478, or accord-
And this passage also strengthens the proof
41 See "
9^ LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
And this passage also strengthens the proof
41 See "
9^ LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
d.
503, after holding the sovereignty of Ireland for twenty-five years.
'*
During the course of these foregoing public events, Enna or Endeus Kinnselach, descended from Catheir Moxj^^ had founded the tribe and district of Ui-Kinnselach, in South Leinster, to which he gave name. '''^ After the father's death, his son Crimthann took possession of this inheritance, and afterwards, it is thought, he was king over the whole of Leinster. This
warrior dynast^7 joined in a confederacy with Lugaid^^ son to the monarch Leaghaire, Fiachra, Muircheartach Mac Earca, and Fearghus Cerbhell. The Leinstermen were led by Crimthann, and the Dal-Araidhe^'^ by their Dynast Fiachra. Different versions of their proceedings are given ; however, it is
generally allowed, that the supreme monarch, OilioU Molt, either gave or was obliged to accept battle at Ocha, which is said to have been near The- moria or Tara. This celebrated engagement took place, according to some accounts,a. d. 478,3°whileothersdeferittoa. d. 4823^or483. 32 Crimthann
«3 "The Annals of the Four Masters" tell
us that St. Patrick died, A. D. 493, in the
fifteenth year of Lughaidh's reign, and that he was buried at Down. See Dr. O'Dono-
van's edition, vol. i. , pp. 154 to 159, with
accompanying notes.
'^ See the Author's " Catechism of Irish
History," Lesson v. , pp. 33 to 37, and Lesson vi. , pp. 39 to 42.
Dalaradia. IntheActsofSt. Kieran,how- ever, this victory is attributed to Crimthann.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," V. Martii. Vita S. Kierani, cap. xix. , p.
=5
deserved authority, says, that none of the Leinster kings, after Cathair More, were
and carnage to Lugad, son to Laogaire, the immediate successor of OiliU in the sove- reignty of Ireland.
^9 "St. mac De" or *' son of Beg Beccus,
Dea," a celebrated Irish prophet, died in the
year 557. In a certain fragment of a work
he "Onthe of and wrote, Kings Ireland,"
which is cited in the " Annals of the Four
Gilla-mo-dudius,
a historical writer of
the monarchs over Ire- land. Gilla-mo-dudius wrote an esteemed
enumerated
among
" extending from A. D. 431 to A. D. 1 143, where
tract,'*On
the Christian Monarchs of
Ireland,
at A. D. — this Masters," 478, regarding
battle,
his history ends. In the
"
Journal of the
Royal Historical and Archaeological Asso-
ciation of Ireland," there is an interesting
tract, translated and edited by J. O'Beime
Crowe, A. B. , and No. ii. among his series,
'*
Ancient Lake Legends of Ireland. " It is intituled: "The Vision of l athair Mor, King of Leinster, and afterwai ds Monarch of Ireland, foreboding the origin of Loch Garman (Wexford Haven). " See vol. ii. Fourth Series, No. 9, pp. 26 to 49. This is edited from three different copies, taken re- spectively from the Books of Leinster, Lecan and Ballymote.
'^ See the Genealogies, which form Part
"
**
The great battle of Ocha was fought In which many battalions were cut off,
Against OilioU Molt, son of Nathi, Who was defeated by the Dal-Araide. "
iii. of O'Mahony's Keating's Ireland," chap, x. , pp. 693 to 697.
=7 Therewas a ' ' of the Catalogue Kings
of the " murder of jugulatio"or
of Ireland," by an anonymous author, to be found in O'Malchonrian's book. This was
in Colgan's possession, and it thus gives the names of Oilill's three principal opponents,
King of Ireland, and the son of Dathy, son to Fiach, son of Eochaid Macmeadon, had reigned twenty years, he was killed by
Murchertach, Fergus Kerrbheoil, and by Fiach Lonn, the son of Caelbad, King of
"
cap. xvii. , p. 490, and at "Index Chronolo- gicus,"A. D. CCCCLXXXm,
History of
Crimthainn, son of Enna Censelach, son to Bresal Belac, King of Leinster. But, as if doubtful regard- ing the date for both events, it is again stated, after noting the first war atGranearad, without making mention of Crimthann or at A. D. 485, that it was probably there Lugad. It states, that after Olild Molt, Crimthann received his death-wound. See
See Colgan's 460.
=^
Gilla-mo-dudius ascribes this victory
the English translation runs
:
See O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 150, 151, andn. (f), ibid.
