Without communicating his
intention
to the saint, under whose guardianship he was placed, Kellach prepared to depart.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
Dublin.
Royal IrishAcademyHouse,i9l)a\vsou-stieet,i876.
' . See "The Goueaiogies, Tribes and Cus- toms of Hy-Fiachrach, commonly called O'Dowda's Country," edited by John O' Donovan, pp. 32 to 35.
''See Dermod O'Connor's second folio edition, Book ii. , pp. 351, 352. Westmin-
;
May I. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Eoglian Beul—King of Connaught ; and, he had another brother, who was called Cuchoingelt, orMuireadhach. '° Among the bravest and most ambitious, vigilantandcapableofadministrators,inhisageandcountry, EoghanBeul ruled over the province of Connaught, with popular applause and good for- tune, which he hoped might be secured for his sons. " These named Ceallach and Muireadhach were lineal descendants of Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin," who flourished as supreme monarch of Ireland, about two centuries previous to their birth. At first, he was King over Connaught, when he married Mong- finn, sometimes called Munig, with Finn superadded, and by her he was fath. er of four sons, Brian, '3 Fiachra,'4 Fergus and Olioll. 's He also married Carrina '*—said to have been a Saxon '? —and by her, he had a son, the re- nowned Niall of the Nine Hostages. According to the Irish pedigrees, Eogan Beul was the son of Ceallach,'^ son to OillioU Molt,'9 son of Dathi,^° sometimes called David, son to Fiachra Follsi. athach,^'' son. to Eochaidh Muighmeadhoin. His castle ^^ was built on an Island, lying in Lough Mask, and from him, it has since been called Inis Eoghain. ^3 it lies on the east side of the Lough, and the denomination is now written Inish Owen. ^'t It
comprises over twenty-nine acres in extent of surface. '^s
The date of our saint's birth must been referred to about the year 520,
according to the most probable opinion. He was the eldest son of his father, who selected for him a renowned and holy teacher. The young j)rince Ceal- lach was placed at an early age, under the tutelage of St. Kieran, Abbot of Clonmacnoise. ^^ Charmed with the exercises of religious life, Ceallach re- solved to embrace the monastic profession, and there he lived as a monk.
ster, 1726, fol
5 Not ad verting to the identity of name, in
hisedition of Ware, Walter Harris calls him "the son of Doghan, or as some say, of Owen Bel, King of Connaught. "—Vol. i. , " Bis- hops of Killala," p. 650.
'° In the valuable Genealogical Table,
narrating the principal descendants of and, by Dr. Svlvester O'Halloran, he is said
Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin, which is found in Mr. O'Donovan's translation of the " Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy- Fiachrach," p. 476, St. Ceallach and his brother Cuchoingeltare placed in the seventh generation from their famed ancestor.
*° For tvventy-threeyeais, he was sovereign over Ireland, and he was struck dead by " -See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii lightning, in the Alps, A. D. 428. See
i. , Vita S. Kellaci, sect, i. , p. 104.
'^ He reigned from A. D. 358 to A. D.
Thomas D'Arcy M'Gee's " Popular History
365. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
of Ireland," vol. i. , Book 19.
i. , chap,
ii. , p,
Masters," vol. i. , pp. 124, 125.
'5 From him, are descended the Hy- land, and Amalgaidh, King over Connaught.
Brien of Connaught.
"• From him, descend the Hy-Fiachra of
Connaught.
'5 From him, the territory of Tirolioll, in
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Februarii iii. , Appendix ad Acta S. Colmani, vulgo Macduach, cap. i. . p. 248.
^- There is a curious little poem, quoted by Sligo, had its denomination. See Roderick Duald Mac Firbis in his large genealogical O'Flaherty's " Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. work, describing the residence of King
Ixxix. , p. 374.
'* Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran calls her a
princess of the Saxon nation ; but, the Saxons at that period had no settlement in England. See "General History of Ire- land," vol. i. , Book vi. , chap, v. , p. 288.
'' Roderick O'Flaherty remarks, that the Saxons, in conjunction with the Scots, Picts and Attacots, had frequently invaded Bri- tain, before the period of the Anglo-Saxon
Eoghan Beul.
^3 On it. Dr. John O'Donovan "saw dis-
tinct traces of its earthen ramparts, in the year 183S. ''—Addenda Q to " Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," p, 473-
-
.
^* See thd. Explanatory Index to the Map, p. 492.
^5 It is in the p. irish of Ballinchalla, and in the barony of Kilmaine, as shown, on the
Conquest. See "Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. Ixxix. , pp. 376 to 378.
'^ Called Kellan, in that pedigree, given by Culgan, in " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Februarii iii. , Appendix ad Acta S. Col- mani, vulgo Macduach, cap. ii. , p. 248.
to have been the first Irish sovereign to es- tablish Christianity by decree in Ireland. Sec "General History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Bookvii. , chap, v. , pp. 33, 34.
