yEngus' Festilogy,
Tygrida the mother of seventeen sons and
of five daughters.
Tygrida the mother of seventeen sons and
of five daughters.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
, pp.
425, 427, and note.
cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, viii. , n. 69, pp. 239, 240.
"* This is in Sir Samuel pictured,
Septima Vita S. Patricii, n. 48, p. 174.
Fergu-
"*
in
St. whowas Seachnall,
—
A very curious cave, with a beautifully-
;
Perhaps, no other fort in Ireland is of so strange a structure ferenceishemmedinbystone,andtheotherbyanordinaryfence. Twoor three old monuments are within it.
arched entrance, has more than ordinary interest for the antiquary. "9 Altogether, the remains of seven or eight Druidic altars, as they are popularly distinguished, may be seen on the hill. Near the ancient rath, four little rivulets gush from the hill-side. Meeting lower down, these rush in one clear stream into the valley. The land about this celebrated hill of Usneagh,"° belonged to two brothers, named Fiach and Enda. The Tri- partite Life makes them brothers of King Leogaire ;"' but, from other docu- ments, however, and, particularly from the Third Life,"^ it appears, that St. Patrick was not acquainted with any brothers of Leogaire more than Carbre and Conall. Jocelyn speaks of them, and he mentions another brother, called Leogerus. '^3 He was different, however, from the king. "+ Some of our antiquaries have given more brothers to King Leogaire,'^5 and sons to Niall of the Nine Hostages, than they ought probably to have done. It is
stated, that blessed Patrick courteously addressed Fiach and Enda to obtain from them a site for the erection of a church, the rulers of which he intended to select from their family. His mission and his request were alike rejected by those pagan brothers, who treated him with rudeness, and even with personal
but, the meaning seems to be, that his son's paper, read on"February 26th, 1872, monastic rule had been there observed. and published in Proceedings of the
Whether this differed, in any respect, from
the rule of St. Patrick, if there established.
Royal Irish Academy," No. xvii. On Ancient Cemeteries at Rathcrogan and else- where in Ireland, &c. , p. 119. The ceme-
might prove a subject for curious investiga-
tion. See " Trias Colgan's
the eastern summit of
Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cxliv. , xcix. , pp. 88, 96, and nn. in, 112, 152, 153, pp. 113, 115, and Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap. x. , xi. , xii. , xiii. , xiv. , xv. , xvi. , pp. 130, 131, and nn. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49,
p. 1 74.
"5 Its summit has an altitude of 602 feet,
above the sea-level. It lies not far from
the village of Ballymore, and about five miles west of Lough Ennell. It is situated
in the parish of Conry, and barony of Rath- conrath, and is marked, with its antiquities, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Westmeath," Sheet 24. ""It is a raised oblong mound, of about
tery occupies Usneach.
"» The remains of several tumuli are on this remarkable hill.
'TM
Tuathal Techtmar, Monarch of Ireland,
half of its circum-
It is stated, that in the second century,
established an anack, or
"
fair," at this
"S See
Colgan's
" Trias Thaumaturga,"
Called,
Irish,
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
S11
violence. Then
his
the
" a
male-
'^^ The
and presented his newly-born son,^^9 named Corbmac,'3° with the ninth part ofallhispossessions,totheIrishApostle. Thatchildgrewupinyearsand grace ; and, when he was of sufficient age, his holy patron gave him in
charge, to his disciples. Bishop Domnal,'3i Comitius, or Connetus,'32 and Dabonna'33—the two latter sons to Huabaird'34—and to a fourth person, not named. '3S These were directed to watch over his proficiency in virtue and learning -p^ while they discharged such duty, in the district of Crich Enna Artech,^37 in Connaught. The saintly Corbmac'3*^ ended his days most happily, in that place where he presided. ^39
FromUsneach,thesaintproceededtowardsLongford; yet,itisthought, some of the most remarkable transactions, recorded in the Tripartite Life, as hereoccurring,mustbereferredtoasubsequentvisit,andtoalaterperiod. We may instance, that pastoral appointment to the See of Ardagh, by St. Mel ; for, it has been asserted, the latter had not arrived in Ireland, when St. Patrick hadbeenpreaching,forthefirsttime,inMeath. '4° Itisalsorecorded,that among certain persons, then appointed by St. Patrick, one Cromman, or Cruimminus, Abbot of Lackin, or Leckan,'4i in Westmeath, must be included.
venerated at Duiishaughlin, county of by their respective successors, towards the
sentence, by saying,
rotten stones, or worthless materials, are like the stones of Usnach Hill. "
his father.
'3° Colgan seems to place his festival, at
voice, pronounced
" fell on the stones of Usneach Hill. " '^7 These were
Patrick, raising
diction," when his disciple St. Secundinus"^ interrupted, and completed the
as
result, as we are told, was, that while Fiach obstinately refused to beUeve in Christ, his brother was moved to become a faithful adherent to the truths tliere announced. Enda did penance for the injury offered to St. Patrick,
regarded,
being
useless for
building,
any
other
purpose.
Meath, on the 27th of November.
'-7 It is quite apparent, that the present, with many another Patrician, legend, had been ingeniously concocted, and to amuse the vulgar, with explanations, as unreason-
ably applied, as they are fictitious.
'^^ When the Latin Tripartite Life had
"
they of presentation and benefice, in this parish, the identification of which is now difficult to "9 Jocelyn calls him the youngest son of ascertain. Dermagh was the name for
successors of St. Corbmac, until Nuadat, Archbishop of Armagh, released them from such an obligation. The latter died, A. D. 811, and his feast was kept, on the 19th of February.
'3* The place, whei"e he received this
education, is called Tir-omna-Snithine, and
it lay before Dermagh of Cuilchaonna. among the people, when they handled The successors of St. Patrick lost the right
been composed, a saying was in vogue
Durrow, formerly in the territory of Telfia, and now in the King's County. Here was St. Columkille's great establishment.
'37 This territory is said to have been near Cruachan, and towards the—North. monks of Clonmacnois. Colgan thinks Enda had received fifteen villages usually him to be the same as Daniel, or Domh- called, Sen-chletha-Enna-Airtich —from his nall, venerated in our Irish Calendars, at brother, King Laeghaire. Enda bestowed
the 17th of February.
'3' He is called, Bishop of Aleach mor, a
place which afterwards belonged to the
the 1st of December.
'3^ He is called, Bishop of Cluain-sean-
moil.
