No More Learning

De S.
seu Pul-
340 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 13
a territory called Corcoic, in the country of Hua-Conaill-Gabhra,=° and it is incorrectly said to have belonged to the Corcobhaiscinn people. ^^
Here, he seems to have become acquainted with a beautiful, virtuous, and noble woman, named Nessa, who had desired to lead a life of virginity. Yet,
through a prophetic spirit, her sister St. Ita^^ knew, that the Almighty willed hertobethewifeofBeoan. Thisunionwassoonaccomplished,andthe husband was most tenderly attached to his spouse. For a time, they were childless, but, one day, after the artificer had completed a building for St. Ita, she asked him, what reward he desired. Beoan reminded her, that no heir had been born since his marriage, and he entreated her, to pray for the birth
of a son. Then said the to " You shall have a holy virgin him,
son, Meantime,
Oh, dearl sister, have you not declared to us, that he
by God and by men. " This prophecy was afterwards fulfilled.
a certain cruel king, named Crunnmhoel, from the southern part of Hua- Conaill, undertook a hostile incursion against the Corcoche Tuath. With a large force, he commenced the work of devastation and slaughter. Beoan was obliged to take up arms, with his adopted tribesmen ; but, he fell, in an engagement, which ensued, and he was then beheaded, according to a bar- barous practice of conquerors, at the time. In profound grief, his wife came to the battle-field, where she found the mangled remains of her husband. Taking the head, and recognising his ghastly features, she bore it in tears to
"
St. Ita, crying out,
should leave a son to succeed him, and now he is slain, while I am still left
""
childless ? Ita said, Sister, weep not, for God is able to assist us, and to
ratify my promise. Go, therefore, and attach this head to Beoan's body. " Nessa declared, that she could not identify it, so great had been the number
" In the name of the most Trinity, call him thrice, by his own name, when he shall arise and come to
of the slain. the Then,
holy virgin replied,
Holy
the he shall head,
to
' O
you. Afterwards, replacing
have you called me, for I had gone to my rest ? '
as directed, and Beoan was restored to his former vitality and health. Both went to St. Ita, and they returned thanks. She asked Beoan, whether he should prefer to remain in this life, or to go at once to heaven. He declared, that in comparison with the rewards of eternal life, he deemed all this world
" It is
as smoke. Ita However,
that the reward I
promised you
said,
should be paid. " Then washing his wounds, no trace of them subsequently
appeared, and blessing him, she sent Beoan and his wife away to their own house. Soon afterwards, Nessa conceived, and when the time of our saint's birth approached, a wonderful miracle was wrought, in favour of St. Fachnan, or Fachannan,='3 of Ross-alithre. ^* Resolved on paying a visit to St. Ita, and
accompanied by her husband, she sat in a chariot.
"
saint, Truly, king, the child she bears, through God's grace, shall be great in the kingdom of Heaven. " On returning to their home, the child came to light, and soon
to her nuns,
and see, who is the occupant. " The messengers reported, that her sister Nessa was in it. Then said the " it sounds beneath a for
barony of Connello, in the county of Lime-
Limerick. Professor O'Looney's copy has it Corcoic.
^^ Her father is called Faelan, in Pro- fessor O'Looney's Life.
'^ See his Life, at the 14th of August.
133, 134, 143.
"
Topographical Poems of
rick. See the
John O'Dubhagain and GioUa na Naomh
O'Huidhrin," edited by Dr. O'Donovan, n. 692, p. Ixxvii.
