The Altars 33 are made of marble and Caen stone, while a reredos com- pletes the
accessories
of the choir.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
, p.
131.
?
See ibid.
, p.
154.
ses," in Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemicarum Scriptores," tomus iv.
17 See William F. Skene's "Celtic Scot- land : a History of Ancient Alban," vol. i. , chap, vii. , pp. 3S2, 383.
"
See Historia Ecclesiastica Geniis
28 Thus, in iMenologium Scotorum, at the "
in the
of 2^ at this Martyrology Tallagh,
date,
2I 22
See p. 304. See p. 306.
J. chronicon," &c, vol. i. , p. 68.
25 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 117.
i6
6th ofJune, we read
— Kirkuae Colmi Or- :
cadum Apostoli. K. " Jbid. ,p. 202.
^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvi.
3° Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
146, 147.
214 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 6.
before the eighth century,—when we have a passing record of the place—
2
named Kilcock » after her in our Irish Annals. It means "the Church of
St. Coc," or as Latinized Ecclesia S. Coccece. Its locality gave name to a
parish,3 within the present barony of Ikeathy and Oughterany, in the county of Kildare. Incidentally, Father John Colgan introduces a St. Cocca, as the
nurse of St. Kieran,* Bishop of Saigir ; but, it cannot be ascertained, that she
was the same as that holy woman, whose festival is recorded, at this date.
Assuming the Patroness of Kilcock to have been in early years the nurse of
St. Kieran, a gentleman s well versed in Irish ecclesiastical and profane his-
tory has furnished the writer with elaborate notes, referring to St. Cocha and
to Kilcock. He suggests, that as she acted in that capacity, St. Cocca may
have accompanied St. Kieran to Rome, where he received from the Supreme
Pontiff permission to preach the Gospel in Ireland, even before the coming of
St. Patrick, its great Apostle. The Bollandists 6 have a notice of this holy
virgin, at the 6th of June, but they express only a desire to learn more regard-
ingher,thanhasbeenstatedbyColgan. 7 ThenameandfeastofSt. Choca,
virgin, in the province of Meath, Ireland, is commemorated, at the 6th of
June, by Chastelain,8 and also, in Right Rev. Bishop Challenor's " Memorial
of Ancient British at the 8th of 10 we have Piety. "9 Already, day January,
given some notices of a St. Cocca, Cucca, Cuach, or Cuaca, who is called a Virgin of Cill-Cuaiche—said to have been in Cairbre-na-Ciardha—identical with Kilcock, in the north-western part of Kildare County. However, her chief festival seems referable to this date. Again, there was a St. Cuach, or Coiningean, a Virgin, of Fionnmagh Church, and said to have been of Kil- leen Cormac, county of Kildare, whose feast occurs, at the 29th of April. " She flourished, in the fifth or sixth century ; and, it has been supposed, she was identical with the Patroness of Kilcock. Indeed, the time, place, and circumstances, concerning her, render it possible enough ; however, this is stillonlyamatterforvagueconjecture. AnIrishcomment"isaddedinthe table subjoined to the Martyrology of Donegal ;*3 and, the writer of it sup- poses this present saint to have been the nurse of St. Kieran, Bishop of
Article hi. —' A battle was there A. D. 774.
de l'Annee la Serie des Saints, Saintes, etc. , honores dans toutes les Eglises de la Chretiente, avec un Diction- naire Universel des ces Saints," ouvraye redige sur celui de l'ahbe de Chastelain, et 3 It is shown, on the Ordnance Survey considerablement augmente, par de St.
a See Dr. John O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , and n. (u), pp.
378, 379-
Townland Maps for the County of Kildare,"
10. On the former of these is to be found the Town and Townland of Kil- cock.
4 See his Life, published in the Thir—d Volume of this woik, at the 5th of March the date for his Festival—Art. i.
5 Shackleton Hallett, Esq. , 1 Hare Court,
sheets
5,
Allais, Paris, 1823, 8vo.
9 See A or Additions and Supplement
Amendments to the British Martyrology, p. 17.
10 See Volume the First of this work, Art. v. , with notes.
"
See an account of her in Volume the Fourth of this work, Art. ii. , with notes.
London. He had also communi- cated the substance of these notes to Very Rev. Thomas Geoghegan, V. G. , of the Dio- cese of Kildare and Leighlin, and P. P. of Kilcock.
6 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Junii vi. , Among the pretermitted saints, p. 616.
12 The is an translation following English
Temple,
:
"
fought
pour chaque Jour
» In "Acta Sanctorum Hibemias," state by Mr. Curry is oi-oeAcfi, /if. 'a. night's
Martii v. Vita S. Kierani,
8 See " Martyrologe Universel, traduit in
FraiK;ais du Maityrologe Romain, offrant
'
n. 29.
