It was afterwards brought to Louvain, and, at present, it is preserved in the Franciscan Convent, Dublin,' where the writer had a full opportunity, for
admiring
its elegant and wonderfully legible caligraphy, on the old
parchment.
parchment.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
xvii—i.
35 In his "Irish Itinerary," he remarks:
Maghare-rath (Maghera) ; the name of the saint to whom it is sacred my memory does not at this moment supply. One thing I can state, that it, as well as many other sacred places, was endowed with no incon- siderable estates by the chiefs of the MacCartan family, who formerly enjoyed an extensive rule in these parts, and I may add that I know not of
—"
other nobles who were more generous to the Church of God than the lords of that most ancient family, for it is an acknowledged fact that they both
Item the foure townes of
being ancyently known by the Bps. landes were lately found by an Inquisition to Sr. Arthur Magnely (Magenis), and to some of
any
Magherera
(Slieve
36 gee
built all the churches in the territories of
Ivechia (Iveagh) and Kinnalfagartay (Kina-
larty) and endowed them with the choicest
lands. " However, it seems, Father MacCana
ascribes too much to the MacCartans, for
many of those churches were endowed by
the Magenises and other co-relatives of the
MacCartans. SeeRev. JamesO'Laverty's
"
Historical Account of the Diocese of
/(5/^. , p. 47.
37 in the Pope Nicholas' taxation the
parish of Maghera was valued at twenty
March 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. ^M
The "Calendar of the Four Masters
"
places the death of St. Donard, at the
very beginning of the sixth century; but, notwithstanding, it considerably ante- dates the event. " Domangort, son ofEachach, Bishop of Rathmurbulg, in Dalriada and Dalaradia, a. d. 506. " An Office was composed, in honour of this
saint ; and, Colgan gives a portion, consisting of Antiphon, Verse, Response andPrayer. Inthislatter,allusionismadetoSt. Patrickrestoringoursaintto life,intheRomanCuria. Theyearofoursaint'sdeath,inreality,isnotknown. This circumstance may have given rise to a legend, that St. Donard is preserved alive, to raise the relics of St. Patrick, before the general judgment, and, it appears to have be—en long current in Ireland. We find it thus told, in a recently
work :+° Erinn living still. .
" There
in of St. Patrick's —
published
are,
keepers people
. .
moreover,
There is another man from him in
Sliabh-Slainge thatis,Domangart,sonofEochaidh. ItishethatwillraisePatrick'srelicsa
little before the judgment. His cell is in Rath-murbhuilg, at the side of
Sliabh-Slainge. And there is always a leg (of mutton), with its accessories, and a vessel of ale before him every Easter, which is given to Mass people
on Easter Monday always. ^^ According to an ingenious writer, on this matter, such story seems to indicate, that St. Donard was at the translation of St. Patrick's relics, as referred to in the " Book of Armagh. " ^^ In our Calendars, Domangart mac Eochach, is the simple entry, found in the Martyrology of Tallagh,''3 at this date. His feast occurs, likewise, in the Martyrology of Cashel, where his pedigree is given ; yet, according to Colgan, it is defective by two links, thus differing from the Genealogies of the Irish saints, to which allusion has been made. Marianus O'Gorman enters him thus : Domangartus Rathensis, Filius Fselix Eochodii de Rath- murbuilg in Dalaradia. Under the head of Rath-Muirbuilg,*'^ Duald Mac Firbis enters, Domangart, son of Eochaidh, an eminent bishop, for March 24th. '»5 Again,heissetdown,inHenryFitzsimon'sListofIrishSaints; but, no special festival day has been assigned there to this holy man. ^^ Also, we read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,'t7 that on this day was venerated, Domhang- hort, son of Eochaidh, Bishop of Rath-Muirbhuilg, in Dalriada. But this is a mistake for Dalaradia. This distinguished man was venerated, moreover, in Scotland ; for, we read, at this date, in the Kalendar of Drummond : Also on tliis day, the Holy Confessor and Priest Domhangart, descended from a noble race of kingly ancestors. t^ The virtues and the memory of St. Donard are still enshrined, in the veneration of a pious people, who live within the mountain range of Mourne, and throughout the adjoining districts.
Article IT. —St. Caiimin, Abbot of Inis-caltra, on Lough Derg, County of Clare. \Sixth ajid Seventh Centuries. ^ Unrivalled scenes of
his freeholders of the which Inquisition a
greatpartoftheJurorswereofthenameof
Magyness. "
'^ See Miss M. F. Cusack's Irish " Tri-
partite Life of St. Patrick," at p. 418, the
original of which is now preserved, in the Bodleian Collection.
The
Monday, in Maghera church.
^^ When the church was being built over
the body, the men who were digging the ground saw fire bursting forth out of the sepulchre, and, flying back, they were afraid
of the scorching fire and of the flames, ^^EditedbyRev. Dr. Kelly,p. xix. The Franciscan copy has 'Oomon54i\c m<ic ech.
<'
accessories may have had its origin in the belief, that plenty should attend during the year the person who heard Mass on Easter
See — . Sanctorum Catalogus Aliquorum
story
of the
leg
of mutton and its
i. , pp. 124, 125. *° "
•'* NowMaghera,CountyDown, "
''5 See Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish MS5. Series, vol. i. , part
Ibernise. " O'Sullevan Beare's "Historic Catholicae Ibernia; Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xii. , p. 53.
^' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 84, 85.
•' See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish Saints,—" p. 8.
