1440, John O'McKerrell, rector of Donagh- more died, and
Gelacius
O'McKerrell was appointed in his stead.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
Darerca,
8
Before the death of St. Darerca, she is said to have appointed Bia 59 as Abbess to succeed her. 6° Afterwards followed one
63 Inthe
was also near her nunnery. s
named Diu. 61 The third in order is stated to have been 62 who Derlasre,
sidedoverthe
of Cill-Sleibhe is recorded, in our Annals. '*
is likely to have suffered at the hands of the Danish invaders, for we learn, that a priest of this place, named Duibhlitir, was martyred by the foreigners of CarlingfordLough,a. d. Q2i. 6s Duringthemiddleages,afemalecommunity,
presided
over
by
an Abbess of
Kilsleve,
6
had
possessions,
at this 66 place.
nunnery forty years.
year 654,
In subsequent times, Cill-Sleibhe
Ultonienses, p. 12.
57 See in the "Circle of the Seasons,"
p. 188.
workmen, after a diligent search through the forest, at last found a tree, which was suita- ble for their purpose, but it was in a place very difficult for access or removal. The tree notwithstanding was cut down, but it could
s8 A miracle relating to it, and referring
to a Bishop of venerable life called Fibartus,
and having the surname of Firnianus, has not be moved. Knowing this state of the
been attributed to the intercession of St.
Darerca. This is stated to have occurred,
while Derlasre was superioress, and it is told
in the Salamancan Life, chap, iv. , num. 45,
p. 296. This is more fully related in the
Second Life, where the Bishop is named the beam required was found where wanted, Fuibar, and having the surname of Vinuia- and near the nunnery. Then, the carpenters, mus ; while the miracle is attributed to his impelled through curiosity, went to that
meritsandtothoseofMovenna. Seechap,
viii. , num. 77, 78, pp. 311, 312.
59 In the Second Life, she is called the
daughter of Ailella, cap. viii. , num. 74, p. 311.
60
According to the First Life, cap. iv. , num. 41, p. 296.
61 We have it thus entered in the First
Life,
" deinde in but we an error Diu," suspect
place where the tree grew, but they were not able to discover there a single trace of broken branches. Thisproved,thatwhatcouldnot be accomplished through human effort, is easily done through Divine agency ; and it was believed, that the Angels bore that tree through the air, from that rough and elevated
has been here admitted. In the Second Life,
she is designated as the Third Abbess, 74. P- 3»-
and called " Dognidui, filise Mothai, filii Licac. "
6* See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 266, 267.
the iotli of November, a. d. 1477, a case of disputed right was negotiated between
Edmund Connesburgh, an Englishman chosen as Archbishop of Armagh, and Octa-
62 We do not find
saint
65 See vol. ii. , ibid. ,
this ; during her incumbency, the following miracle is re- corded, and it is attributed tothemeritsof St. Darerca. While, according to the custom of the Hibernian nation, the nuns had been
in with — a engaged erecting planed planks
church near the monastery at Ben not at Banchor as the Bollandists guess, but at Slieve Cuillinn, the word Ben—n being often
ever, they wanted a suitable kind of beam to join two of the walls, at the summit of the building, and which may be regarded as a wall-plate or a projection near the roof. The
608,
66 At the residence of the Abbess here, on
any namerecordedinourCalendars but
609.
used by the Irish for Slieve they
Historical and Associa- Archaeological
bearing
pp.
desired
it should be of elegant workmanship. How- tion of Ireland," vol. iii. , Fourth Series,
pre- thedeathofCoinceen
affair, Derlasre betook herself to prayer, and besought her patroness to obtain their great desire, which was to erect a church in the name of Darerca herself. On the day following, without the aid of man or beast,
on which it
63 The Second Life calls her "
ground
formerly grew. Diclaisre,
filia Daisrami, filii Buissidi," cap. viii. , num.
Nuncio in Ireland. See the Very Rev. Dean Reeves'
vianus del Palacio, the
Pope's
"
Archbishop of Armagh," in "Journal of the
January, 1875, No. 21, pp. 344. 345-
67 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
paper, intituled
Octavianus del Palacio,
Royal
Scottish Saints, pp. 396, 406. 68 "
In 1243, according to Registrum
July 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 93
InScotland,thechurchofScooniewasdedicatedtoaSt. Memme67—who may have been the same as Modwenna—by David de Bernham, on the fourth
68
is a well, and in popular remembrance dedicated to a St. Mannan, whiLe
of the June Kalends.
In the parish of Kilmannan, county of Wexford, there
69 Could this name be a
tion of St. Moninne? The feast of St. Mannan—held on this day—is cer- tified, also, by a local resident. 7° There is a legend, likewise, which states, that St. Munnu of Taghmon visited this St. Mann—an, and that a bell? 1 fell
there a was held on the 6th of patron
from He
"
locally
stone
July.
—aven, at the time, on a where a rock spot,
projects over the surface of a field.
corrup-
"
called the bell
The present holy virgin gave the greatest edification during a long life, which was spent in the service of God, and in the practice of most rigorous
penance. She was exact in the performance of every virtue. Why will the hardened sinner blush to confess those sins he committed, when a pious and tender woman can relish mortifications without repining? He refuses to pay a just penalty for the commission of evil, while he did not blush to stain his own soul. This saint was pure, and yet she practised penance. She was always generous in those self-sacrifices, which the Almighty rewards, most abundantly; and her memory remains, to remind sinners of the many trans-
gressions for which they have not sufficiently atoned, although constantly warned about the danger of delay.
