Kieran is
supposed
to have been born A.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
73 Such account is thought reconcilable, however, with a statement, that he was a native of Media ter- ritory, as mentioned in the beginning of his acts.
?
* This mensal territory of Media or Midia was anciently regarded as a kingdom,75 or the supreme ^Monarch's portion, and one among the five divisions of Ireland or ancient Scotia.
In our Saint's Manuscript Life, possessed by the Bollandists, he is related to have been born in the Connaught province, as an impious king, named Ainmire, the son of Colgan, ruled over the territory of Hiii Neill, and he imposed a very heavy tribute on its tribes and kindred.
St.
Kieran's father is said to have been oppressed by that tribute which Ainmire76 exacted, and that he had been obliged in consequence to retire beyond the Shannon.
In this province, where Crimthann, son of Lugaid, son of Dalian, reigned, and in the plain of Ri, Queranus is stated to have been born.
However, Rath Cremthainn in Magh Ai is the reading to be found in our saint's Life, as contained in the Book of Lismore.
77 According to the account found in
the Annals of Innisfallen,78 St. Kieran was born in the year 506. Another learned writer declares, that the most probable account should assign his birth to a. d. 507. In this case, he should have lived to the age of forty-two, supposed to have been sufficient for the various transactions of his life, and still not long enough for ranking him among persons much advanced in years. 7' In the Annals of
Ulster,
" See " Trias Thaumaturga. "
his birth is set under a. d. 8o in which down, 511,
Vita Tri- partita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. cxxiii. , p. 145.
on the sixth of the calends of June, and that
he was born on the sixth of the calends of
March. It is also said, that his birth was
foretold by Lugbrann, who was the wizard
of King Crimthann, as it is recorded in Irish
verse. "On a certain day, when the wizard
heard the noise of the chariot, he said this,
''
Look,' saith he, my lads, who there is in
the chariot ; for here is a noise of chariot
under king. ' When the gillies went out, they saw nothing save Beoit and Darerca in the chariot. When the lads laughed at the
wizard, he said this ' The child that lies in
74 Referring to St. Patrick's reputed pro- phesy, Dr. Lanigan writes: "Whether it was pronounced or not is of little conse- quence ; but the denomination of Southern parts seems to show, that Kieran's birth- place was not only in Meath, but in a dis- trict of it far to the south of Armagh ; and, it is very probable, that it was somewhere in the neighbourhood of where he afterwards established his great monastery of Clon- macnoise. This tract was
comprised
ancient Meath. Ware and Harris
saith ' will be a he,
(Bishops at Clonmacnois) say, that he was of the sept of the Arads, or of a /amily from the part of Ulster called Dalaradia. This, how- ever, does not prevent his having been born
womb,'
and as the sun shineth among
in Meath. —" Ecclesiastical
land," vol. ii. , chap, x. , § xi. , n. 165, p. 53.
75 Afterwards the English divided this territory into Meath proper and West Meath.
told. '
78 Thus u
:
A. D. Nativitas Ciarani 506.
76
Regarding this King, the Bollandist
filii artificis. "
79 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's u Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xi. , p. 50, and n. 166, pp. 53, 54.
80 See Extracts from the Annals of Ulster,
in " Celto-Xor- Johnstone's Antiquitates
manicse," p. 57. "This date," says Dr. Lanigan, "would give us 37 years for the whole life of Kieran, which number of years is little enough to enable us to account for his various transactions, and for the extra- ordinary estimatio—n in which he wa§ held
1 66, pp. 53, 54.
editor observes, that Anmereus or Anmire
seems to have been identical with him
named in the Vila S. Columbae, in "the
M
Trias Thaumaturga," and in the Acts of St. Gildas Badonicus, and who is denomi- nated Anmericus. However, he was not King of Ireland before St. Kieran's birth, as may be collected from the aforesaid Vita S. Columbse, and from Colgan's annotations at
page 374, and nn. 39, 40.
77 In it is stated, that Ciaran was conceived
before his death. "
History
of Ire-
in the
:
the woman's
mighty king ;
the stars of heaven, so will he shine on earth
in miracles and marvels that cannot be
"
"Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xi. , n.
206
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[September 9.
of the sun is also recorded. 81 It is referred to the 82 year 5. 1 6,
an
by Ussher, who appears to have calculated such date from the Book of Navan,8^ which states, that our saint lived 8* If this
year
eclipse
only thirty-three years.
account were true, Ussher's calculation should be right, because it is well known that Kieran died in 549. In the apocryphal Life of our saint, pos- sessed by the Bollandists, there is mention made of his captivity under a
King Turbithus. 85
According
to 86 Kieran was a certain man named
report, 8? This title also
baptized by
determined his character. 88 Whether
Justus.
or not, he be the person alluded to in the Vita Tripartita S. Patricii, and in connexion with our saint, can hardly be determined. The word used seems to indicate, only a popular report or tradition, and afterwards com- mitted to writing ; however, we may naturally suspect, that his years could have been so prolonged, as to confer baptism on St. Kieran. 89 Moreover, much doubt has been thrown9° on the story of St. Patrick moving down to
the district of and Hy-maine,
81 See the annals uLvoh or Annals of
Ulster, edited by William M. Hennessy,
M. R. I. A. , vol. i. , pp. 36, 37.
82 " "
named 1 over a Justus,?
church he at a founded, place
He was a
of St.
accurately
a
called Fidhart. *2
placing
deacon,
disciple Patrick, distinguished as well for his prolonged years, as for his great sanc- tity. 93 He is said to have baptised St. Kieran, in the one hundred and fortieth year of his age ; and to have read the form and rite of baptism, from a Ritual book, left him by St. Patrick. 94 But, in the doubtful Acts of our
See Ussher's Index Chronologicus
at A. u. dvi. , and Rev. Dr. Lanigan's cum magnus ille Hibernorum apostolus
"
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , § x. , n. 91, and chap, viii. , § xiii. , pp. 246, 419.
