No More Learning

Before the birth of St. Declan, for many generations, his family seems to
have dwelt near Ardmore. 10? On account of the tribe to which that territory
formerly belonged, even to a modern period, it had been called the Lordship
—one called Decies within Drum, and the other Decies without Drum. Ardmore is situated in the county of Waterford and in the province of Munster. A port is there to be found, between the towns of Dungarvan and of
9* The word Fir has the meaning "men,"
and the addition is not clearly ascertainable; but, probably, it has reference to a tribe in
the western part of the present county of Wexford.
w "The present boundary between the diocese of Cashel and that of Lismore is the bestride to go by for finding out the northern limits of the territory of the Desii, which, in the ecclesiastical division, has been placed under Declan of Ardmore. This See became united to that of Lismore, and is now com-
prised under its name. These united dioceses extend northwards to about midway be- tween Cashel and Clonmel, and there also ended the country of the Desii in which lay
Rev. Dr. "Eccle- Magh-femyn. "— Lanigan's
siastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap. vi. , sect, vi. , n. 61, pp. 281, 282.
100
At the time our saint's Acts had been compiled, their divisions retained the names of those brothers, who appear to have lived in harmony among themselves.
oftheDecies and,atthepresenttime,therearetwodistinctbaroniesthere ;
108 In olden
a
the present Ardmore. 100 An earlier name it seems to have received, for it
Voughal.
times,
the Desii clan
occupied
territory surrounding
Eogan, son of Fiachad-Suidhe, begot Carbry, surnamed Righ-ruadh, Rufus or Red King, who was father to Corny- Bello-
victor, or the Warlike, who begot Cuan- Cainbrethach, father to Mesfore, father to Moscegra, father to Moscorb, father to Ath- Corb, father to Eogain II. , father to Brian, who begot Niath, father to Ludhoich, father to Trene, who begot Ere, the father of St. Declan. See chap, i. , p. 6.
10* In the Bollandists' copy, the name is written Ectus, but this is evidently an error of the copyist ; as afterwards the father of St. Declan is called Ercus, as also in the copy of St. Declan's Life found in the St. Isidore Manuscript.
,0S He and St. Patroness of Ire- Brigid,
land, were descended from a common an-
cestor, Feidhlimid Reachtmar, and it may be seen from whom these saints respectively
branch, in Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidse, cap. 3, p. 613.
,o6 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Ard- moriae in Ilibernia, cap. i. , sects. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,8,9,pp. 593to595,withnotes(u,x,y,z, aa, bb, cc, dd, ee).
,0? Mr. Joseph Hansard of Dungarvan has
Present State of the County and City of
Waterford," we find this descent of Ardmore, contained in his History of the our saint more briefly recorded. Thus, County and City of Waterford. "
101 Afterwards known as the Desies.
102
By this they were known at Tara.
would seem, that the baronies of Upper and
Tower Decse, in the county of Meath, trace
their names from them.
103 In Dr. Charles Smith's "Ancient and
It
102
the chiefs of this new district
100 divided the moun- plains,
published the most recent description of "
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 3i7
first is mentioned as Ard-na-Geaorach, Latinized Altitudo Ovium, or the Hill of the Sheep. A tall and well preserved Round Tower 1JO and several eccle- siastical ruins 111 now mark the site of a place, which in the early ages of Christianity attained much celebrity.
The mother of St. Declan is called Dethidin,
112
Dethein, Deiefthion or
Dechiden. In the Acts of our saint, the various forms of this name are ren-
" 11 11 11 dered by the Latin word Cura. " * We are informed, * that Ere or Ercus, *
large stone,
108
11? which
lay
Round Tower and old Church, at Ardmore, County Waterford.
there. "8 Atatime, whentheauthor ofoursaint's
Ardmore is rather nearer to this latter town than to the former.
109 This is mentioned in St. Declan 's Acts.
110 An illustration of the Round Tower and of the ecclesiastical remains at Ardmore has already appeared in the Third Volume of this work, at March 7th, Art. i.
