Thomas
Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
"
panegyrist
of our saint in declares, closing
tomus iv. , Augusti xxiii. De S. Eugenio vel Eogano Episcopo Ardsrathensi in Hi- bernia. Vita auctore anonymo, pp. 626, 627.
" See the Genealogical Table t» illustrate
August 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 341
served. It is most generally allowed by our writers, that St. Eugene of
Ardstraw died some time in the sixth 1 * other authorities century; although
have prolonged his life to the seventh. He is said by Walter Harris to have died, in the year 570,^ and for this statement Ussher is quoted; although he has no such notice of Eugene, in his Chronological Index, for that
In like Archdall at Ardstraw16
manner, following Harris, misrepresents
year.
the words of Ussher, in assigning his death to a. d. 570. It would only be
1 safe to affirm, that probably the holy bishop flourished at such a period. ?
The Annals of Clonmacnoise state, that Eugene died so late as a. d. 618. Nevertheless, both Ussher18 and the Bollandists notice the difficulty of reconciling that date, with the period of his consecration. He must have lived, far beyond the allotted term of extreme old age, should it be received.
1? at the
festival in honor of Eoghan, Bishop of Arda Sratha. Somewhat differently
spelled is that entry, in the Book of Leinster, at x. of the September
Kalends. 20 He is recorded, in the of 31 at the same Martyrology Donegal,
33
date, as Eoghan Bishop, of Ard-Sratha,
generally thought, that he died on the 33rd of August ; for then his festival occurs in all the Calendars. 2^ In the Diocese of Derry, the feast of this holy Patron is celebrated on that day for a Bishop and Confessor, as a Double of the First Class with an octave.
Long after the time of the first founder, there were bishops in the ancient see of Ard-sratha. Thus, at the year 678, the death of Maelfothartaigh, and attheyear705,onthe26thofNovember,thedeathofCoibhdeanach; as also at the year 878, the death of Aenghus, son to Maelcaularda, successor of Bishop Eoghan, of Ardsrath, died. 3* The Abbots of that place are traceddownwardstoastilllaterperiod. Thus,Maelpadraig,sonofMorann, AbbotofDruimcliabhandArd-sratha,dieda. d. 92i. 3* Theparishofthis place was the principal seat of a tribe called the Ui-Fiachrach-Arda-sratha, who gave a territorial name to it and to the neighbouring district. The family of the Ua-Criochan were chiefs there, prior to the Anglo-Norman Invasion. 36 The See of Ardstraw embraced the greater part of County Derry, and it is stated, that the Bishop was also superior of all the houses belongingtotheColumbianOrder. Thus,theabbotsofthatchurch,aswe have seen, were occasionally of the episcopal order. It is stated, that the family of Ua-Forannain were herenachs of Ard-sratha, in the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth centuries. As a consequence of its ecclesiastical importance,
the termon land of the church was very extensive, containing sixteen bali-
The of published Martyrology
Tallagh,
33rd
of inserts a August,
tomus iv. De S. Eugeniovel Eogaino Epis- copo Ardsrathensi in Hibernia. Commenta-
rius Prsevius, num. I, 2, 3, pp. 624, 625.
•s See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops of
Derry,"p, 286. 16 "
" Thus : eogAin ep 4rvo fttAcha.
2I Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
226, 227.
" See also Duald Mac Firbis in " Pro-
ceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish
See Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 679.
—vol. Manuscript Series,
and n. 15. Ibid.
i. , part i. ,
pp 86, 87,
He cites Ussher, p. 495, for this statement
;
but, on referring to that page, there is in- deed mention of this saint, yet no date given
*3 See "Circle of the Seasons," p. 236.
a* "
See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 286, 287, 306, 307,
526, 527.
25 See ibid. , vol. ii. , pp. 608, 609.
a6 See " Acts of Archbishop Cotton in his
Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, A. D. MCCCXCVII. ," edited by Rev. William Reeves, D. D. , p. io,n. (q).
for his death.
*» See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
"
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect.
iii. , p. 190.
18 See *' Britannicarum Ecclesiarum An-
tiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 495, 496.
*9 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
in Cinel Moain, in Ulster. It is
342 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 23.
boes,'7 whereas the average of other churches was only four. It is generally believed, that Ardstraw remained an independent episcopal See for the lapse
28
There exist as yet certain Fragments, taken from a Book, 9 relating to the names, divisions and bounds belonging to the Parochial church of Ardstraw. After Saint Eugene's demise, the see was transferred, it is said, to Rathlury, the modern Maghera. However, it is—not
of seven centuries.
a
means —
that such transfer ever took or
by any clear, place. Rathlury
the fort of St. Luroch was a house of great consequence, and the custo-
dian bishop, no doubt, resided there for a time ; but, he did not cease in
consequence to be Bishop of Ardstraw, any more than those Popes who resided at Avignon ceased to be Bishops of Rome. However, long after the death of our saint, the monastery of Ardstraw continued to be a place of great importance, as we find from various references to it in the Annals of Ireland, during the Middle Ages. 3° Whowere St. Eugene's immediate successors in the see of Ardstraw, it is now impossible to state, for no records known have handed down all their names to posterity. 3* It is equally difficult to determine the precise boundaries of that ancient diocese, for as a general rule the modern sees are made from a union of many minor bishoprics. Thus we have Ardstraw, Clonleigh, Rathlury, Coleraine, and it may be several others, all conjoined to form the present diocese of Derry. Though Eugene is usually ranked as the first bishop of Derry diocese, yet he was only Bishop of Ardstraw. Derry as a diocese did not come into existence till a long time subsequent to his death. Nor does it seem to have been permanently defined, until the incumbency of German O'Cearbhallain, who filled the see from 1230 to 1279,3* and who annexed to his diocese the territory about Ardstraw, called Hy-Fiachrach, in the north-west to Tir-Eoghan, which he took from the see of Clogher, about the year 1250, as also a portion of Tir-Connall, which he wrested from Raphoe. 33 Afterwards, Ard-sratha became subject to the Bishops of Derry,34 as we find recorded in several mediaeval documents. Finally, the see first established at Ardstraw by Eugene was fixed at Derry, as being a
2? Theirnames,asrecitedin thecharterof
the See, were : Listrykillin [now Killen] ;
Cooleraglasse ; Kilshroghlo [Kilstrule] : Lislaffertie ; Carnekernan \Carnakenny\ ;
Praluske [Brocklis]; Crossegoala, Burrina- creeny, Curranefarne, Coolegarr, Doonye- nan, Cavanescrivy, Bemelad, Laragh, and
33 See"ActsofArchbishopColtoninhis Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, A. D. mcccxcvii. ," edited by the Rev. William Reeves, D. D. Additional Notes, E. , p. 115.
