No More Learning

On the northern side, the Curlew hills rise to a considerable height. 51 The general character of the lake scenery is rough and rude ; still, it is capable of being worked into beauty and picturesqueness, so as to present materials for a good landscape, but for the neglect and tastelessness of the landed proprietors.
When St. Attracta arrived in St. Patrick's presence, the pure virgin signified her intention to consecrate herself entirely to Almighty God. Her companion seems to have been from that part of the country,52 likewise, and both were united in desire and act. "
niae," ix. Februarii. Vita S. Attracta, cap. iv. , p. 278.
4S Now Coolavin barony in the County of Sligo. The former name somewhat survives in the denominations of Greggans and of Gregaduf. See Ven. Archdeacon T. ORorke's " History of Sligo : Town and County," vol. ii. , chap, xxxiv. , p. 370.
49 See "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire-
land," vol. ii. , p. 246.
50 The accompanying view of the Town of
Boyle, drawn by William F. Wakeman on
the wood, has been engraved by Mrs. Millard.
51 See James Fraser's " Hand-book for Travellers in Ireland," No. 99, p. 461.
53 Jocelyn calls the virgins here mentioned,
"de Gregri," but Colgan observes, " recte "
Gregraige. " See Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Sexta S. Patricii, cap. cxii. , p. 90, and n. 124, p. 114.
53 See ibid. Vita Tripartita S. Patricii,
August ii. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 155
Our great Apostle accordingly prepared to receive their religious pro- fession. s+ When relating these events, referring to this holy woman, Joceline does not mention her by name; ss but, the author of St. Patrick's Tripartite Life s6 expressly names St. Attracta, in the account of this miraculous
reception. She and her companion, accordingly, and at the hands of the great Irish Apostle, were professed, and in the following manner. Whilst in the act of consecrating those virgins, a veil fell from Heaven on St. Patrick's breast. He received it with great devotion, and presented it to thevirgin,hehadlastconsecrated. ThiswasSt. Attracta,accordingtosome accounts. But, as we are told, the spouse of Christ, with unfeigned
"
humility, said to the saint :
Since this good and perfect gift has descended
from the Father of Light, I do not consider it intended for me, a sinner j
yet. in my opinion, you who have received should retain it, or present this
veil to my companion, who is more holy than I am. " Pleased with our
saint's humility, the Apostle then placed the veil upon her head, and, he
told her, she should wear it, until introduced to the bridal chamber of her
heavenly spouse. 5 ? The virgin at length yielded to his request, and wore
that veil, until the day of her death. s 8 The foregoing miraculous occurrence
is differently related, however, by the author of St. Patrick's Tripartite Life, where it is stated, that a casu/a, sent from heaven, fell at the time of her
religious profession between the Irish Apostle and the virgin. This was attributed by him as a favour to indicate her great sanctity, while the humble nun ascribed it to the superior merits of St. Patrick. 59
CHAPTER II.
AFTER HER PROFESSION, ST. ATTRACTA FOUNDS A CONVENT NEAR LOUGH GARA—THE HOUSE OF HOSPITALITY—HER VISIT TO ST. CONNALL DROMA—SHE DELIVERS LUGNA FROM A MONSTER—VISIT OF ST. PATRICK TO THAT DISTRICT—HER MIRAC LOUS PROTECTION OF THE MEN OF LUGNA.
Beside Lough Techet, now Lough Gara, St. Patrick established a convent, and at a place, which from our saint was afterwards known as the church of St. Attracta. Having founded a nunnery there, St. Patrick appointed St. Attracta to rule over it as 1 some other women
Abbess, pious
inmates of her house at the same time. He is said, likewise, to have left a
teisc and a chalice with Attracta. 2 A mistake has been committed James Ware,3 who has placed the nunnery of St. Attracta in Roscommon
lib. ii. , cap. liv. , p. 137.
