There, as we are told, he
exercised
spiritual rule,^ over various
communities of men and women.
communities of men and women.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Farannan, Abbot of of which place he is regarded as the patron.
Clonard, who died, in the year 751 [rccte
740) the I2th of February, on which day
his Natalis was observed, according to the
Martyrologies of Tallagh and of Marianus
Gorman. 3. St. Farannan, Bishop of brated on the 15th of February, according Tref hod, who is said to have died, in the to the Martyrologies of Tallagh and of Ma-
Commentator on
St.
yEngus. 5. Farannan,
Archbishop of Armagh, whose Natalis is celebrated on the 30th of April, at Wasor,
Colgan says, that while this present saint must be distinguished, from others he has named ; yet, he seems to have been identical with the Forannan, whose Natalis was cele-
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 553
According to the Irish Life, Farannan was the son of Quintiis or Constans,7 son to Colgan, or Colga,^ son to Edus, son of Finnbarr,9 son to Eiigenius,^° or Eoghan," son to Niall of the Nine Hostages, Monarch of Ireland. " But, the virtues of our saint were far more admirable, than his nobility of birth ; for, he was more solicitous to practise piety, than the vicious are to pursue false pleasures. Both by word and by action, h—e was careful to reprobate vice, —and to promote virtue. He practised and apparently from early youth great austerities against the flesh ; while, his virtues and miracles spread his fame, throughout the whole island. His example was a salutary lesson to many, for the amendment of their lives. When duly promoted to a position in the Church, he preached the Holy Gospels, with much fruit and zeal. ^3 "We are told in his Life, that our saint was contemporaneous with the great St. Columkille, who, burning with zeal for the propagation of the true faith, left his native island, for the shores of Albion,^4 that he might gain a Christian conquest over the incredulous Picts. ^5 We are also informed, that St. Columba had another reason, for seeking these shores. Some intestine divisions and strife arising among members of his
family, who stood high in rank and station, at home, the saint vainly endea- voured to restore peace. Not being able to succeed, he took a resolution of leaving his native country, to which he never -intended to return. ^^ The Apostle of the Picts directed his course towards Iona,'7 where having erected a noble monastery, he became a great promoter of monastic rules and
^^ St. Forannan is classed
whether his
his
novitiate commenced in Ireland, or at lona, does not appear to be well
known.
The kindred of St. Columba, in Ireland, earnestly desired this saint's
presence among them, and they sent frequent messages to induce his return. He constantly refused compliance with these entreaties, until a great public necessity compelled him to revisit his native island. His object was to effect areconciliationbetweentheScotsofHiberniaandthoseofAlba. ^" Apublic convention or council was called at Dromceat, in order to deliberate on thosespecialmatters. Others,ofgreatnationalandecclesiasticalimportance, engaged the attention of this grand deliberative assembly.
It is only, at a late period, the site of this celebrated convention seems
practices.
among
disciples ;^9 but,
rianus Gorman. There, he is called the son of ^dus, according to a usual Irish custom ;
for, even although remotely descended, from an ancestor so named, the descendants were
styled sons of a distinguished progenitor,
This opinion of Colgan is by no means con-
elusive.
^"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Feb-
"
Sanctilogium Genea- logicum," cap, 2. Colgan intended to make further reference to him, in his notes to the Life of St. Dagius, bishop, which was to
have been published at the 1 8th of August.
" See the " Martyrology of Donegal. "
^2 The Irish Life of St. Farannan is
quoted by the O'Clerys, for the pedigree of the present holy man.
ruarii xv. , p. 804. They promise there to
examine more at length his possible identity
with St. Farannan, Abbot and Patron of nise," xv. Februarii. Vita S. Farannani,
Wasor, when treating about him, at the 30th
cap, i, , ii. , p. 336.
^4 Rather Alba or Caledonia.
^s Then living as Pagans,
^^
Such are the accounts usually given by Irish writers.
'7 A remarkable Hebridean island,
'^ See the Rev, Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," /rt'jj/w.
^9 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix ad Acta S, Columbce, p, 490,
'^° Such are the accounts Irish and Scottish historians.
of April. ^ In the
"
Martyrology of Donegal," he is
called Conn,
^" See the
9 In the
gal" we have the following addition, "Take notice, that Fionnbarr was not of the ten sons that Eoghan had,"
'° From this Eugene, sixteen kings of Ire-
Martyrology of Donegal. "
" of Done- published Martyrology
and more than saints
thirty descended,
usually given by
land,
as appears from the Catalogue of Kings of
Ireland, as also from
'3 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
554 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February15.
to have been settled. Dr. O'Donovan, and, after him, Dr. Reeves, Professor
and other
in Roe Park, beside Limavady, as the scene for this celebrated meeting. O'Donnell tells iis,^^ that Columba, after sailing across the river now known as Lough Foyle, and at the part where it is broadest, turned the prow of his vesseltotheRiverRoe,whichflowsintotheFoyle. Then,thevesselofthat holy man glided with the Divine assistance up this stream, though from the scantiness of its waters, it is otherwise unnavigable. But, the place in which the boat was then anchored, thenceforth from that circumstance called
O'Ciirry,
writers,
have fixed
upon
Mullagh,"
Daisy Hill,"
"
After making a moderate delay at that place, the holy man, with his venerable
Hill of the Boat," is very near Drumceat. retinue, set out to that very charming, gently-sloping hill, commonly called
Cabhan-an-Churaidh, that is, the
Drumceat. Dr. Reeves Then,
that hill called " The =^ which Keady,"
states,
commences about two miles out of Newtownlimavady,''3 might be supposed,
from the apparent similarity of the name, to be the spot. He thinks, also, there can be little doubt, that the artificial mound in Roe Park, called "The
and sometimes tlie "
we believe, the Rev. John Keys O'Dogherty^s has furnished reasons, for a more probable selection of locality. His narrative is substantially contained,
in the following descriptive account, which argues a careful study of the question, and of the locality. He infers the site of the convention, to have beenasmallhill,ontheoppositesideoftheRoe,fromtheMullagh. *^ He is convinced, moreover, that the Keady derives its name from, and is only a modernized form of, the latter part in the word Drum-ceatta. The initial C in Irish words being pronounced hard, like the letter K, would give us the Avord, as if written Kcatta, precisely similar in sound, and not very different in spelling from the modern Keady.
The River Roe at this particular part may be said to run east and west, and the bank, on either side, may correctly enough be termed northern and southern. This will assist the reader, to some extent, in understanding the relative positions of those hills, for which claim is made of being the Drum- ceat in Irish history. On the southern bank of the river is the Mullagh. About a quarter of a mile, farther up the stream, than where it passes the Mullagh, the river is engaged among rocks ; so, it may be assumed for certain, that the Hill of Convention, on whatever side of the river it lies, cannot be farther up than the Mullagh. Hence, the' Rev. Mr. O'Dogherty thinks, we are to look for it, somewhere near the Roe, between the Mullagh and the mouth of the Roe. There are numerous hills on both sides of the
Mullagh,"
Daisy Hill,''
is the real Drumceatt. ^4
Still,
''See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga.
"
about 190 by 170 feet. The prospect from it is exceedingly extensive and varied, com- manding a view of Magilligan, with its IJcnyevenagh, Aghanloo, Drumachose,
Tamlaght-Finlagan, and part of Inishowen. Tiicre is no local tradition about the spot, except that it is reckoned "gentle," and that it is unlucky to cut the sod. The truth is, the effects of the plantation have utterly —effaced all the old associations of the jtlace. "
"Acts of Archbishop Colton in his Metro-
politan Visitation of Derry, A. D. MCCCXCVll.
