Queen's County, and a most formidable op-
16
The accompanying illustration was ponent of the Norse and Danish invaders,
drawn on the spot, by William F.
16
The accompanying illustration was ponent of the Norse and Danish invaders,
drawn on the spot, by William F.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
,
iv. , cap.
p. 53.
Sanctis,"
;
G
98 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 5. Article XIV. —Reputed Festival of a Martyr, named Heren-
M
memorated with praise on this day, and the commentator has a short note of
1
tius. In the Irish calendar of the Feilire," the Martyr Herentius is com-
explanation.
2 Elsewhere, I do not find any account of this Martyr.
ArticleXV. —ReputedFeastofNinnius,aBishop. IntheBook of Leinster copy of the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 5th of August, there
for Ninnius, Bishop,1 among the Irish saints.
At this date, we
In the Book of
is an
can find no further notice of him.
entry
Article XVI. —Reputed Feast of Donatus.
—Leinster
copy
of the Martyrology of we find Donatus1 set down Tallagh,
in a list intended for Irish saints—at the of I do 5th day August.
apparently
not find such a saint in other calendars, and at the present date j although several holy men, named Donatus, are venerated on various different days throughout the year. Among these may be noticed an Irish saint Donatus,
2
ArticleXVII. —ReputedFeastofAradius. IntheBookofLeinster
1
copy of the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 5th of August, we find Aradus entered in the list of Irish saints. No other notice do we find of him at
this date.
Article XVIII. —Reputed Feast of St. Colman, of Druim-
1
Uaithe. The Martyrology of Donegal registers a festival, at the 5th of
Bishop of Fiesole, in Italy, whose feast occurs on the 22nd of October.
August, to honour Colman, son of Baoth, of Druim-Uaithe. From this entry, as also from subsequent insertions, it seems evident that some of those names found in the Tallagh Martyrology, at the 6th of August, had been transferred from the 3 to some error of a scribe. To
daypreceding, owing
avoid confusion, therefore, we may suppose, that corresponding entries in
like manner transposed belong rightly to the later date.
in vita Malachice.
3 See, at that date, in the Fourth Volume
of this work, Art. i.
Article XIV. —'See "Transactions of
Axiopolitanis Hireneo, Eraclo, et Dasio. Ex Hieronymianis, p. 72.
2
On the Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of same line is the entry of "Oafi. The latter Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. exxii. to be intended for the name of a foreign
:
2 He adds at the first Irish line " i. e. apud Saint, Dasius, a Martyr, whose entry has
Setiam civitatem—," p. exxix. been inserted in the column as an after- Articlexv. 'Thus: tlinm Cpi. thought, no room having been found for it Article xvi. —' Thus: 'OonAci. Im- in the first tracing. He was one of those
theRoyalIrishAcademy,"IrishManuscript
:
mediately on the same line follows Ipenei,
who suffered at Axiopolis.
which we — suppose
Drs. Todd
and Reeves, pp. 2IO, 211. 'Atthe5thofAugust,theentryofIrish
to stand for Ireneus—a
' Article xviii. — Edited
and apparently the Martyr of
distinct Saint
Axiopolis, commemoratedbytheBolland-
"
tomus ii. , Augusti v. De SS. Martyribus of Tallagh.
ists as Hireneus, in the
Acta Sanctorum,"
saints' names is wanting in the Martyrology
At this date, notices regarding him may be found in the present work,
" ArticleXVII. —Thus <Jtp<voi.
by
August 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
99
£>(VtI) sap of august.
ARTICLE I. —ST. MOCHUA OR CRONAN, BISHOP AND ABBOT OF CLONDALKIN, COUNTY OF DUBLIN.
many of those beautiful localities in-Ireland, which are more greatly en- IN deared to us in ruin and decay, than if they were still materially flourishing intradeandcommerce; weareabletorecognizethesaintasheirandancestor, at one and the same time, to the civilization he commenced, and to the Christian sentiments he has perpetuated, even while we gaze upon monuments in a state of demolition, yet still furnished with the majestic forms and hoary weeds, that a long lapse of ages has thrown around them. They teach us, likewise, that we should have but a poor inheritance, if only we held what is done outside of Christianity, and of that Church, which alone embodies its
spirit. We are taught, that the revolutions of time are as little capable of
destroying religion, as evil influences are powerless to eradicate it. Mysterious are the ways of God in regard to a faithful people, who have cherished the feeling and the sentiment of those pioneers, who set up the Cross of Christ in the wilderness. It proved to be the victorious standard. For when assailed and prostrated occasionally by pagan ferocity and savagery, or by sectarian persecution, its soldiers were undaunted in a strife, enduring for centuries of toil and depression. Still were they destined to triumph through the super- natural influences of Faith, which, enlightening reason, shows at the same time its want of grasp, fully to unravel the natural workings of human intelligence, or to reveal that happy order of events, which is so often evolved, even from political or social disorder.
