Here there is an old ruined church, the
quadrangular
nave of which is alone
tolerably perfect ; yet, the side-walls, north and south are much injured.
tolerably perfect ; yet, the side-walls, north and south are much injured.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
ii.
chap, xii,, sect, xi.
, n.
174, pp.
231, 232, and the Life of St.
Fintan of Clonenagh, at the lythofFeb- ruary.
Also, ibid.
^ chap, xiv.
, sect, ii.
, n.
17, pp.
305* 306.
reader is referred to St. Fintan's Life, chap,
i. , at the 17th of February.
I strongly suspect, that Cluainaith-
chin has been mistaken for Cluainedhnech
(Clonenagh). The Calendar of Cashel,
^
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
54, 55.
Article ii. — See "Acta Sanctorum
Hiberniae," xxi. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani, p. 385.
= See "Acta Sanctorum," tomusiii. , Feb- ruarii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 235.
3 Leamchuill was situated on the confines of Leix and Ui-duach territories, in Lein- ster.
* See Archdall's "Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 595, and note (b).
5
" Primus enim Abbas de
which mentions it, has not F. Corach at Clonenagh ; and vice versa in most of those, that have Clonenagh, we do not find Cluain- aithchin. In this hypothesis the difficulty arising from placing him at Clonenagh will
Colgan says : Cluaineidhnech,"&c.
^ By Sir James Ware.
—Dr. " Ecclesiastica disappear. " Lanigan's
7
See his Life,
at the 20th of October.
^
^ See his Life, already given, at the 17th of the present month. He is thought to
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, ii. , n. 18, p. 306.
^^ It is related, that when he first set out on his travels for Connaught, his monks
have died before A. D.
9 See
Colgan's
590.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Appendix, cap. iv,, p. 356. '° "
" For a fuller account of this place, the
'^ "
2U
65S LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February21
least, that he was buried, at this latter place. It is said, that our saint dis- charged the double office of Abbot and Bishop, over the monastery and see of Clonfert. ^4 Our Fintan became bishop, it has been supposed, after the death of Moenninnius. ^5 Nevertheless, Dr. Lanigan does not assert, that our saint was his immediate successor. ^^ to the same he
According authority, followed St. Brendan,'7 as Abbot ;'^ and, our saint was afterwards succeeded at
Clonfert,'9 by the Abbots, Colman, the son of Comgall, and by Senach Garbh. *° The Scholiast on St. ^ngus seems to intimate, that Fintan and his two suc-
cessors were — to the Order of St.
"
we do not read about any other community of monks, in this age, thus dis-
monks, belonging Benedict, called, nigri Domini"" apparently in allusion to their black habits
and,
were no Benedictines then in
1 6th of May.
Ordres Monastiques, Religieux et Militaires,
et des Congregations seculieres de Tun et de
I'autre sexe, qui ont ete etablies jusqu' k
present ; contenant leur origine, leur founda-
tion, leur progres, les evenemens les plus
considerables qui y sont arrives ; la deca-
dence des uns et leur suppression ; I'agran-
dissement des autres, par le moien des
differentes Reformes qui y ont ete introdui-
tes les vies de leurs Fondateurs et de leurs :
Reformateurs : avec des Figures qui repre- sentent tous les differens habillemens de ces OrdresetdecesCongregations. " Tomev. ,
part iv. , chap, ii. , p. 12.
=''* The first mention of black monks, in
England, occurs in the deed of King Ethel- bald for the Monastery of Croyland, A. D.
"
Historia," pp. 2 to 4. Gale's "Rerum Anglicarum Scriptorum
Veterum," tomus i.
=5 Thus, we find Irish Dubks, Latinized
in
'8
^GQtbid. , n. 6, p. 385.
'9 See Harris' vol. Ware,
Clonfert," p. 638.
i. ,
*' of Bishops
'°
Such, according to Colgan, is the state-
ment of the Scholiast on dingus, or rather
that of ^ngus himself, in comments affixed
to his Festilogy, at the 21st of February.
'*
Fintanus Corach, Senachus Garbh, &c,, Colmanus amicabilis filius Comgelli erant tres nigri Domini, successive unus post
Thus,
alterum, in eadem Abbatia succedentes. " '*
See Acta Sanctorum Hibernia;," xxi. Februarii, n. 7, p. 385.
^^ A Scholiast on St. that ^Engus says,
"nigri,"
English "swarthy persons;"
;
Colgan explains the foregoing words, as an But, he ought to have known, that there
nor in ^^ and that the black England,
tinguished by their garments. allusion to the Benedictine liabit.
the Scholiast on St. ^ngus, who uses those expressions, meant in that passage the colour of a religious dress, he must have written at a time when such colour became peculiar to some monks, in Ireland, perhaps as late as the eleventh century ; and, he supposed, that the then practice had been also that of the ancients. Perhaps, Dr. Lanigan urges, he alluded not to the habit, but to the colour of those persons' skins, as having been of a blackish hue. Nothing was more usual in Ireland, than to denominate men from their
"
Ireland,
habit was not prescribed to that order anywhere,^3 at that early period. ^+ If
complexion. ^5 But, the phrase,
domini," seems to indicate the Benedictine
murmured, but were consoled when he pro- mised in the name of God, or gave them a security, that dead or alive his body should
"
return to them. See Acta Sanctorum
Hibernise," xxi. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani,
p. 385.
'* Dr. Lanigan remarks: "The only
authority I can find for making Fintan Corach predecessor at Clonfert of Senach
and Colman is Aengus Kalideus, or rathei", I think (ahhough Colgan is of a different opinion), a later scholiast on Aengus. He does not call them bishops ; yet, as Fintan was one, it is probable that so were the two latter, who are omitted by Ware, but men- tioned by Harris (at Clonfert). "—" Eccle- . siastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. xiv. , sect, ii. , n. 22, p. 306.
