^* Our saint is called a
Leinster
Bishop, by Cumineus,^^ andby Adamnan ;^^ and not a Bishop ofLagena,""?
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
35 In the graveyard, an ancient stone cross, long buried in the earth, has been discovered, and set up on a pedestal.
3^ The parish of Finglas, situated partly in the barony of Nethercross, and partly in that of Coolock, county of Dublin, 37 adds to its antiquarian literary and his- toric interest 3^ various picturesque views.
It likewise includes fertile and well cultivated fields, abounding in different vegetable and natural pro- ducts.
Article IV. St. Colman, or St. Columban, Mac Ua Laoighse, of OuGHAVAL, Queen's County. \_Sixth Century. '\ His relations with the great Abbot of lona, St. Columkille,' and with St. Fintan,^ Abbot of Clone- nagh,havegivenspecialcelebritytothepresentholyman. IntheMartyr- ology of Tallagh,3 the name of Colman Mac h Laighsi, is simply inserted, at the 15th of May, or at the Ides of this same month. 4 From the foregoing record, the Bollandists s have given insertion to his feast, at the same date, in their collection, calling him Colmanus, filius Hua-Laigsi, sen Mac-ua- Laigse. He belonged to the race of Laoighsigh Ceannmoir,^ son ofConall Cearnach,7 a celebrated Ultonian hero, living in the first century. His pedi- gree occurs, in the Genealogies of Irish Saints;^ and, it serves to show, how Colmanderivedthetribe-nameMacUaLoighse. 9 Accordingtothisautho- rity, he was son to Lugna, son of Eugene, son to Guaire, the son of Ere, son to Bracan, son of Lugad Eaighsech, son to Laigisius Cenn-mor, son
nicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. ,p. 495.
3° See " Monasticon Hibernicarum," p. 215.
3? See Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary ofIreland,"vol. i. , pp. 629,630.
38 ggg j^'/^iton's " History of the County of Dublin," pp. 369 to 383.
Article iv. —' See his Life, in the Sixth Volume of this Work, at the 9th day of June, Art. i.
3' It is said by Giraldus Cambrensis, that
"nobilis Abbas Chenachus," and other holy
men, had planted beeches, yew, and other
trees, for ornament around the church
cemetery of Finglas. See Opera, vol. v. ,
" Topographia Hibernica," Dist. ii. , cap.
liv. , p. 135. Edition by James F. Dimock, Saints," &c. , p. xxiv.
4 The Franciscan copy has Colin An rtlAc I1. tAigp.
s gee "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Mail xv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 441.
^ Lughaidh Laeihseach, who also had the title of Ceann-mor affixed to his name, ob- 3'» See Dr. Parr's " Life of Ussher," as tained, from the King of Leinster, a tract in also that by Dr. Elrington, prefixed to his this province. In that district he settled, and it received from his descendants the name of Laighis, also written Leix. —" ColmAH
M. A.
3^ I can find no saint of this name men-
tioned in our Calendars, at the above date. It is probable, Archdall meant the nth of October.
33 For this statement, Archdall quotes War. MSS. vol. 34.
Collected Edition of Ussher's complete M'orks, vol. i. , pp. 24, 25.
35 See yix. and Mrs. Hall's " Ireland : its Scenery, Character," vol. ii. , p. 343.
' The pedigree is thus traced :
iiiac Ua LAoijhfeo CuIaij mic ComgAilb a ii'Diuninmb C05A . 1. ipn nuAcon^bAib a
3^ See ibid. , p. 344. An engraving of,
with a curious story referring to, this ancient LA0151]' LAigeAn. X)o ^iiochc tAOigfij cross maybe found, in " The Dublin Penny CeAnn-moi]\ niic ConAibi CeA)\nAi5 •00. " Journal," vol. ii. , No. 63, pp. 84, 85. * At chapter xxiv.
^ See his Life, in the Second Volume of this Work, at the 17th of February, Art. i.
