Patrick, by Jocelyn, in his Life of that saint, chapter 193, as also in the
Tripartite
Life, part iii.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
, pp.
59, 60.
38 Engraved by George A. Hanlon, and drawn on the spot by Mr, Wakeman, for his
interesting work.
39 It is six feet in height, one foot ten
inches wide, at the top, and two feet four inches, at the bottom,
^° Several large monumental pillar-stones
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 245
The east window splays externally, and in this respect, it is probably unique in Ireland. This interesting group of ruins presents an exceedingly antique appearance, and its insulated position renders it a lonely and deserted spot.
CHAPTER V
ST. SENAN's gifts of PROrHECY—his LATEST RECORDED ACTIONS—HIS DORMITION AND SUBSEQUENT RESTORATION TO LIFE—DATE FOR HIS DEPARTURE—HIS OBSEQUIES— HIS BURIAL IN INISCATTERY.
The gifts of prophecy have been assigned to St. Senan. ^ Cuimin of Coin- deire states, that a Senan loved to have sickness upon him, so that there werenolessthanthirtydifferentdiseases,infectinghisbody. ^ But,itisnot certain, what Senan he means, from among the two-and-twenty,3 who have festivals,'^andwhoarefoundrecordedinourCalendars. Perceivingthathis end was approaching, in order to leave this earth of exile with even more perfect dispositions, the holy Senan proposed to visit the cell of his first teacher and master, St. Cassidian, who, in all probability, was not then living. But, it was only natural, that Senan should wish to see once more the loved retreat, in which he had first learned the practices of a spiritual life. He also desired, to visit the cell of his paternal aunt, St. Scota,s daughter to Cobh- tach, that he might devote himself to absorbing prayer, and to prepare more fullyfortheexpectedhourofhisdeparture. Ontheway,heturnedfromhis course, to see the daughters of Nsereus, virgins, whom he had veiled, and in- stalled, at the church of Killeochaille f and, by these ladies was he most kindlyreceived. 7 Theyrequestedhimtoprocureforthemtherelicsofsome holy monk, who might become titular patron of their church. Aware of his own approaching dissolution, and through Divine inspiration, the servant of God replied, that a Patron's and a Protector's relics should not be wanting to them. Hiswordswereverified,forhisdormitiontookplaceafewdayssub- sequentlytothisannouncement. Afterhehadtakenleaveofthem,hepro- ceeded towards the church of St. Cassidan. Having satisfied his devotions there, he returned through a certain plain, near Killeochaille. ^ Here, he
heard a voice from on " O high saying :
called to Heaven ! "
stand at a short distance from the church,
in an easterly direction, but they bear no
where she is noticed as St. Scoth. There is also a holy virgin, bearing the same name,
Senan, p. 189. *
is what Cuimin
—
the
of Nrereus were
those
"
Senan noble invalid loved,
Good wes every answer of his answers ; To have thirty diseases in his body, "Which was of evil to this
of Nateus, mentioned by Aengus Kelideus.
These conjectures, particularly the former,
are very probable ; but, Archdall had no
This, however,
says
:
daughters
perhaps
enough
sage. "
facts. "— Dr. " Ecclesias- positive Lanigan's
Senan,
On receiving this announcement, the holy man thither-
or — inour inscriptions symbols.
jNISS. , in the R. I. A. , contains a quatrain,
'^" Chapter v. The vi. vol. of O'Longan
on the
of Saints Sedna and
' cell of the
Clare, not far from Iniscatthy ; and, that
prophecies
caillech,
nuns,'
in the of county
3 In a note Dr. Todd here says : —" Col-
gan enumerates two-and-twenty saints of
this name, with their festivals Actt. SS.
Append, ad Vitam S. Senani, chap, i. , p. been identified. See Duffy's "Hibernian
537-"
'^ See '' The of Martyroiogy Donegal,
"
Magazine," vol. i. . No. i, p. 39.
^Theancientnameof inthe Youghal,
county of Cork, was Eochaille, i. e. , "the Yew Wood. " It might have had Kill, i. e. ,
a church, formerly in conjunction, as a local
edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 68 to 71, and n, i.
5 See notices of her, at the l6th of July,
servant of thou art God,
atthei8thof Calendars, January,
Colgan thought that Killeochaille might have been the same as Kill-mac-
right (at Kilnagallegh) to change them into
tical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, iv. , n. 31, p. 92.
'In the "Legend of Iniscatthy," it is said, the church of Killeochaille has not
246 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
wards elevated his hands and eyes. With expressions of thanksgiving to God, his disciples were told, that the hour for his rest was at hand, that on this same day, he should die, and that on the following, they should bear his body to the monastery. Wherefore, with his mind fixed on that heavenly habitation, so long desired by him, the holy Senan restored his spirit into the hands of his Creator.
This dormition of St. Senan took place, on the ist day of March, and
aboutthetwelfthhouroftheday. 9 T—heyearinwhichhediedisunknown;
but, it must have been later than 544 a date, assigned by some writers,'" for that event," in consequence of calculations and coincidences, which are
thought to accord. The year mentioned, is thought by Archbishop Ussher to have been that when St. David of Wales died. Yet, he seems to have
lived for many years after that date. Dr. Lanigan was inclined to think, that Senan died some years earlier than David, nor did he find any reason for what is said about their having died in the same year, except that they both happenedtodieonafirstofMarch. Hence,itwassupposed,thattheydied on the same day ; and, instead of being understood relatively to correspond- ing days of different years, this diurnal coincidence was easily mistaken for one day of one and the same year. "
It is probable, in Dr. Lanigan's opinion, that Senan died about the year 560 ; whereas, we do not find, that he is said to have lived to a very great age, and it is stated, that he was of a sickly constitution. '3 Nor is he mentioned, as having had transactions with any of the eminent saints, who flourished in the south of Ireland, after or about that time, except Brendan of Birr, who died in 571, and whose visit to Senan could not have been later
than 549. On the other hand, it is difficult to suppose, that he died much sooner than 560. From the respectability, to which he raised the monastery of Iniscatthy, it is fair to conclude, that he governed it, at least, for about twenty years after its foundation, about or somewhat prior to a. d. 540. '
Upon the same principle, which urged Ussher to his conclusion, Colgan maintains, that Senan must have lived to, at least, the year 580,^5 whereas David did not die, it has been assumed, until about that date. If it were true, that Senan had been for some time with St. Maidoc of Ferns, as stated in the Second Life,'^ he should have lived until the latter end of the sixth century. But, in this, there is a huge anachronism ; since, his being with Maidoc'7 is placed long before the foundation of Iniscatth)^, at Avhich time the latter was not yet born.
