54 That holy Abbot only survived one year,
having departed this life, at the comparatively early age of thirty-four.
having departed this life, at the comparatively early age of thirty-four.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
These were Daimhin 2?
of 28 Ailild 29
Dahmhairgid, King Oirghellia, Inbhanda, 1
King of Connaught,3° and Fearedach,^ son to Duach, lord of Ossory. Then, Aid asked, " shall I be saved ? " " By no means," returned the saint, with
great freedom of speech, "unless by penance and good works, you satisfy for the many crimes of your previous life. " Then, Aidus asked the saint, how
he might hope to have a complete victory over the people of Leinster, against whom he was about to conduct an expedition. But, Columba told him, that he could not promise such success, since his own mother be- longed to Leinster; and besides, he had promised a number of people assembled at Durrow, that so long as they contended with justice on their side, no strange potentate should obtain a victory over them. " Nevertheless," said he to the
"I shall bestowon
andso
wearit in
a
shall not fall. " This gift Aedh thankfully accepted. Afterwards, he wore it on
you
Shannon, and in the territory of Tir-Briuin, it is sometimes called in the Irish Annals, Cill-mor- Tir Bruin na Sinna, " Kilmore in Tir Briuin of the Shannon," or Cill-mor na Sinna, "Kilmore of the Shannon. " See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," at a. d. 1232, 1249, 1 330.
22SeeVitaS. Columbae,lib. i. , cap. xlii. , and lib. ii. , cap. xix.
23 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect. xiv. , p. 243.
25 His feast falls, on the 9th ofJune.
in his
long
you
battle, you
king,
24 See the
Donegal," Rev. Dr. Todd's and Reeves' edition, pp. 150, 151.
26
"
3I In the year 582, he was killed by his own familiars. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 210, 211.
3a This happened, A. D. 594.
O'Clerys'
Such is the opinion of Rev. Dr. Lanigan,
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
" of Martyrology
hood,
as
vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, x. , p. 1 32. See also, n. 114, pp. 137, 138.
2? From him are descended the Airghialla.
"
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 202, 203.
* His death is commemorated at A. D. 560. See ibid.
29HewassonofEoghan.
3° He was killed, with his brother Aedh Forthamhail, in the battle of Cuil Conaire, in the territory of Cera, A. D. 550. See
See Dr. O'Donovan's
William M. Hennessey's torum," pp. 50,51.
"
Chronicum Sco-
496 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9
2
the field. Yet, when he waged his last war 3
he forgot to put it on ; and at the place known as Belachduin, he was slain by his enemies. 33
To our saint is attributed the erection of Snamlathir,3* a monastery in the
An alternative supposition
36 son of
Columbanus,39 a holy man, the son of Eochaidh, and founder of a monastery,
called in the Irish tongue Snam Luthir,40 in Cairbre Gabhra. 41 The drive
over so long a road necessarily caused the chariot to be very much shaken ;
yet, the wheels did not come off the axles, nor even stir out of their proper
places, although as mentioned before the usual appliances had been
neglected. But grace so favoured the holy man, that his chariot proceeded
safely during the entire day, and without meeting any obstacle to retard its
42 progress.
present barony of Carbury, and county of Sligo.
that it was founded 35 before his death,
by Columbanus,
Echad, who was probably his disciple. 37 While the saint was remaining for a few days in Ireland, as we are told, he undertook a journey, which had for its object the advancement of religion, For this purpose, he ascended a yokedchariot,whichhehadpreviouslyblessed; but,fromsomeunaccount- able neglect, on the part of his servant, the linch-pins 38 were not inserted in the holes, at the axle extremities, The saint's charioteer on this occasion was
suggests,
St. Columba is mentioned the
the Two Rivers 43 said to have been called in Irish Mainistir-anda Shruth.
the — visited Among places by
Monastery
ot 44
This visit is thought to have succeeded the convention at Drumceat, as it is related 45 immediately after his departure from that place. When he
approached the church or oratory belonging to that Monastery of the Two Rivers,*6thekeysofitsdoorcouldnotbefound. WhenColumbaheard
33 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. lx. , p. 399.
34 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. ii. , p. 495.
3s According to Adamnan. See ibid. , Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. xliii. , p. 302.
bre of Drumcliff, now the barony of Carbury,
in the county of Sligo.