3 gee Rev. Dr. Kelly's " Calendar of Irish
378
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
of Conall Kearnach, who belonged to the noble Roderician family. This pedigree is evidently defective, however, in several generations/" as nine degrees are quite insufficient to fill five centuries. His kinsman, Oennu Ua Laighse, who died about the same time," is thirteen generations removed fromConallCearnach. '^ BesidesthenameofColman,heisknownbythat of Columbanus—an exchange of names often occurring in the Lives of our Irish Saints, and applying to the same individual. '^ Thus, we find Colman- Eala '-^ called Colmanellus Colman,'5 or Columbanus;'^ again, the Colman Mor of Irish history, is also called Columbanus;'? while, the Colman of Bede is called Columbanus, in the Annals of Ulster, at a. d. 667, 675, and in those of Tighernach, at a. d. 676. '^ In the Life of St. Fintan, Abbot of Clonenagh, whose Acts have been already published, at the i7tli of February, we are told, that this religious youth, who is there called Columbanus, was a native ofLeix,intheLeinsterprovince. Forthesakeofmakingapilgrimage,andof engaging in prayer, this Columbanus directed his course to the island of lona, in order to visit St. Coluniba. Here, he remained for some time, and he lived with this latter holy Abbot. When Colman wished to return again to his own country, he asked Columba, how he should live there, not being able to con- fess his sins to the holy Abbot. St. Columba said, " Go to that pious man, whom I see standing among the Angels and before the tribunal of Christ, on each Sunday night. " The holy youth asked, who and what sort of man he was. St. Columbaanswered,"Tliereisacertainsaindyandhandsomeman, in your part of the country, whose complexion is florid, whose eyes are brio-htly sparkling, and whose white locks of hair are thinly scattered on his head. " Theyoung man then said, "Iknowof no man answering to this descrip- tion, in my country, except St. Fintan. "'9 Then St. Columba joyfully said to him : " He it is, my son, whom I see before the tribunal of Christ, as I have already told you. Go to him, for he is a good shepherd of Christ's flock, and he shall bring many souls with him to the kingdom of God. '' St. Colman or Columbanus—as he is here called—having received permission to revisit Ire- land, and having the benediction of St. Columba, afterwards set out for his own country. Coming to St. Fintan, Columban told him all that the saintly Abbot of lona had said. The holy old man, Fintan, hearing these words, blusheddeeply,sothathisfaceseemedasifonfire. Hetoldtheyoungman, to be careful and not to relate these circumstances to any other person, at least, during his own lifetime. This condition imposed a great restraint on Colman; for, St. Fintan, shortly after their interview, departed this life. ^° From the foregoing account, we may infer, that St. Colman, after his return from loiiii, was still a young man, who had probably learned the rudiments of monastic discipline, under that great master of a spiritual life, St. Colum- kille. The date regarding St. Fintan's death is questioned. Colgan says, he died
9 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum IIil)ei-- 'S See title of cap. v. , lib. i. , in Adamnan's
niK," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fin-
" Life of St. Columba. "
'^ He is so called, in the text of the same
tani', n. 25, p. 354.
'° See, also, Colgan's "Trias Thauma- chapter,
turga," Prima Vita S. Columbce, n. 10,
p_ 225.
II See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life
of St. Columba," n. (k), p. 213. "According to the Genealogy, as found
intheBookofLecain.
'3 See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba," p. 29, n. (d), p. 42, n. (a), pp. 124, 125, nn. (a, e, a).
'? See Adamnan's "Life of Columba," ''I'- '-. cap. 14, and lib. ii. , cap. 15, 16.
"* See Ussher's Works, vol. vi. " Britan- nicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitaies," cap. xvii. , p. 536.
'' AbbotofClonenagh. Seethisincident also briefly related in his Acts, at tlie 17th of Fcl)ruary, with accompanying notes.
-° See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Ilibcr- '< Noticed in the Irish Calendar, at the nice," xvii. F'ebruarii. Vita S. I'"iiitani, cap.
26ih of September. xxii. , p. 353.
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
379
long before the close of the sixth century,^' and allows him to have flourished in the year 560 ;22 while Dr. Lanigan maintains it as probable, that he reached the age of about seventy, thus departing towards the year 595, or two years before the death of St. Columkille, in 597. ^3 it seems evident, that St. Colman must have commenced the foundation of a religious establishment, at Ougliaval, shortly before or after the death of St. Fintan ; unless we admit Dr. Lanigan's other conjecture. This historian thinks it more probable, the bishop Cokimbanus, mentioned in St. Fintan's Life, was a different person from the Leinster bishop, Cokmibanus Mac-loigse. He admits, however, that the term
juvenus may be applied to a person near thirty years of age, and that Colman or Columbanus might have became a bishop, soon after the death of St. Fintan. Again, he may have died not long afterwards ; that is to say, before the death of St. Columkille, Abbot of lona.
^* Our saint is called a Leinster Bishop, by Cumineus,^^ andby Adamnan ;^^ and not a Bishop ofLagena,""? in Lagenia, as Mabillon misapprehends. ^^ Nor must we confound liim with another visitor of St. Columba, and who was named Columbanus, son of Beognai. ThepresentholymanwassurnamedMocu-Loigse,owingtohis having been descended from the family of a prince, named Laigis. From him was derived the name of Leix, a large district of Leinster. There, St. Columban was bishop, and at place, called Tulach-mac-Comguile. ^9 A certain Columbanus 3° is mentioned, 3' with others, who made Scotland famous, for tl)eir holy lives, good example, and solid learning. This was sufficient to cause David Camerarius, to enrol him a Saint and Bishop, in his Menology, as the Bollandists3* remark, when setting a Feast for him, at this day. It seems probable, he may have been confounded, with the present holy man; however, on this matter, we cannot presume to offer any safe opinion. Un- willing to admit an Irish name, Dempster33 perverts Lageniensis into Longinensis;34 while he states, that the place was unknown, and that the day forSt. Columbanus'adtuswasuncertain,beingknownonlytoGod. 3s The Scottish writer 36 in question has treated Columbanus' Acts and memory, in' his familiar style of fiction and of imagination. 37 Colgan takes him severly to
=' /^/fl'. , n. 26, p. 355.