83 The Annala Ul<voh or Annals of Ulster, also state, that according to another book, the birth of Ciaran happened in 516. See vol. i. , pp. 38, 39, edition of William
M. Hennessy.
84 " The authority, however, of that book
is of little weight, and it is more than pro-
bable, that those 33 years were merely story better, places it both in Roscommon
guessed at to make his life the same length and Galway ; founded, he says, by St.
86 "
The word used is fertur," in the in his time. " Ibid. , n. 91 pp. 246, 247.
with that of our Saviour, as is observed in
said book. In Kieran *s Life it was remarked
that he died rather young ; and hence a
conjecture was s—tarted that his age might calling it an abbey ; for the church of have been 33. " See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Fidhart, according to even the Tripartite, M Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
chap, x. , § xi. , n. 166, p. 53.
85 Probably a misprint for " Furbithus. "
account of this circumstance. See Colgan's
'"Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii. , lib. ii. , cap. xlix. , p. 136.
8? In the Acts of St. Patrick, edited by
91 In reference to this saint, Dr. Lanigan remarks, that what has been ridiculously said about the 140th year is more than sufficient to show Justus could not have been placed
Papebroke at the 17th day of March, over a church so early as the Tripartite- Suyskens observes, that a certain holy states. It is also to be observed, that in hermit, named Justus, is said to have been Kieran's Life, Justus is said not only to
kindly received by St. Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland.
88 The Life of St. Kiaran, in the Book of
Lismore, calls him Deacon Justus.
: 89TheBollandisteditoradds "Uttamen
have baptised Kieran, but likewise to have instructed him.
94 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Tripartita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xlix. , p. 136.
admittamus, sanctum Abbatem ab aliquo a Patricii discipulis eo Sacramento initiatum fuisse, non propterea necesse est tarn singu- larem in eo longe vitam adstruire ; quippe
anno 460, ut in ipsius Actis ostendit Pape-
brochius, ad supros emigraverit, sanctus vero Kieranus anno 516 natus perhibeatur, ut
hanc ab illius baptizari potuisse
intelligitur,
discipulo, qui octogenario non esset major. "
»° By Rev. Dr. Lanigan. "
91 See Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, x. , p. 244.
91 In his usual manner, Archdall gives us
an abbey of Fidhart, "and to make the
Patrick, who consigned it to Justus. Besides the incorrectness of the latter part of this statement, Archdall was mistaken also in
was no more than a deaconry, although afterwards it became a parochial church, in the diocese o—f Elphin, as Colgan says it was
September 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 207
saint, possessed by the Bollandists, it is related, that Kieran of Clonmacnoise
was baptised and brought up, by a very holy man, Dermitius by name. 95 Which of these accounts—if either statement be accepted—is more correct, it would prove a difficult matter to decide.
As usual in the Acts of all our most celebrated Irish saints, where no authentic accounts have been preserved of their youth, the legend-mongers are quite ready to supply incredible fictions. So in the Life of St. Ciaran, many of these are thoroughly ridiculous j and it may even be questioned, if some allusions in such narratives tend to exhibit the social customs and habits of his time, or whether they serve to elucidate matters connected with contemporaneous history. Only in such cases do we regard them as worthy of enumeration, and most certainly requiring much abridgment of circum- stantial details. Thus, for bringing to life a horse belonging to Oengus, the son of Cremthann, our saint received a tract of land denominated Tir-na- Gabra, or the Land of the Steed ; honey, which he miraculously procured for his mother, was given as a fee to Justus for baptizing him ; when a hound attacked him, he chaunted this verse, " Ne tradas bestiis animam confitentem
mihi," and the hound fell dead; after the manner of Jacob, of David son of
6 his set him over herds, and the parents
and of other
Almighty knew that in future times he would be a faithful herdsman over the faithful j he also kept the herds of his foster-father, the Deacon Justus, at Fidarta ; likewise, allusion is made to the preparation of blue dye-stuff, as a practice of his mother j moreover, while herding kine, a wolf came and devouredacalf,whichthesaintbroughtoncemoretolife; besides,onacertain day, robbers from Offaly raided the district of Cenel Fiachrach, and among others, they attempted to kill St. Ciaran, but they were struck with blindness and could not move, until after repentance they were released ; again, his father sent him with the present of a caldron to king Furban, but he bestowed it on some poor men he met on the way, so that he incurred the king's dis- pleasure, and was condemned to grind at a quern, when lo ! it began to turn of its own accord, and the angels of the Lord were supposed to have been the agents ; not long afterwards, smiths came from Munster bearing three caldrons as a present for Ciaran, and these he presented to the king, who released him from slavery. ^?
Jesse,
patriarchs,9
In the Monastery of Clonard, on the confines of Leinster and Meath, it
8
is stated, that St. Kieran received his early education. 9
relates, that when about to proceed thither, Ciaran asked his parents for a cowasapresentforhismaster,butthiswasrefused; yetthecow99withher calf followed the youthful scholar to Clonard, where she gave milk to twelve
95 The Bollandist editor remarks, that in
the Acts of St. Columba, Abbot of Iona, and
certain Diermitius mentioned, and he was a disciple to that Abbot. But, as St. Columba is said to have died A. D. 597, and St.
Kieran is supposed to have been born A. D. 516, this last-named must have been a junior to the "Diermitius" in question.
96 As found in the Book of Lismore.
9 ? See " Anecdota Oxoniensia," edited by Whitley Stokes, D. C. L. , pp. 265 to 267.
cap. xix. , p. 395. The Bollandists deferred giving the Acts of Saint Finian to the 12th of December ; but, in their previous corn- mentary on the Life of St. Kyran of Saigir, and published at the 5th of March, sect. 2, it is shown, that no chronological objection can fairly be offered to the statement, that St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise could have been a disciple to St. Finian of Clonard.
