Diermaifs
time, in the opinion of Colgan.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
11.
See also the Calendar appended to the Rev.
William Reeves' " Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor, and Dromore," LL.
p.
376.
^Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii.
5 In the Franciscan copy we find tomchon
Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Ap-
I'd.
*See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," t^ui|' . . . . tcA can be deciphered.
typographical Colgan has the 19th for the 9th of January.
p.
152
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. January io.
as through a glass and dimly, and know them in part f let us trust in the Divine mercy, that hereafter we shall know them, as we ought to be known, and see them face to face.
Article VIII. —St. Baithin. The preservation of a saint's name is too frequently in our calendars the mere representation of a well-spent life. A festival, in honour of Baithin, is recorded in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the pth of January. Nothing more explicit occurs, where Baeithin is simply set down in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ on this day. His place is not recorded.
Article IX. —St. Finia or Fine, Abbess of Kildare. [Eighth Century. '] Because truth and innocence of life distinguish holy virgins, they live without stain before the throne of God. ^ We are informed by Colgan,= that Finia, Abbess of Kildare, died on the 9th of January, a. d. 800. The same year is set down for the death of this Fine, in the Annals of the Four Masters. 3
Although it is not expressly stated, Colgan seems to regard this day as dedicated to her memory.
Article X. —St. Brendin, or Brenainn. He is the true disciple, who, leaving all things to follow Christ, never swerves from a faithful service.
Brendin is mentioned in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 9th of January. " Nor do we find any etymon localizing him, where we read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 of Brenainn, as having a feast on this day.
Article XI. —Reputed Feast of St. Erhard, Bishop of Ratisbon, in Bavaria. [Seventh Centmy. ] The 9th of January, to St. Erhard or Nerard, bishop and confessor, the MS. of Florarius enters as a feast, accord- ingtoBoUandus. HisActshavebeengivenatthepreviousday.
Cents Bap of Slanuarp*
ARTICLE I—ST. DIARMAID OR DIERMIT, ABBOT OF INIS CLOTHRANN, OR INCHCLERAUN, COUNTY OF LONGFORD, AND OF FAUGHALS- TOWN, COUNTY OF WESTMEATH.
iSIXTH CENTURY. ^
CHAPTER I.
is more common in life than the eager pursuit of false objects and
INTRODUCTION—FATHER AND MOTHER OF ST. DIARMAID—HIS IDENTITY AND BIRTH— HIS EARLY STUDIES—HE BECOMES A MONK AND AFTERWARDS A PRIEST— HE IS SAID
TO HAVE BEEN THE AUTHOR OF A METRICAL PSALTERY—THIS AUTHORSHIP DOUBTFUL.
IS
falsefriends. Thushuman areled NOTHING beings
inthesearchfortrue piness. Man has three kinds of friends on earth. For the most part, he does
'See I Corinthians, xiii. , 12. »
Art. VIII. — Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii.
'
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. 11. Art. IX. — Apocalypse, xiv. , 5.
410, 411. Art. X.
'Edited
' is
"See "Trias Thaumaturga,
"
^5"]% boA. . . The latter part illegible, but there can be no doubt it is intended to commemorate Beathen.
Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. Brigidje, cap. ii. , p.
629.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. II.
hap-
3 See OTJonovan's edition, vol. i. , pp.
—
astray
Rev. Dr.
"In the Franciscan copy we read t^^^e11•011l1
by
Kelly, p. xii.
January io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 153
not know them well until the time when he is called from this world, in order to give an account of his conduct. The first of these friends, wealth and possessions, remain behind him, and fall into the keeping of others. The second, his relations, accompany him only to the grave, and soon forget his pastexistence. Hisworksoffaithandlaboursoflovefollowhimintoeternity, and are his real abiding friends, before the throne of God. There he will be recompensed, according to his works. Even the cup of cold water, which is given to one who thirsts, will not be unrewarded. How thoughtlessly, then, does the man act who concerns not himself, in the least degree, about such true friends, when he can secure them here below, and cause them to smooth his departure from a world of disappointments and trials. The holy anchorites disregarded wealth and the society of kinsmen ; they only desired to labour and to live for God, that so He might befriend them in the hour of
danger.
In various Irish calendars and records we are furnished with the pedigree
of this celebrated saint' He is called in Irish, Naoimh Dhiarmuit, which signifies Diermit " the Just," or " the Holy. " He is said to have been son to Lugna, and to have followed seventh in descent from Dathy, King of Ire- land, who was killed about the year 427. * This holy Diarmait belonged to the Hy-Fiachrach family, who inhabited a considerable part of the Connaught province. 3 According to ^ngus the Culdee, and Maguire, his mother was named Dediva f but following another account, in the Calendar of Cashel, her name was Editua,^ of the Kiennacht country. ^ She is said to have been of noble race and the mother of many saints. 7 She was a grand-daughter to
Dubtach O'Lugair,^ arch-poet, who so courteously received St. Patrick,' when he preached in the royal palace of King Leogaire at Tara. '°
It is hardly admissible, as Colgan seems to think, the present St. Diarmaid was that same Diermitius, the disciple of St. Fiech. " He spent some time
Article i. — Chapter i. — ' Charles
Maguir, or the Commentator on St. Angus'
"Feilire,"at the loth of January, refers our saint's origin to King Dathy, in the follow- ing line. St. Diermit of Inis-Clothrann was son to Lugna, son of Lugad, son to Finbarr, son ofFraic, sontoCathchuon, son of . (Engus, called by some Becchuon, son of David, son to Fiachrius, son of Eochod, sumamed Moimedon.
