Ciaran is found in very many and very
different
autho- rities, as no one knows better, and few so well, as our Rev.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
From such of the foregoing materials, as have become
typography, is intituled : "St. Ciaran, tions were made " at a period when gross
Patron of Ossory, a Memoir of his Life and Times, comprising a Preliminary Enquiry
ignorance and laxity of morals were preva- lent. "
33 The are used in following arguments
an His- torical Commentary on the Legend of his Life; someNotesonhisDeath,andonthe Surviving Memorials of his Mission. " By John Hogan, Kilkenny. Printed at the
^(wr/w/Office,A. D. 1876. 8vo.
^ In connexion with the valuable series of
Papers, denominated " Loca Patriciana,"
Series, January, 1877, No. 29. No. xi.
*9 From the initials, J. H. , appended to a
respecting the period of his Birth ;
in "The
' Birand
tiles. '
city of Saighir-Ciaran was demolished and
*
its monastery burned to the ground by The
of the Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland. " See especially vol. iv. Fourth
were theGen- plundered by
published
Journal
Royal
Saighir
In a century later, i. e. A. D. 952, the
men of Munster. ' In twenty years later, ReviewofRev. JohnFrancisShearman's •Sabia,QueenofIreland,foundthecemetery
statement, we may probably regard it as a
reply of Mr. Hogan, published in the Kil-
kenny yourtial of June 13th, 1877. It is
"
of Saighir, an unprotected commons, and procured masons out of Meath to enclose it with walls, to save it from desecration. After this, the church of Saighir never re- gained its former opulence. Now the legend of Ciaran's life was written when the monastery of Saigher had attained the cul-
headed
St. Patrick and St. Kieran. "
Kilkenny Archaeological Society.
30 See " Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land," vol. i. , chap, i. , sect, xiv. , p. 29. 3' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
in its affluence, and whilst in the undisturbed enjoyment of its primitive institutions. Two years after the first raid of the Danes on Saigher, in a. d. 842, Cormac MacEladach was promoted to the abbacy of that church, he is the only one in the long list of its ecclesiastics to whom the Four
Martii v.
3* The Rev. Mr. Shearman, criticising the
legend of St. Ciaran's Life, writes :
Life or Memoir is so filled ^vith absurd and ridiculous miracles that the Bollandists alto- gether rejected it. We must demur to their judgment, which was to some extent ill- grounded and premature ; apart from the legendary portion of this Life, which indeed may, with advantage, be set aside, there are references to persons who can be identified in the history and genealogies of the period. Of this process the Bollandists, from want of historical materials, were incapable of form- ing a proper estimate, and this document in the form it has reached our time is founded on some very ancient and authentic records. " The writer then ventures a suggestion, that
Masters give the title of scribe
'
Cormac
"it appears to have been recast," for the purpose of sustaining the ante- Patrician
claims, presumably of an earlier Apostolate, for Ciaran, Ibhar, Declan and Ailbhe. See
"Loca Patriciana," No. xi. , pp. 214, 217. In addition, he supposes, that the emenda-
MacEladach, Bishop and Scribe of Saigher,' and to him we can with safety assign the authorship of the legend of Ciaran's Life. If he did compile it he must have done so before his elevaiion to the abbacy, as the Danish raid on the monastery occurred two years previous to that event. It might have been written at an earlier period, but it could not have been done after his time, as at the date of its compilation the monastery was in the most ample enjoyment of its ori- ginal immunities, privileges and material possessions ; and no reference whatever is made to any encroachment on its rights by either foreign or native assailants. Whence we can conclude with certainty that the legend of St. Ciaran's Life was written be-
"
This
i. ,
minating point
the Review, with the initials, J. H. , to establish the probable period for the com-
position of Colgan's First Life : —
" From its intrinsic evidence the Life of
Ciaran must have been compiled before the first assault of the Danes on the monastery of Saigher. In the year 842 we read :
March 5,] LIVES OF THE lEISJI SAIJVTS 119
accessible to the writer, he must endeavour to work out the somewhat per-
plexingsubjectofSt. Kieran'smemoir. Amongothermattersinquestion,
the subject of St. Kieran's ancestry and natal place has divided opinion. 34
However, he is numbered among the twelve principal Irish saints ; and,
according to the most generally received pedigree, he descended from an
illustrious Ossorian family, in the western part of Leinster province. 35
Thus do we find the matter stated. ^^ Kieran was the son of Lughaidh, or
Lugneus, son to Rumond,37 son of Conaill, or Conall, son of Corpre,38 son
of Nia Corb, or Niedcorb, son to Becan,39 son of Eochaid Lamdoit, or
Eochad Lamhdoid, son to Amalgaidh, or Amalgad, son of Loagair or Leog-
haire Birn, who was the son of Aengus Osraighe, or ^nguss, of Ossory. 4<»
According to the O'Clerys, this last-named prince belonged to the posterity of Labhraidh Lore, from whom are the Leinstermen, and who was also of the
seed of Heremon. *' Again, the mother of St. Kieran, variedly named, Ligh- aiuj-t^ Lidania, or Liuenj^a according to the O'Clerys,-! * was the daughter of
fore the first attack of the Danes on Saigher saint's detailed geneology on the father's in A. D, 842, and apparently by Cormac side,
the and scribe of that MacEladach, bishop
church, at the same period. "
s* Maguire tells us, in chap. i. that his
father was Brandubh, the son of Bressal, son
' See Drs, Todd's and Reeves' "
Martyr*
to Bran, &c. However, as
Colgan
remarks,
ology of Donegal," pp. 64, 65.
"^ In the second chapter of Mr. Hogan's
work, the maternal genealogy of St, Ciaran
is " The name of his mother was given,
Liadhan, and she was a native of Corca Laighe," In the Books of Lecan and of
Ballymote, the genealogy of Corca Laighe
is given, with clearness and accuracy. In
the " of the Celtic Dr. Miscellany Society,"
O'Donovan published, with a translation and notes, the genealogy. We learn from this authority, th—e following traditional cir*
cumstances, that
the pedigree thus given refers to another St.
