^ In that Table "
postfixed to the Martyrology of Donegal, this holy man is styled
Prasgra- tus.
postfixed to the Martyrology of Donegal, this holy man is styled
Prasgra- tus.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
Finan or Finian, the Leper, Bishop and Con-
fessor, was formerly celebrated with an Office, consisting of Nine Lessons. ^7 In the " Feilire" of St. ^ngus, " St. Finan, the luminous Leper," is comme-
morated,atthe16thofMarch. TheMartyrologyofTallagh^'^registershim, at the i6th of March, as Finan (i Lobhar) Suird. Marianus O'Gorman, and
his Scholiast, at this date, place him at Swords, at Ciuainmor, in Lagenia, and at Inisfallen, in Lough Lene. In addition to these places, the Calendar
of Cashel adds, that he belonged to Ardfinain. Whitford, in the Martyrology
sixth ''s the exact century. Still,
of St. Finian's death is not known
; although very incorrect and even contradictory statements have been hazarded,
'* My attention has been called to this
circumstance, by Mr. John M'Call, and, to
other mistakes occurring, especially in the account of St. Oncho or Onchuo, at the 8th
dent there, and as second Bishop of Ferns, A. D. 624, This accounts for his festival day,
January 31st, having been observed, at Clonmore, so late as A. D. 1780 ; and, it also renders intelligible the closing scenes, in the life of the assumed St. Finian Lob- har, where on the eve of this feast, or Ja- nuary 30th, he saw in a vision at Clonmore
of February, in a letter, headed, Dublin, 25
Patrick-street, September 27th, 1876. In
it, Mr. M'Call states, it is asserted, and
with very positive proof, that Maidoc of
Clonmore was really the first Bishop of that holy man, his patron, and Brigid, who
Ferns, and he refers for authority to Rev.
came to warn him of his approaching end.
Mr. M'Call states, that the greater part of the Acts of the second Maidoc of the 31st of
January should more correctly be placed to the credit of his predecessor, the first Mai- doc of Clonmore, Avhose feast has been as- signed to the I ith of April. The two very distinct obits were a great mystification to writers ; when St. Meadhog, Bishop of Ferns, is placed at the 31st of January, A. D. 624, in the " Annals of the Four Masters," and Maidoc the Second, born about 570, having died, A. D. 656, according to the "ChroniconScotorum. " Webelieve,that this whole subject still requires a consider- able share of study, to clear away the obscu- rity, in which it now rests.
^° Thus, Archdall, at Swords, has his death, A. D. 563, and at Clonmore, it is placed under A. D. 680. See " Monasticon Hibernicum," pp. 256, 734.
^' This appears from Kalendars, in the
"
Being older than his uterine brother. Aid,
son of Ainmire, King of Ireland, and who was born in 532, Maidoc's birth must have occurred about 530. Sometime in the latter half of the sixth century, he founded the monastery of Cluain-mor-Masdhoc, thus called after him. Before he became Bishop of Ferns, he was president over Clonmore, when the holy Onchuo came thither, after his pilgrimage, collecting the relics of all the Irish Saints. Through the instrumen- tality of Brandubh, King of Leinster, whose great friend he was, St. Maidoc of Clon- more was advanced to the bishopric of Ferns, towards the close of the sixth cen- tury. He died a. d. 624, and he was buried in his own monastery of Clonmore.
'5 As St. Onchuo, writes Mr. M'Call, was
much advanced in years, at the time he con-
cluded his pilgrimage and rested at Clon-
more, he became very infirm, and in
verification of St. Maidoc's prophecy, he
died some time afterwards, and was buried
John F. Shearman's
Loca Patriciana. "
in
"
the angelic cemetery of Clonmore. " In
that same grave, ]\Iaidoc, first Bishop of Ferns, and Finian Lobhar, were subse-
quently interred. Now, Maidoc, of the Connacians, not being born until about A. D. S70) it is impossible that he could have been the first Bishop of Ferns, according to Mr. M'Call, who thinks, he must have succeeded his namesake of Clonmore, as second presi-
Trinity College, Dublin,
classed, B. 3. 12. B. 3. 13. Again, in "The Book -of Obits and Martyrology of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity,
commonly called Christ Church, Dubhn," in
the Kalendar, at Kal. xvii. Aprilis, March
16, we find, "ix. lee. " See p. 63.
''^
EditedbyRev. Dr. Kelly,p. xviii. In the Franciscan copy is the entry, at this day, piriAni, and over it the comment tobo^x ; then follows Sui^t), while over it again is the gloss, t et mo|\.
Manuscripts,
March i6. LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
593
of Salisbury, and the Carthusian Martyrology, commemorate him. ==9 He is also entered, in the Martyrology of Christ's Church Cathedral, Dublin. 3° We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,3' as having a festival celebrated on this day, Fionan, the Leper, of Sord, and of Cluainmdr, in Leinster ; and of Ard Fionain,32 in Munster. This is likely to be the St. Finianus, mentioned at the 1 6th of March, in the anonymous list of Irish Saints, published by O'SuUevan Beare. Henry Fitzsimon also commemorates him,33 on the
authority of the Carthusian Martyrology. 34 In the
*'
Memorial of British Piety," 35 and in the " Circle of the Seasons," s^ he is commemorated, at the
1 6th of March.
