^
From an old valuation of parishes within
eibce b ntlib eACA6 uIax),"
now called Annahilt.
From an old valuation of parishes within
eibce b ntlib eACA6 uIax),"
now called Annahilt.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
" Sheets 5, 6, 15.
The
52, S3' townland proper is on Sheet 6.
5 In a note Dr. Todd says, at Drum-ber- " For this, and much of the following thach. " The later hand notes here, Aca information, with several accompanying
Kelly, p. xvi.
=" Then follow these
per an, xl. mu. ''
"feriasem-
Townland for the Maps
3 See a very interesting paper, intituled, "St. Beretcheart of Tullylease," by W,
Reeves, D. D,, inserted with a lithograph of the saint's tomb, in "The Ulster Journal of
Archasology," vol. vi. , pp. 267 to 275.
words,
of Donegal. " Sheets 38, 39, 46, 47. Burt Level, with its intake, contains 1,430 acres, as given in the Tenement Valuation. It is
*
tD^om beptA Iahh le CeAn-Annuj' :
with a St. Nem, venerated at the 3rd "of letters, one dated the 26th of December, May. 1874, and the other, 17th April, 1875.
There is a Drom-bertha alongside of Ceanannus,
sketches, the writer feels greatly indebted to a local resident. These notices were com- municated by Denis A. O'Leary, Kilbolane
[Kells]. '"
^This conjecture he divides, however, Cottage, Charleville, Co. Cork, in two
Survey
County
as of Droma Nem, Bishop
February i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 625
believe in the power of the Christians' God. Thereupon, it is said, that St. Patrick asked Benjamin,"—or as he is called in Irish Berechert—would he go into the burning house. To this proposal, the saint willingly assented. The pagan chief then compelled one of his own priests to accompany Ben- jamin,and,tomakematterssure,hegotthemtoexchangegarments. This being done, the door was closed up, and the house was then set on fire, and left burning for some time. When it had been considered, that a sufficient time elapsed, to allow the fire to consume everything, an entrance was made, and then it became evident, that the hand of the Almighty was still stretched forth, in defence of his ministers : for there, bathed in sweat and in profound sleep was the young saint, Berechert, while his companion was burned to a cinder. The chief was immediately baptized, and he continued ever after a good Christian. Saint Benjamin then built this church, and ever since he is regarded as the special patron saint of Tullilease parish. His festival is held on the 1 8th of February, which was honoured there, as a strict holiday, and which was kept with great veneration -p but, in latter years, it is only re- garded as a day of devotion. ^'^ Close by St. Ben's Well are the mere founda- tions of a house^s—28 feet long by 32 feet—said to be that, in which the saint was shut up, when it was set on fire, by order of the pagan chief of that district. Farmersareknowntocomeoverfourmilestogetastoneou—tof this, when building new houses. This stone was set in the foundation as
coinsandnewspapersarenow-a-daysplaced. Holywater,orwaterfromSt. Ben's Well—generally the latter—being sprinkled over it, the wall was then commenced, with a firm belief that the house built could never be burned. The church, which runs from east to west, was about 90 feet in length, and 27 feet in breadth. There is now standing only a small portion of the northernsidewall; theeasterngable,stillquiteperfect,waslightedbyone narrow double lancet-window. The southern side wall is still perfect, and in this there is a peculiar circular-headed window, 40 inches long, by 7 inches broad. The doorway, with fluted stone jambs, is also arched, and nowbuiltupwithmasonry. Withinthechurch,andunderneaththedouble lancet-window, stands a slab, known as " St. Ben's Stone. "'^ Underneath the small arched window, in the southern wall, and on the right hand, as you stand within the walls, looking to the east, there is a closet, the sides and back of which, being composed of single slabs, are worthy of a passing word. On the right hand side, there is one slab, having a peculiar shaped cross ; on the left hand, there is another slab, with a drawing like the stem of a chalice,
and like the " St. Ben's is made
up
of
which, large slab,
*^ The Rev. William Reeves considers this local Benjamin to have been confounded with St. Eenen or Bineus one of St. Patrick's disciples, and regarding whom, a nearly similar story is told, in" Liber Ardmachanse," folio 5 ba. Also see Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. i. , cap. 65, p. 127.
'3 Even after the beginning of this cen-
tury.
'^ In an anonymous communication signed
" A Subscriber," I am informed, —that the
Stone,"
beautifully
name and feast of St. Berre—
name is locally pronounced is held in
special veneration by the O'Mahonys of
Kerry, especially those of Castlequin and CuUina. The same letter informs me, that St. Berrehurth was invoked against fire, and tradition has it, that he was an O'Mahony,
wona visible is the slab on which is engraved a sort of Shamrock Crozier Cross. Mr. O'Leary has furnished the writer with a correct drawing of this object, and it seems to be a very
graceful design.
