It is
stated, that blessed Patrick courteously addressed Fiach and Enda to obtain from them a site for the erection of a church, the rulers of which he intended to select from their family.
stated, that blessed Patrick courteously addressed Fiach and Enda to obtain from them a site for the erection of a church, the rulers of which he intended to select from their family.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
See Rev.
Anthony Cogan's "Diocese of
with Drumshallon, in the same county. chap, xviii. , p. 412, and vol. iii. , chap. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Ixxiv. , p. 574. Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (y), p. 394.
*s See Dr. Charles O'Conor's " Rerum *® This must have extended over a con-
Meath, Ancient and Modem," vol. ii. ,
Hibernicarum Scriptores," Annotationes ad Ssec viii. , tomus iv. , pp. 148 to 150.
^ An ancient car, and probably very similar to such as were used in Ireland, has
been pictured from a monument, at Meigle, in Patrick Chalmer's "Sculptured Monu- ments of Angus. " See plate xviii. Edin» burgh, A. D. 1848.
mains of a Round Tower are at that place. Colgan, Archdall and Lanigan are wrong,
in seeking to identify Druim-Ineasgleann
574 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i;
territory. ^^ Here were placed two of his disciples, named Daluan^s of Croe-
bheach, and Lugadus,9° son to ^ngiis Nathfraich, King of Munster. The people of Eastern Meath, St. Patrick baptized, at the church of Teglais-
reann f^ and, there, he left two of his disciples, the Virgin Bega? ^ and the Priest Lugadius. 93 Near the doors of this church was a fountain, and at the northern side was Feart-Bige,94 or the sepulchre of Bega. Not far from the same church, on the southern side, another was built, on the margin of Loch Annenn. 95 ThischurchwascalledImleach-Sescain,9*whereheleftoneof his disciples, Moluanus,97 the pilgrim, from Britain. 9^ The ancient name for the present beautiful Lough Ennell,99 near MuUingar, in the county of West- meath, was Loch-Ainninn ;'°° and, it seems most probable, that near it his church stood. Afterwards, our holy Apostle is said to have visited a place, called Temoria Singite,'°' where a great number of the Assuil people were baptized. On the way, between Rath-Suine'°^ and Cluainfoda Anmireach,'°3 near the church of Domnach-Padruic,'°* a particular blackberry bush, surrounded by other brambles and thorns, was ever after regarded as sacred,'°5 probably because our saint rested, at the spot, and it even became a place of sanctuary. '"^ While he was yet in the Assuil territory, and near the River Ethne,'°7 and the ford, called Ath-Maigne,'°^ Patrick commenced
"
siderable part of the present county of in the Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire-
Louth.
*' His feast is said to have been, on the
7th of January, or perhaps, on the 4th of June, or on the 15th of October.
9° His feast has been assigned to the 2nd of November, by our Irish Martyrologists.
9' This church is said, by Colgan, to have been on ihe confines of Bregia.
9^ She is said to have been the daughter of Gauren, and to have been venerated, on the loth of February. There was a St. Begga venerated, also, on the 6tli of September.
93 He is thought to have been St. Luga- dius, the son of Gauran, and a brother to the aforesaid St. Bega. His feast is set down, at the 17th of April, in the Martyr- ology of Taliagh.
9* This place does not seem to be known,
at present.
95 This is said to have been in or near the
land," vol. ii. , p. 178.
'°° Under this title, it is often alluded, to
in our Irish Annals.
"" In the text, so it is \vritten, but in the
"Index Chronologicus," p. 717, it is set down, as "Temoria Singinte locus in
Media," by Colgan, who does not offer any more particular identification.
northern part of Dubhn County
; perhaps,
land Maps for the County of Westmeath," Sheet I.
"3 Colgan seems to connect this place, with St. Ainmire, of Cluaiii-foda, whose feast is set down, in the Martyrology of Donegal, at the 15th of September.
>o4 Patrick. Perhaps Temple
'"5 It would be interesting to know, if
any existing popular tradition remains con-
cerning it.
'°6 When the Latin Life was Tripartite
written, no one dared to remove a shrub or branch from this thicket, lest some signal misfortune or sudden death might follow the violation of that venerated bush.
'°7 Now, probably, the Inny. —
"^
however, in or near the southern or western
part of Louth County.
9*5 This may have been the modern Em-
lagb,
in the
parish
and "
barony
of
Louth,
and noted on the Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Louth,"
Sheet 1 1, Tlie parish itself is situated, partly in the barony of Louth, partly in that of Ardee, and partly in that of Upper Dun-
meat li.
97 He is thought to have been not a
distinct person from St. Dalua, of Dun- Tighe-Bretan, venerated at the 7th of Ja- nuary.
9^ In course of time, the right to his church benifice was in the gift of Clonmac- noise monastery.
99 See a very satisfactory description of it.
; it is shown, on Slieets 6, dalk and,
This has been identified place
7, 10, II, 12, 14. Yet, I suspect the place was near Lough Ennell, in the county of West-
but perhaps incorrectly—with Lismoyny, a townland in the parish of Ardnurchur, or Horseieap, and barony of Moycashel. This townland is noted, on the " Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of Westmeath," Sheet 37. It is removed some distance from the Inny River, and hence. Council Mageoghegan's identification does not seem to be well estabUshed. I think, it was rather within the present parish of Mayne, in the barony of Fore, and it
"
'" So is it written in the text, and in the
Index Chronologicus," p. 716, it is noted, "
as Kath-saine arx in Media. " There is a Rathshane,—near the River Inny,—in the parish of Foyran, and barony of Fore. It
is noted, on the
"
Ordnance Survey Town-
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 575
the erection of another church. '°9 But a wicked and obstinate man, named Fergussius,"° the brother of Brendan,'" son of Eochod, offered strenuous opposition to the project. "* Seeing his wilfuhiess, and hearing his rudeness
of speech, the Apostle meekly signed the figure of a cross, on a stone near him, and with the end of his staff. The impression there remained deeply carved, as if the lines were drawn through soft mud. Presently he said to
" As this staff has divided the hard
powerful Lord rend thy stubborn and impenitent heart asunder, had not my tolerancepatientlybornethyperversity; and,sincethouhastsofiercelycon- tested my right to this field, lest thy posterity might lose it, so shall none of thy family rule in this place, nor prosper in any other, but it shall wither and decay. " ThewifeofFergussentreated,thattheweightofsuchamalediction should not fall on her, and Patrick with compassion declared, that the infant she then bore should survive, but that the race of Ferguss thenceforward should not exist. Near the same place, but more towards t]ie south, one of oursaint'sdisciples,calledMacDichoill,"3builtachurch. "* FromTemo- ria, the holy Apostle set out, resolving to build a church, near the Hill of
Ferguss :
rock,
so would the All-
is described on Sheets 2, 3, 6, 7, ibid. The townland itself is on Sheets 2, 3, and near
according to the "Genealogies of the Irish Saints," Fergussius Coechain had holy pos- terity, and the name of his brother was
the Inny River, a very likely locale for the
place. The Inny is well described in the ""
Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 325.
