However, we are told, that by a miracle of a very
unusual kind, he was mollified, and he not only gave them permission to re-
main, but they obtained possessions to found a monastery.
unusual kind, he was mollified, and he not only gave them permission to re-
main, but they obtained possessions to found a monastery.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
194.
In his " Historia Ec-
Saints," vol. iii. ,
""
Challenor's Britannia Sancta," part i. , pp.
173, 174.
5 See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of
the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal
clesiastica Gentis Scotoruni, tomus ii. , lib.
X. , num. 758, p. 412, Dempster has an ac- count of a St. Kennotha, said to have had a
festival, at the 13th of March. '* At the lotli of March.
'S in Menologio Virginum.
March xiii.
^ See "New Statistical Account of Scot-
land. " Renfrew,p. 385.
7 It is called St. Kennock's Kirk. See
" '* Rev. Alban Butler's Lives of the Fathers,
Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. iii. , Marchxiii.
^ The transactions of his reign are given
in Buchanan's " Rerum Scoticarum His-
toria," lib. vi. , pp. 183 to 187.
9 It is thus set down: " Deus amator
In GynKceo Sacro.
''See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus ii. , Martii xiii. De S. Ken-
nocha Virgine in Scotia, num. 2, p. 338.
'° See " Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," vol. xxi v. Antiquities. On the
Celi-de, commonly called Culdees, part iii. , castitatis et auctor, S. Kennochas Virginis sect, ii. , n. , p. 152.
tuse mentis et eam nobis *' Weare that the Irish precibus, corporis told,
tribue puritatem, per quam Kternam valea-
peasantry consider for this reason St. Dabheog of
^'
'? In Catalogo Generali Sanctorum.
In his additions to Usuard's Martyrology.
March 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 361
prefix. His Acts we have already given, for this same day. The history of his metaphysis is thus explained. The termination og is grammatically femi- nine,"" and the Gaelic-speaking Scotch of the middle ages, not knowing the antecedents of St. Csemhog, changed the gender, while the hagiologist accepted this name upon the terms. *^ All this is very curious, and it serves to show, how slow we should be, to accept without a critical examination and judgment many legends related of the ancient saints.
Article III. —St. Gerald or Garalt, Abbot of Eliteria, and
Bishop of Mayo, County of Mayo. \Scventh and Eighth Ce? tturtes. '\ Although this distinguished Irish-Saxon saint was a man of great virtue and
usefulness in the Church, it is to be regretted, that his Acts, as remaining to us, are not quite authentic. In the Franciscan Convent, Dublin, there is a Latin Life of St. Gerald, Abbot. ^ This is thought, by Colgan, possibly to
have been written by Augustine Magraidin, a Canon Regular, living on the Island of All Saints ; but, Rev. Dr. Lanigan^ deems, from some of his genuine
"
Tracts, that Magraidin could not be the author of what he terms such
rous stuff," which the Bollandists declare to be full of nonsense and intolerable. Some Manuscript Codices are extant, containing the Acts of this saint. 3 That Life, taken from the Book of the Island, has been published by Colgan, at the 13th of March. 4 The Bollandists,^ in like manner, have emended or partly inserted these Acts ; while, Bishop Challenor,^ and Rev. Alban Butler,7 have brief notices of St. Gerald, or Girald, also called Garalt, by the Irish. The mediaeval Life of this saint, not alone abounds with fables, and contradictions, but even it contains anachronisms. According to it, Gerald was the son of. a certain King Cusperius, and his mother was a queen. He was born in England, it is supposed ; and, he is said to have been the youngest of four brothers, but, he surpassed the other three, both in dignity and miracles. His other brothers are named, Balanus,^ Berikertus^ and Hubritanus. '° The birth of our saint was manifested by a miracle. While St. Colman" lived at Lindisfarne, all the foregoing brothers were placed under his charge ; and, by him, they were instructed in the liberal Sciences, asalsoinTheology. Theywerebroughtupinthemonasticprofession,and in due time promoted to Holy Orders. Of the original monastery, at Lin- disfarne, we have left no remains ; however, it seems probable enough, the fine ruins yet standing there borrowed their chief features from the older architecture, incorrectly called Anglo-Saxon, but most certainly of early Irish
Lough Derg to have been a woman. "And rensis et Mageonensis. This is illustrated
if we were not possessed of record evidence
concerning the sex of St. Dabheog, we can very easily conceive how a legend writer who was guided by popular conceit would create a Siuicia Davoca. "
by notes, and by an Appendix, in four chapters, which follows, pp. 599 to 606.
5 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Martii xiii. De S. Geraldo Abbate et Epis-
copo Mageonensi in Hibernia, Synopsis his- " Thus, St. Fintan or Munna, in one torica, 3 sections and 27 paragraphs, pp.
Scottish charter, is called Sancta Mmida. 288 to 293.
"*" See Origines Parochiales Scotia," vol. ii. , See
Britannia Sancta," part i. , p. 172. p. 72. ^ See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and Article hi. —'In the Manuscript, otherprincipalSaints,"vol. iii. ,Marchxiii.
"Vitae Sanctorum," ex Cod. Inisensi, pp. 251 to 257.
