No More Learning

Hence, it would appear, that our saint
belonged to the same race as St. Fergussius, Bishop of Downpatrick, —whose Acts are found on the following day 30th of March.
s Chapter xxiii.
'
See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xix. , sect, xvi. , p. 202.
" Eccle-
"
7 In Dr. O'Donovan's edition of the Annals of the Four Masters," at a. d. 755,
" Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. The Franciscan copy has 'PuIa]\caic niAc bjMC.
Fulartus,
year 774:
— of Fulartach, Bishop
Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap, ii. , pp. 15, 21.
March 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
993
of Clonard," while the commentator adds a more eulogistic notice. *3 This day, we find, set down in the Martyrology of Donegal,'-* the name of Fular-
tach, son of Brec, Bishop of Cluain-Eraird, and of Disert Fulartaich, in Ui Failghe. The Calendarist adds, there is found a Fulartach, son of Brec, and descended from the race of Irial, son of Conall Cearnach, according to the Naoirahsenchus. In the table appended to the Donegal Martyrology, a commentator adds, in a marginal note, this saint had another festival, at the 2ist of December. 'S To that date, the reader is likewise referred . However, there were two distinct saints, bearing the same name ; both of whom are treated of, by Colgan, on this particular day. This writer is of opinion, that the memory of each saint belongs to a different day ; but, he is unable to assign for either individual the date of his own peculiar festival.
Article II. —St. Ferghas, son of Enda, of Inis-Caoin, Lough Erne. Ferghas, son of Enda, of Inis-Caoin—now Iniskeen—in Loch
Eirne, is set down, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ as having a festival, at this date. The place, with which he was formerly connected, was on an island of moderate dimensions, and this was situated a few miles from the town of Enniskillen, on the beautiful Lough Erne. That glorious sheet of water, including the River Erne, of rare beauty and magnificence," has a wide and winding extent of sliore, in the counties of Cavan, Fermanagh and Donegal. From various surrounding hills and mountains, its panoramic splendours are exhibited to the gaze, and in every possible novelty of colour and grouping. Over two hundred islands break the water surfaces. The Erne flows in a north-west course, almost centrally through the county of Fermanagh. It is supplied with many tributary streams, along the forty miles of its tortuous channel ; being divided into the upper and lower lake. About midway on an island in the Erne, the elegantly-built and thriving town of Enniskillen 3 stands, two handsome bridges, having five arches each, connecting this borough with tlie mainland. The romantic scen,ery both above and below this town is unrivalled. The upper lake has numerous in- dentations along its margin, on either side, and so thickly are its islands grouped, that at first sight it would seem a matter of extreme difficulty for a pilot, to find the proper channel. Its course gives the tourist a general idea of an inundated country. The islands are usually very fertile and verdant, whilemanyarerichlywooded. Projectingheadlandsontheriverbanksare often covered with fine timber, rising with stately trunks and branching tops,
Article ir. —' Edited by Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp. 88, 89.
' to the scenic beauties of the Alluding
Eme, William Allingham pourtrays some of Cluain eraird ; et de Disert Fulartaich in its features, in the ballad, known as "The
*="Episcopus de Cluain-eraird. " See
the BoUandist entry.
'3 Thus we read
:
"
S. Fulartachus auro
appretiundus, filius Breci, Episcopus de
Hi falgio. " See Colgan's note 6, p. 788. '» Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Emigrant's Adieu to Ballyshannon. " De- scribing the local objects, he adds—
, ,.
"far upon the southern line, to
guard it like a wall,
The Leitrim mountains, clothed in blue,
gaze calmly over all, Andwatchtheshipsail—upanddoAvn,the*
red flag at her stern
Adieu to these, adieu to all the winding
banks of Eme ! "
3 The accompanying illustration is from a sketch, drawn on the wood, by William F.
88, 89. " '5 See ibid. , pp. 422, 423.
Ita citata
Martyrologia ad eundem diem :
singula notanter appellant Furlartachum Breci filium ; sed non ambigo S. Fularta- chumsiveFulartumEpiscopumDomnacen- sem in Connacia, et S. Patricii discipulum alterutro die coli ; cum fuerit celebrate sanctitatis : et nullo alio die videam ej—us Natalem a Martyrologiis observatum. " Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," xxix. Martii, n. 7, p. 788.