54 In the Annotations of Tirechan in the
Book of Armagh, Father Edmund Hogan, S. J. , has succeeded in deciphering the fo—llow-
56 Tn lib. ii. , cap. liv. , p. 137, ibid.
ing lines, which relate to St. Attracta
:
"
Et perrexit ad tra
ctum Gregirgi, et fundavit aeclesiam in
Drum-
[w] ae, et fontem fodivit in eo [loco et aqua
non] exflu
[//] in se et de se, [sed] plenus semper et
perennis
est. Et aeclessiam posuit in cella Adrochtae
p. 137. Chapter
[fditeTal] ain, et ipsa accepit pallium denia nu Patricii. "
—" Documenta de S. Patricio," p. 76.
55 In his Vita S. Patricii, cap. cxii. See Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," part ii. , p. "
Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga, p. 90. 408.
Sir
S7 Allusion to these circumstances is more briefly made in the Second Nocturn of our Saint's approved office.
ss gee Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," Februarii ix. Vita S. Attracta, cap. ii. , p. 247.
59 gee Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap. liv. ,
the County of Sligo," p. 107.
2
See the Irish Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, as translated by William M. Hen- nessy, for Miss M. F. Cusack's " Life of St.
—
470. See M'Parian's " Statistical Survey of
11.
* It has been a. d. stated,
becoming
by
^56 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August it. County; and, he has thus led other writers astray—notably Harris* and
Archdall. 5 However, her was in place
reality
barony of Coolavin and County of Sligo. Hence, in due course of time this
locality took the designation of Kill Athracta, or Killaraght, on account of the establishment and name of its holy Abbess. It is in the south-east part ofthehalfbaronyofColooney,andsituatedonLoughGara. Thisisnowa parish church, in the diocese of Achonry. ?
We learn little more regarding her, except from those acephalous Acts, furnishedbyColgan. Itmustbeourendeavourtoextractfromthese,some
few subsequent particulars, which are of much interest, could we only have a certainty they had been derived from authentic sources. After relating the flight of this Virgin from her friends, and her arrival in the province of Con- naght ; we are told, that Attracta not only vowed perpetual chastity, but resolved, moreover, on cultivating the virtue of hospitality, to a very great extent. 8 For this purpose, she designed taking up her residence at a place, where seven roads should appear within view, or meet, that thus it might be likely, numbers of persons should pass the spot. Towards all of those way- farers, she intended to minister the necessaries of life, by establishing there a common hospice or house of reception for strangers. 9 Her servant, named Mochain,IO who had accompanied Attracta from her own part of the country, and who already had been made aware of her intention, went out one day, at
11 Whenthesunhad Mochainbetookhim- risen,
an hourofthe early
morning.
self to the deep recessesof an adjoining wood. There he discovered the meeting
of seven roads, which appeared to have been formed, by frequent journeys
made through that part of the country. Immediately he thought, that there God must have designed to satisfy the wishes of his mistress, and that He had
designated such place as the site for her future habitation. It seemed a most convenient spot, likewise, for the establishment of one of those ancient Bruigheans," or houses for hospitality,^ which formed a peculiar feature of
former Irish
x society.
*
3 See " De Hibernia et
ejus," cap. xxvi. , p. 227.
Antiquitatibus
:o That such was the name of the servant
may be inferred from his being called in the
4 See Harris' vol. "
servus. "
The words used in the Acts are, "mani-
"
Ware, ii. , Antiquities Acts, prsedictus
of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 270.
5 See "Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 612.
6 As to Kilaraght of Roscommon, which
also Archdall has, it had either nothing to do appears to be derived from " mane," or
rather from the word "manicare," used by the ancients.
12 The classed No. in the Manuscript 24
Royal Irish Academy, contains certain curi-
some ancient farm-mansions or Bruigheans in Ireland.
with St. Attracta, or undoubtedly it was not her original nunnery. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical of vol.
History Ireland," i. , chap, v. , sect, x. , p. 245, and n. 95, pp. 247,
248, ibid.
1 See MTarlan's " Statistical Survey of Irish families and places, with an account of
the County of Sligo," p. 107.