Article III. —St. Mac Earc, Bishop of Donoughmore.
[Fifth
This manwasthesonof 1 andheissaidtohavebeen holy Bronach,
Century. ']
brother to other celebrated saints. His original name does not seem to be
known; but,wemayprobablyinferthenameofhisfather,fromthepatrony-
mic Mac Earc, or " the son of Earc," bestowed on him. In that Tract attri-
buted to St. and intituled " De Matribus Sanctorum 2 JEngus, Hibernise,"
the present St. Mac Earc is said incorrectly to have been the brother of St. Mochae,3 ofAendrum; ofComraireofUisneach; ofManchanofLiath-
Prioratus S. Andree," p. 348. eppuic meic ej\cA o TJorrmAch mop mulgi 69 See "Letters containing Information re- Coda. Ocuf "OAirmACAn flebe OecViAo. lative to the Antiquities of the County Ocur- jTu-pr-A cnaibcec 111 pAnonA in 5aI-
of Wexford, collected the of during Progress
the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. ii. John O'Donovan's letter, pp. 74 to 77.
7° Mr. Michael Browne, of Bridgetown, county of Wexford, in a letter to the writer, dated from that place, December 18th, 1872.
71 This bell is said to have been in the
possession of the Harveys of Mount Plea-
Via. " The — has been thus trans- foregoing
sant, in the earli—er part of this century. x
Article hi. There is a holy virgin of
Colman Muilinn of Daire Chaechain
this name, venerated at the 2nd of April, and
who is noticed, in the Fourth Volume of
this work, at that date, Art. i. It seems
clear, therefore, that she could not have been
mother to the present saint.
2
: mother'ssideisthusgiven "OnonACinjion
milconcotn-bAepAcj\Aic1 n-'OAijvimACAip
tnochAe n<Ven*oj\omA o ii-<\en'ojvomA tocA
CuAn. Ocuf Com^Aipe o UifneAch mroi.
Ocuf tttAnc'riAii o LiAuh tYlAncViAm 1 n- Sixth Volume of the present work, Art. i. "OeAibnAbeAc^A. Ocur-ColmAnmuilint> * See Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, o "OAine ChAechAin 1 tTOAt THaua. Ocup Connor and Dromore, "Appendix LL. , p. 379.
The pedigree of o—ur saint, on the Parona [Peronne], in Gaul. " See Rev. Dr.
" of Bronach, daughter
lated into English
Milcon, with whom Patrick was in bondage, was the mother of Mochae of Aendrum, or of Aendrum of Loch Cuan ; and of Corn- raire of Uisneach [now Knockusneach, in the parish of Conrath, County Westmeath], in Meath
[now Lemanaghan], in Dealbhna Beathra [the barony of Garrycastle, King's County] ; and of
in Dalriada : and of Bishop Mac Ere of Domnach-mor of Moy-Coba ; and of Dam- natan of Slieve Bethad [Slieve Beagh, in Tyrone, near its junction with Fermanagh and Monaghan] : and of Fursa, the pious, in
;
and of Manchan of Liath Manchan
:
" of Reeves' Ecclesiastical Down,
Antiquities
Connor and Dromore," Appendix F, pp. 189,
190.
3 See his Acts at the 23rd of June, in the
94 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 6.
Manchan of Colman of Muilinn Daire Chaechain of Damhnatan of ;;
Slieve Bethad ; and of Fursey in Perrone. The present Mac Earc is likely to have been born in the beginning of the fifth century. He is called Bishop of Domnachmor, in old Irish Calendars, and his festival occurs, on the 6th day of July/ The territory of IVlagh Cobha or " Campus Coba," as it is Latinized, embraced a considerable portion of Iveagh, extending from the parish of Donaghmore to that of Dromore. It was cleared of a wood, in a. m. 2756, during the reign of Irial the prophet. 5 Saran was chief of this district, in the time of St. Patrick, and he was the fourth in descent from Eochaidh
6
Coba 7 was the former name of his place. It is now simply called Donagh-
county
Cobha, who gave denomination to that territory.
Donoughmore of Moy-
more 8 in the parish,
of Down. As
Domnachmore
anciently designated,
church of Moy-Coba,9 or Donaghmore according to its modern name, is stated to have been founded by our saint, about the middle of the fifth cen-
IO
situated in the south-east corner of Upper Iveagh barony,
ralities were different usurped by
16 It is that beneath a said,
formerly ruled over Magh Cobha, according
tury. Several lords or chiefs
to our Irish Annals, and the territory is also mentioned in these,
scene of various exploits. The church over which our saint presided is
12
and within Dro- more diocese. The site of Donoghmore ancient church was about sixty feet south, from where the modern Protestant church now stands ; and, an ancient stone cross,^ about seven feet in height, remains as a memorial of olden times. During the middle ages, hereditary Herenachs I4 ruled over the manor of Donaghmore, and their family name appears frequently in old Registers of
During the last two centuries, the tempo-
cave, which extends to a considerable distance, the sides being formed of loose stones, and covered with large flat stones. Near the centre, there is a
the ecclesiastical appointments. 15
occupants.
remarkable old cross in the churchyard, there is an entrance to an artificial
5 See Rev. Dr. Jeoffry Keating's "History of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 318.
6 See John O'Donovan's LeAbhArv ha
n. Rights," (h),
1 This territory was so called from Eoch- aidh Cobha, who was ancestor of the tribe denominated Ui Eathach Cobha, who were seated in the baronies of Upper and Lower Iveagh, in the present county of Down.