^"^ Ibid. , Appendix, cap. iv. , p. 356.
^3 See " Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, -xi. , n. 172, p. 230.
^* Ibid. , pp. 230, 231.
-5 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," theconfinesof Scotland, called Lang ceaster;
Vita S. Columbce, cap. viii. , p. 321. ^*See/(5/(/. Vita S. Columbse, lib. iii. , cap.
12, p. 366.
'^^ There was no such town, however, in
^^ In a note, on the Life of St. Columba, by Cuminceus.
^' The Rev. Dr. Lanigan, ignorant of its precise location, expresses a wish that Colgan had given its more modern name. See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect. XV. , n. 182, p. 177.
Scotland.
3' By John Lesley, in " De Rebus Gestis
Scotorum," lib. iv.
Leinster, as Dr. Lanigan remarks ; nor does
the text of Cumineus point to any particular
spot. His " Episcopus Lagenensis" means bis tamen, et omni kvo ab ejus morte, no- no more, than that Columban was a bishop,
in the province of Leinster.
3° He
—:
" Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num.
have flourished, during the reign of Donald, the fifty-third King of
tantum est. "
is said to
32 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Maii xv. Among the pretermitted saints, p, 440.
33 ggg " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotoium," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num. 212.
and he supposes, that Longovicum might be read instead- -^as mentioned by an anony- nious Scotch writer in a work Notitia Utiius Imperii—which was a town belong- ing to the diocese of Durham. See ibid.
34 This he deems to be probably a town on
^s Xo this statement, Colgan adds : " no-
tissimus. "—"Trias Thaumaturga," Prima Vita S. Columbse, n. 10, p. 324.
^s Hg states, that Adamnanus Scolus, in Vita S. Columbae, lib ii. , characterizes him, " tanquam virum Episopatu dignum, et primitivoe apud SaxonesEcclesise Prsesulem : quaproiUer auguror hunc nostrum unum ex successoribus Sancti Aidani Scoti fuisse in Anglici populi institutione sed conjectura
282.
3? HavingalludedtoanotherColumbanus,
Dempster remarks regarding the present
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
task, for his misstatements, regarding that saint, 38 and then he proceeds to exa- mine and to produce reasons, for the information of his readers, that so they may be enabled to judge for themselves, concerning the amount of credit due to such falsehoods. 39 No insuperable difficulty exists, in resolving that religious young man, named Columbanus from the province of Leinster, as mentioned in the Acts of St. Fintan, into Columbanus bishop in Leinster, as found in Adamnan'sLifeofSt. Columba. Therecollection,thatLeixisgiven,asthe common country, and Columkille, as a contemporary, with the person named in either record, prevents us doubting much the identity of one and the same Columbanus. He was yet a comparatively young man, not much—if at all exceeding thirty years of age. Admitting the supposition, it is therefore pro- bable, that soon after Columban or Colman returned from lona, he selected Nuachcongbail, as a site for his church. Shortly afterwards, it is probable, hewasconstitutedachorepiscopusoraruralbishop. Theexactsiteforthis place of settlement was at Ougheval, a townland within the parish of Strad- bally, in the eastern part of the Queen's County. That church was built, also, within the ancient territory of Leix, and in the province of Leinster. The old
graveyard in which Colman's church once stood, is even yet, a favourite place for interment. '*" Oughaval is universally pronounced Ochval—but written Oakvale—in the neighbourhood. ^' It is quite possible, that some portions of St. Coluniban's old church remain there ; but, if so, only the foundations can lay claim, to very remote antiquity. An extraordinary pile of rubble-stone building,-*^ intended to represent an old ruined church or a monastery, now occupies the site of a mediseval structure, which served for parochial services, down to the seventeenth century. It was erected by Pole Cosbv, Esq. , about the beginning of the last century,'*3 to serve for a family place' of interment,''* A crypt is beneath ; and, it rests on a rock-foundation. The subsoil of this cemetery 'ts is naturally a dry mould, covering a fine
38o
one, bearing that name, that he was superior in dignity, ^having been a Bishop, and not inferior for the renown of his holy works. See ibid.
the laUer by Messingham—of Adamnan's old and intelligent resident of the neigh- work, at cnp. 8, notices a Columban, an bourhood, who was well acquainted with
5^ He properly states, that in the Second
Book of St. Columba's Acts, Adamnan has
no mention of any Columbanus as Bishop of
Longeniensis, nor of any other See. knownorder. AlthoughtheCanisianandParisianedition ''^ Suchwastheaccountreceived,froman
Iri. -h Priest, and at cap. 18, another Colum- ban, the son of Euchad, Abbot and founder of Snamh-luthir, in Ilibcrnia ; yet, neither is nominated Bishop of Longiniensis, or of any other place. In Colgan's edition, deemed to be far more correct, than either of the former named, the fust Columl)a is only called a Prxsbytcr, and the latter is only styled Abbot, or founder of the afore- said Monastery. Lib. ii. , cap. 15, 43.