8
proved office, we have the following narrative:
In the second Nocturn of our saint's ap-
zi In these a Brugad lived, and he presided Hospitalitatis quoque gratia enituit et over the Bhaile or Townland. His title
"
seipsam suasque opes in sublevandis indigen- tium miseriis alacriter impendit. Pauperes
et aegrotos undequaque accedentes Christi charitate amplexa est et eosdem turn terrena ope sublevavit turn veris fideithesauris diviies effecit. "
9 The Acts of our saint state, that she de-
came from the Bragh or village which usually surrounded his farm-house. The in- stitutiondatesfromthelimeofOllamhFodhla, King of Ireland, a. m. 3S82toA. M. 3922.
14 A most learned Irish historian, philolo- at this place. By this term, we are to under- gist, scientist and statist, the late much- stand, that it was to be a xenodochium, lamented and accomplished William K. or a hospital, for poor travellers or strangers. Sullivan, Ph. D. , tells us, that the Brugh or
signed establishing a "commune synochen,"
11
known as 6 in the Killaraght,
catione summa jam facta," on which Colgan remarks, that this strange word " manicatio"
ous genealogical and topograpical notices of
These Brughaidhs were bound to serve the "
Aid-Righ. SeeDr. O'Donovan's Annalsof the Four Masters. " vol. i. , pp. 52 to 55.
August it. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 157
Soon the servant returned to his mistress, and, falling before her on his knees, he related what he had seen.
Then, accompanying him to the spot, Attracta gave thanks to God, with outstretched hands, believing her desires were about to be accomplished, as to the choice of a location for her intended establish- ment. Sheissaidtohavebestowedatractoflanduponherservant,atthat place ; recommending the practice of the virtue of hospitality to him and to his successors, that thus they might obtain favours from God, on the great accountingday. Sheaskedleavefromtheinhabitantsofthatdistrict,toerect ahabitationthere,andthispermissiontheyeagerlyaccorded. Thesaintwas much beloved and respected by the natives of that country. They admired her great virtue and prudence ; they consulted her upon all their important undertakings ; and they held her in as much esteem, as if she had been bom there,andhadconstantlyresidedamongthem. Moreover,theyerecteda church in that place, which was dedicated in her name, as also in honour of the
Most and of the Blessed 1 * Holy Trinity, Virgin.
Some short time having elapsed, after our saint's arrival in this part of
Connaught, she resolved also on making a tour through that province, to dis- cover a suitable place for the erection of a nunnery. The virgin is said to
16
called son to her mother. 1 ? He lived at Drumconnel, now commonly called
Drum. On account of her discovering a pleasing site in the neighbourhood of his church, Attracta wished to found an establishment on that spot, which was in the neighbourhood of Boyle, in the County of Roscommon. 18 Her visit there took place during Lent, when, immersed in cold water, St. Connall was thus in the habit of reciting his hours, whilst the penitential season con- tinued. Conjecturing that St. Attracta desired to have an oratory erected on the site which pleased her so much, St. Connall naturally concluded, that she was the strange virgin, whose arrival had been predicted by some true prophets, and who should be a Morning Star, on account of her devotion and service to God. '9 But, it would appear, notwithstanding the high opinion
have directed her course towards the habitation of St. Connell Droma,
village, where the Bruighfers or local rich farmers dwelt, had a political importance not enjoyed by the chieftain's manorial clans- men. The inhabitants of the former by
l6
Colgan is of opinion, that the St.
forming partnership could elect a representa- or Machonna, which is said to adjoin
tive Brughfer or Aire, for the District
Assemblies, and thus enjoy the full rights of
that of St. Connall, stood in the same region, and not far from Kill-chonail.
1? Colgancannotsaywhythisholymanwas "
citizenshipbydeputation. Thepeoplethere
owed allegiance only to the Righ of their called filius matris S. Attractce," in the
Tuath, and thus the germs of a representa-
tive system had been formed. The Bruighfers
were local magistrates ; while one of these
held the important rank of head or provincial,
and to his residence was attached a Fonts or
Forum, where the election of the Righ
Tuatha, and of his Tanaiste or successor
took place, and where public Assemblies side, if with these authorities, already
were held. The Brugh of such a magistrate,
together with its neighbouring village, might be considered asa royal borough. This title is still preserved in Bruree, a small town in the present County of Limerick. See Eugene
mentioned, we would say, Attracta was daughter to Talain, the son of Saran. See
" Manners and Customs of the
" of Sligo Town and County," vol. History :
ii. , chap, xxxiv. , p. 370.
