There
reference
is made to some ancient Life of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
, § xi.
, n.
166, p.
53.
85 Probably a misprint for " Furbithus. "
account of this circumstance. See Colgan's
'"Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii. , lib. ii. , cap. xlix. , p. 136.
8? In the Acts of St. Patrick, edited by
91 In reference to this saint, Dr. Lanigan remarks, that what has been ridiculously said about the 140th year is more than sufficient to show Justus could not have been placed
Papebroke at the 17th day of March, over a church so early as the Tripartite- Suyskens observes, that a certain holy states. It is also to be observed, that in hermit, named Justus, is said to have been Kieran's Life, Justus is said not only to
kindly received by St. Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland.
88 The Life of St. Kiaran, in the Book of
Lismore, calls him Deacon Justus.
: 89TheBollandisteditoradds "Uttamen
have baptised Kieran, but likewise to have instructed him.
94 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Tripartita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xlix. , p. 136.
admittamus, sanctum Abbatem ab aliquo a Patricii discipulis eo Sacramento initiatum fuisse, non propterea necesse est tarn singu- larem in eo longe vitam adstruire ; quippe
anno 460, ut in ipsius Actis ostendit Pape-
brochius, ad supros emigraverit, sanctus vero Kieranus anno 516 natus perhibeatur, ut
hanc ab illius baptizari potuisse
intelligitur,
discipulo, qui octogenario non esset major. "
»° By Rev. Dr. Lanigan. "
91 See Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, x. , p. 244.
91 In his usual manner, Archdall gives us
an abbey of Fidhart, "and to make the
Patrick, who consigned it to Justus. Besides the incorrectness of the latter part of this statement, Archdall was mistaken also in
was no more than a deaconry, although afterwards it became a parochial church, in the diocese o—f Elphin, as Colgan says it was
September 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 207
saint, possessed by the Bollandists, it is related, that Kieran of Clonmacnoise
was baptised and brought up, by a very holy man, Dermitius by name. 95 Which of these accounts—if either statement be accepted—is more correct, it would prove a difficult matter to decide.
As usual in the Acts of all our most celebrated Irish saints, where no authentic accounts have been preserved of their youth, the legend-mongers are quite ready to supply incredible fictions. So in the Life of St. Ciaran, many of these are thoroughly ridiculous j and it may even be questioned, if some allusions in such narratives tend to exhibit the social customs and habits of his time, or whether they serve to elucidate matters connected with contemporaneous history. Only in such cases do we regard them as worthy of enumeration, and most certainly requiring much abridgment of circum- stantial details. Thus, for bringing to life a horse belonging to Oengus, the son of Cremthann, our saint received a tract of land denominated Tir-na- Gabra, or the Land of the Steed ; honey, which he miraculously procured for his mother, was given as a fee to Justus for baptizing him ; when a hound attacked him, he chaunted this verse, " Ne tradas bestiis animam confitentem
mihi," and the hound fell dead; after the manner of Jacob, of David son of
6 his set him over herds, and the parents
and of other
Almighty knew that in future times he would be a faithful herdsman over the faithful j he also kept the herds of his foster-father, the Deacon Justus, at Fidarta ; likewise, allusion is made to the preparation of blue dye-stuff, as a practice of his mother j moreover, while herding kine, a wolf came and devouredacalf,whichthesaintbroughtoncemoretolife; besides,onacertain day, robbers from Offaly raided the district of Cenel Fiachrach, and among others, they attempted to kill St. Ciaran, but they were struck with blindness and could not move, until after repentance they were released ; again, his father sent him with the present of a caldron to king Furban, but he bestowed it on some poor men he met on the way, so that he incurred the king's dis- pleasure, and was condemned to grind at a quern, when lo ! it began to turn of its own accord, and the angels of the Lord were supposed to have been the agents ; not long afterwards, smiths came from Munster bearing three caldrons as a present for Ciaran, and these he presented to the king, who released him from slavery. ^?
Jesse,
patriarchs,9
In the Monastery of Clonard, on the confines of Leinster and Meath, it
8
is stated, that St. Kieran received his early education. 9
relates, that when about to proceed thither, Ciaran asked his parents for a cowasapresentforhismaster,butthiswasrefused; yetthecow99withher calf followed the youthful scholar to Clonard, where she gave milk to twelve
95 The Bollandist editor remarks, that in
the Acts of St. Columba, Abbot of Iona, and
certain Diermitius mentioned, and he was a disciple to that Abbot. But, as St. Columba is said to have died A. D. 597, and St. Kieran is supposed to have been born A. D. 516, this last-named must have been a junior to the "Diermitius" in question.
96 As found in the Book of Lismore.
9 ? See " Anecdota Oxoniensia," edited by Whitley Stokes, D. C. L. , pp. 265 to 267.
cap. xix. , p. 395. The Bollandists deferred giving the Acts of Saint Finian to the 12th of December ; but, in their previous corn- mentary on the Life of St. Kyran of Saigir, and published at the 5th of March, sect. 2, it is shown, that no chronological objection can fairly be offered to the statement, that St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise could have been a disciple to St. Finian of Clonard.
9' St. Ciaran blessed this cow, and after- wards it bore the name of Odar Ciarain, or Ciaran's Dun. In the narrator's day, the hide of that cow was said to have beer* pre- served in Clonmacnoise, and whatever soul
published at the 9th day of June, there is a ""
98 See nige. "
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Februarii xxiii. Vita S, Finiani.
from its on that hide was body
Colgan's
separated
thought to possess eteinal life.
Another legend
208 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[September 9.
bishops and other guests, who lived in St. Finian's establishment. 100 By others, it is said he received from St. Justus his first lessons. 101 In case we admit Ussher's chronology regarding his birth, Kieran of Clonmacnoise could not have been advanced beyond his years of early infancy, when he entered the school of St. Finian at Clonard. However, it is generally admitted, that our saint was a disciple of St. Finian, Abbot of Clonard,103 and contempo-
raneously
with him were his namesake Kieran of 10^ Columkille,10* Saigre,
Columba mac Crimthaind, 108
10* 106 Brendan son of Finlog,
10?
