Millard, from an
original
drawing by George V.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Patrick, off the east shore of that still known as
Fingall
of St. Connan. See Colgan's
Acta Sanc-
torum 268.
Hibernise,"
vi.
n.
" The extent of Midhe I shall
And of the beauteous plain of Brekgh We know that it reaches to the sea, From the Sena of fair fields.
7 See **Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , vi.
Februarii. De S. Finiano Abbate Melii-
" Februarii,
fonte in Hibernia, p. 904.
^ **
The men of Tebtha guard its northern frontier
i. ,
p.
point out, —
^° St. Finian is more called generally
district,
by our hagiologists, Moel-Finian, or Maelfinnia. He is said to have been son to Flannagan. " He was of royal birth, and his ancestors are distin- guished in our Irish Annals. They ruled over the country of the Bregii," andtheirterritorywascalledBreagh. Itextended,itissaid,betweenDublin city and the town of Drogheda,'3 thus constituting it, in an especial manner, the northern part of Dublin county. It had, however, a much greater ex- tent. *'' In the very early ages of our history, it seems to have constituted a distinct principality. Flannagan, the son of Ceallach,*^ and the father of Maelfinnia, was Prince of the Bregii,*^ and distinguished as one of our old bards,^7 while he was slain at a place called Olbha,'^ by the Norsemen, a. d.
that he had already alluded to the latter, at the 13th of January, in his notes to the Life
And five in fertile Magh-Breagh The sages well remember it.
Venerated at the 1 6th of March, where his Life will be found.
With those of Carbri, of well- won fights—
9 The interesting ruins at Mellifont are shown on the "Ordnance Survey Townland MapsfortheCountyofLouth. " Sheet23. The townland itself, so designated, is noted on Sheets 21, 22, 23, 24. It is in the parish of TuUyallen, and barony of Ferard.
Famed for sages and for bards,
The men of Breagh dwell thence to
"
—O'Mahony's Keating's "History of Ire- land," book i. , part i;, chap, iii. , sect, i. , pp. 87, 88.
'5 His father was again called Flannagan.
See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four
Masters," vol. i. , at A. D. 887, pp. 540,
541. "^
Casan, now the Annagassan stream, near Dundalk, in the county of Louth, was the extreme northern boundary of Breagh. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Gioila na Naomh O'Huidhrin," n. ii, p. iii.
" This territory, extending about fifteen miles northward of the city, in Dublin county,
was formerly in possession of the Danes of
Dublin. See Dr. O'Donovan's ** Annals of
the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (h), p. 861.
In race, physique, and cast of features or
complexion, the Fingallians, in several cases, still bear traces of their Northman
origin. Yet, their names and places are
mostlyIrishdenominations.
*'
" See Annals of Donegal.
Mr. D'Alton calls it "a district extend-
ing southward of the Boyne," when refer-
ring to this saint. See "History of Dro- Monarch of Ireland, which occurred at gheda," vol. i. , Introduction, p. cxvii.
'3 See D' Alton's " of Dublin," p. 445.
'7 After the death of Aedh Finnliath, Druim-Inesclainn, or Dromisken, county of
History
County Louth,
November,
A. D.
876,
*< It was a large plain, or level territory, in East Meath, comprising five cantreds,
out of its eighteen. stated :
"
Thus is the matter
There are thirteen cantons in Midhe, Thus all our bards have told us,
of the
on the 20th of
Flannagan composed an Irish elegy, of great poetic merit, and a part of which, with an English translation, will be found in Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters,"
voL i. , pp. 524, 525.
'8
According to Dr. O'Donovan, this place has not been identified ; Ijut, he thinks the name a mistake for Odhbha.
Casan.
February 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 371
89. 1. ^9 It would appear, that his son Cinaedh immediately succeeded hira,
may
next, and immediately, in the order of succession, to the territorial chieftainry, perhaps, before the close of the year already mentioned. Mael-Finnia's virtues are greatly celebrated in our bardic literature, and what gives greater value to hiseulogy,ithadbeenproclaimedafterhisdeath. OurAnnalsalsorecount his warlike and courageous deeds. He appears to have drawn the sword only in generous and noble self-defence, to protect his people and his country from unjust aggression. Thus, when in 892,'' the Ulidians, under the leadership of Aiddeidh, son of Laighne, made an inroad on Breagh, Mael- finnia met them courageously at Rath-cro,^'^ where he fought and gained the victory. Here were slain Muireadhach, son of Maeleitigh, lord of Dal- Araidhe, and Ainniarraidh, son of Maelmoicheirghe, son of Innreachtach, lord of Leath-Chathail, together with three hundred men. '3 Aiddeadh himself escaped, but he was severely wounded. ^^ During the ninth century, the Danes and Norwegians were a constant source of persecution and annoyance to the Irish, so much divided among themselves. That settlement, which they effected at Dublin, and which seems to have had the protection of fortified walls for defence, retained the advantage, likewise, of a ready com- munication by sea, for the Norsemen ships and mariners. ^s This was the chief hornet's nest, whence armed bands issued, to waste the inland terri- tories and religious establishments of the Irish. Accordingly, towards the close of this century, it would seem, that a confederacy had been entered into by Cearbhall, son of Muirigin, King of Leinster. and by Maelfinnia, lord of Breagh. The forces of both were united, a. d. 897, and the fortress
^"^
of Ath-cliath or Dublin was besieged.
