* The Bollandistss have a notice of him, at this date, but with many of the doubts expressed, and which intrinsically arise from the
difficulty
of distinguishing this individual saint.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
, p.
251, n.
12, p.
252, ibid.
13 See ibid. , chap, xxix. , sect, vi. , p. 220,
and n. 48, p. 222.
14
This is to be collected from the state- ment of an old scholiast, in a preface to the
18 See " Recherches sur les Calend tiers
Ecclesiastiques," par le R. P. Victor de Buck, S. J. , sect, viii. , p. 19. This posthu- mous publication appeared at Bruxelles, 1877, 8>o.
; but, regretted,
Martyrology itself. See Colgan's "Acta Fanchete, sect, iv. , p. 5.
ii. , Ireland," booki. , chap, ix. , p. 71.
Burgundian Library. Formerly
July 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 49
as yet, this valuable national and ecclesiastic;)] record has not been pub- lished. 18 Our annalists trace a long line of bishops, abbots or priors, in connexion with Louth, down to the sixteenth century, when its possessions were T 9 In the
1181,
to the
July, to Maelmuire 3 3 Ua Gormain, Abbot of Lughmhagh.
Martyrology
of
Donegal,
cum," pp. 469 to 479.
20 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the iii.
Four Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 56, 57. 31 "
* Inhis"
See Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xxiv.
Martii, Appendix ad Vitam S. Mochtei,
cap. v. , p. 737.
21
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. l86, 187.
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Julii iii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 629.
"
:
Article ix.
xxviii. Kelly, p. —*
23 In a note, Dr. Todd says at Maelmuire
This is the author of the
3 His Life will be found, in the Sixth Vo- lume of this work—, at that date, Art. i.
Martyrology, commonly called Marianus, which is the
See "Acta
Among the preter-
Latinized form of his name. " Article vii. — x Edited
Rev. Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Kelly, p. xxviii. *
Article xi.
by
Dr.
mitted — feasts, p. 630.
J
of Christ,
the death of
This Abbot is thought
sequestrated.
O'Dunan, Abbot of Cnoc-na-Seangan (Louth) died. 20
to have been identical with the celebrated Marianus O'Gorman ; because, as
year
Colgan states, it should appear from a prologue prefixed to his Martyrology,
21
that Marianus was superior over this establishment in the year 1172. Although it seems not an easy matter to reconcile the apparent difference of names; yet,Dr. LanigandeemsColgan'sconjecturemostprobable. Accord-
on the of 3rd
22 veneration was
ing
the of'andof. 2attheofThe Martyrologies Tallagh Donegal, 3rd July.
Bollandists,3 on the authority of Sirinus, notice Ultanus, on this day.
Article VIII. —Reputed Feast of St. Kenuinus, Abbot, in Ireland.
On the of 1 who cites the of Petrus Canisius authority Ferrarius, Martyrology
atthisdate,theBollandists2 enter"KenuinusabbasinHibernia,"butthey point out, that Ferrarius has incorrectly entered both at the 3rd of June and at the 3rd of July the feast of a saint, who was no other than Kewinus or Keivinus, otherwise Coemginus, Abbot of Glendalough. His festival belongs only to the 3rd of June. 3
Article IX. —St. Colman. A St. Colman receives insertion, at the 3rd
1
Article X. —Reputed Festival of St. Rumold, Martyr, and Patron of Mechlin, Belgium. The Bollandists 1 remark, that some Kalendars—of little authority however—place a festival for St. Rumold, Bishop and Martyr, at the 3rd of July. Yet, in Ireland, it is the date fixed for his Office, as a Duplex Majus. His Life will be found in the present volume, at the 1st of July, the chief festival for this saint.
Article XL—St. Breacnat, Virgin. It is mentioned in the Martyrology
1
of Donegal, that veneration was given at the 3rd of July to Breacnat, a
Article VII. —St. Ultan. We meet with the simple entry Ultan, in
of July, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh.
** See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni-
186, 187.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Julii
the —
Among pretermitted feasts, p. 629.
Article viii.
Generalis Sanctorum," 2"
Catalogus
'
Article x. tomus i. , Julii iii.
Edked the Rev. Dr. by
given,
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 186, 187.
