* He states " Venit de Hibernia
: presby-
ter et Abbas, hahitu et vita monachi, insig- nis nominis, nomine Columba, Britan- niam,praedicaturusverbumDe—iprovinciis septentrionalium Pictorum,&c.
: presby-
ter et Abbas, hahitu et vita monachi, insig- nis nominis, nomine Columba, Britan- niam,praedicaturusverbumDe—iprovinciis septentrionalium Pictorum,&c.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
Vet, there, it is said, he led an eremitical life at Durrow in Meath, and not at Magcosgain.
I? 3 This was in the diocese of Derry, in Ulster. While St. Finan, as he is called by Adamnan, might have been at Durrow, he could also have led an eremitical life in suc-
cession at Magh-Cosgain. Perhaps, he was founder of this church. See Acts of Arch- the St. Finnanus, venerated at the 2nd of
Mura, who is reputed to have been the real "
bishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation
of Derry, A. n. , mcccxcvii. ," &c, edited by Rev. William Reeves, n. (s), p. 66.
March, or at 29th December, says Colgan,
in "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbce, n. 80, p. 451.
June 9. ]
LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS. 351
1? 2 whowasahermitattachedto
relates, that he was present at the future battle, and saw with his own eyes the dead body of a man in the well, which was filled with blood. Again, he stated, that there were some holy men and aged monks, who inhabited the
St.
church of I 74 who related their Camas-Comgaill,
Magh-Cosgain Monastery,^
Finnen,
moreover, they were present when St. Columba had predicted such a thing to
St. 1 " or 6 a in Kiennacht ter- Comgall. Boith-medhbha, Bovevagh,'7 monastery
ritory, diocese and county of Derry, is held to have been one of his erections. 1 " St. Aidan, nephew of St. Columba, and son of his sister Sinecha, was set over it, and he was reverenced there. To St. Columba is ascribed, likewise, a monas- tery in Ciennacht, known asTamlacht-Fionlugain, now a parish church in the Diocese of Derry ; and over it presided St. Finlugh or St. Finnlugan, 178 his dis- ciple, as Abbot. He is also its patron. Again, Desert or Disert Hi Thua- chuill in Oireacht Hi Chathan, in the same Diocese ; Dunboe formerly a Monastery, and now a parish church in the same Diocese ; besides Aregal, where there was a Monastery, and now it has become a parish church, in the
1 same territory and diocese. ?
In addition to the churches and religious houses already enumerated,
as of St. Columba's foundation in Ireland, it is probability, that Inis Muredaich lSl
supposed,
l83 in
Erne, may be regarded as having been under his direction, while a complete
list of all his erections cannot now be pious
Tegh-Ernain
Meath, Derrybrusk
Airiodh-molt,
l8s near
Lough
compiled.
that the saint possessed a certain black and milk-giving heifer, which was
stolen from him by thieves. However, the legend states, that the cow im- pressed tracks in the rocky ground over which she travelled, and the saint
"M It obtained this name, because St. Com-
gaill was the patron saint, and perhaps the founder. In the ancient Abbey of Cambos or Camus, nothing now remains but the ceme- tery and the shaft of a sculptured cross. This had been removed from its socket and it lay neglected, until it was used for a barbarous purpose, by being converted into a gate-post, in which position it was to be seen on the right as you enter the churchyard. See " Acts of Archishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of mcccxcvii," &c, edited by Rev. William Reeves, n. (j), p. 83.
panied with profuse illustrations of antiqui- ties, describing 1 11 ismurray, an Island off the coast of Sligo, by William F. Wakeman, in the "Journal of the Royal Historical and Archceological Association of Ireland," Fourth Series, vol. vii. , No. 64, October, 1885, pp. 175 to 332.
lB*
Near Lough Owel, in the county of Westmeath.
l8i Now Tifarnan or Tyfarnham, in the county of Westmeath.
l8* This in the of parish, partly barony
Magherastephana and partly in the barony of Tirkennedy, is shown, on the "Ordnance
175 See "Trias Colgan's
Townland
Maps
for the of County
p. 404.
176 A parish, in the barony of Keenaght.
It is described on the "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of London-
derry," sheets 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, 30. The towr. land proper is on sheets 16, 24.
177 SeeCoigan's"TriasThaumaturga,"
cap. ii. , p. 495.
178 His feast occurs, at the 3rd of January,
where a notice of him and of his church will be found, in vol. i. of this work, Art. ii.
Sperin Mountains, on the boundary of the county of Tyrone, and there it flows north-
westward through the County Londonderry, and not far from the city of that name, when it runs parallel with the Foyle River to the head of Longh Foyle, where it enters the sea.
Derry, A. D. ,
Survey
Fermanagh," sheets 16, 17, 22, 23, 27. The townland proper is on sheet 27.
l8s Here Diochuill, son of Maoldubh, was venerated, on the 28th of February.
l86 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. ii. , p. 495.
l8? ThiswastheIrishnameofthepresent Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, Faughan River, which rises among the
Thaumaturga. " Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. xcv. ,
179 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, Several picturesque and charming views
cap. ii. , p. 495.
