The
remainder
of this chapter was illegible in that copy of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
—'
Appendix, p. 376.
"
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 4, 5.
3 This is evidently the St. Locatius, Abbot Maghbile, placed by Colgan, through mistake, the 2nd of March, instead of the
2nd of January, in emunerating the saints of
the Franciscan copy, we find "LochAic . Abb *^ "
Art. IV.
tTlAigebib—e atthisdate.
"
Art, v. Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly,
p. xi. In the Franciscan copy we read,
"IngeriAbAcli in tTlAg Lipi. "
^ From a careful examination of the
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps, adjoin- ing the banks of the Liffey, I have not been
able to discover a probalsle identification, although many old church sites are indi- cated.
3 See the " Poems of Topographical
O'Dubhegan and O'Huidhrin," edited by
'
See Rev. William Reeves' Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Con- nor, and Dromore," p. 151, and Calendar in
'*
of
Dr. — n. O'Donovan, 440, p.
Lochait,
Magh-bile,
We learn from the
liv.
Art. vi. Edited by Drs, Todd and
Reeves. See pp. 4, 5«
42 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 3.
Clbirii IBap of Sanuarp*
ARTICLE I. —ST. FINTAN, PATRON OF DUNBLEISQUE, NOW THE PARISH OF DOONE, COUNTY OF LIMERICK.
[SIXTH CENTURY. ^
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—THE ANCIENT BIOGRAPHY OF ST. FINTAN—HIS PARENTAGE AND RACE —OPPOSITION OFFERED TO HIS PREACHING BY A CERTAIN DYNAST—CONVERSION OF ST. FINTAN's PERSECUTORS.
solely Unsightly
thrive apace at the same time, and require the horticulturist's skill to sepa- rate them from the soil. So it happens in writing our saints' acts, for it becomes equally necessary to exclude unmeaning and absurd legends from these pages, when they could only tend to disturb sound judgment, or to offend correct taste. However, the weed has a utility and an interest, apart from its noxious properties, for the naturalist, and the legend even serves the antiquary's process of deduction. Not forgetting the proper application of this knowledge, it may be observed, that in the old published acts of this saint, while it must be desirable to lop off many excrescences, the hagiologist or the religious reader will have no great reason to regret such removal from his field of vision.
has been published by Colgan. ^ Its defects are very apparent, and the manuscript from which it was printed had been in part defaced by ink.
This life was taken from a Salamancan MS. ^ It contains, without doubt, some gross fables and many errors. 3 From this record, however, we shall be obliged to extract whatever unobjectionable particulars it embraces, with
some additional information, suppHed from Colgan's notes. ^
Fintan was brother to St. Finlug, and son to Pipan,s son of Tule,^ who lived at a place called Cliach,7 according to the life of this saint. But
Art. I. —Chap. i. —'See "Acta Sane- the ist and 7th of January, the 21st of torum Hibemise," iii. Januarii. Vita S. Februaiy, the 27th of March, the nth of
THE
fairest parterre cannot be presented to the eye and be always covered with beautiflil shrubs and flowers. weeds
A very ancient biography—or rather a compendious life—of this saint
Fintani, pp. II to 14.
'
See ibid. , n. I, p. 12.
3 Among these the most incredible longe-
vity has been assigned to St. Fintan.
* The present St. Fintan was a different
May, the 9th of October, and the 14th of December. See Colgan's "Acta Sancto-
rum Hibemise," iii. Januarii, n. 2, p. 12.
s As this saint, in his acts, is called Fin- tan, son to Pipan, so likewise Marianus O'Gorman, at the 25th of November, and
person from St. Fintan, Abbot of Clonenagh,
whose acts are recorded at the 17th of Feb-
ruary ; also from St. Fintan, surnamed Pipan. Yet the latter is said to have been of
Munna, whose feast occurs at the 2ist of
October ; likewise from St. Fintan, Prince
of Leinster, whose acts are given at the 15th
of November; as from many other saints
Selbach, cap. i. , called him St. Finnan, son to different race, viz. , that of Conall Gulban.
bearing this same name, and who are men- Januarii, n. 6, p. 13. Colgan supposes
"
and in the Commentaries on St. . (Engus, at cliach, in the county of Limerick.
tioned in the
Martyrology of Tallagh," Cliach to have been identical with Ara-
*
Such is the account given in the acts
of our saint, as published by Colgan.
7 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," iii.
January 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 43
according to a commentator on ^ngus, his father was named Diman,^ who descended from Mured Manderig, King of Ulster. 9 The mother of our
saint was named Alinna/° said to have been daughter to Artgail, or Lenine, and she was of noble birth," belonging to a family that lived in the county
of Limerick, as Colgan supposes. The early career of this saint seems to have been involved in some obscurity, not dissipated by his old biographer. Hence, we are abruptly brought to narrate the following rather unconnected events.
In the time of St. Fintan, a certain incredulous and irreligious king lived in a district then known as Calathmagh," but it was called Eoghanacht,''3 at a period when the writer of his life flourished. Formerly there were several Eoghanachts in different parts of Ireland, especially in the southern
^ The commentator on ^ngus has a state-
ment concerning St. Fintan's parentage and race. At the 3rd of January, he writes, re-
tenuated," or "lean," by Marianus O'Gor-
man, and others. Thus, at the 3rd of Feb-
ruary, the day of her Natalis, she is called
Coel "Finnia the or Fhinnia, i. e. , Lean,"
perhaps she was the saint called Moinnia,
at the 2 1 St of May, ^by these same authors.
Mo, which signifies my, was prefixed to ex-
press veneration towards saints, -according to a custom common among our ancestors.
Afterwards, through repetition, this particle became incorporated with the original name. However, this virgin was different from Fin-
nia, daughter to Ere, mentioned by Selbach, cap. 18, for one had Ere as her father, and
the other Artgal, or Lenine, See Colgan's
Fintan and his brother that Fining,
garding
these were the two sons of Diman, son to
Fingen, son of Deman, son to Carill, son of Mured Manderig. St. Laserian, or St. Molassius of Leighlin, is said to have been son to the aforesaid Carill. The author of "
Menologie Genealogy," gives the descent of those saints in the same manner. Sel- bach says, that both those saints were sons to Diman of Fiatac Finn's race, whence the aforesaid Carill descended, cap. 15.
