It is a
conspicuous
object from the sea.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
xxx.
, xxxvi.
, xli.
, lib.
ii.
, cap.
xv.
, xxxix.
, and lib.
iii.
, cap.
viii.
80
By Reginald of Durham, in the twelfth century.
It is a low
miles north-west of
ancient Gaelic poem, it is called " the low-lying land of barley. "93 Here, St.
and 2 about sandytract,? lying
rocky in an
87 In I354-
88 In 1390.
89 In 1496.
90 See the admirable paper on "The
Island Tiree," in the "Ulster Journal of Archaeology," vol. ii. , pp. 233 to 244.
91 In 1782, some men engaged in clearing away the foundations of an old wall in Tiree found an urn containing from fifteen to twenty
81
nan. 82
The denomination given to it by Adam-
twenty
Hy;and,
Fordun calls it Tyre-e, in his ounces of Anglo-Saxon silver coins in fine Scoti-Chronicon," vol. i. , lib. ii. , cap. preservation. Ninety of these are in the x. , p. 46. Bower's fol. edition. Edinburgh, Scottish Society's collection. See Daniel
"
1759
Wilson's
"
Archaeology and Prehistoric An-
83 "
See Innes' Origines Parochiales
nals of Scotland," part iv. , chap, iii. , p. 521. 92 The annexed illustration, taken from an approved view, has been drawn on the 84 From cip ica, the Irish compound wood, by William F. Wakeman,"and it has
Scotiae," under Soroby and Kirkapoll, vol. ii. , part i. , pp. 327, 331.
answering to Terra Heth.
8s See William F. Skene's "Celtic Scot-
land : a History of Ancient Alban," vol. ii. ,
been engraved by Mrs. Millard.
book
128.
86
ii. , chap, iv. , p. In 1343.
82 -
93 The Gaelic name is
Fordun describes it, "insula ubi hordei
See " vol. magna copia. " Scotichronicon,"
lib. ii. , cap. x. , p. 46.
Ethica
8l
or
ciyv ipoLiiAh-oj\rtA.
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 4 3 1
Comgall of Bangor is said to have erected a monastery, about the year 565, and he abode there for some time, until driven out of it by the Picts. 94 Afterwards, it seems to have been debatable ground, for which both Scots and Picts contended. The chief monastery, which Columba founded on this Island is called Campus Lunge, or the Plain of Lungers and over this pre- sided Baithen, his steward. Another religious house, called Artchain, is said
6
to have been established here by Findchan,9 one of Columba's monks.
On a certain day, while the venerable man was at Iona, a brother, named Berach,97 approached to ask his blessing, for he wished to sail to the Island
Berach steered out for an open arm of the sea, to Ethica; when suddenly, he and the sailors in his bark saw a whale of extraordinary size rising upwards like a mountain. Floating on the surface, the monster opened his huge mouth,bristlingwithbone. Struckwithterror,themarinershauledintheir sails, and they had a most narrow escape from the waves, caused by the lash- ing of this whale. They soon . remembered St. Columba's prophetic words, and had reason to congratulate themselves on their fortunate escape from this ocean peril. On the morning of that day, as Baithen 99 his disciple was going to sail on the same sea, St. Columba told him about this monster of
:
the deep. The holy Abbot said " Last night, a great whale rose from the
depths of the sea, about midnight ; and, he will float this day on the surface of ocean, between Hy or Iona and Ethica or Tiree 100 Islands. Baithen
answering replied :
then," said the saint,
this danger. " Having received the saint's blessing, Baithen sailed accord- ingly from the port ; and after crossing the sea IQI a considerable distance, 102 he and his companions saw the whale. While all others were much terrified, raising up both his hands without any fear, Baithen blessed the ocean and the monster. At the same moment, the enormous brute, diving under the
io
waves, never afterwards appeared to the navigators. 3 Baithen then sailed
of Ethica. ? 8 To whom the saint said
direct course towards Ethica, by sailing over the open sea, but rather take your winding navigation around the little Isles ; lest perchance, you be encountered by a prodigious monster, and be thrown into a state of terror, while scarcely able to effect your escape. " Berach departed, after receiving our saint's blessing; but, on spreading sail, Columba's admonitions were disregarded.
9* See his Life, in the Fifth Volume of this work, at May 10th, Art. i.
95 It was situated near the shore over
against Iona, and it had z. porttts, or harbour, which is probably the little creek or bay still known as Portnaluing ; and the site of the monastery has been identified with that of Soroby on the south-east side of the island, "where a large churchyard with some old tomb-stones and an ancient cross are the only remains of an ecclesiastical establish- ment. "—William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot- land : a History of. Ancient Alban," vol. ii. , book
deavoured, but unsuccessfully, to detain the saint in Scotland. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernke," Februarii xv. , Vita S. Berachi, cap. xiv. , p. 342, and nn. 20, 21, pp. 346, 347.