^
His feast is assigned, to the 3rdofSep- tember.
9 He is also called St. Nem, and notices regarding him will be found, at the i8th of February, and at the 6th of December.
" In the Irish Calendar, he is called Uildbrith or Hulbritan, and his feast is set down, at the 24th of April.
^ See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. iii. , chap, xix. , sect, vii. , n. 85, p. 167. 3 These are MS. Bodl. Rawl. R. 505, pp. 231-235, veil, folio, xiv. cent. MS. Bodl.
Rawl. B. 485, f. 179, veil. 4to, xiv. cent.
"
Martii. Vita S. Geraldi Abbatis Elithe-
"• See,
Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xiii.
" See his Life, at the 8th of August.
barba-
362 OLIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 13.
or Scottish fashion. In the pecuHar turning of the arches, zig-zag and chevron mouldings of the arches and cokimns, bases and capitals, as also in the well- chiselled stones, and in the massive, well-fitted style of masonry, not to speak of many patterns in details, the Priory on Holy Island presents the closest types of Irish Romanesque architecture. '^ How long the brothers remained at Lindisfarne is not related, but, we are informed, that Gerald was promoted to be Abbot at Winchester. '3 This is denied, however, as being incompati-
Lindisfarae Friory, England.
ble with the truth of his story. ^t He cured the lame, the paralytic, and those afflicted with various diseases, while the fame of his sanctity, likewise, brought many monks to live under his rule. When St. Colman left Lindisfarne, in 664, for the purpose of going to Ireland, a doubt seems to exist, as to whether or not, he remained afterwards for three years, at lona. But, it is related, that he founded a monastery, in Inisbofinde or Bophin Island, off the coast, and within the present county of Mayo, a. d. 665,^5 or 667. '^ He had brought with him all the Scottish or Irish, that lived at Lindisfarne, and about thirty English monks, who volunteered to accompany him to his new home. '7 Whether or not, St. Gerald was one of his travelling companions'^ seems to
'* The interior view here presented exhi-
bits some of those features. It has been
drawn, by William F. Wakeman, and it was engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
'3 It is remarked, by Colgan, that there were two monasteries there ; and, that, in the older one, St. Gerald had embraced the Benedictine rule. But, all this is a mistake, for St. Gerald belonged to the Columbian, and not to the Benedictine Order. Archdall
" Ecclesiasti-
'S Such is Ussher's chronology, in " Bri-
tannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap.
xvii. , pp. 499, 539.
'*"
Argued on the supposition, that he spent three years at lona, after leaving Lin- disfarne.
'7 Long after St. Colman's death, English
and other students continued to frequent the
school, which he probably founded, at Mayo. See Ven. Bede's " Historia Eccle-
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iv. , cap. 4.
'^ So states Sir in " De Hi- James Ware,
has copied this misstatement. See
Monas-
ticon
'* See Rev. Dr.
at Lanigan's
Hibemicum,"
cal History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xix,, sect, vii. , n. 87, pp. 167, 168.
Antiquitatibus ejus," cap. xxvi. , '9 Rev. Dr. Lanigan thinks, that if this
" Mayo, p. 505.
bernia, et p. 220.
March 13. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
563
be a mooted
case, our
embarked on
in
several ships well provided with all necessaries for the voyage, with his three
brothers, and, it is stated in the Acts, three thousand disciples, from England,
followed St. Colman, when he had left Lindisfarne. These landed at the
mouth of the Shannon, and in the province of Connaught. Our saint's
brothers are named, Ballon, Berechert and Hubriton. It is related, in the
Acts, that the voyagers met with opposition, from a certain wicked ruler
there, named Ailill,'° who was very hostile to religious men. He sent a force
to oppose their landing.
However, we are told, that by a miracle of a very
unusual kind, he was mollified, and he not only gave them permission to re-
main, but they obtained possessions to found a monastery. It was called Elilheria,^^ and Colgan has ventured to conjecture, that as the word seems to
"
have a similarity to Elitheir,
Kill-na-elitheir,'3 in the county and diocese of Galway, may be identified with it. ^-* Afterwards, the legend of his Life relates miracles, performed by St. Gerald, and especially one, whereby he removed a large stone, from the bed of the River Muayd, or Moy,'5 and which caused obstruction to the nets of fishermen. St. Colman had founded a monastery at Mayo,^^ in Connaught, for English monks, and hence the place is frequently called " Mayo of the Saxons," in old documents. However, the Acts of St. Gerald mention, that a certain King of Connaught, named Ragallus,^^ hearing about the mode of living, adopted by the holy abbot and by his monks, sent a message, that they should visit him. On obeying this order, he bestowed land, whereon
were so, Gerald must have been very or " It was near to young, pilgrim," foreigner. "
question
'^'i
but,
any
saint, having
at the time of St. Colman's departure. See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iil. , chap, xix. , sect, vii. , p. i66.
'° He is thought, by Colgan, to have been identical with Ailell, the father of St. Lochan, and the son of Cathal or Cathal-
Mayo, and in the same diocese, where St. Gerald afterwards had rule. In this diocese, too, was the church, called Tech-Saxon, or "the house of the Saxons," while there was
dus, son to Cobchach, son of Ennius, son to "
the Galls. " The Irish were accustomed to
apply the latter term, more correctly to the
Gauls, at first, but afterwards it was used
for the Angles or Anglo-Saxons, who were called Gain, or "strangers," while their country was denominated Gall.
