'° From these
premises
Archdall deduces this notable statement: " We are told, that St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
J.
, and headed, Presentation Convent, pp.
565, 556.
Douglas-street, Cork, August the 15th,
1878.
Article viii.
—
' Edited by Rev. Dr.
'See "Acta Sanctorum,"
Kelly, p. xxiii.
has ^Xe'Djein ITobhAi^x.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
Maii
saints, p. 3.
" In the Franciscan copy, we read Cob-
niAni, and over this name the comment . 1. Jobnmi.
3 See •' Primordin," cap. xvii. , p. 966.
* See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (s), pp. 22, 23.
^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxii.
It was likewise called St. Patrick's Well, 5 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- and Colgan says it appears to have been
nite," xx. Januarii, Appendix ad Acta S. Fechini, cap. iii. , p. 143.
* See " Proceedings of tlie Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 108, 109.
' See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 368, 369.
'^ See Sir Henry Piers' " Chonographical
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
116, 117. —
Article ix.
The Franciscan copy tomus i. , Maiii. Among the pretermitted
D
50
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
—
Whetlier tliis saint and locality can be connected with Cranfield parish, we have no means for discovering ; but, in the latter place, on May Eve, pil- grims were accustomed to resort, in 1727, to a running spring, said to have been consecrated by St. Colman, a famous Irish saint. These persons emptied and cleaned this well, in the twilight, and prayed around it during the night. The following May morning, small transparent amber stones were found,atthebottom. Theseweretakenout,andcarriedbythepeopleas preservatives from accidents by fire or water. They were in reality crystals of gypsum, or sulphate of lime, a salt sparingly soluble in water. They were chiefly sought, by those intending to emigrate. Stations were held here, also, on the 29th and 30th of June, and these were attended by a large num- ber of persons. Since 1828, the visitations have been discontinued. s As the stations were designed to honour a St. Colman, and as they were com- pleted on the 1st of May, there is no other saint of this name then venerated, althoughthereareverymanyColmans,inourcalendars. Itisalsoveryremark- able, that in Ireland, the holy wells were frequented by the peasantry, on May Day, and that patterns were held, at various places, at the same date. Not far from tiie foot of the Paps' Mountains, and about a mile from Killarney, there is a large stone fort or Caher, called Caher Crubhdarrig. ^ Near it, there is aholywell,atwhichagreatpatternusedtobeheld,onMayist. Thispattern has been suppressed by the local clergy, for many years back. Rounds are still made at the Avell, on May ist. 7 Goibnen was venerated on this day, as we find recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal. ^ Little do we know con-
Article X. St. Duicholl, of Cluain-Braoin. The name of this saint occurs, in the Martyrology ofTallagh,^ at the 1st of IMay, as Dicholla Cluana-brain. The BoUandists, quoting the same authority, have notices of St. Dichullus of Cluain-Brain, for the present day. ^ There was a place, for- merly known as Cluain Bhriain, meaning Brian's Lawn or I^Ieadow,3 and now Anglicized Cloonbrien. This is now a townland, in the parish of Athlacca, nearBruff,inthecountyofLimerick. 4 But,whetherornotitcanbeidentified with the present locality is questionable. The ancient name for Castletown, in the county of Louth, is said to have been Cluain Braoin; and, with the
' The foregoing information was commu- nicated by Mr. Michael Warren of Killarney, to Rev. James Graves, M. A. , Rector of Stoneyford, in May, 1884, wliile we were at the meeting there of the Kilkenny Arch-
cerning this saint, his age. or his exact locality
thoughts were often employed on sacred subjects, like so many of the holy persons, who lived contemporaneously with him. These were accustomed to pious and penitential exercises, while they were always careful to attend morning and evening to special devotions.
that miraculous fountain, which in his time
was near the church of Creamchoill, or near
the church of Schire, as both lay within Dal-
aradin, in the diocese and territory of Connor.
See " Trias Thaumalurga. " Jocelyn's Vita S.
Patricii, cap. cxxxvi. , p. 183. And " Acta seol'ogical Society.
Sanctorum Hiberni? e," xx. Februarii, Vita S. Olcani, p. 376, and nn. 14, 15, 16, p. 378.