Vol. IL
2 s
hurth as his
by
in for thanksgiving
having barely
and brother to St. Gobinett, a more cele- brated saint, as the numerous churches dedi- cated to her patronage testify, in the counties of Cork and Kerry. Her Life is already given at the i ith of February,
'S It is called Cloc ah t)e^ece|\c, or ""
*^
Next to it, there is a very grotesque re- presentation of the saint, in swallow-tailed coat, curled locks, with the hands joined in front, in the attitude of prayer. Mr. O'Leary heard it was placed here some 60 years ago,
Berecert's stone house.
a man, lawsuit. Next,
with the end
626 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Februaryi8.
interlaced work. ^7 There was a similar stone, with this peculiar-shaped
cross, which stone is considered to have been used as a doorway to the
closet, supposing it was used like our modern tabernacles or sanctuaries, as
a receptacle for the sacred vessels. This is at the foot of a priest's grave, in
the graveyard attached to this church. Doubtless the relatives of a clergy-
man there interred considered it an indifferent matter to remove this slab,
and to place it in its present position. The closet is 14 inches high, by 28
inches long. Mr. O'Leary, however, did not measure its depth, into the
wall. ^^ We are that " Saint Ben's Well " at the western
informed, flows, side of the county road, leading to Dromcolloher,^9 while
"
These wells are especially celebrated for curing sore eyes, ophthalmia, and
Our Lady's Well " ^° is on the eastern side. Mr. O'Leary has heard of many miracles, which were wrought at those wells, and which he believes to be authentic.
various other diseases. All who come to the
""
— on Saint Ben's
Day," go
pay
is, say
and
" rounds " that
"
Well," one at " Our Lady's Well," and one within the abbey church, opposite
a large brown slab placed standing upright. ^^ On this is engraved a peculiar
cross, having the arms and base filled with the most delicate interlaces,
spiral pattern, and also having an inscription, said to have been engraved by Saint Benjamin himself. The upper left hand corner is broken off, and on the opposite right hand corner are peculiar characters. "^^ When St. Ben's
blessed wells, a small portion of the brown stone of this district, which is believed to be a sure preventive against fire, in whatever house it is kept. ''^
'7 From Mr, O'Leary, the writer has re- nounced Poiilaveara—from the following,
those who come to
carry home with them, besides some of the water from one or both of the
Day,
the 18th
February, arrives,
pay
invariably
ceiveddrawingsoftheseobjects. legendary,cause. Ononeoccasion,when '^ " * '
Mr. O'Leary states in addition : Be- some persons were paying rounds at this
yond those slabs, there is nothing else to in- well, a scoffer, who was passing by, railed '
terest the antiquarian ; but, it is really a at them for their superstition ;' and he ''
pity, that St. Ben's Stone is not photo- said, that he should now see what virtue
graphed, especially as the manner in which ''
there was in the well, at the same time thrusting his finger into it. It is said his finger then fell off, and hence the name of
persons act who pay rounds is not calcu-
lated to preserve such monuments. I allude
to the vile habit—I can call it nothing else— Poulaveara, or 'the well of the finger. ' which those parties have of scratching with
a sharp stone a cross, in six or seven diffe-
rent parts of this stone, and in consequence
of which the crosses enclosed in the circles
above and beneath the arms of this cross,
are almost obliterated. Luckily it is only stones, with etchings, &c. , as also all the
This well has given its name, Poulaveara, to the adjoining townland. I should have mentioned above, that (excepting the slab on which is engraved the representation of St. Ben, and which is limestone) all the
Shamrock Crozier stones, used in building the church, are the Cross that is visible, or this fine extant ordinary brown stone of the district. "
the end of the beautiful '
'
* =' relicwouldsoonbea thingofthepast. '
Thereisafinetintedlithographofthis
Surely,
it is time, that those who alone can
object
" St. Beretcheart's Tombstone, at
prevent such obliteration of national monu-
ments, stepped in and explained the usdess-
ness of such conduct. I allude to the Catho-
lic clergymen of this and the surrounding
TuUylease, County Cork," in the "Ulster
Journal of Archaeology," vol. vi. , opposite
p. 267. —
"^
On one corner is the inscription x rs for Chfistus. At the left hand lower end is the inscription, in a rude form of Irish letter- ing, QUI CUM QU^ HUNC TITULUM LEGE- RiT ORAT PRO Bereciituine, according to
Had our ancestors treated them with a tithe of this Vandalism, we could not to-day have any idea of the grandeur and
parishes.
'"
piety of Ireland, long, long ago. '
'* This parish is in the barony of Upper Rev. Dr. Reeves. This may be translated
Connello, and shown on the "Ordnance into P^nglish : Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Whoever shall read this
Limerick. " Sheets 45, 54. The town of Dromcolloher is marked on the latter.
=^ According to Mr. O'Leary's statement, it is to be regretted, that rioting and drunken-
='° Mr. "
adds: "Our — ness too often O'Leary Lady's prevail,
of some Well is also called poll a ifieA]\A pro- disorderly persons, who come to TuUylease
pattern,"
three rosaries one at Saint Ben's
"
tomb, let^him pray for Berechtuine. "
" rounds "
on the
part
February iS. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 627
Yet, notwithstanding tlie veneration paid to St. Ben, in this district, his well is disgracefully neglected. It is choke full of weeds, and as there is no fence of any kind around it, cattle have always free access to what certainly ought to be at least kept clean. Every male child, born on St. Berechert's day, is called by his name, which is regarded as the Irish for Benjamin. We are told, that from remote times, tlie saint's day has been unaccountably trans- ferred from the 6th of December to the i8th of February-^^-* At the former date, we shall have more to state, in reference to St. Berechert.
