'3 Of
Feidhlimidh
Finn, Dr.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
The Franciscan copy has tugAio
cap. vii. , p. 337.
9 See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of mAc eAcliAi.
vol.
3 See "Acta fessor O'Looney : saints, p. 473,
Meath, xxvi. , p. 147.
i. , chap
Thaumaturga. " Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columba? ,
Ancient and
=* See " Trias Colgan's
Modern,"
" The following extract from the " Leab-
V. I5e. kl. A. W tAtiAmAiM liroAcTi i:iMpii5 eclA Aitioecli
Sci^ve CAin ca]\ c^xeDAn
mochcA
harBreac" of the " copy
cap. x. , num. 74, p. 491.
and its
English translation—, were furnished by Pro- Martii xxiv. Among the pretermitted
Feilire,"
tomus
See
Western Liberties of Londonderry," part ii. , sect. 2, p. 27.
s Chapter i.
* See his
c^e'OAl c^vAibtjech.
Life,
at the
9th
of
June.
"
Memoir of the City and North-
Sanctorum,"
iii. ,
March 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 947
the "
of the calves. " This parish is situated, on the western bank of the River
Foyle, about two miles northward from Lifford,^ in the barony of Raphoe, and
inthecountyofDonegal,? formerlyTyrconnell. Therewasamonasteryof considerable importance,'" in this place. " Marianus O'Gorman and Cathal Maguire have this holy man, in their respective Calendars. " On this day is entered, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal/3 Lughaidh, son to Eochaidh, of Cluain-laogh.
ArticleVI. —St. Fergusa. Atthe24thofMarch,theMartyrologyof
called
Clonleigh,7 meaning
pasturage,"
Tallagh
* records the name
Fergusa,
without
any
further
designation.
Article VII. —Feast of St. Manchan, of Lemanaghan, King's County. In the Martyrology of Donegal,^ we find, that on this day was celebratedafestival,inhonourofManchan,sonofFailbhe. Hedescended from the race of Conall Gulban, son to Niall. There is a church, called Leth-Manchain, in Dealbhna Mac Cochlain, adds the writer. It is now
known as Lemanaghan, a parish in the barony of Garrycastle, King's County. Within five miles of this place, we are told, Manchan's well and station " were
to be seen. 3 This saint has been noticed, already, at the 24th day of January.
Article VIIL—St. Cairlon, or Caorlan, Archbishop of Armagh,
County of Armagh. [^Sixth Century. '] In Colgan's work, there are a few
paragraphs and notes, commemorating this saintly prelate, at the 24th of March. ^ The BoUandists, likewise, have a brief notice of him. ^ He died, atthisday,onwhichourAnnalistsandMartyrologistsrecordhisfeast. The Martyrology of Tallagh 3 merely enters the name, Cairlon, Bishop, at the 24th of Marcli. Marianus O'Gorman, and Cathal Maguire have a notice of his death, on the same day, in their respective Martyrologies. 4 Caorlan, Bishop, of Ard Macha, is set down, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal,? as having a festival at this date. Belonging to the diocese of Armagh, and probably born there,^ this saint was descended from the Hy-Niellan7 or
7 This parish is described, on the " Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Donegal," Sheets 62, 63, 70, 71,
79-
^ " A—d ripam Eurypi, Lochfezhhml nun-
"
cupati? ' Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga. "
Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbas, cap. X. , p. 491.
9 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. iv. , n. (q), pp. H13,
See the Ulster Inquisitions. "
" Also, Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbas, cap.
ii. , num. 53, p. 495.
" See ibid. Quarta Appendix ad Acta S.
Columbse, cap. x. , p. 491.
'3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
86, 87. —
Article vt. Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xix. The Franciscan copy has
and Reeves, pp. 86, 87.
* The Irish word employed for this is
cu|\u|', meaning a station, a pilgrimage, a circuit.
^ Stt, ibid. Appendix to the Introduc-
tion, p. xlv. Article vill. —
1114.
'° "
Archiepiscopo Ardmachano, p. 744.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Martii xxiv. Among the pretermitted
saints, p. 473.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xix. The
V^t^Sr^' —' Article vii.
makes use of these words, in a note
:
'
nise," n. 5, p. 744.
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
84, 85.
* refers to his of the Four Colgan copy
to this statement. When Masters, prove
treating on his death, at the year 587, he
Edited by Drs. Todd
" or " insulated meadow lawn,"
"
Hibernise," Martii xxvi. De S. Cairlano
Franciscan copy has ©pf Caii\Laii.
