4 It is stated to have been Inis Cain Dega, in
Conaille
Muirthemne.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
iii.
,
chap, lxxiv. , pp. 176, 177.
"5
Edited by 220, 221.
Article VI. p. xxxii.
Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp.
—
A similar notice accurs in the Book of Leinster copy Sci eoam 1111c Captain, at this same day.
3 See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Down," sheet 45.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
220, 221.
5 By William M. Hennessy.
•
Edited by
Rev. Dr.
a
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 220, 221.
3 Thus written, beccam. '
Article vil— ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii. In the copy, as found in the Book of Leinster, at this date, we have
Kelly,
August 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 251 ings. It measured only 20 by 13 feet, in the clear. Better than a century
6
ago, the walls were entire.
the foundation, and with it the east window, small and narrow, terminating in an acute angle, formed by two inclined flags. The doorway, in the west wall, is 5 feet, 6 inches, high ; 2 feet, 1 inch wide, at the top, but gradually dilating to the threshold, where it is 3 feet in breadth. In the south wall, near the south-east angle, there is a window 2 feet, 5 \ inches high ; 1 foot, 4 inches wide, at top, and 1 foot, 9 nine inches, at bottom. In both instances, the aperture is surmounted by a single flag, instead of an arch. ?
Article X. —Festival of St. Mammes, Martyr, in C^esarea, Cappa-
docia. ThefestivalofSt. Mammes,theMartyr,washonouredinIreland,
probably before the eighth century, and on the 17th of August, when it is
6 besides some
lation of his relics to the Lingones, a people of Champagne,? in France, are
noticedinthe"Feihre" ofSt. 1 Thescholiasthas ^Engus.
chapters ;
previous
observations 7 on a of the Trans- History
added. That IO was History
name is unknown.
8
written,
11
by
some
of buthis Langres,
Dromore," n. (s), pp. 33, 34, and Appendix
LL, p. 379. —
Article x. See "Transactions of
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , parti. On the Calendar of
Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxxiv.
* In Latin thus: "Roches Mammes
martir 7rl. qui mulsit lac a ferinis et cui
euangelium datum est et passus est sub [au]
ri iano imperatore in ciuitate Capadocioe
prouincire etpuererat annorum . xu. quando passus est. Vel Mammes . i. sanctus fil
Longbardaib . i. anni hiFrangcaib 7 nobilis martir et confessor fuit sicut incolre loci ill [i] us affirmant. "
3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Au- gusti xvii. De Sanctis Martyribus Alexan- drinis Mammete Disco seu Diseo et forte Disca et Mammitacum sociis suis, p. 418.
8
SeeTacitus,Historiarum,lib. iv. , cap.
'
57. Now les Langrois, their chief city is
mitted saints, p. 416. 42
But now, the east wall has been demolished to
added, likewise, some comments 2 to that record. At this date, the Bollandists3 have entered, on authority of an ancient Calendar, a St. Mammes with others at Alexandria ; but, they have doubts, if he be at all a different person from St. Mammes, a Martyr of Cesarea, in Cappadocia, whose feast is also set down for the 17th of August. A very elaborate previous commentary 4 is prefixed to the Passion s of the last-named holy Martyr, containing a Prologue, with two
Article. XI. —Festival of the Translation of St. David's Relics, Archbishop in Wales. In Greven's additions to the Carthusian Martyr- ology, Bruxelles, is an entry, at the 17th of August: " Translatio divi Davidis archiepiscopi in Wallia. " This is noted, likewise, at the same date, by the
6 See Harris " History and Antiquities of the County of Down," p. 271.
s Auctore, Godefrido Lingonensi episcopo, ex codice MS. Carthusian Divionensis.
i See Rev. William Reeves' " Ecclesias-
tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and accompanyingannotations.
In five sections and fifty-two para. See also, the Third Volume of this graphs. work, for that date, Art. i.
6
nineteen
with
priest
Comprising
7 In seven paragraphs.
paragraphs,
Langres. 9"
See Pliny, Historia Naturalis," lib. iv. , sect. 31.
10 The Bollandists observe " Et in :
" A preface of the author, in two para- graphs, and in three chapters, comprising twenty additional paragraphs, together with notes of the editor, Father John Pinius, S. J. , may be found. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Augusti xvii. De Sancto Mamante vel Mammete Martyre, Caesarea; in Cappadocia, pp. 423 to 446.
Bibliotheca FloriacensiJoannis a Bosco lypis editab pag. 226, et sequentibits xysti dextri.
—'See "Acta
Article xi. Sanctorum,"
tomus iii. , Augusti xvii. Among the preter-
252 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 18. Bollandists, 1 who refer for further particulars to his Acts, published on the ist
2
Article XII. —The Finding of St. Livinus, Martyr, in Belgium. In the Florarium Sanctorum, at the 17th of Augustus entered S. Livinilnventio. It is to be presumed, this is a feast, designed to commemorate the Finding or Translation of St. Livinus' relics. The chief Festival of this holy Irish Martyr is held on the 12th day of November, at which date the Bollandists
2
<£t(rl)tmttl) ©ap of august.
ARTICLE I. —ST. DAIGH OR DAGEUS, BISIIGT, OF INIS-CAOIN- DEAGIIA, NOW INISKEEN, IN THE COUNTY OF LOUTH.
