There, pious fervour will be generated or
increased
; and, especially, when intercession is made with those saints, in whose honour the pilgrimage had been undertaken.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
St^lgnei,orAelgnceus, Thesimpleentry,-^Ignei, is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the nth of May.
"^ At this date, theBollandists3 enter.
.
^ilgnseus.
ArticleXV. ReputedFestivalofSt. Cataldus,BishopofTaren- TUM, Italy. {Seventh Century. '] We are told, by the Bollandists,' that the Monk Michael, in the Capuan Kalendar, gives third place, at this date, to S. Cataldus Episcopus Confessor. Already have we treated about him, on the preceding day.
ArticleXVI. ReputedFestivalofVirgnoi,orVirgneus,Her- mit, Scotland. {Sixth and Seventh Centziries. '] At the nth of May—but noauthorityis specified—DempsterhastheFeastofVirgnoi,ahermit,at
noticed, also, by the Bollandists,3 who Latinize the name to Finulugus. festival in honour of Fionnlugh is recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal,'* as having been celebrated, on this day.
' The Franciscan copy enters piToLojo.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Maii xi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 6ii.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Article xiii. —' Edited by Rev. Dr Kelly, p. xxiii.
^ In the Franciscan copy, vire find m<iel- ooit).
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Maii xi. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 611.
Article xiv. — ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiii.
^ The Franciscan copy enters -Aeilgnei.
124, 125. — Article xi.
' See "Proceedings of Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSB. Series,
vol. i. , part i. , pp. 1 12, II3. ' See Art. iii.
Article xii. — ' Kelly, p. xxiii.
"Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Among the pretermitted saints,
by Rev.
^The Franciscan copy has it Colum p. 611.
CAin.
3 See
Maii xi, p. 6x1.
Article xv.
Edited
Dr.
3 See Maii xi.
"Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Among the pretermitted saints.
saints, p. 611. —
Article xvi. ' It is thus entered :
— tomus ii. , Maii xi.
'See "Acta Sanctorum," Among the pretermitted
" In
222 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May ii.
Murebulkmar," in his " Menologium Scoticuni. "^ For confirmation of this entry, he cites Adamnan, and this reference brings us to that St. Virgnous, who spent many years irreproachably in subjection to St. Columba ;3 and, he is said to have lived the life of a hermit in IMiuxbulcmar,* for twelve years. Although nothing more is known about him from other sources, according to ThomasDempster yet,thiswriterhadbeenabletoascertain,thathewrote
;
a " Visio de iVlorte S. Columbce,"—his master and teacher—in one Book, and
that he flourished a. d. 606. * This invention of Dempster appears to have been based on the account of Adamnan,' regarding that vision Virgnous had about the death of St. Columba,^ whom he survived. Virgnous is thought to have been identical with Fergna Brit, son to Failbe, Abbot of Hy, and con- cerning whom notices will be found, at the 2nd of March,9 in this work. The Bollandists '° notice, at this day, St. Virgneus eremita, in Murebulckmar
;
but, solely, on Dempster's authorit)'.
Article XVIL—Festival of Holy Job. At an early age, in the Irish Church, this holy man, so great a model of humility and patience, was vene- rated, and with a high eulogy, as we have already seen, in the Feilire of St. . ^ngus. ^ This day is there called Job's victory. ^ However, his chief feast is kept on the day preceding, when tlu's holy Prophet from the land of Hus,3 wasspeciallycommemorated. HisBook,amongthosesacredrecordsofthe Old Testament, must ever give the most edifying lessons of patience and humility to the pious reader. -t He is placed first, at the nth of May, in the Tallagh Martyrology,^ as the Bollandists remark. ^
Murebulkmar Virgnoi Eremits. " the Royal Irish Academy, "Irish Manuscript ' See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of
Scottish Saints," p. 199.
3 For this statement, Dempster quotes S.
Adamnanus, in " Vita S. Columbx," lib. iii. , cap. xxxi.
• This seems to be a mistake for Muirbulc- mar ; a name which does not appear to be known, at present ; but, it probably belonged to some bay. in or near to Ardnamurchan. In Prince O'Donnell's " Vita S. Columbte," he has it Bulgmara alias Murbulg. See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," lib. iii. , cap. Ix. , p. 442.
s See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 12, n. (f), p. 41, and lib. iii. , cap. 23, also n. (h), p. 237.
