus de Loch-
echin et alii LXX.
tThey refer the reader to Colgan's "Acta
Sanctorum IliberniK," Martii xxx. , where he treats of several Saints Colman, iinder the heading, De S. Colmano Lannensi sive Linnense Abbate, pp. 792, 793-
5 The Manuscript Calendar, which be- lons^ed to Profe-sor Eugene O'Curry.
'Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
120, i21. . Article ii. —' Her patron day is said to
have been on the 24th of July.
= The parish of Cullcn is in the Barony of
Duhallow, and it is described, on the "Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," East Riding, sheets 29, 30, 38, 39-
—No. iii. , St. Lateerin, " Dublin Penny Journal," vol. i. . No. 45,
p. 360. — In the Leabhar Breac Article hi. '
copy is the following Irish text :
Ve]\ ]-o]"ci\ib ceiicei\c<M CAin pcclA CiMi'c cixoch-Odi <\)\nuiinre]\ LApldirhe 3ein mop lIlAchoi IIIochcA.
It is thus translated into English, by Dr.
of the South.
——
May 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 113
the Apostle, was held in the Irish Church. The Scholiast adds, that it was the feast of his nativity. ^ The Bollandists3 have a notice of this Festival, as found in various ancient Martyrologies. 4 In the Roman Martyrology, the feast is entered, at this date, as the Translation of his body at Salernum, wliile his Natalis is referred to the 21st of September.
Article IV. Reputed Festival of Brigidona and Maria, Martyrs. At the 6th of May, the BoUandists ' refer to a Manuscript copy of the Tallagh Martyrology, for the insertion of Brigidona and Maria among the Martyrs; while, they remark, that elsevvhere, they could find no similar notice. To us, it seems likely, this entry has reference to the Saints Maura and Brigid, Virgins and Martyrs, noticed at the previous day, and placed by some error, at this date.
^ebentJ) 2Bai) of i^lap*
ARTICLE I. —ST. BERCHAN, OF DAIRE EACHDROMA.
FROM accessible accounts, it seems difficult to set down any authentic particulars, regarding the present holy man, his place, and his period. At the 7th of May, in the Feilire of St. ^ngus,' a commemoration of two dis- tinct saints, and at the same place, denominated Daire Echdroma, is recorded. These are called MochuarocandBreccan. The commentator on this Metrical
Martyrology of ^ngus remarks, that Daire Ech-Droma is in the north of Dalaradia, and on the border of Dalaradia and Dalriada. ^ It was in the DioceseofDownandConnor,accordingtoColgan. 3 Itseemslikewiseto
Whitley Stokes:—"A man who wrote without stint fair stories of Christ crucified : commemorated by princes is (the) great birth of Matthew (the) magnified. "—Trans- actions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. On the Calendar of Oeiigus, p. Ixxviii.
Article i. —' In the " Leabhar Breac" copy, we have the following :
tTloc]^UA]^oc La b)\eccAn OijeixAic AcglAinm CA]\fAc C|\i-pc aj'tdiLui liroGAch 'Oi\oinA 'Oaiimu.
" A Latin comment follows the Irish,
" vel in hoc die occidit Christo [leg. occisus
est pro Christo ? ] See /i^zi/. , p. Ixxxiv. In
the lower margin he adds: " Fer roscrib
7rl. Matha mochta . i. machta . i. ab eo quod loved Christ who is dearest, in Daire Ech-
est mochta [leg. macto] . i. occido uel magis aucta ab eo quod est augeo mathens ad ere- dendum. "
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Mail vi. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 98.
droma. "—Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, vol. i. , Irish Manuscript Series, p. Ixxviii.
^ See Introduction to the " Book of Obits and Martyrology of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, commonly called Christ Church, Dublin," p. lix , Edited by John
* They write : " Matthsei Apostoli et
Euangelistse natalis in Perside memoratur Clarke Crostvvaite, A. M. , and Rev. James
in apographis Martyrologii Hierony/niani, Lucensi et Corbeiensi Pai-isiis excnsso, into et Epternacensi nomine natalis omisso. "
Henthorn Todd, D. L).
