Hither
Ceallach
betook himself, resolving to live in complete seclusion.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
In due course, a vacancy occurring in the See of Killala, the clergy of that diocese, hearing about the merits and virtues of Ceallach, united their suffrages, to promote him as their chief Pastor.
During the reign of Tuathal Melgarb,^ King of Ireland, who ruled from a.
d.
533 + to a.
d.
544, ^ Ceallach was elevated,
it is tiiought, to the episcopal chair, as Uishop of Killala. ^ Here, there is a remarkable round tower, standing quite perfect, and even retaining its original stone roof, of conical shape. 7 Near it is the Protestant cathedral, rather a poor structure, and presenting no special feature of interest. ^ The bishop's house was formerly in this town,9 celebrated for having been captured by the
Chapter11. —' It is curioustonotice, thnt the Annals of Innisfallen refer llie foundation of Clonmacnoise, to a. d. 573; and, they state, that it was called Cluain, because it became the scholastic reireat of the sons of the King of Connaugiit. See Dr. O'Conor's " Reruin Hibernicarum Scrip- torc^,"tomusii. , p. 6.
^ This was a region of Connaught, where the present county olSligo lies, and in which the dioce! ^e of Aclionry is situated. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum," Januarii xx. Vita Secunda S. F\chini. n. 2, p. 140.
3 He mounted tlie throne, A. D. 528, and he
was slain, a. d. 538, after reigning eleven
years, according to I>r. O'Donovan's Topographical and Historical Hibernian " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. Ga/etteir. " &c. , p. 276.
176 to iSl, "^ See Mr. and Mrs. Hall's "Ireland, its
*AccordingtotheAnnalsofUlster. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibermcarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 15.
s See Roderick O'Flalierty's "Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. xciii. , p. 430.
'In Harris' Ware, he "is said to have been Bisho|) of Killala. " See vol. i. , " Bis- hops of Killala," y. 650.
' 1 he accompanying illustration wasdrawn on the spot and transferred to the wood, by William K. Wakeman. It was engraved, by Mrs. Mdl. nrd.
^ See W. F. Wakeman's " Touri>ts' Guide to Ireland," p. 270.
'Sre Rev. G. Ilansbrow's "Improved
May I. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
French, in August, 1798. '° No vestige of the ancient church remains. " To about the year 540, his acceptance ol this dignity has been referred. But for the authority of this Life,'* we should look in vain to the authentic cata- logue, for his place among the Bishops of Killala. '3 Nevertheless, there can hardly be a doubt, that at least for a short time, he had assumed the office. Although Ceallach, as we are told, anxiously watched over the See of Killala ; yet, he found time to visit Clonmacnoise most frequently, thus wishing to unite the fruitful cares of Martha, with the pious retirement of Mary. The revenues ot his bishopric were spent, in providing for the wants of the poor, and in aiding those addicted to literary pursuits. ' Students flocked to him
Killala, County of Mayo.
from all parts of Ireland, through which the fame of his holiness and liberality hadspread. '* ItappearsthatGuaire'5—fromtheperiodindicatedhemight be regarded as a distinct person from another Guaire surnamed Aidhne '^ became a successful usurper of the Connaught throne. He feared, however, the more rightful claims of the Bishop to that station he then usurped. Accordingly, Guaire conceived a mort:al hatred towards Ceallach. At
Scenery,Character,"&c. ,vol. iii. , p. 379. " See Nicliolas Carlisle's "Topogiapliical
Dictionary of Ireland," siih voce Killala.
" See Walter Harris' Ware, vol. i. , " Bis-
hops of Killala, ' p. 650.
'5 Archdeacon Henry Cotton has placed
i. De Sancto Kellaco Episcopo in Hiber- nia, Vita, &c. , sect. 5. p. 105.
'5 In the account of the Life and Death of St. Cellach, as lound in the " LeaMiar Breac," he is called Guaire. son of Colnian, and also Guaire Aidlme. Here, he is made a contemporary with St. Kieran oi Clon-
him in this rank, only as a conjecture, be-
tween 534 to 544. See " Fasti Ecclesise macnoise, who IS said to have founded it A. D. Hibernicse," vol. iv. , p. 61. 548, and to have died in 549. See Rev. Dr.
'* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
—
182, pp. 52, 58 59.
Latinized Prceaggeris sacri lapidum Fera- dagi—and which was fought between the people of Mun^ter and of Connaught. In it, Failbe-Fland was conqueror, while Guaire Aidne fled. Failbhe Flann did not long survive, as his death is recorded, at a. d. 631, in the Annals of Innisfallen. The death of Guaire Aidhne, King of Connaught, is placed at A. D. 663, and he was buried at Clonmacnoise, according to the Annals of Tighernach. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's
*' Reruni Hiberniiarum . Scriptores," tomus ii. ,pp. 12, 13, and 1S9. 203.
mentioned in our text.
