"—"Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish
Manuscript
Series, vol.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
Here,therewasarenownedmonastery,inavalley.
Itlayeastwards from his own greater monastery, and yet, not far removed from it.
Here, too, with a few attendants, he remained during a year and six months, leading an eremitical life, and being wholly occupied, in the contemplation of holy things.
After some time spent in this place, he was visited by his monks, and by someoftheolderandmoredecrepidbrethren. Tothese,headdressedreligious discourses,fullofinstruction,ondogmasoftheChurch. Hishomiliesalso contained admonitions, suitable for the lives of those, to whom they were directed. The author of his Life represents Carthage, as a solace to the aged
; as safety, for the infirm ; as a source of consolation, for the sorrowful ; as a
foundation, for those in despair ; as abounding in faith, for those in doubt and, as a firm guide, for those who were young. 7'^ St. Carthage saw, that the holy old men and many of his monks had much trouble in ascending and descending the steeps, leading to that valley, where he dwelt, and when com- ing to visit him. Finding that his end was fast approaching, he called the brothers, and then ordered, that he should be brought to the parent house, so that he might not be an occasion of further trouble to them. But, the merci- ful and omnipotent God had now intended to remove his illustrious servant, from the scene of his labours. The Heavens were suddenly opened. Then, an army of Angels was sent, and it seemed as if these blessed spirits were moving in triumph to welcome him. On seeing the Heavens open, and the Angels advancing towards him, St. Carthage caused himself to be brought into the middle of the valley. Telling the holy seniors what he beheld, he ordered the Body and Blood of our Lord to be brought, and towards a place, where a fountain was afterwards seen. Here, a cross was also erected, and it was called, in future time, " the cross of migration. " Having then given many pious admonitions, and having received the Body and Blood of our Lord, in the Most Holy Sacrament, being surrounded by his holy seniors, and a multitude of brothers, he bade them all farewell. Then, kissing each one in order, with great piety and affection, he ascended with the Angels from earth to
Heaven. 77
The holy Abbot departed this Hfe, on the second of the May Ides 7^—corres-
ponding with the 14th of this month —the date assigned for his feast. We are told, that the Annalist Tighernach has a different day—the fifth of the May Ides -p but, this is not the case in that edition, published by Rev. Dr. 0'Conor. s° His death is placed, so early as 631, in the Bodleian copy of the Annals of Inisfallen;^' but, at 636, by Duald Mac Firbiss, and this is also the year set down, by Sir James Ware,^"" as also in the Annals of Ulster,^3 of Innis- fallen,*4 and of the Four Masters. ^5 Other accounts have a. d. 637,^^ for the dateofhisdemise; whilethus,writeTigernach,^? ArchbishopUssher,^^Bishop
nicarum Scriptores, tomus ii. , p. 13.
®^ See "DeScriptoribus Hibernise,"Iib. i. ,
cap. iii. , p. 21.
*3 See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. An- nales Ultonienses, p. 47.
^+ In the Dublin Codex. See ibid. , tomus ii-jP-21.
^s See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , cap. iv. , num. 53. Also, Vita ex duplici MS. pp. 254, 255.
num. 52. Also, Vita ex dupliciMS. Legen- dario, num. 13.
77 The fuller narrative of St. Carthach's Acts concludes with words, which seem to close a lecture or homily ; referring to Christ our Lord, it runs, " cui est honor, gloria, et potestas, cum Deo Patre in unitate Spriritus Sancti,inseculaseculorum. Amen. "
Legendario.
79 See Sir James Ware, "DeScriptoribus
Hibernise," lib. i. , cap. iii. , p. 21.
^° See "Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores,"
tomus ii. , Tigernachi Annales, p. 193.
*' See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiber-
7* See Vita ex antiquo MS. Hibernico,
^ See the Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesi- astical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. xiv. , sect, xiv. , n. 201, pp. 355, 356.
^7 See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. Tiger- nachi Annales, p. 193.
S
;
274
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 14.
Challenor,89 Rev. Alban Butler,9° Dr. George Petrie,? ' Edwin Third Earl of Dunraven,9' Les Petits Bollandistes,93 and Rev. S. Ijaring-Gould. 94 How- ever, in Harris' Ware,^^ he enters also the date a. d. 638, for the departure of St. Carthage. This holy Patron was buried at Lismore ; and, it lias been said, within his own cathedral there. ? ^ In a particular part of this cily was an asylum, into which no woman was allowed to enter ;97 although, the reason for this cus- tom is not related. The day for the festival of its Patron, in that Diocese, is yet celebrated as a Double of the first-class, with an octave. Lismore is still a large
town; but, its once flourishing trade and manufactures, as nearly alike in all our Irish towns, are greatly diminishing ; while, only the castle,? ^ and some tolera- bly good houses, indicate the former importance of that ancient city. Of late
Catholic Church of St. Carthage, Lismore.