Senan, son of Fintan ; St. Manchin, son of
Collan, in the territory of Corann; St. Callin, a disciple of St. Columkille ; St. Fedlimid of Kilniore ; St. Dagius, son of Cariil ; St. Femia, daughter of Cariil; and St Diermait, of Inis-CIothrann. This seems a very surpris- ing number of saints, and childi'en of the same mother. From the foregoing accounts, it would appear, that Dediva had been married to four different husbands.
s " Acta Sanctorum
Colgan's Hibemise,"
x. Tanuarii, n. 3, p. 52.
°
So Cathal Maguir states. Ibid, n. 4.
7 This matron was the mother of six sons, and of one daughter ; all of these were 11- lustrious for their sanctity, as St. ^ngus the Culdee asserts, in his book "On the
Mothers of Irish Saints," num. 2.
* men and women are said to Thirty holy
have descended from this celebrated per- sonage. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise. " Vita S. Diermitii, cap. i, and nn. i to 8, p. 52, ibid.
' See his Life at the 17th of March.
*The "
viii. , and the "Martyrology of Cashel" at the loth of January, give the same gene- alogy. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," x. Januarii. Vita S. Diermitii, n. 2, p. 52.
3 The fullest and most satisfactory descrip-
tion of this race and their district we possess
is in that work, "The
ably-edited Genealogies,
Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach, commonly called O'Dowda's Country," with a Translation and Notes, and a Map of Hy- Fiachrach, by John O'Donovan. It ap- peared in 1844, under the auspices of the
Irish
This account was
'° We are told on this by Colgan,
Menologic Genealogy," chapter
Archaeological Society.
account, that he deserved the distinction of being
taken from the Book of Leacan, R. I. A. , and
from the Genealogical Manuscript of Duald
Mac Firbis, in the Library of Lord Roden. '• She was the daughter of Tren, son to Dubthach O'Lugair. The following were her children, according to one account : St.
progenitor to a numerous and holy offspring. An Irish Life of St. Patrick, lib. i. , cap.
xvii. , is quoted as authority.
"See "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima
Vita S. Fatricii, lib. iii. , cap. xxii. , p. 153.
154 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January lo.
atDomnachFiac,asmentionedintheTripartiteLifeofSt. Patrick. " Such a supposition must throw Diarmait back to a generation before that in which he really flourished. We feel at a loss to know the exact period of this saint's birth; butittookplace,mostprobably,aboutthecommencementofthesixth
century.
In his early youth, St. Diermit made great progress, both in learning and
sanctity. After the usual course of ecclesiastical studies, having first become a monic, he was afterwards ordained priest. ^3 The duties of this office he
discharged with great zeal, fervour, and fidelity. He became a spiritual director and teacher, it is said, to St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise,'+ and he was also a friend to St. Senan, Abbot of Iniseathy. 's Besides the exalted opinion entertained of him by many distinguished ecclesiastics, the laity conceived a most extraordinary veneration for his character. That surname,'^ by which he was distinguished, served to indicate the depth and sincerity of this feel- ing. *' According to Colgan, he composed a sort of metrical psaltery. In this the names of the principal holy persons are invoked, including those of fifty- twoIrishsaints. Thisworkwaswritteninveryancientandveryelegantmetre. Some of those celebrities mentioned, however, appear to have lived after St.
Diermaifs time, in the opinion of Colgan. Such names he supposes to have been interpolations of a later period. The names, St. Malruan and St. Adamman alone, are instanced, as examples of additions by another and a more recent writer. '^ In the absence of other proof than bare assertion, might we not consider less distinguished saints, bearing such names, to have lived before or contemporaneously with St. Diermit ? Still, it must be ad- mitted, that if the identity be unquestionable, the authorship of this piece must be assigned most likely to some writer who lived centuries after the age ofSt. Diermaid.