foreigners, after they had sustained a great loss, both in killed and wounded. So many as could escaped across the sea. Yet were they obliged to leave great numbers of their ships behind them. They seem to have fled, in the first instance, to Inis-mac-Nessan, now Ireland's Eye,='7 a little to the north of Howth. '^ Here, again, they were besieged, and probably they were
'9 See Dr. O'Donovan's *« Annals of the They are thus translated into English by Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 546, 547, and Dr. O' Donovan :
n. (d), ibid.
as Tanist of all he died that
at Dun-Brie. '° We
Breagh
but,
fairly suppose, that his brother, and the present pious Prince of Breagh, came
»°This means, "the Port" or "Dun of
Breac,' a man's name, denoting "speckled," or "freckled. "
"The "Annals of Ulster," however,
place the following incidents, undef the
year 896.
**
According to Dr. O'Donovan, this place has not been identified ; yet, in a foregoing note, he states, it is near Slane in the county of Meath. See " Annals of the Four Mas- ters,"vol. i. , n. (g), p. 110 and n. (1), p. 549.
'3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 548 to 551.
** The UUdians, at one hour of the day,
reaped thy food,
On their departure in terror they would
not feel reluctant to purchase it. "
;
very year,
»7 The reader will find an interesting de- scription of this islet in J. Huband Smith's "Day at Howth ; or, Guide to its most
of interest," pp. 19 to 23. '^ On this island are the remains of the Church of the Sons of Nessan, which had fallen into great decay, until of late years, when the Rev. John F. Shearman, C. C. of Howth, aided by the contributions of the -^5 tTA^liiil -odib /N^ eA]\^ch ni|\ bo late and present Earl of Howth, with ladies •ooipb ceAn-oAch fpiu. and gentlemen of taste and culture, effected
»* An Irish
thidh, the son of Flannagan, thus alludes to this conflict, in the following lines :—
poet,
who is called Maelmi-
prominent objects
Utdit) imc]\A6 -oo "Lo T\o 5a'Oaca]\ -oa biu
This was surrendered by the
«s See J. J. A. Worsaae's "Account of the Danes and Norwegians :n England, Scotland and Ireland. " The Norwegians iu Ireland, sect, iii. , pp. 315 to 323.
»* See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 554 to 557.
S-72 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 6.
obliged to surrender at discretion. '^ In, consequence of these eventful pro- ceedings, the lord of Breagh, Maelfinnia, who is called a religious, devout
layman, gained great temporal renown. 3° There appears to be no just warrant for the statement of Marianus O'Gorman, that he was abbot over Inis-Paturic, so far as we can jud^e. This spot lies off the present maritime town of Skerries, in the county of Dublin. There, for some centuries, a re- ligious establishment existed ; and, before the English invasion, it is said Sitric, the son of Murchard, re-founded an abbey for Augustinian Canons. 3' It was dedicated to St. Patrick, and it seems to have been thenceforward known, as the monastery of Holmpatrick. Yet, its situation in the island having been found very inconvenient, Pope Innocent III. confirmed its
LoiuipaU
Interior View, bKcirica, v^o. JJublin.
advowson to the see of Dublin in 1216, and about the year 1220, the paro- chial church of Holmpatrick was erected on the mainland, by Henry de Loundres, Archbishop of Dublin 3» Considerable remains ot the ancient Holmpatrick Priory yet exist, and these indicate, that they belong probably
the work of restoration most fittingly and
effectively. In September, 1S28, the late Dr.
Peiric made five different sketches of the
ruins, which were then tolerably perfect.
These have been fol- drawings scrupulously
lowed as authorities, in re-building the fallen
chancel arch, and the west door, which is
thought to have been the work oi the first
builders. Old materials were carelully col- O'Flanagan, and his ally is called Carrol.
lected, as nearly all of them remained, in siiu, where ihey had fallen. It must be
gratifying, to those more miimately engaged in the work of resi oration, to be asbureil, that what his been already dune, with scru- pulous care in the reproducii(jn of the uri- giuai features of the building, has merited
See Rev. James Johnstone's Celto-Normannic«," p. 66. ^
'•
the approbation of some, among the most
distinguished archaeologists.
'-'« 1 he Danish King of Dublin, at this
time seems to have been Silitric bee
" of Ireland. " Lindsay's Coinage
•^ Ihese events, however, are assigned to A. D. 901, in the " Annals of Ulster," where the present saint is called Maol-Kinia
3' See Sir James Wares "De Hibemia et Antiquitaiibus ejus Disquisitiones," cap.
xxvi. , p. 144.
3' See John D'Alton's
" County ot Dublin," pp. 445 to 447.
