applied
a3 For a full account of them and of their descendants the reader is referred to Rode-
nia egressi, vel ferro, vel amicitia sibimet inter eos sedes quas hactenus habent vindi- carunt : a quo videlicet- duce usque hodie
in various cases.
a3 For a full account of them and of their descendants the reader is referred to Rode-
nia egressi, vel ferro, vel amicitia sibimet inter eos sedes quas hactenus habent vindi- carunt : a quo videlicet- duce usque hodie
in various cases.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
By Colgan, he is styled St.
Uindic, Bishop of Rath-Easpuic Innic.
He is also called Winnoc.
In O'Sullevan Beare's Catalogue, this Saint's name is likewise entered.
2 However, very little is known regarding his early history,3ortheplacewherehewasborn, Heflourishedinthefifthcentury.
This Saint is registered as one of St. Patrick's disciples ;* but, when he became attached to the Irish apostle is uncertain. The following anecdote has been preserved for us, in the Acts of St. Patrick,* and, it serves to give us an idea, that while a confidential friend and esteemed highly by the great Patriarch of the Irish Church, Winnoc well deserved that trust, owing to
5 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Au- gusti xxviii. De S. Hermete Martyre Romse. In three sections and forty paragraphs, pp.
142 to 151. — Article v.
Illustri Ecclesiae Doctore, et Hipponensi
Episcopo, Hippone-Regio in Africa," pp. 213 to 460. — "
Article i » See Trias Thaumaturga,"
Vita S. Patricii, ii. , nn. 222, Septima pars,
223, p. 183.
2 See " Historiae Catholicoe Ibernise
Compendium," lib. iv. , cap. xii. , p. 57.
3 See Miss M. F. Cusack's " Life of St.
Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," n. 9, p. 443.
He
"the conspicuous one from Africa," which
2
*
is not named, but called
" i. e. See "Transactions of the Royal Irish
a commentator thus explains in Latin Agustinus episcopus in hoc die Beda testante in Chronico. "
:
Irish
part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by
Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxxvi. , andn. at p. cxxxiii.
3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Au- gusti xxviii. Be S. Aurelio Augustino,
Academy,"
Manuscript Series,
i. ,
Thaumaturga" Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap.
vol.
« See "Trias Colgan's
xxiii. , p. 265.
s See the Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of
Ireland, in the Third Volume of this work, at the 17th of March, Art i.
4 io LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 29.
his spirit of devotion and true humility. At one time, St. Patrick and St. Winnoc sat together, when engaged at a religious conference. 6 While
speaking of the Deity, and of things which especially concerned Him, these holy councillors referred to the Divine precept of charity, and they remarked that both by word and work were they bound to part with their garments, to clothe persons, who were in need of such comforts. At that moment, a cloak appeared to descend from Heaven, and it fell between them. This portent they regarded, both as an approval of their pronounced sentiments, on the part of the Most High, and as an earnest of those rewards, which they should not fail in obtaining, from the Father of lights, to recompense their future sacrifices. The saints felt greatly rejoiced and comforted ; but their minds were filled with divergent opinions, regarding that miracle. Each one ascribed it to the other's merits. St. Patrick asserted, that this gift was intended for Winnoc/ who had perfectly renounced all his worldly possessions, for the sake of Christ. On the other hand, St. Winnoc alleged, that it had
been sent to St. Patrick, who, although possessing everything yet kept nothing ; for, he had left himself naked for God's sake, while clothing numbers, who were poor and naked. While such discussions, dictated by sincere humility on both sides, continued, the cloak was again elevated towards Heaven, and it suddenly disappeared. But, in its stead, two cloaks were next seen to descend from above. These were intended respectively for both Saints ; and thus, all reason for future discussion on that point was removed, owing to this celestial indication, that both were eminently
region.
leithdheirg,
territory
of
could not be
See Rev. William Reeves'
"
situate in the
Fearnmhagh, now the barony of Farney, in the County of Monaghan. Colla Meann
sons of Eochaidh Doimhlen, flourished in the early part of the fourth century. In a. d. 322, the eldest of them, known as Colla Uais or Colla the Noble, having slain Fiacha Sraibhtine, King of I—reland, in a battle fought at Dubhchomar supposed to be the confluence of the Rivers Boyne and Black-
"
John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh
approbation.
8 At this
both were in the probably
Divine
north-eastern part of Ireland, and, it is thought, in that district known as Hua Dercachein, said to have been in Dalaradia. 9 However, this meeting possibly took place among the Oirghialla, a powerful tribe, descended from the three Collas,TO who conquered the ancient Ultonians. 11
this sept originally comprised the greater part of Ulster 12 and the three
deserving
6"
See Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga,"
Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap lxxi. , p. 27.
7 Also called Vinnoc, Innoch or Indich. See the Life of St. Patrick, Apostle and
time,
ship was entered into between the exiled chiefs and the king ; so that after a year's absence, they returned and took military ser- rice under him, remaining faithful to their
Chief Patron of Ireland, at the 17th of engagements. See Dr. O'Donovan s
March, in the Third Volume of this work. Art. i. , chap. xv.
8 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap cxlix. , pp 97, 98.
" Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 122 to 125, and nn. (1, m, n, o, p, q, r, s), ibid. "About the year 331, the three Collas destroyed the Ulster fortress of Eamhain-
killed
Macha, or Emania, having Fearghus
Collas wrested from the Ultonians that por- tion of the Ulster province, lying westwards of Glenn Righe, Lough Neagh and the Lower
OTIuidhrin," edited by John O Donovan,
9
the — afterwards known However, church,
so called from St.
identified in this there—in a battle fought at Achadh-
as — Rath-Easpuic-Innic
Winnoc
Eccle- siastical Antiquities of Down, Connor, and
Dromore. " Appendix T. , sect, vi. , p. 251.
