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SOME
This saint was son to a man named Baithus Bannaigh, or Buadhach, which means Baithus the Victorious. Laidgen thus belonged to a very respectable parentage. Yet, we are told, he abandoned the riches and honours of this world,tobecomeamonkinClonfertMoluaMonastery. Thismusthave been soon after its foundation. Here, under the direction of its abbot, St. Lactan,^ the disciple became distinguished for all the virtues of his state ; and in order to forget worldly allurements, St. Laidgen's thoughts were continually
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumiturga. '' Appendix iii. , ad Acta S. Patricii, § xxvi:. , p. 204.
AuT. I. --' See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," xii. Januarii. Vita S. Laidgenni, pp. 57, 58.
' He was the immediate successor of the founder, as appears from the Life of St.
Molua, cap. liii.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 230, 231. The " Annals of Ulster" place his death at A. D. 608.
* It is represented on the " Ordnance Sur- vayTownlandMapsfor the Queen's County,"
"
See his Life at the 4th of August.
work, January,
occupied with enjoyable meditations on eternal life.
He was exercised in all
the humble practices of penance. He spent many years in performing his usual monastic observances, and in the cultivation of extraordinary virtues, which were the admiration of his fellow religious. He wrought many miracles. It seems possible—but by no means certain—that this holy man may have been under the direction of the illustrious founder, who died in the year 605. 3
This once-renowned sanctuary of Clonfert MoUoe, now so desolate, within
the barony of Upper Ossory and Queen's County, is still represented by the parish of Kyle. It is in a townland also ca'led Kyle,* where some remains of the
ancient church may still be seen. The^e fragments are faithfully represented in the accompanying sketch. s Here St. Lua or Molua^ established a religious foun- dation, in the sixth century ; and from him the place was anciently known as Clonfert Molua. Various popular traditions are rife regarding this holy founder, among the peasantry in the neighbourhood of Kyle. Its graveyard has long been a favourite place for burial. Laidgen does not appear to have reached a higher station than that of a simple monk at Clonfert Molua, although the contrary has been s::ated,7 without sufficient examination. The memory
7 By Archdall, who is a very unsafe autho-
rity. In his account of Clonfert Mulloe, ifi-
correctly placed in the King's County, he
" 12, died the Abbot 660, January
writes,
Laidgene," &c. See " Monasticon Hibei;-
nicum," p. 379.
January 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 179
of St. Laidgen was celebrated at Clonfert Molloe^ with a devotion second only to that entertained towards the founder of this house. ^ Our saint died on the 1 2th of day of January/" in the year 660. " He was buried in Clonfert Molua. That this saint was notable amongst most distinguished holy men in his time may be collected from the circumstance of his being named in the Festilogy of St, ^ngus," written before or soon after the year 800 ; for in this no. saint is mentioned who was not considered to hold a high rank in the Irish Church,
Old Church of Kyle, or Clonfert Molua, Queen's County.
and whose memory was not honoured by a special festival. The name of this
' Many holy persons are venerated in berniiE," xii. Januarii, n. 5, p. 58. At this
that place, such as Luanus, at the ^. th of August ; St. Lactan, his disciple and succes- sor, at the 19th of March ; Saints Chrittanus, Lonanus, and Mellanus, sons to Dareus, at the 7th of February ; Soergalus, Moenachus Finginus, with other saints and celebrated abbots. Of none, however, with the excep- tion of our saint, is it remarked that their tomb is there to be seen.
9 All our annalists and martyrologists are
unanimous in recording these facts, as may
be seen to " Acta Sanc- by referring Colgan's
torum Hibernise," xii. Januarii, pp. 57, 58.
'°
At this day all our Menologies record the death of St. Laidgen.
noise," of Roscrea, of All Saints' Island,
and of Ulster, place his demise at the year
660. See Colgan's
same year his death is thus recorded by the Annals of the Four Masters, "St. Laidh- geann, son of Baeth, of Cluainfearta-Molua, died on the I2th of January. "—O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 270, 271.
" The following Irish stanza and its Eng- lish translation were supplied by Professor O'Loonev, from the Laebhar-Breac copy, R. I. A. , fol. 79.
"The" of Martyrology
E. ii. id. "The ofMus- great martyrdom
centi
With his numerous gentle
clerics
Christ hath the secret of his
deserts
Laidcend, son of Bath Bai^-
Donegal" agrees with these foregoing authorities, as to the day on which our saint's natalis had been celebrated. It also coincides as to the year of his death. The " Annals of Clonmac-
"
Acta Sanctorum Hi-
dach. "
e. I'i.