Rev. William Reeves'
5-Cea|\c, pp. 165, 166.
or the " Book of
" iii. , cap. lxxviii. , pp. 371, 372.
See Roderick O'Flaherty's
Ogygia," pars.
This parish, in Upper Iveagh Barony, is described, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Down," sheets 33,40,41,46.
9 According to the Irish of Rev. Jeoffry Keating, this denomination is written, niAJ
8
Cobai
1
ii-4oib-e4C4c, in " Moy-Coba
rector of Reg. Oct. , fol. Dompnachmor—
Iveagh. "
10 At the years 683, 732, 734, 771, 796, ""
879, 965, the Annals the of Four Masters have notices of them. See Dr. O'Donovan's edition,vols. i. andii.
" Thus, at the years 1102, 1103, 1104, 1 109, 11 13, and 1 128, notices occur. In 1 188, the English are said to have had a castle there. In 1252, the castle of Moy Coba was erected by the son of Maurice Fitzgerald. In 1253, it was destroyed by Brian O'Neill. See
"
Ecclesiastical Anti- quities of Down, Connor and Dromore,"
n. (m), p. 112.
I2 See " Gazetteer of Ire- Parliamentary
land," vol. ii. , p. 28.
'3 It is probable, Tullynacross townland, which was the glebe, derived its name from this Cross.
I4 The O'Mac Kerell were herenachs,
under the Archbishops of Armagh, in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries,
IS Thus at A. D. 1408, John O'Mccrela was presented by the P—rimate to the parish church of Donnachmore. Reg. Flem. , fol. 19. A. D.
1440, John O'McKerrell, rector of Donagh- more died, and Gelacius O'McKerrell was appointed in his stead. —Reg. Swayne, lib. ii. , p. 90. A. D. 1487, John O'MaKrell,
288. A. D. 1534, Donald Omakrell, vicar
of Donaghmore,— died, and Peter Omakrell
succeeded him. Reg. Crom. p. 755.
,6
Thus,in 1622,SirEdwardTrevorheldthe twelve towns and the rectory, which consti- tutcd the manor of Donaghmore, under the SeeofArmagh. Untiloflate,thesamehad been held in the form of nine townlands, containing 2,045 acres, under the Protestant Primate of Armagh. See Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down,
11
as the
July 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 95
cross or transept, forming two distinct chambers. 1 ? As was generally the case with churches, anciently the seats of bishops, the adjacent lands became
18
Although the living is a vicarage in the diocese of Dromore, the Primate of Armagh became rector and patron, part of the tithes
1
being payable to him, and a part to the incumbent. ' For some cause, which
is not known, lands here situated were annexed to the See of Armagh, and not to that of Dromore. 20 The celebrated Dowagh or Danes' Cast passes
21
Article IV. —The Three Daughters of Maine, St. Dermor or Der-
moria, St. Etne or Ethnea, and St. Cumana, of Airiudh Bainne. At the
1
6th of July, in the Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Marianus O'Gorman and of
Maguire, a festival is entered in honour of TriingenaMoine, or the three daugh- ters of Maine in AiriudBoinne. Hewasdynastoveraplacecalled Tullach Maine. ThesethreedaughtersarenamedDermor,EtneandCumman. 2 TheBollan- dists^ merely enter their names at this date, and acknowledge their obligations to Father Thomas O'Sheerin, who extracted his notice from the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman. * It would appear, from the Sanctilogium Genealogicum, that they—at least two of them—are to be regarded as daughters to Cormac, son of Ailill, and they were descendants from Cathair Mor, King of Ireland. 5 However this may be, there is much uncertainty, regarding the time when these holy women flourished, and that exact place with which they had been connected. It is said, that while the Apostle St. Patrick 6 was in the northern partsofIreland,hecametoaplacecalledTulachMaine. Overthiswasa chief, named Manius, to whom he preached the truths of Christianity. To the chief and his wife, St. Patrick gave his blessing. She conceived and gave birth to twin daughters. These were baptized by the Irish Apostle. During the period of this mission, as we are told, Patrick did not enter the country about Armagh ; but, he went into the region of the Crimthann,? in which he
Connor and Dromore," n. (m), p. 112.
'7 This cave is about 3 feet wide, 5 feet
episcopal property.
through the western extremity of this parish.
high, and 62 feet long.
At the cross, it is
See Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix, E. E. , pp. 316, 318.
nearly 30
feet broad.
See Lewis' "
Topo-
2I See Lewis' " Dictionary Topographical
graphical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. ,
p. 468.
of Ireland," vol. —i. , p. 468. l
18
This property is described in the Ulster
Article iv. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxviii.
Visitation of 1622, as the "Mannor of
Donaghmore, contayning 12 townes and one
Rectorie. " The same were lately held, under the See of—Armagh, and are known by these names: Annaghbane, Ardkeeragh, Aughnacaven, Buskhill,Cargabane, Donagh-
more, or Tullynacross, Ringclare, Ringolish,
2 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. ii. , p. 149, and nn. 8, 9, p. 184.
