,
'' See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
xix.
'' See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
xix.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
Patrick Francis Moran, consecrated Bishop of Ossory on St.
Ciaran's Day, A.
D.
1872, has taken every care possible to perpetuate the religious and popular veneration due to his illustrious
nise," Martii v. , n. 43, p. 467.
79 St. Kiaran is called Kenerin, in the
*' Circle of the Seasons," p. 65, and there too he seems to have been distinguished from St. Piran, in Cornwall.
**° See"HistoriceCatholicseIbemigeCom- pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 49.
*' See ibid. , chap, xii. , p. 55.
^^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
64, 65.
*3 The same notice appears in that copy,
preserved in the Royal Irish Academy, and formerly belonging to the Irish Ordnance
date,
by Colgan's
xvii. Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Rev. Dr.
148 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [^Iarch 5.
and Confessor. ^3 Again, under the head of Saighir, Uuald Mac Firbis enters, Ciaran of Saighir, a bishop avIio was in Erinn before Patrick. ^* The Scottish people venerated the memory of this renowned bishop. Thus, we read, in the Kalendar of Dnmimond, at the 5th or iii. Nones of INIarch, that in Ireland the holy Confessors, Ciaran and Cartac, who were devout servants, went to Christ. The feast of St. Ciarain Saigre is noted, in the " Kalendarium Celticum,"attheii. Nones,or6thofMarch: this,however,mustbeamistake
ing the eloquent and eulogistic words of a devout client,^^ and which may serve to warm our affectiofts for the subject of his panegyric, on this heavenly
for the In his " 5th,
the feast of our saint, in this manner : "Kiriani episcopi. " Florarius is quoted as his authorit)'. ^^ We cannot better conclude this account of St. Kieran, than by reproduc-
birthday
of
Ossory's great patron.
Let us " of him to obtain for us beg
Menologium Scoticum," Dempster places
grace to eradicate from our hearts the roots of our former vices, and to plant
in them the seeds of every virtue, so that they may grow up, and flower, and
fructify, a hundred fold, and shed the good odour of Christ around us. And so, when for us the trials and storms of this life shall have terminated, the finger of God will come upon our eyes, and the voice of the turtle will sound in our ears, telling us to arise and come away to that blessed country, where winter can appear never more, where God shall wipe away all tears from the eyes of His faithful servants, and where the gloom of the valley of death shall
be exchanged for the golden sunlight of a happy eternity. "
Article II. —St. Carthach, or Carthage, said to h. we been Bishop OF Druim-fertain, and of Inis Uachtair, in Lough Sheelix, County of Westmeath, or, of Sier-Kieran, King's County. \Sixth Century? ^ Immediate successor to St. Kieran,' the present holy man grew up under a strict discipline, and it is generally thought, that his birth may be referred to some closing part of the fifth century. However, regarding the exact period for his nativity, nothing of a very specific nature can be gleaned. Most generally, this St. Carthage is designated, the Elder, in our Irish Calen- dars, probably to distinguish him from others, bearing a similar name. ^ In- deed, it seems probable, that accounts relating to those may have found misplacement in the Acts of our St. Carthach or Carthage. 3 These are
doubtfully presented by Colgan,* and by the Bollandists. s However, the succeeding particulars may not all have reference to the saint, whose feast falls on this day. Colgan could not discover any ancient Acts, specially re- lating to him ; yet, being in doubt, if such might not afterwards come to light, he forbore to state much he had gleaned, lest this should be repugnant
to any possible future development. The Acts of this saint, notwithstanding. Survey Archives. It is known, as the this same day.
" Common Place Book F. " See "
^ One so called was venerated on the 26th ^•i See Proceedings of the Royal Irish of March, and another, surnamed Mochuda,
p. 27.
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part at the 14th of May.
3
^5 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of name is Carthach, and, in the genitive case
Scottish Saints," pp. 6, 83, and 194. Carthaigh ; while, in Latin, he is denomi- ^* See *' The Feast of St. Kieran at nated Carthochus, Cartagus, Carlhacius and
i. , pp. 126, 127.
It is said, by Colgan, that in Irish, his
Saigher. " Panegyric Sermon by Rev. N. Carthogius.
