No More Learning

one place,25 he says, it may be judged that St. Fachnan was the founder. In
26
another, he merely states, that its cathedral was dedicated to his memory.
He clearly seems to have meant St. Fachnan of Ross. And so the matter appears to be understood at present, in the diocese of Kilfenora ; whereas, the festival of the patron saint is kept there on the 14th of August, as if St. Fachnan of Ross was he also of Kilfenora. But, says Rev. Dr. Lanigan, it is
much more that probable,
2 7 However this
were different
be, it seems, that in the choir of the Cathedral of Kilfenora, the alleged tomb of St. Fachnan is pointed out 28 so that popular tradition distinguishes him
;
from St. Fachnan, Patron of Ross, who as already stated is reputed to have
been there buried.
Several old Irish crosses are still to be seen in the grave- yard at Kilfenora. One of these is remarkably' high,
and evidently of antique workmanship, while the style
of carving is very quaint, and in some respects rather
2
original. 9 Between the cir-
cular-connections at the
arms, a rude representation
Cross at Kilfenora.
The cross itself is not well
proportioned in all its parts,
norhasit anyoftheinter-
lacing ornaments so peculiar to other monuments of its kind. The feast of St. Fachanan is observed, on the 14th of August, as a Double of the First Class, with an Octave, in the dio- cese of Ross and Kilfenora; for, it is generally assumed, that the same person was a Bishop over either See, at some period of his life, or that he had been established at Ross, and had been after- wards
told, this transaction must have occurred before a. d. 590, as afterwards, the Colman
particularly as the Life is written with great order, regularity, and a cautious precision in
discriminating, when necessary, certain names by the addition of a surname or some other distinctive mark, lest the reader —
alluded to lived fourteen years. 32, ibid. , p. 597.
See nn. 31,
19 By Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
,0 The " Acta Sanctorum Tertius Index Historicus.
Hibernia," confound different
might persons together. "
21 On this matter, the Rev. Dr.
argues : "if that were the case, would not the author of said Life, who in both places exhibits Fachnan as a great saint, have given us some clue towards discovering that he alluded to more than one of that name ?
they
persons.
may
as Patron It seems since not only are our,records wanting for its elucidation, but even our traditions afford
. . .
no clue, from which a satisfactory conclusion may be drawn.
accepted for both dioceses. well nigh impossible to unravel this mystery, at the present time ;
Lanigan
of the crucifixion is
figured.
"
chap, xii. , sect, iv. , and n. 49, p. 196.
Ecclesiastical
History
of
Ireland," vol. ii. ,
32 See Rev.
"
Monas-
Mervyn Archdall's ticon Hibernicum," p. 52.
83 See Harris' vol. "
Ware, i. , Bishops
of
Kilfenoragh," pp. 622 to 626.
24 See Rev. Dr. Kelly's « Calendar of
August 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 201
Article III. —St. Fachtna, Bishop and Abbot of Dairinis Maelanfaidh, in Hy Kinsellagh, or in the County of Waterford, [Sixth Century], When the reader has studied the remarks already offered in connection with St. Fachtna or Fachtnan of the diocese of Ross, and also
those relating to St. Fachananus, patron of the diocese of Kilfenora; he may in
the relation which here follows form some judgment, as to whether the present
holy Abbot of Dairinis Maelanfaidh had a distinct place in history, or
whether he should not be regarded as one and the same person, especially with
the patron of Ross. Indeed, the latter appears to have been an opinion
formed by the compiler of a very ancient record, and known as the Calendar
of Cashel. Of course, there is the alternative suspicion, that confused tradi-
tions, or similarity of name and of festivals occurring on the same day, may
have occasioned some mistake. If they be identical, however, the following
remarks are necessary to present some additional biographic particulars.
The festival of Fachtna of Maelanfaid's Dairinis, said to have been the son of
a or has been set down in the " Feilire" of St. 1 at wright carpenter, ^Engus,
the 14th of August. In the comment annexed, he is called bishop and abbot
2 Weare
when Fachtna was born, much hair was on him. 3 It is difficult to form a
conception of his personal appearance, from such an indefinite description j but, it seems likely, that the remarkable characteristic manifested at the time of his birth must have continued during the remainder of his life. However, we need not necessarily suppose more, than that his head was covered with a remarkably fine growth of hair, when he was an infant ; and probably, according to Irish custom, he then received that soubriquet, which was never afterwards abandoned. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,* at this day, there is an entry regarding Fachtna, son to Mongan, of Ros Ailithir, in T-sair. s His Acts—if written—are not now attainable. We have only some scattered notices, regarding him, through various sources. According to received tra- dition, however, he was a Bishop and Confessor. In other instances, our saint is called Fachtna Mongach and Fachtnan mhic Mongaigh, the meaning
of his surname having different interpretations. In the former case, Mon- """
of inHui Dairinis,
Cinnselaig.
told, moreover,
ina that comment,
gach, signifying the hirsute or hairy," is supposed to have been applied, on account of Fachanan having been born with hair. 6 In the latter case, we
IrishSaints,pp. xiii. ,xvii. ,xxxii. 25 See Antiquities, cap. 29.