Additional Notes, H, p. 133.
=^5 parish ofNewtownstewart. priest
=^
See the townland, so called, in the parish of Tamlaght Finlagan and barony of Kcc- naght, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Londonderry. " Sheets 9, 16.
Life of St. Columkille, lib. iii. , cap. iv. , p.
431. ^^
There are two townland denominations ofKeady; oneintheparishofDrumachose, barony of Keenaght, and the other in the
parishofMaghera, barony of Loughinshol in. These are to be seen described on the " Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the CountyofLondonderry. " Sheetslo,32.
^3 Alias Rathbrady Beg. It is in the
parish of Drumachose, and barony of Kee- naught. See "Ordnance Survey Townland
for the of
Maps County Londonderry. "
Sheet 9.
''^ The Rev. Dr. Reeves adds: "It is
situate in a meadow, at a little distance from the house, on the N. W. ; it rises to the height of about twenty feet, and measures
the "
or "
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 555
river, and, to select any one of them appears to be, to some extent, a question of probabilities. The eminence required, probably is a remarkable one ; so is the Mullagh ; this seems to be the sole reason, and the sum total of its claims. The name, however, is much against it ; firstly, because a Mullagh cannot be a Drium ; and secondly, as Urumceat was a well-known place, tlie Irish-speaking people never would have changed its name, into the
A little farther down the river, on the, same southern bank, is a ridge, called Drum-bally-donaghy. =7 Donaghy, if it be not a family name, might retain traces of Donagh, /. <? . , Domniica, and, therefore, of the religious functions, that used to be celebrated there. Near to Drum-bally-donaghy is
"
a pool, in the river, called the boat-hole. " This might be supposed to
correspond, with Cabhan-an-Churaidh ; but, it is a place, where a boat
usuallywas,andevennowisoccasionallykept. Noargumentcanbedrawn fromthisinfavourofDrum-bally-donaghy. Nordoesthereseemtobeany reason, for selecting any other amone the ridges, on the same side of the Roe.
On the north side of this stream, and just opposite the Mullagh, there is
a hill, the form of which attracts attention, whether viewed, when descending
the river, that is, coming from Dungiven to Limavady, or ascending, by the same road, which runs along the south bank of the river. The name of this hill is Enagh. 2^ It is the Irish name still for a " fair. " In earlier times, it meant a gathering for /^////V^/ purposes ; and, in later times, an assembly for religions purposes. The name, therefore, suggests, that this was the hill so well known in Colgan's time ; and which, he says, Avas in his day and for ever venerable, especially on account of the many pilgrimages and the public religious ceremonies (Theophoriam), which, on the festival of All Saints, in memory of the aforesaid synod there celebrated, are annually made, with an immense concourse from all the neighbouring districts. Now Drumceat, which " the Drum" or "
commonplace appellation Mullagh.
language have died out, at present in the locality, but they had not died out when this Irish name was given to it.
means,
ridge
of the
pleasant swelling ground," being
a commonplace appellation, might easily give way in the lapse of time, to the name Enagh.
Standing on Enagh, the most beautiful view, in the whole valley of the
Roe, is presented. Looking northwards. Lough Foyle, sweeping from Inishowen Head round the lovely shores of Greencastle, Moville, and Iska-
heen, comes upon the eye ; and it is bounded, from this point of view, by the range of hills, which culminates in the ruin-crowned summit of Greenan, once known as "Aileach of the Kings. " Still looking north, but on this side of the Foyle, to the right, the lowlands of Myroe and Magilligan rise by swelling ridges, like mimic Tartar steppes, till they mount into the grand romanticrangesofBenyevenaghandtheKeady. Standinguponasome- what insulated ridge, which rears itself 160 feet high, in a valley stretching north and south, its narrowest part under the feet ; before the spectator, it spreads out into the lowlands of Lough Foyle shores ; while, on the south, it widens out, in the direction of Dungiven, only turning more towards the west. If you examine these rising swells just near you, you will see the ruins of Drumachose—St. Canice's Church—crowning one of them
;
while, turning and looking up the south opening of the valley, you could, were it not for the intervening groves, see the ruins of Tamlaght Finlagan,
^^ It is to be seen on the same sheet of the and barony of Keenaglit.
*'
Ordnance Sur-
map with Mullagh. vcy Townland Maps for the County of Lon«
=^^
This is in the parish of Dmmachose donderry. " See Sheets 9, 10.
No doubt the Irish tradition and
556 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February15.
or St. Finloch's Church. The Roc, however, runs between the two ; but,
thereisaveryshallowford,justintheline,separatingthem. Itisprobable, that a hill would be selected convenient for the clergy of both churches, as also on the side nearest to the more important church—the " Magna Ecclesia de Ro ;" and, we might also add, on the side nearest the county Antrim, wherein lay the territories about which, according to some authorities, the dispute was chiefly pending. —
On what has been designated the north bank of the river
opposite to the Mullagh—there is an insulated rock, like a huge milestone or finger-post. This marked out Enagh, and it is called the " Boat-Rock. " It is the first met, on either side, when passing up the river, from the Foyle ; there is no other for half a mile farther up, where the gorges of the river commenceabruptly. Thisparticularspotisjustsuchaspot,asshouldinvite a boat's crew to land. The juxtaposition of this rock to Enagh—and from this point the hill looks most picturesque—and its being on the same side of the river with it, weigh much, with the Rev. Mr. O'Dogherty, when deciding
but the toivnland oi that name—seems also an
/////, argument
in favour of this theory. It is probable, that what we know did occur in
many other cases, occurred also in this, viz. , that the name Keady, which is
now confined to one townland, once extended over an entire district, and
that the district got such a name, perhaps from this very hill. When a large
townland was divided into two or three smaller ones, the smaller ones got
what we may term surnames. By degrees, the latter or distinctive name
alone was preserved, while the original name clung to only one of the
divisions, and to that one, because the original possessor, may have retained
it to himself. Colgan's description suggests to the mind, that the hill was
not near, but some little distance from the Roe. Thus, it was quite near. ='9
The venerable man, he tells us, made a slight delay at the place where he
landed, and then ^uent to the assetJibly. All the other hills are either too
near, or too far off, to answer this description. The Mullagh is almost on
the brink of the river. The appearance of Enagh is such, as from most
points of view, might suggest, to a—Latin writer, the derivation, for Drumceat,
in favour of Enagh, not only as against the Mullagh, but as against any other of those hills, that rise along the river. The proximity of Enagh to the
Ready—not the
of"Dorsum orin "thebackofawhale. " Nootherhill
Cete," English
around could suggest the same idea. Enagh agrees in every respect, with the
"
description of Drumceat. It is a collis,'' for it is in ;
—sulated and it is at the sametimea"dnmforridge. Adnwiisabackbone aspurthatamountain sends out—but, more prolonged, and more easy of slope, on its flanks, than
what we ordinarily mean, when we speak of a mountain-spur, and projecting also from a lower elevation of the mountain. It is not easy to find a place, which one person could with propriety call a drum, and another with equal propriety term a collis ; but, it seems, that both designations are applicable toEnagh,andtonootherofthehillsaround. Itisverybeautiful,3°whether considered in its own aspect, or in the delightful prospect it affords. It is gradually ascending, which none of the other hills are, and certainly not the
Mullagh. 3^
These are the principal arguments, that lead the Rev. Mr. O'Dogherty to
adopt Enagh, in preference to the Mullagh ; and, though there may be but a balance of probabilities in favour of his theory, still the Mullagh seems to him entirely out of a competition, for claiming the ancient title of Drum-
°9 He uses the term
"pervicinus. "
3i The terms are "leniter descriptive
acclivis. "
3° The term is *' descriptive
peramsenus. "
the side
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 557
ceat. The most that can be said of it is, that it rises as a remarkable hill, near the Roe ; and, when this has been said, all has been repeated that can be urged. After it, at least Enagh is the most remarkable hill ; from its situa- tion, it is the hill likely to be chosen for the assembly ; it answers perfectly the description of Drumceat ; it retains, by its neighbourhood, traces of the name ; its name indicates a place of religious concourse ; it is on the same side of the river with, and near to, a remarkable rock, standing up out of the bank, and called the " Boat-Rock," with no reason, we can now see, for prefixing the term Boat to it ; and lastly, it affords space on its summit for the royal pavilions and tents, which, O'Donnell tells us, were scattered over the hill, in the manner of military camps. On the top of the Mullagh, there is no space for the like ; Enagh, at least, is required for this. So much then, for the site of this famous Convention, which left its mark, not only on that era, but also on after ages. s^ It seems to us, the foregoing arguments bear the highest meed, for shrewdness of conjecture, and for research, in the accurate examination of historic evidence.
