" Such a rising ground is
treacable
immediately over the village of
that soon after the arrival of the English, the family of Warren had established a nunnery here, for nuns of the Augustinian Order.
that soon after the arrival of the English, the family of Warren had established a nunnery here, for nuns of the Augustinian Order.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
There is a Kilgory,3 in the parish of Killabban, and barony of Slieve-
margy, Queen's County ; while there is another townland similarly named,*
in the parish of Kilmoe, barony of Upper Tulla, county of Clare. In the
townland of Kilmagoura, parish of Shandrum,5 county of Cork, there are
some grass-covered remains of an old church, 45 feet in length, on the out-
side,by22inbreadth,andaboutthreefeetinheight; while,notfarawayis
Cranavilla Tree, having a remarkably contorted appearance.
It has been
6 that the townland name
Gabra, connected with St. Lon, and that Toberleenade, a well in the adjoin- ing townland of Newtown South, and in the same parish, may have been dedi- catedtohim. Thereisanotherremarkablewell,denominatedBachuleesa,7
8
in the townland of Farthingville East, while distant about two miles is St.
Colman's Well,' near the hamlet and burial-ground of the same name, in the parish of St. Colman's Well, and in the county of Limerick. A local tradi- tion prevails, that the saints of those three places, viz. , of Bachuleesa's Well, of Kilmagoura or Cranavilla, and of St. Colman's Well, were three brothers, who communicated with one another each morning. Of these, St. Colman's name is alone preserved. To a recent period, Kilmagoura was used as a burial- place for unbaptized infants ; for which reason, it was probably marked " Burial-Ground," on the Ordnance Townland Map ; but there is nothing whateverlikeagraveyardthere,atthepresenttime. 10 Thereisnoholywell in Kilmagoura townland, but in the adjoining townland of Newtown South, there is a much frequented holy well, locally known as Tober Leenade," or
Article i. —" Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxvii.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
178, 179-
3 It is marked, on the "Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the Queen's
conjectured,
may
have been a
corruption
Cilli
County," sheet 36.
* It is described, on the
"
Ordnance Sur-
carried on at Bachuleesa Well, but these are
now discontinued.
8
It is described, on the "Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," sheet 7. As seen on an old printed rental of the lands, as stated by Mr. O'Leary,
vey Townland Maps for the County of theformernameofFarthingvillewasCoolylyn.
sheet
5 This parish, situated in the baronies of
Orrery and Kilmore, is described on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," sheets I, 2, 6, 7.
6 For the particulars here given, I feel in- debted to Denis A. O'Leary, Esq. , Kilbo- lane Cottage, Charleville, County of Cork, in a letter dated August 7th, 1885. He also sent two rough sketches of the tree, taken from the north and south sides ; that on the northern side shows the grass-covered mound, where the church originally stood.
7 The Irish equivalent is bacul 1orA and Mr. O'Leary suspects St. Victor, mentioned in the Life of St. Patrick, may have been the Patron. It is traditionally stated, that the former locality of this well was about five miles distant, at Parc-na-Bile—recti painc nubile, "the Field of the Old Tree"— where a grass-covered mound, probably the site of an old church and the stump of a tree, yet remain. Some persons having committed a nuisance or otherwise dese- crated the Holy Well, the people state, that ft removed to the present site, marked on
9 Sometime in the month of
the people state, that this St. Colman's feast had been formerly celebrated.
10 Mr. O'Leary adds: "About 58 yards north of the grass-covered mound stands, or struggles to stand, a curious remnant of a
*
lightning struck ash, marked Cranavilla
Tree" on the Ordnance Sheet. This was a large ash which at some remote and long
forgotten date was struck by lightning and rent in twain. One portion must have fallen off while the remainder was twisted round and bent over. The shell, for it is nothing more, now remains, and marvellous to relate although being in an elevated and unshe—l- tered position it still withstands the storm even such—signal storms as those of January 6th, 1S39 locally remembered as the "night of the Big—Wind '—and
Clare,"
35.
November,
theOrdnanceSurveyMap. Withinthelast ""
thirty years rounds or devotions were
October 3rd, 1883 and still it annually sends forth
Sunday, an abundance of green leaves. "
11
There is no special day set apart in Shandrum parish, in honour of St. Leenade; but the large number of persons still fre- quenting this holy well is sufficient testi- mony, as in the powerful intercession of this
June 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
785
St. Leonard's Well," as it is thought by the country people. A peculiarity of this holy well is noticed, viz. , that nearly always it is bubbling or boiling up from the bottom. ^
Article V. —St. Cormac or Corbmac, of Senchoimhet. In the Martyrology ofTallagh,' a festival is mentioned in honour of Cormac of Sencometa, at the 24th of June. He is named Corbmac, and his place is
called Senchoimhet, in the Martyrology of unknown, nor has the locality been identified.
2 When he lived is
Article VI. —Reputed Feast of St. Golvenus, Bishop of Leon,
Aremorica. In " a festival for St. Dempster's Menologium Scotorum,"
Goluenus, Bishop of Leon, in Aremorica, is at the 24th of 1 Ac- placed June.
cording to that author, some suppose Golenus to have been a Scot ; he hesi- tates, however, to fall in with their opinions. The Bollandists * have a similar notice, at this date ; but, they remark, he is commemorated, on the 1st of July, in his own city.
Article [VII. —Festival of St. Johnt the Baptist's Nativitv. This illustrious saint, so renowned for his austere and innocent life, was vene- ratedwithpeculiarhonourintheearlyIrishChurch. Inthe"Feilire"'of St. ^Engus, at the 24th of June, it is especially noticed, and with an admoni- tion, that it is one the faithful should piously observe. From time immemorial, it had been customary among the Irish people to light bonfires on the eve of this feast, as also on the day itself; and, in several remote parts ofIreland,thatpracticehasnotasyetwhollydisappeared. Throughoutthe whole Christian world, reverence has been specially felt for the memory of our Lord's great precursor, and his feast is noted in all our Martyrologies and Calendars. At this date, likewise, the Bollandist editor Father Daniel I'ape- broke 2 has illustrated his Acts in the most complete manner. A most
holy man. Mr. O'Leary knows scores of
persons, who attribute their relief from bodily "
2
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iv. , Junii xxiv. Among the pretermitted feasts, p.
p—ains of all kinds, to having "paid rounds 687.
copy, the following stanza, with its English
version, —Dr. Whitley Stokes, is given at
a Article — thatis, visitedthewell—andofferedup vii.
