No More Learning

began his reign, in the year 572 ; and, he
ruled twenty-six years, according to Ussher's
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 490, 500, and "Index Chro- nologicus," p. 535.
^ He was killed at the battle of
A. D. 598, according to Ussher. See ibid.
3 Many particulars are recorded about
Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," xv. Februarii, n. 14, p. 339.
"The Acts of St. Farannan have a state- ment, regarding -Columba, that after St.
Columba. " Additional Notes G, p. 279. 7 It is now called Drumclifife,
^
Colgan dues not attempt to identify this place.
Dunbolg,
him, and regarding his celebrated son,
Domnald, in the Acts of Dromcheat Synod,
as also in other ancient documents. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St.
in the Calendar, at the 9th of June. See "
55S LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS [February15.
country, and by many holy persons of both sexes. The place, where this assembly was held, seems to have been Easdara,9 as formerly called, and at
present Ballysadare,'° in the county of Sligo. The author of our saint's Acts says, that of Cumne's race" alone, there were many men and women renowned for their sanctity. She was the daughter of Dalbronnius and a sistertoBrotsecha,themotherofSt. Brigid. " Shewascelebratedforher numerous and holy progeny. ^3
The names of some among these holy persons are only given. We find enumerated, St. Moninnia^^ of Sliabh Culinn ; the two sons of ConalPs of
Killchora ; Manius,^^ Bishop of Tyr-Oilill ; Muredach,''7 of Killala, in Tyr- Amhalgaidh ; Ronius,^^ Bishop of Kill-Ronius \ Caiminus'9 of Inis-Kealtra ;
Regulus,=° of Mucinis, in the territory of Dalgeis ; Senanus,^^ of Inis-Cathy ; Senanus,^^ of Lathir Brivin ; Erninus,^3 of Cluain-reilgeach, in Meath ; Seven Bishops of Cluain Hemain f^ Libania^s and Fortchern,^^ of Odhba Keara,
9 It opens on a bay, into which falls the
Unshion or Ballysadare River. This issues
from Lough Arrow, near Boyle, and here it
is joined by the Coolaney River. At this
place, it falls over several ledges of rocks,
the last of which is ten feet in height, into
that arm of the sea, called Ballysadai-e
channel. vSee Lewis' "Topographical Dic- no ordinary size. But, he is of opinion, tionary of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 163.
^°
Here St. Fechin founded a church, as
those persons were not bishops of that place, whence they are named, but were only buried
may be seen in his Life, at the 20th of Jan-
uary.
" By others called Cumaine.
" See her Life, at the 1st of February.
^3 Colgan says, that no less than seventy- seven saints descended from her, according to a distich composed by Marianus Gorman or his Scholiast.
'* See her Life, at the 6th of July.
there, or that they were fellow-religious, either before or after their advancement to episcopal dignity. The church of Cluain- emuin is situated in the county of Roscom- mon and province of Connaught, as may be gleaned from the Annals of the Four Mas- ters, where we find it to have been plundered, A. D. 1089.
^5 Colgan could not say whether or not the author of our saint's Acts intended to convey an impression, that both these saints were
'5 Colgan says, he was unable to discover
who these two sons of Conall were. There
were many saints, such as St. Endeus, venerated in Partry, a territory of Connaught.
Darenia, Lochinia,&c. , who were descended from Conall Derg, son to the Prince of
Oirgellia. But, whether the persons spoken of, in this instance, were the sons of that
About A. D. 580, a certain holy virgin, named Libhan, flourished in Ulster, under the gui- dance of St. Comgall. She was daughter to Eochad, son to Mucod, Prince of Ulster,
Conall, alluded to, cannot be known. Our and she was venerated on the i8lh of De-
saint's epoch is by no means repugnant to an affirmative supposition, in the opinion of Colgan. See"ActaSanctorumHiberniLc/' XV. Februarii, n. 19, p. 339.
cember, according to Marianus, and the Continuator of ^nguss.
^^
AboutthecommencementofChristianity in Ireland, St. Fortchern, a disciple to St. Patrick and the second Bishop of Trim, in
"^
^7 The proper feast, of St. Muredach, Meath, flourislied. He was son to Fethlemin,
See his Life, at the 2nd of September.
Bishop of Killala, is observed in this diocese, on the 1 2th of August.
who was son to Leogaire, Monarch of Ire-
land, and according to the Martyrologies of Tallagh and Marianus Gorman his feast was
'^
See his Acts, at the 23rd of November.
