There are at least three
saints, bearing this name, mentioned in the
Irish Calendars; viz.
saints, bearing this name, mentioned in the
Irish Calendars; viz.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
See " Mon- asticon Ilibeinicum," pp.
51, 52.
'7 It measures, on the inside, 68 feet 4 inches, and, in breadth, 27 feet 7 inches. Its original doorway remains in the west gable ; and, it is a beautiiul specimen of the
^° It measures, on the outside, 3 feet 5 inches, in width ; and, about 12 feet in height. In the stone, which closes the top of this window, on the outside, is the head of a bishop, with his mitre, badly executed, but in very good preservation, yet not older, than the period of rebuilding this gable. - This head is held in high estimation by the islanders, as being the supposed effigy or re- presentation of the face of their great patron Senan.
semi-cyclopean style. It is 6 feet 6 inches, in height, and, in breadth, 2 feet lO inches, at top ; while, it is 3 feet \\ inch, at bottom. Its lintel is 5 feet 8 inches, in length, and 12 inches, in height—it extends the entire
; thickness of the wall
^' The stone wall has a
placed at the distance of 10 feet 5 inches, from the east gable. This doorway leads into an lardom, or sacristy, which measures 26 feet 6 inches, from east to west, and 10 feet, from north to souih. Tiie north wall of this lardom contains two modein win- dows, not worth description, and its east wall has a neat pointed window, measuring, on the outside, 7 feet I inch in height, and
•
that is feet 35
the north side.
•* The reader is referred to the Life of St.
inches.
and, in this projecting part, there are 2 square mor- tices, one at each side of the doorway, to fasten the door ; and, a part of the iron gudgeon, on which the door hung, exists at
square doorway,
It projects, on the inside, 4 inches ;
Cannera, at the 28th of January, for an en-
graving of the Round Tower and Damliag,
on Scattery Island ; at another point of one foot in breadth. This lardom is built view, the annexed illustration, furnished
from a photograph, taken by Frederick H.
Mares, Dublin, is submitted. It has been
drawn on tlie wood, by William F. Wake-
man, and engraved by George A. Hanlon.
lip against tlie north wall of the Damliag, but its stones are not dove-tailed or inserted into it, which proves that it is an after
erection.
"^ The west gable, to the height of lo^feet
'
•
<-
los. 8d. " Tiie same Incjuisiiion finds,
"
in the island are two chapels in ruins, the Abbey of St. Synan, with a small ceme- tery, annual value 2s. , Irish, also a parish church. " Thetwochapelsherementioned, are the churches, Teampull Sheanain, and
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 235
4 feet 1 1 inches from its north wall, there is a remarkable little oratory, or ernatdhe, of great antiquity, but obviously remodelled. It measures, in length, 23 feet 6 inches, and, in breadth, 12 feet 10 inches. ^'^ The foregoing three buildings are enclosed by a rude wall, built of large stones, and looking very
ancient.
About twenty perches, to the north of the Round Tower, there is a small
"
church, called Teampull Sheanain, i. e. ,
present form, it does not look old, at first sight ; but, on a close exaruination, it will be found to be an ancient church remodelled. ^s It consists of a nave
and choir. ^^ Immediately to the west of this, there is a small building,27
built of thin slates of nearly equal size, and altogether looking very modern. ^^ About forty perches, to the south-west of the Round Tower, and on the hill,
"
there is another church, in ruins. It is called after the hill, Teampull Cnuic
na n-aingeal. *9 AH its features are destroyed, and, the greater part of the fragments of the walls remaining are modern. 3° There is another building joined to the south-east side of this churcli. 3^ About fifty perches to the south-east of the Damliag, there is a large church, now called Teampull na Marbh, in Latin, ecdesia mortuorum. ^'* It is the only one, on the island, in which people bury the dead, as the name indicates ;33 although, in all proba-
called in the Life of St. Senan, Ard na n-aingcal, i. e. ,
the hill of the Angels,"
worthy the attention of the architectural
antiquarian.
** It had a small choir, now almost des-
troyed, measuring 8 feet 9 inches, from east to west, and 10 feet 4 inches, from north to
feet 2 inches, in breadth. Its doorway was in the south wall, measuring 3 feet 3 inches, in breadth ; but, its height cannot be ascer- tained, as it is broken.
of —outh—thickness its walls,
2 feet inches 3
2 feet 8 inches
the east and the
gable, other in the south
s —thickness
of walls of
but both are now
of walls of
inches. ^^ It measures feet 6 9 40
nave, nave, 7
wall,
nearly destroyed.
feet
The doorway was placed in the south wall, but it is nearly destroyed. A quadrangular
inches, in length, and 16 feet 8 inches, in breadth.
3° The south wall is 10 feet, in height ; and, about 2 feet 7 inches, in thickness. The north wall is nearly all destroyed, as are also the two gables, except a small part of the-west gable, which looks very ancient. The south wall contained a pointed tloorway constructed of rude stones, and evidently modern. The south wall contained two windows, which are now mere breaches.
3'
It measures 35 feet lo inches, from north to south ; and, 15 feet, from east to west. A part of the west wall, 14 teet long, and 5 feet high, joined to the church, re- mains, and a small part of the midtUe of the east wall, 2 feet 9 inches in thickness. . A legend, about the selection, by St. Senan, of this spot, for a church, is related.
height
window, 2 feet 3 inches, by ii inches, is in the west gable, placed a few feet from the ground, and all this gable, from that window upwards, is modern.
^5 John O' Donovan states,—that it was
patched up at various periods ITeb b]\i^'ce
ShcAAin ScuijNixe. -*
—
Its measurements are as follows
:
length of the nave, 23 feet 10 inches ;
breadth, 16 feet 9 inches ; length of chon-,
10 feet 10 inches ; breadth, lofeet 9 inches ; thickness of walls of nave, 2 feet 8 inches, and of choir, 2 feet 3 inches. The west gable is featureless, and it seems to have been all rebuilt. The south wall contains a pointed doorway, built of small stones, and
notof Afew evidently any great antiquity.
feet 8 inches, in width, on the inside, and, on the outside, 2 feet 1 1 inches, in height, and 8 inches, in width.
^? It is 21 feet 8 inches, in length, and il
3^ It is
feet to the east of it, there is a window, 6 inches broad, as measured on the inside.
broad inside, and narrow outside, but so curtained with ivy on the outside, that it is difficult to obtain its dimension. All the
choir arch is destroyed, except a small part
of the north side, which looks very primitive.
The south wall of the choir contains a small quadrangular window, but very modern, and
not worth description. The only part, which
looks ancient, is a small wmdow, in the east
gable, measuring 5 feet, in height, and 3 that
the church of St. Senan. " In its
^^
It contained two small windows, one in
67
feet 10 inches and 18 feet long,
33 About 150 yards, to the nortii of this church, are the vaults of a castle. We learn the date for the erection of this castle, from an Inquisition, taken in the i8th year of the reign of Elizabeth, which states that the Coiiverb {(Lo7ix\)) "hath in his possession a new castle partly builded, a small stone house, and three cottages, annual value
236 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
bility, this was not the original denomination. Its west gable is featureless,34 The southern point of this island is called Rinn Eanaigh. 35 The nearest point to Inisbeg or Hog Islands^ is called Pointe an mheill, and the north- west point is called Pointe an Chroisin. 37 Such is the modern topographical description, applying to the spot,^^ with which St, Senan resolved to connect
the remaining days of his life.
