An old church, situated in a picturesque valley on the Moyola
water, the site of an earlier 20 Various rich levels or straths occupies building.
water, the site of an earlier 20 Various rich levels or straths occupies building.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
15°.
«S»-
116
See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionaiy of Ireland,'' vol. ii. , p. 391.
1. 7 The accompanying illustration is from a sketch made by the writer on the spot, in February, 1886. It has been transferred to the wood by William F. Wakeman, and the engraving is by Mrs. Millard.
parish, donagh, shown,
on the " Ordnance
1. 8 Archdall alludes to
it,
and
quotes
a
"6 is Inistioge parish
described,
on "Ord-
"Tour through Ireland, 1748," p. 231, for
the statement, that a Monastery of Conven-
tual Franciscans was here established. See
nance Survey Townland Maps for the County
of Kilkenny," sheets 28, 29, 32, 33, 36. The
town and townland proper are on sheets 32, 33-
127 Both objects are distinguished, on the
" Ordnance Townland for the Survey Maps
County of Kilkenny," sheet 44.
128 See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot-
"
Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 335.
1. 9 The late Duke of Leinster found this
fine cross broken, and in of danger being
totally destroyed, as a great portion of it had been removed from the plinth. However,
However, one of its centre pieces,
earth,
lately
and
12? near the River Barrow.
p. 280.
122 It is described, on the " Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kilkenny,"sheets28,29,32. Thetownland proper is on sheet 28.
in the barony of Clan-
Survey Townland Maps for the Queen's County," sheets 27, 28, 33. The town- land proper Rathsaran Glebe is on sheets 27, 28.
124 A townland, in Rathsaran parish, shown on sheets 27, 28.
125 See "Statuta Dioecesis Ossoriensis," edita Kilkenniae, in Synodo Dioecesana,
8, pp. 26 to 28.
die 8 Junii, 1873, SeCt-
June 9. LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 335
That the saint had been the originator of any religious establishment here doesnotseemtobeknown; whiletheseobjectsmayhavebeendedicatedto someotherSt. Columba. TheoldIrishLifeI28ofour—saintplacesamonghis Leinster foundations the church of Druim-monach ia9 the precise locality of which has not been ascertained.
The following incident, in our saint's career, by historical inference, may fairly be referred to a time, about the middle of the sixth cen- tury. Columkille journeyed by Guam—now known as Clonkeen—in Leix, whenhewasayoungman. Somecompanionswerewithhim. St. Fintanof
x 3° was then a mere and he was under the Clonenagh boy,
of a ceptor, at this place. Fintan had a Divine Revelation regarding our saint's arrival, which was previously notified to the master. That prediction was soon fulfilled, and then St. Columba first became acquainted with St. Fintan,
whose
For seventee—
dignity eighteen years,
greatness,
SOUTHWARDS—HIS RESIDENCE AND ACTS.
CONNAUGHT,
and the
n or
pre-
of whose at —was foretold. '3 1 place, Clonenagh,
and in the of life or from about prime
a. d. 546 to 563 this indefatigable missionary travelled over a great part of Ireland, while he laboured incessantly, especially in founding new churches and new monasteries. '3 J He was evidently a man possessing great force of character and also determined zeal in effecting his purpose ; while he was one of those master-minds that influence and sway others, by the mere force of contact. Nor can we doubt, that he became the object of tender love and of implicit
confidence, from all who came under the sphere and spell of his influence. Firmness and amiability alike predominated in forming his noble and saint- like character.
CHAPTER VI.
ST. COLUMBA RE-VISITS TYRCONNELL—HIS FOUNDATIONS THERE—HE TRAVELS
IN SEANGLEANN—HE TRAVELS TO
WHERE CHURCHES ARE BUILT—VISIT TO THE ARAN ISLANDS—VARIOUS MIRACLES
After some of the foregoing events, referable chiefly to Meath and Leinster, St. Columb is said to have returned towards Tyrconnell. Passing by the Erne, he blessed it. He likewise erected many churches and chapels in his
patrimonial
realm. To his native Gartan * he went for a time. While he place
known as
land : a Histoiy of Ancient Alban," vol. ii. ,
Appendix I, p. 489.
129 This church is not in the list of St.
Columba's churches, as furnished in Rev.
2 the saint was met a man by
at a
rested
of his acquaintance, who had suffered much, and who was greatly depressed in spirits. Taking compassion on him, St. Columb blessed a rock, which was near, and from which a copious stream of water began to flow. From this, the man afflicted with melancholy drank, when all its shadows became at once dissipated. In future times, it was said, that all, similarly affected and who drank of that water, were restored to peace and serenity of mind.
there,
place
Gort-na-lecke,
Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Co- tions of St. — 120. Columba," p.
lumba. "
130 See his Life, in the Second Volume of
This place is probably identical with the chap. i. presenttownland,knownasGortnaleck,inthe 131 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," parish of Clondahorky, and in the barony of
this work, at the 17th of February, Art. i. ,
"
Quinta Vita S. Columbx, lib. i. , cap. cviii. , p. 407.