The body of St. Senan was conveyed to the nunnery of the holy virgins,
designation. Although not far from St. Cassidian's native place, we cannot even
safely conjecture, that Killeochaille may be identical with the present Youghal.
Senan, at the very moment it happened,
and his then lying down to die, where as
they had agreed not to survive each other,
This is a strange and an incredible story, as if
indeed it them to leave this depended upon
world whenever they pleased ; nor, is there a word about it, in the Second Life, or in the accounts of Senan, given in the Calen- dars.
'3 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," Martii viii. Appendix ad Acta S.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
9 See
nias," viii. Martii, Vita Secunda S. Senani, cap. xlii. , p. 533.
Colgan's
" Among these are Ussher, Harris and Archdall.
"
Senan, that he died on the same day that David did, Ussher very naturally placed his
death in
" The Life, in which alone this identity
Having
read in the Metrical Life of St.
of is day
has a about story
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, iv. , n. 34, pp. 93, 94.
»5 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernire,"
Martii viii. , n. 19, p. 525. **
Chapter xviii.
'^ See his Life, at the 31st of Januaiy.
See " Britannicarum Eccle-
Senani, cap. vi. , pp. 543, 544.
544.
siarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 454, 488, and Index Chronologicus, at a. d. DXLiv. , p. 530.
^* See Dr. " Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
mentioned,
David's death having been revealed to
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 247
already mentioned. Here it remained, until the following day. The monks
of Iniscatthy, being informed of their beloved abbot's death, set out for that
place, where his body lay ; and, among those, who proceeded thither, Odran,'^ Macinnil, the Bishops Ere and Mola,^9 with Segarius, son to Blathius,^° are named. ^' While they were about to bear their abbot's corpse
towards his monastery, they placed it in a coffin. Meantime, it is related, that they beheld the thumb of Senan's right hand lying on the ground. All
who were present agreed, that this separation of the joint must have been miraculous. Yet, a still greater wonder appeared, for they found that the saint's hands were entire, Avanting neither of the thumbs, nor any of the fingers. With joy of heart and signal encomiums, they celebrated this miracle. A promise and prophecy of the saint, made to the holy virgins who residedthere,wereintheirrecollections. Thesevirginshaddesiredtherelics
of some saint, belonging to Iniscathy, to be given them, as a precious treasure. St. Senan declared, that their request should be complied with, in
a short time, through the mercy of God. Thus, his promise had been mira-
culously fulfilled. Hence, the thumb was preserved with much veneration, in their nunnery. It was retained, as one of the most esteemed relics, in
possession of its religious. ^^ Afterwards, the body of St. Senan having been
brought to Iniscatthy monastery, it was unanimously resolved, that it should not be committed to the earth, until the clergy of Limerick,^3 the prelates of
the neighbouring churches, and the chiefs of all that surrounding country, had
assembled, for the obsequies of this holy man. While waiting, until these
preparations should have been completed, the days and nights were spent, in
chantingsacredcanticles,andintheperformanceofholyrites. Theheavens
themselves were seen to glow with meteoric corruscations, exhibiting remark-
able brightness, an—d angelic apparitions were frequently observed, from the ist tothe8thofMarch thiswholeintervalappearinglikeoneuninterruptedday. ^'^
We are then told, in the Second Life of our saint, that the clergy of Limerick, Deron, the Bishop,^^ Moronoc,*^ penitentiary of Inis-Luaidhe,''^ Cuta or Ceta, a Priest,^^ Molocus, surnamed the Devout, of Inis-tiprad,^5 with many
'* After saying, that Odran cannot have been St. Patrick's disciple, wlio died be- fore his master, nor Odran of Letter Odh- rain, who died about the year 548, then Colgan adds, that he may have been a saint, so called, mentioned by Marianus O'Gor- man, at the i6tli of May, or one noticed at the 19th of February, or 6th of Marcli, by the Martyrology of Tallagh, by the Com- mentator on ^ngus, and by Marianus him- self.
gan's "Trias Thaumaturga,'' Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cxciii,, p. io8, and Septima Vita S. Patricii, cap. civ. , cv. , cvi. , p. i68.
^^ See notices of a St. Diuren, at the 6th of October.
**
At the 27th of July, see some notices of a saint so called.
'^^ In his account of Kildysart parish,
Clonderalaw barony, county of Clare, Mr. O'Donovan says, "To the east of Canon Island, at no great distance is Inis-luaidhe (Inishloe), which is mentioned in St. Senan's
'' The reader is referred to what has been
said of Mota or Mola, in a preceding Life as containing a church. But there is no
chapter,
'° St. ^ngus states, that a certain Blatius
had several sons, in a Tract, lib. iii. , cap. iii. Whether Segarius was one of these or not, has yet to be determined.
ruin on it at present, nor even a graveyard, nor anything but an old tree, which is be- lieved to have been blessed by St. Senan. To this parish also belongs Inis-tubrid, which is mentioned in St. Senan's Life, but
*' See
niae," viii. Martii, n. 29, p. 536.
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- there is no ruin on it at present. " See County of Clare Antiquarian Letters of the
"See ibid. Vita Secunda S. Senani, cap. xlii. , p. 533.
^3 It is doubtful, however, if Limerick could have had this early origin.
=•* A like miracle is recorded of St.
Patrick, by Jocelyn, in his Life of that saint, chapter 193, as also in the Tripartite Life, part iii. , chapters 104, 105, 106. See Col-
Irish Ordnance Survey, vol. ii. , p. 59. Mr.