This saint's festival seems to have been celebrated, even in Scotland.
Thus, he had churches at Killinan, otherwise Kilfynan,37 at Elan Finan,3S at
Mochrum,39 at Abersnetheck, in Monymusk,4° and at Migvie. '*^ Here, too, a fair had been held,"*^ under the name of St. Finzean's fair. There is a Finzean's fair, also, at Perth. The name of the church of Lumphanan, where Macbeth is believed to have been killed, is probably dedicated to St. Finian. ^s In the Dunkeld Litany, he is addressed as Finnanach. 'i4 St. Finian, was venerated, especially at four different places, in Ireland, viz. , Swords, Ardfinnan, Inisfallen, and Clonmore, according to a generally received opinion. However, it does not appear so certain, that all of these, and other places named, must be regarded, as under his particular patronage ; for, possibly, at some early period of our ecclesiastical history, popular tradi- tion got into confusion, regarding him and some other Finian, who may have been more immediately connected with localities designated. It has been stated, that a house, established by our saint, stood at Ardfinnan,^s which
" the
West, in the South Riding of the county of Tipperary, and in the diocese of Lismore. 4^ According to Dr. Jeoffry Keating, a St. Finian blessed Ard- finnin,duringthereignofFinachtaFleadhach,KingofIreland. -^^ Thetown
signifies,
high place
of within the baronies of Ififa and Offa Finian,"
*9 See Colgan's
niae," xvi. Martii, n. 14, p. 629.
land," Wigton, p. 61.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
30 See " The Book of Obits and Martyr-
ology of the Cathedral Church of the Holy
deen," p. 585.
4' See ibid. , p. 632. Agnes, Countess of
Mar, granted the Ecclesia S. Finnani de Miggeveth, to ihe Prior and Canons of St.
Trinity, commonly called Christ's Church,
Dublin," edited by John Clarke Crosth-
waithe and Rev. James Henthorn Todd. Andrews. See "Registrum Prioratus S.
"
Introduction, p. xliii. , xvii. Kal. April Androe," p. 249.
(March 16), S. Finani, episcopi et conf. "
This entry, however, is in a later hand, than
by that of the original compiler.
3' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
76, 77-
3^ It received the present name, it is said,
from this saint. Prior to his time it was
4^ In the beginning of the last century, at the Kirk of Migvie. It "was kept whiles in March, and whiles in April, on the Teu—s- day before Midlentron fair at Banchrie. "
"Antiquities of Aberdeen and Banff," vol,
ii. , p. xlvi. Aberdeen's New Prognostica-
tion for the year 1703 is quoted.
43 Although in the " View of the Diocese
of Aberdeen," p. 635, it is stated to have
been dedicated to St. Vincent, whose day
is January 22nd.
••See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
.
called Druim Abhradh, in the Irish Annals. "
See The illustrated Dublin Journal," vol. i. , No. 6, p. 89.
33 He also quotes Hector, lib. 9, fol. 1 77. 34 See "Historise Catholicse Ibernise Com-
pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50, and cap. xii. , p. 54,
35 See p. 52.
3* At p. 76.
37 It is called S. Finani Ecclesia, in the
Scottish Saints," p. 347.
45 This parish is shown on the
"
Ord-
de
3^ There his fair was held, next to St.
Patrick's See " Parochiales Day. Origines
Scotias," pars, ii. , p. 198.
39 See " New Statistical Account of Scot-
nance Survey Townland Maps for tlie
County of Tipperary," Sheets 82, 88. The
town itself is on Sheet S8.
''^ See Challoner's "Britannia Bishop
Registrum
Passelet, pp. 113, 131, 139.
'"' See
"
View of the Diocese of Aber-
Sancta," part i. , p. 174.
^^ See Dermod O'Connor's
Keating's "History of Ireland," Book ii. , p. 404,
Duffy's edition.
394 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i6.
of Lismore was constituted the Deanery of this diocese, in after time ; and, the feast of its patron and founder was kept, we are told, on this day. It was a solemn festival, as tablets belonging to the church bear record. Besides the monastery of Innis-Faithlenn, which was the home of learned men until destroyed, the Cathedral Church of Aghadoe,-*^ as we are told, was also dedi- cated to St. Finnian Lobhar. 'O He is considered to be the patron of South
Kerry,s°
likewise
we are not — assured—
; but, quite although present
local
traditions seem to confirm this opinion that he was that chief patron there
venerated. On June ist, St. Finnan's Tower, Ship-street, Dubhn, fell, and,
by exertions of the parish Beadle (F. Durham), a number of lives were saved. 5^ Most probably, that tower had been dedicated to the present saint.
The truly pious man feels a happiness under affliction, when patient and submissive to the decrees of Providence. Confidence in God, and love
towards him, inspire the soul, and create a great peace within, even when the body is wasted with suffering and disease. Those gifts of mind and of grace are the great sources of fortitude. With manly courage and firmness should we bear our occasional crosses, since our Divine Redeemer showed us how to suffer, and to triumph over suffering.