10 These renowned brothers and heroes, fell in that battle. Afterwards, the other
—" water in Meath obtained the sovereignty
103, p.
by that conquest. However, after a reign
of four years only, he and his brothers were
banished into Alba or Scotland, A. D. 326, deprived the Oirghialla, of the present
by Muireadh Tireach, when he became King counties of Londonderry and Tyrone ; after- of Ireland Afterwards a treaty of friend- wards, these tribes were confined to the pre-
Fogha—
the last
King
Bann. See
The Topographical Poems of
xix.
Shortly after the introduction of Chris-
tianity, the descendants of Eoghan, son to
the monarch Niall of the Nine Hostages,
LL. I). , n.
;
The country of
of Ulster who resided
August 29. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIJV7Z. 411
1 * Colla Dachrich 1 * and
1 * were the ancestorsofdistinguishednorthernclans. AccordingtoMarianusO'Gorman, the church—of Teaghneatha—situated within that territory and in the Diocese of Armagh was connected in an especial manner with St. Uindic or VVinnoc. In mediaeval documents, this place has been written Twinha l6 and it is now
;
insignificant village, and it is on the road leading from Middleton to Charlemont, about one half-mile eastward from the Ulster Canal, running beside the course of the River Blackwater. The village of Tynan is situated on an eminence, and it has a Protestant episcopal church, which is a hand- some structure, having a steeple. It is placed within an enclosed grave-yard, probably the site of St. Winnoc's ancient church. This was formerly a parish of considerable extent and importance. In the Taxation of Pope Nicholas, A. D, 1291, it is noticed as belonging to the Colidei or Culdees of Armagh, who are said to have retained possession of it for some years after the Refor- mation. It was united with Derrynoose, in the 14th and 15th of King Charles II. ; but, that union was severed by an Act passed the 8th of Queen Anne, in the Irish Parliament. Later still, the district parishes of Killyleagh andMiddletonhavebeenseparatedfromTynan. Inthelattervillage,there is a handsome rectory. ^ This place and the Saint in connection with it have been rendered u Winnie of Tynan," in the diocese of Armagh, by the Rev. William Reeves, and by Dr. John O'Donovan. The remains of an ancient stone cross,20 and which stood within
Collas,
viz.
Colla
Uais,
Colla
Meann,
represented by
the modern townland 1 ? and
18 of in the baronies Tynan,
parish
of Tiranny and Armagh, County of Armagh. The place itself is but an
highly ornamented, originally
the grave-yard, have been built into the wall of the church-yard, for their
greater preservation.
21
In the early part of this century, an oblong stone,
about 18 inches square and four feet long, was set on a large block-stone,
andcappedwithanotherwhichwassquare,havingitsfacesconcaved. This
was covered with a smaller stone. No characters could then be traced on
that relic.
2*
sent counties of Louth, Armagh, Monaghan,
and Fermanagh.
13 From Colla Uais, the eldest of these
brothers, sprung the MacDonnells, Mac Dugalds, and MacAlisters of Scotland. It is stated, also, that the families of O'Floinn or O'Lynn, of Magh Line or Moylinny, and of MacAedha or Magee of the Island of Rinn Sibhne, now Island Magee, belonged to the race of Colla Uais.
duction and notes by the Rev. William Reeves, D. D. , M. R. I. A. , n. (z), p. 25.
*» It is described on the "Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of
Armagh," Sheets II, 15.
l8
The parish also takes in a part of Armagh barony, and its bounds are alto- gether shown on Sheets II, 15, 19, ibid.
I9 Before his promotion as Protestant Bishop of the Dioceses of Down, Connor, and Dromore, the Right Rev. William
14 From the Colla Da Chrioch came the
families of MacMathghamna or MacMahons,
the MacUidhiror Maguires, the O'h-Anluain
or O'Hanlons, the MacAnna or MacCanns, of this parish and lived in the' rectory, and other Oirghialla or Oriel families.
15 The race of Colla Meann were the in- habitants of Crioch Mughdhorn or Cremorne, in the County of Monaghan. They did not
from the spot, was
a
taken on drawn on the wood by William F. Wakeman. This has been en- belong to the mountainous country of graved by Mr. s. Millard. An interesting
Mourne, in the east of Ulster, which was inhabited by the ancient Ullta, and not by the Oirghialla, as stated in Roderick
"
O'Flaherty's Ogygia," pars iii. , cap.
lxxvi. , p. 363.
Life of Bishop Reeves has been written by Lady Ferguson.
16
See "Acts of Archbishop Colton in his
See Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 663, 664.
" See Sir Charles Coote's "Statistical
Survey of the County of Armagh," Part iii. , sect, ii. , p. 328.
Metropolitan Visitation of Derry, A. D. mcccxcvii. ; with a Rental of the See Estates at that Time," edited with an intro-
Reeves—
The accompanying illustration of the
so ecclesiastical
as an Irish archaeologist- was Rector
place,
photograph
20
This is said to have been thrown down
distinguished
and defaced by Cromwell's soldiers. 2t "
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 29. ThewholeprovinceofUlsterwasoriginallyknownasUladh; but,after
3*
the destruction of the royal fortress of Eamhain Macha by the three Collas, a. d. 332, the name was applied only to the eastern part of the province, viz. DownandAntrim, ItwasboundedonthewestbytheLowerBann,and Lougli Neagh, and by Gleann Righe, through which an artificial boundary had been formed. This is now called the Dane's Cast. For the sake of distinction, those Irish historians and topographers, who have written in the Latin language, use the term Ultonia, to denote the entire province of Ulster, and Ulidia, to distinguish the more circumscribed territory to the east. *4
412
Tynan Cemetery, Cross and Rectory, County of Armagh.