^ ^ee "Acta Sanctorum Hiberni^," xxviii.
Martii. De S. Carnocho Episcopo, nn. 4, 5> p. 783.
• The Rev. William Reeves also observes: " it is reported that stations were formerly
H
Article IV. — ' tomus ii. , Maii vi. saints, p. 96.
See " Acta Sanciorum," Among the pretermitted
It is thus rendered in the English version of Dr. Whitley Stokes: "My Cuavoc with Breccan, two champion? who are purest,
—
114
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 7.
have been denominated Echdruim Brecain. Though the name is now lost, the position corresponds very accurately with that of Deshcart, which is close upon a stream dividing both territories. The spot bears strong marks of remote antiquity. 4 The denomination Echdruim or Eachdruim s is usually AnglicizedAughrim. ^ Atthe7thofMay,theBoUandists? noticethissaint, after the Martyrology of Tallagh, and as referred to by Colgan, but with some inaccuracy. He is believed^ to have been of Ulster descent. St. Berchan, or Breacain, who was venerated at Eachdruim, is said to have been a son to Saran. 9 This chieftain received St. Patrick, in a very rude manner, when the IrishApostlevisitedDalaradia,wherehelived. Forthis,thesaintreproved him, and predicted, that he should be expelled from his place. '° Notwith- standing, he had posterity, remarkable for holiness of life, viz. , Brocan, his son, Atractha," his grand-daughter, and a grand-son called Trenoc. " Another alternative conjecture of the scholiast on St. ^ngus is, that Daire Echdroma was possibly in Mucraime, in the west of Connaught. We are told of it, moreover, that the tree of the church was seen from the plain, and when one went to see it in the oak-wood, it was not to be found ; it is added, that the voice of the bell was heard, and the psalmody there, wliile the church itself
was not found. '3 Elsewhere, Colgan has a conjecture, '•* that the present St. Breccanwasnot distinct from Becan, brother to St. Carnech 'S and toSt. Ronan sons of Saran, son of Colgan, son to Tuathal, son of Felim, son to Fiach Cassan,sonofCoUaDachrioch. '^ ThepublishedMartyrologyofTallagh'7 enters Breccan Echdroma. The Franciscan copy has not a quite similar notice. '^ The Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman, of Christ Church Cathe- dral, of Donegal, and of Rev. William Reeves,'9 have noticed this festival to St. Bretan,'-'° or Berchan. *' He must have lived, at a remote period. At the Nones of May, corresponding with the 7th day, the Kalendar of Drummond^'* has placed the two saints, then venerated in Ireland. *3
Article II. St. Mochiarog, or Mochuarog, of Doire Echdroma. The present holy person must have flourished, at an early phase of Irish Church affairs, since we find the insertion of Mo-Cuaroc in the Felire of St. yEngus,composedtowardsthebeginningoftheninthcentury. IntheFran-
held there, though they are now discontinued, On the Calendar of Oengus, by \Yhitley and even the name of the ]iatron saint is Stokes, LL. D. , p. Ixxxiv.
forgotten. " See Rev. William Reeves' '* See ''Acta Sanctorum Hibernise,"
"Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down,
Connor and Dromore," Appendix G. G. , n.
(g), p. 335.
5 It is Anglicized "hovse-hill. "
* There are about twenty places so called
xxviii. Martii. Vita S. Carnechi, nn. I, 4, 5, p. 7S3.
'5 See his Life, at the 28th of March, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
'* Such is the pedigree found, in the in Ireland. See Dr. Patrick W. Joyce's Genealogies of the Irish Saints, at cap. xiii.
"Origin and Histoiy of Irish Names of Places," part iv. , chap, ix. , p. 506.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Maii vii. Among the pretermitted saints, pp. 131, 132.
