Neither is there a place mentioned, as
connected
with the present saint's cultus.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
Cellachus or Cellanus Hua Fiachrach.
June
\^th, St. Cellanus, son of Finan. July l8iA, St. Cellachus, son of Dunchad. October "jth,
St. Cellachus, deacon of
October %th, St. Cellanus, Priest. Novem- ber lyth, St. Cellanus, Confessor. These are taken from the Martyrologies alone ; but, in the Calendars and Annals, there are many more bearing the same name. Thus, in the Annals of Donegal, or of the Four Masters, there are no lessthan thirty-two Cel- lachs, who are different persons, as may be discovered, by their parents' names, and by their several death records. Their decease is thus entered, in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals
of the Four Masters," vol. i. , ii. , at the several years of their obits, and in the. se fol- lowing terms :—A. D. 657, Ceallach, son of Saran, Abbot of Othan-mor, died. A. D. 700, Ceallach, son of Maelrocha, bishop, died. A. D. 704, Ceallan, son of Scachnasach, a wi-e man, died. A. D. 735, Ceahich, son of Sechdi, one of the Conmaicne, Abbot of Cluin-mic-Noi? , died. A. D. 808, Ceallach, son ot Kochaiuh, Abbot ol Cill-Toma, died. A. D. 810, Ceallach, son of Conghal, Abbot of
:
April 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 135
feast,** to the 1 2th of April : thus, in the old Martyrology, edited by Bucherius, in that attributed to St. Jerome, and in several old Manuscript Martyrologies, as also in those of Bede, Raban, and Baronius. '' This holy Pontiff omitted no care or duty, which belonged to his high office, to keep the Christian world within the bonds of Catholic unity.
Article VIII. —St. Killene Mac Lubney, Bishop and Abbot of
Saiger, King's County. \Seventh Century. ^ St. Killene, son to Lubney, was bom, probably in the early part or about the middle of the seventh cen-
tury. He was created Abbot of Saiger,' in the King's County; and, as one of forty Bishops and Abbots, he assisted at a Synod convened by St. Flann, Archbishop of Armagh, about the year 695. ' The Actsof this convention were
formerly in Colgan's possession. ^ The 12th of April was the day set apart for St. Killene's festival, according to our Irish Martyrologists. * The writer is unable to find any account, regarding the year of his death ;5 but, it occurred, probably towards the close of the seventh or the beginning of the
eighth century.
Cf)trt«ntb Bap of apri'I.
ARTICLE I. -ST. MOCHAEMHOG, ABBOT OF INIS CAOIN, NOW INISH- KEEN, COUNTY OF FERMANAGH.
{SEVENTH century:]
holy man is recorded in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the Ides or of as Mocammoc Innsi Cain. There is an allusion to
la-Colaim-Chille, died. A. D. 8ll, Ceallach, by the foreigners, in the doorway of his re- son of Muirghius, Abbot of Dniim-caradh, fectory. A. D. 986, Ceallach, the holy vir- died. A. D. 835, Ceallach, son of Forbha- gin, died. A. D. 990, Ceallach, son of sach, airchinneach, of Ros-Commain, was Cinaedh, Abbot of Imleach-Fia, >>. , Im- slain. A. D. 837, Ceallach, son of Cairbre, leach-Becain, died. a. d. 1006, Ceallach Ua Abbot of Ath-Truim, died ; Ceallach, son Meanngorain, airchinneach of Corcach, of Cosgrach, Abbot of Airegal-Ciarog, died. died. A. D. 1016, Ceallach Ua Maelmidhe, A. D. 841, Ceallach. sonofCaithghenn, Abbot airchinneach of Druim-raiihe, died. A. D.
THIS
13th April,
of Druicn-mor, in Ui-Eathach, died. A. D. 845, Ceallach, son of Maelpadraig, Prior of Feara-RoLs, died. A. D. 850, Ceallach, son
1036, Ceallach Ua Sealbhaich, a bishop, successor of Bairri, learned senior of Mun- ster, died. A. D. 1043, Ceallach Ua Cleir- cein, successor of Finnen and Mocholmog,
of Crunnmhael, Abbot of Ceann-Eitigh,
died. 863, Ceallach, son of Ailell, Abl)Ot died. A. D. 1063, Ceallach Ua Caeimh, a
of Cill-dara, and the Abbot of la, died in
Piciland. A. D. 866, Ceallach, sonofCumas-
gach. Abbot of Fabhar, who was a noble
and illustrious wise man, died. A. D. 898, I129, Ceallach, successor of Patrick, &c. ,
Ceallach, son of Saergus, anchorite, and Bis-
hop of Ard-M. icha, died. A. D. 919, Ceal-
lach, son of Conghalach, Abbot of CiU-
achaidh, died. A D. 937. Ceallach, son of
Caellaidhe, Prior of Saighir, died. a. D.