[FIFTH AND SIXTH CENTURIES. ] CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—ANCIENT ACTS OF ST. DEGA—PEDIGREE AND BIRTH OF ST. DAIGH— HIS EARLY EDUCATION—PROPHECY OF ST. MOCHTA—STUDIES OF ST. DAIGH AT DEVENISH—HIS ARTISTIC WORKS—EARLY PROFICIENCY OF THE IRISH IN VARIOUS ORNAMENTAL PRODUCTIONS.
day of March.
promise to give his Acts.
the present saint had been greatly venerated in Ireland, and also from the times of Christian well be inferred,
THAT
from those acquirements and miraculous powers attributed to him, in the old Acts of his Life, which still remain. In the most ancient of our Irish Calen- dars, his Feast has been inserted \ while allusions to him are contained in the Lives of other Irish saints, who were his contemporaries. We cannot be sure, however, that the Acts of St. Daigh or Dega, which have come to us, were written at a time very nearly approaching his period j nor indeed, can we regard all they contain, as worthy of our credence. Nevertheless, they have a value for their subject matter, as also for their allusions to persons and places, which must serve for throwing some light on this saint's personal his- tory. Already, at the 19th of February, a Feast has been set down for St. Daigh or Dagaeus, Bishop, while a doubt is implied, that he had been a
Articlexil. —1 See tomus iii. , Augusti xvii. mitted feasts, p. 418.
Sanctorum," Among the preter-
LL. D. r—
early regeneration, may
1
different person from the present holy prelate; and indeed, he seems to have
been so far distinguished, as he has been called the son of Nennaill, whereas the present saint is known as the son of Cayrill. However, some mistake may have been committed, in reference to the record of his patronymic.
The very fact of St. Daigh Mac Cairill having been inserted in the
a
"Feilire" of St. ^Engus, at the 18th day of August, with a distinguished
'See, likewise, the Eleventh Volume of this work, for the Life of St. Li—vinus.
niAC Cperein IHepioc mohair p<yoaic yAimivo bapen r^^ich •oidncuijvin'o
Article l—Chapter
•
i. See the
maich m-acc
Cresene's son, my Ernoc, a troop that
God. Aman of for our grace
Second Volume of this work, at the 19th of
February, Art. xi.
2 In the "LeabharBreac"
"
wehave the following rami, thus translated into
magnified
wheat was Daig, the good and great son of
/'Acta
English by Whitley Stokes,
copy,
"0^15 mop
caipilt.
August 18. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 253
eulogy, is proof sufficient of his having a legitimate claim on our veneration, and it gives, likewise, the correct date for his Festival. A scholiast has added
further his descents particulars, regarding
place,*
evident, that the most ancient Acts of this holy man were not written by a
synchronus, from certain allusions to matters, which took place long after the
time of St. Daygaeus. It would seem to have been Colgan's intention, as
6 welearnfromhisposthumouslist ofManuscripts, tohaveissuedtheActs
of St. Dagous, the present saint, at the 18th of August. The Bollandists' writers have published, with a previous commentary in ten paragraphs, the
Acts of St. Dega Maccayrill, Bishop and Confessor, in two chapters and seventeenparagraphs,atthe18thofAugust. ? Thesehavebeentakenfrom
a Salamancan Manuscript in their possession, and they are a production of some anonymous writer. The Acts of St. |Dagaeusare contained, also, in a Manu-
8 to the script, belonging
at Bruxelles and these have ?
BurgundianLibrary
been lately edited 10 by Fathers Carolus de Smedt and Joseph de Backer, at
the expense of the Right Hon. John Patrick Marquis of Bute. Bishop Clialloner merely observes, at this date, that the Life of St. Dega, written by
11
one of his countrymen, is but modern, and full of nothing but prodigies. However, this description is not quite correct, as it contains some statements of historic interest and value. At this date, likewise, the Petits Bollandistes
12
have some brief notices of St. Dagee Maccayrill.
The old Acts of our saint state, that his father's name was Cayrell, son of
Dorona j'9 while his mother is called Dechidu, the daughter of Massan. The father is said to have been the fifth in descent from Niall of the Nine Hos-
1 * he
washismother. 16 Shehadbeenmarriedtofourdifferenthusbands,andinthe first instance, to Cayrell or Cairrell, as the name is indifferently written ; and
by him, she had two children, renowned for their sanctity, the present saint,
and his sister Feme, and 1 ? to some accounts, their Virgin Martyr. According
11*
to the race of
to the
sontoNiall; whileDedi,daughterofTrian,sontoDubhtachHuiLughair,
tages.
According
O'Clerys,
belonged
Eoghan,
Cairell. "—" Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. ,
" See " Britannia Sancta," part ii. , Aug. 18, p. 88.
i. p. cxxiv.
On the Calendar of
Oengus,
I2 See "Vies des tome Saints,"
e
xviii Jour d'Aout, pp. 2, 3.
part
x. ,
3 He is said to have been son of Coirell, son to Laisren, son of Dablan, son to Eogan, .
son to Niall of the Nine Hostages, son of Echaid Muidmedon.
4 It is stated to have been Inis Cain Dega, in Conaille Muirthemne.
5ThecommentatornotesinIrish,whatis
I3 This statement differs from that given ""
by the commentator on the Feilire of St.
^Engus, who relates, that Coirell or Cayrell, was son of Laisren, son to Dablan, son of
Eogan, &c.
** He was King over Ireland, from A. d.
379to405. SeeDr. O'Donovan's"Annals of the Four Masters," vol i. , pp. 126, 127.
IS See the "
scribe was this Daig. He it is that made edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
here rendered into English :
"
Daig, son of a smith and an artist and a choice
of Marlyrology Donegal,"
Coirell,
300 bells and 300 croziers and 300 Gospels, a—nd chief artist to Ciaran of Saigir was he. "
222, 223.
l6 This grandaughter of Dubthach Hui
Lughair was a very remarkable personage in Irish hagiology, and for the fullest and most satisfactory account of her and of her family connections, the reader may consult a work, which fo—r genealogical research and com-
lbid,> pp. cxxxi. , cxxxii. *"
In Catalogus aliquorum Sanctorum Hiberniae quae MS. habentur. "
7 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Au-
gusti xviii. De S. Dega Maccayrill Ep. Conf. , pp. 656 to 662.
