jealousy of his younger but legitimate brother Egfrid,^ who ruled for fifteen years over his principality, with religious and
commendable
behaviour.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
(e, f), pp.
172 to 174.
— "
May 27. ] LIVES 01^ THE IRISH SAINTS.
581
1237,^3 on Trinity Island ^'^ opposite, became the place most resorted to
there, the peasantry of the neighbourhood now bury their dead. ^s On Trinity Island are also considerable ruins, which have a most picturesque appear- ance,^^ as seen rising over the embowering trees, and far out on the noble expanseofLoughOughter. Thesurroundingshoresarediversifiedandvery attractive in scenery. An abbey's site is shown in a field, which is called the Abbey-field,-? in the western part of Snawlooher or Slanore townland. This contains about 130 acres, and it is situated a little south from Lough Oughter, on the west side of Kilmore parish. It appears, furthermore,'''^ that Cairbre Gabhra is now represented, by the modern barony of Granard, in the north- eastern part of Longford County ; while, this territory must have proceeded still farther towards the north, so as to include a considerable portion of Upper Loughtee, in the county of Cavan, since Snamh-luthir, Snawlougher,^9 or Slanore, was within it. 3° Veneration was given on this day, to Comaigh, Virgin, of Snamh Luthair,3i as we find entered, in the Martyrology of Donegal. 32
Article III. St. Maelan, of Slanore, County of Cavan. This day, the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ and that of Donegal," register the name of Maelan, of Snamh Luthair, as having been venerated. The Bollandists 3 have a notice of St. Mselanus, at the 27th of May; but, they barely record his name and home at Snam-Luthir. This place is known as Snawlooher,'' at the present time, and it may be identified with the locality, to which allusion has just been made. According to Colgan, the present saint may possiblybeidentifiedwithMoelchuo,nephewofSt. Columkille. s Thishow- ever seems to be a very doubtful—if not a wholly mistaken—conjecture.
Article IV, St. Cuintoc, of Snawlooher, County of Cavan. There is a St. Cuintoc, said to have been connected with Snawlooher, for- merlycalledSnamhaluthair,inthepresentcountyofCavan. Hisnameand
^3 See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 42.
^t In the parish of Kilmore, and barony of
Upper Loughtee. It is shown, on the a. d. 1609. "OrdnanceSurveyTownlandMapsforthe ^See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's County of Cavan," sheets 19, 20. "Life of St. Columba," n. (f), pp. 173,
"'s On February ist, a. d, 1570, Queen 174.
Elizabeth granted this Abbey, with all its appurtenances to Hugh O'Reilly of the Brenie, head of his sept, for the term of 21 years, at the rent of 55s. and 8d. Irish money. See Archdall's Monasticon Hiber- nicum,p. 42.
-* The accompanying sketch of this scene was taken by the writer, in June, 1876. It has been transferred to the wood, by William F. Wakeman, the engraver Mrs. Millard.
3' Jn a note, Dr. Todd says, "The more recent hand adds ' Itijen eAcliAc [daughter of Eochaidh] Mart. Taml. '
3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , ^7 It is shown, of tiie " Ordnance Survey Mali xxvii. Among the pretermitted saints,
Townland Maps for the County of Cavan," sheet 25.
p. 657.
"* See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's
^^ See Dr. John O'Donovan's "Annals
of the Four Masters," at a. d. 731, vol. i. The
Cairbre-Gabhra were a sept, descended from
Cairbre, son of Niall Naighiallach. Tlie 14, p. 479. — mountainous portion of Granard barony is Article iv. still called Sliabh Cairbre. See pp. 328, Kelly, p. xxv.
329, and n. (vv).
^' Or Snawlugher, as it is also named, in
an Ecclesiastical Inquisition taken at Cavan,
3^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 138, 139.
Article hi. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxv.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 140, 141.
"Life of St. Columba," n. (f), pp. 173, 174. s See " Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Ap- pendix ad Acta S. Columbie, cap. ii. , num.
' Edited by Rev. Dr.