181
alternate along its course. See a fine de-
in the " Gazet- Parliamentary
180 Father £y
of
teer of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 197.
John Colgan.
There is an admirable paper, accom-
scription
it,
witnessing
this and tragedy,
180 and with some in Connaught, Port Domain l8z and
,8* and
186 A is told, story
352
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
was thus able to trace her into a wood, near the river Fochaoin, l8 7 where she had been left tied to a tree. There, a well burst forth, and in after time it was called Tobar na Duibhe, " the well of the black one. " 188 From the time of St. Patrick, to that of St. Columba, three possessions of the former had
lay hidden. Columba felt a great reverence for the saints, and especially for
St. Patrick ; hence, with great joy, he ordered the ground to be dug up, when he found the buried treasures. With the Angel's advice, he sent the Bell to
Armagh, he sent the Phial to Down, or Dun-da-'leathglas, and the Book of Gospels was in his own keeping. He received this latter from the Angel's
his Book of
and his Bell. 1 ? 1 An Angel of the Lord showed our saint the place where those
been hidden under the earth thes^ ;
were,
Gospels,
hands,sothatinaftertimes,it wentbythenameoftheAngel's
CHAPTER VII.
Gospel.
1? 2
RESOLUTION OF ST. COLUMBA TO SPREAD THE FAITH IN SCOTLAND—ALLEGED CAUSES LEADING TO THE BATTLE OF CUL-DREIMHE—ITS RESULTS SAID TO HAVE CAUSED THE DEPARTURE OF ST. COLUMBA FROM IRELAND—ACCOUNT OF THE PICTS AND SCOTS—IONA GRANTED TO ST. COLUMBA.
Besides the saint's exertions for establishing religious communities and
churches, several other circumstances are related, as forming part of his history.
For a long time, Columba had been revolving in mind the condition of a people
in the territories of Alban,1 and he now desired to effect to a adjoining give
great project he had in view, to extend the kingdom of Christ among them.
As Ireland hastened to share the treasure of Divine Faith with other nations,
and as in return she has preserved it still ; so her Dove of the Churches
hungered to share with all other men, that joy and happiness, which he
zealously possessed, and yet would not selfishly monopolize. St. Columba
heard the summons of God, who called upon him to do the work of an
Apostle. He deemed it just to obey. With the spirit of an Apostle, there- fore, he resolved to abandon all that was most near and dear to him. Like a
true missioner, his great object was to save souls, and to revive a religious
spirit, where it had languished. A high and holy ambition possessed him, like- wise, to lead wild and savage mountaineers into the fold of Christ, and to
bend down under the yoke of the Gospel their haughty spirits. He hoped,
188 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Quinta Vita S. Columba? , lib. i. , cap, cxiii. ,
p. 408.
189 Whether this was the Domhnach Air-
gid, now preserved in the Royal Irish Aca- demy, or not, it is difficult to say; but re-
garding this interesting and venerable Codex,
with its ornamental and precious cover, Dr.
George Petrie has written a valuable Paper,
published in "Transactions of the Royal
Irish Academy," vol. xviii. Antiquities, plenda ad peregrinationis videlicet proposi- Art. ii. . pp. 14 to 24. dm, et ad convertendos ad fidem Pictos op-
190 This object of former veneration now portunum tempus adesse videret, patriam
seems to be lost.
191 The Bell of St. Patrick, belonging to
the Royal Irish Academy, and presented by Rev. Dr. Todd, is now one of the most in-
teresting objects of antiquity in its Museum. Another Bell, thought to have been once in
suam reliquit, et ad insulam Ionam, quae in Septentrionali Oceano inter Hiberniam et
Bri—tanniam sitaest. prosperonavigavitcursu," &c. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Secunda Vita S. Columbse, cap. vi. . . p. 326.
possession of St. Patrick, was in Dr. George
Petrie's collection of antiquities. See Eugene "
O'Curry's Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History," Lect.
xv. , p. 337.
192 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. cxiv. ,
p. 408. —* " Chapter vii.
Postquam vir sanctus ad ea, quae quondam mente proposuerat, im-
See Rev. P. J. Carew's
"
Ecclesiastical
l89 his '9° Phial,
Tune 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 353 also, to introduce religious institutions into those regions, and such as he had
2
established in his native country.
Nearly all ancient writers—especially those of highest authority—agree, that missionary zeal was the chief motive for St. Columba's expedition, to spread the Faith in Scotland. Thus, Adamnan,3 Venerable Bede,4 and the various writers of Acts, relating to other Irish saints,* concur. The most
of modern writers also
mediator to obtain it wherever broils seemed imminent, Columba's best efforts were exerted to promote harmony and concord, both in his own and in his adopted country. To carry out his project, and to accomplish the great en-
judicious
resolved on, his zeal had — to contend terprise manydisadvantages
St. Columba's removal to S—
8
7 with; yet,
be called a
cotland
though
it could
hardly
agree,
changeofcountryinhisday hasproved,nevertheless,afruitfulsubjectfor
strange legendary speculation. 9 A story frequently repeated, regarding the
cause for his exile, may be regarded as a mere fable, inconsistent in itself, and destitute of historical evidence. 10 The occasion assigned for his leaving Ireland is largely mingled with fictitious circumstances. An improbable romance is relative to this
11 and it abounds in
unbecoming the conduct of holy men, and even the gravity of common his- tory. Moreover, it has served to obscure Columba's real character and
told,
subject,
statements, quite
6 that as a lover of and as a peace
12 We well that this narrative was the invention of may suspect,
dispositions.
