Put on God's armour,
faithful
knight !
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
Manchen, who lived to 652, he could not have been a con- temporary of St.
Patrick.
See Rev.
Dr.
Todd's " Life of St.
Patrick," n.
4, p.
449.
''^ Thus is he named, by Jocelyn.
''* There are eleven saints, called Main- chen, mentioned in the O'CIery's Calendar. '" Nennius and other writers, very cir- cumstantially relate this great triumph of Christianity, in the west of Ireland. See,
Ussher's "Primordia," cap. xvii. , p. 865. '°° In his "Index Chronologicus,^' Ussher
^
"
Life of St. Patrick," p. 449, and n. 3.
'9' This well was named, from the little hillock of land, that was near it. The cause assigned for the name is not given, in Colgan's copy of the Tripartite.
'»'' So is it called in the Latin Tripartite,
and in an apparently older authority, Oen« adharca.
'93 So is it called, in the Irish Tripartite. '9* Some accounts have it» that Enda
the well
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 615
anxiouslytokillme,butmyhourwasnotyetcome. " Fromthisaccount,it appears, St. Patrick knew, that in some parts of Ireland, which he could not have called remote—such as the Eastern and Southern districts—the Christian religion had been announced and practised, before his time. It is
probable, in the foregoing passage, he alluded to Tyrawley,^°' especially as he had just before recalled the pleasing reminiscence of having baptized
there several thousand persons.
Then,hewent southwards, and to the fordof Lock-Daela,^°^ or Loch Deala,^°3
now Bally-LoughdaIla,^°4 in the parish of Ballysakeery. ^°3 This place was thepropertyofthedeceitfulAengus. Patrickintendedtofoundaresidence
there for himself; but, Aengus came quickly, when he saw the holy visitor, for
not sincerely did he believe, when he was baptized and had confessed the
*' "
faith. My debroth," said Patrick, 'twere right that thy houses should not
be exalted, nor thy descendants after thee. Thy successors shall be seldom just, and there shall be fratricide in thy family. " Then, St. Patrick went to the east, to Lec-finn,^°^ or Leac-fionnbaile,^°'' where Patrick inscribed a cross
on the stone over Cill-mor-uachtair-Muaidh,^°2 or " the great church of the Upper Moy," and towards the west. Afterwards, Lia-na-monach2°9 was the name it obtained. ^'" It is now shortened to Liag,^" and the place is situated on a hill,2'2 a short distance to the south of the old church of Kilmore-Moy. There he baptized Eochaidh,2^3 or Euchodius,^'+ son of Nathi, another form of the name Dathi, or David, son of Fiachra, and resuscitated his wife,^'S Echtra, at Ath-Echtra, the little stream at the very door of Cill-mor. This place was also called Feart Echtra. ^'^ The grave is still to be seen in a field, lying a short distance to the east of the old church of Kilmore-Moy. ^^7
places these events, at A. D. 434 ; but, it is most probable, they fell into a later year.
^°' See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiasti- cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect. xii. ,p. 253.
^°^ It is thus called, in the Irish Tripartite Life. The lough itself still retains the name. Its Anglicised form is Lough Dala.
120, 121.
^'°
It was called, likewise, Cruimther Monach's,orOlcan'schurch. TheTripar- tite Life calls him a disciple of St. Patrick. There is an Olcan in Tirechan's list, and also an Oltcan. Ussher makes Olcan a
See Dr. O'Donovan's "
and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," p. 281, n.
(t), and Addenda P. , p. 467, n. (i. )
'°3 So is it in the Latin
named, Tripartite.
from his studies in Gaul. See Primordia,"
*°* It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Mayo, Sheets 21, 22.
"
^°2 It lies, in the south-west part of Ty-
rawley barony. See ibid. , Sheets 21, 22,
29, 30. '°^
"
Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach,"
to the Irish
^°^ Thus is it written, in the Latin Tripar-
tite.
=^ Now known as a Kilmore-Moy, parish,
Addenda P. , p. 468, n. (k. )
*" Here and Archdall have incor- Colgan
rectly placed a monastery, founded by St. Patrick.
="3 He was called Eochaidh Breac, and
he was ancestor of the O'Shaughnessys,
O'Scanlans, O'Clerys, and OTIeynes.
*'* Thus is he named, by Jocelyn . In the Latin Tripartite Life, he is called Eocha-
According
Tripartite
Life.
Genealogies,
cap. xvii. , p. 951.
moy was certainly another person. See Olcan's Acts, at the 20th of February.
^" The name is to a rock, on applied
which a cross is sculptured within a circle, and to an ancient churchyard. All traces of the church, however, have disappeared.
extending into the baronies of Tireragh,
county Sligo, and in Tyrawley, county of
Mayo, containing the towns of Ballina and Ardnaree, i. e. "the hill of executions. "
See "Ordnance Survey To\\-nland Maps dius.
Tribes
The founder of Kilmor-
for the County of Mayo," Sheet 30 ; and *'5 As Jocelyn relates it, St. Patrick met "''
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Sligo," Sheets 22, 29.
chis postea possidentibus," &c. See, too, Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, xii. , pp. 252 to 256, and nn. ni, 112, 115, 118,
her corpse, borne on a vehicle, at quod- dam vadum in Connacia. " He also relates, that the husband's conversion, and that of his household, was in consequence of this
Qj. Echtra's grave. " "
''? See John O'Donovan's Genealogies,
^ The Latin Tripartite has it " a Mona-
bishop of Derkan, in Antrim, after his return "
See John O'Donovan's
Genealogies,
miracle. 216 <<
6i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 17.