'32 See "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol.
ii. , old Series. " A Day at Iona :
Recollec-
* the Chapter vi. Here
O'Clerys state, he had a religious foundation.
tutelage
336 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINJS. [June 9.
Thenceforward, that stone was called the Rock of Sadness. 3 The foundation of Raphoe is ascribed to St. Columba,* in an ancient poem, and in some other authorities. 5 In the early part of the seventeenth century, it possessed a Round Tower, probably belonging to the former cathedral, which had been there erected. From what we have seen already, it should seem, that St. Columba blessed churches at Raphoe in his lifetime, if he were not the actual
6
founder of a religious house, at that place. ? Ronan, son of Lugad, and pro-
nepos of St. Columba, on his uncle Sedne's side, held one of the Hy-Xiell, asahostage,andforsomereasonhehadbeendoomedtodeath. However, St. Columba asked and obtained his pardon from Ronan, saying he could refuse him no request. To reward him for this avowal, the saint predicted, that from him should proceed Dalach, who was to be the stock, from whom the future Tyrconnellian nobles and princes must descend. He also declared, that although then undistinguished among the higher chiefs, they should one day become more celebrated, provided they only lived piously and justly. Again, it was predicted of the same Dalach,8 that drops of blood should be seen in a well at Kill-mac-Nenain, as often as any of his posterity was about to perish by the sword. O'Donnell states, that the truth of this pre- diction stood the test of experience. '
Among the churches or religious houses of Blessed Columb in the north of
Ireland is to be reckoned that of Druim-Tomma, 10 now Drumhome, in the
of and of 11 as several monks of St. barony Tyrhugh, county Donegal,
Columba are stated to have been there buried. 12 we most Accordingly, may
probably attribute the period of its erection to the occasion on which he
returned to this part of Ireland. In the parish of Drumhome was also the
11 townland of Ballymagroarty, ^ where are the remains of an old chapel, * which
formerly bore the name of St. Columba. The O'Clerys state, that it was one of his foundations. Here, too, the celebrated Cathach, a reliquary of the saint,waskeptintheseventeenthcentury. 'S AplaceformerlycalledScreen-
16 and afterwards known as '? was for- Ballynascreen parish,
l8 considered as
forms the western portion of the barony of Loughinsholin, in the county of
Colaim-Cille,
merly
belonging
to Gleann in Tirone. 1 ? It now Coneadhan,
" nance Survey Townland Maps for the County
of Donegal," sheets 25, 26, 34, 35.
3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbce, lib. i. , cap. lxxii. ,
Kilmacrenan. It is to be found on the
Ord-
Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap, Ixxvii. , pp. 401, 402, and n. 72, p. 451.
,0
Also written Druim Tuama, in the O'Clerys' Calendar.
p. 401.
4 The old Irish Life of St. Columba
x. .
rived from the family of Mac Robhartaigh, pronounced Mac Roarty.
'*
This townland is divided into two por- tions, the Irish and Scotch. This ruined chapel is in the former division.
I5 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbre, cap. ii. , p. 495.
,6 Mentioned by this name at A. D. 1203,
in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 136, 137, and n. (e), ibid.
places his foundation of Rath-Bo h, next in order after his foundation at Derry. SeetheEng- lish translation appended, in William F. Skene's "Celtic Scotland," vol. ii. , Appen-
p. 133.
" See ibid. ,n. 118, pp. 141, 142.
13 In Irish t>Aile-tnecc nobayvcaicli, de-
dix I. , p. 484.
5 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
of St. Columba," Additional Notes G, p. 280.
6 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan, however, does not find sufficient arguments for ascribing such to Columba himself ; although a monas-
tery existed there in Adamnan's time, who "
was, perhaps, the founder of it. See Ec-
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
chap, xi. , sect, x. , p. 132.
7 *7 The O'Clerys in their Calendar class it
among St. Columba's foundations.
8 From him that
sprung distinguished
branch of the O'Donnell family, known as Siol n Dalaich.
9 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
In Irish baiLe m\ Scrxme, Anglicized " Town of the Shrine. "
"
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect.
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
,8 In the seventeenth
century.
* 9 See Rev. Robert King's "Old Church
of Ballynascreen," p. 103.
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
337
Londonderry.
