^ This parish is described on the " Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Roscommon, " sheets 40, 41, 42, 43,44.
nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Roscommon, " sheets 40, 41, 42, 43,44.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
136, 1 37.
* At fol. 39.
5 This, it appears from Dr. Todd's note, refers to a MS. , containing the Genealogy of the Kings and Saints of Ireland, preserved in the College of St. Isidore, Rome. See pp. 354, 355. Jl'iJ.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
bus iis in locis occisi aut exclusi fuerunt. "
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxii. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 125.
3 vjeevolumeiv. ofthiswork,atthe30th
of April, Ait. x.
Article viii. —' See "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus v. , Maii xxii. Among the pre- tcrinitted saints, p. 125.
Artule IX. — ' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 136, 137.
Article vi. — ' Kelly, p. XXV.
Edited
by Rev.
Dr.
" See Archdall's " Monaeticon Iliberni- cum,"p. 507.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iv. , pp. 1004, 1005, and n. (0, Jbid.
136, 137. — Article vii.
' In his " Menologium Scoticuir. . " There, he refers the reader to Pantaleonus, who in his Prosogr. iphia, pars i. , p. 284, enumerates Nortyla, without giving him the title of a saint, as fourth among the nine bishops of \'erden. Of these he remarks : '" Hi omnes tantum prcefuerunt ordine per annos XLViii. Nam ab infideli-
May 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
551
Ctaent|)4I)irtr ©ap of ilap.
ARTICLE I. —ST. GOBAN OF MAIRGE, OR GOIBHNENN OF TIGIF SCUITHIN, NOW TASCOFFIN, COUNTY OF KILKENNY.
{PROBABLY SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES. ^
ATthe 23rd of May, the Martyrology of Tallagh/ registers the name Goban Mairgi, of Tigh Scuithin. This place by some has been sup- posed to be identical with KiUeshin, in the barony of SHevemarigue, Queen's County ; but, this opinion is now clearly proved to have been a great mistake, although its real situation is not very far distant. The Bollandists ^ follow this authority, likewise, in entering Gobanus Mairgensis, of Tegh-Scuithin, or
of " the House of Scutliinus;"3 and, they remark, that among the disciples of St. Fursey * was a Gobhan, whom Colgan would not specify, among the seven different persons bearing this name, in the Irish Calendars. His family pedigree seemstobeunrecorded,oratleastitisnotknowntoexist. Bymostwriters, Tigh Scuithin, his place, was thought to have been situated, within the pre- sent barony of Sliavemarigue, in the Queen's County. An ingenious local topographer proves, however, that the former name is now resolved into Tas- coffin, a parish in the barony of Gowran, in the county of Kilkenny. s The Johnswell Mountains, in the neighbourhood, are simply a continuation of the SHevemarigue range ; and, it seems probable, they were formerly regarded, as forming a portion of the district, in which the latter was situated. This saint has been thought, most probably, to be identical with the Gobban, who governed the church of Old Leighlin, about the year 625, when St. Laserian^ returned from Rome. Entertaining a very high estimate of St. Laserian's merits, that Gobban resigned to him the monastery of Old Leighlin ; and, through love of greater retirement, possibly he moved southwartls over the mountain, until availing himself of the undisturbed seclusion of Tigh Suithin, or Tascoffin, he there remained, and spent the rest of his days. 7 If this con- jecture be correct, he must have flourished in the sixth and seventh centuries. A festival, in honour of this Gobban, or Goibhnenn, of Tigh Scuithin, is re- corded, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ at the present date.
Article II. —St. Comman. An entry of St. Comman is registered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 23rd of May. The Bollandists ^ quote
Article i. —' Kelly, p. XXV.
Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 234.
3 His Life will be found, in the First
"Volume of this work, at the 2nd of January, the day for his feast, Art. i.
-t See his Life, in the First Volume of this work, at the i6th of January, Art. i.
5 See a valuable series of papers by Mr. John Hogan intituled, " Topographical and
Historical Illustrations of the Suburbs of Kilkenny," published in " Proceedings and Papersof the Kilkenny and Soulh-Eastoflre- land ArchKological Society," January, 1S63. New Series, vol. iv. , part ii. , pp. 253, 254.
