One Coincheann, a daughter of
Ceallach
Cualann, died, a.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
Suiljerti, citatum
rum," tomus
num.
ii. , lib. x. ,
' " Ut Gaspari Bruschio placet. "
'Thus, '"XXIIX. Verdae, Kentillae epis- copi, qui Scotorum decimus earn sedcm mo- deratus, B. "—See Bishop Forbes' " Kalen-
756, p. 411.
S34 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 28.
holypersons,butevencontradictory,asinthepresentinstance. Elsewhere, Dempster '° has an account of this same sixth bishop of Verden, as St. Ror- tila, and he is set down as writer of "Statuta Ecclesise Verdensis," lib. i. With other saints of that church, his relics had been religiously preserved. " From the cruelty of the Saxons, we are told, he suffered martyrdom," although the day for his veneration has not been prescribed by the Ciuirch. In the Scottish Fasti, lie is inscribed as a Bishop and Martyr, by Camerarius. 's Dempster states, that he flourished under Dungal, King of Scotland, in 826 ; but,thathecouldnoteasilyfindwhenhedied; yet,inanotherplace,hegives the date for the death of Kortilla, at 829. '^ Elsewhere, Dem])ster calls '5 him Kentilla, bisiiop of Verden, and he tlien tells us, that he sat there in tiie year 910; for which statements, Dempster refers to tlie Acts of that church, to Krantz, and to otiier writers, but, we fear, without the slightest warrant. In the anonymous Catalogue of our National Saints, as published by O'Suilivan Beare,'' the name of St. Kortillus is given, at the 28th of April. In the English Martyrology, in Arnold Wion,'? in Ferrarius,'' and in other Calendars, the festival of St. Cortillus is placed, also, at the 28th day of April.
Article IV. —St. Suibhne, of Scellic, probably County of Kerry.
An entry appears in the published Martyrology of Tallagh," at tlie 28th of April, concerning Suibne i Sceillic. The same record occurs in the Francis- cancopy. ' 'I'llisholyhermitisreferredtobyColgan,3andalsobytheBol- landists. * It is probable, that Scellic must be sought for among the three SkelligsS Islands, off the south-west coast of Kerry, and belonging to the parish of Killemlagh, in the barony of Iveragh. * On the Great Skellig, a con- siderabledistancefromtheshore,aretheruinsofamonasticinstitute. Several stone cells or oratories remain, and they are built of stone, dove-tailed, and without any mortar. They have conical roofs. ' The old church or oratory
3 gee "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xi. Januaiii, De S. Suibhneo seu Svinneo Ab- bate Hiensi, 11. 1, p. 57. There, he is men- tioned, as " Subneus Abbas Schelekensis, 28 April. "
< See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Aprilis xxviii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 546.
5 However, they are usually disiinguished as the Great Skellig Rock and the Little
Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xvi. , num. 1043, p. 55^-
" See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,' tomus iii. , Aprilis xxx. De S. Svitbeno Kp. Vertlensi, in Saxoni Inferioie, Piiemium, num. 5, p. 803.
" For this 'account, Dempster quotes Albert Krantzius' "Metropolis," lib. i. , cap. xxix. , who has no such statement there.
'3 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- rum," tomus iii. , Aprilis xxviii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 546.
'• The work of Albert Krantzius' "Metro-
polis," lib. ii. , cap. xxx. , is mendaciously
for his in
quoted death, 829. Dempster
also SufTrid. Petr. , lib. i. , Orig. Saxon. , cap. XV. ; but I have not the latter work to exa- mine, for the truth of his statement.
'5 See " Historice Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. x. , num. 771, p. 419.
'"See Historia Catholicse Iberniie Com- pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 5°.
Skellig Rock, '"
'' See Lignum Vitae," lib. ii. , cap. Iv. •' "
Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 556, 557.
' The accompanying illustration has been drawn from Miss Stokes' admirable work, by the writer, and transferred by William K. Wakenian to the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
» See "Notes on Irish Architecture," by Edwin, third Earl of Duuraven, edited by Margaret Stokes, vol. i. , part i. , sect. ii. Early Christian Monasteries, pp. 26, 27.
In — Generalis . S. . nctorum. " Catalogus
Dr. Todd here
Article iv.