'
See
Acta Sanctorum
* " Hiber- See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum
" De eo ad eundem annum in Annalibus sic scri-
948 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 24.
O'Niallan family. He flourished at an early period of our history. He was abbot over a community of monks, in this part of the country, about a. d. 546 ; at which time, he was restored to life, by St. Dagseus. This we find recorded, in the latter saint's Acts, at the i8th of August. Cairlan subjected himself and his monastery to the saint, in token of gratitude. But, as a counterpoise, Dagaeus placed himself and his own monastery, under the rule
of our saint, who was called to preside over the Primatial See of Armagh, on the death of Fedlimid Fionn,^ a. d. 577. ^ St. Cairlan ruled over this church,
^°
for a duration of ten years.
according to the Annals of Clonmacnoise, and of the Four Masters ;" or A. D. 588, according to Sir James Ware. Walter Harris notices this difference of year, for which the Rev. Dr. Lanigan " takes him to task ; yet, in his re- marks, the latter writer labours under a mistake, by supposing, that the Four Masters have antedated their events, by one year, in all the earlier centuries. However, in his splendid edition of the Annals of the Four Masters, Dr. O'Donovan has completely set at rest this misapprehension, as may be seen byreferringtohisvolumes. '3 Discrepanciesoccur,nodoubt,betweenthe Four Masters and other ancient annalists in date ; but, these irregularities of chronology are by no means uniformly presented by exact annual differences, and the learned editor when necessary supplies new data, to resolve them. ^* It is remarkable, that the actions of St. Cairlan are little known, although the memory of his sanctity is not left unrecorded, in all our Calendars and Martyrologies.
bunt Quatuor Magistri. Anno Christi 587. jSt" vigessimo Aidi, filii Anmirii, Hibemiae Regis, . S". Cairlanus Episcopus Ardnmcha- nus, de—Hi Niellan oriundus, obiit 24. Martii. " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniaj, xxiv. Marlii. Vita S. Cairlani, n, 4, p. 744. It must be remarked, however, that in Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," at the same year, although we find this saint's death recorded, there is no mention of the place, in which he was born, either in the original Irish, or in the English transla- tion.
7 "This tribe, who furnished so many
9 Although called Abbot of Armagh, ac-
cording to an ancient custom, by our Anna-
lists ; yet is he recognised, as Bishop of
Armagh, by the Psalter of Cashel, and, like-
Avise, in the Catalogue of Primates governing the former See.
" See ibid. , pp. 38, 39.
"
the reason why the same person is some-
to this Prelate, Harris remarks :
Possibly
times called
and sometimes Arch-
" He is set down as Primate in the
Abbot,
bishop of Armagh, may be this : that as
there was a celebrated Abbey at Armagh, the Abbots were often elected into the Archiepiscopal Chair ; and after their election, many fof them have retained the
says :
which
and from thence came to be called Abbots, after their advancement. Or, it may be ; as Abbot, in the Syriack language, signifieth a Father ; so the Archbishop of Armagh may in this sense be called. Abbot, as being the comm—on father of all the Bishops of Ireland. " Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch- bishops of Armagh," p. 38.
'* In O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four
Masters," vol. i. , pp. 212, 213, Caerlan's death is thus recorded: "The age of Christ 587. The twentieth year of Aedh. St. Caerlan, Bishop of Ard-Macha, died on the twenty-fourth day of March. "
name, by
they
were known before
;
This saintly prelate died, in the year 587,
Archbishops to the See of Armagh, were
seatedinthepresentbaronie—sofOneilland, whichCairlanoranyArchbishopofArmagh
in the County of Armagh. " O'Donovan's "AnnalsoftheFourMasters,"vol. i. ,n. (o), p. 327-
^ With regard to the term Abbot, applied
died. Itmerelystatesthenumberofyears,
duringwhicheachofth—emheldtheSee,
"
and gives ten to Cairlan. " Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, i. , n. 4, p. 184.
'3 Of Feidhlimidh Finn, Dr. O'Donovan
" See, O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. , pp. 212, 213, and n. (o). Ibid.
" Referring to Harris' statement, that the Psalter of Cashel places Cairlin's death, in
587 ; Dr. Lanigan says, "had he looked into Tr. Th. , p. 292, where said Psalter is quoted, he could have found that it does not mention the year of the Christian era, in
list of the Archbishops of Armagh given in
the Psalter of Cashel, published by Colgan
in Trias —and in the Bod- Thaum. , p. 293,
Laud. 610. " "Annals of the
leian
MS. ,
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (x), pp. 209, 2io.