109 Very near the Inny, and to the south,
in the county of Westmeath, there is a
Temple Patrick pai-ish. The discii)le might have given it this name, in honour of his
master, and tlie parochial name may afford some guide to the exact locality of this church. The parish of Temple Patrick is in the barony of Raibconrath, and it is des- cribed, on the " Ordnance Survey Town- land Maps for the County of Westmeath," Sheet 17. This parish borders on the River Inny, as may be seen, by consulting the Diocesan Map of Meath, comprising Meath, Westmeath and a great part of the
Daniel Beau- King's County, by Augustus
fort, LL. D. , M. R. I. A. , Rector of Navan, published in 18 16. No ruin there is noticed, however, yet several raihs and an old for- tress are within its bounds.
"° Some are of opinion, that he was iden-
tical with Fergussius, surnamed Cuochain, brother to King Niall and to Brian, here
thought to have been mistakenly called Brendan. But Colgan thinks otherwise, since this Fejgussius is said to have died, before his father's decease ; while, it is re- lated, that Fergussius Coechain, the brother ofNialiandBrian,didnotdepartfromlife, before his father Eochodh Muighmeadhoin, King of Ireland, and if he had died so early, he coukl not have been alive, at the time of St. Patrick's preaching in Ireland. Thus, Eochod departed A. u. 365, and after him on the throne sat Crimhtliann thirteen years, Niall of the Nine Hostages, who ruled twenty- seven years, Dathy, who governed twenty-three years, not to speak of Laeghaire, who had already sat for some years, after St. Patrick's arrival. Besides,
Brian, but not Brendan, chap. xi. See the author's Catechism of Irish History,"
Lesson v. , vi. , pp. 34 to 40. Colgan sup- poses, this Fergussius was the grandson of King Dathy, especially as he had a brother Brendan, and the clironology most aptly agrees. King Daihy died A. D. 427 or 428. Now, his grandson could have died, before or about the year 440 or 450, in the time of St. Patrick, his father Eochod yet living.
"' We have the following as the pedigree of St. Fidmunn. According to the " Genea- logies of the Irish Saints," he was the son of Fidbadac, son to Cudolig, son of Coman, son to Suanach, son of Brendan, son to Eo- chod Brec, son to King David, otherwise known as Dathy, chap. ix.
'" The Latin " Hie Fer- Tripartite says :
gussius obscurioris notse est, quia patre ad- huc superstite decessit. "
"3 Colgan offers a conjecture, that he was
identical with a certain Mac-Dechil, who
was probably St—. Aidanus, or Aedhan, the son of Dechill —the same as Deicola, Di- choill, Dichuill son to Brian, and after- ward Abbot of Cluain-Chaoin, otherwise Letracha Abbrat, in that part of Orgiell territory, known as Ferross, or Fera Rois. His place is—also called Cluain-Chaoin- Finnabhrach nowClonkeen,inthebarony ofAidee,andcountyofLo—uth. Heissaid to have been of Kill-alinn likewise written Kill-Ilialeith, or Cill-Hanleith—at the north of Fochard, county of Louth. His feast is given in our Calendars, at the 1st of January.
"* On account of the negligence of those who followed him, as the disciples of St. Patrick, when the Latin Tripartite Life was written, this church then had passed to St. Columkille. From this we are not to sup- pose, that the latter saint was then living ;
576 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
Usna, or Usnagh. "5 This elevation combines the dimensions of a mountain,
with the beauties of a hill, and it rises above the bosom of the highest table-
land in Ireland. From the summit, a charming and an extensive view
stretches all around it. Rich fields, shining lakes, or rivers, and verdant
valleys, with glowing historic memories, fill the eye and mind of an Irish
historical student, as he stands on St. Patrick's Bed,"^ which is there shown.
On this green sod, it is said, the Apostle slept. "7 An ancient cemetery was
near. "^ A little lake, set in the summit of the hill, is an object of great
admiration. Beside it are the ruins of what was, perhaps, a monarch's
home and, on the opposite side, there is a rath, comprising about two acres.
six yards by three.
"' Some
this
place, and similar to those fairs established
at Tara, Tailtin and Tlacta. The games
and festivities of an cenach were usually
celebrated, in connexion with sepulchral
places.
*^'
See Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib, ii. , cap. xviii,, p. 131.
'" See Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap. xliii. , p. 25.
"^ See Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. c, p. 88.
*^ See Rev. Dr. " Ecclesiasti- Lanigan's
years ago, however,
object
of veneration had been much damaged by
the sappers. See Rev. Anthony Cogan's
"Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , chap, xviii. , pp. 425, 427, and note.
cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, viii. , n. 69, pp. 239, 240.
"* This is in Sir Samuel pictured,
Septima Vita S. Patricii, n. 48, p. 174.