Kiaran, about whom St. ^ngus treats in
"
his
35 Authors differ regarding his father's
Opuscula," lib. ii. , pars, i. , cap. 7.
and and Han- name, pedigree, Capgrave
mer state, that his father was Domnel, and his mother Wingella.
3* In the Biography of Mr. Hogan, we ''
learn, that of the Dal Birn of Ossory was Ciaran. " According to the author, this " confines him to the Royal family of the Ossorian tribe—for the Dal Birn was the tribe name of the MacGillaphaidraig Clan, and came originally from Leorghaine Birn, the second King of Ossory. " The pedigree of Ciaran is preserved in the Book of Lecan, and in the Book of Leinster, with direct descents from Aengus Ossory, through his successors to Lugiiaidh or Luaghe, the father of Ciaran. Mr. Hogan asserts, that this determines with certainty the tribe and the territory of Ciaran's ancestry. We must refer the inquiring and curious reader to Mr. Hogan's work, in order that he may ascer- tain the means, by which the genealogical problem is worked out, and how he deve- lopes those principles and establishes those facts, on which he vindicates the Royal des- cent of the illustrious wonder-worker, the patron saint of Old Ossory. The first
—— was the
chapter is wholly devoted to this portion of "
Mother of Ciaran of Saighir. He was bom
at Finntract-Clere,
And the Angels of God attended upon her.
The orders of Heaven
Baptized him. Here was (dwelling) the chieftain who first believed
In the Cross in Ireland ; for Ciaran had
taken Saighir
Thirty years before Patrick arrived, as the
poet said,
Saighir the cold
Found a city on its brink,
At the end of thirty years
I shall meet there and thou.
It is calculated, by Mr, Hogan, that Lighan was thirty years of age in 373, when Ciaran would be first making his appearance on the scene of life ; and, the last lines of the above rann refer to the meeting between St. Patrick and Ciaran at Saighir in 455, when the latter was eighty years of age. See " St.
Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," chap, ii. , pp. 13. 14.
the subject. See St, Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," chap, i. , pp. 3 to 12.
37 Also called, Ruman Duach.
38 Also called, Cairbre Caem.
39 I find him called, likewise, Euan Os-
raighe.
^'*'According to the
"
'*3 In a note. Dr. Todd at this proper
nealogicum," the
name, Liden,
error for tiTJuen, i. e. , Leduin, Leduina, or Liadain, the name given in the Kilkenny MS. of his life, as printed by Colgan. "
"
Ussher and Ware, the foregoing is our
lense," the
Psalter of Cashel," Seluacius,
"
Sanctilogium Ge- Calendarium Casse-
" says,
This is probably a clerical
Lighain, daughter of Maine, who
•
ments to
them, but which are of too
descended in the fourth from Lud- degree
haidh MacCon, Monarch of Ireland, A. D.
253. The intervening generations are given
120 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 5.
Manius Kerr, son to ^nguss, of Lugad's race, and he was son of Ith, according to Maguire/s She was descended from a family of Corca Laighde,*^ in the most southern part of the present county of Cork. 47 The question of accuracy in the several links of descent has been controverted. ^^ Now, it has been stated, in some genealogies, that St. Kieran of Saigir was a brother'*? to St. Nam Mac Ua Birn,5° who succeeded St. Enda. s^ an abbot of Aran, and who died a. d. 654. 5" This is apparently inadmissible ; but, while it might be reconcilable with the existence of supposed contemporaries, mentioned in his Acts, both chronology and genealogyss are too conflicting to render pronouncement very certain, in many of their details.
** For this, they quote the xxi. chap, of his own Irish Life.
*s All other writers are said to be of accord
in the foregoing statement, excepting Cap- grave and Hanmer, who call St. Kieran's
mother, Wingella.
** The reader will find the fullest account
of this ancient territory and its tribes, with
a inthe" ofthe map preceding, Miscellany
Celtic Society," edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , M. R. I. A. See the First Tract,
5eine<jL4C Co]\ca l-Ai-oe, or the " Genea- logy of Corca Laidhe. "
'
copy of that MS. In the
Geneal,' translated into Latin by Colgan from the 'Book of Lecan. ' In the 'Book of Leinster,' copied by Father Shearman
for the present writer. In O'Mahony's '
edition of Keating's Ireland,' and in Dr.
O'Donovan's genealogy of the Ossorian Family the paternal genealogy of Ciaran is
each make 270 years, which, added to a. d.
105, which represents Aengus Ossory the head of the race, in his manhood, bring us to Ciaran's father at A. D. 375, then thirty years of age, and which represents the date of the birth of his son, St. Ciaran. We shall now test the authenticity of this pedigree and the accuracy of its results by collating it with
^^^ The MS. "Corca English says,
preserved,
rically the same, the only difference found to exist being confined to the orthography, which is not material. Each version of the pedigree gives nine descents or generations
Laidhe,
*^ The Rev. Mr. Shearman writes : "The Ciaran. Those nine descents at 30 years
in the eastern part of Munster. "
Lughaidh (Lewy), the son of Roman Duach and father of St.
patrons of the pre- Patrician date of St.
Ciaran rely on the place he holds both in
his paternal and maternal genealogies : which, if perfectly reliable, would appear to sustain their views ; but they are not so, as
some generations are evidently either lost or
omitted, and in consequence, no theory can
be formed on them. "—" Loca Patriciana,"
No. xi. , p. 214. The writer then pursues the genealogy of St. Ciaran's mother, Lie-
his statements, by adding ingenious argu- dania. This lady was not an Ossorian ; she
prove
complicated and elaborate a character for
our powers of analysing or resolving ; how-
we should recommend our readers a
reference to several of his subsequent pages. preserved in the Books of Lecan and
'
ever,
"
of this relationship, in his —Loca Patri-
in the ' of the Corca Genealogy Laighe,'
^» The Rev. Francis Shearman John
''
van, 1849. The pedigree is as follows 'Lughaidh MacCon, Maichnaidh (Mainay), Aengus Bolg, Mainn Cherr, Liedanie
ap-
pears to attach some weight to the account f Celtic Society by the late Dr. O'Dono—-
ciana," No. xi. , pp. 224, 225. "Journal of
the Royal and Archaeological Association of
Ireland," vol. iv. Fourth Series, January, (Leann), St. Ciaran. ' Liedanie is here
1877, No. 29.
