"° The
remarkable
g.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
vii.
, p.
483.
84 Its name is still preserved, within the former territory, in Slieve Bregh. This de- nomination belongs to a hill, on the north- east part of the county of Meath. See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Meath," sheet 13.
scientia Viri. " In the body of the chapter,
reference is made to the Titulus, by the
words " memorata. " Theomission supra
of the Title to the Chapter by the Bollan- dists leaves their text in this place imperfect. See " Acta Sanctorum, tomus ii. , Junii ix. De S. Columba, Presbytere, Abbate. Vita Secunda, lib. i. , cap. v. , num. 39, p. 211. The same observation applies to the text of the shorter recension, represented by Codd, C. D. F. S. Thistooexhibitsthewordssupra memoratamunitione,butit hasnoantece- dent mention of the name. These instances prove, that there has been an omission, and
consequently, the text in that family of MSS. is an abridged one.
Rev. Dr. Reeves, the
in Ireland of the Tricha-ced or "thirty hundreds" savours of foreign extraction, and seems —to
application
8sHewasthesonofBreogan. SeeHalli- """
day's Keating's History of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 286.
8i
91Inthepresentnarrative,Adamnanuses the Latin word condictum to express it. Not understanding its true meaning, Messing- ham, in his version, has suggested "conflic-
This is represented by the Irish word,
" a walled enclosure. " The remarkable charter dated A. D. 1004, and which is entered in the Bonk of Armagh,
See "
seized for 88 The fattest he trespass.
8? three of his
shall order to be killed for his own use, and the meat to be served up roast,
sure,
neighbours' cows,
CAipob, Anglice
in the
Insula? Sanctorum, Vita S. Columbae, p. 157. The Rev. Dr. Reeves rightly observes,
styles the Southern Kings Reges Maceriae,"
that this was a most unhappy emendation
as the result of the Convention of Drumceatt
"
Kings of Cashel," at fol. 16b b.
that is,
^ It is a curious fact, that in Italy, like-
proves. "
92 Where the princes and noblemen of the
Inglese," sub voce. Londra, 1798, 4to.
93 He became chief of the Scotch Dal- riadian tribes, about a. d. 574.
b8 Here " " as we are prsetersoria means,
94 His death occurred A. D.
to the " Annales Cambrise," p. 4.
95 If the date for the Convention at Drum- ceat, as given in the Annals of Ulster be correct, Aedh was monarch of Ireland be- fore A. D. 575. He began to reign a. d. 56S, according to Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 206, 207. But much uncertainty prevails regarding the year ofhis accession. Altera reign of 2 7 years, he was slain by Bran Dubh, King of Leinster.
96 He reigned over Ireland from A. D. 564 to A. D. 566, when he was slain by Fearghus, son of Nellin. See Rev. Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 204, 205.
97 The celebrated founder and Abbot of
Bangor. He was born in 516, and he died
** A. D. 601. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ec-
told by Colgan and others, stray cows or sheep feeding on other person's grounds. Sec
"Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Co- lumba? , lib. i. , cap. xxxviii. , p. 347, and n. 83. P- 379-
89 To the foregoing account, Adamnan adds : These things, as we heard from well-informed persons, afterwards happened
according to the saint's prophecy. See Rev. "
Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 38, and nn. (a, b, c, d, e), pp. 74, 75-
50 In the Rev. Dr. Reeves' edition of Adam- nan, we find the following title for the chap- ter containing the present narrative " De
:
Bello quod in Munitione Cethirni post multa commissum est Tempora, et de quodam Fon- dculo ejusdem Terrulce proximo beati Pra? -
""
wise, the fortified farm-houses, which are
scattered over the Campagna, are still
known by the name of Masseria. See also,
for the meaning of this word Baretti's more at length in the preceding chapter. " Dizionario delle Lingue Italiana ed
turn,"
margin. '
Florilegium
kingdom were assembled with St. Columba, and the heads of religious houses, as noticed
558, according
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 501
heldbetweenAedh,93sonofGabran,94andAedh,95sonofAinmurech,96 the saint returned to the sea-shore. On a cloudless day in summer, he and the abbot Comghaill 97 sat down not far from the Fort of Cethirn,98 which de- rived its name from Cethem,99 its founder, the son of Fintan. 100 He was one of those famous heroes of the Red Branch, and he flourished in Ulster, about the Christian era. Dun Cethirn has been identified 101 with a called
hill,
the country people The Giant's Sconce. It is situated about four miles west from the town of Coleraine, in the parish of Dunboe. This most conspicuous hill is near the old Newtown road. At some five miles towards the east was the ancient fortress of Dun-da-bheann, on the north-western edge of the true Ultonian territory, while Dun-Ceithern, 102 on the border of Cianachta,'°3 was within the debateable ground, which now constitutes the north of the county of Londonderry. The former name of this historic spot has passed
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xii. , pp. 61 to 69.
derry charter. See "Concise View of the
Irish Society," Appendix, p. 36.
160 by 90 feet.
105 On the west and south, opposite Brat-
well and Formoyle, the face of the hill is very precipitous ; on the north and east it is less so, and at a lower level it has a small semicircular platform, formed by an expan- sion of the hill. On the north-east is a well, and on the south-east is the entrance to the fort, five feet wide, ascending abruptly by rude steps.