5 See Rev. Dr. William Reeves' " Ecclesi- astical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore,"n. (i), p. 88.
' Not far from this Caher, there is another but a smaller stone fort, called Cahereen. This is said to have been a Royal [resi- dence.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 116, 117.
Articlex. —' EditedbyRev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiii. The Frnnciscan copy has it TOicollo cUiAin bpAin.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (c), p. 1035.
^ See '
'
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
;
yet, we may rest assured, his
——
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
saints of this localit)', we find the present holy man classed. 5 Colgan alhides to various holy persons bearing this name ; but, he does not furnish, a clue for identification of the age, when the present saint flourished. ^ The Tripar- tite Life of St. Patrick has a prophecy of the Apostle, concerning a certain Dichul. It calls him " abbas Ernatiensis,"? and he was afterwards abbot of Louth. ^ Who he was, otherwise, or at what time he lived, is not known ; at any rate, he lived long after St. Patrick's days, as Jocelyn relates. 9 Colgan conjectures, that he was the Dichul, revered in the church of Chuainbraoin, near Louth, and that this might have been, what the Tripartite Life calls Ernatiensis. But, he says nothing, as to the time of its erection, or by whom it had been founded, and whether or not, it had been an abbey. '° The place is thought to be unknown, byArchdall; and, yet, in his account of the abbey at Louth, that writer affords the proper clue to where Ernaidhe was, by printing the Inquisitions referring to Orney, alias Nurney, or le Urney. " It seems pro- bable, that on Dichul's translation to Louth, the church at Urney had been annexed to that monastery. Uiucholl of Cluiin Braoin is entered, in the
Martyrology ofDonegal,^^ as having a festival, ai the ist day of May.
Article XI. St. Cairbre, Bishop of Magh Bile, or Moville, Under the head of Magh-Bile, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Cairbre, Bishop of Magh Bile, at May ist. ' His festival is entered, at the 3rd of this month, in other Martyrologies. ^
Article XII. St. Mainchein, or Monchenus. His record is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ for the ist of May. At this same date, and citing the same authority, the BoUandists have Monchenus. ^ It is thought, hewasadescendantofConallGulban. 3 Onthisday,venerationwasgiven to Mainchein, as we read it set down, in the Martyrology of Donegal. » But, his Acts do not appear to have been preserved.
Article XIII. St. Asaph, Bishop of St. Asaph, Wales. [Sixth Century. '] In the Roman Martyrology, at the ist of I\Iay, St. Asaph, bishop,
May I. ]
51
for the County of Limerick," sheet 39.
s See " Louth Extracts for the Irish Ord- nance Survey," voL i. , p. 142, now preserved
in the Royal Irish Academy.
* See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
Januarii xvi. Vita S. Eurssei Confessoris, n. 6, p. 92.
7 The Irish word Ernaidhe, which signifies "an oratory," is usually rendered Nurney or Urney, in our topographical designations. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' "Acts of Archbishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, A. D. MCCCXCVll," &c. , n. (o), pp. 16, 17.
* See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. xciv. , xcv. , p. 166.
9 See ibid. Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cxl. , p. 96, and n. 148, p. 115.
'° From these premises Archdall deduces this notable statement: " We are told, that St. Patrick founded an abbey at Cluaim-
broain, near the town of Louth. "—" Monas- ticon tlibernicum, " p. 452.
" See ibid. , pp. 476, 478.
'- Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 116, 117. — "
Article xi. ' See Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 120, 121.
° See the Martyrologies of Tallagh and of
Donegal. Article xil.
Kelly, p. xxiii. mAiicheni.
—
The Franciscan copy has
' Edited by the Rev. Dr.
^ See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mail i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
^ If so, he was distantly related to the great St. Columkille. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbre, cap. iii. , p. 481.
"• Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Il6, 117. — Article xill.
