There was no
abbo—t
or bishop Tigemach thereinthosedays.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
When the navigators had reached the wished-for port, turning towards the virgin's
she became insensible, and her immediately yielded up
3^ Astonished at this circumstance, the king required his soldiers to give a full account of what had taken place, during their journey. Afterwards, he ordered the royal maiden's dead body to be given without delay to the strange pilgrim,
" O
of Jesus Christ arise, and disembark from this vessel, first of all. " Imme-
diately, she arose, and to the great astonishment and admiration of its crew, Ethnea went on shore. 39 Having forgotten a thurible,*" at that port from which he embarked, Tighernach found it at the spot, near which he landed. He remained some time with St. Bridgid *' This illustrious virgin received him with great honour. The fame of his sanctity in Ireland soon brought many to a profession of the true faith. ^=
CHAPTER II.
body, Tigernach said,
Ethnea,
thou art buried in a In the name long sleep.
ST. TIGHERNACH VISITS MUNSTER AND CHAINS A DEMON—A RULER, NAMED FIACHRIUS, GRANTS HIM THE SITE FOR A MONASTERY—HE THEN VISITS KILDARE, AND ON THE NOMINATION OF ST. BRIDGET, HE IS CONSECRATED A BISHOP—TIGHERNACH RETURNS TO CLOGHER, WHERE HE IS SET OVER A MONASTERY—HE RAISES DUACH, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH, TO LIFE—KING TACHODRUS GRANTS HIM THE SITE FOR A
MONASTERY, AT CLONES—REMARKABLE MOAT THERE— AT CLONES.
ST. TIGERNACH'S RESIDENCE
From that part of the country, in which he dwelt for a time, Tighernach went into Munster. He arrived at a place, where its inhabitants worshipped a
Ossory, as his father is differently. named, in his Life, at the 5th of March.
3' Ward's Manuscript has this name writ- ten Kyeranus.
2'VitaS. Tigernaci,cap. i. ,sec. 4. 3'TheManuscriptofFitz-simonhas"Cum xxv. ,sec. ix. ,p. 296.
"
ducta esset ad
collocata, protinus mortua est. "
^ See Vita S.
in the BoUandists' work, pp. 402, 403.
*" Most she then lived in Kil- probably,
Regem invita,
et in lecto
ejus
Tigernaci, cap. i. ,
sec
dare.
•" See Vita S.
sec.
6,
5,
Tigernaci, cap. ii. , Bollandists' work, p. 403.
O holy Father, do not per-
spirit.
<" Cardinal Bona remarks, that the use of Thuribles dates to the Apostolic times, and they are frequently mentioned in the most
ancient Church Liturgies. See
Opera Omnia,"RerumLiturgicarum,lib. i. , cap.
April 4. ] LIVES OF IHE IRISH SAINTS. aj
demon, under the shape of a idol. This evil spirit had excited his worship- perstoslaythesen'antofGod. Armedwiththeshieldoffaith,andfortified
by devout prayer, Tigemach besought the Lord to mitigate their fury. Ad- dressing the multitude, and asking permission to exhibit their idol in its true
shape, he made a sign of the cross. Thereupon that image appeared to all, in the form of a foul demon. Afterwards, he was banished to a rock, situated nearthesea,wherehisgroansandlamentationsweredistinctlyheard. All of those idolators, acknowledging their errors, became converts to the faith, and they were baptized by our saint. " After this, he returned towards his own part of the country. There, he asked for a site, whereon to found a monastery. A king of the territory, who was named Fiachrius,' had posses- sion of the place. Tigemach's request was granted, and that ruler requested him to dig a deep trench around the* place, giving him lands to serve as a perpetualfoundationforhismonastery. Onasubsequentoccasion,theking
requiringhayfromoneofhisservants,andit beingbrought,heaskedwhere it had been procured. Being told, that it was taken from land given to our
" I shall never use the
saint, Fiachrius said, in a loud voice, to those
produce of that land, I have given to God, either for my own wants, or for thoseofmysuccessors. " Afterthis,theruleraskedablessingfromthesaint on his arms, so that he might obtain a victory over enemies, who were about tocontendwithhim,onthefollowingday. Thatrequestheobtained,foron theverynextday,hisenemiesfledbeforejoiningbattlewiththeking. ' Hav- ing established his monastery, and left some religious brethren therein, St. Tigemach directed his course towards Kildare, on a visit to his spiritual mother, St. Bridget. She had a revelation, that her godson was worthy of promotion, to the episcopal rank, and having convoked some bishops, our saint was received into their order. The Patroness of Kildare had obtained so much influence, and had so great a reputation for sanctity, that she was privileged, by the clergy and people of Ireland, to nominate several Bishops. ^ Immediately on his consecration having taken place, Tigemach repaired to his maternal grandfather, Eochod,' who received him with much joy ; and,
the satisfaction of his mother, Dearfraych, was equally great. The potentate declared, that he would grant the holy Bishop Machadin's rank, and the rule
of Clogher monastery, in favour of his grandson. It seems, he expelled Machadin,' from his territories. But, despising worldly honours, and avoid- ing the king and his parents, the servant of Christ betook himself to a distant mountain. Thereheremained,buriedinacell,whichhehadfounded. '
The fame of our Saint's virtues being difliised abroad, many holy men flocked to visit him, and to engage in useful and pious conferences. Among others, Duach,' Archbishop of Armagh, was received with great honour and attention, by the saint. At his departure, Tigemach offered up earnest prayers to God. While travelling through a plain, called Marchuir-eglas,'
Chapter II. — See Viu S. Tigernad, St. Tighemach. If so, the feast of St. Mac-
cap, ii. , sec. 7.
*
In Fitz-simon's Manuscript, he is called Fcrrath. and in another Codex, the name U written Fiachra.
' See Vita S. Tigemaci, cap. ii. , sec. 8.
See Rev. P. J. Carew's "Ecclesiastical
Hutory of Ireland," chap, vi. , p. 240.
