No More Learning

"' If this narrative be true, we should sup-
pose, according to Rev. Dr. Lanigan, that St. Brigid must have been in her younger
days, and that this event happened, at least, about thirty years before A. D. 506. See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix. , sec. ii. , n. 16, pp. 436, 437.
'^
His festival is observed, on the 3rd of May. In Filz-simon's Codex, he is called St. Collardus.
"< Fitz-simon's nomine Lormock. "
has here "
Appendix Secunda ad Acta S. Brigidas,
sect, xiii. , 605. p.
""Vita S. Tigemaci, cap. i. , sec. i. ,
"Acta Sanctorum," Aprilis, torn. i.
'"
Catalogus
quoe belonged
daughter of Eochaidh, son to Criomhthann, King of Oirghiall, was his mother.
copy
Laginiensi
'5 The Calendar of the O'Clerys states, that Tighernach descended from the race of
See Vita S. Tigemaci, cap. i. , sec. 3.
This Irish child causes light to descend on us When he had slept with the monarch's two sons, on the
''See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga.
"
April 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 23
followingmorning,bothwerefounddead. Thekingandqueensentimme-
diately to St. Movennus, or Monennius," requesting his attendance at court, to consult with him, in such an emergency. On his arrival, this saint indi- cated to Tighemach, that he should lie between the children who were dead, and order them to arise with him. To the great joy of the parents, both their sons were restored to life. '3 Our saint was then set at liberty ; and afterwards, he became the disciple of a bishop, '< known as St. Monennius,=5 or Ninio'*—supposed to have been Ninian—in his monastery of Alba. "' It is thought,'' that Rosnat,'' or Whitethom,3° was the place. Others will say, that the locality was within the principality of Wales,'" and not in Scotland. 3' By such an experienced master, Tighemach was instructed in science and virtue. It may be questioned, if this holy teacher were not identical with St. Manchan, the master of St. David of Wales. 33 Having received the bene-
diction of his superior, Tigernach set out on a pilgrimage to Rome. Thence he bore relics of the Apostles, Peter and Paul, to his own country. 3*
He journeyed towards the city of Tours, in company with St. Keeran, son to £uchad. 3S It being the time of winter, they were received in a hospice,
" Tbe Acts of this Saint are found, it is stated, in Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nix," at the 1st of March, on which day his festival is kept. In these, the forgoing no- tices of St. Tigernach occur. See pp. 437 to 439. Some writers have foolishly con- founded Monennius with Nennius, the British historian, who lived, it is thought, in the ninth century.
" See Vita S. Tigemaci, cap. i. , sec. 2.
'5 Colgan makes him the same as Moena, who died Bishop of Clonfert, A. D. 571. But, as Dr. lanigan remarks, how could a man, who had been a bishop in Britain before Tigernach became oue m 506, be supposed to have lived to so late a period ? In the opinion of Dr. Lanigan, the present Monen- nus was undoubtedly the same person as Nennio, abbot and bi. -. hop of what was called the great monastery in Britain, and to whom
St. Cailan, of Antrim, is said to have sent St.
'' The master of St. Endeus of Aran, said to have been at that school, is called, not Nennio, but Mansenus.
3° Here it is said, he had fotuded that See, early in the 5th century, and there can be no doubt of an ecclesiastical school hav- ing been established there. See Ussher, "De Primordiis. " &c. , pp. 661, et seq. The Rev. Dr. Lanigan observes, that Can- dida Casa lay very convenient for students fromtheNorthofIreland and,itisworth
having studied at Rosnat, or Alba, scarcely one is to be found, that was not a native of Ulster.
^' Colgan concludes, that because this
"
name means
the famous monastery of Bangor, or Ban- chor, near the river Dee, some few miles from Chester, and which must be carefully distinguished from the present episcopal town of Bangor, which lies far to the west of where the mon. -istery stood. See Ussher, "De Primordiis," p, 133. Colgan's chief
• See Rev. Dr.
History of Ireland, vol. i. , chap, iz. , sec. ii. , n. i6, pp. 437, 438.
Lanigan's
;
observing, that of those, who are spoken of as
" Ecclesiastical
"
Finnian, of Maghbile. See Ussher's Bri- argument is, that Ban, in Irish, signifies
tannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap.
xvii. , 954. * &^
When we read of Nennio being the bis-
hop, to whom some Irish students were sent,
this, Dr. Lanigan believes must be under-
stood, as originally meanng, that they were
sent to the school, held in the See of Nen-
nio, or Ninia, who was dead before Tager-
nach or Fridian could have repaired thither.