4I Dr. O'Donovan shows that it is clearly,
represented by the modern barony of Gran- ard, in the county of Longford. See"An- nals of the Four Masters,'' at a. d. 731, vol. i. , n. (w), p. 328.
42
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. xliii. , p. 362, and nn. 34, 35, p. 384 : also Quinta
36 For various reasons, Colgan is disposed
to think, he was that St. Colman, son of Vita S. Columbae, lib. iii. , cap. xvi. , pp. Eochod, who is venerated, on the 1st of 433, 434.
January. See ibid. , nn. 34, 35, p 384.
"
« jn the title to Adamnan's chapter, re-
lating to this account, its church is styled in Latin " Duorum Agri Rivorum," and after- wards allusion is made to the brethren "qui in monasterio
"
3? See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's x. , p. 133. and n. 122, p. 143.
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect.
38 <<
Linch pins, or perhaps, a nut or box fastened to the end of the axle.
3» Columbanus, more commonly written Colmanus. It is not expressly stated, that he was a disciple of St. Columba, but it cannot be doubted that he was. He appears as the companion of the saint, who came to
—Duum Ruris commanebant Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 36,
Necissariis obicibus," Anglicized
Ireland, for some ecclesiastical purposes. ""
favoured by Adamnan's account, that it was See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical His- at a time when vir beatus aliquantis in
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, x. ,
Scotia diebus conversatus. "
4° The site of this is not known. monastery
Colgan thinks, that the text of Adamnan has been corrupted, and that instead of Ager Duorum Rivorum, it should be Terra or
n.
40 From a passage in the Acta Sanctorum,
122, p. 143.
at April nth, and from another in the Life
of St. Fechin of Fore, it is certain that
Snam-luthir was in Carbre Gabhra. Ager Duorum Ramorum. See "Trias Colgan supposed this to be the same as Cair- Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta
Rivulorum.
p. 152.
against the people of Leinster,
«* See "Trias Colgan's
Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. iii. , cap. xv. ,
p. 433.
*s By O'Donnell, and this inference seems
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 497
some of those who were near complaining about their being disappointed in
" The Lord is able to open his house for his servants, even without keys. " No sooner had he spoken, than by some great force, the bolts were withdrawn, and of its own accord the door opened. To the great admiration of all who were present, theholymanthenenteredthechurch. ^ Atthatmonastery,thecommunity most hospitably entertained Columba, and manifested the greatest rever-
ence towards him.
The monastery of Dairmagh,48 or Durrogh, was then governed under him by Lasren. +° It lay on the sonth-west of the great plain of Meath, and it was very central in Ireland. 50 It anciently formed part of the territory of Fer Ceall, which was included in the kingdom of Teathbha, or Teffia. That house was a favourite foundation of St. Columba, and it was honoured with a special visit, about this period. There he spent some months, arranging and regula-
not having it opened, he approached the door and said
:
various matters relative to 51 While — he had a
ting discipline. here, great
de-
—titution then celebrated sire to see the working of another religious ins very
throughoutthelengthandbreadthofIreland althoughitwasnotunderhis
own rule. Columba accordingly proposed to visit that holy company, living in the monastery, at Clonmacnoise,52 which had been originally founded by St. Kieran," in the year 548.
54 That holy Abbot only survived one year,
having departed this life, at the comparatively early age of thirty-four. 55 At this time,56 however, Alitherus was Abbot, and his rule commencing in 585 was
followed by his death in 599. Understanding something about his expected approach, the people of that place 5? went forth from their enclosures,58 and
S. Columbse, cap. 2, num. 14, p. 493. Therefore, he would have the place to be
in the of Cinel- territory
times difficult to distinguish between it and Clonmacnoise. This was also a bishop's See. 53 Known as fflAC ah or son of
Tir-da-Chroebh,
Fiachach, Kinelea, the present barony of Moycashel, in the county of Westmeath. The place under consideration is now known as the townland of Teernacreeve, in the
c-fAoip,
the Artificer. His feast is held on the 9th
parish of Castletown-Kindalen, in the same
barony and county. The Rev. Dr. Reeves, of Ireland, and his monastery rose to the
however, will not admit with Colgan, that there isan errorhere in the text of Adamnan.
highest importance. Cummian's Paschal epistle calls him Queranus Coloniensis, and
ranks him
the Irish.
larum Hibernicarum Sylloge," Epistola, xi.
