No More Learning

2,154 are on Lough Oughter.
29 One of the most interesting objects here
to attract the visitor's attention is the vault and monument over the remains of William Bedell, the celebrated Protestant Bishop of Kilmore, who died on the 7ih of February, a. d. 1641. His ancient tomb was removed from the angle of the graveyard in which he had been interred, and the 1 ad coffin con-
31 it is now used as a Sunday School, and it is attached to an old dwelling, formerly the residence of William Bedell, Protestant Bishop of Kilmore.
32 This was erected to commemorate Wm. Bedell, the Protestant Bishop of Kilmore. The character and acts of this eminent and amiable man are well set forth in Henry Joseph Monck Mason's " Life of William
For, we have no certain account,
yet, as he is traditionally considered to
134 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 9.
One of the most interesting features of the Bedell-Memorial Cathedral, to
which allusion has been already made, is a re-erected old Irish recessed door-
way,* taken from Trinity Island, near the upper part of Lough Oughter, about fivemilesfromCavantown. Itistheremnantofanancientchurch,situated within a still older cemetery, the Island itself containing over 80 acres, and rising in the shape of two high swelling cones over the lake's surface. The soil is of exceeding great fertility. * The whole length of the church on Trinity Island interiorly measures 76 feet, by 20 in width. 6 The graveyard
Ruins of the Franciscan Monastery of Cavan.
the Strict Observance ;9
it is nowdismantled,
but a large square tower
still remains, with a
circularly-headed door- way in the lower com-
partment, over which are two tiers of square windows. 10 Theupper part is covered with
ivy. " Acemetery, en- closed with a high wall, surrounds it.
That our saint was identical with a Feid- limid, or Felim, fifth
1
bishop of Clogher, who was buried in the Church of Clunes, near Tigernach, is a supposition of Sir James Ware. This Fedlimid was likewise called bishop of Clunes
Bedell, D. D. , Lord Bishop of Kilmore. " London, 1843, 8vo.
4 Of its class, this is probably the most
beautiful and interesting specimen to be
seen in of Ireland. It was removed any part
stone by stone, it is said, to the old church
33 "
west is Danesfort, the residence of the Dean
Adjoining
the demesne on'the north-
of Kilmore ; and around Crossdoney, or
south of Kilmore demesne are numerous re-erected according to its former appear-
villas. "—" The Parliamentary Gazetter of Ireland," vol. ii—. , p. 515.
ance. It has since been taken asunder, and placed as an entrance to the vestry, behind
Chapter
monastery at Kilmore in Cavan.
new Memorial with a magnificently rounded arch, recessed
'
one of the
Neither Ware, Harris,
to the
Bedell Cathedral. It has chevron mouldings,
ii.
nor De Burgo have an account of any old
transepts
2 See Kev. Dr.
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, iii. , p. 10.
3 See Archdeacon Henry Cotton's " Fasti Ecclesise Hibernicse," vol. iii. , p. 153.
over side-moulded and connecting
Lanigan's
receding jambs. The stones are all finely carved in zig-zag and interlaced patterns ; and it con- tains the most interesting and beautiful details of ancient Irish architecture, the
" Ecclesiastical
is even yet much used
as a family place for interments. Thepeo-
ple living on the Island
point out a saint's
grave in the ceme-
tery,? on the south
side but,thenameis ;
not now remembered.
In the town ofCavan
,
about three miles dis-
tant, towards the east,
are the remains of a
8
Franciscan Friary
of
at Kilmore, about a mile distant, and there
August 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 135
or Cluain, x 3 a church situated near Lough Erne. However, Ware would not undertake to settle this disputed point. »4 Notwithstanding that
his observation is
a mere —of Ware, for which no argument only conjecture
a
can be adduced,15 the Rev. Alban Butler — unsafe authority
position, and he tells us, that our saint seems the same, whom the Registry
of Clogher styles bishop of Cluain, or Clunes, near Lough Erne, and who was buried there near Tigernach, first bishop of that see. 16 We are told, that St. Fedlimid flourished about the year 540, being contemporary with St. Kieran of Clonmacnois, 1 ? who died in and with St. Senan of 18
who died in 544. I9
By the best informed writers, however, the Cavan Kilmore is not sup-
posed to have been constituted, as a diocese, at so early a period. The pre-
very
peculiarly connected with Irish Hagiology unqualifiedly adopts his sup-
writer has yet seen. The stones seem com- posed of a reddish gritty substance, weather-
worn, yet with the carvings all very sharply denned ; except where some damages at the
10
According to Archdall's statement, the Friars of the Strict Observance had re- formed this monastery before the year 1499 ; whereas, the O'Clerys have it, that the monastery of the Friars in Cavan was pro- cured from Rome by O'Reilly, for Friars of the Order deObservantia, in opposition to the
through a modern door.