940, Ceallach, son of Eporan, Bishop of Annals of the Four Masters. . See, "Acta Cluain-ei ihneach, died. A. D. 966, Ceallach Sanctorum Hiberniae. " xiv. Februarii, n. 7,
Ua Banain, successor of Comhghall, died. pp. 334, 335. A. D. 969, Ceallach Ua Nuadhait was killed
wise man and anchorite, died. A. d. 1079, Ceallach Reamhar, successor of Brenainn of Birra, and of Ciaran of Saighir, died. A. D.
died. a. d. 1148, Ceallach Ua Domhnagain,
noble head of Cill-Beneoin, died. Besides
the foregoing. Coljjan gives two additional entries, at the years 828, and 833, which are not found, in Mr. O'Donovan's edition of the
136 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 13
him,byColgan,"undertheActsofSt. MochoemogorPulcharius. 3 Weare told there, that this holy man was the son of Endeus, son of Cormac,* and belonging to the Colla Dachrich race. He flourished on Iniscaoin Island,^ about the middle of the seventh century. ^ He was Abbot over Inishkeen, onLoughErne,inthecountyofFermanagh. Thescenicbeautiesofthis locality have been already described and illustrated. ' However, it is not so long since Mr. Wakeman made the present drawing of Inniskeen old church and graveyard f but, all the ancient trees, the appearance of which then added so much to the picturesqueness of the scene, have been already cut down. Theplaceisnowbare,andexposedtothewinds. 9 Acommemora-
Xn^^PM
Remains at Iniskeen, County of Fermanagh.
tion has been made of St. Mochaemog, by Marianus O'Gorman, at the present day. '° Likewise, at the same date, as we read in the Martyrology of Done- gal," Mochaemhog, of Inis Caoin, had veneration paid him. A similar notice is to be found, at the 13th of April, or at the Ides of this month," in that Irish Calendar, preserved in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy. However, these brief notices give us no particulars, that could afford us any light, regarding his personal history.
thedateforhisfestival.
*See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernia;," xiii.
Articler—' Edited Dr. by Rev,
Kelly, p. xxi. The Franciscan copy has lllocaiiioc
Inp CAin. It is remarkai>le, that on this day, tlie Bollandists make no conimemora- tion of an Irish Saint, from the Martyrology of Tallagh.
'See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," xiii.
Martii. Appendix, cap. i. , p. 598.
^ His Life is given, at the 13th of March,
Martii, Vita S. Mochoemoci. Appendix, cap. i. , p. 598.
5 See Nicholas Carlisle's " Dictionary of Ireland," sub voce.
' See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 262.
Topographical
April 13. ] LIVES OF THE lEJSB SAINTS. 137
Article II. —St. Bascia, Virgin. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,' the festival in honour of Bascia, a Virgin, was celebrated on this day. Her family, period and place do not seem to be known ; nor can we trace htr commemoration, in any of our earlier Calendars.
Article III. —Reputed Festival of St. Elias, Abbot of St. Pan- TALEON, CoLOGME. [Eleventh Century. ^ In the Scottish Menolog)', Camera- rius has inserted the name of Elias, Abbot, in the Monastery of Pantaleon,
' inCologne,atthe13thofApril. TheBollandists merelyrecordthisstate-
ment, at the same date. On the day previous, some notices of him will be found, and to these the reader is referred for the biographical accounts, which survive the lapse of time.
Article IV. —St. Riagail, or Riachuill, Mac Buachalla. An entry
appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 13th of April, Riagail Mac Buachalla. However, we are at loss to learn who his father had been, or from
what line he came.
Neither is there a place mentioned, as connected with the present saint's cultus. On this day, we find recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal," the name of Riachuill, Mac Buachalla, as having been vene- rated.
Article V. —The Sons of Terchur, of Loch-mac-Nein. On the 13th of April, we find entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh Mac Tarchair, Locha mic Nina. This place was identical with Lough-Mac-Nen, now Lough Macnean, situated between the counties of Fermanagh, Cavan and Leitrim. The very romantic scenery, about the margin of Lough Mac Nean, is enhanced greatly by that beautiful sheet of water, extending between the coun- ties of Fermanagh and of Leitrim, while several islands seem to float over its surface. On one of these, called Innisshee,* there is a crannog, and it lies to the left of the Hanging Rock,3 a magnificent cliff over the Lake, and which is shown in the engraving. The Island itself is in the centre of the Lough,* and the view as presented in our illustration is that appearing from Belcoo. ' A bridge at this village carries the road across to the northern extremity, which issituatedinthecountyofCavan. ThesonsofTerchur,arementioned,in
' In volume i. of this work, at the loth of January, and in Art. iii. , where notices of St. Diman,orDiomman,ofIni»hkeen,oc- cur.
