" The
foregoing
communications, with a rough sketch of the first-iiamed Kilcredan Cemetery, were sent to tiie writer, in the letter to which allusion has been already made.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
441.
4Ferrariusstates,about603.
Dempster
See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
396 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 7.
under King Malduine,s who is said to have reigned from a. d. 664 to 684. ^ St. Ronan lived in Kilmanora, or Kilmanoren, in the Scottish province of Lennocia,7orLevenax. ThisRonanusissaid^tohavebeenthesameashe who is mentioned by Venerable Bede. 9 The present saint is supposed to have been connected with the following places in Scotland. '" The Kil- maronen, in Levenax, is probably the parish of Kilmaronock," which name is formed from that of the saint ; thus, Ma-ron-og, with an honorary prefix and suffix, Kilmaronag, in Muckairn ;" Tempul Ronain,'3 the ancient name for the parish church of Hy ;'^ Eoroby, in the old parish of Ness ;'5 Island of Ronay, off Raasay ;'^ Rona Island,'7 sixty miles north-north-east of the Lewes j'^ St. Ronan's Isle, which is a peninsulated eminence at high tide, and lying off the west coast'9 of the mainland in Zetland,=° Port-Ronain, the principal landing-place in the Island of lona f^ all the foregoing places are thought to have been called after the present St. Ronan. He is not mentioned in our Irish Calendars, at this date, although he may have been anIrishmanbybirth; but,hemustcertainlybedistinguishedfromSt. Ronan Fionn,commemoratedatLannRonain. -^' However,PatherInnesconfounds both ;-3 and the present saint may or may not be the Scottish Ronan,=4 by
nation, who was St. Finan's polemical opponent. A singular mistake has been committed,^5 in identifying the latter with a patron of Insula Ronan. '^^ Bede's Ronan flourished about the year 652, and yet his death is placed at A. D. 778. At the year 736, the "Annals of Ulster" enter the death of Ronain, Abbot of Cinngaraid f^ but, as we are told, St. ^ngus^^ places this saint, at the 9th of February, we may doubt, if he may be identified with the
has a St. Ronan, Bishop of the Scots, at the Here, too, are some crosses,
sect,
"
^^
year; —
same but, his feast is assigned to the
Local legends relate, that St. Ronan came to Rona from Eorapiall where a chapel was dedicated to him—on the back of a whale. It is said, he found it inhabited by hairy creatures, who backed out into the sea before him, while leaving their marks in scratches on the rocks. See Muir's "Cha- racteristics of Architecture," p. 199, and Martin's "Western Islands of Scotland," pp. 19 to 25.
^9 In the bay of Scalloway. =° "
17th of February.
s He is noticed as the fifty-fifth King of
Scotland.
^ See the Chronology of George Buchanan,
in " Rerum Scoticarum Historia," lib. v. , pp. 146, 147.
^ According to the Breviary of Aberdeen. ^ By Camerarius, "De Scotorum Forti-
tudine," p. 96.
9 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis An-
glorum," lib. iii. , cap. 25, p. 233.
'° See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," pp. 441, 442,
See Hubert's Shetland," p. 456. Here are the foundations of an old chapel.
^^ See "
Parochiales Scotiae,"
" Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes
P,p, 417.
^*
At the 22nd of May, where an account of him will be found.
^3 See ' ' Civil and Ecclesiastical History
of Scotland,' book ii. , sect, xxv,, p, 161,
=4 The editor of the " Parochiales Origines
Scotiae" having stated, that Scotia was Ire-
land, yet, makes Bede's Ronan a Scotch-
man. See part ii. , pp. 285, 296.
=3 By Camerarius.
-<^ See "De Scotorum Fortitudine, at
February 6th, p. 96.
^7 See Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibemi-
carum Scriptores," tomus iv. Annales Ul-
Origines
pars i. , p. 34. Among the antiquities are
two Roman Catholic chapels. Also, the ** Old Statistical Account of Scotland," vol. xi. , p. 206.
"See "Origines Parochiales Scotise,"
parsii. , pp. 132, 827.
*3 Old records mention it, in connexion
with "the personaige of Tempill-Ronaige. " *4 See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes
P,
part ii. , p. 388, and Martin's Western
Isles of Scotland," p. 27.
i. , pp. 416, 417. "
'S See Origines Prochiales Scotiae," *'
^'^ A small inhabited
the parish of Glenelg, in Inverness-shire.
See Fullarton's "Imperial Gazetteer of 11A111 fig-oA, or, "Bishop Ronan the
Scotland," vol, ii. , p. 643.
'7 On there is a little 14 it, TeampuU,
feet 8 inches long, by 8 feet 3 inches wide.
-^ He is commemorated as, Onauc tlo- kingly. " Upon this is the note, . 1. tiof
island,
belonging to
tonienses, 86. p.
^'
See Rev, William Reeves' Adamnan's
mochu'OA " In Lismore
ino|\
Mochuda he is.
"
ACA, or,
February 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 397
present holy man. ^s Dempster states, that Ronnanus, the bishop, died in Levinia. 3° OnaccountofcontradictorystatementsregardingthisSt. Ronan, the Bollandists wish to pass over his Acts—although they include him at this day—because they hoped further light might be thrown on his obscure
31 history.
