2» See "Letters
containing
Information
30 This parish is bounded on the north, by
those of Ballymitty and Ambrosetown ; and on the west, by Bannow Bay.
30 This parish is bounded on the north, by
those of Ballymitty and Ambrosetown ; and on the west, by Bannow Bay.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
, cap.
liv.
, p.
137, and nn.
88, 114, pp.
177, 178.
Also Quinta Appendix ad Acta S.
Patricii, cap.
xxiii.
, p.
267.
3
See the Irish Tripartite, translated by
Cusack's Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of
Ireland," part ii. , pp. 408, 411, and n. (8), ibid,
* See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Junii xii. Among the pretermitted saints, at p. 504.
5 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvii. 6"
See Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. . part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. xciii.
7 See ibid. , p. cii.
June 12. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
651
that as a little gillie, he was in bondage to her. But, another explanation is vouchsafed. As an alternative conjecture, we are informed, that for this reason he was named Sanctlethan ; namely, because, through a great con- test did Bishop Ibair bear Coeman from the queen, i. e. , from Sanctlethan, and Sanctlethan said that her name should be on the gillie, and Sanctlethan gave her word for this, that Coeman would carry away Bishop Ibair's monks fromhim,thoughhe(thebishop)wasmuchentreatingforthem; andthis, we are told, was fulfilled thereafter. ? St. Coeman of Airdne Coemhain has a place in Marianus O'Gorman's Martyrology. He is recorded, in the Martyr-
of 8 at this same ology Donegal,
under the title of of Ard- Caomhan,
date,
caomhain. 9 This place is said to have been by the side of Loch Garman,
The latter name is identical with the bay of Wexford, in the south-—eastern
of Leinster. This situation of th—
e saint'sruinedchurch which
probably derived its name from him is convenient to the present Wexford
haven, in the barony of Shelmalier East, and county of Wexford. 10 The
O'Clery's Calendar adds, that this is Caomham, or Sanct Lethan, and that
he had the same mother as Caoimhghin and Natcaeimhe, of Tir-de-ghlas, i. e. ,
11
part present
son to
descended from the race of Corb-Uloim, son to Fergus, son of Ross, son to
Caoimell,
Cenufhionnan,
Rudhraighe.
styles
of
While Archdall I2
daughter
Cis,
him an Abbot, and his
places religious
house near the town of Wexford 13 he makes St. Coeman brother to St. ;
The Airdne IQ in this name is the
genitive singular
height. "
It is curious, that Rev.
168, 169.
9 According to Duald Mac Firbis' Book,
p. 733.
10 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. n. 868. ii. , (f), p.
" According to this genealogy, he was brother to the celebrated St. Kevin, founder
This parish is bounded on the north by Kilmollock and by St. Nicholas parishes; on the east, by those of Screen Ardcolumb ; on the south and west by the parish of Tic- killen, and by the River Slaney.
I7 This was visible in 1840.
,8 The name of this parish is written -drvo Coerhain, in the Irish character ; the geni-
639.
Hence, appropriate prefix
of Ard, " a
height. "
was annually celebrated there, on the 12th of June.
8 lS Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
21
I5 The of 10 tohavebeen parish Ardcavan, appears
14whodieda. d.
dedicated to this saint. A church was built there ; and from a small fragment of the middle gable,*i it would seem to have been of considerable antiquity. The mortar used in its construction was nearly as hard as the stones it em- bedded, even in its ruined condition. There was a square granite pillar, projecting two feet, eight and a-half inches from the south corner of this frag- mentalludedto,andthestonesofwhichwerewelldressed. Theoldchurch was situated on a hill, which commands a good view of the bay and town of Wexford. its Ard, which means "a 18
Dagan,
20 Thus denominated, in all the ancient Calendars and other ecclesiastical authorities, it seems to have received its name from a saint of Leinster, whose festival
"
of Glendalough. See, also, Colgan's Acta tive of which is, -Airvone CoerhAm.
I9 It is as often written Arda; thus, in the Irish Calendar of the O'Clerys, at the 12th of June: CdorhAn &<po& cViAorhAin la CAob toca 5Ar\niAn.
2°
There is an account of this parish, fur- nishedby John O'Donovan, in "Letters con- taining Information relative to the Antiqui- ties of the County of Wexford, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. i. , pp. 307 to 346, written in June, 1840.
2I See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Septima S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap. liv. , n. 88, p. 177.
Sanctorum Hibernias," xii. Martii. De S. Dagano Abbate et Episcop. , nn. 4, 5, 6, 7, p. 586.
