In this part of Ireland, they built a cell, having ordered
Barrus to mark out its foundations and to bless it.
Barrus to mark out its foundations and to bless it.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
Finbar or
is found written was born in the Island of Cathania,S3 which was on the
Amergin,s
8 the father of our
Saint,
came from
Connaught
and took a
He became the
at Achadh Durbeon,59 in the country of Musgry Mitine. 6°
—
53 Now Caithness the shire of this deno-
it,
Fymbarrus
as his
name
western side of Scotia, having Rossia54 on the south and the Orkadesss or Orkney Islands to the east. However, there are no true historic grounds for the statement, that our Saint had been a native of Scotland, although after death, his memory was held there in veneration. At what exact time he was born in Ireland has not transpired, but it was probably after the middle of the sixth century. It is contended, moreover, that his real name was LochaiV6 and that Finbarr, i. e. " white-haired"—contracted into Barr— must be considered only as his acquired surname. *? It is related, that
chief blacksmith to the Chief of Rathluin. This latter was called Tyager-
61
nach, the son of Cas, and descended from the race of Echach. The
Scottish account, as contained in the Breviary of Aberdeen, calls him
Tigrinatus.
62 In his
territory
lived a
girl
of rare
beauty,
whom the
chief
wishedtoretainashiscompanion. Heordered,thatnomanshouldtake
her as a wife. But Amergin disobeyed his order, for he became passionately
in love with that female. In due course of time, Bairre was conceived. 63 Hearing about this matter, the chief fell into a violent fit of anger. He
reproached the young woman with her disobedience, and she acknowledged to whom she had been married. Filled with rage, the chief ordered both
52 Rathluin was the name of O'Magh-
59 This place has not been identified. In the Codex Kilkenniensis the denomination is spelled Dunteon.
60 Now the Barony of Muskerry, County of Cork.
61 "— Called by Hanmer Tegernatus. "
thamna's or O'Mahony's district, extending on both sides of the River Bandon. See Richard Caulfield's note, attached to his Life of St. Fin Barre, p. 8, n. (b).
mination being in the extreme north-eastern
part of the Scottish mainland. An Island
of the name is not to be found on the Map to Eachach, son of Cas, son of Core, of Scotland, and the position here assigned
to it is a geographical mistake.
54 Now Ross—the shire of that name is
separated from Caithness by Sutherland, and it lies across the whole of Scotland in the northern part from the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.
62 It is curious to compare the different versions of a tradition, which may be traced to a common—even if not reliable—historic source, and in places so far apart as the extreme northern parts of Scotland and the
ss See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of extreme southern parts of Ireland. Both
Scottish Saints," p. 275.
56 The Bollandist editor Suyskens says,
have reference to our Saint. A legend in Torfteus describes a feud between two northern chiefs, in which the one carries off the daughter of the other. Being worsted in a sea-fight, the abductor swims ashore with her, and marries her in an irregular manner, in the cottage of a poor man. The couple had a son named Bard, who tra-
that he was called, in the first instance.
"
Loanus seu Luanus,"
57 See, Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. ,
sect, iv. , p. 314. This opinion Dr. Lanigan seems to have drawn from Sir James Ware,
who says: "Propriis Hibernorum veterum velled and acquired great learning. He
nominibus addita sunt cognomina, vel a re gesta, vel ab animi qualitate, vel a colore,
was afterwards bishop of Ireland, and he
wrought great miracles. See "Orcades,"
lib. i. , cap. 10.
4
3The Scottish account of St. Finbar, both before and immediately after his birth, is somewhat in accordance with the Irish Lives of him, printed by Richard Caulf eld, LL. D.
64 See Miss M. F. Cusack's " Histoiv of
vel a corporis sive nota aliqua, sive defectu, vel a casu, vel ironice. Sic . . . S. Barrus,
—"De Hibernia et Antiquitatibus ejus," cap. ix. ,
Finbarrns, sive Barrus Albus," &c.
p. 41.
s8 Called by Hanmer Amorgen. " See
"
" Chronicle of Ireland," p. 108.
—
ibid. This chief Tighearnach was son to Hugh the Arrogant, son of Criomthann, son
according to the Bruxelles Manuscript Life of St. Fin Bairre, chap. i.
55*
place
55* LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September25.
husband and wife to be bound in chains. He then directed his servants to construct a large pile of dried wood, so that when it should be set on fire,
both might be cast into it.
However, Providence decreed, that the pile
should remain unconsumed 64 for a great hurricane arose at the time, with ;
thunder, lightning and heavy rain, which prevented the fire being lighted. Then, Bairre spoke from his mother's womb, according to the tradition, and reproached the chief with the crime, meditated against his innocent parents. 65 This miraculous event is attributed to the circumstance, that St. Barr was yet in his mother's womb. 66 When such a result had been known to the
chief, Bairre's parents were brought before him, and finally they were dismissed with pardon. 67
Soon after these occurrences, the holy infant Barr was born. 68 Imme- diately, as if recognizing some foretaste of the child's future sanctity, the chief went to see this infant and to ask his benediction. The child is said to have spoken and to have asked the chief as their patron to receive his
parents. ^ The chief fulfilled his promise, by granting his parents all they choose to ask. 7° Then they joyfully returned to their own territory, which is
1
called the plain of Dunteon. ? This place is probably to be regarded as
identical with Achadh Durbeon, where the first name given to their son in
was and there he was nursed for seven 7a Thenceforward baptism Loan, years.
the child was silent, until the time proper for infants to exercise the gift of speech. There, their little son was diligently instructed, and his good morals
were admired by all. So far as inaccuracy of expression in the Manuscript allows us to state, owing to some cogent reason, three anchorites, originally from Leinster but then living in Minister, were returning about that time towards their own territory. Coming by the house of Amergin, father to St. Barr, they received from him hospitality for that night. These travellers greatly admired the boy's appearance. One of these seniors remarked, that beautiful as the child's features were, his gifts of true faith were still more
" and the holy spirit dwells in him ; would that he were with us to study, because the grace of God shines through his features. " His father on hearing this
admirable. u I know he is the elect of God," continued this
the City and County of Cork," chap, iii. , PP-33. 34-
65 According to the Burgundian Mann- script Life of St. Fin Bairre, chap. i.
66
According to the popular tradition of the people living at Gougane Barra, County of Cork, St. Barr was born near Bandon, and in the Rath, which occupied that site now covered by Castle Mahon, and later still called—Castle Bernard, Lord Bandon's residence. Letter of
senior,
some other incidents relating to our Saint's Life. —Ibid. , pp. 109, no, III.