» By Rev. Dr. Todd.
9 See Colgan's "Acta . Sanctoium Iliber- niK,"xx. Februarii, Vita S. Olcani, n. 13, p. 378.
'" See ibid. , cap. vii. , p. 376.
" Her Life will be found, at the llth of August.
" His fca^t has been assigned, either to the Slh, or to the 28th, of Ecbruaiy.
'3 See " Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. i. , Irish Manviscript Series.
"' Edited by Rev. Matthew Kelly, D. D. , p. xxiii.
'^Thus: biAeccAn . 1. ech 0|\omAiT).
"^ See " Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix L. L. , p. 378, and n. (v), ibid.
° So is he called, in the Liber Sancte Tri- nitatis, at Nonas Maii. See '• The Book of Obits and Martyrology of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, commonly called Christ Church, Dublin," Edited by John Clarke Crostwaite, A M. , and by Rev. James Henthorn Todd, p. 113.
'-' This was his name, . as given in the Martyrology of Donegal," edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. I20, I2I.
May 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 115
ciscan copy of the Tallagh Martyrology, after the entry of the previous saint's feast, as already set forth, we find it united with that of Mochuaroc. ^ How- ever, in the pubhshed Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 7th of May, we find recorded Ciaran, who was identical with Mociaroce. With an evident misunderstanding of this entry, the Bollandists^ quote from the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 7th of May, and with a remark, that among many similar homonymous saints in the Irish Calendars, they feel unable to identify those given, at this date. This saint—who appears to have been a woman—must have flourished, at rather an early date. Ciarog, as we are told, by the 0'Clerys,4 belonged to the race of Fergus, son to Ros, of the race of Ir, son of Milidh, i. e. of the race of Ciar, son to Fergus, son of Ros, son of Rudhraighe. There was a St. Dachiarog, ofErrigal Keeroge,^ near Ballygawly,inthecountyofTyrone. Traditionstates,thataformerchurch was built here by a St. Kieran f nor is it fairly to be inferred, that a record misunderstood ^ is preferable to a specious tradition. ^ This saint is thought to have been identical with the present Mochiarog—Moch and Dach being commutative forms, attaching to Ciarog, or Ciar. 9 By some, this latter is thought to have been a name only applying to a female saint ; the postfix, og, or oig, meaning " virgin. " Now, the derivation of Errigal appears to be from the Irish word Aireagal '°—pronounced arrigle—which means primarily *' a habitation," but in a secondary sense, it was often applied to an oratory,
toahabitation,ortoachurch. " Thus,theChurchofAireagalDachiarog" —now Errigal Keeroge '3—was once a very important establishment, and it is often mentioned in our Annals. It gave name to the parish. Raths and forts are numerous there \ while, on an eminence, in the townland so named, are the ruins of the former parochial church of Errigall-Keeroge. The walls are now in a very decayed state, nor do they seem to have been originally good or well built. '* The remains of an ancient stone cross were near, and
°^ Thus : " NoriK. Apud Hiberniam Na- tale Sanctorum Confessorum Ciaroc at Bre- cain hoc die celebratur. "
confounded with Ciarog, or Ciar.
^ See ibid. , pp. 137, 138.
' This information has been communicated
to the writer, by Mr. John W. Hanna, in a letter, headed, Saul-street, Downpatrick, 29th December, 1873.
'° " It has been used in Irish from tlie ear- liest times, for it occurs in our oldest MSvS. , as for instance in the Leabhar na hUidhre, where we find it in the form airicul. '^—Dr. Patrick W. Joyce's " Origin and History of
^3 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 12.
Article ii. —' Agui^ nioclniA'poc.
To that entry is added
^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiii.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Maii vii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 132.
4 See the "Martyrology of Donegal," Irish Names of Places," part iii. , chap, ii. ,
edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 120, 121.
p. 309.
