Kilfenora is a
compound
name, thus probably formed ; Kil-fen (a contraction—of Fechnan)—o de, or from Ra, or Ria.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
, cap.
xiiii.
, p.
96.
Irish distich from the Book of which he thus translates into Latin
"Dongalus a Fachtna, ter nonusEpisco- Pus> extat
Lugadia de gente, dedit cui Rossia mitram. "
Scriptoribus Hiberniae,"
See "Transactions of the Royal Irish
Lecain,
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , parti. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. cxxxi. 12 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
13 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
J« „n
itin English
niae'," Martii xiii.
Vita S. Mochoemoci, d,
i_ lL
,
paraphrased
Hi- berniam Sancti Confessoris Fachtne. "—See
"
Saints," KalendariumDrummondiense, p. 21.
"Hail,happyRoss! whocouldproduce thrice nine,
All mitred sages of Line, Lugadia's
From Fachnan, crowned with ever-
lasting praise,
Down to the date of Dongal's pious
Bishop Forbes'
Kalendars of Scottish
's In " Officia
Propria
Sanctorum
Hiber-
nUE 1s0' o
See Ussher s
P- 907.
»He " is styled,
18 See Roderick O'Flaherty's "
Ad Ann. Edw. I. 50
"
Sept. Apud
:
mn•
Pnmordia," cap. xvii. ,
S. Finchadius de Domh-
"
Days. "
—See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Ross," p. 584.
20 See ibid. , pp. 584 to 588.
nach-mor. " See Colgan's
Hiberniae," Martii xxvi. De S. Garvano Abbate, p. 750. Yet, there is no clue to his identity, under the designation of
more, in any of our Irish Calendars.
Ogygia," '? As proof of this O'Flaherty quotes an
Remgm.
« See " De Scriptoribus Hibernian"
pars. 111. , cap. lxvn. , p. 330.
Acta Sanctorum
"Bishops of
Donough-
2I In other records it is called "
dir. Comput. Joh. Samford in Offic.
Rosseliher,
The Rev. Mr. Duncan has t~
lib. i. , cap. xiv. , p. 96.
the
Diocese of
Ross,
— :
Rossyli-
196 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 14.
2
honourable place in the esteem of all. * According to an old tradition, the
townofRossaiLithryhadbeenwalledaboutbyaladyofthatcountry; but,
in the seventeenth century, scarcely could the former foundations be seen. 2*
In there was also a Benedictine 2* which owed obedience to it, Monastery,
the Benedictine Abbey of St. James, without the walls of Wurtzburgh, in the
provinceofMentz,inGermany. 26 TheruinsofRoscarberyAbbeyaresituated on a rocky height near the cathedral, and these consist of two sides of a
chapel, exhibiting marks of a rude and comparatively high antiquity. Near the east end of the north wall, there is a small and narrow window ; and on the south side, there is a round-headed doorway, built with well-squared sand- stone, but destitute of artistic decoration. The stones in the walls are unhewn, yet they are properly embedded in a cement of lime, gravel and small stones. The inside of the walls appears to have been covered with a
2
thick coat of lime and gravel, worked into a plaster. ? — It is said, the epis-
copal t—own of Ross received the affix, alithre, or alithri which is now spelled,
a resort for and also oilithre on account of its having been great pilgrims,
to distinguish it from many other places, called Ross, in different parts of Ireland. 28 The old cathedral here has undergone alterations, at different times ; the nave is the oldest part ; but, it now possesses hardly any archi- tectural interest. A tower rises from the west end, and this is surmounted by a spire of hewn stone, about fifty feet in height ; these additions, however, are quite modern, as compared with the body of the cathedral. To this church was formerly attached besides the Bishop, a Chapter of Canons, consisting of a Dean, Chantor, Chancellor, Archdeacon and Treasurer, with five Preben- daries. 2? There is an Inquisition extant,3° and setting forth, the ancient
1
franchises of the See, viz. , wrecks of the sea, &C. 3
From our Annals, we learn, that Ross-Carbry suffered much from hostile
raids, in past ages ; and especially, in the feuds between the Mac-Carthys and O'Driscolls, it was nearly destroyed. Our saint was one of those memorable scholars of the sixth century, who imparted to Ireland its best and greatest pride in antiquity, by rendering it the seat of learning and sanctity in ages, during which the neighbouring nations were plunged in mental darkness, and
had no other boast than that of triumphant bloodshed. 32
Article II. —St. Fachananus, Bishop of Kilfenora Diocese. [Probably in the Sixth or Seventh Century. '] Still less do we know regard- ing the present than we can learn in reference to the preceding holy Bishop. However, as popular tradition has held this saint in veneration, and has
33 See ** De Hibernia et
Antiquitatibus
n. 194. 43, p.
29 These were Timoleague, De Insula, Carrogranemore, Templebryan, and Don- naghmore. The Diocese, moreover, was divided into three Rural Deaneries, viz. , Artagh, Tirerril and Carbury. See Harris'
ejus," &&, cap. xxvi. , p. 200.
3* See Dr. Meredith Hanmer's " Chroni-
cle of Ireland," p. 118.
a 5 Sir James Ware mistakes, when he sets
this down as a foundation for Augustinian Canons. See "De Hibernia, et Anticjuitatibus ejus," &c, cap. xxvi. , p. 200.