Giving thanks to the great Author of all things, and being accompanied
by the angel, who was his assistant, St. Senan began to take a circuit round this island, which he blessed. When, however, he beheld the swelling
he said to the " This island seems angel :
its
exposed to many dangers, and not very suitable for a monastic establishment,
billows, dashing against
shores,
on account of tlie rough tempests and waves, that break over its surrounding waters. " The angel exhorted him to be of good cheer, promising m God's
name, that none of his monks should be drowned, when, crossing the water, in obedience to commands of their superior ; and, moreover, that no person, buried in this place, who had been penitent before death, should forfeit the rewards of eternal life. 39 After a report had been spread abroad, through the adjoining country, that the monster had been expelled, and that St. Senan had taken possession of the island, which was called Iniscathaigh, or Inis- cathach, from the word Cathach, applied to this monster ; Mactail, the ruler of Y-figinte district,'*" was moved with indignation against our saint, because he had dared to inhabit an island, then subject to his rule. Not having obtained permission from the lord of its soil, Mactail gave orders, that St. Senan should be immediately and ignominously expelled, from that place. The execution of such mandate had been committed to Coelius and Lieth,
TeampuU Cnuic na n-aingeal, already des- with the exception of one fragment of a wall, cribed. The Abbey of St. Synan is the one, projecting from the north-east corner. The
now called Teampull na-marbh, and the
parish church is certainly the Damliag.
34 The south wall contains a doorway, placed at the distance of 21 feet from the west gable, but now reduced to a formless breach. East of this, in the same wall,
walls of this church are 2 feet 6 inches
thick, and the side walls are about 1 7 feet
high.
35 Outside Rinn Eanaigh point, there is a
rock, called Carraig a Draoi, the remains of
an island, calleil Dair-inis, which is men- there are three windows, all decidedly tioned in St. Senan's Life. A subsequent
modern, and not worth particular descrip- tion. There is, in the east gable, a large
pointed window, measuring on the inside, 8 feet 8 inches, in width, and 7 feet, in height. The lower part of it is built up, with modern mason work. The north wall, at the dis- tance of 7 feet 8 inches in width from the west gable, has a round-headed but very modern doorway ; and, 18 feet to the east of it, there is a ruder pointed arch, 9 feet 6 inches high, and 8 feet 4 inches wide ; while, 3 feet 10 inches, to the east of it, another arch has similar characteristics and dimensions. At the distance of 5 feet 4 inches, to the east of this, there is a quad-
narrative explains the popular tradition re- garding the name for Carraig a Draoi.
3* There is a rock in the channel, between
Scattery Island and Hog Island, denomi- nated Carnaig Dhonain, and called after Donan, one of St. Senan's monks.
37 On Henry Pelham's old Map of Clare
County, Scattery Island is represented, with its Round Tower, and churches. It is also called Innuskattre. The southern point is called Rinana and Shoal.
3* See "Letters containing Information relating to the Antiquities of the County of Clare, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey, A. D. 1840," vol. ii. Mr. John O'Donovan's Letter, dated Kildysart, December 24th, 1840, pp. 13 to 30.
rangular doorway, 5 feet 4 inches high, and
2 feet II inches wide, at the lintel, and 3
feet 2 inches at the bottom. Its lintef is a
thin flag, 4 feet 6 inches long, i foot 8
inches broad, and only 3 inches thick. Over
tbis doorway, there is a small rectilineaily
peinted window, which looks very like a
primitive one, but this is hardly to be of the River Maigh, or Maigue, and in the depended upon. There seem to have been
lateral lardovts, into which these arches and doorway led; but, they are all destroyed,
barony of Coshma, in Limerick County. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Leabhar na g-Ceart,
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
39 See
niae," viii. Martii. Vita Secunda S. Senani, cap. XXX. , p. 530.
4° The people of this territory lived, in that portion of the county of Limerick, lying west
or Book of Rights," n. (g), p. 67.
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 237
brothers to St. Senan, and who served as soldiers under Mactail. Obeying
those orders of their chieftain, they went with his mandate to their brother,
who refused to comply with it. Then, moved by human rather than by
Divine fear, his brothers endeavoured to put in execution the commands of
their prince, by laying violent hands on the saint. They dragged him
hurriedly by the arms, from the top of a certain eminence, and against his
consent. But, Ccelius, more hardened in evil, saw Lieth co-operating in this
act, yet, in a remiss and half-willing manner, he began to reproach his brother
and to " Is it better, that we should be from our lands and say : expelled
possessions, than that Senan should be removed from a place not his own ? "
Being interiorly moved, Lieth declared, that he felt sorrow for his attempted violence, and would not longer persist in evil ; and, that he should abandon all his possessions, and Ireland itself, rather than offer injury to his holy
" Thou shalt not leave Ireland, nor the land of thy patrimony, but thy children shall possess it after thee ; yet, he who adheres with too great fondness to his land, neither he, nor any of his
posterity, shall possess it. " This j^rophecy was exactly fulfilled ; for, the impious Coelius, returning towards his home after this act of violence, suddenly expired, before he had entered his own door. When Lieth petitioned, that the body might be interred with St. Senan, this latter refused his request, saying, it was not meet, that the body of a man should be honoured with ecclesiastical sepulture, whose soul was buried in hell. When the account of such a tragedy had been brought to Mactail, this prince, not instructed by the misfortune of his satellite, was kindled to wrath and frenzy. He began to meditate vengeance on our saint. Seeing him thus disturbed
brother. Senan then said to him
:
and anxious, a magus said
:
" Let not my lord be uneasy, for, I will certainly
expel this imposter, from his territories. " At these words, the prince felt
somewhat appeased, and the magus, taking with him two of the dynasts
chariothorses,wenttotheisland. Here,heleftthehorsesinthemonastery
pastures, and went to St. Senan, whom he commanded to leave the island
instantly, or that otherwise, he should cause the holy man to depart with
confusion, through his incantations and the power of his deities. Senan
replied, he neither feared his power, nor that of his master, the Devil ; and,
that the assistance of the only true Divinity, the Saviour of the world, Jesus
Christ, would not be wanting to him, in protecting and putting to flight the
demon's illusions. Then, the magus, by his diabolic arts, caused such a
darkness to surround those, who were present, that they could not recognise
each other. Notwithstanding, this was dissipated by St. Senan, on invoking
the true God. The magus afterwards produced thunder, lightening, and
meteors ; but, these were put an end to, in like manner. When the magus
saw all his incantations and arts ineffectual, he meditated departure, for a
time, warning Senan, that he might expect certain destruction, on his return-
ing to the island. The saint asked him, whither he would go ; but, the
Druid answered, "Thou shalt not know whither I go, or when I shall return. "
"
" and thence, thou shalt never return to this spot. " The event proved the
truth of his prophecy ; for, the Druid, wishing to practise his magic arts, and to consult the demon, for a time, directed his course to a certain small and desert island, called Dairinis, not far from Iniscatthy, and on the southern sideoftheShannon. Whilehere,aviolentinfluxoftheoceancameupon the island, and it drowned the magus, with his confederates. In memory of this miraculous event, the place was afterwards called, Carrac an Druadh, which signifies, "the rock of the Druid;" for, by this name was it known, atthetime,whenSt. Senan'sProseLifehadbeenwritten,4' andthepeople, no doubt, regarded it, as a memorial of his punishment.