12 See " Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 731.
13 On the authority of Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, n. 88, p. 117.
14 His feast occurs at the 12th of March. He was nephew to St. Kevin, Abbot and Patron of Glendalough, who is venerated on the 3rd of June.
•5 See
nix," Martii xii.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- De S. Dagano Abbate et
Colgan's Episcop. , pp. 584 to 587.
son of He Lughaidh.
652 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June i*. Dr. Lanigan knew not where this church had been situated. He threw out a
that it was an island. 22 He the name Airdne has reference states,
conjecture,
toanArran,orAranIsland. ^ Asimilarityofthenames,Airdnecoemanand
Coemanairne,
with some other
circumstances,
induced 2* to confound Colgan,
CoemanofArdnecoemanwithCoeman-Airneas bothofthesenamedbyhim ;
having
assigned
for the 12th of 6 A farther correction of this June. "
festivals
mistake, with other misconceptions, shall be referred to in the Acts of St. Coeman, Patron of Kill-Choemain, on the east Island of Arann, in the county
Tempul Coemghin, East Isle of Aran.
of Galway, as noticed, at the 3rd day of November. After St. Enda,2? the most
celebrated of the Aran saints is Coeman. From him is denominated, also,
that most interesting relic, known as Killkeevaun old church, which consists
of a nave and choir. The former is 16 feet 4 inches in height, by 11 feet 11
28
inches in width.
There is a low-headed and squarely-silled doorway, in the north gable. The walls are about 2 feet, 8 inches in thickness. The choir is 1 1 feet 4 inches by 10 feet 6 inches. A beautiful Gothic pointed choir arch, separating the nave from the choir, is 6 feet 4 inches in width. The stones of this church are a
" See his " Ecclesiastical of Ire- main. — " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- History Colgan's
land," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, x. , p. 221, niae," xii. Martii. Appendix ad Acta S.
Martii.
De S. Dagano, Abbate et Episcop. ,
nn.
25 From him whose properly
4, 5,
6, —
7, p. 586.
It has a doorway in the west wall and of Gothic pointing above.
and n. 141, pp. 223, 224.
2J Again, the Island of Ardoilen is incor-
rectly classed with the A nan Islands, by Rev. Dr. Lanigan. Seeibid.
24 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xii.
Endei, cap. vii. , p. 715.
26
See Roderick O'FlahertyVChorographi- cal Description of West or H-IarConnaught," editedbyJamesHardiman,pp. 90,91.
37 His festival occurs, at the 21st of
March. See his Life, in the Third Volume
of this work, at that date, Art. i.
28
The
drawing taken on the spot by William F. Wakeman, and by him transferred to the
feast— be- longs to the 3rd of November we are told one of the Aran Islands is called Arachce-
accompanying illustration, from a
June 12. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
653
limestone marble of purplish-blue colour, forming a fine contrast with the
white sea-sand, that is usually blown up within and around it from the adjacent
sea-shore. A " " was at the old church of pattern annually celebrated, Ard-
cavan, in the county of Wexford, on the 12th of June ; but, this observance was discontinued, immediately after the famous Rebellion, which disturbed that part of the country, in the summer of 1798. There was also a well, de- dicated to St. Cavan, and which was situated in a low field, between the old church and the margin of the bay. This well is no longer visible, it having been filled up with earth and rubbish. *9 In the barony of Bargy, within this same county, there is another parish, called Kilcavan. 3° This saint is regarded
The name of this parish is compounded of Cill, "a
the name of the
exactly synonymous with the name of another parish, in the barony of Gorey,
of Wexford. 31 The western and middle of gable
as patron of the place.
church " or " and cell,"
Coemhan,
patron saint,
and it
is
and north of the lying
Bay
the old church belonging to this parish, with south side wall, remained in the
year 1840. Then, all the choir, and north wall had disappeared. The nave
;
was originally thirty-eight feet six inches in length, by twenty-one feet six inches in breadth ; but, the choir dimensions cannot be ascertained, as no trace ofits eastgableisnowvisible. Thewestgablehadabelfry,atthetop,which consisted of two round and small arches. One of these had been nearly de- stroyed in 1840, but, the other was perfect. They were constructed of thin flag-stones. The doorway had been placed on the south wall, at a distance of fourteen—feet from the west gable ; it was pointed, and constructed of thin flag-stones measuring on the inside, six feet, six inches, by four feet
and, on the outside, it was six feet, three inches, by three feet and one inch. On the same wall, there was a window, placed at a distance of three feet from the middle gable, but, it is now entirely defaced. The choir arch continued in good preservation, measuring six feet four inches in height, by six feet ten inches in width, being built of thin stones. The side wall was about ten feet in height, and three feet in thickness, having been built with quarried stones of good size, cemented with lime and morter. The old church of this parish is situated on a rising ground, and it has a large graveyard attached. This is yet a favourite burial-place. About a quarter of a mile, southwards from this
church, there is a holy well, dedicated to St. Coemhan. From this circum- ""
stance, and owing to the fact, that patterns were held on the 12th of June
down to the year 1840, it may be safely inferred, that the patron saint over this parish was not a different person, from that Coemhan of Airdne Choem- han, who was venerated at Wexford Lough or Harbour. 32 It would appear from this, that the patron's feast had been here kept, on the Sunday before the 12th of June. A neighbouring island is called Darinis-Caemhan. A church appears also to have been dedicated to this saint at Dreymogh, about 1680. ThisisnowknownasDrinaghparish,inthebaronyofForth,county of Wexford. There was likewise a church in Rathmaknee parish, in the same barony, dedicated to a saint Devan,33 about 1680; but in the opinion of Herbert F. Hore, this was probably a mistake for St. Kevan. 34
wood, was engraved by Mrs. Millard.