later bards and romancists ; for, it is not to be found in the Acts of our saint, and which were earliest written. In an abridged shape, it has been intro- duced to our notice, by Archbishop Ussher,^ who acknowledges, however, that it is not in the edited Life by Adamnan, although he met with it in a Manuscript Life of St. Columba, 1 * by an anonymous writer. 1 * In our own times, Dr. John O'Donovan l6 has lent this story the weight of his authority, but without any valid argument to sustain his opinion. Likewise, the Rev. Dr. Reeves,17 and following him Le Comte de Montalembert,18 have attributed
History of Ireland," chap, vi. , pp. 187, 188.
pro Christo peregrinari volens enavigavit. "
Prefatio Secunda.
* He states " Venit de Hibernia
: presby-
ter et Abbas, hahitu et vita monachi, insig- nis nominis, nomine Columba, Britan- niam,praedicaturusverbumDe—iprovinciis septentrionalium Pictorum,&c. " "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. iv. , p. 16S, Ed. Camabrigiae, 1644.
s This is especially stated, in Vita S. FarannaniConfessoris, translated in Colgan's work from an Irish tract, ascribed by him to after a. d. 1200. There we read how St. Columba "zelo animarum flagrantem, ex Hibernia nativa suo solo, in Albionem trans- fretasse, ut incrcdulae Pictorum genti salu- tare Christi Evangelium prsedicaret, et erra- b—undam ad ejusdem aggregaret ouile," &c.
"Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xv. Feb-
Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. ii. , cap. i. to
3"
He writes —
ruarii, cap. iii. , p. 336,
and n.
land," vol. i. , chap, xii. , pp. 243, 244.
" The P'ifth Life of St. Columba, written
byPrinceO'Donnell,hasalengthenedac- count of this spurious narrative. See
Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," lib. ii. , cap. i. to viii. , pp. 408 to 410.
I2 These are pleasingly set forth in Dalian Forgaill's "Amra Choluim Chilli," edited by O'Beirne Crowe, with the original Irish and an English literal Translation. Dublin, 1871, 8vo.
I3 See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
quitates," cap. xv. , p. 563.
I4 See ibid. , cap. xvii. , pp. 467 to 469.
I5 This was obtained, by Ussher, from
Father Stephen White,
l5 See '"Annals of the Four Masters,"
:
x. , pp. 408 9
410. "
De Scotia Britanniam
to See Ussher's
1, p. 338. See Right Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
6 ""
IrishSaintsinGreat
vol. i. , pp. 192 to 195, nn. (r, s). I7SeeAdamnan's LifeofSt. Columba,"
lib. i. , cap. 7, n. (a), p. 31.
l8 See " Les Moines d'Occident," tome iii. ,
liv. xi. , pp. 124 to 141.
»9 See " Annals of Clonmacnoise," at
Britain," chap, iii. ,
PP- 58, 59-
7 Rev. Robert King's "Primer of the
Church History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap.
ix. , pp. 78, 79.
8
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
A. D. 569.
rum Antiquitates,
"
cap. xv. , pp. 359 to 373.
Britannicarum
Ecclesia-
I0 See Thomas Moore's " of Ire- History
z
354 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
to St. Columba a combination directed against King Deirmait, and which culminated in war. This is quite inconsistent with the fact, that allegiance was due by our saint to the King of all Ireland, and who was worthy, moreover, of special honour. Besides, we have the account of Columba feeling greatly indignant, because Aedh, the murderer of King Deirmait, had been advanced to ecclesiastical orders, after the perpetration of such a crime. *9 Nay more, instead of promoting discord on the occasion alluded to, the great Christian hero laboured hard, but in vain, to effect peace between King Diermaid and his relatives. Finding his remonstrances to be disregarded by the latter, he even conceived a disgust at their conduct, and to mark his disapprobation, he resolved to leave them, and to quit his native country, with the purpose of never again returning to it. 20 This, of course, was only a secondary motive.
Notwithstanding its absurdities, as we have included many other undoubted legends in this biography, we shall proceed to relate the story. It is stated, that Columba happened to be on a visit with St. Finnian,21 Abbot of Magh- bile, at a place called Druimfionn,22 said to be identical with Dromin,23 in the present county of Louth. As the story runs, Columba then borrowed
from him a Manuscript, containing the Gospels of Holy Scripture. These he immediately set about transcribing, while Finnian's consent had not been previously obtained. 2* He laboured at this work, day and night, and in secret, so as to avoid the observation of others, who were living in that monas- tery. It is even stated, that five different jets of light proceeded from the four fingers and thumb of Columba's right hand, while he prosecuted the work of transcription each night. He had nearly finished this celebrated copy —still it is thought in part preserved—when sending a messenger for the original, and apprized of the proceeding, Finian was highly displeased at Columba'sconduct. 25 Hismessengersurprisedthelatter,bylookingthrough a crevice into the church where Columba was at work ; but, astonished at
20 Thus is the matter stated, about St.
Columba, in the Irish Life of St. Farannan,
translated into Latin: "Ad transmarinam
magh. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumatur- ga," Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. i. , p. 408, and n. I, p. 451.