I well know, it shall not profit thee to go to thy destined place," said Senan,
238 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [March 8.
After these things occurred, returning from an assembly of the chieftains, which had been held in Corcomroe, Mactail learned the death of his magus.
He hastened immediately to Iniscatthy, where, in a frenzy of rage and im-
patience, he said to Senan " Art thou the man, who hath possessed my
:
lands, I being opposed to thy desires ? art thou the person, who caused the death of my magus and servant ? Know for certain, that thou shalt die the same kind of death ; for, a stone being tied to thy neck, in punishment for thy crimes, thou shalt be thrown into the sea. " St. Senan replied, that the chief had not power to execute this threat ; when, as if forgetful of himself, Mactail ordered the saint to feed and attend to the horses, committed to his charge. The saint returned for answer, that he was neither a stall-keeper noragroom; but,Mactalius—ashisnameisLatinized—replied,thatwhether he would or not. he must take charge of the horses, until Mactail returned from a
hewasabouttoundertake. Senan "The ofGodisable journey said, power
to prevent you from returning hither. " While Mactalius and the saint were engaged in this controversy, and while the former urged Senan with threats and insults ; those two horses, which had been the cause of litigation, by a decree of heaven, are said to have been swallowed up in the earth, at a place
"
When word of this event had been brought by a messenger, the dynast felt
through
afte:rwards called, Fan-na-neach. ^^ which signifies,
the trench of the horses. "
more enraged, although his son endeavoured to appease him, and to advise, that he should act more respectfully towards God's holy servant, and, fear Divine punishment, by the example of those things, which he had hitherto seen. The inexorable and im])ious Mactalius replied, that he no more feared Senan and than he did a shorn " said Senan, "
God, sheep. Then,"
the disposition of the Almighty, in my regard, this inoffensive animal can be the cause and instrument of thy death. " '^3 After many insults, threats and blasphemies, the obstinate tyrant took his departure, full of pride and anger, resuming his journey. While near a certain wood, in Corcobaskind territory, he saw a shorn sheep running with great speed, until it rushed under the feet of the horses, yoked to his chariot. Being affrighted, these horses reared and broke their yokes, when the chariot was overturned. Mactalius fell headlong upon a rock, and was instantly killed, on the spot. "** Thus, his wicked soul was sent unprepared and suddenly, to meet the judgment which awaited him. 45
One day, St. Donnan,^^ the son of Lieth, and a disciple to St. Senan,^?
*' See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," viii. Martii. Vita S. Senani, cap. xxxi. , xxxii. , pp. 530, 531.
ceded the present narrative,
'*5 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctoram,"
tomus i. , Martii viii. Vita Secunda S.
^^ The tradition of this
served, and it is shown in a diagram, pre- pared by Mr. O'Donovan, to illustrate his description. Fan-na-neach is shown, west of some effaced churches, on Scattery Island.
^3 See "The Legend of Iniscatthy" in
num.
to
Duffy's
l> P%38' 4+ The
"
Hibernian Magazine," vol. i. , No. ^
** Colgan supposes this saint to have been
a nephew to Senan, and son to that com-
passionate brother, Lieth, already mentioned
in our Saint's Acts.
There are at least three
saints, bearing this name, mentioned in the
Irish Calendars; viz. , St. Donnan, Martyr,
whose
llibernia;," viii. Martii, n. 23, p. 536.
'^ In the Metrical Life, St. Donnan seem? to have been aUuded to, as " Sancti Senani patruus," where the relation of an incident,
account of Mactalius' punishment and tyranny is to be found, in Colg;'n's "Acta Sanctorum Ilibernice,"
Martii viii. Vita Metrica S. Senani, cap. xiv. , XV. , pp. 519, 520. Some of those cir- cumstances, as found in St. Senan's Prose Life, are not given in his Metrical Acts; and, in the latter, this chief's proper name is not noted. Also, through the carelessness of a transcriber, many particulars appear to have been omitted, which immediately prC"
feast is kept on the 17th of April
foregoing
; St. Donnan, Confessor, whose feast is assigned to the iith of August; and St. Donnan, Priest, whose iesiival is held on the 26th of April. The saint, mentioned in the text, is supposed to have been either of the two latter. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum
place
is still
pre-
Senani, cap. v. , 775.
30
38, pp. 774,
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 239
being accompanied by two boys, who were engaged in study with him, went to a certain rock, which was out in the sea, and for the purpose of collecting shell-fish. Having left those boys there, he returned to the island ; mean- time, the ocean-tide had taken away an only boat, which remained to remove them. The' boys were drowned, on the rising of the waves ; but, their bodies, together with the boat, were afterwards washed ashore, on the island. When the parents and friends of those boys heard what had occurred, they ran, to the spot. With tears and wailing, they demanded of the saint, that their lost children should be restored to them alive. Then St. Senan said to
Donnan " Command the deceased boys, in the name of the Saviour, that
:
they may immediately come to me. " When he had done, as directed, the boys were immediately restored to life and strength. Running towards St.
Senan, and to the embrace of their parents, these they reproached, for having been tlie cause of their withdrawal from a happy state, in which lately they
had been. Their mothers then said
:
" Had you rather live in these regions,
than upon earth, with your friends and kindred ? " To these queries, their
children replied, that if they possessed the whole world, with all its pleasures
and luxuries, they would only consider it as a prison, in which they were confined, while reflecting on the loss of those delights they had already ex-
perienced. Wherefore, they earnestly requested, that it might be permitted them, to repossess their former state of felicity. They promised their parents,
likewise, that through God's goodness, these should sorrow no more, on their account. The parents, on their part, assenting to those wishes, in the name of the Lord, St. Senan ratified the promise of their children. Those were brought to his monastery, where they received Holy Communion. la a short time, afterwards, with acts of thanksgiving and of holy joy, those boys slept in the Lord, and their bodies were buried in the cemetery, near the monastery. They were the first deposed within that graveyard, and they were interred in a conspicuous place, before the entrance. ^^
Saints Kieran and Brendan,49 being admonished by an angel, had also visited St. Senan, whom they chose as their spiritual director. 5° The abbot of Iniscatthy received them with due honour ; but, after they had been to
given in the text, is almost similar,
** See ibid. Vita Secunda S. Senani, cap. XXXV. , p. 531, and Vita Metrica S.
spoken of, it would appear, that they were both abbots, and lived not very far from each other. This, he thinks, will not answer for Brendan of Clonfert, who was not abbot
Senani, cap. xii. , pp. 522, 523.
^' These saints are supposed to have been thei-e, until after Kieran's death. Nor is
St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise, whose feast is
kept on the Qlh of September, and St.
Brendan of Birr, whose festival is observed
on the 29th of November. However, Colgan
thinks, that Brendan of Clonfert, whose ments of Inisaingin and Clonmacnois, feast is kept on the i6th of May, was the
saint here mentioned, because of allusion to
a custom, peculiar to saints of this age ; each
one of whoni desired to select a certain
spiritual director, and confessor, "a quo person, who then accompanied Kieran. lie
aguita culpa, et confessis suis excessibus,
negligentiis et peccatis recipiebat peniten-
tiam : et hunc Scotice vocabunt anamchara,
i. e. , sinedrum, spiritualem amicum, seu Kieran was still abbot of Inis-aingin, when Patrem. " Ibid. , viii. Martii, n. 12, p, 535. he set out for Iniscatthy, Birr lies not much
5° Dr. Tanigan remarks, that if the out of the road, by which he must have
Brendan, who on another occasion M'aitcd, togethcrwith Kieran, on Senan, was Brendan of Clonfert, it should follow, that Senan was born prior to 484, being represented as older than Brendan of Birr ; whereas, from the manner, in which Kieran and Brendan are
passed, so that he and Brendan might, with little inconvenience, liave met for the pur- pose of travelling together. See " Ecclcsi- astical History of Ireland," vol, ii. , chap,
xi. , sect, iv. , n. 28, pp. 91, 92.
