Brigid, at least from the period of the
eleventh
century.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Respecting such circumstances, the poet host wasapprizedinthemorning.
^^s Severalincidents,connectedwithSt.
Brigid's birth, as related by some of her biographers, are puerile in the extreme, and unworthy the slightest degree of credit.
^49 It is said, a certain infant, whose
=^s
writings of this author, he could never dis- cover elsewhere, authority for the statement of a custom prevailing in former times among the Irish, whereby a brother would sell his brother, a daughter her mother, a father his son, or any other relative his kinsman. If the sale of slaves and captives prevailed in pagan times, the mild spirit of Christianity and of religious feeling haslongago abolished all vile customs of the slave mart, in our island. We read, however, that the English and Britons, even long after their reception of the Christian religion, allowed this abomin- able trade in human creatures to continue. We learn, also, that to this infamous traffic in men and women, could be traced, in great part, their loss of liberty and subjection to a foreign yoke. These were regarded as just punishments and visitations of God, for permitting such abuses. See Colgan's
258. Giraldus Cambrensis, Opera, vol. v. , Dimock's edition.
**7 According to Professor O'Looney's Irish Life in MS. a Dmid from the territory of Connaill repurchased the bondwoman from the poet ; and brought her to his own part of the country, pp. 5, 6.
--^ See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Tertia Vita S. Brigiaiaj, cap. iii. , p. 527. Quarta Vita S. Brigidse, lib. i. , cap. iii. , iv. , p. 546. In the Fifth Life, the foregoing accounts are greatly extended, by the intro- duction of imaginary discourses and circum- stances. See Quinta Vita vS. Brigidoe, cap. iii. , iv. , pp. 567, 568, ibid.
=^49 After the account already given, theThird Life inserts a ridiculous narrative, relative to an occurrence at the infant's birth. This same narrative is given in the Fourth Life, where it is added, that the infant St. Brigid was distinguished by extraordinary beauty
Colgan remarks, that except in the
"
Brigidse, cap. i,, ii,, p. 567 and n. 5, p. i. , cap. v. , pp. 546, 547, ibid. As usual,
"Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Vita S.
of features.
Vita Quarta S. Brigidae," lib.
639, ibid.
*** Giraldus Cambrensis writes as follows
on this subject, in reference to Ireland, that
soon after the Anglo-Norman invasion, a council was convened at Armagh, in which it was decreed, that the English, then held as bondsmen, in various parts of Hibernia, should be set at liberty. The clergy and laity were unanimously agreed on this sub- ject. Previously to that period, the Saxons were accustomed to
jell
and relations as slaves to the Irish, even
although not pressed to it by any necessity.
Merchants and pirates were alike engaged in this nefarious commerce. The Irish, becoming purchasers of those slaves, were justly deemed as partners in such traffic, and therefore was it thought they had incurred Divine displeasure, which had been mani-
Laurence of Durham greatly enlarges on the foregoingaccounts. VitaQuintaS. Brigidae,
cap. v. , p. 568, ibid. We are assured, by Col- gan, that a king alluded to, and then with his
queen a guest with the i/iagus, was dynast of Conall Murthemne, a region mentioned, in an Irish Life of St. Brigid. In a part of
this territory, designated Fochart, St. Brigid was born, according to the same authority,
and to Henry of Marlborough, A. D, 468. Conchobarius in " Vita S. Monennsa," and other biographers are of accord. These are
their ovra. children
fested by permitting their subjection, in turn, ""
to the Anglo-Norman invaders. See Ex- may refer to Vita Tertia S. Brigidfe," n. pugnatio Hibemica," lib. i. , cap. xviii. , p. 5, P- 543.
followed by Ussher, " De Primordiis Eccle- "
siarum Britannicarum, pp. 627, 884. But, the magian here mentioned is not identical
with the Meathian, who purchased St. Brigid's mother in the first instance. He
was the second purchaser and he belonged
to the territory of the aforesaid Conall, as
mentioned in an Irish Life. The student
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 25
birth had preceded St. Brigid's by a single day,=so ^^^^ suddenly on that of our saint's nativity. ^si By some chance, Brigid, being brought near the life- less body of this infant, touched it. ^s" The child was immediately restored to life. When this miracle took place, all who were present declared, Brigid
was that renowned saint, promised by the prophets. ="53
After our saint's birth, the magus is said to have brought her mother with
him to Connaught, where he dwelt ; and, it is also stated, that the mother of this magus had been a native of that province, while his father was born in Munster. ='54 One day, when the mother of St. Brigid went some distance to milk cows,2S5 she left her infant sleeping alone in the house. Suddenly, it appeared to be in flames, and all who saw ran to extinguish them. =56 Qn approaching the dwelling, however, these flames went out ; and on entering, the people found St. Brigid sweetly smiling, with infantile innocence and beauty, her cheeks being flushed with a roseate hue. ^57 AH proclaimed aloud, that the child was replenished with graces of the Holy Spirit. ^ss
Before we proceed further, it may be well to mention, that St. Brigid's
biographers seem generally to agree in naming Fochard^S9 as her birthplace. Such is the account left us in her Fourth Life. There, as we are told, the
village in which she was born bore the name, Fochart Muirthemne,^^° being in the region called Conaille Muirthemhne, formerly within the Ulster
^^^ The
to a remote time. ^^^ At present, Faughart=63 is a small country village, in
province.
tradition,
on which such a statement is referable prevails,
=50 This infant is said to have been a son
of the King and Queen of Conaille, who were then on a visit with a- magus, the second
purchaser, according to Professor O'Looney's Irish Life, pp. 5 to 8.
=51 Professor O'Looney's Irish Life states,
St. Brigid was born at the rising of the sun,
pp. 7, 8.
252 In Professor O'Looney Irish Life, it is
stated, that St. Brigid's breath brought the king's son to life, pp. 7, 8.