98 See "Trias Thauniaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbse, n. 61, p. 377.
" The Irish form of this name is Oaocam ; that of Baitheneus is DAOicm.
I0° The direct course to Tiree lies in the open sea ; the circuitous route should lead northwards to Staffa, thence to the Fresh- nish isles, and from them westwards to the northern extremity of that island.
ii. , iv. , chap,
The form "Ethici Adamnan's account.
pelagi
occurs in
p. 130.
96 Kilfinichen, in the Island of Mull, is said
to have been called after him.
97 Berach an Abbot of Bangor, died in
663. Colgan supposes, that this was St. Berach, founder of Cluain Choirpthe, or
Kilbarry, but on the very insufficient grounds that a dispute in which he was engaged was referred to Aidan, son of Gabhran, who en-
I02
It is nearly twenty miles across from
:
" Beware, my son, you hold not your
"I and that monster are under God's " Go
"
power. "
in peace, for thy faith in Christ shall defend thee from
I01 "
Hy to Port-na-lung beside Soroby, in Tiree. I03 Martin gives an account of a Gallan
whale, which overturned a fishing boat, and "
devouredthreeofthecrew. See Western
Islands of Scotland," p. 5.
" Ecclesiastical
10* See Rev. Dr.
Lanigan's
432 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
out, to seek a desert in the great ocean; while he humbly asked St. Columkille's
blessing,beforeengaginguponhisperilousenterprise. Thispiousmanafter- wards succeeded as Abbot of Hy,'°4 and through life he was a devoutedly at- tached friend of his illustrious director. At one time, as we are told, Baithen, '°5 by family a grandson or descendant of Niadh Taloire, 106 set out with others to seek a desert in the ocean. IQ 7 Before doing so, however, he asked the saint's blessing. Thesaintbiddinghimadieupronouncedthispropheticwordregard-
:
inghim "Thisman,whoisgoingtoseekadesertintheocean,shallnotbe
buried in the desert, but he shall be buried in that place, where a woman will
lead sheep over his grave. " The same Baithen, after long wanderings on stormy seas, and not finding the desert, returned to his country. He remained
the master of a little which is church,
" Now is fulfilled the
yearsbefore. " This incident Adamnan was told regarding Baithen, by that same priest, who was Maolodran," 2 a soldier of Christ, and of the tribeof Mocurin. "3
The saint sat one day upon the top of a high mountain,"* hanging over his monastery. Whether this was Dun-I,"S die highest elevation on the
Island,orthehillcalledCnoc-mor,"6 whichoverhangsReilig-Orainonthe west, has been questioned. Turning to his familiar servant, Diarmitius,
11
approaching towards the haven. ? Then, showing it to the saint, the latter
said : "Rise in haste, and let us go meet this stranger, whose true penance Christ hath regarded. " The passenger Fechnaus II8 coming on shore fell down prostrate and wept bitterly upon his knees. He then confessed his
for
many years 100
called,
110 it
"Trias
Vita S. Columbse, n. 64, p. 377.
for Port-na-Mairten or — observation, Martyr's
Colgan's
Thaumaturga," Quarta
—where the Free Church now stands answers best to this description.
:
after his death and burial in
at the same time, that flying from some hostile inroad, some poor people with their wives and children fled for sanctuary to that church. 111 Whence it happened, that on a certain day, a woman was caught, pasturing her five poor sheep, on the grave of the very same man. Then a person who observed this, and a holy
reginden.
Shortly
Derry,
happened
priest, said,
prophecy
which St. Columba uttered
many
" I wonder what it is, that stays a ship coming out of Ireland,
Columba said
and which carries in it a wise man, who, for a certain sin into which he hath fallen, cometh hither with penitential tears. " Within a little while, the attendant brother, looking towards the south, saw the sails of this ship
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect. xiv. , p. 162, and nn, 167, 168. p. 168.
*°5 Colgan could not decide which of the many Baithens mentioned in our Annals and Calendars, this man had been. See " Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. xx. , n. 63, p. 377.
l0 ^ That is, Ua 11i<voh Caboipe. Niath occurs in Tirechan. See Liber Arma- chanus, fol. 14, a b, 15 £ b. It signifies a "champion," and the word is often given as a component in ancient names.
107 We find Tolorg in the " Annals of the Four Masters " at A. D. 842, 885; and, fre- quently the name occurs in the Catalogue of the Pictish Kings. See the "Irish Ver- sionof Nennius," at pp. 160, 164.
108 The term in the original is Scotice, but
it has this signification.
109 Unknown, but probably in Derry. See
110
Noted as the oak-grove of Galga- chus.
1,1
The church and its precincts were in- violate sanctuary by the ancient laws of the
Irish Church. The penalties of its violation
varied, according to the dignity of the church, and of the ecclesiastic who procured
for it protection.