I9 Et nimirum," continue her Acts, "quia
donee Stellas cceli, maris, et arenas, arborum frondes, densata nemora numerari contingat,
miraculorum ejus opera diversa, cujuslibet
O'Curry's
Ancient Irish," vol. i. , clx. , clxi.
Introduction, pp. fs See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
"
v. , p. 278.
niae,
Februarii ix. Vita S. Attracts, cap.
Connall here mentioned was the Abbot of
Kill-chonail, in the territory of Mainech or
Hy-Many ; for the church of St. Dachonna
Acts of our saint ; he can only discover, that
a St. Connall, son to Aidus, son to Saran, whose Natalis was celebrated in Cluain-
dallain, on the 2nd of April, according to
Marianus, the Martyrology of Tallagh, and the commentator on Angus, had been
cousin-german to St. Attracta, on the father's
"
n. 1 1, p. 281.
Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Februarii ix. ,
l8
See Very Rev. Archdeacon T. O'Rorke's
i5* LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August n.
entertained of this virgin's sanctity, St. Connall felt unwilling she should erect
a building i—n the neighbourhood of his church. Wherefore, h—e sent a certain SI
Dachonna20 said to have been of Eas-Dachonna, now Assylin to entreat her in an humble manner, to abandon such design. That messenger saluted her in a religious manner, on the occasion of his visit, and he explained its object.
" Since for the love of God, I am
to live in this place, I shall do as you require, and shall not refuse to obey your directions. However, in an especial manner, St. Connall, who sent you
on this errand, shall hear the indignant expression of my opinion, and if it please God, I earnestly wish, that one inhabitant of Lugna, who shall come to his church for the sake of fasting, shall obtain from the Almighty, as much
22
benefit, as a hundred other persons would.
father and son together shall never serve there, at one and the same moment. In like manner, I wish that meal, wheat, or barley, may not increase for his church. And,Ialsodesire,thatthesoundofabellmaybeheardbetween
The virgin is said to have replied :
required
your and St. Connall's habitation, so that your respective offerings shall be 2
diminished, or altogether disappear. " 3 St. Attracta is said to have spoken many things, which were disagreeable to Dachonna, and which ar—e not written in her Acts. We are told, also, that her desires were fulfilled at least in part j for, a monastic establishment had been erected between the houses of
2
Connall and of Dochonna. * This deprived both from receiving adequate
offerings of the faithful's
It is that in the said,
called a monstrous beast 26 region, Lugna,
destroyed
infirmitatis speciei, non valebunt numerari
the first offspring of their domestic animals
contingat, divina co-operante dementia, to holy persons living among them, besides
quia quibuscumque segritudine quavis op- pressis reconciliationis antidotum deposcen- tibus earn mente intenta pnebet oppor-
other gifts, on public occasions. An in- stance of this kind will be found, in the Acts of St. Grellan, Patron of Hy-Many, at the
of
17th September.
tunam. "—
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum
Hiberniae," ix. Februarii. Vita S. Attractce,
cap. vi. , p. 279.
30
The monastery constructed between the
Colgan says, he has discovered a Saint
Dachonna, who is often called Mochonna. or that of Slepte, occupied by nuns. Both
There is a church, dedicated in his name, in Clonfert Diocese, and not far from the Kill-
these places named, adjoined houses of those saints alluded to in the text.
25 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
niae," Februarii ix. Vita S. Attractse, cap. vi. , vii. , pp. 278, 279. Also nn. 13, 14, p. 281. 26 The Very Rev. and Ven. Archdeacon T. O'Rorke has a very rational and probable surmise, that this beast was only one of those wild wolves or boars then infesting the
country, and exaggerated by the imagination or subsequent traditions of the peasants to a
Chonail, already mentioned,
in a
previous
note. Marianus and the Martyrology of
Tallagh mention a saint bearing this name,
at the 17th of February, and at the 6th of
September, or on the 1 6th of November.