^53 This account is contained in the Fourth Life. We are told by Colgan, that it is to be found, also, in the Irish Life, where it is stated, the infant brought to life was a son to the King of Conall, and this child was
usual amplifications, we are told, St. Brigid spoke, before that natural period arrived, when infants usually articulate. Such ac- count, however, is not contained in her other lives. Colgan refers to notes, ap- pended to St. Fursey's Life at the i6th of
January, and to other particulars, which serve to accompany that of St. Barr, at the
25th of September, for parallel instances of children, who spoke soon after their birth, and even in their mother's womb.
259 In Wright's "Louthiana," part i. , p. 9, there is a very interesting description of certainancientremainsinthislocality. Dr. Lanigan, who rejects the romantic narrative
of St. Brigid's birth, agrees that she was born in Fochard. He further observes :
Whether her coming into the world in
that place was owing to her parents having had a residence there, or to their being on a visit at some fr—iend's house, it is imma-
"
terial to enquire. " Ecclesiastical History
of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sec. II, p. 378, and n. 24, p. 382, ibid.
Vita S. Brigidas, lib. i. , cap. vi. , p. 547.
born on that night, previous to St. Brigid's
" *'
birth, according to the legend. See Trias Thaumaturga. " Quarta VitaS. Brigidae, lib. i. , cap. vi. , p. 547, and n. 12, p. 564, ibid.
^^54 This is accordant with a statement in
Professor O'Looney's Irish Life of St. Brigid,
pp. 7, 8. =55 Ibid.
=56 <<
etiam rutilis tectorurn subdere flammis
^^° St. was Brigid
Ssepe
of that
and in her honour a monastery of Canons had been established there, at a time when the Fourth Life had been written. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta
Cernebant f—abricam, parvas et cunabula
Brigidae. " ^VitaSextaS. Brigidoe,sec. "
ii. , p. 583. Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga. "
"
«57 Ibid.
v. , p. 527. "Quarta Vita S. BrigidEe," lib. i. , cap. viii,, ix. , p. 547. In the latter life, we are informed about the reason why the magician visited the province of Con- naught. This he did to exercise his magic arts ; for which purpose, he travelled through that district, and through other provinces, where he was received with great respect.
=58 In the Fifth Life of our saint, with its
Tertia Vita S. Brigidse," cap.
=^*
Foughart is a parish in the diocese of
patron
place,
Armagh.
=*= St. Bernard in his *' Vita S. Malachiae"
writes ;
**
Venerunt tres Episcopi in villam
Fochart, quem dicunt locum nativitatis
Brigidae virginis," &c. , cap. xxv. , sec. 56.
""^^ See the "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 197, 198, for an in- teresting account of this parish.
36 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i. d
the Barony of Upper Dundalk, County of Louth, and Province of Leinster. There, too, not only a church and a cemetery, dedicated to St. Brigid, were to be seen at a time when her Fourth Life had been written; but, according to local tradition, they were situated even on the very site of that house, in which she had been born. ^*^* This latter statement, with a sHght emendation, is probably correct. It has been remarked, that the allusion to a monastery of Canons being at Foughart shows a remote antiquity when the author of herFourthLifeflourished; for,manyagesback,therehadbeennoinstitute of the kind discoverable, nor any monastic house, specially dedicated to St.
Brigid, at least from the period of the eleventh century. ^^5 The old church site of Fochard is situated between the town of Dundalk and the church of
Kilslieve,^^^^ being about two miles distant from either place. A holy woman, known as Monenna,=^^7 built a church here, at a very early period. ^'^^ The exact situation of Fochard has been misplaced in some records. ^^9 In the
seventeenth century, this little village was called by the Irish-speaking peo-
"
Fochart of Brigid^^'^o
In the three previous lives of our Saint^^i no mention is made concerning
the place of her birth ; which is also the case, in the two latter lives, viz. :
the Fifth and Sixth. Admitting, however, the usually assigned place, where the illustrious virgin is said to have been born, it seems likely enough, that
old circular, cone-shaped Dun,^7a which rises high=^73 over the adjoining fields on the very summit of Foughart Hill, about three miles north-west of Dun- dalk,supportedandprotectedthehouseofDubtach. ^74 Acircularlevelon the top was 40 feet in diameter, and around the circumference appears to have extended a wide breast-work of masonry, laid with mortar. ="75 At the southernsides,whenbroken,thefoundationswereclearlytraceable. Adeep
ple Fochart Brighde, or
^*' At the rear of this church, the local habitants pointed out that identical stone, on which, it was traditionally said, St.
Brigid first reposed after having come into the world. The relic was held in especial veneration by inhabitants of the adjacent country, and through its instru- mentality many miracles were reported to have been accomplished.
=^5 Nothing save the parish church at Fochart was known in Colgan's time to have been placed under her special invoca- tion. See " Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Brigidae, lib. i. , cap. vi. , p. 547, and nn. 13, 14, p. 864, ibid.
"^^ Some ruins of a church are still re- maining at Kilslieve, but these are devoid of all architectural beauty. See "The History of Dundalk and its Environs," by John D'Alton and J. R. O'Flanagan, p. 279.
="•7 SeeherLifeatthe6thofJuly.
=^ Conchobranus, in "Vita S. Monennae,"
other Leinster county, it seems certain, she first saw light, in a certain village called
Fochart, in Louth county, in Armagh dio- cese, and within the bounds of Ulster's ancient province. See Ussher "De Pri- mordiis Ecclesiarum Britannicarum," pp. 627, 705, 706. Also, David Roth, in his Dissertation on St. Brigid, p. 151, and an Irish Life of St. Brigid, cap. iii.
^70 They also called that district, in which
it was situated, Machaire Airgiell. See
Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix
Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidae, cap. v. , p. 617.
published by Colgan.
=72 Thomas Wright, in his day, correctly
of a cone. "—"Louthiana," book i. , p. 9. There was formerly some sort of octagonal building upon the top, but whether it had been a tower or parapet breast high, there was not wall enough left to determine, a little after the middle of the last century.
^73 About 60 feet, according to Wright, says, that this holy woman first built a but it is certainly of a lesser altitude.
church at Fochart, where the nativity of St. Brigid took place.