"2 In the O'Clerys' Irish Calendar, there
is a saint of this name at January ioth, May31st, Novembernth,andDecember 2nd. See Rev. Dr. Todd's and Reeves' edition, pp. 12, 13, 140, 141, 304, 305, 324, 325.
"3 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 20, pp. 49, 50.
"4 This is an exaggerated descsiption, as
the highest hill on Iona—
that of Dun-I—
is
only 330 feet,
"S It is situated north- north -west of the
monastery.
It is a conspicuous object from the sea.
II6 If Cnoc-mor were the place selected
Bay
"7 Port-Ronain lies near the and village,
it is the usual landing-place. It lies nearly due south of Duni.
in 108 Lath- Irish,
"
Campi Lunge,"
126 and
terra,
lying opposite
to Iona, is on the south-east side of the
122 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 41, and lib. iii. , cap. 8. ThereisanotherplacecalledMagh-
lung, near Ballaghaderreen, in the county of
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
sins, in presence of all the company. The saint out of compassion and weeping
June 9. ]
433
"
are forgiven, because it is written
with. him afterwards said :
Rise, my son, and be of good cheer, for your sins
:
* A contrite and humble heart, God will
not depise. '""9 Afterwards, being very lovingly entertained by our saint, he
sent Fechnaus to Baithan, living at a place called Maghlung,120 or " the plain
of the 121 He was the 122 I23 ships. " superior over this penitential station,
Loch Coiruisg, or Corriskin, Island of Skye.
I2+ now Tiree Island. Here St. Columba himself had built a monastery. The port of Maglunga, I2 s or as Latinized
which was situated in the Ethica
118 He is "
styled sapiens
vir " twice. In
the Irish Annals, we frequently find the
epithet fAoi, "sapiens," applied to ecclesias- tics. Finding St. Fachnan of Ross styled
" sapiens
"inthe Life ofSt.
that of Roscommon. Its
Mochaomoc, Colgan conjectured that he was the subject of the present narrative, but without good reason. Besides, Fachtnan and Fiachna
seem to be different names.
Mayo, adjoining
"9 1:0
See Adamnan's Vita S. Columbse,
See Psalms I. ,
See Adamnan's Life of St. Columba,"
123
lib. ii. , cap. 39.
19. "
lib. ii. , cap. 15. Among the obits in the An-
nals of Ulster, at A. D. 774, isConatb U1aij;iii
Lump, or "Conall of Magh-Luinge. " See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum
Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 105.
124 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. Ixxxviii. , p. 426.
125 Allusions are made to Magh-Luinge,
Combustio Muighe Luinge,"
121 "
id est, Maglunga vocatur quodque per S. at a. d. 673. This event is placed at A,r>.
In monasterio quod Campus navis, Columbam in terra Heth fundatum est. "
Tigernach :
"
Vita S. Baitheni, cap. vii. , p. 237/'.
669, in the Annals of Clonmacnoise ; in those of the Four Masters, at A. D. 671 ; while the. Ulster Annals have it, at A D. 672.
IE
See
Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Junii ix. ,
name is derived from the River Lun^, which
discharges into Lough Gara. See Dr. John
O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (z), p. 283.
in the Irish Annals. Thus we read in "
434 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
island. Near Soroby there stands a very ancient cross, and there too are re- membered the remains of the original parish church. These are near that spot, now occupied by some curious sepulchral slabs. ,2 ? Thither, with a blessing,
28
One of the most interesting of the Hebrides is the Island of Skye,
the penitent journeyed in peace. '
whether we consider its size, productiveness, population, or wildly magnificent
128
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
12? The mountains in the northern especially
are of
Among the latter may
as it has been also
on the western coast,
scenery.
height, and several of its lakes a—re deep and lonely.
parts
towering
—oned Loch x or Loch Corriskin
II
be reck Coiruisg 3° 3
'32
named embosomed in the Cuchullin Mountains,
and discharging itself into Loch Sclavig. ^ Skye was one of those Islands,
in which St. Columba sometimes loved to dwell. 134 He and St. Maelrubha
J
or Maelrubius 35 were its chief Patrons ; the former having the north-eastern
and the latter 136 the—south-eastern portion. —It is a curious feature in the largest
I37
Island of Scotland excepting Lewis that no spot there is four miles
from the sea, and few parts are more than two. 's8 That portion of the island peculiar to St. Columba is a part of Trotternish, bounded by a line drawn from Portree to the head of Loch Snizort. At the northwestern extremity of this district, in the parish of Kilmuir, about two and a-half miles north ofUig Bay,is thealluvialbedofalake,formerlyknownasLochColumkille. 13? It is
126 It is mentioned
S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. 15.
