In the parish church are some old holy-water fonts ; one, some- what
resembling
an ancient classic tragic mask, is very interesting.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
These are named Bibar, or Bibor, and Lochru, or Lochra, the two sons of Tomanchenn.
^^ Patrick stretched out his arms, with a sign of the cross ; and, their hands became fixed to the swords, so that they were not able to lift or lower them.
" Sit ye," said Patrick.
Then he blessed them ; and made peace between them.
And they gave the land to Patrick, for their father's soul.
There,
too, Patrick founded a church, where Cona,=7 or Conu,"^ the artifex, and a
brother of Bishop Sechnall, was placed. Patrick Avent subsequently to Ciar- raighe-Airne'9—otherwise known as the Carragh or Cera district—where he met Ernaise, and his son Loarn,3° under a tree. We are told, that the Apostle wrote an alphabet for the latter ; and, he stayed a week with both, having twelve men accompanying him. Patrick founded a church there ;3i and,overit, Loamwasplacedasaruler,32hebeingfullofthosegraces,given by the Holy Ghost.
Then Patrick went to Tobar-Mucno,33 probably near to Bishop Mucna's34 church, which was in Donaghmore,35 in the parish of Killala, barony of Tirawley,andcountyofMayo. Afterwards,hewenttoaplace,wherehe marked out the site for a church, and defined its dimensions. In course of time, it was called Seincheall,3^ or " the old church," 37 While St. Patrick
place ; for Elagh or Ellagh bears such a meaning, while several places are so called, in Galway and Mayo. See Dr. P. W.
"
"
Tuam. See John O'Donovan's Leabhar
na g-Ceart, or Book of Rights," n. (f ), p. 102.
3° Colgan thinks he was venerated, at the 30th of August.
Origin and History of Irish Names of Places," part iii. , chap, i. , p. 283.
Joyce's
—— cised form of the previous denomination
in the parish of Kilcolman, and in the barony of Costello. In it are the town of
Ballaghedareen, and Coolevin, the residence of the MacDermott family.
^» This is very possibly Drummad, in the parish of Tibohine, barony of Frenchpark and county of Roscommon.
-5 Jocelyn takes an inverted order of nar- rative for this incident and place, which he
^3 This townland apparently an Angli-
3'
Its particular name is not given, but
seems to confound with Ciarraghe
bernicum," p. 493.
3= The Irish Tripartite has "et tenuit
ilium abbatem. "
33 There is Tober-Makee, in the parish of
Drumatemple, in the barony of Ballymoe,
and in the counties of and Ros- Galway
common. Whether or not it may be the right place is uncertain.
3't Bishop Muckna was the patron saint of Maighin or Moyne, near Killala. He is thought to have been identical with the Saint Mukna, Muicin, or Muckinus, vene- rated at the 4th of March.
as Kiarraighe Luachra, or Kerry, in Munster. See cap. Ixxvi. , p. 82.
-^ We find no identification of these
persons.
-'' So is he
in the Latin
called, Tripartite
Life.
^^ He is thus named, in the Irish Tripartite
Life. Under either form, or indeed under
any other, Colgan vainly attempts to identify him, with any of the saints, found in our Calendars.
*9 This district comprised the whole of
of — of barony Clanmorris, county Mayo,
33 See
Tribes and Customs of Addenda P. , and n. (d), p. 466.
the
excepttheTearmonofBalla consequently
O'Donovan's
John "Genealogies,
the parishes of Crossboyne, Kilcoleman,
Kilvine and —with Tangheen, parts
of Knock
3* It is thus
Life ; in the Irish version, it is noticed as Senchill.
37 Some think, this was Shankill, near
and Mayo, were in it as also the parishes
of Aghamore, Bekan, and Annagh, in the barony of Costello, and in the diocese of
—known
deanery of Mayo. See Monasticon Hi-
lies
there can be a that it was hardly doubt,
has it, at the 30th of August, Loam, priest of Achadh-mor. " The church, at present, is in ruins, but the cemetery is still used. While Colgan only mentions Loam, as a priest, at Achadh-mor, Archdall unautho- rizedly states, that St. Patrick erected a
Aghamore, as the Martyrology of Donegal "
monastery for him, at Aghamore, in the "
Hy-Fiachrach,"
in the Latin
written, Tripartite
596 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
and his other companions were engaged, in making arrangements for the building of this church, and in transacting other business ; it is stated, that St. Seachnell, or Secundinus,3^ his disciple and successor, was engaged pray- ingunderaleafyelm-tree,andwraptinheavenlycontemplation. Thence- forward, the mark of the Cross of Christ was found impressed on the earth, asamemorialofhisgreatdevotion. 39 Afterwards,hewentintothecountry of Conmaicne,4° into Cuil-Tolaigh,^^ and he founded four-cornered churches, in that place. One of these was called Ard-Uscon. '*^ He went to Magh- Cera,43 and stopped at Cuil-Corra,44 where he preached, baptized many, and founded a church, for its people. Afterwards, Patrick proceeded to Magh- Foimsen,4Swherehemettwobrothers,namely,LuchtaeandDerclam. The latter, a man of depraved morals and cruel, sent his servant to kill St. Patrick, but Luchtae, who had embraced the Christian religion, prevented him. Then
"
the holy missioner said to Luchtae :
thy seed, while the race of thy brother shall be cursed, and his descendants shall be few. " On departing, St. Patrick left in that place Cruimther Conan ;*^ and, he went, afterwards, to Tobar-Stringle,47 or Stingle,4S in the desert. He was two Sundays living beside that well, and these he celebrated, with great devotion, while he spent that whole time, in the exercise of sublime contem-
plation.
The Irish Apostle, directing his co—urse towards the broad Atlantic, after-
wards we
—nt to the men of Umhall+s called " The Owles "
5°
writersS' and there he stopped at a place, which we find called Achadh-
Elphin, in the barony and county of Ros- common.
38 His festival was kept, on the 27th of November.
39 A very old writer is quoted, in the Latin and Irish Tripartite Lives, in these
''
words :
frondosa separatim, et est signum crucis in eo loco usque in hunc diem. "
*° There were three territories of the Con-
maicne, in Connaught.
*' This is now the barony of Kilmaine, in
4'^ Colgan has a conjecture—which is a very unreliable one—that he seems to have been identical with St. Canoe, whose feast occurs,atthe11thofFebruary. Thereisa Conan in Tirechan's list ; but, it would not be safe to pronounce, that he was the priest left in the district of Cara. See Dr. Lani- gan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, x. , and nn. 92, 93, 94, 95. 96, 97, 99, 100, pp. 246 to 248.
'^^ So is it called, in the Irish Tripartite Life. It is now Ballintober, in the barony of Carra, and county of Mayo. It is also called, Baile-Tobair-Phadruig. Baile na
fuit Secundinus solus sub ulmo
thesouthofthecountyofMayo. Itcon-
tains the parishes of Kilcommon, Kilmain-
beg, Kilmainmore, Kilmolara, Moorgaga, craibhe, "the town of the bush," was
Robeen, and Shrule, as also parts of Ballin- robe, Cong, Mayo, and BalUncolla.