'33 He is said to have been bishop, over
Cluain-na-manach.
'34 Ussher treats regarding him, and his
''
'33 See Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. c, p. 88. Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. '35 About the feast of All Saints, when xvii. , xviii. , p. 131, and nn. 50 to 55, pp.
children, in
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 430, 431.
Corbmac used to visit their respective 174, 175- churches,eachofthesemastershadbeenac- '•t" SeeRev. Dr. Lanigans Ecclesiasti- customed to present his disciple with a cow, cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , especially to reverence the great Irish
Apostle, who had committed to them that
boy's instruction. This usage was continued,
or for
them on St. Patrick, with consent of the
monarch ; and, in after time, they were re-
garded as possessions, belonging to the church of Armagh.
'3* He was surnamed Snithine, from the place of his education.
sect, viii. , and n. 71, pp. 238, 240,
'4' This parish, in the barony of Corka-
ree, is delineated on the
Ordnance Sur-
words,
,"
,
. .
"
2
578 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
However, Colgan suspects, that Croraman^t^ was contemporary with the re-
nowned St. Fechin,^43 who died, a. d. 664. To account for Cromman's having
beenadiscipleofSt. Patrick,hehasbeenmadetoHve190years. ^'»4 Crom-
man is said to have resided near the church of Forgney,^*^ where Munis,'"*^
another of Patrick's disciples, and a nephew, on the sister's side, dwelt. '-^^
Munis is said to have had other holy brothers,'*^ of whom various wonderful
stories are told ; and, those followed their renowned uncle, from Britain, ^49 to
share in the labours of his Irish Apostolate. Even two sisters, St. Echea,^5o
and St. Lalloca,'5i are named, who presided over religious houses. Thence,
St. Patrick passed into southern Teffia, where he converted and baptized
Manius, or Maine, the son of Niall, and brother to King Laegaire. In the
place, now known as Ardagh, he built a church, and it was made the head of
a See, over which St. Mel first presided. With him was left, also, a brother
Milchuo,^52 a bishop, while great numbers of the people in that region were
brought over to the Faith, and the illustrious Apostle predicted many things, in reference to them and to their posterity. When Maine had received baptism,
he brought to St. Patrick a woman, who then bore a child, and for both of them, the chief humbly asked a blessing. Extending his hand, in the act of
benediction, the Apostle suddenly withdrew it, and, as if in doubt, he used a form of expression, customary with him, " I know not, but God knows. " Aftersomehesitation,however,hecompletedthebenediction. ByaDivine revelation, he learned, tliat the unborn child should afterwards be known as Tuathal, surnamed Maolgarb, the grandson of that Cairbre, whose posterity hedeclaredaccursed,anddebarredfromtheroyalsceptre. Withindignation,
to he " Lo how hast thou done this turning Maine, said, ! man,
unhappy
thing ? He who has surreptitiously obtained my blessing shall be a king. " Then Maine knelt to Patrick, and he performed penance. Patrick then
vey Townland Maps for the County of Westmealh," Sheets 6, 11. The townland proper is on Sheet 6,
'^' At one time, while St. Patrick was about to leave Britain for Ireland, he left a
"
casula," or a chasuble, behind, him on a rock. He thought no more about it, until he had arrived, and then calling for this garment, it miraculously lay at his feet.
'=° She is called, likewise, Achea, and in the "Vita S. Moduenna," by John Cap- grave, there is a notice of her. Harpsfeld, in " Historia Ecclesiastica Anglise," lib. ix. , cap. xiii. , tells us, that Echea or Achea was numbered among the saints. Unless
she was the or mentioned Aicheach, Deche,
in the Irish Calendars, at the 23rd of April, Colgan is not able elsewhere to find her, under the title of a saint. Her church of Kill-glais was near the church of Ardagh, and towards the south of it, in the region of Teffia.
'5' Her name does not appear, in our Calendars ; but, her church is said to have been Sen-lios, in These were
'*^ His feast occurs, at the 28th of June, according to Father Ward, in "Vita S. Rumoldi," Dissertatio Historica de Patria S. Rumoldi, sect. num.
'
9,
'« His feast occurs, on the 20th of Ja-
nuary.
'^^ vSee the "Trias Thaumaturga," Sep-
tima Vita S. Patricii," lib. ii. , cap. xx. , p. 132, and n. 56, p. 175,
'"•s This
of barony Shnile,
is noted, on the
"*' St. Patrick's
])arish, "
in the
Ordnance Survey Town-
land Maps for the County of Longford,"
Sheets 23, 27. The townland itself is on the latter Sheet.
'*' He is said to have been a bishop, and his festival is placed, at the 6th of Feb- ruary. He is said, also, to have had a feast, at the l8th of December.
is called mater filiorum Hua-Baird. " She is said to have been the mother of seventeen sons. Yet, this account is supposed to have been
"
sister, Darerca,
Connaught.
the two daughters of Darerca, St. Patrick's
9, p. 159.
a great exaggeration. Jocelyn makes the Scholiast, to St.
yEngus' Festilogy,
Tygrida the mother of seventeen sons and
of five daughters.
'^ Such as St. Mel and St. Rioch, whose
at the 6th of February, and at the 22nd of March, has a like statement.
'^a His feast has been assigned, to the 6th feast days are found, at the 6th of Feb- of February ; and, yet, there is reason to
ruary. The latter has a festival, likewise, at the tst of August. These are regarded, as the sons of Conis and Darerca.
suspect, he was not a different pei-son from St. Mel.
