A deer, with her hind, came to the place, where they were
stopping—probably
at Kill-Cuanna—and without betraying any sign of fear, both the wild animals approached our saint
before him, licking his hands and feet, at the same time.
before him, licking his hands and feet, at the same time.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
This was originally one of the most beautifully built round towers in Ireland.
Some of the yellowish white lime-stones, upon the lower course, are five feet two inches long, are dressed, cambered on the outside, and laid in regular courses.
=^^ In some instances, they are cut and fitted into each other, after the manner of the ancient Cyclopean masonry.
'** The interior of the tower is at present a solid mass of clay and stones.
Some luxuriant masses of ivy, failing over the topmost courses, add a picturesque effect to the ruin, which.
Sir William Wilde is inclined to believe, may be that Cloichteach^'s of 1238,=** recorded by the annalists.
Kilcoona is a long and a narrow parish, running nearly north and south, between the parishes of Killeany^^s and Annaghdown,'*^ and it lies about three miles, in a direct line from the old cathedral church of the latter.
Although the Cloichteach is said to have been erected, at Enach-dun, or Annadown ;'7 yet, Sir William Wilde deems
*3 Otherwise called Tir-breoin.
** Whether or not he was identical with the present saint may be questioned.
tower, form the headstones to modern
graves,
" No vestige of the door-way remains, as
the present top is below the level of the
usual site of that portion of a cloictheach, or See Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical His- Irish round tower, but it was probably on
'5 See
'*
Monasticon llibemicum," pp.
290, 291, and n. (q).
'* **
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, x. , n. 115, p. 138, chap, xiv. , sect, xv. , n. 203, p. 359.
the east face.
'3 This is the Irish name, by which the
round towers of Ireland are still known, in
their respective localities. See cLoi5teA9 and cuilceA6, denoting "a steeple," or, "a
"
Focaloir Gaoid- hilge-Sax-Bhearla, or an Irish-English Die-
tionary. "
=< This year the Cloichteach of Annadown
was erected. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 296, 297.
'7 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. 2, p. 494.
belfry," in Dr. O'Brien's
" See Hely Dutton's "Statistical and Agricultural Survey of the County of Gal- way," chap, v. , sec. xxv. , p. 492.
*9 See Sir William Wilde's " Lough Cor- rib, its Shores and Islands," chap, iv. , p. 78.
""An mteresting wood-cut illustration is
to be found, accompanying Sir William
Wilde's description, at p. 79. This was Galway. " Sheets 42, 55, $6.
from a taken under the photograph,
'•* See it on the "Ordnance represented,
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Galway. " Sheets 42, 43, 56, 57, 69, 70, 82.
copied
direction of Lord Dunraven, who accom- panied Sir William Wilde, on the occasion of a visit, in September, 1866.
" A few dressed stones, taken from the
=^ Besides the locality, where the ruins are
=sSee it described, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of
February 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 285
it possible, that the erection may be referred to Kilcoona, within its district. It is very remarkable, that Kilcoonagh round tower had been unnoticed by the Ordnance Survey staff. »^ A few paces, north-east of it, are the ruined walls of a church, sixty-six feet five inches long, and twenty-four feet wide exteriorly, with the gables still standing. "9
It would appear, that St. Cuanna's father met an untimely death, at the hands of certain wicked men, who, now hearing of his son's merits and miracles, sent messengers to him, asking pardon for their heinous offence. This was charitably and magnanimously granted. Our saint continued his devotional practices, by frequently retiring to the seclusion of his cell, for
prayer and meditation ; and, sometimes by going out during night to a fountain, which derived its name from himself. Here, he was accustom—ed to recite the entire Psal—ter. St. Cuanna was visited by a great concourse especially of holy men from all parts of Ireland. These were specially desiroustoformaspiritualfriendshipandanalliancewithhim. Theresult of a conference they held on a beautiful plain, near the cell of Cuanna, was the formation of a confraternity for prayers and supplications, to the throne of Divine Grace, as also, to obtain all spiritual blessings for themselves, and for those people, whose interests they were chosen to represent. There, also, they entered into a sort of religious treaty and mutual obligation, to unite in a community for prayer, and to protect and defend those persons, who were
subject to their jurisdiction. We are told, that no fewer than one thousand seven hundred and forty-six holy men were present at this conference. While their assembly was in session, a wondrous prodigy appeared to those
present. A bell was seen in air, moving as a bird, and suspended over their heads. All were astonished. They asked from Cuanna, a reason why this miraculous apparition was presented to their view, and why the bell moved through air, without any known agency, although it could not touch the
earth. Cuanna " This replied,
which are you
to see
He is desirous of joining your confra- ternity, and of being bound to you, in bonds of spiritual friendship. But,
not being able to join us, by his corporal presence, he hath sent the bell, which you see, that by means of this messenger, we may admit him into union with our sodality. " 31 The holy men, who were there assembled, felt more confirmed in mutual charity by this miracle, and they asked Abbot Cuanna, where St. Fursey then lived. They were told at Perrone, a city in Gaul. 32 xhen, they enquired the cause for his having left Ireland. Our saint said, that he had entered into an agreement with a holy man, named Magnentius,33 who entreated St. Fursey to assume an infirmity, with which he was afflicted, promising at the same time, he, Magnentius, would willingly
bell, through air, belongs to St. Fursey. 3°
surprised
flying
seen, on the shore of Lough Corrib, there are
ix,, xi. , xii. , pp. 250, 251. — St. did not
several other or district.