years, a very beauti- ful Catholic Church has been erected in Lismore, and it has been dedicated to the Patron, St. Cartilage. This noble monument to his memory, originated by the zeal and piety of Very Rev. Monsig-
nor Patk. Byrne, is of fine architectural proportions and harmony, built in the Italian style. 99 The following are its measurements : Total length of church, 145 feet; width across tran- septs, 84 feet;
width between aisle walls, 55 feet; width of nave, 28 feet ; height of nave, 57 feet; height of tower, 113 feet. '°° In his native district of Kerry, as it would seem, our saint had been also
commemorated. At Castlemaine, there is an old abbey, and in its graveyard there is a hollowed stone, called Cloch-Mochaeda, or the stone of St. Carthage
** Sec " Britaiinicarum Ecclesiarum Anti- quitatcs," Index Chronologicus, A. n. , Dcxxxvn. , p. 538.
^ See " Brilannia Sancla,'' iiart i. , p. 288.
9° See '• Lives of ihe Fatliers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May xiv.
9' See "Ecclesiastical Architecture and Round Towers of Ireland," part ii. , sect, iii. , subs, i. , p. 342.
'^- Sec Notes on Irish Architecture,' edited by Miss Margaret Stokes, vol. ii. , p. 67.
'^ See "Vies des Saints," tome v. , xive jour de Mai, p. 519.
»< See " Lives of the Saints," vol. v. . May
——
May 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Mochaeda. '°' HeisthepatronofCastlemaiue,andalsoofKiltallagh,where he was born. '"^ The feast of St. Carthach is commemorated, in the "FeiHre"'^^ ofSt. ^ngus, at the 14th of May. The commentator, has some observa- tions/°'» on this entry, " Mochuda Liss Moir. vel Finall nomen fratris ejus. "'°5 At the 14th of May, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,'°^ his name is set down as Carthaigh, /. ^. , Mochutta Lis-moir. It is also entered, in the Franciscan copy. '°7 On the 14th of May,'°^ the Kalendar of Drummond inserts '°9 the Natalis of St. Carthach, Bishop and Confessor, in Ireland, with an encomium on his virtues. This day, the Martyrology of Donegal "° enters the name of Mochuda, Bishop, of Lis-mor ; and, as it notes, he was also abbot of Raithin, at first. Under the head of Lis-mor, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Mochuda, bishop, quievit 636, May 14th. '" St. Carthagh'r, feast likewise occurs, in the Circle of the Seasons,"' at this same date.
In former times, as we frequently find it in their context, during the recital of Matins at the ecclesiastical ofiice, in monastic refectories, or for pious instruc- tion, the Chronicles or Lives of our Saints had been read. Hence, they were denominated Legenda, which may be Anglicized into Readings or Legends. These prelections often terminated, with an intimation, that everything men- tioned therein—and especially that referring to supernatural accounts—when the Church had not duly investigated and approved such narratives, must rest solely on the writer's credibility, and on the grounds as ascertained for his information. But, they are far from acquiring our unqualified assent, in all
xiv. , pp. 637.
5^ See vol. i. , " Bishops of Lismore," p.
549-
9* See Dr. Charles Smith's ''Ancient and
Present State of the County and City of Waterford," chap, iii. , p. 28.
9^ See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the P'athers,MartyrsandotherprincipalSaints,' vol. v. , May xiv.
9^ Now belonging to the Duke of Devon- shire—but formerly to the Right Hon. Richard Boyle, Earl of Cork. A view of Lismore Castle and the cathedral as they stood, about the middle of the last century, will be found in Dr. Charles Smith's " An- cient and Present State of the County and City of Waterford, " chap, iii. , at p. 27.
5J The accompanying illustration, from an engraving, furnished by the venerable Pastor, has been drawn on the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and it was engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
'°° The foregoing details have been fur- nished in a letter received from Very Rev. Monsignor Patrick Byrne, P. P. , of Lismore, and dated November 19th, 18S4.
'°' See Miss Mary Frances Clare Cusack's "History of the Kingdom of Kerry," chap, xviii. , p. 400.
"= See ibid.
'°3 In the " Leabhar Breac " copy, we find :
Co]\onA AJU^ tJicco^A CoriAcbei-p cenrtiAcliim
y:o\i oenbich leip )"uc1iAin peiL chAin chAixcliAij TlAclnn.
Thus translated into English by Dr. Whitley
Stokes : —" Corona and Victor with their train, without abatement, on one festival pious, perennial, the fair feast of Carthach of Rathin.
"—"Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , p. Ixxix.
