Herewearepresentedwitha
map of this small island, having the Caverna Purgatorii" marked upon it.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
'°
See Camden's "Britannia. "
p. 156.
'7 The "
cap. xix. '^
Genealogies
of the Irish
Saints,"
Brecknockshire,
in
Ogygia," pars, ii. ,
By some writers he has been called
or See Camden in his Hualuph, Hauluph.
notes on the "Itinerarium Cambrias," lib. i. ,
cap. 2. This name does not occur among
the Irish, and hence Colgan thinks Hua
Laga, or "descendant of Lagh," should
rather be read ; for the name Lagh, Logh, cognomen of Bracan, the Irish race and
or Lugh, was frequently applied in this island. If, instead of Hauluph, we read Hua Lagh, or Hua Lugh, i. e. , "descendant of Lugh," which seems a very probable rendering, St. Mobeoc or Dabeoc may be considered as be- longing to the chiefs of Leix, in Leinster, thus : Bracan, son of Lugh Longaidh, son
as
district of Bracan would be known as belong- ing to the Ulster province. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," xi. Februarii. Vita S. Canoci, nn. 2, 3, 4, 5, pp. 312, 313.
'9 He belonged to the Dalfiatach race in Ulster.
^°Jones says "either by marriageorbyforce. "
"
to this Lugh Laigseach. If, again,
See the
-' See the " Historic of Cambria, now
Bracan, called the son of Bracha, could be identified
History of Wales," chap, ii. , p. 31.
with the family name of Barrche, or Barraich, our saint might be connected with the race of Barrche, called after Daire, surnamed Barraich. Formerly the Hua Barrche, or Hua-Bartha sept was a powerful one in Leinster. Whatever may be thought of these suggestions, it seems certain that several of Bracan's holy [children had been connected
called Wales : a part of the most famous Yland of Brytaine, written in the Brytish
language above two hundreth yeares past, translated into English by H. Lhoyd, Gen-
tleman ; corrected, augmented, and con- tinued out of Records and best approved authors by David Powel, Doctor in Divi- nitie," p. 20.
with and venerated in various parts of Lein- ster.
conjectures that it might have been the former name of Brechinia, called after Bracan, and which he held in right of ma- ternal descent.
'^ By Rev. John F. Shearman, C. C, of Howth.
'3 He descended from the Rudrician race of Ulster.
'» By Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin.
'5 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 124, 125, and n. (w) ibid.
" Gortmathrin, in Irish, means "a
observes that if we
Luainim was the name of Bracan's father, and that if Braca or Dibracha, who is called his father,
Colgan
say
were considered his grandfather, or, at least,
that Luainim— might happen
—were a
January l]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
n
to enable them to show the faith of Christ to the Kymry nation, where they had been without faith. "
Besides the numerous band of St. Dabeoc's holy brothers, the following names of his sisters have been recorded by approved authors. The first- named of Bracan's daughters is the blessed Gladusa,^3the wife of St. Gundleus j^^
the second is Melaria, or Nonnita, mother of St. David, Archbishop of Mene- •
via^s thethirdisthecelebratedvirgin,St. Keynef^thefourthisSt. Almeda, or Elmetha f^ the fifth is St. Nennoca, Virgin and Abbess of Len-Nennoch, in Armoric Britain f^ the sixth is St. Carennia, or Canneria,^9 Abbess of Kill- charenne, or Kill-channere ; while the seventh is Tydwael,3° the wife of Congen, son to Caddell, Prince of Powis. If there were other sisters they appear to have been less celebrated, and their names have not come under our notice.
Digna, Dina, or Din, daughter to a Saxon king, was St. Dabhoeg's mother. 3' She was the parent of many other saints. Then follows their enumeration -^^ how she was mother, namely, to Mogoroc, of Sruthair j33 to Mo[chonog],34 pilgrim, of Gill Mucraissi ;35 to Diraidh, of Eadardrum ;36 to Dubhan, of Rinn-Dubhain,37 pilgrim j38 to Cairinne,39 of Cill-Cairinne ;'*° to
Cairbre, pilgrim,
'^' founder of
Kill-Chairpre,
Isiol Faranain
;42
to
Jast,
of
=« See Woodward's "History of Wales,"
own, independently of their holy lineage. "
3° She was mother to Brochmael, sumamed
Scithroch, who killed Ethelfred, of the King
Northumbrians, and who defeated his army about the year 603. See "Giraldus Cam-
brensis'ItinerariumCambrise,"lib. i. , cap. ii. , in notis.
3' St. the Culdee, makes Din the ^ngus,
mother of ten holy sons by Bracan, lib. iv. ,
cap. 76.
3^ Her family and descent do not seem to
have been discovered.
33 See some account of this saint, but for a
*' He is also said to have
part, i. , chap. vi. :
had twenty-four sons and twenty-five daugh- ters, several of whom are recorded in the long list of Welsh saints for graces of their
See
=3 Mother of St. Cadoc, Aboot. See
Capgrave and John of Teignmouth, in the " Legends of the British Saints. "
^'' King of the southern Britons, and after- wards a hermit.
*s See the life of this holy man at the ist
of March. It will thus be found that he
wasthe of and nephew many very saintly
renowned uncles and aunts.
^ Her Acts occur at the 8th of Octo-
ber.