Besides the large district of the Oirghialla, there were two other great
divisions in Ulster, and known as Dalriada and Dalaradia. Dalriada has
been so called from the people who formerly possessed it, and who were
descendantsofCairbreRiada,aherodistinguishedinourAnnals; theword
DalinIrish " 2* andRiada* his Ina meaning people," being cognomen.
secondary and figurative sense, Dal signifies a district, division or part allotted to a race or posterity, and claiming descent from a particular
eponymous.
applied
a3 For a full account of them and of their descendants the reader is referred to Rode-
nia egressi, vel ferro, vel amicitia sibimet inter eos sedes quas hactenus habent vindi- carunt : a quo videlicet- duce usque hodie
in various cases. The of a7 territory Dalaradia,
It is so
in like manner, was named from another founder, known as Fiacha Araidhe,
"
lxxv. , lxxvi. , pp. 359 to 366.
rick O'Flaherty's
Ogygia," pars iii. , cap.
2*
See O'Donovan's na John LeAbViAp
Dal;— partem significat. "
5-Cear\c, or Book of Rights, n. (e), pp. 36, 37-
=5 See Roderick " O'Flaherty's Ogygia,"
pars iii. , cap. lxiii. , p. 322.
26 He is alluded to by Venerable Pede, as
invading the Pictish country with an expedi-
"Historia Eccle- siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. i.
" 28
tion of Scots, qui duce Reuda de Hiber- See Rev. Dr. Reeves' "Ecclesiastical
Dalreudini vocantur nam lingua eorum
27 See a fuller account of this territory and
work, Art. i.
its in the Life of St. sub-divisions,
Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, chap, xv. , n. 70, at the 17th of March, in the Third Volume of this
August 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 413
who flourished in the third century of the Christian era. It lay south of the former district, from which it had been separated by the River Ravel in
28
The country of the Hua Dercachein likewise formed a sub-division of
the ancient territory of Uladh. 29 This sept or tribe-land is mentioned in the
3° a who ruled over the Ui Earca CheinS1 and Irish Annals as having chief,
Leath Chathail. 32 From this it would appear, that both territories were
conterminous,33andnotinthebaronyofAntrim,asColgansupposed. The
Hy-Nerca-Chein are said to have descended from Cruitine, son to Eoghan
Sriabh, son of Duach Galach, King of Connaught, who flourished in the
fifth century 34 but, no account is given, as to when that clan settled in die ;
County of Down, and it seems to have been long after the time of St.
Patrick. Nevertheless, we are informed, that at Rath-Easpuic-Innic, St. Patrick built a church, and this is said to have been situated in the territory
6
of Hua-Derca-Chein. 35 According to one account, this districts lay in the
present barony of Castlereagh, County of Down, and adjacent to Strangford
Lough. 37 The Genealogies of the Hy-Earca-Chein are to be found in the Book of Lecan. 38 The more ancient line of chiefs in the territory of Leath Chathail or Lecale belonged to the Ullta or Clanna Rudhraidhe. Over Rath-Easpuic-Innic, however, and in the district of Dalaradia, the Apostle of Ireland is said to have appointed Vinnoc, as Bishop. ? 9
The real territorial denomination of the county of Ui Dearca Chein was
Breadach. Previouslytotheseventeenthcentury,thiswasthenameofa
parish in the Barony of Upper Castlereagh, and now incorporated with Cnoc : thus known at present as Newtown-Breda or Knockbreda. 4° The burial-ground of Knockbreda is still called Bradach, and it lies within Bel-
former times.
the seat of Sir Robert Bateson. 41 A portion of the old church
voir
walls remains within the original cemetery. <
called Bradock, within the parish of Killinchy and barony of Dufferin, near thewestshoreofStrangfordLough. ^ Thechurchfoundedherewascalled afterwards Rath-easpuic-Innic, from the Bishop Vinnoc/* It is supposed
Park,
Antiquities of Down, Connor, and Dro- more," Appendix GG. , pp. 334 to 348.
29 See John O'Donovan's LeAbhar* ha 5- Cea^c, pp. 160 to 163 and n. (y), ibid.
"
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. ,pp. 118, 119, and n. (t), ibid. Here, however, Dr. O'Donovan adopts the local identification of the Ui
Earca Chein, as furnished by Colgan.
31 They are stated to have been placed near the Kinel-Aehgusa, a tribe of the Clanna Rury, and who were descendants
from Aengus, the second son ofMaelcobha.
32 This means Cathal's half, and it is now Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars ii. , cap.
3° See Dr. O'Donovan's
the barony of Lecale, in the County of Down. The Chiefs of that district also descended
from Cathal {aquo Leth-Chathail), the son of
Muireadhach, son of Aengus, the son of
Maelcobha, son to"Fiachna, son of Deman,
King of Ulidia, who was slain in the battle
of Ardcoran in Dalriada, A. D. 627, accord-
ing to the genealogy given by Duald Maps for the County of Down," Sheet 9.
MacFirbis. Lord Roden's MS. p. 508.