Brendan of Birr, Cainec of Daland's 110 Ruadan of Lothra,"1 Lamdere,"2 Killicu-
Laistrian son of Nathfraich, Sinell son of Maenac, posterity, Nannyd
100
mulus,"3 Bishop Sennach,"* and many others. " 5
and highly distinguished for their great virtues.
gave certain possessions to Finian, his teacher, and to his successors, as like-
8 110
and who became a respectable abbot, both in Clonmacnoise and in Aingen. But, as St. Finian lived to a. d. 565,"° and according to the Acts of St. Columba, as he exceeded the one hundred and tenth year of his age, Pape- broke thinks, that Ussher's authority may be disputed, and that there can be some reasons assigned for a different opinion. Suyskens considers, if this donation were made by either of the Kierans, it should seem rather referable
wise to Clonard he left much of its landed
supposed to have reference to our own St. Kieran, known as the younger,"
100 An Irish verse alluding to this legend, is thus translated into English :—
noise, as found in the Book of Lismore, they are enumerated from an Irish poem, and the account is thus translated into English :
11 Now the twelve of Ireland abode bishops
in Findian's school at Clonard, as (a poet) said :
" Full
Ciaran's Dun used to feed,
Both guests, and weaklings,
And folk of the refectory and upper
,01 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xviii. Januarii, Vita S. Nennidhii, cap.
vii. ,p. 113-
102
His festival occurs on the 12th of De- cember, at which date his Acts may be found.
fifty
and a hundred
See
103 His feast is held on the 5th of March. quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 471. See also p.
See his Life, at that date, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
104 See the Life of St. Columba or Colum- kille, at the 9th of June, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art, i.
105 Otherwise Colum Mac Ui Cremhthan-
nain of Tir-da-glas, whose feast is held on
13th of December.
106
His feast occurs on the 16th of May. See at that date his Life in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. i.
107 His festival occurs on the 29th of November.
108
His feast-day has not been ascertained. 109 His festival is held on the 12th of
November.
495-
"7 Taken from certain documents belong-
ing to the Diocese of Meath.
1,8
Papebroke, also, seems inclining to the same opinion. He remarks that it suffices for such a state of things, if Finan returned to Ireland, before the end of the fifth and in the beginning of the sixth cen- tury, and then admitted scholars to his school. Thus both of the Saints Kyran could have attended his lessons, although not in Clonard monastery.
"9See"ActaSanctorum,"tomusi. , Martii
v. Commentarius Praevius, § ii. , num. 12.
" tantum liberalitate principum profecisset ut de eo, quod sibi abundabat, tain amplos fundos possit magistro suo, velut pro miner- uali, rependere. "
120 Uasher, however, places his death at a. d. 552, on the authority of the Innisfallen Annals, See " Britanicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," Index Chronologicus, p. 531.
1,0 111
His feast occurs on the I ith of October.
See his Life, at the 15th of April, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
1,2 Not identified.
"3 Not identified.
"« Not identified,
"s In the Life of St. Ciaran of Clonmac-
1,6
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
property. "
Mugenoc
These were all holy men,
We are told, that St. Kieran
6 This statement"7 is
1 Two
Ciaran, Camnach, fair Comgall, Two Brenainns, Ruadan with beauty,
Findians,
two chaste Colombs,
Ninnid, Mobi, Nat-fraich's son. ' i. e. t MolaisiofDevenish.
"
Papebroke adds to the foregoing account,
September 9. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 209
toKieranofSaigirthantohimofClonmacnoise. For,althoughtheopinion be not admitted, that our Kieran died in the thirty-third year of his age, whilst Papebroke thinks, Kieran of Saigir died in 520; this latter cannot have frequented Clonard school with the former. The record cited by
1
Ussher does not determine this point satisfactorily," since it fails to dis-
tinguish which of the Kierans is there mentioned,123 Manual labour is said to have been practised at this school of Clonard, and each of the bishops
there had his task assigned alternately to grind a day at the quern. "3 But, when our saint's day came, angels u$ed to grind at the quern for Ciaran. ,24 While he war, there, and having dedicated her maidenhood to God, the king of Cualann's daughter was entrusted to the care of Findian, who brought her to Ciaran, and with him she used to read the psalms. So long as he was engaged in teaching her, he would not look at the face of the young lady, and he saw only her feet. So great an opinion had Findian of the disciple's sanctity, that when twelve lepers came to be healed by him, the abbot sent them to Ciaran, v/ho, taking a sod from the earth, caused water to flow, and pouring three waves of it over each of the men, they were immediately cleansed from their leprosy. Again, it is related, that while Ninnid Slant-eye of Locha Eime #as a student with him at Clonard, he had no book, and was directed by Findian to borrow from some one among the scholars. They refused to lend him, and this he stated to the abbot, who said, " Hast thou gone to the tender youth who is in the north of the green? " Ninnid said he had not, but that he should then go, and meantime Ciaran had arrived
atthemiddletextofSt. Matthew'sGospel "Omniaquaecumquevultisat
:
I2 "
faciant homines vobis ita et vos faciatis illis. " 5 Ninnid then said, I have
come to borrow a book. " "Mercy come to us ! " replied Ciaran, "it is for
this I read, and this the text saith to me, that I should do unto everyone
whatIdesireshouldbedoneuntome. " Hethengavethatbook. Onthe
morrow, his companions asked Ninnid regarding his procuring of the book,
and they were told the circumstances already related. One of the class then
" 126 "
said, Let Ciaran Half-Matthew be his name. " Nay," replied Findian,
" but Ciaran 12 ? for half of Ireland shall be and ours shall Half-Ireland, his,
be the other half. "
121
128
Other legendary accounts are given regarding his
Notwithstanding the foregoing state- ment, Ussher distinctly lays it down from the old Life of St. Finian, that the two Kierans,
dicitur, et Kieranus Saigre attended his school at Clonard. And the Kieran, who bestowed Clonard and its possessions on his master, has been identified with him of Clonmacnoise. See TJssher's " Britanni- carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 471'
133
However, TJssher's conjecture seems far more probable, taking into account the dates, position and circumstances of these early events.