CHAPTER II
ST. COLUMKILLE PROCURES THE RELEASE OF SCANLAN, PRINCE OF OSSORY—ST. COLUMBA's SPIRITUAL JURISDICTION—AT EASDRA HE MEETS VARIOUS HOLY MEN AND WOMEN, AT A PUBLIC ASSEMBLY.
St. Columkille had another object in view, by returning to Ireland. He greatly desired the release of Scanlan, son to Kinfalius, King of Ossory, who
was detained in prison by Aidus,^ son to Anmirach, Monarch of Ireland. ^ This Aidus3 was a kinsman to St. Columba himself. The latter succeeded in this endeavour, as also in his desire of effecting peace, between the belli- gerent parties, and princes of the period. He was detained for some time, in Ireland.
There, as we are told, he exercised spiritual rule,^ over various
communities of men and women. s -No religious
doubt,
in a restricted
sense,
this was quite true.
Before returning to Britain, St. Columba founded a cluirch in the territory
ofCairbre. ^ This was called Druimcliabh. 7 Thence, he went to a place, called Easdra f and, here he was met by all the bishops of the surrounding
3- See a series of
" The Conven-
Patrick the Abbot of lona had holy
Papers,
tion of Drumceat, A. D. 590," chap. ii.
These contributions appeared in The Lou-
supreme powerinspiritualmattersoverallthemonks
donder? y jfourna—l, A-^n\26\\\z. \\d2? >\h. , 1876. ^
and nuns, throughout Ireland.
s Colgan denies the truth of the passage
in Farannan's Acts, as he could not believe, that all the monasteries of Ireland M'ere
subject to St. Columba's spiritual rule, al- though many appear to have been under his
discipline and control. See ibid. , n. 15, p. 339.
^ It was a little to the north of situated,
Sligo, and it is now in the diocese of Elphin. St. Mothoria is said to have been the first abbot under the founder. This name occurs
Chapter ii. This Aidus or Hugh I.
began his reign, in the year 572 ; and, he
ruled twenty-six years, according to Ussher's
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 490, 500, and "Index Chro- nologicus," p. 535.
^ He was killed at the battle of
A. D. 598, according to Ussher. See ibid.
3 Many particulars are recorded about
Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," xv. Februarii, n. 14, p. 339.
"The Acts of St. Farannan have a state- ment, regarding -Columba, that after St.
Columba. " Additional Notes G, p. 279. 7 It is now called Drumclifife,
^
Colgan dues not attempt to identify this place.
Dunbolg,
him, and regarding his celebrated son,
Domnald, in the Acts of Dromcheat Synod,
as also in other ancient documents. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St.
in the Calendar, at the 9th of June. See "
55S LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS [February15.
country, and by many holy persons of both sexes. The place, where this assembly was held, seems to have been Easdara,9 as formerly called, and at
present Ballysadare,'° in the county of Sligo. The author of our saint's Acts says, that of Cumne's race" alone, there were many men and women renowned for their sanctity. She was the daughter of Dalbronnius and a sistertoBrotsecha,themotherofSt. Brigid. " Shewascelebratedforher numerous and holy progeny. ^3
The names of some among these holy persons are only given. We find enumerated, St. Moninnia^^ of Sliabh Culinn ; the two sons of ConalPs of
Killchora ; Manius,^^ Bishop of Tyr-Oilill ; Muredach,''7 of Killala, in Tyr- Amhalgaidh ; Ronius,^^ Bishop of Kill-Ronius \ Caiminus'9 of Inis-Kealtra ;
Regulus,=° of Mucinis, in the territory of Dalgeis ; Senanus,^^ of Inis-Cathy ; Senanus,^^ of Lathir Brivin ; Erninus,^3 of Cluain-reilgeach, in Meath ; Seven Bishops of Cluain Hemain f^ Libania^s and Fortchern,^^ of Odhba Keara,
9 It opens on a bay, into which falls the
Unshion or Ballysadare River. This issues
from Lough Arrow, near Boyle, and here it
is joined by the Coolaney River. At this
place, it falls over several ledges of rocks,
the last of which is ten feet in height, into
that arm of the sea, called Ballysadai-e
channel. vSee Lewis' "Topographical Dic- no ordinary size. But, he is of opinion, tionary of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 163.
^°
Here St. Fechin founded a church, as
those persons were not bishops of that place, whence they are named, but were only buried
may be seen in his Life, at the 20th of Jan-
uary.
" By others called Cumaine.
" See her Life, at the 1st of February.
^3 Colgan says, that no less than seventy- seven saints descended from her, according to a distich composed by Marianus Gorman or his Scholiast.
'* See her Life, at the 6th of July.
there, or that they were fellow-religious, either before or after their advancement to episcopal dignity. The church of Cluain- emuin is situated in the county of Roscom- mon and province of Connaught, as may be gleaned from the Annals of the Four Mas- ters, where we find it to have been plundered, A. D. 1089.
^5 Colgan could not say whether or not the author of our saint's Acts intended to convey an impression, that both these saints were
'5 Colgan says, he was unable to discover
who these two sons of Conall were. There
were many saints, such as St. Endeus, venerated in Partry, a territory of Connaught.
Darenia, Lochinia,&c. , who were descended from Conall Derg, son to the Prince of
Oirgellia. But, whether the persons spoken of, in this instance, were the sons of that
About A. D. 580, a certain holy virgin, named Libhan, flourished in Ulster, under the gui- dance of St. Comgall. She was daughter to Eochad, son to Mucod, Prince of Ulster,
Conall, alluded to, cannot be known. Our and she was venerated on the i8lh of De-
saint's epoch is by no means repugnant to an affirmative supposition, in the opinion of Colgan. See"ActaSanctorumHiberniLc/' XV. Februarii, n. 19, p. 339.
cember, according to Marianus, and the Continuator of ^nguss.
^^
AboutthecommencementofChristianity in Ireland, St. Fortchern, a disciple to St. Patrick and the second Bishop of Trim, in
"^
^7 The proper feast, of St. Muredach, Meath, flourislied. He was son to Fethlemin,
See his Life, at the 2nd of September.
Bishop of Killala, is observed in this diocese, on the 1 2th of August.
who was son to Leogaire, Monarch of Ire-
land, and according to the Martyrologies of Tallagh and Marianus Gorman his feast was
'^
See his Acts, at the 23rd of November.
^9 See his Acts, at the 25th of March.
Yet, his festival is entered, aLo, at the 24lh of March, by some Calendarists.
=°
See his Life, at the i6th of October.
