The townland of coast, near to and west of the River Moy,
was their church of Foreland, where these
holy daughters were buried.
was their church of Foreland, where these
holy daughters were buried.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
'^' The sons of Amhalghaidh were disputing about the sovereignty.
''** These would not admit any man, as king over them, with a surname.
Aengus, who was the proudest among them, imposed additional names upon his brothers.
These went to Tara, in twelve chariots,'''3 to have a decision of the matters in dispute ; and, there they were welcomed, by the King of Tara.
'''-^ Aengus happened to be a foster-son to Laeghaire, and he received a special welcome, at the court.
Aengus prayed the door-keepers, that they would not admit his nephew Conal], who was tlie son of Enna Drom, into the fort ; for, Aengus fearfed his wisdom and skill, in arguing for his right, and Aengus obtained this request, from the door-keepers.
As Conall was outside the lias, he heard thesoundofPatrick'sbell,whichrangatTober-Patrick.
'^s Thiswell,most likely was that one, also called Leagh and Loigleas,'-!
^ which lay to the west of Rath-na-Riogh,'47 the great fort, or royal residence.
Conall then ap-
St. Patrick and saluted him. " O cleric " said " do know ! he, you
proached
this expression, which I have in commeriioration, i. e.
clamant ad te pueri,' &c. , which two girls uttered in their mother's womb, in
our " I am to whom that said Patrick
" I heard and,
country. " he,
refers,"
;
'34 From this ancient territory, the present
barony of Tyrawley, in the county of Mayo, derives its denomination.
'35 He was the son of Fiachra, son of
Eochaidh Amhalgaidh.
'36 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
'•3 The Irish Tripartite Life adds : "sicut '37 Their names are to be found in "The in libris Patricii inventus, quod exirent in
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 126 to 129.
Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy- Fiachrach," edited by John O'Donovan.
He had eight sons, by Tresi, the daughter of Natfraoch, King of Munster, and sister to ^ngus. Those eight sons are thus named, viz. : Fedhlim, Eochaidh, Eunda, Conall, Aongus, Eoghan, Cormac and Corrdubh. Amalghaid, by a second wife, Earca, the daughter of Eochaidh, King of Leinster, had seven sons, viz. : Fergus, Cormac Ceann- foda, Colom, Seudna, Eochaidh, Aoldob- har, and Emeach.
judicium tamen vii. fratres de eis. " Nearly similar words are in the Latin Tripartite.
'4+ This and the following legendary ac- count will be found in the Irish and Latin
Tripartite Lives, and partially in the Life by Jocelyn.
'« This well was at Tara. There are
several wells mentioned, in the prose and
poetic descriptions of that place, as given in Dr. Petrie's Essay.
'*^ Tirechan, in the Book of Armagh, re- cords, that St. Patrick baptized St. Ere in it,
'3^See/W(/. , from pp. 5 to I7> and the after his conversion, and many thous. md
accompanying notes.
'39 The "Annals of the Four Masters,"
pp. 140, 141, record his death, at A. D. 449. See Dr. O'Donovan's edition.
'*° In his place, as if an ah'as, the Latin
men on the same day. See Dr. Petrie's
"
'*' The first forms of name are taken, from
Academy," vol. xviii.
'47 This most remarkable of the Forts at
Tara is indicated on Plates 6, 7.
'4^ The greater part of this territory now
Tripartite Life has
Eochadius alter. "
'
Hibernenses omnes
the Irish Tiipartite Life, and the second forms, from the Latin version,
''' The Irish Tripartite Life adds, twenty four tribes—i. e. old tribes—that were in the country, as if these were to be under their jurisdiction.
" and of Tara Hill," History Antiquities
p. 167. "Transactions of the Royal Irish
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 6u
it, when I was in the Islands of the Tyrrhene Sea, and I knew not whether within or without me these words were spoken, so that I shall go with you, into
your country to baptize, to teach, and to announce the Gospel. " Then the holy man asked for what reason Conall had come there, when he related the whole
case to Patrick. The latter ** Go in said,
now,
as the doors are
open
and,
;
go to my faithful friend, Eoghan Mac Neill, who will assist you, if you lay
hold, secretly, of the finger next his little finger, for such is always a sign
between us. " And so it was done. When the prince approached,
what is Patrick's wish ? Conall said, That
;
you assist me. " Conall afterwards observed, If it be according to youth,
precedenceinaking'shouseorlandistobegiven,Iamtheyoungest; if according to mother's age, Enna Cromm is the oldest. " To his remarks,
""""
Welcome," said Eoghan
*'
" Honor to the and converse with the senior, truly,
Laeghaire replied :
learned; but,ifjewelsandtreasuresaregiventoanyone,however,Iwillnot
deprive him of them. " Thus, Laeghaire, King of Tara, and his brother Eoghan, son of Niell, decided the dispute. It is said, however, that the
Monarch Laeghaire had treacherously instigated Aengus to kill St. Patrick andConall,whenallweresettingouttogetherfromTara. Inthisplot,too,
Aengus endeavoured to engage Fergus and FedhUmidh, afterwards, while on their journey. They went along, and Patrick with them ; while the latter gave his chariot to Conall, so that it was the thirteenth chariot, in their tra,in. On setting out, they went northwards, towards their country. That place, which Aengus had fixed for the fratricide, is said to have been in Corann. ^^s Fergus simulated sleep. His brothers refused, however, what had been proposed to
them. " We will not kill the said innocent,"
they,
brother. " Aengus went towards St. Patrick, however, intending to kill him ;
and, he was accompanied by two bands, and by two Druids, namely, Reon,'49 or Roen,'5o and Rechred,'5i or Rechet,'52 of the race of Faelan the Warrior. These lay in wait, not more than a mile from that place, whence St. Patrick first saw his enemies. A cross, from the west of Cross-Patrick to Cill-Forclann,
accuracy,atthepresentday; for,CrosPhadruic,or thecrossofPatrick,"still retainsitsoriginalname. '^s ThatofKill-Forclann'54isnowobsolete,andall traces of the church are removed j'ss but, the site was pointed out, not so very long ago, on a rising ground, about half a mile from Killala. 'ss The plot against our saint's life failed, however, while the Druids, Reon^57 and Rech- red,'58 were defeated, at Telach-na-Druadh. 'S9 The latter miserably perished,
designated the situation. These two places can be determined, with sufficient "
forms the barony of Corran, which is nearly in the centre of the County Sligo.
called. In 1831, the place was called Killy-
''*' So is he in the Irish called,
Tripartite. '5° Thus is he named, in the Latin Tripar-
'ss About sixty perches, to the left of the road, leading from this town to Palmers- town,
'S? The legend adds, how Reon said, that the ground should swallow Patrick, on the place where he should be seen. This was related to Patrick. " It is I, who shall see him first," said Patrick. When Patrick therefore saw Reon, the ground swallowed
" I will said he, "if I him up. believe,"
am rescued. " Then, the ground flung him up, until he was above the winds, and he fell down half alive.