;
and
——
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 27.
place are entered in the Martyrology of Tallagh ;' and, quoting this same record, the BoUandists ^ enter his festival, at the 27th of May, but, call him by the name of Quintus.
ArticleV. St. EthianorEthern,BishopofDonoughmoremic- Laithbhe, IN Mughdorna. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,' this saint's name appears, at the 27th of May, as Ethirn, Bishop of Domhnach mor. On the same authority, the BoUandists ^ enter Ethernus, Episcopus de Domnach- Mor. TherewasaINIughdhorna-BreaghinIreland,butitspositionisnotwell known. From the church of this saint having been here placed within the ter- ritory of Mughdorna, Dr. O'Donovan thinks it highly probable, he must have been connected with Donoughmore, near Slane, and in the county of jMeath. 3 The Martyrology of Donegal-* enters a festival on this day, in honour of Ethern, Bishop, of Domhnach-mor-mic-Laithbhe, in ^lughdorna. Under the head of Domhnach-mic Laithbhe, likewise, Duald Mac Firbis enters Bishop Ethern, for May 2 7th. s
ArticleVI. ReputedFeastofaSt. Echbritan,Ecbriotan,or EcHFRiOTAN, SoN OF Ossu, OR OssA. These names as found respec- tively entered, with a different spelling, in the Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Marianus O'Gorman, and of O'Clery, seem to relate, however, to the same individual. There appears to have prevailed some misconception, regarding
the identity of this saint. However, the name refers to a British or to a Saxon origin. But, little can be gleaned, with any degree of certainty, to throw light on his history. The name of Ecbriotan mac Ossu appears, in the Martyr- ologyofTallagh,'atthe27thofMay. Somev. 'ritersseemtohaveimagined, that he was the same as Egfrid, the eldest son of King Oswy of Northunibria, by Queen Eanfled, and who succeeded his father in that kingdom, a. d. 671. ^ He was married to the virtuous Etheldred, or Edeltrude,3 also called Audry. In 684,* he conducted a hostile invasion against the Irish, who, as Venerable Bede declares,hadbeengreatfriendstotheEnglish. s However,theMartyrologyof Tamlaght is probably in error, also, by making Ecbriotan " son of Ossa," the same as Aldfrid, the Northumbrian prince, and whom tlie Irish knew, as an exile in Ireland, under the name of Flann Fina. ^ His surname Fina was derived from his mother. 7 He was an illegitimate son of Oswy, King of Northunibria. and he retired into Ireland, as well for the purpose of avoiding the anger or
'See John Speed's "History of Great Britaine," book vii. , chap, ix. , p. 317.
^ She is venerated as a saint, at the 23rd of June. . See an account of her, in Les Petits Bollandistes' " Vies dcs . Saints," tome vii. , xxiii'=. Jour de Juin, pp. 237 to 239.
^ This date accords with the chronolog}', in the "Annals of Ulster. " However, at A. n. 683, it is set down, in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annalsofthe Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 28S to 291, and n. (k), ibid.
s gee " Hisloria Ecclesiastica Gentis Angloruin," lib. iv. , cap. xxvi. , p. 345.
" See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamn. an's "Life of St. Columb. a," pp. xliv. , xlv. , and n. (g). Also, pp. 1S5, 186, and nn. (1, m), ibid.
? Sheissaidtohavebeenderivedfromthe princely house of Niall, according to the Tract on the Jlothcrs of the Irish Saints, in the Book of Lecan, at fol. Ixiii.
582
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Maii xxvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 657.
Article v. — ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. XXV.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. ,
Maii xxvii. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 657.
3 An entry in the "Annals of the Four
50, where this locality is men- tioned, may help the topographer to fix the situation of Mughdhorna-Breagh. See vol.
ii. , n. (1), pp. 1094, 1095.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
'38, 139.
5 See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy,"IrishMSS. Series,vol. i. , part i. , pp. 106, 107.
Masters," at 1
1
,"^\rticle VI. — ' Kelly, p. XXV,
Edited by Rev. Dr.
