There is a place in the County of Westmeath, formerly written Tigh-Airindan, where there had been a
religious
establishment, so early as the ninth century, if not before that period.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
Vita S.
Attr—acts, cap.
xv.
, p.
281, and n.
20, p.
282.
Ibid
" The Bollandists do not controvert his opinion.
*3joceline'sLife of St. Patrick is quoted for this statement.
14 See Catalogus aliquorum Sanctorum
Ordnance Survey. See "Letters contain- ing Information relative to the Antiquities of the County of Sligo, collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1836. Vol. i. , Letter dated Boyle, September 23rd, 1836, p. 233.
" Catholicae Iberniae compendium," tomus
* The accompanying illustration was drawn on the spot by William F. Wake- man, and afterwards transferred by him to the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard,
Iberniae, in O'Sullevan Beare's
llistorine
i. , lib. iv. , cap. xii. , p. 53.
•' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi.
On the Name Book of the Irish
of this statement
"
Ordnance Survey, the well is designated
August ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
165
agh parishes. Her memory is perpetuated by other ecclesiastical founda- tionsinthedioceseofAchonry. WithinafewpacesoftheruinsofBenada
23
of
convent, with its neat chapel and over its roof. That convent, built and endowed by private generosity, is
occupied by nuns of the Order of
of the convent is the chapel of Tourlesheane, dedicated to St. Attracta, the patroness of the Diocese of Achonry, The chief surviving popular tradition about this saint is, that she commenced making a passage across Lough
Abbey,
there is a
County
commodious schoolroom, having the sign of man's redemption conspicuous
Sligo,
Charity.
2 * At a short distance to the west
Holy Well of St. Attracta.
Gara, at Eanach mic an Aroo,25 now Anagh townland, and which she con- tinued to the distance of about three-quarters ofa mile, towards the County Roscommon. Some state, it comes from Kilfree parish. Then follows an idle legend, accounting for the stoppage of that work. The residents in its
It
neighbourhood state, that the causeway is yet passable, so far as it goes. resemblesaneel-weirinappearanee. However,thepeoplegenerallybelieve it to be a work of nature. Attracta next went to the Faelins, in Kilcoleman
36 at the Lower
onlyextendedtothedistanceofaquarterofamile. Thereshewasagaininter- rupted, by the same cause as before. She then relinquished the undertaking for ever. This latter piece of work is likewise still visible. In our annals, also,
in Irish characters Coba^ -Acrvacc.
23 This house was founded for Augustinian Monks, in 1423. See Archdall's " Mon-
asticon Hibernicum," p. 628.
2* Attached to it is said to be that land, of
which the Augustinian Friars were formerly dispossessed.
ss In Irish characters Gauac tine An Ajvoo.
parish,
Lake,
and there commenced the same which she work,
'6
This is situated partly in the barony of
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Roscommon," sheets 8, 14; and partly in the barony of Coolavin, containing 5,511a. , 2r. ip. , and this is shown on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Costello, containing 10,953a. 2r. 8p. , and
Sligo, "sheets 44, 45, 46, 47- 2? The death of Benedict
this is shown on the " Ordnance
Survey
O'Mochain,
Townland Maps for the County of Mayo," sheets 63, 64, 74, 83 ; partly in the barony of Frenchpark, containing 1,628a. ir. I2p. ,
"
and this is marked on the Ordnance
_
166 LIVES OF 7HE IRISH SAINTS. [August ii.
we have allusion to this place, under its ancient denomination, even to the
2 ? The place of this holy virgin retained the name Kill Athracta, in Colgan's day, and it was situated in Achonry Diocese. More- over, there was a chapel, bearing her name, in the parish of Bal and Diocese of Tuam. A commentary, appended to Marianus, at the nth of August, states, that the Natalis of this virgin had been celebrated, in the church of Kill-Saile, in the region of Crichchonuill. 28 The parishes of Killaraght and Kilcolman adjoin each other, but both are divided by the waters of Lough Gara. They are situated in the Barony of Coolavin, and on the most southern
fourteenth
of
extremity Sligo county.
century.
2^ There is an island in the—north
of
part Lough
—notherinthesouthpartofthesamelough bothwithinKilcol- Gara, and a
man parish which are respectively called Clochan Athrachta or Araght. The patron day of the parish of Kilcolman is the same as that of Killaraght, z. <r. ,
the nth of August, the patron day—the people state—of Tober Araght, a holy well in the south end of Clogher townland, and on the north side of the
road from Gurteen to Ballaghadereen. 3° Besides the foregoing, there is a
1
There is a Toberaraght, in the parish of Kilturra;32 a Toberaraght, near Tobcicurnys i n the parish of Achonry ; a Toberaraght, in the parish of Drumrat ; and a Toberaraght, in
the parish of Kilbeagh. 3* Moreover, females in that part of Ireland are accustomed to receive and revere the Christian name of Attracta or Atty. These are memorials which must transmit her memory to future times, as they have preserved it undimmed to the present date. 35
On this day, the feast of St. Attracta is celebrated as a Double of the Minor Rite, in the Diocese of Achonry, by permission of his late Holiness Pius IX. , granted on the 28th of July, 1864, at the request of the former Bishop of the diocese then living. She is the special patroness of Killaraght parish, in the County of Sligo ; and, it was then agreed, that when a church should have been erected to her honour, in that town, on regular application to the Holy See, her festival might be raised to the dignity of a greater Rite. An Office of Nine Lessons, with the Second Nocturn Proper, and a Mass, taken from the Common of Virgins, with a proper Prayer, were then allowed fortheDioceseofAchonry. AsaDoubleFestival,thiscommemorationof St. Attracta has been extended, on this day, the nth of August, to the whole Church of Ireland. We learn, from the continuator of Usuard, who places her festival at this date, that St. Arata, virgin and nun, was invoked for the
liberation of captives, and for the staying from men of pestilence. . 3 6 The cross
Archdeacon of Cill-Athracta, is recorded at vey Townland Maps for the County of Mayo," A. D. 1361. See "Annals of Loch Ce. " sheets 51, 52 ; and partly in the barony of Edited by \V. M. Ilennessy, vol. ii. , pp. Corran, and this is shown on the " Ordnance
Killaraght, in the parish of Kilmacteige. 3
22, 23.
