postfixed to his name in the Tallagh
Martyrology
be interpreted
" tosignifySacerdos,meaning apriest.
" tosignifySacerdos,meaning apriest.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
1.
5.
T.
C.
D.
, St.
Samson is noted, at this date.
There was an office of Three Lessons for St.
Samson, Bishop and Confessor, at the Fifth of the August Kalends, or 28th of July, according to the Calendar in the Trinity College Manuscript, Dublin, classed B.
3.
18, 19.
Parts i.
andii.
of the Sarum Breviary, England.
This is mentioned in the second part.
His festival is noted
at this same
in the of 8° of Ado,81 of 82
of Martyrology,
many
8* at the 28th of
place Sampson, Bishop,
Saussay,
date,
83 and of
Martyrologies Usuard,
others. St. Samson has a
Bucelin, in the Roman
July. June
Dean 86 of 87 of Rev. Alban Cressy, Bishop Challenor,
at the 28th of
in the Saurum 8* In the succinct Breviary.
DolaeSampsonisepiscopi,qui
with
tation, is in a tolerably perfect state. On
Responses,
margin
Piety,"
of the Manuscript, at St.
book xi. , chap, xxviii. , pp. 252, 253. 8? See "A Memorial of British
the
Patrick's office, there are additional glosses.
80 Thus " In Britannia minori, Dolo :
monasterio, S. Samsonis episcopi et con- fessoris. "
81 One copy (Morinensis) has: "In Bri- tannia minore Dolo monasterio, S. Sam-
sonis episcopi et confessoris, cujus beatitu-
pp. 109, no.
" See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs
and other principal Saints," vol. vii. , July xxviii.
8s> See "Vies des Saints pour tous les Jours de l'Annde," tome iv. , xxviii* Jour de Juillet, p. 277.
nam cuminnumeris refulgeat virtutibus, speciali-
9° See "Lives of the vol. [Saints,"
July 20th, p. 602.
dinem miraculorum gloria testatur ;
vii. ,
For St.
there was a
proper prayer,
Calendar, prefixed to the " Heures de Nostre-Dame a l'usage du Mans," we find the feast of S. Samson, at Jvillet 28. At the 28th of July, likewise, in all the saint-writers, the festival of St. Samson is noted ;
Rohrbacher,89 and of Rev. S. Baring-Gould. 9°
There can be no doubt, that this celebrated saint was one of the most perfect
and admirable prelates in his day ; for, he laboured with unremitting zeal to extend the kingdom of Christ upon earth. It seems incredible, how he had
been able to accomplish such great things for God's glory, while he brought so many souls on the road to salvation. The great secret lay in the care he had for his own personal sanctification j and, his whole life is filled with examples of those solid virtues, which from youth he so perseveringly culti- vated. With him self-government was thoroughly predominant, and he never
copi in dup. , iii. lect. " See ibid. , p. 118.
"
? 7 Thus:
sanctorum Brandani et Maclouii discipulus, Gallicanam—monarchiam mentis suis illus- trat. VV. " Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 207.
78 Among the Trinity College Antiphona- riums, classed B. 1. 3. , there is a notice, at this date, that his office as a Bishop and Confessor contained ix. Lessons. Also, in that classed B. 1. 4. , and B. 1. 5. , similar information is given, with allusion to its being a Duplex, and having an Invitatorium. A " Breviarium Romanum," classed B. 3. 9. , and another B. 3. 13. , have our saint on their Calendars at this date.
79 The page of its Calendar remaining is so stained or written in such pale ink, as to be almost illegible. In many instances, the characters are quite effaced. In it, an office for St. Patrick, consisting of Nine Lessons,
Antiphons, and musical no-
ter tamen mortuos tres ante obitum, unum
vero post ad vitam perduxit, quod postre- mum Aurelianensibus innotuit miraculum. " In the more ancient copies, however, the name of St. Samson does not appear to have
received either notice or insertion. 82 "
as in the works of
Butler,
88 ofTAbbd
In his MartyrologiumBenedictinum. "
83 "
In his Martyrologium Gallicanum. "
8*Thus: "InBritanniamiuorisanc—ti Sampsoni Episcopi et Confessoris. "
" Martyrologium Romanum Gregorii XIII. jussu editum Urbani VIII. et ClementisX. ," p. 109. Romae, 1878, fol.