Article IV. —St. Libba, or Molibea, of Annahilt, County of
Down. Some notices, regarding this saint, have been entered in his great
hagiographical work, by Colgan, at the i8th of February. ^ Elsewhere,^ he considers, that the saint was Libeus, of Arann Island, the brother of St.
End3eus. 3 Originally called Liobba, or Libba, his name is' variously but most usually written, Molibba, Molibseus, and Molibius ; the term mo being an affectionate prefix. + Very little is known regarding him. It is stated, he was a son to Aradius. s Yet respecting his parentage, some doubts exist. He is regarded, likewise, as having been descended from the Dalaradian race.
His assumed father, Aradius, was not, however, the founder of that family. Molibba, it is said, was born in Ulster, but the year of his birth, or even the period at which he flourished, has not been found recorded. However, it is thought, he built a church, at a place, called Enach-elte,^ in the territory of Hibh-etach, situated in the province of Ulster. 7 Here he was formerly vene- rated. Hisvirtuesandmiraclesrankedhimamongthesaintsofourcountry; while his feast is celebrated on the i8th of February, according to the testi-
moniesofourancientMartyrologies. ^ Thus,St. iEngus,andtheMartyrology of Tallagh,9 register him as Molibba "in h. Eochach Uladh, no in h. Garr-
chon," on the 18th of February. Thus, this latter authority seems to doubt, whether his connexion was with the district in Uladh, or had been with a
distinct part of Ireland, known as Hy-Garchon,'° now part of Wicklow
"
on St. Ben's Day. " In this respect, it
differs much from " St. Ita's Day," in the
Dagan, son of Colniad ; St. Mobi, son of Cohnad ; St. Menocof Glennfaedhle, and of Ros-Menoc : and St. Molibba was the son of Aradius of Dalaradia. Yet, Colgan thinks the latter was that Bishop of Glenda- lough, who was venerated at the 8th of
parish of Killedy. There, as he remarks, ''
"when St. Ita's Day comes round, all the Catholic clergy, for miles around, flock into
Raheenagh, in the sm^U country chapel of
which a solemn High Mass is offered up and
a sermon or a panegyric on the life and The reader may further consider our account
virtues of St. Ita is preacTied by one of the assembled priests. "
^^ See Rev, W. Reeves'- paper "St. Berechert of Tullylease," in "The Ulster
^
" The patron saint of ^ See ibid. , xxi, Martii. Appendix ad this church is thus commemorated at the
the diocese of Dromore, bearing date 1422, we find this church of Enaceilte, set down
"
Ecclesias- tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dro- Hibernice," xviii. Februarii. Vita S. Mo- more. Appendix, pp. 315, 316. In note
of — vol.
Journal Archaeology," vi. , p. 271.
at one mark. See Dr. Reeves'
Article IV.
See "Acta Sanctorum
libbas, p. 368. (y), p. 316, he adds
Acta S, Endaei. , cap. iv. , p. 713.
3 See his Life, at the 2ist of March.
4 This was in accordance with the ancient
Irish custom, to express reverence and affec- tion towards the person thus characterized by name.
s This supposition Colgan derives from the Tract of St. ^ngus, "On the Mothers of the Irish Saints," num. 88. There it is said : Coemaca, sister to St. Coemgin, was motherofthesonsofColmad; namely,St,
:
i8th of February, in the Calendars of ^ngus and the O'Clerys: "moiiobA o eAriAc-
January. See ibid,, nn. 2, 3, 4, 5, p. 368. of him, at the 8th day of January, Art. viii.
^
From an old valuation of parishes within
eibce b ntlib eACA6 uIax),"
now called Annahilt.
^ See the Bollandists' Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus iii,, Februarii xviii. Among the pre- termitted saints, p. 52.
^ Such as the Calendar of Cashel, Maria* nus O'Gorman, Cathal Maguire, &c.
»EditedbyRev. Dr. Kelly,p. xvi,
Molibba of Eanach-eilte in Iveagh of Ulidia. " It is
"
"
628 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Februaryi8.
County. In the Martyrology of Donegal," we read, that this day was vene- rated, MoHoba, of Enach Elti, in Ui Eachadh Uladh. " The place is now
known as Annahilt,^3 in the county of Down. ^-* The burial-ground, about
the church of Annahilt, is of great antiquity ; and, the fort, in which it stands,
is of extreme antiquity. It is the innermost of four enclosures ; the outer one
of which includes, at least, an extent of nine acres. It slopes towards the
east, in a regular glads. There are numerous forts on the hills around, and
inviewofeachother; whilemanyremainsofantiquityhavebeendiscovered
near the old grave-yard. ^5 The veneration of this saint even extended to
Scotland. Weareinformed,intheKalendarofDrummond,atthexii. of
the March Kalends—corresponding with the present date—that Molipa de-
^6
Article V. —St. Daniel, Bishop of Ceann-garad, now Kingarth, INBute,Scotland. {Sei^enthCentury^ Thisholymanwasbornprobably
parted to Christ.