Nearly opposite to it, there is a holy well, called Toberpatrick. Thus do Irish topographic names preserve the wondrous traditions of St. Patrick's travels. *'^
The Blessed Patrick sent Bishop 01can,=*^9 after he had accomplished
many good works, and had successfully preached the Gospel, to build, where the church of Kill-mor nachtair Mhuaidhe afterwards stood. There was he tofindrest,inacell,fortheremainderofhisdays. Olcan,takinganaxeon hisback,travelledalong,inaspiritofobedience; for,Patricktoldhim,to put up at that place, where the axe should fall from his back. At the spot, already indicated, this happened, and deeming it to be a heavenly monition, he there began laboriously to erect his future monastery, in which a great community afterwards dwelt. Still determined on cultivating his master's vineyard, the illustrious Irish Apostle went towards the north, and he came to Lec-Balben, or Leac Bailbene, or " the rock of Balben," where he found andblessedthesonsofAmhalgaidh. Then,hewentoutfromthatcountry, by the western Berthlacha,^^° now Bartragh,*^' which is a sandy island, in the north-west of Castleconor parish,^^^ and on the east side of the River Moy. -^3 The holy man travelled towards the eastern Bertlacha, and he passed it eastwards, to the estuary of the Muaidh, towards its mouth at the sea. A young woman had been drowned there, before he arrived ; when he blessed the place, and he said, that no person should thenceforward be drowned in it. Patrick prophesied, that the eastern Bertlacha should belong to him, by ecclesiastical title. According to the local history and traditions, in the day of war their king, over that region, will be found safe and victorious against his enemies, if he invoke St. Patrick, and be a faithful protector —of the Church rights. There, at that stream, known as the Gre-
which flowed — a
graighe^^* probably through region, supposed
to be co- extensivewiththebaronyofCoolavin somerudepersonsflungstonesat
St. Patrick and his " people.
My debroth,"
" shall you
said the bebeatenineveryconflict,inwhichyoumayhappentobe; and,youshall
be subject to insult and contumely, in every assembly. " Immediately on coming from the west, and on going towards the north, across the Muaidhe,
into Gregraighe, he met two or three virulent Druids, at Rathbhaird,^'^ or Rath-Righbhaird,^^^ which is in the barony of Tireragh, and county ot Sligo,^'7 to the west of Killaspugbrone. ^^^ But, these, having plotted his death, were able to do nothing against him ; for, the Almighty helped his
Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," Addenda, P. , p. 468, n. (1. )
^^^ The Irish Tripartite adds, that it is a sign of knowledge with them, i. e. the anti- quaries, in their histories, to remember this
grave.
="9 His feast is supposed to fall, on the
''°* This district, ridiculously called "the Gregories," seems to have been, in the county of Sligo, and as supposed co-exten- sive with Coolavin Barony. See John
20th of February; yet, some doubt may Masters," at a. m. 3501, this rath was in
well be entertained, on the subject.
^'°
All around the coasts of Connaught, the word beA|\cpAc largely enters into topo- graphical names, to designate an oyster-bed.
=^' This is the Bertrigia of the Book of Armagh.
*"
Muirisc. See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , n. (w), p. 28. There were two dis- tricts so called, one now represented by the barony of Murrisk, in the county of RIayo, and the other, as indicated in the text.
=^*
In the Book of Armagh, Tirechan's Life of St. Patrick calls it "Fossa Ria-
In the barony of Tireragh. It is de-
fined, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland bairt. "
Maps
17, 22, 23.
County
Sligo,"
Genealogie-;, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," n.
for the
of
Sheets
"' See O'Donovan's " 16, John
O'Donovan's "
*^3 See
Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," n. (x), p. 250.
and the which is (m), p. 470, map,
John
Genealogies,
prefixed This parish, in the barony of Carbury,
O'Donovan's
"
Leabhar na g-Ceart, or
holy man,
Book of Rights," n. (d), p. 99.
"S According to the " Annals of the Four
to that work, ^**
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 617
servant to escape from them. The saint said, moreover, that there never
should be wanting among this people magicians and evil-doers.
Then, St. Patrick came to his dear spiritual child. Prince Conall, and demanded from him, whether he would be content, or not, to be clothed with the habit of a religious. The prince answered, that his heart was ready
to perform, whatever the saint would enjoin him to do.
The holy bishop,
" Arise O
that you may assume the bachall. " Conall said, If it please thee, I shall
rejoicing
devotion, reported
said,
Conall,
much at his is to have
do so. " " That shall not said Patrick be,"
"
I will
and will give comarbs^^^ to thy race, and thou shalt be known as Conall
Sciath-bachall. '^'^^° The palm of laics and clerics shall be from thee ; and, every one of thy descendants, on whose shield the sign of my bachall shall be, will not be subdued. " ^31 Moreover, with the Staff of Jesus, the saint made a sign of the cross upon Prince Conal's shield. This device he and his pos- terity, ever after took for their escutcheon. ^32 The carrying of this shield, by anyofhisposterity,wassupposedtorenderthebearerinvincibleinwar. He went eastwards, into the territory of the Hy-Fiachrach,^33 of which district, thereweretwodistinctivetribesinConnaught. Hetravelledalongthesea- shore, but a flood of water opposed his passage. There was an unusually
large rock, at that place ; and, afterwards, it was designated Buaile- Patrick. little with a marked the site and Patrick for
mound, cross, ; there, A—
rested, the ancient
a short time.
the Bron=^34 of — Then, holy bishop, Caisel-Irra,
name for a stone fort in t
—he district of Cuil-Irra^35
Mac
and the
Rime^36 of Cill-Corcaraidhe'37 supposed^ss now to be the church of Conry239
is described on the "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Sligo,"
Sheets 7, 8, 13, 14, 20.