An old church, situated in a picturesque valley on the Moyola
water, the site of an earlier 20 Various rich levels or straths occupies building.
lie in the Moyola valley, and they are sometimes covered by freshets in the
stream. 21
Tearmonn
At one the time,
man came to a — place, incorrectly called
Cetmainigh
Cuiminig
22
—
holy
but the true name is Tearmon
2
3
in
Tyrone. There, he resolved, that it should be consecrated, and should enjoy
ecclesiastical immunities for the future. Stamping the ground with his foot, inthreedifferentplaces,threeseparatefountainswereproduced. Then,he
"
Domnald, son of Aedh, son to Ainmreach, King of Ireland, accompanied by the race of Conalleid, shall penetrate into this district ; and, its people shall suffer much from his army. Yet, the Almighty hath granted to me, that these forces shall be unnerved, destitute of strength, and afflicted with disease, until they shall have offered satisfaction to the Comorban of this place, and until they shall have been sprinkled with the waters of these
prophesied :
wells. " This prophecy was duly completed, and thenceforth, the waters were "2
called the Conalleidan fountains. " * In the thirteenth and following cen- turies this place was known as Termon-conyn or Termon-conny. In after
times, it was called Termon-Maguirk, the present name of the parish being derived from the Mac Guirk family, who were formerly the Herenachs of its
2
ecclesiastical lands. s It is situated in the barony of Omagh East and county
of Tyrone. There is an old church here and a parish cemetery. Without the latter are two other places of interment. One of these is called Relig-na-
"
the children's cemetery," while the other bears for title Relig-na- " of the slain. " Some curious local and
26
paisde,
firgunta, Cemetery
reference to our saint, yet linger in the locality.
legends, having
In the time of St. Patrick, according to immemorial tradition, a wonderful
man, named Conla the Artist, was remarkable all over the country for his
2
skill in working the precious metals. ? His operations were carried on, at a
place called Dun-cruithne. 28 But while engaged on a splendid shrine, and before it was finished, he died. No other person could be found in that loca-
lity to complete the work, in a corresponding style, and there it remained until St. Columba came to the place, which was in Kiennacht. On behold- ing this unfinished shrine, our saint most earnestly desired its completion. But, being fully satisfied, that no living artist could accomplish such a task, hewenttothetombofConla,whichhecausedtobeopened. Therelaythe decaying bones of that wonderfully great artist. He blessed them, and pro-
:
nounced these words, with a loud voice " In the name of our Lord Jesus
20 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Liie of St. Columba," Additional Notes G, p. 282.
** See Rev. Dr. William Reeves' Adam-
nan's "Life of St. Columba," Additional
Notes G, p. 283.
2? tells us, that it had into Colgan passed
a proverb among the Irish, when they de- sired to praise the work of a skilful worker
"
Conla himself was not a better artist. " In like manner, when they desired to convey a notion regarding what was irre- parable in such work: "not even Conla, the artist in bronze, could set it to
rights. "
28
This means the Picts' Fort. But, after- wards, it was called Serin Choluim Chille, in the Ards country, better know as Ard- Macgiolligan. There is a mention of this place, in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick,
" See "
land," vol. i. , p. 135.
32
Gazetteer of Ire-
Parliamentary
In Colgan's version of Prince O'Don- nell's Irish Life of St. Columba.
23 The Rev. Dr. Reeves thinks it may de- rive its name from Cuimne, sister to St. Columba. See Adamnan's Life of St. Columba, Additional Notes G, p. 283.
"
94 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga, Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. Ixxxvi. , p. 403.
2s Deriving under the Primate. See "Acts
of Archbishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation of Derry, a. d. mcccxcvii," &c,
in metals :
edited by Rev, William Reeves, D. D. , Part i. , chap. 125.
M. R. I. n. A. ,
(g), p. 3.
*9 What became of this beautiful of object
338
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June g.
Christ,arisefromthedead. " Manypersonswerethenpresent,andtotheir great astonishment, the dry bones seemed to be covered with flesh ; and, as if awaking from a slumber, Conla arose. He finished the shrine, according to the desire of St. Columba, who placed in it the relics of many Irish saints. Moreover, the Legend relates, that after his work was completed. Conla became the parent of a race, afterwards known as the Clann-cnaimhsighe, or
" the posterity of the bones. "
was in
kept Ard-Mac-giolligan,
In the time of Prince O'Donnell, this shrine
20 which was a maritime of Northern port
Ulster,inKiennnahtaGlinneGemhin. 3° ThisplacewasknownasScreen,31 in after times, and it was an ancient chapel,32 in the townland of Craig, in the
parish of Tamlaghtard or Magilligan, in the county and diocese of Deny. " The townland of Ballymacrorty, in the parish ofTemplemore or Deny, is said to have had a monastery, the ruins of which were extant in the time of
Colgan. 34 Thisisclassed,asoneofthechurchesunderthepatronageofSt. Columba, in Inishowen and in the diocese of Derry. 35 The parish of
Desertegny, Inishowen, county of Donegal and diocese of Derry, is said to have had St. Columkille for its patron. 36 By Colgan, it is called Disert-
Egnich. 37
The townland of
Ballymagroarty,3
8 in the of Drumhome, parish
and barony of Tirhugh, in the county of Donegal, is divided into two por-
tions : one is called the Irish and the other the Scotch. In the former are the
remains of an old chapel. This formerly bore the name of St. Columba. It
is in the diocese of Raphoe. There was kept the celebrated Reliquary of St. Co-
lumba, known as the Cathach, 30 and there also were some ruins of a church. '*
St. Columb was of 41 a in the diocese of 3
patron Clonmany, parish Derry. * We are told, that St. Columkille founded a church, in the parish of Clon-
many, and barony of Inishowen, in the sixth century. A monastery also
existed in connection with it.