5° See his Life, at the 14th of June,
5' See his Life, at the 21st of March.
^'^ See Dr. O'Donovans " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 266, 267.
53 In reply to Rev. Mr. Shearman's argu-
ment, J. H. writes in his Review : —
" There is no evidence to show that even one descent or generation is missing or lost
in either the paternal or maternal lines, or if there be, why not produce that evidence ?
The paternal genealogy of St.
Ciaran is found in very many and very different autho- rities, as no one knows better, and few so well, as our Rev. author. In the Fdire of
Aengus, written during the eighth century, transcribed by our author from Henness^'s
fourth in descent from Lughaidh MacCon. Four descents at thirty years to each make 120 years, which, added to a. d. 253, the date of MacCon's deaih, bring us to Lie- danie at A. D. 373, when she would be thirty years old, and when her son Ciaran would be just born. Ciaran's paternal pedigree represents him as being born in a. d. 375. His maternal genealogy represents his birth i—n A. D. 373—a difference of only two years
occurring in the result of the comparison which proves that no generations are missing or lost in either line ; if there were the result
could not so closely approximate. But if we test the maternal genealogy of Ciaran by
analysing its component parts, it gives us the following result, which ought to settle thp
Ballymote,'
and in each the is nume- pedigree
from to Aengus Ossory,
translated and edited for the '
Sanclilogium
:
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 121
Various dates have been assigned for the birth of Kieran. According to Usshers* and O'Flaherty, our saint was born in the year 352 ;S5 and, at a time, when Paganism universally prevailed throughout Ireland, as stated in his Life. Mr. Hogan deems the year 375 to accord more nearly, with the date for his birth. s^ This early period will not be allowed, by other learned writers,57 who would seem desirous of bringing that event, at least into the
if not into the age next succeeding. 5^ However this may be,S9 Ware makes our saint a native of Ossory f° but, Harris corrects this mis- sake,^' assigning his birth to Clare Island,^^ on the authority of Ussher's MS. Life. This island of Cape Clear^3 is the most southern land, in Ireland ; but, it had been misplaced in several old maps and sea-charts. Smith professes to indicate its position more exactly, than it had been previously defined, on the map of his County History. The north side of Clear Island bears potatoes, barley, and a little wheat, while the south is mostly a craggy rock. On this island, there were about 400 families,^* who had a good quantity of sheep and cows, some swine and horses, but all their cattle were very small. The islanders were often obliged to have provisions from the main shore, and in the most plentiful years, they never sent any to market. ^s
question of its accuracy. Lughaidh MacCon 55 O'Flaherty says, at "Anno 552. S. was the grandfather of Aengus Bolg, and Kieranus Saighir Ossoriorum patronus in this Aengus Bolg was the grandfather of lucem editus. "—"Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. Ciaran's mother. This chieftain had a son Ixxv. , p. 360.
named Mainn Cherr, and a daughrer named 5* See "St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," Abinda. Mainn Cherr had a daughter part i. , chap, i. , p. 12, chap. ii. , p. 14.
fifth
century,
named Liedania, and Abinda, becoming the
wife of Core, the first king of Cashel, had by
him a son named Nadfrach ; hence Lie-
dania, the daughter of Mainn Cherr and the " Irish Eccl siastiual Record," who
Nadhfrach, the son of Abinda, were first
cousins. Nadfrach, the second king of 1866.
"
St. Ciaran of Ossory and our Cor-
Cashel, had a son named Aengus, the first Christian king of Munster, and Liedania be- coming the wife of Lughaidh, an Ossorian
' chieftain, gave birth to Ciaran, the first-
born of the saints of Ireland,' hence Aengus MacNad(rach and St. Ciaran of Saighir were second cousins. Aengus was King of Munster, and a married man when he was baptized by St. Patrick «>r« 447-8, and, as a matter of course, both himself and his cousin Ciaran must have preceded St. Patrick in Ireland ; and, now, with those statistics before us, how are we to hold with our Rev. author that St. Ciaran belonged to the middle of the sixth century, though him- self and his cousin, Aengus MacNadhfrach, were full-grown men in the middle of the fifth ? "
respondents," pp. 25 to 35.
58 The Rev. Dr. Todd states, that the
genealogy of his father Luaigre is preserved in nine descents from his ancestor Aengus of
Ossory, who was expelled from his lands, by the Desii, in the reign of Cormac Ulfada
5* At this year, Ussher remarks, in his Episcopi Ossorienses, p. 68.
Index Chronologicus " S. Kiaranus Sai- *' See Harris' Ware, vol. " : i. ,
Bishops
of
grius in Hibernia natus est," p. 511. In the Ossory," p. 400.
" ^^
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,"
cap. xvi. , p. 410, Ussher says, "In Lagenia,
vero provincia inter Ossorienses, circa annum
CCCLII. ,. natus est Kiaranus &c. ," although
he afterwards acknowledges, that from a
—MS. Life of our saint, which he possessed, is called Insula Sancta Clara ; and in the
and which as appears from his quotations was identic—al with that first Life published
by Colgan our saint is related to have been
old Irish MSS. , Inish Damhly. It contains over 1,500 acres in the barony of West Car- bery (E. D. ), and it is shown on the "Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," Sheet 153.
"
videlicet in Clera insula," Ibid,
born and reared,
in regione Corculaigde,
57 Among the number may be mentioned the Rev. Drs. Lanigan and Todd, the Rev. John Francis Shearman, and a writer, in
gives the initials B. M. C, vol. iii. , October,
"
father could not have been born much be-
fore A. D. 500. "— "St. Patrick, Apostle of
Ireland," Introductory Dissertation, n. 6. ,
pp. 202, 203.
5« To understand the elaborate reasoning
of Mr. Hogan, in reference to various objec- tions occurring against his theory, the reader
(a. d 254-277).