Article VII. —Saints Lonan, Criotan and Miolan, called like- wise, THE THREE SONS OF DaIRE, OF MoiN-MlOLAIN, PERHAPS, MONA- molin, County of Wexford. The Martyrology of Tallagh^ records at the 7 th of February, the three sons of Daire, Lonan and Cretan and Maolan. Then follows the designation Mona Maolain, from which we might be in-
"
clined to think, that from the latter saint some Mona or
bog" had been named. Wemayfairlyinfer,thattheseholybrothershvedduringorbefore the ninth century. Who their father Daire was has not transpired. These united names. Saints Lonan, Criotan, and Miolan, belonging to Moin-Mio- lain, and three sons of Daire, are registered in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ as having a festival celebrated on this day. It will probably prove as un- availing to discover the place or places, where these holy men were venerated, as. the exact time when they flourished. Yet, there is a parish, called Mona- molin,3 in the baronies of Ballaghkeen and Gorey, in the county of Wexford. Among the known denominations of Irish places, this seems to accord best with Mona-Maolain. 4 The last-named of the three saints appears to have therefore, is it — he was the most
name to their
given place
and, distinguishedamongthem. —ThereisaKilcredans whichmightbederived
=9 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 441.
3°See"MenologiumScoticum. " Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
191.
3^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Februarii vii. Prsetermissi et in alios dies
^ In a letter from Maurice Lenihan, Esq. , and dated Limerick, September 22nd, 1873, he gives a very interesting description of this place and its traditions. Not far from it is shown Lios Liathan, which is supposed to have been the fort held by Liathan, the
" own man" or " body servant," to the cele- brated Monarch of Ireland Brian Boroimhe. An account, regarding him will be found in
rejecti, p. 3.
Article vii. —^ Edited
Rev. Dr.
by "
xiv.
Kelly, p.
== Edited
by
Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp.
*'TheWarsoftheGhaeilandGaill, asalso in Hardiman's "Irish Minstrelsy. " Here
again is Cragg Mountain, on which Eabul or Aibhile, the banshee or familiar sprite of the Dal-Cas is said to have lived. This too tradition says she haunted, and that she told Brian Boroimhe, he should not survive the great battle at Clontarf. This fact, it is stated, he told to his servant Liathan, when the Danes were approaching his tent to murder him.
7 General Sarsfield rode through this place, when he made the celebrated detour on Ballyneety, where he blew up King
William Third's battering train and ammuni- tion.
40, 41,
3 It is defined on the '* Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Wex- ford. " Sheets 16,17,21,22. The town and townland of this parish are shown on Sheet 16.
4 There is another townland of Monamo-
Ian, in the parish of Templeludigan, barony of Bantry, and county of Wexford. See
? <J/(/. , Sheets 18, 24.
s This townland lies in the parish of
O'Brien's bridge, barony of Lower TuUa. See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps fortheCountyofClare. " Sheet45.
;
probable,
one mile and a-half from O'Brien's Bridge, in the county of Clare. It lies within three miles and a-half mile south-west from Killaloe. Tradition has it, that a St. Credan built a church here ; yet, whether he was identical or not with the St. Cretan or St. Criotan this day venerated must be left for mere conjecture. It is in a very out of-the-way place ; yet, the spot is interesting for many reasons, and the people are greatly attached to it. ^ The cemetery of Kil- credan is approached by Ballycorney,^ through a series of fields, each field
from St. Criotan or Credan on the townland of Ross, about
398 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 7.
nearly one fourth of a mile in length. As you enter the churchyard, a
squared piece of granite, about five feet in length, is placed on the stile. It is usual to rest coffins on it, when funerals enter the cemetery. The view towards the north is bounded by a series of fine mountains ; south and west the Tipperary, Cork and Kerry mountains loom in the distance. The cemetery is well filled with deceased members of various local families. ^ Hardly a remnant of the old church now remains. 9 Near it is a holy well, which is furnished with cups and jugs, arranged in a row about it. ^° There is another Kilcredane, or Kilcredaune,"at the mouth of the Shannon, in the parish and barony of Moyarta, and in the county of Clare. " There is a parish and townland called Kilcredan, in the barony of Imokilly, in the east riding of Cork County. '3 In the county of Kerry, in the barony of Ma- gunihy, there is a parish, called Kilcredane. ^^^ Again, there is a Kilcreevin townland, in Kilmorgan parish, barony of Corran, and county of Sligo. ^s AH of the foregoing, however, are far apart from Monamolin, in point of situa- tion.
Article VIII. —St. Brigid, Daughter of Doma or Droma. The
name of St. Brigid, daughter to Doma, Dioma, Domma, Droma or Drona, as variously written by different authorities,^ is set down in our Irish Ca- lendars, at this day. Various distinct saints, called Brigid,^ are noticed in our calendars. In the Rev. Dr. Kelly's version of the Martyrology of Tal- lagh, the present saint is called Brigit ingean Droma, on the 7th of February. 3 At the same day, she is mentioned in the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gor- man and of Charles Maguire. It is stated, likewise, that ^ngus the Culdee and Geoffrey Keating mention this saint. ** We read, in the Martyrology of
^s See " Ordnance Survey Townland
for the — of Sheet Maps County Sligo. " 33.