39 Our St. Columbanus is mcnliuned. not in the Second but in the Third ]5ouk of Adamnan, where he is called " Lageniensem Episcopum," cap. S; and Colgan adds: "quod non latuit Dempsterum, sed sponte siluit, ne reliqua ejus commenta facilius de- tcgerentur. "— In Colgan's edition is found,
"non Z<7,? -<f«/V7 sed /. rt^f7//Vfl," cap. 12.
" See its position defined, on the " Ord-
local traditions. This was many years ago, and while the writer was very young.
" Neariy all the residents, in that part of the countr)', believed this uondcscript struc- ture to be a ruin, dating back to an exceed- ingly remote period.
••5 This has often become the scene of attraction, for many a youthful visit, on occasion of funerals ; and, the writer well remcml)ers, at this distant period, that strange fascination presented to fancy, in counting the number of skulls and in observ- ing the quantity of human remains, removed by rustic grave-diggers, during the progress of their operations. He has thus been ena- bled to attest, from personal observation, those peculiar indications of a very ancient burial-pKace, havinj; witnessed numerous relics of morfaliiy turned up, in nearly every
nance Survey Townland Maps for the part of tlie graveyard.
Queen's Cminty," sheet 19.
'*' Alkision has been already made to that
place, in tlie Fii>t Volume of this work, at the 19th of January, Art. ii. , where an illus- tration of it will be found.
^'^ The walls are exceedingly massive, and the architecture bizarre, resembling no
—
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 381
limestone formation. ''^ Tlie coffins of the dead are long preserved from total decay, while the decomposition of corpses proceeds rather slowly. On the west side of this churchyard, few corpses are interred, except those of unbaptized infants. A low wall, surmounting a deep and almost circular fosse, once sur- rounded the graveyard ; but, this has been completely obliterated, within the past few years. The burial-ground itself was considerably elevated, above the level of adjoining fields. 47 It is possible, St. Colman combined the epis- copal with the abbatial functions, at Oughaval ; but, regarding this matter, we have no certain record. It is most probable, that he did not attain an advanced age, as he died before St. Columkille, and previous to the close of the sixth century. In Adamnan's Life of the great Abbot of lona, he gives an account, regarding that vision of blessed Angels, who had conducted the soul oftheholybishopColumbanMocuLoigse^^(oHeaven. There,itisstated, that on the morning of a certain day, while the monks of lona were putting on their shoes,''? to engage in various labours of the monaster}', St. Colum- kille had resolved, that it should be observed as a holiday, and that prepara- tions should be made, for offering up the "Clean Oblation. " That holy Abbot likewise ordered some addition to their breakfast, as on a Sanday. 5° " And, to-day," said he, " however unworthy I may be, it behoves me to cele- brate the mysteries of the Holy Eucharist, through veneration for the spirit of Him, who hath ascended beyond the starry vault of Heaven into Paradise, during the past night,5i being borne thither among holy choirs of Angels. In obedience to orders received from the saint, his monks spent the day as one of rest; and, having prepared everything for a celebration of the Divine Mysteries, with white vestments,s' as if it were a solemn festival,s3 they pro- ceeded with their Abbot to the church. But, it happened, that while the usual prayer had been chaunted, during the progress of the holy offices, and in a measured strain, 54 St. Martin's name was commemorated. ss On a sudden,
^^ In many places, owing to the peculiar nature of the soil, it is found a matter of great difficulty to excavate graves to any consider- able depth, or to preserve their regular shape in digging, as many formerly opened had been filled in, and with heaps of loose stones.
'^^ There have been no very ancient monu- ments in the cemetery, within the writer's remembrance ; nor have any been in exist- ence, so far as he could traditionally learn.
•^ That is, niAC 11 toij^'e, or filius Nepo- tum Loigisi. See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's "Life St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 12, n. (a), p. 21 1.
"9 The terms made use of are "se cal- ceantes. " "In the Irish Lives," says the Rev. Mr. Reeves, " we are often meet with the words fico, and subtalaris, or solubaris, instead of calceus. " Ibid. , n. (b).
50 "From this passage we learn, that Sundays and other holidays were marked at Hy, by rest from labour, celebration of the Eucharist, and improved diet. " Ibid. , n. (c).
5' To express the meaning as translated, the words should be node prceterita. The words used, however, are " hac in nocte. "
5- Although giving two distinct references to words corresponding with his substituted emendation, the Rev. Mr. Reeves has not ex-
plained the meaning of the term, «//'fl/«j, To supply the omission, it must be observed, that it applies to festivals, on which white vestments were prescribed to be used, as on the feasts of Bishops, Confessors, Virgins, not Martyis, &c.
53 The correct reading " quasi die solemni Sabbati " isgiven in the Rev. Mr. Reeves' edi- tion of Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba. " The learned editor truly remarks, that the phrase "quasi die solemni Sabbati" as found in Colgan's and in the Bollandisis' version is absurd for " Sabbatum," which in Adamnan and other ancient authors always signified Saturday, which was only con- sidereda "diesSolemnis,"amongtheJews, See ? '/«'(/. , n. (f).