' In the "Leabhar Breac"
a rosary or round of their beads, asking the saint's intercession, on their behalf. "Can this be St. Leenade of Kilmagoura ? " asks Mr. O'Leary, and he adds: "Doubtless, Kilmagoura townland may formerly have
by
included Newtown—a modern name— land in its area. "
town-
111
lAcachop ceriAirhif 1om mec T)oe]:fif.
12 It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," sheet 2.
li The people state, if an infirm visitor to the place is to be cured, the well boils up ; if no cure is to be effected for the patient, the waters seem quiescent.
xxvii.
p. 203.
"John Baptist's royal birth, if thou are pious thou hast kept it, at the removal with* out disgrace of John the child to K: —"Transactions of the Royal Iri^h Aca- demy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. 1. , parti. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. xcv. On the last line there is a Latin comment, "/>. , receptio Johannis li'. ii Zebedei ad Ephesum de exilio per Domitianuiu. —Ibid. , p. cvii.
See"ActaSanctorum, tomusiv. ,Junn xxiv. De Sancto Joanne Prodromoet bap- tista D. N. Jesu Chnsti, pp. 687 to 806.
1
Article viii. — See the Bollandists
Article v. — 1 Edited
Dr. 2 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
"
In Aremoricis Golueni Leonensis episcopi VV. nonnulli Scotum putant, sed ego delibero. "—Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints,"
Kelly, p.
•
iyS, 179. —x Article vi.
Thus :
by Rev.
this date
:
fli^gem I0111 baupcAifC
Donegal.
a\-<ileij\ |\o«pecmr
2D
786
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 25.
learned historic commentary, in seven chapters and four hundred and eighty- nineparagraphs,seemstoexhaustthesubject; whilevariousnotesareadded, serving to elucidate certain portions of the text.
Article VIII. —Feast of St. Brendan, Abbot. In a Manuscript
1
Benedictine Calendar, there is a feast at the 24th of June, for St. Brendan,
2
Abbot, whose Life has been already given at the 16th of May. Article IX. —Reputed Feast of St. Gillebert, or Agilbert.
In
1 atthe
Gillebert, according to Marianus O'Gorman ; but, Agilbertus, according to
Ctoentp-ffft! ) Bap of 3une,
ARTICLE I. —ST. SINCHEALL THE YOUNGER, OF KILLEIGH, KING'S COUNTY.
[SIXTH CENTURY. ]
present holy man appears to have figured, at an early period, in our ecclesiastical few him have
come down to our times. At this in the of 1 a date, Martyrology Tallagh,
festival is registered, in honour of Sincheall the Younger. The hoiy man
the of Martyrology
24th
Donegal, the Roman Martyrology.
THE
history, although particulars regarding
2
this name, and known as the Elder St. 2 was the son of Seancheall,
bearing
Ceanannan, or Ceannfhionnan, and he was venerated, at the 26th of March. 3 Ofhimwehavealreadytreated,atthatdate4 and,sofaraswecanascertain
;
from our Genealogies of the Irish Saints, the present St. Sincheall the
Younger must have flourished contemporaneously with his namesake, to whom he was related, and not in a very remote degree. 5 A certain district of ancient Ofalia territory was denominated Droma Foda, or " the long ridge;" and this was truly descriptive of an extended elevation over a plain, which is prolonged from the Slieve Bloom Mountains to the Hill of Allen, and
from Cruachan co the Hills of Killone near the Great Heath of
6
" Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii , Maii xvi. De S. Brendano seu Brandano Abbate de Cluainfertensi in Hibernia, cap. ii. , num. 15, p. 603.
Martyrology. —
2 See the Fifth Volume of the work, at that dat—e, Art. i.
present
Article ix. Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 178, 179.
2 A note
Gillebert, which with the references is found enclosed within brackets, that this entry in the more recent hand, signifies, the St. Gille- bert mentioned here by Marianus O'Gorman, is to be identified with the Agilbert, who is commemorated, on this day, in the Roman
niae," xxvi. Martii, De S. Senchello, Abbate
et Episc. de Kill-Achuidh, pp. 747, 74S.
* See the Third Volume of this work, at
26th March, Art. ii.
5 Thus, Cruac had two sons, Imchad and
Ere. Imchad was father to Ceannfhionan, father to the Elder St. Sincheall. Ere was father to Corcran, the father of the Younger St. Sincheall, according to the "Gencalo- gies of the Irish Saints, chap. xx.
by
Dr. Todd states, at this word
Article p. xxvii.
' I.
Edited
by
Rev. Dr.
Kelly,
a He
3 See
departed Colgan's
this life A. D.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
of thenameof June, appears
Maryborough.
548.
June 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
787
There was likewise a Cill Achaidh celebrated in our ecclesiastical Annals, and it was situated in Eastern Breifney. ? The Elder St. Sinchaell seems to have been the first Abbot, and probably the founder of Cill or Gleann- achaidh of Droma Foda ; the term Cill having been prefixed, after St. Sincheall the Elder had placed his church there. Wherefore, the denomina- tion Cill Achaidh Droma Fota " the Church of the Field of the
long
Killeagh, and it stretches to the south-west. This place was identical with the
present neat group of houses, in the barony of Geashill, King's County. At this villageareseveraltracesofoldmonasticbuildings; someofwhich,however, arealmosteffaced. But,aconsiderablepartofthemoremodernportionsofan abbey which was there has been incorporated with a fine-looking old mansion anditsoffices,nearthatvillage. Inthe"Feilire"8ofSt. ^Engus,atthe25th of June, the Feast of this St. Sinchell occurs. On this, too, there is a comment,? which identifies him with Cell Achid Sinchill, in Offaly. It seems probable
enough, that the present holy man spent some time in the monastery of Kil- leigh with the Elder St. Sincheall, and that he succeeded him in the govern-
mentofacommunitythereestablished. Thiswasprobablysometimeafterthe
10
signifies
Ridge.