9' St. Ciaran blessed this cow, and after- wards it bore the name of Odar Ciarain, or Ciaran's Dun. In the narrator's day, the hide of that cow was said to have beer* pre- served in Clonmacnoise, and whatever soul
published at the 9th day of June, there is a ""
98 See nige. "
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Februarii xxiii. Vita S, Finiani.
from its on that hide was body
Colgan's
separated
thought to possess eteinal life.
Another legend
208 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[September 9.
bishops and other guests, who lived in St. Finian's establishment. 100 By others, it is said he received from St. Justus his first lessons. 101 In case we admit Ussher's chronology regarding his birth, Kieran of Clonmacnoise could not have been advanced beyond his years of early infancy, when he entered the school of St. Finian at Clonard. However, it is generally admitted, that our saint was a disciple of St. Finian, Abbot of Clonard,103 and contempo-
raneously
with him were his namesake Kieran of 10^ Columkille,10* Saigre,
Columba mac Crimthaind, 108
10* 106 Brendan son of Finlog,
10?
Brendan of Birr, Cainec of Daland's 110 Ruadan of Lothra,"1 Lamdere,"2 Killicu-
Laistrian son of Nathfraich, Sinell son of Maenac, posterity, Nannyd
100
mulus,"3 Bishop Sennach,"* and many others. " 5
and highly distinguished for their great virtues.
gave certain possessions to Finian, his teacher, and to his successors, as like-
8 110
and who became a respectable abbot, both in Clonmacnoise and in Aingen. But, as St. Finian lived to a. d. 565,"° and according to the Acts of St. Columba, as he exceeded the one hundred and tenth year of his age, Pape- broke thinks, that Ussher's authority may be disputed, and that there can be some reasons assigned for a different opinion. Suyskens considers, if this donation were made by either of the Kierans, it should seem rather referable
wise to Clonard he left much of its landed
supposed to have reference to our own St. Kieran, known as the younger,"
100 An Irish verse alluding to this legend, is thus translated into English :—
noise, as found in the Book of Lismore, they are enumerated from an Irish poem, and the account is thus translated into English :
11 Now the twelve of Ireland abode bishops
in Findian's school at Clonard, as (a poet) said :
" Full
Ciaran's Dun used to feed,
Both guests, and weaklings,
And folk of the refectory and upper
,01 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xviii. Januarii, Vita S. Nennidhii, cap.
vii. ,p. 113-
102
His festival occurs on the 12th of De- cember, at which date his Acts may be found.
fifty
and a hundred
See
103 His feast is held on the 5th of March. quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 471. See also p.
See his Life, at that date, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
104 See the Life of St. Columba or Colum- kille, at the 9th of June, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art, i.
105 Otherwise Colum Mac Ui Cremhthan-
nain of Tir-da-glas, whose feast is held on
13th of December.
106
His feast occurs on the 16th of May. See at that date his Life in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. i.
107 His festival occurs on the 29th of November.
108
His feast-day has not been ascertained. 109 His festival is held on the 12th of
November.
495-
"7 Taken from certain documents belong-
ing to the Diocese of Meath.
1,8
Papebroke, also, seems inclining to the same opinion. He remarks that it suffices for such a state of things, if Finan returned to Ireland, before the end of the fifth and in the beginning of the sixth cen- tury, and then admitted scholars to his school. Thus both of the Saints Kyran could have attended his lessons, although not in Clonard monastery.
"9See"ActaSanctorum,"tomusi. , Martii
v. Commentarius Praevius, § ii. , num. 12.
" tantum liberalitate principum profecisset ut de eo, quod sibi abundabat, tain amplos fundos possit magistro suo, velut pro miner- uali, rependere. "
120 Uasher, however, places his death at a. d. 552, on the authority of the Innisfallen Annals, See " Britanicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," Index Chronologicus, p. 531.
1,0 111
His feast occurs on the I ith of October.
See his Life, at the 15th of April, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
1,2 Not identified.
"3 Not identified.
"« Not identified,
"s In the Life of St. Ciaran of Clonmac-
1,6
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
property. "
Mugenoc
These were all holy men,
We are told, that St. Kieran
6 This statement"7 is
1 Two
Ciaran, Camnach, fair Comgall, Two Brenainns, Ruadan with beauty,
Findians,
two chaste Colombs,
Ninnid, Mobi, Nat-fraich's son. ' i. e. t MolaisiofDevenish.