* See Father Ward's or Father O'Sheeran's
" Sancti Rumoldi Martyiis Inclyti, Archie-
piscopi Dublinensis, Mechliniensium Apos-
toli," &c. Dissertatio Historica, Art. XIV. ,
sect. 10, pp. 292, 293.
2
? See the "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. iii. , p. 157.
38 See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, iv. ,
"
3° Among the Records of the Court of
King's Bench, in Dublin, Anno 29, Edw. I. , Memb. 20.
3I Charles Smith produces from the King's Books a statement of the Diocese of Ross,in the "Ancient and Present State of theCounty and City of Cork," vol. i. , book i. , chap, ii. , pp. 72 to 74.
3' See "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire- land," vol. iii. , p. 158.
Ware, vol. i. ,
Bishops of Ross," p. 583.
August 14:] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 197
placed him for Patron over the Diocese of Kilfenora ; nothing appears to
disturb such claims on our respect, at the present time, as for many long
ages past those distinctions have been sufficiently established. Like many
other saintly persons, unrecorded in our Calendars, his name has solely
remained, and it has been associated with that See as its special guardian.
The time when he lived is likewise unknown, and even the early history of
his diocese is buried in obscurity. As the Patron Saints of Ross and Kil-
fenora Dioceses have been named Fachtnan and Fachananus, and as their
festival occurs on the 14th of August, it is very generally supposed, and
accepted as proved, that the same individual must have been the founder of
both Sees. That St. Fechannan or Fechnan of Ross should not be confounded
with a St. Fechannan or Fachnan, to whom Kilfenora church has been
1
dedicated, is an opinion also entertained; and, it is thought probable
enough, they may have been different persons. The Rev. Dr. Lanigan can
hardly believe, that Kilfenora had not a Fachnan or Fachtna of its own.
2
Among the real or pretended disciples of St. Barr, we find, besides Fachnan
of Ross, a St. Fachna seu Facundus de Ria. 3 These are related to have been distinct persons j* and, it cannot be doubted, that the latter existed in olden
times, probably in the seventh century. s Yet, nothing more particular appears to be known about St. Fachna de Ria. The origin of Kilfenora See is also buried in obscurity ; and, our Annals are silent regarding its early prelates. In the Book of Valuations of the Apostolic —Chamber, compiled by Centius Camerarius—afterwards Pope Honorius III. it is styled Celluma- brach, recte Cill-Fionnabhrach. 6 In the distribution of the ancient Irish Bishoprics,madebyCardinalPaparoin 1152,thiswasassignedasasuffragan See to the Archbishopric of Cashel ; but, since the Restoration of King Charles II. , it has been annexed to the ecclesiastical Province of Tuam. ? This diocese comprehends only the Baronies of Corcomroe and Burren, which are in the north -western division in the County of Clare. The former city or town of Kilfenora has now dwindled into an insignificant village. It is situated in the present barony of Corcomroe, and as the cathedral had been dedicated to St. Fachnan, so he is generally deemed to have been its first
*
Article ii. — Thus the Rev. Dr. Ria; S. Facundus de Ros-alither. De S.
"
also a house in Darinis. Why not mention, likewise, Kilfenora, had he been there ?
especially as it became an episcopal See. It may be said, that Fachnan wa^revered there not as founder of the See, but as the saint in whose name the church was dedicated, long perhaps —before there was any bishop of Kil- fenora. " "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, iv. , n. 51, pp. 196, 197.
8
His feast occurs at the 25th of Septem- ber, where his Acts may be found, in the Ninth Volume of this work, Art. i.
That Fachnan of Ross did not found that See, or even a monastery there, is evident from its not being men- tioned in the Calendars, when treating of him, notwithstanding the care taken not to
Garvano Abbate, p. 750.
* The latter is alluded to in Ussher's
Lanigan argues :
Why may we not suppose, that he was the omit that, besides Ross, he had governed founder of Kilfenora ? Its very name seems
from a photograph, presents an interior 3 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- view of Kilfenora church, and it has been
nioe," at the 26th of March, where among
the disciples of St. Barr or Finnbar, we find
drawn on the wood by William F. Wake-
man. The engraving is by Mrs. Millard. ,
9 See James Frazer's "Handbook for
enumerated,
"
S. Fachna seu Facundus de
"
'*
Primordia," cap. xvi. , p. 791.
5 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan asks and adds :
to lead to this conclusion, Fachnan is often called Fechnan.
Kilfenora is a compound name, thus probably formed ; Kil-fen (a contraction—of Fechnan)—o de, or from Ra, or Ria. "
and n. 51, pp. 196, 197. — 6
" Ecclesiastical of History
Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, iv. , p. 194,
Ibid.
This is the name it bears, in our Irish
Annals,
7 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
"
Bishops of
Kilfenoragh," p. 622.
8 The accompanying illustration, taken
198
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 14.
founder. rensis.
The church was called Fenabore, and this is Latinized Finabo- The Bishop of this See was also called the Bishop of Corcomroe. The place is undoubt- edly one of high anti-
Interior of Kilfenora Cathedral.
ture stood on the site of one having a much earlier date ; and that it served for the purposes of the former Diocesan Cathedral seems to be established, since it still remains within the ancient cemetery, now enclosed with a good stone wall. As the definite information about Fachananus is wanting, so the exactyearofthissaint'sdeathisnotknown. Itwouldappear,however,that he lived, at least until the close of the sixth century. This is proved from the following circumstances, if these particulars have a special reference to him. Our saint, it is assumed, must have been alive, in the year 587, as the Irish
10
Annalsstate,thatColman, sonofFearadhach,chiefofOssory,diedinthe
year 60 1. " Now, Fachannan is said to have lived fourteen years prior to
the death of this prince. We are told, in the Lifeaof St. Pulcherius,TM that 11
on a certain occasion, Colman, * prince of Ossory, * chased a fugitive and
Travellers in Ireland," Route No. 74, p. 385.