26 When treating on the Bishops.
sdir)afaircaptive: thefeastofFachtnaethe
hairy child. "—" Transactions of the Royal
Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series,
27 See his
"
Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
vol. i. . part i. p. cxxiii.
On the Calendar of
land," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, iv. , n. 51,
P- 196. * 28 "
2 See ibid. , p. cxxxi.
See Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire- land," vol. ii. , p. 409.
3 It is added, that on this account, every-
one used to — of him n mac
say mongach"
29 The accompanying drawing of this (hairy child). Ibid.
cross on the wood, by William F. Wake- * That copy contained in the Book of man, and taken from a photograph, has Leinster records V^ccnAtt mac niong. o been engraved by Mrs. Millard.
Article hi. — 1 In the " Leabhar Breac " copy, we have the following stanza in Irish, and thus translated into English by Whitley Stokes, LL. D :—
LA5Aijvtn T? U|\cutiAcii t)Ar\fAir\rvgi tirv 10115415 TYIacc mcrAei]\ CAin cimbi-o
sell ^AChcnAi mAicc mongAig.
Moy . diLichir*.
s « Fach—tna mac
Mongan o Ros Ailithir
"
of shipful ocean, the Wright's son {mac int~
With the calling of Fortunatus over a sea
in t-sair. " Kelly's Rev. Matthew "
dar of Irish Saints," p. xxxii.
Calen-
6 At the 14th of
val thus noticed in the Martyrology of
"
Cashel:
alicthir in occidentali plaga Momonias fuit etiam Abbas de Dar inis Moelanfaidh in re- gione Desiorum in Momonia, dictusque Fachtna Mongach, quia cum cesarie na- tus. "
7 On this subject, Colgan observes, that if
August,
we find his festi-
S. Fachtdani, Episcopi de Ros
Oengus,
202 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 14.
"
Facbtnae micmongaigh," as con- tained in the Martyrologies of Tallagh and of Marianus O'Gorman ; while Selbach and the Menologium Genealogicum write: "mhic Monaigh," that
is,"sonofMoenachorMoenaigh. ? However,Moenach8orMoenaighwas probably the name of his father, and he is said to have been descended from Lugad, surnamed Mac Conn, King of Ireland. Moreover, he is stated to have had for a son St. Cassan, who had seven other holy brothers. 9 Now,
this statement appears to give us a clue to the paternity of the present saintly
bishop and abbot \ for it is likewise related, that no less than seven brothers
of Fachnan are enumerated among the saints of Ireland. These were St.
10 11 12 1 Brandubh, bishop, St. Cassan, St. Calchin, St. Lochan,'3 St. Lugna, * St.
Manchin ** and St. Moluan. 10 Their descent is said to have been derived
from one Maconius, son of Macniadh, and a celebrated Irish hero. 1 ?
Although Ussher mentions Fachtna or Fachnan amongst the pupils of St.
Barr or Finbarr of Cork, 18 Dr. Lanigan thinks our saint must have lived prior
to the time of his supposed master. Our judicious ecclesiastical historian
maintains, that little or no reliance can be placed on the lists of St. Finbarr's
10
have an entry, distinguishing the feast,
These, he says, have been made up at random. Wishing to honour St. Barr, it has been supposed, that their compilers placed thereon the names of many distinguished men, of whom they had heard, but without
taking into account the adjuncts of time and place. According to some accounts, St. Fachnan Mongach was abbot over Molana, in the County of Waterford, a. d. 590 ; and, about the said time, he is said to have founded
20
In the latter assump- tion, this saint cannot be different from the Patron of that See, about whom we have already treated, at the present date. Before our saint settled at Ross, it is asserted, that he was probably for some time abbot of Darinis Moelan- faidh, now Molana. This is a small island surrounded by the River Black-
21
water. It is within the demesne of Ballinatray, in the present County of
disciples.
the Abbey of Ross-Alithri, in the County of Cork.
we credit the expositor of the Martyrology, and the interpolator of Cathal Maguire, there is no material difference: Mongaigh being
an adjective, and he adds, " ut dum dicitur, Fachtuatii mhic Alot/gaig/i, sensus sit Facht- nani filii Criniti; quia nempe cum crinibus natus. "
venerated respectively on the 12th and 20th
of January, 17th of April, 1 2th of June, and 31st of December.