8$ A new edition of this work has been
edited by Rev. Francis Procter, A. M. ,
and Rev. Christopher Wordsworth, A. M. ,
and it was published at Cambridge, 1879, 1882, and 1886, in three 8vo volumes, under
'*
K See his " of Church-History Brittany,"
the title to each Fasciculus of
ad Usum Insignis Ecclesiae Sarum. " See Fasc. iii. , col. 557.
Breviarium
July 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 433
ceasedtowaragainsteverytemptationtosin. Inprayerandretreat,heloved to spend a great part of his precious time ; while such habits served to refresh his soul for the active pursuits of his most useful ministry. Not only Chris- tians but pagans were brought by him to a sense of their evil ways. During Lent,heretiredfromallconversationwithmen. Hesoughtsomeremote place,wherehemightconversewithGodalone. Inhisselectedsolitude,he was miraculously sustained until Easter came round, by offering the Divine Oblation, that is to say, by partaking solely of the Blessed Sacrament. This he constantly received, and to practise the virtue of mortification in a super- natural manner, without any other food, he remained for several successive days. His gift of miracles was often exercised. He gave sight to the blind, he cleansed the lepers, and he cast out devils. Even, he is related to have raisedthedeadtolife. ThemostnotedhagiographershaveplacedtheActsof St. Samson among their sacred biographies, nor can we conceive any that are more edifying and instructive. To recount all that has been written regarding him should require a still greater detail, than could well be presented in the foregoing narrative.
Article II. —St. Colman, or Comhghall, of Gabla liuin, or Gob-
in Dartraighe Coininnsi. In the of 1 we Martyrology Tallagh,
halliuin,
find entered at the 28th of July, Colman, of Gabla liuin. Although the names are quite different, we cannot doubt but one and the same saint is
2
meant in a later Calendar. In the Martyrology of Donegal, at this same
date, the name recorded is Comhghall, of Gobhal-liuin, in Dartraighe Cin- innsi. This district is at the head of Loch Eirne, adds the Calendarist. It is identified with Galloon parish, in the county of Fermanagh. 3 In one instance, there is mention of an Abbot * of Cluain-mac-Nois, and of Daim- hinis, said to have belonged to the sept of Dartraighe Daimhinsi, which meansDartryofDevenish. But,wearetoldonhighauthority,thatthisis clearly a mistake for Dartraighe-Coininnsi,s which was an ancient name for
6
There is a townland called Gubalaun, in the parish of Rossinver, barony of Rosclogher,
last named was also called 8 and Dartry,
the barony of Dartry, in the south-west of Monaghan County.
and of Leitrim. ? The county
barony
sometimes Dartraighe Mag-Fhlannchaidh 9 in West Breifne, to the north of
10 I incline to the sought for within this latter district.
the
saint's must be place
Leitrim
County.
opinion,
present
"
Article ii. — Edited by Rev. Dr. this territory. See Dr. O'Donovan's Leah*
Kelly, p. xxx.
2 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves. See
h&\\ na j;-Ce^\c, or the Book of Rights, p. 153, n. (i).
Appendix to the Introduction, p. xlvii. , and pp. 204, 205.
6
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
3 See " Letters containing Information re-
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (x), pp. 510, 511, 7 See " General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, Parishes and Baro-
nies of Ireland," p. 521.
8 See " The Poems of Topographical
John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," edited by Dr. John O'Dono- van, p. xxxvii. , n. 268.
9 This was the Mac Clancy family name,
They are now more generally called Clancy, without the prefix of Mac.
10 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (d), p. 679, and
lative to the Antiquities of the County of
Fermanagh, collected during the Progress of
the Irish Ordnance in Survey
1834-5. " Letter of John O'Donovan, dated March
26th, 1835, p. 127.
4 This was Martin, a learned scribe who
died A. D. 867. See Colgan's "Trias Thau- maturga," Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. Brigidae, cap. 2, p. 632.
5 According to O'Dubhagain, the sept of O'Baeigheallain—now O'Boylan—ruled in
IE
434 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 28.
Article III. —St. Lenican or Liuican, said to be of Killucan,
CountyofWestmeath. Inthe of as 1 St. Martyrology Tallagh, published,
Lenican—probably a typographical error—is entered on this day. But, in
2
the Martyrology of Donegal, at the 28th of July, is inserted, Liuican.