'
Article ii. Innis-Cealtrach is inter*
942 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 24.
beauty, in various parts of our island, were adorned, likewise, with those noble souls, aspiring to brighter realms in God's everlasting kingdom. There
imperishablebeautyalonereigns. But,asaregionofenchantmentonearth, we may instance the island of Iniscaltra,^ with which St. Caimin is specially
associated. It is also called Inniscaltra, Iniscaltro, Inniskeltair, Island of Saints, or Holy Island. ^ This spot involuntarily awakens reverence and admiration, in the mind of every tourist. It lies, in that part of the parish of Inniscaltra, which is within the barony of TuUa, and county of CIare. 3 How- ever, the greater part of this parish is situated, in the barony of Leitrim, and in the county of Galway. * By a worthy lover and cultivator of his country's language and antiquities,s we are informed, that the history of this place, even in the dark days of paganism, was most interesting, and that it is in great part preserved, through prose and verse, in our native records. It was then known, under a pagan name, as the retreat of kings, druids, and warriors, and it was the scene of many an adventure and enterprise, in which the ancestors of several, belonging to the surrounding districts, were actors. Thus, it continued to be a favourite resort of chiefs and druids and bards, while it was made the home of chivalry and song, by our pagan ancestors, down to the dawn of Christianity. ^ Among the saints of the third order, and among the most celebrated saints of Ireland, the holy man Caimin, or Cam- minus,ofInish-Keltair,iscommemorated,bythelearnedUssher. 7 There seems to be an Irish metrical Life of this saint extant. It was copied by Michael O'Clery, from some older documents, and it is kept, in the Burgun- dian Library, at Bruxelles. ^ This appears to have come under Colgan's observation ; for, he alludes to it, at the 25th of March, as having been in part ascribed to St. Dalbach. 9 Yet, containing fabulous and apochryphal matter, he suspects this compilation to be worthless, however eulogistic of St Caimin's virtues. Therefore, Colgan chiefly introduces for illustration of his subject the account of an old commentator on St. ^ngus, with some other remarks and a few notes. '° The descent of this holy man is thus given, intheGenealogiesoftheIrishsaints,"andbySelbach. " Hisfatherwas Dima, the son of Ferguss, son to Alild, son of Dathy, son to Crimthann, son of Enna Kennselach, son to Laurad, son of Breassail Belach. Thus, he camefromthenobleraceofCathairMor,theKingofLeinster. Hismother is called Cumania, the daughter of Dalbron ; and, he seems to have been born about, or after, the middle of the sixth century. This holy man is said to have been a half-brother to the celebrated and hospitable Guaire, King of
preted,
O'Looney. '"
"
Island of Churches," by Professor
in which SS. Iber and Ailbe, of Emly, in the present county of Tipperary, are said to
have preached and predicted the coming of the true faith into Ireland, before the advent of St. Patrick. It is stated, that St. Ciaran, of Ossory, planted the cross in Corcalayda thirty years before the coming of St. Patrick into Ireland, and one of the best episodes of liis life is the account of his retreat in the Innis, now called Holy Island. "
"> See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti- quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 503.
* MSS. vol. iv. , part ii. , p. 156.
' Said to have been venerated, at the 231 d of October.
See Notes on Irish Architecture, by Edwin, Third Earl of Dunraven," Edited
by Margaret Stokes, vol. ii. , pp. 55 to 60, where a very interesting history of the place, accompanied by several beautiful illustra- tions, will be found.
3 That portion of Inishcaltra, in the barony of Upper Tulla, is described, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
" CountyofClare, Sheet29,
* The portion in the barony of Leitrim is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Galway," Sheets 131,134,136.
5 Prolessor Brian — O'Looney.
'°
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae,"
"
fact in its history, that it is one of the places
Martii xxv. De S. Camino Abbate Inis*
Keltraensi, pp. 746, 747.
® Mr. O'Looney adds
:
It is a curious
"
Chapter xx.
March 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 943
Connaught, who died a. d. 662. '3 With a desire to mortify his flesh, by
vigils, fasts, austerities, and to engage in exercises of Divine contemplation, St. Cairain resolved on retiring into a remote island, on Lough Dearg, on the Shannon. Herehelivedforsometime,butthefameofhisvirtuescauseda number of disciples to resort thither, so that he was obliged, at length, to found a monastery and a church, on the beautifully isolated spot, now known as the Island of the Seven Churches. ^'^ He assisted at the great Convention or Synod of Easdra, in the year 5 80. '5 St. Caimin was the bosom friend of SS. Senan'^ and Luchtigern,'? when the schools of the Island of Caimin brought seven ships, laden with foreign students, into the lakes of the Shannon. Our saint appears to have cultivated sacred studies ; for, the Psalter of St. Caimin,^^ and the celebrated book of Caimin, were both written by him, according to a prevailing account. This latter book, with his beautiful Poem or Hymn to the Blessed Virgin, should be enough to recom- mend the seat of such learning and piety to the attention of every good and enlightened Christian. His church on Iniscaltra was called, afterwards, TeampullCaimin. Onthisisland,too,aretheruinsofachurch,dedicated
"
Church of Mary," the Blessed VirginMotherofGod. Itwasfounded,bySt. Caiminhimself,andaswe are told, about the year a. d. 645, when few could understand the mysteries oftheImmaculateConception. Caiminunderstoodandexpoundedthem. He founded that old church, and he dedicated it to Mary, while he had a statue raisedtoherhonourinit. ^9 Twocemeteriesareyetontheisland; onededi- cated to St. Caimin, and the other to the Blessed Virgin. =^° A very ancient vellum book stated, that Caimin of Inis Cealtra was, in his manners and life, like unto Paucomius,^' the monk. We are told, that the influence exercised by St. Caimin on the ruling classes was great. Besides, various enactments and judgments, matured and given to the public, by virtue of legislative assemblages, held in the old church of St. Caimin, are among the ancient
'- "
to St. Mary. It is the old Tempul Muire, or
Chapter xviii.
'3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 272, 273.
' A Map of this island, with the position of its various remains, will be found at p. 58, of the work already alluded to, as
'5 See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," xv. Februarii. Vita S. Farranani Confessoris, cap. vii. , and n. 23, pp. 337, 339.