M There are festivals for three Lugnas on the Irish Calendar, viz. , at 20th of January, 25th April, and 31st of December.
I5 There are festivals for St. Manchans or Manchines on the Irish Calendar, at January 2nd, 13th, 24th, February 14th, March 23rd, 24th, May 1st, October 2lst, November 12th, December 2nd, 4th, 29th.
l6 There are five the Irish Moluas^pn
Calendar, with festivals respectively at June 4th, August 4th, October 15th, November 21st, December 21st.
'* According to the last chapter of the Menologium Genealogicum. "
8
There is a Moenach, son of Carell, and
he is called the father of St. Fachtnan,
Bishop of Ros-ailitheir, in Minister, by
Colgan, in the "Acta Sanctorum Ilibci-
Martii xxviii. De S.
9 See what is stated, in the Third Volume of this work, at the 28th of March, when treating about St. Cassan, of Iomdual, or Imduail, and supposed to be of Donagh-
more, County ol Meath, Art. iii. , n. 14.
10 His festival occurs, at the 3rd of June. See at that date, the Sixth Volume of this
work, for notices of him, Art. iv.
11
nix,"
copo et Abbate, cap. v. , p. 781.
Cassano, Epis-
Although lour saints of this name are
noted in the Irish Calendars ; still among Martii xxvi. Vita S. Garvani, p. 750.
them, the brother of St. Fachanan has not been identified.
" No saint called Calchin, or as Latinized Calchinus, can be identified in the Irish Calendars.
13 Five saints called Lochan or Loichen are to be found on the Irish Calendars, and
' 9 He assigns as a sufficient reason, that Colgan's enumeration differs materially from that adduced by Ussher.
20 See Rev. Samuel Hayman's "New Handbook for Youghal," p. xv.
2I The seat of Mr. Smyth,
22
" l8
"S. Facundus de Ros-alither" is named in the Vita S. Barrii—which Colgan intended to have published at the 25th of September—as being one of Finbarr's disci- pies. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernia. -,"
In the Martyrology of Cashel, already
August 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 203
Waterford. 22" The ruins of this abbey are still well preserved, and in the interior is a modern statue of the founder ; while within it, Raymond Fitz William, surnamed le Gros,23 the companion of Strongbow, was interred. 2* From the hills, which here rise over the river to a considerable elevation, magnificent views of this district and of the estuary to the sea can be obtained. 2 s Most interesting details of Raymond Fitz William le Gros and of the various branches and descendants belonging to his family, have been preserved by
26
a learned scion of his race.
Fachnan or Fachtna, of Dair Inis, in Waterford, is identical with a St. Fachannan, who is venerated as the chief patron of the dioceses of Ross and of Kilfenora. In the Irish Calendars, there are four saints bearing the name
2
of heldonthe19th—January;3» whereas,
in another
viz.
—
at
Ross,
However, it is not at all very certain, that the St.
;
ofFachtna andtheyarethusdistinguished,viz. : Fachtna,BishopofNua-
——
chongbail Latinized Facundus who is venerated on the 19th of January, ?
28
Fachtna, of Crebeg, venerated at the 3rd of March, Fachtna, bishop of
2
Dairinis, venerated at the 14th of August, ^ and Fachtna, of Cill-Tomma,
;
allouraccessibleIrishCalendars differsinspellingfromFachtnanorFach-
annan. Moreover, St. Fachtna, Bishop and Abbot of Dairinis Maelanfaidh,
who is venerated at the 14th of November^ Now, it may be seen, that none of the foregoing places named appear to have any con—nection with Ross or Kilfenora it be re
in
Hy-Kinsellagh,
hasbeenconfoundedwithSt. — ofthe Fachannan, patron
besides, may
—markedthatFachtna thenameenteredin
dioceses of Ross and—
of Kilfenora. in one
at
Thus,
County of Waterford Archdall tells us, that the festival of St. Fa
chtna was
passage,
County of Cork the same writer tells us, that this saint's festival was
2
observed on the 14th of August^ as stated in an old Calendar. ^ Under the
name of Moelanfaidh, Colgan has no account of this saint. But, he makes mention of several saints, called Moeloc,34 or Mailoc,35 which, he observes,
quoted, we have it stated, that he was abbot the First Volume of this work, at the 15th
"
de Dar-inis Moelanfaidh, in regione ofJanuary, Art. ii.
