In
the Book of Leinster copy, the entry is IngenA Senaich.
the Book of Leinster copy, the entry is IngenA Senaich.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
— Edited by Drs.
Todd and
Ireland, Glasnevin, village a short distance to the north of the city of Dublin, and where at that time St. Mobhihadhisseminary. HenumberedSt. Columbkille among his pupils. It spread thence upon all sides over the island, and carried off many men of high repute, whose names are specified. References to these persons not only authenticates the
records, relating to the
Manuscript
epidemic.
10 his life, a During
170 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August ii,
Crom —or Buidhe Qhonnaill— Blefed Chonnaill,
The disease was called
leprosy.
literally, the corn or stubble and coloured yellowness or Buidhechair, jaun- dice. It was probably a form of yellow fever, or the bilious remittent, still observed to prevail as an epidemic, especially in the West Indies and in the southernpartsofAmerica. Thedateforthissaint'sdeathisnotknown,but he flourished'in the sixth century.
Article IV. —St, Liadhain, Abbess, of Killvon, King's Countv.
[Fifth or Sixth Century. '] This holy woman, according to received traditions,
must have flourished during the very infancy of Christianity in Ireland. 1
According to the Martyrology of Donegal, a festival was celebrated, at the nthofAugust,tohonourLiadhain,daughterofEochaidh. Shedescended from the race of Laighaire, the son of Niall. We are told, she was mother to Ciaranof 2andthefirstAbbess
Saigher,
of Ireland. 3 There was a religious establishment at a place called Killiadhuin,
supposed to have been founded by the present saint, and named after her. It
is now identified with Killyon, near Seir-Kieran. * Two acres of land are said
tohavebeenundertheoldbuildings; but,onlyasmallportionofthewallsare
now be seen. s Already allusion is made to this place, on the banks of the small
stream, called the Camcor River. 6 At one time, John O'Donovan thought
the parish of Killyon,? in the barony of Upper Moyfenrath, in the County of
Meath, had been that specially dedicated to St. Lidania. 8 This parish of
Killyon is bounded on the north by the parish of Killaconnican ; on the east
by the parishes of Castlerickard and Clonard; oh the south by the latter
parish,andonthewestbytheCountyofWestmeath. Thereweredetached
portions of this parish within that of Clonard. However, this opinion of Mr.
O'Donovan was afterwards retracted,^ although, as he supposes, and with a
great possibility of conjecture, that the parish of Killian, in the County of Meath, had also been dedicated to the present saint. The remains of an
ancient church are in a cemetery. There was a holy well in the church- yard, at the gable of the old church. This was said to have been dedicated to the Virgin Mary ; but, as the traditions were just extinct in the district, when he visited that locality, Mr. O'Donovan could place little reliance on them. Under the rule of St. Liadhain or Liadania, lived St. Brunsecha, 10 a holy virgin. Both are supposed to have flourished in the fifth or sixth century.
ArticleV. —St. Lelia,Virgin,DiocesesofLimerickandKerry. It is greatly to be lamented, that any clue to a recovery of the once well-known
Reeves, pp. 216, 217. described on the "Ordnance Survey Town-
a
the — female—saints among virgins i. e. ,
I lis Acts are to be found, in the Third land Maps for the County of Meath,"
Volume of this work, at the 5th of March, Art, i.
8 See "Letters
In the Barony of Ballybritt, King's lative to the Antiquities of the County of
3 See
*
Donegal Martyrology, pp. 432, 433.
containing Information re-
County.
s See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath,
Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , chap, ix. , p. 5°9-
Meath, collected during the Progress of the
Ordnance Survey in 1836. " John O'Donovan's letter dated Nuaghconghbhail,
Novane, or Navan, and written underneath in pencil marks, "Received at the O. S. O. , 15th August, 1836," pp. 214 to 216.
'On the 13th February, 183S.
,0
See an account of her, at the 29th of May, in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. i.
6
the 29th of May, when treating about St.
In the Fifth Volume of this work, at
Brunsecha, Virgin, of Magh-Trea, and of Killyon Parish, King's County, Art. i.
1 This Killyon parish contains an area of 4,316 acres, 2 roods, 5 perches. It is
Sheets 35, 40, 41, 47. The townland pro- per is on Sheet 41.
August ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 171
memorials of many an Irish saint cannot be better traced, at present.