43 It is shown on Sheet 17, ibid.
"
**See
MacGill-Muire, or Cu-UladhO'Morna, chief Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars ii. , cap.
of Hy-Nerca-Chein and of Lecale, who was cxxxiii. , p. 147.
slain by his own kinsman, A. D. 1391. See 45 It is situated in the parish of Tullyna-
33 wefind an Thus
entry, regarding
Colgan's
Trias
Thaumaturga,"
2
Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iv. , pp. 722, 723.
34 See ibid. , n. (m).
"
3S See Colgan's
Septima Vita S. Patricii, n. 221, p. 183.
36 Variously called in English records
Anderken and Sluthenderkeys.
37 See Miss M. F. Cusack's "Life of St.
Patrick, Apostle of Ireland. " Note by William M. Hennessy 9, p. 443.
38 See fol. 142. a. b. ; and also MacFirbis' Genealogical MSS. , p. 513.
cxxxiii. , pp. 146, 147.
*° See John O'Donovan's teAbhap tiA
There is also a small Island,
Trias Thaumaturga/j
39 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
5-CeA^c, pp. 172, 173. , and n. (s), ibid.
4I See Rev. William Reeves' account in "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor
and Dromore," n. (u), p. 1$.
^ See "Ordnance Survey Townland
4 i4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 29.
to be represented by the present Castle Espie, the ruins of which—lying in a large rath on the western shore of Strangford Lough—are in a townland4* bearing the same name, and it has always been ecclesiastical property/6 It seems sufficiently probable, that while St. Vinnoc had been connected with Teaghnetha or Tynan, he had charge, moreover, of Rath-Easpuic-Innic, which gave him claim to be regarded as one of our primitive Irish bishops.
In identifying Hua Dercachein with the valley of the Braid, in the County of Antrim, Colgan has fallen into an error. *? It seems rather to have been a tract in the northern part of the County Down, or on the con- fines of Down and Antrim/8 The Mac Giolla Muire, Anglicized Gillimury, were chiefs of that tribe/9 After the English invasion, their territory was much circumscribed by the Whites and Savages, and afterwards by the O'Neills of Clannaboy and the Mac Artains. In the beginning of the fifteenth century, the Mac Gilmories or Gilmores were stout opposers of the English. * The O'Guillemers appear to have been chief settlers here, and in the Great Ardes, to the close of the sixteenth century, according to an old
1
However, notwithstanding the foregoing false conjectures as to locality, St. Vinnoc was venerated on the 29th of August, at a church belonging to
the Diocese of Armagh, commonly called Tuighnean, but more correctly
2
Such is the identification of Marianus O'Gorman, in con- nection with his entry of St. Uinnic in the Calendar. The published Martyr- ology of Donegal registers a festival in honor of Uindic, of Tuighnetha,**
at this same date. Moreover, Uindic, Bishop of Rath-Easpuic-Innic, has been placed, by Rev. William Reeves, among the Saints of Down, Connor and Dromore, in that Calendar which he has compiled for these Dioceses. ss The day for his festival, is the 29th of August.
It is only by the perfect study of ourselves, we are enabled fully to recognise our own weakness ; and such meditation was ever the care of the holyonesonearth. Thusdidthepresentsaintlearntruewisdom,andwith it he was deeply imbued with the spirit of profound humility. Our exact knowledge of the nothingness and vanity of self-esteem inspires us all the more to trust in the Almighty alone, to supply by His graces what is still wanting to render us more perfect, and to purge from our' souls the mean- ness of pride by constant cultivation of salutary thoughts, which regard our total dependence on Him.
Article II. —Feast of Nine Hundred Martyrs. Remarking on the
Manuscript Description of Ireland written in 1598. 5
Teagh-neatha. 5
perishable
natureof
regal
and
earthly grandeur,
an
early English poet
1 considers
kill, barony of Lower Castlereagh, and it is
"
described on the
land Maps for the County of Down," Sheets 10, 11.
46 See Miss M. F. Cusack's " Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," William M. Hennessy's note 9, p. 443.
4 ? " Hodic voca. iur Brafge-Dercan : e*tque
vallis in Baronia /Endromensi Diocesis
Connerensis, olim dicta Glann Fada na Tertia Vita S. Patricii, n. 69, p. 34. Feine, i. e. vallis longa Feniorum. "—
Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, n.
Ordnance Survey Town-
Prene, Archbishop of Armagh, from A. D. 1459 to 1443. Patricius Palladius O'Gilmore was chief parishioner of Bredac in 1442.
so See Sir James Ware's "Annals of Ire-
land," at A. D. 1407.
P This is quoted in Dubourdieu's " Sta-
" Trias
53 Edited by Drs. ToJd and Reeves, pp.
a note by O'Donovan states, Tiugh- See Rev. William Reeve's Ecclesi- netha : i. e. Tynan, Co. Armagh. "
astical Antiquities of Down, Connor and 55 See " Ecclesiastical Antiquities of
Dromore," Appendix GG. , n. (a), p. 339. Down, Connor and Dromore. '' Appendix,
221, p. 183.
48 "
49
According to the Registry oi John LL. with n, (b), pp. 379, 380.
tistical Survey of the County Antrim," chap, iv. , sect. 5, p. 629.
52 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
228, 229.
5* "
August 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 4i5
the glories of birth and state as only shadows and unsubstantial frivolities.
Military heroes, too, may triumph over other men, but they must stoop to conquer themselves, sooner or later. Little reason have those conquerors to boast of their mighty achievements, for the garland soon withers on their brows. Perhaps again, on the blood-stained field, the victor himself must lie as a victim. 2 While the human sacrifices made by man's ambition offend the God of humanity, who abhors violence and bloodshed ; the blood of His martyrs rises as incense before His throne, and endears for ever the memory of His faithful and devoted champions. On the 29th of August,
"
nine hundred with virginity," according to the " Feilire" of St. ^Engus. 3 This festival is also found recorded in many ancient Martyrologies ; yet, not in the same manner,
nor on the same day. * In the Martyrology of Florentinius, on the 29th of August, their feast is coupled with that of the Natalis of St.
