• The parish of
Inishargy
and Islands are shown on the " Ordnance Survey Townland
Donegal.
Donegal.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
125.
*°7 St.
Bees had its name from Ben, a holy woman from Ireland, who is said to have founded here, about the year of our Lord 650, a small monastery, where after- wards, a church was built in memory of
sia
annuatim Ecclesiai — poicum Patricians? ,
her. lo8
See Nicolson's and Burn's "History
lo6 "
Quia S. Patricius hunc sanctissimum
virum, primo a subulci officio ad pastoralem
dignitatem evexit, hinc praedicta ejusEccle-
June 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
779
churchofNendrum,onthedayofhisdeath. Inthe of 110 Martyrology Tallagh,
at the 23rd of June, the simple entry, Mochoe, Priest and Abbot of Noen-
droma, occurs. Also, in the of 111 at the same his Martyrology Donegal, date,
name appears as Mochai, Abbot of n-Aondruim, in Uladh. We are told, that Caollan was his first name. Again, it is said, that Bronach, daughter of Milicic, son to Buan, and with whom Patrick was in captivity, had been his mother.
The infused spirit of Christianity for our early pagan converts was destined like light to expel darkness. It soon began to effect great results, which reflected brilliancy on religion, on civilization, and on education. Putting
altogether aside the moral and intellectual aspects of the question, we may confine our observations to, the action which the Church has, since its founda- tion, taken in these important matters. The Catholic Church can well be defended from the imputations, which have been recklessly heaped upon her of having neglected the education of those, whose fostering mother she should have been, and of stunting the growth or development of intellect and science. Had it not been for the different orders of monks and the estab- lishment of monasteries, the greater part of ancient literature must inevitably have perished before the invention of printing. In the case of the present saint's religious monastery, we know not how many ancient Manuscripts perished, when it disappeared from history. Had it not been for the care of the monks, in preserving what remained of ancient literature, for their inces- sant toil and trouble in collating and copying out various manuscripts, and for their zeal in the forming of libraries, we might have been now living in an age, darker far than those generally known as the Dark Ages. By forcible examples, that strong connection, which always existed between reli- gion, literature, and education, maintains the necessity for preserving such connection, as we have received it from our fathers in the Faith.
Article II. —St. Foelaine, or Faelan, and the Daughters of
Moinan. SuchisanentryfoundintheMartyrologyofTallagh,atthe23rd
of 1 more is known, this St. Fcelaine and Moinan's June. Nothing regarding
daughters. There is a St. Brigid, said to have been daughter to Monan or 2
Moenan,accordingto^EngustheCuldee,andDr. JeoffryKeating. Whether she was one of the daughters to the Moinan here mentioned must —be
—tain. 3 In the latest of our great Calendars altogether conjectural and uncer
these thatcompiledbytheO'Clerys wehavenoentryregarding religious
ladies,whoarenotedonthe23rdofJune. But,atthissamedate,inthe Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman, and of Donegal,* merely the name Faelan or Foilan occurs. 5
Article III. —The Children of Senchan. In the Martyrology of
Donegal,
1 a festival intended to honour the children of Senchan is set down,
and Antiquities of the Counties of West- morelandandCumberland,"vol. ii. , p. 40. See, also, Tanner's "Notitia Monastica,"
p. 73
l °9 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' " Ecclesiastical
Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix A, pp. 148 to 151, and notes (q, r, s, t), ibid. Also F, n. (v), p. 190, ibid.
110 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvii.
111
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 176, 177.
Article ii — ' See Rev. Dr. Kelly s
.
tion of Keating's
land," part ii. , he has it
ter of Momhain," p. 389. Duffy's edition.
3 "Trias See Colgan's
"
2
xxvu.
CalendarofIrishSaints,"p.
In Dermod O'Connor s English
"
transla- General History of Ire-
Thaumatuiga, Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Bngidae, cap. fc,
p. 611.
4 Edited
178, 179-
by
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp.
"
Bridget, the daugh-
78o LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [June 23.
at the 23rd of June. Among the saints of Scotland, we find enumerated the fourteen sons of Senchan or Clann Senchan, for this same date. 2
Article IV. —The Children of Senan. We read in the Martyr-
1
ology of Donegal, that the children of Senan were venerated, at the 23rd of
June. We think, however, that this is only another form for a previous entry.
ArticleV. —ReputedFeastofSt. GillenusScotus. Atthisdate, a festival has been assigned to a St. Gillenus called a Scot, by John Major,
who
quoting
the same
authority,
but
incorrectly,
Camerarius
states,
states,
1 that he was noted for his virtues and miracles in Gaul.
Again, 2 that St. Gille- nus had been a companion of St. Columban. The Bollandists,3 at the 23rd of June, notice this saint, but think he was Gislenus,* who was by birth an Athenian, and who rendered a town of Hannonia famous, owing to his
connexion with it.
Article VI. —Reputed Festival of St. Hildulph, Bishop of Treves, and of SS. Argobast, Florentius, Fidelis and Adeodatus, Companions.
In the Scottish of Thomas Menology
Dempster,
Hildulph, Bishop of Treves, and of his companions, as named, at the 23rd of
2 The Bollandists 3 also notice this but defer June. commemoration,
giving his Acts to the nth of July. We are told by Surius,* that when Dagobert
ruled over the kingdom of the Franks, St. Florentius with the Blessed Argo- bast,Theodatus,andHildulphcamefromScotiatoAlsace. ThomasDemp- ster has some other notices in his Scottish History. 5
Article VII. —Reputed Feast of St. Adalbert. At the 23rd of June, Colgan intended to publish Acts of St. Adalbertus or Adalbert, as would appear from the posthumous list. 1 Elsewhere, we find no mention of him, at the present date. See his Acts, at the 25th of this month.