^* Now the town of Ross, in the parish so called, in the baronies of East Carbery, at the Life of St. Senan, which is given on Ibane and Barryroe. The parish is des- cribed, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," Sheets I2i,
=' The reader is referred to what has been
already stated, in regard to their territory,
the 8th of March, chap, i. , nn. 33, 34, 36, 37. Yet, the present account, in Colgan's Acts, makes it extend, into the county of
right,
"
that chariot approaching resounds beneath a king, go ye out
say "
you,
woman, why All this was accomplished,
Verily," cried out Ita
beloved
March 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 341
this news was conveyed to St. Ita. With great joy, she exclaimed, that Beoan deserved to have a son, who should be exalted before God and before men, and whose memory should not fade from recollection. She added,
" He shall be beautiful and old. " his first name was Whereupon,
this was
570. ^7 From the font of baptism, his life was illustrated by miracles and graces. One day, as his mother Nessa went out from the house, and left her infant sleeping within it, on looking back, she saw a globe of fire settle over the roof. Quickly returning and crying out, the fire vanished and did not reappear; while, looking at the infant, she found him rosy-cheeked and smiling, so that all who heard her account concluded, that the Holy Spirit came specially to visit her beloved child.
likewise,
^s
which was applied to him by St. Ita. The year of his birth is not known ; however, it could not have been later than 550, as his aunt Ita died a. d.
Coemhghin ;
but,
almost
immediately,
dropped
for
Mochcemog,^^
the ofGod grace
so that, as he is
spiritual and'we carnal, he is unsuited for our worldliness, nor can he live
with us. " she " him and he shall be Immediately replied, Bring hither,
fostered by myself. " They consented to this arrangement. Mochoemhog was trained up from the time he was a child, in the fear and love of God, by
St. Ita, who took charge of her nephew, during twenty years. She educated him for the priesthood, and while prosecuting his studies, she also watched most sedulously over his morals. She had a foreknowledge, that he should found a monastery, in a certain place, whence he should take his departure for heaven, and that there a city, of which he must be patron, should after-
"
The thencameto St. Ita and parents
said, miraculously shines in your little favourite, and in our son ;
wards be built. All
pious matron, let it be as thou wiliest. "
having received the blessing of his aunt, it was next deemed necessary, that the holy young man should be committed to the care of St. Comgall,^^ who lived in his monastery of Benchor, in the province of Ulster. Mochoemog set out, with five other companions, and they were all joyfully received by the illustrious abbot. While here, Mochoemog had many distinguished school-fellows. He lived for several years, under the discipline of that great saint, whose name, as a teacher and coenobite, had extended all over Ireland. In Bangor, he was ordained a priest, after he had passed through the requi- site course of preparation.
*s This " handsome signifies,
and of Down. See " Acta diocese county
Sanctorum HiberniK," Martii xiii. , n. ir,
**
bom. " Meaning, "my Choem "or "my Choe-
mog. "
1^7
this,
Ita told her
young ward,
her,
Oh,
While St. Comgall and his disciple St. Puldierius were one day engaged
at prayer, the Prior of the monastery had been abroad, and he came in a
fright to acquaint them, that he had seen, when returning home, a great
multitude of devils around their monastery. They laid, as it were, a close
siege to it, on all sides ; whereas, he could discover but one devil over the
castle of Rath-leamain,29 where the neighbouring king kept his court. This
one even appeared to be idle. St. Mochoemoc, on hearing this, cried out to
"
Father, let us arise, and return thanks to God, because our brethren are so faithful in his service, that the devil assembles all his hellish troops to wage war against them ; for, where Satan is served, he thinks one evil spirit sufficient to maintain his usurpation, and this same one appears to
St. Comgall,
p. 557. I am informed, by Rev. James See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical O'Laverty, P. P. , Hollywood, that such a
History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. ,
sect, v. , p. 23.
rath once stood near the town of Bangor, but that it had been levelled down over thirty years ago, no trace of it now remain- ing.
** »9
See his Life, at the loth of May. According to Colgan, this was in the
"O
lady,
and he said to
With the consent of his parents, and
342 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 13.
be idle ; but, where men bravely resist his tyranny, he employs all his forces against them. Thus, as a king sends the brave ones of his army to contend against his stoutest enemies, who are in arms against him, so does he send only a messenger, where no opposition is offered. " St. Comgall approved very much his disciple's sentiments. Joining with him in prayer, Comgall obtained from God, and for the encouragement of his brethren, that their eyes should be opened to discern those infernal legions, and to see them put
to flight by their prayers. 3° Comgall ordered, likewise, that Mochcemog should go to the left, while he would take the right, side of the monastery.