229 Or " church patrons. "
'30 the " to Or, shield-crozier," according
theIrishTripartiteLife; but,itwascalled,
Sciath-bachlach, or " the shield of the staff,"
according to the Latin Tripartite version. *3' Somewhat varied runs Jocelyn's narra-
''
tive of this prediction :
a shield, and a staff as the marks of sove-
And there was heard a whisper low— Prince of God's armies, was it thine ?
" Thou sword, keep pure thy virgin vow,
And trenchant shalt thou be as mine ! "
—"The Legends of St. Patrick," p. 94. ^^'^ The Hy-Fiachrach Aidhne were
located in Galway, their territory being ex- actly co-extensive with the diocese of Kil- macduagh. The northern and more power- ful tribe possessed that district, now occupied
Aubrey
Bron, Bishop in Ui-Fiachrach
the —or the
Caiseal-Irra,
of Irish A. D. Calendar.
is noted in the
Knight Chivalry :"
;
Inauguration
511,"
Thou shalt carry
reign power, and as the signs of thy great
merit. Thou shalt represent the person, by the baronies of Carra, of Erris, and of and habit of a layman, but thou shalt enjoy T)T:awley, in Mayo, with the district of Tir- the merit and dignity of a monk. Many Fiachrach, now the barony of Tireragh, in saints shall spring from thee, and many
nations of the earth shall be blessed in thy
seed. "
De Vere has celebrated this
'3*
incident in a poem intituled,
of Muaidhe, O'Clerys'
" Thou shalt not be a Priest," he said ;
"
Christ has for thee a lowlier task ; Be thou His Soldier ! Wear with dread His Cross upon thy shield and casque !
Put on God's armour, faithful knight !
iMercy with justice, love with law ; Nor e'er except for truth and right
Thy sword, cross-hilted, dare to draw. "
^35 There, too, now nearly overwhelmed
with sand, stood the church of Killaspug-
brone, near the town of Sligo. See John O'Donovan's "Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," n. (o), p. 470.
^36 He has not been identified, in our Calendars.
*37 This place lies a little south of the present bai-ony of Corkaree, and lying west ofLoughAnnen,nowLoughEnnel. Itis nearthecelebratedhillofUsneach. The
''
Patrick and
Hespake,andwithhiscrozierpointed
'Graved on the broad shield's brazen old church measures fifty-nine feet, by
boss
(That hour baptized, confirmed, anointed StoodErin'schivalry)theCross.
eighteen feet two inches ; two of its old bells were discovered some years ago, and soldinDublin, SeeRev. AnthonyCogan's
;
but,
support thy valour,
"
the county of Sligo. See John O'Donovan's
•'
Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book of Rights,"
n.
108.
*3^ At the 8th of " June,
(t), p.
holy
6i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 17.
or Conrigh, in the barony of Rathconrath, and county of Westmeatli—came to him ; and, there, too, he wrote an alphabet for them. ^'*° In this region,
the holy Patrick baptized the seven sons of Draighen f''^ who, it is stated, resided in a locality, now called Drynaghan's, namely Drinaghanbeg and Drinaghanmore. ^42 Amongthese,heselectedMacErca,^43subsequentlythe patron of Cillroe-mor,^'! * now Kilroe,^''^ a very ancient church,^-*^ in ruins,^''^ on a rocky eminence, and situated within Hy-Amalgaidh territory. '^^s Patrick gave him, after his baptism,^'*^ to Bishop Bron, to be fostered ; for, it would' not be easy to take him far away, in consequence of the love his father bore him. Then, St. Patrick marked out the site of Caisel-Irra fso and. Bishop Bron founded that place. Our holy Apostle prophesied, afterwards, that it should be deserted, by the Gentiles f^^ and, as he had predicted, so did events transpire.
CHAPTER XIII.
The holy man visits sligeach and calraighe—he meets with opposition, but overcomes it—he proceeds towards the boyle river—his successive mis- sions about druimdaire, glinne, druim-cliabh and magh-ene—he spends seven years in preaching, and in administering church affairs, within the connaught province.
Along the northern shore of Sligo County, St. Patrick proceeded, until he had arrived at the SHgeach River—now the Gitley^—and which flows through
""
Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern,"
vol. ii. , chap, xviii. , p. 424.
^33 According to a note 4, affixed to Miss
"
Cusack's Life of St. Patrick," p. 428.
Yet, this does not seem to us a reliable iden- tification.
^39 Now a parish, defined on the " Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Westmeath," Sheets 24, 25, 31. ^^° The Irish Tripartite writer adds to the
Macerca. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Eccle- siastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, xiii. , n. 122, p. 257.
^•s It is situated, in a townland of the same name, in the parish of Killala.
^"•^ It is built of very large stones, in the
primitive Irish style, being twenty-four feet inlength,byeighteenfeetinbreadth. See
John O'Donovan's "Genealogies, Tribes
and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," n. (n), p. foregoing account, as if quoting a more 470.
=*7 See M'Parian's " Statistical Survey of the County of Mayo," p. 147.
^•^John O'Donovan, in "Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachi-ach," p.
469, note, calls the place here mentioned, Forrach mac n-Amhalgaidh. See p. 469, n. (m). This, he says, was Mullaghfarry,
""•"^ Immediately after the baptism of Mac Erca, the Book of Armagh records the
singularly wrong, by saying, that it was
erected, either by St. Fechin, or by St.
Patrick. Colgan, whom he quotes, for that infant in her womb, with the water of purpose, has no such statement, nor does he baptism, ipsa est aqua cominunio viulkris ; mention any patron saint of Kilroe, except and they buried her in at the head of the
ancient author ; and, I have heard from
another, that in the said place, he gave a tooth from his jaw to Bishop Bron, for he was dear to Patrick.
^^^ So is he called, in the Irish Tripartite
Life ; in the Latin vei'sion, his name is
rendered Drogenius.