** In the Burgundian Manuscript Life of St. Finn Bairre, his pedigree is thus traced : Bairri, the son of Aimirgin, son of Black Dunne, son to Art, son of Carthann, son to Flann, son of Deadh, son to Brian, son of Eachadh Muighmeadhoin.
65>" Bairre spoke in his mother's womb, and also immediately after his birth, in order
Reeves, pp. 258, 259.
7° The Burgundian Manuscript Life of St.
that the Saint asked the chief to liberate his father and mother, when Tigheamach not only complied with the request, but gave himse—lf and his posterity
Very
Hurley, P. P. , to the writer, and dated
justify
Inchigeela, County Cork, March 15th, 1889.
67 Some of the foregoing particulars seem to have been contained in the Office of our Saint, to which allusion has been made by the Bollandists. Dr. Hanmer appears to have had access to some old Life of our
Fin Bairre has
it,
Rev. Patrick to
her, as his Life
Saint, as he relates substantially the fore- ""
going legend. See Chronicle of Ireland. " pp. 107, 108. Subsequently he quotes
to Bairre in perpetuity. Chap. i.
7I One Manuscript Life reads, Campum Dimteon. " Underanyformofthisname,
the has not been identified, place
72 According to the Burgundian Manu- script Life of St. Fin Bairre, chap. ii.
several Latin hexameter " lines,
sung yearly
on his day, being the 25th of September. " Those lines allude to the foregoing and
his father and mot— states in the first chapter. "
"
of Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and
Martyrology
September 35. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 553
said to them " If you wish it, take him with you, then let him study ; for :
and we offer him to God. " The seniors present, he shall not come with us, for we proceed farther ;
" At
but we shall
we are his
parents,
replied :
again return, and afterwards we shall go to the Lagenian territory. Then on
our departure, let him come with us, for such is the will of God. " Accord- ingly at another opportunity, and in the summer season, these holy seniors on returning took with them from his parents this child of benediction.
When they had come to a place called Muncyll Monaid," feeling thirsty, Barr called for a drink of milk. Seeing a hind on a mountain near them, one of the seniors told his servant to milk her, and bring the milk to the boy, whose holiness would cause the animal to become tame. This accordingly happened, and the servant obeyed his senior's injunctions. At the same
"
place and time, one of those seniors said to his companions :
where God wrought such a wonderful miracle for this holy child, he should there read the alphabet, and his hair should be shaved, in the Lord's name. "
Accordingly, he received tonsure, and then read the alphabet, to the great astonishment of those who were present. 74 They wondered very much, at
" The hair, which covers that servant of God, is very beautiful. " And another
his extraordinary mental powers. While shaving him the senior said
:
senior " You have replied :
because his name must be
and he shall henceforth be called Fyndbarr. " However, at that time, he
spoken truly,
changed, was not so named ; they only called him Barr, 75 the boy having been pre-
known as Locan. On the same
miracles, in the name of Christ. 77 When he was on the same mountain of
viously
day,
8 where the crosses of St. Brendan afterwards stood,? * this Saint wept bitterly, yet afterwards he smiled. His disciples asked the reason for
Muncyll,?
that act. The strange
" I will disclose to
senior
you the cause, my most beloved sons; when I smiled, it was because of a
certain little boy, who now stands near us. God has wrought great miracles, and shall still work more ; this boy is called Barre, and he shall be greatly honoured, both by God and men. And therefore I am sad, because I have not obtained from God, what I have just now asked from Him. 8° This
petition, God has granted to that holy boy, who had not requested the favour. "81 St. Brendan then declared his wish, that after his own death, his
73 As called in the Scottish
language. It has not been identified. Another reading is Munchillimoni.
74 See Miss Cusack's "History of the
childe. " —"Chronicle of Ireland," This must be about A. D. 570.
p. 107.
City p. 36.
and
County
of
Cork," chap, iii. ,
? 8 The Burgundian Manuscript Life has Sliabh Muincille, chap. iii.
79 The Life states Burgundian Manuscript
in bAiti Ackc Cfiof-A bjienAinx) . amp,
rendered "at the — where Brenain's p^ce
crosses are to-day. " Ibid.
8o The Burgundian Manuscript Life re- lates, that the petition of St. Brendan was, for three tracts of land in Desmond, so that they might afterwards benefit his successor, and which tracts reached from the Black- water to the Lee, and from that to the Ban- don and to the Bay of Beare, and from the Bandon to Cape Clear. This request the Almighty granted, but that district wa—s destined to benefit Bairri in perpetuity. Chap. iv.
75 The writer of his Life adds, as an ex-
planation, that when he wrote, all the people called him Barra, in accordance with the
senior's prophecy.
76 This wasSt. Brendan of Birr, according to
the Burgundian Manuscript Life, and whose festival occurs on the 29th of November, at which date his Acts may be found in the Eleventh Volume of the present work. Other accounts have it that he was St. Brendan Senior, better known as the Navi- gator, whose Acts may be found at the 16th of May, in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. i.
:
77 Dr. Hanmer remarks " When Saint
8l
See another version of this discourse, in
Brendan was olde, Saint Fynbarry was a
Miss Cusack's " of the and History City
County of Cork," chap, iii. , p. 37.
holy
replied, by saying :
{sell. Irish)
St. Brendan? 6 famous performed
It is fit, that
554 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September25.
monks might continue to live peacefully in those territories. But, he fore-
told, at the same time, as his own habitation was on a certain boundary line,
there should consequently be frequent contests. He also said, that God
would grant a peaceful habitation to the boy Barrus, and that he should live
in tranquillity. Hereupon the holy Brendan went back on his own road ;
whilst the other seniors, with their boy Barrus, proceeded towards the
Lagenian territory.