'°** See ibid. , p. Ixxxvi. '°5 Healsoadds
tYloc1iut)A cecenic
Cech niAriAch cech e^^niAHAch i:oy\fA^jA mii^
mbA hi]:e|\nAch iA|\nibi\Ach t1ibAi\A'o i|\|\un.
Tlius translated by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. :
" Every monk, every non-monk,
On whom my mould shall go,
Will not be a Hell-haver after Doom, This is not a saying in mystery. "
'°^ Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
'°7 Thus : CAy\chA5i . 1. niochucu Lif. 111.
'°^ See BishopForbes' "Kalcndars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 13.
'°9 Thus : " Prid. Idus. Item ipso die in Hibernia Natale Sancti Episcopi et Confesso- ris Carthachi cujus vita virtutibus plena reful- sit. "
"° Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 126, 127.
"" See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 118, 119.
'" See p. 135.
275
with
Kelly, p. xxiv.
^ Thus: -rnAelchechAiTx ni<xc Uohaih.
chants, residing in Dingle before the time of Queen EHzabeth, and who traded with the Irish natives, lauilt this church. See " Natural and Civil History of the County of Kerry," chap, vii. , pp. 192, 193.
^ It lies towards the west of Brandon Hill, according to the O'Clerys.
' It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kerry," sheets 33, 34, 42, 43. Kilmalkedar town- land is on sheets 42, 43.
'° The parish of Dingle is also shown, on sheets 34, 42, 43, 53, ibid. The townland commons and town of Dingle are shown, on sheets 43, 53.
" Mr. Brash states, that portions of the stone roof still exist for a height of from 3 feet to 5 feet from the eaves, both in nave and chancel, and that the roof "was con- structed of rectangular flat-bedded blocks of stone, neatly dressed, and laid breaking joint. "—" Ecclesiastical Architecture of Ireland," p. 99.
"That is, each stone was horizontally bedded, but over-lapping, until the sides met, and were covered by a single course of flags and hea\7 stones to form the ridge.
3 xiv. 263.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , JMaii Among the pretermitted saints, p.
—
276 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 14.
particulars; while our judgment must be exercised, in subjecting them to the test of sound criticism. They are often distinct from—yet not inconsistent
—
Article II. St. Maolcethair, Son of Ronan, of Kilmel- CHEDOR, County of Kerry. \_Frobably in the Sixth Century. '] In tlie publislied iMartyrology of Tallagh/ at the 14th of May, as also in the Franciscan copy,^ we find entered the name of Maelcetair mac Ronain. The Bollandists3 also quote this authority, for placing the feast of " Maelchedarius filius Ronani," at the same date. In that Table, appended to the Donegal Martyrology, this saint's name has been Latinized, Mallegarius. "* He was son to Ronan, who w^as son to the King of Uladh. He belonged, therefore, to the race of Fiatach Finn, monarch of Erin. The place selected for his religious retirement was off that remote part of Ireland, which after him has been called CillMelchedair,5 and it was near the shore of the sea, which is connected with the gi^eat Atlantic. Local tradition has it, that the old church, now to be seen at Kilmalkedar, had been erected by St. Brendan, and by his contemporary St. Malkedar. ^ If this be true, it throws the period of this latter holy man back to the sixth century ; and, local tradi- tions of this character are usually reliable. ^ Kilmalkedar is situated on the east of Smerwick Harbour, and it lies south-west of Brandon Hill. ^ Now, Kilmal- kedar9—alsowrittenKilmelchedor—is aparish,inthebaronyofCorkaguiney, countyofKerry. Theoldchurchthereissituatedinatownlandofthesame
name, about four Irish miles to the north-west of Dingle. '° It was an excel- lent specimen of masonry, and built of freestone, from the neighbouring cliffs. The nave was originally covered, by a high-pitched stone roof," constructed on the corbel principle," without employment of the arch. The side walls are terminated by a string-course, from which the roof slanted directly to the
Article n. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. was thought by the people, Spanish mer-
the object of Divine Faith; and, therefore, those legends are frequently reproduced, without attaching to them, or assigning for us any obligation requiring acknowledgment or credence in their authenticity.
See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' edition, pp. 440, 441.
s Most beautiful photograph illustrations of Cell Maelceadair, viz. , Plate xciii. West end of church, Plate xciv. East E. S. view. Plate xcv. . West doorway of Church. Plate xcvi. Chancel Arch of Church—are con- tained with descriptive letterpress—in "Notes on Irish Architecture," by Edwin, Third Earl of Dunraven, edited by Margaret Stokes, vol. ii. , part iv. , sect, i. , pp. 52 to 55. There are also woodcut engravings of the Interior of Doorway, and a ground-plan section of details and measurements.
* According to John O'Donovan, in the " Letters containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the County of Kerry, col- lected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1841. " See Letter, dated Dingle, August 4lh, 1841, p. 84.