^ She was a holy virgin and martyr. A church was erected to her memory, on the summit of a hill, not far from the principal town of Aberhodni, in the province of Bre- chinoc. See ' ' Giraldus Cambrensis' Itiner- arium Cambrise/' lib. i. , cap. i.
^^ Her feast occurs at the 4th of June. See "Albertus le Grand, De Vitis Sancto- rum Britannicae Armoricse. "
pp.
80, 81, ibid.
^ This name seems to be resolvable into ''"
Donegal Martyro- logy" is torn, and the latter part of the name is defective. The defect is supplied, however, from December 19th, while Dr. Todd refers for comparison to December
23rd.
35 A notice of this saint occurs at the iSth
of November.
3^ A notice of this saint occurs at the 13th
of January.
37 Now Hook Point, county of Wex-
ford.
3^ See a notice of him at the nth of
February.
39 This Cairinn, Carennia, or Caneria, was
a female saint, and a sister to all the other brothers here enumerated.
4°SaidtobenearWexford. Forillustra-
tions of these notes, and for other interesting
notices regarding the present saint's genea- logy, the writer feels greatly indebted to the
Rev. J. F. Shearman, C. C, Howth.
"*' Colgansupposeshisfeasttohavebeen held on the 1st of November. See notices
at that date.
'^ Colgan thinks this Isiol Faranain may
be identical with Aill Farannain in Tirfiacha, Connaught.
Cainder. In the Martyrology of Donegal, edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, there is a
St. Cainder, daughter of Cruithneachan, venerated at the 28th of January, and a Cainder, daughter of Caelan, venerated at the 5th of November. See pp. 28, 29, 298, 299. While acknowledging the name of Carennia, used among the Irish, has not beenfoundamongoursaints,Colgan,think- ing Canneria to be the correct reading, tells us that in the Irish Festilogies there are three holy virgins so called, and venerated
respectively at the 28th of January, at the 1 2th of June, and at the 5th of October.
different place, at the 23rd of December.
34 At this word, Mochonog, the original
MS. ofthe " published
14 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i.
Slemhna, in Alba ;43 to EUoc, of Cill MocUoc ;44 to Paan, of Cill Phaain,45 in Ossory ; and to Caomhan,^^ pilgrim, of Cill Chaomhain. 47 From the
parentage of Saint Beoc, or Dabeoc, it is just to conclude that Irish, Saxon, and Cymric blood flowed in his veins. By race, if not by birth, he was a Cambro-Briton. HeseemstohaveflourishedaboutthetimeofSt. Patrick, or, at least, not very long after him ; since Mobeoc is said to have foretold
many things regarding the sanctity and merits of the great St. Columkille, and that, too, many years before the birth of this latter illustrious man. '^^ Perhaps, too, it may be allowed that those dreadful contestsis which were waged against the Cambro-Britains,5° from the middle to the close of the fifth century,s^ may have influe—nced so many of the holy sons of Bracan to seek a peaceful refuge in Ireland the country of their kindred, and the cradle of their paternal race.
CHAPTER 11.
ARRIVAL OF ST. BEOC, OR DABEOC, IN IRELAND—SITUATION AND DESCRIPTION OF LOUGH DERG—AUSTERITIES AND PROPHECY OF ST. DABEOC—HIS DEATH—TEARMON DABHEOG—CONCLUSION.
In the "Martyrology of Tallagh"^ we find this insertion : Aedh, Lochagerg, alias Daibheog. We may take it for granted that this saint lived probably about the close of the fifth or the beginning of the sixth century. It is likely hecameoverfromWales; whetheraloneorwithsomeofhisfamilydoesnot appear. Probably he landed at first on the eastern or south-eastern coast of Ireland. Thence he travelled northwards, and he appears to have taken pos- session of a lonely island, which was situated within a lake of some extent amongthewildsofDonegal. Afterwards,itbecameveryfamousasaplace forpilgrimages. WhiletheSaxonsextendedtheirconquestsovertheBritons,^ here the saint appears to have found a quiet retreat.
In a wild and romantic district of Templecam parish, within the barony
of Tirhugh, and county of Donegal, the pilgrim or tourist will find the spread- ing waters of renowned Lough Derg, with its three separate islands. 3 The largest of these was known as the Island of St. Dabeoc* Probably it
3SeenoticesofSt. — — Justus supposed by
so gee the
of written "History Wales,"
Colgan to have been the present Jast 29th of July.
''4 There are notices of a saint
name at the 7th of March, and there appears to have been a homonymous one at the 24th of July.
Nothing ap- pears to have transpired regarding this saint, unless he be identical with one Mophiog, venerated on the i6th of December, accord-
ing to Marianus O'Gorman.
'^^ See the Acts of St. Coeman, or Mochoe-
moe, at the 3rd of November.
^7 See "Calendar of the Saints of Ireland,"
edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. 3.
f' See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xi. Februarii. VitaS. Canoci, n. 22,
"
of
ii. Also that reliable work, Sharon Turner's
"History of the Anglo Saxons," vol. i. , book iii. , chap, i. , ii.
of Llan-
''S Now known as Kilfane.
;
Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford, &c. , pp. i to 8.
SI These contests are very graphically de-
P- 314- '•s See
Jones's
History
Wales," chap.
the "Saxon Chronicle," with an English translation and notes, critical and explana-
tory, edited by the Rev. J. Ingram, B. D. , pp. 141021.