' He adds : '•^iartyrologii tabulis ascrip- tus non est, sed celebri cultu eum nostrates coiunt. "—" Ilistoria Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xix. , num. 11 70, P- 655-
7 This writer declares, that he had seen the vision inscribed on pages ; and, that he had also heard it related, by discreet seniors.
Oengus, by Dr. Whitley Stokes, p. Ixxix.
* The commentator takes care to explain the text of . (Fungus, by remarking, that it meant his victory over the devil, and without forgetfulness of God. Then follows in Irish, inc<in ]\ob^iff CAch -po^TOeiiion, thus trans- lated by Dr. Whitley Stokes into English, " When he won a battle over the devil. " Be- sides tlie scholiast enters in Latin, ". i. li- beratio iob de niartirio liberatio iob dolentis de martirio suo qui pasus est per xxx. annos sed temptatus est in . Ixx. ix. anno cetatis suk
et postea uixit . cxl. annis. "
3 So called from IIus, the son of Aram,
the son of Sem. See Genesis x. , 23. Some- times it is called Idumen, and sometimes Arabia, by the Holy Fathers. See R. P. Jacobi Tirini Antverpiani, e Societate Jesu, " Commentarius in Sacram Scriptu- ram," &c. Commentarius in lib. Job, tomus i. , cap. i. , n. , p. 168.
^ See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctonmi," tomus ii. , Maii x. De Sancto Jobo Propheta * See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," in Terra IIus. Eight paragraphs, pp. 494 to
Vita Quarta S. Columbre, lib. iii. , cap. xxiii. , and O'Donnell's Vita Quinta S. Columba^ lib. ii. , cap. cviii. , p. 429.
9 See volume iii. , Art. iv.
' See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Maii xi. Among the pretemiilted saints, Maii xi. Among the pretermitted feasts,
p, 612. — p. 611. Article xvii. ' Sec "Transactions of
'" See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
497-
5 In the Franciscan copy, the first entry
among the saints, specially classed as Irish, is 108 pp<Ne, at the v. of the Ides of May,
s
——
May 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. ii%
Clwelft! ) IBai? of iiflap*
ARTICLE I. —AILITIR, OR ELITIR, OF MUIC-INIS, LOUGH DERG, AND OF CLONMACNOISE, KING'S COUNTY.
ISIXTH CENTURY. ]
PLACES rendered sacred in connexion with God's holy servants, or by his saints' beatific presence, have always betn visited with pious veneration. Over and above the advantages to be derived, Trom any work, performed in a penitential spirit, or through a supernatural motive, additional good results, when undertaking a religious visit to holy places.
There, pious fervour will be generated or increased ; and, especially, when intercession is made with those saints, in whose honour the pilgrimage had been undertaken. The Festival of Ailithir, with a eulogy, is entered, at the 12th of May, in the Feilire ' of St. . ^ngus. His name is elsewhere found Latinized as Alitherius, seu Peregrinus de Mucinis. Yet, we cannot be assured, that this was his proper name. How- ever, from the sequel, it seems likely, that he has been identified with a holy man so named, and belonging to one of the ]\Iuskerrys, in the south of Ire- land. An entry, Ailitir Muccinsi, is found in the published Martyrology of Tallagh,^ and in the Franciscan copy,3 at the 12th of May. The Martyr- ology of Marianus O'Gorman notes, + at this date, likewise, Elithir of Muicinis, onLochDeirg(Derc),5nowLoughDerg,intheShannon. Itwouldseem, that both here, and at Clonmacnoise, his memory was held in veneration. ^ The word, Ailitir, or Elithir, signifies " a pilgrim ;" and, hence, it may not necessarily be a proper name. At the year 595, however, the Annals of the Four Masters 7 state, that Ailithir, Abbot of Cluain-mic-nois, died. He was the fourth Abbot, having succeeded Mac Nissi, who departed this life, on June the 1 2th, A. D. 585. ^ The Ailithir, there mentioned, has been identified with the present saint. The Annals of Ulster 9 record his death, at a. d. 598 ; while, those of Tighernach '° and the " Chronicum Scotorum " place it, at a. d. 599. The
Article i. — ' In the "Leabhar Breac" copy, we read :
diMAcui" cjvoch'OA
ccc. Alb •oonA|'cnAi OiLichii\ Ainm coenTOAi i^h ey\cc noeniTDAi T1a]^cai.
