Clooney, in the parish of Clondermot, near Derry,
mentioned
in Rev.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
Rioc^^ of Inis-bo- finde, then said to have been so engaged.
Immediately, Patrick covered them over with the same garment, the hands of each being clasped round the
other. They slept thus, and afterwards awoke, having a like form, and with "
Eoghan, my precedes form do you desire ? " asked Patrick.
is bearing your satchel," said Eugene.
the sole difference of the tonsure. I do not like my height," said Eoghan.
""
What size do you desire to be ? then enquired Patrick.
was of small stature, reached up his hand with his sword. ^9
'•'
Eoghan, who I should like
this height," said he. Then we are told, he immediately grew to the height
desired, and that he so continued, for the rest of his life. Patrick afterwards
blessed Eoghan, with his sons. " Which of your sons is dearest to you ? " ""
asked Patrick. Muiredhach," said the dynast. Sovereignty from him,9°
for
said the saint.
"
Fergus," man. "And
holy
" And next to him ? " asked Patrick.
after him ? then enquired Patrick. Eocha Bindech," replied Eoghan.
"Warriors from him," said Patrick. "And after him? " then asked our
""
saint. They are all alike to me," answered Eoghan. Therefore, they
shall have united love," said Patrick.
Patrick next went to Ailech of the Kings,9^ and which is now known as
Greenan-Ely, on a most elevated, commanding position, at the head of Loughs Foyle and Swilly. s^ Three concentric ramparts,93 of an irregular circular outline, but now greatly dilapidated, ascend above each other in successive terraces, to the crowning cashel, or keep of the old fortress. s* From
adopted, from the Irish Tripartite. In addition to the foregoing sentence, the Latin
Tripartite has, "sed quia extra patriam, earn amplexus, non ahos obtinebis obsides, quam quas manu forti et gladio evendica- bis. "
that St. Rioc was the nephew of St. Patrick, and a son of his
sister Darerca.
^5 Such is the account, in the Irish Tri-
partite Life. In the Latin version, it is stated, he held up a spear, and obtained the
Inishowen, See it shown, on the " Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Donegal," Sheet 47. On Sheet 55, to the south, we might probably trace tiie low lands, where a channel once con-
jiected Lough Foyle and Lough Swilly.
93 Within the outermost enclosure, on the
circularapexofthehill, 5Jacresarecon- I
;
»* The Ordnance Survey Memoir
its length.
9° This means, that the right of sove-
reignty was to be attached to his race.
views of its ground plan, and the galleries
within its ruined walls, as found in 1837,
with some sectional views, and admeasure-
9" Irish Ordnance " Me- ments. These measurements have been
See the Survey
moir of the City and North- Western Liber-
ties of Londonderry—," part ii. Ancient,
already made. A square-headed work appeared in 1 837, in royal 4to, with doorway enters the Cashel, as now restored,
This
fme local ground plans and engravings.
9' The Greenan stands on an elevation of S02 feet, and its whole ambit lay, within the
townlands of Carrowreagh, Speenoge and Toulett, in the parish of Burt, and barony of
has been
sect. 2. Antiquities Pagan, p. 217.
within the second, 4 acres ;
tained
the third, about I acre is found ; while, within the Cashel, there is about ^ acre of surface.
more accurately set forth, and in detail, by Dr. Bernard, in the paper, to which allusion
and three distinct platforms, ascended by means of side stone steps, are within the circle, which reaches interiorly, 77 feet 6
inches, in diameter, from wall to wall, as measured by Mr. Joseph P. Addey, who
within
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
637
the height it occupies, one of the most magnificent and extensive views in Ireland may be obtained. For many ages past, this fortress had been deserted,95andaheapofscatteredstonesonlymarkedthesite; but,oflate years, these have been collected, and have been placed,^^ so as to re-build
Interior view of Aileach Fort.
the great cahcr, on the lines of its original foundation, and according to a
style and an arrangement, supposed to be very closely resembling the early structure. Here, too, is pointed out a stone, called by the name of St. Columkille. i^7 It is thought to have been the former coronation stone of Aileach, and to have been that which St. Patrick blessed, when he accom- panied Prince Eoghan to his palace, over Lough Foyle. ? ^
At the period of our Apostle's visit, referred to about a. d. 442, it has
been stated, that E^oghan—Anglicised Owen—had lived about forty-seven years, in the old Castle of Aileach. 59 Then, St. Patrick blessed the fort, and
left his flag'°° there ; and, he prophesied, that kingship and pre-eminence
kindly furnished a liorizontal plan, and lateral sections. The illustration in the text
has been drawn, on the spot, also, by the same gentleman ; it has been transferred to the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and it was engraved by Mrs. Millard. At the highest part, the wall at present is about 17 feet 3 inches, in height, on an average while to suit the irregularities of ground, and to bring the top nearly on a level all around, the southern portion was raised a few feet higher than the northern. The widtk of this circular wall, at the base, averages above 13 feet. Several old roads, leading from the Greenan, can be traced aroundit, onthehill-sides.
Munster, at the head of a large southern army, demolished the Grianan of Aileach, in revenge for the demolition of Kincora, by Donnell Mac Loughlin, in A. D. 1088. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 934, 935, and 967 to 969.
5° This restoration has been effected, since 1S74, with great labour and expense, by Dr. Walter Bernard, of Londonderry.
'>^ Seeanaccountandengravingofit, in J. B. Doyle's "Tours in Ulster," chap, xv. , pp. 302, 303.
s^ This it thought to have been the Icac^ alluded to in the Irish Tripartite Life, as havingbeenleftatAileach.
95 In A. D. iioi, King Murtach O'Brien of
9' See Maghtochair's "Inishowen: its
;
638 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i^ should be over Erinn from Aileach. " When you lift your foot out of your
"
the men of Erinn shall tremble before you. " He blessed the Island'"' of Enis-Eoghain —now formed into a peninsula—and the limits of which at present are
known, as the baronies of Inishowen, East'°* and West,'°3 in the County of Donegal. After this visit, our holy Apostle gave a blessing of valour to
Eoghan. '°< Among our Manuscript memorials,'°5 there is, likewise, an enumeration of the gifts bestowed by St. Patrick, on each of the sons of that
potentate. He imparted those blessings, from Belach-ratha, or " the road- rath," now known simply as Ballagh,'°^ in the barony of Inishowen East, and parish of Clonca, near Malin Head,'°7 the most northern part of Inishowen. Here are Malin holy well, and the ruins of a church, near the sea-shore, said to have been the erection of St. Patrick himself Eochaidh, the son of Fia- chra, son to Eoghan, was baptized with Eoghan. Patrick's covenant was madebetweenthem; and,itwasdecreed,thatwhosoeverdaredtotransgress it, should not have children born to him, and his body should not decom-
pose, in the clay.