106 On the north-east of the hill was a long gallery, formed against the side of the apex by large stones regularly laid with an inclination inwards, and covered with cross flags. This was 40 feet long, by 2 broad, serving as a covered way, and_also as a breast work on the accessible side. This feature makes it appear somewhat similar to the
recollection. The whole crest of that 10* on which hill,
from
the old fortress stood, was enclosed by a cyclopean wall, of which some
10*
and either carried away for building purposes elsewhere, or suffered to lie in
debrisatthefoot. 106 ThiscelebratedfortofCethern,whobelongedtothestock
away
traces remain, though the mass of it has been precipitated down the sides,
popular
of IQ7 Ir,
rivalraces. 108 Thelastmentionmadeofthisfortressin
to the sons of and remained so until the Niall,
from his
battle of Ocha, when it was temporarily restored to the Dalaradians or Picts. Again this fortress was recovered by the Hy Neill, after the battle of Moin-doire- lothair, in 563 ; and thenceforward, it was a scene of contention between the
passed
family
'^ In Irish it was written 'Oim
and it is Latinized Munitio Cethirni, by and the top, which is a table-land, measures
Adamnan.
99 This hero occupies a veiy prominent place in the ancient historical romance called
the Tain-bo-Cuailgne. In this, he is repre- sented, as coming from Dun-da-bheann or " fort of the two peaks," which was situated about five miles eastward from Dun Ceit- hirn. See the Book of Leinster, fol. 62a a.
100 He was the father of Niall Niemh- glonnach, or "of the shining deeds," who was son of Ross Ruadh, son of Rudhraighe, ancestor of the Clanna Rury, and who had his residence in that majestic earthen fort over the River Bann. and anciently called Dun-da-bhaann. It is now known as Mountsandal, near the Cutts of Coleraine,
according lo " Cathrcim Conghail Clairing- "
Ceichi|\n,
nech, a Manuscript belonging to the Royal cyclopean structure of the Grianan Ailech.
Irish Academy, at p. 12. I01
See " Memoir of the City and North West-
ern Liberties of Londonderry. " Antiquities, sect. 2, p. 217, also p. 221.
,0? From him the Irish Picts are said to derive their origin. See a further account of them, in Roderick O'Flaherty's "Ogygia,"
By John O'Donovan, in the Ordnance Survey Letters for the County of London-
.
derry. p. 60.
Letter dated
August 18th, 1834,
102 On the Ordnance Survey Maps, the hill
on which it rises is placed in the townland, pars iii. , cap. xviii. , pp. 188 to 193.
denominated Sconce, which is a modern de-
signation, See " Ordnance Survey Town-
land Maps for the County of Londonderry," sheet 7, east edge.
103 Properly, three townlands meet at
the spot, now called Lenacarron,Belgana,and Knockmult, and these are comprehended in Lennagorranand Knockmult, in the London-
108
In 573, the joint sovereigns of Ireland, who were of the race of Eoghan, were slain by Cronan, King of Ceanachta. Suibhne Meann, a sovereign of the race of Eoghan, fell by Congal Claen, King of Uladh, himself a Dalaradian or Pict, who is supposed to have undertaken the deed^ upon the consideration of receiving from Domhnall, the successor to
history
io9waswhenthe
104 It is feet above the level of the sea, 797
by
5P2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9. lords of the Dalaraidhe and Cianachta were ranged against the chief of the
110
house of Eoghan. Probably soon afterwards, it. ceased to be occupied.
The
introduction of St. Comgall's name and his presence there is very natural, as like-
1
wise the church of Cambus," mentioned a little further on, and which was
foundedbyhim. 112 Itisaparish,situatedonthewestsideoftheRiverBann,"3 in the next parish to that where this interview took place, being distant about fourmileseastofDun-Cethern,ortheSconce. Itisalsointhedioceseof
Londonderry.
of Camus. "6
Irish words, 11 ?
All traces ofthe church have 1 '* from the "5 disappeared, cemetery
The name of this parish is supposed to be a compound of two
signifying
" a crooked 8 and in Ireland, there are stream,""
twelve townlands bearing this name. In the twelfth century, an abbey110 was
foundedinanotherpartoftheparish; andaccordingtothecivilusage,the
Irish name I2° name to it. After the saint had a little
Macosquin gives got
water brought to him, from a well that was close by, and to wash his hands,
hesaidtotheabbot "Adayshallcome,whenthewell,whencethiswater :
"
was drawn, shall be no longer fit for man's use. "
"shall the water be " corrupted? "
Why," said Comgall,
Because/' replied
filled with human blood of my relatives and yours ; that is, the descendants
of Neill and the Cruithnii "' shall wage war 122 at the neighbouring fortress of
the throne, a restoration of the territory,
which had been seized by the Cinel Eoghain.
Londonderry," at p. 484.
115 An island in the Bann,
the churchyard of Camus, was formerly called Imp LocViAin, according to the "Annals of theFourMasters,"atA. D. 1170,1544. Be- side this was a shallow spot, known as feaj\- bustio regum in Dun Ceithirn, i. e. , Dungal z&y Camp*, or "the ford of Camus. "
See the Banquet of Dun na n-gedh, and
"The Battle of Magh Rath," pp. 38, 39. 109 In the year 681, it was the scene of a
conflict, as related by Tighemach : "Com-
mac Scandail ro [rex] Cruithne et Cendfae-
ladli mac Suibhne m Cianachta Glinne
Geminin initio estatis L&fperJMaelduin mac
Maelefithrigli. " See also Rev. Dr. O'Conor's
" Rcrum Hibernicaruin Scriptores," tomus partments, each containing three human
ii. , Tigernachi Annales, p. 211.