113 " See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
111
the RoundTower and old church was drawn
sect, xii. , p. 25.
Xl* In the Life of St. Declan.
"S Dr. Meredith Hanmer calls him, "the
first Christian which I find upon record in Ireland. "—*' Chronicle of Ireland," p. 67.
116 "
not yet published, calls the father of Declan,
' Ercus, dux Desiorum, i. e. , Ercus, duke or
chieftaineof Decies,' then a territory, now a
barony in the county of Waterford, of which
the descendants of that Ercus continued
on the
spot by
William F. Wakeman, and it
The accompanying representation of
The author of the Life of St. Declan,
presents a different view of these objects,
and of the surrounding scenery from what
had been already given. It has been trans- ferred by Mr. Wakeman to the wood, en- graved by Mrs. Millard.
112 By Ussher, she—is named " Dethidin
petty kings until the arrival of the English. "
"
clesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvi. , p. 409.
Harris' History Antiquities City of Dublin," chap, ix. , p. 159.
(id est, Cura), &c. "
Britannicarum Ec-
"J We are how the infant's tender told,
head having fallen upon this hard stone, the
invited to the house of a relative, called Dob-
father to St. Declan,"6
ranus or Dobhran, besides many other companions, was accompanied by his wife Dethein. At this period, she was pregnant and carried the unborn infant Declan in her womb. The time for her delivery having arrived, it is said, that owing to her child's destined sanctity, Dethein did not experience the usual pains of childbirth. It is also stated, at the time of our saint's nativity, that on her wishing to rise, the head of her newly-born infant fell upon a
being
Ecclesiasti- cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, i. ,
—" and ofthe
3i8 LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24.
Acts wrote, this stone on which his birth took place, was called the " Stone
11 of St. Declan. " *
It has been very fairly and reasonably supposed, that our saint was not
born at the most early period,
120
his birth
That place in which
generally stated; have taken place before the death of the Irish Apostle.
might
u Atrium Dobrani," but it was afterwards called '. ' Atrium Declani. " The fosterer of this child, Dobran, offered his habitation to St. Declan, and removed his own
residence to another station. 122 The place itself was situated in the southern
12 ]2 partofaplain,calledbytheScots, ^MaghSceithiorPlainoftheBuckler. " <
This was not far distant from that renowned spot
our saint was born, at first went the name, as by
Latinized,
city nowknownasLismore. ThegraceofGodappearedtomanifestitselfinthis
child's favour, even from his birth j for, signs and miracles were wrought,
" I have sanctified thee from the womb, and I havegiven thee a prophet amongst the Gentiles. " Indeed, the holy
Declan appeared already, as God's inspired prophet among the people, many
of whom he afterwards converted to Christ from the errors of
On the night of oursaint's birth, anothervery remarkable miracle is recorded, as having taken place. Many persons, living near the house where the infant was born, observed a globe of fire blazing on the roof-top, and extending itself towards Heaven. Like the ladder, which appeared to the Patriarch Joseph in his sleep, angels were seen congregated around that globe, and ascending with it, while singing harmonious strains. On seeing and hearing such prodigies, those gentiles rejoiced much, at the mystical revelation ; but, they were ignorant regarding the omnipotence of a Deity, thus manifesting
according
to that written the
by Prophet,
child escaped without injury, although a concave impression of the cranium remained embedded in the stone. Those who were present and witnessed that miracle, were filled with admiration at such an unwonted occurrence.
126 paganism.
"Trias Thaumaturga," at p. 269. Dr. Lanigan thinks it probable, that St. Declan
did not live at a sufficiently early period to have been a disciple of St. Patrick. See
1,8 The Acts of our saint, in connection
with this narrative, remark: "Tunc jam not mentioned, in Tirechan's List of St.
llybernia gentilitati dedita erat ; et eo tem- pore raro singuli Christiani inveniri sole-
Patrick's disciples ; nor what is much more remarkable, in any of St. Patrick's old Lives, which minutely mention, not only such of
bant, nee poterunt ibi esse sine persecutione. "
This passage would serve to indicate, a these disciples as founded monasteries or
popular tradition regarding the introduction of Christianity into our Island, even before St. Declan's death.
churches, but even others of inferior note. See ibid.
