As carrion flies are known to corrupt the most wholesome meats and alight upon the sweetest and most luscious preserved fruits, so do the
multitude
of worldlings seek only the world's creature comforts, its allurements, and its pleasures.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
The church
is furnished with an admirable heating apparatus. The vestibule is laid with mosaics of various rich marbles, in the centre being a monogram of the letters S. M. C. interlacedroundacross. Itwouldbedifficult,indeed,toconveyatrue impression of the magnificence of the work within the choir and around the high altar, as also in the four side chapels, respectively dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, the Blessed Sacrament, St. Joseph, and St. Benedict Joseph Labre. 6° The entire floor of the sanctuary, measuring some fifty feet by thirty, is con- structed of marble, no less than fifteen different kinds of that stone being
Lazzerini, and they are excellently finished. 59 The valuable stained glass windows are all the gifts of friends belonging to the dio- cese, many of them living in America and in
other distant places.
60 Count Botto, an Italian contractor, had
quisite and a costly addition to the altar. The door is of bronze, while the pediment surmounting it and the panels at either side are exquisitely inlaid with coloured marbles and precions stones. The lofty baldachino over the high altar is supported on four
entrusted to him the construction of the Gothic four-foil marble columns with altars and sanctuary, and personally he moulded annulets inlaid, and capitals deco-
superintended the carrying out of this part rated in gold and sympathetic colours. The of the work. The high altar is approached architrave is also carved, and above are oil by three Carrara marble steps, and the table paintings of the Blessed Trinity, St. Peter, of the altar itself is supported on six pillars and St. Paul. The side chapels, which are of Mondragone marble. Underneath the divided from the high altar, and from one table are three panels of Carrara marble
executed in bas-relief. The central one is
a reproduction of Leonardo Da Vinci's Last
Supper;ontherightandleftarerepresenta- oneateithersideo—fthenaveandthetwo
tions of the Pelican and her Young, and the Chalice, Vine and Wheat. The taber- nacle, which is octagonal in shape, is an ex-
others in the aisles are four life-size marble statues of the Sacred Heart, St. Patrick, St. Bridget, and St. John the Baptist.
another, by Gothic grills, arc little gems of art. The reredos in each case is of inla—id Carrara marble. In front of the sanctuary
August 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 2 2 5
used for the purpose. The bishop's throne in the sanctuary is in perfect keeping with the general architecture of the church. It is constructed of
Carraramarble,whiletheseat,back,andarmsareupholsteredinoldgold. The canons' stalls are of solid polished oak, inlaid with walnut, and they are beauti-
fully carved. 61 The pulpit, in its gracefulness and embellishment, is in keeping
with all the other within the sacred appointments
building.
21st of August, 1892, the solemn dedication of the cathedral took place, in
presence of a crowded congregation of prelates, priests and laity, assembled from all parts of Ireland, and even from the most distant countries. The
Most Rev. Archbishop of Armagh, Dr. Logue, performed the ceremony of dedication ; the Most Rev. Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Walsh, sang the High Mass ; the Most Rev. Bishop of Raphoe, Dr. O'Donnell, preached the dedi- cation sermon, while the Most Rev. Bishop of Clogher, Dr. Donnelly, pre- sided on the throne. A vast number of people thronged the cathedral
as room was not available for all within that 63 spacious building.
grounds,
The Catholic Church of Clogher has been dedicated, likewise, t—o St. Mac
Carthenn. Moreover,thefineDiocesan
ofSt. Macartan — Seminary occupy-
ing a most eligible site in the immediate neighbourhood of Monaghan renders the best services possible to the cause of higher Catholic education.
Other churches, chapels and schools, belonging to the diocese, have been dedicated, in great number, to the patron saint.
It is thought, that among the existing Sees of Ireland, Clogher may claim to have been first governed by St. Patrick, before he concluded on fixing his
primatialSeeatArmagh. ThegovernmentofClogher,also,theIrishApostle relinquishedtoSt. Maccarthenn,it wouldseem,whenhehadresolvedon
finally selecting his metropolitan seat. After our saint, the holy bishop
64 his immediate
ruled to a. d. when he died. A 550,
Tigernach,
thoroughly reliable record of the succeeding prelates has not been preserved, as may be seen, from the varying list furnished by Father John Colgan, and from that found in the Registry of Clogher, as given in Harris' Ware. 65
66
successor,
According to the latter Register, St. Sinell
succeeded St. Tigernach j then
Deodeagha Mac Cairvill 67 next Feidlimid or Felim 68 next St. 69 fifth ; ; Ultan,
Bishop of Clogher from St. MacCarthin. He is different from St. Ultan, brother of St. Fursey. He is said to be entombed near the sepulchre of St. Mac Carthin at Clogher. Afterwards follow the names ofSethne, Earch, Eirglean, Cedach, and Crimer-Rodan, about whom nothing is noted, not even the years when they lived. Next comes St. Laserian, otherwise called Molaisre,70 Abbot of
61 6 These were the work of Messrs. Brien
and Keating, Wexford, who also supplied the exquisitely carved oak frames for the Stations of the Cross, as also the oak furni- ture for the chapter-room and vestries. The Stations themselves are of coloured plaster in relief.
62 The foregoing description is taken from the Freeman's Journal and National Press
of August 20th, 1892.
63 See Freeman's foumal and National
? . To him, we are told, the church of Iniscain, in the diocese of Clogher, is con- secrated, and a fountain called Glanogna-
gugan.
68 He is said to have been buried in the
church of Clunes near Tigernach, and to him was consecrated Tibrad Felim or Felim's Well.
6? There are several saints bearing this name in the Irish Calendars.