10
According tothe copyof ColganVTrias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbsc. n. 46, p. 375, with Roderick O'Flaherty's MS. note appended. This copy at present belongs
Volume of this work, at the 13th of March, the date for his feast, Art. i.
13 He was father to the celebrated Scanlan, prince of Ossory, who reigned over that principality, for more than thirty years. See Adamnan's "Vita S. Columbse," lib. i. , cap. xi. —
14 The Mac Gillaphadreig anglice Fitz- patrick—family claims descent from Cinn-
to the Dublin Society's Library. 11 "
See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 230, 231.
" See an "account of him in the Third
quity, and at present
interesting ruins of a former cathedral church
8
According to some accounts,9these ruins are portions of an ancient Abbey that stood here, before both the town and abbey had been burned by Murrough O'Brien, in 1055. A considerable part of the walls still exists while a circu-
;
larly-headed and triplet
window, and within
those fine ecclesiastical
ruins, its mullions are
well preserved. This
strikingarchitectural fea- ture is deeply recessed
in a framing of moulded chamfers. Several old tombs and many with
inscriptions are to be met with, in the interior of the church. There can hardly be a doubt, thatthis mediae valstruc-
are there.
August 14] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 199
an enemy, named Finanus, to St. Pulcherius' monastery, where refuge was
sought. There Colman violated the right of sanctuary, by searching every building in connection with it, so that he might slay that adversary. Where-
"
petitions to God ; two of these have been denied, but the third request has
been granted. The first petition was for a speedy'. death ; yet, the Almighty has been pleased to grant you, through St. Fachannan,*s a life of fourteen years not expired. The second petition was, that you should not obtain heaven l6
; yet, on account of St. Kainichus, ? eternal life will be granted you. The third petition was—and the Lord has assented at present to it—that before the end of this month, you may be banished from your kingdom. " On hear- ing these words pronounced, the chieftain repented. He presented offerings
upon, St. Pulcherius said to the prince :
I have preferred against you three
1
to God and to St. Pulcherius. The latter then said to him
:
" You shall be
deprived of your rule, and scarce escape with life, still, as you have many
holy men friendly to you, in three days your sway shall be recovered, and
my friend St. Canicus, now an old man, shall assist you in all matters. " Filled
with joy, the prince retired, after hearing this prophetic declaration. He also
received a blessing from St. Pulcherius. 18 It is thought '9 this latter saint
could scarcely have founded his monastery, before a. d. 580. On such data^
we find St. Fachannan alive, after this period. In the Third Index of
Colgan's work,20 there is a distinction drawn between the Fachnan here
spoken of and the Fachnan of Ross, mentioned in a former part of the Life
21 nor indeed is it
in the chapter of accidents, that two different saints, bearing so exceptionally similar and scarce a name in our Calendars, and whose festivals fall on the
same day, can be regarded, moreover, as existing contemporaries. That some early monastic establishment had been here located seems to be certain,
although we cannot discover the name of the founder nor the date for its foundation. It was probably one of those peculiarly constructed Irish
religious institutes, comprising a group of cells, in close proximity with the church. We can only learn, that in the year 1055, the Abbey and town of Kilfenora were burned, by Murrough O'Brien,22 as we glean from the Annals of Munster. It is only in the thirteenth century that we have any accounts
of St. Pulcherius this does not seem ; yet,
probable,
likely,
ofthe
who
23 nowa inthe suffragan one,
overthis
designated Fachtna Eps, of Uachongbhail, Reidbaircend, and he was vene- rated on^the 19th of January. The festival of the other Fachtna o Chraebhaig is set down at the 3rd of March. 24 Neither of these appears to have been identical with St. Fachannan, patron saint of the dioceses of Ross and Ki—l- fenora. The history of the See ofKilfenora—or as Ware calls it^enabore
is so obscure, that he was not able to decide by whom it was founded. In
bishops,
ecclesiastical province of Tuam. The Martyrology of Tallaght only gives two Fachtnas,besidestheFachtnaMacMongachofRosAilithir, orRoscarberry, and whose name occurs, at the 14th of August. One of the former is
j
aela, brother to this Colman. See O'Dono-
*
van's
"
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. ,
comminatory, as seems from the sequence, while from similar examples found in the Acts of our saints, and from other ecclesiastical documents, many obvious difficulties can be solved, in reference to it.
,7 St. Canice, Patron of Kilkenny Diocese, whose Life may be found at the nth of October, the date for his festival,
l8 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," Martii xiii. Vita S. Mochoemoci, cap. xxx. , p. 594. In a note, appended to the account contained in our text, we are
n. (s), p. 230.
,s It may be, that the present narrative
applies to St. Fachtnan, Patron of Ross Diocese; and, if, as many think, he did not differ from the Patron of Kilfenora Diocese, the account in like manner has reference to the latter saint.
