Monan was
identical
with the present St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Toddand Reeves, pp.
56.
57.
chap.
February 23. ] LIVES OB THE IRISH SAINTS. 681
height," and it is applied, in a compound way, with the name ot many Irish localities. As taken singly, the etymon Ard or Arda is generally understood to mean the Ards or Heights of Ulster. These are co-extensive with the baroniesofArds,inthepresentcountyofDown. Aswehaveseen,inthe preceding article, Colgan had a far-fetched conjecture, to identify the present holy person, with the martyr, St. Fingar.
Article III. —St. Ernin Cass, of Leighlin, County of Carlow. The name, Cass, of Leth-glinn, is inserted in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 23rd of February. In a subsequent entry, at the same date, Ernine Lethglinn, is added. It is different, in a later Calendar. This day, accord- ing to the Martyrology of Donegal,^ was venerated, Ernin Cas, of Leith- ghienn. The compound name appears thus to liave been intended only for a single individual saint, and not for two distinct persons, at the same day and place. The present town of Old Leighlin3 was the site of St. Cobban's* original monastic establishment, but the See of Leighlin, Old Leighlin or LaughlinwasfoundedherebySt. Laserian,sabouta. d. 632. Atown,or city, of considerable extent, grew up in this place,^ and it had quite a historic renown in our Annals. The ancient Cathedral of Leighlin having become ruinous, it was rebuilt by King Henry II. and by Bishop Donat. It was dedicated to St. Laserian. The Cathedral was burned, however, in 1232. It is very likely, that the square tower of the belfry, yet remaining, dates back to this period, if it be not older, and it might have escaped the fire. Entering at one of its internal angles, the visitor may ascend through its various stages to the outer parapet wall, with which it is crowned. A wind- ing stone stair, in very good preservation, leads to this elevated position, from which the view is truly magnificent. Other curious remains of early architecture, which are still to be seen in the building, deserve the study of the antiquarian and of the architect. In the earlier part of the sixteenth century, Bishop Saunders rebuilt the choir. 7 After the union of the Sees of
Ferns and LeighUn, according to the Protestant arrangement, in 1600, this Cathedral was converted into a parochial church. ^ A part of it, in ruins during the last century, is said to have belonged to Bishop Donates structure. The Protestant Ecclesiastical Commissioners undertook the restoration of Old Leighlin Cathedral, not many years ago. As in the generality of such efforts, they have miserably failed in antiquarian and architectural taste and knowledge. Yet,ifthechurchhadbeenfound,inaveryruinouscondition.
3 See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum,"
the Among pre-
s See his Life, at the i8th of April,
^ See " and of Ryan's History Antiquities
the County of Carlow," chap, ii. , p. 25.
' See Camden's "Britannia. " Cough's
tomus
Februarii xxiii.
iii. ,
termitted saints, p. 360.
Article hi. —' Edited
by
Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xvi. ^*^
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 56, 57.
3 The parish of Oldleighlin is situated in the barony of Idrone West, and it is defined
The accompanying illustration has been taken on the spot by William F. Wakeman, before its late restoration, and transferred by him to the wood. The engraving is by Mrs. Millard.
9 Then Lieutenant Daniel Grose furnished
a drawing of this Cathedral, on the eastern
side. An elegant, and we may presume, an
on the
**
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Carlow," Sheets ii, 12, 15, 16. The townland proper is seen on Sheets ii, 15, while the town is shown on Sheet II.
exact copper-plate engraving, representing
* This was St.
probably Gobban,
who is
be in Grose's " of it, may seen, Antiquities
venerated at the 23rd of May.
Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 33.
Additions.
62>2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February 23.
when this modern work was commenced, a model and an architectural fac- simile of its exact state, in the year 1792, was available. 9 That portion of the north-eastern addition on the nave and choir, at present, does not correspond, in any degree of exactitude, with its condition during the last century. Whether the saint, noticed in our Calendars, at this date, was a bishop of
Cathedral of Old Leighlin, County of Carlow.
Leighlin, or connected with some monastic establishment there, does not seemtobeknown. Hisperiodhasalsoeludedourenquiries.
Article IV. —Saints Mannan and Tiaan, of Aredh-suird or Air- lUDHH-UiRD. Littleisknown,regardingthesesaints,exceptwhatwefind stated in the Irish Martyrologies. In those of Tallagh,^ of Marianus O'Gorman, as also of his Scholiast, and of Donegal, their feast is referred, to the 23rd of February. It is stated, that their memory had been venerated, at a place, called Aredh-suird, according to the first-named authority. But, Mannan, and Tian, of Airiudh h-Uird, are mentioned in the Martyrology of Donegal^ as having had a festival, at this date. Tian is likewise designated, Theonas, in a table appended to this record of our national saints. 3 Their Acts, or rather a few doubtful notices, concerning them, are given by Father John Colgan, at the 23rd of February ^-^ while, at this same date, the Bollan- dists acknowledge their obligations to him, for communicating some manu-
script
materials to illustrate their own briefer notices. s
In the — Martyrology
a in our Calendars, it is possible, both endured death for the faith, being thus
of Tallagh, the first-named saint, Mannan, is called
termmostusuallyappliedtoamartyr; and,asbothnamesarefoundunited,
Article iv. —* Edited
xxiii. Februarii. Acta SS. Mannani
Rev. Dr. ="
Kelly, p, xvi. EditedbyDrs. ToddandReeves,pp.
sSee ActaSanctorum,"tomusiii. ,Feb- ruariixxiii. Amongthepretermittedsaints p. 360.