^9 See his Acts, at the 25th of March.
Yet, his festival is entered, aLo, at the 24lh of March, by some Calendarists.
=°
See his Life, at the i6th of October.
^' The Acts of St. Senan of Iniscathy will
be found, at the 8th of March.
^^
See notices of him, at the 2nd of Sep- tember.
=^3 See notices of him, at the 5th of August.
kept at Trim, on the 17th of February. Colgan says, that —the same, or perchance, another Fortchern may
^^
ancient Book of Litanies, he finds the invo-
Colgan says, that in a certain very
Jocelin (cap, 52), and from the Irish Life of St. Patrick (par. 3, cap. 98), it does not seem likely, tiiat Forcliern could have lived
cation of seven Bishops of Cluainemhain,
But, it may be objected, even if seven afterwards to A. D. 580, when the assembly
bishops lived at the same place in succession, how could all of them be present, at one
time, and from the same place, at a public assembly ? To this Colgan replies, that in
the first place, the monastery, or congrega- tion, from which so many holy and respect- able men issued together, must have been of
of whom mention
—was vene- rated, on the nth of October, at Killfort- chearn, in Idrone, a territory of Leinster. But, as the disciple of St. Patrick flourished, about A. D. 440, as may be collected from the Life of our Irish Apostle, written by
have been made in this instance
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 59
in Partry ; Grellan^7 of Craoibh, at the eastern side of Magh Luirg,^^ or Crouenf9Kyria3°ofKillSkyria;3i CorcariaKeann,andCorcariaCaoin,3^ the two daughters of Eogan, and the daughter of Cathald33 from Kill-Comlach, at Magh-Luirg ; Loman,34 of Lough Gill, between the countries of Carbry andBreffney; Mofrisius,35sontoFachtnaofSligeach;Inella,adevoutvirgin;3^ Osnata,37ofGleannDallain,inCarbery,andGeghias^ofGegheIsland; Der- biha,39ofIrras; SevenNuns^QofTyr-uaFiachraaidhne; Mugania/'ofRath-
Acta Sanctorum Hibernice," xv. Febniarii, n. 29,
here spoken of was convened. See
name, Cluain, without any other addition.
"
down
one letter may have crept in, the word being written Corcaria instead of Corcagia. If such be the case, it might be lawful to con- jecture, that one of these ladies had been identical with the saint, who was venerated in the territory of Gregraigia, in Connaught, on the i6th of November, according 10 Ma- rianusandtheContinuatorof^nguss; and, that the other had been venerated, at Cluain- lothir, in the region of Breffney, on the 8th of xMarch, according to tlic same authorities, and the Martyrology of Tallagh. In the territory of Tir-oilleoll, near that part of the country, where this assembly was held, lived the family of this virgin, or the race of Alill, son to Ferguss, spoken of, in the pre- ceding note. From this Alill, the country was called Tir-Oilioll or the "laud of Alill. " See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum llibernire," xv. Februarii, n. 32, p. 339.
;
but, he
suggests,
Possibly, according to Colgan of October.
"
Sanctilogium Genea- logicum," and other authorities, the father ''^ See notices of him, at the loth of No- of this saint was not called Fachtna but,
P- 339-
vember.
=^ A plain,
in the
barony
of Boyle, county
;
he is said to have been Carthach, son to Neda, The father of a Saint Middan is called Fachtna by Marianus, at the 17th of February. But, whether the same Fachtna was father to St. Mofrisius and St. Middan, Colgan would not undertake to pronounce. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xv. Feb- ruarii, n. 34, p. 339. —
Roscommon.
^5 In the reign of Cairbre Mor.
3° She is venerated, at the 24th of March. 3* Now Kilskyre,
3= Colgan, says, he cannot find the Natalis
of these virgins, with the names here set
that an error of 3^
33 Although Colgan marks this person's name, as if he designed appending a note in explanation, he does not afterwards allude to her.
3** See notices of him, at the 4th of Feb- ruary.
33 There is a river, flowing from Lough
Gill into the western ocean, at the tov/n of
Sligo, from which it also takes name. But,
Colgan could not discover among the saints
of his country, any one of them, who was
called Mofrisius. He conjectures, this saint
may have been the same as Frosius, who is
venerated on the 21st of December, accord-
ing to the Carthusian Martyrology, or of Cashel and Marianus. Secondly, St. Usuard's, with additions. After our Irish
fashion, the particle mo might have been
prefixed, to Fegus, as the name there stands.
