The
detached
building will represent the presbytery, when completed, but, it has yet to be built ; however, under direction of the energetic and amiable pastor, we believe, this portion of
of Donegal," pp.
of Donegal," pp.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
10*
CHAPTER XII. —' See Colgan's "Trias
Thaumaturga. " Appendix Quinta ad Acta S, Brigidae, cap. xiii. , p. 623,
" Close
dear mother, for when the world is so visible to the eyes, God is seen less clearly to the soul. " So
i6o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
to this class. Besides the foregoing, we can hardly doubt, that the glorious Patroness of Kildare had a very intimate acquaintance, with many of those
holy men and women, who are ranked among the disciples of the great St. Patrick, as most of these were her contemporaries. Members of the Irish
Apostle's own family circle, who came from Britain, are likely to have been a'mong her most devoted friends.
Our saint could hardly have known St. Auxilius,^ Bishop of Killossy, now Killishee, not far from Kildare, unless, indeed, during the years of her childhood, for he departed this life, so early as a. d. 460. 3 Certain Arch- bishops of Armagh, administering the affairs of this church and see, even while the great Apostle of Ireland lived, such as St. Binan or Benignus, who died, November the 9th,4 a. d. 468,5 and St. Jarlath who went to heaven, February the iith,^A. D. 482,7 may have known and conversed with our saint. Their position and office, as ruling over the Irish Church, and St. Brigid's active services to religion, not in one particular district, but in several places, far apart from each other, warrant the foregoing inference. Even these survivors of St. Patrick in the See of Armagh, Cormac, who died on the J 7th of February,^ a. d. 49 7,9 Dubtach I. , who departed, a. d. 512'° or 5r3;" and Ailild I. , who died on the 13th of January," a. d. 525*3 or
526 ;'+ were probably accustomed to receive visits from St. Brigid, or to
correspond with her, regarding various obligations and duties of her subjects, living in the different convents she had founded.
Several very eminent persons, living at her time, either visited or corres-
pondedwithSt. Brigid. HearingaboutthefameofGildas,'^shesentarequest to him by a messenger, that he would be pleased to transmit a token, which might often remind her of the donor's talents and sanctity. Gildas complied with this request, and sent her a small bell, cast by himself. This memorial our saint received with great pleasure. She attached more than ordinary importance to his gift, owing to the circumstance of having received it, from a person so remarkable and so holy. ^^ It seems probable, that Gildas, at this time, was a young man, and residing in the city of Armagh, where he is said to have ably discharged the duties of a professor. Again, it may be observed, the holy virgin, St. Brigid, must have been advanced in years, and approaching the close of her mortal career, when she asked for and obtained that much prized souvenir of friendship. In like manner, she must have been in the decline of Hfe, when St. Brendan*7 of Clonfert paid her a visit, in order to obtain instruction, on some religious questions. In the legend of
«" See his Life at the 27th of August.
3 According to Ussher's Index Chronolo-
gicus, p. 531. See "Britannicarum Eccle-
siarum Antiquitates. "
* See his Life at that date. 5 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
norum Apostoli, Synodi, Canones, Opus* cula," &c. Appendix vi. , p. 384.
of Armagh," pp. 34, 35.
^ '*
"'
nise," xi. Februarii. Vita S. lerlathei, sive
Hierlatii, pp. 307, 308.
^
See his feast at that day.
9 See /3/t/,, xvii. Februarii. Acta S. Cor-
maci, pp. 358, 359.
" See Villanueva's " Sancti Patricii, Iber-
norum Apostoli, Synodi, Canones, Opus- cula," &c Appendix vi. , p. 384.
*' Arch*
See his Life at that day. "
1 See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
"See Harris' vol. Ware,
St. Brendan, on acknowledging to her he never crossed over seven ridges, without thinking of God, learned in return from the devoted virgin, that from the first moment she had formed an idea of God, she never once diverted her from the
i. , bishops of Armagh," pp. 36, 37,
attention
of His holy presence. See pp. 45, 46.
sense
"Archbishops
History of Ireland. " Appendix, p. 405. 's See his Acts at the 29th of January.