Rev. Dr. At this date, we find Suibni i Scelic.
Kelly, p. xxii. '
'. Edited
by
adds
These Islands are shown, on the Ord-
nance
County of Kerry," sheet 104.
Survey
^ See Lewis' •'
Townland for the Maps
'"A note
more recent hand
[Sc;lig Michael, an island off the coa«t of Kerry] ut videtur. "
by
says,
"The ' . 1. SceiLic rmCnl'
April 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 535
of Seilig Mhichel,' or Michael's Rock, with a group of surrounding monastic cells, is built on the northern summit of the Great Skellig. This Island, which rises in the Atlantic Ocean, is about twelve miles distant from the western- most point, and off the coast of Kerry. The lilmd Rock is dedicated to St.
Sceilig Michil Oratory, County of Kerry.
Michael the Archangel, and its steep peak rises over the waves, like the spire of some grand cathedral. ' On this day was venerated, Suibhne, of Scellic,'"" Hcrordins; to the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Dones;il. "
Article V. —St. Coipp, or Copa, Daughter of Diomma. The Bollandists state,' that Copa, the daughter of Dima, is entered in the Martyr- ology ofTallagh, at the 28th of April; but, neither in the Franciscan copy, nor in that one published by Rev. Dr. Kelly, can we meet with such a record. However, a holy woman, who is called Coipp, daughter of Diomma, was venerated, on this day, as the register in the Martyrology of Donegal" indi- cates. A Cipia or Copia, the mother of St. Bite, is said to have been veiled by St. Patrick, and to have been left by him, at the church of F. lphin. J It is not certain, however, that she can be identical with this St. Coipp. '*
"
E'liled by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xxxix. ,
112, 113. Article v. — "
See "Act. i
p. 13 J, and n. 78, p. 176. See also, p. S. nnctorum," 270.
tomus iii. ,
the
' See what has been when already said,
treating about the festivals of saints similarly n. inied. at the iStli of Januar)', and at the
24th of this month—.
Article vi. ' Edited Rev. Dr. by
xxviii. termitted saints, p. 546.
Among
'
Edited by Dri. Todd and Reeves, pp
112, 113. ^ See
Colgan's
" Trias
Thaumaturga,"
Aprilis
pre-
536 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 28.
Article VI. —St. Caurnan, or Caernan, of Cluain-each. In the
Martyrologies of Tallagli,' and of Marianus O'Gorman, at the 28th of April, is recordedSt. CaurnanofCluain-each. However,theBoUandistsassert,"thataSt. Caernaniis de Chiain-eich is entered in those Martyrologies. A monastery ofClumet3 is mentioned, in the Acts of St. Fursey, as having been founded by the holy Abbot. * Tiie reader is referred to his Life, which has been given, in a foregoing vojume. 5 There was a Cairnanus, son to Brandubh, son to Melgi ; and, he was the companion of St. Columkille, when the latter first set out for Britain. ^ The reader is referred, to what has been already stated regarding him, at the 31st 'of January. A saint, who. is called Caernan, of Cluain-each, was venerated on this day, as we find it set down, in the Martyrology of Donegal. '
ArticleVII. —St. ConchindofCill-achaid. Atthe28thofApril,
'
the Martyrology of Tallagh registers Conchind of Cill-achaid. This place
must probably be identical with Kill Achaidh Conchinn, founded first by St. Abban,^ in the district of Corca Duibhne, now Corcaguiney barony, in the
county of Kerry.
One Coincheann, a daughter of Ceallach Cualann, died, a. d. 738, according to the " Annals of tlie Four Masters ;"3 but, we cannot feel assured, tliat slie may be identified with St. Conchind of Cill-Achaid. A festival is also recorded to her honour, at the 20th of August. It would seem, the present day, or that already mentioned, must have been her Natalis. This holy woman, called also Conchennia, is said to have been the sister of St. Kentigerna, or Centigerna, who has been already noticed, at the 7th day of Januar). '' Her royal parentage is there mentioned.
