' in 1 761, directs the Easter duty there to
commence
on St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
D.
598.
This is
Britannicarum,
those saints therein mentioned. Again, this
Lives of Saints
probable,
144 L2VBS OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 5.
sakeofClonmacnois',^° and,evenelsewhere,heconjectures,asDr. Lanigan asserts,^' that our saint might have been living, in the time of Pope Gregory
the Great. 42 Dempster absurdly places his death in 665, on the authority of the Breviary of Dunblane ; while, he is made to suffer death by martyrdom, having been murdered by robbers/s It is stated, too, that his memory was
visits of pilgrims. 44
St. Ciaran was buried, it is said, near the relics of St. Martin, distin-
guished as the Elder, a remarkable Patrician missionary, left to evangelize the Ossorians. t5 It is supposed, he lived a recluse, on Tory Island, which was called " Tor inis Martain. "^^ A relic, which was denominated the Socela Martain, and which had been preserved in Derry down to the thirteenth century,'*7 is said to have had relation to this ancient saint.
The illustrious bishop, Ciaran, is revered, as principal patron of Ossory diocese, where his festival is celebrated on the 5 th of March, as a double of
the first class. On that day, or on the Sunday immediately following, per- mission is granted to the priests and people to reverence St. Kieran, with suitable devotion at these places, where he has been regarded as special
"
Kyran's Cell," and that it was remarkable for miracles performed, and for the
famous in Kyntyre, where was the lake, called Lochkilkeran, or
the lake of
In the Cathedral Church ; in Kill-Kieran, belonging to St. John's parish ; in Rathkieran ;48 in Clashacrow j'tg in Stamcarty ; in Glashecron ; in
Fartagh ;So in Knocksciragh ; in Johnstown ^si in Kilmacow ;52 in Moon- coin ;S3 in Errill ;54 in Kilkieran ;55 in Tullaherin ;56 but, it must be re-
marked, that where those numerous deep ditches and high ramparts, encom- passing nearly ten acres,57 are to be found at Seir-Kieran,s^ the site of his
The itself is parish
patron.
39 See Dr.
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. 2, n. 28, p. 9.
4° He is said to have died A. D. 548. Sir
James Ware expressly distinguishes them. See " De Prsesulibus Lagenias," p. 68.
4' See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
Sheet
defined on Sheets 39, 40, 42, 43.
Lanigan's
Kilkenny,"
42,
vol.
the Antiquities of Ireland, which is incor- rect, as the twenty-eighth is the last. Else- where, I must confess myself unable to verily such a statement.
4* He sat in the chair of St. Peter, from A. D. 590 to A. D. 604. See Sir Harris
s' In the Galmoy.
of
See Sheet 8, ibtd.
and ot barony
sect,
33. He quotes the twenty-ninth chapter of
land,"
i. , chap, i. ,
xiv. ,
124, p.
parish
Fertagh,
Nicolas' " of Chronology
54 In the parish of Rathdowney and
History," p. 209. 43 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
of See "Oixlnance barony Clandonagh.
Scotorum," tomus ii. , No. 774, p. 420.
44 For this, Dempster cites Gilbert. Brun.
Histor. , pag. xxcix.
45 His churches or places there are said to
be Temple Martin, Dysert Martin, and Kyledelig.
4* His feast is assigned to the nth of November, the same day as that on which St. Martin, Bishop —of Tours—with whom he isoftenconfounded wasvenerated.
47 For the previous particulars, the writer is indebted to the Rev. John Francis Shear- man, who permits reference to his "Loca Patriciana," part xii.
48 In the parish of Rathkieran, and barony of Iverk. It is noted on the "Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Survey Townland Maps of the Queen's County," Sheet 27.
55 There is a place so called in the parish
of Inistioge. See " Ordnance Survey Town-
land Maps for the County of Kilkenny," Sheet 29. There is another, in a parish of the same name. See Sheets 14, 15. Both
are in the barony of Galmoy.
5* In the parish so called and barony of
Galmoy. See Sheet 24, ibid. The parish is on Sheets 24, 28.
" Ecclesiastical His-
n.
49 In the parish of Clashacrow, and barony of Crannagli. See ibid. . Sheet 13.
5° This parish, in the baronies of Cran- nagh and Galmoy, is shown on Sheets 8, 9, 12, 13. Ibid.
5^ In the parish so named, in the barony of Iverk. See Sheet 43, ibid. The parish itself is on Sheets 40, 42, 43, 46.