Leaving Elagh,'°^ the holy man, it is stated,^°9 crossed the Foyle, at Cul-
more,"° to enter on a new field of labour. Immediately, St. Patrick went into Daigurt, or Dagart, in Magh Dula,""^ probably within the bounds of the present county of Derry. "^ He built there seven Domhnachs, or great
bed to the flag, and your successors after you," said Patrick,
History, Traditions and Antiquities," chap, iv. , p. 23.
'°°
This was probably a coronation stone, having this tradition attaching to it.
'"' Such most likely it was, in the days of St. Patrick, when the parted waters of the River Foyle entered the ocean on one side, by Lough Foyle, and on the other, by Lough Swilly.
On all who may be born from him, Provided they are obedient. "
'"5 In the Bookof Lecan, fol. 67, b. , col. I.
"^ It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Donegal," Sheet 4.
'°' The town of Malin will be found, on the same Sheet, but this extreme point lies much
the
"^ This distinctive
more Pococke's " northerly. Bishop
has noted a monastery, at Mawlin.
'°*
on Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Donegal," Sheets i, 2, 3,4,
5, 9, 10, II, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31. This district forms the extreme northern part of Ireland.
"
is
barony described,
Journal"
'°3 This distinctive portion of the old Sheets 38, 47 ; while Elaghmore is in the
territory is to be found, on Sheets 9, 10, 18, 19, 20, 28, 29, 30, 37, 38, 39, 46, 47.
'°* We have it thus translated, from the
parish of Templemore, in the North-west Liberties of Londonderry, and it is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Londonderry," Sheet 13. '°5 See Maghtochair's "Inishowen: its
History, Traditions and Antiquities," chap, iv. , p. 23.
"° This townland is in the parish of I Templemore, North-western Liberties of
Londonderry. It is shown, on "Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of
original Irish, in Miss Cusack's Patrick :"—
''
Life of St.
" My blessing on the tuatha (territories) I give from Belach-ratha, OnyouthedescendantsofEoghan,
Until the Day of Judgment.
" Whilst plains are under crops,
The palm of battle shall be on their men,
The armies of Fail (Ireland) shall not be served, in tliat of Moyola, a river that
over your plains ;
Vou shall attack every tetach (tribe).
" The race of Eoghan, son of Niall,
Bless O fair Brigid !
Provided they do good,
Government shall be from them for ever.
"Theblessingofusboth Upon Eoghan Mac Ncill,
passes by Castledawson, and which flows into Lough Neagh, at its north-west point.
"
See Acts of Archbishop Colton in his
Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of
Derry," a. d. Mcccxcvil. ," edited by Rev. William Reeves. D. D. Additional Notes,
F. , n. (f), p. 120.
*" Colgan errs, when placing this territory
inKiennacht. SeeIndexTopographiaa,to
"
The townland of Elaghbeg, in the parish of Burt, and barony of Inishowen West, is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Donegal,"
Londonderry," Sheets 13, 14.
"' Tliis name is said to be partly pre-
Trias Thaumaturga," p. 715.
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 639
churches,"3 during seven weeks he spent about the River Fochaine, or Foch- muine, now the Faughan,"* a stream which flows, in a north-westerly
direction, into Lough Foyle. These churches are called respectively, in the Irish Tripartite Life, Domhnach-Dola,"5 or Domhnach Dula,"^ Domhnach- Simlis,"7 Domhnach-Dara,"^ Domhnach-Senchua,"9 Domhnach-Minch- luane,'2° Domhnach-Catte,'" and Both-Domhnaigh. '" Within the present counties of Derry and Tyrone, these churches seem to have been erected ; and, it is probable, if some of their denominations have become obsolete, others may yet survive, in corruptions of topography, or in popular tr3,ditions.
Then Patrick proceeded into Tir-Eoghain of the Islands, according to the IrishTripartite; but,itdoesnotappeartohavebeenaplace,distinctfrom
Inis-Eoghain. "3 AportionofthisterritorywasthengovernedbyFergus, who was the son of Eoghan. "* The holy Apostle there began to build a Disert,"S or to measure out church foundations, at a certain place, called Achadh-Driman,"^ or Achadh-Droman. "7 However, Coelbad, son of Fer- guss,"^ or of Eoghan, violently drove him thence ; and, St. Patrick said, in consequence thereof, at that place, his race should never have a goodly house
"3 Colgan could not find any account of
them, however, one only excepted, and, that obscure enough, called Badoney. Archdall might have passed this over, as a monastic erection, without swelling his " Monasticon Hibemicon " with it. Had such churches been really erected by St. Patrick, they would, in Dr. Lanigan's opinion, have been well known, and have been held in high estimation. See Rev. Dr.
Bodoney—both in the barony of Upper Strabane. The former is described, on the
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Tyrone," Sheets 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19. The latter is shown, on Sheets 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 26, 27, 28, ibid. The old church and cemetery of Bo- doney are situated, near the Glenelly River, in Glenrone townland, Upper Bodoney parish. In 932, Muireacan of this place was abbot or corbe of
as the King of Ireland.
"^ According to the Latin Tripartite.
"* So states the Latin Tripartite Life.
"^ There is a parish, known as Desert-
egny, in the barony of Inishowen West, and
it is marked, on the "Ordnance Survey
Tovraland Maps for the County of Donegal,"
Sheets 9, 10, 18, 19, 28, 29. It is question- able, however, if this be the place here
" Ecclesiastical
land," vol. i. , chap, vi. , sect, ii. , n. 13, p.
264.
"* It rises near the boundaries of Derry
and Tyrone Counties, among the Sperrin Mountains.
"5 This is omitted from the enumeration, as found in the Latin Tripartite Life. The site of this church has not been ascertained. Probably, it was near the Moyola.
"^ Among St. Patrick's domestics was
Lanigan's
History
of Ire-
Armagh. During that year, he crowned Aodh, son of Donnell,
" Satutus Beschna— proesbyter
de Domnach-
"
The name " Disert " is
merely
dala, Sacelianus. " Colgan's
maturga," Vita Tripartita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. xcviii. , p. 167.
"' The Latin Tripartite Life writes it, Domnach- Seinlis.
"' The Latin Tripartite Life has it, Dom- nach-Daire.
"9 In the Latin Tripartite, Domnach- Senchua.
"°
the It
Trias Thau-
designated.
an Irish form of Latin Desertum.
In the Latin Tripartite, Domnach-
Mionchluana. This is the old church of and, perhaps, the place here mentioned.