I'D.
m<ifCi\A mo^ 1Tlu]*cenci
CoTiA CAin chlei^
clantxMg
CiMfC {i\ ^xuriAi-o |\in-OAi5 tATOcent) triAC b^ich bAiroAig.
i8o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 12.
saint is written Laidcenn mac Baith Banaigh, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,'3 atthe12thofJanuary. '* TheCalendarsofCashel,andofMarianusO'Gorman attest the same festival. The " Kalendarium Drummondiense" observes that on the 12th of January the holy confessor Ladchend ascended to the stars. 's In the Martyrology of Donegal,'^ we find recorded on this day Laidhgenn, sonofBaeth,ofCluain-fearta-Mulloe,orClonfertMolua. Therehisburial- place is said to have been. All our hagiologists and annalistic writers com- memorate this saint. '7 Besides this saint Laidgen, there were three other saints/^ bearing the same name, and recorded in our Annals. Having thus so many bright examples and names before our minds, we should raise up our hearts to God, and ask Him to give us something of that purity and unsel- fishness, and ennobling nature, perfecting us to face the world to come. God'slovetomandemandsman'slove,thatbelongstoHim. Ourfervour will make us less ignoble, and less unworthy that holiest and most subHme of all titles to become saints, and close imitators of those who formerly adorned
our island.
Article II. —St. Conain, or Conan, of Aeg, or Ega, now the Is- land OF Egg, in Scotland. This remote unit among the Hebride group of islands is remarkable for the martyrdom of St. Donnan and his fifty-two companions, on the 17th of April,' a. d. 617. This event rendered the spot a scene of religious dearth, probably for some time ; but missionary life re- sumed its usual course. Conan, of Aeg, is recorded in the Martyrology of Donegal" on this day, and also in the Martyrology of Tallagh,3 on the 12th of January. * In a nearly similar manner, he is called Conain Ega, in this latter record. He flourished probably in or after the seventh century ; nor is he the only Irish saints connected with that island. Ega or Egga is well
on one of those valuable annexed to the " Paro- represented maps Origines
chiales Scotise. "^ It lies due north of the parish and promontory of Ardna- murchan, a tract of magnificent scenery and romance,? within the deanery of
Morvern,^ and diocese of Argyle. The island of Egg belongs, however, to thedioceseoftheIsles; anditisincluded,withseveralotheradjoiningislets,
under the designation of Kildonan parish. 9 Formerly it appears to have in-
'3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii.
' In the Franciscan copy we read I/Aitj- cent) rriAC baich o ctLU . . . The latter word in small characters is illegible.
'5 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of the
Scottish Saints," p. 2.
'* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
14, 15.
'^ Colgan's
s Besides the present saint, with St. Don-
nan and his martyred companions, there was a St. Berchan, of Egg, venerated on the loth, and St. Enan, of the Island Eig, on the 29th of April, as also St. Congha- lach, of Ard-Eig, at the 22nd of December. See Rev. Wm. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba. " Additional notes K, pp. 307, 308.
*
? Allusion is made—to this scene in Sir
"
xii. Januarii, n. 4, p. 58.
**
Vol. ii. , part i.
Acta Sanctorum Hibemise,"
These were, a St. Laidgen, venerated on
the 20th of May
a St. comme- Laidgen,
Walter Scott's
;
:
Till Mull's dark headlands scarce they
morated on the 23rd of October ; and a third
St. Laidgen, son to Bochra, who, with her
brothers, St. Cannech and St. Accobran,
had been honoured at a place called Achadh- raithin, in the country of the Decias, on the 28th of No—vember.
'
AuT. ll. See notices of their martyrdom
at that date.
'
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 14. IS- •
' Edited by Dr. Kelly, p. xii.
* The Franciscan copy has CAin egA.
knew,
And Ardnamurchan's hills were blue.
