Patrick's vision, which urged him to labour for the
conversion
of the Irish, as also his advice to St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
373—a difference of only two years
occurring in the result of the comparison which proves that no generations are missing or lost in either line ; if there were the result
could not so closely approximate. But if we test the maternal genealogy of Ciaran by
analysing its component parts, it gives us the following result, which ought to settle thp
Ballymote,'
and in each the is nume- pedigree
from to Aengus Ossory,
translated and edited for the '
Sanclilogium
:
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 121
Various dates have been assigned for the birth of Kieran. According to Usshers* and O'Flaherty, our saint was born in the year 352 ;S5 and, at a time, when Paganism universally prevailed throughout Ireland, as stated in his Life. Mr. Hogan deems the year 375 to accord more nearly, with the date for his birth. s^ This early period will not be allowed, by other learned writers,57 who would seem desirous of bringing that event, at least into the
if not into the age next succeeding. 5^ However this may be,S9 Ware makes our saint a native of Ossory f° but, Harris corrects this mis- sake,^' assigning his birth to Clare Island,^^ on the authority of Ussher's MS. Life. This island of Cape Clear^3 is the most southern land, in Ireland ; but, it had been misplaced in several old maps and sea-charts. Smith professes to indicate its position more exactly, than it had been previously defined, on the map of his County History. The north side of Clear Island bears potatoes, barley, and a little wheat, while the south is mostly a craggy rock. On this island, there were about 400 families,^* who had a good quantity of sheep and cows, some swine and horses, but all their cattle were very small. The islanders were often obliged to have provisions from the main shore, and in the most plentiful years, they never sent any to market. ^s
question of its accuracy. Lughaidh MacCon 55 O'Flaherty says, at "Anno 552. S. was the grandfather of Aengus Bolg, and Kieranus Saighir Ossoriorum patronus in this Aengus Bolg was the grandfather of lucem editus. "—"Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. Ciaran's mother. This chieftain had a son Ixxv. , p. 360.
named Mainn Cherr, and a daughrer named 5* See "St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," Abinda. Mainn Cherr had a daughter part i. , chap, i. , p. 12, chap. ii. , p. 14.
fifth
century,
named Liedania, and Abinda, becoming the
wife of Core, the first king of Cashel, had by
him a son named Nadfrach ; hence Lie-
dania, the daughter of Mainn Cherr and the " Irish Eccl siastiual Record," who
Nadhfrach, the son of Abinda, were first
cousins. Nadfrach, the second king of 1866.
"
St. Ciaran of Ossory and our Cor-
Cashel, had a son named Aengus, the first Christian king of Munster, and Liedania be- coming the wife of Lughaidh, an Ossorian
' chieftain, gave birth to Ciaran, the first-
born of the saints of Ireland,' hence Aengus MacNad(rach and St. Ciaran of Saighir were second cousins. Aengus was King of Munster, and a married man when he was baptized by St. Patrick «>r« 447-8, and, as a matter of course, both himself and his cousin Ciaran must have preceded St. Patrick in Ireland ; and, now, with those statistics before us, how are we to hold with our Rev. author that St. Ciaran belonged to the middle of the sixth century, though him- self and his cousin, Aengus MacNadhfrach, were full-grown men in the middle of the fifth ? "
respondents," pp. 25 to 35.
58 The Rev. Dr. Todd states, that the
genealogy of his father Luaigre is preserved in nine descents from his ancestor Aengus of
Ossory, who was expelled from his lands, by the Desii, in the reign of Cormac Ulfada
5* At this year, Ussher remarks, in his Episcopi Ossorienses, p. 68.
Index Chronologicus " S. Kiaranus Sai- *' See Harris' Ware, vol. " : i. ,
Bishops
of
grius in Hibernia natus est," p. 511. In the Ossory," p. 400.
" ^^
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,"
cap. xvi. , p. 410, Ussher says, "In Lagenia,
vero provincia inter Ossorienses, circa annum
CCCLII. ,. natus est Kiaranus &c. ," although
he afterwards acknowledges, that from a
—MS. Life of our saint, which he possessed, is called Insula Sancta Clara ; and in the
and which as appears from his quotations was identic—al with that first Life published
by Colgan our saint is related to have been
old Irish MSS. , Inish Damhly. It contains over 1,500 acres in the barony of West Car- bery (E. D. ), and it is shown on the "Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," Sheet 153.
"
videlicet in Clera insula," Ibid,
born and reared,
in regione Corculaigde,
57 Among the number may be mentioned the Rev. Drs. Lanigan and Todd, the Rev. John Francis Shearman, and a writer, in
gives the initials B. M. C, vol. iii. , October,
"
father could not have been born much be-
fore A. D. 500. "— "St. Patrick, Apostle of
Ireland," Introductory Dissertation, n. 6. ,
pp. 202, 203.
5« To understand the elaborate reasoning
of Mr. Hogan, in reference to various objec- tions occurring against his theory, the reader
(a. d 254-277).
If this be so, St. Ciaran's
must carefully study his
"
St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," part i. , chap, iii. , iv. , v. ,
vi. , vii. , pp. 15 to 29.
*" See " De Priesulibus Lagenise," lib. i.
In Irish, it is called Inis-Clere, which is Latinized " Insula Clericorum," accord- ing to the Irish Life of St. Ciaran.
