The third is Cumman, or Cumana,
venerated
at the 6th of July, and of whom some account maybe seen, in the
Seventh Volume of this work, Art.
Seventh Volume of this work, Art.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
Having left her son behind, when she returned to her home, he was acciden- tally drowned in the mill-race.
In great grief for his loss, when the body had been found in the river, the mother went in tears to St.
Daigh, who, com- passionating her distress, sent his disciple to that place where the corpse lay in the bed of the stream.
Berach then prayed with great fervour for the boy's recovery, and he was restored to life.
Moreover, Berach declared, that thenceforward, no other person should ever be drowned in that part of the river.
In commemoration of such a wonderful event, the spot was afterwards called the Piscina of Berach, in popular tradition, even to that time, when the old Acts of St.
Dega Maccayrill were written.
While was in the Dageus
monastery
of St.
Finnian,
27 at 28 St. Clonard,
once in possession of the O'Driscolls, but
from which they had been expelled by the
O'Sullivans, after the English Invasion. It is commensurate with the present barony, socalled,intheCountyofCork. SeeDr. O'Donovan's "Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," p. lxvii. , n. 576.
Muirtheimne, from the descendants ofConall Cearnach of the Clann Ruidhraidhe race, and it reached from the mountain of Bregh, near Drogheda, to the neighbourhood of Dundalk, taking in the County of Louth, andsomepartofMonaghanCounty. See the "LeAbh^\ iia j;-Ce<M\c, or Book of Rights," edited by John O'Donovan, pp. 166,167,11. (1).
25 See the account in the Second given
Volume of this work, at the 15th of Feb- ruary, Art. i. St. Berach or Berachius, Abbot, Patron of Kilbarry, County of Ros-
20
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Augusti
xviii. De S.
Dega Maccayrill Ep.
Conf. Vita auctore anonymo, num. 4, 5, 6,
7> P- 659.
21
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xv. Februarii. Supplementum Vitae common, chap, i. , ii.
S. Berachi, ex Codice MS. Hibernico Ecclesiae eiusdem Sancti, cap. iii. , p. 345.
26 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xv. Februarii, Supplementum Vitas S. Berachi, cap. iv. , pp. 344, 345.
22
Volume of this work, at the 15th of Feb-
See the Life of this saint, in the Second
ruary, Art. i.
2? This saint had a festival on the 23rd of February, at which date, in the Second Volume of this some notices of him
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise. " Supplementum Vitse S. Berachi, cap.
iii,, v. pp. 344, 345.
24 This territory is also called Conaille
23 See
Colgan's
work,
may be found, Art. ix. However, his chief
festival was kept on the 12th of December. 28 Saint Finian, founder of Clonard, died
260 LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 18.
Ruadhan 29 was also there j when a candle having been accidentally extin- guished in presence of the latter, our saint blew his breath upon it, and the flame
once more appeared. Again, in a convent of the holy daughters of Fintan,3° one of them died. However, it so happened, when St. Daigh came to that
monastery, the dead sister was miraculously restored to life. Whereupon, the nuns of that house placed it afterwards under the guardianship of St Daigh and of his successors.
A saint, named 1 who ruled over a CayrelljS
monastery
asked the holy Abbot of Inishkeen to make a small altar ;33 but the latter
excusing himself, that he had not materials for such a purpose, the legend relates,thatalumpofgoldfellfromHeavenonhisbosom. Fromthis,the required object was fashioned, and with what remained of that precious metal, so miraculously obtained, land was bought, and it was called the Field ofGold. Whereupon,St. Cayrellgavehimselfandhisplaceovertotherule
of St. Daigh.
While Daigh was at Inishkeen, or it may have been at the place of St.
Cayrell, the chief of Ui Crimthann 34 held in captivity the only son of a woman, who besought the saint to intercede on his behalf. Instead of grant- ing the mother's prayer for his release, that most cruel chief put her son to death. Notwithstanding, Daigh raised him to life ; and, in due course, the chief and his posterity ceased to rule in that territory. When the holy Abbot left that place, he found dead, on the way, three daughters 35 of a certain man, namedColumba. Theseheraisedtolife,andafterwardsheinstructedthem in literary science. He founded a nunnery for them, likewise, and it was thenceforth known as the house of Columba's Daughters. 36 Although this Dagaeus is called bishop, yet it does not appear that he was one, when he attended Moctheus in his last illness. 37 Owing to this circumstance, he must have been a priest before a. d. 535, the year assigned for Moctheus' death. 38
A. n. 548, according to some writers ; others hach-Meith (the Fort), son of Imchadh,
have it at A. D. 552, or even later. Yet, the acts of our saint do not say, that when he was in that monastery the founder of it was living.
29 Abbot of Lorha, County of Tipperary.
His feast was held on the 15th of April, and of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na
on that day his Life is given in the Fourih
Volume of this work, Art. i. He died a. d.
584, according to the Annals of Tigher- nach.