in Ireland before or about the
beginning
of the seventh —
century. Daniel,
inAlbaorScotland asstatedin
ofCenn —in
Bishop, Garadh, Gallgaedhela,
""^
the Feilire Aenguis is registered in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ as
having a festival, on this day, which was that of his death. The year was A. D. 659, according to the Annals of Ulster. 3 Daniel, Bishop, is the only
entry concerning him, as found in the Martyrology of Tallagh,-* at the 18th of February. His place is known as Kingarth, in Bute, Kingdom of Scotland. s
The parish of Kingarth occupies the southern part of Bute Island, and the land in general rises considerably above the sea-level. St. Catan or Cath- anus is said to have been born here, and to have been the original founder
of — church. ^ We are Kingarth told,
had
abbots before
this
allusion being made, probably, to this present
episcopal
660,7
of Cind Garad,^ Duald Mac Firbis enters, Daniel, Bishop of this place, in A. D. 659. His festival is fixed, at i8th of February. 9 The Four Masters
""
place his death, at a. d. 659,'° while the Chronicon Scotorum has it
entered, at a. d. 660. He is called Dainie, in the Annals of Ulster.
Article VI. —St. Lassair, or Lasera, or Laisre, Virgin, of Ghlionn-meadhoin, County of Antrim. On the i8th of February, we
" This was probably the country of St. Molibba, venerated on the 8th of January.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
52, 53.
" Its position is marked in Dr. O'Dono-
van's ** Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book of
Rights,. " n. (h), pp. 165, 166.
'3 This parish is situated, partly in the
barony of Kinelarty, and partly in that of Lower Iveagh. See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Down. " Sheets 15, 21, 22.
'4 MS. annotation of William M. Hen- nessy. Also, Rev. William Reeves' "Ec- clesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore. " Appendix EE. , p. 316, and n. (y). Calendar LL. , p. 376.
'S See William Shaw Mason's " Statis- tical Account or Parochial Survey of Ire- land," vol. ii. . No. II, parish of Annahilt. BytheRev. JohnDubourdieu,Rector,sect. iv. , pp. 12 to 14. See also Map of the parish annexed, at p. 7.
"^ See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
place
Scottish Saints," p. 5. ^
**
saint. the head Under
Article v. — At the loth of August.
"" Edited Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. by
52, 53.
3 '« Dainie Episcopus Cinngarad "—" An-
nales Ultonienses," A. D. DCLIX. Dr.
O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip-
tores," tomus iv,, p. 53.
* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
s See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes
(O), n. (z),
" See "The New Statistical Account of
Scotland," vol. v. , Bute. Account of the parish of Kingarth, by the Rev. John Buchanan, Minister, pp. 82, ? >t^^ 84.
p. 375.
7 See Mackenzie E. C. Walcott's " Scoti- Monasticon, p. 231.
^
Ci—nd-Garad is identified with Cill-
Garad nowKingarth,Bute,Scotland, cording to William M. Henessey.
5 See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish
ac-
February i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 629
read in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ the name of S. Lasrae, Virgin, of Glinn-medhoin. The Bollandists have a few brief notices of her, at this
date. ^ Her period is not well known ; for, although Colg'an asserts, that she lived a contemporary with St. Brigid,3 Abbess of Kidare, and that she had been venerated on this day, he here omits any notice of her. -* We are informed, that there is a Lassair, daughter of Fergus, son of Fethlemid, son to King Laeghaire, son of Niall the Great. It has been conjectured, that she may have been the St. Lasrea, of the church of St. Lasrea, or Kill-Laisre, mentioned in the old Acts of St. Brigid. This St. Lasrea was possibly the ward of St. Finian of Clonard,^ and if so, she flourished early in the sixth century. Marianus O'Gorman and Cathal Maguire mention her at this date. ^ She is classed too among the nuns veiled by St. Patrick. ^ According to the Martyrology of Donegal,^ we find, that a festival was celebrated on this day, inhonourofLassar,Virgin,ofGlenn-medhdin. Thisplaceseemstohave obtained other denominations, viz. , Gleann-meadonaghe and Glendo-nena-
ghie,
English supposed
mean,
middle-glen. "
among
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part I, pp. 98, 99.
tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dro-
^°
See Dr. O'Donovan's vol. Edition, i. .
more. " Calendar
Appendix FF. , pp. 332, 333, and LL. , p. 376.
pp. 268 to 270, and nn. (p, q), ibid. Article vi. —^ Edited by Rev. Dr.
Article vii.
See
Bishop
Forbes'
xvi. ^ See "Acta
Kelly, p.
279.
Feb- ruariixviii. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 52.
3 For special allusions to the present
Lassair, the reader is referred to our Life of
St. Brigid, chap. V.
4 Yet, this omission, he somewhat incon-
sistentlysupplies,in "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," at xxix. Martii, where he treats " De
S. Lassara Virgine," pp. 786, 787.
s Allusion is made to her, in " Vita S.
Finiani," cap. xxii. , and in "Vita S. Ki- erani Cluanensi," cap. xvi.
^See "Trias " Colgan's Thaumaturga.
Tertia Vita S. Brigidse, n. 21, p. 543.
