No More Learning

Article II. —Reputed Festival of St. Aid, Abbot of Achad FiNGLASS, County of Carlow. St. Aid is said to have become Abbot of Achad Finglass, or Achad Arglass, near Leighlin, on the eastern bank of the River Barrow, which was within the ancient territory of Hua-drona,' now
''
Idrone barony, in the county of Carlow. Archdall says, that a St. Aid
was Abbot of Achadh Finglais, or Ardglass, now Agha, in the barony of Idrone, at what time, he could not as—certain ; but, that his festival was
observed, on—
April nth. In that case according to a suggestion of Mr.
John M'Call he must have been the same as St. Aid, or Maidoc, of Clon-
more, whose festival day it is ; and, more than probable, Achadh Ardglais,
was another monastery in the county of Carlow, founded, or presided
over, by the holy Abbot, regarding whom we have already treated. To this opinion, the writer also strongly inclines. Achad Finglass is now usually
known, by the name of Agha,' a parish bounded on the north, by Nurney
parish;onthesouth,byDunleckneyparish; ontheeast,byFinnaghparish; and on the west, by Killanane parish, and by a detached part of Wells parish.
In the townland of Agha, within this parish, one of the ruinous primitive churches was to be seen, in the year 1839, and it has been described, by Mr. Thomas O'Conor, belonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey Staff, at that time. * The whole structure exhibits a very curious specimen, illustrating the simple architecture of its period ; and, the masonic courses do not appear broken, as no binding stones are observable in this building. A semicircular arched- window, in the east gable, is eight ftfet, in height, to the key-stone. s Two chiselled stones of granite form the south side ; three the north ; and, one
^ The entry runs as follows at iii. Idus : " Item apud Hibemiam ad sanctus vir, no- bilis genere, sed nobilior moribus, —clarus
Christ! confessor ad astra
"
—
tion, the reader is referred to a letter, writ-
ten by Mr. Thomas O'Conor, and dated from Leighlin Bridge, June 2Ist, 1839. It is
"
published, in the
mation relating to the Antiquities of the County of Carlow, collected during the pro- gressoftheOrdnanceSurveyin1839. " See
pp. 15810 172.
'
See "Monasticon Hibemicum," p. 35. ' We have already partially alluded to the
hop Forbes' p. 10.
exhibited rounded stones and of small size,
which had been dressed with a hammer,
The part extending eastwardly had been built
with larger stones, prepared in a similar man-
ner. It is partly conjectured, although not clearly affirmed, that both parts of this wall belonged to different periods, as shown by a diversity of the composing materials,
'Accordingtoaroughdrawing,givenby Mr. O'Conor, the interior of this window
presents acomposition of 21 stones, although according to his statement, it consists only of
Article 11.
'
For proof of this asser-
Bis- Kalendars of Scottish Saints,"
of the north side wall, were removed ; and these, likewise, had been taken out, which formed its whole exterior. The top had fallen from the western Outside of its
perrexit. "
gable.
south wall, a part towards the western gable
Letters containing Infor-
old church, at this place, in our Life of St. 20. Fintan, Abbot of Clonenagh, at the 17th of See
February, chap, iii. , and to it, the reader is referred.
* Then, large stones, in a projecting part
"
The key-stone appeared out of place,
County Carlow Letters belonging to the Ordnance Survey Office, Phoenix Park," onevolume, pp. 148, 149. Mr. O'Conor's Let- ter, dated I,eighlin Bridge, June 21st, 1839.
120 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April ii.
