Kevin,"
O'Donovan's Essay
Wakeman, and it has been engraved by Mrs.
O'Donovan's Essay
Wakeman, and it has been engraved by Mrs.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
C, Straffan P.
C, Timolin Union and Wicklow Union.
See "Analysis
3I ? Now Kilcashel, in the Parish of Castle- macadam.
318 Or the Church of St. Biccsech. Tt lies near Arklow, and it was written Kilbixi, in later documents.
319 It is written Donaghrie, in the " Re-
"
of Archbishop Alan, and it was situated, near Arklow.
320 OrCelltamlamcha,nowunknown.
321 This was the Cillfiomnaighe of the
Irish Calendar, and stated to be situated in
Ui-Feuechlais, the modern Barony of Ark- low.
pertorium Viride
;;
in
abbey Glendalough opulent temporal possessions
tinct and 32Q
we after the time of St. the find, Kevin,
Arklow
[June 3
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 89
ries succeeding St. Kevin's time, Glendalough is often mentioned, with its more renowned bishops, abbots, and clerics, in the Irish Annals. 331 The city began to decline in the twelfth century ; when it became the prey of robbers and depredators. 332 In 1214, 333 we are told, that through the then dominant English influence, the See of Glendalough was annexed to that of Dublin. The hardy sons of the mountain long resisted the annexation, and persisted for
"
the Bishopric of the two Lakes," as an independent ecclesiastical jurisdiction. On the 30th of May, a. d. 1479, it was at length surrendered,334 in the Cathedral of St. Patrick, Dublin. Some churches—especially in the Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough—have been erectedtocommemoratethisillustriousabbotandpatronsaint. Severalother memorials to honour him remain. In the city of Dublin, a parish was for- merly dedicated to St. Kevin. Within it were a church and a cemetery. Not far from the latter, in modern times, has been erected a fine Gothic church. 335 Around this, as a nucleus, has grown a great increase of houses and inhabi- tants. Adistricthadbeendefined,byHisEminence,CardinalPaulCullen,
Archbishop of Dublin, to mark the outlines of the new Catholic Parish of St. Kevin. Close beside this church are the spacious and well-attended schools of the Christian Brothers, also rejoicing in the patronage of St. Kevin. A street in the city of Dublin is also called St. Kevin's, while a holy well, dedicated to him was known as St. Kevin's well. 336 In the county of Wick- low, some modern Catholic churches and chapels have been dedicated to St. Kevin; but,it isdifficulttoprocureanexactlistofsucherections. 33? Atthe entrance to the Glen of the Downs, and at the right hand side of the road proceeding southwards, springs a well, 338 formerly called Tubber nabrin. This is reputed holy. 33^ Before the commencement of this century, a patron 3-t° used to be held there, each 3rd day of June, 241 which is the Feast Day of St. Kevin. InScotland,aswellasinIreland,thissaintwasheldingreatvene-
more than two centuries longer, in retaining
of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glen-
Architects.
336 In the kitchen of Mr. Donegan, a
butcher, living at the corner of Montague-
street, in the Parish of St. Nicholas, there is
a stone trough, formerly belonging to St. Kevin's well, and which was within the yard of that house.
337 One of the succursal of Rath- chapels
drum Parish had been dedicated to St. Kevin, during the lifetime of the former vene- rated pastor, the Rev. Richard Galvin, P. P.
338 It is still a great place of resort for pic- nic parties, and the scene around is one of Ware, vol. i. , ''Bishops of Glendalough," the most romantic spots in the county of Wicklow, so very celebrated for its charming
dalough," p. 8.
339 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
"
Bishops of
Glendalough," p. 372.
330 See a pretty full annalistic account of
Glendalough, in Archdall's " Monasticon Hibernicum," pp. 765 to 771.
331 See Dr.
the Four Masters," vol. vii. rum, at Gleann-da-locha, p. 64.
to ecclesiastical and
340 After its popular discontinuance, Mrs. Latouche, formerly a Miss Vickers, used to regale her friends and the children of her schools at the place. Two tents, with a band of music, were available, while the children danced and otherwise amused themselves.
341 Such is the substance of that informa- tion, given to the writer, several years ago by
Mrs. A. O'Byrne's p. 100.
John
O'Donovan's " Annals of Index Loco- Glendalough,
332 According to the Papal Legate John Papiron. See his account of it in Harris*
PP- 376, 377-
333 By a patent, dated the 30th of July
views.
339 The country people formerly drank the
during this year, King John granted to the
Archbishop
the episcopal See of Glendalough, and the lands thereunto belonging, together with the
abbey ; but, reserving to the Abbot Thomas his tenements, to wit, half a cantred, he to hold the same during life from the Arch- bishop. See Archdall's "Monasticon Hiber-
nicum," p. 770.
334 As we are informed, by Friar Denis
White, " the last who held it in oppositi—on
of Dublin and to his successors
water of this — as a cure for "holy well,"
"
regal authority. " Saints of Ireland,"
during her earliest
335 Designed by Messrs. Pugin and Ashlin,
" the shakes " we presume the ague.
a old very
who
woman,
days resided in this neighbourhood.
