The Book of
Nuachongbhail
is numbered among the lost Books or AnnalsofAncientIreland.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
iv.
, cap.
x.
, p.
48.
"Henry Fitzsimon, citing "Antique
—"
as the son of Flann. See Colgan's Acta
Lectiones,"tom. vi. ,p. 575,states,th—atSt. SanctorumHibernise,"xix. Januarii,n. 2,
p. 129. — 'The poem of Strabo states:
"Tractabat laicus, quod clericusefficiebat. " —'* Vita S. Blaitmaici. "
'S See Mabillon's " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxvi. , sec, xxvil. ,
Blaithmac lived about tlie year 912.
See ibid. , cap. xii. , p. 52. This date is later, however, than has been allowed by other writers, and long after the period when Strabo, the biographer of St. Blaithmaic,
died.
" " In the Irish annals and calendars his
pp. 309, 310. '*This is stated
"
nitore,
" Agmina multorum rexit veneranda vi-
rorum. "
—" Vita S. Blaitmaici. "
Where this religious institute was has not
been stated, but it seems to have been in some part of Ireland.
father is called Flaun
;
but it is not stated
—
what he had. principality
Colgan conjee- tures that he was one of the southern Neills,
princes of Meath, because the names Flaun and Blaithmaic were rather common in that family. "—Lanigan's Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, vol. iii. , chap, xx. , sec. xi. , n.
121, p. 255.
"Hugh Menard calls him "filium Regis
Strabo:
Sicque vigens doctrinarum, morumque
by
328 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 19,
being. Thus his 'example brightened as a beacon, before the eyes of his
disciples; andtheselatterprogressedtowardsperfection,underthedirecting
zeal of their saintly superior.
Our saint burned with a desire of martyrdom ; and to attain this object,
he had often attempted to visit strange lands, but had been prevented by his people. On a certain occasion, Blaitmaic thought to effect his retreat under
cover of night, and through a secret path. He was accompanied by a small band of disciples, but the fugitives were arrested and brought back. How- ever, his wishes were at length gratified, for he contrived to escape from his
"
sacred isle" of
Before the northern pirates, with their fleet, had reached the shores ot Columba's—sacred isle, Blaitmaic called the monks together, addressing them
:
as follows " My friends, consider well the choice which is now left you.
If you wish to endure martyrdom for the name of Christ, and fear it not, let such as will remain with me arm themselves with becoming courage. But those who are weak in resolution, let them fly, that they may avoid impending dangers, and nerve themselves for more fortunate issues. The near trial of certain death awaits us. Invincible faith, which looks to a future life, will shield the brave soldier of Christ, and the cautious security of flight will preservethelesscourageous. "^^ Thesewordswerereceivedbythereligious with resolutions suited to the confidence or timidity of each individual. Some resolved to brave the invaders' fury, together with their holy companion. Some betook themselves to places ofconcealment, until this hostile storm hadpassed. '3
On the morning of January the 19th, a. d. 823,^4 824, or 825,^5
native country. ^7 Blaitmaic directed his course to lona, the
Columba. ^^ The Danish ravages had been frequently directed against the shrines and altars of unprotected religious, that peopled this known island. But, in a knowledge of this fact, Blaitmaic grounded his hopes for securing tohimselfthepalmofmartyrdom. HehadbeengiftedfromonHighwith a spirit of prophecy. Hence, before a hostile irruption, which took place after the commencement of the ninth century, Blaitmaic predicted to his companions, in lona monastery, a storm, which was about to burst upon them. '9 This seems to have occurred during the incumbency of Diarmait,^° the twentieth abbot in succession^' to the great St. Columkille.
'' The year in which he departed from Ireland does not appear to have been re-
•corded. '3Thepoemstates:—
/'Insula Pictorum qusedam monstratur in oris
Fluctivago suspensa salo cognominis Eo,
Than o'er the ocean's flood of snow their
snoring galleys tread. "
"o See Dr. Reeves' edition of Adamnan's
"LifeofSt. Columba. " AdditionalNotes, o, pp. 388 to 390.
Qua
requiescit
Bishop Sancta," part i. , p. 68.
sanctus Domini lumba:
came Co-
== See
Hanc petiit voto patiendi stygmati Christi. "
—"Vita S. Blaitmaici. "
'9 Applicable to such a prophecy are the
following spirited lines, from Motherwell, in his magnificent poem, which is so well known as *' The Battle of —
who is a much safer guide in dates and particulars, regard-
Flag Sigurd": "The eagle hearts of all the North have
torians than our own Colgan,
left their stormy strand ;
The warriors of the world are forth to
choose another land
Again, their long keels sheer the wave,
their broad sheets court the breeze ; Again, the reckless and the brave ride
lords of weltering seas.
Nor swifter from the well-bent bow can
feathered shaft be sped,
ing Irish ecclesiastical historyand biography. ==• According to Dr. O'Donovan's " An-
nals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , p. 436. =s ! „ extracts from the "Annals of Ulster," given by the Rev. James Johnstone, the
!
21
and continued after a. d. 831.
Challoner's "Britannia
='3Mabillon, in his ''Annales Ordinis S.
Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxvi. , sec. xxvii. , a. d. 793, mistakes when he assigns the martyrdom of our saint to that year. — See pp, 309, 310. Yet he is more generally followed as an authority by Continental his-
jjjg ^jjjg ^(. Jqjjj^ commenced A. D. 815,
following entry occurs
:
— Blachan " 824.
McFlan murdered in I
— Colm—
kil, by the
Gals. "—" AntiquitatesCelto-Normannicae," p. 63.
