Patrick,* according to the
account^
this present holy man should have nourished during the fifth century.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
, p.
139.
s Information furnished to the writer, by
the Most Rev. David Moriarty, Bishop of
Such was the account, given to the writer, by Rev. P. Meehan, D. D. , Parish Priest of St. Patrick's Parish, Limerick city,
in August, 1872.
3 This division of the parish is situated with-
in Limerick city bounds, in part, and within Pubblebrien Barony, in part, and it is de-
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Limerick, Sheets 4. 5. Lying northwards from this, the other
and much is defined on the larger portion
Kerry, in a letter, dated April 15th 1873. 6"
fined, on the
1 See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary
of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 139, 146, 147. 1
Masters,
2 at a. d.
1343.
If Dr. so,
Its bounds are marked, on the Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Clare," Sheets 4, 8, 14, 15.
Article VI. — Edited by Drs; Todd and
Reeves, pp. 216, 217. 3 See O'Donovan's
Edition,
vol.
iii. , pp.
172 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August it,
O'Donovan says, it is probably that Island in the River Boyle, now known as Inisterry. 3 Todile is mentioned in the Martyrology of Tallagh,* and it is probably intended to specify the present saint, under such a designation.
ArticleVII. —St. Donnan. —In the of 1 a festival Martyrology Donegal,
is set down at the nth of August, in honour of Donnan. It is probable, says
the Calendarist, that this was Donnan the Deacon, son of Beoaidh, brother
3
to Ciaran, of Cluain-mic-Nois. 3 There is a Beoaidh, descended from the
race of Core, son of Fergus, son to Ross, son of Rudhraighe. Donnan was at Cluain-mic-Nois along with Ciaran, as the History of the Saints states. In
the published Martyrology of Tallagh,* at this date, there is what we may
consider an incorrect entry, and set down as " Inghena Dondain," meaning
theDaughtersofDondain. However,intheBookofLeinstercopy,wehave
u
inthe of 1 at thenthof Therewasa Martyrology Donegal, August.
Maenach, son of Siadhail, who was one of the wisest men of his time, being
regarded as a saint. He was Abbot over the monastery of Disart-Diarmada, now Castledermot, in the beginning of the tenth century. He was greatly
respected both by the clergy and laity of that period, and his friendly offices were requested to establish a peace between King Cormac Mac Cuillinan 3 and the King of Leinster. 3 It cannot be asserted, however, that he was identical with the present Mianach.
ArticleIX. —TheDaughterofSenach. —Theesteem in which this religious woman was held is evinced by the veneration paid her. Many had personally known and loved her. Not a few looked upon it, as a special privilege, to have been permitted to know her. Thus, honour was given to the daughter of Senach, at the i ith of August, as appears in the Martyrology of the 1 Another
Ingena Donnan,"s the proper reading.
Article VIII. —St. Mianach. —The simple entry, Mianach, is set down
rendering
of her name was as inti- Senochide,
O'Clerys.
mated at the proper place of entry, in a table affixed in this latter work. *
But,intheMartyrologyofTallagh,3theentryis "IngenaSenaich,"which means the Daughters of Senaich.
58°i 58i.
3 See ibid. , n. (y. ) and "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Roscom- mon," Sheet 7.
* Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinster Copy, the reading is Uoi-oib<\.
a
See his Life, at the 14th of September. 3 There is a pretty full account of this transaction and subsequent matters in refer- ence to the celebrated battle of Ballymoon, in the " Three Fragments of Irish Annals,"
copied from Ancient Sources, by Dubhal- tach Mac Fribisigh, and edited with a trans-
Article vil—' Edited and Reeves, pp. 216, 217.
2
by
Drs. Todd lation and Dr. notes, by
See his Acts, at the 9th of September, in the Ninth Volume of this work, Art i.
pp. 200 to 221. — Article ix.
3
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
4 A note Todd by Dr,
a See
regarding Nois, the latter part of this word, states, that it had been omitted in the text, by an obvious
error of the scribe.
5 In the Irish characterslngeiM'OonrKMn. Article viii. -• Edited by Drs. Todd
and
' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, the Book of Leinster copy the entry
Reeves, pp. 216, 217.