Desiorum, in Momonia. "
83 He was appointed viceroy of Ireland in
1 177; and he left two sons—the elder William Fitz Raymond le Gros, ancestor to the family of Grace, Barons of Courtstown and Lords of—Grace's Country in the County of Kilkenny the second son Maurice Fitz Raymond, ancestor to the family of Fitz Maurice, Earls of Kerry and Marquesses of Landsdown. See J. N. Brewer's " Beauties of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 116, et seq.
24 A representation of this reputed tomb, as also of the statue of St. Molanfide, is to
29 The saint about whom we treat, at this
be seen in J. R. O'Flanagan's "Blackwater See " Sancti Rumoldi, Martyris Inclyti,
in Munster," pp. 33, 34.
25 See James Fraser's " Handbook for
Travellers in Ireland," Route 51, p. 285.
26
See Sheffield Grace's "Memoirs of the
Family of Grace. " This rare book, pro- Januarii xxix. Vita S Gildae Badonici, n.
fusely illustrated with elegant views and his- toric portraits, was published by the author in London, 1823, 4to.
27 See an account of him, and of his place,
at that date, in the First Volume of this
work, Art. ii.
28
See notices of him, at that date, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. xiv. , and the references to St. Critan, Criotan, or
Finncridan, of Craibhaigh, or Creebee, in
4, p. 188.
3sTheRev. Dr. Laniganremarks "One
:
of them was probably the founder of that monastery ; for faidh is, I believe, a sur-
name, facia or fad, "long. " At what time he lived, I cannot form any conjecture; and,
for aught I know, he might have belonged to the fifth century. "—'"Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, vi. , n. 47, p. 195.
viz.
place, Molana,
day.
30 The reader is referred to that date—in
the Eleventh Volume of this work—the day for his feast.
3I For this he quotes Ward, p. 16© (recte
159), as an authority.
32 See " Monasticon Hibernicum," pp.
77 and 695.
33 However, Father Hugh Ward, or
Father O'Sheerin, the editor of his post- humous work, draws a distinction between both of those saints, on the page referred to.
Archiepiscopi Dubliniensis, Mechliniensium Apostoli," &c. Dissertatio Historica, sect. ix. ,num. 9, p. 159.
3* See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
204 LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 14.
is the same as Moelan. We are told, that Darinis had a church, dedicated to St. Molanfide, who founded it in the sixth century. 36 There is another Darinis, near Wexford, in which a monastery was founded, and most probably
8
by St. Coeman, or St. Cayman,37 about the beginning of the sixth century ;3 andnot,asArchdallthoughtsbySt. Nemhan,40 wholivedintheseventh/1 Owing to the similarity of name, both of those places have been often con- founded by writers who treated on Irish ecclesiastical history and antiquities.
Article IV. —St. Werenfrid, Priest and Confessor, Missionary in Frisia. {Eighth Century? ^ This holy man was one of the many mis- sionaries that left the theological schools of Ireland, to carry the message of Gospel peace to the intellects and souls of unbelievers in distant countries. Like many such preachers, although almost unknown in the country he had left, memorials have been preserved among those people who had profited by his teaching. A most ancient manuscript, belonging to the church of Utrecht, furnished Surius with matter to introduce at this day the Acts of St. Werenfrid. On this day, Greven, Molanus, and several other Martyrologists, assign a festival for St. Werenfridus ; and the Bollandists, while transferring notices of him to the 27th of this month, still mark his feast at this date. 1 In the work of Bishop Challenor, we find an account of St. Werenfrid, Priest
23 andConfessor,atthe14thofAugust. ThePetitsBollandistes alsonotice
St. Werenfrid or Guerfroy, at this date. He was an Englishman by birth,
and probably he was born in the kingdom of Northumbria. For greater
improvement in the science of the saints, he forsook country and friends, to dedicatehimselfwhollytotheserviceofhisfellowcreatures. Hethereupon passed over into Ireland, where he served God in solitude and recollec- tion. He is said to have been one of those twelve apostolic men belonging totheEnglishnation,whoweredestinedforamissionarycareer. Withtheir leaderSt. Willebrord,*theseweresentoutofIrelandbySt. Egbert. * These were destined to carry the word of life to the Frisons, Saxons, and other pagans in Germany. The exact time of St. Werenfrid's arrival there, is not so wellknown. HewasoneofthoseGospelpreachers,however,towhomthe Netherlanders were indebted for their Christian teaching. He particularly plantedthefaithandchurchofChristintheIsleofBataviaorBetuwe. He likewise converted the inhabitants of Medemblick, Durostadt, Elst, and Westerwort. Hisadmirablevirtueswereveryremarkable. Thewriterofhis Acts assures us, that it was impossible to express how rich he was in all good work, and how careful he had been in administering comfort to the afflicted. He was incomparable for his humanity, while he was an exemplar of charity towards the poor. He was assiduous in his watching, and rigorous in his fasting. He was diligent in prayer, and he excelled in chastity. In fine, he
36 See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "Antiquities vol. ii. , chap, ix. , n. 121, and chap, xii. , of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 266. sect, iv. , and n. 47, pp. 193 to 196.
