ThePremon-
stratenses
or White Canons were in possession of it, when suppressed in 1542, during the reign of Henry VIII.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Then,thegreat
Drumlease Cemetery, County of Leitrim.
missionary, having obtained this very beautiful site, with the fertile land adjoining it, seems to have become enamoured with that spot, and the grand scenery stretched around ; for, he erected houses, sheds or seats there, to accommodate himself and his disciples. On this account, the name was changed to Druim-lias. 4 But, the duties of his Apostleship caUing him
Article hi. —^ Edited Kelly, p. XV.
=
by
Rev. Dr.
3 So called, on account of the probably,
oaks, which covered this fine eminence in former times.
4 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. ciii. , p. 143-
See Miss M. F. Cusack's "Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland. " William M. Hennessy's version of the Irish Tripartite,
book ii. , p. 431.
VolII. 2F
434 LIVES 01' THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 9.
onward, in an easterly, or in a north-easterly, direction, he left the charge of a monastery founded there to his dalta, or foster-son, St. Benignus,5 who
ruled it, as superior, for twenty years. In the Martyrology of Donegal,^ the notice of Cruimhther Finne, of Druimlicce, occurs, at this date. It is pro-
bable, this Finne was a holy priest, who lived and died, at the monastery just indicated. The time, at which he flourished, cannot be ascertained ; yet, most likely, it was at an early date. At present, on the summit of a gently ascending cone-shaped hill, there is an ancient burial-ground, sur- rounded by a low stone wall, nearly quadrangular. 7 Only the foundations of an old church, which stood not long ago over the ground, can be traced under mounds of grass, in the middle of this cemetery. Several modern headstones and tombstones are now within the enclosure. From the grave- yard, a superb view is obtained. A deep descent, on every side, causes a widecircumvallation; andthenbegintoascendrangesofdistanthillsand mountains, circling like a vast amphitheatre, to the wavy lines of cloud-land on the far horizon. The Benbulban mountains, beyond Lough Gill, in Sligo, tower in forms of wild grandeur, while their cliffs along the sides seem to be scored by a thousand yawning seams, so as to be, in many places, quite inaccessible. Truly, our national Apostle must have relished keenly the beauties of nature, when in this case, as in nearly all other instances, he pitched his tent on the hill-tops, and revelled, with a fine poetic spirit, which underlies every effect of true devotion, while he adored the Creator, and admired the majesty of his works. Drumlease is in the diocese of Kilmore, and province of Armagh. ^ Here St. Patrick founded a monastery, with a church, near the River Buannad, or Boonid, before he placed St. Benignus overit. 9 Itgrewintoanestablishmentofconsi—derableimportance; for, previous to the ninth century, seven holy bishops who doubtless lived in the place—were there interred. *° This modern Drumlease appears to re- present the more ancient forms of name, Druim-daire and Drumlias. It was converted mto a parish," when the monastic establishment disappeared. " It is situated, near the eastern extremity of Lough Gill, in the barony of
Dromahaire, and county of Leitnm. It was placed, also, in the ancient territory of Brefifney. '3 It lies about one half mile south-east from Droma-
s Colgan has a doubt, as to whether this
be the St. Benignus, who succeeded St.
Patrick, in the Archiepiscopate of Armagh,
and whose feast occurs, at the 9th of No-
vember ; or, a St. Benignus, brother of St.
Cethech. Both of these were, likewise, his
disciples, and both of them were with him,
at this time, in Connaught. See ibid. , lib.
ii. , cap. lii. , and n. 109, pp. 136, 177, 178.
Yet, our national hagiologist inclines to the 14, 15. The townland proper is marked,
belief, that the present St. Benignus may be identical with a St. Benatius, who is noted in a list of the churches ol the diocese of Elphin, and who is said to have been vene- rated at Kill-cliuile, in the deaconate of Sil- mairedaich, at the 3rd of April.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
42, 43.
' the accompanying sketch has been
taken, by the writer, on the spot, in June, 1876 ; drawn on the wood, by William F.
Wakeman, ot Enniskillen, it has been en- graved by Mrs. Millard, of Dublin.
^
See Nicholas Carlisle's "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," sub voce DrunUease.
on the two latter sheets. A very consider- able number of ancient forts are to be found in the immediate neighbourhood of Drum- lease. The old graveyard and village site, on the north of the River Bonet, is marked on Sheet 15.
" Its see lands ** were formerly attached
to the archbishopric of Armagh, but were passed to the see of Kilmore, and are now leased in perpetuity. The charter of the church lan—ds, to Armagh, is in the Book of
» See Archdall's **Monasticon Hibemi- cum," p. 408.
*°
ment of the works of St. ^ngus the Culdee.
This Colgan states, from an old frag-
See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Septnna Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , nn. 150, 151, p. 180.
" Its bounds are defined on the "Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Leitrim. " Sheets 6, 7, 10, ii,
Miss M. F. Cusack's "Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," n. 4, p.
Armagh. " 431.