23 Now a
ter summam animarum sitim alia causa and marked off, on the " Ordnance Survey
hanc sibi indicendam, peregrinationem
in the of barony Ardee,
prse-
Apostolicum instigabat virum, mutuis quippe et altae radicis discordiis et simul ta- libus intestinis, dissidebant ipsius ex carne propinqui rerum in Hibernia tunc potientes, quos ubi pacis amator multis modis in pris- tinam concordiam reducere frustra fuerat conatus ; sua eos absentia in pertinacise poenam, et perpetuo exilio castigare voluit. Ex Hibernia igitur peregre profectus est,
earn ex—animo decernens nunquam reuisen- "
parish,
Townland Maps for the County of Louth,"
sheets 17, 18. The town of Dromin is shown
on the latter sheet. In'noticing this place,
Archdall incorrectly places the feast of its
bishop or abbot, St. Finian, Findian, or
Fridian, at the 10th of of October. See
ing a quarrel about the transcribed book, dam. " Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- which appears to have been made the
nise," xv. Februarii, cap. iii. , p. 336.
21 It is said he died, September 10th, which is his festival. His obit is thus re-
ground-work for a battle fought at Cul- Dremhe. As to any dispute between St. Columba and St. Finninn, it seems evident
"
corded
Fenniani episcopi Nepotis Fiatach. "
" Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. There O'Connor corruptly for Finniani reads Mani. See p. 154. Also, in "Annales
"
Ultonienses," at A. D. 578 : episcopi,true[filii]NepotisFiatach. " Ibid. , tomus iv. The Rev. Dr. O'Conor's text
unmeaningly gives Umaniain, as the saint's
name.
22
Said to have been in the Diocese of Ar-
at A. D.
by Tigernach 579 :
— from
Quies Adamnan,
that such did not
Quies Vi—nniani
2=
there is a story told of the same St. Finnian refusing to lend him a copy of the Gospels, See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," cap. v. , p. 11. Aho, Appendix ad Act
"
Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 460.
** No one of common sense, the Rev. Dr.
Lanigan thinks, will admit this fable, regard-
for These two saints retained their mutual friendship and esteem to the last. See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,'' vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect.
xii. , p. 148.
he is wholly silent regarding it.
IntheLifeofSt. FintanofDunbleisch,
occur,
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 355
what he had seen, he daredjnot disturb the writer, who, however, was con- scious of this noctural intrusion. A domesticated crane is then said to have
plucked out the eye of that prying messenger, and to have left it hanging on his cheek, while he returned to relate the wonderful portent witnessed, and tocomplainaboutthelossofhissight. St. Finianmadeasignofthecrossover the messenger's eye, and his sight was immediately restored. This matter greatlyoffendedSt. Finian,andhewasincensedagainstColumba. Heeven told our saint, that he ought not to have transcribed a book, which was not
his property, especially without first obtaining permission from the owner. Then, he insisted on getting that transcribed copy from Columba, maintain-
of Diermit, then King over all Ireland. This proposal is said to have been
accepted, and accordingly, both disputants appeared before the monarch at Temoria. St. Finian opened the case, by stating, that they had mutually agreed to chose him as judge between them. He then stated, that Columba had clandestinely and therefore unfairly copied his book, while he contended a copy thus obtained should not belong to the transcriber. When it was
Columba's turn to reply, he acknowledged, that he had taken advantage of the loan, in order to produce a copy from the original Codex, by his own labour, industry, and vigils, while in no manner had he injured Finnian's book. 2? Moreover,hehadonlywrittenitoutforhisownspecialuse,andthat it might be instrumental in advancing the glory of God among men. He con- tended, that as Finnian suffered no loss, and as he could not justly prevent
the spiritual advantage of others, so he Columba was not guilty of any injury towards him, and therefore, he was not obliged in any manner to restitution. The monarch patiently heard the arguments advanced by either litigant, and afterwards with deliberation, he proceeded to pass judgment. The sentence pronounced by the king was adverse to St. Columba,28 and it exceedingly irri- tatedhim. 29 Thelegend-mongerscontinuetostate,thatdisturbedbythissen- tence, thought to have been unjust, St. Columba declared to the king, in the presence of all the bystanders, that his part in the transaction should not pass unavenged. 3° He is said to have left the king's presence in a high state of
because it was the
Columba replied, that he would leave this matter in dispute, to the arbitration
ing
that he had a
right
to
it,
offspring
to which allusion has been made, and supposed to have been written by St. Columba, is represented by speci-
excitements1 That famous
Manuscript,
S. Fridiani, xviii. Martii, cap. iii. , pp. 643, 644.
stance of this account, in his
"
General His-
36
The age and authorship of this anecdote
tory of Ireland," Part ii. , p. 376. Duffy's edition,
3° "
See Rev. Dr.