123 This account— substituting mill for quern—is given by Colgan, from the biogra- pherof St. Kyran, whom he cites, in u Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita S. Columbia, n. 12, p. 457*
124 Again we are informed, this same pro- digy had taken place, during his captivity under King Furbithus. Not having seen
the document cited by Colgan, Suyskens
says, he could not determine the particular St. Kyran here meant. But, he suspects, also, that this account must have been trans- ferred from the acts of other saints. As for instance, an angel is said to have worked a
"
" Kieranus filius Artificis qui iriAcicAein "
Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii viii. , nn. 13
mill for St. Senan, as recorded in the
et seq. , p. 771.
,2s Somewhat similar to this account is one
related in the Life of St. Gildas Badonicus.
There reference is made to some ancient Life of St. Finnian, who was the master of Kieran.
,2<5 In Latin " Dimidium Matthaei. " The Irish words are Leth Matha.
,27 The Irish words used were Leth nErionn. Having been honoured and en- dowed by Irish princes, many farms, cells and monasteries became subject to him ; so that Kieran and his succes*ors might be re- garded, as having the half of Ireland subject to them.
,28 To this the writer of St. Ciaran's Life in the Book of Lismore adds, and with an
O
2io LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[September 9.
miracles and spirit of prophecy, while at Clonard j but, we shall only refer to them as introducing the domestic and social usages of wheat and oats being carried to a mill, loaves of wheat, bacon, flesh, vessels of ale, mead, nocturnsandprime,reapingandreapers,beingmentioned. Certainofthe clerics asked Findian, who would give out the prayer, when himself should
"
Ciaran. 1S9 " Thou givest the abbacy to him," saith Brenainn, M in preference
" It hath been
between chief cities, and the difference that shall be between them in size must be the difference between both rivers. "
CHAPTER II.
ST. KIERAN LEAVES CLONARD FOR THE SCHOOL OF ST. NINNIDIUS—MIRACLES RECORDED —HE GOES TO ST. ENDEUS, ON THE ISLAND OF ARAN—HIS ACTS WHILE THERK— HIS VISIT TO ST. SENAN OF INISCATHY—ADMONISHED IN A VISION TO BECOME THE FOUNDER OF A GREAT MONASTERY.
muigh-samh. 4 Thispermissionheobtainedin530,accordingtoArchbishop Ussher. The Irish Life, contained in the Book of Lismore, states, that after learning reading and wisdom at Clonard, he left the Dun with holy Ninnid, but said that her hide should come to him afterwards, and he declared, that although numbers might be nourished by her milk, still there must be many more to whom her hide should give help. 5 In referring to Ussher's statement, that our saint left St. Finian's School in 530, Dr. Lanigan observes, that the date ill accords with that assigned for the birth of Kieran, as, according to such hypothesis, Kieran should have been then
be no longer on earth.
Yonder youth," replied Findian, pointing to
Findian
be given. " This saying caused Ciaran to# be envied by all the saints, except Columkille. Then one of those present asked Ciaran, which of the saints should have the greatest reward in Heaven. " Mercy come to us ! " returned Ciaran, " it shall be known in our convents on earth. " Then Brenain of Birr prophesied for him '* We will take two convents on two streams
:
to
everyone. "
replied :
given,
We are that told,
1 from his former
Kieran went to St. Ninnidius, the abbot of a monastery built in a wood, near Lough Erne. Other accounts have it, on an Island,3 called Inis-
only fourteen years of age.
6
However, it is generally supposed, that the
having
obtained 2
permission
master,
St.
Irish verse commemorating it ; from that xi. , n. 170, p. 54. A similar passage is the famous word was taken to Rome to quoted by Ussher, from a somewhat different Alexander, " Non legam Marcum quo Life. See ** Britannicarum Ecclesiarum usque compleveram Mattheum. "
Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 495.
2 Saint Ninnid's Life has been compiled from the acts of other saints, and published by Colgan, at the 18th of January. He is there called Ninnidius, Nennidhuis or forward a unity of friendship was estab- Nennius, abbot and bishop. See " Acta
129 The Irish Life of our saint in the Book of Lismore states, that before taking leave of his pupil, Finian offered his monastery to Kiaran. This offer was refused, but thence-
lished between them.
Chapter ii. —'
licentia et benedictione occurs in a life of
accepta licentia, in Dr. Lanigan's estimation, alluded to a certificate or testimonial for learning and good conduct, such as was often given in universities to deserving students, who are
Sanctorum Hiberniae," xviii. Januarii, num.
8, p. 113.
3 On Lough Erne. 4 See notices of this
St. These words Kieran, cap. 7.
at the 1 8th of January, the day for his feast, in the First
thence named liceticiates.
See " Ecclesiasti-
sect.
Volume of this work, Art. ii.
s He said " Every soul that shall go out
of its body on the hide of the Dun "—a cow so called—" shall not be punished in hell. " 6 The Rev. Dr. adds: "Who
cal of History
Ireland,
"vol.
ii. , chap, x. ,
Lanigan
"Accepta magistri "
sui
it is and it shall given,
saint,
September 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIATS. 211
school at Clonard could not have been established much earlier than about such a date. ? But, that our saint had spent three or four years there, the year for his departure most probably may have been about 534, which can fairly well accord with the time necessary for the completion of his theolo-
studies at the of or 8 His new master is age twenty-six twenty-seven.