32 As—
or
name to townlands, within the old diocese
it is
settle at Perrone, before A. D.
Enaghs
Annaghs, giving
Fursey
generally
*^
Maps, and the Antiquarian Letters on Gal-
thought
648, or after 652, the date of this conven*
tion may be assigned to some intermediate time.
33 For notices of this Magnantius or Mag* nennius, Colgan refers us to the i8th of De« cember, where, no doubt, he intended to
"
Acta Sanctorum Hi* bemise," iv. Februarii, n. 18, p. 252. It would therefore appear, that Colgan makes him identical with St. Magnend, Abbot of Kilmainham, notices of whom may be found at the i8th of December, the day fot hia
festival.
This is apparent, on examination of the
way County, preserved in the Royal Irish Academy.
=^9 There are no carved stones, throughout the building, that afford any means for con- jecturing its date. See Sir William Wilde's " Lough Corrib ; its Shores and Islands," chap, iv. , pp. 79 to 81.
3" See his Life at the 1 6th of January.
3^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber. nise," iv. Februarii. Vita S. Cuannse, cap.
give his Acts. See
286 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 4.
endureanotherspeciesofsuffering,whichaffectedSt. Fursey. 34 Thus,asSt. Fursey assumed the infirmity of Magnentius, he also became allied to him in friendship. And, the same Divine charity, that sustained our weight of sin on the cross, so arranged their mutual infirmities, that St. Fursey endured a loathsome, vermiculous corrosion, with which Magnentius had been afflicted ; while, Magnentius had transferred to his system, a dysentery, hitherto borne by St. Fursey. Wherefore, the latter saint went into Gaul, with such a complaint, and to the time indicated, he had remained in the city of Perrone, where he was renowned, for the performance of many miracles. 35
We are told, that at one time, Cuanna's brothers collected together, de- siringtobeavengedonthepeopleofaplace,calledGnomor. 3^ But,when the saint learned the purpose of his brothers, wishing to return evil for good, Cuanna went with his disciples to these people, and advised them to fly for safety, from the approaching hostile force. They appear to have been the enemies of our saint's family. Notwithstanding, they adopted Cuanna's counsel,andowedtheirsafetytohispremonitions. Whilstoursaintwasre- turning with his disciples to the banks of Lough Orbsen, he there found a flat stone, on which angels had heretofore brought him to his natal place. 37 The legend states, that trusting in the power of Him, who walked with dry feet upon the waters, our saint, with his eight disciples, stood upon the stone, and that it sailed with all the buoyancy of a ship, until the voyagers were brought to the land of Cuanna's nativity. 3^ The servant of God ordered his disciples to bring this stone to his cell, and, it is said, that for seven Lents, he remained upon it, engaged in the exercise of penitential obser- vances. Moreover, it was believed, that owing to the merits of our saint, many infirm persons were there restored to health. 39
During their journey, our saint's disciples could not find any water to appease their thirst. '*^ But, through the power of Him, who refreshes his servants with the waters of Divine wisdom, Cuanna immediately caused a rivulet to flow from the dry soil. -^^ Of this water, so miraculously produced,
his disciples drank. They praised God's greatness, thus manifested through his servant. In tradition, the recollection of this well is still preserved.
34 Cathald Maguire, at the i6th of January, and Desmay, in his Life of St. Fursey, notice this strange commutation. See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," iv. Februarii. Vita S. Cuannje, n. 19, p. 252, and ix. Feb- ruarii. Vita S. Furssei, n. 16, pp. 299, 300.
35 After the foregoing narrative had been
thus far given, the next sentence is left im-
perfect, ov^ring to a defect in the MS. con-
taining our saint's Acts. Colgan thinks, at
least, one leaf must be missing. The form
of what immediately succeeds is thus given :
O'h Adhnaidh on Gno-Beg the lasting, A nest not indigent or perishable. "
—See pp. 64, 65, p. xlii. , nn. 322, 323.
37 Gnomor and Gnobeg, two sons of Lugad, possessed those territories called after them, and since constituting the barony of
Moycullen, in the county of Galway. See *'
O'Flaherty's Ogygia," pars iii. , cap. Ixxxii. , p. 387. Lough Orbsen is now known as Lough Coriib.
38 gge Sir William Wilde's ' * Lough Cor- rib ; its Shores and Islands," chap, iv. , p.
**
Cumque Episcopus praefatje, &c. Deest 82.
hicinMS. unumadminusJolium,eosad
necessitatem sanctorum occidunt, & fercula
digna murmurantibus, de eorum carnibus
39See O'Flaherty's "lar-Connaught," &c. , pp. 52, 54, 62, 156, 252, 255, 391, 392.
o See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber* Colgan's
distribuuntur. " See
Colgan's
" Acta Sane-
tbrum Hiberniae," iv. Februarii. Vita S.
niae," iv. Februarii. Vita S. Cuannfle, cap. vi. , vii. , viii,, p. 250.
Cuannce, cap. xiii,, p. 251.