38
See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Februarii ix. n. 7, p. 281.
"A part of Kilcolman parish forms the
most eastern extremity of Mayo County. Killaraght lies to the east of Kilcolman.
30 See " Letters containing Information
collected duringthe Progress of the Ordnance
Survey for the County of Sligo, in 1836. "
Vol. i. , p. 233 to 236, Patrick O'Keefe's sheets 51, 52, 62, 63, 64, 72, 73, 74.
Letter, dated Boyle, September 23rd, 1836. 31 In the barony of Leyny, and it is shown on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Sligo," sheets 23, 24, 30,
3i» 36. 37. 42.
3a This parish, partly in the barony of Costello, is marked on the " Ordnance Sur-
35 See Ven. Archdeacon T. O'Rorke's
"History of Siigo : Town and County,"
vol. ii. , chap, xxxiv. , p. 367.
termitted saints, p. 606.
37 One of these named Domhnall O'Mo-
Survey Townland Maps for the county of Sligo," sheets 38, 39.
33 This town and townland, in the barony of Leyny, are marked on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the county of
Sligo," sheet 38.
34 This is in the barony of Costello, and
it is described on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Mayo,"
3<5 " In the Bollandists'
Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. Augusti xi. Among the pre-
August ii. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 167
of St. Athracta had long been preserved in her place, and the 0'Mochains37 or Moghans were the hereditary keepers of that relic. But, it is not known
8
to be in existence, at the present time. 3
The many virtues of this holy woman shone with increased lustre, and
she became more generally known, as she passed through her happy life. Deeper knowledge of her most firm and beautiful character was ever followed by deeper reverence and affection. All who visited her were charmed with her gracious demeanour, her gentleness, and affability. To the poor and forlorn she was the tender compassionate friend and mother, ever ready to listen to their sorrows, to advise them in their difficulties, and to relieve them in their wants. By her instruction and example she guided many others on the road to eternal happiness.
Article II. —St. Aireran or Ereran, the Wise,of Tigh Ereran, or Tyfarnham, in West Meath, and of Tallagh, County of Dublin. A holy and child-like simplicity of manner and feeling, combined with solid common sense and virtuous dispositions, are qualifications requisite to form the perfect religious. A seeming contrariety in his character constitutes the greatest charm, and in our early Christian society many venerable persons were so distinguished. We cannot doubt, from the epithet bestowed on the present distinguished ecclesiastic, but that with great sanctity he united great
judgment and ability, natural and acquired. He thought of the Lord in
goodness,
and
sought
Him in
simplicity
of heart. 1 at the 10th of Already,
February, some account of Airennan or Airendan, Bishop of Tallagh, in the 2
CountyofDublin,maybefound, butwhetherhebethesameastheholyand Wise man, venerated on this day, is rather questionable. The first noticed is titled a Bishop, while the present saint only obtains the designation of Abbot. In the " Feilire " of St. ^Engus,3 at the nth of August, there is a commemoration of St. Aireran. It is stated, likewise, that for wisdom he was famous. An Irish comment is affixed, however, in which the scholiast expresses doubt, as tohisparticularplace/ Atthissamedate,afestivaloccursintheMartyro- logies of Tallagh,s to honour Aireran, denominated The Wise. He is said, also, to have been Abbot of Tamlachtan,6 for Maeileruain. The Bollandists 7 have a passing allusion to Aileranus or Eleranus the Wise, at this date ; but, they regret not being able to find much matter for the elucidation of his Acts.
Again we are told, that he was Abbot of Tamlacht, next after Maelruain, in 8
the Martyrology of Donegal, while that of Tallagh seems to intimate, that he
chain was Abbot of Boyle, and he died in
Heis
"Beseech Aireran of the wisdom whose
"headofthe
fameis not
the
wisdom, knowledge and instruction of Tiburtius the strenuous and prudent. "
year 1441.
styled
withValerianthe — hidden, pure,
Connaught. " See Dr. John O'Donovan's "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy,"
"Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i v. pp.
922, 923.
38 See John O'Donovan's " Genealogies,
Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. Calendar of CEngus, p. cxxiii.
On the
* The English translation is Aireran, i. e. , Tribes, and Customs of Hy-Fichrach, com- of Tech Airerain in Meath, and lector of
monly called —O'Dowd's country," pp. 41,
42, and n. (p). —Ibid.
Cluain was he. Or in Clondalkin. Or (he was) Abbot of Tamlacht, Maelruain. " See
* Article ii. Wisdom
cxxx.
s Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi.
6 In the Book of Leinster copy is the
-<Mr\er\Airt eu -Ab CAmlacc entry fApiencir"
pr\o rrlelr\UAir).
7 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Au-
gusti xi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 607.
« Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 216, 217.
i. , 1.
See, at that date, in the Second Volume
ibid. , p.
a
of this work, Art. vi.
3 In the " Leabhar Breac "
we find the following stanza, and thus rendered into
English by Whitley Stokes, LL. D :— 5uit> 4ir\er\Att inoecrtai
-AfAclu riAccebari
La tlAl]MAn niT)An
Urubuaur1
cpen cr\ebAj\.
copy,
1 68 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August ii,
was Abbot for Maelruan, but this probably conveys the same meaning.