Article VIII. —Festival of St. Christopher, Martyr. In the Leabhar Breac copy of St. Angus' Feilire, a festival of St. Christopher is commemorated, at the 28th of April. In a sckolio? i affixed to this account, he is set down as a martyr," who suffered under Decius, with no less than 10,403 martyrs. " In the genuine Martyrology of Bede, as also in the Martyrologies of St. Raban Maur, and in the Manuscripts at Monte Cassino, at St. Maxi- min's and at St. Martin's church of Treves, and in Ado's Manuscript copy belonging to the Queen of Sweden, this feast has been recorded. However,
Kelly, p. xxii. In the Franciscan copy, we read CAUfn«n Ctudin ecli.
'
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. Ap- rilis xxviii. Among ihe pretermitted saints, p. 546.
'
See his Acts, at the 27th of October, 'See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
pp. 340, 341.
'See ''Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," vii.
'
The
print for Cluainet or Cluainech, alias applied to him of being a cotichent), ren-
' Colgan thinks tliis may have been amis-
strange epithet is
Cluaineach. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibcr- nii! e,"ix. Februaiii. Vita S. Fursiei, n. 10, p. 299.
dered a "doghead," or "wolfhead. " See
Mrs. Jameson's "Sacred and Legendary Art,' p. 449.
• See his Life, at the l6th of
' An Irish is quoted, poem
following eulogy:—
s See
"
January. Lives of the Irish Saints," vol. i. ,
containing
chap, v. , n. 48. '"
See Colgan's Trias Th^iumaturga,"' Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. ColumbjE, cap. X , num. 14, p. 4S8, and p. 501.
' Ediied by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Tloboclei\ech congliMne Hobe incpiib-oech ciMj-caise Ue^Aipm cemjimef •oa)xle|\ <XiMtim tjile]' Cpipcicep.
112, 113. — . \RTICLE VII.
Thus translated, by
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxii. The Franciscan copy, at this
Whitley Stokes;
dale, enters ConchiiTO Cilli <Xchi'D.
Januiirii, n. 8, p —22. Article viii.
tlie
—
Dr.
"He was a cleric with jiurity : he was a pious Christian: before the call without
. April 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 537
in a certain document of tlie Carthusians, at Bnixelles, it is set down as the Translation of St. Christoi)her's reh'cs. The Natal day of this holy Martyr is thought to be the 25th of July. 1 There is a beautiful allusion •• to this holy martyr, who is thought to have carried Christ on his shoulders, over a sea ; although the allegorical meaning seems to be, that he carried our Redeemer
in his breast, while wading through a sea of temporal tribulation.
CtofntP-nintf) ©ay of 9pnl.
ARTICLE I. —ST. DIOCHU, OR DICHUS, OF . SABHA1. L, OR SAUL, COUNTY OF DOWN.
{FIFTH CENTURY. \
has been very generally supposed, that the first convert made by the IT illustrious Apostle of Ireland, after his mission had opened in Ulidia, was Dichu,' or Dichus,' or Dicluio,3 sometimes written Diochu, and Dichon,* who lived in that district, comprising the present Barony of Lecale, in the county of Down. The particulars of his conversion have been already alluded to, in the Life of St. Patrick. ' His early neophyte, having once em- braced the faith, afterwards led a most exemplary life. In the published Martyrology of Tallagh,* however, there is no notice of this pious convert, at the 29th of April; although the Bollandists ' refer to that calendar, and at that same date, for the entry Dichus de Sabhall. In Irish ecclesiastical history, he has attained much celebrity, and his story has often been related. * He de- scended from a distinguished family, who belonged to the northern part of
Ireland; and there he appears to have been born, perhaps, about tiie close of tlie fourth, or the beginning of the fifth, century. His father is said to have had a very numerous family of sons, whose names have been placed on record. Thus, we are informed, that Trichem, a chief of Uladh, had seven sons, viz. , Dichu of Sabhall, or Saul, Laeghaire of Dun, Ailill of Magh-bile, or Moville, Diiirthecht of Aeudruim, or Mahee Island, Eoghan of Cillcleithi, or Kiiclief. Ros of Dundaletbglas, or Downpatrick, and Niall of Cillcleithi, or
reproach over sea his proper name was Sexia Vita S. Patricii, cap. xxxii. , xxxiv. ,
Chiistopher. '
3 See the Bollanilisti' "Acta Sanctorum,"
toiiius iii. , Aprilis xxviii. Among the pre- termitted saints, p. 547.