7° He died on the 1 2th of September.
stated to have lived during the lifetime of
St. Patrick, it is evident, says Sir James Ware, that Ende could not be correctly
placed on that list in a chronological order,
2
? Several saints of this name are in the
Press of
6* See his Acts at the 4th of April, in the
Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
63 See vol. i. , "Bishops of Clogher," pp.
177 to 179.
66 To his memory the church of Clarins-
lochtain is said to have been dedicated, as also a fountain called Glais-Dergain.
? J He isintended the by
Monday, August
22nd, 1892.
Registry ofClogher to represent St. Enda, of Aran Island, vene- rated on the 21st of March ; but, as he is
62 On the Sunday,
226 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 15.
Devenish; then the mere names of Tigernaand Altigerna occur. Afterwards,
xMac 2
St. Ende or Enna ? Conail, St. Ronan,? and St. /Edan or Aidan,73 are
placed. Then, we are told, that Maelcob or Maelcab succeeded and flourished in the year 640. 74 Next in succession is St. Adamnanus, called Legate of Ireland,andreckonedoneoftheBishopsinthisSee. Itisdoubtfulwhetherhe be the same as Adamnanus,? * Abbot of Hy. The times agree well enough. To him was consecrated the burying-place, at the upper end of the great street in thecityofClogher,andonthenorthside. ? 6 AfterwardsisrecordedDianach77 and Altigren. Immediately afterwards, a huge anachronism is permitted, in plac-
8
ing St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise,7 son to the Artificer.
then Airmeadach
-p
next Cunnacht; next Maelmochair; next Synach ; next Artgail Mac Dairin ; next Cairbre ; next Maelduin ; next Dermod ; next Conaid I. ; next Moraind; next Dubroith. 81 After these, we find entered Ailil, called in the Annals of Ulster,Scribe,BishopandAbbotofClogher,whodiedin868. 8i Thenfollow Cairbre the Second, and 83 in succession Cend-
8
faelad * or Cenfail, the son of Lorcan, called Comorban of Clunes and
who died in 8 s Afterwards follow Conaid II. next Tomultach; Clogher, 929. ;
next Cellach ; next Murigach ; afterwards Odo O'Buigil ; and then Mac-Mal-
Josa O'Cullean. 86 The list of prelates taken from the Registry of Clogher
O'Morgair, ? brother to the celebrated St. Malachy O'Morgair, Archbishop of Armagh, ruled over the See of Clogher, from n 26 to 11 39. There was a celebrated and zealous bishop of this See, called Aodh, or Hugh O'Kelly, also known as Bishop of Oriel or Airghiall, and head of the Canons of Erin. He died, as some say, in 1180; but, as more generally stated, in a. d. 1182. The day of his death is not recorded. 80
then Faeldobar, who died on the
of 80
29th June, 731;
^Engus. Immediately appears
being exhausted, we are brought to the twelfth century, when Christian 8 88
The Catalogue of Prelates, as given by Colgan, differs in many important respects from that in the Registry of Clogher, and it is much briefer. It is also better sustained, by the authority of our Irish Annals. Thus, after St. Tigher- nach,heplacesLiberius,whodiedonthe 2ndofNovember,00 the
although year is uncertain. Next comes St. Aitmetus, whose feast is on the 2nd of Feb-
Irish Calendar. 84 We are informed, that in the Martyr-
—— 73 His festival is said to have been on the ology of Killeen now a lost book the
31st of August.
74 He is said to have been son to Hugh,
King of Ireland.
75 He was venerated on the 23rd Sep-
tember.
76 We are told, moreover, that he left to
memory of a Cenfaelad is commemorated on
7th of April. In other Irish Martyrologies, we do not find the entry of such a saint, at that date.
»s See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 624, 625.
his church a brass bell, to be rung
86 Of these latter, more nothing
every morning through the streets of Clogher.
particular of Bishops, Clogher, in
8 > His feast occurs on the I2th of June. See at that day, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. i.
88 His feast is held on the 3rd of Novem- ber.
"'See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. part i. , pp. 84, 85, and n. 3. Also. Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol iii. ,
pp. 60,61. And "Harris' Ware," vol. i.
77 To him, the church of Domnach-mor- magiene is said to have been dedicated.
78 His feast occurs, on the 9th of Sep- tember.
7» He is said to have written a Life of St. Patrick.
80 On that day, his festival was celebrated. See the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. iii.
of
i. , Bishops Clogher,"
81
tice. 82
About these, we find no further no-
In Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," his death is placed at A. n. 867. See vol. i. , pp. 510, 511.
83 About these, is noted. nothing
"
of 180. Clogher," p.
has been noticed. taken from the
I larris' Ware, vol. pp. 177 to 179.
See the list
Bishops
Next comes Conail ;
Registry "
of
August 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 227
1 Then comes Hermetius,92 and afterwards who died on ruary. 9 Feldobar,
the 29th of June," a. d. 731. Next, he names Artgal, Abbot of Clogher, and son of Damenius, who died in 765. 94 Then Moran, son of Indract, Abbot
of Clogher, who died in 841. 95 Then Ailild, Scribe, Abbot, and Bishop of Clogher,whodiedin867. 96 ThenfollowsKenfail,thesonofLorcanComor- ban of Clunes and Clogher, who died in 929. 97 Next is Conaing O'Dom-
Archenach or Chief Prince of
follows the name of Muredach O'Cuillen, who was slain in 1126. 99 After-
nallan,
Clogher,
wards comes the name of Christian Hua Morgair, who died 1
,0° Now, it is plain, thaUhe foregoing list of prelates, as given by Colgan, must be quite imperfect. In general, from the death of St. Patrick to the death of Mure- dach O'Cuillin takes more than 600 years; and, during this period, there is
101
Truly great men love labour and privation, even crosses and tribulations, because they aim at noble results to be achieved through them.