Marianus O'Gorman and the Martyrology of Tallagh seem cited, in confirma- tion of this latter statement. The Rev. Mervyn Archdall 3 and Rev. Anthony Cogan state, that St. Luican founded an abbey at Killucan or Killuquin, in the barony of Farbill, a few miles east of Mullingar, in the county of West- meath, and at an early period. 4
Article IV. —St. Furudrain, or Furadhran. At the 28th of July, 12
the Martyrology of Tallagh enters Furudrainus, and that of Donegal records a festival, in honour of St. Furadhran, without any further designation, unless the letter S.
postfixed to his name in the Tallagh Martyrology be interpreted
" tosignifySacerdos,meaning apriest. "
Article V. —St. Uisseoit, of Druim Uisseoit. We find recorded
1
intheMartyrologyofTallagh, atthe28thofJuly,thatvenerationwasgiven
to a saint named Uisseoit. At the same date, in the of 2 Martyrology Donegal,
the name is entered as Uis-seoit, of Druim Uisseoit. Wherever this place
was situated, it appears to have derived its name from the present saint.
However, we cannot find any near approach to it in spelling, among the etymons -of localities, in any part of Ireland.
1
Article VI. —St. Celsus. The simple entry, Celsus, appears in the
of 2 at the 28th of Moreover, Marianus O'Gorman Martyrology Donegal, July.
seems to be cited, as authority for this statement ; but, we have no means left for discovering who this holy man had been, or when he flourished.
Article VII. —Festival of St. Theophilus. In the ancient Irish
also vol. vii. Ind Locorum,
by
pp.
Article ill. Kelly, p. xxx.
a
x
p. 46. Edited by Rev. Dr.
—ex ibid. ,
Edited
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. •204, 205.
3 See "Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 721.
4 See "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and •Modern," vol. iii. , chap, lxxiv. , p. 579.
In the
Breac "copy is the following stanza; the
Article iv. — ' Edited
cAm-olech
Dr. 3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Kelly, p. xxx.
by
Edited by Rev. Dr.
204, 205. Article v.
Kelly, p. xxx.
—x
2
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
204, 205.
Article vi. — ' A note
by
Rev. Dr.
ToddstatesatCelsus "Thisnameandthe :
next, with the authorities annexed, are in the second hand. "
p.
cxii.
2" It is thus prin—ted :
Rev.
2
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
"
Leabhar translation int—o English is by Whitley
Stokes, LL. D.
1 fAt>bub Acobai r\
ConArluaguo
Ceophil cop oip Ainglech pancAleo LAint>pecVi.
" withhis radiant
Vast is his aid, hosting :
Theophilus,—angelic tower ofgold : Pantaleo the lucid. " "Transactions of the Royal
Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series,
vol. i. , i. On the Calendar of Oengus, part
204, 205. Article vii.
—
«
:
pus antiochiae. " p. Ibid. , exxi.
Teophil . i.
episco-
July 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 435
Church, there was a festival at the 28th of July, to commemorate St. Theo- philus,aswefind,fromthe"Feilire"r ofSt. JEngus. Acommentis added,2 which may help to identify him. The Bollandists have a festival for a St. Theophilus and for other holy Martyrs, at Laodicea, for this date. 3 Their ac- count is taken from the Martyrology of St. Jerome ; yet, little seems to be known regarding these soldiers of Christ.
Article VIII. —Festival of St. Pantaleon, Martyr. At the 28th
of intheancientIrishChurch,wefindintheMFeilire"l ofSt. July,
^Engus, thatSt. Pantaleonwashonouredwithacommemoration. Ascholionaffixed
states, he was a martyr, and that he suffered in Nicomedia. 2 This entry seems to have been taken from the ancient copies of St. Jerome's Martyr- ology. However, the Bollandists,3 who refer to his commemoration at this date, remark, that in the Roman Martyrology,4 his feast is assigned to the 27th of July, on which day they have also treated his Acts,3 and at con- siderable length.
Article IX. —Reputed Feast of St. Tessan, or Tressan. The entry
of St. Tessan's feast by Camerarius, at the 28th of July, is supposed by the
1
Bollandists as having reference to St. Tressan, the brother of St. Gibrian,
and whose festival more belongs to the 7 th of 2 At this properly February.
date, the Acts of St. Tressan have been already inserted. Those of St. Gibrian may be found, at the 8th of May,3 which is the date for his festival.
Article X. —Reputed Feast for a Translation of St. Livinus'
Relics, Ghent, Belgium. In his Menologium Scotorum, Thomas Dempster, at the 25th of July, has a Feast for the Translation of St. Livinus' Relics at Ghent. 1 The chief festival for this renowned saint is held on the 1 2 th of November, at which date his Life may be seen.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. ,
XIII. ," &c, p. 108. Romse, 1878, fol. 5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
xxviii. De Sanctis
Laodi-
cenis in Phrygia, Theophilo, Auxentio, Julii xxvii. De S. Pantaleone Martyre
Julii
Martyribus
vi. ,
Prudentio, Philippo, Alexandra, Zotico, Nicomedise in Bithynia. There is a Previous
Bessia, Secunda e—t Macario, p. 546. Commentary in six sections and in seventy- *-
Article viii. See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu-
four paragraphs. The Acts proper are com prised in three chapters and in thirty para-
script Series, vol. i. , part i.