"° The remarkable g. illery, which has been
just mentioned, was disturbed and reduced
to its present condition, winch is little
better than a great ridge of dry stones, by a
person, who, about thirty years ago, brought Reeves'
a number o( men to the spot,
"
to search the cave for money," and, with them he . 'eft a
Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of
Derry, a. d. , Mcccxcvn. ," pp. 83, 84, n. (j).
barrel of beer to stimulate their exertions.
1,1 This monastery was founded by St.
Comgall, probably under the patronage of the Pictish residents in Dun-da-bheann or
Mountsandal, and Dun-Ceithern, whose oc-
cupation of this territory is still attested by
" 7 These are Cdm and
the townland of Drumcroon, or Picts Ridge, Claro Fonte. See Martene, " Thesaurus
in the same parish, and Duncroon, <>r
" Picts Fort," in the adjacent parish of Ma-
Novus Aneedotum," tomus iv. ,coll. 1460, I524-
"°
co]-ccfVAin. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," at A. D. 1505, vol. , v. ,
'"'
Written in the Irish characters, ttUMsje- 938, Muircertach Camsa, that is—"of p. 1280.
gilligan.
,la The connexion of Bangor with the pre-
sent monastery w. is long maintained, for in
Camus," was abbot of Bangor. Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Mas-
ters," vol. ii. , pp. 638, 639, and n. (z).
"3 For distinction's s. \ke, this place is called Camus juxta Bam/, there being another of the same name in the Tyione part of the diocese, and styled from the
The Cruithini, Cruithnii, Cruithnigh weretheseinhabitantsof1 >alAraidhe,called Picts, from being descended of Loncada, daughter of Eochaiuh, Eichbheoil, a Pict of Noith Britain. See Dr. O'Donovan's '• An- nals of the Four Masters," at a. d. 552, vol. i. , n. (1), p. 1S9.
"" Between the Dalaradians and the II v
Neil there existed a hostile the feeiing^from
neighbouiing river Camusjuxta Moume,
"4 See " Statistical Sampson's
Survey
of
the " it shall be saint,
From it, the island is called Enis Forsed on
Speed's Map of Ulster.
1,6 An ancient sculptured cross or pillar
divided by transverse bands into four com-
figures in relief, stood on a base at the west
side until a. d 1760, when it was overturned,
and having been mutilated, it was converted
intoagate-postforthechurchyard. Inthis
condition it still exists. See Rev. Dr.
"
Acts of Archbishop Colton in his
Ay.
"a In Scotl. ind. there is al-o a place called
Ait-chambas. Sometimes, Camus is written
as in Argyleshire, and sometimes Cambus, as in Lanark and Perthshire.
"9 It is called in Cistercian records, De
opposite
June 9/
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
503
Cethern. I23 In that conflict, an unhappy relative of mine shall be slain, whose blood mingling with that of others shall fill up the well. " Other monks werepresent,asappearsfromthesequelofthisnarrative. Thesaintalluded to that 1* in in which
Domnall,"s
victorious; and, in that well, according to the saint's word, was slain one of
his near relatives. Through the instrumentality of one Finanus,126 called a soldier of Christ, and who led the life of an Anchorite blamelessly for a long timenearthemonasteryofDurrow,thetruthofSt. Columba'sprophecywas attested. That Finan I2 ? left the monastery of Cambus, he. was present at that battle, and he assured Adamnan, 128 that he saw a man's body lying in the well. 12' Hedeclared,also,thatonhisreturn—fromthebattle-field,andonthat
battle," fought 629,
'3°— hefoundtheretwoagedmonks. Whenhetoldthemaboutthebattlehesaw, and regarding the well filled with human blood, they exclaimed: "A true prophet is St. Columba, for he had foretold all the circumstances you now mention, long indeed before they occurred, and that in our hearing to St.
11 Comgall, when they sat together near fort Cethern. " ^
After he attended the Convention of Drumceat, the holy Abbot had occasion
to travel towards the western parts of Ireland. He seems to have passed
southwards, in the direction of the present county of Sligo. When St. Columba visited that part of Connaught, a great assembly had been convened
same day, to the monastery of St. Comgall in Irish called, Comgaill
at 1^2 at Easdara,
present
knownas Immensenumbershadcome Ballysadare.
time of the battle of Moindoire. Aedh Dubli, lord of the former, slew Uiarmait, A. D. 565. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," lomus ii. , Tiger- nachi Annales, p. 149.
123 The Annals of Ulster, at A. n. 628,
576, who could hardly be still living. IV. St. Finan Lobhar or the Leper, was an abbot, who founded many monasteries in Munster and in Leinster ; he died in the reign of King Finachta, 674 to 693 ; he was honoured also in Ardfinnan, on the 16th of
""
have the following record of it : Bellum March. This last is the Finnan," spoken
Duin Ceithirnn in quo Congal Caech fugit,
"
of in Colgan's note 103. See Trias Thau-
in et Domhnall mac Aedo (victor) erat —
Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , 127 Upon what authority is uncertain, but
quo cecidit Guaire mac Forindain. " Ibid.
maturga," Quarta cap. xlix. , p. 380.
tomus iv.