In fact, Fridian's master is called Mugen- Rossnachoich. See Statistical Aocount tius, and what is very remarkable, the place
isdenominatedCandida. See"ActaSanc-
torum Hibemiae," Vita S. Fridiani, p. 634.
•7 Neither the "Morusticon Anglicanum,"
nor Stevens, nor Tanner, nor Nasmith, nor
Camden, have, so far as Dr. Lanigan could
discover a word about so single it, although
often mentioned in the Acts of some Irish
saints.
"•
Especially by Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
'5 From the father s name, it appears he could not have been St. Keiran, Patron of
White," it was no other than
While, and so Ban-chor was the same as
iihiU choir. But waving certain doubts,
concerning said mona-tery having existed at that early period, it is to be recollected, as Dr. Lanigan remarks, that ^onhasnot such a
signification in the British language, which is that to be looked to in this enquiry.
^ There is a village and parish in Dum-
bartonshire, called Roseneath, anciently "
of Scotland," vol. iv. , p. 71. "SeehisLife,atMarch1st,chap. ii.
>* It is said incorrectly, that St. Tigernach founded an Abbey for Augustin Canons, at Clones, and that it was placed under the in- vocation of St. Peter and St. Paul. See Harris' vol. " of
Ware, i, Bishops Clogher," p. 177. .
24 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 4.
where nine persons died on that same night. St. Keerans* requested his com-
panion to compassionate the wailings of their friends, and to unite with him in earnest entreaty, for their restoration to life. Fervently praying together, the Ahnighty was pleased to grant their request. From that time forward, both saints were joined in the strictest bonds of friendship. 37 When our saint approached the shore of the Irish sea, it happened, that Ethnea, daugh- ter to the King of Munster, had been brought to the place, whence he intended to embark for Ireland. She was attended by soldiers, belonging to the King of Britain, a prince who wished to marry her. Seeing the saint,
"
with his companions, at that port, Ethnea said,
mit me to remain with the infidels, for I have devoted myself to Christ, whose faith and love animate my whole heart. " The saint besought the sol- diers to release her, but disregarding this request, they brought their captive to the ruler. Being forced against her inclination into the King's presence,
who had required her release, at their hands. This being done, the corpse vvas placed in a coffin, by Tigernach. He then ordered the sailors to put out forsea. Whentheywereadistancefromland,oursaintpreparedtocelebrate the holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is said, that at a time, when it was neces- sary to pour water into the wine, a drop of rain-water fell from Heaven. When the navigators had reached the wished-for port, turning towards the virgin's
she became insensible, and her immediately yielded up
3^ Astonished at this circumstance, the king required his soldiers to give a full account of what had taken place, during their journey. Afterwards, he ordered the royal maiden's dead body to be given without delay to the strange pilgrim,
" O
of Jesus Christ arise, and disembark from this vessel, first of all. " Imme-
diately, she arose, and to the great astonishment and admiration of its crew, Ethnea went on shore. 39 Having forgotten a thurible,*" at that port from which he embarked, Tighernach found it at the spot, near which he landed. He remained some time with St. Bridgid *' This illustrious virgin received him with great honour. The fame of his sanctity in Ireland soon brought many to a profession of the true faith. ^=
CHAPTER II.
body, Tigernach said,
Ethnea,
thou art buried in a In the name long sleep.
ST. TIGHERNACH VISITS MUNSTER AND CHAINS A DEMON—A RULER, NAMED FIACHRIUS, GRANTS HIM THE SITE FOR A MONASTERY—HE THEN VISITS KILDARE, AND ON THE NOMINATION OF ST. BRIDGET, HE IS CONSECRATED A BISHOP—TIGHERNACH RETURNS TO CLOGHER, WHERE HE IS SET OVER A MONASTERY—HE RAISES DUACH, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH, TO LIFE—KING TACHODRUS GRANTS HIM THE SITE FOR A
MONASTERY, AT CLONES—REMARKABLE MOAT THERE— AT CLONES.
ST. TIGERNACH'S RESIDENCE
From that part of the country, in which he dwelt for a time, Tighernach went into Munster. He arrived at a place, where its inhabitants worshipped a
Ossory, as his father is differently. named, in his Life, at the 5th of March.
3' Ward's Manuscript has this name writ- ten Kyeranus.
2'VitaS. Tigernaci,cap. i. ,sec. 4. 3'TheManuscriptofFitz-simonhas"Cum xxv. ,sec. ix. ,p. 296.
"
ducta esset ad
collocata, protinus mortua est. "
^ See Vita S.
in the BoUandists' work, pp. 402, 403.