" Such a rising ground is treacable immediately over the village of
that soon after the arrival of the English, the family of Warren had established a nunnery here, for nuns of the Augustinian Order. 11 According to the "Annals of the Four Masters," O'Conor Faly erected a monastery at Cill Achaidh in 1393 for Friars of the Order of St. Francis. A part of this modern religious house is said to be still standing, while tradition relates, that it was formerly very extensive, and that the friars who dwelt there were very numerous. 12 It is the opinion of John O'Donovan,thattheruinsofboththesereligiousfoundations*s arenearthe Protestant church and the 14 No less than nine
middle of the sixth century. It is stated,
cemetery adjoining.
holy wells were to be seen near the village ; and the old inhabitants had a
present
tradition, that these were dedicated only to the Patron. 1* Wherefore, they
6 See " Letters containing Information re- lative to the Antiquiiies of the King's County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1837," vol. i. Letter of John O'Donovan, dated Tullamore, Decern- ber 28th, 1837, pp. 70, 71.
7 See ibid. , p. 70.
the monastery of Cill Achaidh. See Dr. O' Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iv. , pp. 952 to 955, and nn. (y, z, a).
a See "Letters containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the King's County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1837," vol. i. Letter of
John O'Donovan, dated Tullamore, Decem-
ber 28th, 1837, pp. 64, 65.
,3 The site of convent and abbey is shown
to be some distance apart, on different sides of a separating road, on the "Ordnance Sur- vey Tovvnland Maps for the King's County," sheet 25.
M In the ancient cemetery some interesting tombs of the O'Dunnes chiefs of Hy- Regan, of the O'Conors Faly, and of the O'Molloys, are here; as also one of Maximilian O'Demp- sey, Lord Viscount Clanmaleer, whodeparted
8 In the " Leabhar Breac "
lated by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. :—
peib Sinchill peil TJelli rjACAr* er-irro arvoA
l&mluoc 5IA11 jeloAi S-m&w birr mom oeAlbai.
•• Sinchell's feast, Telle's feast : they were
we find the following stanza thus given and trans-
Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of
Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. xcv. s' Seeibid pcvii.
~ By Allemand.
" In the year 1447, the two famous and
" Letters containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the King's County, col-
leetedduringtheProgressoftheOrdnance Survey in 1837," vol. i. Letter of John O'Donovan, dated Tullamore, December
copy,
heights of Ireland, with Moluoc pure, fair,
sun of Lismore of Alba. "— " Transactions of
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript this life, 30th of November, a. d. 1690. See
beautiful ladies Finola, the daughter of 28th, 1837, pp. 66 to 68. _. „. .
O'ConorFaly, and Margaret, the daughter of O'Carroll, retired from this transitory life to prepare for life eternal, while they assumed the yoke of piety and devotion, in
"
Killeigh Ordnance Survey
,s Blessed \\ ells of
The Seven
are noted on the
Townland Maps for the kings County, sheet 25.
788 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 25.
should be denominated St. Sincheall's Wells ; but, at present, they are locally
called Killeagh Holy Wells. Formerly, they were much resorted to by great numbers of people, for the cure of various diseases. These several springs are in a rich meadow field near Killeigh. Even yet, they are resorted to by the people, who perform stations. No particular day, however, is selected for this purpose. The water is exceedingly clear and well-tasted, and for the most
the part, tiny
rivulet—for there is one — —
only chief stream is covered
6
cheall the Elder now appears to be lost. There is still extant a list of pious
with green cresse
The
of the
—s. '
memory
patron saint probably St. Sin-
Holy Wells at Killeigh, King's County.
customs and usages, which regulated St. Sinchell's school. It also comprises very instructive axioms and proverbs, replete with the wisdom of our ancestors in the Faith. xl Thiscollectionappears,however,tohavebeentheworkoftheElder St. Sincheall. It seems likely, moreover, that these usages had been received andpractisedbytheYoungerSt. Sincheall. Wefindnofurtheraccountr ingtheActsofthelatterholyman. Itisprobable,helivedanddiedinthe
monastery at Killeigh, although the year and place of his departure are not foundinourAnnals. Atthe25thofJune,however,thefeastofSt. Sincheall
the is set Younger
18 The of Kil- parish
of
patron's name is now forgotten, in that locality. The old church there was
in the
down,
tinnel, nearCourtown Harbour, in the barony of Ballaghkeen, county of Wex- ford, was probably dedicated to the present saint or to the Elder so called. The
Martyrology
Donegal.
16 The foregoing particulars have been
gleaned, from occasional personal observa-
tion. The accompanying illustration is from
a sketch, tnken by the writer on the spot, in
August, iSSS. It has been transferred to middle of page 17, third column.
18
the wood, by William F. Wakeman. It was Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
engraved by Mrs. Millard. 178, 179.