S' See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
there any account of his having been, prior to his settling at Clonfert, abbot anywhere else in Ireland, at least in those parts, which were not far distant from Kieran's establish-
Brendan of Clonfert was probably in Brittany, at the time of this visit to Senan, Now, every circumstance accords with the supposition, that Brendan of Birr was the
was, in all probability, an abljot before Kieran died. Birr is within a few miles from Clonmacnois, and if we should suppose that
240 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
confession with him, the monastic steward came to announce, that no pro- visions were to be found in the cellar, for the refreshment of their guests and brethren. Senan replied, that nothing should be wanting, for those who fearedGod. HeexhortedtheholystrangerstohopeintheLord,andtobe of good cheer, since, provisions should be procured for them and for his brethren, through the bounty of Providence. It chanced, that Nectan Kernn- fhoda. Prince of Y-figinte, miraculously admonished of this exigency, ordered his steward to bestow on Senan and the other servants of God, in Iniscatthy, stores of food and drink, which had been prepared for his own table. The steward executed these commands, and the prince himself proceeded to the island port, in a boat, which contained his offerings. The saintly abbot and his guests went out to meet him, while the former returned most grateful thanks, for this gift. The chieftain placed himself under the prayers and protection of those holy men, asking their benediction for himself and on his posterity. Filled with the spirit of prophecy, St. Senan predicted, that to him and to his seed, the Almighty had decreed the government of a pro- vince. He also dismissed this prince with his blessing. St. Senan and his guests then sat down to dinner. During the time of this meal, a bell mira- culously descended from heaven. It was the subject of great astonishment, to all who were present; and, the disciples Of those tliree saints, Senan,
Kieran, and Brendan, raised a question among themselves, as to which of their masters that gift belonged. Each of the disciples supposed this bell
had been intended for his own superior.
to his " Let us arise and guests :
To end this doubt, St. Senan said
and let the bell to whomsoever belong
depart,
its sound shall follow. " *They obeyed, when the sound of this bell was found
only to follow St. Senan, to whom it was then adjudged, as the proper owner. Those three saints then embraced each other, Kieran and Brendan having formed a firm alliance of friendship with St. Senan. His guests then took leave of him, much edified with what they had seen and heard. s'
At one time, Iniscatthy Island and the adjoining country suffered much, owing to a want of fresh water ; and this complaint was one of daily occur- rencetothesaint,onthepartofhismonks. TheangeloftheLordappeared to our abbot, during sleep, and directed, that he should go to a certain place, in that neighbourhood, where God's bounty would furnish a well of pure water. Our holy abbot obeyed, and according to the angel's mandate, he rooted up the earth there, with the end of his staff. Immediately, a stream of limpid water began to flow. s* The angel declared, moreover, that so long as they should persevere in penance and true compunction of heart, on Iniscathy Island, this fountain could not be exhausted. On its brink, St. Senan set down the staff, with which it had been dug. This staff afterwards grew into a hazel-tree, which was pointed out, at that time, when the author of St. Senan's Prose Life wrote his account of the transaction. 53
niae," viii. Martii. Vita Secunda S. Senani, cap. xxxvi. , pp. 531, 532, and Vita Metrica S. Senani, cap. xvii. , p. 520. Both accounts are essentially the same, as to the former part of those various incidents related. The name of Prince Nectan Kenn-fhoda is alone men- tioned, in the Prose Life. The miracle, re- ferring to the bell, however, is only to be found, in St. Senan's Metrical Life.
Clare, by W. F. Wakeman, and now pre- served in the Royal Irish Academy, the
following five subjects refer to Iniscathy. I. The Round Tower of Scattery Island,
2. The large church of Scattery. 3. St. Cinan's Church, Scattery. 4. The door- way of the Round Tower of Scattery. 5.
Thedoor-wayof the great church on Scattery Island. These sketches, like all others by the same artist, are exceeding beautiful ; but, nevertheless, tlie present ones, although very carefully outlined, are not highly finished.
53 jjee
^-
It must have been intended, by this
account, to designate the well on Iniscathy "
Island, called Tober Sheanain," which is yet to be seen there. Among the sketches of Antiquities, illustrating the county of
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 241
CHAPTER IV.
THE QUESTION OF ST. SENAN's EPISCOPACY, AND HIS OFFICE OF ABBOT, AT INISCATTERY—> ENQUIRY AS TO WHETHER HE HAD BEEN ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH—HIS STRICT MONASTIC DISCIPLINE—HIS MIRACULOUS POWERS—ANTIQUITIES ON BISHOP's ISLAND.
It is supposed, by Dr. Lanigan, that Senan became a bishop, when his estab- lishment was founded at Iniscatthy ; and, most probably, even some time before it, owing to the circumstance of his having previously given the veil to the dynast Brendan's daughters, while he was living at Inisluinge, We are not informed, regarding the time when, or the bishop by whom, he had been consecrated. ' According to some historians,^ St. Senan founded Inis- cathy monastery, before St. Patrick's arrival in Munster ; but, it is easy to discover, how incorrect such a conclusion must be. The opinion of Dr. Lanigan is, that Senan had been rather advanced in life, when he settled on Iniscathy ; a supposition even is entertained of his being not less than fifty years of age, at that time. 3
After dwelling on circumstances, connected with the baptism of the Thomond people by St. Patrick, and on his pri^'Jiction regarding a successor, it is clear, in certain passages of St. Senan's Acts,'* no more is meant, than that instead of St. Patrick, who acted then as universal bishop over all Ireland, and
accordingly over Thomond, this district should have, after some years, a bishop of its own, and who might very justly be styled a successor to the Irish
Apostle, s Yet, it has been understood, by some writers,^ as if Senan had succeeded St. Patrick, at Armagh. While he rejected this fable, Ussher fell into a mistake, almost equally unfounded. He supposed, that Senan having been spoken of as a successor to St. Patrick, the latter had been at Iniscatthy, and must have acted there as bishop, for a considerable time. ' Yet, from the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick,^ and from the Second Life of St. Senan, it is evident, that St. Patrick did not visit the country about Iniscatthy, although he took care to supply the inhabitants with religious teachers. 9
Certain writers conform to an opinion, that St. Patrick predicted Senan should succeed him in the episcopacy,^° and that his prophecy was accordingly fulfilled. " Among these are Richard Whitford,^^ the Carthusian Martyrology of Newport, in England, and Albert le Grand. '3 Moreover, it is thought to
nise," viii. Martii. Vita Secunda S. Senani, tur ;" and, according to this, a bishop could cap. xxxvii. , p. 532, and Vita Metrica S. be said to succeed other bishops, although Senani, cap. xxv—. , p. 523. not attached to the same See.
'
Chapter IV. See Dr. Lanigan's Ec-
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. X. , sect, i. , pp. 3, 4, and n. 20, p. 7.