• In
JohnO'Donovan,
pp. 216, 217.
ibid. , pp. 430, 431.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii. In
the Book of Leinster copy, the entry is IngenA Senaich.
—
See "The
Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
Article x. p. xxxii.
x
Martyrology of
August i i . ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 173
Article X. —The Daughters of Dutu. —The of
enters u Ingena Dutu,"2 while that of DonegaP also mentions a festival, at the nth of August, to honour the Daughters of Dutu. More we cannot find regarding them ; nor, as in the previous case, can we learn anything about their parentage or race, their number, their period, or the place where respectively their virtues and labours were exercised.
Article XI. —St. Finneacht, Virgin. —We find, that veneration was
given to Finneacht, Virgin, at the nth of August, as is mentioned in the
12
Martyrology of Donegal. In that of Tallagh there seems to have been a
mistake committed, in entering her name as Indecta Vir. , which latter contrac- tion stands for Virgin.
Article XII. —St. Banbnatan, or Banbhnat, Virgin. —The name of T3
Banbnatan appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh ; and, in that of Donegal, at the nth of August, she is entered as Banbhnat, Virgin. Yet, there appears to be no further account, which might serve to elucidate her family or origin ; neither do we know the time when she flourished, nor the locality in which she lived.
Article XIII. —Feast of St. Valerian. —In the "Feilire" of St.
the feast of St. Valerian, the Pure, is entered at the nth of August. 1 To this, the Scholiast on the Leabhar Breac has added a Latin comment. 2
Elsewhere, I cannot find a saint so designated at this day. If fully published, our Manuscript Irish documents should—as in the present instance—place many a lost name on historic record.
JEngus,
Article XIV. —Feast of St. Tiburtius. —In the Feilire of St.
at the nth of August, a festival for St. Tiburtius is noted. This appears to have been the Martyr, who, with his father, Chromatius, and other com-
suffered for the Faith in and whose Acts are 2 Campania, given by
panions,
the Bollandists,3 at this day, with a previous commentary. *
is InjjettA'Oucu.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
216, 217.
Article xi. — Edited by Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp. 216, 217.
2
CEngus,by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxxiii.
2
Thus : Ualiran, i. e. , uxor ejus Cicilia c—onuertit eum ad Christum et fratrem ejus. "
Ibid, p. , cxxx. —
Article xiv. "See "Transactions of
l
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi.
Also in the Book of Leinster copy, we have Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of
In-oeccA Uir\. Article xii.
Kelly, p. xxxii. copythereadingis bAnbnACAti.
2 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
216, 217.
Article xiti. — 1 See " Transactions of
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu- script Series, vol. i, On the Calendar of
theRoyal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript CEngus, p. cxxii
—
In the Book of Leinster
2 and fourteen In two chapters
*
Edited by Rev. Dr.
1 Martyrology Tallagh
graphs,
3 gee "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Au-
gusti xi. De S. Tiburtio Mart. , et S. Chro-
matio Patre ejus, cum sociis Romsc et in
Campania, pp. 613 to 624.
* In four sections, and thirty-six para-
graphs.
^Engus,
para-
1
1 74 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 12. ftfoeiftl) IBap of august
ARTICLE I. —ST. MUREDACH, FIRST BISHOP AND PATRON OF KILLALA DIOCESE.
[PROBABLY IN THE SIXTH CENTURY. ] CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—PERIOD OF ST. MUREDACH—HIS FAMILY AND DESCENT—HIS RECORDED PRESENCE AT EASDARA OR BALLYSODARE—HE BLESSES THE PORT OF KILLALA.
giving an account of our great Apostle's progress through the
written.
In his journey towards Connaught, about a. d. 434, St. Patrick is thought
to have continued there for the ensuing seven years, namely to a. d. 441. 5 Therefore, it is supposed, the erection of Killala church may safely be
WHEN" of the author of St. Patrick's
province Connaught, Tripartite
Life tells us, that on coming to a pleasant spot, where the River Muadius or Moy empties into the ocean, the saint built a noble church, called Kill-Aladh,1 now Killala. It stood on the south bank of the Moy River. Over this church, he placed one of his disciples, named Muredach, as its first bishop. As he had been consecrated by St.