stone tops it. * Within four feet, two inches, of the east gable, there had been
a window, on the south side walls, and five feet, eight inches, from the ground, on the interior ; it being three feet broad, at the lower part. The top was
surmounted by a fectilineally pointed arch, one foot, seven inches, high. The window's side was five feet, in height, to the spring of this arch; which, whenadded,shouldmakethewholeheightsixfeet,seveninches. Thearch was composed only of two stones. ? On the outside, this window was six feet, nine inches, from the ground, and it exhibited a quadrangular form, being two feet, two inches, high ; seven inches broad, at the lower part ; and six inches,attheupperend. * Ontheinside,atadistanceofeighteenfeet,from this window, there is a quadrangular opening througli the wall, being two feet, one inch, broad, and three feet, three inches, high. This opening stands, at a height of eight feet, six inches, from the ground. A thin stone crosses it, atthetop,andthisstoneappearshighestonthewall. Outside,thiswindow appears a small aperture, only thirteen inches broad, and twelve inches high. The western doorway is at a distance, on the inside, of five feet and a-half, from the south side wall ; and five feet, ten inches, from that bearing north- wardly. The lowest stone, on its south side, having been removed from this wall, in 1839 ; the breadth of its door, at the ground, could not from within be accurately determined. ' Stones used, for the construction of Agha c)d church, are of granite ; and, for the most part, they are of a rounded form, dressed with the hammer. This precious old monument testifies much to the antiquity of the place, as the locality of an ancient ecclesiastical establish- ment. '" ThetownofLeighlinBridge"issituated,also,withinthelimitsof Agha parish, wherein, also, various objects of antiquity are to be found. Thus, in Rathcadan townland, situated within this parish of Agha, a church and burial ground formerly had been known, but the latter is now altogether dis- used. About six feet, in length, and as many in height, ot this church's southern wall had been left standing here, in the summer of 1839. '^ Ratheadan '3 is thought to have derived its name, from one called Aedan ; and, within it, is supposed to have been the original Rath Aedain, Latinized " arx Aedani ;"
' A
rough drawing
serted, after a description, ; the substance of which is given in the text.
' A rough plan of this object is sketched, by Mr. O'Conor.
'"Five stones compose it, the one on which the sides rest not reckoned in the number," A drawing by Mr. O'Conor, also,
the See " Carlow Letters parish. County
belonging to the Ordnance Survey Office, Phoenix Park," one volume, pp. 15810 172. Mr. O'Conor'sLetter, dated Leighlin Bridge, June 21, 1839.
" In the " Irish Penny Journal," for 1841,
a view of this place, with historical notices,
by Dr. Petrie, will be found,
"
accompanies his desciiption of this object.
' Mr. O'Conor here presents a drawing of the door outwardly, to illustrate his descrip- lion of it ; and, he afierwards gives the exact measurement, in height, length, and thick-
of the outside is in-
According to Mr. O'Conor's account.
'3 Rahedin is marked on the old map, by Mercator. From part of a poem, quoted in the "Annals of the Four Masters," at A. D. 906, it should seem, this was the residence of ness, of the several thirteen stones compos- the Lord of Ui Drona (Idrone). At the year just mentioned, the Annalists record, that " Aedh, son of Duibhghiolla, Lord of Ui-Drona of the three plains, and tanist of Ui-Ceinnsealach, was killed by the Ui- Bairche. " The poem above alluded to, from which the quotation is made, was composed on the occasion of the death of this Aedh, and addressed to the youths of Magh Ailbhe, exhorting them to lament the fall of this chief. The two last quatrains of the quota-
ing it.
" At the south-west corner of the old
church of Auglia, and but a short distance from it, is a large stone, in an inclined posi- tion, which is supposed to have been the pedestal of a cross. It has an artificial cavity, sunk in the surface, which is two feet one inch, by twelve inches, and one . foot, three inches deep. But no cross is seen about the church, in the memoiy of the oldest inhabi- tant of that place, nor is tliere any recollec- lion of the name for the saint, eitlier as con- nected with tht church itself, or as patron of
tion are :
\\ fUdicnn foy, yvaic AenAiti, <Ve'6 in eccAio a 6cci4.
^
April ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 121
but, as there are two distinct Raths,'* within this townland, it seems not an easy matter,'5 to identify the exact locality. There are two other Raths, within the parish, eacn of which gives name to the townland, in which it lies. One is in Rathellen—locally Rahillin—townland, and the other is in Rath-
wade—locallyRahwade—townland. '* According
holds, that the feast of our saint had been celebrated, on the nth of April ; although the year, in which he flourished, is uncertain. '' In an Irish
Calendar, this holy man is said to have belonged, to the county of Long- ford,'* but the writer seems to have mistaken his locality.
