Under the head of Glenn-da-locha, Duald Mac Firbis, likewise, enters,3 Siollan, Bishop of Glenn-da-lacha, at
February
loth.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol.
ii,, chap, xiv.
, sect.
xv. , n. 215, p. 361.
33 it is somewhat remarkable, that near
Clashmore House, there "is a well of e—x-
cellent water, called St. Mochuda's well. "
Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of Ire-
"vol. ItshouldbeMochua's land, i. , p. 337.
Well.
34 Now Swords, county of Dublin. For
some illustrations and a description of this
interesting locality see Mr. and Mrs. Hall's
Eliogarty. Its situation may be found, on "Ireland: its Scenery, Character," &c. ,
the
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for vol. ii. , pp. 345, 346. Vol. H. —No. 8.
20
450 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [J-ebruaryio.
county,oratthatotherGlassmore,nearSwords/hasbeendisputed. * This doubt was increased, and confusion has been caused, by the circumstance of there having been a supposed Cronan,3 abbot of the latter house. Looking to the connection between Mochua and Carthage, it appears much more probable, however, that our St. Cronan's Glaismor was the former place, as being situated, not far from Lismore. Our present disciple of St. Carthage lived at a much earlier period, than he who was known as Cronan, Abbot of Glasmore, near Swords. -^ Supported, however, by the testimony of the Calendar of Cashel, Colgan supposes the present St. Cronan to have left
As St. Carthagh came to Lismore, about a. d. 631, and is said to have died A. D. 636, we were to consider Cronan as his successor in the abbey, his deathshouldbereferredtoastilllaterperiod. However,wefeelconstrained to dismiss the connexion of our saint and his monks, with the death of martyrs ; for, it is not at all apparent, they ever lived, near Swords, in the countyofDublin. 9 Adoubt,maywellexist,astoSt. CronanbeingAbbot of Lismore. For these reasons, we cannot name the year of his death, with
any great degree of certainty. It happened, probably towards the middle of the seventh century. The feast of our saint was celebrated at Lismore, it is
and to have this near Swords, s He tells that the departed life, us,
Lismore,
pirates of Norway or Denmark, having landed at Libher Domnonn,'^ not far from Dublin,7 thence issued forth, and during the night, they surprised our saint, with the members of his community, all of whom were mercilessly massacred. ^
*'
33 In the Dublin county
Irish Ordnance Survey," at this calendar entry, for the loth of February, allusion is made to Glassmore or Moortown, at p. 132.
3^ Archdall says, "we may, with some
probability, infer, that the site of the ancient
Glassmore, and the present Moortown, are the same ; the latter is situated about a mile from Swords. "^" Monasticon Hibernicum,"
dation for removing Mochua from the Glais- morofNandesi. "—"Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, xv. , n.
217, pp. 361, 362.
5 See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniiie," x.
Februarii. De S. Cronano, Abbate et Martyre, p. 304.
^
Inbher-Domnann was the mouth of a river to the north of Dublin, and between it and Inis-Padruic, as we learn from the Tri- partite Life of St. Patrick. See Colgan's
p. 253.
37 See John D'Alton's
" County Dublin," p. 298.
History of the
of — Chapter ii.
"Trias
Thaumaturga. "
Septima
Vita S.
^
The
of Swords,
Patricii, HI), i. , xliv. cap.
situated partly within the barony of Coo-
parish
Extracts of the
7 It is stated; that Saint Patrick, sailing along the coast of the Bregenses, and there- is delineated on the "Ordnance Survey fore northwards of Dublin, put into the
lock, and partly within that of Nethercross,
Townland Maps for the County of Dublin. "
Sheets 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15. Swords town andglebeareonSheet11.
"
In some calendars, a doubt is expressed, whether the Glaismor of Mochua was that in the Nandesi country, or that one near Swords.
3 I cannot find such a name, as connected with Swords, in our Annals.
4 Dr. Lanigan writes: "He and all his monks were killed, as our calendarisls tell us, by a party of Danes, who went to attack his monastery from their station at Inbher- Domnann. NowtheDaneshadnosuch stations in Ireland as early as the period we
river'smouth,Inbher-Domnann. Thence, he passed over to Inis-Padruic now Holm-
patrick. Itisthereforeveryeasytoidentify this Inbhear Domnonn with the estuaiy,
near the present Malahide, over part of which the Dublin and Drogheda Railway
passes. See John D'Alton's Introductory Memoir in "History of Drogheda, with its Environs," vol. i. , pp. xcvi. , xcvii. , with an exquisite steel engraving, representing this scene.
are treating of
nor is there
certain ac-
—and his monks at the perished
;
any
this saint
hands of the Danes and Norwegians, who frequently pillaged, bumed, and sacked
count of their investing the Irish coasts until
795. (See Ware, Antiq,, cap. 24, and J. P.
Murray, De Colon. Scand. ^ &c. , in Nov. Swords. See article by Mr, D'Dalton in
Comment Soc. Gotlins^. ^ torn. 3. ) This is more than sufficient to dispel the doubt, and to show that there is no sufficient foun-
"The Irish Penny Magazine," vol. i. , No. 39» PP« 3o5» 306, with an illustration of the round and square towers there.
^
561.
