It
oughttobegivenuptotheRoma—nCatholic
bishop or sent to a museum.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
The chil- dren of Protestant parents are more correctly named Aidan, in this part of Ireland.
5^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (p), p. 247.
59 Thus, a of St Patrick's Church, priest
Dublin, called Edan, was a subscribing wit-
ness to St. Laurence O'Toole's grant, in duced in ink, ready for the engraver. We favour of the Church of the Most Holy
second pencil sketch exhibits a rudely- executed cross, as seen on a stone in the church-yard of Ferns. The third, also pen- cilled, represents the remains of another
stone cross, lying in the same graveyard.
On the latter cross
within different compartments. The first
appears angular tracery,
and third drawings are beautifully repro-
find, also, a beautiful ink drawing, present- ing the ruins of Ferns abbey, as seen from theeast.
^ It begins with these words : fHAi]\5
Trinity, in 1170. See Monck Mason's
''
History and Antiquities of the Collegiate andCathedralChurchofSt. Patrick. " In-
troduction, sect, i. , pp. I, 2. ^MissStokesofDublin.
|'Ai]\eo64f -mo 61bl, cat6, thus translated,
" *' "
Woe to those who pollute my noble See the elaborate treatise, On Two church. " Works of Ancient Irish Art, known as The 53 See the "Chronological Account of Breac Moedog, or shrine of St. Moedog,
nearly Four Hundred Irish Writers," &c. , p. xliii.
5* It began with these words, SeAn6<3i|'
and the Soiscel Molaise, or Gospel of St. Molaise," communicated to the Society of Antiquaries.
of nearly Four Hundred Irish W'riters," p. cxi.
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 573
originally they were twenty-one in number. Besides the figures, a great variety of ornamental designs, executed in bronze and variegated enamel, may be seen. By competent critics, this shrine has been pronounced to be the oldest, and the opus Hibernicum workmanship to be the most interesting of its class, known to remain in the world. ^*
After St. Molaise of Devenish had resolved on a visit to Rome, he is said
firsttohavevisitedSt. Moedoc,atFerns. Havingthenestablishedamutual
friendly covenant, on his return from Rome, Molaise presented a reliquary or shrine to St. Edan at Fems. '^^ This is now in Dr. Petrie's collection of
Irish antiquities, preserved at the Royal Irish Academy. It is known as the Breac Moedoc. This shrine had been preserved for many centuries in the church of St. Moedoc, at Drumlane, in keeping of the Catholic parish priest. The people believed, a false oath taken on it must be followed by some singular judgment, so great was that reverence in which it was held. It was occasionally lent for the purpose of swearing accused persons on trial. About the year 1846, it had been lent on some such understanding to a person named Magauran, from the parish of Templeport, he having de- posited the usual pledge of a guinea for its safe return. However, a Dublin jeweller offered him a larger sum than that he had given as a guarantee. He thereupon broke faith with the priest, and sold the sacred relic. Afterwards, Dr. Petrie purchased and preserved it, as a genuine and curious specimen of ancient Irish art. ^-* This shrine is a small one,^5 and in its general form it is very like the chasses or shrines of Limoges work, belonging to a much later date. It is box-shaped and vertical, for about one-third of the height, on the sides : then these slope inwards, until they meet at a very acute angle, so as to resemble the roof of a house.
The foundation of this shrine is of pale The front of the Breac Moedog is divided The lower tier^^ has three compartments : each of these had originally three figures. The central^^ and righf^^ compart-
bronze, covered with gilt plates. into three tiers, or rows of figures.
*^ See W. F. Wakeman's " Lough Erne,
Enniskillen, Belleek, Ballyshannon and
Bundoran," &c. , concluding chapter, p. 161.
inches.
*3 In the Irish life of St. Moedoc, it is
stated, Molaise presented a portion of the
sacred remains which he had brought from
Rome, and these included the relics of "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , p. Saints Peter and Paul, of Saints Laurence
and Clement and Stephen, of the Blessed
Virgin Mary and St. Martin, with those of many other saints, "The life further adds,
that St. Molaise, having given these relics to his^ friend, St. Moedoc, exclaimed, "/j Breac go maith uail me anossa," i. e. , "Now
indeed I am well-speckled by thee," as if he said, "You have given me such a corselet of relics, that I am now all over ornamented and protected by them. " And St. Molaise then said, Breac Moedoig {i. e. , the speckled or variegated shrine of Moedoc),"—shall be the name of the reliquary for ever. Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , pp. 318, 319.
321.
^^ In it are represented Our Saviour with
the Apostles, SS. Peter and Paul. The Re-
deemer holds in his hands the Book of the
Law, and in the left a vase, closely resembl-
ing in form some old Irish chalices, yet pre-
served in the Royal Irish Academy ; while
in the arcade or where he stands are birds,
symbolical of the angelic choirs. St. Paul
is at the right of Our Saviour, while a sword
is in the right and a sceptre in the left hand
of this Apostle. S—t. Peter stands at the left
of the Redeemer this in many ancient
monuments the of ho- — being post highest
nour with a sceptre in the right and a crozier in the left hand.
*5 Its dimensions are : height 'j\ inches, considering his youthful appearance and length 81 inches, breadth of the base 3J beardless fece ; the other appears to be St.
^* See Miss Stokes' illustrated
"On Two Works of Ancient Irish Art," &c. , p. 5, et seq.