Antiquitates
Hi. story of the
February 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 373
to the thirteenth ccntun'. as In the still earlier monastery of the ninth, it may be, that finding hib end approaching, the religious prince Maelfinnia,
resolving to abdicate his earthly dignity and advantages, retired to the lonely island of St. Patrick, where he assumed the habit of a monk. Although it
is mentioned, in the Martyrology of Donegal,3* that Maelfinden, Abbot of Inis-Patraic,35 was venerated on this day, the chief authority, for the state-
ment of this holy man becoming superior over the community there, was Marianus O'Gorman. He, probably, had only conjecture to guide him to such a conclusion, or, at best, some unreliable tradition. Other writers, such as Charles Maguire and the Four Masters, without much reflection,
followed his opinion. Colgan, likewise, adopts it. Richard Whytford, who treats about St. Finianus,36 at the 6th of February, styles him a man great in his family descent, yet still more illustrious for his sanctity. The Carthusian Martyrology, also, records him at this date. 37 It appears more correct, however, to call him Maelfinnia,3S than simply Finian. According to our Annals, he happily departed this life, a. d. 898 ;39 most probably at Inis- Patric*® and on a 6th of February,*' which is the day set apart for his feast. Under the head of Daire Calgaigh, Duald Mac Firbis enters another Maol- finnen,*' a distinguished and learned Bishop of Daire Calgaigh. -o He died A. D. 948 ;44 but, this shows he is clearly distinguishable from the present saint,whodepartedfromthislife,fiftyyearsprevioustohisdeath. Although, many of our Martyrologists treat concerning this saint, as a man of esteemed
sanctity; yet,nofurtherimportantparticularscanbegleanedregardinghim,
thanthosewhichhavebeenalreadygiven. Fromaccounts,intheAnnals0*
the Four and in those of *5 we feel disinclined to Masters, Ulster, believe,
that Finian became an abbot, at the time of his death. ^^ His eulogy has been preserved lor us—at least in part—as some Irish verses were composed to commemorate his fame and his worth. These have been introduced by the Four Masters, when noting down the date for his decease. '>7 Some un-
33 The accompanying illustration has been engraved by Mrs.
Millard, from an original drawing by George V. Du Noyer, taken on the spot, and now preserved in the folio volume of his sketches, in the library of the Royal Irish Academy.
3* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
40, 41.
35 In a note Dr. Todd says, at this word,
"
The more recent hand adds, 'pnnen juxta Marian. ' But the text of the Brussels MS. of U'Gorman reads Fin- nian, ^bb riA hinnfe, Abbot ol the Isle ; and the gloss is 'Maeifinnian, Abbot of Inis-
Patraic. "
3° In the Martyrology of Salisbury, printed
at London, A. D. 151O. *'
Martyrology, places the feast of St. Moel- finnian, Abbot of Inis-Paiuric.
*^ See "Memoir of the City and North
Western Liberties of Londonderry. " Parish
of Templemore. Part ii. , sect. 2, p. 28.
Inis-Fatraic,
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 660, 661.
*5 See extracts from them in Rev. James
37 See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- "The son of Dearbhail, battling oyer
niaj," vi. Februarii. De S. Finiano Abbate
Breaghmhach, disperses each meeting
without delay, ThegenerousMaelfinnia,thegreat,the
fierce, most illustrious, moit valiant
hero,
Fit was he to be a king of cloudless reign,
high chief over Eamhain of lairs ; Aman,1asseitit withoutfenr,whowas
alone worthy cf liaving all Ire. and.
Maeltinnia, a man without haughtiness. lord of Breagh, a torch over the for- tresses !
de Insula S. Patricii, and nn, i, 2, p. 268. "
38Meaning theservantofFinian. " ''
39 See Dr. O' Donovan's Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i,, pp. 556, 557.
*" Among ihe Irish Ordnance Survey Ex- tracts lor the county of Dublin now pre- servedintheKoyaiIrishAcademy'slibrary, there is, in connexion with this saint, a re- cord oi inis Padruic, at the 6lh of February.
See p. 130.
*' On this day, Marianus Gorman, in his
"
Academy," Irish MbS. series, vol. i. , part
•a See
Proceedings of the Royal Irish
i. , pp. 104, 105. " ^ See Dr. O' Donovan's
Annals of the
Johnstone's nicaj,'* p. 66.
"
Antiquitaies Celto-Norman-
^'^ See ibid. , at A. D. 902.
47 The loUowing E—nglish version is given
by Dr. O'Donovan
:
374 LIVES OJi THE IRISH SAINTS [February 6.
authorized additions, however, have been admitted, in this connexion. ^^ The Annals of Ulster have a record of this Maelfinnid mac Flannagan's
death, at the year 902 ; and, by the compiler, he is called a religious laic. We are informed, by Dr. O'Donovan, that the latter date'*^ corresponds with A. D. 898 of the Four Masters. The example of this heroic man proves to us, that courage, patriotism, and concern for the public welfare are the duties of a Christian hero ; while, most fittingly are they combined in the character
of a leader among men, and in one who feels a higher responsibility, when looking to the swift approaches of death.
Article VI. —St. Dura, Son of Colum, Bishop, of Drum-cremha. In our Annals, no clue seems to be discoverable, regarding this holy prelate, or the period when he flourished. Dura, a Bishop, according to the Martyr-, ologies of Tallagh' and of Donegal,' was venerated on this day. He was son of ('olum, and Drum-cremha was his locality. 3
similar entry, in the calendar compiled by Dudley Mac Firbis, at the 6th of February. By the latter writer, he is also called Duran. '*
ArticleVII. —SaintsBrandubhandColuim,ofLochMuinremhair. The Martyrology of Tallagh^ merely enters these names, as Colman and Brandubh, of Loch-munremuir, at the 6th of February. We may thus infer, they lived during, or before, the ninth century ; but, nothing more precise can be gleaned. In the Martyrology of Donegal,* we find recorded, as having a festival on this day, Brandubh and Coluim, of Loch Muinremhair. The same record states, that there is a Brandubh, Bishop, and descended from the race of Eochaidh, son to Muireadh, who belongs to the race of Heremon.
