O'Conor, written at Dunleer, those were
described
as measuring thirty feet in length by fifteen in width, while the side walls standing were about fourteen feet in height.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
Dabeoc can hardly be discovered.
But, we are told, while the latter, with his clerics, lived
s——" whichhe By some probably from the connexion on St. Patrick's Purgatory," in
of his name with this locality St. Patrick is regarded as founder. See "Harris'
it
treats of the stories current about during
the Middle Ages. It was published in 1844. '3 For a view and description of this island the reader may consult J. B. Doyle's "Tours
in Ulster," chap, xix. , pp. 359 to 367.
"* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. 2. 'S in a memorandum description of this
place, weare toldbyacertain writerthat there were five beds of hard penance there, round
which pilgrims went, in the early part of the seventeenth century. Some of those were named the Bed of Patrick, the Bed of Colum- kille, the Bed of Brigit, the Bed of Adan- nan, and the Bed of Dabeog. This was the testimony of Fergal. But a certain writer
that he saw but two beds there—, viz. ,
Ware," vol. ii.
"
Antiquities of Ireland,"
chap, xxxviii. , p. 265. *"
According to the Martyrologies of Tallagh," of " Marianus O'Gorman," of " Cathal Maguire," and of "Donegal. "
7 Richardson's "Folly of Pilgrimages. " This work, worthless for its theme, yet sup- plies a hiatus for the historian's purpose.
^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise. " xi. Februarii. Vita S. Canoci, n. 22, p. 313.
9 Otherwise incorrectly designated Avogi
(Abogi) ? '°
See"AntiquitatesHibemiae,"cap. xxvi. , pp. 189 to 192.
says
Patrick's and Colum's. It is added
" According to some writers, the origin of St. Patrick's Purgatory has reference to
days then altogether ;
"
:
a pilgrimage during The baking of bread See Drs. Todd's and
"
the great Irish Apostle, while others assign
it to Abbot Patrick, venerated at the 24th
of August. See Wills' "Lives of Illus- Reeves'
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , parti. , secondseries,p. 224.
'- T. Wright has written an octavo work
'*
was a certain Miles, named Owen. See
"48 [hours] without food, without drink, nine
the day and prayers. must be without salt.
"
pendix to Introduction, p. xi.
Martyrology of Donegak" Ap-
The first person entering this Purgatory
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January i.
on the island, and when his vigils had been protracted to a late hour one night, a wonderful brightness appeared towards the northern part of the hori-
"
zon. The clerics asked their master what it portended.
In that direction,
whence you have seen the brilliant illumination," said Dabeog, *'the Lord
himself, at a future time, shall light a shining lamp, which, by its brightness,
must miraculously glorify the Church of Christ. This shall be Columba, the son of FeidUmid, son of Fergus, and whose mother will be Ethnea. For learning he shall be distinguished ; in body and soul shall he be chaste ; and he shall possess the gifts of prophecy. "'^
It is stated—but on very insufficient authority's—that St, Dabeoc made
his religious house subject to the great Abbey of Armagh. On the island, too, there was a fine chapel, and convenient houses for the monks, the remains
of which were to be seen before the last century, according to local tradition. St. Dabeoc is reputed to have been there, and the subsequent stories about this island on Lough Derg are fiill of traditional and historic interest.
The possessions of the original monastery probably gave rise to the de- nomiaation of Tearmon Dabheog, which lay on both sides and near
"
The Magraths were the hereditary termoners or custodians of the church
lands, known as the Termon of St. Daveog,^' at Lough Derg. ^=^ Their ruined
castle of Termon Magtath, or Termon, as it is more usually called, is popu-
larly believed to have been built by Malmmry, or Myler Magrath. ^3 It is situated at the northern extremity of Lough Erne, about half a mile west of
thepleasantlittletownPettigoe,inthecoimtyofDonegal. Likemostedi- fices of the kind, erected in the sixteenth century, it consisted of a strong and massive keep, with circular towers at two of its angles, and encompassed by outworks. The scenery in the immediate vicinity of the castle is very beautiful. With the plantations of Templecam glebe, and with those of Waterfoot,^^ the lake shores are most delightfully fiinged. Thus part we, at present, from the patient, if not discriminating, ordeal of investigation into the present sainfs historical range so remote from our own. Yet, no period or age has sped without exerting some tangible influences on the state of society we inherit. The very aspect of holiness lingers still aroimd the scenes where the saints loved to dwell.