The Martyrologists of Donegal favour the opinion, that he was the author
of this tract ; although its very title would seem to disprove any such conjec-
ture. It was Diarmaid, they tell us, that composed the Cealtair Dichill,'9 in verse, in which he invoked a countless number of the apostles and saints of the world, and of the saints of Ireland, as a protection and shelter for himself, just as Colum composed the difficult poem, called the Luirech or Sgiathluirech
of Colum-Cille, This latter
begins :
" The shield of God as a
protection
" Ibid, n. 40, p. 183. Also Quinta Appen-
dixad ActaS. Patricii," cap. xxiii. , p. 267. illustrious Irish Apostle. See ibid. Acta
'3 He is called a priest, by the Commen- Sanctorum Hibemiae," x. Januarii, nn. 1 1,
tator on jEngus, at the loth of January. He 12, p. 52.
corded of St. Diermit, in the Life of our ""
is designated as a bishop by Marianus O'Gor- man, at the same day. All the Martyrologists stylehimabbot.
'* For this statement, we have the autho- rity of the Commentator on ^ngus, at the loth of January, where he calls our saint, "the Priest of St. Kieran. " Again, in the Life of St. Kieran (chapters i. and iv. ) it is stated, that St. Diermitius, surnamed the Just, baptized St. Kieran, when an infant,
and afterwards instructed him the during
'S See the Life of St. Senan, which is given at the 8th of March,
'*Naoimh-Dhiarmuitor "Dennodthe "
Just.
^^ The name of our saint, in Irish, is
written Diarmuid, and sometimes Diarmuitt ; in Latin, it is written, at one time, Dier-
medus, and again Diermetus, but for the
most part Diermitius. The more correct
writing is Diermetus or Diermitius.
Colgan's time of his youth. Yet, Colgan says, he n. 9, p. 52.
was not altogether certain these accounts refer to our St. Diermit; especially since, in the Life of St. Patrick (lib. i. , cap. 21. ),
it is written, that St. Diermit, who baptized St. Kieran, was also a disciple of St. Patrick. Therefore, he was unwilling to insert in this saint's Acts, those edifying particulars re-
'' In a note Dr. Todd says, regarding Cealtair Diehill, "This poem, and also the Lorica of Colum-Cille, mentioned here, are extant in the Bruxelles MS. , which contains the Felire of ^ngus, and the Martyrologies ofMarianusO'GormanandTamlacht," One named Dichill probably wrote it.
'^
" Acta Sanctorum
Hibemiae,"
January io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 155
uponme,"&c. But,"Theyshallprotectmeagainsteverydanger,"wasthe beginning of what Diarmaid composed,^" as we are informed.
CHAPTER II.
ST. DIARMAID RETIRES TO INIS-CLOTHRANN—HE FOUNDS A MONASTERY THERE—HIS MANNER OF LIVING—HIS DEATH—POPULAR OPINIONS ABOUT THIS SAINT ON THE SHORES AROUND INCHCLERAUN—IVORY STATUE OF ST. DIERMIT—ST. DIERMAIT IS SAID TO HAVE FOUNDED A CHURCH AT FAUGHALSTOWN, IN THE COUNTY OF WEST- MEATH—HIS FESTIVAL AND COMMEMORATION—CONCLUSION-
Being desirous to secure solitude and the delights of heavenly contemplation, St. Diarmaid sought a retreat on Inis-Clotran Island, placed within Lough Ree,
andadjoiningthefore-shoreofthepresentcountyofLongford. ' Itwasa suitable spot for religious retirement. * Here, surrounded by the spreading watersoftheShannon,heerectedamonastery. Itafterwardsbecamefamous, on account of many persons, distinguished for their learning and piety, who were found within its enclosure. 3 St. Diermit was abbot over the community here,andwhichhehadcollectedaroundhim. Whilstonthisisland,wemay suppose, without giving much credence to fabulous accounts, regarding the manner in which their transmissions up and down the Shannon were made, that frequent interchanges of friendship took place between the holy abbots of Inis Clotran and Iniscathy. ^ The foundation of our saint's monastery is referred to about the year 540. S In a note, Dr. Lanigan seems to hesitate as to whether or not our saint flourished at such an early period. ^ The year of
^ In an Irish note, found in the table ap-
pended to the Martyrology of Donegal, and
of which the following is an English trans-
lation, [" On Loch Ribh in Cuircne, and no of Clonmacnoise" and in those of All woman or young female child can touch his
Relig {sepulchral church). And a Saxon
heretic woman, who violated it, cried out
and died immediately. Inis Diarmada is
the name of the island, with many Religs
and monasteries. "] We thus obtain an idea
of the popular veneration paid this saint.
5ByDr. Lanigan. ThusthetimesofSt. Diermait are said to synchronize with those of St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise, who died A. D. 548 ; of St. Senan of Iniscathy, who died A. D. 544 ; and of St. Dagseus, who died AD. 586. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 184, 185, 212, 213.
*
Colgan maintains, that Diermit lived about this time. Ware places the founda- tion of Inisclothran in the first ages of the Irish Church. See "De Hibemia et Anti- quitatibus ejus," cap. xxvi. , p. 172. Harris assigns it to the fifth century. But according to what Colgan has collected concerning this saint, it must have been much later ; for he is said to have been descended in the seventh
generation from Dathy, King of Ireland. This monarch was killed about the year 427. Such circumstances would lead us to be- lieve that Diermit flourished later than
See ibid. , pp. 4—00, 401. '
Chapter ii. It is remarked by Colgan,
that between ancient Meath and Connaught,
the River Shannon here extends, and forms
a lake, studded with many islands, where
cells and hermitages of various saints for-
merly abounded.