^ Fn various Manuscripts, he is called Ec-
hacu „ Coyn, and Confath.
' This Machudin was probably the same as
Maccarthen, who died bi>hop of Clogher, in 506 ; and, who was succeeded, in his See, by
carthenn is referred to the 24th of March, or
to the 15th of August.
' Ses Vita S. Tigemaci, cap. ii. , sec. 9.
* He must have been Dubtach I. , who sat
as Archbishop, from A. D. 497 to a. d. 513.
present,
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
"
Archbishops of
Armagh," pp. j6, 37.
'Many districts, in various parts oflre-
land,werecalledMachaire,orMaghera; but,
the present denomination has not been iden-
tified, either in its simple or in its composite form.
26 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [ApRit 4.
or Classen," the Archbishop departed this life, a circumstance which was revealedtooursaint. Heorderedacharioteer,toputhorsesunderhischariot. Having ascended it, the driver was desired not to open his eyes, without a special permission. Tigernach declared, likewise, that he would hold the reins,onthatday; for,heknew,thattheAngelsshouldaccompanythem,on the way. The event corresponded with his anticipations. Having journeyed a considerable distance, the charioteer ventured to uncover his head, contrary to the Bishop's advice, but not with impunity. He was instantly deprived of sight. However, this was again restored, on his master signing him with a cross. When they came to that place, where the Archbishop's corpse lay, blessing holy water, Tigernach sprinkled it on the body. Then, earnestly
addressing his prayers to God, our saint requested the return of the Arch-
bishop's soul to his body. Immediately, Duach arose, and then he said, " Tigernach on earth, Tigernach in heaven ;" as if he would say, that whilst our Saint's body remained on earth, his soul and dwelling were in Heaven. Afterwards, both these servants of God, receiving from each other a kiss of
*^^>^K%WA^
Moat at Clones, County of Monaghan.
peace,conceivedmosttendersentimentsofmutualandfraternallove. " A short time after this event, the Angel of the Lord advised our saint to go into the territories of King Tachodrus, his grandsire. There, he was ordered to erect a monastery. Our saint complied, and when he had come to the place designated,"hebuiltamonastery. Withaholybandofbrethren,hethere engaged in his devotions, and he performed many miracles. '3
Near the town of Clones,^ there is a very curious elevated Moat, on the summit of a hill. 's Three tiers of earth mounds rise in concentric circles, gra- dually diminishing in area to the topmost height. '* Immediately north of the
"» According
Manuscript.
to Father
Henry
Fitzsimon's
'3 See Vita S. sec. Tigernaci, cap. ii. ,
II,
"
1 2, p. 404.
'• This parish is situated, partly in the
barony of Clankelly, and this portion is shown on the "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Fermanagh," sheets
See Vita S. Tigernaci, cap. ii. , sec, 10, pp. 403, 404.
" In tlie life of Tigernach, this spot is called Gabalnensis.
April 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 27
moatwasasquarefortification; andresemblingoneatDromore,inevery
particular. It had been most scandalously defaced by an occupier, who hurled its proud ramparts into the ditches beneath, in order to extend his garden,atatimewhenJohnO'Donovanvisitedtheplace,a. d. 1835. "' This was regarded, by him, as the principal enclosure around the mansion of the ancient chief of Oriel, while the Moat was his watchtower, each being sur- rounded by a ditch, filled with water. The inhabitants of Clones state, that there is cave running from the Diamond, in their town, to the top of this Moat. '* It is said, that Tigemach fixed his residence at Clones, while he retained the government of Clogher church and See. On this account, he was called Ferdacrioch, or "the Man of the two districts. '' Some writers have erroneously applied this term to his predecessor, in the See of Clogher, St. Maccarthann. But, all accounts agree, that the real name of Maccarthen's successorwasTigemach,whileFerdachrioch'° wasmerelyasurname,which agreed very well with the circumstances, in which our saint was placed, but it did not suit Bishop Maccarthen. This is a mistake, into which Walter Harris has fallen, and in a measure it is excusable ; but, not so his saying, that Tigemach might have been the same as Tigemach, Bishop of Clonmac- nois. '' There was no religious establishment, either See or monastery at Clonraacnois, until the year 548 ; while our Tigemach was Bishop at Clones, since 506, nor was there any Tigemach of Clonmacnois, in those ancient tfmes. '" At Clones, a great number of holy men and women afterwards
29,30,35,36,40; whileapartisintheBa- ronies of Dartree and Monaghan, this being shown, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Monaghan," sheets 5,8, II, 12, 13, 16, 17.
'5 This Mound commands a very fine
view, looking westward from the lofty
mountain of Cuileagh, and of Knockninny. It lies north-west of the SUeve Beagh range; on a summit of which Cam-mor—where the antediluvian Biotk was interred—shows its
conspicuous Slurgan. shutupbyarangeofuninterestingDrums and Cars, the most conspicuous among which is a giant's reputed grave, on the elevated head of Calliagh, in Aghabog parish.
by him on the wood, was engraved by Mrs. Millard.
' His letter is dated Cluaim Eoi? , May
tatu Monachanensi) sedem Episcopalem po- suit, &, anno DL. J^otiis Apriliius mor- talitatem exuit : ad quern diem in Martyro- logiis (a Molano & Galasinis editis) Natalis ejus ita consignatus est : In Scotia (majo- rem intellige & antiquam) sancti Tigernaci
" The accompanying sketch, taken on the spot by William F. Wakeman, and drawn
pretended bishop Tigernachinthatplaceforwhomhequotes the Four Masters. N ow the Four Masters knew nothing about such a person, but they write :
"An. 548 (549) St. Tigernac, bishop of
Cluaineois, died on the 4tn of April. " (AA-
SS. p. 191 and 439). This passage bewil- dered Harris, who has given us these dates at Clonmacnois. He ought to have known that the Irish Annalists, when treating of
Aview tothe east is•
E<:clesiarumAntiquitatus,"cap. xvii. ,p. 445, " "Harris confounded Cluan-eois with Clon-
macnois, and he applied to the latter what belonged to the former. Thus (at Bishops,
"
31st, 1835. See Letters cont. iining infor- Clones, write duain-eois, Cluaineosensis ;
mation relative to the Antiquities of the Counties of Armagh and Monaghan collected duriilg the progress o( the Ordnance Survey in 1835," P- '47-
''
and Monaghan Letters, now presers-ed in the
Library of the Royal Irish Academy.
' SeeColgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," i. Martii, p. 439, n. 9.
whereas they express Clonmacnois by
Cluain-mhic-nois, or simply Cluan, whence Cluanensis. We find both places and names
clearly distinguished in a passage of our
Annals AA. SS. , m which it is p. 150),
stated that in the year 548 (549) a great pla- gue carried off Kieran Cluanensis (of Clon-
macnois) and Tigernach Cluaineosensis (of Clones) the very person whom we are now
treatingof. Archdall, in obedience to Harris,
brings in a Tigernach at Clonmacnois but
different, he adds, from the one of Clogher, and makes him succeed Kieran. . . .
There was no abbo—t or bishop Tigemach thereinthosedays. " "Dr. Lamgan'sEccle- siastical H istory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix. , sec, ii. , m. 15, p. 436.
According
to the
County Armagh
"Thus,intheCalendarofCashel "S.
:
Ferdachricus episcopus de Clochar post epis-
copum Maccarthenum. " See Colgan's "Acta
Sanctorum Hibemiae," p. 740.
" Having mentioned the death of St.
Maccartin, who died in the year 506, Usher
"
qui in Cluana-ans (vulgo Clunes, in Comi-
continues,
S. Tigemaco successore relicto,
Episcopi, 6' confessoris. "
—
"
Britannicarum
Clonmacnois)
he has a
28 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 4.
servedGod. Forthelastthirtyyearsofoursaint'slife,hewasdeprivedof the use of sight. He lived alone, in his cell. There, he led the life of an anchoret, devoting his whole time to prayer and to heavenly contemplation.
CHAPTER III.
TRADITION OF ST. TIGERNACH HAVING BEEN LEGATE IN IRELAND, AND OF HIS HAVING RECEIVED THE BISHOPRIC OF CLOGHER FROM ST. MACCARTHINN—ECCLESIASTICAL REMAINS AT CLONES—ANGELIC VISITS TOWARDS THE CLOSE OF ST. TIGERNACH's LIFE—HIS DEPARTURE TO BLISS—HIS FESTIVALS, COMMEMORATIONS AND MEMO- RIALS—CONCLUSION.
According to the Registry of Clogher, our saint is said to have been Legate of Ireland, and to have received the benediction of St. Maccartin, who bequeathed the bishopric of Clogher to him. " Moved by an inspiration from Heaven, however, Tighernach resigned his monastery, in this place, to the
Clones Round Tower.
care of his friend, St. Coragall,' while he went towards the east, and to a more fertile country. Here, he founded the monastery of Clones ;3 but, we have little information, regarding his course of life, while he presided over the community, there established. *
At the present time, a very ancient round tower s may be seen at Clones. * It
"
Chapter in. —' See Harris'Ware, vol. i. ,
Bishops of Clogher," p. 177. Harris says,
tistical Survey ofMonaghan, chap, viii. , sec. 4, p. 108.
• " This church of Clunes is one of the four principal churches of the Diocese of Clogher, in which, as also in the Church of Deriinoailain, the Memory of Tigernach is
he is mistaken, if Tigernach, bishop of Clon-
macnois, and this Tigernach, be not one and
the same person. Ibid.
'
Most probably the celebrated Abbot of
Bangorisheremeant,andifso,hisLifewill heldingreatveneration. —Harris'Ware,vol.
be found, at the loth of May.
3 " He fixed his seat at Cluaine, from
whence in the Irish annals, he is called Clua- nois, for this town originally was named Cluanois, then Clunes, Clownish, Clunish
"
i. , Bishops of Clogher," p. 177.
s Traditions connected with this tower are very indistinct. They are found in one of Mr. O'Donovan's letters, from the Fer- managh part of this parish, where Irish tra-
ditions are better
and last Clones. "
—
Sir Charles Coote's Sta-
preserved
than about the
April 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 29
is broken on the top, however, and round the doorway. ^ This latter is very low in position, and near the surface of the adjoining graveyard. The old people gave the Round Tower « here the name of Cloichteach, or Belfry. ? Very ancient crosses and fragment of tombs are to be seen there. On the other
side of the principal street, in Clones, there is a ruined monastery, iine
and chiselled stones are on its outside. -" Old tombs he scattered
square
through the cemetery, which is surrounded by a wall. In the
"
Diamond,
or public square, an old Irish cross stands. "
Towards the close of life, a multitude of celestial Spirits came from hea-
ven, to receive the soul of St. Tighernach, when it was about to leave his body ; and, they returned to the place of his rest, singing canticles of ravishing harmony. " According to Fitzsimon's Manuscript, our saint died, on the XI. of the Kalends of January (22nd of December) ; but, the BoUandists remark, that they found no feast recorded, in any of the Calendars, and referring to him, on that day. Two chapters of our Saint's life, as given by them, have been added, from the MS. of Ward's Hymns for Vespers and Matins, in which Tigernach'svirtuesareparticularlyrecorded. '3 FromtheAnnalsoftheFour
Masters, we learn, on the year 548, that several saints fell victims to a pesU- lence, which proved fatal to many of the clergy and people of Ijeland. '* Our
saint, however, was not one of the many victims to this plague,'5 although he died within that year. The Annals of the Four Masters state, that Tigher- nach died, on the 4th of April, a. d. 548. -* But, Ussher, in his Chronologi- cal Index, assigns his death to the year 550 ;' as, in like manner, we find it in the Chronicon Scotorum. The Rev. Jeffrey Keating merely states, that the pious Tighernach, Bishop of Cluain Eos, died during the reign of King
town of Clones. See " County of Armagh and Monaghan Letters of the Irish Ord- nance Survey. " One volume, pp. 142 to 144. Mr. O'Donovan's Letter, dated Cluain
—so those who do not speak Irish call the
Eois, May 31st, 1835.
