Florentius
at November 7th, a.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
The place, with which he was connected, is called Maigh-Duma.
The BoUandists ^ enter the festival of Crimthanus de Magh-dumha, likewise, at this date.
The etymon Magh Dumha means the " Plain of the Mound.
" It is said to be represented, in modern phraseology, by Moydow,3 or Moydoe, a parishinthebaronyofthesamename,inthecountyofLongford.
^ Thereis also a Moydow townland, in the parish of Kilmeane,^ and barony of Athlone, in the county of Roscommon.
On this day, the Martyrology of Donegal ^ records the name of Cremhthann, of Magh Dumha, as having been venerated.
A Magh Dumha, now called Moy, adjoins Charlemont, on the Tyrone side of the Blackwater.
7 Besides, we find a Moydough, in the parish of Kilfree,^ in the barony of Coolavin, and county of Sligo.
Of this saint's personality, we have no further account.
Article V, St, Strofan or Straffan, of Cluan-Mor, probably Clonmore,CountyofCarlow. TherecordStrofanCluanaMoirisfound, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 23rd of May. The BoUandists^ reiterate this stateijient, by entering the present holy man as Stephanus Cluainmorensis. According to Colgan, a saint called Stephen was venerated, at this date, 3 in a
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. I36> 137. —
Article III. ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. XXV.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 234.
3 In a note. Dr. Todd says, at Faelchu : '•After this name, the more recent hand adds, in Roman characters, ' Suitbrectus, Ma- rian. '"
vol. iii. , n. (r), p. 464. Ibid.
^ This parish is described on the " Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Roscommon, " sheets 40, 41, 42, 43,44. The townland so called is marked on sheets 41, 4'! .
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 136, 137.
'' See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," \ol. 1. , n. (o), p. 492.
^ This parish is defined, on the " Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County Article iv. ' Edited by Rev. Dr. of Sligo," sheets 39, 43, 44, 45, 46. The
•• Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. I36> ^37- —
Kelly, p. XXV.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 234.
townland of Moydough is on sheet 44.
3 It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints,
Townland Maps for the County of Long- ford," sheets 18, 19. Moydow Glebe is marked on sheet 19.
^ See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (x), p. 670. Also,
p. 234.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise,"
xiii. Martii. Vita S. Mocboemoci, n. 17, p.
597.
* See the BoUandists' " Acta Sanctorum,"
— Article v. '
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxv.
^ See "Acta Sandorum," tomus v. ,
553
'
234.
—— —: —
554 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 23.
place called Cluainmhor, which was situated, he says, within the territory ot Ely O'Carroll. Other accounts, however, place his monastery in Lagenia or Leinster. -* There is a celebrated Clonmore, i. e. , "the Great Lawn, or Mea- dow," in the barony of Rathvilly, and county of Carlow. s What he states about this Stephen, Colgan advances, on the testimony of St. Mochemoc's Acts,^whichwehavealreadyrecorded,atthe13thdayofMarch. ? Aholy man of this name is found, where Duald Mac Firbis enters, under the head of Cuil Carra,^ Senach, son of Ecin, with Srafan, and Senchell, and Brodigan 9 —five bishops —and Aitecaem and Bishop Mac Cairthin, and Conlough and Brigid, in Cuil Carra. '° It is doubtful, however, if tlie Srafan here named be the same person as the present saint. We read, again, in the Martyrology of Donegal," that Sraffan, of Cluain-mor, was venerated on this day.
Article VI. Festival of St. Epectinus and Companions, Martyrs. In the " Feilire " of St. yEngus,' there is a festival at the 23rd of May, to commemorate the Martyrdom of Epecthitus,^ and his companions. The Bollandists,3 at this same date, give some records, contained in old Martyr- ologies, regarding these holy Martyrs yet, little seems to be known about
;
them and their Acts. They suffered for the Faith of Christ in Spain. The
Roman Martyrology commemorates them,* at the 23rd of May.
Article VII. St. Nechtlaice, or Xechtlic, Bishop. The name Nechtliacc, Bishop, is venerated, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 23rd ofMay. TheBollandists,^inlikemanner,commemoratedNechtlagiusEpis- copus,atthesamedate; but,wefindnomeansofknowingwhenheflourished, or where he presided over any See. It is entered, likewise, in the Martyr- ology of Donegal,3 that Nechtlic, Bishop, had a festival on this day.
tomus v. , Maii xxiii. Among the preter- mitted saints, p. 234.