^
Article viii. Speaking of the many
saints, bearing the name of Brigid, in Ire- land, we find the following enumeration in Dermod O'Conor's translation of Keating's
" of Ireland :" " The wo- History religious
men that were known by the name of Brid-
get in that kingdom were fourteen, and were those that follow : Bridget, the daughter of
Dioma ; Bridget, the daughter of Mianaig ; Bridget, the daughter of Momhain ; Bridget,
the daughter of Eana ; Bridget, the daughter of Colla ; Bridget, the daughter of Eathtair
Ard ; Bridget, of Inis Bride ; Bridget, the daughter of Diamair ; Bridget, the daughter of Seannbotha; Bridget, the daughter of Fiadnait ; Bridget, the daughter of Hugh ; Bridget, the daughter of Luinge ; Bridget, the daughter of Fischmaine ; Bridget, the daughter of Flainge," book ii. , p. 389.
^
Many of the preceding proper names are altogether differently spelled, by Col- gan, in his Latin version of this extract from
"" Keating. See Trias Thaumaturga.
*3 See "Ordnance Survey Towniland Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidse, cap.
^ The Minahans, the Ryans, the Hurleys
and the
Hickey, who gave the first vote to Daniel O'Connell, at the Clare election in 1828, is buried here, and the people point out his grave with a laudable pride.
Hickeys
are most numerous. Patt
9 The church was furnished with a which, the natives aver, rang of itself.
bell, however, was taken across the Shannon, about one quarter of a-mile distant, when the tongue fell out, and it never rang more.
" An antique quern, called a Druid's stone, lies in the cemetery, which is filled with trees, and lately enclosed, by the Li- merick Poor Law Guardians, with a good stone wall. The ancient rude stones of the
church are now used as grave-stones. ""
See Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Clare. " Sheets 65, 72.
" The foregoing communications, with a rough sketch of the first-iiamed Kilcredan Cemetery, were sent to tiie writer, in the letter to which allusion has been already made.
bell, The
Maps for the County of Cork. " The parish . is defined on Sheets 77, 78, 79, and the townland on the two former sheets.
'* This is shown on the " Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of Domcer
Kerry. " Sheets 48, 58. * See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
i. , p. 611.
3 See vii. Idus. " Calendar of Irish
"
sed Mart. Tamlact. vocat filiam Droncc alii
Saints," p. xv. Colgan remarks,
February 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 399
Donegal,s concerning Brighit, a daughter of Domma, as being venerated on this day. Her history is furthermore exceedingly obscure.
Article IX. —St. Colman, Bishop. On this day is entered in the
Martyrologies of Tallagh' and of Donegal,^ Colman, Bishop. He is not distinguished in connexion with any place. Under the head of Cluain Mor,3 Duald Mac Firbis enters a Bishop Colman of Clonmore. '* We shall not presume, however, to assert, that he was identical with the saint of this date ; nor, indeed, do we know to which of the many holy men so called, and entered in our calendars, this notice should be applied.
ArticleX. —St. Colman,Bishop. Wefindinsertedasecondtimein the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 7th of February, the name of Colman, a bishop. It seems not unlikely, this was an unnecessary entry, and occurring through some oversight. It is probably referable, to the previously entered prelate.
Article XI. —St. Fionntain, Priest, of Clonkeen, probably Kill OFTHEGrange,CountyDublin. Inselectingthefinesiteforhishumble church—supposing its site to be thus identified—this holy man was distin- guished by his zeal for the glory of God's house. He gave neither sleep to his eyes, nor slumber to his eyelids, nor rest to his temples, till he found a
dwelling-place,
meet for the
Lord,
a tabernacle for the God of ^ And Jacob,
he selected the suitable and beautiful spot, near old Dunleary,^ when no
populous city was near, as at present. The good priest felt, likewise, that
wehaveanaltarwithanunchangingVictimofinfiniteprice; andwhetherin
—— is our Emmanuel our God with us
this, or in any material temple. He
during life ; and that we, by His grace, will be with Him in another temple,
"
Church felt, from earHest times for themselves and their flocks. The name
of Fintain, priest of Cluana cain, is met with in the Martyrology of Tallagh,3 at the 7th of February. There are various places bearing this name in Ire-
land. We find, likewise, Fionntain, priest of Cluain Caoin, set down in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ as having a festival at this date. Kill of the Granges was formerly called Clonkene, and it is situated in the county of Dublin. ^ Theoldchurchthere,inthevicinityofthepresentKingstown,7
not built with hands," for a blessed eternity. So have the pastors of the
^ The former from which fishing village,
the present fashionable Kingstown sprang, was near that comer of the harbour, now devoted to coaling and fishing vessels. See G. R. Powell's "Official Railway Hand- book to Bray, Kingstown, the Coast, and the County of Wicklow," p. 47.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiv.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reev€s, pp.
40, 41.
s in the parish of Kill, barony of Rath-
down. It is shown on the "Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of Dub- -* See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish lin. " Sheet 23.
Appendix Quarta i. , p. 611.
ad Acta S.
Brigidae, cap.
5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 40, 41.
Article ix. Kelly, p. XV.
^
* —
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 40, 41.
3 There are so many places of this name, that it would be useless, without further
evidence, attempting to identify the one here referred to, as stated in William M.
Hennessy's note.