124 In that year preceding the present en-
O'Donnell says of him :
"
S. Finnen qui in
or
gagement, Congal Caech, Claen, King
monasterio de — anachoreticam Magh-Cbsgain
on the 12th February, who died a. d. 674, and therefore he answers the date well. III. Finnan Cam, the discipleof St. . Brendan, A. n.
learned and interesting
ties, and present state of the Parishes of
:
of
Uladh, slew Suibhne Meann, monarch of vitam diu transduxit. " Colgan's "Trias
Ireland, who was of the Cenel Eoghain Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columke, branch of the Northern Hy Neill. Thus, he lib. i. , cap. xcv. , p. 404.
made room for the accession of Domhnall. 125 This prince revenged his kinsman's death, in the manner related in the text. Fur Congul Claen's movements after this en- gagement, the reader is referred to Dr. O'Donovan's edition of "The Banquet of Dun ann-Gedh,"and"BattleofMagh Rath. " ,3t See all the saints of this name in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at p. 15, Dublin, 1857. Adamnan states here, that this St. Fin- nan led a hermit's life for many years m ar the monastery of Durrow, and that he was present at the battle of Dun-Keherne, and
that he was still living in his own time, A. n.
660. There are but lour saints of this name,
to whom these circumstances could apply. I.
Son of Pipan, St. Columba's cousin, whose
festivaliskept2ndNovember,inRathain,
Tirconnell. II. Son of Arennan, honoured in Very Rev. Archdeacon T. O'Rorke's
son of came off Aedh,
128 He was born in 624, so that he was in his fifth year, at the date of the battle. He speaks also in the first person here, as in other passages of his Life of St. Columba.
I2j The Rev. Dr. O'Conor suggests, that Finnan, the son of Arennan, and who is venerated on the 12th of February, was identical with him. See " Rerum Hiberni- carum Scriptores," tomus iv. , Annales Ultonienses, p. 60.
130 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Quinta Vita S. Columbos, lib. i. , cap. xcv. ,
p. 404.
131 See Rev. Dr. Reeves Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 49, and nn. (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, k, 1, m, n, o),
pp. 91 to 97.
132Tinsisrendered cataractoftheoak,"
"
History, Antiqui- Ballysadare and Kilvarnet, in the County of
'•
5°4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
there to receive him with all honours. There were present many holy persons, both men and women. 1^ Among these are enumerated the following names : St. Moninnia,^ofSliabhCulinn; thetwosonsofConall. ^sofKillchora; Manius,^6BishopofTyr-Oilill; Muredach,13? ofKillala,inTyrAmhalgaidh5 Ronius,138 Bishop of Kill Ronius ; Caiminus,,39 of Inis-Kealtra ; Regulus,'40 of Mucinis, in the territory of Dalgeis ; Senanus, 141 of Inis-Cathy ; Senanus,' 42
<. ss*'-'S? 5
Killasnet Old Church, County of Leitrim.
of Lathir Brivin ; Eminus,143 of Cluain-reilgeach, in Meath ; seven Bishops
of Cluain Hemain 44 Libania I45 and Fortchem,146 cf Odhba Kearo, in Par- ;'
47 of at the eastern side of 48 or Crouen 49
try j GrellaiV
Sligo," &c, cliap. i. , sect, i. , p. 2.
tember.
143 His festival is celebrated on the
August.
;'
of
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nice," xv. Febrtiarii, Vita S. Farannani Con-
133 See
Colgan's
5th
Cravibh,
Magh Lairg,'
144
134 Her festival occurs, on the 6ih of bishops were there and representing one
July. — — place. Some error of statements seems to lj5 Their festivals if any they had are have entered into this narrative. In an an- not known. cient Book of Iris—h Litanies, seven Bishops ,3i His feast occurs on the 2nd of Septem- of Cluain-Emhain supposed to have been
fe-soris, cap. vi. , vii. , pp. 336, 337.
It does not seem likely, that seven
ber.
I37 His festival occurs on the 12th of Au-
gust.
1)8 His festival is celebrated at the 23rd of
November.
39 His festival occurs on the 25th of
March.
140 His festival is celebrated on the 16th of
October.
141 His festival occurs on the 8th of
March.
143 His festival occurs on the 2nd of Sep-
in the county of Roscommon—
145 Her festival is supposed to be cele-
brated on the 1 8th of December.
146 His feast occurs, either on February
the 17th, or on the nth of October.
147 His festival occurs on the 10th of No-
vember.
148 A in the of and plain barony Boyle,
county of Roscommon.
149 In the of Caibre it was so reign Mor,
called.
150 Her feast occurs on the 241I1 of
,
are invoked.
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 505
Derbilia, of Rath
Irras;
Nuns,
Tyrua-Fiachra
;
Mugania,
haina,
belonged
province
,6s who
of Minister. It is 166 stated,
X5X Corcaria Keann, and Corcaria Caoin/52 the two
ofKill
daughters of Eogan, and the daughter of Cathald,' 53 from Kill-Comlach, at Magh-Luirg; Loman, 1 ^ of Lough Gill, between the countries of Carbry and
Breffney; Mofrisius,155 sontoFachtna,ofSligeach; Inella,adevoutvirgin;156
Kyria,^
Skyria ;
J 8 Osnata,'S7 of Gleann Dallain, 5
in Carbry
;
andGeghia,^ofGegheIsland;
l6° of Aradh,
161 of
162
seven
with Brochlacha l63
aidhne Here, indeed,
from
Carbry.
l6*
was met a
very distinguished assemblage of pious persons, to confer with one of the most
illustrious saints of the age and of his country.