122
In this place, after some time, when he became a bishop, St. Declan built a cell, de- dicated to God.
123 " Scoti, id est, Iliberni. "
124 In Ussher's " Brilannicarum Ecclcsia-
119 The same writer tells us, at that time, it stood in an outer porch or entrance, and that by means of water it contained, and St. Declan's merits, owing to Divine permis- sion, diseases and pains were effectually cured. The ofthat inthe
rum Antiquitates," cap. xvi. , p. 409, the
meaning passage,
Acts containing this account, is somewhat obscure. After speaking about this stone of
nameofthis is " place written, UIaj;
"
qui est modo (oris in atrio, et per aquam, quae stat super earn de pluvia in vestigio capitis S. Declani, per ejus Sanctitatem operante divina gratia morbi et
pcechih . 1. campus Scuti. "
"s The festival of St. Carthage, otherwise
Mochudu or Mochudda, bishop of Lismore, occurs at the 14th of May, at which day his Acts have been already given, in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. i.
126 From the introduction of the
"sicut andituri estis," in this Life, and owing to nearly similar terms, in the Lives of many of our Irish saints, I incline to a
St. Declan, it adds,
dolores solide
120 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan says, that
phrase
repelluntur. ''
although Colgan reckons our saint among
St. Patrick's disciples, referring for a proof
of this to the 30th, 31st, 32nd and 33rd supposition, that several of these were
chapters of the Life of St. Declan ; yet, such specially composed as panegyrics for their statement is in opposition to what the Irish iestivals, or for the purpose of monastic
hagiologist has elsewhere made, in the spiritual reading.
"
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. ,
although
121
of St. 12 * and Carthage,
chap, i. , sect, xii. , p. 26.
121 It is remarked, that Declan's name is
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 319
the future sanctity of his servant, and who was then introduced to the world.
Those, who witnessed this miracle, repeated what they had seen, in presence of a certain religious and holy Christian priest, named Colman. 12? After-
128 Filled with the of
spirit prophecy,
he became a renowned
Colman came with exceeding great joy to that place, where Declan was born. He then preached the faith of Christ to Declan's parents, in whose presence such favours had been vouchsafed to their son. He also prophesied regard- ing their son's honour and glory before God, and he predicted the events of Declan's future life in this world. Yielding assent to these heavenly admoni- tions, the parents delivered their son to be baptized by this priest Colman. He performed the ceremony of regeneration, and then bestowed the name of Declan, on their infant. After baptism, in the presence of all there assem- bled,Colmanpropheticallyaddressedtheboy,intheseterms: "You,indeed,
wards,
Bishop.
O my son—nay, my Lord—shall be exalted and honoured before God and
man in Heaven, and upon earth, while the fame ofyour sanctity, charity and goodness, in all particulars, shall fill the four quarters of Hibernia. The people of Nan Desii shall be converted by you, from their diabolic errors to the paths of Christ, and then I shall enter a fraternity with you, and shall
commend myself to your sanctity. " After having thus spoken, and performed those functions, Colman retired to his habitation, with much rejoicing. He recommended, that this holy infant should be carefully nursed, and that when his seventh year had been attained, he should be sent for instruction to a lettered Christian, if such a one could be found. A wonderful hilarity appeared on the holy babe's countenance, in the presence of his baptist. All who were there observed, that interiorly this remarkable child was rilled with
I29 On
of the chieftain Ere, father to our saint, earnestly entreated the boy's parents, that they should deliver their child to him, in order to be nursed or fostered, asDeclanhadbeenbornathisresidence. Theparentswillinglyassentedto
Dobran's request.