Murphy, C. C. To this published Tract is * See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernia:," appended a communication to the Ossory Martii v. De S. Carthagio Epis. et Con- Archseological Society: "Vindication of fess. Ex Variis, pp. 473 to 476, and n. i. the Claim of St. Kieran of Saigher to the
Title of Primogentitus Sanctorum Ilibentia:. ^'
the Rev. N. —
By Murphy.
et Abbatibus
ejus Discipulo Episcopis Sagi-
riensibns in Ossoria Hibernia; Proviucia, pp. 3S9 to 399.
Article ii.
whose Acts have been previously given, at
'
The illustrious bishop,
s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii v. De S. Kierano et S. Carthaco
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 149
do not appear to be extant, so that little can be said regarding him. ^ la the " Memorial of Ancient British Piety," the feast of St. Carthac the Elder at Seir-Kieran is commemorated, at the 5th of i\Iarch. 7 This pious servant of God was a son of Aenghus, son to Nadfraech, King of Munster, according to aprevailingopinion;^ but,byotherauthorities,heiscalledthegrandsonof Aengus. 9 Thus is he alluded to, in the Lives of St. Kieran of Saigir ; and, it would be difficult to arrive at any other conclusion, except we should sup- pose him to have been born, but a very short time before the death of
who was slain towards the close of the fifth ^° to century. According
^ngus,
one statement, our saint was either a brother or a grandson to King ^ngus ;
while, he is called a foster-brother to St. Kiaran of Saighir. " It is supposed, too, that St. Carthach had been the son of a wife to ^ngus Nathfraich, before his union with Eithne Vathach. " A pious servant of God, Carthacus, is classed amongSt. Patrick'sdisciples;'3 but,ithasbeenconjectured,thatanotherCar- thach may have lived at a still earlier period than our saint, and that he may have belonged to the same family, for nothing seems to be distinctively known re- garding him. '+ It is generally admitted, that our Carthach was educated, at an early age, under St. Ciaran of Saigir ;'5 and, Colgan thinks that he re- ceived such instruction, before the year 489. While this too early date, for his scholarship, has been denied by Dr. Lanigan ; yet, he deems it probable, that, as both master and disciple were natives of Munster, and as both were well known, at the Court of Cashel, the latter might have been entrusted to the care of the former^ after Kieran had left the school of St. Finnian,'^ at Clonard, about the year 532. ^7 It is also conjectured, that at this time Car- thage was young, and probably not more than seventeen or eighteen years of age. '^ While at Saighir, we can have no doubt, that every care Avas bestowed on his religious education and discipline ; yet was it permitted, by Divine Pro- vidence, that the youth should be tried in temptation, only to overcome it. however, by miraculous interposition, to escape from tlie snare through ex- emplary penance, and to become still more holy, after the danger had passed. '? He had formed the acquaintance of a female pupil, under the care of St. Liedania,^° and their intimacy ripened into a violent passion, whicli becoming known to St. Cieran, his prayers were interposed, and tlie disciple escaped, with sorrow for having transgressed against the discretion necessary to be observed, especially in the religious state. ^' In tears, he sought advice
* See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap.
Sancta," part i. , pp. 155, 156.
? See
xxiii. , p. 268.
'* See Rev. Dr. " Ecclesiastical Lanigan's
History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vii. , sect. v. , n. 36, p. 338.
'^ Mr. Hogan thinks he was probabl. fifteen years old, when he became the foster- brother or flVz/Z/^a of St. Kiaran. See "St.
Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," part ii. , chap. xix. , p. 157, and note ^'ii'/V/.
'°
See his Life, at the 12th of December. '? Dr. Lanigan thinks this school was opened, about A. D. 530, and that St. Kieran of Saighir was one of St. Finnian's first
scholars,
^^ See Dr. " Ecclesiastical Hij- Lanigan's
^
p. 46.
So is he called, in the IMartyrologies of
Tallagh, of Marianus O'Gonnan, or by his Scholiast, and of Cathald Maguire. Yet, elsewhere, the latter has some false state- mcnts regarding his family and descent.
9 Rev. A. Cogan says "a grandson. " See "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and
Modern," vol. iii. , chap. Ixxiv. , p. 572.
See, also, Miss Cusack's
"
History of the
Kingdom of Kerry," chap, iv. , p. 58. '° "
See Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical His-
lory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, v. ,
and n.