As carrion flies are known to corrupt the most wholesome meats and alight upon the sweetest and most luscious preserved fruits, so do the multitude of worldlings seek only the world's creature comforts, its allurements, and its pleasures. Consuming such luxuries, men of idle and vicious habits live for a short time, and then worthlessly disappear. The indusrious bee fastens for a while on the most bitter herbs and thence extracts honey, to be stored within the hive. It is thus a true servant of God labours through the short spring and summer of his existence, that he may rest and enjoy himself, when the autumn or winter days close the harvest of his painstaking duties. In the present instance, a holy bishop voluntarily encountered toils, in a spirit of humility and charity, until old age and rest came upon him ; they soon passed away, in this life ; but, everlasting happiness and reward succeeded for him in Heaven.
Article II. —Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin MaryintoHeaven. TheDormitionorAssumptionoftheBlessedVirgin Mary into Heaven appears to have been held as a great Festival in Ireland, and at a period so very remot—e, that we cannot arrive at its origin. Thus, in
only a list of twelve Bishops.
—hich was
the Calendar of St. ^Engus w compiled
at least so
beginning of the ninth century it is celebrated in Irish verse, at this date,
and in his Feilire. 1 To such
entry,
early
the scholiast has added two notes. 2
berniaj," Martii xxxiv. Appendix ad Acta S. Maccarthenni, cap. vi. , p. 742.
I01
It is also to be noticed, that from the death of Conaing O'Domnallan to that of Muredach O'Cuillin, there is a period of 167
90 According to Marianus O'Gorman and others. See also the Eleventh Volume of this work at that date.
91 See the Second Volume of this work at
that date, Art—. vi.
if he had one—
93 See at that date, in the Sixth Volume
is uncertain. and this there must
92 His feast years, proves have been
of this work, Art. iii.
94 See Dr. O'Donovan's
"
Annals of the
some intermediate Bishops. Also from the
death of Artgal to that of Moran, 76 years intervene ; while there are 62 years from the death of Ailild to that of Kenfail. See
Four Masters," vol. i. pp. 366, 367. ""
95 According to the Annals of the Four Harris' Ware," vol. i. , "Bishops of
Masters," the true year as we are told was
"
Clogher," p. 17—9. Article ii.
r
See
"
Transactions of
a. d. 842.
96 According to the
Annals of the Four
97 According to the " Annals of the Four dingus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p.
Masters. "
the Royal Irish Academy. " Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. parti. , on the Calendar of
Masters. "
98 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four„Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 678, 679.
"See ibid. pp. 1022, 1023.
cxxiii.
2 Thus at the word l " given, tnof\pei :
i.
100 " See Colgan's
Acta Sanctorum Hi-
dormitatio maria (e) hie ut beata dicit 7gg (? )
assumptio sancta (e) maria (e) dei genetricis uel mater moelruain dicitur hie quia nicel-
who died in s Next 959. 9
J38.
as the
22 3 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 15.
Among the Irish peasantry, Lady Day in Harvest has long been held in special
veneration. 3 Moreover,severalwellswerededicatedtotheBlessedVirginMary,
and to these the people were accustomed to make pilgrimages, on the annual
recurrenceofthisFestival. ThesepracticeswereusuallydenominatedPatrons,
and several instances of their localization could be cited. About two miles
from Aghada, not far from Cloyne, county of Cork, and in the midst of a
marshy field, far removed from the busy haunts of men, springs a beautiful little
well of limpid water, round which on the 15 th of August the people assemble to
pay their rounds and offer prayers. One solitary tree, the only one that
meets the eye on this secluded spot, overshadows the well, and it is covered
with pieces cloth in all colours. These pieces of cloth have been tied to
the branches of the tree by the grateful pilgrims, who have experienced the
beneficial influence of the water beneath. There is an old ruin, quite close
to the well, standing amid the silent graves of a cemetery, long since aban-
doned as a final resting-place for man. The well springs from the centre of the
field and it is surrounded by a neatly whitewashed wall of about three feet in.
height. Forty years ago, there was no more famous meeting-place in the whole south of Ireland for country people than the well at Kilteskin ; but, of late
years, it has ceased to be so generally frequented/ In Ballyhea parish, a patron was formerly held at Our Lady's Well, on the 15th of August; but, the Catholic clergy, wishing to prevent scenes of disorder at the place, had the patron converted into a cattle fair, which was instituted at Charleville. 5 Many similar celebrations took place on this day, but the open-air meetings
have been nearly altogether discontinued. However, throughout Ireland the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is held as a holyday, to assist at Mass, and abstain from servile works, it being a Double of the First- Class, with an Octave and a Proper Office. It commemorates an ancient tradition in the Church, and a pious belief among the faithful, that the glori- fied body of the Holy Mother of God had been rescued from the corruption of the tomb and assumed into Heaven soon after her death, as one of the
many singular and miraculous prerogatives conferred upon this glorious Queen of Angels and of Saints.