^' The Acts of St. Senan of Iniscathy will
be found, at the 8th of March.
^^
See notices of him, at the 2nd of Sep- tember.
=^3 See notices of him, at the 5th of August.
kept at Trim, on the 17th of February. Colgan says, that —the same, or perchance, another Fortchern may
^^
ancient Book of Litanies, he finds the invo-
Colgan says, that in a certain very
Jocelin (cap, 52), and from the Irish Life of St. Patrick (par. 3, cap. 98), it does not seem likely, tiiat Forcliern could have lived
cation of seven Bishops of Cluainemhain,
But, it may be objected, even if seven afterwards to A. D. 580, when the assembly
bishops lived at the same place in succession, how could all of them be present, at one
time, and from the same place, at a public assembly ? To this Colgan replies, that in
the first place, the monastery, or congrega- tion, from which so many holy and respect- able men issued together, must have been of
of whom mention
—was vene- rated, on the nth of October, at Killfort- chearn, in Idrone, a territory of Leinster. But, as the disciple of St. Patrick flourished, about A. D. 440, as may be collected from the Life of our Irish Apostle, written by
have been made in this instance
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 59
in Partry ; Grellan^7 of Craoibh, at the eastern side of Magh Luirg,^^ or Crouenf9Kyria3°ofKillSkyria;3i CorcariaKeann,andCorcariaCaoin,3^ the two daughters of Eogan, and the daughter of Cathald33 from Kill-Comlach, at Magh-Luirg ; Loman,34 of Lough Gill, between the countries of Carbry andBreffney; Mofrisius,35sontoFachtnaofSligeach;Inella,adevoutvirgin;3^ Osnata,37ofGleannDallain,inCarbery,andGeghias^ofGegheIsland; Der- biha,39ofIrras; SevenNuns^QofTyr-uaFiachraaidhne; Mugania/'ofRath-
Acta Sanctorum Hibernice," xv. Febniarii, n. 29,
here spoken of was convened. See
name, Cluain, without any other addition.
"
down
one letter may have crept in, the word being written Corcaria instead of Corcagia. If such be the case, it might be lawful to con- jecture, that one of these ladies had been identical with the saint, who was venerated in the territory of Gregraigia, in Connaught, on the i6th of November, according 10 Ma- rianusandtheContinuatorof^nguss; and, that the other had been venerated, at Cluain- lothir, in the region of Breffney, on the 8th of xMarch, according to tlic same authorities, and the Martyrology of Tallagh. In the territory of Tir-oilleoll, near that part of the country, where this assembly was held, lived the family of this virgin, or the race of Alill, son to Ferguss, spoken of, in the pre- ceding note. From this Alill, the country was called Tir-Oilioll or the "laud of Alill. " See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum llibernire," xv. Februarii, n. 32, p. 339.
;
but, he
suggests,
Possibly, according to Colgan of October.
"
Sanctilogium Genea- logicum," and other authorities, the father ''^ See notices of him, at the loth of No- of this saint was not called Fachtna but,
P- 339-
vember.
=^ A plain,
in the
barony
of Boyle, county
;
he is said to have been Carthach, son to Neda, The father of a Saint Middan is called Fachtna by Marianus, at the 17th of February. But, whether the same Fachtna was father to St. Mofrisius and St. Middan, Colgan would not undertake to pronounce. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xv. Feb- ruarii, n. 34, p. 339. —
Roscommon.
^5 In the reign of Cairbre Mor.
3° She is venerated, at the 24th of March. 3* Now Kilskyre,
3= Colgan, says, he cannot find the Natalis
of these virgins, with the names here set
that an error of 3^
33 Although Colgan marks this person's name, as if he designed appending a note in explanation, he does not afterwards allude to her.
3** See notices of him, at the 4th of Feb- ruary.
33 There is a river, flowing from Lough
Gill into the western ocean, at the tov/n of
Sligo, from which it also takes name. But,
Colgan could not discover among the saints
of his country, any one of them, who was
called Mofrisius. He conjectures, this saint
may have been the same as Frosius, who is
venerated on the 21st of December, accord-
ing to the Carthusian Martyrology, or of Cashel and Marianus. Secondly, St. Usuard's, with additions. After our Irish
fashion, the particle mo might have been
prefixed, to Fegus, as the name there stands.
At the same day, Marianus, the Martyrology
of Tallagh, and the Continuator of JFngus,
say, that his Natalis was celebrated, in that
part of Connaught, which was called Con-
mhaicne, and in the church of Cluain Con-
mhaicne. In Colgan's time, it bore the here mentioned : as it could not have been
Yet, according to the
the s—ame as St. Derinella
venerated at the 26ih
37 Notices are given regarding her, at the 7th of January.
3^ Colgan says, he could find nothing re- lating to this virgin, but adds, that perhaps Degia, or Uegitchia, should be understood, and whose feast falls on the 22nd of March. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," xv. Feb-
ruarii, n. 37, p. 340.
3^ The Natalis of St. Derbilia was cele-
brated, on the 3rd of August, according to the Martyrologies of Tallagh, Marianus and the Continuator of yEnguss. See Colgan's
"Acta Sanctorum Ilibernifie," xv. Februarii, n. 38, p. 340. For this statement, however, I find no warrant, in any of our Calendars.
'*'^ Colganconjectures,thatthese,perhaps,
were the seven daughters to Ferguss, whose
feast is celebrated in the church of Teagh
na ninghean, in Connaught, on the 24th of
]\Iay, according to the Martyrologies of
Tallagh, of Marianus and of Maguire. See
"
Acta Sanctorum Hibernice," xv. Februarii, n. 39, p. 340.
**' There are three holy virgins, bearing such a name, and mentioned in our Martyr-
ologies. First, the daughter of Alill, son to Dunlaing, King of Leinster, who with her sister Felimia is venerated on the 9th of
December, in the church of Kill-naningen, in that part of Leinster, known as Magh liffe, according to the Martyrology of Tallagh, ^nguss the Culdee, the Calendar
Mugania of Ciuainboirenn, who is venerated in the church of Cluain-boirenn, on the 15th
of December. Thirdly, St. Mugania, daughter to Ere, who was venerated at
Sliabh dinn, on tlie 15th of November, ac- cording to Marianus and the Continuator of
. (Engus. Colgan thinks, that either of the latter two virgins must have been the saint
560 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February15.
Aradh ; with Brochlacha*^ from Carbery. 43 Here, indeed, was a very distin- guished assemblage of pious persons, to confer with one of the most illustrious
saints of the age and of his country.
CHAPTER III.
ST. FARANNAN AND MANY HOLY PERSONS AT THE DROMCEAT CONVENTION —TIBRAID GRANTS LAND AND ENDOWS THREE CHURCHES—ONE OF THESE, ALT-FARANAIN, SERVED BY OUR SAINT—HIS MANNER OF LIVING THERE—HIS DEATH, FESTIVAL, AND POPULAR VENERATION FOR HIS MEMORY—CONCLUSION.
In the year 574^ or 575 f some authors have it about 580,3 according to
others, 587,'^ or 590 ;5 St. Columkille, King Aidus, and several chieftains, having assisted at the great Council of Dromceat, St. Farannan was one among the many ecclesiastics who were present. ^ In the Life of our saint, we are told, that many persons, illustrious for their wisdom, rank and sanctity, assisted at this council. Among these, we find named, St. Cuanus,7 son to Midhorn f St. Garuan,9 bishop, son to ^nguss ; St. Colman,^° son to Eochod,
the first, who flourished in St. Patrick's time, about the year 450, as may be collected
from his Tripartite Life, part iii. , cap. 31.