34 According to an Inquisition taken at Dungannon in 1609, the following tributes were exacted: "The parishe of Ardsragh,
four and conteyninge ballibetaghes eight
balliboes, wherein is both a parson and a vicar presentative, and that one-third parte of the tiethes is paied to the parson, an other third parte to the viccar, and an other third parte to the herenagh, whoe paid out of his third parte, unto the said lord bushopp of Derry for the tyme beinge, twentie shillings per ann. , and that the said parson and viccar paid twoe shillings a peece to the said lord bushopp of Derry for proxies, and that the charge of repairinge and mainteyninge the parishe church was equallie to be borne by
Shanmullagh.
2* "
See Maghtochair's Inishowen
: its History, Traditions and Antiquities," chap.
xviii. , p. 196.
29 It is to be found in a folio paper Manu-
script, belonging to Trinity College Library, Dublin, and classed E. 3. 10. It has traces
of Archbishop Ussher's handwriting. Annals and Obits »f the sixteenth century, relating thereto, are likewise to be seen.
30 To verify these statements, the reader may consult the "Annals of the Four Masters," and the record of Primate Colton's Visitation, A. D. 1397.
31 However, we find in the Martyrology of the said parson, viccar, and herenach of Donegal, under date November 26th, that place, and that in this parishe is one
11
Corbdeanach, Eps. Arda-Stratha ;" but no sessiagh o—f glebe, belonging to the said viccar
account of the period when he flourished. thereof. " 33 See Harris Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops of No. ii.
"Ulster
Derry," p. 288. "See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Inquisition,*' Appendix
August 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 343
place of greater importance and celebrity. Its Christian growth may be said to date from the time of Columkille. But that transfer of episcopal jurisdiction is held to have occurred about the twelfth or thirteenth century. That Island, known as the Doire-Calgach, is said to have been bestowed upon St. Columb, by his royal kinsman, Aid ; and, there he established a monastery, where he gathered round him crowds of holy men,35 who, wearied with the turmoils of the world, sought in that retreat for the peace and con- solations of religion. However, it must be observed, that in the time of St. Columba, and for nearly a thousand years later, Derry and the lands adjacent were within the territory of the Kinel-Owen, or people of Eoghan, another son of Niall the Great, to whom the Aileach Tir or country of Aileach, which included Derry and the barony of Inishowen, was given as a patri-
6
mony for his descendants. 3
It is stated, that the See of Derry was first established,—a. d. 1158. 37 The
38
successor of St. Columkille,
—FlaithbertachO'Brolchain alsothenameis
writtenFlahertyO'Brollaghan^ andnowAnglicizedBradley,
a man of great note at the time when he lived. The person, named by the Annalists as his successor in the see, is styled Bishop of Derry and Raphoe ; but, it is by no means certain, that he ever held either See, and most im- probable that he held both Sees united. The five succeeding bishops are all styled Bishops of Tyrone or Ardstraw ; and it would appear, that this ancient See of St. Eugene was not properly amalgamated with that of Derry till 1295, when Henry of Ardagh,* Cistercian monk, was elected by the Dean and chapter of Derry. A sad account of religious persecution and in- tolerance follows during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The Catholic clergy and laity were not even allowed to reside within the walls of Londonderry. Theywereobligedtoassemble,duringthatperiod,inoutof the way places, to celebrate the Divine mysteries. 41
QuintaVita S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. xlviii. , p. 397.
36 According to the Book of Lecan, fol.
70. See "Memoir of the City and North
Western Liberties of Londonderry," parish
of Templemore, part ii. , sect, i. , p. 1 8.
chain, coarb of Columbkille, tower of wisdom
and hospitality, to whom for his wisdom
and great virtues, the clergy of Ireland had
presented a bishop's chair (See), and who had been offered the superintendence of
the monastery of Iona, after having borne the pains of a long infirmity with patience,
3?
"
By a decree of synod held in 1 158,
Brigh-mac-Thaig, in Meath, in which
Gelasius, the Primate, and Christian, Bishop
of Lismore, and Legate Apostolic, with Mac Laig O'Branan. See Dr. O'Donovan's
twenty-five other bishops assisted, the Epis- copal See of Derry was founded, and Flath- bert O'Brolchain, Abbot of Derry, a learned
man, was preferred to the See, and its
" Annals of the Four Masters," vol. hi. , pp. 48, 49.
*° His family name was Geraghty, and he
was a member of a distinguished Connaught
cathedral was erected by him, with the family. From his death in 1297, there is no
assistance of Maurice — in the links of the
King of Ireland, A. D. 1 164. "
chain, snapped afterwards asunder for a time by the cruel murder of Bishop Redmond O'Gallagher, who, as the Four Masters tersely state, "was killed by the English in
O'Kane's country, on the 15th of March, 1601. " O'Gallagher was translated from the diocese of Killala, and he seems to have succeeded Dr. Eugene O'Doherty, who was consecrated Bishop of Derry in 1558, and
Walsh's
"
died most piously in the monastery of Derry. He was succeeded in the Abbey by Gilla
M'Laughlin (O'Neill), difficulty finding episcopal
Rev.