5 Mr. John M'Call identifies this place with the present saint.
* See "Acta Sanctorum Hiliernice," xiii. Martii. Vila S. Mochoemoci, cap. xiii. , p. 591.
' 111 the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
^ Coolarn, near Galtrim, county of Meatli. William M. Hennc-sy's note.
9 Five bishops. Only four are men- tioned.
'" See " Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 102, 103.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 136,137- In the copy of that Irish Caleii- dar, lifelong'mg to the Ordnance Survey Ke-
cord, at this date, we find the entiy Si\AfAnn CLuAnAnionx, p. 49.
Article vk—
copy, we have the following Irish text, translated—with a typographical error into English, by \Vhilley Stokes, LL. D. :
pn [t)] I'luAj Cpeccliin
" Epectinus' fair host that is boldest, that is strongest, after suffering with torments, was escorted by angels. "—" I'ransactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. Ixxxi.
^ The scholiast on yEngus notes " Epec- tini. i. [nomen] proprium martiris. " Ibid. , p. Ixxxix.
= See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiii. De SS. Epiciito sive Epitacio, Aptorio, Basilio, et alio Aptono, Martyribus in His- pania pp. 24S, 249.
In the '• Leabliar Breac
"
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints,
136,137. —"
Article viii. ' See Historia Ecclesi-
astica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. vi. , num. 519. p. 2S5.
^ This Patron of Strasburgh has his festi- v. il, at the 7lh of November.
3 Xo gratify the Rev. Father Florentius
^^]* •o^Mui
Id^wei-dT) L,-\hm5]Ut V|\ipn-DleT) loLho^mgLiu.
<\f
T)<Mnj;)iui
-* " In Hispania sanctorum Martyrum Epitacii Episcoi)i et Basilei. "—" Martyrolo- gium Romanum," Decimo Kalendas Junii, p. 73.
Article vii. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxv.
p.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
—
May 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
555
Article VIII. Reputed Feast of Fidelis, a Scottish Hermit. If we are to believe Dempster,' a Scottish hermit, called Fidelis, left his country with the holy men Saints Arbogast, Florentius, Hildulph, and Adeo- datus. He was a disciple of St. Florentius ;^ and, while the latter presided as Bishop over the See of Strasburgh, the former administered its affairs as Archdeacon. Forthisstatement,hecitesuncertainandunnamedTabletsof the Church of Strasburgh, as also the Life of St. Florentius. 3 The Bollan-
— deny, that any account of Fidelis is to be found, in the authorities previously quoted;S noreven,inaveryancientBreviaryoftheChurchofStrasburgh, do they meet with any notice of this hermit ; while, they prefer waiting for some furtlier information, which might possibly be obtained, when treating about St. Florentius, with whose Acts Fidelis may happen to be included. At the 23rd of May, Thomas Dempster also records hi. > feast, in his- " Menolo- gium Scotorum f while, he states, elsewhere, that St. Fidelis flourished a. d. 679,7 probably on no better authority, than the chronology, which places the death of St.
Florentius at November 7th, a. d. 687,^ after an episcopate over
Strasburgh of eight years.
CtDenty. fciurtf) ©ay of |Hap,
ARTICLE I. —ST. SEGINEUS, OR SEGIN, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. SEVENTH CENTURY.
AS first in dignity of those saints, whose names belong to this date, the holy Archprelate Segineus deserves the first notice. The simple entry, Segin, Airdmacha, appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at this day. The Bol- landists ^ enter a festival for Segineus, also, at the 24th of May, on the same authority. There is a St. Segineus, son of Ronan, son to Loarn, son of Fergus, son to Conall Gulban, according to the pedigree of Seluacuis, and the "SanctilogiumGenealogicum. "3 Colganseemstothink,hemayhavebeen the present prelate. ^ This saint is said to have been from Achadh-Claidhibh —rendered Aghaclive—the situation of which does not seem to have been
dists4
—who notice what Dempster and Ferrarius state at the 23rd of May
* Thus: " Territorio Argentinensi natalis Fidelis Eremitoe, qui Sancto Florentio sem- per adh^sit, et eo ad honorem episcopalem assumpto, ipse quoque Archidiaconatum ad- ministravit. B. "—Bishop Forbes' " Ka- lendars of Scottish Saints," p. 200.