Thus, the pious Lelia, a Virgin, has been specially commemorated, in the Dioceses of Limerick, and of Kerry, from a former period. Her Acts are not
discoverable, at the present time. Latterly, a Double Office, but of the Common Lessons, has been obtained, by authority of the Roman Pontiff, for her feast, at this date. An Office and a Mass have been extended, likewise, to the other Irish Dioceses. According to a local tradition, in Limerick, she was a
J
sister to St. Munchin, Patron of the Diocese ;
and, it is said, her place is
nowknownas Liberties of Limerick
2
This
;
is situated, within the North partly
does it lie, in the of Bun- barony
Killeely. City
parish
3 but,
Near Killamey, this virgin is reputed to be the
chiefly
ratty, and County of Clare. 1*
titular 5 of an old church, which is now called Killilee. This latter local denomination is not found noted down, on the Irish Ordnance Survey Maps.
6
Besides the foregoing places, there is a Killilagh parish, in the barony of
Corcumroe, County of Clare. It seems likely enough, judging from the original compounds and the existing euphony of parts, that these places were formerly under this holy woman's patronage, especially as her memory is partially preserved so vividly in peasant traditional lore, throughout the south-western parts of Ireland. Perhaps, indeed, we may be justified in associatingthemwithscenesinthelife-actionsofthedevoutLelia. However, her era and her locality have not been distinctly revealed to us ; but, there is good reason for supposing, that she lived at a remote period, and most pro- bably, she led a life of strict observance, if she did not preside over some religious institution, in the province of Minister. It may be possible, her name was connected with other places in Ireland. There is a parish, denominated Killely, or Killila, in the Barony of Ballaghkeen, County of Wexford. There is another Killily, or Killeely, partly in the Barony of Loughrea, partly in that
ofKiltartan,butchieflyinthatofDunkellin,CountyofGalway. 7 Thislatter place, especially, may have derived its name from St. Lelia. Perhaps, some
legends of the people might give us a little more light, regarding her ; but, it
is to be feared, we are not likely to ascertain anything, which could satisfac-
torilyrestoreherholymanneroflivingtoourrecords. InPustet'snewedition "
of the Vesperale Romanum," in the Supplement, will be found St. Lelia's commemoration. It seems strange, that her name or festival does not appear, in our Irish Calendars or Martyrologies.
whom named.
2
Kilrush,
in the
County
of
Clare,
is
4 See Lewis' "
Article VI. —St. Tella, Virgin, of Inis Daighre, probably Inish-
County of Roscommon. In the of 1 at the nth Martyrology Donegal,
terry,
of August, we have inserted the name Talla, Virgin, of Inis Daighre, as having been venerated. This place, no doubt, is identical with Inis-Doighre, mentioned in the Annals of the Four
Article v. —T Another tradition states that she was a sister to a St. Rush, from
"Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Clare," Sheets 52, 53, 62, 63.
Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 139.
s Information furnished to the writer, by
the Most Rev. David Moriarty, Bishop of
Such was the account, given to the writer, by Rev. P. Meehan, D. D. , Parish Priest of St. Patrick's Parish, Limerick city,
in August, 1872.
3 This division of the parish is situated with-
in Limerick city bounds, in part, and within Pubblebrien Barony, in part, and it is de-
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Limerick, Sheets 4. 5. Lying northwards from this, the other
and much is defined on the larger portion
Kerry, in a letter, dated April 15th 1873. 6"
fined, on the
1 See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary
of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 139, 146, 147. 1
Masters,
2 at a. d.
1343.
If Dr. so,
Its bounds are marked, on the Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Clare," Sheets 4, 8, 14, 15.
Article VI. — Edited by Drs; Todd and
Reeves, pp. 216, 217. 3 See O'Donovan's
Edition,
vol.
iii. , pp.
172 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August it,
O'Donovan says, it is probably that Island in the River Boyle, now known as Inisterry. 3 Todile is mentioned in the Martyrology of Tallagh,* and it is probably intended to specify the present saint, under such a designation.
ArticleVII. —St. Donnan. —In the of 1 a festival Martyrology Donegal,
is set down at the nth of August, in honour of Donnan. It is probable, says
the Calendarist, that this was Donnan the Deacon, son of Beoaidh, brother
3
to Ciaran, of Cluain-mic-Nois. 3 There is a Beoaidh, descended from the
race of Core, son of Fergus, son to Ross, son of Rudhraighe. Donnan was at Cluain-mic-Nois along with Ciaran, as the History of the Saints states. In
the published Martyrology of Tallagh,* at this date, there is what we may
consider an incorrect entry, and set down as " Inghena Dondain," meaning
theDaughtersofDondain. However,intheBookofLeinstercopy,wehave
u
inthe of 1 at thenthof Therewasa Martyrology Donegal, August.
Maenach, son of Siadhail, who was one of the wisest men of his time, being
regarded as a saint. He was Abbot over the monastery of Disart-Diarmada, now Castledermot, in the beginning of the tenth century. He was greatly
respected both by the clergy and laity of that period, and his friendly offices were requested to establish a peace between King Cormac Mac Cuillinan 3 and the King of Leinster. 3 It cannot be asserted, however, that he was identical with the present Mianach.
