Hemusthaveflourishedbeforethe
ninth century, when he had a connexion with this place, as we learn from the
""
Feilire of St.
ninth century, when he had a connexion with this place, as we learn from the
""
Feilire of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
Claudia.
In the Menologium Scoticum of Thomas Dempster, on the.
21st of July, we find entered ' a feast for a Blessed Claudia, a daughter of Scotia, or of Scota.
While noticing this intrusion of Claudia as the mother of St.
Praxedis, at this same date, the Bol- landists 2 refer to the 19th of May, for what they had stated, regarding St.
Prudentiana.
Ilelio, Victore, Patroclo, Cajsariano, Adrianitide, Dimeso, Felice, Aurelio, Tliy- magrate, et forte Theodolo et Juliano,
p. 163. —x Article x.
"
copy. See
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. L, part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by
Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxi.
—x The stanza is following
Article IX.
found in the " Leabhar Breac" copy. The English translation is by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. :—
Cpoch arvo belli iru\v\cir\ mohair- r\elicc bechcAig Cornn5enr\<MT> cuchcAig p<Mf pruocicip pechcndig.
" The high cross of the martyr Helius mag-
nified, a grave-abounding cemetery: with
" Leabhar Transactions of the Royal Irish
maidens the of happy shapely passion
xxi. I)c S. Praxede Virgine, Roma-, pp.
13010132.
3 Thus, at the 21st of July: "Romae
1 According Martyrology Tallagh,
Praxedes. "— " Transactions of the Royal
li ish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series,
vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus,
by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxi. In a Scotx filiae. ML. "—Bishop Forbes' " Ka-
note annexed is the entry Daniel propheta, at this date, p. cxx.
9 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii xxi. DeSS. MartyribusCa? senatibus,Adriano,
2
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii
In the
Breac"
Praxedis virginis. "— Bishop Forbes' "Ka- lendars of Scottish Saints," p. 206.
" lendars of Scottish Saints, p. 206.
2
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 114.
' Article xi. — Thus :
Beatse Claudia
1
July 22. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
293
€totntp--0ffoitt* Dap of 3ulp.
ARTICLE I. — ST. BITEUS OR MOBIU, CALLED ALSO DOBI, OR DAVID, ABBOT OF INIS-COOSCRY, COUNTY OF DOWN.
THE original name of the present holy man was apparently Biu ; for, we
have to that the of affection mo was but a
admit, adjunct colloquial
addition. Formerly, in Ireland, it was not, and even yet it is not, always cus-
tomary to use the title of " saint. " With a simple reverence, the people called
the holy men and women among them merely by their names, often affec-
tionately prefixing Mo, "my," or Do, "thy. " Thus, we have in general use
"
in reference to times and places. In the early period, the Irish did not call their
the phrase
Patrick's Day," or "Stephen's Green," applied as the usual forms
"
Gilbride,&c. Theseobservationsprepareusforabetterunderstandingof
changes occurring, also, in the personal etymons, applied to holy persons in our Calendars. In the published Martyrology of Tallagh, we meet at the xi.
of the Kalends of or at the 22nd of August,
children by a saint's name, without prefixing Gilla,
servant," as Gilpatrick,
July,
Cumscraidh. 1 " It would seem, that our saint had been known under different
names, as we find him variously designated, by our ancient and modern
writers, Mo-biu, Do-biii, Dabius, David, Movean, and Bite, or Bitheus.
He is called St. Movean or Dabius, of Ireland, in some of the Scottish Calendars.
" 2"
Thus, in Bishop Forbes' Kalendars of Scottish Saints, some notices of this
holy Abbot are to be found. According to Colgan, St. Dabius was born of a mother who had been childless, until St. Mochua, then at Bangor, had prayed for her, as mentioned in his Life. 3 The Sanctilogy of the Irish Saints 4 states his father to have been Comgell, son of Ere, son to Arad, son of Columb, son to Cunneth, son of Buan, from whom the Dal-Buan family sprang, and this was a celebrated tribe in Ultonia, although now extinct or unknown. * If the
genealogical line be complete in the foregoing pedigree, it would be possible to form an approximate calculation of that period at which he flourished. In the Irish Calendar, he is said to have borne the name of Bitheus, also andtohavebeenAbbotofInse 6 Sometimesthe iscalled'
Cumsgraidhe. place
Inis Cooscry ; and this name it obtained, probably from some former owner, named Cosgraidh. ? It is now known simply as Inch, a parish in Lower Lecale
barony,
"
Martii xxx. Vita S. Mochuse sive Cronani Abb. Ballensis. Ex Hiberhicis MSS. interprete PH. Osuilevano, cap. iiii. , p. 789.
4 Chapter xxii.
5 See ibid. , n. 7, p. 791.
Article i. — j See Rev. Dr.