' This parish of Clones, in Monaghan O'Donovan, when he visited the place.
County, has been described by Dr. O'Donot van, who remarks, that there are a great number of Clons throughout this parish. It
"The accompanying illustration was drawn on the spot, by William F. Wake- man, and it was transferred by him to the wood. ItwasengravedbyMrs. Millard.
" The writer noted these particulars, dur- ing a visit to the place, in July, 1868.
is
that the townland, on which the
strange, principal part
of Clones town stands, is not called Clona, but Crossmoyle. Perhaps
this derives its name, as Mr. O 'Donovan
" Vita S. Tigemaci, cap. ii. , sec. 13, Acta Sanctorum," tom. i. v. Aprilis.
sug- " from an ancient cross, which stands m
gests,
the Diamond. This venerable relic, he
"
' Harris' In
grey as a dniid, and as old as St. Tigemach. "'
office
says, looks as
' An illustration
— thus
Adest dies Celebris
priest
'5 Vet, Dr. Lanigan enumerates him,
"
de-
of the Round Tower here will be . Sancti Tigernaci. " Vol. i. ,
scription
found in Mr. and Mrs. Hall's
and a
corresponding
"
"
Scenery, Character," &c. , vol. iii. , p. 30.
' A
spirit
treme poverty, the nobler feelings are either
of Clones made many efforts
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 186 to 189.
to collect as much money, as would repair this Round Tower, or at least, as would fasten the top stones and prevent them from being constantly blown down, to the rapid destruc- tion of St. Tierny's work, and to the great flanger of persons [rassing through the churchyard ; but, he did not fully succeed, his flock being too poor, their patriotic could not second those efforts. In ex-
Ireland :
its
Clogher," p. 177.
See Dr. O'Donovan's
totally extinguished, or greatly deadened by
feai of want. Hence, it. Tiirn^s docker gue. Ibid, pp. 188, 189,
is like a Belfry— wasting away
burning taper. It had been lowered only a yard, how-
ever, in the memory of a man aged 40.
' Such is a statement, made by Dr.
we are
of this Saint " is extant in the
that the Library of St. Bmnet's College, Cambridge, with a
Hymnbeginning —
among the victims to it. See sec. xiii. , p. 70.
Ware,
told,
Ecclesiasti- cal History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. ,
'
See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, voL i. , pp. 186, 187. In the same Annals, the names of several saints are mentioned, who died in the year of a mortality called the Cron-Chonaill, which was the first Buidhe- Chonaill. St. Ciaran, Abbot of Clonmac- nois, and our saint, did not die of the pla-
"
Bishops
of
30 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS
[April 4.
Diarraiud, which he extends, from a. d. 528, to sso. '^ Dr. Lanigan, also, places the death of this saint, at the year 549, following the authority of the FourMasters,withhisusualmodeofemendation. '? InaCatalogueofthe Bishops of Clogher, according to a Registry of that See, transcribed by Ware, the death of St. Tigernach is said to have occurred, on the 5th of April, 555, or in 549, according to other accounts. '" He died, on the 2nd of March, ac- cording to some accounts. " The Nones (sth of April), or as Usher remarks, the day previous," was that assigned for his feast. St. ^ngus the Culdee '3 has the Feast of St. Tighernach entered, in his Festilogy, at the 4th of April. We find, the entry, Tighearnach, Cluna Eoais, only, set down in the Martyr- ology of Tal]agh,='t at the same date. Several ancient foreign Martyrologies commemorate the festival of St. Tigernach of Clones. Thus, the Utrecht Martyrology of St. Jeromej^'s Florarius, Maurolycus, Felicius, and Ferrarius;=« the Manuscript Martyrologies of Canons Regular at Albergense, of St. Caeciha, at Leyden, of St. Gudule, at Bruxelles,='7 and of Florarius,"^ as also Greven. The Martyrology, printed at Cologne, a. d. 1490,^9 and also, that printed, at Lubeck,3° the same year, have notices of this saint. 3' We find en- tered, in the Martyrology of Donegal,3» as having been venerated on this day, Tigernach, who was Bishop of Ciuaineois, or Clones, in Fera-Manach. Between Fera-Manach and Oirghialla, Cluain-eois lies. In Scotland, he was venerated, also, on this day, as we find an entry, in the Kalendar of Drum-
mond,33 and inThomasDempster's "MenologiumScoticum. "34 Underthe head of Cluam-eois, Duald Mac Firbis enters Tighernach, son of Cairbre, the holy
bishop of Cluain-eois, quievit 548,3s April 4th. Even yet, the people in and about Clones have a great veneration for St. Tierney, as the patron is locally called. Several curious memorials of him are remaining. Thus, the natives pomt out, on the Belturbet road, and close to the town, where stood a stone,3« which was denominated Cloch Tighernach,37 and which seems to have had some forrtier connexion with the saint.
No longer does the matin bell call the cloistered monk from his last slum-
I'See"BntannicarumEcclesiarumAnti-
quitates. " Index Chronologius, p. 531.
'^ "
See his "General History of Ireland," part ii. , p. 355. Duffy's edition.
"'See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. li. , chap. X. , sec. xiii. ,p. 70, and n.