^
At certain times, it is both difficult and dangerous to reach the islands on Lough Ree in an open boat. Wild waves curl over the surface of the lake, beating on its shores and islands, when high winds prevail, as the writer had experienced during a boating ex- cursion to some of its islands in i860.
3 After St. Diermit, there flourished and
reposed at Inis Clothran, St. Senach, ab- bot of this place, a. d. 719, whose feast occursonthe20thofApril; St. Eochodius, abbot, A. D. 780 ; St. Curoius, abbot, and a most learned doctor, A. D. 869 ; Aldus O'Finn, bishop, A. D. 1136; Nehemus
See Dr. " Ecclesias- Lanigan's
amanof a andan even O'Dunin, letters, poet
540.
excellent historian, who died on the 17th of December, A. D. 1160. Besides these, others are mentioned in the "Annals
Saints' Island. See also Dr. O' Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 318, 319, 386, 387, 514, 515; and vol. ii. ,
pp. 1052, 1053, 1 136, 1 137.
* Colgan has introduced some stanzas from
the metrical Life of St. Senan to illustrate St. Diermait's Acts.
156 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January io.
Diermait's death is not known ; but we have it recorded, he departed this Ufe in his monastery, at Inis Clotran,? the loth of Januaiy. On this day his feast is celebrated. ^ By one of our Martyrologists, Marianus O'Gorman, he is said to have been a bishop. 9 — —
ThepresentsituationofInis-Clothran nowcalledInchcleraun'° isad-
mirably distinguished with its antique remains on the Ordnance Survey Town- landMapsfortheCountyofLongford. " TheinhabitantsofCashelparish, in this district, call it the Seven Church Island," and consider it to have been the most important of those various islands on Lough Ree. ^3 The people about the shores have a very special veneration for St. Diermait, who is said to have blessed all the islands in the lake, except one, to which an
Irish name is This given.
" the island. " forgotten
in
Popular traditions abound, in connexion with the ruins of a church, Temple-
"
dermot, named after our saint, and the
for the desecration of which, a remarkable punishment befel the Quaker who resided on Inchcleraun. The boatman, who rowed Mr. O'Donovan over to this island, declared, that about six weeks previously he and tvvo others saw
plainly and distinctly in the noon-day, a tall and stately figure walk along the waves from Inchcleraun with a measured step, until this apparition disap- peared in the dim distance, near Athlone. The boatman and his companions believed the phantom to be St. Diermait, or some other early saint, connected with the island, and who had come to visit his old habitation on earth. '*
A beautiful ivory statue of St. Diermit, for a long time, had been preserved on the island. In order to save it from the Vandalism of Protestant Re- formers, it was buried in the earth. Afterwards, it was removed,'= by the brother of a regular priest. He wTote an account, concerning this discovery, to the Irish hagiologist. Father John Colgan. The name of this person has not been given, lest, as Colgan asserts, the Iconoclasts might be enabled to
tical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , §3, p. IO, and p. ii, n. 36.
^ Having mentioned the island of Inis-
commonly-called Clunes ; and whom that registry says, was buried there with St. Tigernach, first bishop of that see. But I
"On submitthispointtothe Inisclothrann, not far distant from the above, Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
boffin, on Lough Ree, Brewer says :
enquiry
ofothers. "
about the year 540, which became famous for its schools, and the numerous learned
to, is that of Clones, a town within the
countyofMonaghan,anddioceseofClogher. »° It has likewise obtained the modem
name of Quaker's Island, from a person of that denomination formerly residing there.
" See sheet 21.
" In Irish, OileAn riA yQ&tz DceATn^vuLl.
See John O'Donovan's letter, dated Long-
ford. May 22nd, 1837. "Letters and Ex-
tracts containing Information relative to the
Antiquities of the County of Longford, col-
lected during the progress of the Ordnance
Survey in 1837," pp. 54, 56.
'3 The fullest account of Inis Clothran is
that subsequently written by Mr. O'Donovan,
when he had visited this island. See his
letter dated Strokestovvn, August 19th,
men who studied within the ment of its insulated walls. " of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 276.
retire- See "Beauties
^According to St. i^ngus, Marianus O'Gorman, and the Calendar of Cashel. These authorities give the names of his father, mother and their progenitors. Many other saints bore his name, and were from
the same part of the country. Concerning these, the reader is referred to a note already
given at the 6th of January, when treating about St. Diarmaid, Bishop of Airindh-In-
daich, art. iii. , note 5. Henry Fitzsimon,
the English Martyrology, and other authori-
ties also treat about Diermit, a disciple to
"
lative to the Antiquities of the County of
St. atthe of Adam- Columba, 3rd August. 1837.
^Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii.
5 In the Franciscan copy we find tomchon
Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Ap-
I'd.
*See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," t^ui|' . . . . tcA can be deciphered.
typographical Colgan has the 19th for the 9th of January.
p.
152
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. January io.
as through a glass and dimly, and know them in part f let us trust in the Divine mercy, that hereafter we shall know them, as we ought to be known, and see them face to face.
Article VIII. —St. Baithin. The preservation of a saint's name is too frequently in our calendars the mere representation of a well-spent life. A festival, in honour of Baithin, is recorded in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the pth of January. Nothing more explicit occurs, where Baeithin is simply set down in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ on this day. His place is not recorded.
Article IX. —St. Finia or Fine, Abbess of Kildare. [Eighth Century. '] Because truth and innocence of life distinguish holy virgins, they live without stain before the throne of God. ^ We are informed by Colgan,= that Finia, Abbess of Kildare, died on the 9th of January, a. d. 800. The same year is set down for the death of this Fine, in the Annals of the Four Masters. 3
Although it is not expressly stated, Colgan seems to regard this day as dedicated to her memory.
Article X. —St. Brendin, or Brenainn. He is the true disciple, who, leaving all things to follow Christ, never swerves from a faithful service.
Brendin is mentioned in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 9th of January. " Nor do we find any etymon localizing him, where we read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 of Brenainn, as having a feast on this day.
Article XI. —Reputed Feast of St. Erhard, Bishop of Ratisbon, in Bavaria. [Seventh Centmy. ] The 9th of January, to St. Erhard or Nerard, bishop and confessor, the MS. of Florarius enters as a feast, accord- ingtoBoUandus. HisActshavebeengivenatthepreviousday.
Cents Bap of Slanuarp*
ARTICLE I—ST. DIARMAID OR DIERMIT, ABBOT OF INIS CLOTHRANN, OR INCHCLERAUN, COUNTY OF LONGFORD, AND OF FAUGHALS- TOWN, COUNTY OF WESTMEATH.
iSIXTH CENTURY. ^
CHAPTER I.
is more common in life than the eager pursuit of false objects and
INTRODUCTION—FATHER AND MOTHER OF ST. DIARMAID—HIS IDENTITY AND BIRTH— HIS EARLY STUDIES—HE BECOMES A MONK AND AFTERWARDS A PRIEST— HE IS SAID
TO HAVE BEEN THE AUTHOR OF A METRICAL PSALTERY—THIS AUTHORSHIP DOUBTFUL.
IS
falsefriends. Thushuman areled NOTHING beings
inthesearchfortrue piness. Man has three kinds of friends on earth. For the most part, he does
'See I Corinthians, xiii. , 12. »
Art. VIII. — Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii.
'
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. 11. Art. IX. — Apocalypse, xiv. , 5.
410, 411. Art. X.
'Edited
' is
"See "Trias Thaumaturga,
"
^5"]% boA. . . The latter part illegible, but there can be no doubt it is intended to commemorate Beathen.
Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. Brigidje, cap. ii. , p.
629.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. II.
hap-
3 See OTJonovan's edition, vol. i. , pp.
—
astray
Rev. Dr.
"In the Franciscan copy we read t^^^e11•011l1
by
Kelly, p. xii.
January io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 153
not know them well until the time when he is called from this world, in order to give an account of his conduct. The first of these friends, wealth and possessions, remain behind him, and fall into the keeping of others. The second, his relations, accompany him only to the grave, and soon forget his pastexistence. Hisworksoffaithandlaboursoflovefollowhimintoeternity, and are his real abiding friends, before the throne of God. There he will be recompensed, according to his works. Even the cup of cold water, which is given to one who thirsts, will not be unrewarded. How thoughtlessly, then, does the man act who concerns not himself, in the least degree, about such true friends, when he can secure them here below, and cause them to smooth his departure from a world of disappointments and trials. The holy anchorites disregarded wealth and the society of kinsmen ; they only desired to labour and to live for God, that so He might befriend them in the hour of
danger.
In various Irish calendars and records we are furnished with the pedigree
of this celebrated saint' He is called in Irish, Naoimh Dhiarmuit, which signifies Diermit " the Just," or " the Holy. " He is said to have been son to Lugna, and to have followed seventh in descent from Dathy, King of Ire- land, who was killed about the year 427. * This holy Diarmait belonged to the Hy-Fiachrach family, who inhabited a considerable part of the Connaught province. 3 According to ^ngus the Culdee, and Maguire, his mother was named Dediva f but following another account, in the Calendar of Cashel, her name was Editua,^ of the Kiennacht country. ^ She is said to have been of noble race and the mother of many saints. 7 She was a grand-daughter to
Dubtach O'Lugair,^ arch-poet, who so courteously received St. Patrick,' when he preached in the royal palace of King Leogaire at Tara. '°
It is hardly admissible, as Colgan seems to think, the present St. Diarmaid was that same Diermitius, the disciple of St. Fiech. " He spent some time
Article i. — Chapter i. — ' Charles
Maguir, or the Commentator on St. Angus'
"Feilire,"at the loth of January, refers our saint's origin to King Dathy, in the follow- ing line. St. Diermit of Inis-Clothrann was son to Lugna, son of Lugad, son to Finbarr, son ofFraic, sontoCathchuon, son of . (Engus, called by some Becchuon, son of David, son to Fiachrius, son of Eochod, sumamed Moimedon.