Among those who had seen the fiery globe, on the night of our saint's
claimed " O child Declan, servant of the prophetically:
spiritual joy.
seeing
and
hearing
these the aforesaid kinsman things,
there were seven devont men '3° who dwelt 1 inMaghSceithi. ^ Through
nativity,
God'sholygrace,thesewereendowedwiththespiritofprophecy. Theseseven came together to St. Declan, whom they named their Lord and Master. They also declared before all, that he should be their future Bishop. Thus, they ex-
shall come, on which we will offer to thee ourselves and our habitations. " This
127 There are many holy bishops bear- Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Ard-
ing this name in Ireland, so that it is not easy to determine, who among them is here de- signated. Neither Ussher, who cites extracts from our saint's Acts, nor Colgan, throws anylightonthesubject. See"TriasThau- maturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xv. , p. 251.
128 The scene of this Colman's labours,
however, lay in the Prostha Shana Pubol, or Old Parish of the People, which was situated in Ardmore's immediate vicinity. There is a townland of this old parish called Kilcolman, and here the remains of an ancient church may be seen.
Near it is the tree and well (Tubber Cholmane) of this saint. See "Transactions of the Kilkenny and South-East of Ireland Archaeological Society," vol. i. New Series, pp. 41, 42.
"
5
,s9 See "Acta Sanctorum, tomus v. ,
morke in Hibernia, cap. ii. , sects. 10, 11, 12,
13, 14^. 596.
l3° The names of these seven holy men are
afterwards given in the Life of our saint,
I31 It has been already stated, in the Life of St. Carthage, or Mochudda, Bishop,
Abbot, and Patron, of Lismore, chap, iv. , that Magh Sgiath had been the ancient name for the place on which that city stood, and the district named in the text was a plain which surrounded Lismore. —
of the commentator on the Feilire of St. ^Engus—Declan was a foster-son of St. Mo- ling, while we are told in St. Mullin's he rests or in Lismore. See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oen^us, by Wuitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxx.
great
day
,32 According to another statement that ""
God, a
320 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 24.
prediction was fulfilled j for, believing in God, they received baptism, in the name of the Holy Trinity, and they became saints. Seven renowned cells were built and dedicated to God by them, and within circuit of the afore- mentioned Sceithe plain.
For seven whole years, St. Declan was carefully tended by his fosterer and relative Dobran. ^2 The boy had also formed a great attachment towards his guardian. Even during these seven years of his tutelage, it pleased the Almighty to work miracles through him. The grace of God so far inspired St. Declan, that he abstained from all unlawful pagan practices, as though he were a thoroughly well instructed and a prac- tical Christian. At the expiration of those seven years of his tutelage, a reli- gious and wise man, named Dymma, 1 " had lately arrived in Ireland, which was the country of his birth. Having embraced the Christian religion, to the observances of which he addicted himself, that pious servant of God built a cell, in this part of the country. In it he intended, likewise, to give literary instruction. To this teacher, the boy Declan was delivered by his parents and fosterer, according to Colman's mandate. Another boy, named Carbre,*3* son to Colman, and who afterwards became a holy and venerable bishop, was also committed to the training of St. Dimma, and about that same timers Both of these pupils diligently attended to their master's instructions. The holy Declan spent much time under Dyrama's teaching, and he drained large
of fromvariousmundaneandsacred 1*6 this draughts learning, writings. Through
instruction, his understanding was rendered acute, and he was distinguished for his eloquence. Knowing St. Declan's nobility of soul, while seeing and hearing much respecting his unrivalled sanctity, religion, and charity, many
T
persons came to visit him. 37 These voluntarily subjected themselves to the
yoke of his discipline, and they possibly lived with him, at or near the present town of Ardmore.
CHAPTER II.
EARLY CHRISTIANITY IN- IRELAND—ST. DECLAN, WITH SOME OF HIS DISCIPLES, PRO- CEEDS TO ROME—CONSECRATED BISHOP THERE BY THE POPE—HE RECEIVES A COMMISSION TO PREACH THE GOSPEL IN IRELAND—HIS FIRST MEETING WITH ST. PATRICK—ST. DECLAN ARRIVES IN IRELAND, AND COMMENCES HIS MISSION IN THE SOUTH—HIS ZEAL AND LABOURS—HE VISITS CASHEL, TO TREACH THE GOSPEL TO ANGUS, SON OF NADFRAOICH, KING OF MUNSTER—FRIENDSHIP OF ST. PATRICK FOR ST. DECLAN—THE LATTER FAILS TO CONVERT LEBANUS, CHIEF OF
AND FEARGHAL IS INAUGURATED AS THEIR CHIEF— ECCLESIASTICAL ARRANGEMENTS REGARDING JURISDICTION.