°'^ It is a parish of itself, containing twelve ploughlands ; in the Ecclesiastical Books it
122 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 5.
It is said, that our saint's mother, before conception, had a vision during hersleep,whenastarseemedtofallintohermouth; and,havingafterwards* related this circumstance to the Magi, these declared, she should bring forth a son, whose fame and virtue must be diffused throughout Ireland, and to the end of time. After a sufficient period had elapsed, Kieran was born, in the territory of Corcalaighde. Almost from the moment of his birth, Ciaran seemed to be a favoured child of heaven. As he grew up, his parents and acquaintances, although pagans, admired the piety of his disposition, the sweetness of his discourse, his well-regulated mind, his prudent counsels, his frequent fasts, and all those other actions, which specially characterize the perfect Christian. ^^ The virtue of purity particularly distinguished him, and the darkness of pagan error seemed fast disappearing, before that light of Divine Grace so wondrously imparted to his soul. ^7
As a mere youth, we are told, that while Ciaran lived at Cape Clear,^^ a kite suddenly pounced upon a small bird, which was seated on her nest. This latter, in his presence, became a victim to the bird of prey, having been caught in its talons, and taken off into upper air. On seeing it, the child grieved much, at the fate of this small bird ; and, his innocent sympathies being moved to prayer for its preservation, the kite again returned, and placed its prey, but only half alive and wounded, before him. This poor bird was then restored to its nest, which it seemed to occupy with great satisfac- tion. Thus, even in such a trifling incident, it seemed that the Almighty was not unmindful of the desires and prayers of those, who are innocent and clean of heart. ^9
In a state of holiness, while following the law of nature and of grace, Kieran continued to his thirtieth year, without being regenerated in the waters of baptism, as the legend of his Life relates. At this time, having received some account of the Christian religion, as practised in Rome, he resolved on setting out for this renowned city, to gratify his laudable desire, for receiving more exact information, regarding its doctrines and observances. Having left Ireland, and proceeded to the capital of the Christian world, he was duly instructed in Catholic doctrine. In the year 382, according to Ussher,7° Kieran was regenerated, in the saving waters of baptism ; but, those who adopt other data for the time of his birth, proportionately advance the year, for succeeding events in his life. ? ^
* When Smith wrote his "
County of Cork," about the middle of the
century.
^5 In the work of Charles Smith, we read :
*' Towards the middle of the island, is their read
chapel, a large building, but as destitute of
any ornament as a barn. Here most of the
i—nhabitants meet on Sundays and holydays. "
last_
Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesi. irum An-
"
book ii. , chap, iv. , pp. 278, 279.
**
Such is tlie statement, in his First Life,
History of the County of Cork," vol. i. ,
as published by Colgan, cap. ii. , p. 458. "
*7 See Ohiciuni," lect. i. , p. 467. Sala- mus. "
mancan MS.
'** In the second volume of " Memoran-
dums on Antiquities and Local Names of the County of Cork," we find some interest- ing information, regarding the parish of Clear Island, and our saint's memorials, yet remaining. These are now preserved, in the Royal Irisli Academy.
__*9 This is related, in the First Life, cap.
n According to Mr. Hogan's calculation, his departure for Rome brings us to A. D. 405, the same year, in which Nial of the Nine Hostages fitted out an armada, and set sail for the coasts of Gaul. This, it is thought, may have furnished the opportunity for St. Kieran's voyage. See Mr. llogan's Review, already quoted, from the Kilkenny Journal
111. , p. 458
; as also in the Office of St.
Chaptkk 11.
'
See Mr.
John Hogan's
History
Kieran,
'° See "Index Chronologicus," p. 512.
of the
lect
ii. , p. 467.
tiquitates," cap. xvi. , p. 412, where we
" Deinde ordinatum ibi Episcopum, ad patriam suam Hibemiam missum fuisse subjicit, triginta annis ante adventum B. Patricii, quern anno Domini ccccxxxii. conti- gisse postea docebimus. Unde inita sub- ductaque ratione, anno ccclii. in lucem editum, ccclxxxii. Romam adiisse, & ccccii. in patriam rediisse Kiaranum comperia-
:
of June 13th, 18—77.
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 123
CHAPTER II.
ST. KIERAN'S ordination and consecration—HIS MEETING WITH ST. PATRICK, AND THEIR INTERCOURSE—HE IS RECOMMENDED BY THE LATTER TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN IRELAND—CONJECTURES REGARDING THE PLACE WHERE HIS MISSION BEGAN.