ArticleIII. —St. Saran. Venerationwasgivenatthe15thofAugust
to as we find recorded in the of 1 as also in that of Saran, Martyrology Tallagh,
ruain doc (t) or ejus fuit no siur moelruain. "
As the sense is not so very intelligible, we
here present a probable explanation, rather
than a translation, in English. The scholiast states this to have been a festival for the Dormition of Blessed Mary, as some un- known writer has called her ; or, the
—called, because Maelruain was her Doctor
possibly meaning that he was specially devout to her, or inspired by her to teach--
or, perhaps, adds the commentator, she was Maelruain's sister. The other note to ApnAchAn is "i iesu christi bas muire allaasin," and its literal translation given
*
Ax:a AblA bor a']- buToe ah
Ca CAen if miDA cenAoib ah
ca 501111 \\c bo A'r LA015 ah
La peite mui]\e pmiAjx
'The apple is soft and yellow (i. e. ripe),
The berry is black (ripe) on the branch, The cow and the calves are bellowing,
of
or, the Mother of Moelruain she is here
At in Lady Day
Assumption
Holy Mary,
;
Harvest.
by Whitely Stokes is,
"
J. e of Jesus Christ.
< See the Cork Weekly Herald of August 20th, 1887.
S Letter of Denis A. O'Leary, Esq. , Kil- bolane Cottage, Charleville, County Cork, and dated, December 14th, 1887.
Article hi. —• Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii. In that copy contained in the Book of Leinster, we find what seems to us unintelligible, the following entry for him, ec Sei er\Ain ; but, it seems to mean, that his locality was Tisaran.
Mary's death on that day. "—ibid. p. cxxxi.
3 The following Irish norm is in reference
""
to Lady Day in Harvest :—
Mother of God
'
August 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 229
Donegal.
2 We find no less than twelve saints the name of Saran in the bearing
Irish Calendars, and of these only six are distinguished by any epithet,
applied to them, viz. : at January 8th, Saran of Cuil-creamha ; at the 13th,
Saran, bishop ; at the 20th, Saran ; at March 1st, Saran, bishop ; at May 15th,
Saran of Inis-mor ; at July 30th, Saran; at August 1st, Saran of Bennchor ;
at the 15th, Saran ; at September 16th, Saran j at 21st, Saran, son of Tigher-
nan ; at 23rd, Saran ; and at October 22nd, Saran. 3 A saint of this name was
venerated, as patron of Tisam parish,* in the barony of Garrycastle, King's
County ; and, as we suppose, this is likely to have been the individual. The
name of this be rendered into " The House of Saran. "5 parish may English,
At present, and west of the River Brosna, Ti-Saran old church lies in the centreofMoystowndemesne,anditisinruins; whileTobarSaran,6FonsS. Sarani, lies 500 links south-west of the stables belonging to Moystown house. At this well, stations were performed some time back j but, St. Saran's festi- val-day is not any longer remembered, in that locality. 7
Article IV. —Feast of Carpre's Daughters. In addition to the
Festival and veneration observed at this date, as we read in the published 1
Martyrology of Tallaght, for Firdacrioch et St. Saran, the Daughters of
Carprearelikewisecommemorated. Inthatcopy,containedintheBookof
2
Leinster, they are also noticed, at the 15th of August. Further light we
cannot obtain, regarding these holy women, who are not mentioned at this date, in the Martyrology of Donegal. 3
Article V. —St. Colman, of Achud. Although not inserted in the 1
published Martyrology of Tallagh, at this date ; yet, in that found in the Book of Leinster, 2 is an entry noting Colman of Achud. The place presents a difficulty of identification. The name of Colman simply is inserted in the
Martyrology of Donegal,3 at the 15th of August.
Article VI. —Reputed Feast of St. Sylvester, Companion of St. Palladius. Dempsterhasoneofhisusuallyinaccuratestatementsabout
Thus, ec ptiA)\um C<Mj\pi\e.
of St.
Bollandists observe, at this date, that Ferrarius in his General Catalogue has
St. the Sylvester,
companion 2
at the
Kelly, p. xxxii.
2
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 220, 221.
2
" Acta Sanctorum xvii. , Februarii. De aliis
3 See also
Hiberniae,"
diversis Sanctis Athtrumke quiescentibus,
3 As edited Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves. by
See pp. 218, t—o 221.
Colgan's
num. 4, p. 367. 42
Palladius,
15th
Thus noted Colmani o -Ac-hut).
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
l
Thus in the Menologium Scotorum : "In Scotia Silvestri presbyteri, In Irish characters written Uobarx qui S. Palladii comes c—ontra Pelagianos SAfwMn. strenuedepugnavit. B. C. " BishopForbes' 7 See "Letters containing Information " Kalendars of the Scottish Saints," p. 208.
2
relative to the antiquities collected during See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus hi. ,
the progress of the Ordnance Survey for the Augusti xv. Among the pretermitted King's County, in 1828," vol. i. T. feasts, p. 199. They add, " unde non magis
Its limits are shown on sheets 13, 14,
21, 22, "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the King's County. "
5 The Irish name should be Ce^ch (C13)
220, 221. — Article VI.
Sauain, i e. y Tectum Sancti Sarani. °
O'Connor's letter, dated Banagher, January
docemur quam ex Camerario die prse- cedenti. "
3 To this statement, the letters B. C. are
loth, 1838, pp 159, 160. Article iv. —' Edited
by
Rev. Dr.
'
Article v. by
Published and edited Rev. Dr. Kelly. See p. xxxii.
of 1 The August.
230 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 16.
a notice of St. Sylvester, a priest of Scotia. According to Dempster's account, St. Sylvester is said to have strenuously contended against the Pelagians. * Yet, Dempster has no special article on this Sylvester, in his Ecclesiastical History of Scotland.