7 However, Dr. Smith, the historian of Kerry, has a statement, that in his day, it
May 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
277
ridge ; while inside, the form was curved gradually, from the upright line of the walls to the apex. '3 The chancel '4 was also stone roofed ; but, it is not thought to have Been so ancient as the nave, although still of the round- archedperiod. Thereisnopositiveevidenceforthedate,eitheroftheorigi- nal building, or of its addition. According to Mr. Hill, none of the work can be earlier than the twelfth century, as it has been asserted, that fine-jointed masonry and carving were not in use, in England or in Normandy, before that date ; and, it is thought to be far from likely, that the most western island of Europe took the lead of these countries, in the art of church build- ing. However, in the work of Edwin, Third Earl of Dunraven, it is assumed —and apparently with good reason—this church has been of a much more early age. 'S The parish of Kilmelkedar, is remarkable for its remains ofanti- quity. '^ The old church there is now in ruins ; but, it is one of the most ancient and interesting, within the county of Kerry. Like the generality of
primitive Irish churches, built before the Anglo-Norman Invasion, it consists of a nave,'7 and a choir, '^ or chancel. '9 The east gable of the chancel is orna-
mented by a projecting band, worked in the solid, from horizontal stones ;
while, the quoins differ from those of the nave, being without buttresses. A small cross, with another incised on its eastern face, still stands, on the east gable of the nave. A cross formerly stood on the west end, but it was blown down several years ago ; it is now disfigured, and laid prostrate, in the grave- yard beneath,*° The chisellings and ornamental bevels of the doors and
See " Kilmalkedar, County Kerry," by an addition, made at some time previous to
Arthur Hill, B. A.
'3 See ibid.
'* In its details, it affords a marked con-
trast with the nave. The east window in it, instead of being a simple opening with sloping jambs, is constructed with parallel jambs,mouldedontheexterior,anditismuch higher, in proportion to its width.
'S It is said, to judge from the existing remains, it " must have been an ecclesiasti- cal establishment of some note from an early period down to the twelfth century. "— " Notes on Irish Architecture," edited by Margaret Stokes, vol. i. , part i. , sect, ii. , p. 58.
the introduction of pointed architecture into this country.
^° See "Letters containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the County of Kerry, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1841. " Letter of JohnO'Donovan,datedDingle,August4th, 1841, p. 88.
°' The windows are rather plain, as con- trasted with the other richly decorated fea- tures of the building. The east window is round-headed, and with vertical jambs. It measures 5 feet 10 inches high, by 8 inches wide, on the outside, while on the interior it splays to a width of 4 feet 8 inches. There is no dripstone, and inside each jamb is
'* There is a very particular and minute
description of the parish and old church of crowned with an animal's head. See
Kilmalkedar, by John O'Donovan, in " Let-
ters containing Information relative to the
Antiquities of the County of Kerry collected
during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey
in 1841," pp. 83 to 102. This letter is dated
August 4th, 1841, and it was apparently
written at Dingle. Various illustrations of
the old church accompany this communica-
tion, and drawn in ink, by William F. Architects, in 1870. " Besides a letterpress
Wakeman.
'7 The nave measures 27 feet 4 inches in
description preceding, we have the following Lithographs introduced : No. i. Plan and Elevation of West End. No. ii. Elevation of South Side. No. iii. Elevation of East
length, and 17 feet in width ; while its walls
are 3 feet 7 inches thick, and 12 feet high,
at the north-west angle. See " Notes on End and Section through Nave. No. iv. Irish Architecture," by Edwin, Third Earl Longitudinal Section. No. v. Detail of of Dunraven, edited by Miss Margaret West Door. No. vi. Detail of Chancel Stokes, vol. ii. , part iv. , sect, i. , p. 52.
'* The chancel is 16 feet long and 11 feet 3 inches wide ; while, the walls are 2 feet 9 inches thick. See ibid.
'9IntheopinionofMr. Hill,thislatteris
Arch. No. vii. RJeuld igs of West Door and Chancel Arch. No. viii. Details of Nave, Windows, &c. . East Window, and Western Cross. Photographs : No. i. GeneralViewoftheWestEnd. No. ii. .
" Notes on Irish Architecture," by Edwin, Third Earl of Dunraven, edited by Margaret Stokes, vol. ii. , part v. , sect, i. , p. 54.
^^ The most correct idea that can be formed—short of a visit to the spot—may be drawn from a Monograph, "Kilmalkedar, County Kerry, drawn by Arthur Hill, B. A. , Associate of the Royal Institute of British
278
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 14.
windows "' are yet exceedingly sharp, and the masonry is very perfect. '^ There are only two windows to light the nave. These are scarcely a superficial foot each, in area ; they are unmoulded, splayed on the inside, and not prepared to receive either shutters or glass. ""^ The old church walls, on the inside, dis- play a fine sculptured range of low pillasters, on both sides of the nave. The five recesses ^* in the side walls are separated from one another, by round pillasters.