^* See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
Ailell, son of Fiach, as stated in the Sanc-
tilogic Genealogy,'"' chap. vi. The posterity of this Fiach had great power, in the west- em parts of Connaught, where St. Gerald set his foundations.
up religious
=' The Acts of St. Gerald attribute the
nise," Martii xiii. , nn. 9, 11, p. 603. Dr. Lanigan thinks, that Eliteria had been
;
a pilgrim," so the church of Ros-irial,*^ or of
origin of the name, from the legend told,
about a tame deer, that remained in the
place, during the lifetime of St. Gerald :
" Unde ab ilia cerva il)idem miraculose
permanente nominala est ilia Abbatia Elite-
ria, cerva enim in Hibernico sermone, idem History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xix. ,
sect, vii. , n. 90, p. 168.
^5 This river rises near the borders 'of
Roscommon County, and taking a northerly course, it falls into the Atlantic Ocean,
through Killala Bay.
-* This is now a in the county to parish,
which it gives name, and extending into the baronies of Clanmorris and Kilmaine. Its
"
bounds are shown, on the Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Mayo," Sheets 90, 91, loo, loi. The town and parks are found on Sheets 90, 91.
^7 In 670, we read, that Cellach, son of Ragallach, King of Connaught, died, after taking Holy Orders See John D'Alton's
' ' of Ireland, and Annals of Boyle," History
vol. ii. , p. 112.
sonat, quod Elith," cap. vii. However, Colgan doubts, that such was the cause for this name ; and, he prefers to derive it from Elitheir, which means "a pilgrim," and which probably alludes to the fact, that the Saxons came there as In no
pilgrims. part of Connaught could he find a church, called
from "a deer," except in one instance, in the diocese and county of Galway, i. e. , Agh-
magh, not Elit-magh. In both cases, the Latin might be "cervse Campum," or the
*'
plain of the deer. "
*" Here there was a Franciscan convent, in Colgan's day. Some thought, this name might be derived, from Ros-riaghla, i. e. ,
" the
or "hill of the Rule. " *3 This could mean "the cell of the
promontory,"
another, called Kill-an-gaill, or
"
church of
possibly a dependency on Mayo, as was probably also a church in the same diocese,
called Tech-Sasson, " the house of Saxons,"
"" or of Englishmen. " See
Ecclesiastical
364 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 13.
they built an abbey, which subsequently was called Magionia. Near this spot was a place, known as the Hill of the Magi, where a chief professor of magic art had a school and a number of scholars. They were opposed to our saint's community, at first, but a wonderful miracle convinced them of their impotence to prevent the spread of Christianity in these parts. St. Gerald divided his community into three bands ; one of these he sent back to England, a second band was employed in building walls around the mon- astery, while the third was occupied at prayer for the people, or in singing theholyMassandtheCanonicalHours. TheLord'sfoldthusincreasedin honour and sanctity, under the pastoral care of St. Gerald. While here, nine robbers, who were relations, endeavoured to hide, in a lake-island, nine oxen, stolen from the saint, but these were miraculously recovered. During the joint reigns of Diermait and Blaithmac,'^ over Ireland, agreat famine prevailed, and the multitude of people in Ireland was very great. An edict went forth, that as a sufficient scope of land had not been set apart for tillage, that each inhabitant should get seven acres of plain land, or eight acres of rough land, or nineacresofwoodland,''^forpurposesofcultivation. Thisfaminewasfollowed by that pestilence, known as the Icteritia. Soon afterwards, St. Gerald jour-
neyedintothatpartofConnaught,calledCorand. 3° TheretheChieftainEtran, and a great number of people, had been afflicted with the plague, then raging. The chief besought St. Gerald to save him, and when the holy abbot had put his hood over the heads of Etran and of his family, the other people of Corand ran to obtain a like favour. All, who touched it, were healed from their infirmity ; and, as a token of gratitude, they promised on behalf of themselves and of their posterity, to accept St. Gerald as their patron, and to protect in turn his religious family. Afterwards, he is said to have gone to his monas- tery of Elitheria, where he heard about his sister's death, with that of one hundred nuns, who were her companions. She is called Segresia. 3' Fifty of his monks had also died of the pest. Then the holy abbot and his subjects went to Mayo. There he continued to live in the love of God and of his neighbour, to the very close of his life. At what time St. Gerald became
;
superior, at Mayo, is not known 3^ probably, it was not prior to the eighth
century. 33 The Acts state, that while here, the holy Abbot Adamnan34 paid him a visit, and formed a friendship with him, when he had gone over the whole of Ireland. 3s St. Gerald bestowed a farm, with a limpid fountain on
^* These monarchs are said to have com- menced their reigns a. d. 657, and to have been carried away by the Buidhe Chonnail A. D. 664. The events of their reigns are to
^x Colgan thinks, she may be identical with St. Seghnat, or Segnecia, Virgin, of Domhnach Ceime, and whose feast occurs, at the i8th of December,
32 Colgan thought, that St. Gerald must have died before A. D. 697, insomuch as he is not mentioned among those, who attended a great Synod, convened during that year, by Adamnan, whereas several other persons of less note have their names appended to the Decrees. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nice," Martii xiii. Appendix ad Acta S. Geraldi, cap. ii. , p. 604. However, Dr. Lanigan observes, that this omission only warrants Colgan to conclude, that Gerald was not an abbot, or much distinguished, in the year 697.