16 On this passage, Colgan justly observes,
that this petition or imprecation may appear
harsh and cruel to some ; still, as it was
only
presided
See,
200 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 14.
one place,25 he says, it may be judged that St. Fachnan was the founder. In
26
another, he merely states, that its cathedral was dedicated to his memory.
He clearly seems to have meant St. Fachnan of Ross. And so the matter appears to be understood at present, in the diocese of Kilfenora ; whereas, the festival of the patron saint is kept there on the 14th of August, as if St. Fachnan of Ross was he also of Kilfenora. But, says Rev. Dr. Lanigan, it is
much more that probable,
2 7 However this
were different
be, it seems, that in the choir of the Cathedral of Kilfenora, the alleged tomb of St. Fachnan is pointed out 28 so that popular tradition distinguishes him
;
from St. Fachnan, Patron of Ross, who as already stated is reputed to have
been there buried.
Several old Irish crosses are still to be seen in the grave- yard at Kilfenora. One of these is remarkably' high,
and evidently of antique workmanship, while the style
of carving is very quaint, and in some respects rather
2
original. 9 Between the cir-
cular-connections at the
arms, a rude representation
Cross at Kilfenora.
The cross itself is not well
proportioned in all its parts,
norhasit anyoftheinter-
lacing ornaments so peculiar to other monuments of its kind. The feast of St. Fachanan is observed, on the 14th of August, as a Double of the First Class, with an Octave, in the dio- cese of Ross and Kilfenora; for, it is generally assumed, that the same person was a Bishop over either See, at some period of his life, or that he had been established at Ross, and had been after- wards
told, this transaction must have occurred before a. d. 590, as afterwards, the Colman
particularly as the Life is written with great order, regularity, and a cautious precision in
discriminating, when necessary, certain names by the addition of a surname or some other distinctive mark, lest the reader —
alluded to lived fourteen years. 32, ibid. , p. 597.
See nn. 31,
19 By Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
,0 The " Acta Sanctorum Tertius Index Historicus.
Hibernia," confound different
might persons together. "
21 On this matter, the Rev. Dr.
argues : "if that were the case, would not the author of said Life, who in both places exhibits Fachnan as a great saint, have given us some clue towards discovering that he alluded to more than one of that name ?
they
persons.
may
as Patron It seems since not only are our,records wanting for its elucidation, but even our traditions afford
. . .
no clue, from which a satisfactory conclusion may be drawn.
accepted for both dioceses. well nigh impossible to unravel this mystery, at the present time ;
Lanigan
of the crucifixion is
figured.
"
chap, xii. , sect, iv. , and n. 49, p. 196.
Ecclesiastical
History
of
Ireland," vol. ii. ,
32 See Rev.
"
Monas-
Mervyn Archdall's ticon Hibernicum," p. 52.
83 See Harris' vol. "
Ware, i. , Bishops
of
Kilfenoragh," pp. 622 to 626.
24 See Rev. Dr. Kelly's « Calendar of
August 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 201
Article III. —St. Fachtna, Bishop and Abbot of Dairinis Maelanfaidh, in Hy Kinsellagh, or in the County of Waterford, [Sixth Century], When the reader has studied the remarks already offered in connection with St. Fachtna or Fachtnan of the diocese of Ross, and also
those relating to St. Fachananus, patron of the diocese of Kilfenora; he may in
the relation which here follows form some judgment, as to whether the present
holy Abbot of Dairinis Maelanfaidh had a distinct place in history, or
whether he should not be regarded as one and the same person, especially with
the patron of Ross. Indeed, the latter appears to have been an opinion
formed by the compiler of a very ancient record, and known as the Calendar
of Cashel. Of course, there is the alternative suspicion, that confused tradi-
tions, or similarity of name and of festivals occurring on the same day, may
have occasioned some mistake. If they be identical, however, the following
remarks are necessary to present some additional biographic particulars.
The festival of Fachtna of Maelanfaid's Dairinis, said to have been the son of
a or has been set down in the " Feilire" of St. 1 at wright carpenter, ^Engus,
the 14th of August. In the comment annexed, he is called bishop and abbot
2 Weare
when Fachtna was born, much hair was on him. 3 It is difficult to form a
conception of his personal appearance, from such an indefinite description j but, it seems likely, that the remarkable characteristic manifested at the time of his birth must have continued during the remainder of his life. However, we need not necessarily suppose more, than that his head was covered with a remarkably fine growth of hair, when he was an infant ; and probably, according to Irish custom, he then received that soubriquet, which was never afterwards abandoned. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,* at this day, there is an entry regarding Fachtna, son to Mongan, of Ros Ailithir, in T-sair. s His Acts—if written—are not now attainable. We have only some scattered notices, regarding him, through various sources. According to received tra- dition, however, he was a Bishop and Confessor. In other instances, our saint is called Fachtna Mongach and Fachtnan mhic Mongaigh, the meaning
of his surname having different interpretations. In the former case, Mon- """
of inHui Dairinis,
Cinnselaig.
told, moreover,
ina that comment,
gach, signifying the hirsute or hairy," is supposed to have been applied, on account of Fachanan having been born with hair. 6 In the latter case, we
IrishSaints,pp. xiii. ,xvii. ,xxxii. 25 See Antiquities, cap. 29.
26 When treating on the Bishops.
sdir)afaircaptive: thefeastofFachtnaethe
hairy child. "—" Transactions of the Royal
Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series,
27 See his
"
Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
vol. i. . part i. p.