56,57. 3 See
tbid. y pp. 474, 475.
^ See '* Acta Sanctorum Hiber« ^ Colgan's
This,
now called lies in the Frith May,
by
nise,"
et Tiaani, and nn. I, 2, p. 392.
"" strenuus pugil
February 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 683
united in suffering, as in their triumph. However, it is rather doubtful, whether we should adopt Colgan's conjecture, that both these saints might constitute a very small number among those martyrs, who suffered death in Maia Island,^ off the coast of Scotland, in a. d. 874,7 or thereabouts, during a hostile incursion of the Danes. ^ As one of these athletes was called Monan, Colgan supposes he might be identical with Mannan ; and, as to Tiaan, the nearest formal approach to it, he can discover, is the name of Adrian. 9 But this appellative does not appear to us, at all similar to the other. We find, Hector Boece'° and Thomas Dempster" in their respective Histories of Scotland, as also Camerarius, in his Scottish Martyrology,^- relate more fully that event, to which Colgan alludes. We are informed, that St. Monan, when a young man, and impelled by a Divine impulse, left his parents. He became a disciple of St. Hadrian, Bishop of St. Andrew's. In their time, a great number of j^ious inmates lived in a well-known monastery, called Maia, in the district of Fife. When the Danish eruption threatened them, in Scotia,^3 some took refuge in caves and dens, where they escaped death, but yet were obliged to endure great hardships. However, a vast multitude are said to have perished, when the Danes set fire to the monas- tery, and their torments were excruciating. Some of those martyrs' names are preserved, viz. : the Venerable Bishops Hadrian, Glodian, Gains, Monan, Archdeacon of St. Andrew's,'^ Stolbrand, a Bishop, with many others, whose names are not recorded. 's Some writers have asserted, that those martyrs were Hungarians, and that, to avoid troubles, which then prevailed in Germany, they passed over into Scotland ; while other authors do not hesi-
tatetoaver,thattheybelongedindiscriminatelytoScotiaandAnglia. But, from whatever quarter they came, adds Boetius, they adopted Scottish customs, and taught the truth, persevering in piety, by word and work, until finally suffering martyrdom, for the sake of Christ, they were placed among the blessed ones, and continued to benefit with their prayers each day, those who piously invoked them. In times after their martyrdom, the faithful flocked to their shrine, which was made illustrious by frequent miracles ; while, both in Scotia and in Anglia, they were held, in very great veneration. The merits of St. Modan are praised by Camerarius, in an especial manner, and, at his tomb, miracles were of constant recurrence. One miracle, in particular, is deemed deserving of record. David 11. ,'^ King of Scotland, had been wounded grievously with a hooked iron arrow-head, which the
of Forth. See an interesting account of it,
*'
^° "
See Scotorum Hystoria? ," lib. x,, p.
ccvi.
"See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
in Fullarton's
land," vol. ii. , p. 402,
Imperial Gazetteer of Scot-
" Historia Ecclesiastica
lib. xii. , num.
7 See
Gentis Scotorum,'' tomus i. , lib. i. , p. 21. Tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num. 834, p. 451. The English and Scottish Annals are cited, in a very vague manner.
"It is stated, that this was intended to avenge some injury done by the Picts. Hun- garus, Hubba, and Gadan, are said to have suffered martyrdom, on this occasion. See ibid.
9 His festival is said to have been held on the 4th of March, on the 1st of April, and on the 2nd of August. This saint is also said to have written a Book, " De Constan-
*'
cap. viii, Historia," lib. ix. , pp. 262 to 285.
Dempster's
Scotorum," p. 451.
tomus
ii. ,
834,
"
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num. 834, p.
451.
^^ Without any authority, Dempster states,
that he wrote a Book of Epistles to various persons, and a Book of Sacred Hymns,
'^ See also Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp. 266 to 268, and pp. 412, 413.
"He reigned from A. D. 1329 to 1370. in Scripturas. " For these statements. An interesting account of his reign will be Dempster quotes "Scotichronicon," lib. iv. , found in Buchanan's " Rerum Scoticarum
De Humilitate ad Monachos," and a Book, "Commentarium
tia Christiana," a Book,
'^ At the 1st of March, Camerarius places St. Monan's festival. See Bishop Forbes'
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 235.