Fergu-
"*
in
St. whowas Seachnall,
—
A very curious cave, with a beautifully-
;
Perhaps, no other fort in Ireland is of so strange a structure ferenceishemmedinbystone,andtheotherbyanordinaryfence. Twoor three old monuments are within it.
arched entrance, has more than ordinary interest for the antiquary. "9 Altogether, the remains of seven or eight Druidic altars, as they are popularly distinguished, may be seen on the hill. Near the ancient rath, four little rivulets gush from the hill-side. Meeting lower down, these rush in one clear stream into the valley. The land about this celebrated hill of Usneagh,"° belonged to two brothers, named Fiach and Enda. The Tri- partite Life makes them brothers of King Leogaire ;"' but, from other docu- ments, however, and, particularly from the Third Life,"^ it appears, that St. Patrick was not acquainted with any brothers of Leogaire more than Carbre and Conall. Jocelyn speaks of them, and he mentions another brother, called Leogerus. '^3 He was different, however, from the king. "+ Some of our antiquaries have given more brothers to King Leogaire,'^5 and sons to Niall of the Nine Hostages, than they ought probably to have done.
It is
stated, that blessed Patrick courteously addressed Fiach and Enda to obtain from them a site for the erection of a church, the rulers of which he intended to select from their family. His mission and his request were alike rejected by those pagan brothers, who treated him with rudeness, and even with personal
but, the meaning seems to be, that his son's paper, read on"February 26th, 1872, monastic rule had been there observed. and published in Proceedings of the
Whether this differed, in any respect, from
the rule of St. Patrick, if there established.
Royal Irish Academy," No. xvii. On Ancient Cemeteries at Rathcrogan and else- where in Ireland, &c. , p. 119. The ceme-
might prove a subject for curious investiga-
tion. See " Trias Colgan's
the eastern summit of
Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cxliv. , xcix. , pp. 88, 96, and nn. in, 112, 152, 153, pp. 113, 115, and Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap. x. , xi. , xii. , xiii. , xiv. , xv. , xvi. , pp. 130, 131, and nn. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49,
p. 1 74.
"5 Its summit has an altitude of 602 feet,
above the sea-level. It lies not far from
the village of Ballymore, and about five miles west of Lough Ennell. It is situated
in the parish of Conry, and barony of Rath- conrath, and is marked, with its antiquities, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Westmeath," Sheet 24. ""It is a raised oblong mound, of about
tery occupies Usneach.
"» The remains of several tumuli are on this remarkable hill.
'TM
Tuathal Techtmar, Monarch of Ireland,
half of its circum-
It is stated, that in the second century,
established an anack, or
"
fair," at this
"S See
Colgan's
" Trias Thaumaturga,"
Called,
Irish,
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
S11
violence. Then
his
the
" a
male-
'^^ The
and presented his newly-born son,^^9 named Corbmac,'3° with the ninth part ofallhispossessions,totheIrishApostle. Thatchildgrewupinyearsand grace ; and, when he was of sufficient age, his holy patron gave him in
charge, to his disciples. Bishop Domnal,'3i Comitius, or Connetus,'32 and Dabonna'33—the two latter sons to Huabaird'34—and to a fourth person, not named. '3S These were directed to watch over his proficiency in virtue and learning -p^ while they discharged such duty, in the district of Crich Enna Artech,^37 in Connaught. The saintly Corbmac'3*^ ended his days most happily, in that place where he presided. ^39
FromUsneach,thesaintproceededtowardsLongford; yet,itisthought, some of the most remarkable transactions, recorded in the Tripartite Life, as hereoccurring,mustbereferredtoasubsequentvisit,andtoalaterperiod. We may instance, that pastoral appointment to the See of Ardagh, by St. Mel ; for, it has been asserted, the latter had not arrived in Ireland, when St. Patrick hadbeenpreaching,forthefirsttime,inMeath. '4° Itisalsorecorded,that among certain persons, then appointed by St. Patrick, one Cromman, or Cruimminus, Abbot of Lackin, or Leckan,'4i in Westmeath, must be included.
venerated at Duiishaughlin, county of by their respective successors, towards the
sentence, by saying,
rotten stones, or worthless materials, are like the stones of Usnach Hill. "
his father.
'3° Colgan seems to place his festival, at
voice, pronounced
" fell on the stones of Usneach Hill. " '^7 These were
Patrick, raising
diction," when his disciple St. Secundinus"^ interrupted, and completed the
as
result, as we are told, was, that while Fiach obstinately refused to beUeve in Christ, his brother was moved to become a faithful adherent to the truths tliere announced. Enda did penance for the injury offered to St. Patrick,
regarded,
being
useless for
building,
any
other
purpose.
Meath, on the 27th of November.
'-7 It is quite apparent, that the present, with many another Patrician, legend, had been ingeniously concocted, and to amuse the vulgar, with explanations, as unreason-
ably applied, as they are fictitious.
'^^ When the Latin Tripartite Life had
"
they of presentation and benefice, in this parish, the identification of which is now difficult to "9 Jocelyn calls him the youngest son of ascertain. Dermagh was the name for
successors of St. Corbmac, until Nuadat, Archbishop of Armagh, released them from such an obligation. The latter died, A. D. 811, and his feast was kept, on the 19th of February.
'3* The place, whei"e he received this
education, is called Tir-omna-Snithine, and
it lay before Dermagh of Cuilchaonna. among the people, when they handled The successors of St. Patrick lost the right
been composed, a saying was in vogue
Durrow, formerly in the territory of Telfia, and now in the King's County. Here was St. Columkille's great establishment.
'37 This territory is said to have been near Cruachan, and towards the—North. monks of Clonmacnois. Colgan thinks Enda had received fifteen villages usually him to be the same as Daniel, or Domh- called, Sen-chletha-Enna-Airtich —from his nall, venerated in our Irish Calendars, at brother, King Laeghaire. Enda bestowed
the 17th of February.
'3' He is called, Bishop of Aleach mor, a
place which afterwards belonged to the
the 1st of December.
'3^ He is called, Bishop of Cluain-sean-
moil.
'33 He is said to have been bishop, over
Cluain-na-manach.
'34 Ussher treats regarding him, and his
''
'33 See Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. c, p. 88. Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. '35 About the feast of All Saints, when xvii. , xviii. , p. 131, and nn. 50 to 55, pp.
children, in
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 430, 431.