Kelly' Calendar of Irish Saints," &c, p. xxix.
of Down. 8
and
Map of this county, the parish of Inch is situated at the south-western extre- mity of Strangford Lough. It includes with its Islands an area of 6,494 acres, 1 rood, and 12 perches, of land, with 80 acres, 1 rood, and 9 perches, under water. It is bounded on the north by Killyleagh parish, on the east by
6 In the Irish at the xi. of the Calendar,
See pp. 320 and 414. 'Diceu—r . 1. tttobni Abb. 1nre Cutrtfj;- 3 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- ^\AToe. " Ordnance Survey Office Copy of
county
According
to the Ordnance Index Survey
Calends of August (July 22nd), we find, 2-
nise,"
F, p. 64.
this " Dobi Innse entry,
" Common Place Book "
;This proper name often occurs in the
Irish Annals.
8"
It is marked, on the Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Down. "' sheets 30, 31, 37.
294 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 22,
the waters of Strangford Lough, on the south by Down parish, and on the westbyKilmoreparish. TheparishofInchborevariousdenominations,at
different periods, according to printed and manuscript authorities. ? Opposite to the old cathedral of Down, in the Isle of Inch or Inis Curcey, and in the western branch of Lough Coyne, are the ruins of the abbey as also of the
10
abbey church at Inch.
The first church here is said to have stood near Erynach ; but, we know
not by whom it had been erected. This was situated in the barony of Lecale, aboutonemileanda-halfsouthfromDownpatrick. Ititissaid,thatMag-
nell Makenlese, Kingof Ulster, had founded an Abbeyhere, and we aretold,that aSt. EvodiushadbeenitsfirstAbbot. 11 Onthedayofhisdecease,Evodius prophesied, that his own Abbey should be destroyed in after times, but that an Abbey should be built in the Island, now known as Iniscooscry or Inch. Therefore,hegavedirectionsthathiscorpseshouldb—einterredinit. 12 Amonas- teryappearstohavebee—nerectedonthispeninsula whichexhibitsatpresent
some picturesque ruins long
As had been justly thought by some writers, Iniscooscry was not called after John de Courcey ; for, its ancient name was Inniscumhscraigh, pronounced Iniscooscry. Tigernach, Abbot of Clonmacnoise, who died in 1088, records, that in the year 1002, Sitric, King of the Danes, arrived with a fleet in Uladh/4 and at Kilclief and Iniscooscry; while the Annals of the Four Masters, and Keating, at the reign of Brian Boru, concur in recording the same occurrence, and in almost the same words that Tigernach uses. 's Under the year 1061, is recorded the death of Abbot of 16
before the arrival of the in Ireland. ^ English
Hogan O'Cormacan, Inniscumscraigh, and Hugh Maglanha, Abbot of Iniscumscray, was a subscribing witness to the charter of Newry. *7 From Down, the passage to the Island of Inch is by
9 These various names are furnished by Mr. O'Donovan in his "Correspondence, &C. , concerning Names of Places, Antiqui-
ties, &c, in the County of Down," belong- ing to the Irish Ordnance Survey Office. Thus Tollow the orthographies and authori- ties: I. Inifcumfc^ig. Tigernach, 1088. 2. Inse Cumscray. Charta Abbatice de Newry, 1160. 3. 1mf Cumr^Aij;. Dr. Jeoffry Keating, in the reign of Brian Boru. 4. Imp CvmifcrvATO, 1629, and 1nif Cumli- rqAAi'6. Annals of the Four Masters, 1636. 5. Inis Curcey and Inch Abbey. Harris' History of the County of Down, 1744. 6. Inch. County Map, 1755. Beaufort's Memoir, 1792. Dubourdieu's Statistical Survey, 1802. Carlisle's Topographical Dictionary, 1810. Abstract of Population, 1821. Irish Ecclesiastical Register, 1830. 7. Inis Curcey, and Isle of Inch. Hiberniae Nomencl, 1771. 8. Inis Courcey, Archdall's Monasticon, 1786. Dubourdieu's Statistical Survey, 1802. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland, 1829. 9. Iniscurcy, Seward's Topographia, 1795. I0> I ms> Dubourdieu's Statistical Survey, 1802. Lanigan's Ecclcsi- astical History of Ireland, 1829.
a peninsula an island ; wit—ness Inis-Owen in the county of Donegal. " "The Ancient and Present State of the County of Down," chap, iii. , sect, ii. , p. 36.
" This is said to have been a Benedictine
foundation, and to have so continued during
the times of Odo, Devincius and John, the
three succeeding abbots.
""
See Archdall's Monasticon Hibemi-
cum,"p. 120.
I3 This has been incontestably proved by
Dr. O'Donovan, in references he makes to the Irish Annals.
14 Formerly comprising the present county of Down.
I5 In some loose sheets, belonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey, when treating on Iniscourcey, John O'Donovan transcribed the Irish of Tigernach, Keating, and the Four Masters, as referring to that place. He gives a translation of the passages, from the first and last authorities, just named.