January 19. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 3^9
St. Blaitmaic, robed in vestments of his order, had been engaged in celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of Mass. '"^ Whilst he offered up the Immaculate Host, he stood as a self-immolated victim, prepared for sacrifice. The band of his faithfial religious, anticipating a coronal of martyrdom, knelt around : with tears and prayers they besought mercy and grace, before the throne of God. This truly must have been a sublime spectacle, and one never yet surpassed in the records of human heroism. Whilst engaged in these services, the loud shout of their destroyers was thundering without the church. ^7 The Pagan and pirate Danes^^ rushed in through its open doors, threatening death to the religious ; and, almost immediately aftenvards, these barbarous threats were put in execution. The monks, expecting this irruption, had the pre- caution to remove a rich shrine, containing St. Columba's relics, firom its usual place. They buried it under ground, so that it might thus escape the profanation of those savage invaders. That rich prize was what the Danes chiefly sought. They urged Blaitmaic to show them the place of its conceal- ment. ^? But our saint, who knew not the particular place where it was buried, with unbending constancy of mind, opposed himself to this armed
band.
Although
unarmed he himself, put
forth some futile efforts of— strength
to stay the ravages ©f his enemies.
He cried out, at the same time
" :
I am
entirely ignorant regarding those treasures you seek for, and where they are
buried. But, even had I a knowledge of all this, my lips should yet be closed. Draw your swords, barbarians, take my chalice, and murder me.
Gracious God, I humbly resign myself to Thee. " The barbarians immediately hewed him into pieces with their swords : and with more diabolical rage,
because they were disappointed in their expectations for obtaining spoil. 3° At this time the Abbot Diarmait was probably absent from lona, and the
holy martyred priest, it would seem, worthily represented the superior's authority among the religious. The body of Blaitmaic was buried in the
place where his glorious crown of martyrdom had been obtained, according to his biographer, Strabo ; and many miracles were afterwards wrought, in favour of several persons, through the merits and intercession of this great soldier of Christ. He appears to have had a double festival : one on this day,3' and another on the 24th of July. 3^ We have not been able to discover whether our saint ever enjoyed any superior dignity at lona ; but it would seem, from the preceding narrative, that he exercised considerable influence,
"*
Dr. Reeves has this martyrdom recorded at A. D. 825. —See his Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes, O, p. 389.
cession by the Culdees of Dunkeld, in Scot- land, among the list of holy martyrs we
"
find the invocation,
socii ejus Monachi crudeliter a Danis infi-
"
In Whittier's "Poetical Works," this delibus interfecti, and the response, "Orate
^——
situation is thus correctly, although pro Bishop
tuitously, described
"lona's sable-stoled Culdee
Hashearditsoundingo'er. thesea, And swept with hoary beard and hair
dars of Scottish Saints. "
Appendix
to Pre-
—His altar's foot in trembling prayer,"
face, p. Iviii.
3ixhissaintis veneratedabroadonthe
19th of January.
^ In the Martyrologies of Donegal and ol
was entered in the Martyrology of Tamlacht, and that he died for the faith at lona, on the 19th of July, 823 : he must have intended
" Poems. " The Legendary
Norsemen, p.
his feast is set down on the of 24th
:
67.
^^ See Father Stephen White's " Apologia
pro Hibernia," cap. iii. , p. 23, and cap. v. , p. 59.
*°
Tallagh
July. This latter, perhaps, was some trans- lation of his relics. The late Professor O'Curry appears to have made a mistake whenhestatesthatBlaithmac,sonofFlann,
"
for- nobis. " See Forbes' Kalen-
It seems to have eluded their search, for
in A. D. 829 the Abbot Diarmait brought the
relics of St. Columkille to the mainland
ofScotland,andA. D. 831heremovedthem towriteJanuary,orthe24thofJuly. —See
"
to Ireland. Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of
3° In the old Litany, sung in solemn pro- Ancient Irish History," Lect. xvii,, p. 362.
S. Blaithmach et
330 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 19.
over the minds of his brethren, on that island. We are told that in the Irish language this saint is called Blathmhac. 33 The first syllable of this compound
name has an equivocal signification.
Blath, when pronounced long, has the
" beautiful
literal " a meaning,
and the
metaphorical signification,
flovver,"34
when pronounced short, it is rendered into the English words,
;" honour" or "fame. " ThewordMhacis "son. "35 wasthisheroicman
Anglicized Truly
named. For not alone was he the son and heir apparent to his father's
temporal possessions, but he became one of God's glorified children, secured in the enjoyment of a heavenly inheritance. He plucked the flower of
martyrdom with unbending constancy, and he blooms with distinguished
tend to tarnish or destroy.
Article II. —St. Fachtna, Bishop of Nuacongbhail. The writer ot a pleasing volume, which has lately appeared, invests the cloistered life with peculiar interest, and exhibits the social blessings dispensed by religious
houses, when they stood as bulwarks for the people, against the tyranny of rude barons and rapacious kings. ' These remarks have a general reference to other lands besides our own : but they bear even an application to the disappearance of such houses in our island. Fachtua, Bishop of Uachong- bhail, has Reidbaircend appended in the published Martyrology of Tallagh. ' This bishop is mentioned as having had a festival at the 19th of January. In the unpublished copy of this calendar, we find a list of twenty-eight foreign saints preceding the entry of his name, which is the first among our native saints there recorded. 3 Under the head of Ua Congbhail, Duald Mac Firbis enters Fachtna, a bishop, from this place,* by which we must probably under- stand, he presided there in that capacity. s Some difficulty must be found in the attempt to identity his locality, or the time when he lived. In the Martyr- ology of Donegal,^ we find entered, on this day, Fachtna, bishop, of Nua- chongbhail. Cuimin of Coindeire speaks of a certain Fachtua ; but he does not name him from any church, and he gives that saint no particular title or distinctiveness. Yet, whoever he was, Cuimin says, that he used to instruct all with lights, and that he never said a word but what was pleasing to God. Were the name of his place to stand for one single spot in Ireland, it might be the easier identified. The position of one Nuachongbhail is described as being on the banks of the Boyne, ten miles from Drogheda, and five from Trim.