Mulmurry
Sanctorum,"
D
56 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 4.
virgin. The Bollandists a note this entry, likewise, but through a typogra- phical error, they write "Breenada virgine victoriosa," at this same date.
Article XII. —Feast of St. Thomas' Translation. In the early Irish Church, there was a festival at the 3rd of July, to commemorate the Translation of St. Thomas' Relics, as we learn from the "Feilire" of St.
-^Engus.
appended,
us,
they
brought
1 A note is
2 which informs
had been
that
from the east, or from In—dia to Arabia or to Edessa, a town in Syria. This is
—the Apostle St. Thomas whose chief feast occurs on the 21st of December but who is commemorated in the Coptic and Chaldaic Kalendars, on the 3idofJuly,astheBollandists3 observe.
Article XIII. —Festival of St. Cyrion, Martyr at Alexandria. At the 3rd of July, in the early Irish Church, the festival of St. Cyrion was
aswefindfromthe"Feilire" ofSt. 1 AnoteinLatinis ^Engus.
in the " LeabharBreac"
Martyrs at Alexandria, as the Bollandists 3 notice them, at the present date.
jfourti) jaap of 3ulp*
ARTICLE I. —ST. BOLCAN OF KILCOOLEY, COUNTY OF ROSCOMMON. [PROBABLY IN THE FIFTH CENTURY. ] WEcannot speak with much confidence regarding the present holy man's
his has been identified. The name history, although place Bolcan,
1
of Cill Cuile, is inserted in the Martyrology of Tallagh, as having been vene-
celebrated,
appended,
copy.
2 Hewasoneofa of company holy
rated, at the 4th of July.
It appears, that his name and festival are to be
of Marianus O'Gorman and of Charles 2 Maguire.
found in the
Indifferently he has been called Olcan, as well as Bolcan, by some writers ; and Colgan has thus confounded those names. He seems to have been referred to the times of St. Patrick, whose disciple he is said to have been.
Martyrologies
9 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Julii iii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 631.
"Thus: " cirionis . 1. circionis . i. per con- cisionem. "—Ibid. , p. cxv.
—
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript
i. , Julii Alexandrinis
Article xii.
x
See "Transactions of
De Sanctis
Tryphone, Menelao, Cyrione, Euloyio, Porphoreo, Aprico, Chusto, Juliano, Eradio,
On the Calendar
of Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , item Tryphone, Oreste. Addi possunt
Series, vol. i. , part i.
p. cix.
See ibid. , p. cxv.
Cyrillus, Emerion, alter Cyrion et Julius.
Notitia ex Martyrologio Hieronymiano, p. Julii 636.
3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
iii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 632. Article I. — Edited by Rev. Dr.
Article XIII. —* See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu- script Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calen-
dar of Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cix.
Kelly, p. xxviii.
*
The Bollandists quote Father Thomas O'Sheerin's Manuscripts of the Irish Saints for this statement in the text. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. Among the preter-
iii.
Martyribus
3 see "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
July 4. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
It was Colgan's intention to have treated about St. Olcan, at the 4th of July. 3 This is expressed, also, in his published work.
* The Bollandistss have a notice of him, at this date, but with many of the doubts expressed, and which intrinsically arise from the difficulty of distinguishing this individual saint. He is known by the name Olcan of Kilmormoyle, alias Kilmoremoy or Kil- more,neartheMoy. Heissaidtohavebeenconnectedwiththechurchof
6
Kilchule, in the territory of Siolmuiredhuigh.
the diocese of Elphin. ? We are told, the present holy man was a disciple of St. Patrick, and that he was probably the Oltcanus of Tirechan's list. He was
a 8 But another account is given, about his been that Olcan only priest. having
mentioned in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick. 9 The holy Apostle had a disciple Olcan, about whom he had a vision, while that disciple was walking along Traighe-eothuile, with Bronius and Macerca, 10 the sea-tides and tempest exposing them to great danger. From the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick we learn, that the spot, where St. Olcan received his Divine monition to estab- lish a monastery, was called Killmor uachtair Mhuaidhe. This event happened, while the Irish Apostle had been engaged making his progress
11 The where St. Olcan's founda- place,
of
tion had been commenced, is at present called Kilmore-Moy, a parish which
through
the
province
Connaught.
