No More Learning

*° Colgan says, this island, called Iniscarra,
there is reason to suppose, was the same as
that denominated Cuil-ochtair, which means,
the
haunch. "
2* It would seem, that the youth here
about A. D. —
O'Reilly's
Irish-English Dictionary,"
Inniscarra, 532
;
whereas, " Ecclesi-
"
called Lugadius, is called Luogarius a little
lower down, in St. Senan's Prose Life. In
one instance or other, there is probably a typographical error ; but, without access to the
MSS. , it would not be an easy matter to determine the correct reading.
3' See Colgan's "Acta Sanctonmi Hiber- niae," viii. Martii. Secunda Vita S. Senani, cap. xxii. , p. 529. The author of St. Senan's Prose Life adds to this account: " uti in sua de his historia conscripta Sanctus Col- manus filius Lenine testatur. " From these words, Colgan appears to have come to the conclusion, that St. Colman wrote a Life of our saint. But, unless he derived his know- ledge from other sources, it will not follow from this passage, that Colman composed a Life of St. Senan. Without doing so, and whilst treating on a subject, having reference to the circumstances related, the narrative might have been introduced. Dr. Lanigan, when treating on this part of St. Senan's Life, and after mentioning, Aidus and Luga-
Litanies, and more especially, as the brethren there are said to have been strangers.
t' Colgan states, that although the names, St. Fechin and St. Chillin, are Irish, the denomination of the island may have been assumed, from this fact, that the greater part of those living there had been foreigners, This St. Fechin named, he thinks, must have been either, Fechin, son to Vacaieche, whose feast is kept on the i6th of February, at Lemmaigh; or, perhaps, FechhiValughba, who is venerated on the 28th of December, according to Marianus and others,
''^ The St. Chillin here mentioned, in the opinion of Colgan, seems to have been Killen, son to Tolodran, whose feast is kept on the 26th of March, in the Decies Country, or Killin Breghda, whose feast is kept, ac-
Hence, we may suppose, that Senan
"
is mentioned in the book of St. Angus'
Cell of the eight brethren ;" and which
230 LIVFS OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8
which was called Inis-luinge,'^3 where he built a church. + While dwelling at
this place,''s the daughters of Brendad, Dynast of Y-figinte, came to him, and having consecrated themselves to God, by religious vows, they lived under the direction of St. Senan. These holy virgins became the first fruits of Eoganacht Gabhra region, and were consecrated to God, through the ministry of his favoured servant. After our saint had veiled them, in this place,-*^ and had instructed them in the principles of a spiritual life, and in monastic discipline ; he set out for a certain island, which was called Inis- more,47 and which was situated in a region, called Irros-deschert. But, contrary to his intention, through the dispositions of Divine Providence, he was driven by contrary winds, to another island, called Inis-tuaischert,42 and here he began to build a church. Leaving some of his disciples there, when it had been completed, Senan resumed his journey. He came to Inismore, where he founded a monastery, and dwelt there for some time, with his disciples. Having left some of these latter, in this place, among whom are specially named, St. Liberius,t9 with three bishops, named Dalan, Sedonius, and Ere, our saint betook himself to another island, called Iniscaorach \^° where, having built an oratory,si he left there, in like manner, some of his
cording to Marianus, on the 29th of Decem- ber. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernice," n.
14, P- 535-
^^ We are told, that this was either an
island in the Shannon, or a place near that
river, along which lies the country, anciently called Hyfiginte. In the Second Life of St.
Luissen.
5°OrInis-keeragh. Thiswasoneofthe
Enniskerry Islands, in the barony of Ibric- kan, and on the coast of Clare County. The denomination has been vulgarized by receiv- ing a different name. It is now called Mutton Island, according to Mr. Dutton. See his " Statistical Survey of the County of Clare,"
Senan, chap. 43, is mentioned Inisluaidhe,
now Inisula, where it appears there was P- 329-
some religious establishment. It is one of
the islands of the Shannon, between Lime-"
rick and Iniscatthy.
'••• " Whether Inisluinge and Inisluaidhe
were the same place or not, I will not stop to enquire. "—Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland. " vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. i. , n. 12, p. 5.
"•'^ Following the authority of O'llalloran, Archdall says (at Inisula), that Senan founded a monastery there, before St.
