Therewereseveralancientroads
even yet traceable—leading from the royal residence at Tara, and in different directions.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
ii.
, chap, xvi.
, p.
283.
5^ Edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , M. R. I. A.
5* The Irish has been published, with an English translation, by the Irish Archaeolo- gical and Celtic Society, a. d. 1862, inSvo.
97 "Early these men quaff their met-
heglin
They are the congregation of Cair-
nech,
—Seepp. 14, 15.
s' Seepp. xiv. , xv. , n. 60.
s' In the Feilire of St. . ^nghus, his death
is thus recorded : " The illustrious death of Carneach, the truly powerful. "
'°° The following gloss is added to the Feilire: "i. e. , Carnech of Tuilen, in the neighbourhood of Cenannas (Kells). " See " Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. Ixxxvii.
'°' See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. Ixxx,
"= Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
'°3 There, the entry seems to read CAi|\ni5. o ctnLen, probably a mistake of the scribe, writing in the last word the initial c for c.
'°'t Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 132, 133. There is also an entry of Cai]\- neAC—16 Mali, in Appendix to the Intro- duction, p. xlvii.
'°s jjee " Historise Catholicse Ibernias Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50.
^°^ See Rev. Dr. Oliver's " Monasticon Dioecesis Exoniensis. "
'°7 Thus: "in Hibernia quoque Natale Sanctorum Confessorum Carnich et Finn- guin. "—BishopForbes'"KalendarsofScot- tish Saints," p. 13.
;
;
while the Kalen-
484
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 16.
The remains of a chapel, said to have been dedicated to St. Carnac,'°^ were to be seen on the Haiigh of Laithers, opposite the Boat of Magie, in the parish of Turriff. '°9 At Llangrannog, a fair is annually held on the 27th of May, which according to the old style is the saint's feast. "°
Article V St. Odhran, Priest. The Martyrology of Tallagh' merely enters the name of Odran, Sac, for Sacerdos, Priest, at the i6th of May. ^ From the date afterwards given, if reliable, it appears possible to determine tlie era when he lived ; however, the family relationship may be withsomeotherbearingasimilarname. TheHistoryoftheSaintsstates, that Odhran, son of Beoaedh, brother to Ciaran ofCluain,3 was a noble priest. The BoUandists,* however, who notice the Priest Odranus, at this date, think him to have been the one so called with an epithet " the wise" added, who was the son of Mac-crath,5 and Abbot of Leilter-Odhrain in Muscraighe,^ and whose feast is referred to the 2nd or 26th of October. On the i6th of May, the INIartyrology of Donegal ^ enters a festival in honour of Odhran, Priest.
Article VI. St. Ernan, Son of Aedh. The name of Ernan mac Aodha appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the i6th of May. ^ The Bollandists3 reproduce this entry, likewise, for the same day. The O'Clerys suppose, that this was Ernin, son of Aedh, descended from the race of
Irial, son of Conall Cearnach. That Saint Ernan belonged to the northern half of Ireland; and, he appears to have been distinguished, as one of the clerics, to whom the Roman clergy addressed a celebrated letter,* in reference to the Paschal controversy. s He is said to have flourished, about the year 660, and tohavediedonthei6thofMay. ^ Wefindrecorded,also,intheMartyro- logyofDonegal,^thatonthisdaywasvenerated,Ernan. sonofAedh. We do not find any other Ernan, son of Aedh, in the Saint History of Ireland,^ state the O'Clerys.
ArticleVII. St. Duthracht,ofLiathDroma. Atthe16thofMay, the published Martyrology of Tallagh ' registers Duathracht, Liath Droma, or
'°® See ibid. , p. 298.
'°9 See " New Statistical account of Scot- land," Aberdeen, p. 993.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Maii xvi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 559. •a. d. 640. See this incomplete epistle in Ussher's Veterum Epistolarum Hibernicarum
Syllofje," Epist. ix. , pp. 22. 23.
5 See the Life of St. Diman or Dima
Dubh, Bishop of Connor, at the 6th of Januar}', in the First Volume of this work, Art. i.
"° See Rev. S. Baring-Gouid's " Lives of the Saints," vol. v. . May i6tli, p. 215.
Article v. —' Edited by Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
' Tlie Franciscan copy enters OTDlijAAn Sac.