3 See Archdall's " Monasticon Hibemi-
cum," pp. 102, 103.
* By others it was called the Island of St.
Fintan, and the Island of Saints, according to one account.
bearing
this
augmented by
Wynne,
at the
in
translated into English by Dr.
Welsh, by Caradoc, Powell and W.
originally carvan ;
scribed in "Woodward's of History
Wales,"
part i. , chap. —vii.
Chap. 11.
'
Edited the Rev, Dr. by
In the Franciscan copy, we can only make out "-A . . . LochA^ep^"
Kelly, p. xi.
at the same date,
=*
See that valuable illustrated edition of
January i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 15
was so called because there he had been the first founder of a religious estab- lishment. ^ However, Dabeoc had always been regarded as the patron
of this place. There, also, three festivals were annually held in his honour,^ namely, on the ist of January, on the 24th of July, and on the i6th of Decem- ber. ? His name is Latinized Dabeocus, and he is frequently called Beanus. ^
A very interesting account of the Island of St. Dabeoc,9 in Lough Derg, or the Red Lake—by some writers called Logh-gerg—is given by Sir James Ware. ^° Tothisanengravingisappended.
Herewearepresentedwitha map of this small island, having the Caverna Purgatorii" marked upon it. '^ This is centrally situated, while surrounded by a church, houses, and circles or stations dedicated to various saints. '3 One of the circles is called " Lectus velCirculusS. Abogi. " Bymistakeormisprintthislatterwordmusthave been intended for Dabhogi or Dabheog.
Ataveryearlydate,thissaintlivedontheisland; butforwhattermof
life does not seem to have been ascertained.
in our ancient annals. We in the " read,
Few notices of the place occur
of that Martyrology Donegal,"'^
Dabheog belonged to Lough Geirg or Loch-gerc, in Ulster. At the eastern extremity of that lake were to be found Patrick's Purgatory's and
Dabheog's Island. '^ Also a monastery of St. Augustine's Order, in which there were canons, stood at the western extremity of this same lake. It is said to have derived its origin from our saint, and to have been dedicated to the holy Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul. It seems likely that the austere manner of hfe practised by St. Dabeoc on his island, gave rise to the frequent pilgrimages for penitential exercises at a later time. According to St. Cummin of Connor, in the following t—ranslation from his Irish poem on the characteristic
virtues of the Irish Saints
:
Mobeog, the gifted, loved,
According to the Synod of the learned, That often in bowing his head,
He plunged it under water. "''
Whether or not St. Patrick had any acquaintance with St. Dabeoc can hardly be discovered. But, we are told, while the latter, with his clerics, lived
s——" whichhe By some probably from the connexion on St. Patrick's Purgatory," in
of his name with this locality St. Patrick is regarded as founder. See "Harris'
it
treats of the stories current about during
the Middle Ages. It was published in 1844. '3 For a view and description of this island the reader may consult J. B. Doyle's "Tours
in Ulster," chap, xix. , pp. 359 to 367.
"* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. 2. 'S in a memorandum description of this
place, weare toldbyacertain writerthat there were five beds of hard penance there, round
which pilgrims went, in the early part of the seventeenth century. Some of those were named the Bed of Patrick, the Bed of Colum- kille, the Bed of Brigit, the Bed of Adan- nan, and the Bed of Dabeog. This was the testimony of Fergal. But a certain writer
that he saw but two beds there—, viz. ,
Ware," vol. ii.
"
Antiquities of Ireland,"
chap, xxxviii. , p. 265. *"
According to the Martyrologies of Tallagh," of " Marianus O'Gorman," of " Cathal Maguire," and of "Donegal. "
7 Richardson's "Folly of Pilgrimages. " This work, worthless for its theme, yet sup- plies a hiatus for the historian's purpose.
^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise. " xi. Februarii. Vita S. Canoci, n. 22, p. 313.
9 Otherwise incorrectly designated Avogi
(Abogi) ? '°
See"AntiquitatesHibemiae,"cap. xxvi. , pp. 189 to 192.
says
Patrick's and Colum's. It is added
" According to some writers, the origin of St. Patrick's Purgatory has reference to
days then altogether ;
"
:
a pilgrimage during The baking of bread See Drs. Todd's and
"
the great Irish Apostle, while others assign
it to Abbot Patrick, venerated at the 24th
of August. See Wills' "Lives of Illus- Reeves'
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , parti. , secondseries,p. 224.
'- T. Wright has written an octavo work
'*
was a certain Miles, named Owen. See
"48 [hours] without food, without drink, nine
the day and prayers. must be without salt.
"
pendix to Introduction, p. xi.
Martyrology of Donegak" Ap-
The first person entering this Purgatory
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January i.
on the island, and when his vigils had been protracted to a late hour one night, a wonderful brightness appeared towards the northern part of the hori-
"
zon. The clerics asked their master what it portended.
In that direction,
whence you have seen the brilliant illumination," said Dabeog, *'the Lord
himself, at a future time, shall light a shining lamp, which, by its brightness,
must miraculously glorify the Church of Christ. This shall be Columba, the son of FeidUmid, son of Fergus, and whose mother will be Ethnea. For learning he shall be distinguished ; in body and soul shall he be chaste ; and he shall possess the gifts of prophecy. "'^
It is stated—but on very insufficient authority's—that St, Dabeoc made
his religious house subject to the great Abbey of Armagh. On the island, too, there was a fine chapel, and convenient houses for the monks, the remains
of which were to be seen before the last century, according to local tradition. St. Dabeoc is reputed to have been there, and the subsequent stories about this island on Lough Derg are fiill of traditional and historic interest.