^''^ Tliese are two townlands in the
and there the church was
parish of Kilglass, and barony of Tireragh, to the
Killala,
built,
"
vey Townland Maps for the County of
north-east of Ballina. See
Ordnance Sur-
Sligo," Sheets 16, 17,
^'*3 It seems he possible, may
have had a
"And two came girls
festival, at the 15th of April, where the sons of Draighen of Cill-Ro are noted, in the
O'Clerys' Calendar.
^** Arciidall is right, when placing it in
"
Mayo. See Monasticon Hibernicum," p.
504. He is wrong, however, by converting it into an abbey ; and, he is still more
at
Ros filiorum Caitni, and not Catriu, as in Betham.
incidents
to Patrick, and took the veil at his hand, and he blessed for them the place of the wood of Fochloth. And behold, Patrick went up to the land, which is called Foirr- gea, of the sons of Amolngid, to divide it among the sons of Amolngid, and he built there a church of moist earth squared, be- cause wood was not at hand ; and they brought to him a sick woman, having an
following
:
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 619
the present town of Sligo, to which it has given name. ^ At that river, he
desired the to set their nets for him. said to " A sahnon fishermen, They him,
is not taken at this period of the winter ; but, as you desire it, however, we willdoasyoudirect. " Theyplacedtheirnets,andcaughtlargesalmon,and they gave them to Patrick ; and, he blessed the river, so that the Sligech was
deemed, afterwards, the most productive river of Erinn, and to such a degree, that fish is caught in it, during every quarter of the year. St. Patrick left Bishop Rodan,3 the herd, in Murrisk,^ and at a place, called after him, Cill-
Next, St. Patrick went to the Callraighe? of Cull Cernadhan,'° or Calregia de Culechernadan," otherwise, the territory of Calry. '^ The latter denomi- nation is still retained as the name of a parish, in the barony of Carbury, and
county of Sligo. '3 in this district, Coolcarney''* was situated. Here, the people at first opposed him, and they assembled with arms, in a secret place.
When St. Patrick and his disciples passed by, the intending waylayers brought their spears close to their shields, to assault the travellers. But, in his usual frank and agreeable manner, St. Patrick induced them to yield,
of
church ; and upon the grave is the seat of the saint, in the church, even to the present day ; and he built a certain church at Ross,
among the family of Caitrue, on an island of a bay of the sea. "
*so That flag, on which Patrick's tooth
fell, is in the middle of the lis, adds the
"
My debroth,"
" what did you
Life,
xxiii. , xxix. , xxx. , xxxi. , xxxii. , pp. 58 to 60 ; the Sixth Life, cap. lix. , Ix. , Ixi. , Ixiii. , Ixiv. , Ixvii. , Ixxvi. , Ixxxi,, cxii. , cxxiv. , cxxv. , cxxvi. , cxxxi. , cxxxviii. , cxlv. , clvi. , clvii. , clxix. , clxx. , clxxi. , clxxii. , clxxiii. , clxxiv. , clxxxiv. , pp. 78, 79, 82, 83, 84, 90, 92, 9S» 96, 97, 99, 105 ; the Seventh Life, pars, ii. , cap. liii. to xcvii. , pp. 137 to 142, and nn. 113 to 145, pp. 178 to 180. Also,
Maps for the County of Sligo," Sheets 12, 18.
sponding notes. — Chapter XIII.
ii. , cap. xviii. , xix. , xx. , xxi. ,
"
' Thus is it written, in the Irish Tripar- tite Life. Jocelyn calls this place Callria.
'° A note to Miss Cusack's version of the Iiish Tripartite Life identifies it, as Cool- carney, a district in the barony of Gallen, and county of Mayo. This comprises the
parishes of Altymas and Kilgarvan. How- ever, this does not seem to have been the place, to which allusion is made,
" Thus is the place called, in the Latin
Tripartite Life.
"See "The Topographical Poems of
John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , n. 269, p. xxxvii.
'3 See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Sligo," Sheets 8, 9 , 14, 15.
Miss Cusack's
of Ireland," pp. 408 to 429, with the cone-
Life of St. Patrick, Apostle
'It is a corruption of Gilly, which empties, from the beautiful
Lough Gill, and passes into Sligo Bay.
^
See John O'Donovan's "Genealogies, 3 The Calendar of the O'Clerys has a
Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach,"
Addenda, P, n. (p), p. 470.
known as Muirsce, or the " ^ sea-plain,"
Rodain. s That
extended from the River Easkey, eastwards, to a stream, which flows into the sea, between the present townlands of Ballyecskeen, in the parish of Templeboy,7 and Dunnacoy. ® His calves would only do what Rodan counselled, because he was remarkable for obedience, towards his own master, St. Patrick. Wherefore, the harpers and musicians had a proverb, the nature of which is not recorded.
Easpuig
district,
to his
is not good. Every battle and every conflict which you wage, and your children after you, shall be gained over you. " They forthwith knelt to Patrick, and asked his pardon, for their obstinacy and resistance, excepting
owing
powers
persuasion.
he,
Irish Tripartite Life. 471.
^5' See the Third s it would from the that Life, cap. xlix. , I. , li. , appear, above,
the name, Muirisk, most likely preceded that of Cill-Espuig-Rodain.
lii. , liii. , liv. , Ivi. , Ixii. , Ixvii. , Ixix. , Ixxvii. , Ixxxv. , pp. 25 to 28 ; the Fourth Life, cap. lix. , Ix. , Ixi. , Ixii. , Ixiii. , Ixiv. , Ixv. , Ixvi. , Ixvii. , Ixviii,, Ixix. , Ixx,, pp. 43, 44; the Fifth lib.
^
Se&ibid. , n. (b), p. 257.
said
Bishop Rodan, at the 24th of August, but without naming any place,
* In Colgan's Latin copy, it is incorrectly called Muireschaigle ; and, thus, John O'Donovan was misled, by such a statement. See "Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of
Hy-Fiachrach," Addenda P. , n. (q),- p.