'
See "Apologia pro
52
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
is commemorated. By Father Stephen White, he seems to be classed among the Irish Saints. ' However this may be, the holy Bishop Asaph was com- memorated with special veneration in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. At this date, the Bollandists have set together some few notices, referring to him. ' Johnof Tinmouth's Life of St. Kentigern seems to be the chief authority known, to elucidate his Acts ;3 together with the Lections in the Breviary of Aberdeen, wiiich are chiefly legendary. He flourished in the sixth century ; but when or where he was born has not been ascertained. By some writers, it has been stated, that he was a native of North Wales. 5 It is supposed, that St. Kentigern,^ or Cyndeyrn,? was the founder of Llanelwy, or St. Asaph,^ when he had fled away from Scotland. In his place of refuge, it is stated, that he collected a community, consisting of nine hundred and sixty-five monks, who lived a life of great self-denial, under his rule ; of these, three hundred illiterate ones were employed in agriculture, three hundred more worked in the monastery, while three hundred and sixty-five kept up the Divine psalmody, day and night. 9 According to Camerarius, St. Asaph came from Scotland to Wales, in company with St. Kentigern. The latter settled, in that part of the present Flintshire, which was removed some few miles in- landfromthetownofRhyl,ontheshoreoftheIrishSea. Caswallon,uncle of Maelgwyn Gwynedd, was then ruler over that district of North Wales. He assigned to St. Kentigern that pleasant tract of country, between the Rivers Elwy and Clwyd. '° To the year 543 " has been assigned the establish- ment of a See at that place, known at first as Llanelwy. Among St. Kenti- gern's disciples, St. Asaph, distinguished for his noble birth, was still more admirableforthevirtuesandmiracles,whichadornedhisearlyyears. About the year 560, it is thought, St. Asaph was consecrated bishop. On St. Ken- tigern's return to Glasgow and Strathclwyd, he left that place to his disciple St. Asaph,wheresoflourishingacommunityhadbeenestablished. Hethen ruled with great sanctity, both the bishopric and monastery; and, so greatly was he venerated, both as bishop and abbot, that the former title of Llan-Elwy was exchanged for that of St. Asaph, which it retains to this day. " The See of St. Asaph was intended for the principality of Powys. '^ To St. Asaph has been attributedaLifeofSt. Kentigern,hismaster but,forthisstatement,thereis
;
no great authority. '4 If we are to credit Dempster, he wrote, also, " Ordina- tiones Ecclesise Suae. " It is said by some, that he died a. D. 596 ;'5 while
Hibernia," cap. ii. , p. 15, cap. iv. , p. },•].
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii i. De Sancto Asapho Episcopo in Wallia
Boreali, pp. 82. 83.
3 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May i.
*• See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 271.
s See Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary of Wales," vol. i. , p. 48.
' See some notices of St. Kentigern, or St. Mungo, Bishop of Glasgow, at the 13th of January, vol. i. , Art. , ii. , of tliis woik ; but, a more detailed account will be found, at the 13th of November, which is considered to be his chief festival.
7 lie died A. D. 612, according to the " Annales Cambria:. "
* According to Jocelyn's "Vita S. Kenli- gemi. "
9 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 272.
'° See Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary of Wales," vol. iv. , p. 48.
"See Father Michael Alford's "Fides RegiaAnglo-Saxonicasive Annales Ecclesiae Anglo-Saxonicae ubi ipotissimum Anglo- Saxonum Catholica, Romana et Orthodoxa Fides ah Anno Domini 500 ad 800," &c. , tomus ii. , sect, viii. , p. 57.
'= See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia Sancta," part i. , p. 274.
'3 See ILidden's (. Arthur West), B. D. , and Stubbs' (William), M. A. , "Councils and ICcclesiastical Documents relating to Great Britain and Ireland," vol. i. , Appendix C. p. 144.
'* See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia Sancta," part i. , p. 274.
's According to Father Michael Alford, in his learned work already quoted.
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
53
5 ——
others prolong his existence, to the commencement of the seventh century. Thus, Adam King has recorded his demise, at a. d. 608, while Dempster im- putes to Baronius the date 615 ; however, Father Godefrid Henschenn could not find the latter statement in the work of Baronius. '^ The chief traces of his cultus in Scotland are in Asheg,^? in the parish of Strath,'^ in the Island of Skye
; in the Island of Berneray is the church of St. Asaph ;'9 also, in Killasaph ;^°
andinKilassie,orKilhassie,anoldburialplacenearLochRannoch. ^^ In the Martyrology of the Church of Aberdeen, ^= St. Asaph is commemorated, at the ist of May. ^3 Also, John Molanus notes,^+ in his annotations to Usuard, that in Scotia, St. Asaph the bishop, from whose name the See of St. Asaph is derived, had veneration given to him on this day.