^3 Dempster states, that Gad. an was then
"
king. See
684 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February23.
surgeons were not able to extract. Then placing his hopes ot cure in God
alone, and recollecting the many miracles, wrought through the merits of his servant, Monan, the king went to Inverness, where he had been entombed, and several of his nobles were in company. There, offering his prayers to God and to St. Monan, almost immediately afterwards the iron arrow-head came out of its own accord, without any pain, and scarcely leaving behind a single scar. As a thank-offering for so great a benefit, the monarch took care to have built a magnificent church there, which he dedicated to St. Monan. He also attached thereto a collegiate chapter of priests, for the due performance of choral services, and he furnished sufficient means, for
their support. It is probable enough, that some of those called Scoti, by Boetius, were natives of Ireland ; and, during the eighth and ninth centuries, numbers of our countrymen suffered for the faith of Christ, while the Danes and Northmen infested our shores. Whether or not the Scotch St.
Monan was identical with the present St. Mannan, or whether or not St. Tiaan had been among the holy band of martyrs alluded to, or may be confounded with St. Adrian, Colgan could not decide. ^? However, in a matter and manner, so very uncertain, as that to which he calls the reader's attention, no satis-
factory conjecture can even remotely be formed. In Ireland, it does not seem an easy matter, to connect these holy persons, with any particular time
or locality. There is a parish, called Kilmannan,^^ in Bargy, county of Wexford. ThereisatownlandofKilmannin,intheparishofBecan,barony of Costello, and county of Mayo. '9 Whether either has reference to this Saint Mannan cannot be ascertained with accuracy. On the road from
to there is a romantic Westport=° Leenaun,^^
valley,
Errive f^ but, this is only remotely similar to Aredh-suird or Ariudh h-Uird.
Article V. —The Daughters of ^nghus. King of Munster. \Sixth
Century^ We find this entry, Ingena ^ngusa, set down in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 23rd of February. Marianus O'Gorman has a similar notice. Where these daughters lived does not appear. Their father is thought to have beenthehusbandofDarenia,sistertoSt. EndeusofAran. ^ Afragmentof the old record, known as the Calendar of Cashel, says, that ^ngus had twelve sons, and as many daughters, dedicated to God, and all these bore either the clerical tonsure or the monastic habit. 3 Yet, we are unable to discover the names of these holy brothers and sisters. The daughters of Aenghus are also mentioned, in the Martyrology of Donegal as having a
^7 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xxiii. Februarii, p. 392.
*^
Its contents are shown on the **Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the Murrisk, on the " Ordnance Survey Town-
County of Wexford," Sheets 41, 42, 46, 47. The townland proper is on Sheet 42.
^5 See it marked on the " Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of
Mayo," Sheet 93.
=°
The town, quay, port and demesne of Westport, are situated, partly in the parish of Kilmeena, barony of Burrishoole, and
land Maps for the County of Mayo," Sheets 108, 116.
scene, in Mr. and Mrs. Hall's " Ireland :
its Scenery, Character," &c. , vol. iii. , p.
416. The views along the river are wildly
magnificent.
Article v. —Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xvi.
=* See his at the 2 1st of March, Acts,
3 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," i. Januarii. De S. Fanchea Virgine, n. 9, p. 3.
This lownland is defined, in the parish
and barony of Ross, on the "Ordnance 56, 57.
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Article vi. — Edited by
this is to be seen on the
Tovraland for the Maps
'*
Ordnance Survey
Sheets 76, 77, 87, 88; and partly in the
parish of Oughaval, barony of Murrisk, and
this is to be seen on Sheet 88, ibid.
"
4 Edited by Drs, Todd and Reeves, pp.
County
of
Mayo,"
known as " or Erriff,
Galway," Sheets ii, 12, 24, 25.
" This tract or townland is pictured in
the parish of Aghagower, and barony of
=^3 j^ee a
beautifully engraved
view of this
'
'
Rev. Dr.
February 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 685
estival on this day. They flourished, most probably, in the southern parts of Ireland, and during the sixth century.
Article VI. —Cruimther Connrach, or Conry, or Conrius. \Sixth Century. '] This holy man was probably born, towards the middle of the sixthcentury,ifthedataforthisnoticebewellfounded. Wefindanentry,
in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 23rd of February, regarding Cruimther Connrach. According to Colgan's statements, this saint was a nephew of the illustrious St. Columkille. His mother was Sinecha, or Sinech,* and he
belongedtotheposterityofMocukein. 3 Thus,wearetold,thatoneofher sons was Aidan,-* a monk, who was buried in Cuil-uisque, another was Cucuimne, Abbot of Hy, and buried there, after a good old age, while the other was Conrius Mocukein, the present holy man. s He was a disciple to hisrenowneduncle. ^ Thisholymanseemstohavebecomeamonk,asalso from his title, a priest, in the Monastery of Durrow. 7 There he was interred, as we are informed in a valedictory poem, attributed to St. Columba, when he was taking leave of that place, before returning to Britain. ^ Therefore, his nephew seems to have died at an early age. Cruimhther Connrach? is
^°
as having a festival on this day. According to a commentator, he is said to belong to the Ards. "
Article VII. —St. Colman or Columnan. The name Colman, with- out any further designation, occurs in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 23rd of February. The Martyrology of Donegal mentions Columnan,3 as having been venerated on this day. It is not easy to distinguish him, by race or by locality, among the many saints, to whom a similar name applies.