Corbmac used to visit their respective 174, 175- churches,eachofthesemastershadbeenac- '•t" SeeRev. Dr. Lanigans Ecclesiasti- customed to present his disciple with a cow, cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , especially to reverence the great Irish
Apostle, who had committed to them that
boy's instruction. This usage was continued,
or for
them on St. Patrick, with consent of the
monarch ; and, in after time, they were re-
garded as possessions, belonging to the church of Armagh.
'3* He was surnamed Snithine, from the place of his education.
sect, viii. , and n. 71, pp. 238, 240,
'4' This parish, in the barony of Corka-
ree, is delineated on the
Ordnance Sur-
words,
,"
,
. .
"
2
578 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
However, Colgan suspects, that Croraman^t^ was contemporary with the re-
nowned St. Fechin,^43 who died, a. d. 664. To account for Cromman's having
beenadiscipleofSt. Patrick,hehasbeenmadetoHve190years. ^'»4 Crom-
man is said to have resided near the church of Forgney,^*^ where Munis,'"*^
another of Patrick's disciples, and a nephew, on the sister's side, dwelt. '-^^
Munis is said to have had other holy brothers,'*^ of whom various wonderful
stories are told ; and, those followed their renowned uncle, from Britain, ^49 to
share in the labours of his Irish Apostolate. Even two sisters, St. Echea,^5o
and St. Lalloca,'5i are named, who presided over religious houses. Thence,
St. Patrick passed into southern Teffia, where he converted and baptized
Manius, or Maine, the son of Niall, and brother to King Laegaire. In the
place, now known as Ardagh, he built a church, and it was made the head of
a See, over which St. Mel first presided. With him was left, also, a brother
Milchuo,^52 a bishop, while great numbers of the people in that region were
brought over to the Faith, and the illustrious Apostle predicted many things, in reference to them and to their posterity. When Maine had received baptism,
he brought to St. Patrick a woman, who then bore a child, and for both of them, the chief humbly asked a blessing. Extending his hand, in the act of
benediction, the Apostle suddenly withdrew it, and, as if in doubt, he used a form of expression, customary with him, " I know not, but God knows. " Aftersomehesitation,however,hecompletedthebenediction. ByaDivine revelation, he learned, tliat the unborn child should afterwards be known as Tuathal, surnamed Maolgarb, the grandson of that Cairbre, whose posterity hedeclaredaccursed,anddebarredfromtheroyalsceptre. Withindignation,
to he " Lo how hast thou done this turning Maine, said, ! man,
unhappy
thing ? He who has surreptitiously obtained my blessing shall be a king. " Then Maine knelt to Patrick, and he performed penance. Patrick then
vey Townland Maps for the County of Westmealh," Sheets 6, 11. The townland proper is on Sheet 6,
'^' At one time, while St. Patrick was about to leave Britain for Ireland, he left a
"
casula," or a chasuble, behind, him on a rock. He thought no more about it, until he had arrived, and then calling for this garment, it miraculously lay at his feet.
'=° She is called, likewise, Achea, and in the "Vita S. Moduenna," by John Cap- grave, there is a notice of her. Harpsfeld, in " Historia Ecclesiastica Anglise," lib. ix. , cap. xiii. , tells us, that Echea or Achea was numbered among the saints. Unless
she was the or mentioned Aicheach, Deche,
in the Irish Calendars, at the 23rd of April, Colgan is not able elsewhere to find her, under the title of a saint. Her church of Kill-glais was near the church of Ardagh, and towards the south of it, in the region of Teffia.
'5' Her name does not appear, in our Calendars ; but, her church is said to have been Sen-lios, in These were
'*^ His feast occurs, at the 28th of June, according to Father Ward, in "Vita S. Rumoldi," Dissertatio Historica de Patria S. Rumoldi, sect. num.
'
9,
'« His feast occurs, on the 20th of Ja-
nuary.
'^^ vSee the "Trias Thaumaturga," Sep-
tima Vita S. Patricii," lib. ii. , cap. xx. , p. 132, and n. 56, p. 175,
'"•s This
of barony Shnile,
is noted, on the
"*' St. Patrick's
])arish, "
in the
Ordnance Survey Town-
land Maps for the County of Longford,"
Sheets 23, 27. The townland itself is on the latter Sheet.
'*' He is said to have been a bishop, and his festival is placed, at the 6th of Feb- ruary. He is said, also, to have had a feast, at the l8th of December.
is called mater filiorum Hua-Baird. " She is said to have been the mother of seventeen sons. Yet, this account is supposed to have been
"
sister, Darerca,
Connaught.
the two daughters of Darerca, St. Patrick's
9, p. 159.
a great exaggeration. Jocelyn makes the Scholiast, to St. yEngus' Festilogy,
Tygrida the mother of seventeen sons and
of five daughters.
'^ Such as St. Mel and St. Rioch, whose
at the 6th of February, and at the 22nd of March, has a like statement.
'^a His feast has been assigned, to the 6th feast days are found, at the 6th of Feb- of February ; and, yet, there is reason to
ruary. The latter has a festival, likewise, at the tst of August. These are regarded, as the sons of Conis and Darerca.
suspect, he was not a different pei-son from St. Mel.
'^^ Afterwards known as Tuathail, sur«
sister, according to the
"
Opuscula," attri«
buted to St. ^ngus, lib. iv. , cap. vi. Also, ""
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 579
said, that there should be no king, who would refuse to recognsie him as
sovereign ; and, the saint then added, that his injunctions must be the longest that should live in Erinn. " The person whom I have blessed shall also be a king, ? >. , Tuathal. " ^ss In accordance with this prophecy, the latter assumedthesovereignty,afterhehadbanishedDiarmaidMacCarbhaill; so that, he was a victor on Loch Ri,^54 on Derg Derc,'55 and at Luimnech. ^s^ A very idle legend, about St. Mel, has been circulated ; but, as it does not appear, in the more ancient accounts of our holy Apostle, it may be dis- missed as unworthy of serious attention. The following is its purport. While he was in southern Teffia, St. Patrick heard a rumour spread, and it was industriously circulated, through the malice of the vulgar, that Bishop Mel had sinned with his aunt, Lupita,^^? who had taken the religious veil.
with Drumshallon, in the same county. chap, xviii. , p. 412, and vol. iii. , chap. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Ixxiv. , p. 574. Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (y), p. 394.