" See " St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory,"
39, pp. 98, 99.
part ii. , chap, xvi. , p. 146.
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. xi. , sect, v. , and nn. 40, 43, 44, pp. 98 to 100.
" See ibid.
,
'' See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
xix. For some interest- ing speculations, on this subject, the reader
chap.
is referred to the work just quoted.
'3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga.
"
mx," v. Marlii. First Life of St. Kieran, chap, xxvii. Office, lect. 10, Also, Acts of St. Carthage, chap, iii. , pp. 461, 469, 474.
I50 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 5.
from his master. St. Kieran enjoined on him, as a penance, to leave Ireland.
He spent some years in Gaul ;^^ but, in what particular part of it has not transpired. He is said to have led a penitential life there, and to have been
employed in a study of the Holy Scripture. ^3 Thence he is said to have set out for Rome,^* according to the account of St. ^ngus and of Maguire. A
conjecture of Mr. Hogan's is, that he was present, at Saighir, when St. Patrick and King ^ngus visited that place, a. d. 455, and that after this date,
he spent seven years of his life away from Ireland. =^5 St. Carthage is said to havebeenconsecratedatRomef^althoughthisisnotcertain. Forthelove of God, whom he served, St. Kiaran of Saigir used to be often immersed in a vat of cold water. ^7 In pursuance of his accustomed mortification, and in company with a holy stranger, called German, he had one day gone into a cold stream, which the pilgrim told him he found it too difficult to remain in much longer. Then St. Kieran signed the water with a cross, and it seemed warm about him, as if it had been a tepid bath, and at the same time he pre- dicted to German the immediate return of his disciple, St. Carthage, while he desired a large fish swimming near them to be caught for his refreshment. The very next day, Carthage came to the place. When he returned back to Ireland, St. Ciaran welcomed him with great joy, and it is thought, our saint once more was received under his direction, and admitted to his confidence. He obtained holy orders not long afterwards, as seems probable, and fiom St. Ciaran himself. ^^ The pious disciple's life was after^vards a most exemplary one, and soon he began to cultivate the Lord's vineyard, in which he worthily laboured, and he even set about the erection of various monasteries, in different parts of Ireland. It is said, that Ciaran dedicated his congregation to God and to Carthach,=9 and, that this happened, a little before the death of the former. 3° Hence, it has been concluded, that our saint immediately succeeded the founder in the see of Saighir. Yet, it is thought, that what- ever superintendence Carthagh might have exercised for some time in the place, he may have acted in the capacity of a friend, and not as a bishop. The Irish Calendars only call him the alumnus, and not the comorban, or successor, of St. Cieran. Supposing that the latter died, about a. d. 540, Colgan thinks, that Carthagh became his inheritor of the see, at that period. 3' However, Harris mentions him, as having been a bishop at Saigir y^ yet, the time when he ruled there does not seem possible to be determined. This matter, on the whole, is rather doubtful ; still, it is not questioned, that he be- came a bishop, in course of time, but when, or by whom, he was consecrated, we cannot discover. 33 One of his places, we are told, was Druimfertain, and in Cairbre Ua Ciardhes* is Druimfertain. 35 Under this latter head, Duald
*° See her Life, at the nth of August.
=' The incident is also alluded foregoing
*' According to his Irish Life, as quoted
in Rev. Drs. Todd's and Reeves' ' '
Martyr- Ecclesias-
chap,
to, in Capgrave's account of St. Ciaran or
ology of Donegal," pp. 64, 65.
*" "
Piran.
" See Miss M. F. Cusack's "
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
of
'* See ibid. , n. 46, p. lOO.
"5 See "St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory,"
tical of Ireland," vol. ii. , History
sect, v. , p. 98.
History the Kingdom of Kerry," chap, iv. , p. 58.
xi. ,
^3 See Rev. Dr.
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect. v. , p. 98.
part ii. , chap, xix. , p. 158.
'\Monasticon Hibemicum," p. 404.
3' See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernire," v.
Martii. ad Vitam S. Kierani, Appendix
Carthagio Epis. et Confess. , cap. vii. , viii. , pp. 474, 475-
Ossory," p. 402.