3° See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. . 148 to 1 5 1, with
''
Annates Inis- falenses" place it at this year. See Dr. Charles O Conor's " Rerum Hibernicanun
Scriptores,"tomusii. , pp. 3,4.
3' In the " Annales Ultonienses," at A. D.
482, the battle of Ocha is placed, and in the following year 483 we have an account
ibid. f tomus iv. , p. 7.
3' Ussher places it at this year. See
accompanying notes. The
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,"
February i. ] LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS. 97
is related to have killed Oilioll Molt in this battle. 33 Moreover, in the Acts of St. Kieran,34 it would appear to be stated, that this Crimthann ob- tained supreme sovereignty over the country after the fight of Ocha. 35
Doubtless, his power was great, and his influence was respected by the supreme monarch who succeeded ; but, Crimthann himself does not seem to have aspired to the sovereignty of Ireland. He survived this battle of Ocha, as we might infer, only one year ; for, it is said, he received a mortal wound in the battle ofGranaird, fought in the year 478,3^ yet, most strangely, the very same authority defers his death to 480. 37 Perhaps, he was instru- mental in aiding St. Brigid to found her nunnery and church at Kildare, while he was chief ruler over the Leinster province. 3^ His daughter Ethnea, surnamed Huathach,39 is said to have been married to the religious -^ngus, Prince of Munster, who had been baptized by St. Patrick.
When the illustrious lady reached the Leinster province, its chiefs and people welcomed her with the liveliest demonstrations of respect and re-
She sought a spot, but slightly elevated over the surrounding ex- plain of the Liffy. ''4o There the ground was gently undulating and
or " the
33 This is stated, in the old historical tract, was victor in this battle, while others have
"" *' called Borumha-Laighean. It must be Coirpre as victor. See Dr. O'Conors Re-
joicing. tensive
"
it is said to have been — Druim
and, anciently styled, Criadh,
fertile
ridge of clay. ^^i A—t this time, a large oak tree a favourite with our saint, and blessed by her grew upon the spot. Its branches spread around, and it must have been a remarkable natural feature of the landscapc^^ This
;
observed, also, that as Crimthann was pre-
sent at Ocha battle, the " Annals of the
Four Masters" fall into an error, when they
state under A. D. 465, that Crimthann, son
of Enda-Censelach, King of Leinster, was
killed by the son of his own daughter, i. e. ^
Eochaidh Guineach, [one] of the Ui- ing to other accounts in the years 482 or Bairrche. " Again, "The Annals of Clon- 483, might have been buried at or in Kil- macnoise" record, that Crimthann was killed
" nates Inisfalenses" place his death at A. D.
"
dare Monastery, which is supposed to have been founded about, if notbelore, such era.
at the battle of Ard-corran. Yet the
An-
CCCCLXXX. , and afterwards note the
lum Ardacoraind" at ccccxcvii. See Dr. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," nn. Charles O' Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum 8^9, 10, p. 565. Likewise, O'Donovan's
Bel-
Scriptores," tomusii. , pp. 4, 5. Again, the
**
Annals of Ulster" place the battle of Arda Corann or Mount Corann, and the death of Lugdach, son of Laegaire, at A. D. 506 or 507. See z^i'iV/,, tomus iv. , p, 11.
that Crimthaim was not killed in A. D. 465.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
'*
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 146, 147, n. (r), ibid. And pp. 148 to 151, nn. {d, e, f), ibid.
3^ See Colgan's "'Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," V. Martii. Vita S. Kierani, cap. xix. , p. 460.
4° In Irish called, V(\a. % lipVii. The river flows through a level country in Kildare.
Hennessy's paper "On the Curragh of Kil- dare, "p. 349.
*'' In one of his many fictions, Dempster asserts, that Kildare derived its name from a St. Daria, the mother of St. Ursula, who brought certain relics to Ireland. See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," lib. iv. Colgan remarks, that before Demp- ster's time, no writer ever asserted these relics were brought to Ireland, or that Kil- dare derived its name from them. See " Trias Thaumaturga," Tertia Vita S. Bri- gidse, n. 23, p. 543.
3* See
nise," V. Martii. Vita S. Kierani, cap. xix. , p. 460.
Colgan's
35 Dubtach
Patrick, who is said to have been present, Academy," vol. ix,. First Series. W. M.
a
and an eye-witness of this battle, in a little work, which he wrote on the Acts of this same Crimthann. and which Colgan had in his possession, bears similar testimony.
