* The tribune
Quirinus
had reproved Hermes for becoming a Christian, and thus subjecting himself, not only to lose his pre- torship, but even to expose himself to the persecution then prevailing.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
for Feidhlimidh
The cold wave of death has drowned
him ;
It is a cause of grief to the men of
Erinn,
That the son of Crimthann of Claire
lives not.
mweAchAiwinne-6r\i§i mAnbAnb^n
mmgnecAp,
rlAic FiaI ro «1$ tiAitbine cobnAt
no6on gignechAip.
Thus rendered into English :—
" Alas ! O God, for Feidhlimidh ; the wave of death has drowned him !
It is a cause of grief to the Irish lhat the son of Crimhthann of Claire lives not,
;
a. d. and of his 845,
et ancorita. "
rum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , Annales Ultonienses.
August 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 405
of an Irish poet, in lamentation for his death. The Martyrology of Donegal6? also records him at the 28th of August, as Feidhlimidh son of Cremthan, King of Munster.
From all we can learn, this King was distinguished by intellectual gifts,
and by energy of natural disposition ; yet neither of such qualifications could entitle him to our respect, did he not feel remorse for various misdeeds, and
repent for a long catalogue of crimes, which were perpetrated during the timehewasinvestedwithtemporaldominion. Likeanotherroyalpenitent, before he had been called out of this world, Feidhlimidh in the trouble of his soul and body recognised his own weakness and dependence,70 having recourse to humble supplication, that the Lord should not rebuke him in indignation, nor chastise him in wrath, while he had renounced the works of iniquity, and had shed tears of remorse for his many transgressions. Thus it happened in the case of Mary Magdalen, who from being a great sinner, afterwards became a great saint ; and with St. Paul, who from being a bitter persecutor of Christians afterwards became a glorious Apostle in the Church. To the last moment of life, God is merciful to even the greatest sinners, and accepts their sincere repentance with forgiveness, while if they persevere in
justice to the end, He has promised also to them the rewards of Heaven.
ArticleII. —FeastofSt. Flannan,Bishop,ofKillaloe. Because a Festival and Mass have been assigned for St. Flannan, Bishop and Con- fessor, as also the special Patron of the Church and Diocese of Killaloe, at
2
have the Acts of St. Flannan,3 Bishop of Killaloe, at this day. * Probably it was the date on which some translation of his relics took place. By
referring to his Life, which is given at the 1 8th of December, further parti- culars may be found, to throw some light on his personality and period.
Already, when treating about the Blessed Bryan Boroimha, King of Munster, Monarch of Ireland, and Martyr, at the 23rd of April,* allusion has been made to the origin of Killaloe, in the sixth century, said to have been foundedby,andtohavederiveditsnamefrom,St. Lua6orMolua. ? There are to be seen, at the present day, some very remarkable antiquities, and sur- rounded by the most romantic and charming scenery, along the banks of the River Shannon,8 The situation of the town is very picturesque, being erected
the 28th of August, by the Rev, Nicholas Anthony Kenny/ the Bollandists
69 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 228, 229.
7° Psalms, vi. —
work, Art. i. , chap. i.
6 to have been St. Lua or Molua Thought
of Clonfert Molua, whose feast occurs on the
*
Article ii.
propriae Sanctorum Patronorum ac Titula- rium Franciae et Hiberniae," published at
Paris, A. D. 1734.
2 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Au-
gusti xxviii. De S. Flannano Ep. et Conf.
Laonisa in Momonise Hiberniae, pp. 488 to
491.
3 These have been compiled by Father
nineteen
and whose Life be seen may
In a tract intituled," Missse
4th of August,
at that date in the present volume, Art. i.
John Pinius, S. J. , in two sections,
7 In the Irish Calendars, a St. Molua is venerated at the 4th of June ; St. Molua of Clonfert Molua, at the 4th of August ; a St. Molua, at the 15th of October ; a St. Molua at the 31st of November; and a St. Molua of Munghairit, at the 21st of December. Mo is but a term of endearment prefixed to the proper name Lua.
and
4 They had not been able to ascertain if broken by rapids. It is spanned by a
paragraphs.
8 The river here is wide, but shallow, and
any other day had been dedicated for his commemoration, and therefore accepted the
publication of his Mass, at this date, as con- firmatory of a solemn and public veneration for the Saint, in his native country.
5 See at that date, the Fourth volume of this
narrow bridge having nineteen arches. A view is drawn by Samuel Lover, Esq. ,
"
R. H. A. , for
to illustrate a historic article of John Dalton. See vol. i. , Illustrations of Irish Topography. No. xxii. , Killaloe, pp. 169 to 171.
The Irish Penny Magazine,"^
406 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 28.
on the ascent of a hill," and it is backed by a range of encircling mountains. To St. Lua has been attributed the erection of an undoubtedly ancient oratory,* the remains of which stand on Friar's Island in the river and near
the eastern shore. 10
views of the former ecclesiastical erections at Killaloe have been presented by T. Crofton Crokerin his illustrated work, descriptiveofmanylocalitiesandcustomsofMunster. " Themostancient insular oratory consisted of a nave and choir ; the nave measuring on the inside 21 feet 8 inches in length, and 12 feet 7 inches in breadth ; while the choir measures 10 feet 11 inches in length, by 6 feet 8 inches in width. The east window is round-head- ed, on both sides, and con- structed of chiselled brown sand-stone, extending the entire thickness of the wall. It measures on the inside 4 feet 7 inches, in height, and one foot 9 inches in width, at the springing of the arch, and two feet at the bottom.