53 In the parish of Pollrone and barony of Iverk. See Sheet 42, ibiti.
57 See Thomas Lalor Cooke's "Early History of the Town of Birr," &c. , chap, x. , p. 167.
58 See the " Statuta Dioecesis Ossorien- sis," edita Kilkenni. ie, in Synodo Dioece- sana, die 3 Junii, 1 873. Monita, sect. 8, pp. 22 to 29,
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 145
celebrated monastery,S9 that the memory of om* samt v/as most revered. ^° Knockseera,^^ said to be dedicated to St. Kyran, of Seir Kyran, and founded
by him, according to tradition, is an ancient burial place, on the very summit of a rounded, rocky, and elevated site, unrivalled for the picturesque views it commands, "on every side. The foundations of an old church, here, are levelled with the ground. The church appears to have consisted formerly of a nave and chancel. The nave was about 30 feet in length, by 20 in width. The chancel was about 9 feet, in addition to the nave. The present notes were taken on the spot, August, 1872, and about 70 years previously, the people there stated, the old church was almost perfect, two gables standing and a vestry attached. The cross wall was broken down, however, but a round arched-doorway entered it. A small end window was in one gable, while the side walls were then somewhat broken and defaced. Westwards extended this chancel, preserving the aforesaid width, following the side- walls. On the north side, there appear to have been few interments, but as the subsoil is limestone, much of the surface on this direction has been ex- cavated for material, probably used in building the ancient church, or for moremodernhouses,abouttheneighbourhood. Thereareseveraltombs
and headstones, yet none presenting a very antique appearance, on the south and east of the old building. Formerly, there were no defined boundaries around the graveyard ; but, of late years, it has been enclosed with a stone- wall. A solitary hawthorn bush crowned the eminence, and served with some upright headstones, to mark the spot, from a very considerable distance. Knockseera lies one mile south-east from Borris-in-Ossory. '-"' From its top extends a magnificent landscape range of vision, bounded by the SUeve Bloom mountains, tlie hills of Dysart, the SHevenamon and northern Kilkenny heights, the distant haze-covered Galtees and the nearer Keeper mountains, in Tipperary. Popular tradition, regarding the old church founder, seems all but lost; nor is the patron's name remembered, by people of the present generation. Still, some hallowed remembrances are connected with the place ; and, deceased persons are brought by their friends from remote distances to be interred, on this lonely eminence. There can be no doubt whatever, regarding the extreme antiquity of Knockseera church, for a visit to the site will impress the initiated in Irish antiquarian lore, with evidences sufficiently convincing, that long ages must have rolled over, since the very primitive structure had been first built, on its present scarcely traceable foundations. Immediately near, and in the hollow of an adjoining field, St. Kieran's well may be seen, issuing from beneath a venerable hawthorn tree. ^3 Formerly the spring was frequented by devout pilgrims, on the 5th of March. Besides this, a St. Kieran's well may be seen, near the ruined churches of Gill
S9 See, also, Rt. Rev. Patrick Francis County Letters, of the Ordnance Survey, "
Moran's Spicilegium Ossoriense : being a vol. ii. , p. 98. Mr. O'Donovan's letter,
Collection of Original Letters and Papers dated Birr, Pebruaiy 3rd, 1838. In this
illustrative of the Histoiy of the Irish Church
from the Reformation to the year 1800. "
First Series, sect, ii. , pp. 6 to 10.
'°
Mi\ O'Donovan, in writing from this neighbourhood, remarks, that the present wall is exceedingly ancient, and that there are two round towers, on a small scale, standing in the churchyards of Seirkieran and of Killyon ; the establishments of St. Kieran and his mother Liedania. They seem to have been attached to other build- ings, and to have been used as Sacristies or Deartheachs. They are about 17 feet high, and rather of rude masonry. See the King's
letter, Mr. O'Donovau also gives a rough map tracing, in which Sierkieran occupies a central position. The names of ancient places and territories are marked thereon, according to their supposed former relative positions. Ibid. , p. 95.
^'
This townland, in the parish of Agha- boe, and barony of Clandonagh, is shown on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for
the Queen's County," Sheet 22.
^^
This town, in the parish of Aghaboe, and barony of Clandonagh, is shown on the
"
Queen's County," Sheets 21, 22.
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the K
146 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 5.
Ossory and Stonecarthy, not far from an old road of some historic impor- tance. ^4 There is a'townland, called Saint Kieran's, in the parish of Tintern, andbaronyofShelburne,countyofWexford. ^s IntheKing'sCounty,there is a Kilkeeran,^^ in the parish of Cloneyhurk, and barony of Upper PhiUps- town. In the Island
of Cape Clear^7 and on the mainland
coasts adjoining, his name is, also, held in veneration, by people living there, even to the present day. Kilkieran, an ancient church, and a part of the coast, called Kieran's
Strand, are even yet mementoes of his ^^
celebrity.
This saint's festi-
val is commemo-
rated, throughout Ireland, as a double, and, in the diocese
of Ossory, as a double of the First
Class. Formerly it was celebrated, with an Office, contain- ing Nine Lessons. ^^ Abstinence from ser- vile works was en- joined, in the olden times, when his feast
_ ^ : :, . --r^;eH3=:^. . jj^-^^^^gjEfk^
^3 The accompanying sketch, by the writer, was taken on the spot, in August, 1872. It was transferred to the wood, by William F.
Wakeman, and engraved, by George A. Hanlon.
•^^ See the "Journal of the Kilkenny and South-East of Ireland Archaeological So-
Kieran, i. e. " St. Kieran's Strand," on
which is a pillar stone, with a cross rudely cut towards the top, that, they say, was the workmanship of St. Kieran ; and near it stand the walls of a ruined church, dedicated to the same saint. This stone they hold in great veneration, and assemble round it
of March, on which — every 5th day, they
celebrate the festival of their patron. "
ciety," 385.
vol, iii.
New Series,
part ii. , p.
"5 It is
on the " Ordnance marked, Survey
"
of the
of
vol.
Well of St. Kieran, under Knockseera, Queen's County
occurred, as we learn
from the Antiphonary, supposed to have belonged to Clondalkin Church. 7° In the diocese of Ossory, it is thought, that St. Ciaran's feast formerly ranked
Cork," Townland Maps for the County of Wex- book ii. , chap, iv. , p. 279. After describing
ford," Sheet 45.
^ See it defined, on the " Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the King's County," Sheet 33.
^
western point, we are told by Smith, that
this island. Smith enters these following re-
marks " to Clear, between : Adjoining Cape
it and the mainland, is the island of Inishir-
can, which I take to be Iniskieran, or the
— former. " island of St. Kieran, rather than the
On this
island,
towards
the
north-
the ruins of a called castle,
Ibid. , p. 281.
