Catholic and Pro- testant, with the
greatest
veneration.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
**
In after times, the Isle of Man held a close relation with Ireland. *? Its
first missionaries seem to have been recruited from our Island. There is
reason to suppose, in early days, the population was not very large, as during the eighth century, Venerable Bebe estimates the inhabitants at three hundred families. Tiiere are several very ancient and interesting churches in the Isle of Man,*' and these have been frequently described. In one of these, called St. Maughold, the relics of the Patron had been preserved to the time of the Protestant Reformation,*^ which did not seriously affect the Catholics there, until about the seventeenth century. A succession of bishops ruled over the diocese here established, and their names are recorded in the chronicles of the Isle of Man. After the early Christian ages, it was seized upon by the Nor- wegians. '" For a long period, it had a succession of kings,'" and their history has been preserved, chiefly in connexion with that of the Hebridean chiefs,'^ who belonged to the Northman race. '3 It is said, that Pope Gregory IV. , who sat from 828 to 844,7't erected this island with all the Hebrides into one bishopric, and the prelate who presided over this See was called Bishop of Sodor'5 and Man. '* But, when the latter became dependent on the Kingdom of England, the Western Islands claimed to have a bishop of their own. He wasstyledSodorensis,butmorecommonlyBishopoftheIsles. Duringanin- teregnum in 1075, on the death of their King Lag-man, the nobility of the Isles sent commissioners to Muircheard O'Brien, King of Ireland, asking him to send some worthy person of the royal family, who might act as regent, until the son of Godred was fit to govern. The king nominated one Donald McTade to the office, and recommended him to govern the country with bounty and moderation. But, disregarding such instructions, the regent behaved despotically and cruelly towards tlie people, so that at last a con- federacy of Hebridean chiefs expelled him from the Island. Near the close
'3 See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiberaici- ' See " A Descriptive Historical Account rum Scriptores," tomus iv. Annales Ulto- of the Isle of Man," &c. , pp. 40, 41,
nienses, pp. 7, 8. . '* In Keith's "Catalogue of Scottish
Bishops," p. 298. Russel's edition.
's This is probably a misprint, for A. D. 518. See Rev. Joseph George Cumming's
"Isle ofMan,"&c. Appendix P, p. 342. " There is a remarkable spring, at Chapel- ton of Kilmaichlie, in the immediate neigh- bourhood of the old chape! outlines, and in the parish of Inveravon. It is cased with
published at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in 1809,
"
stones. See Bishop Forbes' Kalendars of Sovereigns of the World, from the Ear-
Scottish Sniuts," p. 380,
''See Cough's Camden's "Britannia,"
vol. iii. , p. 699.
liest to the Present Period. " London, 1795, folio,
"SeeSirHarrisNicolas' "Chronology
of History," p. 209.
's This Swedish word is said to mean the
sail or oar islands, and it is said the North- men so named them, as objects for their fre- quent expeditions southwards. See " En- cyclopedia Britaniiica. " Art. Isle of Man.
? ' SeeR. Willis' "Account of the Diocese of Man," with plates, published in the last century, 4to.
'*
At Douglas, but without date, has
been Delamotte's " Views published Eight
of the Churches and Chapels in the Isle of Man. " This is an oblong 4to volume.
'' See " Les Petits Bollandistes Vies des Saints," tome v. xxv Jour d'Avril. n. i, p. 15. '° See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot- land: A History of Ancient Alban," vol. i. ,
Book i. , chap, vii. , p. 345.
i2mo.
'' See the Rev. James Johnstone's
"
Anti- quitates Celto-Normanicse," Chronicon
Manniae, pp. 3 to 55.
"The old Kings of Man, Table DCXL,
with the Kings of Man, and Earls of Derby, of the Family of Stanley, Table DCXLI have their descent set down, in the Rev. William Betham's "Genealogical Tables of the
April 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 485
of the eleventh century, Magnus Barefoot subdued it, and in 1143, Godred, who afterwards became King over the Northmen of Dublin. After the inva-
sion of Scotland by Haco, King of Norway, and the junction of Magnus, Kins of Man, with his forces, they were defeated in the Battle of Largs ti by Alexander III. , King of Scotland, who recovered possession, and then ruled over the Hebrideans and Manx, in the year 1266. '^ When he died, these latter people placed themselves under the protection of Edward I. , who then governed England. He directed it to be restored to John Baliol, who had done homage for the kingdom of Scotland, held then from the English crown. - ManwasafterwardsseizeduponbyEdward11. " TheEnglishkingswhosuc- ceeded bestowed the Island upon their favourites. Edward III. , by letters patent, conveyed Man to Sir Simeon de Montacute. At length. Sir John
Stanley, under Henry IV. of England, became owner in perpetuity, and it wasregardedasanappanageofhisfamily. WhenthetenthEarlofDerbydied without issue, in the first half of the last century, the Isle of Man reverted to the Duke of Athol, who had married one of the Ladies Stanley. *" This Duke gave the island, with certain reservations, to the British Government, but, it was purchased for the sum of ;^7o,ooo. '' In 1829, these reservations were alsoyielded,onthepaymentofaconsiderablesum. Altogether,theIsleof MancostabouthalfamillionsterlingtotheBritishGovernment. Notwith- standing, during all these changes, the Manx never gave up their own form ofgovernment,theirlaws,northeirindependence. '" Theindustrious,intel- ligent and thrifty population of this Island is about 52,000, while agriculture, mining, and fishing '3 maintain them in plenty. During the summer season, there is a large influx of pleasure-seekers and visitors. Their lead, copper, zinc, and iron mines are worked with great advantage to their export trade f* whiletheypaysmallroyalties,onthemineswhichareopened. Withthese fines upon them, they contrive, however, to enjoy a good political and social constitution, besides having the blessings of home rule, and a popular represen- tation. TheirHouseofKeysis theParliament; whilethemembersmanageall important affairs, and provide for the necessities of their constituents, con- sistently with a wise economy in the administration of their revenues. The people profess, for the most part, the religion of the English Established Church; however,theyhavetheirowncanons,andanindependentconvoca- tion. '3
For some time after the so-called Reformation, the Manx made a
" See an account of these transactions in
"
Dr. James Taylor's
Scotland," vol. i. , chap, vi. , pp. 78 to 80.
