^ He was born, most
probably
about, or after, the beginning of the seventh century.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
There are many Irish saints bearing this name in our Calendars.
Sanctis Athtrumis
Article vii. Kelly, p. xvi.
Articlevi. —^ ' '*
xii. Hibemise,"xvii. Februarii. Dealiisdiver- See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- sis Sanctis Aththrumise quiescentibus, p.
Chapter
niae," xvii. Februarii. De aliis diversis 367. —
—e 367. quiescentibus, p.
'
Article ix.
of Rev. Dr. Article viii. —' See "Acta Sanctorum
Edition
* See "Acta Sanctorum Iliberniae," xvii. Februarii. De aliis diver- sis Sanctis Athtrumiae quiescentibus, p. 367.
» See ibid. ^ xii. Januarii, n. 6, p. 59.
February 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 605
Article XIII. —St. Conaill or Conall, at Trim. Colgan is of opinion,^ that considering the circumstances of race and of local position, this holy man must be Conall, the son of Fiachna, son to Malduin, son of Colman, son to Ard, son of Libren, son to Dalian, son of Enna, son of Laogaire. Such is the pedigree, which occurs in the Sanctilogic Genealogy. ^
ArticleXIV. —St. Colman,atTrim. AmongthemanyIrishsaints, bearing the name of Colman, there are two descended from King Laogaire. It is thought, by Colgan,' that owing to family descent and to local associations, the present may be either St. Colman, son of Lugid, son to Laogaire, or St. Colman, son of Enna, son to Laogaire. ^*
Article XV. —St. Finsecha, or Finnsegh, Virgin. According to St. ^ngus, Marianus O'Gorman and the Calendar of Cashel, this holy virgin, Finsecha, is venerated on the 13th of October, in the mountain of Guarius, intheregionofGalenga. ^ Herfeastisgiven,likewise,atthisday.
Article XVI. —St. Cormac, Bishop of Ath-Truim, now Trim, County of Meath. [Seventh and Eighth Centuries. '] It seems unaccount- able, why so many holy persons are entered in our Irish Calendars, as having been commemorated at Trim, on this date ; for, we can hardly suppose it Avas the Natalis for those, whose names and celebrations we have given, in the preceding order. At the 1 7th of February, Colgan has published the Acts of the present holy bishop,^ whom he considers to have lived, at a later period, than the former St. Cormac. The Bollandists merely class the pre- sent St. Cormac, a bishop, among others venerated, at Trim,^ on this day. 3 This pious prelate is said to have been descended from the royal house of theNialls,aswasalsotheformer,whichColganassumes. Botharethought tohavebeenborninMeath. ThepresentColman'sfatherisnamedColman Hua Suibhne,4 supposed to have descended from Conall, one of the sons of Niail the Great. His mother is called Funecta, daughter of Moelfitric, son to Dima, son of Columb. Certain very probable mistakes have to be cor- rected, in reference to this holy prelate. In consequence of supposing that there was an older Cormac, than he who is called junior, a Bishop of Trim, Colgan has some doubts as to which of them this date for a festival belonged. But, as he was mistaken on these points, as already shown, his doubts in
Article XIII. —^ See "Acta Sanctorum
Hibernise," xvii. Februarii. De aliis diver-
sis Sanctis Athtrumiae quiescentibus, p. 367. ^
Chapter iii.
Article xiv. —^ See "Acta Sanctorum
Hibernise," xvii. Februarii. De aliis diver-
sis Sanctis Athtrumise quiescentibus, p. 367. ^ The Sanctilogic Genealogy, chap. iii.
saints in their "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , xvii. Februarii, p. 3.
^ He is supposed, by Colgan, to have been the son of Colman, surnamed the Small, Prince of Meath, and son to Diermit, son of Cearball, son to Connall, &c. It is though—t, from the circumstances of time and place Trim being in Meath, and Suibhne, Lord of
Article xv. —^ See
Sanctorum Hibernise," xvii. Februarii. De aliis diversis Sanctis Athrumise quiescenti- bus, p. 367.
been killed by Aedh Slaine, "
Juniore Ep. Atht. , p. 361.