This Saint is registered as one of St. Patrick's disciples ;* but, when he became attached to the Irish apostle is uncertain. The following anecdote has been preserved for us, in the Acts of St. Patrick,* and, it serves to give us an idea, that while a confidential friend and esteemed highly by the great Patriarch of the Irish Church, Winnoc well deserved that trust, owing to
5 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Au- gusti xxviii. De S. Hermete Martyre Romse. In three sections and forty paragraphs, pp.
142 to 151. — Article v.
Illustri Ecclesiae Doctore, et Hipponensi
Episcopo, Hippone-Regio in Africa," pp. 213 to 460. — "
Article i » See Trias Thaumaturga,"
Vita S. Patricii, ii. , nn. 222, Septima pars,
223, p. 183.
2 See " Historiae Catholicoe Ibernise
Compendium," lib. iv. , cap. xii. , p. 57.
3 See Miss M. F. Cusack's " Life of St.
Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," n. 9, p. 443.
He
"the conspicuous one from Africa," which
2
*
is not named, but called
" i. e. See "Transactions of the Royal Irish
a commentator thus explains in Latin Agustinus episcopus in hoc die Beda testante in Chronico. "
:
Irish
part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by
Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxxvi. , andn. at p. cxxxiii.
3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Au- gusti xxviii. Be S. Aurelio Augustino,
Academy,"
Manuscript Series,
i. ,
Thaumaturga" Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap.
vol.
« See "Trias Colgan's
xxiii. , p. 265.
s See the Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of
Ireland, in the Third Volume of this work, at the 17th of March, Art i.
4 io LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 29.
his spirit of devotion and true humility. At one time, St. Patrick and St. Winnoc sat together, when engaged at a religious conference. 6 While
speaking of the Deity, and of things which especially concerned Him, these holy councillors referred to the Divine precept of charity, and they remarked that both by word and work were they bound to part with their garments, to clothe persons, who were in need of such comforts. At that moment, a cloak appeared to descend from Heaven, and it fell between them. This portent they regarded, both as an approval of their pronounced sentiments, on the part of the Most High, and as an earnest of those rewards, which they should not fail in obtaining, from the Father of lights, to recompense their future sacrifices. The saints felt greatly rejoiced and comforted ; but their minds were filled with divergent opinions, regarding that miracle. Each one ascribed it to the other's merits. St. Patrick asserted, that this gift was intended for Winnoc/ who had perfectly renounced all his worldly possessions, for the sake of Christ. On the other hand, St. Winnoc alleged, that it had
been sent to St. Patrick, who, although possessing everything yet kept nothing ; for, he had left himself naked for God's sake, while clothing numbers, who were poor and naked. While such discussions, dictated by sincere humility on both sides, continued, the cloak was again elevated towards Heaven, and it suddenly disappeared. But, in its stead, two cloaks were next seen to descend from above. These were intended respectively for both Saints ; and thus, all reason for future discussion on that point was removed, owing to this celestial indication, that both were eminently
region.
leithdheirg,
territory
of
could not be
See Rev. William Reeves'
"
situate in the
Fearnmhagh, now the barony of Farney, in the County of Monaghan. Colla Meann
sons of Eochaidh Doimhlen, flourished in the early part of the fourth century. In a. d. 322, the eldest of them, known as Colla Uais or Colla the Noble, having slain Fiacha Sraibhtine, King of I—reland, in a battle fought at Dubhchomar supposed to be the confluence of the Rivers Boyne and Black-
"
John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh
approbation.
8 At this
both were in the probably
Divine
north-eastern part of Ireland, and, it is thought, in that district known as Hua Dercachein, said to have been in Dalaradia. 9 However, this meeting possibly took place among the Oirghialla, a powerful tribe, descended from the three Collas,TO who conquered the ancient Ultonians. 11
this sept originally comprised the greater part of Ulster 12 and the three
deserving
6"
See Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga,"
Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap lxxi. , p. 27.
7 Also called Vinnoc, Innoch or Indich. See the Life of St. Patrick, Apostle and
time,
ship was entered into between the exiled chiefs and the king ; so that after a year's absence, they returned and took military ser- rice under him, remaining faithful to their
Chief Patron of Ireland, at the 17th of engagements. See Dr. O'Donovan s
March, in the Third Volume of this work. Art. i. , chap. xv.
8 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap cxlix. , pp 97, 98.
" Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 122 to 125, and nn. (1, m, n, o, p, q, r, s), ibid. "About the year 331, the three Collas destroyed the Ulster fortress of Eamhain-
killed
Macha, or Emania, having Fearghus
Collas wrested from the Ultonians that por- tion of the Ulster province, lying westwards of Glenn Righe, Lough Neagh and the Lower
OTIuidhrin," edited by John O Donovan,
9
the — afterwards known However, church,
so called from St.
identified in this there—in a battle fought at Achadh-
as — Rath-Easpuic-Innic
Winnoc
Eccle- siastical Antiquities of Down, Connor, and
Dromore. " Appendix T. , sect, vi. , p. 251.
