The most significant feature about those
narrations
is the concurrence of testimony, that the Irish were, beyond doubt, in advance of the Danish and Norwegian adventurers, when obtaining a foot-hold on this continent.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
Brendan's own day,'^9 Mass was again celebrated, by Father Brosnan, on the same hallowed site.
For weeks before that date, the hearts and eyes of the Catholic people in the barony were fixed on their holy mount ; but, greatly to their discouragement, the weather continued bad, and the mountains all round were covered with continuous mists and clouds.
On the 15th of May, however, the weather looked more favourable.
On the following morning, at dawn, there was not a speck of cloud, or mist, or fog, on any of the surround- ing mountains.
About three thousand of the faithful made the ascent that morning, many having gone on foot, from the remotest ends of the parishes ofKinard'7° and Ventry.
'7i Some were even fasting, in order to receive Holy Communion on the mountain.
Before leaving the spot, it was resolved, that the next and third pilgrimage thither should be made the year following, viz.
, 1868, on the 24th of June—the Feast of St.
John the Baptist—a day of special veneration in the locality.
However, for motives of convenience, the following Sunday, June 28th, was subsequently preferred, and preparations were made accordingly.
'72 Numbers of people from Tralee joined in this
'°^ According to the Martyrology of Aber- and since Canon and Parish Priest of Cahir- deen. See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of civeen, where he is zealously engaged in
Scottish Saints," p. 286.
'^3 See " Registrum Nigrum de Aberbrot-
hock,"pp. 409,467.
'*• See "New Statistical Account of Scot-
land," Ayrshire, p. 689.
'^sSee "Origines Parochiales Scotiae,"
erecting a grand Memorial Church to Daniel O'Connell, the great Liberator of the Irish Catholics. Lithographicillustrationsofthis noble structure are presented in the Twenty-seventh Volume of the Lish Builder, Nos. 613, 614, as designed externally and internally with accompanying descriptions.
pars ii. , pp. 4, 104, 276, 828.
'** "There is an account of the Bran- The architect is G. C. Ashlin.
danes,nativemenofRobertStewart,inthe Scotichrouicon. —(Fordun, lib. 13, c. 32, t. ii. , p. 316 ; N. S. A. , pp. 689, 728 ; Orig, pari. , p. 240). "—Bishop Forbes' " Kalen- dars of Scottish Saints," pp. 286, 287.
'*7 Then a curate in the parish of Ferriter,
'^^ FromthePresbyteryatFerriter.
'^^ May i6th.
"? ° In the barony of Corkaguiney, shown
on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kerry," sheets 43, 44, 53, 54.
468 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIISITS. [May i6.
pilgrimage; and,St. Brendan'sOratory,onthesummitoftheMountain,was selected, as the ultimate object of their re-union. Accordingly, on the eve of the Feast ofSS. Peter and PauV^s the Most Rev. David Moriarty, Bishop of Kerry, with many of the clergy, secular and regular of his diocese, and an immense number of his people, estimated at 20,000, had resolved on joining in the religious celebration. Never before did such a mighty congregation assemble in Kerry, for such a purpose, and under such circumstances. Hun- dreds went to the mountain on the previous evening, and slept there all night, to secure an early attendance at the sacred ceremonies, to give glory to God, and honour to one of his greatest servants, in the locality consecrated by his prayers and presence. The most remarkable order and decorum pre- vailed throughout. Not the slightest incident occurred, to mar the happy harmony and the pious devotion of that immense multitude. The day was gloriously fine, and the magnificent prospect, at all sides, was clear and beau- tiful as the most fastidious could desire. In accordance with the original pro- gramme, five o'clock, a. m. was the hour fixed for starting from Tralee. Punctually, at that time, the people began to set out. The Rev. Timothy Brosnan, with whom were the Very Rev. Father Murphy, Prior, O. P. , Tralee, the Very Rev. Father Arsenius, Superior of the Franciscan Order, in Kil- larney, and Father Prendergast, O. P. , Tralee. led the way. These were follovved, by the members of the Carmelite and Dominican Confraternities of Tralee, on long cars, each drawn by four horses. Immediately after pro- ceeded a great number of cars, containing some of the most respectable inha- bitantsofthetownandneighbourhood. Forovertwohours,subsequently, various modes of conveyance continued pouring out of Tralee, on towards the west, and at every cross road on the route, the cortege was increased by multi- tudes coming from different directions. ''^ But, long before this, the moun- tain was occupied by numbers, who lived in the neighbourhood, or who travelled there during the night. All ages and all classes were present and filled with enthusiasm; the old vied with the young in activity ; the women showedexamplesofindomitableenergyworthyofthesternersex. Merchants, shopkeepers, tradesmen, and others, from the town, and even children, rivalled the rural population, in mastering the difficulties of the journey. The refreshing showers, which had fallen during the previous evening, laid the dust, cooled the air, and rendered the trip in many ways more pleasant, than it might otherwise have been. Havinggone to Castlegregorytiie previous day, the Bishop arrived early in the morning at Cloghane, accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Irwin, C. C. . Castlegregory. Both awaited the coming of the Tralee contingent. ' ^5
The ascent of the mountain from Cloghane was accordingly commenced at nine o'clock, by the Bishop and clergy, and by the great mass of the people, A temporary altar was erected on Faha Mountain, at the base of Brandon, and here the Very Rev. Father Murphy celebrated Mass, at 11 o'clock, pro- ceeding forward afterwards, with most of those who halted there with him. I'he Bishop and Father Brosnan reached the brow of Brandon Mountain, by half-past eleven o'clock, and they weregreeted by a long, loud and ringingcheer,
•'' See ibid. , sheets 42, 52.
boats well filled were seen crossing the bay from the Spa, from Kilfenora, and from various other places, on the coast and to- wards Clare. Ail were bound for the same destination. When the head of the pro-
''' A committee having been then formed
to make some preliminary arrangements,
a small party set out on Monday, June 8ih,
from Tralee, to explore the place, and tore-
port the result. Then, everj'thing was cession ncared Clo<;hane, at half-past eitjht arranged for the approaching celebration.
'" It fell on Sunday, June 28th, that year.
'? ^ At the same time, a large number of
o'clock, the continuous line of cms and con- veyances extended to over a mile of road, and, for hours afterwards, others continued arriving at the village.