I? 3 This was in the diocese of Derry, in Ulster. While St. Finan, as he is called by Adamnan, might have been at Durrow, he could also have led an eremitical life in suc-
cession at Magh-Cosgain. Perhaps, he was founder of this church. See Acts of Arch- the St. Finnanus, venerated at the 2nd of
Mura, who is reputed to have been the real "
bishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation
of Derry, A. n. , mcccxcvii. ," &c, edited by Rev. William Reeves, n. (s), p. 66.
March, or at 29th December, says Colgan,
in "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbce, n. 80, p. 451.
June 9. ]
LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS. 351
1? 2 whowasahermitattachedto
relates, that he was present at the future battle, and saw with his own eyes the dead body of a man in the well, which was filled with blood. Again, he stated, that there were some holy men and aged monks, who inhabited the
St.
church of I 74 who related their Camas-Comgaill,
Magh-Cosgain Monastery,^
Finnen,
moreover, they were present when St. Columba had predicted such a thing to
St. 1 " or 6 a in Kiennacht ter- Comgall. Boith-medhbha, Bovevagh,'7 monastery
ritory, diocese and county of Derry, is held to have been one of his erections. 1 " St. Aidan, nephew of St. Columba, and son of his sister Sinecha, was set over it, and he was reverenced there. To St. Columba is ascribed, likewise, a monas- tery in Ciennacht, known asTamlacht-Fionlugain, now a parish church in the Diocese of Derry ; and over it presided St. Finlugh or St. Finnlugan, 178 his dis- ciple, as Abbot. He is also its patron. Again, Desert or Disert Hi Thua- chuill in Oireacht Hi Chathan, in the same Diocese ; Dunboe formerly a Monastery, and now a parish church in the same Diocese ; besides Aregal, where there was a Monastery, and now it has become a parish church, in the
1 same territory and diocese. ?
In addition to the churches and religious houses already enumerated,
as of St. Columba's foundation in Ireland, it is probability, that Inis Muredaich lSl
supposed,
l83 in
Erne, may be regarded as having been under his direction, while a complete
list of all his erections cannot now be pious
Tegh-Ernain
Meath, Derrybrusk
Airiodh-molt,
l8s near
Lough
compiled.
that the saint possessed a certain black and milk-giving heifer, which was
stolen from him by thieves. However, the legend states, that the cow im- pressed tracks in the rocky ground over which she travelled, and the saint
"M It obtained this name, because St. Com-
gaill was the patron saint, and perhaps the founder. In the ancient Abbey of Cambos or Camus, nothing now remains but the ceme- tery and the shaft of a sculptured cross. This had been removed from its socket and it lay neglected, until it was used for a barbarous purpose, by being converted into a gate-post, in which position it was to be seen on the right as you enter the churchyard. See " Acts of Archishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of mcccxcvii," &c, edited by Rev. William Reeves, n. (j), p. 83.
panied with profuse illustrations of antiqui- ties, describing 1 11 ismurray, an Island off the coast of Sligo, by William F. Wakeman, in the "Journal of the Royal Historical and Archceological Association of Ireland," Fourth Series, vol. vii. , No. 64, October, 1885, pp. 175 to 332.
lB*
Near Lough Owel, in the county of Westmeath.
l8i Now Tifarnan or Tyfarnham, in the county of Westmeath.
l8* This in the of parish, partly barony
Magherastephana and partly in the barony of Tirkennedy, is shown, on the "Ordnance
175 See "Trias Colgan's
Townland
Maps
for the of County
p. 404.
176 A parish, in the barony of Keenaght.
It is described on the "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of London-
derry," sheets 16, 17, 23, 24, 25, 30. The towr. land proper is on sheets 16, 24.
177 SeeCoigan's"TriasThaumaturga,"
cap. ii. , p. 495.
178 His feast occurs, at the 3rd of January,
where a notice of him and of his church will be found, in vol. i. of this work, Art. ii.
Sperin Mountains, on the boundary of the county of Tyrone, and there it flows north-
westward through the County Londonderry, and not far from the city of that name, when it runs parallel with the Foyle River to the head of Longh Foyle, where it enters the sea.
Derry, A. D. ,
Survey
Fermanagh," sheets 16, 17, 22, 23, 27. The townland proper is on sheet 27.
l8s Here Diochuill, son of Maoldubh, was venerated, on the 28th of February.
l86 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. ii. , p. 495.
l8? ThiswastheIrishnameofthepresent Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, Faughan River, which rises among the
Thaumaturga. " Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. xcv. ,
179 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, Several picturesque and charming views
cap. ii. , p. 495.
181
alternate along its course. See a fine de-
in the " Gazet- Parliamentary
180 Father £y
of
teer of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 197.
John Colgan.