*" Most she then lived in Kil- probably,
Regem invita,
et in lecto
ejus
Tigernaci, cap. i. ,
sec
dare.
•" See Vita S.
sec.
6,
5,
Tigernaci, cap. ii. , Bollandists' work, p. 403.
O holy Father, do not per-
spirit.
<" Cardinal Bona remarks, that the use of Thuribles dates to the Apostolic times, and they are frequently mentioned in the most
ancient Church Liturgies. See
Opera Omnia,"RerumLiturgicarum,lib. i. , cap.
April 4. ] LIVES OF IHE IRISH SAINTS. aj
demon, under the shape of a idol. This evil spirit had excited his worship- perstoslaythesen'antofGod. Armedwiththeshieldoffaith,andfortified
by devout prayer, Tigemach besought the Lord to mitigate their fury. Ad- dressing the multitude, and asking permission to exhibit their idol in its true
shape, he made a sign of the cross.
Thereupon that image appeared to all, in the form of a foul demon. Afterwards, he was banished to a rock, situated nearthesea,wherehisgroansandlamentationsweredistinctlyheard. All of those idolators, acknowledging their errors, became converts to the faith, and they were baptized by our saint. " After this, he returned towards his own part of the country. There, he asked for a site, whereon to found a monastery. A king of the territory, who was named Fiachrius,' had posses- sion of the place. Tigemach's request was granted, and that ruler requested him to dig a deep trench around the* place, giving him lands to serve as a perpetualfoundationforhismonastery. Onasubsequentoccasion,theking
requiringhayfromoneofhisservants,andit beingbrought,heaskedwhere it had been procured. Being told, that it was taken from land given to our
" I shall never use the
saint, Fiachrius said, in a loud voice, to those
produce of that land, I have given to God, either for my own wants, or for thoseofmysuccessors. " Afterthis,theruleraskedablessingfromthesaint on his arms, so that he might obtain a victory over enemies, who were about tocontendwithhim,onthefollowingday. Thatrequestheobtained,foron theverynextday,hisenemiesfledbeforejoiningbattlewiththeking. ' Hav- ing established his monastery, and left some religious brethren therein, St. Tigemach directed his course towards Kildare, on a visit to his spiritual mother, St. Bridget. She had a revelation, that her godson was worthy of promotion, to the episcopal rank, and having convoked some bishops, our saint was received into their order. The Patroness of Kildare had obtained so much influence, and had so great a reputation for sanctity, that she was privileged, by the clergy and people of Ireland, to nominate several Bishops. ^ Immediately on his consecration having taken place, Tigemach repaired to his maternal grandfather, Eochod,' who received him with much joy ; and,
the satisfaction of his mother, Dearfraych, was equally great. The potentate declared, that he would grant the holy Bishop Machadin's rank, and the rule
of Clogher monastery, in favour of his grandson. It seems, he expelled Machadin,' from his territories. But, despising worldly honours, and avoid- ing the king and his parents, the servant of Christ betook himself to a distant mountain. Thereheremained,buriedinacell,whichhehadfounded. '
The fame of our Saint's virtues being difliised abroad, many holy men flocked to visit him, and to engage in useful and pious conferences. Among others, Duach,' Archbishop of Armagh, was received with great honour and attention, by the saint. At his departure, Tigemach offered up earnest prayers to God. While travelling through a plain, called Marchuir-eglas,'
Chapter II. — See Viu S. Tigernad, St. Tighemach. If so, the feast of St. Mac-
cap, ii. , sec. 7.
*
In Fitz-simon's Manuscript, he is called Fcrrath. and in another Codex, the name U written Fiachra.
' See Vita S. Tigemaci, cap. ii. , sec. 8.
See Rev. P. J. Carew's "Ecclesiastical
Hutory of Ireland," chap, vi. , p. 240.
^ Fn various Manuscripts, he is called Ec-
hacu „ Coyn, and Confath.
' This Machudin was probably the same as
Maccarthen, who died bi>hop of Clogher, in 506 ; and, who was succeeded, in his See, by
carthenn is referred to the 24th of March, or
to the 15th of August.
' Ses Vita S. Tigemaci, cap. ii. , sec. 9.
* He must have been Dubtach I. , who sat
as Archbishop, from A. D. 497 to a. d. 513.
present,
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
"
Archbishops of
Armagh," pp. j6, 37.
'Many districts, in various parts oflre-
land,werecalledMachaire,orMaghera; but,
the present denomination has not been iden-
tified, either in its simple or in its composite form.