17 These are to be found, among the Ten
Folia of the " Hook of Leinster," now in
possession of the Franciscan Community,
Merchants' Quay, Dublin. See about the
June 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
789
17feet6inchesinbreadth; but,itslengthcannotatpresentbeeasilyascertained, as both of its gables are destroyed and levelled with the ground. Parts of the side walls remain, nevertheless, and from which it may be conjectured, this rude building was about five centuries old, in 1840. * There is a Kiltennel parish, also, in Carlow County. There a patron or pattern-day was lately—if not still- held on the 25th of June, when that day happened on a Sunday. 20 Other- wise, it was held on the next Sunday, following the 25th of June," as being the most convenient festival and a disengaged time. " The ruins of Kiltennel
church in the county of Carlow are described as being 16 yards Ion* by 7 yards broad, and covered with ivy, in 1839. On the south side wall near the
gable there was a doorway, 6 feet high, with a segmental arch of mason work. In breadth, it was 5 feet, on the outside, and 6 feet on the inside. On the east sideofthisentrance,thewallwasbrokenaway. Attheeastgable,thewall was partly pulled down, and that gable stood detached. On it, there was a window. A 23 nowin was
2 church. *
ArticleII. —St. MoluogofLiss-mor,Scotland. [SixthorSeventh Century-. ] One of the prominent features of the early Celtic Church was in- tense devotion towards the memory of those, who were the founders of its
20
This was ascertained, owing to a cor-
chapel, ruins,
attached to the east end of this
clan monasteries.
people, by their veneration of the great man, whose sons the clan claimed to be,andafterwhomtheywerenamed. Eventheecclesiasticalrevolutionof the sixteenth century, and an altered condition of things, did not extinguish that popular regard, which had long been cherished for the early founders of Celtic churches. The continued vitality of their memories has attracted the notice of many intelligent writers, even among those, not specially pre- possessed in favour of the Catholic Church. 1 As we have already seen, St. Moluoc is entered in the " Feilire" of St. ^Engus, at the 25th of June, and with very high commendation. 2 In a scholion, he is noticed as Moluoc of
19 See " Letters containing Information Edmund Byrne, as a slab on the wall states, relative to the Antiquities of the County of and it was consecrated, by Most Rev.
Wexford, collected during the Progress of
theOrdnance in vol. i. Letter Survey 1840,"
ofJohnO'Donovan,p. 11.
Edmund Byrne, Archbishop of Dublin in the
xxxi. , p. 342.
24 See " Letters relating to the Antiquities
of the County of Carlow, containing Infor- mation collected during the Progress of the
respondence between the Earl of Courtown
and the Rev. James Graves, in reference to
the first-named parish in Wexford, where
The like feeling manifested itself in the civil polity of the
some antiquities of a curious character were Ordnance Survey in 1839. " Letter of T.
"
Proceedings and Papers of the
found. See
Kilkenny and South-East Archaeological
O'Conor, dated Carlow, July 1st, 1839, pp.
*
legendary
early saints now remained. He adds: "But
in Scotland, even in spite of the vast counter- wave of the Reformation, the local attrac- tions of the primitive missionaries still hold
Society. " New Series, vol. iv. , part i. , a. d. 1862, pp. 144, 145, and pp. 198, 199.
297 to 300. — Article II.
Dr. the Stanley,
" See ibid. 22
Thus,
Dean of Westminster, in one of his recent Lectures, remarked that in England little association, or historical, of the
been made to the Rev. William Reeves, he was of opinion, that not only the Carlow Kiltennel, but also the Wexford Kiltennel, had been dedicated to the present saint. He thus unsolves the
Application having
problem: Cill u Sinchill, " Church of their ground, and their successive apparitions Sinchill, will exactly make this name, by may well recall for a moment the various eliding, the letter S, and also it will account stages of the original Celtic faith.
for a transition into the modern form—Cibl 2 See "Transactions of the Royal Irish c-Sinchitt, Kil-tinchill, Kil-tinhil, Kil- Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , tinnil, Kiltennel. part i. On the Calendar of Oengus. By
23 This had been erected, by Captain Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. xcv.
See AntiquitiesoftheCountyofCarlow,"chap.
year 1709.
John Ryan's
" and History
79° LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 25.
Lismore in Scotland, i. e. , of Cill Delga in Ardgal. 3 We read, in the Martyr- ology ofTallagh,4 that Moluoc Lis-moir is entered, as having a festival, at the 25th of June. There is a notice of St. Molocus, who is said to have flourished a. d. 590, in the Ecclesiastical History of Scotland, by Thomas Dempster ;5 and,asusual,withsomeofthatauthor'sinventions. 6 Thedateforhisfestival,
however, is not there stated. Also, by Camerarius,? there is an entry re-
Heisnoticed,likewise,byBishopChallenor,11 Rev. AlbanButler,"Rev. S. Baring-Gould,13 and Chambers. 14 This holy man flourished, according to some writers, in the sixth century,^ or in the seventh century, according to
garding St. Molocus, at the 25th of June.
St. Moloc or Molonach, Bishop in Scotia, at the 25th day of June; but, there is no further account of him, in the Fifth Volume of their work for that month. Their Acts 9 of him appear, however, in the succeeding Tome. 10
other accounts. 16 he was illustrious Formerly,
among
the Northern
Britons,
whose Apostle he became. It is thought, by Colgan, that he is the St.
Molugadius, Molugedus, or Lugadius, son of Lanneon, son to Fintan, son of
Lugad,sontoEnnaBogun,sonofConallGulban. 1? Amongthethirty-seven
18 MoluansmentionedbySt. yEngustheCuldee, thepresentoneiscalledSt.
Moluanus,10 the son of Lanneon. 20 His name is recorded in many of our native Calendars. According to the Breviary of Aberdeen, Molocus was
descended from a noble Scottish 21 His family.
original
The pedigree of this saint, who is variously called Molocus, Moluoc, Molua,
Lugaidh, pronounced Lua, Mo-Lugadius, Mo-Lugedus or Lugadius, is set downintheSanctilogiumGenealogicum. Withtheendearingsuffixoc,Lua becomes Luoc or Luoch, and with the honorific mo, he becomes Molua,
MoluocandMoloch. Afterwards,thisnamecametobegreatlycorrupted; for, it is written Moluach, Moloak, M'huluoc, Malogue, Emagola and Mul-
3 See ibid. , p. cvii.
4 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvii.
s See tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num. 840,
P- 449-
6 As a specimen of Dempster's singular
facility for contradicting himself, he has this same holy disciple of St. Brendan under the
14 See " The Book of Days," vol. i. , June
25th, p.
margy, Queen's County ; while there is another townland similarly named,*
in the parish of Kilmoe, barony of Upper Tulla, county of Clare. In the
townland of Kilmagoura, parish of Shandrum,5 county of Cork, there are
some grass-covered remains of an old church, 45 feet in length, on the out-
side,by22inbreadth,andaboutthreefeetinheight; while,notfarawayis
Cranavilla Tree, having a remarkably contorted appearance.