Vol. III. —No. 16.
3 R
ad quern
:
994 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 29.
from the low and often marshy grounds. Herons and aquatic fowl breed along the rush-lined shores. Nothing can exceed the variety of landscape features here introduced. SwelHng hills and more distant mountains fre- quently give a grand, and, an undulating, outHne, to the prospect. The lower lake has a greater expansion of water, unimpeded by islands ; although the latter are found to be not less numerous, while descending its stream. 't When St.
Enniskillen, from the East Bridge.
Ferghas lived in Iniscaoin cannot be discovered ; but, in the table, which is
added to the Martyrology of Donegal, s its compiler remarks, there is a parish church of St. Fergus of Iniscaoin, without cure of souls, because its rectory was secular or impropriate. The Bollandists barely allude to this holy man, as Fergussius, son of Ennius, of Inis-Caoin, in Lough Erne, and quote the Martyrology of Tallagh, as their authority f yet, neither in the published work, nor in the Franciscan copy of that record, do I find any corresponding entry.
Article III. —Saints Eithene, Ethne, or Ethnea, and Sodhealbh, SODELBIA, OR SODELVIA, ViRGINS, OF TeCH-INGEN-BaITHE, NEAR SwORDS, County of Dublin. [^Sixth Century. '] These holy virgins lived about, or after, the middle of the sixth century. Colgan writes concerning them, at the present day,' The Bollandists ^ notice their feast, likewise, at this date, while they remark, that the 2nd, and also the 15th, of January, were assigned fortheircommemoration. However,thosewriterspreferredwaiting,forthe
Wakeman, who resides there, and the en- graving is by Mrs. Millard. This represents the site of the Catholic church, the convent building and grounds, as also the Protestant church, with its tower and spire.
* See "Legend Lays of Ireland," by Lageniensis, No. xii. A Legend of Lough Erne, note i, p. 82.
' See Hid. , pp. 414, 415. ^"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus ill. , Martii xxix. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 766. —
Article III. 'See, "Acta Sanctorum Hibemias," xxix. Martii. De SS. Virgini- bus Ethena et Sodelbia sive Sodelvia, pp.
785, 786.
MARCH 29. 1 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
995
possible recovery of their Acts, or for better proofs of their celebration being found. Whethersuchrecordshadperished,inthelapseoftime,orwhether they have not yet been published, is a matter undetermined. We find it stated, by Colgan, that Cathald Maguire, about a. d. 1490, seems to have read their Acts, and this is inferred, from some quotations made, regarding our pious virgins. They are usually called the daughters of Baithe ; but, as this term, in the Irish language, has an equivocal signification, it is supposed
to be only a metaphorical designation, personal to themselves, and meaning, ""
daughters of fervent," or ardent love. " 3 This may have been applied to them, because they exhibited, in all their exterior actions, that internal flame of Divine ardour, which caused them to have their souls constantly filled with love for their true Spouse, our Lord Jesus Christ. However, it is possible, that the present holy women may have been the Saints Ethnea and Sodelbia, of Kill-NaiSj-^ the daughters of Corbre, the son of Corbmac, son to Ailild, son of Dunlong, son to Endeus Niadh, as laid down, in the Genea- logies of the Saints of Ireland. s With the present pious women, their sister St. Cumania is named. According to our Annals, their great-grandfather Ailild, or Oilill, died, a. d. 526 f their grandfather Corbmac departed this life, in the year 535 ;? while the death of their father is referred to a. d. 546. ^ If such a conjecture be well founded, all of the foregoing virgins were venerated, intheplainoftheRiverLiffey. This —havebeenthecase,notwith—stand-
ing the connexion of those two sisters probably subsequent
may
with anotherplace,andcircumstancesappeartofavourasimilarview. Ethna,or Ethnea,wasawell-knownancientname,amongIrishfemales; while,Soidh- elbh is Latinized Pulcheria, or "beautiful. " They are thought to have
flourished, in the sixth century, and to have lived, within the bounds of
Lagenia, now the province of Leinster. It must be remarked, however, that the ancient writer 'bf St. Maidoc's Acts 9 seems to make both those holy
sisters, not the daughters, but the nieces, of Corbre, and by him, they are styled the daughters of Aidus. '° By him, too, we find a very remarkable miracle related, and this is attributed, by Colgan, to the united merits and virtues of St. Maedoc, Bishop of Ferns, together with those of the holy virgins, who are here commemorated. These holy women lived at Surd," now known as Swords, in the parish so called, and in the present county of Dublin. The history of this place has been given, by Colgan. ^^ In the commentaries added, by Cathald Maguire, to a copy of the " Feilire" of St. ^ngus, it is stated, that Christ our Lord appeared, in the shape of a beauti- ful infant, to recline on the breast of those chaste spouses. '3 This seems rather confirmatory of Colgan's hypothesis, regarding their patronymic. When, or how long they lived, at the place indicated, does not appear, from
'See "Acta Martii xxix.