9 If these authors only maintained that the present St. Fintan, who was Abbot
"Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," iii. Januarii. of Duinbleisch, had been son to Diman, Vita S. Fintani, cap. i. , p. II, and ibid.
and descended from the race of Ulster nn. 5, 7, p. 13.
" The acts of St. Fintan state that
kings, Colgan could easily be induced to suppose, that they had been led into error
with regard to his condition or dignity, and
that the son of Diman had been a different their from the Abbot of Duinbleisch.
But, adds, as they state, that he and his brother Finlog
were sons to Diman, he would not dare
to call in question their assertions, nor
those advanced by the author of our saint's
acts. These he supposed to be of con-
person
note,
puta
siderable Hence could antiquity. Colgan
not imdertake to decide the matter in con- troversy, until further light should have been
See " Acta Sanctorum Colgan's
thrown from some other upon it,
" to St. Fintan's Col- According acts,
quarter.
'° In the book, "On the Mothers of the
gan suggests, however, that Cabthadh-magh should most probably be read.
Irish Saints," chap, i, and num. 21, we
find these remarks regarding the mother of
this saint, and of his two brothers : Aialenna,
daughter of Lenine, was the mother of Saints
Fintan, Columbus, also called Colmanus enumerates the following, viz. , i. Eogha- Midhisil, and of Lughaidh, or Lugadius. nacht Chaisol. 2. Eoghanacht Locha-Lein, Here Lughaidh is understood for Finlug-
haidh, or Finloga, as said in a former note. The father to St. Fintan's mother, who in the acts is called Artghail, is here named Lenine. But either of these names must havebeenasurnameorcognomen. InSt. Fintan's life we are told, that his mother's sister was a holy virgin, named Finna, at whose tomb, in the writer's time, many miracles were performed ; and Colgan says
thatthisFinnaappearstobethatsaint,to
or Eoghanacht Ui Donnchadha. 3. Eog- hanacht Roisairgid. 4. Eoghanacht Criche Cobthaidh , This appears to have been the one to which allusion is here made. Again,
we find mentioned, Eoghanacht Aine Cliach, Eoghanacht Gleanna Amhnach, and Eog- hanacht Rathlenn. See O'Flaherty's "Ogy-
whose name is prefixed Ly, Cael, i. e. ^
'*
at-
Dr. O'Donovan's Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book of Rights," p. 46, n. (z) ; pp. 59, 60, nn. (k,1); p. 72,n. (o); p,78,n. (g);pp. 86, 87, n. (d).
Alinne, daughter to Artghail, belonged to a noble family, called by the Hibernians in
" to which tongue Solar,"
Colgan
II, and ibid. , n. 6, p. 13.
"HibemiceGrienan
in a
Grienan Cuannach, vel Grene mempe Grene Cliach, vocatur. " The author alludes to
"
land is denominated the East. This re-
gion, so called, is in the coimty of Limerick.
"
this meaning of the word, for the solar
Hibemiae," iii. Januarii, Vita S. Fintani, cap. i. , p.
'3 There were seven districts in Munster, according to Colgan, each division of which had been denominated Eoghanacht. He
gia," pars iii. cap. Ixvii. , p. 328, and "
44 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 3.
province/4 To the king Fintan had resolved on preaching God's holy word, but the dynast was unwilling to receive our saint on the object
of his mission. Hearing that Fintan, accompanied by a number of holy monks, was on the way, orders were despatched to certain mowers in a field to bar the further progress of God's servants on that highway by which these travelled. At the same time the king expressed himself in very opprobrious terms regarding his expected visitants, in calling them impos- tors or seducers. Having arrived at a place denominated Keall-ruis,^s where there was water, the mowers were stationed in a field to oppose their passage. In vain God's holy servants asked permission to proceed, but insult was added to the refusal. However a mighty tempest arose on the instant, and a great commotion of the elements ensued, accompanied by thunder and lightning. The very crops there matured began to blaze, while the mowers, unable to pass the hedges^^ on fire, were nearly blinded with smoke. Then humbly asking pardon for their offences, St. Fintan blessed some water, which was applied to their eyes, when the faculty of vision was restored. Wherefore these men bound themselves to his perpetual service. Not only were certain temporal possessions bestowed, but even their children, grand- children, and posterity, were dedicated to him, in the manner then understood by such engagements.
CHAPTER II.
ANCIENT IRISH ECCLESIASTICAL TRIBUTES—ST. FINTAN STUDIES UNDER ST. COMGALL— PIRATES INVADE BANGOR—MIRACLE WROUGHT BY ST. FINTAN—VARIOUS PLACES VISITED BY HIM—THE DUBH-LABHAR—REMARKABLE EXORCISM—ST. FINTAN SETTLES AT DOONE—VARIOUS RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENTS THERE—TOBAR FIONTAIN.
In the lives of our Irish saints we find several instances, similar to the fore-
going, Where individuals, families, and even whole clans, are said to have bound themselves and their posterity to the service of particular saints. The exact nature of these services is not definitely described ; but it may be supposed, in most instances, such vows or dedications included a bond, expressed or implied, of giving tribute in money or in kind, for the building, repair, or maintenance of churches, monasteries, or other religious establish- ments, and for the support of clerics or monks attached to them. ^
In a succeeding chapter of our sainfs acts, we have only a portion of the first sentence preserved. From this we learn how Fintan was in St. Comgall's school, where his master imposed a certain command, the nature of which is unknown.
The remainder of this chapter was illegible in that copy of St. Fintan's Biography, which Colgan used, it having been blotted with ink;
* From these words, used by the writer
territory of Eoghanachta Ros-airgid.
round fields are obviously of remote origin, and incidental passages, like the present, may be discovered in the acts of Irish
and —
usages habits of our ancestors.
