The only townland
denomination
we find corresponding is that of Athry,* in the parish of Moyrus, 5 and barony of Ballynahinch, County of Galway.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
23
called Letho, or Lethus, mentioned by Livy, as that part of the Apennine mountains, where Hannibal passed into Italy, between Modena and Lucca. 1 ^ From him, a chain of the hills is called Monti di Santi 20
Apennine Pellegrini. There, for forty years, he led a most austere and eremitical life, while he was distinguished for his great virtues. 21 In that place, a host of demons sought to terrify the holy pilgrim, by horrible phantasms and noises ; but he, invoking the Divine assistance, put them all to flight. Moreover, the whole province of Lombardy, and also those districts of Tuscany and of Romandiola, that had heretofore been subject to demoniac influences, were thenceforth released from such incantations. When the evil spirits had been banished, the holy pilgrim gave thanks to God, and he called that desert Silva Romanesca. There,too,heenteredacavern,whichhadbeenoccupiedby a female leopard and by her cubs ; while, wonderful to relate ! when Pere-
grinus came thither, they prostrated themselves at his feet, and quietly left of their own accord. Then he took possession of that cave, and there he led a solitary life. Only once each day was he known to partake of food or drink ; he fed on wild herbs and roots, which the leopard is said to have brought him, while his drink was simply the dews that came from heaven. Moreover, it is stated, that after a long time had elapsed, Peregrinus left that cavern, and having found a hollow tree near, he entered into the cavity and remained there for seven years, miraculously supported by food and drink from heaven. Next, we are told, that when the Blessed Peregrinus had lived ninety-seven years, nine months and twenty-three days, he wrote on the bark or fibre of wood the series of his 22 down an
following address to the Almighty : "O Lord Jesus Christ, eternal Father, hear my prayers ; I entreat thy majesty, Lord Jesus, King of Heaven and Earth, who has said to thy Apostles, whatever you shall ask the Father in my name shall be given to you, so do you graciously hear in heaven who- soever shall invoke me against hail or snow, or against plague or tribulation. "
Immediately, the greatest possible brilliancy of light covered the sky, and
is not at all probable, and it seems to rest on no reliable authority. Again, Dempster has a. d. 464, as that of his death. In his work on the Saints of
actions, setting
account regarding his birth and native land. Then, he offered up the
a voice from Heaven was heard " O saying :
faithful
rejoice and be glad, for thy name is witten in the Book of Life, whatever thou prayest for in my name shall be granted you by my Father who is in Heaven. Andwhoevershallhavetheeasanadvocatemustobtainwhathe justlydemands. " Then,goingonhisknees,andraisinghishandsandarms aloft, Peregrinus gave ma -y thanks to God, and concluded by commending his soul to the Lord. He departed thus happily, and his spirit was conducted to bliss by multitudes of the angelic choirs. One Italian writer 2 3 has assigned , the departure from life of this holy pilgrim, to a. d. 364 but, this early date
;
18
For a description of this city, the reader is referred to the Rev. John Chetwode Eustace's "Classical Tour through Italy," vol. i,, chap, vi. , pp. 249 to 255. In the large copper-plate map prefixed to that work, may be found the site of San Pelle-
, grino, on the summit of the Apennines, and on the high road leading from Modena to Lucca.
p. 176.
2I
See Father Stephen White's "Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. iv. , p. 40.
22
However incredible this statement appears to be, Dempster has fastened on it for the additional invention, that Peregrinus wrote on similar material a Book of Prayers and the Mode for Praying, as also another Book of Meditations, which he asserts had
** Ferrarius adds: "apud Caferonianre been preserved to his own time. See
"
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. , xv. , num. 1005, p. 531.
23 Jacobillus, in his Lives of the Saints of Umbria. . :. . . .
regionis confinia, cujus caput est Castrum novum. "
80
See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Saints," tome ix. , Premier Jour d'Aout,
Peregrinus,
servant,
24 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August i.
Lucca, Caesar Franchiotti has placed the death of this holy pilgrim, at the year 543 ; yet, even this period cannot be reconciled with the Acts and their narrative as published. According to Ferrarius, he departed this life, on
2
the1stofAugust. Accordingtoanotheraccount,*atthetimeofhisdeath,
Geminumus, Bishop of Modena, and Alexius, Bishop of Pisa, with all the other bishops and clergy of Etruria, as also Severinus, Archbishop of Ravenna,
and other Cisalpine prelates to the number of twenty-seven, were present to solemnize his obsequies. 25 While some have asserted, that the body of the holy pilgrim had been buried in Lucca, Ferrarius states, that it reposes in that place where he lived so long, and over it a chapel had been erected, on thesummitofthemountain. Thither,pilgrimswereaccustomedtoresort, even to the seventeenth century, when he wrote. The ancient chapel of the holy pilgrim had become ruinous, owing to the prevalence of plagues and wars during the middle ages, while those obstacles prevented pilgrims from undertaking distant journeys to it. At length, in the year 1462, a noble family of Lucca undertook the work of restoration. 26 Among the Patrons of the country around Modena and Lucca, this saint is honoured with great devotion. At the 1st of August, in the Rev. Alban Butler's work,3? we find entered St. Pellegrini or Perigrinus, Hermit. This feast also occurs in the Circle of the Seasons. '8 When conscience appeals to a highly cultivated Christian intellect to labour first for the mansions of the blest, a person so called is ready to forsake home and its natural attractions. As in the present instance, great numbers of holy persons at all times have devoted themselves to serve Christ in foreign lands, and with a truly Apostolic spirit, to bring the blessings of religion and good example to barbarous nations, or into countries already Christian, where there are yet opportunities for serving God and our neighbour, with a perfect detachment from human ties and earthly allurements.