in Vita
How term its dark waves ? and you
how
Yon northern mountain's pathless
brow,
And yonder peak of dread,
That to the evening sun uplifts
The grizzly gulfs and slaty rifts —
Which seam its shiver'd head? " " Corriskin call the dark lake's name : Coolin the ridge, as bards proclaim,
Frcm old Cuchullin, chief of fame. "'
"7 Among the thirteen Brigids mentioned by yEngus the Culdee, is " S. Brigida de MagLuinge. " Colgan places her in Dal-
"
riedia. See
If he means the original territory of that name, however, in the north of the county of Antrim, he is in error. In the farm of Cornagmore, on the north side of Tiree, is a place called Kilbride, where a small chapel formerly stood. This is the true site of the
"Ecclesia S. Brigidse de Mag Luinge. " See a paper on the Island of Tiree, in the
" Ulster of Journal
by Adamnan,
Trias Thaumaturga," p. dwb.
vol. pp. 239, 241, and the accompanying Map.
133 See the Gazetteer of Scot- "Imperial
land," vol. i. , pp. 300, 301.
134 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
Archaeology,"
ii. ,
"Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 30, "Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 33,
p. 62.
PP- 58, 59- 129 In Dr.
Macculloch's "
tion of the Western Islands of Scotland," an account of this Island will be found in vol. i. ,
John
135 His feast at the 21st of Descrip- occurs,
pp. 262 to 419.
130 The accompanying illustration of this
April. See an account of him, at that date, in the
Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
136 Killashig, or Askimilruby, with Kilma-
ree in Strath, and Kilniolruy in Brackdale, Loch has been drawn by William F. Wake- were commemorative of St. Maelrubha,
man on the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
131 The pencil of the accomplished artist, J. W. Turner, was employed- in delineating its sceneiy for an illustrated edition of Sir Walter Scott's works.
Loch, and presented a faithful — word-picture,
which he closes with these lines
" This lake," said Bruce, " whose bar-
riers drear
Are precipices sharp and sheer,
Yielding no track for goat or deer, Save the black shelves we tread.
whose pi incipal church of Apercrossan, now Applecross, is within view, on the mainland to the north-east.
137 See " Gazetteer of the World," vol. xii. , p. 641.
138 A very interesting account of Skye,
132 The illustrious Poet and Novelist of
Scotland has admirably desciibed this wild seen, in Thomas Pennant's " Tour in
:
361.
—
Canto iii. , sect. xvi.
Sir Walter Scott's "Lord of the Isles,"
after the middle of the last
Scotland, and mdcclxxii," part i. , pp. 324
Voyage
to
139 It was drained some thirty years ago,
by Lord Macdonald, the proprietor.
140 It measured about 16 yards in dia- meter east and west, and 11 north and
south.
be to the Hebrides,
century, may
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 435
one of the largest fresh water lakes on the Island of Skye. Towards its northern
extremity is an elevated spot, about three acres in extent, and which was for-
merly insulated. Tins was known as St. Columkille's Island. On the north
side of this island, there is an irregular circular enclosure of rude and extremely
11
ancient masonry. * Within are the traces of three distinct chambers or com-
partments. It was surrounded by a cyclopean cashel, the north face of which
is the most perfect, and it is in parts nearly eight feet thick. 11* 1
this, *
there is a quadrilateral building. *3 the cells and several rooms were
tury,
very distinguishable.
11 2 1
Near to After the middle ofthe last cen-
1 '*'* It is now commonly employed as an enclosure for cows. The roof has long fallen in, and the Avails, which are built with cement, are reduced to the height of five feet.
The adjacent ground is covered with masses of large grey stones, the debris of the walls. '45 At short distances are patches of ground, covered with grey
1"*6which
of this, and a little to the west of the main road to Portree, where Skabost
stones,
appear
tohavebeenthesitesofconventual I47 South buildings.
crosses the Snizort 1 '' 8 extends a Bridge river,
long
narrow
strip
of 140 ground,
insulated by the river. On this are the remains of two ancient buildings
standing within a large cemetery. That next the bridge, much the larger of the
two, was probably the old parish church ; that more remote is of smaller dimensions. 150 The parish church, now known as Snizort, was formerly dedi- cated to St. Columkille. 151 Proceeding southwards, we reach Portree, the inner bay of which north-west of the town was iormerly called as some old people remember Loch Columkille. In an Island, called Elena, 152 or Elene, which has not been identified by a modern name,153 St. Columba is supposed to have erected a religious establishment. To us it seems probable, that this site was attached to the Island of Skye. This foundation of Columba would appear to have been made during the closing years of his life. Lugneus Mocumin '54 was one of his disciples. He was placed, when an aged man, overamonasteryinElena,155andwhichseemstohaveexisted,beforehebecame
" the Tower," which a
141
writer of the seventeenth century describes
warrior.