Irish distich from the Book of which he thus translates into Latin
"Dongalus a Fachtna, ter nonusEpisco- Pus> extat
Lugadia de gente, dedit cui Rossia mitram. "
Scriptoribus Hiberniae,"
See "Transactions of the Royal Irish
Lecain,
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , parti. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. cxxxi. 12 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
13 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
J« „n
itin English
niae'," Martii xiii.
Vita S. Mochoemoci, d,
i_ lL
,
paraphrased
Hi- berniam Sancti Confessoris Fachtne. "—See
"
Saints," KalendariumDrummondiense, p. 21.
"Hail,happyRoss! whocouldproduce thrice nine,
All mitred sages of Line, Lugadia's
From Fachnan, crowned with ever-
lasting praise,
Down to the date of Dongal's pious
Bishop Forbes'
Kalendars of Scottish
's In " Officia
Propria
Sanctorum
Hiber-
nUE 1s0' o
See Ussher s
P- 907.
»He " is styled,
18 See Roderick O'Flaherty's "
Ad Ann. Edw. I. 50
"
Sept. Apud
:
mn•
Pnmordia," cap. xvii. ,
S. Finchadius de Domh-
"
Days. "
—See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Ross," p. 584.
20 See ibid. , pp. 584 to 588.
nach-mor. " See Colgan's
Hiberniae," Martii xxvi. De S. Garvano Abbate, p. 750. Yet, there is no clue to his identity, under the designation of
more, in any of our Irish Calendars.
Ogygia," '? As proof of this O'Flaherty quotes an
Remgm.
« See " De Scriptoribus Hibernian"
pars. 111. , cap. lxvn. , p. 330.
Acta Sanctorum
"Bishops of
Donough-
2I In other records it is called "
dir. Comput. Joh. Samford in Offic.
Rosseliher,
The Rev. Mr. Duncan has t~
lib. i. , cap. xiv. , p. 96.
the
Diocese of
Ross,
— :
Rossyli-
196 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 14.
2
honourable place in the esteem of all. * According to an old tradition, the
townofRossaiLithryhadbeenwalledaboutbyaladyofthatcountry; but,
in the seventeenth century, scarcely could the former foundations be seen. 2*
In there was also a Benedictine 2* which owed obedience to it, Monastery,
the Benedictine Abbey of St. James, without the walls of Wurtzburgh, in the
provinceofMentz,inGermany. 26 TheruinsofRoscarberyAbbeyaresituated on a rocky height near the cathedral, and these consist of two sides of a
chapel, exhibiting marks of a rude and comparatively high antiquity. Near the east end of the north wall, there is a small and narrow window ; and on the south side, there is a round-headed doorway, built with well-squared sand- stone, but destitute of artistic decoration. The stones in the walls are unhewn, yet they are properly embedded in a cement of lime, gravel and small stones. The inside of the walls appears to have been covered with a
2
thick coat of lime and gravel, worked into a plaster. ? — It is said, the epis-
copal t—own of Ross received the affix, alithre, or alithri which is now spelled,
a resort for and also oilithre on account of its having been great pilgrims,
to distinguish it from many other places, called Ross, in different parts of Ireland. 28 The old cathedral here has undergone alterations, at different times ; the nave is the oldest part ; but, it now possesses hardly any archi- tectural interest. A tower rises from the west end, and this is surmounted by a spire of hewn stone, about fifty feet in height ; these additions, however, are quite modern, as compared with the body of the cathedral. To this church was formerly attached besides the Bishop, a Chapter of Canons, consisting of a Dean, Chantor, Chancellor, Archdeacon and Treasurer, with five Preben- daries. 2? There is an Inquisition extant,3° and setting forth, the ancient
1
franchises of the See, viz. , wrecks of the sea, &C. 3
From our Annals, we learn, that Ross-Carbry suffered much from hostile
raids, in past ages ; and especially, in the feuds between the Mac-Carthys and O'Driscolls, it was nearly destroyed. Our saint was one of those memorable scholars of the sixth century, who imparted to Ireland its best and greatest pride in antiquity, by rendering it the seat of learning and sanctity in ages, during which the neighbouring nations were plunged in mental darkness, and
had no other boast than that of triumphant bloodshed. 32
Article II. —St. Fachananus, Bishop of Kilfenora Diocese. [Probably in the Sixth or Seventh Century. '] Still less do we know regard- ing the present than we can learn in reference to the preceding holy Bishop. However, as popular tradition has held this saint in veneration, and has
33 See ** De Hibernia et
Antiquitatibus
n. 194. 43, p.
29 These were Timoleague, De Insula, Carrogranemore, Templebryan, and Don- naghmore. The Diocese, moreover, was divided into three Rural Deaneries, viz. , Artagh, Tirerril and Carbury. See Harris'
ejus," &&, cap. xxvi. , p. 200.
3* See Dr. Meredith Hanmer's " Chroni-
cle of Ireland," p. 118.
a 5 Sir James Ware mistakes, when he sets
this down as a foundation for Augustinian Canons. See "De Hibernia, et Anticjuitatibus ejus," &c, cap. xxvi. , p. 200.
* See Father Ward's or Father O'Sheeran's
" Sancti Rumoldi Martyiis Inclyti, Archie-
piscopi Dublinensis, Mechliniensium Apos-
toli," &c. Dissertatio Historica, Art. XIV. ,
sect. 10, pp. 292, 293.