Article X. —St. Mica, of Ernaidhe, orErniudhe, probably Urney,
of 8 as to Irnuidhe. The form of this which tyrology Donegal, belonging name,
occurs in Irish topographical denominations, is usually written Urney or Nurney. There is a parish, bearing the latter name, partly within the baronies of
Carlow and Forth, but chiefly in the barony of East Idrone, in the present County of Carlow. The western part of Nurney Parish is bounded by the Barrow, and it consists of the beautiful and fertile portion of that river's basin. 3 Besides the of about and within an
intheCountyofTyrone. The of 1 recordsafestival Martyrology Tallagh
to honour Mica, of Ernaidhe—usually Anglicized Urney—at the 1st of August. The place here named has been identified with Urney, in the County of Tyrone, by William M. Hennessy ; but, there are many other localities in Ireland similarly denominated. In like manner, his feast is entered in the Mar-
village, consisting fifty houses,
3< That of Dempster. See " Historia i. Au<;usti i. De S. Peregrino Confessore,
EcclcsiasticaGentisScotorum. "Tomusii. ,
&c. CommentariusCriticus,num. 2,p. 76.
27 See "Lives of the Fathers,
35 The Bollandist editor Father John and other principal Saints," vol. viii.
lib. num. XV. ,
1005, p. 531.
Martyrs
Baptist Soller sufficiently absurd figments of Dempster.
refutes
those
August i.
36 The Bollandists add: "
cultu, hactenus perseverante, satis certa p. xxx. In the Book of Leinster, at the
sunt, quibus alia multa adjiciunt Mutinenses
et Lucenses, ut videre est apud populates
historicos Vedrianum et Franciottum, de
fundi proprietate, Mutinensine ditioni an 208, 209.
Fucensi adscribendus sit, haud obscure 3 See " decertantes. "—" Acta Sanctorum. " Tomus land. " vol. iii. , p. 42.
Atque
hcec de
by
Rev. Dr.
Kelly,
3B
See p. 214. Article x. —1 Edited
Calends of August, is the rendering Ulicae -drvorie alias epnait).
3
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Parliamentary
Gazetteer of Ire-
August i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 25
enclosed graveyard, there is a Protestant church of hewn stone, erected in 1788 by a gift of ^500 from the Board of First Fruits; but, in the earlier part of this century, its steeple was shattered by lightning, and the Board of Ecclesiastical Commissioners granted ^17 for its repair. * This was doubless the elevated site of a more ancient church, every trace of which has now disappeared. Within the graveyard are the remains of a rude stone cross; but, without the boundary wall, and in a valley beneath, there is a very perfect stone cross, rising on a pedestal to the height of about six feet. s The edges are raised, and it has a rudely cut boss in the centre, with a
Old Cross, at Nurney, County of Carlow.
circular band connecting the arms at the upper part. Over it rises a very
large and finely spreading ash-tree, yet there is no tradition remaining among thevillagesregardingthiscross,whichpossiblymarkedaTermon. Nearit runs a small rivulet, which afterwards flows onwards towards the River Barrow, about two miles distant. From the graveyard elevation, there is a very picturesque view, over a beautiful and fertile tract, and to a considerable distance. However, it cannot be asserted, that the Mica, venerated on this day, had been in any way connected with this locality.
Article XI. —St. Cineadh, or Kinath, Abbot of Durrow, King's County. [EighthCentury>. ] Atthe1stofAugust,Colganintendedtotreat concerning Cineadh or Kinath. He was a son to Cumasgach,1 and he was
4 See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary ofIreland," vol. ii. , p. 445.
s The annexed drawing, taken by the writer, on the occasion of a visit to the spot
in October, 1889, has been transferred William F. Wakeman to the wood, engraved
by Mrs. Millard. Articlexi. —'See"TriasThaumaturga,"
Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. iv. , sect, i. , ii. , p. 507.
2 See his Life, in tha Sixth. Volume of . this work, at the 9th day of June, Art. i.
by
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 394, 395.
4 According to Dr. O'Donovan's correction of the date.
Article XII. —« Edited by Drs. Todd
and Reeves, pp. 208, 209.
copy we have the entry of 4r*un ep cluAm Cahi, at the Kalends of August.
2 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 208, 209.
3 See ibid. , pp. 354, 355.
4 See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
Sheets
s This is one of the most extensive parishes in Ireland, and it is shown on Sheets 23, 24, 25, 35, 36, 37, 38, 49, 50, 51, 52, 62, 63,
"
by
Dr. Todd states at The Sons :
for the of County
Galway. "
37, 51.