Thus translated into English, by Dr. Whitley Stokes: "Crucified Cyriacus with three hundred who accompanied him. Ailithir a lovable name, with sainted Ere Nascai. " On the Calendar of Oengus, "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu- script Series, vol. i. , part i. , p. Ixxix.
° EditedbyRev. Dr. Kelly,p. xxiv.
3 Thus given -diLiuhi^ muccnifi.
* See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Quarta Vita S. Columbce, n. 38.
5 In Irish, eiichVjX niuicinp ^'oja toe
081^5 Xiei^c.
* While recording these particulars, at the
12th of May, the Bollandists express a wish for further information, and add, as a con- jecture : " Alitherius seu Peregrinus de cella duorum Peregrinorum in Garnina, in Occi- dua plaga Connactise et in Cluain-geise in Campo Geise in Magh-lheagha, cognatusest Muadani Peregrini de cella Muadani, in monte Corbre ; et ferunt germanos fuisse. Vel est de Corco-niogha et nomen ejus Lugadius. " See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Mali xii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 2.
' See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. , pp. 220, 221.
* See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 3, n. (e).
5 Thus : " a. d. 598. Ailitir, Abbas Cluana mac Nois pausat. "—" Annates Ultonienses. " p. 34. See Rev. Dr. Charles O'Conor's "Re- rum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv.
'° In Irish, at 599, we find : Ailill, Ah. cIuaiia niAC Tloif tJAUfAC. tdo t11ui-C|\Ai'ohi
224 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May li.
latterauthoritystates,thathisfamilywasoftheMuscraidhe. " Thisday,the Martyrology of Donegal " records a veneration paid to Elitir, of Muic-inis, in Loch Derg-derc. Under that name, it is difficult to find it there, as it does not appear, on the Irish Ordnance Survey Maps. Acts of pilgrimage pro- cure many graces for the soul, and sometimes even miraculous cures for bodily ills ; while, they have an atoning effect, through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ. '3
Article IL—Erc, or Ercus, Nasca, of Tullylish, County of Down. In the Feilire ' of St. ^ngus, there is a commemoration of " sainted Erc Nascai," at the 12th of May. We are informed, that Earc descended, from the race of Art Corb, son to Fiacha Suighdhe. ^ There appears to be some difficulty, not alone in determining the period when that saint lived, and what had been the station he occupied, among our holy personages ; but, even, the individuality ofthe subject is doubtful, as those entries of our calendars in refer- ence to him are conflicting. Thus, the simple entry of Nasc3 occurs, at this date, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh,4 and, in the Franciscan copy, it is nearly similar. s Nevertheless, the Bollandists,^ quoting such authority, have Ercus Nasca de Talach-leis, on the same day. This place has been identified with Tullylish, in Lower Iveagh. This parish and that of Donaghcloney formedaterritory,whichwasancientlycalledClan-Connell. 7 Theparishof Tullylish was formerly part of the property of the Maginnis family, Lords of Iveagh ; but, in consequence of the part taken by the head of that family in 1641, it was declared forfeit to the crown. In it, the remains of several ancient
and, at TuUyhoa, there are extensive ruins, supposed by some, to have been those of an abbey. 9 The River Bann passes, in a winding course, through Tullylish parish, the soil of which is fertile and highly improved, while the scenery is very beautiful. In the Franciscan copy
ofthe Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 12th of May, we have the entry of Here ;'° while, immediately over it, and the proper name Nasc, we find the comment, i. e. , in Tilaig Leis. " This parish includes 11,707a. or. ip. , and probablyinthetownlandproper"hadbeenerectedhisancientchurch. The Martyrology of Donegal '3 mentions, that on this day, veneration was given to Here Nasca,^4 of Tulach-lis, in Ui Eachach Uladh. At the 12th of May,'S
forts ^ are to be traced
;
t)o. See ibid. , tomus ii. , p. i6i.