Oitiedcc
ing place on the journey from Dublin. '"
"There is a Cill-Choea in Midhe, « day's journey from Ath-Cliath. She seems to be the nurse of Ciaran of Saighir. But see. There is a fair, holiday, and church here. " To the original Irish of the foregoing com- ment, Dr. Todd has appended this note : " The word left in its original contracted
' the first
13 See Rev. Drs. Todd's and Reeves'
lodging.
lae,
day's sleep-
June 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 215
Saigir. However, he advances such an opinion with doubt. Now, as St. Kieran was born in the Island of Cape Clear, off the remote southern coast of Ire- land,itseemslikelyhisnurseCochoeabelongedtothesameregion; but,at all events, she was afterwards placed over the monastic institute of Ross- Bennchoir, near the western sea of Ireland, which was very far removed from Saigir. Thepresentholywoman,wesuspect,mustbedistinguishedfromthat St. Cocha or Cocca, 1 * of Ros-Bennchair, who was nurse to St. Kiaran of the former place. This is also the opinion of Father John Colgan. 's We can only
observe, that the present holy virgin is recognised and distinguished as patronessofKilcock,onthebordersofthecountyofMeath. Thelocalities already alluded to are far distant from each other, having apparently no con- nexion. In the Introduction l6 to the O'Clerys' Calendar, we are informed, that Cill-Choca is in Meath. When this holy virgin settled there is unknown ; but, it is thought, that she presided at Kilcock over a community of nuns, in quality of Abbess, and local tradition has it, that a religious house formerly stoodonthespot,latelyoccupiedtherebytheNationalSchool. TheParish Register styles this locality Parochia Sanctge Cogae, while the former church
1
was called Ecclesia Assumptae Virginis de Kilcock. ? That ground, on which
the Protestant church until lately stood, is pointed out by tradition, as having been in past times the site of the former Catholic church. 18 The remains of that Protestant church have been carted away, while the enclosure is now used exclusively as a public cemetery. Preparations having been made for building a fine parochial church to be dedicated to St. Coca, the Virgin Patroness at Kilcock, a former parish priest, Very Rev. William Treacy, com- menced its erection in 1862 IQ and, having expended ,£1,000 on the work, he
;
was called to his reward. 20 After his demise, the Very Rev. Thomas
Geoghegan was appointed Pastor. He proceeded with great zeal and energy, in the successful prosecution of the building, which was placed under the in- vocation of St. Coca, in 1867. The architect was J. J. MacCarthy. The plan of Kilcock Catholic Church consists of nave and sanctuary ; the aisles terminate in chapels ; a tower 2X is at the west end of the nave ; and the
sacristy is at the north side of the sanctuary.
and
bays
each bay. The east window of the sanctuary is a triplet of lancets, filled with
the six aisles, by
of arches at each
on 22 granite pillars.
side,
These arches support a clerestory containing couplets of foliated circles on
V Martyrology of Donegal," pp. 378, 379.
14 See an account of her, in this
20 "He
of his own and means,
volume,
at the 29th of June—the day for her feast— partly the result of subscriptions received,
Art. i.
15 See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
Martii v. Vila S. Kierani Episcopi et Con-
fessoris, cap. xxiv. , p. 461, and n. 29,
p. 465.
towards its —to effect ^3,000 completion,
which cost some . £6,000 more. " Ibid.
2I The tower and spire, when complete,
shall rise to a height of 170 feet.
22
The roof linings are panelled in wood. 23 The frontal of the high Altar, containing the Agnus Dei in the centre, has groups of kings adoring in the side panels. The great reredos contains under canopied arches, in the centre, the monograms of the sacred name, surrounded by seraphim, and at the base garlands of vine leaves, grapes and heads of wheat. At the Gospel side of the monogram is a figure of St. Augustine, and
on the side is that of St. Teresa. In Epistle
the remaining niches are sculptured groups, representing the sacrifices of Abel, Noah, Melchisedech and Abraham, with figures of St. Clare and of St. Mary Magdalen.
16
11
See Rev. Dns. Todd's and Reeves'
Martyrology of Donegal," p. xxxix.
17 See Very Rev. Michael Comerford's Collections relating to the Dioceses of Kil-
"
dare and Leighlin," vol. ii. , p. 156.
18
From the Very Rev. Thomas Geoghe- gan, V. G. , of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, and P. P. of Kilcock, in a letter dated March 28th, 1886, the writer has been
w; ththeinformation here and given,
supplied
with that which immediately follows in the text.
19 See Rev. Michael Comerford's " Col- lections relating to the Dioceses of Kildare
The nave is separated from
and Leighlin," vol. ii. , p. 155.
resting
left, partly
2l6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 6.
stained glass. The clear dimensions of the church are 131 feet in length, in- cluding tower, and the width is 60 feet. The style is of early Gothic architec- ture.
