3 See "
Kalendars
of Scottish Saints," p.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
Patrick's staff—called '• baculum Jesu"—
at Armagh was enabled, for a time, to maintain himself as primate, in opposi- tion to the rightful bishop. This was in consequence of a reverence enter- tained for the staff, and for other relics of our great saint, by the Irish tribes ; so that, whomsoever they found to be in possession of them, the foolish and senseless people among them were wont to receive as their bishop. 3^7 This staff, or crozier, as already stated, was impiously destroyed by Browne, the apostate Archbishop of Dublin. In the reign of Henry VIII. , he burnt this relic, after having first stripped it of all the precious stones, with which the staffwasrichlyornamented. InBallyboghill,348countyofDublin,thestaff or crozier of St. Patrick349 was long devoutly exhibited, in that old church, the ruins of which are there to be seen. These ruins measure eighteen yardsbysix; thewindowsanddoorsexhibitgroinedarches; whilethebelfry
343 The O'Mulhallanns and O'Mellans were distinct famihes, as can be proved from our Annals.
344 Distinct reference to St. Patrick's bell is made, in the Registry of Primate Milo
*'
written by the editor.
347 Such is the account
given, by
St.
Ke- gistrum," about the year 1441, as also in
Bernard, in his Life of St. Malachy. The
Bachall-Iosa was kept by the plebilis proge-
nies, or by the Clann-Sionaich, from whom a long succession of the Coarbs was derived, See Rev. Dr. WiUiam Reeves' " Historical and Descriptive Memoir of the Clog an Edachta, commonly known as St. Patrick's Bell, or the Bell of Armagh," p. 2.
348 Anglicised, "the town of the staff. " Thisseemsan evidence, for the high antiquity of the tradition. The church was probably dedicated to St. Patrick.
Sweetman, 1365, in Primate Prene's
subsequent Registers.
345 This bell was in his possession in 1819,
and James Stuart, in his " Historical Me- moirsof the City of Armagh," devotes four pages, intituled "Curious Relic of Ami- quity," to the subject, immediately after his preface to the work in question.
34* See Brennan's " Ecclesiastical History
of Ireland. " Edited by Rev. C. P. Meehan, taken upon the Holy Mass-Book, and the MiR. l. A. The foregoing account has been great relic of Ireland, called 'baculum
349 Sq recently as 1529, examinations were "
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
829
was triple-arched, like so many others, in the country of Fingal. 350 Another very remarkable reliquary of the Irish Apostle is the Fiacal Phadraig, or the Shrine of St. Patrick's Tooth, with which is connected some curious historical and traditional particulars. 35^ In later life, as it is related, St. Patrick began to lose his teeth ; and some of these were preserved, by his friends and disciples, whenever they fell from his mouth. 352 During the Irish Apostle's visitation to northern Connaught, he proceeded along the coasts of Sligo and
the River at he raised a cross — Mayo. Crossing Moy, Bartragh, there, and,
afterwards, he erected the church of Cassel-Irra,3S3 in Hy-Fiachrach
probably, in the present parish of Killaspugbrone. While there sojourning, Bishops Bronius and Macrinee came to him, when he wrote out the alphabet
forthem; and,then,hegaveatoothfromhismouthtoBishopBronius,because he was dear to Patrick. 354 This was afterwards placed in a shrine, and reli-
giously preserved ;355 but, it was subsequently devoted to undesirable purposes,
having fallen into the hands of a vagrant, named Reilly. He is said to have
been a native of Sligo, and he made a living by going about this part of the
country,
it,
performing
with
"
cures man and beast. " The tradition was upon
rife, that the shrine once belonged to the Canons of Cong. 356 ^he last of
these Augustinians, Father Prendergast, got possession of it, about 1830,
and, afterwards, he lent it to a Mrs. Blake, who preserved it at Blake Hill, near Cong. Thence, it was removed to Menlough, on the occasion of a serious illness occurring to one of the family, who afterwards presented it to Dr. WilliamStokesofDublin. TheFiacalPadraig,orShrineofSt. Patrick's Tooth, is at present preserved, in the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy, it having been deposited there, by Dr. Stokes. The ornamental work is in brass, and it is of the fourteenth century. The case is shaped like a mitre, and covered with saints' figures, a crucifix is represented, with precious stones and interlacings. 357 We are told, that St. Patrick ordered seven persons of
Christi,' in presence of the king's Deputy, the Chancellor, Treasurer, and Justice. "— "State Papers," part iii. , p. 146.
35° See John D'Alton's "History of the County of Dublin," p. 506.
possessions all around the district near
Cong.
356 According to a tradition, in the parish,
this shrine came from the county of Sligo, where there are still some recollections, re« lating to St. Patrick's tooth,
357 It is I J inch thick at bottom, and it fines off to a thin metal plate, at the narrow top, in continuation of the highly-decorated rim, which originally surrounded it, but which, like other portions of the brass, silver, and
35' See Miss Stokes'
"
Christian Inscrip-
tions in the Irish Language," vol. ii. , pp.
130 to 132.
352 These teeth are said to have given
names to churches, commemorative of the
circumstance, as in that of Kilfeacle, or
"the church of the tooth," near the town of
Tipperary. Another was Clonfeacle, not bears the marks of tinkers' hands," in the
far distant from Armagh.