3^ According to the" Annals of Inisfallen," which, strangely enough, make two kings of Leinster fall m this battle. One is named Finchad, and the other Crimthann Censelach, who killed Echad, and received himself a
mortal wound. Perhaps, the meaning is, that both were kings or dynasts in Leinster ; or that their supreme power alternated at different times. Some writers state, accord- ing to the same authority, that Meicc Eircc
Vol. II.
H
O'Luguir,
disciple
of St.
Proceedings
of the Irish Royal
rum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 4.
37 See ibid. Perhaps he lingered on for two years after being wounded.
3^ This Crimthann, who was present at the battle of Ocha, in A. D.
478, or accord-
And this passage also strengthens the proof
41 See "
9^ LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
site—now very much denuded of oak43—was chosen by St. Brigid for her projected conventual establishment. The local proprietor of this soil and
people living in the neighbourhood soon helped to provide a habitation for their future patroness and for her religious sisters. It has been asserted, the first church built there was constructed with wattles ;'»4 and, owing to the circumstance of its having nesded under or near the large spreading tree, it got the name Kildare,45 or " the cell of the oak. "'*^ When the author of St. Brigid's Fourth Life lived, the roots, or part of the trunk, belonging to this venerable tree, remained--^? The adjoining plain of the Curragh is tradi- tionally held to have been St. Brigid's pasture ground,-*^ to which she never prevented the neighbouring people from sending their cattle. 49 This is thought to have been the origin of what still constitutes the popular right of commonage. Various legendary stories connect St. Brigid and her nans with its former proprietorship ; while, these are stated to have been engaged in the pastoral occupation of tending herds and flocks on its plains. Portions of the surface had probably been subjected to tillage, and this tract of land afforded means for enabling the community to procure a subsistence. 5° The Round Tower at Kildare and the adjoining ruins probably represent the exact site of St. Brigid's early conventual establishment and of the church connected with it The round tower is considered to be one of the finest specimens of its class, as well as one of the most highly ornamented in Ireland. 51 The castellated top of the tower is modern. It is said there are sundry vestiges of ancient work about the site of Kildare, but that these are so incorporated with the buildings of Christian times, it is now difficult to distinguishthem. s^ AtwhatparticularperiodSt. Brigid'sestablishmentwas
*3ln Miss Harriet Martineau's "Letters
47 The same writer tells us, such was the veneration in which it was held, that no one dared to cut it with an iron instrument, al- though many persons were accustomed to
from Ireland," the intelligent authoress, la-
menting the want of wood cultivation in the
island, alludes to the fine oaks, elms, ash
and beech, on the properties of LordDownes remove portions of it with their hands.
and of the Duke of Leinster, in the great These portions, however, were preserved as plain of Kildare. See Letter vii. How relics. And, owing to St. Brigid's blessing,
Ireland is to get back its woods, p. 5 1. Lon- don : 1852, 8vo.
44 In Professor O'Looney's Irish Life of St. Brigid, pp. 33, 34, it is said, that while one hundred horse-load of wattles passed
through Kildare, when Bishop Mel and Brigid were there, she sent four of her virgins to ask those wattles as a gift from Ailill, son of Dunlaing. These he gave her, and it was of them the great house of Sancta Brigida in Kildare was made.
45 The derivation of Kildare county is ""
it pleased the Almighty to accomplish mi- racles, through the possession of these lig- neous souvenirs. See Colgan's "Trias Thau- maturga. " Quarta Vita S. Brigida, lib. ii. , cap. iii. , p. 550.
^^ In Professor O'Looney's Irish Life of
St. Brigid, she is represented as being with her sheep, on the occasion when Neinidh was first introduced to her notice, pp. 31, 32, and again as herding her sheep, when a thief stole seven of them from her, pp. 41,42.
49 See an interesting paper on " The Cur- ragh of Kildare," by William M. Hennessy, M. R. I. A. , read February 26th, 1866, before the Royal Irish Academy. "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. ix. , First
ciently called Caelan or Galen, i. e. , "the Series, pp. 343 to 355.
from Chille-dara or the wood of oaks,
according to Thomas James Rawson's
"
Sta- tistical Survey of the County of Kildare," In- troduction, p. i. He contends, it was an-
woody country," being formerly almost one continuous wood, " the decay of which
produced the great extent of bogs, which cover so much of the country at this day,
and by the quantity of timber, with which they abound, bear incontestable marks of
their origin. " See ibid. , p. ii.
** " The very oak under which she de-
lighted to pray has given a name to the
of the South
5° This statement is inferred, from the circumstance of her employing reapers, and tending sheep. See Dr. Lanigan's "Ec- clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , § x. , and nn. 120, 124, pp. 406, 408.