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber*
niaB," xxix. Januarii, p. 183.
^^ See his Life at the i6th of May. In
Professor Bryan O'Looney's MS. Life of St» Brigid, an interesting anecdote is told, that
See his Life at that date.
'3 gge Villanueva's " Santi Patricii, Ibcr*
'* See Rev. P. Carew's " Ecclesiastical J.
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. i6i
his Acts, it is related, that he had this interview, after having returned from Britain, whither Brendan had gone to see St. Gildas, in his monastery.
Even then, the fame of this latter holy man was very generally proclaimed. While sailing back to Ireland, St. Brendan witnessed a wonderful portent at
sea, and he wished to have St. Brigid's explanation, regarding such a very extraordinary occurrence. '^ No earthly affection or occupation ever caused interruptionofherthinkingonGod. ThissheconfessedtoSt. Brendan,at a spiritual conference, which took place between them. With Brigid's exposition he was greatly edified. Then, bestowing mutual benedictions, St. Brendan took leave of her, and proceeded on his way towards the Con- naught province.
During his earlier career, St. Finian,'9 afterwards the holy Bishop of Clonard, is said to have preached before St. Brigid and her religious daughters. This must have happened near the close of her career.
St. Iserninus,^° at Kilcullen, most probably was intimate with our saint, although in her Acts, no notice of him occurs. However, he was her con-
temporary,2i and his place, not far removed from Kildare, is at the present
Church of the Sacred Heart and of St. Brigid, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare.
time happily marked by a very noble parochial church, of Gothic design,^
'S "
See Acta Sancti Brendani. " Edited Lives of the Saints of British Armorica.
by Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran, D. D. , Those Acts have been reproduced, with
Bishop of Ossory. Vita S. Brendani, cap. Jfvii. , pp. 16, 17.
'9 See his Life at the 12th of December.
=°
This saint is considered by Colgan to have been identical w^ith St. Sezin, whose Acts are given by Albert le Grande, in his
notes appended, in Colgan's "Acta Sanc- torum Hibemise," vi. Martii. Vita S.
Sezini, pp. 477 to 479.
='
See his Life at the 6th of March.
== This was furnished by J. J. MacCarthy,
architect, of Dublin.
Vol. II.
M
l62 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
and of exquisite proportions, which appropriately takes St. Brigid, the Mary of Ireland, for joint patron, united with the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ. =^3 The venerable Iserninus died in the year 469. =+
St. Ailbe, Bishop of Emly,^5 visited St. Brigid, more than once, to receive her opinions regarding matters of a spiritual nature, as her prudence and judgment gave her a high character among all her contemporaries. '^ St. Fiech, Bishop of Sletty, most probably held interviews with the holy Abbess of Kildare, and he is reputed to have composed a hymn in her praise. He seems to have outlived her for some years. St. Kieran,'7 the Patron Bishop of Ossory, lived not far from Kildare, and most probably he had a personal knowledge of St. Brigid ; for, he is thought to have survived her, and to have lived, until the middle of the sixth century. '^ St. Tighernach, Bishop of Clogher,'9 was the god-son of St. Brigid, while she resided at Kildare, and the infant was baptized by St. Conleth. 3° The foregoing would not nearly exhaust a list of her pious and distinguished familiars, while the enumeration and comparison of other names, with periods and places, might probably add considerably to the completeness of her large social circle.
The saddest memorials of the world and of its fleeting pleasures are the
parted friends, who drop away from us to the grave, and who precede us thither, while we travel to the same goal. It is not well known, as we have already stated, how many of the ancient and patriarchal missionaries in Ireland enjoyed the friendship and confidence of St. Brigid, besides those speciallymentionedinherActs. HerearlypatronMel,BishopofArdagh,3' departedtoblissabouttheyear487. 3^ Cianan,BishopofDuleek,33followed in or about the year 488. 34 Bishop Maccaille,35 who gave the veil to our holy abbess, died a. d. 489. 36 Bishop Melchu or Maolchu37 most probably departed this life, before the close of the fifth century. 38 The illustrious
=3 This beautiful church has been erected °s His Life occurs at the 12th of Sep* by the zealous and pious pastor, Rev. tember.