There is a place in the County of Westmeath, formerly written Tigh-Airindan, where there had been a religious establishment, so early as the ninth century, if not before that period. It was so called to the present century,9 although gene-
11
Making allowance for probable mis- spelling, it would seem this was the locality in which the present saint lived, and after whom it received a local designation yet subsisting. From this place, it is possible he proceeded to Tallagh, in the County of Dublin. He
was there, it is stated, in company with the holy founder, St. Maelruan, 12 and probably with St. yEngus the Culdee. ^ It appears, he succeeded as Abbot of
Tifarnanor 10 Thisis thenameofatownlandand Tyfarnham.
rally anglicized
parish, in the barony of Corkaree, and the place lies about five and a half
miles, north-east from Mullingar.
that monastery, immediately after the death of Maelruan. Again, according to 1
some writers, he had been identical with the St. Airennan, * who, as Bishop of
Tallagh, is venerated at the ioth of February. If such conjecture be correct, there must have been a double festival instituted to honour him. However, this festival may have been held, on one of these days, associated with his name, in that particular locality of Meath, while on the other day, his memory may have been separately commemorated at Tallagh. This distinguished man flourished—it has been thought—late in the eighth and he died early in the ninth century. There is also a St. Aireran or Aileran, surnamed " the Wise,"
1^
is venerated on the of December, and he as Abbot over
who
Clonard, in the County of Meath. To all men, the present holy man was ever the same—the true, perfect religious, whose very appearance commanded respect and won esteem. His character was one very rarely found, combining high qualifications of mind and a clear penetrating intellect, with the most beautiful simplicity of character and disposition.
Article III. —St. ^Engus, or Maccridhe, of Mochta, of Lughmhagh, or of Louth, County of Louth. No one could be more thoroughly im- pressed with the responsibility and dignity of his mission than was this saint,
and, for that reason, his every-day existence exemplified the disciple earnestly striving to walk at a humble distance in the footsteps of his Master. We
• See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath,
Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap, lxxiv. ,
'5 His Acts are set down at that date, in the Twelfth Volume of this work,
Article hi. —« Edited Drs. Todd and by
Reeves, pp. 216, 217.
3 A note by Dr. Todd states at this
denomination, Son of the heart, i. e. , "son of
affection or adoption. ''
3 Here, as Dr. Todd remarks, the more
recent hand adds :" I'oiius S. Ailbeo nt
constat ex ejus vita," meaning that Mac- endhe was rather the pupil and adopted son of St Aiibe, and not of St. Mochta of Louth. "
* His Acts may be seen at the 19th of August—the date for his feast—in the pre- sent volume.
5 It is classed in the catalogue, vol. iv. ,
608.
p.
10 " See Dr. O'Donovan's
Annals of the
Four Masters, vol. i. , pp. 526, 527, and n. (h. )—Ibid.
11
This parish is marked, on the "Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Westmeath," sheets 7, II, 12. 18. The townland proper is on sheet 12.
" See notices of this saint, at the 7th of July, in the Seventh Volume of this work, Art. i.
13 See his life, at the nth of March, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
14 See notices of him, at that date, in the Second Volume of this work, Art. vf.
29th presided
in the of 1 that at the nth of was vene- Martyrology Donegal, August
read,
rated one called Maccridhe, />. , son of the heart," of Mochta, of Lughmhagh. This title he obtained, because he was a dear pupil to St. Mochta. ^Enghuswashisfirstname. ' Whetherthepresentsainthadbeenconnected with St. Mochta of Louth/ or with his locality, does not appear to be very
"2
August ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 169
certain. This is probably the St. Maccretius, whose Acts Colgan had pre- pared for publication at the nth of August, as we learn from the posthumous
list of his Manuscripts. And, we find, moreover, that Brother Michael O'Clery has left a tract, which he transcribed, while it is among the Manu-
"
scripts, preserved in the Burgundian Library of Bruxelles. s It is intituled,
S.
MacreciiVita. "6 Forwantofamoreperfectdescription,wecanonlysurmise,
it must have reference to the present saint. Some extracts from it are given,
by Professor Eugene O'Curry,? who transcribed a copy of it, from the
ing
541.
in 8 We are informed, that Mac Creiche lived in the
Manuscript question.
time of St. Ailbhe,9 Bishop of Imleach-Jubhair, now Emly, and who, accord-
to the Annals of the Four Masters, died a. d.
terrible pestilence, known as the Crom Chonnaill^ broke out, and spread over Ireland, and this caused the death of great numbers of its inhabitants. 11 It is stated, in the ancient Irish Life of St. Mac Creiche, of Thomond,that the Crom, or, more correctly, Crumh Cho—nnaill—which in the passage referred to means an animal of the maggot kind was destroyed by a fiery bolt from heaven, through the prayers of the saint in Magh Uladh, in Kerry. The plague in question was also called Buidhe ChonnaillTM There can be no doubt, but that
its ravages must have proved fatal in most instances, as the mortality was so great. A very interesting account of the first Buidhe Chonnaill'^ has been given by Sir William R. Wilde, in his Treatise on the History of Irish Diseases. ^ He tells us, that the term Buidhe Chonnaill has been, even by writers of authority, long misunderstood, several supposing that Connall was a man's name, whereas it is the stalk of corn, and more particularly the stubble, which assumes a blay or grayish-yellow appearance, after being cut ; and the term may have been applied from the similitude of the colour of the skin to the yellow hue of recent stubble. Crom Chonnaill is a synonyme for the same disease, in perhaps a more aggravated form, crom or cron being a
dull-black or dark-grey colour, and buidhe a bright-yellow, as people still say in popular language, the yellow jaundice, Galar Buidhe, and the black jaundice, Galar Dubh. The earliest appearance of the terrible epidemic, known as the Buidhe Chonnaill, is said to have been the first special pestilence, re- corded in the Irish Christian annals. It commenced about the year 539, and
1 it lasted nearly thirty years. *
parti. Nos. 2324-2340.
6
Fol. 89.