" The word is said to have been derived
—as were most Irish w'ords of ecclesiastical use—from the Latin language, and oraculuin was the term usually applied both at home
5 There is an interesting notice. No. vi. ,
Parish of Errigall-Keroge, Diocese of Ar-
magh and County of Tyrone, by the Rev.
John Groves, in William Shaw Mason's and abroad to oratories ; while Errigal and " Statistical Account, or Parochial Survey oraculiun are somewhat similar both in of Ireland," vol. iii. , pp. 137 to 182. A Map sound and form. See Di-. George Petrie's
of the Parish is prefixed.
^ The writer has been informed, in a letter,
dated Bloomfield House, Emyvale, 29th of October, 1884, and written by Rev. Daniel O'Connor, P. P. , of Errigal Truogh, that Errigal Keeroge is now commonly pro- nounced—andevenwritteninthispartofthe country—as Eriigal Kieran.
1 The Rev. Mr. Groves assumes, that the recorded denomination of Errigall-Keeoge, the latter compound differs from Kieran,
"Ecclesiastical Architecture and Round Towers of Ireland," part ii. , sect, iii. , sub- sect, ii. , p. 352.
'^ Rendered in English, "the Church of St. Dachiarog.
;
while, according to others, he was St. Eustinus, the Deacon. ?
Article VII. Reputed Feast of St. Tigernach, in Scotland. At the 5th of May, Dempster has inserted the Invention ^ or Discovery of a Tigernach, Abbot, in Scotland ;- but, we know not on what authority.
Article VIII. Festival of St. Hilary, Bishop and Martyr, in Gaul. In the Feilire of St. ^Engus, at the 5th of May, there is an entry of St. Hilary's Feast. The Scholiast remarks, that he was St. Hilary, Bishop and Martyr, in Gaul. ^ The particular acts of this saint are set forth by the Bol- landists,^ in their great collection.
Article IX. Festival of St. Ultan, Abbot of Fosse, Belgium. The Bollandists ^ enter at this date a festival for St. Ultan, the Abbot, whose Acts have been inserted already, at the ist of May.
* It would seem, that the Martyrologists Manrolycus, Canisius, Menard, and Buceli- nus, have confounded St. Egbert, who is venerated on the 24th of April, with the St. Eadbert, who succeeded St. Cuthbert, in the See of Lindisfaine. The place of his birtli is not known for a certainty. The Bollan- dists furnish his Acts—taken chiefly from Venerable Bede's " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iv. , cap. xxix. -—in their great collection, "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Maii vi. De Sancto Eadberto Episcopo Lindisfarnensi in Anglia, pp. 107, 108.
Article vi. — ' In the Leabhar Breac copy, we have the following stanza :
In oeochAiii luiTinuy" tAheb<M|\ ]'echpiAnu LocA]\ tAiche LichA p^lf l\0CAlb A]A]:iA'Ot1.
Thus rendered into EngHsh, by Dr. Whitley Stokes:—" The deacon Justinus with Hilary beyondpains theywenton(the)dayoffes-
On the Calendar
St. Patrick, at the 17th of March, chap. xi. in the Third Volume of this work.
• This is a parish, in the Barony of Ath- lone, described on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Roscom- mon," sheets 34, 35, 38, 39, 41. The town and townland are on sheet 39.
s The plain of Roscommon, extending west of the River Shannon.
* His feast occurs, on the 9th of Sep- tember.
7 The commentator on the Feilire of St. yEngus observes, that he and Hilary died, on thedayofthesolarmonthofthefirst resur- rection. See the " Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , p. Ixxxiv. —
"
Article vii. ' Thus In Scotia
tival (whereon) our God arose. "—"Trans- actions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish
See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. On the Calendar of Oengus,
p. Ixxxiv.
° See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Maii
V. De Sancto tlilario Episcopo Arelatensi in Gallia, pp. 24 to 43.
Manuscript Series, vol. i. ofOengus, p. Ixxviii.