5 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
October, —
Article vi. ' Thus: "Treueris Ilil-
dulphi Archiepiscopi SS. Argobasti et Flo-
niae,"
xvi. De Inventione S. Januarii.
Foillani Ep. et M. , Appendix, cap. i. ,
p. 104. — rentii, Fidelis et Adeodati, socii, VV. "
and Reeves, pp. 178, 179.
3 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
x2 Article III. Edited by Drs. Todd
Scottish Saints,—" p. 444. '
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iv. , Junii xxiii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 456.
Article iv. Edited by Rev. Drs.
4 See " De Probatis Sanctorum Vitis," tomus vi. Novembris vii. Vita S. Florentii Episcopi Argentinensis, p. 147.
Toild and Ree—ves, pp. 178, 179.
Article v. ' In his work " De Gestis
Scotorum," lib, ii. , cap. 8. 3"5"
: Thus —
Sanctus Gillenus comes sancti See
Columbani. " Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars torum," tomus ii. , lib. viii. , num. 634, pp.
of Scottish Saints," p. 238. 3See"ActaSanctorum,"tomusiv. ,
xxiii. Among the pretermitted Stints, p. 456. 4 Ilis festival is referable to the nth of
337, 338. Articlevii. —'Notedin "
Junii
Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum qu. x MS. habcntur,
there is an 1 of St. entry
See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 203.
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
ordine Mensium et Dierum. "
June 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. Ctoentp. -fourtb 23ap at 3une.
781
ARTICLE I. —ST. THIU, PATRON OF RUBHA, DIOCESE OF DOWN. festival of St. Thiu or Tiu, of Rubha, is celebrated, on the 24th of
THE to the
June, according Martyrology
of namedoesnotappearintheearliestIrishCalendars; so,itisprobable,she
flourished after the eighth century. She belonged, it is said, to the posterity of Eochaidh, son to Muiredh, who descended from the race of Heremon. 2 We are informed, likewise, that Rubha was the name of this holy woman's place, and that in Ard Uladh it was situated. Some doubt existed, regarding the modern denomination of Rubha. A learned writer inclines to the opinion, that it is identical with the townland of Echlinville, in Ballyhalbert parish, 3 otherwise St. Andrews, barony of Upper Ards, and called at present RoworGrange-Row,butformerlyRowbaneorRheubane. * Theadjoining
townland is still called
Rowreagh. s
In the
year 1306,
6 we find a
chapel,?
8 and ofUpperArds,inthecountyofDown. ThetownlandofGransha,'atthe south end of Inishargy parish, is bounded southwardly by the River Black- staffe,whichwasformerlyregardedasalineofdemarcation,10 betweenthe GreatandLittleArds. Aboutamileeastwardofthistownland,theother 11 called Row or Row, stood. This seems to have been the
named on the townland of Gransha, Grangia,
of
parish Inishargy, barony
Grange
place, anciently called Ruba, and Anglicized Rue or Rubha. " Before the
middle of the last century, the name of Rheubane was changed by James Echlin, Esq. , who had a seat here, to Echlin-ville, which was called after him- self as being the proprietor. ^ The old chapel formerly stood at the entrance to Echlinville demesne ; but, a single trace of its ruins cannot be seen at pre- sent. 1 * In the O'Clerys Calendar, Rubha is located, also, in the Ards of Ulster.
Article II. —St. Gabrin, or Gaibhrein. Wefind the name, Gabrin,
1
set down in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 24th of June. According to
chapel,
Article i. — « Edited by Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp. 178, 179.
2 The son of Mileadh, and regarded as
the ancestor of the dominant family of Ire- land,
3 This is shown, on the " Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Down " sheets 12, 18, 25. Echlinville townland is shown on sheet 18.
* According to Walter Harris' "Ancient and Present State of the County of Down," chap. iii. , sect. 2L,p. 48.
Maps for the County of Down," sheets 1 1, 12, 17,18,24,25. Thetownlandproperof Gransha is shown on sheets 18, 25.
9 In the Ulster Inquisitions, it is called,
s This townland is in the parish of Inis-
hanry, and it is described, on the "Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and
Down," sheet 18.
6 In the Ecclesiastical Taxation of Down
j)jocese
7 It was assessed, at two marks ; its tenth
being two shillings and eight pence.
• The parish of Inishargy and Islands are shown on the " Ordnance Survey Townland
Donegal.
1 This female saint's
" alias 'in le Great Coolegrange, Grange,
Ardes prope Blackstaffe. '"—No. 104, Car. I. #
I0 This townland derives its name from
the Irish word g^nreae, which signifies
"a grange. "
"The tithes of four townlands be-
longingtoitwereappropriatetotheAbbey of Moville. ,«,,_.
21.
I3 See an account of him, in Walter Harris
**. Ancient and Present State of the County
of Down," chap, iii. , sect, iii. , p. 48.
* See Rev. William Reeves Ecclesiasti-
cal Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dro- more,' Appendix LL. , n. (y), p. 379-
" See Rev. William Reeves « Ecclesias-
Dromore," p.
