34^ Among the manuscripts of this
place are several,347 which deserve the attention of an Irish historical inves- tigator.
place are several,347 which deserve the attention of an Irish historical inves- tigator.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
3'9 The public library has a collection of 130,000 volumes.
3^° Some of the manuscripts are very old and very curious.
s^^ Triers or Treves.
—The public library of this Prussian city contains 70,000 volumes,3" and 10,000 MSS.
,orbooks,printedinEnglandbefore1500.
3*3 Theseillustrateancient Church history3*'« to a remarkable degree.
It contains several of use for the Irish hagiologist.
Turin.
—The city of Turin, in Northern Italy, probably possesses manuscripts, both written and glossed by Scoti.
The university
On this hero, the Franciscan annalists have pronounced a most pathetic and noble
1872, 8vo, in three volumes.
3'* See William Howitt's "Rural and
Domestic Life of Germany," chap, xviii. ,
§ 2, 270. p.
eulogy. 3" See
Murray's
" Handbook for Travel-
3'7 See a description and details of the ""
lers in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland, Route 60, p. 323. Third edition. London, 1858, 8vo.
Royal Library here in Dibdin's Biblio-
graphical, Antiquarian and Pic'uresque
Tour in France and " Germany, vol. iii. .
3i" As a to their key
a valuable
study, "Icelandic-English Dictionary," based on
Letter xxxviii. , pp. 157 to 165. "
the manuscript collections of Richard Cleasby, enlarged and completed by Gud-
3'8See Meusel, Teuisches Kiinstler- Lexicon," band iii. , p. 509,
brand
G. W. Dasent, D. C L.
has been edited
It issued from the
3'9 See " 206 Cooper's Appendix A," pp.
to 208, and "Supplement to Appendix A," pp. 67 to 79.
Vigfiisson, M. A. ,
by
Clarendon Press, at Oxford, in 1874.
3'3Someofthe
late, at Strasbourg, are described in Rev.
3"Dibdin's "
rian and Picturesque Tour in France and
Thomas Dibdin's " Frognall
Germany," to 147.
vol.
Letter
pp. 48 to 71.
j'^ See Thomas Astle's "
"
3" See ibid. , pp. 147 to 157.
3» See M. Malte-Brun's " Universal Geo-
literary treasures,
untilof
Bibliographical, Antiqua-
Bibliographi- cal, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany," vol. ii. , Letter xxxv. ,
Hi. ,
xxxviii. , pp. 131
and Pro- gressofWriting, Introduction,p. xix.
vol. book
vii, cxx. , p. 249, for a
Origin
graphy," moreparticularaccount.
3'SOnthe 24th of August, 1870. See
Col. W, RUstow's "War for the Rhine 209, 210, and "Supplement to Appendix
Frontier, 1870 ; its political and military
Translated from the German John Leland Needham, vol. ii. , chap, xxv. , p. 182. Edinburgh and London. 187 1,
3'3See Cooper's "Appendix A," pp. A," pp. 79, 80.
Voyage Litteraire de Deux Re- ligieux Benediclins de la Congregation de S.
Maur," tomeii. , p. 285.
History. "
by
3"' See "
clvi INTR on UCTION.
here is a noble establishment, with library, museum, observatory and halls. 3^5 The public library of Turin contains 120,000 volumes of printed books, and a valuable collection o—f manuscriptSjS^^ many of which belonged to the Dukes of Savoy. 3^7 Upsala. The libraries of the Swedish City, Upsala, abound in
Icelandic manuscripts. The University Library alone contains about 130,000 printed books and 7,000 manuscripts. 3'^ Some ot these should doubtless re- ward the study of an Irish antiquary. A very valuable work, for the ecclesiastical antiquary's and historian's consultation, is the " Monumenta Ullerakerensia, cum Upsalia Nova illustrata," &c. , composed in Swedish and Latin. It includes many very fine and curious plates, especially of Upsala, its cathedral and monuments. 3'9 This work was written by Johan Peringskiold. 330 Verden. —The town of Verden, in Hanover, has a library, which contains some Acts of Irish Saints,33' among its manuscripts. 33' Vienna. —This beautiful capital of Austria is rich in the possession of fine libraries. 333 In 1480, the Vienna Imperial Library was founded by Maximilian I. , and this he enriched with a vast number of manuscripts,33< collected or copied from theAustrianmonasteries. 335 Hence,wehavethegleaningofliterarystores,336
3'5 See Rev. John Chetwode Eustace's
of which closely resemble our most primitive Irish—churches. Inscriptions and coins of
singular interest are likewise represented. 33' Among these are noticed, "Vita S. Fursei," and "Vita S. Brigidie ex Scotia. " See " De Codicibus Antiquis Manuscriptis,"
" Classical Tour through Italy in mdcccii," vol. iv. , chap, iv. , p. 95.
^ Among these is a Latin manuscript of Sedulius, which dates back to the seventh century, and it is one of the oldest at Turin.
SeeM. " Lit- Valery's Voyages Historiques,
teraires, el Artistiques en Italic, Guide Rai- sonne et complet du Voyageur et de I'Ar-
tomus
33* See Cooper's "Appendix A," p. 211,
and " Supplement to Appendix A," p. 80. 333 See Lambecius, "Commentani de
"
Pub- lished at Vienna, A. D. 1665—1679, in eight volumes folio. This same work was issued,
"operaet studio A. F. Kollarii,"at Vienha,
A. D. in volumes folio. 1766—1782, eight
See Kollarius, "Analecta Monumentorum
"
omnis aevi Vindobonensia.
Vienna, A. D. 1761, 1762. Two volumes
will find much curious information about
ancient Upsalia, in that interesting work of at Vienna, a. d. 1790, in folio. Like-
tist," deuxime edition, tome iii. , liv. chap, iii. , p. 423.
xxi. ,
3^7 See Murray's " Handbook for Travel-
lers in Northern Italy," part L, Route i. , p.
land," Route 62, p. 338.
3*9 This is a folio volume, printed at
Stockholm, A. D. 1719.
330 Ecclesiastical and other antiquaries
27.
3=^8 See
" Handbook for Travel- lers in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Ice-
Murray's
Johan Peringskiold, "Monumentorum Sveo- wise, Leon, "
Gothicorum Liber Primus, Uplandias Partem der K. K. Hof-Bibliothek in Wien," or Primariam Thiundiam continens, cum Brief Description of the Court Library in Antiquitatibus ac Inscriptionibus quae Vienna. Published at Vienna, A. D. 1820, Cippis et Rupibus, vel Tumbis incisa in 24mo.
passim reperiuntur; justa delineatione, 33* It contains 16,076 manuscripts. See ""
brevique Commentario illustratas. This thin folio volume, written in Swedish and Latin, was published at Stockholm, A. D.
Murray's Handbook for Souihera Ger- many," sect, xi. , p. 202.
and Pro-
Origin
\^\o. It contains curious engravings of gress of Writing. " Introduction, p. xviii.
ancient Northern—in a style, many features 33*' In Rev. Thomas Frosmall Dibdin's
Podronus, p. 37.