3 He flourished in the sixth century, and his festival occurs, at the 9th of September.
' See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Iliber- * See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Mail nire," vi, Tanuarii. Vita S. Dimani, n. II,
xvi. Amonr; the prctcriuittcd saints, p. 561. S Son of Trocall, son to Ksamon, &c. ®See Coltjan's "Acta Sanctorum I liber-
niae," Mariii viii. Appendix ad Acta S. Scnani, cap. iii. , p. 542, rcctc 538.
7 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 132. 133-
p. 17.
? Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
132, 133-
** In a note, Dr. Todd says, at Saiut
Ifistoty, " On ' Naomhseanchus,' a Poetical account of the Saints of Ireland ; the same probably which was just before quoted, under the title of Scanchus na Naomh, or History of the Saints. "
Article vil— ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
Article vi. —' Kelly, p. xxiv.
Edited by Rev. Dr. " The Franciscan copy has it e^^nAr> niAc
May i6. 1 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
48s
of Lieth Droma. 2 The Franciscan copy has a similar entry. 3 The BoUan- dists 4—quoting from the same source at this date—have Duthractus de Lieth-druim. We find mentioned, in the Martyrology of Donegal, 5 that on thisdayafestivalwascelebrated,inhonourofDuthrachtofLiathdruim. It is difficult to state, in what part of Ireland this place is to be found. I think, adds the calendarist, that this is Durthacht, son of Trichim, of Caon-druim, brother of Dichic, sou of Fiatach Finn, Monarch of Erin ; and, I suppose, that it is at Teamhair, or near to Teamhair, he is,^ for Liath-druim ^ and Driumcaoin are names of Teamhair. This is further confirmed, by the autho- rity of Dr. JohnO'Donovan, who, rendering Liathdruim into the English equiva- lent as the Grey Ridge, states, that it was one of the ancient names of Tara Hill. ^ Here is still to be seen the triple enclosure of the Farradh, or princi-
Principal Mound on Tara Hill, County of Meath.
pal mound, with an upright pillar-stone standing in the centre, which was supposed by Dr. George Petrie 9 and by Dr. John O'Donovan to be the celebrated Lia Fail, or Stone of Destin)7,'° so well known in connexion with
^ MS. Calendar of Professor Eugene O'Curry.
3 Thus : t)uc1n\Aclic tiAc1i "OiAoniA.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tonius iii. ,
Mali xvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
P- 559-
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
"Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. xviii. , No. ii. , p. 108.
® See his edition of the " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (f), p. 622.
5 The laborious process by which Dr. George Petrie prepared for the ilhistration of tlie History and Antiquities of Tara Hill is pleasini^'ly and gracefully set forth in Dr. William Stokes' " Life and Labours in Art and Archaeology, of George Petrie, LL. D! ," chap, v. , pp. 109 to 121.
'° These objects—with the Rath of Hos- tages to the left—have been sketched on the spot, by William F. Wakeman, and after-
130, 131-
* In a note, Dr. Todd here says :
" He is,
means buried or venerated. "
^ This denomination is said to have been
derived from Liath, the son of Laighne Leathan-Ghlas. See Dr. George Petrie, on the History and Antiquities of Tara Hill.
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 1
the history of these Islands. Towards the south-east of those objects was the Teach Cormaic," or House of Cormac ; and, between them, it is sup- posedtheruinsofTeamur"orTaralay.
Therewereseveralancientroads even yet traceable—leading from the royal residence at Tara, and in different directions. To the north was the Slighe Fan na g-Carbad, or Slope of the Chariots. The upright obeliscal pillar-stone '3 oa the Hill of Tara is said to have been a monument of pagan antiquity : and, it has been identified with the Lia Fail or Stone of Destiny. '-* The Irish writers call it ati idol-stone. There are various earth-mounds and other objects, which are severally named, and which undoubtedly belong to a very ancient origin. Thus, approaching the Hill from the north, we find the site of the Teach Miodhchuarta. 's or Great Banqueting Hall ;'^ and, in the adjoining field is Rath Caelcon, while beyond this are the remains of two circular Duns ;'? towards the south, we pass into the great oval enclosure of Rath na Riogh,'^ or the King's Rath, and within its northern boundary is pointed out Dumha na-Ngiall,'9 or Mound of the Hostages ; ascending the slope towards the south we gain the summit, crowned by Rath na Seanadh,^° or Rath of the Synods, sometimes called the King's Chair,^' and the highest spot upon the Hill, being 512 feet above the sea-level. From the centre of the Forradh on the one side, and from the Rath na Seanadh on the other, we obtain most extensive views of the
486
wards drawn on the wood, in the accom- panying illustration, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
" It was joined to the Forradh by a com- mon parapet, and it may be described as a double enclosure, the rings of which, upon the western side, become connected. Its diameter is about 140 feet. See William F. Wakem. an's " Hand-Book of Irish Antiqui- ties," part i. , chap, iv. , p. 43.