'*
Professor O'Looney, if I say, that statues or shrines of the Blessed Mother were not very numerous at this time (Circa 645). This temple continued in great repute, and was frequented by queens and princesses, and by the wives and daughters of the noble grades of society, till the place was plundered by the Danes. The original churc—h was demolished, but it was restored again it was plundered over and over, and each time the piety and patriotism of the natives restored it as long as the ancient
edited by Miss Stokes. *'
See his Life, at the 8th of March.
'7 Perhaps, St. Luchtigerna, Abbot of clans held sway in the land. The cemetery
Inistymon, county of Clare, venerated, on the 28th of April.
'2
This transcript, attributed to St. Cai- min, was in Colgan's possession, and it em- braces the 119th Psalm, being only a fragment of probably the whole Psaltery Caimin had written. In the time of Sir James Ware, it was kept in the Franciscan Convent at Donegal. See " De Scriptori- bus Hibemise," lib, i. , cap. iii. , p. 24.
It was afterwards brought to Louvain, and, at present, it is preserved in the Franciscan Convent, Dublin,' where the writer had a full opportunity, for admiring its elegant and wonderfully legible caligraphy, on the old
parchment.
'9 " I do not think I will err much," adds
attached to this old ruin was once in great
repute, had special graces and indulgences attached to it, and in its clay to-day will be found the ashes of many a noble queen and pious virgin, who, having placed their con- fidence in Mary, were buried under her pro- tection in the cemetery of 7>w/«/ i^/«:><r. "
=" In the Freeman's Journal of May 26th,
1876, appeared a letter from Professor Brian
O'Looney, dated Catholic University,
Stephen's Green, Dublin, i6th of May, and
giving the foregoing, with other particulars here introduced. The desecration of these
cemeteries, and the representations of Rev. M. J. Kenny, P. P. , of Scariff, called the local Board of Guardians to the duty of en-
closure.
944
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 24.
laws and institutions of Ireland. His influence with the sons of Aedh Slane, Dermot and Blathmac, joint sovereigns of Erin, and with Guaire Aidhue,
King of Connaught, and his judgments on the latter, on the eve of the battle of Carn Connaill, fought between them a. d. 645, are among the most remark- able evidences remaining of the relations between the Church and State, in
Ireland,
at the time to which the Acts refer. " At present, the ruins =^3 on
Inniscaltra Church and Round Tower, Lough Derg.
Iniscaltra are of exceeding great interest. =+ The Round Tower ^5 there is yet remarkably perfect. Several inscribed tomb-stones^^ are remarkable,
likewise, for their antiquarian interest.
Very many illustrations of the place
"Oo
="' Hisfeastis on 14th. kept, May
nAomCAiniin b^
cui|\ C]\iac nieipie&-
" According to Mr. O'Looney's letter.
°3 The accompanying view of St. Caimin's SeAcc 'o-ceAniptA a']' clog^i]' a^to be
church and round tower was drawn on the spot, by William F. Wakeman, and after« wards it was transferred to the wood, by him. TheengravingisbyMrs. Millard.
** Iniscaltro, or Holy Island, with its Round Tower and three other buildings, we find represented on Heniy Pelham's fine old Map of the County Clare, with a notice that Iniscaltro parish was in controversy with Galvvay County—by which we may probably understand, that it was claimed as belonging to the latter.
^5 Treating of Inis Cealtra, in his poem on the Shannon, and in the expansion of the same river, called Lough Deirgart, anciently
:
liiAiL
coinineA^\c
A n-inif CcAlcpAc a ine6b toe' X)q\'^'
Michael O'Brannon — Oei^Aj; TJeiiAC, says,
ArcliK- A Hand-Book of Irish andChristian. " Partii. Early Christian Antiquities. See chap. iv. ,
p. 96.
't Among drawings of St. Caimiu's church
boo
in reference to this saint and his churches
Antiquities,
Pagan
'SAii feAcc niAt) COAT) t)b'ii ac<M)\ C^mojx-
Annul
. .
5eA]\c.
"
"*
In the seventh century of the Christian era —
Saint Cainnin a vigorous chief- erected
Seven churches and a high Clogaus with
strength,
On Inis-Cealtra in the middle of Lough
Deirgart. ",
One of these is engraved, in William
F. Wakeman's interesting work : ologica Hibernica.
"
March 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 945
are preserved,^? by artists, and in the local Guide-books. One day, as we are told,^^ while St. Caimin was at Iniskealtra, with his brother Guaire and St. Cumineus,29 sumamed the Long, our saint asked Guaire what he should most desire to be in the church there. Guaire declared, he should wish it to be filled with gold and silver, so that he might give it for pious uses, such as to build religious structures and to support the poor. Afterwards, St. Caimin prophesied, that he should become a king, and, also, that he should have great wealth. Then Guaire asked St. Cumineus the Long, what he should most wish the church to be filled with, and the latter replied, with good books, to satisfy the pious desires of students, to bring their souls from the bondage of Satan, and to the precepts of God. Afterwards, both his guests asked St. Caimin, what he should most desire. The holy servant of Christ rephed, that if it pleased the Lord, he should desire the church to be filled with the infirm and diseased of every class ; so that all their afflictions might be heaped on his own body, and that for a Saviour's love, he should be deemed worthy to bear the infirmities of the whole world. It is said, all the foregoing desires were accomplished, and in the degree desired by all, while each one received a crown of life, at the close of his days. But, our saint was loaded with so many diseases, that his flesh wasted away, his nerves be- came weak, and his bones were scarcely left hanging together, when his hour of final dissolution came. We are informed, that he died, about the middle of the seventh century. 3° The Annals of Innisfallen record his happy death, at the year 653. Bishop Challenor,3i and the " Circle of the Seasons," 3^ followthesameauthority. Itissaid,hehadbeenburiedinhisownchurch. 33 The Martyrology of Donegal 34 mentions a veneration paid, on this day, to St. Caimin, of Inis-cealtra, in Loch Deirgdheirc, now Lough Derg, on the Lower Shannon, near unto Magh-neo-n-Orbruighe, and to Tuaim Grdine, the townofCronan. MostofourMartyrologistsandCalendaristssetdownhis festival, on the 24th of March ; thus, Marianus 0'Gorman,35 the Calendar of Cashel,3^ Maguire, the Carthusian Martyrology, Patrus Canisius, and Philip
Ferrarius. Others refer his feast to the day succeeding.