'9 He ruled for twenty years over Ireland,
" He had two sons, Dathi, King of Ire-
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
Meantime, during the stormy period of his father's reign,=7 Eoghan Beul was obliged to defend his principaHty by force of arms, from the attacks of turbu- lent and powerful tribes surrounding him. His principahty was often invaded, but he usually repelled the invaders and scored a victory. However, a great confederacy of the people belonging to Tyrone and Tyrconnell, with other Ulster tribes, under the leadership of Ferguss and Donald,^^ made an irrup- tion into Connaught, and penetrated so far as the River Moy, carrying devas- tation along their course. This obliged Eoghan Beul to collect the forces of his province, and soon the rival armies came to blows. About the year of our Lord 537,"' a battle was fought at Sligo, and it was fiercely contested. 3° The Northern army, however, gained a victory over the Connacians, who were obliged to yield, after an obstinate engagement. In it, Eoghan Beul received his death-wound, and he was borne from the field by his soldiers, who crossed their spears and lances, to support his body, and to serve the pur- pose of a litter. However, our saint's father survived the battle of Sligo—in which he was mortally wounded—for three days ^3' or, according to other accounts, for a week. Soon, afterwards, Guaire asserted his pretentions to rule over Connaught. 3' At Clonmacnoise, Ceallach remained, until the disas- trous issue of that battle 33 had called him forth from his retirement on the Shannon. The Connaught chiefs, and especially these belonging to Hy- Fyachrach, deprecating the calamities which were likely to ensue for their province, held frequent interviews with their dying king, to ascertain his wishes in reference to a successor, and most likely to avert the crisis now approaching.
During that interval which elapsed, after receiving his wound, and before his death took place, it is said, that Eoghan persuaded the tribe of Hy-Fiachrach, to elect his elder son as King of Connaught. 3+ His other son, Cuchoingelt, orMuireadhach,hadnotyetattainedhismajority. 35 Inaccordancewiththis request of the dying monarch, messengers were despatched to Clonmacnoise, and to announce the result of that Sligo battle, with Ceallach's consequent promotion. Thesedelegateswereinstructed,torepresentthedesperatestate of their affairs to St. Kieran. The latter received them very hospitably, but he refused acceding to their wishes, as he deemed the monastic rules could not be dispensed with, in the case of Ceallach. However, the delegates re-
" Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Mayo," sheet 117.
"^ He founded Clonmacnoise, it is said, A. D. 548, and died A. D. 549, according to the chronolo<^y of Ussher, in "Britannicaium Ecclesiarum Atitiquitates. " Inde. x. See his Life, at the 9th of September.
=7 He is said to have lived for thirty-six years, according to the Vita S. Kellaci, sect. i.
** These reigned one year over Ireland, according to the Ulster Annals, A. D. 565. See Archbishop Ussher's '• Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 947.
"9 The Annals of Innisfallen place this
event, at A. I). 536 ; the Annals of Tigernach
have it, A. D. 543; while the Annals of chap, iv. , p. 135.
Ulster have it, at A. D. 542, and they again '5 The king had also ordered, that he enter it, at A. D. 546. See Rev. Dr. should be interred in an upright position,
O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip- tores," tomus ii. , pp. 6, 137, and tomus i v. , pp. 17, 18.
30 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of" the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 178 to 181.
3 1 According to the Life of our Saint, a copy of wliich remained in posses-ion of Messrs. Hodges and Smith, the publishers to the University 01 Dublin,
3=TheAnnalsofInnisfallenrecord thedeath of Guaire Ai'ihne, at653. Aijain, the " An- nalesUitonienses" place hisde. ith, attheyear 662, which does not well accord with the statements in St. Kellach's Lite. See Rev. Dr. OConor's " Rerum Hilieinicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 15 ; also, tomus iv. , p. 55.
33 'fhis statement appears to conflict, with the date assigned for the battle, and with that given f. >r the death of St. Kieran.
with his red javelin in his hand, and with his face turned towards Ulster, as if fighting with his enemies. See John O'Donovan's " Gencalo^^ies, Tribes and Customs of Hy- Fiachrach," Addenda Q, p. 472.
3* See Major Wood- Martin's " History of Sligo, County and Town," &c. , Book ii. ,
May I. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
mained tlierefor two days, and on the last night, they urged upon Keallach those arguments, which caused him to resolve on leaving Clonmacnoise. He was told, that lie had been chosen unanimously by chiefs and people, to succeed his father on the throne of Connaught, and accordingly, the young prince accepted their nomination.