Thomas Ecclesiastical History of Ireland. 38 See his Life in the Sixth Volume of this work, at the 9th of June, Art. i. He is said to have founded a Monastery called Cella Nigra, for Canons Regular, at Derry, A. D. 545. It was the parent house, whence originated the Monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul, at Armagh, as appears from the
Register of John Bole, Archbishop of who died in 1 569. This latter bishop was Armagh. SeeSirJamesWare,"DeHiber- anearkinsmanoftheill-fatedSirCahir,and
nia et Antiquitatibus ejus," cap. xxvi. ,
accompanied him to Derry in 1 566, to meet the lord deputy Sydney. See Rev. Charles P. Meehan's " of the 288.
Note, 2nd Ed.
p. 184.
*>
Recording
Masters write
his death in
thus : Flahertach
the Four O'Brol-
1175,
Flight Earls," p.
it is was said,
344 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 33.
Between the years 1840 and 1850, great exertions were made to collect funds for building a new Cathedral in honour of God and of St. Eugene/3 just outside the walls of Deny. Soon after the latter year, the foundation stone was laid by the Most Rev. Dr. Kelly, Bishop of the Diocese, a number of priests and a vast concourse of people being present. The building was prosecuted with spirit and zeal for a great number of years, to avoid incurring a crushing debt during its erection. In the beginning of 1873, the works hadnearlyapproachedcompletion. OnSundaythe4thofMayfollowing, the grand ceremonies of a dedication took place, the Most Rev. Dr. Kelly, Bishop of Derry, officiating. -" A Pontifical High Mass was celebrated, at
which the Most Rev. Dr. Lynch, Coadjutor Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin,
preached; whileintheeveningatVespers,theMostRev. GeorgeConroy,
Bishop of Ardagh, was the preacher.
The nave of the church is most spacious, and it is sufficient to accom-
modate an immense number of people. It is 160 feet in length, and 35 feet
in breadth. It is approached through the grand entrance, at the base of the
spire. The groined roof is supported on a double series of massive stone
pillars. All along each side are the heads in stone, representative of saints
and benefactors of the Church. ** The chancel is worthy of note for its
richness and unrivalled elegance. The railings which separate the chancel
from the other parts of the church are in Caen stone and formed of Irish and
Sicilian marbles. They present a series of Gothic-headed arches, enriched with
carvings. A polished Sicilian marble slab is supported upon a red marble
shaft, placed between each arch. The high altar is graceful, yet varied in a
most artistic manner. Its rustic spirals and numerous clusterings are very
beautiful. It is composed of Caen stone, Irish red and green, and Sicilian
marbles. It is twelve feet long on the table, which is one continuous
slab of polished marble. The tabernacle and thrones are, like the
altar,amassofclusteringsanddisplayingbeautifuldesigns. OntheGospel and Epistle side of the tabernacle are placed three canopies, with gablets,«s
41 The "old people living in Derry could tell of attending Mass on the top of Greenan
Hill, at Creggan Burn, and at Ballyma- groarty, when Father O'Donnell, afterwards Bishop of Derry, officiated. Toleration at first, and liberty at length were granted. With the lingering memories of bygone days still living within them, the Catholic people once more assembled for divine worship on the site of the Dew-Regies—the Black Abbey Church—of St. Columkille A little covering formed of boards sheltered the celebrating priest, and his timid flock knelt on the damp grass among the waving osiers, with which the spot was overgrown. In 1784, Dr. Lynch, a priest of the parish ofTemplemore, set about building a chapel, which was completed in two years. Towards the erection of this, the Earl of Bristol, then Protestant Bishop of Derry, contributed 200 guineas. In the time between 1810 and 18 1 2, a new aisle and galleries were added, and the entire building then was estimated as having cost ^2,700. Great it was for its time, and truly zealous were the priests and laics who struggled so nobly for its erection.
4a An illustration of this structure has been
presented already in the Sixth Volume of this work, and at the 9th of June, in the Life of St. Columkille or Columba, Abbot of Iona, andApostleofCaledonia,chap. xvi. There, however, a mis-statement has been made, that the Derry Cathedral had been dedicated to that saint, and not to the Patron St. Eugene.
43 Several prelates were also present, be- sides the Most Rev. Dr. McGettigan, Arch- bishop of Armagh, and Primate of all Ireland ; together with a large attendance of Clergy, and a densely crowded congre-
gation.
44 The organ was built by Messrs. Telford
and Telford, of Dublin, and its erection was superintended by Mr. John Horan of Lon-
donderry. Many of the foregoing and succeeding particulars are taken from a description in the Freeman's Journal of January 29th, 1873.
4S In a space between the gablets, on a
marble shaft, stands an angel. The sculptures
in the lower part, under the string-course, are as follows : 1st panel, under the figure
of St. Eugene,—on the Gospel-side of the
altar. — The
Subject Cottage
of Nazareth. 2nd subject The finding of our Blessed
August 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 345
&c, and finials, supported by six red marble columns, having carved capitals. The altar of the Blessed Sacrament, and the altar of the Blessed Virgin, on either side, are each elaborately carved, and composed of Caen stone and of Irish marbles/6 The sculptures and columns are most beautiful. *? The pulpit is in stone, the same as the altars, and struck out in panels carved in relief. It is approached by a flight of steps in stone, with a richly-wrought balustrade. It is of the same material as the railings, and it is a perfect mass
8
of carving, supported upon marble columns with capitals/
In seven of its sides are deeply-sunk niches with canopied heads and carvings,** supported
by triplet columns, and with crocketted hood-mouldings. *
Like the charming flowers, that cover the face of our fair Island on each
returning May-day, and whose places and forms soon fade even from our
•view,aremanyofourholycountrymen. Thefragranceoftheirvirtueshow- ever remains, and after death again they arise and bloom in a state of immortality, while their remembrance is still treasured among our best inheritances. Their examples yet inspire us to labour for the heavenly crown. Weshouldbearinmindtoattainsuchareward,thatfourthings especially concur in justification : the infusion of grace, the motion arising from grace and free-will, contrition and the pardon of sin. s1 The saints had an early intuition of God's purpose to make them vessels of election ; they corresponded with the Divine call with alacrity and zeal ; they were humble and contrite ; while such dispositions were sure to give them place among the true followers of Christ on earth, and a high degree of happiness and glory among the beatified in Heaven.