Patrick,* according to the account^ this present holy man should have nourished during the fifth century. However, such statement has been contradicted. In a few meagre notices respecting our saint/ by the Rev. Alban Butler, he follows what Harris had already
referred to some one of those intermediate 6 It has been years.
advanced, that St. Muredach, the first bishop of Killala, had not been born at such an early period, and that he did not flourish until the sixth century. 7 Moreover, his recorded pedigree refutes the supposition of his having been contem- poraneous with St. Patrick. The generally accurate historian, Rev. Dr. Lanigan, states it to be an error, that St. Muredach's appointment over the See of Killala should be ascribed to the earlier time. 8 He was rather con- temporaneous with St. Columkille,9 who flourished during the sixth century. The holy Muredach is stated to have been son ofEocTiaid, son to Alild, son
of Guaire, son to Lugid, son of Laoighaire, son to Niall of the Nine Hos- 10
tages, &c, according to the Sanctilogium Genealogicum, which thus
11
weaves his pedigree.
may well synchronize with the middle and close of the sixth century.
Wherefore, in tracing his descent from Leogaire, King ofIreland,Muredachappearsthesixthingeneration. Suchaplaceinorder
Article1. —Chapter —'
i. SeeColgan's
"Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. lxxxv. , p. 141.
a See his Life in the Third Volume of this work, at the 17th of March, Art. i.
6 See Harris' " Ware, vol. i. ,
Bishops of
3 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Killala," p. 649.
"
» See Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, xii. , p. 253.
8
See ibid. , vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, i. , and n. 13, pp. 183, 186.
4 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints,'' vol. viii. , August xii.
5 See Index Chronologicus ad Ann. ccccxxxiv. , p. 517, Ussher's " Britannica- rum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates. "
See his Life, at the 9th of June, in the
BishopfOf
Killala," p. 649. ""
9
Sixth Volume of this work, Art. i.
,0
Chapter iii.
"See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi-
berniae," Februarii xv. Vita S. Farannani Confessoris, Ex Hibernico versa, n. 21, p. 339.
August 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. *75
He is spoken of as being one of those persons, assembled at Easdara or 12
Ballysodare, in Sligo County, for the purpose of paying respect to the Apostle of the Picts. This was on the occasion of St. Columba being at
that place, soon after the dissolution of a celebrated assembly held at Drum-
x
ceat. 3 Already,anaccountofthesynodconvenedatEasdarahasbeengiven,
in connexion with the Acts of St. Farannan *«4 and among the notables named, as assisting thereat, is Muredach of Killala,^ in Tyr-Amhalga^ih. Therefore
View of Killala, County of Mayo.
it would seem, that towards the close of St. Columba's life, our saint had been bishop there, and that he had the honour and pleasure of greeting the great Apostle of Caledonia.
However, we have no reliable account, regarding the exact period of St.
Muredach's promotion, nor is there any statement to fix those years, during
which he ruled over the See of Killala. Nevertheless, we read in the Life of
16 1 18 St. Corbmac, that St. Patrick, St. Brigid, ? St. Columkille, St. Cannech,
" The notice there given of him is thus 15 Already in the Life of St. Kellach or expressed in the ancient Life : "Muredachus Cellach, Abbot and Martyr of Killala, a
de Kill-aladh in Tyramhalgaidh," &c. See cap. xii. , p. 337.
view is presented of an approach to the town, in the Fifth Volume of this work, at the 1st of May, Art. i. Here, a different point of view shows the Round Tower, Church Spire and Town. It was drawn on the spot by William F. Wakeman. The engraving is by Mrs. Millard.
16 Some of our Calendarists his festi- place
13
After referring to the Life of St.
Farannan, as published by Colgan, a—t the
:
15th of February, Dr. Lanigan adds " It
may be objected, that in said Life other
persons are named as present at Ballysodare,
who could not have been there at certainly
that time. But there are other convincing val, at the 26th of March. However, his
arguments to show, that Muredach did not
live prior to St. Columba's time. "—" Eccle-
siastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, i. , p. 184.