Matthew P. Langan, P. P. of Kilcullen. The first stone was laid by His Eminence Paul CuUen, Cardinal Archbishop of Dublin, on the 5 th of August, 1869; while, the de-
St. Ailbe is said to have died A. D. 541. **
by the same venerated Prince of the Church, took place on the 8th of September, 1872. The build- ing material used on the exterior is TuUa-
'7 See his Acts at the 5th of March.
=^ See Dr. ** Ecclesiastical His« Lanigan's
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sec. 2, and n. 31, pp. 8, 9.
»9 See his Life at the 4th of April. The
dication
ceremony, performed
more limestone, of the best description. The close of his life is set down at A. D. 548.
''
interior is most elegantly furnished with See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' Martyrology
marble altars, and with details of architec- ture or decorations, in a suitable style. The church, towards the close of 1875, was per-, fectly completed, both externally and in- ternally, with the exception of the grand tower and spire, to be joined to the nave, by a cloistral entrance.
The detached building will represent the presbytery, when completed, but, it has yet to be built ; however, under direction of the energetic and amiable pastor, we believe, this portion of
of Donegal," pp. 94, 95.
3° See his Life at the 3rd of May.
3' See his Life at the 6th of February.
3' See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i,, pp. 152, 153.
33 See his Life at the 24th of November.
^ See ibid.
35 See his Life at the 25th of April.
3^ "
See Dr. O'Conor's Rerum Hibemi-
carum Scriptores," tomus iv. Annales UI-
the work will not be
long delayed.
The
Mannensis. "
37 Although some persons rank Saints Ere, Mel and Melchuo, among St. Brigid's dis- ciples, Colgan thinks, they ought rather be
'*
accounted her directors. See
maturga. " Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. Brigidoe, cap. xiii. , p. 623.
38 See his Life at the 6th ot February.
present engraving, by Mrs. Millard, is taken
from a carefully-executed lithograph of the
intended and complete architectural de-
sign.
''*' " See Ussher's
Trias Thau-
arum Antiquitates. p. 522.
"
Britannicarum Ecclesi- Index Chronologicus,
=^
See Drs. Todd's and Reeves'
of Donegal," pp. 246, 247.
tonienses, pp. 7, 8. incorrectly styled,
"
By the compiler, he is
Epi
Martyrology
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. '63
Apostle of Ireland, St. Patrick,39 was called away to Heaven, it is said, about A. D. 493. <° Mochaoij-^'AbbotofMaheeIsland,dieda. d. 496. St. Cormac,^^
Bishop of Armagh, and called, likewise, of Chrioch-in-Ernaidhe, departed this life the same year. '3 St. Ibar<* or Iver died in the commencement of
the sixth century. 45 Cerban, a bishop of Feart-Cearbain, at Tara, died about thesamedate/^ St. Brigid'sfriendtheholyBishopBroon,ofCuil-Irra,in Connaught, died the 8th of June,-*? a. d. sii. "*^ In the ninetieth year of his
age, on the 2nd of November, a. d. 512, or SiS'*^ died St. Ere, Bishop of Lilcach, and of Fearta-fear-Feig,5° but better known as the Bishop of Slane, and a particular friend of St. Brigid. This same year, Dubhtach, of Druim DearbhjSi and Bishop of Armagh, departed this life. St. Mac Nissi, whose feast is kept on the 3rd of September, died a. d. 514. ^^ St. Darerca, or Moninne,53 of Killeavy, died the 6th of July, a. d. 517. 54
Some unreliable accounts have it,55 that the first Bishop of Kildare was Lonius. A certain, or rather an uncertain, Ivorus, is stated to have succeeded him. But, nothing trustworthy can be found, regarding the dates for their
appointment, or those terms, during which they held office. s^ Indeed, we must more safely hold, that St: Conleth was the first prelate, called upon to rule this ancient see-S7 He had lived a holy and anchoretical life at Old Connell, where he edified all who noticed his habits in this place, chosen for
39 See his Life at the 17th of March.
4° See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
place called Derver, county of Louth.