<* See Thomas Lalor Cooke's "
Dunanore, Ang- lice, the "Golden fort," stand on a rock, which extends into the sea. "Alittle to the east of the castle, is ? crvc cnlled Tra-
Early History of the Town of Birr," &c. , chap, x. ,
History
County
i. ,
p. 167.
''The Trinity College, Dublin, MSS.
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 147
as high as St. Patrick's day, or as a festival equally remarkable. In fact, the learned bishop of the diocese, Thomas De Burgo,?
' in 1 761, directs the Easter duty there to commence on St. Ciaran's day, and to end on Ascension day. 7^ The same direction is to be found, in a Pastoral of his successor, MostRev. Dr. Troy,anddateda. d. 1778. 73 Theformermemorialsofthe saint, throughout ancient Ossory, before the dark Penal Days, have been largely increased since, by the erection of St. Ciaran's College, the fine new Cathedral,aslikewiseotherchurches,chapelsandreligiousinstitutions. 74 It is remarkable, also, that to about the year 1838, the people kept the feast of St. Kieran, on the 5th of March, as a local holiday, and long afterwards, no works were there carried on. Wc rejoice to learn, that the old celebration has been lately revived, with great religious solemnity, and we trust, it shall never more fall into disuse. 75 St. ^ngus the Culdee? ^ and the Calendar of Cashel have this holy bishop's festival set down, for the 5th day of March. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,77 at the same date, he is simply recorded as Ciaran Saighre. In the Martyrologics of Marianus O'Gorman, of Maguire, of Salisbury, and in the Martyrologium Anglicanum, he is also recorded. 7^ This saint's name is frequently written Piran or Piranus,79 and under this form, he is commemorated, at the present date, in an anonymous list of Irish Saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare^° In the list of our saints, published by Henry Fitzsimon, on the authority of Floratius, at the 5th of March, this saint is commemorated as Kirianus, Epis. et Mart. ^' The Martyrology of DonegaF^ records, as being venerated on this day, Ciaran, of Saighir, Bishop
classedB. i. 3. ,B. 3. i. ,B,3. 10. ,B. 3. 12. have in their Calendars, at March 5th, or Nones iii. , Sancti Kerani Epis. or Abb. et Conf. , ix. lect.
? ° It is now classed B. i. 3. , among the
patron. Among his clergy and people has he also revived a taste and research, in local and general Irish and ecclesiastical studies, which must be fraught with the most happy results, and which must redound creditably to his own future celebrity, and to the best interestsofournationalChurch.
^^ The following extract, from the " Fei- lire," in the " Leabhar Breac," with its English translatio—n, was furnished by Pro-
T. C. D. Manuscripts. 7'Authorofthoseinvaluableworks—now
so rarely met with—the " Hibernia Domi-
nicana," and " Supplementum Hiberniae "
privately printed in Kilkenny,
Dominicana;,
but, for concealment of existing publication
fessor O'Looney
disabilities, published Colonise Agrippinse, A. D. MDCCLXII.
T^ In 1773, the same prelate issued a Pas-
toral to the clergy of his diocese, stating that among the other holydays retrenched by
Pope Clement XIV. , in his lately published Indult, the obligation of hearing Mass, on St. Ciaran's day, and on St. Kenny's day, as
also on the festival days of parochial patrons,
A. 111. 11.
77 Edited
7^ See
:
tlo beblAmg in bAl. b'OA
CAyVCACh tMS'OA 1\UAniAC1l CiAjxAn ^LuAgAcn fAig^e.
The Balbda bounding sent
His fame across the eastern sea, Carthach the kingly of Rome, Ciaran
Saiger
''
had been removed. "From this
' St.
Ciaran's
of in popular estimation. " John Hogan's
of hosts.
"
Kelly, p.
day
sight
'
was — lost gradually being
St. Ciaran, Patron of
Ossory," part iii. ,
chap, viii. , pp. 217, 218. '3 Instructions for Lent.
7* See the work already quoted, for further details and historic particulars than our dis- posable space will permit us to introduce.
75 In connexion with this subject, how-
ever, it is only just to observe, the present learned and distinguished successor of St. Kyran, the Most Rev. Patrick Francis Moran, consecrated Bishop of Ossory on St. Ciaran's Day, A. D. 1872, has taken every care possible to perpetuate the religious and popular veneration due to his illustrious
nise," Martii v. , n. 43, p. 467.
79 St. Kiaran is called Kenerin, in the
*' Circle of the Seasons," p. 65, and there too he seems to have been distinguished from St. Piran, in Cornwall.
**° See"HistoriceCatholicseIbemigeCom- pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 49.
*' See ibid. , chap, xii. , p. 55.
^^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
64, 65.
*3 The same notice appears in that copy,
preserved in the Royal Irish Academy, and formerly belonging to the Irish Ordnance
date,
by Colgan's
xvii. Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Rev. Dr.
148 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [^Iarch 5.
and Confessor. ^3 Again, under the head of Saighir, Uuald Mac Firbis enters, Ciaran of Saighir, a bishop avIio was in Erinn before Patrick. ^* The Scottish people venerated the memory of this renowned bishop. Thus, we read, in the Kalendar of Dnmimond, at the 5th or iii. Nones of INIarch, that in Ireland the holy Confessors, Ciaran and Cartac, who were devout servants, went to Christ. The feast of St. Ciarain Saigre is noted, in the " Kalendarium Celticum,"attheii. Nones,or6thofMarch: this,however,mustbeamistake
ing the eloquent and eulogistic words of a devout client,^^ and which may serve to warm our affectiofts for the subject of his panegyric, on this heavenly
for the In his " 5th,
the feast of our saint, in this manner : "Kiriani episcopi. " Florarius is quoted as his authorit)'. ^^ We cannot better conclude this account of St. Kieran, than by reproduc-
birthday
of
Ossory's great patron.