'' Very exquisite steel plate engravings of
Lough Conn and Mount Neph. n, the Pon- toon Bridge and Islands there, will be found, in W. H. Bartlett's " Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland," vol. i. , sect, x. , PP- 72, 11-
" The Bollandist editor of St. Kellach'. * Life thinks this must be sought for, in the county of Siigo, and not far from the River Moy. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
—:
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [T^lAY
one lime, tlie holy bishop had been engaged making a visitation of his dio- cese, and accompanied by a great number of his clerics being on his way to Kilmore,'7 which was near the River Muad or Moy ; Guaire, the son of Colman, happened to be residing at Duilus,'^ with his son Narus, and with Neniedius, son to Fercogha. 'When Nemedius discovered, that the pious pre- late had passed their house, without paying them a visit, he said to Guaire, "Unceremoniously and with little friendliness hath Bishop Kellach passed us by, as if he were hostile to us. " " It matters not," replied Guaire, " that he has gone on his way, for I shall despatch a messenger to invite him, in my name,
to return, and to hold a conference with us. " Accordingly, selecting one of his confidants, the latter reached Kellach, at the end of that day's journey. He then told the Bishop, that Guaire felt displeased, because he had passed by, but still he requested, that Ceallach might return. It happened to be on the Sabbath eve, and the Bishop replied, that as the Sunday was approaching, he should be engaged all the day, either in celebrating the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, or in other sacred duties, at which Guaire who was near might assist,' and even have an opportunity for an interview with him. The bishop de- clared, also, that if Guaire should come to him, on the Monday following, he would willingly return the visit. But, that messenger distorted the words of the holy bishop. Being a person of depraved mind and hostile to him, the en- voy declared, that Kellach would not go to the king, nor did he show a friendly feeling towards the latter. Then, in a transport of rage, Guaire cried out
" Return to him again, and tell him, that unless he hurry away from these parts, on this very night, I shall burn down the church on himself and on his people. " This threatening message was conveyed to Kellach, who relying nevertheless on Divine Providence remained there, until the Monday follow- ing. Then, he went to a village, on the borders of Lough Conn,'9 where he spent that night. Afterwards, his course was extended towards Claon-loch. "° Here was an Island called Etgair,*' or Oilen Edghair, and over it in the air was witnessedavision,representingagreatnumberofHolyAngels. Movedbysucha
land," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xi. , nn. iSo, '^ This fortress was situated near Kinvara,
in the south-west of the county of Galway. ** We read, that Guaire Aidline was de- It was the name of the residence of Guaire feated in the battle of Carn-Feradaig, in the Aidhne, King of Connaught. It is now territory of Clia, and he fled from it, Failbe called Dun-Guaire. See John O'Donovan's Flann Femhin being the victor, A. D. 627. " Genealogies, Tribes, and Customs of Hy- At 621, the Annals of Innistallen have en- Fiachrach," pp. 2S4, 285, n. (b), and- pp. tered the battle of Cath-Cairn Feradaig 290, 291, n. (t). However, there was another Durlus Muaidhe, near the River Moy. See ibid. Addenda I. , p. 416. It seems likely enough, this latter was the place,
'? Now known as Kihnoremoy, ntar Bal-
lina, and now a vicarage in tiie Diocese of Mail i. Vita S. Kellaci, n. (d), p. 107. Killala. " It is reported to have been the However, it does not seem to be different
See of a Bishop in the sixth century ; but we hear of only one prelate. "—Archdeacon Henry Cotton's " Fasti EcclesiseHiberuica;," vol. iv. , p. 96.
from Lough Conn.
•' By tliis name, it does not appear now to
be recognisable.
" '
'
The banks in many places are hand-
May I. ] LIVES OF TBU IRISH SAINTS.
spectacle,theBishopwithhisfollowerspassedoverthelaketowardsit. There, he discovered no sacred foundations had yet been established, nor was there any monumentormemorialofahermitknown. Deemingtheangelicapparition to denote this island, a^ the place for his future habitation, he resolved not to leave it. His clerics, who were with him, at first treated this resolve as one lightly made. However, they found it impossible to change their holy superior's purpose. Then, they received his instructions regarding the church of Killala, and learned the administrator's name, to whose care it was to be committed.
Dreading the consequences of Guaire's anger, the Bishop thought it pru- dent to retire from his bishopric, that he might find a more secure retreat in solitude. He fled for concealment to Lough Conn. ^^ This is a very hand- some sheet of water, in the barony of Tyrawly. ^3 Jt is about nine miles long, by four broad ; in some views, it is prettily interspersed with islands, castles or abbeys.
Hither Ceallach betook himself, resolving to live in complete seclusion. '+ However, the fame of his holiness, and of his retirement from
Killala, soon extended over the rest of Ireland. On that insulated spot, called Etgair, he built a hermitage. Meantime, his brother Muredach ^s frequently paid him visits, to receive his advice, and to comply with his instructions. In this retreat, four ecclesiastical students had placed themselves, uixier the training and discipline of Cellach, and these are even called clerics. In the Latin I>ife of our Saint, these young men are named Moelcronius, Moeldal- vanus, Moelsenachus, and Mac-Deoradius, or the son of Deoradius. There, they lived a whole Lent, engaged in pious exercises and offices, and under the directionoftheirholyinstructor. However,theretreatofCeallachwassoon discovered by Guaire. This unhappy prince, on the whole anxious to do what he deemed to be just, was led astray by evil-minded sycophants. Probably instigated by jealousy and suspicion, when he heard of the frequent inter- views between Kellach and his brother Muredach, Guaire conceived an idea, that the latter aspired to the kingdom of Connaught, while the bishop lent him counsel and encouragement to effect such a purpose. Naturally was Guaire averse to entertain any feeling, save that of respect and benevolence towards the holy Bishop ; but, his evil counsellors, Narus and Nemedius, laboured by day and night to persuade him, that Kellach should be assassina- ted. To effect this dread purpose, many and false were the insinuations and charges concocted against him. However, Guaire would not enter into such a measure, for its sacrilegious and criminal intent caused him to receive it only with horror. His counsellors, Narus and Nemedius, then persuaded the king, to invite the Bishop to a public banquet, for the purpose of procur- ing a family and dynastic reconciliation. Their real purpose was to gain an opportunity, for taking Kellach's life, by administering pofson.
Accordingly, messengers were sent to the holy eremite entreating him to accept the king's invitation for a banquet, on a day appointed ; but, he de- clined, on the pretext, that his present mode of living and his rule did not permit him association with worldly men and pleasures. Failing in
somely decorated with gentlemen's seats and some woods,"—M'Parlan's "Statistical Survey of the County of Mayo," p. 22.