*5 The feast of St. Moennennius or Moi-
nennus occurs, on the ist of March.
'^ "
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nias," xxi. Februarii, n, 5, p. 385.
'' The feast of St. Brendan is kept, on the
Fintan, Senach and Colman were three black Doms, " tres nigri Domini. "
^^
Thus, William of Malmesbury writes, that Wilfrid, Bishop of York, was the first, who established the true mode of celebrating the Pasch in Northumbria, the Scots being
ejected, who introduced Antiphonaries into the Church music, and who brought the Benedictine Rule among the monks of his diocese. See "De Gestis Pontificum Ang- lorum," lib. iii.
=^3
"
Saint Benoit n' a rien determine sur
la couleur de I'habillement ; mais il paroit
par d'anciennes peintures que la robe que
les anciens Benedictins pori—oient etoit blan- "
che, et le scapulaire noir. " Histoire des
716. See Ingulfs
as are they
February 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 659
Order, the members of which, as also some other monks, began, in the middle
ages, to be distinguished from those of the mendicant orders, by the title, ""
Dominiis," contracted into Domnus. "^'^ It is thought very probable, that the Scholiast's intention was to exhibit Fintan, and his companions, as Bene- dictines, in which case we may suppose, that the writer belonged to that order. ^7 However, these conjectures of Dr. Lanigan are crude, and by no means conclusive, for the establishment of some opinions. In the first place,
*'
tres nigri Domini," should be referable to the complexions of three successive Abbots ; it would seem applicable solely to their habits. Secondly, why suppose a Benedictine monk capable of a downright forgery, even to procure a doubtful addition to the renown of his order ? Thirdly, is it not more probable, Colgan was correct in his opinion, as to the authorship of a passage in the MS. before him, than Dr. Lanigan, who did not see the original ? Again, if the commentary had been a pro- duction of Maguire, or the Scholiast on ^ngus, was the Dean of Cl®gher and the Canon of Armagh, or, whoever the writer had been, a Benedictine ? It
is said, that St. Fintan acquired the surname, Corach, either on account of
his continual charge of place and residence ; or, because of a promise, given
^ tohisbrethren,thatheshouldreturntoClonenaghf or,perhaps,because
of his melodious voice, by which he was distinguished for exactitude and de- votion, whereby he performed sacred chaunts in celebrating Divine praises. This he did, at the margin of a fountain, according to St. ^ngus. The word
"
it is not likely, that the phrase,
Corach, in the Irish idiom, signifies, under different respects, the ""
volatile,"
the giver of a promise," or the melodious. " It is said, our saint also in-
troduced, among his monks, a new style for singing psalms and sacred canti-
cles. ^9 In the discharge of different duties and religious pursuits, St. ^Engus
declares he prolonged life, to the unusual term of one hundred and thirty
years. 3° The exact date of his death is not known ; but, it is a conjecture
of Colgan, that he flourished, about the end of the sixth century. s^ Our
Martyrologists place his festival, at the 21st of February; thus, St. ^ngus
"
the Culdee in his
of Donegal,34 Duald Mac Firbis,35 enter Fintann Corach. In the ancient
Feilire,"32 the Martyrology of Tallagh,33 the Martyrology Martyrology of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Dublin,36 t—he
festival of St. —
Fintan, Confessor, occurs,
at the ix. of the Kalends of March
2 1 St of February although it is not in the prefixed Calendar. Even, —
at the ix. of the March Kalends whichisthe21stofFebruary theKalendarofDrummondrelates,thatthe Natalis of St. Fintan was celebrated on this day, in Ireland. 37 A consider-
Scotland, he was reverenced. —Thus,
•
The calling of Findtan the right* eous
"Post contemptum mundi. "
On the appropriate feast, with
fervour,
Of Virilus [and] Jucundus.
33 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
34 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
54, 55.
and again i^/««j, "whites," or, "fair-corn- plexionecj. "
^^
It is changed by the French into Dom, such as in the cases, Dom Mabillon, Dom Montfaucon, &c.
^7 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, ii. , n. 22, pp. 306, 307,
^^ The Calendar of Cashel assigns this as
the particular reason for his acquiring the name, Corach.
^9 This Maguire indicates, with hesitancy, n his Martyrology, at the 2 1st of February.
3° At the 2 1st of February.
3'
According to Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Bishops of Clonfert. "
C. ioc. kl. Co5Ai|\m priDCAin cIio^ai^
po]^c concempcuTn tnuiToi 1 -peiL CAin coLIahtoi
Ui|\uli 1iicutToi.
"
3^ The following stanza, extracted from to William M. Hennessy. There are three
the " Leabhar Breac "
copy,
has been fur-
the name
places having Loughill, respec-
in the of
tively parishes Abbeyleix, Queen's
County,
with its fessor O'Looney
Englishtranslation, by —
Pro-
nished,
3S At Lowhill, Queen's County, according
and of
Attanagh, and of Rosconnell,
in
66o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 21.
able share of doubt appears to have existed among writers, respecting the
place of his death and sepulture. Leamchuill,3^ now Loughill,39 or Lowhill, Cluain-aithchin, Clonenaghj-^^ and Clonfert or Clonfert Brendain/* are seve- rally named by our Martyrologists, in connection with the anouncement of his festival, or of his departure,^^ or of the place where his remains had been deposited. It may be supposed, that our saint died towards the close of the sixth, or during some earlier part of the seventh, century : his immediate suc-
cessor, in the Monastery of Clonfert, having departed this life, in the year 62o. '*3 Yet, it may admit of question, if the Clonfert, with which our saint
was connected, might have been Clonfert Molua, in the Queen's County, rather than the well-known Connaught locality.