333 In its court was the stone, upon which
St. Patrick's tooth fell. An account of the
rude mode of soldering. On the chief or front side, there is a crucifixion, in metal work,
with two figures, on each side ; and, below
shrine, now known as the Fiacal Phadraig,
it, there is an arcade of trefoil arches. Be-
"——
will be found in Dr. William Stokes' Life neath, there is a row of four there were
and Labours in Art and Archaeology of five originally raised gilt figures, holding
George Petrie, LL. D. ,and M. R. I. A. , &c. ," p. 288.
books, shrines, and croziers ; and, from an inscription underneath, we learn, that they
"
33* See the Annotations of Tirechan, in
the Book of Armagh, and Dr. O'Donovan's
notes to the " Annals of the Four Masters,"
under a. d. 511. In this year, "Saint is inserted, relique
Bronn, Bishop of Cuil-Irra, in Connaught,
Benon, Brigida, Patric, Columqille, Brendan. " Between these and —the silver plate—to which they are attached either as a or for artistic purposes, a portion of fine linen. On the front, there is an imperfect inscripti—on, the upper line of which is in embossed the lower is in the raised character of the twelfth or fourteenth " Thomas de Brami-
died. " See, also, the "
Genealogies,
Tribes,
and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," published
by the Irish Archjeological Society.
this shrine remained in the
335
hands of the i3ermingliams, who had large
century :
ehem : Dns: d<Atheti—vufecit oriiaripisca
Probably,
gilt materials, has been much injured. It "
represented Saints
830 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
his people, in his Hfetime, to guard the men of Ireland, to wit : a man at
Cruachan Aigle, or Croiigh Patrick, a man at BennGulbain, or Binbulbin, in the county of Sligo, a man in Sliabh Bethad, or Slieve Beagh, a man in Sliabh Cua, of Slieve Gua, in the county of Waterford, the married pair at Cluain Iraird, or Clonard, and Domangort, of Sliabh Slangai, or Slieve Donard. 358 This account, however, seems to —bear no very ancient stamp. The custom is almost universal in Ireland, and even in more distant countries among Irish residents—to wear the shamrock, on St. Patrick's Day while, both men and women display it on their head-gear, or before their breasts. 359 The girls are accustomed, moreover, to wear Patrick's Crosses, which are gay pieces of coloured silk, tastefully arranged transversly, on a
white disk of satin, or, sometimes, on white paper. These are worn on the
shoulder, or on the breast ; and, as badges, they look very prett)% The high festival of St. Patrick usually brings with it a certain amount of family and
publicfestivity; but,itweremuchtobedesired,thatitshouldbemoresoberly andreligiouslyobserved. Inthislatterrespect,however,aconsiderableim-
provement has taken place of late years. A curious tradition, regarding the weather—and yet not very intelligible—prevails in the south of Ireland, in reference to the season after St. Patrick's Day. 3^ It may be remarked, that in the midland counties of Leinster, where eels abound in the bogs and rivers,
it was customary to prepare eel-paties or small eel-pies, as a treat for children, on the saint's festival. These pastries were sold, also, in the bakers' and
confectioners' shops, and were largely dealt in, especially by the younger members of the community. 3^^ With the foregoing details, however, we do not pretend to have exhausted the folk-lore of Ireland, in reference to her venerable Patron.
It may be true, that the biographer has dwelt with too fond a prolixity,
over the life-records and traditions, relating to St. Patrick ; yet, it seems
difficulttoabbreviate,whensotemptingasubjectengagesattention. Inthe wordsofanancientwriterofhisActs,wemustnowhastentoaclose. 3^2 Ajust man, indeed, was this man, writes the chronicler, with purity of nature like the patriarchs ; a true pilgrim, like Abraham ; gentle and forgiving of heart, like Moses ; a praiseworthy psalmist, like David ; an emulator of wisdom, like Solomon; achosenvesselforproclaimingtruth,liketheApostlePaul. Aman full of grace and of the knowledge of the Holy Ghost he was, like the beloved
John. A fair flower-garden he appeared to children of grace ; a fruitful
patteJ'^ This Thomas de Beimiiigham was will ere long be published. See Sir William probably Lord of Athenry, in the thirteenth R. Wilde's "Lough Corrib ; its Shores
or fourteenth century; but, certainly the
original shrine is older than his time. On
the back or reverse side, there is a raised,
but unfigured, cross, on each side of which Irish Homilies, on the Lives of Saints are a series of figures—two raised, and two
on the silver Two of these plate.
Patrick, Brigit and Columba," pp. 38, 39. ^59 ii^ distant countries, where the real shamrocks cannot be found, artificial ones
are made and worn, by the Irish — emigrants,
engraved,
are ecclesiastics, holding croziers ; is that of a a
and one
female,holding harp,
well worthy of inspection ; for, it is probably one of the oldest representations of that in-
^so Thus it runs in the Irish language
:
which is
strument, which we now possess. The
shrine is also highly decorated, with ^6111 o Ia f"AmAC,' a^ pA-o^Miig. " Thus
crystals, stones, and amber, placed in col- Englished :
Every second day will be
lated studs, like those in the shrine of St. good (fine) from St. Erigid's Day to St.
Monchan, Leigh. Upon
also several pieces of gold and silver filigree day will be fine,' said St. Patrick. "
work, similar to those around the central ^si Wg have a vivid recollection of this crystal in the Cross of Cong. It is to be custom prevailing, in our earlier days, hoped, that accurate illustrations of this 362 gee Miss Cusack's "Life of St. Patrick, relique, so interesting for its artistic details, Apostle of Ireland," p. 499.
and Islands, with Notices of Lough Mask," chap. vii.