** In the Index Topographicus, Colgan writes, that this church was in Kierragae-
Amensis in Connaught. This, however, is
contrary to the reading of the text, which
places it in Cuil-Tolaigh.
43 This was in the barony of Cara, and
county of Mayo. The barony contained the parishes of Aglish, Ballyheane, Bally- ovey, Breafy, Burriscarra, Drum, Minola, Rosslee, Tenlough, and Tovvaghty, as also parts of Ballintober, Islandeady and Kilta- comoge.
* This was, probably, in the parish of Burriscarra.
^5 In the Index Topographicus, Colgan writes, that Magh-Foimsean was in the region of Kera. There is a place, called Funshinaugli, in the present parish of Cong, barony of Kilmaine, and county of Mayo. It lay within the ancient district of Partry.
another name for it. On the site of that church, erected by St. Patrick, Cathal
Crovdearg, King of Connaught, founded a magnificent abbey, A. D. 12 16. See "The Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy- Fiachrach," edited by John O'Donovan, n. (1), p. 191.
•^ The name is thus written, in the Latin Tripartite.
45 The territory of Umhall comprised the baronies of Burrishoole and Murrisk, county
of Mayo.
s° From the pronunciation of Umhall,
viz. , Oo-al.
5' From IMaille, the Cl-Ann nihAille, or
the O'Malleys, derived their descent, and since the tenth century, they have been the
hereditary lords or toparchs of this moun- tainous region, where their families are
yet numerous. See " The Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," edited by John O'Donovan, n. (t), p. 43.
There shall be priests and bishops of
by English
March 17. ] LIV^S OP THE IRTSk SAINTS. ^91
or
Fobhair,52 Acadh-fobhmr,53
« field of the so named firom a cele- spring,"
brated fountain, afterwards called St. Patrick's well. s4 It is now known as Aghagower,5s a village and parish, containing the ruins of an ancient church
Round Tower and Church, at Aghagower, County of Mayo.
and of a dilapidated Round Tower. s^ Here, St. Patrick established an episcopal See ; and there, too. Bishop Senach57 was ordained. He was a
They were celebrated as mariners. See nn. (i, j), p. 181. Ibid.
5^ So called, in the Irish Tripartite Life.
53 Thus is it written, in the Latin Tripar- tite Life.
as presented in the view—opens into a small sacristy, and a huge buttress has been added to the eastern gable, to correspond with the formerexternally. Neitherannexeascended more than half way to the eves. Without buttresses and general repairs, the church will probably become a mere heap of ruins, before many winters are over. Mr. Fitz- gerald-Kenny observed the loci in quo of a departed muUion ; and, from this he in- ferred, that the interlaced east window may have been a later insertion, when, perhaps, the east gable was rebuilt. Numbers of tombs and headstones crowd the church, and the cemetery adjoining. Of the round tower, the door is modern : a long thick stone forms a lintel, very well inserted. The upper portion of the tower has in part fallen, displaying to the spectator both its outer andinwardconstruction. Thethickivyhas in its embrace been a means of
probably
"
s* See Rev. Michael J. O'Farrell's
Popular Life of St. Patrick, Apostle and Patron of Ireland," chap, xi. , p. 150, note. 55 This extensive parish is situated, in the
baronies of Burrishoole and of Murrisk, and it is described, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Mayo,"
Sheets 77, 87, 88, 89, 97, 98, 99, 106, 107, 108, 115, 116. The town and townland proper are noted on Sheets 88, 98, and are situated within the barony of Burrishoole.
5^ The accompanying illustration, from
a sketch, taken on tlie spot, by James
C. Fitzgerald- Kenny, Esq. , M. R. I. A. , has
been transferred to the wood, by William
F.
Mrs. Millard. The following notes
letter headed Clogher House, Ballyglass,
County Mayo, September nth, 1874—were
taken on the spot, and were communicated
to the author, by J. C. Fitzgerald-Kenny,
Esq. , M. R. I. A. They contain an ac- grate the lower courses of the masonry, and count of the shattered ruins here left. The finally demolish all that still remains of the little door—to the right of the church ruins, tower, which seems to have been repaired
and it has been — Wakeman, engraved by
to the but its stem building,
in a
preservation
which—as thick as a young tree of eight or
ten years—actually
lower story wall itself, will, in its constant
has the grown through
enlargement, perhaps, ^ la longue, disente-
598 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
man of admirable purity, and innocence of life. 5^ St. Patrick blessed him,
and all his family. He prophesied, likewise, that many saints and holy priests should succeed him. Senach had asked, for two^s great and prized favours, through St. Patrick's prayers, viz. : in the first place, he wished to preserve the orders, he had received, from every stain of mortal sin ; and, in the second place, he desired that the church he served should not be called afterhisname,aswasthecustom,inmanylocalitiesofIreland. ^ Thishe asked, lest vain-glory, the moth which consumes so many virtues, should in- fringe on his sincere humility. Approving his simplicity of heart, St. Patrick assented to his request. At this place, Sennach ended his days, in great sanctity. ^'' His memory was there perpetuated, by signs and wonders. Patrick desired greatly, to erect a See, at Achadh-Fobhair, and to remain there, during the rest of his days, so agreeable was its site, for heavenly contem-
"
circumambulating churches and fastnesses ; for, I am infirm, I would not
plation. Then, he said,
I would remain here, on a small plot of land, after
^^
go. " But,
adventures.
the necessities of the Irish mission him to seek further urged
Then, Patrick left two miraculous trout alive in the well, and
they will be there living for ever,^3 according to a popular tradition.
That high mountain range of Mayo, lying still more to the west, stretched be-
fore St. Patrick, and Cruachan-Aighle,^-* was a prominent object of stern gran- deur, rising high above the sea-waves, on the south of the present Clew Bay. ^5
The Latin Tripartite Life states, that having provided for the good government of the churches and monasteries he had established, St. Patrick resolved on
some years ago. The original entrance was
"Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland,"
As Mr. he could only conclude, that he saw the door, and a window, from the floor. As usual, there is no trace of a staircase. The various stories evidently depended for intercommunication on ladders. Not far off is shown a small
amere of asit
ruin, fragment walls, appeared
apparently on the second story.
chap, iii. , pp. 508, 509, and n. 3.
Fitzgerald-Kenny
had no
ladder,
' He is in lib. " De- commemorated, iv. ,
"
Bed," being the last relic of a building,
yours Every land, whether plain or rough,
from the road. This is called
St. Patrick's
wherein the "Apostle of Ireland
"
is said to
Both hills and churches,
Both glens and woods.
After circumambulating churches and
have passed a night.
In the parish church are some old holy-water fonts ; one, some- what resembling an ancient classic tragic mask, is very interesting.
57 The feast of this holy man, as Colgan
thought, occurs on the loth of September. 5^ The name St. Patrick conferred on him
fastnesses.
Though infirm, that you shall select.
"
"
was AgnusDei,"accorduigtotheTripar- tite Lives.
Life
:
"
—
59 to the According Jocelyn ;
Tripartite
The two inseparable trout,
Which would advance against perpetual
streams. —
Withou—t obligation without transgres-
sion
Angels will be along with them in it. "
'* This was the aamc, originally given to
Life gives three separate requests.