O'Donovan's Letter, dated Kildysart, 9th
November, 1839.
==*
Colgan could find nothing regarding this priest, unless he was Cetheus, denomi- nated the Traveller, Bishop and Martyr in
the city ot Aternensis, in the time of Pope Gregory, and who is set down, in the Car-
248 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
other holy men, assembled to assist at the burial of St. Senan. 3° Those,
who were present, complained much of the loss religion had sustained, owing to our saint's death ; and, the more so, as he had not designated his suc-
cessor, nor signified his dying wishes, regarding the affairs of his church nor the state of his monastery. 3' Nor did he make any will, whereby all things mighthavebeenarranged,withsatisfactionandpermanency. Whilethese remarks were circulating, to the great surprise of all, St. Senan arose in his coffin, as if awaking from a profound sleep. He saluted all those, who were standing around, and he requested them to lay aside their pious solicitude ; saying, that whilst in the Kingdom of Heaven, through Divine clemency, he should not have less care and protection for his church, than if he were yet livingamongmen. HethentoldhismonkstoelectOdran,astheirabbot;
and, afterwards, to choose his successors, according to their exalted virtues and merits, and not on account of race or family, nor through considerations offleshorblood. Herecommendedhissuccessors,tobemildtowardstheir subjects, to be hospitable to strangers and to poor persons ; to their subjects he recommended obedience, and the austerities of exact observance ; whilst he exhorted both to shun faults, and to practise charity, piety and all other virtues. Afteralongdiscoursetomultitudesthereassembled,whoweretrans- ported beyond themselves, with what they had heard and seen, and who were giving vent to their admiration by proclaiming the Divine praises, the period for his true release from earthly bonds had come, and, in fine, St. Senan reposed in the Lord. His body was buried in the church, with great honour ; and, to the time when the author of his Prose Life wrote, frequent miracles
were wrotight, through this holy patron's merits and intercession. 3^
CHAPTER VI.
POSTHUMOUS RENOWN OF ST. SENAN—MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS RECORDING HIM— MIRACLES OCCURRING AFTER HIS DEATH, AND ATTRIBUTED TO HIS INFLUENCE LOCAL AND CALENDAR COMMEMORATIONS—CONCLUSION.
When the Almighty had summoned his great servant, to everlasting rest, fame spread abroad his wonderful miracles and virtues. Especially in the
thusian Martyrology, at the 13th of June. His era, about the year 600, favours this
svipposition. He might be called the Tra- veller, in all probability, because he left his own country. Colgan thinks it still more probable, he was identical with St. Caiteus, in whose name the Church of Kill-chaide in the adjoining diocese of Tuani had been dedicated.
"i Colgan thinks his festival may be
assigned, either to the 20th of January or to
the 13th of August.
"
30 See
Martii, nn. 31, 32, 33, 34, p. 536.
Eng-
Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," viii.
3' Dr. Lanigan remarks, regarding Deron, Bishop of Limerick, who is named in the foregoing account, that neither was there a bishop nor a city of Limerick, in those days. As to the city, Ferrar could not find any- thing authentic concerning it, until the middle of the 9th century. See his " His-
tory of Limerick," part i. , chap, i. , p. 3. Neither Ware nor Harris were able to dis-
cover any undoubted bishop in its see, be- fore Gillebert, who lived in the eleventh century ; as to St. Munchin or Manchan —whose Life is
at the 2nd of January Dr. Lanigan thinks it is more probable, thathewasnotBishopofLimerick. Even if he were, as some say, its first bishop, it is argued, that see was not yet formed in Senan's time, whereas Munchin lived in the seventh century. It is to be observed, that the author of the Second Life lived at a very
late period, and after the arrival of the
lish in Ireland, when Limerick had become a respectable city. In the First or Metrical Life, which is more ancient, the names of the bishops and abbots, who were at Senan's funeral, are not given. See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect. iv. , n. 33, pp. 92, 93.
3= See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," viii. Martii. Vita Secunda S. Senani, cap. xliii. , p. 533, and Vita Metrica S. Senani, cap. xxv. , xxvi,, pp. 523, 524.
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 249
south-western parts of Ireland, his memory was held in the highest respect. Thus, St. Senan an—d St. Ita' were popularly assumed, as the great saints of
Hy-Connaill-Gaura representedbythebaroniesofUpperandLowerCon- nilloe. From such circumstance, it has been inferred, that Senan's jurisdic- tion, besides including some parts on the northern bank of the Shannon, comi^rised districts lying to the south, and to the south-east side of that river. 2 He was regarded, as particular patron of the ancient territory of Thomond. This is said, to have been originally set apart for the Firbolgs, and for other races, conquered by the Milesians. It is embraced, south and east, by the River Shannon ; its westerly bound extends a long distance, by the sea, into the bay of Galway. 3
St. Senan died, in all probability, either about, or shortly after, the middle of the sixth century. Most likely, his remains were enshrined on Scattery Island ; but, the Danish incursions of after times caused his monastery
there to be profaned and despoiled. '^ Although, it had been formerly de- faced,5 by those barbarians, the monument of holy Senan is said to have been seen, on Iniscathy Island, towards the close of last century. The saint's head, covered with a mitre, according to a local tradition, had been fixed in a stone, that closed the top of an altar window, in the great church. This image w^as boldly executed, and, in the last century, but very little de- faced. Severalcellsweretobeseen. ^ Oncertainfestivals,likewise,numerous pilgrims repaired to this island. ? A learned writer remarks,^ that notwith- standing the great fame of St. Senan, and the many monuments still recording his name and transactions, in connection with Iniscatthy Island, a modern pseudo-antiquary has had the effrontery to write, that he was no other than theRiverShannonpersonified. 9 ByPtolemythisriveriscalledSenus,'°andby Irish writers, it is designated Sionna," or Seinnon, and Latinized, Sinnanus, orSinennus. " Itisnotnecessary,ofcourse,tonoticeseriouslysuchanex- travagant conjecture ; but, an allusion to it, in the subjoined note,^3 will give the reader of our saint's Life some idea of the manner, in which the Rev. Dr. Ledvvich deals with Irish history and antiquities, in his pedantic, prejudiced, and very worthless compilation. We can scarcely wonder, that the learned Dr. Lanigan should give vent to his honest indignation, by indulging in re-
marks, manifesting an accerbity of tone and feeling, towards this ignorant writer ; and, that he should sometimes employ expressions, beneath historic
Chapter vi. —' See her
Life,
at the
15th
' See Rev. Dr. Leclwich's " of Antiquities
of January.