8
It is classed vol. xxii.
9 They differ not from the Life of our saint
previously published by the Bollandists.
in reference to the
10
Among the nice," ex cod ice
891 to 902,
"Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Salmanticensi, &c, cols.
is one of the most valuable histories yet published, We allude of course to our dear deceased friend's book, the "Loca Patriciana," of Rev. JohnFrancisShearman. SeeNo. v. ,
pp. 86 to 88.
and 5 It is profession.
pleteness especially — pedigrees of our national saints
254 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 18.
brother was St. Diarmaid or Diermit,15 Abbot of Inis Clothrann in Lough Ree ; but, this seems a doubtful matter, as may be inferred from what has been stated already in his Acts, occurring, at the ioth of January, the date for his festival. '9 This saint's name has been given variedly as Dega, Daigh,
Dageus, Daygaeus
and
Daganus.
He was born in the of Kiennacta ao territory
Breagh,sometimescalledKiennactaArda. Thisterritorywassituatedinthe
eastern part of the kingdom of Meath, and a sub-section of this people was
also seated in Fingal, northwards from the city of Dublin. 21 It is also to be
distinguished from the Kiennacta of Uladh, now the barony of Keenaght, in
the of 22 hadanuncle,namedLassrian,2* who
County Londonderry. Daigh
ruled as Abbot over the monastery of Damhinis, now Devenish ; but who
happenedtobethere,inalittle monastery,atthetimeofDega'sbirth,and in that he was baptized.
While yet a boy, his parents placed their child under the care of his uncle Lasarian to be instructed in letters. It appears, that abbot had a brother, who was a deacon, and through whose training, likewise, Dega made great progress in his studies. Oneday, having occasion to visit St. Mochta,2* who livedinhismonasteryatLouth,thedeaconbroughtDegawithhim. When these visitors arrived at the guest-house, the boy was left there, and the deacon went to see the venerable senior Mochta, so that he might confer with that Abbot about some matters of business. Meantime, while they were thus engaged, it appeared to the monks, that the house in which the boy was left had been surrounded with flames, which they ran at once to extinguish.
There Dega was found, but uninjured by that fire. Whereupon, they hastened to their holy Abbot with an account of such a remarkable occurrence. Then, in the spirit of prophecy, Mochta said: " That boy shall be inflamed with the fire of the Holy Spirit, and therefore not inaptly shall he be called
means * a
holy Abbot ordered the boy to be brought to him, and he was received with
:
greatjoy. Takinghimbythehand,Mochtasaid "Thisisthephysician,whom
I have seen formerly in the spirit, and who is destined to heal my three
infirmities. " These were pains in the head, in the heart, and in the reins.
Whereupon, placing the boy's hand on those parts affected, St. Mochta was
immediately healed. Wherefore, blessing the hand, which had wrought those cures, the holy Abbot said: " Many a church vessel and ornament in gold,
in silver, in brass, and in iron, shall proceed from that hand, and moreover,
Dayg,"
which in the Scottish
language,
great
flame. ' the Then,
many an elegant volume shall it write.
» Her festival was held on the of day 17th
September, where some notices of her may
be found, in the Ninth Volume of this
work.
18
That hand also shall administer the
3I See Roderick " O'FIaherty's Ogygia,"
pars, iii. , cap. lxviii. , p. 332.
" This territory belonged to the O'Conors,
of Gleann Geimliin, who were of the race
of Cian, son of Oilioll Olum, King of that the old church of Kildiermitt, on the Munster, in the third century ; but, they cast side of Tara Hill, and over Comtown were dispossessed by the O'Cathains or Harbour, is the only reminiscence of this O'Kanes, of the race of Eoghan, a short
saint now in Hy Kinsellagh, County of time previous to the English invasion. See
Father John Francis Shearman says,
Wexford.
19 See the First Volume of this work, at
that day, Art. i.
30
It was so called, after a renowned war- rior, named Kien, or Cian, who was killed in battle, and on whose son Tadhg, the ter- ritory of Ciannachta in Magh Breagh, was bestowed by Cormac, son of Art, monarch of Ireland, A. c. 227. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. no, in.
"The Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh
O Huidhrin," edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , p. xvi. , n. 69.
23 The feast of this saint occurs on the 12th of September, and may be found in the Ninth Volume of this work, Art. i.
** His Life may be seen, on the day suc- ceeding—that for his festival—in the present Volume, Art. i.
s'Sec "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
August 18. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 255
Body and Blood of Christ to me in the Holy Communion, when I am about to be called out of this world. Moreover, that hand shall fashion the reliquary in which my mortal remains are to be enclosed, and whatever may be useful
in such it shall likewise 2* This way, accomplish.
fulfilled.
Afterwards Daig became a celebrated artificer.
was afterwards This holy man is said to
26
2
containing the writings of the four Evangelists. ? Besides these, it is stated,
that he manufactured shrines, cases, chalices, pyxes, dishes, altariola, baculi, crucifixes, and chrysmals. We are informed, moreover, that while some of these were plainly made, others were highly wrought with gold, silver and precious stones, which were added as ornaments to them. 28 This holy man
particularly distinguished himself by his assiduity in in transcribing sacred books, as by his ingenuity in making elegant covers for them. Also, bells, cymbals, and utensils he fashioned, for the service of the Church, and many
have fashioned no less than one hundred and fifty bells,
and one hundred
croziers. He likewise made cases or covers for sixty Gospels—i. e. , books
of these he distributed
2
in various — of Ireland. ^ gratis parts
That the ancient Irish e—
xcelled in art in that especially
eighth century, the art of illuminating manuscripts had attained to great per- fection in Ireland,30 as proved from the Book of Kells and from many others, whichhavecomedowntoourtimes. Thecoversforthosemanuscripts,asalso for bells, are well worthy of examination. Various works in stone and metal, yet remain ; but, in many instances, only in a fragmentary state, in our fields or in our museums. 31 Several of those exhibit wonderful skill in manipulation, and a characteristic taste in the people who executed them, while the designs are such as to render them models for the very best workers in metal, at the
presentday. Inthetwelfthcentury,regardingtheexquisiteskillofIrishscribes in producing manuscripts, Giraldus Cambrensis testifies to such a fact,32 as well as those writers, who in our own days have generally treated on such
Augusti xviii. Vita S. Dega Maccayrill, —The "Martyrology of Donegal," edited by
to eccle-
relating
siastical designs and objects has been sufficiently established, in the writings of some modern archaeologists and artists. From the fifth to the end of the
Ep. Conf. , auctore anonymo, cap. i. , num. 3, p. 659.