"Thisnameis saidtohavebeenderived from a fortress, in which the Milesian Queen Tea resided. See Sir William Wilde's " Beauties of the Boyne, and its Tributary, the Blackwater," chap, v. , p. 124.
'3 It lay in a prostrate position, probably for many centuries, until removed shortly after 1798, when it was set up as a monument to mark the grave of those insurgents who fell there at that memorable period.
'*ByDr. George Petrie, in his Essay on the History and Antiquities of Tara 1 1 ill. See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Aca- demy," vol. xviii. Antiquities, No. iii. , pp. 1 60 to 1 62. On the latter page a fine wood- cut illustration of it is presented.
and his relative obligations to them, his cus- toms and refections, his stipends and pre- sents. See pp. 8 to II, 38, 39, 136, 137, 142, 143, 176 to 191, 23810 269,
'* Here, it is thought, the Feis Teamhrach was held.
'' These are greatly obliterated by planta- tions ; one of these is Rath-Grainne, while the other is now scarcely perceptible. The small well, Tober Finn, is near.
'^ It is called, likewise, the CathairofCro- finn. It measures upwards of 280 yards in length, in its longest dimensions, and it is the most extensive of all the circles at Tara. Inseveralplaces,it isoblitered.
'9 This is a small circular moat, and so named in memory of the hostages which were taken from the different provinces. On this formerly lay the monolith, supposed by Dr. Petrie to have been the Lia Fail, or Stone of Destiny.
^° This presents a double line of circum- vallation. The eastern side has been cut oflf by the adjoining churchyard. It is said the tent of Adamnan had been pitched there, and, it is probable, in Christian times, some of the Tara Synods were there held.
'S This is a deep excavation, nmning north
and south, with parallel sides, and rising up
a gentle ascent of the Hill. It is 360 feet
long, and 40 wide. The sides are formed of of these is a flat pillar-stone, about six feet
a raised mur, or earth embankment. Here
and there are gaps or excavations, supposed
to have corresponded with doors, which led
into the great Hall. In Dr. O'Donovan's
edition of the leAbliAjxtiA 5-CeA]\c, or the
" Book of Rights," we have an account of Grange—may be seen. It is sup])osed, to
various tributes in cattle and provisions due to the King of Tara, with his obligations to entertain provincial kings, and their privi- leges at the feast ; also his tributes and rents from the provincial chiefs, his prerogatives,
have been one of the two druidical stones, called Bloc and Bluicini, which opened out to admit the king's chariot, at his corona- tion.
" Here, it is said, that King Laoghairc was
'' Within tlie churchyard enclosure, there aresomeobjectsofantiquarianinterest. One
high, supposed to be the shaft of St. . \iam- nan's cross ; and, on iis western face is carved in relief a rude human figure, about eighteen inches high. In its vicinity, a short pillar- stone—not unlike some of those at New
—6
——
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 487
the great Meathian plains. The Rath of Laoghaire^^ is shown on the slope of the Hill, towards the south, and about one quarter of a mile distant is the Rath of Queen Maeve, among some trees, crowning an adjoining elevation. To the east of the Forradh, and immediately adjoining the road, is the Well of Neamhnach, or Newnagh, a beautiful spring formerly shaded by a magnifi- cent ash tree, and over it the roots still stretch, ^3 No less than four distinct Liathdruims are mentioned, in the Annals of the Four Masters,^'^ viz. : first, that now known as Tara Hill, in the cqunty of Meath ; secondly, that situated in Dealbhna-Eathra ; thirdly, that in Clanrickard ; and fourthly, that in West Brefney. It seems impossible now to state, with which—if indeed with any —of them, the present holy man had been connected.
Article VHI. —St. Maclaisre, Abbot of Bangor, County of Down. TheMartyrologyofTallagh^ recordsthissaint,atthei6thofMay,asMac Lasre, Abbot of Bangor. ^ At the same date, tlie Bollandists 3 enter Maclas- rius, Abbas Benchorensis, in Ultonia. Allusion is made to him, by Father John Colgan,'^ as having died, during the reigns ofConalland Kellach, joint sovereigns over Ireland. The " Chronicum Scotorum "s places the death of Mac Laisre, Abbot of Bennchair, at a. d. 644, the year when it is stated Bede was born. ^ On this day, Mac Laisre departed to a brighter and a better world, in the year 645, according to the Annals of Ulster, and of the Four ]\Iasters. 7 The Martyrology of Donegal ^ registers on this day, as having veneration paid him, Alaclaisre, Abbot of Bennchor.