"
5' "Belonging to this parish (Kilmuny, barony of Ibrickan, and county of Clare), and lying in the Atlantic o]iposite the town- land of Tromra, is the island of Inis Caerach, or Mutton Island, on which the great St. Senanus founded an oratory, as Colgan gathers from the Lives of that saint. The site of St. Senaun's Church, on this island, is still pointed out, but, no part of it remains. ****
The following passage in the 'Annals of the Four Masters,' at the year Patrick's arrival in Munster. See Monas- 799, is believed to have reference to this
-ticoii Ilibernicum,"
»* Harris assigns the foundation of Inis-
lua, an island in the Shannon, among the Irish monasteries under Clare county, to the fifth century. See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "Antiquities of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p.
island and two others in its » * * vicinity.
'a. d. 799. A great storm of wind, thunder
and lightning happened the day before St. Patrick's festival this year, and it killed ten and one thousand persons, in the territory of Corca-Baskin, and the sea divided the
island of Inis Fithse into three ' The parts.
more intelligent of the natives are acquainted with this passage, and believe, that it could have reference to no other place than Mutton
p.
48.
It was founded, however, in the sixth '"century ; since this was the period, when the
'
missionary career of St. Senan was in course
267.
bf prosecution.
47 In "The Legend of Iniscatthy," we Island. If I am not mistaken, Council
read the following identification : "supposed Mageoghegan, in his translation of the by some to be Deer Island, at the mouth of 'Annals of Clonmacnoise,' points out the the Fergus. " See Duffy's "Hibernian very situation of this island, which was Magazine," vol. i. . No. i, p. 38.
"t^ Dr. Lanigan puts a query, "Could this be Inistuskeran Island off t—he coast of Kerry, barony of Corcaguinny ? " "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. i. , n. 13, p. 5.
''s He is supposed to have been venerated
I hope Mr. Smyth of College-green, who
on the 1st of August, being called, with his '^brothers Failbhe and Oilbhe, the sons of
van from Kildysart, on the 8th of November, 1839. This is to be found among the Anti-
quarian Letters, relating to the County Clare, vol. i. , pp. 348, 349.
;
divided into three parts by an earthquake.
has a copy of INJageoghegan's translation of '
the AnnalsofClonmacnoise,'willsendme this passage. " Thus writes John O'Douo-
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 231
disciples. After this, our saint went to another islandj^^ named Inis-cunla,53 situated in Y-Sedna district. On this, he also constructed a celljS'* which he designed for the habitation of his disciples,5s Finan and the Bishop Finnian. 5S It will be observed, in the foregoing and succeeding accounts, as found in St. Senan's Acts, that his love of retirement, in selecting sites for all his religious establishments, led him to choose those positions, where he could be most perfectly insulated, or removed from all commerce with men of the world.
CHAPTER III.
ST. SENAN IS MIRACULOUSLY SHOWN BY AN ANGEL THE PLACE FOR HIS FUTURE HABI- TATION—HE EXPELS THE MONSTER CATHACH—DESCRIPTION OF AND ANTIQUITIES ON SCATTERY ISLAND—MACTAIL'S OPPOSITION TO ST. SENAN, AND HIS SUDDEN DEATH—THE DRUID's DISCOMFITURE—TWO BOYS, WHO WERE DROWNED RESTORED TO LIFE—ST. SENAN IS VISITED BY SAINTS KIERAN AND BRENDAN—THE MIRACU- LOUS BELL SENT TO ST. SENAN—THE HOLY ABBOT PRODUCES THE WELL, AFTER- WARDS KNOWN AS TOBER SHEANAIN.
At —built so length, having many
cells and
SO many disciples having allow—ed them to exercise those virtues they had
acquired, in different institutions after having done so much for religion, in his own, and in distant lands, St. Senan was warned by an angel, that the
time had now arrived, according to the designs of Providence, when he should seek a place of retreat, where he must rest from his labours, and find a tomb. The Angel of God then led him to the sCimmit of a mountain, called Tese. Thence, an island was seen lying on the bosom of the Shannon, within that expanse of its waters, where they are discharged into
^
the Western Ocean.
ture and resurrection, and also that of many other saints ; while no homicide or nefarious crime had yet been committed there ; for, as the local tradition holds, it remained in possession of a horrible monster,^ which was inimical to man and beast. Through the assistance of God, it was said, that Senan should expel this monster, which had hitherto precluded the approach of any colonists. Afterwards, a promise was given, that he and his monks should peacefully possess this island, together with a succession of other holy men. Being then borne, by the ministering aid of this angel, from the mountain top, our saint was brought to another elevated sp,ot, which was situated in an island. This was afterwards called, Ard-na-naingel, which means, " the hill of the Angels. " Then the servant of God, relying on the power of his great
5^ This island is said by Colgan, to have "The Legend of luiscatliy," in Duffy's been situated in that part of Thomond, " Hibernian Magazine," vol. i. . No. I, p.