^ The Tripartite Lives add a third re-
quest of Bishop Senach, viz. : that what
was wanting to complete his own years should be added to the age of his son, Mac
Aenghusa. It was for the latter, that Patrick wrote an alphabet, on the very day
that Bishop Senach was ordained. The the present Crough Patrick. The latter name
'* ""
Book of Armagh calls it abgitorium,"
fol. 13, b, a. It is curious to observe, also, that Nennius represents St. Patrick to have
written 365 "abgitoria," or "abietoria," chap. 60. These are supposed to be
it bears, in consequence of the recorded re-
treat and residence of our Irish Apostle, on
"
this subject, Rev. James Henthorn Todd's
Otway's
in Connaught," pp. 306 to 331 ; but, it is very objectionally and disagreeably flavoured
corrupt forms for
abecedarium. " See, on
cadis Patricianas," cap. vi. , by Philip O'Sullevan Beare.
*" The
the Irish Tripartite Life
said to — to angel Patrick, according
" select shall be Everjrthing you
—
*3 St. Patrick is there said, to have pre-
dicted, according
to the Irish
Tripartite
its summit, during the forty days of Lent.
"5 A description of this celebrated Reek is to be found, in Rev. Cassar " Tour
:
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 599
imitating our Divine Lord's fast f^ and, accordingly, having ascended to the
summitof this steep mountain, on theSaturday before the first Sunday of Lent,^'
he commenced a most course of hfe ^^ and for the duration of rigorous there,
forty days, he was constantly engaged in prayers, contemplation, watching, and in all manner of austerities. ^^ During this whole time, he tasted neither food nor drink •,^° but, his whole mind was fixed devoutly on God's perfec- tions, and he lived in a sort of heavenly rapture. In this manner, as in severalotheractsofhislife,PatrickseemedlikeasecondMoyses. ? ^ The Lent of the year 434 is mentioned by Harris,? ^ for this retirement; but whatever we may think, regarding the various incidents recorded in reference to this whole transaction, the date must be assigned to some later year. 73 This the Third Life seems to indicate. 7* The Bollandists refer that visit of our saint to Cruachan-Aigle," to about the year 453. ^^ Our hagiographers and historians relate his miraculous works, while dwelling on the lonely top of this mountain. When the end of those forty nights and forty days had come, as we are told, the mountain around him was filled with black birds, under which form, phalanxes of Cacodemons? ? were deemed to have been dis-
guised J earth.
caused.
and, so numerous were they, that he'could see neither heaven nor Terrific were their screams, and fetid was the odour those demons He continued, reciting Psalms and Divine Hymns ; but, they went
with the anti-Catholic prejudices of the writer.
of sepulture of both is uncertain.
'^ See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch-
bishops of Armagh," p. 15.
T^ The Rev. Dr. Lanigan considers, that
the proceedings of St. Patrick, after his first celebration of Easter, a. d. 433, until his arrival at Cruachan-Aichle, could not be comprised, within less than two, three, or perhaps even more, years.
**
See Matthew iv. Jocelyn tells us, in
that holy fast, St. Patrick desired to imitate
Moses, who observed it, under the law of
nature, and Elias, who observed it, in the
written law. Especially did he imitate our
dear Saviour, who consecrated in his person
that mystical fast.
^^
"
Exiit in desertum, id est, CroigJiaii-
7* See "Tertia Vita S. Patricii," cap. "
eiglc in tempore Quadragesimae ante "
Ixxxv. , p. 28. Also Sexta Vita S. Pa-
Pascha. " See Tertia Vita S. Patricii," cap. Ixxxv. , p. 28. Wearetold,moreover,
that he sat there, on a stone, having four stones placed around him, in quadrangular form. See ibid. This will apply to the ruined oratory walls, on the top of this
mountain, as the writer had an opportunity for seeing them. Jocelyn remarks, that he disposed these five stones, in the form of a cross. In the midst of these, he placed
himself, showing as well by the form and manner of his occupancy, as by his mortifi- cations and his abstinence, that he was the true servant of Christ, and a bearer of the cross.
^ Yet, the Irish Tripartite Life has it, thathewenttotheCruaghan,ontheSatur- day of Whitsuntide.
tricii," cap. clxxi. , p. 102.
75 There is to be found an interesting
paper, by Mr. J. O'Beirne Crowe, in " The
Journal of the Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland," vol. i. , part ii.
Fourth Series. January, 187 1, pp. 328 to 330. This contains some ingenious conjec- tural remarks, regarding the derivation of the Irish word cbocAti, as applied to build-
ing of a certain type, Pagan and early
Christian. He thinks, it must have been of
Gaulish origin, and, he says, that by change of a letter, clochan has become crochan, and in the case of Crochan Aigle (now Croch Patric) the last syllable, he maintains, cannotbetakenasadiminutive. Headds: "AstotheclocAnandth—ec^UACAnthey have exactly the same form starting from a
wide base and in a ending
*9 "The
Cruachan" is versified, at considerable
Striving
of St. Patrick on Mount
sharp peak. "
7* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
in De Vere's " length, Aubrey
of
Martii xvii. De S. Patricio
Episcopo,
Legends
7° In a somewhat self-contradictory
Apostolo et Primate HiberniEe. Commen-
tarius Prsevius, sect, v. , p. 523.
77 Probus does not call those birds, to
which allusion has been made, devils. He
writes " Multitudo avium venit circa :
ilium, ita ut non posset videre faciem caeli et terrae ac maris propter aves. " See Quinta Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xix. , p. 58.
78 It is easy and natural to believe, that
St. Patrick," pp. 31 to 50.
manner, the author of the Irish
Life states, that this miraculous abstinence lasted from Shrove Saturday to Easter Saturday.
7' Thus states the Irish Tripartite : accosted them both out of the fire ; score years was the age of each ; the place
Tripartite
God six
6oo LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 17
not away from him, thus causing the saint no slight degree of molestation. t^ He then became troubled and indignant, renewed his fervent prayers to God, andmadeasignofthecrossagainstthem; heranghisbell,also,andthe menofErinnheardits sound. 79 Afterwards,heflungitattheunholyand routed bands,^° who were chased into the Atlantic Ocean. ^^ With the violent shock, a gap was broken in that bell, which was known thenceforward astheBeman-Brighte. ^^ Thisvictoryhavingbeenachieved,theLordwas pleased to comfort his faithful servant, by sending whole choirs of Angels, now assuming the shape of white birds. Floating on their wings, around the mountain's top, the sweet notes and celestial melodies of those birds filled his soul with peace and joy. Then, too, according to the Irish Tripartite
an went to converse with and said to " God will not Life, angel him, him,
give thee what thou demandest ; for He thinks the demands weighty, and
""" immense, and great. " Is that His decision ? said Patrick. It is,"
""
answered the angel. This is my purpose, then," said Patrick, I shall not
leave this Cruachan, until I die, or all my petitions shall be granted. " His perseverance was finally crowned with success, and his prayers were most
favourably received by the Almighty. ^3
sea-fowl and various birds of prey found
their resting-places, on this elevated reek.