! u See the Second Volume of this work, at
Acts have been reserved for the 13th of December, which is another festival day, on which he was venerated.
*? See her Life, in the Second Volume of
this work, at the 1st of February, Art. i.
the Art. 15th February,
ii. , chap.
ii.
18 See his
Acts,
at the nth of
October,
176 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 12.
and St. Muredach, bishop, had blessed the port of Killala. It does not seem probable, that Muredach should have been placed so low down in the list of these names, had he been contemporaneous with St. Patrick.
CHAPTER II.
c
SITUATION OF KILLALA—THE NATALIS AND COMMEMORATIONS OF ST. MUREDACH—
THE PERIOD OF HIS DEATH UNRECORDED—BRIEF HISTORIC NOTES REGARDING THE SEE OF KILLALA—CONCLUSION.
The town of Killala is situated on the River Muad or Moy, in Mayo County, and it lies very near to the Atlantic Ocean. Our ancient annalists sometimes called the prelates over this See the Bishops of Tirawley. They were like- wise called Bishops of O'Fiacra-mui, or Hy-Fiachrach, on the River Moy, from a territory distinguished by that name. 1 This is said to have extended along the river in question. This territory was distinct from another, in the
of and southwards in the of 3 The province Connaught, County Galway.
latter was known as O'Fiacra-Aidne.
As the Natalis of a saint is understood to coincide with the day of his
death, the 12th of August apparently commemorates the anniversary of St. Muredach's demise, as of his festival ;3 but, we cannot find any date or year to determine the period for his existence. St. Muredach's Natalis was cele- brated in Killala Church and See, on the 12th of August, according to the Talla. ght Martyrology. * At this date, according to Marianus O'Gorman, the feast of St. Muredach is celebrated in the diocese and church of Killala. s The continuator of^Engus also notes his festival at this day. In the Irish Calen- dar belonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey, on the day before the August Ides—12th of the month—there is a festival tohonour Muireadhach, Bishop of Cille Haladh. 6
After the rule of St. Muredach over the See of Killala, the names of only
two or three bishops can be found, as his successors, before the Anglo- N—orman Invasion of Ireland. ? After that period, we find the church of Killala
the day for his feast. we find this following entry, at the I2th of
or as it is usually written Cill-Alaidh
herenachs. The u Annals of Loch Ce "8 contain entries of their deaths. * The
Chapter 11. — * The fullest account of
this region is that contained in "The o Cill alaidh. " See Rev. Dr. Kelly's Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy- "Calendar of Irish Saints," p. xxxii. In Fiachrach, commonly called O'Dowda's that copy, contained in the Book of Leinster, Country. " Now first published from the we read : tnupch,<yo o CilL aL&\x>.
Book of Lecan, in the Library of the Royal
Irish Academy, and from the Genealogical
Manuscript of Duald Mac Firbis, in the
Library of Lord Roden, with a Translation
and Notes, and a Map of Ily-Fiachrach, by
John O'Donovan. Dublin : Printed for the
Irish
4to-
Archaeological Society, mdcccxliv. ,
"
See TheTopographicalPoemsofJohn
J " See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
Bishops of
O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh 9 See vol. i. , at A. D. 1235, the death of
O'Huidhrin," edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , M. R. I. A. , p. xliii. , nn. 326, 327.
3 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, i. , and n. 15, pp. 184, 186.
Isaac O'Maelaghmhair, pp. 320, 321, and of Maelpatraic Mac hEli, at A. D. 1257, pp. 422, 423. Both of these were airchinnechs. At A. n. 1328, the death of a learned and
accomplished canon-chorister, Maurice O'Gibillan, is recorded. He was a pro-
4
In the published Martyrology of Tallagh,
—had its
August:
"Murchadh
(Muiredhech potius)
special canon-choristers and
s Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Februarii xv. Vita S. Farannani Confessoris,
Ex Hibernico versa, n. 21, p. 339.
6 Thus entered in the Irish characters, muipe<y6A6 Carp Cille h<\l<v6. " Common
Place Book F,"p. 7.