Article II. —The Seven Bishops of Aelmhagh, i. e. at Donihnach- mor, probably in the County of Leitrim. The mystic number seven marked some of the most important events and regulations among the Jews. Thus, the seventh day was the Sabbath ; the seventh year was the sabbath of the land, in which the people were commanded not to sow t—he land, nor to prune the vineyards. And again, when seven weeks of years (i. e. forty-
Lord in the Temple. 3rd subject—The Derry, as the Most Rev. John Keys
Marriage Feast at Cana. The next panels,
which form the altar front, are filled with
medallions, with floriated crosses, and the
I. H. S. carved therein. 7th subject—Our «• The subjects are as follows: Our Blessed Lord giving sight to the Blind. Blessed Lord's Sermon on the Mount. St. 8th subject—Healing the Paralytic. 9th Peter preaching. St. Patrick preaching subject—The Raising of Lazarus. 1st. before the Kings of Tara. SS. Matthew
Above the string-course, on the Gospel-side,
St. Eugene, the patron saint of the diocese.
2nd. Group of adoring angels. 3rd. Group—
The Nativity of our Blessed Lord. 4th.
Group of adoring angels. Here comes the
Throne. — of
5th. Group adoring angels.
and Mark. SS. Luke and John. St. Patrick. St. Bridget.
so The Irish Builder of 1873, thus describes the pulpit :—" The base of the work is stinted and stooled to receive the bases of the pillars or shafts, upon which are placed the caps, each one of which is carved
6th. Group The Presentation of our Blessed
Lord in the Temple. 7th. Group of adoring in natural and conventional foliage, all
angels. 8th. Figure under canopy ; St. ^
Columkille, in a monk's garb, with a crown at his feet.
46 Chiefly Galway green and Cork red.
*i For particulars stated in the text, see the Londonderry /ourna/ of May 5th, 1873. This admirable description was written by the Very Rev. and learned Parish Priest of Newtownstewart, at that time, and since he has been elevated to the episcopal see of
different in design. Upon the capitals is placed a boldly projecting cornice in one stone, which serves for the platform of the pulpit. Above this line, it assumes the
octangular form. "
5t See "Cistercian Legends of the
Thirteenth Century," translated from the Latin, by Henry Collins, p. 19, London, 1872. i2mo.
Article ii. —' See Leviticus, xxv.
O'Dogherty, D. D.
48 Its design and execution are the work
of Messrs. Early and Powell, Dublin.
U„
346 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 23.
nine years)—were past, the people were ordered to hold the jubilee on the fiftieth year, when " remission was to be proclaimed to all the inhabitants of
1
This
or its
equivalent, Aelmhagh, signifying
Lime,"
place,
was in Calraighe ;
But, it is needless to multiply examples from the Old Testament,
the land. "
where the word occurs nearly one hundred times, as a sacred and peculiar modeofenumeration. Soarewestruckwiththeuseofthewordseven,in our old Litanies and Calendars. It is entered in the —
published Martyrology of Tallagh, that veneration was given at the 23rd of August, to Sect
Septem—nesp. Domnaighmoir, Elmaighi. Somewhat differently is this entered in the Book of Leinster copy of the Martyrology, at the same date. 3
" Plain of the
but, we are not told, in which of the many districts thus called in Ireland it had been situated. « There were several tribes called Calraidhe or Calry, and so noticed as being descended from Lewy Cal. s The names of the places so called serve to perpetuate the memory of those clans. Thus, one of them settled in the ancient Tenia, and the denomination is
6
locally preserved in Slievegolry, near Ardagh, in the County of Longford. '
Moreover, Calry, in the County of Sligo, and it is thought Calary in Wicklow, stillpreservethenamesofthosetribes. AlthoughinthenoticeofAelmhagh,
at a. m. 3790, Dr. O'Donovan does not attempt to identify Aelmhagh, in
8
2
when he meets an account of the
of at Aelmhagh,
Calraighe ;
a. d. 781, he says, this Sept was probably one, otherwise called Calraighe-an- Chala, and seated in the barony of Clonlonan, in the County of Westmeath. 9 Under the heading of Domhnach-mor-Aolmaighe, Duald Mac Firbis records theseven
old Irish
yet,
Calraighe
bishops Litany,"
of at 10 Inthat Domhnach-mor-Aolmaighe, August, 23rd.
ascribed to St. — there is an invocation of the seven Aengus,
bishops of Domnach Calliraigi most probably referring to those of Aelmaighe, although the latter denomination has not been introduced. 12 The history of those bishops we are unable to unfold ; nor is it possible for us to state when they lived, or if all had been contemporaries. It seems
3 Edited Rev. Dr. xxxii. by Kelly, p.
3 Thus : Sechc n epy lOotnnAij; moi|\ eLiriAige.
4 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (a), p. 50.
defective in the commencement—
in the
5 He was the grand-uncle of Maccon, fessor Bryan O'Looney, it has been care- King of Ireland, in the third century. fully collated with the original, and published
6
tain of the Calry people. " Ferguson, by the Royal Irish Academy in a "
county Longford ; which shows that Calry with the ten missing folia, belonging to the
of north Teffia extended northward as far Library of the Franciscans, Merchant's-quay,
as these two townlands. "—Dr. Patrick W. Dublin, published by the Royal Irish
'*
Origin and History of Irish Names of Places," part ii. , chap, ii. , p. 119.