They might have assembled, too, in great
numbers, and feel scared, on seeing a person,
living there so long, and in such a lonely
spot. It appears very probable, that iu course of time, these birds were transformed,
by the fancy of superstitious people, into flocks of demons, which came to tempt and disturb the holy man from his devotions. See Thomas Moore's " of
chap. X. , p. 220.
" Jocelyn observes, that by sounding his
bell, and by frequent strokes, he drove them from all the coasts of Ireland, to islands ignorant of God and of the tnie Faith. Thenceforward, even to the time of Jocelyn, no venomous animals were seen in Ireland. Nor were its inhabitants afterwards molested, with apparitions of devils, as people often were in other countries.
^ The Cistercian monk Jocelyn relates,
that Ireland since its first inhabitation had
been pestered with a triple plague, viz. ,
with a great abundance of venemous reptiles,
with a number of demons visibly appearing,
and with multitudes of Magicians, so that
the like was not recorded of any other
country or kingdom. The glorious and
most holy bishop laboured by his interces-
sion, by his most fervent prayers, and by
other exercises of devotion, to deliver the
island from that triple pestilence. The most
excellent prelate, it is said, taking the Staff
of Jesus into his sacred hand, and elevating
it in a menacing manner, as also having the
favourable assistance of angels, he gathered
together into one place, all the venemous Turned to his offering; and all day he reptiles that were in Ireland, after he had
driven them before him to a most high
mountain, hanging over the sea. This steep had been called then Cruachan-Aigle, and afterwards it was known as Cruach Padruig, that is "St. Patrick's mountain. " Thence
stood
Offering in heart that offering undefiled
Which Abel offered, and Melchisedek, And Abraham, Patriarch of the faithful race, In type, and which, in fulness of the times, The Victim-Priest offered on Calvary,
History Ireland,"
Man with all the other Isles him by
These petitions, which he addressed
he cast the reptiles down from that steep precipice, to be swallowed up by the sea. The local guides still point out Lugnademon
—a ya^vning gap on one side of Crough Patrick, and down which, as the legend tells us, St. Patrick hurled the toads and snakes and evil spirits to the sea. After directing his face towards the Isle of Man, Jocelyn immediately adds, when he has told of St.
Patrick banishing serpents from Ireland,
blessing
converted to Christ, by help of his prayers, he procured them the singular benefit of ex-
emption from reptiles.
*'
Passing northwards, towards the steep mountain of Slieve League, these Demons emerged from the deep, and took up their abode in the savage wilds of Seangleann, on the south-west coast of Donegal. Thence, they were afterwards driven, by St. Colum-
kille. See O'Donnell's or
"
Quinta Vita S.
Columbse," lib. i. , cap. Ixxxviii. , p. 403.
Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
^'
This miraculous bell seems to have been preserved in the twelfth century ; for, Jocelyn states, that the saint's bell, being broken on one side by his often using it, was mended by an angel. Jocelyn does not for- get to add, that the mark of the breakage was visible, in his time, although that bell had been repaired.
*^ The result has been thus
corded in "The Striving of St. Patrick—on
Mount Cruachan," by Aubrey De Vere
:
"Then heavenward sped Victor, God's angel, and the man of God
poetically
re-
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 601
to God, were accompanied by tears, which fell on his casula, or vesture, during the time of his penitential retirement on Croaghpatrick. His chief
petitions were -^^ first, that every native of Ireland, even at the point of
And, bloodless, offers still in heaven and
earth,
Whose impetration makes the whole Church
one.
So stood he offering till the eve, and still Offer'd; and,asheoffer'd,farinfront Along the serial summit once again
Ran out that beam like fiery pillar prone Or sea-path sunset paved, and by his side That angel stood. Then Patrick, turning not His eyes in prayer upon the west close held,
Accordant with the Gentiles of this world, But as a chosen people wear the crown
Or bear the Cross : and when the end is come, When in God's Mount the Twelve great
Thrones are set.
And round it roll the Rivers Four of fire, And in their circuit meet the Peoples Three Of heaven, and earth, and hell, fulfill'd that
day
Shall be the Saviour's word, what time He
faith, shameless, sink
you can bring seven
' From the Maker of all worlds
stretched
The crozier-staff forth from the
Demanded, What answer
angel spake
' Down laielt in Heaven the
glory-cloud.
bringest
thou ? '
Thus the
And swear to thee, ' When Me walked
they
that with
— :
Nine,
And all the prophets and the apostles knelt. And all the creatures of the hand of God,
Visible, and invisible, down knelt,
While thou thy mighty mass, though altar-
less,
Offer'dst in spirit, and thine offering joined ; And all God's saints on earth, or roused
from sleep
Or on the wayside pausing, knelt, the cause
Judging the Twelve Tribes of Mine Israel
Thy people thou shall judge in righteous-
ness.
Thou therefore kneel, and bless thy land of
Eire. '
Then Patrick knelt, and blessed the land,
Not knowing likewise ;
yearned
the souls
—
See ofSt. to "Legends Patrick," pp. 48
to God :
And lo ! the Lord thy God hath heard thy
prayer,
Since fortitude in prayer—and this thou
(Smiling the Bright One spake) is that which lays
50-
*^ In a very dramatic but legendary
manner have they been recorded, by the author of the Irish Tripartite Life, in the
following narrative. " I will bring so many souls from pain," said the angel, "and as many as would cover so far as your eye couldreachonthesea. " "Thatisnogreat boon forme," said Patrick; "not far can my eye reach over the sea. " "You shall have between sea and land, then," added
the angel. "Is there anything more granted to me besides that ? " asked Patrick. ' ' There
"
is," said the angel ;
every Saturday from the pains of hell for ever. " "If anything be granted to me," observed Patrick, "let me have my twelve men. " "You shall have them," said the
angel, depart
shall not depart," said Patrick,
have been tormented, until I am recom- pensed. Isthereanythingelse,then,tobe granted to me? " asked Patrick. "Yes,"
said the " angel ;
know'st—
Man's hand upon God's sceptre. sought'st
Shall lack not consummation.
Shrivelling in sunshine of its prosperous
years,
Shall cease from
and shamed
though
Back to its native clay ;
God shall the shadow of His hand extend, And through the night of centuries teach to
her
In woe that
song which,
when the nations
"and fromCruachan. " "I
wake,
Shall sound their glad deliverance :
"
because I
alone
This nation, from the blind dividual dust
Of instincts ring wills
shall have seven Thursday, and twelve every Saturday, from
brute, thoughts driftless, war- By thee evoked, and shapen by thy hands,
you
every
To God's fair which image,
not answered " because I depart," Patrick,
have been tormented, until I am recom-
confers alone Manhood on nations, shall to God :,. . . ad
true ;
But nations far in undiscovered seas,
Her stately progeny, while ages waste,
The Kingly ermine of her Faith shall wear. Fleece uncorrupted of the Immaculate
Lamb,
Forever landsremoteshall
: lift to God
/T-fr fanes ; and eagle-nurturing isles hold fast Her hermit cells ; thy nation shall not walk
pensed. Is there anything else granted to ""
Angelic
Orders
Sit with Me on their
everlasting thrones.
but over thine
That thou
Many a race
nor
'
and said,
Praise be to God who hears the sinner's "
prayer. '
pains, and depart from Cruachan. "
"
I will
me? " asked Patrick. There is, answered
''
the great sea to come over Erinn seven years before the Judgment, and depart from the Cruachan. " "I will not depart," said Patrick, "since I have been
the angel ;
until I am " Is there gratified. "
tormented,
anything more you demand? " asked the
angel.
too, Patrick founded a church, where Cona,=7 or Conu,"^ the artifex, and a
brother of Bishop Sechnall, was placed. Patrick Avent subsequently to Ciar- raighe-Airne'9—otherwise known as the Carragh or Cera district—where he met Ernaise, and his son Loarn,3° under a tree. We are told, that the Apostle wrote an alphabet for the latter ; and, he stayed a week with both, having twelve men accompanying him. Patrick founded a church there ;3i and,overit, Loamwasplacedasaruler,32hebeingfullofthosegraces,given by the Holy Ghost.