See the Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix
E. E. , pp. 306, 307.
19 See "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire-
land," vol. ii. , p. 28.
20
Among those tables of procurations, re- lating to parishes in the Diocese of Dro- moire, and which were payable to the Primate in his Provincial Visitations, as found in Primate Dowdall's Registry, Dom- naghmore church was assessed at 3 marks, intheyear1422. AtA. D. 1546,wefindthe
Rector of Donnaghmore rated for 5 marks, and the vicar of the same place for 3 marks.
filias Manii de Airiodh-boinne, Dermora, Ethnea, et Cumana. Festivitas laudatarum Manii filiarum. "
5 A note by Dr. Todd says at Cumman's
name: "Ethne and Cumman were both
virgins, and sisters, daughters of Cormac, son of Ailill, of the race of Cathair Mor, King of Ireland. Sanct. Gen. , B. of Lecan. "
6 See his Life in the Third Volume of this work, at the 17th of March, Art. i. , chap, xvi.
1 This was in the southern part of Orgialla,
and it is now known, as the barony of Slane, in Meath.
Ringbane, Tullymurry.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 250.
:
4 The Latin extract runs thus " Tres
96 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 6.
erected many churches. 8 The children we speak of—but whose names are
not recorded—afterwards became religious, and they received the veil,
like- wise,athishands. ThereisaSt. Ethnea,andhersixsisters,mentionedin ourCalendars. Shehadsevenholybrothers,andalloftheseareclassedas bishops. She was the daughter of Muredoc, son to Fortchern, son of Dicull, son to Crimthann, son of Armedac, son of Senach, son to Aid Loga, son of Oscuon, son to Mienac, son of Lugad, son to Imchad, son of Fidchur, son to Eochod, sonofEnnius Monchaoin, son of Ross, surnamed Rig-foda, son
of Fiach the founder of the Decies — With her uncle on the Suidghe, family. 9
thesonofFortchern as
betracedinthefore-
father's
going genealogy this virgin St. Ethnea was venerated at
Iain, 10 now probably known as Killeen. The mother of St. Columkille bore the name of Ethnea, and Colgan hazards a conjecture," that she may have
I2
of February, or at the 29th of March, or at the 6th of July. But, as all are
denominated virgins, this is not a probable surmise, independent of their recordeddescent. IfwearetocreditColgan'sstatement,St. EthneaandSt. Cumania were sisters to St. Dermoria, also venerated on this day. '3 How-
Article V. —Reputed Feast of St. Dermor, Daughter of Maine.
A previous entry in the Martyrology of Donegal * disassociates Dermor, daughter of Maine, of Airiudh Bainne, from these virgins and sisters last- named,whoaresaidtohavebeendaughterstoCormac,sonofAilill. Buther name is set down separately, at the same 6th of July, as are also the con- joined names of Ethne and Cumman.
Article VI. —Three Daughters of Erni or Enuch Dirmaigh.
We find inserted in the of 1 at this Tri Martyrology Tallagh, date, ingena
Erni oc Enuch Dirmaighi. This same entry was communicated to the Bol- landists, by Father Thomas O'Sheerin, and it is set down by them, at the 6th
2
of July.
Article VII. —St. Fedchonniad, or Fedhchu, of Uamadh Fubi.
The of Fedchonniad is met with in the of 1 simple entry Martyrology Tallagh,
at the 6th of July. The Bollandists * acknowledge their indebtedness to Father Thomas O'Sheerin, for furnishing the name of Fedchno of Magh or
may
been one of the three female saints thus called in our Calendars, at the 26th
St. — side, Colman,
a called Kill- place
must have been the — of holy virgin daughter
the latter
Manius in Airedh-banne. Then, according to the same calculation as she isclassedamongthevirginsveiledbySt. Patrick—shemusthaveflourished in the fifth century.
in this
ever, case,
8
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, iii. , cap. ii. , p. 149, and nn. 8, 9, p. 184.
9 The " Menologic Genealogy," cap. xvi. , and Selbach, cap. xv.
'3 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 270. By mistake, however, the feast is printed the 6th of June, instead of the 6th of July.
Drs. Todd and
10 See
"Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
— Reeves, pp. 188,—189.
Colgan's
Article v.
'
Edited Edited
niae," xv. Januarii, Appendix ad Acta S.
Itae, cap. ii. , p. 73.
Article vi. Kelly, p. xxviii.
2
by
Rev. Dr.
11
See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Ap-
pendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. i. ,
p. 477«
12 take.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 250.
Article vii. — ' Edited by Rev. Dr.
The printer has inserted 23rd—a mis-
by
July 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 97
Campus Fuibh—eulogised by Marianus 0'Gorman3—at this date. At the
same day, in the Martyrology of Donegal,* the name Fedhchu, of Uamadh Fubi,is mentionedashavingbeenvenerated.
Article VIII. —Reputed Festival of a St. Fuidbech. Another
ofFuidbechisseeninthe of 1 forthis We Martyrology Tallagh, day.
entry
incline to the opinion, that it must have been owing to the oversight or igno-
rance of some copyist, and we can hardly doubt, but that he is the same per- son as the Saint Fedhchu, whose name occurs, in the more recent Calendar.