Article III. —St. Cronan, of Cill Beg, or Kilbeg. We find Cronan Cille Bicci, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 21st of February. Where " the little church," to which he had been attached, was situated, can hardly be determined with accuracy. There is a parish of Kilbeg, in the barony of Lower Kells, county of Meath. =* In the county of Kildare, barony of Clane, and parish of Killybegs, there is a townland, also, bearing the latter name. 3
Killybeggs Old Church, County Kildare.
Here there is an old ruined church, the quadrangular nave of which is alone
tolerably perfect ; yet, the side-walls, north and south are much injured. In the end-wall is a beautiful mullioned two-ope window, of small size. The
in the barony of Fassadinin, and county of 39 Said to be Loughill, near Ballynakill, '*
Kilkenny. See General Alphabetical In- in the ancient territory of Idough, by Rev.
dex to the Townlands, and Towns, Parishes, and Baronies of Ireland," p. 673.
3^ See edition of John Clarke Crosthwaite
John S. Shearman.
*° See the Martyrologies of Tallagh and of Donegal, as also Duald Mac Firbis.
and Rev. Dr. Todd. and p. 90.
37
See Bishop Forbes' Scottish Saints," p. 5.
See the "Martyrology of Donegal,"
Introduction, p. Ivi.
"
*^ See " of the Proceedings
Kalendars
of
Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part
3^ See the "Martyrology of Tallagh," i. , pp. 100, loi. Also, pp. 1 16, 117.
and Duald Mac Firbis. 3 ''The Age of Christ, 620. The tenth
*'
and Duald Mac Firbis.
Royal
February 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 661
two extreme gables yet stand ; and from one to the other, the measurement
interiorly is 62 feet 6 inches : the nave in width was 18 feet 4 inches ; and
the walls were about 2 feet 8 inches in thickness. Within a high oval breast-
work —the old is elevated above the surround- fence, graveyard considerably
ing levels generally a mark of remote antiquity, especially in rural districts.
The cemetery is still much used. * On one side are the fine old trees of
Killybeggs Demesne, and a rookery in the top branches lends an additional
feature of melancholy to the spot, which is often disturbed by the flitting and
unmusical cawings of the crows. There is a parish of Upper Killybegs,s in
the barony of Banagh, as also, a parish of Lower Killybegs,^ in the baronies
of Banagh and Boylagh, county of Donegal. Of townlands, there are two
Killybegs : one in the parish of Inch, and the other in that of Kilgorman,
both in the barony of Corey, and county of Wexford. 7 There is a Killybeg
townland, in the parish of Donoughmore, barony of Upper Talbotstown, and
county of Wicklow f as, also, a Killybeg, in the parish of Inishmacsaint, in
the barony of Magheraboy, and county of Fermanagh. 9 There are a very great number of townlands, denominated Kilbeg, in various counties of
Ireland. Thus, in Cork county, there is a Kilbeg,^° in the parish of Ighter- murragh, and barony of Imokilly, as also one," in the parish of Tracton, and
barony of Kinalea, as also one'"" in the parish of Kilfaughnabeg, and barony of East Carbery. There is likewise a Kilbeg North and a Kilbeg South,'3
in the parish of Kilbrogan, barony of Kinalmeaky. There is a Kilbeg,''^ in theparishofKilcar,baronyofBanagh,andcountyofDonegal. InCalway county, there is a Kilbeg, ^^ in the parish of Templetogher, barony of Bally- moe ; a Kilbeg,'^ in the parish of Cargin, barony of Clare ; a Kilbeg,^7 in the parish of Abbeygormacan, and barony of Longford ; a Kilbeg,'^ in the parish of Killinan, in the barony of Loughrea ; as also a Kilbeg,'9 in the parish of Moylough, and barony of Tiaquin. There is also a Kilbeg Lo\ver^° in the parish and barony of Ross, and a Kilbeg Upper,^' in the same parish and barony. ThereisaKilbeg,^^intheparishofBallybrackan,baronyofOffaly West, and county of Kildare. There is a Kilbeg,23 in the parish of Geashill, barony of Upper Philipstown, and King's County. There is a Kilbeg,^* in
year of Suibhne. Seanach Garbh, Abbot for the County of Wicklow," Sheet 27.
o—f Cluain-fearta-Breanainn [Clonfert], died. " ^ See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four for the County of Fermanagh," Sheets
Masters," vol. i. ,—pp. 242, 243.
Article hi. ^Edited by Rev. Dr.
8, 13.
^°
See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," Sheet 77*
Kelly, p. xvi.
^ " ^'
It is defined on the Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Meath," Sheets 5, 11, The townland proper is divided into Upper and Lower Kilbeg.
3 The parish is defined on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kildare," Sheets 13, 14; while the town-
See ibid. . Sheets 99, 113.
" See ibid. , Sheets 134, 142, 143.
^^3 See ? ^/a'. , Sheets 96, lio.
'"* See " (Jrdnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Donegal," Sheet 96. ^5 j^ee "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Galway," Sheet I.
land is on Sheet proper
'° See
'^ '^QQibid. ,
^^
See ibid. ,
^'> See ibid. . Sheets 59, 72.
^° See ibid. , Sheet 27.
^' See ibid. . Sheets 26, 27.
"See "Ordnance Survey Townland
13.
"•The accompanying drawing, taken in
Sheet
Sheet 107. Sheets 115, 124.
April, 1874, by the writer, has been trans- ferred to the wood by William F. Wake- man, and engraved by Mrs. Millard.
s This is defined on the " Ordnance Sur-
veyTownlandMapsfortheCountyofDone-
gal," Sheets 82, 91, 92, 97. Killybegs townland and town are on the latter Slieet.
Maps for the County of Kildare," Sheets 26, 27.
^ This is described on 82, 83, ibid.