When casting forth the demons, Comgall commanded them, in Christ's name, neveragaintoassemblethere,untilthedayofjudgment. Accordingtothis
mandate, they fled away from the monastery of Bangor 31 and, in doing so,
;
they alighted on the castle of Rath-leamain, where the King of Ultonia re-
sided. There they settled, as if guarding it with a garrison force.
On witnessing this miracle, St. Comgall deemed it right, to send out a number of his disciples, so that he might establish houses, in different parts
of Ireland. Being arrived at an eminent degree of religious perfection, Mochcemog was commissioned, and sent with other monks, to found an in-
"
stitute for these religious.
My son," said the abbot to our saint, on his
departure,
" it is
necessary
that
you
should become the fatlier of spiritual
others, and that you should erect a house for God's service, wherever he may
decree. " Then going forth, with his colony, Mochcemog journeyed to
Leinster. The place he first pitched on for this purpose, was Enachtruim, TiowAnatrim,3^onMountBladhma,atpresentSlieveBloom. Hereaman,
named Bronach,33 sought to prevent him from building ; but, the saint said, he should carry out his purpose, while he declared, that opponent should be banished, with his generation, from the country, and by its chieftain. All this was literally fulfilled, and there Mochcemog began to build cells, which he afterwards resigned to St. Coemhan, for whom this place was specially des- tined by the Almighty. 34
CHAPTER II.
ST. M—OCHCEMOC GOES TO ANATRIM, WHICH HE LEAVES, AND NEXT PROCEEDS TO HELIA
HE
After some time, St. Coemhan^ came to Anatrim, and then St. Mochcemog, resigning in his favour, departed thence to the land of Eile," or Helia, in the
shown on the
"
Ordnance Survey Townland
This was known, as Eile Ui-Fhogar- taigh, or O'Fogarty's Ely. This southern part of the original Eile was withdrawn from
the O'Carrolls, shortly after the English in- vasion, and it was added to the Earl of Ormond's country. However, the native chieftains, O'Meagher and O'Fogarty, were left in possession of it, yet tributary to the
CLUAIN-MOR,
3° See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 173.
3' The old writer remarks, that three
thousand monks are said to have lived in
cells there, under the presidency of St.
Comgall.
32 This town and townland, in the parish
of Offerlane, barony of Upperwoods, are
nise," Martii xiii. Vita S. Mochoemoci Abbatis de Liath-mor in Helia, ex Codice
Maps for the Queen's County," Sheet 16.
33 Professor O'Looney's copy has it. Sen
Bronach,i. e. , "sorrowfulinheritance. "
34 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
AND —
A CHIEF, LIVING AT RAITH-EANAIGH THE TERRI-
VISITS
TORIAL KING OF HELIA RECEIVES HIM, AND BESTOWS ON HIM A DESERT PLACE— HERE THE BALBAN SOUNDS—LIATH-MOR AND ITS EXISTING RUINS—THE CHIEF OF HELIA DIES, AND HE IS SUCCEEDED BV RONAN—MIRACULOUS INCIDENTS RE- CORDED.
—i. to Kilkenniensi, cap. xii. , pp. 589
to
at the
Chapter ii. 3rd of November.
*
'
His feast
occurs,
591.