THE DESII
—HE IS
DEPOSED,
So early as the fourth century, it has been supposed, that some pains were taken to spread the Gospel in Ireland, then inhabited by a people called
133 Amongthe saints mentioned in our Calendars, he has not been identified.
134 Of this Carbre nothing more is known ; for, of four saints bearing the name Carbre, enumerated by Colgan, in his First Volume, P- 3I3» we have only information, regard- ing the first of them. He is said to have belonged to the ninth century, and conse- quently, he must have been distinct from the fellow-disciple of our saint.
135 In common with many other scholars
and lovers of antiquity, the Bollandist editor
laments the want of continuing Colgan's Unfinished works, which should most proba
blythrowmuchlightonthehistoryofseveral unknown Irish saints. See "Acta Sancto- rum," tomus v. , Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Ardmoria? in Ilibernia, cap. ii. , n. (e), p. 597.
I36 The Acts of our saint here read,
" Dulcia divcrsarum pocula vScripturarum," "
&c. Ussher has it, Scriptarum exhausit
"
diciplinarum," &c. See
Ecclesurum Antiquitates," cap. xvi. , p. 410.
' 3? See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Ard- morix* in Ilibernia, cap. ii. , sects. 15, 16, 17* and nn. (a, b, c, d, e, f, g), pp. 596, 597.
Ikitannicarum
July 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 32 t
Scoti. 1 About this epoch, St. Albeus 2 had been for many years under the
discipline of St. Hilarys Bishop, at Rome. At the instigation and entreaty of this last-named saint, Albeus was consecrated bishop. It is said, more-
over, that four holy bishops, named Albeus, Declan, Ibar and Kiaran, together with their disciples, laboured in Ireland andconverted many of its inha- bitants, before the era of St. Patrick's preaching. Although, on spreading the net of the Gospel, those missionaries attracted many to a profession of the true faith ; yet, it was reserved for St. Patrick, to convert the great majority Of Ireland's inhabitants and chiefs, and to obtain the dignity of primate, in the country of his Apostolate. * However, it cannot be doubted, but that St. Patrick had some precursors in the south and south-east parts of Ireland, as there were Christians in Ireland before the mission of Palladium ; and, con- sidering the greater proximity of those parts to the Continent, besides their
lying convenient for an intercourse with Great Britain, it may reasonably be
supposed, that they had already received no small share of the Gospel
light. s
Our saint formed a resolution of journeying to Rome, that he might there be
initiated to a knowledge of ecclesiastical discipline, receive Holy Orders, and
See. 6
some disciples with him, Declan commenced his voyage, and he safely arrived
at Rome. When St. Declan and his disciples had reached the Eternal City, 7 greatjoywasmanifestedj for,thenoblebirthandgreatsanctityofthemaster are said to have been known to the Roman people and to the clergy, who, on account of their antecedents, conceived a great love and veneration for the pious band of adventurers, and especially for their chief. With the counsel of many, St. Declan was consecrated bishop by the Sovereign Pon- tiff. 8 He remained in Rome for a considerable time. Having obtained some books, and a rule for his guidance, he was then sent back to preach in Ire- land. Receiving this license, and the Pope's benediction, as also the blessing of high members constituting the Roman Church, the holy bishop Declan pre- pared for his return towards Ireland. ' Many followed him from Rome, who were willing to place themselves under his direction, in a distant land. Among these is said to have been a prince named Lunanus, son of the
Roman 10 and this scion was loved St. Declan.
obtain a license for from the preaching
Apostolic
Wherefore, taking
king, royal
greatly by
Chapter, ii. — * A learned historian re- marks, ihat " when in the next age, Palla- dius was sent from Rome to instruct them, it appeared that some of them had a know- ledge of—Christianity before he came among them. " Dodd's "Church
n. 60, p. 281.