''^ Thus is he named, by Jocelyn.
''* There are eleven saints, called Main- chen, mentioned in the O'CIery's Calendar. '" Nennius and other writers, very cir- cumstantially relate this great triumph of Christianity, in the west of Ireland. See,
Ussher's "Primordia," cap. xvii. , p. 865. '°° In his "Index Chronologicus,^' Ussher
^
"
Life of St. Patrick," p. 449, and n. 3.
'9' This well was named, from the little hillock of land, that was near it. The cause assigned for the name is not given, in Colgan's copy of the Tripartite.
'»'' So is it called in the Latin Tripartite,
and in an apparently older authority, Oen« adharca.
'93 So is it called, in the Irish Tripartite. '9* Some accounts have it» that Enda
the well
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 615
anxiouslytokillme,butmyhourwasnotyetcome. " Fromthisaccount,it appears, St. Patrick knew, that in some parts of Ireland, which he could not have called remote—such as the Eastern and Southern districts—the Christian religion had been announced and practised, before his time. It is
probable, in the foregoing passage, he alluded to Tyrawley,^°' especially as he had just before recalled the pleasing reminiscence of having baptized
there several thousand persons.
Then,hewent southwards, and to the fordof Lock-Daela,^°^ or Loch Deala,^°3
now Bally-LoughdaIla,^°4 in the parish of Ballysakeery. ^°3 This place was thepropertyofthedeceitfulAengus. Patrickintendedtofoundaresidence
there for himself; but, Aengus came quickly, when he saw the holy visitor, for
not sincerely did he believe, when he was baptized and had confessed the
*' "
faith. My debroth," said Patrick, 'twere right that thy houses should not
be exalted, nor thy descendants after thee. Thy successors shall be seldom just, and there shall be fratricide in thy family. " Then, St. Patrick went to the east, to Lec-finn,^°^ or Leac-fionnbaile,^°'' where Patrick inscribed a cross
on the stone over Cill-mor-uachtair-Muaidh,^°2 or " the great church of the Upper Moy," and towards the west. Afterwards, Lia-na-monach2°9 was the name it obtained. ^'" It is now shortened to Liag,^" and the place is situated on a hill,2'2 a short distance to the south of the old church of Kilmore-Moy. There he baptized Eochaidh,2^3 or Euchodius,^'+ son of Nathi, another form of the name Dathi, or David, son of Fiachra, and resuscitated his wife,^'S Echtra, at Ath-Echtra, the little stream at the very door of Cill-mor. This place was also called Feart Echtra. ^'^ The grave is still to be seen in a field, lying a short distance to the east of the old church of Kilmore-Moy. ^^7
places these events, at A. D. 434 ; but, it is most probable, they fell into a later year.
^°' See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiasti- cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect. xii. ,p. 253.
^°^ It is thus called, in the Irish Tripartite Life. The lough itself still retains the name. Its Anglicised form is Lough Dala.
120, 121.
^'°
It was called, likewise, Cruimther Monach's,orOlcan'schurch. TheTripar- tite Life calls him a disciple of St. Patrick. There is an Olcan in Tirechan's list, and also an Oltcan. Ussher makes Olcan a
See Dr. O'Donovan's "
and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," p. 281, n.
(t), and Addenda P. , p. 467, n. (i. )
'°3 So is it in the Latin
named, Tripartite.
from his studies in Gaul. See Primordia,"
*°* It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Mayo, Sheets 21, 22.
"
^°2 It lies, in the south-west part of Ty-
rawley barony. See ibid. , Sheets 21, 22,
29, 30. '°^
"
Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach,"
to the Irish
^°^ Thus is it written, in the Latin Tripar-
tite.
=^ Now known as a Kilmore-Moy, parish,
Addenda P. , p. 468, n. (k. )
*" Here and Archdall have incor- Colgan
rectly placed a monastery, founded by St. Patrick.
="3 He was called Eochaidh Breac, and
he was ancestor of the O'Shaughnessys,
O'Scanlans, O'Clerys, and OTIeynes.
*'* Thus is he named, by Jocelyn . In the Latin Tripartite Life, he is called Eocha-
According
Tripartite
Life.
Genealogies,
cap. xvii. , p. 951.
moy was certainly another person. See Olcan's Acts, at the 20th of February.
^" The name is to a rock, on applied
which a cross is sculptured within a circle, and to an ancient churchyard. All traces of the church, however, have disappeared.
extending into the baronies of Tireragh,
county Sligo, and in Tyrawley, county of
Mayo, containing the towns of Ballina and Ardnaree, i. e. "the hill of executions. "
See "Ordnance Survey To\\-nland Maps dius.
Tribes
The founder of Kilmor-
for the County of Mayo," Sheet 30 ; and *'5 As Jocelyn relates it, St. Patrick met "''
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Sligo," Sheets 22, 29.
chis postea possidentibus," &c. See, too, Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, xii. , pp. 252 to 256, and nn. ni, 112, 115, 118,
her corpse, borne on a vehicle, at quod- dam vadum in Connacia. " He also relates, that the husband's conversion, and that of his household, was in consequence of this
Qj. Echtra's grave. " "
''? See John O'Donovan's Genealogies,
^ The Latin Tripartite has it " a Mona-
bishop of Derkan, in Antrim, after his return "
See John O'Donovan's
Genealogies,
miracle. 216 <<
6i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 17.