Rev. Dr.
by
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August i.
born probably after the beginning of the eighth century. He became abbot of Dearmhach or Durrow, in the King's County ; and after St. Columbkille" the Founder, he is the first abbot there of whom we find record. Cinneadh
died, a. d. 788,3 or recte 793. +
Article XII. —The Sons of Mocobha. The sons of Mocobha are commemorated by Marianus O'Gorman, at this date. We do not learn by what particular names they had been known. In like manner, the Mar-
'
tyrology of Donegal registers, at the 1st of August, as having veneration
paid to them, these sons 2 of Mocobha.
Article XIII. —Feast for a reputed St. Davin, County of Wex-
Davin's well—where a patron had been held on the 1st of August—may be seen. This is believed to have been the feast day of a local St. Davin, although his name does not occur in the Irish Calendars. 2
Article XIV. —St. Arun or Aruin, Bishop of Clonkeen. The
x
Martyrology of Tallagh mentions, that veneration was given, at the 1st of
August, to Arun, Bishop of Cluain-caoin. There are several Clonkeens in
different parts of Ireland. That most celebrated in our ecclesiastical annals
appearstohavebeenaplacesituatedintheCountyofLouth. Thename
of this saint is also at the same date, in the of 2 entered, Martyrology Donegal,
as Aruin, Bishop of Cluain-caoin. To this notice, we find appended the word (Aron), italicised and within brackets, in the table postfixed to the DonegalMartyrology. 3 Again,dowereadtheseremarksthussuperadded,
but in smaller type [Five miles from Athriagh (? Ath-na-riagh) is a wonder- working bell].
The only townland denomination we find corresponding is that of Athry,* in the parish of Moyrus, 5 and barony of Ballynahinch, County of Galway.
Article XV. —St. Columba or Colum, Bishop, and son of Riagail
or Rianghal. The name of Columba, Bishop, and called Mac Riagail, is
12
inserted in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 1st of August. According
totheO'Clerys,thisColumwasthesonofRianghal. Darerca,3sisterofSt.
1
ford. In Kildavin parish, barony of Forth, and County of Wexford, St.
' A note
This addition is made by the more recent
hand, with authority. " man. " See ibid. n. 2.
Mar. i. e. t
M O'Gor-
Article xiii. —• Its site is marked on "
— ibid. 64, 65, 75, 76, 77, 78, 89,
the Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for
Article XV.
Edited
theCountyofWexford. " Sheets42,47. 8"
Kelly, p. xxx.
3 In the Book of Leinster
See Letters Information containing
at this relative to the Antiquities of the County of date, is the entry Columbae epf mac
Wexford, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. i. , p. 366. Article xiv. — 1 Edited Rev. Dr.
TI1A5U1I.
3 Her festival occurs at the 22nd of March.
of
Kelly, p. xxx. In the Book of Leinster Third Volume of this work. Art. ii.
by
her,
See notices
at the same in the date,
copy,
August i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 27
Patrick,* was his mother following the same authority. He is also styled a bishop. In the Martyrology of Donegal,5 at this same date, appears the entry of Colum's name, with the names of his reputed father and mother.
ArticleXVI. —St. Begmarcach,UaBecce,ofMaighin. Afestival
in honour of Begmarcach, Ua Becce, of Maighin, is set down in the Mar- 1
tyrology of Donegal, at the 1st of August. Maighin was the ancient name for Moyne, in the barony of Tyrawley, and it was situated about a mile south- east from Killala, at the mouth of the River Moy, and in the County of Mayo. A Franciscan Friary for brothers of the Strict Observance was foundedthere,byMacWilliamBourke,intheyear14602 anditflourished
for nearly a century, until suppressed in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. 3 The denomination Moyne is however a common one in many other parts of Ireland.
Article XVII. —Feast of the Sons of Maccabee. In the Irish
1
Calendar of St. ^Engus and at the 1st day of August is entered a festival for the
Sons of Maccabee. To this notice a Latin commentary is found affixed, by
way
of
explanation.
2 There is a full account the Bollandists 3 of St. given by
Eleazar Senex, of the seven Machabean brothers and of their mother, who
suffered a glorious martyrdom at Antioch, in Syria. Prefixed to their Acts,
as contained in the Sacred Scriptures of the Old Testament,* they have a previous commentary,5 setting forth the traditions and writings, relating to that grievous persecution of the Jews, by Antiochus Epiphanes.
Article XVIII. —Feast for the Elevation of St. Poppo's Relics. At the 25th of January, when Bollandus gives the Acts of St. Poppo, he alludes to the 1st of August as being the Feast for the Elevation of his
1
Relics. Such a notice is briefly entered by the Bollandists, at this same
date.
4 See his Life at the 17th of March, in the " To the Kalends of August came much of Third Volume of this work. Art. i. vigour, at Maccabee's sons' feast, eighty 5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, great thousands. "—" Transactions of the
pp. 208, 209. — Article xvi.
2 See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiber- nicum," p. 507.
Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript
Edited Todd and Reeves, pp. 208, 209.
Rev. Drs.
Series, vol. i. Part i.
On the Calendar of
3 An interesting narrative of this religious
by
ab oppido Macha a Graeco mace [n&xv}' '• house and of its fortunes may be found in pugna ab —eo quod ibi multi pugnam
"
cxxvii.