342 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 302.
go LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 3.
ration. 342 The remains ofa religious edifice, dedicated to and called after St. Coivin (Kevin) are on the lands of Ballyshean. 343 There is also Kilchevin and Kilcowan. 344 A remarkable salutation to St. Kevin, in the Irish lan- guage, is found in the Drummond Castle Missal. 345
We should have rather chosen to dwell on the personal biographical actions and characteristics of St. Kevin, than on the numberless legends that are told in reference to him. However, one of the most learned and accom- plished contributors to Catholic literature in our language 346 has called special attention to truths, which are often to be found in supposed legends, and to the mode or consideration, which must be observed, in a correct process of investigation. 347 These legends are not to be confounded with fables. Nor have they been generally written, with any intention of deceiving pious Catholics, or other persons, without the pale of our Church. There are in- stances on record, indeed, when foolish and designing men undertook the forging or falsification of documents or evidence ; and, perhaps, in particu- lar cases, this had been done through some distorted moral motives. 348 Le Clerc, better known by his literary name, Clericus, observes, that school themes were sometimes drawn, from the Acts of Martyrs, in past times, as exercises have been written, in our own day, and even more remotely,? 43 from some classical subject. In such cases, however, no profession of writing exact history was made by students ; no more than the historical novelist or historical playwright desires to impose his fictitious narratives on the reader for facts, although he may wish, neither to contradict history, nor to stray far from its probabilities. In the primitive and mediaeval times of our Church, writers were usually ecclesiastics or monks, and education had been chiefly derived, through monastic sources. Hence, religious subjects had a special interest for both master and pupil ; and, among those, no species of composi- tion met with greater favour than the compilation of Acts, which included legends, referring to Martyrs and other great Saints.
Article II. —St. Affine, Effinus, or Iiffen, of Cill Aiffein, or
Killaffan, County of Wicklow. [Probably Sixth or Seventh Century^ *
This day, the Martyrology of Tallagh simply enters Affine, at the 3rd of June. His locality is not even mentioned, in this record. In an Irish Life ofSt. Kevin,3 it is stated,thatSt. EffinusorIfinus3 hadaconvent4 ofmonks,
s43 Near the mansion of Mr. Macdonald. which reference is made in the text, is en- See "New Statistical Account of Scot- titled, "The Truth of supposed Legends land," Argyleshire, p. 429, and "Origines and Fables," pp. 235 to 286. This learned
Parochiales Scotia:," pars ii. , p. 9,
3*4 See " Old Statistical Survey of Scot-
Also "Origines Parochiales Scotise," pars, ii. , p. It.
article is declared to have been taken by shorthand. The first 8vo volume of these Essays was published at London, 1865.
*** Thus, we have an account, regarding a Priest, who wrote false Acts of St. Paul, as furnished by Tertullian. The delinquent, as a consequence, had been suspended from the exercise of his sacred ministry.
land," vol. x. , p. 536.
3*s See Preface to the Arbuthnott Missal,
p. xxxiii. Also Bishop Forbes' dars of Scottish Saints," p. 302.
"
Kalen-
346 His Eminence^Cardinal Nicholas Wise-
man, formerly Archbishop
ofWestminster.
349 As in — times, when Pagan
Juvernal
347 " on and Litera- See Essays Religion
ture," by various writers, Edited by his Grace the Most Rev. Henry E. Manning, D. D. ,ArchbishopofWestminster. These Essays were prepared for the Academia of the Catholic Religion, established in 1861, at London, by Cardinal Wiseman, and which had been affiliated to the Roman Academia. A contribution of the illustrious founder, to
says •*
of Hanibal
:
Idemens et saevas curre per Alpes Utpuerisplaceasetdeclamatiofias. "
— Kelly, xxvi.
3
Article ii.
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Preserved as a Manuscript in the Lib- rary of Trinity College, Dublin, and classed
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 91
at Killeffin, under St. Kevin ; and, in it, two legends are given connected with his churc—h. The latter of these is thus rendered into English, by John
O'Donovan
St. Kevinhadaconventofmonks. Theyaskedentertainmentfromthem, but the convent had no food. For that reason, St. Kevin and inmates of the conventbecameverymuchashamed. Ithappened,however,thatasmall quantity of seed remained ; yet, this not being sufficient to entertain the
strangers, St. Kevin bethought him of an expedient, to prevent his getting the
"
3 The Irish form of his name is Aiffen. See
:
One minstrels came with their day,
harps
s
to where Killeffin,
name of He sent a being inhospitable.
of the monks to 6 in which dig plots,
party
the small quantity of seed they had might be sown, and in order that the pro-
duce might be prepared for the strangers' dinner towards evening. In the meantime, St. Kevin himself and another party of the monks remained to entertain the minstrels, and to kill time by kind and friendly conversation ; but, this was of no avail to them, for the minstrels began pressingly to demand refreshments. These not being at hand, they took their leave of St. Kevin against his will, muttering their disapprobation, because the convent had not
satisfied their requirements. 7 The legend relates, furthermore, that the seed, which St. Kevin had sown at Killeffin, grew up before evening, and of its
the monks were fed that same
land is more fertile around Our Lady's Church than any other in the valley ; wherefore, it is thought to be more than probable, that it is the Kill Effin above
produce
night.
mentioned. 9 It is thought by Miss Stokes,10 that Tempul Muire " or Our 12
Lady's Church, at Glendalough, is older than Trinity Church. Although Tempul Muire appears to have been constructed with more knowledge of
art, than the other buildings at Glendalough, over one hundred years ago it was almost in ruins. At the east end was an arch of hewn stone, exactly
similartothatoftheCathedral. ^ Agranitedoorwayofadmirably-chiselled
H. 4, 4.
"
484.
I0 See " Notes on Irish Architecture," by
Edwin, third Earl of Dunraven, part i. , p. 102.
" A beautiful autograph is presented of
Notes on Irish Architecture," by Edwin,
third Earl of Dunraven, edited by Miss written in April, 1840, sect. 4, pp. 483,
Stokes, part i. , p. 102.