Article IX. —St. Flann Mac Cellach, Bishop of Rechrann.
{EighthCentury.
8
Before the death of St. Darerca, she is said to have appointed Bia 59 as Abbess to succeed her. 6° Afterwards followed one
63 Inthe
was also near her nunnery. s
named Diu. 61 The third in order is stated to have been 62 who Derlasre,
sidedoverthe
of Cill-Sleibhe is recorded, in our Annals. '*
is likely to have suffered at the hands of the Danish invaders, for we learn, that a priest of this place, named Duibhlitir, was martyred by the foreigners of CarlingfordLough,a. d. Q2i. 6s Duringthemiddleages,afemalecommunity,
presided
over
by
an Abbess of
Kilsleve,
6
had
possessions,
at this 66 place.
nunnery forty years.
year 654,
In subsequent times, Cill-Sleibhe
Ultonienses, p. 12.
57 See in the "Circle of the Seasons,"
p. 188.
workmen, after a diligent search through the forest, at last found a tree, which was suita- ble for their purpose, but it was in a place very difficult for access or removal. The tree notwithstanding was cut down, but it could
s8 A miracle relating to it, and referring
to a Bishop of venerable life called Fibartus,
and having the surname of Firnianus, has not be moved. Knowing this state of the
been attributed to the intercession of St.
Darerca. This is stated to have occurred,
while Derlasre was superioress, and it is told
in the Salamancan Life, chap, iv. , num. 45,
p. 296. This is more fully related in the
Second Life, where the Bishop is named the beam required was found where wanted, Fuibar, and having the surname of Vinuia- and near the nunnery. Then, the carpenters, mus ; while the miracle is attributed to his impelled through curiosity, went to that
meritsandtothoseofMovenna. Seechap,
viii. , num. 77, 78, pp. 311, 312.
59 In the Second Life, she is called the
daughter of Ailella, cap. viii. , num. 74, p. 311.
60
According to the First Life, cap. iv. , num. 41, p. 296.
61 We have it thus entered in the First
Life,
" deinde in but we an error Diu," suspect
place where the tree grew, but they were not able to discover there a single trace of broken branches. Thisproved,thatwhatcouldnot be accomplished through human effort, is easily done through Divine agency ; and it was believed, that the Angels bore that tree through the air, from that rough and elevated
has been here admitted. In the Second Life,
she is designated as the Third Abbess, 74. P- 3»-
and called " Dognidui, filise Mothai, filii Licac. "
6* See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 266, 267.
the iotli of November, a. d. 1477, a case of disputed right was negotiated between
Edmund Connesburgh, an Englishman chosen as Archbishop of Armagh, and Octa-
62 We do not find
saint
65 See vol. ii. , ibid. ,
this ; during her incumbency, the following miracle is re- corded, and it is attributed tothemeritsof St. Darerca. While, according to the custom of the Hibernian nation, the nuns had been
in with — a engaged erecting planed planks
church near the monastery at Ben not at Banchor as the Bollandists guess, but at Slieve Cuillinn, the word Ben—n being often
ever, they wanted a suitable kind of beam to join two of the walls, at the summit of the building, and which may be regarded as a wall-plate or a projection near the roof. The
608,
66 At the residence of the Abbess here, on
any namerecordedinourCalendars but
609.
used by the Irish for Slieve they
Historical and Associa- Archaeological
bearing
pp.
desired
it should be of elegant workmanship. How- tion of Ireland," vol. iii. , Fourth Series,
pre- thedeathofCoinceen
affair, Derlasre betook herself to prayer, and besought her patroness to obtain their great desire, which was to erect a church in the name of Darerca herself. On the day following, without the aid of man or beast,
on which it
63 The Second Life calls her "
ground
formerly grew. Diclaisre,
filia Daisrami, filii Buissidi," cap. viii. , num.
Nuncio in Ireland. See the Very Rev. Dean Reeves'
vianus del Palacio, the
Pope's
"
Archbishop of Armagh," in "Journal of the
January, 1875, No. 21, pp. 344. 345-
67 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
paper, intituled
Octavianus del Palacio,
Royal
Scottish Saints, pp. 396, 406. 68 "
In 1243, according to Registrum
July 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 93
InScotland,thechurchofScooniewasdedicatedtoaSt. Memme67—who may have been the same as Modwenna—by David de Bernham, on the fourth
68
is a well, and in popular remembrance dedicated to a St. Mannan, whiLe
of the June Kalends.
In the parish of Kilmannan, county of Wexford, there
69 Could this name be a
tion of St. Moninne? The feast of St. Mannan—held on this day—is cer- tified, also, by a local resident. 7° There is a legend, likewise, which states, that St. Munnu of Taghmon visited this St. Mann—an, and that a bell? 1 fell
there a was held on the 6th of patron
from He
"
locally
stone
July.
—aven, at the time, on a where a rock spot,
projects over the surface of a field.
corrup-
"
called the bell
The present holy virgin gave the greatest edification during a long life, which was spent in the service of God, and in the practice of most rigorous
penance. She was exact in the performance of every virtue. Why will the hardened sinner blush to confess those sins he committed, when a pious and tender woman can relish mortifications without repining? He refuses to pay a just penalty for the commission of evil, while he did not blush to stain his own soul. This saint was pure, and yet she practised penance. She was always generous in those self-sacrifices, which the Almighty rewards, most abundantly; and her memory remains, to remind sinners of the many trans-
gressions for which they have not sufficiently atoned, although constantly warned about the danger of delay.