*In the "Opera" of Vida, tomus ii. , Hymnus 26, th—ere is an Epigram, thus re-
xxxvi. , xxxviii. , pp. 71 to 73.
» See ibid. Quarta Vita S. Palricii, cap.
xxxiii. , p. 39.
'
See ibid. Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. , iii. , cap. Ivii. , p. 160.
* See ibid. Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. i. , cap. xlvii. , xlix. , li. , Iii. , pp. 124, 125.
5 See vol. iii. of this work, at tlie 17th of
fering to him
" Christophere,
Pictores Christum dant tibi ferre humeris," &c.
Articlk 1. — ' lie is 50 called, in Cnl-
"
S. P. itricii, cap. xxix. , p. 14. Also, in the Irish Celts," at p. 321.
gan's
"Trias
Thanmatiirg,! ,"
Secunda Vita
Pa'rick
Kennedy's
related, in Legendary Fictions of
:
infixum
eum
qnod usfjue in corde gerebas,
M. Trch, chap, vii. , '
viii.
Neither is it in the Franciscan copy.
'See "Acta Sanctorum,' tomus iii. , Aprilis xxix. Among the pretermitted saints,
p.
611.
« Ihe Fortune of Dichu is
538 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [Apru. ip.
Kilclief. 9 These were of the race of Fiatach Finn, the ancestor of the Dal Fiatach, a strictly Ultonian tribe. The patrimony of Dichuo seems to have been near tl)e southern shore of Lough Cuan, now Lough Strangford, and wliere a small river, formerly called the Slaney, enters into the sea. There, he had a swineherd employed, who, on the arrival of St. Patrick and of Jiis companions, gave the alarm to his master. He thought these strangers were to be regarded as thieves or pirates. Jocelyn relates, that when St. Patrick first opened his Irish mission in the north, which is generally thought to have been A. D. 432, a certain man named Dichu, who was powerful of strength, gigantic of stature, and savage of mind, '° occupied the district in that quarter. " where the Irish Apostle landed in Ulidia. Dichuo " brought dogs to attack the voyagers, but he was unable to succeed in his purpose. As when the prophet sent from Juda to Bethal was opposed by the king sacrificing to idols, and when Jereboam stretciied forth his hand against the man of God, the king's hand withered, so that he was not able to again withdraw it, until the prophet interposed in his behalf ;'3 so, it would seem, such a miracle took ])lace, in the case of Dichuo. St. Patrick and his companions are said, by Probus, to have landed, at an island, called Milclion;''* but, this seems to be a mistake for Mag-Inis, a low-lying island in the district known as Leth- Cathuil, or Lecale. 's Tliis chieftain brandished his sword intending to destroy the saint. But, the Lord interposed his protecting anin, all Dichu's strength withered, and he entirely stiffened, so that he could move, neither his foot to go forwards, nor liis hands to strike. Experiencing such a miracle, suddenly Dichuo changed into another man ; and from being proud becoming humble, his fierceness was changed into mildness, from an infidel, he became a be- liever, with all his household, at the preaching of St. Patrick, and lie was baptized in the Christian faith. "^ As his soul was then loosed from the chains of sin, so were his limbs loosed from their heaviness, and all their strength was restored unto them. Thus, he who had been the first and principal opposer of the Faith in Ireland, became its first professor, and even to his latest age, he continued its most devoted follower.
To atone for his former obstinacy, Dichu presented a place, called
Sabhal, now Saul,"' where St. Patrick might erect a church. To this
proposal, the great Irish Apostle most willingly assented. Dichu requested it might be erected in a direction, lying north and south. "' On account of some peculiarity in its position, or use, the name Sab- hall, which means "a barn," was probably applied to the original church. '9
5 All their churches were witliiiiTrichem's "See Miss Corner's of Julia "History
territory, as we are told, by Rev. Dr. Irehnd," p. 16.
Reeves, in Note i, to the "Martyrology of
lJonegal,"at April 29th, p. 114. However, we doubt, if-iU tlieir places may be converted into churches, with which they had been connected.
'"See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Sexta S. Patricii, cap. xxxii. , p. 72.
" His castle is said to have been where
Saul is now built, a village about two miles
from Downpatrick.
" CSullivan Bcare, in his Decades on St.