"^ The English Martyrology, at the 1st of February, and other authorities, state, that our Saint was born in the County of Kildare, and at a place called Fochart. But Fochart is not within the limits of that
county. However, if it be allowed, St. Brigid had been conceived in that, or in any
='74 Two curious copper-plate illustrations of this Dun, with the shape of the upper fort-like works, are contained on Plate xiv.
'^^^ As
describes it as " in the form of a frustrum
"
»75 In May, 1874, the writer visited this
spot, and found it nearly in a perfect state,
except towards the south, where a portion of its sides had been removed for manure.
of book i. in
Louthiana. "
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 27
circular fosse surrounded the lower ascent of this high Dun,=76 from the top of which a magnificent view of the bay and town of Dundalk, with the
sublime crags of the Carlingford mountains, extending far into the sea, towards the north and east, can be obtained. ='77 Near this Dun, in the townland and parish of Faughart, on the very summit of a rising hill, are the ruins of St. Brigid's old church. =78 The entire length was 24 yards, and the
Church Ruins at Foughart, Co. Louth.
breadth 7 yards interiorly, in 1836 ; an inside gable stood at a distance of about 10 yards from the east gable. ='79 This latter was demolished to within three feet of the ground, in the middle part, the sides being lower. Only a small part of the south side-wall, towards the east gable, stands. =^° The remainder,tothemiddlegable,waslevelledwiththeground. Thenorthside-
276 Thomas * ' in all Wright states,
within the cave, which his through
proba- bility, it may originally have been a Funeral Monument, and in latter days formed into a Beacon or Fort, either as an out Guard to defend the said Frontier," {i. e. , of the old
ware,"
further progress was checked by its being choked by earth and stones, in one particu- lar place. The extent of these remarkable caves, he pointed out to the writer, on the surface of the ground above, and he ex-
the desire that should pressed greatest they
be carefully explored by gentlemen com- petent to describe them.
^
English Pale),
"
or signify the Approach of
an —" Enemy. "
book
=^77 Mr. John Craig, who rented an adjoin- ing farm, told the writer, that in the field next this Dun, while ploughing, the hoofs of a horse sunk through some flag stones. On examination of the spot, a remarkable
zig-zag-shaped earth-cave was discovered.
After removing some of the covering stones, he descended into it, and found it regularly walled on the sides. Barely stooping, he was enabled to pass through it for several yards, covering flags being over his head. He saw several specimens of "crockery
•
Louthiana,"
i. , p. 9.
=^78 The people in 1836 called it UeA' pull ""
AS\x>, the high church, and it was also designated coa' pull lipi^'oe riA h-Ai|\t)e moi^e, "Brigid's Church of the great height. "
^79 This inner gable has since fallen.
^^° The accompanying engraving by Wil- liam Oldham, 8 Gloucester-street, Dublin, is from a sketch by the author, and taken on
the spot, in May, 1874.
28 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
wall was reduced to about 7 feet in height, east of the middle gable. ^^^ The western length to the middle gable was about 14 yards ; the side-walls' height, in this part, is about 14 feet. On the south side-wall was a breach near the middle gable. ^'^^ The west gable had been reduced in height to theleveloftheside-walls; whilethereisabreachonit, reachingfromtop to bottom, about 3 yards wide. On the north side-wall, about 7 feet from the ground, there was an opening, reaching to the top. Another opening next the middle gable, was to be seen, and about the same height. ^^*
This ruinous pile of masonry, at present, is in a very dilapidated condition. The people of Foughart neighbourhood^^s preserved a tradition, that this church had been built by St. Brigid—especially the eastern part—
although they knew not that here^"^^ was her birthplace. ''^^ The graveyard of Foughart is still much used for interments. The base of an old cross yet
rises over the graves. This last resting-place of the dead is intimately asso- ciated with the invasion of Ireland by King Robert Bruce^^^ of Scotland,^^^ and by his brother Edward Bruce,''^^ who prosecuted it to a disastrous issue. '^^
=^' About a yard in length retained the original height of 14 feet towards the mid- dle ; it was lower towards the east gable.
'^^ In 1836, seven feet from the ground
was an opening reaching to the top.
"^4 The foregoing is the substance of Messrs. P. O'Keefe's and T. O'Conor's
description in a letter dated Dundalk, Feb-
" Letters, containing information relative to the Antiquities of the County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey
in 1835-1836," vol. i. , pp. 285, 286.
»8s In 1836.
=^ None of the inhabitants were able
then to assign a signification for the word
=87 A few, who read St. Brigid's Life,
said that she was born within 2^ miles of
Dundalk, on a green near the old road,
leading from the latter town to Newry.
Then tradition had it, that she founded
Foughart Church, where she remained 2\
years, before she went to the nunnery at
Kildare. Ibid, pp. 286, 287.
"^^
In A. D. 1306, this heroic chieftain was forced to take refuge in the small Island of Rachlinn, off the northern coast of Antrim. In the spring of 1306, with a fleet of thirty- three galleys and about 300 men, he sailed
*'
for the Scottish coast,
that course of chivalrous conquest which led to the establishment of his country's inde- pendence and his own deathless renown. " About 700 of the northern Irish accompa- nied him on this expedition, and these were led by his brothers, Thomas and Alexander. See Moore's " of vol.
"^ The reader will recollect the allusion
to his taking refuge in Ireland, as poetically recorded in Sir Walter Scott's **Lord of the Isles," canto iii. , sec. xi.
The scheme," said Bruce, contents me well ;
Meantime 'twere best that Isabel For safety, with my bark and crew,
Again to friendly Erin drew.
There Edward, too, shall with her wend, In need to cheer her and defend,
And muster up each scattered friend. "
=9<>The old Scoto-English poem, "The
Bruce ; or the Metrical History of Robert I.
King of Scots," by Master John Barbour, Archdeacon of Aberdeen, contains the most detailed account of Edward Bruce's career in Ireland, in Buke Tend, Buke Eleuenth, Buke Twelt, vol. i. , pp. 277 to 368. This is published from a Manuscript dated M. cccc. LXXXix. See "The Bruce; and Wallace ;" edited by John Jamieson, D. D. , with notes, biographical sketches, and a glossary. In Two Volumes. Edinburgh, A. D. 1820, 4to.