Article XIV. St. Banban, Bishop. The Martyrology of Tallagh ' merely enters the name Banban, at the ist of I\Iay. From the postfix to this proper name, the calendarist seems to regard him, as having been invested with episcopal prerogatives. Referring to the same authority, the Bollandists " notice Banbanus bishop, at this date. There is a Banbhan, or Banan, son of Donnghal, son of Donngalbach, son to Urclosac, son of Tersen, son to Cor- ban, son of Ende, son to Dubdunad, son of Angan or Eugene, son of Fiacha Suighdhe, son to Feidhlimidh Reachtmhar. He was therefore a saint of the Desies race,3 if this be the person. This day, the Martyrology of Donegal ^ registers the festival of Banban, priest. Such account agrees with the
statement of Colgan, when enumerating many saints, called Bamban or Banban.
Article XV. Feast of St. Walburgis, or Walburge, Virgin and Abbess. \_Eighth Century. '] This holy Virgin is said to have been born among tlie West Saxons, in England, to have been daughter to the holy King, St. Richard, also a sister to Saints Willibald and Winebald, and to have been educated in Winburn monastery, in Dorsetshire, where she took the religious veil. At the request of her cousin, St. Boniface, she went with others into Germany. There she lived at Heidenheim, and passed away into everlast-
'* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i,, Maii i. De Sancto Asapho Episcopo in Wallia Boreah, num. 5, p. 83.
'7 It is said to have been primarily dedi- Gated to St. Asaph. See " New Staiistical Account of Scotland," vol. xxxi. , p. 305.
'* In it is Tobar Asheg, or St. Asaph's Well, considered superior to all the other springs. Ibid.
'9 It isrenderedCill Aisaim, in the "Origi- nes Parochiales Scutice,"vol. ii. , parti. ,p. 377.
°° Otherwise Kilasine.
^' See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp. 271, 272.
"Edited by David Laing, Esq. , F. S. A. Scot.
Douglas-street, Cork, August the 15th,
1878.
Article viii.
—
' Edited by Rev. Dr.
'See "Acta Sanctorum,"
Kelly, p. xxiii.
has ^Xe'Djein ITobhAi^x.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
Maii
saints, p. 3.
" In the Franciscan copy, we read Cob-
niAni, and over this name the comment . 1. Jobnmi.
3 See •' Primordin," cap. xvii. , p. 966.
* See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (s), pp. 22, 23.
^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxii.
It was likewise called St. Patrick's Well, 5 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- and Colgan says it appears to have been
nite," xx. Januarii, Appendix ad Acta S. Fechini, cap. iii. , p. 143.
* See " Proceedings of tlie Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 108, 109.
' See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 368, 369.
'^ See Sir Henry Piers' " Chonographical
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
116, 117. —
Article ix.