38.
s* gee Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," viii. Martii. Secunda Vita S. Senani,
cap. xxiii. , xxiv. , xxvii. , pp. 529, 530. Also, the BoUandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii viii. Second Liie, chap, iv. , pp. 773, 774, with notes.
Chapter hi. —' It lay within "view of
" Sanctorum Hibernise," viii. Martii, n. 20,
called Hy-Brecain, or Ibrickan. See p. 536.
Acta
53 "
" Legend of Iniscathy" has it. See Duffy's
"
Hibernian Magazine," vol. i. . No. i, p. 3^-
5* Dr. Lanigan thinks it "probable that
some of these
religious
houses and churches
his own native " See "The Mullagha.
Inisconla, in the Fergus," as
The
were of later and branche—s from institution,
of m " Pliber- Legend Iniscatthy," Duffy's
the of " great monastery Iniscatthy. "
Ec- nian vol. No. Magazine," i. , i, p. 38
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. X. , sect, i. , n. 16, p. 6.
^"
Possibly one of the great antedeluvian
"
be found, in mo^t of these places. " See
reptiles, as has been suggested, in relation to these traditionary monsters of Irish story. " ^bid. The period of St. Senan was compa-
5^
Traces oi those old foundations are to
monasteries,
after
having
instructed
This he said, should be the place of St. Senan's sepul-
232 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
Creator, went to that island, where the monster was to be found ; and, on his approach, this beast assumed a fearful appearance, his eyes and breath
emitting flame, his mouth exuding poison, while his terrible jaws extending threatened death to our saint. But, being under Divine protection, and like a true soldier of Christ, being armed with a breastplate of faith and a shield of hope, St. Senan advanced undismayed towards the monster. He formed the sign of the cross against him, when instantly the beast was rendered motionless. Then God's holy servant, by the power of Him, who bruised the first dragon's head, and in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, ordered this fierce monster to depart from the island,^ and never to harm any person there, or elsewhere, for the future. In obedience to this mandate of our saint, and by virtue of that Superior Power, whose will efiects all things, the monster was transferred from that island, into a certain deep lake,* presenting a gloomy appearance,5 near Collain,^ a mountain of Thomond. It was never* known to have inflicted future injury. ?
The island of Inis-Cathaigh, now generally called Scattery Island,^ is situated, on the River Shannon, about two miles the south of Kilrush quay. Originally, eleven churches are said to have been on this island f but, it has not apparently much more than half that number in ruins at present. Here do we find the following group of most interesting antiquities. The Round Tower,'° which has been called in Irish, Clogas Inse Cathaigh. '^ It stands,"
ratively modern, however, as relating to the perches.
It is surrounded with a shingle
time before the deluge. Perhaps, it might be a safer conjecture, that whales, or other
great monsters of the deep, were frequently seen about Iniscattery, in the earlier times, and that they disappeared after St. Senan's settlement there.
3 Alluding to the omission of this account
from the Metrical Life, Colgan says, that it
must have been excluded, not through any mistake of the author, but through one of a transcriber ; he therefore restores it from the
strand, and it has a singularly imposing ap- pearance, as seen by the tourist, almost from any point of view.
9 This we learn, from Michael O'Bran- non's Irish poem, "On the Shannon," in which he recites traditions, relating to the
tower of Scattery.
'° Mr. John O'Donovan has given a
detailed description and dimensions. It is
52 feet 4 inches in circumference, at the base, as measured on the outside. The wall
"
its internal —and its entire diameter 16 feet 11 inches. Its doorway is placed on the east side, and it is now level with the surface of the field, which is not Dubh-loch. Here, the monster banished much raised, and facing the north-west
Irish Life. See
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
is 4 feet 6 inches in thickness
nise," Martii viii. , n. ii, p. 522.