6 The Acts of our saint say, one of the
objects Declan had in view, when going to
England," vol. i. , part i. , A.
etiatn confirmat. " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates,"
cap. xvi. , p. 789. Editio Dublinii, 1639.
9 The author of our saint's Life states :
" traditis sibi libris et reyulis, missus est ad
1. 2"
Ussher's
p.
occurs on the 12th of September. At this date, his Life may be seen.
ipsius scriptor
i. ,
St. Ailbe, Bishop of Emly. His feast
3
St. Patrick's Acts at the 17th of March, that he must have been the Roman Pontiff, St. Hilary, who ruled from' A. D. 461 to a. d. 468.
TheBollandiststhink,intheirtreatmentof
See Sir Harris Nicolas'
"
Chronology of
patriam suam, sc. Hiberniam, ut praedica-
History
of
7"
S. Declanum Romse turn — Vitaa adfuisse,
ret in ea. "
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Ard-
Julii xxiv. De S. Declano Episcopo Ard- moiiae in Hibernia, cap. iii. , sects. 18, 19, morioe in Hibernia, cap. iii. , sect. 23, p. 597.
10 The ignorance of Roman history shown the writer of our saint's Life is manifested in this instance, as no king or emperor in
History," p. 209.
p. 598.
5 See Rev. Dr.
" Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, "vol. i. , chap, vi. , sect. vi, r
by
Vol. VII—No. 6,
X
Lanigan's
"
dum institutionem Romanam adduceret. "
Rome, was that
ordinem et regulas seeun-
8 The Life of our saint states
multos dies S. Declanus a Domino Papa, suadentibus multis, ordinatus est," &c.
—"Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
:
post
" Et
322 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July
It is recorded, that while holy Bishop Declan was offering the Divine Sacri- fice, in a certain church, and on his return to Ireland, a small black bell was sent to him from Heaven, by the Almighty. It came through the window of that church, resting over the altar, and in his presence. Whereupon, St- Declan received this gift, with great joy, and he gave thanks to God. Through such a
celestial token, he felt fortified against the barbarous ferocity of the Gentiles. He delivered that bell to the aforesaid Lunanus, so that he might carry it, and be its custodian. The Scots called this object Duibhin Declain," on account of its dark colour, and because it appertained to St. Declan. It is reported, that St. Patrick, the future Apostle, and Archbishop of Ireland,
1 *
Britain, pass over,
vessel was to be found. The holy man, on seeing this, took the aforesaid bell in his hand, and then ringing it, Declan prayed the Almighty, that he might be assisted in this juncture. Immediately, his prayer was heard, when an empty vessel, without sails or sailors, appeared skimming over the waves, and approachingtowardsoursaintandhiscompanions. Declanthensaidtohis
then on his
Both holy personages saluted each other, with the kiss of peace, and con- ceived a mutual friendship, before leaving for their respective destinations. *3
being
way
to
Rome, happened
disciples :
" In the name of let us enter this Christ,
and who sent He,
saying of David,
wonderful is the Lord in his saints. "
landedwasinMenevia. 1? Weare
that the two holy Pontiffs, St. David 2 ° and St. Declan, established a Chris-
The wherethe place
voyagers
informed,
Rome is known to have had a son bearing such a name.
" We are told by the writer of our saint's Life, that in his time, this venerated relic of Declan had proved the occasion for many miracles being wrought through God's grace, and that it was preserved with great respect in St. Declan's
year 527, and as St. Declan survived him, according to the Acts of this latter, Dr.
Lanigan thinks it sufficiently established, that our saint " was not a bishop in the year 402, nor at any time before the mission of St. Patrick. "— " Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. i. , chap, i. , sect, xii. , p. 26.
J ? The Bollandist editor that Ycht thinks,
was only another name for the Isbnd, Latinized Vecta, and Englished Wight. This isle is situated in the sea, that divides France
" from England or Britain.