saints, pp. 766, 767.
tomus pretermitted
» See his
at the 21st of
Sanctorum,"
iii. ,
Life, Colgan's
January.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Among
the
'° See
nias," Januarii xxxi. Vita S. Maidoci, cap. xxxiv. , p. 212, and n, 32, p. 218.
3 Colgan tel'. s us, that Baithe, Buithe, or ""
Buidhe, signifies fervent love," and joined with Ingena, the terms might be Latinized, •'filiffi ferventis seu ardentis dilectionis. "
This place does not seem to have been identified } but, it may not be improbable to suppose, it was identical with the modern town of Naas, in the county of Kildare.
See the Manuscript Volume of Extracts for the County of Dublin, formerly belong- ing to the Lish Ordnance Survey, p. 130, where a notice of their festival occurs,
"See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta
Appendix ad Acta S. Columba, cap. vii. ,
p. 509.
»3 The legend is thus related, in the
Leabhar Breac " Christus uenit in copy:
forma infantis esse in sinu earum et oscula-
bantur eum, et baptizauit eas, etsi Apostoli praedicauerunt illis tamen plus abipso acce-
5 Chapter xx.
'See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 174, 175.
1 See ibid. , pp. 1 78, 1 79. See ibid. ^ pp. 184, 185.
of the
a one
996 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 29.
any known source. There is an elegant drawing of Swords church, county of Dublin, by Mr. Gandon, Junr. , a. d. 1791, and it was engraved for Grose's
Antiquities of Ireland. ^+ A history and description follows it. But, another alternative has been offered, by a commentator, on the "Feilire" of St. ^ngus, that their place may have been rather in Uib Failge, also known as Offaly. 'S However this may be the case, it must be inferred, that Saints Ethnea and Sodelbia were daughters of the same father and mother ; united in their pursuits, desires, and mode of life ; but, whether they departed together, on the 29th of March, may be questioned. As we have already seen, the daughters of Baith, or Bath, were venerated, on the 2nd of January. ^^ Again,atthe15thofthesamemonth,thereisafestival,forthe daughters of Cairbre, entered in our Martyrologies. '7 No fewer than six different Irish Martyrologies record the feast of these holy virgins, in the church of Tegh-Ingen-Baithe, at this day. Thus, the "Feiiire" of St. . ^ngus commemorates " the festival of Baith's daughters, the passion of a
^^
host with
29th of March, we find them entered as Ingen, or the Daughters of Baite ; their names are set down as Ethne and Sodelbia, while it is remarked, that they were constant worshippers of Christ. In the Calendar of Cashel, we find,also,adistinctivecommemoration. ^" MarianusO'Gorman,^'andCathal Maguire, likewise, have their respective notices of them. We find the names, Eithne and Sodhealbh, recorded in the Martyrology of Donegal," on this day.
They were the two daughters of Bait. The Calendarist remarks, that
they lived, by the side of Sord Colum Cille. At the 29th of March, or 4th of the April Kalends, the Kalendar of Drummond^'s informs us, that in Hibernia, the Holy Virgins, the daughters of Baite went to Christ.