* See his Life already given, in the Fourth Volume of this work, at the i8th of April, Art. i. , chap. ii.
' See the article by Mr. John Hogan, already quoted, n. (4), pp. 253, 254.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 136, 137.
^ See "Acta
Edited by Rev. Dr.
552 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 23.
the same authority, for this insertion of his name, at this date. No place, genealogy, or title, is afforded to distinguish him, from others bearing a similar name. QuiteconvenienttotheDublinandWicklowRailway,andaboutone milefromthetownofRathdrum,theoldgraveyardofKilcommon3 riseson the side of a commanding hill. This place has been much used for inter- ments. Several old trees and bushes grow around it. On the north side, there are only a {tvi interments. On the south side, the graveyard is separated byadeeptrenchfromthefieldsadjoining. Anoldruinedchurchremainswithin the enclosure. The east end is partly standing and veiled over with thick ivy plants. 4 There is a small ruinous window in it, with a chiselled jam remaining, in which square punched holes are to be seen, as if intended for crossing iron
i:! ;^,rJfir"«i»ih. u. ;! ! ! J?
Kilcommon Old Church, County of Wicklow.
bars. A small square recess is in this same wall, and near the window. The window was about 3 feet, 4 inches, in length, and i foot, 6 inches in breadth. A mere fragment of the south walls continues to show the outline, and in it are the aj^parent traces of a window, not far from the earth. The remains of thewalls,levelledwiththeground,onlyrevealtheformerextentofthisoldchurch. Interiorly, it measures 40 feet in length, by 21 feet in breadth, and its walls wereovertwofeetinthickness. Thewallswerebuiltofgranite. s Ofcourse, it cannot be asserted, with any degree of certainty, this place had been con- nected with the present, or even with any one of the other eleven Comans or
Article ii. — ' Edited l)y Rev. Dr. quisitiones Cancellaricc Iliberniix^ Reper- Kelly, p. XXV. torium. ''
' See •' Acta S. iiictorum,'' tomus v. , Mail • These observations were made, during xxiii. Among the pretermiiled saints, a visit to the spot, in June, 1S71.
P- 234. s The accompanying illustration from a
' In the Inquisllions, taken in the time of sketch, taken by the writer on the spot, has James I. , at Wicklow, 18th December, been reproduced on the wood by William F. 1617, this place i^ writien Killc(;man. See Wakemau. It has been engraved by Mrs.
County of Wicklow, Lagenia vohime. " In- Millard.
——
May 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Commans, noted in our calendars, at different days of the year. We find the name Comman, also, simply entered in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ as having been venerated on this day.
Article III. St. Faolchon, or Faelchu. The Martyrology of Tallagh ' writes the name Faolchon, at the 23rd of May. The name of his place is not recorded, nor the time when he flourished. The BoUandists ^ have an entry, on the foregoing authority, of Foelchu, at the 23rd of May. On this day, also, Faelchu 3 was venerated, as we find registered, in the Martyrology of Donegal. '^
Article IV. St. Cremhthann, or Cremt^nd, of Magh Dumha. The Martyrology of Tallagh^ registers this name of Cremtand, at the 23rd of May. The place, with which he was connected, is called Maigh-Duma. The BoUandists ^ enter the festival of Crimthanus de Magh-dumha, likewise, at this date. The etymon Magh Dumha means the " Plain of the Mound. " It is said to be represented, in modern phraseology, by Moydow,3 or Moydoe, a parishinthebaronyofthesamename,inthecountyofLongford. ^ Thereis also a Moydow townland, in the parish of Kilmeane,^ and barony of Athlone, in the county of Roscommon. On this day, the Martyrology of Donegal ^ records the name of Cremhthann, of Magh Dumha, as having been venerated. A Magh Dumha, now called Moy, adjoins Charlemont, on the Tyrone side of the Blackwater. 7 Besides, we find a Moydough, in the parish of Kilfree,^ in the barony of Coolavin, and county of Sligo. Of this saint's personality, we have no further account.