——
May 27. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
jealousy of his younger but legitimate brother Egfrid,^ who ruled for fifteen years over his principality, with religious and commendable behaviour. 9 Ecfriotan was the name of our present saint, according to Marianus O'Gorman, nor is any further information conveyed respecting him. It seems hardly credible, that he could be identified with Alfridus—the names are so different —yet the Northumbrian exile is praised, for having sedulously devoted the years of his exile to study and to the acquisition of philosophy. We are in- formed, likewise, that as a just punishment for his invasion of the innocent Irish, King Ecgfrid, son of Oswy, fell in a battle fought against the Picts, on the 13th of the Calends of June,'° or on the 2otli of May," a. d. 684, or 685 ; so that, independently of his hostility to the Irish, the discrepancy of those diurnaldatesseemstoexcludehimfromthepresentcommemoration. He was afterwards succeeded on the throne, by his brother Alfrid, then pursuing his studies in Ireland ; but, after the death of Ecgfrith, the flourishing king- dom of Northumbria became utterly weakened by intestine divisions. " A St. Egbert appears, in the Roman Martyrology, at the 24th of April. He lived in Ireland, and he died in Hy, a. d. 729. He is frequently mentioned, by Venerable Bede. '3 However it may be explained, on this day, the Martyr- ology of Donegal ^4 registers Echfriotan, as having had veneration given to him. The entries have a dualistic appearance ; and, as differently spelled and authenticated, in their respective references, they seem applicable only to a single person.
Article VII. Festival of St. Aculius and his Companions, Martyrs. In the " Feilire " of the " Leabhar Breac," there is a com- memoration, at the 27th of May, of St. Aculius, a priest, with his clergy who were martyrs. ' The Martyrology of Drummond has a notice of St. Acculeus and of his companions. ^ They are entered by the Bol- landists,3 in their great collection, at this same date. There we find them called Acculus, or Aquilus, or Aquilinus, Evangelius, with fourteen other
^ Sometimes called Ecgferd or Everth. 140, 141. A note by Dr. Todd says, at See "The Saxon Chronicle," with an Echfriotan, "The two paragraphs witliin
English translation, by the Rev. B. lJ. , p. 55.
J.
Ingram,
brackets are in the more recent hand. They both evidently relate to the same indivi- dual. "
9 See Rev. Dr. Dodd's " Church History of
EnglandfromthecommencementoftheSix-
teenth Century to the Revolution in 1688," translated into English, by Dr. Whitley
with Notes, Additions, and a Continuation by the Rev. M. A. Tierney, F. S. A. , vol. i. , part i. , Art. i. , p. 39. London, 1S39, ^/jf$'. , 8vo.
'"According to the Venerable Bede, in " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iv. , cap. xxvi. , p. 346.
ARTICLE^vii. —' Itisthusentered,and Stokes :
Aculnif inci\uimcliei\ CoiiacIiLai^a A)~noenTOAi ^pni]:^^) cechtDiniu Ooi\o)\uAt) |:oi\oenu.
" Tighernach at A. D. 685, and the Annals
of Ulster, at A. D. 685, record the same event.
See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiberni-
rum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 213, and latter is a singularly curious remark, and it
tomus iv. , p. 63.
'- See Edward A. Freeman's " History of
the Norman Conquest of England," vol. i. , chap, ii. , p. 38.
'3 But, as he was not the son of Ossu, it would seem, in the opinion of Rev. Dr. Todd, that Ecfrit or Ecgbrit, sonof Ossa, may have been intended, at this passage, in the O'Clerys' Martyrology.
'* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
must refer, either to an early practice of placing numbers to measure distances on Irish roads, in the time of . St. yEngus, or it may possibly refer to a knowledge of some corresponding method observed in connexion with the old roads of the Roman Empire,
^ See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 14.
3 gee " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Mali xxvii. DeSanctisMartyribusAlexanurinis
" Aculius tlie priest, with his clergy which is most sanctified: their blood before every number was poured forth on roads. " The
583
———
584 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 27.
Martyrs, who suffered at Alexandria, according to accounts contained in old Martyrologies, although these various Calendars somewhat differ in giving the names of those holy victims, who died for Christ, in the times of great persecution.