^3 This is evidently Dr. Lanigan's mean- ing, although he introduces the words "seventh century. " See "Ecclesiastical
of
History Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xix. ,
sect, vii. , p. 167, and n. 91, p. 168.
2'* See his Life, at the 23rd of
be found in Dr. O'Donovan's
*'
Annals of
the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 268 to 277. =9 Were we to place reliance on the Acts of St. Gerald, he should have been in Ire- land, A. D. 664, the year of the great pesti- lence, or even before it ; but, the legend there introduced is opposed to the Chrono- logy of Venerable Bede, and also to that of
our native Annals.
30 It seems likely enough, this district
differed not from Goran, or Corran, which extended over a large portion of Sligo
County, "comprising not only the barony of Goran, properly so called, but also the baronies of Gallen and Leney, including the residences of t—he septs of the O' Haras and M'Donoughs. " John D'AIton's "History of Ireland, and Annals of Boyle," vol. ii. ,
n. 112. (a), p.
September.
March 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 365
it, and recommended his church to Adamnan, so that it might be protected from the persecution of laics, after his own death. This charge, we are told, Adamnan assumed and fulfilled. 3^ However, when it is stated, that he ruled Mayo for seven years, after the death of St. Gerald, that he there was engaged transcribing books, casting bells, and teaching his monks, until he returned to depart this life, as Abbot in lona ; it is manifest, all this is a figment, and contradictedbywell-knownfacts—ofhistory. Afterworkingmanymiracles, andfoundingmanymonasteries forinadditiontoMayoandElytheria,or Tempul-Gerald, in Connaught, that of Tegh-na-Saxon is named, besides a convent—of sacred Virgins, which he committed to the care of his sister St. Segretia he is said to have rested from his labours, in the Monastery of Mayo. Whether he was simply an abbot, at this place, or whether he exercised, in addition, episcopal functions, has been disputed. Some authori- ties call him Pontiff of Magh-Ed of the Saxons ; however, notwithstanding all the great works, attributed to him, in the Acts, he is merely styled abbot. The title, Fontifex,^7 has been often used in an equivocal manner, and some- times, in the same sense, as President. s^ St. Gerald died, on the iii. of the Ides, or on the 13th of March, according to his Acts ; and, our Calendars, likewise,containasimilarstatement. However,theRegistersofthechurch, at Mayo, note, that his Natalis was on the loth of March ; but, Colgan suspects this may be a transcriber's error, for the 12th or 13th of this month. 39 As we have already seen, the Martyrology of Tallagh has noticed it, at the
1 2th : Marianus O'Gorman and Cathal Maguire place the festival of St. Gerald, Abbot and Bishop of Mayo, at the 13th of March. -t" We read, in
the Martyrology of Donegal,'^^ that Garalt, of Maigheo, Abbot, and Bishop, had veneration paid him on this particular day. Duald Mac Firbis enters him,42 at the same date, as Gerald, Pontiff of Magh-E6 of the Saxons. In the Martyrologies of Hermann Greuen,'>3 the Florarian Manuscript, the German Martyrology of Petrus Canisius,44 in the " Memorial of Ancient British Pietyj^'^s and in the " Circle of the Seasons," ^^ St. Gerald's feast is marked, at this date.
in the '7
this is too
a the learned date, although
Ussher,
year 697
;
but,
early
named chosen as superior.
Adamnan,
had been
^° See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
Irishman,
37 Spehnan and Ducange, at the words Pontijex and Pontificium, show the shades of meaning attached to this term.
38 " I am inclined to think," writes Dr.
Lanigan, "that his having been called/^//- tifex, Pontiff of the English, gave rise to the
niss," Martii xiii. Appendix ad Acta S.
Geraldi, cap. i. , p. 604.
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp
74, 75.
*^ See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. 1. , part i. , pp. 122, 123.
''*
Abbate et
nia, seel, i. , num. I, pp. 288, 289.
'•^
See, p. 50. ^* At p. 73.
of his been a supposition having
''3 Usuard
******
Editionof
See the Bollandists' "Acta SanctO' rum," tomus ii. , Martii xiii. De S. Geraldo
bishop. It may be, that, as tiie English were strangers in Ireland, the Abbot
enlarged.
1521.
of
some —
Mayo enjoyed particular privileges
Episcopo Mageonensi
in Hiber*
as protector of his countrymen. "
siastical of Ireland," vol. History
"
Eccle-
iii. , chap. xix. , sect, vii. , n. 94, pp. 169, 170.
According to some authorities, this holy abbot died
35 Adamnan was in Ireland, so late as
A. D. 703.
3* The Bollandists imagine, that possibly
some other Adamnan, different from the
Abbot of lona, may have been St. Gerald's
successor, at Mayo. See "Acta Sancto- siastical History. See an account of this rum," tomus ii.