Then Patrick went to Tobar-Mucno,33 probably near to Bishop Mucna's34 church, which was in Donaghmore,35 in the parish of Killala, barony of Tirawley,andcountyofMayo. Afterwards,hewenttoaplace,wherehe marked out the site for a church, and defined its dimensions. In course of time, it was called Seincheall,3^ or " the old church," 37 While St. Patrick
place ; for Elagh or Ellagh bears such a meaning, while several places are so called, in Galway and Mayo. See Dr. P. W.
"
"
Tuam. See John O'Donovan's Leabhar
na g-Ceart, or Book of Rights," n. (f ), p. 102.
3° Colgan thinks he was venerated, at the 30th of August.
Origin and History of Irish Names of Places," part iii. , chap, i. , p. 283.
Joyce's
—— cised form of the previous denomination
in the parish of Kilcolman, and in the barony of Costello. In it are the town of
Ballaghedareen, and Coolevin, the residence of the MacDermott family.
^» This is very possibly Drummad, in the parish of Tibohine, barony of Frenchpark and county of Roscommon.
-5 Jocelyn takes an inverted order of nar- rative for this incident and place, which he
^3 This townland apparently an Angli-
3'
Its particular name is not given, but
seems to confound with Ciarraghe
bernicum," p. 493.
3= The Irish Tripartite has "et tenuit
ilium abbatem. "
33 There is Tober-Makee, in the parish of
Drumatemple, in the barony of Ballymoe,
and in the counties of and Ros- Galway
common. Whether or not it may be the right place is uncertain.
3't Bishop Muckna was the patron saint of Maighin or Moyne, near Killala. He is thought to have been identical with the Saint Mukna, Muicin, or Muckinus, vene- rated at the 4th of March.
as Kiarraighe Luachra, or Kerry, in Munster. See cap. Ixxvi. , p. 82.
-^ We find no identification of these
persons.
-'' So is he
in the Latin
called, Tripartite
Life.
^^ He is thus named, in the Irish Tripartite
Life. Under either form, or indeed under
any other, Colgan vainly attempts to identify him, with any of the saints, found in our Calendars.
*9 This district comprised the whole of
of — of barony Clanmorris, county Mayo,
33 See
Tribes and Customs of Addenda P. , and n. (d), p. 466.
the
excepttheTearmonofBalla consequently
O'Donovan's
John "Genealogies,
the parishes of Crossboyne, Kilcoleman,
Kilvine and —with Tangheen, parts
of Knock
3* It is thus
Life ; in the Irish version, it is noticed as Senchill.
37 Some think, this was Shankill, near
and Mayo, were in it as also the parishes
of Aghamore, Bekan, and Annagh, in the barony of Costello, and in the diocese of
—known
deanery of Mayo. See Monasticon Hi-
lies
there can be a that it was hardly doubt,
has it, at the 30th of August, Loam, priest of Achadh-mor. " The church, at present, is in ruins, but the cemetery is still used. While Colgan only mentions Loam, as a priest, at Achadh-mor, Archdall unautho- rizedly states, that St. Patrick erected a
Aghamore, as the Martyrology of Donegal "
monastery for him, at Aghamore, in the "
Hy-Fiachrach,"
in the Latin
written, Tripartite
596 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
and his other companions were engaged, in making arrangements for the building of this church, and in transacting other business ; it is stated, that St. Seachnell, or Secundinus,3^ his disciple and successor, was engaged pray- ingunderaleafyelm-tree,andwraptinheavenlycontemplation. Thence- forward, the mark of the Cross of Christ was found impressed on the earth, asamemorialofhisgreatdevotion. 39 Afterwards,hewentintothecountry of Conmaicne,4° into Cuil-Tolaigh,^^ and he founded four-cornered churches, in that place. One of these was called Ard-Uscon. '*^ He went to Magh- Cera,43 and stopped at Cuil-Corra,44 where he preached, baptized many, and founded a church, for its people. Afterwards, Patrick proceeded to Magh- Foimsen,4Swherehemettwobrothers,namely,LuchtaeandDerclam. The latter, a man of depraved morals and cruel, sent his servant to kill St. Patrick, but Luchtae, who had embraced the Christian religion, prevented him. Then
"
the holy missioner said to Luchtae :
thy seed, while the race of thy brother shall be cursed, and his descendants shall be few. " On departing, St. Patrick left in that place Cruimther Conan ;*^ and, he went, afterwards, to Tobar-Stringle,47 or Stingle,4S in the desert. He was two Sundays living beside that well, and these he celebrated, with great devotion, while he spent that whole time, in the exercise of sublime contem-
plation.
The Irish Apostle, directing his co—urse towards the broad Atlantic, after-
wards we
—nt to the men of Umhall+s called " The Owles "
5°
writersS' and there he stopped at a place, which we find called Achadh-
Elphin, in the barony and county of Ros- common.
38 His festival was kept, on the 27th of November.
39 A very old writer is quoted, in the Latin and Irish Tripartite Lives, in these
''
words :
frondosa separatim, et est signum crucis in eo loco usque in hunc diem. "
*° There were three territories of the Con-
maicne, in Connaught.
*' This is now the barony of Kilmaine, in
4'^ Colgan has a conjecture—which is a very unreliable one—that he seems to have been identical with St. Canoe, whose feast occurs,atthe11thofFebruary. Thereisa Conan in Tirechan's list ; but, it would not be safe to pronounce, that he was the priest left in the district of Cara. See Dr. Lani- gan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, x. , and nn. 92, 93, 94, 95. 96, 97, 99, 100, pp. 246 to 248.
'^^ So is it called, in the Irish Tripartite Life. It is now Ballintober, in the barony of Carra, and county of Mayo. It is also called, Baile-Tobair-Phadruig. Baile na
fuit Secundinus solus sub ulmo
thesouthofthecountyofMayo. Itcon-
tains the parishes of Kilcommon, Kilmain-
beg, Kilmainmore, Kilmolara, Moorgaga, craibhe, "the town of the bush," was
Robeen, and Shrule, as also parts of Ballin- robe, Cong, Mayo, and BalUncolla.
** In the Index Topographicus, Colgan writes, that this church was in Kierragae-
Amensis in Connaught. This, however, is
contrary to the reading of the text, which
places it in Cuil-Tolaigh.