;
Article ix. —'See " Acta Sanctorum," 3 He was possibly the Deacon Juis, who tomus ii. , Maii v. Among the pretermitted
^ See ibid. , p. Ixxxiv.
was left by St. Patrick, in the territory of saints, p. 2. Ui Maine, as already related in the Life of
Tigernaci Abbatis inuentio. " Scoticum. "
: —
" Menologium
^ See Bishop Forbes"" Kalendars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 198.
Article viii. —'
— —
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 6.
^ijrtf) ©ay of i^ap.
ARTICLE I. —ST. COLMAN, OF LOCH ECHIN.
ANentrv, Colman Locha ethin, appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at this date. The Bollandists ^ quote from this authority, likewise, but in a somewhat different manner. 3 However, among the various Irish saints bearing the name of Colman,'^ they could obtain no certain indications, ref^ardinf^thepresentholyman. Again,wefindanothernote,thatthefeast
of'st. Colman,LochEichan,waskept,onthe6thofMay. s Wecannotfind any lake in Ireland, which is now similarly named. On this day was vene- rated, Colman, of Loch Eriin, as we find registered, also, in the Martyrology of Donegal. *
Article II. St. Inneem, Dromtariff Old Church, County of Cork. InthedioceseofKerrv,thereisanoldchurchatDromtariff,inthe parish so called, and county of Cork, where a female saint, called Inneen, wasvenerated,onthe6lhofMay. Accordingtopopulartradition,shewas the sister of St. Lateerin,' who is likewnse popularly known, at Cullin,^ in that part of the country, and to an older sister, who lived at Kilmeen. 3 It it stated, according to a local tradition, that the angels of Heaven made a road, one nif^ht,fromKilmeen* throughDromtariffandontoCullin,sothatthethree sislers might the more conveniently visit each other once every week. s Much obscurity hangs over their history, as their celebrity appears to be merely local ; although, the people, in their part of the country, have a great venera- tion for those sisters.
Article III. Festival of St. INIatthew, the Apostle. The Feilire ofSt. ^no-us hasnoticedatthe6thofMay,thatafestivalofSt. Matthew,
Article i. — ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiii. In the Franciscan copy, the read- ing is, CotniAin tochA ediin.
== See "Acta Sanctorum, tomus ii. , Maii
3 The remains of an ancient paved way may be traced between the places. It ex- tends to the distance of fully ten English miles.
* The parish of Kilmeen is in the barony of Duhallow, and shown, on the "Ordnance Survey Townlnnd Maps for the County of Cork," East Riding, sheets 4, 12, 13, 21, 22, 23. 29> 30. 31-
5 For a further account, the reader is re- ferred to Edward Walsh's Popular Legends
vi.
Among the pretermitted saints, p. 97. 3 Thus, they have, " Colmanus de Loch-
echin et alii LXX.
tThey refer the reader to Colgan's "Acta
Sanctorum IliberniK," Martii xxx. , where he treats of several Saints Colman, iinder the heading, De S. Colmano Lannensi sive Linnense Abbate, pp. 792, 793-
5 The Manuscript Calendar, which be- lons^ed to Profe-sor Eugene O'Curry.
'Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
120, i21. . Article ii. —' Her patron day is said to
have been on the 24th of July.
= The parish of Cullcn is in the Barony of
Duhallow, and it is described, on the "Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," East Riding, sheets 29, 30, 38, 39-
—No. iii. , St. Lateerin, " Dublin Penny Journal," vol. i. . No. 45,
p. 360. — In the Leabhar Breac Article hi. '
copy is the following Irish text :
Ve]\ ]-o]"ci\ib ceiicei\c<M CAin pcclA CiMi'c cixoch-Odi <\)\nuiinre]\ LApldirhe 3ein mop lIlAchoi IIIochcA.
It is thus translated into English, by Dr.
of the South.