Irish MSS. Academy," series,
^ See an account of this interesting
vol.
i. , part Article x. —^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
place in D'Alton's "History of the County of
i. , pp. 102, 103.
p. XV. — Article XI.
^
Psalms cxxxi. 4, 5.
Dublin," pp. 934 to 936.
7 This name it received, in compliment to
George IV. , after his visit to Ireland, in
40O LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS [February 7.
is a very interesting ruin. In 16 15, this church was in repair for Protestant services, although the chancel was ruinous. ^ According to Archbishop
"
Liber Niger" this church of St. Fintan of Clonkene, together with St. Brigid's church at Stillorgan, was held to be in the marches. 9 The present ruins, at Kill of the Grange, consist of an aisle and a chancel ; the former measures eight yards by six, and the latter seven by six. Within and without the ruins, the graveyard attached has become so overcrowded, that of late years it has been closed for interments. Ivy creeps luxuriantly over the old
Alan's
Kill of the Grange, Co. Dublin.
walls,'"and. a number of large trees grow around them. '° The fragment of a stone cross stands north of the ruins, and it is perforated with two holes, each of a size to admit a hand passing through. There is another old cross on a bank, outside the consecrated space," and on the old entrance way to the cemetery. The present St. Fintan seems to have been the former patron ;^2 but^ of his period and parentage, we can form no idea. If we are to follow Colgan's opinion,^3 he had a second festival at the nth of May ;^^
1821, when adulation in abundance was
showered on the contemptible monarch, by the interested or mistaken clique, who dared to act and speak in the name of her people. It remained for a noble English poet, in "The Irish Avatar," to immortalize that event, in his own caustic and merited lan-
Lo ! George the triumphant speeds over the wave,
To the long-cherish'd isle which he loved like his—bride. "
8 The Royal Visitation of 1615, calls this
church Clonkene, alias Grange.
9 See D'Alton's " of the CoUt\ty History
of Dublin," p. 839.
'° The accompanying illustration was en-
guage.
"The and "the gluttonous despot,"
chain-kissing slaves" that welcomed him, received a deserved castigation, —in that
from a
graph furnished by PVederick H. Mares,
poem, which opens with the lines
giaved, by Dublin.
Mr.
Gregor Grey,
photo-
•'
:
Ere the daughter of Brunswick is cold in
her grave,
And her ashes still float to their home
o'er the tide.
^^
See ibid. y p. 839.
"
bee D'Alton's "History of the County
of Dublin," p. 935.
February 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 401
yet, although both the name of the saint and of his place accord with what is here noted, it does not establish for us sufficient evidence of identity.
Article XII. —St. Maenucan or Maonacan, of Ath-liag, or Ath- LEAGUE, County of Roscommon. In the western part of the King's County, the patron saint Manchan, of Lemanaghan,' has his name locally pronounced Monaghan, nearly corresponding with the spelling of the present
holyman'sname. Maonacan,ofAth-Hag,isrecordedintheMartyrologies of Tallagh^ and of Donegal, 3 as having a festival at this date. No doubt, it is from the nam—e of this saint, that his place has been denominated Ath- liag-Moenagain nowAthleague. '^ Atpresent,itformsavillageandparish,s lying on the River Suck,*^ in the north-western part of Athlone barony, in the county of Roscommon. It must, also, be distinguished from Athliag na Sinna,nowBallyleague,^atLanesborough,andinthesamecounty. ^ The period of this saint is unknown.
Article XIII. —Reputed Festival of a St. Cormac, Junior, Bishop OF Trim. \Said to have lived in the Eighth Century^ According to Col- gan,^ a festival for this bishop has been set down, at the present date, or at the 17th of February,^ where further notices are given, and to which the reader is referred.
Article XIV. —Reputed Festival of St. Altho, Founder of Alt-
MuNSTER,Bavaria. {^EighthCe7itury^ Atthe7thofFebruary,^Dempster enters^'thefeastofSt. Altho,thefounderofAltomunster. 3 TheBollandists onlynoticethisstatement,atthepresentdate;'^ but,theyreferhisfestivalan—d
and at the
another feast kept to his memory the reader will find further particulars, in
to the of this month. s —
Acts, 9th There, also,
5th
of
September
reference to him.
*3 ^ See "Acta Sanctorum. Hibernise/'xvii.
Februarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Fintani,
cap, i. , p. 355.
'-* See further allusions to him, at that
The townland and town, called Ath- league, are noted on Sheet 41, of the last- named series.
7 InCloontuskertparish,baronyofBallin- tober South. See ibid. . Sheet 37.
^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (z), pp. 398,
and vol. — tbid. 399, vii. , Index, p. 7,
'
date.
Article xii. —^ See his Acts at the
ofJanuary. .
^
24th
Edited
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
40, 41.
4 A strong castle stood here, in the thir-
teenth This fortress was a century.
by
Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p.
xv.
frequent object for contention between the Irish and
^ See ibid. De S. Cormaco
Atht. , pp. 361, 362.
Juniore, Ep.
English.
See
John
D'Alton's " of History
Article xiv. — See Bishop Forbes' ;;
Ireland, and Annals of Boyle," vol. ii. , n.
(«), pp. 365, 366.
s The extensive parish so called is con- tained in the barony of Killian, and this
''
land Maps for the County of Roscommon. " Sheets 39, 41, 44.