469
from thousands belonging to the other or western side, and who had already crowded the summit. That clieer was taken up, and echoed right heartily, by the masses, who were still ascending from the east. At the same moment, the fog, which had draped the mountain since morning, passed away. words could paint the startling effect, which the scene now presented, as the lofty summits of the surrounding hills—and especially that one high above all the rest, on wliich every eye from below was earnestly fixed —threw off the thin white drapery. In all their natural glory, and backed by a summer sky of spotless blue, those serrated ranges were then revealed. Far above, tlie mul- titudes already assembled on the summit could be seen ; while, from below, the procession of pilgrims still extended, in one unbroken chain. The pretty banners of the confraternities sparkled in the sunlight, and the varied dresses of the processionists—especially of the women—set off to still greater advan- tage a scene, animated and picturesque in the extreme. Arrived above, the glorious prospect, which Brandon summit commands, burst on the astonished view, with sublime effect. From every mouth went forth heartfelt words of prayer and of praise to Him, whose wonderful works were thus lavishly re- vealed. The two multitudes—those from the east and those from the west joined together, and knelt around St. Brandon's Oratory, under the broad canopyofHeaven. ThewholeofthepopulationfromDingleandfromthe west of Kerry seemed to have turned out en masse, with all the genuine spirit of their warm, generous nature. The only drawback to their joy, as they cried out with one voice, was, that they had not had the privileged honour of escorting the Bishop and Priests, from the Tralee side of the mountain. The Committee of Management were present in full force. The members of the Carmelite Confraternity, and of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, attached to the Parish Church, and to Holy Cross Church, Tralee, respectively
putontheirhabits,atthebrowofthemountain. Thesenumberedoverone hundred. The Dingle Christian Brothers, with their esteemed superior, Rev. Brother Rice, were very zealous and efficient in forwarding the arrangements, on the mountain. Immediately after arriving on its brow, the choir was led by Father Prendergast, of Holy Cross Church, Tralee ; while, the Confraterni- ties, clad in their habits, preceded by the cross-bearer, and bearing aloft beau- tiful banners—those of the Blessed Virgin, St. Brandon, St. Ita, St. Patrick and St. Bridget, being most conspicuous—formed a procession. Singing a litany, they proceeded to St. Brandon's Oratory, and formed around the altar.
At the western end of the oratory and within its precincts, but more in view of the multitude, a temporary altar was erected. Here, the Bishop celebrated a first Mass, assisted by Father Brosnan and Father Arsenius. It was then deemed advisable, to remove somewhat lower down the mountain, so as to be more within view of the masses there. Another temporary altar was erected, at which Father Arsenius officiated. Solemn Mass,^? ^ coram episcopo^ was then sung by Father Brosnan. After all the Masses had ended, an eloquent sermon, suited to the occasion, was preached by the Very Rev. Father Eustace, O. P. , Prior of Holy Cross Abbey, Tralee. Afterwards, his Lordship, the Bishop of Kerry, addressed the multitude present, in very eloquent terms. When he had concluded this discourse, Dr. iMoriarty then pronounced the Episcopal Benediction, and gave a forty days' Indulgence. ix\ concluding these grand ceremonies, Father Brosnan addressed the people, in the Irish language, treat- ing at length on the origin of that religious movement and its objects. To
'75 Father Irwin stopped at Clogliane, to celebrate Mass in the Parish Church, at 12 o'clock ; but, though this was announced for the convenience of those who might be
daunted on seeing the mountain, compara- tively few availed themselves of the con- siderate accommodation,
''^ The highly efficient choir from Tralee
—
•May 1 6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
No
470
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
satisfy their feelings, so far as they could, many of the far-west people went down to Cloghane, to join his Lordship's escort, when all was over. Thence back again to the summit, they travelled on the way to Dingle and Kilmalchedar/7^ All present were filled with delight and animated with religious enthusiam.
The ad venturous and holy career of St. Brendan was the subject, not alone of Irish—butofEuropean—wonderandadmiration. InIreland,wherestoriesof transatlantic voyages and these of long continuance were prevalent,'? ^ this fame ofSt. Brendan'sNavigationhaditsearliestdevelopment; andsoon,itwascom- mitted to writing, but with all the grotesque adornments of fancy and of fic- tion. The voyages of St. Barrindan and of St. Brendan, however, are tlie earliest of an authentic character, on record, regarding the intercourse of Europeanswiththewesternhemisphere. Theirwell-establishedrenownand romantic character afterwards led adventurers from Ireland and from other coun- tries, on that waste of waters, as the researches of historians now seem to de- monstrate. '79 According to some, St. Brendan landed, somewhere about the Virginian capes, or where the American coast tends eastward, and forms the New England States. However, from the vagueness of account, contained in the narrative of his voyage, it should be vain to speculate on the tract of country, through which he passed; while, the land of flowers and the birds of bright plumage might lead rather to a supposition, that he reached a territory, nearer to the tropics. Not alone evidences adduced from early European traditions, but proofs drawn from ancient and indigenous remains '^° indicate, tliat Irishmen had settled in the Southern portion of North America, at a very early period, and had introduced civilization, of which we have traces to-day, centuries before the era of the Spanish colonization. It has been stated,'^' that there was a wonderful affinity, between the spoken language of the Indian people of Darien, and that of the primitive Irish. We are told,'^^ likewise, that a people, speaking the Irish language, were found in Florida, so far back as the eighth century. Moreover, we are informed,'^^ according to a proba-
assisted in rendering Mozart's Twelfth Mass. Never was a more sublime scene presented, than that offered to the honour and glory of God, as the high priest C(. 'lebrant elevated the consecrated Host. Muny tliousand wor- shippers—all animated by the same holy feelings, from the venerable mitred prelate down to the peasant child—bent to the earth in lowly adoration. Wlien the grand Z(Z«- date was sung, at the close, every one pre- sent felt as it were a foretaste of that exalted bliss, belonging to the angelic choirs, and for the eternal enjoyment of which man was created.
''' The foregoing description is drawn from a small tract, printed at Tralee, 'that same year, and intituled, "Mount Saint Brandon Religious Celebration ; the Scenery, Antiqui- ties, and History of West Kerry," pp. 19, 20.
''*Thus, in the " I-eabhar na h-Huidhre" —edited by John T. Gilbert, in 1870— there is a story, about the wanderings of Mael- duin's ship, in the Atlantic, for three years and seven months. This occurrence, it is said, took place, in the eighth century. He was the son of a Munster chief, and a num- ber of young men accompanied him. There
is only a fragment of this tale, in the " Leab-
har na h-Uidhri," beginning at p. 22, col. I, line 31 ; but, a full copy will be found, in that Manuscript, classed H. 2, 16, in Trinity College, Dublin.
''' Towards the close of St. Olafs reign, one Gudleif is said to have been cast away in a storm, from the west coast of Ireland far into Uie western ocean, and towards the south- west. Himself and his Icelanders touched land, and were met by inhabitants, wlio>e language seemed to them to border on the Iri-h. See Grimr Johnson Thorkelin's "Fragment of English and Irish History in the Ninth and Tenth Century," part ii. , Irom theEyrbyggia,cap. c\ii. ,pp. 62,63. Lon- don, 17S8, 4to.
'"""See "The Discoveiy of America by the Northernmen in tlie Tenth Century, with Notices of the Early Settlements of the Irish in the Western Hemisphere,"' by N. Ludlow Beamish, F. S. A. , published in London, A. u. 1841.