8 In his edition of the " Annals of the Four Masters," at a. d. 239, Dr. O'Donovan says a place called Allamagh was probably
intended for Ealamhagh, t. e.
panegyrist
of our saint in declares, closing
tomus iv. , Augusti xxiii. De S. Eugenio vel Eogano Episcopo Ardsrathensi in Hi- bernia. Vita auctore anonymo, pp. 626, 627.
" See the Genealogical Table t» illustrate
August 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 341
served. It is most generally allowed by our writers, that St. Eugene of
Ardstraw died some time in the sixth 1 * other authorities century; although
have prolonged his life to the seventh. He is said by Walter Harris to have died, in the year 570,^ and for this statement Ussher is quoted; although he has no such notice of Eugene, in his Chronological Index, for that
In like Archdall at Ardstraw16
manner, following Harris, misrepresents
year.
the words of Ussher, in assigning his death to a. d. 570. It would only be
1 safe to affirm, that probably the holy bishop flourished at such a period. ?
The Annals of Clonmacnoise state, that Eugene died so late as a. d. 618. Nevertheless, both Ussher18 and the Bollandists notice the difficulty of reconciling that date, with the period of his consecration. He must have lived, far beyond the allotted term of extreme old age, should it be received.
1? at the
festival in honor of Eoghan, Bishop of Arda Sratha. Somewhat differently
spelled is that entry, in the Book of Leinster, at x. of the September
Kalends. 20 He is recorded, in the of 31 at the same Martyrology Donegal,
33
date, as Eoghan Bishop, of Ard-Sratha,
generally thought, that he died on the 33rd of August ; for then his festival occurs in all the Calendars. 2^ In the Diocese of Derry, the feast of this holy Patron is celebrated on that day for a Bishop and Confessor, as a Double of the First Class with an octave.
Long after the time of the first founder, there were bishops in the ancient see of Ard-sratha. Thus, at the year 678, the death of Maelfothartaigh, and attheyear705,onthe26thofNovember,thedeathofCoibhdeanach; as also at the year 878, the death of Aenghus, son to Maelcaularda, successor of Bishop Eoghan, of Ardsrath, died. 3* The Abbots of that place are traceddownwardstoastilllaterperiod. Thus,Maelpadraig,sonofMorann, AbbotofDruimcliabhandArd-sratha,dieda. d. 92i. 3* Theparishofthis place was the principal seat of a tribe called the Ui-Fiachrach-Arda-sratha, who gave a territorial name to it and to the neighbouring district. The family of the Ua-Criochan were chiefs there, prior to the Anglo-Norman Invasion. 36 The See of Ardstraw embraced the greater part of County Derry, and it is stated, that the Bishop was also superior of all the houses belongingtotheColumbianOrder. Thus,theabbotsofthatchurch,aswe have seen, were occasionally of the episcopal order. It is stated, that the family of Ua-Forannain were herenachs of Ard-sratha, in the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth centuries. As a consequence of its ecclesiastical importance,
the termon land of the church was very extensive, containing sixteen bali-
The of published Martyrology
Tallagh,
33rd
of inserts a August,
tomus iv. De S. Eugeniovel Eogaino Epis- copo Ardsrathensi in Hibernia. Commenta-
rius Prsevius, num. I, 2, 3, pp. 624, 625.
•s See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops of
Derry,"p, 286. 16 "
" Thus : eogAin ep 4rvo fttAcha.
2I Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
226, 227.
" See also Duald Mac Firbis in " Pro-
ceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish
See Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 679.
—vol. Manuscript Series,
and n. 15. Ibid.
i. , part i. ,
pp 86, 87,
He cites Ussher, p. 495, for this statement
;
but, on referring to that page, there is in- deed mention of this saint, yet no date given
*3 See "Circle of the Seasons," p. 236.
a* "
See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 286, 287, 306, 307,
526, 527.
25 See ibid. , vol. ii. , pp. 608, 609.
a6 See " Acts of Archbishop Cotton in his
Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, A. D. MCCCXCVII. ," edited by Rev. William Reeves, D. D. , p. io,n. (q).
for his death.
*» See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
"
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect.
iii. , p. 190.
18 See *' Britannicarum Ecclesiarum An-
tiquitates," cap. xvii. , pp. 495, 496.
*9 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
in Cinel Moain, in Ulster. It is
342 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 23.
boes,'7 whereas the average of other churches was only four. It is generally believed, that Ardstraw remained an independent episcopal See for the lapse
28
There exist as yet certain Fragments, taken from a Book, 9 relating to the names, divisions and bounds belonging to the Parochial church of Ardstraw. After Saint Eugene's demise, the see was transferred, it is said, to Rathlury, the modern Maghera. However, it is—not
of seven centuries.
a
means —
that such transfer ever took or
by any clear, place. Rathlury
the fort of St. Luroch was a house of great consequence, and the custo-
dian bishop, no doubt, resided there for a time ; but, he did not cease in
consequence to be Bishop of Ardstraw, any more than those Popes who resided at Avignon ceased to be Bishops of Rome. However, long after the death of our saint, the monastery of Ardstraw continued to be a place of great importance, as we find from various references to it in the Annals of Ireland, during the Middle Ages. 3° Whowere St. Eugene's immediate successors in the see of Ardstraw, it is now impossible to state, for no records known have handed down all their names to posterity. 3* It is equally difficult to determine the precise boundaries of that ancient diocese, for as a general rule the modern sees are made from a union of many minor bishoprics. Thus we have Ardstraw, Clonleigh, Rathlury, Coleraine, and it may be several others, all conjoined to form the present diocese of Derry. Though Eugene is usually ranked as the first bishop of Derry diocese, yet he was only Bishop of Ardstraw. Derry as a diocese did not come into existence till a long time subsequent to his death. Nor does it seem to have been permanently defined, until the incumbency of German O'Cearbhallain, who filled the see from 1230 to 1279,3* and who annexed to his diocese the territory about Ardstraw, called Hy-Fiachrach, in the north-west to Tir-Eoghan, which he took from the see of Clogher, about the year 1250, as also a portion of Tir-Connall, which he wrested from Raphoe. 33 Afterwards, Ard-sratha became subject to the Bishops of Derry,34 as we find recorded in several mediaeval documents. Finally, the see first established at Ardstraw by Eugene was fixed at Derry, as being a
2? Theirnames,asrecitedin thecharterof
the See, were : Listrykillin [now Killen] ;
Cooleraglasse ; Kilshroghlo [Kilstrule] : Lislaffertie ; Carnekernan \Carnakenny\ ;
Praluske [Brocklis]; Crossegoala, Burrina- creeny, Curranefarne, Coolegarr, Doonye- nan, Cavanescrivy, Bemelad, Laragh, and
33 See"ActsofArchbishopColtoninhis Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, A. D. mcccxcvii. ," edited by the Rev. William Reeves, D. D. Additional Notes, E. , p. 115.