Nearly opposite to it, there is a holy well, called Toberpatrick. Thus do Irish topographic names preserve the wondrous traditions of St. Patrick's travels. *'^
The Blessed Patrick sent Bishop 01can,=*^9 after he had accomplished
many good works, and had successfully preached the Gospel, to build, where the church of Kill-mor nachtair Mhuaidhe afterwards stood. There was he tofindrest,inacell,fortheremainderofhisdays. Olcan,takinganaxeon hisback,travelledalong,inaspiritofobedience; for,Patricktoldhim,to put up at that place, where the axe should fall from his back. At the spot, already indicated, this happened, and deeming it to be a heavenly monition, he there began laboriously to erect his future monastery, in which a great community afterwards dwelt. Still determined on cultivating his master's vineyard, the illustrious Irish Apostle went towards the north, and he came to Lec-Balben, or Leac Bailbene, or " the rock of Balben," where he found andblessedthesonsofAmhalgaidh. Then,hewentoutfromthatcountry, by the western Berthlacha,^^° now Bartragh,*^' which is a sandy island, in the north-west of Castleconor parish,^^^ and on the east side of the River Moy. -^3 The holy man travelled towards the eastern Bertlacha, and he passed it eastwards, to the estuary of the Muaidh, towards its mouth at the sea. A young woman had been drowned there, before he arrived ; when he blessed the place, and he said, that no person should thenceforward be drowned in it. Patrick prophesied, that the eastern Bertlacha should belong to him, by ecclesiastical title. According to the local history and traditions, in the day of war their king, over that region, will be found safe and victorious against his enemies, if he invoke St. Patrick, and be a faithful protector —of the Church rights. There, at that stream, known as the Gre-
which flowed — a
graighe^^* probably through region, supposed
to be co- extensivewiththebaronyofCoolavin somerudepersonsflungstonesat
St. Patrick and his " people.
My debroth,"
" shall you
said the bebeatenineveryconflict,inwhichyoumayhappentobe; and,youshall
be subject to insult and contumely, in every assembly. " Immediately on coming from the west, and on going towards the north, across the Muaidhe,
into Gregraighe, he met two or three virulent Druids, at Rathbhaird,^'^ or Rath-Righbhaird,^^^ which is in the barony of Tireragh, and county ot Sligo,^'7 to the west of Killaspugbrone. ^^^ But, these, having plotted his death, were able to do nothing against him ; for, the Almighty helped his
Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," Addenda, P. , p. 468, n. (1. )
^^^ The Irish Tripartite adds, that it is a sign of knowledge with them, i. e. the anti- quaries, in their histories, to remember this
grave.
="9 His feast is supposed to fall, on the
''°* This district, ridiculously called "the Gregories," seems to have been, in the county of Sligo, and as supposed co-exten- sive with Coolavin Barony. See John
20th of February; yet, some doubt may Masters," at a. m. 3501, this rath was in
well be entertained, on the subject.
^'°
All around the coasts of Connaught, the word beA|\cpAc largely enters into topo- graphical names, to designate an oyster-bed.
=^' This is the Bertrigia of the Book of Armagh.
*"
Muirisc. See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , n. (w), p. 28. There were two dis- tricts so called, one now represented by the barony of Murrisk, in the county of RIayo, and the other, as indicated in the text.
=^*
In the Book of Armagh, Tirechan's Life of St. Patrick calls it "Fossa Ria-
In the barony of Tireragh. It is de-
fined, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland bairt. "
Maps
17, 22, 23.
County
Sligo,"
Genealogie-;, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," n.
for the
of
Sheets
"' See O'Donovan's " 16, John
O'Donovan's "
*^3 See
Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," n. (x), p. 250.
and the which is (m), p. 470, map,
John
Genealogies,
prefixed This parish, in the barony of Carbury,
O'Donovan's
"
Leabhar na g-Ceart, or
holy man,
Book of Rights," n. (d), p. 99.
"S According to the " Annals of the Four
to that work, ^**
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 617
servant to escape from them. The saint said, moreover, that there never
should be wanting among this people magicians and evil-doers.
Then, St. Patrick came to his dear spiritual child. Prince Conall, and demanded from him, whether he would be content, or not, to be clothed with the habit of a religious. The prince answered, that his heart was ready
to perform, whatever the saint would enjoin him to do.
The holy bishop,
" Arise O
that you may assume the bachall. " Conall said, If it please thee, I shall
rejoicing
devotion, reported
said,
Conall,
much at his is to have
do so. " " That shall not said Patrick be,"
"
I will
and will give comarbs^^^ to thy race, and thou shalt be known as Conall
Sciath-bachall. '^'^^° The palm of laics and clerics shall be from thee ; and, every one of thy descendants, on whose shield the sign of my bachall shall be, will not be subdued. " ^31 Moreover, with the Staff of Jesus, the saint made a sign of the cross upon Prince Conal's shield. This device he and his pos- terity, ever after took for their escutcheon. ^32 The carrying of this shield, by anyofhisposterity,wassupposedtorenderthebearerinvincibleinwar. He went eastwards, into the territory of the Hy-Fiachrach,^33 of which district, thereweretwodistinctivetribesinConnaught. Hetravelledalongthesea- shore, but a flood of water opposed his passage. There was an unusually
large rock, at that place ; and, afterwards, it was designated Buaile- Patrick. little with a marked the site and Patrick for
mound, cross, ; there, A—
rested, the ancient
a short time.
the Bron=^34 of — Then, holy bishop, Caisel-Irra,
name for a stone fort in t
—he district of Cuil-Irra^35
Mac
and the
Rime^36 of Cill-Corcaraidhe'37 supposed^ss now to be the church of Conry239
is described on the "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Sligo,"
Sheets 7, 8, 13, 14, 20.
229 Or " church patrons. "
'30 the " to Or, shield-crozier," according
theIrishTripartiteLife; but,itwascalled,
Sciath-bachlach, or " the shield of the staff,"
according to the Latin Tripartite version. *3' Somewhat varied runs Jocelyn's narra-
''
tive of this prediction :
a shield, and a staff as the marks of sove-
And there was heard a whisper low— Prince of God's armies, was it thine ?