Bibliotheca Caesarea Vindobonensi.
folio. See also
Commentariorum libros octo Supplemen- tum. " Liber Primus Posthumus. Published
335 See Thomas Astle's "
Kollarius,
Kurtzgefasste Beschreibung
Published at
" Ad Lambecii
"
and Pic-
Bibliographical, Antiquarian
turesque Tour in France and Germany," a most admirable account of this great collec- tion will be found, with a number of beauti-
fully engraved fac-similes of the manuscripts. Vol. iii. , letters xlvii. , xlviii. , pp. 446 to
pp. 13, 171.
534-
337 See Cooper's Appendix A," pp 212.
this subject.
338 See Murray's " Handbook for Travel-
lers in Southern Germany," sect, xi. , p.
215.
339 See Rev. Thomas Frognall Dibdin's
Burckhard, Historia Bibliothecse Augus-
tse, Wolffenbutteli est. " Published at que
Leipzig, A. D. 1744, 1746, in two volumes 4to.
348 See Cooper's "Appendix A," pp. 245 to 253, and "Supplement to Appendix A," pp. 83, 84.
349 See his Life at the 8th of July.
350See "HandbookforTravel- Murray's
lers in Southern Germany," sect x. , p. 88. 35' See Eckhart, " Commentarii de Rebus Francise Orientalis et Wice-
burgensis," tom. i. , p. 452. Also, Gercken's
to and " 239,
INTRODUCTION. clvii
likely to be of singular value for the Irish historiographer's examination. 337 But there are, likewise, several other magnificent libraries in and around
Vienna suchasthe ;
Private
the — Library, University Library,338
Emperor's andthatbelongingtotheMonasteryofClosterneuburg,339 Wiengarten.
In this city of Baden, once existed the Abbey of Wiengarten. 34° It was re-
peatedly burned, yet Gerbert observes, that several fine manuscripts have been preserved. 34' Some of Irish interest are among these. 34^ Mabillon gives
an interesting account of his literary researches, at WeingaTten. 343 Wind- berg. —This town, in Austrian Styria, had a collection of manuscripts. 344
hagiographers. 34S
WoLFENBUTTEL. The city of Wolfenbuttel, in Brunswick, has a public
library, containing 220,000 volumes.
34^ Among the manuscripts of this
place are several,347 which deserve the attention of an Irish historical inves- tigator. 348 WuRZBURG. —In Bavaria, at Wurzburg, situated on the Main,
the martyrdom of the Irish Apostle of Franconia, St. Kilian,349 took place. The great cathedral there now occupies that exact site. 35° Here, too, there is a university and some monastic establishments. 35i Some curious manu- scripts,352 of interest for the Irish student, are shown, and among these is a BookofGospels,saidtohavebeenusedbySt. Kilian. 353 IntheBurgundian Library, at Bruxelles, there is a tract,354 which specially refers to this local
these are which have an interest for Irish some,
Among —
345 See Cooper's "Appendix A," p. 244, ""
and Supplement to Appendix A, p. 83. 346 ^ee "Gazetteer of the World," vol.
xiv. , p. 532.
347 See "Archiv der Gesellschaft fiir al-
tere deutsche Geschichtkunde. " Also ""
to
pp. 80 to 82, for very copious reports on
Murray's
34' See "Iter
Also Gercken's "
" Reisen,"
to
ii. , pp. 340 343.
Supplement
Appendix A,"
and Pic- turesque Tour in France and Germany,"
"Bibliographical, Antiquarian vol. iii. , letter xlix. , pp. 589 to 619.
" Handbook for Travel- Alemannicum," p. 235.
34° See
lers in Southern Germany," sect, ix. , p. 30.
Episcopatus
Theil or part i. , pp. 119, 120, 142.
3*^ See 243-
353 See
254, and
84 to 87.
354
"
Supplement to Appendix A," pp.
Reisen,"
or Travels.
352 See
Cooper's "Appendix A," pp. 242,
Cooper's "
Appendix
A,"
pp. 253
343 See "Iter Germanicum," p. 6, pre- fixed to " Vetera Analecta. "
" De Monasterio S.
This was a peculiarly Irish
Intituled, 344 " "
Jacobi
See, Canisius, Lectiones Antiquge," Herbipolensis. torn, i. , p. 674, torn, ii. , p. 161, tom. iii. , foundation.
theil
Hirsching, Sehenswiirdige
" Bib- liotheken Teutschlands," band i. , p. 261.
clviii
INTRODUCTION.
religious
Thus have we endeavoured to a suc- give very
establishment. 355
cinct account, respecting those chief European libraries and archives, whence matters of import may be gleaned, for the illustration of our national Saints' Acts, and of our early ecclesiastical history. Yet, there can hardly be a
doubt, regarding the preservation of innumerable and of nearly similar ma- terials, in cities or towns unnamed—the examination and description of which must devolve on future investigators. Whether or not Irish hagio- graphical manuscripts have been removed to, or written, in other parts of the world, and if preserved, in any considerable number, has not been ascer- tained, as yet, to a very satisfactory extent, by the present writer.
Conclusion.
The foregoing writers and hagiographical works, printed or in manuscript, comprise not all that might be named or noted, in reference to universal or special Irish sacred biographies. While the chief authors and books have been mentioned, regarding general and classified collections of holy lives'; it must be observed, that various writers, scribes, and productions of minor celebrity, or invested with less historic importance, have escaped our notice, or have been placed without the range of our examination and knowledge. Having, likewise, designated the various libraries or archives throughout Europe, where, in different languages, several acts of the Irish Saints have been hitherto kept, and having described the most important and authentic published works or documents, from which succeeding biographies are chiefly drawn : it may be remarked, that, under headings of the respective names or festivals of our holy personages, marginal and reference notes will furnish a more detailed enumeration and critical analysis respecting those authorities, which have been used for the author's purposes of evidence —or illustration. As a study, Irish H—agiology hardly ever suppresses or alters
although occasionally it distorts facts of our ecclesiastical history
does it suggest wrong inferences, nor directly give any false colouring to
pastrecords. But,acutenessofmind,correctjudgment,anddelicacyofper-
ception,arealwaysrequiredduringtheprocessofinvestigation. Thesegifts
are necessary qualifications for writers or readers, who, in this field of re- search, must niver consider their education adequate, much less complete.
Some interesting popular legends of our saints have been preserved in oral tradition, and have been transferred, in various instances, to these pages. Such reminisences of our peasantry may not always prove to be genuine illustrationsofnationalhagiology; yet,inallcases,theypreserveasound morality, and have often engaged the interest and sympathies of highly- educated and pious persons. They serve, also, to popularize the mere
3SS See " Inventale," vol. xviii. , >'o. multi in Scotia. " No doubt, this tract
5313. It commencci,
"
Circa hoc tempus should interest the Irish student
;
neither
INTRODUCTION. clix
chronological or topographical details, which otherwise might hardly excite sufficient narrative interest. Besides, such lore should be likely to fade away
from recollection, after the lapse of a few generations ; whereas, once com- mitted to type, those stories may afford future archaic and hagiological stu- dents means for critical comparison with hitherto unpublished or undiscovered actsofsomesaints. Anunaccountableandindescribableanalysisofadventi- tious legends has frequently placed obscure historic accounts within the limits of reliable fact ; or, at least, traces of truthful narrative apparently gleam through the tinsel of false ornament, in which tradition had been so long dis- guised.