'* See the Chronicle of the Kings of Man,
8vo volume, published at Douglas in that
year.
'^ Their herring and cod fisheries produce
about ;^6o,ooo per annum. They cure about
400,000 barrels of herrings or about thirty millions of that fish alone.
•* The customs duties about bring
;f30,000 per annum to the British revenue,
in Cough's Camden's
p. 709.
168.
""See "History of the House of Stanley
from the Conquest," published at Preston, A. D. 1793, 8vo.
•' "
See History of the Isle of Man, with
the Situation and Geographical Description thereof, and account of the Purchase of the Island from the Duke of Athol. " This was published at Preston, . *. D, 1793, 8vo.
•' M. A. Mills has edited tlie "Ancient Ordinances and Statute Laws of the Isle of Man, carefully copied from, and compared
with, the original Records, from the earliest date to the year 1841. " This is a thick royal
'» See Bell's James
Britannia," vol. iii. ,
of
"System
phy. Popular and Scientific," vol. iii. , part
i. , p.
many years ayo their ecclesiastical courts, and abolished one court which had little or no- thing to do, while the vicar-general was then overruled in a demand, which interfered with the public interest, as the House of Keys
"
Pictorial History of
Geogra-
"= The Manx have not regulated
understood it.
•" For this account and the
succeeiling statements, the writer is indebted to the Rev.
EdwardCaflfrey, who servedtheMissionof St. Mary's, Douglas, for some time in the Isle of Man. His interesting letter is dated St. Mary's, Widnes, Lancashire, May 5tli, 1873.
486 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 25.
noble stand against the Reformers. ** At length, Catholicity seems to have dis- appeared, and it used to be repeated, that not a Manx Papist could be found. However, the Cliurch was gradually recruited, by the accession of a few Catho- lic fishermen, ^7 during the last century ;^^ and, in the beginning of the present. Father M'Pharlan, a native of Down, and previously P. P. of Castleknock, was thefirsttobuildaCatholicchajielontheIsland. ThiswasdedicatedtoSt. Brigid, about the year 181 1^9 It was a mile out from town, and quite close to the ancient Nunnery of St. Brigid. 9° A Father Gahan, S. J. , came to the Island in 1825, and from this time, a resident priest always lived there. 9' Afterwards, Father Peter M'Gratii, who arrived direct from Maynooth, was full of zeal, and the flock under his charge daily increased. '^ This mission was next entrusted to Father Carr, who built St. Mary's, in Douglas. One of the guide books says, it is undoubtedly the finest church on tlie Island. w Tile Isle of Man, until recent times, was thought to have been under the guar- dianship of the Catholic Archbishops of Dublin ; but, it is now attaclied to
the Diocese of Liverpool, and subject to the jurisdiction of its Bishop. At present, there is a Catholic population there of about three thousand souls.
Article II. —St. Maccaille, Bishop at Croghan, King's Countv. [Fifth Century. ^ One of the revered prelates of our early Irish Ciiurch was
"' A Father
O. S. B. , came for a time, in the year 1779, to hear their confes- sions, but he returnee] again to Whitehaven. The father of Mr. William Rooney and others had to leave Ireland in 1796, and when they came, there was neither priest, nor Catholic, to be found on the Isle. Mr. Rooney, a highly-respectable Irishman, living on the I^le of Man, communicated this infor- mation to the Rev. Mr. Caffrey. Another family named Fagan fled from the '98 affair, and brought with them as chaplain a Father Collins, who died soon after his arrival, and who is buried at St. Michael's, Derby
" Maximo. Deo, Optimo,
Johnson,
Mary's, Douglas.
SanctcE Briclgittae Capella, Pristinje pietate reddidit. Revus Milesius Mac Pharlanjuxta DubliniumParochus,A. D. 1811. "
*° The Very Rev. . Andrew O'Connell, be- fore he became Parish Priest of SS. Michael and John, Dublin, afterwards translated to St. Mary's, Haddington-road, and who died Dean of Dublin, a. d. 1876, with several other Irish priests, spent short missionary in- tervals, among the poor Irish refugees, who dwelt on the Island.
' His congregation began rapidly to in- crease. He purchased a Club-house, in the town of Douglas, and that he converted into a very neat chapel. He died in 1837. from a fever caught in the discharge of his holy ministrations.