"
poem
" To favouring winds they gave the sail,
e
"Lord of the Isles," canto iii. , §xii. . . . «<dark Mull ! thy mighty sound,
Where thwarting tides with mingled roar, Part thy swarth hills from Morven's shore. " "Lord of the Isles," canto i. , § vii. 9 So called from the Irish saint Donan, whose festival is commemorated at the 1 7th
of April
January 12. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 181
eluded the islands of Eigg, Muck, and Rum, with the smaller islets, called Ellain Chaistal and EUian no' n'Each, the former lying adjacent to Eigg, and the latter to Muck. All these islands, with Canna and the smaller island, named Elian Gainmhich, now form the parish of the Small Isles. '° Canna, or Cannay, seems to have been formerly a separate parish. " Towards the close of the last century, a ruined chapel and a small cross were here to be seen. Probably before the Protestant Reformation, a priest was attached to that chapel, and a resident on the island. '^ A view of some singularly formed rocks on this island is to be found in Pennant's work. We are told, that the church was dedicated to St. Columba, and that its situation was apparently about the middle of this island. Between a. d. 1389 and a. d. 1401, Canna, also called Kannay, belonged to Godfrey, the son of John, Lord of the Isles. '3 Before 1549, it belonged to the Abbot of Icolmkill. '^ In 1561, the parsonage is entered in the bishopric rental as one of those pertaining to its abbot. '5 In 158S, the lands of Cannay belonged to the Clanian. '^ In 1662, when King Charles II. appointed an archdeacon for the Isles, Canna was
to as one of his " kirks. "'7 A Macdonald of Clan- assigned him, proper
Ronald was proprietor in 1772. '^ To the writer it seems probable enough our St. Conan gave name to the Island of Canna, ^9 or Cannay ; and it is possible, that he lived there for a time, although this cannot be stated with certainty, for want of proper materials to throw light on his acts.
Historical and religious interest, however, cannot be sufficiently gratified by meagre notices and unsafe conjectures.
Article III. —St. Cummein or Ctjimmine, Son of Dubh, of Drum- Druith. a festival in honour of Cuimmine mac Duibh, of Druim Druith,
of at the 12th of "= The Tallagh,' January.
is in the registered
Ivlartyrology
place to which he belonged has not been identified. The Martyrology of
Donegal3 likewise mentions, as having a festival on this day, Cumme'in, son ofDubh,ofDrum-Druith. ThereisaCuimin,sonofDimaDubh,belonging to the race of Fiachra, son to Eochaidh Muighmhedhoin. Finding a saint of this name interred at Bobbio, in the north of Italy, and not being able to
'° " See
Origines ParochialesScotire," vol. p. 534.
Scott's description of "
Canna's tower, that, steep and gray, Like falcon-nest o'erhangs the bay. Seek not the giddy crag to climb,
To view the turret scathed by time ;
;
Scotland, and Voyage to the Hebrides, To yonder turret gray.
ii. , part i.
" See a very excellent historical description
,
of it in the work already quoted, ibid. , pp. 338 to 340.
" Pennant, who visited it in July, 1772,
gives a very interesting account of Cannay,
its productions, customs, and religion. Then
it was inhabited by two hundred and twenty of the islanders, who souls all of
It is a task of doubt and fear
" Afterwards follows the sad romantic legend
came,
To aught but goat or mountain deer.
four " how with their chieftain families, tell,
whom, except
were Roman Catholics. See " A Tour in In ancient times a foreign dame,
MDCCLXXII. ," pp. 271 to 276.
'3 Coll. de Reb. Alb. , pp. 297, 298.
'* Munro's description of the Western
Isles," Circa a. d. 1640.
'5 The bishop held, however, a third
"Rental of the Bishoprick," Coll. de Reb.
Stern was her lord's suspicious mind, Who in so rude a jail confined
So soft and fair a thrall !
And oft when moon on ocean slept,
That lovely lady sale and wept Upon the castle wall. "
Alb. , pp. 3, 4. "Lord o—f the Isles," canto iv. , § viii.
'* '
Gregory, p. 239.
'7 "Acta Pari. Scot," vol. vii. , p. 403.
'^ See Thomas Pennant's "Tour in
Scotland and Voyage to the Hebrides,
MDCCLXXII. ," p. 274.
''The reader will recollect Sir Walter
Dr.
Art. III. Edited by Rev. Kellv,
p. xii.
= In the Franciscan copy we read CAimine
triAc 'Ouib o 'Oiuiini 'DiauicIi.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
14, 15.
132 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 12.
discover with any certainty his having been different from the present holy man, Colgan has some memoranda regarding him inserted at the 12th of
The name of Cummine first occurs at this date in our Calendars ;
January.
and for no better reason is the Cummine or Cumian of Bobbio here
introduced. *
Article IV. —St. Sinell, Son of Tighernach. The Martyrology of
Donegal' mentions, on this day, Sineall, son of Tighernach, son of Alild, belonging to the race of Eoghan, son to Niall. Again, he is entered simply
A con-
appear that Sinell, the son of Tighernach, was altogether a distinct person.