Article VII. —St. Cormachus or Cormacus, Bishop of Murtlach
or Aberdeen. [Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries]. At the 15th of August, David Camerarius has notification of a Feast for St. Cormachus or Cormacus,
of Murtlach or Aberdeen. 1 The Bollandists have a notice of this saint, at this date, and on the same authority ; but, they remark, that neither in Dempster, nor in their Manuscript Copy of the Aberdeen Missal, is there any allusion to him. He is stated to have been Bishop of Murtlach,? and to have died a. d. 1122.
is furnished with an admirable heating apparatus. The vestibule is laid with mosaics of various rich marbles, in the centre being a monogram of the letters S. M. C. interlacedroundacross. Itwouldbedifficult,indeed,toconveyatrue impression of the magnificence of the work within the choir and around the high altar, as also in the four side chapels, respectively dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, the Blessed Sacrament, St. Joseph, and St. Benedict Joseph Labre. 6° The entire floor of the sanctuary, measuring some fifty feet by thirty, is con- structed of marble, no less than fifteen different kinds of that stone being
Lazzerini, and they are excellently finished. 59 The valuable stained glass windows are all the gifts of friends belonging to the dio- cese, many of them living in America and in
other distant places.
60 Count Botto, an Italian contractor, had
quisite and a costly addition to the altar. The door is of bronze, while the pediment surmounting it and the panels at either side are exquisitely inlaid with coloured marbles and precions stones. The lofty baldachino over the high altar is supported on four
entrusted to him the construction of the Gothic four-foil marble columns with altars and sanctuary, and personally he moulded annulets inlaid, and capitals deco-
superintended the carrying out of this part rated in gold and sympathetic colours. The of the work. The high altar is approached architrave is also carved, and above are oil by three Carrara marble steps, and the table paintings of the Blessed Trinity, St. Peter, of the altar itself is supported on six pillars and St. Paul. The side chapels, which are of Mondragone marble. Underneath the divided from the high altar, and from one table are three panels of Carrara marble
executed in bas-relief. The central one is
a reproduction of Leonardo Da Vinci's Last
Supper;ontherightandleftarerepresenta- oneateithersideo—fthenaveandthetwo
tions of the Pelican and her Young, and the Chalice, Vine and Wheat. The taber- nacle, which is octagonal in shape, is an ex-
others in the aisles are four life-size marble statues of the Sacred Heart, St. Patrick, St. Bridget, and St. John the Baptist.
another, by Gothic grills, arc little gems of art. The reredos in each case is of inla—id Carrara marble. In front of the sanctuary
August 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 2 2 5
used for the purpose. The bishop's throne in the sanctuary is in perfect keeping with the general architecture of the church. It is constructed of
Carraramarble,whiletheseat,back,andarmsareupholsteredinoldgold. The canons' stalls are of solid polished oak, inlaid with walnut, and they are beauti-
fully carved. 61 The pulpit, in its gracefulness and embellishment, is in keeping
with all the other within the sacred appointments
building.
21st of August, 1892, the solemn dedication of the cathedral took place, in
presence of a crowded congregation of prelates, priests and laity, assembled from all parts of Ireland, and even from the most distant countries. The
Most Rev. Archbishop of Armagh, Dr. Logue, performed the ceremony of dedication ; the Most Rev. Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Walsh, sang the High Mass ; the Most Rev. Bishop of Raphoe, Dr. O'Donnell, preached the dedi- cation sermon, while the Most Rev. Bishop of Clogher, Dr. Donnelly, pre- sided on the throne. A vast number of people thronged the cathedral
as room was not available for all within that 63 spacious building.
grounds,
The Catholic Church of Clogher has been dedicated, likewise, t—o St. Mac
Carthenn. Moreover,thefineDiocesan
ofSt. Macartan — Seminary occupy-
ing a most eligible site in the immediate neighbourhood of Monaghan renders the best services possible to the cause of higher Catholic education.
Other churches, chapels and schools, belonging to the diocese, have been dedicated, in great number, to the patron saint.
It is thought, that among the existing Sees of Ireland, Clogher may claim to have been first governed by St. Patrick, before he concluded on fixing his
primatialSeeatArmagh. ThegovernmentofClogher,also,theIrishApostle relinquishedtoSt. Maccarthenn,it wouldseem,whenhehadresolvedon
finally selecting his metropolitan seat. After our saint, the holy bishop
64 his immediate
ruled to a. d. when he died. A 550,
Tigernach,
thoroughly reliable record of the succeeding prelates has not been preserved, as may be seen, from the varying list furnished by Father John Colgan, and from that found in the Registry of Clogher, as given in Harris' Ware. 65
66
successor,
According to the latter Register, St. Sinell
succeeded St. Tigernach j then
Deodeagha Mac Cairvill 67 next Feidlimid or Felim 68 next St. 69 fifth ; ; Ultan,
Bishop of Clogher from St. MacCarthin. He is different from St. Ultan, brother of St. Fursey. He is said to be entombed near the sepulchre of St. Mac Carthin at Clogher. Afterwards follow the names ofSethne, Earch, Eirglean, Cedach, and Crimer-Rodan, about whom nothing is noted, not even the years when they lived. Next comes St. Laserian, otherwise called Molaisre,70 Abbot of
61 6 These were the work of Messrs. Brien
and Keating, Wexford, who also supplied the exquisitely carved oak frames for the Stations of the Cross, as also the oak furni- ture for the chapter-room and vestries. The Stations themselves are of coloured plaster in relief.
62 The foregoing description is taken from the Freeman's Journal and National Press
of August 20th, 1892.
63 See Freeman's foumal and National
? . To him, we are told, the church of Iniscain, in the diocese of Clogher, is con- secrated, and a fountain called Glanogna-
gugan.
68 He is said to have been buried in the
church of Clunes near Tigernach, and to him was consecrated Tibrad Felim or Felim's Well.
6? There are several saints bearing this name in the Irish Calendars.