7 See " Lectures on the
It was preceded by famine, and followed by
circumstance, but leave a record of the io- calities which it visited, with the duration
Ma- terials of Ancient Irish History. " Appendix
and extent of the
" In the Cambrian Annals this epidemic
is styled Vail Ve—len, Lalwellen or VadVehn
—flava pestis expressive of the same disease known in Ireland as Buidhe Chon- nuill.
^Acknowledgments are made to Pro- fessor O'Curry tor reference to the Crumh Chonnaill,. as found in the Irish Life of St. MacCreiche.
*« This appeared in Reports of the Irish
Census of 185 1, part v. , published by au- thorization of the Imperial Parliament,
cli. , pp. 630 to 632.
8
See Ibid. Appendix clvii. , p. 647. 'His feast occurs on the 12th of Septem-
ber, at which date notices of him may be found.
^
See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol i. ,
10
pp. 182, 183.
*l
The Annals of Ulster and of Clonmac- noise state, that the disease was preceded by a famine, the dates varying from a. d. 535 to 539>and this great plague is said to have commencedin at nowa
J5 Amultitude of
ravages of this disease in other countries as well as in Ireland, during this period, are collected by Sir Wm. R. Wilde from various sources. Reference is also made to Adam- nan's "Life of St. Columba," edited by Rev. Dr. Reeves, and then in preparation,
by the Irish Archaeological Society,
x
Article iv. — Edited by Drs. Todd and
Ireland, Glasnevin, village a short distance to the north of the city of Dublin, and where at that time St. Mobhihadhisseminary. HenumberedSt. Columbkille among his pupils. It spread thence upon all sides over the island, and carried off many men of high repute, whose names are specified. References to these persons not only authenticates the
records, relating to the
Manuscript
epidemic.
10 his life, a During
170 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August ii,
Crom —or Buidhe Qhonnaill— Blefed Chonnaill,
The disease was called
leprosy.
literally, the corn or stubble and coloured yellowness or Buidhechair, jaun- dice. It was probably a form of yellow fever, or the bilious remittent, still observed to prevail as an epidemic, especially in the West Indies and in the southernpartsofAmerica. Thedateforthissaint'sdeathisnotknown,but he flourished'in the sixth century.
Article IV. —St, Liadhain, Abbess, of Killvon, King's Countv.
[Fifth or Sixth Century. '] This holy woman, according to received traditions,
must have flourished during the very infancy of Christianity in Ireland. 1
According to the Martyrology of Donegal, a festival was celebrated, at the nthofAugust,tohonourLiadhain,daughterofEochaidh. Shedescended from the race of Laighaire, the son of Niall. We are told, she was mother to Ciaranof 2andthefirstAbbess
Saigher,
of Ireland. 3 There was a religious establishment at a place called Killiadhuin,
supposed to have been founded by the present saint, and named after her. It
is now identified with Killyon, near Seir-Kieran. * Two acres of land are said
tohavebeenundertheoldbuildings; but,onlyasmallportionofthewallsare
now be seen. s Already allusion is made to this place, on the banks of the small
stream, called the Camcor River. 6 At one time, John O'Donovan thought
the parish of Killyon,? in the barony of Upper Moyfenrath, in the County of
Meath, had been that specially dedicated to St. Lidania. 8 This parish of
Killyon is bounded on the north by the parish of Killaconnican ; on the east
by the parishes of Castlerickard and Clonard; oh the south by the latter
parish,andonthewestbytheCountyofWestmeath. Thereweredetached
portions of this parish within that of Clonard. However, this opinion of Mr.
O'Donovan was afterwards retracted,^ although, as he supposes, and with a
great possibility of conjecture, that the parish of Killian, in the County of Meath, had also been dedicated to the present saint. The remains of an
ancient church are in a cemetery. There was a holy well in the church- yard, at the gable of the old church. This was said to have been dedicated to the Virgin Mary ; but, as the traditions were just extinct in the district, when he visited that locality, Mr. O'Donovan could place little reliance on them. Under the rule of St. Liadhain or Liadania, lived St. Brunsecha, 10 a holy virgin. Both are supposed to have flourished in the fifth or sixth century.
ArticleV. —St. Lelia,Virgin,DiocesesofLimerickandKerry. It is greatly to be lamented, that any clue to a recovery of the once well-known
Reeves, pp. 216, 217. described on the "Ordnance Survey Town-
a
the — female—saints among virgins i. e. ,
I lis Acts are to be found, in the Third land Maps for the County of Meath,"
Volume of this work, at the 5th of March, Art, i.
8 See "Letters
In the Barony of Ballybritt, King's lative to the Antiquities of the County of
3 See
*
Donegal Martyrology, pp. 432, 433.
containing Information re-
County.
s See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath,
Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , chap, ix. , p. 5°9-
Meath, collected during the Progress of the
Ordnance Survey in 1836. " John O'Donovan's letter dated Nuaghconghbhail,
Novane, or Navan, and written underneath in pencil marks, "Received at the O. S. O. , 15th August, 1836," pp. 214 to 216.
'On the 13th February, 183S.
,0
See an account of her, at the 29th of May, in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. i.
6
the 29th of May, when treating about St.
In the Fifth Volume of this work, at
Brunsecha, Virgin, of Magh-Trea, and of Killyon Parish, King's County, Art. i.
1 This Killyon parish contains an area of 4,316 acres, 2 roods, 5 perches. It is
Sheets 35, 40, 41, 47. The townland pro- per is on Sheet 41.
August ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 171
memorials of many an Irish saint cannot be better traced, at present.
Thus, the pious Lelia, a Virgin, has been specially commemorated, in the Dioceses of Limerick, and of Kerry, from a former period. Her Acts are not
discoverable, at the present time. Latterly, a Double Office, but of the Common Lessons, has been obtained, by authority of the Roman Pontiff, for her feast, at this date. An Office and a Mass have been extended, likewise, to the other Irish Dioceses. According to a local tradition, in Limerick, she was a
J
sister to St.
