No More Learning

Junii : "In Gandavo Elevatio S. Livini martyris, et translatio secunda corporis
Vallancey's
These consisted of First, the Leper-
ipsius. "' ARTICLE V.
the site of the castle, but there were no remains whatever of its walls ; thirdly, a moat, which had been surrounded by a circular fosse ; and fourthly,
—
10
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
3 See also Dempster's " Historia Ecclesi- astica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. ix. , num. 706, pp. 375, 376.
Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (x), pp. 93, 94. ""
4 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Junii xxviii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 334.
See Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap, lxxiv. , p. 577.
12
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 182, 183
s For this, they refer also to the Life of St. Attala, Abbot of Bobbio, written at the 10th
—i. , pp. 76, 77.
In his
— Scotorum. "
•
" Menologium discipuli discipulorum
une 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
821
ArticleVI. —St. Flavianus. Inthe"Feilire"ofSt.
28th of June, there is a festival for St. Flavianus entered. In a comment annexed,2 he is designated Flovianus, Pope at Rome. There was no such Pope so named ; but, there was a St. Fabianus, who presided from a. d. 236 to a. d 250. 3 However, the present seems to have been a St. Fabianus, who withcertaincompanionssufferedmartyrdominAfrica; and,noticesofthem occur, at this date, in the Bollandists,* as found in the Martyrology of St. Jerome, and in other old Martyrologies.
ArticleVII. —FeastofSt. Merenus,AbbotinBennchor. Atthe
1 28thofJune,DavidCamerariushasentered afestivalforaSt. Merenus,
said to have been an Abbot in that monastery called Benchor, which had
been so celebrated among the Scots. The Bollandists 2 also record this
Murenus, at the same date, referring to notices of him, which had been already given, at the 12th of May.
Article VIII. —The Blessed Malchus,Monk of Mellifont, County of Louth. [Twelfth Century^\ At this date, the Bollandists * have a feast for the Blessed Malchus, of the Cistercian Order in Ireland, on the authority of Henriquez and Chalemot.
Ctoattp=mntl) ©ap of 3fune.
ARTICLE I. —ST. COCHA OR COCCA, ABBESS OF ROS-BENNCHUIR. [FIFTH CENTUXY.
WEhave to regret, that indications are not more clear, in reference to
the female whose celebration in our Calendars has been pious saint,
assigned to this day. However, we can only present, as we find them, the few particulars, that seem to be on record. This holy virgin has her name
written Coca or Cocca x ;
it has been converted into Life 3 of St. Kieran of Saighir we find this
usually
Concha and Cota. 2 In an
but, incorrectly, English
of March.
Article vi. — • See "Transactions 'of
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu-
dino, p. 357.
Article vii. — z Thus " Sanctus Mere-
:
nus Abbas in celebri illo apu—d Scotos monas- terio cui Benchora nomen. " Bishop Forbes'
p. 334. — Article viii.
On the Calen- dar of Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. ,
script, Series, vol. i. , part i.
" 2
p.
xcvi.
2 See ibid. , p. cviii.
3 See Sir Harris Nicolas'
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 238. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Junii xxviii. Among the pretermitted saints,
History," p. 209.
* See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Junii
xxviii. De Sanctis Martyribus Afris, Fabiano, Felice, Arione, Capitolino, Nisia, Elapha, Venusto Eunocho, Crescente, Alexandro, Theona, Pleoso, Asthesio, Apollonio, Amphamone, Phisocio, Meleo, Dionysio, Hino, Panno, Plebrio, Panubvio, Dioscoro, Tubono, Capitulino, Nica, Gur-
'" See
Acta Sanctorum," Among the preter-
"
Chronology of
tomus v. , Junii xxviii. mitted feasts, p. 335.
Article l— * So she is called in Vita
S. Baraei, cap. x.
2 So called See Col- by John Capgrave.
gan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," v.
Martii, n. 29, p. 465.
