Taking
compassion
on him, St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
"
102 Giraldus alludes to De the John Courcy,
:
periendo
sicut Braccani testimonio, per quemdam re- gem, de desertis Patricii montibus venturum, et nocte Dominica casirum quoddam in ne-
—e for Ireland. A seventh
prophetic
Poem,98
said
Prophecies
103 10* while many are yet in Manuscripts.
pp. 341, 342.
101
Our saint is classed among the four great Prophets of Ireland, St. Patrick, St. Moling and St. Brecan being the others.
93 It is classed II I, 10, at p. 161, among morosis Ophelanise partibus irrupturum,
the — omnesfere ab
Trinity College Library Manuscripts. Anglici Hiberniaturbabuntur;
:
Earl Richard, to Raymond le Gros, to 95 Among the Trinity College Manu- Philip de Breusa, and to Hamo de Valois,
classed H I, 10, at — 116. scripts, p.
90 It begins with the line
mo ceAti '6111c a ce&ccAi]\e.
Lord in 1 Justiciary 197,
as instances of their
:
fulfilment.
103 Among these may be classed " The Life
and Prophecies of St. Columba or Colum- kille, Patron of Derry, and Founder of Iona," by St. Adamnan, ninth abbot of that Monas-
97 This is to be found in the Hodges' and
Smith's collection of Royal Irish Academy tery. Translated from the original Latin,
Manuscripts, I, 75, at p. 27. —
with copious notes, by the late Rev. Matthew
98 It begins with the line
:
D. New D. , Professor, Maynooth.
CiocpAit)
mAiroAn riA
m6)\ L0115.
104 A of the Irish Manuscript, Royal
Academy, and classed No. 221, folio paper, 99 This is found among the Hodges' and contains some of his prophetic Poems, Smith's collection, in Royal Irish Academy as ascribed. Messrs. Hodges' and Smith s
Manuscripts, 2, 52, p. 414. large 4to parchment MS. , No. 223, contains 100 "
See Girakli Cambrensis Opera," Poems ascribed to St. Colunikille.
edited
Expugnatio Hibemica, lib. ii. , cap. xvii. ,
i0S See " Tria^ Colgan's
by James
F. M. A. , vol. v. Dimock,
Thaumaturga,'' Tertia Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, be-
See ibid. , cap. xxxiv, pp. 384, 385. One of these prophecies stated, that scarcely before the Day of Judgment was Ireland to be wholly subdued by the English. He adds: "
turbari et debiiitari contingat
Kelly,
edition. Dublin, 1874, i2mo.
;
June 9. LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 333
10
However, it is an opinion generally entertained, > that many of these are not
106
There are Prophecies relating to the Kings of
his genuine compositions.
Ireland, to the different conditions of Ireland, and to her misfortunes. One of
these is intituled Buile Choluim chille,
kille. Another Prophecy relates to St. Adamnan, another to St. Fintan Munnu,,OQ and another to the Expulsion of St. Carthage or Mochudda from the Monastery of Rathen. 110 Whether all these are genuine writings of the holy Abbot, or not, may very fairly be a question as left undecided. 111 It should be a matter of great interest to Irish scholars, if the Prose and Poeti- cal Works attributed to St. Columba were collected, arranged, digested, and published, under the care of some judicious and critical editor. Hitherto
10
Moone Abbey and Cross, County Kildare.
they are only found dispersed, and without subjection to a close analysis, which might serve to determine their chronology, origin, and genuine- ness.
Our holy missionary travelled into Leinster, where he founded different and numerous II2 churches or monasteries. One of these was, doubtless, that
cunda Pars, p. 472.
106 "
110
See Sir James Ware, "
De Scriptoribus
tures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History," Lect. xx. , pp. 431 to 434. Also Appendix, No. cliv. , CLV. , pp. 634, 635-
107 Colgan had a copy of this work, writ- ten in Irish metre.
108
This began with SeliAro & Airrn x>o- mAtimrvm.
Colgan's
Trias Thaumaturga," Tertia
109 This began with <Xcteir-oin CA15 Nicholas O'Kearney ; while later still a cvvtiiAccuig. catch-penny edition intituled, "The Origi-
? or the Ecstatic Rapture of Colum-
"
See Professor Eugene O'Curry's Lec- Hibernise," lib. i. , cap. ii. , p. 15. Also,
108
Appendix ad Acta S. Columbre, Secunda
Pars, p. 472.
111
Of late years, several notorious forge- ries of Prophecies attributed to St. Colum- kille have appeared. An edition of these was published by Mr. John O'Daly, of Anglesea- street, Dublin, in 1854, the editor being Mr.