P- 33,
s6 This visit of our saint, is re—corded in the
"
Life of St. Ciaran, cap. xxxi. Post Ion-
gum tempus, cum S. Columba, cum sua familia in Hiberniam ab insula Hia venisset prseparata est eis coena magna in monasterio S. Kierani in sua civitate Cluain ; et cum illi venissent ad csenobium S. Kierani sus- cepti sunt in magna hilaritate et diligentia, et ilia coena refecti sunt largissime, et fama
refectionis totam — et ipsius per civitatem, ejus
circuitum late divulgabatur. " Codex in
Marsh's Library, Dublin, containing Lives of Irish Saints, fol. 147^ a.
57 See William F. Skene's "Celtic Scot-
land : a History of Ancient AIban," vol. ii. ,
See " Life of St. n. Columba,"
the " Patres " of priores
(b), p. 153. 47 Thomas Dempster in his Scottish Meno-
among
See Ussher's " Veterum Episto-
logy has Conallus, a disciple of St. Columba,
bishop of this place. Ecclesiastica Gentis
See also his
" tomus
Scotorum," lib. iii. , num. 286, p. 167.
51 See Rev. Dr.
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect. xiv. , p. 243.
Lanigan's
Historia i. ,
. .
48 The Venerable Bede calls it Dearmach,
a noble monastery founded by St. Columba, before he went to Britain. See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 4, p. 169.
"
49 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect. xiv. , p. 243.
50 The Umbilicus Hibernias has been
variously placed at Usnagh Hill, at Clon- macnoise, and at Birr.
52 The Irish writers often give it the gene-
ric title of Cluain, which is Latinized under
the form of Cluanensis or Clonensis. As the
See of Cloyne—in Irish cLu4in-u4mh. &— the neighbourhood.
is also Latinized by Clonensis ; it is some- 59 Agriculture was probably a leading
II
Ecclesiastical
" Ecclesiastical
of September.
54 King Diarmaid Mac Cearball granted
the site and the endowments.
55 He was esteemed one of the chief saints
book ii. , chap, iv. , p. 138.
58 The external dependants, who are
alluded to in the text, were probably tenants of the monastery lands, or farmers living in
498
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
60
from their little
to meet him.
their church.
the zenith of his fame, they bowed down their faces to the ground, when they
in the of 69 who was hearing Failbe,
present,
at the time.
occupation under St. Ciaran's as well as under St. Columba's rule.
t0 He is honoured as a saint nt Clonmac- rioise, and at Muc Inis, in Lou^h Derg, on the River Shannon. His feast occurs, on the 12th of May, where further notices of him will be found, in vol. v. of this work, Art. i.
61 Du Cange has one example of the word, which he explains by ciborium, or
"
"canopy
esse — clerici et genus quoddam, qua
of the altar. " See
"
Glossarium
externse
monachi olim utebantur. " Works, vol. vi. ,
Novum ad Scriptores Mcdii /Evi," &c,
tomus i. , col. 954, Parisiis, 1766, fol.
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xiv. , p. 59.
61
In the present instance it signifies sim-
ply "a canopy. " "Ad eum modum, quo
nos umbella seu baldachino utimur, in Pro-
cessionibus, causa venerationis erga SS. Sacramentum, atque ad arc—endam turban),
pluviam, et solis ardorem. '" "'Acta Sanc- v. , p. 222.
torum," tomus ii. , Junii ix. De S. Columba, Presbytero Abbate, Vita Secunda, lib. i. , cap. ii. , n. (k), p. 202.
67 There are many saints called Ernan. The present is supposed to be St. Ernan. of Kathnew, a very old village in the county of Wicklow. He was venerated, on the 18th of August. He died, A. D. 634 or 635.
68
Ernan is considered to be identical with Ernoc or Mernoc. Kilmarnock in Scotland is thought to be derived from this proper name.