* In the parish of Kilmurry, Ibrickan
diameter is 7 feet 1 1 inches
barony and county of Clare, in a townland of the same name is this lough, still called
by St. Senan lies buried, according to local tradition.
s See, a curious Breton legend of a sea-
serpent, told in a manner very similar, and way of the Damhliag. It is very nidely
referring to a spot called FAbime du serpent, on the coast of Cornouaille, in Montalem-
^
Perhaps Callan Mountain, lying east of Miltown Malbay, and rising high over the Atlantic Ocean.
7 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," viii. Martii. Vita Secunda S. Senani,
cap. xxviii. ,xxix. ,p. 530. TheO'Clerys state, it was Senan, that blessed Inis-Cath-
aigh, and expelled from it a monster, from
which the island was named, i. e. , Cathach.
This monster used to injure people and
cattle, so that the island durst not be in-
habited or occupied until Senan came. See 'S 'o'a iniimn\ oiLoAn 1ii]'e CAchAij "The Martyrology of Donegal," edited by •Aii\ A|\'cun\ A11 iiAOtii bA gboixniAix boACA
Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 68, 69. SeAtiAn Aen ccau tDeAg x>q cheAinpluib
^
Its superficial area is 179 acres 19 A\ cbogAf AlAin, Afo 'tiA o-ceAncA.
"
livre yiii. , chap, ii. , p. 424.
constructed of small rough stones, and it in- clines to a point. It measures, in height, 4
feet 8| inches ; and, in breadth, at top, 2 feet ; at bottom, 2 feet 3 inches. Mr. O'Donovan could not believe, that this doorway is more than four or five centuries old, altliough, he saw no place, in the side of the tower, exhibiting any appearance of a more ancient one built up or destroyed.
"Thusrunthel—inesinMichaelO'Bran-
bert's
Les Moines d'Occident," tome ii. ,
;
corner of the Damh-liag. This doorway is not the original one, as it cannot rationally be supposed coeval with the opposite door-
non's Irish Poem
:
If iomt)A oileAn peA^1rlA]^, i:Ati\pn5, A s-compAf ]'oUi]'Ach a ^\einie
O cACAi^N bmmnije 50 CeAii Lei'me.
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 233
at the distance of 7 1 feet 7 inches, to the west of the Damliag, with parts of which it seems coeval. The local tradition is/3 that this clogas was built by St. Senan, the patron saint of the island. '* Mr. O'Donovan is of opinion, that the greater part of the side of this tower was rebuilt, or, at least, that
la i owci auJ Ruins on Scattery Island.
breaches made in it by lightning had been patched up. 's The cap has suffered considerably, from the shock of elements, but enough of it remains-
for ascertaining the original height. '^
The Cathedral or Damliag'? lies to the
Senan and a woman, the cap of this tower was never finished.
'2 At present, there is a large breach in
the nortli sitle apparently made by lightning, and a rent extends from bottoni to top. It is also split on the west side, from within a few feet of the bottom to the top-wintiow. But, the original doorway could not have been placed, where the present breach is. This seems evident, from the position of the first window. The first story, over the original doorway, wherever placed, was lighted up by a small square window, in the north side ; the second, by a rude little window, now much disfigured, placed on the south side ; the third, by a small quadrangular window, on the east side, nearly over the present doorway ; the fourth, by a similar one, but more ancient, on the west side ; the filth, by a similar one, on the north side ; and these are four %yindows of good size, exactly facing the cardinal points, under the Ben- cover or conical cap. —
'* According to Archdall who follows
the autliority of Smith, in his "—Natural and "
CivilHistoryofKerry, p. 227 thisRoimd
The following is Mr. O'Donovan's English
: translation —
" Many a grassy extensive island
In the blight compass of its course
From Limerick City to Leap (now Loop)
Head,
Of the number is the isle of Inis Cathy, On wliich a saint of glorious life,
Senan, placed eleven churches
And a beautiful high Clogas beside them. "
" About six perches, to the west of the Clogas, there is a large square well, called Tobar Sheanain, or "The well of Senan," and near it there is a stone, ornamented with a cross.
'3 It also existed, in the year 1794, when O'Brannon wrote his poem, and before any
of the theories, about the Fire-worshippers and ]5udhists, were published.
'•* Though the Danes were in possession of the island, in the year 975, no one ever heard it was at anytime a tradition, that the Clogas was built by them. According to a wild and unintelligible legend, about St.
.