Article III. —St. Scire, or Scire, Virgin, of Cill-Sgire, now Kil-
SKYRE, County of Meath. [Sixth Century.
entry regarding her, that we find, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 24th of March. The Bollandists have a mere notice of her feast, at the same date. ^ The Blessed Sgire, and her sister Corcaira Caoin, belonged to the
race of Fergus, son of Eochaidh Muighmhedhoin. 3 According to the Martyr- ology of Donegal,^ veneration was given, on this day, to Sgire, Virgin, of Cill-
and Round Tower, there is one in the col-
lection of sketches, made for the Irish Ord-
nance Survey for Galway County, and to be found in the Royal Irish Academy.
"^^
By the old Scholiast of ^ngus.
'''His feast is assigned to the I2th of
November, and to the 2nd of December.
3° See Lewis' "
p.
203.
3* See at p. 85.
33 See Archdall's " Monasticon Hibemi-
cum," p. 47.
s-t Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, see
pp. 84 to 87.
36<'s. Caminus sive Caninus de Inis- Keltra. "
Article hi.
Kelly, p. xix.
Sci]Ae tJi]\.
^
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Martii xxiv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 473.
nuator of yEngus,
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
86, 87.
s "S5it\e o Cill S5H\e 1 bjTeivMTiAtiAcli
Agtif An 1ai\cai\ mi'oe. H. I. 10. 124 a. " 30
Topographical Dictionary ii. , pp. 18, 19.
^ This saint was the of daughter
of Ireland," vol.
3' See "Britannia Sancta," part i. ,
Eugene, son to Carannan, son of Alild, son to Fergus, son of Eochard Moimedonius, according to the Genealogy of the Saints, and the Conti-
3S
««
Caminus de Inis-Kelltra. "
'\
Scire, Virgin, is the only
—
The Franciscan copy has
'
Edited by Rev. Dr.
946
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 24.
Sgire, in Meath. As if doubtful regarding her exact locality, the writer remarks, that there is, also, a Cill-Scires in Fera-Manach, or Fermanagh, in Ulster. The
parish of Kilskyre, or Kilskeer, is situated in the barony of Upper Kells, county of Meath. '^ The church and monastery in this place, and which
be " the church of St Scire," was founded at an Anglicised, early age,
may
and they were dedicated to St. Schirra. The present holy woman probably
founded a nunnery in Kilskyre, and lived in it. However, she is held in great veneration, at this place. 7 St. Skyria, of Kill-Skyria, assisted at the
great Council, which was held, a. d. 580. ^ She is named, as one of the principal saints of the race of Cumna, who met St. Columba, at the place, calledEasdra. Thisholywomandied,aboutthecloseofthesixthcentury,^ and her feast was celebrated, on the 24th of March. St. . ^ngus," the Martyrology of Tallagh, and the Calendar of Cashel, are authorities for that statement. In the Kalendar of Drummond, likewise, she is noticed. "
Article IV. —Reputed Festival of St. Montan, of Kill-mantain, County of Wicklow. [^Fifth Century. '] A feast has been assigned to St. Montan, of Killmantain, near the town of Wicklow, on this day. His Acts have been given, already, at the 2nd of this month.
Article V. —St. Lughaidh, son of Eochaidh, of Cluain-laogh, NOW Clonleigh, County of Donegal. [Si'xf/i Century. '] A holy man is recorded, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 24th of March, as Lughaidh, mac Eachach. He is classed, among the disciples of St. Columkille. '' The Bollandists pass him over, with a few brief remarks. 3 We are told, that LugaidMocu-Theimne,or"thesonofTeimne," wasthesonofEochaid, son of Ulan, son to Eogan, son to Niall of the Nine Hostages, as his paternal pedigreehasbeentraced,intheGenealogiesoftheIrishSaints. s Hewasa relation of St. Columba,^ and his companion, when the latter first set out on hisvoyagetotheshoresofBritain. Asweareinformed,bytheMartyrology of Tallagh, this saint belonged to Cluain Laigh. This place is at present
" The lustrous couple
Who hath been washed with
arduous repentance,
Scire the gentle, who loved fast«
ing,
The fervent pious Mochta. "
MS. Note in Wm. M. Hennessy's copy of the Donegal Martyrology, and appended at this passage.
^ It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey
"
Townland Maps for the County of Meath, Sheets 9, lo, 15, 16, 23. The townland, so called, is on the two latter Sheets.
" "In Hibernia, the Holy Virgin Scire of this parish will be found, in Rev. A. and the Holy Confessors, Mochta and
7 A very interesting and complete account
"Dioceseof Ancientand went to Christ. "— Meath, Comin, Companions
Cogan's
Modern," vol. ii. , chap, xvi, pp. 321 to 326.
^
Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Farannani,
Saints," p. 8. — Article v.
' Edited Rev. Dr. by
nioe," XV. Februarii. Vita S.
Kelly, p. xix. The Franciscan copy has tugAio
cap. vii. , p. 337.
9 See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of mAc eAcliAi.
vol.
3 See "Acta fessor O'Looney : saints, p. 473,
Meath, xxvi. , p. 147.
i. , chap
Thaumaturga. " Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columba? ,
Ancient and
=* See " Trias Colgan's
Modern,"
" The following extract from the " Leab-
V. I5e. kl. A. W tAtiAmAiM liroAcTi i:iMpii5 eclA Aitioecli
Sci^ve CAin ca]\ c^xeDAn
mochcA
harBreac" of the " copy
cap. x. , num. 74, p. 491.
and its
English translation—, were furnished by Pro- Martii xxiv.
