=°3
Information
contained.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
625.
'72 Its bounds enlarged or diminished with '^' ''
Brigidae," p. 625.
This townland is shown, on "Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of
the fortune of wars. However, the main parts of it comprehended the six baronies of Clare, Dunkelleii, —
Kildare. " Sheets
18,
17, 22, 23.
Loughrea, Kiltartan^ Athenry and. Leitrim. " Harris' Ware, vol.
^^^
This denomination cannot be found, at
present, on the Ordnance Survey Maps.
*^3 It is said to have comprehended the
baronies of Ballycowen and Ballyboy, the country of the O'Molloys, in the King's County. See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "The 106.
"
Ordnance Survey Townland
Antiquities p. 49.
chap, vii. ,
i. ,
occupying
of Ireland,"
sect,
'74 Or Ui-Anmchadha, a sept,
the barony of Longford, county of Galway, and the parish of Lusmagh, King's County, and east of the River Shannon. See Dr.
'^4 See Colgan, p. 625.
'^5 This denomination, at present, is mis-
^^^
See John O'Donovan's account of it,
in the "Dublin Penny Journal," vol. i. ,
No. 13, p. 103. It was called by this name,
so early as the year 590.
^^7 See some interesting notices of it, in
"
Rev. Alexander Ross's
- '^*
See Colgan, p. 625. '^5 Latinized, by Colgan,
"
sedes, seu, do-
mus Brigidae," p. 625.
'7° It comprised the countries of O'Molloy,
now in the King's County, and of Mageo- ghegan, now the barony of Moycashel, in Westmeath, and it extended originally from
ii. , "Antiquities of Ireland," chap, vii. , sect, i. , p. 52.
'73 See
Maps for the County of Galway. " Sheet
204 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [February i.
Although not recognisable, through denomination or derivation, yet the following parishes and localities are thought to have been placed under the patronage of the illustrious abbess of Kildare. Druim-dubhain, alias, Dnim- damhain, a parish church,^78 belonging to the diocese of Elphin, and within the territory of Tir-OililV79 now Tirerrill barony, in the county of Sligo. The parochial denomination seems obsolete. Kill-Salach, a parish, belonging to the diocese of Elphin, and in the territory of Airtheach. ^^° This latter
was comprised in the parish of Tibohine,^^^ in Frenchpark barony, and county Roscommon. Kill-hiomann, a parish church,*^^ belonging to the dioceseofElphin,andintheterritoryofMagluirgorMoylurg. Thisdistrict
wascomprisedwithinBoylebarony,'^3countyRoscommon. Killgeuian,or Kilgefin, a parish church, ^^^ in the diocese of Elphin, and within the territory^^s anddeaneryofTuatha. ItlaytothewestofLoughRee,towardsitsnorthern
part. '^^ Kill-mhic-Eogain,orKilmacowen,'^7aparishbelongingtothediocese of Elphin, in the territory of Cairbre,^^^ which is now known as the barony ofCarbury,CountySligo. Dysart,^^9LatinizedDesertum,aparishchurch,^9° in the diocese of Elphin, territory of Tirmhaine,^^' barony of Athlone, and provinceofConnaught. Ballintobber,^9=^aparishchurch,inthedioceseof Elphin, province of Connaught. '93 Besides the foregoing, the monastery or convent of Malach, or Moylaghj's^ for nuns of the Augustinian order, was situated in the diocese of Lismore, and county of Tipperary. '95 it is in the baronies of Offa and Iffa. A chapel, formerly dedicated to St. Brigid, in the diocese of Ross,'9^ is said to have been placed in a churchyard, near a romantic salt-water lake,'97 known as Lough Hyne, or Ine,'9^ in the south of CorkCounty. Acuriouspillarstoneremainsthere. '99
O'Donovan's "Topographical Poems of '89 See " Ordnance Survey Townland John O'Dubhagain and GioUa na Naomh Maps for the County of Roscommon. "
Sheets 47, 48, 50.
'9° See Colgan, p. 625.
'9' intended for and Probably Hy-Many,
for information regarding it, Dr. O'Donovan has edited for the Irish Archaeological So-
ciety, that interesting tract, "The Tribes
and Customs of called Hy-Many, commonly
O'Kelly's Country," A. D. mcccxliii. A Map, with its ancient Irish denominations
in the native characters, is prefixed.
'9^ Noted as a rectory, on Kev. D. A. O'Huidhrin. " Edited by Dr. O'Donovan, Beaufort's "New Civil and Ecclesiastical
O'Huidhrin," p. xlv. , n. 350.
'75 See Colgan, p. 625.
*7<^ It seems difficult to denomination at present. *77 See Colgan, p. 624.
'78 See Colgan, p. 625.
it identify by
this
'79 See O'
cap. Ixxix. , p. 374.
'^°
"
Flaherty's
Ogygia," pars iii. ,
See Colgan, p. 625.
'^' " See
n. 253, pp. XXXV. , xxxvi.
'^^
See Colgan, p. 625.
'^3 For a very complete account of this
division of Roscommon, the reader is re-
"
ferred to John D'Alton's
land and Annals of Boyle," vol. i. , pp. 167 to 283.