That St. Mochua lived at an early period in our ecclesiastical annals is
sufficiently manifest, from the fact of his being recorded in the " Feilire "
of St. x and at a time when Clondalkin had been celebrated ^Engus, already
for its religious establishment. To this is added a comment, that he was the son of Lugdach or Lugaid, and that he was previously called Cronan. 2 According to the O'Clerys,3 Cronan, or Mochua, belonged to the race of Cathoir M6r,t and he was also of the Lagenians. Cainer, of Cluain-da- Saileach, was his mother, and the mother of the other six sons of Lughaidh,
who were saints, viz. , Lasrain, Baedan, Garbhan, Baothin, Senchan, and Ruad- han. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,s we find a festival recorded, at the 6th of August, in honor of Cronan, son of Lugdach. He is the same, we are told,
as Mochua, of Cluana Dolcain.
parish in the barony of Upper-Cross, and County of Dublin.
6
This place is now known as Clondalkin, a
1"
Articlei. —Inthe"LeabharBreac — frommultitudinousCluain-Dolcain. ' prince,
copy, the following stanza is to be found at Royal
«' Transactions of the Irish Aca-
the 12th day of August, and it has been demy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. ,
translated by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. :—
SifCAn eprcop ruiAtYiAch ftuc piiAf fAiche piAmAch La mocViuA clii buAOAch
O ChUiAin "OotccAin oaIacVi
11
Sixtus a Roman bishop bore upwards a buoyant troop : with Mo-Chua a victorious
part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. cxxii. 2 Thus: "Mochua, . i. Mac lugdach qui
prius Cronan dictus est. "—Ibid. , p. cxxix.
3 See "The Martyrology of Donegal," edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
212, 213.
4 He was Monarch of Ireland.
s Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi.
6 The copy of the Tallaght Martyrology in
IOO LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. August 6. ]
The first Abbot of this place was St. Mochua,? and, it seems probable, he was the founder of a religious establishment there, at a very early period. We are told that he was known, likewise, by the alias name of St. Machotus. 8 It is evident, from the accounts contained in the Irish Annals, which record the deaths of many successors in the monastery of Clondalkin, that Mochua cannot have flourished later than the eighth century, while it is quite possible he may have lived in a still earlier age. According to one authority, St. Mochua was a Bishop and Confessor,? so that an ancient tradition seems to have prevailed, that he was elected to discharge the episcopal office here ; but, whether for his own early religious community, or on behalf of the people residing near Clondalkin, cannot be ascertained. Frequently, in our Irish Annals, we find the abbatial and episcopal offices united in the same person.
"Oolcan. ' See
Clondalkin. R<
ounty
Dublin.
the Book of Leinster
•pilu tu^AtiA 1-oem Agtif niocluiA cIuahi rum fiibemiae,* Martii x. De S. Ferfullo
Colgan's
nian," x. Marlii, De S. Ferfullo
Episcopo,
n. i, p. 577.
D'Alton's "
8 See
County of Dublin," p. 712.
9Thus in
of the
where there are notices of him and of this place, at that date, in the Third Vol.
John
History
March,
reads
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
10
copy
:
C|\OflAri1
According
theKalendariumDrummondiense, at the viii. of theAugustIndes(6th day)we read, " Et apud Hiberniam Natale Sancti Episcopj et Confessoris. "—B shop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 20.
of this work,
"
Art. ii.
13 See Dr. O'Donovan's
We have on record the decease of these following Clondalkin Abbots, who succeeded the founder, at the several years hereafter named, viz : Aelbran Ua
IO
Lagudon, a. d. 776 \recte 78 1"]; Ferfuguil or
12
Bishop or Abbot, a. d. 784 [recte 789] ; Feidhlimidh Ua
Lugadon, a. d. 796 [rede
J3 and Tibraide, 801] ;
Fearfughuil,
son of Rechtabhar, a. d. 828/4 Lying about four miles south-west of Dub- lin
aRoundTower,still in a good state of preser- vation. Adjoining it, in a graveyard, are the ruins ofan old Church, j s which is separated from the Round Tower, by the public road, which leads into the town. 16 The etymology of this place has been rendered into English, as meaning, Dolcan's Meadow. ^
Episcopo, n. i. p. 577-
"See Dr. ODonovan's "Annals of the
>
Four Masters. " vol. i. , pp. 38o 3Sl-
12 His feast is celebrated on the loth of
city,
Clondalkin lias
to " Acta Sancto- Colgan's
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 4°4> 4°5-
'4 See #/'</. , pp. 442, 443-
'5 See Mr and Mrs. Hall's
"
Ireland : its
August
6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 101
Having established themselves very securely in Dublin, and in other cities around the coast, the Scandinavians meditated the entire conquest of Ireland. Being so near to Dublin, and almost necessary for their preservation within its walls, Clondalkin was held as an outpost and fortified. However, having adopted Christianity, together with its accompanying civilization, at an early
18 Clondalkin seems to have still preserved its Irish inmates, in the monasterywhichhadbeentherefounded. Itwouldappear,thatAmhlaibh, King of the Danes in Dublin, had a fort or palace here ; '9 but, at what period it had been erected does not seem to be known. From him, it was called Dun-Amhlaeibh, signifying Auliffe's, Aulaft's or Amlafi's Fort. In the year
period,
832, Clondalkin was plundered;
20
and, as we are told, by the foreigners.