At the same day, Marianus, the Martyrology
of Tallagh, and the Continuator of JFngus,
say, that his Natalis was celebrated, in that
part of Connaught, which was called Con-
mhaicne, and in the church of Cluain Con-
mhaicne. In Colgan's time, it bore the here mentioned : as it could not have been
Yet, according to the
the s—ame as St. Derinella
venerated at the 26ih
37 Notices are given regarding her, at the 7th of January.
3^ Colgan says, he could find nothing re- lating to this virgin, but adds, that perhaps Degia, or Uegitchia, should be understood, and whose feast falls on the 22nd of March. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," xv. Feb-
ruarii, n. 37, p. 340.
3^ The Natalis of St. Derbilia was cele-
brated, on the 3rd of August, according to the Martyrologies of Tallagh, Marianus and the Continuator of yEnguss. See Colgan's
"Acta Sanctorum Ilibernifie," xv. Februarii, n. 38, p. 340. For this statement, however, I find no warrant, in any of our Calendars.
'*'^ Colganconjectures,thatthese,perhaps,
were the seven daughters to Ferguss, whose
feast is celebrated in the church of Teagh
na ninghean, in Connaught, on the 24th of
]\Iay, according to the Martyrologies of
Tallagh, of Marianus and of Maguire. See
"
Acta Sanctorum Hibernice," xv. Februarii, n. 39, p. 340.
**' There are three holy virgins, bearing such a name, and mentioned in our Martyr-
ologies. First, the daughter of Alill, son to Dunlaing, King of Leinster, who with her sister Felimia is venerated on the 9th of
December, in the church of Kill-naningen, in that part of Leinster, known as Magh liffe, according to the Martyrology of Tallagh, ^nguss the Culdee, the Calendar
Mugania of Ciuainboirenn, who is venerated in the church of Cluain-boirenn, on the 15th
of December. Thirdly, St. Mugania, daughter to Ere, who was venerated at
Sliabh dinn, on tlie 15th of November, ac- cording to Marianus and the Continuator of
. (Engus. Colgan thinks, that either of the latter two virgins must have been the saint
560 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February15.
Aradh ; with Brochlacha*^ from Carbery. 43 Here, indeed, was a very distin- guished assemblage of pious persons, to confer with one of the most illustrious
saints of the age and of his country.
CHAPTER III.
ST. FARANNAN AND MANY HOLY PERSONS AT THE DROMCEAT CONVENTION —TIBRAID GRANTS LAND AND ENDOWS THREE CHURCHES—ONE OF THESE, ALT-FARANAIN, SERVED BY OUR SAINT—HIS MANNER OF LIVING THERE—HIS DEATH, FESTIVAL, AND POPULAR VENERATION FOR HIS MEMORY—CONCLUSION.
In the year 574^ or 575 f some authors have it about 580,3 according to
others, 587,'^ or 590 ;5 St. Columkille, King Aidus, and several chieftains, having assisted at the great Council of Dromceat, St. Farannan was one among the many ecclesiastics who were present. ^ In the Life of our saint, we are told, that many persons, illustrious for their wisdom, rank and sanctity, assisted at this council. Among these, we find named, St. Cuanus,7 son to Midhorn f St. Garuan,9 bishop, son to ^nguss ; St. Colman,^° son to Eochod,
the first, who flourished in St. Patrick's time, about the year 450, as may be collected
from his Tripartite Life, part iii. , cap. 31.
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xv. Feb-
ruarii, n. 40, p. 340. The reader is referred bile, occurs. A St. Cuanna of Kildelge, to the 9th of December, for the Acts of
Saints Mugenia and Felumi, and at the 15th
of same month, a notice of St. Maugina, of
Clogher, virgin, will be found.
42 Colgan thinks she may have been a saint, venerated at the 17th of February.
Mcath), died, A. D. 734. Cuanna, abbot over the monastery of St. Boetius, died, a. d. 800. Cuanna, a wise doctor and Abbot of
"
nise," XV. Februarii. Vita S. Farannani,
43 See Colgan's
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Lughmagh, died, A. D. 823.
^
cap. vi. , vii. , pp. 336, 337. "
As Cuanus, son to Midhorn, flourished about the year 570, it follows, that he must have been a distinct from of
Chapter hi. — According to the
person any those already named. Colgan thinks, he must have been either St.