In this part of Ireland, they built a cell, having ordered
Barrus to mark out its foundations and to bless it. This he at first refused
to do, through humility. Yet, importuning him further, they said every place
marked out by him should become a blessed habitation wherein to dwell.
Our Saint then complied with their request. That cell received the name 83
psalms.
He grew in stature apace, but more in the virtues of Faith, Hope and
Charity. He was also distinguished for patience, modesty, humility, chastity,
and for other virtues. The Burgundian Manuscript Life of our Saint has it,
that at Kill mac Cathail he was under the tuition of a cleric named Lochan,86
to whom a certain rich man named Fidhach came one day to chose him as
anmcharra or bosom friend. Lochan desired him rather to salute the young
Bairre. The visitor thought it beneath him to bow before such a small boy.
Lochan then asked, " If I should accept him as an anmcharra, would you? "
The " I will. " Then Lochan bowed to and Fidhach layman replied, Bairre,
followed his example ; when Lochan offered his church to God and to his pupil, while Fidhach offered both himself and his posterity to Bairre. Where- upon the latter said to his tutor: "Accept from me this layman and his descendants, in lieu of the psalms which I learned from you. " Afterwards, Bairre had an admonition to go to Munster. Then he went to a place called Cul Cairsine, in Ossory, where he marked out the site for a church, and it
Pallykinler" in Pev. Dr. Reeves'
Eccle-
as spelled in the original Latin, but evidently it is a corrup-
Cyllin Cantilir,
tion of some Irish name. In the Burgundian Manuscript Life of our Saint, as we conjecture, it is more properly designated Cill McCathail83 on the Galrain road,8* where Bairre read his
his seniors and studied with them.
82
The first word possibly represents Kil- leen, "a little cell. " Perhaps, the latter word might represent caindlera, canlenor or
"
the parish of Cloyne, and barony of Imokilly, shown on the " Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Cork," sheet 89. canlener, or more correctly, caindleoir, of There is another Kilmacahill, otherwise
the candlestick," as suggested to me by
John O'Beirne Crowe, Esq. , a competent Irish scholar, who has also directed my at- tention to a note L on the " Parish of
called Caraun, in the parish of Rathaspick, in the barony of Moygoish, shown on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Westmeath," sheets 5, 6. This seems most likely not to have been the locality mentioned in the text.
8* a mistake in of the Possibly writing
scribe for the word Gabrain or Gowran.
8 s The that when snow legend states,
" siastical Antiquities of Down, Connor, and
Dromore," pp. 210 to
this parish seems derived from tXAile-
" the Town of the
CAin-olefiA,
being a luminary or "appropriated," as Harris observes, in the case of Christ's
213.
The name of
Candlestick,'-'
fell, a great hood of it formed over the tent in which he read. The boy then said to his
""
I would wish this hood to be about
Church, Dublin, for Wax-Lights. " It will be found somewhat difficult at present to identify this church, even if our etymolo- gical conjecture be found correct.
8} There is a parish of Kilmacahil, in the
barony of Gowran, and County of Kilkenny. It is described on the "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Kil- kenny," sheets 15, 16, 20, 21. The Town- land proper is on sheets 20, 21. This seems likely to be the place designated. There is
another Townland, ealled in Kilmacahill,
tutor,
8* There Barrus remained with
my tent until I get over my psalms. ,' Soon
was the wish gratified ; for although the
snow dissolved on the ground, the hood of thanks settled over the tent until Bairre finished his psalm. —Chap. v.
M There are two saints, namely, Lochan or Loichen, venerated in the Irish Calendar : one at the 12th of January, the other at the 1 2th of June, but their places are not men- tioned.
8 asain ? Now kn«wn Aghaboe, parish
September 25. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 555
was offered to him in perpetuity. According to the legend in his Life, Bairre
afterwards went to Achadh Bo,8? which he first occupied; but when
Cainneach,88 son to the King of Dalann, arrived there, he requested our Saint to leave, since it had been destined for his charge, and because the relics of learned and holy men should perpetuate veneration for the place and its future inmates. Accordingly, the site for a church and graveyard was marked out there by both Saints, and Bairre prayed that persons there buried should
"
enjoy eternal life. Cainneach thereupon said,
It shall not be death to many
mortals in your graveyard. "
Afterwards, and when our Saint arrived at the years of maturity, a wise
8 andholyman,thealumnusofPopeSt. Gregory, *andskilledinecclesiastical
rules, is said to have come from Rome. 9° The name given to him is Bishop
x of Cliu. 92 He is called the foster-brother to David of Cill Muine while both are said to have been foster-sons to Gregory the Red. *4 While with Bishop McCorp, the Saint was visited by a King, named Fachtna the Angry, son of Caolbhuidhe, in Musgry Breogain. 95 In some of our Saint's
McCorp,9
Lives he is named Fyachna. This powerful man met him and said of God, come and assist me in my misery, in the name of Christ. "
:
-p
u O man
The Saint
assenting, this man brought him a blind son and a dumb daughter. Seeing
their afflicting condition, the holy man full of faith blessed them, and they
were immediately healed. son saw most distinctly.
6
The daughter spoke with a clear voice, and the After this miracle, St. Barry and the chief Fyachna
met in the same
each other, a voice of lamentation
Whilst was heard from a certain quarter.
his wife had died ; for she had been previously infirm. Hereupon, the Saint blessed some water, directing the corpse of the deceased wife to be washed with it. After such ablution, she came to life. The chief then made an
the baronies of Clandonagh and Clarmalagh, 85, n. (e. ) Also vol. v. , pp. 1648, 1649,
place. *
saluting
The chief interpreted this wailing to mean
to St. Barr. 9? It was called 8 Raith-hyrair. *
of this
Then we find a miracle related about a tree bearing nuts during the spring- season, in consequence of a certain powerful man99 requesting our Saint to
offering
particular spot
Queen's County.