It has been
6 that the townland name
Gabra, connected with St. Lon, and that Toberleenade, a well in the adjoin- ing townland of Newtown South, and in the same parish, may have been dedi- catedtohim. Thereisanotherremarkablewell,denominatedBachuleesa,7
8
in the townland of Farthingville East, while distant about two miles is St.
Colman's Well,' near the hamlet and burial-ground of the same name, in the parish of St. Colman's Well, and in the county of Limerick. A local tradi- tion prevails, that the saints of those three places, viz. , of Bachuleesa's Well, of Kilmagoura or Cranavilla, and of St. Colman's Well, were three brothers, who communicated with one another each morning. Of these, St. Colman's name is alone preserved. To a recent period, Kilmagoura was used as a burial- place for unbaptized infants ; for which reason, it was probably marked " Burial-Ground," on the Ordnance Townland Map ; but there is nothing whateverlikeagraveyardthere,atthepresenttime. 10 Thereisnoholywell in Kilmagoura townland, but in the adjoining townland of Newtown South, there is a much frequented holy well, locally known as Tober Leenade," or
Article i. —" Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxvii.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
178, 179-
3 It is marked, on the "Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the Queen's
conjectured,
may
have been a
corruption
Cilli
County," sheet 36.
* It is described, on the
"
Ordnance Sur-
carried on at Bachuleesa Well, but these are
now discontinued.
8
It is described, on the "Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," sheet 7. As seen on an old printed rental of the lands, as stated by Mr. O'Leary,
vey Townland Maps for the County of theformernameofFarthingvillewasCoolylyn.
sheet
5 This parish, situated in the baronies of
Orrery and Kilmore, is described on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," sheets I, 2, 6, 7.
6 For the particulars here given, I feel in- debted to Denis A. O'Leary, Esq. , Kilbo- lane Cottage, Charleville, County of Cork, in a letter dated August 7th, 1885. He also sent two rough sketches of the tree, taken from the north and south sides ; that on the northern side shows the grass-covered mound, where the church originally stood.
7 The Irish equivalent is bacul 1orA and Mr. O'Leary suspects St. Victor, mentioned in the Life of St. Patrick, may have been the Patron. It is traditionally stated, that the former locality of this well was about five miles distant, at Parc-na-Bile—recti painc nubile, "the Field of the Old Tree"— where a grass-covered mound, probably the site of an old church and the stump of a tree, yet remain. Some persons having committed a nuisance or otherwise dese- crated the Holy Well, the people state, that ft removed to the present site, marked on
9 Sometime in the month of
the people state, that this St. Colman's feast had been formerly celebrated.
10 Mr. O'Leary adds: "About 58 yards north of the grass-covered mound stands, or struggles to stand, a curious remnant of a
*
lightning struck ash, marked Cranavilla
Tree" on the Ordnance Sheet. This was a large ash which at some remote and long
forgotten date was struck by lightning and rent in twain. One portion must have fallen off while the remainder was twisted round and bent over. The shell, for it is nothing more, now remains, and marvellous to relate although being in an elevated and unshe—l- tered position it still withstands the storm even such—signal storms as those of January 6th, 1S39 locally remembered as the "night of the Big—Wind '—and
Clare,"
35.
November,
theOrdnanceSurveyMap. Withinthelast ""
thirty years rounds or devotions were
October 3rd, 1883 and still it annually sends forth
Sunday, an abundance of green leaves. "
11
There is no special day set apart in Shandrum parish, in honour of St. Leenade; but the large number of persons still fre- quenting this holy well is sufficient testi- mony, as in the powerful intercession of this
June 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
785
St. Leonard's Well," as it is thought by the country people. A peculiarity of this holy well is noticed, viz. , that nearly always it is bubbling or boiling up from the bottom. ^
Article V. —St. Cormac or Corbmac, of Senchoimhet. In the Martyrology ofTallagh,' a festival is mentioned in honour of Cormac of Sencometa, at the 24th of June. He is named Corbmac, and his place is
called Senchoimhet, in the Martyrology of unknown, nor has the locality been identified.
2 When he lived is
Article VI. —Reputed Feast of St. Golvenus, Bishop of Leon,
Aremorica. In " a festival for St. Dempster's Menologium Scotorum,"
Goluenus, Bishop of Leon, in Aremorica, is at the 24th of 1 Ac- placed June.
cording to that author, some suppose Golenus to have been a Scot ; he hesi- tates, however, to fall in with their opinions. The Bollandists * have a similar notice, at this date ; but, they remark, he is commemorated, on the 1st of July, in his own city.
Article [VII. —Festival of St. Johnt the Baptist's Nativitv. This illustrious saint, so renowned for his austere and innocent life, was vene- ratedwithpeculiarhonourintheearlyIrishChurch. Inthe"Feilire"'of St. ^Engus, at the 24th of June, it is especially noticed, and with an admoni- tion, that it is one the faithful should piously observe. From time immemorial, it had been customary among the Irish people to light bonfires on the eve of this feast, as also on the day itself; and, in several remote parts ofIreland,thatpracticehasnotasyetwhollydisappeared. Throughoutthe whole Christian world, reverence has been specially felt for the memory of our Lord's great precursor, and his feast is noted in all our Martyrologies and Calendars. At this date, likewise, the Bollandist editor Father Daniel I'ape- broke 2 has illustrated his Acts in the most complete manner. A most
holy man. Mr. O'Leary knows scores of
persons, who attribute their relief from bodily "
2
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iv. , Junii xxiv. Among the pretermitted feasts, p.
p—ains of all kinds, to having "paid rounds 687.
copy, the following stanza, with its English
version, —Dr. Whitley Stokes, is given at
a Article — thatis, visitedthewell—andofferedup vii.