[Seventh Century. '] A certain anonymous author states, that the anniversary trans- lation of St. Fursey's relics occurs on the 6th of February. But Bollandus, who mentions the circumstance, observes, likewise, that this writer is not correct in his statement. The Life of St. Fursey has been already given,
Article VIII. —Reputed Festival of St. Fursey.
at the 1 6th of January.
He of royal countenance, most highly gifted, a famed just man, a prudent battle-prop.
The heroic king of heavy blows, even to the sea-shore he won the wage ;
Alas, that the generous Maelfinnia is not a son over the battle of Niali. "
*8 In a note to this passage, Mr. O'Dono-
van says: "Dr. O'Conor adds here two
quatrains more, from a totally different
poem, but as these are not found in the
Dublin copies, and, as they relate to a chief
of Laeighis, not to Maelfinnio, the editor has
p. xiv.
thought proper to omit them, as a blunder
40, 41.
3 The nearest local denomination, I can
find, is that of a townland called Drum- cramph, in the parish of Aghalurchar,
barony of Magherastephana ; while, there is another Drumcramph, in the parish of
Cleenish, and b? rony of Tirkennedy : both are in tlie county of Fermanngh. See those places represented on the "Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Fer- managh. " Sheets 27, 28.
< See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish MSS. series,
i. , pp. 108, 109. According to William M. Hennessv's note appended, Druim Crema has not been identified.
Article vii. —' Edited by Rev, Dr.
Kelly, p. xiv.
» Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
40, 4
of Dr. O'Conors. "
—"Annals of the Four
vol.
i. , part
Masters," vol. i. , pp. 556 to 569 and n. (i),
ibi(^-
<9 In the " Annals of Ulster," at the year
Dccccii. , we read: "Maelfinnid, mac
Flannagan, Rex Breagh, religeosus laicus, mortuus est. "
Article vi. —' Edited
by
Rev. Dr.
Kelly,
1 .
»
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
We find an almost
February 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 375
Article IX. —Festival of a Reputed St. Ronan or Ronanus.
[Supposed to have lived in the Seventh Century. '] With some degree of hesi-
tancy, we place the following notices of Ronan, here, because we find a pre- cedent for such an arrangement in the works of other writers. At the 6th of February, Camerarius' has entered the feast of St. Ronan or Ronanus, who, it is stated, had been mentioned by Venerable Bede. ^ Ronan is said3 to have gone from Scotia into England. He took a leading part in the Paschal con- troversy. We have already referred to this matter, in the Life of St. Finian,* Bishop of Lindisfarne, and Apostle in Northumbria. The Ronan there mentioned, who took a part in opposition to him, regarding the Paschal cele- bration, was a Scot, by birth. Yet, in Gaul, or in Italy, did this Ronan learn the true Roman computation respecting Easter, and in Britain he la- boured strenuously to introduce it. It is said, that the Scottish St. Ronan, after the Synod at Streneshealh was over, retired to Scotland, and lived in one of the Hebride Islands, called Ronan's Isle, at a later period. s Yet, whether the Ronan, who defended the Roman Paschal observance, had been registered among the saints or not, has not been proved to the satisfaction of the Bollandists. ^ Colgan states,^ that the latter had been venerated, at the ist of June. * He cites a Life, which Albertus Magnus Morlaix edited; yet, the Bollandists do not consider, that it proves Ronan to have been en- rolled as a saint. The Ronan, who is mentioned, by Venerable Bede, is said to have died a. d. 778. S This, however, is considered to be a period too late, for the prolongation of his life. '° It seems doubtful, likewise, if the present be identical with a St. Ronan, venerated in the Scottish Calendars, at the 7th day of February.
ArticleX. —St. Merinus,aMonk,inScotland. Somedifficulties are presented, while analyzing statements made, in reference to this holy man,supposedtobeveneratedunderdifferentformsofname. Obscurities have likewise shrouded his history. Thomas Dempster has a notice, at the 6th of February, of a supposed Basilian monk, who came to Scotland, bear- ing the precious relics of St. Andrew, the Aposde and Patron of Scotland. ' This monk is said to have been a man of distinguished piety,* and to have lived at the time, when St. Regulus came from Achaia into Britain. Merinus either followed him when coming, or having found him in Scotland, it is said he laboured to imitate so great a master in the monastic state. 3 Ferrarius, citing a Scottish Martyrology, places his festival at the 6th of February.
But, as the Bollandists cannot find any authority for such a statement,* they
Article ix. —* See "De Statu
Veteris simul ac novae Ecclesise, et Infide-
tomus i. , Februarii vi. , p. 764.
' At the 8th of January,
® To this date, likewise, the reader is re-
hum
sec. 2, p. 143. * '•
lib.
Hominis, rum," i. , pars ii. , cap. iii. ,
Conversione,"
See Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis An-
ferred for further notices.
9 See Camerarius. Also, Bishop Forbes'
"Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 44I.
glorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxv. , p. 233.
3 By Camerarius.
4 See "Lives of the Irish Saints," vol. i. ,
January ix. , Article ii. , S. Finan, chap. i.
5 The gneiss Isle of Rona lies a little to
"
»° See the Bollandists' rum," tomus i. , Februarii vi. et in alios dies rejecti, p. 764.
Acta Sancto- Prsetermissi
"
the north-east off Benbecula, and it belongs cum. " Bishop P'orbes' Kalendars of
to the Skye group.