"See William M. Hennessy's "Chroni-
cum Scotorum," pp. 66, 67.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
124, 125.
'3 See Rev. Sylvester Malone's "Church
' See Rev. William Reeves' "Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appen- dix EE. , n. (m), p. 304.
*The largest of these is that at Banford, on the River Bann. On it, a Protestant church is built, and the general outlines can be traced, although the ramparts are now levelled.
Histoiy of Ireland," chap, xv. , p. 382. First Edition.
Article II. —'
"
Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 658, 659.
Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of '" Thus written in Irish lle]\c.
See
Transactions of the
'
" Dictionary See Lewis' Topographical
" Thus set down . 1. 1 CiIolij leif.
^ See the O'Clerys' "Martyrology of " See it sliown, on the "Ordnance Sur- Donegal," Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and vey Townland Maps for the County of Reeves, pp. 124, 125. Down," sheet 26. The parish itself is
3 Immediately preceding it, however, we described on sheets 19, 20, 26, 27.
Oengus, p. Ixxix.
have the entry " Erc i maigh Leis," which must have been another name for Tully- lish.
* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
s The writing in Irish is 11 <i]'ci.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii.
Among the pretermitted saints, p. 2.
'^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 124, 125.
'* In a note. Dr. Todd says, at Here Nasca : " The more recent hand adds here, "Secundum Mart. Taml. e<si\c a tHuig bciy 1U\i'ci. Earc, in Magh-lis, Nasci. "
's See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
— —
May 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAJATS.
225
the Natalis of St. Ere, Confessor, in Ireland, is thus entered in the Kalendar of Drummond. '^
Article III. Reputed Festival of St. Erca, a Virgin. It seems to us, that we can hardly separate St. Erca, said to have been a virgin, from the former holy personage; in the first place, because the names Ere, or Earc, are so nearly similar with Erca, and, in the second place, because both festi- vals are recorded on the same date. Thus, do we read, that St. Erca, a virgin, whose feast is held on the 12th of May, was the daughter of Ernin, son to Trian, son of Dunius, son to Eochod, son of Bronfinn, son to Eugene, sonofArtcorb,sonofFiachSuighdhe,founderoftheDeciesfamily. ^ Here again, her race is derived from a common progenitor with Ere, or Earc, to whom allusion has been previously made.
Article IV. Reputed Feast of St. Bearnosga, of Tullylish, County of Down. There can scarcely be a doubt, that under the present form of name, we are to recognise Nasca of Tulaeh Leis ; but, we are at a loss to learn, if he should be regarded as identical with, or distinct from. Ere, Earc, or Erca. We suspect a confounding of two diverse individuals, by our Martyrologists. The Rev. William Reeves appears to have had, from a different copy of the Donegal Martyrology, than from that one afterwards edited by him, an account of Bearnosga—called Bearnasga in his calendar of Tullach-lis, or "fort of the hill," in Iveagh, of Ulidia. ' Already has sufficient allusion been made to this locality, in our previous notice.
Article V. St. Lugid, or Lughaedh, of Drumiskin, County of Louth, and said to have been Priest, of Tigh Luta, in Fotharta- MORA. {_Supposed to have lived in the Fifth Century. '] We have not been able to clear up doubts which obtrude, when treating about this saint's his- tory. Some of the Irish Martyrologies assign a festival for St. Lugaedh, or Lugad, at this day. Thus, at the 12th of May, we find entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' as also, in that of Marianus O'Gorman, the name of Lughaeth, or Lugadh, Mac Aengusa. ^ This latter is said to have been the celebrated King of Munster, who was baptized by St. , Patrick ;3 and, who is related to have left a very numerous posterity of sons, many of whom are ranked among the'saints. 4 According to such supposition, the mother of our saint should be Ethnea, daughter to Crimthann, King of Leinster. His brothers were Eochadh, Felemidh, Cronan, Olild, Bressal, who, with others,
The Franciscan copy has LugAech ITlAC OenjufA.