The Book of Nuachongbhail is numbered among the lost Books or AnnalsofAncientIreland. ? LongbeforetheEnglishinvasion,amonasterywas
"asthe
thetreesofthewoods. "3^ His deserves to be honoured in the Church, since he achieved a distinguished re- putation. This is one, likewise, which no concurrence of events can ever
brilliancy,
apple-tree among
memory
33 This name, which is a common derived from bl^c, Jlos, and mAC, Jilius, may be Latinized Florigenus or Florentius. The Index of the Calendar of
re-
'
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiii.
3 This entry reads tTACcn^i ep on UAdiOMg
bAii\etTo.
Proceedings
Academy," Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 132, 133.
s William M. Hennessy adds, in a note, "supposed by some to be Navan, county Meath. "
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 20, 21.
7 See Professor Eugene O'Curr/s "Lee-
tures on the Manuscript Materials of Irish
History," Lect. i. , p. 13; Lect. ii. , p. 44. If these books be recovered, much light will be thrown on our history.
Donegal presents it by Florigenius and Florus, as it does blAcVi by Flora. — See Rev. William
bAil i\ei-o * See "
of the Irish Royal
Reeves'
"
Adamnan's Life of St. Columba,"
n- (y). P- 389-
3* See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 280.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Canticle of Canticles, ii. , 3. ArticleII. —« SeeElizabethM. Stewart's
"Cloister Legends ; or, Convents and Mo- nastenes in the Olden Time. " New York.
35 See
nia;," xix. Januarii, n. 3, p. 129.
3<5
Colgan's
one,
"
January 19. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 33?
foundedhere; anditissupposedtheAugustinianmonastery,erectedinthe
twelfthcentury,stoodonitssite. ^ Whentheplaceisotherwiseundistinguished,
it is generally thought to mean Navan, in the county of Meath;9 but there
are various localities in Ireland likewise called Nuachongbhail,'° or Noughaval,
asthefollowinglistproves. IntheQueen'sCounty,nearthetownofStrad-
bally,isOakvale,"asnowlocallyspelledandpronounced. Itwasformerly called Nuachongbail, but it is now found written Oughaval. " Here, within
Oughaval (Nuachongbail), Queen's County.
an antique graveyard, are the remains of an old church, which dates its origin to the sixth century. '3 Only the foundations of this can be traced ; for a heavy and rather modem pile of building now occupies the site. A featureless side wall extends for some length on the east side, and it forms the continua- tion, on that quarter of this structure. '* On the other, or west side, a long but a lower wall extends to a square and ruinous tower. 'S This is rudely constructed. It is of considerable height, and several centuries have lapsed since it had been first erected. Immediately beneath the low wall may be
® See Rev. A. Cogan's " Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap, xxvi. , p. 150, and chap, xxxv. , pp. 222 to 255-
'This town is marked on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for tlie County of Meath," Sheet 25.
"See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (s), p. 109.
Patron, St. Colman MacUa Laoighse, whose feast occurs on the 15th of May.
' On the exterior of this wall is inserted
a mural tablet. This bears a lengthened
mortuary inscription, to the memory of a gentleman, a friend to the former members of the Cosby family, and who died at Strad- bally Hall early in the last century. Covered, for the most part, with dry yellow lichens is this mural tablet. Owing to this cause, as also to its elevated position, it is illegible from the gi-ound to the spectator. A ladder, procured by a farmer living near, enabled the writer to read and copy the inscription.
'5 The accompanying engraving, by Mr. Gregor Grey, of Dublin, is after a sketch taken by the author, on the spot, in July, 1873-
" It is, however, spelled Ougheval on the "Ordnance Survey Maps for the Queen's County. " Sheet 19.
" On the variations of this local denomi-
nation, the reader may consult Dr. P. W.
Joyce's "Origin and History of Irish Names of Places," part i. , chap, ii. , pp. 25, 26.
'3 For a fuller account of this place, the reader is referred to the Life of the
332 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 19.
seenalineofrudemasonry,almostonalevelwiththeground. Whether the latter fragments be a portion of the earliest foundations or not may well be questioned. The writer knows of no instance in which a square tower of the sixth century is shown to have existed in Ireland to the present day. It is certainly of much more ancient date than the adjoining tasteless, yet im- posing, pile of building. This same remark will hold good regarding the fragmentary foundation walls, which run out from this tower. The heavy pile of masonry, intended to represent an ancient church, was erected to serve as a mausoleum for the Cosbys' family, and to cover their place of sepulture. It has a pointed low gable on the north side. A large open window, in three different compartments, having circular headings and cut-stone mouldings, is in the upper section. The centre compartment exceeds the other side openings, both in height and width. There are three recessed formations in eachofthesidewalls,havingcircularheadings. Beneatheacharcharesemi- circular openings through the walls. The recesses are very deep, while massive square buttresses, projecting between them, support on the inside a large dome-roof of heavy masonry. This presents an angular ridge on the exterior. Immediately beneath this dome there is an elevated floor, and this again surmounts a sort of crypt, dimly lighted by lateral and end openings
the lower of the walls. '° A door, closed with on the part masonry
through
exterior, affords admittance ; but only when the wall is removed on the occa-
sion of family funerals. '7 Long before the ^vriter became familiarized with the authentic history of this ruinous structure, it had been associated in his
memory with strange wild legends and ghost stories, related by the peasantry ofthatneighbourhood. Hecanalsowellrecollectwhenitswallswerealmost
denuded of ivy, which at present covers them, especially on the outer sides, in dark and tressy luxuriance. ^^ From the site of Oughaval graveyard, which crowns a fine ascent of ground, Stradbally,'9 with its incomparably beautifiil
**A stone mausoleum a large occupies
considerable portion of the crypt. That, too, has long since been filled with coffins, belonging to deceased members of the Cosby family,
'' During late years additional compart- ments have been constructed for the recep- tion of those bodies more recently interred. The writer has been informed that, owing to the peculiar dryness of the crypt, resting on a fine limestone subsoil, as also owing to the exclusion of external air, the coffins and bodies, lying within those closely-sealed stone receptacles, are exceedingly well pre- served.