^^ See Dr. Lanigan's
"' According
Aenghus :
to these
lines,
translated from
—
and De S.
Lanigan's
"Thesilentmanwentwithrenown Eastwards over the sea,
Carthage, the royal one of Rome. "
cap. v. , p. 473,
3»geeHarris'Ware,vol. i. , "Bishopsof
" Ecclesiastical
*' to the Irish Life of St. Cia- According
ran, chapter xxxiv.
30 Archdall has this made appointment
by St. Kieran, when on his death-bed. See
"
Ecclesiastical His-
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 151
Mac Firbis enters, Carthach, bishop,35 ^-^^ ^j- ^g added, that Drum Feartan belongs to him. 37 This denomination, however, does not appear on the Ordnance Survey Maps. Inis Uachtair,3S on the upper Island of Lough Sheelin, bordering on the half barony of Fore, in the county of Westmeath, is stated39 to have been another of his places. Here, it is stated, the saint's abbey had been erected, in the sixth century •,''° and, Archdall assigns its
-foundation, on this island, to about the year 540, while a little after this period, St. Carthag is said to have presided over it, as abbot. 4'= Under the
head of Inis-Uachter,t2 Duald Mac Firbis enters Carthach, bishop. 43 This island seems also to have obtained from him the name of Inis-Carthaigh. 44
However, a mistake probably occurs here, in confounding him with his cele- bratednamesake,theBishopofLismore. ^s Tohim,likewise,belongedCill Charthaigh, in Tir Boghaine, in Cinel Conaill, state the O'Clerys. This place is supposed, by Archdall, to be represented by Kilcarr, a parish church inthedioceseofRaphoe,andinthecountyofDonegal. i^ Yet,Dr. Lani- gan suspects, this church got its name from some other Carthaich or Carthagh, rather than from him. The Calendar of Cashel, which may be considered as good authority regarding this saint, does not place it among his churches, anditsgreatdistancefromMunsterstrengthensthedoubt. ^ Thenameof a monastery, Thuaim, is introduced by Colgan, as one where St. Carthagh and his companions happened to be entertained, on a particular occasion. This, he supposes, to have been the same as Tuaim-nava, alias Iniscarra. Kerry is said to have been the see or scene of his labours,^^ and, as conjectured by Dr. Lanigan, his place there was near the River Mang. It is thought by him, that Thuaim perhaps may have some reference to the mountain, called Toomish, in the barony of Dunkerron. 49 Here, he met with St. Carthage the younger, or Mochuda,5° a native of Kerry, who became his scholar, and who was afterwards advanced by him to priesthood. This is thought referable to abouttheyear577,orperhapsevenlater,whenoursaintwasold. ^^ Hence, it is supposed, an inference may be drawn, that towards the close of life, he must have been living in the kingdom of Kerry. That he was connected,
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, v. , p. 99.
'' This place is identical with Carbury, county of Kildare, according to William M. Hennessy's note.
35 Dr. Todd
Dndmfertam. "The more recent hand adds: 'no -peiTOAini, T. ;' meaning that the
"
Mart. Taml. reads Druim ferdaimh.
3° His feast is assigned, to the 5th of
March.
37 See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 108, 109.
3» In the townland and parish of Foyran, there is a ruined church marked on the
-t' See"MonasticonHibemicum,"p. 716.
says,
in a note at this
etymon,
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part
i. , pp. 116, 117.
43 His feast is referred, to the 5th of March.
••* See z'i^/i:/. , pp. 114, 115.
-ts His feast is also wrongly placed, at March 3rd. However, he is the same, whose name appears under Druim-fertain and Inis-Uochtar as above. See William M. Hennessy's note. Ibid. , pp. 118, 119.
'^ See " Monasticon Hibernicum," p. loi.
Here our saint is placed as Bishop of Killen,
about the year 540.
47 See"EcclesiasticalHistoryofIreland,"
"
County of Westmeath," Sheet i. Near it
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, v. , n. 47, pp. lOO, loi.
is Tober Aidan or
48 " of gee Miss M. F. Cusack's History
Bishop Hugh's Well. From the Ordnance Survey Maps, however, it does not seem possible to identify the obsolete Inis Uchtair, with any island on
Lough Sheelin.