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xv. Feb-
ruarii, n. 40, p. 340. The reader is referred bile, occurs.
740) the I2th of February, on which day
his Natalis was observed, according to the
Martyrologies of Tallagh and of Marianus
Gorman. 3. St. Farannan, Bishop of brated on the 15th of February, according Tref hod, who is said to have died, in the to the Martyrologies of Tallagh and of Ma-
Commentator on
St.
yEngus. 5. Farannan,
Archbishop of Armagh, whose Natalis is celebrated on the 30th of April, at Wasor,
Colgan says, that while this present saint must be distinguished, from others he has named ; yet, he seems to have been identical with the Forannan, whose Natalis was cele-
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 553
According to the Irish Life, Farannan was the son of Quintiis or Constans,7 son to Colgan, or Colga,^ son to Edus, son of Finnbarr,9 son to Eiigenius,^° or Eoghan," son to Niall of the Nine Hostages, Monarch of Ireland. " But, the virtues of our saint were far more admirable, than his nobility of birth ; for, he was more solicitous to practise piety, than the vicious are to pursue false pleasures. Both by word and by action, h—e was careful to reprobate vice, —and to promote virtue. He practised and apparently from early youth great austerities against the flesh ; while, his virtues and miracles spread his fame, throughout the whole island. His example was a salutary lesson to many, for the amendment of their lives. When duly promoted to a position in the Church, he preached the Holy Gospels, with much fruit and zeal. ^3 "We are told in his Life, that our saint was contemporaneous with the great St. Columkille, who, burning with zeal for the propagation of the true faith, left his native island, for the shores of Albion,^4 that he might gain a Christian conquest over the incredulous Picts. ^5 We are also informed, that St. Columba had another reason, for seeking these shores. Some intestine divisions and strife arising among members of his
family, who stood high in rank and station, at home, the saint vainly endea- voured to restore peace. Not being able to succeed, he took a resolution of leaving his native country, to which he never -intended to return. ^^ The Apostle of the Picts directed his course towards Iona,'7 where having erected a noble monastery, he became a great promoter of monastic rules and
^^ St. Forannan is classed
whether his
his
novitiate commenced in Ireland, or at lona, does not appear to be well
known.
The kindred of St. Columba, in Ireland, earnestly desired this saint's
presence among them, and they sent frequent messages to induce his return. He constantly refused compliance with these entreaties, until a great public necessity compelled him to revisit his native island. His object was to effect areconciliationbetweentheScotsofHiberniaandthoseofAlba. ^" Apublic convention or council was called at Dromceat, in order to deliberate on thosespecialmatters. Others,ofgreatnationalandecclesiasticalimportance, engaged the attention of this grand deliberative assembly.
It is only, at a late period, the site of this celebrated convention seems
practices.
among
disciples ;^9 but,
rianus Gorman. There, he is called the son of ^dus, according to a usual Irish custom ;
for, even although remotely descended, from an ancestor so named, the descendants were
styled sons of a distinguished progenitor,
This opinion of Colgan is by no means con-
elusive.
^"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Feb-
"
Sanctilogium Genea- logicum," cap, 2. Colgan intended to make further reference to him, in his notes to the Life of St. Dagius, bishop, which was to
have been published at the 1 8th of August.
" See the " Martyrology of Donegal. "
^2 The Irish Life of St. Farannan is
quoted by the O'Clerys, for the pedigree of the present holy man.
ruarii xv. , p. 804. They promise there to
examine more at length his possible identity
with St. Farannan, Abbot and Patron of nise," xv. Februarii. Vita S. Farannani,
Wasor, when treating about him, at the 30th
cap, i, , ii. , p. 336.
^4 Rather Alba or Caledonia.
^s Then living as Pagans,
^^
Such are the accounts usually given by Irish writers.
'7 A remarkable Hebridean island,
'^ See the Rev, Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," /rt'jj/w.
^9 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix ad Acta S, Columbce, p, 490,
'^° Such are the accounts Irish and Scottish historians.
of April. ^ In the
"
Martyrology of Donegal," he is
called Conn,
^" See the
9 In the
gal" we have the following addition, "Take notice, that Fionnbarr was not of the ten sons that Eoghan had,"
'° From this Eugene, sixteen kings of Ire-
Martyrology of Donegal. "
" of Done- published Martyrology
and more than saints
thirty descended,
usually given by
land,
as appears from the Catalogue of Kings of
Ireland, as also from
'3 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
554 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February15.
to have been settled. Dr. O'Donovan, and, after him, Dr. Reeves, Professor
and other
in Roe Park, beside Limavady, as the scene for this celebrated meeting. O'Donnell tells iis,^^ that Columba, after sailing across the river now known as Lough Foyle, and at the part where it is broadest, turned the prow of his vesseltotheRiverRoe,whichflowsintotheFoyle. Then,thevesselofthat holy man glided with the Divine assistance up this stream, though from the scantiness of its waters, it is otherwise unnavigable. But, the place in which the boat was then anchored, thenceforth from that circumstance called
O'Ciirry,
writers,
have fixed
upon
Mullagh,"
Daisy Hill,"
"
After making a moderate delay at that place, the holy man, with his venerable
Hill of the Boat," is very near Drumceat. retinue, set out to that very charming, gently-sloping hill, commonly called
Cabhan-an-Churaidh, that is, the
Drumceat. Dr. Reeves Then,
that hill called " The =^ which Keady,"
states,
commences about two miles out of Newtownlimavady,''3 might be supposed,
from the apparent similarity of the name, to be the spot. He thinks, also, there can be little doubt, that the artificial mound in Roe Park, called "The
and sometimes tlie "
we believe, the Rev. John Keys O'Dogherty^s has furnished reasons, for a more probable selection of locality. His narrative is substantially contained,
in the following descriptive account, which argues a careful study of the question, and of the locality. He infers the site of the convention, to have beenasmallhill,ontheoppositesideoftheRoe,fromtheMullagh. *^ He is convinced, moreover, that the Keady derives its name from, and is only a modernized form of, the latter part in the word Drum-ceatta. The initial C in Irish words being pronounced hard, like the letter K, would give us the Avord, as if written Kcatta, precisely similar in sound, and not very different in spelling from the modern Keady.
The River Roe at this particular part may be said to run east and west, and the bank, on either side, may correctly enough be termed northern and southern. This will assist the reader, to some extent, in understanding the relative positions of those hills, for which claim is made of being the Drum- ceat in Irish history. On the southern bank of the river is the Mullagh. About a quarter of a mile, farther up the stream, than where it passes the Mullagh, the river is engaged among rocks ; so, it may be assumed for certain, that the Hill of Convention, on whatever side of the river it lies, cannot be farther up than the Mullagh. Hence, the' Rev. Mr. O'Dogherty thinks, we are to look for it, somewhere near the Roe, between the Mullagh and the mouth of the Roe. There are numerous hills on both sides of the
Mullagh,"
Daisy Hill,''
is the real Drumceatt. ^4
Still,
''See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga.
"
about 190 by 170 feet. The prospect from it is exceedingly extensive and varied, com- manding a view of Magilligan, with its IJcnyevenagh, Aghanloo, Drumachose,
Tamlaght-Finlagan, and part of Inishowen. Tiicre is no local tradition about the spot, except that it is reckoned "gentle," and that it is unlucky to cut the sod. The truth is, the effects of the plantation have utterly —effaced all the old associations of the jtlace. "
"Acts of Archbishop Colton in his Metro-
politan Visitation of Derry, A. D. MCCCXCVll.
Additional Notes, H, p. 133.