'5 It measures 3 feet 3 inches, in width, at the s;>ing of the arch. This doorway was inserted, about five centuries since, when the primitive doorway, in the west gable, as usual, had been stopped up. At the dis- tance of 12 feet 6 inches, from the east side of this doorway, there is a high narrow window ; and, 10 feet lo inches further, to the east, there is another high narrow sham- rock-headed window ; and, 10 feet I inch east of this, ther—e is a narrow curvilineally pointed window all modern and inserted into the original wall, as the character of the masonry immediately around will prove to a
-deiuonslration,
6 inches, is exactly in the same style ; but, from that upwards, it is decidedly mere
modern, this part having been erected when
the Gothic windows were inserted. The
resemblance, which this west gable bears fo that of the Cathedral of Glendalough, is
striking, in the present instance, the gable having at each corner a rectangular pillar, projecting 2 feet, and measuring, in breadth, 3 feet 5 inches.
•^ This church affords a very satisfactory
elucidation of the manner, in which the
primitive Irish Damliags were remoiielled, after the introduction of the pointed style by the Anglo-Normans, and it is therefore
234 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
east of the tower. In its present form, it is not divided into nave and choir -, but, by comparing it with other cathedrals of the primitive Irish Church, one may come to the conckision, that it was originally so divided. '^ The ground is considerably raised, on the outside, so that its height there cannot be easily ascertained ; but, on the inside, its original height and character- istics appear. The south wall contains a pointed doorway, placed at the distance of over 1 2 feet, from the west gable ; but, it is so broken, that its dimensions cannot be accurately given. '^ The east gable was all rebuilt, except a few feet of the lower part, and it contains a high Gothic window. ^° The north wall of this church contains a modern pointed doorway, daubed with fresh-looking mortar, and constructed of small rude stones. It is placed opposite the doorway, in the south wall, already described, and, perhaps, it is about three centuries old. ^' The entire of the north wall, to the height of 10 feet 6 inches, is built of very large stones, not laid in regular courses, not hammered, nor even quarried, which is the surest criterion of the primitive style of masonry in Ireland. ^^ The south wall is also of the primitive style, to the height of about 10 feet, excepting the breaches which were made in it, when the pointed windows were inserted. These breaches are built up with
stones, which appear remarkably small, in comparison with those in the primitive part of the work outside them. ^3 To the north of the Damliag,
Tower is 120 feet, in height. See " Mon- asticon Ilibeinicum," pp. 51, 52.
'7 It measures, on the inside, 68 feet 4 inches, and, in breadth, 27 feet 7 inches. Its original doorway remains in the west gable ; and, it is a beautiiul specimen of the
^° It measures, on the outside, 3 feet 5 inches, in width ; and, about 12 feet in height. In the stone, which closes the top of this window, on the outside, is the head of a bishop, with his mitre, badly executed, but in very good preservation, yet not older, than the period of rebuilding this gable. - This head is held in high estimation by the islanders, as being the supposed effigy or re- presentation of the face of their great patron Senan.
semi-cyclopean style. It is 6 feet 6 inches, in height, and, in breadth, 2 feet lO inches, at top ; while, it is 3 feet \\ inch, at bottom. Its lintel is 5 feet 8 inches, in length, and 12 inches, in height—it extends the entire
; thickness of the wall
^' The stone wall has a
placed at the distance of 10 feet 5 inches, from the east gable. This doorway leads into an lardom, or sacristy, which measures 26 feet 6 inches, from east to west, and 10 feet, from north to souih. Tiie north wall of this lardom contains two modein win- dows, not worth description, and its east wall has a neat pointed window, measuring, on the outside, 7 feet I inch in height, and
•
that is feet 35
the north side.
•* The reader is referred to the Life of St.
inches.
and, in this projecting part, there are 2 square mor- tices, one at each side of the doorway, to fasten the door ; and, a part of the iron gudgeon, on which the door hung, exists at
square doorway,
It projects, on the inside, 4 inches ;
Cannera, at the 28th of January, for an en-
graving of the Round Tower and Damliag,
on Scattery Island ; at another point of one foot in breadth. This lardom is built view, the annexed illustration, furnished
from a photograph, taken by Frederick H.
Mares, Dublin, is submitted. It has been
drawn on tlie wood, by William F. Wake-
man, and engraved by George A. Hanlon.
lip against tlie north wall of the Damliag, but its stones are not dove-tailed or inserted into it, which proves that it is an after
erection.