7 See Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patri-
cii, cap. xxiii. , p. 270, ibid.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
52, 53.
9 See Rev. William Reeves'
"
Thaumaturga. " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii.
52, S3' townland proper is on Sheet 6.
5 In a note Dr. Todd says, at Drum-ber- " For this, and much of the following thach. " The later hand notes here, Aca information, with several accompanying
Kelly, p. xvi.
=" Then follow these
per an, xl. mu. ''
"feriasem-
Townland for the Maps
3 See a very interesting paper, intituled, "St. Beretcheart of Tullylease," by W,
Reeves, D. D,, inserted with a lithograph of the saint's tomb, in "The Ulster Journal of
Archasology," vol. vi. , pp. 267 to 275.
words,
of Donegal. " Sheets 38, 39, 46, 47. Burt Level, with its intake, contains 1,430 acres, as given in the Tenement Valuation. It is
*
tD^om beptA Iahh le CeAn-Annuj' :
with a St. Nem, venerated at the 3rd "of letters, one dated the 26th of December, May. 1874, and the other, 17th April, 1875.
There is a Drom-bertha alongside of Ceanannus,
sketches, the writer feels greatly indebted to a local resident. These notices were com- municated by Denis A. O'Leary, Kilbolane
[Kells]. '"
^This conjecture he divides, however, Cottage, Charleville, Co. Cork, in two
Survey
County
as of Droma Nem, Bishop
February i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 625
believe in the power of the Christians' God. Thereupon, it is said, that St. Patrick asked Benjamin,"—or as he is called in Irish Berechert—would he go into the burning house. To this proposal, the saint willingly assented. The pagan chief then compelled one of his own priests to accompany Ben- jamin,and,tomakematterssure,hegotthemtoexchangegarments. This being done, the door was closed up, and the house was then set on fire, and left burning for some time. When it had been considered, that a sufficient time elapsed, to allow the fire to consume everything, an entrance was made, and then it became evident, that the hand of the Almighty was still stretched forth, in defence of his ministers : for there, bathed in sweat and in profound sleep was the young saint, Berechert, while his companion was burned to a cinder. The chief was immediately baptized, and he continued ever after a good Christian. Saint Benjamin then built this church, and ever since he is regarded as the special patron saint of Tullilease parish. His festival is held on the 1 8th of February, which was honoured there, as a strict holiday, and which was kept with great veneration -p but, in latter years, it is only re- garded as a day of devotion. ^'^ Close by St. Ben's Well are the mere founda- tions of a house^s—28 feet long by 32 feet—said to be that, in which the saint was shut up, when it was set on fire, by order of the pagan chief of that district. Farmersareknowntocomeoverfourmilestogetastoneou—tof this, when building new houses. This stone was set in the foundation as
coinsandnewspapersarenow-a-daysplaced. Holywater,orwaterfromSt. Ben's Well—generally the latter—being sprinkled over it, the wall was then commenced, with a firm belief that the house built could never be burned. The church, which runs from east to west, was about 90 feet in length, and 27 feet in breadth. There is now standing only a small portion of the northernsidewall; theeasterngable,stillquiteperfect,waslightedbyone narrow double lancet-window. The southern side wall is still perfect, and in this there is a peculiar circular-headed window, 40 inches long, by 7 inches broad. The doorway, with fluted stone jambs, is also arched, and nowbuiltupwithmasonry. Withinthechurch,andunderneaththedouble lancet-window, stands a slab, known as " St. Ben's Stone. "'^ Underneath the small arched window, in the southern wall, and on the right hand, as you stand within the walls, looking to the east, there is a closet, the sides and back of which, being composed of single slabs, are worthy of a passing word. On the right hand side, there is one slab, having a peculiar shaped cross ; on the left hand, there is another slab, with a drawing like the stem of a chalice,
and like the " St. Ben's is made
up
of
which, large slab,
*^ The Rev. William Reeves considers this local Benjamin to have been confounded with St. Eenen or Bineus one of St. Patrick's disciples, and regarding whom, a nearly similar story is told, in" Liber Ardmachanse," folio 5 ba. Also see Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. i. , cap. 65, p. 127.
'3 Even after the beginning of this cen-
tury.
'^ In an anonymous communication signed
" A Subscriber," I am informed, —that the
Stone,"
beautifully
name and feast of St. Berre—
name is locally pronounced is held in
special veneration by the O'Mahonys of
Kerry, especially those of Castlequin and CuUina. The same letter informs me, that St. Berrehurth was invoked against fire, and tradition has it, that he was an O'Mahony,
wona visible is the slab on which is engraved a sort of Shamrock Crozier Cross. Mr. O'Leary has furnished the writer with a correct drawing of this object, and it seems to be a very
graceful design.