—'See "Acta Sanctorum
Article ix.
Hibemias," xxiv. Martii. Vita S. Mochtei, pp. 729 to 737.
March 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 949
Article IX. —St. Mochteus, or Mochta, Bishop of Lugmagh, or Louth. [^Ftfth Century. '] Colgan received the Acts of this saint, taken fromaSalamancanMS. ,andwrittenbysomeunknownauthor. '' Tothesehe has added notes, with an Appendix, comprising five distinct chapters. The Bollandistsnoticehimmerely,atthisdate. ^ Theholyman,weareinformed, drew his first breath in Great Britain, where he gave indications of future ex- cellence. He is classed among St. Patrick's disciples,3 and he was contem- poraneous. He is called Macteus, in the Salamancan copy, from which Colgan takes a considerable portion of his Acts. At this date, we find a festival recorded, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,* to honour Mochta, of Lugh- magh. He lived to a great age ; but, according to some accounts, he died
A. D. 534. Such is the date found, in the Annals of the Four Masters. ^ Another festival to his memory occurs, on the 19th of August, at which day, further notices may be seen, regarding him.
Article X. —St. Maccarthenn, Bishop of Clogher, or supposed
BY SOME to be St. Maccarthenn, Patron of Domnach-mor Muighe-to-
CHUiR,ORDonaghParish,CountyofDonegal. [^ProbablyFifthand
of ^ haselaborateaccountsof March, Colgan
Sixth Atthe Centuries. ]
24th
St. Macarthann, Bishop of Clogher. The Bollandists have only a brief
notice. ^ In the time of St. Patrick, lived two holy sons of Carthenn, or Caerthenn, and by his patronymic, each is usually known, as Mac Carthenn,
'*
or
of Cathal Maguire, and of Donegal, as also in the Calendar of Cashcl, we have two distinct festivals for a St. Maccaerthenn : one feast, at the 24th of March;and,another,atthe15thofAugust. Althoughsomeoftheafore- said authorities seem to refer both festivals to St. Maccaerthenn, Bishop of
Clogher ; yet, others speak more indefinitely, so that Colgan is much inclined to believe, that the feast for the 24th of March belongs exclusively to a St.
Maccarthenn, Bishop, who was left by St. Patrick, in charge of the church of Domnach-mor Muighe-tochuir,3 now known as^Donagh,-* in the barony and
peninsula of Inishowen, county of Donegal. However this may be, at present, the Irish Church celebrates the festival of St. Maccarthen, Bishop of
Clogher, as a Double, at this date, March 24th ; while, in the diocese of Clogher, as the patron, he is honoured with a Double Feast of the First
Class. To obtain more explicit information, on this subject, during the un- certainty now existing, we defer to the 15 th of August, the Life of the latter saint.
Article XI. —Festivals of Bishop Mac Cairthinn and of Mael- DOTUS. TheKalendarofDrummond,"atthe24thofMarch,states: Like- wise, this same day, the Natale of the Holy Confessors, Esco Mac Cairthinn
= See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Article x. —'See "Acta Sanctorum Martii xxiv. Among the pretermitted Hibernise," xxiv. Martii. De S. Macaer-
son of Carthenn. " Now, in the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman,
saints," p. 474.
3 See " Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Ap-
thenno Epis. Clochorensi, with Notes and
Appendix, pp. 737 to 742.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
pendixadActaS. Patricii,cap. xxiii. ,p. 266.
* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xix. To Martii xxiv. Among the pretermitted
the entry of this saint's name, we here find these words appended, " Cumman matris ejus nomen. " In the Franciscan copy, I can only well decipher, mochcA tuj.
5 See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol, i,, pp. 176 to 179.
saints, p. 473.
3 See " Trias Thaumaturga," lib. ii. , cap.
cxxi. , p. 145.
* See/<J2V/. ,n. 175, p. i8i. In the Franciscan
copyofthe Tallagh Martyrology, I read, epf CAi\cen'o, with other obscure words added.
950
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 25.
and Maeldotus. We have no doubt, but the prefix Esco is meant for Easpog or Mac Cairthinn, to whom allusion has been already made. Who
I
Bishop —
Maeldotuswas althoughmostprobably tunity for determining.
an Irish saint
—
we have no
oppor-
Article XII. —Festival of St. Patrick, Archbishop. At the 24th of March, the Kalendar of Drummond^ says: Also the same day, the OctaveofSt. Patrick,Archbishop. Itseemsprobable,thegreatPatronof Ireland is here meant.