It is very possible, that some biographical incidents—which were origin- ally simple and natural enough—had passed, in traditional narratives, and through exaggerated statements, to the writers of our saints' lives. Chiefly from defect of attention or of memory, such accounts were subject to various alterations ; and, as they did not all come from similar sources, the biographer may have been obliged to compose his acts, without regard to proper order or system, in his arrangement. The most marvellous and inexact details were those most likely to be fixed in people's minds ; so that, after the lapse of a few ages, we may easily comprehend, how difficult it must have been to obtain wholly reliable facts, dates, or traits of personal character, without the aid of contemporaneous records.
Through mistake of entry, or owing to the circumstances, that different festivals or forms of name had been assigned to the same individual, in certain instances, our Calendarists appear sometimes to have multiplied or confounded particular saints' feasts. Frequently, the same saint had been venerated at more than one place, and thus correct identifications have be- come exceedingly difficult. It requires great study, close attention, instinc- tive capacity, and special knowledge, to detect such errors. In many cases, the effort must be attempted with very doubtful results. Genealogies of the saints, topographical objects or denominations, popular traditions, and an- nalistic entries, are the best guides to establish a distinction or identity. Yet, even these fail us, in regard to several of our holy personages. The obsolete names of places, their divergency, or proximity of distance, and frequently local folk-lore or legends, often help us to an exact solution of problems in our Calendar. Ancient records, charters, inquisitions, and maps of remote date, furnish likewise very important aids towards forming an opinion, or pronouncing a judgment, on subjects under consideration.
As the author's design includes in his work the lives of saints, connected
with our island, by birth, residence, or death, it may be observed, this publi- cation must tend, incidentally, to illustrate the Hagiology and Church His-
tory of England, Scotland, Wales, and many other countries on the Con- tinent of Europe. Throughout, it inculcates lessons of faith, of morality, and of Christian heroism. Every possible effort has been made to discover
and place upon record—arranged according to a monthly and diurnal order— the biographies, festivals, and commemorations of all known, or reasonably
clx INTRODUCTION.
reputed, to be Irish Saints. Patrons of various churches, parishes, or dio- ceses, throughout Ireland, and in more distant countries, as likewise the patrons of different families, are identified, in a vast number of cases ; while
ecclesiastical ruins, more modem structures, shrines, artistic and antiquarian objects, having close reference to them, are accurately noted and described. In order to render the life of each saint comprehensive and complete, as materials and information furnished to the writer will allow, he has been careful to omit no statement of importance, judged consistent with sound
moralsanddoctrine,orChristianedification. Thus,itishoped,thisseriesof volumes on our national Hagiology, in scope and design, will furnish more satisfactory and accurate information, regarding the saints of Ireland, than any
publicationthathasyetappeared. Undertheformofbiography,likewise,is included the most enlarged—if not the most exact—ecclesiastical history of Irish affairs yet published, and reaching from the earliest dawn of Christianity in this country to a period subsequent to the Anglo-Norman invasion, when the latest of our saints flourished, as recorded in acts, calendars or recorcjs. It may be stated, even, that Irish civil history, for such an intervening period, receives incidentally, a very full amount of careful investigation and treatment.
Anciently the festivals of various Irish saints were solemnly celebrated
in those localities, which had a special claim on them as patrons. This
appears from the entry of such feast days and saints, with their places, noticedinouroldcalendars. Differentmemoranda,containedinourancient annals,likewiseattestsuchfacts; fordeathsandotheroccurrencesarere- ferred, not alone to certain years, but even to particular days, which were consecrated to the memory of native saints then commemorated.
The early dioceses of Ireland had been governed by a great number of bishops, whose territorial jurisdiction must have been verj- limited, as com- pared with modern arrangements. These date from the twelfth century. ^ Hence do we find so many saintly prelates assigned to various localities, whose denominations have become almost obsolete in our modem topography. It may be observed, likewise, that previous to and during the twelfth century, certain great abbey-houses seem to have been regarded as parent establish- ments, whence smaller and dependent monasteries or cells had their origin. Thus do we account for so many hundreds and thousands of religious being assigned to great and celebrated foundations. It is likely, too, superiors and monks of subordinate houses acknowledged the jurisdiction of an abbot, who mled for the time being, over that establishment, which cradled the infancy of particular minor houses.
During a long interval, that must elapse between the beginning and com-
' to A. D. mowas According Keating,
gate
held the celebrated Synod of Rath Bresail— and the boun-laries of existing dioceses were
—
Aengusa under the presidency of Gilla-Espog, Bishop of Limerick, and the Pope's Apostolic Le-
defined. His- See "
sometimes called Fiadh-mac
O'Mahony's Keating's
tory of Ireland," book ii. , part i. , chap. L,
inIreland. anewdistribution There,
pp. 595 to 601.
INTRODUCTION.
clxi
pletion of this work, its author respectfully solicits communications of im- portant traditions and memoranda, relating to Irish Saints, from those various localitieswithwhichtheywereformerlyconnected. Areceptionofsuch information he will gratefully acknowledge, as it may in many—if not in most—instances serve to throw additional light upon obscure passages in the acts of our national saints. • An
satisfactory to a studious reader. Complete Chronological Tables, with an Ordo of Irish Saints' Names, Festivals, Commemorations and Periods, when known, will be found in the Appendix. The Names or Titles of Persons, Places, and Subjects, contained in this Work, with an exact numeration, re- lating to the corresponding volumes and pages, must greatly tend to facilitate reference, and to promote research. The Notes are carefully discriminated from the Text, in this general arrangement. Maps and Engravings will tend to enhance the value of this work, in a great degree, for a student of Irish Ecclesiastical History, Topography, and Antiquities. Those illustrations re- present the remains of ancient monuments, which are celebrated in connexion with Saints of Ireland, and they are, in all instances, reproduced from correct PhotographsorDrawings,takenonthespot; whileCivilandEcclesiastical boundaries are faithfully traced from the best authorities, and reduced to a graduated scale, according with the most recent and accurate copies of our Irish Ordnance Survey Maps.
For several years past, these extensive collections have employed inter- vals of time, that remained to the compiler, after a discharge of more urgent occupationsandduties. Earlyhoursinthemorning,andlateonesatnight, have often been devoted to this long-continued and absorbing labour. The most critical supervision and anxious desire to attain accuracy have been exercised, both in the composition and correction of those volumes. The writer can safely assert, that as a matter of fact, few important or contro- vertible statements have been advanced, throughout his Work, for which exact historical references are not presented to the reader. For individual deductions or opinions, the author is responsible, wherever they occur. He has adopted the opinions of many learned authorities, consulted and cited in these volumes, whenever he conceived such accounts conformable to truth, or even in accordance with probability ; and, he has never ventured to dis- sent, except in cases where recent investigations and superior reasons afforded safe motives for a contrary judgment. Acts or notices of several Thousand Irish Saints, or their Festivals, are here inserted. This Work is designed to be critically accurate, in a historical point of view, and a valu- able record, so far as accessible sources and opportunities for information allow. Local traditions, histories, and existing monuments, relating to different saints, serve fairly to illustrate the lives and actions of several among those holy persons. Original and relative facts, in almost endless variety, are duly adverted to, throughout these volumes.
authors,
dates, and places where published, of works, or of MSS. , and whtre pre- served, as consulted and cited throughout these several volumes, must prove
alphabetical
titles,
list of
the
clxii INTRODUCTION.