*^0n revisiting this spot in. 1870, after some interval of absence, the very ancient
and interesting "cashel," once faced on the outside with lichen-crusted and large lime-
stones, of a superior building quality, and breasted on the interior by a wide support-
ing mound of earth, had completely dis- appeared, leaving only a broad, level, and
grass-denuded stripe of soil to indicate its former position. Within a still narrower
circle, rows of finely-grown beeches still
sheltered the graves, as of old ; however, the
archaeologists and men of true taste—had enclosed the burial-ground with a stone wall. While enlarging the boundaries, to guard against over-crowding, or while extending
or
trees for ornament within, it would have
been quite possible to serve every useful purpose, and to have added greatly to pic-
—
suffered to remain, with a single passage through it to the newly-opened ground. A deeply-sunk fence, with a high crowning of flowering hawthorns, as a boundary, would prove more secure, be more pleasing to the eye of taste, and be less expensive to the ratepayers. In the absence of commis- sioners for the preservation of our ancient monuments, our local boards should learn not to perpetrate what Cobbett called "in- provements for the worse. " Not alone the peasantry, but the gentry, of Ireland have yet to learn and feel regarding the irrepar- able mischief of destroying sacred and an- cient monuments, which should be so greatly prized as relics and evidences of the past,
With the further development of antiquarian culture and information, it is to be hoped few such acts of desecration shall again be permitted to occur.
'' A native of this often has the village,
writer gazed, with feelings of indescribable
pleasure on the lovely scenes around, and from this point of view, which commands
them to great advantage.
union —to the of poor-law guardians regret
gravelled walks,
planting yew
and
cypress
turesque effect, had the historic "cashel possibly constructed, in part, by the hands of St. Colman in the sixth century—been
JANUARY 19. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 333
and picturesque vicinity, is seen perhaps in the landscape painter's best light. Embosomed in the midst of spreading woods and ornamental de-
mesnes,withabrightriverflowingthroughthevalley; hillsofromanticout- line and varying shades close the distant and nearer prospects. There is
another Oughaval at the foot of Croaghpatrick, in Mayo county. ^° Again, there is a Noughoval parish in the county of Westmeath^' and on the borders
of Longford county. ^'' There is one^3 in the county of Clare. ^^ In reference to this Noughaval, its Anglicized denomination has been set down as " new take. "^5 There is another Nuachongbail,^^ now known as Faughanvale,^' county of Londonderry. ^^ The old church in Faughanvale, as it stood in 1836, is very well represented in a sketch by George V. Du Noyer, with the
Faughanvale (Nuachongbhail), County Londonderry.
graveyard surrounding it;^'^ while another pencil-drawing presents us with a more enlarged tracing of the circularly-headed stone framing of the window, as seen from the interior. Besides these, there are two charming ink sketches of the waterfall and scenery on Faughanvale river. 3° In the Londonderry
"^See "Ordntoce Surve3^ Townland Incoi'rect, and its meaning has been other-
wise rendered.
'*Colgan translates it into Latin, "nova
habitatio. " See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," XX. Januarii. Vita S. Fechini, n. 8, p. 141.
Maps for the County of Mayo. " Sheets 86, 87, 96, 97.
" See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County ofWestmeath. " Sheets 15, 16. " A part of it lies within the barony of Abbeyshruel, in this latter county. See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of Ire-
"
^^ See an account of this parish in Lewis
land," vol. ii. , p. 443.
'3 See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Clare. " Sheet 9.
'^ Here were the ruins of an old church,
Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 613, 614.
See Rev. Robert Gabbett's "Statistical Account of Noughaval and Carrune" in William Shaw Mason's "Statistical Account, or Parochial
Survey of Ireland," vol. iii. . No. xiii. , pp. 281 to 287.
*sSee ibid. . , p. 287. . This, however, is
"'This parish is represented on the " Ord»
nance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Londonderry. " Sheets 14, 1 5. *9 This is now, for the first time, drawn
and engraved by Mr. Gregor Grey, and pre- sented in the accompanying illustration.
3° These four views are to be found in the
Oblong Book of Londonderry Sketches, vol. ii. , pp. 92 to 95. They were intended for engraving, to illustrate the Memoirs on
with some other
antiquities.
334 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 19.
Letters and Extracts,3^ we find very little written to throw light on the
history orantiquitiesofFaughanvaleparish. TheFaughanriver,whichrunsthrough a portion of this parish, displays along its banks, from Clondermot to its
opening on the coast, one of the most delightful tracts in all the county. 3'
man lived at a—
present holy very early period
That the
since St. Cuimin of Condeire thus writes
seems
manifest,
"Fachtna, the generous and pure, loved To instruct all with candles,33
He never said—a fact of grace—
But what was pleasing to his Lord. "
His name is found Latinized Facundus, in a table post-added to the
MartyrologyofDonegal. 34 Thissaintappearstohavelivedaself-denying, zealous and exemplary life.
Article IIL—St. Ochtide or Ochted. However unknown to men,
God does not fail to grant great lights to the minds of his faithful servants.
Ochted, S. , without further designation, is found in the Martyrology of
Tallagh' at the 19th of January. We have not been able to add any parti- culars, which might serve to remove the obscurity in which this saint rests.
In the Martyrology of Donegal,' we read of Octide merely, as being venerated
on this day. Teaching by example, could we but follow in the way pointed » out by the saints, no better means can be known for cultivating a truly inner
and religious life.
Article IV. —St. Suibhne, Son of Egghan. The blessed tabernacles of
the just are always open for a personal realization of the greatest delights this world can afford, and yet daily experience manifests how few are those who really love to dwell within them. Suibhne, son of Eoghan, occurs in the Martyrology of Donegal' on this day, Nothing more is known about him. A nearly similar entry is made in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 19th of January.