"
Papebroke adds to the foregoing account,
September 9. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 209
toKieranofSaigirthantohimofClonmacnoise. For,althoughtheopinion be not admitted, that our Kieran died in the thirty-third year of his age, whilst Papebroke thinks, Kieran of Saigir died in 520; this latter cannot have frequented Clonard school with the former. The record cited by
1
Ussher does not determine this point satisfactorily," since it fails to dis-
tinguish which of the Kierans is there mentioned,123 Manual labour is said to have been practised at this school of Clonard, and each of the bishops
there had his task assigned alternately to grind a day at the quern. "3 But, when our saint's day came, angels u$ed to grind at the quern for Ciaran. ,24 While he war, there, and having dedicated her maidenhood to God, the king of Cualann's daughter was entrusted to the care of Findian, who brought her to Ciaran, and with him she used to read the psalms. So long as he was engaged in teaching her, he would not look at the face of the young lady, and he saw only her feet. So great an opinion had Findian of the disciple's sanctity, that when twelve lepers came to be healed by him, the abbot sent them to Ciaran, v/ho, taking a sod from the earth, caused water to flow, and pouring three waves of it over each of the men, they were immediately cleansed from their leprosy. Again, it is related, that while Ninnid Slant-eye of Locha Eime #as a student with him at Clonard, he had no book, and was directed by Findian to borrow from some one among the scholars. They refused to lend him, and this he stated to the abbot, who said, " Hast thou gone to the tender youth who is in the north of the green? " Ninnid said he had not, but that he should then go, and meantime Ciaran had arrived
atthemiddletextofSt. Matthew'sGospel "Omniaquaecumquevultisat
:
I2 "
faciant homines vobis ita et vos faciatis illis. " 5 Ninnid then said, I have
come to borrow a book. " "Mercy come to us ! " replied Ciaran, "it is for
this I read, and this the text saith to me, that I should do unto everyone
whatIdesireshouldbedoneuntome. " Hethengavethatbook. Onthe
morrow, his companions asked Ninnid regarding his procuring of the book,
and they were told the circumstances already related. One of the class then
" 126 "
said, Let Ciaran Half-Matthew be his name. " Nay," replied Findian,
" but Ciaran 12 ? for half of Ireland shall be and ours shall Half-Ireland, his,
be the other half. "
121
128
Other legendary accounts are given regarding his
Notwithstanding the foregoing state- ment, Ussher distinctly lays it down from the old Life of St. Finian, that the two Kierans,
dicitur, et Kieranus Saigre attended his school at Clonard. And the Kieran, who bestowed Clonard and its possessions on his master, has been identified with him of Clonmacnoise. See TJssher's " Britanni- carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 471'
133
However, TJssher's conjecture seems far more probable, taking into account the dates, position and circumstances of these early events.
123 This account— substituting mill for quern—is given by Colgan, from the biogra- pherof St. Kyran, whom he cites, in u Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita S. Columbia, n. 12, p. 457*
124 Again we are informed, this same pro- digy had taken place, during his captivity under King Furbithus. Not having seen
the document cited by Colgan, Suyskens
says, he could not determine the particular St. Kyran here meant. But, he suspects, also, that this account must have been trans- ferred from the acts of other saints. As for instance, an angel is said to have worked a
"
" Kieranus filius Artificis qui iriAcicAein "
Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii viii. , nn. 13
mill for St. Senan, as recorded in the
et seq. , p. 771.
,2s Somewhat similar to this account is one
related in the Life of St. Gildas Badonicus. There reference is made to some ancient Life of St. Finnian, who was the master of Kieran.
,2<5 In Latin " Dimidium Matthaei. " The Irish words are Leth Matha.
,27 The Irish words used were Leth nErionn. Having been honoured and en- dowed by Irish princes, many farms, cells and monasteries became subject to him ; so that Kieran and his succes*ors might be re- garded, as having the half of Ireland subject to them.
,28 To this the writer of St. Ciaran's Life in the Book of Lismore adds, and with an
O
2io LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[September 9.
miracles and spirit of prophecy, while at Clonard j but, we shall only refer to them as introducing the domestic and social usages of wheat and oats being carried to a mill, loaves of wheat, bacon, flesh, vessels of ale, mead, nocturnsandprime,reapingandreapers,beingmentioned. Certainofthe clerics asked Findian, who would give out the prayer, when himself should
"
Ciaran. 1S9 " Thou givest the abbacy to him," saith Brenainn, M in preference
" It hath been
between chief cities, and the difference that shall be between them in size must be the difference between both rivers. "
CHAPTER II.
ST. KIERAN LEAVES CLONARD FOR THE SCHOOL OF ST. NINNIDIUS—MIRACLES RECORDED —HE GOES TO ST. ENDEUS, ON THE ISLAND OF ARAN—HIS ACTS WHILE THERK— HIS VISIT TO ST. SENAN OF INISCATHY—ADMONISHED IN A VISION TO BECOME THE FOUNDER OF A GREAT MONASTERY.
muigh-samh. 4 Thispermissionheobtainedin530,accordingtoArchbishop Ussher. The Irish Life, contained in the Book of Lismore, states, that after learning reading and wisdom at Clonard, he left the Dun with holy Ninnid, but said that her hide should come to him afterwards, and he declared, that although numbers might be nourished by her milk, still there must be many more to whom her hide should give help. 5 In referring to Ussher's statement, that our saint left St. Finian's School in 530, Dr. Lanigan observes, that the date ill accords with that assigned for the birth of Kieran, as, according to such hypothesis, Kieran should have been then
be no longer on earth.
Yonder youth," replied Findian, pointing to
Findian
be given. " This saying caused Ciaran to# be envied by all the saints, except Columkille. Then one of those present asked Ciaran, which of the saints should have the greatest reward in Heaven. " Mercy come to us ! " returned Ciaran, " it shall be known in our convents on earth. " Then Brenain of Birr prophesied for him '* We will take two convents on two streams
:
to
everyone. "
replied :
given,
We are that told,
1 from his former
Kieran went to St. Ninnidius, the abbot of a monastery built in a wood, near Lough Erne. Other accounts have it, on an Island,3 called Inis-
only fourteen years of age.
6
However, it is generally supposed, that the
having
obtained 2
permission
master,
St.
Irish verse commemorating it ; from that xi. , n. 170, p. 54. A similar passage is the famous word was taken to Rome to quoted by Ussher, from a somewhat different Alexander, " Non legam Marcum quo Life. See ** Britannicarum Ecclesiarum usque compleveram Mattheum. "
Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 495.
2 Saint Ninnid's Life has been compiled from the acts of other saints, and published by Colgan, at the 18th of January. He is there called Ninnidius, Nennidhuis or forward a unity of friendship was estab- Nennius, abbot and bishop. See " Acta
129 The Irish Life of our saint in the Book of Lismore states, that before taking leave of his pupil, Finian offered his monastery to Kiaran. This offer was refused, but thence-
lished between them.