Maghare-rath (Maghera) ; the name of the saint to whom it is sacred my memory does not at this moment supply. One thing I can state, that it, as well as many other sacred places, was endowed with no incon- siderable estates by the chiefs of the MacCartan family, who formerly enjoyed an extensive rule in these parts, and I may add that I know not of
—"
other nobles who were more generous to the Church of God than the lords of that most ancient family, for it is an acknowledged fact that they both
Item the foure townes of
being ancyently known by the Bps. landes were lately found by an Inquisition to Sr. Arthur Magnely (Magenis), and to some of
any
Magherera
(Slieve
36 gee
built all the churches in the territories of
Ivechia (Iveagh) and Kinnalfagartay (Kina-
larty) and endowed them with the choicest
lands. " However, it seems, Father MacCana
ascribes too much to the MacCartans, for
many of those churches were endowed by
the Magenises and other co-relatives of the
MacCartans. SeeRev. JamesO'Laverty's
"
Historical Account of the Diocese of
/(5/^. , p. 47.
37 in the Pope Nicholas' taxation the
parish of Maghera was valued at twenty
March 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. ^M
The "Calendar of the Four Masters
"
places the death of St. Donard, at the
very beginning of the sixth century; but, notwithstanding, it considerably ante- dates the event. " Domangort, son ofEachach, Bishop of Rathmurbulg, in Dalriada and Dalaradia, a. d. 506. " An Office was composed, in honour of this
saint ; and, Colgan gives a portion, consisting of Antiphon, Verse, Response andPrayer. Inthislatter,allusionismadetoSt. Patrickrestoringoursaintto life,intheRomanCuria. Theyearofoursaint'sdeath,inreality,isnotknown. This circumstance may have given rise to a legend, that St. Donard is preserved alive, to raise the relics of St. Patrick, before the general judgment, and, it appears to have be—en long current in Ireland. We find it thus told, in a recently
work :+° Erinn living still. .
" There
in of St. Patrick's —
published
are,
keepers people
. .
moreover,
There is another man from him in
Sliabh-Slainge thatis,Domangart,sonofEochaidh. ItishethatwillraisePatrick'srelicsa
little before the judgment. His cell is in Rath-murbhuilg, at the side of
Sliabh-Slainge. And there is always a leg (of mutton), with its accessories, and a vessel of ale before him every Easter, which is given to Mass people
on Easter Monday always. ^^ According to an ingenious writer, on this matter, such story seems to indicate, that St. Donard was at the translation of St. Patrick's relics, as referred to in the " Book of Armagh. " ^^ In our Calendars, Domangart mac Eochach, is the simple entry, found in the Martyrology of Tallagh,''3 at this date. His feast occurs, likewise, in the Martyrology of Cashel, where his pedigree is given ; yet, according to Colgan, it is defective by two links, thus differing from the Genealogies of the Irish saints, to which allusion has been made. Marianus O'Gorman enters him thus : Domangartus Rathensis, Filius Fselix Eochodii de Rath- murbuilg in Dalaradia. Under the head of Rath-Muirbuilg,*'^ Duald Mac Firbis enters, Domangart, son of Eochaidh, an eminent bishop, for March 24th. '»5 Again,heissetdown,inHenryFitzsimon'sListofIrishSaints; but, no special festival day has been assigned there to this holy man. ^^ Also, we read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,'t7 that on this day was venerated, Domhang- hort, son of Eochaidh, Bishop of Rath-Muirbhuilg, in Dalriada. But this is a mistake for Dalaradia. This distinguished man was venerated, moreover, in Scotland ; for, we read, at this date, in the Kalendar of Drummond : Also on tliis day, the Holy Confessor and Priest Domhangart, descended from a noble race of kingly ancestors. t^ The virtues and the memory of St. Donard are still enshrined, in the veneration of a pious people, who live within the mountain range of Mourne, and throughout the adjoining districts.
Article IT. —St. Caiimin, Abbot of Inis-caltra, on Lough Derg, County of Clare. \Sixth ajid Seventh Centuries. ^ Unrivalled scenes of
his freeholders of the which Inquisition a
greatpartoftheJurorswereofthenameof
Magyness. "
'^ See Miss M. F. Cusack's Irish " Tri-
partite Life of St. Patrick," at p. 418, the
original of which is now preserved, in the Bodleian Collection.
The
Monday, in Maghera church.
^^ When the church was being built over
the body, the men who were digging the ground saw fire bursting forth out of the sepulchre, and, flying back, they were afraid
of the scorching fire and of the flames, ^^EditedbyRev. Dr. Kelly,p. xix. The Franciscan copy has 'Oomon54i\c m<ic ech.
<'
accessories may have had its origin in the belief, that plenty should attend during the year the person who heard Mass on Easter
See — . Sanctorum Catalogus Aliquorum
story
of the
leg
of mutton and its
i. , pp. 124, 125. *° "
•'* NowMaghera,CountyDown, "
''5 See Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish MS5. Series, vol. i. , part
Ibernise. " O'Sullevan Beare's "Historic Catholicae Ibernia; Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xii. , p. 53.
^' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 84, 85.
•' See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish Saints,—" p. 8.