The Civil History of Ireland cannot be throughly known without a de- velopment of the Ecclesiastical. Oftentimes we might be obliged to study statements with doubtful results, or to draw nothing better than probable conclusions from certain recorded political incidents, had we not the acts of our saints to give the light of personal anecdote, and to explain domestic customs or habits, in connexion with very concise entries. The saint is frequently the most vividly individualized character among contemporary personages. We form his portraiture, by ascertaining the peculiarities of his air, gesture, voice, figure, personal and mental characteristics—even from imperfect and injudicious records, sometimes left by writers of legends or acts. His manner of life 'and conversation remains in our recollection, when the policy and actions of kings or chiefs have passed into utter ob- livion.
Not alone have our poets and romancists allowed their imagination to conflict with the incidents of Irish Ecclesiastical History, thus confusing the literary student's mind, in the wide domain of fancy and of fact ; but even do they change real to false names, as fantasy serves. Poetic licence hardly
justifies such usage. But, what is still of more serious import, some of our
most accomplished and venerable clergy have confounded old patrons of
their parishes and churches, with other saints, bearing indeed like names,
but havmg special relation with different, and perhaps very distinct, localities.
In many cases, a similarity of pronunciation has led to the substitution of a misapplied saint's name for that of a true patron saint, wholly distinct as to de-
nomination, epoch and locality. But, in numberless instances, although lingering popular traditions and documentary evidence tend to establish the exact local festival and saint's name, comparatively few students of our history were enabled to trace links of connexion, so as to place the matter
in a satisfactory point of view. With the very best, most religious, and most patriotic intentions, various mistakes have been admitted, in the dedi- cation or decoration of parochial churches and religious foundations. The identification of many hundred national saints, with their former monastic or ecclesiastical establishments, may greatly aid in preventing a recurrence of similar errors.
The lives or notices of aphemeral holy persons—namely, those whose names have not been assigned to any known day in our calendars—are rele- gatedtoaspecialsupplement. TovariousgroupsofIrishSaintssimilarre- marks also apply. It will be seen that such pious servants of the Almighty furnish no inconsiderable number for alphabetical classification. It must be evident, according to an arrangement effected, that their degrees of distinc- tive rank and personality are better defined, while their possible more exact identification and description, at some future period, may solve present doubts, referable to their places in history, and may serve especially to as- sign their position, in the/ax// of our national hagiography.
Wherever it was found practicable, to procure the names and notices of churches, religious establishments, orders, sodalities, holy wells, penitential
INTRODUCTION. clxui
stations, shrines, relics or other objects, associated with the veneration or memory of our saints, the author has not failed to insert corresponding brief records in those pages, when the interest appeared of most special impor- tance. In a historic point of view, it seems right to preserve such details, especially as they have at least a remote connexion with saintly biography, and are the result of a popular veneration paid to the heroes and heroines of our national Christianity.
In various instances, the names and descriptive accounts of particular churches, monastic establishments or objects, having concurrent denomina- tions, are set down in connexion with notices of certain saints, because these have been mentioned in accidental agreement of etymology as belonging to homogeneous localities. But, it is not to be assumed, in all cases^ that the concurrent names of saints and places form the fitting links of a chain to evidence the identification of holy persons noticed with such places or objects. Facts thus noted are frequently left disconnected, or open to further investi- gation. Meanwhile,thoseecclesiasticalantiquities,sodescribed,haveadis- tinction accorded them, and their description may serve for future and fuller illustration, reference or identification. Among the Appendices to this work, it is the writer's desire to introduce a very complete alphabetical list and summary notices of ancient Irish churches and monasteries. There, in numerous cases, it will be only necessary to direct the reader's attention to previous pages, where many of those erections had been already described, in connexion with some saints' biographies or festivals.
Not only is it requisite, to arrange the synaxaria of our saints, to enume- rate their names, orders, times, places, and distinctions, or to narrate their acts, but it requires much study and severe criticism to balance the weight of evidence, in reference to various statements of writers, before we can decide on their true history, or on many of the false relations with which it has been so frequently confused. Unintentional mistakes of copyists, or ill-founded conjectures of authors, have been received as data, which cannot be sus- tained after a careful examination. We have to ascertain, likewise, if the different names set down in our calendars represent distinct saints, in the proper localities and on the respective days to which their feasts have been
assigned. Thisprocessmustbeofuse,inseekingtodetermine,iflegitimate veneration be due, or if any falsification can be detected in the words, com-
positions, or actions attributed to them. As we must zealously guard the honour deserved by our saints, so do we also feel bound to eliminate from their biographies false or doubtful accounts, wherever these become apparent. When hesitating and uncertain, the writer often deemed it better to indicate the causes for ambiguity, rather than hastily to rule narratives unworthy of all credence. Such labour is not devoid of usefulness, in the interest both of religion and nationality, while the Church, directly or indirectly, sanctions and approves it, as may be fairly inferred from her minute and elaborate scrutiny, pending the process both of Beatification and Canonization. A
few sentences on this subject may deserve here the reader's attention, /
clxiv INTRODUCTION.
From the earliest age of the Church, a solemn veneration was given to
the Martyrs, whose constancy in suffering torments and death itself, as the
highest testimony^ which could be afforded of their attachment to the
Catholic faith, deserved special reverence from the first Christians. The
Apostles, according to an ancient tradition, resting on the authority of the holy Fathers, died like their Divine Master for the various Churches which
theyfounded;3 whilevastmultitudes,atthesameepoch,^andinsucceeding ages, were aspirants for their crown. s From a well-founded principle of
devotion in the human mind, the origin of that respect for their memory and for their relics must be derived ; and, soon over their tombs were erected altars,^ on which had been offered the most holy mysteries of the Christian religion. 7 Thus, the people began to entertain an extraordinary veneration for those heroes and heroines of Christianity, as proved by various monu- ments of the past. The bishops^ took particular care to prevent popular veneration for any,9 except those, whose lives and virtues were well known, or the circumstances of whose veritable martyrdom were fully proved in attested acts. '° In course of time, it was deemed just to render, after their death, a religious homage to the memory of holy persons, who during their lives had specially adorned the Church by their virtues, although they had not suffered martyrdom. " Doubtless, both Christian bishops, pastors and people had a strong conviction, regarding the miracles and virtues as- signed to those venerable subjects of their reverence, while the Church appears to have tacitly sanctioned or tolerated devout customs and traditions
""
See Bergier, Dictionnaire de Theo- to have been more ancient than the time of
"
logic," tome iii. , sub voce. Martyr, p. 226. Pope St. Felix I. See Acta Sanctorum,"
Edition, Lille, 1844, 8vo.
See
Alexandria,
capitularies require the faithful, not to manifest public veneration for any deceased person, without
established in to them. - Ignorance and superstition were found regard
long
to have casually, yet exceptionally, prevailed, when some persons, whose acts or merits were not sufficiently known, or had been exaggerated, or when relics, not properly authenticated, had been thought worthy of veneration.
*See Tacitus, cap. xliv.
"
Clement of
" Stroma- Annalium," lib. xv. ,
Aprilis, tomus i. , p. 23.