Interesting
***
Ancient Island Oratory, at Killaloe.
height of the side-walls of this choir is 8 feet and the roof is about the same height. The choir-arch is semicircular,andconstructedofchiselledbrownsand-stone itseemstohave
;
consisted originally of several concentric little arches, but only the outer-
most or highest arch now remains. It measures 8 feet 6 inches in height to the vertex, and 3 feet 8 inches in width. The west gable of the nave is now destroyed," as are also the south wall—except five feet of its height—
9 This has been called from him Mollua's
oratory. See the Rev. Philip Dwyer's by Mrs. Millard. It forms the of
"
Diocese of Killaloe from the Reformation to the close of the Eighteenth Century,"
. chap, i. , Introductory, p. 3.
10 A of this drawing
transferred by him to the wood, engraved subject
the present illustration.
" See " Researches in the South of Ire-
and taken the spot, by William F. Wakeman, has been
"
6th of January, 1839.
ruin,
on
It was blown down, on the night of the
It is placed at the height of six feet from the level of
the ground, on the outside ;
while there it measures only
one foot 9 inches in height ;
in width it is only 8 inches
at top and 10 inches at
bottom. At the distance
of 2 feet 9 inches from the
middle gable, there is a
quadrangular doorway, on the south wall of the choir,
constructed ofchiselled
grit, measuring on the inside 5 feet 7^ inches in height, and in width one foot 10 inches at top, and 2 feet 2 inches at bottom. Broken on the out- side, the dimensions seem to have been nearly the same asthoseontheinside. The
land," chap, iii. , pp. 55, 56.
August 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 407
and the north wall—except six feet of its height. The island on which the ruins stand contains about one acre and a half of land. This insular oratory of considerable beauty is undoubtedly the oldest ecclesiastical structure now to befoundinKillaloe. Therewasadoor-wayonthewestgable,nowdestroyed. Three of its cut stones on one side remain, but not in their original position, and the lintel is to be seen on the ground ; it is a block of brown sand-stone chiselled, and measuring 4 feet 3 inches in length, one foot 10 inches in thickness,andonefoot6inchesinbreadth. Fromtheimpressionofthestones on which it rested, and from this lintel it appears, that the door-way was one foot i\\ inches in width at the top. The walls of the nave in this building
are 3 feet 2 inches in thickness, and built of large brown sand-stone blocks,
cementedwithlimeandsandmortar. ^ Anotherinteresting,largerandmore
1 ornamented building, with a stone-roof, has been ascribed also to St. Molua. *
Having some of its features evidently borrowed from the older oratory, it stillstandswithinthetown,andinagoodstateofpreservation. ^ Bysome writers, however, it is thought that on its site was the church originally
16 1? erected by St. Flannan. Afterwards was erected the mediaeval cathedral, a
small Gothic edifice, in the form of a cross, with nave, transepts and a choir, having a plain square battlemented tower, supported by four arches, in the centre of the cross. 18 The town and its churches are said to have been burned on various occasions. In the year 1054, it is related, that a bridge had been erected at Killaloe by Turlough O'Brien. The material with which it had been constructed was wood. In the year 11. 70, the Hy-Maine made
an inroad upon Ormond, which they plundered, and also they des- troyed the wooden bridge, at Cill-Dalua. ^ This does not appear to have been re-erected for a long time afterwards, as in the beginning of the four- teenth century, the passage over the Shannon here was only known as Clarisford, from Thomas De Clare, who had obtained possessions in the east
of Clare, from one of the Thomond
princes.
20 It is stated, that while St.
Lua21 was the first to have founded a monastery at Killaloe, St. Flannan
became his disciple, and succeeded him. He is said to have been conse-
crated as first of 22 of which diocese he is as the
Bishop Killaloe, regarded
13 See " Letters containing Information that it was an edifice of much greater anti relative to the Antiquities of the County of quity than that which now remains. See
Tipperary, collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. ii.
Letter of John O'Donovan, dated Nenagh, October 13th, 1840, pp. 28 to 30.
James Frost's "History and Topography of the County of Clare, from the earliest times
to the beginning of the 1 8th century," with map and illustrations, chap, x. , p. 175. Dublin, 1893, 8vo.
x' It is said, by Donald, King of Lime- rick, about a. d. 1 160.
l8 The architectural peculiarities of this building have been well described by Mr.
»« See Very Rev. P. White's
"
History of Tipperary, p. 8. This
Clare and the Dalcassian Clans of
Limerick and Galway," chap, i. ,
valuable work, dealing chiefly with the civil history of the county, contains an ancient
and a modern map, coloured, which greatly serve to show the student of its contents the former Irish divisions as compared with the modern localities. Dublin, 1893, 8vo.
' s It has been already illustrated and suf-
ficiently described, in the Fourth Volume of
this work, at the 23rd of April, Art. i. The Collectanea, vol. i. , p. 439, and Ware's Blessed Bryan Boroimha, King of Munster, Bishops, p. 589, this saint is called Molua-
Monarch of Ireland, and Martyr, chap. i. lobhair, the grandson of Eocha Bailldearg, "
16 Attached to the stone-roofed church, King of North Munster. See Monasticon on the north side of the cathedral, another Hibernicum," p. 52.
building appears to have stood, because on *" About A. D. 639, after his consecration
"
the east gable are seen marks left by the at Rome. See James Frost's History and
'
roof of a structure somewhat smaller in size. Topography of the County of Clare, Some suppose it was the choir, and others chap, x. , p. 157.
&c,
Bell.
I9 See Dr. O'Donovan's
"
Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1 178, 1 179.
2° See " The Parliamentary Gazetteer of
Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 451.