39 See Rev. Dr. Todd's and Dr. Reeves'
"
Martyrology of Donegal," pp. 64, 65.
*° See Rev.
nise," Martii v. , n. 43, p. 467.
79 St. Kiaran is called Kenerin, in the
*' Circle of the Seasons," p. 65, and there too he seems to have been distinguished from St. Piran, in Cornwall.
**° See"HistoriceCatholicseIbemigeCom- pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 49.
*' See ibid. , chap, xii. , p. 55.
^^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
64, 65.
*3 The same notice appears in that copy,
preserved in the Royal Irish Academy, and formerly belonging to the Irish Ordnance
date,
by Colgan's
xvii. Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Rev. Dr.
148 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [^Iarch 5.
and Confessor. ^3 Again, under the head of Saighir, Uuald Mac Firbis enters, Ciaran of Saighir, a bishop avIio was in Erinn before Patrick. ^* The Scottish people venerated the memory of this renowned bishop. Thus, we read, in the Kalendar of Dnmimond, at the 5th or iii. Nones of INIarch, that in Ireland the holy Confessors, Ciaran and Cartac, who were devout servants, went to Christ. The feast of St. Ciarain Saigre is noted, in the " Kalendarium Celticum,"attheii. Nones,or6thofMarch: this,however,mustbeamistake
ing the eloquent and eulogistic words of a devout client,^^ and which may serve to warm our affectiofts for the subject of his panegyric, on this heavenly
for the In his " 5th,
the feast of our saint, in this manner : "Kiriani episcopi. " Florarius is quoted as his authorit)'. ^^ We cannot better conclude this account of St. Kieran, than by reproduc-
birthday
of
Ossory's great patron.
Let us " of him to obtain for us beg
Menologium Scoticum," Dempster places
grace to eradicate from our hearts the roots of our former vices, and to plant
in them the seeds of every virtue, so that they may grow up, and flower, and
fructify, a hundred fold, and shed the good odour of Christ around us. And so, when for us the trials and storms of this life shall have terminated, the finger of God will come upon our eyes, and the voice of the turtle will sound in our ears, telling us to arise and come away to that blessed country, where winter can appear never more, where God shall wipe away all tears from the eyes of His faithful servants, and where the gloom of the valley of death shall
be exchanged for the golden sunlight of a happy eternity. "
Article II. —St. Carthach, or Carthage, said to h. we been Bishop OF Druim-fertain, and of Inis Uachtair, in Lough Sheelix, County of Westmeath, or, of Sier-Kieran, King's County. \Sixth Century? ^ Immediate successor to St. Kieran,' the present holy man grew up under a strict discipline, and it is generally thought, that his birth may be referred to some closing part of the fifth century. However, regarding the exact period for his nativity, nothing of a very specific nature can be gleaned. Most generally, this St. Carthage is designated, the Elder, in our Irish Calen- dars, probably to distinguish him from others, bearing a similar name. ^ In- deed, it seems probable, that accounts relating to those may have found misplacement in the Acts of our St. Carthach or Carthage. 3 These are
doubtfully presented by Colgan,* and by the Bollandists. s However, the succeeding particulars may not all have reference to the saint, whose feast falls on this day. Colgan could not discover any ancient Acts, specially re- lating to him ; yet, being in doubt, if such might not afterwards come to light, he forbore to state much he had gleaned, lest this should be repugnant
to any possible future development. The Acts of this saint, notwithstanding. Survey Archives. It is known, as the this same day.
" Common Place Book F. " See "
^ One so called was venerated on the 26th ^•i See Proceedings of the Royal Irish of March, and another, surnamed Mochuda,
p. 27.
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part at the 14th of May.
3
^5 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of name is Carthach, and, in the genitive case
Scottish Saints," pp. 6, 83, and 194. Carthaigh ; while, in Latin, he is denomi- ^* See *' The Feast of St. Kieran at nated Carthochus, Cartagus, Carlhacius and
i. , pp. 126, 127.
It is said, by Colgan, that in Irish, his
Saigher. " Panegyric Sermon by Rev. N. Carthogius.