^3 A road and bridge—called the Pontoon
—now pass between Lough Conn and Lough
CuUen. The narrow channel connecting is stated to have addressed three quatrians these lakes, is often swept by a tremendous
current. See Mr. and Mrs. Hall's " Le-
land, its Scenery, Character," &c. , vol. iii. ,
P- 382.
^'> See Major Wood-Martin's " History of Sligo," &c. . Book ii. , chap, iv. , p. 136.
"^ It is stated, that he lived a year under the coiitairce, or protection, of Marcan, King of Ua Maine and Meadiuighe. The latter
to him, on his departure. These are given in the " Leabhar Breac," at p. 275, col. ii. , line 5.
"^ Tliis, perhaps, was the fortress, known as
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May
this object, the messengers then entreated the bishop, to allow his clerical companions to visit Diirliis,^'^ where Guaire lived. The bishop told them, thathisstudentswerefreetogoorstay,astheythoughtfit. Wherefore,these, havin'^ accepted the invitation of Guaire, set out for his fort, with the mes- sen<^'ers. Tliere, they were honourably received. After the royal banquet, when the clerics were placed on the ri-ht and left of Guaire, they were highly feasted, and tliey became intoxicated. Then, drawn aside to a secret chamber, the
seducers approached them, and, while urging, that the peace of their country depended on Kellach's death, they bribed those four students, to murder their professor and spiritual guide. Their Irish names are given, as Mac Deoraidh, Maelcroin, Maeldalua, and Maelseanaigh. Not only promises of horses and herds, with other seductions held out, but even the whole territory of Tir-Amal- gaid,^7 were offered to them, as the reward for their crime. ^^ Forgetting their sacred calling, and their intimate relations with Kellach, the unhappy young men agreed to execute the deed suggested to them, under the influence of drink. " They retired to bed for the night, and the following morning, while sober, their purpose was not changed. ^s
CHAPTER III.
THE STUDENTS RETURN TO OILEAN ETGAIR—THEY SEIZE UPON KELLACH, AND BRING HIM TO THE MAINLAND, WHERE HE IS BARBAROUSLY MURDERED—HIS INTER- MENT—HIS DEATH IS DISCOVERED AND AVENGED BY HIS BROTHER MUREDACH COMMEMORATION OF THE SAINT—CONCLUSION.
All matters having been arranged for their departure from Durlus,' the per- fidious young men left Guaire, and confirmed in their resolution, to perpetrate amostrevoltingmurder. Hidingarmsundertheirclericalgarments,thosesacri- legious students returned to the boats, v/hich were left on the shore of Claon- loch,andtheysailedinthemovertotheIsland. Therewasfoundtheirholy Bishop, intent on reciting his Psaltery ; nor did he notice them, until his office had been finished. Then, he approached, and detected, in the changing countenances, eyes, and nervous motions of the young men, a presage of their wicked designs. He cried out : " O youths, you return to me with different looks, from those which possessed you on parting from me, and you have treacherously entered into Guaire's plots to murder me. Behold, my sons, you have assumed a base engagement, by following wicked counsel, and there- fore set it aside ; if you adopt this my advice, you will gain a greater reward,
tiian any Guaire could offer. " The students were somewhat moved, on hear- ing these exhortations;^ but, recognising the dire plot, which had been forced
411,422. London and Dublin, 1881.
=• 'I'his is said to h;ive been the Flease /jw^a or patrimonial inheritance of Cucoin-
gelt.
'* See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus i. , Mali i. 'Vita S. Kellaci, sect. 6, 7, 8. 9. lo. pp. 105, 106.
p. 245.
Y^ '^'^y ^'c P''^sented, in the shape of six
Critical and Philoso- to which allusion is made in Dermod pliical," vol. i. , part xii. , chap, vi. , viii. , pp.
Dulrus Guaire, about five miles from Boirin,
:
O'Connor's Keating's " Gciieral History of Ireland," Book ii. , p. 361. Duffy's edition.
'7 This territory, now commensurate with the Barony of Tyrawly. is said to have been so called irom Amalgad, son of King Dathi, who brought back the ashes of his sire from Gaul, fighting ten battles on the way, at
Chapter iii. — ' This fort seems to have been the cue alluded to, m Colgan's " Acta Moile, Grenius, and Fermia. Without Sanctorum HibirniK," Februarii iii. De S. Colmano, vulgo Mac Duach, chap, viii. , x. ,
Lundum, probably London, Corper Cinge or Cime, Colon, Faile, Miscall, Coirte,
comment or explanation, these battles and places are found, in the oldest Irish nianu- script extant. Sec Standish O'Grady's
" History of Irelani
—
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. n
5
on them, they now urged, there could be no withdrawal from such a promise, and tl)ey objected, too, that by falsi tying it, they could not find in all Hibernia a place of security, against the power and vengeance of Guaire.
