No More Learning

"* Thus : xvii. Kal. Sci brandani abbis et Conf. cu reg chi.
"7 Thus : xvii. Junii Brandani ab.
"^ Thus "xvii. KL. Junij. In Scocia na- talis Sancti Brandani abbatis apud regalem insulam de Bute cuius vite et peregrinationis marisque et terrarum copiosa gesta et stiu- penda miracula enarrarare nemo mortalium de facili possit que non sermonibus exjjli- canda sed gloriosus signis quibus indies cla- ret, comprobanda. "
119 j,^ "Proceedings of the Society ofAnti- quaries of Scotland," vol. ii. , Sessions MDCCCLIV-V. —MDCCCLVI. -VII. , p. 264.
'^° Communicated by David Laing, Esq. , F. S. A. , Scot.
'-' Thus : 16 S. Brandane abot and con- fess, in Scott, vnder king malcolme. a. d. 1066.
'-- xvi. Birra coenobio Brandani abbatis, vita et morte mirabilis. M. historia tamen vita; ejus, et acta ab eo, ut referuntur, sunt apocrypha : depingitur cum Merula dexterce portensaa insidente.
"^ 16 Die. Sanctus Brandanus Abbas Apostolus Orcadum et Scoticarum insula- rum.
"'' 16 Die. Hoc eodem die S. Brandanus
'°^ Thus " In Scotia Sancti Brandani :
:
—
May i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 463
Brendanus is entered, in the anonymous Catalogue, '°3 published by O'Sullevan Beare. Likewise, in Henry Fitzsimon's list, the name of Brandanus Abb. is inserted at the 26th of May—evidently a mistake for the i6th. '°4 However, some foreign authors have his festival, at various other dates : thus, Saussay assigns it, to the nth of January, supposing his Beandanus Abbot, to have been identical with Brendanus ;'°s in a Manuscript Usuard, it is at 14th of June; in a certain Manuscript Kalendar of the Benedictines, it is at the 24th of June ; and, Tritheniius has it, at the 19th of December. '"^ Accord- ing to the Martyrology of Donegal,'°7 veneration was given to Brenainn, Abbot of Cluain-ferta Brenainn, while the Roman Martyrology com- memorates him, in like manner, at the i6th of May. '°^ At this date, like- wise, Petrus Galesinus notices St. Brendan ;'°9 as also Wion, Dorgan, Menard, Bucelin, with many other Martyrologists. "° Styled St. Brendan the Elder, he is entered, at this date, in some compilations, as in Bishop Challenor's,"' in AlbanButler's,"2and in the Circle of the Seasons. "3 In Scotland, as in Ireland, the name and feast of St. Brendan are commemorated,"* in the Kalendar of Drummond,"s in that of Arbuthnott,"^ in that of Aberdeen,"? as also, in the Martyrology of Aberdeen,"^ as published "9 from an old Manuscript of the sixteenth century. '"° Also, in Adam King's Kalendar,^^^ with a singular de- parture from correct chronology ; in Thomas Dempster's " Menologium Sco- ticum,"'^^ with blunders as to identity of person ; while David Camerarius has two different saints, named Brandanus, at this date—one being called Abbot and Apostle of the Orkney and Scottish Islands,'^3 and the other being
"
464 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 16.
styled Abbot of Culioss. '2+ According to Thomas Dempster,'^^ St. Bren- danus, Brandanus, or Bredanus, was of Scottish birth, although some persons erroneously considered him to have been an Irishman. '^^ As if to confirm his statement, authorities are quoted,"? which do not serve to establish that contention. In some old Manuscripts, there are proper prayers for a Mass celebrated on St. Brendan's festival. '^^ As we learn from the Kalendars of several Trinity College Antiphonaries, the Abbot St. Brendan had an office of Three Lessons,"^ with some description of choral service, at the i6th of May ;'3° but, we also find, that his office was a Double,'^' and that it con- sisted of Nine Lessons, 'j- according, we suppose, to the diversities of place. '^s This and the Mass of his festival were in some cases transferred. ^^4
Two ancient places in Ireland are chiefly associated with his memory. The Sees of Clonfert and of Ardfert honour St. Brendan as their patron, although St. EreisreputedtohavebeenthefirstbishopoverthelatterSee. '^s Bymanywriters, ArdferthasbeeninterpretedtomeantheHeightofMiracles. '^^ Thisetymo- logicalderivation,notwithstanding,hasbeenquestioned. '^? Ardfertwaspro- bably established, before the foundation of Clonfert, which the Annals of Ulster place at 557, or by an alternative conjecture at 563. '38 The Annals of Boyle, however, have this latter foundation at a. d. 536, which is manifestly too early a date. '39 The principal See in Kerry County was Ardfertj'^o and in some Manu- scriptsithasbeentermedthebishopricofJar-Mua,orWestMunster. This cathedral had been dedicated to our saint. '1' The prelates living here were formerly called bishops of Kerry. '•»- The ruins of the cathedral nave and choir,
Abbas CuhossiDe. of the native saints at the time of its being '-= See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis issued. If the feasts of St. Comgall, Bren-
Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. ii. , num. 14';, p. 81.