334
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
at Maein "3 or Maein Cholum-chille, now Moone, a townland and parish "* in the county of Kildare, and diocese of Dublin. The old Irish Life of St.
and the Ji s ascribed the dedication of a church here to him, O'Clerys
Columb,
whose memory has always been held in great veneration in this parish, and
he has been regarded as its special patron. On the summit of a hill at Moone are the remains of a long narrow church, which must have occupied the site of an earlier one. Through the valley beneath flows a considerable
of an Irish cross,11? sculptured profusely
stream. 116 A fine very
specimen
with scriptural subject on its various compartments, and called St. Colum-
kille's cross, now stands proudly erect in the graveyard there, and it rises
beside a ruined religious establishment. 1 ' 8
interment. Allusion to the place is made in our Irish Annals,120 and dating
121
There is a church and I22 of Columkille, in the of parish barony
Gowran, and county of Kilkenny, which may have been of his erection. The church in ruins and a well there are still called after him. In the Ancient Taxation of Ossory, the Capella de Colmekyll is also noticed. In this dio- cese, likewise, we find, that our saint was patron of Rathsaran,,23 alias
and which had been buried in the long
come to I,Q light.
has
The ruins are still tolerably perfect, and the cemetery is a favourite place for
back to the eleventh century.
12*andof
church in ruins, and a well called
ofGowran. ,20 At a Kilcolumb,
inthe
parish in the barony of Ida, and county of Kilkenny, there is a Kilcolumb
Grogan,
Inistioge,"5
barony Tobernagolumb,
nal Prophecies of St. Columb-kille, extracted from Irish Parchments of the year 572, and translated into English by the Rev. Mr. Taaffe," has been issued in Dublin, with some thoroughly scandalous forgeries at- tached, and too ridiculous to deserve any fur- ther notice.
he collected what could be found, at the
time, and had the parts well clamped with iron sockets and welded together ; then, the cross was deemed to be one of the finest and largest in Ireland, but were the part lately discovered placed in its proper position, the height should be increased by three of four feet more, and it should appear in much finer proportions.
112
This statement is to be found in the old
Irish Life of St. Columba, translated into
English, and published, in William F.
"
Skene's
Ancient Alban," vol. ii. , Appendix i. , p. 489.
113 Its erection is attributed to him, in the
O'Clerys' Calendar.
114 Its detached portions are situated in
120 At A. D. 1014 and A. D. 1040.
121
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes G,
Celtic Scotland : a History of
"
the baronies of East Offaly, Kilkea and
Moone, Narragh and Rheban East. 123 Now a
"5 In the '• of Martyrology Donegal,"
edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 15°. «S»-
116
See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionaiy of Ireland,'' vol. ii. , p. 391.
1. 7 The accompanying illustration is from a sketch made by the writer on the spot, in February, 1886. It has been transferred to the wood by William F. Wakeman, and the engraving is by Mrs. Millard.
parish, donagh, shown,
on the " Ordnance
1. 8 Archdall alludes to
it,
and
quotes
a
"6 is Inistioge parish
described,
on "Ord-
"Tour through Ireland, 1748," p. 231, for
the statement, that a Monastery of Conven-
tual Franciscans was here established. See
nance Survey Townland Maps for the County
of Kilkenny," sheets 28, 29, 32, 33, 36. The
town and townland proper are on sheets 32, 33-
127 Both objects are distinguished, on the
" Ordnance Townland for the Survey Maps
County of Kilkenny," sheet 44.
128 See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot-
"
Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 335.
1. 9 The late Duke of Leinster found this
fine cross broken, and in of danger being
totally destroyed, as a great portion of it had been removed from the plinth. However,
However, one of its centre pieces,
earth,
lately
and
12? near the River Barrow.
p. 280.
122 It is described, on the " Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kilkenny,"sheets28,29,32. Thetownland proper is on sheet 28.
in the barony of Clan-
Survey Townland Maps for the Queen's County," sheets 27, 28, 33. The town- land proper Rathsaran Glebe is on sheets 27, 28.
124 A townland, in Rathsaran parish, shown on sheets 27, 28.
125 See "Statuta Dioecesis Ossoriensis," edita Kilkenniae, in Synodo Dioecesana,
8, pp. 26 to 28.
die 8 Junii, 1873, SeCt-
June 9. LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 335
That the saint had been the originator of any religious establishment here doesnotseemtobeknown; whiletheseobjectsmayhavebeendedicatedto someotherSt. Columba. TheoldIrishLifeI28ofour—saintplacesamonghis Leinster foundations the church of Druim-monach ia9 the precise locality of which has not been ascertained.
The following incident, in our saint's career, by historical inference, may fairly be referred to a time, about the middle of the sixth cen- tury. Columkille journeyed by Guam—now known as Clonkeen—in Leix, whenhewasayoungman. Somecompanionswerewithhim. St. Fintanof
x 3° was then a mere and he was under the Clonenagh boy,
of a ceptor, at this place. Fintan had a Divine Revelation regarding our saint's arrival, which was previously notified to the master. That prediction was soon fulfilled, and then St. Columba first became acquainted with St. Fintan,
whose
For seventee—
dignity eighteen years,
greatness,
SOUTHWARDS—HIS RESIDENCE AND ACTS.