extends into the barony of Tireragh, in the county of Sligo, and into the
barony of Tyrawley, in the county of Mayo. It was also called Lia-na-monach, from the monks, who dwelt there, while we are told, that it likewise bore the name Cruimther Monach, or Olcan's church. In Tirechan's list of St. Patrick's disciples, there is an Olcan, as also an Oltcan. Others think, that this
12
was apparently the holy man, called Volcan, by Jocelyn,
whom we find the following account. St. Patrick had a disciple, named
Volchanus,^ a man of great virtue, but specially distinguished by most remarkable obedience. Being desirous that his virtue, known only to God, should be manifested to the world, the saint, for the edification and example of others, commanded Volchan to go and build a church, wheresoever God would vouchsafe to provide him a place. Without delay, taking an axe on his shoulders, this man went his way. Seeing the alacrity and cheerfulness of his obedience, St. Patrick said to him : " Do not despair, my most dear Vol- chan, of finding a place. Wheresoever thy hatchet shall fall, build in that place; for there thou shalt have increase of a great community. " After Volchan had walked all day long, and had engaged in prayer, towards evening, the axe slipped from his shoulder. In that place, therefore, the obedient Volchan built a monastery, wherein himself and many others lived and died in greatperfection. 14 TheforegoingaccountofSt. Volchanusbuildinghischurch is incorrectly supposed, however, to have had reference to that time, when St.
toryofIreland,"vol. i. , chap,v. ,sect,xii. ,
Actuum n.
Catalogus 120, p. 256.
Sanctorum quse MS. habentur, ordine Men- 9 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
mittedfeasts,p. 3.
3 to " According
sium et Dierum. "
4" I0
See Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap-
SeptimaVitaS. Patricii,lib. ii. ,cap. xlii. ,p. 135. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xlii. ,
pendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. ,
p. 267. 5"
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Juliiiv. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 3.
p. 135. SeeMissMaryF. Cusack's"LifeofSt.
Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," Irish Tripar-
6
nioe," xx. Februarii, Vita S. Olcani seu M. R. I. A. , part ii. , p. 426.
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
tite Life, translated by William M. Hennessy,
Bolcani, cap. ix. , p. 377, and n. 24, p. 378. 1 See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni-
cum," p. 612.
*"
See Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical His-
12
See Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cxli. , p. 96.
,3 Thus is he called by Jocelyn.
l4 See ibid. , Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap.
This was a parish church, in
and regarding
52 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Jul* 4. Patrick travelled through the northern parts of Ireland. Again, Volchanus is
thought whom so
Olcan, Bishop other romantic incidents are
Bolcan, 18
I5 to bethesameas
of
Annoy,
16 or
1? about
many
River Moy. His relics remain at Kilmore, that is,
20
and, also, by the authors of the Tripartite Lives of St. Patrick. ^ After a holy life, St. Olchan or Bolcan, renowned for his miracles as well as for his virtues, rested in the Lord, and he was buried at his place, now known as Kihnore, near the
"
In the Martyrology of Donegal of July, St. Bolcan, Abbot.
2I
is entered Bolcan,
his monastery stood.
of Cill Cuile, at this date. The Circle of the Seasons 2a
registers,
at the
4th
Article II. —St. Finbarr or Fionubharr, Abbot of Inis Doimhle, County of Wexford. [Sixth Century. ] This holy man must have flourished in the early ages of the Irish Church, and on the father's side he descended through a very illustrious line, from Feidhlimidh Rechtmar, or the
of Ireland. 1 From the he was twelve Law-giver, King latter,
generations in immediate succession. 2 This brings him one generation later than his
illustrious relative St. Brigid,3 patroness of Ireland. He was son of Dalian, son to Liathan, son to Briun, son of Eoghan, son of Brechin, son of Artur Corb. 4 HewasbrothertothesonsofAedh,ofAth-cliath. Inthe"Feilire"5
of St. ^Engus, Findbarr of Inis Teimle is commemorated, on the 4th of July.
There is a gloss, likewise, which states, that he belonged to the land of LJi
Cennselaig, and that he lived among the Desi. Another gloss adds, that
Inis Teimle has been derived from darkness, because such was the Isle, until
the two sons of Aed of Ath Cliath, who were Findbarr and Barrfind, went
6
thither.
the name of Finbarr, Abbot of Innse Domle. Marianus O'Gorman commemo- rates him, at this same date. The Rev. Alban Butler 8 makes him the founder
In the Martyrology of Tallagh i at the 4th of July, we find entered
cxli. , p. 96.