26 From the very earliest Christian times in Ireland, the use of bells in connection with the primitive churches and monasteries was known. "Bells were used to denote the hours of devotion in the monastic socie- ties of Northumbria, and as early —as the sixth century in those of Caledonia. "
H. T. Ellacombe's "Church Bells of Devon: with a List of those in Cornwall, to which is added a Supplement on various Matters relating to the Bells of the Churches," pp. 4, 5. Exeter, 1872, 4to.
2? Such is the O'Clerys account, and in confirmation of it they quote an Irish qua- train, of whi—ch the following is an English
Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 222, 223.
2S
See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Augusti xviii. DeS. DegaMaccay- rill, Ep. Conf. , Vita, auclore anonymo, cap. i. , p. 659.
translation
mdcccxliii—
31 See various illustrations and descrip-
tions, in Henry O'Neill's "Fine Arts and Ancient Civilization of Ireland. "
32 in his remarkable account of the Book of Kildare. See " Topographia Hibernica," Distinctio Secunda, cap. xxxviii. , xxxix.
"
:
Thrice fifty bells, victorious deed, With one hundred strong-ringed
croziers,
With sixty perfect gospels, By the hand of Daigh alone. "
London,
MDCCCXLV. ,Imp. 4to.
Rev.
3° See I. O. Westwood's "
Sacra Pictoria : being a Series of lllustra- tions of the ancient Versions of the Bible, copied from Illuminated Manuscripts, exe- cuted between the fourth and sixteenth cen- turies. " See the Gospels of Maeiel Brith Mac Duman, the Book of Kells, Irish Manu- scripts and Irish Biblical Manuscripts. This fine and valuable work has no paging,
29 See
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
prediction
nice," xix. Februarii. De S. Dagreo Epis-
copo, p. 374
Paloeographia
256 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 18.
subjects. 33 Nor is this very wonderful, when we consider the degree to which letters and science had been elevated in the Irish schools. ^
CHAPTER II.
AFTER THE CONFERENCE WITH ST. MOCHTA, DAIGH RETURNS TO DEVENISH—HE NEXT PROCEEDS TO ST. COMGALL AT BANGOR—HE TRAVELS WITH SOME COMPANIONS TO ST. KIERAN AT CLONMACNOISE—THIS HOLY ABBOT DIRECTS HIM TO FOUND A MONASTERY IN THAT PLACE WHERE HE HAD BEEN BORN—THERE HE MEETS ST. COLUMBA—HE BUILDS A RELIGIOUS HOUSE AT INISHKEEN—DESCRIPTION OF THIS PLACE—SEVERAL MIRACLES WROUGHT BY ST. DAIGH—HE IS SAID TO HAVE ATTENDED ST. MOCHTEUS IN HIS LASP ILLNESS.
Having heard the prediction of St. Mochta already related, the Deacon asked him further questions, regarding the boy's future vocation. Then said Mochta : " Between me and the mountain northwards, he shall found a beautiful monas- tery. " The Deacon then asked, if that should be under his jurisdiction. Mochta replied : "No, for during last night, in a vision, I saw the boy delivered by the Lord of Heaven into the hands of a certain young man, who shall be born after some years. " That person of whom the holy Abbot spoke was
1
thought to have been no other than St. Kieran, the renowned Abbot of
Clonmacnoise.
Whereupon, that deacon, with the boy Dageus, returned to his brother St.
Laserian,2 the Abbot and founder of a monastery at Daimhinis, now Devenish,
in Lough Erne. We learn, that adjoining the great monastery at that place, there was a smaller one, 3 apart from it, and which was a school. In this, Dageus
fully learned the arts of writing, and of metal-working, as also the knowledge
of literature. There, too, he was obliged constantly to reside and, on a ;
certain occasion, when the monks slept, he was enjoined by the Abbot Laserian to keep watch, for the protection of that house. However, the pupil only hung his cape on a wooden peg, when so ordered ; and, for that night, nothing occurred to do any injury to the place or to its inhabitants. However, on the next day, the Abbot upbraided him for his disobedience. Whereupon, Dageus prophetically stated, that never should that little monas- tery be exempt from some damage.
Afterwards, having obtained the requisite permission from St. Lassrian,
theyouthwenttothemonasteryofSt. Comgall,*atBangor. s Therehewas initiatedtotheruleanddisciplineestablishedbythatholyAbbot. Byday
3' See Sir William Betham's " Irish An-
tiquarian Researches, "p. 244 ; Henry Shaw's "Handbook of Mediaeval Alphabets,"
London, 1853 ; Henry Noel Humphreys' " Illuminated Works of the Middle Ages ;"
"
the Evangelia Augustini Gregoriana,"
edited by James Godwin, Fellow of Cam-
bridge University ; M. Digby Wyatt's Handbook to the Byzantine Court in the
Crystal Palace, at Sydenham," and his "Art of Illuminating ;" Silvestre's " Palseo- graphia Universelle. "
Chapter il — * His Life is given, in the Ninth Volume of this work, at the 9th of September, the day for his festival. Art. i.