'ss The legend tells us, that Rechred was also lifted up, and cast down violently, until his head was broken against the rock, and that fire from Heaven burned him.
tite.
'5' He is so called, in the Irish version of
the Tripartite.
'5= Thus is his name written, in the Latin
Tripartite Life. He is called Rochait, by Jocelyn.
•53 It is now that of a townland, contain- ing an ancient churchyard, with some traces
the latter place.
'54 It is said to have been east of Cross-
Patrick.
'55 The natives of this district stated, that
parts of the church walls were originally so
of church ruins. It is to situated,
the right of the road leading from Ballina to Killala, and it lies about one mile southwards, from
brone. levelled.
Then the church walls were totally
" and we will not our slay
6i2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 17.
but the former believed, and he was baptized. It is stated, too, that Feadelm, the daughter of Amhalgaidh, had died a long time before these events.
" I will
Apostle is recorded to have worked the wonderful miracle of raising her from
the dead, and of presenting Feadelm to her brother. In fear and astonish- ment, after those miracles, Aengus then asked the saint's pardon, for his past offences; he,too,believedandhewasafterwardsbaptized.
A blind man went in great haste, to meet St. Patrick, on hearing the wonder- ful miracles he wrought ;'^° for, the desire of being healed, from his infirmity, urged him. Having no guide, however, the bhnd man fell more than once.
"
My </^- broth"^^^ said the holy man, " it would be fitter that you were the blind person, thanhe,whoseeksaremedyfromtheSunofJustice. " Theblindmanwasthen healed,andtheclericbecameblind. Afterwards,thepersonrestoredpraised the Almighty for that favour conferred upon him. Ruan, or Roan, the son of Cucnamha, or Conchmamha, Amhalgaidh's charioteer, or servant, was the person healed, at Roi-Ruain, or Rae-Roain, which was the name of that place. Migna, or Midgna, was the name of that disciple who was blinded ; and, another disciple of St. Patrick, who was called Donnmalius, remained with him, leading the life of a hermit, in Disert-Patrick, near the well and church at Cross Patrick. Afterwards, in commemoration of the miracle wrought, Rae-Roain belonged to St. Patrick. The Blessed Apostle met two lame men,^^^ in Ochtar-Caerthin,'^3 or Huachtar Charthuinn. '^* They com- plained to him regarding their infirmity, for they found it difficult to proceed through the mountains or plains, where they were obliged to travel. These poor men moved Patrick to compassionate them, and they were healed. He tlien went to Domhnach-Mor, or Donaghmore,'^s where Bishop Mucna'^^ was placed, and where, too, he had been buried. ^^' He went, aftenvards, to Cross-Patrick, where a noble, named Aedh Fota, or " the tall," who was son of Eochaidh, son of Oengus, came to him ; and, Patrick healed him from lameness, at a fountain, to the west of Cross-Patrick. In gratitude for the favour he received, Aedh presented to Patrick a plot of land there, on which hefoundedachurchorresidence. Helefttwoofhisfamilythere,likewise, viz. : Teloc'^^ and Nemnall, or Domnald. '^^ The great success of the Irish
Apostle had excited the envy and hatred of the Magi, who found therein theirpopularityandinfluenceonthewane. Findingtheycouldnotoppose him publicly, a number of them conspired to lie in wait for him, while he
Then, Aengus said,
believe,
if sister be resuscitated. " The Irish my
Thoughtlessly enough, one of St. Patrick's people laughed at him.
'S9 The Druid's rock is there, and near it
there was a church, at Cross-Patrick, which was eastwards from Telach-na-Druadh.
^layo. See John O'Donovan's " Genea-
logics. Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiach-
rach," n. (d), p. 466.
''* He is also called and he is Muicin,
thought to have been venerated, on the 4th of March,
'*7 He is said to have been the patron
saint of Maighin, or Moyne, near Killala.
At Moyne, a great abbey was afterwards erected .
'<'* His name is vaguely conjectured, by Colgan, to agi-ee with that of Tolan, of Disert Tola, whose feast occurs, at the 30th
of March, or with that of Tellean, of Tegli- Telle, venerated at the 25th of June,
'^^ No attempt, at identification, has been made, under this form, in the Latin Tripar- tite, nor in that preceding, as found in the Irish version,
between to the Irish Tripartite Life.
them, according
Glas-Conaigh lay
"^ Jocelyn relates this stoiy, but in a
manner quite different from that of the Tri-
partite. See cap. cxxiv. , p. 93.
'*" ** As God is my judge," Colgan inter-
this which was a favourite expression,
prets
one with St. Patrick, when he made any solemn asseveration.
'*" The Irish Tripartite calls them bacac/is.
'*3 Thus is the place named, in the Irish Tripartite Life. Its identification does not
appear.
'** Thus is the name found, in the Latin
Tripartite Life.
"s It is found, in the parish of Killala,
and barony of Tyrawley, and county of
'7° Jocelyn tells us, that those Magi as*
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 613
was in the region of Tyrawley. Here a snare was contrived for his destruc- tion. ^70 But, Enna'71 saw that the Druids or Magi wished to murder St.
and to
" of the Hilltop
the sons of Amal- King
prevent
their he said to his son " Go and designs, Conall,
Patrick,
protect Patrick, that the Magi may not kill him. " '7^ The holy man per- ceived them, but a Heavenly Power protected him, for ethereal fire burned those Magi, to the number of nine. '^a Thus, was Patrick triumphant, over
the plots of his persecutors.
Traversing that region, the holy man journeyed towards the ocean, where
the fish-abounding Moy opens into Killala Bay. Here, he wished to establish
a See. He then founded Kilmore-Moy,'74 or Cill-Alaidh, now Killala,'7S over which he placed, as bishop, St. Muredach,^? ^ one of his illustrious
disciples, who belonged to the race of Laeghaire, son of Niall, the King of all Ireland. Here, too, Patrick baptized two celebrated virgins, that called
upon him, in the region of Caille-Fochladh,^77 firom their mother's womb, and while he was in the Islands of the Tyrrhene Sea. Those virgins'^s were Crebrea and Lasra^79 or Lassara,'^° the two daughters of Glerann,'^' son of Cummen,'^^ or Cumine. They are patronesses of Cill-Forglainn, or Kill-fhor- clann,'^3inHy-AmhalghaidhorTirawley,tothewestoftheMuaidh. There, the relics of those holy sisters were preserved, and with a special devotion.