88 His festival occurs on the nth of Octo-
ber, where his Acts may be found in the Tenth Volume of this work, Art. i.
8» Surnamed the Great. The Life of this celebrated Pontiff so often mentioned in
be
Ceillier's '• Histoire ;
90 Colgan has the statement, that Mac-
n. (t).
93 The ancient name for St. David's
Church, in Wales.
94 Doubtless this designation is applied to
Pope St. Gregory the Great,
—— connexion with our Irish Saints may
The tribes of Muscraige Breogan
found in Dom
the modern of barony
Remy
des Auteurs Ecclesiastiques,' tome xvii. ,
tory
is
represented by
Clanwilliam, in the south-west of the
County of Tipperary.
96 According to the Codex Kilkenniensis.
Ireland," p. 108.
98 Under this form it is difficult to identify
92 Cliu or Cliu-Mail mhic-Ugaine was a
district in the barony of Coshlea, County of
Limerick, and called after Mai, son to
Ugaine Mor, Monarch of Ireland, from
a. m. 4567 to A. M. 4606. This district was
between the hill of Knockany and the
mountain of Slieve Reagh. See Dr. sight, his daughter that of speech, and his O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," wife to have been restored to life, through vol. i. , pp. 74 to 77 and n. (z. ) and pp. 84, the agency of our Saint. Something similar
p. 128.
corb was the auditor of
latter became Pope. See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," Martii xiv. De S. Talmacho Confessore, n. 4, p. 607.
91 We do not find such a name in our Irish Calendars.
97 Dr. Hanmer " FaUurus says,
Gregory,
before the
(another Legend calleth him Fyachna), a King in Ireland, who did allot him a certain portion of land in his country. "—" Chronicle ot
95
descend from Cairbre Muse, and their terri-
the modern denomination, and it seems to
have been within the limits of Muscraige
Breogain. —
"This man Fattaez another form for
is in the Cork Office, Fyachna— styled Rex,
His son is said to have obtained the gift of
556 LIVES Of THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 25.
worksomemanifestationofDivinepower. Thismanafterwardsengagedin works of penance. St. Barrus also came to him at a subsequent time. They read together the Gospel of St. Matthew, as also the ecclesiastical rules learned and received from Pope Gregory. The friend of our Saint then said, "I now wish to receive from you some recompense for my labour. " St. Barrus promised to grant this request, if it lay within his power. The other
After such conversation had taken place, the holy man, who was Maccuirp, themasterofourSaint,issaidtohavevisitedRome. Hepurposedreceiving
" I wish to obtain from you, that we have our resurrec-
holy man then said
tion in one place, on the Day of General Judgment. " This request was assented to by St. Barr, who declared that they should be buried together.
:
100 To whom, St.
" You shall not receive the grade of Bishop from me, because he who will consecrate you is more worthy than I am. For the Angel of God will consecrate you and St. Barrus as Bishops, in the place of your resurrection. " He, being admonished by these words, returned to Ireland. In the Office, a copy of which had been possessed by the Bollandists, it is said that after per- forming many miracles, our Saint went to Albania,101 where he also wrought many wonders. Here we are told, he had a city and parish presented to him. Again, it is stated, that he went to Rome, where St. Gregory the Pope was prevented from ordaining him bishop, through some divine admonition, while predictingthatBarrwouldbeconsecratedbyChristourLord. Thisaccount
seems to differ somewhat from the former.
If we are to credit accounts left in the old Acts of our Saint, Barr lived
the of from his own master grade Bishop,
Gregory.
Gregory
said
:
with St. the contemporaneous Gregory
102 who ruled over the
Church,
Great,
from 590 to 604. He is also made a contemporary with St. Laserian, bishop
of Leighlin, supposed to have died about 640. In the Life of St. Laserian,1Q3 Bishop of Leighlin, we are informed, that both Saints had an interview, before St. Barr went to Rome. In the Life of St. Mochcemog or Pulcherius,10*
abbot of Laithmore, this Saint is represented as having been a fellow-disciple
106 at
dates of their respective deaths, they seem to have lived contemporaneously
108
our Saint is mentioned as having gone to Britain,
with a St. IQs in the School and Barr,
of St.
This latter Saint died in 601, 7 or 602. Several other fellow-students are
In a Life of St. Barr accompanied by St. Maidoc,
110
and even to have visited Rome,
111
in company
to this statement in the text may be found,
in the Life of St. Laserian, at the 18th of
April.
,0O The Bollandist Suyskens remarks, that
as it had been customary for Irish Saints to visit Rome, this may be admitted in the case of St. Barr. He adds, that possibly, about the close of the sixth or commence- ment of the seventh century, our Saint might have been consecrated by Pope Gregory and sent back to Ireland, to preside over the See
,0,
the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
I04 See his Acts at the 13th day of March in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
,os If he be intended to represent the present Saint, we may well doubt the truth of this account, because it is both improbable in itself, and because we find no mention of it in all of St. Fin Barre's Lives,
of Cork. See Acta Sanctorum," lomus
vii. , Septembris xxv. Vita S. Barri, sect, ii. ,
> According to Henschenius.
,o8
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. , Septembris xxr. Vita S. Barii, sect, ii. , nn. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, pp. 144, 145.
109 At chapter xxviii.
,10
See his Life, at the 31st of January, in the First Volume of this work, Art. i.
'"The Rev. Dr. Lanigan doubts, that our Saint went to Rome; but he thinks it
n. 27, p. 146.
101 "
See, also, Dr. Hanmer's Chronicle of Ireland," p. 108.
107
Maccurbius, or McCorb, his disciple, is said to have instructed St. Finbar. See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia Sancta," part ii. , p. 143.
100
monastery
Comgall,
Bangor.
1Q
named, and are said to have there studied with him. From the recorded
with St. Barr, bishop of Cork.
,o6
See his Life, at the loth of May, in
the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. i. " xv
See his Life, at the 18th of April, in
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 557
with St. David.