^4 The Rev. Mr. Reeves observes, that this was a prayer "pro animabus defuncto- rum. " St. Columba having now intro- duced a fresh name, he directed the choris- ters, " pro Sancto Columbano Episcopo decantare. " See ibid. , n. (g).
Article IV. St. Colman, or St. Columban, Mac Ua Laoighse, of OuGHAVAL, Queen's County. \_Sixth Century. '\ His relations with the great Abbot of lona, St. Columkille,' and with St. Fintan,^ Abbot of Clone- nagh,havegivenspecialcelebritytothepresentholyman. IntheMartyr- ology of Tallagh,3 the name of Colman Mac h Laighsi, is simply inserted, at the 15th of May, or at the Ides of this same month. 4 From the foregoing record, the Bollandists s have given insertion to his feast, at the same date, in their collection, calling him Colmanus, filius Hua-Laigsi, sen Mac-ua- Laigse. He belonged to the race of Laoighsigh Ceannmoir,^ son ofConall Cearnach,7 a celebrated Ultonian hero, living in the first century. His pedi- gree occurs, in the Genealogies of Irish Saints;^ and, it serves to show, how Colmanderivedthetribe-nameMacUaLoighse. 9 Accordingtothisautho- rity, he was son to Lugna, son of Eugene, son to Guaire, the son of Ere, son to Bracan, son of Lugad Eaighsech, son to Laigisius Cenn-mor, son
nicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. ,p. 495.
3° See " Monasticon Hibernicarum," p. 215.
3? See Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary ofIreland,"vol. i. , pp. 629,630.
38 ggg j^'/^iton's " History of the County of Dublin," pp. 369 to 383.
Article iv. —' See his Life, in the Sixth Volume of this Work, at the 9th day of June, Art. i.
3' It is said by Giraldus Cambrensis, that
"nobilis Abbas Chenachus," and other holy
men, had planted beeches, yew, and other
trees, for ornament around the church
cemetery of Finglas. See Opera, vol. v. ,
" Topographia Hibernica," Dist. ii. , cap.
liv. , p. 135. Edition by James F. Dimock, Saints," &c. , p. xxiv.
4 The Franciscan copy has Colin An rtlAc I1. tAigp.
s gee "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Mail xv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 441.
^ Lughaidh Laeihseach, who also had the title of Ceann-mor affixed to his name, ob- 3'» See Dr. Parr's " Life of Ussher," as tained, from the King of Leinster, a tract in also that by Dr. Elrington, prefixed to his this province. In that district he settled, and it received from his descendants the name of Laighis, also written Leix. —" ColmAH
M. A.
3^ I can find no saint of this name men-
tioned in our Calendars, at the above date. It is probable, Archdall meant the nth of October.
33 For this statement, Archdall quotes War. MSS. vol. 34.
Collected Edition of Ussher's complete M'orks, vol. i. , pp. 24, 25.
35 See yix. and Mrs. Hall's " Ireland : its Scenery, Character," vol. ii. , p. 343.
' The pedigree is thus traced :
iiiac Ua LAoijhfeo CuIaij mic ComgAilb a ii'Diuninmb C05A . 1. ipn nuAcon^bAib a
3^ See ibid. , p. 344. An engraving of,
with a curious story referring to, this ancient LA0151]' LAigeAn. X)o ^iiochc tAOigfij cross maybe found, in " The Dublin Penny CeAnn-moi]\ niic ConAibi CeA)\nAi5 •00. " Journal," vol. ii. , No. 63, pp. 84, 85. * At chapter xxiv.
^ See his Life, in the Second Volume of this Work, at the 17th of February, Art. i.