"
the tribe Mac Amalgaidh," which was the ancient name of MuUaghfarry, or
St. Patrick went to Forrach-mac-Amalghaidh, or
the assembly-ground of
near Killala. '^•^
gaidh, with their subjects, had been assembled, at a great public convention.
Then, our glorious Apostle seized on this great opportunity, for announcing the Gospel of Christ, and for unsheathing the sword of the spirit, against those errors of idolatry that abounded. ^^^ The Lord helped him with signs and miracles. One day, coming to a place called Fearta, he found two women dead. The bodies lay buried on a hillside. '^^ Invoking the name
Assembly,"
Here,
'^'
Jocelyn does not otherwise name them, '^^ Thus is the name spelled, in the Irish
'? ' He was the son of Amalgaidh.
'72 Jocelyn says, that Conuall entered in the Latin Tripartite Life. Nennius is the
sumed white hoods, the more readily to deceive St. Patrick.
among the Magi, but only to finistrate their
designs.
'" Jocelyn tells us, that by his making a
sign of the cross there, a healing fountain
sprung from the ground.
'7* Sometimes this See was known as that
of Tir-Amalgaid, or of Hy-Fiachra-mui.
'75 In the barony of Tyrawley, and county
of Mayo.
'7* His feast occurs, at the 12th of August.
name, however, as given by the Scholiast on St. Fiach's Hymn, n. 15/, p. 5.
'^^ in Dr. O'Donovan's correspondence
from Mayo, June 2nd, 1838, he identifies the site of its church rums, although the
building had long disappeared. His interest- ing account is contained, in the Ordnance
Survey Memoirs, regarding the county of Mayo, as now preserved in the Royal Irish
'77 The Scholiast on St. Fiach
on Caille Fochlaidh, towards the north, and
in a maritime situation, on the Connaught Addenda P. , p. 466.
The townland of coast, near to and west of the River Moy,
was their church of Foreland, where these
holy daughters were buried. See nn. 15/,
16 q, p. 5.
that
'78 Their feasts do not seem to have been distinguished, in our Calendars. "St. Patrick and the Children of Fochlut Wood," by Aubrey De Vere, is a poem, that appears among "The Legends of St. Patrick," pp. 60 to 82.
'79 So is she called, in the Irish Tripartite. By the Scholiast on St. Fiach, she is named Lassia.
'^° The Latin Tripartite Life thus writes her name.
'^•* See
Tiibes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach.
states,
John
Genealogies, "
Tripartite Life. Cumine is the rendering,
Academy, at p. 235.
"
O'Donovan's
Farragh, within the parish of Ballisakeery, between Ballina and Killala, indicates the site. Tirechan spells the word Forrgea.
"
likewise there. See the correspondence of
John O'Donovan, Mayo, 17th May, 1838,
among the Ordnance Survey Memoirs for Mayo County, preserved in the Royal Irish Academy's Li—brary, p. 59.
'^^ Jocelyn apparently confounding the narrative as found in his sources for infor- mation—states, that a certain Magus, Ro- chait, by name, there I'ising up to oppose
St. Patrick's preaching, was destroyed by fire from Heaven.
Cnoc-a-tionol, or the
Hill of Meeting," is
6i4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
of Christ, at their tomb, he ordered the heap of earth to be removed, and he restored them again to Hfe. '^7 One of these women had been pregnant, at the time of her death. '^^ The story goes, that Patrick and Conall went to the grave, where the dead pregnant woman had been buried,^^? and they travelled, by the lower road leading to Cill-Alaidh. Aengus, however, went bytheupperroad. Whentheyhadreachedthegrave,Patrickresuscitatedthe woman,andherunbornson. Wearetold,moreover,thatbothwerebaptized, inthewell,whichwascalled,Aenadharca,'9°or"theone-hornedhill. "'9' These
miracles were wrought, at Killala church. Being resuscitated, she preached to the multitudes there assembled, regarding the pains of hell and the rewards of heaven. With tears, she prayed her brother, that he would beUeve on account ofGodandPatrick. Hecompliedwithherwishes,andhewasbaptized. On
**
that day, twelve thousand were baptized in Tobur-enadharch,'9^ or
of Aen-adherca," '93 with the seven sons of Amhalgaidh, including Enna,'9* and the king. '9S And, Patrick left Magister Manchen,'96 also called Mancenus,'97 or Manchan the Master,'98 with them. ^99 He was well versed in the Scriptures, and his knowledge of dogma and morals caused him to receivethespecialtitlebestowedonhim. Thesegreateventsarethought to have realized St. Patrick's dream of the wood, and of the converts, near Foclut. =°° It has been frequently asserted, that not one drop of human bloodwasshed,duringthepeacefulprogressofSt. Patrick'scareer. Never- theless, we cannot forbear to mention, the cheerful sacrifices which were madebyhim,inthecauseofrehgion. Tosuchperilousadventuresasthose already related, he doubtless alludes, in his Confessions, where he states : " I came to the Irish nation to preach the Gospel, and to endure reproach from unbelievers. I heard them upbraid me as a stranger, and I suffered many persecutions, even unto chains. Yet, I gave myself up, without re- serve, for their advantage. And, if I was held worthy, I am ready, imme- diately and cheerfully, to lay down my life for His name's sake. " He adds :
" I spent myself, that they might comprehend me ; and everywhere among you, I advanced for your sake in many dangers, into distant regions, where nobody before had ever come, to baptize them, or to ordain them, or to con- firm their people in the faith. Now, all these things I did, by the grace of God, diligently and cheerfully for your salvation. In the meantime, I was giving rewards to their kings and to their children, who remained along with me ; and, nevertheless they seized me, and in that day, they sought most
*^^
Such is the account, as contained in Crom had been nominated as Dynast of St. Patrick's Acts, b)' Jocelyn. See cap. Tyrawley, at this time.
Ixiii. , p. 79. '*? See ibid.
•^^
By Jocelyn, she is called Fedelina ; but, I know not on what authority. See cap. Ixiv. , p. 79.
'"9 Such is the account, in the Irish Tri- partite.
'5° It is called Tobur-en-adarc, in the Book of Armagh. See Rev. Dr. Todd's
195 Four different Catalogues of the Con-
naught kings place Amalghaidh, their father, as the first Christian king of that
province. Helived,too,aboutthetimeof St. Patrick, yet Colgan seems to doubt, if he be the convert here indicated, and not rather his son.
'9* If this were the St. Manchen, who lived to 652, he could not have been a con- temporary of St. Patrick. See Rev. Dr. Todd's " Life of St. Patrick," n. 4, p. 449.
