According
to a Tract, attributed to St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
11 The story goes, that having subjected Ireland to his sway, in the fifth century, in order to secure the fidelity of the chieftains, Laoghaire, King of Tara, demanded fifty of their children, as hostages.
Among these was Kenan, who remained for some time under the control of that Pagan king.
However, from that sort of captivity he was released by St.
Kieran, whotheninstructedhimwithcareintheChristianreligion.
Afterwards,his young disciple passed over to the Continent.
The Bretons of France have
12 this native of Ireland
and that? he early embraced a religious life, in the monastery of St. Martin of
Tours. '3 His zeal for the salvation of souls caused his return to Ireland,
where he preached the Gospel in the Province of Connaught, and gained many souls to Christ. Thence he passed to Leinster, where he built a church in a place called after him the Forest of Kenan. There too he collected around him a large congregation of believers, whom he had brought
a that about a. d. tradition,
450,
sought
their
country,
Article vi. —*Vicaire of the Paroisse de Cleder, in the old diocese of Leon.
2 See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Martii ii. , Vita S. Jaova, Episcopi Leonensis, cap. xiii. , xiv. , and nn. io, II, pp. 441 to 444-
3 See " Les Vies des Saints de Bretagne," Nouvelle edition, revue, corrig£e, et consi- derablemenl augmented, par. M. L'Abbe Tresvaux, tome i. , pp. 62 to 64.
4
This Saint has been altogether omitted from the work of Lobineau, but the account has been added by the Abbe Tresvaux.
5 See his work, on the Saints of Armoric
Britain, in his Life of St. Jaove, Bishop of
See Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Martii ii. Vita S. Jaova, Episcopi Leonensis, nn. 10, 1 1, p. 443.
? Hugh of Kirksted, a Cistercian monk,
is supposed by Archbishop Ussher to have substituted the term S. Renanus for our S.
Kenanus, in treating of the Irish monk,
who lived in the time of St. Martin of Tours.
8 See Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesi- arum Antiquitates," cap. xvi. , and Addenda Quaedam omissa, pp. 411, 508.
'According to the Calendar of Cashel,
at the 24th day of November, and the
Sanctilogium Genealogicum, cap. xxxvi.
I0
See the Second Volume of this work, at that date, art. i.
"Hisfeastisheld on the24thof November,
I2 Ussher thus writes at that year :
" Kenanus gentis Connacticae puer a
tyrannide Regis Leogarii, cui obses fuerit
traditus, S. Kierani Episcopi opera liberatus, et bonis literis a Nathano viro
religio>issimo eruditus, postea Gallias adiit ; et apud Turonenses in ccenobio S. Martini
"
habitum induit monasticum. "— Britanni-
carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," Index
Chronologicus, p. 519.
I3 His feast is celebrated on the nth of
November.
Leon, 6"
3i4 LIVES OJ- THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 12.
into the true fold. Afterwards, lie visited the Eugenian district, so called from
named
1 * and there he destroyed an idol and the altar erected
a
to him
and he gave it in charge to his beloved disciple, St. Comgell,
that St. Kenan became Bishop of Duleek. '7 Next he retired to a place in hisowncountry,whichwascalledRos-ene, Thesiteofthislocalityhasnot been discovered, nor is it known, how long St. Kenan remained there, or if he had erected a religious house, or had ruled over a community of monks. However, it seems most likely he led the life of an anchoret, which did not pre- vent him from ministering to the wants of converts from paganism, that during his time must have largely prevailed in Ireland. Afterwards, he returned to Aremoric Brittany, and established himself in the country of Leon, where he desired to remain in solitude. He fixed on a place called Cleder, where he lived for many years in companionship with his fellow-disciple, the hermit St. Kerrien. To him, our Saint rendered the last religious offices, when he hadbeencalledawayfromlife. 18 Also,headministeredthelastSacraments
1
of the Church to Jaove, * the holy Bishop of Leon, before his departure.
king
Eugene, by Pagans.
identity
among
the
the
On the site he erected an altar to the living God x s ;
ThedeathofSt. Kenanoccurred,towardstheyear495. Hewasinterredat Cleder,20 in the canton of Plougeved^, arrondissement of Morlaix, where the site of his tomb is shown. 21 It is thought to be possible, that in whole or in part, his relics had been translated to his former monastery of Ros-ene in Ireland. Many—churchesingreaterandlesserBritainhavebeendedicated
14 The old chronicler adds, " been derived from the mother of St. cujus neptis Ethne,
Ethne ipsius Kenani mater fuisse memo- Kenan of Duleek. This enquiry, Colgan
to St. Colledoc said to have been feastisassignedtothe12thofSeptember. Wedonotfindhisnamemen- tioned in the " Histoire de Bretagne," by Lobineau. Festivals are instituted, also, in his honour, at the 1st and 7 th of October.
ratur. "
15 See Ussher's " Britannicarum Eccle-
siarum Antiquitates. " Addenda Qusedam omissa, p. 508.
16 Who the Saint had been that bore this
name,wehavenomeansleftfordetermining.
promised further to develop, at the feast day of the latter Saint, November 24th. See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernke," Martii ii. Vita S. Jaove, Episcopi Leonensis, nn. 10,
II, p. 443.
,8
Nothing more seems to be known, regarding St. Kerrien of Bretagne, than
17 This conjecture is hazarded by Colgan,
who supposes that the Kenan, named what is related in the text.