7° He died on the 1 2th of September.
stated to have lived during the lifetime of
St. Patrick, it is evident, says Sir James Ware, that Ende could not be correctly
placed on that list in a chronological order,
2
? Several saints of this name are in the
Press of
6* See his Acts at the 4th of April, in the
Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
63 See vol. i. , "Bishops of Clogher," pp.
177 to 179.
66 To his memory the church of Clarins-
lochtain is said to have been dedicated, as also a fountain called Glais-Dergain.
? J He isintended the by
Monday, August
22nd, 1892.
Registry ofClogher to represent St. Enda, of Aran Island, vene- rated on the 21st of March ; but, as he is
62 On the Sunday,
226 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 15.
Devenish; then the mere names of Tigernaand Altigerna occur. Afterwards,
xMac 2
St. Ende or Enna ? Conail, St. Ronan,? and St. /Edan or Aidan,73 are
placed. Then, we are told, that Maelcob or Maelcab succeeded and flourished in the year 640. 74 Next in succession is St. Adamnanus, called Legate of Ireland,andreckonedoneoftheBishopsinthisSee. Itisdoubtfulwhetherhe be the same as Adamnanus,? * Abbot of Hy. The times agree well enough. To him was consecrated the burying-place, at the upper end of the great street in thecityofClogher,andonthenorthside. ? 6 AfterwardsisrecordedDianach77 and Altigren. Immediately afterwards, a huge anachronism is permitted, in plac-
8
ing St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise,7 son to the Artificer.
then Airmeadach
-p
next Cunnacht; next Maelmochair; next Synach ; next Artgail Mac Dairin ; next Cairbre ; next Maelduin ; next Dermod ; next Conaid I. ; next Moraind; next Dubroith. 81 After these, we find entered Ailil, called in the Annals of Ulster,Scribe,BishopandAbbotofClogher,whodiedin868. 8i Thenfollow Cairbre the Second, and 83 in succession Cend-
8
faelad * or Cenfail, the son of Lorcan, called Comorban of Clunes and
who died in 8 s Afterwards follow Conaid II. next Tomultach; Clogher, 929. ;
next Cellach ; next Murigach ; afterwards Odo O'Buigil ; and then Mac-Mal-
Josa O'Cullean. 86 The list of prelates taken from the Registry of Clogher
O'Morgair, ? brother to the celebrated St. Malachy O'Morgair, Archbishop of Armagh, ruled over the See of Clogher, from n 26 to 11 39. There was a celebrated and zealous bishop of this See, called Aodh, or Hugh O'Kelly, also known as Bishop of Oriel or Airghiall, and head of the Canons of Erin. He died, as some say, in 1180; but, as more generally stated, in a. d. 1182. The day of his death is not recorded. 80
then Faeldobar, who died on the
of 80
29th June, 731;
^Engus. Immediately appears
being exhausted, we are brought to the twelfth century, when Christian 8 88
The Catalogue of Prelates, as given by Colgan, differs in many important respects from that in the Registry of Clogher, and it is much briefer. It is also better sustained, by the authority of our Irish Annals. Thus, after St. Tigher- nach,heplacesLiberius,whodiedonthe 2ndofNovember,00 the
although year is uncertain. Next comes St. Aitmetus, whose feast is on the 2nd of Feb-
Irish Calendar. 84 We are informed, that in the Martyr-
—— 73 His festival is said to have been on the ology of Killeen now a lost book the
31st of August.
74 He is said to have been son to Hugh,
King of Ireland.
75 He was venerated on the 23rd Sep-
tember.
76 We are told, moreover, that he left to
memory of a Cenfaelad is commemorated on
7th of April. In other Irish Martyrologies, we do not find the entry of such a saint, at that date.
»s See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 624, 625.
his church a brass bell, to be rung
86 Of these latter, more nothing
every morning through the streets of Clogher.
particular of Bishops, Clogher, in
8 > His feast occurs on the I2th of June. See at that day, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. i.
88 His feast is held on the 3rd of Novem- ber.
"'See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. part i. , pp. 84, 85, and n. 3. Also. Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol iii. ,
pp. 60,61. And "Harris' Ware," vol. i.
77 To him, the church of Domnach-mor- magiene is said to have been dedicated.
78 His feast occurs, on the 9th of Sep- tember.
7» He is said to have written a Life of St. Patrick.
80 On that day, his festival was celebrated. See the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. iii.
of
i. , Bishops Clogher,"
81
tice. 82
About these, we find no further no-
In Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," his death is placed at A. n. 867. See vol. i. , pp. 510, 511.
83 About these, is noted. nothing
"
of 180. Clogher," p.
has been noticed. taken from the
I larris' Ware, vol. pp. 177 to 179.
See the list
Bishops
Next comes Conail ;
Registry "
of
August 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 227
1 Then comes Hermetius,92 and afterwards who died on ruary. 9 Feldobar,
the 29th of June," a. d. 731. Next, he names Artgal, Abbot of Clogher, and son of Damenius, who died in 765. 94 Then Moran, son of Indract, Abbot
of Clogher, who died in 841. 95 Then Ailild, Scribe, Abbot, and Bishop of Clogher,whodiedin867. 96 ThenfollowsKenfail,thesonofLorcanComor- ban of Clunes and Clogher, who died in 929. 97 Next is Conaing O'Dom-
Archenach or Chief Prince of
follows the name of Muredach O'Cuillen, who was slain in 1126. 99 After-
nallan,
Clogher,
wards comes the name of Christian Hua Morgair, who died 1
,0° Now, it is plain, thaUhe foregoing list of prelates, as given by Colgan, must be quite imperfect. In general, from the death of St. Patrick to the death of Mure- dach O'Cuillin takes more than 600 years; and, during this period, there is
101
Truly great men love labour and privation, even crosses and tribulations, because they aim at noble results to be achieved through them.