Article II. —Festival of St. Abban, Abbot of Magharnaidhe, said TO HAVE BEEN Adamstown, County OF Wexford. \Sixth or Seventh Century. '] The " Feilire " of St. ^ngus, and several Irish Kalendars, have this holy abbot's feast, at the present day. The name, Abban mac h. Cor- maic, occurs, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,* at the i6th of March. Accord-
ing to the O'Clerys, he descended from the race of Labhraidh Lore, son of
Ugaine Mdr ; and, again, they state, that Miolla, sister to Bishop lobhar,^
was his mother, as his own Life states, in the first chapter.
^ In that Table "
postfixed to the Martyrology of Donegal, this holy man is styled
Prasgra- tus. ''-^ His Acts are thought to have been confounded, in some particulars, with the Life of another Abban. s As if seeking to connect him with the place, a later hand inserts within brackets, in the O'Clerys' copy of the Donegal
Martyrology, that there is a Machaire Arnaidhe, in Oirghialla, in the diocese of Ardmacha,inthecountyofMuineachanorMonaghan. However,wefind
entered, in the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman,^ of Maguire, and of Donegal,? as being venerated on this day, Abban, Mac Ua Corbmaic, of Magh Arnaidhe, in Ui Ceinnsealaigh, in Leinster ; and, of Cill Abbain, in Ui Muireadhaigh, in Leinster. The present is supposed to have been his natal day on earth, by Colgan, who gives his Acts in full, with notes, and an Appendix, in five chapters. ^ The BoUandists have briefer notices, at the
^ The extent of this parish, in the baro- nies of Dunkerron North and Magunihy, is given, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kerry," Sheets 50, 58, 59, 60, 65, 66, 67, 68, 74, 76.
this day, we meet with the entry, AbbAtii
m . h. Co]\.
* See his Life, at the 23rd of April.
^ The same statement occurs, in the Acts
of this saint, as published by Colgan, at the *9 The interesting doorway of Aghadoe present day, but in cap. iii.
church is engraved and represented in Miss
''
History of the Kingdom of Kerry," chap, iii. , p. 51.
5° See ibid.
5' See the Annals of Dublin, contained in Pettigrew and Oulton's "Almanac, Re- gistry, and Directory for the year 1846. " These Annals were compiled, by Owen Connellan, Esq.
Article ii. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xviii. In the Franciscan copy, at
• See pp. 354, 355, ibid.
^ See a valuable paper, by Rev. John F.
Shearman, C. C, Howth, and intituled, "Loca Patriciana," in the "Journal of the Royal Historical and Archaeological Asso- elation of Ireland," Fourth Series," vol. ii. , No. 14, pp. 339 to 352.
^Marianus enters, "Abbanus fil. Ua- Corbmaic. "
7 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 76, 77.
Cusack's
March i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 395
16thofMarch. 9 Yet,asthe27thofOctoberisconsideredtohavebeenour saint's natal day in Heaven, we have preferred it, as more suitable for taking into account various difficulties, that beset his biography, and these are not easily soluble, even after the most close and attentive study.
Article III. —Festival of St. Eugenia, Martyr, at Nicomedia, in BiTHYNiA. Inthe"Feilire"ofSt. . ^ngus,'atthepresentday,wefinda commemoration of St. Eugenia, who appears to have been one, among a band of holy martyrs, who suffered for the Faith, at Nicomedia, in Bithynia. This festival was probably taken from the ancient Martyrology, ascribed to St. Jerome, and supposed to be about twelve hundred years old. A more particular account of these martyrs will be found, in the BoUandist collection,^^
alone is found in some of the old Calendars 3 and, again, entered, ;
Eugenia
her name seems to have been incorrectly rendered, into the masculine form of
Eugenius. The period, when this martyrdom took place, seems not to have been recorded.
Article IV. —St. Feithmech or Felmac, of Cill-Toama, now Kil-
TOOM, County of Westmeath. The Bollandists very briefly notice this
saint, at the present day, but they style him, incorrectly, Tetmechus Episco- pus de Kill-tuama. ^ On the i6th of March, we read in the Martyrology of
Tallagh,^ the record, Esp. Felmac o Cill Cuanda (no Tuama), From the prefix, we must regard this saint, as having been a bishop. Yet, we find simply, Feithmech, of Cill-Toama, set down in the Martyrologies of Marianus 0'Gorman3 and of Donegal,^ as having been venerated on this day. Under the head of Cill Cuana, Duald Mac Firbis enters Fethmech, Bishop of Cill Cuana, i. e. , Fethmech, Bishop of Cill Tuama, or (Cill) Toama. s The former should now be written Kilquan, and the other Kiltoome. There are many places, in Ireland, bearing these names. The locality here indicated is thought to have been Kiltoom,^ near Castlepollard. 7 county of Westmeath. ^
* See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xvi. Martii. Vita S. Abbani Abbatis de Magh- arnuidhe. ExMS. MembraneoCodiceKil- kenniensi, pp. 610 to 627.