*s See Dr. Charles O'Conor's " Rerum *® This must have extended over a con-
Meath, Ancient and Modem," vol. ii. ,
Hibernicarum Scriptores," Annotationes ad Ssec viii. , tomus iv. , pp. 148 to 150.
^ An ancient car, and probably very similar to such as were used in Ireland, has
been pictured from a monument, at Meigle, in Patrick Chalmer's "Sculptured Monu- ments of Angus. " See plate xviii. Edin» burgh, A. D. 1848.
mains of a Round Tower are at that place. Colgan, Archdall and Lanigan are wrong,
in seeking to identify Druim-Ineasgleann
574 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i;
territory. ^^ Here were placed two of his disciples, named Daluan^s of Croe-
bheach, and Lugadus,9° son to ^ngiis Nathfraich, King of Munster. The people of Eastern Meath, St. Patrick baptized, at the church of Teglais-
reann f^ and, there, he left two of his disciples, the Virgin Bega? ^ and the Priest Lugadius. 93 Near the doors of this church was a fountain, and at the northern side was Feart-Bige,94 or the sepulchre of Bega. Not far from the same church, on the southern side, another was built, on the margin of Loch Annenn. 95 ThischurchwascalledImleach-Sescain,9*whereheleftoneof his disciples, Moluanus,97 the pilgrim, from Britain. 9^ The ancient name for the present beautiful Lough Ennell,99 near MuUingar, in the county of West- meath, was Loch-Ainninn ;'°° and, it seems most probable, that near it his church stood. Afterwards, our holy Apostle is said to have visited a place, called Temoria Singite,'°' where a great number of the Assuil people were baptized. On the way, between Rath-Suine'°^ and Cluainfoda Anmireach,'°3 near the church of Domnach-Padruic,'°* a particular blackberry bush, surrounded by other brambles and thorns, was ever after regarded as sacred,'°5 probably because our saint rested, at the spot, and it even became a place of sanctuary. '"^ While he was yet in the Assuil territory, and near the River Ethne,'°7 and the ford, called Ath-Maigne,'°^ Patrick commenced
"
siderable part of the present county of in the Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire-
Louth.
*' His feast is said to have been, on the
7th of January, or perhaps, on the 4th of June, or on the 15th of October.
9° His feast has been assigned to the 2nd of November, by our Irish Martyrologists.
9' This church is said, by Colgan, to have been on ihe confines of Bregia.
9^ She is said to have been the daughter of Gauren, and to have been venerated, on the loth of February. There was a St. Begga venerated, also, on the 6tli of September.
93 He is thought to have been St. Luga- dius, the son of Gauran, and a brother to the aforesaid St. Bega. His feast is set down, at the 17th of April, in the Martyr- ology of Taliagh.
9* This place does not seem to be known,
at present.
95 This is said to have been in or near the
land," vol. ii. , p. 178.
'°° Under this title, it is often alluded, to
in our Irish Annals.
"" In the text, so it is \vritten, but in the
"Index Chronologicus," p. 717, it is set down, as "Temoria Singinte locus in
Media," by Colgan, who does not offer any more particular identification.
northern part of Dubhn County
; perhaps,
land Maps for the County of Westmeath," Sheet I.
"3 Colgan seems to connect this place, with St. Ainmire, of Cluaiii-foda, whose feast is set down, in the Martyrology of Donegal, at the 15th of September.
>o4 Patrick. Perhaps Temple
'"5 It would be interesting to know, if
any existing popular tradition remains con-
cerning it.
'°6 When the Latin Life was Tripartite
written, no one dared to remove a shrub or branch from this thicket, lest some signal misfortune or sudden death might follow the violation of that venerated bush.
'°7 Now, probably, the Inny. —
"^
however, in or near the southern or western
part of Louth County.
9*5 This may have been the modern Em-
lagb,
in the
parish
and "
barony
of
Louth,
and noted on the Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Louth,"
Sheet 1 1, Tlie parish itself is situated, partly in the barony of Louth, partly in that of Ardee, and partly in that of Upper Dun-
meat li.
97 He is thought to have been not a
distinct person from St. Dalua, of Dun- Tighe-Bretan, venerated at the 7th of Ja- nuary.
9^ In course of time, the right to his church benifice was in the gift of Clonmac- noise monastery.
99 See a very satisfactory description of it.
; it is shown, on Slieets 6, dalk and,
This has been identified place
7, 10, II, 12, 14. Yet, I suspect the place was near Lough Ennell, in the county of West-
but perhaps incorrectly—with Lismoyny, a townland in the parish of Ardnurchur, or Horseieap, and barony of Moycashel. This townland is noted, on the " Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of Westmeath," Sheet 37. It is removed some distance from the Inny River, and hence. Council Mageoghegan's identification does not seem to be well estabUshed. I think, it was rather within the present parish of Mayne, in the barony of Fore, and it
"
'" So is it written in the text, and in the
Index Chronologicus," p. 716, it is noted, "
as Kath-saine arx in Media. " There is a Rathshane,—near the River Inny,—in the parish of Foyran, and barony of Fore. It
is noted, on the
"
Ordnance Survey Town-
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 575
the erection of another church. '°9 But a wicked and obstinate man, named Fergussius,"° the brother of Brendan,'" son of Eochod, offered strenuous opposition to the project. "* Seeing his wilfuhiess, and hearing his rudeness
of speech, the Apostle meekly signed the figure of a cross, on a stone near him, and with the end of his staff. The impression there remained deeply carved, as if the lines were drawn through soft mud. Presently he said to
" As this staff has divided the hard
powerful Lord rend thy stubborn and impenitent heart asunder, had not my tolerancepatientlybornethyperversity; and,sincethouhastsofiercelycon- tested my right to this field, lest thy posterity might lose it, so shall none of thy family rule in this place, nor prosper in any other, but it shall wither and decay. " ThewifeofFergussentreated,thattheweightofsuchamalediction should not fall on her, and Patrick with compassion declared, that the infant she then bore should survive, but that the race of Ferguss thenceforward should not exist. Near the same place, but more towards t]ie south, one of oursaint'sdisciples,calledMacDichoill,"3builtachurch. "* FromTemo- ria, the holy Apostle set out, resolving to build a church, near the Hill of
Ferguss :
rock,
so would the All-
is described on Sheets 2, 3, 6, 7, ibid. The townland itself is on Sheets 2, 3, and near
according to the "Genealogies of the Irish Saints," Fergussius Coechain had holy pos- terity, and the name of his brother was
the Inny River, a very likely locale for the
place. The Inny is well described in the ""
Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 325.