Chapter ii. —'
licentia et benedictione occurs in a life of
accepta licentia, in Dr. Lanigan's estimation, alluded to a certificate or testimonial for learning and good conduct, such as was often given in universities to deserving students, who are
Sanctorum Hiberniae," xviii. Januarii, num.
8, p. 113.
3 On Lough Erne. 4 See notices of this
St. These words Kieran, cap. 7.
at the 1 8th of January, the day for his feast, in the First
thence named liceticiates.
See " Ecclesiasti-
sect.
Volume of this work, Art. ii.
the Annals of Innisfallen,78 St. Kieran was born in the year 506. Another learned writer declares, that the most probable account should assign his birth to a. d. 507. In this case, he should have lived to the age of forty-two, supposed to have been sufficient for the various transactions of his life, and still not long enough for ranking him among persons much advanced in years. 7' In the Annals of
Ulster,
" See " Trias Thaumaturga. "
his birth is set under a. d. 8o in which down, 511,
Vita Tri- partita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. cxxiii. , p. 145.
on the sixth of the calends of June, and that
he was born on the sixth of the calends of
March. It is also said, that his birth was
foretold by Lugbrann, who was the wizard
of King Crimthann, as it is recorded in Irish
verse. "On a certain day, when the wizard
heard the noise of the chariot, he said this,
''
Look,' saith he, my lads, who there is in
the chariot ; for here is a noise of chariot
under king. ' When the gillies went out, they saw nothing save Beoit and Darerca in the chariot. When the lads laughed at the
wizard, he said this ' The child that lies in
74 Referring to St. Patrick's reputed pro- phesy, Dr. Lanigan writes: "Whether it was pronounced or not is of little conse- quence ; but the denomination of Southern parts seems to show, that Kieran's birth- place was not only in Meath, but in a dis- trict of it far to the south of Armagh ; and, it is very probable, that it was somewhere in the neighbourhood of where he afterwards established his great monastery of Clon- macnoise. This tract was
comprised
ancient Meath. Ware and Harris
saith ' will be a he,
(Bishops at Clonmacnois) say, that he was of the sept of the Arads, or of a /amily from the part of Ulster called Dalaradia. This, how- ever, does not prevent his having been born
womb,'
and as the sun shineth among
in Meath. —" Ecclesiastical
land," vol. ii. , chap, x. , § xi. , n. 165, p. 53.
75 Afterwards the English divided this territory into Meath proper and West Meath.
told. '
78 Thus u
:
A. D. Nativitas Ciarani 506.
76
Regarding this King, the Bollandist
filii artificis. "
79 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's u Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xi. , p. 50, and n. 166, pp. 53, 54.
80 See Extracts from the Annals of Ulster,
in " Celto-Xor- Johnstone's Antiquitates
manicse," p. 57. "This date," says Dr. Lanigan, "would give us 37 years for the whole life of Kieran, which number of years is little enough to enable us to account for his various transactions, and for the extra- ordinary estimatio—n in which he wa§ held
1 66, pp. 53, 54.
editor observes, that Anmereus or Anmire
seems to have been identical with him
named in the Vila S. Columbae, in "the
M
Trias Thaumaturga," and in the Acts of St. Gildas Badonicus, and who is denomi- nated Anmericus. However, he was not King of Ireland before St. Kieran's birth, as may be collected from the aforesaid Vita S. Columbse, and from Colgan's annotations at
page 374, and nn. 39, 40.
77 In it is stated, that Ciaran was conceived
before his death. "
History
of Ire-
in the
:
the woman's
mighty king ;
the stars of heaven, so will he shine on earth
in miracles and marvels that cannot be
"
"Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, xi. , n.
206
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[September 9.
of the sun is also recorded. 81 It is referred to the 82 year 5. 1 6,
an
by Ussher, who appears to have calculated such date from the Book of Navan,8^ which states, that our saint lived 8* If this
year
eclipse
only thirty-three years.
account were true, Ussher's calculation should be right, because it is well known that Kieran died in 549. In the apocryphal Life of our saint, pos- sessed by the Bollandists, there is mention made of his captivity under a
King Turbithus. 85
According
to 86 Kieran was a certain man named
report, 8? This title also
baptized by
determined his character. 88 Whether
Justus.
or not, he be the person alluded to in the Vita Tripartita S. Patricii, and in connexion with our saint, can hardly be determined. The word used seems to indicate, only a popular report or tradition, and afterwards com- mitted to writing ; however, we may naturally suspect, that his years could have been so prolonged, as to confer baptism on St. Kieran. 89 Moreover, much doubt has been thrown9° on the story of St. Patrick moving down to
the district of and Hy-maine,
81 See the annals uLvoh or Annals of
Ulster, edited by William M. Hennessy,
M. R. I. A. , vol. i. , pp. 36, 37.
82 " "
named 1 over a Justus,?
church he at a founded, place
He was a
of St.
accurately
a
called Fidhart. *2
placing
deacon,
disciple Patrick, distinguished as well for his prolonged years, as for his great sanc- tity. 93 He is said to have baptised St. Kieran, in the one hundred and fortieth year of his age ; and to have read the form and rite of baptism, from a Ritual book, left him by St. Patrick. 94 But, in the doubtful Acts of our
See Ussher's Index Chronologicus
at A. u. dvi. , and Rev. Dr. Lanigan's cum magnus ille Hibernorum apostolus
"
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , § x. , n. 91, and chap, viii. , § xiii. , pp. 246, 419.
83 The Annala Ul<voh or Annals of Ulster, also state, that according to another book, the birth of Ciaran happened in 516. See vol. i. , pp. 38, 39, edition of William
M. Hennessy.
84 " The authority, however, of that book
is of little weight, and it is more than pro-
bable, that those 33 years were merely story better, places it both in Roscommon
guessed at to make his life the same length and Galway ; founded, he says, by St.