His fame for eloquence and virtue had preceded him,^ and St. Kieran remained for twenty years at Rome, according to both his Lives, as published
by Colgan ; but, only for a period of fifteen, according to Capgrave. During this time, as we are told, he was diligently employed in studying the Sacred Scriptures, and in collecting copies of them ; whilst, at the same time, he was engaged in acquiring a knowledge of the Church Canons. His wisdom and knowledge, his piety and faith, so far recommended him, that after receiving priesthood, it is said he was promoted to the episcopal rank. ^ Were we to credit some calculations—which we believe to have no better basis to rest on other than ingenious conjecture—St. Kieran may have been living in Italy ; yet, that he received episcopal consecration in Rome, or that he derived a direct commission therefrom, to preach the gospel, as a bishop, in Ireland, may be regarded as doubtful. If in Rome at all, a writer of our saint's life supposes, that he must have left it, before the year 418, and, on his way homewards, he is thought to have visited one of the greatest schools of that age in Italy, where his clerical studies were either commenced or prosecuted. This is conjectured to have been Lerins, now St. Honorat, an island in the Mediterranean Sea, not far from the western coast of Italy. Here, the period of his stay is imagined to have procured St. Kieran's first acquaintance, with the future great Apostle of Ireland. In the second part of Mr. Hogan's book, we are given an account, of how St. Ciaran remained some time in Rome, of how he was ordained bishop, of how on his journey homewards, he met St. Patrick in Italy, and ordained him priest. To the work itself, we must refer the reader for comprehension of the probability of such narrative. Again, Kieran is identified with a St. Senior, to whom St. Patrick was referred by an angel to receive instruction, and who is regarded, as having already
attained to the grade of bishop. Among those Irish saints the Apostle of
Ireland met abroad,3 the sixth was Senex Kieranus de Sagir, according to the
Tripartite Life ; and, from "Senex" to "Senior" the transposition is easy,
while,
when the work in was " S. Senior Ciaranus " question written, episcopus
was our saint's proper designation,5 and it is thought, by accident or design, ""
the word Ciaranus being allowed to drop out of St. Patrick's memoirs, the qualifying adjective was allowed to form the proper name for our bishop. °
After due instruction, at Lerins, Mr. Hogan would have it, that Bishop Ciaran ordained St. Patrick a priest, and afterwards continued to exercise the
relationship of tutor towards the future Apostle, as supposed, for seven years. To this period is assigned St.
Patrick's vision, which urged him to labour for the conversion of the Irish, as also his advice to St. Ciaran, pending a pre.
'*
St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," part ii. , chap, vi. , pp. 69 to 73.
^ See Vita S. Kierani ex Codice Kilken- niensi, cap. iv. , p. 458, also Vita S. Kierani ex MS. Salmanticensi, Officium, lect. 2, p. 467.
p. 130. There, too, our saint is classed among the disciples of St. Patrick. — " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii," cap. xxiii. , p. 266.
s in the JeineAlAc Co]\ca tAi-oe, we
3 See an account of this
notices of St. Meallan, of Kilrush, or of senior of the saints of Eire. " "Miscellany
Cloncraff, at the 28th of January.
* See "Trias/ Colgan's
Phaumaturga. " Septima Vita S. Patricii,/ as. ii. , cap. ix. ,
transaction,
in the
e^xenr),
in
English,
Ac\\\ if e Cia|\aii ^inui'qA iiAeni
of the Celtic Society," edited by John
O'Donovan, Esq. , LL. D,, M. R. I. A. , pp. 22, 23.
read :
"And—Ciaran is the
124 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 5.
paration for that mission, to precede him, in prosecution of their joint labours. After these events, as said about 428,7 St. Ciaran was sent on a mission to his native island. It is stated, in our saint's Life, that on his return, in com- pany with St. Declan,^ he met St. Patrick in Italy, when the latter was on his way to Rome. Other accounts represent, that Kieran's meeting with St. Patrick, somewhere out of Ireland, occurred several years after the latter had commenced his apostolical labours in this country. In Colgan's Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, the precise place of meeting is not given ;9 but, it is represented, as having occurred, at least twelve years after St. Patrick had began his mission in Ireland. ^" Jocelin places it at an epoch, when St. Patrick was returning from Britain. Thither he had gone some time before, to procure a supply of additional helpers for his mission. " The future Apostle of Ireland had not been consecrated bishop at that time ; as this meeting took place, according to Ussher, about the year 402. " Yet, accord- ing to Dr. Lanigan, so far from being a bishop at Rome, in the year 402, he was not one, until a considerable time after St. Patrick's mission to Ireland, when Kieran, having returned from abroad, was consecrated. '3
At that time they met on the Continent, St. Patrick said to Kieran, " Proceed
to Ireland before me, and go to a fountain, in the middle of Ireland, which is
called Fuaran,'4 on the northern and southern line of division in the island j
build a monastery on that spot,'5 for there thou shalt be held in honour, and it
shall be the of resurrection. " To this St. Kieran " The place thy replied,
place where that fountain springs, I do not know. " Then, St. Patrick
answered, " My dearly-beloved brother, proceed with full confidence, and the Lord will be your guide ; receive this bell, which shall be the companion of your journey, and which shall not sound, until you come to the fountain in- dicated. When you arrive there, the bell shall ring out clearly, and sound sweetly ; and after thirty years, I will meet you in that place. " With the kiss of peace and mutual benedictions, these great saints departed to the respec- tive places of their destination. '^ It is thought most rational to suppose, that St. Patrick directed Kiaran, on landing in Ireland, to visit his own part of the country, and to commence his mission, among the influential persons of his ownfamily,andamonghistribesmen. Now,itseemsprobableenough,that
®
See Mr. John Hogan's "St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," part ii. , chap, vii. , pp. 74 to 83.
^ According to Mr. Hogan's calculation,
in his "St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," part
ii. , chap, ix. , p. 95.
**
See his Life, at the 24th of July.
9 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap. ix. , p. 130,
and n. 34, p. 174. Ibid.
