No More Learning

Although some difficulty may be experienced, in determining exactly each particular memorial of the saint, affixed to these several days ; yet the reader is referred to days already mentioned for further notices concerning him. These seem more properly assignable to succeeding pages and volumes ot this work.
Article II. —St. M9N0A or Monua, of Magh-Niadh, In Tuaith- Ratha, now Monea, in Tooraa, C—ounty of Fermanagh. The double
existence that most — persons support
that
they wish to be considered is the source of many faults. To such pre-
tensions we may trace most of our vexations and wretchedness. He is the
Monea Church, Co. Fermanagh.
truly happy man, who forgets that insincerity of action followed by so many, and who remembers only that each is as he appears in the sight of his Creator, and no greater. This was the wisdom of God's true friends. As- signed to this day, in the Martyrologies of Tallagh' and of Donegal,' we find entered, Monoa, Virgin, of Magh-Niadh,3 in Tuaith-ratha. * The place was
»» See Rev. S. Baring- Gould's " Lives of
the Saints," vol. i. , p. 245.
Art. II. —' Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly,
•Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
18, 19.
3 "Gen. mhoighe niadh. " William M.
p. xiv. TheFranciscanversionreadsmonuA Hennessy'sannotation.
TTlAISI TJlAT). < Anglicized Tooraah, " the district of the
is,
what men and what really are,
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 287
identical with Monea,s in Tooraa, county of Fermanagh. * It is now a townland in the parish of Devenish,? and barony of Maheraboy, county Fermanagh. ^ The scenery around Monea is of remarkable richness and beauty; whilewearetoldbyDr. Petrie,thattheoriginalchurchofMonea was situated on an island in Lough Erne, and that an old chapel there, soon after 1630, was converted into a parish church. 9 It is hkely this stands on the site of St. Monoa's religious establishment, which existed at an early date. '° Here probably the virgin lived, died, and was buried in the ceme- tery. " Yet, in our ancient and storied land no tradition of the saint survives.
Article III. —St. Moelisa or Maelisa Ua Brolchain, Patron of Clonmanv Parish, County of Donegal. {Eleventh Century? ^ The lapse of time, the tumults, wars, and changes occurring in Ireland, have left us without a special record of the acts and miracles, attributed to this holy man. He was distinguished, no less by his learning and intellectual acquirements, than by his virtues. ' All the notices which Colgan^' could find regarding St. Maehsa O'Brolchan are to be seen pubHshed by him, at the i6th of January. 3 This author says, he was in possession of some fragments of the saint's writ- ings, and that he knew where others were preserved in Ireland. These were held in high estimation. '* The eulogies of various writers, and even popular tradition, have well preserved his memory in the peninsula of Inishowen, in the extreme northern parts of Ireland. There he seems to have been bom, probably about the commencement of the eleventh century. The Blessed Moelisa O'Brolchan descended from one of the most celebrated among the northern families. The modem name is said to have been Anglicized into Bradley. s Moelisa O'Brolchan was the son of Maelbrigid, son to Dubhinsi, son of Maeldichuo, son to Flann Finn, son of Maeltul, son to Cronn Mastius, who was the son of Suibhne Meann. * This latter was monarch of Ireland
fort. " See " The Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla-na-naomh O'Huidhrin. " Edited by Dr. O'Donovan, n. 136, p. xxii.
5 An interesting legend, relating to this place, will be found in William F. Wake-
man's " Lough Erne, Enniskillen, Belleek, Ballyshannon, and Bundoran," etc.
*In a note to William M. Hennessy's
the old castle and historic notices of this place are there to be found.
'"The accompanying picture, drawn on the spot by William F. Wakeman, was
engraved by A. Appleton.
" " A clear pure air pervades the scene,
In loveliness and awe secure ;
Meet spot to sepulchre a queen — Who in her life was pure. "
copy of the Martyrology of Donegal, he
quotes an Irish commentof Dr. O'Donovan,
and adds a translation. " St. Feber, of this
place, cursed the Sillees River (a b<Mnn
fAibfe), and bequeathed unto it "miATi
eifc , Aruf ox> bAi-bce Ag iaic AnAjATO acquainted with the present saint's parti- AtioiTAti —" ill-luck of fish, and luck of cular locality.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hibemije," xvi. ' See an account of it in Lewis' "Topo- Januarii. Vita B. Moelissae Brolcani, p.
drowning, running against their order. " 3 See
graphical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 458, 459-
108.
* See ibid. , n. 8.
5 In De " Hibernia
will be found on the " Ord-
"Its
nance Survey Townland Maps for the
Dominicana," cap. ix. , p. 252, n. (p), allusion to this name
position
Burgo's
"
Sheets 15, 21. The site of the church and Monea Castle in ruins
will be noticed on Sheet 15.