'* Here are three : one of figures
"Irish
treastise,
these, bearing a cruciform crozier in his hand, seems intended for St. John the Evangelist,
**
It is thought, in the figures it contained,
had been represented the whole series of the
Apostles. Allowing two figures to the cor-
responding parts of the shrine, at either end, including the figure of our Blessed Lord, we should have precisely thirteen figures. See
574 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
merits are still entire, but only the feet of three figures remain in the left com- partment. ^9 Thesecondorcentraldivisionisonlycapableofreceivingtwo compartments ; each one of these has a group of figures. One of these groups is still preserved, and it presents, in an arcade, three female figures, with hands gracefully clasped on the bosom. Their dress is uniform, while their countenances are peculiarly sweet. There is something in their atti- tude so noble and Divine, that there can be little hesitation in reckoning this group among the most perfect works of art belonging to our early Irish Church. 7° TheuppermosttierordivisionoftheBreacMoedoigallowsonly of two compartments ; and as these spaces are smaller than those of the middle tier, each one may possibly have contained only two figures. 7' It was to this tier, perhaps, that a group of two figures,^' now loosely appended to the middle compartment, originally belonged. In the forms and faces of the female figures, there is not only strong individuality of character, but this character is one of sweetness, benevolence and simple goodness, carried out, not only in facial expression, but in the mere figure attitudes, and in the quiet clasping of hands upon the breast. 73 Impassioned sorrow, an earnest, tearful gaze ; a cheerful, common-sense expression ; solemn, severe dignity ; these characteristics are noticeable in the faces of various groups. '^ All this and the treatment of details manifest the existence of a dramatic, as also of a religious element, in early Irish art. It elevates above that which is purely decorative, and it is as much beyond the art of the mere savage or barbarian, as the faith which teaches of goodness, purity and love transcends the dark superstitions of heathenism. 75
The present Protestant cathedral church of Ferns, although a modem building, is said to have attached some remains of the mor—e ancient structure.
When last
to occupy its original position St. . ^dan's or Mogue's reputed monument was found. 76 There it may be seen,77 and it is held to have been his ancient
in a niche of that church not a. d. 181 —
repaired, 7, yet supposed
tomb, according to popular tradition. 7^
Matthew, for it bears a book clasped in both hands, his usual characteristic symbol in ancient art. The remains of an undeciplier- able inscription are traceable over their heads.
A monster, writhing with pain, is
ship to St. Molaise of Devenish. See " Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , pp. 324, 325.
73 \—curious feature is a reversal of the
hands as if a mistake happened in the
^ With singular artistic taste and anti- quarian lore, Miss Stokes has described and 74
resolved the emblematic meaning, as also the comparative relationship of the tracery and objects represented, with cognate religious and national designs.
7° •' We probably will not err in supposing that the central figure is the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and that the figures on either side are St. Brigid, the Mary of Erin, and St. Ita, the contemporary of our Saint Aidan, and celebrated in our annals as the Brigid of Munster. "—"The Irish Ec- clesiastical Record," vol. vii. , p. 323.
7' Miss Stokes has detailed the patterns
and characteristics of this group, with great
felicity of thought and expression. See p. 13.
7' It has been conjectured, that one of
these may have been intended for St. Aidan
of Ferns, while the other may represent his synonymn saint, called Aedh Mac Brie. Both were bound by special ties of friend-
moulding,
««
That the Blessed Virgin and the Apos- ties were represented in the figures of this reliquary becomes the more probable when we reflect that their sacred relics were pre-
served within the venerable shrine. " "
Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , p.
323.
'5 See Miss Stokes, "On Two Works of
Ancient Irish Art," &c. , p. 14.
7* «« We are not informed by whom, or at
what period, this monument was erected, but it is visibly not of a veiy ancient date "— Brewer's "Beauties of Ireland," voL i. , p. 398.
'7 Not only an illustration of St. Mogue's
ancient tomb, but likewise illustrations of
the abbey and castle ruins, with engravings of an ancient cross and font at Ferns, are to be seen in Mr. and Mrs. Hall's " Ireland ; its Scenery, Character," &c. , vol. ii. , pp. 180 to 183.
'^ The saint is represented f>(/Mf/^<i/>^;
— The
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 575
sculptured beneath his feet ; while the exergue of this tomb is ornamented, with trefoils. 79 This memorial is held in great respect by the Catholics, who come from great distances and steal into the Protestant church to kiss it,^° whenever the doors are open.
In Ireland, various places have been connected with the memory of St.