March 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 343
east of Munster, and lying on the west border of Ossory, in Leinster. He arrived at a place, called Cluain-mor. 3 Near it, in a castle, known as Raith- eanaigh,* there dwelt a certain powerful chief, named Coemhan. This reli- gious and good man received a visit from our saint, and in or attached to his castle there was a church. s Mochoemog was treated with great courtesy and kindness,bythechief. Whileremaininginthechapel,onenight,Coemhan's wife, looking out from the solar,^ beheld the walls of the building surrounded with fire on every side, and she called her husband to witness the same sight. They both found out, how great was the sanctity of Mochoemog, who thus deserved to be visited by Angels, in the church, and full of admiration, they gavethankstoGod. Onthefollowingday,thechieftainsaidtoPulcherius, " We know that you are a man of God, and many visit you, therefore you cannot find a place sufficiently large, in my poor domain ; but, let us both go to my superior the Chief 7 of Eile,^ that he may give you a suitable and an extensive property. " This advice was adopted by Mochoemog. How- ever his Magus9 had persuaded the Chief of Eile, that he ought not permit the saint, to settle within his territory ; as he predicted, that the stranger should be potent, in the land, of which he must be recognised always as the
approached the chief's castle, and on seeing him, its owner was greatly re- joiced, and bent his knee, in token of reverence. Understanding from the saint, the errand on which he had come, the chieftain received Mochoemog with courtesy,'" and this petty king" was moved, by the spirit of God, to offer not only his castle'^ and what it contained, but even all its dependent lands. The holy man returned thanks for such a generous offer, yet he declined accepting it, and stated, that he only required some retired and
" I have a certain and deserted lonely
and this I grant to you and to the Almighty, with its crich, or lands, if you are satisfied. " This was very acceptable to the saint ; and, the chief ordered his swine-herd to point out the locality, which he well knew, to the saint and to his disciples. This office of guide the swine-herd declined, alleging as his excuse, that several of his hogs had strayed from him, and that he must seek them
desert Then said the spot.
" If he come armed I shall against me,
Then
bravely resist him, but if he shall simply visit me as the meek preacher of Christ, in whom I believe, it shall please me. " Soon afterwards, Mochoemog
patron.
repHed
the
chief,
chief,
place thickly covered with woods, and near the bog, called Stagni Lurgan,'^
accident
Earl of Ormond.
"Leabhar na-g Ceart, or Book of Rights," n. (i), pp. 78, 79.
Then said the " Come saint,
out,
lest
any
might happen.
See Dr. O'Donovan's
^ In a foot-note, to the " Leabhar Breac," p. 99, he is called a Righ Tuatha, which means "a territorial king. " In Professor
3 This may have been Clonmore, in the O'Looney's translated Life, he is styled
of
and of It barony Eliogarty.
" a
or " a translated
Inch, represented,
king. " Life,
parish is
Tigerna, meaning
lord,"
on the "Ordnance
Survey
^ In Professor
this potentate is named Duchon.
'lownlaiid Maps for the County of Tippe-
rary," Sheet 40. However, no ancient re-
mains are there to be seen; and, as the
"
name,
denomination was possibly changed to some other, now not capable of being discovered.
• In Professor O'Looney's translated Life of our saint, it is written Rathenaigh, chap. xi.
5 Or "ecclais," as O'Clery's Irish Life terms it.
*"
The Latin words are respiciens foras
de solario," &c. In Professor O'Looney's translated Life, this is rendered "a win- dow. "
* Or Druid, accordmg to Professor O'Looney's translated Life,
big meadow," is generic, its former
"^
Professor O'Looney's translated Life
O'Looney's
states, that the chief bent his knee, in the
" In the translated Life, at this passage, he is called "a kmg," in Irish fij ; but, in all the other passages, he is called cijeiNtiA,
saint's presence-
" a lord. "
" In Professor O'Looney's translated Life,
this residence is called Tor.
'3 At present, several boggy tracts lie near
Leigh. In Professor O'Looney's translated
properly speaking
Life,
at this
passage,
we
read,
" a in- great
344 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 13.
with me, and when you return, all the animals you seek shall be found safe, within the lawn of this castle. " ^+ The swine-herd beHeved the saint's words,
and accompanied Mochoemoc, who went forth to take possession of the place
thus granted to him. When Mochoemoc reached the place, the Balban,^^
namely, the little bell he got from his nurse, the holy woman St. Ita, struck
and sounded audibly. When he was leaving Ita, she gave him this little bell,
and she said " Here is this dumb bell for you, it will not sound till you :
reach the place of your resurrection, and where it shall speak or sound, there shall be the place of your resurrection. " When Mochoemoc heard the sound of the bell, he was joyful, and he gave thanks to God ; for, he knew that was to be the place of his resurrection.