Article XIIL—St. Dunchad, or Donat, Abbot of Iona. \Sevmth and Eighth Centuries^ Accounts of this saintly abbot will be found, in Camerarius,* in Colgan,' in the Bollandists,3 in Bishop Forbes,* at the 24th of March; although most writers refer his festival, to the 25th of May,5 where some account of him will be given.
Ctoentp-'fiftft 2Bap of ilarrt.
ARTICLE I. —ST. ENAN, OR ENANUS, OF DRUIM-INDICH, OR DRUMEENY, COUNTY OF ANTRIM.
[PROBABLY IN THE FIFTH OR SIXTH CENTURY. \
the sons of God retire into solitude to please and serve him,
in common or in with the world's sympathy
WHEN
their find
thoughts
little,
concerns. The Bollandists have a brief notice of Enanus. ' His festival was
observed, on the 25th March, under which day, his name and Acts are noticed by Colgan. '' This holy man was son to Muadan ; and, he is sup- posed, by Colgan, to have lived as a monk, under the rule of St. Comgall, at
Bangor,3 who founded a monastery there, about the year 559. * If this sup- position be correct, on one occasion, when St. Comgall, with his own hands, had made a little bed, or coffin, with boards, Enan is said to have exclaimed :
" O holy father, you perform a good work for the brothers, about to rest in this cOfftn. It shall profit them much, in obtaining salvation ; I wish, that I
deserved to
pass
out of the world in it. " St. Comgall
replied :
" It shall
Article xi. —' See Bishop Forbes' Martii xxiv. Among the pretermitted
" Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 8. Article xii. —'See Bishop Forbes'
•'
Article xiii. —' The Scottish Entries,
in the Kalendar of David Camerarius, at
the 24th of March, thus state : St. Duum-
chad or Dumchadus, Abbot of the Island of
Hy, so remarkable for its holy men. He mitted saints, p. 532.
*
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemice," Hy, not without fame for his sanctity and Martii xxv. De S. Enano Confessore, p.
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 8.
328.
s Colgan promised fvirther to notice him,
presided many years over the monastery of
miracles. See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars
of Scottish Saints," p. 236.
' See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xxiv.
747.
3 See the Acts of this saint, at the loth of
May.
• See Dr. " Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. x. ,sect. xii. ,
and
Martii. De S. Dunchado seu Abbate Hiensi, pp. 744 to 746.
Donato, 3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
p. 62,
»(J/</. , n. 66. 199, p.
saints, p. 474.
* See " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
at this day. — Article I.
' See *' Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Martii xxv. Among the preter-
March 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS: 951
happen to thee, brother, as thou desirest, and from this bed thou shalt go to
Heaven. " Itchanced,thatthebrotherwassenttoacertainplace,atsome
distance from Bangor Monastery, and while there he died. By orders of St.
Comgall, his body was brought to the monastery of Bangor. There, after a
lapse of two days, the holy abbot restored him to life ; and, he lived, after-
wards, for many years. This brother often told his companions, what had
beenseenandheard,afterhisdeparture. Astwoangels,sentbyGod,were
conducting him to Heaven, and whilst one of these accompanied him, on
either side, other blessed spirits met them, giving orders to unite the soul of
Enan to his body ; for, St. Comgall had asked from God his restoration to
life, which petition had been granted. Enan lived to an old age subsequently,
and, at the last hour, he passed out of this life, in the bed already mentioned.
Notwithstanding the foregoing account, this saint seems to have been that
person, who is styled in the Calendar of Marianus O'Gorman, " Enanus
egregius, diuturnse quietis, et Muadani filius ;" and, from whose father, a
parish church derived the name Rath-Miiadain, " Arx Muadani," or " the
fort of Muadain. " s Already, some account of this place will be found, in
the notices of Ereclacius, at the 3rd of March. About three perches south-
wards was a burying-ground, locally called Killeena,^ or Killenan, interpreted
*'
the church of Enan," 7 which was long disused, and which was under culti- vation. ^ It is thought, that the church in question very probably was the
"
Ecclesia de Druim-Indich," which the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick states to have been founded by him, in the region of Cathrigia, now known as the barony of Cary, in the county of Antrim. It had been placed, under the care of St. Enan. 9 Now, Druim-Indich may be identical with the modern
Killeena, in the parish of Ramoan, and county of Antrim, according to the opinionofRev.
cap. vii. , p. 337.