Article V, St, Strofan or Straffan, of Cluan-Mor, probably Clonmore,CountyofCarlow. TherecordStrofanCluanaMoirisfound, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 23rd of May. The BoUandists^ reiterate this stateijient, by entering the present holy man as Stephanus Cluainmorensis. According to Colgan, a saint called Stephen was venerated, at this date, 3 in a
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. I36> 137. —
Article III. ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. XXV.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 234.
3 In a note. Dr. Todd says, at Faelchu : '•After this name, the more recent hand adds, in Roman characters, ' Suitbrectus, Ma- rian. '"
vol. iii. , n. (r), p. 464. Ibid.
^ This parish is described on the " Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Roscommon, " sheets 40, 41, 42, 43,44. The townland so called is marked on sheets 41, 4'! .
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 136, 137.
'' See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," \ol. 1. , n. (o), p. 492.
^ This parish is defined, on the " Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County Article iv. ' Edited by Rev. Dr. of Sligo," sheets 39, 43, 44, 45, 46. The
•• Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. I36> ^37- —
Kelly, p. XXV.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 234.
townland of Moydough is on sheet 44.
3 It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints,
Townland Maps for the County of Long- ford," sheets 18, 19. Moydow Glebe is marked on sheet 19.
^ See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (x), p. 670. Also,
p. 234.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise,"
xiii. Martii. Vita S. Mocboemoci, n. 17, p.
597.
* See the BoUandists' " Acta Sanctorum,"
— Article v. '
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxv.
^ See "Acta Sandorum," tomus v. ,
553
'
234.
—— —: —
554 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 23.
place called Cluainmhor, which was situated, he says, within the territory ot Ely O'Carroll. Other accounts, however, place his monastery in Lagenia or Leinster. -* There is a celebrated Clonmore, i. e. , "the Great Lawn, or Mea- dow," in the barony of Rathvilly, and county of Carlow. s What he states about this Stephen, Colgan advances, on the testimony of St. Mochemoc's Acts,^whichwehavealreadyrecorded,atthe13thdayofMarch. ? Aholy man of this name is found, where Duald Mac Firbis enters, under the head of Cuil Carra,^ Senach, son of Ecin, with Srafan, and Senchell, and Brodigan 9 —five bishops —and Aitecaem and Bishop Mac Cairthin, and Conlough and Brigid, in Cuil Carra. '° It is doubtful, however, if tlie Srafan here named be the same person as the present saint. We read, again, in the Martyrology of Donegal," that Sraffan, of Cluain-mor, was venerated on this day.
Article VI. Festival of St. Epectinus and Companions, Martyrs. In the " Feilire " of St. yEngus,' there is a festival at the 23rd of May, to commemorate the Martyrdom of Epecthitus,^ and his companions. The Bollandists,3 at this same date, give some records, contained in old Martyr- ologies, regarding these holy Martyrs yet, little seems to be known about
;
them and their Acts. They suffered for the Faith of Christ in Spain. The
Roman Martyrology commemorates them,* at the 23rd of May.
Article VII. St. Nechtlaice, or Xechtlic, Bishop. The name Nechtliacc, Bishop, is venerated, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 23rd ofMay. TheBollandists,^inlikemanner,commemoratedNechtlagiusEpis- copus,atthesamedate; but,wefindnomeansofknowingwhenheflourished, or where he presided over any See. It is entered, likewise, in the Martyr- ology of Donegal,3 that Nechtlic, Bishop, had a festival on this day.
tomus v. , Maii xxiii. Among the preter- mitted saints, p. 234.
5 Mr. John M'Call identifies this place with the present saint.
* See "Acta Sanctorum Hiliernice," xiii. Martii. Vila S. Mochoemoci, cap. xiii. , p. 591.
' 111 the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
^ Coolarn, near Galtrim, county of Meatli. William M. Hennc-sy's note.
9 Five bishops. Only four are men- tioned.
'" See " Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 102, 103.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 136,137- In the copy of that Irish Caleii- dar, lifelong'mg to the Ordnance Survey Ke-
cord, at this date, we find the entiy Si\AfAnn CLuAnAnionx, p. 49.