2» See "Letters containing Information
30 This parish is bounded on the north, by
those of Ballymitty and Ambrosetown ; and on the west, by Bannow Bay.
relative to the
Wexford, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. i. Letter of John O'Donovan, signed June 8th, 1840, p. 329.
Antiquities
St. John's parish ; on the south, by Carrick
and Duncormack parishes ; on the east, by 3
a
See ibid. , pp. 86, 87.
of the County of
3I —Both are called after the same St. Coem- "
han. Letters containing Information re- lative to the Antiquities of the County of Wexford, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. ii. , p. 86. Mr. O'Donovan's Letter is not dated,
but it was written in that year,
654 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 12.
Article VII. —St. Agatan, of Disert-Agatain, on the River Inny. 1
According to the Martyrology of Donegal, at the 12th of June, a festival was celebrated in honour of Agatan, of Disert-Agatain, on the brink of the Eithne. His name has been Latinized, Agathanus, in the Table postfixed to
2 He descended from the race of Cairbre
son to
Martyrology.
Conaire, son of Moghlamha, according to the Sanctilogium.
the O'Clerys, he was a brother to Torannan, Abbot of Bennchor, and of
Tulach Foirtcern, in Leinster, and of Druim-Cliabh, in Cairpre, in Connaught, of whom we have already treated, at this date. Thus, it appears, that the
O'Clerys were disposed to identify Torannan with St. Motrianocc Ruiscaid, one of the seven sons of Aengus, son ofAedh,son to Ere, son of EochaidhMuin- remhair,belongingtotheraceofCairbreRiada. 3 Eithne,nowknownasthe Inny River,4 passing through the north-western part of Westmeath, and the southern part of Longford County, and falling into the extreme eastern expan- sion of Lough Ree, near All Saints Island, on the River Shannon, is said to havebrokenoutforthefirsttimeintheyearoftheworld3510. 5 Theriver was originally called Glaisi-Bearamain. It is thought to have derived its present name from Eithne, daughter of King Eochaidh Feidhleach, and wife of Conchobhair Mac Nessa, King of Ulster, in the first century of the Chris- tian era. 6 In St. Patrick's time, this river formed the boundary between North and South Teffia. ?
Article VIII. —St. Mochuille, of Innsnat, in Fotharta Fea, County of Carlow. This saint belonged to the race of Cairbre Riada,
that
Riada,
son of Conaire, according to the O'Clerys. 2
1
This appears to have been the
Mochulleus,sonofDichuill, whoseActsColganpromisedtogivemorefully at this day. From these Acts, it would appear, this saint lived after the beginning of the seventh century. * We find set down in the Martyrology of Donegal,4 that veneration was given at the 12th of June, to Mochulle,5 of Inns- nat, in Fotharta Fea. Fortharta Fea was anciently called Magh Fea, and it isnowknownasthe of
barony Forth,
St. Duan, patron of Hook, is popu- 33 A —
6inthe ofCarlow. Thechurch county
larly remembered in this county perhaps the same person.
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 32, 33.
6
According to the Book of Lecan, fol. 175a, b, quoted by Dr. O'Donovan, n. (a),
ibid.
? See Roderick " O'Flaherty's Ogygia,"
pars, hi. , cap. xxxv. , p. 403.
"
34 See " Brief Description of the Barony
of Forth, in the of Wexford,
County together
with a Relation of the and some Disposition
—tandPresent peculiar Customs of the Ancien
Native Inhabitants thereof. ' "Journal of
the Kilkenny and South-East of Ireland
New vol. Archaeological Society. series,
—
—and nn. 8. Irish Saints, iv. , part i. , p. 67, 4,
cap. 31.