"" By Lionel Wafer, who lived for several months in the Isthmus of Darian, and who relates many inteixsting specialities, toestab- lish Ins oi)ini()n, reg. irdiiig an early Irish colonization of the great western continent.
'*= By Professor Kafn, of Copenhagen.
May 1 6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
471
ble conjecture/^^ tlie country which lay along the coast, reaching from Chesa- peake Bay, and extending down into the Carolinas and Florida, had been peopled by Irishmen, This early and yet informal inference from actual facts created an idea, so long entertained by the Irish, that America was the PromisedLandofSt. Brendan. Norwasearlybelieflessfallible,whenthat great region was supposed to be constituted of an insular group, called the Fortunate Isles. '^s I3ut, that embryo of knowledge, first obtained in Ireland, was destined to produce more complete and satisfactory discoveries. The people of Iceland and the northern races of Europe have since many remote ages preserved national documents,'^^ called Sagas, in which are very curious narratives of discoveries and navigations, and relating to America, long ante- cedent to the times of Christopher Columbus. '^? The earlier historians of the New World were long unacquainted with their contents, as serving to throw light on the origin and antiquities of that Continent. ^^^ A country, situated still farther south than Vinland, was named by the Scandinavians, " Land of the White Men," or " Great Ireland. "'^9 Now it has been supposed, 's** that this country represented the present States of North and South Carolina, of Georgia and of Florida ; as also, that there were races of people in that tract of country besides the Indians, who were unlike them in language, in dress, and in manners.
The most significant feature about those narrations is the concurrence of testimony, that the Irish were, beyond doubt, in advance of the Danish and Norwegian adventurers, when obtaining a foot-hold on this continent. The Scandinavians uniformly designated the far-off western land as"IrlanditMikla,"ortheGreatIreland. '^i TheNorwegiansclaim,thatLief Erickson, an adventurer from the coast of Norway, discovered the present United States, in 1000, and that with his companions, he resided in Massachu- setts,forseveralyears. '9^ Curiousfactshavecometolight,regardingtheearly Norwegian discoveries, and about the Northmen's presence, near Fall River, Taunton, and New Port, nearly 500 years before Columbus landed, at Cat Island, intheBahamas. ^93 TheNorwegianscontinuedtomakevoyagestothecoastof
'^^ By Dr. Von Tschudi, in his work on " Peruvian Antiquities. "
'^'' The writer states, in a note, towards the latter part of that work, to which refer- ence has been made, that a manuscript was found, before he finished his book, which converted the conjecture into a certainty.
'^5 In Rev. S. Baring-Gould's curious
"Myths of the Middle Ages," Second
Series, there is a very interesting dissertation "
on 'l"he Fortunate Isles. " See pp. 259 to 295.
'^° See C. C. Rafn's " Antiquites Ameri- caines d'apres les monuments historiques des Islandais et des anciens Scandinaves. '' Kopenhagen, a. d. 1S45, '" ^^o- -^^^ Jean George TheodoreGraesse's"Tresorde Li vres Rares et Precieuxou Nouveau L>ictionnaire Bibliographique," tome i. , p. 149.
'^7 Readers who are inquisitive will con- suit '• Antiquitates Aniericause sive Scrip- tores Septentriorales Rerum Ante-Colum- bianaium in America. " This work has been ably edited, by C. C. Rafn, a member of the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries. The documents are found in the Latin, Danish and Icelandic tongues, with plates and maps included. It was published, at Hafn, A. D. 1837, in 4to.
'^^ It seems strange, with all the oppor- tunities for obtaining correct information, and with his fine literary taste and research, one of the most elegant writers in tlie wide circle of English literature—himself an American—could have so far overlooked mediceval records and traditions, which serve to illustrate the early history of the great Western Continent. True, indeed, Washing- ton Irving alludes to the legends of Scan- dinavian voyagers and their mysterious Vin- land, supposed to have relation with our present Labrador or Newfoundland. But, he rather too hazardously observes, tliat so far as authenticated records extend, nothing was known about terra finiia and the islands in the Western Hemisphere, until they had been actually (iiscovered by maritime ad ven- turers, towards the close of the fifteenth cen- tury. So writes Washington Irving, in his " Life of Christopher Columbus. "
'®' See Von Humbolt's " Kosmos. "
'^o
£y Professor Rafn.
'^i "From what causes," argues Mr.
Beamish, "could the name of Great Ireland have arisen, but from the fact of the country having been colonized by the Irish ? "
''"^ Before the first centenary of American Independence, the Norwegian settlers were
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
Massachusetts and of Rhode Island, and possibly to New York harbour, down to 1447, which was six years after Columbus was born. '9* It is known, also, that an Arabian geographer of the twelfth century, named Abdullah Mohammed Edrisi—who was born at Ceuta, in 1099, and who pursued his studies at Cordova—mentions "Great Ireland," in a remarkable book, which
he wrote in that age. The Normans, at the Court of Palermo, no doubt, furnished much storied tradition for his information. It was at the invitation of Roger II. , King of Sicily,'55 that he undertook an account of the earlier voyages to that Western land.
The singing birds, the green vegetation, and the tropical luxuriance, with other particulars so grealy celebrated in the " Golden Legend," are frequently mentioned, in the letter of Columbus to his sovereign. In that mystical sense used by Jacobus of Voraggio, the Promised Land is described. So strong was a belief in St. Brendan's Land, celebrated in mediaeval roman- ces, that various expeditions were organized for its exploration, even after the returnofColumbus. '9° PortugeseandSpanishaccountsconcurintestimony, regarding this prevailing opinion,'97 and the hopes to which it gave rise, in those depositions, taken before Pedro Ortes de Funez, Grand Inquisitor of the Canaries. So late as 1721, Don Caspar Dominguez, taking two friars on board his vessel, conducted the last of tliese speculative voyages. During that year, leaving the populace in a state of anxious and indescribable curiosity, the able commandant, and his apostolic chaplains, sailed from the Island of Teneriffe. But, unsuccessful as preceding vessels, their ship returned from his cruise.
Article II. Another Supposed St. Brendan, Patron of Clonfert, County of Galway. According to some opinions, St. Brendan the Navi- gator is said to have been connected with the See of Ardfert alone, and that another St. Brendan presided over Clonfert. ' However, it is not so very clear, that such a conclusion can be established, from any reliable historic records.
Article III. St. Fiodhmuine, Anchoret of Raithin, King's County, and of Ennisbovne, County of Wicklow. \EigJith Century. \ It seems not unlikely, that the monastery at Rahan, which never fully recovered its import-
472
engaged at Madison, State of Wisconsin, in collecting money to build a monument to their early immigrant countrjmen.
of the nth June, i6o6, Quires sailed away from his companion, but Torres continued his explor. itions, discovciing the strait which bears his name, New Guinea, &c. The re-
"93 They left behind them an old stone
tower at Newport, the I)ighton Writing suits of Torres' expedition lay buried for
Rock, and a skeleton in armour, dug up at Garnet Point, some few years ago.