-
782 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 24.
the O'Clerys, the Life of Mochua 2 of Balla states,3 that when Mochua left
which is in Fir Rois. 4 A
of the Britons was there named Gabhrin, and it is said, that he offered the church to Mochua, for they had been fellow-students together. The Calen- darist O'Clery thinks this is the same Gaibhren, as that one to whom allusion has thus been made. Under the head of Gael,5 Duald Mac Firbis enters, at 6 Where his See was has
he to Gael, i. e. , a Bennchar, proceeded
city,
Bishop
Gaibhrinn, bishop,
not been discovered, nor when he flourished. There is a Geal or Gaile, a
? inthe of and of 8Itlies parish barony Middlethird, county Tipperary.
June 24th. situated, however,
Old Church of Gaile, County of Tipperary.
south of Holycross, and east of the River Suir. Here are some ruins of an ancientchurch. Asketchofitispreservedamongthedrawingstoillustrate
County of Tipperary Records, for the Irish Ordnance Survey. The ruined
church is surrounded by a cemetery. The west gable was surmounted with
a while some of the walls and windows are still 10 belfry, tolerably preserved;
however, the east gable, down to the height of the side walls, was destroyed,
in
1840.
The church was
50
feet in
length, by
10 feet, 10 inches, in 11 breadth;
Article ii.
—x
Edited by Rev.
Dr. 7It " is described, on the
Kelly, p. xxvii.
2 His festival occurs, at the 30th of March,
where some notices of him may be found, at that date, in the Third Volume of this
work, Art. iv.
3 Chapter the sixth is quoted.
4 See a notice of this territory, at the 13th
ofJune, in connexion with Bishop Cairell of
that district in a previous part of the present
volume, Art. i.
5 This place has not been identified, ac-
Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Tip- perary," sheets 47, 52, 53. The townland
proper is on sheet 47, 53.
cording to William M. Hennessy. 6"
lative to the Antiquities of the County of
Tipperary, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. i.
Letter of John O'Donovan, dated Cashel, September 22, 1840, pp. 284, 285.
11 The illustration is from a accompanying
sketchbyGeorgeV. DuNoyer. Ithasbeen
See Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. ,
parti. , pp. no,III.
8 See Lewis' ••
of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 651, 652.
9 Now preserved in the Royal Irish Aca-
demy.
10 "
Topographical Dictionary
See LetterscontainingInformationre-
June 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
783
the walls were over 3 feet in thickness, and about 13 feet in height. The doorway was on the south wall, about 13 feet, 10 inches, from the west gable ;
it was destroyed at top, on the inside, so that the original height is not now
known ; but, its width was 4 feet, 1 inch, and on the outside it had a semi-
circular top, measuring 6 feet, 9 inches in height, and 3 feet, 6^ inches, in width. This was finished off with chiselled limestone. The west gable con- tained a small window, which was quadrangular, on the inside, and round- headed, on the outside. 12 There was a second doorway in the north wall, opposite that in the south wall. x 3 The parish of Geal was a rectory, and part ofthebeneficeofHolyCross,inthedioceseofCashel. 14 AccordingtoJohn O'Donovan, the meaning of its denomination is not certain. In the Martyr-
of 1* at the of this saint is ology Donegal, 24th June,
name of Gaibhrein.
described,
under the
Article III. —Martyrdom of St. Rumold, Apostle of Belgium.
[Eighth Century. '] It is stated, that on the 24th of June, St. Rumold suffered in Mechlin. 1 As this happened to be the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the holy Scottish Martyr's festival had been transferred to the i st of July. According to received tradition, St. Rumold was a native of Ireland, and after having been Archbishop of Dublin, he came to Mechlin or Malines to preach Christianity, and he was assassinated there on the 24th of June, 775. This day is set down for his feast in various Manuscripts, as also in the Calendars of Molanus, Galesinius, Maurolycus, Canisius and Fer- rarius. GreatfeteswereconstantlycelebratedatMalines,incommemoration ofthemartyrdomofSt. RombautorRumoldus. TheBollandists2 havere- corded his festival, at the 24th of June ; but, apparently, they are uncertain, as to whether it had been the date for his Passion or for some Translation of hisRelics,atMechlin. Onthe24thofJune,1875,aSreatcentenarycele- brationofSt. RombauttookplaceatMalines. 3 The1stdayofJulyisthe chief Feast of this glorious Apostle and Martyr ; and, to that day, his Life and Acts are deferred.
Article IV. —St. Lon, of Cill Gobhra. A festival in honour of 1
Lon, of Cill Gobhra, is found entered in the Martyrologies of Tallagh, and
the following terms : "To-day the King and Queen of the Belgians, accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, of the Interior,
12 It is finished with chiselled lime- and of Public Works, went to Malines, stone. where they arrived at 12. 30 p. m. To the 13 This is now reduced to a formless burgomaster's speech of welcome, the King replied, that he felt happy to be present at the fetes of Malines, so long and so justly celebrated, and to express his sincere wishes for the prosperity of the town. Their majes- ties and suite went then to the archiepisco- pal palace. They visited afterwards the church of St. Rombaut. A splendid caval- cade, with six chariots, representing a great number of allegorical and historical scenes, made the tour of the town m the afternoon, The number of strangers present is very large and the fete is favoured by fine
drawn on the block by William F. Wake- man, and it has been engraved by Mrs. Mil- lard.
breach, as shown in the sketch.
'« See "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire-
land," vol. ii. , p. 227.
»S Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp. 178, 179.
Article in. — 1 See Father Stephen
White's " Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. v. ,
'
p. 63.
2 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iv. , Junii
xxiv. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 687.
3 The Pall Mall Gazettes Brussels corre-
spondent writes a description of this Fete in
weather. "
784
LIVES OFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [June 24.
of
Donegal,
2 at the 24th of
June.