gical
said to have been surnamed Laobh-dearc, and to have been a fellow-disciple,
probably with St. Kieran, in the school of Clonard. 9
In his Life, we are told, that St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise, a great Ii^ht
of Ireland, appeared among other distinguished scholars, like the moon amid less luminous orbs. Finian had a vision of him and of Cclumkille, and of two moons in the air, with a hue of gold upon them. One of the twain went by sea towards the north-east, and this was Columkille to Iona, with the radiance of his nobleness and high birth ; the other went west- wards to the Shannon, and shone over the middle of Ireland, with the radiance of his charity and mercy. This latter was Ciaran of Clonmacnoise. Again, from the Life of our saint, compiled by Augustin Graidin10 or Mac
11 we are
obtained his master's blessing and leave to depart, and he was afterwards received with great joy and kindness by St. Ninnidius. Whilst here, it was customary for three monks, with their senior, to cut and remove wood, for theuseoftheirmonastery. Thesedutiesrecurredtothematstatedtimes. In accordance with that rule, our saint and his attendant brethren were sent to an adjoining wood, during a period his course of religious discipline continued. However, while the monks were prosecuting their labours on an island, our saint retired to pray, in a more distant place. Meantime, some robbers passed over in a boat. Rushing on the monks, these outcasts, as we are told, killed them, and took away their heads. After some time, Kieran wondered why he did not hear the sound of axes. He went to ascertain the cause for this cessation in their labours. On witnessing the sad spectacle presented of bodies decapitated, he felt grievously afflicted. Following closely on the traces of their murderers, he found them endeavouring to launch their vessels from the haven into the water. This, however, they were unable to effect, by any effort. Experiencing such a striking and miraculous manifestation of the Almighty's displeasure, they penitently besought pardon from our saint. Mindful of his Heavenly Master's great example, in praying for the Jews that crucified Him, Kyran
Graidin,
informed,
that
having spent
some time at he Clonard,
will believe that he was so young at a time
when he had completed his theological studies, and was probably already a monk? In what is said of him on his arrival at the monastery of Nennidius he appears as such. He was, I dare say, much more than 14 years old, when he first went to Finian's school ; whereas, besides its being related that he was then grown up, adultioris cetatis, it can scarcely be supposed, that he was less than 18 or 20 when properly qualified for
Ussher states, he sh—ould have been only seventeen or eighteen an age too premature for the attainment of such an object.
9 See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xi. , p. 51, and nn. 171, 172, p. 55, ibid.
,0 This writer is mentioned by Sir James Ware, as an Augustinian Canon, as also a learned and prudent man, who died A. D. 1405. Among his principal works we find enumerated, Vita Sanctorum Hibern'uc. See " De Scriptoribus Hibernice," lib. i. , cap. xi. , p. 75.
"
Although Mac Graidin is praised for his judgment and learning, by Sir James Ware; yet,Papebrokeseemstohaveformed a far different opinion in "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Martii xxi. De S. Endeo Abbate Araniensi in Hibernia. Commentarius
praevius, num. 5, p. 268.
the biblical an—d theological studies cultivated "
at Clonard. " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xi. , n. 170, p. 54.
7 See ibid. vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect, viii. , and
notes, pp. 464 to 469.
8 This too should coincide with the date
for his birth, as given in the Annals of Innis- fallen, but, had he been born in 516, as
212 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[September 9.
was also ready to offer his prayers for those wicked robbers. He demanded theheadswhichhadbeencarriedaway. Havingobtainedsuchrestoration, their vessel then floated Out on the water. Our saint returned with the heads to where their bodies lay. Then praying the Almighty to manifest His great mercy, by the restoration to life of his slain brethren, Kieran placed the heads near their bodies. Owing to the efficacy of his prayers, those monks were once more restored to life. They afterwards carried the wood cut down towards their monastery ; and, so long as those religious lived,
2
11*
It is related in the Irish Life, * that while Tuathal Mael-garbh ruled over
Ireland, Kieran went to request the manumission of a slave-girl, and he
offered to place his hand on the quern to supply her place. Whereupon, the King not only released that slave, but bestowed his royal raiment on Ciaran. This gift our saint afterwards parted with, in favour of the poor. It is said, likewise, that he went to King Furbaide15 to ask for another slave-girl, when one man brought him a cow as his offering, another man bestowed on him a mantle, and another brought a kettle ; but, these he gave to the poor, on that same day he received them. However, to reward his charity, the Almighty gave three offerings that were better ; viz. , a cauldron in lieu of his kettle, twelve mantles in lieu of his single mantle, and twelve cows instead of his one cow. Seeing this, the King released the slave-girl, in favour of St Ciaran's interposition.
After remaining with St. Nennidius for some time, our Saint16 went to St. Endeus of Aran. 1 ? According to one account,18 our Saint paid two distinct visits to him, and at* different times. We may suppose, that after the first of those visits, Kyran went to St. Senan,'9 and that after some experience of Iniscathy, he desired to return again to St. Endeus of Aran, in order to become one of his professed monks, and to close his life under such discipline. With him for some years, Kyran faithfully served in
diligence and industry of Kieran, during that period he spent in Aran, that no roof could be constructed to cover all the grain, which he had threshed. 21
marks of decapitation were traceable around their necks. '
20
years under the direction of St. Endeus, Abbot of Aran. Such were the
threshing out grain.
Archbishop Ussher states, that Kieran passed seven
12
Remarking on the unusual character of
vol. i. , pp. 176 to 181. However, Roderick O'Flaherty places the accession of Tutlialius
Calvoasper in the year 533, which agrees with the computation in the Annals of Ulster. These latter assign his death to A. l>. 543. See " Ogygia," pars iii. , cap. xciii. , p. 430.
15 No Ard-Righ, bearing this name, is to be found among the monarchs of Ireland.
16 Called " filius fabri. "
17 See his Life, at the 21st of March, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
18 That of Augustin Magraidin.
'9 See his Life, at the 8th of March, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
20 In the old Life, we find, "in monas-
terii territorio. " The Bollandist editor
u teritorio. '' It be suggests, forte may
observed, that this term seems to imply, a threshinzfloor.
Q'Donovan's ''Annals of the Four Masters," Island, at the time of their composition.
this prodigy, Suyskens considered it might appear more authentic if found in an earlier record. lie observes, also, that Macgraidin as in the instance of St. Endeus' acts, had possibly in his possession still older acts of our Saint, from which the foregoing prodigy might have been taken ; yet, using his dis- cretion as a with such little
compiler
ment, it is to be feared, he considered un-
authentic or very recent acts as trustworthy
13 As found in the Book of Lismore.
'*
The O'Clerys place the accession of Tuathal Maelgarbh, whose name has been
documents. Suyskens adds
hinc inferre, hax aut quoecumque alia ad fahulas certo esse rejicienda, cum antiquis monumentis revera hinc inde potuerit usus fuisse. "
Latinised Tutlialius at A. D. Calvoasper,
21 of St. Endeus In the old Acts
:
" Nolim tamen
judg-
by Magraidin, we are told, that the walls of placing his death at A. D. 538.