'o "
turga. "
" See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
quitates," cap. xvi. , p. 413, and Index Chronologicus, A. D. ccccii. , p. 513.
'^ See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. i. , chap, i. , sect, xiv. , n. 118, p. 32.
'* According to the English MS. Life,
this fountain is styled Uaran, "in a solitary
place in the north-east part of the country. "
Kieran is stated to have then received directions from the saint concerning the dis-
trict, in which he should erect his monas-
tery. Accordingly Colgan, notwithstanding gan's his credulity elsewhere, reckons—him among
the disciples of St. Patrick. " Dr. Lani-
gan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. i. , chap. i. , sect, xiv. , p. 30.
" In addition, he tells us, that Kieran was
then one of six Irish clerics, who were pro-
ceeding to foreign countries for religious improvement. All of these aftenvards be-
came bishops in their own country. See
Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. xciii. , p. 86, and
n. " Trias Thauma- 104, p. 113. Colgan's
Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap. ix. , p. 130. Now, Mr. Hogan contends, that under any of the preceding forms, the River Nore, anciently called, Eoir. Eoire, Eoir, Heoir and Feoir, must be understood. See "St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," part ii. , chap, ix. , pp. 98, 99.
The Tripartite Life of St. Patrick has the
injunction, that St. Ciaran should build his
monastery near the River Huar. See Col-
"
'S To our mind, this seems to indicate the
site of Saighir Ciaran, and nearly all writers
on the subject agree in giving the prophecy
such
interpretation.
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 125
he went first to his native place ; and, in point of fact, an ancient tradition prevails, that the Corca Laidhe first ot all other people were believers in Ire- land. Most hkely, St. Ciaran first landed there, and if so, he undoubtedly began, at once, to open his mission. There, too, it is stated, that the chief
or the inhabitants first granted him the site, on which afterwards stood the "
church known as Cill-Chiarain, or St. Ciaran's church," near Fintract-
Clere,'7 now Traigh-Chiarain, on Cape Clear Island. Here, too, it seems probable, his mother's first cousin, Eiderscel,'^ on her father's side, became a
convert, and in consequence, as a reward for his faith, Ciaran predicted for his progeny, reign and chieftainship over their race, while he left to the king of Corca-Laidhe the eniclann of a provincial king. '9 The ruined church of
Temple or Kill-Chiaran, stands, on the north-west point of Cape Clear
Templekieran. One John Gauley,''' in 1845, carefully examined about this old ruin, and he could find no trace of any other old parish church. There was a stone, of which he presented a handsome pen and ink sketch. It was
"
called, Gallaun-Kieran, which signifies,
was of a circular form, tapering towards the top, and it stood on the sea- shore. It measured lour feet nine inches in height, by six feet in circum-
called
Clear stated, that there never was an old parish church on the island, except
Island,
over the
cove,
Traigh-Chiarain.
Cape
ference ^ nearthe f while,
sunkinthe andsaidto stone,
thereisa
have been cut, by St. Kieran's own hands. There was formerly a cross on
the western side, and on its top. These could hardly be traced in 1845,
being much defaced through the effects of time. =^3 Whether or not, St.
Ciaran remained long among the Corca Laidhe can hardly be known ; but,
Mr. Hogan seems to bring him directly to the Nore, after he landed in Ire-
land, and to the present site of Kilkenny City. ^* To those who have visited
top,
cross,
the lovely valley of ihe Nore, and the territory lying between the Suir and the
Barrow—the accredited scene ot Ciaran's apostolic labours—the topography
of that territory is graphically sketched and historically illustrated by the author, and it forms one of the most attractive features ot his work. ^s In the
ancient territory of Ossory, it is supposed, the missionary met his own people,
and planted his cross, in view of the Ard-Righ's mansion, which occupied the site of the present magnificent casde in Kilkenny. ^^ Here he collected a
" See tlie First Life, as published by Col-
gan, chap. v.
'7 In English "the fair," or "white
strand of Cape Clear Island. "
'*
in Comillane townland, in Clear Island, there is a remarkable group of Gallauns, two of which are standing, and one is lying, on the ground, a fence crossing it. There is a hole, about eight inches in diameter, on the top, getting narrow, as it goes inward,
Not from him, but from his twelfth
descendant, Eiderscel. son ot Finn, the Ui-
Eidersceol, or O'Driscolls took their here- perforated through one of them. It has ditary surnames.
'' See 5eitieAiA6 Co]\CA t. Ai'oe, in " Mis- cellany of the Celtic Society," and nn. (c. f. g), pp. 20 to 23.
""^ See Charles Smith's " Natural and Civil History of the County of Cork," book ii. , chap. iv.
*' To certain queries, addressed to this locality, by Lieutenant Leach, R. E. , we have
the substance of what is related
" We must suppose, at the base.