22 another name for St. Kenan. His
Albert Le Grand, could have ' 9 See his Life in the Third Volume of
Calodoc
been no other than the bishop of Duleek, this work, at the 2nd day of March, who flourished in the fifth century, and Art. iii.
w " II fat inhume dans le cimetiere, d'ou
on a sans doute leve son —le
corps pour placer
"
de Bretagne, par Dom Guy-Alexis Lobineau, tome i. , pp. 63, 64.
by
chiefly for the following reasons.
First, Britons, no other Saint similarly called is to be found.
of names, as
the
L'Abbe" Secondly, the concurrence of place and Tresvaux's edition de Les Vies des Saints
period, as we read of Kenan having been in Gaul about the year 450, where it seems probable he remained until A. l>. 472, besides
2I See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des other subsequent years. Thirdly, because Saints," tome xi. , xiie Jour de Septembre,
Kenan, surnamed Calodock, had a disciple named St. Kerian, who was probably St. Kieran of Saigir, by whose means St. KenanofDuleekhadbeenliberated,and who then went to Gaul. Fourthly, that in Ireland there was a place known as Ros-ene, which denomination seems to have
p. 48.
"The Abbe Tresvaux adds : "son tombeau
se voit encore dans une petite chapelle qui portesonnometset—rouvedansuncoindu
dans un lieu plus honorable. "
cimetiere de Cleder. "
Edition de "Les Vies
des Saints de Bretagne," par Dom Guy- Alexis Lobineau, tome i-, p. 64.
16
It is said,
September 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 315
Cbtrteentb Dap of September.
ARTICLE I. —ST. DAGAN, BISHOP OF ACHAD-DAGAIN, OR ENNER- REILLY, COUNTY OF WICKLOW.
[SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES. ]
the present holy man had been greatly venerated while he lived
does not admit of THAT
question.
His acts have not come down to us,
however, so that Colgan's Life of him is extracted, for the most part, from biographies of other saints, or from ancient documents, with a few italicised
sentences of his own! 1 we have Already
given
the 1 2th day of March f but, the present day is his chief festival. 3 In the
" Acta Sanctorum" 4 of the Bollandists, at the 13th of September, some brief notices of Dagan occur ; but, it is to be regretted, that the writer should have manifested such little knowledge and consideration of matters relating to the saint's history, as to throw aspersions and doubts on the veneration in which he was formerly held in Ireland. The father of this saint5 was Colmad, or Colmadan, son to Conall. He was the son of Enan, son to Sinill, son of Conall, son to Cathar, son of Armor, son of Nazar, son to Fothad, son of Lamderg, son to Messincorb,6 son to Cucorb, etc. , according to an Irish Life of St. Mochoemoc,? translated into English by Professor O'Looney. Thus, Dagan was descended from the noble family of Dalmessincorb, in Leinster. 8 Another name for the father of our saint was Colman. The Sanctilogic Genealogy of the Irish Saints9 likewise derives him from the renowned Messincorb. 10 his mother was named
Again, daughtertoCoemlog,andsistertoSt. CoemhgenorKevin. " Accordingto
a Tract, said to have been composed by St. ^Engus the Culdee, besides St. Kevin, the mother of our Saint had two holy brothers, viz. , St. Coeman12 Santlebhain of Ardne, and St. Mochoemius or Natchoemius^ of Tirdaglas,
Article i. —* See " Acta Sane- Colgan's
torum Hibernise," xii. Martii. De S.
Dagano, Abbate et episcopo, pp. 584 to 587. 2 In the Third Volume of this work, Art. ix.
Maguire, and the Martyrology of Donegal. ' There we read
Colgan states, it is allowed by all, that St. herdeaile in regione de Hi-Kennseluigh Dagan's festival is referred to the 1 2th of filius Colman, filii Conalli, F. Enani, F.
March, and to the 13th of September. Sinelli, F. Conalli, F. Cacherij, F. Anmorij. "
8 See
3 According to Marianus O'Gorman, nise," xii. Martii, n. 1, p. 586.
See Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xii. F. Nazarij, F. Fothadij, F. Eochadij
nn. II, 12, 13,
4 See tomusiv. , Septembris xiii.
— F. Messincorbi, F. Cucorbi," Laimhdeirg,
&c. "Sanctilogium Genealogicum,"cap. xx.
Martii,
p. 586.
the pretermitted Saints, p. 50.
5 Maguire and the Sanctilogium Genealo-
gicum refer to St. Dagan, as a descendant of Messincorb, founder of the Dal messencorb family, in the southern part of Leinster.
I0
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
6 This Messincorb, who was also called
Niacorb, was son to Cucorb, Prince of
Leinster, and uncle on the father's side to
Cathair, the last Leinster King over Ireland,
as would appear from the Sanctilogium work, Art. iv.
Among
Genealogicum, cap. logies of Leinster.
7 At chapter 28.
20, and from the Genea-
some notice of St. at Dagan,
Colgan's
' ' Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
:
" S. Daganus de Imb-
nise," xii. Martii, n. 2, p. 586.
" See his Life, in the Sixth Volume of
this work, at the 3rd of June, Art. i.
I2
His feast occurs on the 12th of June. See at that date in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. vi.
I3 His feast is kept on the 1st of May. See, at that date, the Fifth Volume of this
Coeltigherna,
316 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September13.
and a holy sister named St. Coemoca. 1 * All of these were illustrious for their virtues and miracles.