''^ Thus is he named, by Jocelyn.
''* There are eleven saints, called Main- chen, mentioned in the O'CIery's Calendar. '" Nennius and other writers, very cir- cumstantially relate this great triumph of Christianity, in the west of Ireland. See,
Ussher's "Primordia," cap. xvii. , p. 865. '°° In his "Index Chronologicus,^' Ussher
^
"
Life of St. Patrick," p. 449, and n. 3.
'9' This well was named, from the little hillock of land, that was near it. The cause assigned for the name is not given, in Colgan's copy of the Tripartite.
'»'' So is it called in the Latin Tripartite,
and in an apparently older authority, Oen« adharca.
'93 So is it called, in the Irish Tripartite. '9* Some accounts have it» that Enda
the well
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 615
anxiouslytokillme,butmyhourwasnotyetcome. " Fromthisaccount,it appears, St. Patrick knew, that in some parts of Ireland, which he could not have called remote—such as the Eastern and Southern districts—the Christian religion had been announced and practised, before his time. It is
probable, in the foregoing passage, he alluded to Tyrawley,^°' especially as he had just before recalled the pleasing reminiscence of having baptized
there several thousand persons.
Then,hewent southwards, and to the fordof Lock-Daela,^°^ or Loch Deala,^°3
now Bally-LoughdaIla,^°4 in the parish of Ballysakeery. ^°3 This place was thepropertyofthedeceitfulAengus. Patrickintendedtofoundaresidence
there for himself; but, Aengus came quickly, when he saw the holy visitor, for
not sincerely did he believe, when he was baptized and had confessed the
*' "
faith. My debroth," said Patrick, 'twere right that thy houses should not
be exalted, nor thy descendants after thee. Thy successors shall be seldom just, and there shall be fratricide in thy family. " Then, St. Patrick went to the east, to Lec-finn,^°^ or Leac-fionnbaile,^°'' where Patrick inscribed a cross
on the stone over Cill-mor-uachtair-Muaidh,^°2 or " the great church of the Upper Moy," and towards the west. Afterwards, Lia-na-monach2°9 was the name it obtained. ^'" It is now shortened to Liag,^" and the place is situated on a hill,2'2 a short distance to the south of the old church of Kilmore-Moy. There he baptized Eochaidh,2^3 or Euchodius,^'+ son of Nathi, another form of the name Dathi, or David, son of Fiachra, and resuscitated his wife,^'S Echtra, at Ath-Echtra, the little stream at the very door of Cill-mor. This place was also called Feart Echtra. ^'^ The grave is still to be seen in a field, lying a short distance to the east of the old church of Kilmore-Moy. ^^7
places these events, at A. D. 434 ; but, it is most probable, they fell into a later year.
^°' See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiasti- cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect. xii. ,p. 253.
^°^ It is thus called, in the Irish Tripartite Life. The lough itself still retains the name. Its Anglicised form is Lough Dala.
120, 121.
^'°
It was called, likewise, Cruimther Monach's,orOlcan'schurch. TheTripar- tite Life calls him a disciple of St. Patrick. There is an Olcan in Tirechan's list, and also an Oltcan. Ussher makes Olcan a
See Dr. O'Donovan's "
and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," p. 281, n.
(t), and Addenda P. , p. 467, n. (i. )
'°3 So is it in the Latin
named, Tripartite.
from his studies in Gaul. See Primordia,"
*°* It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Mayo, Sheets 21, 22.
"
^°2 It lies, in the south-west part of Ty-
rawley barony. See ibid. , Sheets 21, 22,
29, 30. '°^
"
Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach,"
to the Irish
^°^ Thus is it written, in the Latin Tripar-
tite.
=^ Now known as a Kilmore-Moy, parish,
Addenda P. , p. 468, n. (k. )
*" Here and Archdall have incor- Colgan
rectly placed a monastery, founded by St. Patrick.
="3 He was called Eochaidh Breac, and
he was ancestor of the O'Shaughnessys,
O'Scanlans, O'Clerys, and OTIeynes.
*'* Thus is he named, by Jocelyn . In the Latin Tripartite Life, he is called Eocha-
According
Tripartite
Life.
Genealogies,
cap. xvii. , p. 951.
moy was certainly another person. See Olcan's Acts, at the 20th of February.
^" The name is to a rock, on applied
which a cross is sculptured within a circle, and to an ancient churchyard. All traces of the church, however, have disappeared.
extending into the baronies of Tireragh,
county Sligo, and in Tyrawley, county of
Mayo, containing the towns of Ballina and Ardnaree, i. e. "the hill of executions. "
See "Ordnance Survey To\\-nland Maps dius.
Tribes
The founder of Kilmor-
for the County of Mayo," Sheet 30 ; and *'5 As Jocelyn relates it, St. Patrick met "''
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Sligo," Sheets 22, 29.
chis postea possidentibus," &c. See, too, Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, xii. , pp. 252 to 256, and nn. ni, 112, 115, 118,
her corpse, borne on a vehicle, at quod- dam vadum in Connacia. " He also relates, that the husband's conversion, and that of his household, was in consequence of this
Qj. Echtra's grave. " "
''? See John O'Donovan's Genealogies,
^ The Latin Tripartite has it " a Mona-
bishop of Derkan, in Antrim, after his return "
See John O'Donovan's
Genealogies,
miracle. 216 <<
6i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 17.
Nearly opposite to it, there is a holy well, called Toberpatrick. Thus do Irish topographic names preserve the wondrous traditions of St. Patrick's travels. *'^
The Blessed Patrick sent Bishop 01can,=*^9 after he had accomplished
many good works, and had successfully preached the Gospel, to build, where the church of Kill-mor nachtair Mhuaidhe afterwards stood. There was he tofindrest,inacell,fortheremainderofhisdays. Olcan,takinganaxeon hisback,travelledalong,inaspiritofobedience; for,Patricktoldhim,to put up at that place, where the axe should fall from his back. At the spot, already indicated, this happened, and deeming it to be a heavenly monition, he there began laboriously to erect his future monastery, in which a great community afterwards dwelt. Still determined on cultivating his master's vineyard, the illustrious Irish Apostle went towards the north, and he came to Lec-Balben, or Leac Bailbene, or " the rock of Balben," where he found andblessedthesonsofAmhalgaidh. Then,hewentoutfromthatcountry, by the western Berthlacha,^^° now Bartragh,*^' which is a sandy island, in the north-west of Castleconor parish,^^^ and on the east side of the River Moy. -^3 The holy man travelled towards the eastern Bertlacha, and he passed it eastwards, to the estuary of the Muaidh, towards its mouth at the sea. A young woman had been drowned there, before he arrived ; when he blessed the place, and he said, that no person should thenceforward be drowned in it. Patrick prophesied, that the eastern Bertlacha should belong to him, by ecclesiastical title. According to the local history and traditions, in the day of war their king, over that region, will be found safe and victorious against his enemies, if he invoke St. Patrick, and be a faithful protector —of the Church rights. There, at that stream, known as the Gre-
which flowed — a
graighe^^* probably through region, supposed
to be co- extensivewiththebaronyofCoolavin somerudepersonsflungstonesat
St.