Article vk—
copy, we have the following Irish text, translated—with a typographical error into English, by \Vhilley Stokes, LL. D. :
pn [t)] I'luAj Cpeccliin
" Epectinus' fair host that is boldest, that is strongest, after suffering with torments, was escorted by angels. "—" I'ransactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. Ixxxi.
^ The scholiast on yEngus notes " Epec- tini. i. [nomen] proprium martiris. " Ibid. , p. Ixxxix.
= See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiii. De SS. Epiciito sive Epitacio, Aptorio, Basilio, et alio Aptono, Martyribus in His- pania pp. 24S, 249.
In the '• Leabliar Breac
"
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints,
136,137. —"
Article viii. ' See Historia Ecclesi-
astica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. vi. , num. 519. p. 2S5.
^ This Patron of Strasburgh has his festi- v. il, at the 7lh of November.
3 Xo gratify the Rev. Father Florentius
^^]* •o^Mui
Id^wei-dT) L,-\hm5]Ut V|\ipn-DleT) loLho^mgLiu.
<\f
T)<Mnj;)iui
-* " In Hispania sanctorum Martyrum Epitacii Episcoi)i et Basilei. "—" Martyrolo- gium Romanum," Decimo Kalendas Junii, p. 73.
Article vii. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxv.
p.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
—
May 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
555
Article VIII. Reputed Feast of Fidelis, a Scottish Hermit. If we are to believe Dempster,' a Scottish hermit, called Fidelis, left his country with the holy men Saints Arbogast, Florentius, Hildulph, and Adeo- datus. He was a disciple of St. Florentius ;^ and, while the latter presided as Bishop over the See of Strasburgh, the former administered its affairs as Archdeacon. Forthisstatement,hecitesuncertainandunnamedTabletsof the Church of Strasburgh, as also the Life of St. Florentius. 3 The Bollan-
— deny, that any account of Fidelis is to be found, in the authorities previously quoted;S noreven,inaveryancientBreviaryoftheChurchofStrasburgh, do they meet with any notice of this hermit ; while, they prefer waiting for some furtlier information, which might possibly be obtained, when treating about St. Florentius, with whose Acts Fidelis may happen to be included. At the 23rd of May, Thomas Dempster also records hi. > feast, in his- " Menolo- gium Scotorum f while, he states, elsewhere, that St. Fidelis flourished a. d. 679,7 probably on no better authority, than the chronology, which places the death of St. Florentius at November 7th, a. d. 687,^ after an episcopate over
Strasburgh of eight years.
CtDenty. fciurtf) ©ay of |Hap,
ARTICLE I. —ST. SEGINEUS, OR SEGIN, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. SEVENTH CENTURY.
AS first in dignity of those saints, whose names belong to this date, the holy Archprelate Segineus deserves the first notice. The simple entry, Segin, Airdmacha, appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at this day. The Bol- landists ^ enter a festival for Segineus, also, at the 24th of May, on the same authority. There is a St. Segineus, son of Ronan, son to Loarn, son of Fergus, son to Conall Gulban, according to the pedigree of Seluacuis, and the "SanctilogiumGenealogicum. "3 Colganseemstothink,hemayhavebeen the present prelate. ^ This saint is said to have been from Achadh-Claidhibh —rendered Aghaclive—the situation of which does not seem to have been
dists4
—who notice what Dempster and Ferrarius state at the 23rd of May
* Thus: " Territorio Argentinensi natalis Fidelis Eremitoe, qui Sancto Florentio sem- per adh^sit, et eo ad honorem episcopalem assumpto, ipse quoque Archidiaconatum ad- ministravit. B. "—Bishop Forbes' " Ka- lendars of Scottish Saints," p. 200.
? See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum," tomus i. , lib. vi. , num. 519, p.
5 Considering Dempster's character for
veracity, it is quite amusing to read his re-
marks, in reference to his St. Fidelis :
" Errat vero toto coelo Henricus Fitzsinion
Hirl. mdus, qui cumineptissimumet frigidis-
simum catalogum contexuisset, hunc cum Kelly, p. xxv.
Montmorency, Father Godefrid Henschenn had prepared this work for publication, when some relics of St. Florentius had been transferred from the Island to the Jesuits' church. "
•* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 235.