Without communicating his intention to the saint, under whose guardianship he was placed, Kellach prepared to depart. For this apparent insubordination, St. Kieran is said to have pronounced a maledic- tion, which was thought to have been prophetic of his future fate. ^^
With the usual ceremonies of inauguration,37 Kellach was elected King of theHy-Fiachrach. 3^ Aftersometime,however,theKingofHy-Fiachrach Aidhne 39 revolted, as probably, feeling desirous to obtain the first distinction inthatprovince. Theisolatedpositionofhisdistrict4°itwouldseemafforded him means and opportunity for insurrection. A public convention was held by the subordinate chiefs and people, in order to effect some terms of agree- ment. Great numbers of partisans on both sides were present. A treaty of reconciliation was arranged ; and to this Keallach adhered in good faith, but his opponent was more wily and insincere. He invited Keallach to his for- tress, and the latter accepted this invitation. He went thither, accompanied by a train of guards and followers. Notwithstanding, treachery seems to have been practised, for some of these were killed, while Keallach and twenty- seven of his followers saved themselves by flight. While revolving in vexation of mmd a mode to be revenged on the perfidious king, a better thought at last presented itself to Kellach ; for, recollecting the judgment denounced against him by St. Kieran, he resolved to quit once more the ambitious views and high station to which he had been drawn. 4' Soon, therefore, lie retired to a desert place, in the midst of woods, and then like another Peter, he wept tears of sorrow for deserting his Divine INlaster. ^^ Here, too, he remained for a year: and then, taking with him the twenty-seven companions, who were savedfromdeath,KellachresolvedonreturningtoClonmacnoise. Yet,he remained without this city, for a time ; because, he felt a diffidence and reproach of conscience, at the presence of St. Kieran. There he waited ad- mission, until some of the monks met and recognised him. They exchanged
with him the kiss of peace, and promised to prepare the Abbot for an inter- view with his prodigal son, who had been dead to them, but who came to life again, who was lost and yet who had been found. ''3 He appears to have conciliated the favour of his former instructor, however, and the Abbot felt
3* These foregoing and subsequent parti- culars, in reference to our saint, are briefly and elegantly narrated in Mrs. M. C. Fergu- son's " Story of the Irish before the Con- quest," chap, v. , pp. 161 to 163.
37 For a poetic inspiration on this subject, the reader is referred to Thomas Davis' "National and Historical Ballads, Songs, and Poems," part iii. The True Irish King, pp. 103 to 106.
3^ There is an excellent and interesting Map of Hy-Fiachrach, with some of the ad- jacent districts in the counties of Mayo and Sligo, compiled by John O'Donovan, and setting forth, in the Irish character and Ian- guage, the names of those districts, with their historical places.
39 This territory was commensurate M'ith the present diocese of Kilmr. ctiuagh. and its inhabitants were called Cineal Guaire, or the descendants of Guaire Aidhne, King of
Connaught, in the seventh century. See "The Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," edited by John O'Donovan, pp. 2, 3, and nn. (f, g). Ibid.
^^ Seethe position of this principality, as defined on John O'Donovan's Map, prefixed to " The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many, commonly called U'Kelly's Country. "
*' Six quatrains, attributed to St. Ceal- lach, regretting that at the instigation of friends, he had been induced to abandon the clerical profession, in oider to assume the Kingship of Connaught, are to be found in the published " Le. Jjhar Breac," at p. 273, col. i. , line 41.
^. ^ t^t. Mattliew xxvi. , 75.
s . St. Luke xv. , 32.
^"^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mail
i. , De . "^-ancto Kellaco Kpiscopoin Hibernia,
Vita, sect. 3, 4, p. I05. "
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
greatly rejoiced, that his spiritual son had returned to assume the yoke which he had borne in youth. Kellach fell on his knees before the Abl)Ot. St. Kieran affectionately raising him said : " My son, I regret exceedingly I pronounced thatmalediction,whenyoudesertedus,yetitisnowirrevocable; stillyoushall not be deprived of reward and glory, if you only persevere and advance in your first vocation ; bear then cheerfully the light and sweet yoke of Christ, than whose love nothing else can be so delightful, than whose company nothing can be more full of solace, while no kingly state or pleasure can be at all so glorious. '4^ These words gc^ve great consolation to Ceallach, and prepared him once more for the sweets of a religious life.
CHAPTER II.
KELLACH LIVES A HOLY LIFE AT CLONMACNOISE—HE IS ORDAINED PRIEST, AND AFTERWARDS HE BECOMES BISHOP OF KILLALA—HIS VIRTUES—GUAIRE, KING OF CONNAUGHT, IS WICKEDLY ADVISED TO TAKE AWAY HIS LIFE—KEALLACH RETIRES TO AN ISLAND IN LOUGH CONN—FOUR OF HIS STUDENTS ARE INVITED TO DURLUSS, WHERE THEY ARE PERSUADED TO MURDER THEIR HOLY PRECEPTOR.