CONNAUGHT,
and the
n or
pre-
of whose at —was foretold. '3 1 place, Clonenagh,
and in the of life or from about prime
a. d. 546 to 563 this indefatigable missionary travelled over a great part of Ireland, while he laboured incessantly, especially in founding new churches and new monasteries. '3 J He was evidently a man possessing great force of character and also determined zeal in effecting his purpose ; while he was one of those master-minds that influence and sway others, by the mere force of contact. Nor can we doubt, that he became the object of tender love and of implicit
confidence, from all who came under the sphere and spell of his influence. Firmness and amiability alike predominated in forming his noble and saint- like character.
CHAPTER VI.
ST. COLUMBA RE-VISITS TYRCONNELL—HIS FOUNDATIONS THERE—HE TRAVELS
IN SEANGLEANN—HE TRAVELS TO
WHERE CHURCHES ARE BUILT—VISIT TO THE ARAN ISLANDS—VARIOUS MIRACLES
After some of the foregoing events, referable chiefly to Meath and Leinster, St. Columb is said to have returned towards Tyrconnell. Passing by the Erne, he blessed it. He likewise erected many churches and chapels in his
patrimonial
realm. To his native Gartan * he went for a time. While he place
known as
land : a Histoiy of Ancient Alban," vol. ii. ,
Appendix I, p. 489.
129 This church is not in the list of St.
Columba's churches, as furnished in Rev.
2 the saint was met a man by
at a
rested
of his acquaintance, who had suffered much, and who was greatly depressed in spirits.
Taking compassion on him, St. Columb blessed a rock, which was near, and from which a copious stream of water began to flow. From this, the man afflicted with melancholy drank, when all its shadows became at once dissipated. In future times, it was said, that all, similarly affected and who drank of that water, were restored to peace and serenity of mind.
there,
place
Gort-na-lecke,
Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Co- tions of St. — 120. Columba," p.
lumba. "
130 See his Life, in the Second Volume of
This place is probably identical with the chap. i. presenttownland,knownasGortnaleck,inthe 131 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," parish of Clondahorky, and in the barony of
this work, at the 17th of February, Art. i. ,
"
Quinta Vita S. Columbx, lib. i. , cap. cviii. , p. 407.
'32 See "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol.
ii. , old Series. " A Day at Iona :
Recollec-
* the Chapter vi. Here
O'Clerys state, he had a religious foundation.
tutelage
336 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINJS. [June 9.
Thenceforward, that stone was called the Rock of Sadness. 3 The foundation of Raphoe is ascribed to St. Columba,* in an ancient poem, and in some other authorities. 5 In the early part of the seventeenth century, it possessed a Round Tower, probably belonging to the former cathedral, which had been there erected. From what we have seen already, it should seem, that St. Columba blessed churches at Raphoe in his lifetime, if he were not the actual
6
founder of a religious house, at that place. ? Ronan, son of Lugad, and pro-
nepos of St. Columba, on his uncle Sedne's side, held one of the Hy-Xiell, asahostage,andforsomereasonhehadbeendoomedtodeath. However, St. Columba asked and obtained his pardon from Ronan, saying he could refuse him no request. To reward him for this avowal, the saint predicted, that from him should proceed Dalach, who was to be the stock, from whom the future Tyrconnellian nobles and princes must descend. He also declared, that although then undistinguished among the higher chiefs, they should one day become more celebrated, provided they only lived piously and justly. Again, it was predicted of the same Dalach,8 that drops of blood should be seen in a well at Kill-mac-Nenain, as often as any of his posterity was about to perish by the sword. O'Donnell states, that the truth of this pre- diction stood the test of experience. '
Among the churches or religious houses of Blessed Columb in the north of
Ireland is to be reckoned that of Druim-Tomma, 10 now Drumhome, in the
of and of 11 as several monks of St. barony Tyrhugh, county Donegal,
Columba are stated to have been there buried. 12 we most Accordingly, may
probably attribute the period of its erection to the occasion on which he
returned to this part of Ireland. In the parish of Drumhome was also the
11 townland of Ballymagroarty, ^ where are the remains of an old chapel, * which
formerly bore the name of St. Columba. The O'Clerys state, that it was one of his foundations. Here, too, the celebrated Cathach, a reliquary of the saint,waskeptintheseventeenthcentury. 'S AplaceformerlycalledScreen-
16 and afterwards known as '? was for- Ballynascreen parish,
l8 considered as
forms the western portion of the barony of Loughinsholin, in the county of
Colaim-Cille,
merly
belonging
to Gleann in Tirone. 1 ? It now Coneadhan,
" nance Survey Townland Maps for the County
of Donegal," sheets 25, 26, 34, 35.
3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbce, lib. i. , cap. lxxii. ,
Kilmacrenan. It is to be found on the
Ord-
Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap, Ixxvii. , pp. 401, 402, and n. 72, p. 451.
,0
Also written Druim Tuama, in the O'Clerys' Calendar.
p. 401.
4 The old Irish Life of St. Columba
x. .
rived from the family of Mac Robhartaigh, pronounced Mac Roarty.
'*
This townland is divided into two por- tions, the Irish and Scotch. This ruined chapel is in the former division.