84 Its name is still preserved, within the former territory, in Slieve Bregh. This de- nomination belongs to a hill, on the north- east part of the county of Meath. See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Meath," sheet 13.
scientia Viri. " In the body of the chapter,
reference is made to the Titulus, by the
words " memorata. " Theomission supra
of the Title to the Chapter by the Bollan- dists leaves their text in this place imperfect. See " Acta Sanctorum, tomus ii. , Junii ix. De S. Columba, Presbytere, Abbate. Vita Secunda, lib. i. , cap. v. , num. 39, p. 211. The same observation applies to the text of the shorter recension, represented by Codd, C. D. F. S. Thistooexhibitsthewordssupra memoratamunitione,butit hasnoantece- dent mention of the name. These instances prove, that there has been an omission, and
consequently, the text in that family of MSS. is an abridged one.
Rev. Dr. Reeves, the
in Ireland of the Tricha-ced or "thirty hundreds" savours of foreign extraction, and seems —to
application
8sHewasthesonofBreogan. SeeHalli- """
day's Keating's History of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 286.
8i
91Inthepresentnarrative,Adamnanuses the Latin word condictum to express it. Not understanding its true meaning, Messing- ham, in his version, has suggested "conflic-
This is represented by the Irish word,
" a walled enclosure. " The remarkable charter dated A. D. 1004, and which is entered in the Bonk of Armagh,
See "
seized for 88 The fattest he trespass.
8? three of his
shall order to be killed for his own use, and the meat to be served up roast,
sure,
neighbours' cows,
CAipob, Anglice
in the
Insula? Sanctorum, Vita S. Columbae, p. 157. The Rev. Dr. Reeves rightly observes,
styles the Southern Kings Reges Maceriae,"
that this was a most unhappy emendation
as the result of the Convention of Drumceatt
"
Kings of Cashel," at fol. 16b b.
that is,
^ It is a curious fact, that in Italy, like-
proves. "
92 Where the princes and noblemen of the
Inglese," sub voce. Londra, 1798, 4to.
93 He became chief of the Scotch Dal- riadian tribes, about a. d. 574.
b8 Here " " as we are prsetersoria means,
94 His death occurred A. D.
to the " Annales Cambrise," p. 4.
95 If the date for the Convention at Drum- ceat, as given in the Annals of Ulster be correct, Aedh was monarch of Ireland be- fore A. D. 575. He began to reign a. d. 56S, according to Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 206, 207. But much uncertainty prevails regarding the year ofhis accession. Altera reign of 2 7 years, he was slain by Bran Dubh, King of Leinster.
96 He reigned over Ireland from A. D. 564 to A. D. 566, when he was slain by Fearghus, son of Nellin. See Rev. Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 204, 205.
97 The celebrated founder and Abbot of
Bangor. He was born in 516, and he died
** A. D. 601. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ec-
told by Colgan and others, stray cows or sheep feeding on other person's grounds. Sec
"Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Co- lumba? , lib. i. , cap. xxxviii. , p. 347, and n. 83. P- 379-
89 To the foregoing account, Adamnan adds : These things, as we heard from well-informed persons, afterwards happened
according to the saint's prophecy. See Rev. "
Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 38, and nn. (a, b, c, d, e), pp. 74, 75-
50 In the Rev. Dr. Reeves' edition of Adam- nan, we find the following title for the chap- ter containing the present narrative " De
:
Bello quod in Munitione Cethirni post multa commissum est Tempora, et de quodam Fon- dculo ejusdem Terrulce proximo beati Pra? -
""
wise, the fortified farm-houses, which are
scattered over the Campagna, are still
known by the name of Masseria. See also,
for the meaning of this word Baretti's more at length in the preceding chapter. " Dizionario delle Lingue Italiana ed
turn,"
margin. '
Florilegium
kingdom were assembled with St. Columba, and the heads of religious houses, as noticed
558, according
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 501
heldbetweenAedh,93sonofGabran,94andAedh,95sonofAinmurech,96 the saint returned to the sea-shore. On a cloudless day in summer, he and the abbot Comghaill 97 sat down not far from the Fort of Cethirn,98 which de- rived its name from Cethem,99 its founder, the son of Fintan. 100 He was one of those famous heroes of the Red Branch, and he flourished in Ulster, about the Christian era. Dun Cethirn has been identified 101 with a called
hill,
the country people The Giant's Sconce. It is situated about four miles west from the town of Coleraine, in the parish of Dunboe. This most conspicuous hill is near the old Newtown road. At some five miles towards the east was the ancient fortress of Dun-da-bheann, on the north-western edge of the true Ultonian territory, while Dun-Ceithern, 102 on the border of Cianachta,'°3 was within the debateable ground, which now constitutes the north of the county of Londonderry. The former name of this historic spot has passed
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xii. , pp. 61 to 69.
derry charter. See "Concise View of the
Irish Society," Appendix, p. 36.
160 by 90 feet.
105 On the west and south, opposite Brat-
well and Formoyle, the face of the hill is very precipitous ; on the north and east it is less so, and at a lower level it has a small semicircular platform, formed by an expan- sion of the hill. On the north-east is a well, and on the south-east is the entrance to the fort, five feet wide, ascending abruptly by rude steps.