Article vii. Edited by Drs. Todd See "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Septima
'3
and Reeves, pp. 166, 167. S. Patricii, n. 49, p. 174.
2 See ibid. , 4 Edited Drs. Todd and pp. 354, 355. by
Reeves, pp.
3 According to the Sanctilogium Genealo- 168, 169.
gicum, in the Book of Lecan, fol. 43^, 5 See likewise, Appendix to the Introduc- col. It tion of that work, p. xlvii. In the Table
4 The upper part of its course is through appended to the work already quoted, he is aflat, tame and boggy country ; "but the said to have been of Indresnat, and refer- lower part of its run is through a district not ence seems to be made to a Life, fairly copied only rich and beautiful, but rendered classic from a Cologne Manuscript. See ibid. , pp.
by association with the names and writings 448, 449. 6
o—f Oliver Goldsmith and Maria Edgeworth. " This is said to have been the country of
"
vol. ii. , p. 325. that part of Carlow County.
5 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the ? See Keating's "History of Ireland,'
Article VIII.
Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 168, 169.
Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," the O'Nolans, a name still very numerous in
*
a to the According
See
of
of the
According to
Martyrology
Genealogies
June 12. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
655
of Cill-Osnadha, near Kellistown, four Irish miles to the east of Leighlin, was situated in this plain,? comprising the barony of Forth. 8
Article IX. —St. Troscan, of Ard Brecan, County of Meath. In addition to the foregoing, we find also Troscan, of Ard Brecain. He and
the three 1 as we are 2 to preceding brothers, told, belonged
the race of Conaire,sontoMoghlamha. HisplacewasinthecountyofMeath.
ArticleX. —St. Lochen,orLoichein. IntheMartyrologyofTal-
1 thenameofLochenisset
a St. Lochenius or Lochen Meann, who flourished in the seventh century. He is called the " silent " or the " wise. " He became Abbot of Kildare, and he died in the year 694. Colgan says, he was venerated on the 12th of
2 or on the 12th of June, otherwise,
lagh,
down,
atthe12th of Therewas day June.
January.
correct date. A different saint, usually named Laidgenn figures at the 12th
of January. 3 In the barony of Lower Ormond, and county of Tipperary, there is an interesting old church, in an ancient burial-ground, and it is called
Aglish, or Aglish Loghane. 4 We cannot presume to assert, however, that it
had any relation to the present saint. Again, we are told, Loichein is the
same as Lochinia,s sister to St. Enda,6 Abbot of Aran, and that she was vene-
ratedonthis ' Inthe of 8 we find the nameof day. Martyrology Donegal,
Lochein set down, at the 12th of June.
ArticleXL—St. TommenmachBirn,Ailithir,Lochauane. At
1
this date, a festival is recorded in the Marytrology of Tallagh, in honour of
Tommen mac h Birn i Ailithir, Locha uane. The latter spelling is probably intended for Loch-Uamha, which is situated in West Breifne.
Article XII. —Festival of St. Nicholas, Bishop and Martyr. At
Peebles, in Scotland, on the 12th of June, a festival was held in honour of
Nicholas, Bishop and Martyr. He is supposed to have suffered under Dio-
12
cletian, a. d. 296. In 1 26 1, his relics were discovered. Already at the 9th
ofMay,therearenoticesregardinghim. TheBollandistshavenofestivalin relation to a St. Nicholas, at this date.
book ii. , reign of Lughaidh, monarch of Ireland, a. d. 473 to 493.
8 It was called Fotharta-Fea, to distin- guish it from the barony of Forth, in the county of Wexford, and which was called Fortharta-on-Chairn, from Carnsore Point. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. —, n. (i), p. 5, and n. (u), ibid.
4 This parish is marked, on the " Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Tipperary," sheets 4, 5, 78.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nian," xxi. Martii, Appendix ad Vitam S.
Endei, cap. iv. , p. 713.
6 See his Life in the Third Volume of this
work, at the 21st of March, Art. i.
Rev. Dr. Todd, the other three mentioned were
^
17th of April, there are other saints bearing the name of Loichen.
Article ix. In the opinion of
undoubtedly of the race of Conaire.
p.
8 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
2 the
By Clerys.
»
Article x. — Edited by Rev.
Dr.
2 Archdall asserts, that Lochen, abbot of Kelly, p. xxvii. —
xxvii.
»
J
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kildare, died on the 12th of June, without having had any authority for his statement.
"
See Bishop Forbes Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 420.
2 See Ussher's Works, vol. vi. , "Britan
See
Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 323.