ISI It is styled Satut Colnfs Kirk in Snes-
furd in Trouternes. See "Origines Paro- chiales Scoriae," vol. ii.
80
By Reginald of Durham, in the twelfth century.
It is a low
miles north-west of
ancient Gaelic poem, it is called " the low-lying land of barley. "93 Here, St.
and 2 about sandytract,? lying
rocky in an
87 In I354-
88 In 1390.
89 In 1496.
90 See the admirable paper on "The
Island Tiree," in the "Ulster Journal of Archaeology," vol. ii. , pp. 233 to 244.
91 In 1782, some men engaged in clearing away the foundations of an old wall in Tiree found an urn containing from fifteen to twenty
81
nan. 82
The denomination given to it by Adam-
twenty
Hy;and,
Fordun calls it Tyre-e, in his ounces of Anglo-Saxon silver coins in fine Scoti-Chronicon," vol. i. , lib. ii. , cap. preservation. Ninety of these are in the x. , p. 46. Bower's fol. edition. Edinburgh, Scottish Society's collection. See Daniel
"
1759
Wilson's
"
Archaeology and Prehistoric An-
83 "
See Innes' Origines Parochiales
nals of Scotland," part iv. , chap, iii. , p. 521. 92 The annexed illustration, taken from an approved view, has been drawn on the 84 From cip ica, the Irish compound wood, by William F. Wakeman,"and it has
Scotiae," under Soroby and Kirkapoll, vol. ii. , part i. , pp. 327, 331.
answering to Terra Heth.
8s See William F. Skene's "Celtic Scot-
land : a History of Ancient Alban," vol. ii. ,
been engraved by Mrs. Millard.
book
128.
86
ii. , chap, iv. , p. In 1343.
82 -
93 The Gaelic name is
Fordun describes it, "insula ubi hordei
See " vol. magna copia. " Scotichronicon,"
lib. ii. , cap. x. , p. 46.
Ethica
8l
or
ciyv ipoLiiAh-oj\rtA.
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 4 3 1
Comgall of Bangor is said to have erected a monastery, about the year 565, and he abode there for some time, until driven out of it by the Picts. 94 Afterwards, it seems to have been debatable ground, for which both Scots and Picts contended. The chief monastery, which Columba founded on this Island is called Campus Lunge, or the Plain of Lungers and over this pre- sided Baithen, his steward. Another religious house, called Artchain, is said
6
to have been established here by Findchan,9 one of Columba's monks.
On a certain day, while the venerable man was at Iona, a brother, named Berach,97 approached to ask his blessing, for he wished to sail to the Island
Berach steered out for an open arm of the sea, to Ethica; when suddenly, he and the sailors in his bark saw a whale of extraordinary size rising upwards like a mountain. Floating on the surface, the monster opened his huge mouth,bristlingwithbone. Struckwithterror,themarinershauledintheir sails, and they had a most narrow escape from the waves, caused by the lash- ing of this whale. They soon . remembered St. Columba's prophetic words, and had reason to congratulate themselves on their fortunate escape from this ocean peril. On the morning of that day, as Baithen 99 his disciple was going to sail on the same sea, St. Columba told him about this monster of
:
the deep. The holy Abbot said " Last night, a great whale rose from the
depths of the sea, about midnight ; and, he will float this day on the surface of ocean, between Hy or Iona and Ethica or Tiree 100 Islands. Baithen
answering replied :
then," said the saint,
this danger. " Having received the saint's blessing, Baithen sailed accord- ingly from the port ; and after crossing the sea IQI a considerable distance, 102 he and his companions saw the whale. While all others were much terrified, raising up both his hands without any fear, Baithen blessed the ocean and the monster. At the same moment, the enormous brute, diving under the
io
waves, never afterwards appeared to the navigators. 3 Baithen then sailed
of Ethica. ? 8 To whom the saint said
direct course towards Ethica, by sailing over the open sea, but rather take your winding navigation around the little Isles ; lest perchance, you be encountered by a prodigious monster, and be thrown into a state of terror, while scarcely able to effect your escape. " Berach departed, after receiving our saint's blessing; but, on spreading sail, Columba's admonitions were disregarded.
9* See his Life, in the Fifth Volume of this work, at May 10th, Art. i.
95 It was situated near the shore over
against Iona, and it had z. porttts, or harbour, which is probably the little creek or bay still known as Portnaluing ; and the site of the monastery has been identified with that of Soroby on the south-east side of the island, "where a large churchyard with some old tomb-stones and an ancient cross are the only remains of an ecclesiastical establish- ment. "—William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot- land : a History of. Ancient Alban," vol. ii. , book
deavoured, but unsuccessfully, to detain the saint in Scotland. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernke," Februarii xv. , Vita S. Berachi, cap. xiv. , p. 342, and nn. 20, 21, pp. 346, 347.