'^* See Colgan, p. 625.
i8s This district was composed of the divi-
The Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh
Map of Ireland. "
'S3 See Colgan, p. 625.
'94 See Archdalls " Monasticon Hibemi-
cum," p. 669.
'95 See Colgan, p. 625.
'9* See its position marked on Rev. D. A.
Beaufort's "New Civil and Ecclesiastical Map of Ireland. "
" Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (d), p. 86.
'^'^
of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 299.
'98 Interpreted "the deep lake. " It lies
south of Skibbereen. '99SeeMr. andMrs. Hall's"Ireland: its
See its position defined, on the map
"
Tribes and Customs of Hy- Many. " EditedbyDr. O'Donovan.
prefixed to the
History of Ire-
'97 "On an islet near its centre stand the ruins of a castle, which was formerly the and Corca-Each-lann. See Dr. O'Donovan's secluded and romantic fastness of the
sions, Tir-Briuin-na-Sinna, Cinel-Dobhtha,
'^7 See " Ordnance Survey Townland scenery, character," &c. , vol. i. , pp. 136,
Maps for the County of Sligo. " Sheets 14, 137. The descriptive matter is illustrated
19, 20. by an accompanying wood-engraving.
'88
See Colgan, p. 625.
O'DriscoUs. " — " Parliamentary Gazetteer
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 205
In addition to the places named are these following. Kill-rossinty, or
Kilrossanty,='°° a parish church, in the barony of Decies without Drum, be- longing to the diocese of Lismore,=°' and county of Waterford. It had been dedicated to St. Brigid. Nor was our holy abbess undistinguished from
other great Irish Saints, in the septi-partite group of churches having her as patroness. For, at the great bend of the River Suir, near Ardfinnan and
Newcastle, County Tipperary, there is a place, called Molough Bhridge, or
"
Brigid'sMolough. " Itissaid,thattherewerenolessthansevenchurches or chapels there, at one time, and that these were dedicated to St. Brigid. The chieftain of the Decies probably had a residence there, or, at least, he
near is mentioned in the Book of
it, Rights.
had a =°^ Slieve property.
g-Cua,
It is in the parish of Tooraneena, county of Waterford. ^°3 In Kill-dara,=^°^ a
parish church, of Tuam diocese, in the territory of Costelach, province of Connaught, St. Brigid was patroness. It is different from Kildare, in Leinster. =°s Druim-na bfeadh,=^°^ a parish church, belonging to the diocese of Tuam, alias, Elphin, in the county of Roscommon, province of Connaught. ^°7 Besides, in Killchuanna, or Kilcoona,'°^ a parish, in Clare barony and Galway county, diocese of Tuam, and province of Connaught,^°9 a church had been erected to St. Brigid.
The following ancient wells were dedicated to St. Bride, within the city and county of Dublin. In a court, off Bride-street, is her spring, now covered byapump. BetweentheiviedruinsofSt. Margaret'sandDunsoghlyCastle, an ancient well, dedicated to St. Brigid,^''^ is surrounded by a battlemented
wall. ^" At St. Margaret's, near Finglas, there is a tepid spring, and it is called St. Brigid's Well. At Clondalkin, there is a well dedicated to her.
Here,also,thereisafineroundtoweringoodpreservation. ^'^ AtSwordsj'^^s seven miles north from Dublin Castle,'''^ and near the ancient nunnery, a well of St. Brigid was to be seen. Again, at Clonskeagh,''^5 there is a well of St. Brigid. At the Valley of Diamonds, near Bray, there is, likewise, a well of St. Brigid. At Castleknock, there was a well called after her. We are not sure if it yet exists. The place derives its name from an old castle, built in the reign of Henry II. , on a hill. ^'^ Again, it is stated, on verbal authority, that there is a well, dedicated to St. Bride, near the ruins of the old Black Castle, on the sea-shore, not far from Wicklow town. '^"'' The well
is in a very out-of-the-way place. In Killisk parish,^'^ barony of Ballagh-
^ It is marked on the '* Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Wa- terford. " Sheets 14, 15, 23, 24, 31, 32,
County of Dublin. " By John S. Sloanc, C. E,, p. 219.
=""
This was built by a Sir John Plunkett. =" See Joseph Archer's " Statistical Sur- See Rev. Dr. Kelly's "Calendar of vey of the County of Dublin," chap. v. , sec.
=°» See Colgan, p. 625. *»
the Irish Saints," p. 134.
=°3 Information contained. in a letter of
Rev. David B. Mulcahy, Portglenone, dated December i8th, 1875.
=°* This denomination is not found on the Ordnance Survey Maps.
""S See Colgan, p. 625.
i. , p. 88.
='3 See an account of this ancient place,
**
History of the County of Dublin," pp. 269 to 297.
^'^ See Joseph Archer's " Statistical Sur- vey of the County of Dublin," chap, v. , sec. i. , p. 96.
"^ this title, the
By parish ap-
='S See D'Alton's ** John
of the
does not pear on the Ordnance Survey Townland
History
Maps of Ireland.