s Two farmers, with their families, live on
Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Mas- ters," vol. v. , pp. 1262, 1263, and n. (r. ) ibid.
6 An erdomh or side
wall, is 18 feet 6 inches, extending from east
12 to the According
to west, and 22 feet, extending from north
perfect,
large
Bishops
Clogher," p. 178.
addition,
Registry
Clogher.
7 This is situated on the extreme verge of
the Island, and a stone-wall enclosure has
of late years been built around it. Human
Harris has it St. Dermod, bishop of Clones, &c. Yet, at the Bishops of Clogher, follow- ing Ware, Harris himself has not Dermod, but Fedlimid, bishop, at Clones. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of
Ireland," vol. ii. chap, x. , sect, iii. , n. 41, p. 12. Also, Harris' Ware, vol. i.
remains and various
singular
remnants of
14 See " of 226. Bishops Kilmore," p.
on the south
of
The same authority tells us, that a well,
548, Iniscatty,
angles have been supplied with a plain coat-
ing of cement, executed with good taste and
judgment. The upper arch is of considerable
height, and the door-way is of sufficient Friars of the Order de Communi Vita. See width to afford easy access to the vestry,
"The accompanying is an illustration, drawn from a photograph, by William F. of beautiful fields, separated by hawthorn Wakeman on the wood, engraved by Mrs.
that Island, which is divided into a number hedge-rows.
Mdlard.
called Tibrad Fethlim, or Felim's Well, had to south. The western gable is still very been dedicated to him. See Harris' Ware,
and now covered over with
masses of ivy, which extend over the con-
necting side walls, that remain for a Harris has strangely misrepresented Ware's considerable part at their former height. A text. Instead of Fedlimid, bishop of Clones, pointed window rises over a deformed breach
underneath, from which had been removed
that most beautiful recessed door-way, to
which allusion has been already made.
antiquity have been turned up, in several
ports of the Island.
8
The first religious foundation here about
A. D. 1300, by Giolla-Iosa-Ruadh O'Reilly,
was intended for Friars of the Order of St.
Dominick. See De Burgo's " Hibernia mid, bishop at Clones, and for anothe—r, Dominicana," cap. ix. , sect, xxv. , num. iii. , perhaps only a priest, at Kilmore. " p. 286. However, in 1393, the O'Reilly " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , family expelled the Dominicans, and gave chap, x. , sect, iii. , p. 10.
the house to the Conventual Franciscans. It "> See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs is said afterwards to have passed into pos- and other principal Saints," vol. viii. , session of the Brothers Minor of the Strict August ix.
Observance in 1 502. See Sir James Ware, 17 His feast occurs on the 9th of September,
"De Hibernia, et Antiquitatibus ejus, at which date his Life may be found, in the Disquisitiones," cap. xxiv. , p. 193. Ninth Volume of this work, Art. i.
9 18 Provincial Chapters of that Order were
held here, in 1521, 1539, and 1556. See
See his Acts, at the 8th of March, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
Archdall's " Monasticon 40, and n. (t. ) ibid.
Ilibernicum," p.