10
According to the statement of Walter
Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 880, 881, and n. (p). ,? This is supposed to bear date, about the year 1 160. This charter has been translated and published by Mr. O'Donovan, with learned notes in the Dublin PennyJournal, vol. i. , No. 13, pp. 102 to 104. I found another Manuscript copy of it, with notes altogether different from those published, and in the handwriting of Mr. ODonovan, among some loose sheets, entitled " Corre-
Harris : "The word Inch or Inis, in the
Irish and British languages, signifies an
Island ; though this here is only a peninsula, having a land passage into it on the north side. But it is common with the Irish to call
l6
See Dr. O'Donovan's" Annals of the Four
July 22. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
295
18
QuoileorCoilBridge, whichiscomposedofsixarches,andithasagate-
way over one end of it.
To what exact period we should refer the abbatial functions of St. Mob-
hius,wehavenomeansofascertaining.
Hemusthaveflourishedbeforethe
ninth century, when he had a connexion with this place, as we learn from the
""
Feilire of St. /Engus. After the Anglo-Normans had landed in Ireland, one
of their most celebrated leaders ^ conducted an expedition to Down, where he subdued the local tanist. 20 As a result of this event, we learn, that John de Courcey demolished the Abbey of Carrig, which is said to have been a Bene- dictine foundation. Here there was a monastic house or institute, known as Carrig, and so called, from a rock on which it stood. This building is said
21 one of the of Ulster. by petty princes
The or abbey
near a noted race-course, at a place called Erynagh, where flowed a well dedicated to St. Finan. The abbey there had been converted into a garrison, by the Irish, when John de Courcey led his forces to the north. This was the cause of considerable annoyance to the invader of Down, until he demolished it. In atonement for this demolition, John de Courcey is said afterwards to have n8o23 or on an
.
Carrig Abbey2« He colonized it withCistercianmonks,2s whocamefrom
the monastery of Furness, in Lancashire. 26 The church of this abbey was
erected in the form of a cross, part of which remains. On the south side
seems to have stood a steeple, supported by an elegant arch, of which some of the beads or strings were to be seen, in the beginning of the last century. At the east end of the church are three large arched windows, upwards of
spondence, &c, concerning Names of unexpected. He fled, and left his people ex- Places, Antiquities, &c, County Down," posed to the ravages of a rapacious enemy, belonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey De Courcy then fortified himself in Down.
"
Office, Phoenix Park. In this copy, how- See Rev. Dr. Leland's History of lie-
ever, there is nothing in particular relating land from the Invasion of Henry II. ," to Iniscourcy. vol. i. , book L, chap, iv. , pp. Il8, 1 19.
18 "
Bridge, as it affords a safe way over a branch
of the lake, anciently called Lough Coyne,
and gives a short cut from Downpatrick, in the barony of Lecale, into the baronies of
to have been
erected,
of monastery Carrig
22 stood about one mile east of
Castle-Screen,
erected the of about the Abbey Inis-Curcey,
1188,
island or peninsula of Lough Strangford, which he endowed with the lands of
Dufferin and
Castlereagh. "—
" The Ancient
" It is said to have been possessed by Benedictine monks. See "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 313.
23 According to Archdall, it was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, on the 3rd of
Perhaps it should be called Coyne Dublin, 1773, 4to.
2I The date assigned for its erection is on
and Present State of the County of Down,"
chap. . iii. , sect, ii. , p. 38.
* This was John De Courcey, who had been married to Africa, a daughter to Gothred, King over the Isle of Man, and of whom so vivid a description has been given
Giraldus Cambrensis, his
In the year 1 177, he led an army, with cer- tain knights in his train, to Dalaradia and to Down, where they slew Donnell, the grandson of Cathasac, Lord of Dalaradia. Down was plundered and destroyed by them on this occasion. See Dr. O'Donovan's
" Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 28to33,andnn. (j, k, 1, m,n). InDown,he erected a castle, and he appears to have established himself there. However, he ex- perienced considerable vicissitudes of sue- cess and reverse in after
who was taken by surprise at an invasion so
June, 1180. See
"
Monasticon Hiberni-
by
contemporary.
cum," p. 122.
24 See " The Ancient and Present State of
the County of Down," chap, iii. , sect, i. , pp.
24, 25.
2S No less than five religious houses—in-
eluding the cathedral—were in or near Downpatrick; andamongthesewerecon-
vents of Benedictines, Augustinians, and Cis- tercians. Besides,Africa,wifeofSirJohnDe Courcy founded Grey Abbey for Cistercian monks, in 1 193. See Mr. and Mrs. Hall's "Ireland: its Scenery, Character," &c, vol. iii. , pp. 10, 18.
26 See Archdall, who follows the account
years.
20 He is called Dunleve, Prince of Uladh,
of Harris, in his p. 122.
"
Monasticon Hibernicum,"
See Archdall's p. 120.
"
Monasticon Hibernicum,"
year
the 8th of September, A. i). n 26 or 11 27.
296 LIVES OF THE IJtlSJI SAINTS. [July 22
twenty feet high, and on each side of the north and south walls are two win-
dows composed of two arches, little inferior in height or elegance to the great window on the east. These windows for light and ornament must have had a grand effect, when the church was in its splendour. In the south wall three tops of stalls *7 remained in the time of Harris. Immediately after entrance into the peninsula, by a causeway, is an old church, which, in the opinion of
I lurris,
was a a8 to the Over the south door perhaps chnpel great abbey. of
—
James Melville supposed
tuus .