3 See his Life, in the Third Volume of this Article hi. — ' See Colgan's "Acta work, at the 17th of March, Art. i. , chap. xix.
Scottish Saints," p. 13.
"^ Thus : " iv. Idus.
ArticleXV. ReputedFestivalofSt. Cataldus,BishopofTaren- TUM, Italy. {Seventh Century. '] We are told, by the Bollandists,' that the Monk Michael, in the Capuan Kalendar, gives third place, at this date, to S. Cataldus Episcopus Confessor. Already have we treated about him, on the preceding day.
ArticleXVI. ReputedFestivalofVirgnoi,orVirgneus,Her- mit, Scotland. {Sixth and Seventh Centziries. '] At the nth of May—but noauthorityis specified—DempsterhastheFeastofVirgnoi,ahermit,at
noticed, also, by the Bollandists,3 who Latinize the name to Finulugus. festival in honour of Fionnlugh is recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal,'* as having been celebrated, on this day.
' The Franciscan copy enters piToLojo.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Maii xi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 6ii.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Article xiii. —' Edited by Rev. Dr Kelly, p. xxiii.
^ In the Franciscan copy, vire find m<iel- ooit).
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Maii xi. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 611.
Article xiv. — ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiii.
^ The Franciscan copy enters -Aeilgnei.
124, 125. — Article xi.
' See "Proceedings of Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSB. Series,
vol. i. , part i. , pp. 1 12, II3. ' See Art. iii.
Article xii. — ' Kelly, p. xxiii.
"Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Among the pretermitted saints,
by Rev.
^The Franciscan copy has it Colum p. 611.
CAin.
3 See
Maii xi, p. 6x1.
Article xv.
Edited
Dr.
3 See Maii xi.
"Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Among the pretermitted saints.
saints, p. 611. —
Article xvi. ' It is thus entered :
— tomus ii. , Maii xi.
'See "Acta Sanctorum," Among the pretermitted
" In
222 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May ii.
Murebulkmar," in his " Menologium Scoticuni. "^ For confirmation of this entry, he cites Adamnan, and this reference brings us to that St. Virgnous, who spent many years irreproachably in subjection to St. Columba ;3 and, he is said to have lived the life of a hermit in IMiuxbulcmar,* for twelve years. Although nothing more is known about him from other sources, according to ThomasDempster yet,thiswriterhadbeenabletoascertain,thathewrote
;
a " Visio de iVlorte S. Columbce,"—his master and teacher—in one Book, and
that he flourished a. d. 606. * This invention of Dempster appears to have been based on the account of Adamnan,' regarding that vision Virgnous had about the death of St. Columba,^ whom he survived. Virgnous is thought to have been identical with Fergna Brit, son to Failbe, Abbot of Hy, and con- cerning whom notices will be found, at the 2nd of March,9 in this work. The Bollandists '° notice, at this day, St. Virgneus eremita, in Murebulckmar
;
but, solely, on Dempster's authorit)'.
Article XVIL—Festival of Holy Job. At an early age, in the Irish Church, this holy man, so great a model of humility and patience, was vene- rated, and with a high eulogy, as we have already seen, in the Feilire of St. . ^ngus. ^ This day is there called Job's victory. ^ However, his chief feast is kept on the day preceding, when tlu's holy Prophet from the land of Hus,3 wasspeciallycommemorated. HisBook,amongthosesacredrecordsofthe Old Testament, must ever give the most edifying lessons of patience and humility to the pious reader. -t He is placed first, at the nth of May, in the Tallagh Martyrology,^ as the Bollandists remark. ^
Murebulkmar Virgnoi Eremits. " the Royal Irish Academy, "Irish Manuscript ' See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of
Scottish Saints," p. 199.
3 For this statement, Dempster quotes S.
Adamnanus, in " Vita S. Columbx," lib. iii. , cap. xxxi.
• This seems to be a mistake for Muirbulc- mar ; a name which does not appear to be known, at present ; but, it probably belonged to some bay. in or near to Ardnamurchan. In Prince O'Donnell's " Vita S. Columbte," he has it Bulgmara alias Murbulg. See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," lib. iii. , cap. Ix. , p. 442.
s See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 12, n. (f), p. 41, and lib. iii. , cap. 23, also n. (h), p. 237.