^ Some ancient councils and
3
tum," lib. iv. , cap. v.
s See St. Clement of Rome,
i. ," num. 6.
"
permission from the bishop of the diocese. 'See Bergier, "Dictionnaire de Th^o- logic," tome i. , sub voce Canonization, p.
321.
On this hero, the Franciscan annalists have pronounced a most pathetic and noble
1872, 8vo, in three volumes.
3'* See William Howitt's "Rural and
Domestic Life of Germany," chap, xviii. ,
§ 2, 270. p.
eulogy. 3" See
Murray's
" Handbook for Travel-
3'7 See a description and details of the ""
lers in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland, Route 60, p. 323. Third edition. London, 1858, 8vo.
Royal Library here in Dibdin's Biblio-
graphical, Antiquarian and Pic'uresque
Tour in France and " Germany, vol. iii. .
3i" As a to their key
a valuable
study, "Icelandic-English Dictionary," based on
Letter xxxviii. , pp. 157 to 165. "
the manuscript collections of Richard Cleasby, enlarged and completed by Gud-
3'8See Meusel, Teuisches Kiinstler- Lexicon," band iii. , p. 509,
brand
G. W. Dasent, D. C L.
has been edited
It issued from the
3'9 See " 206 Cooper's Appendix A," pp.
to 208, and "Supplement to Appendix A," pp. 67 to 79.
Vigfiisson, M. A. ,
by
Clarendon Press, at Oxford, in 1874.
3'3Someofthe
late, at Strasbourg, are described in Rev.
3"Dibdin's "
rian and Picturesque Tour in France and
Thomas Dibdin's " Frognall
Germany," to 147.
vol.
Letter
pp. 48 to 71.
j'^ See Thomas Astle's "
"
3" See ibid. , pp. 147 to 157.
3» See M. Malte-Brun's " Universal Geo-
literary treasures,
untilof
Bibliographical, Antiqua-
Bibliographi- cal, Antiquarian and Picturesque Tour in France and Germany," vol. ii. , Letter xxxv. ,
Hi. ,
xxxviii. , pp. 131
and Pro- gressofWriting, Introduction,p. xix.
vol. book
vii, cxx. , p. 249, for a
Origin
graphy," moreparticularaccount.
3'SOnthe 24th of August, 1870. See
Col. W, RUstow's "War for the Rhine 209, 210, and "Supplement to Appendix
Frontier, 1870 ; its political and military
Translated from the German John Leland Needham, vol. ii. , chap, xxv. , p. 182. Edinburgh and London. 187 1,
3'3See Cooper's "Appendix A," pp. A," pp. 79, 80.
Voyage Litteraire de Deux Re- ligieux Benediclins de la Congregation de S.
Maur," tomeii. , p. 285.
History. "
by
3"' See "
clvi INTR on UCTION.
here is a noble establishment, with library, museum, observatory and halls. 3^5 The public library of Turin contains 120,000 volumes of printed books, and a valuable collection o—f manuscriptSjS^^ many of which belonged to the Dukes of Savoy. 3^7 Upsala. The libraries of the Swedish City, Upsala, abound in
Icelandic manuscripts. The University Library alone contains about 130,000 printed books and 7,000 manuscripts. 3'^ Some ot these should doubtless re- ward the study of an Irish antiquary. A very valuable work, for the ecclesiastical antiquary's and historian's consultation, is the " Monumenta Ullerakerensia, cum Upsalia Nova illustrata," &c. , composed in Swedish and Latin. It includes many very fine and curious plates, especially of Upsala, its cathedral and monuments. 3'9 This work was written by Johan Peringskiold. 330 Verden. —The town of Verden, in Hanover, has a library, which contains some Acts of Irish Saints,33' among its manuscripts. 33' Vienna. —This beautiful capital of Austria is rich in the possession of fine libraries. 333 In 1480, the Vienna Imperial Library was founded by Maximilian I. , and this he enriched with a vast number of manuscripts,33< collected or copied from theAustrianmonasteries. 335 Hence,wehavethegleaningofliterarystores,336
3'5 See Rev. John Chetwode Eustace's
of which closely resemble our most primitive Irish—churches. Inscriptions and coins of
singular interest are likewise represented. 33' Among these are noticed, "Vita S. Fursei," and "Vita S. Brigidie ex Scotia. " See " De Codicibus Antiquis Manuscriptis,"
" Classical Tour through Italy in mdcccii," vol. iv. , chap, iv. , p. 95.
^ Among these is a Latin manuscript of Sedulius, which dates back to the seventh century, and it is one of the oldest at Turin.
SeeM. " Lit- Valery's Voyages Historiques,
teraires, el Artistiques en Italic, Guide Rai- sonne et complet du Voyageur et de I'Ar-
tomus
33* See Cooper's "Appendix A," p. 211,
and " Supplement to Appendix A," p. 80. 333 See Lambecius, "Commentani de
"
Pub- lished at Vienna, A. D. 1665—1679, in eight volumes folio. This same work was issued,
"operaet studio A. F. Kollarii,"at Vienha,
A. D. in volumes folio. 1766—1782, eight
See Kollarius, "Analecta Monumentorum
"
omnis aevi Vindobonensia.
Vienna, A. D. 1761, 1762. Two volumes
will find much curious information about
ancient Upsalia, in that interesting work of at Vienna, a. d. 1790, in folio. Like-
tist," deuxime edition, tome iii. , liv. chap, iii. , p. 423.
xxi. ,
3^7 See Murray's " Handbook for Travel-
lers in Northern Italy," part L, Route i. , p.
land," Route 62, p. 338.
3*9 This is a folio volume, printed at
Stockholm, A. D. 1719.
330 Ecclesiastical and other antiquaries
27.
3=^8 See
" Handbook for Travel- lers in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Ice-
Murray's
Johan Peringskiold, "Monumentorum Sveo- wise, Leon, "
Gothicorum Liber Primus, Uplandias Partem der K. K. Hof-Bibliothek in Wien," or Primariam Thiundiam continens, cum Brief Description of the Court Library in Antiquitatibus ac Inscriptionibus quae Vienna. Published at Vienna, A. D. 1820, Cippis et Rupibus, vel Tumbis incisa in 24mo.
passim reperiuntur; justa delineatione, 33* It contains 16,076 manuscripts. See ""
brevique Commentario illustratas. This thin folio volume, written in Swedish and Latin, was published at Stockholm, A. D.
Murray's Handbook for Souihera Ger- many," sect, xi. , p. 202.
and Pro-
Origin
\^\o. It contains curious engravings of gress of Writing. " Introduction, p. xviii.
ancient Northern—in a style, many features 33*' In Rev. Thomas Frosmall Dibdin's
Podronus, p. 37.
Bibliotheca Caesarea Vindobonensi.
folio. See also
Commentariorum libros octo Supplemen- tum. " Liber Primus Posthumus. Published
335 See Thomas Astle's "
Kollarius,
Kurtzgefasste Beschreibung
Published at
" Ad Lambecii
"
and Pic-
Bibliographical, Antiquarian
turesque Tour in France and Germany," a most admirable account of this great collec- tion will be found, with a number of beauti-
fully engraved fac-similes of the manuscripts. Vol. iii. , letters xlvii. , xlviii. , pp. 446 to
pp. 13, 171.