ArticleIX. —TheDaughterofSenach. —Theesteem in which this religious woman was held is evinced by the veneration paid her. Many had personally known and loved her. Not a few looked upon it, as a special privilege, to have been permitted to know her. Thus, honour was given to the daughter of Senach, at the i ith of August, as appears in the Martyrology of the 1 Another
Ingena Donnan,"s the proper reading.
Article VIII. —St. Mianach. —The simple entry, Mianach, is set down
rendering
of her name was as inti- Senochide,
O'Clerys.
mated at the proper place of entry, in a table affixed in this latter work. *
But,intheMartyrologyofTallagh,3theentryis "IngenaSenaich,"which means the Daughters of Senaich.
58°i 58i.
3 See ibid. , n. (y. ) and "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Roscom- mon," Sheet 7.
* Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinster Copy, the reading is Uoi-oib<\.
a
See his Life, at the 14th of September. 3 There is a pretty full account of this transaction and subsequent matters in refer- ence to the celebrated battle of Ballymoon, in the " Three Fragments of Irish Annals,"
copied from Ancient Sources, by Dubhal- tach Mac Fribisigh, and edited with a trans-
Article vil—' Edited and Reeves, pp. 216, 217.
2
by
Drs. Todd lation and Dr. notes, by
See his Acts, at the 9th of September, in the Ninth Volume of this work, Art i.
pp. 200 to 221. — Article ix.
3
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
4 A note Todd by Dr,
a See
regarding Nois, the latter part of this word, states, that it had been omitted in the text, by an obvious
error of the scribe.
5 In the Irish characterslngeiM'OonrKMn. Article viii. -• Edited by Drs. Todd
and
' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, the Book of Leinster copy the entry
Reeves, pp. 216, 217.
• In
JohnO'Donovan,
pp. 216, 217.
ibid. , pp. 430, 431.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
In
the Book of Leinster copy, the entry is IngenA Senaich.
—
See "The
Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
Article x. p. xxxii.
x
Martyrology of
August i i . ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 173
Article X. —The Daughters of Dutu. —The of
enters u Ingena Dutu,"2 while that of DonegaP also mentions a festival, at the nth of August, to honour the Daughters of Dutu. More we cannot find regarding them ; nor, as in the previous case, can we learn anything about their parentage or race, their number, their period, or the place where respectively their virtues and labours were exercised.
Article XI. —St. Finneacht, Virgin. —We find, that veneration was
given to Finneacht, Virgin, at the nth of August, as is mentioned in the
12
Martyrology of Donegal. In that of Tallagh there seems to have been a
mistake committed, in entering her name as Indecta Vir. , which latter contrac- tion stands for Virgin.
Article XII. —St. Banbnatan, or Banbhnat, Virgin. —The name of T3
Banbnatan appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh ; and, in that of Donegal, at the nth of August, she is entered as Banbhnat, Virgin. Yet, there appears to be no further account, which might serve to elucidate her family or origin ; neither do we know the time when she flourished, nor the locality in which she lived.
Article XIII. —Feast of St. Valerian. —In the "Feilire" of St.
the feast of St. Valerian, the Pure, is entered at the nth of August. 1 To this, the Scholiast on the Leabhar Breac has added a Latin comment. 2
Elsewhere, I cannot find a saint so designated at this day. If fully published, our Manuscript Irish documents should—as in the present instance—place many a lost name on historic record.
JEngus,
Article XIV. —Feast of St. Tiburtius. —In the Feilire of St.
at the nth of August, a festival for St. Tiburtius is noted. This appears to have been the Martyr, who, with his father, Chromatius, and other com-
suffered for the Faith in and whose Acts are 2 Campania, given by
panions,
the Bollandists,3 at this day, with a previous commentary. *
is InjjettA'Oucu.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
216, 217.
Article xi. — Edited by Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp. 216, 217.
2
CEngus,by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxxiii.
2
Thus : Ualiran, i. e. , uxor ejus Cicilia c—onuertit eum ad Christum et fratrem ejus. "
Ibid, p. , cxxx. —
Article xiv. "See "Transactions of
l
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi.
Also in the Book of Leinster copy, we have Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of
In-oeccA Uir\. Article xii.
Kelly, p. xxxii. copythereadingis bAnbnACAti.
2 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
216, 217.
Article xiti. — 1 See " Transactions of
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu- script Series, vol. i, On the Calendar of
theRoyal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript CEngus, p. cxxii
—
In the Book of Leinster
2 and fourteen In two chapters
*
Edited by Rev. Dr.
1 Martyrology Tallagh
graphs,
3 gee "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Au-
gusti xi. De S. Tiburtio Mart. , et S. Chro-
matio Patre ejus, cum sociis Romsc et in
Campania, pp. 613 to 624.