Article IX. St. Boetius, also called Breg-boesach, Son of Brondius. Venerationwasgivenatthisdate,aswereadintheMartyrology of Tallagh,^ to a St. Boetius, whose name was also Breg-boesach, the son of Brondius. * The Bollandists,3 who quote the same authority, suppose him to be the Boetius, son of Bronaigh, mentioned by Prince O'Donnell, in his Life of St. Columkille,'* and whose feast is set down, at the 7th of December.
Article X. St. Mochamail. We find the simple entry, Mochamail, inserted in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the i6th of May. ^ Quoting the
buried, and in a standing position. some authorities ; while others have 674, ^3 See Sir William R. Wilde's "Beauties Following the reasoning of Pagi, Mr.
oftheBoyne, and its Tributary, the Black- water," chap, v. , pp. 122 to 126.
^^ See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. vii. , Index, p. 77.
Article viii. —'Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
^ The Franciscan copy has 1T1ac LAi'i\e Abb beAnn.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Mali xvi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 559.
= The Franciscan copy has boecn, i. e. , Martii xxx. Vita S. Mochuse sive Cronani cunif nomen e]\AC b]\e5 befAch pin
4 See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
Abb. Ballensis, n. 24, p. 792.
5 See William M. Hennessey's edition,
pp. 88, 89.
^ The year for this event, however, has
been referred to 672 or 673, according to
b]\oiin.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Mali xvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 561.
" See lib. i.
Stevenson has adopted the latter chronology, See Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy's " Descrip- tive Catalogue of Materials relating to the History of Great Britain and Ireland," vol. i. , parti. , p. 446.
'' See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 258, 259, and n. (r). Ibid.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 130,131. —
Article ix. ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
p. 559. Article XI.
—
' See "Acta Sancto- rum," tomus iii. , Maii XVI. Among the pre-
———
488 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
same record, at this date, the BoUandists 3 enter Mochamalius, but without any attempt to assign the place where he was venerated, or the period when he flourished.
ArticleXI. St. Finntan,ofCluanaCruaich. ThenameFinntan, of Cluana Cruaich, appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the i6th of May. - WefindthefeastofFintanusdeCluain-Cruaich,onthesameautho- rity, entered by tlie BoUandists, 3 at this day. He is noticed, by Father John Colgan,4 in Uke manner ; but, without giving indication of his family, place, or period.
Article XII. St. Fionnchadh, Bishop. An entry is found, regard- ing Findchad, a Bishop, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the i6th of May. * TheBoUandists3 simplynoteFindchadusEpiscopus,fromthesamesource, and for the same date. On this day was venerated Fionnchadh, Bishop, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal. *
ArticleXIII. FeastoftheTranslationorElevationofthe Relics of Saints Columban, Eustasius and Waldebert. At the i6th of May, the BoUandists ' insert a festival, which commemorates the Transla- tion or Elevation of the Relics of Saints Columban,^ Eustasius 3 and Walde- bert. *
Article XIV. St. Tricius, Bishop and Confessor, in Scotia. The English Martyrology enters a St. Tricius, a Bishop, at the i6th of May, according to Father Henry Fitzsimon, who notes him among the Irish Saints. However, the BoUandists ' deny, that Tricius is to be found, in either edition of the " Martyrologium Anglicanum," or even in the Tallagh Martyrology, although they insert, at this date, Tricius, Episcopus et Confessor in Scotia. ' In the anonymous catalogue, published by O'SuUevan Beare,3 a Tricius is en- tered at the same date.
Article XV. Reputed Feast of St. Bertin, Abbot and Apostle, Belgium. In his " Menologium Scoticum," Thomas Dempster enters ' a
Article x. — ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
- The Franciscan copy enters also modia- mAiL
3 See "Acta Sanctorum,"' tomus iii. , Maii xvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Maii xvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 559.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
'
Edited by Rev. Dr.
termitted feasts, p. 559.
* His feast occurs, at the 21st of Novem-
ber, where his Life will be found.
3 \\\^ festival belongs to the 29th of
March, where his Life has been given, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. v.