30 Under such designation we do not find any entry of a feast to them in the Irish Calendars.
31 A St. Cairell, Bishop of Tir-rois, is venerated on the 13th June, at which date notices of him may be found, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. i. Tir-Rois is said to have been in the County of Monahan ; and probably it was inhabited by the Feara Rois, or men of Ross, comprised within the parishes of Carrickmacross and Clonany, in that county, with parts of the adjoining Counties of Meath and Louth, although its exact limits have not yet been
"
leab- hapna5-CeApe,orBookofRights,"n. (m. )
determined. See Dr. O'Donovan's
pp. 154, 155.
32 This place has not been identified.
However, there was a sept, known as the Ui-Meith-Macha, descended from Muiread-
who was the^son of Colla-da-Crioch. This people had been seated in the parishes of Tullycorbet, Kilmore, and Tehallon, in the baronyandCountyofMonaghan. SeeDr.
Naomh O'Huidhrin," p. xxii. , n. 127. 33TheLatinwordusedis "altariolum. " 34 The Crimpthanni are said to have been
a people living in Ulster, according to Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise. "
Index Quintus Topographicus, p. 873. However, there was a small territory called Chrimthann in Southern Orgiell, now belonging to the Barony of Slane. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricil, pars, iii. , cap. ii. , p. 149,
and n. II, p. 184. See also Roderick "
O'Flaherty's Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. Ixxvi. , p. 364. This seems likely to have been that place mentioned in the text.
35 Their feast was celebrated on the 13th of September, at which date notices of them may be found in the Ninth Volume of this woik.
36 InIrish written, ChighIngenColuun,
and Anglicized, Tech-ingen-Coluim.
3? See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Iliber- nkt," xxiv. Martii. Vita S. Mochtei Epis-
copi Lugmadensis, cap. xx. , p. 731.
John O'Donovan's "Topographical Poems
called a Metheus,3
August 18. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 261
However, it is difficult to reconcile this statement with that of his having spent several years in the ccenobium at Bangor, which was not founded before the middle of the sixth century, and where he seems to have made his studies preparatory to receiving Holy Orders. Nevertheless, supposing St. Daigh to have lived to between eighty and ninety years of age, he might have been that person who as a priest attended Moctheus, during his last illness.
CHAPTER III.
THE FAME OF ST. DAIGH BECOMES DIFFUSED THROUGHOUT IRELAND—MANY HOLY PERSONS PLACE THEMSELVES UNDER HIS DIRECTION, AND LANDS ARE BESTOWED ON HIM FOR THE FOUNDATION OF RELIGIOUS HOUSES—HE RAISES SEVERAL DEAD PERSONS TO LIFE—HIS DEATH—HIS FESTIVALS—CONCLUSION.
It had been publicly spread abroad, that St. Daigh performed several great
1
miracles, andhisfamewassoonextendedtothemostdistantpartsofIreland.
Several holy virgins desired to place themselves under his rule and direction.
objected
proceeding. Wherefore he sent messengers to remonstrate, but having had
a premonition regarding their coming, St. Daigh ordered the nuns to receive them humbly and to serve them courteously. We are told, that one of those sisters bore fire on her bosom, without any injury occurring to her person or garments, while another carried water, as if it were enclosed in a sound vessel. These miracles caused the messengers to repent for their errand. But, the blessed Daggeus brought those pious nuns towards the northern parts ; and, having built for them different houses, in divers places, with other virgins, they served God in the religious state.
Proceeding with a holy virgin, named Cunne,? to a place called Eda,8 the son of a chief belonging to that district had been drowned, at the mouth ofacertainriver,whichflowedthroughit, andwhereagreatquantityoffish
these 2 his andDulvina5 arementioned Cumena, Lassara,3 sister,*
Among
name. TheAbbotofClonmacnois,whowasnamedOenu,6
by tothat
38 See Rev. Dr.
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. xiv. , p. 76. —
Chapter hi. x See Colgan's "Acta
Sanctorum Hibernise," xix. Februarii. De
S. Dagseo Episcopo, p. 374.
aT 18th. April
Lanigan's
29th. 4. Lassar,
5. Lassar, at July 23.
Ros-Rain, at July 27th. 7. Lassar of CHI- Archalgach, at August 20th. 8. Lassar, of Cluain-mor, at September 15th. 9. Lassar, daughter of Lochan, at September 30th. 10. Lassar, of Achadh-beithe, at November 13th. II. Lassar, daughter of Fionntan, March 23rd. 12. Lassar, virgin, at May
2
namesof three holy women, named Cumman.
In our Irish Calendars, we find the
" Ecclesiastical
One is St. Cumman, virgin, of Daire-inghen-
Aillen, whose feast occurs on the 29th of 7tn- 13. Lassar, virgin, at May nth. 14.
May, and of whom some notices maybe found at that date, in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. ii. Another is Cumman Beg, virgin, of Cill-Cuimne, venerated on the 14th of June, and of whom a notice may be found at that date, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. ii.
The third is Cumman, or Cumana, venerated at the 6th of July, and of whom some account maybe seen, in the
Seventh Volume of this work, Art. iv.
3 No less than fourteen holy virgins called Lassar, or Lassara, occur in our Calendars. 1. Lassar of Achadh-foda, at January 6th.
Lassar, at May 14th.