There too he found a great wild hog, under the shade of a large tree, and his colour was Liath,^^ or gray ; and, on recognising the people pf God, that animal abandoned his natural wild rage,
" As the colour of that hog is Liath or gray, so shall it be the name of this place for ever. " Hence it is called Liath,^^ to this day,'^ and the angels visited that place, at the coming of Mochuada. '? After a three days' fast, St. Mochoemoc conse-
crated that place to God.
The principal church of Mochoemog was established here, and thus it was
"
called Liath-mor^° or
name. Ithasbeendescribed,inaglosstotheFeilireof^ngus,ashaving beensituatedinSouthernElyofMunster. ItisnowcalledLiathMochaem- hog, anglice, Leamokevoge. It lies in the parish of Two-Mile-Burris, in the baronyofElyogarty,^^andcountyofTipperary. Theruinsandtracesofold ecclesiastical buildings may still be seen at Liath-Mochoemhog. ^^ There while Pulcherius lived, a neighbouring cenobite, St. Colman,'^3 the son of Daire,'* who dwelt at Derrymore,='5 frequently belield angels passing and re- passing on visits to the holy founder. A distance of not more than four miles separated both places. *^ A great friendship existed, between the holy men themselves. As St. Ita had predicted, St. Mochoemoc built a cathair^7
and made greetings to them. Then, Mochoemoc said
:
the great," as also Liath-Mochaemhog, after our saint's
Agreatcityafterwardssprungup,atthatplace; and,inhonourofoursaint, "
inLatinitborethename, CivitasLiath-Mochcemoc. " Hisfamewassoon
'°
tricate wood, near to the cold-streamed
Loch Lurcan. " This lake seems to have Thurles, and it is only a little distance re-
dried up, since our saint's time.
' Professor O'Looney's translated Life
has " upon the laAvn of this Dun. "
'5 In English, it means, " dumb bell. "
'^ "
The old Latin Acts have it, canus
enim latino, Liath scotice dicitur. " This Colgan^deems an indication of their anti- quity, as they were written, when the native language was called the Scottish, rather than the Irish.
•7 It is further called, Liath-Mochcemoc, to distinguish it from another place, called Liath-Manchen.
»' The origin of the name " Leith" is ex-
plained, in the Irish Life of St. Mochoemoc,
by the foregoing legend, which has been furnished to the writer, by Professor Brian
moved, from the old coach-road, between Cashel and Dublin,
-' This barony was anciently called the
territory of South Ely, to distinguish it from Ely O'Carroll, included within the present
King's County.
" See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (b), pp. 266, 267. »3 His festivals were held, on the 20th of
May, and on the 31st of July. = Also called Dairine.
*s it was probably in Tipperary Coimty. But, we only find there, a townland so
called in the parish of Corbally and barony of Ikerrin, in the North Riding ; it is de- scribed on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Tipperary," Sheets 17, 18; and one, in the parish of Clogher, in the barony of Lower Kilnamanagh, on Sheet 46, ibid.
O'Looney, and taken from the
"
Leabhar
Breac," p. 99, foot note. It agrees, too, with our saint's old Acts.
'^ See, also, O'Clery's Life of St. Mo- chuada, chap. 11, 12, 13. His festival occurs. at the X4th May, where his Life will be found.
^In Professor
Life, we read, that the distance between both places was not "much more than a mile. "
'1 So states the Irish Life.