After some time spent in this place, he was visited by his monks, and by someoftheolderandmoredecrepidbrethren. Tothese,headdressedreligious discourses,fullofinstruction,ondogmasoftheChurch. Hishomiliesalso contained admonitions, suitable for the lives of those, to whom they were directed. The author of his Life represents Carthage, as a solace to the aged
; as safety, for the infirm ; as a source of consolation, for the sorrowful ; as a
foundation, for those in despair ; as abounding in faith, for those in doubt and, as a firm guide, for those who were young. 7'^ St. Carthage saw, that the holy old men and many of his monks had much trouble in ascending and descending the steeps, leading to that valley, where he dwelt, and when com- ing to visit him. Finding that his end was fast approaching, he called the brothers, and then ordered, that he should be brought to the parent house, so that he might not be an occasion of further trouble to them. But, the merci- ful and omnipotent God had now intended to remove his illustrious servant, from the scene of his labours. The Heavens were suddenly opened. Then, an army of Angels was sent, and it seemed as if these blessed spirits were moving in triumph to welcome him. On seeing the Heavens open, and the Angels advancing towards him, St. Carthage caused himself to be brought into the middle of the valley. Telling the holy seniors what he beheld, he ordered the Body and Blood of our Lord to be brought, and towards a place, where a fountain was afterwards seen. Here, a cross was also erected, and it was called, in future time, " the cross of migration. " Having then given many pious admonitions, and having received the Body and Blood of our Lord, in the Most Holy Sacrament, being surrounded by his holy seniors, and a multitude of brothers, he bade them all farewell. Then, kissing each one in order, with great piety and affection, he ascended with the Angels from earth to
Heaven. 77
The holy Abbot departed this Hfe, on the second of the May Ides 7^—corres-
ponding with the 14th of this month —the date assigned for his feast. We are told, that the Annalist Tighernach has a different day—the fifth of the May Ides -p but, this is not the case in that edition, published by Rev. Dr. 0'Conor. s° His death is placed, so early as 631, in the Bodleian copy of the Annals of Inisfallen;^' but, at 636, by Duald Mac Firbiss, and this is also the year set down, by Sir James Ware,^"" as also in the Annals of Ulster,^3 of Innis- fallen,*4 and of the Four Masters. ^5 Other accounts have a. d. 637,^^ for the dateofhisdemise; whilethus,writeTigernach,^? ArchbishopUssher,^^Bishop
nicarum Scriptores, tomus ii. , p. 13.
®^ See "DeScriptoribus Hibernise,"Iib. i. ,
cap. iii. , p. 21.
*3 See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. An- nales Ultonienses, p. 47.
^+ In the Dublin Codex. See ibid. , tomus ii-jP-21.
^s See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , cap. iv. , num. 53. Also, Vita ex duplici MS. pp. 254, 255.
num. 52. Also, Vita ex dupliciMS. Legen- dario, num. 13.
77 The fuller narrative of St. Carthach's Acts concludes with words, which seem to close a lecture or homily ; referring to Christ our Lord, it runs, " cui est honor, gloria, et potestas, cum Deo Patre in unitate Spriritus Sancti,inseculaseculorum. Amen. "
Legendario.
79 See Sir James Ware, "DeScriptoribus
Hibernise," lib. i. , cap. iii. , p. 21.
^° See "Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores,"
tomus ii. , Tigernachi Annales, p. 193.
*' See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiber-
7* See Vita ex antiquo MS. Hibernico,
^ See the Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesi- astical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. xiv. , sect, xiv. , n. 201, pp. 355, 356.
^7 See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. Tiger- nachi Annales, p. 193.
S
;
274
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 14.
Challenor,89 Rev. Alban Butler,9° Dr. George Petrie,? ' Edwin Third Earl of Dunraven,9' Les Petits Bollandistes,93 and Rev. S. Ijaring-Gould. 94 How- ever, in Harris' Ware,^^ he enters also the date a. d. 638, for the departure of St. Carthage. This holy Patron was buried at Lismore ; and, it lias been said, within his own cathedral there. ? ^ In a particular part of this cily was an asylum, into which no woman was allowed to enter ;97 although, the reason for this cus- tom is not related. The day for the festival of its Patron, in that Diocese, is yet celebrated as a Double of the first-class, with an octave. Lismore is still a large
town; but, its once flourishing trade and manufactures, as nearly alike in all our Irish towns, are greatly diminishing ; while, only the castle,? ^ and some tolera- bly good houses, indicate the former importance of that ancient city. Of late
Catholic Church of St. Carthage, Lismore.