" The Bollandists do not controvert his opinion.
*3joceline'sLife of St. Patrick is quoted for this statement.
14 See Catalogus aliquorum Sanctorum
Ordnance Survey. See "Letters contain- ing Information relative to the Antiquities of the County of Sligo, collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1836. Vol. i. , Letter dated Boyle, September 23rd, 1836, p. 233.
" Catholicae Iberniae compendium," tomus
* The accompanying illustration was drawn on the spot by William F. Wake- man, and afterwards transferred by him to the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard,
Iberniae, in O'Sullevan Beare's
llistorine
i. , lib. iv. , cap. xii. , p. 53.
•' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi.
On the Name Book of the Irish
of this statement
"
Ordnance Survey, the well is designated
August ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
165
agh parishes. Her memory is perpetuated by other ecclesiastical founda- tionsinthedioceseofAchonry. WithinafewpacesoftheruinsofBenada
23
of
convent, with its neat chapel and over its roof. That convent, built and endowed by private generosity, is
occupied by nuns of the Order of
of the convent is the chapel of Tourlesheane, dedicated to St. Attracta, the patroness of the Diocese of Achonry, The chief surviving popular tradition about this saint is, that she commenced making a passage across Lough
Abbey,
there is a
County
commodious schoolroom, having the sign of man's redemption conspicuous
Sligo,
Charity.
2 * At a short distance to the west
Holy Well of St. Attracta.
Gara, at Eanach mic an Aroo,25 now Anagh townland, and which she con- tinued to the distance of about three-quarters ofa mile, towards the County Roscommon. Some state, it comes from Kilfree parish. Then follows an idle legend, accounting for the stoppage of that work. The residents in its
It
neighbourhood state, that the causeway is yet passable, so far as it goes. resemblesaneel-weirinappearanee. However,thepeoplegenerallybelieve it to be a work of nature. Attracta next went to the Faelins, in Kilcoleman
36 at the Lower
onlyextendedtothedistanceofaquarterofamile. Thereshewasagaininter- rupted, by the same cause as before. She then relinquished the undertaking for ever. This latter piece of work is likewise still visible. In our annals, also,
in Irish characters Coba^ -Acrvacc.
23 This house was founded for Augustinian Monks, in 1423. See Archdall's " Mon-
asticon Hibernicum," p. 628.
2* Attached to it is said to be that land, of
which the Augustinian Friars were formerly dispossessed.
ss In Irish characters Gauac tine An Ajvoo.
parish,
Lake,
and there commenced the same which she work,
'6
This is situated partly in the barony of
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Roscommon," sheets 8, 14; and partly in the barony of Coolavin, containing 5,511a. , 2r. ip. , and this is shown on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Costello, containing 10,953a. 2r. 8p. , and
Sligo, "sheets 44, 45, 46, 47- 2? The death of Benedict
this is shown on the " Ordnance
Survey
O'Mochain,
Townland Maps for the County of Mayo," sheets 63, 64, 74, 83 ; partly in the barony of Frenchpark, containing 1,628a. ir. I2p. ,
"
and this is marked on the Ordnance
_
166 LIVES OF 7HE IRISH SAINTS. [August ii.
we have allusion to this place, under its ancient denomination, even to the
2 ? The place of this holy virgin retained the name Kill Athracta, in Colgan's day, and it was situated in Achonry Diocese. More- over, there was a chapel, bearing her name, in the parish of Bal and Diocese of Tuam. A commentary, appended to Marianus, at the nth of August, states, that the Natalis of this virgin had been celebrated, in the church of Kill-Saile, in the region of Crichchonuill. 28 The parishes of Killaraght and Kilcolman adjoin each other, but both are divided by the waters of Lough Gara. They are situated in the Barony of Coolavin, and on the most southern
fourteenth
of
extremity Sligo county.
century.
2^ There is an island in the—north
of
part Lough
—notherinthesouthpartofthesamelough bothwithinKilcol- Gara, and a
man parish which are respectively called Clochan Athrachta or Araght. The patron day of the parish of Kilcolman is the same as that of Killaraght, z. <r. ,
the nth of August, the patron day—the people state—of Tober Araght, a holy well in the south end of Clogher townland, and on the north side of the
road from Gurteen to Ballaghadereen. 3° Besides the foregoing, there is a
1
There is a Toberaraght, in the parish of Kilturra;32 a Toberaraght, near Tobcicurnys i n the parish of Achonry ; a Toberaraght, in the parish of Drumrat ; and a Toberaraght, in
the parish of Kilbeagh. 3* Moreover, females in that part of Ireland are accustomed to receive and revere the Christian name of Attracta or Atty. These are memorials which must transmit her memory to future times, as they have preserved it undimmed to the present date. 35
On this day, the feast of St. Attracta is celebrated as a Double of the Minor Rite, in the Diocese of Achonry, by permission of his late Holiness Pius IX. , granted on the 28th of July, 1864, at the request of the former Bishop of the diocese then living. She is the special patroness of Killaraght parish, in the County of Sligo ; and, it was then agreed, that when a church should have been erected to her honour, in that town, on regular application to the Holy See, her festival might be raised to the dignity of a greater Rite. An Office of Nine Lessons, with the Second Nocturn Proper, and a Mass, taken from the Common of Virgins, with a proper Prayer, were then allowed fortheDioceseofAchonry. AsaDoubleFestival,thiscommemorationof St. Attracta has been extended, on this day, the nth of August, to the whole Church of Ireland. We learn, from the continuator of Usuard, who places her festival at this date, that St. Arata, virgin and nun, was invoked for the
liberation of captives, and for the staying from men of pestilence. . 3 6 The cross
Archdeacon of Cill-Athracta, is recorded at vey Townland Maps for the County of Mayo," A. D. 1361. See "Annals of Loch Ce. " sheets 51, 52 ; and partly in the barony of Edited by \V. M. Ilennessy, vol. ii. , pp. Corran, and this is shown on the " Ordnance
Killaraght, in the parish of Kilmacteige. 3
22, 23.