* At fol. 39.
5 This, it appears from Dr. Todd's note, refers to a MS. , containing the Genealogy of the Kings and Saints of Ireland, preserved in the College of St. Isidore, Rome. See pp. 354, 355. Jl'iJ.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
bus iis in locis occisi aut exclusi fuerunt. "
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxii. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 125.
3 vjeevolumeiv. ofthiswork,atthe30th
of April, Ait. x.
Article viii. —' See "Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus v. , Maii xxii. Among the pre- tcrinitted saints, p. 125.
Artule IX. — ' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 136, 137.
Article vi. — ' Kelly, p. XXV.
Edited
by Rev.
Dr.
" See Archdall's " Monaeticon Iliberni- cum,"p. 507.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iv. , pp. 1004, 1005, and n. (0, Jbid.
136, 137. — Article vii.
' In his " Menologium Scoticuir. . " There, he refers the reader to Pantaleonus, who in his Prosogr. iphia, pars i. , p. 284, enumerates Nortyla, without giving him the title of a saint, as fourth among the nine bishops of \'erden. Of these he remarks : '" Hi omnes tantum prcefuerunt ordine per annos XLViii. Nam ab infideli-
May 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
551
Ctaent|)4I)irtr ©ap of ilap.
ARTICLE I. —ST. GOBAN OF MAIRGE, OR GOIBHNENN OF TIGIF SCUITHIN, NOW TASCOFFIN, COUNTY OF KILKENNY.
{PROBABLY SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES. ^
ATthe 23rd of May, the Martyrology of Tallagh/ registers the name Goban Mairgi, of Tigh Scuithin. This place by some has been sup- posed to be identical with KiUeshin, in the barony of SHevemarigue, Queen's County ; but, this opinion is now clearly proved to have been a great mistake, although its real situation is not very far distant. The Bollandists ^ follow this authority, likewise, in entering Gobanus Mairgensis, of Tegh-Scuithin, or
of " the House of Scutliinus;"3 and, they remark, that among the disciples of St. Fursey * was a Gobhan, whom Colgan would not specify, among the seven different persons bearing this name, in the Irish Calendars. His family pedigree seemstobeunrecorded,oratleastitisnotknowntoexist. Bymostwriters, Tigh Scuithin, his place, was thought to have been situated, within the pre- sent barony of Sliavemarigue, in the Queen's County. An ingenious local topographer proves, however, that the former name is now resolved into Tas- coffin, a parish in the barony of Gowran, in the county of Kilkenny. s The Johnswell Mountains, in the neighbourhood, are simply a continuation of the SHevemarigue range ; and, it seems probable, they were formerly regarded, as forming a portion of the district, in which the latter was situated. This saint has been thought, most probably, to be identical with the Gobban, who governed the church of Old Leighlin, about the year 625, when St. Laserian^ returned from Rome. Entertaining a very high estimate of St. Laserian's merits, that Gobban resigned to him the monastery of Old Leighlin ; and, through love of greater retirement, possibly he moved southwartls over the mountain, until availing himself of the undisturbed seclusion of Tigh Suithin, or Tascoffin, he there remained, and spent the rest of his days. 7 If this con- jecture be correct, he must have flourished in the sixth and seventh centuries. A festival, in honour of this Gobban, or Goibhnenn, of Tigh Scuithin, is re- corded, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ at the present date.
Article II. —St. Comman. An entry of St. Comman is registered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 23rd of May. The Bollandists ^ quote
Article i. —' Kelly, p. XXV.
Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 234.
3 His Life will be found, in the First
"Volume of this work, at the 2nd of January, the day for his feast, Art. i.
-t See his Life, in the First Volume of this work, at the i6th of January, Art. i.
5 See a valuable series of papers by Mr. John Hogan intituled, " Topographical and
Historical Illustrations of the Suburbs of Kilkenny," published in " Proceedings and Papersof the Kilkenny and Soulh-Eastoflre- land ArchKological Society," January, 1S63. New Series, vol. iv. , part ii. , pp. 253, 254.