'3 Being questioned, if St. Cieran's cross were one separate from the Gallaunkieran, Mr. Gauley replies, that " there is no other objest in the island with a cross cut on it save this. " The same writer tells us. that
evidently been made by art, at a remote period. The inhabitants call these stones Gallauns, but nothing more could be learned regardmg them. A handsome pen and ink sketch of them accompanies this account. There are burial grounds, in Clear Island, called Keels, by the inhabitants. Those burial places can hardly be distinguished from surrounding fields. See, pp.
occurring in the result of the comparison which proves that no generations are missing or lost in either line ; if there were the result
could not so closely approximate. But if we test the maternal genealogy of Ciaran by
analysing its component parts, it gives us the following result, which ought to settle thp
Ballymote,'
and in each the is nume- pedigree
from to Aengus Ossory,
translated and edited for the '
Sanclilogium
:
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 121
Various dates have been assigned for the birth of Kieran. According to Usshers* and O'Flaherty, our saint was born in the year 352 ;S5 and, at a time, when Paganism universally prevailed throughout Ireland, as stated in his Life. Mr. Hogan deems the year 375 to accord more nearly, with the date for his birth. s^ This early period will not be allowed, by other learned writers,57 who would seem desirous of bringing that event, at least into the
if not into the age next succeeding. 5^ However this may be,S9 Ware makes our saint a native of Ossory f° but, Harris corrects this mis- sake,^' assigning his birth to Clare Island,^^ on the authority of Ussher's MS. Life. This island of Cape Clear^3 is the most southern land, in Ireland ; but, it had been misplaced in several old maps and sea-charts. Smith professes to indicate its position more exactly, than it had been previously defined, on the map of his County History. The north side of Clear Island bears potatoes, barley, and a little wheat, while the south is mostly a craggy rock. On this island, there were about 400 families,^* who had a good quantity of sheep and cows, some swine and horses, but all their cattle were very small. The islanders were often obliged to have provisions from the main shore, and in the most plentiful years, they never sent any to market. ^s
question of its accuracy. Lughaidh MacCon 55 O'Flaherty says, at "Anno 552. S. was the grandfather of Aengus Bolg, and Kieranus Saighir Ossoriorum patronus in this Aengus Bolg was the grandfather of lucem editus. "—"Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. Ciaran's mother. This chieftain had a son Ixxv. , p. 360.
named Mainn Cherr, and a daughrer named 5* See "St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," Abinda. Mainn Cherr had a daughter part i. , chap, i. , p. 12, chap. ii. , p. 14.
fifth
century,
named Liedania, and Abinda, becoming the
wife of Core, the first king of Cashel, had by
him a son named Nadfrach ; hence Lie-
dania, the daughter of Mainn Cherr and the " Irish Eccl siastiual Record," who
Nadhfrach, the son of Abinda, were first
cousins. Nadfrach, the second king of 1866.
"
St. Ciaran of Ossory and our Cor-
Cashel, had a son named Aengus, the first Christian king of Munster, and Liedania be- coming the wife of Lughaidh, an Ossorian
' chieftain, gave birth to Ciaran, the first-
born of the saints of Ireland,' hence Aengus MacNad(rach and St. Ciaran of Saighir were second cousins. Aengus was King of Munster, and a married man when he was baptized by St. Patrick «>r« 447-8, and, as a matter of course, both himself and his cousin Ciaran must have preceded St. Patrick in Ireland ; and, now, with those statistics before us, how are we to hold with our Rev. author that St. Ciaran belonged to the middle of the sixth century, though him- self and his cousin, Aengus MacNadhfrach, were full-grown men in the middle of the fifth ? "
respondents," pp. 25 to 35.
58 The Rev. Dr. Todd states, that the
genealogy of his father Luaigre is preserved in nine descents from his ancestor Aengus of
Ossory, who was expelled from his lands, by the Desii, in the reign of Cormac Ulfada
5* At this year, Ussher remarks, in his Episcopi Ossorienses, p. 68.
Index Chronologicus " S. Kiaranus Sai- *' See Harris' Ware, vol. " : i. ,
Bishops
of
grius in Hibernia natus est," p. 511. In the Ossory," p. 400.
" ^^
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,"
cap. xvi. , p. 410, Ussher says, "In Lagenia,
vero provincia inter Ossorienses, circa annum
CCCLII. ,. natus est Kiaranus &c. ," although
he afterwards acknowledges, that from a
—MS. Life of our saint, which he possessed, is called Insula Sancta Clara ; and in the
and which as appears from his quotations was identic—al with that first Life published
by Colgan our saint is related to have been
old Irish MSS. , Inish Damhly. It contains over 1,500 acres in the barony of West Car- bery (E. D. ), and it is shown on the "Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," Sheet 153.
"
videlicet in Clera insula," Ibid,
born and reared,
in regione Corculaigde,
57 Among the number may be mentioned the Rev. Drs. Lanigan and Todd, the Rev. John Francis Shearman, and a writer, in
gives the initials B. M. C, vol. iii. , October,
"
father could not have been born much be-
fore A. D. 500. "— "St. Patrick, Apostle of
Ireland," Introductory Dissertation, n. 6. ,
pp. 202, 203.
5« To understand the elaborate reasoning
of Mr. Hogan, in reference to various objec- tions occurring against his theory, the reader
(a. d 254-277).
If this be so, St. Ciaran's
must carefully study his
"
St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," part i. , chap, iii. , iv. , v. ,
vi. , vii. , pp. 15 to 29.
*" See " De Priesulibus Lagenise," lib. i.
In Irish, it is called Inis-Clere, which is Latinized " Insula Clericorum," accord- ing to the Irish Life of St. Ciaran.