The Franciscan copy tomus i. , Maiii. Among the pretermitted
D
50
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
—
Whetlier tliis saint and locality can be connected with Cranfield parish, we have no means for discovering ; but, in the latter place, on May Eve, pil- grims were accustomed to resort, in 1727, to a running spring, said to have been consecrated by St. Colman, a famous Irish saint. These persons emptied and cleaned this well, in the twilight, and prayed around it during the night. The following May morning, small transparent amber stones were found,atthebottom. Theseweretakenout,andcarriedbythepeopleas preservatives from accidents by fire or water. They were in reality crystals of gypsum, or sulphate of lime, a salt sparingly soluble in water. They were chiefly sought, by those intending to emigrate. Stations were held here, also, on the 29th and 30th of June, and these were attended by a large num- ber of persons. Since 1828, the visitations have been discontinued. s As the stations were designed to honour a St. Colman, and as they were com- pleted on the 1st of May, there is no other saint of this name then venerated, althoughthereareverymanyColmans,inourcalendars. Itisalsoveryremark- able, that in Ireland, the holy wells were frequented by the peasantry, on May Day, and that patterns were held, at various places, at the same date. Not far from tiie foot of the Paps' Mountains, and about a mile from Killarney, there is a large stone fort or Caher, called Caher Crubhdarrig. ^ Near it, there is aholywell,atwhichagreatpatternusedtobeheld,onMayist. Thispattern has been suppressed by the local clergy, for many years back. Rounds are still made at the Avell, on May ist. 7 Goibnen was venerated on this day, as we find recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal. ^ Little do we know con-
Article X. St. Duicholl, of Cluain-Braoin. The name of this saint occurs, in the Martyrology ofTallagh,^ at the 1st of IMay, as Dicholla Cluana-brain. The BoUandists, quoting the same authority, have notices of St. Dichullus of Cluain-Brain, for the present day. ^ There was a place, for- merly known as Cluain Bhriain, meaning Brian's Lawn or I^Ieadow,3 and now Anglicized Cloonbrien. This is now a townland, in the parish of Athlacca, nearBruff,inthecountyofLimerick. 4 But,whetherornotitcanbeidentified with the present locality is questionable. The ancient name for Castletown, in the county of Louth, is said to have been Cluain Braoin; and, with the
' The foregoing information was commu- nicated by Mr. Michael Warren of Killarney, to Rev. James Graves, M. A. , Rector of Stoneyford, in May, 1884, wliile we were at the meeting there of the Kilkenny Arch-
cerning this saint, his age. or his exact locality
thoughts were often employed on sacred subjects, like so many of the holy persons, who lived contemporaneously with him. These were accustomed to pious and penitential exercises, while they were always careful to attend morning and evening to special devotions.
that miraculous fountain, which in his time
was near the church of Creamchoill, or near
the church of Schire, as both lay within Dal-
aradin, in the diocese and territory of Connor.
See " Trias Thaumalurga. " Jocelyn's Vita S.
Patricii, cap. cxxxvi. , p. 183. And " Acta seol'ogical Society.
Sanctorum Hiberni? e," xx. Februarii, Vita S. Olcani, p. 376, and nn. 14, 15, 16, p. 378.
5 See Rev. Dr. William Reeves' " Ecclesi- astical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore,"n. (i), p. 88.
' Not far from this Caher, there is another but a smaller stone fort, called Cahereen. This is said to have been a Royal [resi- dence.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 116, 117.
Articlex. —' EditedbyRev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiii. The Frnnciscan copy has it TOicollo cUiAin bpAin.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (c), p. 1035.
^ See '
'
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
;
yet, we may rest assured, his
——
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
saints of this localit)', we find the present holy man classed. 5 Colgan alhides to various holy persons bearing this name ; but, he does not furnish, a clue for identification of the age, when the present saint flourished. ^ The Tripar- tite Life of St. Patrick has a prophecy of the Apostle, concerning a certain Dichul. It calls him " abbas Ernatiensis,"? and he was afterwards abbot of Louth. ^ Who he was, otherwise, or at what time he lived, is not known ; at any rate, he lived long after St. Patrick's days, as Jocelyn relates. 9 Colgan conjectures, that he was the Dichul, revered in the church of Chuainbraoin, near Louth, and that this might have been, what the Tripartite Life calls Ernatiensis. But, he says nothing, as to the time of its erection, or by whom it had been founded, and whether or not, it had been an abbey. '° The place is thought to be unknown, byArchdall; and, yet, in his account of the abbey at Louth, that writer affords the proper clue to where Ernaidhe was, by printing the Inquisitions referring to Orney, alias Nurney, or le Urney. " It seems pro- bable, that on Dichul's translation to Louth, the church at Urney had been annexed to that monastery. Uiucholl of Cluiin Braoin is entered, in the
Martyrology ofDonegal,^^ as having a festival, ai the ist day of May.
Article XI. St. Cairbre, Bishop of Magh Bile, or Moville, Under the head of Magh-Bile, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Cairbre, Bishop of Magh Bile, at May ist. ' His festival is entered, at the 3rd of this month, in other Martyrologies. ^
Article XII. St. Mainchein, or Monchenus. His record is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ for the ist of May. At this same date, and citing the same authority, the BoUandists have Monchenus. ^ It is thought, hewasadescendantofConallGulban. 3 Onthisday,venerationwasgiven to Mainchein, as we read it set down, in the Martyrology of Donegal. » But, his Acts do not appear to have been preserved.