Monasteries, and Memoirs . of the Irish 3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. Hierarchy in the Seventeenth Century. " Augusti i. De SS. Martyribus Eleazaro Sene, Septem Fr. Uribus Machabseis, et
The Rise and Fall of the Irish Franciscan faciebant. " Ibid.
by Rev. C. P. Meehan, M. R. I. A. , chap.
p.
Horum Matre, pp. 5 to 15.
4 II. See I. Machabees, i. ,and
vi. , pp. 60 to 65. 1872, i2mo.
Fourth Edition, Dublin,
Article xvii. "
"
—
Machabees,
Leabhar v. , vi. , viii.
translated into English by Dr. Whitley graphs, by Father John Baptist Soller, S. J.
In the
Breac copy is the following stanza, thus s In four sections and thirty-four para-
Stokes:—
"Do Kb. m -Aug-Airc
Article xviii. —
•OonarwMC
t& peil mac tnochabee txxx mop mile.
mop mbpige
;
Oengus, p. cxxii.
2 Thus: " i. e. in Dalpia (? ) civitate Ar-
meniae in eo die passi sunt, i. e. , Machabeus
" See Acta Sanc- torum," tomus i. Augusti i. Among the
pretermitted Feasts, p. 2.
Articlexix. —1 See"ActaSanctorum,"
tomus i. Augusti i. mitted Feasts, p. 3.
Among the preter-
'
2 $ LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 2.
Article XIX. —Reputed Feast of St. Diuma. The Bollandists
1a notice, at the 1st of August, that Camerarius has a Festival for St. Diuma,
at tin's date ; but they desire to have further enlightenment regarding bis sanctity and cultus.
Article XX. —Reputed Feast for St. Rumold, Apostle of Belgium.
to 1 who Surius for his there was a According Dempster, quotes authority,
feast to commemorate St. Rumold, Apostle of Belgium, on this day. His
3
Article XXI. —Discovery of Twenty Bodies of Ursuline Virgins, at Cologne. The Manuscript Florarius Sanctorum records the Discovery of Twenty Bodies of the Ursuline Saints at Cologne, on the 1st of August.
1
At this same date, the Bollandists simply quote that record, and they refer
further notices to the 21st of October, the day for their chief Feast.
£>econtr JBap of august
ARTICLE I. —ST. COMGAN, OR COMHDHAN, THE CULDEE.
WEhave often before alluded to that pious fraternity of men, who were
so numerous in Ireland the of her Church, and during early ages
chief festival falls on the 1st of July, while his Acts are there written.
who served God with such fidelity, as to deserve their distinguishing appellation. One of these occurs, at the present date, in our Irish Calendars. Veneration was given to Comgan the Culdee, at the 2nd of August, as we find entered in the of 1 As we have no indication
Martyrology Tallagh. regardingtheplacewherehedwelt,andasthedesignationofCuldeeis too
general to afford a clue to his identity, so conjecture has been employed, but in vain, to discover anything appertaining to his place in our ecclesiestical history. The Bollandists have some remarks on St. Comgan, at this date 3
; but, having some doubts, that he had been distinct from a Congan Abbot, venerated on the 13th October, they refer for further consideration of him to that date. They state what Colgan thought, regarding the saint of this name, venerated on the 27th of Februarys and that he is not likely to have been that Comgan, to whom allusion must now be made. According to ancient accounts, one Degill had married Cumene/ the sister of St. Colum-
a See also Scottish Entries in the Calendar Article i. —x Edited by Rev. Dr. of David Camerarius, at the 1st day of Kelly, p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinster
August, in Bishop Forbes' Scottish Saints," p. 239.
"
Kalendars of
copy is the entry Comsan Cell "Oe, at the
2nd of August.
2 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. Au-
Articlk xx. —'Thus: "InBelgio Rum-
oldi Apostoli Sur. "— Menologium Scotorum.
gusti i. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. See Seventh Volume of this work. the Second Volume of this work, for notices
Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish 109.
Saints," p. 207. 3 The reader is referred to that date, in
9 Art. i.
Article xxi. —'See "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus i. Augusti i. Among the preter- mitted Feasts, p. 5.
regarding Comgan or Comdhan, Abbot of Gleann-Ussen, or Killeshin, Queen's County. Art. i.
4 Called Ene by Cathal Maguire.
August 2. ] LIVES 0* THE IRISH SAINTS. 29
kille,5 and they had six holy sons ; namely, Comgan,6 Mernoc or Ernaty
Moelchuo,8 Mirilis,9 Moeldubh,10 and Teldubh. " Other writers add to these
Laisren12and x3 but,indeed,theoldauthoritiesare and Bran; very confusing
contradictory, so far as can be judged from what Colgan lias collected
them. 1 * In the Tract on the Mothers of the Irish Saints, Cuman, the sister of St. Columba, is mentioned as having been mother of the two sons of Degill, i. e„ Mernoc and Caisene ; while another ancient Tract calls her Cuimne, mother of the sons, Meic Decuil, and who are named respectively Mernoc, Cascene, Meldal and Bran, who was buried in Dairu Calchaich, and these were cousins to St. Columkille. 15 About the Comgan, stated to have been the nephew of St. Columba, we do not meet with any further record regarding him. Neither can we be assured, that he is to be found classed among the Irish saints, although there are Comgans or Comdhans so enume- rated.