Patrick, has an account of Dichuo, lib.
rum," tomus
num.
ii. , lib. x. ,
' " Ut Gaspari Bruschio placet. "
'Thus, '"XXIIX. Verdae, Kentillae epis- copi, qui Scotorum decimus earn sedcm mo- deratus, B. "—See Bishop Forbes' " Kalen-
756, p. 411.
S34 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 28.
holypersons,butevencontradictory,asinthepresentinstance. Elsewhere, Dempster '° has an account of this same sixth bishop of Verden, as St. Ror- tila, and he is set down as writer of "Statuta Ecclesise Verdensis," lib. i. With other saints of that church, his relics had been religiously preserved. " From the cruelty of the Saxons, we are told, he suffered martyrdom," although the day for his veneration has not been prescribed by the Ciuirch. In the Scottish Fasti, lie is inscribed as a Bishop and Martyr, by Camerarius. 's Dempster states, that he flourished under Dungal, King of Scotland, in 826 ; but,thathecouldnoteasilyfindwhenhedied; yet,inanotherplace,hegives the date for the death of Kortilla, at 829. '^ Elsewhere, Dem])ster calls '5 him Kentilla, bisiiop of Verden, and he tlien tells us, that he sat there in tiie year 910; for which statements, Dempster refers to tlie Acts of that church, to Krantz, and to otiier writers, but, we fear, without the slightest warrant. In the anonymous Catalogue of our National Saints, as published by O'Suilivan Beare,'' the name of St. Kortillus is given, at the 28th of April. In the English Martyrology, in Arnold Wion,'? in Ferrarius,'' and in other Calendars, the festival of St. Cortillus is placed, also, at the 28th day of April.
Article IV. —St. Suibhne, of Scellic, probably County of Kerry.
An entry appears in the published Martyrology of Tallagh," at tlie 28th of April, concerning Suibne i Sceillic. The same record occurs in the Francis- cancopy. ' 'I'llisholyhermitisreferredtobyColgan,3andalsobytheBol- landists. * It is probable, that Scellic must be sought for among the three SkelligsS Islands, off the south-west coast of Kerry, and belonging to the parish of Killemlagh, in the barony of Iveragh. * On the Great Skellig, a con- siderabledistancefromtheshore,aretheruinsofamonasticinstitute. Several stone cells or oratories remain, and they are built of stone, dove-tailed, and without any mortar. They have conical roofs. ' The old church or oratory
3 gee "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xi. Januaiii, De S. Suibhneo seu Svinneo Ab- bate Hiensi, 11. 1, p. 57. There, he is men- tioned, as " Subneus Abbas Schelekensis, 28 April. "
< See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Aprilis xxviii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 546.
5 However, they are usually disiinguished as the Great Skellig Rock and the Little
Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xvi. , num. 1043, p. 55^-
" See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,' tomus iii. , Aprilis xxx. De S. Svitbeno Kp. Vertlensi, in Saxoni Inferioie, Piiemium, num. 5, p. 803.
" For this 'account, Dempster quotes Albert Krantzius' "Metropolis," lib. i. , cap. xxix. , who has no such statement there.
'3 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- rum," tomus iii. , Aprilis xxviii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 546.
'• The work of Albert Krantzius' "Metro-
polis," lib. ii. , cap. xxx. , is mendaciously
for his in
quoted death, 829. Dempster
also SufTrid. Petr. , lib. i. , Orig. Saxon. , cap. XV. ; but I have not the latter work to exa- mine, for the truth of his statement.
'5 See " Historice Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. x. , num. 771, p. 419.
'"See Historia Catholicse Iberniie Com- pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 5°.
Skellig Rock, '"
'' See Lignum Vitae," lib. ii. , cap. Iv. •' "
Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 556, 557.
' The accompanying illustration has been drawn from Miss Stokes' admirable work, by the writer, and transferred by William K. Wakenian to the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
» See "Notes on Irish Architecture," by Edwin, third Earl of Duuraven, edited by Margaret Stokes, vol. i. , part i. , sect. ii. Early Christian Monasteries, pp. 26, 27.
In — Generalis . S. . nctorum. " Catalogus
Dr. Todd here
Article iv.
Rev. Dr. At this date, we find Suibni i Scelic.