09 This Failbe, whom Adamnan styles his
°* The desire " amphibali fimbriam tan- "
gere expressed here, and at ii. 6, was
created by the ^xf/aro tov Kpaffirtdov rod ipariov avroti of St. Matt, ix. , 20, and xiv. , 36. It
seems to have generally prevailed towards distinguished saints. Thus Gregory of Tours
5$ near the
monastery,
with their Abbot
Alitherus, They led him honourably, while singing psalms and hymns, to Considering Columba as an Angel of the Lord, and now in
granges,
saw him, and kissed him most they
A made of wood 6l covering
reverently.
or a canopy 62 was borne by five men over his head, while he walked, lest he
might be incommoded by the multitude of the brethren, pressing round him. At the same time, a certain despicable and poorly clad youth came behind the saint. He hid so much as he could, although attached to the monastery. Hethoughttotouchunawaresthehem63 ofoursaint'stunicorexteriorgar- ment; but what the saint could not see with his corporal he saw with his
interior and mental 6* eyes.
he his hand put
for a
behind him, and so taking hold of the youth by his neck, St. Columkille
placed him in presence of all the people. Then, all that were there cried out :
" Let him go, and dismiss him ; why do you detain that unhappy and unpro-
mising boy ? " Breathing out from his pure breast, the saint pronounced these
:
prophetical words " Make way now, brethren, and give me permission to
act. " to the who Then, turning youth,
1
Standing still,
moment,
he said: "O
shall not only cease to displease, but he shall even prove very pleasing to you ; in virtue and holy conversation, he shall daily go forward ; and hence- forth, his wisdom and prudence are destined more and more to increase. In this our congregation, he shall become a worthy member, while his tongue shall be indued by God with gifts of wholesome doctrine and of great eloquence. "66 That youth was named Emeus, son of Crasen,6? who after- wards became so famous, and who was so well known, throughout all the
child, open The youth did so accordingly. The saint, thereupon, extending his holy hand, and blessing his tongue, pro- nounced this prophecy regarding him : "Albeit, this youth seemeth to you uncouth and despicable, let none therefore contemn him ; for henceforth, he
your mouth, and put out your tongue. "65
churches of Ireland. 68 He told these
words to the Abbot
trembled,
prophetic
Segienus, While St. Colum-
says of St. Trajan :
amphibolum induisset, cum quo processurus
diocesim
menti a diversis
De Gloriosis Confessoribus, cap. 59, col. 941, Paris edition of 1699; also "Bibliotheca Veterum Patruum," tomus xi. , p. 8S4, Lug-
duni, a. d. 1677.
64 Ussher explains the word by " vestis
circumiret, diripiebantur. "
"
Opera"
65 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Prima Vita S. Columba? , cap. xxxi. , p. 324. 66 See Le Comte de Montalembert's " Les Moines d'Occident," tome iii. , liv. xi. , chap.
Si novum, ut adsolet,
fimbriae — vesti- hujus
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 499
kille enjoyed hospitality at the monastery of Clonmacnoise, he was inspired by the Holy Ghost to reveal many other things. Among these were his pre- dictions regarding those differences, which afterwards arose among the Scot- tish churches, concerning the time for celebrating Easter. For many long years, the Fathers of the Church both in Ireland and Britain were divided in opinion, until at last Christian peace and union were accomplished, through submissiontothatriteprescribedbytheApostolicSee. Healsorevealedto a few of the seniors at Clonmacnoise various events and vicissitudes of the Irish Church in after times. " Moreover, certain places at Clonmacnoise were said to have been frequented, at that period, by the Angels of God ; and it was believed, that our saint was there favoured with many heavenly
visions.
A—gain, St. Columba visited a place—probably in the northern part of Ire-
land where he asked, that a boy of elegant form and of good ability should be sought for and brought to him. Munna,71 the son of Tulchan, and of the
Hy-Nialls, answered to such requirements. He was brought to Columba, who predicted his future great sanctity, and those honours he should bring to his family. 72 This happened, most probably, when St. Columba returned to Ireland from Iona, and therefore somewhat late in the sixth century. " In due course, St. Munnu embraced a life of sacred study 74 and received his first education from St. Comgall. 75 Afterwards, it is said, he studied in St. Columba'sschoolatKillmoirDitruimhe7° orDeathrib,"whenmoreadvanced in learning. While a large class of scholars was collected, and while the students were listening to St. Columba's instructions, the latter asked St. Baithen which of his pupils best deserved to sit near him, at the head of his
class. Baithen said Munnu deserved most to sit at his right hand. Columba
''And indeed, I tell
said " this Munnu is filled he,
you/'
with the graces of the Holy Spirit, and he shall altogether surpass others in
this school for his wisdom and erudition. "? 8 At another time, as Columb—a was staying some days in Ireland, he saw a cleric mounte—d on a chariot
instantly rejoiced.
which was a usual mode of conveyance in our saint's day 7 °
and that cleric
was the driving pleasantly along
plains
of 8° or Breg,
Bregia.