38
See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Februarii ix. n. 7, p. 281.
"A part of Kilcolman parish forms the
most eastern extremity of Mayo County. Killaraght lies to the east of Kilcolman.
30 See " Letters containing Information
collected duringthe Progress of the Ordnance
Survey for the County of Sligo, in 1836. "
Vol. i. , p. 233 to 236, Patrick O'Keefe's sheets 51, 52, 62, 63, 64, 72, 73, 74.
Letter, dated Boyle, September 23rd, 1836. 31 In the barony of Leyny, and it is shown on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Sligo," sheets 23, 24, 30,
3i» 36. 37. 42.
3a This parish, partly in the barony of Costello, is marked on the " Ordnance Sur-
35 See Ven. Archdeacon T. O'Rorke's
"History of Siigo : Town and County,"
vol. ii. , chap, xxxiv. , p. 367.
termitted saints, p. 606.
37 One of these named Domhnall O'Mo-
Survey Townland Maps for the county of Sligo," sheets 38, 39.
33 This town and townland, in the barony of Leyny, are marked on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the county of
Sligo," sheet 38.
34 This is in the barony of Costello, and
it is described on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Mayo,"
3<5 " In the Bollandists'
Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. Augusti xi. Among the pre-
August ii. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 167
of St. Athracta had long been preserved in her place, and the 0'Mochains37 or Moghans were the hereditary keepers of that relic. But, it is not known
8
to be in existence, at the present time. 3
The many virtues of this holy woman shone with increased lustre, and
she became more generally known, as she passed through her happy life. Deeper knowledge of her most firm and beautiful character was ever followed by deeper reverence and affection. All who visited her were charmed with her gracious demeanour, her gentleness, and affability. To the poor and forlorn she was the tender compassionate friend and mother, ever ready to listen to their sorrows, to advise them in their difficulties, and to relieve them in their wants. By her instruction and example she guided many others on the road to eternal happiness.
Article II. —St. Aireran or Ereran, the Wise,of Tigh Ereran, or Tyfarnham, in West Meath, and of Tallagh, County of Dublin. A holy and child-like simplicity of manner and feeling, combined with solid common sense and virtuous dispositions, are qualifications requisite to form the perfect religious. A seeming contrariety in his character constitutes the greatest charm, and in our early Christian society many venerable persons were so distinguished. We cannot doubt, from the epithet bestowed on the present distinguished ecclesiastic, but that with great sanctity he united great
judgment and ability, natural and acquired. He thought of the Lord in
goodness,
and
sought
Him in
simplicity
of heart. 1 at the 10th of Already,
February, some account of Airennan or Airendan, Bishop of Tallagh, in the 2
CountyofDublin,maybefound, butwhetherhebethesameastheholyand Wise man, venerated on this day, is rather questionable. The first noticed is titled a Bishop, while the present saint only obtains the designation of Abbot. In the " Feilire " of St. ^Engus,3 at the nth of August, there is a commemoration of St. Aireran. It is stated, likewise, that for wisdom he was famous. An Irish comment is affixed, however, in which the scholiast expresses doubt, as tohisparticularplace/ Atthissamedate,afestivaloccursintheMartyro- logies of Tallagh,s to honour Aireran, denominated The Wise. He is said, also, to have been Abbot of Tamlachtan,6 for Maeileruain. The Bollandists 7 have a passing allusion to Aileranus or Eleranus the Wise, at this date ; but, they regret not being able to find much matter for the elucidation of his Acts.
Again we are told, that he was Abbot of Tamlacht, next after Maelruain, in 8
the Martyrology of Donegal, while that of Tallagh seems to intimate, that he
chain was Abbot of Boyle, and he died in
Heis
"Beseech Aireran of the wisdom whose
"headofthe
fameis not
the
wisdom, knowledge and instruction of Tiburtius the strenuous and prudent. "
year 1441.
styled
withValerianthe — hidden, pure,
Connaught. " See Dr. John O'Donovan's "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy,"
"Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i v. pp.
922, 923.
38 See John O'Donovan's " Genealogies,
Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. Calendar of CEngus, p. cxxiii.
On the
* The English translation is Aireran, i. e. , Tribes, and Customs of Hy-Fichrach, com- of Tech Airerain in Meath, and lector of
monly called —O'Dowd's country," pp. 41,
42, and n. (p). —Ibid.
Cluain was he. Or in Clondalkin. Or (he was) Abbot of Tamlacht, Maelruain. " See
* Article ii. Wisdom
cxxx.
s Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi.
6 In the Book of Leinster copy is the
-<Mr\er\Airt eu -Ab CAmlacc entry fApiencir"
pr\o rrlelr\UAir).
7 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Au-
gusti xi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 607.
« Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 216, 217.
i. , 1.
See, at that date, in the Second Volume
ibid. , p.
a
of this work, Art. vi.
3 In the " Leabhar Breac "
we find the following stanza, and thus rendered into
English by Whitley Stokes, LL. D :— 5uit> 4ir\er\Att inoecrtai
-AfAclu riAccebari
La tlAl]MAn niT)An
Urubuaur1
cpen cr\ebAj\.
copy,
1 68 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August ii,
was Abbot for Maelruan, but this probably conveys the same meaning.