Sheets, 73, 74, 75,
^3 ^jee " Ordnance Townland Survey
7 See
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
Maps for the King's County," Sheets 26, 27. ^"^ See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the Queen's County," Sheet 22.
*5 See "Ordnance Survey Townland
for the County of Wexford," Sheet 3. ^"
See Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
ibid. .
55.
662 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February21,
the parish of Aghaboe, in the barony of Clandonagh, and Queen's County. There is a Kilbegj^'s in the parish of Kilglass, barony of Ballintober North, and county of Roscommon. In Tipperary County, there is a Kilbeg*^ in the parishofToem,andbaronyofUpperKilnamanagh; aKilbeg,^? intheparish ofFinnoe,andbaronyofLowerOrmond; asalsoaKilbeg,'^^intheparishof Shanrahan, and barony of Iffa and Offa West. In the barony of Decies without Drum, Waterford County, there is a Kilbeg,'^9 in Clonea parish, as also a Kilbeg,3° in Kilbarrymeaden parish. In the parish of Tallow, and barony of Coshmore and Coshbride, there is also a Lower Kilbeg and an Upper Kilbeg. 3^ There is a Kilbeg, 3^ in the parish of Ardnurcher or Horse- leap, in the barony of Moycashel, and county of Westmeath. There is a Kilbeg,33 in the parish of Boystown, barony of LoAver Talbotstown, and county of Wicklow. In the parish of Valencia, barony of Iveragh, and county of Kerry, there is a Kilbeg East, and a Kilbeg West. 34 In the county of Limerick, there is a Kilbeg East, as also a Kilbeg West,35 in the parish of Ballingarry, and barony of Upper Connello. In the parish and county of Antrim, there is a Kilbegs,^^ in the barony of Upper Toome. The foregoing denominations must probably include the changed form of the presentsaint'sformerplace; but,withoutsomelocaltraditionofapatternor saint's day corresponding, it would not be possible to decide on any one spot. In conclusion, we find Cronan, of Cill Beg, is set down in the Mar- tyrology of Donegal,37 as being venerated on this day.
Article IV. —Reputed Festival of St. Cedd, Abbot of Lestingen, England. In a Manuscript Kalendar of the Benedictine Order, St. Cedd, brother to Bishop Cedd,^ and who was Abbot of Lestingen,' is set down at this date. Yet, he followed not the Benedictine, but rather the Irish, rite, prevailing at Lindisfarne. 3 Lestingen was granted to him by Edilbald,'* King of the Deiri. The reader is referred to the 7th day of January, where this saint's Life may be found.
Article V. —Reputed Festival of St. Chuniald. St. Chuniald is said^ to have been one of St. Rupert's companions, and to have been vene- rated, on this day, in Scotia. The Bollandists refer consideration of him to St. Rupert's Acts, at the 27th of March, although alluding to him, at this date,=* as also, relegating him, to the 24th of September.
Mapsfor the County of Roscommon," Sheet
24.
''^ See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Tipperary," Sheets 50, 51.
=7 See ibid. , Sheet 9.
=8
See ibid. , Sheets 81, 87.
=9 See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Limerick," Sheet
30.
36 See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Antrim," Sheets 49,
50-
37 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
54, 55.
Article iv. — The Manuscript
^ has Maps fortlie County of Waterford," Sheet "fratris Ji. Eraddi," but this must have
31.
been the error of some scribe.
' has "Len The Manuscript incorrectly
tingen. " 3SeetheBollandists'"ActaSanctorum
tomus iii. , February xxi. Among the pre- termitted saints, p. 233.
4 He was so—n to St. Oswald.
'
Articlk v. By David Camerarius.
" See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Feb- ruarii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 235. —' "
3° Sheet See ibid. .
25. 3' See ibid. . Sheet 33.
32See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Westmeath," Sheets
31,37.
33 See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Wicklow," Sheets 5, 10.
34 See " Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Kerry," Sheet 79.
35 See "Ordnance Survey Townland Article vi. In Menologium Bene-
February 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 663
Article VI. —St. Ursin or Ursicinus, a Monk, in France. Buce-
lin^ has a festival, at this date, for St. Ursin or Ursicinus, an Irish monk, of
Luxeu, among the Vosges mountains, in the east of France. Yet, this seems to be attributable to the fact, that he was a companion of St. German, an Abbot, and a Martyr, of Grandal, whose feast also falls on the 21st of Feb- ruary. ^ Notices of St. Ursin will be found, on the 20th of December.
Article VII. —Reputed Festival of St. Gildas the Wise. In his Benedictine Kalendar, Dorganus notes St. Gildas the Wise, at this day, and we are told, moreover, he was renowned for miracles, even so flir as raising the dead to life. ^ At the 29th of January, his Life has been already given.
Ctoentp-'^^ronU jaap of jf^iruarg^
ARTICLE I. —ST. MOEL-BRIGID, OR BRIGIDANUS, ABBOT OF DERRY AND PRIMATE OF ARMAGH.
[NINTH AND TENTH CENTURIES. ^
THE
truly great men of this world are those, who happily influence the countries and times in which live. has an account of
they Colgan
Moel-Brigid, at this date,^ and the BoUandists^ have briefer notices. This
distinguished saint was son to Tornan,^ who was descended Hneally, and the twelfth in generation, from Conall Gulban. -^ Marianus O'Gormans afid the MartyrologyofDonegal^writeoursaint'sfather,Dornan. Hewasthusof the same royal stock as St. Columkille himself. 7 The mother of Moel- Brigid was Soerlathia, daughter to Culebaith, and she was also of noble
birth. ^ The name to him given
signifies
" the servant of or " the Brigid,"
dictinum. " In fol, Verdkirchii, A. D, 1655. gan, son of Conall Gulban, chap. i.