"
358 gee Whitley Stokes' "Three Middle-
5<\c uile La 50 niAic. o La te bp'JTje 5-0 Ia le pA'0]\ui5. • -Aguf 50 mo Ia h-
at it, there are Patrick's Day. * And every day from my
;
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS
vine-branch, he is called, as also a sparkling fire, with force of warmth and heat to the sons of life, for instituting and illustrating charity. A lion, he is
said to have been, in strength and power ; a dove in gentleness and humility. A serpent in wisdom, the old Irish writer declares him to have been, and
wise, in knowing how to do good. Gentle, humble, and merciful he was, towards the sons of life ; dark and ungentle he proved, towards sons of death, as also a servant of labour, and in the service of Christ. A king he was, in dignity and power, for binding and loosing, for liberating and convicting,
We have now followed the career of this ex- traordinary man, from youth to manhood, and from manhood to old age. Having traversed the length and breadth of the land, every province was illuminated by his presence ; almost every Irish region and district had been sanctified by his footsteps ; countless families were redeemed from the slavery of Satan, idolatry, and sin ; souls were rescued from the peril of eternal condemnation. In a word, almost the whole Irish people became Christianized,andplacedunderthebenigninfluenceofGospeltruth. Inthe conversion of this nation, we cannot but admire the omnipotence of God, and
the power of His Divine graces. To St. Patrick, as an humble instrument of the Almighty, this glorious conversion was mainly due 3 while God alone has
power for softening the most hardened hearts, and for reclaiming the most abandonedsinners. NoothernationeverbeforeorsincereceivedtheGospel,
with such alacrity and joy as Ireland did ; kings, princes, chiefs, and people, vyed with each other, in spreading this new light of Faith, by erecting churches and cells, and by devoting themselves to the practice of a religion, pure and undefiled. It may be added, also, as their crowning glory, that no other people have, since it had been received universally, so firmly adhered to the Gospel, and with such unrivalled fidelity. Successive phases of seduc- tion, cruelties, spoliation, banishment and death, could not eradicate from true Irish and Catholic minds those doctrines taught, and those morals in- culcated, by their glorious Apostle. His work was well and nobly done, in his day ; and, to the end of time, our people shall not fail to venerate his memory, and to implore his constant intercession.
Article II. —St. Began, Eremite. [^Seventh Century. '] St. Becan
flourished, it has been thought, about the year of grace, 630. ' Some account of him will be found, in the Bollandists' collection,^ and in Bishop Forbes* work. 3 According to Colgan, this saint was son to Ernan, and he sprung from the noble race of Conall Gulban. -t He was kinsman to St. Columkille, and he is said to have been a brother to St. Cumineus Albus, or the White,5 who presided over the monastery of Hy, in Scotland, from a. d. 657 to 696. The latter statement, however, is rather doubtful. He was related to several Abbots, who ruled over lona, if we follow Colgan's statement. He became
Article ii. —' This infere—nce is drawn 277. "
referred to •* Hoc exdictis de S. Cumeano colligitur
ejus fratread 24. Feb. & Sanctilogio Genea-
gan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernias," xvii. Martii. Vita S. Becani, n. 2, p. 630.
for killing and giving life.
from St. Cummian's
St. Cummineus Albus, Abbot of lona, as
Colgan's
mian was author of the celebrated Paschal
Epistle.
' See " Acta Sanctorum," torn, ii. , Martii
logico cap.
Genealogia per isV«a«? <;« utriusque patrem,
Epistle
"ActaSanctorum
i. ubi &SanctiCuminei ipsius
theauthor,in
Hiberniaj," xvii. Martii.
n. i. , p. 630. The festival of St. Cummin Fiachnam avum Feradachum, Ninnedium, the Fair, is kept, on the 24th of February ; & Fergussium, refertur ad Conallum G—ulba- but, there, it is shown, that some other Cum- nium, ejusdem Fergussii patrem. " Col-
Vita S. Becani,
^ See
xvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae,
506. cap. iii. , p. 482.
3 See " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
Colgan's
" Trias " Thaumaturga.
§3 2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i;
a monk,^ and he received the surname Ruim, or Ruiminn, meaning Hermit, according to others. ? He is called solitariiis, in Latin. Following the ex-
ample of many holy men, belonging to his race and family, he self-imposed a volutary exile from Ireland, his native country, and sailed for lona. There, he
led a solitary life, whilst his kinsman, Segenius,^ ruled over Hy monastery,9 as would appear from the mention of our saint's name, by his brother Cumian, who wrote a Paschal epistle, to the fathers of Iona,'° abou—t a. d. 634. '' In
this Cummian calls our " the a dear
epistle,
saint, Becan, solitary
brother, both in the flesh and in the spirit. " It would appear, however, he was con- sidered as one of the community, although leading this eremitical life. The Annals of the Four Masters state, that Becan, surnamed Ruiminn, died in Britain, on the 17th day of March, 675. " His name is entered, likewise, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,'3 at the 17th of March. Again, Marianus O'Gorman has eulogistic notice of him. '* On this day, also, we find Bechdn Ruim, as having a festival, celebrated in his honour, according to the Mar- tyrology of Donegal's Without assigning any satisfactory reason. Dr. Lanigan says, that our saint might have settled in Ireland, after his having been in lona ; and that, Ave are not bound to believe, he was the saint, bearing a similar name, to which the epithet Ruiminn was added, and who died in
Britain, as stated by the Four Masters. '^
Article III. —St. Nessan of Cork. [Probably in the Fifth Century. ']
In Colgan's work,' we find some notices of the present holy man ; although, indeed, with doubts enough obtruding. A certain Deacon Nessan is intro-
duced, in the Acts of St. Patrick,^ when the holy Apostle was travelling through Munster. 3 Colgan seems to think, he may have been venerated
on this day. 4 Elsewhere, he is called, by Colgan, Nessan, Deacon of Mun- garet, and he is classed among St. Patrick's disciples. s The BoUandists allude toSt. Nessanus,Presbyter,asaPatronofCork; but,onaccountofseveral homonymous saints, they could not pronounce with any degree of certainty
" Britannicarum Ecclesiarum T Ruminn ab Annalibus Ruimi a Index Chronologicus, p. 538.
* See ^''
ibid. , cap. x. , pp. 488, 501.
Antiquitates. "
in Britain, on the 17th of March. "—
Martyrologiis mox citandis, appellaUir. "—
Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Plibcrnije,"
xvii. Martii, n. 3, p. 630.
"" The Age of Christ, 675. The second year of Finnachta. Becan Ruiminni died
^
His feast has been assigned to the 12th
Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 284, 285. The Annals of Ulster place his death, at the following
ofAugust.