534-
337 See Cooper's Appendix A," pp 212.
this subject.
338 See Murray's " Handbook for Travel-
lers in Southern Germany," sect, xi. , p.
215.
339 See Rev. Thomas Frognall Dibdin's
Burckhard, Historia Bibliothecse Augus-
tse, Wolffenbutteli est. " Published at que
Leipzig, A. D. 1744, 1746, in two volumes 4to.
348 See Cooper's "Appendix A," pp. 245 to 253, and "Supplement to Appendix A," pp. 83, 84.
349 See his Life at the 8th of July.
350See "HandbookforTravel- Murray's
lers in Southern Germany," sect x. , p. 88. 35' See Eckhart, " Commentarii de Rebus Francise Orientalis et Wice-
burgensis," tom. i. , p. 452. Also, Gercken's
to and " 239,
INTRODUCTION. clvii
likely to be of singular value for the Irish historiographer's examination. 337 But there are, likewise, several other magnificent libraries in and around
Vienna suchasthe ;
Private
the — Library, University Library,338
Emperor's andthatbelongingtotheMonasteryofClosterneuburg,339 Wiengarten.
In this city of Baden, once existed the Abbey of Wiengarten. 34° It was re-
peatedly burned, yet Gerbert observes, that several fine manuscripts have been preserved. 34' Some of Irish interest are among these. 34^ Mabillon gives
an interesting account of his literary researches, at WeingaTten. 343 Wind- berg. —This town, in Austrian Styria, had a collection of manuscripts. 344
hagiographers. 34S
WoLFENBUTTEL. The city of Wolfenbuttel, in Brunswick, has a public
library, containing 220,000 volumes.
34^ Among the manuscripts of this
place are several,347 which deserve the attention of an Irish historical inves- tigator. 348 WuRZBURG. —In Bavaria, at Wurzburg, situated on the Main,
the martyrdom of the Irish Apostle of Franconia, St. Kilian,349 took place. The great cathedral there now occupies that exact site. 35° Here, too, there is a university and some monastic establishments. 35i Some curious manu- scripts,352 of interest for the Irish student, are shown, and among these is a BookofGospels,saidtohavebeenusedbySt. Kilian. 353 IntheBurgundian Library, at Bruxelles, there is a tract,354 which specially refers to this local
these are which have an interest for Irish some,
Among —
345 See Cooper's "Appendix A," p. 244, ""
and Supplement to Appendix A, p. 83. 346 ^ee "Gazetteer of the World," vol.
xiv. , p. 532.
347 See "Archiv der Gesellschaft fiir al-
tere deutsche Geschichtkunde. " Also ""
to
pp. 80 to 82, for very copious reports on
Murray's
34' See "Iter
Also Gercken's "
" Reisen,"
to
ii. , pp. 340 343.
Supplement
Appendix A,"
and Pic- turesque Tour in France and Germany,"
"Bibliographical, Antiquarian vol. iii. , letter xlix. , pp. 589 to 619.
" Handbook for Travel- Alemannicum," p. 235.
34° See
lers in Southern Germany," sect, ix. , p. 30.
Episcopatus
Theil or part i. , pp. 119, 120, 142.
3*^ See 243-
353 See
254, and
84 to 87.
354
"
Supplement to Appendix A," pp.
Reisen,"
or Travels.
352 See
Cooper's "Appendix A," pp. 242,
Cooper's "
Appendix
A,"
pp. 253
343 See "Iter Germanicum," p. 6, pre- fixed to " Vetera Analecta. "
" De Monasterio S.
This was a peculiarly Irish
Intituled, 344 " "
Jacobi
See, Canisius, Lectiones Antiquge," Herbipolensis. torn, i. , p. 674, torn, ii. , p. 161, tom. iii. , foundation.
theil
Hirsching, Sehenswiirdige
" Bib- liotheken Teutschlands," band i. , p. 261.
clviii
INTRODUCTION.
religious
Thus have we endeavoured to a suc- give very
establishment. 355
cinct account, respecting those chief European libraries and archives, whence matters of import may be gleaned, for the illustration of our national Saints' Acts, and of our early ecclesiastical history. Yet, there can hardly be a
doubt, regarding the preservation of innumerable and of nearly similar ma- terials, in cities or towns unnamed—the examination and description of which must devolve on future investigators. Whether or not Irish hagio- graphical manuscripts have been removed to, or written, in other parts of the world, and if preserved, in any considerable number, has not been ascer- tained, as yet, to a very satisfactory extent, by the present writer.
Conclusion.
The foregoing writers and hagiographical works, printed or in manuscript, comprise not all that might be named or noted, in reference to universal or special Irish sacred biographies. While the chief authors and books have been mentioned, regarding general and classified collections of holy lives'; it must be observed, that various writers, scribes, and productions of minor celebrity, or invested with less historic importance, have escaped our notice, or have been placed without the range of our examination and knowledge. Having, likewise, designated the various libraries or archives throughout Europe, where, in different languages, several acts of the Irish Saints have been hitherto kept, and having described the most important and authentic published works or documents, from which succeeding biographies are chiefly drawn : it may be remarked, that, under headings of the respective names or festivals of our holy personages, marginal and reference notes will furnish a more detailed enumeration and critical analysis respecting those authorities, which have been used for the author's purposes of evidence —or illustration. As a study, Irish H—agiology hardly ever suppresses or alters
although occasionally it distorts facts of our ecclesiastical history
does it suggest wrong inferences, nor directly give any false colouring to
pastrecords. But,acutenessofmind,correctjudgment,anddelicacyofper-
ception,arealwaysrequiredduringtheprocessofinvestigation. Thesegifts
are necessary qualifications for writers or readers, who, in this field of re- search, must niver consider their education adequate, much less complete.
Some interesting popular legends of our saints have been preserved in oral tradition, and have been transferred, in various instances, to these pages. Such reminisences of our peasantry may not always prove to be genuine illustrationsofnationalhagiology; yet,inallcases,theypreserveasound morality, and have often engaged the interest and sympathies of highly- educated and pious persons. They serve, also, to popularize the mere
3SS See " Inventale," vol. xviii. , >'o. multi in Scotia. " No doubt, this tract
5313. It commencci,
"
Circa hoc tempus should interest the Irish student
;
neither
INTRODUCTION. clix
chronological or topographical details, which otherwise might hardly excite sufficient narrative interest. Besides, such lore should be likely to fade away
from recollection, after the lapse of a few generations ; whereas, once com- mitted to type, those stories may afford future archaic and hagiological stu- dents means for critical comparison with hitherto unpublished or undiscovered actsofsomesaints. Anunaccountableandindescribableanalysisofadventi- tious legends has frequently placed obscure historic accounts within the limits of reliable fact ; or, at least, traces of truthful narrative apparently gleam through the tinsel of false ornament, in which tradition had been so long dis- guised.
It is very possible, that some biographical incidents—which were origin- ally simple and natural enough—had passed, in traditional narratives, and through exaggerated statements, to the writers of our saints' lives. Chiefly from defect of attention or of memory, such accounts were subject to various alterations ; and, as they did not all come from similar sources, the biographer may have been obliged to compose his acts, without regard to proper order or system, in his arrangement. The most marvellous and inexact details were those most likely to be fixed in people's minds ; so that, after the lapse of a few ages, we may easily comprehend, how difficult it must have been to obtain wholly reliable facts, dates, or traits of personal character, without the aid of contemporaneous records.
