No More Learning

religious institutions, which were formerly so numerous, contri- buted much to create in Ireland a love for the
very evangelical counsels, and to promote purity of morals throughout the land. They were, likewise, great bulwarks of civilization, as of religious and polite learning. Nothing, indeed, contributes more, than purity of life, to promote individual happiness,andthegeneralwelfareoffamiliesandsocieties; while,byprecept and example, it was fostered, in our ancient monasteries. A corrupt and an
impure way of living brings on those, who engage in it, the greatest temporal evils, and the severest chastisements of heaven. Thus, the waters of the
Deluge were let loose on the world, because all flesh had corrupted its way ;^ and fire descended upon the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrha, on account of those degrading vices, which characterized their inhabitants. '^
The Acts of this saint, as published by Colgan, are unhappily imperfect. 3 They have been issued, however, as they came to his hands, with introductory observationsandappendednotes. TheBoUandists,whohadtheuseofthis
same document,^ finding it unsatisfactory, preferred placing St. Cuanna among the saints merely noticed, but referred to some other day, for a
possible treatment. s Cuanna^ appears to have been a native, and from that
part, of Connaught, now known as the deanery of Annadown, in the arch- diocese of Tuam, and in the county of Galway. The father of this saint is said7 to have been named Midarn,^ son of Dubhrath,9 and to have been a
^°
descendant from Nial the Great, King of Ireland. " This pedigree is
thought,however,tobeerroneous. " Themotherisvariouslynamed,Meadh,
Article i. —Chapter i. —* Genesis vi. , 12.
" Genesis xix. , 24, 25.
3 They have been taken from a Sala- mancan Manuscript. This had been kept, in the Irish College of Salamanca.
* It remained in Louvain, and Father Hugh Ward either lent it or sent a copy of it to them.
5 See BoUandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus i. , iv. Februarii. Praetermissi et in
alios dies rejecti, pp. 447, 448.
^ He is likewise styled Cuona or Cuanna-
chseus.
7 By Colgan.
^
So states an ancient Scholiast, on St. ^ngus, and another old anonymous writer,
' In one place, Cuanna, son of Midarn, is distinguished from the half-brother of St.
Carthage. See Colgan's "Acta Sancto- rum Hibemia;," xv. Februarii. Vit? . S.
Farannani, n. 9, p. 338.
'° He flourished towards the close of the
fourth century. See Haverty's "History of Ireland," chap, v. , p. 42.
"
Such is this saint's pedigree, according
to the " Menologic Genealogy," chapter "
vii. , and as given in Cuchogrius' Genea- logies of the Saints," chapter ii. , as also in the Life of St. Forannan, chapter i.
" See an examination of this matter, in Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , section xv. , n. 203, p. 359.
February 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 279
Latinized Meda,^3 Finmheadh, Latinized Finmeda,^* Fionmaith, or Finm- haith,^5 Coirmfhin,'^ Cormeda, Cormana, Cormnia/7 Cormania and Co-
^^
These various names have almost the same signification. *9 She was daughter to a nobleman, named Fingen,=*° of the race and country, designated Corcoduibhne,*^ in the western part of Munster,'= and near the AtlanticOcean. =3 Thiswomanissaidtohavesprungfromanoblefamily, and to have been distinguished for her many virtues ; but, her fame is better established, on account of having given birth to many children, whose names are found, on the rolls of Irish hagiology. It would ap;)ear, that she had been married to two different husbands. '^ The children of this pious matron, who have been most illustrious for their sanctity and miracles, were St. Carthage,=5 Bishop of Lismore, and the subject of the present memoir,^^
mania.
»3ln the Latin and Irish Life of St.
Carthage, chapter i. , we are told, this pious matron was named Meadh, by which word
the Irish formerly distinguished a kind of sweet Hquor, much used by our forefathers, and which in English is called mead. See
Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," iv. Februarii, n. 5, p. 251.