9 From A. D. 623 to 652, See Rev. Dr.
Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Appendix O, pp. 373 to 375.
" A. D.
while the Annals of Clonmacnoise state, at "A. D. 673, Beagan Rumyn died in the island of Wales "
'°
This Paschal Epistle of Cummian's is to
be in Ussher's " Vetemm
found, Epistola-
rum Hibernicarum Sylloge. " Epistola xi. ,
Columbte & cKterorum sanctorum sancti,
[;<? <•/'<• Britain].
'3 He is called " Becanus Ruiminn candi-
dus et benignus. "
'* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xviii.
The Franciscan copy has becAnuf lluim. '^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
80, 81.
'* See "Ecclesiastical of Ire- History
pp. 24 to 35. It is thus directed
miani Hiberni, ad Segienum Huensem, ab- batem, de Controversia Paschali. In nomine Divino Dei summi confido. Dominis sane- lis & in Christo venerandis, Segieno abbati
Columba,"
year :
676.
Beccan Rumin
quievit,"
:
" Cum-
successorum, Becanoque solitario (charo land," vol. ii,, chap, xv. , sect, vii. , n. 38, came & spiritu fratri) cum suis sapientibus ;
Cummianus supplex peccator, magnis mini- mus, apologeticam in Christo salutem. "
ARTICLE III.
p. 396. —'See "Acta Sanctorum
Hibernia:," xvii. Martii, p. 629. "»
According to Ussher, who, at the year See his Life, already set down for this
"
634» says :
annorum incipit : sub cujus initium. Cum- 3 See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Tertia miantis ad Selenium Hyensem abbatem, d—e Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixi. , p. 36.
controversia Paschali, scripsit epistolam. "
Qtiintus Cyclus Paschalis 84. day, at chap. xix.
*
nn.
Ibid. ,
58, 59, p. 32.
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 833
regardinghim. ^ Theyconjecture,however,thathewasthediscipleofSt. Finnbarr,7 and that he afterwards governed the church of his master. He seems to have been buried there. ^ Veneration was given, at the 17th of March, to Nessan of Cork, as we read in the Martyrology of Tallagh,9 and, also, in that of Marianus 0'Gorman,'° Another festival has been assigned to him, at the ist of December, and to which day the reader is referred.
Article IV. —St. Conchend. This entry, in our lists of holy persons, wouldseemtohavebeenintendedforthenameofafemalesaint. Whether it has been rightly inserted here, notwithstanding, may admit of some doubt. However, the Martyrology of Tallagh^ registers Conchend, or Conchennia, ashavingafestival,atthe17thofMarch. IntheBollandists'noticeofthis account, they hesitatingly state, that she was a sister of St. Munna, or Mundus. ^
Article V,—St. Gobban, Son of Nascain, and Bishop. On the i7tli of March, his name is set down in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ as Gobban mac Nasair ; this latter word, however, has been erroneously written for Nascain. Colgan enters a few particulars, regarding the present saint, at this date,^ when alluding to three brothers, greatly distinguished, for their renowned virtues, viz. : Gobbanus, a bishop, Straphanus,3 or Stephanus, a presbyter, and Lasren,4 whose father is called Nasca, or Nassau. These brothers are enumerated, among tlie twelve disciples of St. Mochudda, or Carthage,s Patron of Lismore. For their wonderful obedience to rule, they are praised ; and, in Muscraige of Munster did their master erect a monas- tery, in an island called Inis-pict, or Inis-puinc, where they were placed with Bishop Damangen,^ and other holy men. 7 Their period is referred to the end of the sixth century. ]\Iarianus O'Gorman has a notice of this saint. ^ We have recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ that on this day, Gobban, son of Nasc, had veneration paid him. He is styled, a bishop, by other authorities.
s See ibid. Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 265.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," torn, ii. , Martii xvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 506. .
7 His feast occurs, on the 25th of Sep- tember.
p. xviii. However, in the Franciscan copy,
we find, JobbAnii]' pL riAfcii.
* See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," xvii.
Martii. Vita S. Gobbani, p. 631, and nn. I to 10.
3 His feast is said to have been at Cluain-
mor, on the 23rd of May, on which day Sraffan is commemorated.
* The 25th of October, he is said to have
been venerated at Ard-mac-Nasca, on the
brink of Lough Laoigh, now Belfast Lough, in Uladh.
s His festival is kept, on the 14th of May.
6 He is thought to have been identical with Domaingen, Bishop of Tuaim Mus- craige, venerated on the 29th of April,
7 Colgan conjectures, that these and other disciples of St. Carthage here were the pilgrims of Innis Puine, invoked in the Litany attributed to St. yEngus the Culdee. See "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. iii.
May, 1867, pp. 396, 397.
^ He is called " Gobanus fil Naski," by
this Martyrologist.
9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
80, 81 .
See
"
Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. iii.
^
In the book of Litanies, attributed to
St. ^ngus, we have invoked seventeen holy
bishops and seven liundred favoured servants
of God, who lie with Barri and Nessan,
whose names are written in the heavens.
May, 1867, pp. 390, 391.
5 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p, xviii. The
Franciscan copy has neffAnuf Coi\c<i- penpf,
'° He is called " Nessanus Corcagiensis,"
by this Martyrologist.
Article iv. —' Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p, xviii. The Franciscan copy has ConchenniA Uiyvjo.
" See "Acta Sanctorum," torn, ii. , Martii xvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 506.
Article v. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
7. G
834 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i8.
Article VI. —St, Failtigern or Faoiltigern, Virgin. An entry is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh/ at the 17th of March, regarding St. Failtigern, a holy woman, whose personal history is involved in great obscurity. The Bollandists have a mere notice. " Faoiltighem, Virgin, is registered, also, in the Martyrology of Marianus 0'Gorman,3 and in that of Donegal,^ as having had veneration paid her, on this day.