21
In 22 or 865
23 Dun-Amhlaeibh was set on fire, and the son destroyed by
866,
ofGaithen * and by Mael Ciaran, the son of Ronan; while the Scandinavian defenders were slain, and one hundred heads of the foreigners were exhibited —according to the war usage of that period—after their slaughter at Cluain- Dolcain.
That Clondalkin was an ancient episcopal see appears from various entries in the Irish Annals. Besides St. Ferfugil, we read about the death of Bishop Cathal, son to Cormac, who was Abbot of Clondalkin, likewise, and who
2* or to the Annals of 879, according
2
died a. d. to 876, according
Archdall,
the Four Masters. 20 During the ninth and tenth centuries, the abbatial suc-
cessionat ClondalkinwaskeptupbyRonan,sonofCathal,whowasabbot
here, of abbot
departed
died a. d.
885. 28
the son of
Ronan,
was
and he Cluain-Dolcain,
this life, a. d.
2 ?
Maelinmhair Ua abbot Glascon,
here,
and he died a. d.
920. Duibhinnreachr, 2q
938.
In the
1
Clondalkin was burned 3° while the Annals of the Four ;
year 107 r,
record at the same date the burning of Kildare and of Glendalough.
Masters 3
Thesefireswereprobablyaccidental. Aboutthisperiod,ason3 ofMaeldalua appears to have been chosen as an Abbot in Cluain-Dolcain; but, one UaRonain had usurped the Abbacy, and this was the occasion of a great scandal. In the year 1076,33 Clondalkin was again invaded; for, at this date, an aimy was led by the clergy of Leath-Mhogha,34 with the son of Maeldalua, to Cluain-Dolcain, to expel Ua-Ronain from that place, after he had assumed the abbacy in violation of the right of the son of Maeldalua. On this occasion, a church, with its land, at Cluain-Dolcain, was granted to Culdees forever, together with twelve
Scenery, Character," &c, vol. ii. , p. 338.
Queen's County, and a most formidable op-
16
The accompanying illustration was ponent of the Norse and Danish invaders,
drawn on the spot, by William F. Wakeman, and by him was transferred to the wood, en- graved by Mrs. Millard.
See " Fragments of Irish Annals," pp. 157,
159. 3"
17 See Dr. O'Donovan's "
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (d. ) pp. 380,381.
18 See J. J. A. Worsae's " Account of the Danes and Norwegians in England, Scotland
5 See Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 132
History
of the
26 See Dr. O'Donovan's vol. edition,
i. , pp.
28 See vol. i. , p. 299. ibid. ,
and Ireland," Sect,
'9 "
According to the Annals of Minister. "
20 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. Biigidaj, cap.
xx. , p. 633.
21
ii. , pp. 606, 607. «9 See ibid. , 638, 639.
3° See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. Brigidse, cap. xx,, p. 633.
3I See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
pp. 900, 901.
32 His own particular name does not ap-
pear.
33 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. Brigidse, cap. xx. , p. 633.
3* The southern part of Ireland by the
from Dublin to the
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 446, 447. 22 "
According to the Annals of the Four
Masters," Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
pp. 502, 503, and nn. (x, y. ) ibid.
23
According to the -Arm-ala Ul<voli, or "Annals of Ulster," vol. i. , pp. 376 to 379. Edited by William M. Hennessy.
24 He was chief of in the Leix,
present
great Escair, running
528,529.
2? See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 536, 537.
2
Bay of Galway, divided it from the northern
part of the kingdom.