3* In " The Poems of Topographical John
^' "The saint's called Dabkac well,
O'Dubhagainand GiollanaNaomhO'Huid—- hrin," edited by Dr. O'Donovan, we find :
C//«a«a, formerly much frequented by pil- grims, lies in the adjacent townland of
"
Ovier Gno-mor, of smooth marshes,
—
Knockreen. " SirWilliamWilde's"Lough
MacConroiquietlyreigns
Corrib; itsShoresandIslands,"chap,iv. , p. 83.
ti-EBRUARY 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 287
At another time, whilst engaged in the contemplation of Heavenly
things, and singing the Divine praises, in a certain field, near his cell,
Finmaith, mother to our saint, approached him, and extolled the beauty ot
his cheeks and the brightness of his eyes. This, however, proved a great
source of annoyance to him. Fearing his corporal beauty might become an occasion, for tempting others to the commission of mortal sin, Cuanna is said
immediately to have deprived himself of sight, thus too literally fulfiling the
" If scandalize Gospel precept, thy right eye
thee, pluck
from thee. " <* However, his sight was again restored, through a miracle.
The servant of God began to experience great pain, from the nature of this
self-privation, but shortly afterwards he fell asleep. The Divine mercy, having restored sight to those born blindj-^s likewise renewed his servant's
: eyesight,thatsohemightbeabletosay,withtheprophetDavid "Omy
God, enlighten my darkness, for by thee I shall be delivered from tempta- tion. "'^'* The author of our saint's Acts observes, that as Cuanna thus endea- voured to avoid human praise, wherefore, true and deserved laudation followed him, as it often does those who seek to avoid it. ^s
One of the last incidents, recorded in the mutilated Acts of our saint, enables us to understand, that he had been visited by certain holy men, who remained with him for three days.
A deer, with her hind, came to the place, where they were stopping—probably at Kill-Cuanna—and without betraying any sign of fear, both the wild animals approached our saint
before him, licking his hands and feet, at the same time. The Lord is truly wonderful, in his saints ; and, as the lions became gentle before the sight of Daniel, in their den, so were the deer completely domesticated with Cuanna. His holy guests, no doubt, felt greatly edified at what they had witnessed ; and, on departing from him, they gave their right hands to him, in token of brotherhood, and in the name of the most adorable Trinity. Then they departed, while the deer, in a domesticated state, remained with St. Cuanna, so long as he lived. ^^
After the foregoing incidents, and various other unrecorded miracles, had occurred, the holy man of God desired to die, as he had lived, in peace with Christ. GentlyhepassedawaytothebosomofAbraham,theangelsheralding his way to the starry heavens, where with the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, henowreigns,inaworldwithoutend. Hehadcollectedaroundhim,athis church and monastery of Kilcoonagh, a great number of learned Christian men, when the whole of this region from Clare-Galway to Cong was fertile with piety, learning and art. 47
Thatthissaintdied,abouttheyear650,isColgan'sopinion. However,
his inference, that Cuanna departed at this particular date,^^ rests upon no just
grounds. Althoughwemightadmit,thatgreatpublicassembly,mentioned in his Acts, to have been held, about such a period ; we are no where in-
formed, in his imperfect biography, that Cuanna's death occurred, during the same year, notwithstanding Colgan's affirmative assertion. '*^ Neither does
He cried " The out,
who created
No sooner had he spoken these words, than the deer fell upon her knees
*= See Matt, v. , 29.
*3 See Matt, ix. , 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. ^ See Psalms, xvii. , 29, 30.
"
xiv. , p. 251.
^i See Sir William WUde's "Lough
Corrib ; its Shores and Islands," chap, iv. j p» 82.
'^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernia," iv.
Februarii, n. 20, p. 252.
-^ Dr. Lanigan also observes :
Acta Sanctorum Hiber* hiss," iv. Februarii. De S. Cuanna, cap.
*s See Colgan's Xv, Dt 250k
Lord,
you,
shall
certainly
make tame. " you
"
ni»," iv» Februarii, De S. Cuanna, cap. death seems to have occurred during th<
*^See
Colgan's
** Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
CUanna'3
it and cast it out,
LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February 4.
there appear the least connexion, between the narrative, regarding this pubHc assembly, and those circumstances, immediately preceding the account of our saint's death ; on the contrary-, Colgan himself acknowledges, that at
least one leaf is missing in the manuscript, containing Cuanna's Acts, and in his possession. A notice of that public assembly breaks off, in an un-
finished manner, according to this mutilated record ; while, the succeeding
contexthasnoreferencewhatever,totheprecedingfragments. Atthe4th
of February, we find St. Cuanna lauded, for his piety and austerity, in the
"
Tallagh,5^ at the 4th of February. At Lismore, he was probably only a monk; but,afterwards,hebecameabbotoverthechurchandmonasteryof Kill-Chuanna. Atthisday,likewise,hisnatalisisnotedintheCalendarof Cashel, where he is said to have been of Lismore. The O'Clerys fell into an error, when they represent Cuanna, as an Abbot of Lis-more. He is entered thus, in the Martyrology of Donegal,5' as having been venerated on thisday. However,itdoesnotseemcertain,hewasthereelevatedtosucha dignity. His festival being kept, on the 4th day of February,53 it is probably the anniversary date for his departure. The Scottish Kalendars have, like- wise, commemorated this saint. 54 Thus were the merits of this holy man extended beyond the bounds of his own country, where his memory was more specially reverenced.
Article II. —St. Modan, Abbot, and St. Medan, in Scotland.
\Probably in the Eighth or Ninth Century. ^ Armed with faith, virtue and righteousness, as faithful soldiers and servants of Christ, these holy men
the
Feilire" of St. ^ngus. s° Cuanna, Lismoir, occurs in the Martyrology of
warred the continually, against
and the world. "^ fleeting
devil,
Christian perfection, they knew, was to be attained, by holy prayer and con-
templation, and by a close union of our souls with God-^" The Acts of St. Modan,ifwritten,seemtohaveperished,ortohavebeenlost. TheAberdeen
Breviary, compiled about the year 1509, appears to be the earliest known authority,fortheActsofthisholyman; and,thelessonsofhisofiicemust have been taken, from some earlier records, otherwise, the statements there made only rest on popular tradition. 3 From difl"erent sources, Colgan* has given us some particulars, regarding this holy confessor and abbot, at the 4th of February. The Bollandists have composed a dissertation,5 in eight
time that St. Fursey was at Perron in France.