Article xiv. —
rum," tomus iii. , Maii xvi.
5^ Edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , M. R. I. A.
5* The Irish has been published, with an English translation, by the Irish Archaeolo- gical and Celtic Society, a. d. 1862, inSvo.
97 "Early these men quaff their met-
heglin
They are the congregation of Cair-
nech,
—Seepp. 14, 15.
s' Seepp. xiv. , xv. , n. 60.
s' In the Feilire of St. . ^nghus, his death
is thus recorded : " The illustrious death of Carneach, the truly powerful. "
'°° The following gloss is added to the Feilire: "i. e. , Carnech of Tuilen, in the neighbourhood of Cenannas (Kells). " See " Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. Ixxxvii.
'°' See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. Ixxx,
"= Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
'°3 There, the entry seems to read CAi|\ni5. o ctnLen, probably a mistake of the scribe, writing in the last word the initial c for c.
'°'t Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 132, 133. There is also an entry of Cai]\- neAC—16 Mali, in Appendix to the Intro- duction, p. xlvii.
'°s jjee " Historise Catholicse Ibernias Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50.
^°^ See Rev. Dr. Oliver's " Monasticon Dioecesis Exoniensis. "
'°7 Thus: "in Hibernia quoque Natale Sanctorum Confessorum Carnich et Finn- guin. "—BishopForbes'"KalendarsofScot- tish Saints," p. 13.
;
;
while the Kalen-
484
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 16.
The remains of a chapel, said to have been dedicated to St. Carnac,'°^ were to be seen on the Haiigh of Laithers, opposite the Boat of Magie, in the parish of Turriff. '°9 At Llangrannog, a fair is annually held on the 27th of May, which according to the old style is the saint's feast. "°
Article V St. Odhran, Priest. The Martyrology of Tallagh' merely enters the name of Odran, Sac, for Sacerdos, Priest, at the i6th of May. ^ From the date afterwards given, if reliable, it appears possible to determine tlie era when he lived ; however, the family relationship may be withsomeotherbearingasimilarname. TheHistoryoftheSaintsstates, that Odhran, son of Beoaedh, brother to Ciaran ofCluain,3 was a noble priest. The BoUandists,* however, who notice the Priest Odranus, at this date, think him to have been the one so called with an epithet " the wise" added, who was the son of Mac-crath,5 and Abbot of Leilter-Odhrain in Muscraighe,^ and whose feast is referred to the 2nd or 26th of October. On the i6th of May, the INIartyrology of Donegal ^ enters a festival in honour of Odhran, Priest.
Article VI. St. Ernan, Son of Aedh. The name of Ernan mac Aodha appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the i6th of May. ^ The Bollandists3 reproduce this entry, likewise, for the same day. The O'Clerys suppose, that this was Ernin, son of Aedh, descended from the race of
Irial, son of Conall Cearnach. That Saint Ernan belonged to the northern half of Ireland; and, he appears to have been distinguished, as one of the clerics, to whom the Roman clergy addressed a celebrated letter,* in reference to the Paschal controversy. s He is said to have flourished, about the year 660, and tohavediedonthei6thofMay. ^ Wefindrecorded,also,intheMartyro- logyofDonegal,^thatonthisdaywasvenerated,Ernan. sonofAedh. We do not find any other Ernan, son of Aedh, in the Saint History of Ireland,^ state the O'Clerys.
ArticleVII. St. Duthracht,ofLiathDroma. Atthe16thofMay, the published Martyrology of Tallagh ' registers Duathracht, Liath Droma, or
'°® See ibid. , p. 298.
'°9 See " New Statistical account of Scot- land," Aberdeen, p. 993.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Maii xvi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 559. •a. d. 640. See this incomplete epistle in Ussher's Veterum Epistolarum Hibernicarum
Syllofje," Epist. ix. , pp. 22. 23.
5 See the Life of St. Diman or Dima
Dubh, Bishop of Connor, at the 6th of Januar}', in the First Volume of this work, Art. i.
"° See Rev. S. Baring-Gouid's " Lives of the Saints," vol. v. . May i6tli, p. 215.
Article v. —' Edited by Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
' Tlie Franciscan copy enters OTDlijAAn Sac.
3 He flourished in the sixth century, and his festival occurs, at the 9th of September.
' See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Iliber- * See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Mail nire," vi, Tanuarii. Vita S. Dimani, n. II,
xvi. Amonr; the prctcriuittcd saints, p. 561. S Son of Trocall, son to Ksamon, &c. ®See Coltjan's "Acta Sanctorum I liber-
niae," Mariii viii. Appendix ad Acta S. Scnani, cap. iii. , p. 542, rcctc 538.