9 See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of mAc eAcliAi.
vol.
3 See "Acta fessor O'Looney : saints, p. 473,
Meath, xxvi. , p. 147.
i. , chap
Thaumaturga. " Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columba? ,
Ancient and
=* See " Trias Colgan's
Modern,"
" The following extract from the " Leab-
V. I5e. kl. A. W tAtiAmAiM liroAcTi i:iMpii5 eclA Aitioecli
Sci^ve CAin ca]\ c^xeDAn
mochcA
harBreac" of the " copy
cap. x. , num. 74, p. 491.
and its
English translation—, were furnished by Pro- Martii xxiv. Among the pretermitted
Feilire,"
tomus
See
Western Liberties of Londonderry," part ii. , sect. 2, p. 27.
s Chapter i.
* See his
c^e'OAl c^vAibtjech.
Life,
at the
9th
of
June.
"
Memoir of the City and North-
Sanctorum,"
iii. ,
March 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 947
the "
of the calves. " This parish is situated, on the western bank of the River
Foyle, about two miles northward from Lifford,^ in the barony of Raphoe, and
inthecountyofDonegal,? formerlyTyrconnell. Therewasamonasteryof considerable importance,'" in this place. " Marianus O'Gorman and Cathal Maguire have this holy man, in their respective Calendars. " On this day is entered, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal/3 Lughaidh, son to Eochaidh, of Cluain-laogh.
ArticleVI. —St. Fergusa. Atthe24thofMarch,theMartyrologyof
called
Clonleigh,7 meaning
pasturage,"
Tallagh
* records the name
Fergusa,
without
any
further
designation.
Article VII. —Feast of St. Manchan, of Lemanaghan, King's County. In the Martyrology of Donegal,^ we find, that on this day was celebratedafestival,inhonourofManchan,sonofFailbhe. Hedescended from the race of Conall Gulban, son to Niall. There is a church, called Leth-Manchain, in Dealbhna Mac Cochlain, adds the writer. It is now
known as Lemanaghan, a parish in the barony of Garrycastle, King's County. Within five miles of this place, we are told, Manchan's well and station " were
to be seen. 3 This saint has been noticed, already, at the 24th day of January.
Article VIIL—St. Cairlon, or Caorlan, Archbishop of Armagh,
County of Armagh. [^Sixth Century. '] In Colgan's work, there are a few
paragraphs and notes, commemorating this saintly prelate, at the 24th of March. ^ The BoUandists, likewise, have a brief notice of him. ^ He died, atthisday,onwhichourAnnalistsandMartyrologistsrecordhisfeast. The Martyrology of Tallagh 3 merely enters the name, Cairlon, Bishop, at the 24th of Marcli. Marianus O'Gorman, and Cathal Maguire have a notice of his death, on the same day, in their respective Martyrologies. 4 Caorlan, Bishop, of Ard Macha, is set down, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal,? as having a festival at this date. Belonging to the diocese of Armagh, and probably born there,^ this saint was descended from the Hy-Niellan7 or
7 This parish is described, on the " Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Donegal," Sheets 62, 63, 70, 71,
79-
^ " A—d ripam Eurypi, Lochfezhhml nun-
"
cupati? ' Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga. "
Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbas, cap. X. , p. 491.
9 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. iv. , n. (q), pp. H13,
See the Ulster Inquisitions. "
" Also, Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbas, cap.
ii. , num. 53, p. 495.
" See ibid. Quarta Appendix ad Acta S.
Columbse, cap. x. , p. 491.
'3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
86, 87. —
Article vt. Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xix. The Franciscan copy has
and Reeves, pp. 86, 87.
* The Irish word employed for this is
cu|\u|', meaning a station, a pilgrimage, a circuit.
^ Stt, ibid. Appendix to the Introduc-
tion, p. xlv. Article vill. —
1114.
'° "
Archiepiscopo Ardmachano, p. 744.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Martii xxiv. Among the pretermitted
saints, p. 473.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xix. The
V^t^Sr^' —' Article vii.
makes use of these words, in a note
:
'
nise," n. 5, p. 744.
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
84, 85.
* refers to his of the Four Colgan copy
to this statement. When Masters, prove
treating on his death, at the year 587, he
Edited by Drs. Todd
" or " insulated meadow lawn,"
"
Hibernise," Martii xxvi. De S. Cairlano
Franciscan copy has ©pf Caii\Laii.