'
Article ii. Innis-Cealtrach is inter*
942 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 24.
beauty, in various parts of our island, were adorned, likewise, with those noble souls, aspiring to brighter realms in God's everlasting kingdom. There
imperishablebeautyalonereigns. But,asaregionofenchantmentonearth, we may instance the island of Iniscaltra,^ with which St. Caimin is specially
associated. It is also called Inniscaltra, Iniscaltro, Inniskeltair, Island of Saints, or Holy Island. ^ This spot involuntarily awakens reverence and admiration, in the mind of every tourist. It lies, in that part of the parish of Inniscaltra, which is within the barony of TuUa, and county of CIare. 3 How- ever, the greater part of this parish is situated, in the barony of Leitrim, and in the county of Galway. * By a worthy lover and cultivator of his country's language and antiquities,s we are informed, that the history of this place, even in the dark days of paganism, was most interesting, and that it is in great part preserved, through prose and verse, in our native records. It was then known, under a pagan name, as the retreat of kings, druids, and warriors, and it was the scene of many an adventure and enterprise, in which the ancestors of several, belonging to the surrounding districts, were actors. Thus, it continued to be a favourite resort of chiefs and druids and bards, while it was made the home of chivalry and song, by our pagan ancestors, down to the dawn of Christianity. ^ Among the saints of the third order, and among the most celebrated saints of Ireland, the holy man Caimin, or Cam- minus,ofInish-Keltair,iscommemorated,bythelearnedUssher. 7 There seems to be an Irish metrical Life of this saint extant. It was copied by Michael O'Clery, from some older documents, and it is kept, in the Burgun- dian Library, at Bruxelles. ^ This appears to have come under Colgan's observation ; for, he alludes to it, at the 25th of March, as having been in part ascribed to St. Dalbach. 9 Yet, containing fabulous and apochryphal matter, he suspects this compilation to be worthless, however eulogistic of St Caimin's virtues. Therefore, Colgan chiefly introduces for illustration of his subject the account of an old commentator on St. ^ngus, with some other remarks and a few notes. '° The descent of this holy man is thus given, intheGenealogiesoftheIrishsaints,"andbySelbach. " Hisfatherwas Dima, the son of Ferguss, son to Alild, son of Dathy, son to Crimthann, son of Enna Kennselach, son to Laurad, son of Breassail Belach. Thus, he camefromthenobleraceofCathairMor,theKingofLeinster. Hismother is called Cumania, the daughter of Dalbron ; and, he seems to have been born about, or after, the middle of the sixth century. This holy man is said to have been a half-brother to the celebrated and hospitable Guaire, King of
preted,
O'Looney. '"
"
Island of Churches," by Professor
in which SS. Iber and Ailbe, of Emly, in the present county of Tipperary, are said to
have preached and predicted the coming of the true faith into Ireland, before the advent of St. Patrick. It is stated, that St. Ciaran, of Ossory, planted the cross in Corcalayda thirty years before the coming of St. Patrick into Ireland, and one of the best episodes of liis life is the account of his retreat in the Innis, now called Holy Island. "
"> See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti- quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 503.
* MSS. vol. iv. , part ii. , p. 156.
' Said to have been venerated, at the 231 d of October.
See Notes on Irish Architecture, by Edwin, Third Earl of Dunraven," Edited
by Margaret Stokes, vol. ii. , pp. 55 to 60, where a very interesting history of the place, accompanied by several beautiful illustra- tions, will be found.
3 That portion of Inishcaltra, in the barony of Upper Tulla, is described, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
" CountyofClare, Sheet29,
* The portion in the barony of Leitrim is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Galway," Sheets 131,134,136.
5 Prolessor Brian — O'Looney.
'°
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae,"
"
fact in its history, that it is one of the places
Martii xxv. De S. Camino Abbate Inis*
Keltraensi, pp. 746, 747.
® Mr. O'Looney adds
:
It is a curious
"
Chapter xx.
March 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 943
Connaught, who died a. d. 662. '3 With a desire to mortify his flesh, by
vigils, fasts, austerities, and to engage in exercises of Divine contemplation, St. Cairain resolved on retiring into a remote island, on Lough Dearg, on the Shannon. Herehelivedforsometime,butthefameofhisvirtuescauseda number of disciples to resort thither, so that he was obliged, at length, to found a monastery and a church, on the beautifully isolated spot, now known as the Island of the Seven Churches. ^'^ He assisted at the great Convention or Synod of Easdra, in the year 5 80. '5 St. Caimin was the bosom friend of SS. Senan'^ and Luchtigern,'? when the schools of the Island of Caimin brought seven ships, laden with foreign students, into the lakes of the Shannon. Our saint appears to have cultivated sacred studies ; for, the Psalter of St. Caimin,^^ and the celebrated book of Caimin, were both written by him, according to a prevailing account. This latter book, with his beautiful Poem or Hymn to the Blessed Virgin, should be enough to recom- mend the seat of such learning and piety to the attention of every good and enlightened Christian. His church on Iniscaltra was called, afterwards, TeampullCaimin. Onthisisland,too,aretheruinsofachurch,dedicated
"
Church of Mary," the Blessed VirginMotherofGod. Itwasfounded,bySt. Caiminhimself,andaswe are told, about the year a. d. 645, when few could understand the mysteries oftheImmaculateConception. Caiminunderstoodandexpoundedthem. He founded that old church, and he dedicated it to Mary, while he had a statue raisedtoherhonourinit. ^9 Twocemeteriesareyetontheisland; onededi- cated to St. Caimin, and the other to the Blessed Virgin. =^° A very ancient vellum book stated, that Caimin of Inis Cealtra was, in his manners and life, like unto Paucomius,^' the monk. We are told, that the influence exercised by St. Caimin on the ruling classes was great. Besides, various enactments and judgments, matured and given to the public, by virtue of legislative assemblages, held in the old church of St. Caimin, are among the ancient
'- "
to St. Mary. It is the old Tempul Muire, or
Chapter xviii.
'3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 272, 273.
' A Map of this island, with the position of its various remains, will be found at p. 58, of the work already alluded to, as
'5 See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," xv. Februarii. Vita S. Farranani Confessoris, cap. vii. , and n. 23, pp. 337, 339.