•Byhim,thisillustrationhasbeentrans- ferrcd to the wood, and it has been engraved ^Mrs. Millard.
» Tlius I have t>een informed, in a letter, from\VilliamK. \V. ikcman,anddatedEnni3-
killen, April 6th, 1882.
Common Place Book F. , of the Irish Ord- nance Survey Records.
Articleii. —' EditedbyDrs. Toddand
Reeves, pp. ic», loi.
ArticleIII. —'See ActaSanctorum,"
tomus ii. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 103.
ARTICLE iv. — Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
p. xxi. The Franciscan copy has HkisuiL mac buaciLU.
'Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
lOO, loi. .
Article v. — ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nix," xiii. Martii, Vita S. Mocboemoci. Ap-
" See
Colgan's
pendix. cap. i. , p 598.
" Edited by Urs. Todd and Reeves, pp. p. xxi. 'i he Franciscan copy reads mac
100,101. Capch<MT\ lochA mic nina. " It is thus : mocAmog Innp CA6in. —
•
"
138 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 13.
the Martyrology of Donegal,* as having had veneration paid to them, on this day. They are also said to have been of Loch-mac-Nein : but, whether their place of retirement was on an Island, situated in the lake itself, or whether it was to be found on the shores which border it, we have now apparently no clueleftus,whichcouldservetodiscoverthatparticularsite. Intheyear1499, the Annals of the Four Masters' state, that Con Carragh and John O'Roorke took Melaghlin Mac Rannall, a prisoner, and they conveyed him to Inis- Ochta,*anIslandonLoughMacNen. ButRoryMaguirerescuedthepri- soner, and slew these two sons of O'Roorke. It seems hurtful to generous and refined feeling, that deeds of violence should be associated with so charmingalocality; and,evenmoreso,whenitisknown,thatholymenhad
Lough Mac Nean.
once sanctified those places which are historic, by their living presence, although we can only learn of them and their associations with the scene,
through the patronymic above recorded.
' " This is Anglicised,
tothewood. The is transferred engraving
by Mrs. Millard.
5 This is a village, situated on the neck of
land, which separates Upper fiom Lower Lough Macne. in, ami on the east bank of
waters of the Upper Lake to the Lower. 3 Here, in former times, the people say two Here is the cek-brated Well, called Davugh eagles used to build their nests, and Mr. Phadric. See " Parliamentary Gazetteer of
Fairy," or "Spirit. " The people have a tradition, that this island contains a subter-
stopped.
Wakeman, who relates, it adds :
"
Is it not
Ireland," vol. i. , p. 232.
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
ICO, Id.
' See O'Donovan's Edition, vol. iv. , pp.
1250, 1251.
* See ibid. , nn. (m, n), p. 1250. This, we
are told, means the Lland of the Breast. The name had been preserved, even to the
possible, or very probable, that from this cir- cumstance the Loch derives its name ? Loch-
mac-nean is the Loch-da-en, ' Lake of the two birds,' of the old Irish wiiters. " Letter
dated B'. nniskillen,
April
13th, 1882.
<Theacconipanyingilhi>traiion was drawn on the spot, by William F. Wakeman, and
the Island of the
raneous vault, within which a figure in the
shape of a woman is perpetually sitting on a
stone, but the mouth of the cave is now the stream, which conveys the superfluent
April 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 139
Article VT. —Festival of the Deacon Paul, and of his Companions, Martyrs. The Feilire of St. ^ngus ' commemorates the Feast of the holy Deacon Paul, and of his companions, at the 13th day of April. The Kalen- dar of Drummond also celebrates the memory of these Martyrs, at the same date. ' The Martyrology of Tallagh 3 has a similar commemoration, on this dayJ although,astheBollandists»remark,withconfusionandinaccuracyof description. In various copies of the ancient Martyrology, ascribed to St. Jerome, this company of Martyrs are to be found, in the second place. Various readings of the names are to be met with, as also changes of names and additions, in different old Calendars. The age when they flourished, and the place where they suffered martyrdom, are alike imknown.
jfourUentf) 3Bap of ^pri'l.
ARTICLE 1. —ST. TASSACH, BISHOP OF RAHOLP, COUNTY OF DOWN.