Kelly, p. xxii. '
'. Edited
by
adds
These Islands are shown, on the Ord-
nance
County of Kerry," sheet 104.
Survey
^ See Lewis' •'
Townland for the Maps
'"A note
more recent hand
[Sc;lig Michael, an island off the coa«t of Kerry] ut videtur. "
by
says,
"The ' . 1. SceiLic rmCnl'
April 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 535
of Seilig Mhichel,' or Michael's Rock, with a group of surrounding monastic cells, is built on the northern summit of the Great Skellig. This Island, which rises in the Atlantic Ocean, is about twelve miles distant from the western- most point, and off the coast of Kerry. The lilmd Rock is dedicated to St.
Sceilig Michil Oratory, County of Kerry.
Michael the Archangel, and its steep peak rises over the waves, like the spire of some grand cathedral. ' On this day was venerated, Suibhne, of Scellic,'"" Hcrordins; to the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Dones;il. "
Article V. —St. Coipp, or Copa, Daughter of Diomma. The Bollandists state,' that Copa, the daughter of Dima, is entered in the Martyr- ology ofTallagh, at the 28th of April; but, neither in the Franciscan copy, nor in that one published by Rev. Dr. Kelly, can we meet with such a record. However, a holy woman, who is called Coipp, daughter of Diomma, was venerated, on this day, as the register in the Martyrology of Donegal" indi- cates. A Cipia or Copia, the mother of St. Bite, is said to have been veiled by St. Patrick, and to have been left by him, at the church of F. lphin. J It is not certain, however, that she can be identical with this St. Coipp. '*
"
E'liled by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xxxix. ,
112, 113. Article v. — "
See "Act. i
p. 13 J, and n. 78, p. 176. See also, p. S. nnctorum," 270.
tomus iii. ,
the
' See what has been when already said,
treating about the festivals of saints similarly n. inied. at the iStli of Januar)', and at the
24th of this month—.
Article vi. ' Edited Rev. Dr. by
xxviii. termitted saints, p. 546.
Among
'
Edited by Dri. Todd and Reeves, pp
112, 113. ^ See
Colgan's
" Trias
Thaumaturga,"
Aprilis
pre-
536 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 28.
Article VI. —St. Caurnan, or Caernan, of Cluain-each. In the
Martyrologies of Tallagli,' and of Marianus O'Gorman, at the 28th of April, is recordedSt. CaurnanofCluain-each. However,theBoUandistsassert,"thataSt. Caernaniis de Chiain-eich is entered in those Martyrologies. A monastery ofClumet3 is mentioned, in the Acts of St. Fursey, as having been founded by the holy Abbot. * Tiie reader is referred to his Life, which has been given, in a foregoing vojume. 5 There was a Cairnanus, son to Brandubh, son to Melgi ; and, he was the companion of St. Columkille, when the latter first set out for Britain. ^ The reader is referred, to what has been already stated regarding him, at the 31st 'of January. A saint, who. is called Caernan, of Cluain-each, was venerated on this day, as we find it set down, in the Martyrology of Donegal. '
ArticleVII. —St. ConchindofCill-achaid. Atthe28thofApril,
'
the Martyrology of Tallagh registers Conchind of Cill-achaid. This place
must probably be identical with Kill Achaidh Conchinn, founded first by St. Abban,^ in the district of Corca Duibhne, now Corcaguiney barony, in the
county of Kerry.
One Coincheann, a daughter of Ceallach Cualann, died, a. d. 738, according to the " Annals of tlie Four Masters ;"3 but, we cannot feel assured, tliat slie may be identified with St. Conchind of Cill-Achaid. A festival is also recorded to her honour, at the 20th of August. It would seem, the present day, or that already mentioned, must have been her Natalis. This holy woman, called also Conchennia, is said to have been the sister of St. Kentigerna, or Centigerna, who has been already noticed, at the 7th day of Januar). '' Her royal parentage is there mentioned.