4 The word in the original is Coirh-
cionob.
5 In the legend it is cruits.
6 The word in the original is cappachs.
7 Afterwards, St. Kevin, is said to have the doorway of this church, all mantled
prayed, that the harps which they bore might round with the ivy on its gable. See ibid. , be turned into stones; and, when they p. 101.
were crossing a river, which lies to the south I2 The accompanying illustration is from a of the church, their harps were metamor- sketch taken on the site, by William F. phosed into stones, and they fell into the
stream. There they remained in the ford, underthefeetofall,fromthatdaytothetime of the written legend.
8Weare that told,
the
ofSt. Kevin,statesthisoccurrence,i—nthe inchesinlength,andfourteeninchesand
Solomon, following translation of an Irish Rann
threecourses thelintelisfivefeetsix only ;
"
The seed which was sown in the morn
At Kill Effin of divine prosperity, Of its produce flourishing at night
Sages were respectively fed.
"
9 See "Letters containing Information re- lative to the Antiquities of the County of Wicklow, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1838," vol. i. John
disciple :
the door is six feet four in height, two feet six in width at top, and two feet ten at bottom a kind of architrave is
;
marked round the door six inches broad, and
in the bottom of the lintel an ornament is
wrought in a cross resembling the flyer of a stamping press. The walls are carried up
with hewn stone, in general of a large size, to about the height of the door, and the re- mainder are of the rude moun—tain rag-stone,
"
but laid incomparably well. " Monasticon
Hibernicum," p. 774.
8 There is more and the tillage,
Valley of Glenda- lough, present Remains and Features men- tioned in the Life of the Patron St.
Kevin,"
O'Donovan's Essay
Wakeman, and it has been engraved by Mrs. Millard.
'3 Sostates Archdall,whothusdescribes "
some of its features
:
— The door consists of
a-half in
depth
;
9 2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 3.
stones ** has a lintel carved with a double moulding in the architrave, while on its soffit is an ornamental saltier-wise cross. 15 Including the lintel, the massive stones of this doorway are only seven in number, and they are all there the thickness of the wall, which measures three feet. 16 Like the ancient
Egyptians, who preferred perpendicular supports and horizontal imposts 1
although acquainted with the principle of the arch, ? the old Irish builders
Teampul Muire, or Our Lady's Church, Glendalough.
seem to have preferred the square-headed doorway, in the oldest of their churches. OurLady'sChurchwasgreatlyovergrownwithtrees,thornsandivy. Ihese were beginning to break it up, but they have been cleared away, while a breach in the north wall of the nave has been repaired. No architectural feature of this church survives intact, except its noble western doorway. 18 1 here was a mass of fallen masonry at the east end of the nave. Ruins filled the chancel. Some of the rubbish has been cleared away, during the late restorations, and the walls have been repaired. A festival in honour of Aiffen of Cill Aiffein—now Killaffan—near Gleann-da-loch, is entered in the Martyrology of Donegal,*9 as having been celebrated on this day. There is
** A beautiful and clear woodcut of this
doorway and of the surrounding walls isgiven in Dr. Petrie's work, at p. 170.
* A woodcut illustration is also furnished, at p. 171.
18 There are detailed admeasurements of
the doorway by John O'Donovan, in
"Letters containing Information relative to
the Antiquities of the County of Wicklow,
collected the of the Ord- during Progress
nance Survey in 1838," vol. i. See Essay "Valley of Glendalough, present Remains and Features mentioned in the Life of the Patron St. Kevin," sect. 4, p. 481. Also a
rough drawing in ink of Our Lady's Church at Glendalough, is given there, by William F. Wakeman, at p. 482.
,6 When Sir Walter
lough in 1825, lie sat for a considerable time before this doorway, and he expressed admiration of and wonder at its ancient character.
George Rawlinson's "History of Ancient Egypt," vol. i. , chap,
vn. , p. 255. London, 1881, 8vo.
*» See Rev. Canon
Scott visited Glenda-
'9 Edited by Drs. Todd and'Reeves, pp.
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 93
a Killeven, in the barony of Dartry, and county of Monaghan. 20 But, it is doubtful, if it have any relation with this saint, more than an apparent affinity with the first-named local denomination. In the posthumous List of Colgan's
Manuscripts, the Acts of a St. Alphinus had been prepared for publication, at thisdate. 21 HemaypossiblybeidenticalwiththepresentSt. AffineorAiffen.
Article III. —St. Glunshalaich, or Glunsialach, of Midh- luachair. [SixthorSeventhCentury. '] Herewefindaremarkableinstance of God's goodness and mercy towards his creatures. At first, the present saint appears to have been guilty of very grievous crimes, which obliged him to avoid intercourse with society, and to shun the haunts of honest men. At last, the grace of God touched his heart, and he resolved to abandon all his evil courses. On the 3rd of June, we find entered, in the Martyrology of
20
See a notice about St. Laobhan, at the
1 the name of
Glunshalaich;
but, he is somewhat described differently
Tallagh, elsewhere. This
the O'Clerys. 3
Conall Cearnach. In the posthumous list of Colgan's Manuscripts, it would
seem, that the Acts of St. Glunsalahus had been prepared for publication at
the 3rd of June. -* This day, likewise, the Martyrology of Donegal s records
the name of Glunsalach, a famous outlaw, who was on the highway of Midh-
lauchhair, for a long time committing all sorts of injuries. The Slighe Midh-
lauchra 6 led as a road from Teamhair or Tara to the north of Ireland, but its
exact hasnotbeendetermined. 7 At theoutlawresolvedinmind position length,
to turn from his misdeeds. He went to Caoimghin,8 and made a confession to him. Afterwards, the penitent remained with him until his death, so that he was sanctified. He was buried, as we are told, with Caoimghin in his church. Thus^ he went to heaven, on account of his great sacrifices of self for God's sake. This was his festival day, as it was also that of St. Kevin.