called Letho, or Lethus, mentioned by Livy, as that part of the Apennine mountains, where Hannibal passed into Italy, between Modena and Lucca. 1 ^ From him, a chain of the hills is called Monti di Santi 20
Apennine Pellegrini. There, for forty years, he led a most austere and eremitical life, while he was distinguished for his great virtues. 21 In that place, a host of demons sought to terrify the holy pilgrim, by horrible phantasms and noises ; but he, invoking the Divine assistance, put them all to flight. Moreover, the whole province of Lombardy, and also those districts of Tuscany and of Romandiola, that had heretofore been subject to demoniac influences, were thenceforth released from such incantations. When the evil spirits had been banished, the holy pilgrim gave thanks to God, and he called that desert Silva Romanesca. There,too,heenteredacavern,whichhadbeenoccupiedby a female leopard and by her cubs ; while, wonderful to relate ! when Pere-
grinus came thither, they prostrated themselves at his feet, and quietly left of their own accord. Then he took possession of that cave, and there he led a solitary life. Only once each day was he known to partake of food or drink ; he fed on wild herbs and roots, which the leopard is said to have brought him, while his drink was simply the dews that came from heaven. Moreover, it is stated, that after a long time had elapsed, Peregrinus left that cavern, and having found a hollow tree near, he entered into the cavity and remained there for seven years, miraculously supported by food and drink from heaven. Next, we are told, that when the Blessed Peregrinus had lived ninety-seven years, nine months and twenty-three days, he wrote on the bark or fibre of wood the series of his 22 down an
following address to the Almighty : "O Lord Jesus Christ, eternal Father, hear my prayers ; I entreat thy majesty, Lord Jesus, King of Heaven and Earth, who has said to thy Apostles, whatever you shall ask the Father in my name shall be given to you, so do you graciously hear in heaven who- soever shall invoke me against hail or snow, or against plague or tribulation. "
Immediately, the greatest possible brilliancy of light covered the sky, and
is not at all probable, and it seems to rest on no reliable authority. Again, Dempster has a. d. 464, as that of his death. In his work on the Saints of
actions, setting
account regarding his birth and native land. Then, he offered up the
a voice from Heaven was heard " O saying :
faithful
rejoice and be glad, for thy name is witten in the Book of Life, whatever thou prayest for in my name shall be granted you by my Father who is in Heaven. Andwhoevershallhavetheeasanadvocatemustobtainwhathe justlydemands. " Then,goingonhisknees,andraisinghishandsandarms aloft, Peregrinus gave ma -y thanks to God, and concluded by commending his soul to the Lord. He departed thus happily, and his spirit was conducted to bliss by multitudes of the angelic choirs. One Italian writer 2 3 has assigned , the departure from life of this holy pilgrim, to a. d. 364 but, this early date
;
18
For a description of this city, the reader is referred to the Rev. John Chetwode Eustace's "Classical Tour through Italy," vol. i,, chap, vi. , pp. 249 to 255. In the large copper-plate map prefixed to that work, may be found the site of San Pelle-
, grino, on the summit of the Apennines, and on the high road leading from Modena to Lucca.
p. 176.
2I
See Father Stephen White's "Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. iv. , p. 40.
22
However incredible this statement appears to be, Dempster has fastened on it for the additional invention, that Peregrinus wrote on similar material a Book of Prayers and the Mode for Praying, as also another Book of Meditations, which he asserts had
** Ferrarius adds: "apud Caferonianre been preserved to his own time. See
"
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. , xv. , num. 1005, p. 531.
23 Jacobillus, in his Lives of the Saints of Umbria. . :. . . .
regionis confinia, cujus caput est Castrum novum. "
80
See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des Saints," tome ix. , Premier Jour d'Aout,
Peregrinus,
servant,
24 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August i.
Lucca, Caesar Franchiotti has placed the death of this holy pilgrim, at the year 543 ; yet, even this period cannot be reconciled with the Acts and their narrative as published. According to Ferrarius, he departed this life, on
2
the1stofAugust. Accordingtoanotheraccount,*atthetimeofhisdeath,
Geminumus, Bishop of Modena, and Alexius, Bishop of Pisa, with all the other bishops and clergy of Etruria, as also Severinus, Archbishop of Ravenna,
and other Cisalpine prelates to the number of twenty-seven, were present to solemnize his obsequies. 25 While some have asserted, that the body of the holy pilgrim had been buried in Lucca, Ferrarius states, that it reposes in that place where he lived so long, and over it a chapel had been erected, on thesummitofthemountain. Thither,pilgrimswereaccustomedtoresort, even to the seventeenth century, when he wrote. The ancient chapel of the holy pilgrim had become ruinous, owing to the prevalence of plagues and wars during the middle ages, while those obstacles prevented pilgrims from undertaking distant journeys to it. At length, in the year 1462, a noble family of Lucca undertook the work of restoration. 26 Among the Patrons of the country around Modena and Lucca, this saint is honoured with great devotion. At the 1st of August, in the Rev. Alban Butler's work,3? we find entered St. Pellegrini or Perigrinus, Hermit. This feast also occurs in the Circle of the Seasons. '8 When conscience appeals to a highly cultivated Christian intellect to labour first for the mansions of the blest, a person so called is ready to forsake home and its natural attractions. As in the present instance, great numbers of holy persons at all times have devoted themselves to serve Christ in foreign lands, and with a truly Apostolic spirit, to bring the blessings of religion and good example to barbarous nations, or into countries already Christian, where there are yet opportunities for serving God and our neighbour, with a perfect detachment from human ties and earthly allurements.