Hence Colgan deduced, that it probably was about 650 ; whereas Fursey was not at Perron until 648, and died there in 652. "—- "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, xv. , n. 208, p. 360.
S" The following stanza is taken from the
O'Gorman, and Cathal Maguire, are agreed, on this point.
54 in the ** Kalendarium Drummon-
"
Professor O'Looney :—
diense," at the 4th of February, we find this entry, "apud Hiberniam Sancta Virgo Cuanna ad Christum migravit," p. 4. See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints. "
Leabhar Breac," and thus translated, by
Article ii. —* See the Breviary of Aber- deen. Office of St. Modan, lect. i.
5. ii. n. i:t\oniuf AgAf mAgtiAf, SelAiffe l^ofeffe^ ;
SeiMTiAn triApcip tiAf^l,
»
See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other Principal Saints," vol. ii. , February iv.
3 Seethe Bollandists' " Acta " Sanctorum,
tomus i. , Februarii iv. De S. Modano, abbate, in Scotia, p. 497. Also Rev. S.
CuAriA
c^abdaL cpefen.
Fronius and Magnus, Gelasius thou knowest ; German, a noble martyr,
Cuana, pious, austere.
S* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiv.
5' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
38, 39>
53 The Calendar of Cashel, Marianus
"
Lives of the Saints," vol.
flesh,
Baring-Gould's
ii. , February iv. , p. 91.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernize," iv.
Februarii. De S. Modano Abbate, ex di-
versis, pp. 252, 253.
5 Written by Father John Boland, in the
"Acta Sanctorum. "
February 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 289
previous paragraphs, with a Life of St. Modan, taken from six lessons, to be foundintheBreviaryofAberdeen. ^ BishopChalloner,7Rev. AlbanButler,^
andBishopForbes,havealsoanaccountregardinghim. 9 Atthisparticular date, hkewise, several Calendarists have chosen to associate, with the present saint, a holy brother, called Medan or Middan, about whom very little seems tobeknown. TheEnglishMartyrologyofJohnWilsonrecordsModanand Medan or Middan, at the 26th of April ;'° and, it states, that both were celebrated in Scotia and Hibernia, where many altars were dedicated to them. On the 4th of February," as appears from the Aberdeen Breviary, the feast of St. Modan, Abbot, with six lessons," was kept in Scotland. That of his brother, Medan or Midan, is usually found in connexion. We know few authentic particulars, regarding the lives of these holy servants of God. Accordingtothemostprobableopinion,however,theyflourishedin the eighth or ninth century. The present St. Modan, Confessor and Abbot, is entered at the 4th of February, by Bishop Forbes, who says, he is not to be confounded with St. Medana and St. Middanus. ^3 There was another St. Modan, a bishop, venerated in Scotland,^-^ but not at this particular date. Hermann Greuen, in his additions to Usuard, has a feast to St. Modan, Abbot, at the 4th of February, and to a St. Medan, Abbot, at the 14th of November. ^5 in the Kalendar to the Breviary of Aberdeen, St. Modan, Abbot, is noted at the 4th of February, as having been commemorated, in an office, consisting of nine lessons. '^ And again, in the Martyrology of Aberdeen, it is stated, at the same date, that he was venerated at Fynthre,^7 and that a church had been dedicated to him. ^^ It also had the rehcs of St. Modan, while various remarkable miracles were attributed to them. ^9 According to Adam King's Kalendar,^° at the 4th of February, St. Modan was abbot in Scotland, under King Conran. '^^ In his " Menologium Scoti- cum," Dempster places the festival of Modan, bishop, in Scotia, at the 5th of
^"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Feb-
niarii iv. De S. Modano, Abbate in Scotia,
at the 2nd, of August, the Carthusian Mar- tyrology, or *' Usuardus auctus," has a fes- tival for a St. Medan, a bishop. See Col-
pp. 497, 498. "
"Acta Sanctorum
gan's Hiberniae,"
7 See Britannia Sancta," ^ "
iv. Februarii. De S. Modano, Abbate, ex
part i. , p. 107. See Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
other Principal Saints," vol. ii. , February iv.
9 See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp.
diversis, p. 252.
'5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Februarii iv. De S. Modano, Abbate, in
400 to 402.
'° '* **
This date is given in the first edition ;
in the later edition, however, both are
placed at the 14th of May. " At Ferrarius
Generali Catal. SS. ad xiv. Aprilis Meda-
Scotia, p. 497.
See Bishop Forbes' Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 112.
'7 There was a P'intereth, Fintre, or Fin-
trich, in the deanery of Gavioch and diocese
of Aberdeen; there was, likewise, a collegiate
church at in the of
Fintray, deanery Lennox,
archbishopric of Glasgow. See Rev.
num
Modanum Midanumque /rai/r^j ad ""
— Acta
See "Circle of the Seasons," p. 35.
;
XXVI. inscripsit.
Sanctorum,"
tomus i. , Februarii iv. De S. Modano,
"
Abbate in Scotia, sec. 5, p. 497.