Let us " of him to obtain for us beg
Menologium Scoticum," Dempster places
grace to eradicate from our hearts the roots of our former vices, and to plant
in them the seeds of every virtue, so that they may grow up, and flower, and
fructify, a hundred fold, and shed the good odour of Christ around us. And so, when for us the trials and storms of this life shall have terminated, the finger of God will come upon our eyes, and the voice of the turtle will sound in our ears, telling us to arise and come away to that blessed country, where winter can appear never more, where God shall wipe away all tears from the eyes of His faithful servants, and where the gloom of the valley of death shall
be exchanged for the golden sunlight of a happy eternity. "
Article II. —St. Carthach, or Carthage, said to h. we been Bishop OF Druim-fertain, and of Inis Uachtair, in Lough Sheelix, County of Westmeath, or, of Sier-Kieran, King's County. \Sixth Century? ^ Immediate successor to St. Kieran,' the present holy man grew up under a strict discipline, and it is generally thought, that his birth may be referred to some closing part of the fifth century. However, regarding the exact period for his nativity, nothing of a very specific nature can be gleaned. Most generally, this St. Carthage is designated, the Elder, in our Irish Calen- dars, probably to distinguish him from others, bearing a similar name. ^ In- deed, it seems probable, that accounts relating to those may have found misplacement in the Acts of our St. Carthach or Carthage. 3 These are
doubtfully presented by Colgan,* and by the Bollandists. s However, the succeeding particulars may not all have reference to the saint, whose feast falls on this day. Colgan could not discover any ancient Acts, specially re- lating to him ; yet, being in doubt, if such might not afterwards come to light, he forbore to state much he had gleaned, lest this should be repugnant
to any possible future development. The Acts of this saint, notwithstanding. Survey Archives. It is known, as the this same day.
" Common Place Book F. " See "
^ One so called was venerated on the 26th ^•i See Proceedings of the Royal Irish of March, and another, surnamed Mochuda,
p. 27.
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part at the 14th of May.
3
^5 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of name is Carthach, and, in the genitive case
Scottish Saints," pp. 6, 83, and 194. Carthaigh ; while, in Latin, he is denomi- ^* See *' The Feast of St. Kieran at nated Carthochus, Cartagus, Carlhacius and
i. , pp. 126, 127.
It is said, by Colgan, that in Irish, his
Saigher. " Panegyric Sermon by Rev. N. Carthogius.
Murphy, C. C. To this published Tract is * See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernia:," appended a communication to the Ossory Martii v. De S. Carthagio Epis. et Con- Archseological Society: "Vindication of fess. Ex Variis, pp. 473 to 476, and n. i. the Claim of St. Kieran of Saigher to the
Title of Primogentitus Sanctorum Ilibentia:. ^'
the Rev. N. —
By Murphy.
et Abbatibus
ejus Discipulo Episcopis Sagi-
riensibns in Ossoria Hibernia; Proviucia, pp. 3S9 to 399.
Article ii.
whose Acts have been previously given, at
'
The illustrious bishop,
s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii v. De S. Kierano et S. Carthaco
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 149
do not appear to be extant, so that little can be said regarding him. ^ la the " Memorial of Ancient British Piety," the feast of St. Carthac the Elder at Seir-Kieran is commemorated, at the 5th of i\Iarch. 7 This pious servant of God was a son of Aenghus, son to Nadfraech, King of Munster, according to aprevailingopinion;^ but,byotherauthorities,heiscalledthegrandsonof Aengus. 9 Thus is he alluded to, in the Lives of St. Kieran of Saigir ; and, it would be difficult to arrive at any other conclusion, except we should sup- pose him to have been born, but a very short time before the death of
who was slain towards the close of the fifth ^° to century. According
^ngus,
one statement, our saint was either a brother or a grandson to King ^ngus ;
while, he is called a foster-brother to St. Kiaran of Saighir. " It is supposed, too, that St. Carthach had been the son of a wife to ^ngus Nathfraich, before his union with Eithne Vathach. " A pious servant of God, Carthacus, is classed amongSt. Patrick'sdisciples;'3 but,ithasbeenconjectured,thatanotherCar- thach may have lived at a still earlier period than our saint, and that he may have belonged to the same family, for nothing seems to be distinctively known re- garding him. '+ It is generally admitted, that our Carthach was educated, at an early age, under St. Ciaran of Saigir ;'5 and, Colgan thinks that he re- ceived such instruction, before the year 489. While this too early date, for his scholarship, has been denied by Dr. Lanigan ; yet, he deems it probable, that, as both master and disciple were natives of Munster, and as both were well known, at the Court of Cashel, the latter might have been entrusted to the care of the former^ after Kieran had left the school of St. Finnian,'^ at Clonard, about the year 532. ^7 It is also conjectured, that at this time Car- thage was young, and probably not more than seventeen or eighteen years of age. '^ While at Saighir, we can have no doubt, that every care Avas bestowed on his religious education and discipline ; yet was it permitted, by Divine Pro- vidence, that the youth should be tried in temptation, only to overcome it. however, by miraculous interposition, to escape from tlie snare through ex- emplary penance, and to become still more holy, after the danger had passed. '? He had formed the acquaintance of a female pupil, under the care of St. Liedania,^° and their intimacy ripened into a violent passion, whicli becoming known to St. Cieran, his prayers were interposed, and tlie disciple escaped, with sorrow for having transgressed against the discretion necessary to be observed, especially in the religious state. ^' In tears, he sought advice
* See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap.