4 This relationship to our Saint does not
appear in any other account of his family descent.
s We cannot find this name inscribed on any of our Irish Calendars.
6 He seems to have been St. Oenna
MacUaLaighisi, Abbot of Clonmacnois, who died a. d. 569. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 206, 207.
» This name we do not find in our Iris Calendars.
of Gleann-Medhoin, at
8 We are not able to the identify
as here given.
2. Lassar,
February 18th. 3. Lassar, virgin, at March
virgin,
locality
virgin,
6. Lassar, of Tioprat-
262 LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 18.
had been usually taken. Him St. Daigh restored to life. Whereupon, the
chief granted that land and estuary to them and to their successors. After
our saint went to the land of Lugne,9 in Connaught, he visited the monastery
of the sons of 10 and that of the Riteilla. " There he was Flescaig, holy virgin
reverently received. During the time of his repast, a cup was wanting, until a golden vessel came to him from Heaven. This was afterwards sold, on
behalf of the monks there living. Subsequently, Daigh went to the lands, where dwelt the posterity of Ailell. 13 There Cathbot J 3 was chief, and his
son Diarmit had recently departed. However, through a miracle, he was once more restored to life. Having been instructed in the liberal sciences, Diarmit «* lived in a monastery of his foundation. We might pass over some of those miracles attributed to the saint, but for the names of former places, with which they are said to have been connected. While Daigh was at a cer-
tain monastery, called Cruymterntj's the Almighty was pleased to work a miracle, on behalf of the brethren ; for, some thieves having removed the bottom from a milking-pail, still it was brought filled with milk from the byre or cattle-shed to the monastery.
6
Thence going into the territory of Corprorum/ he there founded a
monastery. Not having beer to entertain the guests, at that place, on a cer- tain occasion, water was converted into wine. At one time, St. Daigh preached the word of God with such fruit, that certain thieves who had stolen horses were moved to penitence, and they made restitution of them to the proper owners. Afterwards, they became clerics, receiving the habit from
our saint. He then visited
Sectan 18 was derived. Thence he went to the
who happened to have died that very night. However, Daigh restored him
to life, for which reason, Cayrlan placed himself and his monastery under our saint's rule.
saint and his successors. Coming to a strait, bearing the Latin name,
21
Stagnum Rudi, he passed it with dry feet, not finding a boat in which to
In the of plain
Conall,
dropsical man,
9 The name of this
surate with the limits of the Diocese of
5-Cear\c, or Book of Rights," edited by John O'Donovan, pp. 103, 104, n. (h).
10
Nothing seems to be known regarding them or their place.
11 This name does not appear in our Calendars.
" The special locality does not seem to be
known, but it appears to have been in Hi-
Oilill territory.
13 He does not appear to be otherwise
known.
14 The names of several Diarmits are
inscribed on our Calendars. I. Diarmait, son of Eochaidh, bishop, at January 6th. 2. Diarmait, bishop, of Inis-Clothrann, at January 10th. 3. Diarmait, priest, at Janu- ary, 15th. 4. Diarmait, son of Mechar, bishop, at January 16th. 5. Diarmait, bishop, at April 24th. 6. Diarmait, bishop,
Achonry, in the Counties of Sligo and Mayo,
preserved in the barony of Leyny, in the County of Sligo. See the " teAbhArt na
December 20th.
IS This place has not been i—dentified.
territory,
commen- of Disert Diarmada, at 2ist. 7. June
Sectan,
1 ? from whose name the of Monastery
20 he found a
he healed ; and, in gratitude for such a favour, that man bestowed land on the
Diarmait, of Gleann h-Uissin, bishop, at
July 8th. 8. Diarmait, son of Luchraid, at has been derived from Luigh, son of Cormac September 28th. 9. Diarmait, bishop, at Gaileang. The name of Luighne is still October 12th. 10. Diarmait, bishop, at December 12th. 1 1. Diarmait, bishop, at
monastery
of St.
Cayrlan,
1 ?
named whom Celtcar,
,6
error of some copyist the territory cannot be found.
' 7 His name does not appear in our Calendars.
,8 This place is unknown,
'* Only one bearing this name, St. Caor- Ian, Bishop of Ardmacha, is found in the Irish Calendars at the 24th of March, and he lived contemporaneously with our saint.
His death took place A. D. 587, according to Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
Masters," vol. i. , pp. 212, 213. See an account of him, in the Third Volume of this work, at the 24th of March, Art. viii.
*° Known as Magh Muirtheimne, to which
territory allusion has been already made,
2I
Under this form of
—name probablythe
The modern equivalent does not seem
August 18. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 263
cross. Afterwards, journeying through Mydluaca," he found the trunk of a huge tree obstructing the travelled road, and through his prayers, Angels
came to remove it.
A St. Lonocus *3 asked our saint to construct a little
altarforhim. But,nothavingtherequisitematerialsforthatpurpose,Daigh
prophetically announced, that when digging a grave for the first man buried
in his new cemetery, it should" be found. This was a mass of gold, which having been so obtained served for the purpose required. He also wrote a Book of Gospels for St. Lonocus.