3S See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 6.
scorecows. Theseweregiven'asamulcttothesonofMaeldalua. 3* In1086, the death of Fachna, Archdeacon of Clondalkin, is recorded. 36 In the Annals of the Four Masters, at the same date, he is styled Fiachna Ua Ronain. 37 In the year 1 152, when the Synod of Kells assembled, the rural bishopric of Clondalkin was united to the See of Dublin. 38 Afterwards, in 1179, Pope Alexander confirmed Clondalkin, with all its appurtenances, to the See of Dublin ; while the old Danish or Irish occupants of a large portion of the land, Macgilleholmoc and Dervorgilla, his wife, surrendered to the use of its Church—expressly called the Church of St. Machotus—all their ancient inheritance. 3? About the year 1184, Prince John, King of Ireland, confirmed by charter Clondalkin and its tithes to the see of Dublin, as did Pope Clement III. , in 1 187, Pope Celestine III. , in 1191,*° and his successor, Pope Innocent III. , in 1218. Clondalkin Church, the old ruins, the. Round Tower, and a rude Celtic cross, are shown in Grose's "Antiquities of Ireland. " 4I This church was made prebendal by Archbishop John Comyn; and afterwards, Henry de Loundres, who succeeded in the see of Dublin, established the dignity of Dean for St. Patrick's Church, assigning for his support the Church of Clondalkin, with its appurtenances. Furthermore, this locality has an inte-
2
resting medieval history. «
No records, which might serve to elucidate the acts of St. Mochua,
founder of Clondalkin, have been preserved. Neither has the year for his happy departure to a brighter and better world been ascertained. At the 6th
of August, the Martyrology of Donegal 43 registers the feast of St. Mochua of Cluain Dolcain. He was also venerated in Scotland, at this date, as we find
his name in the Martyrology of Drummond,44 as having been a Bishop and
Confessor. Localtraditionshavesurvivedthelapseoftime,andonthatday,
the people living in and near Clondalkin formerly held a patron at St.
Mochua's well, near Celbridge, in the parish of Kildrought,45 and Donogh- cumper,46 in the County of Kildare.
Article II. —The Blessed Alexander, a Cistercian Monk, of
Foigni,inFrance. {ThirteenthCentury'. ] Onlyabriefnoticeofthisholy 1
solitary has been given, at the 14th of January, as also at the 3rd of May, in this work. At the latter date, the Bollandists 2 have inserted his Acts, drawn chiefly from the work of Thomas Cantipratanus. 3 The Petits Bollandistes 4 havefollowed,also,thisarrangement. TheholyservantofGodhadasister,
44 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish Saints,' Kalendarium Drummond-
iense, p. 20.
45
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 910, 911.
36 In the Annals of Ulster.
37 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Kildare,'' Sheet II.
Four vol. 4<5 Alsoshown Sheets Masters," ii. , pp. 924, 925. ibid. ,
38 See John D'Alton's "History of the
County of Dublin," p. 714. 39 See ibid.
40 See " The History and Antiquities of the Collegi. ite and Cathedial Church of St. Patrick," by William Monck Mason, Intro- duction,sect,ii. , p. 3.
41 Lieutenant Daniel Grose drew the sub-
ject, a. d. 1791. See vol. i. , p. 16.
42 See John D'Alton's "History of the
County of Dublin," pp. 710 10719.
43 Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves.
pp. 212, 213.
II, 14, 15. ARTICLE II. —* On this day. Colgan has inserted the account of Blessed Alexander, as given by Thomas Cantipratensis. See " Acta Sanctorum I Iibernkv," Januarii xiv. , D. B. Alexan. Monacko Cistercien. In Monasterio Fusniacensi quiescente, pp. 64,
65.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Maii iii. I >e Beato Alexandra couverso Cisterciensi Fusniaci in Gallia, p. 434.
3 In his work, De Apibu's, lib. ii. , cap. Io. 4 See " Vies des Saints," tome v. , HI*
It is described, on the "Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Jour de Mai, p. 300.
August 6. ] LIVES OS THE IRISH SAINTS. 103
453- 2"
19, 20.
8 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvi. The
copy in the Book of Leinster reads U1541T)
CLuain £obui|\.
9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
212, 213.
I0 At the 6th of August Uiguro ClUAna
jToliA^. Ordnance Survey Common Place
Book, F, p. 68.
Article iv. -1 See "Historic Catho-
no less than 2r.
"
55,239a.
4p.
shown,
•
regione Thieraschice,
sandbothwerechildrenofaScottishKing. A
knownasSt. Mathilde, verycelebratedAbbeyoftheCistercianOrderwasFoigni,andit wassituated in the diocese of Laon. There is a fair of St. Alexander, whose feast has been assigned to this day, at Keith, in Scotland. ?
ArticleIII. —St. Lughaidh,ofCluainFobhair. Thepresentsaint most probably flourished before the tenth century, for his name is commemo-
virgin,
rated at this date, in our most ancient Irish Martyrologies.
been Colgan's intention to have edited the Acts of St. Lughidius, on this day, as would appear from the posthumous -list of his MSS. 3 He was connected with a place, designated Cluain Fobhair. There is a townland called Cloon- foher, in the parish and barony of Burrishoole,* in the County of Mayo ; a Cloonfore,5 in the parish and barony of Rathcline, in the County of Longford ; a Cloonfower,6 in the parish of Termonbarry, barony of Ballintober North, and County of Roscommon, as also a Cloonfower, in the parish of Kilkeevin,?
iv. , cap.
p. 53.