9 See " Acta Sanctorum. " tomus ii. , Martii xvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
"
eugeniA fO|\ ootriAn <\bbAn 'ooff 011\ Aingtecli priAn LAinx)|Aech tobup.
BelovedbyallbuttheDemon Was Eugenia on earth, Abbau the angelic golden
bush,
Finan the luminous leper.
3 The Bollandists state : "At sola Euge- nia refertur in MSS. Casinensi, Pragensi, Treuirensi S. Martini, Bruxeliensi, S. Gu- dilse, Coloniensi Carmelitarum, Florario Sanctorum et Auctario Grcueni ad Vsuar- dum. In Diario historico Joannis Schmidii dicitur in Hispania a Saracenis interfecta, de qua cum Hispanis agemus xxvi. Martii, unde facilis error potuisset irrepere in ilium aut hunc xvi. Martii. "—Ibid.
^
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xviii. In the Franciscan copy, we find entered, at this date, Cpi ITeich mc o chiLi cuAmA.
p. 418. —
Article in. The following
'
:
Irish Leabhar Breac" copy, and translated into English, has been
Rann, taken from the
furnished by Professor O'Looney — e. DC. mil. InmAin acu lA-oemAn
—
tomus ii. , Martii xvi. Among the preter-
^*
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , It is in the parish of Faughalstovvn, and
Martii xv. De Sanctis Martyribus Castorio barony of Fore. It is shown, on the " Ord- seu Castore, Dionysio, Nonno, Sereno, nance Survey Townland Maps for the
Quiriaco, Milisa, Eugenia sive Eugenio, Juliano, Asclepiodoro, Pione, Nicomedise, in Bithynia, p. 420.
County of Westmeath," Sheet 7.
7 In the parish of Kathgarve, and barony
of Fore. iitQibid. , Sheets 3, 7.
Article iv. mitted saints, p. 416.
'
See "Acta
Sanctorum,"
" Fethmechus de Kill- '• Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
"
Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i-, PP- 94, 95-
3 Marianus Tuama. "
enters,
78, 79- 5 See
396 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i6.
During the eighth and ninth centuries, certain abbots of this place are re- corded,intheAnnalsoftheFourMasters; and,yet,wehavenotbeenable to find the present saint's name among them. 9
ArticleV,—St. Curitan,BishopandAbbotofRos-Meinn. The
Bollandists^ have a short notice of this holy man, at the present date. On
the 1 6th of March, the Martyrology of Tallagh^ mentions a festival, in honour of Curitan, Bishop and Abbot of Rus mic Bairend. His place does not seemtohavebeenidentified. Heismorefullydescribed,elsewhere,forthe Martyrologies of Marianus 0'Gorman3 and of Donegal* register on this day, Curitan, Bishop, and Abbot, of Ros-Meinn. We are further informed, the Cdin Adamndin states, that Curitan, the Bishop, was one of the saints, who went security to free the women [of Erinn] s from that bondage, in which they had been hitherto detained. At this same date, and under the head of Ros Bairenn, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Cuiritan, or Ciriac, Bishop and Abbot, of Ros-Menn, or Ros-Bairenn. ^
Article VI. —Festival of a reputed St. Bairrfionn, or Barrin-
Dus,Bishop. ThefestivalofBairrfionn,orBarrindus,Bishop,isregistered in the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman^ and of Donegal,"* on this day. The Bollandists remark,3 that where in the Martyrology of Tallagh Ros-mac- barenn is read, at this the i6th of March, Marianus O'Gorman has Rosmean, and then apart, Barindi Ep. , as if this were the name of a person to be vene- rated, on the same day.
ArticleVII. —St. Deneg,ofInisSedna. Therecord,Denach,Innse
Detnac, appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the i6th of March. It will be found somewhat difficult to identify the island, with which this saint was connected. We find entered, also, in the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman^ and of Donegal,3 as having a festival at this date, Degenius, or Deneg, of Inis Sedna.
Article VIII. —St. Aedhan, Bishop of Lismore, County of Water-
ford. [Probably in the Eighth Century. ] In high and in humble stations, religion does the best function. The noblest work of life is always the spiritual. The garden of the soul it should be our first and chiefest care to cultivate. From the holy and wise tending of it, great is the florescence of
^ See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (h-), p. 349.
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 126, 127.
9 See Rev.
" iJiocese of
Article vi. —'In Marianus we
Anthony Cogan's
vol. Modern," iii. ,
read,
Ep. "
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Ancient and
" Barrindus
Meath,
chap. Ixxiv. , p. —580.
'
Article V. 'See "Acta Sanctorum,"
76, 77.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
tomus ii. , Martii xvi. mitted saints, p. 416.
the Among preter-
ii. , Martii xvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
'
the Franciscan copy, at this date, will be
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xviii. In found, Cu|\iCAni ]"ci ejii Aguf Ab puif m
p. 416. Article vii.
bAHVint).
3 Thus is he recorded in Marianus,
ritanus Ep. et Abb. de Ros-meann. "
"
Cu-
* Edited Drs. Todd and by
76, 77.
Reeves, pp.
' Marianus Sedna. "
" de Inis enters, Denegius
5Ina Dr. Toddhere "The 3 Edited note, says, by
word ei^enn is added by the later hand. " 78, 79.