According to a Tract, attributed to St. ^ngus the Culdee,15 Coeltigerna, the sister of St. Coemgen was the mother of four sons : viz. , of Uagan of Innbherdaoile, of Mobai, of Molibseus, and of Menoc of Glennfaidhle. '6 Thus,hehadthreebrothers,Molibba,1? BishopofGlendalough, Mobai,18 and Menoc,1? Abbot of Glennfaidhle; all these were distinguished
for their sanctity. Lastly, Dempster and Camerarius incorrectly state, that St. Dagan was a British Scot by birth. 20 St. Dagan was born in or after
a. d. to the 565, according
of Dr. 21 who adduces Lanigan,
conjecture reasons to support his conclusion.
good This learned historian also shows, that
the birth of our saint cannot be placed at a much later period than a. d. 570,
22
while Colgan says, he was born, about the close of the sixth century.
At a tender age, St. Dagan was brought to the school of St. Pulcherius or Mochoemoc of Liathmore. 2^ Here he remained for some years, pursuing those studies which were required to fit him for the ecclesiastical state. Our
Saint was for mildness and of 2< distinguished suavity disposition, although
not naturally devoid of a certain warmth of temper. In St. Puleherin's Life, we are informed, that during the time our Saint remained under his tutelage, certain monks came to Liathmore monastery, being desirous of seeing and
14 See notices of her, in the Seventh Volume of this work, at the 22nd of July, Art ii.
*s At lib. iv. , cap. 16.
16
However, Colgan says, that a certain interpolator of ^Engus, who writes as fol-
lows, at chap. 88, is in error " Coemaca
:
the day for his festival. See " Acta Sanc-
torum HiDemise," xii. Martii, nn. iS, 19,
pp. 586, 587.
soror S. Coemgini, fuit mater Dagani filii
Colmadii et Mobaii filii Colmadii et Menoci
de Glennfaidhle et de Ros-mor, Menoic et
Molibsei filii Aridii de Dal-aradiis oriundi. "
But, as Colgan shows, St. Molibseus, son to
Aradius, of the Dalaradian family in Ulster,
who is venerated at Enach Elte, in the
same province, was not brother of the pre-
ceding Saints, but St. Molibaeus, Bishop of 609. " "Ecclesiastical History Ireland,"
Glendalough, as shown at the 8th of vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sec. xvi. , n. 229, p. 366. 2J "
January, the festival day of St. Molibseus, See Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xii. son to Colmad, and at the 18th of February, Martii. Vita S. Dagani, cap. 1. , p. 584.
the natalis of St. Molibreus, son to Aradius. See " Acta Sanctorum Ilibernise," xii. Martii, nn. 8, 9, 10, p. 586.
*> His feast is celebrated, on the 8th of January. See in the First Volume of this work, at that date, Art. viii.
18 to the of Tam- According Martyiology
lacht, Marianus O'Gorman and others, the Natalis of St. Mobai was celebrated, on the 3rd of December.
19 St. Menoc's feast occurs, on the 29th of December. He is also called Einanus.
20
Colgan challenges them to prove St. yEngus guiity of error or deception, having written over tight hundred years before that
time when he wrote, adding, that many
33 The feast of this Saint is observed, on the 13th of March, according to our native calendars. At that date, see his Life in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
34 By Marianus O'Gorman, the entries for this day are :
Maurilion nos Molaimm, l'ilip, Amait. idna,
Mael Tolaig tenn fedma : Feil inghen caid Coluimm, Naeman, Caemnech cunnla
other writers treated on our Saint's
and maternal genealogies ; on his education from his tender years under St. Pulcherius of Liathmore ; on his being buried at the
monastery of Inbher-Dagan, in the Leinster province ; on the year of his death ; and on
paternal
21
The principal reasons adduced by Dr.
Lanigan are, that the monastery of Liath- more did not exist, at least, until about 576.
"Now supposing, which, however, there is
nothing to prove, that Dagan was placed there soon after its commencement, and allowing him ten or twelve years of age at that time, his birth cannot be assigned to an earlier period than 565. On the other hand, it cannot be placed much after 570 ; for he was a bishop before the death of Molua of Clonfe—rtmolua, who died, at the latest, in
of
I laganaebdrechergna.
—
The following is the English version
" Maurilion, I him, and praise Philippus,
Mael Tolaig of the strong effort. The feast of Colomb's cliaste daughters. Noeman, p— Coemnech,
'
fair-laced, wise Dagan. Whitley Stokes'
"
Amatus the pure ones.
F? liie Hui Gormain," pp. 176, 177.
rudent
:
September 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 317
conversing with its Abbot. They beheld this holy man with his brethren, who were at work in a field near the monastery. On asking for St. Pnlcherius, the visitors were directed to him, where he was found at work
uponhisknees,andwithdueadmirationtheyac—costedhim. St. Pulcherius "
prophesied to them, in these following terms Brethren, think of the remedy for your souls, for death threatens you, and in a short time all of you shall die, excepting this little boy who is with you. " Not doubting the ful- filment of this prophecy, they did penance, and died after a few days. We
are told, that these monks were five in number, and that the boy who accom-
'
2 panied them was kept by St. Pulcherius, who diligently instructed him, *
together with another youth, who received lessons from the same master. On another day, it is related, that this holy father Pulcherius said to St.