Vol. IL
2 s
hurth as his
by
in for thanksgiving
having barely
and brother to St. Gobinett, a more cele- brated saint, as the numerous churches dedi- cated to her patronage testify, in the counties of Cork and Kerry. Her Life is already given at the i ith of February,
'S It is called Cloc ah t)e^ece|\c, or ""
*^
Next to it, there is a very grotesque re- presentation of the saint, in swallow-tailed coat, curled locks, with the hands joined in front, in the attitude of prayer. Mr. O'Leary heard it was placed here some 60 years ago,
Berecert's stone house.
a man, lawsuit. Next,
with the end
626 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Februaryi8.
interlaced work. ^7 There was a similar stone, with this peculiar-shaped
cross, which stone is considered to have been used as a doorway to the
closet, supposing it was used like our modern tabernacles or sanctuaries, as
a receptacle for the sacred vessels. This is at the foot of a priest's grave, in
the graveyard attached to this church. Doubtless the relatives of a clergy-
man there interred considered it an indifferent matter to remove this slab,
and to place it in its present position. The closet is 14 inches high, by 28
inches long. Mr. O'Leary, however, did not measure its depth, into the
wall. ^^ We are that " Saint Ben's Well " at the western
informed, flows, side of the county road, leading to Dromcolloher,^9 while
"
These wells are especially celebrated for curing sore eyes, ophthalmia, and
Our Lady's Well " ^° is on the eastern side. Mr. O'Leary has heard of many miracles, which were wrought at those wells, and which he believes to be authentic.
various other diseases. All who come to the
""
— on Saint Ben's
Day," go
pay
is, say
and
" rounds " that
"
Well," one at " Our Lady's Well," and one within the abbey church, opposite
a large brown slab placed standing upright. ^^ On this is engraved a peculiar
cross, having the arms and base filled with the most delicate interlaces,
spiral pattern, and also having an inscription, said to have been engraved by Saint Benjamin himself. The upper left hand corner is broken off, and on the opposite right hand corner are peculiar characters. "^^ When St. Ben's
blessed wells, a small portion of the brown stone of this district, which is believed to be a sure preventive against fire, in whatever house it is kept. ''^
'7 From Mr, O'Leary, the writer has re- nounced Poiilaveara—from the following,
those who come to
carry home with them, besides some of the water from one or both of the
Day,
the 18th
February, arrives,
pay
invariably
ceiveddrawingsoftheseobjects. legendary,cause. Ononeoccasion,when '^ " * '
Mr. O'Leary states in addition : Be- some persons were paying rounds at this
yond those slabs, there is nothing else to in- well, a scoffer, who was passing by, railed '
terest the antiquarian ; but, it is really a at them for their superstition ;' and he ''
pity, that St. Ben's Stone is not photo- said, that he should now see what virtue
graphed, especially as the manner in which ''
there was in the well, at the same time thrusting his finger into it. It is said his finger then fell off, and hence the name of
persons act who pay rounds is not calcu-
lated to preserve such monuments. I allude
to the vile habit—I can call it nothing else— Poulaveara, or 'the well of the finger. ' which those parties have of scratching with
a sharp stone a cross, in six or seven diffe-
rent parts of this stone, and in consequence
of which the crosses enclosed in the circles
above and beneath the arms of this cross,
are almost obliterated. Luckily it is only stones, with etchings, &c. , as also all the
This well has given its name, Poulaveara, to the adjoining townland. I should have mentioned above, that (excepting the slab on which is engraved the representation of St. Ben, and which is limestone) all the
Shamrock Crozier stones, used in building the church, are the Cross that is visible, or this fine extant ordinary brown stone of the district. "
the end of the beautiful '
'
* =' relicwouldsoonbea thingofthepast. '
Thereisafinetintedlithographofthis
Surely,
it is time, that those who alone can
object
" St. Beretcheart's Tombstone, at
prevent such obliteration of national monu-
ments, stepped in and explained the usdess-
ness of such conduct. I allude to the Catho-
lic clergymen of this and the surrounding
TuUylease, County Cork," in the "Ulster
Journal of Archaeology," vol. vi. , opposite
p. 267. —
"^
On one corner is the inscription x rs for Chfistus. At the left hand lower end is the inscription, in a rude form of Irish letter- ing, QUI CUM QU^ HUNC TITULUM LEGE- RiT ORAT PRO Bereciituine, according to
Had our ancestors treated them with a tithe of this Vandalism, we could not to-day have any idea of the grandeur and
parishes.
'"
piety of Ireland, long, long ago. '
'* This parish is in the barony of Upper Rev. Dr. Reeves. This may be translated
Connello, and shown on the "Ordnance into P^nglish : Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Whoever shall read this
Limerick. " Sheets 45, 54. The town of Dromcolloher is marked on the latter.
=^ According to Mr. O'Leary's statement, it is to be regretted, that rioting and drunken-
='° Mr. "
adds: "Our — ness too often O'Leary Lady's prevail,
of some Well is also called poll a ifieA]\A pro- disorderly persons, who come to TuUylease
pattern,"
three rosaries one at Saint Ben's
"
tomb, let^him pray for Berechtuine. "
" rounds "
on the
part
February iS. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 627
Yet, notwithstanding tlie veneration paid to St. Ben, in this district, his well is disgracefully neglected. It is choke full of weeds, and as there is no fence of any kind around it, cattle have always free access to what certainly ought to be at least kept clean. Every male child, born on St. Berechert's day, is called by his name, which is regarded as the Irish for Benjamin. We are told, that from remote times, tlie saint's day has been unaccountably trans- ferred from the 6th of December to the i8th of February-^^-* At the former date, we shall have more to state, in reference to St. Berechert.