98 See "Trias Thauniaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbse, n. 61, p. 377.
" The Irish form of this name is Oaocam ; that of Baitheneus is DAOicm.
I0° The direct course to Tiree lies in the open sea ; the circuitous route should lead northwards to Staffa, thence to the Fresh- nish isles, and from them westwards to the northern extremity of that island.
ii. , iv. , chap,
The form "Ethici Adamnan's account.
pelagi
occurs in
p. 130.
96 Kilfinichen, in the Island of Mull, is said
to have been called after him.
97 Berach an Abbot of Bangor, died in
663. Colgan supposes, that this was St. Berach, founder of Cluain Choirpthe, or
Kilbarry, but on the very insufficient grounds that a dispute in which he was engaged was referred to Aidan, son of Gabhran, who en-
I02
It is nearly twenty miles across from
:
" Beware, my son, you hold not your
"I and that monster are under God's " Go
"
power. "
in peace, for thy faith in Christ shall defend thee from
I01 "
Hy to Port-na-lung beside Soroby, in Tiree. I03 Martin gives an account of a Gallan
whale, which overturned a fishing boat, and "
devouredthreeofthecrew. See Western
Islands of Scotland," p. 5.
" Ecclesiastical
10* See Rev. Dr.
Lanigan's
432 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
out, to seek a desert in the great ocean; while he humbly asked St. Columkille's
blessing,beforeengaginguponhisperilousenterprise. Thispiousmanafter- wards succeeded as Abbot of Hy,'°4 and through life he was a devoutedly at- tached friend of his illustrious director. At one time, as we are told, Baithen, '°5 by family a grandson or descendant of Niadh Taloire, 106 set out with others to seek a desert in the ocean. IQ 7 Before doing so, however, he asked the saint's blessing. Thesaintbiddinghimadieupronouncedthispropheticwordregard-
:
inghim "Thisman,whoisgoingtoseekadesertintheocean,shallnotbe
buried in the desert, but he shall be buried in that place, where a woman will
lead sheep over his grave. " The same Baithen, after long wanderings on stormy seas, and not finding the desert, returned to his country. He remained
the master of a little which is church,
" Now is fulfilled the
yearsbefore. " This incident Adamnan was told regarding Baithen, by that same priest, who was Maolodran," 2 a soldier of Christ, and of the tribeof Mocurin. "3
The saint sat one day upon the top of a high mountain,"* hanging over his monastery. Whether this was Dun-I,"S die highest elevation on the
Island,orthehillcalledCnoc-mor,"6 whichoverhangsReilig-Orainonthe west, has been questioned. Turning to his familiar servant, Diarmitius,
11
approaching towards the haven. ? Then, showing it to the saint, the latter
said : "Rise in haste, and let us go meet this stranger, whose true penance Christ hath regarded. " The passenger Fechnaus II8 coming on shore fell down prostrate and wept bitterly upon his knees. He then confessed his
for
many years 100
called,
110 it
"Trias
Vita S. Columbse, n. 64, p. 377.
for Port-na-Mairten or — observation, Martyr's
Colgan's
Thaumaturga," Quarta
—where the Free Church now stands answers best to this description.
:
after his death and burial in
at the same time, that flying from some hostile inroad, some poor people with their wives and children fled for sanctuary to that church. 111 Whence it happened, that on a certain day, a woman was caught, pasturing her five poor sheep, on the grave of the very same man. Then a person who observed this, and a holy
reginden.
Shortly
Derry,
happened
priest, said,
prophecy
which St. Columba uttered
many
" I wonder what it is, that stays a ship coming out of Ireland,
Columba said
and which carries in it a wise man, who, for a certain sin into which he hath fallen, cometh hither with penitential tears. " Within a little while, the attendant brother, looking towards the south, saw the sails of this ship
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect. xiv. , p. 162, and nn, 167, 168. p. 168.
*°5 Colgan could not decide which of the many Baithens mentioned in our Annals and Calendars, this man had been. See " Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. xx. , n. 63, p. 377.
l0 ^ That is, Ua 11i<voh Caboipe. Niath occurs in Tirechan. See Liber Arma- chanus, fol. 14, a b, 15 £ b. It signifies a "champion," and the word is often given as a component in ancient names.
107 We find Tolorg in the " Annals of the Four Masters " at A. D. 842, 885; and, fre- quently the name occurs in the Catalogue of the Pictish Kings. See the "Irish Ver- sionof Nennius," at pp. 160, 164.
108 The term in the original is Scotice, but
it has this signification.
109 Unknown, but probably in Derry. See
110
Noted as the oak-grove of Galga- chus.
1,1
The church and its precincts were in- violate sanctuary by the ancient laws of the
Irish Church. The penalties of its violation
varied, according to the dignity of the church, and of the ecclesiastic who procured
for it protection.