On the Calen-
graphs. follows.
An Appendix of other documents
dar of
See — 397 to 429. pp.
cxii. 2 See ibid. , p. cxxi.
Oengus, p.
"
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Julii xxviii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 500.
x
Articleix. See ActaSanctorum,"
tomus vi. , Julii xxviii. Among the preter- mitted saints, p. 500.
2
See at that date, in the Second Volume of this work, Art. i.
:
4 Thus " Nicomedise passio sancti Pan-
taleonis Medici, qui a Maximiniano Impera-
tore pro fide Christi tentus, et equulei poena
ac lampadarum exustione cruciatus, sed
inter hsec Domino sibi apparente refrigeratus,
tandem ictu gladii martyrium consummavit. " Forbes' —" Martyrologium Romanum Gregorii p. 206.
3 See at that date, the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. ii.
—"— Article x. 'Thus: Gandavi Livini
Archiepiscopi translatio. VV. " Bishop
"
Kalendars of Scottish Saints,"
436 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
CtoentjMttntl) JBap of 3ulg*
ARTICLE I. —ST. OLAVE, OR ST. OLAF, KING OF NORWAY, AND MARTYR.
[TENTH AND ELEVENTH CENTURIES. ] CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—AUTHORITIES FOR THE ACTS OF ST. OLAVE—OTHER DISTINGUISHED KINGS, NAMED OLAVE OR OLAF, HIS CONTEMPORARIES—THE DESCENT OF ST. OLAF —HIS BIRTH—EARLY DISPOSITIONS AND DESIRES FOR ADVENTURE.
the present warrior-saint had been greatly venerated in Ireland—
—
fact ; while his veneration in the Irish-Scandinavian parts goes back to a
and THAT
especially by
his Northman
compatriots
is a well ascertained
period, not far removed from the date assigned for his death. Regarding his early history, we fear there are various mistakes and misrepresentations ; while there can hardly be a doubt, that his after career has been coloured with some fanciful accounts, and with several incorrect traditions of the Norwegian Sagas, which in very many instances are flavoured with inventions and romances, that only remotely approach probability, even when they are most prolix in detail. Among a rude people, imaginative stories have greater charms for their minds, than that real information to be derived from a critical and dry investigation of historical evidence. These observations we fear
closely to the Sagas and Eddas of the North. Like many of our
apply
ownbardiccompositions whichforhardihoodofstatementaresodogmatic and circumstantial—they have served to raise a false mirage over the periods, persons, places and subjects of which they treat. However, there seems to be a fair apology—if not a just reason—for classing the present celebrated king among our Irish Saints. According to the traditions of the Catholic missionaries of Norway and of Lapland, St. Olaf was either born in Ireland, or descended from Irish
ble, nor have we been able to verify them from any of the northern records, which have come under our notice.
In another part of this work, allusion has been made to the authorities on Norwegian and Scandinavian history, that are usually quoted, to give any intelligible account, regarding the early state of society and of life, among
2
those Northern nations.
the tenth century, the Christian religion had been introduced into Norway, bytheirfamousKingOlafI. , sumamedTrygveson,whohadhimselfbecome a convert to Christianity. In the beginning of the eleventh century, the same zeal for religion distinguished King Olaf II. , son to Harald, sometimes owing to his corpulency designated the Stout, or the Fat, but in Church history known as
Article l—Chapter 1. —
to a letter of Rev. Robert Foran, C. C. , the 23rd of April, Art. i. Life of the Blessed Waterford, addressed to the author, and Bryan Boroimha, King of Munster, Monarch dated December 18th, 1872. of Ireland, and Martyr, chap. ii.
very
—
parents.