Haven.
'" It appears, that a census of the Catho-
lics was taken about 1781, by order of the
Vicar- Apostolic of the Northern District of
England, and that the niimljer returned was
only 25. After that same time, an exiled now stands the handsome church of St. French priest came from Nantes, and he is
highly praised, by a Protestant writer, for his morals and learning. He was allowed to celebrate Mass in a barn, near St. -Mary's famousabbeyofRushen. Thatecclesiastic lived wi:h the Governor of Castle Rushen, taught his and the Protestant Bishop's chil- dren French, besides teaching at Peel gram- mar school.
^ During the memorable struggle of '98, a Major TauUman was commanding the brutal Manx Fencibles, and Fr. iM'l'harland allowed him the use of his house. On com- ing to the Isle, Father M'Pharland was grate-
fully acknowledged by the Major, who was owneroftlie "nimnery '"grountis, and he gave a piece of land for 5s. , on which St. Brid- gid's little chapel was erected. The stone,
with the inscription, is still preserved at St.
Mary's, in Douglas. When about to com- mence building the church, after seven-
*" He bought that ground, on which
teen years ot hard missionary labour, he was removed from the Inland. Both Father Gahan and Father M'Grath arestill spoken of by the old inhabitants.
Catholic and Pro- testant, with the greatest veneration.
'^ It was opened in August, 1859, by Dr. Go-s, Bishop of Liverpool. Ramsey has its neat little Chapel of Our Lady and St. Maughold, with a resident priest; nor are the simple fishermen of Peel without their chapel, dedicated to SS. Patrick and Ger- manus. It is built near the ruins of Peel
Castle, and it was opened in 1865. There is now a community of Sisters of Mercy, who teach the poor schools, keep a select school for young ladies, and who do a great deal of good, by their visits to the sick and destitute.
April 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 487
the venerable man of whom we are now to treat, but whose special Acts do notseemtoliavebeenwritten. TlieBollandisishavejiublishedaccountsofthe Holy Bishops Maccalleus, of Cruachad, and of Machaldus, in the Isle of Man, at the 25th of April. ' As we have seen, in the previous Article, these
personages are to be distinguished. Mac-Caille is variedly called Maccille, Macalleus, Kilius Cailleus, Maccille,' and Machillus. This latter is tiie form of his name, as used by Surius. 3 Little is known, regarding the birth and parentage of this saint. As in the Irish lan_;uage, however, Mac signifies
" and son,"
in a notice of tliis man, taken from one of St. Patrick's holy
as,
Lives,* his name is Latinized Films Cailie, it seems to be almost certain, that Caiile was the name of his father,' and it may have been given by his parents, or it may have arisen, owing to some other cause. Nevertheless, another opinion has been advanced, and which shows, that Maccalle may have been the true way for spelling his own name. He is sometimes called Macull;* yet, this has probably more immediate reference to the saint, whose Life pre- cedes. Maccaille is stated, also, to have been one of St. Patrick's nephews, by his sister Darerca;' and, he is thought, in all probability, to have been the same as that Maceleus, who is classed among the disciples of St. Patrick. ' Again, it is conjectured,' that Maceleus had been identical witji a person men- tioned in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick,'" and who is named Macetus, or Maccectus. " Having found Maccalleus elsewhere, and wishing to swell the number of St. Patrick's disciples, the Rev. Dr. Lanigan remarks, that Colgan thoughtitbetter,todistinguishhimfromtheMaceleusofTirechan. " How- ever, Maceleus or Makaleus differs not from Maccaleus, in the ancient Irish pronunciation. A very general opinion now prevails, that the present holy man had been a disciple to St. Mel, or Melchu, of whom St. Patrick was sup- posed to be uncle. St. Maccaille was elevated to thegovernment of achurch at Cruachad, or Cruachan Bri-Ele,'3 in the territory of Offaly, or Hy Failge ;'* and, this place is expressly mentioned in the Calendar of Cashel, and in other documents, as that where his church stood. 's Here, it is stated, he was a Bishop. ItwasontheconfinesofLeinsterandMunster,''accordingtothe
See the " Catliolic Directory, Ecclesiastical This is an opinion of Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
Register and Almanack, lor tlie year ofotti » By Father John Colg. in.
" "' Lord 1872, p. 167. London, l2mo.
Article ii. — See " Act. i Sanctorum,"
See Septinia Vita . S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xli. . p. 135, and n. 81, p. 176, lib. iii. ,
tomusiii. , xxv. "DeSanctis Aprilis.
xcvili. , p. 167, and n. 129, 188. p.
Epis- copis Hi'>erni5 Mac. illeo in Cruachndia, et Machaldo in Insula Mona, pp. 366 to
cap. "
268. '""
368. AccordingtoaManuscript,belongingto
the Monastery of St. Amani. ;.
3 In " De Pioliaiis Sanctorum Vitis. "
Which is quoted, in Ussher's " Britan-
nicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitatcs," cap. XV. ,
p. 336.
* Colgan observes :" loco tamen nominum
propriorum temporis siiccessu usurpata. ut suolococonsiabit denominibusjl/uffarM/nw, Maccainiie, Maccrrirhe, Maccallain, Mac- lasre, A/actiiisf, Mactait. Mactiena, aliisque similibus. " See " Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Prima S. Bri','idae, sect. 8, 9, and Secunda Vita S. Brigidae, n. II, pp. 525, 526.