* In four sections, and thirty-six para-
graphs.
^Engus,
para-
1
1 74 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 12. ftfoeiftl) IBap of august
ARTICLE I. —ST. MUREDACH, FIRST BISHOP AND PATRON OF KILLALA DIOCESE.
[PROBABLY IN THE SIXTH CENTURY. ] CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—PERIOD OF ST. MUREDACH—HIS FAMILY AND DESCENT—HIS RECORDED PRESENCE AT EASDARA OR BALLYSODARE—HE BLESSES THE PORT OF KILLALA.
giving an account of our great Apostle's progress through the
written.
In his journey towards Connaught, about a. d. 434, St. Patrick is thought
to have continued there for the ensuing seven years, namely to a. d. 441. 5 Therefore, it is supposed, the erection of Killala church may safely be
WHEN" of the author of St. Patrick's
province Connaught, Tripartite
Life tells us, that on coming to a pleasant spot, where the River Muadius or Moy empties into the ocean, the saint built a noble church, called Kill-Aladh,1 now Killala. It stood on the south bank of the Moy River. Over this church, he placed one of his disciples, named Muredach, as its first bishop. As he had been consecrated by St. Patrick,* according to the account^ this present holy man should have nourished during the fifth century. However, such statement has been contradicted. In a few meagre notices respecting our saint/ by the Rev. Alban Butler, he follows what Harris had already
referred to some one of those intermediate 6 It has been years.
advanced, that St. Muredach, the first bishop of Killala, had not been born at such an early period, and that he did not flourish until the sixth century. 7 Moreover, his recorded pedigree refutes the supposition of his having been contem- poraneous with St. Patrick. The generally accurate historian, Rev. Dr. Lanigan, states it to be an error, that St. Muredach's appointment over the See of Killala should be ascribed to the earlier time. 8 He was rather con- temporaneous with St. Columkille,9 who flourished during the sixth century. The holy Muredach is stated to have been son ofEocTiaid, son to Alild, son
of Guaire, son to Lugid, son of Laoighaire, son to Niall of the Nine Hos- 10
tages, &c, according to the Sanctilogium Genealogicum, which thus
11
weaves his pedigree.
may well synchronize with the middle and close of the sixth century.
Wherefore, in tracing his descent from Leogaire, King ofIreland,Muredachappearsthesixthingeneration. Suchaplaceinorder
Article1. —Chapter —'
i. SeeColgan's
"Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. lxxxv. , p. 141.
a See his Life in the Third Volume of this work, at the 17th of March, Art. i.
6 See Harris' " Ware, vol. i. ,
Bishops of
3 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Killala," p. 649.
"
» See Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, xii. , p. 253.
8
See ibid. , vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, i. , and n. 13, pp. 183, 186.
4 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints,'' vol. viii. , August xii.
5 See Index Chronologicus ad Ann. ccccxxxiv. , p. 517, Ussher's " Britannica- rum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates. "
See his Life, at the 9th of June, in the
BishopfOf
Killala," p. 649. ""
9
Sixth Volume of this work, Art. i.
,0
Chapter iii.
"See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi-
berniae," Februarii xv. Vita S. Farannani Confessoris, Ex Hibernico versa, n. 21, p. 339.
August 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. *75
He is spoken of as being one of those persons, assembled at Easdara or 12
Ballysodare, in Sligo County, for the purpose of paying respect to the Apostle of the Picts. This was on the occasion of St. Columba being at
that place, soon after the dissolution of a celebrated assembly held at Drum-
x
ceat. 3 Already,anaccountofthesynodconvenedatEasdarahasbeengiven,
in connexion with the Acts of St. Farannan *«4 and among the notables named, as assisting thereat, is Muredach of Killala,^ in Tyr-Amhalga^ih. Therefore
View of Killala, County of Mayo.
it would seem, that towards the close of St. Columba's life, our saint had been bishop there, and that he had the honour and pleasure of greeting the great Apostle of Caledonia.
However, we have no reliable account, regarding the exact period of St.
Muredach's promotion, nor is there any statement to fix those years, during
which he ruled over the See of Killala. Nevertheless, we read in the Life of
16 1 18 St. Corbmac, that St. Patrick, St. Brigid, ? St. Columkille, St. Cannech,
" The notice there given of him is thus 15 Already in the Life of St. Kellach or expressed in the ancient Life : "Muredachus Cellach, Abbot and Martyr of Killala, a
de Kill-aladh in Tyramhalgaidh," &c. See cap. xii. , p. 337.
view is presented of an approach to the town, in the Fifth Volume of this work, at the 1st of May, Art. i. Here, a different point of view shows the Round Tower, Church Spire and Town. It was drawn on the spot by William F. Wakeman. The engraving is by Mrs. Millard.