*
See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "His- toryofIreland,"vol. iii. , bookvii. , chap. vi. , p.
'7 It measures, on the inside, 68 feet 4 inches, and, in breadth, 27 feet 7 inches. Its original doorway remains in the west gable ; and, it is a beautiiul specimen of the
^° It measures, on the outside, 3 feet 5 inches, in width ; and, about 12 feet in height. In the stone, which closes the top of this window, on the outside, is the head of a bishop, with his mitre, badly executed, but in very good preservation, yet not older, than the period of rebuilding this gable. - This head is held in high estimation by the islanders, as being the supposed effigy or re- presentation of the face of their great patron Senan.
semi-cyclopean style. It is 6 feet 6 inches, in height, and, in breadth, 2 feet lO inches, at top ; while, it is 3 feet \\ inch, at bottom. Its lintel is 5 feet 8 inches, in length, and 12 inches, in height—it extends the entire
; thickness of the wall
^' The stone wall has a
placed at the distance of 10 feet 5 inches, from the east gable. This doorway leads into an lardom, or sacristy, which measures 26 feet 6 inches, from east to west, and 10 feet, from north to souih. Tiie north wall of this lardom contains two modein win- dows, not worth description, and its east wall has a neat pointed window, measuring, on the outside, 7 feet I inch in height, and
•
that is feet 35
the north side.
•* The reader is referred to the Life of St.
inches.
and, in this projecting part, there are 2 square mor- tices, one at each side of the doorway, to fasten the door ; and, a part of the iron gudgeon, on which the door hung, exists at
square doorway,
It projects, on the inside, 4 inches ;
Cannera, at the 28th of January, for an en-
graving of the Round Tower and Damliag,
on Scattery Island ; at another point of one foot in breadth. This lardom is built view, the annexed illustration, furnished
from a photograph, taken by Frederick H.
Mares, Dublin, is submitted. It has been
drawn on tlie wood, by William F. Wake-
man, and engraved by George A. Hanlon.
lip against tlie north wall of the Damliag, but its stones are not dove-tailed or inserted into it, which proves that it is an after
erection.
"^ The west gable, to the height of lo^feet
'
•
<-
los. 8d. " Tiie same Incjuisiiion finds,
"
in the island are two chapels in ruins, the Abbey of St. Synan, with a small ceme- tery, annual value 2s. , Irish, also a parish church. " Thetwochapelsherementioned, are the churches, Teampull Sheanain, and
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 235
4 feet 1 1 inches from its north wall, there is a remarkable little oratory, or ernatdhe, of great antiquity, but obviously remodelled. It measures, in length, 23 feet 6 inches, and, in breadth, 12 feet 10 inches. ^'^ The foregoing three buildings are enclosed by a rude wall, built of large stones, and looking very
ancient.
About twenty perches, to the north of the Round Tower, there is a small
"
church, called Teampull Sheanain, i. e. ,
present form, it does not look old, at first sight ; but, on a close exaruination, it will be found to be an ancient church remodelled. ^s It consists of a nave
and choir. ^^ Immediately to the west of this, there is a small building,27
built of thin slates of nearly equal size, and altogether looking very modern. ^^ About forty perches, to the south-west of the Round Tower, and on the hill,
"
there is another church, in ruins. It is called after the hill, Teampull Cnuic
na n-aingeal. *9 AH its features are destroyed, and, the greater part of the fragments of the walls remaining are modern. 3° There is another building joined to the south-east side of this churcli. 3^ About fifty perches to the south-east of the Damliag, there is a large church, now called Teampull na Marbh, in Latin, ecdesia mortuorum. ^'* It is the only one, on the island, in which people bury the dead, as the name indicates ;33 although, in all proba-
called in the Life of St. Senan, Ard na n-aingcal, i. e. ,
the hill of the Angels,"
worthy the attention of the architectural
antiquarian.
** It had a small choir, now almost des-
troyed, measuring 8 feet 9 inches, from east to west, and 10 feet 4 inches, from north to
feet 2 inches, in breadth. Its doorway was in the south wall, measuring 3 feet 3 inches, in breadth ; but, its height cannot be ascer- tained, as it is broken.
of —outh—thickness its walls,
2 feet inches 3
2 feet 8 inches
the east and the
gable, other in the south
s —thickness
of walls of
but both are now
of walls of
inches. ^^ It measures feet 6 9 40
nave, nave, 7
wall,
nearly destroyed.
feet
The doorway was placed in the south wall, but it is nearly destroyed. A quadrangular
inches, in length, and 16 feet 8 inches, in breadth.
3° The south wall is 10 feet, in height ; and, about 2 feet 7 inches, in thickness. The north wall is nearly all destroyed, as are also the two gables, except a small part of the-west gable, which looks very ancient. The south wall contained a pointed tloorway constructed of rude stones, and evidently modern. The south wall contained two windows, which are now mere breaches.
3'
It measures 35 feet lo inches, from north to south ; and, 15 feet, from east to west. A part of the west wall, 14 teet long, and 5 feet high, joined to the church, re- mains, and a small part of the midtUe of the east wall, 2 feet 9 inches in thickness. . A legend, about the selection, by St. Senan, of this spot, for a church, is related.
height
window, 2 feet 3 inches, by ii inches, is in the west gable, placed a few feet from the ground, and all this gable, from that window upwards, is modern.
^5 John O' Donovan states,—that it was
patched up at various periods ITeb b]\i^'ce
ShcAAin ScuijNixe. -*
—
Its measurements are as follows
:
length of the nave, 23 feet 10 inches ;
breadth, 16 feet 9 inches ; length of chon-,
10 feet 10 inches ; breadth, lofeet 9 inches ; thickness of walls of nave, 2 feet 8 inches, and of choir, 2 feet 3 inches. The west gable is featureless, and it seems to have been all rebuilt. The south wall contains a pointed doorway, built of small stones, and
notof Afew evidently any great antiquity.
feet 8 inches, in width, on the inside, and, on the outside, 2 feet 1 1 inches, in height, and 8 inches, in width.
^? It is 21 feet 8 inches, in length, and il
3^ It is
feet to the east of it, there is a window, 6 inches broad, as measured on the inside.
broad inside, and narrow outside, but so curtained with ivy on the outside, that it is difficult to obtain its dimension. All the
choir arch is destroyed, except a small part
of the north side, which looks very primitive.
The south wall of the choir contains a small quadrangular window, but very modern, and
not worth description. The only part, which
looks ancient, is a small wmdow, in the east
gable, measuring 5 feet, in height, and 3 that
the church of St. Senan. " In its
^^
It contained two small windows, one in
67
feet 10 inches and 18 feet long,
33 About 150 yards, to the nortii of this church, are the vaults of a castle. We learn the date for the erection of this castle, from an Inquisition, taken in the i8th year of the reign of Elizabeth, which states that the Coiiverb {(Lo7ix\)) "hath in his possession a new castle partly builded, a small stone house, and three cottages, annual value
236 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
bility, this was not the original denomination. Its west gable is featureless,34 The southern point of this island is called Rinn Eanaigh. 35 The nearest point to Inisbeg or Hog Islands^ is called Pointe an mheill, and the north- west point is called Pointe an Chroisin. 37 Such is the modern topographical description, applying to the spot,^^ with which St, Senan resolved to connect
the remaining days of his life.