43 This was in the barony of Cara, and
county of Mayo. The barony contained the parishes of Aglish, Ballyheane, Bally- ovey, Breafy, Burriscarra, Drum, Minola, Rosslee, Tenlough, and Tovvaghty, as also parts of Ballintober, Islandeady and Kilta- comoge.
* This was, probably, in the parish of Burriscarra.
^5 In the Index Topographicus, Colgan writes, that Magh-Foimsean was in the region of Kera. There is a place, called Funshinaugli, in the present parish of Cong, barony of Kilmaine, and county of Mayo. It lay within the ancient district of Partry.
another name for it. On the site of that church, erected by St. Patrick, Cathal
Crovdearg, King of Connaught, founded a magnificent abbey, A. D. 12 16. See "The Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy- Fiachrach," edited by John O'Donovan, n. (1), p. 191.
•^ The name is thus written, in the Latin Tripartite.
45 The territory of Umhall comprised the baronies of Burrishoole and Murrisk, county
of Mayo.
s° From the pronunciation of Umhall,
viz. , Oo-al.
5' From IMaille, the Cl-Ann nihAille, or
the O'Malleys, derived their descent, and since the tenth century, they have been the
hereditary lords or toparchs of this moun- tainous region, where their families are
yet numerous. See " The Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," edited by John O'Donovan, n. (t), p. 43.
There shall be priests and bishops of
by English
March 17. ] LIV^S OP THE IRTSk SAINTS. ^91
or
Fobhair,52 Acadh-fobhmr,53
« field of the so named firom a cele- spring,"
brated fountain, afterwards called St. Patrick's well. s4 It is now known as Aghagower,5s a village and parish, containing the ruins of an ancient church
Round Tower and Church, at Aghagower, County of Mayo.
and of a dilapidated Round Tower. s^ Here, St. Patrick established an episcopal See ; and there, too. Bishop Senach57 was ordained. He was a
They were celebrated as mariners. See nn. (i, j), p. 181. Ibid.
5^ So called, in the Irish Tripartite Life.
53 Thus is it written, in the Latin Tripar- tite Life.
as presented in the view—opens into a small sacristy, and a huge buttress has been added to the eastern gable, to correspond with the formerexternally. Neitherannexeascended more than half way to the eves. Without buttresses and general repairs, the church will probably become a mere heap of ruins, before many winters are over. Mr. Fitz- gerald-Kenny observed the loci in quo of a departed muUion ; and, from this he in- ferred, that the interlaced east window may have been a later insertion, when, perhaps, the east gable was rebuilt. Numbers of tombs and headstones crowd the church, and the cemetery adjoining. Of the round tower, the door is modern : a long thick stone forms a lintel, very well inserted. The upper portion of the tower has in part fallen, displaying to the spectator both its outer andinwardconstruction. Thethickivyhas in its embrace been a means of
probably
"
s* See Rev. Michael J. O'Farrell's
Popular Life of St. Patrick, Apostle and Patron of Ireland," chap, xi. , p. 150, note. 55 This extensive parish is situated, in the
baronies of Burrishoole and of Murrisk, and it is described, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Mayo,"
Sheets 77, 87, 88, 89, 97, 98, 99, 106, 107, 108, 115, 116. The town and townland proper are noted on Sheets 88, 98, and are situated within the barony of Burrishoole.
5^ The accompanying illustration, from
a sketch, taken on tlie spot, by James
C. Fitzgerald- Kenny, Esq. , M. R. I. A. , has
been transferred to the wood, by William
F.
Mrs. Millard. The following notes
letter headed Clogher House, Ballyglass,
County Mayo, September nth, 1874—were
taken on the spot, and were communicated
to the author, by J. C. Fitzgerald-Kenny,
Esq. , M. R. I. A. They contain an ac- grate the lower courses of the masonry, and count of the shattered ruins here left. The finally demolish all that still remains of the little door—to the right of the church ruins, tower, which seems to have been repaired
and it has been — Wakeman, engraved by
to the but its stem building,
in a
preservation
which—as thick as a young tree of eight or
ten years—actually
lower story wall itself, will, in its constant
has the grown through
enlargement, perhaps, ^ la longue, disente-
598 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
man of admirable purity, and innocence of life. 5^ St. Patrick blessed him,
and all his family. He prophesied, likewise, that many saints and holy priests should succeed him. Senach had asked, for two^s great and prized favours, through St. Patrick's prayers, viz. : in the first place, he wished to preserve the orders, he had received, from every stain of mortal sin ; and, in the second place, he desired that the church he served should not be called afterhisname,aswasthecustom,inmanylocalitiesofIreland. ^ Thishe asked, lest vain-glory, the moth which consumes so many virtues, should in- fringe on his sincere humility. Approving his simplicity of heart, St. Patrick assented to his request. At this place, Sennach ended his days, in great sanctity. ^'' His memory was there perpetuated, by signs and wonders. Patrick desired greatly, to erect a See, at Achadh-Fobhair, and to remain there, during the rest of his days, so agreeable was its site, for heavenly contem-
"
circumambulating churches and fastnesses ; for, I am infirm, I would not
plation. Then, he said,
I would remain here, on a small plot of land, after
^^
go. " But,
adventures.
the necessities of the Irish mission him to seek further urged
Then, Patrick left two miraculous trout alive in the well, and
they will be there living for ever,^3 according to a popular tradition.
That high mountain range of Mayo, lying still more to the west, stretched be-
fore St. Patrick, and Cruachan-Aighle,^-* was a prominent object of stern gran- deur, rising high above the sea-waves, on the south of the present Clew Bay. ^5
The Latin Tripartite Life states, that having provided for the good government of the churches and monasteries he had established, St. Patrick resolved on
some years ago. The original entrance was
"Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland,"
As Mr. he could only conclude, that he saw the door, and a window, from the floor. As usual, there is no trace of a staircase. The various stories evidently depended for intercommunication on ladders. Not far off is shown a small
amere of asit
ruin, fragment walls, appeared
apparently on the second story.
chap, iii. , pp. 508, 509, and n. 3.
Fitzgerald-Kenny
had no
ladder,
' He is in lib. " De- commemorated, iv. ,
"
Bed," being the last relic of a building,
yours Every land, whether plain or rough,
from the road. This is called
St. Patrick's
wherein the "Apostle of Ireland
"
is said to
Both hills and churches,
Both glens and woods.
After circumambulating churches and
have passed a night.
In the parish church are some old holy-water fonts ; one, some- what resembling an ancient classic tragic mask, is very interesting.
57 The feast of this holy man, as Colgan
thought, occurs on the loth of September. 5^ The name St. Patrick conferred on him
fastnesses.
Though infirm, that you shall select.
"
"
was AgnusDei,"accorduigtotheTripar- tite Lives.
Life
:
"
—
59 to the According Jocelyn ;
Tripartite
The two inseparable trout,
Which would advance against perpetual
streams. —
Withou—t obligation without transgres-
sion
Angels will be along with them in it. "
'* This was the aamc, originally given to
Life gives three separate requests.