I5 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbre, cap. ii. , p. 495.
,6 Mentioned by this name at A. D. 1203,
in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 136, 137, and n. (e), ibid.
places his foundation of Rath-Bo h, next in order after his foundation at Derry. SeetheEng- lish translation appended, in William F. Skene's "Celtic Scotland," vol. ii. , Appen-
p. 133.
" See ibid. ,n. 118, pp. 141, 142.
13 In Irish t>Aile-tnecc nobayvcaicli, de-
dix I. , p. 484.
5 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
of St. Columba," Additional Notes G, p. 280.
6 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan, however, does not find sufficient arguments for ascribing such to Columba himself ; although a monas-
tery existed there in Adamnan's time, who "
was, perhaps, the founder of it. See Ec-
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
chap, xi. , sect, x. , p. 132.
7 *7 The O'Clerys in their Calendar class it
among St. Columba's foundations.
8 From him that
sprung distinguished
branch of the O'Donnell family, known as Siol n Dalaich.
9 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
In Irish baiLe m\ Scrxme, Anglicized " Town of the Shrine. "
"
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect.
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
,8 In the seventeenth
century.
* 9 See Rev. Robert King's "Old Church
of Ballynascreen," p. 103.
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
337
Londonderry. An old church, situated in a picturesque valley on the Moyola
water, the site of an earlier 20 Various rich levels or straths occupies building.
lie in the Moyola valley, and they are sometimes covered by freshets in the
stream. 21
Tearmonn
At one the time,
man came to a — place, incorrectly called
Cetmainigh
Cuiminig
22
—
holy
but the true name is Tearmon
2
3
in
Tyrone. There, he resolved, that it should be consecrated, and should enjoy
ecclesiastical immunities for the future. Stamping the ground with his foot, inthreedifferentplaces,threeseparatefountainswereproduced. Then,he
"
Domnald, son of Aedh, son to Ainmreach, King of Ireland, accompanied by the race of Conalleid, shall penetrate into this district ; and, its people shall suffer much from his army. Yet, the Almighty hath granted to me, that these forces shall be unnerved, destitute of strength, and afflicted with disease, until they shall have offered satisfaction to the Comorban of this place, and until they shall have been sprinkled with the waters of these
prophesied :
wells. " This prophecy was duly completed, and thenceforth, the waters were "2
called the Conalleidan fountains. " * In the thirteenth and following cen- turies this place was known as Termon-conyn or Termon-conny. In after
times, it was called Termon-Maguirk, the present name of the parish being derived from the Mac Guirk family, who were formerly the Herenachs of its
2
ecclesiastical lands. s It is situated in the barony of Omagh East and county
of Tyrone. There is an old church here and a parish cemetery. Without the latter are two other places of interment. One of these is called Relig-na-
"
the children's cemetery," while the other bears for title Relig-na- " of the slain. " Some curious local and
26
paisde,
firgunta, Cemetery
reference to our saint, yet linger in the locality.
legends, having
In the time of St. Patrick, according to immemorial tradition, a wonderful
man, named Conla the Artist, was remarkable all over the country for his
2
skill in working the precious metals. ? His operations were carried on, at a
place called Dun-cruithne. 28 But while engaged on a splendid shrine, and before it was finished, he died. No other person could be found in that loca-
lity to complete the work, in a corresponding style, and there it remained until St. Columba came to the place, which was in Kiennacht. On behold- ing this unfinished shrine, our saint most earnestly desired its completion. But, being fully satisfied, that no living artist could accomplish such a task, hewenttothetombofConla,whichhecausedtobeopened. Therelaythe decaying bones of that wonderfully great artist. He blessed them, and pro-
:
nounced these words, with a loud voice " In the name of our Lord Jesus
20 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Liie of St. Columba," Additional Notes G, p. 282.
** See Rev. Dr. William Reeves' Adam-
nan's "Life of St. Columba," Additional
Notes G, p. 283.
2? tells us, that it had into Colgan passed
a proverb among the Irish, when they de- sired to praise the work of a skilful worker
"
Conla himself was not a better artist. " In like manner, when they desired to convey a notion regarding what was irre- parable in such work: "not even Conla, the artist in bronze, could set it to
rights. "
28
This means the Picts' Fort. But, after- wards, it was called Serin Choluim Chille, in the Ards country, better know as Ard- Macgiolligan. There is a mention of this place, in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick,
" See "
land," vol. i. , p. 135.
32
Gazetteer of Ire-
Parliamentary
In Colgan's version of Prince O'Don- nell's Irish Life of St. Columba.
23 The Rev. Dr. Reeves thinks it may de- rive its name from Cuimne, sister to St. Columba. See Adamnan's Life of St. Columba, Additional Notes G, p. 283.
"
94 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga, Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. Ixxxvi. , p. 403.
2s Deriving under the Primate. See "Acts
of Archbishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation of Derry, a. d. mcccxcvii," &c,
in metals :
edited by Rev, William Reeves, D. D. , Part i.