Clooney, in the parish of Clondermot, near Derry, mentioned in Rev. William Reeves'
"
Acts of Archbishop Colton in his Metro- politan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, A. D. Mcccxcvii. ," pp. 31, 32.
"' The Latin Tripartite has it, Domnach- Catha.
"' The Latin Tripartite writes it, Boith- Domnaich. This is now Bodoney, in the north of Tyrone County, and in the diocese of Derry. There are two parishes, bearing this name—viz. , Upper Bodoney and Lower
See Rev. William Reeves' "Acts of Arch- bishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of DeiTy, A. D. mcccxcvii. ," Additional Notes F. , nn. (k, 1), pp. 120, 121.
"7 So is it written, in the Latin Tripartite Life.
"^ Such is the relationship, as given, in the Latin Tripartite Life ; but, in the Irish version, Coedbad is called the son of
Eoghan.
'=? The Irish word, Eai, denotes a turbu*
primarily signified "a sequestered place,"
and it was afterwards applied to the church,
erected in such a spot j hence, it came to **
a hermitage. " As a prefix to the
signify
names of churches, it was exceedingly common.
"'^ So is it named, in the Irish Tripartite. There is a townland, called Magheradrum- man, in the parish of Donagh, in Inishowen,
640 Livns OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
to live in. The event proved the truth of this prediction ; for, Comman, son
of Algasach, sprung from the race of Coelbhadh, who was at Eas-mac-Eirc,^^9 wished to build a house there, but before he had the roof put on, it was
broken down, and destroyed, by a young cleric, belonging to the family or church of Dornhnach-mor's" of Maighe-Tochair. '3i But, Aedh,^32 ^ ^q^ j-q ^j^g
chief, felt greatly for the indignity, with which the Apostle had been treated,
accosted him, and earnestly besought him, to accept a site for the founding ofachurch,notfarfromthespotabandoned. Therewasneitherabanknor a wall, between that field and the aforesaid Achadh-Droman. This gift, St. Patrick gratefully accepted. There he erected Domhnach-mor-Maighe-To- chair,'33 built on a beautifully picturesque site. It commands a fine view of the most extensive plain in Inishowen, the Lough of Strabreagy, the high ridges of Malin and Croagh, Culduff Bay, and far off in the distance, on a clear day, are seen some of the elevated peaks of Scottish mountains. Be- side the old church stands a stone cross, more than six feet in height, hewn out of a solid stone block. It is ornamented with numerous scrolls and shamrocks. On each side of it, there is a square pillar, and on three sides be- longingtoeachofthesepillars,thefigureofahumanheadisengraved. Be- sides the head, the figure of a heart, surmounting it, is on that pillar, nearest to the public road. This old monument is thought to be of the eighth century. ^34 There, too, he remained for forty days, and he left Mac Cairthin in charge of it. ^35 He was distinct, it is said, from the patron saint of Clogher ; yet, the Rev. Dr. Lanigan remarks, tliat there is but one Maccarthen, or Carthen, on Tirechan's list. Ussher'^s had a Life of Maccarthen, Bishop of Clogher, whichdoesnotmention,thathehadabrothersimilarlycalled. '37 Yet,ithas been stated, that the Mac Cairthin, already named, was brother to that prelate, as well as his namesake. Too lightly, however, does Dr. Lanigan assume, the good people of that church in Inishowen wished, as he sup- poses, to claim the honour of its having been governed by so celebrated a prelate, and that the compilers of the Tripartite Life, finding this could not accord with the circumstance of correct biography, strove to introduce here a
lent waterfall, coming over steep rocks, and falling with great force into an abyss. Col-
gan identifies, by conjecture, the present
cataract—for others are similarly named in
Ireland—with one descending from the Patrick's Day. Here is still preserved the steeps of Sliabh-snechta, or " snowy moun- saint's penitential bed, and many other tain," and which falls into a little river,
running by Domnach-mor muighe-tochuir,
and into the ocean estuary of Traigh-brege,
in Inishowen.
'30 Now the parish of Donagh, and it is in
the barony of Inishowen East. It is noted, County of Donegal," pp. lo8, 109, A. D.
"
on the
for the County of Donegal," Sheets 4, 10, II, 19, 20, 21, 30.
'3' This plain lay within the parish, which
was also called Townaghglyntachyr, and Donaghclantagh. These denominations are
now decompounded, and preserved in common use, partly in Donagh, the paro-
chial name, and partly in Glentogher, other- wise, Carrowmore, an extensive mountainous
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
1802. 8vo.
tract therein. The old "OoihriAc 5tirine-cocAi]A.
in Irish, was
'37 See, "Acta Sanctorum also, Colgan's
Hibernia;," xxiv. Martii. De S. Macaer-
thenno, Epis. Clochorensi, pp. 738, 739, he is called the son of Fergus. The Latin where a fragment of St. Maccarthen's
Tripartite Life, however, makes him the ancient Life is introduced,
son of Coelbad. I^s Wliiig Colgan distinguishes two saints,
'3' According to the Irish Tripartite Life,
name,
'^s The place is probably not distinct from Domnachglenne Tochuir. "This is now a parish church in Inishowen, and remark- able for the great resort of pilgrims on St.
ancient monuments of that kind, fit objects for the devotion of the pilgrims. The church is near to Eas-mac-eirc, the—remarkable cataract of Sliabh Sneachta. " Dr. James M'Parian's "Statistical Survey of the
'34 " ggg^ Maghtochair's
Inishowen : its History, Traditions and Antiquities," chap.
iv. , pp. 23, 24.
'35 The celebrated Father John Colgan,
the Irish hagiographer, was a native of this parish, commonly called in his day, Dom- nach-glinne-tochuir. See " Trias Thauma- turga," n. 173, p. 181.
'36 ggg " Phmordia," cap. xvii. , p. 856.