Saints," vol. iii. ,
""
Challenor's Britannia Sancta," part i. , pp.
173, 174.
5 See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of
the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal
clesiastica Gentis Scotoruni, tomus ii. , lib.
X. , num. 758, p. 412, Dempster has an ac- count of a St. Kennotha, said to have had a
festival, at the 13th of March. '* At the lotli of March.
'S in Menologio Virginum.
March xiii.
^ See "New Statistical Account of Scot-
land. " Renfrew,p. 385.
7 It is called St. Kennock's Kirk. See
" '* Rev. Alban Butler's Lives of the Fathers,
Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. iii. , Marchxiii.
^ The transactions of his reign are given
in Buchanan's " Rerum Scoticarum His-
toria," lib. vi. , pp. 183 to 187.
9 It is thus set down: " Deus amator
In GynKceo Sacro.
''See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus ii. , Martii xiii. De S. Ken-
nocha Virgine in Scotia, num. 2, p. 338.
'° See " Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," vol. xxi v. Antiquities. On the
Celi-de, commonly called Culdees, part iii. , castitatis et auctor, S. Kennochas Virginis sect, ii. , n. , p. 152.
tuse mentis et eam nobis *' Weare that the Irish precibus, corporis told,
tribue puritatem, per quam Kternam valea-
peasantry consider for this reason St. Dabheog of
^'
'? In Catalogo Generali Sanctorum.
In his additions to Usuard's Martyrology.
March 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 361
prefix. His Acts we have already given, for this same day. The history of his metaphysis is thus explained. The termination og is grammatically femi- nine,"" and the Gaelic-speaking Scotch of the middle ages, not knowing the antecedents of St. Csemhog, changed the gender, while the hagiologist accepted this name upon the terms. *^ All this is very curious, and it serves to show, how slow we should be, to accept without a critical examination and judgment many legends related of the ancient saints.
Article III. —St. Gerald or Garalt, Abbot of Eliteria, and
Bishop of Mayo, County of Mayo. \Scventh and Eighth Ce? tturtes. '\ Although this distinguished Irish-Saxon saint was a man of great virtue and
usefulness in the Church, it is to be regretted, that his Acts, as remaining to us, are not quite authentic. In the Franciscan Convent, Dublin, there is a Latin Life of St. Gerald, Abbot. ^ This is thought, by Colgan, possibly to
have been written by Augustine Magraidin, a Canon Regular, living on the Island of All Saints ; but, Rev. Dr. Lanigan^ deems, from some of his genuine
"
Tracts, that Magraidin could not be the author of what he terms such
rous stuff," which the Bollandists declare to be full of nonsense and intolerable. Some Manuscript Codices are extant, containing the Acts of this saint. 3 That Life, taken from the Book of the Island, has been published by Colgan, at the 13th of March. 4 The Bollandists,^ in like manner, have emended or partly inserted these Acts ; while, Bishop Challenor,^ and Rev. Alban Butler,7 have brief notices of St. Gerald, or Girald, also called Garalt, by the Irish. The mediaeval Life of this saint, not alone abounds with fables, and contradictions, but even it contains anachronisms. According to it, Gerald was the son of. a certain King Cusperius, and his mother was a queen. He was born in England, it is supposed ; and, he is said to have been the youngest of four brothers, but, he surpassed the other three, both in dignity and miracles. His other brothers are named, Balanus,^ Berikertus^ and Hubritanus. '° The birth of our saint was manifested by a miracle. While St. Colman" lived at Lindisfarne, all the foregoing brothers were placed under his charge ; and, by him, they were instructed in the liberal Sciences, asalsoinTheology. Theywerebroughtupinthemonasticprofession,and in due time promoted to Holy Orders. Of the original monastery, at Lin- disfarne, we have left no remains ; however, it seems probable enough, the fine ruins yet standing there borrowed their chief features from the older architecture, incorrectly called Anglo-Saxon, but most certainly of early Irish
Lough Derg to have been a woman. "And rensis et Mageonensis. This is illustrated
if we were not possessed of record evidence
concerning the sex of St. Dabheog, we can very easily conceive how a legend writer who was guided by popular conceit would create a Siuicia Davoca. "
by notes, and by an Appendix, in four chapters, which follows, pp. 599 to 606.
5 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Martii xiii. De S. Geraldo Abbate et Epis-
copo Mageonensi in Hibernia, Synopsis his- " Thus, St. Fintan or Munna, in one torica, 3 sections and 27 paragraphs, pp.
Scottish charter, is called Sancta Mmida. 288 to 293.
"*" See Origines Parochiales Scotia," vol. ii. , See
Britannia Sancta," part i. , p. 172. p. 72. ^ See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and Article hi. —'In the Manuscript, otherprincipalSaints,"vol. iii. ,Marchxiii.
"Vitae Sanctorum," ex Cod. Inisensi, pp. 251 to 257.
^
His feast is assigned, to the 3rdofSep- tember.
9 He is also called St. Nem, and notices regarding him will be found, at the i8th of February, and at the 6th of December.