^< It is somewhat remarkable, to find so many various readings, for the name of our saint's mother. She is called Finmheadh,
"
by ^ngus, in his book on the Mothers of
the Irish Saints," chap, i. , n. 52.
'5 Finmhaith she is called in the fragment
of St. Cuanna's Life, cap. 9 {7-ecte 10), pub- lished by Colgan.
besides two Irish Lives. The descent of our saint's mother is thus given, in the book on the "Mothers of the Irish Saints," n. 52 : Finmeadh, daughter of Fingen, son to Fintan Aedhlog, son to Nathy, of the race of Maccanna, in the country of Corcob- haiscind, and mother to St. Mochudda of Lismore. But, by a Scholiast on St. ^Engus, and by an anonymous writer, she is called daughter to Boetan. This statement is in- correct, unless it be asserted, she was a dis- tinct person from the mother of St. Mo-
^^
Coirmfhinn, is she styled, by a certain
Colgan, the territory is said to be situated,
near the ocean, and around the River
Lemhna, abounding in fish.
anonymous writer, quoted by Colgan, and also Coirmfhin, by the Schohast on St. yEngus, also cited by him.
'7 By the Calendar of Cashel.
'^
Thus is she named, by an anonymous writer, who states, she was called by her double name of Finmhaith and Comain.
*5 Colgan thinks, that on account of her
great liberality and hospitality, such appella- tions were applied to her, being derived from three words, leading to such indication ; thus, pn or p'on, means, " wine," meAt), "metheglin," or "mead," Coi|\ni, means "ale. " Whence, it is supposed, that Fin- meadh has a signification, corresponding with "wine-tasted mead," or with a drink, chiefly made of wine, honey and water, mixed together. Finmaith, a giver of wine or meath ; the meaning of Commain, is free or gentle. Again, Coirmfhin and Coirm-medh, have the meaning, inebriating with wine, or
^^
Corca Duibhne was a large territory in
^Corcoduibhneisthenameofaclanand such liquor. See Acta Sanctorum Hiber- territory ; the place taking its title from
withmead; whileCorviansignifies,giving "
niae," iv. Februarii, n. 6, p. 251. I am the occupants, in like manner as Corcobais-
inclined, however, to think that these deri- vations of her name are too fanciful to de- serve serious notice, and I would venture an opinion, that perhaps the old genealogists fell into some mistakes, regardmg her pa- rentage and race. Hence, probably arose a difference of names and of lineage, as re-
cind and Corcomroe derived their denomi- nations, from the races that became possessed of them. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernia? ," iv. Februarii, nn. 8, 9, pp. 251, 252.
=* Some confusion, however, may have
been admitted, in compiling this saint's
genealogy.
*5 His Life may be seen at the 14th pf
May.
ferring '°
to her.
Colgan cites as an authority for this
account, one Latin Life of St. Carthage,
" Hibernioe," iv. Februarii, n. 7, p. 251.
chudda. See Colgan's
Acta Sanctorum
^'
In the Life of St. Carthage, quoted by
Kerry, belonging to the families of O'Failbhe
or O'Falvy, of O'Seagha or O'Shea, of
O'Conghaile or O'Conuell. Shortly anterior to the English invasion, O'Falvy possessed
the barony of Corcaguiny, O'Shea that of Iveragh, and O'Connell that of Magunihy. About the middle of the eleventh century, the Ui Donchadha or O'Donoghoes settled in Magunihy, and drove the O'Connells westwards into Iveragh, where they were seated at Ballycarbery, near Cahirciveen.
See the "Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book of "
Rights, edited by Dr. O'Donovan, n. (e), p. 47. At Carhen, near Cahirciveen, the future Liberator, Daniel O'Connell, of illus- trious memory, was born on the 6th of August, A. D. 1775. See John O'Connell's "Life and Speeches of Daniel O'Connell, M. P. ," vol. i. , p. 4^
28o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 4.
whose complete Acts are not known to be extant. Yet, sufficient accounts
remain, to give us an exalted opinion, regarding his extraordinary merits and
sanctity. Our saint is said to have had three brothers^' and one sister, on
the mother's side. All of these were regarded, as illustrious for their ''^
sanctity.