86 "
The word used is fertur," in the in his time. " Ibid. , n. 91 pp. 246, 247.
with that of our Saviour, as is observed in
said book. In Kieran *s Life it was remarked
that he died rather young ; and hence a
conjecture was s—tarted that his age might calling it an abbey ; for the church of have been 33. " See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Fidhart, according to even the Tripartite, M Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
chap, x. , § xi. , n. 166, p. 53.
85 Probably a misprint for " Furbithus. "
account of this circumstance. See Colgan's
'"Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii. , lib. ii. , cap. xlix. , p. 136.
8? In the Acts of St. Patrick, edited by
91 In reference to this saint, Dr. Lanigan remarks, that what has been ridiculously said about the 140th year is more than sufficient to show Justus could not have been placed
Papebroke at the 17th day of March, over a church so early as the Tripartite- Suyskens observes, that a certain holy states. It is also to be observed, that in hermit, named Justus, is said to have been Kieran's Life, Justus is said not only to
kindly received by St. Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland.
88 The Life of St. Kiaran, in the Book of
Lismore, calls him Deacon Justus.
: 89TheBollandisteditoradds "Uttamen
have baptised Kieran, but likewise to have instructed him.
94 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Tripartita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xlix. , p. 136.
admittamus, sanctum Abbatem ab aliquo a Patricii discipulis eo Sacramento initiatum fuisse, non propterea necesse est tarn singu- larem in eo longe vitam adstruire ; quippe
anno 460, ut in ipsius Actis ostendit Pape-
brochius, ad supros emigraverit, sanctus vero Kieranus anno 516 natus perhibeatur, ut
hanc ab illius baptizari potuisse
intelligitur,
discipulo, qui octogenario non esset major. "
»° By Rev. Dr. Lanigan. "
91 See Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, x. , p. 244.
91 In his usual manner, Archdall gives us
an abbey of Fidhart, "and to make the
Patrick, who consigned it to Justus. Besides the incorrectness of the latter part of this statement, Archdall was mistaken also in
was no more than a deaconry, although afterwards it became a parochial church, in the diocese o—f Elphin, as Colgan says it was
September 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 207
saint, possessed by the Bollandists, it is related, that Kieran of Clonmacnoise
was baptised and brought up, by a very holy man, Dermitius by name. 95 Which of these accounts—if either statement be accepted—is more correct, it would prove a difficult matter to decide.
As usual in the Acts of all our most celebrated Irish saints, where no authentic accounts have been preserved of their youth, the legend-mongers are quite ready to supply incredible fictions. So in the Life of St. Ciaran, many of these are thoroughly ridiculous j and it may even be questioned, if some allusions in such narratives tend to exhibit the social customs and habits of his time, or whether they serve to elucidate matters connected with contemporaneous history. Only in such cases do we regard them as worthy of enumeration, and most certainly requiring much abridgment of circum- stantial details. Thus, for bringing to life a horse belonging to Oengus, the son of Cremthann, our saint received a tract of land denominated Tir-na- Gabra, or the Land of the Steed ; honey, which he miraculously procured for his mother, was given as a fee to Justus for baptizing him ; when a hound attacked him, he chaunted this verse, " Ne tradas bestiis animam confitentem
mihi," and the hound fell dead; after the manner of Jacob, of David son of
6 his set him over herds, and the parents
and of other
Almighty knew that in future times he would be a faithful herdsman over the faithful j he also kept the herds of his foster-father, the Deacon Justus, at Fidarta ; likewise, allusion is made to the preparation of blue dye-stuff, as a practice of his mother j moreover, while herding kine, a wolf came and devouredacalf,whichthesaintbroughtoncemoretolife; besides,onacertain day, robbers from Offaly raided the district of Cenel Fiachrach, and among others, they attempted to kill St. Ciaran, but they were struck with blindness and could not move, until after repentance they were released ; again, his father sent him with the present of a caldron to king Furban, but he bestowed it on some poor men he met on the way, so that he incurred the king's dis- pleasure, and was condemned to grind at a quern, when lo ! it began to turn of its own accord, and the angels of the Lord were supposed to have been the agents ; not long afterwards, smiths came from Munster bearing three caldrons as a present for Ciaran, and these he presented to the king, who released him from slavery. ^?
Jesse,
patriarchs,9
In the Monastery of Clonard, on the confines of Leinster and Meath, it
8
is stated, that St. Kieran received his early education. 9
relates, that when about to proceed thither, Ciaran asked his parents for a cowasapresentforhismaster,butthiswasrefused; yetthecow99withher calf followed the youthful scholar to Clonard, where she gave milk to twelve
95 The Bollandist editor remarks, that in
the Acts of St. Columba, Abbot of Iona, and
certain Diermitius mentioned, and he was a disciple to that Abbot. But, as St. Columba is said to have died A. D. 597, and St.
Kieran is supposed to have been born A. D. 516, this last-named must have been a junior to the "Diermitius" in question.
96 As found in the Book of Lismore.
9 ? See " Anecdota Oxoniensia," edited by Whitley Stokes, D. C. L. , pp. 265 to 267.
cap. xix. , p. 395. The Bollandists deferred giving the Acts of Saint Finian to the 12th of December ; but, in their previous corn- mentary on the Life of St. Kyran of Saigir, and published at the 5th of March, sect. 2, it is shown, that no chronological objection can fairly be offered to the statement, that St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise could have been a disciple to St. Finian of Clonard.
9' St. Ciaran blessed this cow, and after- wards it bore the name of Odar Ciarain, or Ciaran's Dun. In the narrator's day, the hide of that cow was said to have beer* pre- served in Clonmacnoise, and whatever soul
published at the 9th day of June, there is a ""
98 See nige. "
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Februarii xxiii. Vita S, Finiani.
from its on that hide was body
Colgan's
separated
thought to possess eteinal life.