3 gee Rev. Dr. Kelly's " Calendar of Irish
378
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
of Conall Kearnach, who belonged to the noble Roderician family. This pedigree is evidently defective, however, in several generations/" as nine degrees are quite insufficient to fill five centuries. His kinsman, Oennu Ua Laighse, who died about the same time," is thirteen generations removed fromConallCearnach. '^ BesidesthenameofColman,heisknownbythat of Columbanus—an exchange of names often occurring in the Lives of our Irish Saints, and applying to the same individual. '^ Thus, we find Colman- Eala '-^ called Colmanellus Colman,'5 or Columbanus;'^ again, the Colman Mor of Irish history, is also called Columbanus;'? while, the Colman of Bede is called Columbanus, in the Annals of Ulster, at a. d. 667, 675, and in those of Tighernach, at a. d. 676. '^ In the Life of St. Fintan, Abbot of Clonenagh, whose Acts have been already published, at the i7tli of February, we are told, that this religious youth, who is there called Columbanus, was a native ofLeix,intheLeinsterprovince. Forthesakeofmakingapilgrimage,andof engaging in prayer, this Columbanus directed his course to the island of lona, in order to visit St. Coluniba. Here, he remained for some time, and he lived with this latter holy Abbot. When Colman wished to return again to his own country, he asked Columba, how he should live there, not being able to con- fess his sins to the holy Abbot. St. Columba said, " Go to that pious man, whom I see standing among the Angels and before the tribunal of Christ, on each Sunday night. " The holy youth asked, who and what sort of man he was. St. Columbaanswered,"Tliereisacertainsaindyandhandsomeman, in your part of the country, whose complexion is florid, whose eyes are brio-htly sparkling, and whose white locks of hair are thinly scattered on his head. " Theyoung man then said, "Iknowof no man answering to this descrip- tion, in my country, except St. Fintan. "'9 Then St. Columba joyfully said to him : " He it is, my son, whom I see before the tribunal of Christ, as I have already told you. Go to him, for he is a good shepherd of Christ's flock, and he shall bring many souls with him to the kingdom of God. '' St. Colman or Columbanus—as he is here called—having received permission to revisit Ire- land, and having the benediction of St. Columba, afterwards set out for his own country. Coming to St. Fintan, Columban told him all that the saintly Abbot of lona had said. The holy old man, Fintan, hearing these words, blusheddeeply,sothathisfaceseemedasifonfire. Hetoldtheyoungman, to be careful and not to relate these circumstances to any other person, at least, during his own lifetime. This condition imposed a great restraint on Colman; for, St. Fintan, shortly after their interview, departed this life. ^° From the foregoing account, we may infer, that St. Colman, after his return from loiiii, was still a young man, who had probably learned the rudiments of monastic discipline, under that great master of a spiritual life, St. Colum- kille. The date regarding St. Fintan's death is questioned. Colgan says, he died
9 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum IIil)ei-- 'S See title of cap. v. , lib. i. , in Adamnan's
niK," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fin-
" Life of St. Columba. "
'^ He is so called, in the text of the same
tani', n. 25, p. 354.
'° See, also, Colgan's "Trias Thauma- chapter,
turga," Prima Vita S. Columbce, n. 10,
p_ 225.
II See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life
of St. Columba," n. (k), p. 213. "According to the Genealogy, as found
intheBookofLecain.
'3 See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba," p. 29, n. (d), p. 42, n. (a), pp. 124, 125, nn. (a, e, a).
'? See Adamnan's "Life of Columba," ''I'- '-. cap. 14, and lib. ii. , cap. 15, 16.
"* See Ussher's Works, vol. vi. " Britan- nicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitaies," cap. xvii. , p. 536.
'' AbbotofClonenagh. Seethisincident also briefly related in his Acts, at tlie 17th of Fcl)ruary, with accompanying notes.
-° See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Ilibcr- '< Noticed in the Irish Calendar, at the nice," xvii. F'ebruarii. Vita S. I'"iiitani, cap.
26ih of September. xxii. , p. 353.
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
379
long before the close of the sixth century,^' and allows him to have flourished in the year 560 ;22 while Dr. Lanigan maintains it as probable, that he reached the age of about seventy, thus departing towards the year 595, or two years before the death of St. Columkille, in 597. ^3 it seems evident, that St. Colman must have commenced the foundation of a religious establishment, at Ougliaval, shortly before or after the death of St. Fintan ; unless we admit Dr. Lanigan's other conjecture. This historian thinks it more probable, the bishop Cokimbanus, mentioned in St. Fintan's Life, was a different person from the Leinster bishop, Cokmibanus Mac-loigse. He admits, however, that the term
juvenus may be applied to a person near thirty years of age, and that Colman or Columbanus might have became a bishop, soon after the death of St. Fintan. Again, he may have died not long afterwards ; that is to say, before the death of St. Columkille, Abbot of lona.
^* Our saint is called a Leinster Bishop, by Cumineus,^^ andby Adamnan ;^^ and not a Bishop ofLagena,""? in Lagenia, as Mabillon misapprehends. ^^ Nor must we confound liim with another visitor of St. Columba, and who was named Columbanus, son of Beognai. ThepresentholymanwassurnamedMocu-Loigse,owingtohis having been descended from the family of a prince, named Laigis. From him was derived the name of Leix, a large district of Leinster. There, St. Columban was bishop, and at place, called Tulach-mac-Comguile. ^9 A certain Columbanus 3° is mentioned, 3' with others, who made Scotland famous, for tl)eir holy lives, good example, and solid learning. This was sufficient to cause David Camerarius, to enrol him a Saint and Bishop, in his Menology, as the Bollandists3* remark, when setting a Feast for him, at this day. It seems probable, he may have been confounded, with the present holy man; however, on this matter, we cannot presume to offer any safe opinion. Un- willing to admit an Irish name, Dempster33 perverts Lageniensis into Longinensis;34 while he states, that the place was unknown, and that the day forSt. Columbanus'adtuswasuncertain,beingknownonlytoGod. 3s The Scottish writer 36 in question has treated Columbanus' Acts and memory, in' his familiar style of fiction and of imagination. 37 Colgan takes him severly to
=' /^/fl'. , n. 26, p. 355.
^"^ Ibid. , Appendix, cap. iv. , p. 356.
^3 See " Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, -xi. , n. 172, p. 230.
^* Ibid. , pp. 230, 231.