" In the Irish Calendar, he is called Uildbrith or Hulbritan, and his feast is set down, at the 24th of April.
^ See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. iii. , chap, xix. , sect, vii. , n. 85, p. 167. 3 These are MS. Bodl. Rawl. R. 505, pp. 231-235, veil, folio, xiv. cent. MS. Bodl.
Rawl. B. 485, f. 179, veil. 4to, xiv. cent.
"
Martii. Vita S. Geraldi Abbatis Elithe-
"• See,
Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xiii.
" See his Life, at the 8th of August.
barba-
362 OLIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 13.
or Scottish fashion. In the pecuHar turning of the arches, zig-zag and chevron mouldings of the arches and cokimns, bases and capitals, as also in the well- chiselled stones, and in the massive, well-fitted style of masonry, not to speak of many patterns in details, the Priory on Holy Island presents the closest types of Irish Romanesque architecture. '^ How long the brothers remained at Lindisfarne is not related, but, we are informed, that Gerald was promoted to be Abbot at Winchester. '3 This is denied, however, as being incompati-
Lindisfarae Friory, England.
ble with the truth of his story. ^t He cured the lame, the paralytic, and those afflicted with various diseases, while the fame of his sanctity, likewise, brought many monks to live under his rule. When St. Colman left Lindisfarne, in 664, for the purpose of going to Ireland, a doubt seems to exist, as to whether or not, he remained afterwards for three years, at lona. But, it is related, that he founded a monastery, in Inisbofinde or Bophin Island, off the coast, and within the present county of Mayo, a. d. 665,^5 or 667. '^ He had brought with him all the Scottish or Irish, that lived at Lindisfarne, and about thirty English monks, who volunteered to accompany him to his new home. '7 Whether or not, St. Gerald was one of his travelling companions'^ seems to
'* The interior view here presented exhi-
bits some of those features. It has been
drawn, by William F. Wakeman, and it was engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
'3 It is remarked, by Colgan, that there were two monasteries there ; and, that, in the older one, St. Gerald had embraced the Benedictine rule. But, all this is a mistake, for St. Gerald belonged to the Columbian, and not to the Benedictine Order. Archdall
" Ecclesiasti-
'S Such is Ussher's chronology, in " Bri-
tannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap.
xvii. , pp. 499, 539.
'*"
Argued on the supposition, that he spent three years at lona, after leaving Lin- disfarne.
'7 Long after St. Colman's death, English
and other students continued to frequent the
school, which he probably founded, at Mayo. See Ven. Bede's " Historia Eccle-
siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iv. , cap. 4.
'^ So states Sir in " De Hi- James Ware,
has copied this misstatement. See
Monas-
ticon
'* See Rev. Dr.
at Lanigan's
Hibemicum,"
cal History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xix,, sect, vii. , n. 87, pp. 167, 168.
Antiquitatibus ejus," cap. xxvi. , '9 Rev. Dr. Lanigan thinks, that if this
" Mayo, p. 505.
bernia, et p. 220.
March 13. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
563
be a mooted
case, our
embarked on
in
several ships well provided with all necessaries for the voyage, with his three
brothers, and, it is stated in the Acts, three thousand disciples, from England,
followed St. Colman, when he had left Lindisfarne. These landed at the
mouth of the Shannon, and in the province of Connaught. Our saint's
brothers are named, Ballon, Berechert and Hubriton. It is related, in the
Acts, that the voyagers met with opposition, from a certain wicked ruler
there, named Ailill,'° who was very hostile to religious men. He sent a force
to oppose their landing.
However, we are told, that by a miracle of a very
unusual kind, he was mollified, and he not only gave them permission to re-
main, but they obtained possessions to found a monastery. It was called Elilheria,^^ and Colgan has ventured to conjecture, that as the word seems to
"
have a similarity to Elitheir,
Kill-na-elitheir,'3 in the county and diocese of Galway, may be identified with it. ^-* Afterwards, the legend of his Life relates miracles, performed by St. Gerald, and especially one, whereby he removed a large stone, from the bed of the River Muayd, or Moy,'5 and which caused obstruction to the nets of fishermen. St. Colman had founded a monastery at Mayo,^^ in Connaught, for English monks, and hence the place is frequently called " Mayo of the Saxons," in old documents. However, the Acts of St. Gerald mention, that a certain King of Connaught, named Ragallus,^^ hearing about the mode of living, adopted by the holy abbot and by his monks, sent a message, that they should visit him. On obeying this order, he bestowed land, whereon
were so, Gerald must have been very or " It was near to young, pilgrim," foreigner. "
question
'^'i
but,
any
saint, having
at the time of St. Colman's departure. See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iil. , chap, xix. , sect, vii. , p. i66.
'° He is thought, by Colgan, to have been identical with Ailell, the father of St. Lochan, and the son of Cathal or Cathal-
Mayo, and in the same diocese, where St. Gerald afterwards had rule. In this diocese, too, was the church, called Tech-Saxon, or "the house of the Saxons," while there was
dus, son to Cobchach, son of Ennius, son to "
the Galls. " The Irish were accustomed to
apply the latter term, more correctly to the
Gauls, at first, but afterwards it was used
for the Angles or Anglo-Saxons, who were called Gain, or "strangers," while their country was denominated Gall.