Leighmore is about four miles from
O'Looney's
translated
March 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 343
greatly extended, and several disciples hastened to place themselves under
his religious guidance. ^^
The old ruined church, now remaining at Leigh, and the situation of
which was first pointed out by John O'Donovan, is divided into nave and choir; thenavemeasuring41feet2inches,inlength,and18feet8inchesin breadth; while the choir is 27 feet, in length, and 16 feet 6 inches in breadth. ^9 The east gable of the choir contains a window, which is quad- rangular, on the inside, where it measures 6 feet 6 inches in height, and 4 feet in width : but, on the outside, it forms two curvilineal points, at top, and it measures 5 feet 9 inches, in height, and i foot 11 inches, in width. It is
Old Church at Leigh, County of Tipperary.
separated into four compartments, divided on this side by stone mullions ; one mullion is perpendicular and the other lies across, each division measur- ing 2 feet 1^ inches, in height, and 8 J- inches, in width. The window is placed at the height of 4 feet 6 inches, from the level of the ground, on the outside. The choir has a semicircular arch overhead, which appears to have supported some superstructure, or chamber, as fragments of walls are still to be seen, and rising high over it. At the distance of 7 feet 5 inches, f»om the east gable, the south wall of the choir contains a window, which was round- headed, inside and outside. On the inside, it is 6 feet 9 inches, in height, and 3 feet 11 inches, in breadth, but, it is broken on the outside. From what remains, it would appear, that it had been constructed of chiselled lime- stone. In the same wall, and close to the middle gable, there is a pointed doorway, constructed of cut lime-stone. This communicates with a stone stair-way,leadinguptotheapartment,orpriest'shouse,overthechoir; this passage, however, is now stopped up with loose stones. Still, it is easily
^^ See
niae," Martii xiii. Vita S. Mochoemoci, &c. , cap. xii. , xiii. , xiv. , xv. , xvi. , pp. 590 to 592, and nn. 15, 16, 17, l8, 19, 20, 21, 22, P- 597.
Colgan's
* ' Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
*5 The drawn accompanying illustration,
on the spot, by Mrs. Margaret X. White, 20 Eccles-street, Dublin, in May, 1878, was transferred to the wood by William F.
Wakeman, and engraved by Mrs. Millard.
346 LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 13.
entered, and up the stair-way the visitor can safely ascend. The choir-arch
was ancient and beautifully constructed, but nothing remains of it now, save its sides, up to the points whence it sprung. These are 8 feet 2 inches, in height, and 9 feet 9 inches asunder. They are constructed of cut sand- stone, which is of a brownish colour. The wall is 3 feet 8 inches thick. At the distance of 5 feet 7 inches, from the middle gable, the nave south-wall contains a window, which was quadrangular, on the inside, and round-headed, on the outside. It meamires, on the inside, 4 feet 8 inches, in height, and 4feet,inwidth; but,ontheoutside,itisdestroyed,exceptthetopstone,in which its round head is formed. A doorway is placed on the same wall, at the distance of 7 feet 9 inches, from the west-gable, but, it is now nearly destroyed ; there is another doorway directly opposite to it, on the north-wall, and it forms a low arch, constructed of thin, hammered hme-stones, on the inside, and a semicircular arch of cut brown sand-stone, on the outside. On the inside, it is 7 feet 8 inches, in height, and 4 feet 10}^ inches, in breadth, while, on the outside, it is 7 feet in height, and 3 feet 4 inches, in width. The west gable contains a pointed window, about 12 feet from the ground, destroyed on the inside, and measuring about 4 feet, in height, and 7 inches, in width, on the outside. The north-wall contains another window, placed at the distance of 6 feet 3 inches, from the middle gable ; it forms a low arch, on the inside, and a semicircular one, on the outside, where it is con- structed of cut brown sand-stone. It measures, on the inside, 5 feet 4 inches, in height, and 4 feet 4 inches, in width ; and, on the outside, it is 2 feet 10 inches, in height, and 7 ^ inches, in width. There are three rudely-carved heads, placed over this, on the outside, and these look to be of considerable antiquity. The side-walls of the nave, belonging to this church, are 3 feet 8 inches, in thickness, and about 1 2 feet, in height. They are constructed of hammered lime-stones, cemented with sand and lime-mortar. 3° The churchyard is now deserted, and unenclosed. Owing to this, cattle take refuge within the church-walls, and the interior is in a most filthy condition. It was told the writer, that beneath the ordure, the nave is flagged with tombs. Amongthesearetwo,andtheimageofabishop,inraisedwork, will be found on each, with curious carvings. 3'
At a distance of over seventy paces from the church ruins already
3° Besides the writer's personal observa- tions on the spot, he has the late Dr. O'Donovan's accurate measurements re- corded in the text, as found in " Letters containing Information relative to the Anti- quities of the County of Tipperary, collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey, in 1840," vol. i. Description of the parish of Two-Mile-Borris, pp. 454, 455. Letter, dated Nenagh, October 5th, 1840.