Article III. —St. Mac Earc, Bishop of Donoughmore.
[Fifth
This manwasthesonof 1 andheissaidtohavebeen holy Bronach,
Century. ']
brother to other celebrated saints. His original name does not seem to be
known; but,wemayprobablyinferthenameofhisfather,fromthepatrony-
mic Mac Earc, or " the son of Earc," bestowed on him. In that Tract attri-
buted to St. and intituled " De Matribus Sanctorum 2 JEngus, Hibernise,"
the present St. Mac Earc is said incorrectly to have been the brother of St. Mochae,3 ofAendrum; ofComraireofUisneach; ofManchanofLiath-
Prioratus S. Andree," p. 348. eppuic meic ej\cA o TJorrmAch mop mulgi 69 See "Letters containing Information re- Coda. Ocuf "OAirmACAn flebe OecViAo. lative to the Antiquities of the County Ocur- jTu-pr-A cnaibcec 111 pAnonA in 5aI-
of Wexford, collected the of during Progress
the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. ii. John O'Donovan's letter, pp. 74 to 77.
7° Mr. Michael Browne, of Bridgetown, county of Wexford, in a letter to the writer, dated from that place, December 18th, 1872.
71 This bell is said to have been in the
possession of the Harveys of Mount Plea-
Via. " The — has been thus trans- foregoing
sant, in the earli—er part of this century. x
Article hi. There is a holy virgin of
Colman Muilinn of Daire Chaechain
this name, venerated at the 2nd of April, and
who is noticed, in the Fourth Volume of
this work, at that date, Art. i. It seems
clear, therefore, that she could not have been
mother to the present saint.
2
: mother'ssideisthusgiven "OnonACinjion
milconcotn-bAepAcj\Aic1 n-'OAijvimACAip
tnochAe n<Ven*oj\omA o ii-<\en'ojvomA tocA
CuAn. Ocuf Com^Aipe o UifneAch mroi.
Ocuf tttAnc'riAii o LiAuh tYlAncViAm 1 n- Sixth Volume of the present work, Art. i. "OeAibnAbeAc^A. Ocur-ColmAnmuilint> * See Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, o "OAine ChAechAin 1 tTOAt THaua. Ocup Connor and Dromore, "Appendix LL. , p. 379.
The pedigree of o—ur saint, on the Parona [Peronne], in Gaul. " See Rev. Dr.
" of Bronach, daughter
lated into English
Milcon, with whom Patrick was in bondage, was the mother of Mochae of Aendrum, or of Aendrum of Loch Cuan ; and of Corn- raire of Uisneach [now Knockusneach, in the parish of Conrath, County Westmeath], in Meath
[now Lemanaghan], in Dealbhna Beathra [the barony of Garrycastle, King's County] ; and of
in Dalriada : and of Bishop Mac Ere of Domnach-mor of Moy-Coba ; and of Dam- natan of Slieve Bethad [Slieve Beagh, in Tyrone, near its junction with Fermanagh and Monaghan] : and of Fursa, the pious, in
;
and of Manchan of Liath Manchan
:
" of Reeves' Ecclesiastical Down,
Antiquities
Connor and Dromore," Appendix F, pp. 189,
190.
3 See his Acts at the 23rd of June, in the
94 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 6.
Manchan of Colman of Muilinn Daire Chaechain of Damhnatan of ;;
Slieve Bethad ; and of Fursey in Perrone. The present Mac Earc is likely to have been born in the beginning of the fifth century. He is called Bishop of Domnachmor, in old Irish Calendars, and his festival occurs, on the 6th day of July/ The territory of IVlagh Cobha or " Campus Coba," as it is Latinized, embraced a considerable portion of Iveagh, extending from the parish of Donaghmore to that of Dromore. It was cleared of a wood, in a. m. 2756, during the reign of Irial the prophet. 5 Saran was chief of this district, in the time of St. Patrick, and he was the fourth in descent from Eochaidh
6
Coba 7 was the former name of his place. It is now simply called Donagh-
county
Cobha, who gave denomination to that territory.
Donoughmore of Moy-
more 8 in the parish,
of Down. As
Domnachmore
anciently designated,
church of Moy-Coba,9 or Donaghmore according to its modern name, is stated to have been founded by our saint, about the middle of the fifth cen-
IO
situated in the south-east corner of Upper Iveagh barony,
ralities were different usurped by
16 It is that beneath a said,
formerly ruled over Magh Cobha, according
tury. Several lords or chiefs
to our Irish Annals, and the territory is also mentioned in these,
scene of various exploits. The church over which our saint presided is
12
and within Dro- more diocese. The site of Donoghmore ancient church was about sixty feet south, from where the modern Protestant church now stands ; and, an ancient stone cross,^ about seven feet in height, remains as a memorial of olden times. During the middle ages, hereditary Herenachs I4 ruled over the manor of Donaghmore, and their family name appears frequently in old Registers of
During the last two centuries, the tempo-
cave, which extends to a considerable distance, the sides being formed of loose stones, and covered with large flat stones. Near the centre, there is a
the ecclesiastical appointments. 15
occupants.
remarkable old cross in the churchyard, there is an entrance to an artificial
5 See Rev. Dr. Jeoffry Keating's "History of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 318.
6 See John O'Donovan's LeAbhArv ha
n. Rights," (h),
1 This territory was so called from Eoch- aidh Cobha, who was ancestor of the tribe denominated Ui Eathach Cobha, who were seated in the baronies of Upper and Lower Iveagh, in the present county of Down.