' See Circle of the Seasons," p. 116.
' This statement is given, in the O'CIerys'
MartyroloLiy. Her feast is assigned to the 22nd of M. ircb.
p.
' Who are included in Tirechan's list
pp.
525,
526.
See "Trias Tliauniaturga," Quinta Ap- pendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. ,
See EcclesiasticalHistoryofIreland," vol. i. , chap, vii. , sect, v. , p. 335, and nn. 33, 39, 42, pp. 337 to 339, (*/</.
" See under this head, Duald Ma,c Firbis, entry of Mac CailiC, Bishop, in "Proceedin[;s of the Royal Irish Aca- demy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 102, 103.
'• "This place is still well known, and the ruins of the church of St. Maccaille are to be seen on the eastern side of the con- spicuous hill of Croghan, near Tyrrell's Pass, on the confines of the Kin—g s County, and thecountyofWestmeath. " Dr. Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , p.
152, n. (in).
'5 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Secunda
Vita S. Brigidse, cap. iii. , p. 519, and n. 11,
488 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 25.
former extent of the latter province, and before a part of it was added to the present King's County. The Eile, with which the name of that place ter-
minates, was a district, commonly called Ely O'Carroll. It has been sup- posed, that while Mac-calle's See was established, at the place already named ; his jurisdiction also extended over a considerable tract of country, and that we may reasonably conclude, he had been consecrated, before a. d. 465''' The range of Croghan Hills gives name to a small parish, in the barony of Lower Philipstown, King's County. There are three well-defined summits, the highest of which rises towards the west, and this elevation is terminated by a remarkable cone, from which a most extensive and varied view of all the neighbouring Irish counties may be obtained. Immediately under it, and sloping along the hill-side, with its aspect towards the east, the crowded
Croghan Hill and Cemetery, King's County.
cemetery, within which a church '^ was formerly to be seen, is now enclosed, with a low and parapeted stone wall. A great number of head-stones '' with in- scriptions rise over the graves ; and this spot is still a favourite and frequented place for interments. ''" This hill was, no doubt, that site, formerly selected by St. Macaille, for his religious establishment. ^" It is said, one Macca, or as
" See ibid. Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. iv. , p. 231.
"' See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vii. , sect.
grave-yard.
' The material used for these is the grey
limestone of the King's County.
" The accompanying illustration, drawn
on the spot by the author, in August, 1883,
was afterwiirds transferred to the wood, by
William F. Wakeman, and it was engraved
by Mrs. Millard.
""
See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
335, and n. 44, pp. 339, 340, ibid.
" The writer was informed, by a farmer named Egan, living near the place, that the foundations remained, end were occasionally unearthed, near the centre of the present
v. ,
p.
April 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 489
others will have it Machilla," a disciple of St. Patrick, presented the veil to ,
St Bridget. By many, it was supposed, that the holy Patroness of Kildare
received it from the Bishop of Soder, in the Isle of Man. 's He bore a name,
somewhat similar to that of our saint, and to this circumstance may be attri-
buted the popular error. But, he does not appear to have been baptized,
much less consecrated as Bishop, at the time when St. Brigid had been veiled.
However, the illustrious and holy Abbess received the veil from the son of
Cuille, or Caille, i. e. , Maccaille,''* in Uisninch Midi, or Usneagh, in West-
meath, according to some accounts ;=s and there, too, it has been supposed,
that our saint usually resided. It is stated, that Maccaille had an inspiration
from Heaven, regarding St. Brigid's earnest desire of becoming a virgin, she
being so remarkable for her maidenly love of chastity. ^* He consecrated her
to the Almighty,'' by receiving her vows, and by investing her with a white
'^ or
the usual dress of nuns, in the times of Christianity. '' early
cloak,
the cutting of her hair, which in the profession of holy virgins was not prac- tised, at this early period. 3° The date for St. Brigid's profession has been re- ferred, to about the middle of the fifth century. That Maccaille then officiated, is to be found in that entry of the Cashel Calendars" regarding his festival day, and this statement has been followed by Cathal Maguire. 3' An old Poem,33 ascribed to St. Brogan Cloen, agrees with such a notion. 34 On this occasion, according to another account,35 St. Brigid 3^ went to receive the
qui colitur in Cruachan Brighele in regione
de dedit velum Sanct£e Bfi- IfTalgia, ipse
gidse. "
3" At the same day, in his Festilogy, this
"
Magnus, cujus Ecclesia est in Cruachan
Brigh-eile in regione Ifalgine, et qui posuit velum candidum supra caput Sanctse Bri-
gidje. "
33 Written on the Virtues and Miracles of
veil,
The white garment of St. Brigid is noticed, likewise, as having been her pecu- liar dress, in the Third of her published Lives. There is no notice, about
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (m), p. 152.
" to " Et According John Capgrave :
assumptis secum tribus puellis perrexit ad
— Machillam, Sancti Patricii disci- Episcopum
S. Maccalleus
sect. pulum. "Vita S. Brigidie," 4.
writer observes
:
Episcopus
'3 See Ussher's " Britannicanim Ecclesia-
nim Antiquitates," cap. xv. , p. 336.