"* Among these is named Antonius Pos- sevinus, in " Apparatus Sacer," p. ccli.
"7 He writes: " Melius Wernerus Role- vinchus in Fasciculo Temporum : Brendanus in Scotia claret, sanctus jialer trium milium monachorum. "Colitur vel dee xix. Decemb. Trillicm, lib. iii. de Vir. illustr. S. Benedict. , cap. xxxi. vel die xviii. Junii. Petrus in Cata- logo, lib. v. , cap. cxvii. Vincentius Bellova- censis in Speculo, lib. xxi. , cap. Ixxxi. Meminit Jacobus de Vitriaco cardinalis Ilis- tor. Hierosolym. , cap. Ixxxiii. Vide locum, et cap. Ixxxviii. Mirum refert de avibus ab eo visis. "
"« As in the Paris MS. , A. Colbert, 2,
333-
"9 Thus noted, in the Manuscript, classed
B3. 5-
'3° Thus, in the Manuscript, classed B i,
3, and B 3, 13, we find "iii. Lect. cum reg<= cho'. "
'3' The MS. Antiphonarium of Armagh Metropolitan Church, in T. C. D. , classed B I, I, has entered in its Calendar list, at May the l6, Kal, xvii. Junii, Sancti Brendani, Abbalis. ox fn.
'3^ According to the Manuscripts, classed B3, I, B3, lb, B3, 12.
'" In ilio Manuscript, classed B i, 4, we have at IMay i6th, "Kal. xvii. Junii, Bran- (lani Abbatis," &c. , entered in a compar. i- tively recent hand.
"* The Breviary of Aberdeen "gives a rubric which shows the position of the cultus
dan, Ronan, Augustine, fall before Pente- cost, they are to be commemorated with only three lections and the regimen of the choir. If they occur on Pentecost or the octave, they are to be transferred till after the octave, and then there are to be the nine lections. The same rules hold with regard to SS. Colmoc, Columba, ISarnabas, Ternan and Margaret of Scotland, except in the churches dedicated to the respective saints. " —Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 284.
'35 See Sir James Ware's " Commentary of the Prelates of Ireland, from the tirst Conversion of the Irish Nation to the Chris- tian Faith down to our Times," Third Part, p. 49.
•30SeeHarris'Ware,vol. i. , "TheBis- hops of Ardfert," p. 518.
'•^'' John O'Donovan remarks, that <V^\-ope<ii\c may mean, also, " the height of the sepulchres.
'38 See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiberni- carum Scriptores," tomus iv. , pp. 21, 24.
'39 See //'/(/. , tomus ii. , Annates Buel- liani, p. 4.
''° About six miles north-west from Tralee.
'•"See Mr. and Mrs. Hall's "Ireland: its Scenery, Character," lic, vol. i. , p|>. 271, 272, and accompanying wood en- gravings.
uj See "Ancient and Present State of the County of Keiry," chap, viii. , pp. 19S to 204, with accompanying notes.
"
May16.
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
465
as described by Dr. Charles Smith in the middle of last century, were twenty- six yards, in length, by ten in breadth. h^ His measurements, however, are inaccurate. '43 Qn its south side was an arcade of four Gothic arches, which formed an aisle. The eastern window, large and lightsome, was twenty-six feethigh. Onthenorthside,therewasprobablyanotheraisle,torenderthe building uniform. But, that side seems to have been rebuilt, not long before the demolition of this church, during the civil war of 1641. It remained so since this period, excepting a small part, which had been used for Protestant worship. Towards the west end were two detached chapels, said to have been been used formerly by the cathedral dignitaries. About and among the present ruins are many gravestones and tombs. Opposite the west end of the cathedral, an ancient round tower stood, nearly one hundred feet high. It was built, mostly from a dark-coloured kind 01 marble. The door of this tower
St. Brendan's Catholic Church, Ardfert, County of Kerry.