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 641
second Maccarthen/38 as the well-known historic prelate,^39 thus named, was most probably too young to have been a bishop, at the period we are now engaged considering. '4° While St. Patrick was in that place, a certain bishop came to him, and this ecclesiastic belonged to the race of Corcu Theimne. He was attached to the little church of Toch,^4i supposed to be Cill Tog,'*^ of Ceara,''*3 or Carra district,^44 in the present county of Mayo. This district is now represented, by the modern barony of Cara. '^s Next, Patrick pro- ceeded from Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair, until he came to the limits of the Bredach, which is a small river in Inishowen, and which falls into Lough Foyle,atMaghbile. '-*^ TherehemetthreeDeachans,^''? orDeacons,thesons of Patrick's sister, in the country of Ailell, son of Eoghan. He ordained Oengus, or yEnguss,^'*8 the son of Ailell, in that place. He celebrated or re- mained there on a Sunday, and, therefore, it is thought, that it got the name of Domhnach-Bile, now Moville. ^49
When Patrick was in the territory of Enda,'so at Ailech-Airtich,^si Enda came to him, " Make to me a grant of this place," said Patrick. " As if we had no clerics of our own," said Enda. On the morrow, Enda came, and brought his son, Echu Caech,'S2 qj. u Echu the blind," with him. Patrick
so called, and the sons of Carthenn ; he, monastery, at this place. See vol. ii. , also, remarks, that there are two distinct "Bishops of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. festivals, referring to this name—one of 265, and "Monasticon Hibemicum," p.
these occurring on the 24th of March, and
the other on the 1 5th of August. He in-
clines to the opinion, that the patron of
Domnach-mor Muige-tochuir, whose proper
name does not seem to be known, was vene-
rated on the 24lh of March ; while, the
other, known as Aidus, and Bishop of Bearta, where there was an ancient chapel, Clogher, had his festival, on the 15th of near the castle, belonging to the noble August.
'39 St. Maccarthen, Bishop of Clogher, died about A. D. 506.
family of the O'Dogherties.
'*9 That this was not a proper name, but
" Ecclesiasti- cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vi. ,
sect, ii. , n. 14, p. 264.
rather the name of their Order, appears
'^° See Rev. Dr.
from the in the Latin
Lanigan's
adjunct, sive Diaconos. "
'''' It was in the of i is said to havebeen in region Temenrigi Eanna,
Ceru, and, as we are told, towards the setting of the sun.
'^ This church has not been identified.
Tirconneli, and between the two arms of the sea. Lough
Foyle and Lough Swilly. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xix. Feb- ruarii. De S. Baitheno Episcopo, n. 14, p. 370. Yet, this does not seem to have been the place alluded to, but rather Crich Enna Artech, " in Connacia," and to the north of
Cruachan Aigle, where Domnal was Bishoj^ of Aleach-mor. See " Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xviii. , xix. , p. 131.
'=' Here, as Colgan remarks, the author of the Tripartite Life inverts the order of
narrative, by relating the actions of the Maccarthenn already mentioned, which must have taken place, at a time, when, before or after this Inishowen visit, he had been in Connaught. The Irish Tripartite states,
'*3 A considerable amount of information, regarding this territory, will be found in John O'Donovan's "Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," at pp. 15, 16, 149 to 159, 184, et seq. , 204, 205, 286, et seq. , and Addenda, passim.
'" See the " Book of Armagh," fol. 15, as quoted, in Petrie's "History of Tara
"
Hill," in
Academy," vol. xviii. , p. 47.
Transactions of the Royal Irish
'^s See Miss Cusack's "Life of St. Patrick," p. 419, n. 7.
'^* The town of Moville, is in the parish
of Lower Moville, in the barony of Inish-
owen East, and it is shown on the " Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the Ailech Airtich was in Sonnacht.
County of Donegal," Sheets 21, 22.
'"^^ While, in Harris' Ware, St. Finian is made to be the founder of this church, in the sixth century ; more correctly has Archdall, left St. Patrick, as the founder—although he is not warranted, in making him erect a
'5- So is he called, in the Irish Tripartite.
"
103. The latter statement has been followed
in Dr. James M'Parlan's " Statistical Sur-
vey of the County of Donegal," pp. 116, 117, iiS.
'"•^ According to Colgan, he was vene- rated, on the 1 8th of February, at Druim
"
Tripartite, '5° The Cineal Eanna, or the race of
In the Latin version, he is named
cium, sive Eochanum, cognomento Luscum, qui quiescit in Inb/ier. " Colgan thinks, if he were numbeied among the saints, he may have been the Eochadius, suinamedUsneach
2S
EocJia-
642 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
had turned off to pray, and his people to baptize, to confer orders, and to propagate the Faith. The two Maccairthinns were there, at the time ; namely, he who was venerated at Clochar, now Clogher, in the county of
"
" thedegreeofbishopuponmyson,"saidEnda. "LetPatrickbeconsulted,"
Tyrone, and he who was at Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair.
Confer ye
It is our duty," said the " I will confer the order. " To this course, moreover, Maccarthenn of
said Patrick's champion, Maccairthinn of Clochar.
other
Clogher agreed. When St. Patrick heard of their proceeding on returning, he
said,
;
" You have conferred the
episcopal order,
in absence, on the son of my
the Wolf there shall be strife in the church of the one Maccarthenn for ;
ever, and there shall be poverty in the church of the other. " This prediction
was fulfilled; for, afterwards, there was strife at Clochair; while there was
povertyatthechurchofDomhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair. St. Patricklike-_
" Two persons shall profane the relics of that son, upon whom the degree was conferred, and that, too, after murder had been committed, by two robbers, who shall haunt the place. One hundred and twenty years must elapse, before a son of light^ss—born in southern parts—shall re-con- secratehischurch,anditshallberestoredtomeagain. " Thewholeofthis prophecy was fulfilled. The first place, where his relics were deposited, was ahighandbeautifulspot; but,theywerecarriedthence,afterashorttime,to a lower place. That first locality, where his relics were preserved, after some timewasdeserted; while,robbersandmurdererswereaccustomedtodwellin it, and this was attributed to St. Patrick's imprecation. And, accordingly, his church was ceded to Ciaran Mac-an-tsair,^54 but it was restored to Patrick again. AsPatrickwasinTir-EndaAirtech,atTalach-liag,'5sinLeiter,'56he struck wattles in the ground, with the intention of building a church there. But, these afterwards became a bush, or tree, from which leaves and branches sprouted. There happened to be three clerics there, in his company, of the same name, and he also made them equal in dignity, having consecrated them as bishops. The first of these was Domnaldus,^^? son to Crimthann, of
the Hill of Usuey, in Meath, where his in Connac's "Glossary," it is rendered, father had a property, and whose feast was leth tirim agtis leth flinch, or " half dry and celebrated, at the 1st of January. But, this 'half wet," p. 105. Edited by Whitley
wise said
:
conjecture is evidently destroyed, by the
statement, that his remains were at Inbher,
andtherearemanyplacessocalled, inIre-
land. This Echu, the son of Enda, was that there is a British saint of the latter afterwards known as Bishop Echan, ac-
cording to the Irish Tripartite Life.
'S3 Allusion is here made to St. Kieran,
patron of Clonmacnoise, whose feast is held
onthe9thofSeptember. Colganremarks,
that the present allusion has no reference to num.