—"
as the son of Flann. See Colgan's Acta
Lectiones,"tom. vi. ,p. 575,states,th—atSt. SanctorumHibernise,"xix. Januarii,n. 2,
p. 129. — 'The poem of Strabo states:
"Tractabat laicus, quod clericusefficiebat. " —'* Vita S. Blaitmaici. "
'S See Mabillon's " Annales Ordinis S. Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxvi. , sec, xxvil. ,
Blaithmac lived about tlie year 912.
See ibid. , cap. xii. , p. 52. This date is later, however, than has been allowed by other writers, and long after the period when Strabo, the biographer of St. Blaithmaic,
died.
" " In the Irish annals and calendars his
pp. 309, 310. '*This is stated
"
nitore,
" Agmina multorum rexit veneranda vi-
rorum. "
—" Vita S. Blaitmaici. "
Where this religious institute was has not
been stated, but it seems to have been in some part of Ireland.
father is called Flaun
;
but it is not stated
—
what he had. principality
Colgan conjee- tures that he was one of the southern Neills,
princes of Meath, because the names Flaun and Blaithmaic were rather common in that family. "—Lanigan's Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, vol. iii. , chap, xx. , sec. xi. , n.
121, p. 255.
"Hugh Menard calls him "filium Regis
Strabo:
Sicque vigens doctrinarum, morumque
by
328 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 19,
being. Thus his 'example brightened as a beacon, before the eyes of his
disciples; andtheselatterprogressedtowardsperfection,underthedirecting
zeal of their saintly superior.
Our saint burned with a desire of martyrdom ; and to attain this object,
he had often attempted to visit strange lands, but had been prevented by his people. On a certain occasion, Blaitmaic thought to effect his retreat under
cover of night, and through a secret path. He was accompanied by a small band of disciples, but the fugitives were arrested and brought back. How- ever, his wishes were at length gratified, for he contrived to escape from his
"
sacred isle" of
Before the northern pirates, with their fleet, had reached the shores ot Columba's—sacred isle, Blaitmaic called the monks together, addressing them
:
as follows " My friends, consider well the choice which is now left you.
If you wish to endure martyrdom for the name of Christ, and fear it not, let such as will remain with me arm themselves with becoming courage. But those who are weak in resolution, let them fly, that they may avoid impending dangers, and nerve themselves for more fortunate issues. The near trial of certain death awaits us. Invincible faith, which looks to a future life, will shield the brave soldier of Christ, and the cautious security of flight will preservethelesscourageous. "^^ Thesewordswerereceivedbythereligious with resolutions suited to the confidence or timidity of each individual. Some resolved to brave the invaders' fury, together with their holy companion. Some betook themselves to places ofconcealment, until this hostile storm hadpassed. '3
On the morning of January the 19th, a. d. 823,^4 824, or 825,^5
native country. ^7 Blaitmaic directed his course to lona, the
Columba. ^^ The Danish ravages had been frequently directed against the shrines and altars of unprotected religious, that peopled this known island. But, in a knowledge of this fact, Blaitmaic grounded his hopes for securing tohimselfthepalmofmartyrdom. HehadbeengiftedfromonHighwith a spirit of prophecy. Hence, before a hostile irruption, which took place after the commencement of the ninth century, Blaitmaic predicted to his companions, in lona monastery, a storm, which was about to burst upon them. '9 This seems to have occurred during the incumbency of Diarmait,^° the twentieth abbot in succession^' to the great St. Columkille.
'' The year in which he departed from Ireland does not appear to have been re-
•corded. '3Thepoemstates:—
/'Insula Pictorum qusedam monstratur in oris
Fluctivago suspensa salo cognominis Eo,
Than o'er the ocean's flood of snow their
snoring galleys tread. "
"o See Dr. Reeves' edition of Adamnan's
"LifeofSt. Columba. " AdditionalNotes, o, pp. 388 to 390.
Qua
requiescit
Bishop Sancta," part i. , p. 68.
sanctus Domini lumba:
came Co-
== See
Hanc petiit voto patiendi stygmati Christi. "
—"Vita S. Blaitmaici. "
'9 Applicable to such a prophecy are the
following spirited lines, from Motherwell, in his magnificent poem, which is so well known as *' The Battle of —
who is a much safer guide in dates and particulars, regard-
Flag Sigurd": "The eagle hearts of all the North have
torians than our own Colgan,
left their stormy strand ;
The warriors of the world are forth to
choose another land
Again, their long keels sheer the wave,
their broad sheets court the breeze ; Again, the reckless and the brave ride
lords of weltering seas.
Nor swifter from the well-bent bow can
feathered shaft be sped,
ing Irish ecclesiastical historyand biography. ==• According to Dr. O'Donovan's " An-
nals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , p. 436. =s ! „ extracts from the "Annals of Ulster," given by the Rev. James Johnstone, the
!
21
and continued after a. d. 831.
Challoner's "Britannia
='3Mabillon, in his ''Annales Ordinis S.
Benedicti," tomus ii. , lib. xxvi. , sec. xxvii. , a. d. 793, mistakes when he assigns the martyrdom of our saint to that year. — See pp, 309, 310. Yet he is more generally followed as an authority by Continental his-
jjjg ^jjjg ^(. Jqjjj^ commenced A. D. 815,
following entry occurs
:
— Blachan " 824.
McFlan murdered in I
— Colm—
kil, by the
Gals. "—" AntiquitatesCelto-Normannicae," p. 63.