faced the west entrance to the cathedral. '44 There are various lithographic and photographic illustrations '45 of an old church, supposed to have been erected in the twelfth or previous to the thirteenth century, and on the site of Ardfert cathedral. It is called Templenahoe, a rectangular building, with a door in the west end,'46 and it was terminated to the east by an apse or altar-
'43 These have been corrected, by John Smith imagines. This writer appends a very
O'Donovan, in " Letters containing Infor-
mation relative to the Antiquities of the
County of Kerry, collected during the Pro-
gress of the Ordnance Survey in 1841. " Architecture,'' Templenahoe, Ardfert, Cork, See Letter, dated July 24th, 1841, pp. 42
to 45.
'44 Not, however, for the purpose of peni-
tents here enclosed receiving pardon from the ecclesiastics and the prayers of a congre- gation entering and leaving the church, as
1870, 4to.
'^^ The ground-plan and west end are
excellent abstract, regarding bishops con- nected with this See, at note (c), ibid.
'« See Arthur Hill's " Ancient Irish
faithfully represented, in Plate No. I. , with the south elevation and details, in Plate
No. II. , of the work already quoted
the longitudinal section, with mouldings, is
IG
;
while
466 LIVES OF IHE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
recess, now entirely lost. It was lighted by four windows, and by an opening
in the west gable. One of the windows is in perfect condition while it is ;
moulded on the inside by a band of elaborate design and ornament, consist- ing of geometrical figures, elegantly carved. Anotlier church, Templena- griffin, stands a little to the west, but it is of comparatively modern date. In late years, a new and beautiful Catholic church has been erected at Ardfert, in tlie Gothic style, and it has been dedicated to St. Brendan, as patron.
'47 It was built, by the late Archdeacon O'Connell, P. P. , Castleisland, when he was P. P. of Ardfert, in the years 1853 to 1855, and on plans furnished by the late Mr. James J. M'Carthy, Architect. It was solemnly consecrated, by the Most Rev. Dr. Moriarty, then Coadjutor Bishop to Most Rev. Dr. Egan, on St. Brendan's Day, May i6th, 1855. 's In Kilshanig Island are the remains of a monastery, with hive-shaped cells. Near Brandon Head are similar cells. There, Thuruss Flainn, or the Rounds of Flan, yet take place. '49 To the north of Kilmalkedar church, and at the other side of the stream, called Abha-na-cille, or " the church river," there is a very curious ruin of a building, called St. Brendan's house ;'5° yet, little appears to be known, regarding its origin. Besides the celebrated Brandon Hill in the county of Kerry, there is also a Brandon Hill, very considerably elevated, on the west side of the River Barrow, in the parishes of Graiguenamanagli, barony of Gowran, and of The Rower, barony of Ida, county of Kilkenny. Brandondale is also a deno- mination in the former parish. '5' Whether they received name or not from the present saint is open to question.
In Scotland, too, the memory of this very celebrated and holy man was held in great veneration, as demonstrated by the local denominations, associated with his cultus. Thus, there was a Killbrennan or Kilvrannyn in Mull. 's^ There was a St. Brengan's chapel in St. Kilda. '53 He is patron of Boyndie and of Birnie. '54 His memory was venerated at Culien,'55 at Dumbarney,'^*^ and at Balbirnie,'57 while St. Brenghan's Fair was held in the parish of Kilbar, in Ayrshire,'58 and at Bamff. It was from a cell, erected by St. Brendan,'59
shown on Plate III. The section looking east and details of south window are shown on Plate No. IV. , with the later details full size on Plate No. V. Three characteristic photographs of this ancient church follow, admirably exhibiting all its chief features.
'47 Its style is neaily perpendicular Gothic, and it is considered one of the neatest and most complete specimens of that style for parish churches, as planned by Mr. M'Carthy. It consists of nave, 80 feet in length, l)y 22 feet in breadth; chancel, iS feet by 16 feet ; north and south aisles, each 80 feet by 10 feet ; Lady-chapel, adjoining chancel on the south, with tower and spire, 94 feet high to the base of cross. It was the first parish church built in the Gothic style, within the diocese of Ardfert—or perhaps in the south of Ireland—after the modern revival of (Jotliic architecture, as ajiplied to church buililing by Pugin and his pupils. The foregoing information was olMaincd, froni Very Kev. Denis O'Donoghue. P. P. , Ardfert, in a letter to the writer, and dated, August loth. 1885.