7 Afterwards,St. DaighwenttothemonasteryofhisdiscipleSt. Diarmit *
; and that very night, while the Office of Matins was being celebrated, three bright stars were seen ascending towards the sky from a place, called in
25
" Three
heavenlymansions. " Afterwards,goingtotheaforesaidplace,threedaugh-
Latin, Terra Magna.
Then Diarmit asked our saint what that remarkable
vision He portended.
souls have now to the gone
26
27
pure
who lived under the rule of the holy virgin Daretha,
replied :
had been killed by robbers. Those holy virgins St. Daigh restored again to
ters of Erclay,
life.
It is not probable, that St. Daigh lived to the extreme old age of one
hundred and forty years assigned in his Acts; and, it may be supposed, thecom- piler had formed this on some computation of his own, as other Irish accounts, not drawn from his record, hardly seem to warrant that conclusion. It may be
that he lived to a
correctly said to have been called Daghous, of Cluainchaoin, in the Queen's
allowed, however,
good
old
age.
County—a mistake in local identification—by Archdall.
2?
For such a state-
ment he cites Vard or Wards as an authority ;
but, the latter gives no place,
2
At the 19th of February, Colgan has a brief notice regarding a bishop Dagaeus, whose name was generally marked in the Irish Calendars, at that day. He thinks it very probable, that he could have been no other than the Dagaeus named at the 18th of August. It is not unusual to meet with more than one festival, and marked for one and the same saint. As we have already seen, the feast of this saint has been set down, and with eulogy, in the metrical Calendar of St. ^Engus, at this day. At the 18th of August,
he mentions the festival of
year of our Lord, when he resigned his spirit, is said to have been 586. 3 This holy man was the same as Dagaeus or Daygeus, from whom St. Moctheus of Louth received the holy viaticum ;33 and, therefore it must follow, that Daigh lived long after his ordination. According to our Annalists, he did not die until 586. 34
although
Daghseus,
to be known.
" We cannot find an equivalent for this
denomination, unless it be a copyist's mis- spelling—as probably it is—for Midhluachra, somewhere north of Tara, and through whichoneofthefivegreatroadstothenorth of Ireland led. This was known as the
Slighe Midhluachra, although its exact posi-
Calendars.
28 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xiv. , p. 76.
29 See " Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 593. 3° Atp. 158.
3I See " Sancti Rumoldi Martyris Inclyti,
&c, Acta," &c. Dissertatio Historica, sect. 9, num. 9.
3" to Dr. O'Donovan's" Annals According
of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 212, 213. 33 See the Life of Moctheus, given by Colgan, at the 24th of March, in "Acta
tion has not been determined.
O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
See Dr. Masters,"
vol. i. , p. 104, n. (n).
23 We cannot find his name on the Irish
Calendars.
24 Who he was does not
23 The present name is now unknown to us. 26 Their names or the patronymic do not
appear in the Irish Calendars.
27 This name does not occur in the Irish
Sanctorum
34 At A. D. 586, the Four Masters as quoted
by Colgan have " Dagaeus Episcopus, filiur Carelli obiit die 18 Aug. "—Ibid. , n. 20,
p. 732.
appear.
Hibernise," cap. xxi. , p. 731.
28 The saint is in- present
at the 18th of 1 The August. 3
204 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 18.
likewise, the Martyrology of Tallaghss mentions, that veneration was given to
Daigh Mac Cairill, of Innse cain. 36 In the Calendar of Cashel, he is noticed
at this day. 37 Also, Joannes Kirkestede, Martyr, alludes to his veneration, intheTract"DePnecipuisHibernianSanctisPraesulibus. "38 IntheEnglish
edition of Withford's English Martyrology, published at London in 1526, this holy man's feast is set down at the 18th of August, with a eulogy stating, that in his youth he wrought many miracles, afterwards that he raised from the dead thirteen persons, besides performing many other notable actions, and that he died in the one hundredth and fortieth year of his age, being distin- guished for his sanctity and perfection. The Martyrology of Donegal,39 at the same date, records Daigh, son of Cairill, Bishop of Inis-cain-Degha, in Conaill Muirtheimne. This holy man was venerated, likewise, in Scot- land, and his feast is entered at the 18th of August, in the Calendar of
Drummond. 40
The old writer of this saint's Acts states, that human capacity or memory
could not relate all the miracles he wrought, through the co-operation of
Divine Grace. His great works were the foundation of monasteries in various
parts of Ireland, healing the sick from divers diseases, liberating captives, and even raising the dead to life. Moreover, with his own hands forming
many things for use in the churches, his days passed without reproach, until after a life greatly prolonged, he happily slept in Christ.
Article II. —St. Ernin or Mernog, of Rathnoi, now Rathnew, County of Wicklow, and of Killdreenagh. [Sixth and Seventh Centuries. '] The lesson of this holy man's Acts shows us, that in all times some of the greatest saints have been born with poor surroundings and
prospects in life. Still the Almighty has providentially arranged to bring them to a superior station, and to perform their work well, while serving all the great requirements of religion. At the 18th day of August, St. ^Engus
1
enters the feast of St. Ernoc in his "Feilire," and to this a commentator
2
adds an explanatory scholion.
of August, a festival is also entered in honour of Ernin Mac Creisin, of Raith- nui, in h-Garrchon/ Hence, it would seem that Creisin is to be regarded as his father. At this date, the Bollandists s observe, that their predecessors had found the name of a certain Irish Erenseus. at the 14th of February, according to Thomas Dempster's arrangement ; but, they deferred further notice of him, to the 26th of April, the date for his feast'given by Camerarius,
35 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p.