There is a place in the County of Westmeath, formerly written Tigh-Airindan, where there had been a religious establishment, so early as the ninth century, if not before that period. It was so called to the present century,9 although gene-
11
Making allowance for probable mis- spelling, it would seem this was the locality in which the present saint lived, and after whom it received a local designation yet subsisting. From this place, it is possible he proceeded to Tallagh, in the County of Dublin. He
was there, it is stated, in company with the holy founder, St. Maelruan, 12 and probably with St. yEngus the Culdee. ^ It appears, he succeeded as Abbot of
Tifarnanor 10 Thisis thenameofatownlandand Tyfarnham.
rally anglicized
parish, in the barony of Corkaree, and the place lies about five and a half
miles, north-east from Mullingar.
that monastery, immediately after the death of Maelruan. Again, according to 1
some writers, he had been identical with the St. Airennan, * who, as Bishop of
Tallagh, is venerated at the ioth of February. If such conjecture be correct, there must have been a double festival instituted to honour him. However, this festival may have been held, on one of these days, associated with his name, in that particular locality of Meath, while on the other day, his memory may have been separately commemorated at Tallagh. This distinguished man flourished—it has been thought—late in the eighth and he died early in the ninth century. There is also a St. Aireran or Aileran, surnamed " the Wise,"
1^
is venerated on the of December, and he as Abbot over
who
Clonard, in the County of Meath. To all men, the present holy man was ever the same—the true, perfect religious, whose very appearance commanded respect and won esteem. His character was one very rarely found, combining high qualifications of mind and a clear penetrating intellect, with the most beautiful simplicity of character and disposition.
Article III. —St. ^Engus, or Maccridhe, of Mochta, of Lughmhagh, or of Louth, County of Louth. No one could be more thoroughly im- pressed with the responsibility and dignity of his mission than was this saint,
and, for that reason, his every-day existence exemplified the disciple earnestly striving to walk at a humble distance in the footsteps of his Master. We
• See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath,
Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap, lxxiv. ,
'5 His Acts are set down at that date, in the Twelfth Volume of this work,
Article hi. —« Edited Drs. Todd and by
Reeves, pp. 216, 217.
3 A note by Dr. Todd states at this
denomination, Son of the heart, i. e. , "son of
affection or adoption. ''
3 Here, as Dr. Todd remarks, the more
recent hand adds :" I'oiius S. Ailbeo nt
constat ex ejus vita," meaning that Mac- endhe was rather the pupil and adopted son of St Aiibe, and not of St. Mochta of Louth. "
* His Acts may be seen at the 19th of August—the date for his feast—in the pre- sent volume.
5 It is classed in the catalogue, vol. iv. ,
608.
p.
10 " See Dr. O'Donovan's
Annals of the
Four Masters, vol. i. , pp. 526, 527, and n. (h. )—Ibid.
11
This parish is marked, on the "Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Westmeath," sheets 7, II, 12. 18. The townland proper is on sheet 12.
" See notices of this saint, at the 7th of July, in the Seventh Volume of this work, Art. i.
13 See his life, at the nth of March, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
14 See notices of him, at that date, in the Second Volume of this work, Art. vf.
29th presided
in the of 1 that at the nth of was vene- Martyrology Donegal, August
read,
rated one called Maccridhe, />. , son of the heart," of Mochta, of Lughmhagh. This title he obtained, because he was a dear pupil to St. Mochta. ^Enghuswashisfirstname. ' Whetherthepresentsainthadbeenconnected with St. Mochta of Louth/ or with his locality, does not appear to be very
"2
August ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 169
certain. This is probably the St. Maccretius, whose Acts Colgan had pre- pared for publication at the nth of August, as we learn from the posthumous
list of his Manuscripts. And, we find, moreover, that Brother Michael O'Clery has left a tract, which he transcribed, while it is among the Manu-
"
scripts, preserved in the Burgundian Library of Bruxelles. s It is intituled,
S.
MacreciiVita. "6 Forwantofamoreperfectdescription,wecanonlysurmise,
it must have reference to the present saint. Some extracts from it are given,
by Professor Eugene O'Curry,? who transcribed a copy of it, from the
ing
541.
in 8 We are informed, that Mac Creiche lived in the
Manuscript question.
time of St. Ailbhe,9 Bishop of Imleach-Jubhair, now Emly, and who, accord-
to the Annals of the Four Masters, died a. d.
terrible pestilence, known as the Crom Chonnaill^ broke out, and spread over Ireland, and this caused the death of great numbers of its inhabitants. 11 It is stated, in the ancient Irish Life of St. Mac Creiche, of Thomond,that the Crom, or, more correctly, Crumh Cho—nnaill—which in the passage referred to means an animal of the maggot kind was destroyed by a fiery bolt from heaven, through the prayers of the saint in Magh Uladh, in Kerry. The plague in question was also called Buidhe ChonnaillTM There can be no doubt, but that
its ravages must have proved fatal in most instances, as the mortality was so great. A very interesting account of the first Buidhe Chonnaill'^ has been given by Sir William R. Wilde, in his Treatise on the History of Irish Diseases. ^ He tells us, that the term Buidhe Chonnaill has been, even by writers of authority, long misunderstood, several supposing that Connall was a man's name, whereas it is the stalk of corn, and more particularly the stubble, which assumes a blay or grayish-yellow appearance, after being cut ; and the term may have been applied from the similitude of the colour of the skin to the yellow hue of recent stubble. Crom Chonnaill is a synonyme for the same disease, in perhaps a more aggravated form, crom or cron being a
dull-black or dark-grey colour, and buidhe a bright-yellow, as people still say in popular language, the yellow jaundice, Galar Buidhe, and the black jaundice, Galar Dubh. The earliest appearance of the terrible epidemic, known as the Buidhe Chonnaill, is said to have been the first special pestilence, re- corded in the Irish Christian annals. It commenced about the year 539, and
1 it lasted nearly thirty years. *
parti. Nos. 2324-2340.
6
Fol. 89.