5= See Dr. Reeves' "Ecclesiastical Anti- quities of Down, Connor and Dromore. "
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 154 to 159.
4' See his Life at the 23rd of June.
4^ See his Life at the 1 7th of February.
^3 See ibid. y pp. 160, 161. See, also, Dr. Saints Darlassara, Achea, Brecnata, Dim-
O'Conor's "Rerum Hibemicarum Scrip- tores," tomus iv. Annales Ultonienses, p. 9.
<4 See his Life at the 23rd of April. He was a disciple of St. Patrick. See Dr. Todd's "St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland. " Introduction, pp. 215, 216.
nata, and others, are ranked among St.
Brigid's disciples, by some writers. But Colgan thinks, whatever may be said of the rest, that St. Moninna must be considered, rather as the mistress of our saint. See the Irish Life of St. Brigid, cap. 33, 38 ; St. Ultan's Life of St. Brigid, cap. 18, 44, 51, 78, 116, 124, 132; Animosus, lib. i. ,
« The " Annals of Ulster" have his death
at A. D. 499, 5CX) or 503. See Dr. O'Conor's cap, 39, lib, ii,, cap. 19 ; the Martyrology of
"
Rerum Hibemicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , pp. 9, II. The "Annals of the Four Masters" have A. D. 500 (See ibid. , tomus iii. , p. 137) ; while those of Clonmacnoise
Donegal, and of Marianus Gorman, at the
enter it, at a. d. 504. In William M. Hen- ""
nessy's Chronicum Scotorum," the date
is a. d. 500. Seepp. 34, 35.
4^ The "Annals of the Four Masters"
enter his demise at A. D. 499 ; while, the "Annals of Ulster" have it at a. d. 503. Those of Tighernach state a. d. 504. See
5* See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i,, pp. 168, 169. The " Annals of Tigemach," however, have a. d. 513. See Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hiber- nicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 129.
55 An ancient register has been cited for Rerum Hibemicarum this statement, and for succeeding items Scriptores," tomus ii. Tigeraachi Annales, furnished by Richard Stanihurst, and by p. 127. Also, tomus iv. Annales Ulto- Raphael Holinshed. See Holinshed's nienses, pp. 10, II. The "Annals of Clon- "Chronicles of England, Scotland and
Dr. O'Conor's
"
macnoise" place it, also, at the latter year. *7 See his festival at that date.
4^ See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol, i. , pp. 166, 167.
49 See Abbe Ma-Geoghegan's "Histoire
de rirlande," tome i. , partie ii. , chap, ii. , p. 286.
5° See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i,, pp. 166 to 168.
Ireland," vol. vi. "A treatise conteining a plaine and perfect Description of Ireland, with an Introduction to the better Vnder-
standing of the Histories apperteining to that Hand :" compiled by Richard Stani- hurst. The first chapter, p. 45.
56 See Sir James Ware, "De Praesulibus
Lageni8e,"p. 42.
57 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. Bishops of
Kildare," pp. 380, 381.
5' Dr. O'Donovan supposes this to be the
Appendix T. , p. 239.
53 St. Moninnia, with her disciples,
1st of February, 29th of January, and 2nd "
of December, See Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidae, cap. xiii. , p. 623.
i64 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS [February i.
his retreat. Yet, his missionary duties occasionally called him to mingle with the world. The holy Conleth or Conlaedh, Bishop of Kildare, who had been appointed to fill that office, at the instance of St. Brigid, departed this life on the 3rd of May,58 a. d. 519. 59 His fate must have proved peculiarly distressing to the sensitive soul of £he illustrious abbess ; for, after he had directed the ecclesiastical affairs of his see and her own religious institute for several years, with great judgment and piety, probably during one of his episcopal journeys, he was torn asunder by ferocious wolves. Yet, his remains were in part recovered, and afterwards placed in a rich shrine.