years, a very beauti- ful Catholic Church has been erected in Lismore, and it has been dedicated to the Patron, St. Cartilage. This noble monument to his memory, originated by the zeal and piety of Very Rev. Monsig-
nor Patk. Byrne, is of fine architectural proportions and harmony, built in the Italian style. 99 The following are its measurements : Total length of church, 145 feet; width across tran- septs, 84 feet;
width between aisle walls, 55 feet; width of nave, 28 feet ; height of nave, 57 feet; height of tower, 113 feet. '°° In his native district of Kerry, as it would seem, our saint had been also
commemorated. At Castlemaine, there is an old abbey, and in its graveyard there is a hollowed stone, called Cloch-Mochaeda, or the stone of St. Carthage
** Sec " Britaiinicarum Ecclesiarum Anti- quitatcs," Index Chronologicus, A. n. , Dcxxxvn. , p. 538.
^ See " Brilannia Sancla,'' iiart i. , p. 288.
9° See '• Lives of ihe Fatliers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May xiv.
9' See "Ecclesiastical Architecture and Round Towers of Ireland," part ii. , sect, iii. , subs, i. , p. 342.
'^- Sec Notes on Irish Architecture,' edited by Miss Margaret Stokes, vol. ii. , p. 67.
'^ See "Vies des Saints," tome v. , xive jour de Mai, p. 519.
»< See " Lives of the Saints," vol. v. . May
——
May 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Mochaeda. '°' HeisthepatronofCastlemaiue,andalsoofKiltallagh,where he was born. '"^ The feast of St. Carthach is commemorated, in the "FeiHre"'^^ ofSt. ^ngus, at the 14th of May. The commentator, has some observa- tions/°'» on this entry, " Mochuda Liss Moir. vel Finall nomen fratris ejus. "'°5 At the 14th of May, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,'°^ his name is set down as Carthaigh, /. ^. , Mochutta Lis-moir. It is also entered, in the Franciscan copy. '°7 On the 14th of May,'°^ the Kalendar of Drummond inserts '°9 the Natalis of St. Carthach, Bishop and Confessor, in Ireland, with an encomium on his virtues. This day, the Martyrology of Donegal "° enters the name of Mochuda, Bishop, of Lis-mor ; and, as it notes, he was also abbot of Raithin, at first. Under the head of Lis-mor, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Mochuda, bishop, quievit 636, May 14th. '" St. Carthagh'r, feast likewise occurs, in the Circle of the Seasons,"' at this same date.
In former times, as we frequently find it in their context, during the recital of Matins at the ecclesiastical ofiice, in monastic refectories, or for pious instruc- tion, the Chronicles or Lives of our Saints had been read. Hence, they were denominated Legenda, which may be Anglicized into Readings or Legends. These prelections often terminated, with an intimation, that everything men- tioned therein—and especially that referring to supernatural accounts—when the Church had not duly investigated and approved such narratives, must rest solely on the writer's credibility, and on the grounds as ascertained for his information. But, they are far from acquiring our unqualified assent, in all
xiv. , pp. 637.
5^ See vol. i. , " Bishops of Lismore," p.
549-
9* See Dr. Charles Smith's ''Ancient and
Present State of the County and City of Waterford," chap, iii. , p. 28.
9^ See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the P'athers,MartyrsandotherprincipalSaints,' vol. v. , May xiv.
9^ Now belonging to the Duke of Devon- shire—but formerly to the Right Hon. Richard Boyle, Earl of Cork. A view of Lismore Castle and the cathedral as they stood, about the middle of the last century, will be found in Dr. Charles Smith's " An- cient and Present State of the County and City of Waterford, " chap, iii. , at p. 27.
5J The accompanying illustration, from an engraving, furnished by the venerable Pastor, has been drawn on the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and it was engraved, by Mrs. Millard.
'°° The foregoing details have been fur- nished in a letter received from Very Rev. Monsignor Patrick Byrne, P. P. , of Lismore, and dated November 19th, 18S4.
'°' See Miss Mary Frances Clare Cusack's "History of the Kingdom of Kerry," chap, xviii. , p. 400.
"= See ibid.
'°3 In the " Leabhar Breac " copy, we find :
Co]\onA AJU^ tJicco^A CoriAcbei-p cenrtiAcliim
y:o\i oenbich leip )"uc1iAin peiL chAin chAixcliAij TlAclnn.
Thus translated into English by Dr. Whitley
Stokes : —" Corona and Victor with their train, without abatement, on one festival pious, perennial, the fair feast of Carthach of Rathin.
"—"Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , p. Ixxix.
'°** See ibid. , p. Ixxxvi. '°5 Healsoadds
tYloc1iut)A cecenic
Cech niAriAch cech e^^niAHAch i:oy\fA^jA mii^
mbA hi]:e|\nAch iA|\nibi\Ach t1ibAi\A'o i|\|\un.