^* See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
Ailell, son of Fiach, as stated in the Sanc-
tilogic Genealogy,'"' chap. vi. The posterity of this Fiach had great power, in the west- em parts of Connaught, where St. Gerald set his foundations.
up religious
=' The Acts of St. Gerald attribute the
nise," Martii xiii. , nn. 9, 11, p. 603. Dr. Lanigan thinks, that Eliteria had been
;
a pilgrim," so the church of Ros-irial,*^ or of
origin of the name, from the legend told,
about a tame deer, that remained in the
place, during the lifetime of St. Gerald :
" Unde ab ilia cerva il)idem miraculose
permanente nominala est ilia Abbatia Elite-
ria, cerva enim in Hibernico sermone, idem History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xix. ,
sect, vii. , n. 90, p. 168.
^5 This river rises near the borders 'of
Roscommon County, and taking a northerly course, it falls into the Atlantic Ocean,
through Killala Bay.
-* This is now a in the county to parish,
which it gives name, and extending into the baronies of Clanmorris and Kilmaine. Its
"
bounds are shown, on the Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Mayo," Sheets 90, 91, loo, loi. The town and parks are found on Sheets 90, 91.
^7 In 670, we read, that Cellach, son of Ragallach, King of Connaught, died, after taking Holy Orders See John D'Alton's
' ' of Ireland, and Annals of Boyle," History
vol. ii. , p. 112.
sonat, quod Elith," cap. vii. However, Colgan doubts, that such was the cause for this name ; and, he prefers to derive it from Elitheir, which means "a pilgrim," and which probably alludes to the fact, that the Saxons came there as In no
pilgrims. part of Connaught could he find a church, called
from "a deer," except in one instance, in the diocese and county of Galway, i. e. , Agh-
magh, not Elit-magh. In both cases, the Latin might be "cervse Campum," or the
*'
plain of the deer. "
*" Here there was a Franciscan convent, in Colgan's day. Some thought, this name might be derived, from Ros-riaghla, i. e. ,
" the
or "hill of the Rule. " *3 This could mean "the cell of the
promontory,"
another, called Kill-an-gaill, or
"
church of
possibly a dependency on Mayo, as was probably also a church in the same diocese,
called Tech-Sasson, " the house of Saxons,"
"" or of Englishmen. " See
Ecclesiastical
364 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 13.
they built an abbey, which subsequently was called Magionia. Near this spot was a place, known as the Hill of the Magi, where a chief professor of magic art had a school and a number of scholars. They were opposed to our saint's community, at first, but a wonderful miracle convinced them of their impotence to prevent the spread of Christianity in these parts. St. Gerald divided his community into three bands ; one of these he sent back to England, a second band was employed in building walls around the mon- astery, while the third was occupied at prayer for the people, or in singing theholyMassandtheCanonicalHours. TheLord'sfoldthusincreasedin honour and sanctity, under the pastoral care of St. Gerald. While here, nine robbers, who were relations, endeavoured to hide, in a lake-island, nine oxen, stolen from the saint, but these were miraculously recovered. During the joint reigns of Diermait and Blaithmac,'^ over Ireland, agreat famine prevailed, and the multitude of people in Ireland was very great. An edict went forth, that as a sufficient scope of land had not been set apart for tillage, that each inhabitant should get seven acres of plain land, or eight acres of rough land, or nineacresofwoodland,''^forpurposesofcultivation. Thisfaminewasfollowed by that pestilence, known as the Icteritia. Soon afterwards, St. Gerald jour-
neyedintothatpartofConnaught,calledCorand. 3° TheretheChieftainEtran, and a great number of people, had been afflicted with the plague, then raging. The chief besought St. Gerald to save him, and when the holy abbot had put his hood over the heads of Etran and of his family, the other people of Corand ran to obtain a like favour. All, who touched it, were healed from their infirmity ; and, as a token of gratitude, they promised on behalf of themselves and of their posterity, to accept St. Gerald as their patron, and to protect in turn his religious family. Afterwards, he is said to have gone to his monas- tery of Elitheria, where he heard about his sister's death, with that of one hundred nuns, who were her companions. She is called Segresia. 3' Fifty of his monks had also died of the pest. Then the holy abbot and his subjects went to Mayo. There he continued to live in the love of God and of his neighbour, to the very close of his life. At what time St. Gerald became
;
superior, at Mayo, is not known 3^ probably, it was not prior to the eighth
century. 33 The Acts state, that while here, the holy Abbot Adamnan34 paid him a visit, and formed a friendship with him, when he had gone over the whole of Ireland. 3s St. Gerald bestowed a farm, with a limpid fountain on
^* These monarchs are said to have com- menced their reigns a. d. 657, and to have been carried away by the Buidhe Chonnail A. D. 664. The events of their reigns are to
^x Colgan thinks, she may be identical with St. Seghnat, or Segnecia, Virgin, of Domhnach Ceime, and whose feast occurs, at the i8th of December,
32 Colgan thought, that St. Gerald must have died before A. D. 697, insomuch as he is not mentioned among those, who attended a great Synod, convened during that year, by Adamnan, whereas several other persons of less note have their names appended to the Decrees. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nice," Martii xiii. Appendix ad Acta S. Geraldi, cap. ii. , p. 604. However, Dr. Lanigan observes, that this omission only warrants Colgan to conclude, that Gerald was not an abbot, or much distinguished, in the year 697.