'9^ Columbus had, it is said, a full know- ledge of the Norwegian discoveries, before he started on his famous trip, in the Santa- Maria, and also, he procured, it is thouglit, a rude map ofVineiand, handed down fr(jm Lief.
'95 His reign lasted, from 1130 to 1 154.
'9* On the 2ist December, 1605, Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, with full powers from Philip III. to continue the discoveries of Mendana, sailed from Cnllao with two vessels and a coivclte, in search of the far- famed Australis Terra. Luis Vaez de Torres, who commanded the second vessel, was accompanied by three Franciscans from the piovincc of Peru. They discovered the new Hebrides, which they named Terra Austral del Espiritu Sancto. On the night
years, in the archives of Manilla. Tones was liiully received at Manil a ; and, he de- spatched to . ^pain three Franciscans, vith a statement of his grievances, and also the reasons why he was unable to proceed wuh his ship.
'*' In the treaty of Evora, the Isle of St. Brendan was a cession made by the crown of Portugal to that of Castile. See Ozanam's " Giuvres Com[iletes," tome v. De Sources PoetiqutS de la Divine Coniedie," sect, ii. , n. 2, p. 426. Feidinand Denis and . Monde enchanle are cited, as authorities for such statement.
Article ii. —' The reader is referred, to what has been already staled, in the First Volume of this work, at the 5th ilay of January, in treating tlie Acts of St. Ceara, Ciar or Cera. Virgin.
Article hi. —' The render is referred
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 473
ance, after the expulsion of St. Carthach/ and the secession of his fraternity in 636, was again revived about this period, when the present holyman flourished, and that those Romanesque churches, the remains of which are still standing, were then erected. ^ In the Feilire of St. -^ngus, at the 1 6th of May, is no- ticedthesplendidfeastofSuanach'sdescendants. 3 ThenameofFiodhmuine, i. e. . , H-Suanaigh, occurs in the Martyrology of Tallagh,4 at the i6th of May. s He was the son ofCudnilech, according to theO'Clerys,and descended from the race of Dathi, son to Fiachra, son of Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin while Ferbla—daughter to Dioma Dubh, son of Senach, sprung from the race of Dathi, son of Fiachra—was his mother. '^ Fidmanius and Fidgus or Fidgu- sius are associated as brothers german, at this date, by Colgan ^ and by the Bollandists. ^ Both are said to have been venerated, on this day ; the first at Rathen, and the latter at Gloscarnn. They had another holy brother, named Fidharlius,9 and their genealogy is thus made out, from the Menologium Genealogicum. ^° Their father is said to have been Fiodlibadhaigh, son of Cudolius, son to Coman, son of Suanach, son to Brugdeus, son of Brennan, son to Euchod Brec, son of Dathy, son of Fiachrius, &c. Thus, there are some apparent discrepancies of statement, among authorities setting forth their family pedigree. The two brothers, Fidhmuine and Fiodhairle, who are styledtheUiSuanaigh,werejointpatronsofRahan. Theformerwasare- cluse and superior, or otherwise connected with Inis Baothin, now Ennis- boyne,intheparishofDunganstown,countyofWicklow. Hediedonthe i6th of May, in the year 757 ; and his brother died, on the ist of October, 763. " Ennisboyne,intheparishofDunganstown,sometimescalledEnnis- boheen, barony of Arklow, and county of Wicklow,'^ is said to have been Fiodhmuine's particular locality. There, not far from the town of AVicklow, the ruins of an old church, with a burial-place, may be seen. It is not, how- ever, the most ancient one of that locality. While Fiodhmuine was at Rahan, intheterritoryofFearaCeall,'3heseemstohaveledaneremiticalhfe; for, he is styled an anchoret of that place. This saint is said specially to have been connected with Rahen,^^ in the King's County; and yet, it is possible, he has been confounded with St. Fidhairle Ua Suanaigh, whose feast occurs on the
to his Life, in this Volume, at the 14th of May, Art. i. , chap, iii. , iv.
^ See the Earl of Dunraven's " Notes on Irish Architecture," edited by Miss Mar- garet Stokes, vol. ii. , p. 67.
3 See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of St. ^ngus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. Ixxx.
^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
5 In the Franciscan copy, we have pt)7iniii ,1. h SuAtiAij.
Rahan, whereas in all subsequent notices of the place the plural form Ui Suanaigh is employed in reference to the patronage. There is also a cross which stood there spoken of in the Leabhar Breac (fol. 35<5), under the title of the Ui-Suanaigh Cross. " —Earl of Dunraven's "Notes on Irish Architeciure," edited by Miss Margaret Slokes, vol. ii. , p. 66.
" See Lewis' '" Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 577.
'3 It is remarked, by John O'Donovan, the territory of Feara Ceall never extended added, concludes this account, in the farther north, than to the southern bounda-
* The word "Anno," but nothing more
Martyrology of Donegal, while the year is left blank, in the original.
ries of the baron es of Kilcoursey and Moy- cashel. See his Letter, of January 20th, 183S, from Banagher, in " Letters coniain-
7 See "Acta Sanctorum HiberniK. " iii.
Februarii, Appendix ad Acta S. Colmani ing Information relative to the Antiquities
vulgo Macduach, cap. ii. , p. 24S.
'^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Mail xvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
of the King's County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1S38," vol. i. , p. 2.
'"t Foraninterestingaccountofthisplace, the reader is referred 10 Dr. Petrie's " Ec- clesiastical Architecture and Round Towers
p. 559.
* His feast occurs, at the ist of October.
'° Chapter ix.
" "Drs. Petrie and O'Donovan have been of Ireland," part ii. , sec. iii. , sub-sec. i. , pp.
mistaken in speaking as if one of these two 242 to 247.
brothers had been exclusively patron of '5 See ? (^/i/. , p. 245.
;
474
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 1 6.
ist of October's Already, in the Life of St. Carthage, we have alUided to the ancient churches yet remaining there, and a suspicion prevails, that these evenhadtheirorigin,whenSt. Fiodhmuinewaslivinginthatlocality. There is a beautifully proportioned doorway,'^ in the west wall of the small church ;'7 and, its mouldings are greatly admired. '^ It has been considered, by John O'Donovan, to look remarkably narrow, in proportion to its height. '? The Annals of the Four Masters ^° place the deatli of this saint, at a. d. 750; while, the Annals of Clonmacnoise enter it, at 751; and those of Ulster, at 756. It is mentioned, in the Martyrology of Donegal that veneration was given on
Doorway of Rahan Old Church, King's County.
this day, to Fiodhmuine, i. e. , Ua Suanaigh, anchorite of Raithin, and of Inis Baithin, on the east of Leinster. ^^ Inis Baithin, now Ennisboyne,^^ is situated in the parish of Dunganstown, at the extreme east of Wicklow County. After the notices of the two Ui Suanaigh, there is only a brief allusion to the
'* Dr. George Petrie has an engraving and relative to the Antiquities of the King's
a notice of it, in his " Ecclesiastical Archi- tecture and Round Towers of Ireland," part ii. , sect, iii. , subs, i. , pp. 246, 247.