:
Dagan u My son, if you read well, you shall receive from my hand, before
your death, the Communion of Christ's body and blood. " A few days after- wards,theboycamebyhisdeath,inthefollowingmanner. Thepeopleof
Ossory spoiled the country of Eile, whilst Dagan and his companions were tending calves belonging to the monastery. Then, too, other monks were engaged in various occupations. The Ossorian chieftain's followers, having surprised the pious herdsmen, beheaded St. Dagan. His companion con- trivedtoescapewithlife. St. Canice26wasstoppinginL—iathmoremonastery, at the time of—this accident. A herd who had escaped most probably with some wounds ran to St. Pulcherius, St. Canice and the other monks. He was restored, it was said, by God's grace manifested through the saints
already named. But the decapitated trunk of St. Dagan's body, together with the head, had been brought to the monastery. Then St. Pulcherius
:
said to St. Canice " Holy father, I have promised to give Communio—n to
this youth before his death, but as yet I have not fulfilled my promise let the power of God be shown in him through us. Wherefore, father, join his head to his body, or entreat the Lord, that he may be restored to life. " St.
:
Canice said " In the name of Christ, I will join his head to his body, but
do you beseech the Lord, that life will revive in him. " The holy Canice placed the head in its proper position, and it became once more firmly united
We are told, however, that before our Saint became an Abbot, he was under the care of a wise and holy senior, named Petrocus,28 for some years.
2 ? but, to the day of Dagan's subsequent
to the body, and life was restored
death, a circular mark was to be seen around his neck, to indicate that line of junction. On the instant, Dagan gave thanks to God for his miraculous recovery, and afterwards he received Holy Communion, at the hands of St. Pulcherius. Thus was the prediction accomplished ; and after this event, St. Dagan lived for a long time in lnverdaoile, as superior over a great number of monks.
This Patrocus was a Cambrian29 and of
royal
birth. On the death of his
25 The Life of Pulcherius adds
:
was under an impression, that our Saint had been buried at lnverdaoile.
26 His Life is given, at the nth of October, in the Tenth Volume of this work, Art. i.
Patrem Pulcherium legebat. " Colgan's according " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xii. Martii.
Vita S. Dagani, cap. ii. , pp. 584, 585, and ibid. , xiii. Martii- Vita S. Mochoemoi, cap. xxviii. , p. 594. It would seem from this statement, the writer of St. Pulcherius' Acts
to the Acts of St. Pulcherius.
a8 He is venerated on the 4th of June, where notices of him are to be found in the
Sixth Volume of this work, Art. ii.
29 " Petrocus genere Camber. "—Ex Vita Petroci. " The Itinerary of John Ltland
;
" Et postea in sanctum virum, quern sanctum Daganum Abbatem vocavit, qui jam suo Monasterio nomine InbherDaile in Oriente Hiberniae
plaga in regione Lageniensium, scilicet in
plebe Dalmascorb posito juxta mare hands, St. Pulcherius prayed, and Dagan
et alius cum S, — was restored to life, and to his former jacet, puer Dagano, apud state,
2? While St. Canice held the youth in his
3i8 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September13,
father, the chiefs and people of the principality sought to elevate him to a vacant throne. But Petrocus, who disregarded the pomp of royalty, with
sixty of his companions entered a monastery, and assumed the religious habit. 3° After some considerable time, he went to Ireland, where he spent
twenty years, in the study of the Scriptures, and acquiring other courses of learning. He was animated with such a love of study, that he even excelled the celebrated masters who taught him 31 and having hoarded treasures of
;
science with laborious application, he transferred these riches obtained in Ireland to Corinia or Cornwall in England. 32 Harris has . also copied Colgan'sstatementthatourSaintstudiedunderPetrocus. 33 TherethisAbbot founded a monastery, near the Sabrinian Sea,34 and had for disciples, Credanus,35 Medanus,36 and Dacanus,37 who were celebrated for their learn- ing and sanctity. Colgan, who makes Dacan identical with St. Dagan, says the latter was subject to Petrocus' discipline for some years. From his mode of relation, it would seem, that these years of discipline and inst—ruction had
been spent in Ireland. 38 It would appear —if different persons
that
were Irishmen, from the circumstance of St. Petrocus having been twenty years before in Ireland,39 as also, because their festivals had been observed and commemorated in Ireland, and not in Britain. However, Dr. Lanigan states, that Colgan errs, in confounding our Saint with the other, named Dacan, that studied in Cornwall under the British Petrocus. 4° The same writer supposed it probable, that Petrocus was dead before the birth of our Saint, as it can hardly be allowed that he lived to the time of Dagan's man- hood, that is until near the end of the sixth century. 41 However, some mis- apprehension has prevailed, that Dagan had been a student at Bangor, which a Scotch story has placed in Scotland, and hence the Rev. Dr. Lingard alludes to him as a Caledonian Bishop. 42 Another opinion has been hazarded, that Dagan belonged to Bangor^ in Ireland. But these assump-
tions are all incorrect. 44
the Antiquary," vol. viii. , p, 52. Second rated, on the 17th of February. See in the
edition. 30 See
Second Volume of this work, at that date, Art. xx. Another St. Medan, son to Moil, was venerated on the 16th of September.
37 Leland, however, does not name the country of their birth, in his account of St. Petrocus.
" Nova Legenda
31 According to Leland, "S. Petrocus
monasticam professus vitam sub Regula D.
Benedicti — Bodminam tunc temporis apud
vocatum. " Joannis Lelandi Antiquarii. " De Rebus Britannicis Collectanea, vol. i. , p- 75- Thomas Hearn's Editio altera.
John Capgrave's Anglise. "
32
thesaurus cura, tandem inventus est
jam ne deliteret, inventor Hibernicas gazas in Coriniam—transtulit, et videndas omnibus exhibuit. " Commentarii de Scrip- toribus Britannicis," auctore Joanne Lelando, Londinate, tomus i. , cap. xxxv. , p. 61.