? See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum," tomus i. , lib. vi. , num. 519, p.
5 Considering Dempster's character for
veracity, it is quite amusing to read his re-
marks, in reference to his St. Fidelis :
" Errat vero toto coelo Henricus Fitzsinion
Hirl. mdus, qui cumineptissimumet frigidis-
simum catalogum contexuisset, hunc cum Kelly, p. xxv.
Montmorency, Father Godefrid Henschenn had prepared this work for publication, when some relics of St. Florentius had been transferred from the Island to the Jesuits' church. "
•* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 235.
S. Fidolo confudit, qui retate, officio, loco, et cultu longe differunt ; consulet ille ergo ccecus suum oculatissimum Witum, qui cor- nicum oculos configat. "
== See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 270.
^ Cap. i.
285.
** See "A Dictionary of Christian Biogra-
phy, &c. , edited by William Smith, LL. D. , and Henry Wace, M. A. , vol. ii. , p. 541.
Article I. — ' Edited by Rev. Dr.
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 24.
discovered. 5 He was born, probably, about the beginning of the seventh century. Of his earlier years and education we have no account. The com- mentator on the Table subjoined to the Martyrology of Donegal has it stated, that the term of office for Seighin, Bishop of Ardmacha, commenced in the year 641, or 644 ;^ but, this appears to be a date much too early for his in- cumbency. Duringtheyearspecified,ThomainMacRonanwasinposses- sion. When Tomain,7 who ruled over the Church of Armagh as Bishop, died,A. D. 660,^Segineuswaschosentosucceedhim,a. d. 661. 9 Theyears of his Archiepiscopate are periods of sore trial, for in 670,'° and again, in 687," the city of Armagh was consumed by accidental fire. During his pri- macy took place that remarkable eclipse of the sun,'^ in the year 663, '3 fol- lowed by a summer, when the sky seemed to be on fire, and during the Kalends of August, an awful mortality swept off multitudes of the people in Ireland,asalsoinEngland. '» Theyear684,isthatassignedfortheQuiesof Segene, Bishop of Ardmacha, in the " Chronicum Scotorum. "'5 The "Annals of the Four Masters" place his death, at a. d. 686. '^ The Martyrology of Donegalhasita. d. 687,'7andthisagreeswiththeAnnalsofUlster. '^ Segin is said to have governed his diocese twenty-seven years, '9 and to have died, on the 24tli of May, a. d. 688,^° which is the date given for it by Sir James Ware,''' and which an excellent authority pronounces to have been the true year. ^' According to the Martyrology of Donegal,^3 veneration was given on this day to Seighin, Bishop of Ard Macha.
Article II. St, Berchan, of Cluain Caoi. The Martyrology of Tallagh ^ simply enters the name Berchan, Cluna cai, at the 24th of May. St.
556
* See "Trias TIiaumaturfTa," Quarta Ap- pendixadActaS. ColumbK, cap. iii. , num. 38, p. 482, andz7^/rf'. , cap. X. , num. 103, p. 492.
5 See Rev. Robert King's " Memoir Intro- ductory to the Early History of tlie Primacy of Armagh," p. 69.
* See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' edition, pp. 468, 469.
7 See his Life, in the First Volume of this work, at the loth of January, Art. ii.
bernicarumScriptorcs,"tomusiv. "Annales Uhonienses," pp. 54, 55.
'• See James Stuart's "Historical Me- moirs of the City of Armngh," chap, i. , p. 93.
's See William M. Heniiessy's edition, pp. 108, 109.
-6 See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. , pp. 292, 293, and n. (z), ibid.
'? See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' edition, ® See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," pp. 13S, 139.
Septima Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, pars. lu. , p. 294.
9SeeHarris'Ware,vol. i. , "Archbishops of Armagh, "p. 40.
'° The " Annales Ultonienses," however, have 671, for this date, and they also say, that two Mactallii, sons of . Segen, were de- stroyed in it. See Rev. Dr. O'Conors " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 59.