In after times, the Isle of Man held a close relation with Ireland. *? Its
first missionaries seem to have been recruited from our Island. There is
reason to suppose, in early days, the population was not very large, as during the eighth century, Venerable Bebe estimates the inhabitants at three hundred families. Tiiere are several very ancient and interesting churches in the Isle of Man,*' and these have been frequently described. In one of these, called St. Maughold, the relics of the Patron had been preserved to the time of the Protestant Reformation,*^ which did not seriously affect the Catholics there, until about the seventeenth century. A succession of bishops ruled over the diocese here established, and their names are recorded in the chronicles of the Isle of Man. After the early Christian ages, it was seized upon by the Nor- wegians. '" For a long period, it had a succession of kings,'" and their history has been preserved, chiefly in connexion with that of the Hebridean chiefs,'^ who belonged to the Northman race. '3 It is said, that Pope Gregory IV. , who sat from 828 to 844,7't erected this island with all the Hebrides into one bishopric, and the prelate who presided over this See was called Bishop of Sodor'5 and Man. '* But, when the latter became dependent on the Kingdom of England, the Western Islands claimed to have a bishop of their own. He wasstyledSodorensis,butmorecommonlyBishopoftheIsles. Duringanin- teregnum in 1075, on the death of their King Lag-man, the nobility of the Isles sent commissioners to Muircheard O'Brien, King of Ireland, asking him to send some worthy person of the royal family, who might act as regent, until the son of Godred was fit to govern. The king nominated one Donald McTade to the office, and recommended him to govern the country with bounty and moderation. But, disregarding such instructions, the regent behaved despotically and cruelly towards tlie people, so that at last a con- federacy of Hebridean chiefs expelled him from the Island. Near the close
'3 See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiberaici- ' See " A Descriptive Historical Account rum Scriptores," tomus iv. Annales Ulto- of the Isle of Man," &c. , pp. 40, 41,
nienses, pp. 7, 8. . '* In Keith's "Catalogue of Scottish
Bishops," p. 298. Russel's edition.
's This is probably a misprint, for A. D. 518. See Rev. Joseph George Cumming's
"Isle ofMan,"&c. Appendix P, p. 342. " There is a remarkable spring, at Chapel- ton of Kilmaichlie, in the immediate neigh- bourhood of the old chape! outlines, and in the parish of Inveravon. It is cased with
published at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in 1809,
"
stones. See Bishop Forbes' Kalendars of Sovereigns of the World, from the Ear-
Scottish Sniuts," p. 380,
''See Cough's Camden's "Britannia,"
vol. iii. , p. 699.
liest to the Present Period. " London, 1795, folio,
"SeeSirHarrisNicolas' "Chronology
of History," p. 209.
's This Swedish word is said to mean the
sail or oar islands, and it is said the North- men so named them, as objects for their fre- quent expeditions southwards. See " En- cyclopedia Britaniiica. " Art. Isle of Man.
? ' SeeR. Willis' "Account of the Diocese of Man," with plates, published in the last century, 4to.
'*
At Douglas, but without date, has
been Delamotte's " Views published Eight
of the Churches and Chapels in the Isle of Man. " This is an oblong 4to volume.
'' See " Les Petits Bollandistes Vies des Saints," tome v. xxv Jour d'Avril. n. i, p. 15. '° See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot- land: A History of Ancient Alban," vol. i. ,
Book i. , chap, vii. , p. 345.
i2mo.
'' See the Rev. James Johnstone's
"
Anti- quitates Celto-Normanicse," Chronicon
Manniae, pp. 3 to 55.
"The old Kings of Man, Table DCXL,
with the Kings of Man, and Earls of Derby, of the Family of Stanley, Table DCXLI have their descent set down, in the Rev. William Betham's "Genealogical Tables of the
April 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 485
of the eleventh century, Magnus Barefoot subdued it, and in 1143, Godred, who afterwards became King over the Northmen of Dublin. After the inva-
sion of Scotland by Haco, King of Norway, and the junction of Magnus, Kins of Man, with his forces, they were defeated in the Battle of Largs ti by Alexander III. , King of Scotland, who recovered possession, and then ruled over the Hebrideans and Manx, in the year 1266. '^ When he died, these latter people placed themselves under the protection of Edward I. , who then governed England. He directed it to be restored to John Baliol, who had done homage for the kingdom of Scotland, held then from the English crown. - ManwasafterwardsseizeduponbyEdward11. " TheEnglishkingswhosuc- ceeded bestowed the Island upon their favourites. Edward III. , by letters patent, conveyed Man to Sir Simeon de Montacute. At length. Sir John
Stanley, under Henry IV. of England, became owner in perpetuity, and it wasregardedasanappanageofhisfamily. WhenthetenthEarlofDerbydied without issue, in the first half of the last century, the Isle of Man reverted to the Duke of Athol, who had married one of the Ladies Stanley. *" This Duke gave the island, with certain reservations, to the British Government, but, it was purchased for the sum of ;^7o,ooo. '' In 1829, these reservations were alsoyielded,onthepaymentofaconsiderablesum. Altogether,theIsleof MancostabouthalfamillionsterlingtotheBritishGovernment. Notwith- standing, during all these changes, the Manx never gave up their own form ofgovernment,theirlaws,northeirindependence. '" Theindustrious,intel- ligent and thrifty population of this Island is about 52,000, while agriculture, mining, and fishing '3 maintain them in plenty. During the summer season, there is a large influx of pleasure-seekers and visitors. Their lead, copper, zinc, and iron mines are worked with great advantage to their export trade f* whiletheypaysmallroyalties,onthemineswhichareopened. Withthese fines upon them, they contrive, however, to enjoy a good political and social constitution, besides having the blessings of home rule, and a popular represen- tation. TheirHouseofKeysis theParliament; whilethemembersmanageall important affairs, and provide for the necessities of their constituents, con- sistently with a wise economy in the administration of their revenues. The people profess, for the most part, the religion of the English Established Church; however,theyhavetheirowncanons,andanindependentconvoca- tion. '3
For some time after the so-called Reformation, the Manx made a
" See an account of these transactions in
"
Dr. James Taylor's
Scotland," vol. i. , chap, vi. , pp. 78 to 80.