39 " Petrocus 20 annis studuit in
"Quaesitus
33 Harris' Ware, vol. ii.
12 this native of Ireland
and that? he early embraced a religious life, in the monastery of St. Martin of
Tours. '3 His zeal for the salvation of souls caused his return to Ireland,
where he preached the Gospel in the Province of Connaught, and gained many souls to Christ. Thence he passed to Leinster, where he built a church in a place called after him the Forest of Kenan. There too he collected around him a large congregation of believers, whom he had brought
a that about a. d. tradition,
450,
sought
their
country,
Article vi. —*Vicaire of the Paroisse de Cleder, in the old diocese of Leon.
2 See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Martii ii. , Vita S. Jaova, Episcopi Leonensis, cap. xiii. , xiv. , and nn. io, II, pp. 441 to 444-
3 See " Les Vies des Saints de Bretagne," Nouvelle edition, revue, corrig£e, et consi- derablemenl augmented, par. M. L'Abbe Tresvaux, tome i. , pp. 62 to 64.
4
This Saint has been altogether omitted from the work of Lobineau, but the account has been added by the Abbe Tresvaux.
5 See his work, on the Saints of Armoric
Britain, in his Life of St. Jaove, Bishop of
See Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Martii ii. Vita S. Jaova, Episcopi Leonensis, nn. 10, 1 1, p. 443.
? Hugh of Kirksted, a Cistercian monk,
is supposed by Archbishop Ussher to have substituted the term S. Renanus for our S.
Kenanus, in treating of the Irish monk,
who lived in the time of St. Martin of Tours.
8 See Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesi- arum Antiquitates," cap. xvi. , and Addenda Quaedam omissa, pp. 411, 508.
'According to the Calendar of Cashel,
at the 24th day of November, and the
Sanctilogium Genealogicum, cap. xxxvi.
I0
See the Second Volume of this work, at that date, art. i.
"Hisfeastisheld on the24thof November,
I2 Ussher thus writes at that year :
" Kenanus gentis Connacticae puer a
tyrannide Regis Leogarii, cui obses fuerit
traditus, S. Kierani Episcopi opera liberatus, et bonis literis a Nathano viro
religio>issimo eruditus, postea Gallias adiit ; et apud Turonenses in ccenobio S. Martini
"
habitum induit monasticum. "— Britanni-
carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," Index
Chronologicus, p. 519.
I3 His feast is celebrated on the nth of
November.
Leon, 6"
3i4 LIVES OJ- THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 12.
into the true fold. Afterwards, lie visited the Eugenian district, so called from
named
1 * and there he destroyed an idol and the altar erected
a
to him
and he gave it in charge to his beloved disciple, St. Comgell,
that St. Kenan became Bishop of Duleek. '7 Next he retired to a place in hisowncountry,whichwascalledRos-ene, Thesiteofthislocalityhasnot been discovered, nor is it known, how long St. Kenan remained there, or if he had erected a religious house, or had ruled over a community of monks. However, it seems most likely he led the life of an anchoret, which did not pre- vent him from ministering to the wants of converts from paganism, that during his time must have largely prevailed in Ireland. Afterwards, he returned to Aremoric Brittany, and established himself in the country of Leon, where he desired to remain in solitude. He fixed on a place called Cleder, where he lived for many years in companionship with his fellow-disciple, the hermit St. Kerrien. To him, our Saint rendered the last religious offices, when he hadbeencalledawayfromlife. 18 Also,headministeredthelastSacraments
1
of the Church to Jaove, * the holy Bishop of Leon, before his departure.
king
Eugene, by Pagans.
identity
among
the
the
On the site he erected an altar to the living God x s ;
ThedeathofSt. Kenanoccurred,towardstheyear495. Hewasinterredat Cleder,20 in the canton of Plougeved^, arrondissement of Morlaix, where the site of his tomb is shown. 21 It is thought to be possible, that in whole or in part, his relics had been translated to his former monastery of Ros-ene in Ireland. Many—churchesingreaterandlesserBritainhavebeendedicated
14 The old chronicler adds, " been derived from the mother of St. cujus neptis Ethne,
Ethne ipsius Kenani mater fuisse memo- Kenan of Duleek. This enquiry, Colgan
to St. Colledoc said to have been feastisassignedtothe12thofSeptember. Wedonotfindhisnamemen- tioned in the " Histoire de Bretagne," by Lobineau. Festivals are instituted, also, in his honour, at the 1st and 7 th of October.
ratur. "
15 See Ussher's " Britannicarum Eccle-
siarum Antiquitates. " Addenda Qusedam omissa, p. 508.
16 Who the Saint had been that bore this
name,wehavenomeansleftfordetermining.
promised further to develop, at the feast day of the latter Saint, November 24th. See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernke," Martii ii. Vita S. Jaove, Episcopi Leonensis, nn. 10,
II, p. 443.
,8
Nothing more seems to be known, regarding St. Kerrien of Bretagne, than
17 This conjecture is hazarded by Colgan,
who supposes that the Kenan, named what is related in the text.
22 another name for St. Kenan. His
Albert Le Grand, could have ' 9 See his Life in the Third Volume of
Calodoc
been no other than the bishop of Duleek, this work, at the 2nd day of March, who flourished in the fifth century, and Art. iii.
w " II fat inhume dans le cimetiere, d'ou
on a sans doute leve son —le
corps pour placer
"
de Bretagne, par Dom Guy-Alexis Lobineau, tome i. , pp. 63, 64.
by
chiefly for the following reasons.