5' A representation of its door-way is given in Marcus Keane's "Towers and Temples of Ancient Ireland," p. 257.
5^ " An ancient cross stands in the church^ yard, and fragments of a second ; but, they
Watkmson's "
of Ireland," Letter ix. , p. 92.
place. "
Survey
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 9$
founded there, has furnished a subject for discordant opinions. 53 From what
has been already stated, it would seem to be not altogether improbable, that it had an earlier origin, than most historians have very generally assumed. She may have commenced her buildings not very many years after a. d. 470. Sir James Ware54 and Harris,55 0'Halloran,56 and Haverty57 refer the founda- tion of her nunnery at Kildare to about the year 480. If we are to credit what appears to be a purely legendary account, when St. Brigid brought Bishop Mel with her to draw out the plan of her city, Ailill, son of Dun- king, was king over Leinster. It is also stated, that he fed the builders and paid their rightful wages. s^ Colgan was of opinion, that her convent might have been before or about the year 483. Archdall writes, that her nunnery was founded here before a. d. 484. 59 About the latter year, John D'Alton states,^ St. Brigid founded both the nunnery and monastery at Kildare. However, the first institute had undoubtedly the precedence of several years over the latterestablishment. Theyear484isthedategivenforSt. Brigid'sestablish-
ment at Kildare, by William M. Hennessy,^' and by Thomas James Rawson. ^^ Dr. Lanigan assigns it to about a. d. 487,^3 or at least to before the year 49o. *^4 He says, that if we are to believe what is said about St. Brigid having foretold to Illand, King of North Leinster,^5 that he should be victorious in his battles, one of which was that in which Aengus, King of Cashel, was killed, the house at Kildare must have been established before a. d. 490. For, she is spoken of as already settled there, and that was the year in which
Aengus fell.
The nunnery of Kildare, at first humble in size and pretensions,^^ and.
poorly endowed, in a great measure had been supported by eleemosynary
contributions, brought by people living in the neighbourhood. But, by degrees, its reputation and the fame of its holy foundress became better
estabhshed. Many pious ladies desired admission to this house, which, in a shorttime,becameinconvenientlycrowded. ^7 Soontherewasaneedfor
are not very interesting specimens. "—Ibid. , p. 421.
Lewis, precedes this account of Kildare by Mr. D'Alton.
^'See" ofthe Irish Proceedings Royal
Academy," vol. ix. First Series. Paper
53See "Trias
Vita S. Brigidae, n. lo, p. 565.
55 See Harris' Ware, vol. " ii. ,
of
x.
^3 This is inferred by him, considering that
Thaumaturga," Quarta
54 SeeWare,"De
tibusejus, Disquisitiones," cap. xxvi. , p. 146.
** Onthe
of
Statistical Survey of the County
Hibernia,
et
Antiquita-
Curragh
Kildare," p. 349.
Antiqui- ties of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 269. There our saint is ranked among the ca-
Kildare," Introduction, p.
nonesses of St. Augustine's order.
she had been in Munster, probably about the year 484, and had spent some time after- wards in Connaught, before she lounded Kildare.
^'» See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. . chap, viii. , sec. x. , p. 405.
*s See n. 116, p. 407, ibid.
*^
Dr. Lanigan justly observes, that in the Fourth Lite of our saint, book ii. , chap. 3, a distinction is made between the first cell, which had been assigned her, imme- diately on arriving at Kildare, and the great monastery, which she afterwards found it
s'
"
St. Bridget founded her famous mo- nastery in Kildare, A. D. 480, for which she formed particular rules, and which was the head of her order. "—O'Halloran's " Ge- neral History of Ireland,'' vol. ii. , chap, vi. , p. 45-
**
The History of Ireland, Ancient
57 See
and Modern," chap, ix. , p. 79.
5* Thus runs the story in Professor O' Loo- ney's Irish Life of St. Brigid. As a reward the holy abbess said the race of Ailill, son
of — should have the Dunlaing,
to in the same sovereignty necessary build, place.
for ever. " pp. 33, 34.
59 See " Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 323. ^See his article in " The Irish Penny
"
See Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. ,
chap, viii. , sec. x. , and n. 126, pp. 406, 408. ^7 See the statement regarding a vast num- Magazine," vol. i. . No. 35. Illustrations ber of her spiritual daughters contained in of Irish Topography, No. xxxv. , p. 274. A Father Hugh Ward s " Dissertatio Historica spirited wood engraving of the Round de Patria S. Rumoldi," sec. 10, p. 186. Tower and Priory, from a sketch by F. R. Edited by Father Thomas O'Sheerin, O. S. F,
^*See
"
100
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
^ See Rev, S.