106 On the north-east of the hill was a long gallery, formed against the side of the apex by large stones regularly laid with an inclination inwards, and covered with cross flags. This was 40 feet long, by 2 broad, serving as a covered way, and_also as a breast work on the accessible side. This feature makes it appear somewhat similar to the
recollection. The whole crest of that 10* on which hill,
from
the old fortress stood, was enclosed by a cyclopean wall, of which some
10*
and either carried away for building purposes elsewhere, or suffered to lie in
debrisatthefoot. 106 ThiscelebratedfortofCethern,whobelongedtothestock
away
traces remain, though the mass of it has been precipitated down the sides,
popular
of IQ7 Ir,
rivalraces. 108 Thelastmentionmadeofthisfortressin
to the sons of and remained so until the Niall,
from his
battle of Ocha, when it was temporarily restored to the Dalaradians or Picts. Again this fortress was recovered by the Hy Neill, after the battle of Moin-doire- lothair, in 563 ; and thenceforward, it was a scene of contention between the
passed
family
'^ In Irish it was written 'Oim
and it is Latinized Munitio Cethirni, by and the top, which is a table-land, measures
Adamnan.
99 This hero occupies a veiy prominent place in the ancient historical romance called
the Tain-bo-Cuailgne. In this, he is repre- sented, as coming from Dun-da-bheann or " fort of the two peaks," which was situated about five miles eastward from Dun Ceit- hirn. See the Book of Leinster, fol. 62a a.
100 He was the father of Niall Niemh- glonnach, or "of the shining deeds," who was son of Ross Ruadh, son of Rudhraighe, ancestor of the Clanna Rury, and who had his residence in that majestic earthen fort over the River Bann. and anciently called Dun-da-bhaann. It is now known as Mountsandal, near the Cutts of Coleraine,
according lo " Cathrcim Conghail Clairing- "
Ceichi|\n,
nech, a Manuscript belonging to the Royal cyclopean structure of the Grianan Ailech.
Irish Academy, at p. 12. I01
See " Memoir of the City and North West-
ern Liberties of Londonderry. " Antiquities, sect. 2, p. 217, also p. 221.
,0? From him the Irish Picts are said to derive their origin. See a further account of them, in Roderick O'Flaherty's "Ogygia,"
By John O'Donovan, in the Ordnance Survey Letters for the County of London-
.
derry. p. 60.
Letter dated
August 18th, 1834,
102 On the Ordnance Survey Maps, the hill
on which it rises is placed in the townland, pars iii. , cap. xviii. , pp. 188 to 193.
denominated Sconce, which is a modern de-
signation, See " Ordnance Survey Town-
land Maps for the County of Londonderry," sheet 7, east edge.
103 Properly, three townlands meet at
the spot, now called Lenacarron,Belgana,and Knockmult, and these are comprehended in Lennagorranand Knockmult, in the London-
108
In 573, the joint sovereigns of Ireland, who were of the race of Eoghan, were slain by Cronan, King of Ceanachta. Suibhne Meann, a sovereign of the race of Eoghan, fell by Congal Claen, King of Uladh, himself a Dalaradian or Pict, who is supposed to have undertaken the deed^ upon the consideration of receiving from Domhnall, the successor to
history
io9waswhenthe
104 It is feet above the level of the sea, 797
by
5P2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9. lords of the Dalaraidhe and Cianachta were ranged against the chief of the
110
house of Eoghan. Probably soon afterwards, it. ceased to be occupied.
The
introduction of St. Comgall's name and his presence there is very natural, as like-
1
wise the church of Cambus," mentioned a little further on, and which was
foundedbyhim. 112 Itisaparish,situatedonthewestsideoftheRiverBann,"3 in the next parish to that where this interview took place, being distant about fourmileseastofDun-Cethern,ortheSconce. Itisalsointhedioceseof
Londonderry.
of Camus. "6
Irish words, 11 ?
All traces ofthe church have 1 '* from the "5 disappeared, cemetery
The name of this parish is supposed to be a compound of two
signifying
" a crooked 8 and in Ireland, there are stream,""
twelve townlands bearing this name. In the twelfth century, an abbey110 was
foundedinanotherpartoftheparish; andaccordingtothecivilusage,the
Irish name I2° name to it. After the saint had a little
Macosquin gives got
water brought to him, from a well that was close by, and to wash his hands,
hesaidtotheabbot "Adayshallcome,whenthewell,whencethiswater :
"
was drawn, shall be no longer fit for man's use. "
"shall the water be " corrupted? "
Why," said Comgall,
Because/' replied
filled with human blood of my relatives and yours ; that is, the descendants
of Neill and the Cruithnii "' shall wage war 122 at the neighbouring fortress of
the throne, a restoration of the territory,
which had been seized by the Cinel Eoghain.
Londonderry," at p. 484.
115 An island in the Bann,
the churchyard of Camus, was formerly called Imp LocViAin, according to the "Annals of theFourMasters,"atA. D. 1170,1544. Be- side this was a shallow spot, known as feaj\- bustio regum in Dun Ceithirn, i. e. , Dungal z&y Camp*, or "the ford of Camus. "
See the Banquet of Dun na n-gedh, and
"The Battle of Magh Rath," pp. 38, 39. 109 In the year 681, it was the scene of a
conflict, as related by Tighemach : "Com-
mac Scandail ro [rex] Cruithne et Cendfae-
ladli mac Suibhne m Cianachta Glinne
Geminin initio estatis L&fperJMaelduin mac
Maelefithrigli. " See also Rev. Dr. O'Conor's
" Rcrum Hibernicaruin Scriptores," tomus partments, each containing three human
ii. , Tigernachi Annales, p. 211.