26 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [ApRit 4.
or Classen," the Archbishop departed this life, a circumstance which was revealedtooursaint. Heorderedacharioteer,toputhorsesunderhischariot. Having ascended it, the driver was desired not to open his eyes, without a special permission. Tigernach declared, likewise, that he would hold the reins,onthatday; for,heknew,thattheAngelsshouldaccompanythem,on the way. The event corresponded with his anticipations. Having journeyed a considerable distance, the charioteer ventured to uncover his head, contrary to the Bishop's advice, but not with impunity. He was instantly deprived of sight. However, this was again restored, on his master signing him with a cross. When they came to that place, where the Archbishop's corpse lay, blessing holy water, Tigernach sprinkled it on the body. Then, earnestly
addressing his prayers to God, our saint requested the return of the Arch-
bishop's soul to his body. Immediately, Duach arose, and then he said, " Tigernach on earth, Tigernach in heaven ;" as if he would say, that whilst our Saint's body remained on earth, his soul and dwelling were in Heaven. Afterwards, both these servants of God, receiving from each other a kiss of
*^^>^K%WA^
Moat at Clones, County of Monaghan.
peace,conceivedmosttendersentimentsofmutualandfraternallove. " A short time after this event, the Angel of the Lord advised our saint to go into the territories of King Tachodrus, his grandsire. There, he was ordered to erect a monastery. Our saint complied, and when he had come to the place designated,"hebuiltamonastery. Withaholybandofbrethren,hethere engaged in his devotions, and he performed many miracles. '3
Near the town of Clones,^ there is a very curious elevated Moat, on the summit of a hill. 's Three tiers of earth mounds rise in concentric circles, gra- dually diminishing in area to the topmost height. '* Immediately north of the
"» According
Manuscript.
to Father
Henry
Fitzsimon's
'3 See Vita S. sec. Tigernaci, cap. ii. ,
II,
"
1 2, p. 404.
'• This parish is situated, partly in the
barony of Clankelly, and this portion is shown on the "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Fermanagh," sheets
See Vita S. Tigernaci, cap. ii. , sec, 10, pp. 403, 404.
" In tlie life of Tigernach, this spot is called Gabalnensis.
April 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 27
moatwasasquarefortification; andresemblingoneatDromore,inevery
particular. It had been most scandalously defaced by an occupier, who hurled its proud ramparts into the ditches beneath, in order to extend his garden,atatimewhenJohnO'Donovanvisitedtheplace,a. d. 1835. "' This was regarded, by him, as the principal enclosure around the mansion of the ancient chief of Oriel, while the Moat was his watchtower, each being sur- rounded by a ditch, filled with water. The inhabitants of Clones state, that there is cave running from the Diamond, in their town, to the top of this Moat. '* It is said, that Tigemach fixed his residence at Clones, while he retained the government of Clogher church and See. On this account, he was called Ferdacrioch, or "the Man of the two districts. '' Some writers have erroneously applied this term to his predecessor, in the See of Clogher, St. Maccarthann. But, all accounts agree, that the real name of Maccarthen's successorwasTigemach,whileFerdachrioch'° wasmerelyasurname,which agreed very well with the circumstances, in which our saint was placed, but it did not suit Bishop Maccarthen. This is a mistake, into which Walter Harris has fallen, and in a measure it is excusable ; but, not so his saying, that Tigemach might have been the same as Tigemach, Bishop of Clonmac- nois. '' There was no religious establishment, either See or monastery at Clonraacnois, until the year 548 ; while our Tigemach was Bishop at Clones, since 506, nor was there any Tigemach of Clonmacnois, in those ancient tfmes. '" At Clones, a great number of holy men and women afterwards
29,30,35,36,40; whileapartisintheBa- ronies of Dartree and Monaghan, this being shown, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Monaghan," sheets 5,8, II, 12, 13, 16, 17.
'5 This Mound commands a very fine
view, looking westward from the lofty
mountain of Cuileagh, and of Knockninny. It lies north-west of the SUeve Beagh range; on a summit of which Cam-mor—where the antediluvian Biotk was interred—shows its
conspicuous Slurgan. shutupbyarangeofuninterestingDrums and Cars, the most conspicuous among which is a giant's reputed grave, on the elevated head of Calliagh, in Aghabog parish.
by him on the wood, was engraved by Mrs. Millard.