Killala," 8Editedby\V. M.
s Information furnished to the writer, by
the Most Rev. David Moriarty, Bishop of
Such was the account, given to the writer, by Rev. P. Meehan, D. D. , Parish Priest of St. Patrick's Parish, Limerick city,
in August, 1872.
3 This division of the parish is situated with-
in Limerick city bounds, in part, and within Pubblebrien Barony, in part, and it is de-
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Limerick, Sheets 4. 5. Lying northwards from this, the other
and much is defined on the larger portion
Kerry, in a letter, dated April 15th 1873. 6"
fined, on the
1 See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary
of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 139, 146, 147. 1
Masters,
2 at a. d.
1343.
If Dr. so,
Its bounds are marked, on the Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Clare," Sheets 4, 8, 14, 15.
Article VI. — Edited by Drs; Todd and
Reeves, pp. 216, 217. 3 See O'Donovan's
Edition,
vol.
iii. , pp.
172 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August it,
O'Donovan says, it is probably that Island in the River Boyle, now known as Inisterry. 3 Todile is mentioned in the Martyrology of Tallagh,* and it is probably intended to specify the present saint, under such a designation.
ArticleVII. —St. Donnan. —In the of 1 a festival Martyrology Donegal,
is set down at the nth of August, in honour of Donnan. It is probable, says
the Calendarist, that this was Donnan the Deacon, son of Beoaidh, brother
3
to Ciaran, of Cluain-mic-Nois. 3 There is a Beoaidh, descended from the
race of Core, son of Fergus, son to Ross, son of Rudhraighe. Donnan was at Cluain-mic-Nois along with Ciaran, as the History of the Saints states. In
the published Martyrology of Tallagh,* at this date, there is what we may
consider an incorrect entry, and set down as " Inghena Dondain," meaning
theDaughtersofDondain. However,intheBookofLeinstercopy,wehave
u
inthe of 1 at thenthof Therewasa Martyrology Donegal, August.
Maenach, son of Siadhail, who was one of the wisest men of his time, being
regarded as a saint. He was Abbot over the monastery of Disart-Diarmada, now Castledermot, in the beginning of the tenth century. He was greatly
respected both by the clergy and laity of that period, and his friendly offices were requested to establish a peace between King Cormac Mac Cuillinan 3 and the King of Leinster. 3 It cannot be asserted, however, that he was identical with the present Mianach.
ArticleIX. —TheDaughterofSenach. —Theesteem in which this religious woman was held is evinced by the veneration paid her. Many had personally known and loved her. Not a few looked upon it, as a special privilege, to have been permitted to know her. Thus, honour was given to the daughter of Senach, at the i ith of August, as appears in the Martyrology of the 1 Another
Ingena Donnan,"s the proper reading.
Article VIII. —St. Mianach. —The simple entry, Mianach, is set down
rendering
of her name was as inti- Senochide,
O'Clerys.
mated at the proper place of entry, in a table affixed in this latter work. *
But,intheMartyrologyofTallagh,3theentryis "IngenaSenaich,"which means the Daughters of Senaich.
58°i 58i.
3 See ibid. , n. (y. ) and "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Roscom- mon," Sheet 7.
* Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinster Copy, the reading is Uoi-oib<\.
a
See his Life, at the 14th of September. 3 There is a pretty full account of this transaction and subsequent matters in refer- ence to the celebrated battle of Ballymoon, in the " Three Fragments of Irish Annals,"
copied from Ancient Sources, by Dubhal- tach Mac Fribisigh, and edited with a trans-
Article vil—' Edited and Reeves, pp. 216, 217.
2
by
Drs. Todd lation and Dr. notes, by
See his Acts, at the 9th of September, in the Ninth Volume of this work, Art i.
pp. 200 to 221. — Article ix.
3
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
4 A note Todd by Dr,
a See
regarding Nois, the latter part of this word, states, that it had been omitted in the text, by an obvious
error of the scribe.
5 In the Irish characterslngeiM'OonrKMn. Article viii. -• Edited by Drs. Todd
and
' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, the Book of Leinster copy the entry
Reeves, pp. 216, 217.