County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1S37," vol.
'°^ According to the Martyrology of Aber- and since Canon and Parish Priest of Cahir- deen. See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of civeen, where he is zealously engaged in
Scottish Saints," p. 286.
'^3 See " Registrum Nigrum de Aberbrot-
hock,"pp. 409,467.
'*• See "New Statistical Account of Scot-
land," Ayrshire, p. 689.
'^sSee "Origines Parochiales Scotiae,"
erecting a grand Memorial Church to Daniel O'Connell, the great Liberator of the Irish Catholics. Lithographicillustrationsofthis noble structure are presented in the Twenty-seventh Volume of the Lish Builder, Nos. 613, 614, as designed externally and internally with accompanying descriptions.
pars ii. , pp. 4, 104, 276, 828.
'** "There is an account of the Bran- The architect is G. C. Ashlin.
danes,nativemenofRobertStewart,inthe Scotichrouicon. —(Fordun, lib. 13, c. 32, t. ii. , p. 316 ; N. S. A. , pp. 689, 728 ; Orig, pari. , p. 240). "—Bishop Forbes' " Kalen- dars of Scottish Saints," pp. 286, 287.
'*7 Then a curate in the parish of Ferriter,
'^^ FromthePresbyteryatFerriter.
'^^ May i6th.
"? ° In the barony of Corkaguiney, shown
on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kerry," sheets 43, 44, 53, 54.
468 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIISITS. [May i6.
pilgrimage; and,St. Brendan'sOratory,onthesummitoftheMountain,was selected, as the ultimate object of their re-union. Accordingly, on the eve of the Feast ofSS. Peter and PauV^s the Most Rev. David Moriarty, Bishop of Kerry, with many of the clergy, secular and regular of his diocese, and an immense number of his people, estimated at 20,000, had resolved on joining in the religious celebration. Never before did such a mighty congregation assemble in Kerry, for such a purpose, and under such circumstances. Hun- dreds went to the mountain on the previous evening, and slept there all night, to secure an early attendance at the sacred ceremonies, to give glory to God, and honour to one of his greatest servants, in the locality consecrated by his prayers and presence. The most remarkable order and decorum pre- vailed throughout. Not the slightest incident occurred, to mar the happy harmony and the pious devotion of that immense multitude. The day was gloriously fine, and the magnificent prospect, at all sides, was clear and beau- tiful as the most fastidious could desire. In accordance with the original pro- gramme, five o'clock, a. m. was the hour fixed for starting from Tralee. Punctually, at that time, the people began to set out. The Rev. Timothy Brosnan, with whom were the Very Rev. Father Murphy, Prior, O. P. , Tralee, the Very Rev. Father Arsenius, Superior of the Franciscan Order, in Kil- larney, and Father Prendergast, O. P. , Tralee. led the way. These were follovved, by the members of the Carmelite and Dominican Confraternities of Tralee, on long cars, each drawn by four horses. Immediately after pro- ceeded a great number of cars, containing some of the most respectable inha- bitantsofthetownandneighbourhood. Forovertwohours,subsequently, various modes of conveyance continued pouring out of Tralee, on towards the west, and at every cross road on the route, the cortege was increased by multi- tudes coming from different directions. ''^ But, long before this, the moun- tain was occupied by numbers, who lived in the neighbourhood, or who travelled there during the night. All ages and all classes were present and filled with enthusiasm; the old vied with the young in activity ; the women showedexamplesofindomitableenergyworthyofthesternersex. Merchants, shopkeepers, tradesmen, and others, from the town, and even children, rivalled the rural population, in mastering the difficulties of the journey. The refreshing showers, which had fallen during the previous evening, laid the dust, cooled the air, and rendered the trip in many ways more pleasant, than it might otherwise have been. Havinggone to Castlegregorytiie previous day, the Bishop arrived early in the morning at Cloghane, accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Irwin, C. C. . Castlegregory. Both awaited the coming of the Tralee contingent. ' ^5
The ascent of the mountain from Cloghane was accordingly commenced at nine o'clock, by the Bishop and clergy, and by the great mass of the people, A temporary altar was erected on Faha Mountain, at the base of Brandon, and here the Very Rev. Father Murphy celebrated Mass, at 11 o'clock, pro- ceeding forward afterwards, with most of those who halted there with him. I'he Bishop and Father Brosnan reached the brow of Brandon Mountain, by half-past eleven o'clock, and they weregreeted by a long, loud and ringingcheer,
•'' See ibid. , sheets 42, 52.
boats well filled were seen crossing the bay from the Spa, from Kilfenora, and from various other places, on the coast and to- wards Clare. Ail were bound for the same destination. When the head of the pro-
''' A committee having been then formed
to make some preliminary arrangements,
a small party set out on Monday, June 8ih,
from Tralee, to explore the place, and tore-
port the result. Then, everj'thing was cession ncared Clo<;hane, at half-past eitjht arranged for the approaching celebration.
'" It fell on Sunday, June 28th, that year.
'? ^ At the same time, a large number of
o'clock, the continuous line of cms and con- veyances extended to over a mile of road, and, for hours afterwards, others continued arriving at the village.
469
from thousands belonging to the other or western side, and who had already crowded the summit. That clieer was taken up, and echoed right heartily, by the masses, who were still ascending from the east. At the same moment, the fog, which had draped the mountain since morning, passed away. words could paint the startling effect, which the scene now presented, as the lofty summits of the surrounding hills—and especially that one high above all the rest, on wliich every eye from below was earnestly fixed —threw off the thin white drapery. In all their natural glory, and backed by a summer sky of spotless blue, those serrated ranges were then revealed. Far above, tlie mul- titudes already assembled on the summit could be seen ; while, from below, the procession of pilgrims still extended, in one unbroken chain. The pretty banners of the confraternities sparkled in the sunlight, and the varied dresses of the processionists—especially of the women—set off to still greater advan- tage a scene, animated and picturesque in the extreme. Arrived above, the glorious prospect, which Brandon summit commands, burst on the astonished view, with sublime effect. From every mouth went forth heartfelt words of prayer and of praise to Him, whose wonderful works were thus lavishly re- vealed. The two multitudes—those from the east and those from the west joined together, and knelt around St. Brandon's Oratory, under the broad canopyofHeaven. ThewholeofthepopulationfromDingleandfromthe west of Kerry seemed to have turned out en masse, with all the genuine spirit of their warm, generous nature. The only drawback to their joy, as they cried out with one voice, was, that they had not had the privileged honour of escorting the Bishop and Priests, from the Tralee side of the mountain. The Committee of Management were present in full force. The members of the Carmelite Confraternity, and of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, attached to the Parish Church, and to Holy Cross Church, Tralee, respectively
putontheirhabits,atthebrowofthemountain. Thesenumberedoverone hundred. The Dingle Christian Brothers, with their esteemed superior, Rev. Brother Rice, were very zealous and efficient in forwarding the arrangements, on the mountain. Immediately after arriving on its brow, the choir was led by Father Prendergast, of Holy Cross Church, Tralee ; while, the Confraterni- ties, clad in their habits, preceded by the cross-bearer, and bearing aloft beau- tiful banners—those of the Blessed Virgin, St. Brandon, St. Ita, St. Patrick and St. Bridget, being most conspicuous—formed a procession. Singing a litany, they proceeded to St. Brandon's Oratory, and formed around the altar.