"
Giraldus Cambrensis makes him
his birth, as this event took place, about A. D. 515; but, it rather means, that one
hundred and twenty years after the prophecy, the place in question, was to become the property of St. Kieran's successors.
other. They slept thus, and afterwards awoke, having a like form, and with "
Eoghan, my precedes form do you desire ? " asked Patrick.
is bearing your satchel," said Eugene.
the sole difference of the tonsure. I do not like my height," said Eoghan.
""
What size do you desire to be ? then enquired Patrick.
was of small stature, reached up his hand with his sword. ^9
'•'
Eoghan, who I should like
this height," said he. Then we are told, he immediately grew to the height
desired, and that he so continued, for the rest of his life. Patrick afterwards
blessed Eoghan, with his sons. " Which of your sons is dearest to you ? " ""
asked Patrick. Muiredhach," said the dynast. Sovereignty from him,9°
for
said the saint.
"
Fergus," man. "And
holy
" And next to him ? " asked Patrick.
after him ? then enquired Patrick. Eocha Bindech," replied Eoghan.
"Warriors from him," said Patrick. "And after him? " then asked our
""
saint. They are all alike to me," answered Eoghan. Therefore, they
shall have united love," said Patrick.
Patrick next went to Ailech of the Kings,9^ and which is now known as
Greenan-Ely, on a most elevated, commanding position, at the head of Loughs Foyle and Swilly. s^ Three concentric ramparts,93 of an irregular circular outline, but now greatly dilapidated, ascend above each other in successive terraces, to the crowning cashel, or keep of the old fortress. s* From
adopted, from the Irish Tripartite. In addition to the foregoing sentence, the Latin
Tripartite has, "sed quia extra patriam, earn amplexus, non ahos obtinebis obsides, quam quas manu forti et gladio evendica- bis. "
that St. Rioc was the nephew of St. Patrick, and a son of his
sister Darerca.
^5 Such is the account, in the Irish Tri-
partite Life. In the Latin version, it is stated, he held up a spear, and obtained the
Inishowen, See it shown, on the " Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Donegal," Sheet 47. On Sheet 55, to the south, we might probably trace tiie low lands, where a channel once con-
jiected Lough Foyle and Lough Swilly.
93 Within the outermost enclosure, on the
circularapexofthehill, 5Jacresarecon- I
;
»* The Ordnance Survey Memoir
its length.
9° This means, that the right of sove-
reignty was to be attached to his race.
views of its ground plan, and the galleries
within its ruined walls, as found in 1837,
with some sectional views, and admeasure-
9" Irish Ordnance " Me- ments. These measurements have been
See the Survey
moir of the City and North- Western Liber-
ties of Londonderry—," part ii. Ancient,
already made. A square-headed work appeared in 1 837, in royal 4to, with doorway enters the Cashel, as now restored,
This
fme local ground plans and engravings.
9' The Greenan stands on an elevation of S02 feet, and its whole ambit lay, within the
townlands of Carrowreagh, Speenoge and Toulett, in the parish of Burt, and barony of
has been
sect. 2. Antiquities Pagan, p. 217.
within the second, 4 acres ;
tained
the third, about I acre is found ; while, within the Cashel, there is about ^ acre of surface.
more accurately set forth, and in detail, by Dr. Bernard, in the paper, to which allusion
and three distinct platforms, ascended by means of side stone steps, are within the circle, which reaches interiorly, 77 feet 6
inches, in diameter, from wall to wall, as measured by Mr. Joseph P. Addey, who
within
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
637
the height it occupies, one of the most magnificent and extensive views in Ireland may be obtained. For many ages past, this fortress had been deserted,95andaheapofscatteredstonesonlymarkedthesite; but,oflate years, these have been collected, and have been placed,^^ so as to re-build
Interior view of Aileach Fort.
the great cahcr, on the lines of its original foundation, and according to a
style and an arrangement, supposed to be very closely resembling the early structure. Here, too, is pointed out a stone, called by the name of St. Columkille. i^7 It is thought to have been the former coronation stone of Aileach, and to have been that which St. Patrick blessed, when he accom- panied Prince Eoghan to his palace, over Lough Foyle. ? ^
At the period of our Apostle's visit, referred to about a. d. 442, it has
been stated, that E^oghan—Anglicised Owen—had lived about forty-seven years, in the old Castle of Aileach. 59 Then, St. Patrick blessed the fort, and
left his flag'°° there ; and, he prophesied, that kingship and pre-eminence
kindly furnished a liorizontal plan, and lateral sections. The illustration in the text
has been drawn, on the spot, also, by the same gentleman ; it has been transferred to the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and it was engraved by Mrs. Millard. At the highest part, the wall at present is about 17 feet 3 inches, in height, on an average while to suit the irregularities of ground, and to bring the top nearly on a level all around, the southern portion was raised a few feet higher than the northern. The widtk of this circular wall, at the base, averages above 13 feet. Several old roads, leading from the Greenan, can be traced aroundit, onthehill-sides.
Munster, at the head of a large southern army, demolished the Grianan of Aileach, in revenge for the demolition of Kincora, by Donnell Mac Loughlin, in A. D. 1088. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 934, 935, and 967 to 969.
5° This restoration has been effected, since 1S74, with great labour and expense, by Dr. Walter Bernard, of Londonderry.
'>^ Seeanaccountandengravingofit, in J. B. Doyle's "Tours in Ulster," chap, xv. , pp. 302, 303.
s^ This it thought to have been the Icac^ alluded to in the Irish Tripartite Life, as havingbeenleftatAileach.
95 In A. D. iioi, King Murtach O'Brien of
9' See Maghtochair's "Inishowen: its
;
638 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March i^ should be over Erinn from Aileach. " When you lift your foot out of your
"
the men of Erinn shall tremble before you. " He blessed the Island'"' of Enis-Eoghain —now formed into a peninsula—and the limits of which at present are
known, as the baronies of Inishowen, East'°* and West,'°3 in the County of Donegal. After this visit, our holy Apostle gave a blessing of valour to
Eoghan. '°< Among our Manuscript memorials,'°5 there is, likewise, an enumeration of the gifts bestowed by St. Patrick, on each of the sons of that
potentate. He imparted those blessings, from Belach-ratha, or " the road- rath," now known simply as Ballagh,'°^ in the barony of Inishowen East, and parish of Clonca, near Malin Head,'°7 the most northern part of Inishowen. Here are Malin holy well, and the ruins of a church, near the sea-shore, said to have been the erection of St. Patrick himself Eochaidh, the son of Fia- chra, son to Eoghan, was baptized with Eoghan. Patrick's covenant was madebetweenthem; and,itwasdecreed,thatwhosoeverdaredtotransgress it, should not have children born to him, and his body should not decom-
pose, in the clay.