He died A. D. 563, according to Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Mas- ters," vol.
chap, lxxiv. , pp. 176, 177.
"5
Edited by 220, 221.
Article VI. p. xxxii.
Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp.
—
A similar notice accurs in the Book of Leinster copy Sci eoam 1111c Captain, at this same day.
3 See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Down," sheet 45.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
220, 221.
5 By William M. Hennessy.
•
Edited by
Rev. Dr.
a
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 220, 221.
3 Thus written, beccam. '
Article vil— ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii. In the copy, as found in the Book of Leinster, at this date, we have
Kelly,
August 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 251 ings. It measured only 20 by 13 feet, in the clear. Better than a century
6
ago, the walls were entire.
the foundation, and with it the east window, small and narrow, terminating in an acute angle, formed by two inclined flags. The doorway, in the west wall, is 5 feet, 6 inches, high ; 2 feet, 1 inch wide, at the top, but gradually dilating to the threshold, where it is 3 feet in breadth. In the south wall, near the south-east angle, there is a window 2 feet, 5 \ inches high ; 1 foot, 4 inches wide, at top, and 1 foot, 9 nine inches, at bottom. In both instances, the aperture is surmounted by a single flag, instead of an arch. ?
Article X. —Festival of St. Mammes, Martyr, in C^esarea, Cappa-
docia. ThefestivalofSt. Mammes,theMartyr,washonouredinIreland,
probably before the eighth century, and on the 17th of August, when it is
6 besides some
lation of his relics to the Lingones, a people of Champagne,? in France, are
noticedinthe"Feihre" ofSt. 1 Thescholiasthas ^Engus.
chapters ;
previous
observations 7 on a of the Trans- History
added. That IO was History
name is unknown.
8
written,
11
by
some
of buthis Langres,
Dromore," n. (s), pp. 33, 34, and Appendix
LL, p. 379. —
Article x. See "Transactions of
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , parti. On the Calendar of
Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxxiv.
* In Latin thus: "Roches Mammes
martir 7rl. qui mulsit lac a ferinis et cui
euangelium datum est et passus est sub [au]
ri iano imperatore in ciuitate Capadocioe
prouincire etpuererat annorum . xu. quando passus est. Vel Mammes . i. sanctus fil
Longbardaib . i. anni hiFrangcaib 7 nobilis martir et confessor fuit sicut incolre loci ill [i] us affirmant. "
3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Au- gusti xvii. De Sanctis Martyribus Alexan- drinis Mammete Disco seu Diseo et forte Disca et Mammitacum sociis suis, p. 418.
8
SeeTacitus,Historiarum,lib. iv. , cap.
'
57. Now les Langrois, their chief city is
mitted saints, p. 416. 42
But now, the east wall has been demolished to
added, likewise, some comments 2 to that record. At this date, the Bollandists3 have entered, on authority of an ancient Calendar, a St. Mammes with others at Alexandria ; but, they have doubts, if he be at all a different person from St. Mammes, a Martyr of Cesarea, in Cappadocia, whose feast is also set down for the 17th of August. A very elaborate previous commentary 4 is prefixed to the Passion s of the last-named holy Martyr, containing a Prologue, with two
Article. XI. —Festival of the Translation of St. David's Relics, Archbishop in Wales. In Greven's additions to the Carthusian Martyr- ology, Bruxelles, is an entry, at the 17th of August: " Translatio divi Davidis archiepiscopi in Wallia. " This is noted, likewise, at the same date, by the
6 See Harris " History and Antiquities of the County of Down," p. 271.
s Auctore, Godefrido Lingonensi episcopo, ex codice MS. Carthusian Divionensis.
i See Rev. William Reeves' " Ecclesias-
tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and accompanyingannotations.
In five sections and fifty-two para. See also, the Third Volume of this graphs. work, for that date, Art. i.
6
nineteen
with
priest
Comprising
7 In seven paragraphs.
paragraphs,
Langres. 9"
See Pliny, Historia Naturalis," lib. iv. , sect. 31.
10 The Bollandists observe " Et in :
" A preface of the author, in two para- graphs, and in three chapters, comprising twenty additional paragraphs, together with notes of the editor, Father John Pinius, S. J. , may be found. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Augusti xvii. De Sancto Mamante vel Mammete Martyre, Caesarea; in Cappadocia, pp. 423 to 446.
Bibliotheca FloriacensiJoannis a Bosco lypis editab pag. 226, et sequentibits xysti dextri.
—'See "Acta
Article xi. Sanctorum,"
tomus iii. , Augusti xvii. Among the preter-
252 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 18. Bollandists, 1 who refer for further particulars to his Acts, published on the ist
2
Article XII. —The Finding of St. Livinus, Martyr, in Belgium. In the Florarium Sanctorum, at the 17th of Augustus entered S. Livinilnventio. It is to be presumed, this is a feast, designed to commemorate the Finding or Translation of St. Livinus' relics. The chief Festival of this holy Irish Martyr is held on the 12th day of November, at which date the Bollandists
2
<£t(rl)tmttl) ©ap of august.
ARTICLE I. —ST. DAIGH OR DAGEUS, BISIIGT, OF INIS-CAOIN- DEAGIIA, NOW INISKEEN, IN THE COUNTY OF LOUTH.