Article X. —St. Mica, of Ernaidhe, orErniudhe, probably Urney,
of 8 as to Irnuidhe. The form of this which tyrology Donegal, belonging name,
occurs in Irish topographical denominations, is usually written Urney or Nurney. There is a parish, bearing the latter name, partly within the baronies of
Carlow and Forth, but chiefly in the barony of East Idrone, in the present County of Carlow. The western part of Nurney Parish is bounded by the Barrow, and it consists of the beautiful and fertile portion of that river's basin. 3 Besides the of about and within an
intheCountyofTyrone. The of 1 recordsafestival Martyrology Tallagh
to honour Mica, of Ernaidhe—usually Anglicized Urney—at the 1st of August. The place here named has been identified with Urney, in the County of Tyrone, by William M. Hennessy ; but, there are many other localities in Ireland similarly denominated. In like manner, his feast is entered in the Mar-
village, consisting fifty houses,
3< That of Dempster. See " Historia i. Au<;usti i. De S. Peregrino Confessore,
EcclcsiasticaGentisScotorum. "Tomusii. ,
&c. CommentariusCriticus,num. 2,p. 76.
27 See "Lives of the Fathers,
35 The Bollandist editor Father John and other principal Saints," vol. viii.
lib. num. XV. ,
1005, p. 531.
Martyrs
Baptist Soller sufficiently absurd figments of Dempster.
refutes
those
August i.
36 The Bollandists add: "
cultu, hactenus perseverante, satis certa p. xxx. In the Book of Leinster, at the
sunt, quibus alia multa adjiciunt Mutinenses
et Lucenses, ut videre est apud populates
historicos Vedrianum et Franciottum, de
fundi proprietate, Mutinensine ditioni an 208, 209.
Fucensi adscribendus sit, haud obscure 3 See " decertantes. "—" Acta Sanctorum. " Tomus land. " vol. iii. , p. 42.
Atque
hcec de
by
Rev. Dr.
Kelly,
3B
See p. 214. Article x. —1 Edited
Calends of August, is the rendering Ulicae -drvorie alias epnait).
3
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Parliamentary
Gazetteer of Ire-
August i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 25
enclosed graveyard, there is a Protestant church of hewn stone, erected in 1788 by a gift of ^500 from the Board of First Fruits; but, in the earlier part of this century, its steeple was shattered by lightning, and the Board of Ecclesiastical Commissioners granted ^17 for its repair. * This was doubless the elevated site of a more ancient church, every trace of which has now disappeared. Within the graveyard are the remains of a rude stone cross; but, without the boundary wall, and in a valley beneath, there is a very perfect stone cross, rising on a pedestal to the height of about six feet. s The edges are raised, and it has a rudely cut boss in the centre, with a
Old Cross, at Nurney, County of Carlow.
circular band connecting the arms at the upper part. Over it rises a very
large and finely spreading ash-tree, yet there is no tradition remaining among thevillagesregardingthiscross,whichpossiblymarkedaTermon. Nearit runs a small rivulet, which afterwards flows onwards towards the River Barrow, about two miles distant. From the graveyard elevation, there is a very picturesque view, over a beautiful and fertile tract, and to a considerable distance. However, it cannot be asserted, that the Mica, venerated on this day, had been in any way connected with this locality.
Article XI. —St. Cineadh, or Kinath, Abbot of Durrow, King's County. [EighthCentury>. ] Atthe1stofAugust,Colganintendedtotreat concerning Cineadh or Kinath. He was a son to Cumasgach,1 and he was
4 See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary ofIreland," vol. ii. , p. 445.
s The annexed drawing, taken by the writer, on the occasion of a visit to the spot
in October, 1889, has been transferred William F. Wakeman to the wood, engraved
by Mrs. Millard. Articlexi. —'See"TriasThaumaturga,"
Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. iv. , sect, i. , ii. , p. 507.
2 See his Life, in tha Sixth. Volume of . this work, at the 9th day of June, Art. i.
by
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 394, 395.
4 According to Dr. O'Donovan's correction of the date.
Article XII. —« Edited by Drs. Todd
and Reeves, pp. 208, 209.
copy we have the entry of 4r*un ep cluAm Cahi, at the Kalends of August.
2 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 208, 209.
3 See ibid. , pp. 354, 355.
4 See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
Sheets
s This is one of the most extensive parishes in Ireland, and it is shown on Sheets 23, 24, 25, 35, 36, 37, 38, 49, 50, 51, 52, 62, 63,
"
by
Dr. Todd states at The Sons :
for the of County
Galway. "
37, 51.