February 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 435
haire/4 to which an interesting drive for the tourist lies, through the winding glens'5 of the picturesque River Bonnet, which rushes over its broken courses, into the head of Lough Gill,^^ after passing the grand ruined fortahce of the O'Roorkes, Chiefs of West Breffney. '^ This, indeed, is a region for interesting exploration, on the part of an intelligent antiquary. The ruins of Creavelea*^ Franciscan Convent are quite close to the spot, on a truly picturesque situation, high over the spreading valley, which opens on either bank of the river, before it disembogues into Upper Lough Gill. This once splendid monastery'9 was erected a. d. 1508, by Owen O'Roorke, prince of Breifny, at the instance of his wife, Margaret O'Brien, daughter to Conor, King of Thoraond. ^° The founders here sleep, in the same tomb. In 1536, a fire broke out, and a considerable portion of the convent was destroyed. '* Soon, afterwards, it was repaired ; but, again, the place was desecrated by Sir Richard Bingham, the English governor of Connaught, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Through various vicissitudes, the Franciscan Friars, sometimes ejected from their noble house, and sometimes restored, yet lived on, in poor thatched cabins, in the neighbourhood, to the beginning of the last century. ^^' The entire of this grand structure was built of a fine grey lime-
stone, and the rums are yet, in many places, well preserved, although wholly unroofed. The monastic church, and the adjoining parts, are in the best
state of repair ; while, the refectory, dormitories, chapter-room and cloisters, with numerous outer buildings, are last hastening to decay. Some old tombs are lo be found, within the church, and the cemetery adjoining is still much used, as a place for interment. '3 The ancient conventual grounds have been converted mto a fine demesne, through which the pilgrim now
" **
Meehan's Rise and Fail of the Irish Fran-
ciscan Monasteries, and Memoirs ot the
Irish Hierarchy in the Seventeenth Cen«
*3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. Seplima Vita S. Patiicii, lib. ii. , nn. 150,
lease. or
151, p. 180.
'"* See Nicholas Carlisle's
"
cal Dictionary oi Ireland," sub voce^ Drum- The site is still called Carrig-Phadruig,
**
^5 This is the scene, which is supposed to
have inspired our poet Moore, when com-
posing these opening lines of a charming Irish melody :—
Patrick's Rock," because local tradi* tion has it, that St. Patrick erected a church on the same site. See ibid. , p. 83.
" In vol. iv. (2324-2340) of Burgundian Library Manuscripts, relating to Ireland, and preserved in Bruxelles, we find in the contents, a List of the Monasteries belong- ing to the Brothers of the Franciscan Mi- norites, in Ireland, as also a List 01 Provin- cials of the same order, in Ireland, from the beginning of the Retormation.
^"^ TheVenerableCharlesO'ConorofBa-
or Crievliagh Friars, the first rudiments of Latin, as we are told in that most interesting work, " Memoirs of the Life and Writings of the late Charles O'Conor, of Belanagare, Esq. , M. R. I. A. " By the Rev. Charles
Topographi-
tury," chap, vii. , pp. 82 to 86. ^°
•*
to
the visitor's gaze ; for, when driving down from 17 18 to 1724, by one of the Creavelea
The valley lay smilling before me. Where lately 1 left her behind ;
Yet, I trembled, and something hung o'er me,
That sadden'd the joy of my mind. "
the river's course, the vale and river before
often appear to ascend, with the windings of the road.
'' Fragments of the twelfth century castle seem to lie yet nearer to the river.
** A curious illusion is optical
produced
lenagare,
bom ist, 17 10, was taught, January
'^ It is sometimes called
town house and demesne immediately adjoin Creevelea ; on the opposite bank of the River Bonet, and navigable thence to Sligo, extend the town and castle of Drumahaire. These objects are shown, on Sheet 14 of the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Leitrim. "
'9 A very interesting account of this vener- able rum will be found, in Rev. C. P,
O'Conor,
D. D. , Member of the Acrtdemy
Crevilly.
Friars-
of Cortona," vol. i. , pp. 157, 158. H^ was
taught Irish grammatically, by the same
friar, who could scarcely speak a word of
English.
^3 The accompanying illustration was drawn on the wood, by William F. Wake- man, after a photograph, taken by Frederick H. Mares. It has been engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
436
LIVES 01' 7HE miSH SAINTS. [February 9.
approaches this place. The ancient monastery of Drum-lias was burned A. p. 1360. An old church in ruins, stood there f^ but, with many other interesting objects, it has now disappeared. The religious house here does not appear to have been afterwards restored ; and, the site was probably abandoned, by the
monks, although a parish church sup- plied the devotional wants of that neigh- bourhood. This would seem to have
become a rectory,^^
dependent on Creve- lea, after the Fran- ciscans obtained
possession of their home, in the latter
delightful locality. Besides, the more historic Drum-lias there is also a Drum-
lish f^ this is a village and townland in the parish of Killoe, in the barony and
county of Longford. ''7 In the county of Fer- managh, there are two different town-
—called Drum- lands,
the
parish of K-inawley, and barony of Clan- awley,^^ and the other in the parish of De- venish and barony of
lish one, in
Creevlea Ruins, County
Leitiim.
Magheraboy. ^9
Again, there is a Drumlish, in the parish of Tedavnet, barony and county Monaghan ;3o a Drumlish in the parish of Clooncraff, barony and county of Roscommon ;3» and a Drumlish, in the parish of Dromore, barony of Omagh East,andcountyofTyrone. 3=' Intheimmediateneighbourhoodofthetown of Larne, county of Antrim, on the top of a hill, called Drumalis,33 stood a
=4 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 616 to 618, and n. (i), ibid.
=5 In an inquisitioni in the reign of lames
I. , and taken during the first year, among
possessions of Creevalea, we find noticed,
'•
the rectory of Drerjleis," doubtless, Dnim- leis.
^'^ See ** Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Fermanagh. " Sheet 33-
=9 See ibid. . Sheets IS, 31.
3' See ** Oalnance Survey Townland '^ Marked on the " Ordnance Survey Maps for the County of Roscommon. "
Townland Maps for the County of Leitrim. " Sheet 5.
=7 See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 517, 518.
Sheet 17.
3= " Townland See Ordnance Survey
Maps for the County of Tyrone. " Sheet 42.
30 See
*'
Ordnance Sui-vey Townland
Maps for the County of Monaghan. " Sheet 6.