Article VII. —St.
at Armagh was enabled, for a time, to maintain himself as primate, in opposi- tion to the rightful bishop. This was in consequence of a reverence enter- tained for the staff, and for other relics of our great saint, by the Irish tribes ; so that, whomsoever they found to be in possession of them, the foolish and senseless people among them were wont to receive as their bishop. 3^7 This staff, or crozier, as already stated, was impiously destroyed by Browne, the apostate Archbishop of Dublin. In the reign of Henry VIII. , he burnt this relic, after having first stripped it of all the precious stones, with which the staffwasrichlyornamented. InBallyboghill,348countyofDublin,thestaff or crozier of St. Patrick349 was long devoutly exhibited, in that old church, the ruins of which are there to be seen. These ruins measure eighteen yardsbysix; thewindowsanddoorsexhibitgroinedarches; whilethebelfry
343 The O'Mulhallanns and O'Mellans were distinct famihes, as can be proved from our Annals.
344 Distinct reference to St. Patrick's bell is made, in the Registry of Primate Milo
*'
written by the editor.
347 Such is the account
given, by
St.
Ke- gistrum," about the year 1441, as also in
Bernard, in his Life of St. Malachy. The
Bachall-Iosa was kept by the plebilis proge-
nies, or by the Clann-Sionaich, from whom a long succession of the Coarbs was derived, See Rev. Dr. WiUiam Reeves' " Historical and Descriptive Memoir of the Clog an Edachta, commonly known as St. Patrick's Bell, or the Bell of Armagh," p. 2.
348 Anglicised, "the town of the staff. " Thisseemsan evidence, for the high antiquity of the tradition. The church was probably dedicated to St. Patrick.
Sweetman, 1365, in Primate Prene's
subsequent Registers.
345 This bell was in his possession in 1819,
and James Stuart, in his " Historical Me- moirsof the City of Armagh," devotes four pages, intituled "Curious Relic of Ami- quity," to the subject, immediately after his preface to the work in question.
34* See Brennan's " Ecclesiastical History
of Ireland. " Edited by Rev. C. P. Meehan, taken upon the Holy Mass-Book, and the MiR. l. A. The foregoing account has been great relic of Ireland, called 'baculum
349 Sq recently as 1529, examinations were "
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
829
was triple-arched, like so many others, in the country of Fingal. 350 Another very remarkable reliquary of the Irish Apostle is the Fiacal Phadraig, or the Shrine of St. Patrick's Tooth, with which is connected some curious historical and traditional particulars. 35^ In later life, as it is related, St. Patrick began to lose his teeth ; and some of these were preserved, by his friends and disciples, whenever they fell from his mouth. 352 During the Irish Apostle's visitation to northern Connaught, he proceeded along the coasts of Sligo and
the River at he raised a cross — Mayo. Crossing Moy, Bartragh, there, and,
afterwards, he erected the church of Cassel-Irra,3S3 in Hy-Fiachrach
probably, in the present parish of Killaspugbrone. While there sojourning, Bishops Bronius and Macrinee came to him, when he wrote out the alphabet
forthem; and,then,hegaveatoothfromhismouthtoBishopBronius,because he was dear to Patrick. 354 This was afterwards placed in a shrine, and reli-
giously preserved ;355 but, it was subsequently devoted to undesirable purposes,
having fallen into the hands of a vagrant, named Reilly. He is said to have
been a native of Sligo, and he made a living by going about this part of the
country,
it,
performing
with
"
cures man and beast. " The tradition was upon
rife, that the shrine once belonged to the Canons of Cong. 356 ^he last of
these Augustinians, Father Prendergast, got possession of it, about 1830,
and, afterwards, he lent it to a Mrs. Blake, who preserved it at Blake Hill, near Cong. Thence, it was removed to Menlough, on the occasion of a serious illness occurring to one of the family, who afterwards presented it to Dr. WilliamStokesofDublin. TheFiacalPadraig,orShrineofSt. Patrick's Tooth, is at present preserved, in the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy, it having been deposited there, by Dr. Stokes. The ornamental work is in brass, and it is of the fourteenth century. The case is shaped like a mitre, and covered with saints' figures, a crucifix is represented, with precious stones and interlacings. 357 We are told, that St. Patrick ordered seven persons of
Christi,' in presence of the king's Deputy, the Chancellor, Treasurer, and Justice. "— "State Papers," part iii. , p. 146.
35° See John D'Alton's "History of the County of Dublin," p. 506.
possessions all around the district near
Cong.
356 According to a tradition, in the parish,
this shrine came from the county of Sligo, where there are still some recollections, re« lating to St. Patrick's tooth,
357 It is I J inch thick at bottom, and it fines off to a thin metal plate, at the narrow top, in continuation of the highly-decorated rim, which originally surrounded it, but which, like other portions of the brass, silver, and
35' See Miss Stokes'
"
Christian Inscrip-
tions in the Irish Language," vol. ii. , pp.
130 to 132.
352 These teeth are said to have given
names to churches, commemorative of the
circumstance, as in that of Kilfeacle, or
"the church of the tooth," near the town of
Tipperary. Another was Clonfeacle, not bears the marks of tinkers' hands," in the
far distant from Armagh.