112
Notwithstanding the omission of such an account in the
Burgundian Manuscript, yet it is stated, that St. Barre and a company of twelve pilgrims went to Rome and other foreign parts, as related in his Life.
is found written was born in the Island of Cathania,S3 which was on the
Amergin,s
8 the father of our
Saint,
came from
Connaught
and took a
He became the
at Achadh Durbeon,59 in the country of Musgry Mitine. 6°
—
53 Now Caithness the shire of this deno-
it,
Fymbarrus
as his
name
western side of Scotia, having Rossia54 on the south and the Orkadesss or Orkney Islands to the east. However, there are no true historic grounds for the statement, that our Saint had been a native of Scotland, although after death, his memory was held there in veneration. At what exact time he was born in Ireland has not transpired, but it was probably after the middle of the sixth century. It is contended, moreover, that his real name was LochaiV6 and that Finbarr, i. e. " white-haired"—contracted into Barr— must be considered only as his acquired surname. *? It is related, that
chief blacksmith to the Chief of Rathluin. This latter was called Tyager-
61
nach, the son of Cas, and descended from the race of Echach. The
Scottish account, as contained in the Breviary of Aberdeen, calls him
Tigrinatus.
62 In his
territory
lived a
girl
of rare
beauty,
whom the
chief
wishedtoretainashiscompanion. Heordered,thatnomanshouldtake
her as a wife. But Amergin disobeyed his order, for he became passionately
in love with that female. In due course of time, Bairre was conceived. 63 Hearing about this matter, the chief fell into a violent fit of anger. He
reproached the young woman with her disobedience, and she acknowledged to whom she had been married. Filled with rage, the chief ordered both
52 Rathluin was the name of O'Magh-
59 This place has not been identified. In the Codex Kilkenniensis the denomination is spelled Dunteon.
60 Now the Barony of Muskerry, County of Cork.
61 "— Called by Hanmer Tegernatus. "
thamna's or O'Mahony's district, extending on both sides of the River Bandon. See Richard Caulfield's note, attached to his Life of St. Fin Barre, p. 8, n. (b).
mination being in the extreme north-eastern
part of the Scottish mainland. An Island
of the name is not to be found on the Map to Eachach, son of Cas, son of Core, of Scotland, and the position here assigned
to it is a geographical mistake.
54 Now Ross—the shire of that name is
separated from Caithness by Sutherland, and it lies across the whole of Scotland in the northern part from the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.
62 It is curious to compare the different versions of a tradition, which may be traced to a common—even if not reliable—historic source, and in places so far apart as the extreme northern parts of Scotland and the
ss See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of extreme southern parts of Ireland. Both
Scottish Saints," p. 275.
56 The Bollandist editor Suyskens says,
have reference to our Saint. A legend in Torfteus describes a feud between two northern chiefs, in which the one carries off the daughter of the other. Being worsted in a sea-fight, the abductor swims ashore with her, and marries her in an irregular manner, in the cottage of a poor man. The couple had a son named Bard, who tra-
that he was called, in the first instance.
"
Loanus seu Luanus,"
57 See, Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. ,
sect, iv. , p. 314. This opinion Dr. Lanigan seems to have drawn from Sir James Ware,
who says: "Propriis Hibernorum veterum velled and acquired great learning. He
nominibus addita sunt cognomina, vel a re gesta, vel ab animi qualitate, vel a colore,
was afterwards bishop of Ireland, and he
wrought great miracles. See "Orcades,"
lib. i. , cap. 10.
4
3The Scottish account of St. Finbar, both before and immediately after his birth, is somewhat in accordance with the Irish Lives of him, printed by Richard Caulf eld, LL. D.
64 See Miss M. F. Cusack's " Histoiv of
vel a corporis sive nota aliqua, sive defectu, vel a casu, vel ironice. Sic . . . S. Barrus,
—"De Hibernia et Antiquitatibus ejus," cap. ix. ,
Finbarrns, sive Barrus Albus," &c.
p. 41.
s8 Called by Hanmer Amorgen. " See
"
" Chronicle of Ireland," p. 108.
—
ibid. This chief Tighearnach was son to Hugh the Arrogant, son of Criomthann, son
according to the Bruxelles Manuscript Life of St. Fin Bairre, chap. i.
55*
place
55* LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September25.
husband and wife to be bound in chains. He then directed his servants to construct a large pile of dried wood, so that when it should be set on fire,
both might be cast into it.
However, Providence decreed, that the pile
should remain unconsumed 64 for a great hurricane arose at the time, with ;
thunder, lightning and heavy rain, which prevented the fire being lighted. Then, Bairre spoke from his mother's womb, according to the tradition, and reproached the chief with the crime, meditated against his innocent parents. 65 This miraculous event is attributed to the circumstance, that St. Barr was yet in his mother's womb. 66 When such a result had been known to the
chief, Bairre's parents were brought before him, and finally they were dismissed with pardon. 67
Soon after these occurrences, the holy infant Barr was born. 68 Imme- diately, as if recognizing some foretaste of the child's future sanctity, the chief went to see this infant and to ask his benediction. The child is said to have spoken and to have asked the chief as their patron to receive his
parents. ^ The chief fulfilled his promise, by granting his parents all they choose to ask. 7° Then they joyfully returned to their own territory, which is
1
called the plain of Dunteon. ? This place is probably to be regarded as
identical with Achadh Durbeon, where the first name given to their son in
was and there he was nursed for seven 7a Thenceforward baptism Loan, years.
the child was silent, until the time proper for infants to exercise the gift of speech. There, their little son was diligently instructed, and his good morals
were admired by all. So far as inaccuracy of expression in the Manuscript allows us to state, owing to some cogent reason, three anchorites, originally from Leinster but then living in Minister, were returning about that time towards their own territory. Coming by the house of Amergin, father to St. Barr, they received from him hospitality for that night. These travellers greatly admired the boy's appearance. One of these seniors remarked, that beautiful as the child's features were, his gifts of true faith were still more
" and the holy spirit dwells in him ; would that he were with us to study, because the grace of God shines through his features. " His father on hearing this
admirable. u I know he is the elect of God," continued this
the City and County of Cork," chap, iii. , PP-33. 34-
65 According to the Burgundian Mann- script Life of St. Fin Bairre, chap. i.
66
According to the popular tradition of the people living at Gougane Barra, County of Cork, St. Barr was born near Bandon, and in the Rath, which occupied that site now covered by Castle Mahon, and later still called—Castle Bernard, Lord Bandon's residence. Letter of
senior,
some other incidents relating to our Saint's Life. —Ibid. , pp. 109, no, III.