3' A very intelligent farmer, Mr. Michael
Hayes, who lives on the townlaml of Leigh,
furnished the writer with the following local
information, in a letter, dated June 3rd,
1878: "The old people here have very
little knowledge concerning the old build-
ings. There were three distinct plots of out. A lot of old bronze coin, like a penny,
burying-ground, and about forty years ago, while the owner of the land was levelling
and removing some old mounds, he dug up the largest skulls and bones of the human frame. The people could scarce imagine persons to be so big in former days. The ruins of an old mill were found convenient
came to light ; but, the date and figures
could not be explained by any person here at that time. There was about a gallon full of these in one heap, and within three feet of the surface. This was about forty years
ago. "
3» The accompanying illustration of this
in a stream, while sinking a river, and the mill-stones were of a small size, in the form of an old fort near. It is told, that there was a subterraneous — but the mouth
passage,
of it has been slopped up this was said to
be a place of refuge. There was hidden
treasure there, people say, but the parties who went to explore would not venture to go in more than a few yards. Several parties went there, in,search of treasure, after dreaming of hidden gold. Inside and under a window in the church, one party got a chalice about three feet from the floor, They left it there again, but found no gold. The ruins of a row of houses were found near, and the fireplaces could be pointed
March 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 347
described, and without the churchyard extension, within the townland of Leigh, on level ground, and in a meadow, are the ruins of the remotely-aged
oratory or ancient house, which evidently had a croft apartment, as still shown by joist holes, which are over the lower chamber. This little building
is 20 feet 4 inches, in length, and 11 feet 4 inches, in breadth, on the inside j
while the side walls are 2 feet 7 inches, in thickness, and 1 1 feet 6 inches, in height. 3' The two gables are remarkably sharp, and in tolerable preserva-
Old Oratory, at Leigh.
tion. There was a window, on the east gable ; but, it is now destroyed, with
the exception of two or three stones, on the inside, from which it appears, that it was round-headed. The side walls are featureless. The doorway was on the west gable, as is usual with Irish churches or oratories of the primitive ages, but its sides are now entirely defaced. The lintel remains, from which it can be ascertained, that this doorway was 5 feet 1 1 inches, in height ; its width, however, is not easily ascertainable. The lintel is a large lime-stone, measuring 5 feet 2 inches, in length, and 10^ inches, in height, while ex- tending I foot 10 inches, into the thickness of the wall. This oratory is built of field lime-stones, cemented with sand and good lime-mortar. 3? It is quite evident, from the local indications, that an antiquary could easily in- vestigate the sites of old buildings,3+ and discover road-ways adjoining, that formerly led to the old city and monastery of our saint.
old building was sketched by the writer, on 3* Within this parish, and^at Two-Mile- the spot in May, 1878. The drawing was Borris village itself, there is an ancient transferred to the wood, by William F. church. About 1 50 paces to the north-west
Wakeman, and engraved by Mrs. Millard. 33 See "Letters containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the County of Tipperary, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840. " vol. i. John O'Donovan's Letter, dated Nenagh, October
5th, 1840, pp. 452, 453.
rises an old castle. On the townland of Rathmanna is a deserted churchyard, and the foundations of a ruined church, measur- ing 38 feet in length, and 18 in breadth. About 25 paces to the north of Ballydavid Castle ruins, there is a remarkable large fort, measuring 94 paces in diameter. It
348 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 13.