'
of St. Fintan's "nunc vero acts,
'* From this
Eog- hanacht dicitur," we are led to infer he
account, at an early date, agricultural operations seem to have been well carried on in Ireland. Hedges set
lived at a remote period. In Colgan's time,
and many years before, no district in Munster
had been commonly known by such a name.
'S
place, there was a church so called in the saints, serving to illustrate many social
Answering to the description of this
of and of territory Corcabaschind, kingdom
Thomond. It lay within the diocese of Killaloe, and in the southern part of the county Clare. It is Anglicised Kilrush.
However, Colgan supposes the place here mentioned was named Ros-airgid, in the
Chap. ii.
opinion, the reader is referred to St. Grellan's acts at the 1 7th of September, where a tribute of this kind was paid by the people of Hy- Maine.
In of this corroboration
January 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 45
but he infers from the imperfect sentence remaining, Fintan had been a disciple to St. Comgall, Abbot of Bangor,^ who there founded his celebrated school about the middle of the sixth century. 3 From such account we may
southern parts of Ireland.
From the acts of our saint, it is stated, that sea-rovers were accustomed
tohauntourshoresevenbeforetheDanishinvasionscommenced. St. Fintan once asked St. Finian of Maghbile,+ to lend him a book of the Gospels for purposes of study; but he could not obtain that favour. His master, St.
"
at least —that our saint was
suppose contemporaneous
with St. tobepresumed ofBangor,andthathemusthaveflourishedaftera. d. 550. In the fifth and sixth chapters of Fintan's life we have some rather doubtful incidents described, which appear as having reference to that time he spent with St. Comgall. From the names of places contained in this life, his future mission and miracles, for the most part, seem to have been confined to the
Comgall, heard of this refusal, and said to our saint :
If faithful, perhaps,
next day you will be in possession of that book of the Gospels. " On the
succeeding night St. Fintan and his companions, fearing the approach ot
pirates, were on guard at the port. s It had been rumoured that sea-rovers
were about to despoil St. Comgall's religious establishment. In the beginning of this same night, however, their course had been directed to Magh-bile, which was St. Finian's city, and, among other robberies there perpetrated, they took away the aforesaid book of Gospels. Then, by a circuitous route, those pirates reached that place where Fintan and his companions were on guard. They had resolved on attacking the city of Bangor. But, behold ! a large tree, near which St. Fintan watched and prayed, was suddenly uprooted by aviolenttempestandcastupontheirships,lyingneartheshore. Exceptone of these, all the other vessels were broken to pieces and submerged. The book of Gospels and other effects in possession of those pirates were then recovered.
St.
with his
had been —the companions, engaged reading Gospel
In the schools of Bangor, Scriptural studies were not neglected. As
Fintan,
during—a spring season, a certain leper came to St. Comgall so runs the legend and he demanded bread, which should be made from corn lately
ripened. At that season, it seemed impossible to procure what he required ; nevertheless, St. Fintan desired this leper to follow the oxen and plant seed in a field they were ploughing. Seed having been cast into the first furrow turned, com immediately grew up and ripened ; so that bread was obtained for this leper in a miraculous manner, and it was taken from grain thus prema- turely produced. ^
While Fintan was resting in a place called Kell Fintain,7 a certain very corpulent man, named Lothraid, then labouring under some loathsome bodily
He is said to have died of
iii. Januarii. Vita S. Fintani, cap. iv. , p. ii.
p. II, and nn. ii, 12, p. 13.
"t The feast of this saint is celebrated on
the I oth of — September.
s Of Bangor a semicircular bay at the
outer part of Belfast Lough, opening to the sea, and on the north shore of Down County. The harbour affords a refuge for fishing craft of considerable tonnage, and the town itself is now in easy commimication with Belfast by means of steamers, which arrive and depart daily.
distemper, ruled over this part of the country.
^ See his life at the lothof ^ May.
"Acta Sanctoram
3 Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," iii. Januarii. Vita S. Fintani, cap. v. , vi. ,
Colgan's
Hibemige,"
^ Dr. Lanigan says that this place was
" in. the of Lime- probably Killfinan, county
"" rick. " Ecclesiastical of
History Ireland, vol. ii. , chap, xii. , § xii. , n. 179, p. 234. See Ordnance Survey Townland Maps of the
County Limerick, sheet 48. There a St. Finnen's well is noted. Dr. O'Donovan, however, thinks Dr. Lanigan's identification of this place with Kill-Fintain, mentioned in the text, as very doubtful. See "Letters con- taining information relative to the antiquities
Comgall—
it is
46 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 3.
this complaint after he had become a great burden to himself and to his servants. Afterwards people living in this part of the country desired the saint to take up his abode there, so that they might manifest the highest respect towards him. But Fintan went to a place named Tulach Bennain,^ where he intended to reside. Certain British strangers, notwithstanding, would not allow him to remain in this place. Departing from it our saint
" Although you expel me hence you shall not be honored here, and
said
your name shall be known only to very few ; but a certain woman, and a stranger,willdwellinit,whilethesameplacewillhonorme. " Thisprophecy
:
inflict further on injury
any
human ^^ being.
of the County of Limerick, collected during
the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840,"
vol. i. , p. 207.
^
Colgan remarks that both Kill-Fintan and Tulach Bennain were probably in Mun- ster. Yet he does not attempt to identify them. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemias, iii. Januarii, n. 14, p. 13.
9 The Natalis of this virgin was observed
on the loth of April, according to the Mar-
tyrologies of Tallagh, Marianus O'Gorman, and the enlarger or commentator of ^ngus.
'"'
Another wonderful miracle is afterwards recorded as having taken place in Tulach Bennain.
"In the acts it is called "campana. "
Another name for a bell in Latin is "nola. "
These are comparatively modern terms to
express a more ancient name, "tintinnabu-
"
and Labhar, Labhj-a, or Labhairt, means
signifying "a little bell. " The former terms are thought to have come into use about the time of St. Jerome, when we are informed Paulinus, Bishop of Nola, a city in
'3 Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernite," iii. Januarii. Vita S. Fintani, cap. vii. , viii. , ix. , p. 13.