7 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 132. 133-
p. 17.
? Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
132, 133-
** In a note, Dr. Todd says, at Saiut
Ifistoty, " On ' Naomhseanchus,' a Poetical account of the Saints of Ireland ; the same probably which was just before quoted, under the title of Scanchus na Naomh, or History of the Saints. "
Article vil— ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
Article vi. —' Kelly, p. xxiv.
Edited by Rev. Dr. " The Franciscan copy has it e^^nAr> niAc
May i6. 1 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
48s
of Lieth Droma. 2 The Franciscan copy has a similar entry. 3 The BoUan- dists 4—quoting from the same source at this date—have Duthractus de Lieth-druim. We find mentioned, in the Martyrology of Donegal, 5 that on thisdayafestivalwascelebrated,inhonourofDuthrachtofLiathdruim. It is difficult to state, in what part of Ireland this place is to be found. I think, adds the calendarist, that this is Durthacht, son of Trichim, of Caon-druim, brother of Dichic, sou of Fiatach Finn, Monarch of Erin ; and, I suppose, that it is at Teamhair, or near to Teamhair, he is,^ for Liath-druim ^ and Driumcaoin are names of Teamhair. This is further confirmed, by the autho- rity of Dr. JohnO'Donovan, who, rendering Liathdruim into the English equiva- lent as the Grey Ridge, states, that it was one of the ancient names of Tara Hill. ^ Here is still to be seen the triple enclosure of the Farradh, or princi-
Principal Mound on Tara Hill, County of Meath.
pal mound, with an upright pillar-stone standing in the centre, which was supposed by Dr. George Petrie 9 and by Dr. John O'Donovan to be the celebrated Lia Fail, or Stone of Destin)7,'° so well known in connexion with
^ MS. Calendar of Professor Eugene O'Curry.
3 Thus : t)uc1n\Aclic tiAc1i "OiAoniA.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tonius iii. ,
Mali xvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
P- 559-
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
"Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. xviii. , No. ii. , p. 108.
® See his edition of the " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (f), p. 622.
5 The laborious process by which Dr. George Petrie prepared for the ilhistration of tlie History and Antiquities of Tara Hill is pleasini^'ly and gracefully set forth in Dr. William Stokes' " Life and Labours in Art and Archaeology, of George Petrie, LL. D! ," chap, v. , pp. 109 to 121.
'° These objects—with the Rath of Hos- tages to the left—have been sketched on the spot, by William F. Wakeman, and after-
130, 131-
* In a note, Dr. Todd here says :
" He is,
means buried or venerated. "
^ This denomination is said to have been
derived from Liath, the son of Laighne Leathan-Ghlas. See Dr. George Petrie, on the History and Antiquities of Tara Hill.
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 1
the history of these Islands. Towards the south-east of those objects was the Teach Cormaic," or House of Cormac ; and, between them, it is sup- posedtheruinsofTeamur"orTaralay.
Therewereseveralancientroads even yet traceable—leading from the royal residence at Tara, and in different directions. To the north was the Slighe Fan na g-Carbad, or Slope of the Chariots. The upright obeliscal pillar-stone '3 oa the Hill of Tara is said to have been a monument of pagan antiquity : and, it has been identified with the Lia Fail or Stone of Destiny. '-* The Irish writers call it ati idol-stone. There are various earth-mounds and other objects, which are severally named, and which undoubtedly belong to a very ancient origin. Thus, approaching the Hill from the north, we find the site of the Teach Miodhchuarta. 's or Great Banqueting Hall ;'^ and, in the adjoining field is Rath Caelcon, while beyond this are the remains of two circular Duns ;'? towards the south, we pass into the great oval enclosure of Rath na Riogh,'^ or the King's Rath, and within its northern boundary is pointed out Dumha na-Ngiall,'9 or Mound of the Hostages ; ascending the slope towards the south we gain the summit, crowned by Rath na Seanadh,^° or Rath of the Synods, sometimes called the King's Chair,^' and the highest spot upon the Hill, being 512 feet above the sea-level. From the centre of the Forradh on the one side, and from the Rath na Seanadh on the other, we obtain most extensive views of the
486
wards drawn on the wood, in the accom- panying illustration, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
" It was joined to the Forradh by a com- mon parapet, and it may be described as a double enclosure, the rings of which, upon the western side, become connected. Its diameter is about 140 feet. See William F. Wakem. an's " Hand-Book of Irish Antiqui- ties," part i. , chap, iv. , p. 43.