Article VIII. —St. Madian, Bishop and Martyr. At the 23rd of
February, the following entry is found in the " Feilire " of St. ^ngus. The ""
entered in the Martyrology of Donegal,
stanza, from the Leabhar Breac copy, and its English translation, have been furnished by Professor O'Looney. The Bollandists have no notice —of
this saint, at the same date, nor elsewhere can we find an account of him
:
Kelly, p. xvi.
s gee ibid. Tertia Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, pars ii. , num. 12, p. 472.
^
She was the third sister of St. Columba.
e. tiii. kl.
mAtnAti in
c-<\fpuL,
3 That *' oftheraceofKien. " is,
9 Ina
note,
Dr. Todd at this word says
"Oon
Con 'oeticli A-oicciAtLA.
|Mc>iitiT) ^onfriAToeA,
Madian, the bishop,
For Christ he suffered tortures
To heaven may he conduct us,
With those who have been in his alle2:iance.
4 Colgan thinks, he was St. Aidan, of Connrach " The later hand adds here, in
:
'" Both-medhbha, in the diocese of Derry. Roman characters, in Arda. '
s All the '° Edited Drs. Todd and Reeves, foregoing information, Colgan by
pp.
derives from St. Adamnan, or from his Scholiast.
56, 57.
" Probably the baronies of the Ards, in
^ See Colgan*s "Trias Thaumaturga. " the present county of Down.
Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse," cap. ii. , num. I, 5, 22, pp. 477 to 479, cap. X. , num. 35, p. 489.
7 See ibid. Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columba, cap. iv. , sect, ii. , p. 507.
Article vii. —' Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xvi.
2 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
56, 57.
3 fn a note, Dr. Todd says at this word,
;
686 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February 23.
Article IX. —Festival of St. Finianus, or St. Finian, Bishop of Clonard, County of Meath. [Fifth and Sixth Centuries. '] A feast in honour of St. Finianus is entered in the anonymous Calendar, published by O'Sullivan Beare, and at this day. Again, St. Finian, Bishop, is found in Henry Fitzsimon's list, at the 23rd of February. He quotes the Carthusian Martyrology,^ as an authority. At this date, following the authority of an Irish Office Book, printed at Paris, a. d. 1620, Colgan republishes it. as also a Life of the saint, taken from a Salamancan Manuscript. =^ The Bollandists have short notices of St. Finian, Confessor and Bishop of Meath, at the 23rd of February,3 but they resolved on deferring his Acts to the 12th of Decem- ber, which they deemed to be his principal feast. At the latter date, also, ourLifeofthisholybishopshallbefound,infullerdetail. HermanGreuen
gives his festival at the 23rd of February, as also the General Catalogue of Saints, published by Ferrarius. In the Carthusian Martyrology, Tyminus or Thiminus, at this date, is thought to have been a mistake for Finninus. Ussher has placed St. Finian's festival, at the 23rd of February. 4 Besides these, with his usual inaccuracy, Dempsters enters a festival for Finnan, a man of wonderful sanctity, in Anglia, at the 23rd of February. ^ Here, the bishop or abbot of Clonard is confounded with St. Finan,7 the bishop of
Lindisfarne, and the Apostle in Northumbria, although nearly a century elapsed between their respective epochs.
Article X. —St. Boisil, Abbot of Melrose, Scotland. \Senenth
St. Abbotof in was — at Century. ] Boisil, Melrose, Scodand, probably, or,
least, possibly,—a native of Ireland. Some particulars of his history
which is little known have been partially revealed to us, by the Venerable Bede. ^ It seems likely to have been the case, that Boisil received his early religious training, either in lona or Lindisfarne. He was born most probably about, or soon after, the beginning of the seventh century. In his public capacity, St. Boisil first appears in 651, as iht prepositus or prior of Melrose. ^ While a resident there, on the banks of the Tweed,3 he made several conversions to the ways of God, among the inhabitants of surrounding towns. He was also the preceptor of St. Cuthbert,4 whom he received with great cordiality, kind- ness, and a prophetic spirit, referring to his future celebrity. At this time, St. Eata,5 who was Abbot of Melrose and of Lindisfarne, happened to be present. Even, then he was the superior of St. Boisil ; both, having been
trained under the holy discipline of St. Aidan,^ first abbot and founder of Lindisfarne. The houses, thus established, adopted the Rule of St. Colum- kille,whichhadbeenpractisedatHy. Theadorablepersonsofthemost
Columjtan "The later hand * Sed : adds,
M. T. vocat ColtriAri. * But the Mart, of
Taml. calls him—Colman. "
**
dium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 49, 402. In like manner, the father of English
Scottish
Saints," p. 192.
chap.