'* See the Chronicle of the Kings of Man,
8vo volume, published at Douglas in that
year.
'^ Their herring and cod fisheries produce
about ;^6o,ooo per annum. They cure about
400,000 barrels of herrings or about thirty millions of that fish alone.
•* The customs duties about bring
;f30,000 per annum to the British revenue,
in Cough's Camden's
p. 709.
168.
""See "History of the House of Stanley
from the Conquest," published at Preston, A. D. 1793, 8vo.
•' "
See History of the Isle of Man, with
the Situation and Geographical Description thereof, and account of the Purchase of the Island from the Duke of Athol. " This was published at Preston, . *. D, 1793, 8vo.
•' M. A. Mills has edited tlie "Ancient Ordinances and Statute Laws of the Isle of Man, carefully copied from, and compared
with, the original Records, from the earliest date to the year 1841. " This is a thick royal
'» See Bell's James
Britannia," vol. iii. ,
of
"System
phy. Popular and Scientific," vol. iii. , part
i. , p.
many years ayo their ecclesiastical courts, and abolished one court which had little or no- thing to do, while the vicar-general was then overruled in a demand, which interfered with the public interest, as the House of Keys
"
Pictorial History of
Geogra-
"= The Manx have not regulated
understood it.
•" For this account and the
succeeiling statements, the writer is indebted to the Rev.
EdwardCaflfrey, who servedtheMissionof St. Mary's, Douglas, for some time in the Isle of Man. His interesting letter is dated St. Mary's, Widnes, Lancashire, May 5tli, 1873.
486 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 25.
noble stand against the Reformers. ** At length, Catholicity seems to have dis- appeared, and it used to be repeated, that not a Manx Papist could be found. However, the Cliurch was gradually recruited, by the accession of a few Catho- lic fishermen, ^7 during the last century ;^^ and, in the beginning of the present. Father M'Pharlan, a native of Down, and previously P. P. of Castleknock, was thefirsttobuildaCatholicchajielontheIsland. ThiswasdedicatedtoSt. Brigid, about the year 181 1^9 It was a mile out from town, and quite close to the ancient Nunnery of St. Brigid. 9° A Father Gahan, S. J. , came to the Island in 1825, and from this time, a resident priest always lived there. 9' Afterwards, Father Peter M'Gratii, who arrived direct from Maynooth, was full of zeal, and the flock under his charge daily increased. '^ This mission was next entrusted to Father Carr, who built St. Mary's, in Douglas. One of the guide books says, it is undoubtedly the finest church on tlie Island. w Tile Isle of Man, until recent times, was thought to have been under the guar- dianship of the Catholic Archbishops of Dublin ; but, it is now attaclied to
the Diocese of Liverpool, and subject to the jurisdiction of its Bishop. At present, there is a Catholic population there of about three thousand souls.
Article II. —St. Maccaille, Bishop at Croghan, King's Countv. [Fifth Century. ^ One of the revered prelates of our early Irish Ciiurch was
"' A Father
O. S. B. , came for a time, in the year 1779, to hear their confes- sions, but he returnee] again to Whitehaven. The father of Mr. William Rooney and others had to leave Ireland in 1796, and when they came, there was neither priest, nor Catholic, to be found on the Isle. Mr. Rooney, a highly-respectable Irishman, living on the I^le of Man, communicated this infor- mation to the Rev. Mr. Caffrey. Another family named Fagan fled from the '98 affair, and brought with them as chaplain a Father Collins, who died soon after his arrival, and who is buried at St. Michael's, Derby
" Maximo. Deo, Optimo,
Johnson,
Mary's, Douglas.
SanctcE Briclgittae Capella, Pristinje pietate reddidit. Revus Milesius Mac Pharlanjuxta DubliniumParochus,A. D. 1811. "
*° The Very Rev. . Andrew O'Connell, be- fore he became Parish Priest of SS. Michael and John, Dublin, afterwards translated to St. Mary's, Haddington-road, and who died Dean of Dublin, a. d. 1876, with several other Irish priests, spent short missionary in- tervals, among the poor Irish refugees, who dwelt on the Island.
' His congregation began rapidly to in- crease. He purchased a Club-house, in the town of Douglas, and that he converted into a very neat chapel. He died in 1837. from a fever caught in the discharge of his holy ministrations.