"Thisnameis saidtohavebeenderived from a fortress, in which the Milesian Queen Tea resided. See Sir William Wilde's " Beauties of the Boyne, and its Tributary, the Blackwater," chap, v. , p. 124.
'3 It lay in a prostrate position, probably for many centuries, until removed shortly after 1798, when it was set up as a monument to mark the grave of those insurgents who fell there at that memorable period.
'*ByDr. George Petrie, in his Essay on the History and Antiquities of Tara 1 1 ill. See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Aca- demy," vol. xviii. Antiquities, No. iii. , pp. 1 60 to 1 62. On the latter page a fine wood- cut illustration of it is presented.
and his relative obligations to them, his cus- toms and refections, his stipends and pre- sents. See pp. 8 to II, 38, 39, 136, 137, 142, 143, 176 to 191, 23810 269,
'* Here, it is thought, the Feis Teamhrach was held.
'' These are greatly obliterated by planta- tions ; one of these is Rath-Grainne, while the other is now scarcely perceptible. The small well, Tober Finn, is near.
'^ It is called, likewise, the CathairofCro- finn. It measures upwards of 280 yards in length, in its longest dimensions, and it is the most extensive of all the circles at Tara. Inseveralplaces,it isoblitered.
'9 This is a small circular moat, and so named in memory of the hostages which were taken from the different provinces. On this formerly lay the monolith, supposed by Dr. Petrie to have been the Lia Fail, or Stone of Destiny.
^° This presents a double line of circum- vallation. The eastern side has been cut oflf by the adjoining churchyard. It is said the tent of Adamnan had been pitched there, and, it is probable, in Christian times, some of the Tara Synods were there held.
'S This is a deep excavation, nmning north
and south, with parallel sides, and rising up
a gentle ascent of the Hill. It is 360 feet
long, and 40 wide. The sides are formed of of these is a flat pillar-stone, about six feet
a raised mur, or earth embankment. Here
and there are gaps or excavations, supposed
to have corresponded with doors, which led
into the great Hall. In Dr. O'Donovan's
edition of the leAbliAjxtiA 5-CeA]\c, or the
" Book of Rights," we have an account of Grange—may be seen. It is sup])osed, to
various tributes in cattle and provisions due to the King of Tara, with his obligations to entertain provincial kings, and their privi- leges at the feast ; also his tributes and rents from the provincial chiefs, his prerogatives,
have been one of the two druidical stones, called Bloc and Bluicini, which opened out to admit the king's chariot, at his corona- tion.
" Here, it is said, that King Laoghairc was
'' Within tlie churchyard enclosure, there aresomeobjectsofantiquarianinterest. One
high, supposed to be the shaft of St. . \iam- nan's cross ; and, on iis western face is carved in relief a rude human figure, about eighteen inches high. In its vicinity, a short pillar- stone—not unlike some of those at New
—6
——
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 487
the great Meathian plains. The Rath of Laoghaire^^ is shown on the slope of the Hill, towards the south, and about one quarter of a mile distant is the Rath of Queen Maeve, among some trees, crowning an adjoining elevation. To the east of the Forradh, and immediately adjoining the road, is the Well of Neamhnach, or Newnagh, a beautiful spring formerly shaded by a magnifi- cent ash tree, and over it the roots still stretch, ^3 No less than four distinct Liathdruims are mentioned, in the Annals of the Four Masters,^'^ viz. : first, that now known as Tara Hill, in the cqunty of Meath ; secondly, that situated in Dealbhna-Eathra ; thirdly, that in Clanrickard ; and fourthly, that in West Brefney. It seems impossible now to state, with which—if indeed with any —of them, the present holy man had been connected.
Article VHI. —St. Maclaisre, Abbot of Bangor, County of Down. TheMartyrologyofTallagh^ recordsthissaint,atthei6thofMay,asMac Lasre, Abbot of Bangor. ^ At the same date, tlie Bollandists 3 enter Maclas- rius, Abbas Benchorensis, in Ultonia. Allusion is made to him, by Father John Colgan,'^ as having died, during the reigns ofConalland Kellach, joint sovereigns over Ireland. The " Chronicum Scotorum "s places the death of Mac Laisre, Abbot of Bennchair, at a. d. 644, the year when it is stated Bede was born. ^ On this day, Mac Laisre departed to a brighter and a better world, in the year 645, according to the Annals of Ulster, and of the Four ]\Iasters. 7 The Martyrology of Donegal ^ registers on this day, as having veneration paid him, Alaclaisre, Abbot of Bennchor.