St. Patrick and saluted him. " O cleric " said " do know ! he, you
proached
this expression, which I have in commeriioration, i. e.
clamant ad te pueri,' &c. , which two girls uttered in their mother's womb, in
our " I am to whom that said Patrick
" I heard and,
country. " he,
refers,"
;
'34 From this ancient territory, the present
barony of Tyrawley, in the county of Mayo, derives its denomination.
'35 He was the son of Fiachra, son of
Eochaidh Amhalgaidh.
'36 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
'•3 The Irish Tripartite Life adds : "sicut '37 Their names are to be found in "The in libris Patricii inventus, quod exirent in
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 126 to 129.
Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy- Fiachrach," edited by John O'Donovan.
He had eight sons, by Tresi, the daughter of Natfraoch, King of Munster, and sister to ^ngus. Those eight sons are thus named, viz. : Fedhlim, Eochaidh, Eunda, Conall, Aongus, Eoghan, Cormac and Corrdubh. Amalghaid, by a second wife, Earca, the daughter of Eochaidh, King of Leinster, had seven sons, viz. : Fergus, Cormac Ceann- foda, Colom, Seudna, Eochaidh, Aoldob- har, and Emeach.
judicium tamen vii. fratres de eis. " Nearly similar words are in the Latin Tripartite.
'4+ This and the following legendary ac- count will be found in the Irish and Latin
Tripartite Lives, and partially in the Life by Jocelyn.
'« This well was at Tara. There are
several wells mentioned, in the prose and
poetic descriptions of that place, as given in Dr. Petrie's Essay.
'*^ Tirechan, in the Book of Armagh, re- cords, that St. Patrick baptized St. Ere in it,
'3^See/W(/. , from pp. 5 to I7> and the after his conversion, and many thous. md
accompanying notes.
'39 The "Annals of the Four Masters,"
pp. 140, 141, record his death, at A. D. 449. See Dr. O'Donovan's edition.
'*° In his place, as if an ah'as, the Latin
men on the same day. See Dr. Petrie's
"
'*' The first forms of name are taken, from
Academy," vol. xviii.
'47 This most remarkable of the Forts at
Tara is indicated on Plates 6, 7.
'4^ The greater part of this territory now
Tripartite Life has
Eochadius alter. "
'
Hibernenses omnes
the Irish Tiipartite Life, and the second forms, from the Latin version,
''' The Irish Tripartite Life adds, twenty four tribes—i. e. old tribes—that were in the country, as if these were to be under their jurisdiction.
" and of Tara Hill," History Antiquities
p. 167. "Transactions of the Royal Irish
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 6u
it, when I was in the Islands of the Tyrrhene Sea, and I knew not whether within or without me these words were spoken, so that I shall go with you, into
your country to baptize, to teach, and to announce the Gospel. " Then the holy man asked for what reason Conall had come there, when he related the whole
case to Patrick. The latter ** Go in said,
now,
as the doors are
open
and,
;
go to my faithful friend, Eoghan Mac Neill, who will assist you, if you lay
hold, secretly, of the finger next his little finger, for such is always a sign
between us. " And so it was done. When the prince approached,
what is Patrick's wish ? Conall said, That
;
you assist me. " Conall afterwards observed, If it be according to youth,
precedenceinaking'shouseorlandistobegiven,Iamtheyoungest; if according to mother's age, Enna Cromm is the oldest. " To his remarks,
""""
Welcome," said Eoghan
*'
" Honor to the and converse with the senior, truly,
Laeghaire replied :
learned; but,ifjewelsandtreasuresaregiventoanyone,however,Iwillnot
deprive him of them. " Thus, Laeghaire, King of Tara, and his brother Eoghan, son of Niell, decided the dispute. It is said, however, that the
Monarch Laeghaire had treacherously instigated Aengus to kill St. Patrick andConall,whenallweresettingouttogetherfromTara. Inthisplot,too,
Aengus endeavoured to engage Fergus and FedhUmidh, afterwards, while on their journey. They went along, and Patrick with them ; while the latter gave his chariot to Conall, so that it was the thirteenth chariot, in their tra,in. On setting out, they went northwards, towards their country. That place, which Aengus had fixed for the fratricide, is said to have been in Corann. ^^s Fergus simulated sleep. His brothers refused, however, what had been proposed to
them. " We will not kill the said innocent,"
they,
brother. " Aengus went towards St. Patrick, however, intending to kill him ;
and, he was accompanied by two bands, and by two Druids, namely, Reon,'49 or Roen,'5o and Rechred,'5i or Rechet,'52 of the race of Faelan the Warrior. These lay in wait, not more than a mile from that place, whence St. Patrick first saw his enemies. A cross, from the west of Cross-Patrick to Cill-Forclann,
accuracy,atthepresentday; for,CrosPhadruic,or thecrossofPatrick,"still retainsitsoriginalname. '^s ThatofKill-Forclann'54isnowobsolete,andall traces of the church are removed j'ss but, the site was pointed out, not so very long ago, on a rising ground, about half a mile from Killala. 'ss The plot against our saint's life failed, however, while the Druids, Reon^57 and Rech- red,'58 were defeated, at Telach-na-Druadh. 'S9 The latter miserably perished,
designated the situation. These two places can be determined, with sufficient "
forms the barony of Corran, which is nearly in the centre of the County Sligo.
called. In 1831, the place was called Killy-
''*' So is he in the Irish called,
Tripartite. '5° Thus is he named, in the Latin Tripar-
'ss About sixty perches, to the left of the road, leading from this town to Palmers- town,
'S? The legend adds, how Reon said, that the ground should swallow Patrick, on the place where he should be seen. This was related to Patrick. " It is I, who shall see him first," said Patrick. When Patrick therefore saw Reon, the ground swallowed
" I will said he, "if I him up. believe,"
am rescued. " Then, the ground flung him up, until he was above the winds, and he fell down half alive.
'ss The legend tells us, that Rechred was also lifted up, and cast down violently, until his head was broken against the rock, and that fire from Heaven burned him.
tite.
'5' He is so called, in the Irish version of
the Tripartite.