• In
JohnO'Donovan,
pp. 216, 217.
ibid. , pp. 430, 431.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii. In
the Book of Leinster copy, the entry is IngenA Senaich.
—
See "The
Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
Article x. p. xxxii.
x
Martyrology of
August i i . ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 173
Article X. —The Daughters of Dutu. —The of
enters u Ingena Dutu,"2 while that of DonegaP also mentions a festival, at the nth of August, to honour the Daughters of Dutu. More we cannot find regarding them ; nor, as in the previous case, can we learn anything about their parentage or race, their number, their period, or the place where respectively their virtues and labours were exercised.
Article XI. —St. Finneacht, Virgin. —We find, that veneration was
given to Finneacht, Virgin, at the nth of August, as is mentioned in the
12
Martyrology of Donegal. In that of Tallagh there seems to have been a
mistake committed, in entering her name as Indecta Vir. , which latter contrac- tion stands for Virgin.
Article XII. —St. Banbnatan, or Banbhnat, Virgin. —The name of T3
Banbnatan appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh ; and, in that of Donegal, at the nth of August, she is entered as Banbhnat, Virgin. Yet, there appears to be no further account, which might serve to elucidate her family or origin ; neither do we know the time when she flourished, nor the locality in which she lived.
Article XIII. —Feast of St. Valerian. —In the "Feilire" of St.
the feast of St. Valerian, the Pure, is entered at the nth of August. 1 To this, the Scholiast on the Leabhar Breac has added a Latin comment. 2
Elsewhere, I cannot find a saint so designated at this day. If fully published, our Manuscript Irish documents should—as in the present instance—place many a lost name on historic record.
JEngus,
Article XIV. —Feast of St. Tiburtius. —In the Feilire of St.
at the nth of August, a festival for St. Tiburtius is noted. This appears to have been the Martyr, who, with his father, Chromatius, and other com-
suffered for the Faith in and whose Acts are 2 Campania, given by
panions,
the Bollandists,3 at this day, with a previous commentary. *
is InjjettA'Oucu.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
216, 217.
Article xi. — Edited by Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp. 216, 217.
2
CEngus,by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxxiii.
2
Thus : Ualiran, i. e. , uxor ejus Cicilia c—onuertit eum ad Christum et fratrem ejus. "
Ibid, p. , cxxx. —
Article xiv. "See "Transactions of
l
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi.
Also in the Book of Leinster copy, we have Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of
In-oeccA Uir\. Article xii.
Kelly, p. xxxii. copythereadingis bAnbnACAti.
2 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
216, 217.
Article xiti. — 1 See " Transactions of
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu- script Series, vol. i, On the Calendar of
theRoyal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript CEngus, p. cxxii
—
In the Book of Leinster
2 and fourteen In two chapters
*
Edited by Rev. Dr.
1 Martyrology Tallagh
graphs,
3 gee "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Au-
gusti xi. De S. Tiburtio Mart. , et S. Chro-
matio Patre ejus, cum sociis Romsc et in
Campania, pp. 613 to 624.
* In four sections, and thirty-six para-
graphs.
^Engus,
para-
1
1 74 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 12. ftfoeiftl) IBap of august
ARTICLE I. —ST. MUREDACH, FIRST BISHOP AND PATRON OF KILLALA DIOCESE.
[PROBABLY IN THE SIXTH CENTURY. ] CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—PERIOD OF ST. MUREDACH—HIS FAMILY AND DESCENT—HIS RECORDED PRESENCE AT EASDARA OR BALLYSODARE—HE BLESSES THE PORT OF KILLALA.
giving an account of our great Apostle's progress through the
written.
In his journey towards Connaught, about a. d. 434, St. Patrick is thought
to have continued there for the ensuing seven years, namely to a. d. 441. 5 Therefore, it is supposed, the erection of Killala church may safely be
WHEN" of the author of St. Patrick's
province Connaught, Tripartite
Life tells us, that on coming to a pleasant spot, where the River Muadius or Moy empties into the ocean, the saint built a noble church, called Kill-Aladh,1 now Killala. It stood on the south bank of the Moy River. Over this church, he placed one of his disciples, named Muredach, as its first bishop. As he had been consecrated by St.