34 According to an Inquisition taken at Dungannon in 1609, the following tributes were exacted: "The parishe of Ardsragh,
four and conteyninge ballibetaghes eight
balliboes, wherein is both a parson and a vicar presentative, and that one-third parte of the tiethes is paied to the parson, an other third parte to the viccar, and an other third parte to the herenagh, whoe paid out of his third parte, unto the said lord bushopp of Derry for the tyme beinge, twentie shillings per ann. , and that the said parson and viccar paid twoe shillings a peece to the said lord bushopp of Derry for proxies, and that the charge of repairinge and mainteyninge the parishe church was equallie to be borne by
Shanmullagh.
2* "
See Maghtochair's Inishowen
: its History, Traditions and Antiquities," chap.
xviii. , p. 196.
29 It is to be found in a folio paper Manu-
script, belonging to Trinity College Library, Dublin, and classed E. 3. 10. It has traces
of Archbishop Ussher's handwriting. Annals and Obits »f the sixteenth century, relating thereto, are likewise to be seen.
30 To verify these statements, the reader may consult the "Annals of the Four Masters," and the record of Primate Colton's Visitation, A. D. 1397.
31 However, we find in the Martyrology of the said parson, viccar, and herenach of Donegal, under date November 26th, that place, and that in this parishe is one
11
Corbdeanach, Eps. Arda-Stratha ;" but no sessiagh o—f glebe, belonging to the said viccar
account of the period when he flourished. thereof. " 33 See Harris Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops of No. ii.
"Ulster
Derry," p. 288. "See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Inquisition,*' Appendix
August 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 343
place of greater importance and celebrity. Its Christian growth may be said to date from the time of Columkille. But that transfer of episcopal jurisdiction is held to have occurred about the twelfth or thirteenth century. That Island, known as the Doire-Calgach, is said to have been bestowed upon St. Columb, by his royal kinsman, Aid ; and, there he established a monastery, where he gathered round him crowds of holy men,35 who, wearied with the turmoils of the world, sought in that retreat for the peace and con- solations of religion. However, it must be observed, that in the time of St. Columba, and for nearly a thousand years later, Derry and the lands adjacent were within the territory of the Kinel-Owen, or people of Eoghan, another son of Niall the Great, to whom the Aileach Tir or country of Aileach, which included Derry and the barony of Inishowen, was given as a patri-
6
mony for his descendants. 3
It is stated, that the See of Derry was first established,—a. d. 1158. 37 The
38
successor of St. Columkille,
—FlaithbertachO'Brolchain alsothenameis
writtenFlahertyO'Brollaghan^ andnowAnglicizedBradley,
a man of great note at the time when he lived. The person, named by the Annalists as his successor in the see, is styled Bishop of Derry and Raphoe ; but, it is by no means certain, that he ever held either See, and most im- probable that he held both Sees united. The five succeeding bishops are all styled Bishops of Tyrone or Ardstraw ; and it would appear, that this ancient See of St. Eugene was not properly amalgamated with that of Derry till 1295, when Henry of Ardagh,* Cistercian monk, was elected by the Dean and chapter of Derry. A sad account of religious persecution and in- tolerance follows during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The Catholic clergy and laity were not even allowed to reside within the walls of Londonderry. Theywereobligedtoassemble,duringthatperiod,inoutof the way places, to celebrate the Divine mysteries. 41
QuintaVita S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. xlviii. , p. 397.
36 According to the Book of Lecan, fol.
70. See "Memoir of the City and North
Western Liberties of Londonderry," parish
of Templemore, part ii. , sect, i. , p. 1 8.
chain, coarb of Columbkille, tower of wisdom
and hospitality, to whom for his wisdom
and great virtues, the clergy of Ireland had
presented a bishop's chair (See), and who had been offered the superintendence of
the monastery of Iona, after having borne the pains of a long infirmity with patience,
3?
"
By a decree of synod held in 1 158,
Brigh-mac-Thaig, in Meath, in which
Gelasius, the Primate, and Christian, Bishop
of Lismore, and Legate Apostolic, with Mac Laig O'Branan. See Dr. O'Donovan's
twenty-five other bishops assisted, the Epis- copal See of Derry was founded, and Flath- bert O'Brolchain, Abbot of Derry, a learned
man, was preferred to the See, and its
" Annals of the Four Masters," vol. hi. , pp. 48, 49.
*° His family name was Geraghty, and he
was a member of a distinguished Connaught
cathedral was erected by him, with the family. From his death in 1297, there is no
assistance of Maurice — in the links of the
King of Ireland, A. D. 1 164. "
chain, snapped afterwards asunder for a time by the cruel murder of Bishop Redmond O'Gallagher, who, as the Four Masters tersely state, "was killed by the English in
O'Kane's country, on the 15th of March, 1601. " O'Gallagher was translated from the diocese of Killala, and he seems to have succeeded Dr. Eugene O'Doherty, who was consecrated Bishop of Derry in 1558, and
Walsh's
"
died most piously in the monastery of Derry. He was succeeded in the Abbey by Gilla
M'Laughlin (O'Neill), difficulty finding episcopal
Rev.