'*
Professor O'Looney, if I say, that statues or shrines of the Blessed Mother were not very numerous at this time (Circa 645). This temple continued in great repute, and was frequented by queens and princesses, and by the wives and daughters of the noble grades of society, till the place was plundered by the Danes. The original churc—h was demolished, but it was restored again it was plundered over and over, and each time the piety and patriotism of the natives restored it as long as the ancient
edited by Miss Stokes. *'
See his Life, at the 8th of March.
'7 Perhaps, St. Luchtigerna, Abbot of clans held sway in the land. The cemetery
Inistymon, county of Clare, venerated, on the 28th of April.
'2
This transcript, attributed to St. Cai- min, was in Colgan's possession, and it em- braces the 119th Psalm, being only a fragment of probably the whole Psaltery Caimin had written. In the time of Sir James Ware, it was kept in the Franciscan Convent at Donegal. See " De Scriptori- bus Hibemise," lib, i. , cap. iii. , p. 24.
It was afterwards brought to Louvain, and, at present, it is preserved in the Franciscan Convent, Dublin,' where the writer had a full opportunity, for admiring its elegant and wonderfully legible caligraphy, on the old
parchment.
'9 " I do not think I will err much," adds
attached to this old ruin was once in great
repute, had special graces and indulgences attached to it, and in its clay to-day will be found the ashes of many a noble queen and pious virgin, who, having placed their con- fidence in Mary, were buried under her pro- tection in the cemetery of 7>w/«/ i^/«:><r. "
=" In the Freeman's Journal of May 26th,
1876, appeared a letter from Professor Brian
O'Looney, dated Catholic University,
Stephen's Green, Dublin, i6th of May, and
giving the foregoing, with other particulars here introduced. The desecration of these
cemeteries, and the representations of Rev. M. J. Kenny, P. P. , of Scariff, called the local Board of Guardians to the duty of en-
closure.
944
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 24.
laws and institutions of Ireland. His influence with the sons of Aedh Slane, Dermot and Blathmac, joint sovereigns of Erin, and with Guaire Aidhue,
King of Connaught, and his judgments on the latter, on the eve of the battle of Carn Connaill, fought between them a. d. 645, are among the most remark- able evidences remaining of the relations between the Church and State, in
Ireland,
at the time to which the Acts refer. " At present, the ruins =^3 on
Inniscaltra Church and Round Tower, Lough Derg.
Iniscaltra are of exceeding great interest. =+ The Round Tower ^5 there is yet remarkably perfect. Several inscribed tomb-stones^^ are remarkable,
likewise, for their antiquarian interest.
Very many illustrations of the place
"Oo
="' Hisfeastis on 14th. kept, May
nAomCAiniin b^
cui|\ C]\iac nieipie&-
" According to Mr. O'Looney's letter.
°3 The accompanying view of St. Caimin's SeAcc 'o-ceAniptA a']' clog^i]' a^to be
church and round tower was drawn on the spot, by William F. Wakeman, and after« wards it was transferred to the wood, by him. TheengravingisbyMrs. Millard.
** Iniscaltro, or Holy Island, with its Round Tower and three other buildings, we find represented on Heniy Pelham's fine old Map of the County Clare, with a notice that Iniscaltro parish was in controversy with Galvvay County—by which we may probably understand, that it was claimed as belonging to the latter.
^5 Treating of Inis Cealtra, in his poem on the Shannon, and in the expansion of the same river, called Lough Deirgart, anciently
:
liiAiL
coinineA^\c
A n-inif CcAlcpAc a ine6b toe' X)q\'^'
Michael O'Brannon — Oei^Aj; TJeiiAC, says,
ArcliK- A Hand-Book of Irish andChristian. " Partii. Early Christian Antiquities. See chap. iv. ,
p. 96.
't Among drawings of St. Caimiu's church
boo
in reference to this saint and his churches
Antiquities,
Pagan
'SAii feAcc niAt) COAT) t)b'ii ac<M)\ C^mojx-
Annul
. .
5eA]\c.
"
"*
In the seventh century of the Christian era —
Saint Cainnin a vigorous chief- erected
Seven churches and a high Clogaus with
strength,
On Inis-Cealtra in the middle of Lough
Deirgart. ",
One of these is engraved, in William
F. Wakeman's interesting work : ologica Hibernica.
"
March 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 945
are preserved,^? by artists, and in the local Guide-books. One day, as we are told,^^ while St. Caimin was at Iniskealtra, with his brother Guaire and St. Cumineus,29 sumamed the Long, our saint asked Guaire what he should most desire to be in the church there. Guaire declared, he should wish it to be filled with gold and silver, so that he might give it for pious uses, such as to build religious structures and to support the poor. Afterwards, St. Caimin prophesied, that he should become a king, and, also, that he should have great wealth. Then Guaire asked St. Cumineus the Long, what he should most wish the church to be filled with, and the latter replied, with good books, to satisfy the pious desires of students, to bring their souls from the bondage of Satan, and to the precepts of God. Afterwards, both his guests asked St. Caimin, what he should most desire. The holy servant of Christ rephed, that if it pleased the Lord, he should desire the church to be filled with the infirm and diseased of every class ; so that all their afflictions might be heaped on his own body, and that for a Saviour's love, he should be deemed worthy to bear the infirmities of the whole world. It is said, all the foregoing desires were accomplished, and in the degree desired by all, while each one received a crown of life, at the close of his days. But, our saint was loaded with so many diseases, that his flesh wasted away, his nerves be- came weak, and his bones were scarcely left hanging together, when his hour of final dissolution came. We are informed, that he died, about the middle of the seventh century. 3° The Annals of Innisfallen record his happy death, at the year 653. Bishop Challenor,3i and the " Circle of the Seasons," 3^ followthesameauthority. Itissaid,hehadbeenburiedinhisownchurch. 33 The Martyrology of Donegal 34 mentions a veneration paid, on this day, to St. Caimin, of Inis-cealtra, in Loch Deirgdheirc, now Lough Derg, on the Lower Shannon, near unto Magh-neo-n-Orbruighe, and to Tuaim Grdine, the townofCronan. MostofourMartyrologistsandCalendaristssetdownhis festival, on the 24th of March ; thus, Marianus 0'Gorman,35 the Calendar of Cashel,3^ Maguire, the Carthusian Martyrology, Patrus Canisius, and Philip
Ferrarius. Others refer his feast to the day succeeding.