The Altars 33 are made of marble and Caen stone, while a reredos com- pletes the accessories of the choir. The reredos is supported by marble shafts,24 while it is ornamented with devotional panels and crystal bulbs. This church is truly a very solid and an elegant structure. 25 Although the me-
of St. Coca was
still there were local memorials, such as Tubbermohocca, or the Holy Well of Chocca, to perpetuate her celebrity. It sprang as a stream, in what is now
mory
displaced,
in former
times,
St. Coca's Catholic Church, Kilcock.
an enclosed yard of the town. 2 ? Kilcock also extends as a town land into the
adjoining parish of Rodanstown, in the barony of Upper Deece and county of Meath. 28 In the of there is a townland of 29 divided
county Kerry,
Kilcock,
'* The pedestal of reredos is filled in
according to the List of Churches furnished to him, by the Bishop of Kildare.
"
About forty years ago, it was shut up by the occupant of the premises, and the stream diverted to what was —considered a
panels with diaper, containing harps, round towers, and oilier national emblems. The 27
lesser reredos consists of arched panels,
illuminated in gold and colours. The chapel
of the Blessed Virgin contains an Altar, the more convenient situation. " Very Rev. frontal of which is filled with a sculptured Michael Comerford's "Collections relating panel in the centre, and representing the to the Diocese of Kildare and Lcighlin," Coronation of the Blessed Virgin, with vol. ii. , p. 155.
and adoring angels at the sides.
28
This townland is described, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Meath," sheet 49.
25 The accompanying photographic illus-
tration, kindly procured for the writer, by
Very Rev. Thomas Geoghegan. P. P. , Kil-
cock, and V. G. , has been transferred to the of Iraghticonnor. It is described, on the
wood, by William F. Wakeman, and it has been engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
" Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Kerry," sheet 5.
" It is in the of Kilmore, and parish
26 This was the case, in the time of
Colgan,
to introduce that of St. 26 Gall,
29 In the parish of Lisselton, and barony
June 6. J LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 217
into the distinct denominations of Upper and Lower. A townland is called 1
Kilcock,3° in the county of Roscommon, as also a Kilcoke^ in the Queen's County, and in the North Riding of Tipperary p* but, we cannot state if any of these were called after this holy virgin. With regard to the present saint, an entry is found in the Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 6th of June. More- over, a feast in honour of Cocca was celebrated, on this day, as we read, like-
wise, in the Martyrology of Donegal. 3* Her festival is noticed by Archdall,3S atthesamedate; but,wefinditimpossibletothrowfurtherlightonherhis-
tory or period.
Article IV. —St. Gurvall, Bishop of Aleth, in Armorica, France.
\Sixth and Seventh Centuries. '] Evidently, the history of this holy personage is surrounded with several obscurities, and tradition has been confused, by the compilers of his Acts. The ancient Breviary of St. Malo contains three
Lessons, giving an abridgment of Gurval's Life. reproduced, in Proper ones of the same church.
of St. Gurval. 2 Albert le Grand,3 Again,
1
These Lessons have been Lobineau has an account
de
Claude Robert, the Sammarthani, as also Andrew Saussay,s refer to our saint.
Paz,4 Jean Chenu, His name is found variedly written Gurvall, Gudwall, Gudnal,6 and Guidgal,?
8 on St. Gurval
this is now probably lost, since the period of the French Revolution,? although
An article has been written, le Pere Alain Le by
Large,
; but,
the substance
of this British
have been 10 The Bollandists have an account preserved.
his veneration,
acts, age
and
religious
institute. —The Rev. Alban Butler x3
may saint,
at the 6th of
11
June, giving
a historic TM on commentary
—resentshisLife,undertheheadingofSt. Gudwall thecorruptionofaletter
p
and he maintains the present holy man is not distinct from that Bishop and
Confessor. *4 Thisseemsprobableenough,althoughsomedifferencesofstate- ment make it difficult to reconcile both narratives. There is an account of
barony of Ballintober North, described on of St. Malo. See Les Petits Bollandistes,
the "Ordnance Townland for Survey Maps
the County of Roscommon," sheet 18.
31 In the parish of Ruthdowney and barony of Clondonagh, shown on the " Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the Queen's County, "sheets 22, 28.
"Vies des tome Saints,"
vi. ,
vie de Jour
33 In the parish ol Loughmoe East, and
" I0
barony of Eliogarty. See Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Tip- perary," sheet 35.
33 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvi.
34 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
After the death of Lelarge, 29th of June, 1705, his Manuscripts were put into
146, 147.
"
toire des Eveques de St. Malo, par Pierre
Deshayes, Chanoine Regulier de la Congre-
gation de France, sur les Memoires recueil-
lis d'Alain Lelarge, de la meme Congrega-
35
See
Monasticon Hibernicum," p.
3 21
Article iv.
A. n. 1768.
3
"
tion. " SeeMichaud's Univer-
3
In his Lives of the Saints of British
-
—
Biographie
selle, Ancienneet Moderne," tome xxiv. , pp.
*
These were published
In his "Vies des Saints de la Bretagne," P- I31-
51, 52.