Sanctis,"
;
G
98 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 5. Article XIV. —Reputed Festival of a Martyr, named Heren-
M
memorated with praise on this day, and the commentator has a short note of
1
tius. In the Irish calendar of the Feilire," the Martyr Herentius is com-
explanation.
2 Elsewhere, I do not find any account of this Martyr.
ArticleXV. —ReputedFeastofNinnius,aBishop. IntheBook of Leinster copy of the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 5th of August, there
for Ninnius, Bishop,1 among the Irish saints.
At this date, we
In the Book of
is an
can find no further notice of him.
entry
Article XVI. —Reputed Feast of Donatus.
—Leinster
copy
of the Martyrology of we find Donatus1 set down Tallagh,
in a list intended for Irish saints—at the of I do 5th day August.
apparently
not find such a saint in other calendars, and at the present date j although several holy men, named Donatus, are venerated on various different days throughout the year. Among these may be noticed an Irish saint Donatus,
2
ArticleXVII. —ReputedFeastofAradius. IntheBookofLeinster
1
copy of the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 5th of August, we find Aradus entered in the list of Irish saints. No other notice do we find of him at
this date.
Article XVIII. —Reputed Feast of St. Colman, of Druim-
1
Uaithe. The Martyrology of Donegal registers a festival, at the 5th of
Bishop of Fiesole, in Italy, whose feast occurs on the 22nd of October.
August, to honour Colman, son of Baoth, of Druim-Uaithe. From this entry, as also from subsequent insertions, it seems evident that some of those names found in the Tallagh Martyrology, at the 6th of August, had been transferred from the 3 to some error of a scribe. To
daypreceding, owing
avoid confusion, therefore, we may suppose, that corresponding entries in
like manner transposed belong rightly to the later date.
in vita Malachice.
3 See, at that date, in the Fourth Volume
of this work, Art. i.
Article XIV. —'See "Transactions of
Axiopolitanis Hireneo, Eraclo, et Dasio. Ex Hieronymianis, p. 72.
2
On the Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of same line is the entry of "Oafi. The latter Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. exxii. to be intended for the name of a foreign
:
2 He adds at the first Irish line " i. e. apud Saint, Dasius, a Martyr, whose entry has
Setiam civitatem—," p. exxix. been inserted in the column as an after- Articlexv. 'Thus: tlinm Cpi. thought, no room having been found for it Article xvi. —' Thus: 'OonAci. Im- in the first tracing. He was one of those
theRoyalIrishAcademy,"IrishManuscript
:
mediately on the same line follows Ipenei,
who suffered at Axiopolis.
which we — suppose
Drs. Todd
and Reeves, pp. 2IO, 211. 'Atthe5thofAugust,theentryofIrish
to stand for Ireneus—a
' Article xviii. — Edited
and apparently the Martyr of
distinct Saint
Axiopolis, commemoratedbytheBolland-
"
tomus ii. , Augusti v. De SS. Martyribus of Tallagh.
ists as Hireneus, in the
Acta Sanctorum,"
saints' names is wanting in the Martyrology
At this date, notices regarding him may be found in the present work,
" ArticleXVII. —Thus <Jtp<voi.
by
August 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
99
£>(VtI) sap of august.
ARTICLE I. —ST. MOCHUA OR CRONAN, BISHOP AND ABBOT OF CLONDALKIN, COUNTY OF DUBLIN.
many of those beautiful localities in-Ireland, which are more greatly en- IN deared to us in ruin and decay, than if they were still materially flourishing intradeandcommerce; weareabletorecognizethesaintasheirandancestor, at one and the same time, to the civilization he commenced, and to the Christian sentiments he has perpetuated, even while we gaze upon monuments in a state of demolition, yet still furnished with the majestic forms and hoary weeds, that a long lapse of ages has thrown around them. They teach us, likewise, that we should have but a poor inheritance, if only we held what is done outside of Christianity, and of that Church, which alone embodies its
spirit. We are taught, that the revolutions of time are as little capable of
destroying religion, as evil influences are powerless to eradicate it. Mysterious are the ways of God in regard to a faithful people, who have cherished the feeling and the sentiment of those pioneers, who set up the Cross of Christ in the wilderness. It proved to be the victorious standard. For when assailed and prostrated occasionally by pagan ferocity and savagery, or by sectarian persecution, its soldiers were undaunted in a strife, enduring for centuries of toil and depression. Still were they destined to triumph through the super- natural influences of Faith, which, enlightening reason, shows at the same time its want of grasp, fully to unravel the natural workings of human intelligence, or to reveal that happy order of events, which is so often evolved, even from political or social disorder.