85 Probably a misprint for " Furbithus. "
account of this circumstance. See Colgan's
'"Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii. , lib. ii. , cap. xlix. , p. 136.
8? In the Acts of St. Patrick, edited by
91 In reference to this saint, Dr. Lanigan remarks, that what has been ridiculously said about the 140th year is more than sufficient to show Justus could not have been placed
Papebroke at the 17th day of March, over a church so early as the Tripartite- Suyskens observes, that a certain holy states. It is also to be observed, that in hermit, named Justus, is said to have been Kieran's Life, Justus is said not only to
kindly received by St. Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland.
88 The Life of St. Kiaran, in the Book of
Lismore, calls him Deacon Justus.
: 89TheBollandisteditoradds "Uttamen
have baptised Kieran, but likewise to have instructed him.
94 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Tripartita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xlix. , p. 136.
admittamus, sanctum Abbatem ab aliquo a Patricii discipulis eo Sacramento initiatum fuisse, non propterea necesse est tarn singu- larem in eo longe vitam adstruire ; quippe
anno 460, ut in ipsius Actis ostendit Pape-
brochius, ad supros emigraverit, sanctus vero Kieranus anno 516 natus perhibeatur, ut
hanc ab illius baptizari potuisse
intelligitur,
discipulo, qui octogenario non esset major. "
»° By Rev. Dr. Lanigan. "
91 See Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, x. , p. 244.
91 In his usual manner, Archdall gives us
an abbey of Fidhart, "and to make the
Patrick, who consigned it to Justus. Besides the incorrectness of the latter part of this statement, Archdall was mistaken also in
was no more than a deaconry, although afterwards it became a parochial church, in the diocese o—f Elphin, as Colgan says it was
September 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 207
saint, possessed by the Bollandists, it is related, that Kieran of Clonmacnoise
was baptised and brought up, by a very holy man, Dermitius by name. 95 Which of these accounts—if either statement be accepted—is more correct, it would prove a difficult matter to decide.
As usual in the Acts of all our most celebrated Irish saints, where no authentic accounts have been preserved of their youth, the legend-mongers are quite ready to supply incredible fictions. So in the Life of St. Ciaran, many of these are thoroughly ridiculous j and it may even be questioned, if some allusions in such narratives tend to exhibit the social customs and habits of his time, or whether they serve to elucidate matters connected with contemporaneous history. Only in such cases do we regard them as worthy of enumeration, and most certainly requiring much abridgment of circum- stantial details. Thus, for bringing to life a horse belonging to Oengus, the son of Cremthann, our saint received a tract of land denominated Tir-na- Gabra, or the Land of the Steed ; honey, which he miraculously procured for his mother, was given as a fee to Justus for baptizing him ; when a hound attacked him, he chaunted this verse, " Ne tradas bestiis animam confitentem
mihi," and the hound fell dead; after the manner of Jacob, of David son of
6 his set him over herds, and the parents
and of other
Almighty knew that in future times he would be a faithful herdsman over the faithful j he also kept the herds of his foster-father, the Deacon Justus, at Fidarta ; likewise, allusion is made to the preparation of blue dye-stuff, as a practice of his mother j moreover, while herding kine, a wolf came and devouredacalf,whichthesaintbroughtoncemoretolife; besides,onacertain day, robbers from Offaly raided the district of Cenel Fiachrach, and among others, they attempted to kill St. Ciaran, but they were struck with blindness and could not move, until after repentance they were released ; again, his father sent him with the present of a caldron to king Furban, but he bestowed it on some poor men he met on the way, so that he incurred the king's dis- pleasure, and was condemned to grind at a quern, when lo ! it began to turn of its own accord, and the angels of the Lord were supposed to have been the agents ; not long afterwards, smiths came from Munster bearing three caldrons as a present for Ciaran, and these he presented to the king, who released him from slavery. ^?
Jesse,
patriarchs,9
In the Monastery of Clonard, on the confines of Leinster and Meath, it
8
is stated, that St. Kieran received his early education. 9
relates, that when about to proceed thither, Ciaran asked his parents for a cowasapresentforhismaster,butthiswasrefused; yetthecow99withher calf followed the youthful scholar to Clonard, where she gave milk to twelve
95 The Bollandist editor remarks, that in
the Acts of St. Columba, Abbot of Iona, and
certain Diermitius mentioned, and he was a disciple to that Abbot. But, as St. Columba is said to have died A. D. 597, and St. Kieran is supposed to have been born A. D. 516, this last-named must have been a junior to the "Diermitius" in question.
96 As found in the Book of Lismore.
9 ? See " Anecdota Oxoniensia," edited by Whitley Stokes, D. C. L. , pp. 265 to 267.
cap. xix. , p. 395. The Bollandists deferred giving the Acts of Saint Finian to the 12th of December ; but, in their previous corn- mentary on the Life of St. Kyran of Saigir, and published at the 5th of March, sect. 2, it is shown, that no chronological objection can fairly be offered to the statement, that St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise could have been a disciple to St. Finian of Clonard.
9' St. Ciaran blessed this cow, and after- wards it bore the name of Odar Ciarain, or Ciaran's Dun. In the narrator's day, the hide of that cow was said to have beer* pre- served in Clonmacnoise, and whatever soul
published at the 9th day of June, there is a ""
98 See nige. "
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Februarii xxiii. Vita S, Finiani.
from its on that hide was body
Colgan's
separated
thought to possess eteinal life.
Another legend
208 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[September 9.
bishops and other guests, who lived in St. Finian's establishment. 100 By others, it is said he received from St. Justus his first lessons. 101 In case we admit Ussher's chronology regarding his birth, Kieran of Clonmacnoise could not have been advanced beyond his years of early infancy, when he entered the school of St. Finian at Clonard. However, it is generally admitted, that our saint was a disciple of St. Finian, Abbot of Clonard,103 and contempo-
raneously
with him were his namesake Kieran of 10^ Columkille,10* Saigre,
Columba mac Crimthaind, 108
10* 106 Brendan son of Finlog,
10?