°'^ It is a parish of itself, containing twelve ploughlands ; in the Ecclesiastical Books it
122 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 5.
It is said, that our saint's mother, before conception, had a vision during hersleep,whenastarseemedtofallintohermouth; and,havingafterwards* related this circumstance to the Magi, these declared, she should bring forth a son, whose fame and virtue must be diffused throughout Ireland, and to the end of time. After a sufficient period had elapsed, Kieran was born, in the territory of Corcalaighde. Almost from the moment of his birth, Ciaran seemed to be a favoured child of heaven. As he grew up, his parents and acquaintances, although pagans, admired the piety of his disposition, the sweetness of his discourse, his well-regulated mind, his prudent counsels, his frequent fasts, and all those other actions, which specially characterize the perfect Christian. ^^ The virtue of purity particularly distinguished him, and the darkness of pagan error seemed fast disappearing, before that light of Divine Grace so wondrously imparted to his soul. ^7
As a mere youth, we are told, that while Ciaran lived at Cape Clear,^^ a kite suddenly pounced upon a small bird, which was seated on her nest. This latter, in his presence, became a victim to the bird of prey, having been caught in its talons, and taken off into upper air. On seeing it, the child grieved much, at the fate of this small bird ; and, his innocent sympathies being moved to prayer for its preservation, the kite again returned, and placed its prey, but only half alive and wounded, before him. This poor bird was then restored to its nest, which it seemed to occupy with great satisfac- tion. Thus, even in such a trifling incident, it seemed that the Almighty was not unmindful of the desires and prayers of those, who are innocent and clean of heart. ^9
In a state of holiness, while following the law of nature and of grace, Kieran continued to his thirtieth year, without being regenerated in the waters of baptism, as the legend of his Life relates. At this time, having received some account of the Christian religion, as practised in Rome, he resolved on setting out for this renowned city, to gratify his laudable desire, for receiving more exact information, regarding its doctrines and observances. Having left Ireland, and proceeded to the capital of the Christian world, he was duly instructed in Catholic doctrine. In the year 382, according to Ussher,7° Kieran was regenerated, in the saving waters of baptism ; but, those who adopt other data for the time of his birth, proportionately advance the year, for succeeding events in his life. ? ^
* When Smith wrote his "
County of Cork," about the middle of the
century.
^5 In the work of Charles Smith, we read :
*' Towards the middle of the island, is their read
chapel, a large building, but as destitute of
any ornament as a barn. Here most of the
i—nhabitants meet on Sundays and holydays. "
last_
Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesi. irum An-
"
book ii. , chap, iv. , pp. 278, 279.
**
Such is tlie statement, in his First Life,
History of the County of Cork," vol. i. ,
as published by Colgan, cap. ii. , p. 458. "
*7 See Ohiciuni," lect. i. , p. 467. Sala- mus. "
mancan MS.
'** In the second volume of " Memoran-
dums on Antiquities and Local Names of the County of Cork," we find some interest- ing information, regarding the parish of Clear Island, and our saint's memorials, yet remaining. These are now preserved, in the Royal Irisli Academy.
__*9 This is related, in the First Life, cap.
n According to Mr. Hogan's calculation, his departure for Rome brings us to A. D. 405, the same year, in which Nial of the Nine Hostages fitted out an armada, and set sail for the coasts of Gaul. This, it is thought, may have furnished the opportunity for St. Kieran's voyage. See Mr. llogan's Review, already quoted, from the Kilkenny Journal
111. , p. 458
; as also in the Office of St.
Chaptkk 11.
'
See Mr.
John Hogan's
History
Kieran,
'° See "Index Chronologicus," p. 512.
of the
lect
ii. , p. 467.
tiquitates," cap. xvi. , p. 412, where we
" Deinde ordinatum ibi Episcopum, ad patriam suam Hibemiam missum fuisse subjicit, triginta annis ante adventum B. Patricii, quern anno Domini ccccxxxii. conti- gisse postea docebimus. Unde inita sub- ductaque ratione, anno ccclii. in lucem editum, ccclxxxii. Romam adiisse, & ccccii. in patriam rediisse Kiaranum comperia-
:
of June 13th, 18—77.
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 123
CHAPTER II.
ST. KIERAN'S ordination and consecration—HIS MEETING WITH ST. PATRICK, AND THEIR INTERCOURSE—HE IS RECOMMENDED BY THE LATTER TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN IRELAND—CONJECTURES REGARDING THE PLACE WHERE HIS MISSION BEGAN.