Senan, son of Fintan ; St. Manchin, son of
Collan, in the territory of Corann; St. Callin, a disciple of St. Columkille ; St. Fedlimid of Kilniore ; St. Dagius, son of Cariil ; St. Femia, daughter of Cariil; and St Diermait, of Inis-CIothrann. This seems a very surpris- ing number of saints, and childi'en of the same mother. From the foregoing accounts, it would appear, that Dediva had been married to four different husbands.
s " Acta Sanctorum
Colgan's Hibemise,"
x. Tanuarii, n. 3, p. 52.
°
So Cathal Maguir states. Ibid, n. 4.
7 This matron was the mother of six sons, and of one daughter ; all of these were 11- lustrious for their sanctity, as St. ^ngus the Culdee asserts, in his book "On the
Mothers of Irish Saints," num. 2.
* men and women are said to Thirty holy
have descended from this celebrated per- sonage. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise. " Vita S. Diermitii, cap. i, and nn. i to 8, p. 52, ibid.
' See his Life at the 17th of March.
*The "
viii. , and the "Martyrology of Cashel" at the loth of January, give the same gene- alogy. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," x. Januarii. Vita S. Diermitii, n. 2, p. 52.
3 The fullest and most satisfactory descrip-
tion of this race and their district we possess
is in that work, "The
ably-edited Genealogies,
Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach, commonly called O'Dowda's Country," with a Translation and Notes, and a Map of Hy- Fiachrach, by John O'Donovan. It ap- peared in 1844, under the auspices of the
Irish
This account was
'° We are told on this by Colgan,
Menologic Genealogy," chapter
Archaeological Society.
account, that he deserved the distinction of being
taken from the Book of Leacan, R. I. A. , and
from the Genealogical Manuscript of Duald
Mac Firbis, in the Library of Lord Roden. '• She was the daughter of Tren, son to Dubthach O'Lugair. The following were her children, according to one account : St.
progenitor to a numerous and holy offspring. An Irish Life of St. Patrick, lib. i. , cap.
xvii. , is quoted as authority.
"See "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima
Vita S. Fatricii, lib. iii. , cap. xxii. , p. 153.
154 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January lo.
atDomnachFiac,asmentionedintheTripartiteLifeofSt. Patrick. " Such a supposition must throw Diarmait back to a generation before that in which he really flourished. We feel at a loss to know the exact period of this saint's birth; butittookplace,mostprobably,aboutthecommencementofthesixth
century.
In his early youth, St. Diermit made great progress, both in learning and
sanctity. After the usual course of ecclesiastical studies, having first become a monic, he was afterwards ordained priest. ^3 The duties of this office he
discharged with great zeal, fervour, and fidelity. He became a spiritual director and teacher, it is said, to St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise,'+ and he was also a friend to St. Senan, Abbot of Iniseathy. 's Besides the exalted opinion entertained of him by many distinguished ecclesiastics, the laity conceived a most extraordinary veneration for his character. That surname,'^ by which he was distinguished, served to indicate the depth and sincerity of this feel- ing. *' According to Colgan, he composed a sort of metrical psaltery. In this the names of the principal holy persons are invoked, including those of fifty- twoIrishsaints. Thisworkwaswritteninveryancientandveryelegantmetre. Some of those celebrities mentioned, however, appear to have lived after St.
Diermaifs time, in the opinion of Colgan. Such names he supposes to have been interpolations of a later period. The names, St. Malruan and St. Adamman alone, are instanced, as examples of additions by another and a more recent writer. '^ In the absence of other proof than bare assertion, might we not consider less distinguished saints, bearing such names, to have lived before or contemporaneously with St. Diermit ? Still, it must be ad- mitted, that if the identity be unquestionable, the authorship of this piece must be assigned most likely to some writer who lived centuries after the age ofSt. Diermaid.
The Martyrologists of Donegal favour the opinion, that he was the author
of this tract ; although its very title would seem to disprove any such conjec-
ture. It was Diarmaid, they tell us, that composed the Cealtair Dichill,'9 in verse, in which he invoked a countless number of the apostles and saints of the world, and of the saints of Ireland, as a protection and shelter for himself, just as Colum composed the difficult poem, called the Luirech or Sgiathluirech
of Colum-Cille, This latter
begins :
" The shield of God as a
protection
" Ibid, n. 40, p. 183. Also Quinta Appen-
dixad ActaS. Patricii," cap. xxiii. , p. 267. illustrious Irish Apostle. See ibid. Acta
'3 He is called a priest, by the Commen- Sanctorum Hibemiae," x. Januarii, nn. 1 1,
tator on jEngus, at the loth of January. He 12, p. 52.
corded of St. Diermit, in the Life of our ""
is designated as a bishop by Marianus O'Gor- man, at the same day. All the Martyrologists stylehimabbot.