February 23. ] LIVES OB THE IRISH SAINTS. 681
height," and it is applied, in a compound way, with the name ot many Irish localities. As taken singly, the etymon Ard or Arda is generally understood to mean the Ards or Heights of Ulster. These are co-extensive with the baroniesofArds,inthepresentcountyofDown. Aswehaveseen,inthe preceding article, Colgan had a far-fetched conjecture, to identify the present holy person, with the martyr, St. Fingar.
Article III. —St. Ernin Cass, of Leighlin, County of Carlow. The name, Cass, of Leth-glinn, is inserted in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 23rd of February. In a subsequent entry, at the same date, Ernine Lethglinn, is added. It is different, in a later Calendar. This day, accord- ing to the Martyrology of Donegal,^ was venerated, Ernin Cas, of Leith- ghienn. The compound name appears thus to liave been intended only for a single individual saint, and not for two distinct persons, at the same day and place. The present town of Old Leighlin3 was the site of St. Cobban's* original monastic establishment, but the See of Leighlin, Old Leighlin or LaughlinwasfoundedherebySt. Laserian,sabouta. d. 632. Atown,or city, of considerable extent, grew up in this place,^ and it had quite a historic renown in our Annals. The ancient Cathedral of Leighlin having become ruinous, it was rebuilt by King Henry II. and by Bishop Donat. It was dedicated to St. Laserian. The Cathedral was burned, however, in 1232. It is very likely, that the square tower of the belfry, yet remaining, dates back to this period, if it be not older, and it might have escaped the fire. Entering at one of its internal angles, the visitor may ascend through its various stages to the outer parapet wall, with which it is crowned. A wind- ing stone stair, in very good preservation, leads to this elevated position, from which the view is truly magnificent. Other curious remains of early architecture, which are still to be seen in the building, deserve the study of the antiquarian and of the architect. In the earlier part of the sixteenth century, Bishop Saunders rebuilt the choir. 7 After the union of the Sees of
Ferns and LeighUn, according to the Protestant arrangement, in 1600, this Cathedral was converted into a parochial church. ^ A part of it, in ruins during the last century, is said to have belonged to Bishop Donates structure. The Protestant Ecclesiastical Commissioners undertook the restoration of Old Leighlin Cathedral, not many years ago. As in the generality of such efforts, they have miserably failed in antiquarian and architectural taste and knowledge. Yet,ifthechurchhadbeenfound,inaveryruinouscondition.
3 See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum,"
the Among pre-
s See his Life, at the i8th of April,
^ See " and of Ryan's History Antiquities
the County of Carlow," chap, ii. , p. 25.
' See Camden's "Britannia. " Cough's
tomus
Februarii xxiii.
iii. ,
termitted saints, p. 360.
Article hi. —' Edited
by
Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xvi. ^*^
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 56, 57.
3 The parish of Oldleighlin is situated in the barony of Idrone West, and it is defined
The accompanying illustration has been taken on the spot by William F. Wakeman, before its late restoration, and transferred by him to the wood. The engraving is by Mrs. Millard.
9 Then Lieutenant Daniel Grose furnished
a drawing of this Cathedral, on the eastern
side. An elegant, and we may presume, an
on the
**
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Carlow," Sheets ii, 12, 15, 16. The townland proper is seen on Sheets ii, 15, while the town is shown on Sheet II.
exact copper-plate engraving, representing
* This was St.
probably Gobban,
who is
be in Grose's " of it, may seen, Antiquities
venerated at the 23rd of May.
Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 33.
Additions.
62>2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February 23.
when this modern work was commenced, a model and an architectural fac- simile of its exact state, in the year 1792, was available. 9 That portion of the north-eastern addition on the nave and choir, at present, does not correspond, in any degree of exactitude, with its condition during the last century. Whether the saint, noticed in our Calendars, at this date, was a bishop of
Cathedral of Old Leighlin, County of Carlow.
Leighlin, or connected with some monastic establishment there, does not seemtobeknown. Hisperiodhasalsoeludedourenquiries.
Article IV. —Saints Mannan and Tiaan, of Aredh-suird or Air- lUDHH-UiRD. Littleisknown,regardingthesesaints,exceptwhatwefind stated in the Irish Martyrologies. In those of Tallagh,^ of Marianus O'Gorman, as also of his Scholiast, and of Donegal, their feast is referred, to the 23rd of February. It is stated, that their memory had been venerated, at a place, called Aredh-suird, according to the first-named authority. But, Mannan, and Tian, of Airiudh h-Uird, are mentioned in the Martyrology of Donegal^ as having had a festival, at this date. Tian is likewise designated, Theonas, in a table appended to this record of our national saints. 3 Their Acts, or rather a few doubtful notices, concerning them, are given by Father John Colgan, at the 23rd of February ^-^ while, at this same date, the Bollan- dists acknowledge their obligations to him, for communicating some manu-
script
materials to illustrate their own briefer notices. s
In the — Martyrology
a in our Calendars, it is possible, both endured death for the faith, being thus
of Tallagh, the first-named saint, Mannan, is called
termmostusuallyappliedtoamartyr; and,asbothnamesarefoundunited,
Article iv. —* Edited
xxiii. Februarii. Acta SS. Mannani
Rev. Dr. ="
Kelly, p, xvi. EditedbyDrs. ToddandReeves,pp.
sSee ActaSanctorum,"tomusiii. ,Feb- ruariixxiii. Amongthepretermittedsaints p. 360.