There is an admirable paper, accom-
scription
it,
witnessing
this and tragedy,
180 and with some in Connaught, Port Domain l8z and
,8* and
186 A is told, story
352
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
was thus able to trace her into a wood, near the river Fochaoin, l8 7 where she had been left tied to a tree. There, a well burst forth, and in after time it was called Tobar na Duibhe, " the well of the black one. " 188 From the time of St. Patrick, to that of St. Columba, three possessions of the former had
lay hidden. Columba felt a great reverence for the saints, and especially for
St. Patrick ; hence, with great joy, he ordered the ground to be dug up, when he found the buried treasures. With the Angel's advice, he sent the Bell to
Armagh, he sent the Phial to Down, or Dun-da-'leathglas, and the Book of Gospels was in his own keeping. He received this latter from the Angel's
his Book of
and his Bell. 1 ? 1 An Angel of the Lord showed our saint the place where those
been hidden under the earth thes^ ;
were,
Gospels,
hands,sothatinaftertimes,it wentbythenameoftheAngel's
CHAPTER VII.
Gospel.
1? 2
RESOLUTION OF ST. COLUMBA TO SPREAD THE FAITH IN SCOTLAND—ALLEGED CAUSES LEADING TO THE BATTLE OF CUL-DREIMHE—ITS RESULTS SAID TO HAVE CAUSED THE DEPARTURE OF ST. COLUMBA FROM IRELAND—ACCOUNT OF THE PICTS AND SCOTS—IONA GRANTED TO ST. COLUMBA.
Besides the saint's exertions for establishing religious communities and
churches, several other circumstances are related, as forming part of his history.
For a long time, Columba had been revolving in mind the condition of a people
in the territories of Alban,1 and he now desired to effect to a adjoining give
great project he had in view, to extend the kingdom of Christ among them.
As Ireland hastened to share the treasure of Divine Faith with other nations,
and as in return she has preserved it still ; so her Dove of the Churches
hungered to share with all other men, that joy and happiness, which he
zealously possessed, and yet would not selfishly monopolize. St. Columba
heard the summons of God, who called upon him to do the work of an
Apostle. He deemed it just to obey. With the spirit of an Apostle, there- fore, he resolved to abandon all that was most near and dear to him. Like a
true missioner, his great object was to save souls, and to revive a religious
spirit, where it had languished. A high and holy ambition possessed him, like- wise, to lead wild and savage mountaineers into the fold of Christ, and to
bend down under the yoke of the Gospel their haughty spirits. He hoped,
188 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Quinta Vita S. Columba? , lib. i. , cap, cxiii. ,
p. 408.
189 Whether this was the Domhnach Air-
gid, now preserved in the Royal Irish Aca- demy, or not, it is difficult to say; but re-
garding this interesting and venerable Codex,
with its ornamental and precious cover, Dr.
George Petrie has written a valuable Paper,
published in "Transactions of the Royal
Irish Academy," vol. xviii. Antiquities, plenda ad peregrinationis videlicet proposi- Art. ii. . pp. 14 to 24. dm, et ad convertendos ad fidem Pictos op-
190 This object of former veneration now portunum tempus adesse videret, patriam
seems to be lost.
191 The Bell of St. Patrick, belonging to
the Royal Irish Academy, and presented by Rev. Dr. Todd, is now one of the most in-
teresting objects of antiquity in its Museum. Another Bell, thought to have been once in
suam reliquit, et ad insulam Ionam, quae in Septentrionali Oceano inter Hiberniam et
Bri—tanniam sitaest. prosperonavigavitcursu," &c. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Secunda Vita S. Columbse, cap. vi. . . p. 326.
possession of St. Patrick, was in Dr. George
Petrie's collection of antiquities. See Eugene "
O'Curry's Lectures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History," Lect.
xv. , p. 337.
192 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. cxiv. ,
p. 408. —* " Chapter vii.
Postquam vir sanctus ad ea, quae quondam mente proposuerat, im-
See Rev. P. J. Carew's
"
Ecclesiastical
l89 his '9° Phial,
Tune 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 353 also, to introduce religious institutions into those regions, and such as he had
2
established in his native country.
Nearly all ancient writers—especially those of highest authority—agree, that missionary zeal was the chief motive for St. Columba's expedition, to spread the Faith in Scotland. Thus, Adamnan,3 Venerable Bede,4 and the various writers of Acts, relating to other Irish saints,* concur. The most
of modern writers also
mediator to obtain it wherever broils seemed imminent, Columba's best efforts were exerted to promote harmony and concord, both in his own and in his adopted country. To carry out his project, and to accomplish the great en-
judicious
resolved on, his zeal had — to contend terprise manydisadvantages
St. Columba's removal to S—
8
7 with; yet,
be called a
cotland
though
it could
hardly
agree,
changeofcountryinhisday hasproved,nevertheless,afruitfulsubjectfor
strange legendary speculation. 9 A story frequently repeated, regarding the
cause for his exile, may be regarded as a mere fable, inconsistent in itself, and destitute of historical evidence. 10 The occasion assigned for his leaving Ireland is largely mingled with fictitious circumstances. An improbable romance is relative to this
11 and it abounds in
unbecoming the conduct of holy men, and even the gravity of common his- tory. Moreover, it has served to obscure Columba's real character and
told,
subject,
statements, quite
6 that as a lover of and as a peace
12 We well that this narrative was the invention of may suspect,
dispositions.