[FIFTH AND SIXTH CENTURIES. ] CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—ANCIENT ACTS OF ST. DEGA—PEDIGREE AND BIRTH OF ST. DAIGH— HIS EARLY EDUCATION—PROPHECY OF ST. MOCHTA—STUDIES OF ST. DAIGH AT DEVENISH—HIS ARTISTIC WORKS—EARLY PROFICIENCY OF THE IRISH IN VARIOUS ORNAMENTAL PRODUCTIONS.
day of March.
promise to give his Acts.
the present saint had been greatly venerated in Ireland, and also from the times of Christian well be inferred,
THAT
from those acquirements and miraculous powers attributed to him, in the old Acts of his Life, which still remain. In the most ancient of our Irish Calen- dars, his Feast has been inserted \ while allusions to him are contained in the Lives of other Irish saints, who were his contemporaries. We cannot be sure, however, that the Acts of St. Daigh or Dega, which have come to us, were written at a time very nearly approaching his period j nor indeed, can we regard all they contain, as worthy of our credence. Nevertheless, they have a value for their subject matter, as also for their allusions to persons and places, which must serve for throwing some light on this saint's personal his- tory. Already, at the 19th of February, a Feast has been set down for St. Daigh or Dagaeus, Bishop, while a doubt is implied, that he had been a
Articlexil. —1 See tomus iii. , Augusti xvii. mitted feasts, p. 418.
Sanctorum," Among the preter-
LL. D. r—
early regeneration, may
1
different person from the present holy prelate; and indeed, he seems to have
been so far distinguished, as he has been called the son of Nennaill, whereas the present saint is known as the son of Cayrill. However, some mistake may have been committed, in reference to the record of his patronymic.
The very fact of St. Daigh Mac Cairill having been inserted in the
a
"Feilire" of St. ^Engus, at the 18th day of August, with a distinguished
'See, likewise, the Eleventh Volume of this work, for the Life of St. Li—vinus.
niAC Cperein IHepioc mohair p<yoaic yAimivo bapen r^^ich •oidncuijvin'o
Article l—Chapter
•
i. See the
maich m-acc
Cresene's son, my Ernoc, a troop that
God. Aman of for our grace
Second Volume of this work, at the 19th of
February, Art. xi.
2 In the "LeabharBreac"
"
wehave the following rami, thus translated into
magnified
wheat was Daig, the good and great son of
/'Acta
English by Whitley Stokes,
copy,
"0^15 mop
caipilt.
August 18. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 253
eulogy, is proof sufficient of his having a legitimate claim on our veneration, and it gives, likewise, the correct date for his Festival. A scholiast has added
further his descents particulars, regarding
place,*
evident, that the most ancient Acts of this holy man were not written by a
synchronus, from certain allusions to matters, which took place long after the
time of St. Daygaeus. It would seem to have been Colgan's intention, as
6 welearnfromhisposthumouslist ofManuscripts, tohaveissuedtheActs
of St. Dagous, the present saint, at the 18th of August. The Bollandists' writers have published, with a previous commentary in ten paragraphs, the
Acts of St. Dega Maccayrill, Bishop and Confessor, in two chapters and seventeenparagraphs,atthe18thofAugust. ? Thesehavebeentakenfrom
a Salamancan Manuscript in their possession, and they are a production of some anonymous writer. The Acts of St. |Dagaeusare contained, also, in a Manu-
8 to the script, belonging
at Bruxelles and these have ?
BurgundianLibrary
been lately edited 10 by Fathers Carolus de Smedt and Joseph de Backer, at
the expense of the Right Hon. John Patrick Marquis of Bute. Bishop Clialloner merely observes, at this date, that the Life of St. Dega, written by
11
one of his countrymen, is but modern, and full of nothing but prodigies. However, this description is not quite correct, as it contains some statements of historic interest and value. At this date, likewise, the Petits Bollandistes
12
have some brief notices of St. Dagee Maccayrill.
The old Acts of our saint state, that his father's name was Cayrell, son of
Dorona j'9 while his mother is called Dechidu, the daughter of Massan. The father is said to have been the fifth in descent from Niall of the Nine Hos-
1 * he
washismother. 16 Shehadbeenmarriedtofourdifferenthusbands,andinthe first instance, to Cayrell or Cairrell, as the name is indifferently written ; and
by him, she had two children, renowned for their sanctity, the present saint,
and his sister Feme, and 1 ? to some accounts, their Virgin Martyr. According
11*
to the race of
to the
sontoNiall; whileDedi,daughterofTrian,sontoDubhtachHuiLughair,
tages.
According
O'Clerys,
belonged
Eoghan,
Cairell. "—" Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. ,
" See " Britannia Sancta," part ii. , Aug. 18, p. 88.
i. p. cxxiv.
On the Calendar of
Oengus,
I2 See "Vies des tome Saints,"
e
xviii Jour d'Aout, pp. 2, 3.
part
x. ,
3 He is said to have been son of Coirell, son to Laisren, son of Dablan, son to Eogan, .
son to Niall of the Nine Hostages, son of Echaid Muidmedon.
4 It is stated to have been Inis Cain Dega, in Conaille Muirthemne.
5ThecommentatornotesinIrish,whatis
I3 This statement differs from that given ""
by the commentator on the Feilire of St.
^Engus, who relates, that Coirell or Cayrell, was son of Laisren, son to Dablan, son of
Eogan, &c.
** He was King over Ireland, from A. d.
379to405. SeeDr. O'Donovan's"Annals of the Four Masters," vol i. , pp. 126, 127.
IS See the "
scribe was this Daig. He it is that made edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
here rendered into English :
"
Daig, son of a smith and an artist and a choice
of Marlyrology Donegal,"
Coirell,
300 bells and 300 croziers and 300 Gospels, a—nd chief artist to Ciaran of Saigir was he. "
222, 223.
l6 This grandaughter of Dubthach Hui
Lughair was a very remarkable personage in Irish hagiology, and for the fullest and most satisfactory account of her and of her family connections, the reader may consult a work, which fo—r genealogical research and com-
lbid,> pp. cxxxi. , cxxxii. *"
In Catalogus aliquorum Sanctorum Hiberniae quae MS. habentur. "
7 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Au-
gusti xviii. De S. Dega Maccayrill Ep. Conf. , pp. 656 to 662.
8
It is classed vol. xxii.