Article IV. —St. Lasar, Lassar, or Lassera, Virgin. {Sixth Century. '] A very brief allusion to St. Lassara occurs, in the Bollandists'
Collection,^atthe29thofMarch. Enteringmoreintoparticulars,Colgan notices her festival, at the same date f and, he undertakes, also, to solve her genealogy. She is said to have been of royal origin; her father being Fearguss, son of Fethlemid, son to King Laoighaire, son to Niall of the NineHostages. 3 ShewasniecetoSt. Fortchern,*whobecameoneofSt. Patrick's earliest converts, in Ireland. s It is thought, that her earliest lessons
great
modesty. "
Again,
in the
Martyrology
of at the Tallagh,'9
perunt fidem quam ab illis. " See "Trans- actions of the Royal Irish Academy. " Irish
'° " Sanctse filiae Baiae de cella filiarum
Baithe i—n Finnegallia ad Surdum in Campo
Die xxix. Martii.
Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i.
On the
Bregh. " =" He
Calendar of
LL. D. , p. Ixv,, note 29.
' ' Festum candidarum filia- rum Baithe Ethnese et Sodelbise ad latus
Oengus. By"WhitleyStokes,
says:
'* See vol. i. , p. n. Surdi S. Columbas. "
'S See the note of Dr. "^^ Edited Drs. Todd and Whitley Stokes, by
Reeves, ppi
already quoted.
'^ The reader is referred to this date, at
Article v.
88, 89.
=3 yge Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
—
Daughter to Cairbre. Article vii. Also, tomus iii. , Martii xxix. Among the preter-
the Life of St. Ita, at the same date, chapter v. , note 13.
'7
See, at that day, St. Darerca, Virgin,
Article iv.
'
See "Acta Sanctotum,'*
'^ See Dr. Whitley Stokes, " On the
Calendar of Oengus," at p. Iviii. , in the 786, 787.
work already quoted.
'9 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. In
the Franciscan copy, we read, after Ingdeiie OAich, echne aju^ Sooeb b. , with some defaced letters added, and comments over
the lines, which are illegible to the writer.
3 See ibid. , nn. 2, 3.
* By some, his feast is placed, at the 17th of February, and, by others, at the I Ith of October. The reader is referred to the latter day, especially, for notices of him.
s See vol. iii. . Life of St. Patrick, chap. x.
Scottish Saints," p. 9.
mitted saints, p. 766. »"
See, Acta Sanctorum Hibernije/* xxix, Martii. De S. Lassara, Virgine, pp.
March 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
of virtue and of culture were given, by her holy relative, while her name,
" a
ardour, which warmed all her affections. Her parents desired for their
daughter a suitable marriage, but, being resolved on a life of celibacy and re- tirement, she wished to leave their home. So eager was she, that her youth
should belong to a heavenly spouse, a name, in Irish, Algasach, and Latinized Desideriosa, was added to her former appellation. In St, Brigid's Acts, there is mention made of a St. Lasrea,^ and Colgan seems to think, her commemoration fell on this day. 7 Already have we alluded to her, in connexion with the renowned Abbess of Kildare. ^ However, she seems to
have been a person, altogether distinct from the present Lassara, who flourished a little after her time. Before and about the middle of the sixth
century, St. Finnian,9 Abbot of Clonard, had a great school opened, in his monastery ; and, the noble virgin was placed under his charge, to be in- structed,inallscience,religiousandmundane. ToSt. Kieran,^°afterwards Abbot of Clonmacnoise, was especially committed the care of her education ; for, St. Finnian had an inspiration, that she should become a very distin-
guished saint, and preside over a community of pious virgins. As an instance of the extreme circumspection and care, manifested for the young
princess,whileresidingatClonard; shelodgedandboardedwithavirtuous '
widow, who lived near the monastery. And, we are told, that neither did St. Kieran presume to gaze on her features, nor did his young pupil dare to lookinhisface,duringthewholecourseofherinstruction. Shelearnedthe Sacred Scriptures and the Psalms, through him. " Another extraordinary occurrence is related, that an Angel brought St. Lassara from St. Finnian's
patronage, and placed her in the convent of his sister, St. Rioghnach, or Regnata. " Here, she seems to have remained for some time, until feeling desirous of returning to her own part of the country, St. Finnian was con-
sulted as to her guide. He replied to Regnacia, that the same heavenly messenger, who brought her away, should also conduct her homewards.