2I According to Archdall, who cites the
4o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 38.
Chief Patron. In the remarkable stone-roofed church at Killaloe, it is supposed his remains were first deposited, although afterwards translated to the more modern Cathedral. **
Article III. —Feast of Quiriacus and of his Companions, Martyrs.
"1
According to the Feilire" of St. ^Engus, at the 28th of August, the Festival
of Quiriacus and of his companions was celebrated in Ireland. At this date,
the Bollandists* have the u M. translation How- simple record, Quiriaci
ever, there are no other special Acts or memorials of Quiriacus given by them at this date.
Article IV. —Festival of Saint Hermes, Martyr. In the Irish Church, Hermes was commemorated as a Martyr, at the 28th of August, as
found in the " Feilire " of St.
1 In a comment attached, we are informed, that being a Roman Prefect his martyrdom occurred in Afri, under the Emperor Aurelian. * However, this latter account is incorrect ; for, it is only recorded in the Acts of Pope St. Alexander I. ,3 that the latter had con- verted Hermes, a rich patrician and prefect of Rome from paganism to Christianity, together with his wife, children, and his sister Theodora. After- wards Hermes liberated over twelve hundred of his slaves, with their wives and children. Whereupon, when it was known, that he had become a Christian, Pope Alexander was apprehended and cast into prison, by order of the Emperor Aurelian.
* The tribune Quirinus had reproved Hermes for becoming a Christian, and thus subjecting himself, not only to lose his pre- torship, but even to expose himself to the persecution then prevailing. Nevertheless, when Hermes had related the miracles wrought by Alexander, and had even convinced Quirinus, that through angelic aid the Pope had been able to leave the prison, and to come into his own house, where Hermes then was present ; notwithstanding his previous strong prejudices against the Christians, Quirinus himself became a convert and was baptized, together with all the other members of his household. Then it is related, that when Aurelianus heard of what had transpired, he ordered Hermes to bebeheaded. AfterwardshisremainswerebroughtbyhissisterTheodora,
a3 See "The Irish Penny Magazine," vol.
i. Illustrations of Irish Topography, No.
xxii. , p. 169.
Article hi. — 1 In the " Leabhar Breac "
feasts, p. 141. — 3 To this is added, by way of reference "ex Usuardo monasterii S. Martini Tor-
copy is the following notice at this date.
Stokes, LL. D.
Series, vol. i. , part i.
On the Calendar
of
"
:
UoriAn Ciniacuf ConacLeip cain cacViIaic
epmif CefAif pochneiT) 1ncdurvo<Mj\e Ah -Appaic.
May Quiriacus protect us, with his train
Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. ,
pp. cxxv. , cxxvi.
2
See ibid. , p. cxxxiii.
> He satin the chair of St. Peter from A. D.
109 to A. D. 119.
4 However this statement is irreconcilable
with the time allowed for the Emperor Aurelian, who was not born for a long period
St. Alexander I. That Roman Emperor is thought to have been born about a. d. 212, and he died after a reign of five years in March, 275. Flavius Vopiscus, a Latin historian, who lived at Rome towards the close of the third century has written an interesting "Vita Aureliani. "
fair Catholic. Hermes suffered a
Africa. "
"
great out of Transactions of the Royal Irish
wound — the
: (Augustine) conspicuous
after the death of
Pope
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. ,
part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, pp.
cxxv. , cxxvi.
3
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Augusti xxviii. Among the pretermitted
^Engus.
of the The English t—ranslation is by Whitley Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript
naci" — Article iv.
*
See "Transactions
August 29. ] LIVES Of THE IRISH SAINTS.
409
and buried on the Salarian Way, not far from the city of Rome, on the V. of the September Kalends, which corresponds with the 28th day of August. The foregoing is in substance what the Bollandist Father John Stilting relates of him at this date,5 where he gives a critical and historic commentary on his Acts.
Article V. —Festival of St. Augustine. As in the Universal
Church, the great St. Augustine was commemorated in Ireland, on the 28th
of Wefindhimmentionedwithdistinctive 1 inthe"Feilire"2 August. praise
of St. iEngus. The Acts of this celebrated Doctor and Father of the early Church are very fully given, at this date, by the Bollandists ;3 and, a Previous Commentary by Father William Cuper introduces them, in various learned dissertations, comprising sixty-five sections and 842 different paragraphs.
EtoentjMuntb Bap of Sugust.
ARTICLE I. —ST. WINOC, CALLED BISHOP OF RATH-ESPUIC-INNIC, OR ST. UINDIC OF TEAGHNEATHA, OR TYNAN, COUNTY OF ARMAGH.
[FIFTH CENTURY. -]
WHENwith indomitable zeal, St. Patrick preached the word of God throughout Ireland, he found there numerous disciples, who accepted his teaching and profited by his example. Their names are also recorded in the lists of our National Saints ; although, indeed, their acts seem discoverable in many instances, only as episodes among those given in Lives of the great Apostle. An instance occurs in the case of the present holy
1
man. By Colgan, he is styled St. Uindic, Bishop of Rath-Easpuic Innic. He is also called Winnoc. In O'Sullevan Beare's Catalogue, this Saint's name is likewise entered. 2 However, very little is known regarding his early history,3ortheplacewherehewasborn, Heflourishedinthefifthcentury.
This Saint is registered as one of St. Patrick's disciples ;* but, when he became attached to the Irish apostle is uncertain. The following anecdote has been preserved for us, in the Acts of St. Patrick,* and, it serves to give us an idea, that while a confidential friend and esteemed highly by the great Patriarch of the Irish Church, Winnoc well deserved that trust, owing to
5 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Au- gusti xxviii. De S. Hermete Martyre Romse. In three sections and forty paragraphs, pp.