56,57. 3 See
tbid. y pp. 474, 475.
^ See '* Acta Sanctorum Hiber« ^ Colgan's
This,
now called lies in the Frith May,
by
nise,"
et Tiaani, and nn. I, 2, p. 392.
"" strenuus pugil
February 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 683
united in suffering, as in their triumph. However, it is rather doubtful, whether we should adopt Colgan's conjecture, that both these saints might constitute a very small number among those martyrs, who suffered death in Maia Island,^ off the coast of Scotland, in a. d. 874,7 or thereabouts, during a hostile incursion of the Danes. ^ As one of these athletes was called Monan, Colgan supposes he might be identical with Mannan ; and, as to Tiaan, the nearest formal approach to it, he can discover, is the name of Adrian. 9 But this appellative does not appear to us, at all similar to the other. We find, Hector Boece'° and Thomas Dempster" in their respective Histories of Scotland, as also Camerarius, in his Scottish Martyrology,^- relate more fully that event, to which Colgan alludes. We are informed, that St. Monan, when a young man, and impelled by a Divine impulse, left his parents. He became a disciple of St. Hadrian, Bishop of St. Andrew's. In their time, a great number of j^ious inmates lived in a well-known monastery, called Maia, in the district of Fife. When the Danish eruption threatened them, in Scotia,^3 some took refuge in caves and dens, where they escaped death, but yet were obliged to endure great hardships. However, a vast multitude are said to have perished, when the Danes set fire to the monas- tery, and their torments were excruciating. Some of those martyrs' names are preserved, viz. : the Venerable Bishops Hadrian, Glodian, Gains, Monan, Archdeacon of St. Andrew's,'^ Stolbrand, a Bishop, with many others, whose names are not recorded. 's Some writers have asserted, that those martyrs were Hungarians, and that, to avoid troubles, which then prevailed in Germany, they passed over into Scotland ; while other authors do not hesi-
tatetoaver,thattheybelongedindiscriminatelytoScotiaandAnglia. But, from whatever quarter they came, adds Boetius, they adopted Scottish customs, and taught the truth, persevering in piety, by word and work, until finally suffering martyrdom, for the sake of Christ, they were placed among the blessed ones, and continued to benefit with their prayers each day, those who piously invoked them. In times after their martyrdom, the faithful flocked to their shrine, which was made illustrious by frequent miracles ; while, both in Scotia and in Anglia, they were held, in very great veneration. The merits of St. Modan are praised by Camerarius, in an especial manner, and, at his tomb, miracles were of constant recurrence. One miracle, in particular, is deemed deserving of record. David 11. ,'^ King of Scotland, had been wounded grievously with a hooked iron arrow-head, which the
of Forth. See an interesting account of it,
*'
^° "
See Scotorum Hystoria? ," lib. x,, p.
ccvi.
"See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
in Fullarton's
land," vol. ii. , p. 402,
Imperial Gazetteer of Scot-
" Historia Ecclesiastica
lib. xii. , num.
7 See
Gentis Scotorum,'' tomus i. , lib. i. , p. 21. Tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num. 834, p. 451. The English and Scottish Annals are cited, in a very vague manner.
"It is stated, that this was intended to avenge some injury done by the Picts. Hun- garus, Hubba, and Gadan, are said to have suffered martyrdom, on this occasion. See ibid.
9 His festival is said to have been held on the 4th of March, on the 1st of April, and on the 2nd of August. This saint is also said to have written a Book, " De Constan-
*'
cap. viii, Historia," lib. ix. , pp. 262 to 285.
Dempster's
Scotorum," p. 451.
tomus
ii. ,
834,
"
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num. 834, p.
451.
^^ Without any authority, Dempster states,
that he wrote a Book of Epistles to various persons, and a Book of Sacred Hymns,
'^ See also Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp. 266 to 268, and pp. 412, 413.
"He reigned from A. D. 1329 to 1370. in Scripturas. " For these statements. An interesting account of his reign will be Dempster quotes "Scotichronicon," lib. iv. , found in Buchanan's " Rerum Scoticarum
De Humilitate ad Monachos," and a Book, "Commentarium
tia Christiana," a Book,
'^ At the 1st of March, Camerarius places St. Monan's festival. See Bishop Forbes'
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 235.