3 Belonging to Mr. John O'Daly, book-
yEngus,
1atthe
822 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 29.
saint called " Coinche. " I—n the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the iii. of the Kalends of July— June 29th and included with that of other saints, there is a festivalforCocca,ofRuisBeandchoir. * ThegreaterportionoftheLifeofSt. Cocchea is to be found interspersed and interwoven, so to speak, with the Life of the great St. Kieran,* whose nurse and guardian it was her privilege to be. Owing to these circumstances, it appears to be altogether probable, that she was born, or at least, that she lived for some time, in the Island of Cape Clear, in the present county of Cork. She is stated to have been the nurse of St. Kieran of Saigir ; and if so, her period should date to the beginning of the fifth century. She may have been converted from the errors of paganism, by receiving baptism at the hands of her Apostolic foster-son. St. Cocca is related, to have embraced a religious life, and to have presided over the monastery of Ros-bennchuir. 6 That it was situated on the sea-coast appears from the Life of St. Kieran of Saigir, who was one of the principal coadjutors of St. Patrick, in the southern parts of Ireland. St. Cocchea rendered the greatest assistance to St. Kieran, in propagating the Christian faith. The religious establishment of Ross-bennchuir was possibly situated on the western
8 coastofClareCounty,? ashasbeenstated, butonwhatancientauthorityis
not cited. Perhaps this place was identical with the townland of Ross, on the sea-shore, in the parish of Kilballyowen, in the barony of Moyarta, —in
of—
the of Clare. There St. Cocha's
the south-western
according to one writer 9 was situated, about twelve miles W. S. W. from Kil- kee, in that county, and within a few hundred yards of the Natural Bridges of Ross. The ruins, we are told, present no interesting architectural features. 10 In the Life of St. Kieran, we are told, that he sent oxen each year from Saigir to this place ; and, although the distance was considerable, it is said, they always went in a direct course to Ros-benchuir, without being even conducted by a driver. These oxen were sent to plough the lands of St. Cocca, and
Teampull-an-naonmhar-naomh, i. e. , the church of the nine saints. 12 Of this edifice, the west gable and side walls remain to the full height, with 4 feet of the under part of the east gable. It measures 34 feet 4 inches in length, by 15^2 in breadth. 13 At the distance of 24 feet, south from the ruin, is what the
seller, 9 Anglesea-street, Dublin. out proof, in his "Ecclesiastical History of 4 " Moeldoid i Failbhe mac Daire ocus Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sect, ix. , n.
part county
nunnery
season was over each
There is a small ruined church in the townland of Ross, and which is called
after the
ploughing
year, they
returned
again
Fealdobor ocus Cocca Ruis Beandchoir. "
"
115, p. 405.
» Marcus Keane.
See Rev. Dr. Kelly's Saints," &c, p. xxviii.
Calendar of Irish
s See his Life, at the 5th of March, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
Ireland," p. 376.
sisted in presiding over the education of
" See
6 The principal work of St. Cocchea con- niae," v. Martii, p. 461. Vita S. Kierani
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- ex codice Kilkenniensi, cap. xxiv.
7 Yet, from a careful examination of the
Index Map of this county, and the Manu-
script Index to the Names of Parishes and
Townlands of the same county, we are unable
to discover the name of Ros-benchuir, with-
in its limits. Even the denomination does
not appear on the ancient and large Map of
Clare County, compiled with such elegance
and laborious accuracy, by Mr. John wide inside ; it is 2 feet 8 inches in height and
who were entrusted to her care, some for a time, and others for life.
" to Mr. According
noble
virgins,
Eugene O'Curry's description of the Parish of Kilballyowen,
O'Donovan, and which is at present among
the Irish Ordnance Survey Records.
4 inches in breadth at top, and 6 inches at bottom on the outside. The walls are 2% feet thick, and about 10 feet high, and there
8
So Rev. Dr. Lanigan asserts, but with-
,0
See "Towers and Temples of Ancient
Colgan's
County of Clare.
* 3 At the distance of 9 feet 3 inches from
the west gable, on the south side is a pointed
doorwaywiththesidesdestroyed, andmea-
suring 6 feet in height on the inside, and 5^
feetontheoutside. Atthedistanceofio1 /*
feet from this, in the same side, is a quadran- gular window 3 feet 8 inches high, and 3 feet
to 11 Saigir.
June 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
823
peasantry call the grave of the nine saints. 1 * We are also told, that on each
festival of our Lord's Nativity, after the people had received Holy Com-
munion from St. Kieran's own hands, in the monastery of Saigir, he was
accustomed to proceed to the monastery of St. Cocca, at Ros-bennchuir, that
he might again offer up the Holy Sacrifice there, and on the same morning.