Yetanother andapparentlyanincorrectaccountofthissaint'smother
— —
is to be met with. The old commentator on St. ^ngus enumerated four of
her reputed sons, and one daughter. '^ They were thus distinguished, in these following terms, together with their parent. Goirmfihon, or more correctly, Coirmfhionn or Coirmfhion is said to have been the daughter of Boetan, and mother to the devout Mochudda,3° to Kellach,3i son of Conma-
gius, to Cuanna,32 ^he son of Midarn, to the immortal Begnata,33 near the mountain Echtge, now Slieve Aughty, and to Grellan,34 of Croen, accustomed to fasting and watching. Again, she is related to have been the mother of fifty-six sons and daughters,35 which is altogether incredible. 3^ The ancient writer also says, at one time, that the mother's name was Finmhaith, daughter to Boetan ; while, at another place, he calls her Comania, daughter to Dal- bronius. Not only the excessive and incredible number of so many sainted children, but other valid arguments, induced Colgan to maintain an opinion, that some of those children, belonging to other parents, must have remotely descendedfromSt. Cuanna'smother. Thefirstreasonassignedis,thatfive saints, mentioned by the schohast, were not her children. 37 Secondly, the mother of St. Grellans^ is called Ethnea, and his father Cailinus. Thirdly, the great number of saints, enumerated by the old anonymous author, were not the children of our saint's mother, is so clear, that it needs no proof to sustain Colgan's assertion ; for, the mothers among many of these saints were quite
different, as appears from their several acts. 39 Colgan says, he was unwilling to pronounce these two treatises, which were of considerable antiquity, un-
deserving all credence; for, it might be said, that the descendants of Cuanna's mother, even in a remote degree, may have been called her children. Such appears indicated, to a certain extent, in the Life of St.
«'
According to the Calendar of Cashel. '7 These are said to have been, in one ac- count, St. Carthagius, Abbot of Rathen in Meath, and afterwards, Bishop of Lismore, in Munster ; St. Eany and St. Fursseus, who gave names to parishes, adjoining Kill- coonagh,accordingtolocaltradition; but,
hagiology is not clear on this subject. See
"
Sir William "Wilde's
Shores and Islands," chap, iv. , pp. 8i to 83.
^^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nioe," iv. Februarii, n. 10, p. 252.
=^9 But, a certain anonymous writer of St.
leus, and others of well-known parentage, are enumerated,
36 Colgan thinks the assertion, both of the anonymous writer, who says, that this woman was mother of fifty-six children, as also of the Scholiast, who makes her parent of four sons, to be undeserving of credit. It must be rejected as apocryphal, unless, indeed. the number of her children be taken in a wide sense, and refer to her offspring, whether proximate or remote.
37 it would appear, that Kellach, son to Conmagius, lived near 2CX) years after the
death of Saints Carthage and Cuanna
the Annals of Clonmacnoise and of Donegal state, that in A. D. 828, Kellach, son to Con-
3* His festival is not
3« The present saint.
33 This saint cannot be identified.
3* Four saints, bearing the name of Greal-
"
Ian, are in the
35 The proper names, of thirty-eight among
these, are given ; and, besides five, already designated, the names of Saints Senan, Coemginus, Maccretius, Ruanus, Machal-
Lough Corrib, its
Senan's Acts, or rather his panegyrist, says,
that she had fifty-six sons and daughters,
who were enrolled in the catalogue of magius, anchoret of Disert Kellaigh, died.
samts.
3° Venerated at the 14th of May.
"
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. Addenda et Corrigenda,
p. 1192.
38 According to the second chapter of this
saint's Life.