=°7 See Colgan, p. 625.
See Joseph Archer's
'^^
Its extent is shown, on the "Ordnance
Statistical Sur*
vey of the County of Dublin," chap, v. , sec. i. , p. 88.
"^ For the foregoing list, I feel indebted
to Mrs. Anastasia O'Bvme, authoress of
• The Saints of Ireland. *^
Survey Townland Maps ior the County of Galway," Sheets42,56.
"^s See
Colgan, p. 625.
"o No. xiv.
''^
Antiquarian Rambles in the nance Survey Townland Maps for the
See "Irish Literary Gazette," vol. i. , "
See its extent defined, on the "Ord-
in John D' Alton's
County of Dubhn," p. 808. -^^ "
2o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
keen, and county of Wexford, St. Brigid's Well may be seen. At Kilscoran parish,''9 in the barony of Forth and county of Wexford, there is a St.
Brigid's Holy-Well. The pattern was formerly held on St. Brigid's day. This parish is supposed to have had her as the patroness. Besides this, at
Rosslare parish,^'^^ barony of Forth, and county of Wexford, a holy well, called after St. Braagh (Brathoach)—said by the people to be no other than St.
Brigid—is to be found. Again, there is a Toberbride, or Brideswell, in the parish of Ballysadare, and barony of Tirerrill. ^^'^ We find mention, too, of Tobar-Brigde,' near Cuilmuine, in the county of Sligo. ^'" St. Brigid's Well,
at Rostyduff, a snug little place under Keadeen mountain, in the county of "
Wicklow, had a patron," which used to be held in the early part of this
century, on the ist of February. ^^3 There is a Tobar-Brigde, in the village of Ballintobber, and county of Roscommon. =^^4 There is another Tobar-
Brigde,^^5 in the territory of Maineach. A Tobar-Brigde, in the county of Longford, near the town, and in the diocese of Ardagh,^^^ appears to have been named after St. Brigid. In Killila parish,='^7 barony of Ballaghkeen, and county of Wexford, was St. Brigid's Well. A pattern was held on ist of February, at this spot. We have, also, learned, that at, or near, Kil- cock, in the county of Kildare, a patron used formerly be held at Bride's Well, on the ist of February. Stations were there performed. In the town- land of Ballincurrig, parish of Buttevant, and county of Cork, St. Brigid's
Well may be seen.
A large ash-tree hangs over it, and it is popularly called
Biddy's
Tree. No
" or honour to the special pattern"
patroness
is now
paid,
""
at this spot. "^ However, rounds or stations still take place there. In
Hy-Kinsellagh, province of Leinster, there was a well, bearing the name
Tobar-Brigdhe, and another in Tuam. ^^'s Both of these springs were much resorted to, when the feast-day of St. Brigid occurred. There is a Tober-
bride or Brideswell, in the parish of Dunleeney, barony of Idrone East, and countyofCarlow. ^3o Acelebratedspring,knownas"Bride'sWell,"had been much frequented on the feast of St. Brigid : it flowed from the side of a circular mound, about two miles and a-quarter, north-west from Kilcock, in the deanery of Trim, and county of Meath. An ash-tree spreads its branches over the stream. The diameter of the well is over twelve feet. Nearly all the females of this neighbourhood bear the name of their patron saint. ="3^ Besides the foregoing, there was a reputed miraculous well of St. Brigid, on the estate of Cornelius O'Brien, Esq. , of Birchfield, in the county of Clare. This well contained a large eel, and eleven smaller ones, which
appeared periodically, according to a popular tradition. ='32 Its waters were remarkably clear and cool, but they were never used for domestic purposes.
County 33-
ofWexford. " Sheets
26, 27, 32,
"SLatinized "fens byColgan,
Brigidae,"
"9 It is included, in the " Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of
Wexford. " Sheet48.
"°
Its bounds are contained, within the Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
p. 625.
=^^ See Colgan, p. 625.
"7 See its delineation, on "Ordnance
SurveyTownlandsMapsfortheCountyof Wexford. " Sheets 27, 33.
^'^
"
Information communicated by Mr. Denis A. O'Leary, Kilbolane Cottage, See Ordnance Survey Townland Charleville, April 17th, 1875, to the writer.
County of Wexford. " Sheets 38, 43, 48. ^' "
Maps for the County of Sligo. "
See Colgan, p. 625.
Sheet 26.
"' See Colgan, p. 625.
=3° See it marked, on the "Ordnance
'"
=•^3 See an " article,
Townland Carlow. " Sheet 16.
for the of County
in Omayle,"byJ. F. S. , in "The Irish Ec- clesiastical Record," vol. xiL, No. cxxxiv,,
Maps
P- "134- See
Colgan, p. 625.
=31 Sce Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modem," vol. ii. , chap, xvii. , p. 361.
Donoughmore
Survey
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 207
The well was a famous resort for pilgrims, especially for those hoping to have cures effected. Whoever was fortunate enough to see the eels was instantaneously cured. Throuf^h O'Brien's lawn, free access to the well was easily obtained. Popular tradition has it, that the water was desecrated on one occasion. ^33 Immediately it removed during the night to a great dis- tance. A member of the O'Brien family, to commemorate a miraculous curcj^s-^ had a beautiful wall built around St. Brigid's Well. The enclosure was elegantly planted, and the place was even furnished with stables, for the accommodation of pilgrims.