» See "The Irish Penny Journal," vol. i. ,
No. 30, p. 233. An interesting woodcut of
County of Fermanagh,
of Bradley occurs.
'Such is the pedigree contained in the Book
of Lecain, now preserved in the Royal Irish
Academy, and from wliich Colgan had pro- cured the foregoing account.
Samuel Ferguson's "Cromlech on Howth. "
Article III. — ' See Harris' Ware, vol. "
ii. , Writers of Ireland," p. 67.
*
Our great national hagiologist was well
288 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6.
fromA. D,615to628,7andoursaintwasseventhindescentfromhim. ^ We are told, that the family of O'Brolchains were distinguished in that part of
the country, at a former period ; but that in Colgan's day,9 they had for the most part fallen into obscurity. '"' Dr. O'Donovan says, many of the O'Brol- chain family lived in the counties of Donegal and Londonderry, in his own time, and that he met several of them in the Ulster province, but in an humble rank of life. Yet, they were remarkable for a love of learning and for native intelligence. " The blessed Maelisa is thought to have spent his youth in the monastery of Both-chonais," situated -ynthin the peninsula of Inishowen, and the diocese of Deny. There he not only made very great progress in the way of perfection, but he attained also the very highest dis- tinction in literature and science. The name of this place is now obsolete ;
but there can be little doubt, says Dr. O'Donovan, that Templemoyle,^^ in the parish of Culdaff, in the barony of Inishowen, represents it. In another place, however, he makes the correction that Bothchonais is obviously the
old graveyard in the townland of Binnion, parish of Clonmany, county of
Donegal,'4 His proficiency in the knowledge of antiquities and languages was so remarkable, that he was considered second to no other scholar then in Ireland. His virtues even excelled his erudition, and both were greatly celebrated. Maolisa is called a learned senior of Ireland, a paragon of wisdom and piety, as also versed in poetry, and in both languages. This means, that he was well read both in the Irish and Latin tongues. His wisdom and intellectual gifts were so great, that he wTote books, replete with genius and learning. It was he, we are told, that composed the poem for Michael the Archangel, and which begins,
" O Angel cany, O Michael, very miraculous To the Lord my supplication," &c.
This, however, was not the sole composition attributed to this remarkable saint ; for a monastic rule in verse is extant, and this is said to have been
composed by him. 'S
The patron saint of the parish of Cloncha, in Inishowen,'^ was always
' According to one account. In O'Dono- van's "Annals of the Four Masters," the events of his reign are from A. D. 611 to 623. See vol. i,, pp. 236 to 247.
^
Colgan suspects, however, there must be
an omission of some intermediate grades in
this saint's genealogy. Thus, the Annals of
Senat-mac-Magnus and of Donegal place called Templemoyle and Drumaville. A the death of Flann Finn at A. D. 698. See small cemetery, but without the remains of Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four any building, exists at the former place. Masters," vol. i. , pp. 300, 301. Now the See "Acts of Archbishop Colton in his saint must have been more removed from
him, than by four generations, as Maelisa
died towards the close of the eleventh cen-
tury. Besides the Brolchan, from whom
his family name was derived, is missing Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (d),p. 483. Also
from his genealogy.
9 See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," xvi.
Januarii, nn. i, 4, p. 108.
" Yet there were some learned ecclesi-
astics of the name since Colgan's time.
" See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
vol. ii. , n. (q), p. 722, ibid.
'S A copy is to be found among the
O'Longan Manuscripts belonging to the Royal Irish Academy, vol. viii. It con-
tains 66 quatrains or 264 verses, pp. 99 to 104.
'^ See its situation on the "Ordnance Survey Maps for the County of Donegal," "In English, "Conas's booth," "tent," Sheets i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 11, 12. It contains
Four
nn
and n.
vol. (e), pp. 926 to 929.
Masters,"
ii. ,
(x, y, z),
or " hut. "
'^ Grealiach, which signifies "a miry
place" (East and West), locally well-known as two townlands, in the parish of Clonca, do not appear on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Done-
gal," Sheet 4. There, however, they are
Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, A. D. Mcccxcvii. " Edited by Rev. William Reeves, n. (z), p. 68.
'^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 289
regarded as being the present Mselisa Ua Brolchain. In this parish, there stoodanancientmonastery,knownasTempleMoyle,orTapalMoule. An old graveyard, surrounded by a stone wall, with an iron gate entrance, is found atthisplace. '? WefindrecordedintheMartyrologiesofMarianusO'Gorman and of Donegal,'^ at the i6th day of January, Maelisa Ua Brolchain. On the seventeenth of the calends of February, he resigned his spirit to heaven, as stated in this quatrain :
" On the Seventeenth of the calends of February, The night of fair Fursa's festival,
Died Maelisa Ua Brolchain,
But, however, not of a heavy severe fit. "
This accoimt seems to convey, that he ended life by a process of natural decline, and that he expired without much suffering. It is likely he attained an advanced age. The Annals of Clonmacnoise, at a. d. 1084,^9 have re- corded his death. The year 1086 was that of his decease, according to the
Annals of Ulster and of the Four Masters. ^°
were richly bestowed by the Giver of every good gift.
and learning, his soul was open to the influences of Divine grace, and his rewards
Article IV. —Feast of the Finding of St. Foillan's, St.