9 They differ not from the Life of our saint
previously published by the Bollandists.
in reference to the
10
Among the nice," ex cod ice
891 to 902,
"Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Salmanticensi, &c, cols.
is one of the most valuable histories yet published, We allude of course to our dear deceased friend's book, the "Loca Patriciana," of Rev. JohnFrancisShearman. SeeNo. v. ,
pp. 86 to 88.
and 5 It is profession.
pleteness especially — pedigrees of our national saints
254 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 18.
brother was St. Diarmaid or Diermit,15 Abbot of Inis Clothrann in Lough Ree ; but, this seems a doubtful matter, as may be inferred from what has been stated already in his Acts, occurring, at the ioth of January, the date for his festival. '9 This saint's name has been given variedly as Dega, Daigh,
Dageus, Daygaeus
and
Daganus.
He was born in the of Kiennacta ao territory
Breagh,sometimescalledKiennactaArda. Thisterritorywassituatedinthe
eastern part of the kingdom of Meath, and a sub-section of this people was
also seated in Fingal, northwards from the city of Dublin. 21 It is also to be
distinguished from the Kiennacta of Uladh, now the barony of Keenaght, in
the of 22 hadanuncle,namedLassrian,2* who
County Londonderry. Daigh
ruled as Abbot over the monastery of Damhinis, now Devenish ; but who
happenedtobethere,inalittle monastery,atthetimeofDega'sbirth,and in that he was baptized.
While yet a boy, his parents placed their child under the care of his uncle Lasarian to be instructed in letters. It appears, that abbot had a brother, who was a deacon, and through whose training, likewise, Dega made great progress in his studies. Oneday, having occasion to visit St. Mochta,2* who livedinhismonasteryatLouth,thedeaconbroughtDegawithhim. When these visitors arrived at the guest-house, the boy was left there, and the deacon went to see the venerable senior Mochta, so that he might confer with that Abbot about some matters of business. Meantime, while they were thus engaged, it appeared to the monks, that the house in which the boy was left had been surrounded with flames, which they ran at once to extinguish.
There Dega was found, but uninjured by that fire. Whereupon, they hastened to their holy Abbot with an account of such a remarkable occurrence. Then, in the spirit of prophecy, Mochta said: " That boy shall be inflamed with the fire of the Holy Spirit, and therefore not inaptly shall he be called
means * a
holy Abbot ordered the boy to be brought to him, and he was received with
:
greatjoy. Takinghimbythehand,Mochtasaid "Thisisthephysician,whom
I have seen formerly in the spirit, and who is destined to heal my three
infirmities. " These were pains in the head, in the heart, and in the reins.
Whereupon, placing the boy's hand on those parts affected, St. Mochta was
immediately healed. Wherefore, blessing the hand, which had wrought those cures, the holy Abbot said: " Many a church vessel and ornament in gold,
in silver, in brass, and in iron, shall proceed from that hand, and moreover,
Dayg,"
which in the Scottish
language,
great
flame. ' the Then,
many an elegant volume shall it write.
» Her festival was held on the of day 17th
September, where some notices of her may
be found, in the Ninth Volume of this
work.
18
That hand also shall administer the
3I See Roderick " O'FIaherty's Ogygia,"
pars, iii. , cap. lxviii. , p. 332.
" This territory belonged to the O'Conors,
of Gleann Geimliin, who were of the race
of Cian, son of Oilioll Olum, King of that the old church of Kildiermitt, on the Munster, in the third century ; but, they cast side of Tara Hill, and over Comtown were dispossessed by the O'Cathains or Harbour, is the only reminiscence of this O'Kanes, of the race of Eoghan, a short
saint now in Hy Kinsellagh, County of time previous to the English invasion. See
Father John Francis Shearman says,
Wexford.
19 See the First Volume of this work, at
that day, Art. i.
30
It was so called, after a renowned war- rior, named Kien, or Cian, who was killed in battle, and on whose son Tadhg, the ter- ritory of Ciannachta in Magh Breagh, was bestowed by Cormac, son of Art, monarch of Ireland, A. c. 227. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. no, in.
"The Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh
O Huidhrin," edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , p. xvi. , n. 69.
23 The feast of this saint occurs on the 12th of September, and may be found in the Ninth Volume of this work, Art. i.
** His Life may be seen, on the day suc- ceeding—that for his festival—in the present Volume, Art. i.
s'Sec "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
August 18. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 255
Body and Blood of Christ to me in the Holy Communion, when I am about to be called out of this world. Moreover, that hand shall fashion the reliquary in which my mortal remains are to be enclosed, and whatever may be useful
in such it shall likewise 2* This way, accomplish.
fulfilled.
Afterwards Daig became a celebrated artificer.
was afterwards This holy man is said to
26
2
containing the writings of the four Evangelists. ? Besides these, it is stated,
that he manufactured shrines, cases, chalices, pyxes, dishes, altariola, baculi, crucifixes, and chrysmals. We are informed, moreover, that while some of these were plainly made, others were highly wrought with gold, silver and precious stones, which were added as ornaments to them. 28 This holy man
particularly distinguished himself by his assiduity in in transcribing sacred books, as by his ingenuity in making elegant covers for them. Also, bells, cymbals, and utensils he fashioned, for the service of the Church, and many
have fashioned no less than one hundred and fifty bells,
and one hundred
croziers. He likewise made cases or covers for sixty Gospels—i. e. , books
of these he distributed
2
in various — of Ireland. ^ gratis parts
That the ancient Irish e—
xcelled in art in that especially
eighth century, the art of illuminating manuscripts had attained to great per- fection in Ireland,30 as proved from the Book of Kells and from many others, whichhavecomedowntoourtimes. Thecoversforthosemanuscripts,asalso for bells, are well worthy of examination. Various works in stone and metal, yet remain ; but, in many instances, only in a fragmentary state, in our fields or in our museums. 31 Several of those exhibit wonderful skill in manipulation, and a characteristic taste in the people who executed them, while the designs are such as to render them models for the very best workers in metal, at the
presentday. Inthetwelfthcentury,regardingtheexquisiteskillofIrishscribes in producing manuscripts, Giraldus Cambrensis testifies to such a fact,32 as well as those writers, who in our own days have generally treated on such
Augusti xviii. Vita S. Dega Maccayrill, —The "Martyrology of Donegal," edited by
to eccle-
relating
siastical designs and objects has been sufficiently established, in the writings of some modern archaeologists and artists. From the fifth to the end of the
Ep. Conf. , auctore anonymo, cap. i. , num. 3, p. 659.