'* For this statement, we have the autho- rity of the Commentator on ^ngus, at the loth of January, where he calls our saint, "the Priest of St. Kieran. " Again, in the Life of St. Kieran (chapters i. and iv. ) it is stated, that St. Diermitius, surnamed the Just, baptized St. Kieran, when an infant,
and afterwards instructed him the during
'S See the Life of St. Senan, which is given at the 8th of March,
'*Naoimh-Dhiarmuitor "Dennodthe "
Just.
^^ The name of our saint, in Irish, is
written Diarmuid, and sometimes Diarmuitt ; in Latin, it is written, at one time, Dier-
medus, and again Diermetus, but for the
most part Diermitius. The more correct
writing is Diermetus or Diermitius.
Colgan's time of his youth. Yet, Colgan says, he n. 9, p. 52.
was not altogether certain these accounts refer to our St. Diermit; especially since, in the Life of St. Patrick (lib. i. , cap. 21. ),
it is written, that St. Diermit, who baptized St. Kieran, was also a disciple of St. Patrick. Therefore, he was unwilling to insert in this saint's Acts, those edifying particulars re-
'' In a note Dr. Todd says, regarding Cealtair Diehill, "This poem, and also the Lorica of Colum-Cille, mentioned here, are extant in the Bruxelles MS. , which contains the Felire of ^ngus, and the Martyrologies ofMarianusO'GormanandTamlacht," One named Dichill probably wrote it.
'^
" Acta Sanctorum
Hibemiae,"
January io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 155
uponme,"&c. But,"Theyshallprotectmeagainsteverydanger,"wasthe beginning of what Diarmaid composed,^" as we are informed.
CHAPTER II.
ST. DIARMAID RETIRES TO INIS-CLOTHRANN—HE FOUNDS A MONASTERY THERE—HIS MANNER OF LIVING—HIS DEATH—POPULAR OPINIONS ABOUT THIS SAINT ON THE SHORES AROUND INCHCLERAUN—IVORY STATUE OF ST. DIERMIT—ST. DIERMAIT IS SAID TO HAVE FOUNDED A CHURCH AT FAUGHALSTOWN, IN THE COUNTY OF WEST- MEATH—HIS FESTIVAL AND COMMEMORATION—CONCLUSION-
Being desirous to secure solitude and the delights of heavenly contemplation, St. Diarmaid sought a retreat on Inis-Clotran Island, placed within Lough Ree,
andadjoiningthefore-shoreofthepresentcountyofLongford. ' Itwasa suitable spot for religious retirement. * Here, surrounded by the spreading watersoftheShannon,heerectedamonastery. Itafterwardsbecamefamous, on account of many persons, distinguished for their learning and piety, who were found within its enclosure. 3 St. Diermit was abbot over the community here,andwhichhehadcollectedaroundhim. Whilstonthisisland,wemay suppose, without giving much credence to fabulous accounts, regarding the manner in which their transmissions up and down the Shannon were made, that frequent interchanges of friendship took place between the holy abbots of Inis Clotran and Iniscathy. ^ The foundation of our saint's monastery is referred to about the year 540. S In a note, Dr. Lanigan seems to hesitate as to whether or not our saint flourished at such an early period. ^ The year of
^ In an Irish note, found in the table ap-
pended to the Martyrology of Donegal, and
of which the following is an English trans-
lation, [" On Loch Ribh in Cuircne, and no of Clonmacnoise" and in those of All woman or young female child can touch his
Relig {sepulchral church). And a Saxon
heretic woman, who violated it, cried out
and died immediately. Inis Diarmada is
the name of the island, with many Religs
and monasteries. "] We thus obtain an idea
of the popular veneration paid this saint.
5ByDr. Lanigan. ThusthetimesofSt. Diermait are said to synchronize with those of St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise, who died A. D. 548 ; of St. Senan of Iniscathy, who died A. D. 544 ; and of St. Dagseus, who died AD. 586. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 184, 185, 212, 213.
*
Colgan maintains, that Diermit lived about this time. Ware places the founda- tion of Inisclothran in the first ages of the Irish Church. See "De Hibemia et Anti- quitatibus ejus," cap. xxvi. , p. 172. Harris assigns it to the fifth century. But according to what Colgan has collected concerning this saint, it must have been much later ; for he is said to have been descended in the seventh
generation from Dathy, King of Ireland. This monarch was killed about the year 427. Such circumstances would lead us to be- lieve that Diermit flourished later than
See ibid. , pp. 4—00, 401. '
Chapter ii. It is remarked by Colgan,
that between ancient Meath and Connaught,
the River Shannon here extends, and forms
a lake, studded with many islands, where
cells and hermitages of various saints for-
merly abounded.