Rev. William Reeves'
5-Cea|\c, pp. 165, 166.
or the " Book of
" iii. , cap. lxxviii. , pp. 371, 372.
See Roderick O'Flaherty's
Ogygia," pars.
This parish, in Upper Iveagh Barony, is described, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Down," sheets 33,40,41,46.
9 According to the Irish of Rev. Jeoffry Keating, this denomination is written, niAJ
8
Cobai
1
ii-4oib-e4C4c, in " Moy-Coba
rector of Reg. Oct. , fol. Dompnachmor—
Iveagh. "
10 At the years 683, 732, 734, 771, 796, ""
879, 965, the Annals the of Four Masters have notices of them. See Dr. O'Donovan's edition,vols. i. andii.
" Thus, at the years 1102, 1103, 1104, 1 109, 11 13, and 1 128, notices occur. In 1 188, the English are said to have had a castle there. In 1252, the castle of Moy Coba was erected by the son of Maurice Fitzgerald. In 1253, it was destroyed by Brian O'Neill. See
"
Ecclesiastical Anti- quities of Down, Connor and Dromore,"
n. (m), p. 112.
I2 See " Gazetteer of Ire- Parliamentary
land," vol. ii. , p. 28.
'3 It is probable, Tullynacross townland, which was the glebe, derived its name from this Cross.
I4 The O'Mac Kerell were herenachs,
under the Archbishops of Armagh, in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries,
IS Thus at A. D. 1408, John O'Mccrela was presented by the P—rimate to the parish church of Donnachmore. Reg. Flem. , fol. 19. A. D.
1440, John O'McKerrell, rector of Donagh- more died, and Gelacius O'McKerrell was appointed in his stead. —Reg. Swayne, lib. ii. , p. 90. A. D. 1487, John O'MaKrell,
288. A. D. 1534, Donald Omakrell, vicar
of Donaghmore,— died, and Peter Omakrell
succeeded him. Reg. Crom. p. 755.
,6
Thus,in 1622,SirEdwardTrevorheldthe twelve towns and the rectory, which consti- tutcd the manor of Donaghmore, under the SeeofArmagh. Untiloflate,thesamehad been held in the form of nine townlands, containing 2,045 acres, under the Protestant Primate of Armagh. See Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down,
11
as the
July 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 95
cross or transept, forming two distinct chambers. 1 ? As was generally the case with churches, anciently the seats of bishops, the adjacent lands became
18
Although the living is a vicarage in the diocese of Dromore, the Primate of Armagh became rector and patron, part of the tithes
1
being payable to him, and a part to the incumbent. ' For some cause, which
is not known, lands here situated were annexed to the See of Armagh, and not to that of Dromore. 20 The celebrated Dowagh or Danes' Cast passes
21
Article IV. —The Three Daughters of Maine, St. Dermor or Der-
moria, St. Etne or Ethnea, and St. Cumana, of Airiudh Bainne. At the
1
6th of July, in the Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Marianus O'Gorman and of
Maguire, a festival is entered in honour of TriingenaMoine, or the three daugh- ters of Maine in AiriudBoinne. Hewasdynastoveraplacecalled Tullach Maine. ThesethreedaughtersarenamedDermor,EtneandCumman. 2 TheBollan- dists^ merely enter their names at this date, and acknowledge their obligations to Father Thomas O'Sheerin, who extracted his notice from the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman. * It would appear, from the Sanctilogium Genealogicum, that they—at least two of them—are to be regarded as daughters to Cormac, son of Ailill, and they were descendants from Cathair Mor, King of Ireland. 5 However this may be, there is much uncertainty, regarding the time when these holy women flourished, and that exact place with which they had been connected. It is said, that while the Apostle St. Patrick 6 was in the northern partsofIreland,hecametoaplacecalledTulachMaine. Overthiswasa chief, named Manius, to whom he preached the truths of Christianity. To the chief and his wife, St. Patrick gave his blessing. She conceived and gave birth to twin daughters. These were baptized by the Irish Apostle. During the period of this mission, as we are told, Patrick did not enter the country about Armagh ; but, he went into the region of the Crimthann,? in which he
Connor and Dromore," n. (m), p. 112.
'7 This cave is about 3 feet wide, 5 feet
episcopal property.
through the western extremity of this parish.
high, and 62 feet long.
At the cross, it is
See Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix, E. E. , pp. 316, 318.
nearly 30
feet broad.
See Lewis' "
Topo-
2I See Lewis' " Dictionary Topographical
graphical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. ,
p. 468.
of Ireland," vol. —i. , p. 468. l
18
This property is described in the Ulster
Article iv. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxviii.
Visitation of 1622, as the "Mannor of
Donaghmore, contayning 12 townes and one
Rectorie. " The same were lately held, under the See of—Armagh, and are known by these names: Annaghbane, Ardkeeragh, Aughnacaven, Buskhill,Cargabane, Donagh-
more, or Tullynacross, Ringclare, Ringolish,
2 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. ii. , p. 149, and nn. 8, 9, p. 184.