'• Colgan says, he appears to have been St. Cuanus, of Moethal Brogain, whose Natalis occurs on the lOthof July, according
to St. iEngus. The Martyrologies of Tal- lagh and Marianus O'Gorman state that his memory was venerated in the territory of Kenselach, in Leinster, and of the Decies, in Munster. Veneration was paid to other saints(Cuans)at the 15th and agthof October.
'S in Irish pagan mythology it was believed that local genii or evil spirits haunted certain places, and various legends are told concern- ing them.
'^ In a note, Colgan writes to state, that if
it be meant the demon there continued, and
was no longer able to injure any person, this is not to be regarded as irrational ; for, on earth, and in the air, as in hell, devils exist and use their tempting powers or arts against men, nor can they escape that punishment inflicted on them by the Almighty ; or, if the meaning be, that the demon entered and had been enclosed within a rock, leaving
lum,
Campania, first converted the "
''
tintinnabu- lum to sacred purposes, and used bells in
connection with his church services.
'^ Colgan thus interprets this word Dubh, which has the Latin signification of "nigra,"
A holy virgin named Ernait,^ daughter to King
was afterwards fulfilled.
Kiannacht, came from the northern part of Ireland, and dwelt in Tulach Bennain. ^° Afterwards St. Fintan went to a certain hill, which was called Cabhair, at a time the writer of his acts lived. There Fintan intended to
:
remain butanangelappearingsaidtohim "Itisnotdecreedthatyouwill
;
remain here ; however, this place must honor you, and, as token of my
promise, you shall see a bell coming hither through the air. " Wherefore, looking towards heaven, they saw a bell," which was heard tolling as it descended. It rested on a rock, and full in their presence. This bell was of a black colour ; hence it was called Dubh-labhar," which in Latin is inter-
"
preted, Nigra soiians, or in English,
objects among the Irish and Britons, it was formerly held in great veneration.
Much about the same time a rehgious man, named Cuan,'* sent one of his disciples to visit St. Fintan. Whilst this disciple moved on his way, it
was thought a demon approached and took bodily possession of him. Colgan's religious faith in this instance, and in many similar narratives, leads him to defend from censorious doubters the possibility of such an incident. Nor does he even find anything incredible in this narrative. St. Fintan is related to have exorcised this demon. Immediately he departed from the monk and entered a neighbouring rock. 'S By the power of God, we are told, he remained here in a state of perpetual imprisonment, not being able to
the black toller. "^^ Like many similar
"
sonus. "
January 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 47
After this occurrence, St. Fintain is said to have reached a place denomi- nated Dunbleisque. This the Lord had destined for his habitation. ^? It was situatedwithintheterritoryofCuanach,inMunster, Withhisusualextraor- dinary sagacity, when unveiling objects and names relating to Irish topography,
Dr. O'Donovan has been enabled to identify its precise locality,
^^
It is
identical with Doone, a parish situated partly in the barony of Owneybeg, but mostly in that of Coonagh, in the county of Limerick. '9 The townland Doone gave a distinctiveness to the parish, and its name is not of ecclesiastical origin. Thetownlandderivedits etymonfromanearthernDunwhichstillremains, and from a person named Blesc, who appears to have resided there, or from a river near the place. It is absolutely certain, this is the Dun Bleisce of ancient Irish writers. They describe the Dun as situated in the territory of
^
Convent of Mercy, and St. Fintan's Convent and Chapel, Doone.
Cuanach, and as having taken its name from Blesc. Here the original parish church was placed. Besides this one, there is no other church in the barony
some impress thereon, but not being able to Fintan, by whom the dun will be obtained —;
effect further mischief this is equally intelli- His city of sacred protection shall be gible and reasonable. In either case, God That which is called Dun-Bleiske.
might have wished to manifest his power over this demon through the merits and " prayersoftwoholymen. Itmightalsobe regarded as an instance of divine favour shown to his
can presume to question such possible exer-
cise of omnipotent bounty.
J^ree Translation.
My Dalta Fintan shall erect \i\%fane
At that old fort which now we Dun-Blesc
call
;
people.
'7 In the "Leabhar Breac," the following'
quartain is given as a prophecy of St. Com- gall that his alumnus should s—ettle at Dun
And there immortal honors he will : gain
Bleisce, its more ancient name
"SebATO ino 'DAtcAn iti tnu^
bbeii'ce. "
ThedunoiBlesc andthenheshall ;
•oxxn ^'^\ AcliACAi]\ corriAbb n-jl^
all. "
'^ See his letter, dated Tipperary, August
•pincAti ^j&x fAjebcheiA "OiA m-bA coiii-Ainni •oun
" CountyofLimerick,"I. O. S. ,vol. i. , pp. 433,
Dr. O'Donovan
translation in the following version
"
:
the_/&;-/r^jj
parish
of Doone. Townland
My
little foster-son shall obtain [mur] J
Survey
Maps
No devout Christian
:
protect The poor and weak, and pray for mankind
a —lite^-al supplies very
434.
other in the objects
'9 See Ordnance
of the County of Limerick, sheet 16,
His
city
will a termon be to all.
—
or thus :
" My dear alumnus Fintan shall erect
His sacred city at the fort we call
1 8th, 1840.
Antiquarian Letters for the Afterwards follows some account of
48 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 3.
of Coonagh, the name of which begins with Doon. Every ambiguity is removed, however, by the existence, to this very day, of the patron saint's holy well.
The site of St. Fintan's old monastery is not known at present in Doone,
nor can the oldest inhabitant give any information as to where it stood, nor is
its existence even remembered in any current popular tradition. However,
about twenty years ago, an old church stood just opposite to the Mercy
Convent, which was then the dwelling of a former parish priest. This, it has
been supposed, must be the actual site of St. Fintan's Church, but at present
little or no trace of the ruins appear. This very spot is now occupied by a
^° potato garden.
Convent Schools of St. Fintan, Doone.
The Rev. Father Hickey, late parish priest of Doone, and Rev. Father O'Dwyer,C. C,hadagreatdevotionforSt. Fintan. " Whentheparishchurch was built they desired to place it under his protection ; but, at the time it was dedicated, they found it difficult to get any trustworthy information regarding the saint's biography. The Rev. Mr.