Article VIII. St. Moduin, Abbot of Saul, County of Down. This saint is entered, at this date, in a Calendar compiled by the Rev. William Reeves. In the diocese of Down, there was a church dedicated to a St. Medumy ; but, this church and its patron saint are now unknown. There was a St. Dunnius, a disciple,' and placed by St. Patrick over the Abbey of Saul, and he is called Moduinus, in the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman. It is possible, the name and place may be connected with this present saint. ^
Article IX. Reputed Feast of St. Wigbrordus, Apostle of Bavaria. At the 27th of May, Thomas Dempster in his " Menologium Scotorum " enters ' a festival for St. Wigbrordus, Apostle of Bavaria, quoting as his authority Lazius but, the Bollandists ^ remark, this should not suffice,
;
when we take into account the silence of Rader, and of other writers, on this matter. In his Ecclesiastical History of Scotland—where so many notable persons of that nation are introduced—Dempster has altogether forgotten to take any notice of St. Wigbrordus.
Article X. —;-Reputed Feast of St. Fintana, Virgin, in Scotland. In his Scottish Entries, Camerarius has notice ' of a St. Fintana, a Virgin, in Scotland. The authority of Laherius is given, also, by the Bollandists," for thisstatement,atthe27thofMay. Itispossible,thatthisistheSt. Fintana, who, with St. Otha—both Virgins—has been introduced, by Thomas Dempster, in his " Menologium Scotorum," at the 13th of October. 3 Again, in his Eccle- siastical History of the Scottish Nation,* the same mendacious writer asserts, that both of those holy virgins lived together, in the same convent, and during the reign of King Conran ; that St. Fintana flourished a. d. 526, while the Acts of both holy virgins have been lost.
Article XI. Feast of St. Fontana, Citing the Scottish Breviary for this entr)', Camerarius and Dempster enter a festival, to commemorate a St. Fontana, Virgin, at the 27th day of May. The latter in his Menology places her, at the 13th of October, as the Bollandists' observe; but, it is evident, that she does not differ from the St. Fintana already noticed.
Acculo, sive Aquilo, aut Aquilino, Evangc- lio, et aliis xiv. , p. 627.
Article viii. — ' See Colgan's "Trias Thaumalurga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. I'atricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 265.
' Sec Rev. William Reeves' " Ecclesiasti- cal Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dro- more," p. 19, n. (i) ; and ibid. Appendix LL. , p. 378. —
'. Sec "Acta Sanctorum," toinus vi. , Mnii xxvii. Among the prclcrmiltcd saints.
' Thus: " In Boiarii Vvig-
' Thus: "27 Die. Sancta Fintana Virgo. "—Bishop Forbes' " Kalen- dars of Scottish Saints," p. 237, and ibid. ,
p. 349.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. .
Maii xxvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 657.
3 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendarsof Scot- tish Saints," pp. 214, 349.
•» See tomus i. , lib. vi, num. 513, p. 279.
Article xi,—" Sec "Acta . Snncio- rum," tomus vi. , Maii xxvii. Among llie pretermitted saints, p. 65S.
Akticle IX.
brordi gentis Apostoli. Laz. "—Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 201.
p. 657. — Article x.
— —
May 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
585
Article XII. Reputed Festival of St. Began, Abbot. In the Calendar, prefixed to the Martyrology of Christ Church, there is an entry of St. Becan, Abbot, with an Office of Nine Lessons, at the 27th of May. ' How- ever, as there is no corresponding notice, in the Martyrology itself; we can only suppose, that the insertion had been misjilaced, and that it refers simply to the St. Becan, Abbot, on the day preceding.
Article XIII. Festival of St. Germanus, Bishop of Paris. The Martyrology of Raban Maur ascribes a festival to St. Germanus, Bishop of Paris, for the 27th of May; but, as the Bollandists ' remark, other writers place it on the day immediately following.
Cb3ent|)-'eig:l)tf) Bap of iWap,
ARTICLE I. —ST. MOEL-ODHRAN, SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN A MONK OF lONA, SCOTLAND.
{SEVENTH CENTURY. ]
LITTLE remains in old records, to point with any degree of certainty to the family, period, place, or personality, of this saint. We find the name, Maelodran, simply inserted, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at this date.