After Pulclierius had been some time established in this place, his kind patron the Chief of Eile died. To him succeeded one Ronan,35 the son of Bledin, who resolved to expel the saint from his territories ; and, for that purpose, he came with several soldiers, but by a miracle their course was arrested, nor could they move from a certain spot. Finding this to be the case, their chief called out to a band of monks,3^ whom he saw, that they should bring their abbot to him, so that he might express sorrow for his evil intention. The monks told the chief, that their abbot was engaged in offer- ing sacrifice, and that afterwards he should chaunt the third hour, before any person dare interrupt his devotions. When Tierce^? was completed, the monks told their superior, what had occurred. The saint then sent a message to the chief, that he should not go out, until Nones^ had been finished. Then, indeed, Mochoemog went forth, the chief remaining immov-
able. The saint " O cruel man exclaimed,
what now doth
and thy heartlessness ? You have come to destroy this place, where you
shall be buried. " The chief " O servant of God whatsoever replied, ! you
order me to do, I shall obey, but I entreat you to release me from this
bondage. " Mochoemogthenorderedhimtodepart,andimmediatelyhewas able to do so. As his predecessor had previously done, in the presence of his chiefs, he gave the place to God and to his holy servant, while he ordered that himself and his generation39 should there be buried. He withdrew,
much pleased that the saint had pardoned him, and had also given a blessing. Thenceforward, he was very obedient to Pulcherius, and the saint loved him in return. After some time, however, Ronan died, and as he had desired it, theyburiedhimatLiath-mor. Thesaintprayedforhi—seternalrepose. A
certain scribe had a — with a St. Finian4° for controversy they
were both stoppingwiththeabbot regardingtheutilityofprayersforaman,whohad passed away from life, a slave to his pleasures. St. Mochoemog took part in this dispute, by alleging the many examples of Divine mercy on record, and
he "The soul of Ronan is in the hands of added,
so
on
my
own
that your contention is in vain, since death is near, and your grave shall for
everbeunknowntomen. Nevertheless,Ishallnotdenounceyou,lestyou be without God's kingdom. " The scribe departed. He died far away from his people, by a sudden visitation of Providence. As the saint had predicted, where his burial had taken place was unknown to all his friends. ^
CHAPTER III.
THE CHIEFTAIN SUIBHNE's REPENTANCE—FAILBHE FLANN BEG, KING OF MUNSTER, AT CASHEL—HIS PUNISHMENT AND VISION—VARIOUS MIRACLES ASCRIBED TO THE MERITS OF ST. MOCHCEMOC.
There are some incidental passages, in the Life of St. Mochoemoc, which illustrate the idea entertained by our fathers, regarding the necessity and
that, account, his sins shall be forgiven, while you," he said addressing the scribe,
" with conceit in puffed up
your
knowledge,
shall know it to be and so,
has a parapet, about 1 6 feet in height from the level of the field, on the outside. This mound rises about 5 feet over the platform of the fort itself. See ibid. , pp. 448 to 456.
^^ The Irish Life has it " Teirt. "
^8 Thg Irish Life has it " Noin. "
39 The Irish Life has it Genet or " tribe. " ^o xhe Irish Life has pii'^! '"- His identity
'5 In Professor O'Looney's translated does not seem to have been discovered.
Life he is "son of Beldine. " ^' See '* Acta Sanctorum Hiber- called, Colgan's
3* In Professor O'Looney's translated nias. " Vita S. Mochcemoci, &c. , cap. xvii. ,
Life they are called "a band of the Ma- xviii. , p. 592. — nachs. " CHAPTER III.
»
Thus is he named in
!
profit thy power
God,
March 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.