All their holy master's expostulations and arguments were vainly urged upon minds, so strongly possessed by satanic promptings. They seized upon him, and dragged him to the edge of the island, by force and violence. Then, they placed him in a boat, which was steered for the mainland. ^rhere, he was led into a thick wood, near the shore. Keallach still continued to protest against their treacherous designs, and he endeavoured once more to dissuade them, by stating, they could find refuge from Guaire, at Clonmacnoise, or elsewhere, and under the protection of some, among the Irish kings. Finding those wicked young men would not desist, he entreated a respite for one day more. This request was reluctantly granted. When night came, they placed him within the hollow of an oak tree, and kept a watch at its opening. However, the youths were oppressed with fatigue, and they fell into a deep slumber. A thought came into the mind of Kellach, that he might now escape. However, recollecting the prophecy of St. Kieran, in his regard ; the holy man deemed, that the Divine decree should be there awaited, both as to death and judg- ment. "Itisbetterforme,"hemused,"heretranquillyandcourageously to meet my death, than to fly and to be slain, as a coward, when weakness and hunger should cause me to fall into the hands of my oppressors. "3 Accord- ingly, he remained there tranquilly until daybreak, while engaged in prayer and holy contemplation. This was to be his last day upon earth; and, at dawn, for a moment, Keallach withdrew from the light, into his hollow cave. Yet, ashamed of his pusillanimity, he soon came forth again, to hear the birds sweetly singing, and the woods resounding their notes, as the morning began to brighten. On the night of Wednesday, the Bishop had a remarkable vision,duringhissleep. Hedreamed,thatfourmastiffdogshadattackedand torn him violently, through ferny ground, and next had dragged him into a whirlpool, whence he could not escape. This Ceallach considered, as indi- cating the sort of fate, he was now destined to experience. The holy man then burst into accents of praise to the great Creator. He sang a hymn in Irish, the text of which has been preserved in a metrical form. Afterwards, Kellach was drawn forth, from the hollow of the tree, by his perfidious dis- ciples ; and, he was struck repeatedly, until life became extinct. While the blood flowed from his body, the wild beasts and birds congregating there tore it in pieces. Before leaving, Mac Ueoraidh, Maelcroin, Maeldalua and Maelseanaigh, appear to have left the bleeding remains in the hollow tree, as if for concealment. The persons, who committed this barbarous murder, are called foster-brothers * to the saint. When he had been slain, they has- tened to the fort of Guaire, and there he is said to have received them, with joy and favours.
These base murderers had thus beset the man of God. His assassination issaidtohaveoccurred,inthesouthernpartofTyrawly. Themurderwas perpetrated, according to a popular tradition, between Lough Conn and Lough Cuillinn. The particular place is stated ° to have been Addergool. '
quatrians, in the published " Leabhar * Probably, because they had been cared Breac," at p. 274, col. i. , line 32. Their for by him, on the Island, and while they authorship is attributed to St. Ceallach. were Kellach 's pupils.
3 In the "Leabhar Breac," at p. 274, col. 5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , ii. , line I, are to he found twenty quatrians, Mail i. , Vita S. Kellaci, sect. II, 12, 13,
supposed to have been composed by Cel- lach. after the manner of his death had been revealed to him in a vision,
p. 106.
* See Harris' Wgre, vol. i. , "Bishops of
Killala," p. 650.
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May I.
As a reward for their treachery, the territory of Tyrawly was given to the assassins, by Guaire,whirli seems to mark, not only his comphcitywith, but even his high approval of, their crime. They erected a stronghold, at a place called Dun Fine,^ which lay within that territory, and ihere they took up an abode. 9
This barbarous deed was afterwards revenged by Cucoingelt. On the very day of its occurrence, he had come on a visit to his brother; but, not finding him at Oilen Edghair, and having had some intimation of designs en- tertained by Guaire, at once, Cucoingelt began to suspect that his brother had fallenavictimtohisenemy'swiles. Havinginstitutedthenecessaryenquiries, regarding the time of Ceallach's departure from the hermitage, and his pro- bable route ;'° after some search, Cucoingelt discovered the mangled remains of his deceased brother, concealed in the hollow trunk of an oak. " These were disfigured and scarcely recognisable, as wolves and birds of prey had been attracted to this place, by the effluvia proceeding from the dead body. '*
Turlogh Round Tower, County of Mayo.
Cucoingelt performed the last sad oflSces, towards those lacerated remains of his sainted brother. At first, he applied to the clergy, at Dunmore—after- wards called Turloch church '3—for permission to bury the body there ; but, dreading Guaire's resentment, they refused this request. The place is now
' The parish of Acklergoole—Iving west of Loui^li Conn—in the barony of Tiraw ley, is de>cril)ed, on the " • 'rdnance Survey Town- lanil Maps for the County of Mavo," slicets 38. 46, 47, 48. 58, 59, 60, 6S. A(lder;^oole townland, also called Knock Maria, is on sheet 47.
County of Mayo,'' sheet 6.
9 Here there was an old church, the head
of a palish called Dunfeeny or Dunfinny, about nine miles west from Killala. The p'. acc received name from this fort, and within it> enclosure, the old cluirch was after- wards budt. See John O'Donovan's "Genea-
* Now DnnTeeny, in the north of the logies. 'Iril'es, and Customs ol Hy Fiach- barony of 'I'irawley. It is marked, on tlie rach,'" pp. 6, 7, n. (z).
" Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the '° The Latin Life says " iter carpsit inter
duo stagna Loch-Con et Loch-Cuilinn. "
" In vasti roboris caudicem, ad cavese
similitudinem vacuatum, compingunt. " "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mali i. Vita S. Kellaci, sect. 12, 14, pp. 106, 107.
" In the " Leabhar Breac,'' at p. 275, col. i. , line 17, are nine quatrains, supposed to have been spoken, by Muredach, son of Eogan Bel, over the mutilated body of his brother Cellach, on discoveiing where it had been hidden by his murderers.
3 This is a parish in the barony of Carra. It is shown, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of M^yo," sheets 48, 59, 60, 69, 70, 79. The town- land is on sheet 70.
'* They are near Castlebar. Under the shadow of the round tower lie the remains of the once famous George Robert Fitzgerald. The accompanying illustration is Irom a photograph taken on the spot, by T. Wynne, Castlebar, transferred to the wood
by William F. Wakemaii, and engraved by Mrs. Millard,
'^ This place has not been identified.
'* See, Le Comte de Montalembert's " Les Moines de I'OcGident," tome ii. , liv.
viii. , chap. ii.