'^^ Afterwards known as Tuathail, sur«
sister, according to the
"
Opuscula," attri«
buted to St. ^ngus, lib. iv. , cap. vi. Also, ""
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 579
said, that there should be no king, who would refuse to recognsie him as
sovereign ; and, the saint then added, that his injunctions must be the longest that should live in Erinn. " The person whom I have blessed shall also be a king, ? >. , Tuathal. " ^ss In accordance with this prophecy, the latter assumedthesovereignty,afterhehadbanishedDiarmaidMacCarbhaill; so that, he was a victor on Loch Ri,^54 on Derg Derc,'55 and at Luimnech. ^s^ A very idle legend, about St. Mel, has been circulated ; but, as it does not appear, in the more ancient accounts of our holy Apostle, it may be dis- missed as unworthy of serious attention. The following is its purport. While he was in southern Teffia, St. Patrick heard a rumour spread, and it was industriously circulated, through the malice of the vulgar, that Bishop Mel had sinned with his aunt, Lupita,^^? who had taken the religious veil. As a near relation, and one of exemplary life, she lived with him, in the samehouse,^ssprayingtotheLord. Theinterestsofreligionandoffamily honour required an investigation ; yet, not believing that there were just groundsforsuchascandal,PatrickresolvedonvisitingArdagh. Aboveall other men, the pious and amiable bishop of that place, was remarkable for a holy purity and simplicity of life and manners. Trusting in his innocence, and knowing that his holy master was expected, when he saw St. Patrick coming towards Ardagh, to reprove him, the bishop went out to a certain hill, to fish in the pools, and furrows of the field. Here, it is said, he caught salmon. '59 And, moreover. Bishop Mel's kinswoman went with fire in her mantle, which was wrapped over her bosom, and yet she was in no manner scorched. '^° Patrick then knew there had been no sin between them ; yet,
he that their willed,
should be
'^'
he
He likewise declared, that God did not aid any unjust or false man ; still, he deemed it necessary, that the occasion for scandal and temptation should be avoided, as far as possible. '^3 He decreed, that while St. Mel should remain eastwards, at Ardagh, Bri-Leith'^4 must rise between them ; she living in Druim-Cheu, or Drumcheo,'^^ on the west side of that eminence. Here was
of
pronounced the law, which regulated such a mode of life, in after times. ^^'
named Maelgarb. lie ruled, as King of Ireland, from A. D. 528 to about A. D. 538.
'5* Now Lough Ree, a noble extent of
water, above Athlone, and on the Upper Shannon,
'55 Now Lough Derg, an expansion of the Lower Shannon.
^^°
The spot, where Lupita threw the fire down before St. Patrick, was afterwards called, Kn maoil-tene, i. e. , "fatuus ignis. "
"'^ The Latin Tripartite states: "Sane- tus autem Patricius licet viderit, et appro- barit innocentiam, signis tam evidentibus,
probatam ; Mselum Episcopum tamen ad-
places
dwelhng
apart.
Then, too,
'5^ The ancient name of the Lower monuit in
agris araret,
in fluviis vero
pis-
Shannon. See Mr. Lenihan's "
of
caretur ne tentare Dominum Deum suum ;
videretur. "
'^^
Patrick guttered the famous saying : "Seorsim viri et seorsim fseminse, ne occasionem dare infirmis inveniantur, et ne nomen Domini per nos blasphemetur, quod absit a nobis. "
'*3 Xhe Irish Tripartite adds these words :
History Limerick," pp. 2, 3, for the origin of those
names.
'57 Lupita is stated to have been St.
Patrick's sister. The Latin Tripartite says :
" Rumoris coram malignis turpitudinem, et coram Deo, et bonis malignitatem auxit, quod fseminse, de qua rumor ille spargeba-
" non Dominum Deum temptabis
tur, connubium,
si secluso
tuum," and then follows the i-epetition of words,
susceptorum Ordinum et Episcopalis dignitatis sacro honore, viro Dei nuptias ambire liceret ; fuerit illud fascinus alio humani
given in the previous note,
'^'* Bri-leith was the ancient name of
ipsi dupiici
et divini juris impedimento prseclusum et
execrandum. "
'58 This circumstance was the principal or
only foundation for a sinister suspicion.
owing to this miraculous occurrence,
Sliabh Calraighe, or Slieve Golry, to the west of Ardagh, in Longford. Dr. O'Dono- van founds this opinion, on Colgan's state- ment, in the Life of Bishop Mel, in the " Acta Sanctorum Hibernije," at
'
'59 The was place
subsequently called, An chora thirim, i. e. , "piscina sicca,"
" cap. ix. , p. 261. Seethe Leabhar na g-Ceart, or
the Book of Rights," n. (p), p. 9.
58o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17. probablythatnunnery,whichhadbeenfoundedbySt. Lupita; although,at
^^^
present, it baffles our attempts of identification.
Patrick next went—into northern Tatabhe,'^7 or as otherwise called, into the
territory of Cairbre,'^^ so called after him, who was the founder of this princi- pahty. ThereGranardwaspresentedtohim,bythesonsofCairbre. Itisstated,
thatGuasacht,^^9orGuasactus,wasthenplacedasaBishop,atGranard. It is probable, moreover, this account does not rest on any sufficient founda- tion. '7° Again, it is stated, that he left there the two sisters, called Emir, or Emeria,^7i who first put up, at Cluain-Bronaigh, or Clonbroney. '? ^ These holy sisters and their brother are said to have been iristructed in the Christian faith, by their once undistinguished boy-slave ; and, no doubt, it was a happy moment in his life, when Patrick blessed that veil, with which he clothed the aforesaid virgins. Then follows a most miraculous account, as to how their four feet sank into the rock, and the traces existed there to that time, when the Irish Tripartite Life had been written. We are told, that the reason, why the sides of the churches, at Granard and Clonbroney, had been joined to each other, was owing to the close relationship of the founders. It was the airchinnech, or superior, at Granard, that always ordained the head- nun in Cluain-Bronaigh, so long as our old Irish usages prevailed.
Afterwards, the Blessed Patrick went across the water,'73 to a locality, thenknownasMaghSleachta. Notfarremovedfromthepresentconsiderable town of Ballinamore,^74 and on the plains of Leitrim, near Fenagh,'? ^ was the place, called Magh-slecht,'? ^ or Moy-slecht. '" Indeed, the spot is not only well defined, by a peculiar name, Edentinny,^78 or Aidentinny 3^79 but, even yet,
'*s This denomination now seems to have become obsolete. the
'*"
There is a Drumnacooha, somewhat
the County ofLongford," Sheets 5, 9, 10, 14, 15. Between the towns of Longford and of
Granard, and in the barony of Granard, lies the townland of Clonbroney.
''"i Perhaps Lough Gownagh, or the upper course of the River Erne, is here meant.
'7* This is a considerable town, in the
parish of Oughteragh, and barony of Carrig- "
northward, in the parish of Killoe, in the
barony of Longford. It is noted, on the
"
Ordnance Sui-vey To\vnland Maps for
the County of Longford," Sheet 9.
'*7 This was the Irish denomination, and it was Latinized, Teffia. It was divided into two parts, by the River Inny, and these were called North and South Teffia ; the
former comprising, nearly all the present allen. It is shown, on the Ordnance Sur- county of Longford, and the latter, the vey Townland Maps for the County of
western half of Westmeath. See O'Dono-
Leitrim," Sheet 25. The parish itself is defined, on Sheets 19, 21, 22, 24, 25.