' He adds : '•^iartyrologii tabulis ascrip- tus non est, sed celebri cultu eum nostrates coiunt. "—" Ilistoria Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xix. , num. 11 70, P- 655-
7 This writer declares, that he had seen the vision inscribed on pages ; and, that he had also heard it related, by discreet seniors.
Oengus, by Dr. Whitley Stokes, p. Ixxix.
* The commentator takes care to explain the text of . (Fungus, by remarking, that it meant his victory over the devil, and without forgetfulness of God. Then follows in Irish, inc<in ]\ob^iff CAch -po^TOeiiion, thus trans- lated by Dr. Whitley Stokes into English, " When he won a battle over the devil. " Be- sides tlie scholiast enters in Latin, ". i. li- beratio iob de niartirio liberatio iob dolentis de martirio suo qui pasus est per xxx. annos sed temptatus est in . Ixx. ix. anno cetatis suk
et postea uixit . cxl. annis. "
3 So called from IIus, the son of Aram,
the son of Sem. See Genesis x. , 23. Some- times it is called Idumen, and sometimes Arabia, by the Holy Fathers. See R. P. Jacobi Tirini Antverpiani, e Societate Jesu, " Commentarius in Sacram Scriptu- ram," &c. Commentarius in lib. Job, tomus i. , cap. i. , n. , p. 168.
^ See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctonmi," tomus ii. , Maii x. De Sancto Jobo Propheta * See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," in Terra IIus. Eight paragraphs, pp. 494 to
Vita Quarta S. Columbre, lib. iii. , cap. xxiii. , and O'Donnell's Vita Quinta S. Columba^ lib. ii. , cap. cviii. , p. 429.
9 See volume iii. , Art. iv.
' See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Maii xi. Among the pretemiilted saints, Maii xi. Among the pretermitted feasts,
p, 612. — p. 611. Article xvii. ' Sec "Transactions of
'" See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
497-
5 In the Franciscan copy, the first entry
among the saints, specially classed as Irish, is 108 pp<Ne, at the v. of the Ides of May,
s
——
May 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. ii%
Clwelft! ) IBai? of iiflap*
ARTICLE I. —AILITIR, OR ELITIR, OF MUIC-INIS, LOUGH DERG, AND OF CLONMACNOISE, KING'S COUNTY.
ISIXTH CENTURY. ]
PLACES rendered sacred in connexion with God's holy servants, or by his saints' beatific presence, have always betn visited with pious veneration. Over and above the advantages to be derived, Trom any work, performed in a penitential spirit, or through a supernatural motive, additional good results, when undertaking a religious visit to holy places.
There, pious fervour will be generated or increased ; and, especially, when intercession is made with those saints, in whose honour the pilgrimage had been undertaken. The Festival of Ailithir, with a eulogy, is entered, at the 12th of May, in the Feilire ' of St. . ^ngus. His name is elsewhere found Latinized as Alitherius, seu Peregrinus de Mucinis. Yet, we cannot be assured, that this was his proper name. How- ever, from the sequel, it seems likely, that he has been identified with a holy man so named, and belonging to one of the ]\Iuskerrys, in the south of Ire- land. An entry, Ailitir Muccinsi, is found in the published Martyrology of Tallagh,^ and in the Franciscan copy,3 at the 12th of May. The Martyr- ology of Marianus O'Gorman notes, + at this date, likewise, Elithir of Muicinis, onLochDeirg(Derc),5nowLoughDerg,intheShannon. Itwouldseem, that both here, and at Clonmacnoise, his memory was held in veneration. ^ The word, Ailitir, or Elithir, signifies " a pilgrim ;" and, hence, it may not necessarily be a proper name. At the year 595, however, the Annals of the Four Masters 7 state, that Ailithir, Abbot of Cluain-mic-nois, died. He was the fourth Abbot, having succeeded Mac Nissi, who departed this life, on June the 1 2th, A. D. 585. ^ The Ailithir, there mentioned, has been identified with the present saint. The Annals of Ulster 9 record his death, at a. d. 598 ; while, those of Tighernach '° and the " Chronicum Scotorum " place it, at a. d. 599. The
Article i. — ' In the "Leabhar Breac" copy, we read :
diMAcui" cjvoch'OA
ccc. Alb •oonA|'cnAi OiLichii\ Ainm coenTOAi i^h ey\cc noeniTDAi T1a]^cai.