The possessions of the original monastery probably gave rise to the de- nomiaation of Tearmon Dabheog, which lay on both sides and near
"
The Magraths were the hereditary termoners or custodians of the church
lands, known as the Termon of St. Daveog,^' at Lough Derg. ^=^ Their ruined
castle of Termon Magtath, or Termon, as it is more usually called, is popu-
larly believed to have been built by Malmmry, or Myler Magrath. ^3 It is situated at the northern extremity of Lough Erne, about half a mile west of
thepleasantlittletownPettigoe,inthecoimtyofDonegal. Likemostedi- fices of the kind, erected in the sixteenth century, it consisted of a strong and massive keep, with circular towers at two of its angles, and encompassed by outworks. The scenery in the immediate vicinity of the castle is very beautiful. With the plantations of Templecam glebe, and with those of Waterfoot,^^ the lake shores are most delightfully fiinged. Thus part we, at present, from the patient, if not discriminating, ordeal of investigation into the present sainfs historical range so remote from our own. Yet, no period or age has sped without exerting some tangible influences on the state of society we inherit. The very aspect of holiness lingers still aroimd the scenes where the saints loved to dwell.
Article III. —St. Ossene, or Oissein, son to Ceallach, of Clonmore, County of Louth. \Sixth Century. '] The fortunate preservation of a less distinguished sainfs name with that of another greatly renowned often deter- mines the date in history of both, and heightens an interest felt in the less
Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix Sexta ad Acta S. Patricii, pp. 273 to 284,
'7 See Dr. Kelly's "Calendar of Irish Saints. " Appendix p. 169.
'^ See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Vita S, Columbse. Lib. i. , cap.
far-famed Lough Derg and its pilgrimages will be foimd in the " Illustrated Handbook
of the Scenery and Antiquities of South- WesternDonegal. " Itiswritteninaracy
and very agreeable style. The authorship is ascribed to a patriotic, an amiable, and an
accomphshed Parish Priest, long residing in the districts described.
^3 gee the " Illustrated Dublin Journal," vol. i. , no. 10, p. 153.
=4 There is a wood engraving of these
beautiful objects, with a description by Dr. Petrie, in the "Irish Penny Journal," vol. i.
^- PP- 390, 391- " '9 Richardson's
Folly of Pilgrimages. " *° See R. D. Joyce's Ballads, Romances,
and Songs. "The Pilgrim," p. 137. =' Named after this saint.
="
Among many places of great interest in the northern province, descriptions of this
Grey, holy Derg of the lake. "*'
January i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 17
known contemporary. Both published^ and unpublished' copies of the Tallagh Martyrology assign the ist day of January as a festival to Ossene, of CluanaMor. Thisisthenameofaparishandtownlandintheancientterritory of Cianachta Arda, It is known as Clonmore, in the present barony of Ferrard, county of Louth. 3 Ossein, son to Ceallach, of Cluainmor-Fer-n
Arda, according to the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Donegal,* was venerated on this day. This saint flourished at an early period, since St.
Columkille founded or repaired Cluain-mor-fernarda, in the territory of Bregia,
and placed St. Ossin, or Osseneus over it. s
. ^. ;a-i,i .
At the present time, the ruins of an old church are within an enclosed
cemetery beside the high road, and
these are probably on the actual site
of St. Ossene's more ancient reli-
--^^-^^ > ^^'^^^"^^^^^ Z^
establish- ment. About
thirty years ago, the most dilapi-
dated
were repaired with modem masonry. ^ The nave alone remains, and its walls are thickly covered with ivy. A belfry seems to have surmounted the western gable, while the choir gable and a finely- turned arch re- main. Portions
of the choir walls
gious
portions
were considerably
over ground with-
in the memory of
persons yet living,
but they are now
levelled to the
very foundations.
measures seventeen feet in width ; the walls averaged two feet nine inches in
Art. III. - -• Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, Ancient and Modem," vol. i. , chap, xxi. , p.
See
visible in the Franciscan copy.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (o) p. 441.
•» EditedbyDrs. ToddandReeves,p. 2.
p.
Church ruins at_Clonmore.
This church was fully seventy feet in length,? and the nave
xi. 127. Also Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," ^ The words Offene mo^ are only Vita Quinta S. Columbae, lib. i. , p. Ixv. ,
circularly-headedwindowfiguredintheac- A similar entry is in the Irish Calendar, companying engraving, is altogether of
R. I. A.
s See Rev. A. Cogan's' "Diocese of Meath. 1 During the year 1836, when the old ruins
Vol. I.
C
p. 400, and n. 65, p. 450, and cap. x. , p. 492. Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae.
* The doorway, under the square-headed
modern introduction.
i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January i.
thickness. ^ Nooldmonumentsaretobeseenatpresentinthecemetery;but
some interesting objects of antiquity are in the locality immediately sur-
rounding it. 9
We can scarcely doubt there had been a sufficient endowment for the
Church of Clonmore after the time of St. Ossene, for in a. d. 826 the death
"
Annals of the Four Masters. "'° Here it is likely for some years, about the middle of the sixth century, the life of St.