"2 In the O'Clerys' Irish Calendar, there
is a saint of this name at January ioth, May31st, Novembernth,andDecember 2nd. See Rev. Dr. Todd's and Reeves' edition, pp. 12, 13, 140, 141, 304, 305, 324, 325.
"3 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 20, pp. 49, 50.
"4 This is an exaggerated descsiption, as
the highest hill on Iona—
that of Dun-I—
is
only 330 feet,
"S It is situated north- north -west of the
monastery.
It is a conspicuous object from the sea.
II6 If Cnoc-mor were the place selected
Bay
"7 Port-Ronain lies near the and village,
it is the usual landing-place. It lies nearly due south of Duni.
in 108 Lath- Irish,
"
Campi Lunge,"
126 and
terra,
lying opposite
to Iona, is on the south-east side of the
122 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 41, and lib. iii. , cap. 8. ThereisanotherplacecalledMagh-
lung, near Ballaghaderreen, in the county of
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
sins, in presence of all the company. The saint out of compassion and weeping
June 9. ]
433
"
are forgiven, because it is written
with. him afterwards said :
Rise, my son, and be of good cheer, for your sins
:
* A contrite and humble heart, God will
not depise. '""9 Afterwards, being very lovingly entertained by our saint, he
sent Fechnaus to Baithan, living at a place called Maghlung,120 or " the plain
of the 121 He was the 122 I23 ships. " superior over this penitential station,
Loch Coiruisg, or Corriskin, Island of Skye.
I2+ now Tiree Island. Here St. Columba himself had built a monastery. The port of Maglunga, I2 s or as Latinized
which was situated in the Ethica
118 He is "
styled sapiens
vir " twice. In
the Irish Annals, we frequently find the
epithet fAoi, "sapiens," applied to ecclesias- tics. Finding St. Fachnan of Ross styled
" sapiens
"inthe Life ofSt.
that of Roscommon. Its
Mochaomoc, Colgan conjectured that he was the subject of the present narrative, but without good reason. Besides, Fachtnan and Fiachna
seem to be different names.
Mayo, adjoining
"9 1:0
See Adamnan's Vita S. Columbse,
See Psalms I. ,
See Adamnan's Life of St. Columba,"
123
lib. ii. , cap. 39.
19. "
lib. ii. , cap. 15. Among the obits in the An-
nals of Ulster, at A. D. 774, isConatb U1aij;iii
Lump, or "Conall of Magh-Luinge. " See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum
Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 105.
124 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. Ixxxviii. , p. 426.
125 Allusions are made to Magh-Luinge,
Combustio Muighe Luinge,"
121 "
id est, Maglunga vocatur quodque per S. at a. d. 673. This event is placed at A,r>.
In monasterio quod Campus navis, Columbam in terra Heth fundatum est. "
Tigernach :
"
Vita S. Baitheni, cap. vii. , p. 237/'.
669, in the Annals of Clonmacnoise ; in those of the Four Masters, at A. D. 671 ; while the. Ulster Annals have it, at A D. 672.
IE
See
Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Junii ix. ,
name is derived from the River Lun^, which
discharges into Lough Gara. See Dr. John
O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (z), p. 283.
in the Irish Annals. Thus we read in "
434 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
island. Near Soroby there stands a very ancient cross, and there too are re- membered the remains of the original parish church. These are near that spot, now occupied by some curious sepulchral slabs. ,2 ? Thither, with a blessing,
28
One of the most interesting of the Hebrides is the Island of Skye,
the penitent journeyed in peace. '
whether we consider its size, productiveness, population, or wildly magnificent
128
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
12? The mountains in the northern especially
are of
Among the latter may
as it has been also
on the western coast,
scenery.
height, and several of its lakes a—re deep and lonely.
parts
towering
—oned Loch x or Loch Corriskin
II
be reck Coiruisg 3° 3
'32
named embosomed in the Cuchullin Mountains,
and discharging itself into Loch Sclavig. ^ Skye was one of those Islands,
in which St. Columba sometimes loved to dwell. 134 He and St. Maelrubha
J
or Maelrubius 35 were its chief Patrons ; the former having the north-eastern
and the latter 136 the—south-eastern portion. —It is a curious feature in the largest
I37
Island of Scotland excepting Lewis that no spot there is four miles
from the sea, and few parts are more than two. 's8 That portion of the island peculiar to St. Columba is a part of Trotternish, bounded by a line drawn from Portree to the head of Loch Snizort. At the northwestern extremity of this district, in the parish of Kilmuir, about two and a-half miles north ofUig Bay,is thealluvialbedofalake,formerlyknownasLochColumkille. 13? It is
126 It is mentioned
S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. 15.