19 See Harris' vol. Ware,
Kilmore," p. 226.
i. ,
" of Bishops
vol. " i. ,
of
13 At his account of the Kilmore Bishops,
15 " Why," asks Dr. Lanigan, " should that prelate of Clones, who was also buried there, have been called Fedlimid of Kil- more? Among the many persons of that name it is easy to find room for one Fedli-
on matters
136 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 9.
sent parochial extent runs north-north-west, and it continues along the upper valley of the Erne river, from the vicinity of Ballinagh to the lower part of LoughOughter. ThenobledemesneofLordFarnhamformsaconsiderable
20
It branches out in many directions, and it embraces several of the little natural lakes, which form so remarkable a feature in this district, owing to their number, and to the extent of surface which they
21 their shores, and on the occupy. Along
portion of this parish.
promontories
inextricable windings, masses of the finest natural timber, in all their pristine
vigour, exist ; they have been considerately preserved, with those in the
demesne, and are connected with it by pleasing rural drives.
Especially
along the east shores of Lough Oughter are those fine screens of timber to be
seen, and extending down to the very margins, where their umbrageous
shadowsarereflectedfromthatmagnificentsheetofwater. Theruinedcastle
22
ofCloghOughter, standingisolated,onarockyfoundation,risesinruined
and gloomy massiveness, with its thick round walls. Its islet stands well out in the Lough, while tangled brakes and high trees around the old fortalice give it a peculiarly romantic aspect. Previous to the middle of the fifteenth century, the bishops of Kilmore diocese are said to have taken their title from BrefinyorBrefneterritory. Hence,theyweresometimesstyledBrefinienses. They were also named Triburnenses, or Bishops of Triburna ; because, it is stated, they lived in a small and obscure village, having such name. It is now known as Urney, a few miles north of Kilmore. The first Prelate, called
2 3 who died a. d. 1 23 i. a * It would appear, that a parish church, dedicated to St. Fedlimid, or Felimy, had been built at Kilmore, previous to the year 1454. Then,
with the assent of Pope Nicholas V. , Andrew MacBrady, bishop of Triburna, converted it into a Cathedral, and he placed therein thirteen Canons. 's Afterwards, Kilmore was found to be a more commodious site for the cathedral church, and this erection of Pope Nicholas V. was confirmed, by Pope Calistus III. , in a. d. , 1455. It is thought, the Deanery of Kilmore had been constituted, nearly about the same time. 26 After this new founda- tion, Andrew MacBrady and all his successors in the see, for the most part, took as their title, Bishops of Kilmore, being no longer styled Bishops of Brefiny, or Tirburna. These latter designations, even, are supposed to have been of no very remote antiquity; since they are not mentioned in the enumeration of Irish Bishoprics made in a Synod, held under Cardinal John Although Kilmore had been thus
of met with in our Annals, is Florence Bishop Brefiny,
0'Conacty,
Paparo, in the month of March, ii52. *7
20 See " The Parliamentary Gazetteer of
Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 195, 196, v\ Farnham, andp. 515atKilmore.
21 See James Frazer's " Hand-Book for
Travellers in Ireland," No. 118, p. 528. "Here the celebrated Irish Confeder-
solemnity, with an Octave and Indulgence, throughout the diocese of Kilmore, during the17thcentury. SeeRev. AlbanButler's '* Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. viii. , August ix.
2S See Archdeacon Henry Cotton's " Fasti
ate General, Owen Roe O'Neill, died
of poison, on November 16th, 1649,
and he was buried in the Franciscan "Yet there are now neither Cathedral,
Cemetery, in the town of Cavan. See Chapters, Canons, or Prebendarys, belonging "
Thomas Carte's History of the Life of to this See. A small Church at Kilmore,
James, Duke of Ormond, from his Birth, 1610, to his Death in 1688," vol. ii. , p. 83.
23 In certain Anonymous Annals, quoted by Harris, he is styled Flan O'Connor.
contiguous to the Episcopal House, is a Parish Church, but serves for a Cathedral.
The Archdeaconry of Kilmore is ambulatory, and hnth no corps ; but, the Bishop annexeth —that Dignity to any Parish at his Discretion. "
24 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
"
Bishops of Kilmore," p. 226. Referring to Sir James Ware's works, and to Colgan's MSS.
, at the we are told, that the festival of St. Fedlimid had been kept with great
Harris' Ware, vol i. pp. 225, 226.