Another legend
208 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[September 9.
bishops and other guests, who lived in St. Finian's establishment. 100 By others, it is said he received from St. Justus his first lessons. 101 In case we admit Ussher's chronology regarding his birth, Kieran of Clonmacnoise could not have been advanced beyond his years of early infancy, when he entered the school of St. Finian at Clonard. However, it is generally admitted, that our saint was a disciple of St. Finian, Abbot of Clonard,103 and contempo-
raneously
with him were his namesake Kieran of 10^ Columkille,10* Saigre,
Columba mac Crimthaind, 108
10* 106 Brendan son of Finlog,
10?
Brendan of Birr, Cainec of Daland's 110 Ruadan of Lothra,"1 Lamdere,"2 Killicu-
Laistrian son of Nathfraich, Sinell son of Maenac, posterity, Nannyd
100
mulus,"3 Bishop Sennach,"* and many others. " 5
and highly distinguished for their great virtues.
gave certain possessions to Finian, his teacher, and to his successors, as like-
8 110
and who became a respectable abbot, both in Clonmacnoise and in Aingen. But, as St. Finian lived to a. d. 565,"° and according to the Acts of St. Columba, as he exceeded the one hundred and tenth year of his age, Pape- broke thinks, that Ussher's authority may be disputed, and that there can be some reasons assigned for a different opinion. Suyskens considers, if this donation were made by either of the Kierans, it should seem rather referable
wise to Clonard he left much of its landed
supposed to have reference to our own St. Kieran, known as the younger,"
100 An Irish verse alluding to this legend, is thus translated into English :—
noise, as found in the Book of Lismore, they are enumerated from an Irish poem, and the account is thus translated into English :
11 Now the twelve of Ireland abode bishops
in Findian's school at Clonard, as (a poet) said :
" Full
Ciaran's Dun used to feed,
Both guests, and weaklings,
And folk of the refectory and upper
,01 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xviii. Januarii, Vita S. Nennidhii, cap.
vii. ,p. 113-
102
His festival occurs on the 12th of De- cember, at which date his Acts may be found.
fifty
and a hundred
See
103 His feast is held on the 5th of March. quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 471. See also p.
See his Life, at that date, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
104 See the Life of St. Columba or Colum- kille, at the 9th of June, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art, i.
105 Otherwise Colum Mac Ui Cremhthan-
nain of Tir-da-glas, whose feast is held on
13th of December.
106
His feast occurs on the 16th of May. See at that date his Life in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. i.
107 His festival occurs on the 29th of November.
108
His feast-day has not been ascertained. 109 His festival is held on the 12th of
November.
495-
"7 Taken from certain documents belong-
ing to the Diocese of Meath.
1,8
Papebroke, also, seems inclining to the same opinion. He remarks that it suffices for such a state of things, if Finan returned to Ireland, before the end of the fifth and in the beginning of the sixth cen- tury, and then admitted scholars to his school. Thus both of the Saints Kyran could have attended his lessons, although not in Clonard monastery.
"9See"ActaSanctorum,"tomusi. , Martii
v. Commentarius Praevius, § ii. , num. 12.
" tantum liberalitate principum profecisset ut de eo, quod sibi abundabat, tain amplos fundos possit magistro suo, velut pro miner- uali, rependere. "
120 Uasher, however, places his death at a. d. 552, on the authority of the Innisfallen Annals, See " Britanicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," Index Chronologicus, p. 531.
1,0 111
His feast occurs on the I ith of October.
See his Life, at the 15th of April, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
1,2 Not identified.
"3 Not identified.
"« Not identified,
"s In the Life of St. Ciaran of Clonmac-
1,6
"
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
property. "
Mugenoc
These were all holy men,
We are told, that St. Kieran
6 This statement"7 is
1 Two
Ciaran, Camnach, fair Comgall, Two Brenainns, Ruadan with beauty,
Findians,
two chaste Colombs,
Ninnid, Mobi, Nat-fraich's son. ' i. e. t MolaisiofDevenish.
"
Papebroke adds to the foregoing account,
September 9. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 209
toKieranofSaigirthantohimofClonmacnoise. For,althoughtheopinion be not admitted, that our Kieran died in the thirty-third year of his age, whilst Papebroke thinks, Kieran of Saigir died in 520; this latter cannot have frequented Clonard school with the former. The record cited by
1
Ussher does not determine this point satisfactorily," since it fails to dis-
tinguish which of the Kierans is there mentioned,123 Manual labour is said to have been practised at this school of Clonard, and each of the bishops
there had his task assigned alternately to grind a day at the quern. "3 But, when our saint's day came, angels u$ed to grind at the quern for Ciaran. ,24 While he war, there, and having dedicated her maidenhood to God, the king of Cualann's daughter was entrusted to the care of Findian, who brought her to Ciaran, and with him she used to read the psalms. So long as he was engaged in teaching her, he would not look at the face of the young lady, and he saw only her feet. So great an opinion had Findian of the disciple's sanctity, that when twelve lepers came to be healed by him, the abbot sent them to Ciaran, v/ho, taking a sod from the earth, caused water to flow, and pouring three waves of it over each of the men, they were immediately cleansed from their leprosy. Again, it is related, that while Ninnid Slant-eye of Locha Eime #as a student with him at Clonard, he had no book, and was directed by Findian to borrow from some one among the scholars. They refused to lend him, and this he stated to the abbot, who said, " Hast thou gone to the tender youth who is in the north of the green? " Ninnid said he had not, but that he should then go, and meantime Ciaran had arrived
atthemiddletextofSt. Matthew'sGospel "Omniaquaecumquevultisat
:
I2 "
faciant homines vobis ita et vos faciatis illis. " 5 Ninnid then said, I have
come to borrow a book. " "Mercy come to us ! " replied Ciaran, "it is for
this I read, and this the text saith to me, that I should do unto everyone
whatIdesireshouldbedoneuntome. " Hethengavethatbook. Onthe
morrow, his companions asked Ninnid regarding his procuring of the book,
and they were told the circumstances already related. One of the class then
" 126 "
said, Let Ciaran Half-Matthew be his name. " Nay," replied Findian,
" but Ciaran 12 ? for half of Ireland shall be and ours shall Half-Ireland, his,
be the other half. "
121
128
Other legendary accounts are given regarding his
Notwithstanding the foregoing state- ment, Ussher distinctly lays it down from the old Life of St. Finian, that the two Kierans,
dicitur, et Kieranus Saigre attended his school at Clonard. And the Kieran, who bestowed Clonard and its possessions on his master, has been identified with him of Clonmacnoise. See TJssher's " Britanni- carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 471'
133
However, TJssher's conjecture seems far more probable, taking into account the dates, position and circumstances of these early events.