——
May 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 113
the Apostle, was held in the Irish Church. The Scholiast adds, that it was the feast of his nativity. ^ The Bollandists3 have a notice of this Festival, as found in various ancient Martyrologies. 4 In the Roman Martyrology, the feast is entered, at this date, as the Translation of his body at Salernum, wliile his Natalis is referred to the 21st of September.
Article IV. Reputed Festival of Brigidona and Maria, Martyrs. At the 6th of May, the BoUandists ' refer to a Manuscript copy of the Tallagh Martyrology, for the insertion of Brigidona and Maria among the Martyrs; while, they remark, that elsevvhere, they could find no similar notice. To us, it seems likely, this entry has reference to the Saints Maura and Brigid, Virgins and Martyrs, noticed at the previous day, and placed by some error, at this date.
^ebentJ) 2Bai) of i^lap*
ARTICLE I. —ST. BERCHAN, OF DAIRE EACHDROMA.
FROM accessible accounts, it seems difficult to set down any authentic particulars, regarding the present holy man, his place, and his period. At the 7th of May, in the Feilire of St. ^ngus,' a commemoration of two dis- tinct saints, and at the same place, denominated Daire Echdroma, is recorded. These are called MochuarocandBreccan. The commentator on this Metrical
Martyrology of ^ngus remarks, that Daire Ech-Droma is in the north of Dalaradia, and on the border of Dalaradia and Dalriada. ^ It was in the DioceseofDownandConnor,accordingtoColgan. 3 Itseemslikewiseto
Whitley Stokes:—"A man who wrote without stint fair stories of Christ crucified : commemorated by princes is (the) great birth of Matthew (the) magnified. "—Trans- actions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. On the Calendar of Oeiigus, p. Ixxviii.
Article i. —' In the " Leabhar Breac" copy, we have the following :
tTloc]^UA]^oc La b)\eccAn OijeixAic AcglAinm CA]\fAc C|\i-pc aj'tdiLui liroGAch 'Oi\oinA 'Oaiimu.
" A Latin comment follows the Irish,
" vel in hoc die occidit Christo [leg. occisus
est pro Christo ? ] See /i^zi/. , p. Ixxxiv. In
the lower margin he adds: " Fer roscrib
7rl. Matha mochta . i. machta . i. ab eo quod loved Christ who is dearest, in Daire Ech-
est mochta [leg. macto] . i. occido uel magis aucta ab eo quod est augeo mathens ad ere- dendum. "
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Mail vi. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 98.
droma. "—Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, vol. i. , Irish Manuscript Series, p. Ixxviii.
^ See Introduction to the " Book of Obits and Martyrology of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, commonly called Christ Church, Dublin," p. lix , Edited by John
* They write : " Matthsei Apostoli et
Euangelistse natalis in Perside memoratur Clarke Crostvvaite, A. M. , and Rev. James
in apographis Martyrologii Hierony/niani, Lucensi et Corbeiensi Pai-isiis excnsso, into et Epternacensi nomine natalis omisso. "
Henthorn Todd, D. L).
^ ^ee "Acta Sanctorum Hiberni^," xxviii.
Martii. De S. Carnocho Episcopo, nn. 4, 5> p. 783.
• The Rev. William Reeves also observes: " it is reported that stations were formerly
H
Article IV. — ' tomus ii. , Maii vi. saints, p. 96.
See " Acta Sanciorum," Among the pretermitted
It is thus rendered in the English version of Dr. Whitley Stokes: "My Cuavoc with Breccan, two champion? who are purest,
—
114
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 7.