Haven.
'" It appears, that a census of the Catho-
lics was taken about 1781, by order of the
Vicar- Apostolic of the Northern District of
England, and that the niimljer returned was
only 25. After that same time, an exiled now stands the handsome church of St. French priest came from Nantes, and he is
highly praised, by a Protestant writer, for his morals and learning. He was allowed to celebrate Mass in a barn, near St. -Mary's famousabbeyofRushen. Thatecclesiastic lived wi:h the Governor of Castle Rushen, taught his and the Protestant Bishop's chil- dren French, besides teaching at Peel gram- mar school.
^ During the memorable struggle of '98, a Major TauUman was commanding the brutal Manx Fencibles, and Fr. iM'l'harland allowed him the use of his house. On com- ing to the Isle, Father M'Pharland was grate-
fully acknowledged by the Major, who was owneroftlie "nimnery '"grountis, and he gave a piece of land for 5s. , on which St. Brid- gid's little chapel was erected. The stone,
with the inscription, is still preserved at St.
Mary's, in Douglas. When about to com- mence building the church, after seven-
*" He bought that ground, on which
teen years ot hard missionary labour, he was removed from the Inland. Both Father Gahan and Father M'Grath arestill spoken of by the old inhabitants.
Catholic and Pro- testant, with the greatest veneration.
'^ It was opened in August, 1859, by Dr. Go-s, Bishop of Liverpool. Ramsey has its neat little Chapel of Our Lady and St. Maughold, with a resident priest; nor are the simple fishermen of Peel without their chapel, dedicated to SS. Patrick and Ger- manus. It is built near the ruins of Peel
Castle, and it was opened in 1865. There is now a community of Sisters of Mercy, who teach the poor schools, keep a select school for young ladies, and who do a great deal of good, by their visits to the sick and destitute.
April 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 487
the venerable man of whom we are now to treat, but whose special Acts do notseemtoliavebeenwritten. TlieBollandisishavejiublishedaccountsofthe Holy Bishops Maccalleus, of Cruachad, and of Machaldus, in the Isle of Man, at the 25th of April. ' As we have seen, in the previous Article, these
personages are to be distinguished. Mac-Caille is variedly called Maccille, Macalleus, Kilius Cailleus, Maccille,' and Machillus. This latter is tiie form of his name, as used by Surius. 3 Little is known, regarding the birth and parentage of this saint. As in the Irish lan_;uage, however, Mac signifies
" and son,"
in a notice of tliis man, taken from one of St. Patrick's holy
as,
Lives,* his name is Latinized Films Cailie, it seems to be almost certain, that Caiile was the name of his father,' and it may have been given by his parents, or it may have arisen, owing to some other cause. Nevertheless, another opinion has been advanced, and which shows, that Maccalle may have been the true way for spelling his own name. He is sometimes called Macull;* yet, this has probably more immediate reference to the saint, whose Life pre- cedes. Maccaille is stated, also, to have been one of St. Patrick's nephews, by his sister Darerca;' and, he is thought, in all probability, to have been the same as that Maceleus, who is classed among the disciples of St. Patrick. ' Again, it is conjectured,' that Maceleus had been identical witji a person men- tioned in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick,'" and who is named Macetus, or Maccectus. " Having found Maccalleus elsewhere, and wishing to swell the number of St. Patrick's disciples, the Rev. Dr. Lanigan remarks, that Colgan thoughtitbetter,todistinguishhimfromtheMaceleusofTirechan. " How- ever, Maceleus or Makaleus differs not from Maccaleus, in the ancient Irish pronunciation. A very general opinion now prevails, that the present holy man had been a disciple to St. Mel, or Melchu, of whom St. Patrick was sup- posed to be uncle. St. Maccaille was elevated to thegovernment of achurch at Cruachad, or Cruachan Bri-Ele,'3 in the territory of Offaly, or Hy Failge ;'* and, this place is expressly mentioned in the Calendar of Cashel, and in other documents, as that where his church stood. 's Here, it is stated, he was a Bishop. ItwasontheconfinesofLeinsterandMunster,''accordingtothe
See the " Catliolic Directory, Ecclesiastical This is an opinion of Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
Register and Almanack, lor tlie year ofotti » By Father John Colg. in.
" "' Lord 1872, p. 167. London, l2mo.
Article ii. — See " Act. i Sanctorum,"
See Septinia Vita . S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xli. . p. 135, and n. 81, p. 176, lib. iii. ,
tomusiii. , xxv. "DeSanctis Aprilis.
xcvili. , p. 167, and n. 129, 188. p.
Epis- copis Hi'>erni5 Mac. illeo in Cruachndia, et Machaldo in Insula Mona, pp. 366 to
cap. "
268. '""
368. AccordingtoaManuscript,belongingto
the Monastery of St. Amani. ;.
3 In " De Pioliaiis Sanctorum Vitis. "
Which is quoted, in Ussher's " Britan-
nicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitatcs," cap. XV. ,
p. 336.
* Colgan observes :" loco tamen nominum
propriorum temporis siiccessu usurpata. ut suolococonsiabit denominibusjl/uffarM/nw, Maccainiie, Maccrrirhe, Maccallain, Mac- lasre, A/actiiisf, Mactait. Mactiena, aliisque similibus. " See " Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Prima S. Bri','idae, sect. 8, 9, and Secunda Vita S. Brigidae, n. II, pp. 525, 526.