10 These renowned brothers and heroes, fell in that battle. Afterwards, the other
—" water in Meath obtained the sovereignty
103, p.
by that conquest. However, after a reign
of four years only, he and his brothers were
banished into Alba or Scotland, A. D. 326, deprived the Oirghialla, of the present
by Muireadh Tireach, when he became King counties of Londonderry and Tyrone ; after- of Ireland Afterwards a treaty of friend- wards, these tribes were confined to the pre-
Fogha—
the last
King
Bann. See
The Topographical Poems of
xix.
Shortly after the introduction of Chris-
tianity, the descendants of Eoghan, son to
the monarch Niall of the Nine Hostages,
LL. I). , n.
;
The country of
of Ulster who resided
August 29. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIJV7Z. 411
1 * Colla Dachrich 1 * and
1 * were the ancestorsofdistinguishednorthernclans. AccordingtoMarianusO'Gorman, the church—of Teaghneatha—situated within that territory and in the Diocese of Armagh was connected in an especial manner with St. Uindic or VVinnoc. In mediaeval documents, this place has been written Twinha l6 and it is now
;
insignificant village, and it is on the road leading from Middleton to Charlemont, about one half-mile eastward from the Ulster Canal, running beside the course of the River Blackwater. The village of Tynan is situated on an eminence, and it has a Protestant episcopal church, which is a hand- some structure, having a steeple. It is placed within an enclosed grave-yard, probably the site of St. Winnoc's ancient church. This was formerly a parish of considerable extent and importance. In the Taxation of Pope Nicholas, A. D, 1291, it is noticed as belonging to the Colidei or Culdees of Armagh, who are said to have retained possession of it for some years after the Refor- mation. It was united with Derrynoose, in the 14th and 15th of King Charles II. ; but, that union was severed by an Act passed the 8th of Queen Anne, in the Irish Parliament. Later still, the district parishes of Killyleagh andMiddletonhavebeenseparatedfromTynan. Inthelattervillage,there is a handsome rectory. ^ This place and the Saint in connection with it have been rendered u Winnie of Tynan," in the diocese of Armagh, by the Rev. William Reeves, and by Dr. John O'Donovan. The remains of an ancient stone cross,20 and which stood within
Collas,
viz.
Colla
Uais,
Colla
Meann,
represented by
the modern townland 1 ? and
18 of in the baronies Tynan,
parish
of Tiranny and Armagh, County of Armagh. The place itself is but an
highly ornamented, originally
the grave-yard, have been built into the wall of the church-yard, for their
greater preservation.
21
In the early part of this century, an oblong stone,
about 18 inches square and four feet long, was set on a large block-stone,
andcappedwithanotherwhichwassquare,havingitsfacesconcaved. This
was covered with a smaller stone. No characters could then be traced on
that relic.
2*
sent counties of Louth, Armagh, Monaghan,
and Fermanagh.
13 From Colla Uais, the eldest of these
brothers, sprung the MacDonnells, Mac Dugalds, and MacAlisters of Scotland. It is stated, also, that the families of O'Floinn or O'Lynn, of Magh Line or Moylinny, and of MacAedha or Magee of the Island of Rinn Sibhne, now Island Magee, belonged to the race of Colla Uais.
duction and notes by the Rev. William Reeves, D. D. , M. R. I. A. , n. (z), p. 25.
*» It is described on the "Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of
Armagh," Sheets II, 15.
l8
The parish also takes in a part of Armagh barony, and its bounds are alto- gether shown on Sheets II, 15, 19, ibid.
I9 Before his promotion as Protestant Bishop of the Dioceses of Down, Connor, and Dromore, the Right Rev. William
14 From the Colla Da Chrioch came the
families of MacMathghamna or MacMahons,
the MacUidhiror Maguires, the O'h-Anluain
or O'Hanlons, the MacAnna or MacCanns, of this parish and lived in the' rectory, and other Oirghialla or Oriel families.
15 The race of Colla Meann were the in- habitants of Crioch Mughdhorn or Cremorne, in the County of Monaghan. They did not
from the spot, was
a
taken on drawn on the wood by William F. Wakeman. This has been en- belong to the mountainous country of graved by Mr. s. Millard. An interesting
Mourne, in the east of Ulster, which was inhabited by the ancient Ullta, and not by the Oirghialla, as stated in Roderick
"
O'Flaherty's Ogygia," pars iii. , cap.
lxxvi. , p. 363.
Life of Bishop Reeves has been written by Lady Ferguson.
16
See "Acts of Archbishop Colton in his
See Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 663, 664.
" See Sir Charles Coote's "Statistical
Survey of the County of Armagh," Part iii. , sect, ii. , p. 328.
Metropolitan Visitation of Derry, A. D. mcccxcvii. ; with a Rental of the See Estates at that Time," edited with an intro-
Reeves—
The accompanying illustration of the
so ecclesiastical
as an Irish archaeologist- was Rector
place,
photograph
20
This is said to have been thrown down
distinguished
and defaced by Cromwell's soldiers. 2t "
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 29. ThewholeprovinceofUlsterwasoriginallyknownasUladh; but,after
3*
the destruction of the royal fortress of Eamhain Macha by the three Collas, a. d. 332, the name was applied only to the eastern part of the province, viz. DownandAntrim, ItwasboundedonthewestbytheLowerBann,and Lougli Neagh, and by Gleann Righe, through which an artificial boundary had been formed. This is now called the Dane's Cast. For the sake of distinction, those Irish historians and topographers, who have written in the Latin language, use the term Ultonia, to denote the entire province of Ulster, and Ulidia, to distinguish the more circumscribed territory to the east. *4
412
Tynan Cemetery, Cross and Rectory, County of Armagh.