That St. Mochua lived at an early period in our ecclesiastical annals is
sufficiently manifest, from the fact of his being recorded in the " Feilire "
of St. x and at a time when Clondalkin had been celebrated ^Engus, already
for its religious establishment. To this is added a comment, that he was the son of Lugdach or Lugaid, and that he was previously called Cronan. 2 According to the O'Clerys,3 Cronan, or Mochua, belonged to the race of Cathoir M6r,t and he was also of the Lagenians. Cainer, of Cluain-da- Saileach, was his mother, and the mother of the other six sons of Lughaidh,
who were saints, viz. , Lasrain, Baedan, Garbhan, Baothin, Senchan, and Ruad- han. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,s we find a festival recorded, at the 6th of August, in honor of Cronan, son of Lugdach. He is the same, we are told,
as Mochua, of Cluana Dolcain.
parish in the barony of Upper-Cross, and County of Dublin.
6
This place is now known as Clondalkin, a
1"
Articlei. —Inthe"LeabharBreac — frommultitudinousCluain-Dolcain. ' prince,
copy, the following stanza is to be found at Royal
«' Transactions of the Irish Aca-
the 12th day of August, and it has been demy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. ,
translated by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. :—
SifCAn eprcop ruiAtYiAch ftuc piiAf fAiche piAmAch La mocViuA clii buAOAch
O ChUiAin "OotccAin oaIacVi
11
Sixtus a Roman bishop bore upwards a buoyant troop : with Mo-Chua a victorious
part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. cxxii. 2 Thus: "Mochua, . i. Mac lugdach qui
prius Cronan dictus est. "—Ibid. , p. cxxix.
3 See "The Martyrology of Donegal," edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
212, 213.
4 He was Monarch of Ireland.
s Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi.
6 The copy of the Tallaght Martyrology in
IOO LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. August 6. ]
The first Abbot of this place was St. Mochua,? and, it seems probable, he was the founder of a religious establishment there, at a very early period. We are told that he was known, likewise, by the alias name of St. Machotus. 8 It is evident, from the accounts contained in the Irish Annals, which record the deaths of many successors in the monastery of Clondalkin, that Mochua cannot have flourished later than the eighth century, while it is quite possible he may have lived in a still earlier age. According to one authority, St. Mochua was a Bishop and Confessor,? so that an ancient tradition seems to have prevailed, that he was elected to discharge the episcopal office here ; but, whether for his own early religious community, or on behalf of the people residing near Clondalkin, cannot be ascertained. Frequently, in our Irish Annals, we find the abbatial and episcopal offices united in the same person.
"Oolcan. ' See
Clondalkin. R<
ounty
Dublin.
the Book of Leinster
•pilu tu^AtiA 1-oem Agtif niocluiA cIuahi rum fiibemiae,* Martii x. De S. Ferfullo
Colgan's
nian," x. Marlii, De S. Ferfullo
Episcopo,
n. i, p. 577.
D'Alton's "
8 See
County of Dublin," p. 712.
9Thus in
of the
where there are notices of him and of this place, at that date, in the Third Vol.
John
History
March,
reads
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
10
copy
:
C|\OflAri1
According
theKalendariumDrummondiense, at the viii. of theAugustIndes(6th day)we read, " Et apud Hiberniam Natale Sancti Episcopj et Confessoris. "—B shop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 20.
of this work,
"
Art. ii.
13 See Dr. O'Donovan's
We have on record the decease of these following Clondalkin Abbots, who succeeded the founder, at the several years hereafter named, viz : Aelbran Ua
IO
Lagudon, a. d. 776 \recte 78 1"]; Ferfuguil or
12
Bishop or Abbot, a. d. 784 [recte 789] ; Feidhlimidh Ua
Lugadon, a. d. 796 [rede
J3 and Tibraide, 801] ;
Fearfughuil,
son of Rechtabhar, a. d. 828/4 Lying about four miles south-west of Dub- lin
aRoundTower,still in a good state of preser- vation. Adjoining it, in a graveyard, are the ruins ofan old Church, j s which is separated from the Round Tower, by the public road, which leads into the town. 16 The etymology of this place has been rendered into English, as meaning, Dolcan's Meadow. ^
Episcopo, n. i. p. 577-
"See Dr. ODonovan's "Annals of the
>
Four Masters. " vol. i. , pp. 38o 3Sl-
12 His feast is celebrated on the loth of
city,
Clondalkin lias
to " Acta Sancto- Colgan's
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 4°4> 4°5-
'4 See #/'</. , pp. 442, 443-
'5 See Mr and Mrs. Hall's
"
Ireland : its
August
6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 101
Having established themselves very securely in Dublin, and in other cities around the coast, the Scandinavians meditated the entire conquest of Ireland. Being so near to Dublin, and almost necessary for their preservation within its walls, Clondalkin was held as an outpost and fortified. However, having adopted Christianity, together with its accompanying civilization, at an early
18 Clondalkin seems to have still preserved its Irish inmates, in the monasterywhichhadbeentherefounded. Itwouldappear,thatAmhlaibh, King of the Danes in Dublin, had a fort or palace here ; '9 but, at what period it had been erected does not seem to be known. From him, it was called Dun-Amhlaeibh, signifying Auliffe's, Aulaft's or Amlafi's Fort. In the year
period,
832, Clondalkin was plundered;
20
and, as we are told, by the foreigners.