'
See
Acta Sanctorum
* " Hiber- See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum
" De eo ad eundem annum in Annalibus sic scri-
948 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 24.
O'Niallan family. He flourished at an early period of our history. He was abbot over a community of monks, in this part of the country, about a. d. 546 ; at which time, he was restored to life, by St. Dagseus. This we find recorded, in the latter saint's Acts, at the i8th of August. Cairlan subjected himself and his monastery to the saint, in token of gratitude. But, as a counterpoise, Dagaeus placed himself and his own monastery, under the rule
of our saint, who was called to preside over the Primatial See of Armagh, on the death of Fedlimid Fionn,^ a. d. 577. ^ St. Cairlan ruled over this church,
^°
for a duration of ten years.
according to the Annals of Clonmacnoise, and of the Four Masters ;" or A. D. 588, according to Sir James Ware. Walter Harris notices this difference of year, for which the Rev. Dr. Lanigan " takes him to task ; yet, in his re- marks, the latter writer labours under a mistake, by supposing, that the Four Masters have antedated their events, by one year, in all the earlier centuries. However, in his splendid edition of the Annals of the Four Masters, Dr. O'Donovan has completely set at rest this misapprehension, as may be seen byreferringtohisvolumes. '3 Discrepanciesoccur,nodoubt,betweenthe Four Masters and other ancient annalists in date ; but, these irregularities of chronology are by no means uniformly presented by exact annual differences, and the learned editor when necessary supplies new data, to resolve them. ^* It is remarkable, that the actions of St. Cairlan are little known, although the memory of his sanctity is not left unrecorded, in all our Calendars and Martyrologies.
bunt Quatuor Magistri. Anno Christi 587. jSt" vigessimo Aidi, filii Anmirii, Hibemiae Regis, . S". Cairlanus Episcopus Ardnmcha- nus, de—Hi Niellan oriundus, obiit 24. Martii. " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniaj, xxiv. Marlii. Vita S. Cairlani, n, 4, p. 744. It must be remarked, however, that in Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," at the same year, although we find this saint's death recorded, there is no mention of the place, in which he was born, either in the original Irish, or in the English transla- tion.
7 "This tribe, who furnished so many
9 Although called Abbot of Armagh, ac-
cording to an ancient custom, by our Anna-
lists ; yet is he recognised, as Bishop of
Armagh, by the Psalter of Cashel, and, like-
Avise, in the Catalogue of Primates governing the former See.
" See ibid. , pp. 38, 39.
"
the reason why the same person is some-
to this Prelate, Harris remarks :
Possibly
times called
and sometimes Arch-
" He is set down as Primate in the
Abbot,
bishop of Armagh, may be this : that as
there was a celebrated Abbey at Armagh, the Abbots were often elected into the Archiepiscopal Chair ; and after their election, many fof them have retained the
says :
which
and from thence came to be called Abbots, after their advancement. Or, it may be ; as Abbot, in the Syriack language, signifieth a Father ; so the Archbishop of Armagh may in this sense be called. Abbot, as being the comm—on father of all the Bishops of Ireland. " Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch- bishops of Armagh," p. 38.
'* In O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four
Masters," vol. i. , pp. 212, 213, Caerlan's death is thus recorded: "The age of Christ 587. The twentieth year of Aedh. St. Caerlan, Bishop of Ard-Macha, died on the twenty-fourth day of March. "
name, by
they
were known before
;
This saintly prelate died, in the year 587,
Archbishops to the See of Armagh, were
seatedinthepresentbaronie—sofOneilland, whichCairlanoranyArchbishopofArmagh
in the County of Armagh. " O'Donovan's "AnnalsoftheFourMasters,"vol. i. ,n. (o), p. 327-
^ With regard to the term Abbot, applied
died. Itmerelystatesthenumberofyears,
duringwhicheachofth—emheldtheSee,
"
and gives ten to Cairlan. " Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, i. , n. 4, p. 184.
'3 Of Feidhlimidh Finn, Dr. O'Donovan
" See, O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. , pp. 212, 213, and n. (o). Ibid.
" Referring to Harris' statement, that the Psalter of Cashel places Cairlin's death, in
587 ; Dr. Lanigan says, "had he looked into Tr. Th. , p. 292, where said Psalter is quoted, he could have found that it does not mention the year of the Christian era, in
list of the Archbishops of Armagh given in
the Psalter of Cashel, published by Colgan
in Trias —and in the Bod- Thaum. , p. 293,
Laud. 610. " "Annals of the
leian
MS. ,
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (x), pp. 209, 2io.