Leaving Elagh,'°^ the holy man, it is stated,^°9 crossed the Foyle, at Cul-
more,"° to enter on a new field of labour. Immediately, St. Patrick went into Daigurt, or Dagart, in Magh Dula,""^ probably within the bounds of the present county of Derry. "^ He built there seven Domhnachs, or great
bed to the flag, and your successors after you," said Patrick,
History, Traditions and Antiquities," chap, iv. , p. 23.
'°°
This was probably a coronation stone, having this tradition attaching to it.
'"' Such most likely it was, in the days of St. Patrick, when the parted waters of the River Foyle entered the ocean on one side, by Lough Foyle, and on the other, by Lough Swilly.
On all who may be born from him, Provided they are obedient. "
'"5 In the Bookof Lecan, fol. 67, b. , col. I.
"^ It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Donegal," Sheet 4.
'°' The town of Malin will be found, on the same Sheet, but this extreme point lies much
the
"^ This distinctive
more Pococke's " northerly. Bishop
has noted a monastery, at Mawlin.
'°*
on Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Donegal," Sheets i, 2, 3,4,
5, 9, 10, II, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 30, 31. This district forms the extreme northern part of Ireland.
"
is
barony described,
Journal"
'°3 This distinctive portion of the old Sheets 38, 47 ; while Elaghmore is in the
territory is to be found, on Sheets 9, 10, 18, 19, 20, 28, 29, 30, 37, 38, 39, 46, 47.
'°* We have it thus translated, from the
parish of Templemore, in the North-west Liberties of Londonderry, and it is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Londonderry," Sheet 13. '°5 See Maghtochair's "Inishowen: its
History, Traditions and Antiquities," chap, iv. , p. 23.
"° This townland is in the parish of I Templemore, North-western Liberties of
Londonderry. It is shown, on "Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of
original Irish, in Miss Cusack's Patrick :"—
''
Life of St.
" My blessing on the tuatha (territories) I give from Belach-ratha, OnyouthedescendantsofEoghan,
Until the Day of Judgment.
" Whilst plains are under crops,
The palm of battle shall be on their men,
The armies of Fail (Ireland) shall not be served, in tliat of Moyola, a river that
over your plains ;
Vou shall attack every tetach (tribe).
" The race of Eoghan, son of Niall,
Bless O fair Brigid !
Provided they do good,
Government shall be from them for ever.
"Theblessingofusboth Upon Eoghan Mac Ncill,
passes by Castledawson, and which flows into Lough Neagh, at its north-west point.
"
See Acts of Archbishop Colton in his
Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of
Derry," a. d. Mcccxcvil. ," edited by Rev. William Reeves. D. D. Additional Notes,
F. , n. (f), p. 120.
*" Colgan errs, when placing this territory
inKiennacht. SeeIndexTopographiaa,to
"
The townland of Elaghbeg, in the parish of Burt, and barony of Inishowen West, is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Donegal,"
Londonderry," Sheets 13, 14.
"' Tliis name is said to be partly pre-
Trias Thaumaturga," p. 715.
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 639
churches,"3 during seven weeks he spent about the River Fochaine, or Foch- muine, now the Faughan,"* a stream which flows, in a north-westerly
direction, into Lough Foyle. These churches are called respectively, in the Irish Tripartite Life, Domhnach-Dola,"5 or Domhnach Dula,"^ Domhnach- Simlis,"7 Domhnach-Dara,"^ Domhnach-Senchua,"9 Domhnach-Minch- luane,'2° Domhnach-Catte,'" and Both-Domhnaigh. '" Within the present counties of Derry and Tyrone, these churches seem to have been erected ; and, it is probable, if some of their denominations have become obsolete, others may yet survive, in corruptions of topography, or in popular tr3,ditions.
Then Patrick proceeded into Tir-Eoghain of the Islands, according to the IrishTripartite; but,itdoesnotappeartohavebeenaplace,distinctfrom
Inis-Eoghain. "3 AportionofthisterritorywasthengovernedbyFergus, who was the son of Eoghan. "* The holy Apostle there began to build a Disert,"S or to measure out church foundations, at a certain place, called Achadh-Driman,"^ or Achadh-Droman. "7 However, Coelbad, son of Fer- guss,"^ or of Eoghan, violently drove him thence ; and, St. Patrick said, in consequence thereof, at that place, his race should never have a goodly house
"3 Colgan could not find any account of
them, however, one only excepted, and, that obscure enough, called Badoney. Archdall might have passed this over, as a monastic erection, without swelling his " Monasticon Hibemicon " with it. Had such churches been really erected by St. Patrick, they would, in Dr. Lanigan's opinion, have been well known, and have been held in high estimation. See Rev. Dr.
Bodoney—both in the barony of Upper Strabane. The former is described, on the
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Tyrone," Sheets 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19. The latter is shown, on Sheets 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 26, 27, 28, ibid. The old church and cemetery of Bo- doney are situated, near the Glenelly River, in Glenrone townland, Upper Bodoney parish. In 932, Muireacan of this place was abbot or corbe of
as the King of Ireland.
"^ According to the Latin Tripartite.
"* So states the Latin Tripartite Life.
"^ There is a parish, known as Desert-
egny, in the barony of Inishowen West, and
it is marked, on the "Ordnance Survey
Tovraland Maps for the County of Donegal,"
Sheets 9, 10, 18, 19, 28, 29. It is question- able, however, if this be the place here
" Ecclesiastical
land," vol. i. , chap, vi. , sect, ii. , n. 13, p.
264.
"* It rises near the boundaries of Derry
and Tyrone Counties, among the Sperrin Mountains.
"5 This is omitted from the enumeration, as found in the Latin Tripartite Life. The site of this church has not been ascertained. Probably, it was near the Moyola.
"^ Among St. Patrick's domestics was
Lanigan's
History
of Ire-
Armagh. During that year, he crowned Aodh, son of Donnell,
" Satutus Beschna— proesbyter
de Domnach-
"
The name " Disert " is
merely
dala, Sacelianus. " Colgan's
maturga," Vita Tripartita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. xcviii. , p. 167.
"' The Latin Tripartite Life writes it, Domnach- Seinlis.
"' The Latin Tripartite Life has it, Dom- nach-Daire.
"9 In the Latin Tripartite, Domnach- Senchua.
"°
the It
Trias Thau-
designated.
an Irish form of Latin Desertum.
In the Latin Tripartite, Domnach-
Mionchluana. This is the old church of and, perhaps, the place here mentioned.
Clooney, in the parish of Clondermot, near Derry, mentioned in Rev. William Reeves'
"
Acts of Archbishop Colton in his Metro- politan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, A. D. Mcccxcvii. ," pp. 31, 32.