Murphy, C. C. To this published Tract is * See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernia:," appended a communication to the Ossory Martii v. De S. Carthagio Epis. et Con- Archseological Society: "Vindication of fess. Ex Variis, pp. 473 to 476, and n. i. the Claim of St. Kieran of Saigher to the
Title of Primogentitus Sanctorum Ilibentia:. ^'
the Rev. N. —
By Murphy.
et Abbatibus
ejus Discipulo Episcopis Sagi-
riensibns in Ossoria Hibernia; Proviucia, pp. 3S9 to 399.
Article ii.
whose Acts have been previously given, at
'
The illustrious bishop,
s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii v. De S. Kierano et S. Carthaco
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 149
do not appear to be extant, so that little can be said regarding him. ^ la the " Memorial of Ancient British Piety," the feast of St. Carthac the Elder at Seir-Kieran is commemorated, at the 5th of i\Iarch. 7 This pious servant of God was a son of Aenghus, son to Nadfraech, King of Munster, according to aprevailingopinion;^ but,byotherauthorities,heiscalledthegrandsonof Aengus. 9 Thus is he alluded to, in the Lives of St. Kieran of Saigir ; and, it would be difficult to arrive at any other conclusion, except we should sup- pose him to have been born, but a very short time before the death of
who was slain towards the close of the fifth ^° to century. According
^ngus,
one statement, our saint was either a brother or a grandson to King ^ngus ;
while, he is called a foster-brother to St. Kiaran of Saighir. " It is supposed, too, that St. Carthach had been the son of a wife to ^ngus Nathfraich, before his union with Eithne Vathach. " A pious servant of God, Carthacus, is classed amongSt. Patrick'sdisciples;'3 but,ithasbeenconjectured,thatanotherCar- thach may have lived at a still earlier period than our saint, and that he may have belonged to the same family, for nothing seems to be distinctively known re- garding him. '+ It is generally admitted, that our Carthach was educated, at an early age, under St. Ciaran of Saigir ;'5 and, Colgan thinks that he re- ceived such instruction, before the year 489. While this too early date, for his scholarship, has been denied by Dr. Lanigan ; yet, he deems it probable, that, as both master and disciple were natives of Munster, and as both were well known, at the Court of Cashel, the latter might have been entrusted to the care of the former^ after Kieran had left the school of St. Finnian,'^ at Clonard, about the year 532. ^7 It is also conjectured, that at this time Car- thage was young, and probably not more than seventeen or eighteen years of age. '^ While at Saighir, we can have no doubt, that every care Avas bestowed on his religious education and discipline ; yet was it permitted, by Divine Pro- vidence, that the youth should be tried in temptation, only to overcome it. however, by miraculous interposition, to escape from tlie snare through ex- emplary penance, and to become still more holy, after the danger had passed. '? He had formed the acquaintance of a female pupil, under the care of St. Liedania,^° and their intimacy ripened into a violent passion, whicli becoming known to St. Cieran, his prayers were interposed, and tlie disciple escaped, with sorrow for having transgressed against the discretion necessary to be observed, especially in the religious state. ^' In tears, he sought advice
* See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap.
Sancta," part i. , pp. 155, 156.
? See
xxiii. , p. 268.
'* See Rev. Dr. " Ecclesiastical Lanigan's
History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vii. , sect. v. , n. 36, p. 338.
'^ Mr. Hogan thinks he was probabl. fifteen years old, when he became the foster- brother or flVz/Z/^a of St. Kiaran. See "St.
Ciaran, Patron of Ossory," part ii. , chap. xix. , p. 157, and note ^'ii'/V/.
'°
See his Life, at the 12th of December. '? Dr. Lanigan thinks this school was opened, about A. D. 530, and that St. Kieran of Saighir was one of St. Finnian's first
scholars,
^^ See Dr. " Ecclesiastical Hij- Lanigan's
^
p. 46.
So is he called, in the IMartyrologies of
Tallagh, of Marianus O'Gonnan, or by his Scholiast, and of Cathald Maguire. Yet, elsewhere, the latter has some false state- mcnts regarding his family and descent.
9 Rev. A. Cogan says "a grandson. " See "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and
Modern," vol. iii. , chap. Ixxiv. , p. 572.
See, also, Miss Cusack's
"
History of the
Kingdom of Kerry," chap, iv. , p. 58. '° "
See Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical His-
lory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, v. ,
and n.
" See " St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory,"
39, pp. 98, 99.
part ii. , chap, xvi. , p. 146.