109 Very near the Inny, and to the south,
in the county of Westmeath, there is a
Temple Patrick pai-ish. The discii)le might have given it this name, in honour of his
master, and tlie parochial name may afford some guide to the exact locality of this church. The parish of Temple Patrick is in the barony of Raibconrath, and it is des- cribed, on the " Ordnance Survey Town- land Maps for the County of Westmeath," Sheet 17. This parish borders on the River Inny, as may be seen, by consulting the Diocesan Map of Meath, comprising Meath, Westmeath and a great part of the
Daniel Beau- King's County, by Augustus
fort, LL. D. , M. R. I. A. , Rector of Navan, published in 18 16. No ruin there is noticed, however, yet several raihs and an old for- tress are within its bounds.
"° Some are of opinion, that he was iden-
tical with Fergussius, surnamed Cuochain, brother to King Niall and to Brian, here
thought to have been mistakenly called Brendan. But Colgan thinks otherwise, since this Fejgussius is said to have died, before his father's decease ; while, it is re- lated, that Fergussius Coechain, the brother ofNialiandBrian,didnotdepartfromlife, before his father Eochodh Muighmeadhoin, King of Ireland, and if he had died so early, he coukl not have been alive, at the time of St. Patrick's preaching in Ireland. Thus, Eochod departed A. u. 365, and after him on the throne sat Crimhtliann thirteen years, Niall of the Nine Hostages, who ruled twenty- seven years, Dathy, who governed twenty-three years, not to speak of Laeghaire, who had already sat for some years, after St. Patrick's arrival. Besides,
Brian, but not Brendan, chap. xi. See the author's Catechism of Irish History,"
Lesson v. , vi. , pp. 34 to 40. Colgan sup- poses, this Fergussius was the grandson of King Dathy, especially as he had a brother Brendan, and the clironology most aptly agrees. King Daihy died A. D. 427 or 428. Now, his grandson could have died, before or about the year 440 or 450, in the time of St. Patrick, his father Eochod yet living.
"' We have the following as the pedigree of St. Fidmunn. According to the " Genea- logies of the Irish Saints," he was the son of Fidbadac, son to Cudolig, son of Coman, son to Suanach, son of Brendan, son to Eo- chod Brec, son to King David, otherwise known as Dathy, chap. ix.
'" The Latin " Hie Fer- Tripartite says :
gussius obscurioris notse est, quia patre ad- huc superstite decessit. "
"3 Colgan offers a conjecture, that he was
identical with a certain Mac-Dechil, who
was probably St—. Aidanus, or Aedhan, the son of Dechill —the same as Deicola, Di- choill, Dichuill son to Brian, and after- ward Abbot of Cluain-Chaoin, otherwise Letracha Abbrat, in that part of Orgiell territory, known as Ferross, or Fera Rois. His place is—also called Cluain-Chaoin- Finnabhrach nowClonkeen,inthebarony ofAidee,andcountyofLo—uth. Heissaid to have been of Kill-alinn likewise written Kill-Ilialeith, or Cill-Hanleith—at the north of Fochard, county of Louth. His feast is given in our Calendars, at the 1st of January.
"* On account of the negligence of those who followed him, as the disciples of St. Patrick, when the Latin Tripartite Life was written, this church then had passed to St. Columkille. From this we are not to sup- pose, that the latter saint was then living ;
576 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
Usna, or Usnagh. "5 This elevation combines the dimensions of a mountain,
with the beauties of a hill, and it rises above the bosom of the highest table-
land in Ireland. From the summit, a charming and an extensive view
stretches all around it. Rich fields, shining lakes, or rivers, and verdant
valleys, with glowing historic memories, fill the eye and mind of an Irish
historical student, as he stands on St. Patrick's Bed,"^ which is there shown.
On this green sod, it is said, the Apostle slept. "7 An ancient cemetery was
near. "^ A little lake, set in the summit of the hill, is an object of great
admiration. Beside it are the ruins of what was, perhaps, a monarch's
home and, on the opposite side, there is a rath, comprising about two acres.
six yards by three.
"' Some
this
place, and similar to those fairs established
at Tara, Tailtin and Tlacta. The games
and festivities of an cenach were usually
celebrated, in connexion with sepulchral
places.
*^'
See Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib, ii. , cap. xviii,, p. 131.
'" See Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap. xliii. , p. 25.
"^ See Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. c, p. 88.
*^ See Rev. Dr. " Ecclesiasti- Lanigan's
years ago, however,
object
of veneration had been much damaged by
the sappers. See Rev. Anthony Cogan's
"Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , chap, xviii. , pp. 425, 427, and note.
cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, viii. , n. 69, pp. 239, 240.
"* This is in Sir Samuel pictured,
Septima Vita S. Patricii, n. 48, p. 174.