^ See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum," ^ From him Tyr-connall derives its name,
tomus iii. , February xxi. Among the pre- and he was son to King Niall the Great,
termitted "DeSane- s See "ActaSanctorumHiber- saints, p. 235.
reader is referred to St. Fintan's Life, chap,
i. , at the 17th of February.
I strongly suspect, that Cluainaith-
chin has been mistaken for Cluainedhnech
(Clonenagh). The Calendar of Cashel,
^
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
54, 55.
Article ii. — See "Acta Sanctorum
Hiberniae," xxi. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani, p. 385.
= See "Acta Sanctorum," tomusiii. , Feb- ruarii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 235.
3 Leamchuill was situated on the confines of Leix and Ui-duach territories, in Lein- ster.
* See Archdall's "Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 595, and note (b).
5
" Primus enim Abbas de
which mentions it, has not F. Corach at Clonenagh ; and vice versa in most of those, that have Clonenagh, we do not find Cluain- aithchin. In this hypothesis the difficulty arising from placing him at Clonenagh will
Colgan says : Cluaineidhnech,"&c.
^ By Sir James Ware.
—Dr. " Ecclesiastica disappear. " Lanigan's
7
See his Life,
at the 20th of October.
^
^ See his Life, already given, at the 17th of the present month. He is thought to
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, ii. , n. 18, p. 306.
^^ It is related, that when he first set out on his travels for Connaught, his monks
have died before A. D.
9 See
Colgan's
590.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Appendix, cap. iv,, p. 356. '° "
" For a fuller account of this place, the
'^ "
2U
65S LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February21
least, that he was buried, at this latter place. It is said, that our saint dis- charged the double office of Abbot and Bishop, over the monastery and see of Clonfert. ^4 Our Fintan became bishop, it has been supposed, after the death of Moenninnius. ^5 Nevertheless, Dr. Lanigan does not assert, that our saint was his immediate successor. ^^ to the same he
According authority, followed St. Brendan,'7 as Abbot ;'^ and, our saint was afterwards succeeded at
Clonfert,'9 by the Abbots, Colman, the son of Comgall, and by Senach Garbh. *° The Scholiast on St. ^ngus seems to intimate, that Fintan and his two suc-
cessors were — to the Order of St.
"
we do not read about any other community of monks, in this age, thus dis-
monks, belonging Benedict, called, nigri Domini"" apparently in allusion to their black habits
and,
were no Benedictines then in
1 6th of May.
Ordres Monastiques, Religieux et Militaires,
et des Congregations seculieres de Tun et de
I'autre sexe, qui ont ete etablies jusqu' k
present ; contenant leur origine, leur founda-
tion, leur progres, les evenemens les plus
considerables qui y sont arrives ; la deca-
dence des uns et leur suppression ; I'agran-
dissement des autres, par le moien des
differentes Reformes qui y ont ete introdui-
tes les vies de leurs Fondateurs et de leurs :
Reformateurs : avec des Figures qui repre- sentent tous les differens habillemens de ces OrdresetdecesCongregations. " Tomev. ,
part iv. , chap, ii. , p. 12.
=''* The first mention of black monks, in
England, occurs in the deed of King Ethel- bald for the Monastery of Croyland, A. D.
"
Historia," pp. 2 to 4. Gale's "Rerum Anglicarum Scriptorum
Veterum," tomus i.
=5 Thus, we find Irish Dubks, Latinized
in
'8
^GQtbid. , n. 6, p. 385.
'9 See Harris' vol. Ware,
Clonfert," p. 638.
i. ,
*' of Bishops
'°
Such, according to Colgan, is the state-
ment of the Scholiast on dingus, or rather
that of ^ngus himself, in comments affixed
to his Festilogy, at the 21st of February.
'*
Fintanus Corach, Senachus Garbh, &c,, Colmanus amicabilis filius Comgelli erant tres nigri Domini, successive unus post
Thus,
alterum, in eadem Abbatia succedentes. " '*
See Acta Sanctorum Hibernia;," xxi. Februarii, n. 7, p. 385.
^^ A Scholiast on St. that ^Engus says,
"nigri,"
English "swarthy persons;"
;
Colgan explains the foregoing words, as an But, he ought to have known, that there
nor in ^^ and that the black England,
tinguished by their garments. allusion to the Benedictine liabit.
the Scholiast on St. ^ngus, who uses those expressions, meant in that passage the colour of a religious dress, he must have written at a time when such colour became peculiar to some monks, in Ireland, perhaps as late as the eleventh century ; and, he supposed, that the then practice had been also that of the ancients. Perhaps, Dr. Lanigan urges, he alluded not to the habit, but to the colour of those persons' skins, as having been of a blackish hue. Nothing was more usual in Ireland, than to denominate men from their
"
Ireland,
habit was not prescribed to that order anywhere,^3 at that early period. ^+ If
complexion. ^5 But, the phrase,
domini," seems to indicate the Benedictine
murmured, but were consoled when he pro- mised in the name of God, or gave them a security, that dead or alive his body should
"
return to them. See Acta Sanctorum
Hibernise," xxi. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani,
p. 385.
'* Dr. Lanigan remarks: "The only
authority I can find for making Fintan Corach predecessor at Clonfert of Senach
and Colman is Aengus Kalideus, or rathei", I think (ahhough Colgan is of a different opinion), a later scholiast on Aengus. He does not call them bishops ; yet, as Fintan was one, it is probable that so were the two latter, who are omitted by Ware, but men- tioned by Harris (at Clonfert). "—" Eccle- . siastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. xiv. , sect, ii. , n. 22, p. 306.
*5 The feast of St. Moennennius or Moi-
nennus occurs, on the ist of March.
'^ "
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nias," xxi. Februarii, n, 5, p. 385.