"
See Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," ix. Feb-
ruarii, n. 12, p. 281.
21
See Ven. Archdeacon T. O'Rorke's " History of Sligo : Town and County," vol. ii. , chap, xxxiv. , p. 370.
22 It is evident from this, and from a few
similar passages in our saint's Acts, that they
must have been written by a native of Lugna
district, or, at least, by one, who desired to
please the people living in that part of the
country. In all likelihood, the Acts were maris," to the British coasts and constantly composed in or near the bounds of ancient
Lugna.
23 The word "
swallowed a number of the inhabitants. On hearing about it, their King Morvidus
in our saint's Acts, may be considered as equivalent to certain first fruits, offerings, or gifts, that were presented through the piety of the
encountered him alone, but
spent all his darts in a vain attempt, the monster then approached, and opening its
jaws, devoured him as if he were but a small "
primitiis," occurring
bravely
having
faithful. Inhabitants, living in this part of fish. See Historia Britonum," p. 51.
the country, presented the first lambs of 8? In the parish of Kilmacteige, there may each flock, the first calves of each herd, or be seen a wild and romantic glen, called the
Moreover, I desire, that the
2*
residences of both these saints was that of Each-Drum, which was inhabited by monks,
"
nondescript monster, half dragon and half
bear. " He also observes that the
England had a notion that such batin- were rather uncommon in Ireland. Thus, Geoffrey of Monmouth relates, that one of those fierce Irish monsters came "ex partibus Hibernici
people
of
August ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 159
many people j and that others were obliged to fly for protection from its ravages, to the caves and mountains. The king of that country, who was named Bee, hearing about the miraculous power with which our saint was gifted, sent various messengers to her, and besought her interposition, in ridding his territory of the monster. He also requested Attracta to favour him with an interview. We are told, that when the king's messengers visited her, our saint was found in an oratory engaged at prayer, and when they had delivered the humble supplication of their prince, she exclaimed, " Deo gratias. " The messengers then informed her, that their master had a secret to reveal, which he would alone trust to her discretion, and he hoped to prevailuponhertovisitsomeexcellentmen. Thevirgintoldthemtoreturn and inform their master, that on the following day, God willing it, she would visit him ; and these messengers then returned, relating what had occurred, and what they had seen. The king felt consoled, and on the day following, whilst expecting this virgin's arrival on the area or court-yard, near his habita- tion, he saw our saint slowly approaching, with a small number of holy attendants. No sooner had he recognised St. Attracta, than prostrating himself before her, the king kissed her feet, and related the calamities that had
"
befallen himself and his people, owing to the monster's cruelty. "
But," said
your fame for sanctity, having been diffused throughout all Ireland, has
he,
become known to me, and I feel assured, that you will be able to obtain from
GodwhatsoeveryouearnestlyaskofHim. Fullyunderstandingthis,Idesire that the inhabitants, living in this part of the country, may become devoted to you and to your successors, and that they may be relieved from oppression, through those prayers you offer fervently before God's throne. Moreover, should it come to pass, that we receive assistance through your earnest prayers, my royal will and bounty decree, that you and those who may here- after occupy your station, shall possess as a free gift from me and from my
To these words
and who formed man to His image from the earth's slime, can instantly effect your present deliverance. " Having thus spoken, our saint is said to have proceeded towards a boundary wall, without which the monster lay. Here, falling on her knees, with a wrapt expression of countenance, Attracta earnestly and mentally prayed the Almighty, that He would manifest His glory in accom-
plishing the king's desires.