Maidoc. ThereisatownlandcalledKilmeague,inthecountyofKildare,
and it may possibly be rendered " the church of Mogue. " At Templeshambo. ^' formerly Shanbotha, he was reverenced, and likewise, at Killybeg,^"" a town- landoftheparishofInishmacsaint,inthecountyofFermanagh, Here,ac- cording to Colgan, was a miraculous stone called Lac-Maodhoc, or Maedoc's stone. ^^ Besides, we find a place called Disert Nairbre,^-* now Dysart, a townland in the parish of Ardmorc, in the south-west of the county of Water- ford. ^^ We have already seen, that a house of his own foundation stood at
Cloncagh,^^ a parish in the territory of Hy-Conaill Gabhra, now the barony ofConnelloUpper,inthecountyofLimerick. ^7 Totheseplacesmaybe
added Ard-lathran,^^ now supposed to be Ardamine^s parish, in the barony of Ballaghkeen, on the sea coast, in the county of Wexford ; as also in the same county the Clonmore9° of his establishment, and the still more celebrated Ferns,9' to which allusion has been already sufficiently made. 9^ A well in the parish of Conra,93 county of Westmeith, was named, it is said, after this most remarkableofthosesaintsbearingMaidoc'sname. However,suchastate- ment may be doubtful. St. Edan's or Mogue's well and an old graveyard lie inthetownlandandparishofClongeen,94inWexfordcounty. Thespringesis
a very small conical cap, which ends in a point, surmounts his head, as a mitre ; whilst a short crozier or baculum crosses his breast.
ples of Ancient Ireland," there are notices of Ardladhran or Ardamine, and its large artificial mound. See p. 457.
tno]A.
9' In the work immediately quoted, we find a detailed account of the antiquities of
93 In the townland of Cam in this
there is a well, called Tobar Maodhoig or Mogue well, from which Dr. O'Donovan was inclined to believe, that parish might have been dedicated to Saint Mogue, before the D'Altons transferred its patronage to the Blessed Virgin. See "County of VVest- meath Antiquarian Letters belonging to the Ordnance Survey," vol. i. , pp. 117, 118. Mr. O'Donovan's Letter dated Ballymore, Lough Sewdy, September 17th, 1837.
9* In the townland of Loughnageer, in the same parish, there is a spot, where it is said, a church, dedicated to St. Catherine, for- merly stood ; but of which the foundation cannot even now be traced. Near it was a "holy well," dedicated to St. Catherine. In the detached southern part of that same parish stood an old abbey, called Abbey- braney. Ofthisnotastoneistobeseenat present. Its site is occupied by Abbey-
Antiquarian Letters belonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey Office. "
95Itwas the site of a " al- formerly patron,"
though in 1840 the well was not resorted to; nor was the pattern day remembered by the people.
79 On its top, according to Archdeacon "
Cotton's Fasti," Leinster, p. 329, we find
the " Under sculptured following inscription :
this monument are interred the remains of St. Edan, commonly called St. Moague,
January 31st, A. D. DCXXXil. "
^ Tliey believe, in many instances, this practice procures for them the miraculous cure of toothache. "Clearly, then, this monument is not in its proper place.
It oughttobegivenuptotheRoma—nCatholic bishop or sent to a museum. " Godkin's "Ireland and her Churches," part second, chap, xiii. , p. 276.
Ferns. See ibid. ,
9^ See likewise the Rev. William Reeves'
the founder of this and first cathedral,
bishop of Perns. He discharged the pastoral office with piety and Xtian zeal for the space of fifty years, and died, in an advanced age,
parish,
*'
In Marcus Keane's "Towers and Tem-
ples of Ancient Ireland," there is an account
of the ecclesiastical remains at this place.
See p. 460.
^^
In Irish written CAiLLe begA.
*^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
xxxi. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Maidoci, cap. v. , p. 223.
House. See " of Wexford braney County
^* In Irish written 's See ibid.
Difepc nAH\bi\e.
**
*' See ibid,, n. Also Arch-
dall's
" 37, p 219. Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 420.
In Irish written Ciu^in cUii'DeAch.
^ In Irish written dt\t) Li'6]\Ann.
*9 In Marcus Keane's " Towers and Tem-
9° In Irish written cLuAin
p. 459.
paper "On Some Ecclesiastical Bells," &c.
576 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
located, about a furlong north of the graveyard. 9^ We are informed, that an abbey of St. Maidockhad been founded for Canons Regular of St. Augustine,
in the sixth century at Bolhendesart, anciently called Desert Nairbre, in Waterford county. 97 A monaster)'- is said to have existed at Conry, a parish inthebaronyofRathconrath,andcountyofWestmeath. Theoldchurch there measures fifty-nine feet, by eighteen feet two inches ; and its old bells are said to have been found here some years ago, but they were sold to some antiquaryorsocietyinDublin. Anoldhorizontalstoneliesinthecemetery, under which, it is said, seven bishops, whose names are not known, lie buried. The parish is supposed to have been dedicated to the present saint,
as the holy well of St. Mogue is in its neighbourhood. ? ^ It is thought, that Templeshambo was probably Mogue's first foimdation among the many churches he erected in Hy-Kinsellagh, and he seems to be regarded as its
patron. 99 Fethard church, in the county of Wexford, is dedicated to St. Mogue or Edan of Ferns. Although the walls of the present Protestant church are very ancient, yet not a trace of architectural detail is left. There is to be found a fine square font carved on one side. '°°
Among Irish saints of the Third Class is ranked Blessed Maidoc or
^°='
of which he is It is there commemorated, as a
Aidan. '°' His feast is specially celebrated inFerns' diocese, chief patron, on the 31st day of January.
Double of the First Class, with an octave.
His memory was preserved in
'°3 in olden times, but likewise the two ancient Breffnies held him to be their tutelar patron. '°+ He was particularly venerated in the parishes of Drumlane^°5 and of Templeport,'°^ Cavan county,'°7 and, as many think, in the parish of Ross- inver, Leitrim county. The Irish Church commemorates this day as a Double Festival; and in various ancient national and other MSS. extant, this holy man, called a bishop and a confessor, had an office to his me- Hanmer confounds our illustrious
the not highest veneration,
only|throughout Hy-Kinsellagh territory,
mory, comprising Nine Lessons. ^°^
9* In 1840, the extensive graveyard, which was attached to that old church had been much used for burials ; but a single vestige of the ancient building was not visible.