123 This account— substituting mill for quern—is given by Colgan, from the biogra- pherof St. Kyran, whom he cites, in u Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita S. Columbia, n. 12, p. 457*
124 Again we are informed, this same pro- digy had taken place, during his captivity under King Furbithus. Not having seen
the document cited by Colgan, Suyskens
says, he could not determine the particular St. Kyran here meant. But, he suspects, also, that this account must have been trans- ferred from the acts of other saints. As for instance, an angel is said to have worked a
"
" Kieranus filius Artificis qui iriAcicAein "
Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Martii viii. , nn. 13
mill for St. Senan, as recorded in the
et seq. , p. 771.
,2s Somewhat similar to this account is one
related in the Life of St. Gildas Badonicus. There reference is made to some ancient Life of St. Finnian, who was the master of Kieran.
,2<5 In Latin " Dimidium Matthaei. " The Irish words are Leth Matha.
,27 The Irish words used were Leth nErionn. Having been honoured and en- dowed by Irish princes, many farms, cells and monasteries became subject to him ; so that Kieran and his succes*ors might be re- garded, as having the half of Ireland subject to them.
,28 To this the writer of St. Ciaran's Life in the Book of Lismore adds, and with an
O
2io LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[September 9.
miracles and spirit of prophecy, while at Clonard j but, we shall only refer to them as introducing the domestic and social usages of wheat and oats being carried to a mill, loaves of wheat, bacon, flesh, vessels of ale, mead, nocturnsandprime,reapingandreapers,beingmentioned. Certainofthe clerics asked Findian, who would give out the prayer, when himself should
"
Ciaran. 1S9 " Thou givest the abbacy to him," saith Brenainn, M in preference
" It hath been
between chief cities, and the difference that shall be between them in size must be the difference between both rivers. "
CHAPTER II.
ST. KIERAN LEAVES CLONARD FOR THE SCHOOL OF ST. NINNIDIUS—MIRACLES RECORDED —HE GOES TO ST. ENDEUS, ON THE ISLAND OF ARAN—HIS ACTS WHILE THERK— HIS VISIT TO ST. SENAN OF INISCATHY—ADMONISHED IN A VISION TO BECOME THE FOUNDER OF A GREAT MONASTERY.
muigh-samh. 4 Thispermissionheobtainedin530,accordingtoArchbishop Ussher. The Irish Life, contained in the Book of Lismore, states, that after learning reading and wisdom at Clonard, he left the Dun with holy Ninnid, but said that her hide should come to him afterwards, and he declared, that although numbers might be nourished by her milk, still there must be many more to whom her hide should give help. 5 In referring to Ussher's statement, that our saint left St. Finian's School in 530, Dr. Lanigan observes, that the date ill accords with that assigned for the birth of Kieran, as, according to such hypothesis, Kieran should have been then
be no longer on earth.
Yonder youth," replied Findian, pointing to
Findian
be given. " This saying caused Ciaran to# be envied by all the saints, except Columkille. Then one of those present asked Ciaran, which of the saints should have the greatest reward in Heaven. " Mercy come to us ! " returned Ciaran, " it shall be known in our convents on earth. " Then Brenain of Birr prophesied for him '* We will take two convents on two streams
:
to
everyone. "
replied :
given,
We are that told,
1 from his former
Kieran went to St. Ninnidius, the abbot of a monastery built in a wood, near Lough Erne. Other accounts have it, on an Island,3 called Inis-
only fourteen years of age.
6
However, it is generally supposed, that the
having
obtained 2
permission
master,
St.
Irish verse commemorating it ; from that xi. , n. 170, p. 54. A similar passage is the famous word was taken to Rome to quoted by Ussher, from a somewhat different Alexander, " Non legam Marcum quo Life. See ** Britannicarum Ecclesiarum usque compleveram Mattheum. "
Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 495.
2 Saint Ninnid's Life has been compiled from the acts of other saints, and published by Colgan, at the 18th of January. He is there called Ninnidius, Nennidhuis or forward a unity of friendship was estab- Nennius, abbot and bishop. See " Acta
129 The Irish Life of our saint in the Book of Lismore states, that before taking leave of his pupil, Finian offered his monastery to Kiaran. This offer was refused, but thence-
lished between them.
Chapter ii. —'
licentia et benedictione occurs in a life of
accepta licentia, in Dr. Lanigan's estimation, alluded to a certificate or testimonial for learning and good conduct, such as was often given in universities to deserving students, who are
Sanctorum Hiberniae," xviii. Januarii, num.
8, p. 113.
3 On Lough Erne. 4 See notices of this
St. These words Kieran, cap. 7.
at the 1 8th of January, the day for his feast, in the First
thence named liceticiates.
See " Ecclesiasti-
sect.
Volume of this work, Art. ii.