142 to 151. — Article v.
Illustri Ecclesiae Doctore, et Hipponensi
Episcopo, Hippone-Regio in Africa," pp. 213 to 460. — "
Article i » See Trias Thaumaturga,"
Vita S. Patricii, ii. , nn. 222, Septima pars,
223, p. 183.
2 See " Historiae Catholicoe Ibernise
Compendium," lib. iv. , cap. xii. , p. 57.
3 See Miss M. F. Cusack's " Life of St.
Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," n. 9, p. 443.
He
"the conspicuous one from Africa," which
2
*
is not named, but called
" i. e. See "Transactions of the Royal Irish
a commentator thus explains in Latin Agustinus episcopus in hoc die Beda testante in Chronico. "
:
Irish
part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by
Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxxvi. , andn. at p. cxxxiii.
3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Au- gusti xxviii. Be S. Aurelio Augustino,
Academy,"
Manuscript Series,
i. ,
Thaumaturga" Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap.
vol.
« See "Trias Colgan's
xxiii. , p. 265.
s See the Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of
Ireland, in the Third Volume of this work, at the 17th of March, Art i.
4 io LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 29.
his spirit of devotion and true humility. At one time, St. Patrick and St. Winnoc sat together, when engaged at a religious conference. 6 While
speaking of the Deity, and of things which especially concerned Him, these holy councillors referred to the Divine precept of charity, and they remarked that both by word and work were they bound to part with their garments, to clothe persons, who were in need of such comforts. At that moment, a cloak appeared to descend from Heaven, and it fell between them. This portent they regarded, both as an approval of their pronounced sentiments, on the part of the Most High, and as an earnest of those rewards, which they should not fail in obtaining, from the Father of lights, to recompense their future sacrifices. The saints felt greatly rejoiced and comforted ; but their minds were filled with divergent opinions, regarding that miracle. Each one ascribed it to the other's merits. St. Patrick asserted, that this gift was intended for Winnoc/ who had perfectly renounced all his worldly possessions, for the sake of Christ. On the other hand, St. Winnoc alleged, that it had
been sent to St. Patrick, who, although possessing everything yet kept nothing ; for, he had left himself naked for God's sake, while clothing numbers, who were poor and naked. While such discussions, dictated by sincere humility on both sides, continued, the cloak was again elevated towards Heaven, and it suddenly disappeared. But, in its stead, two cloaks were next seen to descend from above. These were intended respectively for both Saints ; and thus, all reason for future discussion on that point was removed, owing to this celestial indication, that both were eminently
region.
leithdheirg,
territory
of
could not be
See Rev. William Reeves'
"
situate in the
Fearnmhagh, now the barony of Farney, in the County of Monaghan. Colla Meann
sons of Eochaidh Doimhlen, flourished in the early part of the fourth century. In a. d. 322, the eldest of them, known as Colla Uais or Colla the Noble, having slain Fiacha Sraibhtine, King of I—reland, in a battle fought at Dubhchomar supposed to be the confluence of the Rivers Boyne and Black-
"
John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh
approbation.
8 At this
both were in the probably
Divine
north-eastern part of Ireland, and, it is thought, in that district known as Hua Dercachein, said to have been in Dalaradia. 9 However, this meeting possibly took place among the Oirghialla, a powerful tribe, descended from the three Collas,TO who conquered the ancient Ultonians. 11
this sept originally comprised the greater part of Ulster 12 and the three
deserving
6"
See Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga,"
Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap lxxi. , p. 27.
7 Also called Vinnoc, Innoch or Indich. See the Life of St. Patrick, Apostle and
time,
ship was entered into between the exiled chiefs and the king ; so that after a year's absence, they returned and took military ser- rice under him, remaining faithful to their
Chief Patron of Ireland, at the 17th of engagements. See Dr. O'Donovan s
March, in the Third Volume of this work. Art. i. , chap. xv.
8 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap cxlix. , pp 97, 98.
" Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 122 to 125, and nn. (1, m, n, o, p, q, r, s), ibid. "About the year 331, the three Collas destroyed the Ulster fortress of Eamhain-
killed
Macha, or Emania, having Fearghus
Collas wrested from the Ultonians that por- tion of the Ulster province, lying westwards of Glenn Righe, Lough Neagh and the Lower
OTIuidhrin," edited by John O Donovan,
9
the — afterwards known However, church,
so called from St.
identified in this there—in a battle fought at Achadh-
as — Rath-Easpuic-Innic
Winnoc
Eccle- siastical Antiquities of Down, Connor, and
Dromore. " Appendix T. , sect, vi. , p. 251.
10 These renowned brothers and heroes, fell in that battle. Afterwards, the other
—" water in Meath obtained the sovereignty
103, p.
by that conquest. However, after a reign
of four years only, he and his brothers were
banished into Alba or Scotland, A. D. 326, deprived the Oirghialla, of the present
by Muireadh Tireach, when he became King counties of Londonderry and Tyrone ; after- of Ireland Afterwards a treaty of friend- wards, these tribes were confined to the pre-
Fogha—
the last
King
Bann. See
The Topographical Poems of
xix.
Shortly after the introduction of Chris-
tianity, the descendants of Eoghan, son to
the monarch Niall of the Nine Hostages,
LL. I). , n.
;
The country of
of Ulster who resided
August 29. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIJV7Z. 411
1 * Colla Dachrich 1 * and
1 * were the ancestorsofdistinguishednorthernclans. AccordingtoMarianusO'Gorman, the church—of Teaghneatha—situated within that territory and in the Diocese of Armagh was connected in an especial manner with St.