' In the "Leabhar Breac"
a rosary or round of their beads, asking the saint's intercession, on their behalf. "Can this be St. Leenade of Kilmagoura ? " asks Mr. O'Leary, and he adds: "Doubtless, Kilmagoura townland may formerly have
by
included Newtown—a modern name— land in its area. "
town-
111
lAcachop ceriAirhif 1om mec T)oe]:fif.
12 It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," sheet 2.
li The people state, if an infirm visitor to the place is to be cured, the well boils up ; if no cure is to be effected for the patient, the waters seem quiescent.
xxvii.
p. 203.
"John Baptist's royal birth, if thou are pious thou hast kept it, at the removal with* out disgrace of John the child to K: —"Transactions of the Royal Iri^h Aca- demy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. 1. , parti. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. xcv. On the last line there is a Latin comment, "/>. , receptio Johannis li'. ii Zebedei ad Ephesum de exilio per Domitianuiu. —Ibid. , p. cvii.
See"ActaSanctorum, tomusiv. ,Junn xxiv. De Sancto Joanne Prodromoet bap- tista D. N. Jesu Chnsti, pp. 687 to 806.
1
Article viii. — See the Bollandists
Article v. — 1 Edited
Dr. 2 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
"
In Aremoricis Golueni Leonensis episcopi VV. nonnulli Scotum putant, sed ego delibero. "—Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints,"
Kelly, p.
•
iyS, 179. —x Article vi.
Thus :
by Rev.
this date
:
fli^gem I0111 baupcAifC
Donegal.
a\-<ileij\ |\o«pecmr
2D
786
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 25.
learned historic commentary, in seven chapters and four hundred and eighty- nineparagraphs,seemstoexhaustthesubject; whilevariousnotesareadded, serving to elucidate certain portions of the text.
Article VIII. —Feast of St. Brendan, Abbot. In a Manuscript
1
Benedictine Calendar, there is a feast at the 24th of June, for St. Brendan,
2
Abbot, whose Life has been already given at the 16th of May. Article IX. —Reputed Feast of St. Gillebert, or Agilbert.
In
1 atthe
Gillebert, according to Marianus O'Gorman ; but, Agilbertus, according to
Ctoentp-ffft! ) Bap of 3une,
ARTICLE I. —ST. SINCHEALL THE YOUNGER, OF KILLEIGH, KING'S COUNTY.
[SIXTH CENTURY. ]
present holy man appears to have figured, at an early period, in our ecclesiastical few him have
come down to our times. At this in the of 1 a date, Martyrology Tallagh,
festival is registered, in honour of Sincheall the Younger. The hoiy man
the of Martyrology
24th
Donegal, the Roman Martyrology.
THE
history, although particulars regarding
2
this name, and known as the Elder St. 2 was the son of Seancheall,
bearing
Ceanannan, or Ceannfhionnan, and he was venerated, at the 26th of March. 3 Ofhimwehavealreadytreated,atthatdate4 and,sofaraswecanascertain
;
from our Genealogies of the Irish Saints, the present St. Sincheall the
Younger must have flourished contemporaneously with his namesake, to whom he was related, and not in a very remote degree. 5 A certain district of ancient Ofalia territory was denominated Droma Foda, or " the long ridge;" and this was truly descriptive of an extended elevation over a plain, which is prolonged from the Slieve Bloom Mountains to the Hill of Allen, and
from Cruachan co the Hills of Killone near the Great Heath of
6
" Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii , Maii xvi. De S. Brendano seu Brandano Abbate de Cluainfertensi in Hibernia, cap. ii. , num. 15, p. 603.
Martyrology. —
2 See the Fifth Volume of the work, at that dat—e, Art. i.
present
Article ix. Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 178, 179.
2 A note
Gillebert, which with the references is found enclosed within brackets, that this entry in the more recent hand, signifies, the St. Gille- bert mentioned here by Marianus O'Gorman, is to be identified with the Agilbert, who is commemorated, on this day, in the Roman
niae," xxvi. Martii, De S. Senchello, Abbate
et Episc. de Kill-Achuidh, pp. 747, 74S.
* See the Third Volume of this work, at
26th March, Art. ii.
5 Thus, Cruac had two sons, Imchad and
Ere. Imchad was father to Ceannfhionan, father to the Elder St. Sincheall. Ere was father to Corcran, the father of the Younger St. Sincheall, according to the "Gencalo- gies of the Irish Saints, chap. xx.
by
Dr. Todd states, at this word
Article p. xxvii.
' I.
Edited
by
Rev. Dr.
Kelly,
a He
3 See
departed Colgan's
this life A. D.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
of thenameof June, appears
Maryborough.
548.
June 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
787
There was likewise a Cill Achaidh celebrated in our ecclesiastical Annals, and it was situated in Eastern Breifney. ? The Elder St. Sinchaell seems to have been the first Abbot, and probably the founder of Cill or Gleann- achaidh of Droma Foda ; the term Cill having been prefixed, after St. Sincheall the Elder had placed his church there. Wherefore, the denomina- tion Cill Achaidh Droma Fota " the Church of the Field of the
long
Killeagh, and it stretches to the south-west. This place was identical with the
present neat group of houses, in the barony of Geashill, King's County. At this villageareseveraltracesofoldmonasticbuildings; someofwhich,however, arealmosteffaced. But,aconsiderablepartofthemoremodernportionsofan abbey which was there has been incorporated with a fine-looking old mansion anditsoffices,nearthatvillage. Inthe"Feilire"8ofSt. ^Engus,atthe25th of June, the Feast of this St. Sinchell occurs. On this, too, there is a comment,? which identifies him with Cell Achid Sinchill, in Offaly. It seems probable
enough, that the present holy man spent some time in the monastery of Kil- leigh with the Elder St. Sincheall, and that he succeeded him in the govern-
mentofacommunitythereestablished. Thiswasprobablysometimeafterthe
10
signifies
Ridge.