39 Thus, the mother of St. Senan is called
Coemgella ; of St. Coemgin, Caimella ; of St. Ruadan, Coelia ; of St. Luctigern, Briga, &c. We may add, that the fathers of almost all were distinct persons, while most of them flourished at different periods.
easily recognisable.
Martyrology of Donegal. "
See Dr. O'Donovan's
; for,
February 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 381
Forannanj-^o -^vhere it is stated, that thirty-eight saints of Comania's race were assembled together at a synod, held in Connaught, during the time of St. Columba. 4^ And, in the fragment of our saint's Acts, as published by Colgan, it is indicated, that some of Cuanna's brothers were living in the world, and not devoted to any religious profession. 4' Our saint is said to have been bom,'«3 about the latter end of the sixth century,** and to have been a half-brother+s on the mother's side, to St. Carthage of Lismore,** by whom he was educated. Our saint is also known, by the name Cuanus*^ or Cuannacheus. *^ In the Life of St. Carthage, we are told, that he sent a ward, named Cuanna, who was probably this saint, in company with another disciple—a bishop called Dimna—from Rathen*^ in Meath, to a district, in
Munster, about the year 620. 5° The place was known as Huibh-Echach,5' near Lismore, in the county of Waterford. Afterwards, Cuanna receives the
title of bishop ; but, Colgan thinks, he obtained such distinction, only by anticipation of his future dignity. s^ It is supposed, our saint was a monk at Lismore. Accordingtosomeaccounts,hewasabbotthere,beforehehad been translated to Connaught. s3 However, respecting the incidents of his early life, nothing of a satisfactory nature can be collected.
It is said, indeed, by Marianus O'Gorman, or, by his scholiast, that the holy subject of this memoir was created Abbot of Lismore f- but, this is rather doubtful, since in nearly all other accounts given of our saint, he is merely said to have been a resident of that
in doubt, merely stating, that he left this place, either as a monk or as an abbot. 5^ Now, we should bear in mind, that St. Carthage, the founder of
^''His Life occurs at the 15th of Feb- tive, is a small dog. These three names, ruary. sufficiently alike in sound, but in reality *' See his Acts at the 9th of June. different, were formerly of common applica- *' See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- tion to our saints, as appears from the
niae," iv. Februarii, n. 10, p. 252.
*3 His brother St. Carthage was born,
probably about the year 570. See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, xv. , p. 357. *4 This, Colgan says, can be collected
Menologies of Tallagh, of St. -^Engus, of
Marianus O'Gorman, of Charles Maguire,
and of Donegal.
49 This is now the nucleus of the parish of
Rahan, in the barony of Ballycowan, and
city.
ss The Bollandists leave the matter
described on the " Ordnance Survey Town- from St. Carthage's Life, which was to be land Maps for the King's County. " Sheets
given at the 14th of May ; for, Carthage, his brother, and master, died A. D. 636, having sent our saint, when of mature age, to Munster, and while he lived at Rathen, about A. D. 620. See "Acta Sanctorum
7, 8, 15, 16, 24. The ruins there are marked on Sheet 16.
s°See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- rum," tomus i. , Februarii iv. , p. 447.
51 This "delightful land of Ui Eachach, the south of the woody Inis Fail," was the
without the O'. See "The Topo- prefix
graphical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," edited by Dr. O'Donovan, pp. 102, 103, and p. Ixiii. , nn. 539, 541.
Hiberniae," iv. Februarii, n. i, p. 251.
—— now
45 Besides many other writers some of tribe land of the O'Bricks, Bricks,
whomhave been alreadycited
theCalendar of Cashel testifies, that St. Cuanna, venerated on the 4th of February, was uterine brother
to St. Carthage of Lismore.
** The Life of this saint may serve to il-
lustrate St. Cuanna's Acts.
'<^ According to the Irish Life, he is more
properly named Cuanna.