While was in the Dageus
monastery
of St.
Finnian,
27 at 28 St. Clonard,
once in possession of the O'Driscolls, but
from which they had been expelled by the
O'Sullivans, after the English Invasion. It is commensurate with the present barony, socalled,intheCountyofCork. SeeDr. O'Donovan's "Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," p. lxvii. , n. 576.
Muirtheimne, from the descendants ofConall Cearnach of the Clann Ruidhraidhe race, and it reached from the mountain of Bregh, near Drogheda, to the neighbourhood of Dundalk, taking in the County of Louth, andsomepartofMonaghanCounty. See the "LeAbh^\ iia j;-Ce<M\c, or Book of Rights," edited by John O'Donovan, pp. 166,167,11. (1).
25 See the account in the Second given
Volume of this work, at the 15th of Feb- ruary, Art. i. St. Berach or Berachius, Abbot, Patron of Kilbarry, County of Ros-
20
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Augusti
xviii. De S.
Dega Maccayrill Ep.
Conf. Vita auctore anonymo, num. 4, 5, 6,
7> P- 659.
21
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xv. Februarii. Supplementum Vitae common, chap, i. , ii.
S. Berachi, ex Codice MS. Hibernico Ecclesiae eiusdem Sancti, cap. iii. , p. 345.
26 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xv. Februarii, Supplementum Vitas S. Berachi, cap. iv. , pp. 344, 345.
22
Volume of this work, at the 15th of Feb-
See the Life of this saint, in the Second
ruary, Art. i.
2? This saint had a festival on the 23rd of February, at which date, in the Second Volume of this some notices of him
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise. " Supplementum Vitse S. Berachi, cap.
iii,, v. pp. 344, 345.
24 This territory is also called Conaille
23 See
Colgan's
work,
may be found, Art. ix. However, his chief
festival was kept on the 12th of December. 28 Saint Finian, founder of Clonard, died
260 LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 18.
Ruadhan 29 was also there j when a candle having been accidentally extin- guished in presence of the latter, our saint blew his breath upon it, and the flame
once more appeared. Again, in a convent of the holy daughters of Fintan,3° one of them died. However, it so happened, when St. Daigh came to that
monastery, the dead sister was miraculously restored to life. Whereupon, the nuns of that house placed it afterwards under the guardianship of St Daigh and of his successors.
A saint, named 1 who ruled over a CayrelljS
monastery
asked the holy Abbot of Inishkeen to make a small altar ;33 but the latter
excusing himself, that he had not materials for such a purpose, the legend relates,thatalumpofgoldfellfromHeavenonhisbosom. Fromthis,the required object was fashioned, and with what remained of that precious metal, so miraculously obtained, land was bought, and it was called the Field ofGold. Whereupon,St. Cayrellgavehimselfandhisplaceovertotherule
of St. Daigh.
While Daigh was at Inishkeen, or it may have been at the place of St.
Cayrell, the chief of Ui Crimthann 34 held in captivity the only son of a woman, who besought the saint to intercede on his behalf. Instead of grant- ing the mother's prayer for his release, that most cruel chief put her son to death. Notwithstanding, Daigh raised him to life ; and, in due course, the chief and his posterity ceased to rule in that territory. When the holy Abbot left that place, he found dead, on the way, three daughters 35 of a certain man, namedColumba. Theseheraisedtolife,andafterwardsheinstructedthem in literary science. He founded a nunnery for them, likewise, and it was thenceforth known as the house of Columba's Daughters. 36 Although this Dagaeus is called bishop, yet it does not appear that he was one, when he attended Moctheus in his last illness. 37 Owing to this circumstance, he must have been a priest before a. d. 535, the year assigned for Moctheus' death. 38
A. n. 548, according to some writers ; others hach-Meith (the Fort), son of Imchadh,
have it at A. D. 552, or even later. Yet, the acts of our saint do not say, that when he was in that monastery the founder of it was living.
29 Abbot of Lorha, County of Tipperary.
His feast was held on the 15th of April, and of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na
on that day his Life is given in the Fourih
Volume of this work, Art. i. He died a. d.
584, according to the Annals of Tigher- nach.
30 Under such designation we do not find any entry of a feast to them in the Irish Calendars.
31 A St. Cairell, Bishop of Tir-rois, is venerated on the 13th June, at which date notices of him may be found, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. i. Tir-Rois is said to have been in the County of Monahan ; and probably it was inhabited by the Feara Rois, or men of Ross, comprised within the parishes of Carrickmacross and Clonany, in that county, with parts of the adjoining Counties of Meath and Louth, although its exact limits have not yet been
"
leab- hapna5-CeApe,orBookofRights,"n. (m. )
determined. See Dr. O'Donovan's
pp. 154, 155.