"' The Latin Tripartite has it, Domnach- Catha.
"' The Latin Tripartite writes it, Boith- Domnaich. This is now Bodoney, in the north of Tyrone County, and in the diocese of Derry. There are two parishes, bearing this name—viz. , Upper Bodoney and Lower
See Rev. William Reeves' "Acts of Arch- bishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of DeiTy, A. D. mcccxcvii. ," Additional Notes F. , nn. (k, 1), pp. 120, 121.
"7 So is it written, in the Latin Tripartite Life.
"^ Such is the relationship, as given, in the Latin Tripartite Life ; but, in the Irish version, Coedbad is called the son of
Eoghan.
'=? The Irish word, Eai, denotes a turbu*
primarily signified "a sequestered place,"
and it was afterwards applied to the church,
erected in such a spot j hence, it came to **
a hermitage. " As a prefix to the
signify
names of churches, it was exceedingly common.
"'^ So is it named, in the Irish Tripartite. There is a townland, called Magheradrum- man, in the parish of Donagh, in Inishowen,
640 Livns OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
to live in. The event proved the truth of this prediction ; for, Comman, son
of Algasach, sprung from the race of Coelbhadh, who was at Eas-mac-Eirc,^^9 wished to build a house there, but before he had the roof put on, it was
broken down, and destroyed, by a young cleric, belonging to the family or church of Dornhnach-mor's" of Maighe-Tochair. '3i But, Aedh,^32 ^ ^q^ j-q ^j^g
chief, felt greatly for the indignity, with which the Apostle had been treated,
accosted him, and earnestly besought him, to accept a site for the founding ofachurch,notfarfromthespotabandoned. Therewasneitherabanknor a wall, between that field and the aforesaid Achadh-Droman. This gift, St. Patrick gratefully accepted. There he erected Domhnach-mor-Maighe-To- chair,'33 built on a beautifully picturesque site. It commands a fine view of the most extensive plain in Inishowen, the Lough of Strabreagy, the high ridges of Malin and Croagh, Culduff Bay, and far off in the distance, on a clear day, are seen some of the elevated peaks of Scottish mountains. Be- side the old church stands a stone cross, more than six feet in height, hewn out of a solid stone block. It is ornamented with numerous scrolls and shamrocks. On each side of it, there is a square pillar, and on three sides be- longingtoeachofthesepillars,thefigureofahumanheadisengraved. Be- sides the head, the figure of a heart, surmounting it, is on that pillar, nearest to the public road. This old monument is thought to be of the eighth century. ^34 There, too, he remained for forty days, and he left Mac Cairthin in charge of it. ^35 He was distinct, it is said, from the patron saint of Clogher ; yet, the Rev. Dr. Lanigan remarks, tliat there is but one Maccarthen, or Carthen, on Tirechan's list. Ussher'^s had a Life of Maccarthen, Bishop of Clogher, whichdoesnotmention,thathehadabrothersimilarlycalled. '37 Yet,ithas been stated, that the Mac Cairthin, already named, was brother to that prelate, as well as his namesake. Too lightly, however, does Dr. Lanigan assume, the good people of that church in Inishowen wished, as he sup- poses, to claim the honour of its having been governed by so celebrated a prelate, and that the compilers of the Tripartite Life, finding this could not accord with the circumstance of correct biography, strove to introduce here a
lent waterfall, coming over steep rocks, and falling with great force into an abyss. Col-
gan identifies, by conjecture, the present
cataract—for others are similarly named in
Ireland—with one descending from the Patrick's Day. Here is still preserved the steeps of Sliabh-snechta, or " snowy moun- saint's penitential bed, and many other tain," and which falls into a little river,
running by Domnach-mor muighe-tochuir,
and into the ocean estuary of Traigh-brege,
in Inishowen.
'30 Now the parish of Donagh, and it is in
the barony of Inishowen East. It is noted, County of Donegal," pp. lo8, 109, A. D.
"
on the
for the County of Donegal," Sheets 4, 10, II, 19, 20, 21, 30.
'3' This plain lay within the parish, which
was also called Townaghglyntachyr, and Donaghclantagh. These denominations are
now decompounded, and preserved in common use, partly in Donagh, the paro-
chial name, and partly in Glentogher, other- wise, Carrowmore, an extensive mountainous
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
1802. 8vo.
tract therein. The old "OoihriAc 5tirine-cocAi]A.
in Irish, was
'37 See, "Acta Sanctorum also, Colgan's
Hibernia;," xxiv. Martii. De S. Macaer-
thenno, Epis. Clochorensi, pp. 738, 739, he is called the son of Fergus. The Latin where a fragment of St. Maccarthen's
Tripartite Life, however, makes him the ancient Life is introduced,
son of Coelbad. I^s Wliiig Colgan distinguishes two saints,
'3' According to the Irish Tripartite Life,
name,
'^s The place is probably not distinct from Domnachglenne Tochuir. "This is now a parish church in Inishowen, and remark- able for the great resort of pilgrims on St.
ancient monuments of that kind, fit objects for the devotion of the pilgrims. The church is near to Eas-mac-eirc, the—remarkable cataract of Sliabh Sneachta. " Dr. James M'Parian's "Statistical Survey of the
'34 " ggg^ Maghtochair's
Inishowen : its History, Traditions and Antiquities," chap.
iv. , pp. 23, 24.
'35 The celebrated Father John Colgan,
the Irish hagiographer, was a native of this parish, commonly called in his day, Dom- nach-glinne-tochuir. See " Trias Thauma- turga," n. 173, p. 181.
'36 ggg " Phmordia," cap. xvii. , p. 856.
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 641
second Maccarthen/38 as the well-known historic prelate,^39 thus named, was most probably too young to have been a bishop, at the period we are now engaged considering. '4° While St. Patrick was in that place, a certain bishop came to him, and this ecclesiastic belonged to the race of Corcu Theimne. He was attached to the little church of Toch,^4i supposed to be Cill Tog,'*^ of Ceara,''*3 or Carra district,^44 in the present county of Mayo. This district is now represented, by the modern barony of Cara. '^s Next, Patrick pro- ceeded from Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair, until he came to the limits of the Bredach, which is a small river in Inishowen, and which falls into Lough Foyle,atMaghbile. '-*^ TherehemetthreeDeachans,^''? orDeacons,thesons of Patrick's sister, in the country of Ailell, son of Eoghan. He ordained Oengus, or yEnguss,^'*8 the son of Ailell, in that place. He celebrated or re- mained there on a Sunday, and, therefore, it is thought, that it got the name of Domhnach-Bile, now Moville. ^49
When Patrick was in the territory of Enda,'so at Ailech-Airtich,^si Enda came to him, " Make to me a grant of this place," said Patrick. " As if we had no clerics of our own," said Enda. On the morrow, Enda came, and brought his son, Echu Caech,'S2 qj. u Echu the blind," with him. Patrick
so called, and the sons of Carthenn ; he, monastery, at this place. See vol. ii. , also, remarks, that there are two distinct "Bishops of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. festivals, referring to this name—one of 265, and "Monasticon Hibemicum," p.
these occurring on the 24th of March, and
the other on the 1 5th of August. He in-
clines to the opinion, that the patron of
Domnach-mor Muige-tochuir, whose proper
name does not seem to be known, was vene-
rated on the 24lh of March ; while, the
other, known as Aidus, and Bishop of Bearta, where there was an ancient chapel, Clogher, had his festival, on the 15th of near the castle, belonging to the noble August.