Accordingly the Angel, raising her in the air, like 'another Halbacuc, bore the virgin to her own country. Here, greatly abounding in sanctity, this chaste spouse of Christ built a church, at a place, called Doire Mac Aidhme-
chain. '3 At this place, she wrought many miracles, but the year of her demise is not found on record. The simple name, Lassar, is set down, in the
Martyrology of Tallagh,^* at the 29th of March. The published Martyrology of Tallagh 'S mentions, however, that veneration was given to Ailgasach, at
thisdate. Aswehavealreadyseen,thisisonlyanotherdesignation,applied to her. Marianus O'Gorman, and Cathal Maguire commemorate her, in like
manner, at the 29th of March. A saint, thus described, as Lassar, Virgin,
'See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " may be interpreted "the oak-wood of the Tertia Vita S. Brigidae, cap. xliv. , p. 531. sons of Aidmecain. " The place does not
7 See ibid. , n. 21, p. 543. See, also, appear to be known ; although in Colgan's
Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. Index Topographicus, to the "Acta Sanc-
xxiii. , p, 270. torum HiberniK," it is placed in Meath.
Lassair,
in Irish
signifying
flame,"
was
happily typical
of that
Divine
^"
See Life of St. Brigid, vol. ii. , chap, v. , at the 1st of February.
9 See his Life, at the I2th of December.
'° See his Life, nt the 9th of September.
" For the for^goin^^ particulars, Colgan refers to the Acts of St. Kieran, chapter xvi.
" Her feast occurs, at the l8th of Decem- ber.
'3 According to Dr. Lanigan, this place
See
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xiv. , p. 77, and n.
• 80. 261, p.
'* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. The
Franciscan copy has LAfi-A^N, as if separated from the title which follows,
'5EditedbyRev. Dr. Kelly,p. xx. The
Franciscan copy seems to have ^XlgA—the
remaining letters being undecipherable to the writer.
997
998 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 29.
is mentioned in the Martyrology of Donegal,^^ and as having been venerated, on this day, in accord with the authorities of an earUer date, on the subject of Irish saint history.
Article V. —St. Eustace, or Eustasius, Abbot of Luxeu, France. \Sixth and Stvinth Centtcries. ^ This celebrated disciple of a renowned master was remarkable for his great zeal and sanctity, as also for his services toearlymonasticism. HisLife,^writtenbyJonas,hasbeenpublishedbythe BoUandists. ^ According to some writers, Jonas was an Irishman ; but, the Bollandists assert, that he was born at the fort of Mount Cenis, one of the Alpine range, in Segusium, or Susa, and, consequently, that he was an Italian. 3 However this may be, tlie Preface to the Life of St. Eustasius was written, by some anonymous author, two hundred or more years, after the time of Jonas, and it abounds in various errors. '* The proper biography of our saint, as published by the Bollandists, is comprised in three chapters, forming a continuation of the Acts of St. Columbanus,5 and taken from a Manuscript, said to be coeval with Jonas himself. *^ Another version has been published, by Surius,7 who took his wonted liberty of re-arranging sentences, and of changing the style. An account of St. Eustace will be found, in the work of Rev. S. Baring-Gould,^ as also in that of the Rev. Alban Butler. 9 In Monseigneur Paul Guerin's valuable collection, we find, likewise,aLifeofSt. Eustace,AbbotofLuxeuil,inFranche-Comt^. " The birth of St. Eustace has been referred to Burgundy, by the anonymous author of the Preface, to which allusion has been already made ; notwithstanding, it is thought, by many other writers, that he was born, in Ireland, although his name does not appear—at least under its present form—among the twelve
companions " that set out with St. Columban, when he left Ireland, about the year 584, or 585, for his French mission. He may have followed these
companions, notwithstanding, and, perhaps, at a later period. We are told, St. Eustasiuswasofgentlebirth. Itisprobable,hefirstsawthelight,about the middle of the sixth century. He seems to have joined St. Columban, as as a disciple, at Luxeu, before the close of this age. With his great master, St. Eustase passed some time, at the castle of Oppigny, which belonged to Count Cagneric. This was situated, about two leagues from Meaux. The daughter of this Count, St. Fare," had made a vow of virginity, received by
'* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
88, 89. —
Article V. 'It is said to have been
compiled, A. D. 664.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Martii xxix. De S. Eustasio Abbate Lvxo- viensi, Ordinis S. Colvmbani. There is a previous commentary, in five sections.