2
? See the "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. iii. , p. 157.
38 See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, iv. ,
"
3° Among the Records of the Court of
King's Bench, in Dublin, Anno 29, Edw. I. , Memb. 20.
3I Charles Smith produces from the King's Books a statement of the Diocese of Ross,in the "Ancient and Present State of theCounty and City of Cork," vol. i. , book i. , chap, ii. , pp. 72 to 74.
3' See "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire- land," vol. iii. , p. 158.
Ware, vol. i. ,
Bishops of Ross," p. 583.
August 14:] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 197
placed him for Patron over the Diocese of Kilfenora ; nothing appears to
disturb such claims on our respect, at the present time, as for many long
ages past those distinctions have been sufficiently established. Like many
other saintly persons, unrecorded in our Calendars, his name has solely
remained, and it has been associated with that See as its special guardian.
The time when he lived is likewise unknown, and even the early history of
his diocese is buried in obscurity. As the Patron Saints of Ross and Kil-
fenora Dioceses have been named Fachtnan and Fachananus, and as their
festival occurs on the 14th of August, it is very generally supposed, and
accepted as proved, that the same individual must have been the founder of
both Sees. That St. Fechannan or Fechnan of Ross should not be confounded
with a St. Fechannan or Fachnan, to whom Kilfenora church has been
1
dedicated, is an opinion also entertained; and, it is thought probable
enough, they may have been different persons. The Rev. Dr. Lanigan can
hardly believe, that Kilfenora had not a Fachnan or Fachtna of its own.
2
Among the real or pretended disciples of St. Barr, we find, besides Fachnan
of Ross, a St. Fachna seu Facundus de Ria. 3 These are related to have been distinct persons j* and, it cannot be doubted, that the latter existed in olden
times, probably in the seventh century. s Yet, nothing more particular appears to be known about St. Fachna de Ria. The origin of Kilfenora See is also buried in obscurity ; and, our Annals are silent regarding its early prelates. In the Book of Valuations of the Apostolic —Chamber, compiled by Centius Camerarius—afterwards Pope Honorius III. it is styled Celluma- brach, recte Cill-Fionnabhrach. 6 In the distribution of the ancient Irish Bishoprics,madebyCardinalPaparoin 1152,thiswasassignedasasuffragan See to the Archbishopric of Cashel ; but, since the Restoration of King Charles II. , it has been annexed to the ecclesiastical Province of Tuam. ? This diocese comprehends only the Baronies of Corcomroe and Burren, which are in the north -western division in the County of Clare. The former city or town of Kilfenora has now dwindled into an insignificant village. It is situated in the present barony of Corcomroe, and as the cathedral had been dedicated to St. Fachnan, so he is generally deemed to have been its first
*
Article ii. — Thus the Rev. Dr. Ria; S. Facundus de Ros-alither. De S.
"
also a house in Darinis. Why not mention, likewise, Kilfenora, had he been there ?
especially as it became an episcopal See. It may be said, that Fachnan wa^revered there not as founder of the See, but as the saint in whose name the church was dedicated, long perhaps —before there was any bishop of Kil- fenora. " "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, iv. , n. 51, pp. 196, 197.
8
His feast occurs at the 25th of Septem- ber, where his Acts may be found, in the Ninth Volume of this work, Art. i.
That Fachnan of Ross did not found that See, or even a monastery there, is evident from its not being men- tioned in the Calendars, when treating of him, notwithstanding the care taken not to
Garvano Abbate, p. 750.
* The latter is alluded to in Ussher's
Lanigan argues :
Why may we not suppose, that he was the omit that, besides Ross, he had governed founder of Kilfenora ? Its very name seems
from a photograph, presents an interior 3 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- view of Kilfenora church, and it has been
nioe," at the 26th of March, where among
the disciples of St. Barr or Finnbar, we find
drawn on the wood by William F. Wake-
man. The engraving is by Mrs. Millard. ,
9 See James Frazer's "Handbook for
enumerated,
"
S. Fachna seu Facundus de
"
'*
Primordia," cap. xvi. , p. 791.
5 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan asks and adds :
to lead to this conclusion, Fachnan is often called Fechnan.
Kilfenora is a compound name, thus probably formed ; Kil-fen (a contraction—of Fechnan)—o de, or from Ra, or Ria. "
and n. 51, pp. 196, 197. — 6
" Ecclesiastical of History
Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, iv. , p. 194,
Ibid.
This is the name it bears, in our Irish
Annals,
7 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
"
Bishops of
Kilfenoragh," p. 622.
8 The accompanying illustration, taken
198
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 14.
founder. rensis.
The church was called Fenabore, and this is Latinized Finabo- The Bishop of this See was also called the Bishop of Corcomroe. The place is undoubt- edly one of high anti-
Interior of Kilfenora Cathedral.
ture stood on the site of one having a much earlier date ; and that it served for the purposes of the former Diocesan Cathedral seems to be established, since it still remains within the ancient cemetery, now enclosed with a good stone wall. As the definite information about Fachananus is wanting, so the exactyearofthissaint'sdeathisnotknown. Itwouldappear,however,that he lived, at least until the close of the sixth century. This is proved from the following circumstances, if these particulars have a special reference to him. Our saint, it is assumed, must have been alive, in the year 587, as the Irish
10
Annalsstate,thatColman, sonofFearadhach,chiefofOssory,diedinthe
year 60 1. " Now, Fachannan is said to have lived fourteen years prior to
the death of this prince. We are told, in the Lifeaof St. Pulcherius,TM that 11
on a certain occasion, Colman, * prince of Ossory, * chased a fugitive and
Travellers in Ireland," Route No. 74, p. 385.