'39 St. Maccarthen, Bishop of Clogher, died about A. D. 506.
family of the O'Dogherties.
'*9 That this was not a proper name, but
" Ecclesiasti- cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vi. ,
sect, ii. , n. 14, p. 264.
rather the name of their Order, appears
'^° See Rev. Dr.
from the in the Latin
Lanigan's
adjunct, sive Diaconos. "
'''' It was in the of i is said to havebeen in region Temenrigi Eanna,
Ceru, and, as we are told, towards the setting of the sun.
'^ This church has not been identified.
Tirconneli, and between the two arms of the sea. Lough
Foyle and Lough Swilly. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xix. Feb- ruarii. De S. Baitheno Episcopo, n. 14, p. 370. Yet, this does not seem to have been the place alluded to, but rather Crich Enna Artech, " in Connacia," and to the north of
Cruachan Aigle, where Domnal was Bishoj^ of Aleach-mor. See " Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xviii. , xix. , p. 131.
'=' Here, as Colgan remarks, the author of the Tripartite Life inverts the order of
narrative, by relating the actions of the Maccarthenn already mentioned, which must have taken place, at a time, when, before or after this Inishowen visit, he had been in Connaught. The Irish Tripartite states,
'*3 A considerable amount of information, regarding this territory, will be found in John O'Donovan's "Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," at pp. 15, 16, 149 to 159, 184, et seq. , 204, 205, 286, et seq. , and Addenda, passim.
'" See the " Book of Armagh," fol. 15, as quoted, in Petrie's "History of Tara
"
Hill," in
Academy," vol. xviii. , p. 47.
Transactions of the Royal Irish
'^s See Miss Cusack's "Life of St. Patrick," p. 419, n. 7.
'^* The town of Moville, is in the parish
of Lower Moville, in the barony of Inish-
owen East, and it is shown on the " Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the Ailech Airtich was in Sonnacht.
County of Donegal," Sheets 21, 22.
'"^^ While, in Harris' Ware, St. Finian is made to be the founder of this church, in the sixth century ; more correctly has Archdall, left St. Patrick, as the founder—although he is not warranted, in making him erect a
'5- So is he called, in the Irish Tripartite.
"
103. The latter statement has been followed
in Dr. James M'Parlan's " Statistical Sur-
vey of the County of Donegal," pp. 116, 117, iiS.
'"•^ According to Colgan, he was vene- rated, on the 1 8th of February, at Druim
"
Tripartite, '5° The Cineal Eanna, or the race of
In the Latin version, he is named
cium, sive Eochanum, cognomento Luscum, qui quiescit in Inb/ier. " Colgan thinks, if he were numbeied among the saints, he may have been the Eochadius, suinamedUsneach
2S
EocJia-
642 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
had turned off to pray, and his people to baptize, to confer orders, and to propagate the Faith. The two Maccairthinns were there, at the time ; namely, he who was venerated at Clochar, now Clogher, in the county of
"
" thedegreeofbishopuponmyson,"saidEnda. "LetPatrickbeconsulted,"
Tyrone, and he who was at Domhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair.
Confer ye
It is our duty," said the " I will confer the order. " To this course, moreover, Maccarthenn of
said Patrick's champion, Maccairthinn of Clochar.
other
Clogher agreed. When St. Patrick heard of their proceeding on returning, he
said,
;
" You have conferred the
episcopal order,
in absence, on the son of my
the Wolf there shall be strife in the church of the one Maccarthenn for ;
ever, and there shall be poverty in the church of the other. " This prediction
was fulfilled; for, afterwards, there was strife at Clochair; while there was
povertyatthechurchofDomhnach-mor-Maighe-Tochair. St. Patricklike-_
" Two persons shall profane the relics of that son, upon whom the degree was conferred, and that, too, after murder had been committed, by two robbers, who shall haunt the place. One hundred and twenty years must elapse, before a son of light^ss—born in southern parts—shall re-con- secratehischurch,anditshallberestoredtomeagain. " Thewholeofthis prophecy was fulfilled. The first place, where his relics were deposited, was ahighandbeautifulspot; but,theywerecarriedthence,afterashorttime,to a lower place. That first locality, where his relics were preserved, after some timewasdeserted; while,robbersandmurdererswereaccustomedtodwellin it, and this was attributed to St. Patrick's imprecation. And, accordingly, his church was ceded to Ciaran Mac-an-tsair,^54 but it was restored to Patrick again. AsPatrickwasinTir-EndaAirtech,atTalach-liag,'5sinLeiter,'56he struck wattles in the ground, with the intention of building a church there. But, these afterwards became a bush, or tree, from which leaves and branches sprouted. There happened to be three clerics there, in his company, of the same name, and he also made them equal in dignity, having consecrated them as bishops. The first of these was Domnaldus,^^? son to Crimthann, of
the Hill of Usuey, in Meath, where his in Connac's "Glossary," it is rendered, father had a property, and whose feast was leth tirim agtis leth flinch, or " half dry and celebrated, at the 1st of January. But, this 'half wet," p. 105. Edited by Whitley
wise said
:
conjecture is evidently destroyed, by the
statement, that his remains were at Inbher,
andtherearemanyplacessocalled, inIre-
land. This Echu, the son of Enda, was that there is a British saint of the latter afterwards known as Bishop Echan, ac-
cording to the Irish Tripartite Life.
'S3 Allusion is here made to St. Kieran,
patron of Clonmacnoise, whose feast is held
onthe9thofSeptember. Colganremarks,
that the present allusion has no reference to num.
"
Giraldus Cambrensis makes him
his birth, as this event took place, about A. D. 515; but, it rather means, that one
hundred and twenty years after the prophecy, the place in question, was to become the property of St. Kieran's successors.