" Such a rising ground is treacable immediately over the village of
that soon after the arrival of the English, the family of Warren had established a nunnery here, for nuns of the Augustinian Order. 11 According to the "Annals of the Four Masters," O'Conor Faly erected a monastery at Cill Achaidh in 1393 for Friars of the Order of St. Francis. A part of this modern religious house is said to be still standing, while tradition relates, that it was formerly very extensive, and that the friars who dwelt there were very numerous. 12 It is the opinion of John O'Donovan,thattheruinsofboththesereligiousfoundations*s arenearthe Protestant church and the 14 No less than nine
middle of the sixth century. It is stated,
cemetery adjoining.
holy wells were to be seen near the village ; and the old inhabitants had a
present
tradition, that these were dedicated only to the Patron. 1* Wherefore, they
6 See " Letters containing Information re- lative to the Antiquiiies of the King's County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1837," vol. i. Letter of John O'Donovan, dated Tullamore, Decern- ber 28th, 1837, pp. 70, 71.
7 See ibid. , p. 70.
the monastery of Cill Achaidh. See Dr. O' Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iv. , pp. 952 to 955, and nn. (y, z, a).
a See "Letters containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the King's County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1837," vol. i. Letter of
John O'Donovan, dated Tullamore, Decem-
ber 28th, 1837, pp. 64, 65.
,3 The site of convent and abbey is shown
to be some distance apart, on different sides of a separating road, on the "Ordnance Sur- vey Tovvnland Maps for the King's County," sheet 25.
M In the ancient cemetery some interesting tombs of the O'Dunnes chiefs of Hy- Regan, of the O'Conors Faly, and of the O'Molloys, are here; as also one of Maximilian O'Demp- sey, Lord Viscount Clanmaleer, whodeparted
8 In the " Leabhar Breac "
lated by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. :—
peib Sinchill peil TJelli rjACAr* er-irro arvoA
l&mluoc 5IA11 jeloAi S-m&w birr mom oeAlbai.
•• Sinchell's feast, Telle's feast : they were
we find the following stanza thus given and trans-
Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of
Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. xcv. s' Seeibid pcvii.
~ By Allemand.
" In the year 1447, the two famous and
" Letters containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the King's County, col-
leetedduringtheProgressoftheOrdnance Survey in 1837," vol. i. Letter of John O'Donovan, dated Tullamore, December
copy,
heights of Ireland, with Moluoc pure, fair,
sun of Lismore of Alba. "— " Transactions of
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript this life, 30th of November, a. d. 1690. See
beautiful ladies Finola, the daughter of 28th, 1837, pp. 66 to 68. _. „. .
O'ConorFaly, and Margaret, the daughter of O'Carroll, retired from this transitory life to prepare for life eternal, while they assumed the yoke of piety and devotion, in
"
Killeigh Ordnance Survey
,s Blessed \\ ells of
The Seven
are noted on the
Townland Maps for the kings County, sheet 25.
788 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 25.
should be denominated St. Sincheall's Wells ; but, at present, they are locally
called Killeagh Holy Wells. Formerly, they were much resorted to by great numbers of people, for the cure of various diseases. These several springs are in a rich meadow field near Killeigh. Even yet, they are resorted to by the people, who perform stations. No particular day, however, is selected for this purpose. The water is exceedingly clear and well-tasted, and for the most
the part, tiny
rivulet—for there is one — —
only chief stream is covered
6
cheall the Elder now appears to be lost. There is still extant a list of pious
with green cresse
The
of the
—s. '
memory
patron saint probably St. Sin-
Holy Wells at Killeigh, King's County.
customs and usages, which regulated St. Sinchell's school. It also comprises very instructive axioms and proverbs, replete with the wisdom of our ancestors in the Faith. xl Thiscollectionappears,however,tohavebeentheworkoftheElder St. Sincheall. It seems likely, moreover, that these usages had been received andpractisedbytheYoungerSt. Sincheall. Wefindnofurtheraccountr ingtheActsofthelatterholyman. Itisprobable,helivedanddiedinthe
monastery at Killeigh, although the year and place of his departure are not foundinourAnnals. Atthe25thofJune,however,thefeastofSt. Sincheall
the is set Younger
18 The of Kil- parish
of
patron's name is now forgotten, in that locality. The old church there was
in the
down,
tinnel, nearCourtown Harbour, in the barony of Ballaghkeen, county of Wex- ford, was probably dedicated to the present saint or to the Elder so called. The
Martyrology
Donegal.
16 The foregoing particulars have been
gleaned, from occasional personal observa-
tion. The accompanying illustration is from
a sketch, tnken by the writer on the spot, in
August, iSSS. It has been transferred to middle of page 17, third column.
18
the wood, by William F. Wakeman. It was Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
engraved by Mrs. Millard. 178, 179.