CHAPTER XII. —' See Colgan's "Trias
Thaumaturga. " Appendix Quinta ad Acta S, Brigidae, cap. xiii. , p. 623,
" Close
dear mother, for when the world is so visible to the eyes, God is seen less clearly to the soul. " So
i6o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
to this class. Besides the foregoing, we can hardly doubt, that the glorious Patroness of Kildare had a very intimate acquaintance, with many of those
holy men and women, who are ranked among the disciples of the great St. Patrick, as most of these were her contemporaries. Members of the Irish
Apostle's own family circle, who came from Britain, are likely to have been a'mong her most devoted friends.
Our saint could hardly have known St. Auxilius,^ Bishop of Killossy, now Killishee, not far from Kildare, unless, indeed, during the years of her childhood, for he departed this life, so early as a. d. 460. 3 Certain Arch- bishops of Armagh, administering the affairs of this church and see, even while the great Apostle of Ireland lived, such as St. Binan or Benignus, who died, November the 9th,4 a. d. 468,5 and St. Jarlath who went to heaven, February the iith,^A. D. 482,7 may have known and conversed with our saint. Their position and office, as ruling over the Irish Church, and St. Brigid's active services to religion, not in one particular district, but in several places, far apart from each other, warrant the foregoing inference. Even these survivors of St. Patrick in the See of Armagh, Cormac, who died on the J 7th of February,^ a. d. 49 7,9 Dubtach I. , who departed, a. d. 512'° or 5r3;" and Ailild I. , who died on the 13th of January," a. d. 525*3 or
526 ;'+ were probably accustomed to receive visits from St. Brigid, or to
correspond with her, regarding various obligations and duties of her subjects, living in the different convents she had founded.
Several very eminent persons, living at her time, either visited or corres-
pondedwithSt. Brigid. HearingaboutthefameofGildas,'^shesentarequest to him by a messenger, that he would be pleased to transmit a token, which might often remind her of the donor's talents and sanctity. Gildas complied with this request, and sent her a small bell, cast by himself. This memorial our saint received with great pleasure. She attached more than ordinary importance to his gift, owing to the circumstance of having received it, from a person so remarkable and so holy. ^^ It seems probable, that Gildas, at this time, was a young man, and residing in the city of Armagh, where he is said to have ably discharged the duties of a professor. Again, it may be observed, the holy virgin, St. Brigid, must have been advanced in years, and approaching the close of her mortal career, when she asked for and obtained that much prized souvenir of friendship. In like manner, she must have been in the decline of Hfe, when St. Brendan*7 of Clonfert paid her a visit, in order to obtain instruction, on some religious questions. In the legend of
«" See his Life at the 27th of August.
3 According to Ussher's Index Chronolo-
gicus, p. 531. See "Britannicarum Eccle-
siarum Antiquitates. "
* See his Life at that date. 5 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
norum Apostoli, Synodi, Canones, Opus* cula," &c. Appendix vi. , p. 384.
of Armagh," pp. 34, 35.
^ '*
"'
nise," xi. Februarii. Vita S. lerlathei, sive
Hierlatii, pp. 307, 308.
^
See his feast at that day.
9 See /3/t/,, xvii. Februarii. Acta S. Cor-
maci, pp. 358, 359.
" See Villanueva's " Sancti Patricii, Iber-
norum Apostoli, Synodi, Canones, Opus- cula," &c Appendix vi. , p. 384.
*' Arch*
See his Life at that day. "
1 See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
"See Harris' vol. Ware,
St. Brendan, on acknowledging to her he never crossed over seven ridges, without thinking of God, learned in return from the devoted virgin, that from the first moment she had formed an idea of God, she never once diverted her from the
i. , bishops of Armagh," pp. 36, 37,
attention
of His holy presence. See pp. 45, 46.
sense
"Archbishops
History of Ireland. " Appendix, p. 405. 's See his Acts at the 29th of January.
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber*
niaB," xxix. Januarii, p. 183.