Tlius translated by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. :
" Every monk, every non-monk,
On whom my mould shall go,
Will not be a Hell-haver after Doom, This is not a saying in mystery. "
'°^ Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
'°7 Thus : CAy\chA5i . 1. niochucu Lif. 111.
'°^ See BishopForbes' "Kalcndars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 13.
'°9 Thus : " Prid. Idus. Item ipso die in Hibernia Natale Sancti Episcopi et Confesso- ris Carthachi cujus vita virtutibus plena reful- sit. "
"° Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 126, 127.
"" See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 118, 119.
'" See p. 135.
275
with
Kelly, p. xxiv.
^ Thus: -rnAelchechAiTx ni<xc Uohaih.
chants, residing in Dingle before the time of Queen EHzabeth, and who traded with the Irish natives, lauilt this church. See " Natural and Civil History of the County of Kerry," chap, vii. , pp. 192, 193.
^ It lies towards the west of Brandon Hill, according to the O'Clerys.
' It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kerry," sheets 33, 34, 42, 43. Kilmalkedar town- land is on sheets 42, 43.
'° The parish of Dingle is also shown, on sheets 34, 42, 43, 53, ibid. The townland commons and town of Dingle are shown, on sheets 43, 53.
" Mr. Brash states, that portions of the stone roof still exist for a height of from 3 feet to 5 feet from the eaves, both in nave and chancel, and that the roof "was con- structed of rectangular flat-bedded blocks of stone, neatly dressed, and laid breaking joint. "—" Ecclesiastical Architecture of Ireland," p. 99.
"That is, each stone was horizontally bedded, but over-lapping, until the sides met, and were covered by a single course of flags and hea\7 stones to form the ridge.
3 xiv. 263.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , JMaii Among the pretermitted saints, p.
—
276 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 14.
particulars; while our judgment must be exercised, in subjecting them to the test of sound criticism. They are often distinct from—yet not inconsistent
—
Article II. St. Maolcethair, Son of Ronan, of Kilmel- CHEDOR, County of Kerry. \_Frobably in the Sixth Century. '] In tlie publislied iMartyrology of Tallagh/ at the 14th of May, as also in the Franciscan copy,^ we find entered the name of Maelcetair mac Ronain. The Bollandists3 also quote this authority, for placing the feast of " Maelchedarius filius Ronani," at the same date. In that Table, appended to the Donegal Martyrology, this saint's name has been Latinized, Mallegarius. "* He was son to Ronan, who w^as son to the King of Uladh. He belonged, therefore, to the race of Fiatach Finn, monarch of Erin. The place selected for his religious retirement was off that remote part of Ireland, which after him has been called CillMelchedair,5 and it was near the shore of the sea, which is connected with the gi^eat Atlantic. Local tradition has it, that the old church, now to be seen at Kilmalkedar, had been erected by St. Brendan, and by his contemporary St. Malkedar. ^ If this be true, it throws the period of this latter holy man back to the sixth century ; and, local tradi- tions of this character are usually reliable. ^ Kilmalkedar is situated on the east of Smerwick Harbour, and it lies south-west of Brandon Hill. ^ Now, Kilmal- kedar9—alsowrittenKilmelchedor—is aparish,inthebaronyofCorkaguiney, countyofKerry. Theoldchurchthereissituatedinatownlandofthesame
name, about four Irish miles to the north-west of Dingle. '° It was an excel- lent specimen of masonry, and built of freestone, from the neighbouring cliffs. The nave was originally covered, by a high-pitched stone roof," constructed on the corbel principle," without employment of the arch. The side walls are terminated by a string-course, from which the roof slanted directly to the
Article n. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. was thought by the people, Spanish mer-
the object of Divine Faith; and, therefore, those legends are frequently reproduced, without attaching to them, or assigning for us any obligation requiring acknowledgment or credence in their authenticity.
See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' edition, pp. 440, 441.
s Most beautiful photograph illustrations of Cell Maelceadair, viz. , Plate xciii. West end of church, Plate xciv. East E. S. view. Plate xcv. . West doorway of Church. Plate xcvi. Chancel Arch of Church—are con- tained with descriptive letterpress—in "Notes on Irish Architecture," by Edwin, Third Earl of Dunraven, edited by Margaret Stokes, vol. ii. , part iv. , sect, i. , pp. 52 to 55. There are also woodcut engravings of the Interior of Doorway, and a ground-plan section of details and measurements.
* According to John O'Donovan, in the " Letters containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the County of Kerry, col- lected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1841. " See Letter, dated Dingle, August 4lh, 1841, p. 84.