[FIFTH CENTURY. ]
FROM
his peculiar connexion with the great Irish Apostle, St. Patrick, the fills a our earliest
present holy personage deservedly niche, among
Christian celebrities. The name of Tassach, Bishop, occurs, in the Martyro- logy of Tallagh,' at this date. While the Bollandists enter his name, S. Tassagus, from the same authority, they state," that nothing had come under their reading regarding him, or the other Irish Saints it notices, on the 14th
of April. Our national hagiologist. Father John Colgan, appears to have pre- pared some acts of this saint, for publication, at this day ;3 and, he promised
"
last century, as would appear from a short
manuscriptdescriptionofFermanagh,inpes-
session of the late George Petrie, Esq. ,
V. P. , R. I. A. It stated, that King Aedh ad astraconscendit. "—Bisliop Forbes' " Ka-
had a residence on it. It was called, pro- bably, from that circumstance, Inis Aodha,
Anglice, Inishce, i. e. Hugh's Island. See, Ortlnance Survey Townland M. ips for the
lendars of Scottish Saints," p. lo.
^ In the Franciscan copy, we find the en-
try pauli Oiaconi.
* See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap-
rilis Xii. De Sanctis Martyribus Januario, Pavlo, Carvio, Arobo, Bassa, Carita, et Agathonia, item Decimo, Calepodio et Leonitide, p. 129.
Aki ICLE I. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxi. The Franciscan copy has sti
CAiyAp. "See"ActaSanctorum,"tomusii. , Ap-
rilis xiv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 200.
of — Sheet County Fermanagh, 25.
111 the " Leabhar Breac "
Con<ipiMnn*lu45 fonA <Jp5obeil cecVigenA
jejvuc CiMi-c cdinT)eoch<MH poL oeochaiTi ooniNema.
" With his chief host, happy for the biting of every mouth, well went Christ's champion:
Ar
copy, at this date, we read the following, in the original Irish, and it is translated by Whitley Stokes :—
1
iCLE VI.
'
may deacon Paul shelter us !
'" It says:
eodera die Paulus quoque
sanctus Diaconus cum turba magna martyrum
3 See " rum. "
Actuum Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, ordine Mensium et Die-
Catalogiis
140 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 14.
a further dissertation, regarding the present holy man, at the 14th of April. * In one passage of the Tripartite Life, our Saint's name seems to have been rather erroneously written Tassa. 5 The name of this holy bishop is to be found, likewise, in Fitzsimon's Catalogue of our national Saints. *
It may be reasonably conjectured, that St. Tassach was born some time,
in the earlier part of the fifth century ; but where or when, we are not able
to ascertain. 7 His parents were pagans, we may presume, and it seems not
unlikely they were connected with the northern parts of Ulster, which are
associated, likewise, with the ministry of this holy bishop. Being classed, as
a disciple of St. Patrick, St. Tassach was baptized, most probably, among
the earliest converts made, when that part ofUltonia, where the Irish Apostle
first landed, had been visited. Either he was brought up to some skilled
workmanship in metals, or he had a natural taste for mechanics and art, in
such a direction. But, we are at a loss to discover, when the Irish Apostle
formed the acquaintance of Tassach, and learned to appreciate his sincere
piety and artistic ingenuity.
That neighbourhood, where St. Patrick first landed in Ireland, at the
River Slainge, or Slany, in Lecale barony, and county of Down, was girdled round, in after times, by a number of churches. Few of these were more than a mile or two distant, from that spot. Indeed, it is suspected, that the celebrated wells of St. Patrick, at Struell, and which are traditionally reported to have been blessed by the Irish Apostle,* may have been identical with the ancient Slan, or Slainge, now Slany. These waters are not a mile from Saul, and they flow through a little secluded valley. They run between the peaked mountains of Struell and Slieve-na-grideal. There, some ruins of a church, dedicated to the saint, are extant. Thither a large concourse of pilgrims assembled yearly, and they are even yet accustomed to resort that place on St. John's Eve. i* It is near an almost perpendicular elevation, called Struell Mountain, producing a little mixture of grass and shamrock, with a few haw- thorns, and an abundant crop of furze. '" In the immediate vicinity of Saul Church, although in opposite directions, there are two other wells. These are famousforcuringeyediseases. Oneofthese,filledwithclearandsparkling water of excellent taste, is called the Mear-an Well," and in a stone near it is a hollow, said to have been the impression made by St. Patrick's knee ; whiletheotherisknownasTober-naSuil. " Weareinformed,byonewell
in the Struel wells, are now
by directions received from the local clergy, One of the Struel wells has a stone roof over it, and this is said to have been erected by a
rich " The rather lady, long, long ago. "
modern looking walls of a deserted chapel are seen ne. ir the wells.
'"Wefindan and exaggerated, prejudiced
slatement, purporting in a great measure to have been drawn from an article, in the " Belfast Magazine," and which refers to tlie Struell wells, with the pilgrimages and prac- tices of people frequenting them in Mid- summer. This account appears in Philip Dixon Hardy's "Northern Tourist," &c. , pp. 84 to 92.
" It is covered with flags, and walled
* See " Trias
S. Patricii, nn. , 27 dd. , and 19, p. 6,
^ See Hid. , Septima Vita S. Patricii, lih. iii. , cap. xcviii. , p. 167, and nn. 132, 133,
Thaumaturga.