Ireland, Glasnevin, village a short distance to the north of the city of Dublin, and where at that time St. Mobhihadhisseminary. HenumberedSt. Columbkille among his pupils. It spread thence upon all sides over the island, and carried off many men of high repute, whose names are specified. References to these persons not only authenticates the
records, relating to the
Manuscript
epidemic.
10 his life, a During
170 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August ii,
Crom —or Buidhe Qhonnaill— Blefed Chonnaill,
The disease was called
leprosy.
literally, the corn or stubble and coloured yellowness or Buidhechair, jaun- dice. It was probably a form of yellow fever, or the bilious remittent, still observed to prevail as an epidemic, especially in the West Indies and in the southernpartsofAmerica. Thedateforthissaint'sdeathisnotknown,but he flourished'in the sixth century.
Article IV. —St, Liadhain, Abbess, of Killvon, King's Countv.
[Fifth or Sixth Century. '] This holy woman, according to received traditions,
must have flourished during the very infancy of Christianity in Ireland. 1
According to the Martyrology of Donegal, a festival was celebrated, at the nthofAugust,tohonourLiadhain,daughterofEochaidh. Shedescended from the race of Laighaire, the son of Niall. We are told, she was mother to Ciaranof 2andthefirstAbbess
Saigher,
of Ireland. 3 There was a religious establishment at a place called Killiadhuin,
supposed to have been founded by the present saint, and named after her. It
is now identified with Killyon, near Seir-Kieran. * Two acres of land are said
tohavebeenundertheoldbuildings; but,onlyasmallportionofthewallsare
now be seen. s Already allusion is made to this place, on the banks of the small
stream, called the Camcor River. 6 At one time, John O'Donovan thought
the parish of Killyon,? in the barony of Upper Moyfenrath, in the County of
Meath, had been that specially dedicated to St. Lidania. 8 This parish of
Killyon is bounded on the north by the parish of Killaconnican ; on the east
by the parishes of Castlerickard and Clonard; oh the south by the latter
parish,andonthewestbytheCountyofWestmeath. Thereweredetached
portions of this parish within that of Clonard. However, this opinion of Mr.
O'Donovan was afterwards retracted,^ although, as he supposes, and with a
great possibility of conjecture, that the parish of Killian, in the County of Meath, had also been dedicated to the present saint. The remains of an
ancient church are in a cemetery. There was a holy well in the church- yard, at the gable of the old church. This was said to have been dedicated to the Virgin Mary ; but, as the traditions were just extinct in the district, when he visited that locality, Mr. O'Donovan could place little reliance on them. Under the rule of St. Liadhain or Liadania, lived St. Brunsecha, 10 a holy virgin. Both are supposed to have flourished in the fifth or sixth century.
ArticleV. —St. Lelia,Virgin,DiocesesofLimerickandKerry. It is greatly to be lamented, that any clue to a recovery of the once well-known
Reeves, pp. 216, 217. described on the "Ordnance Survey Town-
a
the — female—saints among virgins i. e. ,
I lis Acts are to be found, in the Third land Maps for the County of Meath,"
Volume of this work, at the 5th of March, Art, i.
8 See "Letters
In the Barony of Ballybritt, King's lative to the Antiquities of the County of
3 See
*
Donegal Martyrology, pp. 432, 433.
containing Information re-
County.
s See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath,
Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , chap, ix. , p. 5°9-
Meath, collected during the Progress of the
Ordnance Survey in 1836. " John O'Donovan's letter dated Nuaghconghbhail,
Novane, or Navan, and written underneath in pencil marks, "Received at the O. S. O. , 15th August, 1836," pp. 214 to 216.
'On the 13th February, 183S.
,0
See an account of her, at the 29th of May, in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. i.
6
the 29th of May, when treating about St.
In the Fifth Volume of this work, at
Brunsecha, Virgin, of Magh-Trea, and of Killyon Parish, King's County, Art. i.
1 This Killyon parish contains an area of 4,316 acres, 2 roods, 5 perches. It is
Sheets 35, 40, 41, 47. The townland pro- per is on Sheet 41.
August ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 171
memorials of many an Irish saint cannot be better traced, at present.
Thus, the pious Lelia, a Virgin, has been specially commemorated, in the Dioceses of Limerick, and of Kerry, from a former period. Her Acts are not
discoverable, at the present time. Latterly, a Double Office, but of the Common Lessons, has been obtained, by authority of the Roman Pontiff, for her feast, at this date. An Office and a Mass have been extended, likewise, to the other Irish Dioceses. According to a local tradition, in Limerick, she was a
J
sister to St. Munchin, Patron of the Diocese ;
and, it is said, her place is
nowknownas Liberties of Limerick
2
This
;
is situated, within the North partly
does it lie, in the of Bun- barony
Killeely. City
parish
3 but,
Near Killamey, this virgin is reputed to be the
chiefly
ratty, and County of Clare. 1*
titular 5 of an old church, which is now called Killilee. This latter local denomination is not found noted down, on the Irish Ordnance Survey Maps.