^ An interesting account of Trim will be
rum Hibernise," xvii. Februarii. De S. Cormaco Juniore Ep. Atht. , p. 361, and nn.
1,2, 3.
of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 222, 223, and n. (o), ibid.
found in Lewis' "
of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 643 to 645.
Also Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals
TopographicalDictionary 3 He is found among the pretermitted
Colgan's
"Acta
Meath, having
A. D. 596, at Bri-damh, or the Hill of Oxen," over a stream called Suainiu, in the parish and barony of Geshill, King's County—that the foregoing pedigree may
Article XVI. —^ See "Acta Sanctorum
Hibernife," xvii. Februarii. De S. Cormaco be correct. See Colgan's "Acta Sancto-
6o6 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February17.
consequence are unfounded. The occurrence of a festival on the 17th of February, for two distinct Cormacs, probably caused them to be confounded ormistaken,onefortheother. s Thissaintwasborn,probablyintheseventh century. No less than three pious brothers of his are noticed. Rumold,* supposed to be Rumann, or Rumond,^ a very wise man and deeply skilled in history and antiquities,^ who died in 742,9 Boitallach,^° Abbot of Trim, whose death is marked at a. d. 751 ;" and Ossan, the year of whose death is not known. " We are informed, that all of these are inscribed on our Irish
Ruins at Trim, County Meath.
Calendars. ThesituationofTrimisextremelypicturesqueandcommanding.
The Very Rev. Dean Butler has produced a valuable book on this ancient
town, and it is replete with information, especially regarding its ecclesiastical antiquities. ^3 Inthis,hetreatsaboutSt. Cormac. ^4 Anotherecclesiastical
5 See what is stated in the previous arti-
cle. See, also, Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiasti-
cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. ,
sect, xii. , p. 416.
^ Colgan does not think he can be St.
355-
^
His Natalis is not known.
9 In Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
of Belgium, as this name does not often genealogy of this Rumann—
" Rumann, son of Colman, an adept in wis- Rumold, Bishop of Ath-cliath, and patron dom, chronology and poetry, died. " The
Virgil occur in our Irish Annals. He proposed of Ireland—is contained in the " Book of
discussing this question further, when treat- ing on St. Rumold's career.
"''
Ballymote. The Annals of Ulster" have
his death at A. D. 746, and the " Annals of
7 If he be the same, as the present saint's
brother,averycurious—butevidentlyavery O'Donovanthinkstobethetrueyear. See
legendary account ot him—is contained in a vellum manuscript, in the Bodleian Library, at Oxford. This is said to have been copied from the ** Book of Rathain Ua Suanaigh," and the original Irish, with an English trans- lation, will be found in Dr. Petrie's " Ec- clesiastical Architecture of Ireland," &c, part ii. , sect, iii. , subsect. ii. , pp. 353 to
" See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 352, 353.
Four Masters," at A. D. 742, we have entered,
Tighernach," at AD. 747. The latter. Dr. PP- 344, 345, and n. (i).
'°
See notices of him, at the 5 th of Octo- ber.
" His feast occurs, however, at this day. *3 The Rev. Richard Butler published its
history in an anonymous tract, intituled
called the
February 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 607
historian,'5 who has indefatigably laboured to revive the former glories of
Meath, has given a very complete and interesting account of Ath-Truim, as calledinformertimes,andatpresentshortenedtoTrim. ^^ Itisstated,by him, that a religious establishment was founded here as early as St. Patrick's time. The present St. Cormac seems to have had a festival, on the 7th of February,^7oronthisday. However,intheoldCalendars,Cormac,Bishop of Trim, is expressly mentioned, at the 17th of February. This was the Natalis of a St. Comae, at Trim, according to St. yEngus, Marianus O'Gorman, Charles Maguire and other Calendarists. But, as it has been thought, there were different saints, similarly named, and connected with this place, Colgan would not undertake to define, if this were the Cormac intended. '^ However, where he treats of this saint, Colgan calls him Cormac junior, as if there had an older Cormac, Bishop of Trim, in the fifth century. - Yet, in the preceding article, it would seem, that this must have beenamistake. Now,aBishopCormac'snameappearsinvariousCalendars, at the 1 7th. of February. We know not, however, if this be the anniversary
of his death, or whether it occurred here. With many other companion,
saints, buried at Trim, on the 17th of February, in the Martyrology of Tal- lagh,^^ we find his name mentioned. =° It does not seem possible to glean
much more regarding him. To a. d. 741^^ or 742,^^ or 745^2 is assigned the death of this St. Cormac, Bishop of Trim.