See Camden's "Britannia. "
p. 156.
'7 The "
cap. xix. '^
Genealogies
of the Irish
Saints,"
Brecknockshire,
in
Ogygia," pars, ii. ,
By some writers he has been called
or See Camden in his Hualuph, Hauluph.
notes on the "Itinerarium Cambrias," lib. i. ,
cap. 2. This name does not occur among
the Irish, and hence Colgan thinks Hua
Laga, or "descendant of Lagh," should
rather be read ; for the name Lagh, Logh, cognomen of Bracan, the Irish race and
or Lugh, was frequently applied in this island. If, instead of Hauluph, we read Hua Lagh, or Hua Lugh, i. e. , "descendant of Lugh," which seems a very probable rendering, St. Mobeoc or Dabeoc may be considered as be- longing to the chiefs of Leix, in Leinster, thus : Bracan, son of Lugh Longaidh, son
as
district of Bracan would be known as belong- ing to the Ulster province. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," xi. Februarii. Vita S. Canoci, nn. 2, 3, 4, 5, pp. 312, 313.
'9 He belonged to the Dalfiatach race in Ulster.
^°Jones says "either by marriageorbyforce. "
"
to this Lugh Laigseach. If, again,
See the
-' See the " Historic of Cambria, now
Bracan, called the son of Bracha, could be identified
History of Wales," chap, ii. , p. 31.
with the family name of Barrche, or Barraich, our saint might be connected with the race of Barrche, called after Daire, surnamed Barraich. Formerly the Hua Barrche, or Hua-Bartha sept was a powerful one in Leinster. Whatever may be thought of these suggestions, it seems certain that several of Bracan's holy [children had been connected
called Wales : a part of the most famous Yland of Brytaine, written in the Brytish
language above two hundreth yeares past, translated into English by H. Lhoyd, Gen-
tleman ; corrected, augmented, and con- tinued out of Records and best approved authors by David Powel, Doctor in Divi- nitie," p. 20.
with and venerated in various parts of Lein- ster.
conjectures that it might have been the former name of Brechinia, called after Bracan, and which he held in right of ma- ternal descent.
'^ By Rev. John F. Shearman, C. C, of Howth.
'3 He descended from the Rudrician race of Ulster.
'» By Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin.
'5 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 124, 125, and n. (w) ibid.
" Gortmathrin, in Irish, means "a
observes that if we
Luainim was the name of Bracan's father, and that if Braca or Dibracha, who is called his father,
Colgan
say
were considered his grandfather, or, at least,
that Luainim— might happen
—were a
January l]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
n
to enable them to show the faith of Christ to the Kymry nation, where they had been without faith. "
Besides the numerous band of St. Dabeoc's holy brothers, the following names of his sisters have been recorded by approved authors. The first- named of Bracan's daughters is the blessed Gladusa,^3the wife of St. Gundleus j^^
the second is Melaria, or Nonnita, mother of St. David, Archbishop of Mene- •
via^s thethirdisthecelebratedvirgin,St. Keynef^thefourthisSt. Almeda, or Elmetha f^ the fifth is St. Nennoca, Virgin and Abbess of Len-Nennoch, in Armoric Britain f^ the sixth is St. Carennia, or Canneria,^9 Abbess of Kill- charenne, or Kill-channere ; while the seventh is Tydwael,3° the wife of Congen, son to Caddell, Prince of Powis. If there were other sisters they appear to have been less celebrated, and their names have not come under our notice.
Digna, Dina, or Din, daughter to a Saxon king, was St. Dabhoeg's mother. 3' She was the parent of many other saints. Then follows their enumeration -^^ how she was mother, namely, to Mogoroc, of Sruthair j33 to Mo[chonog],34 pilgrim, of Gill Mucraissi ;35 to Diraidh, of Eadardrum ;36 to Dubhan, of Rinn-Dubhain,37 pilgrim j38 to Cairinne,39 of Cill-Cairinne ;'*° to
Cairbre, pilgrim,
'^' founder of
Kill-Chairpre,
Isiol Faranain
;42
to
Jast,
of
=« See Woodward's "History of Wales,"
own, independently of their holy lineage. "
3° She was mother to Brochmael, sumamed
Scithroch, who killed Ethelfred, of the King
Northumbrians, and who defeated his army about the year 603. See "Giraldus Cam-
brensis'ItinerariumCambrise,"lib. i. , cap. ii. , in notis.
3' St. the Culdee, makes Din the ^ngus,
mother of ten holy sons by Bracan, lib. iv. ,
cap. 76.
3^ Her family and descent do not seem to
have been discovered.
33 See some account of this saint, but for a
*' He is also said to have
part, i. , chap. vi. :
had twenty-four sons and twenty-five daugh- ters, several of whom are recorded in the long list of Welsh saints for graces of their
See
=3 Mother of St. Cadoc, Aboot. See
Capgrave and John of Teignmouth, in the " Legends of the British Saints. "
^'' King of the southern Britons, and after- wards a hermit.
*s See the life of this holy man at the ist
of March. It will thus be found that he
wasthe of and nephew many very saintly
renowned uncles and aunts.
^ Her Acts occur at the 8th of Octo-
ber.
^ She was a holy virgin and martyr. A church was erected to her memory, on the summit of a hill, not far from the principal town of Aberhodni, in the province of Bre- chinoc. See ' ' Giraldus Cambrensis' Itiner- arium Cambrise/' lib. i. , cap. i.