After St. Cocca and others had received communion from him, he returned
again to Saigir, before the dawn of daylight. Relating these circumstances,
the ancient writer of St. Kieran's Life remarks, that he and others knew not
by what means this saint went and returned, as he concealed such matters
from them *5—meaning his monks. We are informed, that there was a large
stone on the sea-shore, which had been surrounded with water, near the
monasteryofRos-bennchuir. TothistheAbbessoftenretired,anditwas
of 1? as ofRos-Bennchair. 20 Martyrology Donegal, Cocha,
Article II. —St. Conuan, Bishop, of Tigh Collain, or Tigh Con-
" 16
called, the stone of St. Cocca, because on it she
1 ? As an old legend has it, St. Ciaran went one day on that Rock, and it floated over the waters with him, and returned to its own place again, it being Ciaran's wish it should so happen. The Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Cathal Maguire state, that the Natalis of this saint had been celebrated, on the 29th of July, in the church of Ros-bennchuir.
18 We do not find her name occurring on this day, in the copy of the Irish Calendar, belonging to theOrdnanceSurveyOffice,PhoenixPark. Sheisentered,however,inthe
nain,inCremhthanna,nowStackallan,CountyofMeath. Inthe 1
Martyrology of Tallagh, a festival occurs, at the 29th of June, in honour ot Conuan, Bishop, of Tigh Collain. The land of Ui-Crimhthainn comprises thepresentbaronies ofUpperandLowerSlane,in thecountyofMeath. 2 It is thought to be highly probable, 3 that the Four Masters are wrong, when they write the name of this place Teach Collain,'* as it is locally pronounced by the
natives; and, itis supposed, the true form of the name had bee—n Teach-Conain,s
" *. «,,
6 deredintoStaorSti,asinthepresentinstance. Stackallenisasmallvillage,
—n's house. " This house of Collan or Connan now known as Stackallen was situated nearly midway between Navan and Slane, in the county of Meath. It is curious to remark, that in some of those districts colonized by the Danes and English, the Teach or Tigh of the Irish was ren-
Cona
is not a cut or chiselled stone in the whole.
Kilkenniensi, cap. xxvi. , p. 461.
l8 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," v. Martii, n. 29, p. 465.
I9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
182, 183.
14 This measured grave
feet in
from north to south, 7 feet 9 inches in breadth, and it was 2 feet in height. The sides were built up of loose stones, after the
" 20 ordinary manner of graves. See Letters
33
length,
containing Information relative to the Anti- quities of the County of Clare, collected
during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1839," vol. ii. Mr. Eugene Curry's letter, dated Kildisart, I Ith November, 1839, pp. 70, 71.
XS
See Colgan's
nise," v. Martii. Vita S. Kierani ex codice n. 9, p. 184. See, also, O'Flaherty's
Kilkenniensi, cap. xxv. , p. 461.
16
Life of St. Ciaran of
According
English Manuscript
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Colgan's
"Trias " Thaumaturga,
to the Saighir,
called "
11 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Carrig Conchy. "
nia? ," Martii" v. Vita S. Kierani ex Codice
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (u), p. 851.
this
place
was
frequently prayed.
In the Table subjoined to the Martyr- ology of Donegal, as edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, a query is put, as to whether this saint had been the nurse of Ciaran of Saighir? Seeibid. ,pp. 378,379.
"
Article ii. —'
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Ogygia," pars, iii. , cap. Ixxvi. , p. 364.
3 Dr. John O'Donovan. By
4 In the Irish character Ceac ColtAin. 5 In the Irish character Ceac Conain.
6 " See Dr. O'Donovan's
Kelly, p. 2 See
xxviii.
824 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [June 29.
in the barony of Upper Slane, and county of Meath. After the Anglo- Norman Invasion, Stackallen became a parish church,? and it formed a small
8 in the diocese of Meath. 9 Under the head of 10 Teach-Connain,
parish,
Duald Mac Firbis enters Connan, bishop, from Tech Connain, in Crim-
11
of at the same Donegal,"
in the
date, he is registered as Cenuan, Bishop, of Tigh Conuain, in Cremhthanna.
