No More Learning

'
Edited by Rev. Dr.
" And in a note on this obiit, we read,
"" that Corcach-more was the great Corcach
or Marsh, now Cork, the chief city of Mun-
iter. It is also frcquenily called Corcach-
mor-M—umhan, »>. the great Cork of Mun-
ster. " Dr. O'Donovan s "Annals of the rilis vii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 292, 293, and n.
(i). Ibid. » See
656. <ThereisagenealogyofSenanofAchad
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," XX. Januarii, n, 28, p. 150.
Chail, son of in the "Leahhar Ernin,
p. 15, col. i, line 46.
Colgan's
Breac,"
" See his Life, at the 9th of
s See " " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
niae," xv. Januarii. Some illustrations will be met with, in the Appendix ad Acta S. Ila;, cap. ii. , p. 73.
June.
" This is evidently Colgan's meaning,
although he writes, through mistake, tur 9 Aprilis. "
"
cola-
Thus we find the distinct entries in the Franciscan copy : first Senani <\b, and after two other saints occurs Sen Am epi.
'See " Acta . Sanctorum," tomus i. , Ap-
74 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 7.
Liath, from C. ill t-Shenan Liath,? in our ancient Manuscripts. But, we can- not be sure, that any of the foregoing were venerated, on this day. There was
a church of St. Senan, at Kells, in the county of Meath ^
; but,
whether or not
it had connection with the present holy man, or with some one of many other
saints, bearing the name, and found in our Calendars, it might not be safe to
affirm. A St. Senan, a monk of Durrow, is set down, by Colgan, at the 7th
and nth of April,? and he is classed among the disciples of St. Columba. '" The name of Senan, Bishop, is recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal," as having a festival, at this day.
Article IV. —St. Mac Liag, of Doire. We meet with the simple
entry, Mac Liag, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 7th of April. In the last chapter of St. Declan's Acts,^ allusion is made to a Macliegus, a bishop ;
and, Colgan supposes,3 he was venerated, either on the 8th of February,^ or at the present day. He is mentioned, among the disciples of St. Patrick,s although no account of his place is given. We find two Mac Liags, connected with the celebrated Derry, and noted in our Annals. One of these Avas Giolla Mac Liag, the son of Rory, and better known as St. Gelasius, whose festivalhasbeenrecorded,atthe27thofMarch. TherewasanotherGiolla Mac Liag, or Gelasius O'Branain, who succeeded to the government of Derry monastery, on the death of Flahertach O'Brolchain, who died a. d. 1175. The latter Giolla Mac Liag resigned the Abbey, in 1 198 ; nor can we find any fur- ther account, regarding him. * The Bollandists ^ have Macliegus Dorensis,
simply, at the 7th of April. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,^ like- wise, a saint, denominated Mac Liag, of Doire, was venerated, on this day.
Article V. —St. Aedh, of Oilein Reachrann, or of Rathlin
Island, County of Antrim. [Eighth Centuryi\ That Islands should be
the places of residence, chosen by many early Irish missionaries, may be in-
ferred, from the many instances of old ecclesiastical structures thereon, and
from their religious discipline, which was essentially recluse. Other propagan- dists of the faitii founded churches. With the Irish, the church was frequently a
hermitage,andnotaplaceforlargecongregationsofthefaithful. Manyofour primitive churches were known as Cills, Kills, or "Cells. " It improves the evidence in favour of Islands, within and around our shores, having been lone spots, such as anchorites would love, at the introduction of Christianity, rather than marts of trade or nests of pirates, for which they might be fairly taken, if
'In the "Leabhar Breac," p. 20, col. I,
^
gee "Trjas Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap- pendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p.
269.
line 30.
7 See also the
"
Leabhar Breac," p. 21,
col. 4, line 47,
^ See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath,
Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap. v. p.
38.
9 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Ap-
•
Colgan has it misprinted,
3
Februarii. "
ad Acta S. Columbae, chap, x. , num. 105, p. 492. Also, Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbs, cap. v. , sec. ii. , p. 508.
"> See his Life, at the 9th of June.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
96, 97. —' Edited Article IV.
pendix
Rev. Dr.
p. XX. In the Franciscan copy, we find
rilis vii. the Among
656.
*
pretermitted saints, p.
by
See his Life, at the 24th of July.
Kelly,
niAc tiA5 o OAii\e.