57 See Smith's " Ancient and Present State of the County and City of Waterford," chap, iii. , p. 92.
cated to him here is St. Aidan's Academy,
Enniscorthy.
'°3 it appears to have fallen within that
district, defined as Brigantis, among the curious old coloured maps of Ptolemy, and
9* See Rev.
Ancient and Modem," vol. ii. , chap, xviii. , pp. 424 and 427, with n.
99 In the " Book of Lecan," belonging to the Royal Irish Academy, fol. 58, we find a list of the saints of Ireland. Its author- ship is attributed to Selbach, secretary to the King St. Cormac Mac CuUenan. Thus do we receiv—e the Irish stanza, rendered
into English ""
Nathi, grandson of eloquent Suanach, Cummin, gentle for petitioning,
Witha
'°*
Southof is Brackley Lough
:
Descriptions
of the
antiquarian objects
A. Cogan's "DioceseofMeath,
colophon,
N. Denis de Locis ac Mirabilibus Mundi. "
noble
Noble Aedan in Seanbotha. "
gentle,
of — throng, just voices,
Temple- Moguis Island, with the ruins of his ancient church. See Rev. William Reeves' "On some Ecclesi-
"Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , p. 400.
"^ Letter from Rev. James Graves, A. B. ,
headed Dunyard, Fethard, County Wexford,
port Lake,
where is St.
June 8th, 1872.
"'" "
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
See the Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , p. 403.
""Amongthereligiousinstitutions dedi*
'"^See
especially on that noted, Prima Europe Tabula. Seethelargequartoedition,witha
" Ptolemaei accedit Geographia,
This fine specimen of early typography was printed at Rome, A. D. 1490. An earlier edition was issued in the same city, A. D.
1478. These Maps are supposed to have been the earliest engraved on metal,
" vol. vii. , p. 401.
'°5
'°* See the
Irish Ecclesiastical Record,"
here remaining, and illustrative plates, are to
be found in the Ulster Journal of Archse-
ology," vol. v. , pp. no, et seq.
astical Bells," etc. "Proceedings: of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. viii.
for the County of Cavan," Sheet 13. '^^Asevidenceofthisstatement,wehave
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 577
bishop, under his name of ^danus/°9 with the founder of Lindisfarne. Ancient and modern Kalendars and histories agree in assigning the fes- tivalofSt. AidanorMaidoctothe31stdayofJanuary. "° ThentheRoman andBritishMartyrologiesnoticehim. Thus,asMedogus,ishecountedin that anonymous catalogue of Irish Saints' names, published by O'Sullevan Beare. '" In the Martyrology of Tallagh,"^ "Aedh Eps. Ferna" is his distinctive appellation. In the " Book of Obits and Martyrology of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Dublin,""3 this saint is found com- memorated at the ii. Kal. Feb. , or the 31st of January. "^ In the Feilire of St. yfCngus,"5 this illustrious prelate is ranked foremost at this date, and with two other Irish saints, he is specially commemorated. "^ The Calendar of Cashel, Marianus O'Gorman, "7 Charles Maguire, the Irish Life of St. Moedoc, the Carthusian Martyrology,"^ the Irish Calendar in the Royal Irish Academy,"9 Ferrarius. "° with all our ancient annalists and modern writers, concur in assigning the festival of this blessed servant of God to the 31st of January. TheFrenchhagiographer,Chatelain,andtheRev. AlbanButler,"'^ erroneously refer to him the Acts of St. Mo-maedhog, who, under the name ofSt. De,iscommemoratedonthei8thofMay,"^inLowerBrittany. "3 The
only to cite a MS. belonging to T. C. D. , and classed B. i, 3, which contains at January 31st this notice, Kal. ii. , Feb. SanctiEdani, Episcopi et Confessoris, ix. Lect. Duplex,
And Moelanfaid of memorable name
Proclaim with great vigour
Barr Find with the host of "
January.
"* The following English translation, we
A MS. in T. C. D. , classed B. 3, 12,
fin.
contains a notice at January 31st, Kal. ii. , Feb. , Adani, Epis, et Conf. ix. Lect. A MS. inT. C. D. , classed B. 3. 12. contains anoticeat January3ist. Kal. ii. Feb. , Sancti Edani, Epis. et Conf. ix. Lect. Again, in another MS. , we read at January 31st, Kal. ii. , Feb. , Sancti Edani Ibernensi Epis. et Conf. Duplex fest. ix. Lect. Like-
—
" Name Aedh, the powerful, of Ferna,
Maelanfaid, a name before us ;
They give with very great Brigh,
— A bright summit to the host of January. "
Vol. vii. , p. 404.
wise, we find in a Scotch Martyrology,
''
"7
In his Metrical Calendar, at the 31st
Lect. S. Modoci Epis. et Conf. " "Ka- ""
of January, the fol—lowing English version of his text, is left us:
lendarium Aberdonense. See
of L-eland," p. 127.
"°See the " Irish Ecclesiastical Record,"
vol. vii. , pp. 403, 404.