\^th, St. Cellanus, son of Finan. July l8iA, St. Cellachus, son of Dunchad. October "jth,
St. Cellachus, deacon of
October %th, St. Cellanus, Priest. Novem- ber lyth, St. Cellanus, Confessor. These are taken from the Martyrologies alone ; but, in the Calendars and Annals, there are many more bearing the same name. Thus, in the Annals of Donegal, or of the Four Masters, there are no lessthan thirty-two Cel- lachs, who are different persons, as may be discovered, by their parents' names, and by their several death records. Their decease is thus entered, in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals
of the Four Masters," vol. i. , ii. , at the several years of their obits, and in the. se fol- lowing terms :—A. D. 657, Ceallach, son of Saran, Abbot of Othan-mor, died. A. D. 700, Ceallach, son of Maelrocha, bishop, died. A. D. 704, Ceallan, son of Scachnasach, a wi-e man, died. A. D. 735, Ceahich, son of Sechdi, one of the Conmaicne, Abbot of Cluin-mic-Noi? , died. A. D. 808, Ceallach, son ot Kochaiuh, Abbot ol Cill-Toma, died. A. D. 810, Ceallach, son of Conghal, Abbot of
:
April 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 135
feast,** to the 1 2th of April : thus, in the old Martyrology, edited by Bucherius, in that attributed to St. Jerome, and in several old Manuscript Martyrologies, as also in those of Bede, Raban, and Baronius. '' This holy Pontiff omitted no care or duty, which belonged to his high office, to keep the Christian world within the bonds of Catholic unity.
Article VIII. —St. Killene Mac Lubney, Bishop and Abbot of
Saiger, King's County. \Seventh Century. ^ St. Killene, son to Lubney, was bom, probably in the early part or about the middle of the seventh cen-
tury. He was created Abbot of Saiger,' in the King's County; and, as one of forty Bishops and Abbots, he assisted at a Synod convened by St. Flann, Archbishop of Armagh, about the year 695. ' The Actsof this convention were
formerly in Colgan's possession. ^ The 12th of April was the day set apart for St. Killene's festival, according to our Irish Martyrologists. * The writer is unable to find any account, regarding the year of his death ;5 but, it occurred, probably towards the close of the seventh or the beginning of the
eighth century.
Cf)trt«ntb Bap of apri'I.
ARTICLE I. -ST. MOCHAEMHOG, ABBOT OF INIS CAOIN, NOW INISH- KEEN, COUNTY OF FERMANAGH.
{SEVENTH century:]
holy man is recorded in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the Ides or of as Mocammoc Innsi Cain. There is an allusion to
la-Colaim-Chille, died. A. D. 8ll, Ceallach, by the foreigners, in the doorway of his re- son of Muirghius, Abbot of Dniim-caradh, fectory. A. D. 986, Ceallach, the holy vir- died. A. D. 835, Ceallach, son of Forbha- gin, died. A. D. 990, Ceallach, son of sach, airchinneach, of Ros-Commain, was Cinaedh, Abbot of Imleach-Fia, >>. , Im- slain. A. D. 837, Ceallach, son of Cairbre, leach-Becain, died. a. d. 1006, Ceallach Ua Abbot of Ath-Truim, died ; Ceallach, son Meanngorain, airchinneach of Corcach, of Cosgrach, Abbot of Airegal-Ciarog, died. died. A. D. 1016, Ceallach Ua Maelmidhe, A. D. 841, Ceallach. sonofCaithghenn, Abbot airchinneach of Druim-raiihe, died. A. D.
THIS
13th April,
of Druicn-mor, in Ui-Eathach, died. A. D. 845, Ceallach, son of Maelpadraig, Prior of Feara-RoLs, died. A. D. 850, Ceallach, son
1036, Ceallach Ua Sealbhaich, a bishop, successor of Bairri, learned senior of Mun- ster, died. A. D. 1043, Ceallach Ua Cleir- cein, successor of Finnen and Mocholmog,
of Crunnmhael, Abbot of Ceann-Eitigh,
died. 863, Ceallach, son of Ailell, Abl)Ot died. A. D. 1063, Ceallach Ua Caeimh, a
of Cill-dara, and the Abbot of la, died in
Piciland. A. D. 866, Ceallach, sonofCumas-
gach. Abbot of Fabhar, who was a noble
and illustrious wise man, died. A. D. 898, I129, Ceallach, successor of Patrick, &c. ,
Ceallach, son of Saergus, anchorite, and Bis-
hop of Ard-M. icha, died. A. D. 919, Ceal-
lach, son of Conghalach, Abbot of CiU-
achaidh, died. A D. 937. Ceallach, son of
Caellaidhe, Prior of Saighir, died. a. D.