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 96, 97.
=
"
The reader is referred to an account of St.
Mac Liac, or Mac Liag, Bishop of Liath- Dromma, or Leitrim, at the 8th day of Feb- ruary.
s See the Life of St. Patrick, chap, xxiv. ,
n. 346.
"^ See "Memoir of the City and North
Western Liberties of Londonderry," Part ii. , sec. 2, p. 29.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Ap-
April 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 75
we looked solely to their position. ' St. Aedh was son of Cairbre, and he be- came abbot of Rechrann monastery. * We read, in the Martyrology of
—
or of
—
The place is now known as Rathlin Island,^ off the northern coast of Antrim.
Donegal,3 that Aedh Oilein*
the Island
was venerated,
on this
day.
It does not appear, that a church had been built there, before a. d. 630. * This
saint appears to have immediately succeeded St. Murghal,? Abbot, who died A. D. 764. St. Aedh did not long survive him ; for, he departed, in the year
768, according to the Annals of the Four Masters, or in 672, according to tho. se of Ulster. The tnie year appears to have been a. d. 773. ' In the year 790,
the shrines of Rathlin were destroyed, by the gentile pirates. ' It is probable, one belonging to this saint, as also, some shrines of his holy predecessors, p)erished. Thus, like the stranded ship, once filled with life and motion, many a house of prayer, in former times, lies lowly and desolate ; while, in contem-
plating its melancholy wreck, with its peculiar and artistic beauty, the visitor's tlioughts are subdued to reverence and prayer, when rejoicing in the living Faith, that survives the ruin of material temples.
Article VI. —St. Brynach, or Brenach, of Carn Engvli, Wales. [Fifth Century. '] His Life, which is to be found in a Manuscript,' belong- ing to the British Museum, has been lately published by Rees. " St. Brynach,
as he is called by the Welsh writers, or Brenach, was an Irishman by birth. 3 Id -Michael Alford's work,* the name of Bemacus Abbas is entered, in his Index, as being among the Saints of Anglia ; but, the reference to his place, in the Annals, finds only a counterpart in omission. The Bollandists s notice him, at the 7th of April, as Abbot Bemacus ; and, they state, that his place of abode was traditionally held to have been, in northern Cambria. But, as not having ascertained the genuineness of his Acts, nor his place in
history, nor having had time to investigate properly liis atltiis, they pass over Bemacus Abbas, for want ofbetter information- He is said to have flourished, before the middle of the fifth century. * This saint performed great miracles. He lived in a solitary spot, on the banks of the Caman, where lie erected a cell and a church. These were encompassed by liilis. 'I'here he served God faithfully, until summoned to his heavenly reward. He often ascended a higii eminence, to enjoy the vision and discourse of Angels. It was afterwards
Articlev. —' Seesomeveryjudiciousre- 377.
marks on this subject, by the Protestant writers of that very elaborate, learned, and
beautifully-illustrated work, " The Channel Islands," by David Thomas Ansted and
Robert Gordon Latham, Part iii. , chap, xiii. , pp. 326, 327.
'See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. viii. , p. 570.
'Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 96, 97.
' According to Colgan, his feast was kept
on the zgih September,
' See "L'Art de Verefier les Dates," tome
L, p. 66, and observations, in n. (m) in Dr. , O'Donovan's "Annals ofthe Four Masters,"
vol. i. , pp. 372, 373.
» . See Colgan's "Trias Thamaturga,"
Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse,
« In a note. Dr. Todd tran. slate it, Aedh of the Island. "
" We
may
Department, Vespasian, A. xiv.
' Sec " Lives of the Cambro-British
says,
5 It is now a parish, in the barony of Car)-, ""
""
and it is described, on the Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Antrim," Sheet I.
' See various records of this place, in Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesiastical Antiqui- tiesofDown,ConnorandDromore. "Appen- dix T, pp.
248 to 450, and Calendar LL, p.
Gwyddle, or Brenach the Irishman. "
* See "Annales Kcclesia; Anglo-Sax-
onicre. " Leodii, 1663, fol.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomusi. , Aprilis
vii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 655.
cap. viii. , p. 510—. Article vi.
' in the Cottonian Classed,
Saints," p. 5.
' The Welsh Triads call him, Brynach
"
'. See Right Rev. Patrick F. Moran's Early Irish Missions," p. 5.