—'See "Acta Sanctorum
Article ix.
Hibemias," xxiv. Martii. Vita S. Mochtei, pp. 729 to 737.
March 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 949
Article IX. —St. Mochteus, or Mochta, Bishop of Lugmagh, or Louth. [^Ftfth Century. '] Colgan received the Acts of this saint, taken fromaSalamancanMS. ,andwrittenbysomeunknownauthor. '' Tothesehe has added notes, with an Appendix, comprising five distinct chapters. The Bollandistsnoticehimmerely,atthisdate. ^ Theholyman,weareinformed, drew his first breath in Great Britain, where he gave indications of future ex- cellence. He is classed among St. Patrick's disciples,3 and he was contem- poraneous. He is called Macteus, in the Salamancan copy, from which Colgan takes a considerable portion of his Acts. At this date, we find a festival recorded, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,* to honour Mochta, of Lugh- magh. He lived to a great age ; but, according to some accounts, he died
A. D. 534. Such is the date found, in the Annals of the Four Masters. ^ Another festival to his memory occurs, on the 19th of August, at which day, further notices may be seen, regarding him.
Article X. —St. Maccarthenn, Bishop of Clogher, or supposed
BY SOME to be St. Maccarthenn, Patron of Domnach-mor Muighe-to-
CHUiR,ORDonaghParish,CountyofDonegal. [^ProbablyFifthand
of ^ haselaborateaccountsof March, Colgan
Sixth Atthe Centuries. ]
24th
St. Macarthann, Bishop of Clogher. The Bollandists have only a brief
notice. ^ In the time of St. Patrick, lived two holy sons of Carthenn, or Caerthenn, and by his patronymic, each is usually known, as Mac Carthenn,
'*
or
of Cathal Maguire, and of Donegal, as also in the Calendar of Cashcl, we have two distinct festivals for a St. Maccaerthenn : one feast, at the 24th of March;and,another,atthe15thofAugust. Althoughsomeoftheafore- said authorities seem to refer both festivals to St. Maccaerthenn, Bishop of
Clogher ; yet, others speak more indefinitely, so that Colgan is much inclined to believe, that the feast for the 24th of March belongs exclusively to a St.
Maccarthenn, Bishop, who was left by St. Patrick, in charge of the church of Domnach-mor Muighe-tochuir,3 now known as^Donagh,-* in the barony and
peninsula of Inishowen, county of Donegal. However this may be, at present, the Irish Church celebrates the festival of St. Maccarthen, Bishop of
Clogher, as a Double, at this date, March 24th ; while, in the diocese of Clogher, as the patron, he is honoured with a Double Feast of the First
Class. To obtain more explicit information, on this subject, during the un- certainty now existing, we defer to the 15 th of August, the Life of the latter saint.
Article XI. —Festivals of Bishop Mac Cairthinn and of Mael- DOTUS. TheKalendarofDrummond,"atthe24thofMarch,states: Like- wise, this same day, the Natale of the Holy Confessors, Esco Mac Cairthinn
= See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Article x. —'See "Acta Sanctorum Martii xxiv. Among the pretermitted Hibernise," xxiv. Martii. De S. Macaer-
son of Carthenn. " Now, in the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman,
saints," p. 474.
3 See " Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Ap-
thenno Epis. Clochorensi, with Notes and
Appendix, pp. 737 to 742.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
pendixadActaS. Patricii,cap. xxiii. ,p. 266.
* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xix. To Martii xxiv. Among the pretermitted
the entry of this saint's name, we here find these words appended, " Cumman matris ejus nomen. " In the Franciscan copy, I can only well decipher, mochcA tuj.
5 See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol, i,, pp. 176 to 179.
saints, p. 473.
3 See " Trias Thaumaturga," lib. ii. , cap.
cxxi. , p. 145.
* See/<J2V/. ,n. 175, p. i8i. In the Franciscan
copyofthe Tallagh Martyrology, I read, epf CAi\cen'o, with other obscure words added.
950
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 25.
and Maeldotus. We have no doubt, but the prefix Esco is meant for Easpog or Mac Cairthinn, to whom allusion has been already made. Who
I
Bishop —
Maeldotuswas althoughmostprobably tunity for determining.
an Irish saint
—
we have no
oppor-
Article XII. —Festival of St. Patrick, Archbishop. At the 24th of March, the Kalendar of Drummond^ says: Also the same day, the OctaveofSt. Patrick,Archbishop. Itseemsprobable,thegreatPatronof Ireland is here meant.