^^ See his Life at the i6th of May. In
Professor Bryan O'Looney's MS. Life of St» Brigid, an interesting anecdote is told, that
See his Life at that date.
'3 gge Villanueva's " Santi Patricii, Ibcr*
'* See Rev. P. Carew's " Ecclesiastical J.
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. i6i
his Acts, it is related, that he had this interview, after having returned from Britain, whither Brendan had gone to see St. Gildas, in his monastery.
Even then, the fame of this latter holy man was very generally proclaimed. While sailing back to Ireland, St. Brendan witnessed a wonderful portent at
sea, and he wished to have St. Brigid's explanation, regarding such a very extraordinary occurrence. '^ No earthly affection or occupation ever caused interruptionofherthinkingonGod. ThissheconfessedtoSt. Brendan,at a spiritual conference, which took place between them. With Brigid's exposition he was greatly edified. Then, bestowing mutual benedictions, St. Brendan took leave of her, and proceeded on his way towards the Con- naught province.
During his earlier career, St. Finian,'9 afterwards the holy Bishop of Clonard, is said to have preached before St. Brigid and her religious daughters. This must have happened near the close of her career.
St. Iserninus,^° at Kilcullen, most probably was intimate with our saint, although in her Acts, no notice of him occurs. However, he was her con-
temporary,2i and his place, not far removed from Kildare, is at the present
Church of the Sacred Heart and of St. Brigid, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare.
time happily marked by a very noble parochial church, of Gothic design,^
'S "
See Acta Sancti Brendani. " Edited Lives of the Saints of British Armorica.
by Rt. Rev. Patrick F. Moran, D. D. , Those Acts have been reproduced, with
Bishop of Ossory. Vita S. Brendani, cap. Jfvii. , pp. 16, 17.
'9 See his Life at the 12th of December.
=°
This saint is considered by Colgan to have been identical w^ith St. Sezin, whose Acts are given by Albert le Grande, in his
notes appended, in Colgan's "Acta Sanc- torum Hibemise," vi. Martii. Vita S.
Sezini, pp. 477 to 479.
='
See his Life at the 6th of March.
== This was furnished by J. J. MacCarthy,
architect, of Dublin.
Vol. II.
M
l62 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
and of exquisite proportions, which appropriately takes St. Brigid, the Mary of Ireland, for joint patron, united with the Sacred Heart of our Lord Jesus Christ. =^3 The venerable Iserninus died in the year 469. =+
St. Ailbe, Bishop of Emly,^5 visited St. Brigid, more than once, to receive her opinions regarding matters of a spiritual nature, as her prudence and judgment gave her a high character among all her contemporaries. '^ St. Fiech, Bishop of Sletty, most probably held interviews with the holy Abbess of Kildare, and he is reputed to have composed a hymn in her praise. He seems to have outlived her for some years. St. Kieran,'7 the Patron Bishop of Ossory, lived not far from Kildare, and most probably he had a personal knowledge of St. Brigid ; for, he is thought to have survived her, and to have lived, until the middle of the sixth century. '^ St. Tighernach, Bishop of Clogher,'9 was the god-son of St. Brigid, while she resided at Kildare, and the infant was baptized by St. Conleth. 3° The foregoing would not nearly exhaust a list of her pious and distinguished familiars, while the enumeration and comparison of other names, with periods and places, might probably add considerably to the completeness of her large social circle.
The saddest memorials of the world and of its fleeting pleasures are the
parted friends, who drop away from us to the grave, and who precede us thither, while we travel to the same goal. It is not well known, as we have already stated, how many of the ancient and patriarchal missionaries in Ireland enjoyed the friendship and confidence of St. Brigid, besides those speciallymentionedinherActs. HerearlypatronMel,BishopofArdagh,3' departedtoblissabouttheyear487. 3^ Cianan,BishopofDuleek,33followed in or about the year 488. 34 Bishop Maccaille,35 who gave the veil to our holy abbess, died a. d. 489. 36 Bishop Melchu or Maolchu37 most probably departed this life, before the close of the fifth century. 38 The illustrious
=3 This beautiful church has been erected °s His Life occurs at the 12th of Sep* by the zealous and pious pastor, Rev. tember.