Cuanna, whose Natalis is celebrated on the nth of March,
** Annals of Ulster. " It is further particu-
larized, as having been held " Kal. Jan. in
3 feriam, et lunam 4, vel 5 incidentibus," &c. —Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum
Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 27.
^ See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
according to the Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Marianus O'Gorman and the Continuator
of yEngus, or St. Cuanna, a bishop, whose of St. Columba. " Additional Notes O, Natalis is celebrated on the 4th of February,
p. 370-
3 See Colgan, at n. 8, p. 338.
4 The " Annals of Clonmacnoise" have
this date.
s Colgan and CFlaherty, followed by Chalmers and others, have assigned it to
accordingtothesesameauthorities. Nor,is
there a difficulty interposed, in the latter case, because this Cuanna is said to have
been Abbot of Kill-chuanna, in Connaught ; for, after he founded the church of Kill- chuanna, he followed St, Mochudda—whose brother he was on the mother's side—into Munster,as stated in the Calendar of Cashel, at the 4th of February.
9 The same Martyrologists, at the 20th of
March and the 9th of July, mention this St.
Garuan.
'°
Colgan tells us, that he has treated about the three St. Colmans, who were sons of Eochad, but distinct as to race, and the days on which their feasts were celebrated, as might be seen in note 19, to the Life of St. Fechin of Fore, at the 20th of Jan- uary. The Natalis of the St. Colman, at present under consideration, was celebrated
this
^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nioe," XV. Februarii, n. 8, p. 338. Colgan
tells us, in the same note, that he had a copy
period.
of the Acts of this council. In these, it is ""
called the Conventus" or Concilium de Druim Cheadd. "
7The"AnnalsofClonmacnoise"andothcr Irish Annals mention the times, when saints bearing the name Cuan or Cuanus died. Thus, they tells us, that a St. Cuanna or Cuannanus of Roseo died, A. D. 717, on the loth of April ; on which day his Natalis is celebrated, according to the Martyrology
of Tallagh and of Marianus O'Gorman, as also,by the Continuatorof ^ngus. According
to the same authorities, on the 3rd of April
the Natalis of St. Cuanna, Abbot of Mag-
and a Cuannan, Abbot of Druim-chuilinn, died, in the year 721. Cuanna Ua Bessain, a scribe of Trefhod (Trevit or Trevet in
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 561
andSt. Baithen,"sontoBrendan. Allofthesewererelatedtooursaint. For, we are assured, that the foregoing saints were descended from five sons ofKingNialloftheNineHostages. " Thus,St. Cuanuswasadescendant of Ennius, St. Garuan of Conall Crimthann, St. Colman of Leogaire, and St. FarannanofEugenius; while,SaintsColumkilleandBaithenwerederived, from Conall Gulban.
Afterwards, accompanied by many holy persons already named, St. Columba having passed beyond the shore called Traigh- Eothuile,^3 he visited the region of Tyr-Fiachrach, "^4 where Tibradius,^5 the son of Maelduin, lived. ^^ This prince bestowed on him tracts of land which
were delightfully situated. They were given for the purpose of building three churches. He also endowed the churches which were to be built,
with ample possessions. The first of these places was called Cnoc-ara maoile,''^
at that time ; but, afterwards, it obtained the name Serin Adhamhnain,^^ or
"
the shrineTof Adamnan," '9 from the saint of this name. This church
was situated in the diocese of Killala, and in the territory of Tir Fhiachrach.
It was celebrated for possessing many relics, a list of which Colgan promised to give, in his notes to the Life of St. Adamnan. It is needless to add, and
much to be regretted, that Colgan did not live to accomplish his design. He, also, promised to say more, regarding this church, when that future
"
time, it bore the name of All-Farannan. It is Anglicized, St. Farannan's
should be ^° The eminence of Mullach presented. Ruadha,
opportunity
now Mullaroe,='^ or Red Hill, rises very near it. The second church was called Kill-Chuana,=2 from St. Cuannan, or Cuanna,^3 who had been set over the place, by St. Columba. The third of these sites, named All na fairgsiona, was conferred by St. Columba on our saint ; and from him, in course of
"or"
it is knownas thenameof Alternan,^s
^4
a townland, in the east of the parish of Easkey,^^ and adjoining the parish
at
on the 6th of September, in a parochial church, formerly called Rosglanda ; but, in Colgan's time, it was known as Domhnach-
more, in Tyrone.