Article IV. —St. Libba, or Molibea, of Annahilt, County of
Down. Some notices, regarding this saint, have been entered in his great
hagiographical work, by Colgan, at the i8th of February. ^ Elsewhere,^ he considers, that the saint was Libeus, of Arann Island, the brother of St.
End3eus. 3 Originally called Liobba, or Libba, his name is' variously but most usually written, Molibba, Molibseus, and Molibius ; the term mo being an affectionate prefix. + Very little is known regarding him. It is stated, he was a son to Aradius. s Yet respecting his parentage, some doubts exist. He is regarded, likewise, as having been descended from the Dalaradian race.
His assumed father, Aradius, was not, however, the founder of that family. Molibba, it is said, was born in Ulster, but the year of his birth, or even the period at which he flourished, has not been found recorded. However, it is thought, he built a church, at a place, called Enach-elte,^ in the territory of Hibh-etach, situated in the province of Ulster. 7 Here he was formerly vene- rated. Hisvirtuesandmiraclesrankedhimamongthesaintsofourcountry; while his feast is celebrated on the i8th of February, according to the testi-
moniesofourancientMartyrologies. ^ Thus,St. iEngus,andtheMartyrology of Tallagh,9 register him as Molibba "in h. Eochach Uladh, no in h. Garr-
chon," on the 18th of February. Thus, this latter authority seems to doubt, whether his connexion was with the district in Uladh, or had been with a
distinct part of Ireland, known as Hy-Garchon,'° now part of Wicklow
"
on St. Ben's Day. " In this respect, it
differs much from " St. Ita's Day," in the
Dagan, son of Colniad ; St. Mobi, son of Cohnad ; St. Menocof Glennfaedhle, and of Ros-Menoc : and St. Molibba was the son of Aradius of Dalaradia. Yet, Colgan thinks the latter was that Bishop of Glenda- lough, who was venerated at the 8th of
parish of Killedy. There, as he remarks, ''
"when St. Ita's Day comes round, all the Catholic clergy, for miles around, flock into
Raheenagh, in the sm^U country chapel of
which a solemn High Mass is offered up and
a sermon or a panegyric on the life and The reader may further consider our account
virtues of St. Ita is preacTied by one of the assembled priests. "
^^ See Rev, W. Reeves'- paper "St. Berechert of Tullylease," in "The Ulster
^
" The patron saint of ^ See ibid. , xxi, Martii. Appendix ad this church is thus commemorated at the
the diocese of Dromore, bearing date 1422, we find this church of Enaceilte, set down
"
Ecclesias- tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dro- Hibernice," xviii. Februarii. Vita S. Mo- more. Appendix, pp. 315, 316. In note
of — vol.
Journal Archaeology," vi. , p. 271.
at one mark. See Dr. Reeves'
Article IV.
See "Acta Sanctorum
libbas, p. 368. (y), p. 316, he adds
Acta S, Endaei. , cap. iv. , p. 713.
3 See his Life, at the 2ist of March.
4 This was in accordance with the ancient
Irish custom, to express reverence and affec- tion towards the person thus characterized by name.
s This supposition Colgan derives from the Tract of St. ^ngus, "On the Mothers of the Irish Saints," num. 88. There it is said : Coemaca, sister to St. Coemgin, was motherofthesonsofColmad; namely,St,
:
i8th of February, in the Calendars of ^ngus and the O'Clerys: "moiiobA o eAriAc-
January. See ibid,, nn. 2, 3, 4, 5, p. 368. of him, at the 8th day of January, Art. viii.
^
From an old valuation of parishes within
eibce b ntlib eACA6 uIax),"
now called Annahilt.
^ See the Bollandists' Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus iii,, Februarii xviii. Among the pre- termitted saints, p. 52.
^ Such as the Calendar of Cashel, Maria* nus O'Gorman, Cathal Maguire, &c.
»EditedbyRev. Dr. Kelly,p. xvi,
Molibba of Eanach-eilte in Iveagh of Ulidia. " It is
"
"
628 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Februaryi8.
County. In the Martyrology of Donegal," we read, that this day was vene- rated, MoHoba, of Enach Elti, in Ui Eachadh Uladh. " The place is now
known as Annahilt,^3 in the county of Down. ^-* The burial-ground, about
the church of Annahilt, is of great antiquity ; and, the fort, in which it stands,
is of extreme antiquity. It is the innermost of four enclosures ; the outer one
of which includes, at least, an extent of nine acres. It slopes towards the
east, in a regular glads. There are numerous forts on the hills around, and
inviewofeachother; whilemanyremainsofantiquityhavebeendiscovered
near the old grave-yard. ^5 The veneration of this saint even extended to
Scotland. Weareinformed,intheKalendarofDrummond,atthexii. of
the March Kalends—corresponding with the present date—that Molipa de-
^6
Article V. —St. Daniel, Bishop of Ceann-garad, now Kingarth, INBute,Scotland. {Sei^enthCentury^ Thisholymanwasbornprobably
parted to Christ.