If this be so, St. Ciaran's
must carefully study his
"
St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," part i. , chap, iii. , iv. , v. ,
vi. , vii. , pp. 15 to 29.
*" See " De Priesulibus Lagenise," lib. i.
In Irish, it is called Inis-Clere, which is Latinized " Insula Clericorum," accord- ing to the Irish Life of St. Ciaran.
°'^ It is a parish of itself, containing twelve ploughlands ; in the Ecclesiastical Books it
122 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 5.
It is said, that our saint's mother, before conception, had a vision during hersleep,whenastarseemedtofallintohermouth; and,havingafterwards* related this circumstance to the Magi, these declared, she should bring forth a son, whose fame and virtue must be diffused throughout Ireland, and to the end of time. After a sufficient period had elapsed, Kieran was born, in the territory of Corcalaighde. Almost from the moment of his birth, Ciaran seemed to be a favoured child of heaven. As he grew up, his parents and acquaintances, although pagans, admired the piety of his disposition, the sweetness of his discourse, his well-regulated mind, his prudent counsels, his frequent fasts, and all those other actions, which specially characterize the perfect Christian. ^^ The virtue of purity particularly distinguished him, and the darkness of pagan error seemed fast disappearing, before that light of Divine Grace so wondrously imparted to his soul. ^7
As a mere youth, we are told, that while Ciaran lived at Cape Clear,^^ a kite suddenly pounced upon a small bird, which was seated on her nest. This latter, in his presence, became a victim to the bird of prey, having been caught in its talons, and taken off into upper air. On seeing it, the child grieved much, at the fate of this small bird ; and, his innocent sympathies being moved to prayer for its preservation, the kite again returned, and placed its prey, but only half alive and wounded, before him. This poor bird was then restored to its nest, which it seemed to occupy with great satisfac- tion. Thus, even in such a trifling incident, it seemed that the Almighty was not unmindful of the desires and prayers of those, who are innocent and clean of heart. ^9
In a state of holiness, while following the law of nature and of grace, Kieran continued to his thirtieth year, without being regenerated in the waters of baptism, as the legend of his Life relates. At this time, having received some account of the Christian religion, as practised in Rome, he resolved on setting out for this renowned city, to gratify his laudable desire, for receiving more exact information, regarding its doctrines and observances. Having left Ireland, and proceeded to the capital of the Christian world, he was duly instructed in Catholic doctrine. In the year 382, according to Ussher,7° Kieran was regenerated, in the saving waters of baptism ; but, those who adopt other data for the time of his birth, proportionately advance the year, for succeeding events in his life. ? ^
* When Smith wrote his "
County of Cork," about the middle of the
century.
^5 In the work of Charles Smith, we read :
*' Towards the middle of the island, is their read
chapel, a large building, but as destitute of
any ornament as a barn. Here most of the
i—nhabitants meet on Sundays and holydays. "
last_
Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesi. irum An-
"
book ii. , chap, iv. , pp. 278, 279.
**
Such is tlie statement, in his First Life,
History of the County of Cork," vol. i. ,
as published by Colgan, cap. ii. , p. 458. "
*7 See Ohiciuni," lect. i. , p. 467. Sala- mus. "
mancan MS.
'** In the second volume of " Memoran-
dums on Antiquities and Local Names of the County of Cork," we find some interest- ing information, regarding the parish of Clear Island, and our saint's memorials, yet remaining. These are now preserved, in the Royal Irisli Academy.
__*9 This is related, in the First Life, cap.
n According to Mr. Hogan's calculation, his departure for Rome brings us to A. D. 405, the same year, in which Nial of the Nine Hostages fitted out an armada, and set sail for the coasts of Gaul. This, it is thought, may have furnished the opportunity for St. Kieran's voyage. See Mr. llogan's Review, already quoted, from the Kilkenny Journal
111. , p. 458
; as also in the Office of St.
Chaptkk 11.
'
See Mr.
John Hogan's
History
Kieran,
'° See "Index Chronologicus," p. 512.
of the
lect
ii. , p. 467.
tiquitates," cap. xvi. , p. 412, where we
" Deinde ordinatum ibi Episcopum, ad patriam suam Hibemiam missum fuisse subjicit, triginta annis ante adventum B. Patricii, quern anno Domini ccccxxxii. conti- gisse postea docebimus. Unde inita sub- ductaque ratione, anno ccclii. in lucem editum, ccclxxxii. Romam adiisse, & ccccii. in patriam rediisse Kiaranum comperia-
:
of June 13th, 18—77.
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 123
CHAPTER II.
ST. KIERAN'S ordination and consecration—HIS MEETING WITH ST. PATRICK, AND THEIR INTERCOURSE—HE IS RECOMMENDED BY THE LATTER TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN IRELAND—CONJECTURES REGARDING THE PLACE WHERE HIS MISSION BEGAN.
His fame for eloquence and virtue had preceded him,^ and St. Kieran remained for twenty years at Rome, according to both his Lives, as published
by Colgan ; but, only for a period of fifteen, according to Capgrave. During this time, as we are told, he was diligently employed in studying the Sacred Scriptures, and in collecting copies of them ; whilst, at the same time, he was engaged in acquiring a knowledge of the Church Canons. His wisdom and knowledge, his piety and faith, so far recommended him, that after receiving priesthood, it is said he was promoted to the episcopal rank. ^ Were we to credit some calculations—which we believe to have no better basis to rest on other than ingenious conjecture—St. Kieran may have been living in Italy ; yet, that he received episcopal consecration in Rome, or that he derived a direct commission therefrom, to preach the gospel, as a bishop, in Ireland, may be regarded as doubtful. If in Rome at all, a writer of our saint's life supposes, that he must have left it, before the year 418, and, on his way homewards, he is thought to have visited one of the greatest schools of that age in Italy, where his clerical studies were either commenced or prosecuted. This is conjectured to have been Lerins, now St. Honorat, an island in the Mediterranean Sea, not far from the western coast of Italy. Here, the period of his stay is imagined to have procured St. Kieran's first acquaintance, with the future great Apostle of Ireland. In the second part of Mr. Hogan's book, we are given an account, of how St. Ciaran remained some time in Rome, of how he was ordained bishop, of how on his journey homewards, he met St.
typography, is intituled : "St. Ciaran, tions were made " at a period when gross
Patron of Ossory, a Memoir of his Life and Times, comprising a Preliminary Enquiry
ignorance and laxity of morals were preva- lent. "
33 The are used in following arguments
an His- torical Commentary on the Legend of his Life; someNotesonhisDeath,andonthe Surviving Memorials of his Mission. " By John Hogan, Kilkenny. Printed at the
^(wr/w/Office,A. D. 1876. 8vo.