Article III. —St. Dadhnan, Bishop of Cill-Conga. An entry occurs,
in the Martyrology of Tallagh," at the nth of April, regarding Dadnan,
Bishop of Cille Cunga. According to William M. Hennessey, this place can-
not be identified; but, under its heading, Duald Mac Firbis records, Dadnan,
as its bishop, at the nth of April. ^ On the authority of the Tallagh Martyr-
ology, the Bollandists3 enter his feast, at this date. The Martyrology of
Donegal * records, on this day, the festival in honour of Dadhnan, Bishop of
Cill-Cunga.
>
Article IV. —St. Salamon, or Salomon. At this date, April nth,
the of ' inserts a festival, in honour of Salamon. On Martyrology Tallagh
the same authority, the BoUandists ' notice him as Salomon, but further in- formation we cannot obtain.
Which Dr. O'Connor renders : —
"
Arcem Aedani
townland is now uncertain.
" Rahallyn is marked also on the old
Est portentosum non dominari supra
" map County of Carlow Letters beloning to the Ordnance Survey Office, Phoenix Park," one vol. , pp. 173 to 176. Mr. O'Conor's Letter, dated Leighlin
" Aedanum
These words should run in English :
"
It is ominous that Atdan, called by cog- nomen, ofthe /torses, does not exercise lordly power over Rath-Aedain, O youths. "
These words succeeding might give a more correct, although perhaps, not so pompous a view of the meaning intended by the original.
"
It is (a cause ot) woeful grief over Kath- Aedain (that) Aedh is dead, O youths. "
'* One of these is of an oblong form, while it is from east to west 158 feet, and from north to south 120 feet. There is now no appearance of a ditch or fosse, about it. The highest part, or south-west comer, measures from the base, in a
cognominatum Equorum,
direction to the In some other parts, it is no more than one-half or one- third of this height. The centre is sunk. Some briars and whitethorn bushes cover its ends and sides. It lies, about one quarter of a mile, to the west of the burial-ground, above noticed. There is a part of another ^th, between this one, and the burial- ground. The greater part of this latter was destroyed. The portion which remains shows
sloping extremity at top, 18 feet.
that it was circular. A ditch,
running
from
Articleiv. —' Edited RevDr. by
east to west, occupies partly the place of that
portion, which was destroyed.
's Which of these two gave name to the
Kelly, p. xxi. TheFranciscancopyhasSAleamoif.
O
—
Juvenes. "
just mentioned. See
Bridge,June21st, 1839.
' See " Monasticon
Hibemicum,"p. 35,
to the Archdall Calendar,
and n. (p). See, . ilso, Ryan's "History and
Antiquities of the County of Carlow," chap,
ii. , pp. 26, 27. At page 29, this latter writer
:
adds "Inthe theD. ines
tion of which has already been noticed. "— Ibid.
"Heis called, "A<meAi^vii*6ftoflcAe longfuinc," where his name occurs, at the Third of^the Ides, or nth day of April. See the " Common Place Book V," belonging to the Ordnance Survey Records, and now de- posited, in the Royal Irish Academy, at p. 37.
Article hi. —' Edited Rev. Dr. by
Kelly, p. xxi. The Franciscan copy reads
year 864, Achadfinglass,then a rich abbey, the founda-
"OdTjnan e<ipCilti Cunga. »"
See Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Acatlemy," Irish MSS. series, vol. 1. , part i. ,
—" Dadnanus Episcopus de Kell-Cungx"
PP- 94. 95- 5"
Acta Sanctorum," tomus Among the pretermitted saints, p. 2.
*
100, loi.
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
'
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis xi. Among the pretermitted saints, p.
pillaged
ii. , xi. Aprilis
122 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April ii.
Article V. —St. Brocan, or Brocanus. The simple entry Brocan,
without any other distinguishing epithet, occurs, in the Martyrology of Tal- lagh," at the nth of April ; and, on the same authority, at the same date, the
*
Bollandists
enter Brocanus.