— "
May 27. ] LIVES 01^ THE IRISH SAINTS.
581
1237,^3 on Trinity Island ^'^ opposite, became the place most resorted to
there, the peasantry of the neighbourhood now bury their dead. ^s On Trinity Island are also considerable ruins, which have a most picturesque appear- ance,^^ as seen rising over the embowering trees, and far out on the noble expanseofLoughOughter. Thesurroundingshoresarediversifiedandvery attractive in scenery. An abbey's site is shown in a field, which is called the Abbey-field,-? in the western part of Snawlooher or Slanore townland. This contains about 130 acres, and it is situated a little south from Lough Oughter, on the west side of Kilmore parish. It appears, furthermore,'''^ that Cairbre Gabhra is now represented, by the modern barony of Granard, in the north- eastern part of Longford County ; while, this territory must have proceeded still farther towards the north, so as to include a considerable portion of Upper Loughtee, in the county of Cavan, since Snamh-luthir, Snawlougher,^9 or Slanore, was within it. 3° Veneration was given on this day, to Comaigh, Virgin, of Snamh Luthair,3i as we find entered, in the Martyrology of Donegal. 32
Article III. St. Maelan, of Slanore, County of Cavan. This day, the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ and that of Donegal," register the name of Maelan, of Snamh Luthair, as having been venerated. The Bollandists 3 have a notice of St. Mselanus, at the 27th of May; but, they barely record his name and home at Snam-Luthir. This place is known as Snawlooher,'' at the present time, and it may be identified with the locality, to which allusion has just been made. According to Colgan, the present saint may possiblybeidentifiedwithMoelchuo,nephewofSt. Columkille. s Thishow- ever seems to be a very doubtful—if not a wholly mistaken—conjecture.
Article IV, St. Cuintoc, of Snawlooher, County of Cavan. There is a St. Cuintoc, said to have been connected with Snawlooher, for- merlycalledSnamhaluthair,inthepresentcountyofCavan. Hisnameand
^3 See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 42.
^t In the parish of Kilmore, and barony of
Upper Loughtee. It is shown, on the a. d. 1609. "OrdnanceSurveyTownlandMapsforthe ^See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's County of Cavan," sheets 19, 20. "Life of St. Columba," n. (f), pp. 173,
"'s On February ist, a. d, 1570, Queen 174.
Elizabeth granted this Abbey, with all its appurtenances to Hugh O'Reilly of the Brenie, head of his sept, for the term of 21 years, at the rent of 55s. and 8d. Irish money. See Archdall's Monasticon Hiber- nicum,p. 42.
-* The accompanying sketch of this scene was taken by the writer, in June, 1876. It has been transferred to the wood, by William F. Wakeman, the engraver Mrs. Millard.
3' Jn a note, Dr. Todd says, "The more recent hand adds ' Itijen eAcliAc [daughter of Eochaidh] Mart. Taml. '
3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , ^7 It is shown, of tiie " Ordnance Survey Mali xxvii. Among the pretermitted saints,
Townland Maps for the County of Cavan," sheet 25.
p. 657.
"* See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's
^^ See Dr. John O'Donovan's "Annals
of the Four Masters," at a. d. 731, vol. i. The
Cairbre-Gabhra were a sept, descended from
Cairbre, son of Niall Naighiallach. Tlie 14, p. 479. — mountainous portion of Granard barony is Article iv. still called Sliabh Cairbre. See pp. 328, Kelly, p. xxv.
329, and n. (vv).
^' Or Snawlugher, as it is also named, in
an Ecclesiastical Inquisition taken at Cavan,
3^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 138, 139.
Article hi. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxv.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 140, 141.
"Life of St. Columba," n. (f), pp. 173, 174. s See " Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Ap- pendix ad Acta S. Columbie, cap. ii. , num.
' Edited by Rev. Dr.
;
and
——
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 27.
place are entered in the Martyrology of Tallagh ;' and, quoting this same record, the BoUandists ^ enter his festival, at the 27th of May, but, call him by the name of Quintus.