21
In 22 or 865
23 Dun-Amhlaeibh was set on fire, and the son destroyed by
866,
ofGaithen * and by Mael Ciaran, the son of Ronan; while the Scandinavian defenders were slain, and one hundred heads of the foreigners were exhibited —according to the war usage of that period—after their slaughter at Cluain- Dolcain.
That Clondalkin was an ancient episcopal see appears from various entries in the Irish Annals. Besides St. Ferfugil, we read about the death of Bishop Cathal, son to Cormac, who was Abbot of Clondalkin, likewise, and who
2* or to the Annals of 879, according
2
died a. d. to 876, according
Archdall,
the Four Masters. 20 During the ninth and tenth centuries, the abbatial suc-
cessionat ClondalkinwaskeptupbyRonan,sonofCathal,whowasabbot
here, of abbot
departed
died a. d.
885. 28
the son of
Ronan,
was
and he Cluain-Dolcain,
this life, a. d.
2 ?
Maelinmhair Ua abbot Glascon,
here,
and he died a. d.
920. Duibhinnreachr, 2q
938.
In the
1
Clondalkin was burned 3° while the Annals of the Four ;
year 107 r,
record at the same date the burning of Kildare and of Glendalough.
Masters 3
Thesefireswereprobablyaccidental. Aboutthisperiod,ason3 ofMaeldalua appears to have been chosen as an Abbot in Cluain-Dolcain; but, one UaRonain had usurped the Abbacy, and this was the occasion of a great scandal. In the year 1076,33 Clondalkin was again invaded; for, at this date, an aimy was led by the clergy of Leath-Mhogha,34 with the son of Maeldalua, to Cluain-Dolcain, to expel Ua-Ronain from that place, after he had assumed the abbacy in violation of the right of the son of Maeldalua. On this occasion, a church, with its land, at Cluain-Dolcain, was granted to Culdees forever, together with twelve
Scenery, Character," &c, vol. ii. , p. 338.
Queen's County, and a most formidable op-
16
The accompanying illustration was ponent of the Norse and Danish invaders,
drawn on the spot, by William F. Wakeman, and by him was transferred to the wood, en- graved by Mrs. Millard.
See " Fragments of Irish Annals," pp. 157,
159. 3"
17 See Dr. O'Donovan's "
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (d. ) pp. 380,381.
18 See J. J. A. Worsae's " Account of the Danes and Norwegians in England, Scotland
5 See Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 132
History
of the
26 See Dr. O'Donovan's vol. edition,
i. , pp.
28 See vol. i. , p. 299. ibid. ,
and Ireland," Sect,
'9 "
According to the Annals of Minister. "
20 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. Biigidaj, cap.
xx. , p. 633.
21
ii. , pp. 606, 607. «9 See ibid. , 638, 639.
3° See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. Brigidse, cap. xx,, p. 633.
3I See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
pp. 900, 901.
32 His own particular name does not ap-
pear.
33 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. Brigidse, cap. xx. , p. 633.
3* The southern part of Ireland by the
from Dublin to the
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 446, 447. 22 "
According to the Annals of the Four
Masters," Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
pp. 502, 503, and nn. (x, y. ) ibid.
23
According to the -Arm-ala Ul<voli, or "Annals of Ulster," vol. i. , pp. 376 to 379. Edited by William M. Hennessy.
24 He was chief of in the Leix,
present
great Escair, running
528,529.
2? See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 536, 537.
2
Bay of Galway, divided it from the northern
part of the kingdom.
3S See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 6.