The of this saint has not beeniden- place
fied. There is a Kilgory,3 in the parish of Killabban, and barony of Slieve-
margy, Queen's County ; while there is another townland similarly named,*
in the parish of Kilmoe, barony of Upper Tulla, county of Clare. In the
townland of Kilmagoura, parish of Shandrum,5 county of Cork, there are
some grass-covered remains of an old church, 45 feet in length, on the out-
side,by22inbreadth,andaboutthreefeetinheight; while,notfarawayis
Cranavilla Tree, having a remarkably contorted appearance.
It has been
6 that the townland name
Gabra, connected with St. Lon, and that Toberleenade, a well in the adjoin- ing townland of Newtown South, and in the same parish, may have been dedi- catedtohim. Thereisanotherremarkablewell,denominatedBachuleesa,7
8
in the townland of Farthingville East, while distant about two miles is St.
Colman's Well,' near the hamlet and burial-ground of the same name, in the parish of St. Colman's Well, and in the county of Limerick. A local tradi- tion prevails, that the saints of those three places, viz. , of Bachuleesa's Well, of Kilmagoura or Cranavilla, and of St. Colman's Well, were three brothers, who communicated with one another each morning. Of these, St. Colman's name is alone preserved. To a recent period, Kilmagoura was used as a burial- place for unbaptized infants ; for which reason, it was probably marked " Burial-Ground," on the Ordnance Townland Map ; but there is nothing whateverlikeagraveyardthere,atthepresenttime. 10 Thereisnoholywell in Kilmagoura townland, but in the adjoining townland of Newtown South, there is a much frequented holy well, locally known as Tober Leenade," or
Article i. —" Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxvii.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
178, 179-
3 It is marked, on the "Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the Queen's
conjectured,
may
have been a
corruption
Cilli
County," sheet 36.
* It is described, on the
"
Ordnance Sur-
carried on at Bachuleesa Well, but these are
now discontinued.
8
It is described, on the "Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," sheet 7. As seen on an old printed rental of the lands, as stated by Mr. O'Leary,
vey Townland Maps for the County of theformernameofFarthingvillewasCoolylyn.
sheet
5 This parish, situated in the baronies of
Orrery and Kilmore, is described on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," sheets I, 2, 6, 7.
6 For the particulars here given, I feel in- debted to Denis A. O'Leary, Esq. , Kilbo- lane Cottage, Charleville, County of Cork, in a letter dated August 7th, 1885. He also sent two rough sketches of the tree, taken from the north and south sides ; that on the northern side shows the grass-covered mound, where the church originally stood.
7 The Irish equivalent is bacul 1orA and Mr. O'Leary suspects St. Victor, mentioned in the Life of St. Patrick, may have been the Patron. It is traditionally stated, that the former locality of this well was about five miles distant, at Parc-na-Bile—recti painc nubile, "the Field of the Old Tree"— where a grass-covered mound, probably the site of an old church and the stump of a tree, yet remain. Some persons having committed a nuisance or otherwise dese- crated the Holy Well, the people state, that ft removed to the present site, marked on
9 Sometime in the month of
the people state, that this St. Colman's feast had been formerly celebrated.
10 Mr. O'Leary adds: "About 58 yards north of the grass-covered mound stands, or struggles to stand, a curious remnant of a
*
lightning struck ash, marked Cranavilla
Tree" on the Ordnance Sheet. This was a large ash which at some remote and long
forgotten date was struck by lightning and rent in twain. One portion must have fallen off while the remainder was twisted round and bent over. The shell, for it is nothing more, now remains, and marvellous to relate although being in an elevated and unshe—l- tered position it still withstands the storm even such—signal storms as those of January 6th, 1S39 locally remembered as the "night of the Big—Wind '—and
Clare,"
35.
November,
theOrdnanceSurveyMap. Withinthelast ""
thirty years rounds or devotions were
October 3rd, 1883 and still it annually sends forth
Sunday, an abundance of green leaves. "
11
There is no special day set apart in Shandrum parish, in honour of St. Leenade; but the large number of persons still fre- quenting this holy well is sufficient testi- mony, as in the powerful intercession of this
June 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
785
St. Leonard's Well," as it is thought by the country people. A peculiarity of this holy well is noticed, viz. , that nearly always it is bubbling or boiling up from the bottom. ^
Article V. —St. Cormac or Corbmac, of Senchoimhet. In the Martyrology ofTallagh,' a festival is mentioned in honour of Cormac of Sencometa, at the 24th of June. He is named Corbmac, and his place is
called Senchoimhet, in the Martyrology of unknown, nor has the locality been identified.
2 When he lived is
Article VI. —Reputed Feast of St. Golvenus, Bishop of Leon,
Aremorica. In " a festival for St. Dempster's Menologium Scotorum,"
Goluenus, Bishop of Leon, in Aremorica, is at the 24th of 1 Ac- placed June.
cording to that author, some suppose Golenus to have been a Scot ; he hesi- tates, however, to fall in with their opinions. The Bollandists * have a similar notice, at this date ; but, they remark, he is commemorated, on the 1st of July, in his own city.