Article XVII. —St. Ossan, Bishop of Kathossain, County of Meath. \Saienth Century. '] Colgan has some notices, regarding this saint, at the 17th of February.
^ He was born, most probably about, or after, the beginning of the seventh century. According to Duald Mac Firbis,^ we find' a Bishop Ossan, from Rath-0ssain,3 to the west of Ath Truim. It is thought, that he died on the 17th of February,-^ a. d. 6Z6. He is considered to have lived, at a period, somewhat earlier, than another homonymous saint vene-
" Some Notices of the Church of St. Patrick,
pretermitted saints, in the Bollandists' "Acta
Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Februarii xvii. , p. 3. These writers doubt, if all the fore-
"
vi. , n. p. 48. Also see chap, xl. , pp. 298 to 330.
^^
point from the former was engraved by Messrs. Jacquet et Bisson, Paris, from a
Trim, collected from various authorities.
^4 At pp. 7, 8.
J.
Diocese of
^s See the Rev. A. Cogan's
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap.
going are to be recognised as saints. They consider some may have been Magnates, in- scribed on a Necrology, connected with Trim. However, it seems scarcely possible, all the
The
— —Trim
photogi-aph,
i. , pp. 342, 343.
See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
present
of Feb- See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
furnished Mares, Dublin.
by
Frederick W. Four " vol. Masters,
view of
at a different
died on the
^7 See what is said, at this date, in Article xiii.
^^ See *' Acta Sanctorum Hiberaise," xvii.
Februarii. De S. Cormaco Juniore Ep.
Atht,, n. 9, pp. 361, 362.
^5 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
^° They are thus distinguished : Loman in Ath Truim with his companions,? . ^. , Patrick
Hostiarius orOstiarius,LurechMacCuanach, Fortchern and Coelochtra, or Cselus-Ochtra, Aedha, Aedha, Aedha or ^dus, Cormac, a bishop, Conan,Cuimaen or Comen, a bishop, Lactean or Lacten, a priest, Ossan and Saran, Conaill or Conall and Colman, and Lactan or Luctan, a bishop, Finnsegh or Finsecha, a virgin. These are all said to rest in Ath-Truim. See ibid. Also, among the
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , section xii. , n. 157, p. 418.
**
foregoing
=^ "
17th
ruary.
^^
^3 According to—the " Annals of Ulster. "
Article xvii.
^
See " Acta Sanctorum
Hibernise," xvii. Februarii. De Duobus
Sanctis Ossanis, pp. 366, 367, and the ac-
companying notes.
^
See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. " Irish MSS. series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 88, 89. Also pp. 124, 125.
3 This locality seems lost, among the Irish townland names, at present ; but its site is indicated by the O'Cleiys.
^ See Rev. Anthony Cogan's ** Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap. i. , p. 6, n. , and vol. iii. , chap. Ixxiii. , p. 584.
6o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February 17.
'* rated here, and on the same day. Colgan thinks, that a St. Ossan, at or near
Trim, is alluded to, as one of the makers of sacred vessels for St. Patrick,5
under the name of Essa. ^ Yet, this is clearly irreconcilable with chronology.
However this be, Ossan, Bishop, is the only mention made of him, in the
MartjTology of Tallagh. 7 The Martyrologist, Marianus O'Gorman, calls him " candidus. " In a moral sense, this word indicates his character for inter-
grity or innocence. If it refer to his physical appearance, we may assume that he was a man of clear or fair complexion. We read, as entered in the
Martyrology of Donegal,^ on this day, Ossan, Bishop, of Rath Ossian. His place is particularly pointed out, as being near the western gate of the ancient boroughorcityofTrim. The"AnnalsoftheFourMasters"9placehis death at a. d. 685, while calling him Bishop of Mainistir, or " of the Monas- tery. " The " Annals of Ulster " have his demise at a. d. 686.
