No More Learning

Article III. —The Sons of Dragen, or Draighen, of Cill-Ro, or KiLL-RoA, NOW KiLROE, CouNTV OF Mayo. {Fifth Century. '] The Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 15th of April, has an entry, Mac Draigin o Chill Roa. " Copying this, the Bollandists' have Fihi Drageni de Kill-roa. Who these sons of Dragen were, and their place of residence, have been partially revealed to us, in the Acts of our great Irish Apostle. While St. Patrick travelled through the maritime part of Hy Fiachrach, he baptized seven sons of Drogen. ' One of these, named Mac Erca, who was selected as an alumnus by St. Patrick, happened to be greatly beloved by his parents. The Apostle, knowing that these would hardly consent to his taking their son with him to distant parts, left him with Bron,* Bishop of Cassel-Irra, to be educated. Afterwards, this Macerca was set over the church of Kill-rua- mor,5 in the territory of Tyrawley. * This seems to have been the present Kilroe, in the parish of Killala, barony of Tirawley, and county of Mayo. ' Marianus O'Gorman has a notice of this festival. At this date, likewise, in the O'Clerys' Calendar,* we find a placement, recording the sons of Draighen, of Cill Ro.
'' See John of Teignmonth's Life, as given by the Bollandists, chapter ii. , num. 7, 8,9, "Acta Sanctorum," tomusii. , Ap- rilis XV. De Sancto Patemo Episcopo, &c. , pp. 381, 382, with notes.
'^ See "Itinerarium Cambriae," lib. ii. .
cap. iv.
"In Theatro Imperii Magni Britannix,
A. C. i to A. C. 1 189.
'* In the second edition of hk English
Martyrology.
" See p. lofi.
ARTICLE HI. —' As published, by Rev.
lib. ii. , cap. ix.
" In " Floribus Sanctorum Angliae. " He p. 370.
cites Joannes Anglicus, and John of Teign- mouth.
'' In his English Martyrolt^, printed at London, a. d. 1506.
^ por a further account of these transac- tions, the reader is referred to our Life of St. Patrick, chap, xii. , and nn. 241, 242, 243,
244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249.
* SeehisLife,atthe8thofJune,
s In the Diocese of Killala.
'See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap. xcvii. , p. 142, and nn. 144, 145, p. 180.
' It is described, on the " Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Mayo," sheet 22.
"Thisistobefound,intheIndexofEn- glish Saints, which is placed after the Third Volume of his work: "Fides Regia Bri- tannicasive Annates EccIesixBritannicx ubi potissimum Britannorum Catholica, Romana et Orthodoxa Fides per quinque prima saecula : e Regum, et Augustorum Factis et aliorum sanctorum rebus e virtute gestis, as- seritur. " Auctore R. P. Michaele
' called "The Commonly
Alfordo, alias Gritfith, Anglo Societatis Jesu Theo- logo. Leodii 1663. Four large fol. volumes.
Martyrology of Donegal," and edited by Drs. Todd and
Dr. Kelly, p. xxi.
The Franciscan copy
mac
'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomusii. , Ap-
rilis xv. Among the pretermitted saints,
writes
0^151
o C1II
f. o&.
Reeves, pp. 102, 103.
172 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 15.
Article IV. —St. Sarnat, of Dairinis Ceitne. Like the Hebrews—as in- stanced in the case of that vahant and holy woman Judith—the Irish were ac- customed, with a just feeUng of national and ancestral pride, to record the genealogies of their noble and saintly females. Like the renowned heroine of the Jewish nation," likewise, we can have Httle doubt, but that the present saint, besides deriving her pedigree from a princely race, was in the habit of exercising distinguished virtues, in the practice of penance, self-denial, prayer and retire- ment from the world. The name, Sarnat, Dairinis Cetnae, appears, in the Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 15th of April. The Bollandists,3 quoting this entry, have it, for the same date, Sarnata de Daininis. * According to the Irish Genealogies, she descends from the race of Eochaidh Fionn Fualhnairt, from whom the great St. Brighit, descended. Thus, St. Sarnata was the daughter of Eochad, son to Baith, son of Nennid, son to Nanned, son of Fiech, son to Jarius, son of Cathbad. s In like manner, we also find registered, on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal,* Sarnat of Dairinis Ceitne. The Irish Calendar, in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy, calls her Sarnad DairInsiCedne. 7 Whensheliveddoesnotappear.