Article VIII. —Festival of St. Christopher, Martyr. In the Leabhar Breac copy of St. Angus' Feilire, a festival of St. Christopher is commemorated, at the 28th of April. In a sckolio? i affixed to this account, he is set down as a martyr," who suffered under Decius, with no less than 10,403 martyrs. " In the genuine Martyrology of Bede, as also in the Martyrologies of St. Raban Maur, and in the Manuscripts at Monte Cassino, at St. Maxi- min's and at St. Martin's church of Treves, and in Ado's Manuscript copy belonging to the Queen of Sweden, this feast has been recorded. However,
Kelly, p. xxii. In the Franciscan copy, we read CAUfn«n Ctudin ecli.
'
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. Ap- rilis xxviii. Among ihe pretermitted saints, p. 546.
'
See his Acts, at the 27th of October, 'See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
pp. 340, 341.
'See ''Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," vii.
'
The
print for Cluainet or Cluainech, alias applied to him of being a cotichent), ren-
' Colgan thinks tliis may have been amis-
strange epithet is
Cluaineach. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibcr- nii! e,"ix. Februaiii. Vita S. Fursiei, n. 10, p. 299.
dered a "doghead," or "wolfhead. " See
Mrs. Jameson's "Sacred and Legendary Art,' p. 449.
• See his Life, at the l6th of
' An Irish is quoted, poem
following eulogy:—
s See
"
January. Lives of the Irish Saints," vol. i. ,
containing
chap, v. , n. 48. '"
See Colgan's Trias Th^iumaturga,"' Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. ColumbjE, cap. X , num. 14, p. 4S8, and p. 501.
' Ediied by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Tloboclei\ech congliMne Hobe incpiib-oech ciMj-caise Ue^Aipm cemjimef •oa)xle|\ <XiMtim tjile]' Cpipcicep.
112, 113. — . \RTICLE VII.
Thus translated, by
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxii. The Franciscan copy, at this
Whitley Stokes;
dale, enters ConchiiTO Cilli <Xchi'D.
Januiirii, n. 8, p —22. Article viii.
tlie
—
Dr.
"He was a cleric with jiurity : he was a pious Christian: before the call without
. April 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 537
in a certain document of tlie Carthusians, at Bnixelles, it is set down as the Translation of St. Christoi)her's reh'cs. The Natal day of this holy Martyr is thought to be the 25th of July. 1 There is a beautiful allusion •• to this holy martyr, who is thought to have carried Christ on his shoulders, over a sea ; although the allegorical meaning seems to be, that he carried our Redeemer
in his breast, while wading through a sea of temporal tribulation.
CtofntP-nintf) ©ay of 9pnl.
ARTICLE I. —ST. DIOCHU, OR DICHUS, OF . SABHA1. L, OR SAUL, COUNTY OF DOWN.
{FIFTH CENTURY. \
has been very generally supposed, that the first convert made by the IT illustrious Apostle of Ireland, after his mission had opened in Ulidia, was Dichu,' or Dichus,' or Dicluio,3 sometimes written Diochu, and Dichon,* who lived in that district, comprising the present Barony of Lecale, in the county of Down. The particulars of his conversion have been already alluded to, in the Life of St. Patrick. ' His early neophyte, having once em- braced the faith, afterwards led a most exemplary life. In the published Martyrology of Tallagh,* however, there is no notice of this pious convert, at the 29th of April; although the Bollandists ' refer to that calendar, and at that same date, for the entry Dichus de Sabhall. In Irish ecclesiastical history, he has attained much celebrity, and his story has often been related. * He de- scended from a distinguished family, who belonged to the northern part of
Ireland; and there he appears to have been born, perhaps, about tiie close of tlie fourth, or the beginning of the fifth, century. His father is said to have had a very numerous family of sons, whose names have been placed on record. Thus, we are informed, that Trichem, a chief of Uladh, had seven sons, viz. , Dichu of Sabhall, or Saul, Laeghaire of Dun, Ailill of Magh-bile, or Moville, Diiirthecht of Aeudruim, or Mahee Island, Eoghan of Cillcleithi, or Kiiclief. Ros of Dundaletbglas, or Downpatrick, and Niall of Cillcleithi, or
reproach over sea his proper name was Sexia Vita S. Patricii, cap. xxxii. , xxxiv. ,
Chiistopher. '
3 See the Bollanilisti' "Acta Sanctorum,"
toiiius iii. , Aprilis xxviii. Among the pre- termitted saints, p. 547.