^ " '°
See Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, iv,, p. 90, and nn. 26, 27, 28, pp. 11, 12.
TJius it is marked, on his ancient Map of Ireland.
" See the Vita S. Fintani, Cluain Ednach, cap. iii.
'^
So is it MTitten, in the Life of St. Senan himself, in which he is constantly
3 See that most readable and thoughtful
work, which does equal justice to the
scholarship and learning of the distinguished
American writer, Thomas C. Amory, called Senanus. "Transfer of Erin: or the Acquisition of
Ireland by England," chap, xiii. , p. 62.
* See Archdall's "Monasticon liiberni-
cum," pp. 49 to 52.
s See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's " His-
'3 Dr. I>anigan pertinently remarks, in this connexion, and in reference to Led-
wich " Does he mean to drive out of ex-
:
istence hundreds of Irish families, that bear
the name of Shannon ? Accoiding to his
mode of treating antiquities, many persons should be changed into rivers. The cele-
brated St. Nilus, with whom Senan was
nearly contemporary, would have been a
and — more than the River phantom, notiiing
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 236. ^"
See Charles Smith's Ancient and
Present State of the County of Kerry,"
of Limerick. "
chap, viii. , p. 227. 7 See Ferrar's
"History Appendix, No. XV. , p. 378.
"
Nile personified. " "Ecclesiastical History See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His- of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, iv. , n.
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, iv. , 38, p. 99.
p. 91. '* In justice to Dr. Lanigan, it must be
Ireland," p. 32.
250
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
when
writers and students, the character of Ledwich's so-called
Ireland " is now understood. The work itself has long since fallen into deserved contempt and neglect. In addition to what has been already stated, it must be observed, that the gift of poesy, as of prophecy, was attri- buted to the holy Patron of Iniscathay. 'S
The author of St. Senan's Prose Life gives us an account, regarding some
of those miracles, said to have been wrought through his merits, and, which took place, previous to that time when he wrote. An account of these may
prove interesting to the reader,^nd may furnish a clue to the comparatively recent period of the composition. On the authority of this biography, many statements, contained in preceding chapters, rest. During a time, that Theo- doric,^^ son to Thadeus O'Brien,'? ruled over the principality of Thomond,'^ a certain man, subject to his rule, being accused of having committed homi- cide in a brawl, fled to the monastery of St, Senan. Its church had always been considered, a place of refuge and a safe asylum, in these parts. The chieftain's satellites were sent, to apprehend the author of this crime ; but, when they had discovered his place of retreat, not daring to violate a recog- nised sanctuary, they returned to Theodoric, with an account of what had occurred ; and, stating their own scruples, in prosecuting further proceed- ings. On hearing this, the chief was excited to anger. Accompanied by a great band of soldiers, he proceeded to St. Senan's Monastery. Here, he quartered himself and his troops, 'for that night, to the great inconvenience of the monks, belonging to this house, who, as being subject to his rule, were also subjected to his exactions. On the following night, he stopped at the church of Kill-mic an dubhain'9—now called Kilmacduane^°—which was an appendagetotheMontisteryofIniscatthy, WhileTheodoricremainedthere, St. Senan appeared to the Prior of Iniscatthay Monastery, as if preparing for a journe}^ Being asked who he was, or whither he was bound, the appari- tion answered, he was Senan, and that he wished to proceed to inflict punish-
dignity,
referring
to such absurd statements. ^"^ By all Irish historical
remarked, that these expressions are not
found in the body of his history, but, rather, in its notes,
'* " The principality of Tiiomond, gene- rally called the country of the Dal-Cais, com- prised the entire of the present county of
'5 In a MS. Codex, classed Vol. iv. , Part Clare ; the parishes of Iniscaltra and Clon-
ii. , there is an Irish Life of St. Senan, at p.
rush, in the county of Galway ; the entire of
half of the barony of Clanwilliam, in the county of Tipperary ; thebaroniesof Owney-
beg, Coonagh and Clanwilliam, and the eastern halves of the baronies of Small and Coshlea, in the county of Limerick. "— County of Clare Antiquarian Letters of the Irish Oi'dnance Survey. Mr. O'Donovan's Ancient Territories in Thomond, as com-
an account of the
O' Carroll the baronies of ;
Ii8;
after death, through St. Senan, at p, 233 ; and different Poems attributed to St. Senan, to St. Brendan and to others, in Irish, at p.
142. These were transcribed, by Michael O'Clery, from older MSS. , and they arenow
preserved in the Burgundiau Library, at Bruxelles. It is to be regretted, that some efforts have not been made, to procure copies of those valuable Codices.
Ely
Upper and Lower Ormond, Owney and Arra, and somewhat more than the western
miracles, wrought
Ikerrin,
'* This was not the celebrated King of
Munster, Toirdhealbhach O'Brian, who piled or signed, by "J. O'D. , February afterwards became Monarch over all Ireland, 13th, 1841," p. 9.
and who died at Kincoradh, A. D. io86, in ''This is now a parish church, in the
the seventy-seventh year of his age. See ^ ancient temtory of Corcobaschin, near Inis- "
Dr, O'Donovan's Annals of the Four catthy, and belonging to the diocese of Kil-
Masters," vol, ii. , pp. 926, 927.
'7 Said to have been son to Donat Car-
brech, by some authorities, or rather, per-
haps, as Colgan seems to think, grandson of
the same, by his son Cornelius, according to
the opinion of certain historians. See "Acta 58, The Townland proper, divided into Sanctorum Hibemiae," Martii viii,, n.