Sancta," part i. , pp. 155, 156.
Britannicarum,
those saints therein mentioned. Again, this
Lives of Saints
probable,
144 L2VBS OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 5.
sakeofClonmacnois',^° and,evenelsewhere,heconjectures,asDr. Lanigan asserts,^' that our saint might have been living, in the time of Pope Gregory
the Great. 42 Dempster absurdly places his death in 665, on the authority of the Breviary of Dunblane ; while, he is made to suffer death by martyrdom, having been murdered by robbers/s It is stated, too, that his memory was
visits of pilgrims. 44
St. Ciaran was buried, it is said, near the relics of St. Martin, distin-
guished as the Elder, a remarkable Patrician missionary, left to evangelize the Ossorians. t5 It is supposed, he lived a recluse, on Tory Island, which was called " Tor inis Martain. "^^ A relic, which was denominated the Socela Martain, and which had been preserved in Derry down to the thirteenth century,'*7 is said to have had relation to this ancient saint.
The illustrious bishop, Ciaran, is revered, as principal patron of Ossory diocese, where his festival is celebrated on the 5 th of March, as a double of
the first class. On that day, or on the Sunday immediately following, per- mission is granted to the priests and people to reverence St. Kieran, with suitable devotion at these places, where he has been regarded as special
"
Kyran's Cell," and that it was remarkable for miracles performed, and for the
famous in Kyntyre, where was the lake, called Lochkilkeran, or
the lake of
In the Cathedral Church ; in Kill-Kieran, belonging to St. John's parish ; in Rathkieran ;48 in Clashacrow j'tg in Stamcarty ; in Glashecron ; in
Fartagh ;So in Knocksciragh ; in Johnstown ^si in Kilmacow ;52 in Moon- coin ;S3 in Errill ;54 in Kilkieran ;55 in Tullaherin ;56 but, it must be re-
marked, that where those numerous deep ditches and high ramparts, encom- passing nearly ten acres,57 are to be found at Seir-Kieran,s^ the site of his
The itself is parish
patron.
39 See Dr.
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. 2, n. 28, p. 9.
4° He is said to have died A. D. 548. Sir
James Ware expressly distinguishes them. See " De Prsesulibus Lagenias," p. 68.
4' See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
Sheet
defined on Sheets 39, 40, 42, 43.
Lanigan's
Kilkenny,"
42,
vol.
the Antiquities of Ireland, which is incor- rect, as the twenty-eighth is the last. Else- where, I must confess myself unable to verily such a statement.
4* He sat in the chair of St. Peter, from A. D. 590 to A. D. 604. See Sir Harris
s' In the Galmoy.
of
See Sheet 8, ibtd.
and ot barony
sect,
33. He quotes the twenty-ninth chapter of
land,"
i. , chap, i. ,
xiv. ,
124, p.
parish
Fertagh,
Nicolas' " of Chronology
54 In the parish of Rathdowney and
History," p. 209. 43 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
of See "Oixlnance barony Clandonagh.
Scotorum," tomus ii. , No. 774, p. 420.
44 For this, Dempster cites Gilbert. Brun.
Histor. , pag. xxcix.
45 His churches or places there are said to
be Temple Martin, Dysert Martin, and Kyledelig.
4* His feast is assigned to the nth of November, the same day as that on which St. Martin, Bishop —of Tours—with whom he isoftenconfounded wasvenerated.
47 For the previous particulars, the writer is indebted to the Rev. John Francis Shear- man, who permits reference to his "Loca Patriciana," part xii.
48 In the parish of Rathkieran, and barony of Iverk. It is noted on the "Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Survey Townland Maps of the Queen's County," Sheet 27.
55 There is a place so called in the parish
of Inistioge. See " Ordnance Survey Town-
land Maps for the County of Kilkenny," Sheet 29. There is another, in a parish of the same name. See Sheets 14, 15. Both
are in the barony of Galmoy.
5* In the parish so called and barony of
Galmoy. See Sheet 24, ibid. The parish is on Sheets 24, 28.
" Ecclesiastical His-
n.
49 In the parish of Clashacrow, and barony of Crannagli. See ibid. . Sheet 13.
5° This parish, in the baronies of Cran- nagh and Galmoy, is shown on Sheets 8, 9, 12, 13. Ibid.
5^ In the parish so named, in the barony of Iverk. See Sheet 43, ibid. The parish itself is on Sheets 40, 42, 43, 46.