333 In its court was the stone, upon which
St. Patrick's tooth fell. An account of the
rude mode of soldering. On the chief or front side, there is a crucifixion, in metal work,
with two figures, on each side ; and, below
shrine, now known as the Fiacal Phadraig,
it, there is an arcade of trefoil arches. Be-
"——
will be found in Dr. William Stokes' Life neath, there is a row of four there were
and Labours in Art and Archaeology of five originally raised gilt figures, holding
George Petrie, LL. D. ,and M. R. I. A. , &c. ," p. 288.
books, shrines, and croziers ; and, from an inscription underneath, we learn, that they
"
33* See the Annotations of Tirechan, in
the Book of Armagh, and Dr. O'Donovan's
notes to the " Annals of the Four Masters,"
under a. d. 511. In this year, "Saint is inserted, relique
Bronn, Bishop of Cuil-Irra, in Connaught,
Benon, Brigida, Patric, Columqille, Brendan. " Between these and —the silver plate—to which they are attached either as a or for artistic purposes, a portion of fine linen. On the front, there is an imperfect inscripti—on, the upper line of which is in embossed the lower is in the raised character of the twelfth or fourteenth " Thomas de Brami-
died. " See, also, the "
Genealogies,
Tribes,
and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," published
by the Irish Archjeological Society.
this shrine remained in the
335
hands of the i3ermingliams, who had large
century :
ehem : Dns: d<Atheti—vufecit oriiaripisca
Probably,
gilt materials, has been much injured. It "
represented Saints
830 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
his people, in his Hfetime, to guard the men of Ireland, to wit : a man at
Cruachan Aigle, or Croiigh Patrick, a man at BennGulbain, or Binbulbin, in the county of Sligo, a man in Sliabh Bethad, or Slieve Beagh, a man in Sliabh Cua, of Slieve Gua, in the county of Waterford, the married pair at Cluain Iraird, or Clonard, and Domangort, of Sliabh Slangai, or Slieve Donard. 358 This account, however, seems to —bear no very ancient stamp. The custom is almost universal in Ireland, and even in more distant countries among Irish residents—to wear the shamrock, on St. Patrick's Day while, both men and women display it on their head-gear, or before their breasts. 359 The girls are accustomed, moreover, to wear Patrick's Crosses, which are gay pieces of coloured silk, tastefully arranged transversly, on a
white disk of satin, or, sometimes, on white paper. These are worn on the
shoulder, or on the breast ; and, as badges, they look very prett)% The high festival of St. Patrick usually brings with it a certain amount of family and
publicfestivity; but,itweremuchtobedesired,thatitshouldbemoresoberly andreligiouslyobserved. Inthislatterrespect,however,aconsiderableim-
provement has taken place of late years. A curious tradition, regarding the weather—and yet not very intelligible—prevails in the south of Ireland, in reference to the season after St. Patrick's Day. 3^ It may be remarked, that in the midland counties of Leinster, where eels abound in the bogs and rivers,
it was customary to prepare eel-paties or small eel-pies, as a treat for children, on the saint's festival. These pastries were sold, also, in the bakers' and
confectioners' shops, and were largely dealt in, especially by the younger members of the community. 3^^ With the foregoing details, however, we do not pretend to have exhausted the folk-lore of Ireland, in reference to her venerable Patron.
It may be true, that the biographer has dwelt with too fond a prolixity,
over the life-records and traditions, relating to St. Patrick ; yet, it seems
difficulttoabbreviate,whensotemptingasubjectengagesattention. Inthe wordsofanancientwriterofhisActs,wemustnowhastentoaclose. 3^2 Ajust man, indeed, was this man, writes the chronicler, with purity of nature like the patriarchs ; a true pilgrim, like Abraham ; gentle and forgiving of heart, like Moses ; a praiseworthy psalmist, like David ; an emulator of wisdom, like Solomon; achosenvesselforproclaimingtruth,liketheApostlePaul. Aman full of grace and of the knowledge of the Holy Ghost he was, like the beloved
John. A fair flower-garden he appeared to children of grace ; a fruitful
patteJ'^ This Thomas de Beimiiigham was will ere long be published. See Sir William probably Lord of Athenry, in the thirteenth R. Wilde's "Lough Corrib ; its Shores
or fourteenth century; but, certainly the
original shrine is older than his time. On
the back or reverse side, there is a raised,
but unfigured, cross, on each side of which Irish Homilies, on the Lives of Saints are a series of figures—two raised, and two
on the silver Two of these plate.
Patrick, Brigit and Columba," pp. 38, 39. ^59 ii^ distant countries, where the real shamrocks cannot be found, artificial ones
are made and worn, by the Irish — emigrants,
engraved,
are ecclesiastics, holding croziers ; is that of a a
and one
female,holding harp,
well worthy of inspection ; for, it is probably one of the oldest representations of that in-
^so Thus it runs in the Irish language
:
which is
strument, which we now possess. The
shrine is also highly decorated, with ^6111 o Ia f"AmAC,' a^ pA-o^Miig. " Thus
crystals, stones, and amber, placed in col- Englished :
Every second day will be
lated studs, like those in the shrine of St. good (fine) from St. Erigid's Day to St.
Monchan, Leigh. Upon
also several pieces of gold and silver filigree day will be fine,' said St. Patrick. "
work, similar to those around the central ^si Wg have a vivid recollection of this crystal in the Cross of Cong. It is to be custom prevailing, in our earlier days, hoped, that accurate illustrations of this 362 gee Miss Cusack's "Life of St. Patrick, relique, so interesting for its artistic details, Apostle of Ireland," p. 499.
and Islands, with Notices of Lough Mask," chap. vii.