38 Engraved by George A. Hanlon, and drawn on the spot by Mr, Wakeman, for his
interesting work.
39 It is six feet in height, one foot ten
inches wide, at the top, and two feet four inches, at the bottom,
^° Several large monumental pillar-stones
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 245
The east window splays externally, and in this respect, it is probably unique in Ireland. This interesting group of ruins presents an exceedingly antique appearance, and its insulated position renders it a lonely and deserted spot.
CHAPTER V
ST. SENAN's gifts of PROrHECY—his LATEST RECORDED ACTIONS—HIS DORMITION AND SUBSEQUENT RESTORATION TO LIFE—DATE FOR HIS DEPARTURE—HIS OBSEQUIES— HIS BURIAL IN INISCATTERY.
The gifts of prophecy have been assigned to St. Senan. ^ Cuimin of Coin- deire states, that a Senan loved to have sickness upon him, so that there werenolessthanthirtydifferentdiseases,infectinghisbody. ^ But,itisnot certain, what Senan he means, from among the two-and-twenty,3 who have festivals,'^andwhoarefoundrecordedinourCalendars. Perceivingthathis end was approaching, in order to leave this earth of exile with even more perfect dispositions, the holy Senan proposed to visit the cell of his first teacher and master, St. Cassidian, who, in all probability, was not then living. But, it was only natural, that Senan should wish to see once more the loved retreat, in which he had first learned the practices of a spiritual life. He also desired, to visit the cell of his paternal aunt, St. Scota,s daughter to Cobh- tach, that he might devote himself to absorbing prayer, and to prepare more fullyfortheexpectedhourofhisdeparture. Ontheway,heturnedfromhis course, to see the daughters of Nsereus, virgins, whom he had veiled, and in- stalled, at the church of Killeochaille f and, by these ladies was he most kindlyreceived. 7 Theyrequestedhimtoprocureforthemtherelicsofsome holy monk, who might become titular patron of their church. Aware of his own approaching dissolution, and through Divine inspiration, the servant of God replied, that a Patron's and a Protector's relics should not be wanting to them. Hiswordswereverified,forhisdormitiontookplaceafewdayssub- sequentlytothisannouncement. Afterhehadtakenleaveofthem,hepro- ceeded towards the church of St. Cassidan. Having satisfied his devotions there, he returned through a certain plain, near Killeochaille. ^ Here, he
heard a voice from on " O high saying :
called to Heaven ! "
stand at a short distance from the church,
in an easterly direction, but they bear no
where she is noticed as St. Scoth. There is also a holy virgin, bearing the same name,
Senan, p. 189. *
is what Cuimin
—
the
of Nrereus were
those
"
Senan noble invalid loved,
Good wes every answer of his answers ; To have thirty diseases in his body, "Which was of evil to this
of Nateus, mentioned by Aengus Kelideus.
These conjectures, particularly the former,
are very probable ; but, Archdall had no
This, however,
says
:
daughters
perhaps
enough
sage. "
facts. "— Dr. " Ecclesias- positive Lanigan's
Senan,
On receiving this announcement, the holy man thither-
or — inour inscriptions symbols.
jNISS. , in the R. I. A. , contains a quatrain,
'^" Chapter v. The vi. vol. of O'Longan
on the
of Saints Sedna and
' cell of the
Clare, not far from Iniscatthy ; and, that
prophecies
caillech,
nuns,'
in the of county
3 In a note Dr. Todd here says : —" Col-
gan enumerates two-and-twenty saints of
this name, with their festivals Actt. SS.
Append, ad Vitam S. Senani, chap, i. , p. been identified. See Duffy's "Hibernian
537-"
'^ See '' The of Martyroiogy Donegal,
"
Magazine," vol. i. . No. i, p. 39.
^Theancientnameof inthe Youghal,
county of Cork, was Eochaille, i. e. , "the Yew Wood. " It might have had Kill, i. e. ,
a church, formerly in conjunction, as a local
edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 68 to 71, and n, i.
5 See notices of her, at the l6th of July,
servant of thou art God,
atthei8thof Calendars, January,
Colgan thought that Killeochaille might have been the same as Kill-mac-
right (at Kilnagallegh) to change them into
tical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, iv. , n. 31, p. 92.
'In the "Legend of Iniscatthy," it is said, the church of Killeochaille has not
246 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
wards elevated his hands and eyes. With expressions of thanksgiving to God, his disciples were told, that the hour for his rest was at hand, that on this same day, he should die, and that on the following, they should bear his body to the monastery. Wherefore, with his mind fixed on that heavenly habitation, so long desired by him, the holy Senan restored his spirit into the hands of his Creator.
This dormition of St. Senan took place, on the ist day of March, and
aboutthetwelfthhouroftheday. 9 T—heyearinwhichhediedisunknown;
but, it must have been later than 544 a date, assigned by some writers,'" for that event," in consequence of calculations and coincidences, which are
thought to accord. The year mentioned, is thought by Archbishop Ussher to have been that when St. David of Wales died. Yet, he seems to have
lived for many years after that date. Dr. Lanigan was inclined to think, that Senan died some years earlier than David, nor did he find any reason for what is said about their having died in the same year, except that they both happenedtodieonafirstofMarch. Hence,itwassupposed,thattheydied on the same day ; and, instead of being understood relatively to correspond- ing days of different years, this diurnal coincidence was easily mistaken for one day of one and the same year. "
It is probable, in Dr. Lanigan's opinion, that Senan died about the year 560 ; whereas, we do not find, that he is said to have lived to a very great age, and it is stated, that he was of a sickly constitution. '3 Nor is he mentioned, as having had transactions with any of the eminent saints, who flourished in the south of Ireland, after or about that time, except Brendan of Birr, who died in 571, and whose visit to Senan could not have been later
than 549. On the other hand, it is difficult to suppose, that he died much sooner than 560. From the respectability, to which he raised the monastery of Iniscatthy, it is fair to conclude, that he governed it, at least, for about twenty years after its foundation, about or somewhat prior to a. d. 540. '
Upon the same principle, which urged Ussher to his conclusion, Colgan maintains, that Senan must have lived to, at least, the year 580,^5 whereas David did not die, it has been assumed, until about that date. If it were true, that Senan had been for some time with St. Maidoc of Ferns, as stated in the Second Life,'^ he should have lived until the latter end of the sixth century. But, in this, there is a huge anachronism ; since, his being with Maidoc'7 is placed long before the foundation of Iniscatth)^, at Avhich time the latter was not yet born.