Through mistake of entry, or owing to the circumstances, that different festivals or forms of name had been assigned to the same individual, in certain instances, our Calendarists appear sometimes to have multiplied or confounded particular saints' feasts. Frequently, the same saint had been venerated at more than one place, and thus correct identifications have be- come exceedingly difficult. It requires great study, close attention, instinc- tive capacity, and special knowledge, to detect such errors. In many cases, the effort must be attempted with very doubtful results. Genealogies of the saints, topographical objects or denominations, popular traditions, and an- nalistic entries, are the best guides to establish a distinction or identity. Yet, even these fail us, in regard to several of our holy personages. The obsolete names of places, their divergency, or proximity of distance, and frequently local folk-lore or legends, often help us to an exact solution of problems in our Calendar. Ancient records, charters, inquisitions, and maps of remote date, furnish likewise very important aids towards forming an opinion, or pronouncing a judgment, on subjects under consideration.
As the author's design includes in his work the lives of saints, connected
with our island, by birth, residence, or death, it may be observed, this publi- cation must tend, incidentally, to illustrate the Hagiology and Church His-
tory of England, Scotland, Wales, and many other countries on the Con- tinent of Europe. Throughout, it inculcates lessons of faith, of morality, and of Christian heroism. Every possible effort has been made to discover
and place upon record—arranged according to a monthly and diurnal order— the biographies, festivals, and commemorations of all known, or reasonably
clx INTRODUCTION.
reputed, to be Irish Saints. Patrons of various churches, parishes, or dio- ceses, throughout Ireland, and in more distant countries, as likewise the patrons of different families, are identified, in a vast number of cases ; while
ecclesiastical ruins, more modem structures, shrines, artistic and antiquarian objects, having close reference to them, are accurately noted and described. In order to render the life of each saint comprehensive and complete, as materials and information furnished to the writer will allow, he has been careful to omit no statement of importance, judged consistent with sound
moralsanddoctrine,orChristianedification. Thus,itishoped,thisseriesof volumes on our national Hagiology, in scope and design, will furnish more satisfactory and accurate information, regarding the saints of Ireland, than any
publicationthathasyetappeared. Undertheformofbiography,likewise,is included the most enlarged—if not the most exact—ecclesiastical history of Irish affairs yet published, and reaching from the earliest dawn of Christianity in this country to a period subsequent to the Anglo-Norman invasion, when the latest of our saints flourished, as recorded in acts, calendars or recorcjs. It may be stated, even, that Irish civil history, for such an intervening period, receives incidentally, a very full amount of careful investigation and treatment.
Anciently the festivals of various Irish saints were solemnly celebrated
in those localities, which had a special claim on them as patrons. This
appears from the entry of such feast days and saints, with their places, noticedinouroldcalendars. Differentmemoranda,containedinourancient annals,likewiseattestsuchfacts; fordeathsandotheroccurrencesarere- ferred, not alone to certain years, but even to particular days, which were consecrated to the memory of native saints then commemorated.
The early dioceses of Ireland had been governed by a great number of bishops, whose territorial jurisdiction must have been verj- limited, as com- pared with modern arrangements. These date from the twelfth century. ^ Hence do we find so many saintly prelates assigned to various localities, whose denominations have become almost obsolete in our modem topography. It may be observed, likewise, that previous to and during the twelfth century, certain great abbey-houses seem to have been regarded as parent establish- ments, whence smaller and dependent monasteries or cells had their origin. Thus do we account for so many hundreds and thousands of religious being assigned to great and celebrated foundations. It is likely, too, superiors and monks of subordinate houses acknowledged the jurisdiction of an abbot, who mled for the time being, over that establishment, which cradled the infancy of particular minor houses.
During a long interval, that must elapse between the beginning and com-
' to A. D. mowas According Keating,
gate
held the celebrated Synod of Rath Bresail— and the boun-laries of existing dioceses were
—
Aengusa under the presidency of Gilla-Espog, Bishop of Limerick, and the Pope's Apostolic Le-
defined. His- See "
sometimes called Fiadh-mac
O'Mahony's Keating's
tory of Ireland," book ii. , part i. , chap. L,
inIreland. anewdistribution There,
pp. 595 to 601.
INTRODUCTION.
clxi
pletion of this work, its author respectfully solicits communications of im- portant traditions and memoranda, relating to Irish Saints, from those various localitieswithwhichtheywereformerlyconnected. Areceptionofsuch information he will gratefully acknowledge, as it may in many—if not in most—instances serve to throw additional light upon obscure passages in the acts of our national saints. • An
satisfactory to a studious reader. Complete Chronological Tables, with an Ordo of Irish Saints' Names, Festivals, Commemorations and Periods, when known, will be found in the Appendix. The Names or Titles of Persons, Places, and Subjects, contained in this Work, with an exact numeration, re- lating to the corresponding volumes and pages, must greatly tend to facilitate reference, and to promote research. The Notes are carefully discriminated from the Text, in this general arrangement. Maps and Engravings will tend to enhance the value of this work, in a great degree, for a student of Irish Ecclesiastical History, Topography, and Antiquities. Those illustrations re- present the remains of ancient monuments, which are celebrated in connexion with Saints of Ireland, and they are, in all instances, reproduced from correct PhotographsorDrawings,takenonthespot; whileCivilandEcclesiastical boundaries are faithfully traced from the best authorities, and reduced to a graduated scale, according with the most recent and accurate copies of our Irish Ordnance Survey Maps.
For several years past, these extensive collections have employed inter- vals of time, that remained to the compiler, after a discharge of more urgent occupationsandduties. Earlyhoursinthemorning,andlateonesatnight, have often been devoted to this long-continued and absorbing labour. The most critical supervision and anxious desire to attain accuracy have been exercised, both in the composition and correction of those volumes. The writer can safely assert, that as a matter of fact, few important or contro- vertible statements have been advanced, throughout his Work, for which exact historical references are not presented to the reader. For individual deductions or opinions, the author is responsible, wherever they occur. He has adopted the opinions of many learned authorities, consulted and cited in these volumes, whenever he conceived such accounts conformable to truth, or even in accordance with probability ; and, he has never ventured to dis- sent, except in cases where recent investigations and superior reasons afforded safe motives for a contrary judgment. Acts or notices of several Thousand Irish Saints, or their Festivals, are here inserted. This Work is designed to be critically accurate, in a historical point of view, and a valu- able record, so far as accessible sources and opportunities for information allow. Local traditions, histories, and existing monuments, relating to different saints, serve fairly to illustrate the lives and actions of several among those holy persons. Original and relative facts, in almost endless variety, are duly adverted to, throughout these volumes.
authors,
dates, and places where published, of works, or of MSS. , and whtre pre- served, as consulted and cited throughout these several volumes, must prove
alphabetical
titles,
list of
the
clxii INTRODUCTION.