The cold wave of death has drowned
him ;
It is a cause of grief to the men of
Erinn,
That the son of Crimthann of Claire
lives not.
mweAchAiwinne-6r\i§i mAnbAnb^n
mmgnecAp,
rlAic FiaI ro «1$ tiAitbine cobnAt
no6on gignechAip.
Thus rendered into English :—
" Alas ! O God, for Feidhlimidh ; the wave of death has drowned him !
It is a cause of grief to the Irish lhat the son of Crimhthann of Claire lives not,
;
a. d. and of his 845,
et ancorita. "
rum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , Annales Ultonienses.
August 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 405
of an Irish poet, in lamentation for his death. The Martyrology of Donegal6? also records him at the 28th of August, as Feidhlimidh son of Cremthan, King of Munster.
From all we can learn, this King was distinguished by intellectual gifts,
and by energy of natural disposition ; yet neither of such qualifications could entitle him to our respect, did he not feel remorse for various misdeeds, and
repent for a long catalogue of crimes, which were perpetrated during the timehewasinvestedwithtemporaldominion. Likeanotherroyalpenitent, before he had been called out of this world, Feidhlimidh in the trouble of his soul and body recognised his own weakness and dependence,70 having recourse to humble supplication, that the Lord should not rebuke him in indignation, nor chastise him in wrath, while he had renounced the works of iniquity, and had shed tears of remorse for his many transgressions. Thus it happened in the case of Mary Magdalen, who from being a great sinner, afterwards became a great saint ; and with St. Paul, who from being a bitter persecutor of Christians afterwards became a glorious Apostle in the Church. To the last moment of life, God is merciful to even the greatest sinners, and accepts their sincere repentance with forgiveness, while if they persevere in
justice to the end, He has promised also to them the rewards of Heaven.
ArticleII. —FeastofSt. Flannan,Bishop,ofKillaloe. Because a Festival and Mass have been assigned for St. Flannan, Bishop and Con- fessor, as also the special Patron of the Church and Diocese of Killaloe, at
2
have the Acts of St. Flannan,3 Bishop of Killaloe, at this day. * Probably it was the date on which some translation of his relics took place. By
referring to his Life, which is given at the 1 8th of December, further parti- culars may be found, to throw some light on his personality and period.
Already, when treating about the Blessed Bryan Boroimha, King of Munster, Monarch of Ireland, and Martyr, at the 23rd of April,* allusion has been made to the origin of Killaloe, in the sixth century, said to have been foundedby,andtohavederiveditsnamefrom,St. Lua6orMolua. ? There are to be seen, at the present day, some very remarkable antiquities, and sur- rounded by the most romantic and charming scenery, along the banks of the River Shannon,8 The situation of the town is very picturesque, being erected
the 28th of August, by the Rev, Nicholas Anthony Kenny/ the Bollandists
69 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 228, 229.
7° Psalms, vi. —
work, Art. i. , chap. i.
6 to have been St. Lua or Molua Thought
of Clonfert Molua, whose feast occurs on the
*
Article ii.
propriae Sanctorum Patronorum ac Titula- rium Franciae et Hiberniae," published at
Paris, A. D. 1734.
2 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Au-
gusti xxviii. De S. Flannano Ep. et Conf.
Laonisa in Momonise Hiberniae, pp. 488 to
491.
3 These have been compiled by Father
nineteen
and whose Life be seen may
In a tract intituled," Missse
4th of August,
at that date in the present volume, Art. i.
John Pinius, S. J. , in two sections,
7 In the Irish Calendars, a St. Molua is venerated at the 4th of June ; St. Molua of Clonfert Molua, at the 4th of August ; a St. Molua, at the 15th of October ; a St. Molua at the 31st of November; and a St. Molua of Munghairit, at the 21st of December. Mo is but a term of endearment prefixed to the proper name Lua.
and
4 They had not been able to ascertain if broken by rapids. It is spanned by a
paragraphs.
8 The river here is wide, but shallow, and
any other day had been dedicated for his commemoration, and therefore accepted the
publication of his Mass, at this date, as con- firmatory of a solemn and public veneration for the Saint, in his native country.
5 See at that date, the Fourth volume of this
narrow bridge having nineteen arches. A view is drawn by Samuel Lover, Esq. ,
"
R. H. A. , for
to illustrate a historic article of John Dalton. See vol. i. , Illustrations of Irish Topography. No. xxii. , Killaloe, pp. 169 to 171.
The Irish Penny Magazine,"^
406 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 28.
on the ascent of a hill," and it is backed by a range of encircling mountains. To St. Lua has been attributed the erection of an undoubtedly ancient oratory,* the remains of which stand on Friar's Island in the river and near
the eastern shore. 10
views of the former ecclesiastical erections at Killaloe have been presented by T. Crofton Crokerin his illustrated work, descriptiveofmanylocalitiesandcustomsofMunster. " Themostancient insular oratory consisted of a nave and choir ; the nave measuring on the inside 21 feet 8 inches in length, and 12 feet 7 inches in breadth ; while the choir measures 10 feet 11 inches in length, by 6 feet 8 inches in width. The east window is round-head- ed, on both sides, and con- structed of chiselled brown sand-stone, extending the entire thickness of the wall. It measures on the inside 4 feet 7 inches, in height, and one foot 9 inches in width, at the springing of the arch, and two feet at the bottom.