* See his Life already given, in the Fourth Volume of this work, at the i8th of April, Art. i. , chap. ii.
' See the article by Mr. John Hogan, already quoted, n. (4), pp. 253, 254.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 136, 137.
^ See "Acta
Edited by Rev. Dr.
552 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 23.
the same authority, for this insertion of his name, at this date. No place, genealogy, or title, is afforded to distinguish him, from others bearing a similar name. QuiteconvenienttotheDublinandWicklowRailway,andaboutone milefromthetownofRathdrum,theoldgraveyardofKilcommon3 riseson the side of a commanding hill. This place has been much used for inter- ments. Several old trees and bushes grow around it. On the north side, there are only a {tvi interments. On the south side, the graveyard is separated byadeeptrenchfromthefieldsadjoining. Anoldruinedchurchremainswithin the enclosure. The east end is partly standing and veiled over with thick ivy plants. 4 There is a small ruinous window in it, with a chiselled jam remaining, in which square punched holes are to be seen, as if intended for crossing iron
i:! ;^,rJfir"«i»ih. u. ;! ! ! J?
Kilcommon Old Church, County of Wicklow.
bars. A small square recess is in this same wall, and near the window. The window was about 3 feet, 4 inches, in length, and i foot, 6 inches in breadth. A mere fragment of the south walls continues to show the outline, and in it are the aj^parent traces of a window, not far from the earth. The remains of thewalls,levelledwiththeground,onlyrevealtheformerextentofthisoldchurch. Interiorly, it measures 40 feet in length, by 21 feet in breadth, and its walls wereovertwofeetinthickness. Thewallswerebuiltofgranite. s Ofcourse, it cannot be asserted, with any degree of certainty, this place had been con- nected with the present, or even with any one of the other eleven Comans or
Article ii. — ' Edited l)y Rev. Dr. quisitiones Cancellaricc Iliberniix^ Reper- Kelly, p. XXV. torium. ''
' See •' Acta S. iiictorum,'' tomus v. , Mail • These observations were made, during xxiii. Among the pretermiiled saints, a visit to the spot, in June, 1S71.
P- 234. s The accompanying illustration from a
' In the Inquisllions, taken in the time of sketch, taken by the writer on the spot, has James I. , at Wicklow, 18th December, been reproduced on the wood by William F. 1617, this place i^ writien Killc(;man. See Wakemau. It has been engraved by Mrs.
County of Wicklow, Lagenia vohime. " In- Millard.
——
May 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Commans, noted in our calendars, at different days of the year. We find the name Comman, also, simply entered in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ as having been venerated on this day.
Article III. St. Faolchon, or Faelchu. The Martyrology of Tallagh ' writes the name Faolchon, at the 23rd of May. The name of his place is not recorded, nor the time when he flourished. The BoUandists ^ have an entry, on the foregoing authority, of Foelchu, at the 23rd of May. On this day, also, Faelchu 3 was venerated, as we find registered, in the Martyrology of Donegal. '^
Article IV. St. Cremhthann, or Cremt^nd, of Magh Dumha. The Martyrology of Tallagh^ registers this name of Cremtand, at the 23rd of May. The place, with which he was connected, is called Maigh-Duma. The BoUandists ^ enter the festival of Crimthanus de Magh-dumha, likewise, at this date. The etymon Magh Dumha means the " Plain of the Mound. " It is said to be represented, in modern phraseology, by Moydow,3 or Moydoe, a parishinthebaronyofthesamename,inthecountyofLongford. ^ Thereis also a Moydow townland, in the parish of Kilmeane,^ and barony of Athlone, in the county of Roscommon. On this day, the Martyrology of Donegal ^ records the name of Cremhthann, of Magh Dumha, as having been venerated. A Magh Dumha, now called Moy, adjoins Charlemont, on the Tyrone side of the Blackwater. 7 Besides, we find a Moydough, in the parish of Kilfree,^ in the barony of Coolavin, and county of Sligo. Of this saint's personality, we have no further account.