"^ The west gable, to the height of lo^feet
'
•
<-
los. 8d. " Tiie same Incjuisiiion finds,
"
in the island are two chapels in ruins, the Abbey of St. Synan, with a small ceme- tery, annual value 2s. , Irish, also a parish church. " Thetwochapelsherementioned, are the churches, Teampull Sheanain, and
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 235
4 feet 1 1 inches from its north wall, there is a remarkable little oratory, or ernatdhe, of great antiquity, but obviously remodelled. It measures, in length, 23 feet 6 inches, and, in breadth, 12 feet 10 inches. ^'^ The foregoing three buildings are enclosed by a rude wall, built of large stones, and looking very
ancient.
About twenty perches, to the north of the Round Tower, there is a small
"
church, called Teampull Sheanain, i. e. ,
present form, it does not look old, at first sight ; but, on a close exaruination, it will be found to be an ancient church remodelled. ^s It consists of a nave
and choir. ^^ Immediately to the west of this, there is a small building,27
built of thin slates of nearly equal size, and altogether looking very modern. ^^ About forty perches, to the south-west of the Round Tower, and on the hill,
"
there is another church, in ruins. It is called after the hill, Teampull Cnuic
na n-aingeal. *9 AH its features are destroyed, and, the greater part of the fragments of the walls remaining are modern. 3° There is another building joined to the south-east side of this churcli. 3^ About fifty perches to the south-east of the Damliag, there is a large church, now called Teampull na Marbh, in Latin, ecdesia mortuorum. ^'* It is the only one, on the island, in which people bury the dead, as the name indicates ;33 although, in all proba-
called in the Life of St. Senan, Ard na n-aingcal, i. e. ,
the hill of the Angels,"
worthy the attention of the architectural
antiquarian.
** It had a small choir, now almost des-
troyed, measuring 8 feet 9 inches, from east to west, and 10 feet 4 inches, from north to
feet 2 inches, in breadth. Its doorway was in the south wall, measuring 3 feet 3 inches, in breadth ; but, its height cannot be ascer- tained, as it is broken.
of —outh—thickness its walls,
2 feet inches 3
2 feet 8 inches
the east and the
gable, other in the south
s —thickness
of walls of
but both are now
of walls of
inches. ^^ It measures feet 6 9 40
nave, nave, 7
wall,
nearly destroyed.
feet
The doorway was placed in the south wall, but it is nearly destroyed. A quadrangular
inches, in length, and 16 feet 8 inches, in breadth.
3° The south wall is 10 feet, in height ; and, about 2 feet 7 inches, in thickness. The north wall is nearly all destroyed, as are also the two gables, except a small part of the-west gable, which looks very ancient. The south wall contained a pointed tloorway constructed of rude stones, and evidently modern. The south wall contained two windows, which are now mere breaches.
3'
It measures 35 feet lo inches, from north to south ; and, 15 feet, from east to west. A part of the west wall, 14 teet long, and 5 feet high, joined to the church, re- mains, and a small part of the midtUe of the east wall, 2 feet 9 inches in thickness. . A legend, about the selection, by St. Senan, of this spot, for a church, is related.
height
window, 2 feet 3 inches, by ii inches, is in the west gable, placed a few feet from the ground, and all this gable, from that window upwards, is modern.
^5 John O' Donovan states,—that it was
patched up at various periods ITeb b]\i^'ce
ShcAAin ScuijNixe. -*
—
Its measurements are as follows
:
length of the nave, 23 feet 10 inches ;
breadth, 16 feet 9 inches ; length of chon-,
10 feet 10 inches ; breadth, lofeet 9 inches ; thickness of walls of nave, 2 feet 8 inches, and of choir, 2 feet 3 inches. The west gable is featureless, and it seems to have been all rebuilt. The south wall contains a pointed doorway, built of small stones, and
notof Afew evidently any great antiquity.
feet 8 inches, in width, on the inside, and, on the outside, 2 feet 1 1 inches, in height, and 8 inches, in width.
^? It is 21 feet 8 inches, in length, and il
3^ It is
feet to the east of it, there is a window, 6 inches broad, as measured on the inside.
broad inside, and narrow outside, but so curtained with ivy on the outside, that it is difficult to obtain its dimension. All the
choir arch is destroyed, except a small part
of the north side, which looks very primitive.