» It is likely, a Cronan—
See Camden's "Britannia," vol. iii. , p.
different from
I^EBRUARY 10. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 451
said, and in other parts of the Nan-Desii territor)', on the lolh day of this month. OnthishalfhoHday,afairisstillheld,inClashmore, Thepatron
has been styled a shining star, a happy offspring, a golden treasure, the very illustrious and exemplary Cronan, a saint without stain, and the glowing sun
ofGlasmore,'°bySt. ^^ngus. " TheMartyrologyofTallagh'^*noticeshim asCronan,sonofMellain,oftheDecies,andinLismor. TheCalendarof Cashel connects him both with Lismore and Swords. '3 Maguire seems to bedoubtful,regardingtheexactpositionofGlassmore. '* TheMartyrology of Donegal,'5 at the loth of February, enters this saint, as Cronan of Glais- mor, in Deisi-Mumhan, and of lis-mor, or of Glais-mdr, a church that was by the side of Sord,''^ to the south. It is said, the foreigners of Inbher Domhnann came to him, and killed him and all his people, in one night, so that not one of them escaped, without being destroyed, and thus they were martyred. Thissaintwasvenerated,likewise,andonthesameday,inScot- land. There, however, he is not classed Avith the martyrs. The holy con- fessor, Cronan, in Ireland, is set down at the loth of February/7 in the Ka- lendar of Drummond, as having departed to Christ. '^
It is somewhat remarkable, that many saints having the name of Cronan are also called Mochua, or My Chua,'9 in the Irish Calendars. ^'^ We are informed, that at Clashmore parish—once said to have been a bishopric^^— in the county of Waterford, an abbey of Regular Canons had been founded by St. Cronan Mochua. " At the dissolution of monasteries, its lands were granted in fee-farm to the celebrated Sir Walter Raleigh. ^'s The people yet
*'
continue to make their
rounds" at St. Mochua's holy well in Clashmore. ^'^
^° See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of 44, 45-
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. ,
chap. Ixxiv. , pp. 555, 556.
" The following rann, from the * ' Feilire "
"
of i^ngus, taken from the
and its English translation, have been kindly furnished by Professor O'Looney :—
|:. 1111. 1'0. I^eclu CA1M 50111 buA-DA, "b^Mich oi^A ec]\ochu Aije, C|voiiAn GAIT) cen •oiju. a,
5|\iAn gel 5lAi]7e mAi|\e.
" Bright star, victorious offspring,
A glowing mass of gold, a radiant guest, Is Cronan the chaste without reproach,
'^ Now Swords.
^7 Idus iv.
^8 See Bishop Forbes' *'Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 5.
The white sun of Glass Mor.
"
the apparent identical signification of the Irish words Cron and Cua. , Cronan and Cuatt.
^°
Colgan says, that in our Menologies there are eight Cronans, and eighteen Mo- chuas, whose feasts are distinct ; and, in almost all instances, the same saint is at one time named Cronan, and at another place,
Mochua. Thus, in the Martyrologies of Tallagh, Marianus Gorman and Donegal, at the 28th of April, St. Cronan of Koscrea is called Mochua. In like manner, at the 22nd of June, St. Cronan, Abbot of Ferns, is called
Leabhar Breac"
" Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xv.
^3 It notices him, as being the son of Mochua. Likewise, at the 30th of March,
Mellan, of Lismore, in the Munster Decies, and he is said to rest near Swords of St. Columba, towards the south. See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hibernire," x. Februarii. Vita S. Cronani, p. 304.
^4 In his Menology, at the lotli of Feb-
Glaismor in Desiis Momoniee, & Lismorioe colitur : vel Glaismor est Ecclesia juxta Surdumadaustrum. " Acommentisadded, that Glasmor was a church, near Swords, to the south, and that the Northmen came from Inbhear Domnann one night, and slaughtered St. Cronan with all his ceno- bites, so that not one of his family escaped.
*s Edited by Drs, Todd and Reeves, pp.
Mochua, Abbot of Balla, and at the 6th of August, St. Mochua of Clondalkin, are called by the name of Cronan. St. ^ngus
the Culdee, in his Homynomous Saints, book i. , chapter xix. , numbers more than
fifty saints, bearing the designation Mochua,
he ruary, says
:
" Cronanus, vel est Mochua
many of whom are called by the name of de Miliuc, id est, Cronanus filius Mellani de Cronan, in the aforesaid martyrologies.
'9
Colgan thinks this change comes from
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
X. Februarii, n. 2, p. 304.
=' "
SeeHarris'Ware,vol. ii. , Antiquities of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 266.
"In Archdall's "Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 687, the foundation of this place is attributed to Cuanchear, at the command ot St. Mochoemoc, of Lethmore ; but, this is altogether incorrect.
452 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Februaryio.
Nothing, in addition, of special interest has transpired, regarding St. Cronan ; nor, does his religious life appear to us abounding in any very un- usual adventures.
Article II. —St. Sillan or Siollan, Bishop of Glendalough,
County of Wicklow. \l^robably during the Sa'cnth or Eighth Century. } Although time has not wholly consumed the rolls of our former history,
many names of our holy ones appear therein, regarding whom we desire more extended information. Siollan, or Sillan, Bishop of Gleann-da-loch, is recorded in the Martyrologies of Tallagh^ and of Donegal,^ on this day.
Under the head of Glenn-da-locha, Duald Mac Firbis, likewise, enters,3 Siollan, Bishop of Glenn-da-lacha, at February loth. The same date is as- signed for his festival, by Father Hugh Ward,^ the Franciscan, who places
The Valley of Glendalough, County Wicklow.
him, in the order of enumeration after Bishop Darchell,^ who died May 3rd, A. D. 676. ^ The year of St. Sillan's death seems to be unknovvn. 7 Where"
this holy bishop rests has long ago been forgotten ; but, probably, his re- mains were laid in or near the cathedral, where he had often officiated during
=3 See Smith's "Ancient and Present
State of the County and City of Waterford," 4 See
"
chap, iii. , pp. 51, 52. The Assignee was sertatio Historica de Patria S. Rumoldi,
the Earl of Cork,
=4 The writer had an opportunity of seeing
this well, walled round, and within the de-
style him " Darchill mac Cuyletty. "
^ See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Article 11. -^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Four Masters," vol, i. , pp. 284,285. The Annals of Clonmacnoise have his death en- tered, at A. D. 674, while these of Ulster place it, under the year 677. See ibid. , n. (m).
mesne, in September, 1876. The people of Clashmore are fond of using its water.