=5Jthas, "InScotiaS. TygernagiEpis- copi et Confessoiis. " Perhaps, this is not the most ancient copy,
"> These have, " In Scotia Tigemaci Epis- copi. " Molanus, Galesinus and Canisius add " et Confessoris. "
"7 This has " Scotiam. " =' apud
This reads "In Scotia S. Tigernagi Episcopi et Confessoris.
she became insensible, and her immediately yielded up
3^ Astonished at this circumstance, the king required his soldiers to give a full account of what had taken place, during their journey. Afterwards, he ordered the royal maiden's dead body to be given without delay to the strange pilgrim,
" O
of Jesus Christ arise, and disembark from this vessel, first of all. " Imme-
diately, she arose, and to the great astonishment and admiration of its crew, Ethnea went on shore. 39 Having forgotten a thurible,*" at that port from which he embarked, Tighernach found it at the spot, near which he landed. He remained some time with St. Bridgid *' This illustrious virgin received him with great honour. The fame of his sanctity in Ireland soon brought many to a profession of the true faith. ^=
CHAPTER II.
body, Tigernach said,
Ethnea,
thou art buried in a In the name long sleep.
ST. TIGHERNACH VISITS MUNSTER AND CHAINS A DEMON—A RULER, NAMED FIACHRIUS, GRANTS HIM THE SITE FOR A MONASTERY—HE THEN VISITS KILDARE, AND ON THE NOMINATION OF ST. BRIDGET, HE IS CONSECRATED A BISHOP—TIGHERNACH RETURNS TO CLOGHER, WHERE HE IS SET OVER A MONASTERY—HE RAISES DUACH, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH, TO LIFE—KING TACHODRUS GRANTS HIM THE SITE FOR A
MONASTERY, AT CLONES—REMARKABLE MOAT THERE— AT CLONES.
ST. TIGERNACH'S RESIDENCE
From that part of the country, in which he dwelt for a time, Tighernach went into Munster. He arrived at a place, where its inhabitants worshipped a
Ossory, as his father is differently. named, in his Life, at the 5th of March.
3' Ward's Manuscript has this name writ- ten Kyeranus.
2'VitaS. Tigernaci,cap. i. ,sec. 4. 3'TheManuscriptofFitz-simonhas"Cum xxv. ,sec. ix. ,p. 296.
"
ducta esset ad
collocata, protinus mortua est. "
^ See Vita S.
in the BoUandists' work, pp. 402, 403.
*" Most she then lived in Kil- probably,
Regem invita,
et in lecto
ejus
Tigernaci, cap. i. ,
sec
dare.
•" See Vita S.
sec.
6,
5,
Tigernaci, cap. ii. , Bollandists' work, p. 403.
O holy Father, do not per-
spirit.
<" Cardinal Bona remarks, that the use of Thuribles dates to the Apostolic times, and they are frequently mentioned in the most
ancient Church Liturgies. See
Opera Omnia,"RerumLiturgicarum,lib. i. , cap.
April 4. ] LIVES OF IHE IRISH SAINTS. aj
demon, under the shape of a idol. This evil spirit had excited his worship- perstoslaythesen'antofGod. Armedwiththeshieldoffaith,andfortified
by devout prayer, Tigemach besought the Lord to mitigate their fury. Ad- dressing the multitude, and asking permission to exhibit their idol in its true
shape, he made a sign of the cross. Thereupon that image appeared to all, in the form of a foul demon. Afterwards, he was banished to a rock, situated nearthesea,wherehisgroansandlamentationsweredistinctlyheard. All of those idolators, acknowledging their errors, became converts to the faith, and they were baptized by our saint. " After this, he returned towards his own part of the country. There, he asked for a site, whereon to found a monastery. A king of the territory, who was named Fiachrius,' had posses- sion of the place. Tigemach's request was granted, and that ruler requested him to dig a deep trench around the* place, giving him lands to serve as a perpetualfoundationforhismonastery. Onasubsequentoccasion,theking
requiringhayfromoneofhisservants,andit beingbrought,heaskedwhere it had been procured. Being told, that it was taken from land given to our
" I shall never use the
saint, Fiachrius said, in a loud voice, to those
produce of that land, I have given to God, either for my own wants, or for thoseofmysuccessors. " Afterthis,theruleraskedablessingfromthesaint on his arms, so that he might obtain a victory over enemies, who were about tocontendwithhim,onthefollowingday. Thatrequestheobtained,foron theverynextday,hisenemiesfledbeforejoiningbattlewiththeking. ' Hav- ing established his monastery, and left some religious brethren therein, St. Tigemach directed his course towards Kildare, on a visit to his spiritual mother, St. Bridget. She had a revelation, that her godson was worthy of promotion, to the episcopal rank, and having convoked some bishops, our saint was received into their order. The Patroness of Kildare had obtained so much influence, and had so great a reputation for sanctity, that she was privileged, by the clergy and people of Ireland, to nominate several Bishops. ^ Immediately on his consecration having taken place, Tigemach repaired to his maternal grandfather, Eochod,' who received him with much joy ; and,
the satisfaction of his mother, Dearfraych, was equally great. The potentate declared, that he would grant the holy Bishop Machadin's rank, and the rule
of Clogher monastery, in favour of his grandson. It seems, he expelled Machadin,' from his territories. But, despising worldly honours, and avoid- ing the king and his parents, the servant of Christ betook himself to a distant mountain. Thereheremained,buriedinacell,whichhehadfounded. '
The fame of our Saint's virtues being difliised abroad, many holy men flocked to visit him, and to engage in useful and pious conferences. Among others, Duach,' Archbishop of Armagh, was received with great honour and attention, by the saint. At his departure, Tigemach offered up earnest prayers to God. While travelling through a plain, called Marchuir-eglas,'
Chapter II. — See Viu S. Tigernad, St. Tighemach. If so, the feast of St. Mac-
cap, ii. , sec. 7.
*
In Fitz-simon's Manuscript, he is called Fcrrath. and in another Codex, the name U written Fiachra.
' See Vita S. Tigemaci, cap. ii. , sec. 8.
See Rev. P. J. Carew's "Ecclesiastical
Hutory of Ireland," chap, vi. , p. 240.