'5= Thus is his name written, in the Latin
Tripartite Life. He is called Rochait, by Jocelyn.
•53 It is now that of a townland, contain- ing an ancient churchyard, with some traces
the latter place.
'54 It is said to have been east of Cross-
Patrick.
'55 The natives of this district stated, that
parts of the church walls were originally so
of church ruins. It is to situated,
the right of the road leading from Ballina to Killala, and it lies about one mile southwards, from
brone. levelled.
Then the church walls were totally
" and we will not our slay
6i2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 17.
but the former believed, and he was baptized. It is stated, too, that Feadelm, the daughter of Amhalgaidh, had died a long time before these events.
" I will
Apostle is recorded to have worked the wonderful miracle of raising her from
the dead, and of presenting Feadelm to her brother. In fear and astonish- ment, after those miracles, Aengus then asked the saint's pardon, for his past offences; he,too,believedandhewasafterwardsbaptized.
A blind man went in great haste, to meet St. Patrick, on hearing the wonder- ful miracles he wrought ;'^° for, the desire of being healed, from his infirmity, urged him. Having no guide, however, the bhnd man fell more than once.
"
My </^- broth"^^^ said the holy man, " it would be fitter that you were the blind person, thanhe,whoseeksaremedyfromtheSunofJustice. " Theblindmanwasthen healed,andtheclericbecameblind. Afterwards,thepersonrestoredpraised the Almighty for that favour conferred upon him. Ruan, or Roan, the son of Cucnamha, or Conchmamha, Amhalgaidh's charioteer, or servant, was the person healed, at Roi-Ruain, or Rae-Roain, which was the name of that place. Migna, or Midgna, was the name of that disciple who was blinded ; and, another disciple of St. Patrick, who was called Donnmalius, remained with him, leading the life of a hermit, in Disert-Patrick, near the well and church at Cross Patrick. Afterwards, in commemoration of the miracle wrought, Rae-Roain belonged to St. Patrick. The Blessed Apostle met two lame men,^^^ in Ochtar-Caerthin,'^3 or Huachtar Charthuinn. '^* They com- plained to him regarding their infirmity, for they found it difficult to proceed through the mountains or plains, where they were obliged to travel. These poor men moved Patrick to compassionate them, and they were healed. He tlien went to Domhnach-Mor, or Donaghmore,'^s where Bishop Mucna'^^ was placed, and where, too, he had been buried. ^^' He went, aftenvards, to Cross-Patrick, where a noble, named Aedh Fota, or " the tall," who was son of Eochaidh, son of Oengus, came to him ; and, Patrick healed him from lameness, at a fountain, to the west of Cross-Patrick. In gratitude for the favour he received, Aedh presented to Patrick a plot of land there, on which hefoundedachurchorresidence. Helefttwoofhisfamilythere,likewise, viz. : Teloc'^^ and Nemnall, or Domnald. '^^ The great success of the Irish
Apostle had excited the envy and hatred of the Magi, who found therein theirpopularityandinfluenceonthewane. Findingtheycouldnotoppose him publicly, a number of them conspired to lie in wait for him, while he
Then, Aengus said,
believe,
if sister be resuscitated. " The Irish my
Thoughtlessly enough, one of St. Patrick's people laughed at him.
'S9 The Druid's rock is there, and near it
there was a church, at Cross-Patrick, which was eastwards from Telach-na-Druadh.
^layo. See John O'Donovan's " Genea-
logics. Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiach-
rach," n. (d), p. 466.
''* He is also called and he is Muicin,
thought to have been venerated, on the 4th of March,
'*7 He is said to have been the patron
saint of Maighin, or Moyne, near Killala.
At Moyne, a great abbey was afterwards erected .
'<'* His name is vaguely conjectured, by Colgan, to agi-ee with that of Tolan, of Disert Tola, whose feast occurs, at the 30th
of March, or with that of Tellean, of Tegli- Telle, venerated at the 25th of June,
'^^ No attempt, at identification, has been made, under this form, in the Latin Tripar- tite, nor in that preceding, as found in the Irish version,
between to the Irish Tripartite Life.
them, according
Glas-Conaigh lay
"^ Jocelyn relates this stoiy, but in a
manner quite different from that of the Tri-
partite. See cap. cxxiv. , p. 93.
'*" ** As God is my judge," Colgan inter-
this which was a favourite expression,
prets
one with St. Patrick, when he made any solemn asseveration.
'*" The Irish Tripartite calls them bacac/is.
'*3 Thus is the place named, in the Irish Tripartite Life. Its identification does not
appear.
'** Thus is the name found, in the Latin
Tripartite Life.
"s It is found, in the parish of Killala,
and barony of Tyrawley, and county of
'7° Jocelyn tells us, that those Magi as*
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 613
was in the region of Tyrawley. Here a snare was contrived for his destruc- tion. ^70 But, Enna'71 saw that the Druids or Magi wished to murder St.
and to
" of the Hilltop
the sons of Amal- King
prevent
their he said to his son " Go and designs, Conall,
Patrick,
protect Patrick, that the Magi may not kill him. " '7^ The holy man per- ceived them, but a Heavenly Power protected him, for ethereal fire burned those Magi, to the number of nine. '^a Thus, was Patrick triumphant, over
the plots of his persecutors.
Traversing that region, the holy man journeyed towards the ocean, where
the fish-abounding Moy opens into Killala Bay. Here, he wished to establish
a See. He then founded Kilmore-Moy,'74 or Cill-Alaidh, now Killala,'7S over which he placed, as bishop, St. Muredach,^? ^ one of his illustrious
disciples, who belonged to the race of Laeghaire, son of Niall, the King of all Ireland. Here, too, Patrick baptized two celebrated virgins, that called
upon him, in the region of Caille-Fochladh,^77 firom their mother's womb, and while he was in the Islands of the Tyrrhene Sea. Those virgins'^s were Crebrea and Lasra^79 or Lassara,'^° the two daughters of Glerann,'^' son of Cummen,'^^ or Cumine. They are patronesses of Cill-Forglainn, or Kill-fhor- clann,'^3inHy-AmhalghaidhorTirawley,tothewestoftheMuaidh. There, the relics of those holy sisters were preserved, and with a special devotion.
"
the tribe Mac Amalgaidh," which was the ancient name of MuUaghfarry, or
St. Patrick went to Forrach-mac-Amalghaidh, or
the assembly-ground of
near Killala. '^•^
gaidh, with their subjects, had been assembled, at a great public convention.