Kelly, p. XV.
="
3 See *'
Academy," Irish MSS. series, voL i. , part
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 44» 45-
7 See Nolan's " and Anti- Joseph History
quities of Glendalough," chap, iii. , p. 21.
Proceedings
of the
Royal
Iri. sh
1. , pp. 112, 113.
Vita Sancti Rumoldi," &c. Dis-
sect.
s The Annals of Ulster call him " Daircill
mac Curetai," while those of Clonmacnoise
9, p. 158.
February io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 453
life. It is now a mere wreck, to produce only melancholy reminiscences -^ the walls are broken through, beside the graves of the dead, near the old round tower, which yet lifts its battered head. 9 With the crhasscs of its sides gaping in various crannies, it mutely tells, that the purpose for which it had been erected has long since fallen into disuse. Gone into dust are the crowded congregations, that flocked to worship before the altars and shrines, once so numerous in the deserted city of Glendalough.
Article III. —Reputed Festival of a Blessed Ingenoc, Abbot of St. Bertin, France. Among the Scottish Saints, Dempster^ includes a Blessed Ingenoc, at this date. He is said to have been Abbot of St. Bertin,* among the Atrebati. 3 These people lived in the province of Artois,^ in France. Theabbeyoverwhichheisthoughttohavepresidedwasprobably that, which formerly stood at St. Omer,5 and which, since the period of the French Revolution, has been left in a state of complete ruin. The walls
and tower^ yet standing attest, however, its extraordinary magnificence, towards the close of the last century.
Article IV. —The Blessed Muireadhach O'Cobhthaich, Bishop
OF Ardstraw. ^Twelfth Ceiitii7'y? \ Some chronological and topographical difficulties exist, regarding statements referring to this distinguished ecclesi- astic. From those high eulogies pronounced on him, and owing to the miracle recorded, as occurring on the night of his death,^ there can hardly be a doubt, but that he deserves to rank high among the Irish Beati. Muireadhach O'Cobthaigh, Anglicised Maurice O'Coffey,^ was born, probably about the beginning of the twelfth century. He is said to have become an Augustin Canon, and to have been held in great reput:;:ion, for his learning,
humility and charity towards the poor. 3 In the " Annals of the Four ""
Masters "< Murray O'Coffeys is called a son of purity, a precious stone, a
^ Such is the feeling, which haunts the contemplative Christian visitor to its now ruined shrines. His gaze
" In mournful recognition glides O'erGlendalough'sdespondenttides. "
—
Glendalough, or the Seven Churches. " A Didactic Poem, by an ex-Moderator, T. C. D. , canto i. Mountain Shadows, sect. iii. , p. 14. The author was J. T. S. Lefanu, Esq.
9 The accompanying illustration, from a photograph taken by Frederick H. Mares of Dublin, has been engraved by Mrs. Millard.
Article hi. —'' See "
ticum. " Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 192.
2 His feast occurs, on the 5th of Septem- ber, at which date some notices of him will belound.
3 B is postfixed to the foregoing statement, which, as we learn, stands lor " Breviarium Scoticum, maxime Aberdonense. "
4 Their position is marked in the Belgic part of Gallia Antiqua in Wilkinson's "Atlas Classica," No. 23.
s In the former college at this place —now almost totally reconstructed and altered from its original purpose—Daniel O'Connell re- ceived a part of his early education in 1 791 and 1792. It is entered from the Rue St. Bertin. Onfrontofthebuilding,itshistory is inscribed in French. It was built by the English Jesuits in 1592, and after having suffered from fire in 1684, and in 1726, it was erected into a Royal College in 1760. After the battle of Hondscoote in 1793, it was converted into a French Military Hos- pital, and at present, it affords accommoda. tion for 500 invalid soldiers. In July 1863, the writer was afforded an opportunity of inspecting the interior of this establishment, which is a model of neatness and order,
^ From the top of this tower, ascended through a winding staircase, a grand view of St. Omer, and tine plains around it, may be seen.
Articleiv. —' See"MemoiroftheCity
and North Western Liberties of London-
derry," part ii. , sect. 2, pp. 30, 31.
^ See Harris' Warej vol. i. , "Bishops of
Derry," p. 287. ^ See ibid.