Article III. —St. Ossene, or Oissein, son to Ceallach, of Clonmore, County of Louth. \Sixth Century. '] The fortunate preservation of a less distinguished sainfs name with that of another greatly renowned often deter- mines the date in history of both, and heightens an interest felt in the less
Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix Sexta ad Acta S. Patricii, pp. 273 to 284,
'7 See Dr. Kelly's "Calendar of Irish Saints. " Appendix p. 169.
'^ See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Vita S, Columbse. Lib. i. , cap.
far-famed Lough Derg and its pilgrimages will be foimd in the " Illustrated Handbook
of the Scenery and Antiquities of South- WesternDonegal. " Itiswritteninaracy
and very agreeable style. The authorship is ascribed to a patriotic, an amiable, and an
accomphshed Parish Priest, long residing in the districts described.
^3 gee the " Illustrated Dublin Journal," vol. i. , no. 10, p. 153.
=4 There is a wood engraving of these
beautiful objects, with a description by Dr. Petrie, in the "Irish Penny Journal," vol. i.
^- PP- 390, 391- " '9 Richardson's
Folly of Pilgrimages. " *° See R. D. Joyce's Ballads, Romances,
and Songs. "The Pilgrim," p. 137. =' Named after this saint.
="
Among many places of great interest in the northern province, descriptions of this
Grey, holy Derg of the lake. "*'
January i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 17
known contemporary. Both published^ and unpublished' copies of the Tallagh Martyrology assign the ist day of January as a festival to Ossene, of CluanaMor. Thisisthenameofaparishandtownlandintheancientterritory of Cianachta Arda, It is known as Clonmore, in the present barony of Ferrard, county of Louth. 3 Ossein, son to Ceallach, of Cluainmor-Fer-n
Arda, according to the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Donegal,* was venerated on this day. This saint flourished at an early period, since St.
Columkille founded or repaired Cluain-mor-fernarda, in the territory of Bregia,
and placed St. Ossin, or Osseneus over it. s
. ^. ;a-i,i .
At the present time, the ruins of an old church are within an enclosed
cemetery beside the high road, and
these are probably on the actual site
of St. Ossene's more ancient reli-
--^^-^^ > ^^'^^^"^^^^^ Z^
establish- ment. About
thirty years ago, the most dilapi-
dated
were repaired with modem masonry. ^ The nave alone remains, and its walls are thickly covered with ivy. A belfry seems to have surmounted the western gable, while the choir gable and a finely- turned arch re- main. Portions
of the choir walls
gious
portions
were considerably
over ground with-
in the memory of
persons yet living,
but they are now
levelled to the
very foundations.
measures seventeen feet in width ; the walls averaged two feet nine inches in
Art. III. - -• Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, Ancient and Modem," vol. i. , chap, xxi. , p.
See
visible in the Franciscan copy.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (o) p. 441.
•» EditedbyDrs. ToddandReeves,p. 2.
p.
Church ruins at_Clonmore.
This church was fully seventy feet in length,? and the nave
xi. 127. Also Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," ^ The words Offene mo^ are only Vita Quinta S. Columbae, lib. i. , p. Ixv. ,
circularly-headedwindowfiguredintheac- A similar entry is in the Irish Calendar, companying engraving, is altogether of
R. I. A.
s See Rev. A. Cogan's' "Diocese of Meath. 1 During the year 1836, when the old ruins
Vol. I.
C
p. 400, and n. 65, p. 450, and cap. x. , p. 492. Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae.
* The doorway, under the square-headed
modern introduction.
i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January i.
thickness. ^ Nooldmonumentsaretobeseenatpresentinthecemetery;but
some interesting objects of antiquity are in the locality immediately sur-
rounding it. 9
We can scarcely doubt there had been a sufficient endowment for the
Church of Clonmore after the time of St. Ossene, for in a. d. 826 the death
"
Annals of the Four Masters. "'° Here it is likely for some years, about the middle of the sixth century, the life of St. Ossene ran in beneficence, like the onward course of a smooth-floA\ang and fertilizing river. Varied by the discharge of his daily pastoral and religious duties, no moment was left unconsecrated to the service
of God.
Article IV. —St. Colman Muilinn, of Derrykeighan, County of Antrim. \Fifth or Sixth Century. ^ From various accounts, it would appear, the Church of Derrykeighan must have been one of the oldest founda- tions in Ireland. ^ Its first administrator is stated to have been brother to
St. Mochay,^ who died towards the close of the fifth century. 3 The name of
of a Herenach belonging to Clonmore-Arda is recorded in the
" an oak
cTiAoeAiri, a proper name, and also meaning, purblind. " Foundations of the original church remain in the old churchyard. Upon them stand the
this seems to have been derived from place
and from
roofless walls of an old building, s
Colman Muilinn is entered in the " simply
this day. 7 He belonged to a place known as Derrykeighan,^ in the county
ofAntrim,andwithinthedioceseofConnor. Furtherparticularsconcerning
him we read in the "Martyrology of Donegal. "9 There it is stated that Colman
^° daughterofMilchu,"sontoBuan,issaidtohavebeenhismother. Weare
Muilinn,
of Doire-Chaechain," belonged to Dal-Riada, in Ulster. Bronach,
at Clonmore were more perfect, in situ, than they now are, in a joint letter of Messrs. P. O'Keefe and T.