10
According tothe copyof ColganVTrias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbsc. n. 46, p. 375, with Roderick O'Flaherty's MS. note appended. This copy at present belongs
Volume of this work, at the 13th of March, the date for his feast, Art. i.
13 He was father to the celebrated Scanlan, prince of Ossory, who reigned over that principality, for more than thirty years. See Adamnan's "Vita S. Columbse," lib. i. , cap. xi. —
14 The Mac Gillaphadreig anglice Fitz- patrick—family claims descent from Cinn-
to the Dublin Society's Library. 11 "
See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 230, 231.
" See an "account of him in the Third
quity, and at present
interesting ruins of a former cathedral church
8
According to some accounts,9these ruins are portions of an ancient Abbey that stood here, before both the town and abbey had been burned by Murrough O'Brien, in 1055. A considerable part of the walls still exists while a circu-
;
larly-headed and triplet
window, and within
those fine ecclesiastical
ruins, its mullions are
well preserved. This
strikingarchitectural fea- ture is deeply recessed
in a framing of moulded chamfers. Several old tombs and many with
inscriptions are to be met with, in the interior of the church. There can hardly be a doubt, thatthis mediae valstruc-
are there.
August 14] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 199
an enemy, named Finanus, to St. Pulcherius' monastery, where refuge was
sought. There Colman violated the right of sanctuary, by searching every building in connection with it, so that he might slay that adversary. Where-
"
petitions to God ; two of these have been denied, but the third request has
been granted. The first petition was for a speedy'. death ; yet, the Almighty has been pleased to grant you, through St. Fachannan,*s a life of fourteen years not expired. The second petition was, that you should not obtain heaven l6
; yet, on account of St. Kainichus, ? eternal life will be granted you. The third petition was—and the Lord has assented at present to it—that before the end of this month, you may be banished from your kingdom. " On hear- ing these words pronounced, the chieftain repented. He presented offerings
upon, St. Pulcherius said to the prince :
I have preferred against you three
1
to God and to St. Pulcherius. The latter then said to him
:
" You shall be
deprived of your rule, and scarce escape with life, still, as you have many
holy men friendly to you, in three days your sway shall be recovered, and
my friend St. Canicus, now an old man, shall assist you in all matters. " Filled
with joy, the prince retired, after hearing this prophetic declaration. He also
received a blessing from St. Pulcherius. 18 It is thought '9 this latter saint
could scarcely have founded his monastery, before a. d. 580. On such data^
we find St. Fachannan alive, after this period. In the Third Index of
Colgan's work,20 there is a distinction drawn between the Fachnan here
spoken of and the Fachnan of Ross, mentioned in a former part of the Life
21 nor indeed is it
in the chapter of accidents, that two different saints, bearing so exceptionally similar and scarce a name in our Calendars, and whose festivals fall on the
same day, can be regarded, moreover, as existing contemporaries. That some early monastic establishment had been here located seems to be certain,
although we cannot discover the name of the founder nor the date for its foundation. It was probably one of those peculiarly constructed Irish
religious institutes, comprising a group of cells, in close proximity with the church. We can only learn, that in the year 1055, the Abbey and town of Kilfenora were burned, by Murrough O'Brien,22 as we glean from the Annals of Munster. It is only in the thirteenth century that we have any accounts
of St. Pulcherius this does not seem ; yet,
probable,
likely,
ofthe
who
23 nowa inthe suffragan one,
overthis
designated Fachtna Eps, of Uachongbhail, Reidbaircend, and he was vene- rated on^the 19th of January. The festival of the other Fachtna o Chraebhaig is set down at the 3rd of March. 24 Neither of these appears to have been identical with St. Fachannan, patron saint of the dioceses of Ross and Ki—l- fenora. The history of the See ofKilfenora—or as Ware calls it^enabore
is so obscure, that he was not able to decide by whom it was founded. In
bishops,
ecclesiastical province of Tuam. The Martyrology of Tallaght only gives two Fachtnas,besidestheFachtnaMacMongachofRosAilithir, orRoscarberry, and whose name occurs, at the 14th of August. One of the former is
j
aela, brother to this Colman. See O'Dono-
*
van's
"
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. ,
comminatory, as seems from the sequence, while from similar examples found in the Acts of our saints, and from other ecclesiastical documents, many obvious difficulties can be solved, in reference to it.
,7 St. Canice, Patron of Kilkenny Diocese, whose Life may be found at the nth of October, the date for his festival,
l8 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," Martii xiii. Vita S. Mochoemoci, cap. xxx. , p. 594. In a note, appended to the account contained in our text, we are
n. (s), p. 230.
,s It may be, that the present narrative
applies to St. Fachtnan, Patron of Ross Diocese; and, if, as many think, he did not differ from the Patron of Kilfenora Diocese, the account in like manner has reference to the latter saint.