4 See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. iii. ,
'*
Menologium
Sco-
454 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Februaryio.
transparent gem, a brilliant star, a treasury of wisdom, and a conservator of the canons of the Church. " According to the O'Clerys' Annals, he was
Bishop of Derry and Raphoe ; this, however, is apparently incorrect, for, it is shown, from satisfactory evidences, that, unless as a suffragan, he could not have been Bishop of Raphoe,*^ while there is equal reason to doubt of hishavingbeenBishopofDerry. 7 IntheearlierAnnals,heiseithercalled
Bishop of Ardstraw,^ or more generally Bishop of Kinel-Owen, or Tyrone, which is only another name for the same see. He assisted at the synod,
convened at Kells, by Cardinal Joannes Papiron or Paparo, in 1152, for he is enumerated among the bishops there, as Muredach O'Cobthaigh, Bishop
of Kinel-Eogain. This was six years before Derry is supposed to have been raised to the rank of an episcopal see ; although, perhaps in a loose
way, the present pious man is called Bishop of Derry,9 when it is chiefly
meant, he was placed, over the see of Ardstraw,^° which formerly comprised
the greater part of the present county of Derry. As one of the subscribing
witnesses to the foundation charter of
Newry, Latinized,
" De Viridi
Ligno,"
hisnameis "Muriach ofTirone. "" Weare appended, O'Cofifay, Bishop
told, that after he had bestowed food and raiment on the poor and needy;
after having ordained priests and deacons and men of every ecclesiastical
rank ; after having repaired many churches, consecrated many churches and
burial places, founded many monasteries and regleses or abbey-churches, andfulfilledeveryecclesiasticalduty; afterhavinggainedthepalmforpiety,
pilgrimage, and repentance ; this holy bishop resigned his spirit to Heaven, in the Duibhregles of Columkille'^, in Derry, on the loth of February, a. d. 1173. ^3 A great miracle was wrought on the night of his death. The dark
night was illumined from midnight to day-break ; while, the people thought the neighbouring parts of the world, that were visible, to be in one blaze of light. The likeness of a large globe of fire arose over the town, and moved in a south-easterly direction. All persons arose from their beds, imagining
pp. 8, 9.
3 This is the form adopted by Dr. O'Do-
novanforAnglicisinghisname. Seen. (b), ibid.
^
Gilcomge or Gilbert O'Caran is said to have been bishop over this see from a. d. 1 160, to 1 1 75, when he was promoted to the Archbishopric of Armagh. See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops of Raphoe," pp. 270, 271.
7 See "Memoir of the City and North
W'estern Liberties of Londonderry," part
iii. , sect. 2, p. 30.
and law,
And the fire of the faith, which St. Patrick
^
In verses, published by "Derriensis,"
^ Now called Londonderry. It is shown
on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the Comity of Derry. " Sheet 20, com-
prises the parish of Templemore and Clon-
dermot, and baronies of North West Liber-
ties of Londonderry and Tirkeeran,
'°
The present parish and townland of Ardstraw, in the baronies of Omagh West, and of Lower Strabane, are described, on
in the LoJidondeny jfotirtial, of May I4tli,
1875, 'i"*^^ intituled, "The Hills of Ard- the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
straw," allusion is made, in the following stanza, to the ancient history of this place :
" And grand are the mem'ries, those stream-
for the County Tyrone. " Sheets 5, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 32, 33, 34. The town and townland proper are on Sheets
16, 17.
" See " The Dublin Penny Journal," vol.
lets awaken,
And sa—cred tlie mins spread over the i. , No. 13, p. 102. John O'Donovan, wlio
plain
The Cromleach and Kistvaen, the Rath
and the Cairn,
The long vanished power of the Druids
proclaim.
But a brighter day dawn'd, when the new
dispensation
Gave life to the nations, and mc rals
has edited "The Charter of Newry," there
remarks in a note, that " Tironc anciently
comprehended the modern counties of Ti-
rone and Londonderry," ibid. , n. 10, p. 103.
*'
His Life occurs at the 9th of June.
'3 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of tho
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 8, 9.
hadkindled,
Burn'd nowhere more
here in Ardstraw. "
brightly,
than
February io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 455
that it was day ; and, it was also thus, on the east side of the sea. ^* If such had been a manifestation of glory and greatness upon earth, when the soul of this blessed bishop winged its flight for a happier career ; we may well imagine, what bright visions opened upon him, when called to the light and felicity of the saints in Heaven.
Article V. —Reputed Feast of a St. Kilian, at Kilcullsheen,
OR KiLKiLiHiNE, CouNTY KILKENNY. Although there are many saints,
named Kilian, in our calendars, we are at a loss to know, if the present must
be identified with any of those, or if he be another unknown, or only found,
in local traditions. At Kilcullsheen, in the diocese of Ossor)^, the feast of
St. Kilian, is said to have been kept as patron, on the loth of February. ^
"
In the
said to be patron over the church of Kilkilihine, in the deaconry of Iverk. ^ It is remarkable, that both of the foregoing denominations are omitted from the Irish Ordnance Survey Townland Maps ; but, the difference of spelling seems to have reference only to a single place.
Article VI. —St. Airennan, Bishop of Tallagh, County of Dublin. [Eighth Century. '] The Martyrology of Tallagh^ enters Airendan, Bishop of Tallaghta, at the loth of February, and in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ we find entered, on this day, the name of Airennan, Bishop of Tamhlacht, now Tallagh, in the county of Dublin. He was born, most probably, during the earUer part of the eighth century ; and, it is also likely, that he made his religious profession at, or soon after, the foundation of Tallagh, in the year 769. Under the head of Tamlacht, Duald Mac Firbis places Airennan, or Erennan, Bishop of Tamlacht, at February ioth. 3 In the Dublin extracts,
Spicilegium Ossoriense," however, this saint, at the same date, is
to the Irish Ordnance
-^ and at the same in the Irish date,
Survey,
Calendar, we have this holy man's name occurring, as connected with Tam-
belonging
lacht. This, too, agrees with Ward's statement. s As St. Melruan,^ the
founder
a. d.
or recte
7 the
promotion
of St. Airennan must
787,
announced as Airfhindan, Abbot of Tamhlacht-Maeleruain (Tallaght), at A. D. 798, or 7'ecte 803. ^ He therefore seems to have been the immediate successor of St. Melruan, whom he survived in office, only for a few years. He must, also, have been the companion of St. ^ngus9 the Culdee, at Tallagh.
xv. , n. 215, p. 361.