Someancientreligiousinstitutionswereunderherpatronage. Ahermitage wasdedicatedtoSt. Bride,bytheKnightsHospitallersofKilmainham. It wassituatednearWaterford. Again,atCarrickfergus,therewasanhospital for lepers. The adjoining lands are yet called the Spital Fields. The hospital was dedicated to St. Brigid. At the north side of Carrickfergus, a spring, called St. Bride's Well, marks the site of an hospital, also dedicated to St. Brigid. We find an hospital for lepers was dedicated to St. Brigid, in the town and parish of Dungarvan,^35 barony of Decies without Drum, situated within the diocese of Lismore,=*36 and county of Waterford. Besides, there was an hospital for lepers, within the diocese and town of Lismore,^37 province of Munster, dedicated to St. Brigid. ^38 she seems to have been the
peculiar patroness of such afflicted persons.
There are various localities or objects,—named from St. Bride, in the
countyofDublin. Amongthesewefind
Mochua, at Clondalkin, one of its three altars was dedicated to her. =^39 Bride's Glen, near Cabinteely, eight or nine miles from Dublin ; the River Bride, a tributary to the Liffey, is thought to derive its name from Ireland's great patroness ; Kilbride Manor, near the Glen of Kilbride, which borders on Sally Gap, near the source of the Liffey, is called after her ; while, the demesne, called St. Brigid's, at Clonskeagh, or Roebuck, is said to derive its name from her. ^40 Also, the Breeda or Bride River, is a tributary of the Lee,^'^^inthecountyofCork. TheAbbeyofKilcrea,^^^occupiesaretired
=32 The matter of this and of the subse- quent narrative was communicated by Rev. D. B. Mulcahy, in a letter, headed Lough Cill, North Antrim, 26th April, 1875.
=33 It happened, that O'Brien had a large
dinner party, and in the hurry of prepara- tion, one of the servants took water to boil potatoes from this well. The dinner was late. O'Brien enquired the cause. The potatoes he found were not boiled. The fire was stirred and blown under, but the servants blew to no purpose. As a last re- sort the pot was examined, when lo ! there was found one of the younger ells. It was reverently taken back to the well, and a solemn admonition was given to the servants, This was unnecessary, for that night the well disappeared.
=34 He lay ill in London, and his life was despaired of, by several doctors. Yet, he had some water procured from St. Brigid's Well, which at once restored him to health.
=35 See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Waterford. " Sheets 3O' 3'» 3S> 3^-
"3^ See Colgan, p. 625,
=37 The united parishes of Lismore and Mocollop are situated, partly w^ithin the county of Cork, in the barony of Condons and Clangibbon, as shown on the " Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," Sheets 36, 37 ; and, partly with- in the county of Waterford, in the baronies of Coshmore and Coshbride, as shown on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Waterford," Sheets 1 1, 12, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 34.
=38 ggg Colgan, p. 625.
=39 See William Monck Mason's ** Hfs-
tory and Antiquities of the Collegiate and Cathedral Church of St. Patrick, near Dub-
lin," &c. , book i. , chap, v. , p. 27.
=4o Yov the foregoing list, I am indebted
to Mrs. Anastasia O'Byrne.
='*' See John Windale's " Historical and
Descriptive Notices of the City of Cork and its vicinity ; Gougann-Barra, Glengariff, and Killarney," p. 257.
=^2 See an admirable account of its style
and history, at pp. 259 to 270, ibid. Two engravings of the ruins are there to be seen.
:
In the ancient church of St.
2o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
and a beautiful situation, on a green bank along it, and at the extremity of a long valley, which stretches several miles to the west. It was dedicated to St. Bridget,='43 and probably its River Bride was called after her. In addi- tion, we may observe, there is a very curious object, called St. Brigid's Stone,''*'^ to be seen at Killinagh, near Bantry, in the county of Cork. This is a five-holed Bullaun rock, containing oval-shaped stones in each cavity. ^'s We find a Saint Brigid's Chair, at Lough Derg. There is an old monument, inscribed with a cross, in the churchyard of Kilbride, county of Wicklow. ^-*^ There is, also, an old stone, with several incised crosses, found at Faughart old church, county Louth. =47 This is called St. Brigid's Stone, owing to some supposed association with her.
Several modern churches, chapels, and religious institutes, have St. Brigid as patroness. The new parochial church of Kilcullen, as we have already seen, has been dedicated to her. In addition, as has been stated, Kildare town has a Catholic church and a nunnery, under her protection. Through- out the diocese of Kildare are other religious edifices, holding her as the
patroness ; but, it is to be regretted, a complete list of her Irish churches and chapels cannot be known. ^'^^ The Catholic church of Kilbride, parish of Dunganstown, not only occupies the site of a very ancient church dedicated to our saint, but, it yet rejoices in her, as its special patroness.