His fame for eloquence and virtue had preceded him,^ and St. Kieran remained for twenty years at Rome, according to both his Lives, as published
by Colgan ; but, only for a period of fifteen, according to Capgrave. During this time, as we are told, he was diligently employed in studying the Sacred Scriptures, and in collecting copies of them ; whilst, at the same time, he was engaged in acquiring a knowledge of the Church Canons. His wisdom and knowledge, his piety and faith, so far recommended him, that after receiving priesthood, it is said he was promoted to the episcopal rank. ^ Were we to credit some calculations—which we believe to have no better basis to rest on other than ingenious conjecture—St. Kieran may have been living in Italy ; yet, that he received episcopal consecration in Rome, or that he derived a direct commission therefrom, to preach the gospel, as a bishop, in Ireland, may be regarded as doubtful. If in Rome at all, a writer of our saint's life supposes, that he must have left it, before the year 418, and, on his way homewards, he is thought to have visited one of the greatest schools of that age in Italy, where his clerical studies were either commenced or prosecuted. This is conjectured to have been Lerins, now St. Honorat, an island in the Mediterranean Sea, not far from the western coast of Italy. Here, the period of his stay is imagined to have procured St. Kieran's first acquaintance, with the future great Apostle of Ireland. In the second part of Mr. Hogan's book, we are given an account, of how St. Ciaran remained some time in Rome, of how he was ordained bishop, of how on his journey homewards, he met St. Patrick in Italy, and ordained him priest. To the work itself, we must refer the reader for comprehension of the probability of such narrative. Again, Kieran is identified with a St. Senior, to whom St. Patrick was referred by an angel to receive instruction, and who is regarded, as having already
attained to the grade of bishop. Among those Irish saints the Apostle of
Ireland met abroad,3 the sixth was Senex Kieranus de Sagir, according to the
Tripartite Life ; and, from "Senex" to "Senior" the transposition is easy,
while,
when the work in was " S. Senior Ciaranus " question written, episcopus
was our saint's proper designation,5 and it is thought, by accident or design, ""
the word Ciaranus being allowed to drop out of St. Patrick's memoirs, the qualifying adjective was allowed to form the proper name for our bishop. °
After due instruction, at Lerins, Mr. Hogan would have it, that Bishop Ciaran ordained St. Patrick a priest, and afterwards continued to exercise the
relationship of tutor towards the future Apostle, as supposed, for seven years. To this period is assigned St.
Patrick's vision, which urged him to labour for the conversion of the Irish, as also his advice to St. Ciaran, pending a pre.
'*
St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," part ii. , chap, vi. , pp. 69 to 73.
^ See Vita S. Kierani ex Codice Kilken- niensi, cap. iv. , p. 458, also Vita S. Kierani ex MS. Salmanticensi, Officium, lect. 2, p. 467.
p. 130. There, too, our saint is classed among the disciples of St. Patrick. — " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii," cap. xxiii. , p. 266.
s in the JeineAlAc Co]\ca tAi-oe, we
3 See an account of this
notices of St. Meallan, of Kilrush, or of senior of the saints of Eire. " "Miscellany
Cloncraff, at the 28th of January.
* See "Trias/ Colgan's
Phaumaturga. " Septima Vita S. Patricii,/ as. ii. , cap. ix. ,
transaction,
in the
e^xenr),
in
English,
Ac\\\ if e Cia|\aii ^inui'qA iiAeni
of the Celtic Society," edited by John
O'Donovan, Esq. , LL. D,, M. R. I. A. , pp. 22, 23.
read :
"And—Ciaran is the
124 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 5.
paration for that mission, to precede him, in prosecution of their joint labours. After these events, as said about 428,7 St. Ciaran was sent on a mission to his native island. It is stated, in our saint's Life, that on his return, in com- pany with St. Declan,^ he met St. Patrick in Italy, when the latter was on his way to Rome. Other accounts represent, that Kieran's meeting with St. Patrick, somewhere out of Ireland, occurred several years after the latter had commenced his apostolical labours in this country. In Colgan's Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, the precise place of meeting is not given ;9 but, it is represented, as having occurred, at least twelve years after St. Patrick had began his mission in Ireland. ^" Jocelin places it at an epoch, when St. Patrick was returning from Britain. Thither he had gone some time before, to procure a supply of additional helpers for his mission. " The future Apostle of Ireland had not been consecrated bishop at that time ; as this meeting took place, according to Ussher, about the year 402. " Yet, accord- ing to Dr. Lanigan, so far from being a bishop at Rome, in the year 402, he was not one, until a considerable time after St. Patrick's mission to Ireland, when Kieran, having returned from abroad, was consecrated. '3
At that time they met on the Continent, St. Patrick said to Kieran, " Proceed
to Ireland before me, and go to a fountain, in the middle of Ireland, which is
called Fuaran,'4 on the northern and southern line of division in the island j
build a monastery on that spot,'5 for there thou shalt be held in honour, and it
shall be the of resurrection. " To this St. Kieran " The place thy replied,
place where that fountain springs, I do not know. " Then, St. Patrick
answered, " My dearly-beloved brother, proceed with full confidence, and the Lord will be your guide ; receive this bell, which shall be the companion of your journey, and which shall not sound, until you come to the fountain in- dicated. When you arrive there, the bell shall ring out clearly, and sound sweetly ; and after thirty years, I will meet you in that place. " With the kiss of peace and mutual benedictions, these great saints departed to the respec- tive places of their destination. '^ It is thought most rational to suppose, that St. Patrick directed Kiaran, on landing in Ireland, to visit his own part of the country, and to commence his mission, among the influential persons of his ownfamily,andamonghistribesmen. Now,itseemsprobableenough,that
®
See Mr. John Hogan's "St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," part ii. , chap, vii. , pp. 74 to 83.
^ According to Mr. Hogan's calculation,
in his "St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," part
ii. , chap, ix. , p. 95.
**
See his Life, at the 24th of July.
9 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap. ix. , p. 130,
and n. 34, p. 174. Ibid.