Article IX. St. Boetius, also called Breg-boesach, Son of Brondius. Venerationwasgivenatthisdate,aswereadintheMartyrology of Tallagh,^ to a St. Boetius, whose name was also Breg-boesach, the son of Brondius. * The Bollandists,3 who quote the same authority, suppose him to be the Boetius, son of Bronaigh, mentioned by Prince O'Donnell, in his Life of St. Columkille,'* and whose feast is set down, at the 7th of December.
Article X. St. Mochamail. We find the simple entry, Mochamail, inserted in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the i6th of May. ^ Quoting the
buried, and in a standing position. some authorities ; while others have 674, ^3 See Sir William R. Wilde's "Beauties Following the reasoning of Pagi, Mr.
oftheBoyne, and its Tributary, the Black- water," chap, v. , pp. 122 to 126.
^^ See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. vii. , Index, p. 77.
Article viii. —'Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
^ The Franciscan copy has 1T1ac LAi'i\e Abb beAnn.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Mali xvi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 559.
= The Franciscan copy has boecn, i. e. , Martii xxx. Vita S. Mochuse sive Cronani cunif nomen e]\AC b]\e5 befAch pin
4 See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
Abb. Ballensis, n. 24, p. 792.
5 See William M. Hennessey's edition,
pp. 88, 89.
^ The year for this event, however, has
been referred to 672 or 673, according to
b]\oiin.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Mali xvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 561.
" See lib. i.
Stevenson has adopted the latter chronology, See Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy's " Descrip- tive Catalogue of Materials relating to the History of Great Britain and Ireland," vol. i. , parti. , p. 446.
'' See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 258, 259, and n. (r). Ibid.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 130,131. —
Article ix. ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
p. 559. Article XI.
—
' See "Acta Sancto- rum," tomus iii. , Maii XVI. Among the pre-
———
488 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
same record, at this date, the BoUandists 3 enter Mochamalius, but without any attempt to assign the place where he was venerated, or the period when he flourished.
ArticleXI. St. Finntan,ofCluanaCruaich. ThenameFinntan, of Cluana Cruaich, appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the i6th of May. - WefindthefeastofFintanusdeCluain-Cruaich,onthesameautho- rity, entered by tlie BoUandists, 3 at this day. He is noticed, by Father John Colgan,4 in Uke manner ; but, without giving indication of his family, place, or period.
Article XII. St. Fionnchadh, Bishop. An entry is found, regard- ing Findchad, a Bishop, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the i6th of May. * TheBoUandists3 simplynoteFindchadusEpiscopus,fromthesamesource, and for the same date. On this day was venerated Fionnchadh, Bishop, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal. *
ArticleXIII. FeastoftheTranslationorElevationofthe Relics of Saints Columban, Eustasius and Waldebert. At the i6th of May, the BoUandists ' insert a festival, which commemorates the Transla- tion or Elevation of the Relics of Saints Columban,^ Eustasius 3 and Walde- bert. *
Article XIV. St. Tricius, Bishop and Confessor, in Scotia. The English Martyrology enters a St. Tricius, a Bishop, at the i6th of May, according to Father Henry Fitzsimon, who notes him among the Irish Saints. However, the BoUandists ' deny, that Tricius is to be found, in either edition of the " Martyrologium Anglicanum," or even in the Tallagh Martyrology, although they insert, at this date, Tricius, Episcopus et Confessor in Scotia. ' In the anonymous catalogue, published by O'SuUevan Beare,3 a Tricius is en- tered at the same date.
Article XV. Reputed Feast of St. Bertin, Abbot and Apostle, Belgium. In his " Menologium Scoticum," Thomas Dempster enters ' a
Article x. — ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
- The Franciscan copy enters also modia- mAiL
3 See "Acta Sanctorum,"' tomus iii. , Maii xvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Maii xvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 559.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
'
Edited by Rev. Dr.
termitted feasts, p. 559.
* His feast occurs, at the 21st of Novem-
ber, where his Life will be found.
3 \\\^ festival belongs to the 29th of
March, where his Life has been given, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. v.
Article xiv. —
rum," tomus iii. , Maii xvi.