Article [VII. —Festival of St. Johnt the Baptist's Nativitv. This illustrious saint, so renowned for his austere and innocent life, was vene- ratedwithpeculiarhonourintheearlyIrishChurch. Inthe"Feilire"'of St. ^Engus, at the 24th of June, it is especially noticed, and with an admoni- tion, that it is one the faithful should piously observe. From time immemorial, it had been customary among the Irish people to light bonfires on the eve of this feast, as also on the day itself; and, in several remote parts ofIreland,thatpracticehasnotasyetwhollydisappeared. Throughoutthe whole Christian world, reverence has been specially felt for the memory of our Lord's great precursor, and his feast is noted in all our Martyrologies and Calendars.
sia
annuatim Ecclesiai — poicum Patricians? ,
her. lo8
See Nicolson's and Burn's "History
lo6 "
Quia S. Patricius hunc sanctissimum
virum, primo a subulci officio ad pastoralem
dignitatem evexit, hinc praedicta ejusEccle-
June 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
779
churchofNendrum,onthedayofhisdeath. Inthe of 110 Martyrology Tallagh,
at the 23rd of June, the simple entry, Mochoe, Priest and Abbot of Noen-
droma, occurs. Also, in the of 111 at the same his Martyrology Donegal, date,
name appears as Mochai, Abbot of n-Aondruim, in Uladh. We are told, that Caollan was his first name. Again, it is said, that Bronach, daughter of Milicic, son to Buan, and with whom Patrick was in captivity, had been his mother.
The infused spirit of Christianity for our early pagan converts was destined like light to expel darkness. It soon began to effect great results, which reflected brilliancy on religion, on civilization, and on education. Putting
altogether aside the moral and intellectual aspects of the question, we may confine our observations to, the action which the Church has, since its founda- tion, taken in these important matters. The Catholic Church can well be defended from the imputations, which have been recklessly heaped upon her of having neglected the education of those, whose fostering mother she should have been, and of stunting the growth or development of intellect and science. Had it not been for the different orders of monks and the estab- lishment of monasteries, the greater part of ancient literature must inevitably have perished before the invention of printing. In the case of the present saint's religious monastery, we know not how many ancient Manuscripts perished, when it disappeared from history. Had it not been for the care of the monks, in preserving what remained of ancient literature, for their inces- sant toil and trouble in collating and copying out various manuscripts, and for their zeal in the forming of libraries, we might have been now living in an age, darker far than those generally known as the Dark Ages. By forcible examples, that strong connection, which always existed between reli- gion, literature, and education, maintains the necessity for preserving such connection, as we have received it from our fathers in the Faith.
Article II. —St. Foelaine, or Faelan, and the Daughters of
Moinan. SuchisanentryfoundintheMartyrologyofTallagh,atthe23rd
of 1 more is known, this St. Fcelaine and Moinan's June. Nothing regarding
daughters. There is a St. Brigid, said to have been daughter to Monan or 2
Moenan,accordingto^EngustheCuldee,andDr. JeoffryKeating. Whether she was one of the daughters to the Moinan here mentioned must —be
—tain. 3 In the latest of our great Calendars altogether conjectural and uncer
these thatcompiledbytheO'Clerys wehavenoentryregarding religious
ladies,whoarenotedonthe23rdofJune. But,atthissamedate,inthe Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman, and of Donegal,* merely the name Faelan or Foilan occurs. 5
Article III. —The Children of Senchan. In the Martyrology of
Donegal,
1 a festival intended to honour the children of Senchan is set down,
and Antiquities of the Counties of West- morelandandCumberland,"vol. ii. , p. 40. See, also, Tanner's "Notitia Monastica,"
p. 73
l °9 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' " Ecclesiastical
Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix A, pp. 148 to 151, and notes (q, r, s, t), ibid. Also F, n. (v), p. 190, ibid.
110 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvii.
111
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 176, 177.
Article ii — ' See Rev. Dr. Kelly s
.
tion of Keating's
land," part ii. , he has it
ter of Momhain," p. 389. Duffy's edition.
3 "Trias See Colgan's
"
2
xxvu.
CalendarofIrishSaints,"p.
In Dermod O'Connor s English
"
transla- General History of Ire-
Thaumatuiga, Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Bngidae, cap. fc,
p. 611.
4 Edited
178, 179-
by
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp.
"
Bridget, the daugh-
78o LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [June 23.
at the 23rd of June. Among the saints of Scotland, we find enumerated the fourteen sons of Senchan or Clann Senchan, for this same date. 2
Article IV. —The Children of Senan. We read in the Martyr-
1
ology of Donegal, that the children of Senan were venerated, at the 23rd of
June. We think, however, that this is only another form for a previous entry.
ArticleV. —ReputedFeastofSt. GillenusScotus. Atthisdate, a festival has been assigned to a St. Gillenus called a Scot, by John Major,
who
quoting
the same
authority,
but
incorrectly,
Camerarius
states,
states,
1 that he was noted for his virtues and miracles in Gaul.
Again, 2 that St. Gille- nus had been a companion of St. Columban. The Bollandists,3 at the 23rd of June, notice this saint, but think he was Gislenus,* who was by birth an Athenian, and who rendered a town of Hannonia famous, owing to his
connexion with it.
Article VI. —Reputed Festival of St. Hildulph, Bishop of Treves, and of SS. Argobast, Florentius, Fidelis and Adeodatus, Companions.
In the Scottish of Thomas Menology
Dempster,
Hildulph, Bishop of Treves, and of his companions, as named, at the 23rd of
2 The Bollandists 3 also notice this but defer June. commemoration,
giving his Acts to the nth of July. We are told by Surius,* that when Dagobert
ruled over the kingdom of the Franks, St. Florentius with the Blessed Argo- bast,Theodatus,andHildulphcamefromScotiatoAlsace. ThomasDemp- ster has some other notices in his Scottish History. 5
Article VII. —Reputed Feast of St. Adalbert. At the 23rd of June, Colgan intended to publish Acts of St. Adalbertus or Adalbert, as would appear from the posthumous list. 1 Elsewhere, we find no mention of him, at the present date. See his Acts, at the 25th of this month.