First, Britons, no other Saint similarly called is to be found.
of names, as
the
L'Abbe" Secondly, the concurrence of place and Tresvaux's edition de Les Vies des Saints
period, as we read of Kenan having been in Gaul about the year 450, where it seems probable he remained until A. l>. 472, besides
2I See Les Petits Bollandistes, " Vies des other subsequent years. Thirdly, because Saints," tome xi. , xiie Jour de Septembre,
Kenan, surnamed Calodock, had a disciple named St. Kerian, who was probably St. Kieran of Saigir, by whose means St. KenanofDuleekhadbeenliberated,and who then went to Gaul. Fourthly, that in Ireland there was a place known as Ros-ene, which denomination seems to have
p. 48.
"The Abbe Tresvaux adds : "son tombeau
se voit encore dans une petite chapelle qui portesonnometset—rouvedansuncoindu
dans un lieu plus honorable. "
cimetiere de Cleder. "
Edition de "Les Vies
des Saints de Bretagne," par Dom Guy- Alexis Lobineau, tome i-, p. 64.
16
It is said,
September 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 315
Cbtrteentb Dap of September.
ARTICLE I. —ST. DAGAN, BISHOP OF ACHAD-DAGAIN, OR ENNER- REILLY, COUNTY OF WICKLOW.
[SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES. ]
the present holy man had been greatly venerated while he lived
does not admit of THAT
question.
His acts have not come down to us,
however, so that Colgan's Life of him is extracted, for the most part, from biographies of other saints, or from ancient documents, with a few italicised
sentences of his own! 1 we have Already
given
the 1 2th day of March f but, the present day is his chief festival. 3 In the
" Acta Sanctorum" 4 of the Bollandists, at the 13th of September, some brief notices of Dagan occur ; but, it is to be regretted, that the writer should have manifested such little knowledge and consideration of matters relating to the saint's history, as to throw aspersions and doubts on the veneration in which he was formerly held in Ireland. The father of this saint5 was Colmad, or Colmadan, son to Conall. He was the son of Enan, son to Sinill, son of Conall, son to Cathar, son of Armor, son of Nazar, son to Fothad, son of Lamderg, son to Messincorb,6 son to Cucorb, etc. , according to an Irish Life of St. Mochoemoc,? translated into English by Professor O'Looney. Thus, Dagan was descended from the noble family of Dalmessincorb, in Leinster. 8 Another name for the father of our saint was Colman. The Sanctilogic Genealogy of the Irish Saints9 likewise derives him from the renowned Messincorb. 10 his mother was named
Again, daughtertoCoemlog,andsistertoSt. CoemhgenorKevin. " Accordingto
a Tract, said to have been composed by St. ^Engus the Culdee, besides St. Kevin, the mother of our Saint had two holy brothers, viz. , St. Coeman12 Santlebhain of Ardne, and St. Mochoemius or Natchoemius^ of Tirdaglas,
Article i. —* See " Acta Sane- Colgan's
torum Hibernise," xii. Martii. De S.
Dagano, Abbate et episcopo, pp. 584 to 587. 2 In the Third Volume of this work, Art. ix.
Maguire, and the Martyrology of Donegal. ' There we read
Colgan states, it is allowed by all, that St. herdeaile in regione de Hi-Kennseluigh Dagan's festival is referred to the 1 2th of filius Colman, filii Conalli, F. Enani, F.
March, and to the 13th of September. Sinelli, F. Conalli, F. Cacherij, F. Anmorij. "
8 See
3 According to Marianus O'Gorman, nise," xii. Martii, n. 1, p. 586.
See Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xii. F. Nazarij, F. Fothadij, F. Eochadij
nn. II, 12, 13,
4 See tomusiv. , Septembris xiii.
— F. Messincorbi, F. Cucorbi," Laimhdeirg,
&c. "Sanctilogium Genealogicum,"cap. xx.
Martii,
p. 586.
the pretermitted Saints, p. 50.
5 Maguire and the Sanctilogium Genealo-
gicum refer to St. Dagan, as a descendant of Messincorb, founder of the Dal messencorb family, in the southern part of Leinster.
I0
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
6 This Messincorb, who was also called
Niacorb, was son to Cucorb, Prince of
Leinster, and uncle on the father's side to
Cathair, the last Leinster King over Ireland,
as would appear from the Sanctilogium work, Art. iv.
Among
Genealogicum, cap. logies of Leinster.
7 At chapter 28.
20, and from the Genea-
some notice of St. at Dagan,
Colgan's
' ' Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
:
" S. Daganus de Imb-
nise," xii. Martii, n. 2, p. 586.
" See his Life, in the Sixth Volume of
this work, at the 3rd of June, Art. i.
I2
His feast occurs on the 12th of June. See at that date in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. vi.
I3 His feast is kept on the 1st of May. See, at that date, the Fifth Volume of this
Coeltigherna,
316 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September13.
and a holy sister named St. Coemoca. 1 * All of these were illustrious for their virtues and miracles.