" Besides his consanguinity to St. Colum-
height
cliff,''
and,
present,
Sheets 12, 13, 18, 19, 24, 25. The town- kille, St. Baithen was also a disciple and land denominations of Skreen Beg and
successor, in the abbacy of Hy or lona. Colgan promised to give his Life, at the 9th
Skreen More are represented on Sheets 13,
19.
^s In " Scrinium Sancti Adamnani. " Latin,
Near Skreen is St. Adamnan's well, holy
of
^^ We are likewise
June.
that the author of St. Farannan's Life refers the genealogy of those five saints, to the aforesaid five
told,
^^ Now Trawohelly, in the county of Sligo. Yet, under such denomination, it is not found on the Ordnance Survey Town-
^^ See his Life, at the 23rd of September, ^° "
sons of Niall.
Februarii, n. 42, p. 340.
=' See " Ordnance Survey Townland
land Maps for this county.
^4 The fullest account of this be found in Dr. O'Donovan's "
Maps for the County of Sligo. " Sheet 19. =^ This church was situated in the same diocese and region, as the former one. the same of Tir-bhrivln. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
xv. Februarii, n. 43, p. 340,
^3 Who, among the Saints, Cuanna, or
Cuan, had been here, is not very easily as- certainable.
^-^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach, com- monly called the O'Dowda's Country," n. (f ), p. 258.
=5 its position is shown, as Alternan
Park, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Sligo. " Sheet 1 1. ^^ See Sheets, 10, ii, 17, 23, ibid,
2 o
Genealogies, name, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach, com-
within the
monly called O'Dowda Country. "
^5 He was sixth in descent from the ori-
ginal progenitor, Eochaidh Muighmeadhoin. See the Genealogical Table, showing the descent of the principal families of the Hy- Fiachrach race, from their great ancestor Eochaidh Muighmeadhoin, Monarch of
Ireland, in the fourth century to the present day, at p. 476, ibid.
'^ The Acts of St. Farannan are somewhat obscure, in the account here given, after St. Columba came to Tir-Fiachrach.
^7 Rather Cnoc na Maoili, now Skreen, Vol II.
territory
is to
There was another
church, having territory
an old church, giving name to a townland and parish, in the barony of Tireragh. This
"
Ordnance Survey- Townland Maps for the County of Sligo,"
parish is defined on the
See Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xv.
562
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS,
[February 15.
of Templeboy. =7 It is in the barony of Tireragh, and county of Sligo. In the immediate vicinity of Alternan, there are four townlands, called Bally- meeny, i. e. , O'Meeny's town, because this family^^ possessed them, with Cluain na g-Cliabhach and Alt-Farannain, formerly occupied by 0'Rothlain. =9 At the latter place was to be seen DubhachFharannain,. z>. , "St. Farannan's vat or keeve. " 3° His station was situated, in the diocese of Killala, and in the ancient territory of Tyr-Fiachrach.
In this place, the saint lived a most blameless and retired life. Here,
hedweltinacave,whichwasburiedintherecessesofalarge'wood. The
situation of this cavern was opposite the waters of ocean ; on which, and on
the wide vault of sky above, the eyes of Farannan were almost constantly
directed. Being, as it were, an exile from earth, his regards were continually
fixed on Heaven ; for, although residing in the world, his desires savoured
notofitslove. Hewasdesiroustoacquirevirtue,asmanyothersaredesirous
ofobtainingriches; while,hewasmoreseveretowardshisownbody,than
mere worldlings are indulgent to themselves in pleasure, and in the gratifica-
tion of corporal wants. His first concern was to thank the Creator, for all
his benefits and graces ; so that, the exercise of prayer was seldom inter-
mitted, notwithstanding the discharge of other stringent occupations. He continuallychantedthechurchhymnsorthePsalmsofDavid. Suchstrains
frequently awoke echoes within his lonely cave, and through the surrounding wood, being wafted afar, even over surging waves, or towards the wide canopy of sky. Thus, spiritually did he unite with celestial choirs, in cele- brating the power and majesty of Him, the great Master of Creation. 3^
From these canticles, he drew forth subjects, which served for nightly contemplations. From the close of day until aurora. , he was occupied in continuousvigils,or{intheexercisesofpenance. Heremained,forsometime, immersed in a well of cold water, up to the arm-pits. A fervour of spirit within enabled him to support this frigid element around him. This well formed a sort of basin, sunk in the middle of a stream, into which a cataract of falling water flowed ; and, the devotion of the people, in this locality, afterwards surrounded it with a stone wall. ^^
After emerging from his cold bath, Farannan passed the remaining part of night sleeping on the bare ground, in a sort of excavation, wdiich did not evencorrespondwiththenaturalproportionsofhisbody; whilstastone served for a pillow, and another rested against his feet. Here he snatched some short and uncomfortable rest. He arose before morning's dawn to
celebrate the praises of God, by reciting his office of lauds. That receptacle for our saint's wearied and macerated limbs, afterwards received the name of " St. Farannan's Bed. " 33 In the time, when lived the anonymous author of our Saint's Life, many persons made special pilgrimages to the place, 34 in which Farannan had spent his days, hoping to obtain various favours, through his pious invocation35 Even, in the seventeenth century, it was frequented
=7 It is described on Sheets, ii, 12, 13, 18, 24, ibid.