^
'^ See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's •' Rerum Hi- bernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. a. d. DCLXX. xvii. "Annales Uhonienses," p. 64.
'9 The Psalter of Cashel is quoted, by Colgan, for this statement. See " Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, pars, iii. , p. 294.
^° See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , " Arch- bishops of . '\. rmagh," p. 40.
»< See " De Prcesulibus Hibernice Com- " See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , " Archbishops mentarius, a Prima Gentis Hibernicns ad
of Armagh," ji. 40.
" Venerable Bede states, that it occurred,
on the 3rd of May, at the tenth hour, and in the year 664 ; while, tiie Annals of Ulster have it, on the Kalends of May, at the ninth hour, and by astronomical calculation, Archbishop Usshcr finds, that while iJedeis in error, the Ulster Annals are correct. See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 490, 491.
'J See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hi-
P'idem Christianam conversione, ad nostra usque tcmpora," per Jacobum Wareuni, Equitem Auratum, p. 5. Dublinii, a. d. 1665, fol.
- See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (z), p. 293.
'' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 13S, 139.
Article II. — ' Edited by Rev. Dr Kelly, p. xxv.
551
Berchen was son to-^dus,of theNan-desii family, in the county of Waterford. * He belonged to the race ofFiacha Suighdhe,3 son to Feidhlimidh Reacht- mhar, son ofTuathal Teachtmhar. Tlie following pedigree of this saint is given by Colgan : St. Berchan, son of ^d, son to Eochod, son of Fidchar, son to Cathchuon, son of Ossan, son to yEnguss, son of Eugene, surnamed Breac, son to Artchorb, son of Fiach,* as we have already stated. The time, when he flourished, can only be approximately estimated, by a study of his pedigree, which ought to bring him to the sixth or seventh century. The BollandistsS have inserted the feast of Berchanus of Cluain-Caoi, at the 24th of May, as laid down in various Irish records. His exact locality has not been ascer- tained ; but, its modern equivalent in Irish topography may be sought, proba- bly, in one of the many places, called Clonkee o'" Cloonkee, Clonkeenor Cloonkeen. TheoriginalIrishwordCluain-caoinmeansinEnglish"abeau- tiful meadow. "^ This day is registered, in the Martyrology of Donegal,? Ber- chan of Cluain Caoi. In the table,^ postfixed to this Martyrology, his name has been Latinized Barachianus. It is probable, this is the saint, named Mobecce,5intheIntroductiontothiswork,atthe24thofMay. '° Hisme- mory was celebrated in Cluain Chaoi, on this day," but, we know of nothing more concerning him.
Article III.
Article V, St, Strofan or Straffan, of Cluan-Mor, probably Clonmore,CountyofCarlow. TherecordStrofanCluanaMoirisfound, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 23rd of May. The BoUandists^ reiterate this stateijient, by entering the present holy man as Stephanus Cluainmorensis. According to Colgan, a saint called Stephen was venerated, at this date, 3 in a
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. I36> 137. —
Article III. ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. XXV.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 234.
3 In a note. Dr. Todd says, at Faelchu : '•After this name, the more recent hand adds, in Roman characters, ' Suitbrectus, Ma- rian. '"
vol. iii. , n. (r), p. 464. Ibid.
^ This parish is described on the " Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Roscommon, " sheets 40, 41, 42, 43,44. The townland so called is marked on sheets 41, 4'! .
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 136, 137.
'' See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," \ol. 1. , n. (o), p. 492.
^ This parish is defined, on the " Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County Article iv. ' Edited by Rev. Dr. of Sligo," sheets 39, 43, 44, 45, 46. The
•• Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. I36> ^37- —
Kelly, p. XXV.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 234.
townland of Moydough is on sheet 44.
3 It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints,
Townland Maps for the County of Long- ford," sheets 18, 19. Moydow Glebe is marked on sheet 19.
^ See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (x), p. 670. Also,
p. 234.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise,"
xiii. Martii. Vita S. Mocboemoci, n. 17, p.
597.
* See the BoUandists' " Acta Sanctorum,"
— Article v. '
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxv.
^ See "Acta Sandorum," tomus v. ,
553
'
234.