1 We know not if such traditions are relia-
There, it has been stated, that before the close of
According
2 See the Fourth Volume of this work, at
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 437
St. Olaf. With his personal career, we are now concerned. Long before
both of the foregoing distinguished potentates lived, their namesake, Olaf I. , a King of Sweden, flourished. He was likewise a convert to Christianity,* and he endeavoured to introduce it among his people there ; but these rebelled against him, and he was sacrificed to the idols of Upsal, so that the Church has commemorated him, also, at this very same day, as a saint and as a martyr. We must therefore be on our guard, not to confound the saint and martyr, King of Norway, Olaf II. , with the saint and martyr, King of Sweden, Olaf I. .
at this same
in the of 8° of Ado,81 of 82
of Martyrology,
many
8* at the 28th of
place Sampson, Bishop,
Saussay,
date,
83 and of
Martyrologies Usuard,
others. St. Samson has a
Bucelin, in the Roman
July. June
Dean 86 of 87 of Rev. Alban Cressy, Bishop Challenor,
at the 28th of
in the Saurum 8* In the succinct Breviary.
DolaeSampsonisepiscopi,qui
with
tation, is in a tolerably perfect state. On
Responses,
margin
Piety,"
of the Manuscript, at St.
book xi. , chap, xxviii. , pp. 252, 253. 8? See "A Memorial of British
the
Patrick's office, there are additional glosses.
80 Thus " In Britannia minori, Dolo :
monasterio, S. Samsonis episcopi et con- fessoris. "
81 One copy (Morinensis) has: "In Bri- tannia minore Dolo monasterio, S. Sam-
sonis episcopi et confessoris, cujus beatitu-
pp. 109, no.
" See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs
and other principal Saints," vol. vii. , July xxviii.
8s> See "Vies des Saints pour tous les Jours de l'Annde," tome iv. , xxviii* Jour de Juillet, p. 277.
nam cuminnumeris refulgeat virtutibus, speciali-
9° See "Lives of the vol. [Saints,"
July 20th, p. 602.
dinem miraculorum gloria testatur ;
vii. ,
For St.
there was a
proper prayer,
Calendar, prefixed to the " Heures de Nostre-Dame a l'usage du Mans," we find the feast of S. Samson, at Jvillet 28. At the 28th of July, likewise, in all the saint-writers, the festival of St. Samson is noted ;
Rohrbacher,89 and of Rev. S. Baring-Gould. 9°
There can be no doubt, that this celebrated saint was one of the most perfect
and admirable prelates in his day ; for, he laboured with unremitting zeal to extend the kingdom of Christ upon earth. It seems incredible, how he had
been able to accomplish such great things for God's glory, while he brought so many souls on the road to salvation. The great secret lay in the care he had for his own personal sanctification j and, his whole life is filled with examples of those solid virtues, which from youth he so perseveringly culti- vated. With him self-government was thoroughly predominant, and he never
copi in dup. , iii. lect. " See ibid. , p. 118.
"
? 7 Thus:
sanctorum Brandani et Maclouii discipulus, Gallicanam—monarchiam mentis suis illus- trat. VV. " Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 207.
78 Among the Trinity College Antiphona- riums, classed B. 1. 3. , there is a notice, at this date, that his office as a Bishop and Confessor contained ix. Lessons. Also, in that classed B. 1. 4. , and B. 1. 5. , similar information is given, with allusion to its being a Duplex, and having an Invitatorium. A " Breviarium Romanum," classed B. 3. 9. , and another B. 3. 13. , have our saint on their Calendars at this date.
79 The page of its Calendar remaining is so stained or written in such pale ink, as to be almost illegible. In many instances, the characters are quite effaced. In it, an office for St. Patrick, consisting of Nine Lessons,
Antiphons, and musical no-
ter tamen mortuos tres ante obitum, unum
vero post ad vitam perduxit, quod postre- mum Aurelianensibus innotuit miraculum. " In the more ancient copies, however, the name of St. Samson does not appear to have
received either notice or insertion. 82 "
as in the works of
Butler,
88 ofTAbbd
In his MartyrologiumBenedictinum. "
83 "
In his Martyrologium Gallicanum. "
8*Thus: "InBritanniamiuorisanc—ti Sampsoni Episcopi et Confessoris. "
" Martyrologium Romanum Gregorii XIII. jussu editum Urbani VIII. et ClementisX. ," p. 109. Romae, 1878, fol.
8$ A new edition of this work has been
edited by Rev. Francis Procter, A. M. ,
and Rev. Christopher Wordsworth, A. M. ,
and it was published at Cambridge, 1879, 1882, and 1886, in three 8vo volumes, under
'*
K See his " of Church-History Brittany,"
the title to each Fasciculus of
ad Usum Insignis Ecclesiae Sarum. " See Fasc. iii. , col. 557.