*^ As ua is a dipthong in the Irish lan-
guage, the words Cuanna and Cuanan are dissyllables ; and, as Cuan is either a mony-
syllable or a dissyllable, according to its signification, in either case, it can be an appellative and a proper name. If it be taken as a monosyllable, it signifies offspring or foetus, and equivocally, the breast of a male ; if, as a dissyllable, it means a small dog ; for Cu is a dog, and Cuan its diminu.
he was the same as the ma-
52 '*
ternal brother of Carthagh, although styled only his disciple. "—Dr. Lanigan's "Eccle- siastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap,
Perhaps
xiv. , sect. XV. , n. 204, p. 359. "
53 See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," iv. Februarii. Vita S. Cuannse, cap. i. , ii. ,pp. 249,250.
54 See ibid. , cap. ii. , p. 250.
55 Thus the Calendar of Cashel states.
5« See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Feb-
ruarii iv. Prsetermissi et in alios dies rejecti, p. 447.
282 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [February 4.
Lismore, died about the year 636 ; so, that, if our saint attained the latter dignity, it must have been after such a period.
In one calendar, St. Cuanna is styled abbot of Lismore. 57 It is even
said, he was a bishop over the latter sec, when St. Carthage departed from life. 58 This may be a mistake, founded upon his being named of Lismore,
ashemighthavebeen,inconsequenceoflivingtherewithCarthage. Our saintisusuallysaidtohavebeenofLismore. Strictlyrendered,thisform
ofexpressiononlymeans,probably,thathelivedthere,foratime. Colgans^ explains the words di Lismoro, in the Calendar of Cashel, as signifying, that
Cuanna'smemorywasrevered,atLismore,onthe4thofFebruary. ^® The present St. Cuanna should not be confounded with another so called, although Colgan, in one place, seems to have done so, where we find the presentholymenclassedamongthedisciplesofSt. Columba. ^^ Butinthe Acts, at this day, he does not make any such mistake, for there, not a word occurs, about the brother of St. Carthagh ever having been with Columkille. ^^ The Bollandists^3 very properly show, by chronological comparison, how improbable must be such identity.
CHAPTER XL
ST. CUANNA IS THOUGHT TO HAVE COMPILED IRISH ANNALS—HIS SETTLEMENT AT KILCOONAGH—DESCRIPTION OF THE RUINS THERE—MIRACLES OF ST. CUANNA— HIS DEATH—HIS FESTIVAL—CONCLUSION.
It is thought, that our saint was also the author of certain Annals of Ireland,
quoted in those of Ulster. The writings, in question, bring the chronology ofthecountrydowntotheyear628,andnofurther. ^ Theyaresaidtohave been written by Cuana or Cuanach. The coincidence of name, however, appears to be the chief, if not the sole reason, for such a conjecture.
From an imperfect fragment of his Life, given by Colgan,' we have a few legendary particulars left, regarding St. Cuanna's Acts. In this, we are introduced to the circumstance, regarding our saint's removal to Lough
Orbsen,inGalwaycounty; but,fromtheimperfectextractwhichconcludes
57 It styles him " abbas Lismorensis. "
Appendix ad Acta S. Columbte, cap. x. , p. 489.
58 See the Bollandists'
"
Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus i. , Februarii iv. , p. 448. '*
^^
Archdall, who seems to have been fond
59 See Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xv. of jumbling, has confounded them com- "
Februarii. Vita S. Farannani, n. 9, p. pletely. See Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect. xv. , n. 203, p, 359.
cheo, iv. Februarii, p. 250. "But it does
not follow that he was abbot in that place ;
and had he been, it is odd that in said ca-
lendar this title was omitted. "—Dr. Lani-
gan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, xv. , n. 205, pp.
359> 3^- The same writer remarks, if our
saint became Abbot of Lismore, it must be
admitted, that he left Kill-chuanna, and then
succeeded St. Carthage, as abbot and per-
haps as bishop. He adds, that Colgan was
of this opinion, for which however he cites
no satisfactory proof, and that if it were called sapiens et episcopus Lugmai, who died
338.