February 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 437
religious establishment, according to popular tradition. 34 Its existence is even proved by secular documents. The site is a most lovely one. 35 OriginallytheplaceseemstohavebeencalledClondumalis.
ThePremon- stratenses or White Canons were in possession of it, when suppressed in 1542, during the reign of Henry VIII. 36 However, it seems most likely, the Druim Licce of Cruimther Finne must be identified, with Drumlease, in Leitrim county.
Article IV. —Festival of the Second Deposition of St. Fursey's
Relics. [^Seventh Cenfury. ] Among the visions,' occurring in our native literature, the vision of St. Fursey is that most generally known. It is
doubted, among various respectable writers, whether the death of this holy contemplative—whose Acts have been already given, at the i6th of January—
should properly be assigned to that day,=' or rather to the 9th of February. 3 We have already seen, while Desmay marks the former date, as the anni-
versary for his canonization, he places St. Fursey's death, at the present
day. 4 Colgan supposes, as well on the authority of Desmay, that the i6th of January had been the day of our saint's canonization, and not of his death; as,also,becauseRaban,inhisMartyrology,callsittheday,notofa first, but of a second, deposition, of the saint. s By this, he means, the re-
"
33 Here the people of Larne were ac-
customed to assemble for festive sports on
Easter Monday, May Day, and on other
occasions, as described by the local poet E, I, 29 ; and E. 4, 12. In an ancient
and historian, Dr. M'Henry, in his novel,
vellum folio MS. , noted as vol. xxiv. . No.
7960, of the Library Catalogue, at Bruxelles, there is a copy of this Vision of the Irish soldier Tungdal, the authorship of which is attributed to one Marcus. It commences thus: "Incipit prologus Marci ad abbatis- sam quandam," and after this prologue com-
"
O'Halloran. "
34 The townlands of Drtimaliss and Curran,
in the parish of Larne, and barony of Upper Glenarm, are noticed on "Ordnance Survey Tow^nland Maps for the County of Antrim. " Sheets 35, 40.
35 In a lecture, delivered in the Town mences, " Ibernia igitur Insula. " The fol-
Hall of Larne, on Wednesday evening, Nov. , 6th, 1872, the Rev. Classon Porter, says : " It includes an extensive view of the Irish
channel, with the Maiden Lighthouses and
theScotchcoastinthedistance; ofIsland-
magee; oftheCorranandLarneLough; of
Magheremoume ; of Glynn village ; of the nuscript, from which the foregoing is ex- Bank Braes ; of the town and valley of
—Larne, and of the highlands of Kilwaghter
of mountain, hill and dale—which, varied magnificence, could not be surpassed ; nor can any one, in the present day, who is alive to the beauties of nature, look from the
top of this gently-sloping hill, on the gor- geous panorama, which is there spread before him, without admiring the taste of the holy men, who chose such a lovely spot as the scene of their pious labours, and the site of their peaceful abode. " Published in the Larne Reporter of that time.
tracted, was without any illuminations, nor could Mr. Bindon, who examined it, find any
in a
all enclosed picturesque background,
there.
3^ See ibid. —
Article iv.
^
One of these has lately
86.
4 From the statement of Venerable Bede,
been published, in the Italian language, " Visione di Tugdalo volgarizzata nel Secolo xiv. , ed ora per la prima volta posta in luce," da Francesco Corazzini. Bologna, 1872, sm. 4to. There are no less than
Dr. Lanigan supposed it to have been the "
for
Martyrologies, an old Life of St. Fursey, which has
and on
''
three copies of the
Visio Tungdali Mili-
tis," among the Trinity College MSS. , and these are marked as follows: "C. 4, 23;
lowing note, regarding this piece, is on the
"
Visio Tungdali militis Hiberni,
first folio.
an. 1 148, auctore Marco in qua mentio fit SS. Patricii apli Hiberni Malachite ep. Dun. Ruadani Nennise ep. Cluan. Coelestini ep. Armach. Chaini ep. Lundinen. " The ma-
trace of the Irish language
* on the Relying
xvii. Kalend. Februarii ad aeterna commigrasse regna," his death has been assigned, to the 16th of January, and the Bollandists concur. See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Februarii ix. Prsetermissi et in alios dies rejecti, pp.
575» 576.
3 The old author of St. Fursey's Acts,
makes the 9th of February the anniversary of his death. See Colgan's "Acta Sancto- rum Hibernise," xvi. Januarii. Vita S.
Furssei, lib. ii. , cap. xvii. , p.
day for his burial. See Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xyii. , sect. X. , n. 95, p. 463.
438 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 9.