33 it is somewhat remarkable, that near
Clashmore House, there "is a well of e—x-
cellent water, called St. Mochuda's well. "
Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of Ire-
"vol. ItshouldbeMochua's land, i. , p. 337.
Well.
34 Now Swords, county of Dublin. For
some illustrations and a description of this
interesting locality see Mr. and Mrs. Hall's
Eliogarty. Its situation may be found, on "Ireland: its Scenery, Character," &c. ,
the
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for vol. ii. , pp. 345, 346. Vol. H. —No. 8.
20
450 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [J-ebruaryio.
county,oratthatotherGlassmore,nearSwords/hasbeendisputed. * This doubt was increased, and confusion has been caused, by the circumstance of there having been a supposed Cronan,3 abbot of the latter house. Looking to the connection between Mochua and Carthage, it appears much more probable, however, that our St. Cronan's Glaismor was the former place, as being situated, not far from Lismore. Our present disciple of St. Carthage lived at a much earlier period, than he who was known as Cronan, Abbot of Glasmore, near Swords. -^ Supported, however, by the testimony of the Calendar of Cashel, Colgan supposes the present St. Cronan to have left
As St. Carthagh came to Lismore, about a. d. 631, and is said to have died A. D. 636, we were to consider Cronan as his successor in the abbey, his deathshouldbereferredtoastilllaterperiod. However,wefeelconstrained to dismiss the connexion of our saint and his monks, with the death of martyrs ; for, it is not at all apparent, they ever lived, near Swords, in the countyofDublin. 9 Adoubt,maywellexist,astoSt. CronanbeingAbbot of Lismore. For these reasons, we cannot name the year of his death, with
any great degree of certainty. It happened, probably towards the middle of the seventh century. The feast of our saint was celebrated at Lismore, it is
and to have this near Swords, s He tells that the departed life, us,
Lismore,
pirates of Norway or Denmark, having landed at Libher Domnonn,'^ not far from Dublin,7 thence issued forth, and during the night, they surprised our saint, with the members of his community, all of whom were mercilessly massacred. ^
*'
33 In the Dublin county
Irish Ordnance Survey," at this calendar entry, for the loth of February, allusion is made to Glassmore or Moortown, at p. 132.
3^ Archdall says, "we may, with some
probability, infer, that the site of the ancient
Glassmore, and the present Moortown, are the same ; the latter is situated about a mile from Swords. "^" Monasticon Hibernicum,"
dation for removing Mochua from the Glais- morofNandesi. "—"Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, xv. , n.
217, pp. 361, 362.
5 See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniiie," x.
Februarii. De S. Cronano, Abbate et Martyre, p. 304.
^
Inbher-Domnann was the mouth of a river to the north of Dublin, and between it and Inis-Padruic, as we learn from the Tri- partite Life of St. Patrick. See Colgan's
p. 253.
37 See John D'Alton's
" County Dublin," p. 298.
History of the
of — Chapter ii.
"Trias
Thaumaturga. "
Septima
Vita S.
^
The
of Swords,
Patricii, HI), i. , xliv. cap.
situated partly within the barony of Coo-
parish
Extracts of the
7 It is stated; that Saint Patrick, sailing along the coast of the Bregenses, and there- is delineated on the "Ordnance Survey fore northwards of Dublin, put into the
lock, and partly within that of Nethercross,
Townland Maps for the County of Dublin. "
Sheets 7, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15. Swords town andglebeareonSheet11.
"
In some calendars, a doubt is expressed, whether the Glaismor of Mochua was that in the Nandesi country, or that one near Swords.
3 I cannot find such a name, as connected with Swords, in our Annals.
4 Dr. Lanigan writes: "He and all his monks were killed, as our calendarisls tell us, by a party of Danes, who went to attack his monastery from their station at Inbher- Domnann. NowtheDaneshadnosuch stations in Ireland as early as the period we
river'smouth,Inbher-Domnann. Thence, he passed over to Inis-Padruic now Holm-
patrick. Itisthereforeveryeasytoidentify this Inbhear Domnonn with the estuaiy,
near the present Malahide, over part of which the Dublin and Drogheda Railway
passes. See John D'Alton's Introductory Memoir in "History of Drogheda, with its Environs," vol. i. , pp. xcvi. , xcvii. , with an exquisite steel engraving, representing this scene.
are treating of
nor is there
certain ac-
—and his monks at the perished
;
any
this saint
hands of the Danes and Norwegians, who frequently pillaged, bumed, and sacked
count of their investing the Irish coasts until
795. (See Ware, Antiq,, cap. 24, and J. P.
Murray, De Colon. Scand. ^ &c. , in Nov. Swords. See article by Mr, D'Dalton in
Comment Soc. Gotlins^. ^ torn. 3. ) This is more than sufficient to dispel the doubt, and to show that there is no sufficient foun-
"The Irish Penny Magazine," vol. i. , No. 39» PP« 3o5» 306, with an illustration of the round and square towers there.
^
561.