O'Conor, written at Dunleer, those were described as measuring thirty feet in length by fifteen in width, while the side walls standing were about fourteen feet in height. On the southern side-wall opened four window places, reaching to the top of the wall. On the eastern gable was a large arched way, twelve feet high and nine feet wide, but then stopped up with stone-work. This church was dedicated to St. Columkille, according to popular tradi- tion, and his feas—t was held in the parish on the 9th of June. "Irish Ordnance Survey Letters on Louth," vol. i. , p. 119.
^ The annexed excellent
Millard, of Dublin, is executed from a sketch drawn by the writer on the spot, in February, 1873.
5 The Moats of Clonmore, of Killaly, and
of Ardballon are remarkable land-marks.
A ground plan of Clonmore Castle is to be
seen engraved in "Wright's Louthiana," his place is called Daire-Chaochain. See book ii. , plate xiv.
" See Dr. O'Donovan's
'
ibi<i. pp. 380, 381.
p. 441' — Art. IV.
"
See Colgan's "Acta Sancto- rum Hibemias," p. 95.
It is marked on the Ordnance Survey
The " Book of Lecan," in the tract of St. iEngus the Culdee, on the Mothers of
Map of county Antrim, sheet 12.
" With whom St. Patrick lived as a cap-
tive.
engraving by
Mrs.
* A in the of Lower parish, partly barony
Dunluce, and partly in that of Carey. The town of Dervock lies within it. See Lewis's
edition,
vol.
i. ,
'° In a note Dr. Todd this name is says,
interpreted Colman of the Mill, ibid.
wood,"
of on Martyrology Tallagh,"^
•ooi^e, "
the Irish Saints, is the only authority knowTi for this statement ; but, it must be observed, there are apparent anachronisms in this tract.
3 See his life at the 23rd of June,
* Several years back, 280 silver coins, par- tially enumerated in the " Numismatic Chro- nicle," p. 213, were found in a field outside the old graveyard.
^ For these and further interesting particu- lars see Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesias-
tical Antiquities of Down, Connor, and Dromore," pp. 78, 79.
*
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xi.
We can only make out "CottnAti
7
IHai'L. . . "intheFranciscancopy.
"Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 453 to 455.
9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. 2. In the table subjoined to this Martyrology
January r. J LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 19
informed, likewise, that it was in a mill St. Colman used to make obeisance to the brethren. No clue to the date of his death can be found in our Annals.
Article V. —St. Airmedach, Hermetius, or Ermedhach, Abbot of Craibhi-Laisre, probably Creevagh, near Clonmacnoise, King's County. [Seventh Century. '] When Faith had opened into a foil bloom in Ireland, its fruits began to ripen and increase as onward ages rolled. Airme- dach, Abbot of Craibhi-Lasri, occurs at the ist day of January, in the "Mar- tyrology of Tallagh. "' This saint is called Eirmbeadhach in the " Annals of the Four Masters. " Marianus O'Gorman inserts this Hermetius in the
Calendar at the ist day of January.
His birth may probably be referred to
The "
tions Ermedhach, Abbot of Craebh-Laisre, as having been venerated at this
day. In a table appended, the name of this holy man is Latinized or Gre- cized,Hermes. 3 Thepresentsaintdieda. d. 681,accordingtothe"Annals of the Four Masters,"* or a. d. 682, according to those of Ulster. Craebh- Laisre is said to be the name of a place near Clonmacnoise. s Some doubt has been entertained as to whether this saint had been identical with a cer-
the of the seventh early part
century.
Martyrology
of "^ men- Donegal
tain
tite Life of St. Patrick. "7
and Abbot of mentioned in the " Clogher,
Hermetius,*^ Bishop
Tripar- He is said to have written Acts of the great Irish
" Laisre's viz. ,ofthe"OldTree. " AlittletothesouthoftheSevenChurches,within
the townland and parish of Clonmacnoise, is the bordering townland of
Creevagh, on the eastern banks of the River Shannon, King's County. ^ Some objects of antiquity are shown within this latter place, and it is pro- bablytheCraebh-Laisreherenamed. InIrelandtherearemorethanthirty
""""
townlands called Creevagh, i. e. , branchy or bushy land f while about
twenty others bear the name of Creevy,*° a modification of the same word.