"
358 gee Whitley Stokes' "Three Middle-
5<\c uile La 50 niAic. o La te bp'JTje 5-0 Ia le pA'0]\ui5. • -Aguf 50 mo Ia h-
at it, there are Patrick's Day. * And every day from my
;
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS
vine-branch, he is called, as also a sparkling fire, with force of warmth and heat to the sons of life, for instituting and illustrating charity. A lion, he is
said to have been, in strength and power ; a dove in gentleness and humility. A serpent in wisdom, the old Irish writer declares him to have been, and
wise, in knowing how to do good. Gentle, humble, and merciful he was, towards the sons of life ; dark and ungentle he proved, towards sons of death, as also a servant of labour, and in the service of Christ. A king he was, in dignity and power, for binding and loosing, for liberating and convicting,
We have now followed the career of this ex- traordinary man, from youth to manhood, and from manhood to old age. Having traversed the length and breadth of the land, every province was illuminated by his presence ; almost every Irish region and district had been sanctified by his footsteps ; countless families were redeemed from the slavery of Satan, idolatry, and sin ; souls were rescued from the peril of eternal condemnation. In a word, almost the whole Irish people became Christianized,andplacedunderthebenigninfluenceofGospeltruth. Inthe conversion of this nation, we cannot but admire the omnipotence of God, and
the power of His Divine graces. To St. Patrick, as an humble instrument of the Almighty, this glorious conversion was mainly due 3 while God alone has
power for softening the most hardened hearts, and for reclaiming the most abandonedsinners. NoothernationeverbeforeorsincereceivedtheGospel,
with such alacrity and joy as Ireland did ; kings, princes, chiefs, and people, vyed with each other, in spreading this new light of Faith, by erecting churches and cells, and by devoting themselves to the practice of a religion, pure and undefiled. It may be added, also, as their crowning glory, that no other people have, since it had been received universally, so firmly adhered to the Gospel, and with such unrivalled fidelity. Successive phases of seduc- tion, cruelties, spoliation, banishment and death, could not eradicate from true Irish and Catholic minds those doctrines taught, and those morals in- culcated, by their glorious Apostle. His work was well and nobly done, in his day ; and, to the end of time, our people shall not fail to venerate his memory, and to implore his constant intercession.
Article II. —St. Began, Eremite. [^Seventh Century. '] St. Becan
flourished, it has been thought, about the year of grace, 630. ' Some account of him will be found, in the Bollandists' collection,^ and in Bishop Forbes* work. 3 According to Colgan, this saint was son to Ernan, and he sprung from the noble race of Conall Gulban. -t He was kinsman to St. Columkille, and he is said to have been a brother to St. Cumineus Albus, or the White,5 who presided over the monastery of Hy, in Scotland, from a. d. 657 to 696. The latter statement, however, is rather doubtful. He was related to several Abbots, who ruled over lona, if we follow Colgan's statement. He became
Article ii. —' This infere—nce is drawn 277. "
referred to •* Hoc exdictis de S. Cumeano colligitur
ejus fratread 24. Feb. & Sanctilogio Genea-
gan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernias," xvii. Martii. Vita S. Becani, n. 2, p. 630.
for killing and giving life.
from St. Cummian's
St. Cummineus Albus, Abbot of lona, as
Colgan's
mian was author of the celebrated Paschal
Epistle.
' See " Acta Sanctorum," torn, ii. , Martii
logico cap.
Genealogia per isV«a«? <;« utriusque patrem,
Epistle
"ActaSanctorum
i. ubi &SanctiCuminei ipsius
theauthor,in
Hiberniaj," xvii. Martii.
n. i. , p. 630. The festival of St. Cummin Fiachnam avum Feradachum, Ninnedium, the Fair, is kept, on the 24th of February ; & Fergussium, refertur ad Conallum G—ulba- but, there, it is shown, that some other Cum- nium, ejusdem Fergussii patrem. " Col-
Vita S. Becani,
^ See
xvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae,
506. cap. iii. , p. 482.
3 See " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
Colgan's
" Trias " Thaumaturga.
§3 2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i;
a monk,^ and he received the surname Ruim, or Ruiminn, meaning Hermit, according to others. ? He is called solitariiis, in Latin. Following the ex-
ample of many holy men, belonging to his race and family, he self-imposed a volutary exile from Ireland, his native country, and sailed for lona. There, he
led a solitary life, whilst his kinsman, Segenius,^ ruled over Hy monastery,9 as would appear from the mention of our saint's name, by his brother Cumian, who wrote a Paschal epistle, to the fathers of Iona,'° abou—t a. d. 634. '' In
this Cummian calls our " the a dear
epistle,
saint, Becan, solitary
brother, both in the flesh and in the spirit. " It would appear, however, he was con- sidered as one of the community, although leading this eremitical life. The Annals of the Four Masters state, that Becan, surnamed Ruiminn, died in Britain, on the 17th day of March, 675. " His name is entered, likewise, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,'3 at the 17th of March. Again, Marianus O'Gorman has eulogistic notice of him. '* On this day, also, we find Bechdn Ruim, as having a festival, celebrated in his honour, according to the Mar- tyrology of Donegal's Without assigning any satisfactory reason. Dr. Lanigan says, that our saint might have settled in Ireland, after his having been in lona ; and that, Ave are not bound to believe, he was the saint, bearing a similar name, to which the epithet Ruiminn was added, and who died in
Britain, as stated by the Four Masters. '^
Article III. —St. Nessan of Cork. [Probably in the Fifth Century. ']
In Colgan's work,' we find some notices of the present holy man ; although, indeed, with doubts enough obtruding. A certain Deacon Nessan is intro-
duced, in the Acts of St. Patrick,^ when the holy Apostle was travelling through Munster. 3 Colgan seems to think, he may have been venerated
on this day. 4 Elsewhere, he is called, by Colgan, Nessan, Deacon of Mun- garet, and he is classed among St. Patrick's disciples. s The BoUandists allude toSt. Nessanus,Presbyter,asaPatronofCork; but,onaccountofseveral homonymous saints, they could not pronounce with any degree of certainty
" Britannicarum Ecclesiarum T Ruminn ab Annalibus Ruimi a Index Chronologicus, p. 538.
* See ^''
ibid. , cap. x. , pp. 488, 501.
Antiquitates. "
in Britain, on the 17th of March. "—
Martyrologiis mox citandis, appellaUir. "—
Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Plibcrnije,"
xvii. Martii, n. 3, p. 630.
"" The Age of Christ, 675. The second year of Finnachta. Becan Ruiminni died
^
His feast has been assigned to the 12th
Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 284, 285. The Annals of Ulster place his death, at the following
ofAugust.