81 This 82 territory
unluckily, its situation is wrapped up in ob- to the writer. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adam- scurity.
Dahmhairgid, King Oirghellia, Inbhanda, 1
King of Connaught,3° and Fearedach,^ son to Duach, lord of Ossory. Then, Aid asked, " shall I be saved ? " " By no means," returned the saint, with
great freedom of speech, "unless by penance and good works, you satisfy for the many crimes of your previous life. " Then, Aidus asked the saint, how
he might hope to have a complete victory over the people of Leinster, against whom he was about to conduct an expedition. But, Columba told him, that he could not promise such success, since his own mother be- longed to Leinster; and besides, he had promised a number of people assembled at Durrow, that so long as they contended with justice on their side, no strange potentate should obtain a victory over them. " Nevertheless," said he to the
"I shall bestowon
andso
wearit in
a
shall not fall. " This gift Aedh thankfully accepted. Afterwards, he wore it on
you
Shannon, and in the territory of Tir-Briuin, it is sometimes called in the Irish Annals, Cill-mor- Tir Bruin na Sinna, " Kilmore in Tir Briuin of the Shannon," or Cill-mor na Sinna, "Kilmore of the Shannon. " See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," at a. d. 1232, 1249, 1 330.
22SeeVitaS. Columbae,lib. i. , cap. xlii. , and lib. ii. , cap. xix.
23 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect. xiv. , p. 243.
25 His feast falls, on the 9th ofJune.
in his
long
you
battle, you
king,
24 See the
Donegal," Rev. Dr. Todd's and Reeves' edition, pp. 150, 151.
26
"
3I In the year 582, he was killed by his own familiars. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 210, 211.
3a This happened, A. D. 594.
O'Clerys'
Such is the opinion of Rev. Dr. Lanigan,
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
" of Martyrology
hood,
as
vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, x. , p. 1 32. See also, n. 114, pp. 137, 138.
2? From him are descended the Airghialla.
"
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 202, 203.
* His death is commemorated at A. D. 560. See ibid.
29HewassonofEoghan.
3° He was killed, with his brother Aedh Forthamhail, in the battle of Cuil Conaire, in the territory of Cera, A. D. 550. See
See Dr. O'Donovan's
William M. Hennessey's torum," pp. 50,51.
"
Chronicum Sco-
496 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9
2
the field. Yet, when he waged his last war 3
he forgot to put it on ; and at the place known as Belachduin, he was slain by his enemies. 33
To our saint is attributed the erection of Snamlathir,3* a monastery in the
An alternative supposition
36 son of
Columbanus,39 a holy man, the son of Eochaidh, and founder of a monastery,
called in the Irish tongue Snam Luthir,40 in Cairbre Gabhra. 41 The drive
over so long a road necessarily caused the chariot to be very much shaken ;
yet, the wheels did not come off the axles, nor even stir out of their proper
places, although as mentioned before the usual appliances had been
neglected. But grace so favoured the holy man, that his chariot proceeded
safely during the entire day, and without meeting any obstacle to retard its
42 progress.
present barony of Carbury, and county of Sligo.
that it was founded 35 before his death,
by Columbanus,
Echad, who was probably his disciple. 37 While the saint was remaining for a few days in Ireland, as we are told, he undertook a journey, which had for its object the advancement of religion, For this purpose, he ascended a yokedchariot,whichhehadpreviouslyblessed; but,fromsomeunaccount- able neglect, on the part of his servant, the linch-pins 38 were not inserted in the holes, at the axle extremities, The saint's charioteer on this occasion was
suggests,
St. Columba is mentioned the
the Two Rivers 43 said to have been called in Irish Mainistir-anda Shruth.
the — visited Among places by
Monastery
ot 44
This visit is thought to have succeeded the convention at Drumceat, as it is related 45 immediately after his departure from that place. When he
approached the church or oratory belonging to that Monastery of the Two Rivers,*6thekeysofitsdoorcouldnotbefound. WhenColumbaheard
33 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. lx. , p. 399.
34 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. ii. , p. 495.
3s According to Adamnan. See ibid. , Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. xliii. , p. 302.
bre of Drumcliff, now the barony of Carbury,
in the county of Sligo.
4I Dr. O'Donovan shows that it is clearly,
represented by the modern barony of Gran- ard, in the county of Longford. See"An- nals of the Four Masters,'' at a. d. 731, vol. i. , n. (w), p. 328.