J 16
Volume of this work, at the 20th of Feb- ruary, Art. ii.
naomh Innsi Fail. "
3 See her Life, in the Second Volume of
this work, at February 1st, Art. i. , chap. i.
* See Colgan's "Trias Thaunr. Uurga," Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidce, cap.
iii. , p. 613.
s in the " Leabhar Breac" copy, belong-
ing to the Royal Irish Academy, the follow- ing stanza, translated into English—by
17
Colgan supplies his Acts, at the 20th of
5By Father John Colgan.
See an account of him, in the Second
February. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xx. Februarii. Vita S. Olcani seu
Bolcani, pp. 375 to 378.
18
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. lxxxvi. , p. 85, and n. 94, p. 112, and cap. cxxxvii. , p. 95. Also nn. 143, 144, 145, pp. 114, 115, and n. 149, p. 115*
Patricii,
Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , may be found
DAgon'OAr) mop TttAncAin triAr\orelUMb r-eimte
Va cec mAj\cir\ HAin^A
1,1 ,or, e Uennle. V '°hA|A]\in
" Martin's good great ordination, you have not seen its like: with a hundred wonder- ful martyrs, Findbarr of Inis Teimle. "— "Transactions of the Royal Irish Aca- demy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. cix.
6 Then a that Aed was follows statement,
son of Dallen, son to Liathain, son of Briun, son to Eogan, son of Brece, son to Artchorp, son of Fiacha Suigte. Here, he and Brigit meet. See ibid. , p. cxv.
7 Dr. xxviii. Edited by Rev. Kelly, p.
8 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
"'See ibid. ,
Vita S. lib. ii. , cap. cxxviii. , p. 146.
Septima
30 See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. vii. , July iv.
a'
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 186, 187.
32
Article ii. "
3 He
belonged
to the same race from
See at p. 18—6.
« tothe According
Genealogic Sanctology," chap, xiv. , as
"
quoted by Colgan in
Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidae, cap.
13 See ibid. , chap, xxix. , sect, vi. , p. 220,
and n. 48, p. 222.
14
This is to be collected from the state- ment of an old scholiast, in a preface to the
18 See " Recherches sur les Calend tiers
Ecclesiastiques," par le R. P. Victor de Buck, S. J. , sect, viii. , p. 19. This posthu- mous publication appeared at Bruxelles, 1877, 8>o.
; but, regretted,
Martyrology itself. See Colgan's "Acta Fanchete, sect, iv. , p. 5.
ii. , Ireland," booki. , chap, ix. , p. 71.
Burgundian Library. Formerly
July 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 49
as yet, this valuable national and ecclesiastic;)] record has not been pub- lished. 18 Our annalists trace a long line of bishops, abbots or priors, in connexion with Louth, down to the sixteenth century, when its possessions were T 9 In the
1181,
to the
July, to Maelmuire 3 3 Ua Gormain, Abbot of Lughmhagh.
Martyrology
of
Donegal,
cum," pp. 469 to 479.
20 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the iii.
Four Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 56, 57. 31 "
* Inhis"
See Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xxiv.
Martii, Appendix ad Vitam S. Mochtei,
cap. v. , p. 737.
21
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. l86, 187.
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Julii iii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 629.
"
:
Article ix.
xxviii. Kelly, p. —*
23 In a note, Dr. Todd says at Maelmuire
This is the author of the
3 His Life will be found, in the Sixth Vo- lume of this work—, at that date, Art. i.
Martyrology, commonly called Marianus, which is the
See "Acta
Among the preter-
Latinized form of his name. " Article vii. — x Edited
Rev. Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Kelly, p. xxviii. *
Article xi.
by
Dr.
mitted — feasts, p. 630.
J
of Christ,
the death of
This Abbot is thought
sequestrated.