"
3 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," Januarii xii. De S. Laidgenno, Con- fessore, pp. 57, 58.
nicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xv.
pp. 175, 176. Also Index Chronologicus, ad A. D. MCCLXI. , p. 622.
Kelly,
168, 169.
3
See the Irish Tripartite, translated by
Cusack's Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of
Ireland," part ii. , pp. 408, 411, and n. (8), ibid,
* See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Junii xii. Among the pretermitted saints, at p. 504.
5 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvii. 6"
See Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. . part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. xciii.
7 See ibid. , p. cii.
June 12. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
651
that as a little gillie, he was in bondage to her. But, another explanation is vouchsafed. As an alternative conjecture, we are informed, that for this reason he was named Sanctlethan ; namely, because, through a great con- test did Bishop Ibair bear Coeman from the queen, i. e. , from Sanctlethan, and Sanctlethan said that her name should be on the gillie, and Sanctlethan gave her word for this, that Coeman would carry away Bishop Ibair's monks fromhim,thoughhe(thebishop)wasmuchentreatingforthem; andthis, we are told, was fulfilled thereafter. ? St. Coeman of Airdne Coemhain has a place in Marianus O'Gorman's Martyrology. He is recorded, in the Martyr-
of 8 at this same ology Donegal,
under the title of of Ard- Caomhan,
date,
caomhain. 9 This place is said to have been by the side of Loch Garman,
The latter name is identical with the bay of Wexford, in the south-—eastern
of Leinster. This situation of th—
e saint'sruinedchurch which
probably derived its name from him is convenient to the present Wexford
haven, in the barony of Shelmalier East, and county of Wexford. 10 The
O'Clery's Calendar adds, that this is Caomham, or Sanct Lethan, and that
he had the same mother as Caoimhghin and Natcaeimhe, of Tir-de-ghlas, i. e. ,
11
part present
son to
descended from the race of Corb-Uloim, son to Fergus, son of Ross, son to
Caoimell,
Cenufhionnan,
Rudhraighe.
styles
of
While Archdall I2
daughter
Cis,
him an Abbot, and his
places religious
house near the town of Wexford 13 he makes St. Coeman brother to St. ;
The Airdne IQ in this name is the
genitive singular
height. "
It is curious, that Rev.
168, 169.
9 According to Duald Mac Firbis' Book,
p. 733.
10 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. n. 868. ii. , (f), p.
" According to this genealogy, he was brother to the celebrated St. Kevin, founder
This parish is bounded on the north by Kilmollock and by St. Nicholas parishes; on the east, by those of Screen Ardcolumb ; on the south and west by the parish of Tic- killen, and by the River Slaney.
I7 This was visible in 1840.
,8 The name of this parish is written -drvo Coerhain, in the Irish character ; the geni-
639.
Hence, appropriate prefix
of Ard, " a
height. "
was annually celebrated there, on the 12th of June.
8 lS Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
21
I5 The of 10 tohavebeen parish Ardcavan, appears
14whodieda. d.
dedicated to this saint. A church was built there ; and from a small fragment of the middle gable,*i it would seem to have been of considerable antiquity. The mortar used in its construction was nearly as hard as the stones it em- bedded, even in its ruined condition. There was a square granite pillar, projecting two feet, eight and a-half inches from the south corner of this frag- mentalludedto,andthestonesofwhichwerewelldressed. Theoldchurch was situated on a hill, which commands a good view of the bay and town of Wexford. its Ard, which means "a 18
Dagan,
20 Thus denominated, in all the ancient Calendars and other ecclesiastical authorities, it seems to have received its name from a saint of Leinster, whose festival
"
of Glendalough. See, also, Colgan's Acta tive of which is, -Airvone CoerhAm.
I9 It is as often written Arda; thus, in the Irish Calendar of the O'Clerys, at the 12th of June: CdorhAn &<po& cViAorhAin la CAob toca 5Ar\niAn.
2°
There is an account of this parish, fur- nishedby John O'Donovan, in "Letters con- taining Information relative to the Antiqui- ties of the County of Wexford, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. i. , pp. 307 to 346, written in June, 1840.
2I See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Septima S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap. liv. , n. 88, p. 177.
Sanctorum Hibernias," xii. Martii. De S. Dagano Abbate et Episcop. , nn. 4, 5, 6, 7, p. 586.
12 See " Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 731.
13 On the authority of Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, n. 88, p. 117.
14 His feast occurs at the 12th of March. He was nephew to St. Kevin, Abbot and Patron of Glendalough, who is venerated on the 3rd of June.
•5 See
nix," Martii xii.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- De S. Dagano Abbate et
Colgan's Episcop. , pp. 584 to 587.
son of He Lughaidh.