Fergu-
"*
in
St. whowas Seachnall,
—
A very curious cave, with a beautifully-
;
Perhaps, no other fort in Ireland is of so strange a structure ferenceishemmedinbystone,andtheotherbyanordinaryfence. Twoor three old monuments are within it.
arched entrance, has more than ordinary interest for the antiquary. "9 Altogether, the remains of seven or eight Druidic altars, as they are popularly distinguished, may be seen on the hill. Near the ancient rath, four little rivulets gush from the hill-side. Meeting lower down, these rush in one clear stream into the valley. The land about this celebrated hill of Usneagh,"° belonged to two brothers, named Fiach and Enda. The Tri- partite Life makes them brothers of King Leogaire ;"' but, from other docu- ments, however, and, particularly from the Third Life,"^ it appears, that St. Patrick was not acquainted with any brothers of Leogaire more than Carbre and Conall. Jocelyn speaks of them, and he mentions another brother, called Leogerus. '^3 He was different, however, from the king. "+ Some of our antiquaries have given more brothers to King Leogaire,'^5 and sons to Niall of the Nine Hostages, than they ought probably to have done.
It is
stated, that blessed Patrick courteously addressed Fiach and Enda to obtain from them a site for the erection of a church, the rulers of which he intended to select from their family. His mission and his request were alike rejected by those pagan brothers, who treated him with rudeness, and even with personal
but, the meaning seems to be, that his son's paper, read on"February 26th, 1872, monastic rule had been there observed. and published in Proceedings of the
Whether this differed, in any respect, from
the rule of St. Patrick, if there established.
Royal Irish Academy," No. xvii. On Ancient Cemeteries at Rathcrogan and else- where in Ireland, &c. , p. 119. The ceme-
might prove a subject for curious investiga-
tion. See " Trias Colgan's
the eastern summit of
Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cxliv. , xcix. , pp. 88, 96, and nn. in, 112, 152, 153, pp. 113, 115, and Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap. x. , xi. , xii. , xiii. , xiv. , xv. , xvi. , pp. 130, 131, and nn. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49,
p. 1 74.
"5 Its summit has an altitude of 602 feet,
above the sea-level. It lies not far from
the village of Ballymore, and about five miles west of Lough Ennell. It is situated
in the parish of Conry, and barony of Rath- conrath, and is marked, with its antiquities, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Westmeath," Sheet 24. ""It is a raised oblong mound, of about
tery occupies Usneach.
"» The remains of several tumuli are on this remarkable hill.
'TM
Tuathal Techtmar, Monarch of Ireland,
half of its circum-
It is stated, that in the second century,
established an anack, or
"
fair," at this
"S See
Colgan's
" Trias Thaumaturga,"
Called,
Irish,
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
S11
violence. Then
his
the
" a
male-
'^^ The
and presented his newly-born son,^^9 named Corbmac,'3° with the ninth part ofallhispossessions,totheIrishApostle. Thatchildgrewupinyearsand grace ; and, when he was of sufficient age, his holy patron gave him in
charge, to his disciples. Bishop Domnal,'3i Comitius, or Connetus,'32 and Dabonna'33—the two latter sons to Huabaird'34—and to a fourth person, not named. '3S These were directed to watch over his proficiency in virtue and learning -p^ while they discharged such duty, in the district of Crich Enna Artech,^37 in Connaught. The saintly Corbmac'3*^ ended his days most happily, in that place where he presided. ^39
FromUsneach,thesaintproceededtowardsLongford; yet,itisthought, some of the most remarkable transactions, recorded in the Tripartite Life, as hereoccurring,mustbereferredtoasubsequentvisit,andtoalaterperiod. We may instance, that pastoral appointment to the See of Ardagh, by St. Mel ; for, it has been asserted, the latter had not arrived in Ireland, when St. Patrick hadbeenpreaching,forthefirsttime,inMeath. '4° Itisalsorecorded,that among certain persons, then appointed by St. Patrick, one Cromman, or Cruimminus, Abbot of Lackin, or Leckan,'4i in Westmeath, must be included.
venerated at Duiishaughlin, county of by their respective successors, towards the
sentence, by saying,
rotten stones, or worthless materials, are like the stones of Usnach Hill. "
his father.
'3° Colgan seems to place his festival, at
voice, pronounced
" fell on the stones of Usneach Hill. " '^7 These were
Patrick, raising
diction," when his disciple St. Secundinus"^ interrupted, and completed the
as
result, as we are told, was, that while Fiach obstinately refused to beUeve in Christ, his brother was moved to become a faithful adherent to the truths tliere announced. Enda did penance for the injury offered to St. Patrick,
regarded,
being
useless for
building,
any
other
purpose.
Meath, on the 27th of November.
'-7 It is quite apparent, that the present, with many another Patrician, legend, had been ingeniously concocted, and to amuse the vulgar, with explanations, as unreason-
ably applied, as they are fictitious.
'^^ When the Latin Tripartite Life had
"
they of presentation and benefice, in this parish, the identification of which is now difficult to "9 Jocelyn calls him the youngest son of ascertain. Dermagh was the name for
successors of St. Corbmac, until Nuadat, Archbishop of Armagh, released them from such an obligation. The latter died, A. D. 811, and his feast was kept, on the 19th of February.
'3* The place, whei"e he received this
education, is called Tir-omna-Snithine, and
it lay before Dermagh of Cuilchaonna. among the people, when they handled The successors of St. Patrick lost the right
been composed, a saying was in vogue
Durrow, formerly in the territory of Telfia, and now in the King's County. Here was St. Columkille's great establishment.
'37 This territory is said to have been near Cruachan, and towards the—North. monks of Clonmacnois. Colgan thinks Enda had received fifteen villages usually him to be the same as Daniel, or Domh- called, Sen-chletha-Enna-Airtich —from his nall, venerated in our Irish Calendars, at brother, King Laeghaire. Enda bestowed
the 17th of February.
'3' He is called, Bishop of Aleach mor, a
place which afterwards belonged to the
the 1st of December.
'3^ He is called, Bishop of Cluain-sean-
moil.
'33 He is said to have been bishop, over
Cluain-na-manach.
'34 Ussher treats regarding him, and his
''
'33 See Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. c, p. 88. Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. '35 About the feast of All Saints, when xvii. , xviii. , p. 131, and nn. 50 to 55, pp.
children, in
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 430, 431.