ArticleV. —St. Dubhda,orDubta. AnentryofDubtaisfound,in theMartyrologyofTallagh,'atthe15thofApril. Thesamenoticeisinthe Bollandists' work,= at this date. The Martyrology of Donegal,3 also, on this day, records the name of Dubhda, as having been venerated.
Article VI. —St. Greallan, Son of Rotan. This name is recorded, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 15th of April, as Grellan Mac Rodain. The Bollandists^ enter, in like manner, Grellanus, filius Rotani, at the same day. This saint seems conjecturaily to be identified with Londonderry ;3 but, the statement may admit of doubt. A St. Greallan is noted, among the illustrious companions of St. Columba,* who flourished at Hy, in Scotland : his festival being referred by Colgan,5 to the 15th of April, and to the 13th of July. Again, he is noted among the disciples of St. Columkille. ' On this day was venerated, according to the Martyrology of Donegal,' Greallan, son of Rotan.
Article iv. — See Judith, chap. viii.
= See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis xv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 370.
j Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
"
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxi. The
Franciscan copy gives Si^riAC 'OAll^ Inp CAecriAe.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Aprilis XV. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 370.
< Csetna is placed, in an under line, as if it
"See"ActaSanctorum,"tomusii. , Ap- 5 . See Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga," rilis xv. Among the pretermitted saints,
wereadistinctentry. "
Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidse, cap. iii. , p. 613.
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
102, 103.
^ To this is attached the comment, . 1.
p. 370.
3 See " Memoir of the City and North-
Western Liberties of Londonderry," Part ii. , sect. 2, p. 27.
His Life occurs, at the 9th ofJune.
"
5 See
pendix ad Acta S. Columbie, cap. ii. , sect, v. , p. 502.
' See ibid. , Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. x. , num. 70, p. 490.
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 102, 103.
eAtoAC tiiAC bAoic tJO ftiof t f. Scc the Common Place Book F. , p. 38, once be- longing to the Irish Ordnance Survey Office, Phoenix Park.
Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap-
Article v. — Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxi. The Franciscan copy has Oubcd.
102, 103. — Article vi.
'
Edited Rev. Dr. by
Kelly, p. xxi. The Franciscan copy enters Speltiii tn ac KocAiti.
April 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 173
Article VII. —Reputed Festival of St. Mund, or Mundus, of
Argyle, Scotland. \Prohably in the Sixth and Seventh Centuriesi\ The
great sanctity of Mundus, Abbot, in Scotland, has caused his name to be en- tered, in the various Scottish Kalendars of King, of Thomas Dempster,' and of David Camerarius,' at the 15th of April. However, his festival seems to be referred, either to the 21st of October, when St. Fintan Munnu is vene- rated, and the latter name, it is thought, has been confounded with Mundus,
or Mun. 3 Yet, there may be question regarding such identity. There may be some doubt, also, as to the identification of Mundus, who taught St. Fillan/ according to Colgan. s This latter writer ventures on a conjecture, that he might have been a St. Mundus, the son of Feredach,* and of the Dalfiatach, in Ultonia,' as the Mundus mentioned by Camerarius departed, in the year 962, while St. Fintan Mun died, a. d.
634' Notwithstanding the manifest error of chronology admitted, between the period when St. Fillan and his St. Mundus lived, with their assumed relationship of master and disciple ; Camerarius indicates, at the isth of April, that the present holy man was Abbot, in the region of Argathelia,' or Argyle, in Albania, where he erected manymonasteries. ThelikestatementoccursinDempster'swork. '" Weare told, moreover, that several churches bear the name of St. Munde, Abbot, in Argyleshire, where he was formerly honoured as the principal patron, and where, owing to the shining light of his example and to his zealous preaching, he left behind him many great models of Christian perfection. " Moreover, he left excellent maxims," which related to the most tender and universal charity, meekness, and love of retirement. He always contrived to keep himself in the Divine presence. '^ Camerarius relates, in his account of St. Fillan,"* that this disciple succeeded his master after the death of St. Mundus,
Article vii. — He thus writes
:
" In
us by Camerarius, and they were addressed to his disciples. First, he enjoined, that they
should always preserve a pure heart, burn- ing with a true love of God. Secondly, that
with extems, they should only speak about God, and about religious matters ; because seculars expected this solely from the monks, as those living in the world were oppressed
Orcadibus Mundi abbatis sanctitate mirabi-
lis. "—"Menologium Scotorum," in Bishop
Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints,'" p- 196.