"Calendars of Scottish Saints," p. 191. ="
portion is shown on the
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Galway.
See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
396 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 7.
under King Malduine,s who is said to have reigned from a. d. 664 to 684. ^ St. Ronan lived in Kilmanora, or Kilmanoren, in the Scottish province of Lennocia,7orLevenax. ThisRonanusissaid^tohavebeenthesameashe who is mentioned by Venerable Bede. 9 The present saint is supposed to have been connected with the following places in Scotland. '" The Kil- maronen, in Levenax, is probably the parish of Kilmaronock," which name is formed from that of the saint ; thus, Ma-ron-og, with an honorary prefix and suffix, Kilmaronag, in Muckairn ;" Tempul Ronain,'3 the ancient name for the parish church of Hy ;'^ Eoroby, in the old parish of Ness ;'5 Island of Ronay, off Raasay ;'^ Rona Island,'7 sixty miles north-north-east of the Lewes j'^ St. Ronan's Isle, which is a peninsulated eminence at high tide, and lying off the west coast'9 of the mainland in Zetland,=° Port-Ronain, the principal landing-place in the Island of lona f^ all the foregoing places are thought to have been called after the present St. Ronan. He is not mentioned in our Irish Calendars, at this date, although he may have been anIrishmanbybirth; but,hemustcertainlybedistinguishedfromSt. Ronan Fionn,commemoratedatLannRonain. -^' However,PatherInnesconfounds both ;-3 and the present saint may or may not be the Scottish Ronan,=4 by
nation, who was St. Finan's polemical opponent. A singular mistake has been committed,^5 in identifying the latter with a patron of Insula Ronan. '^^ Bede's Ronan flourished about the year 652, and yet his death is placed at A. D. 778. At the year 736, the "Annals of Ulster" enter the death of Ronain, Abbot of Cinngaraid f^ but, as we are told, St. ^ngus^^ places this saint, at the 9th of February, we may doubt, if he may be identified with the
has a St. Ronan, Bishop of the Scots, at the Here, too, are some crosses,
sect,
"
^^
year; —
same but, his feast is assigned to the
Local legends relate, that St. Ronan came to Rona from Eorapiall where a chapel was dedicated to him—on the back of a whale. It is said, he found it inhabited by hairy creatures, who backed out into the sea before him, while leaving their marks in scratches on the rocks. See Muir's "Cha- racteristics of Architecture," p. 199, and Martin's "Western Islands of Scotland," pp. 19 to 25.
^9 In the bay of Scalloway. =° "
17th of February.
s He is noticed as the fifty-fifth King of
Scotland.
^ See the Chronology of George Buchanan,
in " Rerum Scoticarum Historia," lib. v. , pp. 146, 147.
^ According to the Breviary of Aberdeen. ^ By Camerarius, "De Scotorum Forti-
tudine," p. 96.
9 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis An-
glorum," lib. iii. , cap. 25, p. 233.
'° See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," pp. 441, 442,
See Hubert's Shetland," p. 456. Here are the foundations of an old chapel.
^^ See "
Parochiales Scotiae,"
" Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes
P,p, 417.
^*
At the 22nd of May, where an account of him will be found.
^3 See ' ' Civil and Ecclesiastical History
of Scotland,' book ii. , sect, xxv,, p, 161,
=4 The editor of the " Parochiales Origines
Scotiae" having stated, that Scotia was Ire-
land, yet, makes Bede's Ronan a Scotch-
man. See part ii. , pp. 285, 296.
=3 By Camerarius.
-<^ See "De Scotorum Fortitudine, at
February 6th, p. 96.
^7 See Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibemi-
carum Scriptores," tomus iv. Annales Ul-
Origines
pars i. , p. 34. Among the antiquities are
two Roman Catholic chapels. Also, the ** Old Statistical Account of Scotland," vol. xi. , p. 206.
"See "Origines Parochiales Scotise,"
parsii. , pp. 132, 827.
*3 Old records mention it, in connexion
with "the personaige of Tempill-Ronaige. " *4 See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes
P,
part ii. , p. 388, and Martin's Western
Isles of Scotland," p. 27.
i. , pp. 416, 417. "
'S See Origines Prochiales Scotiae," *'
^'^ A small inhabited
the parish of Glenelg, in Inverness-shire.
See Fullarton's "Imperial Gazetteer of 11A111 fig-oA, or, "Bishop Ronan the
Scotland," vol, ii. , p. 643.
'7 On there is a little 14 it, TeampuU,
feet 8 inches long, by 8 feet 3 inches wide.
-^ He is commemorated as, Onauc tlo- kingly. " Upon this is the note, . 1. tiof
island,
belonging to
tonienses, 86. p.
^'
See Rev, William Reeves' Adamnan's
mochu'OA " In Lismore
ino|\
Mochuda he is.
"
ACA, or,
February 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 397
present holy man. ^s Dempster states, that Ronnanus, the bishop, died in Levinia. 3° OnaccountofcontradictorystatementsregardingthisSt. Ronan, the Bollandists wish to pass over his Acts—although they include him at this day—because they hoped further light might be thrown on his obscure
31 history.