The south wall of the choir contains a small quadrangular window, but very modern, and
not worth description. The only part, which
looks ancient, is a small wmdow, in the east
gable, measuring 5 feet, in height, and 3 that
the church of St. Senan. " In its
^^
It contained two small windows, one in
67
feet 10 inches and 18 feet long,
33 About 150 yards, to the nortii of this church, are the vaults of a castle. We learn the date for the erection of this castle, from an Inquisition, taken in the i8th year of the reign of Elizabeth, which states that the Coiiverb {(Lo7ix\)) "hath in his possession a new castle partly builded, a small stone house, and three cottages, annual value
236 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
bility, this was not the original denomination. Its west gable is featureless,34 The southern point of this island is called Rinn Eanaigh. 35 The nearest point to Inisbeg or Hog Islands^ is called Pointe an mheill, and the north- west point is called Pointe an Chroisin. 37 Such is the modern topographical description, applying to the spot,^^ with which St, Senan resolved to connect
the remaining days of his life.
Giving thanks to the great Author of all things, and being accompanied
by the angel, who was his assistant, St. Senan began to take a circuit round this island, which he blessed. When, however, he beheld the swelling
he said to the " This island seems angel :
its
exposed to many dangers, and not very suitable for a monastic establishment,
billows, dashing against
shores,
on account of tlie rough tempests and waves, that break over its surrounding waters. " The angel exhorted him to be of good cheer, promising m God's
name, that none of his monks should be drowned, when, crossing the water, in obedience to commands of their superior ; and, moreover, that no person, buried in this place, who had been penitent before death, should forfeit the rewards of eternal life. 39 After a report had been spread abroad, through the adjoining country, that the monster had been expelled, and that St. Senan had taken possession of the island, which was called Iniscathaigh, or Inis- cathach, from the word Cathach, applied to this monster ; Mactail, the ruler of Y-figinte district,'*" was moved with indignation against our saint, because he had dared to inhabit an island, then subject to his rule. Not having obtained permission from the lord of its soil, Mactail gave orders, that St. Senan should be immediately and ignominously expelled, from that place. The execution of such mandate had been committed to Coelius and Lieth,
TeampuU Cnuic na n-aingeal, already des- with the exception of one fragment of a wall, cribed. The Abbey of St. Synan is the one, projecting from the north-east corner. The
now called Teampull na-marbh, and the
parish church is certainly the Damliag.
34 The south wall contains a doorway, placed at the distance of 21 feet from the west gable, but now reduced to a formless breach. East of this, in the same wall,
walls of this church are 2 feet 6 inches
thick, and the side walls are about 1 7 feet
high.
35 Outside Rinn Eanaigh point, there is a
rock, called Carraig a Draoi, the remains of
an island, calleil Dair-inis, which is men- there are three windows, all decidedly tioned in St. Senan's Life. A subsequent
modern, and not worth particular descrip- tion. There is, in the east gable, a large
pointed window, measuring on the inside, 8 feet 8 inches, in width, and 7 feet, in height. The lower part of it is built up, with modern mason work. The north wall, at the dis- tance of 7 feet 8 inches in width from the west gable, has a round-headed but very modern doorway ; and, 18 feet to the east of it, there is a ruder pointed arch, 9 feet 6 inches high, and 8 feet 4 inches wide ; while, 3 feet 10 inches, to the east of it, another arch has similar characteristics and dimensions. At the distance of 5 feet 4 inches, to the east of this, there is a quad-
narrative explains the popular tradition re- garding the name for Carraig a Draoi.
3* There is a rock in the channel, between
Scattery Island and Hog Island, denomi- nated Carnaig Dhonain, and called after Donan, one of St. Senan's monks.
37 On Henry Pelham's old Map of Clare
County, Scattery Island is represented, with its Round Tower, and churches. It is also called Innuskattre. The southern point is called Rinana and Shoal.
3* See "Letters containing Information relating to the Antiquities of the County of Clare, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey, A. D. 1840," vol. ii. Mr. John O'Donovan's Letter, dated Kildysart, December 24th, 1840, pp. 13 to 30.
rangular doorway, 5 feet 4 inches high, and
2 feet II inches wide, at the lintel, and 3
feet 2 inches at the bottom. Its lintef is a
thin flag, 4 feet 6 inches long, i foot 8
inches broad, and only 3 inches thick.