940, Ceallach, son of Eporan, Bishop of Annals of the Four Masters. . See, "Acta Cluain-ei ihneach, died. A. D. 966, Ceallach Sanctorum Hiberniae. " xiv. Februarii, n. 7,
Ua Banain, successor of Comhghall, died. pp. 334, 335. A. D. 969, Ceallach Ua Nuadhait was killed
wise man and anchorite, died. A. d. 1079, Ceallach Reamhar, successor of Brenainn of Birra, and of Ciaran of Saighir, died. A. D.
died. a. d. 1148, Ceallach Ua Domhnagain,
noble head of Cill-Beneoin, died. Besides
the foregoing. Coljjan gives two additional entries, at the years 828, and 833, which are not found, in Mr. O'Donovan's edition of the
136 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 13
him,byColgan,"undertheActsofSt. MochoemogorPulcharius. 3 Weare told there, that this holy man was the son of Endeus, son of Cormac,* and belonging to the Colla Dachrich race. He flourished on Iniscaoin Island,^ about the middle of the seventh century. ^ He was Abbot over Inishkeen, onLoughErne,inthecountyofFermanagh. Thescenicbeautiesofthis locality have been already described and illustrated. ' However, it is not so long since Mr. Wakeman made the present drawing of Inniskeen old church and graveyard f but, all the ancient trees, the appearance of which then added so much to the picturesqueness of the scene, have been already cut down. Theplaceisnowbare,andexposedtothewinds. 9 Acommemora-
Xn^^PM
Remains at Iniskeen, County of Fermanagh.
tion has been made of St. Mochaemog, by Marianus O'Gorman, at the present day. '° Likewise, at the same date, as we read in the Martyrology of Done- gal," Mochaemhog, of Inis Caoin, had veneration paid him. A similar notice is to be found, at the 13th of April, or at the Ides of this month," in that Irish Calendar, preserved in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy. However, these brief notices give us no particulars, that could afford us any light, regarding his personal history.
thedateforhisfestival.
*See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernia;," xiii.
Articler—' Edited Dr. by Rev,
Kelly, p. xxi. The Franciscan copy has lllocaiiioc
Inp CAin. It is remarkai>le, that on this day, tlie Bollandists make no conimemora- tion of an Irish Saint, from the Martyrology of Tallagh.
'See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," xiii.
Martii. Appendix, cap. i. , p. 598.
^ His Life is given, at the 13th of March,
Martii, Vita S. Mochoemoci. Appendix, cap. i. , p. 598.
5 See Nicholas Carlisle's " Dictionary of Ireland," sub voce.
' See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 262.
Topographical
April 13. ] LIVES OF THE lEJSB SAINTS. 137
Article II. —St. Bascia, Virgin. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,' the festival in honour of Bascia, a Virgin, was celebrated on this day. Her family, period and place do not seem to be known ; nor can we trace htr commemoration, in any of our earlier Calendars.
Article III. —Reputed Festival of St. Elias, Abbot of St. Pan- TALEON, CoLOGME. [Eleventh Century. ^ In the Scottish Menolog)', Camera- rius has inserted the name of Elias, Abbot, in the Monastery of Pantaleon,
' inCologne,atthe13thofApril. TheBollandists merelyrecordthisstate-
ment, at the same date. On the day previous, some notices of him will be found, and to these the reader is referred for the biographical accounts, which survive the lapse of time.
Article IV. —St. Riagail, or Riachuill, Mac Buachalla. An entry
appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 13th of April, Riagail Mac Buachalla. However, we are at loss to learn who his father had been, or from
what line he came.
Neither is there a place mentioned, as connected with the present saint's cultus. On this day, we find recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal," the name of Riachuill, Mac Buachalla, as having been vene- rated.
Article V. —The Sons of Terchur, of Loch-mac-Nein. On the 13th of April, we find entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh Mac Tarchair, Locha mic Nina. This place was identical with Lough-Mac-Nen, now Lough Macnean, situated between the counties of Fermanagh, Cavan and Leitrim. The very romantic scenery, about the margin of Lough Mac Nean, is enhanced greatly by that beautiful sheet of water, extending between the coun- ties of Fermanagh and of Leitrim, while several islands seem to float over its surface. On one of these, called Innisshee,* there is a crannog, and it lies to the left of the Hanging Rock,3 a magnificent cliff over the Lake, and which is shown in the engraving. The Island itself is in the centre of the Lough,* and the view as presented in our illustration is that appearing from Belcoo. ' A bridge at this village carries the road across to the northern extremity, which issituatedinthecountyofCavan. ThesonsofTerchur,arementioned,in
' In volume i. of this work, at the loth of January, and in Art. iii. , where notices of St. Diman,orDiomman,ofIni»hkeen,oc- cur.