Ecce .
Jacet . Celebravit
Old Church of Inis-Cumscraigh, County of Down.
this was a piece of sculpture, representing the image of Christ on the Cross, and a person on his knees, with hands elevated praying to Him. Some interesting remains, which are situated immediately after entrance into the island by a causeway, indicate in the simplicity of their form and architec-
27 The foregoing description has been Underneath is the following inscription:—
taken from " The Ancient and Present State
of the County of Down," chap, iii. , sect, ii. ,
p. 36.
** In this same chapel lies buried Sir
Insignis. Mii. es. Melvili. us. Carn- bia . Proles .
to be a descen- dant of the famous Sir James Melville, secre- tary to Mary Queen of Scots, and author of the Memoirs that pass under his name. The first-mentioned of these knights has here a monument of freestoe erected to his me- mory, and placed in an arch on the north side of the altar. Over a scutcheon of arms, the supporters of which are two birds—the defaced—you have this line, (viz. ) :
Natai. em IIibernia. Funus. habet . tumulum .
.
rest
being
.
S. Anno 1628. D.
Then on the top of the scutcheon in one quarter, I. M. , and in the other quarter A. R. At the foot of the scutcheon,—on one side,
are these words thus placed CHRISTO f. t Cv
Et. Octo. Christus. cum . TUS . ERAT.
tumula-
In
Si !
5°- P- 397-
:
—See "Ancient and Present State of the
County of Down," chnp. iii. , sect, ii. , pp.
37, 38.
29 See Dublin PennyJournal, vol. i. . No.
Mills .
et . Sexcentos . Egerat. Annos
ins . Vicenos .
sub . Hac . Lapidum . Mr>R-
Mole . Scotia intus .
tus . Astra . Colit . Sexaginta . Ocro . Felices .
rat . Annos.
.
.
Quadraiginta . Novem . ex . Animo. si s . Kques .
slmri- vixe-
July 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 297
33 See
of Down — with Mo-biuof InisCuscraid. "
very early antiquity
;
30 The accompanying illustration of it, drawn on the wood, by William F. Wake- man, has been engraved by Mrs. Millard.
31 In his "Ancient and Present State of the County of Down. "
32 In the Dublin Penny Journal;''
VmT>j;ein inaj;-oalena niuir\e mint) cech minam
PA1 f Appolloin uar-ail
tambm
County Antiquarian Appollonius,
Letters, belonging to the Ordnance Survey
2$ we have not been able to discover but,
tural features a
any historical notice, regarding the period of foundation for the old church, to which allusion has been made. 3° After giving the substance of what had been
written Harris^1 and Mr. O' 3* that and already by by Donovan, ingenious
elegant writer George Petrie supposed, that what had been called a chapel to the greater abbey, by Harris, was the original abbey church of Iniscums-
cray. However, Mr. O'Donovan, who appears to have examined its ruins on the spot, remarks in one of his topographical letters, that every one in the neighbourhood thought that Dr. Petrie had totally mistaken the date for erec-
"
tionofthesmallchurchatInch. 33 Inthe DublinPennyJournal,"34wehave
two rough but effective woodcuts,35 representing these ruins in the year 1833, with an article further illustrative of their state and history, from the pen of Mr. Petrie, who sets before us all that can well be gleaned.
St. Mobiu is commemorated at the 22nd of July, by St. ^Engus the Culdee, in the " Feilire. "36 A comment on this notice remarks in Irish, that Thy- Biu, son of Comgall, was in Ferann Duin,37 equivalent to the district of Down. A St. Mobhius, son to Comgell, is venerated at the 22nd of July, according to Marianus O'Gorman and others. 38 In Scotland, this holy man was vene- rated, as we learn from the Kalendar of Drummond,39 at the 22nd of July. Again, in the "Circle of the Seasons," we find entered at the 22nd of July, St. Dabius ©f Ireland. -10
It is melancholy to reflect, as one discovers frequently in travelling through Ireland, that so many temples and monasteries of her ancient Church are now
crumbling into ruin. Here, in the times of primitive faith, the good religious tended the lamp of the sanctuary, and while engaged in praise and prayer themselves, their example and instructions were not lost even upon world- lings. These were exhorted to consecrate the beginning and end of the day, and not to allow their worldly concerns to interfere with or to prevent such holy occupations. Those who could not attend the public assemblies of the faith- ful were always careful to pray at home, at certain appointed times. So was perpetual adoration preserved, while blessings in return flowed on themselves and on their families.
ArticleII. —St. Caemhog,orCaemoca. Oneofthegreatestdangers in ancient as in modern society must be for even honest women to have their hearts too much abroad upon the world, and to love fetes, diversions, and company,whileyoung. AnobleFrenchmanwarnshisdaughters,thatthey
"Transactions of the Royal Irish Aca- Office, Phoenix Park. Mr. O'Donovan's demy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. ,
Letter, dated Downpatrick, April 28th, 1834.