Patrick,* according to the account^ this present holy man should have nourished during the fifth century. However, such statement has been contradicted. In a few meagre notices respecting our saint/ by the Rev. Alban Butler, he follows what Harris had already
referred to some one of those intermediate 6 It has been years.
advanced, that St. Muredach, the first bishop of Killala, had not been born at such an early period, and that he did not flourish until the sixth century. 7 Moreover, his recorded pedigree refutes the supposition of his having been contem- poraneous with St. Patrick. The generally accurate historian, Rev. Dr. Lanigan, states it to be an error, that St. Muredach's appointment over the See of Killala should be ascribed to the earlier time. 8 He was rather con- temporaneous with St. Columkille,9 who flourished during the sixth century. The holy Muredach is stated to have been son ofEocTiaid, son to Alild, son
of Guaire, son to Lugid, son of Laoighaire, son to Niall of the Nine Hos- 10
tages, &c, according to the Sanctilogium Genealogicum, which thus
11
weaves his pedigree.
may well synchronize with the middle and close of the sixth century.
Wherefore, in tracing his descent from Leogaire, King ofIreland,Muredachappearsthesixthingeneration. Suchaplaceinorder
Article1. —Chapter —'
i. SeeColgan's
"Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. lxxxv. , p. 141.
a See his Life in the Third Volume of this work, at the 17th of March, Art. i.
6 See Harris' " Ware, vol. i. ,
Bishops of
3 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Killala," p. 649.
"
» See Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, xii. , p. 253.
8
See ibid. , vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, i. , and n. 13, pp. 183, 186.
4 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints,'' vol. viii. , August xii.
5 See Index Chronologicus ad Ann. ccccxxxiv. , p. 517, Ussher's " Britannica- rum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates. "
See his Life, at the 9th of June, in the
BishopfOf
Killala," p. 649. ""
9
Sixth Volume of this work, Art. i.
,0
Chapter iii.
"See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi-
berniae," Februarii xv. Vita S. Farannani Confessoris, Ex Hibernico versa, n. 21, p. 339.
August 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. *75
He is spoken of as being one of those persons, assembled at Easdara or 12
Ballysodare, in Sligo County, for the purpose of paying respect to the Apostle of the Picts. This was on the occasion of St. Columba being at
that place, soon after the dissolution of a celebrated assembly held at Drum-
x
ceat. 3 Already,anaccountofthesynodconvenedatEasdarahasbeengiven,
in connexion with the Acts of St. Farannan *«4 and among the notables named, as assisting thereat, is Muredach of Killala,^ in Tyr-Amhalga^ih. Therefore
View of Killala, County of Mayo.
it would seem, that towards the close of St. Columba's life, our saint had been bishop there, and that he had the honour and pleasure of greeting the great Apostle of Caledonia.
However, we have no reliable account, regarding the exact period of St.
Muredach's promotion, nor is there any statement to fix those years, during
which he ruled over the See of Killala. Nevertheless, we read in the Life of
16 1 18 St. Corbmac, that St. Patrick, St. Brigid, ? St. Columkille, St. Cannech,
" The notice there given of him is thus 15 Already in the Life of St. Kellach or expressed in the ancient Life : "Muredachus Cellach, Abbot and Martyr of Killala, a
de Kill-aladh in Tyramhalgaidh," &c. See cap. xii. , p. 337.
view is presented of an approach to the town, in the Fifth Volume of this work, at the 1st of May, Art. i. Here, a different point of view shows the Round Tower, Church Spire and Town. It was drawn on the spot by William F. Wakeman. The engraving is by Mrs. Millard.
16 Some of our Calendarists his festi- place
13
After referring to the Life of St.
Farannan, as published by Colgan, a—t the
:
15th of February, Dr. Lanigan adds " It
may be objected, that in said Life other
persons are named as present at Ballysodare,
who could not have been there at certainly
that time. But there are other convincing val, at the 26th of March. However, his
arguments to show, that Muredach did not
live prior to St. Columba's time. "—" Eccle-
siastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, i. , p. 184.