O'Dunan, Abbot of Cnoc-na-Seangan (Louth) died. 20
to have been identical with the celebrated Marianus O'Gorman ; because, as
year
Colgan states, it should appear from a prologue prefixed to his Martyrology,
21
that Marianus was superior over this establishment in the year 1172. Although it seems not an easy matter to reconcile the apparent difference of names; yet,Dr. LanigandeemsColgan'sconjecturemostprobable. Accord-
on the of 3rd
22 veneration was
ing
the of'andof. 2attheofThe Martyrologies Tallagh Donegal, 3rd July.
Bollandists,3 on the authority of Sirinus, notice Ultanus, on this day.
Article VIII. —Reputed Feast of St. Kenuinus, Abbot, in Ireland.
On the of 1 who cites the of Petrus Canisius authority Ferrarius, Martyrology
atthisdate,theBollandists2 enter"KenuinusabbasinHibernia,"butthey point out, that Ferrarius has incorrectly entered both at the 3rd of June and at the 3rd of July the feast of a saint, who was no other than Kewinus or Keivinus, otherwise Coemginus, Abbot of Glendalough. His festival belongs only to the 3rd of June. 3
Article IX. —St. Colman. A St. Colman receives insertion, at the 3rd
1
Article X. —Reputed Festival of St. Rumold, Martyr, and Patron of Mechlin, Belgium. The Bollandists 1 remark, that some Kalendars—of little authority however—place a festival for St. Rumold, Bishop and Martyr, at the 3rd of July. Yet, in Ireland, it is the date fixed for his Office, as a Duplex Majus. His Life will be found in the present volume, at the 1st of July, the chief festival for this saint.
Article XL—St. Breacnat, Virgin. It is mentioned in the Martyrology
1
of Donegal, that veneration was given at the 3rd of July to Breacnat, a
Article VII. —St. Ultan. We meet with the simple entry Ultan, in
of July, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh.
** See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni-
186, 187.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Julii
the —
Among pretermitted feasts, p. 629.
Article viii.
Generalis Sanctorum," 2"
Catalogus
'
Article x. tomus i. , Julii iii.
Edked the Rev. Dr. by
given,
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 186, 187.
Mulmurry
Sanctorum,"
D
56 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 4.
virgin. The Bollandists a note this entry, likewise, but through a typogra- phical error, they write "Breenada virgine victoriosa," at this same date.
Article XII. —Feast of St. Thomas' Translation. In the early Irish Church, there was a festival at the 3rd of July, to commemorate the Translation of St. Thomas' Relics, as we learn from the "Feilire" of St.
-^Engus.
appended,
us,
they
brought
1 A note is
2 which informs
had been
that
from the east, or from In—dia to Arabia or to Edessa, a town in Syria. This is
—the Apostle St. Thomas whose chief feast occurs on the 21st of December but who is commemorated in the Coptic and Chaldaic Kalendars, on the 3idofJuly,astheBollandists3 observe.
Article XIII. —Festival of St. Cyrion, Martyr at Alexandria. At the 3rd of July, in the early Irish Church, the festival of St. Cyrion was
aswefindfromthe"Feilire" ofSt. 1 AnoteinLatinis ^Engus.
in the " LeabharBreac"
Martyrs at Alexandria, as the Bollandists 3 notice them, at the present date.
jfourti) jaap of 3ulp*
ARTICLE I. —ST. BOLCAN OF KILCOOLEY, COUNTY OF ROSCOMMON. [PROBABLY IN THE FIFTH CENTURY. ] WEcannot speak with much confidence regarding the present holy man's
his has been identified. The name history, although place Bolcan,
1
of Cill Cuile, is inserted in the Martyrology of Tallagh, as having been vene-
celebrated,
appended,
copy.
2 Hewasoneofa of company holy
rated, at the 4th of July.
It appears, that his name and festival are to be
of Marianus O'Gorman and of Charles 2 Maguire.
found in the
Indifferently he has been called Olcan, as well as Bolcan, by some writers ; and Colgan has thus confounded those names. He seems to have been referred to the times of St. Patrick, whose disciple he is said to have been.
Martyrologies
9 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Julii iii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 631.
"Thus: " cirionis . 1. circionis . i. per con- cisionem. "—Ibid. , p. cxv.
—
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript
i. , Julii Alexandrinis
Article xii.
x
See "Transactions of
De Sanctis
Tryphone, Menelao, Cyrione, Euloyio, Porphoreo, Aprico, Chusto, Juliano, Eradio,
On the Calendar
of Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , item Tryphone, Oreste. Addi possunt
Series, vol. i. , part i.
p. cix.