'"See "Historise Catholicse Ibernias
Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. ,
p. 49.
5^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (p), p. 247.
59 Thus, a of St Patrick's Church, priest
Dublin, called Edan, was a subscribing wit-
ness to St. Laurence O'Toole's grant, in duced in ink, ready for the engraver. We favour of the Church of the Most Holy
second pencil sketch exhibits a rudely- executed cross, as seen on a stone in the church-yard of Ferns. The third, also pen- cilled, represents the remains of another
stone cross, lying in the same graveyard.
On the latter cross
within different compartments. The first
appears angular tracery,
and third drawings are beautifully repro-
find, also, a beautiful ink drawing, present- ing the ruins of Ferns abbey, as seen from theeast.
^ It begins with these words : fHAi]\5
Trinity, in 1170. See Monck Mason's
''
History and Antiquities of the Collegiate andCathedralChurchofSt. Patrick. " In-
troduction, sect, i. , pp. I, 2. ^MissStokesofDublin.
|'Ai]\eo64f -mo 61bl, cat6, thus translated,
" *' "
Woe to those who pollute my noble See the elaborate treatise, On Two church. " Works of Ancient Irish Art, known as The 53 See the "Chronological Account of Breac Moedog, or shrine of St. Moedog,
nearly Four Hundred Irish Writers," &c. , p. xliii.
5* It began with these words, SeAn6<3i|'
and the Soiscel Molaise, or Gospel of St. Molaise," communicated to the Society of Antiquaries.
of nearly Four Hundred Irish W'riters," p. cxi.
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 573
originally they were twenty-one in number. Besides the figures, a great variety of ornamental designs, executed in bronze and variegated enamel, may be seen. By competent critics, this shrine has been pronounced to be the oldest, and the opus Hibernicum workmanship to be the most interesting of its class, known to remain in the world. ^*
After St. Molaise of Devenish had resolved on a visit to Rome, he is said
firsttohavevisitedSt. Moedoc,atFerns. Havingthenestablishedamutual
friendly covenant, on his return from Rome, Molaise presented a reliquary or shrine to St. Edan at Fems. '^^ This is now in Dr. Petrie's collection of
Irish antiquities, preserved at the Royal Irish Academy. It is known as the Breac Moedoc. This shrine had been preserved for many centuries in the church of St. Moedoc, at Drumlane, in keeping of the Catholic parish priest. The people believed, a false oath taken on it must be followed by some singular judgment, so great was that reverence in which it was held. It was occasionally lent for the purpose of swearing accused persons on trial. About the year 1846, it had been lent on some such understanding to a person named Magauran, from the parish of Templeport, he having de- posited the usual pledge of a guinea for its safe return. However, a Dublin jeweller offered him a larger sum than that he had given as a guarantee. He thereupon broke faith with the priest, and sold the sacred relic. Afterwards, Dr. Petrie purchased and preserved it, as a genuine and curious specimen of ancient Irish art. ^-* This shrine is a small one,^5 and in its general form it is very like the chasses or shrines of Limoges work, belonging to a much later date. It is box-shaped and vertical, for about one-third of the height, on the sides : then these slope inwards, until they meet at a very acute angle, so as to resemble the roof of a house.
The foundation of this shrine is of pale The front of the Breac Moedog is divided The lower tier^^ has three compartments : each of these had originally three figures. The central^^ and righf^^ compart-
bronze, covered with gilt plates. into three tiers, or rows of figures.
*^ See W. F. Wakeman's " Lough Erne,
Enniskillen, Belleek, Ballyshannon and
Bundoran," &c. , concluding chapter, p. 161.
inches.
*3 In the Irish life of St. Moedoc, it is
stated, Molaise presented a portion of the
sacred remains which he had brought from
Rome, and these included the relics of "Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , p. Saints Peter and Paul, of Saints Laurence
and Clement and Stephen, of the Blessed
Virgin Mary and St. Martin, with those of many other saints, "The life further adds,
that St. Molaise, having given these relics to his^ friend, St. Moedoc, exclaimed, "/j Breac go maith uail me anossa," i. e. , "Now
indeed I am well-speckled by thee," as if he said, "You have given me such a corselet of relics, that I am now all over ornamented and protected by them. " And St. Molaise then said, Breac Moedoig {i. e. , the speckled or variegated shrine of Moedoc),"—shall be the name of the reliquary for ever. Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , pp. 318, 319.
321.
^^ In it are represented Our Saviour with
the Apostles, SS. Peter and Paul. The Re-
deemer holds in his hands the Book of the
Law, and in the left a vase, closely resembl-
ing in form some old Irish chalices, yet pre-
served in the Royal Irish Academy ; while
in the arcade or where he stands are birds,
symbolical of the angelic choirs. St. Paul
is at the right of Our Saviour, while a sword
is in the right and a sceptre in the left hand
of this Apostle. S—t. Peter stands at the left
of the Redeemer this in many ancient
monuments the of ho- — being post highest
nour with a sceptre in the right and a crozier in the left hand.
*5 Its dimensions are : height 'j\ inches, considering his youthful appearance and length 81 inches, breadth of the base 3J beardless fece ; the other appears to be St.
^* See Miss Stokes' illustrated
"On Two Works of Ancient Irish Art," &c. , p. 5, et seq.