"See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Junii vi. De Sancto Gurvallo Episcopo Alethensi in Armoricis, pp. 727, 728.
Armorica. Thiswork A. D. * " appeared
12 Inthe
Father Godefnd Henschen.
1636. In Historia Chronologica Episcoporum
Britannise Armories. "
eight paragraphs, compiled by
5 In his "
I3 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs
and other vol. vi. , vi. principal Saints," June
' 4 The Bollandists have a distinct saint,
at this date. See "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus i. , Junii vi. De Sancto Gudwalo, Episcopo Britanno, Gaudavi in Flandria.
There is a previous commentary, in six
Gallicanum. "
* In an ancient Calendar of the Diocese of
St. Malo.
7 In a Calendar belonging to the Abbey of
St. Meen, Diocese of St. Malo.
8
In his Manuscript History of the Bishops
Martyrologium
Augustine
Juin, p. 504.
9 After it, the Manuscript History of Le-
large was brought to England by a refugee Religious, who was charged to continue that very learned work, the "Gallia Chris- tiana. "
order for publication under this title :
"
His-
ai8
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 6.
in the work of Rev. S. x s The Petits Baring-Gould.
St. Gurwall,
Bollandistes
St. Gurval is said to have been a native of Great Britain. 1 ? In his early youth, he became addicted to study, and with his letters, he learned the rules of an ecclesiastical life. His love of prayer was very remarkable, while he was accustomed to give alms liberally. While young, he loved mortification.
He
Bishop,
l6
Also, by watching and fasting, he sought to subdue all mortal frailties.
was accustomed to assemble daily the young clergy of his own age, and to exhort them. This caused many to entertain a great desire, to lead very holy and perfect lives. To show how entirely he renounced the world, Gurval re- solved, that Christ should be his sole inheritance ; so that he employed all his worldly substance, which was very considerable, to found a monastery. At this time, the illustrious St. Brendan,18 the Navigator and Bishop of Clon- fert, was the master over many holy disciples : and to him St. Gurval is thought to have repaired for direction and teaching. However, there was a
,Q
have special notices of this holy Bishop, at the 6th of June.
different St. Brendan, Abbot of Birr,
and he may have been under this ex- perienced master. 20 St. Gurval studied with fruit, and he embraced also the monastic state. Whether the first-named St. Brendan lived in Ireland, or in British Armorica, at this time, does not seem to have transpired. However, as this celebrated man died about a. d. 577, we should naturally suppose, that if St. Gurvall were his pupil, it must have been in Ireland. 21 Afterwards, as we are told, St. Gurval became Abbot, over that monastery of which he was the founder. St. Gurval had a revelation, which assured him of becoming Bishop over the church of Alet or Aleth, otherwise known as Quid Alet, or Guich Alet. 22 When St. Malo retired to Saintonge, and when he knew that death was approaching, he began to consider well the spiritual necessities of his people, and he felt most desirous of selecting a worthy successor, to whom he might conscientiously resign the See of Aleth. 23 He therefore called his brethren to him, and recommended, that they should induce St. Gurval to come, he being so distinguished through his miracles and virtues. When St. MalowascalledawaytoHeaven,2* someofhisdiscipleswentovertoGreat Britain. There they prayed St. Gurval, to become their Bishop, as their holy master had requested. Overcome by their persuasions, Gurval at last yielded assent. He then passed over the sea with them. 2* With consent of the
paragraphs, with Vita, having seven chap- ters, in 74 paragraphs, and notes, edited by Father Godefrid Henschen, pp. 728 to
748.
*s See" Lives of the Saints," vol. vi. , June
6. p. 56.
16 See "Viesdes Saints," tome vi. , vie Jour
de Juin, pp. 471, 504.
17 Supposing him to be identical with the
,8
See his Life, in the Fifth Volume of this work, at the 1 6th of May, Art. i.
*' His feast occurs, on the 29th of Novem- ber, where notices of him may be found.
TO
His death is placed, at the 29th of November, a. d. 571. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
chap, x. , sect, viii. , p. 39, and n. 131, p. 40.
—— "
St. Gudwall separately mentioned by the This account is questioned in Rev. S.
Bollandists the Rev. Alban Butler places his birth in Wales, and states, that he be-
"
Lives of the Saints," vol.
came Abbot over a numerous
the little isle of Plecit, that he afterwards
passed by sea to Cornwall, and then travelled
into Devonshire, where he built himself a
hermitage. This is said to have grown into
a monastery, on account of the number of
disciples who flocked to the place. He velle Biographie Genthale," tome xxxiii. , flourished at the close of the sixth or in the
seventh century. See "Lives of the Fathers,
in
Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. vi. , the Tune vi.
monastery
Baring-Gould's
vi. , June 6th, p. 56.
" See L'Abbe Tresvaux's " de Eglise
Bretagne. "
2J See "Gallia Christiana," tome xiw,
col. 995.