scorecows. Theseweregiven'asamulcttothesonofMaeldalua. 3* In1086, the death of Fachna, Archdeacon of Clondalkin, is recorded. 36 In the Annals of the Four Masters, at the same date, he is styled Fiachna Ua Ronain. 37 In the year 1 152, when the Synod of Kells assembled, the rural bishopric of Clondalkin was united to the See of Dublin. 38 Afterwards, in 1179, Pope Alexander confirmed Clondalkin, with all its appurtenances, to the See of Dublin ; while the old Danish or Irish occupants of a large portion of the land, Macgilleholmoc and Dervorgilla, his wife, surrendered to the use of its Church—expressly called the Church of St. Machotus—all their ancient inheritance. 3? About the year 1184, Prince John, King of Ireland, confirmed by charter Clondalkin and its tithes to the see of Dublin, as did Pope Clement III. , in 1 187, Pope Celestine III. , in 1191,*° and his successor, Pope Innocent III. , in 1218. Clondalkin Church, the old ruins, the. Round Tower, and a rude Celtic cross, are shown in Grose's "Antiquities of Ireland. " 4I This church was made prebendal by Archbishop John Comyn; and afterwards, Henry de Loundres, who succeeded in the see of Dublin, established the dignity of Dean for St. Patrick's Church, assigning for his support the Church of Clondalkin, with its appurtenances. Furthermore, this locality has an inte-
2
resting medieval history. «
No records, which might serve to elucidate the acts of St. Mochua,
founder of Clondalkin, have been preserved. Neither has the year for his happy departure to a brighter and better world been ascertained. At the 6th
of August, the Martyrology of Donegal 43 registers the feast of St. Mochua of Cluain Dolcain. He was also venerated in Scotland, at this date, as we find
his name in the Martyrology of Drummond,44 as having been a Bishop and
Confessor. Localtraditionshavesurvivedthelapseoftime,andonthatday,
the people living in and near Clondalkin formerly held a patron at St.
Mochua's well, near Celbridge, in the parish of Kildrought,45 and Donogh- cumper,46 in the County of Kildare.
Article II. —The Blessed Alexander, a Cistercian Monk, of
Foigni,inFrance. {ThirteenthCentury'. ] Onlyabriefnoticeofthisholy 1
solitary has been given, at the 14th of January, as also at the 3rd of May, in this work. At the latter date, the Bollandists 2 have inserted his Acts, drawn chiefly from the work of Thomas Cantipratanus. 3 The Petits Bollandistes 4 havefollowed,also,thisarrangement. TheholyservantofGodhadasister,
44 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish Saints,' Kalendarium Drummond-
iense, p. 20.
45
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 910, 911.
36 In the Annals of Ulster.
37 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Kildare,'' Sheet II.
Four vol. 4<5 Alsoshown Sheets Masters," ii. , pp. 924, 925. ibid. ,
38 See John D'Alton's "History of the
County of Dublin," p. 714. 39 See ibid.
40 See " The History and Antiquities of the Collegi. ite and Cathedial Church of St. Patrick," by William Monck Mason, Intro- duction,sect,ii. , p. 3.
41 Lieutenant Daniel Grose drew the sub-
ject, a. d. 1791. See vol. i. , p. 16.
42 See John D'Alton's "History of the
County of Dublin," pp. 710 10719.
43 Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves.
pp. 212, 213.
II, 14, 15. ARTICLE II. —* On this day. Colgan has inserted the account of Blessed Alexander, as given by Thomas Cantipratensis. See " Acta Sanctorum I Iibernkv," Januarii xiv. , D. B. Alexan. Monacko Cistercien. In Monasterio Fusniacensi quiescente, pp. 64,
65.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Maii iii. I >e Beato Alexandra couverso Cisterciensi Fusniaci in Gallia, p. 434.
3 In his work, De Apibu's, lib. ii. , cap. Io. 4 See " Vies des Saints," tome v. , HI*
It is described, on the "Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Jour de Mai, p. 300.
August 6. ] LIVES OS THE IRISH SAINTS. 103
453- 2"
19, 20.
8 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvi. The
copy in the Book of Leinster reads U1541T)
CLuain £obui|\.
9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
212, 213.
I0 At the 6th of August Uiguro ClUAna
jToliA^. Ordnance Survey Common Place
Book, F, p. 68.
Article iv. -1 See "Historic Catho-
no less than 2r.
"
55,239a.
4p.
shown,
•
regione Thieraschice,
sandbothwerechildrenofaScottishKing. A
knownasSt. Mathilde, verycelebratedAbbeyoftheCistercianOrderwasFoigni,andit wassituated in the diocese of Laon. There is a fair of St. Alexander, whose feast has been assigned to this day, at Keith, in Scotland. ?
ArticleIII. —St. Lughaidh,ofCluainFobhair. Thepresentsaint most probably flourished before the tenth century, for his name is commemo-
virgin,
rated at this date, in our most ancient Irish Martyrologies.
been Colgan's intention to have edited the Acts of St. Lughidius, on this day, as would appear from the posthumous -list of his MSS. 3 He was connected with a place, designated Cluain Fobhair. There is a townland called Cloon- foher, in the parish and barony of Burrishoole,* in the County of Mayo ; a Cloonfore,5 in the parish and barony of Rathcline, in the County of Longford ; a Cloonfower,6 in the parish of Termonbarry, barony of Ballintober North, and County of Roscommon, as also a Cloonfower, in the parish of Kilkeevin,?