7 See " Lectures on the
It was preceded by famine, and followed by
circumstance, but leave a record of the io- calities which it visited, with the duration
Ma- terials of Ancient Irish History. " Appendix
and extent of the
" In the Cambrian Annals this epidemic
is styled Vail Ve—len, Lalwellen or VadVehn
—flava pestis expressive of the same disease known in Ireland as Buidhe Chon- nuill.
^Acknowledgments are made to Pro- fessor O'Curry tor reference to the Crumh Chonnaill,. as found in the Irish Life of St. MacCreiche.
*« This appeared in Reports of the Irish
Census of 185 1, part v. , published by au- thorization of the Imperial Parliament,
cli. , pp. 630 to 632.
8
See Ibid. Appendix clvii. , p. 647. 'His feast occurs on the 12th of Septem-
ber, at which date notices of him may be found.
^
See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol i. ,
10
pp. 182, 183.
*l
The Annals of Ulster and of Clonmac- noise state, that the disease was preceded by a famine, the dates varying from a. d. 535 to 539>and this great plague is said to have commencedin at nowa
J5 Amultitude of
ravages of this disease in other countries as well as in Ireland, during this period, are collected by Sir Wm. R. Wilde from various sources. Reference is also made to Adam- nan's "Life of St. Columba," edited by Rev. Dr. Reeves, and then in preparation,
by the Irish Archaeological Society,
x
Article iv. — Edited by Drs. Todd and
Ireland, Glasnevin, village a short distance to the north of the city of Dublin, and where at that time St. Mobhihadhisseminary. HenumberedSt. Columbkille among his pupils. It spread thence upon all sides over the island, and carried off many men of high repute, whose names are specified. References to these persons not only authenticates the
records, relating to the
Manuscript
epidemic.
10 his life, a During
170 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August ii,
Crom —or Buidhe Qhonnaill— Blefed Chonnaill,
The disease was called
leprosy.
literally, the corn or stubble and coloured yellowness or Buidhechair, jaun- dice. It was probably a form of yellow fever, or the bilious remittent, still observed to prevail as an epidemic, especially in the West Indies and in the southernpartsofAmerica. Thedateforthissaint'sdeathisnotknown,but he flourished'in the sixth century.
Article IV. —St, Liadhain, Abbess, of Killvon, King's Countv.
[Fifth or Sixth Century. '] This holy woman, according to received traditions,
must have flourished during the very infancy of Christianity in Ireland. 1
According to the Martyrology of Donegal, a festival was celebrated, at the nthofAugust,tohonourLiadhain,daughterofEochaidh. Shedescended from the race of Laighaire, the son of Niall. We are told, she was mother to Ciaranof 2andthefirstAbbess
Saigher,
of Ireland. 3 There was a religious establishment at a place called Killiadhuin,
supposed to have been founded by the present saint, and named after her. It
is now identified with Killyon, near Seir-Kieran. * Two acres of land are said
tohavebeenundertheoldbuildings; but,onlyasmallportionofthewallsare
now be seen. s Already allusion is made to this place, on the banks of the small
stream, called the Camcor River. 6 At one time, John O'Donovan thought
the parish of Killyon,? in the barony of Upper Moyfenrath, in the County of
Meath, had been that specially dedicated to St. Lidania. 8 This parish of
Killyon is bounded on the north by the parish of Killaconnican ; on the east
by the parishes of Castlerickard and Clonard; oh the south by the latter
parish,andonthewestbytheCountyofWestmeath. Thereweredetached
portions of this parish within that of Clonard. However, this opinion of Mr.
O'Donovan was afterwards retracted,^ although, as he supposes, and with a
great possibility of conjecture, that the parish of Killian, in the County of Meath, had also been dedicated to the present saint. The remains of an
ancient church are in a cemetery. There was a holy well in the church- yard, at the gable of the old church. This was said to have been dedicated to the Virgin Mary ; but, as the traditions were just extinct in the district, when he visited that locality, Mr. O'Donovan could place little reliance on them. Under the rule of St. Liadhain or Liadania, lived St. Brunsecha, 10 a holy virgin. Both are supposed to have flourished in the fifth or sixth century.
ArticleV. —St. Lelia,Virgin,DiocesesofLimerickandKerry. It is greatly to be lamented, that any clue to a recovery of the once well-known
Reeves, pp. 216, 217. described on the "Ordnance Survey Town-
a
the — female—saints among virgins i. e. ,
I lis Acts are to be found, in the Third land Maps for the County of Meath,"
Volume of this work, at the 5th of March, Art, i.
8 See "Letters
In the Barony of Ballybritt, King's lative to the Antiquities of the County of
3 See
*
Donegal Martyrology, pp. 432, 433.
containing Information re-
County.
s See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath,
Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , chap, ix. , p. 5°9-
Meath, collected during the Progress of the
Ordnance Survey in 1836. " John O'Donovan's letter dated Nuaghconghbhail,
Novane, or Navan, and written underneath in pencil marks, "Received at the O. S. O. , 15th August, 1836," pp. 214 to 216.
'On the 13th February, 183S.
,0
See an account of her, at the 29th of May, in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. i.
6
the 29th of May, when treating about St.
In the Fifth Volume of this work, at
Brunsecha, Virgin, of Magh-Trea, and of Killyon Parish, King's County, Art. i.
1 This Killyon parish contains an area of 4,316 acres, 2 roods, 5 perches. It is
Sheets 35, 40, 41, 47. The townland pro- per is on Sheet 41.
August ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 171
memorials of many an Irish saint cannot be better traced, at present.
Thus, the pious Lelia, a Virgin, has been specially commemorated, in the Dioceses of Limerick, and of Kerry, from a former period. Her Acts are not
discoverable, at the present time. Latterly, a Double Office, but of the Common Lessons, has been obtained, by authority of the Roman Pontiff, for her feast, at this date. An Office and a Mass have been extended, likewise, to the other Irish Dioceses. According to a local tradition, in Limerick, she was a
J
sister to St.