" Thou sword, keep pure thy virgin vow,
And trenchant shalt thou be as mine ! "
—"The Legends of St. Patrick," p. 94. ^^'^ The Hy-Fiachrach Aidhne were
located in Galway, their territory being ex- actly co-extensive with the diocese of Kil- macduagh. The northern and more power- ful tribe possessed that district, now occupied
Aubrey
Bron, Bishop in Ui-Fiachrach
the —or the
Caiseal-Irra,
of Irish A. D. Calendar.
is noted in the
Knight Chivalry :"
;
Inauguration
511,"
Thou shalt carry
reign power, and as the signs of thy great
merit. Thou shalt represent the person, by the baronies of Carra, of Erris, and of and habit of a layman, but thou shalt enjoy T)T:awley, in Mayo, with the district of Tir- the merit and dignity of a monk. Many Fiachrach, now the barony of Tireragh, in saints shall spring from thee, and many
nations of the earth shall be blessed in thy
seed. "
De Vere has celebrated this
'3*
incident in a poem intituled,
of Muaidhe, O'Clerys'
" Thou shalt not be a Priest," he said ;
"
Christ has for thee a lowlier task ; Be thou His Soldier ! Wear with dread His Cross upon thy shield and casque !
Put on God's armour, faithful knight !
iMercy with justice, love with law ; Nor e'er except for truth and right
Thy sword, cross-hilted, dare to draw. "
^35 There, too, now nearly overwhelmed
with sand, stood the church of Killaspug-
brone, near the town of Sligo. See John O'Donovan's "Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," n. (o), p. 470.
^36 He has not been identified, in our Calendars.
*37 This place lies a little south of the present bai-ony of Corkaree, and lying west ofLoughAnnen,nowLoughEnnel. Itis nearthecelebratedhillofUsneach. The
''
Patrick and
Hespake,andwithhiscrozierpointed
'Graved on the broad shield's brazen old church measures fifty-nine feet, by
boss
(That hour baptized, confirmed, anointed StoodErin'schivalry)theCross.
eighteen feet two inches ; two of its old bells were discovered some years ago, and soldinDublin, SeeRev. AnthonyCogan's
;
but,
support thy valour,
"
the county of Sligo. See John O'Donovan's
•'
Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book of Rights,"
n.
108.
*3^ At the 8th of " June,
(t), p.
holy
6i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 17.
or Conrigh, in the barony of Rathconrath, and county of Westmeatli—came to him ; and, there, too, he wrote an alphabet for them. ^'*° In this region,
the holy Patrick baptized the seven sons of Draighen f''^ who, it is stated, resided in a locality, now called Drynaghan's, namely Drinaghanbeg and Drinaghanmore. ^42 Amongthese,heselectedMacErca,^43subsequentlythe patron of Cillroe-mor,^'! * now Kilroe,^''^ a very ancient church,^-*^ in ruins,^''^ on a rocky eminence, and situated within Hy-Amalgaidh territory. '^^s Patrick gave him, after his baptism,^'*^ to Bishop Bron, to be fostered ; for, it would' not be easy to take him far away, in consequence of the love his father bore him. Then, St. Patrick marked out the site of Caisel-Irra fso and. Bishop Bron founded that place. Our holy Apostle prophesied, afterwards, that it should be deserted, by the Gentiles f^^ and, as he had predicted, so did events transpire.
CHAPTER XIII.
The holy man visits sligeach and calraighe—he meets with opposition, but overcomes it—he proceeds towards the boyle river—his successive mis- sions about druimdaire, glinne, druim-cliabh and magh-ene—he spends seven years in preaching, and in administering church affairs, within the connaught province.
Along the northern shore of Sligo County, St. Patrick proceeded, until he had arrived at the SHgeach River—now the Gitley^—and which flows through
""
Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern,"
vol. ii. , chap, xviii. , p. 424.
^33 According to a note 4, affixed to Miss
"
Cusack's Life of St. Patrick," p. 428.
Yet, this does not seem to us a reliable iden- tification.
^39 Now a parish, defined on the " Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Westmeath," Sheets 24, 25, 31. ^^° The Irish Tripartite writer adds to the
Macerca. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Eccle- siastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, xiii. , n. 122, p. 257.
^•s It is situated, in a townland of the same name, in the parish of Killala.
^"•^ It is built of very large stones, in the
primitive Irish style, being twenty-four feet inlength,byeighteenfeetinbreadth. See
John O'Donovan's "Genealogies, Tribes
and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," n. (n), p. foregoing account, as if quoting a more 470.
=*7 See M'Parian's " Statistical Survey of the County of Mayo," p. 147.
^•^John O'Donovan, in "Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachi-ach," p.
469, note, calls the place here mentioned, Forrach mac n-Amhalgaidh. See p. 469, n. (m). This, he says, was Mullaghfarry,
""•"^ Immediately after the baptism of Mac Erca, the Book of Armagh records the
singularly wrong, by saying, that it was
erected, either by St. Fechin, or by St.
Patrick. Colgan, whom he quotes, for that infant in her womb, with the water of purpose, has no such statement, nor does he baptism, ipsa est aqua cominunio viulkris ; mention any patron saint of Kilroe, except and they buried her in at the head of the
ancient author ; and, I have heard from
another, that in the said place, he gave a tooth from his jaw to Bishop Bron, for he was dear to Patrick.
^^^ So is he called, in the Irish Tripartite
Life ; in the Latin vei'sion, his name is
rendered Drogenius.