^ This event is assigned to a. d. 612 or
627.
ses," in Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemicarum Scriptores," tomus iv.
17 See William F. Skene's "Celtic Scot- land : a History of Ancient Alban," vol. i. , chap, vii. , pp. 3S2, 383.
"
See Historia Ecclesiastica Geniis
28 Thus, in iMenologium Scotorum, at the "
in the
of 2^ at this Martyrology Tallagh,
date,
2I 22
See p. 304. See p. 306.
J. chronicon," &c, vol. i. , p. 68.
25 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 117.
i6
6th ofJune, we read
— Kirkuae Colmi Or- :
cadum Apostoli. K. " Jbid. ,p. 202.
^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvi.
3° Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
146, 147.
214 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 6.
before the eighth century,—when we have a passing record of the place—
2
named Kilcock » after her in our Irish Annals. It means "the Church of
St. Coc," or as Latinized Ecclesia S. Coccece. Its locality gave name to a
parish,3 within the present barony of Ikeathy and Oughterany, in the county of Kildare. Incidentally, Father John Colgan introduces a St. Cocca, as the
nurse of St. Kieran,* Bishop of Saigir ; but, it cannot be ascertained, that she
was the same as that holy woman, whose festival is recorded, at this date.
Assuming the Patroness of Kilcock to have been in early years the nurse of
St. Kieran, a gentleman s well versed in Irish ecclesiastical and profane his-
tory has furnished the writer with elaborate notes, referring to St. Cocha and
to Kilcock. He suggests, that as she acted in that capacity, St. Cocca may
have accompanied St. Kieran to Rome, where he received from the Supreme
Pontiff permission to preach the Gospel in Ireland, even before the coming of
St. Patrick, its great Apostle. The Bollandists 6 have a notice of this holy
virgin, at the 6th of June, but they express only a desire to learn more regard-
ingher,thanhasbeenstatedbyColgan. 7 ThenameandfeastofSt. Choca,
virgin, in the province of Meath, Ireland, is commemorated, at the 6th of
June, by Chastelain,8 and also, in Right Rev. Bishop Challenor's " Memorial
of Ancient British at the 8th of 10 we have Piety. "9 Already, day January,
given some notices of a St. Cocca, Cucca, Cuach, or Cuaca, who is called a Virgin of Cill-Cuaiche—said to have been in Cairbre-na-Ciardha—identical with Kilcock, in the north-western part of Kildare County. However, her chief festival seems referable to this date. Again, there was a St. Cuach, or Coiningean, a Virgin, of Fionnmagh Church, and said to have been of Kil- leen Cormac, county of Kildare, whose feast occurs, at the 29th of April. " She flourished, in the fifth or sixth century ; and, it has been supposed, she was identical with the Patroness of Kilcock. Indeed, the time, place, and circumstances, concerning her, render it possible enough ; however, this is stillonlyamatterforvagueconjecture. AnIrishcomment"isaddedinthe table subjoined to the Martyrology of Donegal ;*3 and, the writer of it sup- poses this present saint to have been the nurse of St. Kieran, Bishop of
Article hi. —' A battle was there A. D. 774.
de l'Annee la Serie des Saints, Saintes, etc. , honores dans toutes les Eglises de la Chretiente, avec un Diction- naire Universel des ces Saints," ouvraye redige sur celui de l'ahbe de Chastelain, et 3 It is shown, on the Ordnance Survey considerablement augmente, par de St.
a See Dr. John O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , and n. (u), pp.
378, 379-
Townland Maps for the County of Kildare,"
10. On the former of these is to be found the Town and Townland of Kil- cock.
4 See his Life, published in the Thir—d Volume of this woik, at the 5th of March the date for his Festival—Art. i.
5 Shackleton Hallett, Esq. , 1 Hare Court,
sheets
5,
Allais, Paris, 1823, 8vo.
9 See A or Additions and Supplement
Amendments to the British Martyrology, p. 17.
10 See Volume the First of this work, Art. v. , with notes.
"
See an account of her in Volume the Fourth of this work, Art. ii. , with notes.
London. He had also communi- cated the substance of these notes to Very Rev. Thomas Geoghegan, V. G. , of the Dio- cese of Kildare and Leighlin, and P. P. of Kilcock.
6 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Junii vi. , Among the pretermitted saints, p. 616.
12 The is an translation following English
Temple,
:
"
fought
pour chaque Jour
» In "Acta Sanctorum Hibemias," state by Mr. Curry is oi-oeAcfi, /if. 'a. night's
Martii v. Vita S. Kierani,
8 See " Martyrologe Universel, traduit in
FraiK;ais du Maityrologe Romain, offrant
'
n. 29.