Besides the large district of the Oirghialla, there were two other great
divisions in Ulster, and known as Dalriada and Dalaradia. Dalriada has
been so called from the people who formerly possessed it, and who were
descendantsofCairbreRiada,aherodistinguishedinourAnnals; theword
DalinIrish " 2* andRiada* his Ina meaning people," being cognomen.
secondary and figurative sense, Dal signifies a district, division or part allotted to a race or posterity, and claiming descent from a particular
eponymous.
applied
a3 For a full account of them and of their descendants the reader is referred to Rode-
nia egressi, vel ferro, vel amicitia sibimet inter eos sedes quas hactenus habent vindi- carunt : a quo videlicet- duce usque hodie
in various cases. The of a7 territory Dalaradia,
It is so
in like manner, was named from another founder, known as Fiacha Araidhe,
"
lxxv. , lxxvi. , pp. 359 to 366.
rick O'Flaherty's
Ogygia," pars iii. , cap.
2*
See O'Donovan's na John LeAbViAp
Dal;— partem significat. "
5-Cear\c, or Book of Rights, n. (e), pp. 36, 37-
=5 See Roderick " O'Flaherty's Ogygia,"
pars iii. , cap. lxiii. , p. 322.
26 He is alluded to by Venerable Pede, as
invading the Pictish country with an expedi-
"Historia Eccle- siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. i.
" 28
tion of Scots, qui duce Reuda de Hiber- See Rev. Dr. Reeves' "Ecclesiastical
Dalreudini vocantur nam lingua eorum
27 See a fuller account of this territory and
work, Art. i.
its in the Life of St. sub-divisions,
Patrick, Apostle of Ireland, chap, xv. , n. 70, at the 17th of March, in the Third Volume of this
August 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 413
who flourished in the third century of the Christian era. It lay south of the former district, from which it had been separated by the River Ravel in
28
The country of the Hua Dercachein likewise formed a sub-division of
the ancient territory of Uladh. 29 This sept or tribe-land is mentioned in the
3° a who ruled over the Ui Earca CheinS1 and Irish Annals as having chief,
Leath Chathail. 32 From this it would appear, that both territories were
conterminous,33andnotinthebaronyofAntrim,asColgansupposed. The
Hy-Nerca-Chein are said to have descended from Cruitine, son to Eoghan
Sriabh, son of Duach Galach, King of Connaught, who flourished in the
fifth century 34 but, no account is given, as to when that clan settled in die ;
County of Down, and it seems to have been long after the time of St.
Patrick. Nevertheless, we are informed, that at Rath-Easpuic-Innic, St. Patrick built a church, and this is said to have been situated in the territory
6
of Hua-Derca-Chein. 35 According to one account, this districts lay in the
present barony of Castlereagh, County of Down, and adjacent to Strangford
Lough. 37 The Genealogies of the Hy-Earca-Chein are to be found in the Book of Lecan. 38 The more ancient line of chiefs in the territory of Leath Chathail or Lecale belonged to the Ullta or Clanna Rudhraidhe. Over Rath-Easpuic-Innic, however, and in the district of Dalaradia, the Apostle of Ireland is said to have appointed Vinnoc, as Bishop. ? 9
The real territorial denomination of the county of Ui Dearca Chein was
Breadach. Previouslytotheseventeenthcentury,thiswasthenameofa
parish in the Barony of Upper Castlereagh, and now incorporated with Cnoc : thus known at present as Newtown-Breda or Knockbreda. 4° The burial-ground of Knockbreda is still called Bradach, and it lies within Bel-
former times.
the seat of Sir Robert Bateson. 41 A portion of the old church
voir
walls remains within the original cemetery. <
called Bradock, within the parish of Killinchy and barony of Dufferin, near thewestshoreofStrangfordLough. ^ Thechurchfoundedherewascalled afterwards Rath-easpuic-Innic, from the Bishop Vinnoc/* It is supposed
Park,
Antiquities of Down, Connor, and Dro- more," Appendix GG. , pp. 334 to 348.
29 See John O'Donovan's LeAbhar* ha 5- Cea^c, pp. 160 to 163 and n. (y), ibid.
"
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. ,pp. 118, 119, and n. (t), ibid. Here, however, Dr. O'Donovan adopts the local identification of the Ui
Earca Chein, as furnished by Colgan.
31 They are stated to have been placed near the Kinel-Aehgusa, a tribe of the Clanna Rury, and who were descendants
from Aengus, the second son ofMaelcobha.
32 This means Cathal's half, and it is now Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars ii. , cap.
3° See Dr. O'Donovan's
the barony of Lecale, in the County of Down. The Chiefs of that district also descended
from Cathal {aquo Leth-Chathail), the son of
Muireadhach, son of Aengus, the son of
Maelcobha, son to"Fiachna, son of Deman,
King of Ulidia, who was slain in the battle
of Ardcoran in Dalriada, A. D. 627, accord-
ing to the genealogy given by Duald Maps for the County of Down," Sheet 9.
MacFirbis. Lord Roden's MS. p. 508.
43 It is shown on Sheet 17, ibid.
"
**See
MacGill-Muire, or Cu-UladhO'Morna, chief Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars ii. , cap.
of Hy-Nerca-Chein and of Lecale, who was cxxxiii. , p. 147.
slain by his own kinsman, A. D. 1391. See 45 It is situated in the parish of Tullyna-
33 wefind an Thus
entry, regarding
Colgan's
Trias
Thaumaturga,"
2
Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iv. , pp. 722, 723.
34 See ibid. , n. (m).
"
3S See Colgan's
Septima Vita S. Patricii, n. 221, p. 183.