Interesting
***
Ancient Island Oratory, at Killaloe.
height of the side-walls of this choir is 8 feet and the roof is about the same height. The choir-arch is semicircular,andconstructedofchiselledbrownsand-stone itseemstohave
;
consisted originally of several concentric little arches, but only the outer-
most or highest arch now remains. It measures 8 feet 6 inches in height to the vertex, and 3 feet 8 inches in width. The west gable of the nave is now destroyed," as are also the south wall—except five feet of its height—
9 This has been called from him Mollua's
oratory. See the Rev. Philip Dwyer's by Mrs. Millard. It forms the of
"
Diocese of Killaloe from the Reformation to the close of the Eighteenth Century,"
. chap, i. , Introductory, p. 3.
10 A of this drawing
transferred by him to the wood, engraved subject
the present illustration.
" See " Researches in the South of Ire-
and taken the spot, by William F. Wakeman, has been
"
6th of January, 1839.
ruin,
on
It was blown down, on the night of the
It is placed at the height of six feet from the level of
the ground, on the outside ;
while there it measures only
one foot 9 inches in height ;
in width it is only 8 inches
at top and 10 inches at
bottom. At the distance
of 2 feet 9 inches from the
middle gable, there is a
quadrangular doorway, on the south wall of the choir,
constructed ofchiselled
grit, measuring on the inside 5 feet 7^ inches in height, and in width one foot 10 inches at top, and 2 feet 2 inches at bottom. Broken on the out- side, the dimensions seem to have been nearly the same asthoseontheinside. The
land," chap, iii. , pp. 55, 56.
August 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 407
and the north wall—except six feet of its height. The island on which the ruins stand contains about one acre and a half of land. This insular oratory of considerable beauty is undoubtedly the oldest ecclesiastical structure now to befoundinKillaloe. Therewasadoor-wayonthewestgable,nowdestroyed. Three of its cut stones on one side remain, but not in their original position, and the lintel is to be seen on the ground ; it is a block of brown sand-stone chiselled, and measuring 4 feet 3 inches in length, one foot 10 inches in thickness,andonefoot6inchesinbreadth. Fromtheimpressionofthestones on which it rested, and from this lintel it appears, that the door-way was one foot i\\ inches in width at the top. The walls of the nave in this building
are 3 feet 2 inches in thickness, and built of large brown sand-stone blocks,
cementedwithlimeandsandmortar. ^ Anotherinteresting,largerandmore
1 ornamented building, with a stone-roof, has been ascribed also to St. Molua. *
Having some of its features evidently borrowed from the older oratory, it stillstandswithinthetown,andinagoodstateofpreservation. ^ Bysome writers, however, it is thought that on its site was the church originally
16 1? erected by St. Flannan. Afterwards was erected the mediaeval cathedral, a
small Gothic edifice, in the form of a cross, with nave, transepts and a choir, having a plain square battlemented tower, supported by four arches, in the centre of the cross. 18 The town and its churches are said to have been burned on various occasions. In the year 1054, it is related, that a bridge had been erected at Killaloe by Turlough O'Brien. The material with which it had been constructed was wood. In the year 11. 70, the Hy-Maine made
an inroad upon Ormond, which they plundered, and also they des- troyed the wooden bridge, at Cill-Dalua. ^ This does not appear to have been re-erected for a long time afterwards, as in the beginning of the four- teenth century, the passage over the Shannon here was only known as Clarisford, from Thomas De Clare, who had obtained possessions in the east
of Clare, from one of the Thomond
princes.
20 It is stated, that while St.
Lua21 was the first to have founded a monastery at Killaloe, St. Flannan
became his disciple, and succeeded him. He is said to have been conse-
crated as first of 22 of which diocese he is as the
Bishop Killaloe, regarded
13 See " Letters containing Information that it was an edifice of much greater anti relative to the Antiquities of the County of quity than that which now remains. See
Tipperary, collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. ii.
Letter of John O'Donovan, dated Nenagh, October 13th, 1840, pp. 28 to 30.
James Frost's "History and Topography of the County of Clare, from the earliest times
to the beginning of the 1 8th century," with map and illustrations, chap, x. , p. 175. Dublin, 1893, 8vo.
x' It is said, by Donald, King of Lime- rick, about a. d. 1 160.
l8 The architectural peculiarities of this building have been well described by Mr.
»« See Very Rev. P. White's
"
History of Tipperary, p. 8. This
Clare and the Dalcassian Clans of
Limerick and Galway," chap, i. ,
valuable work, dealing chiefly with the civil history of the county, contains an ancient
and a modern map, coloured, which greatly serve to show the student of its contents the former Irish divisions as compared with the modern localities. Dublin, 1893, 8vo.
' s It has been already illustrated and suf-
ficiently described, in the Fourth Volume of
this work, at the 23rd of April, Art. i. The Collectanea, vol. i. , p. 439, and Ware's Blessed Bryan Boroimha, King of Munster, Bishops, p. 589, this saint is called Molua-
Monarch of Ireland, and Martyr, chap. i. lobhair, the grandson of Eocha Bailldearg, "
16 Attached to the stone-roofed church, King of North Munster. See Monasticon on the north side of the cathedral, another Hibernicum," p. 52.
building appears to have stood, because on *" About A. D. 639, after his consecration
"
the east gable are seen marks left by the at Rome. See James Frost's History and
'
roof of a structure somewhat smaller in size. Topography of the County of Clare, Some suppose it was the choir, and others chap, x. , p. 157.
&c,
Bell.
I9 See Dr. O'Donovan's
"
Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1 178, 1 179.
2° See " The Parliamentary Gazetteer of
Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 451.
2I According to Archdall, who cites the
4o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 38.