102 Giraldus alludes to De the John Courcy,
:
periendo
sicut Braccani testimonio, per quemdam re- gem, de desertis Patricii montibus venturum, et nocte Dominica casirum quoddam in ne-
—e for Ireland. A seventh
prophetic
Poem,98
said
Prophecies
103 10* while many are yet in Manuscripts.
pp. 341, 342.
101
Our saint is classed among the four great Prophets of Ireland, St. Patrick, St. Moling and St. Brecan being the others.
93 It is classed II I, 10, at p. 161, among morosis Ophelanise partibus irrupturum,
the — omnesfere ab
Trinity College Library Manuscripts. Anglici Hiberniaturbabuntur;
:
Earl Richard, to Raymond le Gros, to 95 Among the Trinity College Manu- Philip de Breusa, and to Hamo de Valois,
classed H I, 10, at — 116. scripts, p.
90 It begins with the line
mo ceAti '6111c a ce&ccAi]\e.
Lord in 1 Justiciary 197,
as instances of their
:
fulfilment.
103 Among these may be classed " The Life
and Prophecies of St. Columba or Colum- kille, Patron of Derry, and Founder of Iona," by St. Adamnan, ninth abbot of that Monas-
97 This is to be found in the Hodges' and
Smith's collection of Royal Irish Academy tery. Translated from the original Latin,
Manuscripts, I, 75, at p. 27. —
with copious notes, by the late Rev. Matthew
98 It begins with the line
:
D. New D. , Professor, Maynooth.
CiocpAit)
mAiroAn riA
m6)\ L0115.
104 A of the Irish Manuscript, Royal
Academy, and classed No. 221, folio paper, 99 This is found among the Hodges' and contains some of his prophetic Poems, Smith's collection, in Royal Irish Academy as ascribed. Messrs. Hodges' and Smith s
Manuscripts, 2, 52, p. 414. large 4to parchment MS. , No. 223, contains 100 "
See Girakli Cambrensis Opera," Poems ascribed to St. Colunikille.
edited
Expugnatio Hibemica, lib. ii. , cap. xvii. ,
i0S See " Tria^ Colgan's
by James
F. M. A. , vol. v. Dimock,
Thaumaturga,'' Tertia Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, be-
See ibid. , cap. xxxiv, pp. 384, 385. One of these prophecies stated, that scarcely before the Day of Judgment was Ireland to be wholly subdued by the English. He adds: "
turbari et debiiitari contingat
Kelly,
edition. Dublin, 1874, i2mo.
;
June 9. LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 333
10
However, it is an opinion generally entertained, > that many of these are not
106
There are Prophecies relating to the Kings of
his genuine compositions.
Ireland, to the different conditions of Ireland, and to her misfortunes. One of
these is intituled Buile Choluim chille,
kille. Another Prophecy relates to St. Adamnan, another to St. Fintan Munnu,,OQ and another to the Expulsion of St. Carthage or Mochudda from the Monastery of Rathen. 110 Whether all these are genuine writings of the holy Abbot, or not, may very fairly be a question as left undecided. 111 It should be a matter of great interest to Irish scholars, if the Prose and Poeti- cal Works attributed to St. Columba were collected, arranged, digested, and published, under the care of some judicious and critical editor. Hitherto
10
Moone Abbey and Cross, County Kildare.
they are only found dispersed, and without subjection to a close analysis, which might serve to determine their chronology, origin, and genuine- ness.
Our holy missionary travelled into Leinster, where he founded different and numerous II2 churches or monasteries. One of these was, doubtless, that
cunda Pars, p. 472.
106 "
110
See Sir James Ware, "
De Scriptoribus
tures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History," Lect. xx. , pp. 431 to 434. Also Appendix, No. cliv. , CLV. , pp. 634, 635-
107 Colgan had a copy of this work, writ- ten in Irish metre.
108
This began with SeliAro & Airrn x>o- mAtimrvm.
Colgan's
Trias Thaumaturga," Tertia
109 This began with <Xcteir-oin CA15 Nicholas O'Kearney ; while later still a cvvtiiAccuig. catch-penny edition intituled, "The Origi-
? or the Ecstatic Rapture of Colum-
"
See Professor Eugene O'Curry's Lec- Hibernise," lib. i. , cap. ii. , p. 15. Also,
108
Appendix ad Acta S. Columbre, Secunda
Pars, p. 472.
111
Of late years, several notorious forge- ries of Prophecies attributed to St. Colum- kille have appeared. An edition of these was published by Mr. John O'Daly, of Anglesea- street, Dublin, in 1854, the editor being Mr.