Fingall
of St. Connan. See Colgan's
Acta Sanc-
torum 268.
Hibernise,"
vi.
n.
" The extent of Midhe I shall
And of the beauteous plain of Brekgh We know that it reaches to the sea, From the Sena of fair fields.
7 See **Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , vi.
Februarii. De S. Finiano Abbate Melii-
" Februarii,
fonte in Hibernia, p. 904.
^ **
The men of Tebtha guard its northern frontier
i. ,
p.
point out, —
^° St. Finian is more called generally
district,
by our hagiologists, Moel-Finian, or Maelfinnia. He is said to have been son to Flannagan. " He was of royal birth, and his ancestors are distin- guished in our Irish Annals. They ruled over the country of the Bregii," andtheirterritorywascalledBreagh. Itextended,itissaid,betweenDublin city and the town of Drogheda,'3 thus constituting it, in an especial manner, the northern part of Dublin county. It had, however, a much greater ex- tent. *'' In the very early ages of our history, it seems to have constituted a distinct principality. Flannagan, the son of Ceallach,*^ and the father of Maelfinnia, was Prince of the Bregii,*^ and distinguished as one of our old bards,^7 while he was slain at a place called Olbha,'^ by the Norsemen, a. d.
that he had already alluded to the latter, at the 13th of January, in his notes to the Life
And five in fertile Magh-Breagh The sages well remember it.
Venerated at the 1 6th of March, where his Life will be found.
With those of Carbri, of well- won fights—
9 The interesting ruins at Mellifont are shown on the "Ordnance Survey Townland MapsfortheCountyofLouth. " Sheet23. The townland itself, so designated, is noted on Sheets 21, 22, 23, 24. It is in the parish of TuUyallen, and barony of Ferard.
Famed for sages and for bards,
The men of Breagh dwell thence to
"
—O'Mahony's Keating's "History of Ire- land," book i. , part i;, chap, iii. , sect, i. , pp. 87, 88.
'5 His father was again called Flannagan.
See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four
Masters," vol. i. , at A. D. 887, pp. 540,
541. "^
Casan, now the Annagassan stream, near Dundalk, in the county of Louth, was the extreme northern boundary of Breagh. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Gioila na Naomh O'Huidhrin," n. ii, p. iii.
" This territory, extending about fifteen miles northward of the city, in Dublin county,
was formerly in possession of the Danes of
Dublin. See Dr. O'Donovan's ** Annals of
the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (h), p. 861.
In race, physique, and cast of features or
complexion, the Fingallians, in several cases, still bear traces of their Northman
origin. Yet, their names and places are
mostlyIrishdenominations.
*'
" See Annals of Donegal.
Mr. D'Alton calls it "a district extend-
ing southward of the Boyne," when refer-
ring to this saint. See "History of Dro- Monarch of Ireland, which occurred at gheda," vol. i. , Introduction, p. cxvii.
'3 See D' Alton's " of Dublin," p. 445.
'7 After the death of Aedh Finnliath, Druim-Inesclainn, or Dromisken, county of
History
County Louth,
November,
A. D.
876,
*< It was a large plain, or level territory, in East Meath, comprising five cantreds,
out of its eighteen. stated :
"
Thus is the matter
There are thirteen cantons in Midhe, Thus all our bards have told us,
of the
on the 20th of
Flannagan composed an Irish elegy, of great poetic merit, and a part of which, with an English translation, will be found in Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters,"
voL i. , pp. 524, 525.
'8
According to Dr. O'Donovan, this place has not been identified ; Ijut, he thinks the name a mistake for Odhbha.
Casan.
February 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 371
89. 1. ^9 It would appear, that his son Cinaedh immediately succeeded hira,
may
next, and immediately, in the order of succession, to the territorial chieftainry, perhaps, before the close of the year already mentioned. Mael-Finnia's virtues are greatly celebrated in our bardic literature, and what gives greater value to hiseulogy,ithadbeenproclaimedafterhisdeath. OurAnnalsalsorecount his warlike and courageous deeds. He appears to have drawn the sword only in generous and noble self-defence, to protect his people and his country from unjust aggression. Thus, when in 892,'' the Ulidians, under the leadership of Aiddeidh, son of Laighne, made an inroad on Breagh, Mael- finnia met them courageously at Rath-cro,^'^ where he fought and gained the victory. Here were slain Muireadhach, son of Maeleitigh, lord of Dal- Araidhe, and Ainniarraidh, son of Maelmoicheirghe, son of Innreachtach, lord of Leath-Chathail, together with three hundred men. '3 Aiddeadh himself escaped, but he was severely wounded. ^^ During the ninth century, the Danes and Norwegians were a constant source of persecution and annoyance to the Irish, so much divided among themselves. That settlement, which they effected at Dublin, and which seems to have had the protection of fortified walls for defence, retained the advantage, likewise, of a ready com- munication by sea, for the Norsemen ships and mariners. ^s This was the chief hornet's nest, whence armed bands issued, to waste the inland terri- tories and religious establishments of the Irish. Accordingly, towards the close of this century, it would seem, that a confederacy had been entered into by Cearbhall, son of Muirigin, King of Leinster. and by Maelfinnia, lord of Breagh. The forces of both were united, a. d. 897, and the fortress
^"^
of Ath-cliath or Dublin was besieged.
foreigners, after they had sustained a great loss, both in killed and wounded. So many as could escaped across the sea. Yet were they obliged to leave great numbers of their ships behind them. They seem to have fled, in the first instance, to Inis-mac-Nessan, now Ireland's Eye,='7 a little to the north of Howth. '^ Here, again, they were besieged, and probably they were
'9 See Dr. O'Donovan's *« Annals of the They are thus translated into English by Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 546, 547, and Dr. O' Donovan :
n. (d), ibid.
as Tanist of all he died that
at Dun-Brie. '° We
Breagh
but,
fairly suppose, that his brother, and the present pious Prince of Breagh, came
»°This means, "the Port" or "Dun of
Breac,' a man's name, denoting "speckled," or "freckled. "
"The "Annals of Ulster," however,
place the following incidents, undef the
year 896.