34 See vol. i.
33 These woodcuts are by Branston and Wright, the designs having been furnished by A. Nicholl, Esq.
the
part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. cxi. 3; See ibid. , p.
Ilelio, Victore, Patroclo, Cajsariano, Adrianitide, Dimeso, Felice, Aurelio, Tliy- magrate, et forte Theodolo et Juliano,
p. 163. —x Article x.
"
copy. See
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. L, part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by
Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxi.
—x The stanza is following
Article IX.
found in the " Leabhar Breac" copy. The English translation is by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. :—
Cpoch arvo belli iru\v\cir\ mohair- r\elicc bechcAig Cornn5enr\<MT> cuchcAig p<Mf pruocicip pechcndig.
" The high cross of the martyr Helius mag-
nified, a grave-abounding cemetery: with
" Leabhar Transactions of the Royal Irish
maidens the of happy shapely passion
xxi. I)c S. Praxede Virgine, Roma-, pp.
13010132.
3 Thus, at the 21st of July: "Romae
1 According Martyrology Tallagh,
Praxedes. "— " Transactions of the Royal
li ish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series,
vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus,
by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxi. In a Scotx filiae. ML. "—Bishop Forbes' " Ka-
note annexed is the entry Daniel propheta, at this date, p. cxx.
9 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii xxi. DeSS. MartyribusCa? senatibus,Adriano,
2
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii
In the
Breac"
Praxedis virginis. "— Bishop Forbes' "Ka- lendars of Scottish Saints," p. 206.
" lendars of Scottish Saints, p. 206.
2
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 114.
' Article xi. — Thus :
Beatse Claudia
1
July 22. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
293
€totntp--0ffoitt* Dap of 3ulp.
ARTICLE I. — ST. BITEUS OR MOBIU, CALLED ALSO DOBI, OR DAVID, ABBOT OF INIS-COOSCRY, COUNTY OF DOWN.
THE original name of the present holy man was apparently Biu ; for, we
have to that the of affection mo was but a
admit, adjunct colloquial
addition. Formerly, in Ireland, it was not, and even yet it is not, always cus-
tomary to use the title of " saint. " With a simple reverence, the people called
the holy men and women among them merely by their names, often affec-
tionately prefixing Mo, "my," or Do, "thy. " Thus, we have in general use
"
in reference to times and places. In the early period, the Irish did not call their
the phrase
Patrick's Day," or "Stephen's Green," applied as the usual forms
"
Gilbride,&c. Theseobservationsprepareusforabetterunderstandingof
changes occurring, also, in the personal etymons, applied to holy persons in our Calendars. In the published Martyrology of Tallagh, we meet at the xi.
of the Kalends of or at the 22nd of August,
children by a saint's name, without prefixing Gilla,
servant," as Gilpatrick,
July,
Cumscraidh. 1 " It would seem, that our saint had been known under different
names, as we find him variously designated, by our ancient and modern
writers, Mo-biu, Do-biii, Dabius, David, Movean, and Bite, or Bitheus.
He is called St. Movean or Dabius, of Ireland, in some of the Scottish Calendars.
" 2"
Thus, in Bishop Forbes' Kalendars of Scottish Saints, some notices of this
holy Abbot are to be found. According to Colgan, St. Dabius was born of a mother who had been childless, until St. Mochua, then at Bangor, had prayed for her, as mentioned in his Life. 3 The Sanctilogy of the Irish Saints 4 states his father to have been Comgell, son of Ere, son to Arad, son of Columb, son to Cunneth, son of Buan, from whom the Dal-Buan family sprang, and this was a celebrated tribe in Ultonia, although now extinct or unknown. * If the
genealogical line be complete in the foregoing pedigree, it would be possible to form an approximate calculation of that period at which he flourished. In the Irish Calendar, he is said to have borne the name of Bitheus, also andtohavebeenAbbotofInse 6 Sometimesthe iscalled'
Cumsgraidhe. place
Inis Cooscry ; and this name it obtained, probably from some former owner, named Cosgraidh. ? It is now known simply as Inch, a parish in Lower Lecale
barony,
"
Martii xxx. Vita S. Mochuse sive Cronani Abb. Ballensis. Ex Hiberhicis MSS. interprete PH. Osuilevano, cap. iiii. , p. 789.
4 Chapter xxii.
5 See ibid. , n. 7, p. 791.
Article i. — j See Rev. Dr.
Kelly' Calendar of Irish Saints," &c, p. xxix.
of Down. 8
and
Map of this county, the parish of Inch is situated at the south-western extre- mity of Strangford Lough. It includes with its Islands an area of 6,494 acres, 1 rood, and 12 perches, of land, with 80 acres, 1 rood, and 9 perches, under water. It is bounded on the north by Killyleagh parish, on the east by
6 In the Irish at the xi. of the Calendar,
See pp. 320 and 414. 'Diceu—r . 1. tttobni Abb. 1nre Cutrtfj;- 3 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- ^\AToe. " Ordnance Survey Office Copy of
county
According
to the Ordnance Index Survey
Calends of August (July 22nd), we find, 2-
nise,"
F, p. 64.
this " Dobi Innse entry,
" Common Place Book "
;This proper name often occurs in the
Irish Annals.