'
Thus we 6nd, in the Scottish Entries of
his Calendar: "15 Die. Sanctus Mundus
Abbas, sanctitate vitae ct miraculis Celebris
adhsec—nostratemporainprovinciaArga- withitsevils,andbecauseitwasowingto
tijelia. " /^i/. , p. 236.
the latter, on account of the religious insti- tute, as likewise, since from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh, the monks ought in life and in discourse be what worldlings require of them. Thirdly, that as there is a time for speaking, and a time for silence, so private or public necessity and utility should regulate the opportunity and measure of speech. /(«<r//4/y, as God is the witness and judge of all things, and as he neither can deceive nor be deceived, nothing should be done, but what might appear to the sight of God and of all men. Fifthly, that it should be their constant and cordial purpose, to love one another with a true and not a feigned affection ; and, mindful of the
Divine " In this shall all know precept,
'
p- 4'6.
*
.
According to Bishop Forbes. See V)id~,
_
See his Life, at the 9th of January.
5 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae. "
Januarii ix. , cap. iii. , and n. 8, pp. 49, 50. ' He is thought, to have been father to those holy virgins, whose feast occurs, at the
33rd of March,
'According to the "Menology of the
Irish Saints,' chap. xix.
• See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 252, 253.
' This is the part of Scotland, lying nearest to Ireland, and stretching to Cantyre, which is the Gaelic for "head-land," towards its
north-east coast, in a
you are my disciples, if you love one another," that each must instantly repel from his mind, whatever should be calculated to rend mu-
long peninsula.
See Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
toram," vol. ii. , lib. xii. , num. 854.
" A French writer, Simon Martin, in an ascetic work, treating about the sacred tra- ditions of solitude, has mention of this holy
Abbot's manner of living, at p. 298.
'° "
"
These are contained in the account, left
Fathers, Martyrs, and otherprincipalSaints," vol. iv. , April xv.
tual and fraternal charity,
"' See Rev. Alban Butler's
"
Lives of the
174 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i6.
and died himself, a. d. 649. However, as may be judged, from his own con- text, Camerarius was betrayed into a gross anachronism ;'' for, he states, in another place, that St. Mundus died, a. d. 962'* The Rev. Alban Butler also adopts this statement,"? for which he cites the authority of Hunter, the Dominican. '^ TheBoUandistshavesomeaccount,atthisdate,ofthevene- rable Abbot ;'9 but, it is chiefly drawn, from the statements of Camerarius, Dempster, and of the Aberdeen Breviary. ^" We are told, by a Scottish writer, that St. Mund was no other than the St. Fintan Munnu of the Irish Calen- dars, and that his crozier had its hereditary keepers' croft of land, at Kilmun, in Scotland. ^' However, Dempster seems to confound St. Mundus with St. Magnus," who was venerated, in the Orkney Islands, on the following day -p
and some writings are attributed to him, by the same author. ''* Nevertheless, this latter statement may well be questioned ; and, the learned BoUandist, Father Godefrid Henschenn declares, °5 that he no more believes such writings have any existence, than he does regarding many of the other books, which Dempster attributes to each of the saints of Scotland, as if all these were authors. He believes, moreover, that most of those attributed writings were never seen by any man, nor to be found in any place.
^I'rtwntJ) Baj) of aipnU
ARTICLE I. — ST. TETGAILL OR TETGHAL, SON OF COLBRAIN, BISHOP OF LYNALLY, KING'S COUNTY.
[SEVENTH AND EIGHTH CENTURIES. }
THE conception the saints form of God is, that he deserves homage and
love, never to be limited in degree. Health, strength, time, and substance, are to be spent in his service. More than any human attraction are the intensely strong affections, that draw their souls to the Creator. Of such a character was that service, rendered in the Irish Church, by many of
M See " De Statu Hominis Veteris simul ac Novae Ecclesios," &c. , lib. i. , cap. ii. , sect. 2, pp. 122, 181, 182.