ArticleIV. —St. BranduibhorBrandubh,Bishop. Ifoursucceed-
ing conjecture be right, the present holy man flourished in the sixth age. Where he exercised the episcopal office does not appear to be known ; but, it was probably in some part of southern Leinster. He seems to have been a native of that district. The name Brandubh, Episcopus, occurs in the
*
at the 3rd of June. It seems possible, that he may have been that holy Bishop Brandubh, who came from Hy-Kinsellagh, to
Martyrology of Tallagh
I44> US-
5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 144, 145.
6
It is said to have been first discovered, together with four other principal roads, on the night of the birth of King Conn of the Hundred Battles. See Roderick O'Flaherty's "Ogygia," pars hi. , cap. lx. , p. 314.
7 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (n), p. 104.
1st of this month, Art. iv. Also, Evelyn "
Philip Shirley's
Monaghan," chap, xi. , p. 335.
be Glunsalach, son to Costamhail, of Sliabh 2 state Fuaid,
may
If such be the case, he belonged to the race of Irial, son to
History of the County of
" See "Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, ordine Mensium et Die- rum. "
Article hi. — x
Kelly, p. xxvi.
Edited by Rev. Dr.
8
whose Life is set forth in Art. i. , on this
a TheFews Mountains, at Armagh.
3 See " The Martyrology of Donegal," edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
144,145. .
* See "Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, ordine Mensium et Die-
rum. "
The celebrated Abbot of Glendalough,
day. — Article iv.
*
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxvi.
2 See his Life, at the 17th of February,
vol. ii. of this work, Art. i.
3 The published Life of St. Fintan states
g4 LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 3.
visit St. Fintan 2 of Clonenagh, while he was sojourning at Achadh Finglass, near Old Leighlin, and who by his advice assumed the monastic habit there, in the sixth century. When Fintan's death became known to the Bishop who remained at Achad-Finglass, he told the brethren, that the day of his own decease was at hand. A short time afterwards,3 the Bishop's servant saw in his sleep a certain window opened in the cell of this venerable master, with seven men approaching it, clothed in white garments, and surrounded with a
great light. One of these was heard, calling out in a loud voice
:
" Come
forth, O holy Bishop, and delay not, for we are sent by God to meet your soul, as had been promised. Behold, Fintan of wonderful sanctity cometh to thee. " Hereupon awaking, the servant struck a light, and he then proceeded towards that cell, in which Brandubh lay. There, he was found lifeless. His servant related these foregoing circumstances to the brethren, who, having paid the last rites of sepulture to the holy man's body, gave glory to God, for those wonders wrought through his saints. * This day was venerated, accord- ing to the Martyrology of Donegal,5 Brandubh, Bishop. Thecompilers state, that he may be Brandubh, the Bishop, son of Maenach, who descended from the race of Mac Con, son to Macniadh, King of Erin. He belonged to the race of Lughaidh, son to Ith. The Natalis of a certain saint, called son to Cruaden, occurs, although his own proper name is suppressed. St. Brandubh's
father that "
might possibly
have been called 6 rather believes, Cruaden, yet, Colgan
post
tres menses " should be substituted, instead of the
readings already
—n; and, then, we should be brought to the 13th 7 give
8
—more
correctly
the
3rd ofJune.
Article V. —St. Cronanus, or Mochua. {Sixth and Seventh Cen- turies^ There is a St. Cronan's name, at the 3rd day of June, in the
of Irish O'Sullevan Beare. 1 We Saints, published by
anonymous Catalogue
have already alluded to him, as a tanner of St. Kevin's community, and under
the illustrious he seems to have lived, while that trade. 3 He patron practising
was a holy and pious man, who built a renowned cell to the Lord. Although he departed—according to the prophecy of St. Kevin—on the 3rd June, it
was on a year subsequent to the decease of his spiritual superior. A festival, in honour of a St. Mochua, is registered, on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal. 3 ThisisonlyanotherformofSt. Cronan'sname.
ArticleVI. —UaTrianlugha. WefindintheMartyrologyofDone-
to Ua 2 Marianus is Trianlugha.
1 that veneration was
on this quoted, as an authority for this insertion.
gal,
"expletis duabus septimanis a morte S.
Fintani;" the Book of the Island has it, "in-
venit sanctum Episcopum emissere spiritum
expletis tribus diebus a morte S. Fintani ;
while the Salamancan Manuscript states,
" tribus hebdomadibus a morte Fin- expletis
Between the 17th of February and the 13th of June, twelve weeks, or three lunar
months, intervene.
' This was the Natalis of St. Brandubh,
Bishop, according to the Martyrology of Tal-
given
day
6
lagh.
tani, &c. The latter reading is rather ^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xvii.
the name Brandubh cannot be found applied to any
approved, by Colgan
; for,
he
says,
n. — Februarii, 24, p. 354.
Article v.
saint, in our Irish Martyrologies, and whose licse Ibernias Compendium," tomus i. , lib.
festival occurred three days, or even twc weeks, after the 17th of February.
See "Historic Catho- iv. , cap. xi. , xii. , p. 50.
4 See
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
present 3rd.
volume of this
work,
Art.
i. , June
nise," xvii. , Februarii. Vita S. Fintani, cap.
xx. , pp. 352, 353.