=51 That brilliant and decisive victory,
achieved by the Scots over the English, at
Bannockbum, in 13 14, and to which allusion
has been already made in the Life of St.
Foilan, at the 9th of January, had awakened
for a kindred people warm sympathies, while it aroused ambition among the north-
ern Irish chieftains, to originate some effec- tive means for obtaining national indepen- dence. Proposing to Robert Bruce the propriety of making his brother, Edward, king of Ireland, they agreed to rally round the latter, immediately on his arriving in their country. As Edward had already demanded a share in the sovereignty of Scotland, King Robert eagerly inclined to the expressed wishes of these Irish chiefs, and made to
iiiary 15th, 1 836, taken from
Louth
History Ireland," iii. , chap, xxxvi,, p. 52.
every preparation
military and naval expedition, destined for
and proceeded on
the coasts of Ireland. Accordingly, on the 26th of May, 1315, Edward Bruce landed on the shores of Antrim, with a fleet of 300 sail and an army of Scots, estimated at 6,000 men. Immediatelyonhisarrival,theIrish of Ulster hastened in great numbers to fight under his standard. With united forces,
organize a
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 29
A hollow space between Faughart hill and Carrickbroad^s^ is pointed out as the spot where Bruce was killed,=93 in that last desperate
the Scots and Irish overran the whole pro- 30,000 men to surprise and harass the King
vince of Ulster, within an incredibly short of Scotland, they did not, however, venture period. Dundalk, Ardee, with some other to risk a decisive engagement with him.
places in Louth, were taken and demolished by the invading forces and their allies. To oppose them, De Burgo, earl of Ulster,
About the commencement of May, Robert Bruce was obliged to retreat upon Ulster. He soon afterwards set sail for Scotland, leaving his brother Edward to sustain the cause, in which his fortunes were embarked. This retreat of the Scots and Irish, into the northern province, allowed the English an opportunity for making many successful diversions around the borders of their own settlements. In the year 13 1 8, Edward Bruce raised a small army, with which he advanced to Foughart, near Dundalk. Here he was opposed and defeated by John
raised a large army, chiefly in Connaught.
He formed a junction with Sir Edmond
Butler, the lord justice. The Scots and
Irish crossed the river Bann, when they
gave battle to the Earl of Ulster, at Connor.
Here the Anglo-Irish leader was defeated,
and afterwards he was forced to fly for pro-
tection towards the western province. Ed-
ward Bmce, who had already caused himself
to be proclaimed king of Ireland, next be-
sieged the castle of Carrickfergus, where Birmingham, at the head of an English some of the defeated English had taken
refuge. Bruce spent some time endeavour-
ing to reduce the stronghold of Carrickfer-
gus ; yet, at last he raised the siege to
proceed southwards, through the midland
counties of Leinster. His advance caused
the rising of various native septs ; but the all over the country. See Moore's His- prevalence of famine at this time obliged
the Scottish leader to retire upon Ulster.
At the town of Kells, he gave battle to
I5,(X)0 English, under the command of Sir
Roger Mortimer, who suffered an ignomi-
nious defeat. In 1 3 16, King Robert Bruce graveyard. Near this cemetery, the inha- landed in Ireland with a great army to assist
his brother Edward, and with united forces the garrison of Carrickfergus, after a brave
and protracted defence, was compelled to surrender. Robert Bruce, accompanied by a large army of Scots and Irish, advanced to Dublin, where he arrived about the close
bitants point out a spot, where Bruce's horse was buried, and it is said, the bones of this animal were even discovered, on digging for them.
="93 The Rev. Dr. Drummo—nd's Poem,— ofnospecialmerit,however, andintituled,
"
Bruce's Invasion of Ireland," describes the progress of the Scottish leader, and his zens were in a state of consternation, but final defeat. An idea of its measure and
of February, 1317. The Anglo-Irish deni-
lost no time in making energetic preparations
style may be gleaned from the following
for defence
.
The
and Irish lines, to the —of Irish English appear relating mustering
to have been almost equally demoralized
and disorganized, during the progress of
these transactions. The suburbs of Dublin were burnt down by the citizens, to prevent their invaders from finding there a shelter on approaching. Richard, Earl of Ulster, now advanced in years, was arrested on suspicion of having favoured the cause of Bruce, whilst DeLacy joined his forces with the Scots and Irish. King Robert Bruce, however, on finding the metropolis so strongly fortified and so resolutely defended by its Anglo-Irish garrison, deemed it a useless waste of time and valour to attempt
desolated country, disconcerted his plans. Although the English mustered a force of
chiefs and tribes to his standard
its reduction the slow by
" With these comes well-versed O'Mailey,
in sea-wiles.
The lord of Craig-Uile, a prince of the isles ;
Of th' Arrans, where health-wafting gales ever blow.
And Bovin, with fat lowing herds, white as snow.
of a Conducting his army southwards through Kildare, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Limerick, he burned and plundered the English foun- dations, civil and ecclesiastical, wherever he passed. Famine, pressing sorely on this
process
siege.
force, which had marched from Dublin.
See the Author's "Catechism of Irish His-
tory," lesson XV. , pp. 153 to 158.
^9^ Some written accounts state, that Ed-
ward Bruce's body had been divided into
quarters, and had been sent for exhibition "
tory of Ireland," vol. iii,, chap, xxxvi. , p. 71. This, however, does not appear to be
confirmed on any good authority, and the local tradition is probably correct, that the headless body had been buried in Foughart
*'
:
Blood-royal O'Connor his infantry guides From regions beyond where the broad
Shannon glides ;
Great monarch of streams, that from up-
land and dell.
And a thousand steep mountains, his wide
current swell ;
By cities, lakes, forests, and fields rich
withgrain.
Sweeping on with his sail-covered tidfes
to the main. "
3«> LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS [February i. 4
battle, which he fought on the 14th of October, a. d. 1318,294 at Foiighart. ^^s Many of his chieftains and soldiers, Irish and Scots, fell in this short but
decisive conflict. =^96 Although during the course of three years,^^? pending which he waged war in Ireland, Edward Bruce had encountered the English armies in eighteen successive and victorious battles,^^^ their great numerical superiority at the battle of Foughart caused victory to favour the arms of England from the very first onset.