As carrion flies are known to corrupt the most wholesome meats and alight upon the sweetest and most luscious preserved fruits, so do the multitude of worldlings seek only the world's creature comforts, its allurements, and its pleasures. Consuming such luxuries, men of idle and vicious habits live for a short time, and then worthlessly disappear. The indusrious bee fastens for a while on the most bitter herbs and thence extracts honey, to be stored within the hive. It is thus a true servant of God labours through the short spring and summer of his existence, that he may rest and enjoy himself, when the autumn or winter days close the harvest of his painstaking duties. In the present instance, a holy bishop voluntarily encountered toils, in a spirit of humility and charity, until old age and rest came upon him ; they soon passed away, in this life ; but, everlasting happiness and reward succeeded for him in Heaven.
Article II. —Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin MaryintoHeaven. TheDormitionorAssumptionoftheBlessedVirgin Mary into Heaven appears to have been held as a great Festival in Ireland, and at a period so very remot—e, that we cannot arrive at its origin. Thus, in
only a list of twelve Bishops.
—hich was
the Calendar of St. ^Engus w compiled
at least so
beginning of the ninth century it is celebrated in Irish verse, at this date,
and in his Feilire. 1 To such
entry,
early
the scholiast has added two notes. 2
berniaj," Martii xxxiv. Appendix ad Acta S. Maccarthenni, cap. vi. , p. 742.
I01
It is also to be noticed, that from the death of Conaing O'Domnallan to that of Muredach O'Cuillin, there is a period of 167
90 According to Marianus O'Gorman and others. See also the Eleventh Volume of this work at that date.
91 See the Second Volume of this work at
that date, Art—. vi.
if he had one—
93 See at that date, in the Sixth Volume
is uncertain. and this there must
92 His feast years, proves have been
of this work, Art. iii.
94 See Dr. O'Donovan's
"
Annals of the
some intermediate Bishops. Also from the
death of Artgal to that of Moran, 76 years intervene ; while there are 62 years from the death of Ailild to that of Kenfail. See
Four Masters," vol. i. pp. 366, 367. ""
95 According to the Annals of the Four Harris' Ware," vol. i. , "Bishops of
Masters," the true year as we are told was
"
Clogher," p. 17—9. Article ii.
r
See
"
Transactions of
a. d. 842.
96 According to the
Annals of the Four
97 According to the " Annals of the Four dingus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p.
Masters. "
the Royal Irish Academy. " Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. parti. , on the Calendar of
Masters. "
98 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four„Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 678, 679.
"See ibid. pp. 1022, 1023.
cxxiii.
2 Thus at the word l " given, tnof\pei :
i.
100 " See Colgan's
Acta Sanctorum Hi-
dormitatio maria (e) hie ut beata dicit 7gg (? )
assumptio sancta (e) maria (e) dei genetricis uel mater moelruain dicitur hie quia nicel-
who died in s Next 959. 9
J38.
as the
22 3 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 15.
Among the Irish peasantry, Lady Day in Harvest has long been held in special
veneration. 3 Moreover,severalwellswerededicatedtotheBlessedVirginMary,
and to these the people were accustomed to make pilgrimages, on the annual
recurrenceofthisFestival. ThesepracticeswereusuallydenominatedPatrons,
and several instances of their localization could be cited. About two miles
from Aghada, not far from Cloyne, county of Cork, and in the midst of a
marshy field, far removed from the busy haunts of men, springs a beautiful little
well of limpid water, round which on the 15 th of August the people assemble to
pay their rounds and offer prayers. One solitary tree, the only one that
meets the eye on this secluded spot, overshadows the well, and it is covered
with pieces cloth in all colours. These pieces of cloth have been tied to
the branches of the tree by the grateful pilgrims, who have experienced the
beneficial influence of the water beneath. There is an old ruin, quite close
to the well, standing amid the silent graves of a cemetery, long since aban-
doned as a final resting-place for man. The well springs from the centre of the
field and it is surrounded by a neatly whitewashed wall of about three feet in.
height. Forty years ago, there was no more famous meeting-place in the whole south of Ireland for country people than the well at Kilteskin ; but, of late
years, it has ceased to be so generally frequented/ In Ballyhea parish, a patron was formerly held at Our Lady's Well, on the 15th of August; but, the Catholic clergy, wishing to prevent scenes of disorder at the place, had the patron converted into a cattle fair, which was instituted at Charleville. 5 Many similar celebrations took place on this day, but the open-air meetings
have been nearly altogether discontinued. However, throughout Ireland the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is held as a holyday, to assist at Mass, and abstain from servile works, it being a Double of the First- Class, with an Octave and a Proper Office. It commemorates an ancient tradition in the Church, and a pious belief among the faithful, that the glori- fied body of the Holy Mother of God had been rescued from the corruption of the tomb and assumed into Heaven soon after her death, as one of the
many singular and miraculous prerogatives conferred upon this glorious Queen of Angels and of Saints.
ArticleIII. —St. Saran. Venerationwasgivenatthe15thofAugust
to as we find recorded in the of 1 as also in that of Saran, Martyrology Tallagh,
ruain doc (t) or ejus fuit no siur moelruain. "
As the sense is not so very intelligible, we
here present a probable explanation, rather
than a translation, in English. The scholiast states this to have been a festival for the Dormition of Blessed Mary, as some un- known writer has called her ; or, the
—called, because Maelruain was her Doctor
possibly meaning that he was specially devout to her, or inspired by her to teach--
or, perhaps, adds the commentator, she was Maelruain's sister. The other note to ApnAchAn is "i iesu christi bas muire allaasin," and its literal translation given
*
Ax:a AblA bor a']- buToe ah
Ca CAen if miDA cenAoib ah
ca 501111 \\c bo A'r LA015 ah
La peite mui]\e pmiAjx
'The apple is soft and yellow (i. e. ripe),
The berry is black (ripe) on the branch, The cow and the calves are bellowing,
of
or, the Mother of Moelruain she is here
At in Lady Day
Assumption
Holy Mary,
;
Harvest.
by Whitely Stokes is,
"
J. e of Jesus Christ.
< See the Cork Weekly Herald of August 20th, 1887.