^3 Dempster states, that Gad. an was then
"
king. See
684 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February23.
surgeons were not able to extract. Then placing his hopes ot cure in God
alone, and recollecting the many miracles, wrought through the merits of his servant, Monan, the king went to Inverness, where he had been entombed, and several of his nobles were in company. There, offering his prayers to God and to St. Monan, almost immediately afterwards the iron arrow-head came out of its own accord, without any pain, and scarcely leaving behind a single scar. As a thank-offering for so great a benefit, the monarch took care to have built a magnificent church there, which he dedicated to St. Monan. He also attached thereto a collegiate chapter of priests, for the due performance of choral services, and he furnished sufficient means, for
their support. It is probable enough, that some of those called Scoti, by Boetius, were natives of Ireland ; and, during the eighth and ninth centuries, numbers of our countrymen suffered for the faith of Christ, while the Danes and Northmen infested our shores. Whether or not the Scotch St.
Monan was identical with the present St. Mannan, or whether or not St. Tiaan had been among the holy band of martyrs alluded to, or may be confounded with St. Adrian, Colgan could not decide. ^? However, in a matter and manner, so very uncertain, as that to which he calls the reader's attention, no satis-
factory conjecture can even remotely be formed. In Ireland, it does not seem an easy matter, to connect these holy persons, with any particular time
or locality. There is a parish, called Kilmannan,^^ in Bargy, county of Wexford. ThereisatownlandofKilmannin,intheparishofBecan,barony of Costello, and county of Mayo. '9 Whether either has reference to this Saint Mannan cannot be ascertained with accuracy. On the road from
to there is a romantic Westport=° Leenaun,^^
valley,
Errive f^ but, this is only remotely similar to Aredh-suird or Ariudh h-Uird.
Article V. —The Daughters of ^nghus. King of Munster. \Sixth
Century^ We find this entry, Ingena ^ngusa, set down in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 23rd of February. Marianus O'Gorman has a similar notice. Where these daughters lived does not appear. Their father is thought to have beenthehusbandofDarenia,sistertoSt. EndeusofAran. ^ Afragmentof the old record, known as the Calendar of Cashel, says, that ^ngus had twelve sons, and as many daughters, dedicated to God, and all these bore either the clerical tonsure or the monastic habit. 3 Yet, we are unable to discover the names of these holy brothers and sisters. The daughters of Aenghus are also mentioned, in the Martyrology of Donegal as having a
^7 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xxiii. Februarii, p. 392.
*^
Its contents are shown on the **Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the Murrisk, on the " Ordnance Survey Town-
County of Wexford," Sheets 41, 42, 46, 47. The townland proper is on Sheet 42.
^5 See it marked on the " Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of
Mayo," Sheet 93.
=°
The town, quay, port and demesne of Westport, are situated, partly in the parish of Kilmeena, barony of Burrishoole, and
land Maps for the County of Mayo," Sheets 108, 116.
scene, in Mr. and Mrs. Hall's " Ireland :
its Scenery, Character," &c. , vol. iii. , p.
416. The views along the river are wildly
magnificent.
Article v. —Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xvi.
=* See his at the 2 1st of March, Acts,
3 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," i. Januarii. De S. Fanchea Virgine, n. 9, p. 3.
This lownland is defined, in the parish
and barony of Ross, on the "Ordnance 56, 57.
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Article vi. — Edited by
this is to be seen on the
Tovraland for the Maps
'*
Ordnance Survey
Sheets 76, 77, 87, 88; and partly in the
parish of Oughaval, barony of Murrisk, and
this is to be seen on Sheet 88, ibid.
"
4 Edited by Drs, Todd and Reeves, pp.
County
of
Mayo,"
known as " or Erriff,
Galway," Sheets ii, 12, 24, 25.
" This tract or townland is pictured in
the parish of Aghagower, and barony of
=^3 j^ee a
beautifully engraved
view of this
'
'
Rev. Dr.
February 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 685
estival on this day. They flourished, most probably, in the southern parts of Ireland, and during the sixth century.
Article VI. —Cruimther Connrach, or Conry, or Conrius. \Sixth Century. '] This holy man was probably born, towards the middle of the sixthcentury,ifthedataforthisnoticebewellfounded. Wefindanentry,
in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 23rd of February, regarding Cruimther Connrach. According to Colgan's statements, this saint was a nephew of the illustrious St. Columkille. His mother was Sinecha, or Sinech,* and he
belongedtotheposterityofMocukein. 3 Thus,wearetold,thatoneofher sons was Aidan,-* a monk, who was buried in Cuil-uisque, another was Cucuimne, Abbot of Hy, and buried there, after a good old age, while the other was Conrius Mocukein, the present holy man. s He was a disciple to hisrenowneduncle. ^ Thisholymanseemstohavebecomeamonk,asalso from his title, a priest, in the Monastery of Durrow. 7 There he was interred, as we are informed in a valedictory poem, attributed to St. Columba, when he was taking leave of that place, before returning to Britain. ^ Therefore, his nephew seems to have died at an early age. Cruimhther Connrach? is
^°
as having a festival on this day. According to a commentator, he is said to belong to the Ards. "
Article VII. —St. Colman or Columnan. The name Colman, with- out any further designation, occurs in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 23rd of February. The Martyrology of Donegal mentions Columnan,3 as having been venerated on this day. It is not easy to distinguish him, by race or by locality, among the many saints, to whom a similar name applies.