'? 5 The parish of Fenagh lies, partly in the barony of Carrigallen, partly in that of Leitrim, and partly in that of Mohill. See
van's
"
Leabhar na g-Ceart, or the Book of
Kights," n. (g), p. 180.
"^ "
Roderick O'Flaherty states : Borealis
Teffia eadem est, ac Carbria Gaura ad Car-
breum—filium Nielli regis et posteros spec- ibid. t Sheets 24, 25, 28, 29. On the two tans. " *'Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. Ixxxv. , former Sheets, the townland, Fenagh Beg, is
p. 402.
'*» He is said to have been the son of
Milchuo, St. Patrick's pagan master, when a slave ; and, he is regarded, also, as our Apostle's foster-brother. His feast is held,
on the 24th of January.
'? " In all other Lives of our Apostle,
there is about Guasactus, or any See nothing
of his. Had such an occurrence been veri- table, it could hardly have been omitted.
''' Colgan has assigned their festival, to
the nth of December, when he promised to
treat fully regarding them.
'' There was founded here a famous
nunnery,bythesesisters. Clonbroneyparish is partly, in the barony of Granard, and
defined.
'7* This is Latinized, campus excidii, by Rev. Dr. Charles O'Conor ; but, more cor-
rectly, by Father John Colgan, campus <idorationis^
'77 See Sewai-d's Topography, and O'Connor's Map of Scotia Antiqtta.
''** The of mthetown- village Edentinny,
land of Ardrum, is marked, on the "Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Leitrim," Sheet 25 ; but, there is no indication of the historic cahir, near it. However, two sites of standing stones are noted, just adjoining ; and, at a greater
partly in that of Ardagh. It is described, on
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for
tlistance, near Fenagh, are two other sites '*
designated, standing stones. " The mounds
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 581
animmenserude,uprightstone,^^° ofgreatweightandheight,crownsthesum- mit, within a most remarkable oblong and ancient fortress/^' Much of the stone
—supposed to have been a pagan monument—is buried in the ground besideit, anotherstone'^^ofgreatlengthliesprostrated,'^3andnotfarremoved
Edentinny Fort, near Ballinamore, County of Leitrim.
are similar prostrate stones,^^-* which, once upright, must have rendered this eminence very conspicuous. Other writers state,^^s that this plain of Magh
Sleachta lay, in the present barony of TuUyhaw, in the county of Cavan. ^^^ When Patrick arrived at Magh Sleaght,^^7 there was erected the large statue,
of an obliterated city beside them are passed
over, with the imperfect description of "cams. " This whole district has yet to
engage the explorations of historians and archaeologists, for the elucidation of social
conditions, in an age very remote ; and, it
must be added, in this connexion, that
socially considered, as well as topographi-
cally and historically, the scenery and capa- bilities of Leitrim County need higher
appreciation and improvement, than have been bestowed by most of its large landed
proprietors.
'"Itissaidtobe "thebrow Anglicised,
of fire. "
'^° This "galloon" is at least 12 feet in
height, and artificially formed.
'^' Huge stones are found, forming the
outer face of an embankment, on the two smaller ends : on the depressed sides, the rock has been quarried and removed, to form a steep, not easy of access. Several of the loose flanking stones have been re-
moved, for building purposes, by former inhabitants of the adjacent village of Aiden-
'^3 The accompanying illustration, taken from a drawing on the spot, in June, 1876, by the author, was traced on the wood, by
William F. Wakeman, and engraved by George A. Hanlon. It represents the up- right "galloon," and that prostrate one, within the old fortification.
184 A woman, whose farm-house was near, informed the writer, that she had seen one of these upright, and she had even witnessed its accidental falling, some few years before.
'^3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (a), p. 43. The
of Baile
incorrect, as referring to the exact locality. '^7 The origin of the name of Magh Slecht
is to be found, in the " Book of Ballymote," fol. 220, a. a.
'^^ It is so called, in the Tripartite. The Rev. Dr. Todd says, this word "seems to
and
'^^ It is nearly as large as the upright one.
tinny,
by
their
neighbours.
island of and the Port,
Meg- Shamhradhain, now Ballymagauran, are said by Dr. O'Donovan, to have been in that plain. See ibid. , vol. iv. , n. (c), p. 882, at A. D. 1431. Also, Rev. Dr. Todd's "St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," Intro- duction, p. 127, and chap, iii. , n. 3, p. 464. »^^ In our opinion, these statements are
village
; while,
582 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
oranidol,calledbysome,CromCruach. ^^^ Totheirchiefidol,thepagans were accustomed to present the firstlings of animals and other offerings. '^9 Twelve other idols'9° are said to have stood near or around Crom Cruach ;^9^ and with the intention of destroying the prestige or efficacy of these idols, Patrick soon came to a river, called Gath-ardj's^ within sight of them. There and then, he beheld a great multitude of persons assembled. In some accounts,'93 it is asserted, that King Laeghaire himself was present, and en- gagedinthesameofficesofidolatrousworship. ThepeopleatEdentinny show a broad, rushing, clear stream, named St. Patrick's well,'9* which escapes from beneath the perpendicular face of steep, rock, and from its sub- terranean course, into the lower grounds. These are now converted into moorland, but once—and not so long ago—they formed the bed of an ex- tensive lake,^9S on the margin of which arose the artificially-scarped ledge of rock,onthetopofwhichwasanearlyoblongCaherorfortification. Theidol of this locale, called Crom-Cruach, is said to have been the principal one of all the colonists that settled in Ireland, from the earliest times to the period of St. Patrick. ^9^ Certainwritershaveit,thatCrom,'97orCrom-eacha,^98wasthe titlebestowedontheirFireGod,bythePaganIrish. ^99 Hewasregardedas
^°°
the of vital dispenser
and of
of
Mc Follaigh, King of Ireland, who reigned from a. m. 3580 to a. m. 3656,^°'
heat,
signify the bent, or stooping mound. "
Tighemmas
Jocelyn
calls the same
idol, Ceancroithi,
'97 This is said to have been derived from
an "fire. " Egyptianword,Chrom,meaning
'9^ It is also thought, this idol had been termed Crom-dubh, "the black stooping
which he interprets "Caput omnium deo-
rum. " The Third Life calls this idol Cen-
fecundity,
prosperity.
nerbhe. See cap. xlvi.
cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, viii. , n. 69, pp. 239, 240.