According to a Tract, attributed to St. ^ngus the Culdee,15 Coeltigerna, the sister of St. Coemgen was the mother of four sons : viz. , of Uagan of Innbherdaoile, of Mobai, of Molibseus, and of Menoc of Glennfaidhle. '6 Thus,hehadthreebrothers,Molibba,1? BishopofGlendalough, Mobai,18 and Menoc,1? Abbot of Glennfaidhle; all these were distinguished
for their sanctity. Lastly, Dempster and Camerarius incorrectly state, that St. Dagan was a British Scot by birth. 20 St. Dagan was born in or after
a. d. to the 565, according
of Dr. 21 who adduces Lanigan,
conjecture reasons to support his conclusion.
good This learned historian also shows, that
the birth of our saint cannot be placed at a much later period than a. d. 570,
22
while Colgan says, he was born, about the close of the sixth century.
At a tender age, St. Dagan was brought to the school of St. Pulcherius or Mochoemoc of Liathmore. 2^ Here he remained for some years, pursuing those studies which were required to fit him for the ecclesiastical state. Our
Saint was for mildness and of 2< distinguished suavity disposition, although
not naturally devoid of a certain warmth of temper. In St. Puleherin's Life, we are informed, that during the time our Saint remained under his tutelage, certain monks came to Liathmore monastery, being desirous of seeing and
14 See notices of her, in the Seventh Volume of this work, at the 22nd of July, Art ii.
*s At lib. iv. , cap. 16.
16
However, Colgan says, that a certain interpolator of ^Engus, who writes as fol-
lows, at chap. 88, is in error " Coemaca
:
the day for his festival. See " Acta Sanc-
torum HiDemise," xii. Martii, nn. iS, 19,
pp. 586, 587.
soror S. Coemgini, fuit mater Dagani filii
Colmadii et Mobaii filii Colmadii et Menoci
de Glennfaidhle et de Ros-mor, Menoic et
Molibsei filii Aridii de Dal-aradiis oriundi. "
But, as Colgan shows, St. Molibseus, son to
Aradius, of the Dalaradian family in Ulster,
who is venerated at Enach Elte, in the
same province, was not brother of the pre-
ceding Saints, but St. Molibaeus, Bishop of 609. " "Ecclesiastical History Ireland,"
Glendalough, as shown at the 8th of vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sec. xvi. , n. 229, p. 366. 2J "
January, the festival day of St. Molibseus, See Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xii. son to Colmad, and at the 18th of February, Martii. Vita S. Dagani, cap. 1. , p. 584.
the natalis of St. Molibreus, son to Aradius. See " Acta Sanctorum Ilibernise," xii. Martii, nn. 8, 9, 10, p. 586.
*> His feast is celebrated, on the 8th of January. See in the First Volume of this work, at that date, Art. viii.
18 to the of Tam- According Martyiology
lacht, Marianus O'Gorman and others, the Natalis of St. Mobai was celebrated, on the 3rd of December.
19 St. Menoc's feast occurs, on the 29th of December. He is also called Einanus.
20
Colgan challenges them to prove St. yEngus guiity of error or deception, having written over tight hundred years before that
time when he wrote, adding, that many
33 The feast of this Saint is observed, on the 13th of March, according to our native calendars. At that date, see his Life in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
34 By Marianus O'Gorman, the entries for this day are :
Maurilion nos Molaimm, l'ilip, Amait. idna,
Mael Tolaig tenn fedma : Feil inghen caid Coluimm, Naeman, Caemnech cunnla
other writers treated on our Saint's
and maternal genealogies ; on his education from his tender years under St. Pulcherius of Liathmore ; on his being buried at the
monastery of Inbher-Dagan, in the Leinster province ; on the year of his death ; and on
paternal
21
The principal reasons adduced by Dr.
Lanigan are, that the monastery of Liath- more did not exist, at least, until about 576.
"Now supposing, which, however, there is
nothing to prove, that Dagan was placed there soon after its commencement, and allowing him ten or twelve years of age at that time, his birth cannot be assigned to an earlier period than 565. On the other hand, it cannot be placed much after 570 ; for he was a bishop before the death of Molua of Clonfe—rtmolua, who died, at the latest, in
of
I laganaebdrechergna.
—
The following is the English version
" Maurilion, I him, and praise Philippus,
Mael Tolaig of the strong effort. The feast of Colomb's cliaste daughters. Noeman, p— Coemnech,
'
fair-laced, wise Dagan. Whitley Stokes'
"
Amatus the pure ones.
F? liie Hui Gormain," pp. 176, 177.
rudent
:
September 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 317
conversing with its Abbot. They beheld this holy man with his brethren, who were at work in a field near the monastery. On asking for St. Pnlcherius, the visitors were directed to him, where he was found at work
uponhisknees,andwithdueadmirationtheyac—costedhim. St. Pulcherius "
prophesied to them, in these following terms Brethren, think of the remedy for your souls, for death threatens you, and in a short time all of you shall die, excepting this little boy who is with you. " Not doubting the ful- filment of this prophecy, they did penance, and died after a few days. We
are told, that these monks were five in number, and that the boy who accom-
'
2 panied them was kept by St. Pulcherius, who diligently instructed him, *
together with another youth, who received lessons from the same master. On another day, it is related, that this holy father Pulcherius said to St.
:
Dagan u My son, if you read well, you shall receive from my hand, before
your death, the Communion of Christ's body and blood. " A few days after- wards,theboycamebyhisdeath,inthefollowingmanner. Thepeopleof
Ossory spoiled the country of Eile, whilst Dagan and his companions were tending calves belonging to the monastery. Then, too, other monks were engaged in various occupations. The Ossorian chieftain's followers, having surprised the pious herdsmen, beheaded St. Dagan. His companion con- trivedtoescapewithlife. St. Canice26wasstoppinginL—iathmoremonastery, at the time of—this accident. A herd who had escaped most probably with some wounds ran to St. Pulcherius, St. Canice and the other monks. He was restored, it was said, by God's grace manifested through the saints
already named. But the decapitated trunk of St. Dagan's body, together with the head, had been brought to the monastery. Then St. Pulcherius
:
said to St. Canice " Holy father, I have promised to give Communio—n to
this youth before his death, but as yet I have not fulfilled my promise let the power of God be shown in him through us. Wherefore, father, join his head to his body, or entreat the Lord, that he may be restored to life. " St.