Article VII. —Saints Lonan, Criotan and Miolan, called like- wise, THE THREE SONS OF DaIRE, OF MoiN-MlOLAIN, PERHAPS, MONA- molin, County of Wexford. The Martyrology of Tallagh^ records at the 7 th of February, the three sons of Daire, Lonan and Cretan and Maolan. Then follows the designation Mona Maolain, from which we might be in-
"
clined to think, that from the latter saint some Mona or
bog" had been named. Wemayfairlyinfer,thattheseholybrothershvedduringorbefore the ninth century. Who their father Daire was has not transpired. These united names. Saints Lonan, Criotan, and Miolan, belonging to Moin-Mio- lain, and three sons of Daire, are registered in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ as having a festival celebrated on this day. It will probably prove as un- availing to discover the place or places, where these holy men were venerated, as. the exact time when they flourished. Yet, there is a parish, called Mona- molin,3 in the baronies of Ballaghkeen and Gorey, in the county of Wexford. Among the known denominations of Irish places, this seems to accord best with Mona-Maolain. 4 The last-named of the three saints appears to have therefore, is it — he was the most
name to their
given place
and, distinguishedamongthem. —ThereisaKilcredans whichmightbederived
=9 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 441.
3°See"MenologiumScoticum. " Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
191.
3^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Februarii vii. Prsetermissi et in alios dies
^ In a letter from Maurice Lenihan, Esq. , and dated Limerick, September 22nd, 1873, he gives a very interesting description of this place and its traditions. Not far from it is shown Lios Liathan, which is supposed to have been the fort held by Liathan, the
" own man" or " body servant," to the cele- brated Monarch of Ireland Brian Boroimhe. An account, regarding him will be found in
rejecti, p. 3.
Article vii. —^ Edited
Rev. Dr.
by "
xiv.
Kelly, p.
== Edited
by
Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp.
*'TheWarsoftheGhaeilandGaill, asalso in Hardiman's "Irish Minstrelsy. " Here
again is Cragg Mountain, on which Eabul or Aibhile, the banshee or familiar sprite of the Dal-Cas is said to have lived. This too tradition says she haunted, and that she told Brian Boroimhe, he should not survive the great battle at Clontarf. This fact, it is stated, he told to his servant Liathan, when the Danes were approaching his tent to murder him.
7 General Sarsfield rode through this place, when he made the celebrated detour on Ballyneety, where he blew up King
William Third's battering train and ammuni- tion.
40, 41,
3 It is defined on the '* Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Wex- ford. " Sheets 16,17,21,22. The town and townland of this parish are shown on Sheet 16.
4 There is another townland of Monamo-
Ian, in the parish of Templeludigan, barony of Bantry, and county of Wexford. See
? <J/(/. , Sheets 18, 24.
s This townland lies in the parish of
O'Brien's bridge, barony of Lower TuUa. See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps fortheCountyofClare. " Sheet45.
;
probable,
one mile and a-half from O'Brien's Bridge, in the county of Clare. It lies within three miles and a-half mile south-west from Killaloe. Tradition has it, that a St. Credan built a church here ; yet, whether he was identical or not with the St. Cretan or St. Criotan this day venerated must be left for mere conjecture. It is in a very out of-the-way place ; yet, the spot is interesting for many reasons, and the people are greatly attached to it. ^ The cemetery of Kil- credan is approached by Ballycorney,^ through a series of fields, each field
from St. Criotan or Credan on the townland of Ross, about
398 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 7.
nearly one fourth of a mile in length. As you enter the churchyard, a
squared piece of granite, about five feet in length, is placed on the stile. It is usual to rest coffins on it, when funerals enter the cemetery. The view towards the north is bounded by a series of fine mountains ; south and west the Tipperary, Cork and Kerry mountains loom in the distance. The cemetery is well filled with deceased members of various local families. ^ Hardly a remnant of the old church now remains. 9 Near it is a holy well, which is furnished with cups and jugs, arranged in a row about it. ^° There is another Kilcredane, or Kilcredaune,"at the mouth of the Shannon, in the parish and barony of Moyarta, and in the county of Clare. " There is a parish and townland called Kilcredan, in the barony of Imokilly, in the east riding of Cork County. '3 In the county of Kerry, in the barony of Ma- gunihy, there is a parish, called Kilcredane. ^^^ Again, there is a Kilcreevin townland, in Kilmorgan parish, barony of Corran, and county of Sligo. ^s AH of the foregoing, however, are far apart from Monamolin, in point of situa- tion.
Article VIII. —St. Brigid, Daughter of Doma or Droma. The
name of St. Brigid, daughter to Doma, Dioma, Domma, Droma or Drona, as variously written by different authorities,^ is set down in our Irish Ca- lendars, at this day. Various distinct saints, called Brigid,^ are noticed in our calendars. In the Rev. Dr. Kelly's version of the Martyrology of Tal- lagh, the present saint is called Brigit ingean Droma, on the 7th of February. 3 At the same day, she is mentioned in the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gor- man and of Charles Maguire. It is stated, likewise, that ^ngus the Culdee and Geoffrey Keating mention this saint. ** We read, in the Martyrology of
^s See " Ordnance Survey Townland
for the — of Sheet Maps County Sligo. " 33.