^^ Her feast occurs at the 4th of June. See "Albertus le Grand, De Vitis Sancto- rum Britannicae Armoricse. "
pp.
80, 81, ibid.
^ This name seems to be resolvable into ''"
Donegal Martyro- logy" is torn, and the latter part of the name is defective. The defect is supplied, however, from December 19th, while Dr. Todd refers for comparison to December
23rd.
35 A notice of this saint occurs at the iSth
of November.
3^ A notice of this saint occurs at the 13th
of January.
37 Now Hook Point, county of Wex-
ford.
3^ See a notice of him at the nth of
February.
39 This Cairinn, Carennia, or Caneria, was
a female saint, and a sister to all the other brothers here enumerated.
4°SaidtobenearWexford. Forillustra-
tions of these notes, and for other interesting
notices regarding the present saint's genea- logy, the writer feels greatly indebted to the
Rev. J. F. Shearman, C. C, Howth.
"*' Colgansupposeshisfeasttohavebeen held on the 1st of November. See notices
at that date.
'^ Colgan thinks this Isiol Faranain may
be identical with Aill Farannain in Tirfiacha, Connaught.
Cainder. In the Martyrology of Donegal, edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, there is a
St. Cainder, daughter of Cruithneachan, venerated at the 28th of January, and a Cainder, daughter of Caelan, venerated at the 5th of November. See pp. 28, 29, 298, 299. While acknowledging the name of Carennia, used among the Irish, has not beenfoundamongoursaints,Colgan,think- ing Canneria to be the correct reading, tells us that in the Irish Festilogies there are three holy virgins so called, and venerated
respectively at the 28th of January, at the 1 2th of June, and at the 5th of October.
different place, at the 23rd of December.
34 At this word, Mochonog, the original
MS. ofthe " published
14 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i.
Slemhna, in Alba ;43 to EUoc, of Cill MocUoc ;44 to Paan, of Cill Phaain,45 in Ossory ; and to Caomhan,^^ pilgrim, of Cill Chaomhain. 47 From the
parentage of Saint Beoc, or Dabeoc, it is just to conclude that Irish, Saxon, and Cymric blood flowed in his veins. By race, if not by birth, he was a Cambro-Briton. HeseemstohaveflourishedaboutthetimeofSt. Patrick, or, at least, not very long after him ; since Mobeoc is said to have foretold
many things regarding the sanctity and merits of the great St. Columkille, and that, too, many years before the birth of this latter illustrious man. '^^ Perhaps, too, it may be allowed that those dreadful contestsis which were waged against the Cambro-Britains,5° from the middle to the close of the fifth century,s^ may have influe—nced so many of the holy sons of Bracan to seek a peaceful refuge in Ireland the country of their kindred, and the cradle of their paternal race.
CHAPTER 11.
ARRIVAL OF ST. BEOC, OR DABEOC, IN IRELAND—SITUATION AND DESCRIPTION OF LOUGH DERG—AUSTERITIES AND PROPHECY OF ST. DABEOC—HIS DEATH—TEARMON DABHEOG—CONCLUSION.
In the "Martyrology of Tallagh"^ we find this insertion : Aedh, Lochagerg, alias Daibheog. We may take it for granted that this saint lived probably about the close of the fifth or the beginning of the sixth century. It is likely hecameoverfromWales; whetheraloneorwithsomeofhisfamilydoesnot appear. Probably he landed at first on the eastern or south-eastern coast of Ireland. Thence he travelled northwards, and he appears to have taken pos- session of a lonely island, which was situated within a lake of some extent amongthewildsofDonegal. Afterwards,itbecameveryfamousasaplace forpilgrimages. WhiletheSaxonsextendedtheirconquestsovertheBritons,^ here the saint appears to have found a quiet retreat.
In a wild and romantic district of Templecam parish, within the barony
of Tirhugh, and county of Donegal, the pilgrim or tourist will find the spread- ing waters of renowned Lough Derg, with its three separate islands. 3 The largest of these was known as the Island of St. Dabeoc* Probably it
3SeenoticesofSt. — — Justus supposed by
so gee the
of written "History Wales,"
Colgan to have been the present Jast 29th of July.
''4 There are notices of a saint
name at the 7th of March, and there appears to have been a homonymous one at the 24th of July.
Nothing ap- pears to have transpired regarding this saint, unless he be identical with one Mophiog, venerated on the i6th of December, accord-
ing to Marianus O'Gorman.
'^^ See the Acts of St. Coeman, or Mochoe-
moe, at the 3rd of November.
^7 See "Calendar of the Saints of Ireland,"
edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. 3.
f' See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xi. Februarii. VitaS. Canoci, n. 22,
"
of
ii. Also that reliable work, Sharon Turner's
"History of the Anglo Saxons," vol. i. , book iii. , chap, i. , ii.
of Llan-
''S Now known as Kilfane.
;
Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford, &c. , pp. i to 8.
SI These contests are very graphically de-
P- 314- '•s See
Jones's
History
Wales," chap.
the "Saxon Chronicle," with an English translation and notes, critical and explana-
tory, edited by the Rev. J. Ingram, B. D. , pp. 141021.
3 See Archdall's " Monasticon Hibemi-
cum," pp. 102, 103.