» It is likely, a Cronan—
See Camden's "Britannia," vol. iii. , p.
different from
I^EBRUARY 10. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 451
said, and in other parts of the Nan-Desii territor)', on the lolh day of this month. OnthishalfhoHday,afairisstillheld,inClashmore, Thepatron
has been styled a shining star, a happy offspring, a golden treasure, the very illustrious and exemplary Cronan, a saint without stain, and the glowing sun
ofGlasmore,'°bySt. ^^ngus. " TheMartyrologyofTallagh'^*noticeshim asCronan,sonofMellain,oftheDecies,andinLismor. TheCalendarof Cashel connects him both with Lismore and Swords. '3 Maguire seems to bedoubtful,regardingtheexactpositionofGlassmore. '* TheMartyrology of Donegal,'5 at the loth of February, enters this saint, as Cronan of Glais- mor, in Deisi-Mumhan, and of lis-mor, or of Glais-mdr, a church that was by the side of Sord,''^ to the south. It is said, the foreigners of Inbher Domhnann came to him, and killed him and all his people, in one night, so that not one of them escaped, without being destroyed, and thus they were martyred. Thissaintwasvenerated,likewise,andonthesameday,inScot- land. There, however, he is not classed Avith the martyrs. The holy con- fessor, Cronan, in Ireland, is set down at the loth of February/7 in the Ka- lendar of Drummond, as having departed to Christ. '^
It is somewhat remarkable, that many saints having the name of Cronan are also called Mochua, or My Chua,'9 in the Irish Calendars. ^'^ We are informed, that at Clashmore parish—once said to have been a bishopric^^— in the county of Waterford, an abbey of Regular Canons had been founded by St. Cronan Mochua. " At the dissolution of monasteries, its lands were granted in fee-farm to the celebrated Sir Walter Raleigh. ^'s The people yet
*'
continue to make their
rounds" at St. Mochua's holy well in Clashmore. ^'^
^° See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of 44, 45-
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. ,
chap. Ixxiv. , pp. 555, 556.
" The following rann, from the * ' Feilire "
"
of i^ngus, taken from the
and its English translation, have been kindly furnished by Professor O'Looney :—
|:. 1111. 1'0. I^eclu CA1M 50111 buA-DA, "b^Mich oi^A ec]\ochu Aije, C|voiiAn GAIT) cen •oiju. a,
5|\iAn gel 5lAi]7e mAi|\e.
" Bright star, victorious offspring,
A glowing mass of gold, a radiant guest, Is Cronan the chaste without reproach,
'^ Now Swords.
^7 Idus iv.
^8 See Bishop Forbes' *'Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 5.
The white sun of Glass Mor.
"
the apparent identical signification of the Irish words Cron and Cua. , Cronan and Cuatt.
^°
Colgan says, that in our Menologies there are eight Cronans, and eighteen Mo- chuas, whose feasts are distinct ; and, in almost all instances, the same saint is at one time named Cronan, and at another place,
Mochua. Thus, in the Martyrologies of Tallagh, Marianus Gorman and Donegal, at the 28th of April, St. Cronan of Koscrea is called Mochua. In like manner, at the 22nd of June, St. Cronan, Abbot of Ferns, is called
Leabhar Breac"
" Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xv.
^3 It notices him, as being the son of Mochua. Likewise, at the 30th of March,
Mellan, of Lismore, in the Munster Decies, and he is said to rest near Swords of St. Columba, towards the south. See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hibernire," x. Februarii. Vita S. Cronani, p. 304.
^4 In his Menology, at the lotli of Feb-
Glaismor in Desiis Momoniee, & Lismorioe colitur : vel Glaismor est Ecclesia juxta Surdumadaustrum. " Acommentisadded, that Glasmor was a church, near Swords, to the south, and that the Northmen came from Inbhear Domnann one night, and slaughtered St. Cronan with all his ceno- bites, so that not one of his family escaped.
*s Edited by Drs, Todd and Reeves, pp.
Mochua, Abbot of Balla, and at the 6th of August, St. Mochua of Clondalkin, are called by the name of Cronan. St. ^ngus
the Culdee, in his Homynomous Saints, book i. , chapter xix. , numbers more than
fifty saints, bearing the designation Mochua,
he ruary, says
:
" Cronanus, vel est Mochua
many of whom are called by the name of de Miliuc, id est, Cronanus filius Mellani de Cronan, in the aforesaid martyrologies.
'9
Colgan thinks this change comes from
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
X. Februarii, n. 2, p. 304.
=' "
SeeHarris'Ware,vol. ii. , Antiquities of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 266.
"In Archdall's "Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 687, the foundation of this place is attributed to Cuanchear, at the command ot St. Mochoemoc, of Lethmore ; but, this is altogether incorrect.
452 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Februaryio.
Nothing, in addition, of special interest has transpired, regarding St. Cronan ; nor, does his religious life appear to us abounding in any very un- usual adventures.
Article II. —St. Sillan or Siollan, Bishop of Glendalough,
County of Wicklow. \l^robably during the Sa'cnth or Eighth Century. } Although time has not wholly consumed the rolls of our former history,
many names of our holy ones appear therein, regarding whom we desire more extended information. Siollan, or Sillan, Bishop of Gleann-da-loch, is recorded in the Martyrologies of Tallagh^ and of Donegal,^ on this day.
Under the head of Glenn-da-locha, Duald Mac Firbis, likewise, enters,3 Siollan, Bishop of Glenn-da-lacha, at February loth. The same date is as- signed for his festival, by Father Hugh Ward,^ the Franciscan, who places
The Valley of Glendalough, County Wicklow.
him, in the order of enumeration after Bishop Darchell,^ who died May 3rd, A. D. 676. ^ The year of St. Sillan's death seems to be unknovvn. 7 Where"
this holy bishop rests has long ago been forgotten ; but, probably, his re- mains were laid in or near the cathedral, where he had often officiated during
=3 See Smith's "Ancient and Present
State of the County and City of Waterford," 4 See
"
chap, iii. , pp. 51, 52. The Assignee was sertatio Historica de Patria S. Rumoldi,
the Earl of Cork,
=4 The writer had an opportunity of seeing
this well, walled round, and within the de-
style him " Darchill mac Cuyletty. "
^ See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Article 11. -^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Four Masters," vol, i. , pp. 284,285. The Annals of Clonmacnoise have his death en- tered, at A. D. 674, while these of Ulster place it, under the year 677. See ibid. , n. (m).
mesne, in September, 1876. The people of Clashmore are fond of using its water.