•Byhim,thisillustrationhasbeentrans- ferrcd to the wood, and it has been engraved ^Mrs. Millard.
» Tlius I have t>een informed, in a letter, from\VilliamK. \V. ikcman,anddatedEnni3-
killen, April 6th, 1882.
Common Place Book F. , of the Irish Ord- nance Survey Records.
Articleii. —' EditedbyDrs. Toddand
Reeves, pp. ic», loi.
ArticleIII. —'See ActaSanctorum,"
tomus ii. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 103.
ARTICLE iv. — Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
p. xxi. The Franciscan copy has HkisuiL mac buaciLU.
'Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
lOO, loi. .
Article v. — ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nix," xiii. Martii, Vita S. Mocboemoci. Ap-
" See
Colgan's
pendix. cap. i. , p 598.
" Edited by Urs. Todd and Reeves, pp. p. xxi. 'i he Franciscan copy reads mac
100,101. Capch<MT\ lochA mic nina. " It is thus : mocAmog Innp CA6in. —
•
"
138 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 13.
the Martyrology of Donegal,* as having had veneration paid to them, on this day. They are also said to have been of Loch-mac-Nein : but, whether their place of retirement was on an Island, situated in the lake itself, or whether it was to be found on the shores which border it, we have now apparently no clueleftus,whichcouldservetodiscoverthatparticularsite. Intheyear1499, the Annals of the Four Masters' state, that Con Carragh and John O'Roorke took Melaghlin Mac Rannall, a prisoner, and they conveyed him to Inis- Ochta,*anIslandonLoughMacNen. ButRoryMaguirerescuedthepri- soner, and slew these two sons of O'Roorke. It seems hurtful to generous and refined feeling, that deeds of violence should be associated with so charmingalocality; and,evenmoreso,whenitisknown,thatholymenhad
Lough Mac Nean.
once sanctified those places which are historic, by their living presence, although we can only learn of them and their associations with the scene,
through the patronymic above recorded.
' " This is Anglicised,
tothewood. The is transferred engraving
by Mrs. Millard.
5 This is a village, situated on the neck of
land, which separates Upper fiom Lower Lough Macne. in, ami on the east bank of
waters of the Upper Lake to the Lower. 3 Here, in former times, the people say two Here is the cek-brated Well, called Davugh eagles used to build their nests, and Mr. Phadric. See " Parliamentary Gazetteer of
Fairy," or "Spirit. " The people have a tradition, that this island contains a subter-
stopped.
Wakeman, who relates, it adds :
"
Is it not
Ireland," vol. i. , p. 232.
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
ICO, Id.
' See O'Donovan's Edition, vol. iv. , pp.
1250, 1251.
* See ibid. , nn. (m, n), p. 1250. This, we
are told, means the Lland of the Breast. The name had been preserved, even to the
possible, or very probable, that from this cir- cumstance the Loch derives its name ? Loch-
mac-nean is the Loch-da-en, ' Lake of the two birds,' of the old Irish wiiters. " Letter
dated B'. nniskillen,
April
13th, 1882.
<Theacconipanyingilhi>traiion was drawn on the spot, by William F. Wakeman, and
the Island of the
raneous vault, within which a figure in the
shape of a woman is perpetually sitting on a
stone, but the mouth of the cave is now the stream, which conveys the superfluent
April 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 139
Article VT. —Festival of the Deacon Paul, and of his Companions, Martyrs. The Feilire of St. ^ngus ' commemorates the Feast of the holy Deacon Paul, and of his companions, at the 13th day of April. The Kalen- dar of Drummond also celebrates the memory of these Martyrs, at the same date. ' The Martyrology of Tallagh 3 has a similar commemoration, on this dayJ although,astheBollandists»remark,withconfusionandinaccuracyof description. In various copies of the ancient Martyrology, ascribed to St. Jerome, this company of Martyrs are to be found, in the second place. Various readings of the names are to be met with, as also changes of names and additions, in different old Calendars. The age when they flourished, and the place where they suffered martyrdom, are alike imknown.
jfourUentf) 3Bap of ^pri'l.
ARTICLE 1. —ST. TASSACH, BISHOP OF RAHOLP, COUNTY OF DOWN.
[FIFTH CENTURY. ]
FROM
his peculiar connexion with the great Irish Apostle, St. Patrick, the fills a our earliest
present holy personage deservedly niche, among
Christian celebrities. The name of Tassach, Bishop, occurs, in the Martyro- logy of Tallagh,' at this date. While the Bollandists enter his name, S. Tassagus, from the same authority, they state," that nothing had come under their reading regarding him, or the other Irish Saints it notices, on the 14th
of April. Our national hagiologist. Father John Colgan, appears to have pre- pared some acts of this saint, for publication, at this day ;3 and, he promised
"
last century, as would appear from a short
manuscriptdescriptionofFermanagh,inpes-
session of the late George Petrie, Esq. ,
V. P. , R. I. A. It stated, that King Aedh ad astraconscendit. "—Bisliop Forbes' " Ka-
had a residence on it. It was called, pro- bably, from that circumstance, Inis Aodha,
Anglice, Inishce, i. e. Hugh's Island. See, Ortlnance Survey Townland M. ips for the
lendars of Scottish Saints," p. lo.