Appendix, p. 376.
"
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 4, 5.
3 This is evidently the St. Locatius, Abbot Maghbile, placed by Colgan, through mistake, the 2nd of March, instead of the
2nd of January, in emunerating the saints of
the Franciscan copy, we find "LochAic . Abb *^ "
Art. IV.
tTlAigebib—e atthisdate.
"
Art, v. Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly,
p. xi. In the Franciscan copy we read,
"IngeriAbAcli in tTlAg Lipi. "
^ From a careful examination of the
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps, adjoin- ing the banks of the Liffey, I have not been
able to discover a probalsle identification, although many old church sites are indi- cated.
3 See the " Poems of Topographical
O'Dubhegan and O'Huidhrin," edited by
'
See Rev. William Reeves' Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Con- nor, and Dromore," p. 151, and Calendar in
'*
of
Dr. — n. O'Donovan, 440, p.
Lochait,
Magh-bile,
We learn from the
liv.
Art. vi. Edited by Drs, Todd and
Reeves. See pp. 4, 5«
42 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 3.
Clbirii IBap of Sanuarp*
ARTICLE I. —ST. FINTAN, PATRON OF DUNBLEISQUE, NOW THE PARISH OF DOONE, COUNTY OF LIMERICK.
[SIXTH CENTURY. ^
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—THE ANCIENT BIOGRAPHY OF ST. FINTAN—HIS PARENTAGE AND RACE —OPPOSITION OFFERED TO HIS PREACHING BY A CERTAIN DYNAST—CONVERSION OF ST. FINTAN's PERSECUTORS.
solely Unsightly
thrive apace at the same time, and require the horticulturist's skill to sepa- rate them from the soil. So it happens in writing our saints' acts, for it becomes equally necessary to exclude unmeaning and absurd legends from these pages, when they could only tend to disturb sound judgment, or to offend correct taste. However, the weed has a utility and an interest, apart from its noxious properties, for the naturalist, and the legend even serves the antiquary's process of deduction. Not forgetting the proper application of this knowledge, it may be observed, that in the old published acts of this saint, while it must be desirable to lop off many excrescences, the hagiologist or the religious reader will have no great reason to regret such removal from his field of vision.
has been published by Colgan. ^ Its defects are very apparent, and the manuscript from which it was printed had been in part defaced by ink.
This life was taken from a Salamancan MS. ^ It contains, without doubt, some gross fables and many errors. 3 From this record, however, we shall be obliged to extract whatever unobjectionable particulars it embraces, with
some additional information, suppHed from Colgan's notes. ^
Fintan was brother to St. Finlug, and son to Pipan,s son of Tule,^ who lived at a place called Cliach,7 according to the life of this saint. But
Art. I. —Chap. i. —'See "Acta Sane- the ist and 7th of January, the 21st of torum Hibemise," iii. Januarii. Vita S. Februaiy, the 27th of March, the nth of
THE
fairest parterre cannot be presented to the eye and be always covered with beautiflil shrubs and flowers. weeds
A very ancient biography—or rather a compendious life—of this saint
Fintani, pp. II to 14.
'
See ibid. , n. I, p. 12.
3 Among these the most incredible longe-
vity has been assigned to St. Fintan.
* The present St. Fintan was a different
May, the 9th of October, and the 14th of December. See Colgan's "Acta Sancto-
rum Hibemise," iii. Januarii, n. 2, p. 12.
s As this saint, in his acts, is called Fin- tan, son to Pipan, so likewise Marianus O'Gorman, at the 25th of November, and
person from St. Fintan, Abbot of Clonenagh,
whose acts are recorded at the 17th of Feb-
ruary ; also from St. Fintan, surnamed Pipan. Yet the latter is said to have been of
Munna, whose feast occurs at the 2ist of
October ; likewise from St. Fintan, Prince
of Leinster, whose acts are given at the 15th
of November; as from many other saints
Selbach, cap. i. , called him St. Finnan, son to different race, viz. , that of Conall Gulban.
bearing this same name, and who are men- Januarii, n. 6, p. 13. Colgan supposes
"
and in the Commentaries on St. . (Engus, at cliach, in the county of Limerick.
tioned in the
Martyrology of Tallagh," Cliach to have been identical with Ara-
*
Such is the account given in the acts
of our saint, as published by Colgan.
7 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," iii.
January 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 43
according to a commentator on ^ngus, his father was named Diman,^ who descended from Mured Manderig, King of Ulster. 9 The mother of our
saint was named Alinna/° said to have been daughter to Artgail, or Lenine, and she was of noble birth," belonging to a family that lived in the county
of Limerick, as Colgan supposes. The early career of this saint seems to have been involved in some obscurity, not dissipated by his old biographer. Hence, we are abruptly brought to narrate the following rather unconnected events.
In the time of St. Fintan, a certain incredulous and irreligious king lived in a district then known as Calathmagh," but it was called Eoghanacht,''3 at a period when the writer of his life flourished. Formerly there were several Eoghanachts in different parts of Ireland, especially in the southern
^ The commentator on ^ngus has a state-
ment concerning St. Fintan's parentage and race. At the 3rd of January, he writes, re-
tenuated," or "lean," by Marianus O'Gor-
man, and others. Thus, at the 3rd of Feb-
ruary, the day of her Natalis, she is called
Coel "Finnia the or Fhinnia, i. e. , Lean,"
perhaps she was the saint called Moinnia,
at the 2 1 St of May, ^by these same authors.
Mo, which signifies my, was prefixed to ex-
press veneration towards saints, -according to a custom common among our ancestors.
Afterwards, through repetition, this particle became incorporated with the original name. However, this virgin was different from Fin-
nia, daughter to Ere, mentioned by Selbach, cap. 18, for one had Ere as her father, and
the other Artgal, or Lenine, See Colgan's
Fintan and his brother that Fining,
garding
these were the two sons of Diman, son to
Fingen, son of Deman, son to Carill, son of Mured Manderig. St. Laserian, or St. Molassius of Leighlin, is said to have been son to the aforesaid Carill. The author of "
Menologie Genealogy," gives the descent of those saints in the same manner. Sel- bach says, that both those saints were sons to Diman of Fiatac Finn's race, whence the aforesaid Carill descended, cap. 15.