later bards and romancists ; for, it is not to be found in the Acts of our saint, and which were earliest written. In an abridged shape, it has been intro- duced to our notice, by Archbishop Ussher,^ who acknowledges, however, that it is not in the edited Life by Adamnan, although he met with it in a Manuscript Life of St. Columba, 1 * by an anonymous writer. 1 * In our own times, Dr. John O'Donovan l6 has lent this story the weight of his authority, but without any valid argument to sustain his opinion. Likewise, the Rev. Dr. Reeves,17 and following him Le Comte de Montalembert,18 have attributed
History of Ireland," chap, vi. , pp. 187, 188.
pro Christo peregrinari volens enavigavit. "
Prefatio Secunda.
* He states " Venit de Hibernia
: presby-
ter et Abbas, hahitu et vita monachi, insig- nis nominis, nomine Columba, Britan- niam,praedicaturusverbumDe—iprovinciis septentrionalium Pictorum,&c. " "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. iv. , p. 16S, Ed. Camabrigiae, 1644.
s This is especially stated, in Vita S. FarannaniConfessoris, translated in Colgan's work from an Irish tract, ascribed by him to after a. d. 1200. There we read how St. Columba "zelo animarum flagrantem, ex Hibernia nativa suo solo, in Albionem trans- fretasse, ut incrcdulae Pictorum genti salu- tare Christi Evangelium prsedicaret, et erra- b—undam ad ejusdem aggregaret ouile," &c.
"Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xv. Feb-
Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. ii. , cap. i. to
3"
He writes —
ruarii, cap. iii. , p. 336,
and n.
land," vol. i. , chap, xii. , pp. 243, 244.
" The P'ifth Life of St. Columba, written
byPrinceO'Donnell,hasalengthenedac- count of this spurious narrative. See
Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," lib. ii. , cap. i. to viii. , pp. 408 to 410.
I2 These are pleasingly set forth in Dalian Forgaill's "Amra Choluim Chilli," edited by O'Beirne Crowe, with the original Irish and an English literal Translation. Dublin, 1871, 8vo.
I3 See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
quitates," cap. xv. , p. 563.
I4 See ibid. , cap. xvii. , pp. 467 to 469.
I5 This was obtained, by Ussher, from
Father Stephen White,
l5 See '"Annals of the Four Masters,"
:
x. , pp. 408 9
410. "
De Scotia Britanniam
to See Ussher's
1, p. 338. See Right Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
6 ""
IrishSaintsinGreat
vol. i. , pp. 192 to 195, nn. (r, s). I7SeeAdamnan's LifeofSt. Columba,"
lib. i. , cap. 7, n. (a), p. 31.
l8 See " Les Moines d'Occident," tome iii. ,
liv. xi. , pp. 124 to 141.
»9 See " Annals of Clonmacnoise," at
Britain," chap, iii. ,
PP- 58, 59-
7 Rev. Robert King's "Primer of the
Church History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap.
ix. , pp. 78, 79.
8
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
A. D. 569.
rum Antiquitates,
"
cap. xv. , pp. 359 to 373.
Britannicarum
Ecclesia-
I0 See Thomas Moore's " of Ire- History
z
354 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
to St. Columba a combination directed against King Deirmait, and which culminated in war. This is quite inconsistent with the fact, that allegiance was due by our saint to the King of all Ireland, and who was worthy, moreover, of special honour. Besides, we have the account of Columba feeling greatly indignant, because Aedh, the murderer of King Deirmait, had been advanced to ecclesiastical orders, after the perpetration of such a crime. *9 Nay more, instead of promoting discord on the occasion alluded to, the great Christian hero laboured hard, but in vain, to effect peace between King Diermaid and his relatives. Finding his remonstrances to be disregarded by the latter, he even conceived a disgust at their conduct, and to mark his disapprobation, he resolved to leave them, and to quit his native country, with the purpose of never again returning to it. 20 This, of course, was only a secondary motive.
Notwithstanding its absurdities, as we have included many other undoubted legends in this biography, we shall proceed to relate the story. It is stated, that Columba happened to be on a visit with St. Finnian,21 Abbot of Magh- bile, at a place called Druimfionn,22 said to be identical with Dromin,23 in the present county of Louth. As the story runs, Columba then borrowed
from him a Manuscript, containing the Gospels of Holy Scripture. These he immediately set about transcribing, while Finnian's consent had not been previously obtained. 2* He laboured at this work, day and night, and in secret, so as to avoid the observation of others, who were living in that monas- tery. It is even stated, that five different jets of light proceeded from the four fingers and thumb of Columba's right hand, while he prosecuted the work of transcription each night. He had nearly finished this celebrated copy —still it is thought in part preserved—when sending a messenger for the original, and apprized of the proceeding, Finian was highly displeased at Columba'sconduct. 25 Hismessengersurprisedthelatter,bylookingthrough a crevice into the church where Columba was at work ; but, astonished at
20 Thus is the matter stated, about St.
Columba, in the Irish Life of St. Farannan,
translated into Latin: "Ad transmarinam
magh. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumatur- ga," Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. i. , p. 408, and n. I, p. 451.