See the Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix
E. E. , pp. 306, 307.
19 See "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire-
land," vol. ii. , p. 28.
20
Among those tables of procurations, re- lating to parishes in the Diocese of Dro- moire, and which were payable to the Primate in his Provincial Visitations, as found in Primate Dowdall's Registry, Dom- naghmore church was assessed at 3 marks, intheyear1422. AtA. D. 1546,wefindthe
Rector of Donnaghmore rated for 5 marks, and the vicar of the same place for 3 marks.
filias Manii de Airiodh-boinne, Dermora, Ethnea, et Cumana. Festivitas laudatarum Manii filiarum. "
5 A note by Dr. Todd says at Cumman's
name: "Ethne and Cumman were both
virgins, and sisters, daughters of Cormac, son of Ailill, of the race of Cathair Mor, King of Ireland. Sanct. Gen. , B. of Lecan. "
6 See his Life in the Third Volume of this work, at the 17th of March, Art. i. , chap, xvi.
1 This was in the southern part of Orgialla,
and it is now known, as the barony of Slane, in Meath.
Ringbane, Tullymurry.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 250.
:
4 The Latin extract runs thus " Tres
96 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 6.
erected many churches. 8 The children we speak of—but whose names are
not recorded—afterwards became religious, and they received the veil,
like- wise,athishands. ThereisaSt. Ethnea,andhersixsisters,mentionedin ourCalendars. Shehadsevenholybrothers,andalloftheseareclassedas bishops. She was the daughter of Muredoc, son to Fortchern, son of Dicull, son to Crimthann, son of Armedac, son of Senach, son to Aid Loga, son of Oscuon, son to Mienac, son of Lugad, son to Imchad, son of Fidchur, son to Eochod, sonofEnnius Monchaoin, son of Ross, surnamed Rig-foda, son
of Fiach the founder of the Decies — With her uncle on the Suidghe, family. 9
thesonofFortchern as
betracedinthefore-
father's
going genealogy this virgin St. Ethnea was venerated at
Iain, 10 now probably known as Killeen. The mother of St. Columkille bore the name of Ethnea, and Colgan hazards a conjecture," that she may have
I2
of February, or at the 29th of March, or at the 6th of July. But, as all are
denominated virgins, this is not a probable surmise, independent of their recordeddescent. IfwearetocreditColgan'sstatement,St. EthneaandSt. Cumania were sisters to St. Dermoria, also venerated on this day. '3 How-
Article V. —Reputed Feast of St. Dermor, Daughter of Maine.
A previous entry in the Martyrology of Donegal * disassociates Dermor, daughter of Maine, of Airiudh Bainne, from these virgins and sisters last- named,whoaresaidtohavebeendaughterstoCormac,sonofAilill. Buther name is set down separately, at the same 6th of July, as are also the con- joined names of Ethne and Cumman.
Article VI. —Three Daughters of Erni or Enuch Dirmaigh.
We find inserted in the of 1 at this Tri Martyrology Tallagh, date, ingena
Erni oc Enuch Dirmaighi. This same entry was communicated to the Bol- landists, by Father Thomas O'Sheerin, and it is set down by them, at the 6th
2
of July.
Article VII. —St. Fedchonniad, or Fedhchu, of Uamadh Fubi.
The of Fedchonniad is met with in the of 1 simple entry Martyrology Tallagh,
at the 6th of July. The Bollandists * acknowledge their indebtedness to Father Thomas O'Sheerin, for furnishing the name of Fedchno of Magh or
may
been one of the three female saints thus called in our Calendars, at the 26th
St. — side, Colman,
a called Kill- place
must have been the — of holy virgin daughter
the latter
Manius in Airedh-banne. Then, according to the same calculation as she isclassedamongthevirginsveiledbySt. Patrick—shemusthaveflourished in the fifth century.
in this
ever, case,
8
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, iii. , cap. ii. , p. 149, and nn. 8, 9, p. 184.
9 The " Menologic Genealogy," cap. xvi. , and Selbach, cap. xv.
'3 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 270. By mistake, however, the feast is printed the 6th of June, instead of the 6th of July.
Drs. Todd and
10 See
"Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
— Reeves, pp. 188,—189.
Colgan's
Article v.
'
Edited Edited
niae," xv. Januarii, Appendix ad Acta S.
Itae, cap. ii. , p. 73.
Article vi. Kelly, p. xxviii.
2
by
Rev. Dr.
11
See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Ap-
pendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. i. ,
p. 477«
12 take.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 250.
Article vii. — ' Edited by Rev. Dr.
The printer has inserted 23rd—a mis-
by
July 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 97
Campus Fuibh—eulogised by Marianus 0'Gorman3—at this date. At the
same day, in the Martyrology of Donegal,* the name Fedhchu, of Uamadh Fubi,is mentionedashavingbeenvenerated.
Article VIII. —Reputed Festival of a St. Fuidbech. Another
ofFuidbechisseeninthe of 1 forthis We Martyrology Tallagh, day.
entry
incline to the opinion, that it must have been owing to the oversight or igno-
rance of some copyist, and we can hardly doubt, but that he is the same per- son as the Saint Fedhchu, whose name occurs, in the more recent Calendar.
Article IX. —St. Flann Mac Cellach, Bishop of Rechrann.
{EighthCentury.