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. xi. , sect, v. , and nn. 40, 43, 44, pp. 98 to 100.
" See ibid.
,
'' See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
xix. For some interest- ing speculations, on this subject, the reader
chap.
is referred to the work just quoted.
'3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga.
"
mx," v. Marlii. First Life of St. Kieran, chap, xxvii. Office, lect. 10, Also, Acts of St. Carthage, chap, iii. , pp. 461, 469, 474.
I50 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 5.
from his master. St. Kieran enjoined on him, as a penance, to leave Ireland.
He spent some years in Gaul ;^^ but, in what particular part of it has not transpired. He is said to have led a penitential life there, and to have been
employed in a study of the Holy Scripture. ^3 Thence he is said to have set out for Rome,^* according to the account of St. ^ngus and of Maguire. A
conjecture of Mr. Hogan's is, that he was present, at Saighir, when St. Patrick and King ^ngus visited that place, a. d. 455, and that after this date,
he spent seven years of his life away from Ireland. =^5 St. Carthage is said to havebeenconsecratedatRomef^althoughthisisnotcertain. Forthelove of God, whom he served, St. Kiaran of Saigir used to be often immersed in a vat of cold water. ^7 In pursuance of his accustomed mortification, and in company with a holy stranger, called German, he had one day gone into a cold stream, which the pilgrim told him he found it too difficult to remain in much longer. Then St. Kieran signed the water with a cross, and it seemed warm about him, as if it had been a tepid bath, and at the same time he pre- dicted to German the immediate return of his disciple, St. Carthage, while he desired a large fish swimming near them to be caught for his refreshment. The very next day, Carthage came to the place. When he returned back to Ireland, St. Ciaran welcomed him with great joy, and it is thought, our saint once more was received under his direction, and admitted to his confidence. He obtained holy orders not long afterwards, as seems probable, and fiom St. Ciaran himself. ^^ The pious disciple's life was after^vards a most exemplary one, and soon he began to cultivate the Lord's vineyard, in which he worthily laboured, and he even set about the erection of various monasteries, in different parts of Ireland. It is said, that Ciaran dedicated his congregation to God and to Carthach,=9 and, that this happened, a little before the death of the former. 3° Hence, it has been concluded, that our saint immediately succeeded the founder in the see of Saighir. Yet, it is thought, that what- ever superintendence Carthagh might have exercised for some time in the place, he may have acted in the capacity of a friend, and not as a bishop. The Irish Calendars only call him the alumnus, and not the comorban, or successor, of St. Cieran. Supposing that the latter died, about a. d. 540, Colgan thinks, that Carthagh became his inheritor of the see, at that period. 3' However, Harris mentions him, as having been a bishop at Saigir y^ yet, the time when he ruled there does not seem possible to be determined. This matter, on the whole, is rather doubtful ; still, it is not questioned, that he be- came a bishop, in course of time, but when, or by whom, he was consecrated, we cannot discover. 33 One of his places, we are told, was Druimfertain, and in Cairbre Ua Ciardhes* is Druimfertain. 35 Under this latter head, Duald
*° See her Life, at the nth of August.
=' The incident is also alluded foregoing
*' According to his Irish Life, as quoted
in Rev. Drs. Todd's and Reeves' ' '
Martyr- Ecclesias-
chap,
to, in Capgrave's account of St. Ciaran or
ology of Donegal," pp. 64, 65.
*" "
Piran.
" See Miss M. F. Cusack's "
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
of
'* See ibid. , n. 46, p. lOO.
"5 See "St. Ciaran, Patron of Ossory,"
tical of Ireland," vol. ii. , History
sect, v. , p. 98.
History the Kingdom of Kerry," chap, iv. , p. 58.
xi. ,
^3 See Rev. Dr.
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect. v. , p. 98.
part ii. , chap, xix. , p. 158.
'\Monasticon Hibemicum," p. 404.
3' See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernire," v.
Martii. ad Vitam S. Kierani, Appendix
Carthagio Epis. et Confess. , cap. vii. , viii. , pp. 474, 475-
Ossory," p. 402.
^^ See Dr. Lanigan's
"' According
Aenghus :
to these
lines,
translated from
—
and De S.