6
Besides the foregoing places, there is a Killilagh parish, in the barony of
Corcumroe, County of Clare. It seems likely enough, judging from the original compounds and the existing euphony of parts, that these places were formerly under this holy woman's patronage, especially as her memory is partially preserved so vividly in peasant traditional lore, throughout the south-western parts of Ireland. Perhaps, indeed, we may be justified in associatingthemwithscenesinthelife-actionsofthedevoutLelia. However, her era and her locality have not been distinctly revealed to us ; but, there is good reason for supposing, that she lived at a remote period, and most pro- bably, she led a life of strict observance, if she did not preside over some religious institution, in the province of Minister. It may be possible, her name was connected with other places in Ireland. There is a parish, denominated Killely, or Killila, in the Barony of Ballaghkeen, County of Wexford. There is another Killily, or Killeely, partly in the Barony of Loughrea, partly in that
ofKiltartan,butchieflyinthatofDunkellin,CountyofGalway. 7 Thislatter place, especially, may have derived its name from St. Lelia. Perhaps, some
legends of the people might give us a little more light, regarding her ; but, it
is to be feared, we are not likely to ascertain anything, which could satisfac-
torilyrestoreherholymanneroflivingtoourrecords. InPustet'snewedition "
of the Vesperale Romanum," in the Supplement, will be found St. Lelia's commemoration. It seems strange, that her name or festival does not appear, in our Irish Calendars or Martyrologies.
whom named.
2
Kilrush,
in the
County
of
Clare,
is
4 See Lewis' "
Article VI. —St. Tella, Virgin, of Inis Daighre, probably Inish-
County of Roscommon. In the of 1 at the nth Martyrology Donegal,
terry,
of August, we have inserted the name Talla, Virgin, of Inis Daighre, as having been venerated. This place, no doubt, is identical with Inis-Doighre, mentioned in the Annals of the Four
Article v. —T Another tradition states that she was a sister to a St. Rush, from
"Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Clare," Sheets 52, 53, 62, 63.
Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 139.
s Information furnished to the writer, by
the Most Rev. David Moriarty, Bishop of
Such was the account, given to the writer, by Rev. P. Meehan, D. D. , Parish Priest of St. Patrick's Parish, Limerick city,
in August, 1872.
3 This division of the parish is situated with-
in Limerick city bounds, in part, and within Pubblebrien Barony, in part, and it is de-
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Limerick, Sheets 4. 5. Lying northwards from this, the other
and much is defined on the larger portion
Kerry, in a letter, dated April 15th 1873. 6"
fined, on the
1 See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary
of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 139, 146, 147. 1
Masters,
2 at a. d.
1343.
If Dr. so,
Its bounds are marked, on the Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Clare," Sheets 4, 8, 14, 15.
Article VI. — Edited by Drs; Todd and
Reeves, pp. 216, 217. 3 See O'Donovan's
Edition,
vol.
iii. , pp.
172 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August it,
O'Donovan says, it is probably that Island in the River Boyle, now known as Inisterry. 3 Todile is mentioned in the Martyrology of Tallagh,* and it is probably intended to specify the present saint, under such a designation.
ArticleVII. —St. Donnan. —In the of 1 a festival Martyrology Donegal,
is set down at the nth of August, in honour of Donnan. It is probable, says
the Calendarist, that this was Donnan the Deacon, son of Beoaidh, brother
3
to Ciaran, of Cluain-mic-Nois. 3 There is a Beoaidh, descended from the
race of Core, son of Fergus, son to Ross, son of Rudhraighe. Donnan was at Cluain-mic-Nois along with Ciaran, as the History of the Saints states. In
the published Martyrology of Tallagh,* at this date, there is what we may
consider an incorrect entry, and set down as " Inghena Dondain," meaning
theDaughtersofDondain. However,intheBookofLeinstercopy,wehave
u
inthe of 1 at thenthof Therewasa Martyrology Donegal, August.
Maenach, son of Siadhail, who was one of the wisest men of his time, being
regarded as a saint. He was Abbot over the monastery of Disart-Diarmada, now Castledermot, in the beginning of the tenth century. He was greatly
respected both by the clergy and laity of that period, and his friendly offices were requested to establish a peace between King Cormac Mac Cuillinan 3 and the King of Leinster. 3 It cannot be asserted, however, that he was identical with the present Mianach.