have been denominated Echdruim Brecain. Though the name is now lost, the position corresponds very accurately with that of Deshcart, which is close upon a stream dividing both territories. The spot bears strong marks of remote antiquity. 4 The denomination Echdruim or Eachdruim s is usually AnglicizedAughrim. ^ Atthe7thofMay,theBoUandists? noticethissaint, after the Martyrology of Tallagh, and as referred to by Colgan, but with some inaccuracy. He is believed^ to have been of Ulster descent. St. Berchan, or Breacain, who was venerated at Eachdruim, is said to have been a son to Saran. 9 This chieftain received St. Patrick, in a very rude manner, when the IrishApostlevisitedDalaradia,wherehelived. Forthis,thesaintreproved him, and predicted, that he should be expelled from his place. '° Notwith- standing, he had posterity, remarkable for holiness of life, viz. , Brocan, his son, Atractha," his grand-daughter, and a grand-son called Trenoc. " Another alternative conjecture of the scholiast on St. ^ngus is, that Daire Echdroma was possibly in Mucraime, in the west of Connaught. We are told of it, moreover, that the tree of the church was seen from the plain, and when one went to see it in the oak-wood, it was not to be found ; it is added, that the voice of the bell was heard, and the psalmody there, wliile the church itself
was not found. '3 Elsewhere, Colgan has a conjecture, '•* that the present St. Breccanwasnot distinct from Becan, brother to St. Carnech 'S and toSt. Ronan sons of Saran, son of Colgan, son to Tuathal, son of Felim, son to Fiach Cassan,sonofCoUaDachrioch. '^ ThepublishedMartyrologyofTallagh'7 enters Breccan Echdroma. The Franciscan copy has not a quite similar notice. '^ The Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman, of Christ Church Cathe- dral, of Donegal, and of Rev. William Reeves,'9 have noticed this festival to St. Bretan,'-'° or Berchan. *' He must have lived, at a remote period. At the Nones of May, corresponding with the 7th day, the Kalendar of Drummond^'* has placed the two saints, then venerated in Ireland. *3
Article II. St. Mochiarog, or Mochuarog, of Doire Echdroma. The present holy person must have flourished, at an early phase of Irish Church affairs, since we find the insertion of Mo-Cuaroc in the Felire of St. yEngus,composedtowardsthebeginningoftheninthcentury. IntheFran-
held there, though they are now discontinued, On the Calendar of Oengus, by \Yhitley and even the name of the ]iatron saint is Stokes, LL. D. , p. Ixxxiv.
forgotten. " See Rev. William Reeves' '* See ''Acta Sanctorum Hibernise,"
"Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down,
Connor and Dromore," Appendix G. G. , n.
(g), p. 335.
5 It is Anglicized "hovse-hill. "
* There are about twenty places so called
xxviii. Martii. Vita S. Carnechi, nn. I, 4, 5, p. 7S3.
'5 See his Life, at the 28th of March, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
'* Such is the pedigree found, in the in Ireland. See Dr. Patrick W. Joyce's Genealogies of the Irish Saints, at cap. xiii.
"Origin and Histoiy of Irish Names of Places," part iv. , chap, ix. , p. 506.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Maii vii. Among the pretermitted saints, pp. 131, 132.
» By Rev. Dr. Todd.
9 See Colgan's "Acta . Sanctoium Iliber- niK,"xx. Februarii, Vita S. Olcani, n. 13, p. 378.
'" See ibid. , cap. vii. , p. 376.
" Her Life will be found, at the llth of August.
" His fca^t has been assigned, either to the Slh, or to the 28th, of Ecbruaiy.
'3 See " Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. i. , Irish Manviscript Series.
"' Edited by Rev. Matthew Kelly, D. D. , p. xxiii.
'^Thus: biAeccAn . 1. ech 0|\omAiT).
"^ See " Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix L. L. , p. 378, and n. (v), ibid.
° So is he called, in the Liber Sancte Tri- nitatis, at Nonas Maii. See '• The Book of Obits and Martyrology of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, commonly called Christ Church, Dublin," Edited by John Clarke Crostwaite, A M. , and by Rev. James Henthorn Todd, p. 113.
'-' This was his name, . as given in the Martyrology of Donegal," edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. I20, I2I.