Oitiedcc
ing place on the journey from Dublin. '"
"There is a Cill-Choea in Midhe, « day's journey from Ath-Cliath. She seems to be the nurse of Ciaran of Saighir. But see. There is a fair, holiday, and church here. " To the original Irish of the foregoing com- ment, Dr. Todd has appended this note : " The word left in its original contracted
' the first
13 See Rev. Drs. Todd's and Reeves'
lodging.
lae,
day's sleep-
June 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 215
Saigir. However, he advances such an opinion with doubt. Now, as St. Kieran was born in the Island of Cape Clear, off the remote southern coast of Ire- land,itseemslikelyhisnurseCochoeabelongedtothesameregion; but,at all events, she was afterwards placed over the monastic institute of Ross- Bennchoir, near the western sea of Ireland, which was very far removed from Saigir. Thepresentholywoman,wesuspect,mustbedistinguishedfromthat St. Cocha or Cocca, 1 * of Ros-Bennchair, who was nurse to St. Kiaran of the former place. This is also the opinion of Father John Colgan. 's We can only
observe, that the present holy virgin is recognised and distinguished as patronessofKilcock,onthebordersofthecountyofMeath. Thelocalities already alluded to are far distant from each other, having apparently no con- nexion. In the Introduction l6 to the O'Clerys' Calendar, we are informed, that Cill-Choca is in Meath. When this holy virgin settled there is unknown ; but, it is thought, that she presided at Kilcock over a community of nuns, in quality of Abbess, and local tradition has it, that a religious house formerly stoodonthespot,latelyoccupiedtherebytheNationalSchool. TheParish Register styles this locality Parochia Sanctge Cogae, while the former church
1
was called Ecclesia Assumptae Virginis de Kilcock. ? That ground, on which
the Protestant church until lately stood, is pointed out by tradition, as having been in past times the site of the former Catholic church. 18 The remains of that Protestant church have been carted away, while the enclosure is now used exclusively as a public cemetery. Preparations having been made for building a fine parochial church to be dedicated to St. Coca, the Virgin Patroness at Kilcock, a former parish priest, Very Rev. William Treacy, com- menced its erection in 1862 IQ and, having expended ,£1,000 on the work, he
;
was called to his reward. 20 After his demise, the Very Rev. Thomas
Geoghegan was appointed Pastor. He proceeded with great zeal and energy, in the successful prosecution of the building, which was placed under the in- vocation of St. Coca, in 1867. The architect was J. J. MacCarthy. The plan of Kilcock Catholic Church consists of nave and sanctuary ; the aisles terminate in chapels ; a tower 2X is at the west end of the nave ; and the
sacristy is at the north side of the sanctuary.
and
bays
each bay. The east window of the sanctuary is a triplet of lancets, filled with
the six aisles, by
of arches at each
on 22 granite pillars.
side,
These arches support a clerestory containing couplets of foliated circles on
V Martyrology of Donegal," pp. 378, 379.
14 See an account of her, in this
20 "He
of his own and means,
volume,
at the 29th of June—the day for her feast— partly the result of subscriptions received,
Art. i.
15 See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
Martii v. Vila S. Kierani Episcopi et Con-
fessoris, cap. xxiv. , p. 461, and n. 29,
p. 465.
towards its —to effect ^3,000 completion,
which cost some . £6,000 more. " Ibid.
2I The tower and spire, when complete,
shall rise to a height of 170 feet.
22
The roof linings are panelled in wood. 23 The frontal of the high Altar, containing the Agnus Dei in the centre, has groups of kings adoring in the side panels. The great reredos contains under canopied arches, in the centre, the monograms of the sacred name, surrounded by seraphim, and at the base garlands of vine leaves, grapes and heads of wheat. At the Gospel side of the monogram is a figure of St. Augustine, and
on the side is that of St. Teresa. In Epistle
the remaining niches are sculptured groups, representing the sacrifices of Abel, Noah, Melchisedech and Abraham, with figures of St. Clare and of St. Mary Magdalen.
16
11
See Rev. Dns. Todd's and Reeves'
Martyrology of Donegal," p. xxxix.
17 See Very Rev. Michael Comerford's Collections relating to the Dioceses of Kil-
"
dare and Leighlin," vol. ii. , p. 156.
18
From the Very Rev. Thomas Geoghe- gan, V. G. , of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, and P. P. of Kilcock, in a letter dated March 28th, 1886, the writer has been
w; ththeinformation here and given,
supplied
with that which immediately follows in the text.
19 See Rev. Michael Comerford's " Col- lections relating to the Dioceses of Kildare
The nave is separated from
and Leighlin," vol. ii. , p. 155.
resting
left, partly
2l6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 6.
stained glass. The clear dimensions of the church are 131 feet in length, in- cluding tower, and the width is 60 feet. The style is of early Gothic architec- ture.