Giving thanks to the great Author of all things, and being accompanied
by the angel, who was his assistant, St. Senan began to take a circuit round this island, which he blessed. When, however, he beheld the swelling
he said to the " This island seems angel :
its
exposed to many dangers, and not very suitable for a monastic establishment,
billows, dashing against
shores,
on account of tlie rough tempests and waves, that break over its surrounding waters. " The angel exhorted him to be of good cheer, promising m God's
name, that none of his monks should be drowned, when, crossing the water, in obedience to commands of their superior ; and, moreover, that no person, buried in this place, who had been penitent before death, should forfeit the rewards of eternal life. 39 After a report had been spread abroad, through the adjoining country, that the monster had been expelled, and that St. Senan had taken possession of the island, which was called Iniscathaigh, or Inis- cathach, from the word Cathach, applied to this monster ; Mactail, the ruler of Y-figinte district,'*" was moved with indignation against our saint, because he had dared to inhabit an island, then subject to his rule. Not having obtained permission from the lord of its soil, Mactail gave orders, that St. Senan should be immediately and ignominously expelled, from that place. The execution of such mandate had been committed to Coelius and Lieth,
TeampuU Cnuic na n-aingeal, already des- with the exception of one fragment of a wall, cribed. The Abbey of St. Synan is the one, projecting from the north-east corner. The
now called Teampull na-marbh, and the
parish church is certainly the Damliag.
34 The south wall contains a doorway, placed at the distance of 21 feet from the west gable, but now reduced to a formless breach. East of this, in the same wall,
walls of this church are 2 feet 6 inches
thick, and the side walls are about 1 7 feet
high.
35 Outside Rinn Eanaigh point, there is a
rock, called Carraig a Draoi, the remains of
an island, calleil Dair-inis, which is men- there are three windows, all decidedly tioned in St. Senan's Life. A subsequent
modern, and not worth particular descrip- tion. There is, in the east gable, a large
pointed window, measuring on the inside, 8 feet 8 inches, in width, and 7 feet, in height. The lower part of it is built up, with modern mason work. The north wall, at the dis- tance of 7 feet 8 inches in width from the west gable, has a round-headed but very modern doorway ; and, 18 feet to the east of it, there is a ruder pointed arch, 9 feet 6 inches high, and 8 feet 4 inches wide ; while, 3 feet 10 inches, to the east of it, another arch has similar characteristics and dimensions. At the distance of 5 feet 4 inches, to the east of this, there is a quad-
narrative explains the popular tradition re- garding the name for Carraig a Draoi.
3* There is a rock in the channel, between
Scattery Island and Hog Island, denomi- nated Carnaig Dhonain, and called after Donan, one of St. Senan's monks.
37 On Henry Pelham's old Map of Clare
County, Scattery Island is represented, with its Round Tower, and churches. It is also called Innuskattre. The southern point is called Rinana and Shoal.
3* See "Letters containing Information relating to the Antiquities of the County of Clare, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey, A. D. 1840," vol. ii. Mr. John O'Donovan's Letter, dated Kildysart, December 24th, 1840, pp. 13 to 30.
rangular doorway, 5 feet 4 inches high, and
2 feet II inches wide, at the lintel, and 3
feet 2 inches at the bottom. Its lintef is a
thin flag, 4 feet 6 inches long, i foot 8
inches broad, and only 3 inches thick. Over
tbis doorway, there is a small rectilineaily
peinted window, which looks very like a
primitive one, but this is hardly to be of the River Maigh, or Maigue, and in the depended upon. There seem to have been
lateral lardovts, into which these arches and doorway led; but, they are all destroyed,
barony of Coshma, in Limerick County. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Leabhar na g-Ceart,
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
39 See
niae," viii. Martii. Vita Secunda S. Senani, cap. XXX. , p. 530.
4° The people of this territory lived, in that portion of the county of Limerick, lying west
or Book of Rights," n. (g), p. 67.
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 237
brothers to St. Senan, and who served as soldiers under Mactail. Obeying
those orders of their chieftain, they went with his mandate to their brother,
who refused to comply with it. Then, moved by human rather than by
Divine fear, his brothers endeavoured to put in execution the commands of
their prince, by laying violent hands on the saint. They dragged him
hurriedly by the arms, from the top of a certain eminence, and against his
consent. But, Ccelius, more hardened in evil, saw Lieth co-operating in this
act, yet, in a remiss and half-willing manner, he began to reproach his brother
and to " Is it better, that we should be from our lands and say : expelled
possessions, than that Senan should be removed from a place not his own ? "
Being interiorly moved, Lieth declared, that he felt sorrow for his attempted violence, and would not longer persist in evil ; and, that he should abandon all his possessions, and Ireland itself, rather than offer injury to his holy
" Thou shalt not leave Ireland, nor the land of thy patrimony, but thy children shall possess it after thee ; yet, he who adheres with too great fondness to his land, neither he, nor any of his
posterity, shall possess it. " This j^rophecy was exactly fulfilled ; for, the impious Coelius, returning towards his home after this act of violence, suddenly expired, before he had entered his own door. When Lieth petitioned, that the body might be interred with St. Senan, this latter refused his request, saying, it was not meet, that the body of a man should be honoured with ecclesiastical sepulture, whose soul was buried in hell. When the account of such a tragedy had been brought to Mactail, this prince, not instructed by the misfortune of his satellite, was kindled to wrath and frenzy. He began to meditate vengeance on our saint. Seeing him thus disturbed
brother. Senan then said to him
:
and anxious, a magus said
:
" Let not my lord be uneasy, for, I will certainly
expel this imposter, from his territories. " At these words, the prince felt
somewhat appeased, and the magus, taking with him two of the dynasts
chariothorses,wenttotheisland. Here,heleftthehorsesinthemonastery
pastures, and went to St. Senan, whom he commanded to leave the island
instantly, or that otherwise, he should cause the holy man to depart with
confusion, through his incantations and the power of his deities. Senan
replied, he neither feared his power, nor that of his master, the Devil ; and,
that the assistance of the only true Divinity, the Saviour of the world, Jesus
Christ, would not be wanting to him, in protecting and putting to flight the
demon's illusions. Then, the magus, by his diabolic arts, caused such a
darkness to surround those, who were present, that they could not recognise
each other. Notwithstanding, this was dissipated by St. Senan, on invoking
the true God. The magus afterwards produced thunder, lightening, and
meteors ; but, these were put an end to, in like manner. When the magus
saw all his incantations and arts ineffectual, he meditated departure, for a
time, warning Senan, that he might expect certain destruction, on his return-
ing to the island. The saint asked him, whither he would go ; but, the
Druid answered, "Thou shalt not know whither I go, or when I shall return. "
"
" and thence, thou shalt never return to this spot. " The event proved the
truth of his prophecy ; for, the Druid, wishing to practise his magic arts, and to consult the demon, for a time, directed his course to a certain small and desert island, called Dairinis, not far from Iniscatthy, and on the southern sideoftheShannon. Whilehere,aviolentinfluxoftheoceancameupon the island, and it drowned the magus, with his confederates. In memory of this miraculous event, the place was afterwards called, Carrac an Druadh, which signifies, "the rock of the Druid;" for, by this name was it known, atthetime,whenSt. Senan'sProseLifehadbeenwritten,4' andthepeople, no doubt, regarded it, as a memorial of his punishment.
I well know, it shall not profit thee to go to thy destined place," said Senan,
238 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, [March 8.