The surrounding scenery is of a bold and sub-
lime character. A Protestant church at present occupies this site, and the
burial-ground has received whole generations of departed persons. Within
a stone is yet pointed out, and on which, it is related, St. Columkille prayed. On his festival day, the 9th of June, stations are made around it, by the country
43
people.
While St. Columba was engaged singing the Divine praises, at a
place called Tulach na psalm, or " the hill of psalmody," not far from Kill- micnenain, on bended knees he asked from the Almighty three requests : First, that he would not deny any petition justly preferred, lest scandal might
art is not related by Colgan. 37 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta 30 See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. ii. ,
Quinta Vita S. Columba;, lib. i. , cap. num. 48, p. 494.
xcix. , p. 405, andnn. 81, 82, p. 451.
31 In Irish Sqvm 1 m-Ajvoa, Latinized
"ScriniumdeArdo. "
32 See "Acts of Archbishop Coltoninhis
38 Written Baile-meg-rabhartaieh, by Colgan, who states, that formerly it was the siteofamonastery. Thetownlandwasso called from the family of Mac Robertaigh,
Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of pronounced Mac Roarty. See Rev. Dr.
Derry, A. D. , Mcccxcvn,"n. (q), p. 78.
33 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes G,
p. 282.
34 See •' Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap- pendix ad Acta S. Columba, cap. ii. , P- 495-
35 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
"Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes G,
P- 285.
36 See Rev. William Reeves' "Acts of
Archbishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visi- tation of the Diocese of Derry, A. D. ,
MCCCXCVII," n. (t), p. 67.
Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes G, p. 2S4.
39 Now preserved in the Royal Irish Aca- demy.
4° See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbre, cap. ii. , num. 51, p. 495.
4I According to Colgan.
4* See Rev. Dr. Reeves' "Acts of Arch- bishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, a. d. , mcccxcvii. ," n. (u), p. 67.
43 See Maghtochair's " Inishowen : Its History, Traditions and Antiquities," chap.
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 339
arise or the Church might receive hurt ; secondly, that the love of God should nevergrowcoldinhisbreast; andthirdly,thatnoneofhiskindred,orthe race of Conall, should differ among themselves, but should remain unani- mous, rejecting fierceness for gentleness, and for levity substantial wisdom, and whenever they provoked God's justice and anger, he prayed that plague and famine should be their avengers. There Baithen, Brugacius, and Ternoc,44 his disciples, asked St. Columba what should happen in future times. At
:
first, he wept bitterly, and then turning to them, he said " My soul is dis-
turbed, and my heart is filled with bitterness, while in mind I behold the evils
tocomeonfutureages; whentheimmunitiesofchurchesshallbeviolated,
while churches shall be despoiled, and monks oppressed ; when even the
edifices erected by myself shall be turned into laymen's houses ; and when
the most just God shall afflict such wicked doers, with not only hunger, pesti-
lence, and disease, but even with more severe trials and afflictions ; when God
shall withdraw his graces and paternal protection from those badly using them,
and allow former sins to gather force, as also hatreds, contentions, parricides, and evils of this sort, to increase. 45
After this, St. Columba went to an Island, situated in a lake, called
Lochgama, in Breffny. 46 In the parish of Columbkille, in the barony of Granard, and in the north-eastern part of the county of Longford, there is an Island in Lough Gowna called formerly Inismor Locha Gamna, and at present known as Inchmore. Here was the former parish church,+7 and at present it is only a ruin, called Teampull Choluim-cille. 48 It seems to have been the site of a religious establishment, and if not founded bySt. Columba,atleastitwasdedicatedtohim. AtArmagh,St. Columb
is said to have built a church,49 afterwards known as Recles Cholaim
° ;
but, whether this was one of his own or was foundation,
Cille 5
dedicated to his memory, has not been clearly determined. It should seem, however, that he visited this holy city, and as we are told in the Irish Life, while Columba was one day in the church of Armagh, and engaged at the holy sacrifice of Mass, a certain wicked and froward scholar, was tempted by an evil spirit under angelic guise, to commit avery shameful sin, but without the church doors. He was prepared to yield compliance, and to leave the church, when grasping him by the hand, Columba told him, that a demon had tempted him, and he immediately obliged the seeming angel to assume his trueappearance. Instantly,afearfulspectrewaspresentedtotheeyesofthe astonished student, who was filled with horror at the sight. So foul was the appearance of this demon, that the scholar fainted away in dread, and on recovery, he assured St. Columba, that never thenceforth should he be guilty of carnal sins, or ever serve the purposes of so deformed a
51 spectre.
x. , pp. 72, 73.