Article V, St, Strofan or Straffan, of Cluan-Mor, probably Clonmore,CountyofCarlow. TherecordStrofanCluanaMoirisfound, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 23rd of May. The BoUandists^ reiterate this stateijient, by entering the present holy man as Stephanus Cluainmorensis. According to Colgan, a saint called Stephen was venerated, at this date, 3 in a
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. I36> 137. —
Article III. ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. XXV.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 234.
3 In a note. Dr. Todd says, at Faelchu : '•After this name, the more recent hand adds, in Roman characters, ' Suitbrectus, Ma- rian. '"
vol. iii. , n. (r), p. 464. Ibid.
^ This parish is described on the " Ord-
nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Roscommon, " sheets 40, 41, 42, 43,44. The townland so called is marked on sheets 41, 4'! .
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 136, 137.
'' See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," \ol. 1. , n. (o), p. 492.
^ This parish is defined, on the " Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County Article iv. ' Edited by Rev. Dr. of Sligo," sheets 39, 43, 44, 45, 46. The
•• Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. I36> ^37- —
Kelly, p. XXV.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 234.
townland of Moydough is on sheet 44.
3 It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints,
Townland Maps for the County of Long- ford," sheets 18, 19. Moydow Glebe is marked on sheet 19.
^ See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (x), p. 670. Also,
p. 234.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise,"
xiii. Martii. Vita S. Mocboemoci, n. 17, p.
597.
* See the BoUandists' " Acta Sanctorum,"
— Article v. '
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxv.
^ See "Acta Sandorum," tomus v. ,
553
'
234.
—— —: —
554 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 23.
place called Cluainmhor, which was situated, he says, within the territory ot Ely O'Carroll. Other accounts, however, place his monastery in Lagenia or Leinster. -* There is a celebrated Clonmore, i. e. , "the Great Lawn, or Mea- dow," in the barony of Rathvilly, and county of Carlow. s What he states about this Stephen, Colgan advances, on the testimony of St. Mochemoc's Acts,^whichwehavealreadyrecorded,atthe13thdayofMarch. ? Aholy man of this name is found, where Duald Mac Firbis enters, under the head of Cuil Carra,^ Senach, son of Ecin, with Srafan, and Senchell, and Brodigan 9 —five bishops —and Aitecaem and Bishop Mac Cairthin, and Conlough and Brigid, in Cuil Carra. '° It is doubtful, however, if tlie Srafan here named be the same person as the present saint. We read, again, in the Martyrology of Donegal," that Sraffan, of Cluain-mor, was venerated on this day.
Article VI. Festival of St. Epectinus and Companions, Martyrs. In the " Feilire " of St. yEngus,' there is a festival at the 23rd of May, to commemorate the Martyrdom of Epecthitus,^ and his companions. The Bollandists,3 at this same date, give some records, contained in old Martyr- ologies, regarding these holy Martyrs yet, little seems to be known about
;
them and their Acts. They suffered for the Faith of Christ in Spain. The
Roman Martyrology commemorates them,* at the 23rd of May.
Article VII. St. Nechtlaice, or Xechtlic, Bishop. The name Nechtliacc, Bishop, is venerated, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 23rd ofMay. TheBollandists,^inlikemanner,commemoratedNechtlagiusEpis- copus,atthesamedate; but,wefindnomeansofknowingwhenheflourished, or where he presided over any See. It is entered, likewise, in the Martyr- ology of Donegal,3 that Nechtlic, Bishop, had a festival on this day.
tomus v. , Maii xxiii. Among the preter- mitted saints, p. 234.
5 Mr. John M'Call identifies this place with the present saint.
* See "Acta Sanctorum Hiliernice," xiii. Martii. Vila S. Mochoemoci, cap. xiii. , p. 591.
' 111 the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
^ Coolarn, near Galtrim, county of Meatli. William M. Hennc-sy's note.
9 Five bishops. Only four are men- tioned.
'" See " Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 102, 103.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 136,137- In the copy of that Irish Caleii- dar, lifelong'mg to the Ordnance Survey Ke-
cord, at this date, we find the entiy Si\AfAnn CLuAnAnionx, p. 49.
Article vk—
copy, we have the following Irish text, translated—with a typographical error into English, by \Vhilley Stokes, LL. D. :
pn [t)] I'luAj Cpeccliin
" Epectinus' fair host that is boldest, that is strongest, after suffering with torments, was escorted by angels. "—" I'ransactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. Ixxxi.