*In the "Opera" of Vida, tomus ii. , Hymnus 26, th—ere is an Epigram, thus re-
xxxvi. , xxxviii. , pp. 71 to 73.
» See ibid. Quarta Vita S. Palricii, cap.
xxxiii. , p. 39.
'
See ibid. Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. , iii. , cap. Ivii. , p. 160.
* See ibid. Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. i. , cap. xlvii. , xlix. , li. , Iii. , pp. 124, 125.
5 See vol. iii. of this work, at tlie 17th of
fering to him
" Christophere,
Pictores Christum dant tibi ferre humeris," &c.
Articlk 1. — ' lie is 50 called, in Cnl-
"
S. P. itricii, cap. xxix. , p. 14. Also, in the Irish Celts," at p. 321.
gan's
"Trias
Thanmatiirg,! ,"
Secunda Vita
Pa'rick
Kennedy's
related, in Legendary Fictions of
:
infixum
eum
qnod usfjue in corde gerebas,
M. Trch, chap, vii. , '
viii.
Neither is it in the Franciscan copy.
'See "Acta Sanctorum,' tomus iii. , Aprilis xxix. Among the pretermitted saints,
p.
611.
« Ihe Fortune of Dichu is
538 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [Apru. ip.
Kilclief. 9 These were of the race of Fiatach Finn, the ancestor of the Dal Fiatach, a strictly Ultonian tribe. The patrimony of Dichuo seems to have been near tl)e southern shore of Lough Cuan, now Lough Strangford, and wliere a small river, formerly called the Slaney, enters into the sea. There, he had a swineherd employed, who, on the arrival of St. Patrick and of Jiis companions, gave the alarm to his master. He thought these strangers were to be regarded as thieves or pirates. Jocelyn relates, that when St. Patrick first opened his Irish mission in the north, which is generally thought to have been A. D. 432, a certain man named Dichu, who was powerful of strength, gigantic of stature, and savage of mind, '° occupied the district in that quarter. " where the Irish Apostle landed in Ulidia. Dichuo " brought dogs to attack the voyagers, but he was unable to succeed in his purpose. As when the prophet sent from Juda to Bethal was opposed by the king sacrificing to idols, and when Jereboam stretciied forth his hand against the man of God, the king's hand withered, so that he was not able to again withdraw it, until the prophet interposed in his behalf ;'3 so, it would seem, such a miracle took ])lace, in the case of Dichuo. St. Patrick and his companions are said, by Probus, to have landed, at an island, called Milclion;''* but, this seems to be a mistake for Mag-Inis, a low-lying island in the district known as Leth- Cathuil, or Lecale. 's Tliis chieftain brandished his sword intending to destroy the saint. But, the Lord interposed his protecting anin, all Dichu's strength withered, and he entirely stiffened, so that he could move, neither his foot to go forwards, nor liis hands to strike. Experiencing such a miracle, suddenly Dichuo changed into another man ; and from being proud becoming humble, his fierceness was changed into mildness, from an infidel, he became a be- liever, with all his household, at the preaching of St. Patrick, and lie was baptized in the Christian faith. "^ As his soul was then loosed from the chains of sin, so were his limbs loosed from their heaviness, and all their strength was restored unto them. Thus, he who had been the first and principal opposer of the Faith in Ireland, became its first professor, and even to his latest age, he continued its most devoted follower.
To atone for his former obstinacy, Dichu presented a place, called
Sabhal, now Saul,"' where St. Patrick might erect a church. To this
proposal, the great Irish Apostle most willingly assented. Dichu requested it might be erected in a direction, lying north and south. "' On account of some peculiarity in its position, or use, the name Sab- hall, which means "a barn," was probably applied to the original church. '9
5 All their churches were witliiiiTrichem's "See Miss Corner's of Julia "History
territory, as we are told, by Rev. Dr. Irehnd," p. 16.
Reeves, in Note i, to the "Martyrology of
lJonegal,"at April 29th, p. 114. However, we doubt, if-iU tlieir places may be converted into churches, with which they had been connected.
'"See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Sexta S. Patricii, cap. xxxii. , p. 72.
" His castle is said to have been where
Saul is now built, a village about two miles
from Downpatrick.
" CSullivan Bcare, in his Decades on St.
Patrick, has an account of Dichuo, lib.