Article XIII. St. Asaph, Bishop of St. Asaph, Wales. [Sixth Century. '] In the Roman Martyrology, at the ist of I\Iay, St. Asaph, bishop,
May I. ]
51
for the County of Limerick," sheet 39.
s See " Louth Extracts for the Irish Ord- nance Survey," voL i. , p. 142, now preserved
in the Royal Irish Academy.
* See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
Januarii xvi. Vita S. Eurssei Confessoris, n. 6, p. 92.
7 The Irish word Ernaidhe, which signifies "an oratory," is usually rendered Nurney or Urney, in our topographical designations. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' "Acts of Archbishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, A. D. MCCCXCVll," &c. , n. (o), pp. 16, 17.
* See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. xciv. , xcv. , p. 166.
9 See ibid. Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cxl. , p. 96, and n. 148, p. 115.
'° From these premises Archdall deduces this notable statement: " We are told, that St. Patrick founded an abbey at Cluaim-
broain, near the town of Louth. "—" Monas- ticon tlibernicum, " p. 452.
" See ibid. , pp. 476, 478.
'- Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 116, 117. — "
Article xi. ' See Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 120, 121.
° See the Martyrologies of Tallagh and of
Donegal. Article xil.
Kelly, p. xxiii. mAiicheni.
—
The Franciscan copy has
' Edited by the Rev. Dr.
^ See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mail i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
^ If so, he was distantly related to the great St. Columkille. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbre, cap. iii. , p. 481.
"• Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Il6, 117. — Article xill.
'
See "Apologia pro
52
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
is commemorated. By Father Stephen White, he seems to be classed among the Irish Saints. ' However this may be, the holy Bishop Asaph was com- memorated with special veneration in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. At this date, the Bollandists have set together some few notices, referring to him. ' Johnof Tinmouth's Life of St. Kentigern seems to be the chief authority known, to elucidate his Acts ;3 together with the Lections in the Breviary of Aberdeen, wiiich are chiefly legendary. He flourished in the sixth century ; but when or where he was born has not been ascertained. By some writers, it has been stated, that he was a native of North Wales. 5 It is supposed, that St. Kentigern,^ or Cyndeyrn,? was the founder of Llanelwy, or St. Asaph,^ when he had fled away from Scotland. In his place of refuge, it is stated, that he collected a community, consisting of nine hundred and sixty-five monks, who lived a life of great self-denial, under his rule ; of these, three hundred illiterate ones were employed in agriculture, three hundred more worked in the monastery, while three hundred and sixty-five kept up the Divine psalmody, day and night. 9 According to Camerarius, St. Asaph came from Scotland to Wales, in company with St. Kentigern. The latter settled, in that part of the present Flintshire, which was removed some few miles in- landfromthetownofRhyl,ontheshoreoftheIrishSea. Caswallon,uncle of Maelgwyn Gwynedd, was then ruler over that district of North Wales. He assigned to St. Kentigern that pleasant tract of country, between the Rivers Elwy and Clwyd. '° To the year 543 " has been assigned the establish- ment of a See at that place, known at first as Llanelwy. Among St. Kenti- gern's disciples, St. Asaph, distinguished for his noble birth, was still more admirableforthevirtuesandmiracles,whichadornedhisearlyyears. About the year 560, it is thought, St. Asaph was consecrated bishop. On St. Ken- tigern's return to Glasgow and Strathclwyd, he left that place to his disciple St. Asaph,wheresoflourishingacommunityhadbeenestablished. Hethen ruled with great sanctity, both the bishopric and monastery; and, so greatly was he venerated, both as bishop and abbot, that the former title of Llan-Elwy was exchanged for that of St. Asaph, which it retains to this day. " The See of St. Asaph was intended for the principality of Powys. '^ To St. Asaph has been attributedaLifeofSt. Kentigern,hismaster but,forthisstatement,thereis
;
no great authority. '4 If we are to credit Dempster, he wrote, also, " Ordina- tiones Ecclesise Suae. " It is said by some, that he died a. D. 596 ;'5 while
Hibernia," cap. ii. , p. 15, cap. iv. , p. },•].