At the western end of the oratory and within its precincts, but more in view of the multitude, a temporary altar was erected. Here, the Bishop celebrated a first Mass, assisted by Father Brosnan and Father Arsenius. It was then deemed advisable, to remove somewhat lower down the mountain, so as to be more within view of the masses there. Another temporary altar was erected, at which Father Arsenius officiated. Solemn Mass,^? ^ coram episcopo^ was then sung by Father Brosnan. After all the Masses had ended, an eloquent sermon, suited to the occasion, was preached by the Very Rev. Father Eustace, O. P. , Prior of Holy Cross Abbey, Tralee. Afterwards, his Lordship, the Bishop of Kerry, addressed the multitude present, in very eloquent terms. When he had concluded this discourse, Dr. iMoriarty then pronounced the Episcopal Benediction, and gave a forty days' Indulgence. ix\ concluding these grand ceremonies, Father Brosnan addressed the people, in the Irish language, treat- ing at length on the origin of that religious movement and its objects. To
'75 Father Irwin stopped at Clogliane, to celebrate Mass in the Parish Church, at 12 o'clock ; but, though this was announced for the convenience of those who might be
daunted on seeing the mountain, compara- tively few availed themselves of the con- siderate accommodation,
''^ The highly efficient choir from Tralee
—
•May 1 6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
No
470
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
satisfy their feelings, so far as they could, many of the far-west people went down to Cloghane, to join his Lordship's escort, when all was over. Thence back again to the summit, they travelled on the way to Dingle and Kilmalchedar/7^ All present were filled with delight and animated with religious enthusiam.
The ad venturous and holy career of St. Brendan was the subject, not alone of Irish—butofEuropean—wonderandadmiration. InIreland,wherestoriesof transatlantic voyages and these of long continuance were prevalent,'? ^ this fame ofSt. Brendan'sNavigationhaditsearliestdevelopment; andsoon,itwascom- mitted to writing, but with all the grotesque adornments of fancy and of fic- tion. The voyages of St. Barrindan and of St. Brendan, however, are tlie earliest of an authentic character, on record, regarding the intercourse of Europeanswiththewesternhemisphere. Theirwell-establishedrenownand romantic character afterwards led adventurers from Ireland and from other coun- tries, on that waste of waters, as the researches of historians now seem to de- monstrate. '79 According to some, St. Brendan landed, somewhere about the Virginian capes, or where the American coast tends eastward, and forms the New England States. However, from the vagueness of account, contained in the narrative of his voyage, it should be vain to speculate on the tract of country, through which he passed; while, the land of flowers and the birds of bright plumage might lead rather to a supposition, that he reached a territory, nearer to the tropics. Not alone evidences adduced from early European traditions, but proofs drawn from ancient and indigenous remains '^° indicate, tliat Irishmen had settled in the Southern portion of North America, at a very early period, and had introduced civilization, of which we have traces to-day, centuries before the era of the Spanish colonization. It has been stated,'^' that there was a wonderful affinity, between the spoken language of the Indian people of Darien, and that of the primitive Irish. We are told,'^^ likewise, that a people, speaking the Irish language, were found in Florida, so far back as the eighth century. Moreover, we are informed,'^^ according to a proba-
assisted in rendering Mozart's Twelfth Mass. Never was a more sublime scene presented, than that offered to the honour and glory of God, as the high priest C(. 'lebrant elevated the consecrated Host. Muny tliousand wor- shippers—all animated by the same holy feelings, from the venerable mitred prelate down to the peasant child—bent to the earth in lowly adoration. Wlien the grand Z(Z«- date was sung, at the close, every one pre- sent felt as it were a foretaste of that exalted bliss, belonging to the angelic choirs, and for the eternal enjoyment of which man was created.
''' The foregoing description is drawn from a small tract, printed at Tralee, 'that same year, and intituled, "Mount Saint Brandon Religious Celebration ; the Scenery, Antiqui- ties, and History of West Kerry," pp. 19, 20.
''*Thus, in the " I-eabhar na h-Huidhre" —edited by John T. Gilbert, in 1870— there is a story, about the wanderings of Mael- duin's ship, in the Atlantic, for three years and seven months. This occurrence, it is said, took place, in the eighth century. He was the son of a Munster chief, and a num- ber of young men accompanied him. There
is only a fragment of this tale, in the " Leab-
har na h-Uidhri," beginning at p. 22, col. I, line 31 ; but, a full copy will be found, in that Manuscript, classed H. 2, 16, in Trinity College, Dublin.
''' Towards the close of St. Olafs reign, one Gudleif is said to have been cast away in a storm, from the west coast of Ireland far into Uie western ocean, and towards the south- west. Himself and his Icelanders touched land, and were met by inhabitants, wlio>e language seemed to them to border on the Iri-h. See Grimr Johnson Thorkelin's "Fragment of English and Irish History in the Ninth and Tenth Century," part ii. , Irom theEyrbyggia,cap. c\ii. ,pp. 62,63. Lon- don, 17S8, 4to.
'"""See "The Discoveiy of America by the Northernmen in tlie Tenth Century, with Notices of the Early Settlements of the Irish in the Western Hemisphere,"' by N. Ludlow Beamish, F. S. A. , published in London, A. u. 1841.
"" By Lionel Wafer, who lived for several months in the Isthmus of Darian, and who relates many inteixsting specialities, toestab- lish Ins oi)ini()n, reg. irdiiig an early Irish colonization of the great western continent.
'*= By Professor Kafn, of Copenhagen.