* By others it was called the Island of St.
Fintan, and the Island of Saints, according to one account.
bearing
this
augmented by
Wynne,
at the
in
translated into English by Dr.
Welsh, by Caradoc, Powell and W.
originally carvan ;
scribed in "Woodward's of History
Wales,"
part i. , chap. —vii.
Chap. 11.
'
Edited the Rev, Dr. by
In the Franciscan copy, we can only make out "-A . . . LochA^ep^"
Kelly, p. xi.
at the same date,
=*
See that valuable illustrated edition of
January i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 15
was so called because there he had been the first founder of a religious estab- lishment. ^ However, Dabeoc had always been regarded as the patron
of this place. There, also, three festivals were annually held in his honour,^ namely, on the ist of January, on the 24th of July, and on the i6th of Decem- ber. ? His name is Latinized Dabeocus, and he is frequently called Beanus. ^
A very interesting account of the Island of St. Dabeoc,9 in Lough Derg, or the Red Lake—by some writers called Logh-gerg—is given by Sir James Ware. ^° Tothisanengravingisappended.
Herewearepresentedwitha map of this small island, having the Caverna Purgatorii" marked upon it. '^ This is centrally situated, while surrounded by a church, houses, and circles or stations dedicated to various saints. '3 One of the circles is called " Lectus velCirculusS. Abogi. " Bymistakeormisprintthislatterwordmusthave been intended for Dabhogi or Dabheog.
Ataveryearlydate,thissaintlivedontheisland; butforwhattermof
life does not seem to have been ascertained.
in our ancient annals. We in the " read,
Few notices of the place occur
of that Martyrology Donegal,"'^
Dabheog belonged to Lough Geirg or Loch-gerc, in Ulster. At the eastern extremity of that lake were to be found Patrick's Purgatory's and
Dabheog's Island. '^ Also a monastery of St. Augustine's Order, in which there were canons, stood at the western extremity of this same lake. It is said to have derived its origin from our saint, and to have been dedicated to the holy Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul. It seems likely that the austere manner of hfe practised by St. Dabeoc on his island, gave rise to the frequent pilgrimages for penitential exercises at a later time. According to St. Cummin of Connor, in the following t—ranslation from his Irish poem on the characteristic
virtues of the Irish Saints
:
Mobeog, the gifted, loved,
According to the Synod of the learned, That often in bowing his head,
He plunged it under water. "''
Whether or not St. Patrick had any acquaintance with St. Dabeoc can hardly be discovered. But, we are told, while the latter, with his clerics, lived
s——" whichhe By some probably from the connexion on St. Patrick's Purgatory," in
of his name with this locality St. Patrick is regarded as founder. See "Harris'
it
treats of the stories current about during
the Middle Ages. It was published in 1844. '3 For a view and description of this island the reader may consult J. B. Doyle's "Tours
in Ulster," chap, xix. , pp. 359 to 367.
"* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. 2. 'S in a memorandum description of this
place, weare toldbyacertain writerthat there were five beds of hard penance there, round
which pilgrims went, in the early part of the seventeenth century. Some of those were named the Bed of Patrick, the Bed of Colum- kille, the Bed of Brigit, the Bed of Adan- nan, and the Bed of Dabeog. This was the testimony of Fergal. But a certain writer
that he saw but two beds there—, viz. ,
Ware," vol. ii.
"
Antiquities of Ireland,"
chap, xxxviii. , p. 265. *"
According to the Martyrologies of Tallagh," of " Marianus O'Gorman," of " Cathal Maguire," and of "Donegal. "
7 Richardson's "Folly of Pilgrimages. " This work, worthless for its theme, yet sup- plies a hiatus for the historian's purpose.
^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise. " xi. Februarii. Vita S. Canoci, n. 22, p. 313.
9 Otherwise incorrectly designated Avogi
(Abogi) ? '°
See"AntiquitatesHibemiae,"cap. xxvi. , pp. 189 to 192.
says
Patrick's and Colum's. It is added
" According to some writers, the origin of St. Patrick's Purgatory has reference to
days then altogether ;
"
:
a pilgrimage during The baking of bread See Drs. Todd's and
"
the great Irish Apostle, while others assign
it to Abbot Patrick, venerated at the 24th
of August. See Wills' "Lives of Illus- Reeves'
trious and Distinguished Irishmen," vol. i. , parti. , secondseries,p. 224.
'- T. Wright has written an octavo work
'*
was a certain Miles, named Owen. See
"48 [hours] without food, without drink, nine
the day and prayers. must be without salt.
"
pendix to Introduction, p. xi.
Martyrology of Donegak" Ap-
The first person entering this Purgatory
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January i.
on the island, and when his vigils had been protracted to a late hour one night, a wonderful brightness appeared towards the northern part of the hori-
"
zon. The clerics asked their master what it portended.
In that direction,
whence you have seen the brilliant illumination," said Dabeog, *'the Lord
himself, at a future time, shall light a shining lamp, which, by its brightness,
must miraculously glorify the Church of Christ. This shall be Columba, the son of FeidUmid, son of Fergus, and whose mother will be Ethnea. For learning he shall be distinguished ; in body and soul shall he be chaste ; and he shall possess the gifts of prophecy. "'^
It is stated—but on very insufficient authority's—that St, Dabeoc made
his religious house subject to the great Abbey of Armagh. On the island, too, there was a fine chapel, and convenient houses for the monks, the remains
of which were to be seen before the last century, according to local tradition. St. Dabeoc is reputed to have been there, and the subsequent stories about this island on Lough Derg are fiill of traditional and historic interest.