32 This place has not been identified.
However, there was a sept, known as the Ui-Meith-Macha, descended from Muiread-
who was the^son of Colla-da-Crioch. This people had been seated in the parishes of Tullycorbet, Kilmore, and Tehallon, in the baronyandCountyofMonaghan. SeeDr.
Naomh O'Huidhrin," p. xxii. , n. 127. 33TheLatinwordusedis "altariolum. " 34 The Crimpthanni are said to have been
a people living in Ulster, according to Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise. "
Index Quintus Topographicus, p. 873. However, there was a small territory called Chrimthann in Southern Orgiell, now belonging to the Barony of Slane. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricil, pars, iii. , cap. ii. , p. 149,
and n. II, p. 184. See also Roderick "
O'Flaherty's Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. Ixxvi. , p. 364. This seems likely to have been that place mentioned in the text.
35 Their feast was celebrated on the 13th of September, at which date notices of them may be found in the Ninth Volume of this woik.
36 InIrish written, ChighIngenColuun,
and Anglicized, Tech-ingen-Coluim.
3? See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Iliber- nkt," xxiv. Martii. Vita S. Mochtei Epis-
copi Lugmadensis, cap. xx. , p. 731.
John O'Donovan's "Topographical Poems
called a Metheus,3
August 18. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 261
However, it is difficult to reconcile this statement with that of his having spent several years in the ccenobium at Bangor, which was not founded before the middle of the sixth century, and where he seems to have made his studies preparatory to receiving Holy Orders. Nevertheless, supposing St. Daigh to have lived to between eighty and ninety years of age, he might have been that person who as a priest attended Moctheus, during his last illness.
CHAPTER III.
THE FAME OF ST. DAIGH BECOMES DIFFUSED THROUGHOUT IRELAND—MANY HOLY PERSONS PLACE THEMSELVES UNDER HIS DIRECTION, AND LANDS ARE BESTOWED ON HIM FOR THE FOUNDATION OF RELIGIOUS HOUSES—HE RAISES SEVERAL DEAD PERSONS TO LIFE—HIS DEATH—HIS FESTIVALS—CONCLUSION.
It had been publicly spread abroad, that St. Daigh performed several great
1
miracles, andhisfamewassoonextendedtothemostdistantpartsofIreland.
Several holy virgins desired to place themselves under his rule and direction.
objected
proceeding. Wherefore he sent messengers to remonstrate, but having had
a premonition regarding their coming, St. Daigh ordered the nuns to receive them humbly and to serve them courteously. We are told, that one of those sisters bore fire on her bosom, without any injury occurring to her person or garments, while another carried water, as if it were enclosed in a sound vessel. These miracles caused the messengers to repent for their errand. But, the blessed Daggeus brought those pious nuns towards the northern parts ; and, having built for them different houses, in divers places, with other virgins, they served God in the religious state.
Proceeding with a holy virgin, named Cunne,? to a place called Eda,8 the son of a chief belonging to that district had been drowned, at the mouth ofacertainriver,whichflowedthroughit, andwhereagreatquantityoffish
these 2 his andDulvina5 arementioned Cumena, Lassara,3 sister,*
Among
name. TheAbbotofClonmacnois,whowasnamedOenu,6
by tothat
38 See Rev. Dr.
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. xiv. , p. 76. —
Chapter hi. x See Colgan's "Acta
Sanctorum Hibernise," xix. Februarii. De
S. Dagseo Episcopo, p. 374.
aT 18th. April
Lanigan's
29th. 4. Lassar,
5. Lassar, at July 23.
Ros-Rain, at July 27th. 7. Lassar of CHI- Archalgach, at August 20th. 8. Lassar, of Cluain-mor, at September 15th. 9. Lassar, daughter of Lochan, at September 30th. 10. Lassar, of Achadh-beithe, at November 13th. II. Lassar, daughter of Fionntan, March 23rd. 12. Lassar, virgin, at May
2
namesof three holy women, named Cumman.
In our Irish Calendars, we find the
" Ecclesiastical
One is St. Cumman, virgin, of Daire-inghen-
Aillen, whose feast occurs on the 29th of 7tn- 13. Lassar, virgin, at May nth. 14.
May, and of whom some notices maybe found at that date, in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. ii. Another is Cumman Beg, virgin, of Cill-Cuimne, venerated on the 14th of June, and of whom a notice may be found at that date, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. ii.
The third is Cumman, or Cumana, venerated at the 6th of July, and of whom some account maybe seen, in the
Seventh Volume of this work, Art. iv.
3 No less than fourteen holy virgins called Lassar, or Lassara, occur in our Calendars. 1. Lassar of Achadh-foda, at January 6th.
Lassar, at May 14th.
4 This relationship to our Saint does not
appear in any other account of his family descent.
s We cannot find this name inscribed on any of our Irish Calendars.
6 He seems to have been St. Oenna
MacUaLaighisi, Abbot of Clonmacnois, who died a. d. 569. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 206, 207.
» This name we do not find in our Iris Calendars.
of Gleann-Medhoin, at
8 We are not able to the identify
as here given.