*"
See Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp.
—
Kelly, p.
fessor, was formerly celebrated with an Office, consisting of Nine Lessons. ^7 In the " Feilire" of St. ^ngus, " St. Finan, the luminous Leper," is comme-
morated,atthe16thofMarch. TheMartyrologyofTallagh^'^registershim, at the i6th of March, as Finan (i Lobhar) Suird. Marianus O'Gorman, and
his Scholiast, at this date, place him at Swords, at Ciuainmor, in Lagenia, and at Inisfallen, in Lough Lene. In addition to these places, the Calendar
of Cashel adds, that he belonged to Ardfinain. Whitford, in the Martyrology
sixth ''s the exact century. Still,
of St. Finian's death is not known
; although very incorrect and even contradictory statements have been hazarded,
'* My attention has been called to this
circumstance, by Mr. John M'Call, and, to
other mistakes occurring, especially in the account of St. Oncho or Onchuo, at the 8th
dent there, and as second Bishop of Ferns, A. D. 624, This accounts for his festival day,
January 31st, having been observed, at Clonmore, so late as A. D. 1780 ; and, it also renders intelligible the closing scenes, in the life of the assumed St. Finian Lob- har, where on the eve of this feast, or Ja- nuary 30th, he saw in a vision at Clonmore
of February, in a letter, headed, Dublin, 25
Patrick-street, September 27th, 1876. In
it, Mr. M'Call states, it is asserted, and
with very positive proof, that Maidoc of
Clonmore was really the first Bishop of that holy man, his patron, and Brigid, who
Ferns, and he refers for authority to Rev.
came to warn him of his approaching end.
Mr. M'Call states, that the greater part of the Acts of the second Maidoc of the 31st of
January should more correctly be placed to the credit of his predecessor, the first Mai- doc of Clonmore, Avhose feast has been as- signed to the I ith of April. The two very distinct obits were a great mystification to writers ; when St. Meadhog, Bishop of Ferns, is placed at the 31st of January, A. D. 624, in the " Annals of the Four Masters," and Maidoc the Second, born about 570, having died, A. D. 656, according to the "ChroniconScotorum. " Webelieve,that this whole subject still requires a consider- able share of study, to clear away the obscu- rity, in which it now rests.
^° Thus, Archdall, at Swords, has his death, A. D. 563, and at Clonmore, it is placed under A. D. 680. See " Monasticon Hibernicum," pp. 256, 734.
^' This appears from Kalendars, in the
"
Being older than his uterine brother. Aid,
son of Ainmire, King of Ireland, and who was born in 532, Maidoc's birth must have occurred about 530. Sometime in the latter half of the sixth century, he founded the monastery of Cluain-mor-Masdhoc, thus called after him. Before he became Bishop of Ferns, he was president over Clonmore, when the holy Onchuo came thither, after his pilgrimage, collecting the relics of all the Irish Saints. Through the instrumen- tality of Brandubh, King of Leinster, whose great friend he was, St. Maidoc of Clon- more was advanced to the bishopric of Ferns, towards the close of the sixth cen- tury. He died a. d. 624, and he was buried in his own monastery of Clonmore.
'5 As St. Onchuo, writes Mr. M'Call, was
much advanced in years, at the time he con-
cluded his pilgrimage and rested at Clon-
more, he became very infirm, and in
verification of St. Maidoc's prophecy, he
died some time afterwards, and was buried
John F. Shearman's
Loca Patriciana. "
in
"
the angelic cemetery of Clonmore. " In
that same grave, ]\Iaidoc, first Bishop of Ferns, and Finian Lobhar, were subse-
quently interred. Now, Maidoc, of the Connacians, not being born until about A. D. S70) it is impossible that he could have been the first Bishop of Ferns, according to Mr. M'Call, who thinks, he must have succeeded his namesake of Clonmore, as second presi-
Trinity College, Dublin,
classed, B. 3. 12. B. 3. 13. Again, in "The Book -of Obits and Martyrology of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity,
commonly called Christ Church, Dubhn," in
the Kalendar, at Kal. xvii. Aprilis, March
16, we find, "ix. lee. " See p. 63.
''^
EditedbyRev. Dr. Kelly,p. xviii. In the Franciscan copy is the entry, at this day, piriAni, and over it the comment tobo^x ; then follows Sui^t), while over it again is the gloss, t et mo|\.
Manuscripts,
March i6. LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
593
of Salisbury, and the Carthusian Martyrology, commemorate him. ==9 He is also entered, in the Martyrology of Christ's Church Cathedral, Dublin. 3° We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,3' as having a festival celebrated on this day, Fionan, the Leper, of Sord, and of Cluainmdr, in Leinster ; and of Ard Fionain,32 in Munster. This is likely to be the St. Finianus, mentioned at the 1 6th of March, in the anonymous list of Irish Saints, published by O'SuUevan Beare. Henry Fitzsimon also commemorates him,33 on the
authority of the Carthusian Martyrology. 34 In the
*'
Memorial of British Piety," 35 and in the " Circle of the Seasons," s^ he is commemorated, at the
1 6th of March.