^ In connexion with the valuable series of
Papers, denominated " Loca Patriciana,"
Series, January, 1877, No. 29. No. xi.
*9 From the initials, J. H. , appended to a
respecting the period of his Birth ;
in "The
' Birand
tiles. '
city of Saighir-Ciaran was demolished and
*
its monastery burned to the ground by The
of the Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland. " See especially vol. iv. Fourth
were theGen- plundered by
published
Journal
Royal
Saighir
In a century later, i. e. A. D. 952, the
men of Munster. ' In twenty years later, ReviewofRev. JohnFrancisShearman's •Sabia,QueenofIreland,foundthecemetery
statement, we may probably regard it as a
reply of Mr. Hogan, published in the Kil-
kenny yourtial of June 13th, 1877. It is
"
of Saighir, an unprotected commons, and procured masons out of Meath to enclose it with walls, to save it from desecration. After this, the church of Saighir never re- gained its former opulence. Now the legend of Ciaran's life was written when the monastery of Saigher had attained the cul-
headed
St. Patrick and St. Kieran. "
Kilkenny Archaeological Society.
30 See " Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land," vol. i. , chap, i. , sect, xiv. , p. 29. 3' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
in its affluence, and whilst in the undisturbed enjoyment of its primitive institutions. Two years after the first raid of the Danes on Saigher, in a. d. 842, Cormac MacEladach was promoted to the abbacy of that church, he is the only one in the long list of its ecclesiastics to whom the Four
Martii v.
3* The Rev. Mr. Shearman, criticising the
legend of St. Ciaran's Life, writes :
Life or Memoir is so filled ^vith absurd and ridiculous miracles that the Bollandists alto- gether rejected it. We must demur to their judgment, which was to some extent ill- grounded and premature ; apart from the legendary portion of this Life, which indeed may, with advantage, be set aside, there are references to persons who can be identified in the history and genealogies of the period. Of this process the Bollandists, from want of historical materials, were incapable of form- ing a proper estimate, and this document in the form it has reached our time is founded on some very ancient and authentic records. " The writer then ventures a suggestion, that
Masters give the title of scribe
'
Cormac
"it appears to have been recast," for the purpose of sustaining the ante- Patrician
claims, presumably of an earlier Apostolate, for Ciaran, Ibhar, Declan and Ailbhe. See
"Loca Patriciana," No. xi. , pp. 214, 217. In addition, he supposes, that the emenda-
MacEladach, Bishop and Scribe of Saigher,' and to him we can with safety assign the authorship of the legend of Ciaran's Life. If he did compile it he must have done so before his elevaiion to the abbacy, as the Danish raid on the monastery occurred two years previous to that event. It might have been written at an earlier period, but it could not have been done after his time, as at the date of its compilation the monastery was in the most ample enjoyment of its ori- ginal immunities, privileges and material possessions ; and no reference whatever is made to any encroachment on its rights by either foreign or native assailants. Whence we can conclude with certainty that the legend of St. Ciaran's Life was written be-
"
This
i. ,
minating point
the Review, with the initials, J. H. , to establish the probable period for the com-
position of Colgan's First Life : —
" From its intrinsic evidence the Life of
Ciaran must have been compiled before the first assault of the Danes on the monastery of Saigher. In the year 842 we read :
March 5,] LIVES OF THE lEISJI SAIJVTS 119
accessible to the writer, he must endeavour to work out the somewhat per-
plexingsubjectofSt. Kieran'smemoir. Amongothermattersinquestion,
the subject of St. Kieran's ancestry and natal place has divided opinion. 34
However, he is numbered among the twelve principal Irish saints ; and,
according to the most generally received pedigree, he descended from an
illustrious Ossorian family, in the western part of Leinster province. 35
Thus do we find the matter stated. ^^ Kieran was the son of Lughaidh, or
Lugneus, son to Rumond,37 son of Conaill, or Conall, son of Corpre,38 son
of Nia Corb, or Niedcorb, son to Becan,39 son of Eochaid Lamdoit, or
Eochad Lamhdoid, son to Amalgaidh, or Amalgad, son of Loagair or Leog-
haire Birn, who was the son of Aengus Osraighe, or ^nguss, of Ossory. 4<»
According to the O'Clerys, this last-named prince belonged to the posterity of Labhraidh Lore, from whom are the Leinstermen, and who was also of the
seed of Heremon. *' Again, the mother of St. Kieran, variedly named, Ligh- aiuj-t^ Lidania, or Liuenj^a according to the O'Clerys,-! * was the daughter of
fore the first attack of the Danes on Saigher saint's detailed geneology on the father's in A. D, 842, and apparently by Cormac side,
the and scribe of that MacEladach, bishop
church, at the same period. "
s* Maguire tells us, in chap. i. that his
father was Brandubh, the son of Bressal, son
' See Drs, Todd's and Reeves' "
Martyr*
to Bran, &c. However, as
Colgan
remarks,
ology of Donegal," pp. 64, 65.
"^ In the second chapter of Mr. Hogan's
work, the maternal genealogy of St, Ciaran
is " The name of his mother was given,
Liadhan, and she was a native of Corca Laighe," In the Books of Lecan and of
Ballymote, the genealogy of Corca Laighe
is given, with clearness and accuracy. In
the " of the Celtic Dr. Miscellany Society,"
O'Donovan published, with a translation and notes, the genealogy. We learn from this authority, th—e following traditional cir*
cumstances, that
the pedigree thus given refers to another St.