"
Bishops of Kilmore,"
2nd of
2? This is
Valuations of the Apostolic Chamber. These
August,
apparently
from the of Registry
Ecclesise Hibernicae," vol. iii. , p. 155. 26
To the foregoing account, Harris adds
:
formed their by
August 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 137 newly erected into a see, and after the middle of the fifteenth century ; yet,
28
Father Luke Wadding tells us,
at a later period, two bishops were promoted
to the see of Triburna, viz. , Stephen de Straboniza, and, after his death,
Francis Bernard, on the 13th of June, 1509.
In our Martyrologies, the feast of Saint Fedlimid occurs on the 9th
of August. We may, therefore, reasonably suppose it to have been the day for his death ; but, the year has not been discovered. It is somewhat remarkable, that we do not find his name in the earlier Calendar of St.
2
iEogUS. In the published Martyrology ofTallagL, 9 at the 9th of August,
we have the simple entry of Feidhilmethie. In the Book of Leinster, the name is written Feidlimthe. 30 The name of St. Fedlimid occurs in the Martyrology of Donegal,31 at the 9th of August, with these additions, that Feidhlimidh, of Cill-M6r Dithruibh, had Deiti, daughter of Trena, son to Dubhthach h-Ua Lughair, for his mother. On the 9th of August, the feast of St. Fedlimid is celebrated, as a Double of the First-Class, with an Octave, throughout Kilmore Diocese. He is regarded as the chief patron. We may also consider this date to have been his principal festival. The seed that would grow again into life must first pass into the dark bosom of earth. It must fade from view and die ; but, if life-enduring, it comes forth with germs
producing many-fold. So when the just depart, a happy life begins. Their loss upon earth is their gain in a better and brighter world. To human regards or records they are utterly indifferent, when their merits are written in the Book of Life.
Article III. —Tri h. Inghena Ailalla. Written in this manner,
1
we have a festival entered in the Martyrology of Tallagh, as edited by the
Rev. Dr. Kelly ; although we find no corresponding entry, at this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal, edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves. 2
Article IV. —St. Barran, Virgin. The name of Barran, Virgin, is
found in the of Martyrologies
1 and of 2 at the of
Tallagh
August. Nothing more seems to be known regarding her.
Article V. —Cruimther Riagan. The
and of 2 mention, that veneration was Donegal
of
1
given
the9thofAugust. Afterhisname,theMartyrologyofDonegaladds,that
he was patron3 of Achadh Conaire, with an Indulgence. These latter obser- vations seem to imply, that he was regarded as a patron Saint, in Achonry, and that certain Indulgences were gained by the faithful, who devoutly celebrated his local festival.
were collected
wards Pope Honorius III.
2
Article iv.
Kelly, p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinster copy, bar^n Uif is entered at this date,
by
Centius
Camerarius,
after-
See — pp. 214, 215.
x
28
Ordinurn a S. Francisco Institutorum,"
In the "Annales Minorum seu Trium
tomusxv. , AnnoChristi, sect, 1500,
2 Edited Drs. Todd and xxxix. , by
Reeves, pp.
p. 411. Editio Secunda, Romse, 1736, fol. 214, 215.
29 See Rev. Dr. Kelly's "Calendar of Irish Saints," p. xxxi.
30 In the Irish characters, t? eiT>lnnche.
Articlev. —' EditedbyRev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi The Book of Leinster copy enters C|umichi|\ rUijAin at this date.
31 Edited
Drs. Todd and
2 Edited
by
Drs. Todd and
by Article hi. —J See
Reeves, pp.
xxxi. In the Book Uf\i Ingena -dilLa,
Reeves, pp.
214, 215.
214, 215.
3 A note
of Leinster at this date.
copy
are in the more
p. is found
by recent hand. "
at
says Patron
:
Donegal,
9th
Martyrologies
Tallagh
Dr. Todd " The words within brackets
to Cruimther
at
Edited
by Rev. Dr.
Riagan,
138 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 9.
Article VI. —St. Ultan. The of Martyrologies Tallagh
Donegal2 record simply the name of Ultan, at the 9th of August.