The Civil History of Ireland cannot be throughly known without a de- velopment of the Ecclesiastical. Oftentimes we might be obliged to study statements with doubtful results, or to draw nothing better than probable conclusions from certain recorded political incidents, had we not the acts of our saints to give the light of personal anecdote, and to explain domestic customs or habits, in connexion with very concise entries. The saint is frequently the most vividly individualized character among contemporary personages. We form his portraiture, by ascertaining the peculiarities of his air, gesture, voice, figure, personal and mental characteristics—even from imperfect and injudicious records, sometimes left by writers of legends or acts. His manner of life 'and conversation remains in our recollection, when the policy and actions of kings or chiefs have passed into utter ob- livion.
Not alone have our poets and romancists allowed their imagination to conflict with the incidents of Irish Ecclesiastical History, thus confusing the literary student's mind, in the wide domain of fancy and of fact ; but even do they change real to false names, as fantasy serves. Poetic licence hardly
justifies such usage. But, what is still of more serious import, some of our
most accomplished and venerable clergy have confounded old patrons of
their parishes and churches, with other saints, bearing indeed like names,
but havmg special relation with different, and perhaps very distinct, localities.
In many cases, a similarity of pronunciation has led to the substitution of a misapplied saint's name for that of a true patron saint, wholly distinct as to de-
nomination, epoch and locality. But, in numberless instances, although lingering popular traditions and documentary evidence tend to establish the exact local festival and saint's name, comparatively few students of our history were enabled to trace links of connexion, so as to place the matter
in a satisfactory point of view. With the very best, most religious, and most patriotic intentions, various mistakes have been admitted, in the dedi- cation or decoration of parochial churches and religious foundations. The identification of many hundred national saints, with their former monastic or ecclesiastical establishments, may greatly aid in preventing a recurrence of similar errors.
The lives or notices of aphemeral holy persons—namely, those whose names have not been assigned to any known day in our calendars—are rele- gatedtoaspecialsupplement. TovariousgroupsofIrishSaintssimilarre- marks also apply. It will be seen that such pious servants of the Almighty furnish no inconsiderable number for alphabetical classification. It must be evident, according to an arrangement effected, that their degrees of distinc- tive rank and personality are better defined, while their possible more exact identification and description, at some future period, may solve present doubts, referable to their places in history, and may serve especially to as- sign their position, in the/ax// of our national hagiography.
Wherever it was found practicable, to procure the names and notices of churches, religious establishments, orders, sodalities, holy wells, penitential
INTRODUCTION. clxui
stations, shrines, relics or other objects, associated with the veneration or memory of our saints, the author has not failed to insert corresponding brief records in those pages, when the interest appeared of most special impor- tance. In a historic point of view, it seems right to preserve such details, especially as they have at least a remote connexion with saintly biography, and are the result of a popular veneration paid to the heroes and heroines of our national Christianity.
In various instances, the names and descriptive accounts of particular churches, monastic establishments or objects, having concurrent denomina- tions, are set down in connexion with notices of certain saints, because these have been mentioned in accidental agreement of etymology as belonging to homogeneous localities. But, it is not to be assumed, in all cases^ that the concurrent names of saints and places form the fitting links of a chain to evidence the identification of holy persons noticed with such places or objects. Facts thus noted are frequently left disconnected, or open to further investi- gation. Meanwhile,thoseecclesiasticalantiquities,sodescribed,haveadis- tinction accorded them, and their description may serve for future and fuller illustration, reference or identification. Among the Appendices to this work, it is the writer's desire to introduce a very complete alphabetical list and summary notices of ancient Irish churches and monasteries. There, in numerous cases, it will be only necessary to direct the reader's attention to previous pages, where many of those erections had been already described, in connexion with some saints' biographies or festivals.
Not only is it requisite, to arrange the synaxaria of our saints, to enume- rate their names, orders, times, places, and distinctions, or to narrate their acts, but it requires much study and severe criticism to balance the weight of evidence, in reference to various statements of writers, before we can decide on their true history, or on many of the false relations with which it has been so frequently confused. Unintentional mistakes of copyists, or ill-founded conjectures of authors, have been received as data, which cannot be sus- tained after a careful examination. We have to ascertain, likewise, if the different names set down in our calendars represent distinct saints, in the proper localities and on the respective days to which their feasts have been
assigned. Thisprocessmustbeofuse,inseekingtodetermine,iflegitimate veneration be due, or if any falsification can be detected in the words, com-
positions, or actions attributed to them. As we must zealously guard the honour deserved by our saints, so do we also feel bound to eliminate from their biographies false or doubtful accounts, wherever these become apparent. When hesitating and uncertain, the writer often deemed it better to indicate the causes for ambiguity, rather than hastily to rule narratives unworthy of all credence. Such labour is not devoid of usefulness, in the interest both of religion and nationality, while the Church, directly or indirectly, sanctions and approves it, as may be fairly inferred from her minute and elaborate scrutiny, pending the process both of Beatification and Canonization. A
few sentences on this subject may deserve here the reader's attention, /
clxiv INTRODUCTION.
From the earliest age of the Church, a solemn veneration was given to
the Martyrs, whose constancy in suffering torments and death itself, as the
highest testimony^ which could be afforded of their attachment to the
Catholic faith, deserved special reverence from the first Christians. The
Apostles, according to an ancient tradition, resting on the authority of the holy Fathers, died like their Divine Master for the various Churches which
theyfounded;3 whilevastmultitudes,atthesameepoch,^andinsucceeding ages, were aspirants for their crown. s From a well-founded principle of
devotion in the human mind, the origin of that respect for their memory and for their relics must be derived ; and, soon over their tombs were erected altars,^ on which had been offered the most holy mysteries of the Christian religion. 7 Thus, the people began to entertain an extraordinary veneration for those heroes and heroines of Christianity, as proved by various monu- ments of the past. The bishops^ took particular care to prevent popular veneration for any,9 except those, whose lives and virtues were well known, or the circumstances of whose veritable martyrdom were fully proved in attested acts. '° In course of time, it was deemed just to render, after their death, a religious homage to the memory of holy persons, who during their lives had specially adorned the Church by their virtues, although they had not suffered martyrdom. " Doubtless, both Christian bishops, pastors and people had a strong conviction, regarding the miracles and virtues as- signed to those venerable subjects of their reverence, while the Church appears to have tacitly sanctioned or tolerated devout customs and traditions
""
See Bergier, Dictionnaire de Theo- to have been more ancient than the time of
"
logic," tome iii. , sub voce. Martyr, p. 226. Pope St. Felix I. See Acta Sanctorum,"
Edition, Lille, 1844, 8vo.
See
Alexandria,
capitularies require the faithful, not to manifest public veneration for any deceased person, without
established in to them. - Ignorance and superstition were found regard
long
to have casually, yet exceptionally, prevailed, when some persons, whose acts or merits were not sufficiently known, or had been exaggerated, or when relics, not properly authenticated, had been thought worthy of veneration.
*See Tacitus, cap. xliv.
"
Clement of
" Stroma- Annalium," lib. xv. ,
Aprilis, tomus i. , p. 23.
^ Some ancient councils and
3
tum," lib. iv. , cap. v.
s See St. Clement of Rome,
i. ," num. 6.
"
permission from the bishop of the diocese. 'See Bergier, "Dictionnaire de Th^o- logic," tome i. , sub voce Canonization, p.
321.