Breviarium
July 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 433
ceasedtowaragainsteverytemptationtosin. Inprayerandretreat,heloved to spend a great part of his precious time ; while such habits served to refresh his soul for the active pursuits of his most useful ministry. Not only Chris- tians but pagans were brought by him to a sense of their evil ways. During Lent,heretiredfromallconversationwithmen. Hesoughtsomeremote place,wherehemightconversewithGodalone. Inhisselectedsolitude,he was miraculously sustained until Easter came round, by offering the Divine Oblation, that is to say, by partaking solely of the Blessed Sacrament. This he constantly received, and to practise the virtue of mortification in a super- natural manner, without any other food, he remained for several successive days. His gift of miracles was often exercised. He gave sight to the blind, he cleansed the lepers, and he cast out devils. Even, he is related to have raisedthedeadtolife. ThemostnotedhagiographershaveplacedtheActsof St. Samson among their sacred biographies, nor can we conceive any that are more edifying and instructive. To recount all that has been written regarding him should require a still greater detail, than could well be presented in the foregoing narrative.
Article II. —St. Colman, or Comhghall, of Gabla liuin, or Gob-
in Dartraighe Coininnsi. In the of 1 we Martyrology Tallagh,
halliuin,
find entered at the 28th of July, Colman, of Gabla liuin. Although the names are quite different, we cannot doubt but one and the same saint is
2
meant in a later Calendar. In the Martyrology of Donegal, at this same
date, the name recorded is Comhghall, of Gobhal-liuin, in Dartraighe Cin- innsi. This district is at the head of Loch Eirne, adds the Calendarist. It is identified with Galloon parish, in the county of Fermanagh. 3 In one instance, there is mention of an Abbot * of Cluain-mac-Nois, and of Daim- hinis, said to have belonged to the sept of Dartraighe Daimhinsi, which meansDartryofDevenish. But,wearetoldonhighauthority,thatthisis clearly a mistake for Dartraighe-Coininnsi,s which was an ancient name for
6
There is a townland called Gubalaun, in the parish of Rossinver, barony of Rosclogher,
last named was also called 8 and Dartry,
the barony of Dartry, in the south-west of Monaghan County.
and of Leitrim. ? The county
barony
sometimes Dartraighe Mag-Fhlannchaidh 9 in West Breifne, to the north of
10 I incline to the sought for within this latter district.
the
saint's must be place
Leitrim
County.
opinion,
present
"
Article ii. — Edited by Rev. Dr. this territory. See Dr. O'Donovan's Leah*
Kelly, p. xxx.
2 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves. See
h&\\ na j;-Ce^\c, or the Book of Rights, p. 153, n. (i).
Appendix to the Introduction, p. xlvii. , and pp. 204, 205.
6
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
3 See " Letters containing Information re-
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (x), pp. 510, 511, 7 See " General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, Parishes and Baro-
nies of Ireland," p. 521.
8 See " The Poems of Topographical
John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," edited by Dr. John O'Dono- van, p. xxxvii. , n. 268.
9 This was the Mac Clancy family name,
They are now more generally called Clancy, without the prefix of Mac.
10 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (d), p. 679, and
lative to the Antiquities of the County of
Fermanagh, collected during the Progress of
the Irish Ordnance in Survey
1834-5. " Letter of John O'Donovan, dated March
26th, 1835, p. 127.
4 This was Martin, a learned scribe who
died A. D. 867. See Colgan's "Trias Thau- maturga," Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. Brigidae, cap. 2, p. 632.
5 According to O'Dubhagain, the sept of O'Baeigheallain—now O'Boylan—ruled in
IE
434 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 28.
Article III. —St. Lenican or Liuican, said to be of Killucan,
CountyofWestmeath. Inthe of as 1 St. Martyrology Tallagh, published,
Lenican—probably a typographical error—is entered on this day. But, in
2
the Martyrology of Donegal, at the 28th of July, is inserted, Liuican.
Marianus O'Gorman and the Martyrology of Tallagh seem cited, in confirma- tion of this latter statement. The Rev. Mervyn Archdall 3 and Rev. Anthony Cogan state, that St. Luican founded an abbey at Killucan or Killuquin, in the barony of Farbill, a few miles east of Mullingar, in the county of West- meath, and at an early period. 4
Article IV. —St. Furudrain, or Furadhran. At the 28th of July, 12
the Martyrology of Tallagh enters Furudrainus, and that of Donegal records a festival, in honour of St. Furadhran, without any further designation, unless the letter S.
postfixed to his name in the Tallagh Martyrology be interpreted
" tosignifySacerdos,meaning apriest. "
Article V. —St. Uisseoit, of Druim Uisseoit. We find recorded
1
intheMartyrologyofTallagh, atthe28thofJuly,thatvenerationwasgiven
to a saint named Uisseoit. At the same date, in the of 2 Martyrology Donegal,
the name is entered as Uis-seoit, of Druim Uisseoit. Wherever this place
was situated, it appears to have derived its name from the present saint.