^ Fn various Manuscripts, he is called Ec-
hacu „ Coyn, and Confath.
' This Machudin was probably the same as
Maccarthen, who died bi>hop of Clogher, in 506 ; and, who was succeeded, in his See, by
carthenn is referred to the 24th of March, or
to the 15th of August.
' Ses Vita S. Tigemaci, cap. ii. , sec. 9.
* He must have been Dubtach I. , who sat
as Archbishop, from A. D. 497 to a. d. 513.
present,
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
"
Archbishops of
Armagh," pp. j6, 37.
'Many districts, in various parts oflre-
land,werecalledMachaire,orMaghera; but,
the present denomination has not been iden-
tified, either in its simple or in its composite form.
26 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [ApRit 4.
or Classen," the Archbishop departed this life, a circumstance which was revealedtooursaint. Heorderedacharioteer,toputhorsesunderhischariot. Having ascended it, the driver was desired not to open his eyes, without a special permission. Tigernach declared, likewise, that he would hold the reins,onthatday; for,heknew,thattheAngelsshouldaccompanythem,on the way. The event corresponded with his anticipations. Having journeyed a considerable distance, the charioteer ventured to uncover his head, contrary to the Bishop's advice, but not with impunity. He was instantly deprived of sight. However, this was again restored, on his master signing him with a cross. When they came to that place, where the Archbishop's corpse lay, blessing holy water, Tigernach sprinkled it on the body. Then, earnestly
addressing his prayers to God, our saint requested the return of the Arch-
bishop's soul to his body. Immediately, Duach arose, and then he said, " Tigernach on earth, Tigernach in heaven ;" as if he would say, that whilst our Saint's body remained on earth, his soul and dwelling were in Heaven. Afterwards, both these servants of God, receiving from each other a kiss of
*^^>^K%WA^
Moat at Clones, County of Monaghan.
peace,conceivedmosttendersentimentsofmutualandfraternallove. " A short time after this event, the Angel of the Lord advised our saint to go into the territories of King Tachodrus, his grandsire. There, he was ordered to erect a monastery. Our saint complied, and when he had come to the place designated,"hebuiltamonastery. Withaholybandofbrethren,hethere engaged in his devotions, and he performed many miracles. '3
Near the town of Clones,^ there is a very curious elevated Moat, on the summit of a hill. 's Three tiers of earth mounds rise in concentric circles, gra- dually diminishing in area to the topmost height. '* Immediately north of the
"» According
Manuscript.
to Father
Henry
Fitzsimon's
'3 See Vita S. sec. Tigernaci, cap. ii. ,
II,
"
1 2, p. 404.
'• This parish is situated, partly in the
barony of Clankelly, and this portion is shown on the "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Fermanagh," sheets
See Vita S. Tigernaci, cap. ii. , sec, 10, pp. 403, 404.
" In tlie life of Tigernach, this spot is called Gabalnensis.
April 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 27
moatwasasquarefortification; andresemblingoneatDromore,inevery
particular. It had been most scandalously defaced by an occupier, who hurled its proud ramparts into the ditches beneath, in order to extend his garden,atatimewhenJohnO'Donovanvisitedtheplace,a. d. 1835. "' This was regarded, by him, as the principal enclosure around the mansion of the ancient chief of Oriel, while the Moat was his watchtower, each being sur- rounded by a ditch, filled with water. The inhabitants of Clones state, that there is cave running from the Diamond, in their town, to the top of this Moat. '* It is said, that Tigemach fixed his residence at Clones, while he retained the government of Clogher church and See. On this account, he was called Ferdacrioch, or "the Man of the two districts. '' Some writers have erroneously applied this term to his predecessor, in the See of Clogher, St. Maccarthann. But, all accounts agree, that the real name of Maccarthen's successorwasTigemach,whileFerdachrioch'° wasmerelyasurname,which agreed very well with the circumstances, in which our saint was placed, but it did not suit Bishop Maccarthen. This is a mistake, into which Walter Harris has fallen, and in a measure it is excusable ; but, not so his saying, that Tigemach might have been the same as Tigemach, Bishop of Clonmac- nois. '' There was no religious establishment, either See or monastery at Clonraacnois, until the year 548 ; while our Tigemach was Bishop at Clones, since 506, nor was there any Tigemach of Clonmacnois, in those ancient tfmes. '" At Clones, a great number of holy men and women afterwards
29,30,35,36,40; whileapartisintheBa- ronies of Dartree and Monaghan, this being shown, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Monaghan," sheets 5,8, II, 12, 13, 16, 17.
'5 This Mound commands a very fine
view, looking westward from the lofty
mountain of Cuileagh, and of Knockninny. It lies north-west of the SUeve Beagh range; on a summit of which Cam-mor—where the antediluvian Biotk was interred—shows its
conspicuous Slurgan. shutupbyarangeofuninterestingDrums and Cars, the most conspicuous among which is a giant's reputed grave, on the elevated head of Calliagh, in Aghabog parish.
by him on the wood, was engraved by Mrs. Millard.
' His letter is dated Cluaim Eoi? , May
tatu Monachanensi) sedem Episcopalem po- suit, &, anno DL. J^otiis Apriliius mor- talitatem exuit : ad quern diem in Martyro- logiis (a Molano & Galasinis editis) Natalis ejus ita consignatus est : In Scotia (majo- rem intellige & antiquam) sancti Tigernaci
" The accompanying sketch, taken on the spot by William F. Wakeman, and drawn
pretended bishop Tigernachinthatplaceforwhomhequotes the Four Masters. N ow the Four Masters knew nothing about such a person, but they write :
"An. 548 (549) St. Tigernac, bishop of
Cluaineois, died on the 4tn of April. " (AA-
SS. p. 191 and 439). This passage bewil- dered Harris, who has given us these dates at Clonmacnois. He ought to have known that the Irish Annalists, when treating of
Aview tothe east is•
E<:clesiarumAntiquitatus,"cap. xvii. ,p. 445, " "Harris confounded Cluan-eois with Clon-
macnois, and he applied to the latter what belonged to the former. Thus (at Bishops,
"
31st, 1835. See Letters cont. iining infor- Clones, write duain-eois, Cluaineosensis ;
mation relative to the Antiquities of the Counties of Armagh and Monaghan collected duriilg the progress o( the Ordnance Survey in 1835," P- '47-
''
and Monaghan Letters, now presers-ed in the
Library of the Royal Irish Academy.
' SeeColgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," i. Martii, p. 439, n. 9.
whereas they express Clonmacnois by
Cluain-mhic-nois, or simply Cluan, whence Cluanensis. We find both places and names
clearly distinguished in a passage of our
Annals AA. SS. , m which it is p. 150),
stated that in the year 548 (549) a great pla- gue carried off Kieran Cluanensis (of Clon-
macnois) and Tigernach Cluaineosensis (of Clones) the very person whom we are now
treatingof. Archdall, in obedience to Harris,
brings in a Tigernach at Clonmacnois but
different, he adds, from the one of Clogher, and makes him succeed Kieran. . . .
There was no abbo—t or bishop Tigemach thereinthosedays. " "Dr. Lamgan'sEccle- siastical H istory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix. , sec, ii. , m. 15, p. 436.
According
to the
County Armagh
"Thus,intheCalendarofCashel "S.
:
Ferdachricus episcopus de Clochar post epis-
copum Maccarthenum. " See Colgan's "Acta
Sanctorum Hibemiae," p. 740.
" Having mentioned the death of St.
Maccartin, who died in the year 506, Usher
"
qui in Cluana-ans (vulgo Clunes, in Comi-
continues,
S. Tigemaco successore relicto,
Episcopi, 6' confessoris. "
—
"
Britannicarum
Clonmacnois)
he has a
28 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 4.
servedGod. Forthelastthirtyyearsofoursaint'slife,hewasdeprivedof the use of sight. He lived alone, in his cell. There, he led the life of an anchoret, devoting his whole time to prayer and to heavenly contemplation.
CHAPTER III.
TRADITION OF ST. TIGERNACH HAVING BEEN LEGATE IN IRELAND, AND OF HIS HAVING RECEIVED THE BISHOPRIC OF CLOGHER FROM ST. MACCARTHINN—ECCLESIASTICAL REMAINS AT CLONES—ANGELIC VISITS TOWARDS THE CLOSE OF ST. TIGERNACH's LIFE—HIS DEPARTURE TO BLISS—HIS FESTIVALS, COMMEMORATIONS AND MEMO- RIALS—CONCLUSION.
According to the Registry of Clogher, our saint is said to have been Legate of Ireland, and to have received the benediction of St. Maccartin, who bequeathed the bishopric of Clogher to him. " Moved by an inspiration from Heaven, however, Tighernach resigned his monastery, in this place, to the
Clones Round Tower.
care of his friend, St. Coragall,' while he went towards the east, and to a more fertile country. Here, he founded the monastery of Clones ;3 but, we have little information, regarding his course of life, while he presided over the community, there established. *
At the present time, a very ancient round tower s may be seen at Clones. * It
"
Chapter in. —' See Harris'Ware, vol. i. ,
Bishops of Clogher," p. 177. Harris says,
tistical Survey ofMonaghan, chap, viii. , sec. 4, p. 108.
• " This church of Clunes is one of the four principal churches of the Diocese of Clogher, in which, as also in the Church of Deriinoailain, the Memory of Tigernach is
he is mistaken, if Tigernach, bishop of Clon-
macnois, and this Tigernach, be not one and
the same person. Ibid.
'
Most probably the celebrated Abbot of
Bangorisheremeant,andifso,hisLifewill heldingreatveneration. —Harris'Ware,vol.
be found, at the loth of May.
3 " He fixed his seat at Cluaine, from
whence in the Irish annals, he is called Clua- nois, for this town originally was named Cluanois, then Clunes, Clownish, Clunish
"
i. , Bishops of Clogher," p. 177.
s Traditions connected with this tower are very indistinct. They are found in one of Mr. O'Donovan's letters, from the Fer- managh part of this parish, where Irish tra-
ditions are better
and last Clones. "
—
Sir Charles Coote's Sta-
preserved
than about the
April 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 29
is broken on the top, however, and round the doorway. ^ This latter is very low in position, and near the surface of the adjoining graveyard. The old people gave the Round Tower « here the name of Cloichteach, or Belfry. ? Very ancient crosses and fragment of tombs are to be seen there. On the other
side of the principal street, in Clones, there is a ruined monastery, iine
and chiselled stones are on its outside. -" Old tombs he scattered
square
through the cemetery, which is surrounded by a wall. In the
"
Diamond,
or public square, an old Irish cross stands. "
Towards the close of life, a multitude of celestial Spirits came from hea-
ven, to receive the soul of St. Tighernach, when it was about to leave his body ; and, they returned to the place of his rest, singing canticles of ravishing harmony. " According to Fitzsimon's Manuscript, our saint died, on the XI. of the Kalends of January (22nd of December) ; but, the BoUandists remark, that they found no feast recorded, in any of the Calendars, and referring to him, on that day. Two chapters of our Saint's life, as given by them, have been added, from the MS. of Ward's Hymns for Vespers and Matins, in which Tigernach'svirtuesareparticularlyrecorded. '3 FromtheAnnalsoftheFour
Masters, we learn, on the year 548, that several saints fell victims to a pesU- lence, which proved fatal to many of the clergy and people of Ijeland. '* Our
saint, however, was not one of the many victims to this plague,'5 although he died within that year. The Annals of the Four Masters state, that Tigher- nach died, on the 4th of April, a. d. 548. -* But, Ussher, in his Chronologi- cal Index, assigns his death to the year 550 ;' as, in like manner, we find it in the Chronicon Scotorum. The Rev. Jeffrey Keating merely states, that the pious Tighernach, Bishop of Cluain Eos, died during the reign of King
town of Clones. See " County of Armagh and Monaghan Letters of the Irish Ord- nance Survey. " One volume, pp. 142 to 144. Mr. O'Donovan's Letter, dated Cluain
—so those who do not speak Irish call the
Eois, May 31st, 1835.