=^5 parish ofNewtownstewart. priest
=^
See the townland, so called, in the parish of Tamlaght Finlagan and barony of Kcc- naght, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Londonderry. " Sheets 9, 16.
Life of St. Columkille, lib. iii. , cap. iv. , p.
431. ^^
There are two townland denominations ofKeady; oneintheparishofDrumachose, barony of Keenaght, and the other in the
parishofMaghera, barony of Loughinshol in. These are to be seen described on the " Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the CountyofLondonderry. " Sheetslo,32.
^3 Alias Rathbrady Beg. It is in the
parish of Drumachose, and barony of Kee- naught. See "Ordnance Survey Townland
for the of
Maps County Londonderry. "
Sheet 9.
''^ The Rev. Dr. Reeves adds: "It is
situate in a meadow, at a little distance from the house, on the N. W. ; it rises to the height of about twenty feet, and measures
the "
or "
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 555
river, and, to select any one of them appears to be, to some extent, a question of probabilities. The eminence required, probably is a remarkable one ; so is the Mullagh ; this seems to be the sole reason, and the sum total of its claims. The name, however, is much against it ; firstly, because a Mullagh cannot be a Drium ; and secondly, as Urumceat was a well-known place, tlie Irish-speaking people never would have changed its name, into the
A little farther down the river, on the, same southern bank, is a ridge, called Drum-bally-donaghy. =7 Donaghy, if it be not a family name, might retain traces of Donagh, /. <? . , Domniica, and, therefore, of the religious functions, that used to be celebrated there. Near to Drum-bally-donaghy is
"
a pool, in the river, called the boat-hole. " This might be supposed to
correspond, with Cabhan-an-Churaidh ; but, it is a place, where a boat
usuallywas,andevennowisoccasionallykept. Noargumentcanbedrawn fromthisinfavourofDrum-bally-donaghy. Nordoesthereseemtobeany reason, for selecting any other amone the ridges, on the same side of the Roe.
On the north side of this stream, and just opposite the Mullagh, there is
a hill, the form of which attracts attention, whether viewed, when descending
the river, that is, coming from Dungiven to Limavady, or ascending, by the same road, which runs along the south bank of the river. The name of this hill is Enagh. 2^ It is the Irish name still for a " fair. " In earlier times, it meant a gathering for /^////V^/ purposes ; and, in later times, an assembly for religions purposes. The name, therefore, suggests, that this was the hill so well known in Colgan's time ; and which, he says, Avas in his day and for ever venerable, especially on account of the many pilgrimages and the public religious ceremonies (Theophoriam), which, on the festival of All Saints, in memory of the aforesaid synod there celebrated, are annually made, with an immense concourse from all the neighbouring districts. Now Drumceat, which " the Drum" or "
commonplace appellation Mullagh.
language have died out, at present in the locality, but they had not died out when this Irish name was given to it.
means,
ridge
of the
pleasant swelling ground," being
a commonplace appellation, might easily give way in the lapse of time, to the name Enagh.
Standing on Enagh, the most beautiful view, in the whole valley of the
Roe, is presented. Looking northwards. Lough Foyle, sweeping from Inishowen Head round the lovely shores of Greencastle, Moville, and Iska-
heen, comes upon the eye ; and it is bounded, from this point of view, by the range of hills, which culminates in the ruin-crowned summit of Greenan, once known as "Aileach of the Kings. " Still looking north, but on this side of the Foyle, to the right, the lowlands of Myroe and Magilligan rise by swelling ridges, like mimic Tartar steppes, till they mount into the grand romanticrangesofBenyevenaghandtheKeady. Standinguponasome- what insulated ridge, which rears itself 160 feet high, in a valley stretching north and south, its narrowest part under the feet ; before the spectator, it spreads out into the lowlands of Lough Foyle shores ; while, on the south, it widens out, in the direction of Dungiven, only turning more towards the west. If you examine these rising swells just near you, you will see the ruins of Drumachose—St. Canice's Church—crowning one of them
;
while, turning and looking up the south opening of the valley, you could, were it not for the intervening groves, see the ruins of Tamlaght Finlagan,
^^ It is to be seen on the same sheet of the and barony of Keenaglit.
*'
Ordnance Sur-
map with Mullagh. vcy Townland Maps for the County of Lon«
=^^
This is in the parish of Dmmachose donderry. " See Sheets 9, 10.
No doubt the Irish tradition and
556 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February15.
or St. Finloch's Church. The Roc, however, runs between the two ; but,
thereisaveryshallowford,justintheline,separatingthem. Itisprobable, that a hill would be selected convenient for the clergy of both churches, as also on the side nearest to the more important church—the " Magna Ecclesia de Ro ;" and, we might also add, on the side nearest the county Antrim, wherein lay the territories about which, according to some authorities, the dispute was chiefly pending. —
On what has been designated the north bank of the river
opposite to the Mullagh—there is an insulated rock, like a huge milestone or finger-post. This marked out Enagh, and it is called the " Boat-Rock. " It is the first met, on either side, when passing up the river, from the Foyle ; there is no other for half a mile farther up, where the gorges of the river commenceabruptly. Thisparticularspotisjustsuchaspot,asshouldinvite a boat's crew to land. The juxtaposition of this rock to Enagh—and from this point the hill looks most picturesque—and its being on the same side of the river with it, weigh much, with the Rev. Mr. O'Dogherty, when deciding
but the toivnland oi that name—seems also an
/////, argument
in favour of this theory. It is probable, that what we know did occur in
many other cases, occurred also in this, viz. , that the name Keady, which is
now confined to one townland, once extended over an entire district, and
that the district got such a name, perhaps from this very hill. When a large
townland was divided into two or three smaller ones, the smaller ones got
what we may term surnames. By degrees, the latter or distinctive name
alone was preserved, while the original name clung to only one of the
divisions, and to that one, because the original possessor, may have retained
it to himself. Colgan's description suggests to the mind, that the hill was
not near, but some little distance from the Roe. Thus, it was quite near. ='9
The venerable man, he tells us, made a slight delay at the place where he
landed, and then ^uent to the assetJibly. All the other hills are either too
near, or too far off, to answer this description. The Mullagh is almost on
the brink of the river. The appearance of Enagh is such, as from most
points of view, might suggest, to a—Latin writer, the derivation, for Drumceat,
in favour of Enagh, not only as against the Mullagh, but as against any other of those hills, that rise along the river. The proximity of Enagh to the
Ready—not the
of"Dorsum orin "thebackofawhale. " Nootherhill
Cete," English
around could suggest the same idea. Enagh agrees in every respect, with the
"
description of Drumceat. It is a collis,'' for it is in ;
—sulated and it is at the sametimea"dnmforridge. Adnwiisabackbone aspurthatamountain sends out—but, more prolonged, and more easy of slope, on its flanks, than
what we ordinarily mean, when we speak of a mountain-spur, and projecting also from a lower elevation of the mountain. It is not easy to find a place, which one person could with propriety call a drum, and another with equal propriety term a collis ; but, it seems, that both designations are applicable toEnagh,andtonootherofthehillsaround. Itisverybeautiful,3°whether considered in its own aspect, or in the delightful prospect it affords. It is gradually ascending, which none of the other hills are, and certainly not the
Mullagh. 3^
These are the principal arguments, that lead the Rev. Mr. O'Dogherty to
adopt Enagh, in preference to the Mullagh ; and, though there may be but a balance of probabilities in favour of his theory, still the Mullagh seems to him entirely out of a competition, for claiming the ancient title of Drum-
°9 He uses the term
"pervicinus. "
3i The terms are "leniter descriptive
acclivis. "
3° The term is *' descriptive
peramsenus. "
the side
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 557
ceat. The most that can be said of it is, that it rises as a remarkable hill, near the Roe ; and, when this has been said, all has been repeated that can be urged. After it, at least Enagh is the most remarkable hill ; from its situa- tion, it is the hill likely to be chosen for the assembly ; it answers perfectly the description of Drumceat ; it retains, by its neighbourhood, traces of the name ; its name indicates a place of religious concourse ; it is on the same side of the river with, and near to, a remarkable rock, standing up out of the bank, and called the " Boat-Rock," with no reason, we can now see, for prefixing the term Boat to it ; and lastly, it affords space on its summit for the royal pavilions and tents, which, O'Donnell tells us, were scattered over the hill, in the manner of military camps. On the top of the Mullagh, there is no space for the like ; Enagh, at least, is required for this. So much then, for the site of this famous Convention, which left its mark, not only on that era, but also on after ages. s^ It seems to us, the foregoing arguments bear the highest meed, for shrewdness of conjecture, and for research, in the accurate examination of historic evidence.