"* This is in Sir Samuel pictured,
Septima Vita S. Patricii, n. 48, p. 174.
Fergu-
"*
in
St. whowas Seachnall,
—
A very curious cave, with a beautifully-
;
Perhaps, no other fort in Ireland is of so strange a structure ferenceishemmedinbystone,andtheotherbyanordinaryfence. Twoor three old monuments are within it.
arched entrance, has more than ordinary interest for the antiquary. "9 Altogether, the remains of seven or eight Druidic altars, as they are popularly distinguished, may be seen on the hill. Near the ancient rath, four little rivulets gush from the hill-side. Meeting lower down, these rush in one clear stream into the valley. The land about this celebrated hill of Usneagh,"° belonged to two brothers, named Fiach and Enda. The Tri- partite Life makes them brothers of King Leogaire ;"' but, from other docu- ments, however, and, particularly from the Third Life,"^ it appears, that St. Patrick was not acquainted with any brothers of Leogaire more than Carbre and Conall. Jocelyn speaks of them, and he mentions another brother, called Leogerus. '^3 He was different, however, from the king. "+ Some of our antiquaries have given more brothers to King Leogaire,'^5 and sons to Niall of the Nine Hostages, than they ought probably to have done. It is
stated, that blessed Patrick courteously addressed Fiach and Enda to obtain from them a site for the erection of a church, the rulers of which he intended to select from their family. His mission and his request were alike rejected by those pagan brothers, who treated him with rudeness, and even with personal
but, the meaning seems to be, that his son's paper, read on"February 26th, 1872, monastic rule had been there observed. and published in Proceedings of the
Whether this differed, in any respect, from
the rule of St. Patrick, if there established.
Royal Irish Academy," No. xvii. On Ancient Cemeteries at Rathcrogan and else- where in Ireland, &c. , p. 119. The ceme-
might prove a subject for curious investiga-
tion. See " Trias Colgan's
the eastern summit of
Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cxliv. , xcix. , pp. 88, 96, and nn. in, 112, 152, 153, pp. 113, 115, and Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap. x. , xi. , xii. , xiii. , xiv. , xv. , xvi. , pp. 130, 131, and nn. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49,
p. 1 74.
"5 Its summit has an altitude of 602 feet,
above the sea-level. It lies not far from
the village of Ballymore, and about five miles west of Lough Ennell. It is situated
in the parish of Conry, and barony of Rath- conrath, and is marked, with its antiquities, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Westmeath," Sheet 24. ""It is a raised oblong mound, of about
tery occupies Usneach.
"» The remains of several tumuli are on this remarkable hill.
'TM
Tuathal Techtmar, Monarch of Ireland,
half of its circum-
It is stated, that in the second century,
established an anack, or
"
fair," at this
"S See
Colgan's
" Trias Thaumaturga,"
Called,
Irish,
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
S11
violence. Then
his
the
" a
male-
'^^ The
and presented his newly-born son,^^9 named Corbmac,'3° with the ninth part ofallhispossessions,totheIrishApostle. Thatchildgrewupinyearsand grace ; and, when he was of sufficient age, his holy patron gave him in
charge, to his disciples. Bishop Domnal,'3i Comitius, or Connetus,'32 and Dabonna'33—the two latter sons to Huabaird'34—and to a fourth person, not named. '3S These were directed to watch over his proficiency in virtue and learning -p^ while they discharged such duty, in the district of Crich Enna Artech,^37 in Connaught. The saintly Corbmac'3*^ ended his days most happily, in that place where he presided. ^39
FromUsneach,thesaintproceededtowardsLongford; yet,itisthought, some of the most remarkable transactions, recorded in the Tripartite Life, as hereoccurring,mustbereferredtoasubsequentvisit,andtoalaterperiod. We may instance, that pastoral appointment to the See of Ardagh, by St. Mel ; for, it has been asserted, the latter had not arrived in Ireland, when St. Patrick hadbeenpreaching,forthefirsttime,inMeath. '4° Itisalsorecorded,that among certain persons, then appointed by St. Patrick, one Cromman, or Cruimminus, Abbot of Lackin, or Leckan,'4i in Westmeath, must be included.
venerated at Duiishaughlin, county of by their respective successors, towards the
sentence, by saying,
rotten stones, or worthless materials, are like the stones of Usnach Hill. "
his father.
'3° Colgan seems to place his festival, at
voice, pronounced
" fell on the stones of Usneach Hill. " '^7 These were
Patrick, raising
diction," when his disciple St. Secundinus"^ interrupted, and completed the
as
result, as we are told, was, that while Fiach obstinately refused to beUeve in Christ, his brother was moved to become a faithful adherent to the truths tliere announced. Enda did penance for the injury offered to St. Patrick,
regarded,
being
useless for
building,
any
other
purpose.
Meath, on the 27th of November.
'-7 It is quite apparent, that the present, with many another Patrician, legend, had been ingeniously concocted, and to amuse the vulgar, with explanations, as unreason-
ably applied, as they are fictitious.
'^^ When the Latin Tripartite Life had
"
they of presentation and benefice, in this parish, the identification of which is now difficult to "9 Jocelyn calls him the youngest son of ascertain. Dermagh was the name for
successors of St. Corbmac, until Nuadat, Archbishop of Armagh, released them from such an obligation. The latter died, A. D. 811, and his feast was kept, on the 19th of February.
'3* The place, whei"e he received this
education, is called Tir-omna-Snithine, and
it lay before Dermagh of Cuilchaonna. among the people, when they handled The successors of St. Patrick lost the right
been composed, a saying was in vogue
Durrow, formerly in the territory of Telfia, and now in the King's County. Here was St. Columkille's great establishment.
'37 This territory is said to have been near Cruachan, and towards the—North. monks of Clonmacnois. Colgan thinks Enda had received fifteen villages usually him to be the same as Daniel, or Domh- called, Sen-chletha-Enna-Airtich —from his nall, venerated in our Irish Calendars, at brother, King Laeghaire. Enda bestowed
the 17th of February.
'3' He is called, Bishop of Aleach mor, a
place which afterwards belonged to the
the 1st of December.
'3^ He is called, Bishop of Cluain-sean-
moil.
'33 He is said to have been bishop, over
Cluain-na-manach.