Corbmac used to visit their respective 174, 175- churches,eachofthesemastershadbeenac- '•t" SeeRev. Dr. Lanigans Ecclesiasti- customed to present his disciple with a cow, cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , especially to reverence the great Irish
Apostle, who had committed to them that
boy's instruction. This usage was continued,
or for
them on St. Patrick, with consent of the
monarch ; and, in after time, they were re-
garded as possessions, belonging to the church of Armagh.
'3* He was surnamed Snithine, from the place of his education.
sect, viii. , and n. 71, pp. 238, 240,
'4' This parish, in the barony of Corka-
ree, is delineated on the
Ordnance Sur-
words,
,"
,
. .
"
2
578 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
However, Colgan suspects, that Croraman^t^ was contemporary with the re-
nowned St. Fechin,^43 who died, a. d. 664. To account for Cromman's having
beenadiscipleofSt. Patrick,hehasbeenmadetoHve190years. ^'»4 Crom-
man is said to have resided near the church of Forgney,^*^ where Munis,'"*^
another of Patrick's disciples, and a nephew, on the sister's side, dwelt. '-^^
Munis is said to have had other holy brothers,'*^ of whom various wonderful
stories are told ; and, those followed their renowned uncle, from Britain, ^49 to
share in the labours of his Irish Apostolate. Even two sisters, St. Echea,^5o
and St. Lalloca,'5i are named, who presided over religious houses. Thence,
St. Patrick passed into southern Teffia, where he converted and baptized
Manius, or Maine, the son of Niall, and brother to King Laegaire. In the
place, now known as Ardagh, he built a church, and it was made the head of
a See, over which St. Mel first presided. With him was left, also, a brother
Milchuo,^52 a bishop, while great numbers of the people in that region were
brought over to the Faith, and the illustrious Apostle predicted many things, in reference to them and to their posterity. When Maine had received baptism,
he brought to St. Patrick a woman, who then bore a child, and for both of them, the chief humbly asked a blessing. Extending his hand, in the act of
benediction, the Apostle suddenly withdrew it, and, as if in doubt, he used a form of expression, customary with him, " I know not, but God knows. " Aftersomehesitation,however,hecompletedthebenediction. ByaDivine revelation, he learned, tliat the unborn child should afterwards be known as Tuathal, surnamed Maolgarb, the grandson of that Cairbre, whose posterity hedeclaredaccursed,anddebarredfromtheroyalsceptre. Withindignation,
to he " Lo how hast thou done this turning Maine, said, ! man,
unhappy
thing ? He who has surreptitiously obtained my blessing shall be a king. " Then Maine knelt to Patrick, and he performed penance. Patrick then
vey Townland Maps for the County of Westmealh," Sheets 6, 11. The townland proper is on Sheet 6,
'^' At one time, while St. Patrick was about to leave Britain for Ireland, he left a
"
casula," or a chasuble, behind, him on a rock. He thought no more about it, until he had arrived, and then calling for this garment, it miraculously lay at his feet.
'=° She is called, likewise, Achea, and in the "Vita S. Moduenna," by John Cap- grave, there is a notice of her. Harpsfeld, in " Historia Ecclesiastica Anglise," lib. ix. , cap. xiii. , tells us, that Echea or Achea was numbered among the saints. Unless
she was the or mentioned Aicheach, Deche,
in the Irish Calendars, at the 23rd of April, Colgan is not able elsewhere to find her, under the title of a saint. Her church of Kill-glais was near the church of Ardagh, and towards the south of it, in the region of Teffia.
'5' Her name does not appear, in our Calendars ; but, her church is said to have been Sen-lios, in These were
'*^ His feast occurs, at the 28th of June, according to Father Ward, in "Vita S. Rumoldi," Dissertatio Historica de Patria S. Rumoldi, sect. num.
'
9,
'« His feast occurs, on the 20th of Ja-
nuary.
'^^ vSee the "Trias Thaumaturga," Sep-
tima Vita S. Patricii," lib. ii. , cap. xx. , p. 132, and n. 56, p. 175,
'"•s This
of barony Shnile,
is noted, on the
"*' St. Patrick's
])arish, "
in the
Ordnance Survey Town-
land Maps for the County of Longford,"
Sheets 23, 27. The townland itself is on the latter Sheet.
'*' He is said to have been a bishop, and his festival is placed, at the 6th of Feb- ruary. He is said, also, to have had a feast, at the l8th of December.
is called mater filiorum Hua-Baird. " She is said to have been the mother of seventeen sons. Yet, this account is supposed to have been
"
sister, Darerca,
Connaught.
the two daughters of Darerca, St. Patrick's
9, p. 159.
a great exaggeration. Jocelyn makes the Scholiast, to St. yEngus' Festilogy,
Tygrida the mother of seventeen sons and
of five daughters.
'^ Such as St. Mel and St. Rioch, whose
at the 6th of February, and at the 22nd of March, has a like statement.
'^a His feast has been assigned, to the 6th feast days are found, at the 6th of Feb- of February ; and, yet, there is reason to
ruary. The latter has a festival, likewise, at the tst of August. These are regarded, as the sons of Conis and Darerca.
suspect, he was not a different pei-son from St. Mel.
'^^ Afterwards known as Tuathail, sur«
sister, according to the
"
Opuscula," attri«
buted to St. ^ngus, lib. iv. , cap. vi. Also, ""
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 579
said, that there should be no king, who would refuse to recognsie him as
sovereign ; and, the saint then added, that his injunctions must be the longest that should live in Erinn. " The person whom I have blessed shall also be a king, ? >. , Tuathal. " ^ss In accordance with this prophecy, the latter assumedthesovereignty,afterhehadbanishedDiarmaidMacCarbhaill; so that, he was a victor on Loch Ri,^54 on Derg Derc,'55 and at Luimnech. ^s^ A very idle legend, about St. Mel, has been circulated ; but, as it does not appear, in the more ancient accounts of our holy Apostle, it may be dis- missed as unworthy of serious attention. The following is its purport. While he was in southern Teffia, St. Patrick heard a rumour spread, and it was industriously circulated, through the malice of the vulgar, that Bishop Mel had sinned with his aunt, Lupita,^^? who had taken the religious veil.