^
Article viii. Speaking of the many
saints, bearing the name of Brigid, in Ire- land, we find the following enumeration in Dermod O'Conor's translation of Keating's
" of Ireland :" " The wo- History religious
men that were known by the name of Brid-
get in that kingdom were fourteen, and were those that follow : Bridget, the daughter of
Dioma ; Bridget, the daughter of Mianaig ; Bridget, the daughter of Momhain ; Bridget,
the daughter of Eana ; Bridget, the daughter of Colla ; Bridget, the daughter of Eathtair
Ard ; Bridget, of Inis Bride ; Bridget, the daughter of Diamair ; Bridget, the daughter of Seannbotha; Bridget, the daughter of Fiadnait ; Bridget, the daughter of Hugh ; Bridget, the daughter of Luinge ; Bridget, the daughter of Fischmaine ; Bridget, the daughter of Flainge," book ii. , p. 389.
^
Many of the preceding proper names are altogether differently spelled, by Col- gan, in his Latin version of this extract from
"" Keating. See Trias Thaumaturga.
*3 See "Ordnance Survey Towniland Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidse, cap.
^ The Minahans, the Ryans, the Hurleys
and the
Hickey, who gave the first vote to Daniel O'Connell, at the Clare election in 1828, is buried here, and the people point out his grave with a laudable pride.
Hickeys
are most numerous. Patt
9 The church was furnished with a which, the natives aver, rang of itself.
bell, however, was taken across the Shannon, about one quarter of a-mile distant, when the tongue fell out, and it never rang more.
" An antique quern, called a Druid's stone, lies in the cemetery, which is filled with trees, and lately enclosed, by the Li- merick Poor Law Guardians, with a good stone wall. The ancient rude stones of the
church are now used as grave-stones. ""
See Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Clare. " Sheets 65, 72.
" The foregoing communications, with a rough sketch of the first-iiamed Kilcredan Cemetery, were sent to tiie writer, in the letter to which allusion has been already made.
bell, The
Maps for the County of Cork. " The parish . is defined on Sheets 77, 78, 79, and the townland on the two former sheets.
'* This is shown on the " Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of Domcer
Kerry. " Sheets 48, 58. * See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
i. , p. 611.
3 See vii. Idus. " Calendar of Irish
"
sed Mart. Tamlact. vocat filiam Droncc alii
Saints," p. xv. Colgan remarks,
February 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 399
Donegal,s concerning Brighit, a daughter of Domma, as being venerated on this day. Her history is furthermore exceedingly obscure.
Article IX. —St. Colman, Bishop. On this day is entered in the
Martyrologies of Tallagh' and of Donegal,^ Colman, Bishop. He is not distinguished in connexion with any place. Under the head of Cluain Mor,3 Duald Mac Firbis enters a Bishop Colman of Clonmore. '* We shall not presume, however, to assert, that he was identical with the saint of this date ; nor, indeed, do we know to which of the many holy men so called, and entered in our calendars, this notice should be applied.
ArticleX. —St. Colman,Bishop. Wefindinsertedasecondtimein the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 7th of February, the name of Colman, a bishop. It seems not unlikely, this was an unnecessary entry, and occurring through some oversight. It is probably referable, to the previously entered prelate.
Article XI. —St. Fionntain, Priest, of Clonkeen, probably Kill OFTHEGrange,CountyDublin. Inselectingthefinesiteforhishumble church—supposing its site to be thus identified—this holy man was distin- guished by his zeal for the glory of God's house. He gave neither sleep to his eyes, nor slumber to his eyelids, nor rest to his temples, till he found a
dwelling-place,
meet for the
Lord,
a tabernacle for the God of ^ And Jacob,
he selected the suitable and beautiful spot, near old Dunleary,^ when no
populous city was near, as at present. The good priest felt, likewise, that
wehaveanaltarwithanunchangingVictimofinfiniteprice; andwhetherin
—— is our Emmanuel our God with us
this, or in any material temple. He
during life ; and that we, by His grace, will be with Him in another temple,
"
Church felt, from earHest times for themselves and their flocks. The name
of Fintain, priest of Cluana cain, is met with in the Martyrology of Tallagh,3 at the 7th of February. There are various places bearing this name in Ire-
land. We find, likewise, Fionntain, priest of Cluain Caoin, set down in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ as having a festival at this date. Kill of the Granges was formerly called Clonkene, and it is situated in the county of Dublin. ^ Theoldchurchthere,inthevicinityofthepresentKingstown,7
not built with hands," for a blessed eternity. So have the pastors of the
^ The former from which fishing village,
the present fashionable Kingstown sprang, was near that comer of the harbour, now devoted to coaling and fishing vessels. See G. R. Powell's "Official Railway Hand- book to Bray, Kingstown, the Coast, and the County of Wicklow," p. 47.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiv.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reev€s, pp.
40, 41.
s in the parish of Kill, barony of Rath-
down. It is shown on the "Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of Dub- -* See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish lin. " Sheet 23.
Appendix Quarta i. , p. 611.
ad Acta S.
Brigidae, cap.
5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 40, 41.
Article ix. Kelly, p. XV.
^
* —
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 40, 41.
3 There are so many places of this name, that it would be useless, without further
evidence, attempting to identify the one here referred to, as stated in William M.
Hennessy's note.
Irish MSS. Academy," series,
^ See an account of this interesting
vol.
i. , part Article x. —^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
place in D'Alton's "History of the County of
i. , pp. 102, 103.
p. XV. — Article XI.