Kelly, p. XV.
="
3 See *'
Academy," Irish MSS. series, voL i. , part
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 44» 45-
7 See Nolan's " and Anti- Joseph History
quities of Glendalough," chap, iii. , p. 21.
Proceedings
of the
Royal
Iri. sh
1. , pp. 112, 113.
Vita Sancti Rumoldi," &c. Dis-
sect.
s The Annals of Ulster call him " Daircill
mac Curetai," while those of Clonmacnoise
9, p. 158.
February io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 453
life. It is now a mere wreck, to produce only melancholy reminiscences -^ the walls are broken through, beside the graves of the dead, near the old round tower, which yet lifts its battered head. 9 With the crhasscs of its sides gaping in various crannies, it mutely tells, that the purpose for which it had been erected has long since fallen into disuse. Gone into dust are the crowded congregations, that flocked to worship before the altars and shrines, once so numerous in the deserted city of Glendalough.
Article III. —Reputed Festival of a Blessed Ingenoc, Abbot of St. Bertin, France. Among the Scottish Saints, Dempster^ includes a Blessed Ingenoc, at this date. He is said to have been Abbot of St. Bertin,* among the Atrebati. 3 These people lived in the province of Artois,^ in France. Theabbeyoverwhichheisthoughttohavepresidedwasprobably that, which formerly stood at St. Omer,5 and which, since the period of the French Revolution, has been left in a state of complete ruin. The walls
and tower^ yet standing attest, however, its extraordinary magnificence, towards the close of the last century.
Article IV. —The Blessed Muireadhach O'Cobhthaich, Bishop
OF Ardstraw. ^Twelfth Ceiitii7'y? \ Some chronological and topographical difficulties exist, regarding statements referring to this distinguished ecclesi- astic. From those high eulogies pronounced on him, and owing to the miracle recorded, as occurring on the night of his death,^ there can hardly be a doubt, but that he deserves to rank high among the Irish Beati. Muireadhach O'Cobthaigh, Anglicised Maurice O'Coffey,^ was born, probably about the beginning of the twelfth century. He is said to have become an Augustin Canon, and to have been held in great reput:;:ion, for his learning,
humility and charity towards the poor. 3 In the " Annals of the Four ""
Masters "< Murray O'Coffeys is called a son of purity, a precious stone, a
^ Such is the feeling, which haunts the contemplative Christian visitor to its now ruined shrines. His gaze
" In mournful recognition glides O'erGlendalough'sdespondenttides. "
—
Glendalough, or the Seven Churches. " A Didactic Poem, by an ex-Moderator, T. C. D. , canto i. Mountain Shadows, sect. iii. , p. 14. The author was J. T. S. Lefanu, Esq.
9 The accompanying illustration, from a photograph taken by Frederick H. Mares of Dublin, has been engraved by Mrs. Millard.
Article hi. —'' See "
ticum. " Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 192.
2 His feast occurs, on the 5th of Septem- ber, at which date some notices of him will belound.
3 B is postfixed to the foregoing statement, which, as we learn, stands lor " Breviarium Scoticum, maxime Aberdonense. "
4 Their position is marked in the Belgic part of Gallia Antiqua in Wilkinson's "Atlas Classica," No. 23.
s In the former college at this place —now almost totally reconstructed and altered from its original purpose—Daniel O'Connell re- ceived a part of his early education in 1 791 and 1792. It is entered from the Rue St. Bertin. Onfrontofthebuilding,itshistory is inscribed in French. It was built by the English Jesuits in 1592, and after having suffered from fire in 1684, and in 1726, it was erected into a Royal College in 1760. After the battle of Hondscoote in 1793, it was converted into a French Military Hos- pital, and at present, it affords accommoda. tion for 500 invalid soldiers. In July 1863, the writer was afforded an opportunity of inspecting the interior of this establishment, which is a model of neatness and order,
^ From the top of this tower, ascended through a winding staircase, a grand view of St. Omer, and tine plains around it, may be seen.
Articleiv. —' See"MemoiroftheCity
and North Western Liberties of London-
derry," part ii. , sect. 2, pp. 30, 31.
^ See Harris' Warej vol. i. , "Bishops of
Derry," p. 287. ^ See ibid.
4 See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. iii. ,
'*
Menologium
Sco-
454 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Februaryio.