652 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June i*. Dr. Lanigan knew not where this church had been situated. He threw out a
that it was an island. 22 He the name Airdne has reference states,
conjecture,
toanArran,orAranIsland. ^ Asimilarityofthenames,Airdnecoemanand
Coemanairne,
with some other
circumstances,
induced 2* to confound Colgan,
CoemanofArdnecoemanwithCoeman-Airneas bothofthesenamedbyhim ;
having
assigned
for the 12th of 6 A farther correction of this June. "
festivals
mistake, with other misconceptions, shall be referred to in the Acts of St. Coeman, Patron of Kill-Choemain, on the east Island of Arann, in the county
Tempul Coemghin, East Isle of Aran.
of Galway, as noticed, at the 3rd day of November. After St. Enda,2? the most
celebrated of the Aran saints is Coeman. From him is denominated, also,
that most interesting relic, known as Killkeevaun old church, which consists
of a nave and choir. The former is 16 feet 4 inches in height, by 11 feet 11
28
inches in width.
There is a low-headed and squarely-silled doorway, in the north gable. The walls are about 2 feet, 8 inches in thickness. The choir is 1 1 feet 4 inches by 10 feet 6 inches. A beautiful Gothic pointed choir arch, separating the nave from the choir, is 6 feet 4 inches in width. The stones of this church are a
" See his " Ecclesiastical of Ire- main. — " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- History Colgan's
land," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, x. , p. 221, niae," xii. Martii. Appendix ad Acta S.
Martii.
De S. Dagano, Abbate et Episcop. ,
nn.
25 From him whose properly
4, 5,
6, —
7, p. 586.
It has a doorway in the west wall and of Gothic pointing above.
and n. 141, pp. 223, 224.
2J Again, the Island of Ardoilen is incor-
rectly classed with the A nan Islands, by Rev. Dr. Lanigan. Seeibid.
24 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xii.
Endei, cap. vii. , p. 715.
26
See Roderick O'FlahertyVChorographi- cal Description of West or H-IarConnaught," editedbyJamesHardiman,pp. 90,91.
37 His festival occurs, at the 21st of
March. See his Life, in the Third Volume
of this work, at that date, Art. i.
28
The
drawing taken on the spot by William F. Wakeman, and by him transferred to the
feast— be- longs to the 3rd of November we are told one of the Aran Islands is called Arachce-
accompanying illustration, from a
June 12. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
653
limestone marble of purplish-blue colour, forming a fine contrast with the
white sea-sand, that is usually blown up within and around it from the adjacent
sea-shore. A " " was at the old church of pattern annually celebrated, Ard-
cavan, in the county of Wexford, on the 12th of June ; but, this observance was discontinued, immediately after the famous Rebellion, which disturbed that part of the country, in the summer of 1798. There was also a well, de- dicated to St. Cavan, and which was situated in a low field, between the old church and the margin of the bay. This well is no longer visible, it having been filled up with earth and rubbish. *9 In the barony of Bargy, within this same county, there is another parish, called Kilcavan. 3° This saint is regarded
The name of this parish is compounded of Cill, "a
the name of the
exactly synonymous with the name of another parish, in the barony of Gorey,
of Wexford. 31 The western and middle of gable
as patron of the place.
church " or " and cell,"
Coemhan,
patron saint,
and it
is
and north of the lying
Bay
the old church belonging to this parish, with south side wall, remained in the
year 1840. Then, all the choir, and north wall had disappeared. The nave
;
was originally thirty-eight feet six inches in length, by twenty-one feet six inches in breadth ; but, the choir dimensions cannot be ascertained, as no trace ofits eastgableisnowvisible. Thewestgablehadabelfry,atthetop,which consisted of two round and small arches. One of these had been nearly de- stroyed in 1840, but, the other was perfect. They were constructed of thin flag-stones. The doorway had been placed on the south wall, at a distance of fourteen—feet from the west gable ; it was pointed, and constructed of thin flag-stones measuring on the inside, six feet, six inches, by four feet
and, on the outside, it was six feet, three inches, by three feet and one inch. On the same wall, there was a window, placed at a distance of three feet from the middle gable, but, it is now entirely defaced. The choir arch continued in good preservation, measuring six feet four inches in height, by six feet ten inches in width, being built of thin stones. The side wall was about ten feet in height, and three feet in thickness, having been built with quarried stones of good size, cemented with lime and morter. The old church of this parish is situated on a rising ground, and it has a large graveyard attached. This is yet a favourite burial-place. About a quarter of a mile, southwards from this
church, there is a holy well, dedicated to St. Coemhan. From this circum- ""
stance, and owing to the fact, that patterns were held on the 12th of June
down to the year 1840, it may be safely inferred, that the patron saint over this parish was not a different person, from that Coemhan of Airdne Choem- han, who was venerated at Wexford Lough or Harbour. 32 It would appear from this, that the patron's feast had been here kept, on the Sunday before the 12th of June. A neighbouring island is called Darinis-Caemhan. A church appears also to have been dedicated to this saint at Dreymogh, about 1680. ThisisnowknownasDrinaghparish,inthebaronyofForth,county of Wexford. There was likewise a church in Rathmaknee parish, in the same barony, dedicated to a saint Devan,33 about 1680; but in the opinion of Herbert F. Hore, this was probably a mistake for St. Kevan. 34
wood, was engraved by Mrs. Millard.