42
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. xliii. , p. 362, and nn. 34, 35, p. 384 : also Quinta
36 For various reasons, Colgan is disposed
to think, he was that St. Colman, son of Vita S. Columbae, lib. iii. , cap. xvi. , pp. Eochod, who is venerated, on the 1st of 433, 434.
January. See ibid. , nn. 34, 35, p 384.
"
« jn the title to Adamnan's chapter, re-
lating to this account, its church is styled in Latin " Duorum Agri Rivorum," and after- wards allusion is made to the brethren "qui in monasterio
"
3? See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's x. , p. 133. and n. 122, p. 143.
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect.
38 <<
Linch pins, or perhaps, a nut or box fastened to the end of the axle.
3» Columbanus, more commonly written Colmanus. It is not expressly stated, that he was a disciple of St. Columba, but it cannot be doubted that he was. He appears as the companion of the saint, who came to
—Duum Ruris commanebant Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 36,
Necissariis obicibus," Anglicized
Ireland, for some ecclesiastical purposes. ""
favoured by Adamnan's account, that it was See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical His- at a time when vir beatus aliquantis in
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, x. ,
Scotia diebus conversatus. "
4° The site of this is not known. monastery
Colgan thinks, that the text of Adamnan has been corrupted, and that instead of Ager Duorum Rivorum, it should be Terra or
n.
40 From a passage in the Acta Sanctorum,
122, p. 143.
at April nth, and from another in the Life
of St. Fechin of Fore, it is certain that
Snam-luthir was in Carbre Gabhra. Ager Duorum Ramorum. See "Trias Colgan supposed this to be the same as Cair- Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta
Rivulorum.
p. 152.
against the people of Leinster,
«* See "Trias Colgan's
Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. iii. , cap. xv. ,
p. 433.
*s By O'Donnell, and this inference seems
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 497
some of those who were near complaining about their being disappointed in
" The Lord is able to open his house for his servants, even without keys. " No sooner had he spoken, than by some great force, the bolts were withdrawn, and of its own accord the door opened. To the great admiration of all who were present, theholymanthenenteredthechurch. ^ Atthatmonastery,thecommunity most hospitably entertained Columba, and manifested the greatest rever-
ence towards him.
The monastery of Dairmagh,48 or Durrogh, was then governed under him by Lasren. +° It lay on the sonth-west of the great plain of Meath, and it was very central in Ireland. 50 It anciently formed part of the territory of Fer Ceall, which was included in the kingdom of Teathbha, or Teffia. That house was a favourite foundation of St. Columba, and it was honoured with a special visit, about this period. There he spent some months, arranging and regula-
not having it opened, he approached the door and said
:
various matters relative to 51 While — he had a
ting discipline. here, great
de-
—titution then celebrated sire to see the working of another religious ins very
throughoutthelengthandbreadthofIreland althoughitwasnotunderhis
own rule. Columba accordingly proposed to visit that holy company, living in the monastery, at Clonmacnoise,52 which had been originally founded by St. Kieran," in the year 548.
54 That holy Abbot only survived one year,
having departed this life, at the comparatively early age of thirty-four. 55 At this time,56 however, Alitherus was Abbot, and his rule commencing in 585 was
followed by his death in 599. Understanding something about his expected approach, the people of that place 5? went forth from their enclosures,58 and
S. Columbse, cap. 2, num. 14, p. 493. Therefore, he would have the place to be
in the of Cinel- territory
times difficult to distinguish between it and Clonmacnoise. This was also a bishop's See. 53 Known as fflAC ah or son of
Tir-da-Chroebh,
Fiachach, Kinelea, the present barony of Moycashel, in the county of Westmeath. The place under consideration is now known as the townland of Teernacreeve, in the
c-fAoip,
the Artificer. His feast is held on the 9th
parish of Castletown-Kindalen, in the same
barony and county. The Rev. Dr. Reeves, of Ireland, and his monastery rose to the
however, will not admit with Colgan, that there isan errorhere in the text of Adamnan.
highest importance. Cummian's Paschal epistle calls him Queranus Coloniensis, and
ranks him
the Irish.
larum Hibernicarum Sylloge," Epistola, xi.