Rev. Dr.
by
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August i.
born probably after the beginning of the eighth century. He became abbot of Dearmhach or Durrow, in the King's County ; and after St. Columbkille" the Founder, he is the first abbot there of whom we find record. Cinneadh
died, a. d. 788,3 or recte 793. +
Article XII. —The Sons of Mocobha. The sons of Mocobha are commemorated by Marianus O'Gorman, at this date. We do not learn by what particular names they had been known. In like manner, the Mar-
'
tyrology of Donegal registers, at the 1st of August, as having veneration
paid to them, these sons 2 of Mocobha.
Article XIII. —Feast for a reputed St. Davin, County of Wex-
Davin's well—where a patron had been held on the 1st of August—may be seen. This is believed to have been the feast day of a local St. Davin, although his name does not occur in the Irish Calendars. 2
Article XIV. —St. Arun or Aruin, Bishop of Clonkeen. The
x
Martyrology of Tallagh mentions, that veneration was given, at the 1st of
August, to Arun, Bishop of Cluain-caoin. There are several Clonkeens in
different parts of Ireland. That most celebrated in our ecclesiastical annals
appearstohavebeenaplacesituatedintheCountyofLouth. Thename
of this saint is also at the same date, in the of 2 entered, Martyrology Donegal,
as Aruin, Bishop of Cluain-caoin. To this notice, we find appended the word (Aron), italicised and within brackets, in the table postfixed to the DonegalMartyrology. 3 Again,dowereadtheseremarksthussuperadded,
but in smaller type [Five miles from Athriagh (? Ath-na-riagh) is a wonder- working bell].
The only townland denomination we find corresponding is that of Athry,* in the parish of Moyrus, 5 and barony of Ballynahinch, County of Galway.
Article XV. —St. Columba or Colum, Bishop, and son of Riagail
or Rianghal. The name of Columba, Bishop, and called Mac Riagail, is
12
inserted in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 1st of August. According
totheO'Clerys,thisColumwasthesonofRianghal. Darerca,3sisterofSt.
1
ford. In Kildavin parish, barony of Forth, and County of Wexford, St.
' A note
This addition is made by the more recent
hand, with authority. " man. " See ibid. n. 2.
Mar. i. e. t
M O'Gor-
Article xiii. —• Its site is marked on "
— ibid. 64, 65, 75, 76, 77, 78, 89,
the Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for
Article XV.
Edited
theCountyofWexford. " Sheets42,47. 8"
Kelly, p. xxx.
3 In the Book of Leinster
See Letters Information containing
at this relative to the Antiquities of the County of date, is the entry Columbae epf mac
Wexford, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. i. , p. 366. Article xiv. — 1 Edited Rev. Dr.
TI1A5U1I.
3 Her festival occurs at the 22nd of March.
of
Kelly, p. xxx. In the Book of Leinster Third Volume of this work. Art. ii.
by
her,
See notices
at the same in the date,
copy,
August i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 27
Patrick,* was his mother following the same authority. He is also styled a bishop. In the Martyrology of Donegal,5 at this same date, appears the entry of Colum's name, with the names of his reputed father and mother.
ArticleXVI. —St. Begmarcach,UaBecce,ofMaighin. Afestival
in honour of Begmarcach, Ua Becce, of Maighin, is set down in the Mar- 1
tyrology of Donegal, at the 1st of August. Maighin was the ancient name for Moyne, in the barony of Tyrawley, and it was situated about a mile south- east from Killala, at the mouth of the River Moy, and in the County of Mayo. A Franciscan Friary for brothers of the Strict Observance was foundedthere,byMacWilliamBourke,intheyear14602 anditflourished
for nearly a century, until suppressed in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. 3 The denomination Moyne is however a common one in many other parts of Ireland.
Article XVII. —Feast of the Sons of Maccabee. In the Irish
1
Calendar of St. ^Engus and at the 1st day of August is entered a festival for the
Sons of Maccabee. To this notice a Latin commentary is found affixed, by
way
of
explanation.
2 There is a full account the Bollandists 3 of St. given by
Eleazar Senex, of the seven Machabean brothers and of their mother, who
suffered a glorious martyrdom at Antioch, in Syria. Prefixed to their Acts,
as contained in the Sacred Scriptures of the Old Testament,* they have a previous commentary,5 setting forth the traditions and writings, relating to that grievous persecution of the Jews, by Antiochus Epiphanes.
Article XVIII. —Feast for the Elevation of St. Poppo's Relics. At the 25th of January, when Bollandus gives the Acts of St. Poppo, he alludes to the 1st of August as being the Feast for the Elevation of his
1
Relics. Such a notice is briefly entered by the Bollandists, at this same
date.
4 See his Life at the 17th of March, in the " To the Kalends of August came much of Third Volume of this work. Art. i. vigour, at Maccabee's sons' feast, eighty 5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, great thousands. "—" Transactions of the
pp. 208, 209. — Article xvi.
2 See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiber- nicum," p. 507.
Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript
Edited Todd and Reeves, pp. 208, 209.
Rev. Drs.
Series, vol. i. Part i.
On the Calendar of
3 An interesting narrative of this religious
by
ab oppido Macha a Graeco mace [n&xv}' '• house and of its fortunes may be found in pugna ab —eo quod ibi multi pugnam
"
cxxvii.