January 19. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 3^9
St. Blaitmaic, robed in vestments of his order, had been engaged in celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of Mass. '"^ Whilst he offered up the Immaculate Host, he stood as a self-immolated victim, prepared for sacrifice. The band of his faithfial religious, anticipating a coronal of martyrdom, knelt around : with tears and prayers they besought mercy and grace, before the throne of God. This truly must have been a sublime spectacle, and one never yet surpassed in the records of human heroism. Whilst engaged in these services, the loud shout of their destroyers was thundering without the church. ^7 The Pagan and pirate Danes^^ rushed in through its open doors, threatening death to the religious ; and, almost immediately aftenvards, these barbarous threats were put in execution. The monks, expecting this irruption, had the pre- caution to remove a rich shrine, containing St. Columba's relics, firom its usual place. They buried it under ground, so that it might thus escape the profanation of those savage invaders. That rich prize was what the Danes chiefly sought. They urged Blaitmaic to show them the place of its conceal- ment. ^? But our saint, who knew not the particular place where it was buried, with unbending constancy of mind, opposed himself to this armed
band.
Although
unarmed he himself, put
forth some futile efforts of— strength
to stay the ravages ©f his enemies.
He cried out, at the same time
" :
I am
entirely ignorant regarding those treasures you seek for, and where they are
buried. But, even had I a knowledge of all this, my lips should yet be closed. Draw your swords, barbarians, take my chalice, and murder me.
Gracious God, I humbly resign myself to Thee. " The barbarians immediately hewed him into pieces with their swords : and with more diabolical rage,
because they were disappointed in their expectations for obtaining spoil. 3° At this time the Abbot Diarmait was probably absent from lona, and the
holy martyred priest, it would seem, worthily represented the superior's authority among the religious. The body of Blaitmaic was buried in the
place where his glorious crown of martyrdom had been obtained, according to his biographer, Strabo ; and many miracles were afterwards wrought, in favour of several persons, through the merits and intercession of this great soldier of Christ. He appears to have had a double festival : one on this day,3' and another on the 24th of July. 3^ We have not been able to discover whether our saint ever enjoyed any superior dignity at lona ; but it would seem, from the preceding narrative, that he exercised considerable influence,
"*
Dr. Reeves has this martyrdom recorded at A. D. 825. —See his Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes, O, p. 389.
cession by the Culdees of Dunkeld, in Scot- land, among the list of holy martyrs we
"
find the invocation,
socii ejus Monachi crudeliter a Danis infi-
"
In Whittier's "Poetical Works," this delibus interfecti, and the response, "Orate
^——
situation is thus correctly, although pro Bishop
tuitously, described
"lona's sable-stoled Culdee
Hashearditsoundingo'er. thesea, And swept with hoary beard and hair
dars of Scottish Saints. "
Appendix
to Pre-
—His altar's foot in trembling prayer,"
face, p. Iviii.
3ixhissaintis veneratedabroadonthe
19th of January.
^ In the Martyrologies of Donegal and ol
was entered in the Martyrology of Tamlacht, and that he died for the faith at lona, on the 19th of July, 823 : he must have intended
" Poems. " The Legendary
Norsemen, p.
his feast is set down on the of 24th
:
67.
^^ See Father Stephen White's " Apologia
pro Hibernia," cap. iii. , p. 23, and cap. v. , p. 59.
*°
Tallagh
July. This latter, perhaps, was some trans- lation of his relics. The late Professor O'Curry appears to have made a mistake whenhestatesthatBlaithmac,sonofFlann,
"
for- nobis. " See Forbes' Kalen-
It seems to have eluded their search, for
in A. D. 829 the Abbot Diarmait brought the
relics of St. Columkille to the mainland
ofScotland,andA. D. 831heremovedthem towriteJanuary,orthe24thofJuly. —See
"
to Ireland. Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of
3° In the old Litany, sung in solemn pro- Ancient Irish History," Lect. xvii,, p. 362.
S. Blaithmach et
330 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 19.
over the minds of his brethren, on that island. We are told that in the Irish language this saint is called Blathmhac. 33 The first syllable of this compound
name has an equivocal signification.
Blath, when pronounced long, has the
" beautiful
literal " a meaning,
and the
metaphorical signification,
flovver,"34
when pronounced short, it is rendered into the English words,
;" honour" or "fame. " ThewordMhacis "son. "35 wasthisheroicman
Anglicized Truly
named. For not alone was he the son and heir apparent to his father's
temporal possessions, but he became one of God's glorified children, secured in the enjoyment of a heavenly inheritance. He plucked the flower of
martyrdom with unbending constancy, and he blooms with distinguished
tend to tarnish or destroy.
Article II. —St. Fachtna, Bishop of Nuacongbhail. The writer ot a pleasing volume, which has lately appeared, invests the cloistered life with peculiar interest, and exhibits the social blessings dispensed by religious
houses, when they stood as bulwarks for the people, against the tyranny of rude barons and rapacious kings. ' These remarks have a general reference to other lands besides our own : but they bear even an application to the disappearance of such houses in our island. Fachtua, Bishop of Uachong- bhail, has Reidbaircend appended in the published Martyrology of Tallagh. ' This bishop is mentioned as having had a festival at the 19th of January. In the unpublished copy of this calendar, we find a list of twenty-eight foreign saints preceding the entry of his name, which is the first among our native saints there recorded. 3 Under the head of Ua Congbhail, Duald Mac Firbis enters Fachtna, a bishop, from this place,* by which we must probably under- stand, he presided there in that capacity. s Some difficulty must be found in the attempt to identity his locality, or the time when he lived. In the Martyr- ology of Donegal,^ we find entered, on this day, Fachtna, bishop, of Nua- chongbhail. Cuimin of Coindeire speaks of a certain Fachtua ; but he does not name him from any church, and he gives that saint no particular title or distinctiveness. Yet, whoever he was, Cuimin says, that he used to instruct all with lights, and that he never said a word but what was pleasing to God. Were the name of his place to stand for one single spot in Ireland, it might be the easier identified. The position of one Nuachongbhail is described as being on the banks of the Boyne, ten miles from Drogheda, and five from Trim.