Article V. —St. Loichein of Iveagh, County of Down. This saint appears to have been venerated in Uibh Eathach, within the barony of Iveagh, sometimes Anglicized Evagh, county of Down. ' To identify the
exact locality, however, or to assign the period, when this holy personage flourished, cannot be done with accuracy. We read in t. e Martyrology of Donegal^ to-day the simple name Loichein. This may be the Lochdn, it is added, of the family of Eochaidh, son to Muiredh, who is of the Heremonian race. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ he is simply called Loichen. The sept of Ui-Eathach Cobha* gave name to the baronies of Iveagh. s
Article VI. —St. Laighne or Laigne, Son of Garbain. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 12th of January,^ there is mention of a St Laigne, son of Garbain. Laighne, son of Garbhdn, is set down in the
Martyrology of Donegal3 on this day.
Article VII. —St. Fuillen or Foelan, Bishop. A festival in honour of Foelan, bishop, is recorded in the Martyrology of Tallagh' on the 12th
in the Martyrology of Tallagh^ on the 12th of January,3 as Sinell,
jectiure has been offered by Colgan, that the present holy man may be the same as Sinell or Senell, Senior, a disciple of St. Patrick. * An alternative guess, however, assigns his possible feast to the 12th of November. ^ But as the disciple of St. Patrick, to whom allusion is made, was the son of Findchath,^ and one of St. Patrick's earliest converts in Leinster, it must
* See " Acta Sanctoram Hiberniae," xii.
his note — 18. 35, p.
'
Art. v. See Rev. William Reeves'
Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Con-
Januarii. Vita S. Cumiani, pp. 58, 59. '
Art. IV. — Edited by Drs. Todd and
"
Reeves, pp. 14, 15.
'Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii.
3 In the Franciscan copy, at this day, we
have his name united with the saint imme-
diately succeeding, in this form, SinLli ocuf Loichem.
* See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap- pendix ad Acta S. Patricii. , cap. xxiii. , p. 265.
nor, and Diomore. " Appendix H. H. pp.
348 to 352, and Calendar LL. p. 376, ibid.
5 The baronies of Upper and Lower 5 St. Sinell of Cleenish, Lough Erne, who Iveagh take in all the western portion, or
was venerated on the 12th ol November, could not have been St. Patrick's disciple.
By a typographical error, not infrequent, the month of September has been substi- luted for November.
" Secunda Vita S. Patricii,"
"
Septima Vita S. Pa- tricii," lib. i. , cap. xlii. , p. 123. Nor does Colgan sufficiently clear up this matter in
nearly one—-half of the County Down,
Art. vi. 'Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii.
'See
3 Kdited
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
ibid. ,
cap. xxxv. ,p. 13, and
by 14, 15. —
Art. Vil. p. xii.
pp. Kelly,
*
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
14, 15.
3 Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii.
* See " The Topographical F^oemsofJohn O'DubhagainandGiollanaNaomhO'Huidh- rin," p. xxvi. Dr. O' Donovan's note, 169.
^
of eight foreign saints, the first Irish name is that of tAigne mAC ^A^vb^i
In the Franciscan copy, after the entry
'Edited by Rev.
Dr.
January 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 183
of January. ' This holy man is not distinguished by the epithet, bishop, where we find simply Fuillin, as mentioned in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 on this day.
Article VIII. —St. Baoithin or Baithin, Son of Neamhnann, Abbot.
We find, in the Martyrology of Donegal,' Baoithin, son of Neamhnann, as having been venerated on this day. He is entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 12th of January,^ under the designation of Baithini, mac Nemainn, abbot.
C! )irteetttl) IBaji) cf Sanuajrp*
ARTICLE I. —ST. AILILD I. , ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. [FIFTH AND SIXTH CENTURIES. ^
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—DESCENT AND GENEALOGY OF ST. AILILD I. —HI3 HOLY BROTHERS AND THEIR PLACES.
vigilant pastor of souls, making a slight deduction for the time he
THE
must to rest and is never idle. He
is eitner engaged at prayer, or at study, or in active and elevated employments. The latter works are noted by many ; but God and the saints can only know how much he prays. His vocal prayers may often be required in the per- formance of the public Church liturgy, or ceremonials ; but his mental orisons, or his silent, contemplative lite, plead not less perfectly and power- fully the wants of himself and his flock. Yet, he enjoys more happiness
amid his cares and burdens, than do the sons of darkness in the Babel of
false pleasures and wickedness surrounding them. The good shepherd of souls endeavours to make atonement for the sins of his people.
At the 13th day of January, Colgan has drawn up some accounts regard- ing this holy prelate, from the Acts of St. Patrick, and from other sources, while he has added some comments of his own to solve difficulties which are presented. ' Before St. Patrick's arrival in Ireland, about a. d. 432, a chieftain named Trichem lived in an eastern part of Ulster. This assertion is capable of proof, from the circumstance of Dichuo, son to this Trichem,
having bestowed on St. Patrick the site for Saul Monastery.