Brendan of Birr, Cainec of Daland's 110 Ruadan of Lothra,"1 Lamdere,"2 Killicu-
Laistrian son of Nathfraich, Sinell son of Maenac, posterity, Nannyd
100
mulus,"3 Bishop Sennach,"* and many others. " 5
and highly distinguished for their great virtues.
gave certain possessions to Finian, his teacher, and to his successors, as like-
8 110
and who became a respectable abbot, both in Clonmacnoise and in Aingen. But, as St. Finian lived to a. d. 565,"° and according to the Acts of St. Columba, as he exceeded the one hundred and tenth year of his age, Pape- broke thinks, that Ussher's authority may be disputed, and that there can be some reasons assigned for a different opinion. Suyskens considers, if this donation were made by either of the Kierans, it should seem rather referable
wise to Clonard he left much of its landed
supposed to have reference to our own St. Kieran, known as the younger,"
100 An Irish verse alluding to this legend, is thus translated into English :—
noise, as found in the Book of Lismore, they are enumerated from an Irish poem, and the account is thus translated into English :
11 Now the twelve of Ireland abode bishops
in Findian's school at Clonard, as (a poet) said :
" Full
Ciaran's Dun used to feed,
Both guests, and weaklings,
And folk of the refectory and upper
,01 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xviii. Januarii, Vita S. Nennidhii, cap.
vii. ,p. 113-
102
His festival occurs on the 12th of De- cember, at which date his Acts may be found.
fifty
and a hundred
See
103 His feast is held on the 5th of March. quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 471. See also p.
See his Life, at that date, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
104 See the Life of St. Columba or Colum- kille, at the 9th of June, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art, i.
105 Otherwise Colum Mac Ui Cremhthan-
nain of Tir-da-glas, whose feast is held on
13th of December.
106
His feast occurs on the 16th of May. See at that date his Life in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. i.
107 His festival occurs on the 29th of November.
108
His feast-day has not been ascertained. 109 His festival is held on the 12th of
November.
495-
"7 Taken from certain documents belong-
ing to the Diocese of Meath.
1,8
Papebroke, also, seems inclining to the same opinion. He remarks that it suffices for such a state of things, if Finan returned to Ireland, before the end of the fifth and in the beginning of the sixth cen- tury, and then admitted scholars to his school. Thus both of the Saints Kyran could have attended his lessons, although not in Clonard monastery.
"9See"ActaSanctorum,"tomusi. , Martii
v. Commentarius Praevius, § ii. , num. 12.
" tantum liberalitate principum profecisset ut de eo, quod sibi abundabat, tain amplos fundos possit magistro suo, velut pro miner- uali, rependere. "
120 Uasher, however, places his death at a. d. 552, on the authority of the Innisfallen Annals, See " Britanicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," Index Chronologicus, p. 531.
1,0 111
His feast occurs on the I ith of October.
See his Life, at the 15th of April, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
1,2 Not identified.
"3 Not identified.
"« Not identified,
"s In the Life of St. Ciaran of Clonmac-
1,6
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
property. "
Mugenoc
These were all holy men,
We are told, that St. Kieran
6 This statement"7 is
1 Two
Ciaran, Camnach, fair Comgall, Two Brenainns, Ruadan with beauty,
Findians,
two chaste Colombs,
Ninnid, Mobi, Nat-fraich's son. ' i. e. t MolaisiofDevenish.
"
Papebroke adds to the foregoing account,
September 9. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 209
toKieranofSaigirthantohimofClonmacnoise. For,althoughtheopinion be not admitted, that our Kieran died in the thirty-third year of his age, whilst Papebroke thinks, Kieran of Saigir died in 520; this latter cannot have frequented Clonard school with the former. The record cited by
1
Ussher does not determine this point satisfactorily," since it fails to dis-
tinguish which of the Kierans is there mentioned,123 Manual labour is said to have been practised at this school of Clonard, and each of the bishops
there had his task assigned alternately to grind a day at the quern. "3 But, when our saint's day came, angels u$ed to grind at the quern for Ciaran. ,24 While he war, there, and having dedicated her maidenhood to God, the king of Cualann's daughter was entrusted to the care of Findian, who brought her to Ciaran, and with him she used to read the psalms. So long as he was engaged in teaching her, he would not look at the face of the young lady, and he saw only her feet. So great an opinion had Findian of the disciple's sanctity, that when twelve lepers came to be healed by him, the abbot sent them to Ciaran, v/ho, taking a sod from the earth, caused water to flow, and pouring three waves of it over each of the men, they were immediately cleansed from their leprosy. Again, it is related, that while Ninnid Slant-eye of Locha Eime #as a student with him at Clonard, he had no book, and was directed by Findian to borrow from some one among the scholars. They refused to lend him, and this he stated to the abbot, who said, " Hast thou gone to the tender youth who is in the north of the green? " Ninnid said he had not, but that he should then go, and meantime Ciaran had arrived
atthemiddletextofSt. Matthew'sGospel "Omniaquaecumquevultisat
:
I2 "
faciant homines vobis ita et vos faciatis illis. " 5 Ninnid then said, I have
come to borrow a book. " "Mercy come to us ! " replied Ciaran, "it is for
this I read, and this the text saith to me, that I should do unto everyone
whatIdesireshouldbedoneuntome. " Hethengavethatbook. Onthe
morrow, his companions asked Ninnid regarding his procuring of the book,
and they were told the circumstances already related. One of the class then
" 126 "
said, Let Ciaran Half-Matthew be his name. " Nay," replied Findian,
" but Ciaran 12 ? for half of Ireland shall be and ours shall Half-Ireland, his,
be the other half. "
121
128
Other legendary accounts are given regarding his
Notwithstanding the foregoing state- ment, Ussher distinctly lays it down from the old Life of St. Finian, that the two Kierans,
dicitur, et Kieranus Saigre attended his school at Clonard. And the Kieran, who bestowed Clonard and its possessions on his master, has been identified with him of Clonmacnoise. See TJssher's " Britanni- carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 471'
133
However, TJssher's conjecture seems far more probable, taking into account the dates, position and circumstances of these early events.