—— —: —
554 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 23.
place called Cluainmhor, which was situated, he says, within the territory ot Ely O'Carroll. Other accounts, however, place his monastery in Lagenia or Leinster. -* There is a celebrated Clonmore, i. e. , "the Great Lawn, or Mea- dow," in the barony of Rathvilly, and county of Carlow. s What he states about this Stephen, Colgan advances, on the testimony of St. Mochemoc's Acts,^whichwehavealreadyrecorded,atthe13thdayofMarch. ? Aholy man of this name is found, where Duald Mac Firbis enters, under the head of Cuil Carra,^ Senach, son of Ecin, with Srafan, and Senchell, and Brodigan 9 —five bishops —and Aitecaem and Bishop Mac Cairthin, and Conlough and Brigid, in Cuil Carra. '° It is doubtful, however, if tlie Srafan here named be the same person as the present saint. We read, again, in the Martyrology of Donegal," that Sraffan, of Cluain-mor, was venerated on this day.
Article VI. Festival of St. Epectinus and Companions, Martyrs. In the " Feilire " of St. yEngus,' there is a festival at the 23rd of May, to commemorate the Martyrdom of Epecthitus,^ and his companions. The Bollandists,3 at this same date, give some records, contained in old Martyr- ologies, regarding these holy Martyrs yet, little seems to be known about
;
them and their Acts. They suffered for the Faith of Christ in Spain. The
Roman Martyrology commemorates them,* at the 23rd of May.
Article VII. St. Nechtlaice, or Xechtlic, Bishop. The name Nechtliacc, Bishop, is venerated, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 23rd ofMay. TheBollandists,^inlikemanner,commemoratedNechtlagiusEpis- copus,atthesamedate; but,wefindnomeansofknowingwhenheflourished, or where he presided over any See. It is entered, likewise, in the Martyr- ology of Donegal,3 that Nechtlic, Bishop, had a festival on this day.
tomus v. , Maii xxiii. Among the preter- mitted saints, p. 234.
5 Mr. John M'Call identifies this place with the present saint.
* See "Acta Sanctorum Hiliernice," xiii. Martii. Vila S. Mochoemoci, cap. xiii. , p. 591.
' 111 the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
^ Coolarn, near Galtrim, county of Meatli. William M. Hennc-sy's note.
9 Five bishops. Only four are men- tioned.
'" See " Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 102, 103.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 136,137- In the copy of that Irish Caleii- dar, lifelong'mg to the Ordnance Survey Ke-
cord, at this date, we find the entiy Si\AfAnn CLuAnAnionx, p. 49.
Article vk—
copy, we have the following Irish text, translated—with a typographical error into English, by \Vhilley Stokes, LL. D. :
pn [t)] I'luAj Cpeccliin
" Epectinus' fair host that is boldest, that is strongest, after suffering with torments, was escorted by angels. "—" I'ransactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. Ixxxi.
^ The scholiast on yEngus notes " Epec- tini. i. [nomen] proprium martiris. " Ibid. , p. Ixxxix.
= See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiii. De SS. Epiciito sive Epitacio, Aptorio, Basilio, et alio Aptono, Martyribus in His- pania pp. 24S, 249.
In the '• Leabliar Breac
"
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints,
136,137. —"
Article viii. ' See Historia Ecclesi-
astica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. vi. , num. 519. p. 2S5.
^ This Patron of Strasburgh has his festi- v. il, at the 7lh of November.
3 Xo gratify the Rev. Father Florentius
^^]* •o^Mui
Id^wei-dT) L,-\hm5]Ut V|\ipn-DleT) loLho^mgLiu.
<\f
T)<Mnj;)iui
-* " In Hispania sanctorum Martyrum Epitacii Episcoi)i et Basilei. "—" Martyrolo- gium Romanum," Decimo Kalendas Junii, p. 73.