Thus translated into English, by Dr. Whitley Stokes: "Crucified Cyriacus with three hundred who accompanied him. Ailithir a lovable name, with sainted Ere Nascai. " On the Calendar of Oengus, "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu- script Series, vol. i. , part i. , p. Ixxix.
° EditedbyRev. Dr. Kelly,p. xxiv.
3 Thus given -diLiuhi^ muccnifi.
* See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Quarta Vita S. Columbce, n. 38.
5 In Irish, eiichVjX niuicinp ^'oja toe
081^5 Xiei^c.
* While recording these particulars, at the
12th of May, the Bollandists express a wish for further information, and add, as a con- jecture : " Alitherius seu Peregrinus de cella duorum Peregrinorum in Garnina, in Occi- dua plaga Connactise et in Cluain-geise in Campo Geise in Magh-lheagha, cognatusest Muadani Peregrini de cella Muadani, in monte Corbre ; et ferunt germanos fuisse. Vel est de Corco-niogha et nomen ejus Lugadius. " See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Mali xii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 2.
' See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. , pp. 220, 221.
* See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 3, n. (e).
5 Thus : " a. d. 598. Ailitir, Abbas Cluana mac Nois pausat. "—" Annates Ultonienses. " p. 34. See Rev. Dr. Charles O'Conor's "Re- rum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv.
'° In Irish, at 599, we find : Ailill, Ah. cIuaiia niAC Tloif tJAUfAC. tdo t11ui-C|\Ai'ohi
224 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May li.
latterauthoritystates,thathisfamilywasoftheMuscraidhe. " Thisday,the Martyrology of Donegal " records a veneration paid to Elitir, of Muic-inis, in Loch Derg-derc. Under that name, it is difficult to find it there, as it does not appear, on the Irish Ordnance Survey Maps. Acts of pilgrimage pro- cure many graces for the soul, and sometimes even miraculous cures for bodily ills ; while, they have an atoning effect, through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ. '3
Article IL—Erc, or Ercus, Nasca, of Tullylish, County of Down. In the Feilire ' of St. ^ngus, there is a commemoration of " sainted Erc Nascai," at the 12th of May. We are informed, that Earc descended, from the race of Art Corb, son to Fiacha Suighdhe. ^ There appears to be some difficulty, not alone in determining the period when that saint lived, and what had been the station he occupied, among our holy personages ; but, even, the individuality ofthe subject is doubtful, as those entries of our calendars in refer- ence to him are conflicting. Thus, the simple entry of Nasc3 occurs, at this date, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh,4 and, in the Franciscan copy, it is nearly similar. s Nevertheless, the Bollandists,^ quoting such authority, have Ercus Nasca de Talach-leis, on the same day. This place has been identified with Tullylish, in Lower Iveagh. This parish and that of Donaghcloney formedaterritory,whichwasancientlycalledClan-Connell. 7 Theparishof Tullylish was formerly part of the property of the Maginnis family, Lords of Iveagh ; but, in consequence of the part taken by the head of that family in 1641, it was declared forfeit to the crown. In it, the remains of several ancient
and, at TuUyhoa, there are extensive ruins, supposed by some, to have been those of an abbey. 9 The River Bann passes, in a winding course, through Tullylish parish, the soil of which is fertile and highly improved, while the scenery is very beautiful. In the Franciscan copy
ofthe Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 12th of May, we have the entry of Here ;'° while, immediately over it, and the proper name Nasc, we find the comment, i. e. , in Tilaig Leis. " This parish includes 11,707a. or. ip. , and probablyinthetownlandproper"hadbeenerectedhisancientchurch. The Martyrology of Donegal '3 mentions, that on this day, veneration was given to Here Nasca,^4 of Tulach-lis, in Ui Eachach Uladh. At the 12th of May,'S
forts ^ are to be traced
;
t)o. See ibid. , tomus ii. , p. i6i.