Mackenzie E. C. "Walcott's
Scoti-Mo-
"
nasticon," pp. 115, 197, 265, 372. This latter is likely to have been the place,
^^ See Forbes' "Kalendars of Bishop
Scottish Saints," p. 128.
'9 Fintray was a parish church, and one
of the endowments of St. Patrick's collegiate
See, also, the
"
Lives of the Irish Saints,"
a Cistercian Monk, at this
"See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , iv. Februarii, pp. 497, 498.
by
date, p. 198.
'3 See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp. church, at Dunbarton. See Chalmers'
400, 401. This remark is also made by "Caledonia," vol.
*3 Otherwise called Tir-breoin.
** Whether or not he was identical with the present saint may be questioned.
tower, form the headstones to modern
graves,
" No vestige of the door-way remains, as
the present top is below the level of the
usual site of that portion of a cloictheach, or See Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical His- Irish round tower, but it was probably on
'5 See
'*
Monasticon llibemicum," pp.
290, 291, and n. (q).
'* **
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, x. , n. 115, p. 138, chap, xiv. , sect, xv. , n. 203, p. 359.
the east face.
'3 This is the Irish name, by which the
round towers of Ireland are still known, in
their respective localities. See cLoi5teA9 and cuilceA6, denoting "a steeple," or, "a
"
Focaloir Gaoid- hilge-Sax-Bhearla, or an Irish-English Die-
tionary. "
=< This year the Cloichteach of Annadown
was erected. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 296, 297.
'7 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. 2, p. 494.
belfry," in Dr. O'Brien's
" See Hely Dutton's "Statistical and Agricultural Survey of the County of Gal- way," chap, v. , sec. xxv. , p. 492.
*9 See Sir William Wilde's " Lough Cor- rib, its Shores and Islands," chap, iv. , p. 78.
""An mteresting wood-cut illustration is
to be found, accompanying Sir William
Wilde's description, at p. 79. This was Galway. " Sheets 42, 55, $6.
from a taken under the photograph,
'•* See it on the "Ordnance represented,
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Galway. " Sheets 42, 43, 56, 57, 69, 70, 82.
copied
direction of Lord Dunraven, who accom- panied Sir William Wilde, on the occasion of a visit, in September, 1866.
" A few dressed stones, taken from the
=^ Besides the locality, where the ruins are
=sSee it described, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of
February 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 285
it possible, that the erection may be referred to Kilcoona, within its district. It is very remarkable, that Kilcoonagh round tower had been unnoticed by the Ordnance Survey staff. »^ A few paces, north-east of it, are the ruined walls of a church, sixty-six feet five inches long, and twenty-four feet wide exteriorly, with the gables still standing. "9
It would appear, that St. Cuanna's father met an untimely death, at the hands of certain wicked men, who, now hearing of his son's merits and miracles, sent messengers to him, asking pardon for their heinous offence. This was charitably and magnanimously granted. Our saint continued his devotional practices, by frequently retiring to the seclusion of his cell, for
prayer and meditation ; and, sometimes by going out during night to a fountain, which derived its name from himself. Here, he was accustom—ed to recite the entire Psal—ter. St. Cuanna was visited by a great concourse especially of holy men from all parts of Ireland. These were specially desiroustoformaspiritualfriendshipandanalliancewithhim. Theresult of a conference they held on a beautiful plain, near the cell of Cuanna, was the formation of a confraternity for prayers and supplications, to the throne of Divine Grace, as also, to obtain all spiritual blessings for themselves, and for those people, whose interests they were chosen to represent. There, also, they entered into a sort of religious treaty and mutual obligation, to unite in a community for prayer, and to protect and defend those persons, who were
subject to their jurisdiction. We are told, that no fewer than one thousand seven hundred and forty-six holy men were present at this conference. While their assembly was in session, a wondrous prodigy appeared to those
present. A bell was seen in air, moving as a bird, and suspended over their heads. All were astonished. They asked from Cuanna, a reason why this miraculous apparition was presented to their view, and why the bell moved through air, without any known agency, although it could not touch the
earth. Cuanna " This replied,
which are you
to see
He is desirous of joining your confra- ternity, and of being bound to you, in bonds of spiritual friendship. But,
not being able to join us, by his corporal presence, he hath sent the bell, which you see, that by means of this messenger, we may admit him into union with our sodality. " 31 The holy men, who were there assembled, felt more confirmed in mutual charity by this miracle, and they asked Abbot Cuanna, where St. Fursey then lived. They were told at Perrone, a city in Gaul. 32 xhen, they enquired the cause for his having left Ireland. Our saint said, that he had entered into an agreement with a holy man, named Magnentius,33 who entreated St. Fursey to assume an infirmity, with which he was afflicted, promising at the same time, he, Magnentius, would willingly
bell, through air, belongs to St. Fursey. 3°
surprised
flying
seen, on the shore of Lough Corrib, there are
ix,, xi. , xii. , pp. 250, 251. — St. did not
several other or district.
32 As—
or
name to townlands, within the old diocese
it is
settle at Perrone, before A. D.
Enaghs
Annaghs, giving
Fursey
generally
*^
Maps, and the Antiquarian Letters on Gal-
thought
648, or after 652, the date of this conven*
tion may be assigned to some intermediate time.
33 For notices of this Magnantius or Mag* nennius, Colgan refers us to the i8th of De« cember, where, no doubt, he intended to
"
Acta Sanctorum Hi* bemise," iv. Februarii, n. 18, p. 252. It would therefore appear, that Colgan makes him identical with St. Magnend, Abbot of Kilmainham, notices of whom may be found at the i8th of December, the day fot hia
festival.