ArticleV. St. EthianorEthern,BishopofDonoughmoremic- Laithbhe, IN Mughdorna. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,' this saint's name appears, at the 27th of May, as Ethirn, Bishop of Domhnach mor. On the same authority, the BoUandists ^ enter Ethernus, Episcopus de Domnach- Mor. TherewasaINIughdhorna-BreaghinIreland,butitspositionisnotwell known. From the church of this saint having been here placed within the ter- ritory of Mughdorna, Dr. O'Donovan thinks it highly probable, he must have been connected with Donoughmore, near Slane, and in the county of jMeath. 3 The Martyrology of Donegal-* enters a festival on this day, in honour of Ethern, Bishop, of Domhnach-mor-mic-Laithbhe, in ^lughdorna. Under the head of Domhnach-mic Laithbhe, likewise, Duald Mac Firbis enters Bishop Ethern, for May 2 7th. s
ArticleVI. ReputedFeastofaSt. Echbritan,Ecbriotan,or EcHFRiOTAN, SoN OF Ossu, OR OssA. These names as found respec- tively entered, with a different spelling, in the Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Marianus O'Gorman, and of O'Clery, seem to relate, however, to the same individual. There appears to have prevailed some misconception, regarding
the identity of this saint. However, the name refers to a British or to a Saxon origin. But, little can be gleaned, with any degree of certainty, to throw light on his history. The name of Ecbriotan mac Ossu appears, in the Martyr- ologyofTallagh,'atthe27thofMay. Somev. 'ritersseemtohaveimagined, that he was the same as Egfrid, the eldest son of King Oswy of Northunibria, by Queen Eanfled, and who succeeded his father in that kingdom, a. d. 671. ^ He was married to the virtuous Etheldred, or Edeltrude,3 also called Audry. In 684,* he conducted a hostile invasion against the Irish, who, as Venerable Bede declares,hadbeengreatfriendstotheEnglish. s However,theMartyrologyof Tamlaght is probably in error, also, by making Ecbriotan " son of Ossa," the same as Aldfrid, the Northumbrian prince, and whom tlie Irish knew, as an exile in Ireland, under the name of Flann Fina. ^ His surname Fina was derived from his mother. 7 He was an illegitimate son of Oswy, King of Northunibria. and he retired into Ireland, as well for the purpose of avoiding the anger or
'See John Speed's "History of Great Britaine," book vii. , chap, ix. , p. 317.
^ She is venerated as a saint, at the 23rd of June. . See an account of her, in Les Petits Bollandistes' " Vies dcs . Saints," tome vii. , xxiii'=. Jour de Juin, pp. 237 to 239.
^ This date accords with the chronolog}', in the "Annals of Ulster. " However, at A. n. 683, it is set down, in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annalsofthe Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 28S to 291, and n. (k), ibid.
s gee " Hisloria Ecclesiastica Gentis Angloruin," lib. iv. , cap. xxvi. , p. 345.
" See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamn. an's "Life of St. Columb. a," pp. xliv. , xlv. , and n. (g). Also, pp. 1S5, 186, and nn. (1, m), ibid.
? Sheissaidtohavebeenderivedfromthe princely house of Niall, according to the Tract on the Jlothcrs of the Irish Saints, in the Book of Lecan, at fol. Ixiii.
582
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Maii xxvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 657.
Article v. — ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. XXV.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. ,
Maii xxvii. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 657.
3 An entry in the "Annals of the Four
50, where this locality is men- tioned, may help the topographer to fix the situation of Mughdhorna-Breagh. See vol.
ii. , n. (1), pp. 1094, 1095.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
'38, 139.
5 See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy,"IrishMSS. Series,vol. i. , part i. , pp. 106, 107.
Masters," at 1
1
,"^\rticle VI. — ' Kelly, p. XXV,
Edited by Rev. Dr.