'34 Ussher treats regarding him, and his
''
'33 See Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. c, p. 88. Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. '35 About the feast of All Saints, when xvii. , xviii. , p. 131, and nn. 50 to 55, pp.
children, in
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 430, 431.
Corbmac used to visit their respective 174, 175- churches,eachofthesemastershadbeenac- '•t" SeeRev. Dr. Lanigans Ecclesiasti- customed to present his disciple with a cow, cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , especially to reverence the great Irish
Apostle, who had committed to them that
boy's instruction. This usage was continued,
or for
them on St. Patrick, with consent of the
monarch ; and, in after time, they were re-
garded as possessions, belonging to the church of Armagh.
'3* He was surnamed Snithine, from the place of his education.
sect, viii. , and n. 71, pp. 238, 240,
'4' This parish, in the barony of Corka-
ree, is delineated on the
Ordnance Sur-
words,
,"
,
. .
"
2
578 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
However, Colgan suspects, that Croraman^t^ was contemporary with the re-
nowned St. Fechin,^43 who died, a. d. 664. To account for Cromman's having
beenadiscipleofSt. Patrick,hehasbeenmadetoHve190years. ^'»4 Crom-
man is said to have resided near the church of Forgney,^*^ where Munis,'"*^
another of Patrick's disciples, and a nephew, on the sister's side, dwelt. '-^^
Munis is said to have had other holy brothers,'*^ of whom various wonderful
stories are told ; and, those followed their renowned uncle, from Britain, ^49 to
share in the labours of his Irish Apostolate. Even two sisters, St. Echea,^5o
and St. Lalloca,'5i are named, who presided over religious houses. Thence,
St. Patrick passed into southern Teffia, where he converted and baptized
Manius, or Maine, the son of Niall, and brother to King Laegaire. In the
place, now known as Ardagh, he built a church, and it was made the head of
a See, over which St. Mel first presided. With him was left, also, a brother
Milchuo,^52 a bishop, while great numbers of the people in that region were
brought over to the Faith, and the illustrious Apostle predicted many things, in reference to them and to their posterity. When Maine had received baptism,
he brought to St. Patrick a woman, who then bore a child, and for both of them, the chief humbly asked a blessing. Extending his hand, in the act of
benediction, the Apostle suddenly withdrew it, and, as if in doubt, he used a form of expression, customary with him, " I know not, but God knows. " Aftersomehesitation,however,hecompletedthebenediction. ByaDivine revelation, he learned, tliat the unborn child should afterwards be known as Tuathal, surnamed Maolgarb, the grandson of that Cairbre, whose posterity hedeclaredaccursed,anddebarredfromtheroyalsceptre. Withindignation,
to he " Lo how hast thou done this turning Maine, said, ! man,
unhappy
thing ? He who has surreptitiously obtained my blessing shall be a king. " Then Maine knelt to Patrick, and he performed penance. Patrick then
vey Townland Maps for the County of Westmealh," Sheets 6, 11. The townland proper is on Sheet 6,
'^' At one time, while St. Patrick was about to leave Britain for Ireland, he left a
"
casula," or a chasuble, behind, him on a rock. He thought no more about it, until he had arrived, and then calling for this garment, it miraculously lay at his feet.
'=° She is called, likewise, Achea, and in the "Vita S. Moduenna," by John Cap- grave, there is a notice of her. Harpsfeld, in " Historia Ecclesiastica Anglise," lib. ix. , cap. xiii. , tells us, that Echea or Achea was numbered among the saints. Unless
she was the or mentioned Aicheach, Deche,
in the Irish Calendars, at the 23rd of April, Colgan is not able elsewhere to find her, under the title of a saint. Her church of Kill-glais was near the church of Ardagh, and towards the south of it, in the region of Teffia.
'5' Her name does not appear, in our Calendars ; but, her church is said to have been Sen-lios, in These were
'*^ His feast occurs, at the 28th of June, according to Father Ward, in "Vita S. Rumoldi," Dissertatio Historica de Patria S. Rumoldi, sect. num.
'
9,
'« His feast occurs, on the 20th of Ja-
nuary.
'^^ vSee the "Trias Thaumaturga," Sep-
tima Vita S. Patricii," lib. ii. , cap. xx. , p. 132, and n. 56, p. 175,
'"•s This
of barony Shnile,
is noted, on the
"*' St. Patrick's
])arish, "
in the
Ordnance Survey Town-
land Maps for the County of Longford,"
Sheets 23, 27. The townland itself is on the latter Sheet.
'*' He is said to have been a bishop, and his festival is placed, at the 6th of Feb- ruary. He is said, also, to have had a feast, at the l8th of December.
is called mater filiorum Hua-Baird. " She is said to have been the mother of seventeen sons. Yet, this account is supposed to have been
"
sister, Darerca,
Connaught.
the two daughters of Darerca, St. Patrick's
9, p. 159.
a great exaggeration. Jocelyn makes the Scholiast, to St.
yEngus' Festilogy,
Tygrida the mother of seventeen sons and
of five daughters.
'^ Such as St. Mel and St. Rioch, whose
at the 6th of February, and at the 22nd of March, has a like statement.
'^a His feast has been assigned, to the 6th feast days are found, at the 6th of Feb- of February ; and, yet, there is reason to
ruary. The latter has a festival, likewise, at the tst of August. These are regarded, as the sons of Conis and Darerca.
suspect, he was not a different pei-son from St. Mel.