Article VI. —St. Eochaid, of Uisneach, or Usneagh, County of Westmeath. Virtue is the sole nobility, and it infuses happy dispositions and elements into the composition of character. God's grace sweetly influences a mind thus ennobled and purified. Eochaid's name, without any other description, is found in the "Martyrology of Tallagh"^ on to-day. ^ There is a St. Eochod mentioned as a companion of St. Columkille ;3 but the present seems to have been a different person. A festival to Eochaid of
"
Uisneach is entered at this date in the Martyrology of Donegal. "* His
place is now known as Usnagh Hill, in the parish of Killare, barony of Rath- conrath,andcountyofWestmeath. Thishillisremarkableinourhistoryfor beingthespotatwhichthefiveIrishprovincesmet. Thereisastone,called
apostle.
Craebh-Laisre means in
English
Bush,"
or "
Branch,"
Art. v. —'Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xi. In the Franciscan copy we can only de- cipher these words, "<\i]\me'OAchi^bb . . . "
Ixix. , and n. 49, pp. 128, 172, 173.
^ See Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
* Edited
by
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
9 See P. W. " and
Joyce's Origin History
p. 5.
3 See ibid. pp. 410, 411.
*See O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp.
288, 289, and n. (e) ibid.
s See " Annals of the Four Masters," vol.
i. , p. 288, n. (e. )
* See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemias," xxiv.
Martii. Vita S. Maccarthenni. Appendix, cap. iv. , p. 742.
of Irish Names of Places," Part iv. , chap. viii. , p. 463.
7 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," cap. x. , p. 489.
Septima Vita S. Patricii, Pars, i. , cap.
*
Edited by Drs. T'^d and Reeves, p. 5,
of the King's County, sheet 5.
^°
Ibid. — Art. VI.
p. xi.
'Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
*
written euchAit).
3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse,
In the Franciscan copy the name is
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January i.
Cat-Uisnigh, situated on its very summit,s Keating gives it the denomina- tion of Ailna-Mireann, which means " Rock of the Divisions. " From its
"
very central position this place was called
A chapel or hermitage had been erected, it is stated, on the hill of Usney
bySt. Eochy,andacemeterywasattached; bothchurchandgraveyardare, however, obliterated. ? Usney, or Usneach, was the seat of many conven- tions, conferences, and synods. From eariiest times it had been a place of great note in our Irish Annals. ^ There is also a parish in the barony of Ballyboy, King's County, and within the diocese of Meath, called Killaughey, or Killaghey. It means " the Church of St. Eochey. "^ The hill of Ushnagh and its environs are covered ^vith antique curiosities. ^" It seems probable enough, that the present saint had some connexion with the old Church of Killare, which is near that remarkable eminence.
Article VII. —St. Scethe, or Sciath, Virgin and Patroness of
Feart-Sceithe,nowArdskeagh,CountyCork. Intheworldwehave
many instances of benevolent individuals actively engaged in philanthropic
works,withonlypartialself-denial; butintheCatholicChurchherreligious
children are educated and inspired to practise good works, to a degree of per-
fection sublime in its absolute self-sacrifice. Scethe, a virgin, from Fert
Sceithe, is found on record in the "Martyrology of Tallagh,"^ at the ist day
of From the " of "3 we learn that venera- January. ^ Martyrology Donegal
tion was given on this day to Sciath, virgin, and daughter to Meachair, of Feart-Sceithe, in Muscraighe-Aedha. This territory seems to have been identical with Muscraidhe Luachra,-* which lay along the Abhain Mor, or Blackwater,intheprovinceofMunster. s St. Scethebelongedtotheraceof Conaire, son to Mogh-lamha, monarch of Ireland. Thus she was descended from the race of Heremon. The Church of Fiort-sceithe is placed by the Calendars of Marianus and of the Four Masters^ in Muscraighe-tri-maighe, or Muskerry of the Three Plains. 7 It is known at present by the name of
Ardskeagh, a small parish in that part of Fermoy barony bordering on the baroniesofOrreryandKilmore,countyofCork. TheoldChurchofFer- sketh^ lay within the rural deanery of Muskrydonnegan, in the diocese of
5 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (e), p. i66.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. 5.