=^s
writings of this author, he could never dis- cover elsewhere, authority for the statement of a custom prevailing in former times among the Irish, whereby a brother would sell his brother, a daughter her mother, a father his son, or any other relative his kinsman. If the sale of slaves and captives prevailed in pagan times, the mild spirit of Christianity and of religious feeling haslongago abolished all vile customs of the slave mart, in our island. We read, however, that the English and Britons, even long after their reception of the Christian religion, allowed this abomin- able trade in human creatures to continue. We learn, also, that to this infamous traffic in men and women, could be traced, in great part, their loss of liberty and subjection to a foreign yoke. These were regarded as just punishments and visitations of God, for permitting such abuses. See Colgan's
258. Giraldus Cambrensis, Opera, vol. v. , Dimock's edition.
**7 According to Professor O'Looney's Irish Life in MS. a Dmid from the territory of Connaill repurchased the bondwoman from the poet ; and brought her to his own part of the country, pp. 5, 6.
--^ See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Tertia Vita S. Brigiaiaj, cap. iii. , p. 527. Quarta Vita S. Brigidse, lib. i. , cap. iii. , iv. , p. 546. In the Fifth Life, the foregoing accounts are greatly extended, by the intro- duction of imaginary discourses and circum- stances. See Quinta Vita vS. Brigidoe, cap. iii. , iv. , pp. 567, 568, ibid.
=^49 After the account already given, theThird Life inserts a ridiculous narrative, relative to an occurrence at the infant's birth. This same narrative is given in the Fourth Life, where it is added, that the infant St. Brigid was distinguished by extraordinary beauty
Colgan remarks, that except in the
"
Brigidse, cap. i,, ii,, p. 567 and n. 5, p. i. , cap. v. , pp. 546, 547, ibid. As usual,
"Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Vita S.
of features.
Vita Quarta S. Brigidae," lib.
639, ibid.
*** Giraldus Cambrensis writes as follows
on this subject, in reference to Ireland, that
soon after the Anglo-Norman invasion, a council was convened at Armagh, in which it was decreed, that the English, then held as bondsmen, in various parts of Hibernia, should be set at liberty. The clergy and laity were unanimously agreed on this sub- ject. Previously to that period, the Saxons were accustomed to
jell
and relations as slaves to the Irish, even
although not pressed to it by any necessity.
Merchants and pirates were alike engaged in this nefarious commerce. The Irish, becoming purchasers of those slaves, were justly deemed as partners in such traffic, and therefore was it thought they had incurred Divine displeasure, which had been mani-
Laurence of Durham greatly enlarges on the foregoingaccounts. VitaQuintaS. Brigidae,
cap. v. , p. 568, ibid. We are assured, by Col- gan, that a king alluded to, and then with his
queen a guest with the i/iagus, was dynast of Conall Murthemne, a region mentioned, in an Irish Life of St. Brigid. In a part of
this territory, designated Fochart, St. Brigid was born, according to the same authority,
and to Henry of Marlborough, A. D, 468. Conchobarius in " Vita S. Monennsa," and other biographers are of accord. These are
their ovra. children
fested by permitting their subjection, in turn, ""
to the Anglo-Norman invaders. See Ex- may refer to Vita Tertia S. Brigidfe," n. pugnatio Hibemica," lib. i. , cap. xviii. , p. 5, P- 543.
followed by Ussher, " De Primordiis Eccle- "
siarum Britannicarum, pp. 627, 884. But, the magian here mentioned is not identical
with the Meathian, who purchased St. Brigid's mother in the first instance. He
was the second purchaser and he belonged
to the territory of the aforesaid Conall, as
mentioned in an Irish Life. The student
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 25
birth had preceded St. Brigid's by a single day,=so ^^^^ suddenly on that of our saint's nativity. ^si By some chance, Brigid, being brought near the life- less body of this infant, touched it. ^s" The child was immediately restored to life. When this miracle took place, all who were present declared, Brigid
was that renowned saint, promised by the prophets. ="53
After our saint's birth, the magus is said to have brought her mother with
him to Connaught, where he dwelt ; and, it is also stated, that the mother of this magus had been a native of that province, while his father was born in Munster. ='54 One day, when the mother of St. Brigid went some distance to milk cows,2S5 she left her infant sleeping alone in the house. Suddenly, it appeared to be in flames, and all who saw ran to extinguish them. =56 Qn approaching the dwelling, however, these flames went out ; and on entering, the people found St. Brigid sweetly smiling, with infantile innocence and beauty, her cheeks being flushed with a roseate hue. ^57 AH proclaimed aloud, that the child was replenished with graces of the Holy Spirit. ^ss
Before we proceed further, it may be well to mention, that St. Brigid's
biographers seem generally to agree in naming Fochard^S9 as her birthplace. Such is the account left us in her Fourth Life. There, as we are told, the
village in which she was born bore the name, Fochart Muirthemne,^^° being in the region called Conaille Muirthemhne, formerly within the Ulster
^^^ The
to a remote time. ^^^ At present, Faughart=63 is a small country village, in
province.
tradition,
on which such a statement is referable prevails,
=50 This infant is said to have been a son
of the King and Queen of Conaille, who were then on a visit with a- magus, the second
purchaser, according to Professor O'Looney's Irish Life, pp. 5 to 8.
=51 Professor O'Looney's Irish Life states,
St. Brigid was born at the rising of the sun,
pp. 7, 8.
252 In Professor O'Looney Irish Life, it is
stated, that St. Brigid's breath brought the king's son to life, pp. 7, 8.
^53 This account is contained in the Fourth Life. We are told by Colgan, that it is to be found, also, in the Irish Life, where it is stated, the infant brought to life was a son to the King of Conall, and this child was
usual amplifications, we are told, St. Brigid spoke, before that natural period arrived, when infants usually articulate. Such ac- count, however, is not contained in her other lives. Colgan refers to notes, ap- pended to St. Fursey's Life at the i6th of
January, and to other particulars, which serve to accompany that of St. Barr, at the
25th of September, for parallel instances of children, who spoke soon after their birth, and even in their mother's womb.