^
Psalms cxxxi. 4, 5.
Dublin," pp. 934 to 936.
7 This name it received, in compliment to
George IV. , after his visit to Ireland, in
40O LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS [February 7.
is a very interesting ruin. In 16 15, this church was in repair for Protestant services, although the chancel was ruinous. ^ According to Archbishop
"
Liber Niger" this church of St. Fintan of Clonkene, together with St. Brigid's church at Stillorgan, was held to be in the marches. 9 The present ruins, at Kill of the Grange, consist of an aisle and a chancel ; the former measures eight yards by six, and the latter seven by six. Within and without the ruins, the graveyard attached has become so overcrowded, that of late years it has been closed for interments. Ivy creeps luxuriantly over the old
Alan's
Kill of the Grange, Co. Dublin.
walls,'"and. a number of large trees grow around them. '° The fragment of a stone cross stands north of the ruins, and it is perforated with two holes, each of a size to admit a hand passing through. There is another old cross on a bank, outside the consecrated space," and on the old entrance way to the cemetery. The present St. Fintan seems to have been the former patron ;^2 but^ of his period and parentage, we can form no idea. If we are to follow Colgan's opinion,^3 he had a second festival at the nth of May ;^^
1821, when adulation in abundance was
showered on the contemptible monarch, by the interested or mistaken clique, who dared to act and speak in the name of her people. It remained for a noble English poet, in "The Irish Avatar," to immortalize that event, in his own caustic and merited lan-
Lo ! George the triumphant speeds over the wave,
To the long-cherish'd isle which he loved like his—bride. "
8 The Royal Visitation of 1615, calls this
church Clonkene, alias Grange.
9 See D'Alton's " of the CoUt\ty History
of Dublin," p. 839.
'° The accompanying illustration was en-
guage.
"The and "the gluttonous despot,"
chain-kissing slaves" that welcomed him, received a deserved castigation, —in that
from a
graph furnished by PVederick H. Mares,
poem, which opens with the lines
giaved, by Dublin.
Mr.
Gregor Grey,
photo-
•'
:
Ere the daughter of Brunswick is cold in
her grave,
And her ashes still float to their home
o'er the tide.
^^
See ibid. y p. 839.
"
bee D'Alton's "History of the County
of Dublin," p. 935.
February 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 401
yet, although both the name of the saint and of his place accord with what is here noted, it does not establish for us sufficient evidence of identity.
Article XII. —St. Maenucan or Maonacan, of Ath-liag, or Ath- LEAGUE, County of Roscommon. In the western part of the King's County, the patron saint Manchan, of Lemanaghan,' has his name locally pronounced Monaghan, nearly corresponding with the spelling of the present
holyman'sname. Maonacan,ofAth-Hag,isrecordedintheMartyrologies of Tallagh^ and of Donegal, 3 as having a festival at this date. No doubt, it is from the nam—e of this saint, that his place has been denominated Ath- liag-Moenagain nowAthleague. '^ Atpresent,itformsavillageandparish,s lying on the River Suck,*^ in the north-western part of Athlone barony, in the county of Roscommon. It must, also, be distinguished from Athliag na Sinna,nowBallyleague,^atLanesborough,andinthesamecounty. ^ The period of this saint is unknown.
Article XIII. —Reputed Festival of a St. Cormac, Junior, Bishop OF Trim. \Said to have lived in the Eighth Century^ According to Col- gan,^ a festival for this bishop has been set down, at the present date, or at the 17th of February,^ where further notices are given, and to which the reader is referred.
Article XIV. —Reputed Festival of St. Altho, Founder of Alt-
MuNSTER,Bavaria. {^EighthCe7itury^ Atthe7thofFebruary,^Dempster enters^'thefeastofSt. Altho,thefounderofAltomunster. 3 TheBollandists onlynoticethisstatement,atthepresentdate;'^ but,theyreferhisfestivalan—d
and at the
another feast kept to his memory the reader will find further particulars, in
to the of this month. s —
Acts, 9th There, also,
5th
of
September
reference to him.
*3 ^ See "Acta Sanctorum. Hibernise/'xvii.
Februarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Fintani,
cap, i. , p. 355.
'-* See further allusions to him, at that
The townland and town, called Ath- league, are noted on Sheet 41, of the last- named series.
7 InCloontuskertparish,baronyofBallin- tober South. See ibid. . Sheet 37.
^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (z), pp. 398,
and vol. — tbid. 399, vii. , Index, p. 7,
'
date.
Article xii. —^ See his Acts at the
ofJanuary. .
^
24th
Edited
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
40, 41.
4 A strong castle stood here, in the thir-
teenth This fortress was a century.
by
Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p.
xv.
frequent object for contention between the Irish and
^ See ibid. De S. Cormaco
Atht. , pp. 361, 362.
Juniore, Ep.
English.
See
John
D'Alton's " of History
Article xiv. — See Bishop Forbes' ;;
Ireland, and Annals of Boyle," vol. ii. , n.
(«), pp. 365, 366.
s The extensive parish so called is con- tained in the barony of Killian, and this
''
land Maps for the County of Roscommon. " Sheets 39, 41, 44.
"Calendars of Scottish Saints," p. 191. ="
portion is shown on the
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Galway.