5 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
October, —
Article vi. ' Thus: "Treueris Ilil-
dulphi Archiepiscopi SS. Argobasti et Flo-
niae,"
xvi. De Inventione S. Januarii.
Foillani Ep. et M. , Appendix, cap. i. ,
p. 104. — rentii, Fidelis et Adeodati, socii, VV. "
and Reeves, pp. 178, 179.
3 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
x2 Article III. Edited by Drs. Todd
Scottish Saints,—" p. 444. '
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iv. , Junii xxiii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 456.
Article iv. Edited by Rev. Drs.
4 See " De Probatis Sanctorum Vitis," tomus vi. Novembris vii. Vita S. Florentii Episcopi Argentinensis, p. 147.
Toild and Ree—ves, pp. 178, 179.
Article v. ' In his work " De Gestis
Scotorum," lib, ii. , cap. 8. 3"5"
: Thus —
Sanctus Gillenus comes sancti See
Columbani. " Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars torum," tomus ii. , lib. viii. , num. 634, pp.
of Scottish Saints," p. 238. 3See"ActaSanctorum,"tomusiv. ,
xxiii. Among the pretermitted Stints, p. 456. 4 Ilis festival is referable to the nth of
337, 338. Articlevii. —'Notedin "
Junii
Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum qu. x MS. habcntur,
there is an 1 of St. entry
See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 203.
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
ordine Mensium et Dierum. "
June 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. Ctoentp. -fourtb 23ap at 3une.
781
ARTICLE I. —ST. THIU, PATRON OF RUBHA, DIOCESE OF DOWN. festival of St. Thiu or Tiu, of Rubha, is celebrated, on the 24th of
THE to the
June, according Martyrology
of namedoesnotappearintheearliestIrishCalendars; so,itisprobable,she
flourished after the eighth century. She belonged, it is said, to the posterity of Eochaidh, son to Muiredh, who descended from the race of Heremon. 2 We are informed, likewise, that Rubha was the name of this holy woman's place, and that in Ard Uladh it was situated. Some doubt existed, regarding the modern denomination of Rubha. A learned writer inclines to the opinion, that it is identical with the townland of Echlinville, in Ballyhalbert parish, 3 otherwise St. Andrews, barony of Upper Ards, and called at present RoworGrange-Row,butformerlyRowbaneorRheubane. * Theadjoining
townland is still called
Rowreagh. s
In the
year 1306,
6 we find a
chapel,?
8 and ofUpperArds,inthecountyofDown. ThetownlandofGransha,'atthe south end of Inishargy parish, is bounded southwardly by the River Black- staffe,whichwasformerlyregardedasalineofdemarcation,10 betweenthe GreatandLittleArds. Aboutamileeastwardofthistownland,theother 11 called Row or Row, stood. This seems to have been the
named on the townland of Gransha, Grangia,
of
parish Inishargy, barony
Grange
place, anciently called Ruba, and Anglicized Rue or Rubha. " Before the
middle of the last century, the name of Rheubane was changed by James Echlin, Esq. , who had a seat here, to Echlin-ville, which was called after him- self as being the proprietor. ^ The old chapel formerly stood at the entrance to Echlinville demesne ; but, a single trace of its ruins cannot be seen at pre- sent. 1 * In the O'Clerys Calendar, Rubha is located, also, in the Ards of Ulster.
Article II. —St. Gabrin, or Gaibhrein. Wefind the name, Gabrin,
1
set down in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 24th of June. According to
chapel,
Article i. — « Edited by Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp. 178, 179.
2 The son of Mileadh, and regarded as
the ancestor of the dominant family of Ire- land,
3 This is shown, on the " Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Down " sheets 12, 18, 25. Echlinville townland is shown on sheet 18.
* According to Walter Harris' "Ancient and Present State of the County of Down," chap. iii. , sect. 2L,p. 48.
Maps for the County of Down," sheets 1 1, 12, 17,18,24,25. Thetownlandproperof Gransha is shown on sheets 18, 25.
9 In the Ulster Inquisitions, it is called,
s This townland is in the parish of Inis-
hanry, and it is described, on the "Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and
Down," sheet 18.
6 In the Ecclesiastical Taxation of Down
j)jocese
7 It was assessed, at two marks ; its tenth
being two shillings and eight pence.
• The parish of Inishargy and Islands are shown on the " Ordnance Survey Townland
Donegal.
1 This female saint's
" alias 'in le Great Coolegrange, Grange,
Ardes prope Blackstaffe. '"—No. 104, Car. I. #
I0 This townland derives its name from
the Irish word g^nreae, which signifies
"a grange. "
"The tithes of four townlands be-
longingtoitwereappropriatetotheAbbey of Moville. ,«,,_.
21.
I3 See an account of him, in Walter Harris
**. Ancient and Present State of the County
of Down," chap, iii. , sect, iii. , p. 48.
* See Rev. William Reeves Ecclesiasti-
cal Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dro- more,' Appendix LL. , n. (y), p. 379-
" See Rev. William Reeves « Ecclesias-
Dromore," p.
-
782 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 24.
the O'Clerys, the Life of Mochua 2 of Balla states,3 that when Mochua left
which is in Fir Rois. 4 A
of the Britons was there named Gabhrin, and it is said, that he offered the church to Mochua, for they had been fellow-students together. The Calen- darist O'Clery thinks this is the same Gaibhren, as that one to whom allusion has thus been made. Under the head of Gael,5 Duald Mac Firbis enters, at 6 Where his See was has
he to Gael, i. e. , a Bennchar, proceeded
city,
Bishop
Gaibhrinn, bishop,
not been discovered, nor when he flourished. There is a Geal or Gaile, a
? inthe of and of 8Itlies parish barony Middlethird, county Tipperary.