May 1 6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
471
ble conjecture/^^ tlie country which lay along the coast, reaching from Chesa- peake Bay, and extending down into the Carolinas and Florida, had been peopled by Irishmen, This early and yet informal inference from actual facts created an idea, so long entertained by the Irish, that America was the PromisedLandofSt. Brendan. Norwasearlybelieflessfallible,whenthat great region was supposed to be constituted of an insular group, called the Fortunate Isles. '^s I3ut, that embryo of knowledge, first obtained in Ireland, was destined to produce more complete and satisfactory discoveries. The people of Iceland and the northern races of Europe have since many remote ages preserved national documents,'^^ called Sagas, in which are very curious narratives of discoveries and navigations, and relating to America, long ante- cedent to the times of Christopher Columbus. '^? The earlier historians of the New World were long unacquainted with their contents, as serving to throw light on the origin and antiquities of that Continent. ^^^ A country, situated still farther south than Vinland, was named by the Scandinavians, " Land of the White Men," or " Great Ireland. "'^9 Now it has been supposed, 's** that this country represented the present States of North and South Carolina, of Georgia and of Florida ; as also, that there were races of people in that tract of country besides the Indians, who were unlike them in language, in dress, and in manners.
The most significant feature about those narrations is the concurrence of testimony, that the Irish were, beyond doubt, in advance of the Danish and Norwegian adventurers, when obtaining a foot-hold on this continent. The Scandinavians uniformly designated the far-off western land as"IrlanditMikla,"ortheGreatIreland. '^i TheNorwegiansclaim,thatLief Erickson, an adventurer from the coast of Norway, discovered the present United States, in 1000, and that with his companions, he resided in Massachu- setts,forseveralyears. '9^ Curiousfactshavecometolight,regardingtheearly Norwegian discoveries, and about the Northmen's presence, near Fall River, Taunton, and New Port, nearly 500 years before Columbus landed, at Cat Island, intheBahamas. ^93 TheNorwegianscontinuedtomakevoyagestothecoastof
'^^ By Dr. Von Tschudi, in his work on " Peruvian Antiquities. "
'^'' The writer states, in a note, towards the latter part of that work, to which refer- ence has been made, that a manuscript was found, before he finished his book, which converted the conjecture into a certainty.
'^5 In Rev. S. Baring-Gould's curious
"Myths of the Middle Ages," Second
Series, there is a very interesting dissertation "
on 'l"he Fortunate Isles. " See pp. 259 to 295.
'^° See C. C. Rafn's " Antiquites Ameri- caines d'apres les monuments historiques des Islandais et des anciens Scandinaves. '' Kopenhagen, a. d. 1S45, '" ^^o- -^^^ Jean George TheodoreGraesse's"Tresorde Li vres Rares et Precieuxou Nouveau L>ictionnaire Bibliographique," tome i. , p. 149.
'^7 Readers who are inquisitive will con- suit '• Antiquitates Aniericause sive Scrip- tores Septentriorales Rerum Ante-Colum- bianaium in America. " This work has been ably edited, by C. C. Rafn, a member of the Royal Society of Northern Antiquaries. The documents are found in the Latin, Danish and Icelandic tongues, with plates and maps included. It was published, at Hafn, A. D. 1837, in 4to.
'^^ It seems strange, with all the oppor- tunities for obtaining correct information, and with his fine literary taste and research, one of the most elegant writers in tlie wide circle of English literature—himself an American—could have so far overlooked mediceval records and traditions, which serve to illustrate the early history of the great Western Continent. True, indeed, Washing- ton Irving alludes to the legends of Scan- dinavian voyagers and their mysterious Vin- land, supposed to have relation with our present Labrador or Newfoundland. But, he rather too hazardously observes, tliat so far as authenticated records extend, nothing was known about terra finiia and the islands in the Western Hemisphere, until they had been actually (iiscovered by maritime ad ven- turers, towards the close of the fifteenth cen- tury. So writes Washington Irving, in his " Life of Christopher Columbus. "
'®' See Von Humbolt's " Kosmos. "
'^o
£y Professor Rafn.
'^i "From what causes," argues Mr.
Beamish, "could the name of Great Ireland have arisen, but from the fact of the country having been colonized by the Irish ? "
''"^ Before the first centenary of American Independence, the Norwegian settlers were
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
Massachusetts and of Rhode Island, and possibly to New York harbour, down to 1447, which was six years after Columbus was born. '9* It is known, also, that an Arabian geographer of the twelfth century, named Abdullah Mohammed Edrisi—who was born at Ceuta, in 1099, and who pursued his studies at Cordova—mentions "Great Ireland," in a remarkable book, which
he wrote in that age. The Normans, at the Court of Palermo, no doubt, furnished much storied tradition for his information. It was at the invitation of Roger II. , King of Sicily,'55 that he undertook an account of the earlier voyages to that Western land.
The singing birds, the green vegetation, and the tropical luxuriance, with other particulars so grealy celebrated in the " Golden Legend," are frequently mentioned, in the letter of Columbus to his sovereign. In that mystical sense used by Jacobus of Voraggio, the Promised Land is described. So strong was a belief in St. Brendan's Land, celebrated in mediaeval roman- ces, that various expeditions were organized for its exploration, even after the returnofColumbus. '9° PortugeseandSpanishaccountsconcurintestimony, regarding this prevailing opinion,'97 and the hopes to which it gave rise, in those depositions, taken before Pedro Ortes de Funez, Grand Inquisitor of the Canaries. So late as 1721, Don Caspar Dominguez, taking two friars on board his vessel, conducted the last of tliese speculative voyages. During that year, leaving the populace in a state of anxious and indescribable curiosity, the able commandant, and his apostolic chaplains, sailed from the Island of Teneriffe. But, unsuccessful as preceding vessels, their ship returned from his cruise.
Article II. Another Supposed St. Brendan, Patron of Clonfert, County of Galway. According to some opinions, St. Brendan the Navi- gator is said to have been connected with the See of Ardfert alone, and that another St. Brendan presided over Clonfert. ' However, it is not so very clear, that such a conclusion can be established, from any reliable historic records.
Article III. St. Fiodhmuine, Anchoret of Raithin, King's County, and of Ennisbovne, County of Wicklow. \EigJith Century. \ It seems not unlikely, that the monastery at Rahan, which never fully recovered its import-
472
engaged at Madison, State of Wisconsin, in collecting money to build a monument to their early immigrant countrjmen.
of the nth June, i6o6, Quires sailed away from his companion, but Torres continued his explor. itions, discovciing the strait which bears his name, New Guinea, &c. The re-
"93 They left behind them an old stone
tower at Newport, the I)ighton Writing suits of Torres' expedition lay buried for
Rock, and a skeleton in armour, dug up at Garnet Point, some few years ago.
'9^ Columbus had, it is said, a full know- ledge of the Norwegian discoveries, before he started on his famous trip, in the Santa- Maria, and also, he procured, it is thouglit, a rude map ofVineiand, handed down fr(jm Lief.
'95 His reign lasted, from 1130 to 1 154.