'^^ Afterwards known as Tuathail, sur«
sister, according to the
"
Opuscula," attri«
buted to St. ^ngus, lib. iv. , cap. vi. Also, ""
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 579
said, that there should be no king, who would refuse to recognsie him as
sovereign ; and, the saint then added, that his injunctions must be the longest that should live in Erinn. " The person whom I have blessed shall also be a king, ? >. , Tuathal. " ^ss In accordance with this prophecy, the latter assumedthesovereignty,afterhehadbanishedDiarmaidMacCarbhaill; so that, he was a victor on Loch Ri,^54 on Derg Derc,'55 and at Luimnech. ^s^ A very idle legend, about St. Mel, has been circulated ; but, as it does not appear, in the more ancient accounts of our holy Apostle, it may be dis- missed as unworthy of serious attention. The following is its purport. While he was in southern Teffia, St. Patrick heard a rumour spread, and it was industriously circulated, through the malice of the vulgar, that Bishop Mel had sinned with his aunt, Lupita,^^? who had taken the religious veil. As a near relation, and one of exemplary life, she lived with him, in the samehouse,^ssprayingtotheLord. Theinterestsofreligionandoffamily honour required an investigation ; yet, not believing that there were just groundsforsuchascandal,PatrickresolvedonvisitingArdagh. Aboveall other men, the pious and amiable bishop of that place, was remarkable for a holy purity and simplicity of life and manners. Trusting in his innocence, and knowing that his holy master was expected, when he saw St. Patrick coming towards Ardagh, to reprove him, the bishop went out to a certain hill, to fish in the pools, and furrows of the field. Here, it is said, he caught salmon. '59 And, moreover. Bishop Mel's kinswoman went with fire in her mantle, which was wrapped over her bosom, and yet she was in no manner scorched. '^° Patrick then knew there had been no sin between them ; yet,
he that their willed,
should be
'^'
he
He likewise declared, that God did not aid any unjust or false man ; still, he deemed it necessary, that the occasion for scandal and temptation should be avoided, as far as possible. '^3 He decreed, that while St. Mel should remain eastwards, at Ardagh, Bri-Leith'^4 must rise between them ; she living in Druim-Cheu, or Drumcheo,'^^ on the west side of that eminence. Here was
of
pronounced the law, which regulated such a mode of life, in after times. ^^'
named Maelgarb. lie ruled, as King of Ireland, from A. D. 528 to about A. D. 538.
'5* Now Lough Ree, a noble extent of
water, above Athlone, and on the Upper Shannon,
'55 Now Lough Derg, an expansion of the Lower Shannon.
^^°
The spot, where Lupita threw the fire down before St. Patrick, was afterwards called, Kn maoil-tene, i. e. , "fatuus ignis. "
"'^ The Latin Tripartite states: "Sane- tus autem Patricius licet viderit, et appro- barit innocentiam, signis tam evidentibus,
probatam ; Mselum Episcopum tamen ad-
places
dwelhng
apart.
Then, too,
'5^ The ancient name of the Lower monuit in
agris araret,
in fluviis vero
pis-
Shannon. See Mr. Lenihan's "
of
caretur ne tentare Dominum Deum suum ;
videretur. "
'^^
Patrick guttered the famous saying : "Seorsim viri et seorsim fseminse, ne occasionem dare infirmis inveniantur, et ne nomen Domini per nos blasphemetur, quod absit a nobis. "
'*3 Xhe Irish Tripartite adds these words :
History Limerick," pp. 2, 3, for the origin of those
names.
'57 Lupita is stated to have been St.
Patrick's sister. The Latin Tripartite says :
" Rumoris coram malignis turpitudinem, et coram Deo, et bonis malignitatem auxit, quod fseminse, de qua rumor ille spargeba-
" non Dominum Deum temptabis
tur, connubium,
si secluso
tuum," and then follows the i-epetition of words,
susceptorum Ordinum et Episcopalis dignitatis sacro honore, viro Dei nuptias ambire liceret ; fuerit illud fascinus alio humani
given in the previous note,
'^'* Bri-leith was the ancient name of
ipsi dupiici
et divini juris impedimento prseclusum et
execrandum. "
'58 This circumstance was the principal or
only foundation for a sinister suspicion.
owing to this miraculous occurrence,
Sliabh Calraighe, or Slieve Golry, to the west of Ardagh, in Longford. Dr. O'Dono- van founds this opinion, on Colgan's state- ment, in the Life of Bishop Mel, in the " Acta Sanctorum Hibernije," at
'
'59 The was place
subsequently called, An chora thirim, i. e. , "piscina sicca,"
" cap. ix. , p. 261. Seethe Leabhar na g-Ceart, or
the Book of Rights," n. (p), p. 9.
58o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17. probablythatnunnery,whichhadbeenfoundedbySt. Lupita; although,at
^^^
present, it baffles our attempts of identification.
Patrick next went—into northern Tatabhe,'^7 or as otherwise called, into the
territory of Cairbre,'^^ so called after him, who was the founder of this princi- pahty. ThereGranardwaspresentedtohim,bythesonsofCairbre. Itisstated,
thatGuasacht,^^9orGuasactus,wasthenplacedasaBishop,atGranard. It is probable, moreover, this account does not rest on any sufficient founda- tion. '7° Again, it is stated, that he left there the two sisters, called Emir, or Emeria,^7i who first put up, at Cluain-Bronaigh, or Clonbroney. '? ^ These holy sisters and their brother are said to have been iristructed in the Christian faith, by their once undistinguished boy-slave ; and, no doubt, it was a happy moment in his life, when Patrick blessed that veil, with which he clothed the aforesaid virgins. Then follows a most miraculous account, as to how their four feet sank into the rock, and the traces existed there to that time, when the Irish Tripartite Life had been written. We are told, that the reason, why the sides of the churches, at Granard and Clonbroney, had been joined to each other, was owing to the close relationship of the founders. It was the airchinnech, or superior, at Granard, that always ordained the head- nun in Cluain-Bronaigh, so long as our old Irish usages prevailed.
Afterwards, the Blessed Patrick went across the water,'73 to a locality, thenknownasMaghSleachta. Notfarremovedfromthepresentconsiderable town of Ballinamore,^74 and on the plains of Leitrim, near Fenagh,'? ^ was the place, called Magh-slecht,'? ^ or Moy-slecht. '" Indeed, the spot is not only well defined, by a peculiar name, Edentinny,^78 or Aidentinny 3^79 but, even yet,
'*s This denomination now seems to have become obsolete. the
'*"
There is a Drumnacooha, somewhat
the County ofLongford," Sheets 5, 9, 10, 14, 15. Between the towns of Longford and of
Granard, and in the barony of Granard, lies the townland of Clonbroney.
''"i Perhaps Lough Gownagh, or the upper course of the River Erne, is here meant.
'7* This is a considerable town, in the
parish of Oughteragh, and barony of Carrig- "
northward, in the parish of Killoe, in the
barony of Longford. It is noted, on the
"
Ordnance Sui-vey To\vnland Maps for
the County of Longford," Sheet 9.
'*7 This was the Irish denomination, and it was Latinized, Teffia. It was divided into two parts, by the River Inny, and these were called North and South Teffia ; the
former comprising, nearly all the present allen. It is shown, on the Ordnance Sur- county of Longford, and the latter, the vey Townland Maps for the County of
western half of Westmeath. See O'Dono-
Leitrim," Sheet 25. The parish itself is defined, on Sheets 19, 21, 22, 24, 25.