Article XIIL—St. Dunchad, or Donat, Abbot of Iona. \Sevmth and Eighth Centuries^ Accounts of this saintly abbot will be found, in Camerarius,* in Colgan,' in the Bollandists,3 in Bishop Forbes,* at the 24th of March; although most writers refer his festival, to the 25th of May,5 where some account of him will be given.
Ctoentp-'fiftft 2Bap of ilarrt.
ARTICLE I. —ST. ENAN, OR ENANUS, OF DRUIM-INDICH, OR DRUMEENY, COUNTY OF ANTRIM.
[PROBABLY IN THE FIFTH OR SIXTH CENTURY. \
the sons of God retire into solitude to please and serve him,
in common or in with the world's sympathy
WHEN
their find
thoughts
little,
concerns. The Bollandists have a brief notice of Enanus. ' His festival was
observed, on the 25th March, under which day, his name and Acts are noticed by Colgan. '' This holy man was son to Muadan ; and, he is sup- posed, by Colgan, to have lived as a monk, under the rule of St. Comgall, at
Bangor,3 who founded a monastery there, about the year 559. * If this sup- position be correct, on one occasion, when St. Comgall, with his own hands, had made a little bed, or coffin, with boards, Enan is said to have exclaimed :
" O holy father, you perform a good work for the brothers, about to rest in this cOfftn. It shall profit them much, in obtaining salvation ; I wish, that I
deserved to
pass
out of the world in it. " St. Comgall
replied :
" It shall
Article xi. —' See Bishop Forbes' Martii xxiv. Among the pretermitted
" Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 8. Article xii. —'See Bishop Forbes'
•'
Article xiii. —' The Scottish Entries,
in the Kalendar of David Camerarius, at
the 24th of March, thus state : St. Duum-
chad or Dumchadus, Abbot of the Island of
Hy, so remarkable for its holy men. He mitted saints, p. 532.
*
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemice," Hy, not without fame for his sanctity and Martii xxv. De S. Enano Confessore, p.
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 8.
328.
s Colgan promised fvirther to notice him,
presided many years over the monastery of
miracles. See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars
of Scottish Saints," p. 236.
' See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xxiv.
747.
3 See the Acts of this saint, at the loth of
May.
• See Dr. " Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. x. ,sect. xii. ,
and
Martii. De S. Dunchado seu Abbate Hiensi, pp. 744 to 746.
Donato, 3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
p. 62,
»(J/</. , n. 66. 199, p.
saints, p. 474.
* See " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
at this day. — Article I.
' See *' Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Martii xxv. Among the preter-
March 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS: 951
happen to thee, brother, as thou desirest, and from this bed thou shalt go to
Heaven. " Itchanced,thatthebrotherwassenttoacertainplace,atsome
distance from Bangor Monastery, and while there he died. By orders of St.
Comgall, his body was brought to the monastery of Bangor. There, after a
lapse of two days, the holy abbot restored him to life ; and, he lived, after-
wards, for many years. This brother often told his companions, what had
beenseenandheard,afterhisdeparture. Astwoangels,sentbyGod,were
conducting him to Heaven, and whilst one of these accompanied him, on
either side, other blessed spirits met them, giving orders to unite the soul of
Enan to his body ; for, St. Comgall had asked from God his restoration to
life, which petition had been granted. Enan lived to an old age subsequently,
and, at the last hour, he passed out of this life, in the bed already mentioned.
Notwithstanding the foregoing account, this saint seems to have been that
person, who is styled in the Calendar of Marianus O'Gorman, " Enanus
egregius, diuturnse quietis, et Muadani filius ;" and, from whose father, a
parish church derived the name Rath-Miiadain, " Arx Muadani," or " the
fort of Muadain. " s Already, some account of this place will be found, in
the notices of Ereclacius, at the 3rd of March. About three perches south-
wards was a burying-ground, locally called Killeena,^ or Killenan, interpreted
*'
the church of Enan," 7 which was long disused, and which was under culti- vation. ^ It is thought, that the church in question very probably was the
"
Ecclesia de Druim-Indich," which the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick states to have been founded by him, in the region of Cathrigia, now known as the barony of Cary, in the county of Antrim. It had been placed, under the care of St. Enan. 9 Now, Druim-Indich may be identical with the modern
Killeena, in the parish of Ramoan, and county of Antrim, according to the opinionofRev.