June 24th. situated, however,
Old Church of Gaile, County of Tipperary.
south of Holycross, and east of the River Suir. Here are some ruins of an ancientchurch. Asketchofitispreservedamongthedrawingstoillustrate
County of Tipperary Records, for the Irish Ordnance Survey. The ruined
church is surrounded by a cemetery. The west gable was surmounted with
a while some of the walls and windows are still 10 belfry, tolerably preserved;
however, the east gable, down to the height of the side walls, was destroyed,
in
1840.
The church was
50
feet in
length, by
10 feet, 10 inches, in 11 breadth;
Article ii.
—x
Edited by Rev.
Dr. 7It " is described, on the
Kelly, p. xxvii.
2 His festival occurs, at the 30th of March,
where some notices of him may be found, at that date, in the Third Volume of this
work, Art. iv.
3 Chapter the sixth is quoted.
4 See a notice of this territory, at the 13th
ofJune, in connexion with Bishop Cairell of
that district in a previous part of the present
volume, Art. i.
5 This place has not been identified, ac-
Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Tip- perary," sheets 47, 52, 53. The townland
proper is on sheet 47, 53.
cording to William M. Hennessy. 6"
lative to the Antiquities of the County of
Tipperary, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. i.
Letter of John O'Donovan, dated Cashel, September 22, 1840, pp. 284, 285.
11 The illustration is from a accompanying
sketchbyGeorgeV. DuNoyer. Ithasbeen
See Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. ,
parti. , pp. no,III.
8 See Lewis' ••
of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 651, 652.
9 Now preserved in the Royal Irish Aca-
demy.
10 "
Topographical Dictionary
See LetterscontainingInformationre-
June 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
783
the walls were over 3 feet in thickness, and about 13 feet in height. The doorway was on the south wall, about 13 feet, 10 inches, from the west gable ;
it was destroyed at top, on the inside, so that the original height is not now
known ; but, its width was 4 feet, 1 inch, and on the outside it had a semi-
circular top, measuring 6 feet, 9 inches in height, and 3 feet, 6^ inches, in width. This was finished off with chiselled limestone. The west gable con- tained a small window, which was quadrangular, on the inside, and round- headed, on the outside. 12 There was a second doorway in the north wall, opposite that in the south wall. x 3 The parish of Geal was a rectory, and part ofthebeneficeofHolyCross,inthedioceseofCashel. 14 AccordingtoJohn O'Donovan, the meaning of its denomination is not certain. In the Martyr-
of 1* at the of this saint is ology Donegal, 24th June,
name of Gaibhrein.
described,
under the
Article III. —Martyrdom of St. Rumold, Apostle of Belgium.
[Eighth Century. '] It is stated, that on the 24th of June, St. Rumold suffered in Mechlin. 1 As this happened to be the Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the holy Scottish Martyr's festival had been transferred to the i st of July. According to received tradition, St. Rumold was a native of Ireland, and after having been Archbishop of Dublin, he came to Mechlin or Malines to preach Christianity, and he was assassinated there on the 24th of June, 775. This day is set down for his feast in various Manuscripts, as also in the Calendars of Molanus, Galesinius, Maurolycus, Canisius and Fer- rarius. GreatfeteswereconstantlycelebratedatMalines,incommemoration ofthemartyrdomofSt. RombautorRumoldus. TheBollandists2 havere- corded his festival, at the 24th of June ; but, apparently, they are uncertain, as to whether it had been the date for his Passion or for some Translation of hisRelics,atMechlin. Onthe24thofJune,1875,aSreatcentenarycele- brationofSt. RombauttookplaceatMalines. 3 The1stdayofJulyisthe chief Feast of this glorious Apostle and Martyr ; and, to that day, his Life and Acts are deferred.
Article IV. —St. Lon, of Cill Gobhra. A festival in honour of 1
Lon, of Cill Gobhra, is found entered in the Martyrologies of Tallagh, and
the following terms : "To-day the King and Queen of the Belgians, accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, of the Interior,
12 It is finished with chiselled lime- and of Public Works, went to Malines, stone. where they arrived at 12. 30 p. m. To the 13 This is now reduced to a formless burgomaster's speech of welcome, the King replied, that he felt happy to be present at the fetes of Malines, so long and so justly celebrated, and to express his sincere wishes for the prosperity of the town. Their majes- ties and suite went then to the archiepisco- pal palace. They visited afterwards the church of St. Rombaut. A splendid caval- cade, with six chariots, representing a great number of allegorical and historical scenes, made the tour of the town m the afternoon, The number of strangers present is very large and the fete is favoured by fine
drawn on the block by William F. Wake- man, and it has been engraved by Mrs. Mil- lard.
breach, as shown in the sketch.
'« See "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire-
land," vol. ii. , p. 227.
»S Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp. 178, 179.
Article in. — 1 See Father Stephen
White's " Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. v. ,
'
p. 63.
2 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iv. , Junii
xxiv. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 687.
3 The Pall Mall Gazettes Brussels corre-
spondent writes a description of this Fete in
weather. "
784
LIVES OFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [June 24.
of
Donegal,
2 at the 24th of
June.