2» See "Letters containing Information
30 This parish is bounded on the north, by
those of Ballymitty and Ambrosetown ; and on the west, by Bannow Bay.
relative to the
Wexford, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. i. Letter of John O'Donovan, signed June 8th, 1840, p. 329.
Antiquities
St. John's parish ; on the south, by Carrick
and Duncormack parishes ; on the east, by 3
a
See ibid. , pp. 86, 87.
of the County of
3I —Both are called after the same St. Coem- "
han. Letters containing Information re- lative to the Antiquities of the County of Wexford, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. ii. , p. 86. Mr. O'Donovan's Letter is not dated,
but it was written in that year,
654 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 12.
Article VII. —St. Agatan, of Disert-Agatain, on the River Inny. 1
According to the Martyrology of Donegal, at the 12th of June, a festival was celebrated in honour of Agatan, of Disert-Agatain, on the brink of the Eithne. His name has been Latinized, Agathanus, in the Table postfixed to
2 He descended from the race of Cairbre
son to
Martyrology.
Conaire, son of Moghlamha, according to the Sanctilogium.
the O'Clerys, he was a brother to Torannan, Abbot of Bennchor, and of
Tulach Foirtcern, in Leinster, and of Druim-Cliabh, in Cairpre, in Connaught, of whom we have already treated, at this date. Thus, it appears, that the
O'Clerys were disposed to identify Torannan with St. Motrianocc Ruiscaid, one of the seven sons of Aengus, son ofAedh,son to Ere, son of EochaidhMuin- remhair,belongingtotheraceofCairbreRiada. 3 Eithne,nowknownasthe Inny River,4 passing through the north-western part of Westmeath, and the southern part of Longford County, and falling into the extreme eastern expan- sion of Lough Ree, near All Saints Island, on the River Shannon, is said to havebrokenoutforthefirsttimeintheyearoftheworld3510. 5 Theriver was originally called Glaisi-Bearamain. It is thought to have derived its present name from Eithne, daughter of King Eochaidh Feidhleach, and wife of Conchobhair Mac Nessa, King of Ulster, in the first century of the Chris- tian era. 6 In St. Patrick's time, this river formed the boundary between North and South Teffia. ?
Article VIII. —St. Mochuille, of Innsnat, in Fotharta Fea, County of Carlow. This saint belonged to the race of Cairbre Riada,
that
Riada,
son of Conaire, according to the O'Clerys. 2
1
This appears to have been the
Mochulleus,sonofDichuill, whoseActsColganpromisedtogivemorefully at this day. From these Acts, it would appear, this saint lived after the beginning of the seventh century. * We find set down in the Martyrology of Donegal,4 that veneration was given at the 12th of June, to Mochulle,5 of Inns- nat, in Fotharta Fea. Fortharta Fea was anciently called Magh Fea, and it isnowknownasthe of
barony Forth,
St. Duan, patron of Hook, is popu- 33 A —
6inthe ofCarlow. Thechurch county
larly remembered in this county perhaps the same person.
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 32, 33.
6
According to the Book of Lecan, fol. 175a, b, quoted by Dr. O'Donovan, n. (a),
ibid.
? See Roderick " O'Flaherty's Ogygia,"
pars, hi. , cap. xxxv. , p. 403.
"
34 See " Brief Description of the Barony
of Forth, in the of Wexford,
County together
with a Relation of the and some Disposition
—tandPresent peculiar Customs of the Ancien
Native Inhabitants thereof. ' "Journal of
the Kilkenny and South-East of Ireland
New vol. Archaeological Society. series,
—
—and nn. 8. Irish Saints, iv. , part i. , p. 67, 4,
cap. 31.
Article vii. Edited by Drs. Todd See "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Septima
'3
and Reeves, pp. 166, 167. S. Patricii, n. 49, p. 174.