53 In the parish of Pollrone and barony of Iverk. See Sheet 42, ibiti.
57 See Thomas Lalor Cooke's "Early History of the Town of Birr," &c. , chap, x. , p. 167.
58 See the " Statuta Dioecesis Ossorien- sis," edita Kilkenni. ie, in Synodo Dioece- sana, die 3 Junii, 1 873. Monita, sect. 8, pp. 22 to 29,
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 145
celebrated monastery,S9 that the memory of om* samt v/as most revered. ^° Knockseera,^^ said to be dedicated to St. Kyran, of Seir Kyran, and founded
by him, according to tradition, is an ancient burial place, on the very summit of a rounded, rocky, and elevated site, unrivalled for the picturesque views it commands, "on every side. The foundations of an old church, here, are levelled with the ground. The church appears to have consisted formerly of a nave and chancel. The nave was about 30 feet in length, by 20 in width. The chancel was about 9 feet, in addition to the nave. The present notes were taken on the spot, August, 1872, and about 70 years previously, the people there stated, the old church was almost perfect, two gables standing and a vestry attached. The cross wall was broken down, however, but a round arched-doorway entered it. A small end window was in one gable, while the side walls were then somewhat broken and defaced. Westwards extended this chancel, preserving the aforesaid width, following the side- walls. On the north side, there appear to have been few interments, but as the subsoil is limestone, much of the surface on this direction has been ex- cavated for material, probably used in building the ancient church, or for moremodernhouses,abouttheneighbourhood. Thereareseveraltombs
and headstones, yet none presenting a very antique appearance, on the south and east of the old building. Formerly, there were no defined boundaries around the graveyard ; but, of late years, it has been enclosed with a stone- wall. A solitary hawthorn bush crowned the eminence, and served with some upright headstones, to mark the spot, from a very considerable distance. Knockseera lies one mile south-east from Borris-in-Ossory. '-"' From its top extends a magnificent landscape range of vision, bounded by the SUeve Bloom mountains, tlie hills of Dysart, the SHevenamon and northern Kilkenny heights, the distant haze-covered Galtees and the nearer Keeper mountains, in Tipperary. Popular tradition, regarding the old church founder, seems all but lost; nor is the patron's name remembered, by people of the present generation. Still, some hallowed remembrances are connected with the place ; and, deceased persons are brought by their friends from remote distances to be interred, on this lonely eminence. There can be no doubt whatever, regarding the extreme antiquity of Knockseera church, for a visit to the site will impress the initiated in Irish antiquarian lore, with evidences sufficiently convincing, that long ages must have rolled over, since the very primitive structure had been first built, on its present scarcely traceable foundations. Immediately near, and in the hollow of an adjoining field, St. Kieran's well may be seen, issuing from beneath a venerable hawthorn tree. ^3 Formerly the spring was frequented by devout pilgrims, on the 5th of March. Besides this, a St. Kieran's well may be seen, near the ruined churches of Gill
S9 See, also, Rt. Rev. Patrick Francis County Letters, of the Ordnance Survey, "
Moran's Spicilegium Ossoriense : being a vol. ii. , p. 98. Mr. O'Donovan's letter,
Collection of Original Letters and Papers dated Birr, Pebruaiy 3rd, 1838. In this
illustrative of the Histoiy of the Irish Church
from the Reformation to the year 1800. "
First Series, sect, ii. , pp. 6 to 10.
'°
Mi\ O'Donovan, in writing from this neighbourhood, remarks, that the present wall is exceedingly ancient, and that there are two round towers, on a small scale, standing in the churchyards of Seirkieran and of Killyon ; the establishments of St. Kieran and his mother Liedania. They seem to have been attached to other build- ings, and to have been used as Sacristies or Deartheachs. They are about 17 feet high, and rather of rude masonry. See the King's
letter, Mr. O'Donovau also gives a rough map tracing, in which Sierkieran occupies a central position. The names of ancient places and territories are marked thereon, according to their supposed former relative positions. Ibid. , p. 95.
^'
This townland, in the parish of Agha- boe, and barony of Clandonagh, is shown on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for
the Queen's County," Sheet 22.
^^
This town, in the parish of Aghaboe, and barony of Clandonagh, is shown on the
"
Queen's County," Sheets 21, 22.
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the K
146 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 5.
Ossory and Stonecarthy, not far from an old road of some historic impor- tance. ^4 There is a'townland, called Saint Kieran's, in the parish of Tintern, andbaronyofShelburne,countyofWexford. ^s IntheKing'sCounty,there is a Kilkeeran,^^ in the parish of Cloneyhurk, and barony of Upper PhiUps- town. In the Island
of Cape Clear^7 and on the mainland
coasts adjoining, his name is, also, held in veneration, by people living there, even to the present day. Kilkieran, an ancient church, and a part of the coast, called Kieran's
Strand, are even yet mementoes of his ^^
celebrity.
This saint's festi-
val is commemo-
rated, throughout Ireland, as a double, and, in the diocese
of Ossory, as a double of the First
Class. Formerly it was celebrated, with an Office, contain- ing Nine Lessons. ^^ Abstinence from ser- vile works was en- joined, in the olden times, when his feast
_ ^ : :, . --r^;eH3=:^. . jj^-^^^^gjEfk^
^3 The accompanying sketch, by the writer, was taken on the spot, in August, 1872. It was transferred to the wood, by William F.
Wakeman, and engraved, by George A. Hanlon.
•^^ See the "Journal of the Kilkenny and South-East of Ireland Archaeological So-
Kieran, i. e. " St. Kieran's Strand," on
which is a pillar stone, with a cross rudely cut towards the top, that, they say, was the workmanship of St. Kieran ; and near it stand the walls of a ruined church, dedicated to the same saint. This stone they hold in great veneration, and assemble round it
of March, on which — every 5th day, they
celebrate the festival of their patron. "
ciety," 385.
vol, iii.
New Series,
part ii. , p.
"5 It is
on the " Ordnance marked, Survey
"
of the
of
vol.
Well of St. Kieran, under Knockseera, Queen's County
occurred, as we learn
from the Antiphonary, supposed to have belonged to Clondalkin Church. 7° In the diocese of Ossory, it is thought, that St. Ciaran's feast formerly ranked
Cork," Townland Maps for the County of Wex- book ii. , chap, iv. , p. 279. After describing
ford," Sheet 45.
^ See it defined, on the " Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the King's County," Sheet 33.
^
western point, we are told by Smith, that
this island. Smith enters these following re-
marks " to Clear, between : Adjoining Cape
it and the mainland, is the island of Inishir-
can, which I take to be Iniskieran, or the
— former. " island of St. Kieran, rather than the
On this
island,
towards
the
north-
the ruins of a called castle,
Ibid. , p. 281.