36 Variously called in English records
Anderken and Sluthenderkeys.
37 See Miss M. F. Cusack's "Life of St.
Patrick, Apostle of Ireland. " Note by William M. Hennessy 9, p. 443.
38 See fol. 142. a. b. ; and also MacFirbis' Genealogical MSS. , p. 513.
cxxxiii. , pp. 146, 147.
*° See John O'Donovan's teAbhap tiA
There is also a small Island,
Trias Thaumaturga/j
39 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
5-CeA^c, pp. 172, 173. , and n. (s), ibid.
4I See Rev. William Reeves' account in "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor
and Dromore," n. (u), p. 1$.
^ See "Ordnance Survey Townland
4 i4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 29.
to be represented by the present Castle Espie, the ruins of which—lying in a large rath on the western shore of Strangford Lough—are in a townland4* bearing the same name, and it has always been ecclesiastical property/6 It seems sufficiently probable, that while St. Vinnoc had been connected with Teaghnetha or Tynan, he had charge, moreover, of Rath-Easpuic-Innic, which gave him claim to be regarded as one of our primitive Irish bishops.
In identifying Hua Dercachein with the valley of the Braid, in the County of Antrim, Colgan has fallen into an error. *? It seems rather to have been a tract in the northern part of the County Down, or on the con- fines of Down and Antrim/8 The Mac Giolla Muire, Anglicized Gillimury, were chiefs of that tribe/9 After the English invasion, their territory was much circumscribed by the Whites and Savages, and afterwards by the O'Neills of Clannaboy and the Mac Artains. In the beginning of the fifteenth century, the Mac Gilmories or Gilmores were stout opposers of the English. * The O'Guillemers appear to have been chief settlers here, and in the Great Ardes, to the close of the sixteenth century, according to an old
1
However, notwithstanding the foregoing false conjectures as to locality, St. Vinnoc was venerated on the 29th of August, at a church belonging to
the Diocese of Armagh, commonly called Tuighnean, but more correctly
2
Such is the identification of Marianus O'Gorman, in con- nection with his entry of St. Uinnic in the Calendar. The published Martyr- ology of Donegal registers a festival in honor of Uindic, of Tuighnetha,**
at this same date. Moreover, Uindic, Bishop of Rath-Easpuic-Innic, has been placed, by Rev. William Reeves, among the Saints of Down, Connor and Dromore, in that Calendar which he has compiled for these Dioceses. ss The day for his festival, is the 29th of August.
It is only by the perfect study of ourselves, we are enabled fully to recognise our own weakness ; and such meditation was ever the care of the holyonesonearth. Thusdidthepresentsaintlearntruewisdom,andwith it he was deeply imbued with the spirit of profound humility. Our exact knowledge of the nothingness and vanity of self-esteem inspires us all the more to trust in the Almighty alone, to supply by His graces what is still wanting to render us more perfect, and to purge from our' souls the mean- ness of pride by constant cultivation of salutary thoughts, which regard our total dependence on Him.
Article II. —Feast of Nine Hundred Martyrs. Remarking on the
Manuscript Description of Ireland written in 1598. 5
Teagh-neatha. 5
perishable
natureof
regal
and
earthly grandeur,
an
early English poet
1 considers
kill, barony of Lower Castlereagh, and it is
"
described on the
land Maps for the County of Down," Sheets 10, 11.
46 See Miss M. F. Cusack's " Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," William M. Hennessy's note 9, p. 443.
4 ? " Hodic voca. iur Brafge-Dercan : e*tque
vallis in Baronia /Endromensi Diocesis
Connerensis, olim dicta Glann Fada na Tertia Vita S. Patricii, n. 69, p. 34. Feine, i. e. vallis longa Feniorum. "—
Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, n.
Ordnance Survey Town-
Prene, Archbishop of Armagh, from A. D. 1459 to 1443. Patricius Palladius O'Gilmore was chief parishioner of Bredac in 1442.
so See Sir James Ware's "Annals of Ire-
land," at A. D. 1407.
P This is quoted in Dubourdieu's " Sta-
" Trias
53 Edited by Drs. ToJd and Reeves, pp.
a note by O'Donovan states, Tiugh- See Rev. William Reeve's Ecclesi- netha : i. e. Tynan, Co. Armagh. "
astical Antiquities of Down, Connor and 55 See " Ecclesiastical Antiquities of
Dromore," Appendix GG. , n. (a), p. 339. Down, Connor and Dromore. '' Appendix,
221, p. 183.
48 "
49
According to the Registry oi John LL. with n, (b), pp. 379, 380.
tistical Survey of the County Antrim," chap, iv. , sect. 5, p. 629.
52 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
228, 229.
5* "
August 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 4i5
the glories of birth and state as only shadows and unsubstantial frivolities.
Military heroes, too, may triumph over other men, but they must stoop to conquer themselves, sooner or later. Little reason have those conquerors to boast of their mighty achievements, for the garland soon withers on their brows. Perhaps again, on the blood-stained field, the victor himself must lie as a victim. 2 While the human sacrifices made by man's ambition offend the God of humanity, who abhors violence and bloodshed ; the blood of His martyrs rises as incense before His throne, and endears for ever the memory of His faithful and devoted champions. On the 29th of August,
"
nine hundred with virginity," according to the " Feilire" of St. ^Engus. 3 This festival is also found recorded in many ancient Martyrologies ; yet, not in the same manner,
nor on the same day. * In the Martyrology of Florentinius, on the 29th of August, their feast is coupled with that of the Natalis of St.