Article vii. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxv.
p.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
—
May 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
555
Article VIII. Reputed Feast of Fidelis, a Scottish Hermit. If we are to believe Dempster,' a Scottish hermit, called Fidelis, left his country with the holy men Saints Arbogast, Florentius, Hildulph, and Adeo- datus. He was a disciple of St. Florentius ;^ and, while the latter presided as Bishop over the See of Strasburgh, the former administered its affairs as Archdeacon. Forthisstatement,hecitesuncertainandunnamedTabletsof the Church of Strasburgh, as also the Life of St. Florentius. 3 The Bollan-
— deny, that any account of Fidelis is to be found, in the authorities previously quoted;S noreven,inaveryancientBreviaryoftheChurchofStrasburgh, do they meet with any notice of this hermit ; while, they prefer waiting for some furtlier information, which might possibly be obtained, when treating about St. Florentius, with whose Acts Fidelis may happen to be included. At the 23rd of May, Thomas Dempster also records hi. > feast, in his- " Menolo- gium Scotorum f while, he states, elsewhere, that St. Fidelis flourished a. d. 679,7 probably on no better authority, than the chronology, which places the death of St.
Florentius at November 7th, a. d. 687,^ after an episcopate over
Strasburgh of eight years.
CtDenty. fciurtf) ©ay of |Hap,
ARTICLE I. —ST. SEGINEUS, OR SEGIN, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. SEVENTH CENTURY.
AS first in dignity of those saints, whose names belong to this date, the holy Archprelate Segineus deserves the first notice. The simple entry, Segin, Airdmacha, appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at this day. The Bol- landists ^ enter a festival for Segineus, also, at the 24th of May, on the same authority. There is a St. Segineus, son of Ronan, son to Loarn, son of Fergus, son to Conall Gulban, according to the pedigree of Seluacuis, and the "SanctilogiumGenealogicum. "3 Colganseemstothink,hemayhavebeen the present prelate. ^ This saint is said to have been from Achadh-Claidhibh —rendered Aghaclive—the situation of which does not seem to have been
dists4
—who notice what Dempster and Ferrarius state at the 23rd of May
* Thus: " Territorio Argentinensi natalis Fidelis Eremitoe, qui Sancto Florentio sem- per adh^sit, et eo ad honorem episcopalem assumpto, ipse quoque Archidiaconatum ad- ministravit. B. "—Bishop Forbes' " Ka- lendars of Scottish Saints," p. 200.
? See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum," tomus i. , lib. vi. , num. 519, p.
5 Considering Dempster's character for
veracity, it is quite amusing to read his re-
marks, in reference to his St. Fidelis :
" Errat vero toto coelo Henricus Fitzsinion
Hirl. mdus, qui cumineptissimumet frigidis-
simum catalogum contexuisset, hunc cum Kelly, p. xxv.
Montmorency, Father Godefrid Henschenn had prepared this work for publication, when some relics of St. Florentius had been transferred from the Island to the Jesuits' church. "
•* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 235.
S. Fidolo confudit, qui retate, officio, loco, et cultu longe differunt ; consulet ille ergo ccecus suum oculatissimum Witum, qui cor- nicum oculos configat. "
== See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 270.
^ Cap. i.
285.
** See "A Dictionary of Christian Biogra-
phy, &c. , edited by William Smith, LL. D. , and Henry Wace, M. A. , vol. ii. , p. 541.
Article I. — ' Edited by Rev. Dr.
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 24.
discovered. 5 He was born, probably, about the beginning of the seventh century. Of his earlier years and education we have no account. The com- mentator on the Table subjoined to the Martyrology of Donegal has it stated, that the term of office for Seighin, Bishop of Ardmacha, commenced in the year 641, or 644 ;^ but, this appears to be a date much too early for his in- cumbency. Duringtheyearspecified,ThomainMacRonanwasinposses- sion. When Tomain,7 who ruled over the Church of Armagh as Bishop, died,A. D. 660,^Segineuswaschosentosucceedhim,a. d. 661. 9 Theyears of his Archiepiscopate are periods of sore trial, for in 670,'° and again, in 687," the city of Armagh was consumed by accidental fire. During his pri- macy took place that remarkable eclipse of the sun,'^ in the year 663, '3 fol- lowed by a summer, when the sky seemed to be on fire, and during the Kalends of August, an awful mortality swept off multitudes of the people in Ireland,asalsoinEngland. '» Theyear684,isthatassignedfortheQuiesof Segene, Bishop of Ardmacha, in the " Chronicum Scotorum. "'5 The "Annals of the Four Masters" place his death, at a. d. 686. '^ The Martyrology of Donegalhasita. d. 687,'7andthisagreeswiththeAnnalsofUlster. '^ Segin is said to have governed his diocese twenty-seven years, '9 and to have died, on the 24tli of May, a. d. 688,^° which is the date given for it by Sir James Ware,''' and which an excellent authority pronounces to have been the true year. ^' According to the Martyrology of Donegal,^3 veneration was given on this day to Seighin, Bishop of Ard Macha.