^
At certain times, it is both difficult and dangerous to reach the islands on Lough Ree in an open boat. Wild waves curl over the surface of the lake, beating on its shores and islands, when high winds prevail, as the writer had experienced during a boating ex- cursion to some of its islands in i860.
3 After St. Diermit, there flourished and
reposed at Inis Clothran, St. Senach, ab- bot of this place, a. d. 719, whose feast occursonthe20thofApril; St. Eochodius, abbot, A. D. 780 ; St. Curoius, abbot, and a most learned doctor, A. D. 869 ; Aldus O'Finn, bishop, A. D. 1136; Nehemus
See Dr. " Ecclesias- Lanigan's
amanof a andan even O'Dunin, letters, poet
540.
excellent historian, who died on the 17th of December, A. D. 1160. Besides these, others are mentioned in the "Annals
Saints' Island. See also Dr. O' Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 318, 319, 386, 387, 514, 515; and vol. ii. ,
pp. 1052, 1053, 1 136, 1 137.
* Colgan has introduced some stanzas from
the metrical Life of St. Senan to illustrate St. Diermait's Acts.
156 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January io.
Diermait's death is not known ; but we have it recorded, he departed this Ufe in his monastery, at Inis Clotran,? the loth of Januaiy. On this day his feast is celebrated. ^ By one of our Martyrologists, Marianus O'Gorman, he is said to have been a bishop. 9 — —
ThepresentsituationofInis-Clothran nowcalledInchcleraun'° isad-
mirably distinguished with its antique remains on the Ordnance Survey Town- landMapsfortheCountyofLongford. " TheinhabitantsofCashelparish, in this district, call it the Seven Church Island," and consider it to have been the most important of those various islands on Lough Ree. ^3 The people about the shores have a very special veneration for St. Diermait, who is said to have blessed all the islands in the lake, except one, to which an
Irish name is This given.
" the island. " forgotten
in
Popular traditions abound, in connexion with the ruins of a church, Temple-
"
dermot, named after our saint, and the
for the desecration of which, a remarkable punishment befel the Quaker who resided on Inchcleraun. The boatman, who rowed Mr. O'Donovan over to this island, declared, that about six weeks previously he and tvvo others saw
plainly and distinctly in the noon-day, a tall and stately figure walk along the waves from Inchcleraun with a measured step, until this apparition disap- peared in the dim distance, near Athlone. The boatman and his companions believed the phantom to be St. Diermait, or some other early saint, connected with the island, and who had come to visit his old habitation on earth. '*
A beautiful ivory statue of St. Diermit, for a long time, had been preserved on the island. In order to save it from the Vandalism of Protestant Re- formers, it was buried in the earth. Afterwards, it was removed,'= by the brother of a regular priest. He wTote an account, concerning this discovery, to the Irish hagiologist. Father John Colgan. The name of this person has not been given, lest, as Colgan asserts, the Iconoclasts might be enabled to
tical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , §3, p. IO, and p. ii, n. 36.
^ Having mentioned the island of Inis-
commonly-called Clunes ; and whom that registry says, was buried there with St. Tigernach, first bishop of that see. But I
"On submitthispointtothe Inisclothrann, not far distant from the above, Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
boffin, on Lough Ree, Brewer says :
enquiry
ofothers. "
about the year 540, which became famous for its schools, and the numerous learned
to, is that of Clones, a town within the
countyofMonaghan,anddioceseofClogher. »° It has likewise obtained the modem
name of Quaker's Island, from a person of that denomination formerly residing there.
" See sheet 21.
" In Irish, OileAn riA yQ&tz DceATn^vuLl.
See John O'Donovan's letter, dated Long-
ford. May 22nd, 1837. "Letters and Ex-
tracts containing Information relative to the
Antiquities of the County of Longford, col-
lected during the progress of the Ordnance
Survey in 1837," pp. 54, 56.
'3 The fullest account of Inis Clothran is
that subsequently written by Mr. O'Donovan,
when he had visited this island. See his
letter dated Strokestovvn, August 19th,
men who studied within the ment of its insulated walls. " of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 276.
retire- See "Beauties
^According to St. i^ngus, Marianus O'Gorman, and the Calendar of Cashel. These authorities give the names of his father, mother and their progenitors. Many other saints bore his name, and were from
the same part of the country. Concerning these, the reader is referred to a note already
given at the 6th of January, when treating about St. Diarmaid, Bishop of Airindh-In-
daich, art. iii. , note 5. Henry Fitzsimon,
the English Martyrology, and other authori-
ties also treat about Diermit, a disciple to
"
lative to the Antiquities of the County of
St. atthe of Adam- Columba, 3rd August. 1837.