'72 Its bounds enlarged or diminished with '^' ''
Brigidae," p. 625.
This townland is shown, on "Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of
the fortune of wars. However, the main parts of it comprehended the six baronies of Clare, Dunkelleii, —
Kildare. " Sheets
18,
17, 22, 23.
Loughrea, Kiltartan^ Athenry and. Leitrim. " Harris' Ware, vol.
^^^
This denomination cannot be found, at
present, on the Ordnance Survey Maps.
*^3 It is said to have comprehended the
baronies of Ballycowen and Ballyboy, the country of the O'Molloys, in the King's County. See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "The 106.
"
Ordnance Survey Townland
Antiquities p. 49.
chap, vii. ,
i. ,
occupying
of Ireland,"
sect,
'74 Or Ui-Anmchadha, a sept,
the barony of Longford, county of Galway, and the parish of Lusmagh, King's County, and east of the River Shannon. See Dr.
'^4 See Colgan, p. 625.
'^5 This denomination, at present, is mis-
^^^
See John O'Donovan's account of it,
in the "Dublin Penny Journal," vol. i. ,
No. 13, p. 103. It was called by this name,
so early as the year 590.
^^7 See some interesting notices of it, in
"
Rev. Alexander Ross's
- '^*
See Colgan, p. 625. '^5 Latinized, by Colgan,
"
sedes, seu, do-
mus Brigidae," p. 625.
'7° It comprised the countries of O'Molloy,
now in the King's County, and of Mageo- ghegan, now the barony of Moycashel, in Westmeath, and it extended originally from
ii. , "Antiquities of Ireland," chap, vii. , sect, i. , p. 52.
'73 See
Maps for the County of Galway. " Sheet
204 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [February i.
Although not recognisable, through denomination or derivation, yet the following parishes and localities are thought to have been placed under the patronage of the illustrious abbess of Kildare. Druim-dubhain, alias, Dnim- damhain, a parish church,^78 belonging to the diocese of Elphin, and within the territory of Tir-OililV79 now Tirerrill barony, in the county of Sligo. The parochial denomination seems obsolete. Kill-Salach, a parish, belonging to the diocese of Elphin, and in the territory of Airtheach. ^^° This latter
was comprised in the parish of Tibohine,^^^ in Frenchpark barony, and county Roscommon. Kill-hiomann, a parish church,*^^ belonging to the dioceseofElphin,andintheterritoryofMagluirgorMoylurg. Thisdistrict
wascomprisedwithinBoylebarony,'^3countyRoscommon. Killgeuian,or Kilgefin, a parish church, ^^^ in the diocese of Elphin, and within the territory^^s anddeaneryofTuatha. ItlaytothewestofLoughRee,towardsitsnorthern
part. '^^ Kill-mhic-Eogain,orKilmacowen,'^7aparishbelongingtothediocese of Elphin, in the territory of Cairbre,^^^ which is now known as the barony ofCarbury,CountySligo. Dysart,^^9LatinizedDesertum,aparishchurch,^9° in the diocese of Elphin, territory of Tirmhaine,^^' barony of Athlone, and provinceofConnaught. Ballintobber,^9=^aparishchurch,inthedioceseof Elphin, province of Connaught. '93 Besides the foregoing, the monastery or convent of Malach, or Moylaghj's^ for nuns of the Augustinian order, was situated in the diocese of Lismore, and county of Tipperary. '95 it is in the baronies of Offa and Iffa. A chapel, formerly dedicated to St. Brigid, in the diocese of Ross,'9^ is said to have been placed in a churchyard, near a romantic salt-water lake,'97 known as Lough Hyne, or Ine,'9^ in the south of CorkCounty. Acuriouspillarstoneremainsthere. '99
O'Donovan's "Topographical Poems of '89 See " Ordnance Survey Townland John O'Dubhagain and GioUa na Naomh Maps for the County of Roscommon. "
Sheets 47, 48, 50.
'9° See Colgan, p. 625.
'9' intended for and Probably Hy-Many,
for information regarding it, Dr. O'Donovan has edited for the Irish Archaeological So-
ciety, that interesting tract, "The Tribes
and Customs of called Hy-Many, commonly
O'Kelly's Country," A. D. mcccxliii. A Map, with its ancient Irish denominations
in the native characters, is prefixed.
'9^ Noted as a rectory, on Kev. D. A. O'Huidhrin. " Edited by Dr. O'Donovan, Beaufort's "New Civil and Ecclesiastical
O'Huidhrin," p. xlv. , n. 350.
'75 See Colgan, p. 625.
*7<^ It seems difficult to denomination at present. *77 See Colgan, p. 624.
'78 See Colgan, p. 625.
it identify by
this
'79 See O'
cap. Ixxix. , p. 374.
'^°
"
Flaherty's
Ogygia," pars iii. ,
See Colgan, p. 625.
'^' " See
n. 253, pp. XXXV. , xxxvi.
'^^
See Colgan, p. 625.
'^3 For a very complete account of this
division of Roscommon, the reader is re-
"
ferred to John D'Alton's
land and Annals of Boyle," vol. i. , pp. 167 to 283.