Kiaran, about whom St. ^ngus treats in
"
his
35 Authors differ regarding his father's
Opuscula," lib. ii. , pars, i. , cap. 7.
and and Han- name, pedigree, Capgrave
mer state, that his father was Domnel, and his mother Wingella.
3* In the Biography of Mr. Hogan, we ''
learn, that of the Dal Birn of Ossory was Ciaran. " According to the author, this " confines him to the Royal family of the Ossorian tribe—for the Dal Birn was the tribe name of the MacGillaphaidraig Clan, and came originally from Leorghaine Birn, the second King of Ossory. " The pedigree of Ciaran is preserved in the Book of Lecan, and in the Book of Leinster, with direct descents from Aengus Ossory, through his successors to Lugiiaidh or Luaghe, the father of Ciaran. Mr. Hogan asserts, that this determines with certainty the tribe and the territory of Ciaran's ancestry. We must refer the inquiring and curious reader to Mr. Hogan's work, in order that he may ascer- tain the means, by which the genealogical problem is worked out, and how he deve- lopes those principles and establishes those facts, on which he vindicates the Royal des- cent of the illustrious wonder-worker, the patron saint of Old Ossory. The first
—— was the
chapter is wholly devoted to this portion of "
Mother of Ciaran of Saighir. He was bom
at Finntract-Clere,
And the Angels of God attended upon her.
The orders of Heaven
Baptized him. Here was (dwelling) the chieftain who first believed
In the Cross in Ireland ; for Ciaran had
taken Saighir
Thirty years before Patrick arrived, as the
poet said,
Saighir the cold
Found a city on its brink,
At the end of thirty years
I shall meet there and thou.
It is calculated, by Mr, Hogan, that Lighan was thirty years of age in 373, when Ciaran would be first making his appearance on the scene of life ; and, the last lines of the above rann refer to the meeting between St. Patrick and Ciaran at Saighir in 455, when the latter was eighty years of age. See " St.
Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," chap, ii. , pp. 13. 14.
the subject. See St, Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," chap, i. , pp. 3 to 12.
37 Also called, Ruman Duach.
38 Also called, Cairbre Caem.
39 I find him called, likewise, Euan Os-
raighe.
^'*'According to the
"
'*3 In a note. Dr. Todd at this proper
nealogicum," the
name, Liden,
error for tiTJuen, i. e. , Leduin, Leduina, or Liadain, the name given in the Kilkenny MS. of his life, as printed by Colgan. "
"
Ussher and Ware, the foregoing is our
lense," the
Psalter of Cashel," Seluacius,
"
Sanctilogium Ge- Calendarium Casse-
" says,
This is probably a clerical
Lighain, daughter of Maine, who
•
ments to
them, but which are of too
descended in the fourth from Lud- degree
haidh MacCon, Monarch of Ireland, A. D.
253. The intervening generations are given
120 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 5.
Manius Kerr, son to ^nguss, of Lugad's race, and he was son of Ith, according to Maguire/s She was descended from a family of Corca Laighde,*^ in the most southern part of the present county of Cork. 47 The question of accuracy in the several links of descent has been controverted. ^^ Now, it has been stated, in some genealogies, that St. Kieran of Saigir was a brother'*? to St. Nam Mac Ua Birn,5° who succeeded St. Enda. s^ an abbot of Aran, and who died a. d. 654. 5" This is apparently inadmissible ; but, while it might be reconcilable with the existence of supposed contemporaries, mentioned in his Acts, both chronology and genealogyss are too conflicting to render pronouncement very certain, in many of their details.
** For this, they quote the xxi. chap, of his own Irish Life.
*s All other writers are said to be of accord
in the foregoing statement, excepting Cap- grave and Hanmer, who call St. Kieran's
mother, Wingella.
** The reader will find the fullest account
of this ancient territory and its tribes, with
a inthe" ofthe map preceding, Miscellany
Celtic Society," edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , M. R. I. A. See the First Tract,
5eine<jL4C Co]\ca l-Ai-oe, or the " Genea- logy of Corca Laidhe. "
'
copy of that MS. In the
Geneal,' translated into Latin by Colgan from the 'Book of Lecan. ' In the 'Book of Leinster,' copied by Father Shearman
for the present writer. In O'Mahony's '
edition of Keating's Ireland,' and in Dr.
O'Donovan's genealogy of the Ossorian Family the paternal genealogy of Ciaran is
each make 270 years, which, added to a. d.
105, which represents Aengus Ossory the head of the race, in his manhood, bring us to Ciaran's father at A. D. 375, then thirty years of age, and which represents the date of the birth of his son, St. Ciaran. We shall now test the authenticity of this pedigree and the accuracy of its results by collating it with
^^^ The MS. "Corca English says,
preserved,
rically the same, the only difference found to exist being confined to the orthography, which is not material. Each version of the pedigree gives nine descents or generations
Laidhe,
*^ The Rev. Mr. Shearman writes : "The Ciaran. Those nine descents at 30 years
in the eastern part of Munster. "
Lughaidh (Lewy), the son of Roman Duach and father of St.
patrons of the pre- Patrician date of St.
Ciaran rely on the place he holds both in
his paternal and maternal genealogies : which, if perfectly reliable, would appear to sustain their views ; but they are not so, as
some generations are evidently either lost or
omitted, and in consequence, no theory can
be formed on them. "—" Loca Patriciana,"
No. xi. , p. 214. The writer then pursues the genealogy of St. Ciaran's mother, Lie-
his statements, by adding ingenious argu- dania. This lady was not an Ossorian ; she
prove
complicated and elaborate a character for
our powers of analysing or resolving ; how-
we should recommend our readers a
reference to several of his subsequent pages. preserved in the Books of Lecan and
'
ever,
"
of this relationship, in his —Loca Patri-
in the ' of the Corca Genealogy Laighe,'
^» The Rev. Francis Shearman John
''
van, 1849. The pedigree is as follows 'Lughaidh MacCon, Maichnaidh (Mainay), Aengus Bolg, Mainn Cherr, Liedanie
ap-
pears to attach some weight to the account f Celtic Society by the late Dr. O'Dono—-
ciana," No. xi. , pp. 224, 225. "Journal of
the Royal and Archaeological Association of
Ireland," vol. iv. Fourth Series, January, (Leann), St. Ciaran. ' Liedanie is here
1877, No. 29.