This is apparent, on examination of the
way County, preserved in the Royal Irish Academy.
=^9 There are no carved stones, throughout the building, that afford any means for con- jecturing its date. See Sir William Wilde's " Lough Corrib ; its Shores and Islands," chap, iv. , pp. 79 to 81.
3" See his Life at the 1 6th of January.
3^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber. nise," iv. Februarii. Vita S. Cuannse, cap.
give his Acts. See
286 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 4.
endureanotherspeciesofsuffering,whichaffectedSt. Fursey. 34 Thus,asSt. Fursey assumed the infirmity of Magnentius, he also became allied to him in friendship. And, the same Divine charity, that sustained our weight of sin on the cross, so arranged their mutual infirmities, that St. Fursey endured a loathsome, vermiculous corrosion, with which Magnentius had been afflicted ; while, Magnentius had transferred to his system, a dysentery, hitherto borne by St. Fursey. Wherefore, the latter saint went into Gaul, with such a complaint, and to the time indicated, he had remained in the city of Perrone, where he was renowned, for the performance of many miracles. 35
We are told, that at one time, Cuanna's brothers collected together, de- siringtobeavengedonthepeopleofaplace,calledGnomor. 3^ But,when the saint learned the purpose of his brothers, wishing to return evil for good, Cuanna went with his disciples to these people, and advised them to fly for safety, from the approaching hostile force. They appear to have been the enemies of our saint's family. Notwithstanding, they adopted Cuanna's counsel,andowedtheirsafetytohispremonitions. Whilstoursaintwasre- turning with his disciples to the banks of Lough Orbsen, he there found a flat stone, on which angels had heretofore brought him to his natal place. 37 The legend states, that trusting in the power of Him, who walked with dry feet upon the waters, our saint, with his eight disciples, stood upon the stone, and that it sailed with all the buoyancy of a ship, until the voyagers were brought to the land of Cuanna's nativity. 3^ The servant of God ordered his disciples to bring this stone to his cell, and, it is said, that for seven Lents, he remained upon it, engaged in the exercise of penitential obser- vances. Moreover, it was believed, that owing to the merits of our saint, many infirm persons were there restored to health. 39
During their journey, our saint's disciples could not find any water to appease their thirst. '*^ But, through the power of Him, who refreshes his servants with the waters of Divine wisdom, Cuanna immediately caused a rivulet to flow from the dry soil. -^^ Of this water, so miraculously produced,
his disciples drank. They praised God's greatness, thus manifested through his servant. In tradition, the recollection of this well is still preserved.
34 Cathald Maguire, at the i6th of January, and Desmay, in his Life of St. Fursey, notice this strange commutation. See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," iv. Februarii. Vita S. Cuannje, n. 19, p. 252, and ix. Feb- ruarii. Vita S. Furssei, n. 16, pp. 299, 300.
35 After the foregoing narrative had been
thus far given, the next sentence is left im-
perfect, ov^ring to a defect in the MS. con-
taining our saint's Acts. Colgan thinks, at
least, one leaf must be missing. The form
of what immediately succeeds is thus given :
O'h Adhnaidh on Gno-Beg the lasting, A nest not indigent or perishable. "
—See pp. 64, 65, p. xlii. , nn. 322, 323.
37 Gnomor and Gnobeg, two sons of Lugad, possessed those territories called after them, and since constituting the barony of
Moycullen, in the county of Galway. See *'
O'Flaherty's Ogygia," pars iii. , cap. Ixxxii. , p. 387. Lough Orbsen is now known as Lough Coriib.
38 gge Sir William Wilde's ' * Lough Cor- rib ; its Shores and Islands," chap, iv. , p.
**
Cumque Episcopus praefatje, &c. Deest 82.
hicinMS. unumadminusJolium,eosad
necessitatem sanctorum occidunt, & fercula
digna murmurantibus, de eorum carnibus
39See O'Flaherty's "lar-Connaught," &c. , pp. 52, 54, 62, 156, 252, 255, 391, 392.
o See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber* Colgan's
distribuuntur. " See
Colgan's
" Acta Sane-
tbrum Hiberniae," iv. Februarii. Vita S.
niae," iv. Februarii. Vita S. Cuannfle, cap. vi. , vii. , viii,, p. 250.
Cuannce, cap. xiii,, p. 251.
3* In " The Poems of Topographical John
^' "The saint's called Dabkac well,
O'Dubhagainand GiollanaNaomhO'Huid—- hrin," edited by Dr. O'Donovan, we find :
C//«a«a, formerly much frequented by pil- grims, lies in the adjacent townland of
"
Ovier Gno-mor, of smooth marshes,
—
Knockreen. " SirWilliamWilde's"Lough
MacConroiquietlyreigns
Corrib; itsShoresandIslands,"chap,iv. , p. 83.
ti-EBRUARY 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 287
At another time, whilst engaged in the contemplation of Heavenly
things, and singing the Divine praises, in a certain field, near his cell,
Finmaith, mother to our saint, approached him, and extolled the beauty ot
his cheeks and the brightness of his eyes. This, however, proved a great
source of annoyance to him. Fearing his corporal beauty might become an occasion, for tempting others to the commission of mortal sin, Cuanna is said
immediately to have deprived himself of sight, thus too literally fulfiling the
" If scandalize Gospel precept, thy right eye
thee, pluck
from thee. " <* However, his sight was again restored, through a miracle.