transparent gem, a brilliant star, a treasury of wisdom, and a conservator of the canons of the Church. " According to the O'Clerys' Annals, he was
Bishop of Derry and Raphoe ; this, however, is apparently incorrect, for, it is shown, from satisfactory evidences, that, unless as a suffragan, he could not have been Bishop of Raphoe,*^ while there is equal reason to doubt of hishavingbeenBishopofDerry. 7 IntheearlierAnnals,heiseithercalled
Bishop of Ardstraw,^ or more generally Bishop of Kinel-Owen, or Tyrone, which is only another name for the same see. He assisted at the synod,
convened at Kells, by Cardinal Joannes Papiron or Paparo, in 1152, for he is enumerated among the bishops there, as Muredach O'Cobthaigh, Bishop
of Kinel-Eogain. This was six years before Derry is supposed to have been raised to the rank of an episcopal see ; although, perhaps in a loose
way, the present pious man is called Bishop of Derry,9 when it is chiefly
meant, he was placed, over the see of Ardstraw,^° which formerly comprised
the greater part of the present county of Derry. As one of the subscribing
witnesses to the foundation charter of
Newry, Latinized,
" De Viridi
Ligno,"
hisnameis "Muriach ofTirone. "" Weare appended, O'Cofifay, Bishop
told, that after he had bestowed food and raiment on the poor and needy;
after having ordained priests and deacons and men of every ecclesiastical
rank ; after having repaired many churches, consecrated many churches and
burial places, founded many monasteries and regleses or abbey-churches, andfulfilledeveryecclesiasticalduty; afterhavinggainedthepalmforpiety,
pilgrimage, and repentance ; this holy bishop resigned his spirit to Heaven, in the Duibhregles of Columkille'^, in Derry, on the loth of February, a. d. 1173. ^3 A great miracle was wrought on the night of his death. The dark
night was illumined from midnight to day-break ; while, the people thought the neighbouring parts of the world, that were visible, to be in one blaze of light. The likeness of a large globe of fire arose over the town, and moved in a south-easterly direction. All persons arose from their beds, imagining
pp. 8, 9.
3 This is the form adopted by Dr. O'Do-
novanforAnglicisinghisname. Seen. (b), ibid.
^
Gilcomge or Gilbert O'Caran is said to have been bishop over this see from a. d. 1 160, to 1 1 75, when he was promoted to the Archbishopric of Armagh. See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops of Raphoe," pp. 270, 271.
7 See "Memoir of the City and North
W'estern Liberties of Londonderry," part
iii. , sect. 2, p. 30.
and law,
And the fire of the faith, which St. Patrick
^
In verses, published by "Derriensis,"
^ Now called Londonderry. It is shown
on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the Comity of Derry. " Sheet 20, com-
prises the parish of Templemore and Clon-
dermot, and baronies of North West Liber-
ties of Londonderry and Tirkeeran,
'°
The present parish and townland of Ardstraw, in the baronies of Omagh West, and of Lower Strabane, are described, on
in the LoJidondeny jfotirtial, of May I4tli,
1875, 'i"*^^ intituled, "The Hills of Ard- the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
straw," allusion is made, in the following stanza, to the ancient history of this place :
" And grand are the mem'ries, those stream-
for the County Tyrone. " Sheets 5, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 32, 33, 34. The town and townland proper are on Sheets
16, 17.
" See " The Dublin Penny Journal," vol.
lets awaken,
And sa—cred tlie mins spread over the i. , No. 13, p. 102. John O'Donovan, wlio
plain
The Cromleach and Kistvaen, the Rath
and the Cairn,
The long vanished power of the Druids
proclaim.
But a brighter day dawn'd, when the new
dispensation
Gave life to the nations, and mc rals
has edited "The Charter of Newry," there
remarks in a note, that " Tironc anciently
comprehended the modern counties of Ti-
rone and Londonderry," ibid. , n. 10, p. 103.
*'
His Life occurs at the 9th of June.
'3 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of tho
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 8, 9.
hadkindled,
Burn'd nowhere more
here in Ardstraw. "
brightly,
than
February io. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 455
that it was day ; and, it was also thus, on the east side of the sea. ^* If such had been a manifestation of glory and greatness upon earth, when the soul of this blessed bishop winged its flight for a happier career ; we may well imagine, what bright visions opened upon him, when called to the light and felicity of the saints in Heaven.
Article V. —Reputed Feast of a St. Kilian, at Kilcullsheen,
OR KiLKiLiHiNE, CouNTY KILKENNY. Although there are many saints,
named Kilian, in our calendars, we are at a loss to know, if the present must
be identified with any of those, or if he be another unknown, or only found,
in local traditions. At Kilcullsheen, in the diocese of Ossor)^, the feast of
St. Kilian, is said to have been kept as patron, on the loth of February. ^
"
In the
said to be patron over the church of Kilkilihine, in the deaconry of Iverk. ^ It is remarkable, that both of the foregoing denominations are omitted from the Irish Ordnance Survey Townland Maps ; but, the difference of spelling seems to have reference only to a single place.
Article VI. —St. Airennan, Bishop of Tallagh, County of Dublin. [Eighth Century. '] The Martyrology of Tallagh^ enters Airendan, Bishop of Tallaghta, at the loth of February, and in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ we find entered, on this day, the name of Airennan, Bishop of Tamhlacht, now Tallagh, in the county of Dublin. He was born, most probably, during the earUer part of the eighth century ; and, it is also likely, that he made his religious profession at, or soon after, the foundation of Tallagh, in the year 769. Under the head of Tamlacht, Duald Mac Firbis places Airennan, or Erennan, Bishop of Tamlacht, at February ioth. 3 In the Dublin extracts,
Spicilegium Ossoriense," however, this saint, at the same date, is
to the Irish Ordnance
-^ and at the same in the Irish date,
Survey,
Calendar, we have this holy man's name occurring, as connected with Tam-
belonging
lacht. This, too, agrees with Ward's statement. s As St. Melruan,^ the
founder
a. d.
or recte
7 the
promotion
of St. Airennan must
787,
announced as Airfhindan, Abbot of Tamhlacht-Maeleruain (Tallaght), at A. D. 798, or 7'ecte 803. ^ He therefore seems to have been the immediate successor of St. Melruan, whom he survived in office, only for a few years. He must, also, have been the companion of St. ^ngus9 the Culdee, at Tallagh.