'^* See Colgan, p. 625.
i8s This district was composed of the divi-
The Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh
Map of Ireland. "
'S3 See Colgan, p. 625.
'94 See Archdalls " Monasticon Hibemi-
cum," p. 669.
'95 See Colgan, p. 625.
'9* See its position marked on Rev. D. A.
Beaufort's "New Civil and Ecclesiastical Map of Ireland. "
" Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (d), p. 86.
'^'^
of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 299.
'98 Interpreted "the deep lake. " It lies
south of Skibbereen. '99SeeMr. andMrs. Hall's"Ireland: its
See its position defined, on the map
"
Tribes and Customs of Hy- Many. " EditedbyDr. O'Donovan.
prefixed to the
History of Ire-
'97 "On an islet near its centre stand the ruins of a castle, which was formerly the and Corca-Each-lann. See Dr. O'Donovan's secluded and romantic fastness of the
sions, Tir-Briuin-na-Sinna, Cinel-Dobhtha,
'^7 See " Ordnance Survey Townland scenery, character," &c. , vol. i. , pp. 136,
Maps for the County of Sligo. " Sheets 14, 137. The descriptive matter is illustrated
19, 20. by an accompanying wood-engraving.
'88
See Colgan, p. 625.
O'DriscoUs. " — " Parliamentary Gazetteer
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 205
In addition to the places named are these following. Kill-rossinty, or
Kilrossanty,='°° a parish church, in the barony of Decies without Drum, be- longing to the diocese of Lismore,=°' and county of Waterford. It had been dedicated to St. Brigid. Nor was our holy abbess undistinguished from
other great Irish Saints, in the septi-partite group of churches having her as patroness. For, at the great bend of the River Suir, near Ardfinnan and
Newcastle, County Tipperary, there is a place, called Molough Bhridge, or
"
Brigid'sMolough. " Itissaid,thattherewerenolessthansevenchurches or chapels there, at one time, and that these were dedicated to St. Brigid. The chieftain of the Decies probably had a residence there, or, at least, he
near is mentioned in the Book of
it, Rights.
had a =°^ Slieve property.
g-Cua,
It is in the parish of Tooraneena, county of Waterford. ^°3 In Kill-dara,=^°^ a
parish church, of Tuam diocese, in the territory of Costelach, province of Connaught, St. Brigid was patroness. It is different from Kildare, in Leinster. =°s Druim-na bfeadh,=^°^ a parish church, belonging to the diocese of Tuam, alias, Elphin, in the county of Roscommon, province of Connaught. ^°7 Besides, in Killchuanna, or Kilcoona,'°^ a parish, in Clare barony and Galway county, diocese of Tuam, and province of Connaught,^°9 a church had been erected to St. Brigid.
The following ancient wells were dedicated to St. Bride, within the city and county of Dublin. In a court, off Bride-street, is her spring, now covered byapump. BetweentheiviedruinsofSt. Margaret'sandDunsoghlyCastle, an ancient well, dedicated to St. Brigid,^''^ is surrounded by a battlemented
wall. ^" At St. Margaret's, near Finglas, there is a tepid spring, and it is called St. Brigid's Well. At Clondalkin, there is a well dedicated to her.
Here,also,thereisafineroundtoweringoodpreservation. ^'^ AtSwordsj'^^s seven miles north from Dublin Castle,'''^ and near the ancient nunnery, a well of St. Brigid was to be seen. Again, at Clonskeagh,''^5 there is a well of St. Brigid. At the Valley of Diamonds, near Bray, there is, likewise, a well of St. Brigid. At Castleknock, there was a well called after her. We are not sure if it yet exists. The place derives its name from an old castle, built in the reign of Henry II. , on a hill. ^'^ Again, it is stated, on verbal authority, that there is a well, dedicated to St. Bride, near the ruins of the old Black Castle, on the sea-shore, not far from Wicklow town. '^"'' The well
is in a very out-of-the-way place. In Killisk parish,^'^ barony of Ballagh-
^ It is marked on the '* Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Wa- terford. " Sheets 14, 15, 23, 24, 31, 32,
County of Dublin. " By John S. Sloanc, C. E,, p. 219.
=""
This was built by a Sir John Plunkett. =" See Joseph Archer's " Statistical Sur- See Rev. Dr. Kelly's "Calendar of vey of the County of Dublin," chap. v. , sec.
=°» See Colgan, p. 625. *»
the Irish Saints," p. 134.
=°3 Information contained. in a letter of
Rev. David B. Mulcahy, Portglenone, dated December i8th, 1875.
=°* This denomination is not found on the Ordnance Survey Maps.
""S See Colgan, p. 625.
i. , p. 88.
='3 See an account of this ancient place,
**
History of the County of Dublin," pp. 269 to 297.
^'^ See Joseph Archer's " Statistical Sur- vey of the County of Dublin," chap, v. , sec. i. , p. 96.
"^ this title, the
By parish ap-
='S See D'Alton's ** John
of the
does not pear on the Ordnance Survey Townland
History
Maps of Ireland.
=°7 See Colgan, p. 625.