The servant of God began to experience great pain, from the nature of this
self-privation, but shortly afterwards he fell asleep. The Divine mercy, having restored sight to those born blindj-^s likewise renewed his servant's
: eyesight,thatsohemightbeabletosay,withtheprophetDavid "Omy
God, enlighten my darkness, for by thee I shall be delivered from tempta- tion. "'^'* The author of our saint's Acts observes, that as Cuanna thus endea- voured to avoid human praise, wherefore, true and deserved laudation followed him, as it often does those who seek to avoid it. ^s
One of the last incidents, recorded in the mutilated Acts of our saint, enables us to understand, that he had been visited by certain holy men, who remained with him for three days.
A deer, with her hind, came to the place, where they were stopping—probably at Kill-Cuanna—and without betraying any sign of fear, both the wild animals approached our saint
before him, licking his hands and feet, at the same time. The Lord is truly wonderful, in his saints ; and, as the lions became gentle before the sight of Daniel, in their den, so were the deer completely domesticated with Cuanna. His holy guests, no doubt, felt greatly edified at what they had witnessed ; and, on departing from him, they gave their right hands to him, in token of brotherhood, and in the name of the most adorable Trinity. Then they departed, while the deer, in a domesticated state, remained with St. Cuanna, so long as he lived. ^^
After the foregoing incidents, and various other unrecorded miracles, had occurred, the holy man of God desired to die, as he had lived, in peace with Christ. GentlyhepassedawaytothebosomofAbraham,theangelsheralding his way to the starry heavens, where with the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, henowreigns,inaworldwithoutend. Hehadcollectedaroundhim,athis church and monastery of Kilcoonagh, a great number of learned Christian men, when the whole of this region from Clare-Galway to Cong was fertile with piety, learning and art. 47
Thatthissaintdied,abouttheyear650,isColgan'sopinion. However,
his inference, that Cuanna departed at this particular date,^^ rests upon no just
grounds. Althoughwemightadmit,thatgreatpublicassembly,mentioned in his Acts, to have been held, about such a period ; we are no where in-
formed, in his imperfect biography, that Cuanna's death occurred, during the same year, notwithstanding Colgan's affirmative assertion. '*^ Neither does
He cried " The out,
who created
No sooner had he spoken these words, than the deer fell upon her knees
*= See Matt, v. , 29.
*3 See Matt, ix. , 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. ^ See Psalms, xvii. , 29, 30.
"
xiv. , p. 251.
^i See Sir William WUde's "Lough
Corrib ; its Shores and Islands," chap, iv. j p» 82.
'^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernia," iv.
Februarii, n. 20, p. 252.
-^ Dr. Lanigan also observes :
Acta Sanctorum Hiber* hiss," iv. Februarii. De S. Cuanna, cap.
*s See Colgan's Xv, Dt 250k
Lord,
you,
shall
certainly
make tame. " you
"
ni»," iv» Februarii, De S. Cuanna, cap. death seems to have occurred during th<
*^See
Colgan's
** Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
CUanna'3
it and cast it out,
LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February 4.
there appear the least connexion, between the narrative, regarding this pubHc assembly, and those circumstances, immediately preceding the account of our saint's death ; on the contrary-, Colgan himself acknowledges, that at
least one leaf is missing in the manuscript, containing Cuanna's Acts, and in his possession. A notice of that public assembly breaks off, in an un-
finished manner, according to this mutilated record ; while, the succeeding
contexthasnoreferencewhatever,totheprecedingfragments. Atthe4th
of February, we find St. Cuanna lauded, for his piety and austerity, in the
"
Tallagh,5^ at the 4th of February. At Lismore, he was probably only a monk; but,afterwards,hebecameabbotoverthechurchandmonasteryof Kill-Chuanna. Atthisday,likewise,hisnatalisisnotedintheCalendarof Cashel, where he is said to have been of Lismore. The O'Clerys fell into an error, when they represent Cuanna, as an Abbot of Lis-more. He is entered thus, in the Martyrology of Donegal,5' as having been venerated on thisday. However,itdoesnotseemcertain,hewasthereelevatedtosucha dignity. His festival being kept, on the 4th day of February,53 it is probably the anniversary date for his departure. The Scottish Kalendars have, like- wise, commemorated this saint. 54 Thus were the merits of this holy man extended beyond the bounds of his own country, where his memory was more specially reverenced.
Article II. —St. Modan, Abbot, and St. Medan, in Scotland.
\Probably in the Eighth or Ninth Century. ^ Armed with faith, virtue and righteousness, as faithful soldiers and servants of Christ, these holy men
the
Feilire" of St. ^ngus. s° Cuanna, Lismoir, occurs in the Martyrology of
warred the continually, against
and the world. "^ fleeting
devil,
Christian perfection, they knew, was to be attained, by holy prayer and con-
templation, and by a close union of our souls with God-^" The Acts of St. Modan,ifwritten,seemtohaveperished,ortohavebeenlost. TheAberdeen
Breviary, compiled about the year 1509, appears to be the earliest known authority,fortheActsofthisholyman; and,thelessonsofhisofiicemust have been taken, from some earlier records, otherwise, the statements there made only rest on popular tradition. 3 From difl"erent sources, Colgan* has given us some particulars, regarding this holy confessor and abbot, at the 4th of February. The Bollandists have composed a dissertation,5 in eight
time that St. Fursey was at Perron in France.
Hence Colgan deduced, that it probably was about 650 ; whereas Fursey was not at Perron until 648, and died there in 652. "—- "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, xv. , n. 208, p. 360.