^3 This is evidently Dr. Lanigan's mean- ing, although he introduces the words "seventh century. " See "Ecclesiastical
of
History Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xix. ,
sect, vii. , p. 167, and n. 91, p. 168.
2'* See his Life, at the 23rd of
be found in Dr. O'Donovan's
*'
Annals of
the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 268 to 277. =9 Were we to place reliance on the Acts of St. Gerald, he should have been in Ire- land, A. D. 664, the year of the great pesti- lence, or even before it ; but, the legend there introduced is opposed to the Chrono- logy of Venerable Bede, and also to that of
our native Annals.
30 It seems likely enough, this district
differed not from Goran, or Corran, which extended over a large portion of Sligo
County, "comprising not only the barony of Goran, properly so called, but also the baronies of Gallen and Leney, including the residences of t—he septs of the O' Haras and M'Donoughs. " John D'AIton's "History of Ireland, and Annals of Boyle," vol. ii. ,
n. 112. (a), p.
September.
March 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 365
it, and recommended his church to Adamnan, so that it might be protected from the persecution of laics, after his own death. This charge, we are told, Adamnan assumed and fulfilled. 3^ However, when it is stated, that he ruled Mayo for seven years, after the death of St. Gerald, that he there was engaged transcribing books, casting bells, and teaching his monks, until he returned to depart this life, as Abbot in lona ; it is manifest, all this is a figment, and contradictedbywell-knownfacts—ofhistory. Afterworkingmanymiracles, andfoundingmanymonasteries forinadditiontoMayoandElytheria,or Tempul-Gerald, in Connaught, that of Tegh-na-Saxon is named, besides a convent—of sacred Virgins, which he committed to the care of his sister St. Segretia he is said to have rested from his labours, in the Monastery of Mayo. Whether he was simply an abbot, at this place, or whether he exercised, in addition, episcopal functions, has been disputed. Some authori- ties call him Pontiff of Magh-Ed of the Saxons ; however, notwithstanding all the great works, attributed to him, in the Acts, he is merely styled abbot. The title, Fontifex,^7 has been often used in an equivocal manner, and some- times, in the same sense, as President. s^ St. Gerald died, on the iii. of the Ides, or on the 13th of March, according to his Acts ; and, our Calendars, likewise,containasimilarstatement. However,theRegistersofthechurch, at Mayo, note, that his Natalis was on the loth of March ; but, Colgan suspects this may be a transcriber's error, for the 12th or 13th of this month. 39 As we have already seen, the Martyrology of Tallagh has noticed it, at the
1 2th : Marianus O'Gorman and Cathal Maguire place the festival of St. Gerald, Abbot and Bishop of Mayo, at the 13th of March. -t" We read, in
the Martyrology of Donegal,'^^ that Garalt, of Maigheo, Abbot, and Bishop, had veneration paid him on this particular day. Duald Mac Firbis enters him,42 at the same date, as Gerald, Pontiff of Magh-E6 of the Saxons. In the Martyrologies of Hermann Greuen,'>3 the Florarian Manuscript, the German Martyrology of Petrus Canisius,44 in the " Memorial of Ancient British Pietyj^'^s and in the " Circle of the Seasons," ^^ St. Gerald's feast is marked, at this date.
in the '7
this is too
a the learned date, although
Ussher,
year 697
;
but,
early
named chosen as superior.
Adamnan,
had been
^° See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
Irishman,
37 Spehnan and Ducange, at the words Pontijex and Pontificium, show the shades of meaning attached to this term.
38 " I am inclined to think," writes Dr.
Lanigan, "that his having been called/^//- tifex, Pontiff of the English, gave rise to the
niss," Martii xiii. Appendix ad Acta S.
Geraldi, cap. i. , p. 604.
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp
74, 75.
*^ See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. 1. , part i. , pp. 122, 123.
''*
Abbate et
nia, seel, i. , num. I, pp. 288, 289.
'•^
See, p. 50. ^* At p. 73.
of his been a supposition having
''3 Usuard
******
Editionof
See the Bollandists' "Acta SanctO' rum," tomus ii. , Martii xiii. De S. Geraldo
bishop. It may be, that, as tiie English were strangers in Ireland, the Abbot
enlarged.
1521.
of
some —
Mayo enjoyed particular privileges
Episcopo Mageonensi
in Hiber*
as protector of his countrymen. "
siastical of Ireland," vol. History
"
Eccle-
iii. , chap. xix. , sect, vii. , n. 94, pp. 169, 170.
According to some authorities, this holy abbot died
35 Adamnan was in Ireland, so late as
A. D. 703.
3* The Bollandists imagine, that possibly
some other Adamnan, different from the
Abbot of lona, may have been St. Gerald's
successor, at Mayo. See "Acta Sancto- siastical History. See an account of this rum," tomus ii.