8"
It is marked, on the Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Down. "' sheets 30, 31, 37.
294 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 22,
the waters of Strangford Lough, on the south by Down parish, and on the westbyKilmoreparish. TheparishofInchborevariousdenominations,at
different periods, according to printed and manuscript authorities. ? Opposite to the old cathedral of Down, in the Isle of Inch or Inis Curcey, and in the western branch of Lough Coyne, are the ruins of the abbey as also of the
10
abbey church at Inch.
The first church here is said to have stood near Erynach ; but, we know
not by whom it had been erected. This was situated in the barony of Lecale, aboutonemileanda-halfsouthfromDownpatrick. Ititissaid,thatMag-
nell Makenlese, Kingof Ulster, had founded an Abbeyhere, and we aretold,that aSt. EvodiushadbeenitsfirstAbbot. 11 Onthedayofhisdecease,Evodius prophesied, that his own Abbey should be destroyed in after times, but that an Abbey should be built in the Island, now known as Iniscooscry or Inch. Therefore,hegavedirectionsthathiscorpseshouldb—einterredinit. 12 Amonas- teryappearstohavebee—nerectedonthispeninsula whichexhibitsatpresent
some picturesque ruins long
As had been justly thought by some writers, Iniscooscry was not called after John de Courcey ; for, its ancient name was Inniscumhscraigh, pronounced Iniscooscry. Tigernach, Abbot of Clonmacnoise, who died in 1088, records, that in the year 1002, Sitric, King of the Danes, arrived with a fleet in Uladh/4 and at Kilclief and Iniscooscry; while the Annals of the Four Masters, and Keating, at the reign of Brian Boru, concur in recording the same occurrence, and in almost the same words that Tigernach uses. 's Under the year 1061, is recorded the death of Abbot of 16
before the arrival of the in Ireland. ^ English
Hogan O'Cormacan, Inniscumscraigh, and Hugh Maglanha, Abbot of Iniscumscray, was a subscribing witness to the charter of Newry. *7 From Down, the passage to the Island of Inch is by
9 These various names are furnished by Mr. O'Donovan in his "Correspondence, &C. , concerning Names of Places, Antiqui-
ties, &c, in the County of Down," belong- ing to the Irish Ordnance Survey Office. Thus Tollow the orthographies and authori- ties: I. Inifcumfc^ig. Tigernach, 1088. 2. Inse Cumscray. Charta Abbatice de Newry, 1160. 3. 1mf Cumr^Aij;. Dr. Jeoffry Keating, in the reign of Brian Boru. 4. Imp CvmifcrvATO, 1629, and 1nif Cumli- rqAAi'6. Annals of the Four Masters, 1636. 5. Inis Curcey and Inch Abbey. Harris' History of the County of Down, 1744. 6. Inch. County Map, 1755. Beaufort's Memoir, 1792. Dubourdieu's Statistical Survey, 1802. Carlisle's Topographical Dictionary, 1810. Abstract of Population, 1821. Irish Ecclesiastical Register, 1830. 7. Inis Curcey, and Isle of Inch. Hiberniae Nomencl, 1771. 8. Inis Courcey, Archdall's Monasticon, 1786. Dubourdieu's Statistical Survey, 1802. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland, 1829. 9. Iniscurcy, Seward's Topographia, 1795. I0> I ms> Dubourdieu's Statistical Survey, 1802. Lanigan's Ecclcsi- astical History of Ireland, 1829.
a peninsula an island ; wit—ness Inis-Owen in the county of Donegal. " "The Ancient and Present State of the County of Down," chap, iii. , sect, ii. , p. 36.
" This is said to have been a Benedictine
foundation, and to have so continued during
the times of Odo, Devincius and John, the
three succeeding abbots.
""
See Archdall's Monasticon Hibemi-
cum,"p. 120.
I3 This has been incontestably proved by
Dr. O'Donovan, in references he makes to the Irish Annals.
14 Formerly comprising the present county of Down.
I5 In some loose sheets, belonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey, when treating on Iniscourcey, John O'Donovan transcribed the Irish of Tigernach, Keating, and the Four Masters, as referring to that place. He gives a translation of the passages, from the first and last authorities, just named.
10
According to the statement of Walter
Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 880, 881, and n. (p). ,? This is supposed to bear date, about the year 1 160. This charter has been translated and published by Mr. O'Donovan, with learned notes in the Dublin PennyJournal, vol. i. , No. 13, pp. 102 to 104. I found another Manuscript copy of it, with notes altogether different from those published, and in the handwriting of Mr. ODonovan, among some loose sheets, entitled " Corre-
Harris : "The word Inch or Inis, in the
Irish and British languages, signifies an
Island ; though this here is only a peninsula, having a land passage into it on the north side. But it is common with the Irish to call
l6
See Dr. O'Donovan's" Annals of the Four
July 22. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
295
18
QuoileorCoilBridge, whichiscomposedofsixarches,andithasagate-
way over one end of it.