Faoillen's,
OR Foelan's Relics, with these of his Companion Martyrs, in Bel-
gium. {Seventh Century. '] At this date, Colgan has devoted his hagiogra- phical work to various prose and metrical accounts' regarding the festival of the discovery of the relics of St. Foillan and of his martyred companions. * We reserve however to the 31st of Octobers this narrative to insert with their acts. The Martyrology of Donegal^ records Faoillen, as being venerated on this day. A very simple, and nearly a similar entry, Foelan, occurs in the Martyrology of Tallagh,5 at the i6th of January. This is intended to indi- cate the feast of St. Foillan's remains being found, after the martyrdom of himself and companions, in the forest of Sonef, in Belgium, a. d. 655 or 656.
Article V. —The Sons of Ailill, of Drum-bairr, County of Fer-
managh. St. Jerome declares, that human nature is disposed to regard the
truthasdistasteful,whilevicesaredeemedpleasures. ' Holypersons,however,
are sure to reverse such opinions.
19,643 acres, and it lies at the most extreme
northern of the of
point barony Inishowen,
The Martyrology of Tallagh* registers
and county of Donegal.
" Inishowen
Januarii. De inventione S. Foillani, Ep. et
M. , pp. 99 to 105.
3 The chief festival of St. Foillan. '
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
18, 19.
5 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii. After
the entry of eight foreign saints, the first entry at this day in the Franciscan copy is
'7 See
Maghtochair's
;
Its
History, Traditions and Antiquities," chap.
xiii. , p. 134.
'^
Edited by Drs, Todd and Reeves, pp. 18, 19.
'9 This, however, according to the learned
Dr. O'Donovan's computatioi\, agrees with the date by the Ulster Annals and by those of the Four Masters. In those of Clonmac- noise we read in addition, that this saint's volumes contained, "many great misteries and new sciences devised
Sci •pAet/Ani. — Article v.
'
himselfe. " See O'Donovan's edition, vol. ii. , pp.
' Edited Rev. Dr. by
"^
924, 925. Article iv.
—
'To these he has added
Vol. I.
u
by
Kelly, p.
Enlightened by study
three chapters of an Appendix.
" See " Acta Sanctorum xvi. Hibemise,"
Secundi Libri "Episto- larum" Hieronymi. Epist. C. " Opera
omnia," tomus i. , p. 278.
xii. The Franciscan copy has ItlAC AiiiA "Oixom
bhAi]\.
290 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6
MacorsonsofAililla,DromaBairr,onthei6thofJanuary. Thisplace was probably identical with DrumlDama,^ formerly known as Finntracht Droma-bairr, or the White Strand of Drumbar, on the north side of Lough Erne, opposite to White Island. We find mentioned, in the Martyrology of Donegal,5 the sons of Ailill, of Drum-bairr, as having a festival on this day. Here are the ruins of some monastic buildings, yet visible, within the deer- park of General Archdall, which lie in the parish of Magheraculmony, in the baronyofLurg,andcountyofFermanagh. ^ TheRev. MervynArchdallhas passed over this place, without any notice, in giving the religious establish- ments of that county.
Article VI. —St. Diarmaid of Airther-Maige, County of Fer- managh. AlthoughthepresentholymanservedGodandtheChurchfaith- fully in his day, his period has not transpired. Diarmaid Mac Mechair is mentioned in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the i6th of January. In addi- tion to his name and parentage, with the designation of his particular locality, we find him entered, on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal. '^ There he is called Diarmaid, son of Meachair, Bishop of Airthear-muighe,^ in Tuaith- ratha. ThisplacewassituatedperhapsinToora,*oneofthethreeterritories constituting the barony of Mageraboy, in the county of Fermanagh. s During life, we may suppose, his manners and conversation had that inexpressible charm which is felt and admired, even when the agency is little understood.