5° See his Life, at the 14th of June,
5' See his Life, at the 21st of March.
^'^ See Dr. O'Donovans " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 266, 267.
53 In reply to Rev. Mr. Shearman's argu-
ment, J. H. writes in his Review : —
" There is no evidence to show that even one descent or generation is missing or lost
in either the paternal or maternal lines, or if there be, why not produce that evidence ?
The paternal genealogy of St.
Ciaran is found in very many and very different autho- rities, as no one knows better, and few so well, as our Rev. author. In the Fdire of
Aengus, written during the eighth century, transcribed by our author from Henness^'s
fourth in descent from Lughaidh MacCon. Four descents at thirty years to each make 120 years, which, added to a. d. 253, the date of MacCon's deaih, bring us to Lie- danie at A. D. 373, when she would be thirty years old, and when her son Ciaran would be just born. Ciaran's paternal pedigree represents him as being born in a. d. 375. His maternal genealogy represents his birth i—n A. D. 373—a difference of only two years
occurring in the result of the comparison which proves that no generations are missing or lost in either line ; if there were the result
could not so closely approximate. But if we test the maternal genealogy of Ciaran by
analysing its component parts, it gives us the following result, which ought to settle thp
Ballymote,'
and in each the is nume- pedigree
from to Aengus Ossory,
translated and edited for the '
Sanclilogium
:
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 121
Various dates have been assigned for the birth of Kieran. According to Usshers* and O'Flaherty, our saint was born in the year 352 ;S5 and, at a time, when Paganism universally prevailed throughout Ireland, as stated in his Life. Mr. Hogan deems the year 375 to accord more nearly, with the date for his birth. s^ This early period will not be allowed, by other learned writers,57 who would seem desirous of bringing that event, at least into the
if not into the age next succeeding. 5^ However this may be,S9 Ware makes our saint a native of Ossory f° but, Harris corrects this mis- sake,^' assigning his birth to Clare Island,^^ on the authority of Ussher's MS. Life. This island of Cape Clear^3 is the most southern land, in Ireland ; but, it had been misplaced in several old maps and sea-charts. Smith professes to indicate its position more exactly, than it had been previously defined, on the map of his County History. The north side of Clear Island bears potatoes, barley, and a little wheat, while the south is mostly a craggy rock. On this island, there were about 400 families,^* who had a good quantity of sheep and cows, some swine and horses, but all their cattle were very small. The islanders were often obliged to have provisions from the main shore, and in the most plentiful years, they never sent any to market. ^s
question of its accuracy. Lughaidh MacCon 55 O'Flaherty says, at "Anno 552. S. was the grandfather of Aengus Bolg, and Kieranus Saighir Ossoriorum patronus in this Aengus Bolg was the grandfather of lucem editus. "—"Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. Ciaran's mother. This chieftain had a son Ixxv. , p. 360.
named Mainn Cherr, and a daughrer named 5* See "St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," Abinda. Mainn Cherr had a daughter part i. , chap, i. , p. 12, chap. ii. , p. 14.
fifth
century,
named Liedania, and Abinda, becoming the
wife of Core, the first king of Cashel, had by
him a son named Nadfrach ; hence Lie-
dania, the daughter of Mainn Cherr and the " Irish Eccl siastiual Record," who
Nadhfrach, the son of Abinda, were first
cousins. Nadfrach, the second king of 1866.
"
St. Ciaran of Ossory and our Cor-
Cashel, had a son named Aengus, the first Christian king of Munster, and Liedania be- coming the wife of Lughaidh, an Ossorian
' chieftain, gave birth to Ciaran, the first-
born of the saints of Ireland,' hence Aengus MacNad(rach and St. Ciaran of Saighir were second cousins. Aengus was King of Munster, and a married man when he was baptized by St. Patrick «>r« 447-8, and, as a matter of course, both himself and his cousin Ciaran must have preceded St. Patrick in Ireland ; and, now, with those statistics before us, how are we to hold with our Rev. author that St. Ciaran belonged to the middle of the sixth century, though him- self and his cousin, Aengus MacNadhfrach, were full-grown men in the middle of the fifth ? "
respondents," pp. 25 to 35.
58 The Rev. Dr. Todd states, that the
genealogy of his father Luaigre is preserved in nine descents from his ancestor Aengus of
Ossory, who was expelled from his lands, by the Desii, in the reign of Cormac Ulfada
5* At this year, Ussher remarks, in his Episcopi Ossorienses, p. 68.
Index Chronologicus " S. Kiaranus Sai- *' See Harris' Ware, vol. " : i. ,
Bishops
of
grius in Hibernia natus est," p. 511. In the Ossory," p. 400.
" ^^
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,"
cap. xvi. , p. 410, Ussher says, "In Lagenia,
vero provincia inter Ossorienses, circa annum
CCCLII. ,. natus est Kiaranus &c. ," although
he afterwards acknowledges, that from a
—MS. Life of our saint, which he possessed, is called Insula Sancta Clara ; and in the
and which as appears from his quotations was identic—al with that first Life published
by Colgan our saint is related to have been
old Irish MSS. , Inish Damhly. It contains over 1,500 acres in the barony of West Car- bery (E. D. ), and it is shown on the "Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," Sheet 153.
"
videlicet in Clera insula," Ibid,
born and reared,
in regione Corculaigde,
57 Among the number may be mentioned the Rev. Drs. Lanigan and Todd, the Rev. John Francis Shearman, and a writer, in
gives the initials B. M. C, vol. iii. , October,
"
father could not have been born much be-
fore A. D. 500. "— "St. Patrick, Apostle of
Ireland," Introductory Dissertation, n. 6. ,
pp. 202, 203.
5« To understand the elaborate reasoning
of Mr. Hogan, in reference to various objec- tions occurring against his theory, the reader
(a. d 254-277).
If this be so, St. Ciaran's
must carefully study his
"
St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," part i. , chap, iii. , iv. , v. ,
vi. , vii. , pp. 15 to 29.