During the course of these foregoing public events, Enna or Endeus Kinnselach, descended from Catheir Moxj^^ had founded the tribe and district of Ui-Kinnselach, in South Leinster, to which he gave name. '''^ After the father's death, his son Crimthann took possession of this inheritance, and afterwards, it is thought, he was king over the whole of Leinster. This
warrior dynast^7 joined in a confederacy with Lugaid^^ son to the monarch Leaghaire, Fiachra, Muircheartach Mac Earca, and Fearghus Cerbhell. The Leinstermen were led by Crimthann, and the Dal-Araidhe^'^ by their Dynast Fiachra. Different versions of their proceedings are given ; however, it is
generally allowed, that the supreme monarch, OilioU Molt, either gave or was obliged to accept battle at Ocha, which is said to have been near The- moria or Tara. This celebrated engagement took place, according to some accounts,a. d. 478,3°whileothersdeferittoa. d. 4823^or483. 32 Crimthann
«3 "The Annals of the Four Masters" tell
us that St. Patrick died, A. D. 493, in the
fifteenth year of Lughaidh's reign, and that he was buried at Down. See Dr. O'Dono-
van's edition, vol. i. , pp. 154 to 159, with
accompanying notes.
'^ See the Author's " Catechism of Irish
History," Lesson v. , pp. 33 to 37, and Lesson vi. , pp. 39 to 42.
Dalaradia. IntheActsofSt. Kieran,how- ever, this victory is attributed to Crimthann.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," V. Martii. Vita S. Kierani, cap. xix. , p.
=5
deserved authority, says, that none of the Leinster kings, after Cathair More, were
and carnage to Lugad, son to Laogaire, the immediate successor of OiliU in the sove- reignty of Ireland.
^9 "St. mac De" or *' son of Beg Beccus,
Dea," a celebrated Irish prophet, died in the
year 557. In a certain fragment of a work
he "Onthe of and wrote, Kings Ireland,"
which is cited in the " Annals of the Four
Gilla-mo-dudius,
a historical writer of
the monarchs over Ire- land. Gilla-mo-dudius wrote an esteemed
enumerated
among
" extending from A. D. 431 to A. D. 1 143, where
tract,'*On
the Christian Monarchs of
Ireland,
at A. D. — this Masters," 478, regarding
battle,
his history ends. In the
"
Journal of the
Royal Historical and Archaeological Asso-
ciation of Ireland," there is an interesting
tract, translated and edited by J. O'Beime
Crowe, A. B. , and No. ii. among his series,
'*
Ancient Lake Legends of Ireland. " It is intituled: "The Vision of l athair Mor, King of Leinster, and afterwai ds Monarch of Ireland, foreboding the origin of Loch Garman (Wexford Haven). " See vol. ii. Fourth Series, No. 9, pp. 26 to 49. This is edited from three different copies, taken re- spectively from the Books of Leinster, Lecan and Ballymote.
'^ See the Genealogies, which form Part
"
**
The great battle of Ocha was fought In which many battalions were cut off,
Against OilioU Molt, son of Nathi, Who was defeated by the Dal-Araide. "
iii. of O'Mahony's Keating's Ireland," chap, x. , pp. 693 to 697.
=7 Therewas a ' ' of the Catalogue Kings
of the " murder of jugulatio"or
of Ireland," by an anonymous author, to be found in O'Malchonrian's book. This was
in Colgan's possession, and it thus gives the names of Oilill's three principal opponents,
King of Ireland, and the son of Dathy, son to Fiach, son of Eochaid Macmeadon, had reigned twenty years, he was killed by
Murchertach, Fergus Kerrbheoil, and by Fiach Lonn, the son of Caelbad, King of
"
cap. xvii. , p. 490, and at "Index Chronolo- gicus,"A. D. CCCCLXXXm,
History of
Crimthainn, son of Enna Censelach, son to Bresal Belac, King of Leinster. But, as if doubtful regard- ing the date for both events, it is again stated, after noting the first war atGranearad, without making mention of Crimthann or at A. D. 485, that it was probably there Lugad. It states, that after Olild Molt, Crimthann received his death-wound. See
See Colgan's 460.
=^
Gilla-mo-dudius ascribes this victory
the English translation runs
:
See O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 150, 151, andn. (f), ibid.
3° See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. . 148 to 1 5 1, with
''
Annates Inis- falenses" place it at this year. See Dr. Charles O Conor's " Rerum Hibernicanun
Scriptores,"tomusii. , pp. 3,4.