'o "
turga. "
" See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
quitates," cap. xvi. , p. 413, and Index Chronologicus, A. D. ccccii. , p. 513.
'^ See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. i. , chap, i. , sect, xiv. , n. 118, p. 32.
'* According to the English MS. Life,
this fountain is styled Uaran, "in a solitary
place in the north-east part of the country. "
Kieran is stated to have then received directions from the saint concerning the dis-
trict, in which he should erect his monas-
tery. Accordingly Colgan, notwithstanding gan's his credulity elsewhere, reckons—him among
the disciples of St. Patrick. " Dr. Lani-
gan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. i. , chap. i. , sect, xiv. , p. 30.
" In addition, he tells us, that Kieran was
then one of six Irish clerics, who were pro-
ceeding to foreign countries for religious improvement. All of these aftenvards be-
came bishops in their own country. See
Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. xciii. , p. 86, and
n. " Trias Thauma- 104, p. 113. Colgan's
Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap. ix. , p. 130. Now, Mr. Hogan contends, that under any of the preceding forms, the River Nore, anciently called, Eoir. Eoire, Eoir, Heoir and Feoir, must be understood. See "St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," part ii. , chap, ix. , pp. 98, 99.
The Tripartite Life of St. Patrick has the
injunction, that St. Ciaran should build his
monastery near the River Huar. See Col-
"
'S To our mind, this seems to indicate the
site of Saighir Ciaran, and nearly all writers
on the subject agree in giving the prophecy
such
interpretation.
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 125
he went first to his native place ; and, in point of fact, an ancient tradition prevails, that the Corca Laidhe first ot all other people were believers in Ire- land. Most hkely, St. Ciaran first landed there, and if so, he undoubtedly began, at once, to open his mission. There, too, it is stated, that the chief
or the inhabitants first granted him the site, on which afterwards stood the "
church known as Cill-Chiarain, or St. Ciaran's church," near Fintract-
Clere,'7 now Traigh-Chiarain, on Cape Clear Island. Here, too, it seems probable, his mother's first cousin, Eiderscel,'^ on her father's side, became a
convert, and in consequence, as a reward for his faith, Ciaran predicted for his progeny, reign and chieftainship over their race, while he left to the king of Corca-Laidhe the eniclann of a provincial king. '9 The ruined church of
Temple or Kill-Chiaran, stands, on the north-west point of Cape Clear
Templekieran. One John Gauley,''' in 1845, carefully examined about this old ruin, and he could find no trace of any other old parish church. There was a stone, of which he presented a handsome pen and ink sketch. It was
"
called, Gallaun-Kieran, which signifies,
was of a circular form, tapering towards the top, and it stood on the sea- shore. It measured lour feet nine inches in height, by six feet in circum-
called
Clear stated, that there never was an old parish church on the island, except
Island,
over the
cove,
Traigh-Chiarain.
Cape
ference ^ nearthe f while,
sunkinthe andsaidto stone,
thereisa
have been cut, by St. Kieran's own hands. There was formerly a cross on
the western side, and on its top. These could hardly be traced in 1845,
being much defaced through the effects of time. =^3 Whether or not, St.
Ciaran remained long among the Corca Laidhe can hardly be known ; but,
Mr. Hogan seems to bring him directly to the Nore, after he landed in Ire-
land, and to the present site of Kilkenny City. ^* To those who have visited
top,
cross,
the lovely valley of ihe Nore, and the territory lying between the Suir and the
Barrow—the accredited scene ot Ciaran's apostolic labours—the topography
of that territory is graphically sketched and historically illustrated by the author, and it forms one of the most attractive features ot his work. ^s In the
ancient territory of Ossory, it is supposed, the missionary met his own people,
and planted his cross, in view of the Ard-Righ's mansion, which occupied the site of the present magnificent casde in Kilkenny. ^^ Here he collected a
" See tlie First Life, as published by Col-
gan, chap. v.
'7 In English "the fair," or "white
strand of Cape Clear Island. "
'*
in Comillane townland, in Clear Island, there is a remarkable group of Gallauns, two of which are standing, and one is lying, on the ground, a fence crossing it. There is a hole, about eight inches in diameter, on the top, getting narrow, as it goes inward,
Not from him, but from his twelfth
descendant, Eiderscel. son ot Finn, the Ui-
Eidersceol, or O'Driscolls took their here- perforated through one of them. It has ditary surnames.
'' See 5eitieAiA6 Co]\CA t. Ai'oe, in " Mis- cellany of the Celtic Society," and nn. (c. f. g), pp. 20 to 23.
""^ See Charles Smith's " Natural and Civil History of the County of Cork," book ii. , chap. iv.
*' To certain queries, addressed to this locality, by Lieutenant Leach, R. E. , we have
the substance of what is related
" We must suppose, at the base.
'3 Being questioned, if St. Cieran's cross were one separate from the Gallaunkieran, Mr. Gauley replies, that " there is no other objest in the island with a cross cut on it save this. " The same writer tells us. that
evidently been made by art, at a remote period. The inhabitants call these stones Gallauns, but nothing more could be learned regardmg them. A handsome pen and ink sketch of them accompanies this account. There are burial grounds, in Clear Island, called Keels, by the inhabitants. Those burial places can hardly be distinguished from surrounding fields. See, pp.