'^ It has not been identified; but, possibly,
it may have been Eiscir-Abhan, now Inish- crone, near the River Moy, in Tireragh barony, and county of Sligo. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. v. , p. 1315, and n. (d^.
'^ See the Bullandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i.
it is tiiought, to the episcopal chair, as Uishop of Killala. ^ Here, there is a remarkable round tower, standing quite perfect, and even retaining its original stone roof, of conical shape. 7 Near it is the Protestant cathedral, rather a poor structure, and presenting no special feature of interest. ^ The bishop's house was formerly in this town,9 celebrated for having been captured by the
Chapter11. —' It is curioustonotice, thnt the Annals of Innisfallen refer llie foundation of Clonmacnoise, to a. d. 573; and, they state, that it was called Cluain, because it became the scholastic reireat of the sons of the King of Connaugiit. See Dr. O'Conor's " Reruin Hibernicarum Scrip- torc^,"tomusii. , p. 6.
^ This was a region of Connaught, where the present county olSligo lies, and in which the dioce! ^e of Aclionry is situated. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum," Januarii xx. Vita Secunda S. F\chini. n. 2, p. 140.
3 He mounted tlie throne, A. D. 528, and he
was slain, a. d. 538, after reigning eleven
years, according to I>r. O'Donovan's Topographical and Historical Hibernian " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. Ga/etteir. " &c. , p. 276.
176 to iSl, "^ See Mr. and Mrs. Hall's "Ireland, its
*AccordingtotheAnnalsofUlster. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibermcarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 15.
s See Roderick O'Flalierty's "Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. xciii. , p. 430.
'In Harris' Ware, he "is said to have been Bisho|) of Killala. " See vol. i. , " Bis- hops of Killala," y. 650.
' 1 he accompanying illustration wasdrawn on the spot and transferred to the wood, by William K. Wakeman. It was engraved, by Mrs. Mdl. nrd.
^ See W. F. Wakeman's " Touri>ts' Guide to Ireland," p. 270.
'Sre Rev. G. Ilansbrow's "Improved
May I. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
French, in August, 1798. '° No vestige of the ancient church remains. " To about the year 540, his acceptance ol this dignity has been referred. But for the authority of this Life,'* we should look in vain to the authentic cata- logue, for his place among the Bishops of Killala. '3 Nevertheless, there can hardly be a doubt, that at least for a short time, he had assumed the office. Although Ceallach, as we are told, anxiously watched over the See of Killala ; yet, he found time to visit Clonmacnoise most frequently, thus wishing to unite the fruitful cares of Martha, with the pious retirement of Mary. The revenues ot his bishopric were spent, in providing for the wants of the poor, and in aiding those addicted to literary pursuits. ' Students flocked to him
Killala, County of Mayo.
from all parts of Ireland, through which the fame of his holiness and liberality hadspread. '* ItappearsthatGuaire'5—fromtheperiodindicatedhemight be regarded as a distinct person from another Guaire surnamed Aidhne '^ became a successful usurper of the Connaught throne. He feared, however, the more rightful claims of the Bishop to that station he then usurped. Accordingly, Guaire conceived a mort:al hatred towards Ceallach. At
Scenery,Character,"&c. ,vol. iii. , p. 379. " See Nicliolas Carlisle's "Topogiapliical
Dictionary of Ireland," siih voce Killala.
" See Walter Harris' Ware, vol. i. , " Bis-
hops of Killala, ' p. 650.
'5 Archdeacon Henry Cotton has placed
i. De Sancto Kellaco Episcopo in Hiber- nia, Vita, &c. , sect. 5. p. 105.
'5 In the account of the Life and Death of St. Cellach, as lound in the " LeaMiar Breac," he is called Guaire. son of Colnian, and also Guaire Aidlme. Here, he is made a contemporary with St. Kieran oi Clon-
him in this rank, only as a conjecture, be-
tween 534 to 544. See " Fasti Ecclesise macnoise, who IS said to have founded it A. D. Hibernicse," vol. iv. , p. 61. 548, and to have died in 549. See Rev. Dr.
'* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
—
182, pp. 52, 58 59.
Latinized Prceaggeris sacri lapidum Fera- dagi—and which was fought between the people of Mun^ter and of Connaught. In it, Failbe-Fland was conqueror, while Guaire Aidne fled. Failbhe Flann did not long survive, as his death is recorded, at a. d. 631, in the Annals of Innisfallen. The death of Guaire Aidhne, King of Connaught, is placed at A. D. 663, and he was buried at Clonmacnoise, according to the Annals of Tighernach. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's
*' Reruni Hiberniiarum . Scriptores," tomus ii. ,pp. 12, 13, and 1S9. 203.
mentioned in our text.