Then, our glorious Apostle seized on this great opportunity, for announcing the Gospel of Christ, and for unsheathing the sword of the spirit, against those errors of idolatry that abounded. ^^^ The Lord helped him with signs and miracles. One day, coming to a place called Fearta, he found two women dead. The bodies lay buried on a hillside. '^^ Invoking the name
Assembly,"
Here,
'^'
Jocelyn does not otherwise name them, '^^ Thus is the name spelled, in the Irish
'? ' He was the son of Amalgaidh.
'72 Jocelyn says, that Conuall entered in the Latin Tripartite Life. Nennius is the
sumed white hoods, the more readily to deceive St. Patrick.
among the Magi, but only to finistrate their
designs.
'" Jocelyn tells us, that by his making a
sign of the cross there, a healing fountain
sprung from the ground.
'7* Sometimes this See was known as that
of Tir-Amalgaid, or of Hy-Fiachra-mui.
'75 In the barony of Tyrawley, and county
of Mayo.
'7* His feast occurs, at the 12th of August.
name, however, as given by the Scholiast on St. Fiach's Hymn, n. 15/, p. 5.
'^^ in Dr. O'Donovan's correspondence
from Mayo, June 2nd, 1838, he identifies the site of its church rums, although the
building had long disappeared. His interest- ing account is contained, in the Ordnance
Survey Memoirs, regarding the county of Mayo, as now preserved in the Royal Irish
'77 The Scholiast on St. Fiach
on Caille Fochlaidh, towards the north, and
in a maritime situation, on the Connaught Addenda P. , p. 466.
The townland of coast, near to and west of the River Moy,
was their church of Foreland, where these
holy daughters were buried. See nn. 15/,
16 q, p. 5.
that
'78 Their feasts do not seem to have been distinguished, in our Calendars. "St. Patrick and the Children of Fochlut Wood," by Aubrey De Vere, is a poem, that appears among "The Legends of St. Patrick," pp. 60 to 82.
'79 So is she called, in the Irish Tripartite. By the Scholiast on St. Fiach, she is named Lassia.
'^° The Latin Tripartite Life thus writes her name.
'^•* See
Tiibes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach.
states,
John
Genealogies, "
Tripartite Life. Cumine is the rendering,
Academy, at p. 235.
"
O'Donovan's
Farragh, within the parish of Ballisakeery, between Ballina and Killala, indicates the site. Tirechan spells the word Forrgea.
"
likewise there. See the correspondence of
John O'Donovan, Mayo, 17th May, 1838,
among the Ordnance Survey Memoirs for Mayo County, preserved in the Royal Irish Academy's Li—brary, p. 59.
'^^ Jocelyn apparently confounding the narrative as found in his sources for infor- mation—states, that a certain Magus, Ro- chait, by name, there I'ising up to oppose
St. Patrick's preaching, was destroyed by fire from Heaven.
Cnoc-a-tionol, or the
Hill of Meeting," is
6i4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
of Christ, at their tomb, he ordered the heap of earth to be removed, and he restored them again to Hfe. '^7 One of these women had been pregnant, at the time of her death. '^^ The story goes, that Patrick and Conall went to the grave, where the dead pregnant woman had been buried,^^? and they travelled, by the lower road leading to Cill-Alaidh. Aengus, however, went bytheupperroad. Whentheyhadreachedthegrave,Patrickresuscitatedthe woman,andherunbornson. Wearetold,moreover,thatbothwerebaptized, inthewell,whichwascalled,Aenadharca,'9°or"theone-hornedhill. "'9' These
miracles were wrought, at Killala church. Being resuscitated, she preached to the multitudes there assembled, regarding the pains of hell and the rewards of heaven. With tears, she prayed her brother, that he would beUeve on account ofGodandPatrick. Hecompliedwithherwishes,andhewasbaptized. On
**
that day, twelve thousand were baptized in Tobur-enadharch,'9^ or
of Aen-adherca," '93 with the seven sons of Amhalgaidh, including Enna,'9* and the king. '9S And, Patrick left Magister Manchen,'96 also called Mancenus,'97 or Manchan the Master,'98 with them. ^99 He was well versed in the Scriptures, and his knowledge of dogma and morals caused him to receivethespecialtitlebestowedonhim. Thesegreateventsarethought to have realized St. Patrick's dream of the wood, and of the converts, near Foclut. =°° It has been frequently asserted, that not one drop of human bloodwasshed,duringthepeacefulprogressofSt. Patrick'scareer. Never- theless, we cannot forbear to mention, the cheerful sacrifices which were madebyhim,inthecauseofrehgion. Tosuchperilousadventuresasthose already related, he doubtless alludes, in his Confessions, where he states : " I came to the Irish nation to preach the Gospel, and to endure reproach from unbelievers. I heard them upbraid me as a stranger, and I suffered many persecutions, even unto chains. Yet, I gave myself up, without re- serve, for their advantage. And, if I was held worthy, I am ready, imme- diately and cheerfully, to lay down my life for His name's sake. " He adds :
" I spent myself, that they might comprehend me ; and everywhere among you, I advanced for your sake in many dangers, into distant regions, where nobody before had ever come, to baptize them, or to ordain them, or to con- firm their people in the faith. Now, all these things I did, by the grace of God, diligently and cheerfully for your salvation. In the meantime, I was giving rewards to their kings and to their children, who remained along with me ; and, nevertheless they seized me, and in that day, they sought most
*^^
Such is the account, as contained in Crom had been nominated as Dynast of St. Patrick's Acts, b)' Jocelyn. See cap. Tyrawley, at this time.
Ixiii. , p. 79. '*? See ibid.
•^^
By Jocelyn, she is called Fedelina ; but, I know not on what authority. See cap. Ixiv. , p. 79.
'"9 Such is the account, in the Irish Tri- partite.
'5° It is called Tobur-en-adarc, in the Book of Armagh. See Rev. Dr. Todd's
195 Four different Catalogues of the Con-
naught kings place Amalghaidh, their father, as the first Christian king of that
province. Helived,too,aboutthetimeof St. Patrick, yet Colgan seems to doubt, if he be the convert here indicated, and not rather his son.
'9* If this were the St. Manchen, who lived to 652, he could not have been a con- temporary of St. Patrick. See Rev. Dr. Todd's " Life of St. Patrick," n. 4, p. 449.
''^ Thus is he named, by Jocelyn.
''* There are eleven saints, called Main- chen, mentioned in the O'CIery's Calendar. '" Nennius and other writers, very cir- cumstantially relate this great triumph of Christianity, in the west of Ireland. See,
Ussher's "Primordia," cap. xvii. , p. 865. '°° In his "Index Chronologicus,^' Ussher
^
"
Life of St. Patrick," p. 449, and n. 3.
'9' This well was named, from the little hillock of land, that was near it. The cause assigned for the name is not given, in Colgan's copy of the Tripartite.