ArticleIX. —TheDaughterofSenach. —Theesteem in which this religious woman was held is evinced by the veneration paid her. Many had personally known and loved her. Not a few looked upon it, as a special privilege, to have been permitted to know her. Thus, honour was given to the daughter of Senach, at the i ith of August, as appears in the Martyrology of the 1 Another
Ingena Donnan,"s the proper reading.
Article VIII. —St. Mianach. —The simple entry, Mianach, is set down
rendering
of her name was as inti- Senochide,
O'Clerys.
mated at the proper place of entry, in a table affixed in this latter work. *
But,intheMartyrologyofTallagh,3theentryis "IngenaSenaich,"which means the Daughters of Senaich.
58°i 58i.
3 See ibid. , n. (y. ) and "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Roscom- mon," Sheet 7.
* Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinster Copy, the reading is Uoi-oib<\.
a
See his Life, at the 14th of September. 3 There is a pretty full account of this transaction and subsequent matters in refer- ence to the celebrated battle of Ballymoon, in the " Three Fragments of Irish Annals,"
copied from Ancient Sources, by Dubhal- tach Mac Fribisigh, and edited with a trans-
Article vil—' Edited and Reeves, pp. 216, 217.
2
by
Drs. Todd lation and Dr. notes, by
See his Acts, at the 9th of September, in the Ninth Volume of this work, Art i.
pp. 200 to 221. — Article ix.
3
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
4 A note Todd by Dr,
a See
regarding Nois, the latter part of this word, states, that it had been omitted in the text, by an obvious
error of the scribe.
5 In the Irish characterslngeiM'OonrKMn. Article viii. -• Edited by Drs. Todd
and
' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, the Book of Leinster copy the entry
Reeves, pp. 216, 217.
• In
JohnO'Donovan,
pp. 216, 217.
ibid. , pp. 430, 431.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
In
the Book of Leinster copy, the entry is IngenA Senaich.
—
See "The
Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
Article x. p. xxxii.
x
Martyrology of
August i i . ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 173
Article X. —The Daughters of Dutu. —The of
enters u Ingena Dutu,"2 while that of DonegaP also mentions a festival, at the nth of August, to honour the Daughters of Dutu. More we cannot find regarding them ; nor, as in the previous case, can we learn anything about their parentage or race, their number, their period, or the place where respectively their virtues and labours were exercised.
Article XI. —St. Finneacht, Virgin. —We find, that veneration was
given to Finneacht, Virgin, at the nth of August, as is mentioned in the
12
Martyrology of Donegal. In that of Tallagh there seems to have been a
mistake committed, in entering her name as Indecta Vir. , which latter contrac- tion stands for Virgin.
Article XII. —St. Banbnatan, or Banbhnat, Virgin. —The name of T3
Banbnatan appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh ; and, in that of Donegal, at the nth of August, she is entered as Banbhnat, Virgin. Yet, there appears to be no further account, which might serve to elucidate her family or origin ; neither do we know the time when she flourished, nor the locality in which she lived.
Article XIII. —Feast of St. Valerian. —In the "Feilire" of St.
the feast of St. Valerian, the Pure, is entered at the nth of August. 1 To this, the Scholiast on the Leabhar Breac has added a Latin comment. 2
Elsewhere, I cannot find a saint so designated at this day. If fully published, our Manuscript Irish documents should—as in the present instance—place many a lost name on historic record.
JEngus,
Article XIV. —Feast of St. Tiburtius. —In the Feilire of St.
at the nth of August, a festival for St. Tiburtius is noted. This appears to have been the Martyr, who, with his father, Chromatius, and other com-
suffered for the Faith in and whose Acts are 2 Campania, given by
panions,
the Bollandists,3 at this day, with a previous commentary. *
is InjjettA'Oucu.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
216, 217.
Article xi. — Edited by Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp. 216, 217.
2
CEngus,by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxxiii.
2
Thus : Ualiran, i. e. , uxor ejus Cicilia c—onuertit eum ad Christum et fratrem ejus. "
Ibid, p. , cxxx. —
Article xiv. "See "Transactions of
l
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi.
Also in the Book of Leinster copy, we have Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of
In-oeccA Uir\. Article xii.
Kelly, p. xxxii. copythereadingis bAnbnACAti.
2 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
216, 217.
Article xiti. — 1 See " Transactions of
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu- script Series, vol. i, On the Calendar of
theRoyal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript CEngus, p. cxxii
—
In the Book of Leinster
2 and fourteen In two chapters
*
Edited by Rev. Dr.
1 Martyrology Tallagh
graphs,
3 gee "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Au-
gusti xi. De S. Tiburtio Mart. , et S. Chro-
matio Patre ejus, cum sociis Romsc et in
Campania, pp. 613 to 624.