moval of our saint's relics, at the time of translation, which took place four
years after Fursey's death. It is a more probable opinion, according to some, than that contained in our saint's old Acts, and in Desmay's Life, where it is asserted, the feast of Translation or Elevation of Furse/s remains, bySt. EligiusandSt. Autbert,occurredonthe9thofFebruary. Accord- ing to these same authorities, this was also the day of our saint's decease. For, it is supposed, the canonization, mentioned by Desmay, could have occurred, at no other time, than when the first translation or raising of Fursey'srelicstookplace. Suchanopinionhethinks,issustainedbyseveral old and respectable writers. *^ However, this matter has given rise to very opposite views. 7 Without presuming to decide this controverted point, it must suffice to present particulars, regarding our saint, and which have not been given in his Acts, as already written. ^ We have seen, that no sooner was Fursey's decease known,5 than Erchinoald sent a message to Haimoin, requesting him to resign his claim to the reHcs of the saint. This demand was rather unwillingly complied with ; but, the power and influence of the
former, and the favours which, during life, our saint accepted from him, together with the miracles wrought after Fursey's death, afforded Haimoin convincing reasons to satisfy the pious wishes of his benefactor. The body was accordingly removed to Perrone, with great funeral pomp and expense. Erchinoald caused a magnificent church to be built, in which he intended the remains of our saint should be preserved. This church had been com- menced before, but had not been completed at, that juncture, when the holy confessor's death occurred. St. Fursey's remains lay within the portals or porch of the church, whilst Erchinoald used every exertion and spared no cost, in completing the structure. The Patrician had resolved, this
•church should be finished, and in a style of great magnificence, so that, in some measure, it might be rendered worthy the majesty of God, and the sacred purposes for which it was destined. But, the enemy of mankind, envying the progress of every good work, tempted Leutsinda, wife of Erchnoald, to indulge in murmurs, at the great expense of this erection. In a wrathtul and avaricious spirit, she petulantly reproached her husband for expending treasures to a large amount, in behalf of a stranger, whose body alter some days should be reduced to ashes, and become the food of worms. The pious Erchinoald bore these murmurs of his wife with patience, recol- lecting the example set him by holy Job. ^° He warned Leutsinda, that she ought to perform penance for her impious murmurs, and repent without delay. Then, he recalled to her recollection, all those wonderful miracles
wrought by St. Fursey, and how all things had succeeded prosperously, so far as they were concerned. This success was attributed 10 the spiritual patronage of the saint, given in return for any temporal benefits bestowed
5 It is thought, by Colgan, that the date for St. Fursey's tirst burial happened on the 4th of March, because it is slated in his old Acts, book i. , chap, xl , and book ii. , chap. xiv. , that his body lay, for some time, in the porch of the new church at Perrone, until it
canonization seems to be assumed. But, there does not appear to be any record of a canonization, and we a. e probably only to
regard it, as commemorating the translation of liis body, and its expo. siiion, in an uncor- rupt state.
**
was ready for dedication, within thirty days, "
7 See Colgan's pendix, cap. x. , p. 98.
after his death. See Acta Sanctorum Hi- berniae," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Fursaei. Also, Appendix, cap. x. , pp. 82, 86, 89.
^
' Dr. Lanigan thinks it likely, St. Fursey
^ He says, that among others, may be cited, St. Notker, Raban Maur, Usuard and Venerable Bede, who was nearly a synchro- nns. These place him in their martyr- ologies, at this present day ; and, thus, his
died on the i6th of January. See
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Fursaei. Ap-
At the i6th of January.
Eccle- siastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap.
xvi. , sect, x. , and n. 92, pp. 461, 462.
'°
Jobii. , 9, 10.
February 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 439
on him. In fine, this religious noble declared, he doubted not, that the
Almighty would preserve his body from all putrefaction or decay henceforth, and that this immunity should be proved, at the time of its removal, and to
reprovetheunworthycomplaintsofhiswife. " Meantime,whennearlythirty days" had elapsed, St. Eligius,^3 or Eloi, Bishop of Noyon, and St. Aut- bertus,^** Bishop of Cambray, were invited to consecrate the church, and to assist at the removal of Saint Fursey's relics from the porch. A great mul- titude of people were present at the ceremonies, that took place, on this re- markable and solemn occasion. 's Among others, Leutsinda attendee'.
However, she was drawn thither, rather through a spirit of curiosity, than of piety, being desirous of witnessing with her own eyes, the state in which the saint's relics should be found. Whilst assistants were preparing to remove his body from the tomb, and bear it into the church enclosure, with pious reverence ; Leutsinda ordered the shroud to be removed from the corpse. But, when attempting to look upon St. Fursey's remains, she found herself suddenly deprived of sight. Then being terrified, and bursting forth into tearsandlamentations,Leutsindaprostratedherselfbeforethebody. She besought the holy Bishops, Eligius and Autbert, to intercede for her, by offer- ing up their prayers to St. Fursey, for the restoration of her vision. She declared at their feet, she had grievously sinned, but that she then sincerely repented. Wherefore, the holy prelates offered up their prayers for the penitent, and being joined by all the people present, Leutsinda was again restored to the use of sight. Giving thanks and praises to God, she devoted herselfandallherpossessionstoSt. Fursey. Afterwards,shesawtheremains
of this holy confessor, in a perfect state, as if he had only departed at that moment. All those, who were present in the church, beheld the sacred re-
mains in a condition of perfect preservation. The holy bishops, who were in attendance, took the venerable relics of the saint in their arms, while hymns were sung. They bore the sacred body into the Church of St. Peter
'^
and St. Paul. It was there deposited behind the high altar,
spices were placed in the coffin, containing the relics of our saint. '7 His
accidit. "—" Annales Ordinis S. Bcnedicti," tomus i. , lib. xiv. , sect, i. , p. 410.
'*
Bede states, it was buried near the altar,
'^ Venerable Bede says, that the body of
St. Fursey lay twenty-seven days in the porch of the church, before its first transla-
"
tion. See Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 19, p. 215.
'« Bede says :" Sed & post annos quatuor constructa domuncula cultiore receptui cor- poris ejusdem, ad orientem altaris adhuc sine macula corruptionis inventum ibidem
digno cum eum honore translatum est. "
'^ These particulars Bede relates, from the little book of St. Fursey's ancient Acts,
bodies of Saints Meldan and Beodan. St. Fursey himself had already entombed
these saints, in the very place then occupied by their remains. Fragrant
in that '^ until some sort of shrine had been place,
for four
fashi9ned, which was destined to exhibit more reverence towards the saint. We are told the body had been buried, at the east side of the altar. ''s Moved by the wonderful miracles daily wrought at the tomb of the saint, Erchinoald and his wife Leutsinda at length founded a college of Regular Canons, which they endowed with ample possessions. The piety of various French
body lay
years
" See
cap. XV. , p. 86.
** Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nias,"xvi. Januarii.
Drumlease Cemetery, County of Leitrim.
missionary, having obtained this very beautiful site, with the fertile land adjoining it, seems to have become enamoured with that spot, and the grand scenery stretched around ; for, he erected houses, sheds or seats there, to accommodate himself and his disciples. On this account, the name was changed to Druim-lias. 4 But, the duties of his Apostleship caUing him
Article hi. —^ Edited Kelly, p. XV.
=
by
Rev. Dr.
3 So called, on account of the probably,
oaks, which covered this fine eminence in former times.
4 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. ciii. , p. 143-
See Miss M. F. Cusack's "Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland. " William M. Hennessy's version of the Irish Tripartite,
book ii. , p. 431.
VolII. 2F
434 LIVES 01' THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 9.
onward, in an easterly, or in a north-easterly, direction, he left the charge of a monastery founded there to his dalta, or foster-son, St. Benignus,5 who
ruled it, as superior, for twenty years. In the Martyrology of Donegal,^ the notice of Cruimhther Finne, of Druimlicce, occurs, at this date. It is pro-
bable, this Finne was a holy priest, who lived and died, at the monastery just indicated. The time, at which he flourished, cannot be ascertained ; yet, most likely, it was at an early date. At present, on the summit of a gently ascending cone-shaped hill, there is an ancient burial-ground, sur- rounded by a low stone wall, nearly quadrangular. 7 Only the foundations of an old church, which stood not long ago over the ground, can be traced under mounds of grass, in the middle of this cemetery. Several modern headstones and tombstones are now within the enclosure. From the grave- yard, a superb view is obtained. A deep descent, on every side, causes a widecircumvallation; andthenbegintoascendrangesofdistanthillsand mountains, circling like a vast amphitheatre, to the wavy lines of cloud-land on the far horizon. The Benbulban mountains, beyond Lough Gill, in Sligo, tower in forms of wild grandeur, while their cliffs along the sides seem to be scored by a thousand yawning seams, so as to be, in many places, quite inaccessible. Truly, our national Apostle must have relished keenly the beauties of nature, when in this case, as in nearly all other instances, he pitched his tent on the hill-tops, and revelled, with a fine poetic spirit, which underlies every effect of true devotion, while he adored the Creator, and admired the majesty of his works. Drumlease is in the diocese of Kilmore, and province of Armagh. ^ Here St. Patrick founded a monastery, with a church, near the River Buannad, or Boonid, before he placed St. Benignus overit. 9 Itgrewintoanestablishmentofconsi—derableimportance; for, previous to the ninth century, seven holy bishops who doubtless lived in the place—were there interred. *° This modern Drumlease appears to re- present the more ancient forms of name, Druim-daire and Drumlias. It was converted mto a parish," when the monastic establishment disappeared. " It is situated, near the eastern extremity of Lough Gill, in the barony of
Dromahaire, and county of Leitnm. It was placed, also, in the ancient territory of Brefifney. '3 It lies about one half mile south-east from Droma-
s Colgan has a doubt, as to whether this
be the St. Benignus, who succeeded St.
Patrick, in the Archiepiscopate of Armagh,
and whose feast occurs, at the 9th of No-
vember ; or, a St. Benignus, brother of St.
Cethech. Both of these were, likewise, his
disciples, and both of them were with him,
at this time, in Connaught. See ibid. , lib.
ii. , cap. lii. , and n. 109, pp. 136, 177, 178.
Yet, our national hagiologist inclines to the 14, 15. The townland proper is marked,
belief, that the present St. Benignus may be identical with a St. Benatius, who is noted in a list of the churches ol the diocese of Elphin, and who is said to have been vene- rated at Kill-cliuile, in the deaconate of Sil- mairedaich, at the 3rd of April.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
42, 43.
' the accompanying sketch has been
taken, by the writer, on the spot, in June, 1876 ; drawn on the wood, by William F.
Wakeman, ot Enniskillen, it has been en- graved by Mrs. Millard, of Dublin.
^
See Nicholas Carlisle's "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," sub voce DrunUease.
on the two latter sheets. A very consider- able number of ancient forts are to be found in the immediate neighbourhood of Drum- lease. The old graveyard and village site, on the north of the River Bonet, is marked on Sheet 15.
" Its see lands ** were formerly attached
to the archbishopric of Armagh, but were passed to the see of Kilmore, and are now leased in perpetuity. The charter of the church lan—ds, to Armagh, is in the Book of
» See Archdall's **Monasticon Hibemi- cum," p. 408.
*°
ment of the works of St. ^ngus the Culdee.
This Colgan states, from an old frag-
See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Septnna Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , nn. 150, 151, p. 180.
" Its bounds are defined on the "Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Leitrim. " Sheets 6, 7, 10, ii,
Miss M. F. Cusack's "Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," n. 4, p.
Armagh. " 431.