334
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
at Maein "3 or Maein Cholum-chille, now Moone, a townland and parish "* in the county of Kildare, and diocese of Dublin. The old Irish Life of St.
and the Ji s ascribed the dedication of a church here to him, O'Clerys
Columb,
whose memory has always been held in great veneration in this parish, and
he has been regarded as its special patron. On the summit of a hill at Moone are the remains of a long narrow church, which must have occupied the site of an earlier one. Through the valley beneath flows a considerable
of an Irish cross,11? sculptured profusely
stream. 116 A fine very
specimen
with scriptural subject on its various compartments, and called St. Colum-
kille's cross, now stands proudly erect in the graveyard there, and it rises
beside a ruined religious establishment. 1 ' 8
interment. Allusion to the place is made in our Irish Annals,120 and dating
121
There is a church and I22 of Columkille, in the of parish barony
Gowran, and county of Kilkenny, which may have been of his erection. The church in ruins and a well there are still called after him. In the Ancient Taxation of Ossory, the Capella de Colmekyll is also noticed. In this dio- cese, likewise, we find, that our saint was patron of Rathsaran,,23 alias
and which had been buried in the long
come to I,Q light.
has
The ruins are still tolerably perfect, and the cemetery is a favourite place for
back to the eleventh century.
12*andof
church in ruins, and a well called
ofGowran. ,20 At a Kilcolumb,
inthe
parish in the barony of Ida, and county of Kilkenny, there is a Kilcolumb
Grogan,
Inistioge,"5
barony Tobernagolumb,
nal Prophecies of St. Columb-kille, extracted from Irish Parchments of the year 572, and translated into English by the Rev. Mr. Taaffe," has been issued in Dublin, with some thoroughly scandalous forgeries at- tached, and too ridiculous to deserve any fur- ther notice.
he collected what could be found, at the
time, and had the parts well clamped with iron sockets and welded together ; then, the cross was deemed to be one of the finest and largest in Ireland, but were the part lately discovered placed in its proper position, the height should be increased by three of four feet more, and it should appear in much finer proportions.
112
This statement is to be found in the old
Irish Life of St. Columba, translated into
English, and published, in William F.
"
Skene's
Ancient Alban," vol. ii. , Appendix i. , p. 489.
113 Its erection is attributed to him, in the
O'Clerys' Calendar.
114 Its detached portions are situated in
120 At A. D. 1014 and A. D. 1040.
121
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes G,
Celtic Scotland : a History of
"
the baronies of East Offaly, Kilkea and
Moone, Narragh and Rheban East. 123 Now a
"5 In the '• of Martyrology Donegal,"
edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 15°. «S»-
116
See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionaiy of Ireland,'' vol. ii. , p. 391.
1. 7 The accompanying illustration is from a sketch made by the writer on the spot, in February, 1886. It has been transferred to the wood by William F. Wakeman, and the engraving is by Mrs. Millard.
parish, donagh, shown,
on the " Ordnance
1. 8 Archdall alludes to
it,
and
quotes
a
"6 is Inistioge parish
described,
on "Ord-
"Tour through Ireland, 1748," p. 231, for
the statement, that a Monastery of Conven-
tual Franciscans was here established. See
nance Survey Townland Maps for the County
of Kilkenny," sheets 28, 29, 32, 33, 36. The
town and townland proper are on sheets 32, 33-
127 Both objects are distinguished, on the
" Ordnance Townland for the Survey Maps
County of Kilkenny," sheet 44.
128 See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot-
"
Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 335.
1. 9 The late Duke of Leinster found this
fine cross broken, and in of danger being
totally destroyed, as a great portion of it had been removed from the plinth. However,
However, one of its centre pieces,
earth,
lately
and
12? near the River Barrow.
p. 280.
122 It is described, on the " Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kilkenny,"sheets28,29,32. Thetownland proper is on sheet 28.
in the barony of Clan-
Survey Townland Maps for the Queen's County," sheets 27, 28, 33. The town- land proper Rathsaran Glebe is on sheets 27, 28.
124 A townland, in Rathsaran parish, shown on sheets 27, 28.
125 See "Statuta Dioecesis Ossoriensis," edita Kilkenniae, in Synodo Dioecesana,
8, pp. 26 to 28.
die 8 Junii, 1873, SeCt-
June 9. LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 335
That the saint had been the originator of any religious establishment here doesnotseemtobeknown; whiletheseobjectsmayhavebeendedicatedto someotherSt. Columba. TheoldIrishLifeI28ofour—saintplacesamonghis Leinster foundations the church of Druim-monach ia9 the precise locality of which has not been ascertained.
The following incident, in our saint's career, by historical inference, may fairly be referred to a time, about the middle of the sixth cen- tury. Columkille journeyed by Guam—now known as Clonkeen—in Leix, whenhewasayoungman. Somecompanionswerewithhim. St. Fintanof
x 3° was then a mere and he was under the Clonenagh boy,
of a ceptor, at this place. Fintan had a Divine Revelation regarding our saint's arrival, which was previously notified to the master. That prediction was soon fulfilled, and then St. Columba first became acquainted with St. Fintan,
whose
For seventee—
dignity eighteen years,
greatness,
SOUTHWARDS—HIS RESIDENCE AND ACTS.