23 Now a
ter summam animarum sitim alia causa and marked off, on the " Ordnance Survey
hanc sibi indicendam, peregrinationem
in the of barony Ardee,
prse-
Apostolicum instigabat virum, mutuis quippe et altae radicis discordiis et simul ta- libus intestinis, dissidebant ipsius ex carne propinqui rerum in Hibernia tunc potientes, quos ubi pacis amator multis modis in pris- tinam concordiam reducere frustra fuerat conatus ; sua eos absentia in pertinacise poenam, et perpetuo exilio castigare voluit. Ex Hibernia igitur peregre profectus est,
earn ex—animo decernens nunquam reuisen- "
parish,
Townland Maps for the County of Louth,"
sheets 17, 18. The town of Dromin is shown
on the latter sheet. In'noticing this place,
Archdall incorrectly places the feast of its
bishop or abbot, St. Finian, Findian, or
Fridian, at the 10th of of October. See
ing a quarrel about the transcribed book, dam. " Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- which appears to have been made the
nise," xv. Februarii, cap. iii. , p. 336.
21 It is said he died, September 10th, which is his festival. His obit is thus re-
ground-work for a battle fought at Cul- Dremhe. As to any dispute between St. Columba and St. Finninn, it seems evident
"
corded
Fenniani episcopi Nepotis Fiatach. "
" Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. There O'Connor corruptly for Finniani reads Mani. See p. 154. Also, in "Annales
"
Ultonienses," at A. D. 578 : episcopi,true[filii]NepotisFiatach. " Ibid. , tomus iv. The Rev. Dr. O'Conor's text
unmeaningly gives Umaniain, as the saint's
name.
22
Said to have been in the Diocese of Ar-
at A. D.
by Tigernach 579 :
— from
Quies Adamnan,
that such did not
Quies Vi—nniani
2=
there is a story told of the same St. Finnian refusing to lend him a copy of the Gospels, See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," cap. v. , p. 11. Aho, Appendix ad Act
"
Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 460.
** No one of common sense, the Rev. Dr.
Lanigan thinks, will admit this fable, regard-
for These two saints retained their mutual friendship and esteem to the last. See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,'' vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect.
xii. , p. 148.
he is wholly silent regarding it.
IntheLifeofSt. FintanofDunbleisch,
occur,
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 355
what he had seen, he daredjnot disturb the writer, who, however, was con- scious of this noctural intrusion. A domesticated crane is then said to have
plucked out the eye of that prying messenger, and to have left it hanging on his cheek, while he returned to relate the wonderful portent witnessed, and tocomplainaboutthelossofhissight. St. Finianmadeasignofthecrossover the messenger's eye, and his sight was immediately restored. This matter greatlyoffendedSt. Finian,andhewasincensedagainstColumba. Heeven told our saint, that he ought not to have transcribed a book, which was not
his property, especially without first obtaining permission from the owner. Then, he insisted on getting that transcribed copy from Columba, maintain-
of Diermit, then King over all Ireland. This proposal is said to have been
accepted, and accordingly, both disputants appeared before the monarch at Temoria. St. Finian opened the case, by stating, that they had mutually agreed to chose him as judge between them. He then stated, that Columba had clandestinely and therefore unfairly copied his book, while he contended a copy thus obtained should not belong to the transcriber. When it was
Columba's turn to reply, he acknowledged, that he had taken advantage of the loan, in order to produce a copy from the original Codex, by his own labour, industry, and vigils, while in no manner had he injured Finnian's book. 2? Moreover,hehadonlywrittenitoutforhisownspecialuse,andthat it might be instrumental in advancing the glory of God among men. He con- tended, that as Finnian suffered no loss, and as he could not justly prevent
the spiritual advantage of others, so he Columba was not guilty of any injury towards him, and therefore, he was not obliged in any manner to restitution. The monarch patiently heard the arguments advanced by either litigant, and afterwards with deliberation, he proceeded to pass judgment. The sentence pronounced by the king was adverse to St. Columba,28 and it exceedingly irri- tatedhim. 29 Thelegend-mongerscontinuetostate,thatdisturbedbythissen- tence, thought to have been unjust, St. Columba declared to the king, in the presence of all the bystanders, that his part in the transaction should not pass unavenged. 3° He is said to have left the king's presence in a high state of
because it was the
Columba replied, that he would leave this matter in dispute, to the arbitration
ing
that he had a
right
to
it,
offspring
to which allusion has been made, and supposed to have been written by St. Columba, is represented by speci-
excitements1 That famous
Manuscript,
S. Fridiani, xviii. Martii, cap. iii. , pp. 643, 644.
stance of this account, in his
"
General His-
36
The age and authorship of this anecdote
tory of Ireland," Part ii. , p. 376. Duffy's edition,
3° "
See Rev. Dr.