The body of St. Senan was conveyed to the nunnery of the holy virgins,
designation. Although not far from St. Cassidian's native place, we cannot even
safely conjecture, that Killeochaille may be identical with the present Youghal.
Senan, at the very moment it happened,
and his then lying down to die, where as
they had agreed not to survive each other,
This is a strange and an incredible story, as if
indeed it them to leave this depended upon
world whenever they pleased ; nor, is there a word about it, in the Second Life, or in the accounts of Senan, given in the Calen- dars.
'3 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," Martii viii. Appendix ad Acta S.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
9 See
nias," viii. Martii, Vita Secunda S. Senani, cap. xlii. , p. 533.
Colgan's
" Among these are Ussher, Harris and Archdall.
"
Senan, that he died on the same day that David did, Ussher very naturally placed his
death in
" The Life, in which alone this identity
Having
read in the Metrical Life of St.
of is day
has a about story
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, iv. , n. 34, pp. 93, 94.
»5 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernire,"
Martii viii. , n. 19, p. 525. **
Chapter xviii.
'^ See his Life, at the 31st of Januaiy.
See " Britannicarum Eccle-
Senani, cap. vi. , pp. 543, 544.
544.
siarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 454, 488, and Index Chronologicus, at a. d. DXLiv. , p. 530.
^* See Dr. " Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
mentioned,
David's death having been revealed to
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 247
already mentioned. Here it remained, until the following day. The monks
of Iniscatthy, being informed of their beloved abbot's death, set out for that
place, where his body lay ; and, among those, who proceeded thither, Odran,'^ Macinnil, the Bishops Ere and Mola,^9 with Segarius, son to Blathius,^° are named. ^' While they were about to bear their abbot's corpse
towards his monastery, they placed it in a coffin. Meantime, it is related, that they beheld the thumb of Senan's right hand lying on the ground. All
who were present agreed, that this separation of the joint must have been miraculous. Yet, a still greater wonder appeared, for they found that the saint's hands were entire, Avanting neither of the thumbs, nor any of the fingers. With joy of heart and signal encomiums, they celebrated this miracle. A promise and prophecy of the saint, made to the holy virgins who residedthere,wereintheirrecollections. Thesevirginshaddesiredtherelics
of some saint, belonging to Iniscathy, to be given them, as a precious treasure. St. Senan declared, that their request should be complied with, in
a short time, through the mercy of God. Thus, his promise had been mira-
culously fulfilled. Hence, the thumb was preserved with much veneration, in their nunnery. It was retained, as one of the most esteemed relics, in
possession of its religious. ^^ Afterwards, the body of St. Senan having been
brought to Iniscatthy monastery, it was unanimously resolved, that it should not be committed to the earth, until the clergy of Limerick,^3 the prelates of
the neighbouring churches, and the chiefs of all that surrounding country, had
assembled, for the obsequies of this holy man. While waiting, until these
preparations should have been completed, the days and nights were spent, in
chantingsacredcanticles,andintheperformanceofholyrites. Theheavens
themselves were seen to glow with meteoric corruscations, exhibiting remark-
able brightness, an—d angelic apparitions were frequently observed, from the ist tothe8thofMarch thiswholeintervalappearinglikeoneuninterruptedday. ^'^
We are then told, in the Second Life of our saint, that the clergy of Limerick, Deron, the Bishop,^^ Moronoc,*^ penitentiary of Inis-Luaidhe,''^ Cuta or Ceta, a Priest,^^ Molocus, surnamed the Devout, of Inis-tiprad,^5 with many
'* After saying, that Odran cannot have been St. Patrick's disciple, wlio died be- fore his master, nor Odran of Letter Odh- rain, who died about the year 548, then Colgan adds, that he may have been a saint, so called, mentioned by Marianus O'Gor- man, at the i6tli of May, or one noticed at the 19th of February, or 6th of Marcli, by the Martyrology of Tallagh, by the Com- mentator on ^ngus, and by Marianus him- self.
gan's "Trias Thaumaturga,'' Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cxciii,, p. io8, and Septima Vita S. Patricii, cap. civ. , cv. , cvi. , p. i68.
^^ See notices of a St. Diuren, at the 6th of October.
**
At the 27th of July, see some notices of a saint so called.
'^^ In his account of Kildysart parish,
Clonderalaw barony, county of Clare, Mr. O'Donovan says, "To the east of Canon Island, at no great distance is Inis-luaidhe (Inishloe), which is mentioned in St. Senan's
'' The reader is referred to what has been
said of Mota or Mola, in a preceding Life as containing a church. But there is no
chapter,
'° St. ^ngus states, that a certain Blatius
had several sons, in a Tract, lib. iii. , cap. iii. Whether Segarius was one of these or not, has yet to be determined.
ruin on it at present, nor even a graveyard, nor anything but an old tree, which is be- lieved to have been blessed by St. Senan. To this parish also belongs Inis-tubrid, which is mentioned in St. Senan's Life, but
*' See
niae," viii. Martii, n. 29, p. 536.
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- there is no ruin on it at present. " See County of Clare Antiquarian Letters of the
"See ibid. Vita Secunda S. Senani, cap. xlii. , p. 533.
^3 It is doubtful, however, if Limerick could have had this early origin.
=•* A like miracle is recorded of St.
Patrick, by Jocelyn, in his Life of that saint, chapter 193, as also in the Tripartite Life, part iii. , chapters 104, 105, 106. See Col-
Irish Ordnance Survey, vol. ii. , p. 59. Mr.