^ See ibid. De S. Cuanna sive Cuanna-
true, it would throw light on what is said of Bishop Cuanna. See ibid. ^ sect, xv. , p.
A. D. 824, accordmg to the tonienses. "
'
"
Annales Ul-
357, and n. 206, p. 360.
"'See "Trias Thaumaturga.
"
This was extracted from a Salamancan manuscript.
Qiiarta
^3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Feb-
ruarii iv. , p. 448—. Chapter 11.
*
See Sir Ware, James
"DeScriptoribusHiberniae,"'lib. i. , cap. iii. , p. 19. This writer thinks, the Annals, in question, must have been written, about the period of their latest entry. If they had
been compiled at a later period, Sir James Ware—although he would not venture to
give a positive opinion— conjectures the author may have been Cuana nepos Bessani Scriba Treoit, who died A. D. 738, or CuanUy
FEBRUARY 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 2S$
a preceding paragraph, the cause for his going thither cannot be ascertained. 3 Here, it is said, sitting down upon a broad stone, St. Cuanna wept, an—d
afterwards fell asleep. During his slumber, two angels appeared to him one of them was at his head, and the other at his feet* He was then trans-
s
wards, he appears to have established some foundation. The fame of his
sanctity induced many holy men to emulate his example, and thus to de- votethemselvestoalifeofreligiousperfection,underhisguidance. With the increase of these postulants, it became necessary to make additional pro- visionfortheiraccommodation. Achurchwasbuilt,which,afterwards,was calledKill-Cuanna,^fromoursaint'sname. 7 AlmightyGodwaspleasedto work various miracles, at this time, and in succeeding periods, through the merits of Cuanna and of his holy band of disciples. Our saint here resided for some time. ^ At present, this place is known as Kilcoona,^ in the county ofGalway. ^° Itwasthenucleusofaparish,"bearingalikename,inthe barony of Clare. Our saint was chosen abbot, and he became patron over this place. " It is distinguished, from another Killchuanna, in the region
ported through
air to the
place
of his
nativity.
There, immediately
after-
3 The extract alluded to is couched in these following terms, thus literally translated from the published fragments: "His own
have been dilligent students of the inspired
writings.
5 By these words, "usque ad terrae suae
naturae littora," used by the anonymous author of our saint's Acts, we are led to
infer, that Connaught was the place of St. Cuanna's nativity, as in this province he founded Kill-Chuanna church.
^ In Colgan's day, this was a parish church, in the deanery of Eanachduin—at
people said to him :
'
On account of your
simplicity you have given them a sign to fly from us ; depart, therefore, from us, and never hereafter appear again among us. ' Then departing, they retired to their own country, and banished him into their enemies'
territory. "
* After describing this angelic mission to
our saint, the author of his Acts adds, "et sic tanquam alterum Habachuc, non tamen
cum pulmento, sed cum lapide grandi, de- ferunt eum per aera usque ad terras sure naturfe littora. " Allusion is here made to the miraculous preservation of Daniel, in the lions' den, through the instrumentality of the Prophet Habacuc. " Now there was in Juda a prophet called Habacuc, and he had boiled pottage, and had broken bread inabowl; andhewasgoingintothefield, to carry it to the reapers. And the Angel of the Lord said to Habacuc : Carry the dinner thou hast into Babylon to Daniel, who is in the lions' den. And Habacuc said : Lord, I never saw Babylon, nor do I know the den. And the Angel of the Lord took him by the top of his head, and carried him by the hair of his head, and set him in Babylon over the den in the force of his spirit. And Habacuc cried, saying : O Daniel, thou servant of God, take the dinner that God hath sent thee. And Daniel said : Thou hast remembered me, O God, and thou hast not forsaken them that love thee. And Daniel arose and eat.