February 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 435
haire/4 to which an interesting drive for the tourist lies, through the winding glens'5 of the picturesque River Bonnet, which rushes over its broken courses, into the head of Lough Gill,^^ after passing the grand ruined fortahce of the O'Roorkes, Chiefs of West Breffney. '^ This, indeed, is a region for interesting exploration, on the part of an intelligent antiquary. The ruins of Creavelea*^ Franciscan Convent are quite close to the spot, on a truly picturesque situation, high over the spreading valley, which opens on either bank of the river, before it disembogues into Upper Lough Gill. This once splendid monastery'9 was erected a. d. 1508, by Owen O'Roorke, prince of Breifny, at the instance of his wife, Margaret O'Brien, daughter to Conor, King of Thoraond. ^° The founders here sleep, in the same tomb. In 1536, a fire broke out, and a considerable portion of the convent was destroyed. '* Soon, afterwards, it was repaired ; but, again, the place was desecrated by Sir Richard Bingham, the English governor of Connaught, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Through various vicissitudes, the Franciscan Friars, sometimes ejected from their noble house, and sometimes restored, yet lived on, in poor thatched cabins, in the neighbourhood, to the beginning of the last century. ^^' The entire of this grand structure was built of a fine grey lime-
stone, and the rums are yet, in many places, well preserved, although wholly unroofed. The monastic church, and the adjoining parts, are in the best
state of repair ; while, the refectory, dormitories, chapter-room and cloisters, with numerous outer buildings, are last hastening to decay. Some old tombs are lo be found, within the church, and the cemetery adjoining is still much used, as a place for interment. '3 The ancient conventual grounds have been converted mto a fine demesne, through which the pilgrim now
" **
Meehan's Rise and Fail of the Irish Fran-
ciscan Monasteries, and Memoirs ot the
Irish Hierarchy in the Seventeenth Cen«
*3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. Seplima Vita S. Patiicii, lib. ii. , nn. 150,
lease. or
151, p. 180.
'"* See Nicholas Carlisle's
"
cal Dictionary oi Ireland," sub voce^ Drum- The site is still called Carrig-Phadruig,
**
^5 This is the scene, which is supposed to
have inspired our poet Moore, when com-
posing these opening lines of a charming Irish melody :—
Patrick's Rock," because local tradi* tion has it, that St. Patrick erected a church on the same site. See ibid. , p. 83.
" In vol. iv. (2324-2340) of Burgundian Library Manuscripts, relating to Ireland, and preserved in Bruxelles, we find in the contents, a List of the Monasteries belong- ing to the Brothers of the Franciscan Mi- norites, in Ireland, as also a List 01 Provin- cials of the same order, in Ireland, from the beginning of the Retormation.
^"^ TheVenerableCharlesO'ConorofBa-
or Crievliagh Friars, the first rudiments of Latin, as we are told in that most interesting work, " Memoirs of the Life and Writings of the late Charles O'Conor, of Belanagare, Esq. , M. R. I. A. " By the Rev. Charles
Topographi-
tury," chap, vii. , pp. 82 to 86. ^°
•*
to
the visitor's gaze ; for, when driving down from 17 18 to 1724, by one of the Creavelea
The valley lay smilling before me. Where lately 1 left her behind ;
Yet, I trembled, and something hung o'er me,
That sadden'd the joy of my mind. "
the river's course, the vale and river before
often appear to ascend, with the windings of the road.
'' Fragments of the twelfth century castle seem to lie yet nearer to the river.
** A curious illusion is optical
produced
lenagare,
bom ist, 17 10, was taught, January
'^ It is sometimes called
town house and demesne immediately adjoin Creevelea ; on the opposite bank of the River Bonet, and navigable thence to Sligo, extend the town and castle of Drumahaire. These objects are shown, on Sheet 14 of the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Leitrim. "
'9 A very interesting account of this vener- able rum will be found, in Rev. C. P,
O'Conor,
D. D. , Member of the Acrtdemy
Crevilly.
Friars-
of Cortona," vol. i. , pp. 157, 158. H^ was
taught Irish grammatically, by the same
friar, who could scarcely speak a word of
English.
^3 The accompanying illustration was drawn on the wood, by William F. Wake- man, after a photograph, taken by Frederick H. Mares. It has been engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
436
LIVES 01' 7HE miSH SAINTS. [February 9.
approaches this place. The ancient monastery of Drum-lias was burned A. p. 1360. An old church in ruins, stood there f^ but, with many other interesting objects, it has now disappeared. The religious house here does not appear to have been afterwards restored ; and, the site was probably abandoned, by the
monks, although a parish church sup- plied the devotional wants of that neigh- bourhood. This would seem to have
become a rectory,^^
dependent on Creve- lea, after the Fran- ciscans obtained
possession of their home, in the latter
delightful locality. Besides, the more historic Drum-lias there is also a Drum-
lish f^ this is a village and townland in the parish of Killoe, in the barony and
county of Longford. ''7 In the county of Fer- managh, there are two different town-
—called Drum- lands,
the
parish of K-inawley, and barony of Clan- awley,^^ and the other in the parish of De- venish and barony of
lish one, in
Creevlea Ruins, County
Leitiim.
Magheraboy. ^9
Again, there is a Drumlish, in the parish of Tedavnet, barony and county Monaghan ;3o a Drumlish in the parish of Clooncraff, barony and county of Roscommon ;3» and a Drumlish, in the parish of Dromore, barony of Omagh East,andcountyofTyrone. 3=' Intheimmediateneighbourhoodofthetown of Larne, county of Antrim, on the top of a hill, called Drumalis,33 stood a
=4 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 616 to 618, and n. (i), ibid.
=5 In an inquisitioni in the reign of lames
I. , and taken during the first year, among
possessions of Creevalea, we find noticed,
'•
the rectory of Drerjleis," doubtless, Dnim- leis.
^'^ See ** Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Fermanagh. " Sheet 33-
=9 See ibid. . Sheets IS, 31.
3' See ** Oalnance Survey Townland '^ Marked on the " Ordnance Survey Maps for the County of Roscommon. "
Townland Maps for the County of Leitrim. " Sheet 5.
=7 See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 517, 518.
Sheet 17.
3= " Townland See Ordnance Survey
Maps for the County of Tyrone. " Sheet 42.
30 See
*'
Ordnance Sui-vey Townland
Maps for the County of Monaghan. " Sheet 6.
February 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 437
religious establishment, according to popular tradition. 34 Its existence is even proved by secular documents. The site is a most lovely one. 35 OriginallytheplaceseemstohavebeencalledClondumalis.