** In the Burgundian Manuscript Life of St. Finn Bairre, his pedigree is thus traced : Bairri, the son of Aimirgin, son of Black Dunne, son to Art, son of Carthann, son to Flann, son of Deadh, son to Brian, son of Eachadh Muighmeadhoin.
65>" Bairre spoke in his mother's womb, and also immediately after his birth, in order
Reeves, pp. 258, 259.
7° The Burgundian Manuscript Life of St.
that the Saint asked the chief to liberate his father and mother, when Tigheamach not only complied with the request, but gave himse—lf and his posterity
Very
Hurley, P. P. , to the writer, and dated
justify
Inchigeela, County Cork, March 15th, 1889.
67 Some of the foregoing particulars seem to have been contained in the Office of our Saint, to which allusion has been made by the Bollandists. Dr. Hanmer appears to have had access to some old Life of our
Fin Bairre has
it,
Rev. Patrick to
her, as his Life
Saint, as he relates substantially the fore- ""
going legend. See Chronicle of Ireland. " pp. 107, 108. Subsequently he quotes
to Bairre in perpetuity. Chap. i.
7I One Manuscript Life reads, Campum Dimteon. " Underanyformofthisname,
the has not been identified, place
72 According to the Burgundian Manu- script Life of St. Fin Bairre, chap. ii.
several Latin hexameter " lines,
sung yearly
on his day, being the 25th of September. " Those lines allude to the foregoing and
his father and mot— states in the first chapter. "
"
of Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and
Martyrology
September 35. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 553
said to them " If you wish it, take him with you, then let him study ; for :
and we offer him to God. " The seniors present, he shall not come with us, for we proceed farther ;
" At
but we shall
we are his
parents,
replied :
again return, and afterwards we shall go to the Lagenian territory. Then on
our departure, let him come with us, for such is the will of God. " Accord- ingly at another opportunity, and in the summer season, these holy seniors on returning took with them from his parents this child of benediction.
When they had come to a place called Muncyll Monaid," feeling thirsty, Barr called for a drink of milk. Seeing a hind on a mountain near them, one of the seniors told his servant to milk her, and bring the milk to the boy, whose holiness would cause the animal to become tame. This accordingly happened, and the servant obeyed his senior's injunctions. At the same
"
place and time, one of those seniors said to his companions :
where God wrought such a wonderful miracle for this holy child, he should there read the alphabet, and his hair should be shaved, in the Lord's name. "
Accordingly, he received tonsure, and then read the alphabet, to the great astonishment of those who were present. 74 They wondered very much, at
" The hair, which covers that servant of God, is very beautiful. " And another
his extraordinary mental powers. While shaving him the senior said
:
senior " You have replied :
because his name must be
and he shall henceforth be called Fyndbarr. " However, at that time, he
spoken truly,
changed, was not so named ; they only called him Barr, 75 the boy having been pre-
known as Locan. On the same
miracles, in the name of Christ. 77 When he was on the same mountain of
viously
day,
8 where the crosses of St. Brendan afterwards stood,? * this Saint wept bitterly, yet afterwards he smiled. His disciples asked the reason for
Muncyll,?
that act. The strange
" I will disclose to
senior
you the cause, my most beloved sons; when I smiled, it was because of a
certain little boy, who now stands near us. God has wrought great miracles, and shall still work more ; this boy is called Barre, and he shall be greatly honoured, both by God and men. And therefore I am sad, because I have not obtained from God, what I have just now asked from Him. 8° This
petition, God has granted to that holy boy, who had not requested the favour. "81 St. Brendan then declared his wish, that after his own death, his
73 As called in the Scottish
language. It has not been identified. Another reading is Munchillimoni.
74 See Miss Cusack's "History of the
childe. " —"Chronicle of Ireland," This must be about A. D. 570.
p. 107.
City p. 36.
and
County
of
Cork," chap, iii. ,
? 8 The Burgundian Manuscript Life has Sliabh Muincille, chap. iii.
79 The Life states Burgundian Manuscript
in bAiti Ackc Cfiof-A bjienAinx) . amp,
rendered "at the — where Brenain's p^ce
crosses are to-day. " Ibid.
8o The Burgundian Manuscript Life re- lates, that the petition of St. Brendan was, for three tracts of land in Desmond, so that they might afterwards benefit his successor, and which tracts reached from the Black- water to the Lee, and from that to the Ban- don and to the Bay of Beare, and from the Bandon to Cape Clear. This request the Almighty granted, but that district wa—s destined to benefit Bairri in perpetuity. Chap. iv.
75 The writer of his Life adds, as an ex-
planation, that when he wrote, all the people called him Barra, in accordance with the
senior's prophecy.
76 This wasSt. Brendan of Birr, according to
the Burgundian Manuscript Life, and whose festival occurs on the 29th of November, at which date his Acts may be found in the Eleventh Volume of the present work. Other accounts have it that he was St. Brendan Senior, better known as the Navi- gator, whose Acts may be found at the 16th of May, in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. i.
:
77 Dr. Hanmer remarks " When Saint
8l
See another version of this discourse, in
Brendan was olde, Saint Fynbarry was a
Miss Cusack's " of the and History City
County of Cork," chap, iii. , p. 37.
holy
replied, by saying :
{sell. Irish)
St. Brendan? 6 famous performed
It is fit, that
554 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September25.
monks might continue to live peacefully in those territories. But, he fore-
told, at the same time, as his own habitation was on a certain boundary line,
there should consequently be frequent contests. He also said, that God
would grant a peaceful habitation to the boy Barrus, and that he should live
in tranquillity. Hereupon the holy Brendan went back on his own road ;
whilst the other seniors, with their boy Barrus, proceeded towards the
Lagenian territory.