The Altars 33 are made of marble and Caen stone, while a reredos com- pletes the accessories of the choir. The reredos is supported by marble shafts,24 while it is ornamented with devotional panels and crystal bulbs. This church is truly a very solid and an elegant structure. 25 Although the me-
of St. Coca was
still there were local memorials, such as Tubbermohocca, or the Holy Well of Chocca, to perpetuate her celebrity. It sprang as a stream, in what is now
mory
displaced,
in former
times,
St. Coca's Catholic Church, Kilcock.
an enclosed yard of the town. 2 ? Kilcock also extends as a town land into the
adjoining parish of Rodanstown, in the barony of Upper Deece and county of Meath. 28 In the of there is a townland of 29 divided
county Kerry,
Kilcock,
'* The pedestal of reredos is filled in
according to the List of Churches furnished to him, by the Bishop of Kildare.
"
About forty years ago, it was shut up by the occupant of the premises, and the stream diverted to what was —considered a
panels with diaper, containing harps, round towers, and oilier national emblems. The 27
lesser reredos consists of arched panels,
illuminated in gold and colours. The chapel
of the Blessed Virgin contains an Altar, the more convenient situation. " Very Rev. frontal of which is filled with a sculptured Michael Comerford's "Collections relating panel in the centre, and representing the to the Diocese of Kildare and Lcighlin," Coronation of the Blessed Virgin, with vol. ii. , p. 155.
and adoring angels at the sides.
28
This townland is described, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Meath," sheet 49.
25 The accompanying photographic illus-
tration, kindly procured for the writer, by
Very Rev. Thomas Geoghegan. P. P. , Kil-
cock, and V. G. , has been transferred to the of Iraghticonnor. It is described, on the
wood, by William F. Wakeman, and it has been engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
" Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Kerry," sheet 5.
" It is in the of Kilmore, and parish
26 This was the case, in the time of
Colgan,
to introduce that of St. 26 Gall,
29 In the parish of Lisselton, and barony
June 6. J LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 217
into the distinct denominations of Upper and Lower. A townland is called 1
Kilcock,3° in the county of Roscommon, as also a Kilcoke^ in the Queen's County, and in the North Riding of Tipperary p* but, we cannot state if any of these were called after this holy virgin. With regard to the present saint, an entry is found in the Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 6th of June. More- over, a feast in honour of Cocca was celebrated, on this day, as we read, like-
wise, in the Martyrology of Donegal. 3* Her festival is noticed by Archdall,3S atthesamedate; but,wefinditimpossibletothrowfurtherlightonherhis-
tory or period.
Article IV. —St. Gurvall, Bishop of Aleth, in Armorica, France.
\Sixth and Seventh Centuries. '] Evidently, the history of this holy personage is surrounded with several obscurities, and tradition has been confused, by the compilers of his Acts. The ancient Breviary of St. Malo contains three
Lessons, giving an abridgment of Gurval's Life. reproduced, in Proper ones of the same church.
of St. Gurval. 2 Albert le Grand,3 Again,
1
These Lessons have been Lobineau has an account
de
Claude Robert, the Sammarthani, as also Andrew Saussay,s refer to our saint.
Paz,4 Jean Chenu, His name is found variedly written Gurvall, Gudwall, Gudnal,6 and Guidgal,?
8 on St. Gurval
this is now probably lost, since the period of the French Revolution,? although
An article has been written, le Pere Alain Le by
Large,
; but,
the substance
of this British
have been 10 The Bollandists have an account preserved.
his veneration,
acts, age
and
religious
institute. —The Rev. Alban Butler x3
may saint,
at the 6th of
11
June, giving
a historic TM on commentary
—resentshisLife,undertheheadingofSt. Gudwall thecorruptionofaletter
p
and he maintains the present holy man is not distinct from that Bishop and
Confessor. *4 Thisseemsprobableenough,althoughsomedifferencesofstate- ment make it difficult to reconcile both narratives. There is an account of
barony of Ballintober North, described on of St. Malo. See Les Petits Bollandistes,
the "Ordnance Townland for Survey Maps
the County of Roscommon," sheet 18.
31 In the parish of Ruthdowney and barony of Clondonagh, shown on the " Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the Queen's County, "sheets 22, 28.
"Vies des tome Saints,"
vi. ,
vie de Jour
33 In the parish ol Loughmoe East, and
" I0
barony of Eliogarty. See Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Tip- perary," sheet 35.
33 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvi.
34 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
After the death of Lelarge, 29th of June, 1705, his Manuscripts were put into
146, 147.
"
toire des Eveques de St. Malo, par Pierre
Deshayes, Chanoine Regulier de la Congre-
gation de France, sur les Memoires recueil-
lis d'Alain Lelarge, de la meme Congrega-
35
See
Monasticon Hibernicum," p.
3 21
Article iv.
A. n. 1768.
3
"
tion. " SeeMichaud's Univer-
3
In his Lives of the Saints of British
-
—
Biographie
selle, Ancienneet Moderne," tome xxiv. , pp.
*
These were published
In his "Vies des Saints de la Bretagne," P- I31-
51, 52.