——
May 27. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
jealousy of his younger but legitimate brother Egfrid,^ who ruled for fifteen years over his principality, with religious and commendable behaviour. 9 Ecfriotan was the name of our present saint, according to Marianus O'Gorman, nor is any further information conveyed respecting him. It seems hardly credible, that he could be identified with Alfridus—the names are so different —yet the Northumbrian exile is praised, for having sedulously devoted the years of his exile to study and to the acquisition of philosophy. We are in- formed, likewise, that as a just punishment for his invasion of the innocent Irish, King Ecgfrid, son of Oswy, fell in a battle fought against the Picts, on the 13th of the Calends of June,'° or on the 2otli of May," a. d. 684, or 685 ; so that, independently of his hostility to the Irish, the discrepancy of those diurnaldatesseemstoexcludehimfromthepresentcommemoration. He was afterwards succeeded on the throne, by his brother Alfrid, then pursuing his studies in Ireland ; but, after the death of Ecgfrith, the flourishing king- dom of Northumbria became utterly weakened by intestine divisions. " A St. Egbert appears, in the Roman Martyrology, at the 24th of April. He lived in Ireland, and he died in Hy, a. d. 729. He is frequently mentioned, by Venerable Bede. '3 However it may be explained, on this day, the Martyr- ology of Donegal ^4 registers Echfriotan, as having had veneration given to him. The entries have a dualistic appearance ; and, as differently spelled and authenticated, in their respective references, they seem applicable only to a single person.
Article VII. Festival of St. Aculius and his Companions, Martyrs. In the " Feilire " of the " Leabhar Breac," there is a com- memoration, at the 27th of May, of St. Aculius, a priest, with his clergy who were martyrs. ' The Martyrology of Drummond has a notice of St. Acculeus and of his companions. ^ They are entered by the Bol- landists,3 in their great collection, at this same date. There we find them called Acculus, or Aquilus, or Aquilinus, Evangelius, with fourteen other
^ Sometimes called Ecgferd or Everth. 140, 141. A note by Dr. Todd says, at See "The Saxon Chronicle," with an Echfriotan, "The two paragraphs witliin
English translation, by the Rev. B. lJ. , p. 55.
J.
Ingram,
brackets are in the more recent hand. They both evidently relate to the same indivi- dual. "
9 See Rev. Dr. Dodd's " Church History of
EnglandfromthecommencementoftheSix-
teenth Century to the Revolution in 1688," translated into English, by Dr. Whitley
with Notes, Additions, and a Continuation by the Rev. M. A. Tierney, F. S. A. , vol. i. , part i. , Art. i. , p. 39. London, 1S39, ^/jf$'. , 8vo.
'"According to the Venerable Bede, in " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iv. , cap. xxvi. , p. 346.
ARTICLE^vii. —' Itisthusentered,and Stokes :
Aculnif inci\uimcliei\ CoiiacIiLai^a A)~noenTOAi ^pni]:^^) cechtDiniu Ooi\o)\uAt) |:oi\oenu.
" Tighernach at A. D. 685, and the Annals
of Ulster, at A. D. 685, record the same event.
See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiberni-
rum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 213, and latter is a singularly curious remark, and it
tomus iv. , p. 63.
'- See Edward A. Freeman's " History of
the Norman Conquest of England," vol. i. , chap, ii. , p. 38.
'3 But, as he was not the son of Ossu, it would seem, in the opinion of Rev. Dr. Todd, that Ecfrit or Ecgbrit, sonof Ossa, may have been intended, at this passage, in the O'Clerys' Martyrology.
'* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
must refer, either to an early practice of placing numbers to measure distances on Irish roads, in the time of . St. yEngus, or it may possibly refer to a knowledge of some corresponding method observed in connexion with the old roads of the Roman Empire,
^ See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 14.
3 gee " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Mali xxvii. DeSanctisMartyribusAlexanurinis
" Aculius tlie priest, with his clergy which is most sanctified: their blood before every number was poured forth on roads. " The
583
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584 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 27.
Martyrs, who suffered at Alexandria, according to accounts contained in old Martyrologies, although these various Calendars somewhat differ in giving the names of those holy victims, who died for Christ, in the times of great persecution.