See ibid. , p. cxv.
Cyrillus, Emerion, alter Cyrion et Julius.
Notitia ex Martyrologio Hieronymiano, p. Julii 636.
3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
iii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 632. Article I. — Edited by Rev. Dr.
Article XIII. —* See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu- script Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calen-
dar of Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cix.
Kelly, p. xxviii.
*
The Bollandists quote Father Thomas O'Sheerin's Manuscripts of the Irish Saints for this statement in the text. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. Among the preter-
iii.
Martyribus
3 see "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
July 4. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
It was Colgan's intention to have treated about St. Olcan, at the 4th of July. 3 This is expressed, also, in his published work.
* The Bollandistss have a notice of him, at this date, but with many of the doubts expressed, and which intrinsically arise from the difficulty of distinguishing this individual saint. He is known by the name Olcan of Kilmormoyle, alias Kilmoremoy or Kil- more,neartheMoy. Heissaidtohavebeenconnectedwiththechurchof
6
Kilchule, in the territory of Siolmuiredhuigh.
the diocese of Elphin. ? We are told, the present holy man was a disciple of St. Patrick, and that he was probably the Oltcanus of Tirechan's list. He was
a 8 But another account is given, about his been that Olcan only priest. having
mentioned in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick. 9 The holy Apostle had a disciple Olcan, about whom he had a vision, while that disciple was walking along Traighe-eothuile, with Bronius and Macerca, 10 the sea-tides and tempest exposing them to great danger. From the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick we learn, that the spot, where St. Olcan received his Divine monition to estab- lish a monastery, was called Killmor uachtair Mhuaidhe. This event happened, while the Irish Apostle had been engaged making his progress
11 The where St. Olcan's founda- place,
of
tion had been commenced, is at present called Kilmore-Moy, a parish which
through
the
province
Connaught.
extends into the barony of Tireragh, in the county of Sligo, and into the
barony of Tyrawley, in the county of Mayo. It was also called Lia-na-monach, from the monks, who dwelt there, while we are told, that it likewise bore the name Cruimther Monach, or Olcan's church. In Tirechan's list of St. Patrick's disciples, there is an Olcan, as also an Oltcan. Others think, that this
12
was apparently the holy man, called Volcan, by Jocelyn,
whom we find the following account. St. Patrick had a disciple, named
Volchanus,^ a man of great virtue, but specially distinguished by most remarkable obedience. Being desirous that his virtue, known only to God, should be manifested to the world, the saint, for the edification and example of others, commanded Volchan to go and build a church, wheresoever God would vouchsafe to provide him a place. Without delay, taking an axe on his shoulders, this man went his way. Seeing the alacrity and cheerfulness of his obedience, St. Patrick said to him : " Do not despair, my most dear Vol- chan, of finding a place. Wheresoever thy hatchet shall fall, build in that place; for there thou shalt have increase of a great community. " After Volchan had walked all day long, and had engaged in prayer, towards evening, the axe slipped from his shoulder. In that place, therefore, the obedient Volchan built a monastery, wherein himself and many others lived and died in greatperfection. 14 TheforegoingaccountofSt. Volchanusbuildinghischurch is incorrectly supposed, however, to have had reference to that time, when St.
toryofIreland,"vol. i. , chap,v. ,sect,xii. ,
Actuum n.
Catalogus 120, p. 256.
Sanctorum quse MS. habentur, ordine Men- 9 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
mittedfeasts,p. 3.
3 to " According
sium et Dierum. "
4" I0
See Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap-
SeptimaVitaS. Patricii,lib. ii. ,cap. xlii. ,p. 135. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xlii. ,
pendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. ,
p. 267. 5"
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Juliiiv. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 3.
p. 135. SeeMissMaryF. Cusack's"LifeofSt.
Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," Irish Tripar-
6
nioe," xx. Februarii, Vita S. Olcani seu M. R. I. A. , part ii. , p. 426.
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
tite Life, translated by William M. Hennessy,
Bolcani, cap. ix. , p. 377, and n. 24, p. 378. 1 See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni-
cum," p. 612.