Kerry. O'Brian incorrectly places this ter- ritory within the county of Limerick. Mus- craidhe Luachra extended on both sides of the Blackwater, near its source in the north- west of Cork county. It is also known as the country of the O'h-Aodha, now Angli- cised O'Hea, and sometimes Hayes. See "The Topographical Poems of O'Dubhagain and O'Huidhrin," edited by Dr.
s——" whichhe By some probably from the connexion on St. Patrick's Purgatory," in
of his name with this locality St. Patrick is regarded as founder. See "Harris'
it
treats of the stories current about during
the Middle Ages. It was published in 1844. '3 For a view and description of this island the reader may consult J. B. Doyle's "Tours
in Ulster," chap, xix. , pp. 359 to 367.
"* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. 2. 'S in a memorandum description of this
place, weare toldbyacertain writerthat there were five beds of hard penance there, round
which pilgrims went, in the early part of the seventeenth century. Some of those were named the Bed of Patrick, the Bed of Colum- kille, the Bed of Brigit, the Bed of Adan- nan, and the Bed of Dabeog. This was the testimony of Fergal. But a certain writer
that he saw but two beds there—, viz. ,
Ware," vol. ii.
"
Antiquities of Ireland,"
chap, xxxviii. , p. 265. *"
According to the Martyrologies of Tallagh," of " Marianus O'Gorman," of " Cathal Maguire," and of "Donegal. "
7 Richardson's "Folly of Pilgrimages. " This work, worthless for its theme, yet sup- plies a hiatus for the historian's purpose.
^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise. " xi. Februarii. Vita S. Canoci, n. 22, p. 313.
9 Otherwise incorrectly designated Avogi
(Abogi) ? '°
See"AntiquitatesHibemiae,"cap. xxvi. , pp. 189 to 192.
says
Patrick's and Colum's. It is added
" According to some writers, the origin of St. Patrick's Purgatory has reference to
days then altogether ;
"
:
a pilgrimage during The baking of bread See Drs. Todd's and
"
the great Irish Apostle, while others assign
it to Abbot Patrick, venerated at the 24th
of August. See Wills' "Lives of Illus- Reeves'
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , parti. , secondseries,p. 224.
'- T. Wright has written an octavo work
'*
was a certain Miles, named Owen. See
"48 [hours] without food, without drink, nine
the day and prayers. must be without salt.
"
pendix to Introduction, p. xi.
Martyrology of Donegak" Ap-
The first person entering this Purgatory
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January i.
on the island, and when his vigils had been protracted to a late hour one night, a wonderful brightness appeared towards the northern part of the hori-
"
zon. The clerics asked their master what it portended.
In that direction,
whence you have seen the brilliant illumination," said Dabeog, *'the Lord
himself, at a future time, shall light a shining lamp, which, by its brightness,
must miraculously glorify the Church of Christ. This shall be Columba, the son of FeidUmid, son of Fergus, and whose mother will be Ethnea. For learning he shall be distinguished ; in body and soul shall he be chaste ; and he shall possess the gifts of prophecy. "'^
It is stated—but on very insufficient authority's—that St, Dabeoc made
his religious house subject to the great Abbey of Armagh. On the island, too, there was a fine chapel, and convenient houses for the monks, the remains
of which were to be seen before the last century, according to local tradition. St. Dabeoc is reputed to have been there, and the subsequent stories about this island on Lough Derg are fiill of traditional and historic interest.
The possessions of the original monastery probably gave rise to the de- nomiaation of Tearmon Dabheog, which lay on both sides and near
"
The Magraths were the hereditary termoners or custodians of the church
lands, known as the Termon of St. Daveog,^' at Lough Derg. ^=^ Their ruined
castle of Termon Magtath, or Termon, as it is more usually called, is popu-
larly believed to have been built by Malmmry, or Myler Magrath. ^3 It is situated at the northern extremity of Lough Erne, about half a mile west of
thepleasantlittletownPettigoe,inthecoimtyofDonegal. Likemostedi- fices of the kind, erected in the sixteenth century, it consisted of a strong and massive keep, with circular towers at two of its angles, and encompassed by outworks. The scenery in the immediate vicinity of the castle is very beautiful. With the plantations of Templecam glebe, and with those of Waterfoot,^^ the lake shores are most delightfully fiinged. Thus part we, at present, from the patient, if not discriminating, ordeal of investigation into the present sainfs historical range so remote from our own. Yet, no period or age has sped without exerting some tangible influences on the state of society we inherit. The very aspect of holiness lingers still aroimd the scenes where the saints loved to dwell.
Article III. —St. Ossene, or Oissein, son to Ceallach, of Clonmore, County of Louth. \Sixth Century. '] The fortunate preservation of a less distinguished sainfs name with that of another greatly renowned often deter- mines the date in history of both, and heightens an interest felt in the less
Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix Sexta ad Acta S. Patricii, pp. 273 to 284,
'7 See Dr. Kelly's "Calendar of Irish Saints. " Appendix p. 169.