Article XVIII. —St. Ossan, supposed to be a Priest, buried in
Trim. [Probably Seventh and Eighth Centuries^ This holy man is thought to have been a brother to St. Cormac,^ Bishop of Trim, regarding whose
family and connexions we have previously treated, on this day. Yet, what seems irreconcilable with this statement is the fact, that we are told, his
father was Athract, son of Aedh, son to Libren, son of Dalian, son to Enda, son of Laogaire. ^^ Thus, like the former Ossan, he belonged to the race of
Laeghaire, son of Niall, according to the O'Clerys. 3 Hence, his supposed connexionwithTrimandMeath. Theyearofhisdeathdoesnotseemto be recorded in our Annals ; and, those notices, we find in Colgan regarding him, are few and obscurely written.
Article XIX. —The Saints, called Aid or Aedh, buried at Trim. These holy personages are treated of, by Colgan, at the 17th of February. ^ In the Genealogic Sanctilogy,=' he finds three Aedhs, in the Catalogue of Saints, descended from King Laoighaire. First, ^dus Major,3 the son of Ferguss, son to Fethlimid, son of Laogaire. Secondly, ^dus Minor, son of the same Ferguss. -^ Thirdly, ^dus, son of Guaire, son to Lugid, son
"
of Laogaire. St. ^ngus mentions these three A^dhs, in his Tract,
On the
Homonymous Saints of Ireland. ^s Their descent from King Laogaire, and
their supposed Meathian origin, as a consequence, are thought by Colgan to
favour the idea, that all of them were venerated at Trim, on the 17th of February. Yet, in another part of his work, the same writer has the follow- ing statement, which conflicts, with the observations that precede. We are
5 See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Septima Sanctis Aedis Athtrumiae quiescentibus, p.
Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. xcviii. , p. 167. 367.
*" See ibid,, n. 133, p. 188.
7 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
52, 53.
9 See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
andn. — (r), pp. 292, 293.
Duobus Sanctis Ossanis, pp. 366, 367, with notes.
Chapter iii.
3 Colgan thinl« he is the same, as Aedh
Coel, or " the lean," son of Feradach, and
"
Article xi.
• It was by no means an unusual custom
to have more than one, bearing the same name, in old Irish families. They were generally distinguished, however, by some
cognomen.
s Book i. It is to be regretted, so many of
our Hagiographical Tracts are yet in MSS.
Article xviii.
Sanctorum Hiberniae," xvii. Februarii. De
" tothe According
Sanctilogic Genealogy,
'
Aedhan, Dartaighe, at the same date, in this work,
chapter iii.
3 See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' " Martyr-
ology of Donegal," pp. 52, 53.
Article xix. —' See " Acta Sanctorum
Hibei-uice," xvii. Februarii. De Tribus
See Colgan's "Acta
noted in the
the 12th of February ; and who, as Marianus adds, was venerated in Cluain Dartadha. See also a notice of St of Cluain
Martyrology of Tallagh," at
February 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 609
''
told, that according to the
whose pious father, Aidus Senior, was a saint, and the latter was son of Aidus, son to Lugad, son of David, son of Fiachrach. Thus he belonged to the race of Hy-Fiachrach. His feast has been assigned to the 17th of
7 February.
Article XX. —St. Miodhu, Son of Fachtna. On the 17th of Feb-
ruary, we find entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ Midu, son of Fachtna, o Shgid. It would seem, that the place of this saint's residence must be
sought for near Sligo. The Martyrology of Donegalj^* on this day, records, Miodhu, son of Fachtna. 3 This was possibly the St. Medanus, son of Fechina,
mentioned by Colgan, as having studied, when a youth,^ under Petrocus, the Briton.
ArticleXXI. —St. Dochonna,SonofOdhran. Dochonna,sonof Odhran, is mentioned in the Martyrologies of Tallagh^ and of Donegal,=^ on
this
day.
Article XXII. —St. Brelach, Son of Fithcheallach. We read in
the Martyrologies of Tallagh^ and of Donegal,^ as having a festival, on this day, Brelach, son of Fithcheallach. It has been conjectured, that the present
saint might possibly be identified with a Brochlecha, from Carbry, who assisted at the great Council of Ballysadare, about a. d. 580. 3 The latter ap- pears, however, to have been a female saint.