CHAPTER II
ST. COLUMKILLE PROCURES THE RELEASE OF SCANLAN, PRINCE OF OSSORY—ST. COLUMBA's SPIRITUAL JURISDICTION—AT EASDRA HE MEETS VARIOUS HOLY MEN AND WOMEN, AT A PUBLIC ASSEMBLY.
St. Columkille had another object in view, by returning to Ireland. He greatly desired the release of Scanlan, son to Kinfalius, King of Ossory, who
was detained in prison by Aidus,^ son to Anmirach, Monarch of Ireland. ^ This Aidus3 was a kinsman to St. Columba himself. The latter succeeded in this endeavour, as also in his desire of effecting peace, between the belli- gerent parties, and princes of the period. He was detained for some time, in Ireland.
There, as we are told, he exercised spiritual rule,^ over various
communities of men and women. s -No religious
doubt,
in a restricted
sense,
this was quite true.
Before returning to Britain, St. Columba founded a cluirch in the territory
ofCairbre. ^ This was called Druimcliabh. 7 Thence, he went to a place, called Easdra f and, here he was met by all the bishops of the surrounding
3- See a series of
" The Conven-
Patrick the Abbot of lona had holy
Papers,
tion of Drumceat, A. D. 590," chap. ii.
These contributions appeared in The Lou-
supreme powerinspiritualmattersoverallthemonks
donder? y jfourna—l, A-^n\26\\\z. \\d2? >\h. , 1876. ^
and nuns, throughout Ireland.
s Colgan denies the truth of the passage
in Farannan's Acts, as he could not believe, that all the monasteries of Ireland M'ere
subject to St. Columba's spiritual rule, al- though many appear to have been under his
discipline and control. See ibid. , n. 15, p. 339.
^ It was a little to the north of situated,
Sligo, and it is now in the diocese of Elphin. St. Mothoria is said to have been the first abbot under the founder. This name occurs
Chapter ii. This Aidus or Hugh I.
began his reign, in the year 572 ; and, he
ruled twenty-six years, according to Ussher's
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 490, 500, and "Index Chro- nologicus," p. 535.
^ He was killed at the battle of
A. D. 598, according to Ussher. See ibid.
3 Many particulars are recorded about
Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," xv. Februarii, n. 14, p. 339.
"The Acts of St. Farannan have a state- ment, regarding -Columba, that after St.
Columba. " Additional Notes G, p. 279. 7 It is now called Drumclifife,
^
Colgan dues not attempt to identify this place.
Dunbolg,
him, and regarding his celebrated son,
Domnald, in the Acts of Dromcheat Synod,
as also in other ancient documents. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St.
in the Calendar, at the 9th of June. See "
55S LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS [February15.
country, and by many holy persons of both sexes. The place, where this assembly was held, seems to have been Easdara,9 as formerly called, and at
present Ballysadare,'° in the county of Sligo. The author of our saint's Acts says, that of Cumne's race" alone, there were many men and women renowned for their sanctity. She was the daughter of Dalbronnius and a sistertoBrotsecha,themotherofSt. Brigid. " Shewascelebratedforher numerous and holy progeny. ^3
The names of some among these holy persons are only given. We find enumerated, St. Moninnia^^ of Sliabh Culinn ; the two sons of ConalPs of
Killchora ; Manius,^^ Bishop of Tyr-Oilill ; Muredach,''7 of Killala, in Tyr- Amhalgaidh ; Ronius,^^ Bishop of Kill-Ronius \ Caiminus'9 of Inis-Kealtra ;
Regulus,=° of Mucinis, in the territory of Dalgeis ; Senanus,^^ of Inis-Cathy ; Senanus,^^ of Lathir Brivin ; Erninus,^3 of Cluain-reilgeach, in Meath ; Seven Bishops of Cluain Hemain f^ Libania^s and Fortchern,^^ of Odhba Keara,
9 It opens on a bay, into which falls the
Unshion or Ballysadare River. This issues
from Lough Arrow, near Boyle, and here it
is joined by the Coolaney River. At this
place, it falls over several ledges of rocks,
the last of which is ten feet in height, into
that arm of the sea, called Ballysadai-e
channel. vSee Lewis' "Topographical Dic- no ordinary size. But, he is of opinion, tionary of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 163.
^°
Here St. Fechin founded a church, as
those persons were not bishops of that place, whence they are named, but were only buried
may be seen in his Life, at the 20th of Jan-
uary.
" By others called Cumaine.
" See her Life, at the 1st of February.
^3 Colgan says, that no less than seventy- seven saints descended from her, according to a distich composed by Marianus Gorman or his Scholiast.
'* See her Life, at the 6th of July.
there, or that they were fellow-religious, either before or after their advancement to episcopal dignity. The church of Cluain- emuin is situated in the county of Roscom- mon and province of Connaught, as may be gleaned from the Annals of the Four Mas- ters, where we find it to have been plundered, A. D. 1089.
^5 Colgan could not say whether or not the author of our saint's Acts intended to convey an impression, that both these saints were
'5 Colgan says, he was unable to discover
who these two sons of Conall were. There
were many saints, such as St. Endeus, venerated in Partry, a territory of Connaught.
Darenia, Lochinia,&c. , who were descended from Conall Derg, son to the Prince of
Oirgellia. But, whether the persons spoken of, in this instance, were the sons of that
About A. D. 580, a certain holy virgin, named Libhan, flourished in Ulster, under the gui- dance of St. Comgall. She was daughter to Eochad, son to Mucod, Prince of Ulster,
Conall, alluded to, cannot be known. Our and she was venerated on the i8lh of De-
saint's epoch is by no means repugnant to an affirmative supposition, in the opinion of Colgan. See"ActaSanctorumHiberniLc/' XV. Februarii, n. 19, p. 339.
cember, according to Marianus, and the Continuator of ^nguss.
^^
AboutthecommencementofChristianity in Ireland, St. Fortchern, a disciple to St. Patrick and the second Bishop of Trim, in
"^
^7 The proper feast, of St. Muredach, Meath, flourislied. He was son to Fethlemin,
See his Life, at the 2nd of September.
Bishop of Killala, is observed in this diocese, on the 1 2th of August.
who was son to Leogaire, Monarch of Ire-
land, and according to the Martyrologies of Tallagh and Marianus Gorman his feast was
'^
See his Acts, at the 23rd of November.
^9 See his Acts, at the 25th of March.
Yet, his festival is entered, aLo, at the 24lh of March, by some Calendarists.
=°
See his Life, at the i6th of October.
^' The Acts of St. Senan of Iniscathy will
be found, at the 8th of March.