'' Very exquisite steel plate engravings of
Lough Conn and Mount Neph. n, the Pon- toon Bridge and Islands there, will be found, in W. H. Bartlett's " Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland," vol. i. , sect, x. , PP- 72, 11-
" The Bollandist editor of St. Kellach'. * Life thinks this must be sought for, in the county of Siigo, and not far from the River Moy. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
—:
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [T^lAY
one lime, tlie holy bishop had been engaged making a visitation of his dio- cese, and accompanied by a great number of his clerics being on his way to Kilmore,'7 which was near the River Muad or Moy ; Guaire, the son of Colman, happened to be residing at Duilus,'^ with his son Narus, and with Neniedius, son to Fercogha. 'When Nemedius discovered, that the pious pre- late had passed their house, without paying them a visit, he said to Guaire, "Unceremoniously and with little friendliness hath Bishop Kellach passed us by, as if he were hostile to us. " " It matters not," replied Guaire, " that he has gone on his way, for I shall despatch a messenger to invite him, in my name,
to return, and to hold a conference with us. " Accordingly, selecting one of his confidants, the latter reached Kellach, at the end of that day's journey. He then told the Bishop, that Guaire felt displeased, because he had passed by, but still he requested, that Ceallach might return. It happened to be on the Sabbath eve, and the Bishop replied, that as the Sunday was approaching, he should be engaged all the day, either in celebrating the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, or in other sacred duties, at which Guaire who was near might assist,' and even have an opportunity for an interview with him. The bishop de- clared, also, that if Guaire should come to him, on the Monday following, he would willingly return the visit. But, that messenger distorted the words of the holy bishop. Being a person of depraved mind and hostile to him, the en- voy declared, that Kellach would not go to the king, nor did he show a friendly feeling towards the latter. Then, in a transport of rage, Guaire cried out
" Return to him again, and tell him, that unless he hurry away from these parts, on this very night, I shall burn down the church on himself and on his people. " This threatening message was conveyed to Kellach, who relying nevertheless on Divine Providence remained there, until the Monday follow- ing. Then, he went to a village, on the borders of Lough Conn,'9 where he spent that night. Afterwards, his course was extended towards Claon-loch. "° Here was an Island called Etgair,*' or Oilen Edghair, and over it in the air was witnessedavision,representingagreatnumberofHolyAngels. Movedbysucha
land," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xi. , nn. iSo, '^ This fortress was situated near Kinvara,
in the south-west of the county of Galway. ** We read, that Guaire Aidline was de- It was the name of the residence of Guaire feated in the battle of Carn-Feradaig, in the Aidhne, King of Connaught. It is now territory of Clia, and he fled from it, Failbe called Dun-Guaire. See John O'Donovan's Flann Femhin being the victor, A. D. 627. " Genealogies, Tribes, and Customs of Hy- At 621, the Annals of Innistallen have en- Fiachrach," pp. 2S4, 285, n. (b), and- pp. tered the battle of Cath-Cairn Feradaig 290, 291, n. (t). However, there was another Durlus Muaidhe, near the River Moy. See ibid. Addenda I. , p. 416. It seems likely enough, this latter was the place,
'? Now known as Kihnoremoy, ntar Bal-
lina, and now a vicarage in tiie Diocese of Mail i. Vita S. Kellaci, n. (d), p. 107. Killala. " It is reported to have been the However, it does not seem to be different
See of a Bishop in the sixth century ; but we hear of only one prelate. "—Archdeacon Henry Cotton's " Fasti EcclesiseHiberuica;," vol. iv. , p. 96.
from Lough Conn.
•' By tliis name, it does not appear now to
be recognisable.
" '
'
The banks in many places are hand-
May I. ] LIVES OF TBU IRISH SAINTS.
spectacle,theBishopwithhisfollowerspassedoverthelaketowardsit. There, he discovered no sacred foundations had yet been established, nor was there any monumentormemorialofahermitknown. Deemingtheangelicapparition to denote this island, a^ the place for his future habitation, he resolved not to leave it. His clerics, who were with him, at first treated this resolve as one lightly made. However, they found it impossible to change their holy superior's purpose. Then, they received his instructions regarding the church of Killala, and learned the administrator's name, to whose care it was to be committed.
Dreading the consequences of Guaire's anger, the Bishop thought it pru- dent to retire from his bishopric, that he might find a more secure retreat in solitude. He fled for concealment to Lough Conn. ^^ This is a very hand- some sheet of water, in the barony of Tyrawly. ^3 Jt is about nine miles long, by four broad ; in some views, it is prettily interspersed with islands, castles or abbeys.
Hither Ceallach betook himself, resolving to live in complete seclusion. '+ However, the fame of his holiness, and of his retirement from
Killala, soon extended over the rest of Ireland. On that insulated spot, called Etgair, he built a hermitage. Meantime, his brother Muredach ^s frequently paid him visits, to receive his advice, and to comply with his instructions. In this retreat, four ecclesiastical students had placed themselves, uixier the training and discipline of Cellach, and these are even called clerics. In the Latin I>ife of our Saint, these young men are named Moelcronius, Moeldal- vanus, Moelsenachus, and Mac-Deoradius, or the son of Deoradius. There, they lived a whole Lent, engaged in pious exercises and offices, and under the directionoftheirholyinstructor. However,theretreatofCeallachwassoon discovered by Guaire. This unhappy prince, on the whole anxious to do what he deemed to be just, was led astray by evil-minded sycophants. Probably instigated by jealousy and suspicion, when he heard of the frequent inter- views between Kellach and his brother Muredach, Guaire conceived an idea, that the latter aspired to the kingdom of Connaught, while the bishop lent him counsel and encouragement to effect such a purpose. Naturally was Guaire averse to entertain any feeling, save that of respect and benevolence towards the holy Bishop ; but, his evil counsellors, Narus and Nemedius, laboured by day and night to persuade him, that Kellach should be assassina- ted. To effect this dread purpose, many and false were the insinuations and charges concocted against him. However, Guaire would not enter into such a measure, for its sacrilegious and criminal intent caused him to receive it only with horror. His counsellors, Narus and Nemedius, then persuaded the king, to invite the Bishop to a public banquet, for the purpose of procur- ing a family and dynastic reconciliation. Their real purpose was to gain an opportunity, for taking Kellach's life, by administering pofson.
Accordingly, messengers were sent to the holy eremite entreating him to accept the king's invitation for a banquet, on a day appointed ; but, he de- clined, on the pretext, that his present mode of living and his rule did not permit him association with worldly men and pleasures. Failing in
somely decorated with gentlemen's seats and some woods,"—M'Parlan's "Statistical Survey of the County of Mayo," p. 22.