9 If these authors only maintained that the present St. Fintan, who was Abbot
"Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," iii. Januarii. of Duinbleisch, had been son to Diman, Vita S. Fintani, cap. i. , p. II, and ibid.
and descended from the race of Ulster nn. 5, 7, p. 13.
" The acts of St. Fintan state that
kings, Colgan could easily be induced to suppose, that they had been led into error
with regard to his condition or dignity, and
that the son of Diman had been a different their from the Abbot of Duinbleisch.
But, adds, as they state, that he and his brother Finlog
were sons to Diman, he would not dare
to call in question their assertions, nor
those advanced by the author of our saint's
acts. These he supposed to be of con-
person
note,
puta
siderable Hence could antiquity. Colgan
not imdertake to decide the matter in con- troversy, until further light should have been
See " Acta Sanctorum Colgan's
thrown from some other upon it,
" to St. Fintan's Col- According acts,
quarter.
'° In the book, "On the Mothers of the
gan suggests, however, that Cabthadh-magh should most probably be read.
Irish Saints," chap, i, and num. 21, we
find these remarks regarding the mother of
this saint, and of his two brothers : Aialenna,
daughter of Lenine, was the mother of Saints
Fintan, Columbus, also called Colmanus enumerates the following, viz. , i. Eogha- Midhisil, and of Lughaidh, or Lugadius. nacht Chaisol. 2. Eoghanacht Locha-Lein, Here Lughaidh is understood for Finlug-
haidh, or Finloga, as said in a former note. The father to St. Fintan's mother, who in the acts is called Artghail, is here named Lenine. But either of these names must havebeenasurnameorcognomen. InSt. Fintan's life we are told, that his mother's sister was a holy virgin, named Finna, at whose tomb, in the writer's time, many miracles were performed ; and Colgan says
thatthisFinnaappearstobethatsaint,to
or Eoghanacht Ui Donnchadha. 3. Eog- hanacht Roisairgid. 4. Eoghanacht Criche Cobthaidh , This appears to have been the one to which allusion is here made. Again,
we find mentioned, Eoghanacht Aine Cliach, Eoghanacht Gleanna Amhnach, and Eog- hanacht Rathlenn. See O'Flaherty's "Ogy-
whose name is prefixed Ly, Cael, i. e. ^
'*
at-
Dr. O'Donovan's Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book of Rights," p. 46, n. (z) ; pp. 59, 60, nn. (k,1); p. 72,n. (o); p,78,n. (g);pp. 86, 87, n. (d).
Alinne, daughter to Artghail, belonged to a noble family, called by the Hibernians in
" to which tongue Solar,"
Colgan
II, and ibid. , n. 6, p. 13.
"HibemiceGrienan
in a
Grienan Cuannach, vel Grene mempe Grene Cliach, vocatur. " The author alludes to
"
land is denominated the East. This re-
gion, so called, is in the coimty of Limerick.
"
this meaning of the word, for the solar
Hibemiae," iii. Januarii, Vita S. Fintani, cap. i. , p.
'3 There were seven districts in Munster, according to Colgan, each division of which had been denominated Eoghanacht. He
gia," pars iii. cap. Ixvii. , p. 328, and "
44 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 3.
province/4 To the king Fintan had resolved on preaching God's holy word, but the dynast was unwilling to receive our saint on the object
of his mission. Hearing that Fintan, accompanied by a number of holy monks, was on the way, orders were despatched to certain mowers in a field to bar the further progress of God's servants on that highway by which these travelled. At the same time the king expressed himself in very opprobrious terms regarding his expected visitants, in calling them impos- tors or seducers. Having arrived at a place denominated Keall-ruis,^s where there was water, the mowers were stationed in a field to oppose their passage. In vain God's holy servants asked permission to proceed, but insult was added to the refusal. However a mighty tempest arose on the instant, and a great commotion of the elements ensued, accompanied by thunder and lightning. The very crops there matured began to blaze, while the mowers, unable to pass the hedges^^ on fire, were nearly blinded with smoke. Then humbly asking pardon for their offences, St. Fintan blessed some water, which was applied to their eyes, when the faculty of vision was restored. Wherefore these men bound themselves to his perpetual service. Not only were certain temporal possessions bestowed, but even their children, grand- children, and posterity, were dedicated to him, in the manner then understood by such engagements.
CHAPTER II.
ANCIENT IRISH ECCLESIASTICAL TRIBUTES—ST. FINTAN STUDIES UNDER ST. COMGALL— PIRATES INVADE BANGOR—MIRACLE WROUGHT BY ST. FINTAN—VARIOUS PLACES VISITED BY HIM—THE DUBH-LABHAR—REMARKABLE EXORCISM—ST. FINTAN SETTLES AT DOONE—VARIOUS RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENTS THERE—TOBAR FIONTAIN.
In the lives of our Irish saints we find several instances, similar to the fore-
going, Where individuals, families, and even whole clans, are said to have bound themselves and their posterity to the service of particular saints. The exact nature of these services is not definitely described ; but it may be supposed, in most instances, such vows or dedications included a bond, expressed or implied, of giving tribute in money or in kind, for the building, repair, or maintenance of churches, monasteries, or other religious establish- ments, and for the support of clerics or monks attached to them. ^
In a succeeding chapter of our sainfs acts, we have only a portion of the first sentence preserved. From this we learn how Fintan was in St. Comgall's school, where his master imposed a certain command, the nature of which is unknown.
The remainder of this chapter was illegible in that copy of St. Fintan's Biography, which Colgan used, it having been blotted with ink;
* From these words, used by the writer
territory of Eoghanachta Ros-airgid.
round fields are obviously of remote origin, and incidental passages, like the present, may be discovered in the acts of Irish
and —
usages habits of our ancestors.
'
of St. Fintan's "nunc vero acts,
'* From this
Eog- hanacht dicitur," we are led to infer he
account, at an early date, agricultural operations seem to have been well carried on in Ireland. Hedges set
lived at a remote period. In Colgan's time,
and many years before, no district in Munster
had been commonly known by such a name.