'^ See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Vita S, Columbse. Lib. i. , cap.
far-famed Lough Derg and its pilgrimages will be foimd in the " Illustrated Handbook
of the Scenery and Antiquities of South- WesternDonegal. " Itiswritteninaracy
and very agreeable style. The authorship is ascribed to a patriotic, an amiable, and an
accomphshed Parish Priest, long residing in the districts described.
^3 gee the " Illustrated Dublin Journal," vol. i. , no. 10, p. 153.
=4 There is a wood engraving of these
beautiful objects, with a description by Dr. Petrie, in the "Irish Penny Journal," vol. i.
^- PP- 390, 391- " '9 Richardson's
Folly of Pilgrimages. " *° See R. D. Joyce's Ballads, Romances,
and Songs. "The Pilgrim," p. 137. =' Named after this saint.
="
Among many places of great interest in the northern province, descriptions of this
Grey, holy Derg of the lake. "*'
January i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 17
known contemporary. Both published^ and unpublished' copies of the Tallagh Martyrology assign the ist day of January as a festival to Ossene, of CluanaMor. Thisisthenameofaparishandtownlandintheancientterritory of Cianachta Arda, It is known as Clonmore, in the present barony of Ferrard, county of Louth. 3 Ossein, son to Ceallach, of Cluainmor-Fer-n
Arda, according to the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Donegal,* was venerated on this day. This saint flourished at an early period, since St.
Columkille founded or repaired Cluain-mor-fernarda, in the territory of Bregia,
and placed St. Ossin, or Osseneus over it. s
. ^. ;a-i,i .
At the present time, the ruins of an old church are within an enclosed
cemetery beside the high road, and
these are probably on the actual site
of St. Ossene's more ancient reli-
--^^-^^ > ^^'^^^"^^^^^ Z^
establish- ment. About
thirty years ago, the most dilapi-
dated
were repaired with modem masonry. ^ The nave alone remains, and its walls are thickly covered with ivy. A belfry seems to have surmounted the western gable, while the choir gable and a finely- turned arch re- main. Portions
of the choir walls
gious
portions
were considerably
over ground with-
in the memory of
persons yet living,
but they are now
levelled to the
very foundations.
measures seventeen feet in width ; the walls averaged two feet nine inches in
Art. III. - -• Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, Ancient and Modem," vol. i. , chap, xxi. , p.
See
visible in the Franciscan copy.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (o) p. 441.
•» EditedbyDrs. ToddandReeves,p. 2.
p.
Church ruins at_Clonmore.
This church was fully seventy feet in length,? and the nave
xi. 127. Also Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," ^ The words Offene mo^ are only Vita Quinta S. Columbae, lib. i. , p. Ixv. ,
circularly-headedwindowfiguredintheac- A similar entry is in the Irish Calendar, companying engraving, is altogether of
R. I. A.
s See Rev. A. Cogan's' "Diocese of Meath. 1 During the year 1836, when the old ruins
Vol. I.
C
p. 400, and n. 65, p. 450, and cap. x. , p. 492. Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae.
* The doorway, under the square-headed
modern introduction.
i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January i.
thickness. ^ Nooldmonumentsaretobeseenatpresentinthecemetery;but
some interesting objects of antiquity are in the locality immediately sur-
rounding it. 9
We can scarcely doubt there had been a sufficient endowment for the
Church of Clonmore after the time of St. Ossene, for in a. d. 826 the death
"
Annals of the Four Masters. "'° Here it is likely for some years, about the middle of the sixth century, the life of St. Ossene ran in beneficence, like the onward course of a smooth-floA\ang and fertilizing river. Varied by the discharge of his daily pastoral and religious duties, no moment was left unconsecrated to the service
of God.
Article IV. —St. Colman Muilinn, of Derrykeighan, County of Antrim. \Fifth or Sixth Century. ^ From various accounts, it would appear, the Church of Derrykeighan must have been one of the oldest founda- tions in Ireland. ^ Its first administrator is stated to have been brother to
St. Mochay,^ who died towards the close of the fifth century. 3 The name of
of a Herenach belonging to Clonmore-Arda is recorded in the
" an oak
cTiAoeAiri, a proper name, and also meaning, purblind. " Foundations of the original church remain in the old churchyard. Upon them stand the
this seems to have been derived from place
and from
roofless walls of an old building, s
Colman Muilinn is entered in the " simply
this day. 7 He belonged to a place known as Derrykeighan,^ in the county
ofAntrim,andwithinthedioceseofConnor. Furtherparticularsconcerning
him we read in the "Martyrology of Donegal. "9 There it is stated that Colman
^° daughterofMilchu,"sontoBuan,issaidtohavebeenhismother. Weare
Muilinn,
of Doire-Chaechain," belonged to Dal-Riada, in Ulster. Bronach,
at Clonmore were more perfect, in situ, than they now are, in a joint letter of Messrs. P. O'Keefe and T.