^ The Tripartite Lives add a third re-
quest of Bishop Senach, viz. : that what
was wanting to complete his own years should be added to the age of his son, Mac
Aenghusa. It was for the latter, that Patrick wrote an alphabet, on the very day
that Bishop Senach was ordained. The the present Crough Patrick. The latter name
'* ""
Book of Armagh calls it abgitorium,"
fol. 13, b, a. It is curious to observe, also, that Nennius represents St. Patrick to have
written 365 "abgitoria," or "abietoria," chap. 60. These are supposed to be
it bears, in consequence of the recorded re-
treat and residence of our Irish Apostle, on
"
this subject, Rev. James Henthorn Todd's
Otway's
in Connaught," pp. 306 to 331 ; but, it is very objectionally and disagreeably flavoured
corrupt forms for
abecedarium. " See, on
cadis Patricianas," cap. vi. , by Philip O'Sullevan Beare.
*" The
the Irish Tripartite Life
said to — to angel Patrick, according
" select shall be Everjrthing you
—
*3 St. Patrick is there said, to have pre-
dicted, according
to the Irish
Tripartite
its summit, during the forty days of Lent.
"5 A description of this celebrated Reek is to be found, in Rev. Cassar " Tour
:
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 599
imitating our Divine Lord's fast f^ and, accordingly, having ascended to the
summitof this steep mountain, on theSaturday before the first Sunday of Lent,^'
he commenced a most course of hfe ^^ and for the duration of rigorous there,
forty days, he was constantly engaged in prayers, contemplation, watching, and in all manner of austerities. ^^ During this whole time, he tasted neither food nor drink •,^° but, his whole mind was fixed devoutly on God's perfec- tions, and he lived in a sort of heavenly rapture. In this manner, as in severalotheractsofhislife,PatrickseemedlikeasecondMoyses. ? ^ The Lent of the year 434 is mentioned by Harris,? ^ for this retirement; but whatever we may think, regarding the various incidents recorded in reference to this whole transaction, the date must be assigned to some later year. 73 This the Third Life seems to indicate. 7* The Bollandists refer that visit of our saint to Cruachan-Aigle," to about the year 453. ^^ Our hagiographers and historians relate his miraculous works, while dwelling on the lonely top of this mountain. When the end of those forty nights and forty days had come, as we are told, the mountain around him was filled with black birds, under which form, phalanxes of Cacodemons? ? were deemed to have been dis-
guised J earth.
caused.
and, so numerous were they, that he'could see neither heaven nor Terrific were their screams, and fetid was the odour those demons He continued, reciting Psalms and Divine Hymns ; but, they went
with the anti-Catholic prejudices of the writer.
of sepulture of both is uncertain.
'^ See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch-
bishops of Armagh," p. 15.
T^ The Rev. Dr. Lanigan considers, that
the proceedings of St. Patrick, after his first celebration of Easter, a. d. 433, until his arrival at Cruachan-Aichle, could not be comprised, within less than two, three, or perhaps even more, years.
**
See Matthew iv. Jocelyn tells us, in
that holy fast, St. Patrick desired to imitate
Moses, who observed it, under the law of
nature, and Elias, who observed it, in the
written law. Especially did he imitate our
dear Saviour, who consecrated in his person
that mystical fast.
^^
"
Exiit in desertum, id est, CroigJiaii-
7* See "Tertia Vita S. Patricii," cap. "
eiglc in tempore Quadragesimae ante "
Ixxxv. , p. 28. Also Sexta Vita S. Pa-
Pascha. " See Tertia Vita S. Patricii," cap. Ixxxv. , p. 28. Wearetold,moreover,
that he sat there, on a stone, having four stones placed around him, in quadrangular form. See ibid. This will apply to the ruined oratory walls, on the top of this
mountain, as the writer had an opportunity for seeing them. Jocelyn remarks, that he disposed these five stones, in the form of a cross. In the midst of these, he placed
himself, showing as well by the form and manner of his occupancy, as by his mortifi- cations and his abstinence, that he was the true servant of Christ, and a bearer of the cross.
^ Yet, the Irish Tripartite Life has it, thathewenttotheCruaghan,ontheSatur- day of Whitsuntide.
tricii," cap. clxxi. , p. 102.
75 There is to be found an interesting
paper, by Mr. J. O'Beirne Crowe, in " The
Journal of the Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland," vol. i. , part ii.
Fourth Series. January, 187 1, pp. 328 to 330. This contains some ingenious conjec- tural remarks, regarding the derivation of the Irish word cbocAti, as applied to build-
ing of a certain type, Pagan and early
Christian. He thinks, it must have been of
Gaulish origin, and, he says, that by change of a letter, clochan has become crochan, and in the case of Crochan Aigle (now Croch Patric) the last syllable, he maintains, cannotbetakenasadiminutive. Headds: "AstotheclocAnandth—ec^UACAnthey have exactly the same form starting from a
wide base and in a ending
*9 "The
Cruachan" is versified, at considerable
Striving
of St. Patrick on Mount
sharp peak. "
7* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
in De Vere's " length, Aubrey
of
Martii xvii. De S. Patricio
Episcopo,
Legends
7° In a somewhat self-contradictory
Apostolo et Primate HiberniEe. Commen-
tarius Prsevius, sect, v. , p. 523.
77 Probus does not call those birds, to
which allusion has been made, devils. He
writes " Multitudo avium venit circa :
ilium, ita ut non posset videre faciem caeli et terrae ac maris propter aves. " See Quinta Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xix. , p. 58.
78 It is easy and natural to believe, that
St. Patrick," pp. 31 to 50.
manner, the author of the Irish
Life states, that this miraculous abstinence lasted from Shrove Saturday to Easter Saturday.
7' Thus states the Irish Tripartite : accosted them both out of the fire ; score years was the age of each ; the place
Tripartite
God six
6oo LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 17
not away from him, thus causing the saint no slight degree of molestation. t^ He then became troubled and indignant, renewed his fervent prayers to God, andmadeasignofthecrossagainstthem; heranghisbell,also,andthe menofErinnheardits sound. 79 Afterwards,heflungitattheunholyand routed bands,^° who were chased into the Atlantic Ocean. ^^ With the violent shock, a gap was broken in that bell, which was known thenceforward astheBeman-Brighte. ^^ Thisvictoryhavingbeenachieved,theLordwas pleased to comfort his faithful servant, by sending whole choirs of Angels, now assuming the shape of white birds. Floating on their wings, around the mountain's top, the sweet notes and celestial melodies of those birds filled his soul with peace and joy. Then, too, according to the Irish Tripartite
an went to converse with and said to " God will not Life, angel him, him,
give thee what thou demandest ; for He thinks the demands weighty, and
""" immense, and great. " Is that His decision ? said Patrick. It is,"
""
answered the angel. This is my purpose, then," said Patrick, I shall not
leave this Cruachan, until I die, or all my petitions shall be granted. " His perseverance was finally crowned with success, and his prayers were most
favourably received by the Almighty. ^3
sea-fowl and various birds of prey found
their resting-places, on this elevated reek.
They might have assembled, too, in great
numbers, and feel scared, on seeing a person,
living there so long, and in such a lonely
spot. It appears very probable, that iu course of time, these birds were transformed,
by the fancy of superstitious people, into flocks of demons, which came to tempt and disturb the holy man from his devotions. See Thomas Moore's " of
chap. X. , p. 220.