16 On this passage, Colgan justly observes,
that this petition or imprecation may appear
harsh and cruel to some ; still, as it was
only
presided
See,
200 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 14.
one place,25 he says, it may be judged that St. Fachnan was the founder. In
26
another, he merely states, that its cathedral was dedicated to his memory.
He clearly seems to have meant St. Fachnan of Ross. And so the matter appears to be understood at present, in the diocese of Kilfenora ; whereas, the festival of the patron saint is kept there on the 14th of August, as if St. Fachnan of Ross was he also of Kilfenora. But, says Rev. Dr. Lanigan, it is
much more that probable,
2 7 However this
were different
be, it seems, that in the choir of the Cathedral of Kilfenora, the alleged tomb of St. Fachnan is pointed out 28 so that popular tradition distinguishes him
;
from St. Fachnan, Patron of Ross, who as already stated is reputed to have
been there buried.
Several old Irish crosses are still to be seen in the grave- yard at Kilfenora. One of these is remarkably' high,
and evidently of antique workmanship, while the style
of carving is very quaint, and in some respects rather
2
original. 9 Between the cir-
cular-connections at the
arms, a rude representation
Cross at Kilfenora.
The cross itself is not well
proportioned in all its parts,
norhasit anyoftheinter-
lacing ornaments so peculiar to other monuments of its kind. The feast of St. Fachanan is observed, on the 14th of August, as a Double of the First Class, with an Octave, in the dio- cese of Ross and Kilfenora; for, it is generally assumed, that the same person was a Bishop over either See, at some period of his life, or that he had been established at Ross, and had been after- wards
told, this transaction must have occurred before a. d. 590, as afterwards, the Colman
particularly as the Life is written with great order, regularity, and a cautious precision in
discriminating, when necessary, certain names by the addition of a surname or some other distinctive mark, lest the reader —
alluded to lived fourteen years. 32, ibid. , p. 597.
See nn. 31,
19 By Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
,0 The " Acta Sanctorum Tertius Index Historicus.
Hibernia," confound different
might persons together. "
21 On this matter, the Rev. Dr.
argues : "if that were the case, would not the author of said Life, who in both places exhibits Fachnan as a great saint, have given us some clue towards discovering that he alluded to more than one of that name ?
they
persons.
may
as Patron It seems since not only are our,records wanting for its elucidation, but even our traditions afford
. . .
no clue, from which a satisfactory conclusion may be drawn.
accepted for both dioceses. well nigh impossible to unravel this mystery, at the present time ;
Lanigan
of the crucifixion is
figured.
"
chap, xii. , sect, iv. , and n. 49, p. 196.
Ecclesiastical
History
of
Ireland," vol. ii. ,
32 See Rev.
"
Monas-
Mervyn Archdall's ticon Hibernicum," p. 52.
83 See Harris' vol. "
Ware, i. , Bishops
of
Kilfenoragh," pp. 622 to 626.
24 See Rev. Dr. Kelly's « Calendar of
August 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 201
Article III. —St. Fachtna, Bishop and Abbot of Dairinis Maelanfaidh, in Hy Kinsellagh, or in the County of Waterford, [Sixth Century], When the reader has studied the remarks already offered in connection with St. Fachtna or Fachtnan of the diocese of Ross, and also
those relating to St. Fachananus, patron of the diocese of Kilfenora; he may in
the relation which here follows form some judgment, as to whether the present
holy Abbot of Dairinis Maelanfaidh had a distinct place in history, or
whether he should not be regarded as one and the same person, especially with
the patron of Ross. Indeed, the latter appears to have been an opinion
formed by the compiler of a very ancient record, and known as the Calendar
of Cashel. Of course, there is the alternative suspicion, that confused tradi-
tions, or similarity of name and of festivals occurring on the same day, may
have occasioned some mistake. If they be identical, however, the following
remarks are necessary to present some additional biographic particulars.
The festival of Fachtna of Maelanfaid's Dairinis, said to have been the son of
a or has been set down in the " Feilire" of St. 1 at wright carpenter, ^Engus,
the 14th of August. In the comment annexed, he is called bishop and abbot
2 Weare
when Fachtna was born, much hair was on him. 3 It is difficult to form a
conception of his personal appearance, from such an indefinite description j but, it seems likely, that the remarkable characteristic manifested at the time of his birth must have continued during the remainder of his life. However, we need not necessarily suppose more, than that his head was covered with a remarkably fine growth of hair, when he was an infant ; and probably, according to Irish custom, he then received that soubriquet, which was never afterwards abandoned. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,* at this day, there is an entry regarding Fachtna, son to Mongan, of Ros Ailithir, in T-sair. s His Acts—if written—are not now attainable. We have only some scattered notices, regarding him, through various sources. According to received tra- dition, however, he was a Bishop and Confessor. In other instances, our saint is called Fachtna Mongach and Fachtnan mhic Mongaigh, the meaning
of his surname having different interpretations. In the former case, Mon- """
of inHui Dairinis,
Cinnselaig.
told, moreover,
ina that comment,
gach, signifying the hirsute or hairy," is supposed to have been applied, on account of Fachanan having been born with hair. 6 In the latter case, we
IrishSaints,pp. xiii. ,xvii. ,xxxii. 25 See Antiquities, cap. 29.
26 When treating on the Bishops.
sdir)afaircaptive: thefeastofFachtnaethe
hairy child. "—" Transactions of the Royal
Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series,
27 See his
"
Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
vol. i. . part i. p.