Chief Patron. In the remarkable stone-roofed church at Killaloe, it is supposed his remains were first deposited, although afterwards translated to the more modern Cathedral. **
Article III. —Feast of Quiriacus and of his Companions, Martyrs.
"1
According to the Feilire" of St. ^Engus, at the 28th of August, the Festival
of Quiriacus and of his companions was celebrated in Ireland. At this date,
the Bollandists* have the u M. translation How- simple record, Quiriaci
ever, there are no other special Acts or memorials of Quiriacus given by them at this date.
Article IV. —Festival of Saint Hermes, Martyr. In the Irish Church, Hermes was commemorated as a Martyr, at the 28th of August, as
found in the " Feilire " of St.
1 In a comment attached, we are informed, that being a Roman Prefect his martyrdom occurred in Afri, under the Emperor Aurelian. * However, this latter account is incorrect ; for, it is only recorded in the Acts of Pope St. Alexander I. ,3 that the latter had con- verted Hermes, a rich patrician and prefect of Rome from paganism to Christianity, together with his wife, children, and his sister Theodora. After- wards Hermes liberated over twelve hundred of his slaves, with their wives and children. Whereupon, when it was known, that he had become a Christian, Pope Alexander was apprehended and cast into prison, by order of the Emperor Aurelian.
* The tribune Quirinus had reproved Hermes for becoming a Christian, and thus subjecting himself, not only to lose his pre- torship, but even to expose himself to the persecution then prevailing. Nevertheless, when Hermes had related the miracles wrought by Alexander, and had even convinced Quirinus, that through angelic aid the Pope had been able to leave the prison, and to come into his own house, where Hermes then was present ; notwithstanding his previous strong prejudices against the Christians, Quirinus himself became a convert and was baptized, together with all the other members of his household. Then it is related, that when Aurelianus heard of what had transpired, he ordered Hermes to bebeheaded. AfterwardshisremainswerebroughtbyhissisterTheodora,
a3 See "The Irish Penny Magazine," vol.
i. Illustrations of Irish Topography, No.
xxii. , p. 169.
Article hi. — 1 In the " Leabhar Breac "
feasts, p. 141. — 3 To this is added, by way of reference "ex Usuardo monasterii S. Martini Tor-
copy is the following notice at this date.
Stokes, LL. D.
Series, vol. i. , part i.
On the Calendar
of
"
:
UoriAn Ciniacuf ConacLeip cain cacViIaic
epmif CefAif pochneiT) 1ncdurvo<Mj\e Ah -Appaic.
May Quiriacus protect us, with his train
Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. ,
pp. cxxv. , cxxvi.
2
See ibid. , p. cxxxiii.
> He satin the chair of St. Peter from A. D.
109 to A. D. 119.
4 However this statement is irreconcilable
with the time allowed for the Emperor Aurelian, who was not born for a long period
St. Alexander I. That Roman Emperor is thought to have been born about a. d. 212, and he died after a reign of five years in March, 275. Flavius Vopiscus, a Latin historian, who lived at Rome towards the close of the third century has written an interesting "Vita Aureliani. "
fair Catholic. Hermes suffered a
Africa. "
"
great out of Transactions of the Royal Irish
wound — the
: (Augustine) conspicuous
after the death of
Pope
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. ,
part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, pp.
cxxv. , cxxvi.
3
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Augusti xxviii. Among the pretermitted
^Engus.
of the The English t—ranslation is by Whitley Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript
naci" — Article iv.
*
See "Transactions
August 29. ] LIVES Of THE IRISH SAINTS.
409
and buried on the Salarian Way, not far from the city of Rome, on the V. of the September Kalends, which corresponds with the 28th day of August. The foregoing is in substance what the Bollandist Father John Stilting relates of him at this date,5 where he gives a critical and historic commentary on his Acts.
Article V. —Festival of St. Augustine. As in the Universal
Church, the great St. Augustine was commemorated in Ireland, on the 28th
of Wefindhimmentionedwithdistinctive 1 inthe"Feilire"2 August. praise
of St. iEngus. The Acts of this celebrated Doctor and Father of the early Church are very fully given, at this date, by the Bollandists ;3 and, a Previous Commentary by Father William Cuper introduces them, in various learned dissertations, comprising sixty-five sections and 842 different paragraphs.
EtoentjMuntb Bap of Sugust.
ARTICLE I. —ST. WINOC, CALLED BISHOP OF RATH-ESPUIC-INNIC, OR ST. UINDIC OF TEAGHNEATHA, OR TYNAN, COUNTY OF ARMAGH.
[FIFTH CENTURY. -]
WHENwith indomitable zeal, St. Patrick preached the word of God throughout Ireland, he found there numerous disciples, who accepted his teaching and profited by his example. Their names are also recorded in the lists of our National Saints ; although, indeed, their acts seem discoverable in many instances, only as episodes among those given in Lives of the great Apostle. An instance occurs in the case of the present holy
1
man. By Colgan, he is styled St. Uindic, Bishop of Rath-Easpuic Innic. He is also called Winnoc. In O'Sullevan Beare's Catalogue, this Saint's name is likewise entered. 2 However, very little is known regarding his early history,3ortheplacewherehewasborn, Heflourishedinthefifthcentury.
This Saint is registered as one of St. Patrick's disciples ;* but, when he became attached to the Irish apostle is uncertain. The following anecdote has been preserved for us, in the Acts of St. Patrick,* and, it serves to give us an idea, that while a confidential friend and esteemed highly by the great Patriarch of the Irish Church, Winnoc well deserved that trust, owing to
5 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Au- gusti xxviii. De S. Hermete Martyre Romse. In three sections and forty paragraphs, pp.