7 However, Dr. Smith, the historian of Kerry, has a statement, that in his day, it
May 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
277
ridge ; while inside, the form was curved gradually, from the upright line of the walls to the apex. '3 The chancel '4 was also stone roofed ; but, it is not thought to have Been so ancient as the nave, although still of the round- archedperiod. Thereisnopositiveevidenceforthedate,eitheroftheorigi- nal building, or of its addition. According to Mr. Hill, none of the work can be earlier than the twelfth century, as it has been asserted, that fine-jointed masonry and carving were not in use, in England or in Normandy, before that date ; and, it is thought to be far from likely, that the most western island of Europe took the lead of these countries, in the art of church build- ing. However, in the work of Edwin, Third Earl of Dunraven, it is assumed —and apparently with good reason—this church has been of a much more early age. 'S The parish of Kilmelkedar, is remarkable for its remains ofanti- quity. '^ The old church there is now in ruins ; but, it is one of the most ancient and interesting, within the county of Kerry. Like the generality of
primitive Irish churches, built before the Anglo-Norman Invasion, it consists of a nave,'7 and a choir, '^ or chancel. '9 The east gable of the chancel is orna-
mented by a projecting band, worked in the solid, from horizontal stones ;
while, the quoins differ from those of the nave, being without buttresses. A small cross, with another incised on its eastern face, still stands, on the east gable of the nave. A cross formerly stood on the west end, but it was blown down several years ago ; it is now disfigured, and laid prostrate, in the grave- yard beneath,*° The chisellings and ornamental bevels of the doors and
See " Kilmalkedar, County Kerry," by an addition, made at some time previous to
Arthur Hill, B. A.
'3 See ibid.
'* In its details, it affords a marked con-
trast with the nave. The east window in it, instead of being a simple opening with sloping jambs, is constructed with parallel jambs,mouldedontheexterior,anditismuch higher, in proportion to its width.
'S It is said, to judge from the existing remains, it " must have been an ecclesiasti- cal establishment of some note from an early period down to the twelfth century. "— " Notes on Irish Architecture," edited by Margaret Stokes, vol. i. , part i. , sect, ii. , p. 58.
the introduction of pointed architecture into this country.
^° See "Letters containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the County of Kerry, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1841. " Letter of JohnO'Donovan,datedDingle,August4th, 1841, p. 88.
°' The windows are rather plain, as con- trasted with the other richly decorated fea- tures of the building. The east window is round-headed, and with vertical jambs. It measures 5 feet 10 inches high, by 8 inches wide, on the outside, while on the interior it splays to a width of 4 feet 8 inches. There is no dripstone, and inside each jamb is
'* There is a very particular and minute
description of the parish and old church of crowned with an animal's head. See
Kilmalkedar, by John O'Donovan, in " Let-
ters containing Information relative to the
Antiquities of the County of Kerry collected
during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey
in 1841," pp. 83 to 102. This letter is dated
August 4th, 1841, and it was apparently
written at Dingle. Various illustrations of
the old church accompany this communica-
tion, and drawn in ink, by William F. Architects, in 1870. " Besides a letterpress
Wakeman.
'7 The nave measures 27 feet 4 inches in
description preceding, we have the following Lithographs introduced : No. i. Plan and Elevation of West End. No. ii. Elevation of South Side. No. iii. Elevation of East
length, and 17 feet in width ; while its walls
are 3 feet 7 inches thick, and 12 feet high,
at the north-west angle. See " Notes on End and Section through Nave. No. iv. Irish Architecture," by Edwin, Third Earl Longitudinal Section. No. v. Detail of of Dunraven, edited by Miss Margaret West Door. No. vi. Detail of Chancel Stokes, vol. ii. , part iv. , sect, i. , p. 52.
'* The chancel is 16 feet long and 11 feet 3 inches wide ; while, the walls are 2 feet 9 inches thick. See ibid.
'9IntheopinionofMr. Hill,thislatteris
Arch. No. vii. RJeuld igs of West Door and Chancel Arch. No. viii. Details of Nave, Windows, &c. . East Window, and Western Cross. Photographs : No. i. GeneralViewoftheWestEnd. No. ii. .
" Notes on Irish Architecture," by Edwin, Third Earl of Dunraven, edited by Margaret Stokes, vol. ii. , part v. , sect, i. , p. 54.
^^ The most correct idea that can be formed—short of a visit to the spot—may be drawn from a Monograph, "Kilmalkedar, County Kerry, drawn by Arthur Hill, B. A. , Associate of the Royal Institute of British
278
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 14.
windows "' are yet exceedingly sharp, and the masonry is very perfect. '^ There are only two windows to light the nave. These are scarcely a superficial foot each, in area ; they are unmoulded, splayed on the inside, and not prepared to receive either shutters or glass. ""^ The old church walls, on the inside, dis- play a fine sculptured range of low pillasters, on both sides of the nave. The five recesses ^* in the side walls are separated from one another, by round pillasters.