76 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 7.
called the " Mountain of Angels. " It now bears the name Cam Engyli, and it overhangs the Nevern. At its foot was built a church. ? St. Brenach passed out of this world, on the 7th of April. ^ His relics were placed, under the eastern wall of his church. 9
Article VII. —Reputed Festival of St. Sigenius, Scottish Pres- byter AND Abbot, of the Island Helluensis. Treating about the incidents of the reign of Donaldus, the fifty-third King of Scotland, Lesley
declares,' that the foregoing holy man was held in great veneration, by all persons ; yet, that writer does not call him a saint, or blessed, as the Bollan- dists remark, at this dale. = Arnold Wion introduces the name of Sigenius, into his Benedictine Martyrology, as a saint, although not knowing the date for his festival. John Wilson places him, in the English Martyrology, at the 7th of April. Ferrarius, in his General Catalogue of the Saints, followed him. Atthe7thofApril,ThomasDempster3 hasanentry,recordingthefestivalof Sigenius, Abbot. '* He states, likewise, that the Martyrologium Anglicum has a similar commemoration. This festival is given, by David Camerarius,5 in hisScottishEntriesintheKalendar. ^ IntheearlierBreviaryofAberdeen, as also in the ancient Martyrology of Tallagh, there is no mention of Sigenius ; and, therefore, the Bollandists chose to leave him, until more cer- tain authorities could be adduced, for placing him among the recognised saints. In the Anonymous Calendar of our Irish Saints, published by O'SuUivan Beare,? the name of the present holy man appears, as Sigenus,^ at the present date.
Article VIII. —Reputed Festival of St. Brandan, or Brundan, Bishop and Confessor. \Sixth Century. ] In a Manuscript of Florarius, and by the Scholiast on Usuard,' there is a notice of Abbot Brandanus, cele- brated for his voyage, and he is called Bishop, likewise, by Petrus de Natali- bus,° as also, by other writers. 3 His life will be found more fully written, at the 1 6th May, the date usually assigned for his festival.
Article IX. —Reputed Feast of St. Vincent Ferrer, Confessor,
AND a Missionary, in Ireland. \Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries. ] In the Kalendar of an ancient Ambrosian Missal and Breviary, the festival
of this saint is marked, at the 7 th of April ;' but, his Life has been more properly written, for the 5th of this month.
'SeeFenton's"Pembrokeshire,"p. 543.
^ According to the " Martyrologium Aug- licanum. " Second Edition.
5 See Ri^ht Rev. Patrick F. Moran's " Early Irish Missions," p. 6.
=TIius: "7Die. SanctusSigeneiusAbbas Benchorensis monasterii in Insula Hoyensi. "
'
See iiiit. , p. 236.
' See " Historioe Calholicx Ibernice Com-
pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50.
Article vii. rum " lib. iv.
—'
In
" Rerum Scottica-
^ See Fitzsimon's " Henry
» See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Aprilis vii. Among the pretermitted festi-
=
In lib. v. , cap. 117. "
^ See the Bollandists' Acta Sanctorum,"
vals, p. 655.
3 in the "Menologium Scotonmi," we tomus i. , Aprilis vii. Among the preter-
read under this date Sigenii Abbatis. "
:
" In Insulis Scoticis mitted saints, p. 656.
Article ix. — See the Bollandists'
* See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scot- "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis vii. tish Saints," p. 196. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 655.
Catalogus Article viii. — Per Grevenum.