^ In the Franciscan copy, we find the en-
try pauli Oiaconi.
* See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap-
rilis Xii. De Sanctis Martyribus Januario, Pavlo, Carvio, Arobo, Bassa, Carita, et Agathonia, item Decimo, Calepodio et Leonitide, p. 129.
Aki ICLE I. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxi. The Franciscan copy has sti
CAiyAp. "See"ActaSanctorum,"tomusii. , Ap-
rilis xiv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 200.
of — Sheet County Fermanagh, 25.
111 the " Leabhar Breac "
Con<ipiMnn*lu45 fonA <Jp5obeil cecVigenA
jejvuc CiMi-c cdinT)eoch<MH poL oeochaiTi ooniNema.
" With his chief host, happy for the biting of every mouth, well went Christ's champion:
Ar
copy, at this date, we read the following, in the original Irish, and it is translated by Whitley Stokes :—
1
iCLE VI.
'
may deacon Paul shelter us !
'" It says:
eodera die Paulus quoque
sanctus Diaconus cum turba magna martyrum
3 See " rum. "
Actuum Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, ordine Mensium et Die-
Catalogiis
140 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 14.
a further dissertation, regarding the present holy man, at the 14th of April. * In one passage of the Tripartite Life, our Saint's name seems to have been rather erroneously written Tassa. 5 The name of this holy bishop is to be found, likewise, in Fitzsimon's Catalogue of our national Saints. *
It may be reasonably conjectured, that St. Tassach was born some time,
in the earlier part of the fifth century ; but where or when, we are not able
to ascertain. 7 His parents were pagans, we may presume, and it seems not
unlikely they were connected with the northern parts of Ulster, which are
associated, likewise, with the ministry of this holy bishop. Being classed, as
a disciple of St. Patrick, St. Tassach was baptized, most probably, among
the earliest converts made, when that part ofUltonia, where the Irish Apostle
first landed, had been visited. Either he was brought up to some skilled
workmanship in metals, or he had a natural taste for mechanics and art, in
such a direction. But, we are at a loss to discover, when the Irish Apostle
formed the acquaintance of Tassach, and learned to appreciate his sincere
piety and artistic ingenuity.
That neighbourhood, where St. Patrick first landed in Ireland, at the
River Slainge, or Slany, in Lecale barony, and county of Down, was girdled round, in after times, by a number of churches. Few of these were more than a mile or two distant, from that spot. Indeed, it is suspected, that the celebrated wells of St. Patrick, at Struell, and which are traditionally reported to have been blessed by the Irish Apostle,* may have been identical with the ancient Slan, or Slainge, now Slany. These waters are not a mile from Saul, and they flow through a little secluded valley. They run between the peaked mountains of Struell and Slieve-na-grideal. There, some ruins of a church, dedicated to the saint, are extant. Thither a large concourse of pilgrims assembled yearly, and they are even yet accustomed to resort that place on St. John's Eve. i* It is near an almost perpendicular elevation, called Struell Mountain, producing a little mixture of grass and shamrock, with a few haw- thorns, and an abundant crop of furze. '" In the immediate vicinity of Saul Church, although in opposite directions, there are two other wells. These are famousforcuringeyediseases. Oneofthese,filledwithclearandsparkling water of excellent taste, is called the Mear-an Well," and in a stone near it is a hollow, said to have been the impression made by St. Patrick's knee ; whiletheotherisknownasTober-naSuil. " Weareinformed,byonewell
in the Struel wells, are now
by directions received from the local clergy, One of the Struel wells has a stone roof over it, and this is said to have been erected by a
rich " The rather lady, long, long ago. "
modern looking walls of a deserted chapel are seen ne. ir the wells.
'"Wefindan and exaggerated, prejudiced
slatement, purporting in a great measure to have been drawn from an article, in the " Belfast Magazine," and which refers to tlie Struell wells, with the pilgrimages and prac- tices of people frequenting them in Mid- summer. This account appears in Philip Dixon Hardy's "Northern Tourist," &c. , pp. 84 to 92.
" It is covered with flags, and walled
* See " Trias
S. Patricii, nn. , 27 dd. , and 19, p. 6,
^ See Hid. , Septima Vita S. Patricii, lih. iii. , cap. xcviii. , p. 167, and nn. 132, 133,
Thaumaturga.