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii i. De Sancto Asapho Episcopo in Wallia
Boreali, pp. 82. 83.
3 See Rev. Alban Butler's " Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May i.
*• See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 271.
s See Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary of Wales," vol. i. , p. 48.
' See some notices of St. Kentigern, or St. Mungo, Bishop of Glasgow, at the 13th of January, vol. i. , Art. , ii. , of tliis woik ; but, a more detailed account will be found, at the 13th of November, which is considered to be his chief festival.
7 lie died A. D. 612, according to the " Annales Cambria:. "
* According to Jocelyn's "Vita S. Kenli- gemi. "
9 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 272.
'° See Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary of Wales," vol. iv. , p. 48.
"See Father Michael Alford's "Fides RegiaAnglo-Saxonicasive Annales Ecclesiae Anglo-Saxonicae ubi ipotissimum Anglo- Saxonum Catholica, Romana et Orthodoxa Fides ah Anno Domini 500 ad 800," &c. , tomus ii. , sect, viii. , p. 57.
'= See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia Sancta," part i. , p. 274.
'3 See ILidden's (. Arthur West), B. D. , and Stubbs' (William), M. A. , "Councils and ICcclesiastical Documents relating to Great Britain and Ireland," vol. i. , Appendix C. p. 144.
'* See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia Sancta," part i. , p. 274.
's According to Father Michael Alford, in his learned work already quoted.
May I. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
53
5 ——
others prolong his existence, to the commencement of the seventh century. Thus, Adam King has recorded his demise, at a. d. 608, while Dempster im- putes to Baronius the date 615 ; however, Father Godefrid Henschenn could not find the latter statement in the work of Baronius. '^ The chief traces of his cultus in Scotland are in Asheg,^? in the parish of Strath,'^ in the Island of Skye
; in the Island of Berneray is the church of St. Asaph ;'9 also, in Killasaph ;^°
andinKilassie,orKilhassie,anoldburialplacenearLochRannoch. ^^ In the Martyrology of the Church of Aberdeen, ^= St. Asaph is commemorated, at the ist of May. ^3 Also, John Molanus notes,^+ in his annotations to Usuard, that in Scotia, St. Asaph the bishop, from whose name the See of St. Asaph is derived, had veneration given to him on this day.
Article XIV. St. Banban, Bishop. The Martyrology of Tallagh ' merely enters the name Banban, at the ist of I\Iay. From the postfix to this proper name, the calendarist seems to regard him, as having been invested with episcopal prerogatives. Referring to the same authority, the Bollandists " notice Banbanus bishop, at this date. There is a Banbhan, or Banan, son of Donnghal, son of Donngalbach, son to Urclosac, son of Tersen, son to Cor- ban, son of Ende, son to Dubdunad, son of Angan or Eugene, son of Fiacha Suighdhe, son to Feidhlimidh Reachtmhar. He was therefore a saint of the Desies race,3 if this be the person. This day, the Martyrology of Donegal ^ registers the festival of Banban, priest. Such account agrees with the
statement of Colgan, when enumerating many saints, called Bamban or Banban.
Article XV. Feast of St. Walburgis, or Walburge, Virgin and Abbess. \_Eighth Century. '] This holy Virgin is said to have been born among tlie West Saxons, in England, to have been daughter to the holy King, St. Richard, also a sister to Saints Willibald and Winebald, and to have been educated in Winburn monastery, in Dorsetshire, where she took the religious veil. At the request of her cousin, St. Boniface, she went with others into Germany. There she lived at Heidenheim, and passed away into everlast-
'* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i,, Maii i. De Sancto Asapho Episcopo in Wallia Boreah, num. 5, p. 83.
'7 It is said to have been primarily dedi- Gated to St. Asaph. See " New Staiistical Account of Scotland," vol. xxxi. , p. 305.
'* In it is Tobar Asheg, or St. Asaph's Well, considered superior to all the other springs. Ibid.
'9 It isrenderedCill Aisaim, in the "Origi- nes Parochiales Scutice,"vol. ii. , parti. ,p. 377.
°° Otherwise Kilasine.
^' See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp. 271, 272.
"Edited by David Laing, Esq. , F. S. A. Scot.