Sanctis Athtrumis
Article vii. Kelly, p. xvi.
Articlevi. —^ ' '*
xii. Hibemise,"xvii. Februarii. Dealiisdiver- See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- sis Sanctis Aththrumise quiescentibus, p.
Chapter
niae," xvii. Februarii. De aliis diversis 367. —
—e 367. quiescentibus, p.
'
Article ix.
of Rev. Dr. Article viii. —' See "Acta Sanctorum
Edition
* See "Acta Sanctorum Iliberniae," xvii. Februarii. De aliis diver- sis Sanctis Athtrumiae quiescentibus, p. 367.
» See ibid. ^ xii. Januarii, n. 6, p. 59.
February 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 605
Article XIII. —St. Conaill or Conall, at Trim. Colgan is of opinion,^ that considering the circumstances of race and of local position, this holy man must be Conall, the son of Fiachna, son to Malduin, son of Colman, son to Ard, son of Libren, son to Dalian, son of Enna, son of Laogaire. Such is the pedigree, which occurs in the Sanctilogic Genealogy. ^
ArticleXIV. —St. Colman,atTrim. AmongthemanyIrishsaints, bearing the name of Colman, there are two descended from King Laogaire. It is thought, by Colgan,' that owing to family descent and to local associations, the present may be either St. Colman, son of Lugid, son to Laogaire, or St. Colman, son of Enna, son to Laogaire. ^*
Article XV. —St. Finsecha, or Finnsegh, Virgin. According to St. ^ngus, Marianus O'Gorman and the Calendar of Cashel, this holy virgin, Finsecha, is venerated on the 13th of October, in the mountain of Guarius, intheregionofGalenga. ^ Herfeastisgiven,likewise,atthisday.
Article XVI. —St. Cormac, Bishop of Ath-Truim, now Trim, County of Meath. [Seventh and Eighth Centuries. '] It seems unaccount- able, why so many holy persons are entered in our Irish Calendars, as having been commemorated at Trim, on this date ; for, we can hardly suppose it Avas the Natalis for those, whose names and celebrations we have given, in the preceding order. At the 1 7th of February, Colgan has published the Acts of the present holy bishop,^ whom he considers to have lived, at a later period, than the former St. Cormac. The Bollandists merely class the pre- sent St. Cormac, a bishop, among others venerated, at Trim,^ on this day. 3 This pious prelate is said to have been descended from the royal house of theNialls,aswasalsotheformer,whichColganassumes. Botharethought tohavebeenborninMeath. ThepresentColman'sfatherisnamedColman Hua Suibhne,4 supposed to have descended from Conall, one of the sons of Niail the Great. His mother is called Funecta, daughter of Moelfitric, son to Dima, son of Columb. Certain very probable mistakes have to be cor- rected, in reference to this holy prelate. In consequence of supposing that there was an older Cormac, than he who is called junior, a Bishop of Trim, Colgan has some doubts as to which of them this date for a festival belonged. But, as he was mistaken on these points, as already shown, his doubts in
Article XIII. —^ See "Acta Sanctorum
Hibernise," xvii. Februarii. De aliis diver-
sis Sanctis Athtrumiae quiescentibus, p. 367. ^
Chapter iii.
Article xiv. —^ See "Acta Sanctorum
Hibernise," xvii. Februarii. De aliis diver-
sis Sanctis Athtrumise quiescentibus, p. 367. ^ The Sanctilogic Genealogy, chap. iii.
saints in their "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , xvii. Februarii, p. 3.
^ He is supposed, by Colgan, to have been the son of Colman, surnamed the Small, Prince of Meath, and son to Diermit, son of Cearball, son to Connall, &c. It is though—t, from the circumstances of time and place Trim being in Meath, and Suibhne, Lord of
Article xv. —^ See
Sanctorum Hibernise," xvii. Februarii. De aliis diversis Sanctis Athrumise quiescenti- bus, p. 367.
been killed by Aedh Slaine, "
Juniore Ep. Atht. , p. 361.
^ An interesting account of Trim will be
rum Hibernise," xvii. Februarii. De S. Cormaco Juniore Ep. Atht. , p. 361, and nn.