259 In Wright's "Louthiana," part i. , p. 9, there is a very interesting description of certainancientremainsinthislocality. Dr. Lanigan, who rejects the romantic narrative
of St. Brigid's birth, agrees that she was born in Fochard. He further observes :
Whether her coming into the world in
that place was owing to her parents having had a residence there, or to their being on a visit at some fr—iend's house, it is imma-
"
terial to enquire. " Ecclesiastical History
of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sec. II, p. 378, and n. 24, p. 382, ibid.
Vita S. Brigidas, lib. i. , cap. vi. , p. 547.
born on that night, previous to St. Brigid's
" *'
birth, according to the legend. See Trias Thaumaturga. " Quarta VitaS. Brigidae, lib. i. , cap. vi. , p. 547, and n. 12, p. 564, ibid.
^^54 This is accordant with a statement in
Professor O'Looney's Irish Life of St. Brigid,
pp. 7, 8. =55 Ibid.
=56 <<
etiam rutilis tectorurn subdere flammis
^^° St. was Brigid
Ssepe
of that
and in her honour a monastery of Canons had been established there, at a time when the Fourth Life had been written. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta
Cernebant f—abricam, parvas et cunabula
Brigidae. " ^VitaSextaS. Brigidoe,sec. "
ii. , p. 583. Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga. "
"
«57 Ibid.
v. , p. 527. "Quarta Vita S. BrigidEe," lib. i. , cap. viii,, ix. , p. 547. In the latter life, we are informed about the reason why the magician visited the province of Con- naught. This he did to exercise his magic arts ; for which purpose, he travelled through that district, and through other provinces, where he was received with great respect.
=58 In the Fifth Life of our saint, with its
Tertia Vita S. Brigidse," cap.
=^*
Foughart is a parish in the diocese of
patron
place,
Armagh.
=*= St. Bernard in his *' Vita S. Malachiae"
writes ;
**
Venerunt tres Episcopi in villam
Fochart, quem dicunt locum nativitatis
Brigidae virginis," &c. , cap. xxv. , sec. 56.
""^^ See the "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 197, 198, for an in- teresting account of this parish.
36 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i. d
the Barony of Upper Dundalk, County of Louth, and Province of Leinster. There, too, not only a church and a cemetery, dedicated to St. Brigid, were to be seen at a time when her Fourth Life had been written; but, according to local tradition, they were situated even on the very site of that house, in which she had been born. ^*^* This latter statement, with a sHght emendation, is probably correct. It has been remarked, that the allusion to a monastery of Canons being at Foughart shows a remote antiquity when the author of herFourthLifeflourished; for,manyagesback,therehadbeennoinstitute of the kind discoverable, nor any monastic house, specially dedicated to St.
Brigid, at least from the period of the eleventh century. ^^5 The old church site of Fochard is situated between the town of Dundalk and the church of
Kilslieve,^^^^ being about two miles distant from either place. A holy woman, known as Monenna,=^^7 built a church here, at a very early period. ^'^^ The exact situation of Fochard has been misplaced in some records. ^^9 In the
seventeenth century, this little village was called by the Irish-speaking peo-
"
Fochart of Brigid^^'^o
In the three previous lives of our Saint^^i no mention is made concerning
the place of her birth ; which is also the case, in the two latter lives, viz. :
the Fifth and Sixth. Admitting, however, the usually assigned place, where the illustrious virgin is said to have been born, it seems likely enough, that
old circular, cone-shaped Dun,^7a which rises high=^73 over the adjoining fields on the very summit of Foughart Hill, about three miles north-west of Dun- dalk,supportedandprotectedthehouseofDubtach. ^74 Acircularlevelon the top was 40 feet in diameter, and around the circumference appears to have extended a wide breast-work of masonry, laid with mortar. ="75 At the southernsides,whenbroken,thefoundationswereclearlytraceable. Adeep
ple Fochart Brighde, or
^*' At the rear of this church, the local habitants pointed out that identical stone, on which, it was traditionally said, St.
Brigid first reposed after having come into the world. The relic was held in especial veneration by inhabitants of the adjacent country, and through its instru- mentality many miracles were reported to have been accomplished.
=^5 Nothing save the parish church at Fochart was known in Colgan's time to have been placed under her special invoca- tion. See " Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Brigidae, lib. i. , cap. vi. , p. 547, and nn. 13, 14, p. 864, ibid.
"^^ Some ruins of a church are still re- maining at Kilslieve, but these are devoid of all architectural beauty. See "The History of Dundalk and its Environs," by John D'Alton and J. R. O'Flanagan, p. 279.
="•7 SeeherLifeatthe6thofJuly.
=^ Conchobranus, in "Vita S. Monennae,"
other Leinster county, it seems certain, she first saw light, in a certain village called
Fochart, in Louth county, in Armagh dio- cese, and within the bounds of Ulster's ancient province. See Ussher "De Pri- mordiis Ecclesiarum Britannicarum," pp. 627, 705, 706. Also, David Roth, in his Dissertation on St. Brigid, p. 151, and an Irish Life of St. Brigid, cap. iii.
^70 They also called that district, in which
it was situated, Machaire Airgiell. See
Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix
Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidae, cap. v. , p. 617.
published by Colgan.
=72 Thomas Wright, in his day, correctly
of a cone. "—"Louthiana," book i. , p. 9. There was formerly some sort of octagonal building upon the top, but whether it had been a tower or parapet breast high, there was not wall enough left to determine, a little after the middle of the last century.
^73 About 60 feet, according to Wright, says, that this holy woman first built a but it is certainly of a lesser altitude.
church at Fochart, where the nativity of St. Brigid took place.
"^ The English Martyrology, at the 1st of February, and other authorities, state, that our Saint was born in the County of Kildare, and at a place called Fochart. But Fochart is not within the limits of that
county. However, if it be allowed, St. Brigid had been conceived in that, or in any
='74 Two curious copper-plate illustrations of this Dun, with the shape of the upper fort-like works, are contained on Plate xiv.