! u See the Second Volume of this work, at
Acts have been reserved for the 13th of December, which is another festival day, on which he was venerated.
*? See her Life, in the Second Volume of
this work, at the 1st of February, Art. i.
the Art. 15th February,
ii. , chap.
ii.
18 See his
Acts,
at the nth of
October,
176 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 12.
and St. Muredach, bishop, had blessed the port of Killala. It does not seem probable, that Muredach should have been placed so low down in the list of these names, had he been contemporaneous with St. Patrick.
CHAPTER II.
c
SITUATION OF KILLALA—THE NATALIS AND COMMEMORATIONS OF ST. MUREDACH—
THE PERIOD OF HIS DEATH UNRECORDED—BRIEF HISTORIC NOTES REGARDING THE SEE OF KILLALA—CONCLUSION.
The town of Killala is situated on the River Muad or Moy, in Mayo County, and it lies very near to the Atlantic Ocean. Our ancient annalists sometimes called the prelates over this See the Bishops of Tirawley. They were like- wise called Bishops of O'Fiacra-mui, or Hy-Fiachrach, on the River Moy, from a territory distinguished by that name. 1 This is said to have extended along the river in question. This territory was distinct from another, in the
of and southwards in the of 3 The province Connaught, County Galway.
latter was known as O'Fiacra-Aidne.
As the Natalis of a saint is understood to coincide with the day of his
death, the 12th of August apparently commemorates the anniversary of St. Muredach's demise, as of his festival ;3 but, we cannot find any date or year to determine the period for his existence. St. Muredach's Natalis was cele- brated in Killala Church and See, on the 12th of August, according to the Talla. ght Martyrology. * At this date, according to Marianus O'Gorman, the feast of St. Muredach is celebrated in the diocese and church of Killala. s The continuator of^Engus also notes his festival at this day. In the Irish Calen- dar belonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey, on the day before the August Ides—12th of the month—there is a festival tohonour Muireadhach, Bishop of Cille Haladh. 6
After the rule of St. Muredach over the See of Killala, the names of only
two or three bishops can be found, as his successors, before the Anglo- N—orman Invasion of Ireland. ? After that period, we find the church of Killala
the day for his feast. we find this following entry, at the I2th of
or as it is usually written Cill-Alaidh
herenachs. The u Annals of Loch Ce "8 contain entries of their deaths. * The
Chapter 11. — * The fullest account of
this region is that contained in "The o Cill alaidh. " See Rev. Dr. Kelly's Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy- "Calendar of Irish Saints," p. xxxii. In Fiachrach, commonly called O'Dowda's that copy, contained in the Book of Leinster, Country. " Now first published from the we read : tnupch,<yo o CilL aL&\x>.
Book of Lecan, in the Library of the Royal
Irish Academy, and from the Genealogical
Manuscript of Duald Mac Firbis, in the
Library of Lord Roden, with a Translation
and Notes, and a Map of Ily-Fiachrach, by
John O'Donovan. Dublin : Printed for the
Irish
4to-
Archaeological Society, mdcccxliv. ,
"
See TheTopographicalPoemsofJohn
J " See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
Bishops of
O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh 9 See vol. i. , at A. D. 1235, the death of
O'Huidhrin," edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , M. R. I. A. , p. xliii. , nn. 326, 327.
3 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, i. , and n. 15, pp. 184, 186.
Isaac O'Maelaghmhair, pp. 320, 321, and of Maelpatraic Mac hEli, at A. D. 1257, pp. 422, 423. Both of these were airchinnechs. At A. n. 1328, the death of a learned and
accomplished canon-chorister, Maurice O'Gibillan, is recorded. He was a pro-
4
In the published Martyrology of Tallagh,
—had its
August:
"Murchadh
(Muiredhech potius)
special canon-choristers and
s Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Februarii xv. Vita S. Farannani Confessoris,
Ex Hibernico versa, n. 21, p. 339.
6 Thus entered in the Irish characters, muipe<y6A6 Carp Cille h<\l<v6. " Common
Place Book F,"p. 7.
Killala," 8Editedby\V. M.