9 From A. D. 623 to 652, See Rev. Dr.
Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Appendix O, pp. 373 to 375.
" A. D.
while the Annals of Clonmacnoise state, at "A. D. 673, Beagan Rumyn died in the island of Wales "
'°
This Paschal Epistle of Cummian's is to
be in Ussher's " Vetemm
found, Epistola-
rum Hibernicarum Sylloge. " Epistola xi. ,
Columbte & cKterorum sanctorum sancti,
[;<? <•/'<• Britain].
'3 He is called " Becanus Ruiminn candi-
dus et benignus. "
'* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xviii.
The Franciscan copy has becAnuf lluim. '^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
80, 81.
'* See "Ecclesiastical of Ire- History
pp. 24 to 35. It is thus directed
miani Hiberni, ad Segienum Huensem, ab- batem, de Controversia Paschali. In nomine Divino Dei summi confido. Dominis sane- lis & in Christo venerandis, Segieno abbati
Columba,"
year :
676.
Beccan Rumin
quievit,"
:
" Cum-
successorum, Becanoque solitario (charo land," vol. ii,, chap, xv. , sect, vii. , n. 38, came & spiritu fratri) cum suis sapientibus ;
Cummianus supplex peccator, magnis mini- mus, apologeticam in Christo salutem. "
ARTICLE III.
p. 396. —'See "Acta Sanctorum
Hibernia:," xvii. Martii, p. 629. "»
According to Ussher, who, at the year See his Life, already set down for this
"
634» says :
annorum incipit : sub cujus initium. Cum- 3 See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Tertia miantis ad Selenium Hyensem abbatem, d—e Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixi. , p. 36.
controversia Paschali, scripsit epistolam. "
Qtiintus Cyclus Paschalis 84. day, at chap. xix.
*
nn.
Ibid. ,
58, 59, p. 32.
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 833
regardinghim. ^ Theyconjecture,however,thathewasthediscipleofSt. Finnbarr,7 and that he afterwards governed the church of his master. He seems to have been buried there. ^ Veneration was given, at the 17th of March, to Nessan of Cork, as we read in the Martyrology of Tallagh,9 and, also, in that of Marianus 0'Gorman,'° Another festival has been assigned to him, at the ist of December, and to which day the reader is referred.
Article IV. —St. Conchend. This entry, in our lists of holy persons, wouldseemtohavebeenintendedforthenameofafemalesaint. Whether it has been rightly inserted here, notwithstanding, may admit of some doubt. However, the Martyrology of Tallagh^ registers Conchend, or Conchennia, ashavingafestival,atthe17thofMarch. IntheBollandists'noticeofthis account, they hesitatingly state, that she was a sister of St. Munna, or Mundus. ^
Article V,—St. Gobban, Son of Nascain, and Bishop. On the i7tli of March, his name is set down in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ as Gobban mac Nasair ; this latter word, however, has been erroneously written for Nascain. Colgan enters a few particulars, regarding the present saint, at this date,^ when alluding to three brothers, greatly distinguished, for their renowned virtues, viz. : Gobbanus, a bishop, Straphanus,3 or Stephanus, a presbyter, and Lasren,4 whose father is called Nasca, or Nassau. These brothers are enumerated, among tlie twelve disciples of St. Mochudda, or Carthage,s Patron of Lismore. For their wonderful obedience to rule, they are praised ; and, in Muscraige of Munster did their master erect a monas- tery, in an island called Inis-pict, or Inis-puinc, where they were placed with Bishop Damangen,^ and other holy men. 7 Their period is referred to the end of the sixth century. ]\Iarianus O'Gorman has a notice of this saint. ^ We have recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ that on this day, Gobban, son of Nasc, had veneration paid him. He is styled, a bishop, by other authorities.
s See ibid. Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 265.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," torn, ii. , Martii xvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 506. .
7 His feast occurs, on the 25th of Sep- tember.
p. xviii. However, in the Franciscan copy,
we find, JobbAnii]' pL riAfcii.
* See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," xvii.
Martii. Vita S. Gobbani, p. 631, and nn. I to 10.
3 His feast is said to have been at Cluain-
mor, on the 23rd of May, on which day Sraffan is commemorated.
* The 25th of October, he is said to have
been venerated at Ard-mac-Nasca, on the
brink of Lough Laoigh, now Belfast Lough, in Uladh.
s His festival is kept, on the 14th of May.
6 He is thought to have been identical with Domaingen, Bishop of Tuaim Mus- craige, venerated on the 29th of April,
7 Colgan conjectures, that these and other disciples of St. Carthage here were the pilgrims of Innis Puine, invoked in the Litany attributed to St. yEngus the Culdee. See "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. iii.
May, 1867, pp. 396, 397.
^ He is called " Gobanus fil Naski," by
this Martyrologist.
9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
80, 81 .
See
"
Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. iii.
^
In the book of Litanies, attributed to
St. ^ngus, we have invoked seventeen holy
bishops and seven liundred favoured servants
of God, who lie with Barri and Nessan,
whose names are written in the heavens.
May, 1867, pp. 390, 391.
5 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p, xviii. The
Franciscan copy has neffAnuf Coi\c<i- penpf,
'° He is called " Nessanus Corcagiensis,"
by this Martyrologist.
Article iv. —' Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p, xviii. The Franciscan copy has ConchenniA Uiyvjo.
" See "Acta Sanctorum," torn, ii. , Martii xvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 506.
Article v. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
7. G
834 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i8.
Article VI. —St, Failtigern or Faoiltigern, Virgin. An entry is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh/ at the 17th of March, regarding St. Failtigern, a holy woman, whose personal history is involved in great obscurity. The Bollandists have a mere notice. " Faoiltighem, Virgin, is registered, also, in the Martyrology of Marianus 0'Gorman,3 and in that of Donegal,^ as having had veneration paid her, on this day.
Article VII. —St.