*" See " De Priesulibus Lagenise," lib. i.
In Irish, it is called Inis-Clere, which is Latinized " Insula Clericorum," accord- ing to the Irish Life of St. Ciaran.
°'^ It is a parish of itself, containing twelve ploughlands ; in the Ecclesiastical Books it
122 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 5.
It is said, that our saint's mother, before conception, had a vision during hersleep,whenastarseemedtofallintohermouth; and,havingafterwards* related this circumstance to the Magi, these declared, she should bring forth a son, whose fame and virtue must be diffused throughout Ireland, and to the end of time. After a sufficient period had elapsed, Kieran was born, in the territory of Corcalaighde. Almost from the moment of his birth, Ciaran seemed to be a favoured child of heaven. As he grew up, his parents and acquaintances, although pagans, admired the piety of his disposition, the sweetness of his discourse, his well-regulated mind, his prudent counsels, his frequent fasts, and all those other actions, which specially characterize the perfect Christian. ^^ The virtue of purity particularly distinguished him, and the darkness of pagan error seemed fast disappearing, before that light of Divine Grace so wondrously imparted to his soul. ^7
As a mere youth, we are told, that while Ciaran lived at Cape Clear,^^ a kite suddenly pounced upon a small bird, which was seated on her nest. This latter, in his presence, became a victim to the bird of prey, having been caught in its talons, and taken off into upper air. On seeing it, the child grieved much, at the fate of this small bird ; and, his innocent sympathies being moved to prayer for its preservation, the kite again returned, and placed its prey, but only half alive and wounded, before him. This poor bird was then restored to its nest, which it seemed to occupy with great satisfac- tion. Thus, even in such a trifling incident, it seemed that the Almighty was not unmindful of the desires and prayers of those, who are innocent and clean of heart. ^9
In a state of holiness, while following the law of nature and of grace, Kieran continued to his thirtieth year, without being regenerated in the waters of baptism, as the legend of his Life relates. At this time, having received some account of the Christian religion, as practised in Rome, he resolved on setting out for this renowned city, to gratify his laudable desire, for receiving more exact information, regarding its doctrines and observances. Having left Ireland, and proceeded to the capital of the Christian world, he was duly instructed in Catholic doctrine. In the year 382, according to Ussher,7° Kieran was regenerated, in the saving waters of baptism ; but, those who adopt other data for the time of his birth, proportionately advance the year, for succeeding events in his life. ? ^
* When Smith wrote his "
County of Cork," about the middle of the
century.
^5 In the work of Charles Smith, we read :
*' Towards the middle of the island, is their read
chapel, a large building, but as destitute of
any ornament as a barn. Here most of the
i—nhabitants meet on Sundays and holydays. "
last_
Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesi. irum An-
"
book ii. , chap, iv. , pp. 278, 279.
**
Such is tlie statement, in his First Life,
History of the County of Cork," vol. i. ,
as published by Colgan, cap. ii. , p. 458. "
*7 See Ohiciuni," lect. i. , p. 467. Sala- mus. "
mancan MS.
'** In the second volume of " Memoran-
dums on Antiquities and Local Names of the County of Cork," we find some interest- ing information, regarding the parish of Clear Island, and our saint's memorials, yet remaining. These are now preserved, in the Royal Irisli Academy.
__*9 This is related, in the First Life, cap.
n According to Mr. Hogan's calculation, his departure for Rome brings us to A. D. 405, the same year, in which Nial of the Nine Hostages fitted out an armada, and set sail for the coasts of Gaul. This, it is thought, may have furnished the opportunity for St. Kieran's voyage. See Mr. llogan's Review, already quoted, from the Kilkenny Journal
111. , p. 458
; as also in the Office of St.
Chaptkk 11.
'
See Mr.
John Hogan's
History
Kieran,
'° See "Index Chronologicus," p. 512.
of the
lect
ii. , p. 467.
tiquitates," cap. xvi. , p. 412, where we
" Deinde ordinatum ibi Episcopum, ad patriam suam Hibemiam missum fuisse subjicit, triginta annis ante adventum B. Patricii, quern anno Domini ccccxxxii. conti- gisse postea docebimus. Unde inita sub- ductaque ratione, anno ccclii. in lucem editum, ccclxxxii. Romam adiisse, & ccccii. in patriam rediisse Kiaranum comperia-
:
of June 13th, 18—77.
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 123
CHAPTER II.
ST. KIERAN'S ordination and consecration—HIS MEETING WITH ST. PATRICK, AND THEIR INTERCOURSE—HE IS RECOMMENDED BY THE LATTER TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN IRELAND—CONJECTURES REGARDING THE PLACE WHERE HIS MISSION BEGAN.
His fame for eloquence and virtue had preceded him,^ and St. Kieran remained for twenty years at Rome, according to both his Lives, as published
by Colgan ; but, only for a period of fifteen, according to Capgrave. During this time, as we are told, he was diligently employed in studying the Sacred Scriptures, and in collecting copies of them ; whilst, at the same time, he was engaged in acquiring a knowledge of the Church Canons. His wisdom and knowledge, his piety and faith, so far recommended him, that after receiving priesthood, it is said he was promoted to the episcopal rank. ^ Were we to credit some calculations—which we believe to have no better basis to rest on other than ingenious conjecture—St. Kieran may have been living in Italy ; yet, that he received episcopal consecration in Rome, or that he derived a direct commission therefrom, to preach the gospel, as a bishop, in Ireland, may be regarded as doubtful. If in Rome at all, a writer of our saint's life supposes, that he must have left it, before the year 418, and, on his way homewards, he is thought to have visited one of the greatest schools of that age in Italy, where his clerical studies were either commenced or prosecuted. This is conjectured to have been Lerins, now St. Honorat, an island in the Mediterranean Sea, not far from the western coast of Italy. Here, the period of his stay is imagined to have procured St. Kieran's first acquaintance, with the future great Apostle of Ireland. In the second part of Mr. Hogan's book, we are given an account, of how St. Ciaran remained some time in Rome, of how he was ordained bishop, of how on his journey homewards, he met St.