Article II. St, Berchan, of Cluain Caoi. The Martyrology of Tallagh ^ simply enters the name Berchan, Cluna cai, at the 24th of May. St.
556
* See "Trias TIiaumaturfTa," Quarta Ap- pendixadActaS. ColumbK, cap. iii. , num. 38, p. 482, andz7^/rf'. , cap. X. , num. 103, p. 492.
5 See Rev. Robert King's " Memoir Intro- ductory to the Early History of tlie Primacy of Armagh," p. 69.
* See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' edition, pp. 468, 469.
7 See his Life, in the First Volume of this work, at the loth of January, Art. ii.
bernicarumScriptorcs,"tomusiv. "Annales Uhonienses," pp. 54, 55.
'• See James Stuart's "Historical Me- moirs of the City of Armngh," chap, i. , p. 93.
's See William M. Heniiessy's edition, pp. 108, 109.
-6 See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. , pp. 292, 293, and n. (z), ibid.
'? See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' edition, ® See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," pp. 13S, 139.
Septima Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, pars. lu. , p. 294.
9SeeHarris'Ware,vol. i. , "Archbishops of Armagh, "p. 40.
'° The " Annales Ultonienses," however, have 671, for this date, and they also say, that two Mactallii, sons of . Segen, were de- stroyed in it. See Rev. Dr. O'Conors " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 59.
^
'^ See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's •' Rerum Hi- bernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. a. d. DCLXX. xvii. "Annales Uhonienses," p. 64.
'9 The Psalter of Cashel is quoted, by Colgan, for this statement. See " Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, pars, iii. , p. 294.
^° See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , " Arch- bishops of . '\. rmagh," p. 40.
»< See " De Prcesulibus Hibernice Com- " See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , " Archbishops mentarius, a Prima Gentis Hibernicns ad
of Armagh," ji. 40.
" Venerable Bede states, that it occurred,
on the 3rd of May, at the tenth hour, and in the year 664 ; while, tiie Annals of Ulster have it, on the Kalends of May, at the ninth hour, and by astronomical calculation, Archbishop Usshcr finds, that while iJedeis in error, the Ulster Annals are correct. See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 490, 491.
'J See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hi-
P'idem Christianam conversione, ad nostra usque tcmpora," per Jacobum Wareuni, Equitem Auratum, p. 5. Dublinii, a. d. 1665, fol.
- See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (z), p. 293.
'' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 13S, 139.
Article II. — ' Edited by Rev. Dr Kelly, p. xxv.
551
Berchen was son to-^dus,of theNan-desii family, in the county of Waterford. * He belonged to the race ofFiacha Suighdhe,3 son to Feidhlimidh Reacht- mhar, son ofTuathal Teachtmhar. Tlie following pedigree of this saint is given by Colgan : St. Berchan, son of ^d, son to Eochod, son of Fidchar, son to Cathchuon, son of Ossan, son to yEnguss, son of Eugene, surnamed Breac, son to Artchorb, son of Fiach,* as we have already stated. The time, when he flourished, can only be approximately estimated, by a study of his pedigree, which ought to bring him to the sixth or seventh century. The BollandistsS have inserted the feast of Berchanus of Cluain-Caoi, at the 24th of May, as laid down in various Irish records. His exact locality has not been ascer- tained ; but, its modern equivalent in Irish topography may be sought, proba- bly, in one of the many places, called Clonkee o'" Cloonkee, Clonkeenor Cloonkeen. TheoriginalIrishwordCluain-caoinmeansinEnglish"abeau- tiful meadow. "^ This day is registered, in the Martyrology of Donegal,? Ber- chan of Cluain Caoi. In the table,^ postfixed to this Martyrology, his name has been Latinized Barachianus. It is probable, this is the saint, named Mobecce,5intheIntroductiontothiswork,atthe24thofMay. '° Hisme- mory was celebrated in Cluain Chaoi, on this day," but, we know of nothing more concerning him.
Article III.