' See Circle of the Seasons," p. 116.
' This statement is given, in the O'CIerys'
MartyroloLiy. Her feast is assigned to the 22nd of M. ircb.
p.
' Who are included in Tirechan's list
pp.
525,
526.
See "Trias Tliauniaturga," Quinta Ap- pendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. ,
See EcclesiasticalHistoryofIreland," vol. i. , chap, vii. , sect, v. , p. 335, and nn. 33, 39, 42, pp. 337 to 339, (*/</.
" See under this head, Duald Ma,c Firbis, entry of Mac CailiC, Bishop, in "Proceedin[;s of the Royal Irish Aca- demy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 102, 103.
'• "This place is still well known, and the ruins of the church of St. Maccaille are to be seen on the eastern side of the con- spicuous hill of Croghan, near Tyrrell's Pass, on the confines of the Kin—g s County, and thecountyofWestmeath. " Dr. Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , p.
152, n. (in).
'5 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Secunda
Vita S. Brigidse, cap. iii. , p. 519, and n. 11,
488 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 25.
former extent of the latter province, and before a part of it was added to the present King's County. The Eile, with which the name of that place ter-
minates, was a district, commonly called Ely O'Carroll. It has been sup- posed, that while Mac-calle's See was established, at the place already named ; his jurisdiction also extended over a considerable tract of country, and that we may reasonably conclude, he had been consecrated, before a. d. 465''' The range of Croghan Hills gives name to a small parish, in the barony of Lower Philipstown, King's County. There are three well-defined summits, the highest of which rises towards the west, and this elevation is terminated by a remarkable cone, from which a most extensive and varied view of all the neighbouring Irish counties may be obtained. Immediately under it, and sloping along the hill-side, with its aspect towards the east, the crowded
Croghan Hill and Cemetery, King's County.
cemetery, within which a church '^ was formerly to be seen, is now enclosed, with a low and parapeted stone wall. A great number of head-stones '' with in- scriptions rise over the graves ; and this spot is still a favourite and frequented place for interments. ''" This hill was, no doubt, that site, formerly selected by St. Macaille, for his religious establishment. ^" It is said, one Macca, or as
" See ibid. Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. iv. , p. 231.
"' See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vii. , sect.
grave-yard.
' The material used for these is the grey
limestone of the King's County.
" The accompanying illustration, drawn
on the spot by the author, in August, 1883,
was afterwiirds transferred to the wood, by
William F. Wakeman, and it was engraved
by Mrs. Millard.
""
See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
335, and n. 44, pp. 339, 340, ibid.
" The writer was informed, by a farmer named Egan, living near the place, that the foundations remained, end were occasionally unearthed, near the centre of the present
v. ,
p.
April 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 489
others will have it Machilla," a disciple of St. Patrick, presented the veil to ,
St Bridget. By many, it was supposed, that the holy Patroness of Kildare
received it from the Bishop of Soder, in the Isle of Man. 's He bore a name,
somewhat similar to that of our saint, and to this circumstance may be attri-
buted the popular error. But, he does not appear to have been baptized,
much less consecrated as Bishop, at the time when St. Brigid had been veiled.
However, the illustrious and holy Abbess received the veil from the son of
Cuille, or Caille, i. e. , Maccaille,''* in Uisninch Midi, or Usneagh, in West-
meath, according to some accounts ;=s and there, too, it has been supposed,
that our saint usually resided. It is stated, that Maccaille had an inspiration
from Heaven, regarding St. Brigid's earnest desire of becoming a virgin, she
being so remarkable for her maidenly love of chastity. ^* He consecrated her
to the Almighty,'' by receiving her vows, and by investing her with a white
'^ or
the usual dress of nuns, in the times of Christianity. '' early
cloak,
the cutting of her hair, which in the profession of holy virgins was not prac- tised, at this early period. 3° The date for St. Brigid's profession has been re- ferred, to about the middle of the fifth century. That Maccaille then officiated, is to be found in that entry of the Cashel Calendars" regarding his festival day, and this statement has been followed by Cathal Maguire. 3' An old Poem,33 ascribed to St. Brogan Cloen, agrees with such a notion. 34 On this occasion, according to another account,35 St. Brigid 3^ went to receive the
qui colitur in Cruachan Brighele in regione
de dedit velum Sanct£e Bfi- IfTalgia, ipse
gidse. "
3" At the same day, in his Festilogy, this
"
Magnus, cujus Ecclesia est in Cruachan
Brigh-eile in regione Ifalgine, et qui posuit velum candidum supra caput Sanctse Bri-
gidje. "
33 Written on the Virtues and Miracles of
veil,
The white garment of St. Brigid is noticed, likewise, as having been her pecu- liar dress, in the Third of her published Lives. There is no notice, about
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (m), p. 152.
" to " Et According John Capgrave :
assumptis secum tribus puellis perrexit ad
— Machillam, Sancti Patricii disci- Episcopum
S. Maccalleus
sect. pulum. "Vita S. Brigidie," 4.
writer observes
:
Episcopus
'3 See Ussher's " Britannicanim Ecclesia-
nim Antiquitates," cap. xv. , p. 336.