^3 A road and bridge—called the Pontoon
—now pass between Lough Conn and Lough
CuUen. The narrow channel connecting is stated to have addressed three quatrians these lakes, is often swept by a tremendous
current. See Mr. and Mrs. Hall's " Le-
land, its Scenery, Character," &c. , vol. iii. ,
P- 382.
^'> See Major Wood-Martin's " History of Sligo," &c. . Book ii. , chap, iv. , p. 136.
"^ It is stated, that he lived a year under the coiitairce, or protection, of Marcan, King of Ua Maine and Meadiuighe. The latter
to him, on his departure. These are given in the " Leabhar Breac," at p. 275, col. ii. , line 5.
"^ Tliis, perhaps, was the fortress, known as
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May
this object, the messengers then entreated the bishop, to allow his clerical companions to visit Diirliis,^'^ where Guaire lived. The bishop told them, thathisstudentswerefreetogoorstay,astheythoughtfit. Wherefore,these, havin'^ accepted the invitation of Guaire, set out for his fort, with the mes- sen<^'ers. Tliere, they were honourably received. After the royal banquet, when the clerics were placed on the ri-ht and left of Guaire, they were highly feasted, and tliey became intoxicated. Then, drawn aside to a secret chamber, the
seducers approached them, and, while urging, that the peace of their country depended on Kellach's death, they bribed those four students, to murder their professor and spiritual guide. Their Irish names are given, as Mac Deoraidh, Maelcroin, Maeldalua, and Maelseanaigh. Not only promises of horses and herds, with other seductions held out, but even the whole territory of Tir-Amal- gaid,^7 were offered to them, as the reward for their crime. ^^ Forgetting their sacred calling, and their intimate relations with Kellach, the unhappy young men agreed to execute the deed suggested to them, under the influence of drink. " They retired to bed for the night, and the following morning, while sober, their purpose was not changed. ^s
CHAPTER III.
THE STUDENTS RETURN TO OILEAN ETGAIR—THEY SEIZE UPON KELLACH, AND BRING HIM TO THE MAINLAND, WHERE HE IS BARBAROUSLY MURDERED—HIS INTER- MENT—HIS DEATH IS DISCOVERED AND AVENGED BY HIS BROTHER MUREDACH COMMEMORATION OF THE SAINT—CONCLUSION.
All matters having been arranged for their departure from Durlus,' the per- fidious young men left Guaire, and confirmed in their resolution, to perpetrate amostrevoltingmurder. Hidingarmsundertheirclericalgarments,thosesacri- legious students returned to the boats, v/hich were left on the shore of Claon- loch,andtheysailedinthemovertotheIsland. Therewasfoundtheirholy Bishop, intent on reciting his Psaltery ; nor did he notice them, until his office had been finished. Then, he approached, and detected, in the changing countenances, eyes, and nervous motions of the young men, a presage of their wicked designs. He cried out : " O youths, you return to me with different looks, from those which possessed you on parting from me, and you have treacherously entered into Guaire's plots to murder me. Behold, my sons, you have assumed a base engagement, by following wicked counsel, and there- fore set it aside ; if you adopt this my advice, you will gain a greater reward,
tiian any Guaire could offer. " The students were somewhat moved, on hear- ing these exhortations;^ but, recognising the dire plot, which had been forced
411,422. London and Dublin, 1881.
=• 'I'his is said to h;ive been the Flease /jw^a or patrimonial inheritance of Cucoin-
gelt.
'* See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus i. , Mali i. 'Vita S. Kellaci, sect. 6, 7, 8. 9. lo. pp. 105, 106.
p. 245.
Y^ '^'^y ^'c P''^sented, in the shape of six
Critical and Philoso- to which allusion is made in Dermod pliical," vol. i. , part xii. , chap, vi. , viii. , pp.
Dulrus Guaire, about five miles from Boirin,
:
O'Connor's Keating's " Gciieral History of Ireland," Book ii. , p. 361. Duffy's edition.
'7 This territory, now commensurate with the Barony of Tyrawly. is said to have been so called irom Amalgad, son of King Dathi, who brought back the ashes of his sire from Gaul, fighting ten battles on the way, at
Chapter iii. — ' This fort seems to have been the cue alluded to, m Colgan's " Acta Moile, Grenius, and Fermia. Without Sanctorum HibirniK," Februarii iii. De S. Colmano, vulgo Mac Duach, chap, viii. , x. ,
Lundum, probably London, Corper Cinge or Cime, Colon, Faile, Miscall, Coirte,
comment or explanation, these battles and places are found, in the oldest Irish nianu- script extant. Sec Standish O'Grady's
" History of Irelani
—
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. n
5
on them, they now urged, there could be no withdrawal from such a promise, and tl)ey objected, too, that by falsi tying it, they could not find in all Hibernia a place of security, against the power and vengeance of Guaire.