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 144, 145-
3
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
3
See Life of St. Kevin, chap, iv. , in the
'
146, 147.
Article VI. —* Edited by Drs. Todd
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
3I ? Now Kilcashel, in the Parish of Castle- macadam.
318 Or the Church of St. Biccsech. Tt lies near Arklow, and it was written Kilbixi, in later documents.
319 It is written Donaghrie, in the " Re-
"
of Archbishop Alan, and it was situated, near Arklow.
320 OrCelltamlamcha,nowunknown.
321 This was the Cillfiomnaighe of the
Irish Calendar, and stated to be situated in
Ui-Feuechlais, the modern Barony of Ark- low.
pertorium Viride
;;
in
abbey Glendalough opulent temporal possessions
tinct and 32Q
we after the time of St. the find, Kevin,
Arklow
[June 3
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 89
ries succeeding St. Kevin's time, Glendalough is often mentioned, with its more renowned bishops, abbots, and clerics, in the Irish Annals. 331 The city began to decline in the twelfth century ; when it became the prey of robbers and depredators. 332 In 1214, 333 we are told, that through the then dominant English influence, the See of Glendalough was annexed to that of Dublin. The hardy sons of the mountain long resisted the annexation, and persisted for
"
the Bishopric of the two Lakes," as an independent ecclesiastical jurisdiction. On the 30th of May, a. d. 1479, it was at length surrendered,334 in the Cathedral of St. Patrick, Dublin. Some churches—especially in the Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough—have been erectedtocommemoratethisillustriousabbotandpatronsaint. Severalother memorials to honour him remain. In the city of Dublin, a parish was for- merly dedicated to St. Kevin. Within it were a church and a cemetery. Not far from the latter, in modern times, has been erected a fine Gothic church. 335 Around this, as a nucleus, has grown a great increase of houses and inhabi- tants. Adistricthadbeendefined,byHisEminence,CardinalPaulCullen,
Archbishop of Dublin, to mark the outlines of the new Catholic Parish of St. Kevin. Close beside this church are the spacious and well-attended schools of the Christian Brothers, also rejoicing in the patronage of St. Kevin. A street in the city of Dublin is also called St. Kevin's, while a holy well, dedicated to him was known as St. Kevin's well. 336 In the county of Wick- low, some modern Catholic churches and chapels have been dedicated to St. Kevin; but,it isdifficulttoprocureanexactlistofsucherections. 33? Atthe entrance to the Glen of the Downs, and at the right hand side of the road proceeding southwards, springs a well, 338 formerly called Tubber nabrin. This is reputed holy. 33^ Before the commencement of this century, a patron 3-t° used to be held there, each 3rd day of June, 241 which is the Feast Day of St. Kevin. InScotland,aswellasinIreland,thissaintwasheldingreatvene-
more than two centuries longer, in retaining
of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glen-
Architects.
336 In the kitchen of Mr. Donegan, a
butcher, living at the corner of Montague-
street, in the Parish of St. Nicholas, there is
a stone trough, formerly belonging to St. Kevin's well, and which was within the yard of that house.
337 One of the succursal of Rath- chapels
drum Parish had been dedicated to St. Kevin, during the lifetime of the former vene- rated pastor, the Rev. Richard Galvin, P. P.
338 It is still a great place of resort for pic- nic parties, and the scene around is one of Ware, vol. i. , ''Bishops of Glendalough," the most romantic spots in the county of Wicklow, so very celebrated for its charming
dalough," p. 8.
339 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
"
Bishops of
Glendalough," p. 372.
330 See a pretty full annalistic account of
Glendalough, in Archdall's " Monasticon Hibernicum," pp. 765 to 771.
331 See Dr.
the Four Masters," vol. vii. rum, at Gleann-da-locha, p. 64.
to ecclesiastical and
340 After its popular discontinuance, Mrs. Latouche, formerly a Miss Vickers, used to regale her friends and the children of her schools at the place. Two tents, with a band of music, were available, while the children danced and otherwise amused themselves.
341 Such is the substance of that informa- tion, given to the writer, several years ago by
Mrs. A. O'Byrne's p. 100.
John
O'Donovan's " Annals of Index Loco- Glendalough,
332 According to the Papal Legate John Papiron. See his account of it in Harris*
PP- 376, 377-
333 By a patent, dated the 30th of July
views.
339 The country people formerly drank the
during this year, King John granted to the
Archbishop
the episcopal See of Glendalough, and the lands thereunto belonging, together with the
abbey ; but, reserving to the Abbot Thomas his tenements, to wit, half a cantred, he to hold the same during life from the Arch- bishop. See Archdall's "Monasticon Hiber-
nicum," p. 770.
334 As we are informed, by Friar Denis
White, " the last who held it in oppositi—on
of Dublin and to his successors
water of this — as a cure for "holy well,"
"
regal authority. " Saints of Ireland,"
during her earliest
335 Designed by Messrs. Pugin and Ashlin,
" the shakes " we presume the ague.
a old very
who
woman,
days resided in this neighbourhood.