Monasteries, and Memoirs . of the Irish 3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. Hierarchy in the Seventeenth Century. " Augusti i. De SS. Martyribus Eleazaro Sene, Septem Fr. Uribus Machabseis, et
The Rise and Fall of the Irish Franciscan faciebant. " Ibid.
by Rev. C. P. Meehan, M. R. I. A. , chap.
p.
Horum Matre, pp. 5 to 15.
4 II. See I. Machabees, i. ,and
vi. , pp. 60 to 65. 1872, i2mo.
Fourth Edition, Dublin,
Article xvii. "
"
—
Machabees,
Leabhar v. , vi. , viii.
translated into English by Dr. Whitley graphs, by Father John Baptist Soller, S. J.
In the
Breac copy is the following stanza, thus s In four sections and thirty-four para-
Stokes:—
"Do Kb. m -Aug-Airc
Article xviii. —
•OonarwMC
t& peil mac tnochabee txxx mop mile.
mop mbpige
;
Oengus, p. cxxii.
2 Thus: " i. e. in Dalpia (? ) civitate Ar-
meniae in eo die passi sunt, i. e. , Machabeus
" See Acta Sanc- torum," tomus i. Augusti i. Among the
pretermitted Feasts, p. 2.
Articlexix. —1 See"ActaSanctorum,"
tomus i. Augusti i. mitted Feasts, p. 3.
Among the preter-
'
2 $ LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 2.
Article XIX. —Reputed Feast of St. Diuma. The Bollandists
1a notice, at the 1st of August, that Camerarius has a Festival for St. Diuma,
at tin's date ; but they desire to have further enlightenment regarding bis sanctity and cultus.
Article XX. —Reputed Feast for St. Rumold, Apostle of Belgium.
to 1 who Surius for his there was a According Dempster, quotes authority,
feast to commemorate St. Rumold, Apostle of Belgium, on this day. His
3
Article XXI. —Discovery of Twenty Bodies of Ursuline Virgins, at Cologne. The Manuscript Florarius Sanctorum records the Discovery of Twenty Bodies of the Ursuline Saints at Cologne, on the 1st of August.
1
At this same date, the Bollandists simply quote that record, and they refer
further notices to the 21st of October, the day for their chief Feast.
£>econtr JBap of august
ARTICLE I. —ST. COMGAN, OR COMHDHAN, THE CULDEE.
WEhave often before alluded to that pious fraternity of men, who were
so numerous in Ireland the of her Church, and during early ages
chief festival falls on the 1st of July, while his Acts are there written.
who served God with such fidelity, as to deserve their distinguishing appellation. One of these occurs, at the present date, in our Irish Calendars. Veneration was given to Comgan the Culdee, at the 2nd of August, as we find entered in the of 1 As we have no indication
Martyrology Tallagh. regardingtheplacewherehedwelt,andasthedesignationofCuldeeis too
general to afford a clue to his identity, so conjecture has been employed, but in vain, to discover anything appertaining to his place in our ecclesiestical history. The Bollandists have some remarks on St. Comgan, at this date 3
; but, having some doubts, that he had been distinct from a Congan Abbot, venerated on the 13th October, they refer for further consideration of him to that date. They state what Colgan thought, regarding the saint of this name, venerated on the 27th of Februarys and that he is not likely to have been that Comgan, to whom allusion must now be made. According to ancient accounts, one Degill had married Cumene/ the sister of St. Colum-
a See also Scottish Entries in the Calendar Article i. —x Edited by Rev. Dr. of David Camerarius, at the 1st day of Kelly, p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinster
August, in Bishop Forbes' Scottish Saints," p. 239.
"
Kalendars of
copy is the entry Comsan Cell "Oe, at the
2nd of August.
2 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. Au-
Articlk xx. —'Thus: "InBelgio Rum-
oldi Apostoli Sur. "— Menologium Scotorum.
gusti i. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. See Seventh Volume of this work. the Second Volume of this work, for notices
Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish 109.
Saints," p. 207. 3 The reader is referred to that date, in
9 Art. i.
Article xxi. —'See "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus i. Augusti i. Among the preter- mitted Feasts, p. 5.
regarding Comgan or Comdhan, Abbot of Gleann-Ussen, or Killeshin, Queen's County. Art. i.
4 Called Ene by Cathal Maguire.
August 2. ] LIVES 0* THE IRISH SAINTS. 29
kille,5 and they had six holy sons ; namely, Comgan,6 Mernoc or Ernaty
Moelchuo,8 Mirilis,9 Moeldubh,10 and Teldubh. " Other writers add to these
Laisren12and x3 but,indeed,theoldauthoritiesare and Bran; very confusing
contradictory, so far as can be judged from what Colgan lias collected
them. 1 * In the Tract on the Mothers of the Irish Saints, Cuman, the sister of St. Columba, is mentioned as having been mother of the two sons of Degill, i. e„ Mernoc and Caisene ; while another ancient Tract calls her Cuimne, mother of the sons, Meic Decuil, and who are named respectively Mernoc, Cascene, Meldal and Bran, who was buried in Dairu Calchaich, and these were cousins to St. Columkille. 15 About the Comgan, stated to have been the nephew of St. Columba, we do not meet with any further record regarding him. Neither can we be assured, that he is to be found classed among the Irish saints, although there are Comgans or Comdhans so enume- rated.