Having thus placed himself again under the direction of St. Kieran, Ceallach became thoroughly devoted to his mastf^r, and profited by his precepts. ' The Holy Spirit then poured on him the choicest graces. He sent away the band of seculars, who seem to have been his guards, to wait upon his young brother Muredach, who found refuge with his fosterer the dynast of Lugnia. ^ With renewed ardour, Cellach followed the course of monastic studies and rules, so that he gave the greatest possible satisfaction to St. Kieran. At length, he was deemed worthy of being promoted to the sacerdotal grade. In due course, a vacancy occurring in the See of Killala, the clergy of that diocese, hearing about the merits and virtues of Ceallach, united their suffrages, to promote him as their chief Pastor. During the reign of Tuathal Melgarb,^ King of Ireland, who ruled from a. d. 533 + to a. d. 544, ^ Ceallach was elevated,
it is tiiought, to the episcopal chair, as Uishop of Killala. ^ Here, there is a remarkable round tower, standing quite perfect, and even retaining its original stone roof, of conical shape. 7 Near it is the Protestant cathedral, rather a poor structure, and presenting no special feature of interest. ^ The bishop's house was formerly in this town,9 celebrated for having been captured by the
Chapter11. —' It is curioustonotice, thnt the Annals of Innisfallen refer llie foundation of Clonmacnoise, to a. d. 573; and, they state, that it was called Cluain, because it became the scholastic reireat of the sons of the King of Connaugiit. See Dr. O'Conor's " Reruin Hibernicarum Scrip- torc^,"tomusii. , p. 6.
^ This was a region of Connaught, where the present county olSligo lies, and in which the dioce! ^e of Aclionry is situated. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum," Januarii xx. Vita Secunda S. F\chini. n. 2, p. 140.
3 He mounted tlie throne, A. D. 528, and he
was slain, a. d. 538, after reigning eleven
years, according to I>r. O'Donovan's Topographical and Historical Hibernian " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. Ga/etteir. " &c. , p. 276.
176 to iSl, "^ See Mr. and Mrs. Hall's "Ireland, its
*AccordingtotheAnnalsofUlster. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibermcarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 15.
s See Roderick O'Flalierty's "Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. xciii. , p. 430.
'In Harris' Ware, he "is said to have been Bisho|) of Killala. " See vol. i. , " Bis- hops of Killala," y. 650.
' 1 he accompanying illustration wasdrawn on the spot and transferred to the wood, by William K. Wakeman. It was engraved, by Mrs. Mdl. nrd.
^ See W. F. Wakeman's " Touri>ts' Guide to Ireland," p. 270.
'Sre Rev. G. Ilansbrow's "Improved
May I. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
French, in August, 1798. '° No vestige of the ancient church remains. " To about the year 540, his acceptance ol this dignity has been referred. But for the authority of this Life,'* we should look in vain to the authentic cata- logue, for his place among the Bishops of Killala. '3 Nevertheless, there can hardly be a doubt, that at least for a short time, he had assumed the office. Although Ceallach, as we are told, anxiously watched over the See of Killala ; yet, he found time to visit Clonmacnoise most frequently, thus wishing to unite the fruitful cares of Martha, with the pious retirement of Mary. The revenues ot his bishopric were spent, in providing for the wants of the poor, and in aiding those addicted to literary pursuits. ' Students flocked to him
Killala, County of Mayo.
from all parts of Ireland, through which the fame of his holiness and liberality hadspread. '* ItappearsthatGuaire'5—fromtheperiodindicatedhemight be regarded as a distinct person from another Guaire surnamed Aidhne '^ became a successful usurper of the Connaught throne. He feared, however, the more rightful claims of the Bishop to that station he then usurped. Accordingly, Guaire conceived a mort:al hatred towards Ceallach. At
Scenery,Character,"&c. ,vol. iii. , p. 379. " See Nicliolas Carlisle's "Topogiapliical
Dictionary of Ireland," siih voce Killala.
" See Walter Harris' Ware, vol. i. , " Bis-
hops of Killala, ' p. 650.
'5 Archdeacon Henry Cotton has placed
i. De Sancto Kellaco Episcopo in Hiber- nia, Vita, &c. , sect. 5. p. 105.
'5 In the account of the Life and Death of St. Cellach, as lound in the " LeaMiar Breac," he is called Guaire. son of Colnian, and also Guaire Aidlme. Here, he is made a contemporary with St. Kieran oi Clon-
him in this rank, only as a conjecture, be-
tween 534 to 544. See " Fasti Ecclesise macnoise, who IS said to have founded it A. D. Hibernicse," vol. iv. , p. 61. 548, and to have died in 549. See Rev. Dr.
'* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
—
182, pp. 52, 58 59.
Latinized Prceaggeris sacri lapidum Fera- dagi—and which was fought between the people of Mun^ter and of Connaught. In it, Failbe-Fland was conqueror, while Guaire Aidne fled. Failbhe Flann did not long survive, as his death is recorded, at a. d. 631, in the Annals of Innisfallen. The death of Guaire Aidhne, King of Connaught, is placed at A. D. 663, and he was buried at Clonmacnoise, according to the Annals of Tighernach. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's
*' Reruni Hiberniiarum . Scriptores," tomus ii. ,pp. 12, 13, and 1S9. 203.