26 From the very earliest Christian times in Ireland, the use of bells in connection with the primitive churches and monasteries was known. "Bells were used to denote the hours of devotion in the monastic socie- ties of Northumbria, and as early —as the sixth century in those of Caledonia. "
H. T. Ellacombe's "Church Bells of Devon: with a List of those in Cornwall, to which is added a Supplement on various Matters relating to the Bells of the Churches," pp. 4, 5. Exeter, 1872, 4to.
2? Such is the O'Clerys account, and in confirmation of it they quote an Irish qua- train, of whi—ch the following is an English
Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 222, 223.
2S
See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Augusti xviii. DeS. DegaMaccay- rill, Ep. Conf. , Vita, auclore anonymo, cap. i. , p. 659.
translation
mdcccxliii—
31 See various illustrations and descrip-
tions, in Henry O'Neill's "Fine Arts and Ancient Civilization of Ireland. "
32 in his remarkable account of the Book of Kildare. See " Topographia Hibernica," Distinctio Secunda, cap. xxxviii. , xxxix.
"
:
Thrice fifty bells, victorious deed, With one hundred strong-ringed
croziers,
With sixty perfect gospels, By the hand of Daigh alone. "
London,
MDCCCXLV. ,Imp. 4to.
Rev.
3° See I. O. Westwood's "
Sacra Pictoria : being a Series of lllustra- tions of the ancient Versions of the Bible, copied from Illuminated Manuscripts, exe- cuted between the fourth and sixteenth cen- turies. " See the Gospels of Maeiel Brith Mac Duman, the Book of Kells, Irish Manu- scripts and Irish Biblical Manuscripts. This fine and valuable work has no paging,
29 See
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
prediction
nice," xix. Februarii. De S. Dagreo Epis-
copo, p. 374
Paloeographia
256 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 18.
subjects. 33 Nor is this very wonderful, when we consider the degree to which letters and science had been elevated in the Irish schools. ^
CHAPTER II.
AFTER THE CONFERENCE WITH ST. MOCHTA, DAIGH RETURNS TO DEVENISH—HE NEXT PROCEEDS TO ST. COMGALL AT BANGOR—HE TRAVELS WITH SOME COMPANIONS TO ST. KIERAN AT CLONMACNOISE—THIS HOLY ABBOT DIRECTS HIM TO FOUND A MONASTERY IN THAT PLACE WHERE HE HAD BEEN BORN—THERE HE MEETS ST. COLUMBA—HE BUILDS A RELIGIOUS HOUSE AT INISHKEEN—DESCRIPTION OF THIS PLACE—SEVERAL MIRACLES WROUGHT BY ST. DAIGH—HE IS SAID TO HAVE ATTENDED ST. MOCHTEUS IN HIS LASP ILLNESS.
Having heard the prediction of St. Mochta already related, the Deacon asked him further questions, regarding the boy's future vocation. Then said Mochta : " Between me and the mountain northwards, he shall found a beautiful monas- tery. " The Deacon then asked, if that should be under his jurisdiction. Mochta replied : "No, for during last night, in a vision, I saw the boy delivered by the Lord of Heaven into the hands of a certain young man, who shall be born after some years. " That person of whom the holy Abbot spoke was
1
thought to have been no other than St. Kieran, the renowned Abbot of
Clonmacnoise.
Whereupon, that deacon, with the boy Dageus, returned to his brother St.
Laserian,2 the Abbot and founder of a monastery at Daimhinis, now Devenish,
in Lough Erne. We learn, that adjoining the great monastery at that place, there was a smaller one, 3 apart from it, and which was a school. In this, Dageus
fully learned the arts of writing, and of metal-working, as also the knowledge
of literature. There, too, he was obliged constantly to reside and, on a ;
certain occasion, when the monks slept, he was enjoined by the Abbot Laserian to keep watch, for the protection of that house. However, the pupil only hung his cape on a wooden peg, when so ordered ; and, for that night, nothing occurred to do any injury to the place or to its inhabitants. However, on the next day, the Abbot upbraided him for his disobedience. Whereupon, Dageus prophetically stated, that never should that little monas- tery be exempt from some damage.
Afterwards, having obtained the requisite permission from St. Lassrian,
theyouthwenttothemonasteryofSt. Comgall,*atBangor. s Therehewas initiatedtotheruleanddisciplineestablishedbythatholyAbbot. Byday
3' See Sir William Betham's " Irish An-
tiquarian Researches, "p. 244 ; Henry Shaw's "Handbook of Mediaeval Alphabets,"
London, 1853 ; Henry Noel Humphreys' " Illuminated Works of the Middle Ages ;"
"
the Evangelia Augustini Gregoriana,"
edited by James Godwin, Fellow of Cam-
bridge University ; M. Digby Wyatt's Handbook to the Byzantine Court in the
Crystal Palace, at Sydenham," and his "Art of Illuminating ;" Silvestre's " Palseo- graphia Universelle. "
Chapter il — * His Life is given, in the Ninth Volume of this work, at the 9th of September, the day for his festival. Art. i.
He died A. D. 563, according to Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Mas- ters," vol.