Article III. —St. Scire, or Scire, Virgin, of Cill-Sgire, now Kil-
SKYRE, County of Meath. [Sixth Century.
entry regarding her, that we find, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 24th of March. The Bollandists have a mere notice of her feast, at the same date. ^ The Blessed Sgire, and her sister Corcaira Caoin, belonged to the
race of Fergus, son of Eochaidh Muighmhedhoin. 3 According to the Martyr- ology of Donegal,^ veneration was given, on this day, to Sgire, Virgin, of Cill-
and Round Tower, there is one in the col-
lection of sketches, made for the Irish Ord-
nance Survey for Galway County, and to be found in the Royal Irish Academy.
"^^
By the old Scholiast of ^ngus.
'''His feast is assigned to the I2th of
November, and to the 2nd of December.
3° See Lewis' "
p.
203.
3* See at p. 85.
33 See Archdall's " Monasticon Hibemi-
cum," p. 47.
s-t Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, see
pp. 84 to 87.
36<'s. Caminus sive Caninus de Inis- Keltra. "
Article hi.
Kelly, p. xix.
Sci]Ae tJi]\.
^
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Martii xxiv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 473.
nuator of yEngus,
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
86, 87.
s "S5it\e o Cill S5H\e 1 bjTeivMTiAtiAcli
Agtif An 1ai\cai\ mi'oe. H. I. 10. 124 a. " 30
Topographical Dictionary ii. , pp. 18, 19.
^ This saint was the of daughter
of Ireland," vol.
3' See "Britannia Sancta," part i. ,
Eugene, son to Carannan, son of Alild, son to Fergus, son of Eochard Moimedonius, according to the Genealogy of the Saints, and the Conti-
3S
««
Caminus de Inis-Kelltra. "
'\
Scire, Virgin, is the only
—
The Franciscan copy has
'
Edited by Rev. Dr.
946
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 24.
Sgire, in Meath. As if doubtful regarding her exact locality, the writer remarks, that there is, also, a Cill-Scires in Fera-Manach, or Fermanagh, in Ulster. The
parish of Kilskyre, or Kilskeer, is situated in the barony of Upper Kells, county of Meath. '^ The church and monastery in this place, and which
be " the church of St Scire," was founded at an Anglicised, early age,
may
and they were dedicated to St. Schirra. The present holy woman probably
founded a nunnery in Kilskyre, and lived in it. However, she is held in great veneration, at this place. 7 St. Skyria, of Kill-Skyria, assisted at the
great Council, which was held, a. d. 580. ^ She is named, as one of the principal saints of the race of Cumna, who met St. Columba, at the place, calledEasdra. Thisholywomandied,aboutthecloseofthesixthcentury,^ and her feast was celebrated, on the 24th of March. St. . ^ngus," the Martyrology of Tallagh, and the Calendar of Cashel, are authorities for that statement. In the Kalendar of Drummond, likewise, she is noticed. "
Article IV. —Reputed Festival of St. Montan, of Kill-mantain, County of Wicklow. [^Fifth Century. '] A feast has been assigned to St. Montan, of Killmantain, near the town of Wicklow, on this day. His Acts have been given, already, at the 2nd of this month.
Article V. —St. Lughaidh, son of Eochaidh, of Cluain-laogh, NOW Clonleigh, County of Donegal. [Si'xf/i Century. '] A holy man is recorded, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 24th of March, as Lughaidh, mac Eachach. He is classed, among the disciples of St. Columkille. '' The Bollandists pass him over, with a few brief remarks. 3 We are told, that LugaidMocu-Theimne,or"thesonofTeimne," wasthesonofEochaid, son of Ulan, son to Eogan, son to Niall of the Nine Hostages, as his paternal pedigreehasbeentraced,intheGenealogiesoftheIrishSaints. s Hewasa relation of St. Columba,^ and his companion, when the latter first set out on hisvoyagetotheshoresofBritain. Asweareinformed,bytheMartyrology of Tallagh, this saint belonged to Cluain Laigh. This place is at present
" The lustrous couple
Who hath been washed with
arduous repentance,
Scire the gentle, who loved fast«
ing,
The fervent pious Mochta. "
MS. Note in Wm. M. Hennessy's copy of the Donegal Martyrology, and appended at this passage.
^ It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey
"
Townland Maps for the County of Meath, Sheets 9, lo, 15, 16, 23. The townland, so called, is on the two latter Sheets.
" "In Hibernia, the Holy Virgin Scire of this parish will be found, in Rev. A. and the Holy Confessors, Mochta and
7 A very interesting and complete account
"Dioceseof Ancientand went to Christ. "— Meath, Comin, Companions
Cogan's
Modern," vol. ii. , chap, xvi, pp. 321 to 326.
^
Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Farannani,
Saints," p. 8. — Article v.
' Edited Rev. Dr. by
nioe," XV. Februarii. Vita S.
Kelly, p. xix. The Franciscan copy has tugAio
cap. vii. , p. 337.
9 See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of mAc eAcliAi.
vol.
3 See "Acta fessor O'Looney : saints, p. 473,
Meath, xxvi. , p. 147.
i. , chap
Thaumaturga. " Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columba? ,
Ancient and
=* See " Trias Colgan's
Modern,"
" The following extract from the " Leab-
V. I5e. kl. A. W tAtiAmAiM liroAcTi i:iMpii5 eclA Aitioecli
Sci^ve CAin ca]\ c^xeDAn
mochcA
harBreac" of the " copy
cap. x. , num. 74, p. 491.
and its
English translation—, were furnished by Pro- Martii xxiv.