342 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 302.
go LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 3.
ration. 342 The remains ofa religious edifice, dedicated to and called after St. Coivin (Kevin) are on the lands of Ballyshean. 343 There is also Kilchevin and Kilcowan. 344 A remarkable salutation to St. Kevin, in the Irish lan- guage, is found in the Drummond Castle Missal. 345
We should have rather chosen to dwell on the personal biographical actions and characteristics of St. Kevin, than on the numberless legends that are told in reference to him. However, one of the most learned and accom- plished contributors to Catholic literature in our language 346 has called special attention to truths, which are often to be found in supposed legends, and to the mode or consideration, which must be observed, in a correct process of investigation. 347 These legends are not to be confounded with fables. Nor have they been generally written, with any intention of deceiving pious Catholics, or other persons, without the pale of our Church. There are in- stances on record, indeed, when foolish and designing men undertook the forging or falsification of documents or evidence ; and, perhaps, in particu- lar cases, this had been done through some distorted moral motives. 348 Le Clerc, better known by his literary name, Clericus, observes, that school themes were sometimes drawn, from the Acts of Martyrs, in past times, as exercises have been written, in our own day, and even more remotely,? 43 from some classical subject. In such cases, however, no profession of writing exact history was made by students ; no more than the historical novelist or historical playwright desires to impose his fictitious narratives on the reader for facts, although he may wish, neither to contradict history, nor to stray far from its probabilities. In the primitive and mediaeval times of our Church, writers were usually ecclesiastics or monks, and education had been chiefly derived, through monastic sources. Hence, religious subjects had a special interest for both master and pupil ; and, among those, no species of composi- tion met with greater favour than the compilation of Acts, which included legends, referring to Martyrs and other great Saints.
Article II. —St. Affine, Effinus, or Iiffen, of Cill Aiffein, or
Killaffan, County of Wicklow. [Probably Sixth or Seventh Century^ *
This day, the Martyrology of Tallagh simply enters Affine, at the 3rd of June. His locality is not even mentioned, in this record. In an Irish Life ofSt. Kevin,3 it is stated,thatSt. EffinusorIfinus3 hadaconvent4 ofmonks,
s43 Near the mansion of Mr. Macdonald. which reference is made in the text, is en- See "New Statistical Account of Scot- titled, "The Truth of supposed Legends land," Argyleshire, p. 429, and "Origines and Fables," pp. 235 to 286. This learned
Parochiales Scotia:," pars ii. , p. 9,
3*4 See " Old Statistical Survey of Scot-
Also "Origines Parochiales Scotise," pars, ii. , p. It.
article is declared to have been taken by shorthand. The first 8vo volume of these Essays was published at London, 1865.
*** Thus, we have an account, regarding a Priest, who wrote false Acts of St. Paul, as furnished by Tertullian. The delinquent, as a consequence, had been suspended from the exercise of his sacred ministry.
land," vol. x. , p. 536.
3*s See Preface to the Arbuthnott Missal,
p. xxxiii. Also Bishop Forbes' dars of Scottish Saints," p. 302.
"
Kalen-
346 His Eminence^Cardinal Nicholas Wise-
man, formerly Archbishop
ofWestminster.
349 As in — times, when Pagan
Juvernal
347 " on and Litera- See Essays Religion
ture," by various writers, Edited by his Grace the Most Rev. Henry E. Manning, D. D. ,ArchbishopofWestminster. These Essays were prepared for the Academia of the Catholic Religion, established in 1861, at London, by Cardinal Wiseman, and which had been affiliated to the Roman Academia. A contribution of the illustrious founder, to
says •*
of Hanibal
:
Idemens et saevas curre per Alpes Utpuerisplaceasetdeclamatiofias. "
— Kelly, xxvi.
3
Article ii.
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Preserved as a Manuscript in the Lib- rary of Trinity College, Dublin, and classed
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 91
at Killeffin, under St. Kevin ; and, in it, two legends are given connected with his churc—h. The latter of these is thus rendered into English, by John
O'Donovan
St. Kevinhadaconventofmonks. Theyaskedentertainmentfromthem, but the convent had no food. For that reason, St. Kevin and inmates of the conventbecameverymuchashamed. Ithappened,however,thatasmall quantity of seed remained ; yet, this not being sufficient to entertain the
strangers, St. Kevin bethought him of an expedient, to prevent his getting the
"
3 The Irish form of his name is Aiffen. See
:
One minstrels came with their day,
harps
s
to where Killeffin,
name of He sent a being inhospitable.
of the monks to 6 in which dig plots,
party
the small quantity of seed they had might be sown, and in order that the pro-
duce might be prepared for the strangers' dinner towards evening. In the meantime, St. Kevin himself and another party of the monks remained to entertain the minstrels, and to kill time by kind and friendly conversation ; but, this was of no avail to them, for the minstrels began pressingly to demand refreshments. These not being at hand, they took their leave of St. Kevin against his will, muttering their disapprobation, because the convent had not
satisfied their requirements. 7 The legend relates, furthermore, that the seed, which St. Kevin had sown at Killeffin, grew up before evening, and of its
the monks were fed that same
land is more fertile around Our Lady's Church than any other in the valley ; wherefore, it is thought to be more than probable, that it is the Kill Effin above
produce
night.
mentioned. 9 It is thought by Miss Stokes,10 that Tempul Muire " or Our 12
Lady's Church, at Glendalough, is older than Trinity Church. Although Tempul Muire appears to have been constructed with more knowledge of
art, than the other buildings at Glendalough, over one hundred years ago it was almost in ruins. At the east end was an arch of hewn stone, exactly
similartothatoftheCathedral. ^ Agranitedoorwayofadmirably-chiselled
H. 4, 4.
"
484.
I0 See " Notes on Irish Architecture," by
Edwin, third Earl of Dunraven, part i. , p. 102.
" A beautiful autograph is presented of
Notes on Irish Architecture," by Edwin,
third Earl of Dunraven, edited by Miss written in April, 1840, sect. 4, pp. 483,
Stokes, part i. , p. 102.
4 The word in the original is Coirh-
cionob.