44 He is supposed by Colgan to have been
4?
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
the St. Ternoc, venerated at the 28th of
February.
116
See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionaiy of Ireland,'' vol. ii. , p. 391.
1. 7 The accompanying illustration is from a sketch made by the writer on the spot, in February, 1886. It has been transferred to the wood by William F. Wakeman, and the engraving is by Mrs. Millard.
parish, donagh, shown,
on the " Ordnance
1. 8 Archdall alludes to
it,
and
quotes
a
"6 is Inistioge parish
described,
on "Ord-
"Tour through Ireland, 1748," p. 231, for
the statement, that a Monastery of Conven-
tual Franciscans was here established. See
nance Survey Townland Maps for the County
of Kilkenny," sheets 28, 29, 32, 33, 36. The
town and townland proper are on sheets 32, 33-
127 Both objects are distinguished, on the
" Ordnance Townland for the Survey Maps
County of Kilkenny," sheet 44.
128 See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot-
"
Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 335.
1. 9 The late Duke of Leinster found this
fine cross broken, and in of danger being
totally destroyed, as a great portion of it had been removed from the plinth. However,
However, one of its centre pieces,
earth,
lately
and
12? near the River Barrow.
p. 280.
122 It is described, on the " Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kilkenny,"sheets28,29,32. Thetownland proper is on sheet 28.
in the barony of Clan-
Survey Townland Maps for the Queen's County," sheets 27, 28, 33. The town- land proper Rathsaran Glebe is on sheets 27, 28.
124 A townland, in Rathsaran parish, shown on sheets 27, 28.
125 See "Statuta Dioecesis Ossoriensis," edita Kilkenniae, in Synodo Dioecesana,
8, pp. 26 to 28.
die 8 Junii, 1873, SeCt-
June 9. LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 335
That the saint had been the originator of any religious establishment here doesnotseemtobeknown; whiletheseobjectsmayhavebeendedicatedto someotherSt. Columba. TheoldIrishLifeI28ofour—saintplacesamonghis Leinster foundations the church of Druim-monach ia9 the precise locality of which has not been ascertained.
The following incident, in our saint's career, by historical inference, may fairly be referred to a time, about the middle of the sixth cen- tury. Columkille journeyed by Guam—now known as Clonkeen—in Leix, whenhewasayoungman. Somecompanionswerewithhim. St. Fintanof
x 3° was then a mere and he was under the Clonenagh boy,
of a ceptor, at this place. Fintan had a Divine Revelation regarding our saint's arrival, which was previously notified to the master. That prediction was soon fulfilled, and then St. Columba first became acquainted with St. Fintan,
whose
For seventee—
dignity eighteen years,
greatness,
SOUTHWARDS—HIS RESIDENCE AND ACTS.
CONNAUGHT,
and the
n or
pre-
of whose at —was foretold. '3 1 place, Clonenagh,
and in the of life or from about prime
a. d. 546 to 563 this indefatigable missionary travelled over a great part of Ireland, while he laboured incessantly, especially in founding new churches and new monasteries. '3 J He was evidently a man possessing great force of character and also determined zeal in effecting his purpose ; while he was one of those master-minds that influence and sway others, by the mere force of contact. Nor can we doubt, that he became the object of tender love and of implicit
confidence, from all who came under the sphere and spell of his influence. Firmness and amiability alike predominated in forming his noble and saint- like character.
CHAPTER VI.
ST. COLUMBA RE-VISITS TYRCONNELL—HIS FOUNDATIONS THERE—HE TRAVELS
IN SEANGLEANN—HE TRAVELS TO
WHERE CHURCHES ARE BUILT—VISIT TO THE ARAN ISLANDS—VARIOUS MIRACLES
After some of the foregoing events, referable chiefly to Meath and Leinster, St. Columb is said to have returned towards Tyrconnell. Passing by the Erne, he blessed it. He likewise erected many churches and chapels in his
patrimonial
realm. To his native Gartan * he went for a time. While he place
known as
land : a Histoiy of Ancient Alban," vol. ii. ,
Appendix I, p. 489.
129 This church is not in the list of St.
Columba's churches, as furnished in Rev.
2 the saint was met a man by
at a
rested
of his acquaintance, who had suffered much, and who was greatly depressed in spirits. Taking compassion on him, St. Columb blessed a rock, which was near, and from which a copious stream of water began to flow. From this, the man afflicted with melancholy drank, when all its shadows became at once dissipated. In future times, it was said, that all, similarly affected and who drank of that water, were restored to peace and serenity of mind.
there,
place
Gort-na-lecke,
Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Co- tions of St. — 120. Columba," p.
lumba. "
130 See his Life, in the Second Volume of
This place is probably identical with the chap. i. presenttownland,knownasGortnaleck,inthe 131 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," parish of Clondahorky, and in the barony of
this work, at the 17th of February, Art. i. ,
"
Quinta Vita S. Columbx, lib. i. , cap. cviii. , p. 407.