<* See Thomas Lalor Cooke's "
Dunanore, Ang- lice, the "Golden fort," stand on a rock, which extends into the sea. "Alittle to the east of the castle, is ? crvc cnlled Tra-
Early History of the Town of Birr," &c. , chap, x. ,
History
County
i. ,
p. 167.
''The Trinity College, Dublin, MSS.
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 147
as high as St. Patrick's day, or as a festival equally remarkable. In fact, the learned bishop of the diocese, Thomas De Burgo,?
' in 1 761, directs the Easter duty there to commence on St. Ciaran's day, and to end on Ascension day. 7^ The same direction is to be found, in a Pastoral of his successor, MostRev. Dr. Troy,anddateda. d. 1778. 73 Theformermemorialsofthe saint, throughout ancient Ossory, before the dark Penal Days, have been largely increased since, by the erection of St. Ciaran's College, the fine new Cathedral,aslikewiseotherchurches,chapelsandreligiousinstitutions. 74 It is remarkable, also, that to about the year 1838, the people kept the feast of St. Kieran, on the 5th of March, as a local holiday, and long afterwards, no works were there carried on. Wc rejoice to learn, that the old celebration has been lately revived, with great religious solemnity, and we trust, it shall never more fall into disuse. 75 St. ^ngus the Culdee? ^ and the Calendar of Cashel have this holy bishop's festival set down, for the 5th day of March. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,77 at the same date, he is simply recorded as Ciaran Saighre. In the Martyrologics of Marianus O'Gorman, of Maguire, of Salisbury, and in the Martyrologium Anglicanum, he is also recorded. 7^ This saint's name is frequently written Piran or Piranus,79 and under this form, he is commemorated, at the present date, in an anonymous list of Irish Saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare^° In the list of our saints, published by Henry Fitzsimon, on the authority of Floratius, at the 5th of March, this saint is commemorated as Kirianus, Epis. et Mart. ^' The Martyrology of DonegaF^ records, as being venerated on this day, Ciaran, of Saighir, Bishop
classedB. i. 3. ,B. 3. i. ,B,3. 10. ,B. 3. 12. have in their Calendars, at March 5th, or Nones iii. , Sancti Kerani Epis. or Abb. et Conf. , ix. lect.
? ° It is now classed B. i. 3. , among the
patron. Among his clergy and people has he also revived a taste and research, in local and general Irish and ecclesiastical studies, which must be fraught with the most happy results, and which must redound creditably to his own future celebrity, and to the best interestsofournationalChurch.
^^ The following extract, from the " Fei- lire," in the " Leabhar Breac," with its English translatio—n, was furnished by Pro-
T. C. D. Manuscripts. 7'Authorofthoseinvaluableworks—now
so rarely met with—the " Hibernia Domi-
nicana," and " Supplementum Hiberniae "
privately printed in Kilkenny,
Dominicana;,
but, for concealment of existing publication
fessor O'Looney
disabilities, published Colonise Agrippinse, A. D. MDCCLXII.
T^ In 1773, the same prelate issued a Pas-
toral to the clergy of his diocese, stating that among the other holydays retrenched by
Pope Clement XIV. , in his lately published Indult, the obligation of hearing Mass, on St. Ciaran's day, and on St. Kenny's day, as
also on the festival days of parochial patrons,
A. 111. 11.
77 Edited
7^ See
:
tlo beblAmg in bAl. b'OA
CAyVCACh tMS'OA 1\UAniAC1l CiAjxAn ^LuAgAcn fAig^e.
The Balbda bounding sent
His fame across the eastern sea, Carthach the kingly of Rome, Ciaran
Saiger
''
had been removed. "From this
' St.
Ciaran's
of in popular estimation. " John Hogan's
of hosts.
"
Kelly, p.
day
sight
'
was — lost gradually being
St. Ciaran, Patron of
Ossory," part iii. ,
chap, viii. , pp. 217, 218. '3 Instructions for Lent.
7* See the work already quoted, for further details and historic particulars than our dis- posable space will permit us to introduce.
75 In connexion with this subject, how-
ever, it is only just to observe, the present learned and distinguished successor of St. Kyran, the Most Rev. Patrick Francis Moran, consecrated Bishop of Ossory on St. Ciaran's Day, A. D. 1872, has taken every care possible to perpetuate the religious and popular veneration due to his illustrious
nise," Martii v. , n. 43, p. 467.
79 St. Kiaran is called Kenerin, in the
*' Circle of the Seasons," p. 65, and there too he seems to have been distinguished from St. Piran, in Cornwall.
**° See"HistoriceCatholicseIbemigeCom- pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 49.
*' See ibid. , chap, xii. , p. 55.
^^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
64, 65.
*3 The same notice appears in that copy,
preserved in the Royal Irish Academy, and formerly belonging to the Irish Ordnance
date,
by Colgan's
xvii. Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Rev. Dr.
148 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [^Iarch 5.
and Confessor. ^3 Again, under the head of Saighir, Uuald Mac Firbis enters, Ciaran of Saighir, a bishop avIio was in Erinn before Patrick. ^* The Scottish people venerated the memory of this renowned bishop. Thus, we read, in the Kalendar of Dnmimond, at the 5th or iii. Nones of INIarch, that in Ireland the holy Confessors, Ciaran and Cartac, who were devout servants, went to Christ. The feast of St. Ciarain Saigre is noted, in the " Kalendarium Celticum,"attheii. Nones,or6thofMarch: this,however,mustbeamistake
ing the eloquent and eulogistic words of a devout client,^^ and which may serve to warm our affectiofts for the subject of his panegyric, on this heavenly
for the In his " 5th,
the feast of our saint, in this manner : "Kiriani episcopi. " Florarius is quoted as his authorit)'. ^^ We cannot better conclude this account of St. Kieran, than by reproduc-
birthday
of
Ossory's great patron.