This saint's festival seems to have been celebrated, even in Scotland.
Thus, he had churches at Killinan, otherwise Kilfynan,37 at Elan Finan,3S at
Mochrum,39 at Abersnetheck, in Monymusk,4° and at Migvie. '*^ Here, too, a fair had been held,"*^ under the name of St. Finzean's fair. There is a Finzean's fair, also, at Perth. The name of the church of Lumphanan, where Macbeth is believed to have been killed, is probably dedicated to St. Finian. ^s In the Dunkeld Litany, he is addressed as Finnanach. 'i4 St. Finian, was venerated, especially at four different places, in Ireland, viz. , Swords, Ardfinnan, Inisfallen, and Clonmore, according to a generally received opinion. However, it does not appear so certain, that all of these, and other places named, must be regarded, as under his particular patronage ; for, possibly, at some early period of our ecclesiastical history, popular tradi- tion got into confusion, regarding him and some other Finian, who may have been more immediately connected with localities designated. It has been stated, that a house, established by our saint, stood at Ardfinnan,^s which
" the
West, in the South Riding of the county of Tipperary, and in the diocese of Lismore. 4^ According to Dr. Jeoffry Keating, a St. Finian blessed Ard- finnin,duringthereignofFinachtaFleadhach,KingofIreland. -^^ Thetown
signifies,
high place
of within the baronies of Ififa and Offa Finian,"
*9 See Colgan's
niae," xvi. Martii, n. 14, p. 629.
land," Wigton, p. 61.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
30 See " The Book of Obits and Martyr-
ology of the Cathedral Church of the Holy
deen," p. 585.
4' See ibid. , p. 632. Agnes, Countess of
Mar, granted the Ecclesia S. Finnani de Miggeveth, to ihe Prior and Canons of St.
Trinity, commonly called Christ's Church,
Dublin," edited by John Clarke Crosth-
waithe and Rev. James Henthorn Todd. Andrews. See "Registrum Prioratus S.
"
Introduction, p. xliii. , xvii. Kal. April Androe," p. 249.
(March 16), S. Finani, episcopi et conf. "
This entry, however, is in a later hand, than
by that of the original compiler.
3' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
76, 77-
3^ It received the present name, it is said,
from this saint. Prior to his time it was
4^ In the beginning of the last century, at the Kirk of Migvie. It "was kept whiles in March, and whiles in April, on the Teu—s- day before Midlentron fair at Banchrie. "
"Antiquities of Aberdeen and Banff," vol,
ii. , p. xlvi. Aberdeen's New Prognostica-
tion for the year 1703 is quoted.
43 Although in the " View of the Diocese
of Aberdeen," p. 635, it is stated to have
been dedicated to St. Vincent, whose day
is January 22nd.
••See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
.
called Druim Abhradh, in the Irish Annals. "
See The illustrated Dublin Journal," vol. i. , No. 6, p. 89.
33 He also quotes Hector, lib. 9, fol. 1 77. 34 See "Historise Catholicse Ibernise Com-
pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50, and cap. xii. , p. 54,
35 See p. 52.
3* At p. 76.
37 It is called S. Finani Ecclesia, in the
Scottish Saints," p. 347.
45 This parish is shown on the
"
Ord-
de
3^ There his fair was held, next to St.
Patrick's See " Parochiales Day. Origines
Scotias," pars, ii. , p. 198.
39 See " New Statistical Account of Scot-
nance Survey Townland Maps for tlie
County of Tipperary," Sheets 82, 88. The
town itself is on Sheet S8.
''^ See Challoner's "Britannia Bishop
Registrum
Passelet, pp. 113, 131, 139.
'"' See
"
View of the Diocese of Aber-
Sancta," part i. , p. 174.
^^ See Dermod O'Connor's
Keating's "History of Ireland," Book ii. , p. 404,
Duffy's edition.
394 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i6.
of Lismore was constituted the Deanery of this diocese, in after time ; and, the feast of its patron and founder was kept, we are told, on this day. It was a solemn festival, as tablets belonging to the church bear record. Besides the monastery of Innis-Faithlenn, which was the home of learned men until destroyed, the Cathedral Church of Aghadoe,-*^ as we are told, was also dedi- cated to St. Finnian Lobhar. 'O He is considered to be the patron of South
Kerry,s°
likewise
we are not — assured—
; but, quite although present
local
traditions seem to confirm this opinion that he was that chief patron there
venerated. On June ist, St. Finnan's Tower, Ship-street, Dubhn, fell, and,
by exertions of the parish Beadle (F. Durham), a number of lives were saved. 5^ Most probably, that tower had been dedicated to the present saint.
The truly pious man feels a happiness under affliction, when patient and submissive to the decrees of Providence. Confidence in God, and love
towards him, inspire the soul, and create a great peace within, even when the body is wasted with suffering and disease. Those gifts of mind and of grace are the great sources of fortitude. With manly courage and firmness should we bear our occasional crosses, since our Divine Redeemer showed us how to suffer, and to triumph over suffering.