'^^^ As
describes it as " in the form of a frustrum
"
»75 In May, 1874, the writer visited this
spot, and found it nearly in a perfect state,
except towards the south, where a portion of its sides had been removed for manure.
of book i. in
Louthiana. "
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 27
circular fosse surrounded the lower ascent of this high Dun,=76 from the top of which a magnificent view of the bay and town of Dundalk, with the
sublime crags of the Carlingford mountains, extending far into the sea, towards the north and east, can be obtained. ='77 Near this Dun, in the townland and parish of Faughart, on the very summit of a rising hill, are the ruins of St. Brigid's old church. =78 The entire length was 24 yards, and the
Church Ruins at Foughart, Co. Louth.
breadth 7 yards interiorly, in 1836 ; an inside gable stood at a distance of about 10 yards from the east gable. ='79 This latter was demolished to within three feet of the ground, in the middle part, the sides being lower. Only a small part of the south side-wall, towards the east gable, stands. =^° The remainder,tothemiddlegable,waslevelledwiththeground. Thenorthside-
276 Thomas * ' in all Wright states,
within the cave, which his through
proba- bility, it may originally have been a Funeral Monument, and in latter days formed into a Beacon or Fort, either as an out Guard to defend the said Frontier," {i. e. , of the old
ware,"
further progress was checked by its being choked by earth and stones, in one particu- lar place. The extent of these remarkable caves, he pointed out to the writer, on the surface of the ground above, and he ex-
the desire that should pressed greatest they
be carefully explored by gentlemen com- petent to describe them.
^
English Pale),
"
or signify the Approach of
an —" Enemy. "
book
=^77 Mr. John Craig, who rented an adjoin- ing farm, told the writer, that in the field next this Dun, while ploughing, the hoofs of a horse sunk through some flag stones. On examination of the spot, a remarkable
zig-zag-shaped earth-cave was discovered.
After removing some of the covering stones, he descended into it, and found it regularly walled on the sides. Barely stooping, he was enabled to pass through it for several yards, covering flags being over his head. He saw several specimens of "crockery
•
Louthiana,"
i. , p. 9.
=^78 The people in 1836 called it UeA' pull ""
AS\x>, the high church, and it was also designated coa' pull lipi^'oe riA h-Ai|\t)e moi^e, "Brigid's Church of the great height. "
^79 This inner gable has since fallen.
^^° The accompanying engraving by Wil- liam Oldham, 8 Gloucester-street, Dublin, is from a sketch by the author, and taken on
the spot, in May, 1874.
28 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
wall was reduced to about 7 feet in height, east of the middle gable. ^^^ The western length to the middle gable was about 14 yards ; the side-walls' height, in this part, is about 14 feet. On the south side-wall was a breach near the middle gable. ^'^^ The west gable had been reduced in height to theleveloftheside-walls; whilethereisabreachonit, reachingfromtop to bottom, about 3 yards wide. On the north side-wall, about 7 feet from the ground, there was an opening, reaching to the top. Another opening next the middle gable, was to be seen, and about the same height. ^^*
This ruinous pile of masonry, at present, is in a very dilapidated condition. The people of Foughart neighbourhood^^s preserved a tradition, that this church had been built by St. Brigid—especially the eastern part—
although they knew not that here^"^^ was her birthplace. ''^^ The graveyard of Foughart is still much used for interments. The base of an old cross yet
rises over the graves. This last resting-place of the dead is intimately asso- ciated with the invasion of Ireland by King Robert Bruce^^^ of Scotland,^^^ and by his brother Edward Bruce,''^^ who prosecuted it to a disastrous issue. '^^
=^' About a yard in length retained the original height of 14 feet towards the mid- dle ; it was lower towards the east gable.
'^^ In 1836, seven feet from the ground
was an opening reaching to the top.
"^4 The foregoing is the substance of Messrs. P. O'Keefe's and T. O'Conor's
description in a letter dated Dundalk, Feb-
" Letters, containing information relative to the Antiquities of the County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey
in 1835-1836," vol. i. , pp. 285, 286.
»8s In 1836.
=^ None of the inhabitants were able
then to assign a signification for the word
=87 A few, who read St. Brigid's Life,
said that she was born within 2^ miles of
Dundalk, on a green near the old road,
leading from the latter town to Newry.
Then tradition had it, that she founded
Foughart Church, where she remained 2\
years, before she went to the nunnery at
Kildare. Ibid, pp. 286, 287.
"^^
In A. D. 1306, this heroic chieftain was forced to take refuge in the small Island of Rachlinn, off the northern coast of Antrim. In the spring of 1306, with a fleet of thirty- three galleys and about 300 men, he sailed
*'
for the Scottish coast,
that course of chivalrous conquest which led to the establishment of his country's inde- pendence and his own deathless renown. " About 700 of the northern Irish accompa- nied him on this expedition, and these were led by his brothers, Thomas and Alexander. See Moore's " of vol.
"^ The reader will recollect the allusion
to his taking refuge in Ireland, as poetically recorded in Sir Walter Scott's **Lord of the Isles," canto iii. , sec. xi.
The scheme," said Bruce, contents me well ;
Meantime 'twere best that Isabel For safety, with my bark and crew,
Again to friendly Erin drew.
There Edward, too, shall with her wend, In need to cheer her and defend,
And muster up each scattered friend. "
=9<>The old Scoto-English poem, "The
Bruce ; or the Metrical History of Robert I.
King of Scots," by Master John Barbour, Archdeacon of Aberdeen, contains the most detailed account of Edward Bruce's career in Ireland, in Buke Tend, Buke Eleuenth, Buke Twelt, vol. i. , pp. 277 to 368. This is published from a Manuscript dated M. cccc. LXXXix. See "The Bruce; and Wallace ;" edited by John Jamieson, D. D. , with notes, biographical sketches, and a glossary. In Two Volumes. Edinburgh, A. D. 1820, 4to.
=51 That brilliant and decisive victory,
achieved by the Scots over the English, at
Bannockbum, in 13 14, and to which allusion
has been already made in the Life of St.