Matthew P. Langan, P. P. of Kilcullen. The first stone was laid by His Eminence Paul CuUen, Cardinal Archbishop of Dublin, on the 5 th of August, 1869; while, the de-
St. Ailbe is said to have died A. D. 541. **
by the same venerated Prince of the Church, took place on the 8th of September, 1872. The build- ing material used on the exterior is TuUa-
'7 See his Acts at the 5th of March.
=^ See Dr. ** Ecclesiastical His« Lanigan's
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sec. 2, and n. 31, pp. 8, 9.
»9 See his Life at the 4th of April. The
dication
ceremony, performed
more limestone, of the best description. The close of his life is set down at A. D. 548.
''
interior is most elegantly furnished with See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' Martyrology
marble altars, and with details of architec- ture or decorations, in a suitable style. The church, towards the close of 1875, was per-, fectly completed, both externally and in- ternally, with the exception of the grand tower and spire, to be joined to the nave, by a cloistral entrance.
The detached building will represent the presbytery, when completed, but, it has yet to be built ; however, under direction of the energetic and amiable pastor, we believe, this portion of
of Donegal," pp. 94, 95.
3° See his Life at the 3rd of May.
3' See his Life at the 6th of February.
3' See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i,, pp. 152, 153.
33 See his Life at the 24th of November.
^ See ibid.
35 See his Life at the 25th of April.
3^ "
See Dr. O'Conor's Rerum Hibemi-
carum Scriptores," tomus iv. Annales UI-
the work will not be
long delayed.
The
Mannensis. "
37 Although some persons rank Saints Ere, Mel and Melchuo, among St. Brigid's dis- ciples, Colgan thinks, they ought rather be
'*
accounted her directors. See
maturga. " Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. Brigidoe, cap. xiii. , p. 623.
38 See his Life at the 6th ot February.
present engraving, by Mrs. Millard, is taken
from a carefully-executed lithograph of the
intended and complete architectural de-
sign.
''*' " See Ussher's
Trias Thau-
arum Antiquitates. p. 522.
"
Britannicarum Ecclesi- Index Chronologicus,
=^
See Drs. Todd's and Reeves'
of Donegal," pp. 246, 247.
tonienses, pp. 7, 8. incorrectly styled,
"
By the compiler, he is
Epi
Martyrology
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. '63
Apostle of Ireland, St. Patrick,39 was called away to Heaven, it is said, about A. D. 493. <° Mochaoij-^'AbbotofMaheeIsland,dieda. d. 496. St. Cormac,^^
Bishop of Armagh, and called, likewise, of Chrioch-in-Ernaidhe, departed this life the same year. '3 St. Ibar<* or Iver died in the commencement of
the sixth century. 45 Cerban, a bishop of Feart-Cearbain, at Tara, died about thesamedate/^ St. Brigid'sfriendtheholyBishopBroon,ofCuil-Irra,in Connaught, died the 8th of June,-*? a. d. sii. "*^ In the ninetieth year of his
age, on the 2nd of November, a. d. 512, or SiS'*^ died St. Ere, Bishop of Lilcach, and of Fearta-fear-Feig,5° but better known as the Bishop of Slane, and a particular friend of St. Brigid. This same year, Dubhtach, of Druim DearbhjSi and Bishop of Armagh, departed this life. St. Mac Nissi, whose feast is kept on the 3rd of September, died a. d. 514. ^^ St. Darerca, or Moninne,53 of Killeavy, died the 6th of July, a. d. 517. 54
Some unreliable accounts have it,55 that the first Bishop of Kildare was Lonius. A certain, or rather an uncertain, Ivorus, is stated to have succeeded him. But, nothing trustworthy can be found, regarding the dates for their
appointment, or those terms, during which they held office. s^ Indeed, we must more safely hold, that St: Conleth was the first prelate, called upon to rule this ancient see-S7 He had lived a holy and anchoretical life at Old Connell, where he edified all who noticed his habits in this place, chosen for
39 See his Life at the 17th of March.
4° See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
place called Derver, county of Louth.