O'Donovan's Letter, dated Kildysart, 9th
November, 1839.
==*
Colgan could find nothing regarding this priest, unless he was Cetheus, denomi- nated the Traveller, Bishop and Martyr in
the city ot Aternensis, in the time of Pope Gregory, and who is set down, in the Car-
248 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
other holy men, assembled to assist at the burial of St. Senan. 3° Those,
who were present, complained much of the loss religion had sustained, owing to our saint's death ; and, the more so, as he had not designated his suc-
cessor, nor signified his dying wishes, regarding the affairs of his church nor the state of his monastery. 3' Nor did he make any will, whereby all things mighthavebeenarranged,withsatisfactionandpermanency. Whilethese remarks were circulating, to the great surprise of all, St. Senan arose in his coffin, as if awaking from a profound sleep. He saluted all those, who were standing around, and he requested them to lay aside their pious solicitude ; saying, that whilst in the Kingdom of Heaven, through Divine clemency, he should not have less care and protection for his church, than if he were yet livingamongmen. HethentoldhismonkstoelectOdran,astheirabbot;
and, afterwards, to choose his successors, according to their exalted virtues and merits, and not on account of race or family, nor through considerations offleshorblood. Herecommendedhissuccessors,tobemildtowardstheir subjects, to be hospitable to strangers and to poor persons ; to their subjects he recommended obedience, and the austerities of exact observance ; whilst he exhorted both to shun faults, and to practise charity, piety and all other virtues. Afteralongdiscoursetomultitudesthereassembled,whoweretrans- ported beyond themselves, with what they had heard and seen, and who were giving vent to their admiration by proclaiming the Divine praises, the period for his true release from earthly bonds had come, and, in fine, St. Senan reposed in the Lord. His body was buried in the church, with great honour ; and, to the time when the author of his Prose Life wrote, frequent miracles
were wrotight, through this holy patron's merits and intercession. 3^
CHAPTER VI.
POSTHUMOUS RENOWN OF ST. SENAN—MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS RECORDING HIM— MIRACLES OCCURRING AFTER HIS DEATH, AND ATTRIBUTED TO HIS INFLUENCE LOCAL AND CALENDAR COMMEMORATIONS—CONCLUSION.
When the Almighty had summoned his great servant, to everlasting rest, fame spread abroad his wonderful miracles and virtues. Especially in the
thusian Martyrology, at the 13th of June. His era, about the year 600, favours this
svipposition. He might be called the Tra- veller, in all probability, because he left his own country. Colgan thinks it still more probable, he was identical with St. Caiteus, in whose name the Church of Kill-chaide in the adjoining diocese of Tuani had been dedicated.
"i Colgan thinks his festival may be
assigned, either to the 20th of January or to
the 13th of August.
"
30 See
Martii, nn. 31, 32, 33, 34, p. 536.
Eng-
Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," viii.
3' Dr. Lanigan remarks, regarding Deron, Bishop of Limerick, who is named in the foregoing account, that neither was there a bishop nor a city of Limerick, in those days. As to the city, Ferrar could not find any- thing authentic concerning it, until the middle of the 9th century. See his " His-
tory of Limerick," part i. , chap, i. , p. 3. Neither Ware nor Harris were able to dis-
cover any undoubted bishop in its see, be- fore Gillebert, who lived in the eleventh century ; as to St. Munchin or Manchan —whose Life is
at the 2nd of January Dr. Lanigan thinks it is more probable, thathewasnotBishopofLimerick. Even if he were, as some say, its first bishop, it is argued, that see was not yet formed in Senan's time, whereas Munchin lived in the seventh century. It is to be observed, that the author of the Second Life lived at a very
late period, and after the arrival of the
lish in Ireland, when Limerick had become a respectable city. In the First or Metrical Life, which is more ancient, the names of the bishops and abbots, who were at Senan's funeral, are not given. See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect. iv. , n. 33, pp. 92, 93.
3= See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," viii. Martii. Vita Secunda S. Senani, cap. xliii. , p. 533, and Vita Metrica S. Senani, cap. xxv. , xxvi,, pp. 523, 524.
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 249
south-western parts of Ireland, his memory was held in the highest respect. Thus, St. Senan an—d St. Ita' were popularly assumed, as the great saints of
Hy-Connaill-Gaura representedbythebaroniesofUpperandLowerCon- nilloe. From such circumstance, it has been inferred, that Senan's jurisdic- tion, besides including some parts on the northern bank of the Shannon, comi^rised districts lying to the south, and to the south-east side of that river. 2 He was regarded, as particular patron of the ancient territory of Thomond. This is said, to have been originally set apart for the Firbolgs, and for other races, conquered by the Milesians. It is embraced, south and east, by the River Shannon ; its westerly bound extends a long distance, by the sea, into the bay of Galway. 3
St. Senan died, in all probability, either about, or shortly after, the middle of the sixth century. Most likely, his remains were enshrined on Scattery Island ; but, the Danish incursions of after times caused his monastery
there to be profaned and despoiled. '^ Although, it had been formerly de- faced,5 by those barbarians, the monument of holy Senan is said to have been seen, on Iniscathy Island, towards the close of last century. The saint's head, covered with a mitre, according to a local tradition, had been fixed in a stone, that closed the top of an altar window, in the great church. This image w^as boldly executed, and, in the last century, but very little de- faced. Severalcellsweretobeseen. ^ Oncertainfestivals,likewise,numerous pilgrims repaired to this island. ? A learned writer remarks,^ that notwith- standing the great fame of St. Senan, and the many monuments still recording his name and transactions, in connection with Iniscatthy Island, a modern pseudo-antiquary has had the effrontery to write, that he was no other than theRiverShannonpersonified. 9 ByPtolemythisriveriscalledSenus,'°andby Irish writers, it is designated Sionna," or Seinnon, and Latinized, Sinnanus, orSinennus. " Itisnotnecessary,ofcourse,tonoticeseriouslysuchanex- travagant conjecture ; but, an allusion to it, in the subjoined note,^3 will give the reader of our saint's Life some idea of the manner, in which the Rev. Dr. Ledvvich deals with Irish history and antiquities, in his pedantic, prejudiced, and very worthless compilation. We can scarcely wonder, that the learned Dr. Lanigan should give vent to his honest indignation, by indulging in re-
marks, manifesting an accerbity of tone and feeling, towards this ignorant writer ; and, that he should sometimes employ expressions, beneath historic
Chapter vi. —' See her
Life,
at the
15th
' See Rev. Dr. Leclwich's " of Antiquities
of January.