See Joseph Archer's
'^^
Its extent is shown, on the "Ordnance
Statistical Sur*
vey of the County of Dublin," chap, v. , sec. i. , p. 88.
"^ For the foregoing list, I feel indebted
to Mrs. Anastasia O'Bvme, authoress of
• The Saints of Ireland. *^
Survey Townland Maps ior the County of Galway," Sheets42,56.
"^s See
Colgan, p. 625.
"o No. xiv.
''^
Antiquarian Rambles in the nance Survey Townland Maps for the
See "Irish Literary Gazette," vol. i. , "
See its extent defined, on the "Ord-
in John D' Alton's
County of Dubhn," p. 808. -^^ "
2o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
keen, and county of Wexford, St. Brigid's Well may be seen. At Kilscoran parish,''9 in the barony of Forth and county of Wexford, there is a St.
Brigid's Holy-Well. The pattern was formerly held on St. Brigid's day. This parish is supposed to have had her as the patroness. Besides this, at
Rosslare parish,^'^^ barony of Forth, and county of Wexford, a holy well, called after St. Braagh (Brathoach)—said by the people to be no other than St.
Brigid—is to be found. Again, there is a Toberbride, or Brideswell, in the parish of Ballysadare, and barony of Tirerrill. ^^'^ We find mention, too, of Tobar-Brigde,' near Cuilmuine, in the county of Sligo. ^'" St. Brigid's Well,
at Rostyduff, a snug little place under Keadeen mountain, in the county of "
Wicklow, had a patron," which used to be held in the early part of this
century, on the ist of February. ^^3 There is a Tobar-Brigde, in the village of Ballintobber, and county of Roscommon. =^^4 There is another Tobar-
Brigde,^^5 in the territory of Maineach. A Tobar-Brigde, in the county of Longford, near the town, and in the diocese of Ardagh,^^^ appears to have been named after St. Brigid. In Killila parish,='^7 barony of Ballaghkeen, and county of Wexford, was St. Brigid's Well. A pattern was held on ist of February, at this spot. We have, also, learned, that at, or near, Kil- cock, in the county of Kildare, a patron used formerly be held at Bride's Well, on the ist of February. Stations were there performed. In the town- land of Ballincurrig, parish of Buttevant, and county of Cork, St. Brigid's
Well may be seen.
A large ash-tree hangs over it, and it is popularly called
Biddy's
Tree. No
" or honour to the special pattern"
patroness
is now
paid,
""
at this spot. "^ However, rounds or stations still take place there. In
Hy-Kinsellagh, province of Leinster, there was a well, bearing the name
Tobar-Brigdhe, and another in Tuam. ^^'s Both of these springs were much resorted to, when the feast-day of St. Brigid occurred. There is a Tober-
bride or Brideswell, in the parish of Dunleeney, barony of Idrone East, and countyofCarlow. ^3o Acelebratedspring,knownas"Bride'sWell,"had been much frequented on the feast of St. Brigid : it flowed from the side of a circular mound, about two miles and a-quarter, north-west from Kilcock, in the deanery of Trim, and county of Meath. An ash-tree spreads its branches over the stream. The diameter of the well is over twelve feet. Nearly all the females of this neighbourhood bear the name of their patron saint. ="3^ Besides the foregoing, there was a reputed miraculous well of St. Brigid, on the estate of Cornelius O'Brien, Esq. , of Birchfield, in the county of Clare. This well contained a large eel, and eleven smaller ones, which
appeared periodically, according to a popular tradition. ='32 Its waters were remarkably clear and cool, but they were never used for domestic purposes.
County 33-
ofWexford. " Sheets
26, 27, 32,
"SLatinized "fens byColgan,
Brigidae,"
"9 It is included, in the " Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of
Wexford. " Sheet48.
"°
Its bounds are contained, within the Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
p. 625.
=^^ See Colgan, p. 625.
"7 See its delineation, on "Ordnance
SurveyTownlandsMapsfortheCountyof Wexford. " Sheets 27, 33.
^'^
"
Information communicated by Mr. Denis A. O'Leary, Kilbolane Cottage, See Ordnance Survey Townland Charleville, April 17th, 1875, to the writer.
County of Wexford. " Sheets 38, 43, 48. ^' "
Maps for the County of Sligo. "
See Colgan, p. 625.
Sheet 26.
"' See Colgan, p. 625.
=3° See it marked, on the "Ordnance
'"
=•^3 See an " article,
Townland Carlow. " Sheet 16.
for the of County
in Omayle,"byJ. F. S. , in "The Irish Ec- clesiastical Record," vol. xiL, No. cxxxiv,,
Maps
P- "134- See
Colgan, p. 625.
=31 Sce Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modem," vol. ii. , chap, xvii. , p. 361.
Donoughmore
Survey
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 207
The well was a famous resort for pilgrims, especially for those hoping to have cures effected. Whoever was fortunate enough to see the eels was instantaneously cured. Throuf^h O'Brien's lawn, free access to the well was easily obtained. Popular tradition has it, that the water was desecrated on one occasion. ^33 Immediately it removed during the night to a great dis- tance. A member of the O'Brien family, to commemorate a miraculous curcj^s-^ had a beautiful wall built around St. Brigid's Well. The enclosure was elegantly planted, and the place was even furnished with stables, for the accommodation of pilgrims.