Article III. —St. Foelduarius, or Faeldobhair, Bishop of Clogher, County of Tyrone. {Seventh and Eighth Centuries. '] The
without other any
thann,
at
June 29th.
Again,
Martyrology
of r setsdownthenameof Martyrology Tallagh
Fealdobor,
notice, at this date. He is called Foelduarius,2 and he is classed among the bish—ops of this See of Clogher. The Bollandists 3 —who, on Colgan's autho- rity give a feast to St. Foeldavarius, Bishop of Clogher, in Ireland, at the 29th of June, tell us, th—at in a certain Benedictine Kalendar, also, they find a Foderoldus mentioned but it cannot be asserted, that the latter should be resolvedintotheformername. Theimmediatepredecessorofthepresent holy man in the See of Clogher is called Air-meadach or Ermedus, who is said to have written a Life of St. Patrick,* but the date for his accession or death does not appear on record. Foelduarius is said to have succeeded Airme- dach, and to have died on the 29th of June, a. d. 701, according to the Annals
of Ulster,s and those of the Four Masters. 6 In Harris Ware, we find his
death assigned, also, in two different places to a. d. 731. 7 According to the
8
Martyrology of Donegal, a festival was celebrated at the 29th of June, in
honour of Faeldobhair, of Clochar.
Article IV. —St. Cain Comrac or Caenchomhrac, of Disert
Chinnchlair. ThenameofCainComrac,Chinnclair,wasveneratedatthe 1
29th of June, according to the Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Marianus O'Gorman and of Maguire. In the Acts of St. Patrick occurs a Coen- chomrachus, who is called a literate and a learned man, from the northern part of Ireland. Although, at first, he had been found stealing some horses belonging to the saint, he was pardoned this offence. Afterwards, he was
" Diocese of Its area contains 2,351a. 3op.
"
7 See Rev. A.
Cogan's
xxix. the Among
pretermitted saints, p.
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. hi. , chap.
396.
* See Archdeacon Henry Cotton's " Fasti
Ecclesiae Hibernicae," vol. iii. , p. 72.
s By these he is called Fealdobor Clochar.
"
Reran Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , An- thought to be uncertain ; but it was pro- nales Ultonienses, p. 68. In the Cod. bably situated in Crimthann, county of Clarend, the name is written Foodovan. See
lxxiii. n. , p. 550.
8
9 See an account of it, in the
tary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. iii. , p. 275.
10 The locality of Teach Connain is
Meath. See William M. Hennessy's note.
11 See " of the Irish Proceedings Royal
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 128, 129.
ibid. , n. 2.
6 See Dr. O'Donovan's vol. Edition,
i. ,
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
pp. 302, 303.
7 See vol. i. , Bishops of Clogher, pp. 177,
179.
182, 183. — Article iii.
8
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
dix, cap. iv. , p. 742. 3"
'
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxviii.
3 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae,"xxiv. Martii, S. Maccarthenni, Appen-
182, 183.
Article iv. —* Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxviii.
"See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. xxxv. , p. 156.
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Junii
Parliamen-
See Rev. Dr. Charles O' Conor's
June 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 825
received
the and servants of the 2 it does not among companions Apostle. But,
appear,thathewasidenticalwiththepresentsaint. UndertheheadofDaimh-
laig, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Caencomhrac, bishop of Daimhlaig. 3 His
period was towards the middle of the tenth century. * Again, we find in the
Martyrology of Donegal,* he is registered at the same date, as Caenchomhrac, of Disert Chinn Chlair. This place has not been identified.
Article V. —St. Maeldoid, Son of Derbhdara. We find entered
1
in the Martyrology of Tallagh, that veneration was given at the 29th of
June, to Moeldoid i Failbhe, mac Daire. Little seems to be known regard-
him. At the same the of 2 the name date, Martyrology Donegal registers
ing
of Maeldoid, son of Derbhdara.
ArticleVI. —St. Stellan. Atthe of Thomas 29th June,
l
Dempster enters a feast 8 for St. Stellan, who is stated to have been honoured in
Buchan. Again,heissaidtohavebroughthispeopleovertothecelebration
of the Roman rite, in reference to the Pashal time, 3 and to have lived in the
year 666. According to Dempster's customary statement, he is said to have
TheBollandistss notethecommemorationofthis
Article VII. —Festival of St.