Let us " of him to obtain for us beg
Menologium Scoticum," Dempster places
grace to eradicate from our hearts the roots of our former vices, and to plant
in them the seeds of every virtue, so that they may grow up, and flower, and
fructify, a hundred fold, and shed the good odour of Christ around us. And so, when for us the trials and storms of this life shall have terminated, the finger of God will come upon our eyes, and the voice of the turtle will sound in our ears, telling us to arise and come away to that blessed country, where winter can appear never more, where God shall wipe away all tears from the eyes of His faithful servants, and where the gloom of the valley of death shall
be exchanged for the golden sunlight of a happy eternity. "
Article II. —St. Carthach, or Carthage, said to h. we been Bishop OF Druim-fertain, and of Inis Uachtair, in Lough Sheelix, County of Westmeath, or, of Sier-Kieran, King's County. \Sixth Century? ^ Immediate successor to St. Kieran,' the present holy man grew up under a strict discipline, and it is generally thought, that his birth may be referred to some closing part of the fifth century. However, regarding the exact period for his nativity, nothing of a very specific nature can be gleaned. Most generally, this St. Carthage is designated, the Elder, in our Irish Calen- dars, probably to distinguish him from others, bearing a similar name. ^ In- deed, it seems probable, that accounts relating to those may have found misplacement in the Acts of our St. Carthach or Carthage. 3 These are
doubtfully presented by Colgan,* and by the Bollandists. s However, the succeeding particulars may not all have reference to the saint, whose feast falls on this day. Colgan could not discover any ancient Acts, specially re- lating to him ; yet, being in doubt, if such might not afterwards come to light, he forbore to state much he had gleaned, lest this should be repugnant
to any possible future development. The Acts of this saint, notwithstanding. Survey Archives. It is known, as the this same day.
" Common Place Book F. " See "
^ One so called was venerated on the 26th ^•i See Proceedings of the Royal Irish of March, and another, surnamed Mochuda,
p. 27.
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part at the 14th of May.
3
^5 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of name is Carthach, and, in the genitive case
Scottish Saints," pp. 6, 83, and 194. Carthaigh ; while, in Latin, he is denomi- ^* See *' The Feast of St. Kieran at nated Carthochus, Cartagus, Carlhacius and
i. , pp. 126, 127.
It is said, by Colgan, that in Irish, his
Saigher. " Panegyric Sermon by Rev. N. Carthogius.
Murphy, C. C. To this published Tract is * See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernia:," appended a communication to the Ossory Martii v. De S. Carthagio Epis. et Con- Archseological Society: "Vindication of fess. Ex Variis, pp. 473 to 476, and n. i. the Claim of St. Kieran of Saigher to the
Title of Primogentitus Sanctorum Ilibentia:. ^'
the Rev. N. —
By Murphy.
et Abbatibus
ejus Discipulo Episcopis Sagi-
riensibns in Ossoria Hibernia; Proviucia, pp. 3S9 to 399.
Article ii.
whose Acts have been previously given, at
'
The illustrious bishop,
s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii v. De S. Kierano et S. Carthaco
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 149
do not appear to be extant, so that little can be said regarding him. ^ la the " Memorial of Ancient British Piety," the feast of St. Carthac the Elder at Seir-Kieran is commemorated, at the 5th of i\Iarch. 7 This pious servant of God was a son of Aenghus, son to Nadfraech, King of Munster, according to aprevailingopinion;^ but,byotherauthorities,heiscalledthegrandsonof Aengus. 9 Thus is he alluded to, in the Lives of St. Kieran of Saigir ; and, it would be difficult to arrive at any other conclusion, except we should sup- pose him to have been born, but a very short time before the death of
who was slain towards the close of the fifth ^° to century. According
^ngus,
one statement, our saint was either a brother or a grandson to King ^ngus ;
while, he is called a foster-brother to St. Kiaran of Saighir. " It is supposed, too, that St. Carthach had been the son of a wife to ^ngus Nathfraich, before his union with Eithne Vathach. " A pious servant of God, Carthacus, is classed amongSt. Patrick'sdisciples;'3 but,ithasbeenconjectured,thatanotherCar- thach may have lived at a still earlier period than our saint, and that he may have belonged to the same family, for nothing seems to be distinctively known re- garding him. '+ It is generally admitted, that our Carthach was educated, at an early age, under St. Ciaran of Saigir ;'5 and, Colgan thinks that he re- ceived such instruction, before the year 489. While this too early date, for his scholarship, has been denied by Dr. Lanigan ; yet, he deems it probable, that, as both master and disciple were natives of Munster, and as both were well known, at the Court of Cashel, the latter might have been entrusted to the care of the former^ after Kieran had left the school of St. Finnian,'^ at Clonard, about the year 532. ^7 It is also conjectured, that at this time Car- thage was young, and probably not more than seventeen or eighteen years of age. '^ While at Saighir, we can have no doubt, that every care Avas bestowed on his religious education and discipline ; yet was it permitted, by Divine Pro- vidence, that the youth should be tried in temptation, only to overcome it. however, by miraculous interposition, to escape from tlie snare through ex- emplary penance, and to become still more holy, after the danger had passed. '? He had formed the acquaintance of a female pupil, under the care of St. Liedania,^° and their intimacy ripened into a violent passion, whicli becoming known to St. Cieran, his prayers were interposed, and tlie disciple escaped, with sorrow for having transgressed against the discretion necessary to be observed, especially in the religious state. ^' In tears, he sought advice
* See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap.
Sancta," part i. , pp. 155, 156.