'' The feast of St. Brendan is kept, on the
Fintan, Senach and Colman were three black Doms, " tres nigri Domini. "
^^
Thus, William of Malmesbury writes, that Wilfrid, Bishop of York, was the first, who established the true mode of celebrating the Pasch in Northumbria, the Scots being
ejected, who introduced Antiphonaries into the Church music, and who brought the Benedictine Rule among the monks of his diocese. See "De Gestis Pontificum Ang- lorum," lib. iii.
=^3
"
Saint Benoit n' a rien determine sur
la couleur de I'habillement ; mais il paroit
par d'anciennes peintures que la robe que
les anciens Benedictins pori—oient etoit blan- "
che, et le scapulaire noir. " Histoire des
716. See Ingulfs
as are they
February 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 659
Order, the members of which, as also some other monks, began, in the middle
ages, to be distinguished from those of the mendicant orders, by the title, ""
Dominiis," contracted into Domnus. "^'^ It is thought very probable, that the Scholiast's intention was to exhibit Fintan, and his companions, as Bene- dictines, in which case we may suppose, that the writer belonged to that order. ^7 However, these conjectures of Dr. Lanigan are crude, and by no means conclusive, for the establishment of some opinions. In the first place,
*'
tres nigri Domini," should be referable to the complexions of three successive Abbots ; it would seem applicable solely to their habits. Secondly, why suppose a Benedictine monk capable of a downright forgery, even to procure a doubtful addition to the renown of his order ? Thirdly, is it not more probable, Colgan was correct in his opinion, as to the authorship of a passage in the MS. before him, than Dr. Lanigan, who did not see the original ? Again, if the commentary had been a pro- duction of Maguire, or the Scholiast on ^ngus, was the Dean of Cl®gher and the Canon of Armagh, or, whoever the writer had been, a Benedictine ? It
is said, that St. Fintan acquired the surname, Corach, either on account of
his continual charge of place and residence ; or, because of a promise, given
^ tohisbrethren,thatheshouldreturntoClonenaghf or,perhaps,because
of his melodious voice, by which he was distinguished for exactitude and de- votion, whereby he performed sacred chaunts in celebrating Divine praises. This he did, at the margin of a fountain, according to St. ^ngus. The word
"
it is not likely, that the phrase,
Corach, in the Irish idiom, signifies, under different respects, the ""
volatile,"
the giver of a promise," or the melodious. " It is said, our saint also in-
troduced, among his monks, a new style for singing psalms and sacred canti-
cles. ^9 In the discharge of different duties and religious pursuits, St. ^Engus
declares he prolonged life, to the unusual term of one hundred and thirty
years. 3° The exact date of his death is not known ; but, it is a conjecture
of Colgan, that he flourished, about the end of the sixth century. s^ Our
Martyrologists place his festival, at the 21st of February; thus, St. ^ngus
"
the Culdee in his
of Donegal,34 Duald Mac Firbis,35 enter Fintann Corach. In the ancient
Feilire,"32 the Martyrology of Tallagh,33 the Martyrology Martyrology of the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, Dublin,36 t—he
festival of St. —
Fintan, Confessor, occurs,
at the ix. of the Kalends of March
2 1 St of February although it is not in the prefixed Calendar. Even, —
at the ix. of the March Kalends whichisthe21stofFebruary theKalendarofDrummondrelates,thatthe Natalis of St. Fintan was celebrated on this day, in Ireland. 37 A consider-
Scotland, he was reverenced. —Thus,
•
The calling of Findtan the right* eous
"Post contemptum mundi. "
On the appropriate feast, with
fervour,
Of Virilus [and] Jucundus.
33 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
34 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
54, 55.
and again i^/««j, "whites," or, "fair-corn- plexionecj. "
^^
It is changed by the French into Dom, such as in the cases, Dom Mabillon, Dom Montfaucon, &c.
^7 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, ii. , n. 22, pp. 306, 307,
^^ The Calendar of Cashel assigns this as
the particular reason for his acquiring the name, Corach.
^9 This Maguire indicates, with hesitancy, n his Martyrology, at the 2 1st of February.
3° At the 2 1st of February.
3'
According to Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Bishops of Clonfert. "
C. ioc. kl. Co5Ai|\m priDCAin cIio^ai^
po]^c concempcuTn tnuiToi 1 -peiL CAin coLIahtoi
Ui|\uli 1iicutToi.
"
3^ The following stanza, extracted from to William M. Hennessy. There are three
the " Leabhar Breac "
copy,
has been fur-
the name
places having Loughill, respec-
in the of
tively parishes Abbeyleix, Queen's
County,
with its fessor O'Looney
Englishtranslation, by —
Pro-
nished,
3S At Lowhill, Queen's County, according
and of
Attanagh, and of Rosconnell,
in
66o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 21.
able share of doubt appears to have existed among writers, respecting the
place of his death and sepulture. Leamchuill,3^ now Loughill,39 or Lowhill, Cluain-aithchin, Clonenaghj-^^ and Clonfert or Clonfert Brendain/* are seve- rally named by our Martyrologists, in connection with the anouncement of his festival, or of his departure,^^ or of the place where his remains had been deposited. It may be supposed, that our saint died towards the close of the sixth, or during some earlier part of the seventh, century : his immediate suc-
cessor, in the Monastery of Clonfert, having departed this life, in the year 62o. '*3 Yet, it may admit of question, if the Clonfert, with which our saint
was connected, might have been Clonfert Molua, in the Queen's County, rather than the well-known Connaught locality.
Article III. —St. Cronan, of Cill Beg, or Kilbeg. We find Cronan Cille Bicci, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 21st of February. Where " the little church," to which he had been attached, was situated, can hardly be determined with accuracy. There is a parish of Kilbeg, in the barony of Lower Kells, county of Meath. =* In the county of Kildare, barony of Clane, and parish of Killybegs, there is a townland, also, bearing the latter name. 3
Killybeggs Old Church, County Kildare.