Aliquorum Sanctorum Ibernise. "
April 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 77
Article X—Reputed Festival of St. Celestine I. , Pope and Confessor. \Fourih arid Fifth Centuries. ^ In an ancient Catalogue, and in various Martyrologies, as already noticed on the previous day, the death of Pope St Celestine L, has been set down. '
€ig:f)ti) Bap of 9pnU
ARTICLE I. —ST. CENNFAOLADH, ABBOT OF BANGOR, COUNTY OF DOWN. [SEVENTH AND EIGHTH CENTURIES. }
AMAN, who rendered essential service to the cause of religion, humanity,
and deserves to be a beloved and historic civilization, respected
celebrity. The present holy Abbot had a sensitive and chivalrous feeling, which urged him to labour for the correction of a great social evil, and for the emancipation of women, from a state of degradation, by no means credi-
"
table to the customs or policy of past times. In the
his festival was commemorated, at the 8th of April. '
Feilire" of St. ^ngus, We find Cendfaoladh,
Abbot of Bennchair, at the record, concerning him, in the Martyrology of
Tallagh,' on this date. From the same source, and at the same day, the Bollandists 3 set down, Kinfseladius, Abbas Benchorensis. St. Cennfaoladh
was the grandson to Aedh Breac, according to the Annals of Ulster, and those of the Four Masters. * He became Abbot of Bangor, in the county of Down, most probably soon after the death of Cronan Slacu Caulne, whose departure is variedly placed, at a. d. 686,' 688,* and 690. ' However, it has been stated,* on the authority of Fleming,^ that St. Kennfaelus was Abbot here,soearlyasa. d. 678. TheplacewascalledGreatBangor,bywhichthe early Irish Annalists'" distinguished it from Bangor oftlie Britons," in Wales. It has been stated," that on the present site of the English church,
Article x. —' See the Bollandists' Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 306, 307.
"Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis vii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 655.
5 According to the Annals of Clonmac- noise.
'See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Article —
'
The
is the
I.
with its English translation :—
stanza,
following
t)<ir eriAip inmAfCii\
bamop cuip Achempuil nii\hAeiv4T> UimuticuiiN CentjfAetiT) Mi benoch^m.
" The death of Januarius the martjrr, he was his temple's great tower. Not re-
proached by his family was Cennfaelad, Abbot of Bangor. "
'
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. In the Franciscan copy, we meet with CirrofeAUaT) Ah bean.
' See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis
viii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 740. * See Dr. O'Donovao's '• Annals of the
Four vol. Masters,"
i. , pp. 294, 295,
and n.
Ibid.
1 According to the Annals of Ulster, 'See Archdall's "Monasticum Hibemi-
cum," p. 107.
» At p. 314.
'° The name benntAH^ ino]\ is usually ap-
plied, by them, to this place.
" This is designated by Tighemach,
bentidAm biMconum "Bangor of the Bri-
tons. " See Tighemach, at A. D. 622, 756; and also, the Annals of Ulster, at a. d. 671,
755.
" See Rev. William Reeves' " Ecclesiasti-
cal Antiquities of Down, Connor, and Dro- more," p. 13, and n. (p. ) Ibid.
'^ The foundation of this church is thus
(c. )
78 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 8.
stoodtheancientoneofBeanchuir,orBangor. '3 This,however,seemsto me an inexact location, nor does it accord with the tradition of the inhabi- tants. The situation of the old monastery was undoubtedly within a vale, on either side of which two gentle eminences or ridges of land are to be seen. And its locality well deserved the title of the Vale ofAngels—which accord- ing to the old narrative it formerly bore—as well on account of its beautiful site, as also for the reason, that a numerous band of holy men sung the praises of the Almighty, on the spot, and for a long lapse of ages. In the beginningofthelastcentury,BisliopDeBurgo'• sawsomeruinsofBangor monastery. Immediately adjoining the church, the ruined walls of an old building are even yet shown ; and they lie, partly within the garden of the Rectory, or Glebe House, and partly facing the ornamental grounds of Bangor
Ancient Remains at Bangor, County of Down.
Castle,withinthedemesneenclosure,andnotfarfromitsentrancegate. Those
ruins are situated, about one-half statute mile, from the waters of Bangor Bay. 's
They are partly covered with trees and creeping plants. Although of some extent and height, they appear quite featureless, on the exterior, whence only •the writer had been enabled to obtain a view of them. He was informed, by
an intelligent inhabitant of Bangor who accompanied him,'* that the ancient cemetery extended a considerable distance, from these old walls, into the demense, as could be proved, from the quantity of human bones, removed from time to time, by labourers engaged in effecting improvements. He gave
recorded, by the Four Masters, at the year bernia Dominicana. " Caput Primum Praeam-
— :
version is
:
" oot<jn. 21. focug, bulum, ((5. )
552
ComgAit beti'ocViAip. "
eAcciui\ betrocViai)- p.
And the Latinized " Ecclesia Bennchorensis f—undata
'5 The
accompanying
sketch, taken by the writer, on the spot. This sketch has been drawn on the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and it was engraved by Mrs. Millard.
'*Ontheoccasionofavisitmade,inthe month of June, 1857.
Benchorensem. " Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scripto-
res," tomus iii. , p.