ThePremon- stratenses or White Canons were in possession of it, when suppressed in 1542, during the reign of Henry VIII. 36 However, it seems most likely, the Druim Licce of Cruimther Finne must be identified, with Drumlease, in Leitrim county.
Article IV. —Festival of the Second Deposition of St. Fursey's
Relics. [^Seventh Cenfury. ] Among the visions,' occurring in our native literature, the vision of St. Fursey is that most generally known. It is
doubted, among various respectable writers, whether the death of this holy contemplative—whose Acts have been already given, at the i6th of January—
should properly be assigned to that day,=' or rather to the 9th of February. 3 We have already seen, while Desmay marks the former date, as the anni-
versary for his canonization, he places St. Fursey's death, at the present
day. 4 Colgan supposes, as well on the authority of Desmay, that the i6th of January had been the day of our saint's canonization, and not of his death; as,also,becauseRaban,inhisMartyrology,callsittheday,notofa first, but of a second, deposition, of the saint. s By this, he means, the re-
"
33 Here the people of Larne were ac-
customed to assemble for festive sports on
Easter Monday, May Day, and on other
occasions, as described by the local poet E, I, 29 ; and E. 4, 12. In an ancient
and historian, Dr. M'Henry, in his novel,
vellum folio MS. , noted as vol. xxiv. . No.
7960, of the Library Catalogue, at Bruxelles, there is a copy of this Vision of the Irish soldier Tungdal, the authorship of which is attributed to one Marcus. It commences thus: "Incipit prologus Marci ad abbatis- sam quandam," and after this prologue com-
"
O'Halloran. "
34 The townlands of Drtimaliss and Curran,
in the parish of Larne, and barony of Upper Glenarm, are noticed on "Ordnance Survey Tow^nland Maps for the County of Antrim. " Sheets 35, 40.
35 In a lecture, delivered in the Town mences, " Ibernia igitur Insula. " The fol-
Hall of Larne, on Wednesday evening, Nov. , 6th, 1872, the Rev. Classon Porter, says : " It includes an extensive view of the Irish
channel, with the Maiden Lighthouses and
theScotchcoastinthedistance; ofIsland-
magee; oftheCorranandLarneLough; of
Magheremoume ; of Glynn village ; of the nuscript, from which the foregoing is ex- Bank Braes ; of the town and valley of
—Larne, and of the highlands of Kilwaghter
of mountain, hill and dale—which, varied magnificence, could not be surpassed ; nor can any one, in the present day, who is alive to the beauties of nature, look from the
top of this gently-sloping hill, on the gor- geous panorama, which is there spread before him, without admiring the taste of the holy men, who chose such a lovely spot as the scene of their pious labours, and the site of their peaceful abode. " Published in the Larne Reporter of that time.
tracted, was without any illuminations, nor could Mr. Bindon, who examined it, find any
in a
all enclosed picturesque background,
there.
3^ See ibid. —
Article iv.
^
One of these has lately
86.
4 From the statement of Venerable Bede,
been published, in the Italian language, " Visione di Tugdalo volgarizzata nel Secolo xiv. , ed ora per la prima volta posta in luce," da Francesco Corazzini. Bologna, 1872, sm. 4to. There are no less than
Dr. Lanigan supposed it to have been the "
for
Martyrologies, an old Life of St. Fursey, which has
and on
''
three copies of the
Visio Tungdali Mili-
tis," among the Trinity College MSS. , and these are marked as follows: "C. 4, 23;
lowing note, regarding this piece, is on the
"
Visio Tungdali militis Hiberni,
first folio.
an. 1 148, auctore Marco in qua mentio fit SS. Patricii apli Hiberni Malachite ep. Dun. Ruadani Nennise ep. Cluan. Coelestini ep. Armach. Chaini ep. Lundinen. " The ma-
trace of the Irish language
* on the Relying
xvii. Kalend. Februarii ad aeterna commigrasse regna," his death has been assigned, to the 16th of January, and the Bollandists concur. See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Februarii ix. Prsetermissi et in alios dies rejecti, pp.
575» 576.
3 The old author of St. Fursey's Acts,
makes the 9th of February the anniversary of his death. See Colgan's "Acta Sancto- rum Hibernise," xvi. Januarii. Vita S.
Furssei, lib. ii. , cap. xvii. , p.
day for his burial. See Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xyii. , sect. X. , n. 95, p. 463.
438 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 9.