Here there is an old ruined church, the quadrangular nave of which is alone
tolerably perfect ; yet, the side-walls, north and south are much injured. In the end-wall is a beautiful mullioned two-ope window, of small size. The
in the barony of Fassadinin, and county of 39 Said to be Loughill, near Ballynakill, '*
Kilkenny. See General Alphabetical In- in the ancient territory of Idough, by Rev.
dex to the Townlands, and Towns, Parishes, and Baronies of Ireland," p. 673.
3^ See edition of John Clarke Crosthwaite
John S. Shearman.
*° See the Martyrologies of Tallagh and of Donegal, as also Duald Mac Firbis.
and Rev. Dr. Todd. and p. 90.
37
See Bishop Forbes' Scottish Saints," p. 5.
See the "Martyrology of Donegal,"
Introduction, p. Ivi.
"
*^ See " of the Proceedings
Kalendars
of
Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part
3^ See the "Martyrology of Tallagh," i. , pp. 100, loi. Also, pp. 1 16, 117.
and Duald Mac Firbis. 3 ''The Age of Christ, 620. The tenth
*'
and Duald Mac Firbis.
Royal
February 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 661
two extreme gables yet stand ; and from one to the other, the measurement
interiorly is 62 feet 6 inches : the nave in width was 18 feet 4 inches ; and
the walls were about 2 feet 8 inches in thickness. Within a high oval breast-
work —the old is elevated above the surround- fence, graveyard considerably
ing levels generally a mark of remote antiquity, especially in rural districts.
The cemetery is still much used. * On one side are the fine old trees of
Killybeggs Demesne, and a rookery in the top branches lends an additional
feature of melancholy to the spot, which is often disturbed by the flitting and
unmusical cawings of the crows. There is a parish of Upper Killybegs,s in
the barony of Banagh, as also, a parish of Lower Killybegs,^ in the baronies
of Banagh and Boylagh, county of Donegal. Of townlands, there are two
Killybegs : one in the parish of Inch, and the other in that of Kilgorman,
both in the barony of Corey, and county of Wexford. 7 There is a Killybeg
townland, in the parish of Donoughmore, barony of Upper Talbotstown, and
county of Wicklow f as, also, a Killybeg, in the parish of Inishmacsaint, in
the barony of Magheraboy, and county of Fermanagh. 9 There are a very great number of townlands, denominated Kilbeg, in various counties of
Ireland. Thus, in Cork county, there is a Kilbeg,^° in the parish of Ighter- murragh, and barony of Imokilly, as also one," in the parish of Tracton, and
barony of Kinalea, as also one'"" in the parish of Kilfaughnabeg, and barony of East Carbery. There is likewise a Kilbeg North and a Kilbeg South,'3
in the parish of Kilbrogan, barony of Kinalmeaky. There is a Kilbeg,''^ in theparishofKilcar,baronyofBanagh,andcountyofDonegal. InCalway county, there is a Kilbeg, ^^ in the parish of Templetogher, barony of Bally- moe ; a Kilbeg,'^ in the parish of Cargin, barony of Clare ; a Kilbeg,^7 in the parish of Abbeygormacan, and barony of Longford ; a Kilbeg,'^ in the parish of Killinan, in the barony of Loughrea ; as also a Kilbeg,'9 in the parish of Moylough, and barony of Tiaquin. There is also a Kilbeg Lo\ver^° in the parish and barony of Ross, and a Kilbeg Upper,^' in the same parish and barony. ThereisaKilbeg,^^intheparishofBallybrackan,baronyofOffaly West, and county of Kildare. There is a Kilbeg,23 in the parish of Geashill, barony of Upper Philipstown, and King's County. There is a Kilbeg,^* in
year of Suibhne. Seanach Garbh, Abbot for the County of Wicklow," Sheet 27.
o—f Cluain-fearta-Breanainn [Clonfert], died. " ^ See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four for the County of Fermanagh," Sheets
Masters," vol. i. ,—pp. 242, 243.
Article hi. ^Edited by Rev. Dr.
8, 13.
^°
See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," Sheet 77*
Kelly, p. xvi.
^ " ^'
It is defined on the Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Meath," Sheets 5, 11, The townland proper is divided into Upper and Lower Kilbeg.
3 The parish is defined on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kildare," Sheets 13, 14; while the town-
See ibid. . Sheets 99, 113.
" See ibid. , Sheets 134, 142, 143.
^^3 See ? ^/a'. , Sheets 96, lio.
'"* See " (Jrdnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Donegal," Sheet 96. ^5 j^ee "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Galway," Sheet I.
land is on Sheet proper
'° See
'^ '^QQibid. ,
^^
See ibid. ,
^'> See ibid. . Sheets 59, 72.
^° See ibid. , Sheet 27.
^' See ibid. . Sheets 26, 27.
"See "Ordnance Survey Townland
13.
"•The accompanying drawing, taken in
Sheet
Sheet 107. Sheets 115, 124.
April, 1874, by the writer, has been trans- ferred to the wood by William F. Wake- man, and engraved by Mrs. Millard.
s This is defined on the " Ordnance Sur-
veyTownlandMapsfortheCountyofDone-
gal," Sheets 82, 91, 92, 97. Killybegs townland and town are on the latter Slieet.
Maps for the County of Kildare," Sheets 26, 27.
^ This is described on 82, 83, ibid.
Sheets, 73, 74, 75,
^3 ^jee " Ordnance Townland Survey
7 See
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
Maps for the King's County," Sheets 26, 27. ^"^ See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the Queen's County," Sheet 22.