O'Conor, written at Dunleer, those were described as measuring thirty feet in length by fifteen in width, while the side walls standing were about fourteen feet in height. On the southern side-wall opened four window places, reaching to the top of the wall. On the eastern gable was a large arched way, twelve feet high and nine feet wide, but then stopped up with stone-work. This church was dedicated to St. Columkille, according to popular tradi- tion, and his feas—t was held in the parish on the 9th of June. "Irish Ordnance Survey Letters on Louth," vol. i. , p. 119.
^ The annexed excellent
Millard, of Dublin, is executed from a sketch drawn by the writer on the spot, in February, 1873.
5 The Moats of Clonmore, of Killaly, and
of Ardballon are remarkable land-marks.
A ground plan of Clonmore Castle is to be
seen engraved in "Wright's Louthiana," his place is called Daire-Chaochain. See book ii. , plate xiv.
" See Dr. O'Donovan's
'
ibi<i. pp. 380, 381.
p. 441' — Art. IV.
"
See Colgan's "Acta Sancto- rum Hibemias," p. 95.
It is marked on the Ordnance Survey
The " Book of Lecan," in the tract of St. iEngus the Culdee, on the Mothers of
Map of county Antrim, sheet 12.
" With whom St. Patrick lived as a cap-
tive.
engraving by
Mrs.
* A in the of Lower parish, partly barony
Dunluce, and partly in that of Carey. The town of Dervock lies within it. See Lewis's
edition,
vol.
i. ,
'° In a note Dr. Todd this name is says,
interpreted Colman of the Mill, ibid.
wood,"
of on Martyrology Tallagh,"^
•ooi^e, "
the Irish Saints, is the only authority knowTi for this statement ; but, it must be observed, there are apparent anachronisms in this tract.
3 See his life at the 23rd of June,
* Several years back, 280 silver coins, par- tially enumerated in the " Numismatic Chro- nicle," p. 213, were found in a field outside the old graveyard.
^ For these and further interesting particu- lars see Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesias-
tical Antiquities of Down, Connor, and Dromore," pp. 78, 79.
*
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xi.
We can only make out "CottnAti
7
IHai'L. . . "intheFranciscancopy.
"Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 453 to 455.
9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. 2. In the table subjoined to this Martyrology
January r. J LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 19
informed, likewise, that it was in a mill St. Colman used to make obeisance to the brethren. No clue to the date of his death can be found in our Annals.
Article V. —St. Airmedach, Hermetius, or Ermedhach, Abbot of Craibhi-Laisre, probably Creevagh, near Clonmacnoise, King's County. [Seventh Century. '] When Faith had opened into a foil bloom in Ireland, its fruits began to ripen and increase as onward ages rolled. Airme- dach, Abbot of Craibhi-Lasri, occurs at the ist day of January, in the "Mar- tyrology of Tallagh. "' This saint is called Eirmbeadhach in the " Annals of the Four Masters. " Marianus O'Gorman inserts this Hermetius in the
Calendar at the ist day of January.
His birth may probably be referred to
The "
tions Ermedhach, Abbot of Craebh-Laisre, as having been venerated at this
day. In a table appended, the name of this holy man is Latinized or Gre- cized,Hermes. 3 Thepresentsaintdieda. d. 681,accordingtothe"Annals of the Four Masters,"* or a. d. 682, according to those of Ulster. Craebh- Laisre is said to be the name of a place near Clonmacnoise. s Some doubt has been entertained as to whether this saint had been identical with a cer-
the of the seventh early part
century.
Martyrology
of "^ men- Donegal
tain
tite Life of St. Patrick. "7
and Abbot of mentioned in the " Clogher,
Hermetius,*^ Bishop
Tripar- He is said to have written Acts of the great Irish
" Laisre's viz. ,ofthe"OldTree. " AlittletothesouthoftheSevenChurches,within
the townland and parish of Clonmacnoise, is the bordering townland of
Creevagh, on the eastern banks of the River Shannon, King's County. ^ Some objects of antiquity are shown within this latter place, and it is pro- bablytheCraebh-Laisreherenamed. InIrelandtherearemorethanthirty
""""
townlands called Creevagh, i. e. , branchy or bushy land f while about
twenty others bear the name of Creevy,*° a modification of the same word.