**
According to Dr. O'Donovan, this place has not been identified ; yet, in a foregoing note, he states, it is near Slane in the county of Meath. See " Annals of the Four Mas- ters,"vol. i. , n. (g), p. 110 and n. (1), p. 549.
'3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 548 to 551.
** The UUdians, at one hour of the day,
reaped thy food,
On their departure in terror they would
not feel reluctant to purchase it. "
;
very year,
»7 The reader will find an interesting de- scription of this islet in J. Huband Smith's "Day at Howth ; or, Guide to its most
of interest," pp. 19 to 23. '^ On this island are the remains of the Church of the Sons of Nessan, which had fallen into great decay, until of late years, when the Rev. John F. Shearman, C. C. of Howth, aided by the contributions of the -^5 tTA^liiil -odib /N^ eA]\^ch ni|\ bo late and present Earl of Howth, with ladies •ooipb ceAn-oAch fpiu. and gentlemen of taste and culture, effected
»* An Irish
thidh, the son of Flannagan, thus alludes to this conflict, in the following lines :—
poet,
who is called Maelmi-
prominent objects
Utdit) imc]\A6 -oo "Lo T\o 5a'Oaca]\ -oa biu
This was surrendered by the
«s See J. J. A. Worsaae's "Account of the Danes and Norwegians :n England, Scotland and Ireland. " The Norwegians iu Ireland, sect, iii. , pp. 315 to 323.
»* See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 554 to 557.
S-72 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 6.
obliged to surrender at discretion. '^ In, consequence of these eventful pro- ceedings, the lord of Breagh, Maelfinnia, who is called a religious, devout
layman, gained great temporal renown. 3° There appears to be no just warrant for the statement of Marianus O'Gorman, that he was abbot over Inis-Paturic, so far as we can jud^e. This spot lies off the present maritime town of Skerries, in the county of Dublin. There, for some centuries, a re- ligious establishment existed ; and, before the English invasion, it is said Sitric, the son of Murchard, re-founded an abbey for Augustinian Canons. 3' It was dedicated to St. Patrick, and it seems to have been thenceforward known, as the monastery of Holmpatrick. Yet, its situation in the island having been found very inconvenient, Pope Innocent III. confirmed its
LoiuipaU
Interior View, bKcirica, v^o. JJublin.
advowson to the see of Dublin in 1216, and about the year 1220, the paro- chial church of Holmpatrick was erected on the mainland, by Henry de Loundres, Archbishop of Dublin 3» Considerable remains ot the ancient Holmpatrick Priory yet exist, and these indicate, that they belong probably
the work of restoration most fittingly and
effectively. In September, 1S28, the late Dr.
Peiric made five different sketches of the
ruins, which were then tolerably perfect.
These have been fol- drawings scrupulously
lowed as authorities, in re-building the fallen
chancel arch, and the west door, which is
thought to have been the work oi the first
builders. Old materials were carelully col- O'Flanagan, and his ally is called Carrol.
lected, as nearly all of them remained, in siiu, where ihey had fallen. It must be
gratifying, to those more miimately engaged in the work of resi oration, to be asbureil, that what his been already dune, with scru- pulous care in the reproducii(jn of the uri- giuai features of the building, has merited
See Rev. James Johnstone's Celto-Normannic«," p. 66. ^
'•
the approbation of some, among the most
distinguished archaeologists.
'-'« 1 he Danish King of Dublin, at this
time seems to have been Silitric bee
" of Ireland. " Lindsay's Coinage
•^ Ihese events, however, are assigned to A. D. 901, in the " Annals of Ulster," where the present saint is called Maol-Kinia
3' See Sir James Wares "De Hibemia et Antiquitaiibus ejus Disquisitiones," cap.
xxvi. , p. 144.
3' See John D'Alton's
" County ot Dublin," pp. 445 to 447.