To what exact period we should refer the abbatial functions of St. Mob-
hius,wehavenomeansofascertaining.
Hemusthaveflourishedbeforethe
ninth century, when he had a connexion with this place, as we learn from the
""
Feilire of St. /Engus. After the Anglo-Normans had landed in Ireland, one
of their most celebrated leaders ^ conducted an expedition to Down, where he subdued the local tanist. 20 As a result of this event, we learn, that John de Courcey demolished the Abbey of Carrig, which is said to have been a Bene- dictine foundation. Here there was a monastic house or institute, known as Carrig, and so called, from a rock on which it stood. This building is said
21 one of the of Ulster. by petty princes
The or abbey
near a noted race-course, at a place called Erynagh, where flowed a well dedicated to St. Finan. The abbey there had been converted into a garrison, by the Irish, when John de Courcey led his forces to the north. This was the cause of considerable annoyance to the invader of Down, until he demolished it. In atonement for this demolition, John de Courcey is said afterwards to have n8o23 or on an
.
Carrig Abbey2« He colonized it withCistercianmonks,2s whocamefrom
the monastery of Furness, in Lancashire. 26 The church of this abbey was
erected in the form of a cross, part of which remains. On the south side
seems to have stood a steeple, supported by an elegant arch, of which some of the beads or strings were to be seen, in the beginning of the last century. At the east end of the church are three large arched windows, upwards of
spondence, &c, concerning Names of unexpected. He fled, and left his people ex- Places, Antiquities, &c, County Down," posed to the ravages of a rapacious enemy, belonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey De Courcy then fortified himself in Down.
"
Office, Phoenix Park. In this copy, how- See Rev. Dr. Leland's History of lie-
ever, there is nothing in particular relating land from the Invasion of Henry II. ," to Iniscourcy. vol. i. , book L, chap, iv. , pp. Il8, 1 19.
18 "
Bridge, as it affords a safe way over a branch
of the lake, anciently called Lough Coyne,
and gives a short cut from Downpatrick, in the barony of Lecale, into the baronies of
to have been
erected,
of monastery Carrig
22 stood about one mile east of
Castle-Screen,
erected the of about the Abbey Inis-Curcey,
1188,
island or peninsula of Lough Strangford, which he endowed with the lands of
Dufferin and
Castlereagh. "—
" The Ancient
" It is said to have been possessed by Benedictine monks. See "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 313.
23 According to Archdall, it was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, on the 3rd of
Perhaps it should be called Coyne Dublin, 1773, 4to.
2I The date assigned for its erection is on
and Present State of the County of Down,"
chap. . iii. , sect, ii. , p. 38.
* This was John De Courcey, who had been married to Africa, a daughter to Gothred, King over the Isle of Man, and of whom so vivid a description has been given
Giraldus Cambrensis, his
In the year 1 177, he led an army, with cer- tain knights in his train, to Dalaradia and to Down, where they slew Donnell, the grandson of Cathasac, Lord of Dalaradia. Down was plundered and destroyed by them on this occasion. See Dr. O'Donovan's
" Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 28to33,andnn. (j, k, 1, m,n). InDown,he erected a castle, and he appears to have established himself there. However, he ex- perienced considerable vicissitudes of sue- cess and reverse in after
who was taken by surprise at an invasion so
June, 1180. See
"
Monasticon Hiberni-
by
contemporary.
cum," p. 122.
24 See " The Ancient and Present State of
the County of Down," chap, iii. , sect, i. , pp.
24, 25.
2S No less than five religious houses—in-
eluding the cathedral—were in or near Downpatrick; andamongthesewerecon-
vents of Benedictines, Augustinians, and Cis- tercians. Besides,Africa,wifeofSirJohnDe Courcy founded Grey Abbey for Cistercian monks, in 1 193. See Mr. and Mrs. Hall's "Ireland: its Scenery, Character," &c, vol. iii. , pp. 10, 18.
26 See Archdall, who follows the account
years.
20 He is called Dunleve, Prince of Uladh,
of Harris, in his p. 122.
"
Monasticon Hibernicum,"
See Archdall's p. 120.
"
Monasticon Hibernicum,"
year
the 8th of September, A. i). n 26 or 11 27.
296 LIVES OF THE IJtlSJI SAINTS. [July 22
twenty feet high, and on each side of the north and south walls are two win-
dows composed of two arches, little inferior in height or elegance to the great window on the east. These windows for light and ornament must have had a grand effect, when the church was in its splendour. In the south wall three tops of stalls *7 remained in the time of Harris. Immediately after entrance into the peninsula, by a causeway, is an old church, which, in the opinion of
I lurris,
was a a8 to the Over the south door perhaps chnpel great abbey. of
—
James Melville supposed
tuus .
Ecce .