Article VIII. St. Moduin, Abbot of Saul, County of Down. This saint is entered, at this date, in a Calendar compiled by the Rev. William Reeves. In the diocese of Down, there was a church dedicated to a St. Medumy ; but, this church and its patron saint are now unknown. There was a St. Dunnius, a disciple,' and placed by St. Patrick over the Abbey of Saul, and he is called Moduinus, in the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman. It is possible, the name and place may be connected with this present saint. ^
Article IX. Reputed Feast of St. Wigbrordus, Apostle of Bavaria. At the 27th of May, Thomas Dempster in his " Menologium Scotorum " enters ' a festival for St. Wigbrordus, Apostle of Bavaria, quoting as his authority Lazius but, the Bollandists ^ remark, this should not suffice,
;
when we take into account the silence of Rader, and of other writers, on this matter. In his Ecclesiastical History of Scotland—where so many notable persons of that nation are introduced—Dempster has altogether forgotten to take any notice of St. Wigbrordus.
Article X. —;-Reputed Feast of St. Fintana, Virgin, in Scotland. In his Scottish Entries, Camerarius has notice ' of a St. Fintana, a Virgin, in Scotland. The authority of Laherius is given, also, by the Bollandists," for thisstatement,atthe27thofMay. Itispossible,thatthisistheSt. Fintana, who, with St. Otha—both Virgins—has been introduced, by Thomas Dempster, in his " Menologium Scotorum," at the 13th of October. 3 Again, in his Eccle- siastical History of the Scottish Nation,* the same mendacious writer asserts, that both of those holy virgins lived together, in the same convent, and during the reign of King Conran ; that St. Fintana flourished a. d. 526, while the Acts of both holy virgins have been lost.
Article XI. Feast of St. Fontana, Citing the Scottish Breviary for this entr)', Camerarius and Dempster enter a festival, to commemorate a St. Fontana, Virgin, at the 27th day of May. The latter in his Menology places her, at the 13th of October, as the Bollandists' observe; but, it is evident, that she does not differ from the St. Fintana already noticed.
Acculo, sive Aquilo, aut Aquilino, Evangc- lio, et aliis xiv. , p. 627.
Article viii. — ' See Colgan's "Trias Thaumalurga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. I'atricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 265.
' Sec Rev. William Reeves' " Ecclesiasti- cal Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dro- more," p. 19, n. (i) ; and ibid. Appendix LL. , p. 378. —
'. Sec "Acta Sanctorum," toinus vi. , Mnii xxvii. Among the prclcrmiltcd saints.
' Thus: " In Boiarii Vvig-
' Thus: "27 Die. Sancta Fintana Virgo. "—Bishop Forbes' " Kalen- dars of Scottish Saints," p. 237, and ibid. ,
p. 349.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. .
Maii xxvii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 657.
3 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendarsof Scot- tish Saints," pp. 214, 349.
•» See tomus i. , lib. vi, num. 513, p. 279.
Article xi,—" Sec "Acta . Snncio- rum," tomus vi. , Maii xxvii. Among llie pretermitted saints, p. 65S.
Akticle IX.
brordi gentis Apostoli. Laz. "—Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 201.
p. 657. — Article x.
— —
May 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
585
Article XII. Reputed Festival of St. Began, Abbot. In the Calendar, prefixed to the Martyrology of Christ Church, there is an entry of St. Becan, Abbot, with an Office of Nine Lessons, at the 27th of May. ' How- ever, as there is no corresponding notice, in the Martyrology itself; we can only suppose, that the insertion had been misjilaced, and that it refers simply to the St. Becan, Abbot, on the day preceding.
Article XIII. Festival of St. Germanus, Bishop of Paris. The Martyrology of Raban Maur ascribes a festival to St. Germanus, Bishop of Paris, for the 27th of May; but, as the Bollandists ' remark, other writers place it on the day immediately following.
Cb3ent|)-'eig:l)tf) Bap of iWap,
ARTICLE I. —ST. MOEL-ODHRAN, SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN A MONK OF lONA, SCOTLAND.
{SEVENTH CENTURY. ]
LITTLE remains in old records, to point with any degree of certainty to the family, period, place, or personality, of this saint. We find the name, Maelodran, simply inserted, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at this date.