'32 See "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol.
ii. , old Series. " A Day at Iona :
Recollec-
* the Chapter vi. Here
O'Clerys state, he had a religious foundation.
tutelage
336 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINJS. [June 9.
Thenceforward, that stone was called the Rock of Sadness. 3 The foundation of Raphoe is ascribed to St. Columba,* in an ancient poem, and in some other authorities. 5 In the early part of the seventeenth century, it possessed a Round Tower, probably belonging to the former cathedral, which had been there erected. From what we have seen already, it should seem, that St. Columba blessed churches at Raphoe in his lifetime, if he were not the actual
6
founder of a religious house, at that place. ? Ronan, son of Lugad, and pro-
nepos of St. Columba, on his uncle Sedne's side, held one of the Hy-Xiell, asahostage,andforsomereasonhehadbeendoomedtodeath. However, St. Columba asked and obtained his pardon from Ronan, saying he could refuse him no request. To reward him for this avowal, the saint predicted, that from him should proceed Dalach, who was to be the stock, from whom the future Tyrconnellian nobles and princes must descend. He also declared, that although then undistinguished among the higher chiefs, they should one day become more celebrated, provided they only lived piously and justly. Again, it was predicted of the same Dalach,8 that drops of blood should be seen in a well at Kill-mac-Nenain, as often as any of his posterity was about to perish by the sword. O'Donnell states, that the truth of this pre- diction stood the test of experience. '
Among the churches or religious houses of Blessed Columb in the north of
Ireland is to be reckoned that of Druim-Tomma, 10 now Drumhome, in the
of and of 11 as several monks of St. barony Tyrhugh, county Donegal,
Columba are stated to have been there buried. 12 we most Accordingly, may
probably attribute the period of its erection to the occasion on which he
returned to this part of Ireland. In the parish of Drumhome was also the
11 townland of Ballymagroarty, ^ where are the remains of an old chapel, * which
formerly bore the name of St. Columba. The O'Clerys state, that it was one of his foundations. Here, too, the celebrated Cathach, a reliquary of the saint,waskeptintheseventeenthcentury. 'S AplaceformerlycalledScreen-
16 and afterwards known as '? was for- Ballynascreen parish,
l8 considered as
forms the western portion of the barony of Loughinsholin, in the county of
Colaim-Cille,
merly
belonging
to Gleann in Tirone. 1 ? It now Coneadhan,
" nance Survey Townland Maps for the County
of Donegal," sheets 25, 26, 34, 35.
3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbce, lib. i. , cap. lxxii. ,
Kilmacrenan. It is to be found on the
Ord-
Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap, Ixxvii. , pp. 401, 402, and n. 72, p. 451.
,0
Also written Druim Tuama, in the O'Clerys' Calendar.
p. 401.
4 The old Irish Life of St. Columba
x. .
rived from the family of Mac Robhartaigh, pronounced Mac Roarty.
'*
This townland is divided into two por- tions, the Irish and Scotch. This ruined chapel is in the former division.
I5 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbre, cap. ii. , p. 495.
,6 Mentioned by this name at A. D. 1203,
in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 136, 137, and n. (e), ibid.
places his foundation of Rath-Bo h, next in order after his foundation at Derry. SeetheEng- lish translation appended, in William F. Skene's "Celtic Scotland," vol. ii. , Appen-
p. 133.
" See ibid. ,n. 118, pp. 141, 142.
13 In Irish t>Aile-tnecc nobayvcaicli, de-
dix I. , p. 484.
5 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
of St. Columba," Additional Notes G, p. 280.
6 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan, however, does not find sufficient arguments for ascribing such to Columba himself ; although a monas-
tery existed there in Adamnan's time, who "
was, perhaps, the founder of it. See Ec-
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
chap, xi. , sect, x. , p. 132.
7 *7 The O'Clerys in their Calendar class it
among St. Columba's foundations.
8 From him that
sprung distinguished
branch of the O'Donnell family, known as Siol n Dalaich.
9 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
In Irish baiLe m\ Scrxme, Anglicized " Town of the Shrine. "
"
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect.
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
,8 In the seventeenth
century.
* 9 See Rev. Robert King's "Old Church
of Ballynascreen," p. 103.
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
337
Londonderry.