Article VIII. —St. Madian, Bishop and Martyr. At the 23rd of
February, the following entry is found in the " Feilire " of St. ^ngus. The ""
entered in the Martyrology of Donegal,
stanza, from the Leabhar Breac copy, and its English translation, have been furnished by Professor O'Looney. The Bollandists have no notice —of
this saint, at the same date, nor elsewhere can we find an account of him
:
Kelly, p. xvi.
s gee ibid. Tertia Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, pars ii. , num. 12, p. 472.
^
She was the third sister of St. Columba.
e. tiii. kl.
mAtnAti in
c-<\fpuL,
3 That *' oftheraceofKien. " is,
9 Ina
note,
Dr. Todd at this word says
"Oon
Con 'oeticli A-oicciAtLA.
|Mc>iitiT) ^onfriAToeA,
Madian, the bishop,
For Christ he suffered tortures
To heaven may he conduct us,
With those who have been in his alle2:iance.
4 Colgan thinks, he was St. Aidan, of Connrach " The later hand adds here, in
:
'" Both-medhbha, in the diocese of Derry. Roman characters, in Arda. '
s All the '° Edited Drs. Todd and Reeves, foregoing information, Colgan by
pp.
derives from St. Adamnan, or from his Scholiast.
56, 57.
" Probably the baronies of the Ards, in
^ See Colgan*s "Trias Thaumaturga. " the present county of Down.
Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse," cap. ii. , num. I, 5, 22, pp. 477 to 479, cap. X. , num. 35, p. 489.
7 See ibid. Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columba, cap. iv. , sect, ii. , p. 507.
Article vii. —' Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xvi.
2 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
56, 57.
3 fn a note, Dr. Todd says at this word,
;
686 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February 23.
Article IX. —Festival of St. Finianus, or St. Finian, Bishop of Clonard, County of Meath. [Fifth and Sixth Centuries. '] A feast in honour of St. Finianus is entered in the anonymous Calendar, published by O'Sullivan Beare, and at this day. Again, St. Finian, Bishop, is found in Henry Fitzsimon's list, at the 23rd of February. He quotes the Carthusian Martyrology,^ as an authority. At this date, following the authority of an Irish Office Book, printed at Paris, a. d. 1620, Colgan republishes it. as also a Life of the saint, taken from a Salamancan Manuscript. =^ The Bollandists have short notices of St. Finian, Confessor and Bishop of Meath, at the 23rd of February,3 but they resolved on deferring his Acts to the 12th of Decem- ber, which they deemed to be his principal feast. At the latter date, also, ourLifeofthisholybishopshallbefound,infullerdetail. HermanGreuen
gives his festival at the 23rd of February, as also the General Catalogue of Saints, published by Ferrarius. In the Carthusian Martyrology, Tyminus or Thiminus, at this date, is thought to have been a mistake for Finninus. Ussher has placed St. Finian's festival, at the 23rd of February. 4 Besides these, with his usual inaccuracy, Dempsters enters a festival for Finnan, a man of wonderful sanctity, in Anglia, at the 23rd of February. ^ Here, the bishop or abbot of Clonard is confounded with St. Finan,7 the bishop of
Lindisfarne, and the Apostle in Northumbria, although nearly a century elapsed between their respective epochs.
Article X. —St. Boisil, Abbot of Melrose, Scotland. \Senenth
St. Abbotof in was — at Century. ] Boisil, Melrose, Scodand, probably, or,
least, possibly,—a native of Ireland. Some particulars of his history
which is little known have been partially revealed to us, by the Venerable Bede. ^ It seems likely to have been the case, that Boisil received his early religious training, either in lona or Lindisfarne. He was born most probably about, or soon after, the beginning of the seventh century. In his public capacity, St. Boisil first appears in 651, as iht prepositus or prior of Melrose. ^ While a resident there, on the banks of the Tweed,3 he made several conversions to the ways of God, among the inhabitants of surrounding towns. He was also the preceptor of St. Cuthbert,4 whom he received with great cordiality, kind- ness, and a prophetic spirit, referring to his future celebrity. At this time, St. Eata,5 who was Abbot of Melrose and of Lindisfarne, happened to be present. Even, then he was the superior of St. Boisil ; both, having been
trained under the holy discipline of St. Aidan,^ first abbot and founder of Lindisfarne. The houses, thus established, adopted the Rule of St. Colum- kille,whichhadbeenpractisedatHy. Theadorablepersonsofthemost
Columjtan "The later hand * Sed : adds,
M. T. vocat ColtriAri. * But the Mart, of
Taml. calls him—Colman. "
**
dium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 49, 402. In like manner, the father of English
Scottish
Saints," p. 192.