The of this saint has not beeniden- place
fied. There is a Kilgory,3 in the parish of Killabban, and barony of Slieve-
margy, Queen's County ; while there is another townland similarly named,*
in the parish of Kilmoe, barony of Upper Tulla, county of Clare. In the
townland of Kilmagoura, parish of Shandrum,5 county of Cork, there are
some grass-covered remains of an old church, 45 feet in length, on the out-
side,by22inbreadth,andaboutthreefeetinheight; while,notfarawayis
Cranavilla Tree, having a remarkably contorted appearance.
It has been
6 that the townland name
Gabra, connected with St. Lon, and that Toberleenade, a well in the adjoin- ing townland of Newtown South, and in the same parish, may have been dedi- catedtohim. Thereisanotherremarkablewell,denominatedBachuleesa,7
8
in the townland of Farthingville East, while distant about two miles is St.
Colman's Well,' near the hamlet and burial-ground of the same name, in the parish of St. Colman's Well, and in the county of Limerick. A local tradi- tion prevails, that the saints of those three places, viz. , of Bachuleesa's Well, of Kilmagoura or Cranavilla, and of St. Colman's Well, were three brothers, who communicated with one another each morning. Of these, St. Colman's name is alone preserved. To a recent period, Kilmagoura was used as a burial- place for unbaptized infants ; for which reason, it was probably marked " Burial-Ground," on the Ordnance Townland Map ; but there is nothing whateverlikeagraveyardthere,atthepresenttime. 10 Thereisnoholywell in Kilmagoura townland, but in the adjoining townland of Newtown South, there is a much frequented holy well, locally known as Tober Leenade," or
Article i. —" Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxvii.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
178, 179-
3 It is marked, on the "Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the Queen's
conjectured,
may
have been a
corruption
Cilli
County," sheet 36.
* It is described, on the
"
Ordnance Sur-
carried on at Bachuleesa Well, but these are
now discontinued.
8
It is described, on the "Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," sheet 7. As seen on an old printed rental of the lands, as stated by Mr. O'Leary,
vey Townland Maps for the County of theformernameofFarthingvillewasCoolylyn.
sheet
5 This parish, situated in the baronies of
Orrery and Kilmore, is described on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," sheets I, 2, 6, 7.
6 For the particulars here given, I feel in- debted to Denis A. O'Leary, Esq. , Kilbo- lane Cottage, Charleville, County of Cork, in a letter dated August 7th, 1885. He also sent two rough sketches of the tree, taken from the north and south sides ; that on the northern side shows the grass-covered mound, where the church originally stood.
7 The Irish equivalent is bacul 1orA and Mr. O'Leary suspects St. Victor, mentioned in the Life of St. Patrick, may have been the Patron. It is traditionally stated, that the former locality of this well was about five miles distant, at Parc-na-Bile—recti painc nubile, "the Field of the Old Tree"— where a grass-covered mound, probably the site of an old church and the stump of a tree, yet remain. Some persons having committed a nuisance or otherwise dese- crated the Holy Well, the people state, that ft removed to the present site, marked on
9 Sometime in the month of
the people state, that this St. Colman's feast had been formerly celebrated.
10 Mr. O'Leary adds: "About 58 yards north of the grass-covered mound stands, or struggles to stand, a curious remnant of a
*
lightning struck ash, marked Cranavilla
Tree" on the Ordnance Sheet. This was a large ash which at some remote and long
forgotten date was struck by lightning and rent in twain. One portion must have fallen off while the remainder was twisted round and bent over. The shell, for it is nothing more, now remains, and marvellous to relate although being in an elevated and unshe—l- tered position it still withstands the storm even such—signal storms as those of January 6th, 1S39 locally remembered as the "night of the Big—Wind '—and
Clare,"
35.
November,
theOrdnanceSurveyMap. Withinthelast ""
thirty years rounds or devotions were
October 3rd, 1883 and still it annually sends forth
Sunday, an abundance of green leaves. "
11
There is no special day set apart in Shandrum parish, in honour of St. Leenade; but the large number of persons still fre- quenting this holy well is sufficient testi- mony, as in the powerful intercession of this
June 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
785
St. Leonard's Well," as it is thought by the country people. A peculiarity of this holy well is noticed, viz. , that nearly always it is bubbling or boiling up from the bottom. ^
Article V. —St. Cormac or Corbmac, of Senchoimhet. In the Martyrology ofTallagh,' a festival is mentioned in honour of Cormac of Sencometa, at the 24th of June. He is named Corbmac, and his place is
called Senchoimhet, in the Martyrology of unknown, nor has the locality been identified.
2 When he lived is
Article VI. —Reputed Feast of St. Golvenus, Bishop of Leon,
Aremorica. In " a festival for St. Dempster's Menologium Scotorum,"
Goluenus, Bishop of Leon, in Aremorica, is at the 24th of 1 Ac- placed June.
cording to that author, some suppose Golenus to have been a Scot ; he hesi- tates, however, to fall in with their opinions. The Bollandists * have a similar notice, at this date ; but, they remark, he is commemorated, on the 1st of July, in his own city.
Article [VII. —Festival of St. Johnt the Baptist's Nativitv. This illustrious saint, so renowned for his austere and innocent life, was vene- ratedwithpeculiarhonourintheearlyIrishChurch. Inthe"Feilire"'of St. ^Engus, at the 24th of June, it is especially noticed, and with an admoni- tion, that it is one the faithful should piously observe. From time immemorial, it had been customary among the Irish people to light bonfires on the eve of this feast, as also on the day itself; and, in several remote parts ofIreland,thatpracticehasnotasyetwhollydisappeared. Throughoutthe whole Christian world, reverence has been specially felt for the memory of our Lord's great precursor, and his feast is noted in all our Martyrologies and Calendars.