"See William M. Hennessy's "Chroni-
cum Scotorum," pp. 66, 67.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
124, 125.
'3 See Rev. Sylvester Malone's "Church
' See Rev. William Reeves' "Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appen- dix EE. , n. (m), p. 304.
*The largest of these is that at Banford, on the River Bann. On it, a Protestant church is built, and the general outlines can be traced, although the ramparts are now levelled.
Histoiy of Ireland," chap, xv. , p. 382. First Edition.
Article II. —'
"
Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 658, 659.
Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of '" Thus written in Irish lle]\c.
See
Transactions of the
'
" Dictionary See Lewis' Topographical
" Thus set down . 1. 1 CiIolij leif.
^ See the O'Clerys' "Martyrology of " See it sliown, on the "Ordnance Sur- Donegal," Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and vey Townland Maps for the County of Reeves, pp. 124, 125. Down," sheet 26. The parish itself is
3 Immediately preceding it, however, we described on sheets 19, 20, 26, 27.
Oengus, p. Ixxix.
have the entry " Erc i maigh Leis," which must have been another name for Tully- lish.
* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
s The writing in Irish is 11 <i]'ci.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii.
Among the pretermitted saints, p. 2.
'^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 124, 125.
'* In a note. Dr. Todd says, at Here Nasca : " The more recent hand adds here, "Secundum Mart. Taml. e<si\c a tHuig bciy 1U\i'ci. Earc, in Magh-lis, Nasci. "
's See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
— —
May 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAJATS.
225
the Natalis of St. Ere, Confessor, in Ireland, is thus entered in the Kalendar of Drummond. '^
Article III. Reputed Festival of St. Erca, a Virgin. It seems to us, that we can hardly separate St. Erca, said to have been a virgin, from the former holy personage; in the first place, because the names Ere, or Earc, are so nearly similar with Erca, and, in the second place, because both festi- vals are recorded on the same date. Thus, do we read, that St. Erca, a virgin, whose feast is held on the 12th of May, was the daughter of Ernin, son to Trian, son of Dunius, son to Eochod, son of Bronfinn, son to Eugene, sonofArtcorb,sonofFiachSuighdhe,founderoftheDeciesfamily. ^ Here again, her race is derived from a common progenitor with Ere, or Earc, to whom allusion has been previously made.
Article IV. Reputed Feast of St. Bearnosga, of Tullylish, County of Down. There can scarcely be a doubt, that under the present form of name, we are to recognise Nasca of Tulaeh Leis ; but, we are at a loss to learn, if he should be regarded as identical with, or distinct from. Ere, Earc, or Erca. We suspect a confounding of two diverse individuals, by our Martyrologists. The Rev. William Reeves appears to have had, from a different copy of the Donegal Martyrology, than from that one afterwards edited by him, an account of Bearnosga—called Bearnasga in his calendar of Tullach-lis, or "fort of the hill," in Iveagh, of Ulidia. ' Already has sufficient allusion been made to this locality, in our previous notice.
Article V. St. Lugid, or Lughaedh, of Drumiskin, County of Louth, and said to have been Priest, of Tigh Luta, in Fotharta- MORA. {_Supposed to have lived in the Fifth Century. '] We have not been able to clear up doubts which obtrude, when treating about this saint's his- tory. Some of the Irish Martyrologies assign a festival for St. Lugaedh, or Lugad, at this day. Thus, at the 12th of May, we find entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' as also, in that of Marianus O'Gorman, the name of Lughaeth, or Lugadh, Mac Aengusa. ^ This latter is said to have been the celebrated King of Munster, who was baptized by St. , Patrick ;3 and, who is related to have left a very numerous posterity of sons, many of whom are ranked among the'saints. 4 According to such supposition, the mother of our saint should be Ethnea, daughter to Crimthann, King of Leinster. His brothers were Eochadh, Felemidh, Cronan, Olild, Bressal, who, with others,
The Franciscan copy has LugAech ITlAC OenjufA.
3 See his Life, in the Third Volume of this Article hi. — ' See Colgan's "Acta work, at the 17th of March, Art. i. , chap. xix.
Scottish Saints," p. 13.
"^ Thus : " iv. Idus.