2. Lassar,
February 18th. 3. Lassar, virgin, at March
virgin,
locality
virgin,
6. Lassar, of Tioprat-
262 LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 18.
had been usually taken. Him St. Daigh restored to life. Whereupon, the
chief granted that land and estuary to them and to their successors. After
our saint went to the land of Lugne,9 in Connaught, he visited the monastery
of the sons of 10 and that of the Riteilla. " There he was Flescaig, holy virgin
reverently received. During the time of his repast, a cup was wanting, until a golden vessel came to him from Heaven. This was afterwards sold, on
behalf of the monks there living. Subsequently, Daigh went to the lands, where dwelt the posterity of Ailell. 13 There Cathbot J 3 was chief, and his
son Diarmit had recently departed. However, through a miracle, he was once more restored to life. Having been instructed in the liberal sciences, Diarmit «* lived in a monastery of his foundation. We might pass over some of those miracles attributed to the saint, but for the names of former places, with which they are said to have been connected. While Daigh was at a cer-
tain monastery, called Cruymterntj's the Almighty was pleased to work a miracle, on behalf of the brethren ; for, some thieves having removed the bottom from a milking-pail, still it was brought filled with milk from the byre or cattle-shed to the monastery.
6
Thence going into the territory of Corprorum/ he there founded a
monastery. Not having beer to entertain the guests, at that place, on a cer- tain occasion, water was converted into wine. At one time, St. Daigh preached the word of God with such fruit, that certain thieves who had stolen horses were moved to penitence, and they made restitution of them to the proper owners. Afterwards, they became clerics, receiving the habit from
our saint. He then visited
Sectan 18 was derived. Thence he went to the
who happened to have died that very night. However, Daigh restored him
to life, for which reason, Cayrlan placed himself and his monastery under our saint's rule.
saint and his successors. Coming to a strait, bearing the Latin name,
21
Stagnum Rudi, he passed it with dry feet, not finding a boat in which to
In the of plain
Conall,
dropsical man,
9 The name of this
surate with the limits of the Diocese of
5-Cear\c, or Book of Rights," edited by John O'Donovan, pp. 103, 104, n. (h).
10
Nothing seems to be known regarding them or their place.
11 This name does not appear in our Calendars.
" The special locality does not seem to be
known, but it appears to have been in Hi-
Oilill territory.
13 He does not appear to be otherwise
known.
14 The names of several Diarmits are
inscribed on our Calendars. I. Diarmait, son of Eochaidh, bishop, at January 6th. 2. Diarmait, bishop, of Inis-Clothrann, at January 10th. 3. Diarmait, priest, at Janu- ary, 15th. 4. Diarmait, son of Mechar, bishop, at January 16th. 5. Diarmait, bishop, at April 24th. 6. Diarmait, bishop,
Achonry, in the Counties of Sligo and Mayo,
preserved in the barony of Leyny, in the County of Sligo. See the " teAbhArt na
December 20th.
IS This place has not been i—dentified.
territory,
commen- of Disert Diarmada, at 2ist. 7. June
Sectan,
1 ? from whose name the of Monastery
20 he found a
he healed ; and, in gratitude for such a favour, that man bestowed land on the
Diarmait, of Gleann h-Uissin, bishop, at
July 8th. 8. Diarmait, son of Luchraid, at has been derived from Luigh, son of Cormac September 28th. 9. Diarmait, bishop, at Gaileang. The name of Luighne is still October 12th. 10. Diarmait, bishop, at December 12th. 1 1. Diarmait, bishop, at
monastery
of St.
Cayrlan,
1 ?
named whom Celtcar,
,6
error of some copyist the territory cannot be found.
' 7 His name does not appear in our Calendars.
,8 This place is unknown,
'* Only one bearing this name, St. Caor- Ian, Bishop of Ardmacha, is found in the Irish Calendars at the 24th of March, and he lived contemporaneously with our saint.
His death took place A. D. 587, according to Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
Masters," vol. i. , pp. 212, 213. See an account of him, in the Third Volume of this work, at the 24th of March, Art. viii.
*° Known as Magh Muirtheimne, to which
territory allusion has been already made,
2I
Under this form of
—name probablythe
The modern equivalent does not seem
August 18. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 263
cross. Afterwards, journeying through Mydluaca," he found the trunk of a huge tree obstructing the travelled road, and through his prayers, Angels
came to remove it.
A St. Lonocus *3 asked our saint to construct a little
altarforhim. But,nothavingtherequisitematerialsforthatpurpose,Daigh
prophetically announced, that when digging a grave for the first man buried
in his new cemetery, it should" be found. This was a mass of gold, which having been so obtained served for the purpose required. He also wrote a Book of Gospels for St. Lonocus.
7 Afterwards,St. DaighwenttothemonasteryofhisdiscipleSt. Diarmit *
; and that very night, while the Office of Matins was being celebrated, three bright stars were seen ascending towards the sky from a place, called in
25
" Three
heavenlymansions. " Afterwards,goingtotheaforesaidplace,threedaugh-
Latin, Terra Magna.
Then Diarmit asked our saint what that remarkable
vision He portended.
souls have now to the gone
26
27
pure
who lived under the rule of the holy virgin Daretha,
replied :
had been killed by robbers. Those holy virgins St. Daigh restored again to
ters of Erclay,
life.