Article VII. —St. Dianoch, Bishop of Domhnach-mor-Muighe-Ene, County Donegal. Old as may be the date for the origin of our saint-
history, as yet we are only in the infancy of its knowledge. Domnach-mor is incorrectly said to have been situated in Magh-ene, a small territory to the south of the River Erne, having its lough to the west and the ocean to the east. In this tract are the ruins of several churches. However, the present church is not known. ' We read in the Martyrology of Donegal,' that Dianach, Bishop of Domhnach-mor-Muighe-Ene, was venerated on this day. Magh- Ene was a plain situated between the Rivers Draves and Erne, in Donegal. 3 Again we meet with the simple entry in the Martyrology of Tallagh,* at the i6thofJanuary,Dianach,BishopofDroma-moir. Thelatterplace,Dromore,
s It is within the parish of Magheracul- 3 William M. Hennessy has identified this money, in the barony of Lurg, and county with Armoy, in the county of Antrim,
of Fermanagh. See Dr. O'Donovan's * See, also, "Proceedings of the Rojral
"Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iv. , n.
(t), pp. 738, 739.
See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
Irish Academy," Irish MSS. series, vol. i. , part i. , nn. 16, 17, p. 85.
s See Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesias- for Fermanagh," Sheet 10. On White Is- tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and
land itself are a graveyard and ruined chapel, and on Davy's Island to the south are the ruins of an abbey.
5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Dromore," n. (t), p. 80.
18, 19. '"
See Lewis' Topographical Dictionary
18, 19.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (e), p. 765, and vol. iii. , n. (m), p. 474.
* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii. The
Franciscan copy givest)i An acVi ep'0]\otnm a nioijv
of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 331. '
Article vi. — Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xii. The Franciscan copy inserts
DiAnniAic rriAC mecliAiiv
'
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 18, 19.
Article vii.
—'See Archdall's "Mo-
nasticon Hibemicum," p. 261, and n. (z z), ibid.
'
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 291
appearstobedistinctfromtheformerDonoughmore. Eitheretymonisap-
pUcable to various and wide-apart places in Ireland ; so that it is difficult to
pronounce on this bishop's exact locality. Under the head of Domhnach-mor
of Magh Ene,s Duald Mac Firbis records Dianach, bishop of that place,^ at
January i6tli. The parish of Donoughmore, barony of Raphoe, county of
Donegal, possibly represents this place. ? The beautiful glebe grounds and churchyard, where stands the modern church, on the northern bank of the
River Finn, indicate most probably the site of this ancient religious settle-
ment. A" well"isnearthe holy
spot. ^
Article VIII. —St. Jarlugh, Jarloga, or Jarnlaig, of Lismore, BishopandAbbot. TheMartyrologyofTallagh^entersJarloga,ofLismoir, at the 1 6th of January. Whether or not he be a distinct person from a
Jarloga, simply so entered there, may be questioned. Jarlugh of Lismor, Bishop and Abbot,^ occurs in the Martyrology of Donegal3 on this day. In the table appended to this work, the saint's name is Latinized or Grecised
HierologusA IntheAnnalsoftheFourMasters,^larnla,AbbotofLis-mor,
"
is said to have died a. d. 698 ; but in the Annals of Ulster the
larnlaig, Abbatis Lismoir," or " Rest of larnlaig. Abbot of Lismore," is entered at A. D. 699. ^ This charming town, situated on the River Blackwater,? is surrounded on every side with scenes of sylvan beauty. Lismore appears above the trees on the south side of the river. Its majestic castle is seated proudly on its throne of rocks, and the slender spire of the cathedral shoots into the liquid sky. ^
Article IX. —St. Cillen. Acts of charity and religion bring many
blessings during life. Cillen is mentioned in the Martyrology of Tallagh,* on the 1 6th of January. Precisely similar is the entry of his name, as we
s See
"
of the
of— Sheet County Donegal," 79.
Proc^dings
Royal
Irish
for the
Article viii.
Academy," Irish MSS. series, vol. i. , part i. ,
pp. 106, 107.
*
William M. Hennessy states, that it has not been as yet identified. See n.
7 There is a townland called Dromore, in
the parish of Donoughmore, barony of Raphoe, county of Donegal. But no traces
'
Series Episcoporum Ecclesise Catholicae, quotquot innotuerunt a Beato Petro Apos- of an old church are here discoverable. In tolo," Eddidit P. Pius Bonifacius Gams,
the same barony, there is a Dromore in the
parish of Clonleigh, and another in that of
Leek. Nor do either of these seem to be
so distinguished. Again, in this same
county, in the barony of Banagh, there is a
Dromore, in the parish of Inver, and ano-
ther, in the parish of Killymard. But in
neither does there appear the trace of an old
church. In the same county still, in the Survey Townland Maps for the County of barony of Kilmacreanan, and parish of Con- Waterford," Sheet 21.
^
v? al, there is a Dromore, but no trace of a
church. The same may be observed of the guide books, J. R. OTlanagan's " Black- Dromore, in the parish of Drumhome, water in Munster," p. 47, The illustrations
of of
barony Tirhugh, county Donegal.