However, we cannot find any near approach to it in spelling, among the etymons -of localities, in any part of Ireland.
1
Article VI. —St. Celsus. The simple entry, Celsus, appears in the
of 2 at the 28th of Moreover, Marianus O'Gorman Martyrology Donegal, July.
seems to be cited, as authority for this statement ; but, we have no means left for discovering who this holy man had been, or when he flourished.
Article VII. —Festival of St. Theophilus. In the ancient Irish
also vol. vii. Ind Locorum,
by
pp.
Article ill. Kelly, p. xxx.
a
x
p. 46. Edited by Rev. Dr.
—ex ibid. ,
Edited
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. •204, 205.
3 See "Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 721.
4 See "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and •Modern," vol. iii. , chap, lxxiv. , p. 579.
In the
Breac "copy is the following stanza; the
Article iv. — ' Edited
cAm-olech
Dr. 3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Kelly, p. xxx.
by
Edited by Rev. Dr.
204, 205. Article v.
Kelly, p. xxx.
—x
2
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
204, 205.
Article vi. — ' A note
by
Rev. Dr.
ToddstatesatCelsus "Thisnameandthe :
next, with the authorities annexed, are in the second hand. "
p.
cxii.
2" It is thus prin—ted :
Rev.
2
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
"
Leabhar translation int—o English is by Whitley
Stokes, LL. D.
1 fAt>bub Acobai r\
ConArluaguo
Ceophil cop oip Ainglech pancAleo LAint>pecVi.
" withhis radiant
Vast is his aid, hosting :
Theophilus,—angelic tower ofgold : Pantaleo the lucid. " "Transactions of the Royal
Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series,
vol. i. , i. On the Calendar of Oengus, part
204, 205. Article vii.
—
«
:
pus antiochiae. " p. Ibid. , exxi.
Teophil . i.
episco-
July 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 435
Church, there was a festival at the 28th of July, to commemorate St. Theo- philus,aswefind,fromthe"Feilire"r ofSt. JEngus. Acommentis added,2 which may help to identify him. The Bollandists have a festival for a St. Theophilus and for other holy Martyrs, at Laodicea, for this date. 3 Their ac- count is taken from the Martyrology of St. Jerome ; yet, little seems to be known regarding these soldiers of Christ.
Article VIII. —Festival of St. Pantaleon, Martyr. At the 28th
of intheancientIrishChurch,wefindintheMFeilire"l ofSt. July,
^Engus, thatSt. Pantaleonwashonouredwithacommemoration. Ascholionaffixed
states, he was a martyr, and that he suffered in Nicomedia. 2 This entry seems to have been taken from the ancient copies of St. Jerome's Martyr- ology. However, the Bollandists,3 who refer to his commemoration at this date, remark, that in the Roman Martyrology,4 his feast is assigned to the 27th of July, on which day they have also treated his Acts,3 and at con- siderable length.
Article IX. —Reputed Feast of St. Tessan, or Tressan. The entry
of St. Tessan's feast by Camerarius, at the 28th of July, is supposed by the
1
Bollandists as having reference to St. Tressan, the brother of St. Gibrian,
and whose festival more belongs to the 7 th of 2 At this properly February.
date, the Acts of St. Tressan have been already inserted. Those of St. Gibrian may be found, at the 8th of May,3 which is the date for his festival.
Article X. —Reputed Feast for a Translation of St. Livinus'
Relics, Ghent, Belgium. In his Menologium Scotorum, Thomas Dempster, at the 25th of July, has a Feast for the Translation of St. Livinus' Relics at Ghent. 1 The chief festival for this renowned saint is held on the 1 2 th of November, at which date his Life may be seen.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. ,
XIII. ," &c, p. 108. Romse, 1878, fol. 5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
xxviii. De Sanctis
Laodi-
cenis in Phrygia, Theophilo, Auxentio, Julii xxvii. De S. Pantaleone Martyre
Julii
Martyribus
vi. ,
Prudentio, Philippo, Alexandra, Zotico, Nicomedise in Bithynia. There is a Previous
Bessia, Secunda e—t Macario, p. 546. Commentary in six sections and in seventy- *-
Article viii. See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu-
four paragraphs. The Acts proper are com prised in three chapters and in thirty para-
script Series, vol. i. , part i.