-5 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," theconfinesof Scotland, called Lang ceaster;
Vita S. Columbce, cap. viii. , p. 321. ^*See/(5/(/. Vita S. Columbse, lib. iii. , cap.
12, p. 366.
'^^ There was no such town, however, in
^^ In a note, on the Life of St. Columba, by Cuminceus.
^' The Rev. Dr. Lanigan, ignorant of its precise location, expresses a wish that Colgan had given its more modern name. See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect. XV. , n. 182, p. 177.
Scotland.
3' By John Lesley, in " De Rebus Gestis
Scotorum," lib. iv.
Leinster, as Dr. Lanigan remarks ; nor does
the text of Cumineus point to any particular
spot. His " Episcopus Lagenensis" means bis tamen, et omni kvo ab ejus morte, no- no more, than that Columban was a bishop,
in the province of Leinster.
3° He
—:
" Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num.
have flourished, during the reign of Donald, the fifty-third King of
tantum est. "
is said to
32 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Maii xv. Among the pretermitted saints, p, 440.
33 ggg " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotoium," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num. 212.
and he supposes, that Longovicum might be read instead- -^as mentioned by an anony- nious Scotch writer in a work Notitia Utiius Imperii—which was a town belong- ing to the diocese of Durham. See ibid.
34 This he deems to be probably a town on
^s Xo this statement, Colgan adds : " no-
tissimus. "—"Trias Thaumaturga," Prima Vita S. Columbse, n. 10, p. 324.
^s Hg states, that Adamnanus Scolus, in Vita S. Columbae, lib ii. , characterizes him, " tanquam virum Episopatu dignum, et primitivoe apud SaxonesEcclesise Prsesulem : quaproiUer auguror hunc nostrum unum ex successoribus Sancti Aidani Scoti fuisse in Anglici populi institutione sed conjectura
282.
3? HavingalludedtoanotherColumbanus,
Dempster remarks regarding the present
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
task, for his misstatements, regarding that saint, 38 and then he proceeds to exa- mine and to produce reasons, for the information of his readers, that so they may be enabled to judge for themselves, concerning the amount of credit due to such falsehoods. 39 No insuperable difficulty exists, in resolving that religious young man, named Columbanus from the province of Leinster, as mentioned in the Acts of St. Fintan, into Columbanus bishop in Leinster, as found in Adamnan'sLifeofSt. Columba. Therecollection,thatLeixisgiven,asthe common country, and Columkille, as a contemporary, with the person named in either record, prevents us doubting much the identity of one and the same Columbanus. He was yet a comparatively young man, not much—if at all exceeding thirty years of age. Admitting the supposition, it is therefore pro- bable, that soon after Columban or Colman returned from lona, he selected Nuachcongbail, as a site for his church. Shortly afterwards, it is probable, hewasconstitutedachorepiscopusoraruralbishop. Theexactsiteforthis place of settlement was at Ougheval, a townland within the parish of Strad- bally, in the eastern part of the Queen's County. That church was built, also, within the ancient territory of Leix, and in the province of Leinster. The old
graveyard in which Colman's church once stood, is even yet, a favourite place for interment. '*" Oughaval is universally pronounced Ochval—but written Oakvale—in the neighbourhood. ^' It is quite possible, that some portions of St. Coluniban's old church remain there ; but, if so, only the foundations can lay claim, to very remote antiquity. An extraordinary pile of rubble-stone building,-*^ intended to represent an old ruined church or a monastery, now occupies the site of a mediseval structure, which served for parochial services, down to the seventeenth century. It was erected by Pole Cosbv, Esq. , about the beginning of the last century,'*3 to serve for a family place' of interment,''* A crypt is beneath ; and, it rests on a rock-foundation. The subsoil of this cemetery 'ts is naturally a dry mould, covering a fine
38o
one, bearing that name, that he was superior in dignity, ^having been a Bishop, and not inferior for the renown of his holy works. See ibid.
the laUer by Messingham—of Adamnan's old and intelligent resident of the neigh- work, at cnp. 8, notices a Columban, an bourhood, who was well acquainted with
5^ He properly states, that in the Second
Book of St. Columba's Acts, Adamnan has
no mention of any Columbanus as Bishop of
Longeniensis, nor of any other See. knownorder. AlthoughtheCanisianandParisianedition ''^ Suchwastheaccountreceived,froman
Iri. -h Priest, and at cap. 18, another Colum- ban, the son of Euchad, Abbot and founder of Snamh-luthir, in Ilibcrnia ; yet, neither is nominated Bishop of Longiniensis, or of any other place. In Colgan's edition, deemed to be far more correct, than either of the former named, the fust Columl)a is only called a Prxsbytcr, and the latter is only styled Abbot, or founder of the afore- said Monastery. Lib. ii. , cap. 15, 43.
39 Our St. Columbanus is mcnliuned. not in the Second but in the Third ]5ouk of Adamnan, where he is called " Lageniensem Episcopum," cap. S; and Colgan adds: "quod non latuit Dempsterum, sed sponte siluit, ne reliqua ejus commenta facilius de- tcgerentur. "— In Colgan's edition is found,
"non Z<7,? -<f«/V7 sed /. rt^f7//Vfl," cap. 12.