1,2, 3.
of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 222, 223, and n. (o), ibid.
found in Lewis' "
of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 643 to 645.
Also Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals
TopographicalDictionary 3 He is found among the pretermitted
Colgan's
"Acta
Meath, having
A. D. 596, at Bri-damh, or the Hill of Oxen," over a stream called Suainiu, in the parish and barony of Geshill, King's County—that the foregoing pedigree may
Article XVI. —^ See "Acta Sanctorum
Hibernife," xvii. Februarii. De S. Cormaco be correct. See Colgan's "Acta Sancto-
6o6 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February17.
consequence are unfounded. The occurrence of a festival on the 17th of February, for two distinct Cormacs, probably caused them to be confounded ormistaken,onefortheother. s Thissaintwasborn,probablyintheseventh century. No less than three pious brothers of his are noticed. Rumold,* supposed to be Rumann, or Rumond,^ a very wise man and deeply skilled in history and antiquities,^ who died in 742,9 Boitallach,^° Abbot of Trim, whose death is marked at a. d. 751 ;" and Ossan, the year of whose death is not known. " We are informed, that all of these are inscribed on our Irish
Ruins at Trim, County Meath.
Calendars. ThesituationofTrimisextremelypicturesqueandcommanding.
The Very Rev. Dean Butler has produced a valuable book on this ancient
town, and it is replete with information, especially regarding its ecclesiastical antiquities. ^3 Inthis,hetreatsaboutSt. Cormac. ^4 Anotherecclesiastical
5 See what is stated in the previous arti-
cle. See, also, Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiasti-
cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. ,
sect, xii. , p. 416.
^ Colgan does not think he can be St.
355-
^
His Natalis is not known.
9 In Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
of Belgium, as this name does not often genealogy of this Rumann—
" Rumann, son of Colman, an adept in wis- Rumold, Bishop of Ath-cliath, and patron dom, chronology and poetry, died. " The
Virgil occur in our Irish Annals. He proposed of Ireland—is contained in the " Book of
discussing this question further, when treat- ing on St. Rumold's career.
"''
Ballymote. The Annals of Ulster" have
his death at A. D. 746, and the " Annals of
7 If he be the same, as the present saint's
brother,averycurious—butevidentlyavery O'Donovanthinkstobethetrueyear. See
legendary account ot him—is contained in a vellum manuscript, in the Bodleian Library, at Oxford. This is said to have been copied from the ** Book of Rathain Ua Suanaigh," and the original Irish, with an English trans- lation, will be found in Dr. Petrie's " Ec- clesiastical Architecture of Ireland," &c, part ii. , sect, iii. , subsect. ii. , pp. 353 to
" See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 352, 353.
Four Masters," at A. D. 742, we have entered,
Tighernach," at AD. 747. The latter. Dr. PP- 344, 345, and n. (i).
'°
See notices of him, at the 5 th of Octo- ber.
" His feast occurs, however, at this day. *3 The Rev. Richard Butler published its
history in an anonymous tract, intituled
called the
February 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 607
historian,'5 who has indefatigably laboured to revive the former glories of
Meath, has given a very complete and interesting account of Ath-Truim, as calledinformertimes,andatpresentshortenedtoTrim. ^^ Itisstated,by him, that a religious establishment was founded here as early as St. Patrick's time. The present St. Cormac seems to have had a festival, on the 7th of February,^7oronthisday. However,intheoldCalendars,Cormac,Bishop of Trim, is expressly mentioned, at the 17th of February. This was the Natalis of a St. Comae, at Trim, according to St. yEngus, Marianus O'Gorman, Charles Maguire and other Calendarists. But, as it has been thought, there were different saints, similarly named, and connected with this place, Colgan would not undertake to define, if this were the Cormac intended. '^ However, where he treats of this saint, Colgan calls him Cormac junior, as if there had an older Cormac, Bishop of Trim, in the fifth century. - Yet, in the preceding article, it would seem, that this must have beenamistake. Now,aBishopCormac'snameappearsinvariousCalendars, at the 1 7th. of February. We know not, however, if this be the anniversary
of his death, or whether it occurred here. With many other companion,
saints, buried at Trim, on the 17th of February, in the Martyrology of Tal- lagh,^^ we find his name mentioned. =° It does not seem possible to glean
much more regarding him. To a. d. 741^^ or 742,^^ or 745^2 is assigned the death of this St. Cormac, Bishop of Trim.