'? 5 The parish of Fenagh lies, partly in the barony of Carrigallen, partly in that of Leitrim, and partly in that of Mohill. See
van's
"
Leabhar na g-Ceart, or the Book of
Kights," n. (g), p. 180.
"^ "
Roderick O'Flaherty states : Borealis
Teffia eadem est, ac Carbria Gaura ad Car-
breum—filium Nielli regis et posteros spec- ibid. t Sheets 24, 25, 28, 29. On the two tans. " *'Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. Ixxxv. , former Sheets, the townland, Fenagh Beg, is
p. 402.
'*» He is said to have been the son of
Milchuo, St. Patrick's pagan master, when a slave ; and, he is regarded, also, as our Apostle's foster-brother. His feast is held,
on the 24th of January.
'? " In all other Lives of our Apostle,
there is about Guasactus, or any See nothing
of his. Had such an occurrence been veri- table, it could hardly have been omitted.
''' Colgan has assigned their festival, to
the nth of December, when he promised to
treat fully regarding them.
'' There was founded here a famous
nunnery,bythesesisters. Clonbroneyparish is partly, in the barony of Granard, and
defined.
'7* This is Latinized, campus excidii, by Rev. Dr. Charles O'Conor ; but, more cor-
rectly, by Father John Colgan, campus <idorationis^
'77 See Sewai-d's Topography, and O'Connor's Map of Scotia Antiqtta.
''** The of mthetown- village Edentinny,
land of Ardrum, is marked, on the "Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Leitrim," Sheet 25 ; but, there is no indication of the historic cahir, near it. However, two sites of standing stones are noted, just adjoining ; and, at a greater
partly in that of Ardagh. It is described, on
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for
tlistance, near Fenagh, are two other sites '*
designated, standing stones. " The mounds
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 581
animmenserude,uprightstone,^^° ofgreatweightandheight,crownsthesum- mit, within a most remarkable oblong and ancient fortress/^' Much of the stone
—supposed to have been a pagan monument—is buried in the ground besideit, anotherstone'^^ofgreatlengthliesprostrated,'^3andnotfarremoved
Edentinny Fort, near Ballinamore, County of Leitrim.
are similar prostrate stones,^^-* which, once upright, must have rendered this eminence very conspicuous. Other writers state,^^s that this plain of Magh
Sleachta lay, in the present barony of TuUyhaw, in the county of Cavan. ^^^ When Patrick arrived at Magh Sleaght,^^7 there was erected the large statue,
of an obliterated city beside them are passed
over, with the imperfect description of "cams. " This whole district has yet to
engage the explorations of historians and archaeologists, for the elucidation of social
conditions, in an age very remote ; and, it
must be added, in this connexion, that
socially considered, as well as topographi-
cally and historically, the scenery and capa- bilities of Leitrim County need higher
appreciation and improvement, than have been bestowed by most of its large landed
proprietors.
'"Itissaidtobe "thebrow Anglicised,
of fire. "
'^° This "galloon" is at least 12 feet in
height, and artificially formed.
'^' Huge stones are found, forming the
outer face of an embankment, on the two smaller ends : on the depressed sides, the rock has been quarried and removed, to form a steep, not easy of access. Several of the loose flanking stones have been re-
moved, for building purposes, by former inhabitants of the adjacent village of Aiden-
'^3 The accompanying illustration, taken from a drawing on the spot, in June, 1876, by the author, was traced on the wood, by
William F. Wakeman, and engraved by George A. Hanlon. It represents the up- right "galloon," and that prostrate one, within the old fortification.
184 A woman, whose farm-house was near, informed the writer, that she had seen one of these upright, and she had even witnessed its accidental falling, some few years before.
'^3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (a), p. 43. The
of Baile
incorrect, as referring to the exact locality. '^7 The origin of the name of Magh Slecht
is to be found, in the " Book of Ballymote," fol. 220, a. a.
'^^ It is so called, in the Tripartite. The Rev. Dr. Todd says, this word "seems to
and
'^^ It is nearly as large as the upright one.
tinny,
by
their
neighbours.
island of and the Port,
Meg- Shamhradhain, now Ballymagauran, are said by Dr. O'Donovan, to have been in that plain. See ibid. , vol. iv. , n. (c), p. 882, at A. D. 1431. Also, Rev. Dr. Todd's "St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," Intro- duction, p. 127, and chap, iii. , n. 3, p. 464. »^^ In our opinion, these statements are
village
; while,
582 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
oranidol,calledbysome,CromCruach. ^^^ Totheirchiefidol,thepagans were accustomed to present the firstlings of animals and other offerings. '^9 Twelve other idols'9° are said to have stood near or around Crom Cruach ;^9^ and with the intention of destroying the prestige or efficacy of these idols, Patrick soon came to a river, called Gath-ardj's^ within sight of them. There and then, he beheld a great multitude of persons assembled. In some accounts,'93 it is asserted, that King Laeghaire himself was present, and en- gagedinthesameofficesofidolatrousworship. ThepeopleatEdentinny show a broad, rushing, clear stream, named St. Patrick's well,'9* which escapes from beneath the perpendicular face of steep, rock, and from its sub- terranean course, into the lower grounds. These are now converted into moorland, but once—and not so long ago—they formed the bed of an ex- tensive lake,^9S on the margin of which arose the artificially-scarped ledge of rock,onthetopofwhichwasanearlyoblongCaherorfortification. Theidol of this locale, called Crom-Cruach, is said to have been the principal one of all the colonists that settled in Ireland, from the earliest times to the period of St. Patrick. ^9^ Certainwritershaveit,thatCrom,'97orCrom-eacha,^98wasthe titlebestowedontheirFireGod,bythePaganIrish. ^99 Hewasregardedas
^°°
the of vital dispenser
and of
of
Mc Follaigh, King of Ireland, who reigned from a. m. 3580 to a. m. 3656,^°'
heat,
signify the bent, or stooping mound. "
Tighemmas
Jocelyn
calls the same
idol, Ceancroithi,
'97 This is said to have been derived from
an "fire. " Egyptianword,Chrom,meaning
'9^ It is also thought, this idol had been termed Crom-dubh, "the black stooping
which he interprets "Caput omnium deo-
rum. " The Third Life calls this idol Cen-
fecundity,
prosperity.
nerbhe. See cap. xlvi.