'5 See ibid.
' John Lesley states, that King Kenneth, or Kenned, reigned from the year 978 to A. D. 1000, andsome Scottish authoritieshave this saint's death falling within that reign.
"' See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other principal Saints," vol. iv. , April XV.
early Christian Times," First Series, Lec- ture v. , p. 226, note i.
'* In "De Viris Illustribus Scotiae. "
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Ap- rilis xv. De S. Mundo Abbate, sect. 3, p.
rilis XV. De S. Mundo Abbate, in Argathe-
lia Scotorum Provincia, p. 388.
°° " S. Mundi Abbatis et Confessoris in
Argathelia, sub Rege Kennedo secundo, anno DCCCCLXII. , xv. Aprilis. "
" See Joseph Anderson's " Scotland in
388. He concludes, with the very severe re- mark, that Dempster seemed quite as ambi- tious to procure for himself first place among the forgers of falsehood, as to obtain for
his country the credit of having so many writers.
"
In his Scottish Menology.
'' However he distinguishes both, in his " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xiii. , num. 854, 855.
"
'< He says:
Scripsisse putatur multa in his Fasciniet veneficiorumDisquisitionem, lib. i. Ilia optimum Principem Duffum Re- g—em violaverant mirifice et lectoaffixerant. "
Ibid.
'^ See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap-
:
.
her early prelates. We find, entered in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' the name of Tetgaill Mac Colbrain, at the i6th day of April. The patronymic, given with his own proper name, does not reveal more than the name of his father : of his family line, we are ignorant. Tedgalius is the Latinized form of this holy man's name. He was born, as we may suppose, in the seventh century ; but, where his education had been received does not appear. He was Abbot of Lann-Ela. This place is thought to have derived its origin from St. Colman Elo,' who died in 6io,3 and who first erected here his Lann
or Church. In pagan times, the locality was called Fiodh-Elo, or Elo-vvood, which is said to lie in Feara Ceall,* in the country of the southern Hy- Lynally. 5 It contains the ruins of a church ; but, decidedly, these are not old, yet that wall, which encloses the graveyard, appears to be very ancient. To the south of Lynally Church stands a moat, said to contain vaults built of lime and stone. ' Lann-Ela has been identified with the village of Lynnally, in the barony of Ballycowan, King's County. The Four Masters make St. Tethghal Bishop of this place. ' There can hardly remain a doubt, that the Tethgaill here noted should not be identified with that bishop of Lynally,* who is mentioned, in our Annals. He appears to have died, on the i6th of April, A. D. 709. ' The same date has been assigned for his death, by the local ecclesiastical historian. " The festival, in honour of Tetghal," was cele- brated, on this day, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal. " At the xvi. of the May Kalends, which corresponds with the i6th day of April, the Irish Calendar, now preserved in the Royal_ Irish Academy,'^ has a peculiar notice of his festival and period.
April i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 175
.
Article i. — Edited by Rev. Dr. Keliy,
p. xxi. The Franciscan copy writes Cec-
54I. I mAC CoLbi\aint).
King's County, collected during the Pro- gress of the Ordnance Survey in 1838," vol. i. , Mr. O'Donovan's Letter, dated Tullamore,
Article II. —St. Magnus, Earl of the Orkney Islands, and
Martyr, in Scotland. [Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries. ] It seems doubtful, whether the present holy Martyr had any further relations with Ire- land, than such as resulted from the circumstance, that Irish missionaries are credited, with having first introduced Christianity, among the pagans who
'
The feast of St. Colman Eala, Abbot January 2nd, 1838, pp. 93, 94.
of Lann Eala, occurs, at the 26th ber.
"
Septem-
' " of Lann-Ela Tethghal, Bishop
3 . See
(Ly- nally) died on the loth of April. "—Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 308, 309, 310, 311. See A. D.
Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire- land," vol. il. , p. 712.
* Now called Fircal, which was a paro-
chial union, or an ecclesiastical benefice, in
the baronies of Eglish, Ballyboy and Bally-
cowan, in the Kmg's County, and in the
709.
* See also Rev. A.
Diocese of Meath, Leinster. See Hid. ,
p.
Ixxiv. , pp. 617, 618.
' See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 308 to 311. '"See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modem," vol. i.