'9* On the 2ist December, 1605, Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, with full powers from Philip III. to continue the discoveries of Mendana, sailed from Cnllao with two vessels and a coivclte, in search of the far- famed Australis Terra. Luis Vaez de Torres, who commanded the second vessel, was accompanied by three Franciscans from the piovincc of Peru. They discovered the new Hebrides, which they named Terra Austral del Espiritu Sancto. On the night
years, in the archives of Manilla. Tones was liiully received at Manil a ; and, he de- spatched to . ^pain three Franciscans, vith a statement of his grievances, and also the reasons why he was unable to proceed wuh his ship.
'*' In the treaty of Evora, the Isle of St. Brendan was a cession made by the crown of Portugal to that of Castile. See Ozanam's " Giuvres Com[iletes," tome v. De Sources PoetiqutS de la Divine Coniedie," sect, ii. , n. 2, p. 426. Feidinand Denis and . Monde enchanle are cited, as authorities for such statement.
Article ii. —' The reader is referred, to what has been already staled, in the First Volume of this work, at the 5th ilay of January, in treating tlie Acts of St. Ceara, Ciar or Cera. Virgin.
Article hi. —' The render is referred
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 473
ance, after the expulsion of St. Carthach/ and the secession of his fraternity in 636, was again revived about this period, when the present holyman flourished, and that those Romanesque churches, the remains of which are still standing, were then erected. ^ In the Feilire of St. -^ngus, at the 1 6th of May, is no- ticedthesplendidfeastofSuanach'sdescendants. 3 ThenameofFiodhmuine, i. e. . , H-Suanaigh, occurs in the Martyrology of Tallagh,4 at the i6th of May. s He was the son ofCudnilech, according to theO'Clerys,and descended from the race of Dathi, son to Fiachra, son of Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin while Ferbla—daughter to Dioma Dubh, son of Senach, sprung from the race of Dathi, son of Fiachra—was his mother. '^ Fidmanius and Fidgus or Fidgu- sius are associated as brothers german, at this date, by Colgan ^ and by the Bollandists. ^ Both are said to have been venerated, on this day ; the first at Rathen, and the latter at Gloscarnn. They had another holy brother, named Fidharlius,9 and their genealogy is thus made out, from the Menologium Genealogicum. ^° Their father is said to have been Fiodlibadhaigh, son of Cudolius, son to Coman, son of Suanach, son to Brugdeus, son of Brennan, son to Euchod Brec, son of Dathy, son of Fiachrius, &c. Thus, there are some apparent discrepancies of statement, among authorities setting forth their family pedigree. The two brothers, Fidhmuine and Fiodhairle, who are styledtheUiSuanaigh,werejointpatronsofRahan. Theformerwasare- cluse and superior, or otherwise connected with Inis Baothin, now Ennis- boyne,intheparishofDunganstown,countyofWicklow. Hediedonthe i6th of May, in the year 757 ; and his brother died, on the ist of October, 763. " Ennisboyne,intheparishofDunganstown,sometimescalledEnnis- boheen, barony of Arklow, and county of Wicklow,'^ is said to have been Fiodhmuine's particular locality. There, not far from the town of AVicklow, the ruins of an old church, with a burial-place, may be seen. It is not, how- ever, the most ancient one of that locality. While Fiodhmuine was at Rahan, intheterritoryofFearaCeall,'3heseemstohaveledaneremiticalhfe; for, he is styled an anchoret of that place. This saint is said specially to have been connected with Rahen,^^ in the King's County; and yet, it is possible, he has been confounded with St. Fidhairle Ua Suanaigh, whose feast occurs on the
to his Life, in this Volume, at the 14th of May, Art. i. , chap, iii. , iv.
^ See the Earl of Dunraven's " Notes on Irish Architecture," edited by Miss Mar- garet Stokes, vol. ii. , p. 67.
3 See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of St. ^ngus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. Ixxx.
^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
5 In the Franciscan copy, we have pt)7iniii ,1. h SuAtiAij.
Rahan, whereas in all subsequent notices of the place the plural form Ui Suanaigh is employed in reference to the patronage. There is also a cross which stood there spoken of in the Leabhar Breac (fol. 35<5), under the title of the Ui-Suanaigh Cross. " —Earl of Dunraven's "Notes on Irish Architeciure," edited by Miss Margaret Slokes, vol. ii. , p. 66.
" See Lewis' '" Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 577.
'3 It is remarked, by John O'Donovan, the territory of Feara Ceall never extended added, concludes this account, in the farther north, than to the southern bounda-
* The word "Anno," but nothing more
Martyrology of Donegal, while the year is left blank, in the original.
ries of the baron es of Kilcoursey and Moy- cashel. See his Letter, of January 20th, 183S, from Banagher, in " Letters coniain-
7 See "Acta Sanctorum HiberniK. " iii.
Februarii, Appendix ad Acta S. Colmani ing Information relative to the Antiquities
vulgo Macduach, cap. ii. , p. 24S.
'^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Mail xvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
of the King's County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1S38," vol. i. , p. 2.
'"t Foraninterestingaccountofthisplace, the reader is referred 10 Dr. Petrie's " Ec- clesiastical Architecture and Round Towers
p. 559.
* His feast occurs, at the ist of October.
'° Chapter ix.
" "Drs. Petrie and O'Donovan have been of Ireland," part ii. , sec. iii. , sub-sec. i. , pp.
mistaken in speaking as if one of these two 242 to 247.
brothers had been exclusively patron of '5 See ? (^/i/. , p. 245.
;
474
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 1 6.
ist of October's Already, in the Life of St. Carthage, we have alUided to the ancient churches yet remaining there, and a suspicion prevails, that these evenhadtheirorigin,whenSt. Fiodhmuinewaslivinginthatlocality. There is a beautifully proportioned doorway,'^ in the west wall of the small church ;'7 and, its mouldings are greatly admired. '^ It has been considered, by John O'Donovan, to look remarkably narrow, in proportion to its height. '? The Annals of the Four Masters ^° place the deatli of this saint, at a. d. 750; while, the Annals of Clonmacnoise enter it, at 751; and those of Ulster, at 756. It is mentioned, in the Martyrology of Donegal that veneration was given on
Doorway of Rahan Old Church, King's County.
this day, to Fiodhmuine, i. e. , Ua Suanaigh, anchorite of Raithin, and of Inis Baithin, on the east of Leinster. ^^ Inis Baithin, now Ennisboyne,^^ is situated in the parish of Dunganstown, at the extreme east of Wicklow County. After the notices of the two Ui Suanaigh, there is only a brief allusion to the
'* Dr. George Petrie has an engraving and relative to the Antiquities of the King's
a notice of it, in his " Ecclesiastical Archi- tecture and Round Towers of Ireland," part ii. , sect, iii. , subs, i. , pp. 246, 247.
County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1S37," vol.