"° The remarkable g. illery, which has been
just mentioned, was disturbed and reduced
to its present condition, winch is little
better than a great ridge of dry stones, by a
person, who, about thirty years ago, brought Reeves'
a number o( men to the spot,
"
to search the cave for money," and, with them he . 'eft a
Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of
Derry, a. d. , Mcccxcvn. ," pp. 83, 84, n. (j).
barrel of beer to stimulate their exertions.
1,1 This monastery was founded by St.
Comgall, probably under the patronage of the Pictish residents in Dun-da-bheann or
Mountsandal, and Dun-Ceithern, whose oc-
cupation of this territory is still attested by
" 7 These are Cdm and
the townland of Drumcroon, or Picts Ridge, Claro Fonte. See Martene, " Thesaurus
in the same parish, and Duncroon, <>r
" Picts Fort," in the adjacent parish of Ma-
Novus Aneedotum," tomus iv. ,coll. 1460, I524-
"°
co]-ccfVAin. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," at A. D. 1505, vol. , v. ,
'"'
Written in the Irish characters, ttUMsje- 938, Muircertach Camsa, that is—"of p. 1280.
gilligan.
,la The connexion of Bangor with the pre-
sent monastery w. is long maintained, for in
Camus," was abbot of Bangor. Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Mas-
ters," vol. ii. , pp. 638, 639, and n. (z).
"3 For distinction's s. \ke, this place is called Camus juxta Bam/, there being another of the same name in the Tyione part of the diocese, and styled from the
The Cruithini, Cruithnii, Cruithnigh weretheseinhabitantsof1 >alAraidhe,called Picts, from being descended of Loncada, daughter of Eochaiuh, Eichbheoil, a Pict of Noith Britain. See Dr. O'Donovan's '• An- nals of the Four Masters," at a. d. 552, vol. i. , n. (1), p. 1S9.
"" Between the Dalaradians and the II v
Neil there existed a hostile the feeiing^from
neighbouiing river Camusjuxta Moume,
"4 See " Statistical Sampson's
Survey
of
the " it shall be saint,
From it, the island is called Enis Forsed on
Speed's Map of Ulster.
1,6 An ancient sculptured cross or pillar
divided by transverse bands into four com-
figures in relief, stood on a base at the west
side until a. d 1760, when it was overturned,
and having been mutilated, it was converted
intoagate-postforthechurchyard. Inthis
condition it still exists. See Rev. Dr.
"
Acts of Archbishop Colton in his
Ay.
"a In Scotl. ind. there is al-o a place called
Ait-chambas. Sometimes, Camus is written
as in Argyleshire, and sometimes Cambus, as in Lanark and Perthshire.
"9 It is called in Cistercian records, De
opposite
June 9/
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
503
Cethern. I23 In that conflict, an unhappy relative of mine shall be slain, whose blood mingling with that of others shall fill up the well. " Other monks werepresent,asappearsfromthesequelofthisnarrative. Thesaintalluded to that 1* in in which
Domnall,"s
victorious; and, in that well, according to the saint's word, was slain one of
his near relatives. Through the instrumentality of one Finanus,126 called a soldier of Christ, and who led the life of an Anchorite blamelessly for a long timenearthemonasteryofDurrow,thetruthofSt. Columba'sprophecywas attested. That Finan I2 ? left the monastery of Cambus, he. was present at that battle, and he assured Adamnan, 128 that he saw a man's body lying in the well. 12' Hedeclared,also,thatonhisreturn—fromthebattle-field,andonthat
battle," fought 629,
'3°— hefoundtheretwoagedmonks. Whenhetoldthemaboutthebattlehesaw, and regarding the well filled with human blood, they exclaimed: "A true prophet is St. Columba, for he had foretold all the circumstances you now mention, long indeed before they occurred, and that in our hearing to St.
11 Comgall, when they sat together near fort Cethern. " ^
After he attended the Convention of Drumceat, the holy Abbot had occasion
to travel towards the western parts of Ireland. He seems to have passed
southwards, in the direction of the present county of Sligo. When St. Columba visited that part of Connaught, a great assembly had been convened
same day, to the monastery of St. Comgall in Irish called, Comgaill
at 1^2 at Easdara,
present
knownas Immensenumbershadcome Ballysadare.
time of the battle of Moindoire. Aedh Dubli, lord of the former, slew Uiarmait, A. D. 565. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," lomus ii. , Tiger- nachi Annales, p. 149.
123 The Annals of Ulster, at A. n. 628,
576, who could hardly be still living. IV. St. Finan Lobhar or the Leper, was an abbot, who founded many monasteries in Munster and in Leinster ; he died in the reign of King Finachta, 674 to 693 ; he was honoured also in Ardfinnan, on the 16th of
""
have the following record of it : Bellum March. This last is the Finnan," spoken
Duin Ceithirnn in quo Congal Caech fugit,
"
of in Colgan's note 103. See Trias Thau-
in et Domhnall mac Aedo (victor) erat —
Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , 127 Upon what authority is uncertain, but
quo cecidit Guaire mac Forindain. " Ibid.
maturga," Quarta cap. xlix. , p. 380.
tomus iv.