123 This account— substituting mill for quern—is given by Colgan, from the biogra- pherof St. Kyran, whom he cites, in u Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita S. Columbia, n. 12, p. 457*
124 Again we are informed, this same pro- digy had taken place, during his captivity under King Furbithus. Not having seen
the document cited by Colgan, Suyskens
says, he could not determine the particular St. Kyran here meant. But, he suspects, also, that this account must have been trans- ferred from the acts of other saints. As for instance, an angel is said to have worked a
"
" Kieranus filius Artificis qui iriAcicAein "
Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii viii. , nn. 13
mill for St. Senan, as recorded in the
et seq. , p. 771.
,2s Somewhat similar to this account is one
related in the Life of St. Gildas Badonicus.
There reference is made to some ancient Life of St. Finnian, who was the master of Kieran.
,2<5 In Latin " Dimidium Matthaei. " The Irish words are Leth Matha.
,27 The Irish words used were Leth nErionn. Having been honoured and en- dowed by Irish princes, many farms, cells and monasteries became subject to him ; so that Kieran and his succes*ors might be re- garded, as having the half of Ireland subject to them.
,28 To this the writer of St. Ciaran's Life in the Book of Lismore adds, and with an
O
2io LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[September 9.
miracles and spirit of prophecy, while at Clonard j but, we shall only refer to them as introducing the domestic and social usages of wheat and oats being carried to a mill, loaves of wheat, bacon, flesh, vessels of ale, mead, nocturnsandprime,reapingandreapers,beingmentioned. Certainofthe clerics asked Findian, who would give out the prayer, when himself should
"
Ciaran. 1S9 " Thou givest the abbacy to him," saith Brenainn, M in preference
" It hath been
between chief cities, and the difference that shall be between them in size must be the difference between both rivers. "
CHAPTER II.
ST. KIERAN LEAVES CLONARD FOR THE SCHOOL OF ST. NINNIDIUS—MIRACLES RECORDED —HE GOES TO ST. ENDEUS, ON THE ISLAND OF ARAN—HIS ACTS WHILE THERK— HIS VISIT TO ST. SENAN OF INISCATHY—ADMONISHED IN A VISION TO BECOME THE FOUNDER OF A GREAT MONASTERY.
muigh-samh. 4 Thispermissionheobtainedin530,accordingtoArchbishop Ussher. The Irish Life, contained in the Book of Lismore, states, that after learning reading and wisdom at Clonard, he left the Dun with holy Ninnid, but said that her hide should come to him afterwards, and he declared, that although numbers might be nourished by her milk, still there must be many more to whom her hide should give help. 5 In referring to Ussher's statement, that our saint left St. Finian's School in 530, Dr. Lanigan observes, that the date ill accords with that assigned for the birth of Kieran, as, according to such hypothesis, Kieran should have been then
be no longer on earth.
Yonder youth," replied Findian, pointing to
Findian
be given. " This saying caused Ciaran to# be envied by all the saints, except Columkille. Then one of those present asked Ciaran, which of the saints should have the greatest reward in Heaven. " Mercy come to us ! " returned Ciaran, " it shall be known in our convents on earth. " Then Brenain of Birr prophesied for him '* We will take two convents on two streams
:
to
everyone. "
replied :
given,
We are that told,
1 from his former
Kieran went to St. Ninnidius, the abbot of a monastery built in a wood, near Lough Erne. Other accounts have it, on an Island,3 called Inis-
only fourteen years of age.
6
However, it is generally supposed, that the
having
obtained 2
permission
master,
St.
Irish verse commemorating it ; from that xi. , n. 170, p. 54. A similar passage is the famous word was taken to Rome to quoted by Ussher, from a somewhat different Alexander, " Non legam Marcum quo Life. See ** Britannicarum Ecclesiarum usque compleveram Mattheum. "
Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 495.
2 Saint Ninnid's Life has been compiled from the acts of other saints, and published by Colgan, at the 18th of January. He is there called Ninnidius, Nennidhuis or forward a unity of friendship was estab- Nennius, abbot and bishop. See " Acta
129 The Irish Life of our saint in the Book of Lismore states, that before taking leave of his pupil, Finian offered his monastery to Kiaran. This offer was refused, but thence-
lished between them.
Chapter ii. —'
licentia et benedictione occurs in a life of
accepta licentia, in Dr. Lanigan's estimation, alluded to a certificate or testimonial for learning and good conduct, such as was often given in universities to deserving students, who are
Sanctorum Hiberniae," xviii. Januarii, num.
8, p. 113.
3 On Lough Erne. 4 See notices of this
St. These words Kieran, cap. 7.
at the 1 8th of January, the day for his feast, in the First
thence named liceticiates.
See " Ecclesiasti-
sect.
Volume of this work, Art. ii.
s He said " Every soul that shall go out
of its body on the hide of the Dun "—a cow so called—" shall not be punished in hell. " 6 The Rev. Dr. adds: "Who
cal of History
Ireland,
"vol.
ii. , chap, x. ,
Lanigan
"Accepta magistri "
sui
it is and it shall given,
saint,
September 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIATS. 211
school at Clonard could not have been established much earlier than about such a date. ? But, that our saint had spent three or four years there, the year for his departure most probably may have been about 534, which can fairly well accord with the time necessary for the completion of his theolo-
studies at the of or 8 His new master is age twenty-six twenty-seven.