Article XVII. —St. Ossan, Bishop of Kathossain, County of Meath. \Saienth Century. '] Colgan has some notices, regarding this saint, at the 17th of February.
^ He was born, most probably about, or after, the beginning of the seventh century. According to Duald Mac Firbis,^ we find' a Bishop Ossan, from Rath-0ssain,3 to the west of Ath Truim. It is thought, that he died on the 17th of February,-^ a. d. 6Z6. He is considered to have lived, at a period, somewhat earlier, than another homonymous saint vene-
" Some Notices of the Church of St. Patrick,
pretermitted saints, in the Bollandists' "Acta
Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Februarii xvii. , p. 3. These writers doubt, if all the fore-
"
vi. , n. p. 48. Also see chap, xl. , pp. 298 to 330.
^^
point from the former was engraved by Messrs. Jacquet et Bisson, Paris, from a
Trim, collected from various authorities.
^4 At pp. 7, 8.
J.
Diocese of
^s See the Rev. A. Cogan's
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap.
going are to be recognised as saints. They consider some may have been Magnates, in- scribed on a Necrology, connected with Trim. However, it seems scarcely possible, all the
The
— —Trim
photogi-aph,
i. , pp. 342, 343.
See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
present
of Feb- See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
furnished Mares, Dublin.
by
Frederick W. Four " vol. Masters,
view of
at a different
died on the
^7 See what is said, at this date, in Article xiii.
^^ See *' Acta Sanctorum Hiberaise," xvii.
Februarii. De S. Cormaco Juniore Ep.
Atht,, n. 9, pp. 361, 362.
^5 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
^° They are thus distinguished : Loman in Ath Truim with his companions,? . ^. , Patrick
Hostiarius orOstiarius,LurechMacCuanach, Fortchern and Coelochtra, or Cselus-Ochtra, Aedha, Aedha, Aedha or ^dus, Cormac, a bishop, Conan,Cuimaen or Comen, a bishop, Lactean or Lacten, a priest, Ossan and Saran, Conaill or Conall and Colman, and Lactan or Luctan, a bishop, Finnsegh or Finsecha, a virgin. These are all said to rest in Ath-Truim. See ibid. Also, among the
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , section xii. , n. 157, p. 418.
**
foregoing
=^ "
17th
ruary.
^^
^3 According to—the " Annals of Ulster. "
Article xvii.
^
See " Acta Sanctorum
Hibernise," xvii. Februarii. De Duobus
Sanctis Ossanis, pp. 366, 367, and the ac-
companying notes.
^
See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. " Irish MSS. series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 88, 89. Also pp. 124, 125.
3 This locality seems lost, among the Irish townland names, at present ; but its site is indicated by the O'Cleiys.
^ See Rev. Anthony Cogan's ** Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap. i. , p. 6, n. , and vol. iii. , chap. Ixxiii. , p. 584.
6o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February 17.
'* rated here, and on the same day. Colgan thinks, that a St. Ossan, at or near
Trim, is alluded to, as one of the makers of sacred vessels for St. Patrick,5
under the name of Essa. ^ Yet, this is clearly irreconcilable with chronology.
However this be, Ossan, Bishop, is the only mention made of him, in the
MartjTology of Tallagh. 7 The Martyrologist, Marianus O'Gorman, calls him " candidus. " In a moral sense, this word indicates his character for inter-
grity or innocence. If it refer to his physical appearance, we may assume that he was a man of clear or fair complexion. We read, as entered in the
Martyrology of Donegal,^ on this day, Ossan, Bishop, of Rath Ossian. His place is particularly pointed out, as being near the western gate of the ancient boroughorcityofTrim. The"AnnalsoftheFourMasters"9placehis death at a. d. 685, while calling him Bishop of Mainistir, or " of the Monas- tery. " The " Annals of Ulster " have his demise at a. d. 686.