in Ireland before or about the
beginning
of the seventh —
century. Daniel,
inAlbaorScotland asstatedin
ofCenn —in
Bishop, Garadh, Gallgaedhela,
""^
the Feilire Aenguis is registered in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ as
having a festival, on this day, which was that of his death. The year was A. D. 659, according to the Annals of Ulster. 3 Daniel, Bishop, is the only
entry concerning him, as found in the Martyrology of Tallagh,-* at the 18th of February. His place is known as Kingarth, in Bute, Kingdom of Scotland. s
The parish of Kingarth occupies the southern part of Bute Island, and the land in general rises considerably above the sea-level. St. Catan or Cath- anus is said to have been born here, and to have been the original founder
of — church. ^ We are Kingarth told,
had
abbots before
this
allusion being made, probably, to this present
episcopal
660,7
of Cind Garad,^ Duald Mac Firbis enters, Daniel, Bishop of this place, in A. D. 659. His festival is fixed, at i8th of February. 9 The Four Masters
""
place his death, at a. d. 659,'° while the Chronicon Scotorum has it
entered, at a. d. 660. He is called Dainie, in the Annals of Ulster.
Article VI. —St. Lassair, or Lasera, or Laisre, Virgin, of Ghlionn-meadhoin, County of Antrim. On the i8th of February, we
" This was probably the country of St. Molibba, venerated on the 8th of January.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
52, 53.
" Its position is marked in Dr. O'Dono-
van's ** Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book of
Rights,. " n. (h), pp. 165, 166.
'3 This parish is situated, partly in the
barony of Kinelarty, and partly in that of Lower Iveagh. See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Down. " Sheets 15, 21, 22.
'4 MS. annotation of William M. Hen- nessy. Also, Rev. William Reeves' "Ec- clesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore. " Appendix EE. , p. 316, and n. (y). Calendar LL. , p. 376.
'S See William Shaw Mason's " Statis- tical Account or Parochial Survey of Ire- land," vol. ii. . No. II, parish of Annahilt. BytheRev. JohnDubourdieu,Rector,sect. iv. , pp. 12 to 14. See also Map of the parish annexed, at p. 7.
"^ See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
place
Scottish Saints," p. 5. ^
**
saint. the head Under
Article v. — At the loth of August.
"" Edited Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. by
52, 53.
3 '« Dainie Episcopus Cinngarad "—" An-
nales Ultonienses," A. D. DCLIX. Dr.
O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip-
tores," tomus iv,, p. 53.
* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
s See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes
(O), n. (z),
" See "The New Statistical Account of
Scotland," vol. v. , Bute. Account of the parish of Kingarth, by the Rev. John Buchanan, Minister, pp. 82, ? >t^^ 84.
p. 375.
7 See Mackenzie E. C. Walcott's " Scoti- Monasticon, p. 231.
^
Ci—nd-Garad is identified with Cill-
Garad nowKingarth,Bute,Scotland, cording to William M. Henessey.
5 See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish
ac-
February i8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 629
read in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ the name of S. Lasrae, Virgin, of Glinn-medhoin. The Bollandists have a few brief notices of her, at this
date. ^ Her period is not well known ; for, although Colg'an asserts, that she lived a contemporary with St. Brigid,3 Abbess of Kidare, and that she had been venerated on this day, he here omits any notice of her. -* We are informed, that there is a Lassair, daughter of Fergus, son of Fethlemid, son to King Laeghaire, son of Niall the Great. It has been conjectured, that she may have been the St. Lasrea, of the church of St. Lasrea, or Kill-Laisre, mentioned in the old Acts of St. Brigid. This St. Lasrea was possibly the ward of St. Finian of Clonard,^ and if so, she flourished early in the sixth century. Marianus O'Gorman and Cathal Maguire mention her at this date. ^ She is classed too among the nuns veiled by St. Patrick. ^ According to the Martyrology of Donegal,^ we find, that a festival was celebrated on this day, inhonourofLassar,Virgin,ofGlenn-medhdin. Thisplaceseemstohave obtained other denominations, viz. , Gleann-meadonaghe and Glendo-nena-
ghie,
English supposed
mean,
middle-glen. "
among
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part I, pp. 98, 99.
tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dro-
^°
See Dr. O'Donovan's vol. Edition, i. .
more. " Calendar
Appendix FF. , pp. 332, 333, and LL. , p. 376.
pp. 268 to 270, and nn. (p, q), ibid. Article vi. —^ Edited by Rev. Dr.
Article vii.
See
Bishop
Forbes'
xvi. ^ See "Acta
Kelly, p.
279.
Feb- ruariixviii. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 52.
3 For special allusions to the present
Lassair, the reader is referred to our Life of
St. Brigid, chap. V.
4 Yet, this omission, he somewhat incon-
sistentlysupplies,in "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," at xxix. Martii, where he treats " De
S. Lassara Virgine," pp. 786, 787.
s Allusion is made to her, in " Vita S.
Finiani," cap. xxii. , and in "Vita S. Ki- erani Cluanensi," cap. xvi.
^See "Trias " Colgan's Thaumaturga.
Tertia Vita S. Brigidse, n. 21, p. 543.
7 See Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patri-
cii, cap. xxiii. , p. 270, ibid.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
52, 53.
9 See Rev. William Reeves'
"
Thaumaturga. " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii.