Antiquitates
Hi. story of the
February 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 373
to the thirteenth ccntun'. as In the still earlier monastery of the ninth, it may be, that finding hib end approaching, the religious prince Maelfinnia,
resolving to abdicate his earthly dignity and advantages, retired to the lonely island of St. Patrick, where he assumed the habit of a monk. Although it
is mentioned, in the Martyrology of Donegal,3* that Maelfinden, Abbot of Inis-Patraic,35 was venerated on this day, the chief authority, for the state-
ment of this holy man becoming superior over the community there, was Marianus O'Gorman. He, probably, had only conjecture to guide him to such a conclusion, or, at best, some unreliable tradition. Other writers, such as Charles Maguire and the Four Masters, without much reflection,
followed his opinion. Colgan, likewise, adopts it. Richard Whytford, who treats about St. Finianus,36 at the 6th of February, styles him a man great in his family descent, yet still more illustrious for his sanctity. The Carthusian Martyrology, also, records him at this date. 37 It appears more correct, however, to call him Maelfinnia,3S than simply Finian. According to our Annals, he happily departed this life, a. d. 898 ;39 most probably at Inis- Patric*® and on a 6th of February,*' which is the day set apart for his feast. Under the head of Daire Calgaigh, Duald Mac Firbis enters another Maol- finnen,*' a distinguished and learned Bishop of Daire Calgaigh. -o He died A. D. 948 ;44 but, this shows he is clearly distinguishable from the present saint,whodepartedfromthislife,fiftyyearsprevioustohisdeath. Although, many of our Martyrologists treat concerning this saint, as a man of esteemed
sanctity; yet,nofurtherimportantparticularscanbegleanedregardinghim,
thanthosewhichhavebeenalreadygiven. Fromaccounts,intheAnnals0*
the Four and in those of *5 we feel disinclined to Masters, Ulster, believe,
that Finian became an abbot, at the time of his death. ^^ His eulogy has been preserved lor us—at least in part—as some Irish verses were composed to commemorate his fame and his worth. These have been introduced by the Four Masters, when noting down the date for his decease. '>7 Some un-
33 The accompanying illustration has been engraved by Mrs.
Millard, from an original drawing by George V. Du Noyer, taken on the spot, and now preserved in the folio volume of his sketches, in the library of the Royal Irish Academy.
3* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
40, 41.
35 In a note Dr. Todd says, at this word,
"
The more recent hand adds, 'pnnen juxta Marian. ' But the text of the Brussels MS. of U'Gorman reads Fin- nian, ^bb riA hinnfe, Abbot ol the Isle ; and the gloss is 'Maeifinnian, Abbot of Inis-
Patraic. "
3° In the Martyrology of Salisbury, printed
at London, A. D. 151O. *'
Martyrology, places the feast of St. Moel- finnian, Abbot of Inis-Paiuric.
*^ See "Memoir of the City and North
Western Liberties of Londonderry. " Parish
of Templemore. Part ii. , sect. 2, p. 28.
Inis-Fatraic,
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 660, 661.
*5 See extracts from them in Rev. James
37 See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- "The son of Dearbhail, battling oyer
niaj," vi. Februarii. De S. Finiano Abbate
Breaghmhach, disperses each meeting
without delay, ThegenerousMaelfinnia,thegreat,the
fierce, most illustrious, moit valiant
hero,
Fit was he to be a king of cloudless reign,
high chief over Eamhain of lairs ; Aman,1asseitit withoutfenr,whowas
alone worthy cf liaving all Ire. and.
Maeltinnia, a man without haughtiness. lord of Breagh, a torch over the for- tresses !
de Insula S. Patricii, and nn, i, 2, p. 268. "
38Meaning theservantofFinian. " ''
39 See Dr. O' Donovan's Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i,, pp. 556, 557.
*" Among ihe Irish Ordnance Survey Ex- tracts lor the county of Dublin now pre- servedintheKoyaiIrishAcademy'slibrary, there is, in connexion with this saint, a re- cord oi inis Padruic, at the 6lh of February.
See p. 130.
*' On this day, Marianus Gorman, in his
"
Academy," Irish MbS. series, vol. i. , part
•a See
Proceedings of the Royal Irish
i. , pp. 104, 105. " ^ See Dr. O' Donovan's
Annals of the
Johnstone's nicaj,'* p. 66.
"
Antiquitaies Celto-Norman-
^'^ See ibid. , at A. D. 902.
47 The loUowing E—nglish version is given
by Dr. O'Donovan
:
374 LIVES OJi THE IRISH SAINTS [February 6.
authorized additions, however, have been admitted, in this connexion. ^^ The Annals of Ulster have a record of this Maelfinnid mac Flannagan's
death, at the year 902 ; and, by the compiler, he is called a religious laic. We are informed, by Dr. O'Donovan, that the latter date'*^ corresponds with A. D. 898 of the Four Masters. The example of this heroic man proves to us, that courage, patriotism, and concern for the public welfare are the duties of a Christian hero ; while, most fittingly are they combined in the character
of a leader among men, and in one who feels a higher responsibility, when looking to the swift approaches of death.
Article VI. —St. Dura, Son of Colum, Bishop, of Drum-cremha. In our Annals, no clue seems to be discoverable, regarding this holy prelate, or the period when he flourished. Dura, a Bishop, according to the Martyr-, ologies of Tallagh' and of Donegal,' was venerated on this day. He was son of ('olum, and Drum-cremha was his locality. 3
similar entry, in the calendar compiled by Dudley Mac Firbis, at the 6th of February. By the latter writer, he is also called Duran. '*
ArticleVII. —SaintsBrandubhandColuim,ofLochMuinremhair. The Martyrology of Tallagh^ merely enters these names, as Colman and Brandubh, of Loch-munremuir, at the 6th of February. We may thus infer, they lived during, or before, the ninth century ; but, nothing more precise can be gleaned. In the Martyrology of Donegal,* we find recorded, as having a festival on this day, Brandubh and Coluim, of Loch Muinremhair. The same record states, that there is a Brandubh, Bishop, and descended from the race of Eochaidh, son to Muireadh, who belongs to the race of Heremon.