'* Here are three : one of figures
"Irish
treastise,
these, bearing a cruciform crozier in his hand, seems intended for St. John the Evangelist,
**
It is thought, in the figures it contained,
had been represented the whole series of the
Apostles. Allowing two figures to the cor-
responding parts of the shrine, at either end, including the figure of our Blessed Lord, we should have precisely thirteen figures. See
574 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
merits are still entire, but only the feet of three figures remain in the left com- partment. ^9 Thesecondorcentraldivisionisonlycapableofreceivingtwo compartments ; each one of these has a group of figures. One of these groups is still preserved, and it presents, in an arcade, three female figures, with hands gracefully clasped on the bosom. Their dress is uniform, while their countenances are peculiarly sweet. There is something in their atti- tude so noble and Divine, that there can be little hesitation in reckoning this group among the most perfect works of art belonging to our early Irish Church. 7° TheuppermosttierordivisionoftheBreacMoedoigallowsonly of two compartments ; and as these spaces are smaller than those of the middle tier, each one may possibly have contained only two figures. 7' It was to this tier, perhaps, that a group of two figures,^' now loosely appended to the middle compartment, originally belonged. In the forms and faces of the female figures, there is not only strong individuality of character, but this character is one of sweetness, benevolence and simple goodness, carried out, not only in facial expression, but in the mere figure attitudes, and in the quiet clasping of hands upon the breast. 73 Impassioned sorrow, an earnest, tearful gaze ; a cheerful, common-sense expression ; solemn, severe dignity ; these characteristics are noticeable in the faces of various groups. '^ All this and the treatment of details manifest the existence of a dramatic, as also of a religious element, in early Irish art. It elevates above that which is purely decorative, and it is as much beyond the art of the mere savage or barbarian, as the faith which teaches of goodness, purity and love transcends the dark superstitions of heathenism. 75
The present Protestant cathedral church of Ferns, although a modem building, is said to have attached some remains of the mor—e ancient structure.
When last
to occupy its original position St. . ^dan's or Mogue's reputed monument was found. 76 There it may be seen,77 and it is held to have been his ancient
in a niche of that church not a. d. 181 —
repaired, 7, yet supposed
tomb, according to popular tradition. 7^
Matthew, for it bears a book clasped in both hands, his usual characteristic symbol in ancient art. The remains of an undeciplier- able inscription are traceable over their heads.
A monster, writhing with pain, is
ship to St. Molaise of Devenish. See " Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , pp. 324, 325.
73 \—curious feature is a reversal of the
hands as if a mistake happened in the
^ With singular artistic taste and anti- quarian lore, Miss Stokes has described and 74
resolved the emblematic meaning, as also the comparative relationship of the tracery and objects represented, with cognate religious and national designs.
7° •' We probably will not err in supposing that the central figure is the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and that the figures on either side are St. Brigid, the Mary of Erin, and St. Ita, the contemporary of our Saint Aidan, and celebrated in our annals as the Brigid of Munster. "—"The Irish Ec- clesiastical Record," vol. vii. , p. 323.
7' Miss Stokes has detailed the patterns
and characteristics of this group, with great
felicity of thought and expression. See p. 13.
7' It has been conjectured, that one of
these may have been intended for St. Aidan
of Ferns, while the other may represent his synonymn saint, called Aedh Mac Brie. Both were bound by special ties of friend-
moulding,
««
That the Blessed Virgin and the Apos- ties were represented in the figures of this reliquary becomes the more probable when we reflect that their sacred relics were pre-
served within the venerable shrine. " "
Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , p.
323.
'5 See Miss Stokes, "On Two Works of
Ancient Irish Art," &c. , p. 14.
7* «« We are not informed by whom, or at
what period, this monument was erected, but it is visibly not of a veiy ancient date "— Brewer's "Beauties of Ireland," voL i. , p. 398.
'7 Not only an illustration of St. Mogue's
ancient tomb, but likewise illustrations of
the abbey and castle ruins, with engravings of an ancient cross and font at Ferns, are to be seen in Mr. and Mrs. Hall's " Ireland ; its Scenery, Character," &c. , vol. ii. , pp. 180 to 183.
'^ The saint is represented f>(/Mf/^<i/>^;
— The
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 575
sculptured beneath his feet ; while the exergue of this tomb is ornamented, with trefoils. 79 This memorial is held in great respect by the Catholics, who come from great distances and steal into the Protestant church to kiss it,^° whenever the doors are open.
In Ireland, various places have been connected with the memory of St.
Maidoc. ThereisatownlandcalledKilmeague,inthecountyofKildare,
and it may possibly be rendered " the church of Mogue. " At Templeshambo. ^' formerly Shanbotha, he was reverenced, and likewise, at Killybeg,^"" a town- landoftheparishofInishmacsaint,inthecountyofFermanagh, Here,ac- cording to Colgan, was a miraculous stone called Lac-Maodhoc, or Maedoc's stone. ^^ Besides, we find a place called Disert Nairbre,^-* now Dysart, a townland in the parish of Ardmorc, in the south-west of the county of Water- ford. ^^ We have already seen, that a house of his own foundation stood at
Cloncagh,^^ a parish in the territory of Hy-Conaill Gabhra, now the barony ofConnelloUpper,inthecountyofLimerick. ^7 Totheseplacesmaybe
added Ard-lathran,^^ now supposed to be Ardamine^s parish, in the barony of Ballaghkeen, on the sea coast, in the county of Wexford ; as also in the same county the Clonmore9° of his establishment, and the still more celebrated Ferns,9' to which allusion has been already sufficiently made. 9^ A well in the parish of Conra,93 county of Westmeith, was named, it is said, after this most remarkableofthosesaintsbearingMaidoc'sname. However,suchastate- ment may be doubtful. St. Edan's or Mogue's well and an old graveyard lie inthetownlandandparishofClongeen,94inWexfordcounty. Thespringesis
a very small conical cap, which ends in a point, surmounts his head, as a mitre ; whilst a short crozier or baculum crosses his breast.
ples of Ancient Ireland," there are notices of Ardladhran or Ardamine, and its large artificial mound. See p. 457.
tno]A.