It is not probable, that St. Daigh lived to the extreme old age of one
hundred and forty years assigned in his Acts; and, it may be supposed, thecom- piler had formed this on some computation of his own, as other Irish accounts, not drawn from his record, hardly seem to warrant that conclusion. It may be
that he lived to a
correctly said to have been called Daghous, of Cluainchaoin, in the Queen's
allowed, however,
good
old
age.
County—a mistake in local identification—by Archdall.
2?
For such a state-
ment he cites Vard or Wards as an authority ;
but, the latter gives no place,
2
At the 19th of February, Colgan has a brief notice regarding a bishop Dagaeus, whose name was generally marked in the Irish Calendars, at that day. He thinks it very probable, that he could have been no other than the Dagaeus named at the 18th of August. It is not unusual to meet with more than one festival, and marked for one and the same saint. As we have already seen, the feast of this saint has been set down, and with eulogy, in the metrical Calendar of St. ^Engus, at this day. At the 18th of August,
he mentions the festival of
year of our Lord, when he resigned his spirit, is said to have been 586. 3 This holy man was the same as Dagaeus or Daygeus, from whom St. Moctheus of Louth received the holy viaticum ;33 and, therefore it must follow, that Daigh lived long after his ordination. According to our Annalists, he did not die until 586. 34
although
Daghseus,
to be known.
" We cannot find an equivalent for this
denomination, unless it be a copyist's mis- spelling—as probably it is—for Midhluachra, somewhere north of Tara, and through whichoneofthefivegreatroadstothenorth of Ireland led. This was known as the
Slighe Midhluachra, although its exact posi-
Calendars.
28 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xiv. , p. 76.
29 See " Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 593. 3° Atp. 158.
3I See " Sancti Rumoldi Martyris Inclyti,
&c, Acta," &c. Dissertatio Historica, sect. 9, num. 9.
3" to Dr. O'Donovan's" Annals According
of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 212, 213. 33 See the Life of Moctheus, given by Colgan, at the 24th of March, in "Acta
tion has not been determined.
O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
See Dr. Masters,"
vol. i. , p. 104, n. (n).
23 We cannot find his name on the Irish
Calendars.
24 Who he was does not
23 The present name is now unknown to us. 26 Their names or the patronymic do not
appear in the Irish Calendars.
27 This name does not occur in the Irish
Sanctorum
34 At A. D. 586, the Four Masters as quoted
by Colgan have " Dagaeus Episcopus, filiur Carelli obiit die 18 Aug. "—Ibid. , n. 20,
p. 732.
appear.
Hibernise," cap. xxi. , p. 731.
28 The saint is in- present
at the 18th of 1 The August. 3
204 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 18.
likewise, the Martyrology of Tallaghss mentions, that veneration was given to
Daigh Mac Cairill, of Innse cain. 36 In the Calendar of Cashel, he is noticed
at this day. 37 Also, Joannes Kirkestede, Martyr, alludes to his veneration, intheTract"DePnecipuisHibernianSanctisPraesulibus. "38 IntheEnglish
edition of Withford's English Martyrology, published at London in 1526, this holy man's feast is set down at the 18th of August, with a eulogy stating, that in his youth he wrought many miracles, afterwards that he raised from the dead thirteen persons, besides performing many other notable actions, and that he died in the one hundredth and fortieth year of his age, being distin- guished for his sanctity and perfection. The Martyrology of Donegal,39 at the same date, records Daigh, son of Cairill, Bishop of Inis-cain-Degha, in Conaill Muirtheimne. This holy man was venerated, likewise, in Scot- land, and his feast is entered at the 18th of August, in the Calendar of
Drummond. 40
The old writer of this saint's Acts states, that human capacity or memory
could not relate all the miracles he wrought, through the co-operation of
Divine Grace. His great works were the foundation of monasteries in various
parts of Ireland, healing the sick from divers diseases, liberating captives, and even raising the dead to life. Moreover, with his own hands forming
many things for use in the churches, his days passed without reproach, until after a life greatly prolonged, he happily slept in Christ.
Article II. —St. Ernin or Mernog, of Rathnoi, now Rathnew, County of Wicklow, and of Killdreenagh. [Sixth and Seventh Centuries. '] The lesson of this holy man's Acts shows us, that in all times some of the greatest saints have been born with poor surroundings and
prospects in life. Still the Almighty has providentially arranged to bring them to a superior station, and to perform their work well, while serving all the great requirements of religion. At the 18th day of August, St. ^Engus
1
enters the feast of St. Ernoc in his "Feilire," and to this a commentator
2
adds an explanatory scholion.
of August, a festival is also entered in honour of Ernin Mac Creisin, of Raith- nui, in h-Garrchon/ Hence, it would seem that Creisin is to be regarded as his father. At this date, the Bollandists s observe, that their predecessors had found the name of a certain Irish Erenseus. at the 14th of February, according to Thomas Dempster's arrangement ; but, they deferred further notice of him, to the 26th of April, the date for his feast'given by Camerarius,
35 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p.