'S
place, there was a church so called in the saints, serving to illustrate many social
Answering to the description of this
of and of territory Corcabaschind, kingdom
Thomond. It lay within the diocese of Killaloe, and in the southern part of the county Clare. It is Anglicised Kilrush.
However, Colgan supposes the place here mentioned was named Ros-airgid, in the
Chap. ii.
opinion, the reader is referred to St. Grellan's acts at the 1 7th of September, where a tribute of this kind was paid by the people of Hy- Maine.
In of this corroboration
January 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 45
but he infers from the imperfect sentence remaining, Fintan had been a disciple to St. Comgall, Abbot of Bangor,^ who there founded his celebrated school about the middle of the sixth century. 3 From such account we may
southern parts of Ireland.
From the acts of our saint, it is stated, that sea-rovers were accustomed
tohauntourshoresevenbeforetheDanishinvasionscommenced. St. Fintan once asked St. Finian of Maghbile,+ to lend him a book of the Gospels for purposes of study; but he could not obtain that favour. His master, St.
"
at least —that our saint was
suppose contemporaneous
with St. tobepresumed ofBangor,andthathemusthaveflourishedaftera. d. 550. In the fifth and sixth chapters of Fintan's life we have some rather doubtful incidents described, which appear as having reference to that time he spent with St. Comgall. From the names of places contained in this life, his future mission and miracles, for the most part, seem to have been confined to the
Comgall, heard of this refusal, and said to our saint :
If faithful, perhaps,
next day you will be in possession of that book of the Gospels. " On the
succeeding night St. Fintan and his companions, fearing the approach ot
pirates, were on guard at the port. s It had been rumoured that sea-rovers
were about to despoil St. Comgall's religious establishment. In the beginning of this same night, however, their course had been directed to Magh-bile, which was St. Finian's city, and, among other robberies there perpetrated, they took away the aforesaid book of Gospels. Then, by a circuitous route, those pirates reached that place where Fintan and his companions were on guard. They had resolved on attacking the city of Bangor. But, behold ! a large tree, near which St. Fintan watched and prayed, was suddenly uprooted by aviolenttempestandcastupontheirships,lyingneartheshore. Exceptone of these, all the other vessels were broken to pieces and submerged. The book of Gospels and other effects in possession of those pirates were then recovered.
St.
with his
had been —the companions, engaged reading Gospel
In the schools of Bangor, Scriptural studies were not neglected. As
Fintan,
during—a spring season, a certain leper came to St. Comgall so runs the legend and he demanded bread, which should be made from corn lately
ripened. At that season, it seemed impossible to procure what he required ; nevertheless, St. Fintan desired this leper to follow the oxen and plant seed in a field they were ploughing. Seed having been cast into the first furrow turned, com immediately grew up and ripened ; so that bread was obtained for this leper in a miraculous manner, and it was taken from grain thus prema- turely produced. ^
While Fintan was resting in a place called Kell Fintain,7 a certain very corpulent man, named Lothraid, then labouring under some loathsome bodily
He is said to have died of
iii. Januarii. Vita S. Fintani, cap. iv. , p. ii.
p. II, and nn. ii, 12, p. 13.
"t The feast of this saint is celebrated on
the I oth of — September.
s Of Bangor a semicircular bay at the
outer part of Belfast Lough, opening to the sea, and on the north shore of Down County. The harbour affords a refuge for fishing craft of considerable tonnage, and the town itself is now in easy commimication with Belfast by means of steamers, which arrive and depart daily.
distemper, ruled over this part of the country.
^ See his life at the lothof ^ May.
"Acta Sanctoram
3 Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," iii. Januarii. Vita S. Fintani, cap. v. , vi. ,
Colgan's
Hibemige,"
^ Dr. Lanigan says that this place was
" in. the of Lime- probably Killfinan, county
"" rick. " Ecclesiastical of
History Ireland, vol. ii. , chap, xii. , § xii. , n. 179, p. 234. See Ordnance Survey Townland Maps of the
County Limerick, sheet 48. There a St. Finnen's well is noted. Dr. O'Donovan, however, thinks Dr. Lanigan's identification of this place with Kill-Fintain, mentioned in the text, as very doubtful. See "Letters con- taining information relative to the antiquities
Comgall—
it is
46 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 3.
this complaint after he had become a great burden to himself and to his servants. Afterwards people living in this part of the country desired the saint to take up his abode there, so that they might manifest the highest respect towards him. But Fintan went to a place named Tulach Bennain,^ where he intended to reside. Certain British strangers, notwithstanding, would not allow him to remain in this place. Departing from it our saint
" Although you expel me hence you shall not be honored here, and
said
your name shall be known only to very few ; but a certain woman, and a stranger,willdwellinit,whilethesameplacewillhonorme. " Thisprophecy
:
inflict further on injury
any
human ^^ being.
of the County of Limerick, collected during
the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840,"
vol. i. , p. 207.
^
Colgan remarks that both Kill-Fintan and Tulach Bennain were probably in Mun- ster. Yet he does not attempt to identify them. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemias, iii. Januarii, n. 14, p. 13.
9 The Natalis of this virgin was observed
on the loth of April, according to the Mar-
tyrologies of Tallagh, Marianus O'Gorman, and the enlarger or commentator of ^ngus.
'"'
Another wonderful miracle is afterwards recorded as having taken place in Tulach Bennain.
"In the acts it is called "campana. "
Another name for a bell in Latin is "nola. "
These are comparatively modern terms to
express a more ancient name, "tintinnabu-
"
and Labhar, Labhj-a, or Labhairt, means
signifying "a little bell. " The former terms are thought to have come into use about the time of St. Jerome, when we are informed Paulinus, Bishop of Nola, a city in
'3 Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernite," iii. Januarii. Vita S. Fintani, cap. vii. , viii. , ix. , p. 13.