3' In the " Annales Ultonienses," at A. D.
482, the battle of Ocha is placed, and in the following year 483 we have an account
ibid. f tomus iv. , p. 7.
3' Ussher places it at this year. See
accompanying notes. The
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,"
February i. ] LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS. 97
is related to have killed Oilioll Molt in this battle. 33 Moreover, in the Acts of St. Kieran,34 it would appear to be stated, that this Crimthann ob- tained supreme sovereignty over the country after the fight of Ocha. 35
Doubtless, his power was great, and his influence was respected by the supreme monarch who succeeded ; but, Crimthann himself does not seem to have aspired to the sovereignty of Ireland. He survived this battle of Ocha, as we might infer, only one year ; for, it is said, he received a mortal wound in the battle ofGranaird, fought in the year 478,3^ yet, most strangely, the very same authority defers his death to 480. 37 Perhaps, he was instru- mental in aiding St. Brigid to found her nunnery and church at Kildare, while he was chief ruler over the Leinster province. 3^ His daughter Ethnea, surnamed Huathach,39 is said to have been married to the religious -^ngus, Prince of Munster, who had been baptized by St. Patrick.
When the illustrious lady reached the Leinster province, its chiefs and people welcomed her with the liveliest demonstrations of respect and re-
She sought a spot, but slightly elevated over the surrounding ex- plain of the Liffy. ''4o There the ground was gently undulating and
or " the
33 This is stated, in the old historical tract, was victor in this battle, while others have
"" *' called Borumha-Laighean. It must be Coirpre as victor. See Dr. O'Conors Re-
joicing. tensive
"
it is said to have been — Druim
and, anciently styled, Criadh,
fertile
ridge of clay. ^^i A—t this time, a large oak tree a favourite with our saint, and blessed by her grew upon the spot. Its branches spread around, and it must have been a remarkable natural feature of the landscapc^^ This
;
observed, also, that as Crimthann was pre-
sent at Ocha battle, the " Annals of the
Four Masters" fall into an error, when they
state under A. D. 465, that Crimthann, son
of Enda-Censelach, King of Leinster, was
killed by the son of his own daughter, i. e. ^
Eochaidh Guineach, [one] of the Ui- ing to other accounts in the years 482 or Bairrche. " Again, "The Annals of Clon- 483, might have been buried at or in Kil- macnoise" record, that Crimthann was killed
" nates Inisfalenses" place his death at A. D.
"
dare Monastery, which is supposed to have been founded about, if notbelore, such era.
at the battle of Ard-corran. Yet the
An-
CCCCLXXX. , and afterwards note the
lum Ardacoraind" at ccccxcvii. See Dr. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," nn. Charles O' Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum 8^9, 10, p. 565. Likewise, O'Donovan's
Bel-
Scriptores," tomusii. , pp. 4, 5. Again, the
**
Annals of Ulster" place the battle of Arda Corann or Mount Corann, and the death of Lugdach, son of Laegaire, at A. D. 506 or 507. See z^i'iV/,, tomus iv. , p, 11.
that Crimthaim was not killed in A. D. 465.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
'*
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 146, 147, n. (r), ibid. And pp. 148 to 151, nn. {d, e, f), ibid.
3^ See Colgan's "'Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," V. Martii. Vita S. Kierani, cap. xix. , p. 460.
4° In Irish called, V(\a. % lipVii. The river flows through a level country in Kildare.
Hennessy's paper "On the Curragh of Kil- dare, "p. 349.
*'' In one of his many fictions, Dempster asserts, that Kildare derived its name from a St. Daria, the mother of St. Ursula, who brought certain relics to Ireland. See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," lib. iv. Colgan remarks, that before Demp- ster's time, no writer ever asserted these relics were brought to Ireland, or that Kil- dare derived its name from them. See " Trias Thaumaturga," Tertia Vita S. Bri- gidse, n. 23, p. 543.
3* See
nise," V. Martii. Vita S. Kierani, cap. xix. , p. 460.
Colgan's
35 Dubtach
Patrick, who is said to have been present, Academy," vol. ix,. First Series. W. M.
a
and an eye-witness of this battle, in a little work, which he wrote on the Acts of this same Crimthann. and which Colgan had in his possession, bears similar testimony.
3^ According to the" Annals of Inisfallen," which, strangely enough, make two kings of Leinster fall m this battle. One is named Finchad, and the other Crimthann Censelach, who killed Echad, and received himself a
mortal wound. Perhaps, the meaning is, that both were kings or dynasts in Leinster ; or that their supreme power alternated at different times. Some writers state, accord- ing to the same authority, that Meicc Eircc
Vol. II.