*"
See Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical His-
12
See Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cxli. , p. 96.
,3 Thus is he called by Jocelyn.
l4 See ibid. , Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap.
This was a parish church, in
and regarding
52 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Jul* 4. Patrick travelled through the northern parts of Ireland. Again, Volchanus is
thought whom so
Olcan, Bishop other romantic incidents are
Bolcan, 18
I5 to bethesameas
of
Annoy,
16 or
1? about
many
River Moy. His relics remain at Kilmore, that is,
20
and, also, by the authors of the Tripartite Lives of St. Patrick. ^ After a holy life, St. Olchan or Bolcan, renowned for his miracles as well as for his virtues, rested in the Lord, and he was buried at his place, now known as Kihnore, near the
"
In the Martyrology of Donegal of July, St. Bolcan, Abbot.
2I
is entered Bolcan,
his monastery stood.
of Cill Cuile, at this date. The Circle of the Seasons 2a
registers,
at the
4th
Article II. —St. Finbarr or Fionubharr, Abbot of Inis Doimhle, County of Wexford. [Sixth Century. ] This holy man must have flourished in the early ages of the Irish Church, and on the father's side he descended through a very illustrious line, from Feidhlimidh Rechtmar, or the
of Ireland. 1 From the he was twelve Law-giver, King latter,
generations in immediate succession. 2 This brings him one generation later than his
illustrious relative St. Brigid,3 patroness of Ireland. He was son of Dalian, son to Liathan, son to Briun, son of Eoghan, son of Brechin, son of Artur Corb. 4 HewasbrothertothesonsofAedh,ofAth-cliath. Inthe"Feilire"5
of St. ^Engus, Findbarr of Inis Teimle is commemorated, on the 4th of July.
There is a gloss, likewise, which states, that he belonged to the land of LJi
Cennselaig, and that he lived among the Desi. Another gloss adds, that
Inis Teimle has been derived from darkness, because such was the Isle, until
the two sons of Aed of Ath Cliath, who were Findbarr and Barrfind, went
6
thither.
the name of Finbarr, Abbot of Innse Domle. Marianus O'Gorman commemo- rates him, at this same date. The Rev. Alban Butler 8 makes him the founder
In the Martyrology of Tallagh i at the 4th of July, we find entered
cxli. , p. 96.
J 16
Volume of this work, at the 20th of Feb- ruary, Art. ii.
naomh Innsi Fail. "
3 See her Life, in the Second Volume of
this work, at February 1st, Art. i. , chap. i.
* See Colgan's "Trias Thaunr. Uurga," Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidce, cap.
iii. , p. 613.
s in the " Leabhar Breac" copy, belong-
ing to the Royal Irish Academy, the follow- ing stanza, translated into English—by
17
Colgan supplies his Acts, at the 20th of
5By Father John Colgan.
See an account of him, in the Second
February. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xx. Februarii. Vita S. Olcani seu
Bolcani, pp. 375 to 378.
18
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. lxxxvi. , p. 85, and n. 94, p. 112, and cap. cxxxvii. , p. 95. Also nn. 143, 144, 145, pp. 114, 115, and n. 149, p. 115*
Patricii,
Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , may be found
DAgon'OAr) mop TttAncAin triAr\orelUMb r-eimte
Va cec mAj\cir\ HAin^A
1,1 ,or, e Uennle. V '°hA|A]\in
" Martin's good great ordination, you have not seen its like: with a hundred wonder- ful martyrs, Findbarr of Inis Teimle. "— "Transactions of the Royal Irish Aca- demy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. cix.
6 Then a that Aed was follows statement,
son of Dallen, son to Liathain, son of Briun, son to Eogan, son of Brece, son to Artchorp, son of Fiacha Suigte. Here, he and Brigit meet. See ibid. , p. cxv.
7 Dr. xxviii. Edited by Rev. Kelly, p.
8 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
"'See ibid. ,
Vita S. lib. ii. , cap. cxxviii. , p. 146.
Septima
30 See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the
Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. vii. , July iv.
a'
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 186, 187.
32
Article ii. "
3 He
belonged
to the same race from
See at p. 18—6.
« tothe According
Genealogic Sanctology," chap, xiv. , as
"
quoted by Colgan in
Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidae, cap.