CONNAUGHT,
and the
n or
pre-
of whose at —was foretold. '3 1 place, Clonenagh,
and in the of life or from about prime
a. d. 546 to 563 this indefatigable missionary travelled over a great part of Ireland, while he laboured incessantly, especially in founding new churches and new monasteries. '3 J He was evidently a man possessing great force of character and also determined zeal in effecting his purpose ; while he was one of those master-minds that influence and sway others, by the mere force of contact. Nor can we doubt, that he became the object of tender love and of implicit
confidence, from all who came under the sphere and spell of his influence. Firmness and amiability alike predominated in forming his noble and saint- like character.
CHAPTER VI.
ST. COLUMBA RE-VISITS TYRCONNELL—HIS FOUNDATIONS THERE—HE TRAVELS
IN SEANGLEANN—HE TRAVELS TO
WHERE CHURCHES ARE BUILT—VISIT TO THE ARAN ISLANDS—VARIOUS MIRACLES
After some of the foregoing events, referable chiefly to Meath and Leinster, St. Columb is said to have returned towards Tyrconnell. Passing by the Erne, he blessed it. He likewise erected many churches and chapels in his
patrimonial
realm. To his native Gartan * he went for a time. While he place
known as
land : a Histoiy of Ancient Alban," vol. ii. ,
Appendix I, p. 489.
129 This church is not in the list of St.
Columba's churches, as furnished in Rev.
2 the saint was met a man by
at a
rested
of his acquaintance, who had suffered much, and who was greatly depressed in spirits.
Taking compassion on him, St. Columb blessed a rock, which was near, and from which a copious stream of water began to flow. From this, the man afflicted with melancholy drank, when all its shadows became at once dissipated. In future times, it was said, that all, similarly affected and who drank of that water, were restored to peace and serenity of mind.
there,
place
Gort-na-lecke,
Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Co- tions of St. — 120. Columba," p.
lumba. "
130 See his Life, in the Second Volume of
This place is probably identical with the chap. i. presenttownland,knownasGortnaleck,inthe 131 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," parish of Clondahorky, and in the barony of
this work, at the 17th of February, Art. i. ,
"
Quinta Vita S. Columbx, lib. i. , cap. cviii. , p. 407.
'32 See "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol.
ii. , old Series. " A Day at Iona :
Recollec-
* the Chapter vi. Here
O'Clerys state, he had a religious foundation.
tutelage
336 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINJS. [June 9.
Thenceforward, that stone was called the Rock of Sadness. 3 The foundation of Raphoe is ascribed to St. Columba,* in an ancient poem, and in some other authorities. 5 In the early part of the seventeenth century, it possessed a Round Tower, probably belonging to the former cathedral, which had been there erected. From what we have seen already, it should seem, that St. Columba blessed churches at Raphoe in his lifetime, if he were not the actual
6
founder of a religious house, at that place. ? Ronan, son of Lugad, and pro-
nepos of St. Columba, on his uncle Sedne's side, held one of the Hy-Xiell, asahostage,andforsomereasonhehadbeendoomedtodeath. However, St. Columba asked and obtained his pardon from Ronan, saying he could refuse him no request. To reward him for this avowal, the saint predicted, that from him should proceed Dalach, who was to be the stock, from whom the future Tyrconnellian nobles and princes must descend. He also declared, that although then undistinguished among the higher chiefs, they should one day become more celebrated, provided they only lived piously and justly. Again, it was predicted of the same Dalach,8 that drops of blood should be seen in a well at Kill-mac-Nenain, as often as any of his posterity was about to perish by the sword. O'Donnell states, that the truth of this pre- diction stood the test of experience. '
Among the churches or religious houses of Blessed Columb in the north of
Ireland is to be reckoned that of Druim-Tomma, 10 now Drumhome, in the
of and of 11 as several monks of St. barony Tyrhugh, county Donegal,
Columba are stated to have been there buried. 12 we most Accordingly, may
probably attribute the period of its erection to the occasion on which he
returned to this part of Ireland. In the parish of Drumhome was also the
11 townland of Ballymagroarty, ^ where are the remains of an old chapel, * which
formerly bore the name of St. Columba. The O'Clerys state, that it was one of his foundations. Here, too, the celebrated Cathach, a reliquary of the saint,waskeptintheseventeenthcentury. 'S AplaceformerlycalledScreen-
16 and afterwards known as '? was for- Ballynascreen parish,
l8 considered as
forms the western portion of the barony of Loughinsholin, in the county of
Colaim-Cille,
merly
belonging
to Gleann in Tirone. 1 ? It now Coneadhan,
" nance Survey Townland Maps for the County
of Donegal," sheets 25, 26, 34, 35.
3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbce, lib. i. , cap. lxxii. ,
Kilmacrenan. It is to be found on the
Ord-
Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap, Ixxvii. , pp. 401, 402, and n. 72, p. 451.
,0
Also written Druim Tuama, in the O'Clerys' Calendar.
p. 401.
4 The old Irish Life of St. Columba
x. .
rived from the family of Mac Robhartaigh, pronounced Mac Roarty.
'*
This townland is divided into two por- tions, the Irish and Scotch. This ruined chapel is in the former division.