In this part of Ireland, they built a cell, having ordered
Barrus to mark out its foundations and to bless it. This he at first refused
to do, through humility. Yet, importuning him further, they said every place
marked out by him should become a blessed habitation wherein to dwell.
Our Saint then complied with their request. That cell received the name 83
psalms.
He grew in stature apace, but more in the virtues of Faith, Hope and
Charity. He was also distinguished for patience, modesty, humility, chastity,
and for other virtues. The Burgundian Manuscript Life of our Saint has it,
that at Kill mac Cathail he was under the tuition of a cleric named Lochan,86
to whom a certain rich man named Fidhach came one day to chose him as
anmcharra or bosom friend. Lochan desired him rather to salute the young
Bairre. The visitor thought it beneath him to bow before such a small boy.
Lochan then asked, " If I should accept him as an anmcharra, would you? "
The " I will. " Then Lochan bowed to and Fidhach layman replied, Bairre,
followed his example ; when Lochan offered his church to God and to his pupil, while Fidhach offered both himself and his posterity to Bairre. Where- upon the latter said to his tutor: "Accept from me this layman and his descendants, in lieu of the psalms which I learned from you. " Afterwards, Bairre had an admonition to go to Munster. Then he went to a place called Cul Cairsine, in Ossory, where he marked out the site for a church, and it
Pallykinler" in Pev. Dr. Reeves'
Eccle-
as spelled in the original Latin, but evidently it is a corrup-
Cyllin Cantilir,
tion of some Irish name. In the Burgundian Manuscript Life of our Saint, as we conjecture, it is more properly designated Cill McCathail83 on the Galrain road,8* where Bairre read his
his seniors and studied with them.
82
The first word possibly represents Kil- leen, "a little cell. " Perhaps, the latter word might represent caindlera, canlenor or
"
the parish of Cloyne, and barony of Imokilly, shown on the " Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Cork," sheet 89. canlener, or more correctly, caindleoir, of There is another Kilmacahill, otherwise
the candlestick," as suggested to me by
John O'Beirne Crowe, Esq. , a competent Irish scholar, who has also directed my at- tention to a note L on the " Parish of
called Caraun, in the parish of Rathaspick, in the barony of Moygoish, shown on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Westmeath," sheets 5, 6. This seems most likely not to have been the locality mentioned in the text.
8* a mistake in of the Possibly writing
scribe for the word Gabrain or Gowran.
8 s The that when snow legend states,
" siastical Antiquities of Down, Connor, and
Dromore," pp. 210 to
this parish seems derived from tXAile-
" the Town of the
CAin-olefiA,
being a luminary or "appropriated," as Harris observes, in the case of Christ's
213.
The name of
Candlestick,'-'
fell, a great hood of it formed over the tent in which he read. The boy then said to his
""
I would wish this hood to be about
Church, Dublin, for Wax-Lights. " It will be found somewhat difficult at present to identify this church, even if our etymolo- gical conjecture be found correct.
8} There is a parish of Kilmacahil, in the
barony of Gowran, and County of Kilkenny. It is described on the "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Kil- kenny," sheets 15, 16, 20, 21. The Town- land proper is on sheets 20, 21. This seems likely to be the place designated. There is
another Townland, ealled in Kilmacahill,
tutor,
8* There Barrus remained with
my tent until I get over my psalms. ,' Soon
was the wish gratified ; for although the
snow dissolved on the ground, the hood of thanks settled over the tent until Bairre finished his psalm. —Chap. v.
M There are two saints, namely, Lochan or Loichen, venerated in the Irish Calendar : one at the 12th of January, the other at the 1 2th of June, but their places are not men- tioned.
8 asain ? Now kn«wn Aghaboe, parish
September 25. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 555
was offered to him in perpetuity. According to the legend in his Life, Bairre
afterwards went to Achadh Bo,8? which he first occupied; but when
Cainneach,88 son to the King of Dalann, arrived there, he requested our Saint to leave, since it had been destined for his charge, and because the relics of learned and holy men should perpetuate veneration for the place and its future inmates. Accordingly, the site for a church and graveyard was marked out there by both Saints, and Bairre prayed that persons there buried should
"
enjoy eternal life. Cainneach thereupon said,
It shall not be death to many
mortals in your graveyard. "
Afterwards, and when our Saint arrived at the years of maturity, a wise
8 andholyman,thealumnusofPopeSt. Gregory, *andskilledinecclesiastical
rules, is said to have come from Rome. 9° The name given to him is Bishop
x of Cliu. 92 He is called the foster-brother to David of Cill Muine while both are said to have been foster-sons to Gregory the Red. *4 While with Bishop McCorp, the Saint was visited by a King, named Fachtna the Angry, son of Caolbhuidhe, in Musgry Breogain. 95 In some of our Saint's
McCorp,9
Lives he is named Fyachna. This powerful man met him and said of God, come and assist me in my misery, in the name of Christ. "
:
-p
u O man
The Saint
assenting, this man brought him a blind son and a dumb daughter. Seeing
their afflicting condition, the holy man full of faith blessed them, and they
were immediately healed. son saw most distinctly.
6
The daughter spoke with a clear voice, and the After this miracle, St. Barry and the chief Fyachna
met in the same
each other, a voice of lamentation
Whilst was heard from a certain quarter.
his wife had died ; for she had been previously infirm. Hereupon, the Saint blessed some water, directing the corpse of the deceased wife to be washed with it. After such ablution, she came to life. The chief then made an
the baronies of Clandonagh and Clarmalagh, 85, n. (e. ) Also vol. v. , pp. 1648, 1649,
place. *
saluting
The chief interpreted this wailing to mean
to St. Barr. 9? It was called 8 Raith-hyrair. *
of this
Then we find a miracle related about a tree bearing nuts during the spring- season, in consequence of a certain powerful man99 requesting our Saint to
offering
particular spot
Queen's County.
88 His festival occurs on the nth of Octo-
ber, where his Acts may be found in the Tenth Volume of this work, Art. i.