H
O'Luguir,
disciple
of St.
Proceedings
of the Irish Royal
rum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 4.
37 See ibid. Perhaps he lingered on for two years after being wounded.
3^ This Crimthann, who was present at the battle of Ocha, in A. D.
478, or accord-
And this passage also strengthens the proof
41 See "
9^ LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
site—now very much denuded of oak43—was chosen by St. Brigid for her projected conventual establishment. The local proprietor of this soil and
people living in the neighbourhood soon helped to provide a habitation for their future patroness and for her religious sisters. It has been asserted, the first church built there was constructed with wattles ;'»4 and, owing to the circumstance of its having nesded under or near the large spreading tree, it got the name Kildare,45 or " the cell of the oak. "'*^ When the author of St. Brigid's Fourth Life lived, the roots, or part of the trunk, belonging to this venerable tree, remained--^? The adjoining plain of the Curragh is tradi- tionally held to have been St. Brigid's pasture ground,-*^ to which she never prevented the neighbouring people from sending their cattle. 49 This is thought to have been the origin of what still constitutes the popular right of commonage. Various legendary stories connect St. Brigid and her nans with its former proprietorship ; while, these are stated to have been engaged in the pastoral occupation of tending herds and flocks on its plains. Portions of the surface had probably been subjected to tillage, and this tract of land afforded means for enabling the community to procure a subsistence. 5° The Round Tower at Kildare and the adjoining ruins probably represent the exact site of St. Brigid's early conventual establishment and of the church connected with it The round tower is considered to be one of the finest specimens of its class, as well as one of the most highly ornamented in Ireland. 51 The castellated top of the tower is modern. It is said there are sundry vestiges of ancient work about the site of Kildare, but that these are so incorporated with the buildings of Christian times, it is now difficult to distinguishthem. s^ AtwhatparticularperiodSt. Brigid'sestablishmentwas
*3ln Miss Harriet Martineau's "Letters
47 The same writer tells us, such was the veneration in which it was held, that no one dared to cut it with an iron instrument, al- though many persons were accustomed to
from Ireland," the intelligent authoress, la-
menting the want of wood cultivation in the
island, alludes to the fine oaks, elms, ash
and beech, on the properties of LordDownes remove portions of it with their hands.
and of the Duke of Leinster, in the great These portions, however, were preserved as plain of Kildare. See Letter vii. How relics. And, owing to St. Brigid's blessing,
Ireland is to get back its woods, p. 5 1. Lon- don : 1852, 8vo.
44 In Professor O'Looney's Irish Life of St. Brigid, pp. 33, 34, it is said, that while one hundred horse-load of wattles passed
through Kildare, when Bishop Mel and Brigid were there, she sent four of her virgins to ask those wattles as a gift from Ailill, son of Dunlaing. These he gave her, and it was of them the great house of Sancta Brigida in Kildare was made.
45 The derivation of Kildare county is ""
it pleased the Almighty to accomplish mi- racles, through the possession of these lig- neous souvenirs. See Colgan's "Trias Thau- maturga. " Quarta Vita S. Brigida, lib. ii. , cap. iii. , p. 550.
^^ In Professor O'Looney's Irish Life of
St. Brigid, she is represented as being with her sheep, on the occasion when Neinidh was first introduced to her notice, pp. 31, 32, and again as herding her sheep, when a thief stole seven of them from her, pp. 41,42.
49 See an interesting paper on " The Cur- ragh of Kildare," by William M. Hennessy, M. R. I. A. , read February 26th, 1866, before the Royal Irish Academy. "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. ix. , First
ciently called Caelan or Galen, i. e. , "the Series, pp. 343 to 355.
from Chille-dara or the wood of oaks,
according to Thomas James Rawson's
"
Sta- tistical Survey of the County of Kildare," In- troduction, p. i. He contends, it was an-
woody country," being formerly almost one continuous wood, " the decay of which
produced the great extent of bogs, which cover so much of the country at this day,
and by the quantity of timber, with which they abound, bear incontestable marks of
their origin. " See ibid. , p. ii.
** " The very oak under which she de-
lighted to pray has given a name to the
of the South
5° This statement is inferred, from the circumstance of her employing reapers, and tending sheep. See Dr. Lanigan's "Ec- clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , § x. , and nn. 120, 124, pp. 406, 408.
5' A representation of its door-way is given in Marcus Keane's "Towers and Temples of Ancient Ireland," p. 257.