Thomas Ecclesiastical History of Ireland. 38 See his Life in the Sixth Volume of this work, at the 9th of June, Art. i. He is said to have founded a Monastery called Cella Nigra, for Canons Regular, at Derry, A. D. 545. It was the parent house, whence originated the Monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul, at Armagh, as appears from the
Register of John Bole, Archbishop of who died in 1 569. This latter bishop was Armagh. SeeSirJamesWare,"DeHiber- anearkinsmanoftheill-fatedSirCahir,and
nia et Antiquitatibus ejus," cap. xxvi. ,
accompanied him to Derry in 1 566, to meet the lord deputy Sydney. See Rev. Charles P. Meehan's " of the 288.
Note, 2nd Ed.
p. 184.
*>
Recording
Masters write
his death in
thus : Flahertach
the Four O'Brol-
1175,
Flight Earls," p.
it is was said,
344 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 33.
Between the years 1840 and 1850, great exertions were made to collect funds for building a new Cathedral in honour of God and of St. Eugene/3 just outside the walls of Deny. Soon after the latter year, the foundation stone was laid by the Most Rev. Dr. Kelly, Bishop of the Diocese, a number of priests and a vast concourse of people being present. The building was prosecuted with spirit and zeal for a great number of years, to avoid incurring a crushing debt during its erection. In the beginning of 1873, the works hadnearlyapproachedcompletion. OnSundaythe4thofMayfollowing, the grand ceremonies of a dedication took place, the Most Rev. Dr. Kelly, Bishop of Derry, officiating. -" A Pontifical High Mass was celebrated, at
which the Most Rev. Dr. Lynch, Coadjutor Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin,
preached; whileintheeveningatVespers,theMostRev. GeorgeConroy,
Bishop of Ardagh, was the preacher.
The nave of the church is most spacious, and it is sufficient to accom-
modate an immense number of people. It is 160 feet in length, and 35 feet
in breadth. It is approached through the grand entrance, at the base of the
spire. The groined roof is supported on a double series of massive stone
pillars. All along each side are the heads in stone, representative of saints
and benefactors of the Church. ** The chancel is worthy of note for its
richness and unrivalled elegance. The railings which separate the chancel
from the other parts of the church are in Caen stone and formed of Irish and
Sicilian marbles. They present a series of Gothic-headed arches, enriched with
carvings. A polished Sicilian marble slab is supported upon a red marble
shaft, placed between each arch. The high altar is graceful, yet varied in a
most artistic manner. Its rustic spirals and numerous clusterings are very
beautiful. It is composed of Caen stone, Irish red and green, and Sicilian
marbles. It is twelve feet long on the table, which is one continuous
slab of polished marble. The tabernacle and thrones are, like the
altar,amassofclusteringsanddisplayingbeautifuldesigns. OntheGospel and Epistle side of the tabernacle are placed three canopies, with gablets,«s
41 The "old people living in Derry could tell of attending Mass on the top of Greenan
Hill, at Creggan Burn, and at Ballyma- groarty, when Father O'Donnell, afterwards Bishop of Derry, officiated. Toleration at first, and liberty at length were granted. With the lingering memories of bygone days still living within them, the Catholic people once more assembled for divine worship on the site of the Dew-Regies—the Black Abbey Church—of St. Columkille A little covering formed of boards sheltered the celebrating priest, and his timid flock knelt on the damp grass among the waving osiers, with which the spot was overgrown. In 1784, Dr. Lynch, a priest of the parish ofTemplemore, set about building a chapel, which was completed in two years. Towards the erection of this, the Earl of Bristol, then Protestant Bishop of Derry, contributed 200 guineas. In the time between 1810 and 18 1 2, a new aisle and galleries were added, and the entire building then was estimated as having cost ^2,700. Great it was for its time, and truly zealous were the priests and laics who struggled so nobly for its erection.
4a An illustration of this structure has been
presented already in the Sixth Volume of this work, and at the 9th of June, in the Life of St. Columkille or Columba, Abbot of Iona, andApostleofCaledonia,chap. xvi. There, however, a mis-statement has been made, that the Derry Cathedral had been dedicated to that saint, and not to the Patron St. Eugene.
43 Several prelates were also present, be- sides the Most Rev. Dr. McGettigan, Arch- bishop of Armagh, and Primate of all Ireland ; together with a large attendance of Clergy, and a densely crowded congre-
gation.
44 The organ was built by Messrs. Telford
and Telford, of Dublin, and its erection was superintended by Mr. John Horan of Lon-
donderry. Many of the foregoing and succeeding particulars are taken from a description in the Freeman's Journal of January 29th, 1873.
4S In a space between the gablets, on a
marble shaft, stands an angel. The sculptures
in the lower part, under the string-course, are as follows : 1st panel, under the figure
of St. Eugene,—on the Gospel-side of the
altar. — The
Subject Cottage
of Nazareth. 2nd subject The finding of our Blessed
August 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 345
&c, and finials, supported by six red marble columns, having carved capitals. The altar of the Blessed Sacrament, and the altar of the Blessed Virgin, on either side, are each elaborately carved, and composed of Caen stone and of Irish marbles/6 The sculptures and columns are most beautiful. *? The pulpit is in stone, the same as the altars, and struck out in panels carved in relief. It is approached by a flight of steps in stone, with a richly-wrought balustrade. It is of the same material as the railings, and it is a perfect mass
8
of carving, supported upon marble columns with capitals/
In seven of its sides are deeply-sunk niches with canopied heads and carvings,** supported
by triplet columns, and with crocketted hood-mouldings. *
Like the charming flowers, that cover the face of our fair Island on each
returning May-day, and whose places and forms soon fade even from our
•view,aremanyofourholycountrymen. Thefragranceoftheirvirtueshow- ever remains, and after death again they arise and bloom in a state of immortality, while their remembrance is still treasured among our best inheritances. Their examples yet inspire us to labour for the heavenly crown. Weshouldbearinmindtoattainsuchareward,thatfourthings especially concur in justification : the infusion of grace, the motion arising from grace and free-will, contrition and the pardon of sin. s1 The saints had an early intuition of God's purpose to make them vessels of election ; they corresponded with the Divine call with alacrity and zeal ; they were humble and contrite ; while such dispositions were sure to give them place among the true followers of Christ on earth, and a high degree of happiness and glory among the beatified in Heaven.