" See its position defined, on the " Ord-
local traditions. This was many years ago, and while the writer was very young.
" Neariy all the residents, in that part of the countr)', believed this uondcscript struc- ture to be a ruin, dating back to an exceed- ingly remote period.
••5 This has often become the scene of attraction, for many a youthful visit, on occasion of funerals ; and, the writer well remcml)ers, at this distant period, that strange fascination presented to fancy, in counting the number of skulls and in observ- ing the quantity of human remains, removed by rustic grave-diggers, during the progress of their operations. He has thus been ena- bled to attest, from personal observation, those peculiar indications of a very ancient burial-pKace, havinj; witnessed numerous relics of morfaliiy turned up, in nearly every
nance Survey Townland Maps for the part of tlie graveyard.
Queen's Cminty," sheet 19.
'*' Alkision has been already made to that
place, in tlie Fii>t Volume of this work, at the 19th of January, Art. ii. , where an illus- tration of it will be found.
^'^ The walls are exceedingly massive, and the architecture bizarre, resembling no
—
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 381
limestone formation. ''^ Tlie coffins of the dead are long preserved from total decay, while the decomposition of corpses proceeds rather slowly. On the west side of this churchyard, few corpses are interred, except those of unbaptized infants. A low wall, surmounting a deep and almost circular fosse, once sur- rounded the graveyard ; but, this has been completely obliterated, within the past few years. The burial-ground itself was considerably elevated, above the level of adjoining fields. 47 It is possible, St. Colman combined the epis- copal with the abbatial functions, at Oughaval ; but, regarding this matter, we have no certain record. It is most probable, that he did not attain an advanced age, as he died before St. Columkille, and previous to the close of the sixth century. In Adamnan's Life of the great Abbot of lona, he gives an account, regarding that vision of blessed Angels, who had conducted the soul oftheholybishopColumbanMocuLoigse^^(oHeaven. There,itisstated, that on the morning of a certain day, while the monks of lona were putting on their shoes,''? to engage in various labours of the monaster}', St. Colum- kille had resolved, that it should be observed as a holiday, and that prepara- tions should be made, for offering up the "Clean Oblation. " That holy Abbot likewise ordered some addition to their breakfast, as on a Sanday. 5° " And, to-day," said he, " however unworthy I may be, it behoves me to cele- brate the mysteries of the Holy Eucharist, through veneration for the spirit of Him, who hath ascended beyond the starry vault of Heaven into Paradise, during the past night,5i being borne thither among holy choirs of Angels. In obedience to orders received from the saint, his monks spent the day as one of rest; and, having prepared everything for a celebration of the Divine Mysteries, with white vestments,s' as if it were a solemn festival,s3 they pro- ceeded with their Abbot to the church. But, it happened, that while the usual prayer had been chaunted, during the progress of the holy offices, and in a measured strain, 54 St. Martin's name was commemorated. ss On a sudden,
^^ In many places, owing to the peculiar nature of the soil, it is found a matter of great difficulty to excavate graves to any consider- able depth, or to preserve their regular shape in digging, as many formerly opened had been filled in, and with heaps of loose stones.
'^^ There have been no very ancient monu- ments in the cemetery, within the writer's remembrance ; nor have any been in exist- ence, so far as he could traditionally learn.
•^ That is, niAC 11 toij^'e, or filius Nepo- tum Loigisi. See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's "Life St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 12, n. (a), p. 21 1.
"9 The terms made use of are "se cal- ceantes. " "In the Irish Lives," says the Rev. Mr. Reeves, " we are often meet with the words fico, and subtalaris, or solubaris, instead of calceus. " Ibid. , n. (b).
50 "From this passage we learn, that Sundays and other holidays were marked at Hy, by rest from labour, celebration of the Eucharist, and improved diet. " Ibid. , n. (c).
5' To express the meaning as translated, the words should be node prceterita. The words used, however, are " hac in nocte. "
5- Although giving two distinct references to words corresponding with his substituted emendation, the Rev. Mr. Reeves has not ex-
plained the meaning of the term, «//'fl/«j, To supply the omission, it must be observed, that it applies to festivals, on which white vestments were prescribed to be used, as on the feasts of Bishops, Confessors, Virgins, not Martyis, &c.
53 The correct reading " quasi die solemni Sabbati " isgiven in the Rev. Mr. Reeves' edi- tion of Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba. " The learned editor truly remarks, that the phrase "quasi die solemni Sabbati" as found in Colgan's and in the Bollandisis' version is absurd for " Sabbatum," which in Adamnan and other ancient authors always signified Saturday, which was only con- sidereda "diesSolemnis,"amongtheJews, See ? '/«'(/. , n. (f).
^4 The Rev. Mr. Reeves observes, that this was a prayer "pro animabus defuncto- rum. " St. Columba having now intro- duced a fresh name, he directed the choris- ters, " pro Sancto Columbano Episcopo decantare. " See ibid. , n. (g).