5= See Dr. Reeves' "Ecclesiastical Anti- quities of Down, Connor and Dromore. "
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 154 to 159.
4' See his Life at the 23rd of June.
4^ See his Life at the 1 7th of February.
^3 See ibid. y pp. 160, 161. See, also, Dr. Saints Darlassara, Achea, Brecnata, Dim-
O'Conor's "Rerum Hibemicarum Scrip- tores," tomus iv. Annales Ultonienses, p. 9.
<4 See his Life at the 23rd of April. He was a disciple of St. Patrick. See Dr. Todd's "St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland. " Introduction, pp. 215, 216.
nata, and others, are ranked among St.
Brigid's disciples, by some writers. But Colgan thinks, whatever may be said of the rest, that St. Moninna must be considered, rather as the mistress of our saint. See the Irish Life of St. Brigid, cap. 33, 38 ; St. Ultan's Life of St. Brigid, cap. 18, 44, 51, 78, 116, 124, 132; Animosus, lib. i. ,
« The " Annals of Ulster" have his death
at A. D. 499, 5CX) or 503. See Dr. O'Conor's cap, 39, lib, ii,, cap. 19 ; the Martyrology of
"
Rerum Hibemicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , pp. 9, II. The "Annals of the Four Masters" have A. D. 500 (See ibid. , tomus iii. , p. 137) ; while those of Clonmacnoise
Donegal, and of Marianus Gorman, at the
enter it, at a. d. 504. In William M. Hen- ""
nessy's Chronicum Scotorum," the date
is a. d. 500. Seepp. 34, 35.
4^ The "Annals of the Four Masters"
enter his demise at A. D. 499 ; while, the "Annals of Ulster" have it at a. d. 503. Those of Tighernach state a. d. 504. See
5* See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i,, pp. 168, 169. The " Annals of Tigemach," however, have a. d. 513. See Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hiber- nicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 129.
55 An ancient register has been cited for Rerum Hibemicarum this statement, and for succeeding items Scriptores," tomus ii. Tigeraachi Annales, furnished by Richard Stanihurst, and by p. 127. Also, tomus iv. Annales Ulto- Raphael Holinshed. See Holinshed's nienses, pp. 10, II. The "Annals of Clon- "Chronicles of England, Scotland and
Dr. O'Conor's
"
macnoise" place it, also, at the latter year. *7 See his festival at that date.
4^ See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol, i. , pp. 166, 167.
49 See Abbe Ma-Geoghegan's "Histoire
de rirlande," tome i. , partie ii. , chap, ii. , p. 286.
5° See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i,, pp. 166 to 168.
Ireland," vol. vi. "A treatise conteining a plaine and perfect Description of Ireland, with an Introduction to the better Vnder-
standing of the Histories apperteining to that Hand :" compiled by Richard Stani- hurst. The first chapter, p. 45.
56 See Sir James Ware, "De Praesulibus
Lageni8e,"p. 42.
57 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. Bishops of
Kildare," pp. 380, 381.
5' Dr. O'Donovan supposes this to be the
Appendix T. , p. 239.
53 St. Moninnia, with her disciples,
1st of February, 29th of January, and 2nd "
of December, See Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidae, cap. xiii. , p. 623.
i64 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS [February i.
his retreat. Yet, his missionary duties occasionally called him to mingle with the world. The holy Conleth or Conlaedh, Bishop of Kildare, who had been appointed to fill that office, at the instance of St. Brigid, departed this life on the 3rd of May,58 a. d. 519. 59 His fate must have proved peculiarly distressing to the sensitive soul of £he illustrious abbess ; for, after he had directed the ecclesiastical affairs of his see and her own religious institute for several years, with great judgment and piety, probably during one of his episcopal journeys, he was torn asunder by ferocious wolves. Yet, his remains were in part recovered, and afterwards placed in a rich shrine.