Jacet . Celebravit
Old Church of Inis-Cumscraigh, County of Down.
this was a piece of sculpture, representing the image of Christ on the Cross, and a person on his knees, with hands elevated praying to Him. Some interesting remains, which are situated immediately after entrance into the island by a causeway, indicate in the simplicity of their form and architec-
27 The foregoing description has been Underneath is the following inscription:—
taken from " The Ancient and Present State
of the County of Down," chap, iii. , sect, ii. ,
p. 36.
** In this same chapel lies buried Sir
Insignis. Mii. es. Melvili. us. Carn- bia . Proles .
to be a descen- dant of the famous Sir James Melville, secre- tary to Mary Queen of Scots, and author of the Memoirs that pass under his name. The first-mentioned of these knights has here a monument of freestoe erected to his me- mory, and placed in an arch on the north side of the altar. Over a scutcheon of arms, the supporters of which are two birds—the defaced—you have this line, (viz. ) :
Natai. em IIibernia. Funus. habet . tumulum .
.
rest
being
.
S. Anno 1628. D.
Then on the top of the scutcheon in one quarter, I. M. , and in the other quarter A. R. At the foot of the scutcheon,—on one side,
are these words thus placed CHRISTO f. t Cv
Et. Octo. Christus. cum . TUS . ERAT.
tumula-
In
Si !
5°- P- 397-
:
—See "Ancient and Present State of the
County of Down," chnp. iii. , sect, ii. , pp.
37, 38.
29 See Dublin PennyJournal, vol. i. . No.
Mills .
et . Sexcentos . Egerat. Annos
ins . Vicenos .
sub . Hac . Lapidum . Mr>R-
Mole . Scotia intus .
tus . Astra . Colit . Sexaginta . Ocro . Felices .
rat . Annos.
.
.
Quadraiginta . Novem . ex . Animo. si s . Kques .
slmri- vixe-
July 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 297
33 See
of Down — with Mo-biuof InisCuscraid. "
very early antiquity
;
30 The accompanying illustration of it, drawn on the wood, by William F. Wake- man, has been engraved by Mrs. Millard.
31 In his "Ancient and Present State of the County of Down. "
32 In the Dublin Penny Journal;''
VmT>j;ein inaj;-oalena niuir\e mint) cech minam
PA1 f Appolloin uar-ail
tambm
County Antiquarian Appollonius,
Letters, belonging to the Ordnance Survey
2$ we have not been able to discover but,
tural features a
any historical notice, regarding the period of foundation for the old church, to which allusion has been made. 3° After giving the substance of what had been
written Harris^1 and Mr. O' 3* that and already by by Donovan, ingenious
elegant writer George Petrie supposed, that what had been called a chapel to the greater abbey, by Harris, was the original abbey church of Iniscums-
cray. However, Mr. O'Donovan, who appears to have examined its ruins on the spot, remarks in one of his topographical letters, that every one in the neighbourhood thought that Dr. Petrie had totally mistaken the date for erec-
"
tionofthesmallchurchatInch. 33 Inthe DublinPennyJournal,"34wehave
two rough but effective woodcuts,35 representing these ruins in the year 1833, with an article further illustrative of their state and history, from the pen of Mr. Petrie, who sets before us all that can well be gleaned.
St. Mobiu is commemorated at the 22nd of July, by St. ^Engus the Culdee, in the " Feilire. "36 A comment on this notice remarks in Irish, that Thy- Biu, son of Comgall, was in Ferann Duin,37 equivalent to the district of Down. A St. Mobhius, son to Comgell, is venerated at the 22nd of July, according to Marianus O'Gorman and others. 38 In Scotland, this holy man was vene- rated, as we learn from the Kalendar of Drummond,39 at the 22nd of July. Again, in the "Circle of the Seasons," we find entered at the 22nd of July, St. Dabius ©f Ireland. -10
It is melancholy to reflect, as one discovers frequently in travelling through Ireland, that so many temples and monasteries of her ancient Church are now
crumbling into ruin. Here, in the times of primitive faith, the good religious tended the lamp of the sanctuary, and while engaged in praise and prayer themselves, their example and instructions were not lost even upon world- lings. These were exhorted to consecrate the beginning and end of the day, and not to allow their worldly concerns to interfere with or to prevent such holy occupations. Those who could not attend the public assemblies of the faith- ful were always careful to pray at home, at certain appointed times. So was perpetual adoration preserved, while blessings in return flowed on themselves and on their families.
ArticleII. —St. Caemhog,orCaemoca. Oneofthegreatestdangers in ancient as in modern society must be for even honest women to have their hearts too much abroad upon the world, and to love fetes, diversions, and company,whileyoung. AnobleFrenchmanwarnshisdaughters,thatthey
"Transactions of the Royal Irish Aca- Office, Phoenix Park. Mr. O'Donovan's demy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. ,
Letter, dated Downpatrick, April 28th, 1834.
34 See vol. i.
33 These woodcuts are by Branston and Wright, the designs having been furnished by A. Nicholl, Esq.
the
part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. cxi. 3; See ibid. , p.