in Vita
How term its dark waves ? and you
how
Yon northern mountain's pathless
brow,
And yonder peak of dread,
That to the evening sun uplifts
The grizzly gulfs and slaty rifts —
Which seam its shiver'd head? " " Corriskin call the dark lake's name : Coolin the ridge, as bards proclaim,
Frcm old Cuchullin, chief of fame. "'
"7 Among the thirteen Brigids mentioned by yEngus the Culdee, is " S. Brigida de MagLuinge. " Colgan places her in Dal-
"
riedia. See
If he means the original territory of that name, however, in the north of the county of Antrim, he is in error. In the farm of Cornagmore, on the north side of Tiree, is a place called Kilbride, where a small chapel formerly stood. This is the true site of the
"Ecclesia S. Brigidse de Mag Luinge. " See a paper on the Island of Tiree, in the
" Ulster of Journal
by Adamnan,
Trias Thaumaturga," p. dwb.
vol. pp. 239, 241, and the accompanying Map.
133 See the Gazetteer of Scot- "Imperial
land," vol. i. , pp. 300, 301.
134 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
Archaeology,"
ii. ,
"Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 30, "Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 33,
p. 62.
PP- 58, 59- 129 In Dr.
Macculloch's "
tion of the Western Islands of Scotland," an account of this Island will be found in vol. i. ,
John
135 His feast at the 21st of Descrip- occurs,
pp. 262 to 419.
130 The accompanying illustration of this
April. See an account of him, at that date, in the
Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
136 Killashig, or Askimilruby, with Kilma-
ree in Strath, and Kilniolruy in Brackdale, Loch has been drawn by William F. Wake- were commemorative of St. Maelrubha,
man on the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
131 The pencil of the accomplished artist, J. W. Turner, was employed- in delineating its sceneiy for an illustrated edition of Sir Walter Scott's works.
Loch, and presented a faithful — word-picture,
which he closes with these lines
" This lake," said Bruce, " whose bar-
riers drear
Are precipices sharp and sheer,
Yielding no track for goat or deer, Save the black shelves we tread.
whose pi incipal church of Apercrossan, now Applecross, is within view, on the mainland to the north-east.
137 See " Gazetteer of the World," vol. xii. , p. 641.
138 A very interesting account of Skye,
132 The illustrious Poet and Novelist of
Scotland has admirably desciibed this wild seen, in Thomas Pennant's " Tour in
:
361.
—
Canto iii. , sect. xvi.
Sir Walter Scott's "Lord of the Isles,"
after the middle of the last
Scotland, and mdcclxxii," part i. , pp. 324
Voyage
to
139 It was drained some thirty years ago,
by Lord Macdonald, the proprietor.
140 It measured about 16 yards in dia- meter east and west, and 11 north and
south.
be to the Hebrides,
century, may
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 435
one of the largest fresh water lakes on the Island of Skye. Towards its northern
extremity is an elevated spot, about three acres in extent, and which was for-
merly insulated. Tins was known as St. Columkille's Island. On the north
side of this island, there is an irregular circular enclosure of rude and extremely
11
ancient masonry. * Within are the traces of three distinct chambers or com-
partments. It was surrounded by a cyclopean cashel, the north face of which
is the most perfect, and it is in parts nearly eight feet thick. 11* 1
this, *
there is a quadrilateral building. *3 the cells and several rooms were
tury,
very distinguishable.
11 2 1
Near to After the middle ofthe last cen-
1 '*'* It is now commonly employed as an enclosure for cows. The roof has long fallen in, and the Avails, which are built with cement, are reduced to the height of five feet.
The adjacent ground is covered with masses of large grey stones, the debris of the walls. '45 At short distances are patches of ground, covered with grey
1"*6which
of this, and a little to the west of the main road to Portree, where Skabost
stones,
appear
tohavebeenthesitesofconventual I47 South buildings.
crosses the Snizort 1 '' 8 extends a Bridge river,
long
narrow
strip
of 140 ground,
insulated by the river. On this are the remains of two ancient buildings
standing within a large cemetery. That next the bridge, much the larger of the
two, was probably the old parish church ; that more remote is of smaller dimensions. 150 The parish church, now known as Snizort, was formerly dedi- cated to St. Columkille. 151 Proceeding southwards, we reach Portree, the inner bay of which north-west of the town was iormerly called as some old people remember Loch Columkille. In an Island, called Elena, 152 or Elene, which has not been identified by a modern name,153 St. Columba is supposed to have erected a religious establishment. To us it seems probable, that this site was attached to the Island of Skye. This foundation of Columba would appear to have been made during the closing years of his life. Lugneus Mocumin '54 was one of his disciples. He was placed, when an aged man, overamonasteryinElena,155andwhichseemstohaveexisted,beforehebecame
" the Tower," which a
141
writer of the seventeenth century describes
warrior.
ISI It is styled Satut Colnfs Kirk in Snes-
furd in Trouternes. See "Origines Paro- chiales Scoriae," vol. ii.