5^ " An ancient cross stands in the church^ yard, and fragments of a second ; but, they
Watkmson's "
of Ireland," Letter ix. , p. 92.
place. "
Survey
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 9$
founded there, has furnished a subject for discordant opinions. 53 From what
has been already stated, it would seem to be not altogether improbable, that it had an earlier origin, than most historians have very generally assumed. She may have commenced her buildings not very many years after a. d. 470. Sir James Ware54 and Harris,55 0'Halloran,56 and Haverty57 refer the founda- tion of her nunnery at Kildare to about the year 480. If we are to credit what appears to be a purely legendary account, when St. Brigid brought Bishop Mel with her to draw out the plan of her city, Ailill, son of Dun- king, was king over Leinster. It is also stated, that he fed the builders and paid their rightful wages. s^ Colgan was of opinion, that her convent might have been before or about the year 483. Archdall writes, that her nunnery was founded here before a. d. 484. 59 About the latter year, John D'Alton states,^ St. Brigid founded both the nunnery and monastery at Kildare. However, the first institute had undoubtedly the precedence of several years over the latterestablishment. Theyear484isthedategivenforSt. Brigid'sestablish-
ment at Kildare, by William M. Hennessy,^' and by Thomas James Rawson. ^^ Dr. Lanigan assigns it to about a. d. 487,^3 or at least to before the year 49o. *^4 He says, that if we are to believe what is said about St. Brigid having foretold to Illand, King of North Leinster,^5 that he should be victorious in his battles, one of which was that in which Aengus, King of Cashel, was killed, the house at Kildare must have been established before a. d. 490. For, she is spoken of as already settled there, and that was the year in which
Aengus fell.
The nunnery of Kildare, at first humble in size and pretensions,^^ and.
poorly endowed, in a great measure had been supported by eleemosynary
contributions, brought by people living in the neighbourhood. But, by degrees, its reputation and the fame of its holy foundress became better
estabhshed. Many pious ladies desired admission to this house, which, in a shorttime,becameinconvenientlycrowded. ^7 Soontherewasaneedfor
are not very interesting specimens. "—Ibid. , p. 421.
Lewis, precedes this account of Kildare by Mr. D'Alton.
^'See" ofthe Irish Proceedings Royal
Academy," vol. ix. First Series. Paper
53See "Trias
Vita S. Brigidae, n. lo, p. 565.
55 See Harris' Ware, vol. " ii. ,
of
x.
^3 This is inferred by him, considering that
Thaumaturga," Quarta
54 SeeWare,"De
tibusejus, Disquisitiones," cap. xxvi. , p. 146.
** Onthe
of
Statistical Survey of the County
Hibernia,
et
Antiquita-
Curragh
Kildare," p. 349.
Antiqui- ties of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 269. There our saint is ranked among the ca-
Kildare," Introduction, p.
nonesses of St. Augustine's order.
she had been in Munster, probably about the year 484, and had spent some time after- wards in Connaught, before she lounded Kildare.
^'» See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. . chap, viii. , sec. x. , p. 405.
*s See n. 116, p. 407, ibid.
*^
Dr. Lanigan justly observes, that in the Fourth Lite of our saint, book ii. , chap. 3, a distinction is made between the first cell, which had been assigned her, imme- diately on arriving at Kildare, and the great monastery, which she afterwards found it
s'
"
St. Bridget founded her famous mo- nastery in Kildare, A. D. 480, for which she formed particular rules, and which was the head of her order. "—O'Halloran's " Ge- neral History of Ireland,'' vol. ii. , chap, vi. , p. 45-
**
The History of Ireland, Ancient
57 See
and Modern," chap, ix. , p. 79.
5* Thus runs the story in Professor O' Loo- ney's Irish Life of St. Brigid. As a reward the holy abbess said the race of Ailill, son
of — should have the Dunlaing,
to in the same sovereignty necessary build, place.
for ever. " pp. 33, 34.
59 See " Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 323. ^See his article in " The Irish Penny
"
See Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. ,
chap, viii. , sec. x. , and n. 126, pp. 406, 408. ^7 See the statement regarding a vast num- Magazine," vol. i. . No. 35. Illustrations ber of her spiritual daughters contained in of Irish Topography, No. xxxv. , p. 274. A Father Hugh Ward s " Dissertatio Historica spirited wood engraving of the Round de Patria S. Rumoldi," sec. 10, p. 186. Tower and Priory, from a sketch by F. R. Edited by Father Thomas O'Sheerin, O. S. F,
^*See
"
100
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
^ See Rev, S.