9' In the work immediately quoted, we find a detailed account of the antiquities of
93 In the townland of Cam in this
there is a well, called Tobar Maodhoig or Mogue well, from which Dr. O'Donovan was inclined to believe, that parish might have been dedicated to Saint Mogue, before the D'Altons transferred its patronage to the Blessed Virgin. See "County of VVest- meath Antiquarian Letters belonging to the Ordnance Survey," vol. i. , pp. 117, 118. Mr. O'Donovan's Letter dated Ballymore, Lough Sewdy, September 17th, 1837.
9* In the townland of Loughnageer, in the same parish, there is a spot, where it is said, a church, dedicated to St. Catherine, for- merly stood ; but of which the foundation cannot even now be traced. Near it was a "holy well," dedicated to St. Catherine. In the detached southern part of that same parish stood an old abbey, called Abbey- braney. Ofthisnotastoneistobeseenat present. Its site is occupied by Abbey-
Antiquarian Letters belonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey Office. "
95Itwas the site of a " al- formerly patron,"
though in 1840 the well was not resorted to; nor was the pattern day remembered by the people.
79 On its top, according to Archdeacon "
Cotton's Fasti," Leinster, p. 329, we find
the " Under sculptured following inscription :
this monument are interred the remains of St. Edan, commonly called St. Moague,
January 31st, A. D. DCXXXil. "
^ Tliey believe, in many instances, this practice procures for them the miraculous cure of toothache. "Clearly, then, this monument is not in its proper place.
It oughttobegivenuptotheRoma—nCatholic bishop or sent to a museum. " Godkin's "Ireland and her Churches," part second, chap, xiii. , p. 276.
Ferns. See ibid. ,
9^ See likewise the Rev. William Reeves'
the founder of this and first cathedral,
bishop of Perns. He discharged the pastoral office with piety and Xtian zeal for the space of fifty years, and died, in an advanced age,
parish,
*'
In Marcus Keane's "Towers and Tem-
ples of Ancient Ireland," there is an account
of the ecclesiastical remains at this place.
See p. 460.
^^
In Irish written CAiLLe begA.
*^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
xxxi. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Maidoci, cap. v. , p. 223.
House. See " of Wexford braney County
^* In Irish written 's See ibid.
Difepc nAH\bi\e.
**
*' See ibid,, n. Also Arch-
dall's
" 37, p 219. Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 420.
In Irish written Ciu^in cUii'DeAch.
^ In Irish written dt\t) Li'6]\Ann.
*9 In Marcus Keane's " Towers and Tem-
9° In Irish written cLuAin
p. 459.
paper "On Some Ecclesiastical Bells," &c.
576 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
located, about a furlong north of the graveyard. 9^ We are informed, that an abbey of St. Maidockhad been founded for Canons Regular of St. Augustine,
in the sixth century at Bolhendesart, anciently called Desert Nairbre, in Waterford county. 97 A monaster)'- is said to have existed at Conry, a parish inthebaronyofRathconrath,andcountyofWestmeath. Theoldchurch there measures fifty-nine feet, by eighteen feet two inches ; and its old bells are said to have been found here some years ago, but they were sold to some antiquaryorsocietyinDublin. Anoldhorizontalstoneliesinthecemetery, under which, it is said, seven bishops, whose names are not known, lie buried. The parish is supposed to have been dedicated to the present saint,
as the holy well of St. Mogue is in its neighbourhood. ? ^ It is thought, that Templeshambo was probably Mogue's first foimdation among the many churches he erected in Hy-Kinsellagh, and he seems to be regarded as its
patron. 99 Fethard church, in the county of Wexford, is dedicated to St. Mogue or Edan of Ferns. Although the walls of the present Protestant church are very ancient, yet not a trace of architectural detail is left. There is to be found a fine square font carved on one side. '°°
Among Irish saints of the Third Class is ranked Blessed Maidoc or
^°='
of which he is It is there commemorated, as a
Aidan. '°' His feast is specially celebrated inFerns' diocese, chief patron, on the 31st day of January.
Double of the First Class, with an octave.
His memory was preserved in
'°3 in olden times, but likewise the two ancient Breffnies held him to be their tutelar patron. '°+ He was particularly venerated in the parishes of Drumlane^°5 and of Templeport,'°^ Cavan county,'°7 and, as many think, in the parish of Ross- inver, Leitrim county. The Irish Church commemorates this day as a Double Festival; and in various ancient national and other MSS. extant, this holy man, called a bishop and a confessor, had an office to his me- Hanmer confounds our illustrious
the not highest veneration,
only|throughout Hy-Kinsellagh territory,
mory, comprising Nine Lessons. ^°^
9* In 1840, the extensive graveyard, which was attached to that old church had been much used for burials ; but a single vestige of the ancient building was not visible.