' This parish of Clones, in Monaghan O'Donovan, when he visited the place.
County, has been described by Dr. O'Donot van, who remarks, that there are a great number of Clons throughout this parish. It
"The accompanying illustration was drawn on the spot, by William F. Wake- man, and it was transferred by him to the wood. ItwasengravedbyMrs. Millard.
" The writer noted these particulars, dur- ing a visit to the place, in July, 1868.
is
that the townland, on which the
strange, principal part
of Clones town stands, is not called Clona, but Crossmoyle. Perhaps
this derives its name, as Mr. O 'Donovan
" Vita S. Tigemaci, cap. ii. , sec. 13, Acta Sanctorum," tom. i. v. Aprilis.
sug- " from an ancient cross, which stands m
gests,
the Diamond. This venerable relic, he
"
' Harris' In
grey as a dniid, and as old as St. Tigemach. "'
office
says, looks as
' An illustration
— thus
Adest dies Celebris
priest
'5 Vet, Dr. Lanigan enumerates him,
"
de-
of the Round Tower here will be . Sancti Tigernaci. " Vol. i. ,
scription
found in Mr. and Mrs. Hall's
and a
corresponding
"
"
Scenery, Character," &c. , vol. iii. , p. 30.
' A
spirit
treme poverty, the nobler feelings are either
of Clones made many efforts
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 186 to 189.
to collect as much money, as would repair this Round Tower, or at least, as would fasten the top stones and prevent them from being constantly blown down, to the rapid destruc- tion of St. Tierny's work, and to the great flanger of persons [rassing through the churchyard ; but, he did not fully succeed, his flock being too poor, their patriotic could not second those efforts. In ex-
Ireland :
its
Clogher," p. 177.
See Dr. O'Donovan's
totally extinguished, or greatly deadened by
feai of want. Hence, it. Tiirn^s docker gue. Ibid, pp. 188, 189,
is like a Belfry— wasting away
burning taper. It had been lowered only a yard, how-
ever, in the memory of a man aged 40.
' Such is a statement, made by Dr.
we are
of this Saint " is extant in the
that the Library of St. Bmnet's College, Cambridge, with a
Hymnbeginning —
among the victims to it. See sec. xiii. , p. 70.
Ware,
told,
Ecclesiasti- cal History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. ,
'
See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, voL i. , pp. 186, 187. In the same Annals, the names of several saints are mentioned, who died in the year of a mortality called the Cron-Chonaill, which was the first Buidhe- Chonaill. St. Ciaran, Abbot of Clonmac- nois, and our saint, did not die of the pla-
"
Bishops
of
30 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS
[April 4.
Diarraiud, which he extends, from a. d. 528, to sso. '^ Dr. Lanigan, also, places the death of this saint, at the year 549, following the authority of the FourMasters,withhisusualmodeofemendation. '? InaCatalogueofthe Bishops of Clogher, according to a Registry of that See, transcribed by Ware, the death of St. Tigernach is said to have occurred, on the 5th of April, 555, or in 549, according to other accounts. '" He died, on the 2nd of March, ac- cording to some accounts. " The Nones (sth of April), or as Usher remarks, the day previous," was that assigned for his feast. St. ^ngus the Culdee '3 has the Feast of St. Tighernach entered, in his Festilogy, at the 4th of April. We find, the entry, Tighearnach, Cluna Eoais, only, set down in the Martyr- ology of Tal]agh,='t at the same date. Several ancient foreign Martyrologies commemorate the festival of St. Tigernach of Clones. Thus, the Utrecht Martyrology of St. Jeromej^'s Florarius, Maurolycus, Felicius, and Ferrarius;=« the Manuscript Martyrologies of Canons Regular at Albergense, of St. Caeciha, at Leyden, of St. Gudule, at Bruxelles,='7 and of Florarius,"^ as also Greven. The Martyrology, printed at Cologne, a. d. 1490,^9 and also, that printed, at Lubeck,3° the same year, have notices of this saint. 3' We find en- tered, in the Martyrology of Donegal,3» as having been venerated on this day, Tigernach, who was Bishop of Ciuaineois, or Clones, in Fera-Manach. Between Fera-Manach and Oirghialla, Cluain-eois lies. In Scotland, he was venerated, also, on this day, as we find an entry, in the Kalendar of Drum-
mond,33 and inThomasDempster's "MenologiumScoticum. "34 Underthe head of Cluam-eois, Duald Mac Firbis enters Tighernach, son of Cairbre, the holy
bishop of Cluain-eois, quievit 548,3s April 4th. Even yet, the people in and about Clones have a great veneration for St. Tierney, as the patron is locally called. Several curious memorials of him are remaining. Thus, the natives pomt out, on the Belturbet road, and close to the town, where stood a stone,3« which was denominated Cloch Tighernach,37 and which seems to have had some forrtier connexion with the saint.
No longer does the matin bell call the cloistered monk from his last slum-
I'See"BntannicarumEcclesiarumAnti-
quitates. " Index Chronologius, p. 531.
'^ "
See his "General History of Ireland," part ii. , p. 355. Duffy's edition.
"'See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. li. , chap. X. , sec. xiii. ,p. 70, and n.
=5Jthas, "InScotiaS. TygernagiEpis- copi et Confessoiis. " Perhaps, this is not the most ancient copy,
"> These have, " In Scotia Tigemaci Epis- copi. " Molanus, Galesinus and Canisius add " et Confessoris. "
"7 This has " Scotiam. " =' apud
This reads "In Scotia S. Tigernagi Episcopi et Confessoris.