124 In that year preceding the present en-
O'Donnell says of him :
"
S. Finnen qui in
or
gagement, Congal Caech, Claen, King
monasterio de — anachoreticam Magh-Cbsgain
on the 12th February, who died a. d. 674, and therefore he answers the date well. III. Finnan Cam, the discipleof St. . Brendan, A. n.
learned and interesting
ties, and present state of the Parishes of
:
of
Uladh, slew Suibhne Meann, monarch of vitam diu transduxit. " Colgan's "Trias
Ireland, who was of the Cenel Eoghain Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columke, branch of the Northern Hy Neill. Thus, he lib. i. , cap. xcv. , p. 404.
made room for the accession of Domhnall. 125 This prince revenged his kinsman's death, in the manner related in the text. Fur Congul Claen's movements after this en- gagement, the reader is referred to Dr. O'Donovan's edition of "The Banquet of Dun ann-Gedh,"and"BattleofMagh Rath. " ,3t See all the saints of this name in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at p. 15, Dublin, 1857. Adamnan states here, that this St. Fin- nan led a hermit's life for many years m ar the monastery of Durrow, and that he was present at the battle of Dun-Keherne, and
that he was still living in his own time, A. n.
660. There are but lour saints of this name,
to whom these circumstances could apply. I.
Son of Pipan, St. Columba's cousin, whose
festivaliskept2ndNovember,inRathain,
Tirconnell. II. Son of Arennan, honoured in Very Rev. Archdeacon T. O'Rorke's
son of came off Aedh,
128 He was born in 624, so that he was in his fifth year, at the date of the battle. He speaks also in the first person here, as in other passages of his Life of St. Columba.
I2j The Rev. Dr. O'Conor suggests, that Finnan, the son of Arennan, and who is venerated on the 12th of February, was identical with him. See " Rerum Hiberni- carum Scriptores," tomus iv. , Annales Ultonienses, p. 60.
130 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Quinta Vita S. Columbos, lib. i. , cap. xcv. ,
p. 404.
131 See Rev. Dr. Reeves Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 49, and nn. (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, k, 1, m, n, o),
pp. 91 to 97.
132Tinsisrendered cataractoftheoak,"
"
History, Antiqui- Ballysadare and Kilvarnet, in the County of
'•
5°4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
there to receive him with all honours. There were present many holy persons, both men and women. 1^ Among these are enumerated the following names : St. Moninnia,^ofSliabhCulinn; thetwosonsofConall. ^sofKillchora; Manius,^6BishopofTyr-Oilill; Muredach,13? ofKillala,inTyrAmhalgaidh5 Ronius,138 Bishop of Kill Ronius ; Caiminus,,39 of Inis-Kealtra ; Regulus,'40 of Mucinis, in the territory of Dalgeis ; Senanus, 141 of Inis-Cathy ; Senanus,' 42
<. ss*'-'S? 5
Killasnet Old Church, County of Leitrim.
of Lathir Brivin ; Eminus,143 of Cluain-reilgeach, in Meath ; seven Bishops
of Cluain Hemain 44 Libania I45 and Fortchem,146 cf Odhba Kearo, in Par- ;'
47 of at the eastern side of 48 or Crouen 49
try j GrellaiV
Sligo," &c, cliap. i. , sect, i. , p. 2.
tember.
143 His festival is celebrated on the
August.
;'
of
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nice," xv. Febrtiarii, Vita S. Farannani Con-
133 See
Colgan's
5th
Cravibh,
Magh Lairg,'
144
134 Her festival occurs, on the 6ih of bishops were there and representing one
July. — — place. Some error of statements seems to lj5 Their festivals if any they had are have entered into this narrative. In an an- not known. cient Book of Iris—h Litanies, seven Bishops ,3i His feast occurs on the 2nd of Septem- of Cluain-Emhain supposed to have been
fe-soris, cap. vi. , vii. , pp. 336, 337.
It does not seem likely, that seven
ber.
I37 His festival occurs on the 12th of Au-
gust.
1)8 His festival is celebrated at the 23rd of
November.
39 His festival occurs on the 25th of
March.
140 His festival is celebrated on the 16th of
October.
141 His festival occurs on the 8th of
March.
143 His festival occurs on the 2nd of Sep-
in the county of Roscommon—
145 Her festival is supposed to be cele-
brated on the 1 8th of December.
146 His feast occurs, either on February
the 17th, or on the nth of October.
147 His festival occurs on the 10th of No-
vember.
148 A in the of and plain barony Boyle,
county of Roscommon.
149 In the of Caibre it was so reign Mor,
called.
150 Her feast occurs on the 241I1 of
,
are invoked.
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 505
Derbilia, of Rath
Irras;
Nuns,
Tyrua-Fiachra
;
Mugania,
haina,
belonged
province
,6s who
of Minister. It is 166 stated,
X5X Corcaria Keann, and Corcaria Caoin/52 the two
ofKill
daughters of Eogan, and the daughter of Cathald,' 53 from Kill-Comlach, at Magh-Luirg; Loman, 1 ^ of Lough Gill, between the countries of Carbry and
Breffney; Mofrisius,155 sontoFachtna,ofSligeach; Inella,adevoutvirgin;156
Kyria,^
Skyria ;
J 8 Osnata,'S7 of Gleann Dallain, 5
in Carbry
;
andGeghia,^ofGegheIsland;
l6° of Aradh,
161 of
162
seven
with Brochlacha l63
aidhne Here, indeed,
from
Carbry.
l6*
was met a
very distinguished assemblage of pious persons, to confer with one of the most
illustrious saints of the age and of his country.