The Book of Nuachongbhail is numbered among the lost Books or AnnalsofAncientIreland. ? LongbeforetheEnglishinvasion,amonasterywas
"asthe
thetreesofthewoods. "3^ His deserves to be honoured in the Church, since he achieved a distinguished re- putation. This is one, likewise, which no concurrence of events can ever
brilliancy,
apple-tree among
memory
33 This name, which is a common derived from bl^c, Jlos, and mAC, Jilius, may be Latinized Florigenus or Florentius. The Index of the Calendar of
re-
'
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiii.
3 This entry reads tTACcn^i ep on UAdiOMg
bAii\etTo.
Proceedings
Academy," Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 132, 133.
s William M. Hennessy adds, in a note, "supposed by some to be Navan, county Meath. "
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 20, 21.
7 See Professor Eugene O'Curr/s "Lee-
tures on the Manuscript Materials of Irish
History," Lect. i. , p. 13; Lect. ii. , p. 44. If these books be recovered, much light will be thrown on our history.
Donegal presents it by Florigenius and Florus, as it does blAcVi by Flora. — See Rev. William
bAil i\ei-o * See "
of the Irish Royal
Reeves'
"
Adamnan's Life of St. Columba,"
n- (y). P- 389-
3* See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 280.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Canticle of Canticles, ii. , 3. ArticleII. —« SeeElizabethM. Stewart's
"Cloister Legends ; or, Convents and Mo- nastenes in the Olden Time. " New York.
35 See
nia;," xix. Januarii, n. 3, p. 129.
3<5
Colgan's
one,
"
January 19. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 33?
foundedhere; anditissupposedtheAugustinianmonastery,erectedinthe
twelfthcentury,stoodonitssite. ^ Whentheplaceisotherwiseundistinguished,
it is generally thought to mean Navan, in the county of Meath;9 but there
are various localities in Ireland likewise called Nuachongbhail,'° or Noughaval,
asthefollowinglistproves. IntheQueen'sCounty,nearthetownofStrad-
bally,isOakvale,"asnowlocallyspelledandpronounced. Itwasformerly called Nuachongbail, but it is now found written Oughaval. " Here, within
Oughaval (Nuachongbail), Queen's County.
an antique graveyard, are the remains of an old church, which dates its origin to the sixth century. '3 Only the foundations of this can be traced ; for a heavy and rather modem pile of building now occupies the site. A featureless side wall extends for some length on the east side, and it forms the continua- tion, on that quarter of this structure. '* On the other, or west side, a long but a lower wall extends to a square and ruinous tower. 'S This is rudely constructed. It is of considerable height, and several centuries have lapsed since it had been first erected. Immediately beneath the low wall may be
® See Rev. A. Cogan's " Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap, xxvi. , p. 150, and chap, xxxv. , pp. 222 to 255-
'This town is marked on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for tlie County of Meath," Sheet 25.
"See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (s), p. 109.
Patron, St. Colman MacUa Laoighse, whose feast occurs on the 15th of May.
' On the exterior of this wall is inserted
a mural tablet. This bears a lengthened
mortuary inscription, to the memory of a gentleman, a friend to the former members of the Cosby family, and who died at Strad- bally Hall early in the last century. Covered, for the most part, with dry yellow lichens is this mural tablet. Owing to this cause, as also to its elevated position, it is illegible from the gi-ound to the spectator. A ladder, procured by a farmer living near, enabled the writer to read and copy the inscription.
'5 The accompanying engraving, by Mr. Gregor Grey, of Dublin, is after a sketch taken by the author, on the spot, in July, 1873-
" It is, however, spelled Ougheval on the "Ordnance Survey Maps for the Queen's County. " Sheet 19.
" On the variations of this local denomi-
nation, the reader may consult Dr. P. W.
Joyce's "Origin and History of Irish Names of Places," part i. , chap, ii. , pp. 25, 26.
'3 For a fuller account of this place, the reader is referred to the Life of the
332 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 19.
seenalineofrudemasonry,almostonalevelwiththeground. Whether the latter fragments be a portion of the earliest foundations or not may well be questioned. The writer knows of no instance in which a square tower of the sixth century is shown to have existed in Ireland to the present day. It is certainly of much more ancient date than the adjoining tasteless, yet im- posing, pile of building. This same remark will hold good regarding the fragmentary foundation walls, which run out from this tower. The heavy pile of masonry, intended to represent an ancient church, was erected to serve as a mausoleum for the Cosbys' family, and to cover their place of sepulture. It has a pointed low gable on the north side. A large open window, in three different compartments, having circular headings and cut-stone mouldings, is in the upper section. The centre compartment exceeds the other side openings, both in height and width. There are three recessed formations in eachofthesidewalls,havingcircularheadings. Beneatheacharcharesemi- circular openings through the walls. The recesses are very deep, while massive square buttresses, projecting between them, support on the inside a large dome-roof of heavy masonry. This presents an angular ridge on the exterior. Immediately beneath this dome there is an elevated floor, and this again surmounts a sort of crypt, dimly lighted by lateral and end openings
the lower of the walls. '° A door, closed with on the part masonry
through
exterior, affords admittance ; but only when the wall is removed on the occa-
sion of family funerals. '7 Long before the ^vriter became familiarized with the authentic history of this ruinous structure, it had been associated in his
memory with strange wild legends and ghost stories, related by the peasantry ofthatneighbourhood. Hecanalsowellrecollectwhenitswallswerealmost
denuded of ivy, which at present covers them, especially on the outer sides, in dark and tressy luxuriance. ^^ From the site of Oughaval graveyard, which crowns a fine ascent of ground, Stradbally,'9 with its incomparably beautifiil
**A stone mausoleum a large occupies
considerable portion of the crypt. That, too, has long since been filled with coffins, belonging to deceased members of the Cosby family,
'' During late years additional compart- ments have been constructed for the recep- tion of those bodies more recently interred. The writer has been informed that, owing to the peculiar dryness of the crypt, resting on a fine limestone subsoil, as also owing to the exclusion of external air, the coffins and bodies, lying within those closely-sealed stone receptacles, are exceedingly well pre- served.