Article VI—St. Senior, or Senoir, Mac Maeldalua, Primate of Armagh. The name Senoir Mac Maeldalua is set down, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the nth of April. Under this title, he is not found, in the list of Armagh . Prelates, in Harris' edition of Ware. Marianus O'Gorman's Martyrology records him,^ at this date, according to Father John Colgan ; while,theBollandists3 noticehim,asthesonofMoeldavan,andPrimateof Armagh. He is mentioned, in the Psalter of Cashel ; although Colgan omits him altogether, in his Annals of Armagh. '* We think it probable, this holy Prelate was identical with Seanach, Abbot of Armagh, who belonged to the family of Cluain-Ua n Grici,5 and who died in 609, according to the Annals of the Four Masters. * He succeeded Eochaid Mac Dermot, in 598, as Arch- bishop of Armagh. 7 We find it registered, however, in the Martyrology of Donegal,* that Senoir, son of Maeldalua, Primate of Ard Macha, or Armagh, had veneration paid him, on this day. His name is found Latinized Senior, in the table, appended to this work, and where, he is also styled the suc- cessor or representative of Patrick. ' That holy prelate died, a. d. 610, according to Harris' Ware ;'° however, we find little recorded, in reference to his incumbency.
Article VII. —St. Aedh, of Echaradh, or Eachfraid, as also of
Echdroma, now probably Aughrim, County of Galway. On the nth of
April, in the Martyrology ofTallagh,' appears the name of Aedan Echdroma,and Eachfraid. This latter was probably the name of some place, which is not easily
recognisable. Theformerwasidentical,wesuppose,withthecelebratedAugh- rim,nearBallinasloe,inthecountyofGalway. ^ TheBollandistsfollowthe
authority of the Tallagh Martyrology ; but they enter this name erroneously. ^ In the Martyrology of Donegal,t we find set down, on this day, the name,
Article v. —» Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxi.
The Franciscan copy enters Xr^oc- cATii.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis xi. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 2.
Article vi.
""
See Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Ap-
pp. 234, 235, and n. (i). —Ibid.
"
Tours in Ulster," pp. 138 to 153, for very interesting descrip- tions and engravings, illustrating the ancient
city of Armagh.
*
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 100, loi.
' See ibib. , pp. 466, 467.
'° See vol. i. , "Archbishops of Armagh,"
Kelly, p. xxi.
Senioi\ mAc met'OAbua.
—
In the Franciscan copy is
Edited by J^ev. Dr.
Rev. Dr.
p. xxi. The Franciscan copy contains the Aprilis xi. Among the pretermitted saints, following entry xMOAi echtipom AUgf
pendix ad Acta S. Patricii, par. iv. , p 311. 3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Edited by
Kelly,
p. 2.
* See " Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Ap-
pendix ad Acta S. Patricii, pars, iii. , pp. 293 10311.
s This should mean, the Lawn, Meadow, or insulated pasturage of the [tribe of] Ui Grici, remarks Dr. O'Donovan. How- ever, he knows not any locality, which in its Anglicised form could be called Cloony
greek, as the denomination implies.
echppAiT).
= See O'Donovan's " Tribes and Customs
of Hy-Many. " Additional Notes B. n. (d),
p. 130.
'
See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. .
^ See J. B. Doyle's
p. 39. — Article VII.
3 rhus " Ardanus Echdromensis et Ech- :
foradensis "—"Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Aprilis xi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 2.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 1(X3, loi.
April ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 123
Aedh of Echaradh ; and, in the Rev. Alban Butler's Lives of the Saints s appears a notice regarding St. Aid of Eacharridh, as also, in the Circle of the Seasons,* there is a similar commemoration.
ArticleVIII. —St. Sgeallan,orScellain. Anentrysetdown,in
the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the i ith of April, is simply the name Scellain.
Onthesame this theBoUandists^ enterScellanus. day, following authority,
The Martyrology of Donegal 3 records, on this day, the name of Sgeallan. The Calendarist thinks, this is Sgeallan Gael, of Cill Cromglaisi, fn Munster, of whom the Life of Fionnchu makes honourable mention, proving that it
was at Cill Cromglaisi, he and Cairbre Crom, son of Crimthann, were fostered, with Sgeallan Gael. * The situation of Cill Cromglass has not been discovered. '
Article IX. —St. Frosaisaigh, or Frossach, Anchoret. In the East—and especially in Egypt—the anchoretical and monastic life was cherishedamidthedeserts,bythePauls,AnthonysandPacomiuscs. These left innumerable disciples. St. Athanasius, St. Jerome, St. Ephrem, and
other writers, have given us the record of their miraculous conversions, their
labours, their evangelical poverty, their prodigious austerities, and their gift ofmiracles. ' InIreland,also,weremanyanchorets. Thenameofoursaint
appears, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the nth of April, as Frosaisiagh. Again, the BoUandists 3 follow this authority, to record, on this day, Fros- sacus anachoreta. This Anchorite, was venerated on this day, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal. * In a comment annexed, and in the sub- joined table, it is observed, that there is a Cill-Fhrasuigh, in the barony of Coram, and county of Sligo. s
Article X. —St. Senan, or Senanus. The name Senan is found simply recorded, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the nth of April. The
'
Bollandists
thought, by Colgan,3 that he may have been Senan, a monk of Durrow, and
3 Edited lOO, loi.
by
Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp.