^ " '°
See Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, iv,, p. 90, and nn. 26, 27, 28, pp. 11, 12.
TJius it is marked, on his ancient Map of Ireland.
" See the Vita S. Fintani, Cluain Ednach, cap. iii.
'^
So is it MTitten, in the Life of St. Senan himself, in which he is constantly
3 See that most readable and thoughtful
work, which does equal justice to the
scholarship and learning of the distinguished
American writer, Thomas C. Amory, called Senanus. "Transfer of Erin: or the Acquisition of
Ireland by England," chap, xiii. , p. 62.
* See Archdall's "Monasticon liiberni-
cum," pp. 49 to 52.
s See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's " His-
'3 Dr. I>anigan pertinently remarks, in this connexion, and in reference to Led-
wich " Does he mean to drive out of ex-
:
istence hundreds of Irish families, that bear
the name of Shannon ? Accoiding to his
mode of treating antiquities, many persons should be changed into rivers. The cele-
brated St. Nilus, with whom Senan was
nearly contemporary, would have been a
and — more than the River phantom, notiiing
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 236. ^"
See Charles Smith's Ancient and
Present State of the County of Kerry,"
of Limerick. "
chap, viii. , p. 227. 7 See Ferrar's
"History Appendix, No. XV. , p. 378.
"
Nile personified. " "Ecclesiastical History See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His- of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, iv. , n.
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, iv. , 38, p. 99.
p. 91. '* In justice to Dr. Lanigan, it must be
Ireland," p. 32.
250
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
when
writers and students, the character of Ledwich's so-called
Ireland " is now understood. The work itself has long since fallen into deserved contempt and neglect. In addition to what has been already stated, it must be observed, that the gift of poesy, as of prophecy, was attri- buted to the holy Patron of Iniscathay. 'S
The author of St. Senan's Prose Life gives us an account, regarding some
of those miracles, said to have been wrought through his merits, and, which took place, previous to that time when he wrote. An account of these may
prove interesting to the reader,^nd may furnish a clue to the comparatively recent period of the composition. On the authority of this biography, many statements, contained in preceding chapters, rest. During a time, that Theo- doric,^^ son to Thadeus O'Brien,'? ruled over the principality of Thomond,'^ a certain man, subject to his rule, being accused of having committed homi- cide in a brawl, fled to the monastery of St, Senan. Its church had always been considered, a place of refuge and a safe asylum, in these parts. The chieftain's satellites were sent, to apprehend the author of this crime ; but, when they had discovered his place of retreat, not daring to violate a recog- nised sanctuary, they returned to Theodoric, with an account of what had occurred ; and, stating their own scruples, in prosecuting further proceed- ings. On hearing this, the chief was excited to anger. Accompanied by a great band of soldiers, he proceeded to St. Senan's Monastery. Here, he quartered himself and his troops, 'for that night, to the great inconvenience of the monks, belonging to this house, who, as being subject to his rule, were also subjected to his exactions. On the following night, he stopped at the church of Kill-mic an dubhain'9—now called Kilmacduane^°—which was an appendagetotheMontisteryofIniscatthy, WhileTheodoricremainedthere, St. Senan appeared to the Prior of Iniscatthay Monastery, as if preparing for a journe}^ Being asked who he was, or whither he was bound, the appari- tion answered, he was Senan, and that he wished to proceed to inflict punish-
dignity,
referring
to such absurd statements. ^"^ By all Irish historical
remarked, that these expressions are not
found in the body of his history, but, rather, in its notes,
'* " The principality of Tiiomond, gene- rally called the country of the Dal-Cais, com- prised the entire of the present county of
'5 In a MS. Codex, classed Vol. iv. , Part Clare ; the parishes of Iniscaltra and Clon-
ii. , there is an Irish Life of St. Senan, at p.
rush, in the county of Galway ; the entire of
half of the barony of Clanwilliam, in the county of Tipperary ; thebaroniesof Owney-
beg, Coonagh and Clanwilliam, and the eastern halves of the baronies of Small and Coshlea, in the county of Limerick. "— County of Clare Antiquarian Letters of the Irish Oi'dnance Survey. Mr. O'Donovan's Ancient Territories in Thomond, as com-
an account of the
O' Carroll the baronies of ;
Ii8;
after death, through St. Senan, at p, 233 ; and different Poems attributed to St. Senan, to St. Brendan and to others, in Irish, at p.
142. These were transcribed, by Michael O'Clery, from older MSS. , and they arenow
preserved in the Burgundiau Library, at Bruxelles. It is to be regretted, that some efforts have not been made, to procure copies of those valuable Codices.
Ely
Upper and Lower Ormond, Owney and Arra, and somewhat more than the western
miracles, wrought
Ikerrin,
'* This was not the celebrated King of
Munster, Toirdhealbhach O'Brian, who piled or signed, by "J. O'D. , February afterwards became Monarch over all Ireland, 13th, 1841," p. 9.
and who died at Kincoradh, A. D. io86, in ''This is now a parish church, in the
the seventy-seventh year of his age. See ^ ancient temtory of Corcobaschin, near Inis- "
Dr, O'Donovan's Annals of the Four catthy, and belonging to the diocese of Kil-
Masters," vol, ii. , pp. 926, 927.
'7 Said to have been son to Donat Car-
brech, by some authorities, or rather, per-
haps, as Colgan seems to think, grandson of
the same, by his son Cornelius, according to
the opinion of certain historians. See "Acta 58, The Townland proper, divided into Sanctorum Hibemiae," Martii viii,, n.