P- 33,
s6 This visit of our saint, is re—corded in the
"
Life of St. Ciaran, cap. xxxi. Post Ion-
gum tempus, cum S. Columba, cum sua familia in Hiberniam ab insula Hia venisset prseparata est eis coena magna in monasterio S. Kierani in sua civitate Cluain ; et cum illi venissent ad csenobium S. Kierani sus- cepti sunt in magna hilaritate et diligentia, et ilia coena refecti sunt largissime, et fama
refectionis totam — et ipsius per civitatem, ejus
circuitum late divulgabatur. " Codex in
Marsh's Library, Dublin, containing Lives of Irish Saints, fol. 147^ a.
57 See William F. Skene's "Celtic Scot-
land : a History of Ancient AIban," vol. ii. ,
See " Life of St. n. Columba,"
the " Patres " of priores
(b), p. 153. 47 Thomas Dempster in his Scottish Meno-
among
See Ussher's " Veterum Episto-
logy has Conallus, a disciple of St. Columba,
bishop of this place. Ecclesiastica Gentis
See also his
" tomus
Scotorum," lib. iii. , num. 286, p. 167.
51 See Rev. Dr.
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect. xiv. , p. 243.
Lanigan's
Historia i. ,
. .
48 The Venerable Bede calls it Dearmach,
a noble monastery founded by St. Columba, before he went to Britain. See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 4, p. 169.
"
49 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect. xiv. , p. 243.
50 The Umbilicus Hibernias has been
variously placed at Usnagh Hill, at Clon- macnoise, and at Birr.
52 The Irish writers often give it the gene-
ric title of Cluain, which is Latinized under
the form of Cluanensis or Clonensis. As the
See of Cloyne—in Irish cLu4in-u4mh. &— the neighbourhood.
is also Latinized by Clonensis ; it is some- 59 Agriculture was probably a leading
II
Ecclesiastical
" Ecclesiastical
of September.
54 King Diarmaid Mac Cearball granted
the site and the endowments.
55 He was esteemed one of the chief saints
book ii. , chap, iv. , p. 138.
58 The external dependants, who are
alluded to in the text, were probably tenants of the monastery lands, or farmers living in
498
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
60
from their little
to meet him.
their church.
the zenith of his fame, they bowed down their faces to the ground, when they
in the of 69 who was hearing Failbe,
present,
at the time.
occupation under St. Ciaran's as well as under St. Columba's rule.
t0 He is honoured as a saint nt Clonmac- rioise, and at Muc Inis, in Lou^h Derg, on the River Shannon. His feast occurs, on the 12th of May, where further notices of him will be found, in vol. v. of this work, Art. i.
61 Du Cange has one example of the word, which he explains by ciborium, or
"
"canopy
esse — clerici et genus quoddam, qua
of the altar. " See
"
Glossarium
externse
monachi olim utebantur. " Works, vol. vi. ,
Novum ad Scriptores Mcdii /Evi," &c,
tomus i. , col. 954, Parisiis, 1766, fol.
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xiv. , p. 59.
61
In the present instance it signifies sim-
ply "a canopy. " "Ad eum modum, quo
nos umbella seu baldachino utimur, in Pro-
cessionibus, causa venerationis erga SS. Sacramentum, atque ad arc—endam turban),
pluviam, et solis ardorem. '" "'Acta Sanc- v. , p. 222.
torum," tomus ii. , Junii ix. De S. Columba, Presbytero Abbate, Vita Secunda, lib. i. , cap. ii. , n. (k), p. 202.
67 There are many saints called Ernan. The present is supposed to be St. Ernan. of Kathnew, a very old village in the county of Wicklow. He was venerated, on the 18th of August. He died, A. D. 634 or 635.
68
Ernan is considered to be identical with Ernoc or Mernoc. Kilmarnock in Scotland is thought to be derived from this proper name.
09 This Failbe, whom Adamnan styles his
°* The desire " amphibali fimbriam tan- "
gere expressed here, and at ii. 6, was
created by the ^xf/aro tov Kpaffirtdov rod ipariov avroti of St. Matt, ix. , 20, and xiv. , 36. It
seems to have generally prevailed towards distinguished saints. Thus Gregory of Tours
5$ near the
monastery,
with their Abbot
Alitherus, They led him honourably, while singing psalms and hymns, to Considering Columba as an Angel of the Lord, and now in
granges,
saw him, and kissed him most they
A made of wood 6l covering
reverently.