^ The scholiast on yEngus notes " Epec- tini. i. [nomen] proprium martiris. " Ibid. , p. Ixxxix.
= See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiii. De SS. Epiciito sive Epitacio, Aptorio, Basilio, et alio Aptono, Martyribus in His- pania pp. 24S, 249.
In the '• Leabliar Breac
"
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints,
136,137. —"
Article viii. ' See Historia Ecclesi-
astica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. vi. , num. 519. p. 2S5.
^ This Patron of Strasburgh has his festi- v. il, at the 7lh of November.
3 Xo gratify the Rev. Father Florentius
^^]* •o^Mui
Id^wei-dT) L,-\hm5]Ut V|\ipn-DleT) loLho^mgLiu.
<\f
T)<Mnj;)iui
-* " In Hispania sanctorum Martyrum Epitacii Episcoi)i et Basilei. "—" Martyrolo- gium Romanum," Decimo Kalendas Junii, p. 73.
Article vii. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxv.
p.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
—
May 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
555
Article VIII. Reputed Feast of Fidelis, a Scottish Hermit. If we are to believe Dempster,' a Scottish hermit, called Fidelis, left his country with the holy men Saints Arbogast, Florentius, Hildulph, and Adeo- datus. He was a disciple of St. Florentius ;^ and, while the latter presided as Bishop over the See of Strasburgh, the former administered its affairs as Archdeacon. Forthisstatement,hecitesuncertainandunnamedTabletsof the Church of Strasburgh, as also the Life of St. Florentius. 3 The Bollan-
— deny, that any account of Fidelis is to be found, in the authorities previously quoted;S noreven,inaveryancientBreviaryoftheChurchofStrasburgh, do they meet with any notice of this hermit ; while, they prefer waiting for some furtlier information, which might possibly be obtained, when treating about St. Florentius, with whose Acts Fidelis may happen to be included. At the 23rd of May, Thomas Dempster also records hi. > feast, in his- " Menolo- gium Scotorum f while, he states, elsewhere, that St. Fidelis flourished a. d. 679,7 probably on no better authority, than the chronology, which places the death of St. Florentius at November 7th, a. d. 687,^ after an episcopate over
Strasburgh of eight years.
CtDenty. fciurtf) ©ay of |Hap,
ARTICLE I. —ST. SEGINEUS, OR SEGIN, ARCHBISHOP OF ARMAGH. SEVENTH CENTURY.
AS first in dignity of those saints, whose names belong to this date, the holy Archprelate Segineus deserves the first notice. The simple entry, Segin, Airdmacha, appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at this day. The Bol- landists ^ enter a festival for Segineus, also, at the 24th of May, on the same authority. There is a St. Segineus, son of Ronan, son to Loarn, son of Fergus, son to Conall Gulban, according to the pedigree of Seluacuis, and the "SanctilogiumGenealogicum. "3 Colganseemstothink,hemayhavebeen the present prelate. ^ This saint is said to have been from Achadh-Claidhibh —rendered Aghaclive—the situation of which does not seem to have been
dists4
—who notice what Dempster and Ferrarius state at the 23rd of May
* Thus: " Territorio Argentinensi natalis Fidelis Eremitoe, qui Sancto Florentio sem- per adh^sit, et eo ad honorem episcopalem assumpto, ipse quoque Archidiaconatum ad- ministravit. B. "—Bishop Forbes' " Ka- lendars of Scottish Saints," p. 200.
? See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum," tomus i. , lib. vi. , num. 519, p.
5 Considering Dempster's character for
veracity, it is quite amusing to read his re-
marks, in reference to his St. Fidelis :
" Errat vero toto coelo Henricus Fitzsinion
Hirl. mdus, qui cumineptissimumet frigidis-
simum catalogum contexuisset, hunc cum Kelly, p. xxv.
Montmorency, Father Godefrid Henschenn had prepared this work for publication, when some relics of St. Florentius had been transferred from the Island to the Jesuits' church. "
•* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxiii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 235.