I5 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbre, cap. ii. , p. 495.
,6 Mentioned by this name at A. D. 1203,
in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 136, 137, and n. (e), ibid.
places his foundation of Rath-Bo h, next in order after his foundation at Derry. SeetheEng- lish translation appended, in William F. Skene's "Celtic Scotland," vol. ii. , Appen-
p. 133.
" See ibid. ,n. 118, pp. 141, 142.
13 In Irish t>Aile-tnecc nobayvcaicli, de-
dix I. , p. 484.
5 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
of St. Columba," Additional Notes G, p. 280.
6 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan, however, does not find sufficient arguments for ascribing such to Columba himself ; although a monas-
tery existed there in Adamnan's time, who "
was, perhaps, the founder of it. See Ec-
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
chap, xi. , sect, x. , p. 132.
7 *7 The O'Clerys in their Calendar class it
among St. Columba's foundations.
8 From him that
sprung distinguished
branch of the O'Donnell family, known as Siol n Dalaich.
9 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
In Irish baiLe m\ Scrxme, Anglicized " Town of the Shrine. "
"
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect.
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
,8 In the seventeenth
century.
* 9 See Rev. Robert King's "Old Church
of Ballynascreen," p. 103.
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
337
Londonderry. An old church, situated in a picturesque valley on the Moyola
water, the site of an earlier 20 Various rich levels or straths occupies building.
lie in the Moyola valley, and they are sometimes covered by freshets in the
stream. 21
Tearmonn
At one the time,
man came to a — place, incorrectly called
Cetmainigh
Cuiminig
22
—
holy
but the true name is Tearmon
2
3
in
Tyrone. There, he resolved, that it should be consecrated, and should enjoy
ecclesiastical immunities for the future. Stamping the ground with his foot, inthreedifferentplaces,threeseparatefountainswereproduced. Then,he
"
Domnald, son of Aedh, son to Ainmreach, King of Ireland, accompanied by the race of Conalleid, shall penetrate into this district ; and, its people shall suffer much from his army. Yet, the Almighty hath granted to me, that these forces shall be unnerved, destitute of strength, and afflicted with disease, until they shall have offered satisfaction to the Comorban of this place, and until they shall have been sprinkled with the waters of these
prophesied :
wells. " This prophecy was duly completed, and thenceforth, the waters were "2
called the Conalleidan fountains. " * In the thirteenth and following cen- turies this place was known as Termon-conyn or Termon-conny. In after
times, it was called Termon-Maguirk, the present name of the parish being derived from the Mac Guirk family, who were formerly the Herenachs of its
2
ecclesiastical lands. s It is situated in the barony of Omagh East and county
of Tyrone. There is an old church here and a parish cemetery. Without the latter are two other places of interment. One of these is called Relig-na-
"
the children's cemetery," while the other bears for title Relig-na- " of the slain. " Some curious local and
26
paisde,
firgunta, Cemetery
reference to our saint, yet linger in the locality.
legends, having
In the time of St. Patrick, according to immemorial tradition, a wonderful
man, named Conla the Artist, was remarkable all over the country for his
2
skill in working the precious metals. ? His operations were carried on, at a
place called Dun-cruithne. 28 But while engaged on a splendid shrine, and before it was finished, he died. No other person could be found in that loca-
lity to complete the work, in a corresponding style, and there it remained until St. Columba came to the place, which was in Kiennacht. On behold- ing this unfinished shrine, our saint most earnestly desired its completion. But, being fully satisfied, that no living artist could accomplish such a task, hewenttothetombofConla,whichhecausedtobeopened. Therelaythe decaying bones of that wonderfully great artist. He blessed them, and pro-
:
nounced these words, with a loud voice " In the name of our Lord Jesus
20 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Liie of St. Columba," Additional Notes G, p. 282.
** See Rev. Dr. William Reeves' Adam-
nan's "Life of St. Columba," Additional
Notes G, p. 283.
2? tells us, that it had into Colgan passed
a proverb among the Irish, when they de- sired to praise the work of a skilful worker
"
Conla himself was not a better artist. " In like manner, when they desired to convey a notion regarding what was irre- parable in such work: "not even Conla, the artist in bronze, could set it to
rights. "
28
This means the Picts' Fort. But, after- wards, it was called Serin Choluim Chille, in the Ards country, better know as Ard- Macgiolligan. There is a mention of this place, in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick,
" See "
land," vol. i. , p. 135.
32
Gazetteer of Ire-
Parliamentary
In Colgan's version of Prince O'Don- nell's Irish Life of St. Columba.
23 The Rev. Dr. Reeves thinks it may de- rive its name from Cuimne, sister to St. Columba. See Adamnan's Life of St. Columba, Additional Notes G, p. 283.
"
94 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga, Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. Ixxxvi. , p. 403.
2s Deriving under the Primate. See "Acts
of Archbishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation of Derry, a. d. mcccxcvii," &c,
in metals :
edited by Rev, William Reeves, D. D. , Part i.