S" The following stanza is taken from the
O'Gorman, and Cathal Maguire, are agreed, on this point.
54 in the ** Kalendarium Drummon-
"
Professor O'Looney :—
diense," at the 4th of February, we find this entry, "apud Hiberniam Sancta Virgo Cuanna ad Christum migravit," p. 4. See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints. "
Leabhar Breac," and thus translated, by
Article ii. —* See the Breviary of Aber- deen. Office of St. Modan, lect. i.
5. ii. n. i:t\oniuf AgAf mAgtiAf, SelAiffe l^ofeffe^ ;
SeiMTiAn triApcip tiAf^l,
»
See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other Principal Saints," vol. ii. , February iv.
3 Seethe Bollandists' " Acta " Sanctorum,
tomus i. , Februarii iv. De S. Modano, abbate, in Scotia, p. 497. Also Rev. S.
CuAriA
c^abdaL cpefen.
Fronius and Magnus, Gelasius thou knowest ; German, a noble martyr,
Cuana, pious, austere.
S* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiv.
5' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
38, 39>
53 The Calendar of Cashel, Marianus
"
Lives of the Saints," vol.
flesh,
Baring-Gould's
ii. , February iv. , p. 91.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernize," iv.
Februarii. De S. Modano Abbate, ex di-
versis, pp. 252, 253.
5 Written by Father John Boland, in the
"Acta Sanctorum. "
February 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 289
previous paragraphs, with a Life of St. Modan, taken from six lessons, to be foundintheBreviaryofAberdeen. ^ BishopChalloner,7Rev. AlbanButler,^
andBishopForbes,havealsoanaccountregardinghim. 9 Atthisparticular date, hkewise, several Calendarists have chosen to associate, with the present saint, a holy brother, called Medan or Middan, about whom very little seems tobeknown. TheEnglishMartyrologyofJohnWilsonrecordsModanand Medan or Middan, at the 26th of April ;'° and, it states, that both were celebrated in Scotia and Hibernia, where many altars were dedicated to them. On the 4th of February," as appears from the Aberdeen Breviary, the feast of St. Modan, Abbot, with six lessons," was kept in Scotland. That of his brother, Medan or Midan, is usually found in connexion. We know few authentic particulars, regarding the lives of these holy servants of God. Accordingtothemostprobableopinion,however,theyflourishedin the eighth or ninth century. The present St. Modan, Confessor and Abbot, is entered at the 4th of February, by Bishop Forbes, who says, he is not to be confounded with St. Medana and St. Middanus. ^3 There was another St. Modan, a bishop, venerated in Scotland,^-^ but not at this particular date. Hermann Greuen, in his additions to Usuard, has a feast to St. Modan, Abbot, at the 4th of February, and to a St. Medan, Abbot, at the 14th of November. ^5 in the Kalendar to the Breviary of Aberdeen, St. Modan, Abbot, is noted at the 4th of February, as having been commemorated, in an office, consisting of nine lessons. '^ And again, in the Martyrology of Aberdeen, it is stated, at the same date, that he was venerated at Fynthre,^7 and that a church had been dedicated to him. ^^ It also had the rehcs of St. Modan, while various remarkable miracles were attributed to them. ^9 According to Adam King's Kalendar,^° at the 4th of February, St. Modan was abbot in Scotland, under King Conran. '^^ In his " Menologium Scoti- cum," Dempster places the festival of Modan, bishop, in Scotia, at the 5th of
^"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Feb-
niarii iv. De S. Modano, Abbate in Scotia,
at the 2nd, of August, the Carthusian Mar- tyrology, or *' Usuardus auctus," has a fes- tival for a St. Medan, a bishop. See Col-
pp. 497, 498. "
"Acta Sanctorum
gan's Hiberniae,"
7 See Britannia Sancta," ^ "
iv. Februarii. De S. Modano, Abbate, ex
part i. , p. 107. See Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
other Principal Saints," vol. ii. , February iv.
9 See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp.
diversis, p. 252.
'5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Februarii iv. De S. Modano, Abbate, in
400 to 402.
'° '* **
This date is given in the first edition ;
in the later edition, however, both are
placed at the 14th of May. " At Ferrarius
Generali Catal. SS. ad xiv. Aprilis Meda-
Scotia, p. 497.
See Bishop Forbes' Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 112.
'7 There was a P'intereth, Fintre, or Fin-
trich, in the deanery of Gavioch and diocese
of Aberdeen; there was, likewise, a collegiate
church at in the of
Fintray, deanery Lennox,
archbishopric of Glasgow. See Rev.
num
Modanum Midanumque /rai/r^j ad ""
— Acta
See "Circle of the Seasons," p. 35.
;
XXVI. inscripsit.
Sanctorum,"
tomus i. , Februarii iv. De S. Modano,
"
Abbate in Scotia, sec. 5, p. 497.
Mackenzie E. C. "Walcott's
Scoti-Mo-
"
nasticon," pp. 115, 197, 265, 372. This latter is likely to have been the place,
^^ See Forbes' "Kalendars of Bishop
Scottish Saints," p. 128.
'9 Fintray was a parish church, and one
of the endowments of St. Patrick's collegiate
See, also, the
"
Lives of the Irish Saints,"
a Cistercian Monk, at this
"See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , iv. Februarii, pp. 497, 498.
by
date, p. 198.
'3 See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp. church, at Dunbarton. See Chalmers'
400, 401. This remark is also made by "Caledonia," vol.