' . See "The Goueaiogies, Tribes and Cus- toms of Hy-Fiachrach, commonly called O'Dowda's Country," edited by John O' Donovan, pp. 32 to 35.
''See Dermod O'Connor's second folio edition, Book ii. , pp. 351, 352. Westmin-
;
May I. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Eoglian Beul—King of Connaught ; and, he had another brother, who was called Cuchoingelt, orMuireadhach. '° Among the bravest and most ambitious, vigilantandcapableofadministrators,inhisageandcountry, EoghanBeul ruled over the province of Connaught, with popular applause and good for- tune, which he hoped might be secured for his sons. " These named Ceallach and Muireadhach were lineal descendants of Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin," who flourished as supreme monarch of Ireland, about two centuries previous to their birth. At first, he was King over Connaught, when he married Mong- finn, sometimes called Munig, with Finn superadded, and by her he was fath. er of four sons, Brian, '3 Fiachra,'4 Fergus and Olioll. 's He also married Carrina '*—said to have been a Saxon '? —and by her, he had a son, the re- nowned Niall of the Nine Hostages. According to the Irish pedigrees, Eogan Beul was the son of Ceallach,'^ son to OillioU Molt,'9 son of Dathi,^° sometimes called David, son to Fiachra Follsi. athach,^'' son. to Eochaidh Muighmeadhoin. His castle ^^ was built on an Island, lying in Lough Mask, and from him, it has since been called Inis Eoghain. ^3 it lies on the east side of the Lough, and the denomination is now written Inish Owen. ^'t It
comprises over twenty-nine acres in extent of surface. '^s
The date of our saint's birth must been referred to about the year 520,
according to the most probable opinion. He was the eldest son of his father, who selected for him a renowned and holy teacher. The young j)rince Ceal- lach was placed at an early age, under the tutelage of St. Kieran, Abbot of Clonmacnoise. ^^ Charmed with the exercises of religious life, Ceallach re- solved to embrace the monastic profession, and there he lived as a monk.
ster, 1726, fol
5 Not ad verting to the identity of name, in
hisedition of Ware, Walter Harris calls him "the son of Doghan, or as some say, of Owen Bel, King of Connaught. "—Vol. i. , " Bis- hops of Killala," p. 650.
'° In the valuable Genealogical Table,
narrating the principal descendants of and, by Dr. Svlvester O'Halloran, he is said
Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin, which is found in Mr. O'Donovan's translation of the " Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy- Fiachrach," p. 476, St. Ceallach and his brother Cuchoingeltare placed in the seventh generation from their famed ancestor.
*° For tvventy-threeyeais, he was sovereign over Ireland, and he was struck dead by " -See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii lightning, in the Alps, A. D. 428. See
i. , Vita S. Kellaci, sect, i. , p. 104.
'^ He reigned from A. D. 358 to A. D.
Thomas D'Arcy M'Gee's " Popular History
365. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
of Ireland," vol. i. , Book 19.
i. , chap,
ii. , p,
Masters," vol. i. , pp. 124, 125.
'5 From him, are descended the Hy- land, and Amalgaidh, King over Connaught.
Brien of Connaught.
"• From him, descend the Hy-Fiachra of
Connaught.
'5 From him, the territory of Tirolioll, in
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Februarii iii. , Appendix ad Acta S. Colmani, vulgo Macduach, cap. i. . p. 248.
^- There is a curious little poem, quoted by Sligo, had its denomination. See Roderick Duald Mac Firbis in his large genealogical O'Flaherty's " Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. work, describing the residence of King
Ixxix. , p. 374.
'* Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran calls her a
princess of the Saxon nation ; but, the Saxons at that period had no settlement in England. See "General History of Ire- land," vol. i. , Book vi. , chap, v. , p. 288.
'' Roderick O'Flaherty remarks, that the Saxons, in conjunction with the Scots, Picts and Attacots, had frequently invaded Bri- tain, before the period of the Anglo-Saxon
Eoghan Beul.
^3 On it. Dr. John O'Donovan "saw dis-
tinct traces of its earthen ramparts, in the year 183S. ''—Addenda Q to " Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," p, 473-
-
.
^* See thd. Explanatory Index to the Map, p. 492.
^5 It is in the p. irish of Ballinchalla, and in the barony of Kilmaine, as shown, on the
Conquest. See "Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. Ixxix. , pp. 376 to 378.
'^ Called Kellan, in that pedigree, given by Culgan, in " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Februarii iii. , Appendix ad Acta S. Col- mani, vulgo Macduach, cap. ii. , p. 248.
to have been the first Irish sovereign to es- tablish Christianity by decree in Ireland. Sec "General History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Bookvii. , chap, v. , pp. 33, 34.