On the Calen-
graphs. follows.
An Appendix of other documents
dar of
See — 397 to 429. pp.
cxii. 2 See ibid. , p. cxxi.
Oengus, p.
"
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Julii xxviii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 500.
x
Articleix. See ActaSanctorum,"
tomus vi. , Julii xxviii. Among the preter- mitted saints, p. 500.
2
See at that date, in the Second Volume of this work, Art. i.
:
4 Thus " Nicomedise passio sancti Pan-
taleonis Medici, qui a Maximiniano Impera-
tore pro fide Christi tentus, et equulei poena
ac lampadarum exustione cruciatus, sed
inter hsec Domino sibi apparente refrigeratus,
tandem ictu gladii martyrium consummavit. " Forbes' —" Martyrologium Romanum Gregorii p. 206.
3 See at that date, the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. ii.
—"— Article x. 'Thus: Gandavi Livini
Archiepiscopi translatio. VV. " Bishop
"
Kalendars of Scottish Saints,"
436 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 29.
CtoentjMttntl) JBap of 3ulg*
ARTICLE I. —ST. OLAVE, OR ST. OLAF, KING OF NORWAY, AND MARTYR.
[TENTH AND ELEVENTH CENTURIES. ] CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—AUTHORITIES FOR THE ACTS OF ST. OLAVE—OTHER DISTINGUISHED KINGS, NAMED OLAVE OR OLAF, HIS CONTEMPORARIES—THE DESCENT OF ST. OLAF —HIS BIRTH—EARLY DISPOSITIONS AND DESIRES FOR ADVENTURE.
the present warrior-saint had been greatly venerated in Ireland—
—
fact ; while his veneration in the Irish-Scandinavian parts goes back to a
and THAT
especially by
his Northman
compatriots
is a well ascertained
period, not far removed from the date assigned for his death. Regarding his early history, we fear there are various mistakes and misrepresentations ; while there can hardly be a doubt, that his after career has been coloured with some fanciful accounts, and with several incorrect traditions of the Norwegian Sagas, which in very many instances are flavoured with inventions and romances, that only remotely approach probability, even when they are most prolix in detail. Among a rude people, imaginative stories have greater charms for their minds, than that real information to be derived from a critical and dry investigation of historical evidence. These observations we fear
closely to the Sagas and Eddas of the North. Like many of our
apply
ownbardiccompositions whichforhardihoodofstatementaresodogmatic and circumstantial—they have served to raise a false mirage over the periods, persons, places and subjects of which they treat. However, there seems to be a fair apology—if not a just reason—for classing the present celebrated king among our Irish Saints. According to the traditions of the Catholic missionaries of Norway and of Lapland, St. Olaf was either born in Ireland, or descended from Irish
ble, nor have we been able to verify them from any of the northern records, which have come under our notice.
In another part of this work, allusion has been made to the authorities on Norwegian and Scandinavian history, that are usually quoted, to give any intelligible account, regarding the early state of society and of life, among
2
those Northern nations.
the tenth century, the Christian religion had been introduced into Norway, bytheirfamousKingOlafI. , sumamedTrygveson,whohadhimselfbecome a convert to Christianity. In the beginning of the eleventh century, the same zeal for religion distinguished King Olaf II. , son to Harald, sometimes owing to his corpulency designated the Stout, or the Fat, but in Church history known as
Article l—Chapter 1. —
to a letter of Rev. Robert Foran, C. C. , the 23rd of April, Art. i. Life of the Blessed Waterford, addressed to the author, and Bryan Boroimha, King of Munster, Monarch dated December 18th, 1872. of Ireland, and Martyr, chap. ii.
very
—
parents.
1 We know not if such traditions are relia-
There, it has been stated, that before the close of
According
2 See the Fourth Volume of this work, at
July 29. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 437
St. Olaf. With his personal career, we are now concerned. Long before
both of the foregoing distinguished potentates lived, their namesake, Olaf I. , a King of Sweden, flourished. He was likewise a convert to Christianity,* and he endeavoured to introduce it among his people there ; but these rebelled against him, and he was sacrificed to the idols of Upsal, so that the Church has commemorated him, also, at this very same day, as a saint and as a martyr. We must therefore be on our guard, not to confound the saint and martyr, King of Norway, Olaf II. , with the saint and martyr, King of Sweden, Olaf I. .