'»'' So is it called in the Latin Tripartite,
and in an apparently older authority, Oen« adharca.
'93 So is it called, in the Irish Tripartite. '9* Some accounts have it» that Enda
the well
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 615
anxiouslytokillme,butmyhourwasnotyetcome. " Fromthisaccount,it appears, St. Patrick knew, that in some parts of Ireland, which he could not have called remote—such as the Eastern and Southern districts—the Christian religion had been announced and practised, before his time. It is
probable, in the foregoing passage, he alluded to Tyrawley,^°' especially as he had just before recalled the pleasing reminiscence of having baptized
there several thousand persons.
Then,hewent southwards, and to the fordof Lock-Daela,^°^ or Loch Deala,^°3
now Bally-LoughdaIla,^°4 in the parish of Ballysakeery. ^°3 This place was thepropertyofthedeceitfulAengus. Patrickintendedtofoundaresidence
there for himself; but, Aengus came quickly, when he saw the holy visitor, for
not sincerely did he believe, when he was baptized and had confessed the
*' "
faith. My debroth," said Patrick, 'twere right that thy houses should not
be exalted, nor thy descendants after thee. Thy successors shall be seldom just, and there shall be fratricide in thy family. " Then, St. Patrick went to the east, to Lec-finn,^°^ or Leac-fionnbaile,^°'' where Patrick inscribed a cross
on the stone over Cill-mor-uachtair-Muaidh,^°2 or " the great church of the Upper Moy," and towards the west. Afterwards, Lia-na-monach2°9 was the name it obtained. ^'" It is now shortened to Liag,^" and the place is situated on a hill,2'2 a short distance to the south of the old church of Kilmore-Moy. There he baptized Eochaidh,2^3 or Euchodius,^'+ son of Nathi, another form of the name Dathi, or David, son of Fiachra, and resuscitated his wife,^'S Echtra, at Ath-Echtra, the little stream at the very door of Cill-mor. This place was also called Feart Echtra. ^'^ The grave is still to be seen in a field, lying a short distance to the east of the old church of Kilmore-Moy. ^^7
places these events, at A. D. 434 ; but, it is most probable, they fell into a later year.
^°' See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiasti- cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect. xii. ,p. 253.
^°^ It is thus called, in the Irish Tripartite Life. The lough itself still retains the name. Its Anglicised form is Lough Dala.
120, 121.
^'°
It was called, likewise, Cruimther Monach's,orOlcan'schurch. TheTripar- tite Life calls him a disciple of St. Patrick. There is an Olcan in Tirechan's list, and also an Oltcan. Ussher makes Olcan a
See Dr. O'Donovan's "
and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," p. 281, n.
(t), and Addenda P. , p. 467, n. (i. )
'°3 So is it in the Latin
named, Tripartite.
from his studies in Gaul. See Primordia,"
*°* It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Mayo, Sheets 21, 22.
"
^°2 It lies, in the south-west part of Ty-
rawley barony. See ibid. , Sheets 21, 22,
29, 30. '°^
"
Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach,"
to the Irish
^°^ Thus is it written, in the Latin Tripar-
tite.
=^ Now known as a Kilmore-Moy, parish,
Addenda P. , p. 468, n. (k. )
*" Here and Archdall have incor- Colgan
rectly placed a monastery, founded by St. Patrick.
="3 He was called Eochaidh Breac, and
he was ancestor of the O'Shaughnessys,
O'Scanlans, O'Clerys, and OTIeynes.
*'* Thus is he named, by Jocelyn . In the Latin Tripartite Life, he is called Eocha-
According
Tripartite
Life.
Genealogies,
cap. xvii. , p. 951.
moy was certainly another person. See Olcan's Acts, at the 20th of February.
^" The name is to a rock, on applied
which a cross is sculptured within a circle, and to an ancient churchyard. All traces of the church, however, have disappeared.
extending into the baronies of Tireragh,
county Sligo, and in Tyrawley, county of
Mayo, containing the towns of Ballina and Ardnaree, i. e. "the hill of executions. "
See "Ordnance Survey To\\-nland Maps dius.
Tribes
The founder of Kilmor-
for the County of Mayo," Sheet 30 ; and *'5 As Jocelyn relates it, St. Patrick met "''
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Sligo," Sheets 22, 29.
chis postea possidentibus," &c. See, too, Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, xii. , pp. 252 to 256, and nn. ni, 112, 115, 118,
her corpse, borne on a vehicle, at quod- dam vadum in Connacia. " He also relates, that the husband's conversion, and that of his household, was in consequence of this
Qj. Echtra's grave. " "
''? See John O'Donovan's Genealogies,
^ The Latin Tripartite has it " a Mona-
bishop of Derkan, in Antrim, after his return "
See John O'Donovan's
Genealogies,
miracle. 216 <<
6i6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 17.
Nearly opposite to it, there is a holy well, called Toberpatrick. Thus do Irish topographic names preserve the wondrous traditions of St. Patrick's travels. *'^
The Blessed Patrick sent Bishop 01can,=*^9 after he had accomplished
many good works, and had successfully preached the Gospel, to build, where the church of Kill-mor nachtair Mhuaidhe afterwards stood. There was he tofindrest,inacell,fortheremainderofhisdays. Olcan,takinganaxeon hisback,travelledalong,inaspiritofobedience; for,Patricktoldhim,to put up at that place, where the axe should fall from his back. At the spot, already indicated, this happened, and deeming it to be a heavenly monition, he there began laboriously to erect his future monastery, in which a great community afterwards dwelt. Still determined on cultivating his master's vineyard, the illustrious Irish Apostle went towards the north, and he came to Lec-Balben, or Leac Bailbene, or " the rock of Balben," where he found andblessedthesonsofAmhalgaidh. Then,hewentoutfromthatcountry, by the western Berthlacha,^^° now Bartragh,*^' which is a sandy island, in the north-west of Castleconor parish,^^^ and on the east side of the River Moy. -^3 The holy man travelled towards the eastern Bertlacha, and he passed it eastwards, to the estuary of the Muaidh, towards its mouth at the sea. A young woman had been drowned there, before he arrived ; when he blessed the place, and he said, that no person should thenceforward be drowned in it. Patrick prophesied, that the eastern Bertlacha should belong to him, by ecclesiastical title. According to the local history and traditions, in the day of war their king, over that region, will be found safe and victorious against his enemies, if he invoke St. Patrick, and be a faithful protector —of the Church rights. There, at that stream, known as the Gre-
which flowed — a
graighe^^* probably through region, supposed
to be co- extensivewiththebaronyofCoolavin somerudepersonsflungstonesat
St.