Someancientreligiousinstitutionswereunderherpatronage. Ahermitage wasdedicatedtoSt. Bride,bytheKnightsHospitallersofKilmainham. It wassituatednearWaterford. Again,atCarrickfergus,therewasanhospital for lepers. The adjoining lands are yet called the Spital Fields. The hospital was dedicated to St. Brigid. At the north side of Carrickfergus, a spring, called St. Bride's Well, marks the site of an hospital, also dedicated to St. Brigid. We find an hospital for lepers was dedicated to St. Brigid, in the town and parish of Dungarvan,^35 barony of Decies without Drum, situated within the diocese of Lismore,=*36 and county of Waterford. Besides, there was an hospital for lepers, within the diocese and town of Lismore,^37 province of Munster, dedicated to St. Brigid. ^38 she seems to have been the
peculiar patroness of such afflicted persons.
There are various localities or objects,—named from St. Bride, in the
countyofDublin. Amongthesewefind
Mochua, at Clondalkin, one of its three altars was dedicated to her. =^39 Bride's Glen, near Cabinteely, eight or nine miles from Dublin ; the River Bride, a tributary to the Liffey, is thought to derive its name from Ireland's great patroness ; Kilbride Manor, near the Glen of Kilbride, which borders on Sally Gap, near the source of the Liffey, is called after her ; while, the demesne, called St. Brigid's, at Clonskeagh, or Roebuck, is said to derive its name from her. ^40 Also, the Breeda or Bride River, is a tributary of the Lee,^'^^inthecountyofCork. TheAbbeyofKilcrea,^^^occupiesaretired
=32 The matter of this and of the subse- quent narrative was communicated by Rev. D. B. Mulcahy, in a letter, headed Lough Cill, North Antrim, 26th April, 1875.
=33 It happened, that O'Brien had a large
dinner party, and in the hurry of prepara- tion, one of the servants took water to boil potatoes from this well. The dinner was late. O'Brien enquired the cause. The potatoes he found were not boiled. The fire was stirred and blown under, but the servants blew to no purpose. As a last re- sort the pot was examined, when lo ! there was found one of the younger ells. It was reverently taken back to the well, and a solemn admonition was given to the servants, This was unnecessary, for that night the well disappeared.
=34 He lay ill in London, and his life was despaired of, by several doctors. Yet, he had some water procured from St. Brigid's Well, which at once restored him to health.
=35 See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Waterford. " Sheets 3O' 3'» 3S> 3^-
"3^ See Colgan, p. 625,
=37 The united parishes of Lismore and Mocollop are situated, partly w^ithin the county of Cork, in the barony of Condons and Clangibbon, as shown on the " Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," Sheets 36, 37 ; and, partly with- in the county of Waterford, in the baronies of Coshmore and Coshbride, as shown on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Waterford," Sheets 1 1, 12, 19, 20, 21, 28, 29, 34.
=38 ggg Colgan, p. 625.
=39 See William Monck Mason's ** Hfs-
tory and Antiquities of the Collegiate and Cathedral Church of St. Patrick, near Dub-
lin," &c. , book i. , chap, v. , p. 27.
=4o Yov the foregoing list, I am indebted
to Mrs. Anastasia O'Byrne.
='*' See John Windale's " Historical and
Descriptive Notices of the City of Cork and its vicinity ; Gougann-Barra, Glengariff, and Killarney," p. 257.
=^2 See an admirable account of its style
and history, at pp. 259 to 270, ibid. Two engravings of the ruins are there to be seen.
:
In the ancient church of St.
2o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February i.
and a beautiful situation, on a green bank along it, and at the extremity of a long valley, which stretches several miles to the west. It was dedicated to St. Bridget,='43 and probably its River Bride was called after her. In addi- tion, we may observe, there is a very curious object, called St. Brigid's Stone,''*'^ to be seen at Killinagh, near Bantry, in the county of Cork. This is a five-holed Bullaun rock, containing oval-shaped stones in each cavity. ^'s We find a Saint Brigid's Chair, at Lough Derg. There is an old monument, inscribed with a cross, in the churchyard of Kilbride, county of Wicklow. ^-*^ There is, also, an old stone, with several incised crosses, found at Faughart old church, county Louth. =47 This is called St. Brigid's Stone, owing to some supposed association with her.
Several modern churches, chapels, and religious institutes, have St. Brigid as patroness. The new parochial church of Kilcullen, as we have already seen, has been dedicated to her. In addition, as has been stated, Kildare town has a Catholic church and a nunnery, under her protection. Through- out the diocese of Kildare are other religious edifices, holding her as the
patroness ; but, it is to be regretted, a complete list of her Irish churches and chapels cannot be known. ^'^^ The Catholic church of Kilbride, parish of Dunganstown, not only occupies the site of a very ancient church dedicated to our saint, but, it yet rejoices in her, as its special patroness.