142 to 151. — Article v.
Illustri Ecclesiae Doctore, et Hipponensi
Episcopo, Hippone-Regio in Africa," pp. 213 to 460. — "
Article i » See Trias Thaumaturga,"
Vita S. Patricii, ii. , nn. 222, Septima pars,
223, p. 183.
2 See " Historiae Catholicoe Ibernise
Compendium," lib. iv. , cap. xii. , p. 57.
3 See Miss M. F. Cusack's " Life of St.
Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," n. 9, p. 443.
He
"the conspicuous one from Africa," which
2
*
is not named, but called
" i. e. See "Transactions of the Royal Irish
a commentator thus explains in Latin Agustinus episcopus in hoc die Beda testante in Chronico. "
:
Irish
part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by
Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxxvi. , andn. at p. cxxxiii.
3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Au- gusti xxviii. Be S. Aurelio Augustino,
Academy,"
Manuscript Series,
i. ,
Thaumaturga" Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap.
vol.
« See "Trias Colgan's
xxiii. , p. 265.
s See the Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of
Ireland, in the Third Volume of this work, at the 17th of March, Art i.
4 io LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 29.
his spirit of devotion and true humility. At one time, St. Patrick and St. Winnoc sat together, when engaged at a religious conference. 6 While
speaking of the Deity, and of things which especially concerned Him, these holy councillors referred to the Divine precept of charity, and they remarked that both by word and work were they bound to part with their garments, to clothe persons, who were in need of such comforts. At that moment, a cloak appeared to descend from Heaven, and it fell between them. This portent they regarded, both as an approval of their pronounced sentiments, on the part of the Most High, and as an earnest of those rewards, which they should not fail in obtaining, from the Father of lights, to recompense their future sacrifices. The saints felt greatly rejoiced and comforted ; but their minds were filled with divergent opinions, regarding that miracle. Each one ascribed it to the other's merits. St. Patrick asserted, that this gift was intended for Winnoc/ who had perfectly renounced all his worldly possessions, for the sake of Christ. On the other hand, St. Winnoc alleged, that it had
been sent to St. Patrick, who, although possessing everything yet kept nothing ; for, he had left himself naked for God's sake, while clothing numbers, who were poor and naked. While such discussions, dictated by sincere humility on both sides, continued, the cloak was again elevated towards Heaven, and it suddenly disappeared. But, in its stead, two cloaks were next seen to descend from above. These were intended respectively for both Saints ; and thus, all reason for future discussion on that point was removed, owing to this celestial indication, that both were eminently
region.
leithdheirg,
territory
of
could not be
See Rev. William Reeves'
"
situate in the
Fearnmhagh, now the barony of Farney, in the County of Monaghan. Colla Meann
sons of Eochaidh Doimhlen, flourished in the early part of the fourth century. In a. d. 322, the eldest of them, known as Colla Uais or Colla the Noble, having slain Fiacha Sraibhtine, King of I—reland, in a battle fought at Dubhchomar supposed to be the confluence of the Rivers Boyne and Black-
"
John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh
approbation.
8 At this
both were in the probably
Divine
north-eastern part of Ireland, and, it is thought, in that district known as Hua Dercachein, said to have been in Dalaradia. 9 However, this meeting possibly took place among the Oirghialla, a powerful tribe, descended from the three Collas,TO who conquered the ancient Ultonians. 11
this sept originally comprised the greater part of Ulster 12 and the three
deserving
6"
See Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga,"
Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap lxxi. , p. 27.
7 Also called Vinnoc, Innoch or Indich. See the Life of St. Patrick, Apostle and
time,
ship was entered into between the exiled chiefs and the king ; so that after a year's absence, they returned and took military ser- rice under him, remaining faithful to their
Chief Patron of Ireland, at the 17th of engagements. See Dr. O'Donovan s
March, in the Third Volume of this work. Art. i. , chap. xv.
8 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap cxlix. , pp 97, 98.
" Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 122 to 125, and nn. (1, m, n, o, p, q, r, s), ibid. "About the year 331, the three Collas destroyed the Ulster fortress of Eamhain-
killed
Macha, or Emania, having Fearghus
Collas wrested from the Ultonians that por- tion of the Ulster province, lying westwards of Glenn Righe, Lough Neagh and the Lower
OTIuidhrin," edited by John O Donovan,
9
the — afterwards known However, church,
so called from St.
identified in this there—in a battle fought at Achadh-
as — Rath-Easpuic-Innic
Winnoc
Eccle- siastical Antiquities of Down, Connor, and
Dromore. " Appendix T. , sect, vi. , p. 251.
10 These renowned brothers and heroes, fell in that battle. Afterwards, the other
—" water in Meath obtained the sovereignty
103, p.
by that conquest. However, after a reign
of four years only, he and his brothers were
banished into Alba or Scotland, A. D. 326, deprived the Oirghialla, of the present
by Muireadh Tireach, when he became King counties of Londonderry and Tyrone ; after- of Ireland Afterwards a treaty of friend- wards, these tribes were confined to the pre-
Fogha—
the last
King
Bann. See
The Topographical Poems of
xix.
Shortly after the introduction of Chris-
tianity, the descendants of Eoghan, son to
the monarch Niall of the Nine Hostages,
LL. I). , n.
;
The country of
of Ulster who resided
August 29. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIJV7Z. 411
1 * Colla Dachrich 1 * and
1 * were the ancestorsofdistinguishednorthernclans. AccordingtoMarianusO'Gorman, the church—of Teaghneatha—situated within that territory and in the Diocese of Armagh was connected in an especial manner with St.