5 In the legend it is cruits.
6 The word in the original is cappachs.
7 Afterwards, St. Kevin, is said to have the doorway of this church, all mantled
prayed, that the harps which they bore might round with the ivy on its gable. See ibid. , be turned into stones; and, when they p. 101.
were crossing a river, which lies to the south I2 The accompanying illustration is from a of the church, their harps were metamor- sketch taken on the site, by William F. phosed into stones, and they fell into the
stream. There they remained in the ford, underthefeetofall,fromthatdaytothetime of the written legend.
8Weare that told,
the
ofSt. Kevin,statesthisoccurrence,i—nthe inchesinlength,andfourteeninchesand
Solomon, following translation of an Irish Rann
threecourses thelintelisfivefeetsix only ;
"
The seed which was sown in the morn
At Kill Effin of divine prosperity, Of its produce flourishing at night
Sages were respectively fed.
"
9 See "Letters containing Information re- lative to the Antiquities of the County of Wicklow, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1838," vol. i. John
disciple :
the door is six feet four in height, two feet six in width at top, and two feet ten at bottom a kind of architrave is
;
marked round the door six inches broad, and
in the bottom of the lintel an ornament is
wrought in a cross resembling the flyer of a stamping press. The walls are carried up
with hewn stone, in general of a large size, to about the height of the door, and the re- mainder are of the rude moun—tain rag-stone,
"
but laid incomparably well. " Monasticon
Hibernicum," p. 774.
8 There is more and the tillage,
Valley of Glenda- lough, present Remains and Features men- tioned in the Life of the Patron St.
Kevin,"
O'Donovan's Essay
Wakeman, and it has been engraved by Mrs. Millard.
'3 Sostates Archdall,whothusdescribes "
some of its features
:
— The door consists of
a-half in
depth
;
9 2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 3.
stones ** has a lintel carved with a double moulding in the architrave, while on its soffit is an ornamental saltier-wise cross. 15 Including the lintel, the massive stones of this doorway are only seven in number, and they are all there the thickness of the wall, which measures three feet. 16 Like the ancient
Egyptians, who preferred perpendicular supports and horizontal imposts 1
although acquainted with the principle of the arch, ? the old Irish builders
Teampul Muire, or Our Lady's Church, Glendalough.
seem to have preferred the square-headed doorway, in the oldest of their churches. OurLady'sChurchwasgreatlyovergrownwithtrees,thornsandivy. Ihese were beginning to break it up, but they have been cleared away, while a breach in the north wall of the nave has been repaired. No architectural feature of this church survives intact, except its noble western doorway. 18 1 here was a mass of fallen masonry at the east end of the nave. Ruins filled the chancel. Some of the rubbish has been cleared away, during the late restorations, and the walls have been repaired. A festival in honour of Aiffen of Cill Aiffein—now Killaffan—near Gleann-da-loch, is entered in the Martyrology of Donegal,*9 as having been celebrated on this day. There is
** A beautiful and clear woodcut of this
doorway and of the surrounding walls isgiven in Dr. Petrie's work, at p. 170.
* A woodcut illustration is also furnished, at p. 171.
18 There are detailed admeasurements of
the doorway by John O'Donovan, in
"Letters containing Information relative to
the Antiquities of the County of Wicklow,
collected the of the Ord- during Progress
nance Survey in 1838," vol. i. See Essay "Valley of Glendalough, present Remains and Features mentioned in the Life of the Patron St. Kevin," sect. 4, p. 481. Also a
rough drawing in ink of Our Lady's Church at Glendalough, is given there, by William F. Wakeman, at p. 482.
,6 When Sir Walter
lough in 1825, lie sat for a considerable time before this doorway, and he expressed admiration of and wonder at its ancient character.
George Rawlinson's "History of Ancient Egypt," vol. i. , chap,
vn. , p. 255. London, 1881, 8vo.
*» See Rev. Canon
Scott visited Glenda-
'9 Edited by Drs. Todd and'Reeves, pp.
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 93
a Killeven, in the barony of Dartry, and county of Monaghan. 20 But, it is doubtful, if it have any relation with this saint, more than an apparent affinity with the first-named local denomination. In the posthumous List of Colgan's
Manuscripts, the Acts of a St. Alphinus had been prepared for publication, at thisdate. 21 HemaypossiblybeidenticalwiththepresentSt. AffineorAiffen.
Article III. —St. Glunshalaich, or Glunsialach, of Midh- luachair. [SixthorSeventhCentury. '] Herewefindaremarkableinstance of God's goodness and mercy towards his creatures. At first, the present saint appears to have been guilty of very grievous crimes, which obliged him to avoid intercourse with society, and to shun the haunts of honest men. At last, the grace of God touched his heart, and he resolved to abandon all his evil courses. On the 3rd of June, we find entered, in the Martyrology of
20
See a notice about St. Laobhan, at the
1 the name of
Glunshalaich;
but, he is somewhat described differently
Tallagh, elsewhere. This
the O'Clerys. 3
Conall Cearnach. In the posthumous list of Colgan's Manuscripts, it would
seem, that the Acts of St. Glunsalahus had been prepared for publication at
the 3rd of June. -* This day, likewise, the Martyrology of Donegal s records
the name of Glunsalach, a famous outlaw, who was on the highway of Midh-
lauchhair, for a long time committing all sorts of injuries. The Slighe Midh-
lauchra 6 led as a road from Teamhair or Tara to the north of Ireland, but its
exact hasnotbeendetermined. 7 At theoutlawresolvedinmind position length,
to turn from his misdeeds. He went to Caoimghin,8 and made a confession to him. Afterwards, the penitent remained with him until his death, so that he was sanctified. He was buried, as we are told, with Caoimghin in his church. Thus^ he went to heaven, on account of his great sacrifices of self for God's sake. This was his festival day, as it was also that of St. Kevin.