quote the same entry, for placing Senanus, at this day. It is
5 See vol. iv. , April xi.
Kelly, p. xxi. The Franciscan copy writes ScelLAiti,
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis xi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 2.
work ofthe learned Jesuit, P. Herbert Ros-
" Vitae Patrum sive Historic Eere- meticae," Libri. x. It was published, in a folio volume, at Antwerp, in 1628. Rene Gautier has elegantly translated, into French, tl^e Lives of the Fathers of the Desert.
» Edited Dr. xxi. The by Rev. Kelly, p.
Franciscan copy enters iTiwffAiAj Aticlio-
pee.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Ap-
rilisxi. Amongthepretermittedsaints,p. 2.
Article x. —' Edited Rev. Dr. by
* See
102.
Article vill. —' Edited by Rev. Dr.
p.
weyde,
* Nacltus is added to the name of this
saint, in Mr. O'Curry's transcript, in the Tableappendedto thiswork ; but. Dr. Reeves thinks itanerrorfor " wild
*
loo, lOl.
A'w/tttj, mustard," in Irish, i^eAtlAii. As a propername, it still exists, in the form Scallan. See ibid. , pp.
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 5 See ibid. , pp. 422, 423.
472, 473-
5 For the foregoing statement, the Life of
St. Mochua, chap, x. , is quoted; and Fionnchu's Life, of Bri-gobhann, venerated at the 25th of November, seems that, to which allusion has been made.
Kelly, p. xxi. The Franciscan copy has Sen<iin.
Articleix. —' Theiracts
with great spiritual profit, in the admirable
rilis xi. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 2.
3 See " Trias " Thaumaturga, Quartft Ap
may bestudied,
pendix
Acta S. Columbx, cap. x. , num.
'
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap-
ad 105, p. 492.
124 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April ii,
a disciple of St, Columkille. * Among the religious of that house, a holy monk, so named, is noticed ;5 and, he is thought to have been the Senan, com- memorated in one of St. Columb's Poems, in which it is predicted, that he. should be buried at Durrow. * This day is recorded, in the Martyrology of* Donegal,' as being a festival, held in honour of a St. Senan.
Article XI. —Reputed Festival of a St. Senan. The name of Senan is entered a second time, on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal,' as hav- ing been venerated. But no locality or pedigree occurs, in connexion with him.
Article XII. —Reputed Festival of Maccaeus Vates, Island of Bute,'
phet, as also, a disciple to St. Patrick,' Apostle of the Irish, and, at the i ith of April. For this account, he quotes a Scottish Breviary. By Dempster, Maccseus is called, likewise, a sweet poet, a medicus, and a distinguished mathematician. ^ He is said to have written, De Recipiendis Lapsis, Lib. i. , De Fide Perseve- rante, Lib. i. , De Indiciis Nativitatum, Lib. i. * His life ended, according to Dempster, in the year 460. 5 Ferrarius follows the foregoing account, in his.
'
notes, and the Bollandists
Lesley's nephew, and his work,^ the Rev. Alban Buder enters St. Maccai,. Abbot, at the nth of April, when his feast is found, likewise, in the Circle of the Seasons. Some notices of him are to be met with, in the work of Bishop Forbes. 9
Article XIII. —Commemoration of St. Dympna's and of St. Gere- bern's Arrival, at Antwerp. Such is the festival, found in a Carthusian' Martyrology, at Bruxelles, for the i ith of April, as the Bollandists inform us. '
Their actions and final martyrdom, in the city of Gheel, will be found, at the
Scotland. IntheIslandofBute,ThomasDempsterplacesMaccjeus,apro- ^
15th of May, which is assigned for their chief feast.
'
;
Article xii.
lume Third, at the 17th of March.