Article II. —Festival of St. Abban, Abbot of Magharnaidhe, said TO HAVE BEEN Adamstown, County OF Wexford. \Sixth or Seventh Century. '] The " Feilire " of St. ^ngus, and several Irish Kalendars, have this holy abbot's feast, at the present day. The name, Abban mac h. Cor- maic, occurs, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,* at the i6th of March. Accord-
ing to the O'Clerys, he descended from the race of Labhraidh Lore, son of
Ugaine Mdr ; and, again, they state, that Miolla, sister to Bishop lobhar,^
was his mother, as his own Life states, in the first chapter.
^ In that Table "
postfixed to the Martyrology of Donegal, this holy man is styled
Prasgra- tus. ''-^ His Acts are thought to have been confounded, in some particulars, with the Life of another Abban. s As if seeking to connect him with the place, a later hand inserts within brackets, in the O'Clerys' copy of the Donegal
Martyrology, that there is a Machaire Arnaidhe, in Oirghialla, in the diocese of Ardmacha,inthecountyofMuineachanorMonaghan. However,wefind
entered, in the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman,^ of Maguire, and of Donegal,? as being venerated on this day, Abban, Mac Ua Corbmaic, of Magh Arnaidhe, in Ui Ceinnsealaigh, in Leinster ; and, of Cill Abbain, in Ui Muireadhaigh, in Leinster. The present is supposed to have been his natal day on earth, by Colgan, who gives his Acts in full, with notes, and an Appendix, in five chapters. ^ The BoUandists have briefer notices, at the
^ The extent of this parish, in the baro- nies of Dunkerron North and Magunihy, is given, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kerry," Sheets 50, 58, 59, 60, 65, 66, 67, 68, 74, 76.
this day, we meet with the entry, AbbAtii
m . h. Co]\.
* See his Life, at the 23rd of April.
^ The same statement occurs, in the Acts
of this saint, as published by Colgan, at the *9 The interesting doorway of Aghadoe present day, but in cap. iii.
church is engraved and represented in Miss
''
History of the Kingdom of Kerry," chap, iii. , p. 51.
5° See ibid.
5' See the Annals of Dublin, contained in Pettigrew and Oulton's "Almanac, Re- gistry, and Directory for the year 1846. " These Annals were compiled, by Owen Connellan, Esq.
Article ii. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xviii. In the Franciscan copy, at
• See pp. 354, 355, ibid.
^ See a valuable paper, by Rev. John F.
Shearman, C. C, Howth, and intituled, "Loca Patriciana," in the "Journal of the Royal Historical and Archaeological Asso- elation of Ireland," Fourth Series," vol. ii. , No. 14, pp. 339 to 352.
^Marianus enters, "Abbanus fil. Ua- Corbmaic. "
7 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 76, 77.
Cusack's
March i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 395
16thofMarch. 9 Yet,asthe27thofOctoberisconsideredtohavebeenour saint's natal day in Heaven, we have preferred it, as more suitable for taking into account various difficulties, that beset his biography, and these are not easily soluble, even after the most close and attentive study.
Article III. —Festival of St. Eugenia, Martyr, at Nicomedia, in BiTHYNiA. Inthe"Feilire"ofSt. . ^ngus,'atthepresentday,wefinda commemoration of St. Eugenia, who appears to have been one, among a band of holy martyrs, who suffered for the Faith, at Nicomedia, in Bithynia. This festival was probably taken from the ancient Martyrology, ascribed to St. Jerome, and supposed to be about twelve hundred years old. A more particular account of these martyrs will be found, in the BoUandist collection,^^
alone is found in some of the old Calendars 3 and, again, entered, ;
Eugenia
her name seems to have been incorrectly rendered, into the masculine form of
Eugenius. The period, when this martyrdom took place, seems not to have been recorded.
Article IV. —St. Feithmech or Felmac, of Cill-Toama, now Kil-
TOOM, County of Westmeath. The Bollandists very briefly notice this
saint, at the present day, but they style him, incorrectly, Tetmechus Episco- pus de Kill-tuama. ^ On the i6th of March, we read in the Martyrology of
Tallagh,^ the record, Esp. Felmac o Cill Cuanda (no Tuama), From the prefix, we must regard this saint, as having been a bishop. Yet, we find simply, Feithmech, of Cill-Toama, set down in the Martyrologies of Marianus 0'Gorman3 and of Donegal,^ as having been venerated on this day. Under the head of Cill Cuana, Duald Mac Firbis enters Fethmech, Bishop of Cill Cuana, i. e. , Fethmech, Bishop of Cill Tuama, or (Cill) Toama. s The former should now be written Kilquan, and the other Kiltoome. There are many places, in Ireland, bearing these names. The locality here indicated is thought to have been Kiltoom,^ near Castlepollard. 7 county of Westmeath. ^
* See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xvi. Martii. Vita S. Abbani Abbatis de Magh- arnuidhe. ExMS. MembraneoCodiceKil- kenniensi, pp. 610 to 627.
9 See " Acta Sanctorum. " tomus ii. , Martii xvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
"
eugeniA fO|\ ootriAn <\bbAn 'ooff 011\ Aingtecli priAn LAinx)|Aech tobup.