Article VI. —St. Eochaid, of Uisneach, or Usneagh, County of Westmeath. Virtue is the sole nobility, and it infuses happy dispositions and elements into the composition of character. God's grace sweetly influences a mind thus ennobled and purified. Eochaid's name, without any other description, is found in the "Martyrology of Tallagh"^ on to-day. ^ There is a St. Eochod mentioned as a companion of St. Columkille ;3 but the present seems to have been a different person. A festival to Eochaid of
"
Uisneach is entered at this date in the Martyrology of Donegal. "* His
place is now known as Usnagh Hill, in the parish of Killare, barony of Rath- conrath,andcountyofWestmeath. Thishillisremarkableinourhistoryfor beingthespotatwhichthefiveIrishprovincesmet. Thereisastone,called
apostle.
Craebh-Laisre means in
English
Bush,"
or "
Branch,"
Art. v. —'Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xi. In the Franciscan copy we can only de- cipher these words, "<\i]\me'OAchi^bb . . . "
Ixix. , and n. 49, pp. 128, 172, 173.
^ See Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
* Edited
by
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
9 See P. W. " and
Joyce's Origin History
p. 5.
3 See ibid. pp. 410, 411.
*See O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp.
288, 289, and n. (e) ibid.
s See " Annals of the Four Masters," vol.
i. , p. 288, n. (e. )
* See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemias," xxiv.
Martii. Vita S. Maccarthenni. Appendix, cap. iv. , p. 742.
of Irish Names of Places," Part iv. , chap. viii. , p. 463.
7 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," cap. x. , p. 489.
Septima Vita S. Patricii, Pars, i. , cap.
*
Edited by Drs. T'^d and Reeves, p. 5,
of the King's County, sheet 5.
^°
Ibid. — Art. VI.
p. xi.
'Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
*
written euchAit).
3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse,
In the Franciscan copy the name is
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January i.
Cat-Uisnigh, situated on its very summit,s Keating gives it the denomina- tion of Ailna-Mireann, which means " Rock of the Divisions. " From its
"
very central position this place was called
A chapel or hermitage had been erected, it is stated, on the hill of Usney
bySt. Eochy,andacemeterywasattached; bothchurchandgraveyardare, however, obliterated. ? Usney, or Usneach, was the seat of many conven- tions, conferences, and synods. From eariiest times it had been a place of great note in our Irish Annals. ^ There is also a parish in the barony of Ballyboy, King's County, and within the diocese of Meath, called Killaughey, or Killaghey. It means " the Church of St. Eochey. "^ The hill of Ushnagh and its environs are covered ^vith antique curiosities. ^" It seems probable enough, that the present saint had some connexion with the old Church of Killare, which is near that remarkable eminence.
Article VII. —St. Scethe, or Sciath, Virgin and Patroness of
Feart-Sceithe,nowArdskeagh,CountyCork. Intheworldwehave
many instances of benevolent individuals actively engaged in philanthropic
works,withonlypartialself-denial; butintheCatholicChurchherreligious
children are educated and inspired to practise good works, to a degree of per-
fection sublime in its absolute self-sacrifice. Scethe, a virgin, from Fert
Sceithe, is found on record in the "Martyrology of Tallagh,"^ at the ist day
of From the " of "3 we learn that venera- January. ^ Martyrology Donegal
tion was given on this day to Sciath, virgin, and daughter to Meachair, of Feart-Sceithe, in Muscraighe-Aedha. This territory seems to have been identical with Muscraidhe Luachra,-* which lay along the Abhain Mor, or Blackwater,intheprovinceofMunster. s St. Scethebelongedtotheraceof Conaire, son to Mogh-lamha, monarch of Ireland. Thus she was descended from the race of Heremon. The Church of Fiort-sceithe is placed by the Calendars of Marianus and of the Four Masters^ in Muscraighe-tri-maighe, or Muskerry of the Three Plains. 7 It is known at present by the name of
Ardskeagh, a small parish in that part of Fermoy barony bordering on the baroniesofOrreryandKilmore,countyofCork. TheoldChurchofFer- sketh^ lay within the rural deanery of Muskrydonnegan, in the diocese of
5 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (e), p. i66.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. 5.
Kerry. O'Brian incorrectly places this ter- ritory within the county of Limerick. Mus- craidhe Luachra extended on both sides of the Blackwater, near its source in the north- west of Cork county. It is also known as the country of the O'h-Aodha, now Angli- cised O'Hea, and sometimes Hayes. See "The Topographical Poems of O'Dubhagain and O'Huidhrin," edited by Dr.