'9 He ruled for twenty years over Ireland,
" He had two sons, Dathi, King of Ire-
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
Meantime, during the stormy period of his father's reign,=7 Eoghan Beul was obliged to defend his principaHty by force of arms, from the attacks of turbu- lent and powerful tribes surrounding him. His principahty was often invaded, but he usually repelled the invaders and scored a victory. However, a great confederacy of the people belonging to Tyrone and Tyrconnell, with other Ulster tribes, under the leadership of Ferguss and Donald,^^ made an irrup- tion into Connaught, and penetrated so far as the River Moy, carrying devas- tation along their course. This obliged Eoghan Beul to collect the forces of his province, and soon the rival armies came to blows. About the year of our Lord 537,"' a battle was fought at Sligo, and it was fiercely contested. 3° The Northern army, however, gained a victory over the Connacians, who were obliged to yield, after an obstinate engagement. In it, Eoghan Beul received his death-wound, and he was borne from the field by his soldiers, who crossed their spears and lances, to support his body, and to serve the pur- pose of a litter. However, our saint's father survived the battle of Sligo—in which he was mortally wounded—for three days ^3' or, according to other accounts, for a week. Soon, afterwards, Guaire asserted his pretentions to rule over Connaught. 3' At Clonmacnoise, Ceallach remained, until the disas- trous issue of that battle 33 had called him forth from his retirement on the Shannon. The Connaught chiefs, and especially these belonging to Hy- Fyachrach, deprecating the calamities which were likely to ensue for their province, held frequent interviews with their dying king, to ascertain his wishes in reference to a successor, and most likely to avert the crisis now approaching.
During that interval which elapsed, after receiving his wound, and before his death took place, it is said, that Eoghan persuaded the tribe of Hy-Fiachrach, to elect his elder son as King of Connaught. 3+ His other son, Cuchoingelt, orMuireadhach,hadnotyetattainedhismajority. 35 Inaccordancewiththis request of the dying monarch, messengers were despatched to Clonmacnoise, and to announce the result of that Sligo battle, with Ceallach's consequent promotion. Thesedelegateswereinstructed,torepresentthedesperatestate of their affairs to St. Kieran. The latter received them very hospitably, but he refused acceding to their wishes, as he deemed the monastic rules could not be dispensed with, in the case of Ceallach. However, the delegates re-
" Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Mayo," sheet 117.
"^ He founded Clonmacnoise, it is said, A. D. 548, and died A. D. 549, according to the chronolo<^y of Ussher, in "Britannicaium Ecclesiarum Atitiquitates. " Inde. x. See his Life, at the 9th of September.
=7 He is said to have lived for thirty-six years, according to the Vita S. Kellaci, sect. i.
** These reigned one year over Ireland, according to the Ulster Annals, A. D. 565. See Archbishop Ussher's '• Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 947.
"9 The Annals of Innisfallen place this
event, at A. I). 536 ; the Annals of Tigernach
have it, A. D. 543; while the Annals of chap, iv. , p. 135.
Ulster have it, at A. D. 542, and they again '5 The king had also ordered, that he enter it, at A. D. 546. See Rev. Dr. should be interred in an upright position,
O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip- tores," tomus ii. , pp. 6, 137, and tomus i v. , pp. 17, 18.
30 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of" the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 178 to 181.
3 1 According to the Life of our Saint, a copy of wliich remained in posses-ion of Messrs. Hodges and Smith, the publishers to the University 01 Dublin,
3=TheAnnalsofInnisfallenrecord thedeath of Guaire Ai'ihne, at653. Aijain, the " An- nalesUitonienses" place hisde. ith, attheyear 662, which does not well accord with the statements in St. Kellach's Lite. See Rev. Dr. OConor's " Rerum Hilieinicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 15 ; also, tomus iv. , p. 55.
33 'fhis statement appears to conflict, with the date assigned for the battle, and with that given f. >r the death of St. Kieran.
with his red javelin in his hand, and with his face turned towards Ulster, as if fighting with his enemies. See John O'Donovan's " Gencalo^^ies, Tribes and Customs of Hy- Fiachrach," Addenda Q, p. 472.
3* See Major Wood- Martin's " History of Sligo, County and Town," &c. , Book ii. ,
May I. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
mained tlierefor two days, and on the last night, they urged upon Keallach those arguments, which caused him to resolve on leaving Clonmacnoise. He was told, that lie had been chosen unanimously by chiefs and people, to succeed his father on the throne of Connaught, and accordingly, the young prince accepted their nomination.