'• Colgan says, he appears to have been St. Cuanus, of Moethal Brogain, whose Natalis occurs on the lOthof July, according
to St. iEngus. The Martyrologies of Tal- lagh and Marianus O'Gorman state that his memory was venerated in the territory of Kenselach, in Leinster, and of the Decies, in Munster. Veneration was paid to other saints(Cuans)at the 15th and agthof October.
'S in Irish pagan mythology it was believed that local genii or evil spirits haunted certain places, and various legends are told concern- ing them.
'^ In a note, Colgan writes to state, that if
it be meant the demon there continued, and
was no longer able to injure any person, this is not to be regarded as irrational ; for, on earth, and in the air, as in hell, devils exist and use their tempting powers or arts against men, nor can they escape that punishment inflicted on them by the Almighty ; or, if the meaning be, that the demon entered and had been enclosed within a rock, leaving
lum,
Campania, first converted the "
''
tintinnabu- lum to sacred purposes, and used bells in
connection with his church services.
'^ Colgan thus interprets this word Dubh, which has the Latin signification of "nigra,"
A holy virgin named Ernait,^ daughter to King
was afterwards fulfilled.
Kiannacht, came from the northern part of Ireland, and dwelt in Tulach Bennain. ^° Afterwards St. Fintan went to a certain hill, which was called Cabhair, at a time the writer of his acts lived. There Fintan intended to
:
remain butanangelappearingsaidtohim "Itisnotdecreedthatyouwill
;
remain here ; however, this place must honor you, and, as token of my
promise, you shall see a bell coming hither through the air. " Wherefore, looking towards heaven, they saw a bell," which was heard tolling as it descended. It rested on a rock, and full in their presence. This bell was of a black colour ; hence it was called Dubh-labhar," which in Latin is inter-
"
preted, Nigra soiians, or in English,
objects among the Irish and Britons, it was formerly held in great veneration.
Much about the same time a rehgious man, named Cuan,'* sent one of his disciples to visit St. Fintan. Whilst this disciple moved on his way, it
was thought a demon approached and took bodily possession of him. Colgan's religious faith in this instance, and in many similar narratives, leads him to defend from censorious doubters the possibility of such an incident. Nor does he even find anything incredible in this narrative. St. Fintan is related to have exorcised this demon. Immediately he departed from the monk and entered a neighbouring rock. 'S By the power of God, we are told, he remained here in a state of perpetual imprisonment, not being able to
the black toller. "^^ Like many similar
"
sonus. "
January 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 47
After this occurrence, St. Fintain is said to have reached a place denomi- nated Dunbleisque. This the Lord had destined for his habitation. ^? It was situatedwithintheterritoryofCuanach,inMunster, Withhisusualextraor- dinary sagacity, when unveiling objects and names relating to Irish topography,
Dr. O'Donovan has been enabled to identify its precise locality,
^^
It is
identical with Doone, a parish situated partly in the barony of Owneybeg, but mostly in that of Coonagh, in the county of Limerick. '9 The townland Doone gave a distinctiveness to the parish, and its name is not of ecclesiastical origin. Thetownlandderivedits etymonfromanearthernDunwhichstillremains, and from a person named Blesc, who appears to have resided there, or from a river near the place. It is absolutely certain, this is the Dun Bleisce of ancient Irish writers. They describe the Dun as situated in the territory of
^
Convent of Mercy, and St. Fintan's Convent and Chapel, Doone.
Cuanach, and as having taken its name from Blesc. Here the original parish church was placed. Besides this one, there is no other church in the barony
some impress thereon, but not being able to Fintan, by whom the dun will be obtained —;
effect further mischief this is equally intelli- His city of sacred protection shall be gible and reasonable. In either case, God That which is called Dun-Bleiske.
might have wished to manifest his power over this demon through the merits and " prayersoftwoholymen. Itmightalsobe regarded as an instance of divine favour shown to his
can presume to question such possible exer-
cise of omnipotent bounty.
J^ree Translation.
My Dalta Fintan shall erect \i\%fane
At that old fort which now we Dun-Blesc
call
;
people.
'7 In the "Leabhar Breac," the following'
quartain is given as a prophecy of St. Com- gall that his alumnus should s—ettle at Dun
And there immortal honors he will : gain
Bleisce, its more ancient name
"SebATO ino 'DAtcAn iti tnu^
bbeii'ce. "
ThedunoiBlesc andthenheshall ;
•oxxn ^'^\ AcliACAi]\ corriAbb n-jl^
all. "
'^ See his letter, dated Tipperary, August
•pincAti ^j&x fAjebcheiA "OiA m-bA coiii-Ainni •oun
" CountyofLimerick,"I. O. S. ,vol. i. , pp. 433,
Dr. O'Donovan
translation in the following version
"
:
the_/&;-/r^jj
parish
of Doone. Townland
My
little foster-son shall obtain [mur] J
Survey
Maps
No devout Christian
:
protect The poor and weak, and pray for mankind
a —lite^-al supplies very
434.
other in the objects
'9 See Ordnance
of the County of Limerick, sheet 16,
His
city
will a termon be to all.
—
or thus :
" My dear alumnus Fintan shall erect
His sacred city at the fort we call
1 8th, 1840.
Antiquarian Letters for the Afterwards follows some account of
48 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 3.
of Coonagh, the name of which begins with Doon. Every ambiguity is removed, however, by the existence, to this very day, of the patron saint's holy well.
The site of St. Fintan's old monastery is not known at present in Doone,
nor can the oldest inhabitant give any information as to where it stood, nor is
its existence even remembered in any current popular tradition. However,
about twenty years ago, an old church stood just opposite to the Mercy
Convent, which was then the dwelling of a former parish priest. This, it has
been supposed, must be the actual site of St. Fintan's Church, but at present
little or no trace of the ruins appear. This very spot is now occupied by a
^° potato garden.
Convent Schools of St. Fintan, Doone.
The Rev. Father Hickey, late parish priest of Doone, and Rev. Father O'Dwyer,C. C,hadagreatdevotionforSt. Fintan. " Whentheparishchurch was built they desired to place it under his protection ; but, at the time it was dedicated, they found it difficult to get any trustworthy information regarding the saint's biography. The Rev. Mr.