Lanigan's
"Thesilentmanwentwithrenown Eastwards over the sea,
Carthage, the royal one of Rome. "
cap. v. , p. 473,
3»geeHarris'Ware,vol. i. , "Bishopsof
" Ecclesiastical
*' to the Irish Life of St. Cia- According
ran, chapter xxxiv.
30 Archdall has this made appointment
by St. Kieran, when on his death-bed. See
"
Ecclesiastical His-
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 151
Mac Firbis enters, Carthach, bishop,35 ^-^^ ^j- ^g added, that Drum Feartan belongs to him. 37 This denomination, however, does not appear on the Ordnance Survey Maps. Inis Uachtair,3S on the upper Island of Lough Sheelin, bordering on the half barony of Fore, in the county of Westmeath, is stated39 to have been another of his places. Here, it is stated, the saint's abbey had been erected, in the sixth century •,''° and, Archdall assigns its
-foundation, on this island, to about the year 540, while a little after this period, St. Carthag is said to have presided over it, as abbot. 4'= Under the
head of Inis-Uachter,t2 Duald Mac Firbis enters Carthach, bishop. 43 This island seems also to have obtained from him the name of Inis-Carthaigh. 44
However, a mistake probably occurs here, in confounding him with his cele- bratednamesake,theBishopofLismore. ^s Tohim,likewise,belongedCill Charthaigh, in Tir Boghaine, in Cinel Conaill, state the O'Clerys. This place is supposed, by Archdall, to be represented by Kilcarr, a parish church inthedioceseofRaphoe,andinthecountyofDonegal. i^ Yet,Dr. Lani- gan suspects, this church got its name from some other Carthaich or Carthagh, rather than from him. The Calendar of Cashel, which may be considered as good authority regarding this saint, does not place it among his churches, anditsgreatdistancefromMunsterstrengthensthedoubt. ^ Thenameof a monastery, Thuaim, is introduced by Colgan, as one where St. Carthagh and his companions happened to be entertained, on a particular occasion. This, he supposes, to have been the same as Tuaim-nava, alias Iniscarra. Kerry is said to have been the see or scene of his labours,^^ and, as conjectured by Dr. Lanigan, his place there was near the River Mang. It is thought by him, that Thuaim perhaps may have some reference to the mountain, called Toomish, in the barony of Dunkerron. 49 Here, he met with St. Carthage the younger, or Mochuda,5° a native of Kerry, who became his scholar, and who was afterwards advanced by him to priesthood. This is thought referable to abouttheyear577,orperhapsevenlater,whenoursaintwasold. ^^ Hence, it is supposed, an inference may be drawn, that towards the close of life, he must have been living in the kingdom of Kerry. That he was connected,
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, v. , p. 99.
'' This place is identical with Carbury, county of Kildare, according to William M. Hennessy's note.
35 Dr. Todd
Dndmfertam. "The more recent hand adds: 'no -peiTOAini, T. ;' meaning that the
"
Mart. Taml. reads Druim ferdaimh.
3° His feast is assigned, to the 5th of
March.
37 See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 108, 109.
3» In the townland and parish of Foyran, there is a ruined church marked on the
-t' See"MonasticonHibemicum,"p. 716.
says,
in a note at this
etymon,
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part
i. , pp. 116, 117.
43 His feast is referred, to the 5th of March.
••* See z'i^/i:/. , pp. 114, 115.
-ts His feast is also wrongly placed, at March 3rd. However, he is the same, whose name appears under Druim-fertain and Inis-Uochtar as above. See William M. Hennessy's note. Ibid. , pp. 118, 119.
'^ See " Monasticon Hibernicum," p. loi.
Here our saint is placed as Bishop of Killen,
about the year 540.
47 See"EcclesiasticalHistoryofIreland,"
"
County of Westmeath," Sheet i. Near it
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, v. , n. 47, pp. lOO, loi.
is Tober Aidan or
48 " of gee Miss M. F. Cusack's History
Bishop Hugh's Well. From the Ordnance Survey Maps, however, it does not seem possible to identify the obsolete Inis Uchtair, with any island on
Lough Sheelin.
39 See Rev. Dr. Todd's and Dr. Reeves'
"
Martyrology of Donegal," pp. 64, 65.
*° See Rev.