S Letter of Denis A. O'Leary, Esq. , Kil- bolane Cottage, Charleville, County Cork, and dated, December 14th, 1887.
Article hi. —• Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii. In that copy contained in the Book of Leinster, we find what seems to us unintelligible, the following entry for him, ec Sei er\Ain ; but, it seems to mean, that his locality was Tisaran.
Mary's death on that day. "—ibid. p. cxxxi.
3 The following Irish norm is in reference
""
to Lady Day in Harvest :—
Mother of God
'
August 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 229
Donegal.
2 We find no less than twelve saints the name of Saran in the bearing
Irish Calendars, and of these only six are distinguished by any epithet,
applied to them, viz. : at January 8th, Saran of Cuil-creamha ; at the 13th,
Saran, bishop ; at the 20th, Saran ; at March 1st, Saran, bishop ; at May 15th,
Saran of Inis-mor ; at July 30th, Saran; at August 1st, Saran of Bennchor ;
at the 15th, Saran ; at September 16th, Saran j at 21st, Saran, son of Tigher-
nan ; at 23rd, Saran ; and at October 22nd, Saran. 3 A saint of this name was
venerated, as patron of Tisam parish,* in the barony of Garrycastle, King's
County ; and, as we suppose, this is likely to have been the individual. The
name of this be rendered into " The House of Saran. "5 parish may English,
At present, and west of the River Brosna, Ti-Saran old church lies in the centreofMoystowndemesne,anditisinruins; whileTobarSaran,6FonsS. Sarani, lies 500 links south-west of the stables belonging to Moystown house. At this well, stations were performed some time back j but, St. Saran's festi- val-day is not any longer remembered, in that locality. 7
Article IV. —Feast of Carpre's Daughters. In addition to the
Festival and veneration observed at this date, as we read in the published 1
Martyrology of Tallaght, for Firdacrioch et St. Saran, the Daughters of
Carprearelikewisecommemorated. Inthatcopy,containedintheBookof
2
Leinster, they are also noticed, at the 15th of August. Further light we
cannot obtain, regarding these holy women, who are not mentioned at this date, in the Martyrology of Donegal. 3
Article V. —St. Colman, of Achud. Although not inserted in the 1
published Martyrology of Tallagh, at this date ; yet, in that found in the Book of Leinster, 2 is an entry noting Colman of Achud. The place presents a difficulty of identification. The name of Colman simply is inserted in the
Martyrology of Donegal,3 at the 15th of August.
Article VI. —Reputed Feast of St. Sylvester, Companion of St. Palladius. Dempsterhasoneofhisusuallyinaccuratestatementsabout
Thus, ec ptiA)\um C<Mj\pi\e.
of St.
Bollandists observe, at this date, that Ferrarius in his General Catalogue has
St. the Sylvester,
companion 2
at the
Kelly, p. xxxii.
2
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 220, 221.
2
" Acta Sanctorum xvii. , Februarii. De aliis
3 See also
Hiberniae,"
diversis Sanctis Athtrumke quiescentibus,
3 As edited Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves. by
See pp. 218, t—o 221.
Colgan's
num. 4, p. 367. 42
Palladius,
15th
Thus noted Colmani o -Ac-hut).
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
l
Thus in the Menologium Scotorum : "In Scotia Silvestri presbyteri, In Irish characters written Uobarx qui S. Palladii comes c—ontra Pelagianos SAfwMn. strenuedepugnavit. B. C. " BishopForbes' 7 See "Letters containing Information " Kalendars of the Scottish Saints," p. 208.
2
relative to the antiquities collected during See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus hi. ,
the progress of the Ordnance Survey for the Augusti xv. Among the pretermitted King's County, in 1828," vol. i. T. feasts, p. 199. They add, " unde non magis
Its limits are shown on sheets 13, 14,
21, 22, "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the King's County. "
5 The Irish name should be Ce^ch (C13)
220, 221. — Article VI.
Sauain, i e. y Tectum Sancti Sarani. °
O'Connor's letter, dated Banagher, January
docemur quam ex Camerario die prse- cedenti. "
3 To this statement, the letters B. C. are
loth, 1838, pp 159, 160. Article iv. —' Edited
by
Rev. Dr.
'
Article v. by
Published and edited Rev. Dr. Kelly. See p. xxxii.
of 1 The August.
230 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 16.
a notice of St. Sylvester, a priest of Scotia. According to Dempster's account, St. Sylvester is said to have strenuously contended against the Pelagians. * Yet, Dempster has no special article on this Sylvester, in his Ecclesiastical History of Scotland.
Article VII. —St. Cormachus or Cormacus, Bishop of Murtlach
or Aberdeen. [Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries]. At the 15th of August, David Camerarius has notification of a Feast for St. Cormachus or Cormacus,
of Murtlach or Aberdeen. 1 The Bollandists have a notice of this saint, at this date, and on the same authority ; but, they remark, that neither in Dempster, nor in their Manuscript Copy of the Aberdeen Missal, is there any allusion to him. He is stated to have been Bishop of Murtlach,? and to have died a. d. 1122.