ArticleIV. —St. BranduibhorBrandubh,Bishop. Ifoursucceed-
ing conjecture be right, the present holy man flourished in the sixth age. Where he exercised the episcopal office does not appear to be known ; but, it was probably in some part of southern Leinster. He seems to have been a native of that district. The name Brandubh, Episcopus, occurs in the
*
at the 3rd of June. It seems possible, that he may have been that holy Bishop Brandubh, who came from Hy-Kinsellagh, to
Martyrology of Tallagh
I44> US-
5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 144, 145.
6
It is said to have been first discovered, together with four other principal roads, on the night of the birth of King Conn of the Hundred Battles. See Roderick O'Flaherty's "Ogygia," pars hi. , cap. lx. , p. 314.
7 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (n), p. 104.
1st of this month, Art. iv. Also, Evelyn "
Philip Shirley's
Monaghan," chap, xi. , p. 335.
be Glunsalach, son to Costamhail, of Sliabh 2 state Fuaid,
may
If such be the case, he belonged to the race of Irial, son to
History of the County of
" See "Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, ordine Mensium et Die- rum. "
Article hi. — x
Kelly, p. xxvi.
Edited by Rev. Dr.
8
whose Life is set forth in Art. i. , on this
a TheFews Mountains, at Armagh.
3 See " The Martyrology of Donegal," edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
144,145. .
* See "Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, ordine Mensium et Die-
rum. "
The celebrated Abbot of Glendalough,
day. — Article iv.
*
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxvi.
2 See his Life, at the 17th of February,
vol. ii. of this work, Art. i.
3 The published Life of St. Fintan states
g4 LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 3.
visit St. Fintan 2 of Clonenagh, while he was sojourning at Achadh Finglass, near Old Leighlin, and who by his advice assumed the monastic habit there, in the sixth century. When Fintan's death became known to the Bishop who remained at Achad-Finglass, he told the brethren, that the day of his own decease was at hand. A short time afterwards,3 the Bishop's servant saw in his sleep a certain window opened in the cell of this venerable master, with seven men approaching it, clothed in white garments, and surrounded with a
great light. One of these was heard, calling out in a loud voice
:
" Come
forth, O holy Bishop, and delay not, for we are sent by God to meet your soul, as had been promised. Behold, Fintan of wonderful sanctity cometh to thee. " Hereupon awaking, the servant struck a light, and he then proceeded towards that cell, in which Brandubh lay. There, he was found lifeless. His servant related these foregoing circumstances to the brethren, who, having paid the last rites of sepulture to the holy man's body, gave glory to God, for those wonders wrought through his saints. * This day was venerated, accord- ing to the Martyrology of Donegal,5 Brandubh, Bishop. Thecompilers state, that he may be Brandubh, the Bishop, son of Maenach, who descended from the race of Mac Con, son to Macniadh, King of Erin. He belonged to the race of Lughaidh, son to Ith. The Natalis of a certain saint, called son to Cruaden, occurs, although his own proper name is suppressed. St. Brandubh's
father that "
might possibly
have been called 6 rather believes, Cruaden, yet, Colgan
post
tres menses " should be substituted, instead of the
readings already
—n; and, then, we should be brought to the 13th 7 give
8
—more
correctly
the
3rd ofJune.
Article V. —St. Cronanus, or Mochua. {Sixth and Seventh Cen- turies^ There is a St. Cronan's name, at the 3rd day of June, in the
of Irish O'Sullevan Beare. 1 We Saints, published by
anonymous Catalogue
have already alluded to him, as a tanner of St. Kevin's community, and under
the illustrious he seems to have lived, while that trade. 3 He patron practising
was a holy and pious man, who built a renowned cell to the Lord. Although he departed—according to the prophecy of St. Kevin—on the 3rd June, it
was on a year subsequent to the decease of his spiritual superior. A festival, in honour of a St. Mochua, is registered, on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal. 3 ThisisonlyanotherformofSt. Cronan'sname.
ArticleVI. —UaTrianlugha. WefindintheMartyrologyofDone-
to Ua 2 Marianus is Trianlugha.
1 that veneration was
on this quoted, as an authority for this insertion.
gal,
"expletis duabus septimanis a morte S.
Fintani;" the Book of the Island has it, "in-
venit sanctum Episcopum emissere spiritum
expletis tribus diebus a morte S. Fintani ;
while the Salamancan Manuscript states,
" tribus hebdomadibus a morte Fin- expletis
Between the 17th of February and the 13th of June, twelve weeks, or three lunar
months, intervene.
' This was the Natalis of St. Brandubh,
Bishop, according to the Martyrology of Tal-
given
day
6
lagh.
tani, &c. The latter reading is rather ^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xvii.
the name Brandubh cannot be found applied to any
approved, by Colgan
; for,
he
says,
n. — Februarii, 24, p. 354.
Article v.
saint, in our Irish Martyrologies, and whose licse Ibernias Compendium," tomus i. , lib.
festival occurred three days, or even twc weeks, after the 17th of February.
See "Historic Catho- iv. , cap. xi. , xii. , p. 50.
4 See
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
present 3rd.
volume of this
work,
Art.
i. , June
nise," xvii. , Februarii. Vita S. Fintani, cap.
xx. , pp. 352, 353.
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 144, 145-
3
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
3
See Life of St. Kevin, chap, iv. , in the
'
146, 147.
Article VI. —* Edited by Drs. Todd
June 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