BelovedbyallbuttheDemon Was Eugenia on earth, Abbau the angelic golden
bush,
Finan the luminous leper.
3 The Bollandists state : "At sola Euge- nia refertur in MSS. Casinensi, Pragensi, Treuirensi S. Martini, Bruxeliensi, S. Gu- dilse, Coloniensi Carmelitarum, Florario Sanctorum et Auctario Grcueni ad Vsuar- dum. In Diario historico Joannis Schmidii dicitur in Hispania a Saracenis interfecta, de qua cum Hispanis agemus xxvi. Martii, unde facilis error potuisset irrepere in ilium aut hunc xvi. Martii. "—Ibid.
^
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xviii. In the Franciscan copy, we find entered, at this date, Cpi ITeich mc o chiLi cuAmA.
p. 418. —
Article in. The following
'
:
Irish Leabhar Breac" copy, and translated into English, has been
Rann, taken from the
furnished by Professor O'Looney — e. DC. mil. InmAin acu lA-oemAn
—
tomus ii. , Martii xvi. Among the preter-
^*
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , It is in the parish of Faughalstovvn, and
Martii xv. De Sanctis Martyribus Castorio barony of Fore. It is shown, on the " Ord- seu Castore, Dionysio, Nonno, Sereno, nance Survey Townland Maps for the
Quiriaco, Milisa, Eugenia sive Eugenio, Juliano, Asclepiodoro, Pione, Nicomedise, in Bithynia, p. 420.
County of Westmeath," Sheet 7.
7 In the parish of Kathgarve, and barony
of Fore. iitQibid. , Sheets 3, 7.
Article iv. mitted saints, p. 416.
'
See "Acta
Sanctorum,"
" Fethmechus de Kill- '• Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
"
Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i-, PP- 94, 95-
3 Marianus Tuama. "
enters,
78, 79- 5 See
396 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i6.
During the eighth and ninth centuries, certain abbots of this place are re- corded,intheAnnalsoftheFourMasters; and,yet,wehavenotbeenable to find the present saint's name among them. 9
ArticleV,—St. Curitan,BishopandAbbotofRos-Meinn. The
Bollandists^ have a short notice of this holy man, at the present date. On
the 1 6th of March, the Martyrology of Tallagh^ mentions a festival, in honour of Curitan, Bishop and Abbot of Rus mic Bairend. His place does not seemtohavebeenidentified. Heismorefullydescribed,elsewhere,forthe Martyrologies of Marianus 0'Gorman3 and of Donegal* register on this day, Curitan, Bishop, and Abbot, of Ros-Meinn. We are further informed, the Cdin Adamndin states, that Curitan, the Bishop, was one of the saints, who went security to free the women [of Erinn] s from that bondage, in which they had been hitherto detained. At this same date, and under the head of Ros Bairenn, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Cuiritan, or Ciriac, Bishop and Abbot, of Ros-Menn, or Ros-Bairenn. ^
Article VI. —Festival of a reputed St. Bairrfionn, or Barrin-
Dus,Bishop. ThefestivalofBairrfionn,orBarrindus,Bishop,isregistered in the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman^ and of Donegal,"* on this day. The Bollandists remark,3 that where in the Martyrology of Tallagh Ros-mac- barenn is read, at this the i6th of March, Marianus O'Gorman has Rosmean, and then apart, Barindi Ep. , as if this were the name of a person to be vene- rated, on the same day.
ArticleVII. —St. Deneg,ofInisSedna. Therecord,Denach,Innse
Detnac, appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the i6th of March. It will be found somewhat difficult to identify the island, with which this saint was connected. We find entered, also, in the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman^ and of Donegal,3 as having a festival at this date, Degenius, or Deneg, of Inis Sedna.
Article VIII. —St. Aedhan, Bishop of Lismore, County of Water-
ford. [Probably in the Eighth Century. ] In high and in humble stations, religion does the best function. The noblest work of life is always the spiritual. The garden of the soul it should be our first and chiefest care to cultivate. From the holy and wise tending of it, great is the florescence of
^ See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (h-), p. 349.
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 126, 127.
9 See Rev.
" iJiocese of
Article vi. —'In Marianus we
Anthony Cogan's
vol. Modern," iii. ,
read,
Ep. "
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Ancient and
" Barrindus
Meath,
chap. Ixxiv. , p. —580.
'
Article V. 'See "Acta Sanctorum,"
76, 77.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
tomus ii. , Martii xvi. mitted saints, p. 416.
the Among preter-
ii. , Martii xvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
'
the Franciscan copy, at this date, will be
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xviii. In found, Cu|\iCAni ]"ci ejii Aguf Ab puif m
p. 416. Article vii.
bAHVint).
3 Thus is he recorded in Marianus,
ritanus Ep. et Abb. de Ros-meann. "
"
Cu-
* Edited Drs. Todd and by
76, 77.
Reeves, pp.
' Marianus Sedna. "
" de Inis enters, Denegius
5Ina Dr. Toddhere "The 3 Edited note, says, by
word ei^enn is added by the later hand. " 78, 79.
*"
See Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp.
—
Kelly, p.