of St. Farannan's Tub.
^^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nice," xv. P'ebruarii. Vita S. . Farannani, cap. x. , p. 337.
=8 Called O'Maonaigh or O'Meeny.
^
«9 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Genealogies. Tribes and Customs of Ily-Fiachrach, com- monly the O'Dowda Country," n. (f), pp. 258, 259.
3° This is regarded as a holy well, in the townland of Alternan.
3"* Hence, it was called <\tc i:1iA]\AiiiiAin co jre^cAib, or " Alt-Fharannain, the mira- culous," by Giolla losa Mor Mac Firbis, a famous poet and antiquary, who compiled the "Book of Lecan," about A. D. 1418. See Edward
Account of nearly Four Hundred Irish Writers," p. cxiv.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
3'
nice," XV. Februarii. Vita S. Farannani,
See Colgan's
O'Reilly's "Chronological
cap. ix. , p. 337.
3' we are Then,
told,
it received the name
3S Sec Dr. O'Donovan's "
Genealogies,
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 563
by multitudes, who were drawn thither, through devotional motives. It was also believed, that many persons, and even cattle, obtained relief from various disorders, through a veneration paid to our saint. 3^ Several individuals,
lying down in his bed, and offering up to God, and to the saint, their pious prayers, were cured of divers diseases. Such, also, was the reverence enter- tained, for whatever object had even a remote connexion with St. Farannan, that the very wood which surrounded his cave was considered to be sacred ; and, it was looked upon, as an act of profanity, to remove a single branch from any of its trees. In some few instances, it is said, God's judgments were manifested in a remarkable manner, against those who had the tenacity to disregard such a popular sentiment of veneration. 37
It is somewhat remarkable, that the author of our Saint's Life, although stating his festival to have been kept, on the 15th day of this month, does not inform us, if it be the date of Forannan's death. The year of his de- parture, likewise, is left unrecorded. 32 This holy man's fame survived him ; yet, in the immediate place of his mortal pilgrimage, he seems to have passed under another name. Thus, St. Ernan's Well, and the saint's grave, are shown on either side of the stream, which runs by Alternan Park into the Atlantic Ocean.
The present saint is mentioned in the Martyrology of Tallagh,39 yet merelyasFarrannanmacAedha,atthe15thofFebruary. TheMartyrology ofDonegal,4oonthisday,recordsForannan,^! sonofAedh. Inaftertime, when this great saint had been called, to the possession of a celestial inherit-
ance, his memory was held in great reverence, by people inhabiting the surroundingcountry. Manymiracleswerewroughtthroughhisintercession. It was believed by the local inhabitants, that men, or even animals, belong- ing to the brute creation, and affected with various distempers, often found restoration to health, either by laving in the water of the well, or by drinking it. On account of many miracles and benefits, thus obtained through this saint's intercession, the inhabitants in that part of the country, to manifest their gratitude, imposed on themselves four annual fasts.
always kept
vigil
ofhis
feast,
days, namely,
ona
onthe
-^^ andonthreeother
Yet the seasons, in which these latter
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
days were kept, have not been recorded, for our information.
Less than a mile eastward, from the village of Prosperous,43 stands in hoary decay the unfrequented little ruin of Downings chapel,'*^ in the parish
Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach, com- monly called O'Dowda's Country," n. (f), pp. 258, 259.
"Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
37 In M'Firbis' poems on Tireragh, taken from the "Book of Tireragh," allusion is
genealogy is the Latin Life of St. Forannan, published by Colgan, at 15 Febr. This is the meaning of the concluding clause, be- .
ginning,
^-Colganadds,inanote "Itacolligitur
3^ See
" Take notice.