May 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 115
ciscan copy of the Tallagh Martyrology, after the entry of the previous saint's feast, as already set forth, we find it united with that of Mochuaroc. ^ How- ever, in the pubhshed Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 7th of May, we find recorded Ciaran, who was identical with Mociaroce. With an evident misunderstanding of this entry, the Bollandists^ quote from the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 7th of May, and with a remark, that among many similar homonymous saints in the Irish Calendars, they feel unable to identify those given, at this date. This saint—who appears to have been a woman—must have flourished, at rather an early date. Ciarog, as we are told, by the 0'Clerys,4 belonged to the race of Fergus, son to Ros, of the race of Ir, son of Milidh, i. e. of the race of Ciar, son to Fergus, son of Ros, son of Rudhraighe. There was a St. Dachiarog, ofErrigal Keeroge,^ near Ballygawly,inthecountyofTyrone. Traditionstates,thataformerchurch was built here by a St. Kieran f nor is it fairly to be inferred, that a record misunderstood ^ is preferable to a specious tradition. ^ This saint is thought to have been identical with the present Mochiarog—Moch and Dach being commutative forms, attaching to Ciarog, or Ciar. 9 By some, this latter is thought to have been a name only applying to a female saint ; the postfix, og, or oig, meaning " virgin. " Now, the derivation of Errigal appears to be from the Irish word Aireagal '°—pronounced arrigle—which means primarily *' a habitation," but in a secondary sense, it was often applied to an oratory,
toahabitation,ortoachurch. " Thus,theChurchofAireagalDachiarog" —now Errigal Keeroge '3—was once a very important establishment, and it is often mentioned in our Annals. It gave name to the parish. Raths and forts are numerous there \ while, on an eminence, in the townland so named, are the ruins of the former parochial church of Errigall-Keeroge. The walls are now in a very decayed state, nor do they seem to have been originally good or well built. '* The remains of an ancient stone cross were near, and
°^ Thus : " NoriK. Apud Hiberniam Na- tale Sanctorum Confessorum Ciaroc at Bre- cain hoc die celebratur. "
confounded with Ciarog, or Ciar.
^ See ibid. , pp. 137, 138.
' This information has been communicated
to the writer, by Mr. John W. Hanna, in a letter, headed, Saul-street, Downpatrick, 29th December, 1873.
'° " It has been used in Irish from tlie ear- liest times, for it occurs in our oldest MSvS. , as for instance in the Leabhar na hUidhre, where we find it in the form airicul. '^—Dr. Patrick W. Joyce's " Origin and History of
^3 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 12.
Article ii. —' Agui^ nioclniA'poc.
To that entry is added
^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiii.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Maii vii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 132.
4 See the "Martyrology of Donegal," Irish Names of Places," part iii. , chap, ii. ,
edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 120, 121.
p. 309.
" The word is said to have been derived
—as were most Irish w'ords of ecclesiastical use—from the Latin language, and oraculuin was the term usually applied both at home
5 There is an interesting notice. No. vi. ,
Parish of Errigall-Keroge, Diocese of Ar-
magh and County of Tyrone, by the Rev.
John Groves, in William Shaw Mason's and abroad to oratories ; while Errigal and " Statistical Account, or Parochial Survey oraculiun are somewhat similar both in of Ireland," vol. iii. , pp. 137 to 182. A Map sound and form. See Di-. George Petrie's
of the Parish is prefixed.
^ The writer has been informed, in a letter,
dated Bloomfield House, Emyvale, 29th of October, 1884, and written by Rev. Daniel O'Connor, P. P. , of Errigal Truogh, that Errigal Keeroge is now commonly pro- nounced—andevenwritteninthispartofthe country—as Eriigal Kieran.
1 The Rev. Mr. Groves assumes, that the recorded denomination of Errigall-Keeoge, the latter compound differs from Kieran,
"Ecclesiastical Architecture and Round Towers of Ireland," part ii. , sect, iii. , sub- sect, ii. , p. 352.
'^ Rendered in English, "the Church of St. Dachiarog.