The possessions of the original monastery probably gave rise to the de- nomiaation of Tearmon Dabheog, which lay on both sides and near
"
The Magraths were the hereditary termoners or custodians of the church
lands, known as the Termon of St. Daveog,^' at Lough Derg. ^=^ Their ruined
castle of Termon Magtath, or Termon, as it is more usually called, is popu-
larly believed to have been built by Malmmry, or Myler Magrath. ^3 It is situated at the northern extremity of Lough Erne, about half a mile west of
thepleasantlittletownPettigoe,inthecoimtyofDonegal. Likemostedi- fices of the kind, erected in the sixteenth century, it consisted of a strong and massive keep, with circular towers at two of its angles, and encompassed by outworks. The scenery in the immediate vicinity of the castle is very beautiful. With the plantations of Templecam glebe, and with those of Waterfoot,^^ the lake shores are most delightfully fiinged. Thus part we, at present, from the patient, if not discriminating, ordeal of investigation into the present sainfs historical range so remote from our own. Yet, no period or age has sped without exerting some tangible influences on the state of society we inherit. The very aspect of holiness lingers still aroimd the scenes where the saints loved to dwell.
Article III. —St. Ossene, or Oissein, son to Ceallach, of Clonmore, County of Louth. \Sixth Century. '] The fortunate preservation of a less distinguished sainfs name with that of another greatly renowned often deter- mines the date in history of both, and heightens an interest felt in the less
Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Appendix Sexta ad Acta S. Patricii, pp. 273 to 284,
'7 See Dr. Kelly's "Calendar of Irish Saints. " Appendix p. 169.
'^ See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Vita S, Columbse. Lib. i. , cap.
far-famed Lough Derg and its pilgrimages will be foimd in the " Illustrated Handbook
of the Scenery and Antiquities of South- WesternDonegal. " Itiswritteninaracy
and very agreeable style. The authorship is ascribed to a patriotic, an amiable, and an
accomphshed Parish Priest, long residing in the districts described.
^3 gee the " Illustrated Dublin Journal," vol. i. , no. 10, p. 153.
=4 There is a wood engraving of these
beautiful objects, with a description by Dr. Petrie, in the "Irish Penny Journal," vol. i.
^- PP- 390, 391- " '9 Richardson's
Folly of Pilgrimages. " *° See R. D. Joyce's Ballads, Romances,
and Songs. "The Pilgrim," p. 137. =' Named after this saint.
="
Among many places of great interest in the northern province, descriptions of this
Grey, holy Derg of the lake. "*'
January i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 17
known contemporary. Both published^ and unpublished' copies of the Tallagh Martyrology assign the ist day of January as a festival to Ossene, of CluanaMor. Thisisthenameofaparishandtownlandintheancientterritory of Cianachta Arda, It is known as Clonmore, in the present barony of Ferrard, county of Louth. 3 Ossein, son to Ceallach, of Cluainmor-Fer-n
Arda, according to the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Donegal,* was venerated on this day. This saint flourished at an early period, since St.
Columkille founded or repaired Cluain-mor-fernarda, in the territory of Bregia,
and placed St. Ossin, or Osseneus over it. s
. ^. ;a-i,i .
At the present time, the ruins of an old church are within an enclosed
cemetery beside the high road, and
these are probably on the actual site
of St. Ossene's more ancient reli-
--^^-^^ > ^^'^^^"^^^^^ Z^
establish- ment. About
thirty years ago, the most dilapi-
dated
were repaired with modem masonry. ^ The nave alone remains, and its walls are thickly covered with ivy. A belfry seems to have surmounted the western gable, while the choir gable and a finely- turned arch re- main. Portions
of the choir walls
gious
portions
were considerably
over ground with-
in the memory of
persons yet living,
but they are now
levelled to the
very foundations.
measures seventeen feet in width ; the walls averaged two feet nine inches in
Art. III. - -• Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, Ancient and Modem," vol. i. , chap, xxi. , p.
See
visible in the Franciscan copy.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (o) p. 441.
•» EditedbyDrs. ToddandReeves,p. 2.
p.
Church ruins at_Clonmore.
This church was fully seventy feet in length,? and the nave
xi. 127. Also Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," ^ The words Offene mo^ are only Vita Quinta S. Columbae, lib. i. , p. Ixv. ,
circularly-headedwindowfiguredintheac- A similar entry is in the Irish Calendar, companying engraving, is altogether of
R. I. A.
s See Rev. A. Cogan's' "Diocese of Meath. 1 During the year 1836, when the old ruins
Vol. I.
C
p. 400, and n. 65, p. 450, and cap. x. , p. 492. Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae.
* The doorway, under the square-headed
modern introduction.
i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January i.
thickness. ^ Nooldmonumentsaretobeseenatpresentinthecemetery;but
some interesting objects of antiquity are in the locality immediately sur-
rounding it. 9
We can scarcely doubt there had been a sufficient endowment for the
Church of Clonmore after the time of St. Ossene, for in a. d. 826 the death
"
Annals of the Four Masters. "'° Here it is likely for some years, about the middle of the sixth century, the life of St.