Without communicating his intention to the saint, under whose guardianship he was placed, Kellach prepared to depart. For this apparent insubordination, St. Kieran is said to have pronounced a maledic- tion, which was thought to have been prophetic of his future fate. ^^
With the usual ceremonies of inauguration,37 Kellach was elected King of theHy-Fiachrach. 3^ Aftersometime,however,theKingofHy-Fiachrach Aidhne 39 revolted, as probably, feeling desirous to obtain the first distinction inthatprovince. Theisolatedpositionofhisdistrict4°itwouldseemafforded him means and opportunity for insurrection. A public convention was held by the subordinate chiefs and people, in order to effect some terms of agree- ment. Great numbers of partisans on both sides were present. A treaty of reconciliation was arranged ; and to this Keallach adhered in good faith, but his opponent was more wily and insincere. He invited Keallach to his for- tress, and the latter accepted this invitation. He went thither, accompanied by a train of guards and followers. Notwithstanding, treachery seems to have been practised, for some of these were killed, while Keallach and twenty- seven of his followers saved themselves by flight. While revolving in vexation of mmd a mode to be revenged on the perfidious king, a better thought at last presented itself to Kellach ; for, recollecting the judgment denounced against him by St. Kieran, he resolved to quit once more the ambitious views and high station to which he had been drawn. 4' Soon, therefore, lie retired to a desert place, in the midst of woods, and then like another Peter, he wept tears of sorrow for deserting his Divine INlaster. ^^ Here, too, he remained for a year: and then, taking with him the twenty-seven companions, who were savedfromdeath,KellachresolvedonreturningtoClonmacnoise. Yet,he remained without this city, for a time ; because, he felt a diffidence and reproach of conscience, at the presence of St. Kieran. There he waited ad- mission, until some of the monks met and recognised him. They exchanged
with him the kiss of peace, and promised to prepare the Abbot for an inter- view with his prodigal son, who had been dead to them, but who came to life again, who was lost and yet who had been found. ''3 He appears to have conciliated the favour of his former instructor, however, and the Abbot felt
3* These foregoing and subsequent parti- culars, in reference to our saint, are briefly and elegantly narrated in Mrs. M. C. Fergu- son's " Story of the Irish before the Con- quest," chap, v. , pp. 161 to 163.
37 For a poetic inspiration on this subject, the reader is referred to Thomas Davis' "National and Historical Ballads, Songs, and Poems," part iii. The True Irish King, pp. 103 to 106.
3^ There is an excellent and interesting Map of Hy-Fiachrach, with some of the ad- jacent districts in the counties of Mayo and Sligo, compiled by John O'Donovan, and setting forth, in the Irish character and Ian- guage, the names of those districts, with their historical places.
39 This territory was commensurate M'ith the present diocese of Kilmr. ctiuagh. and its inhabitants were called Cineal Guaire, or the descendants of Guaire Aidhne, King of
Connaught, in the seventh century. See "The Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," edited by John O'Donovan, pp. 2, 3, and nn. (f, g). Ibid.
^^ Seethe position of this principality, as defined on John O'Donovan's Map, prefixed to " The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many, commonly called U'Kelly's Country. "
*' Six quatrains, attributed to St. Ceal- lach, regretting that at the instigation of friends, he had been induced to abandon the clerical profession, in oider to assume the Kingship of Connaught, are to be found in the published " Le. Jjhar Breac," at p. 273, col. i. , line 41.
^. ^ t^t. Mattliew xxvi. , 75.
s . St. Luke xv. , 32.
^"^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mail
i. , De . "^-ancto Kellaco Kpiscopoin Hibernia,
Vita, sect. 3, 4, p. I05. "
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
greatly rejoiced, that his spiritual son had returned to assume the yoke which he had borne in youth. Kellach fell on his knees before the Abl)Ot. St. Kieran affectionately raising him said : " My son, I regret exceedingly I pronounced thatmalediction,whenyoudesertedus,yetitisnowirrevocable; stillyoushall not be deprived of reward and glory, if you only persevere and advance in your first vocation ; bear then cheerfully the light and sweet yoke of Christ, than whose love nothing else can be so delightful, than whose company nothing can be more full of solace, while no kingly state or pleasure can be at all so glorious. '4^ These words gc^ve great consolation to Ceallach, and prepared him once more for the sweets of a religious life.
CHAPTER II.
KELLACH LIVES A HOLY LIFE AT CLONMACNOISE—HE IS ORDAINED PRIEST, AND AFTERWARDS HE BECOMES BISHOP OF KILLALA—HIS VIRTUES—GUAIRE, KING OF CONNAUGHT, IS WICKEDLY ADVISED TO TAKE AWAY HIS LIFE—KEALLACH RETIRES TO AN ISLAND IN LOUGH CONN—FOUR OF HIS STUDENTS ARE INVITED TO DURLUSS, WHERE THEY ARE PERSUADED TO MURDER THEIR HOLY PRECEPTOR.