Article XVIII. —St. Ossan, supposed to be a Priest, buried in
Trim. [Probably Seventh and Eighth Centuries^ This holy man is thought to have been a brother to St. Cormac,^ Bishop of Trim, regarding whose
family and connexions we have previously treated, on this day. Yet, what seems irreconcilable with this statement is the fact, that we are told, his
father was Athract, son of Aedh, son to Libren, son of Dalian, son to Enda, son of Laogaire. ^^ Thus, like the former Ossan, he belonged to the race of
Laeghaire, son of Niall, according to the O'Clerys. 3 Hence, his supposed connexionwithTrimandMeath. Theyearofhisdeathdoesnotseemto be recorded in our Annals ; and, those notices, we find in Colgan regarding him, are few and obscurely written.
Article XIX. —The Saints, called Aid or Aedh, buried at Trim. These holy personages are treated of, by Colgan, at the 17th of February. ^ In the Genealogic Sanctilogy,=' he finds three Aedhs, in the Catalogue of Saints, descended from King Laoighaire. First, ^dus Major,3 the son of Ferguss, son to Fethlimid, son of Laogaire. Secondly, ^dus Minor, son of the same Ferguss. -^ Thirdly, ^dus, son of Guaire, son to Lugid, son
"
of Laogaire. St. ^ngus mentions these three A^dhs, in his Tract,
On the
Homonymous Saints of Ireland. ^s Their descent from King Laogaire, and
their supposed Meathian origin, as a consequence, are thought by Colgan to
favour the idea, that all of them were venerated at Trim, on the 17th of February. Yet, in another part of his work, the same writer has the follow- ing statement, which conflicts, with the observations that precede. We are
5 See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Septima Sanctis Aedis Athtrumiae quiescentibus, p.
Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. xcviii. , p. 167. 367.
*" See ibid,, n. 133, p. 188.
7 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
52, 53.
9 See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
andn. — (r), pp. 292, 293.
Duobus Sanctis Ossanis, pp. 366, 367, with notes.
Chapter iii.
3 Colgan thinl« he is the same, as Aedh
Coel, or " the lean," son of Feradach, and
"
Article xi.
• It was by no means an unusual custom
to have more than one, bearing the same name, in old Irish families. They were generally distinguished, however, by some
cognomen.
s Book i. It is to be regretted, so many of
our Hagiographical Tracts are yet in MSS.
Article xviii.
Sanctorum Hiberniae," xvii. Februarii. De
" tothe According
Sanctilogic Genealogy,
'
Aedhan, Dartaighe, at the same date, in this work,
chapter iii.
3 See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' " Martyr-
ology of Donegal," pp. 52, 53.
Article xix. —' See " Acta Sanctorum
Hibei-uice," xvii. Februarii. De Tribus
See Colgan's "Acta
noted in the
the 12th of February ; and who, as Marianus adds, was venerated in Cluain Dartadha. See also a notice of St of Cluain
Martyrology of Tallagh," at
February 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 609
''
told, that according to the
whose pious father, Aidus Senior, was a saint, and the latter was son of Aidus, son to Lugad, son of David, son of Fiachrach. Thus he belonged to the race of Hy-Fiachrach. His feast has been assigned to the 17th of
7 February.
Article XX. —St. Miodhu, Son of Fachtna. On the 17th of Feb-
ruary, we find entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ Midu, son of Fachtna, o Shgid. It would seem, that the place of this saint's residence must be
sought for near Sligo. The Martyrology of Donegalj^* on this day, records, Miodhu, son of Fachtna. 3 This was possibly the St. Medanus, son of Fechina,
mentioned by Colgan, as having studied, when a youth,^ under Petrocus, the Briton.
ArticleXXI. —St. Dochonna,SonofOdhran. Dochonna,sonof Odhran, is mentioned in the Martyrologies of Tallagh^ and of Donegal,=^ on
this
day.
Article XXII. —St. Brelach, Son of Fithcheallach. We read in
the Martyrologies of Tallagh^ and of Donegal,^ as having a festival, on this day, Brelach, son of Fithcheallach. It has been conjectured, that the present
saint might possibly be identified with a Brochlecha, from Carbry, who assisted at the great Council of Ballysadare, about a. d. 580. 3 The latter ap- pears, however, to have been a female saint.