'4? See Miss Cusack's " History of the Kingdom of Kerry," chap, xviii. , p, 399.
'5° In Irish named VocixAch t)]\eAn<Mnn. See anaccount'of it, by John O'Donovan, in " Letters containing Information relative to the Antiquiiies of the County of Kerry, col- lecled during tlie Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1841. " Letter dated from Dingle, August 4th, 1S41, p. 90.
'^' See " Ordnance Sun-ey Townland
Maps for the County of Kilkenny," sheets
29, 33.
'5^ See "Origines Parochiales Scolice,"
pars, ii. , pp. 320, 322.
'53 See tbid. , p. 3S0.
'54 See " New Statistical Account of Scot-
land," at Elgin,
'53 See ibid. , at Bamff, p. 244.
'=6 See "Old Statistical Account of Scot-
land," vol. ix. , p. 155.
'5? See ibid. , vol. xlii. , p. 301.
's*^ See " New Statistical Account of Scot-
land," at Ayr.
'59 See Cambden's " Britannia," Rcgnum
ScoiiK, p. 8. Am>lerdamciiition, cb. , Kx-lix. """ Fordun has it, " nostro idiomate
"''' The accom]ianying illustration, from a
photograph, by Mr. Daly of Tralcc, was Bothc. "
drawn on the wood, by William F. Wake- ""See " Scotichronicon," lib. i. , cap.
man, and it was engraved by Mrs. Millard. xxix. , p. 26. Goodall's edition.
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 467
and which was called Bothe,'^° in the old Gaelic, that the whole Island of Bute,inScotland,wasnamed. '^' Hence,heruledasPatrontheroyalIsland of Bute. '^^ St. Brandan's Haven, at Innerbondy, is mentioned among the possessions of Arbroath Abbey. '^3 The name of St. Brandan occurs in Kil- birnie, where Brennan's Fair is held on the 28th of May. '^'* He has a Fair, too, at Kirkaldy ; while there is Kilbrandon Sound and Kilbrandon, in the Island of Seil, which denominations point to churches or cells erected in his honour. There is also the Island of Calbrandon. The church of Eassie, in Forfarshire, is dedicated to him. '^s Several churches, throughout Scotland, rejoice in him as their Patron. ^^^
The Rev. Timothy Brosnan'^7 obtained thesanction of Most Rev. David Moriarty, Bishop of Kerry, to celebrate Mas? in Brandon Mountain old Ora- tory, on the 20th of August, 1866. Six or se/en hundred people assisted at the religious ceremonies. It happened to be a week day, and the only definite noticehadwasthepresenceofalimitedcortegealongtheroute. ^^^ Nosooner was it observed, and that its destination became known, than the people were in motion, and those employed out of doors flung aside the implements of their toil. They sped onwards, followed in all haste by other members of their families, male and female, who felt themselves equal to the journey. It was a glorious day. The air was so still and so balmy on the mountain top, that the candles upon the altar burned without a flicker, unshaded and uncovered. When it was rumoured throughout the neighbourhood, that Mass had been offered up on the mountain, numbers who had purposed assisting felt greatly disappointed, at not being present. The following year, on St. Brendan's own day,'^9 Mass was again celebrated, by Father Brosnan, on the same hallowed site. For weeks before that date, the hearts and eyes of the Catholic people in the barony were fixed on their holy mount ; but, greatly to their discouragement, the weather continued bad, and the mountains all round were covered with continuous mists and clouds. On the 15th of May, however, the weather looked more favourable. On the following morning, at dawn, there was not a speck of cloud, or mist, or fog, on any of the surround- ing mountains. About three thousand of the faithful made the ascent that morning, many having gone on foot, from the remotest ends of the parishes ofKinard'7° and Ventry. '7i Some were even fasting, in order to receive Holy Communion on the mountain. Before leaving the spot, it was resolved, that the next and third pilgrimage thither should be made the year following, viz. , 1868, on the 24th of June—the Feast of St. John the Baptist—a day of special veneration in the locality. However, for motives of convenience, the following Sunday, June 28th, was subsequently preferred, and preparations were made accordingly. '72 Numbers of people from Tralee joined in this
'°^ According to the Martyrology of Aber- and since Canon and Parish Priest of Cahir- deen. See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of civeen, where he is zealously engaged in
Scottish Saints," p. 286.