Having thus placed himself again under the direction of St. Kieran, Ceallach became thoroughly devoted to his mastf^r, and profited by his precepts. ' The Holy Spirit then poured on him the choicest graces. He sent away the band of seculars, who seem to have been his guards, to wait upon his young brother Muredach, who found refuge with his fosterer the dynast of Lugnia. ^ With renewed ardour, Cellach followed the course of monastic studies and rules, so that he gave the greatest possible satisfaction to St. Kieran. At length, he was deemed worthy of being promoted to the sacerdotal grade. In due course, a vacancy occurring in the See of Killala, the clergy of that diocese, hearing about the merits and virtues of Ceallach, united their suffrages, to promote him as their chief Pastor. During the reign of Tuathal Melgarb,^ King of Ireland, who ruled from a. d. 533 + to a. d. 544, ^ Ceallach was elevated,
it is tiiought, to the episcopal chair, as Uishop of Killala. ^ Here, there is a remarkable round tower, standing quite perfect, and even retaining its original stone roof, of conical shape. 7 Near it is the Protestant cathedral, rather a poor structure, and presenting no special feature of interest. ^ The bishop's house was formerly in this town,9 celebrated for having been captured by the
Chapter11. —' It is curioustonotice, thnt the Annals of Innisfallen refer llie foundation of Clonmacnoise, to a. d. 573; and, they state, that it was called Cluain, because it became the scholastic reireat of the sons of the King of Connaugiit. See Dr. O'Conor's " Reruin Hibernicarum Scrip- torc^,"tomusii. , p. 6.
^ This was a region of Connaught, where the present county olSligo lies, and in which the dioce! ^e of Aclionry is situated. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum," Januarii xx. Vita Secunda S. F\chini. n. 2, p. 140.
3 He mounted tlie throne, A. D. 528, and he
was slain, a. d. 538, after reigning eleven
years, according to I>r. O'Donovan's Topographical and Historical Hibernian " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. Ga/etteir. " &c. , p. 276.
176 to iSl, "^ See Mr. and Mrs. Hall's "Ireland, its
*AccordingtotheAnnalsofUlster. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibermcarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 15.
s See Roderick O'Flalierty's "Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. xciii. , p. 430.
'In Harris' Ware, he "is said to have been Bisho|) of Killala. " See vol. i. , " Bis- hops of Killala," y. 650.
' 1 he accompanying illustration wasdrawn on the spot and transferred to the wood, by William K. Wakeman. It was engraved, by Mrs. Mdl. nrd.
^ See W. F. Wakeman's " Touri>ts' Guide to Ireland," p. 270.
'Sre Rev. G. Ilansbrow's "Improved
May I. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
French, in August, 1798. '° No vestige of the ancient church remains. " To about the year 540, his acceptance ol this dignity has been referred. But for the authority of this Life,'* we should look in vain to the authentic cata- logue, for his place among the Bishops of Killala. '3 Nevertheless, there can hardly be a doubt, that at least for a short time, he had assumed the office. Although Ceallach, as we are told, anxiously watched over the See of Killala ; yet, he found time to visit Clonmacnoise most frequently, thus wishing to unite the fruitful cares of Martha, with the pious retirement of Mary. The revenues ot his bishopric were spent, in providing for the wants of the poor, and in aiding those addicted to literary pursuits. ' Students flocked to him
Killala, County of Mayo.
from all parts of Ireland, through which the fame of his holiness and liberality hadspread. '* ItappearsthatGuaire'5—fromtheperiodindicatedhemight be regarded as a distinct person from another Guaire surnamed Aidhne '^ became a successful usurper of the Connaught throne. He feared, however, the more rightful claims of the Bishop to that station he then usurped. Accordingly, Guaire conceived a mort:al hatred towards Ceallach. At
Scenery,Character,"&c. ,vol. iii. , p. 379. " See Nicliolas Carlisle's "Topogiapliical
Dictionary of Ireland," siih voce Killala.
" See Walter Harris' Ware, vol. i. , " Bis-
hops of Killala, ' p. 650.
'5 Archdeacon Henry Cotton has placed
i. De Sancto Kellaco Episcopo in Hiber- nia, Vita, &c. , sect. 5. p. 105.
'5 In the account of the Life and Death of St. Cellach, as lound in the " LeaMiar Breac," he is called Guaire. son of Colnian, and also Guaire Aidlme. Here, he is made a contemporary with St. Kieran oi Clon-
him in this rank, only as a conjecture, be-
tween 534 to 544. See " Fasti Ecclesise macnoise, who IS said to have founded it A. D. Hibernicse," vol. iv. , p. 61. 548, and to have died in 549. See Rev. Dr.
'* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
—
182, pp. 52, 58 59.
Latinized Prceaggeris sacri lapidum Fera- dagi—and which was fought between the people of Mun^ter and of Connaught. In it, Failbe-Fland was conqueror, while Guaire Aidne fled. Failbhe Flann did not long survive, as his death is recorded, at a. d. 631, in the Annals of Innisfallen. The death of Guaire Aidhne, King of Connaught, is placed at A. D. 663, and he was buried at Clonmacnoise, according to the Annals of Tighernach. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's
*' Reruni Hiberniiarum . Scriptores," tomus ii. ,pp. 12, 13, and 1S9. 203.