All their holy master's expostulations and arguments were vainly urged upon minds, so strongly possessed by satanic promptings. They seized upon him, and dragged him to the edge of the island, by force and violence. Then, they placed him in a boat, which was steered for the mainland. ^rhere, he was led into a thick wood, near the shore. Keallach still continued to protest against their treacherous designs, and he endeavoured once more to dissuade them, by stating, they could find refuge from Guaire, at Clonmacnoise, or elsewhere, and under the protection of some, among the Irish kings. Finding those wicked young men would not desist, he entreated a respite for one day more. This request was reluctantly granted. When night came, they placed him within the hollow of an oak tree, and kept a watch at its opening. However, the youths were oppressed with fatigue, and they fell into a deep slumber. A thought came into the mind of Kellach, that he might now escape. However, recollecting the prophecy of St. Kieran, in his regard ; the holy man deemed, that the Divine decree should be there awaited, both as to death and judg- ment. "Itisbetterforme,"hemused,"heretranquillyandcourageously to meet my death, than to fly and to be slain, as a coward, when weakness and hunger should cause me to fall into the hands of my oppressors. "3 Accord- ingly, he remained there tranquilly until daybreak, while engaged in prayer and holy contemplation. This was to be his last day upon earth; and, at dawn, for a moment, Keallach withdrew from the light, into his hollow cave. Yet, ashamed of his pusillanimity, he soon came forth again, to hear the birds sweetly singing, and the woods resounding their notes, as the morning began to brighten. On the night of Wednesday, the Bishop had a remarkable vision,duringhissleep. Hedreamed,thatfourmastiffdogshadattackedand torn him violently, through ferny ground, and next had dragged him into a whirlpool, whence he could not escape. This Ceallach considered, as indi- cating the sort of fate, he was now destined to experience. The holy man then burst into accents of praise to the great Creator. He sang a hymn in Irish, the text of which has been preserved in a metrical form. Afterwards, Kellach was drawn forth, from the hollow of the tree, by his perfidious dis- ciples ; and, he was struck repeatedly, until life became extinct. While the blood flowed from his body, the wild beasts and birds congregating there tore it in pieces. Before leaving, Mac Ueoraidh, Maelcroin, Maeldalua and Maelseanaigh, appear to have left the bleeding remains in the hollow tree, as if for concealment. The persons, who committed this barbarous murder, are called foster-brothers * to the saint. When he had been slain, they has- tened to the fort of Guaire, and there he is said to have received them, with joy and favours.
These base murderers had thus beset the man of God. His assassination issaidtohaveoccurred,inthesouthernpartofTyrawly. Themurderwas perpetrated, according to a popular tradition, between Lough Conn and Lough Cuillinn. The particular place is stated ° to have been Addergool. '
quatrians, in the published " Leabhar * Probably, because they had been cared Breac," at p. 274, col. i. , line 32. Their for by him, on the Island, and while they authorship is attributed to St. Ceallach. were Kellach 's pupils.
3 In the "Leabhar Breac," at p. 274, col. 5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , ii. , line I, are to he found twenty quatrians, Mail i. , Vita S. Kellaci, sect. II, 12, 13,
supposed to have been composed by Cel- lach. after the manner of his death had been revealed to him in a vision,
p. 106.
* See Harris' Wgre, vol. i. , "Bishops of
Killala," p. 650.
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May I.
As a reward for their treachery, the territory of Tyrawly was given to the assassins, by Guaire,whirli seems to mark, not only his comphcitywith, but even his high approval of, their crime. They erected a stronghold, at a place called Dun Fine,^ which lay within that territory, and ihere they took up an abode. 9
This barbarous deed was afterwards revenged by Cucoingelt. On the very day of its occurrence, he had come on a visit to his brother; but, not finding him at Oilen Edghair, and having had some intimation of designs en- tertained by Guaire, at once, Cucoingelt began to suspect that his brother had fallenavictimtohisenemy'swiles. Havinginstitutedthenecessaryenquiries, regarding the time of Ceallach's departure from the hermitage, and his pro- bable route ;'° after some search, Cucoingelt discovered the mangled remains of his deceased brother, concealed in the hollow trunk of an oak. " These were disfigured and scarcely recognisable, as wolves and birds of prey had been attracted to this place, by the effluvia proceeding from the dead body. '*
Turlogh Round Tower, County of Mayo.
Cucoingelt performed the last sad oflSces, towards those lacerated remains of his sainted brother. At first, he applied to the clergy, at Dunmore—after- wards called Turloch church '3—for permission to bury the body there ; but, dreading Guaire's resentment, they refused this request. The place is now
' The parish of Acklergoole—Iving west of Loui^li Conn—in the barony of Tiraw ley, is de>cril)ed, on the " • 'rdnance Survey Town- lanil Maps for the County of Mavo," slicets 38. 46, 47, 48. 58, 59, 60, 6S. A(lder;^oole townland, also called Knock Maria, is on sheet 47.
County of Mayo,'' sheet 6.
9 Here there was an old church, the head
of a palish called Dunfeeny or Dunfinny, about nine miles west from Killala. The p'. acc received name from this fort, and within it> enclosure, the old cluirch was after- wards budt. See John O'Donovan's "Genea-
* Now DnnTeeny, in the north of the logies. 'Iril'es, and Customs ol Hy Fiach- barony of 'I'irawley. It is marked, on tlie rach,'" pp. 6, 7, n. (z).
" Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the '° The Latin Life says " iter carpsit inter
duo stagna Loch-Con et Loch-Cuilinn. "
" In vasti roboris caudicem, ad cavese
similitudinem vacuatum, compingunt. " "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mali i. Vita S. Kellaci, sect. 12, 14, pp. 106, 107.
" In the " Leabhar Breac,'' at p. 275, col. i. , line 17, are nine quatrains, supposed to have been spoken, by Muredach, son of Eogan Bel, over the mutilated body of his brother Cellach, on discoveiing where it had been hidden by his murderers.
3 This is a parish in the barony of Carra. It is shown, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of M^yo," sheets 48, 59, 60, 69, 70, 79. The town- land is on sheet 70.
'* They are near Castlebar. Under the shadow of the round tower lie the remains of the once famous George Robert Fitzgerald. The accompanying illustration is Irom a photograph taken on the spot, by T. Wynne, Castlebar, transferred to the wood
by William F. Wakemaii, and engraved by Mrs. Millard,
'^ This place has not been identified.
'* See, Le Comte de Montalembert's " Les Moines de I'OcGident," tome ii. , liv.
viii. , chap. ii.
'^ It has not been identified; but, possibly,
it may have been Eiscir-Abhan, now Inish- crone, near the River Moy, in Tireragh barony, and county of Sligo. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. v. , p. 1315, and n. (d^.
'^ See the Bullandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i.