gical
said to have been surnamed Laobh-dearc, and to have been a fellow-disciple,
probably with St. Kieran, in the school of Clonard. 9
In his Life, we are told, that St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise, a great Ii^ht
of Ireland, appeared among other distinguished scholars, like the moon amid less luminous orbs. Finian had a vision of him and of Cclumkille, and of two moons in the air, with a hue of gold upon them. One of the twain went by sea towards the north-east, and this was Columkille to Iona, with the radiance of his nobleness and high birth ; the other went west- wards to the Shannon, and shone over the middle of Ireland, with the radiance of his charity and mercy. This latter was Ciaran of Clonmacnoise. Again, from the Life of our saint, compiled by Augustin Graidin10 or Mac
11 we are
obtained his master's blessing and leave to depart, and he was afterwards received with great joy and kindness by St. Ninnidius. Whilst here, it was customary for three monks, with their senior, to cut and remove wood, for theuseoftheirmonastery. Thesedutiesrecurredtothematstatedtimes. In accordance with that rule, our saint and his attendant brethren were sent to an adjoining wood, during a period his course of religious discipline continued. However, while the monks were prosecuting their labours on an island, our saint retired to pray, in a more distant place. Meantime, some robbers passed over in a boat. Rushing on the monks, these outcasts, as we are told, killed them, and took away their heads. After some time, Kieran wondered why he did not hear the sound of axes. He went to ascertain the cause for this cessation in their labours. On witnessing the sad spectacle presented of bodies decapitated, he felt grievously afflicted. Following closely on the traces of their murderers, he found them endeavouring to launch their vessels from the haven into the water. This, however, they were unable to effect, by any effort. Experiencing such a striking and miraculous manifestation of the Almighty's displeasure, they penitently besought pardon from our saint. Mindful of his Heavenly Master's great example, in praying for the Jews that crucified Him, Kyran
Graidin,
informed,
that
having spent
some time at he Clonard,
will believe that he was so young at a time
when he had completed his theological studies, and was probably already a monk? In what is said of him on his arrival at the monastery of Nennidius he appears as such. He was, I dare say, much more than 14 years old, when he first went to Finian's school ; whereas, besides its being related that he was then grown up, adultioris cetatis, it can scarcely be supposed, that he was less than 18 or 20 when properly qualified for
Ussher states, he sh—ould have been only seventeen or eighteen an age too premature for the attainment of such an object.
9 See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xi. , p. 51, and nn. 171, 172, p. 55, ibid.
,0 This writer is mentioned by Sir James Ware, as an Augustinian Canon, as also a learned and prudent man, who died A. D. 1405. Among his principal works we find enumerated, Vita Sanctorum Hibern'uc. See " De Scriptoribus Hibernice," lib. i. , cap. xi. , p. 75.
"
Although Mac Graidin is praised for his judgment and learning, by Sir James Ware; yet,Papebrokeseemstohaveformed a far different opinion in "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Martii xxi. De S. Endeo Abbate Araniensi in Hibernia. Commentarius
praevius, num. 5, p. 268.
the biblical an—d theological studies cultivated "
at Clonard. " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xi. , n. 170, p. 54.
7 See ibid. vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect, viii. , and
notes, pp. 464 to 469.
8 This too should coincide with the date
for his birth, as given in the Annals of Innis- fallen, but, had he been born in 516, as
212 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[September 9.
was also ready to offer his prayers for those wicked robbers. He demanded theheadswhichhadbeencarriedaway. Havingobtainedsuchrestoration, their vessel then floated Out on the water. Our saint returned with the heads to where their bodies lay. Then praying the Almighty to manifest His great mercy, by the restoration to life of his slain brethren, Kieran placed the heads near their bodies. Owing to the efficacy of his prayers, those monks were once more restored to life. They afterwards carried the wood cut down towards their monastery ; and, so long as those religious lived,
2
11*
It is related in the Irish Life, * that while Tuathal Mael-garbh ruled over
Ireland, Kieran went to request the manumission of a slave-girl, and he
offered to place his hand on the quern to supply her place. Whereupon, the King not only released that slave, but bestowed his royal raiment on Ciaran. This gift our saint afterwards parted with, in favour of the poor. It is said, likewise, that he went to King Furbaide15 to ask for another slave-girl, when one man brought him a cow as his offering, another man bestowed on him a mantle, and another brought a kettle ; but, these he gave to the poor, on that same day he received them. However, to reward his charity, the Almighty gave three offerings that were better ; viz. , a cauldron in lieu of his kettle, twelve mantles in lieu of his single mantle, and twelve cows instead of his one cow. Seeing this, the King released the slave-girl, in favour of St Ciaran's interposition.
After remaining with St. Nennidius for some time, our Saint16 went to St. Endeus of Aran. 1 ? According to one account,18 our Saint paid two distinct visits to him, and at* different times. We may suppose, that after the first of those visits, Kyran went to St. Senan,'9 and that after some experience of Iniscathy, he desired to return again to St. Endeus of Aran, in order to become one of his professed monks, and to close his life under such discipline. With him for some years, Kyran faithfully served in
diligence and industry of Kieran, during that period he spent in Aran, that no roof could be constructed to cover all the grain, which he had threshed. 21
marks of decapitation were traceable around their necks. '
20
years under the direction of St. Endeus, Abbot of Aran. Such were the
threshing out grain.
Archbishop Ussher states, that Kieran passed seven
12
Remarking on the unusual character of
vol. i. , pp. 176 to 181. However, Roderick O'Flaherty places the accession of Tutlialius
Calvoasper in the year 533, which agrees with the computation in the Annals of Ulster. These latter assign his death to A. l>. 543. See " Ogygia," pars iii. , cap. xciii. , p. 430.
15 No Ard-Righ, bearing this name, is to be found among the monarchs of Ireland.
16 Called " filius fabri. "
17 See his Life, at the 21st of March, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
18 That of Augustin Magraidin.
'9 See his Life, at the 8th of March, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
20 In the old Life, we find, "in monas-
terii territorio. " The Bollandist editor
u teritorio. '' It be suggests, forte may
observed, that this term seems to imply, a threshinzfloor.
Q'Donovan's ''Annals of the Four Masters," Island, at the time of their composition.
this prodigy, Suyskens considered it might appear more authentic if found in an earlier record. lie observes, also, that Macgraidin as in the instance of St. Endeus' acts, had possibly in his possession still older acts of our Saint, from which the foregoing prodigy might have been taken ; yet, using his dis- cretion as a with such little
compiler
ment, it is to be feared, he considered un-
authentic or very recent acts as trustworthy
13 As found in the Book of Lismore.
'*
The O'Clerys place the accession of Tuathal Maelgarbh, whose name has been
documents. Suyskens adds
hinc inferre, hax aut quoecumque alia ad fahulas certo esse rejicienda, cum antiquis monumentis revera hinc inde potuerit usus fuisse. "
Latinised Tutlialius at A. D. Calvoasper,
21 of St. Endeus In the old Acts
:
" Nolim tamen
judg-
by Magraidin, we are told, that the walls of placing his death at A. D. 538.