"See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Junii vi. De Sancto Gurvallo Episcopo Alethensi in Armoricis, pp. 727, 728.
Armorica. Thiswork A. D. * " appeared
12 Inthe
Father Godefnd Henschen.
1636. In Historia Chronologica Episcoporum
Britannise Armories. "
eight paragraphs, compiled by
5 In his "
I3 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs
and other vol. vi. , vi. principal Saints," June
' 4 The Bollandists have a distinct saint,
at this date. See "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus i. , Junii vi. De Sancto Gudwalo, Episcopo Britanno, Gaudavi in Flandria.
There is a previous commentary, in six
Gallicanum. "
* In an ancient Calendar of the Diocese of
St. Malo.
7 In a Calendar belonging to the Abbey of
St. Meen, Diocese of St. Malo.
8
In his Manuscript History of the Bishops
Martyrologium
Augustine
Juin, p. 504.
9 After it, the Manuscript History of Le-
large was brought to England by a refugee Religious, who was charged to continue that very learned work, the "Gallia Chris- tiana. "
order for publication under this title :
"
His-
ai8
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 6.
in the work of Rev. S. x s The Petits Baring-Gould.
St. Gurwall,
Bollandistes
St. Gurval is said to have been a native of Great Britain. 1 ? In his early youth, he became addicted to study, and with his letters, he learned the rules of an ecclesiastical life. His love of prayer was very remarkable, while he was accustomed to give alms liberally. While young, he loved mortification.
He
Bishop,
l6
Also, by watching and fasting, he sought to subdue all mortal frailties.
was accustomed to assemble daily the young clergy of his own age, and to exhort them. This caused many to entertain a great desire, to lead very holy and perfect lives. To show how entirely he renounced the world, Gurval re- solved, that Christ should be his sole inheritance ; so that he employed all his worldly substance, which was very considerable, to found a monastery. At this time, the illustrious St. Brendan,18 the Navigator and Bishop of Clon- fert, was the master over many holy disciples : and to him St. Gurval is thought to have repaired for direction and teaching. However, there was a
,Q
have special notices of this holy Bishop, at the 6th of June.
different St. Brendan, Abbot of Birr,
and he may have been under this ex- perienced master. 20 St. Gurval studied with fruit, and he embraced also the monastic state. Whether the first-named St. Brendan lived in Ireland, or in British Armorica, at this time, does not seem to have transpired. However, as this celebrated man died about a. d. 577, we should naturally suppose, that if St. Gurvall were his pupil, it must have been in Ireland. 21 Afterwards, as we are told, St. Gurval became Abbot, over that monastery of which he was the founder. St. Gurval had a revelation, which assured him of becoming Bishop over the church of Alet or Aleth, otherwise known as Quid Alet, or Guich Alet. 22 When St. Malo retired to Saintonge, and when he knew that death was approaching, he began to consider well the spiritual necessities of his people, and he felt most desirous of selecting a worthy successor, to whom he might conscientiously resign the See of Aleth. 23 He therefore called his brethren to him, and recommended, that they should induce St. Gurval to come, he being so distinguished through his miracles and virtues. When St. MalowascalledawaytoHeaven,2* someofhisdiscipleswentovertoGreat Britain. There they prayed St. Gurval, to become their Bishop, as their holy master had requested. Overcome by their persuasions, Gurval at last yielded assent. He then passed over the sea with them. 2* With consent of the
paragraphs, with Vita, having seven chap- ters, in 74 paragraphs, and notes, edited by Father Godefrid Henschen, pp. 728 to
748.
*s See" Lives of the Saints," vol. vi. , June
6. p. 56.
16 See "Viesdes Saints," tome vi. , vie Jour
de Juin, pp. 471, 504.
17 Supposing him to be identical with the
,8
See his Life, in the Fifth Volume of this work, at the 1 6th of May, Art. i.
*' His feast occurs, on the 29th of Novem- ber, where notices of him may be found.
TO
His death is placed, at the 29th of November, a. d. 571. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
chap, x. , sect, viii. , p. 39, and n. 131, p. 40.
—— "
St. Gudwall separately mentioned by the This account is questioned in Rev. S.
Bollandists the Rev. Alban Butler places his birth in Wales, and states, that he be-
"
Lives of the Saints," vol.
came Abbot over a numerous
the little isle of Plecit, that he afterwards
passed by sea to Cornwall, and then travelled
into Devonshire, where he built himself a
hermitage. This is said to have grown into
a monastery, on account of the number of
disciples who flocked to the place. He velle Biographie Genthale," tome xxxiii. , flourished at the close of the sixth or in the
seventh century. See "Lives of the Fathers,
in
Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. vi. , the Tune vi.
monastery
Baring-Gould's
vi. , June 6th, p. 56.
" See L'Abbe Tresvaux's " de Eglise
Bretagne. "
2J See "Gallia Christiana," tome xiw,
col. 995.
^ This event is assigned to a. d. 612 or
627.