Foilan, at the 9th of January, had awakened
for a kindred people warm sympathies, while it aroused ambition among the north-
ern Irish chieftains, to originate some effec- tive means for obtaining national indepen- dence. Proposing to Robert Bruce the propriety of making his brother, Edward, king of Ireland, they agreed to rally round the latter, immediately on his arriving in their country. As Edward had already demanded a share in the sovereignty of Scotland, King Robert eagerly inclined to the expressed wishes of these Irish chiefs, and made to
iiiary 15th, 1 836, taken from
Louth
History Ireland," iii. , chap, xxxvi,, p. 52.
every preparation
military and naval expedition, destined for
and proceeded on
the coasts of Ireland. Accordingly, on the 26th of May, 1315, Edward Bruce landed on the shores of Antrim, with a fleet of 300 sail and an army of Scots, estimated at 6,000 men. Immediatelyonhisarrival,theIrish of Ulster hastened in great numbers to fight under his standard. With united forces,
organize a
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 29
A hollow space between Faughart hill and Carrickbroad^s^ is pointed out as the spot where Bruce was killed,=93 in that last desperate
the Scots and Irish overran the whole pro- 30,000 men to surprise and harass the King
vince of Ulster, within an incredibly short of Scotland, they did not, however, venture period. Dundalk, Ardee, with some other to risk a decisive engagement with him.
places in Louth, were taken and demolished by the invading forces and their allies. To oppose them, De Burgo, earl of Ulster,
About the commencement of May, Robert Bruce was obliged to retreat upon Ulster. He soon afterwards set sail for Scotland, leaving his brother Edward to sustain the cause, in which his fortunes were embarked. This retreat of the Scots and Irish, into the northern province, allowed the English an opportunity for making many successful diversions around the borders of their own settlements. In the year 13 1 8, Edward Bruce raised a small army, with which he advanced to Foughart, near Dundalk. Here he was opposed and defeated by John
raised a large army, chiefly in Connaught.
He formed a junction with Sir Edmond
Butler, the lord justice. The Scots and
Irish crossed the river Bann, when they
gave battle to the Earl of Ulster, at Connor.
Here the Anglo-Irish leader was defeated,
and afterwards he was forced to fly for pro-
tection towards the western province. Ed-
ward Bmce, who had already caused himself
to be proclaimed king of Ireland, next be-
sieged the castle of Carrickfergus, where Birmingham, at the head of an English some of the defeated English had taken
refuge. Bruce spent some time endeavour-
ing to reduce the stronghold of Carrickfer-
gus ; yet, at last he raised the siege to
proceed southwards, through the midland
counties of Leinster. His advance caused
the rising of various native septs ; but the all over the country. See Moore's His- prevalence of famine at this time obliged
the Scottish leader to retire upon Ulster.
At the town of Kells, he gave battle to
I5,(X)0 English, under the command of Sir
Roger Mortimer, who suffered an ignomi-
nious defeat. In 1 3 16, King Robert Bruce graveyard. Near this cemetery, the inha- landed in Ireland with a great army to assist
his brother Edward, and with united forces the garrison of Carrickfergus, after a brave
and protracted defence, was compelled to surrender. Robert Bruce, accompanied by a large army of Scots and Irish, advanced to Dublin, where he arrived about the close
bitants point out a spot, where Bruce's horse was buried, and it is said, the bones of this animal were even discovered, on digging for them.
="93 The Rev. Dr. Drummo—nd's Poem,— ofnospecialmerit,however, andintituled,
"
Bruce's Invasion of Ireland," describes the progress of the Scottish leader, and his zens were in a state of consternation, but final defeat. An idea of its measure and
of February, 1317. The Anglo-Irish deni-
lost no time in making energetic preparations
style may be gleaned from the following
for defence
.
The
and Irish lines, to the —of Irish English appear relating mustering
to have been almost equally demoralized
and disorganized, during the progress of
these transactions. The suburbs of Dublin were burnt down by the citizens, to prevent their invaders from finding there a shelter on approaching. Richard, Earl of Ulster, now advanced in years, was arrested on suspicion of having favoured the cause of Bruce, whilst DeLacy joined his forces with the Scots and Irish. King Robert Bruce, however, on finding the metropolis so strongly fortified and so resolutely defended by its Anglo-Irish garrison, deemed it a useless waste of time and valour to attempt
desolated country, disconcerted his plans. Although the English mustered a force of
chiefs and tribes to his standard
its reduction the slow by
" With these comes well-versed O'Mailey,
in sea-wiles.
The lord of Craig-Uile, a prince of the isles ;
Of th' Arrans, where health-wafting gales ever blow.
And Bovin, with fat lowing herds, white as snow.
of a Conducting his army southwards through Kildare, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Limerick, he burned and plundered the English foun- dations, civil and ecclesiastical, wherever he passed. Famine, pressing sorely on this
process
siege.
force, which had marched from Dublin.
See the Author's "Catechism of Irish His-
tory," lesson XV. , pp. 153 to 158.
^9^ Some written accounts state, that Ed-
ward Bruce's body had been divided into
quarters, and had been sent for exhibition "
tory of Ireland," vol. iii,, chap, xxxvi. , p. 71. This, however, does not appear to be
confirmed on any good authority, and the local tradition is probably correct, that the headless body had been buried in Foughart
*'
:
Blood-royal O'Connor his infantry guides From regions beyond where the broad
Shannon glides ;
Great monarch of streams, that from up-
land and dell.
And a thousand steep mountains, his wide
current swell ;
By cities, lakes, forests, and fields rich
withgrain.
Sweeping on with his sail-covered tidfes
to the main. "
3«> LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS [February i. 4
battle, which he fought on the 14th of October, a. d. 1318,294 at Foiighart. ^^s Many of his chieftains and soldiers, Irish and Scots, fell in this short but
decisive conflict. =^96 Although during the course of three years,^^? pending which he waged war in Ireland, Edward Bruce had encountered the English armies in eighteen successive and victorious battles,^^^ their great numerical superiority at the battle of Foughart caused victory to favour the arms of England from the very first onset.