1 and of
Article VII. —St. Leaban, or Laobhan. According to the Martyr-
1
ology of Tallagh, veneration was given at the 9th of August to Leaban.
Nothing more seems to be known concerning him. The Martyrology of
2 his name as Laobhan. Donegal gives
Article VIII. —St. Molocha, or Molocca. At the 9th of August, 1
the published Martyrology of Tallagh registers a festival in honour of Molocha. 2 The name is simply entered Molocca, in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 at this same date.
Article IX. —St. Macliag. Both the
1 andof 2 theFourSonsofErcanor Donegal register
Article XL—St. Ciaran, probably the Patron of Kildacommoge Parish, County of Mayo. It is mentioned in the Martyrologies of
that of 2 at this Donegal,
appear.
enter the name
Article X. —The Four Sons of Ercan, or Ercain. The Martyr-
date,
Macliag.
of
Ercain, at the 9th of August. Whose sons these were does not clearly
ologies
Tallagh
1 and of 2 that a festival in honour of Ciaran was celebrated Donegal,
Tallagh
at the 9th of August, but where we are not informed. On the roadside, and
within a plantation about two miles from Dorrha old churchy barony of LowerOrmond,countyofTipperary,twolargewells*areshown. Inone
of these, called St. Kyran's Keeve, persons are accustomed to bathe, and this is supposed to be a remedy for various kinds of diseases. People drink the water contained in the Upper Well, which supplies the Keeve by a running stream. Both of these wells are dedicated to St. Kieran. s On the opposite side of the road, beneath some aged trees, a stone, with the im- pression of this Saint's knee is pointed out ; but, it is not easy to identify
the St. — here venerated. A Kyran patron
was
Sunday saidbysomepersonstohavebeenregardedasthelastSundayof
Article vl—x Edited Rev. Dr. Article x. —f Edited Rev. Dr. by Kelly, by
p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinster copy, the entry is 11 LcAin.
2 Edited Drs. Todd and Reeves,
by pp.
Leinster copy, the name is written Le-abAii.
Kelly, p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinster copy is the
214, 215. Article VII.
214, 215. Article XI.
—
Kelly, p. xxxi. In like manner in the Book of
* Edited
by Rev. Dr.
*
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
22 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
214, 215.
Article VI11. --'Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxxi.
2
The Book of Leinster copy enters the namettloLoce.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Thomas O'Conor, in a -communication Article ix. 'Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, dated Koscrea, October 24th, 1840, and
214, 215. —
p. xxxi. The Book of Lejnster copy enters the name trUcliAC.
2
Edited by Drs. Tood and Reeves, pp. 214, 215.
found in " Letters containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the County of Tipperary, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840. " Vol. iii. ,
of 1 and Martyrology Tallagh
formerly
entry Cechni mac epcAin.
2 Edited
by
Drs. Todd and
—
p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinster copy the
entry is CiArw\m.
held on Garland
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
214, 215.
3 This is shown, on the "Ordnance Survey
TownlandMapsfortheCountyofTipperary," sheet 5.
4
See ibid. , sheet 4.
s Allusion is made to this St. Kieran, by
Reeves, pp.
August 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 139
6 However, it seems more probable, we should regard Garland
as the first Sunday of August. It is remarkable, that there was a patron round a holy well, on the 9th of August, dedicated to the memory of a St. Kyran, in the parish of Kildacommoge,? sometimes called Keeloges, near Foxford, county of Mayo, on the 9th of August. It was on the borders of the baronies of Gallen and of Carna. A lake is also near the well,8 and it is called Lough Keeraun. 9 The present saint seems likely to have been that traditional patron.
Article XII. —The Four Sons of Dioman, of Kilmore, County of
1
Roscommon. The Martyrology of Tallagh mentions a festival, at the 8th
of August, in honour of Ceithri meic Dimmain. In a later record, their
is identified. The of 2 also records, at the place fully Martyrology Donegal
samedate,theFourSonsofDioman. Itadds,thatallofthesebelongedto Cill-mor Dithruibh, except Cruimther Nathi [and also3 Cruimther Riagan,
July.
Sunday
but this is not
As we have
seen, at the — of St. entry
certain].