^''^ Tliese are two townlands in the
and there the church was
parish of Kilglass, and barony of Tireragh, to the
Killala,
built,
"
vey Townland Maps for the County of
north-east of Ballina. See
Ordnance Sur-
Sligo," Sheets 16, 17,
^'*3 It seems he possible, may
have had a
"And two came girls
festival, at the 15th of April, where the sons of Draighen of Cill-Ro are noted, in the
O'Clerys' Calendar.
^** Arciidall is right, when placing it in
"
Mayo. See Monasticon Hibernicum," p.
504. He is wrong, however, by converting it into an abbey ; and, he is still more
at
Ros filiorum Caitni, and not Catriu, as in Betham.
incidents
to Patrick, and took the veil at his hand, and he blessed for them the place of the wood of Fochloth. And behold, Patrick went up to the land, which is called Foirr- gea, of the sons of Amolngid, to divide it among the sons of Amolngid, and he built there a church of moist earth squared, be- cause wood was not at hand ; and they brought to him a sick woman, having an
following
:
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 619
the present town of Sligo, to which it has given name. ^ At that river, he
desired the to set their nets for him. said to " A sahnon fishermen, They him,
is not taken at this period of the winter ; but, as you desire it, however, we willdoasyoudirect. " Theyplacedtheirnets,andcaughtlargesalmon,and they gave them to Patrick ; and, he blessed the river, so that the Sligech was
deemed, afterwards, the most productive river of Erinn, and to such a degree, that fish is caught in it, during every quarter of the year. St. Patrick left Bishop Rodan,3 the herd, in Murrisk,^ and at a place, called after him, Cill-
Next, St. Patrick went to the Callraighe? of Cull Cernadhan,'° or Calregia de Culechernadan," otherwise, the territory of Calry. '^ The latter denomi- nation is still retained as the name of a parish, in the barony of Carbury, and
county of Sligo. '3 in this district, Coolcarney''* was situated. Here, the people at first opposed him, and they assembled with arms, in a secret place.
When St. Patrick and his disciples passed by, the intending waylayers brought their spears close to their shields, to assault the travellers. But, in his usual frank and agreeable manner, St. Patrick induced them to yield,
of
church ; and upon the grave is the seat of the saint, in the church, even to the present day ; and he built a certain church at Ross,
among the family of Caitrue, on an island of a bay of the sea. "
*so That flag, on which Patrick's tooth
fell, is in the middle of the lis, adds the
"
My debroth,"
" what did you
Life,
xxiii. , xxix. , xxx. , xxxi. , xxxii. , pp. 58 to 60 ; the Sixth Life, cap. lix. , Ix. , Ixi. , Ixiii. , Ixiv. , Ixvii. , Ixxvi. , Ixxxi,, cxii. , cxxiv. , cxxv. , cxxvi. , cxxxi. , cxxxviii. , cxlv. , clvi. , clvii. , clxix. , clxx. , clxxi. , clxxii. , clxxiii. , clxxiv. , clxxxiv. , pp. 78, 79, 82, 83, 84, 90, 92, 9S» 96, 97, 99, 105 ; the Seventh Life, pars, ii. , cap. liii. to xcvii. , pp. 137 to 142, and nn. 113 to 145, pp. 178 to 180. Also,
Maps for the County of Sligo," Sheets 12, 18.
sponding notes. — Chapter XIII.
ii. , cap. xviii. , xix. , xx. , xxi. ,
"
' Thus is it written, in the Irish Tripar- tite Life. Jocelyn calls this place Callria.
'° A note to Miss Cusack's version of the Iiish Tripartite Life identifies it, as Cool- carney, a district in the barony of Gallen, and county of Mayo. This comprises the
parishes of Altymas and Kilgarvan. How- ever, this does not seem to have been the place, to which allusion is made,
" Thus is the place called, in the Latin
Tripartite Life.
"See "The Topographical Poems of
John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , n. 269, p. xxxvii.
'3 See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Sligo," Sheets 8, 9 , 14, 15.
Miss Cusack's
of Ireland," pp. 408 to 429, with the cone-
Life of St. Patrick, Apostle
'It is a corruption of Gilly, which empties, from the beautiful
Lough Gill, and passes into Sligo Bay.
^
See John O'Donovan's "Genealogies, 3 The Calendar of the O'Clerys has a
Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach,"
Addenda, P, n. (p), p. 470.
known as Muirsce, or the " ^ sea-plain,"
Rodain. s That
extended from the River Easkey, eastwards, to a stream, which flows into the sea, between the present townlands of Ballyecskeen, in the parish of Templeboy,7 and Dunnacoy. ® His calves would only do what Rodan counselled, because he was remarkable for obedience, towards his own master, St. Patrick. Wherefore, the harpers and musicians had a proverb, the nature of which is not recorded.
Easpuig
district,
to his
is not good. Every battle and every conflict which you wage, and your children after you, shall be gained over you. " They forthwith knelt to Patrick, and asked his pardon, for their obstinacy and resistance, excepting
owing
powers
persuasion.
he,
Irish Tripartite Life. 471.
^5' See the Third s it would from the that Life, cap. xlix. , I. , li. , appear, above,
the name, Muirisk, most likely preceded that of Cill-Espuig-Rodain.
lii. , liii. , liv. , Ivi. , Ixii. , Ixvii. , Ixix. , Ixxvii. , Ixxxv. , pp. 25 to 28 ; the Fourth Life, cap. lix. , Ix. , Ixi. , Ixii. , Ixiii. , Ixiv. , Ixv. , Ixvi. , Ixvii. , Ixviii,, Ixix. , Ixx,, pp. 43, 44; the Fifth lib.
^
Se&ibid. , n. (b), p. 257.
said
Bishop Rodan, at the 24th of August, but without naming any place,
* In Colgan's Latin copy, it is incorrectly called Muireschaigle ; and, thus, John O'Donovan was misled, by such a statement. See "Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of
Hy-Fiachrach," Addenda P. , n. (q),- p.