[Seventh Century. '] A certain anonymous author states, that the anniversary trans- lation of St. Fursey's relics occurs on the 6th of February. But Bollandus, who mentions the circumstance, observes, likewise, that this writer is not correct in his statement. The Life of St. Fursey has been already given,
Article VIII. —Reputed Festival of St. Fursey.
at the 1 6th of January.
He of royal countenance, most highly gifted, a famed just man, a prudent battle-prop.
The heroic king of heavy blows, even to the sea-shore he won the wage ;
Alas, that the generous Maelfinnia is not a son over the battle of Niali. "
*8 In a note to this passage, Mr. O'Dono-
van says: "Dr. O'Conor adds here two
quatrains more, from a totally different
poem, but as these are not found in the
Dublin copies, and, as they relate to a chief
of Laeighis, not to Maelfinnio, the editor has
p. xiv.
thought proper to omit them, as a blunder
40, 41.
3 The nearest local denomination, I can
find, is that of a townland called Drum- cramph, in the parish of Aghalurchar,
barony of Magherastephana ; while, there is another Drumcramph, in the parish of
Cleenish, and b? rony of Tirkennedy : both are in tlie county of Fermanngh. See those places represented on the "Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Fer- managh. " Sheets 27, 28.
< See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish MSS. series,
i. , pp. 108, 109. According to William M. Hennessv's note appended, Druim Crema has not been identified.
Article vii. —' Edited by Rev, Dr.
Kelly, p. xiv.
» Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
40, 4
of Dr. O'Conors. "
—"Annals of the Four
vol.
i. , part
Masters," vol. i. , pp. 556 to 569 and n. (i),
ibi(^-
<9 In the " Annals of Ulster," at the year
Dccccii. , we read: "Maelfinnid, mac
Flannagan, Rex Breagh, religeosus laicus, mortuus est. "
Article vi. —' Edited
by
Rev. Dr.
Kelly,
1 .
»
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
We find an almost
February 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 375
Article IX. —Festival of a Reputed St. Ronan or Ronanus.
[Supposed to have lived in the Seventh Century. '] With some degree of hesi-
tancy, we place the following notices of Ronan, here, because we find a pre- cedent for such an arrangement in the works of other writers. At the 6th of February, Camerarius' has entered the feast of St. Ronan or Ronanus, who, it is stated, had been mentioned by Venerable Bede. ^ Ronan is said3 to have gone from Scotia into England. He took a leading part in the Paschal con- troversy. We have already referred to this matter, in the Life of St. Finian,* Bishop of Lindisfarne, and Apostle in Northumbria. The Ronan there mentioned, who took a part in opposition to him, regarding the Paschal cele- bration, was a Scot, by birth. Yet, in Gaul, or in Italy, did this Ronan learn the true Roman computation respecting Easter, and in Britain he la- boured strenuously to introduce it. It is said, that the Scottish St. Ronan, after the Synod at Streneshealh was over, retired to Scotland, and lived in one of the Hebride Islands, called Ronan's Isle, at a later period. s Yet, whether the Ronan, who defended the Roman Paschal observance, had been registered among the saints or not, has not been proved to the satisfaction of the Bollandists. ^ Colgan states,^ that the latter had been venerated, at the ist of June. * He cites a Life, which Albertus Magnus Morlaix edited; yet, the Bollandists do not consider, that it proves Ronan to have been en- rolled as a saint. The Ronan, who is mentioned, by Venerable Bede, is said to have died a. d. 778. S This, however, is considered to be a period too late, for the prolongation of his life. '° It seems doubtful, likewise, if the present be identical with a St. Ronan, venerated in the Scottish Calendars, at the 7th day of February.
ArticleX. —St. Merinus,aMonk,inScotland. Somedifficulties are presented, while analyzing statements made, in reference to this holy man,supposedtobeveneratedunderdifferentformsofname. Obscurities have likewise shrouded his history. Thomas Dempster has a notice, at the 6th of February, of a supposed Basilian monk, who came to Scotland, bear- ing the precious relics of St. Andrew, the Aposde and Patron of Scotland. ' This monk is said to have been a man of distinguished piety,* and to have lived at the time, when St. Regulus came from Achaia into Britain. Merinus either followed him when coming, or having found him in Scotland, it is said he laboured to imitate so great a master in the monastic state. 3 Ferrarius, citing a Scottish Martyrology, places his festival at the 6th of February.
But, as the Bollandists cannot find any authority for such a statement,* they
Article ix. —* See "De Statu
Veteris simul ac novae Ecclesise, et Infide-
tomus i. , Februarii vi. , p. 764.
' At the 8th of January,
® To this date, likewise, the reader is re-
hum
sec. 2, p. 143. * '•
lib.
Hominis, rum," i. , pars ii. , cap. iii. ,
Conversione,"
See Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis An-
ferred for further notices.
9 See Camerarius. Also, Bishop Forbes'
"Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 44I.
glorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxv. , p. 233.
3 By Camerarius.
4 See "Lives of the Irish Saints," vol. i. ,
January ix. , Article ii. , S. Finan, chap. i.
5 The gneiss Isle of Rona lies a little to
"
»° See the Bollandists' rum," tomus i. , Februarii vi. et in alios dies rejecti, p. 764.
Acta Sancto- Prsetermissi
"
the north-east off Benbecula, and it belongs cum. " Bishop P'orbes' Kalendars of
to the Skye group.