' His letter is dated Cluaim Eoi? , May
tatu Monachanensi) sedem Episcopalem po- suit, &, anno DL. J^otiis Apriliius mor- talitatem exuit : ad quern diem in Martyro- logiis (a Molano & Galasinis editis) Natalis ejus ita consignatus est : In Scotia (majo- rem intellige & antiquam) sancti Tigernaci
" The accompanying sketch, taken on the spot by William F. Wakeman, and drawn
pretended bishop Tigernachinthatplaceforwhomhequotes the Four Masters. N ow the Four Masters knew nothing about such a person, but they write :
"An. 548 (549) St. Tigernac, bishop of
Cluaineois, died on the 4tn of April. " (AA-
SS. p. 191 and 439). This passage bewil- dered Harris, who has given us these dates at Clonmacnois. He ought to have known that the Irish Annalists, when treating of
Aview tothe east is•
E<:clesiarumAntiquitatus,"cap. xvii. ,p. 445, " "Harris confounded Cluan-eois with Clon-
macnois, and he applied to the latter what belonged to the former. Thus (at Bishops,
"
31st, 1835. See Letters cont. iining infor- Clones, write duain-eois, Cluaineosensis ;
mation relative to the Antiquities of the Counties of Armagh and Monaghan collected duriilg the progress o( the Ordnance Survey in 1835," P- '47-
''
and Monaghan Letters, now presers-ed in the
Library of the Royal Irish Academy.
' SeeColgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," i. Martii, p. 439, n. 9.
whereas they express Clonmacnois by
Cluain-mhic-nois, or simply Cluan, whence Cluanensis. We find both places and names
clearly distinguished in a passage of our
Annals AA. SS. , m which it is p. 150),
stated that in the year 548 (549) a great pla- gue carried off Kieran Cluanensis (of Clon-
macnois) and Tigernach Cluaineosensis (of Clones) the very person whom we are now
treatingof. Archdall, in obedience to Harris,
brings in a Tigernach at Clonmacnois but
different, he adds, from the one of Clogher, and makes him succeed Kieran. . . . There was no abbo—t or bishop Tigemach thereinthosedays. " "Dr. Lamgan'sEccle- siastical H istory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix. , sec, ii. , m. 15, p. 436.
According
to the
County Armagh
"Thus,intheCalendarofCashel "S.
:
Ferdachricus episcopus de Clochar post epis-
copum Maccarthenum. " See Colgan's "Acta
Sanctorum Hibemiae," p. 740.
" Having mentioned the death of St.
Maccartin, who died in the year 506, Usher
"
qui in Cluana-ans (vulgo Clunes, in Comi-
continues,
S. Tigemaco successore relicto,
Episcopi, 6' confessoris. "
—
"
Britannicarum
Clonmacnois)
he has a
28 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 4.
servedGod. Forthelastthirtyyearsofoursaint'slife,hewasdeprivedof the use of sight. He lived alone, in his cell. There, he led the life of an anchoret, devoting his whole time to prayer and to heavenly contemplation.
CHAPTER III.
TRADITION OF ST. TIGERNACH HAVING BEEN LEGATE IN IRELAND, AND OF HIS HAVING RECEIVED THE BISHOPRIC OF CLOGHER FROM ST. MACCARTHINN—ECCLESIASTICAL REMAINS AT CLONES—ANGELIC VISITS TOWARDS THE CLOSE OF ST. TIGERNACH's LIFE—HIS DEPARTURE TO BLISS—HIS FESTIVALS, COMMEMORATIONS AND MEMO- RIALS—CONCLUSION.
According to the Registry of Clogher, our saint is said to have been Legate of Ireland, and to have received the benediction of St. Maccartin, who bequeathed the bishopric of Clogher to him. " Moved by an inspiration from Heaven, however, Tighernach resigned his monastery, in this place, to the
Clones Round Tower.
care of his friend, St. Coragall,' while he went towards the east, and to a more fertile country. Here, he founded the monastery of Clones ;3 but, we have little information, regarding his course of life, while he presided over the community, there established. *
At the present time, a very ancient round tower s may be seen at Clones. * It
"
Chapter in. —' See Harris'Ware, vol. i. ,
Bishops of Clogher," p. 177. Harris says,
tistical Survey ofMonaghan, chap, viii. , sec. 4, p. 108.
• " This church of Clunes is one of the four principal churches of the Diocese of Clogher, in which, as also in the Church of Deriinoailain, the Memory of Tigernach is
he is mistaken, if Tigernach, bishop of Clon-
macnois, and this Tigernach, be not one and
the same person. Ibid.
'
Most probably the celebrated Abbot of
Bangorisheremeant,andifso,hisLifewill heldingreatveneration. —Harris'Ware,vol.
be found, at the loth of May.
3 " He fixed his seat at Cluaine, from
whence in the Irish annals, he is called Clua- nois, for this town originally was named Cluanois, then Clunes, Clownish, Clunish
"
i. , Bishops of Clogher," p. 177.
s Traditions connected with this tower are very indistinct.