After these things occurred, returning from an assembly of the chieftains, which had been held in Corcomroe, Mactail learned the death of his magus.
He hastened immediately to Iniscatthy, where, in a frenzy of rage and im-
patience, he said to Senan " Art thou the man, who hath possessed my
:
lands, I being opposed to thy desires ? art thou the person, who caused the death of my magus and servant ? Know for certain, that thou shalt die the same kind of death ; for, a stone being tied to thy neck, in punishment for thy crimes, thou shalt be thrown into the sea. " St. Senan replied, that the chief had not power to execute this threat ; when, as if forgetful of himself, Mactail ordered the saint to feed and attend to the horses, committed to his charge. The saint returned for answer, that he was neither a stall-keeper noragroom; but,Mactalius—ashisnameisLatinized—replied,thatwhether he would or not. he must take charge of the horses, until Mactail returned from a
hewasabouttoundertake. Senan "The ofGodisable journey said, power
to prevent you from returning hither. " While Mactalius and the saint were engaged in this controversy, and while the former urged Senan with threats and insults ; those two horses, which had been the cause of litigation, by a decree of heaven, are said to have been swallowed up in the earth, at a place
"
When word of this event had been brought by a messenger, the dynast felt
through
afte:rwards called, Fan-na-neach. ^^ which signifies,
the trench of the horses. "
more enraged, although his son endeavoured to appease him, and to advise, that he should act more respectfully towards God's holy servant, and, fear Divine punishment, by the example of those things, which he had hitherto seen. The inexorable and im])ious Mactalius replied, that he no more feared Senan and than he did a shorn " said Senan, "
God, sheep. Then,"
the disposition of the Almighty, in my regard, this inoffensive animal can be the cause and instrument of thy death. " '^3 After many insults, threats and blasphemies, the obstinate tyrant took his departure, full of pride and anger, resuming his journey. While near a certain wood, in Corcobaskind territory, he saw a shorn sheep running with great speed, until it rushed under the feet of the horses, yoked to his chariot. Being affrighted, these horses reared and broke their yokes, when the chariot was overturned. Mactalius fell headlong upon a rock, and was instantly killed, on the spot. "** Thus, his wicked soul was sent unprepared and suddenly, to meet the judgment which awaited him. 45
One day, St. Donnan,^^ the son of Lieth, and a disciple to St. Senan,^?
*' See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," viii. Martii. Vita S. Senani, cap. xxxi. , xxxii. , pp. 530, 531.
ceded the present narrative,
'*5 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctoram,"
tomus i. , Martii viii. Vita Secunda S.
^^ The tradition of this
served, and it is shown in a diagram, pre- pared by Mr. O'Donovan, to illustrate his description. Fan-na-neach is shown, west of some effaced churches, on Scattery Island.
^3 See "The Legend of Iniscatthy" in
num.
to
Duffy's
l> P%38' 4+ The
"
Hibernian Magazine," vol. i. , No. ^
** Colgan supposes this saint to have been
a nephew to Senan, and son to that com-
passionate brother, Lieth, already mentioned
in our Saint's Acts.
There are at least three
saints, bearing this name, mentioned in the
Irish Calendars; viz. , St. Donnan, Martyr,
whose
llibernia;," viii. Martii, n. 23, p. 536.
'^ In the Metrical Life, St. Donnan seem? to have been aUuded to, as " Sancti Senani patruus," where the relation of an incident,
account of Mactalius' punishment and tyranny is to be found, in Colg;'n's "Acta Sanctorum Ilibernice,"
Martii viii. Vita Metrica S. Senani, cap. xiv. , XV. , pp. 519, 520. Some of those cir- cumstances, as found in St. Senan's Prose Life, are not given in his Metrical Acts; and, in the latter, this chief's proper name is not noted. Also, through the carelessness of a transcriber, many particulars appear to have been omitted, which immediately prC"
feast is kept on the 17th of April
foregoing
; St. Donnan, Confessor, whose feast is assigned to the iith of August; and St. Donnan, Priest, whose iesiival is held on the 26th of April. The saint, mentioned in the text, is supposed to have been either of the two latter. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum
place
is still
pre-
Senani, cap. v. , 775.
30
38, pp. 774,
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 239
being accompanied by two boys, who were engaged in study with him, went to a certain rock, which was out in the sea, and for the purpose of collecting shell-fish. Having left those boys there, he returned to the island ; mean- time, the ocean-tide had taken away an only boat, which remained to remove them. The' boys were drowned, on the rising of the waves ; but, their bodies, together with the boat, were afterwards washed ashore, on the island. When the parents and friends of those boys heard what had occurred, they ran, to the spot. With tears and wailing, they demanded of the saint, that their lost children should be restored to them alive. Then St. Senan said to
Donnan " Command the deceased boys, in the name of the Saviour, that
:
they may immediately come to me. " When he had done, as directed, the boys were immediately restored to life and strength. Running towards St.
Senan, and to the embrace of their parents, these they reproached, for having been tlie cause of their withdrawal from a happy state, in which lately they
had been. Their mothers then said
:
" Had you rather live in these regions,
than upon earth, with your friends and kindred ? " To these queries, their
children replied, that if they possessed the whole world, with all its pleasures
and luxuries, they would only consider it as a prison, in which they were confined, while reflecting on the loss of those delights they had already ex-
perienced. Wherefore, they earnestly requested, that it might be permitted them, to repossess their former state of felicity. They promised their parents,
likewise, that through God's goodness, these should sorrow no more, on their account. The parents, on their part, assenting to those wishes, in the name of the Lord, St. Senan ratified the promise of their children. Those were brought to his monastery, where they received Holy Communion. la a short time, afterwards, with acts of thanksgiving and of holy joy, those boys slept in the Lord, and their bodies were buried in the cemetery, near the monastery. They were the first deposed within that graveyard, and they were interred in a conspicuous place, before the entrance. ^^
Saints Kieran and Brendan,49 being admonished by an angel, had also visited St. Senan, whom they chose as their spiritual director. 5° The abbot of Iniscatthy received them with due honour ; but, after they had been to
given in the text, is almost similar,
** See ibid. Vita Secunda S. Senani, cap. XXXV. , p. 531, and Vita Metrica S.
spoken of, it would appear, that they were both abbots, and lived not very far from each other. This, he thinks, will not answer for Brendan of Clonfert, who was not abbot
Senani, cap. xii. , pp. 522, 523.
^' These saints are supposed to have been thei-e, until after Kieran's death. Nor is
St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise, whose feast is
kept on the Qlh of September, and St.
Brendan of Birr, whose festival is observed
on the 29th of November. However, Colgan
thinks, that Brendan of Clonfert, whose ments of Inisaingin and Clonmacnois, feast is kept on the i6th of May, was the
saint here mentioned, because of allusion to
a custom, peculiar to saints of this age ; each
one of whoni desired to select a certain
spiritual director, and confessor, "a quo person, who then accompanied Kieran. lie
aguita culpa, et confessis suis excessibus,
negligentiis et peccatis recipiebat peniten-
tiam : et hunc Scotice vocabunt anamchara,
i. e. , sinedrum, spiritualem amicum, seu Kieran was still abbot of Inis-aingin, when Patrem. " Ibid. , viii. Martii, n. 12, p, 535. he set out for Iniscatthy, Birr lies not much
5° Dr. Tanigan remarks, that if the out of the road, by which he must have
Brendan, who on another occasion M'aitcd, togethcrwith Kieran, on Senan, was Brendan of Clonfert, it should follow, that Senan was born prior to 484, being represented as older than Brendan of Birr ; whereas, from the manner, in which Kieran and Brendan are
passed, so that he and Brendan might, with little inconvenience, liave met for the pur- pose of travelling together. See " Ecclcsi- astical History of Ireland," vol, ii. , chap,
xi. , sect, iv. , n. 28, pp. 91, 92.