moval of our saint's relics, at the time of translation, which took place four
years after Fursey's death. It is a more probable opinion, according to some, than that contained in our saint's old Acts, and in Desmay's Life, where it is asserted, the feast of Translation or Elevation of Furse/s remains, bySt. EligiusandSt. Autbert,occurredonthe9thofFebruary. Accord- ing to these same authorities, this was also the day of our saint's decease. For, it is supposed, the canonization, mentioned by Desmay, could have occurred, at no other time, than when the first translation or raising of Fursey'srelicstookplace. Suchanopinionhethinks,issustainedbyseveral old and respectable writers. *^ However, this matter has given rise to very opposite views. 7 Without presuming to decide this controverted point, it must suffice to present particulars, regarding our saint, and which have not been given in his Acts, as already written. ^ We have seen, that no sooner was Fursey's decease known,5 than Erchinoald sent a message to Haimoin, requesting him to resign his claim to the reHcs of the saint. This demand was rather unwillingly complied with ; but, the power and influence of the
former, and the favours which, during life, our saint accepted from him, together with the miracles wrought after Fursey's death, afforded Haimoin convincing reasons to satisfy the pious wishes of his benefactor. The body was accordingly removed to Perrone, with great funeral pomp and expense. Erchinoald caused a magnificent church to be built, in which he intended the remains of our saint should be preserved. This church had been com- menced before, but had not been completed at, that juncture, when the holy confessor's death occurred. St. Fursey's remains lay within the portals or porch of the church, whilst Erchinoald used every exertion and spared no cost, in completing the structure. The Patrician had resolved, this
•church should be finished, and in a style of great magnificence, so that, in some measure, it might be rendered worthy the majesty of God, and the sacred purposes for which it was destined. But, the enemy of mankind, envying the progress of every good work, tempted Leutsinda, wife of Erchnoald, to indulge in murmurs, at the great expense of this erection. In a wrathtul and avaricious spirit, she petulantly reproached her husband for expending treasures to a large amount, in behalf of a stranger, whose body alter some days should be reduced to ashes, and become the food of worms. The pious Erchinoald bore these murmurs of his wife with patience, recol- lecting the example set him by holy Job. ^° He warned Leutsinda, that she ought to perform penance for her impious murmurs, and repent without delay. Then, he recalled to her recollection, all those wonderful miracles
wrought by St. Fursey, and how all things had succeeded prosperously, so far as they were concerned. This success was attributed 10 the spiritual patronage of the saint, given in return for any temporal benefits bestowed
5 It is thought, by Colgan, that the date for St. Fursey's tirst burial happened on the 4th of March, because it is slated in his old Acts, book i. , chap, xl , and book ii. , chap. xiv. , that his body lay, for some time, in the porch of the new church at Perrone, until it
canonization seems to be assumed. But, there does not appear to be any record of a canonization, and we a. e probably only to
regard it, as commemorating the translation of liis body, and its expo. siiion, in an uncor- rupt state.
**
was ready for dedication, within thirty days, "
7 See Colgan's pendix, cap. x. , p. 98.
after his death. See Acta Sanctorum Hi- berniae," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Fursaei. Also, Appendix, cap. x. , pp. 82, 86, 89.
^
' Dr. Lanigan thinks it likely, St. Fursey
^ He says, that among others, may be cited, St. Notker, Raban Maur, Usuard and Venerable Bede, who was nearly a synchro- nns. These place him in their martyr- ologies, at this present day ; and, thus, his
died on the i6th of January. See
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Fursaei. Ap-
At the i6th of January.
Eccle- siastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap.
xvi. , sect, x. , and n. 92, pp. 461, 462.
'°
Jobii. , 9, 10.
February 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 439
on him. In fine, this religious noble declared, he doubted not, that the
Almighty would preserve his body from all putrefaction or decay henceforth, and that this immunity should be proved, at the time of its removal, and to
reprovetheunworthycomplaintsofhiswife. " Meantime,whennearlythirty days" had elapsed, St. Eligius,^3 or Eloi, Bishop of Noyon, and St. Aut- bertus,^** Bishop of Cambray, were invited to consecrate the church, and to assist at the removal of Saint Fursey's relics from the porch. A great mul- titude of people were present at the ceremonies, that took place, on this re- markable and solemn occasion. 's Among others, Leutsinda attendee'.
However, she was drawn thither, rather through a spirit of curiosity, than of piety, being desirous of witnessing with her own eyes, the state in which the saint's relics should be found. Whilst assistants were preparing to remove his body from the tomb, and bear it into the church enclosure, with pious reverence ; Leutsinda ordered the shroud to be removed from the corpse. But, when attempting to look upon St. Fursey's remains, she found herself suddenly deprived of sight. Then being terrified, and bursting forth into tearsandlamentations,Leutsindaprostratedherselfbeforethebody. She besought the holy Bishops, Eligius and Autbert, to intercede for her, by offer- ing up their prayers to St. Fursey, for the restoration of her vision. She declared at their feet, she had grievously sinned, but that she then sincerely repented. Wherefore, the holy prelates offered up their prayers for the penitent, and being joined by all the people present, Leutsinda was again restored to the use of sight. Giving thanks and praises to God, she devoted herselfandallherpossessionstoSt. Fursey. Afterwards,shesawtheremains
of this holy confessor, in a perfect state, as if he had only departed at that moment. All those, who were present in the church, beheld the sacred re-
mains in a condition of perfect preservation. The holy bishops, who were in attendance, took the venerable relics of the saint in their arms, while hymns were sung. They bore the sacred body into the Church of St. Peter
'^
and St. Paul. It was there deposited behind the high altar,
spices were placed in the coffin, containing the relics of our saint. '7 His
accidit. "—" Annales Ordinis S. Bcnedicti," tomus i. , lib. xiv. , sect, i. , p. 410.
'*
Bede states, it was buried near the altar,
'^ Venerable Bede says, that the body of
St. Fursey lay twenty-seven days in the porch of the church, before its first transla-
"
tion. See Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 19, p. 215.
'« Bede says :" Sed & post annos quatuor constructa domuncula cultiore receptui cor- poris ejusdem, ad orientem altaris adhuc sine macula corruptionis inventum ibidem
digno cum eum honore translatum est. "
'^ These particulars Bede relates, from the little book of St. Fursey's ancient Acts,
bodies of Saints Meldan and Beodan. St. Fursey himself had already entombed
these saints, in the very place then occupied by their remains. Fragrant
in that '^ until some sort of shrine had been place,
for four
fashi9ned, which was destined to exhibit more reverence towards the saint. We are told the body had been buried, at the east side of the altar. ''s Moved by the wonderful miracles daily wrought at the tomb of the saint, Erchinoald and his wife Leutsinda at length founded a college of Regular Canons, which they endowed with ample possessions. The piety of various French
body lay
years
" See
cap. XV. , p. 86.
** Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nias,"xvi. Januarii.