17 These are to be found, among the Ten
Folia of the " Hook of Leinster," now in
possession of the Franciscan Community,
Merchants' Quay, Dublin. See about the
June 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
789
17feet6inchesinbreadth; but,itslengthcannotatpresentbeeasilyascertained, as both of its gables are destroyed and levelled with the ground. Parts of the side walls remain, nevertheless, and from which it may be conjectured, this rude building was about five centuries old, in 1840. * There is a Kiltennel parish, also, in Carlow County. There a patron or pattern-day was lately—if not still- held on the 25th of June, when that day happened on a Sunday. 20 Other- wise, it was held on the next Sunday, following the 25th of June," as being the most convenient festival and a disengaged time. " The ruins of Kiltennel
church in the county of Carlow are described as being 16 yards Ion* by 7 yards broad, and covered with ivy, in 1839. On the south side wall near the
gable there was a doorway, 6 feet high, with a segmental arch of mason work. In breadth, it was 5 feet, on the outside, and 6 feet on the inside. On the east sideofthisentrance,thewallwasbrokenaway. Attheeastgable,thewall was partly pulled down, and that gable stood detached. On it, there was a window. A 23 nowin was
2 church. *
ArticleII. —St. MoluogofLiss-mor,Scotland. [SixthorSeventh Century-. ] One of the prominent features of the early Celtic Church was in- tense devotion towards the memory of those, who were the founders of its
20
This was ascertained, owing to a cor-
chapel, ruins,
attached to the east end of this
clan monasteries.
people, by their veneration of the great man, whose sons the clan claimed to be,andafterwhomtheywerenamed. Eventheecclesiasticalrevolutionof the sixteenth century, and an altered condition of things, did not extinguish that popular regard, which had long been cherished for the early founders of Celtic churches. The continued vitality of their memories has attracted the notice of many intelligent writers, even among those, not specially pre- possessed in favour of the Catholic Church. 1 As we have already seen, St. Moluoc is entered in the " Feilire" of St. ^Engus, at the 25th of June, and with very high commendation. 2 In a scholion, he is noticed as Moluoc of
19 See " Letters containing Information Edmund Byrne, as a slab on the wall states, relative to the Antiquities of the County of and it was consecrated, by Most Rev.
Wexford, collected during the Progress of
theOrdnance in vol. i. Letter Survey 1840,"
ofJohnO'Donovan,p. 11.
Edmund Byrne, Archbishop of Dublin in the
xxxi. , p. 342.
24 See " Letters relating to the Antiquities
of the County of Carlow, containing Infor- mation collected during the Progress of the
respondence between the Earl of Courtown
and the Rev. James Graves, in reference to
the first-named parish in Wexford, where
The like feeling manifested itself in the civil polity of the
some antiquities of a curious character were Ordnance Survey in 1839. " Letter of T.
"
Proceedings and Papers of the
found. See
Kilkenny and South-East Archaeological
O'Conor, dated Carlow, July 1st, 1839, pp.
*
legendary
early saints now remained. He adds: "But
in Scotland, even in spite of the vast counter- wave of the Reformation, the local attrac- tions of the primitive missionaries still hold
Society. " New Series, vol. iv. , part i. , a. d. 1862, pp. 144, 145, and pp. 198, 199.
297 to 300. — Article II.
Dr. the Stanley,
" See ibid. 22
Thus,
Dean of Westminster, in one of his recent Lectures, remarked that in England little association, or historical, of the
been made to the Rev. William Reeves, he was of opinion, that not only the Carlow Kiltennel, but also the Wexford Kiltennel, had been dedicated to the present saint. He thus unsolves the
Application having
problem: Cill u Sinchill, " Church of their ground, and their successive apparitions Sinchill, will exactly make this name, by may well recall for a moment the various eliding, the letter S, and also it will account stages of the original Celtic faith.
for a transition into the modern form—Cibl 2 See "Transactions of the Royal Irish c-Sinchitt, Kil-tinchill, Kil-tinhil, Kil- Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , tinnil, Kiltennel. part i. On the Calendar of Oengus. By
23 This had been erected, by Captain Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. xcv.
See AntiquitiesoftheCountyofCarlow,"chap.
year 1709.
John Ryan's
" and History
79° LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 25.
Lismore in Scotland, i. e. , of Cill Delga in Ardgal. 3 We read, in the Martyr- ology ofTallagh,4 that Moluoc Lis-moir is entered, as having a festival, at the 25th of June. There is a notice of St. Molocus, who is said to have flourished a. d. 590, in the Ecclesiastical History of Scotland, by Thomas Dempster ;5 and,asusual,withsomeofthatauthor'sinventions. 6 Thedateforhisfestival,
however, is not there stated. Also, by Camerarius,? there is an entry re-
Heisnoticed,likewise,byBishopChallenor,11 Rev. AlbanButler,"Rev. S. Baring-Gould,13 and Chambers. 14 This holy man flourished, according to some writers, in the sixth century,^ or in the seventh century, according to
garding St. Molocus, at the 25th of June.
St. Moloc or Molonach, Bishop in Scotia, at the 25th day of June; but, there is no further account of him, in the Fifth Volume of their work for that month. Their Acts 9 of him appear, however, in the succeeding Tome. 10
other accounts. 16 he was illustrious Formerly,
among
the Northern
Britons,
whose Apostle he became. It is thought, by Colgan, that he is the St.
Molugadius, Molugedus, or Lugadius, son of Lanneon, son to Fintan, son of
Lugad,sontoEnnaBogun,sonofConallGulban. 1? Amongthethirty-seven
18 MoluansmentionedbySt. yEngustheCuldee, thepresentoneiscalledSt.
Moluanus,10 the son of Lanneon. 20 His name is recorded in many of our native Calendars. According to the Breviary of Aberdeen, Molocus was
descended from a noble Scottish 21 His family.
original
The pedigree of this saint, who is variously called Molocus, Moluoc, Molua,
Lugaidh, pronounced Lua, Mo-Lugadius, Mo-Lugedus or Lugadius, is set downintheSanctilogiumGenealogicum. Withtheendearingsuffixoc,Lua becomes Luoc or Luoch, and with the honorific mo, he becomes Molua,
MoluocandMoloch. Afterwards,thisnamecametobegreatlycorrupted; for, it is written Moluach, Moloak, M'huluoc, Malogue, Emagola and Mul-
3 See ibid. , p. cvii.
4 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvii.
s See tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num. 840,
P- 449-
6 As a specimen of Dempster's singular
facility for contradicting himself, he has this same holy disciple of St. Brendan under the
14 See " The Book of Days," vol. i. , June
25th, p.