An old church, situated in a picturesque valley on the Moyola
water, the site of an earlier 20 Various rich levels or straths occupies building.
lie in the Moyola valley, and they are sometimes covered by freshets in the
stream. 21
Tearmonn
At one the time,
man came to a — place, incorrectly called
Cetmainigh
Cuiminig
22
—
holy
but the true name is Tearmon
2
3
in
Tyrone. There, he resolved, that it should be consecrated, and should enjoy
ecclesiastical immunities for the future. Stamping the ground with his foot, inthreedifferentplaces,threeseparatefountainswereproduced. Then,he
"
Domnald, son of Aedh, son to Ainmreach, King of Ireland, accompanied by the race of Conalleid, shall penetrate into this district ; and, its people shall suffer much from his army. Yet, the Almighty hath granted to me, that these forces shall be unnerved, destitute of strength, and afflicted with disease, until they shall have offered satisfaction to the Comorban of this place, and until they shall have been sprinkled with the waters of these
prophesied :
wells. " This prophecy was duly completed, and thenceforth, the waters were "2
called the Conalleidan fountains. " * In the thirteenth and following cen- turies this place was known as Termon-conyn or Termon-conny. In after
times, it was called Termon-Maguirk, the present name of the parish being derived from the Mac Guirk family, who were formerly the Herenachs of its
2
ecclesiastical lands. s It is situated in the barony of Omagh East and county
of Tyrone. There is an old church here and a parish cemetery. Without the latter are two other places of interment. One of these is called Relig-na-
"
the children's cemetery," while the other bears for title Relig-na- " of the slain. " Some curious local and
26
paisde,
firgunta, Cemetery
reference to our saint, yet linger in the locality.
legends, having
In the time of St. Patrick, according to immemorial tradition, a wonderful
man, named Conla the Artist, was remarkable all over the country for his
2
skill in working the precious metals. ? His operations were carried on, at a
place called Dun-cruithne. 28 But while engaged on a splendid shrine, and before it was finished, he died. No other person could be found in that loca-
lity to complete the work, in a corresponding style, and there it remained until St. Columba came to the place, which was in Kiennacht. On behold- ing this unfinished shrine, our saint most earnestly desired its completion. But, being fully satisfied, that no living artist could accomplish such a task, hewenttothetombofConla,whichhecausedtobeopened. Therelaythe decaying bones of that wonderfully great artist. He blessed them, and pro-
:
nounced these words, with a loud voice " In the name of our Lord Jesus
20 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Liie of St. Columba," Additional Notes G, p. 282.
** See Rev. Dr. William Reeves' Adam-
nan's "Life of St. Columba," Additional
Notes G, p. 283.
2? tells us, that it had into Colgan passed
a proverb among the Irish, when they de- sired to praise the work of a skilful worker
"
Conla himself was not a better artist. " In like manner, when they desired to convey a notion regarding what was irre- parable in such work: "not even Conla, the artist in bronze, could set it to
rights. "
28
This means the Picts' Fort. But, after- wards, it was called Serin Choluim Chille, in the Ards country, better know as Ard- Macgiolligan. There is a mention of this place, in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick,
" See "
land," vol. i. , p. 135.
32
Gazetteer of Ire-
Parliamentary
In Colgan's version of Prince O'Don- nell's Irish Life of St. Columba.
23 The Rev. Dr. Reeves thinks it may de- rive its name from Cuimne, sister to St. Columba. See Adamnan's Life of St. Columba, Additional Notes G, p. 283.
"
94 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga, Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. Ixxxvi. , p. 403.
2s Deriving under the Primate. See "Acts
of Archbishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation of Derry, a. d. mcccxcvii," &c,
in metals :
edited by Rev, William Reeves, D. D. , Part i. , chap. 125.
M. R. I. n. A. ,
(g), p. 3.
*9 What became of this beautiful of object
338
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June g.
Christ,arisefromthedead. " Manypersonswerethenpresent,andtotheir great astonishment, the dry bones seemed to be covered with flesh ; and, as if awaking from a slumber, Conla arose. He finished the shrine, according to the desire of St. Columba, who placed in it the relics of many Irish saints. Moreover, the Legend relates, that after his work was completed. Conla became the parent of a race, afterwards known as the Clann-cnaimhsighe, or
" the posterity of the bones. "
was in
kept Ard-Mac-giolligan,
In the time of Prince O'Donnell, this shrine
20 which was a maritime of Northern port
Ulster,inKiennnahtaGlinneGemhin. 3° ThisplacewasknownasScreen,31 in after times, and it was an ancient chapel,32 in the townland of Craig, in the
parish of Tamlaghtard or Magilligan, in the county and diocese of Deny. " The townland of Ballymacrorty, in the parish ofTemplemore or Deny, is said to have had a monastery, the ruins of which were extant in the time of
Colgan. 34 Thisisclassed,asoneofthechurchesunderthepatronageofSt. Columba, in Inishowen and in the diocese of Derry. 35 The parish of
Desertegny, Inishowen, county of Donegal and diocese of Derry, is said to have had St. Columkille for its patron. 36 By Colgan, it is called Disert-
Egnich. 37
The townland of
Ballymagroarty,3
8 in the of Drumhome, parish
and barony of Tirhugh, in the county of Donegal, is divided into two por-
tions : one is called the Irish and the other the Scotch. In the former are the
remains of an old chapel. This formerly bore the name of St. Columba. It
is in the diocese of Raphoe. There was kept the celebrated Reliquary of St. Co-
lumba, known as the Cathach, 30 and there also were some ruins of a church. '*
St. Columb was of 41 a in the diocese of 3
patron Clonmany, parish Derry. * We are told, that St. Columkille founded a church, in the parish of Clon-
many, and barony of Inishowen, in the sixth century. A monastery also
existed in connection with it.