8» Surnamed the Great. The Life of this celebrated Pontiff so often mentioned in
be
Ceillier's '• Histoire ;
90 Colgan has the statement, that Mac-
n. (t).
93 The ancient name for St. David's
Church, in Wales.
94 Doubtless this designation is applied to
Pope St. Gregory the Great,
—— connexion with our Irish Saints may
The tribes of Muscraige Breogan
found in Dom
the modern of barony
Remy
des Auteurs Ecclesiastiques,' tome xvii. ,
tory
is
represented by
Clanwilliam, in the south-west of the
County of Tipperary.
96 According to the Codex Kilkenniensis.
Ireland," p. 108.
98 Under this form it is difficult to identify
92 Cliu or Cliu-Mail mhic-Ugaine was a
district in the barony of Coshlea, County of
Limerick, and called after Mai, son to
Ugaine Mor, Monarch of Ireland, from
a. m. 4567 to A. M. 4606. This district was
between the hill of Knockany and the
mountain of Slieve Reagh. See Dr. sight, his daughter that of speech, and his O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," wife to have been restored to life, through vol. i. , pp. 74 to 77 and n. (z. ) and pp. 84, the agency of our Saint. Something similar
p. 128.
corb was the auditor of
latter became Pope. See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," Martii xiv. De S. Talmacho Confessore, n. 4, p. 607.
91 We do not find such a name in our Irish Calendars.
97 Dr. Hanmer " FaUurus says,
Gregory,
before the
(another Legend calleth him Fyachna), a King in Ireland, who did allot him a certain portion of land in his country. "—" Chronicle ot
95
descend from Cairbre Muse, and their terri-
the modern denomination, and it seems to
have been within the limits of Muscraige
Breogain. —
"This man Fattaez another form for
is in the Cork Office, Fyachna— styled Rex,
His son is said to have obtained the gift of
556 LIVES Of THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 25.
worksomemanifestationofDivinepower. Thismanafterwardsengagedin works of penance. St. Barrus also came to him at a subsequent time. They read together the Gospel of St. Matthew, as also the ecclesiastical rules learned and received from Pope Gregory. The friend of our Saint then said, "I now wish to receive from you some recompense for my labour. " St. Barrus promised to grant this request, if it lay within his power. The other
After such conversation had taken place, the holy man, who was Maccuirp, themasterofourSaint,issaidtohavevisitedRome. Hepurposedreceiving
" I wish to obtain from you, that we have our resurrec-
holy man then said
tion in one place, on the Day of General Judgment. " This request was assented to by St. Barr, who declared that they should be buried together.
:
100 To whom, St.
" You shall not receive the grade of Bishop from me, because he who will consecrate you is more worthy than I am. For the Angel of God will consecrate you and St. Barrus as Bishops, in the place of your resurrection. " He, being admonished by these words, returned to Ireland. In the Office, a copy of which had been possessed by the Bollandists, it is said that after per- forming many miracles, our Saint went to Albania,101 where he also wrought many wonders. Here we are told, he had a city and parish presented to him. Again, it is stated, that he went to Rome, where St. Gregory the Pope was prevented from ordaining him bishop, through some divine admonition, while predictingthatBarrwouldbeconsecratedbyChristourLord. Thisaccount
seems to differ somewhat from the former.
If we are to credit accounts left in the old Acts of our Saint, Barr lived
the of from his own master grade Bishop,
Gregory.
Gregory
said
:
with St. the contemporaneous Gregory
102 who ruled over the
Church,
Great,
from 590 to 604. He is also made a contemporary with St. Laserian, bishop
of Leighlin, supposed to have died about 640. In the Life of St. Laserian,1Q3 Bishop of Leighlin, we are informed, that both Saints had an interview, before St. Barr went to Rome. In the Life of St. Mochcemog or Pulcherius,10*
abbot of Laithmore, this Saint is represented as having been a fellow-disciple
106 at
dates of their respective deaths, they seem to have lived contemporaneously
108
our Saint is mentioned as having gone to Britain,
with a St. IQs in the School and Barr,
of St.
This latter Saint died in 601, 7 or 602. Several other fellow-students are
In a Life of St. Barr accompanied by St. Maidoc,
110
and even to have visited Rome,
111
in company
to this statement in the text may be found,
in the Life of St. Laserian, at the 18th of
April.
,0O The Bollandist Suyskens remarks, that
as it had been customary for Irish Saints to visit Rome, this may be admitted in the case of St. Barr. He adds, that possibly, about the close of the sixth or commence- ment of the seventh century, our Saint might have been consecrated by Pope Gregory and sent back to Ireland, to preside over the See
,0,
the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
I04 See his Acts at the 13th day of March in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
,os If he be intended to represent the present Saint, we may well doubt the truth of this account, because it is both improbable in itself, and because we find no mention of it in all of St. Fin Barre's Lives,
of Cork. See Acta Sanctorum," lomus
vii. , Septembris xxv. Vita S. Barri, sect, ii. ,
> According to Henschenius.
,o8
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii. , Septembris xxr. Vita S. Barii, sect, ii. , nn. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, pp. 144, 145.
109 At chapter xxviii.
,10
See his Life, at the 31st of January, in the First Volume of this work, Art. i.
'"The Rev. Dr. Lanigan doubts, that our Saint went to Rome; but he thinks it
n. 27, p. 146.
101 "
See, also, Dr. Hanmer's Chronicle of Ireland," p. 108.
107
Maccurbius, or McCorb, his disciple, is said to have instructed St. Finbar. See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia Sancta," part ii. , p. 143.
100
monastery
Comgall,
Bangor.
1Q
named, and are said to have there studied with him. From the recorded
with St. Barr, bishop of Cork.
,o6
See his Life, at the loth of May, in
the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. i. " xv
See his Life, at the 18th of April, in
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 557
with St. David.
112
Notwithstanding the omission of such an account in the
Burgundian Manuscript, yet it is stated, that St. Barre and a company of twelve pilgrims went to Rome and other foreign parts, as related in his Life.