—
37 See an account of him, in the Sixth Article iv.
Volumeofthiswork, at the 12thofJune, tomusHi. ,August! xiv. Amongthepreter-
Art. vi.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Vita S. Finniani, n.
38
niai," Februarii xxiii.
2 See "Britannia
Sancta," part ii. , pp.
'
6, p. 397.
82, 83.
3 ^ee " Les Vies des
Saints,"
tome
ix. ,
39
See
" Monasticon
Hibernicum,"
xive 4
d'Aout,
bee an account of him, at the 7th of
See Colgan's
p. 735.
40 See some notices of him, in the Third
Volume of this work, at the 8th of March, the date for his festival, Art. vii.
November, the date for his feast.
' See his Life, at the 24th of April, in the
Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
41See"EcclesiasticalHistoryofIreland,"
6
See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
See "Acta mittcd saints, p. 146.
Sanctorum,"
Jour
p. 533.
. August 14. j LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 205
was conspicuous for all good qualities. Great success attended his labours ingainingsoulstoChrist. Inagoodoldage,hereceivedtherewardofhis labour. He departed some time in the eighth century. His body was in- terredatElst. ThereformerlystoodacollegiatechurchdedicatedtoGodin hisname. Thiswasmuchfrequented,becausemiracleswereoftenwrought within it. St. Werenfrid's feast is kept as a Double in the diocese of Utrecht, on the 27th day of August. The 14th was the day of his decease, however, according to the best accounts. 6 He is likewise entered in the anonymous Calendar of national saints, at the 14th of August, as published in O'Sullevan Beare's work. 7
Article V. —Saints Echlech, Cuimmein and Coemhan, three
Sons of Daighre. In the of 1 Caeman Martyrology Tallagh, Cummine,
and Aicclig, are the names set down in separate lines and in the preceding
order, but without any further designation of their parentage. In that copy, containedintheBookofLeinster,theyareplacedinlikeorder. 2 IntheMartyr- ology of Marianus 0'Gorman,3 these saints are commemorated at this date. In the Martyrology of Donegal, the entries for this day commence with the wordMidhaighre,*whichisfoundenclosedwithinbrackets. s Thereisaparish dedicated to a saint having the name of Cummein, and which is called Kil- cummin. 6 It is situated in the barony of Magunihy, County of Kerry. The old church belonging to this parish is situated on a ridge of fertile land, within the glebe of Kilcummin. In 1841, it measured on the inside 56 feet in length, and 19 feet 6 inches in breadth. Its side walls were 3 feet 5 inches in thickness, and 10 feet in height; being built of green unequally sized
stones, cemented with lime and sand mortar. The west gable was destroyed
nearly down to the ground ; only 3 feet of its height then remaining, but the other walls were nearly perfect. The internal portion of the east window was disfigured, but its external part was in a state of excellent preservation. The window, measuring 5 feet 2 inches in height, and 11 inches in width, was pointed and formed of cut lime-stone ; the sill was 4 feet 8 inches, from the outside ground level. At the distance of 8 feet from an east gable, there was a window in the south wall. This had been destroyed on both sides, with the exception of one stone left on either external side, These were chiselled lime-stones, and the distance between them was only 7 inches. 7 A rude
6
7 See " Historian Catholicse Ibernise Com- irregular in form, being bounded on the
Sancta," part ii. , pp. 82, 83.
This parish is of great extent and very north, by the parishesof Ballincuslane, Dysert,
pendium," tom—us i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50. "
Article v. Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly,p'. xxxii,
3
-diccbj;.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
doe,andKillaha; andontheeast,byCork
on the ofKilcredaneandAghadoe; onthesouth,
Thus entered: Cutnn CoeniAin, by the parishes of Killarney, partofAgha-
3 See
ni*," xii. Januarii. De S. Cumiano Epis- ctnmin, which means the "church" or
Colgan's
county.
Irish,
this is called Cilt parish
copo, n. 6, p. 59.
4 Dr. Todd says : "This name is added
"
7 "At the distance of 12 feet 6 inches by the more recent hand, quoting 'Mar.