2 See ibid. , 4 Edited Drs. Todd and pp. 354, 355. by
Reeves, pp.
3 According to the Sanctilogium Genealo- 168, 169.
gicum, in the Book of Lecan, fol. 43^, 5 See likewise, Appendix to the Introduc- col. It tion of that work, p. xlvii. In the Table
4 The upper part of its course is through appended to the work already quoted, he is aflat, tame and boggy country ; "but the said to have been of Indresnat, and refer- lower part of its run is through a district not ence seems to be made to a Life, fairly copied only rich and beautiful, but rendered classic from a Cologne Manuscript. See ibid. , pp.
by association with the names and writings 448, 449. 6
o—f Oliver Goldsmith and Maria Edgeworth. " This is said to have been the country of
"
vol. ii. , p. 325. that part of Carlow County.
5 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the ? See Keating's "History of Ireland,'
Article VIII.
Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 168, 169.
Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," the O'Nolans, a name still very numerous in
*
a to the According
See
of
of the
According to
Martyrology
Genealogies
June 12. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
655
of Cill-Osnadha, near Kellistown, four Irish miles to the east of Leighlin, was situated in this plain,? comprising the barony of Forth. 8
Article IX. —St. Troscan, of Ard Brecan, County of Meath. In addition to the foregoing, we find also Troscan, of Ard Brecain. He and
the three 1 as we are 2 to preceding brothers, told, belonged
the race of Conaire,sontoMoghlamha. HisplacewasinthecountyofMeath.
ArticleX. —St. Lochen,orLoichein. IntheMartyrologyofTal-
1 thenameofLochenisset
a St. Lochenius or Lochen Meann, who flourished in the seventh century. He is called the " silent " or the " wise. " He became Abbot of Kildare, and he died in the year 694. Colgan says, he was venerated on the 12th of
2 or on the 12th of June, otherwise,
lagh,
down,
atthe12th of Therewas day June.
January.
correct date. A different saint, usually named Laidgenn figures at the 12th
of January. 3 In the barony of Lower Ormond, and county of Tipperary, there is an interesting old church, in an ancient burial-ground, and it is called
Aglish, or Aglish Loghane. 4 We cannot presume to assert, however, that it
had any relation to the present saint. Again, we are told, Loichein is the
same as Lochinia,s sister to St. Enda,6 Abbot of Aran, and that she was vene-
ratedonthis ' Inthe of 8 we find the nameof day. Martyrology Donegal,
Lochein set down, at the 12th of June.
ArticleXL—St. TommenmachBirn,Ailithir,Lochauane. At
1
this date, a festival is recorded in the Marytrology of Tallagh, in honour of
Tommen mac h Birn i Ailithir, Locha uane. The latter spelling is probably intended for Loch-Uamha, which is situated in West Breifne.
Article XII. —Festival of St. Nicholas, Bishop and Martyr. At
Peebles, in Scotland, on the 12th of June, a festival was held in honour of
Nicholas, Bishop and Martyr. He is supposed to have suffered under Dio-
12
cletian, a. d. 296. In 1 26 1, his relics were discovered. Already at the 9th
ofMay,therearenoticesregardinghim. TheBollandistshavenofestivalin relation to a St. Nicholas, at this date.
book ii. , reign of Lughaidh, monarch of Ireland, a. d. 473 to 493.
8 It was called Fotharta-Fea, to distin- guish it from the barony of Forth, in the county of Wexford, and which was called Fortharta-on-Chairn, from Carnsore Point. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. —, n. (i), p. 5, and n. (u), ibid.
4 This parish is marked, on the " Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Tipperary," sheets 4, 5, 78.
"
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nian," xxi. Martii, Appendix ad Vitam S.
Endei, cap. iv. , p. 713.
6 See his Life in the Third Volume of this
work, at the 21st of March, Art. i.
Rev. Dr. Todd, the other three mentioned were
^
17th of April, there are other saints bearing the name of Loichen.
Article ix. In the opinion of
undoubtedly of the race of Conaire.
p.
8 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
2 the
By Clerys.
»
Article x. — Edited by Rev.
Dr.
2 Archdall asserts, that Lochen, abbot of Kelly, p. xxvii. —
xxvii.
»
J
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kildare, died on the 12th of June, without having had any authority for his statement.
"
See Bishop Forbes Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 420.
2 See Ussher's Works, vol. vi. , "Britan
See
Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 323.
"
3 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," Januarii xii. De S. Laidgenno, Con- fessore, pp. 57, 58.
nicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xv.
pp. 175, 176. Also Index Chronologicus, ad A. D. MCCLXI. , p. 622.
Kelly,
168, 169.