57 See Smith's " Ancient and Present State of the County and City of Waterford," chap, iii. , p. 92.
cated to him here is St. Aidan's Academy,
Enniscorthy.
'°3 it appears to have fallen within that
district, defined as Brigantis, among the curious old coloured maps of Ptolemy, and
9* See Rev.
Ancient and Modem," vol. ii. , chap, xviii. , pp. 424 and 427, with n.
99 In the " Book of Lecan," belonging to the Royal Irish Academy, fol. 58, we find a list of the saints of Ireland. Its author- ship is attributed to Selbach, secretary to the King St. Cormac Mac CuUenan. Thus do we receiv—e the Irish stanza, rendered
into English ""
Nathi, grandson of eloquent Suanach, Cummin, gentle for petitioning,
Witha
'°*
Southof is Brackley Lough
:
Descriptions
of the
antiquarian objects
A. Cogan's "DioceseofMeath,
colophon,
N. Denis de Locis ac Mirabilibus Mundi. "
noble
Noble Aedan in Seanbotha. "
gentle,
of — throng, just voices,
Temple- Moguis Island, with the ruins of his ancient church. See Rev. William Reeves' "On some Ecclesi-
"Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , p. 400.
"^ Letter from Rev. James Graves, A. B. ,
headed Dunyard, Fethard, County Wexford,
port Lake,
where is St.
June 8th, 1872.
"'" "
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
See the Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. vii. , p. 403.
""Amongthereligiousinstitutions dedi*
'"^See
especially on that noted, Prima Europe Tabula. Seethelargequartoedition,witha
" Ptolemaei accedit Geographia,
This fine specimen of early typography was printed at Rome, A. D. 1490. An earlier edition was issued in the same city, A. D.
1478. These Maps are supposed to have been the earliest engraved on metal,
" vol. vii. , p. 401.
'°5
'°* See the
Irish Ecclesiastical Record,"
here remaining, and illustrative plates, are to
be found in the Ulster Journal of Archse-
ology," vol. v. , pp. no, et seq.
astical Bells," etc. "Proceedings: of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. viii.
for the County of Cavan," Sheet 13. '^^Asevidenceofthisstatement,wehave
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 577
bishop, under his name of ^danus/°9 with the founder of Lindisfarne. Ancient and modern Kalendars and histories agree in assigning the fes- tivalofSt. AidanorMaidoctothe31stdayofJanuary. "° ThentheRoman andBritishMartyrologiesnoticehim. Thus,asMedogus,ishecountedin that anonymous catalogue of Irish Saints' names, published by O'Sullevan Beare. '" In the Martyrology of Tallagh,"^ "Aedh Eps. Ferna" is his distinctive appellation. In the " Book of Obits and Martyrology of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Dublin,""3 this saint is found com- memorated at the ii. Kal. Feb. , or the 31st of January. "^ In the Feilire of St. yfCngus,"5 this illustrious prelate is ranked foremost at this date, and with two other Irish saints, he is specially commemorated. "^ The Calendar of Cashel, Marianus O'Gorman, "7 Charles Maguire, the Irish Life of St. Moedoc, the Carthusian Martyrology,"^ the Irish Calendar in the Royal Irish Academy,"9 Ferrarius. "° with all our ancient annalists and modern writers, concur in assigning the festival of this blessed servant of God to the 31st of January. TheFrenchhagiographer,Chatelain,andtheRev. AlbanButler,"'^ erroneously refer to him the Acts of St. Mo-maedhog, who, under the name ofSt. De,iscommemoratedonthei8thofMay,"^inLowerBrittany. "3 The
only to cite a MS. belonging to T. C. D. , and classed B. i, 3, which contains at January 31st this notice, Kal. ii. , Feb. SanctiEdani, Episcopi et Confessoris, ix. Lect. Duplex,
And Moelanfaid of memorable name
Proclaim with great vigour
Barr Find with the host of "
January.
"* The following English translation, we
A MS. in T. C. D. , classed B. 3, 12,
fin.
contains a notice at January 31st, Kal. ii. , Feb. , Adani, Epis, et Conf. ix. Lect. A MS. inT. C. D. , classed B. 3. 12. contains anoticeat January3ist. Kal. ii. Feb. , Sancti Edani, Epis. et Conf. ix. Lect. Again, in another MS. , we read at January 31st, Kal. ii. , Feb. , Sancti Edani Ibernensi Epis. et Conf. Duplex fest. ix. Lect. Like-
—
" Name Aedh, the powerful, of Ferna,
Maelanfaid, a name before us ;
They give with very great Brigh,
— A bright summit to the host of January. "
Vol. vii. , p. 404.
wise, we find in a Scotch Martyrology,
''
"7
In his Metrical Calendar, at the 31st
Lect. S. Modoci Epis. et Conf. " "Ka- ""
of January, the fol—lowing English version of his text, is left us:
lendarium Aberdonense. See
of L-eland," p. 127.
"°See the " Irish Ecclesiastical Record,"
vol. vii. , pp. 403, 404.
'"See "Historise Catholicse Ibernias
Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. ,
p. 49.