The surrounding scenery is of a bold and sub-
lime character. A Protestant church at present occupies this site, and the
burial-ground has received whole generations of departed persons. Within
a stone is yet pointed out, and on which, it is related, St. Columkille prayed. On his festival day, the 9th of June, stations are made around it, by the country
43
people.
While St. Columba was engaged singing the Divine praises, at a
place called Tulach na psalm, or " the hill of psalmody," not far from Kill- micnenain, on bended knees he asked from the Almighty three requests : First, that he would not deny any petition justly preferred, lest scandal might
art is not related by Colgan. 37 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta 30 See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. ii. ,
Quinta Vita S. Columba;, lib. i. , cap. num. 48, p. 494.
xcix. , p. 405, andnn. 81, 82, p. 451.
31 In Irish Sqvm 1 m-Ajvoa, Latinized
"ScriniumdeArdo. "
32 See "Acts of Archbishop Coltoninhis
38 Written Baile-meg-rabhartaieh, by Colgan, who states, that formerly it was the siteofamonastery. Thetownlandwasso called from the family of Mac Robertaigh,
Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of pronounced Mac Roarty. See Rev. Dr.
Derry, A. D. , Mcccxcvn,"n. (q), p. 78.
33 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes G,
p. 282.
34 See •' Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap- pendix ad Acta S. Columba, cap. ii. , P- 495-
35 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
"Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes G,
P- 285.
36 See Rev. William Reeves' "Acts of
Archbishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visi- tation of the Diocese of Derry, A. D. ,
MCCCXCVII," n. (t), p. 67.
Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes G, p. 2S4.
39 Now preserved in the Royal Irish Aca- demy.
4° See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbre, cap. ii. , num. 51, p. 495.
4I According to Colgan.
4* See Rev. Dr. Reeves' "Acts of Arch- bishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, a. d. , mcccxcvii. ," n. (u), p. 67.
43 See Maghtochair's " Inishowen : Its History, Traditions and Antiquities," chap.
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 339
arise or the Church might receive hurt ; secondly, that the love of God should nevergrowcoldinhisbreast; andthirdly,thatnoneofhiskindred,orthe race of Conall, should differ among themselves, but should remain unani- mous, rejecting fierceness for gentleness, and for levity substantial wisdom, and whenever they provoked God's justice and anger, he prayed that plague and famine should be their avengers. There Baithen, Brugacius, and Ternoc,44 his disciples, asked St. Columba what should happen in future times. At
:
first, he wept bitterly, and then turning to them, he said " My soul is dis-
turbed, and my heart is filled with bitterness, while in mind I behold the evils
tocomeonfutureages; whentheimmunitiesofchurchesshallbeviolated,
while churches shall be despoiled, and monks oppressed ; when even the
edifices erected by myself shall be turned into laymen's houses ; and when
the most just God shall afflict such wicked doers, with not only hunger, pesti-
lence, and disease, but even with more severe trials and afflictions ; when God
shall withdraw his graces and paternal protection from those badly using them,
and allow former sins to gather force, as also hatreds, contentions, parricides, and evils of this sort, to increase. 45
After this, St. Columba went to an Island, situated in a lake, called
Lochgama, in Breffny. 46 In the parish of Columbkille, in the barony of Granard, and in the north-eastern part of the county of Longford, there is an Island in Lough Gowna called formerly Inismor Locha Gamna, and at present known as Inchmore. Here was the former parish church,+7 and at present it is only a ruin, called Teampull Choluim-cille. 48 It seems to have been the site of a religious establishment, and if not founded bySt. Columba,atleastitwasdedicatedtohim. AtArmagh,St. Columb
is said to have built a church,49 afterwards known as Recles Cholaim
° ;
but, whether this was one of his own or was foundation,
Cille 5
dedicated to his memory, has not been clearly determined. It should seem, however, that he visited this holy city, and as we are told in the Irish Life, while Columba was one day in the church of Armagh, and engaged at the holy sacrifice of Mass, a certain wicked and froward scholar, was tempted by an evil spirit under angelic guise, to commit avery shameful sin, but without the church doors. He was prepared to yield compliance, and to leave the church, when grasping him by the hand, Columba told him, that a demon had tempted him, and he immediately obliged the seeming angel to assume his trueappearance. Instantly,afearfulspectrewaspresentedtotheeyesofthe astonished student, who was filled with horror at the sight. So foul was the appearance of this demon, that the scholar fainted away in dread, and on recovery, he assured St. Columba, that never thenceforth should he be guilty of carnal sins, or ever serve the purposes of so deformed a
51 spectre.
x. , pp. 72, 73.
44 He is supposed by Colgan to have been
4?
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
the St. Ternoc, venerated at the 28th of
February.