*^0n revisiting this spot in. 1870, after some interval of absence, the very ancient
and interesting "cashel," once faced on the outside with lichen-crusted and large lime-
stones, of a superior building quality, and breasted on the interior by a wide support-
ing mound of earth, had completely dis- appeared, leaving only a broad, level, and
grass-denuded stripe of soil to indicate its former position. Within a still narrower
circle, rows of finely-grown beeches still
sheltered the graves, as of old ; however, the
archaeologists and men of true taste—had enclosed the burial-ground with a stone wall. While enlarging the boundaries, to guard against over-crowding, or while extending
or
trees for ornament within, it would have
been quite possible to serve every useful purpose, and to have added greatly to pic-
—
suffered to remain, with a single passage through it to the newly-opened ground. A deeply-sunk fence, with a high crowning of flowering hawthorns, as a boundary, would prove more secure, be more pleasing to the eye of taste, and be less expensive to the ratepayers. In the absence of commis- sioners for the preservation of our ancient monuments, our local boards should learn not to perpetrate what Cobbett called "in- provements for the worse. " Not alone the peasantry, but the gentry, of Ireland have yet to learn and feel regarding the irrepar- able mischief of destroying sacred and an- cient monuments, which should be so greatly prized as relics and evidences of the past,
With the further development of antiquarian culture and information, it is to be hoped few such acts of desecration shall again be permitted to occur.
'' A native of this often has the village,
writer gazed, with feelings of indescribable
pleasure on the lovely scenes around, and from this point of view, which commands
them to great advantage.
union —to the of poor-law guardians regret
gravelled walks,
planting yew
and
cypress
turesque effect, had the historic "cashel possibly constructed, in part, by the hands of St. Colman in the sixth century—been
JANUARY 19. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 333
and picturesque vicinity, is seen perhaps in the landscape painter's best light. Embosomed in the midst of spreading woods and ornamental de-
mesnes,withabrightriverflowingthroughthevalley; hillsofromanticout- line and varying shades close the distant and nearer prospects. There is
another Oughaval at the foot of Croaghpatrick, in Mayo county. ^° Again, there is a Noughoval parish in the county of Westmeath^' and on the borders
of Longford county. ^'' There is one^3 in the county of Clare. ^^ In reference to this Noughaval, its Anglicized denomination has been set down as " new take. "^5 There is another Nuachongbail,^^ now known as Faughanvale,^' county of Londonderry. ^^ The old church in Faughanvale, as it stood in 1836, is very well represented in a sketch by George V. Du Noyer, with the
Faughanvale (Nuachongbhail), County Londonderry.
graveyard surrounding it;^'^ while another pencil-drawing presents us with a more enlarged tracing of the circularly-headed stone framing of the window, as seen from the interior. Besides these, there are two charming ink sketches of the waterfall and scenery on Faughanvale river. 3° In the Londonderry
"^See "Ordntoce Surve3^ Townland Incoi'rect, and its meaning has been other-
wise rendered.
'*Colgan translates it into Latin, "nova
habitatio. " See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," XX. Januarii. Vita S. Fechini, n. 8, p. 141.
Maps for the County of Mayo. " Sheets 86, 87, 96, 97.
" See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County ofWestmeath. " Sheets 15, 16. " A part of it lies within the barony of Abbeyshruel, in this latter county. See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of Ire-
"
^^ See an account of this parish in Lewis
land," vol. ii. , p. 443.
'3 See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Clare. " Sheet 9.
'^ Here were the ruins of an old church,
Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 613, 614.
See Rev. Robert Gabbett's "Statistical Account of Noughaval and Carrune" in William Shaw Mason's "Statistical Account, or Parochial
Survey of Ireland," vol. iii. . No. xiii. , pp. 281 to 287.
*sSee ibid. . , p. 287. . This, however, is
"'This parish is represented on the " Ord»
nance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Londonderry. " Sheets 14, 1 5. *9 This is now, for the first time, drawn
and engraved by Mr. Gregor Grey, and pre- sented in the accompanying illustration.
3° These four views are to be found in the
Oblong Book of Londonderry Sketches, vol. ii. , pp. 92 to 95. They were intended for engraving, to illustrate the Memoirs on
with some other
antiquities.
334 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 19.
Letters and Extracts,3^ we find very little written to throw light on the
history orantiquitiesofFaughanvaleparish. TheFaughanriver,whichrunsthrough a portion of this parish, displays along its banks, from Clondermot to its
opening on the coast, one of the most delightful tracts in all the county. 3'
man lived at a—
present holy very early period
That the
since St. Cuimin of Condeire thus writes
seems
manifest,
"Fachtna, the generous and pure, loved To instruct all with candles,33
He never said—a fact of grace—
But what was pleasing to his Lord. "
His name is found Latinized Facundus, in a table post-added to the
MartyrologyofDonegal. 34 Thissaintappearstohavelivedaself-denying, zealous and exemplary life.
Article IIL—St. Ochtide or Ochted. However unknown to men,
God does not fail to grant great lights to the minds of his faithful servants.
Ochted, S. , without further designation, is found in the Martyrology of
Tallagh' at the 19th of January. We have not been able to add any parti- culars, which might serve to remove the obscurity in which this saint rests.
In the Martyrology of Donegal,' we read of Octide merely, as being venerated
on this day. Teaching by example, could we but follow in the way pointed » out by the saints, no better means can be known for cultivating a truly inner
and religious life.
Article IV. —St. Suibhne, Son of Egghan. The blessed tabernacles of
the just are always open for a personal realization of the greatest delights this world can afford, and yet daily experience manifests how few are those who really love to dwell within them. Suibhne, son of Eoghan, occurs in the Martyrology of Donegal' on this day, Nothing more is known about him. A nearly similar entry is made in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 19th of January.