:
Canice said " In the name of Christ, I will join his head to his body, but
do you beseech the Lord, that life will revive in him. " The holy Canice placed the head in its proper position, and it became once more firmly united
We are told, however, that before our Saint became an Abbot, he was under the care of a wise and holy senior, named Petrocus,28 for some years.
2 ? but, to the day of Dagan's subsequent
to the body, and life was restored
death, a circular mark was to be seen around his neck, to indicate that line of junction. On the instant, Dagan gave thanks to God for his miraculous recovery, and afterwards he received Holy Communion, at the hands of St. Pulcherius. Thus was the prediction accomplished ; and after this event, St. Dagan lived for a long time in lnverdaoile, as superior over a great number of monks.
This Patrocus was a Cambrian29 and of
royal
birth. On the death of his
25 The Life of Pulcherius adds
:
was under an impression, that our Saint had been buried at lnverdaoile.
26 His Life is given, at the nth of October, in the Tenth Volume of this work, Art. i.
Patrem Pulcherium legebat. " Colgan's according " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xii. Martii.
Vita S. Dagani, cap. ii. , pp. 584, 585, and ibid. , xiii. Martii- Vita S. Mochoemoi, cap. xxviii. , p. 594. It would seem from this statement, the writer of St. Pulcherius' Acts
to the Acts of St. Pulcherius.
a8 He is venerated on the 4th of June, where notices of him are to be found in the
Sixth Volume of this work, Art. ii.
29 " Petrocus genere Camber. "—Ex Vita Petroci. " The Itinerary of John Ltland
;
" Et postea in sanctum virum, quern sanctum Daganum Abbatem vocavit, qui jam suo Monasterio nomine InbherDaile in Oriente Hiberniae
plaga in regione Lageniensium, scilicet in
plebe Dalmascorb posito juxta mare hands, St. Pulcherius prayed, and Dagan
et alius cum S, — was restored to life, and to his former jacet, puer Dagano, apud state,
2? While St. Canice held the youth in his
3i8 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September13,
father, the chiefs and people of the principality sought to elevate him to a vacant throne. But Petrocus, who disregarded the pomp of royalty, with
sixty of his companions entered a monastery, and assumed the religious habit. 3° After some considerable time, he went to Ireland, where he spent
twenty years, in the study of the Scriptures, and acquiring other courses of learning. He was animated with such a love of study, that he even excelled the celebrated masters who taught him 31 and having hoarded treasures of
;
science with laborious application, he transferred these riches obtained in Ireland to Corinia or Cornwall in England. 32 Harris has . also copied Colgan'sstatementthatourSaintstudiedunderPetrocus. 33 TherethisAbbot founded a monastery, near the Sabrinian Sea,34 and had for disciples, Credanus,35 Medanus,36 and Dacanus,37 who were celebrated for their learn- ing and sanctity. Colgan, who makes Dacan identical with St. Dagan, says the latter was subject to Petrocus' discipline for some years. From his mode of relation, it would seem, that these years of discipline and inst—ruction had
been spent in Ireland. 38 It would appear —if different persons
that
were Irishmen, from the circumstance of St. Petrocus having been twenty years before in Ireland,39 as also, because their festivals had been observed and commemorated in Ireland, and not in Britain. However, Dr. Lanigan states, that Colgan errs, in confounding our Saint with the other, named Dacan, that studied in Cornwall under the British Petrocus. 4° The same writer supposed it probable, that Petrocus was dead before the birth of our Saint, as it can hardly be allowed that he lived to the time of Dagan's man- hood, that is until near the end of the sixth century. 41 However, some mis- apprehension has prevailed, that Dagan had been a student at Bangor, which a Scotch story has placed in Scotland, and hence the Rev. Dr. Lingard alludes to him as a Caledonian Bishop. 42 Another opinion has been hazarded, that Dagan belonged to Bangor^ in Ireland. But these assump-
tions are all incorrect. 44
the Antiquary," vol. viii. , p, 52. Second rated, on the 17th of February. See in the
edition. 30 See
Second Volume of this work, at that date, Art. xx. Another St. Medan, son to Moil, was venerated on the 16th of September.
37 Leland, however, does not name the country of their birth, in his account of St. Petrocus.
" Nova Legenda
31 According to Leland, "S. Petrocus
monasticam professus vitam sub Regula D.
Benedicti — Bodminam tunc temporis apud
vocatum. " Joannis Lelandi Antiquarii. " De Rebus Britannicis Collectanea, vol. i. , p- 75- Thomas Hearn's Editio altera.
John Capgrave's Anglise. "
32
thesaurus cura, tandem inventus est
jam ne deliteret, inventor Hibernicas gazas in Coriniam—transtulit, et videndas omnibus exhibuit. " Commentarii de Scrip- toribus Britannicis," auctore Joanne Lelando, Londinate, tomus i. , cap. xxxv. , p. 61.
39 " Petrocus 20 annis studuit in
"Quaesitus
33 Harris' Ware, vol. ii.