" Jocelyn observes, that by sounding his
bell, and by frequent strokes, he drove them from all the coasts of Ireland, to islands ignorant of God and of the tnie Faith. Thenceforward, even to the time of Jocelyn, no venomous animals were seen in Ireland. Nor were its inhabitants afterwards molested, with apparitions of devils, as people often were in other countries.
^ The Cistercian monk Jocelyn relates,
that Ireland since its first inhabitation had
been pestered with a triple plague, viz. ,
with a great abundance of venemous reptiles,
with a number of demons visibly appearing,
and with multitudes of Magicians, so that
the like was not recorded of any other
country or kingdom. The glorious and
most holy bishop laboured by his interces-
sion, by his most fervent prayers, and by
other exercises of devotion, to deliver the
island from that triple pestilence. The most
excellent prelate, it is said, taking the Staff
of Jesus into his sacred hand, and elevating
it in a menacing manner, as also having the
favourable assistance of angels, he gathered
together into one place, all the venemous Turned to his offering; and all day he reptiles that were in Ireland, after he had
driven them before him to a most high
mountain, hanging over the sea. This steep had been called then Cruachan-Aigle, and afterwards it was known as Cruach Padruig, that is "St. Patrick's mountain. " Thence
stood
Offering in heart that offering undefiled
Which Abel offered, and Melchisedek, And Abraham, Patriarch of the faithful race, In type, and which, in fulness of the times, The Victim-Priest offered on Calvary,
History Ireland,"
Man with all the other Isles him by
These petitions, which he addressed
he cast the reptiles down from that steep precipice, to be swallowed up by the sea. The local guides still point out Lugnademon
—a ya^vning gap on one side of Crough Patrick, and down which, as the legend tells us, St. Patrick hurled the toads and snakes and evil spirits to the sea. After directing his face towards the Isle of Man, Jocelyn immediately adds, when he has told of St.
Patrick banishing serpents from Ireland,
blessing
converted to Christ, by help of his prayers, he procured them the singular benefit of ex-
emption from reptiles.
*'
Passing northwards, towards the steep mountain of Slieve League, these Demons emerged from the deep, and took up their abode in the savage wilds of Seangleann, on the south-west coast of Donegal. Thence, they were afterwards driven, by St. Colum-
kille. See O'Donnell's or
"
Quinta Vita S.
Columbse," lib. i. , cap. Ixxxviii. , p. 403.
Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
^'
This miraculous bell seems to have been preserved in the twelfth century ; for, Jocelyn states, that the saint's bell, being broken on one side by his often using it, was mended by an angel. Jocelyn does not for- get to add, that the mark of the breakage was visible, in his time, although that bell had been repaired.
*^ The result has been thus
corded in "The Striving of St. Patrick—on
Mount Cruachan," by Aubrey De Vere
:
"Then heavenward sped Victor, God's angel, and the man of God
poetically
re-
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 601
to God, were accompanied by tears, which fell on his casula, or vesture, during the time of his penitential retirement on Croaghpatrick. His chief
petitions were -^^ first, that every native of Ireland, even at the point of
And, bloodless, offers still in heaven and
earth,
Whose impetration makes the whole Church
one.
So stood he offering till the eve, and still Offer'd; and,asheoffer'd,farinfront Along the serial summit once again
Ran out that beam like fiery pillar prone Or sea-path sunset paved, and by his side That angel stood. Then Patrick, turning not His eyes in prayer upon the west close held,
Accordant with the Gentiles of this world, But as a chosen people wear the crown
Or bear the Cross : and when the end is come, When in God's Mount the Twelve great
Thrones are set.
And round it roll the Rivers Four of fire, And in their circuit meet the Peoples Three Of heaven, and earth, and hell, fulfill'd that
day
Shall be the Saviour's word, what time He
faith, shameless, sink
you can bring seven
' From the Maker of all worlds
stretched
The crozier-staff forth from the
Demanded, What answer
angel spake
' Down laielt in Heaven the
glory-cloud.
bringest
thou ? '
Thus the
And swear to thee, ' When Me walked
they
that with
— :
Nine,
And all the prophets and the apostles knelt. And all the creatures of the hand of God,
Visible, and invisible, down knelt,
While thou thy mighty mass, though altar-
less,
Offer'dst in spirit, and thine offering joined ; And all God's saints on earth, or roused
from sleep
Or on the wayside pausing, knelt, the cause
Judging the Twelve Tribes of Mine Israel
Thy people thou shall judge in righteous-
ness.
Thou therefore kneel, and bless thy land of
Eire. '
Then Patrick knelt, and blessed the land,
Not knowing likewise ;
yearned
the souls
—
See ofSt. to "Legends Patrick," pp. 48
to God :
And lo ! the Lord thy God hath heard thy
prayer,
Since fortitude in prayer—and this thou
(Smiling the Bright One spake) is that which lays
50-
*^ In a very dramatic but legendary
manner have they been recorded, by the author of the Irish Tripartite Life, in the
following narrative. " I will bring so many souls from pain," said the angel, "and as many as would cover so far as your eye couldreachonthesea. " "Thatisnogreat boon forme," said Patrick; "not far can my eye reach over the sea. " "You shall have between sea and land, then," added
the angel. "Is there anything more granted to me besides that ? " asked Patrick. ' ' There
"
is," said the angel ;
every Saturday from the pains of hell for ever. " "If anything be granted to me," observed Patrick, "let me have my twelve men. " "You shall have them," said the
angel, depart
shall not depart," said Patrick,
have been tormented, until I am recom- pensed. Isthereanythingelse,then,tobe granted to me? " asked Patrick. "Yes,"
said the " angel ;
know'st—
Man's hand upon God's sceptre. sought'st
Shall lack not consummation.
Shrivelling in sunshine of its prosperous
years,
Shall cease from
and shamed
though
Back to its native clay ;
God shall the shadow of His hand extend, And through the night of centuries teach to
her
In woe that
song which,
when the nations
"and fromCruachan. " "I
wake,
Shall sound their glad deliverance :
"
because I
alone
This nation, from the blind dividual dust
Of instincts ring wills
shall have seven Thursday, and twelve every Saturday, from
brute, thoughts driftless, war- By thee evoked, and shapen by thy hands,
you
every
To God's fair which image,
not answered " because I depart," Patrick,
have been tormented, until I am recom-
confers alone Manhood on nations, shall to God :,. . . ad
true ;
But nations far in undiscovered seas,
Her stately progeny, while ages waste,
The Kingly ermine of her Faith shall wear. Fleece uncorrupted of the Immaculate
Lamb,
Forever landsremoteshall
: lift to God
/T-fr fanes ; and eagle-nurturing isles hold fast Her hermit cells ; thy nation shall not walk
pensed. Is there anything else granted to ""
Angelic
Orders
Sit with Me on their
everlasting thrones.
but over thine
That thou
Many a race
nor
'
and said,
Praise be to God who hears the sinner's "
prayer. '
pains, and depart from Cruachan. "
"
I will
me? " asked Patrick. There is, answered
''
the great sea to come over Erinn seven years before the Judgment, and depart from the Cruachan. " "I will not depart," said Patrick, "since I have been
the angel ;
until I am " Is there gratified. "
tormented,
anything more you demand? " asked the
angel.