Article II. —The Seven Bishops of Aelmhagh, i. e. at Donihnach- mor, probably in the County of Leitrim. The mystic number seven marked some of the most important events and regulations among the Jews. Thus, the seventh day was the Sabbath ; the seventh year was the sabbath of the land, in which the people were commanded not to sow t—he land, nor to prune the vineyards. And again, when seven weeks of years (i. e. forty-
Lord in the Temple. 3rd subject—The Derry, as the Most Rev. John Keys
Marriage Feast at Cana. The next panels,
which form the altar front, are filled with
medallions, with floriated crosses, and the
I. H. S. carved therein. 7th subject—Our «• The subjects are as follows: Our Blessed Lord giving sight to the Blind. Blessed Lord's Sermon on the Mount. St. 8th subject—Healing the Paralytic. 9th Peter preaching. St. Patrick preaching subject—The Raising of Lazarus. 1st. before the Kings of Tara. SS. Matthew
Above the string-course, on the Gospel-side,
St. Eugene, the patron saint of the diocese.
2nd. Group of adoring angels. 3rd. Group—
The Nativity of our Blessed Lord. 4th.
Group of adoring angels. Here comes the
Throne. — of
5th. Group adoring angels.
and Mark. SS. Luke and John. St. Patrick. St. Bridget.
so The Irish Builder of 1873, thus describes the pulpit :—" The base of the work is stinted and stooled to receive the bases of the pillars or shafts, upon which are placed the caps, each one of which is carved
6th. Group The Presentation of our Blessed
Lord in the Temple. 7th. Group of adoring in natural and conventional foliage, all
angels. 8th. Figure under canopy ; St. ^
Columkille, in a monk's garb, with a crown at his feet.
46 Chiefly Galway green and Cork red.
*i For particulars stated in the text, see the Londonderry /ourna/ of May 5th, 1873. This admirable description was written by the Very Rev. and learned Parish Priest of Newtownstewart, at that time, and since he has been elevated to the episcopal see of
different in design. Upon the capitals is placed a boldly projecting cornice in one stone, which serves for the platform of the pulpit. Above this line, it assumes the
octangular form. "
5t See "Cistercian Legends of the
Thirteenth Century," translated from the Latin, by Henry Collins, p. 19, London, 1872. i2mo.
Article ii. —' See Leviticus, xxv.
O'Dogherty, D. D.
48 Its design and execution are the work
of Messrs. Early and Powell, Dublin.
U„
346 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 23.
nine years)—were past, the people were ordered to hold the jubilee on the fiftieth year, when " remission was to be proclaimed to all the inhabitants of
1
This
or its
equivalent, Aelmhagh, signifying
Lime,"
place,
was in Calraighe ;
But, it is needless to multiply examples from the Old Testament,
the land. "
where the word occurs nearly one hundred times, as a sacred and peculiar modeofenumeration. Soarewestruckwiththeuseofthewordseven,in our old Litanies and Calendars. It is entered in the —
published Martyrology of Tallagh, that veneration was given at the 23rd of August, to Sect
Septem—nesp. Domnaighmoir, Elmaighi. Somewhat differently is this entered in the Book of Leinster copy of the Martyrology, at the same date. 3
" Plain of the
but, we are not told, in which of the many districts thus called in Ireland it had been situated. « There were several tribes called Calraidhe or Calry, and so noticed as being descended from Lewy Cal. s The names of the places so called serve to perpetuate the memory of those clans. Thus, one of them settled in the ancient Tenia, and the denomination is
6
locally preserved in Slievegolry, near Ardagh, in the County of Longford. '
Moreover, Calry, in the County of Sligo, and it is thought Calary in Wicklow, stillpreservethenamesofthosetribes. AlthoughinthenoticeofAelmhagh,
at a. m. 3790, Dr. O'Donovan does not attempt to identify Aelmhagh, in
8
2
when he meets an account of the
of at Aelmhagh,
Calraighe ;
a. d. 781, he says, this Sept was probably one, otherwise called Calraighe-an- Chala, and seated in the barony of Clonlonan, in the County of Westmeath. 9 Under the heading of Domhnach-mor-Aolmaighe, Duald Mac Firbis records theseven
old Irish
yet,
Calraighe
bishops Litany,"
of at 10 Inthat Domhnach-mor-Aolmaighe, August, 23rd.
ascribed to St. — there is an invocation of the seven Aengus,
bishops of Domnach Calliraigi most probably referring to those of Aelmaighe, although the latter denomination has not been introduced. 12 The history of those bishops we are unable to unfold ; nor is it possible for us to state when they lived, or if all had been contemporaries. It seems
3 Edited Rev. Dr. xxxii. by Kelly, p.
3 Thus : Sechc n epy lOotnnAij; moi|\ eLiriAige.
4 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (a), p. 50.
defective in the commencement—
in the
5 He was the grand-uncle of Maccon, fessor Bryan O'Looney, it has been care- King of Ireland, in the third century. fully collated with the original, and published
6
tain of the Calry people. " Ferguson, by the Royal Irish Academy in a "
county Longford ; which shows that Calry with the ten missing folia, belonging to the
of north Teffia extended northward as far Library of the Franciscans, Merchant's-quay,
as these two townlands. "—Dr. Patrick W. Dublin, published by the Royal Irish
'*
Origin and History of Irish Names of Places," part ii. , chap, ii. , p. 119.
8 In his edition of the " Annals of the Four Masters," at a. d. 239, Dr. O'Donovan says a place called Allamagh was probably
intended for Ealamhagh, t. e.