or a canopy 62 was borne by five men over his head, while he walked, lest he
might be incommoded by the multitude of the brethren, pressing round him. At the same time, a certain despicable and poorly clad youth came behind the saint. He hid so much as he could, although attached to the monastery. Hethoughttotouchunawaresthehem63 ofoursaint'stunicorexteriorgar- ment; but what the saint could not see with his corporal he saw with his
interior and mental 6* eyes.
he his hand put
for a
behind him, and so taking hold of the youth by his neck, St. Columkille
placed him in presence of all the people. Then, all that were there cried out :
" Let him go, and dismiss him ; why do you detain that unhappy and unpro-
mising boy ? " Breathing out from his pure breast, the saint pronounced these
:
prophetical words " Make way now, brethren, and give me permission to
act. " to the who Then, turning youth,
1
Standing still,
moment,
he said: "O
shall not only cease to displease, but he shall even prove very pleasing to you ; in virtue and holy conversation, he shall daily go forward ; and hence- forth, his wisdom and prudence are destined more and more to increase. In this our congregation, he shall become a worthy member, while his tongue shall be indued by God with gifts of wholesome doctrine and of great eloquence. "66 That youth was named Emeus, son of Crasen,6? who after- wards became so famous, and who was so well known, throughout all the
child, open The youth did so accordingly. The saint, thereupon, extending his holy hand, and blessing his tongue, pro- nounced this prophecy regarding him : "Albeit, this youth seemeth to you uncouth and despicable, let none therefore contemn him ; for henceforth, he
your mouth, and put out your tongue. "65
churches of Ireland. 68 He told these
words to the Abbot
trembled,
prophetic
Segienus, While St. Colum-
says of St. Trajan :
amphibolum induisset, cum quo processurus
diocesim
menti a diversis
De Gloriosis Confessoribus, cap. 59, col. 941, Paris edition of 1699; also "Bibliotheca Veterum Patruum," tomus xi. , p. 8S4, Lug-
duni, a. d. 1677.
64 Ussher explains the word by " vestis
circumiret, diripiebantur. "
"
Opera"
65 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Prima Vita S. Columba? , cap. xxxi. , p. 324. 66 See Le Comte de Montalembert's " Les Moines d'Occident," tome iii. , liv. xi. , chap.
Si novum, ut adsolet,
fimbriae — vesti- hujus
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 499
kille enjoyed hospitality at the monastery of Clonmacnoise, he was inspired by the Holy Ghost to reveal many other things. Among these were his pre- dictions regarding those differences, which afterwards arose among the Scot- tish churches, concerning the time for celebrating Easter. For many long years, the Fathers of the Church both in Ireland and Britain were divided in opinion, until at last Christian peace and union were accomplished, through submissiontothatriteprescribedbytheApostolicSee. Healsorevealedto a few of the seniors at Clonmacnoise various events and vicissitudes of the Irish Church in after times. " Moreover, certain places at Clonmacnoise were said to have been frequented, at that period, by the Angels of God ; and it was believed, that our saint was there favoured with many heavenly
visions.
A—gain, St. Columba visited a place—probably in the northern part of Ire-
land where he asked, that a boy of elegant form and of good ability should be sought for and brought to him. Munna,71 the son of Tulchan, and of the
Hy-Nialls, answered to such requirements. He was brought to Columba, who predicted his future great sanctity, and those honours he should bring to his family. 72 This happened, most probably, when St. Columba returned to Ireland from Iona, and therefore somewhat late in the sixth century. " In due course, St. Munnu embraced a life of sacred study 74 and received his first education from St. Comgall. 75 Afterwards, it is said, he studied in St. Columba'sschoolatKillmoirDitruimhe7° orDeathrib,"whenmoreadvanced in learning. While a large class of scholars was collected, and while the students were listening to St. Columba's instructions, the latter asked St. Baithen which of his pupils best deserved to sit near him, at the head of his
class. Baithen said Munnu deserved most to sit at his right hand. Columba
''And indeed, I tell
said " this Munnu is filled he,
you/'
with the graces of the Holy Spirit, and he shall altogether surpass others in
this school for his wisdom and erudition. "? 8 At another time, as Columb—a was staying some days in Ireland, he saw a cleric mounte—d on a chariot
instantly rejoiced.
which was a usual mode of conveyance in our saint's day 7 °
and that cleric
was the driving pleasantly along
plains
of 8° or Breg,
Bregia.
81 This 82 territory
unluckily, its situation is wrapped up in ob- to the writer. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adam- scurity.