'^3 See " Registrum Nigrum de Aberbrot-
hock,"pp. 409,467.
'*• See "New Statistical Account of Scot-
land," Ayrshire, p. 689.
'^sSee "Origines Parochiales Scotiae,"
erecting a grand Memorial Church to Daniel O'Connell, the great Liberator of the Irish Catholics. Lithographicillustrationsofthis noble structure are presented in the Twenty-seventh Volume of the Lish Builder, Nos. 613, 614, as designed externally and internally with accompanying descriptions.
pars ii. , pp. 4, 104, 276, 828.
'** "There is an account of the Bran- The architect is G. C. Ashlin.
danes,nativemenofRobertStewart,inthe Scotichrouicon. —(Fordun, lib. 13, c. 32, t. ii. , p. 316 ; N. S. A. , pp. 689, 728 ; Orig, pari. , p. 240). "—Bishop Forbes' " Kalen- dars of Scottish Saints," pp. 286, 287.
'*7 Then a curate in the parish of Ferriter,
'^^ FromthePresbyteryatFerriter.
'^^ May i6th.
"? ° In the barony of Corkaguiney, shown
on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kerry," sheets 43, 44, 53, 54.
468 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIISITS. [May i6.
pilgrimage; and,St. Brendan'sOratory,onthesummitoftheMountain,was selected, as the ultimate object of their re-union. Accordingly, on the eve of the Feast ofSS. Peter and PauV^s the Most Rev. David Moriarty, Bishop of Kerry, with many of the clergy, secular and regular of his diocese, and an immense number of his people, estimated at 20,000, had resolved on joining in the religious celebration. Never before did such a mighty congregation assemble in Kerry, for such a purpose, and under such circumstances. Hun- dreds went to the mountain on the previous evening, and slept there all night, to secure an early attendance at the sacred ceremonies, to give glory to God, and honour to one of his greatest servants, in the locality consecrated by his prayers and presence. The most remarkable order and decorum pre- vailed throughout. Not the slightest incident occurred, to mar the happy harmony and the pious devotion of that immense multitude. The day was gloriously fine, and the magnificent prospect, at all sides, was clear and beau- tiful as the most fastidious could desire. In accordance with the original pro- gramme, five o'clock, a. m. was the hour fixed for starting from Tralee. Punctually, at that time, the people began to set out. The Rev. Timothy Brosnan, with whom were the Very Rev. Father Murphy, Prior, O. P. , Tralee, the Very Rev. Father Arsenius, Superior of the Franciscan Order, in Kil- larney, and Father Prendergast, O. P. , Tralee. led the way. These were follovved, by the members of the Carmelite and Dominican Confraternities of Tralee, on long cars, each drawn by four horses. Immediately after pro- ceeded a great number of cars, containing some of the most respectable inha- bitantsofthetownandneighbourhood. Forovertwohours,subsequently, various modes of conveyance continued pouring out of Tralee, on towards the west, and at every cross road on the route, the cortege was increased by multi- tudes coming from different directions. ''^ But, long before this, the moun- tain was occupied by numbers, who lived in the neighbourhood, or who travelled there during the night. All ages and all classes were present and filled with enthusiasm; the old vied with the young in activity ; the women showedexamplesofindomitableenergyworthyofthesternersex. Merchants, shopkeepers, tradesmen, and others, from the town, and even children, rivalled the rural population, in mastering the difficulties of the journey. The refreshing showers, which had fallen during the previous evening, laid the dust, cooled the air, and rendered the trip in many ways more pleasant, than it might otherwise have been. Havinggone to Castlegregorytiie previous day, the Bishop arrived early in the morning at Cloghane, accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Irwin, C. C. . Castlegregory. Both awaited the coming of the Tralee contingent. ' ^5
The ascent of the mountain from Cloghane was accordingly commenced at nine o'clock, by the Bishop and clergy, and by the great mass of the people, A temporary altar was erected on Faha Mountain, at the base of Brandon, and here the Very Rev. Father Murphy celebrated Mass, at 11 o'clock, pro- ceeding forward afterwards, with most of those who halted there with him. I'he Bishop and Father Brosnan reached the brow of Brandon Mountain, by half-past eleven o'clock, and they weregreeted by a long, loud and ringingcheer,
•'' See ibid.