* In four sections, and thirty-six para-
graphs.
^Engus,
para-
1
1 74 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 12. ftfoeiftl) IBap of august
ARTICLE I. —ST. MUREDACH, FIRST BISHOP AND PATRON OF KILLALA DIOCESE.
[PROBABLY IN THE SIXTH CENTURY. ] CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—PERIOD OF ST. MUREDACH—HIS FAMILY AND DESCENT—HIS RECORDED PRESENCE AT EASDARA OR BALLYSODARE—HE BLESSES THE PORT OF KILLALA.
giving an account of our great Apostle's progress through the
written.
In his journey towards Connaught, about a. d. 434, St. Patrick is thought
to have continued there for the ensuing seven years, namely to a. d. 441. 5 Therefore, it is supposed, the erection of Killala church may safely be
WHEN" of the author of St. Patrick's
province Connaught, Tripartite
Life tells us, that on coming to a pleasant spot, where the River Muadius or Moy empties into the ocean, the saint built a noble church, called Kill-Aladh,1 now Killala. It stood on the south bank of the Moy River. Over this church, he placed one of his disciples, named Muredach, as its first bishop. As he had been consecrated by St. Patrick,* according to the account^ this present holy man should have nourished during the fifth century. However, such statement has been contradicted. In a few meagre notices respecting our saint/ by the Rev. Alban Butler, he follows what Harris had already
referred to some one of those intermediate 6 It has been years.
advanced, that St. Muredach, the first bishop of Killala, had not been born at such an early period, and that he did not flourish until the sixth century. 7 Moreover, his recorded pedigree refutes the supposition of his having been contem- poraneous with St. Patrick. The generally accurate historian, Rev. Dr. Lanigan, states it to be an error, that St. Muredach's appointment over the See of Killala should be ascribed to the earlier time. 8 He was rather con- temporaneous with St. Columkille,9 who flourished during the sixth century. The holy Muredach is stated to have been son ofEocTiaid, son to Alild, son
of Guaire, son to Lugid, son of Laoighaire, son to Niall of the Nine Hos- 10
tages, &c, according to the Sanctilogium Genealogicum, which thus
11
weaves his pedigree.
may well synchronize with the middle and close of the sixth century.
Wherefore, in tracing his descent from Leogaire, King ofIreland,Muredachappearsthesixthingeneration. Suchaplaceinorder
Article1. —Chapter —'
i. SeeColgan's
"Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. lxxxv. , p. 141.
a See his Life in the Third Volume of this work, at the 17th of March, Art. i.
6 See Harris' " Ware, vol. i. ,
Bishops of
3 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Killala," p. 649.
"
» See Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, xii. , p. 253.
8
See ibid. , vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, i. , and n. 13, pp. 183, 186.
4 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints,'' vol. viii. , August xii.
5 See Index Chronologicus ad Ann. ccccxxxiv. , p. 517, Ussher's " Britannica- rum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates. "
See his Life, at the 9th of June, in the
BishopfOf
Killala," p. 649. ""
9
Sixth Volume of this work, Art. i.
,0
Chapter iii.
"See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi-
berniae," Februarii xv. Vita S. Farannani Confessoris, Ex Hibernico versa, n. 21, p. 339.
August 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. *75
He is spoken of as being one of those persons, assembled at Easdara or 12
Ballysodare, in Sligo County, for the purpose of paying respect to the Apostle of the Picts. This was on the occasion of St. Columba being at
that place, soon after the dissolution of a celebrated assembly held at Drum-
x
ceat. 3 Already,anaccountofthesynodconvenedatEasdarahasbeengiven,
in connexion with the Acts of St. Farannan *«4 and among the notables named, as assisting thereat, is Muredach of Killala,^ in Tyr-Amhalga^ih. Therefore
View of Killala, County of Mayo.
it would seem, that towards the close of St. Columba's life, our saint had been bishop there, and that he had the honour and pleasure of greeting the great Apostle of Caledonia.
However, we have no reliable account, regarding the exact period of St.
Muredach's promotion, nor is there any statement to fix those years, during
which he ruled over the See of Killala. Nevertheless, we read in the Life of
16 1 18 St. Corbmac, that St. Patrick, St. Brigid, ? St. Columkille, St. Cannech,
" The notice there given of him is thus 15 Already in the Life of St. Kellach or expressed in the ancient Life : "Muredachus Cellach, Abbot and Martyr of Killala, a
de Kill-aladh in Tyramhalgaidh," &c. See cap. xii. , p. 337.
view is presented of an approach to the town, in the Fifth Volume of this work, at the 1st of May, Art. i. Here, a different point of view shows the Round Tower, Church Spire and Town. It was drawn on the spot by William F. Wakeman. The engraving is by Mrs. Millard.