*5 See "Ordnance Survey Townland
for the County of Wexford," Sheet 3. ^"
See Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
ibid. .
55.
662 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February21,
the parish of Aghaboe, in the barony of Clandonagh, and Queen's County. There is a Kilbegj^'s in the parish of Kilglass, barony of Ballintober North, and county of Roscommon. In Tipperary County, there is a Kilbeg*^ in the parishofToem,andbaronyofUpperKilnamanagh; aKilbeg,^? intheparish ofFinnoe,andbaronyofLowerOrmond; asalsoaKilbeg,'^^intheparishof Shanrahan, and barony of Iffa and Offa West. In the barony of Decies without Drum, Waterford County, there is a Kilbeg,'^9 in Clonea parish, as also a Kilbeg,3° in Kilbarrymeaden parish. In the parish of Tallow, and barony of Coshmore and Coshbride, there is also a Lower Kilbeg and an Upper Kilbeg. 3^ There is a Kilbeg, 3^ in the parish of Ardnurcher or Horse- leap, in the barony of Moycashel, and county of Westmeath. There is a Kilbeg,33 in the parish of Boystown, barony of LoAver Talbotstown, and county of Wicklow. In the parish of Valencia, barony of Iveragh, and county of Kerry, there is a Kilbeg East, and a Kilbeg West. 34 In the county of Limerick, there is a Kilbeg East, as also a Kilbeg West,35 in the parish of Ballingarry, and barony of Upper Connello. In the parish and county of Antrim, there is a Kilbegs,^^ in the barony of Upper Toome. The foregoing denominations must probably include the changed form of the presentsaint'sformerplace; but,withoutsomelocaltraditionofapatternor saint's day corresponding, it would not be possible to decide on any one spot. In conclusion, we find Cronan, of Cill Beg, is set down in the Mar- tyrology of Donegal,37 as being venerated on this day.
Article IV. —Reputed Festival of St. Cedd, Abbot of Lestingen, England. In a Manuscript Kalendar of the Benedictine Order, St. Cedd, brother to Bishop Cedd,^ and who was Abbot of Lestingen,' is set down at this date. Yet, he followed not the Benedictine, but rather the Irish, rite, prevailing at Lindisfarne. 3 Lestingen was granted to him by Edilbald,'* King of the Deiri. The reader is referred to the 7th day of January, where this saint's Life may be found.
Article V. —Reputed Festival of St. Chuniald. St. Chuniald is said^ to have been one of St. Rupert's companions, and to have been vene- rated, on this day, in Scotia. The Bollandists refer consideration of him to St. Rupert's Acts, at the 27th of March, although alluding to him, at this date,=* as also, relegating him, to the 24th of September.
Mapsfor the County of Roscommon," Sheet
24.
''^ See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Tipperary," Sheets 50, 51.
=7 See ibid. , Sheet 9.
=8
See ibid. , Sheets 81, 87.
=9 See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Limerick," Sheet
30.
36 See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Antrim," Sheets 49,
50-
37 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
54, 55.
Article iv. — The Manuscript
^ has Maps fortlie County of Waterford," Sheet "fratris Ji. Eraddi," but this must have
31.
been the error of some scribe.
' has "Len The Manuscript incorrectly
tingen. " 3SeetheBollandists'"ActaSanctorum
tomus iii. , February xxi. Among the pre- termitted saints, p. 233.
4 He was so—n to St. Oswald.
'
Articlk v. By David Camerarius.
" See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Feb- ruarii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 235. —' "
3° Sheet See ibid. .
25. 3' See ibid. . Sheet 33.
32See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Westmeath," Sheets
31,37.
33 See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Wicklow," Sheets 5, 10.
34 See " Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Kerry," Sheet 79.
35 See "Ordnance Survey Townland Article vi. In Menologium Bene-
February 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 663
Article VI. —St. Ursin or Ursicinus, a Monk, in France. Buce-
lin^ has a festival, at this date, for St. Ursin or Ursicinus, an Irish monk, of
Luxeu, among the Vosges mountains, in the east of France. Yet, this seems to be attributable to the fact, that he was a companion of St. German, an Abbot, and a Martyr, of Grandal, whose feast also falls on the 21st of Feb- ruary. ^ Notices of St. Ursin will be found, on the 20th of December.
Article VII. —Reputed Festival of St. Gildas the Wise. In his Benedictine Kalendar, Dorganus notes St. Gildas the Wise, at this day, and we are told, moreover, he was renowned for miracles, even so flir as raising the dead to life. ^ At the 29th of January, his Life has been already given.
Ctoentp-'^^ronU jaap of jf^iruarg^
ARTICLE I. —ST. MOEL-BRIGID, OR BRIGIDANUS, ABBOT OF DERRY AND PRIMATE OF ARMAGH.
[NINTH AND TENTH CENTURIES. ^
THE
truly great men of this world are those, who happily influence the countries and times in which live. has an account of
they Colgan
Moel-Brigid, at this date,^ and the BoUandists^ have briefer notices. This
distinguished saint was son to Tornan,^ who was descended Hneally, and the twelfth in generation, from Conall Gulban. -^ Marianus O'Gormans afid the MartyrologyofDonegal^writeoursaint'sfather,Dornan. Hewasthusof the same royal stock as St. Columkille himself. 7 The mother of Moel- Brigid was Soerlathia, daughter to Culebaith, and she was also of noble
birth. ^ The name to him given
signifies
" the servant of or " the Brigid,"
dictinum. " In fol, Verdkirchii, A. D, 1655. gan, son of Conall Gulban, chap. i.
^ See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum," ^ From him Tyr-connall derives its name,
tomus iii. , February xxi. Among the pre- and he was son to King Niall the Great,
termitted "DeSane- s See "ActaSanctorumHiber- saints, p. 235.