The virgin then beheld the strange figure and fierce expression of the
successors, that land which is now held by the monster. "
our saint " He who created the world out of replied :
nothing,
2? On
tusks, which were sharp as those of a boar, but of greater length. His hair stood upright, and it is said, sparks of fire proceeded from his horrible and deformed body. His ears are said to have resembled those of a ram in breadth ; his eyes were large, glaring, and full of flame ; his nostrils were dilated ; his hair resembled that of a horse ; his neck was erect, and his head of a fawn-colonr. His feet, likewise, bore him swiftly forward, as with a curved neck he rushed forth to devour the holy virgin. Having approached themonster,andhavingarmedherselfwithasignofthecross,St. Attracta extended her staff towards him. The beast having seized it with open jaws,
2* In
deliverance, it is stated, that there a church was afterwards built to her
dragon.
being roused,
this monster roared like a lion, his gnashing
immediately dropped
lifeless on the
ground.
memory
of that
Gap, and near St. Attracta's Well, the local peasants point out the former haunt of this monster, in a place known as Lug na Paiste, the Hollow ot the Beast. See Ven. Arch-
deacon T. O'Rorke's
signal
Town and County," vol. ii. , chap, xxiv. , p.
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Vita S. Attractoe," cap.
"
See Colgan's nioe," Februarii ix.
History of Sligo :
viii. , p. 279.
152.
*' "
j6o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August ii.
honour. 2 * This relation is to be found, more briefly recorded in the approved Office of our saint. 3°
About this time, or shortly afterwards, St. Patrick came to that part of the country, as he had occasion to ordain some Priests, and to consecrate Bishops, for their special ministerial work. He requested St. Attracta's presence, whilst engaged in those sacred offices. But, when all the ministers were vested, for offering up of the Holy Sacrifice of Mass, it was discovered, whilst the chalice was being placed on the Altar, a patena belonging to it was accidentally lost or misplaced. St. Patrick was about to remove his vestments, when St. Attracta approached, telling him, that as he had commenced a holy celebration, he should not desist therefrom, since the Lord would be able to supply what was wanting. Hereupon, St. Patrick and his assistants, having commenced
the Confession or Confiteor^1 our who was holy virgin,
felt
rest upon her shoulders. On removing it with her hands, she found a patena, markedwiththeimpressofacross. Thisshepresentedonbendedkneesto St. Patrick, who proceeded with the ceremonies of Mass, and the consecration of some candidates for Holy Orders. After these rites were concluded, St. Patrick said to our saint: " It is manifest, that the Lord God hath granted this happy event to your prayers, and to me it is evident, that the image, which this day has been found marked on the patena, must be preserved, because it is a gift granted thee from on high. This holy cross shall receive its name from thee, and the Irish shall ever hold it in veneration, as you have excelled so many others in sanctity, and in the performance of miracles. And, at present, we bless and consecrate it in honour of the God, who hath sent it
to us, and whose name be for ever glorified. "32
Some time after this occurrence, the Chiefs of Lugna district having col-
lected a number of fighting men approached a place, where the king of Connaught held some of their people as hostages. These they released by force. Afterwards, they ravaged that part of the king's dominions. Hereupon, the Connaught hosts were armed by chiefs, who pursued the people of Lugna to Techet. 33 There the fugitives were cooped up on all sides, so that no means for escape were afforded them. The deep waters of that beautiful lake lay before, and the infuriated enemy encircled them on their flanks and rear. Even then, the wars of Pagan kings and chiefs were continued by those who flourished, at the dawning of the Christian era. 34 The chief of Lugna,
29 This was in a place known as Glena- hujus feritate devastata est, et incolre adeo voagh, but no trace of the church now terrore perculsi sunt ut a terribili ejusaspectu
exists there, or in the traditions of the people; hut, probably it formerly stood near St.
Attracta's Well, yet frequented by numbers
on the nth of August, the day for her feast.
Even the day before and the day after it,
many engage there in practices of devotion.
ad montes et cavernas confugerent. Attrac- tarn tandem supplices rogarunt ut in tanta afilictione opem sibi et auxilium ferre digna- retur. Respondit inclyta Virgo : potens est Deus, qui mundum ex nihilo creavit et ho- minem de limo terra: ad suam imaginem plasmavit, etiam regionem istam de tanta
u
rishioners, even now, that emigrants from peste omnino liberare. Tunc genua flectens
So dear is this saint's day to the pa-
omni fiducia Deum precabatur : Antequam vero suis precibus linem apposuit, jam exau-
O'Rorke's " of Town and History Sligo :
County," vol. ii. , chap, xxiv. , p. 152. Lectio VI.