^^
See notices of him, at the 2nd of Sep- tember.
=^3 See notices of him, at the 5th of August.
kept at Trim, on the 17th of February. Colgan says, that —the same, or perchance, another Fortchern may
^^
ancient Book of Litanies, he finds the invo-
Colgan says, that in a certain very
Jocelin (cap, 52), and from the Irish Life of St. Patrick (par. 3, cap. 98), it does not seem likely, tiiat Forcliern could have lived
cation of seven Bishops of Cluainemhain,
But, it may be objected, even if seven afterwards to A. D. 580, when the assembly
bishops lived at the same place in succession, how could all of them be present, at one
time, and from the same place, at a public assembly ? To this Colgan replies, that in
the first place, the monastery, or congrega- tion, from which so many holy and respect- able men issued together, must have been of
of whom mention
—was vene- rated, on the nth of October, at Killfort- chearn, in Idrone, a territory of Leinster. But, as the disciple of St. Patrick flourished, about A. D. 440, as may be collected from the Life of our Irish Apostle, written by
have been made in this instance
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 59
in Partry ; Grellan^7 of Craoibh, at the eastern side of Magh Luirg,^^ or Crouenf9Kyria3°ofKillSkyria;3i CorcariaKeann,andCorcariaCaoin,3^ the two daughters of Eogan, and the daughter of Cathald33 from Kill-Comlach, at Magh-Luirg ; Loman,34 of Lough Gill, between the countries of Carbry andBreffney; Mofrisius,35sontoFachtnaofSligeach;Inella,adevoutvirgin;3^ Osnata,37ofGleannDallain,inCarbery,andGeghias^ofGegheIsland; Der- biha,39ofIrras; SevenNuns^QofTyr-uaFiachraaidhne; Mugania/'ofRath-
Acta Sanctorum Hibernice," xv. Febniarii, n. 29,
here spoken of was convened. See
name, Cluain, without any other addition.
"
down
one letter may have crept in, the word being written Corcaria instead of Corcagia. If such be the case, it might be lawful to con- jecture, that one of these ladies had been identical with the saint, who was venerated in the territory of Gregraigia, in Connaught, on the i6th of November, according 10 Ma- rianusandtheContinuatorof^nguss; and, that the other had been venerated, at Cluain- lothir, in the region of Breffney, on the 8th of xMarch, according to tlic same authorities, and the Martyrology of Tallagh. In the territory of Tir-oilleoll, near that part of the country, where this assembly was held, lived the family of this virgin, or the race of Alill, son to Ferguss, spoken of, in the pre- ceding note. From this Alill, the country was called Tir-Oilioll or the "laud of Alill. " See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum llibernire," xv. Februarii, n. 32, p. 339.
;
but, he
suggests,
Possibly, according to Colgan of October.
"
Sanctilogium Genea- logicum," and other authorities, the father ''^ See notices of him, at the loth of No- of this saint was not called Fachtna but,
P- 339-
vember.
=^ A plain,
in the
barony
of Boyle, county
;
he is said to have been Carthach, son to Neda, The father of a Saint Middan is called Fachtna by Marianus, at the 17th of February. But, whether the same Fachtna was father to St. Mofrisius and St. Middan, Colgan would not undertake to pronounce. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xv. Feb- ruarii, n. 34, p. 339. —
Roscommon.
^5 In the reign of Cairbre Mor.
3° She is venerated, at the 24th of March. 3* Now Kilskyre,
3= Colgan, says, he cannot find the Natalis
of these virgins, with the names here set
that an error of 3^
33 Although Colgan marks this person's name, as if he designed appending a note in explanation, he does not afterwards allude to her.
3** See notices of him, at the 4th of Feb- ruary.
33 There is a river, flowing from Lough
Gill into the western ocean, at the tov/n of
Sligo, from which it also takes name. But,
Colgan could not discover among the saints
of his country, any one of them, who was
called Mofrisius. He conjectures, this saint
may have been the same as Frosius, who is
venerated on the 21st of December, accord-
ing to the Carthusian Martyrology, or of Cashel and Marianus. Secondly, St. Usuard's, with additions. After our Irish
fashion, the particle mo might have been
prefixed, to Fegus, as the name there stands.
At the same day, Marianus, the Martyrology
of Tallagh, and the Continuator of JFngus,
say, that his Natalis was celebrated, in that
part of Connaught, which was called Con-
mhaicne, and in the church of Cluain Con-
mhaicne. In Colgan's time, it bore the here mentioned : as it could not have been
Yet, according to the
the s—ame as St. Derinella
venerated at the 26ih
37 Notices are given regarding her, at the 7th of January.
3^ Colgan says, he could find nothing re- lating to this virgin, but adds, that perhaps Degia, or Uegitchia, should be understood, and whose feast falls on the 22nd of March. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," xv. Feb-
ruarii, n. 37, p. 340.
3^ The Natalis of St. Derbilia was cele-
brated, on the 3rd of August, according to the Martyrologies of Tallagh, Marianus and the Continuator of yEnguss. See Colgan's
"Acta Sanctorum Ilibernifie," xv. Februarii, n. 38, p. 340. For this statement, however, I find no warrant, in any of our Calendars.
'*'^ Colganconjectures,thatthese,perhaps,
were the seven daughters to Ferguss, whose
feast is celebrated in the church of Teagh
na ninghean, in Connaught, on the 24th of
]\Iay, according to the Martyrologies of
Tallagh, of Marianus and of Maguire. See
"
Acta Sanctorum Hibernice," xv. Februarii, n. 39, p. 340.
**' There are three holy virgins, bearing such a name, and mentioned in our Martyr-
ologies. First, the daughter of Alill, son to Dunlaing, King of Leinster, who with her sister Felimia is venerated on the 9th of
December, in the church of Kill-naningen, in that part of Leinster, known as Magh liffe, according to the Martyrology of Tallagh, ^nguss the Culdee, the Calendar
Mugania of Ciuainboirenn, who is venerated in the church of Cluain-boirenn, on the 15th
of December. Thirdly, St. Mugania, daughter to Ere, who was venerated at
Sliabh dinn, on tlie 15th of November, ac- cording to Marianus and the Continuator of
. (Engus. Colgan thinks, that either of the latter two virgins must have been the saint
560 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February15.
Aradh ; with Brochlacha*^ from Carbery. 43 Here, indeed, was a very distin- guished assemblage of pious persons, to confer with one of the most illustrious
saints of the age and of his country.
CHAPTER III.
ST. FARANNAN AND MANY HOLY PERSONS AT THE DROMCEAT CONVENTION —TIBRAID GRANTS LAND AND ENDOWS THREE CHURCHES—ONE OF THESE, ALT-FARANAIN, SERVED BY OUR SAINT—HIS MANNER OF LIVING THERE—HIS DEATH, FESTIVAL, AND POPULAR VENERATION FOR HIS MEMORY—CONCLUSION.
In the year 574^ or 575 f some authors have it about 580,3 according to
others, 587,'^ or 590 ;5 St. Columkille, King Aidus, and several chieftains, having assisted at the great Council of Dromceat, St. Farannan was one among the many ecclesiastics who were present. ^ In the Life of our saint, we are told, that many persons, illustrious for their wisdom, rank and sanctity, assisted at this council. Among these, we find named, St. Cuanus,7 son to Midhorn f St. Garuan,9 bishop, son to ^nguss ; St. Colman,^° son to Eochod,
the first, who flourished in St. Patrick's time, about the year 450, as may be collected
from his Tripartite Life, part iii. , cap. 31.
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xv. Feb-
ruarii, n. 40, p. 340. The reader is referred bile, occurs.