S' See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
there any account of his having been, prior to his settling at Clonfert, abbot anywhere else in Ireland, at least in those parts, which were not far distant from Kieran's establish-
Brendan of Clonfert was probably in Brittany, at the time of this visit to Senan, Now, every circumstance accords with the supposition, that Brendan of Birr was the
was, in all probability, an abljot before Kieran died. Birr is within a few miles from Clonmacnois, and if we should suppose that
240 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
confession with him, the monastic steward came to announce, that no pro- visions were to be found in the cellar, for the refreshment of their guests and brethren. Senan replied, that nothing should be wanting, for those who fearedGod. HeexhortedtheholystrangerstohopeintheLord,andtobe of good cheer, since, provisions should be procured for them and for his brethren, through the bounty of Providence. It chanced, that Nectan Kernn- fhoda. Prince of Y-figinte, miraculously admonished of this exigency, ordered his steward to bestow on Senan and the other servants of God, in Iniscatthy, stores of food and drink, which had been prepared for his own table. The steward executed these commands, and the prince himself proceeded to the island port, in a boat, which contained his offerings. The saintly abbot and his guests went out to meet him, while the former returned most grateful thanks, for this gift. The chieftain placed himself under the prayers and protection of those holy men, asking their benediction for himself and on his posterity. Filled with the spirit of prophecy, St. Senan predicted, that to him and to his seed, the Almighty had decreed the government of a pro- vince. He also dismissed this prince with his blessing. St. Senan and his guests then sat down to dinner. During the time of this meal, a bell mira- culously descended from heaven. It was the subject of great astonishment, to all who were present; and, the disciples Of those tliree saints, Senan,
Kieran, and Brendan, raised a question among themselves, as to which of their masters that gift belonged. Each of the disciples supposed this bell
had been intended for his own superior.
to his " Let us arise and guests :
To end this doubt, St. Senan said
and let the bell to whomsoever belong
depart,
its sound shall follow. " *They obeyed, when the sound of this bell was found
only to follow St. Senan, to whom it was then adjudged, as the proper owner. Those three saints then embraced each other, Kieran and Brendan having formed a firm alliance of friendship with St. Senan. His guests then took leave of him, much edified with what they had seen and heard. s'
At one time, Iniscatthy Island and the adjoining country suffered much, owing to a want of fresh water ; and this complaint was one of daily occur- rencetothesaint,onthepartofhismonks. TheangeloftheLordappeared to our abbot, during sleep, and directed, that he should go to a certain place, in that neighbourhood, where God's bounty would furnish a well of pure water. Our holy abbot obeyed, and according to the angel's mandate, he rooted up the earth there, with the end of his staff. Immediately, a stream of limpid water began to flow. s* The angel declared, moreover, that so long as they should persevere in penance and true compunction of heart, on Iniscathy Island, this fountain could not be exhausted. On its brink, St. Senan set down the staff, with which it had been dug. This staff afterwards grew into a hazel-tree, which was pointed out, at that time, when the author of St. Senan's Prose Life wrote his account of the transaction. 53
niae," viii. Martii. Vita Secunda S. Senani, cap. xxxvi. , pp. 531, 532, and Vita Metrica S. Senani, cap. xvii. , p. 520. Both accounts are essentially the same, as to the former part of those various incidents related. The name of Prince Nectan Kenn-fhoda is alone men- tioned, in the Prose Life. The miracle, re- ferring to the bell, however, is only to be found, in St. Senan's Metrical Life.
Clare, by W. F. Wakeman, and now pre- served in the Royal Irish Academy, the
following five subjects refer to Iniscathy. I. The Round Tower of Scattery Island,
2. The large church of Scattery. 3. St. Cinan's Church, Scattery. 4. The door- way of the Round Tower of Scattery. 5.
Thedoor-wayof the great church on Scattery Island. These sketches, like all others by the same artist, are exceeding beautiful ; but, nevertheless, tlie present ones, although very carefully outlined, are not highly finished.
53 jjee
^-
It must have been intended, by this
account, to designate the well on Iniscathy "
Island, called Tober Sheanain," which is yet to be seen there. Among the sketches of Antiquities, illustrating the county of
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 241
CHAPTER IV.
THE QUESTION OF ST. SENAN's EPISCOPACY, AND HIS OFFICE OF ABBOT, AT INISCATTERY—> ENQUIRY AS TO WHETHER HE HAD BEEN ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH—HIS STRICT MONASTIC DISCIPLINE—HIS MIRACULOUS POWERS—ANTIQUITIES ON BISHOP's ISLAND.
It is supposed, by Dr. Lanigan, that Senan became a bishop, when his estab- lishment was founded at Iniscatthy ; and, most probably, even some time before it, owing to the circumstance of his having previously given the veil to the dynast Brendan's daughters, while he was living at Inisluinge, We are not informed, regarding the time when, or the bishop by whom, he had been consecrated. ' According to some historians,^ St. Senan founded Inis- cathy monastery, before St. Patrick's arrival in Munster ; but, it is easy to discover, how incorrect such a conclusion must be. The opinion of Dr. Lanigan is, that Senan had been rather advanced in life, when he settled on Iniscathy ; a supposition even is entertained of his being not less than fifty years of age, at that time. 3
After dwelling on circumstances, connected with the baptism of the Thomond people by St. Patrick, and on his pri^'Jiction regarding a successor, it is clear, in certain passages of St. Senan's Acts,'* no more is meant, than that instead of St. Patrick, who acted then as universal bishop over all Ireland, and
accordingly over Thomond, this district should have, after some years, a bishop of its own, and who might very justly be styled a successor to the Irish
Apostle, s Yet, it has been understood, by some writers,^ as if Senan had succeeded St. Patrick, at Armagh. While he rejected this fable, Ussher fell into a mistake, almost equally unfounded. He supposed, that Senan having been spoken of as a successor to St. Patrick, the latter had been at Iniscatthy, and must have acted there as bishop, for a considerable time. ' Yet, from the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick,^ and from the Second Life of St. Senan, it is evident, that St. Patrick did not visit the country about Iniscatthy, although he took care to supply the inhabitants with religious teachers. 9
Certain writers conform to an opinion, that St. Patrick predicted Senan should succeed him in the episcopacy,^° and that his prophecy was accordingly fulfilled. " Among these are Richard Whitford,^^ the Carthusian Martyrology of Newport, in England, and Albert le Grand. '3 Moreover, it is thought to
nise," viii. Martii. Vita Secunda S. Senani, tur ;" and, according to this, a bishop could cap. xxxvii. , p. 532, and Vita Metrica S. be said to succeed other bishops, although Senani, cap. xxv—. , p. 523. not attached to the same See.
'
Chapter IV. See Dr. Lanigan's Ec-
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. X. , sect, i. , pp. 3, 4, and n. 20, p. 7.
*
See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "His- toryofIreland,"vol. iii. , bookvii. , chap. vi. , p.
