^'
The exact date (or the erection of St.
The exact date (or the erection of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
Whitley Stokes:—
"——
Herenius the bishop, great is his
thousand was a beautiful bush with vir-
ginity,
,g^^^„^^^^^^^of^^ ;„4,,^g^,,,^,,.
^,^1^, . . ^^j^ Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
^|_ p^SanctisMartyribusNicomediensibus, Firmo, Herenxo Episcopo, Himnaro, Solu- j^^^^ Quiriaco, Moyse, Romano, Successo, Quartilla, Romana, Donato, Sixto. Victore, 5,,;,; (^ y^tyro. Their commemo- ration is written, by Father Godefrid Hen-
'
the preterm, ted samts, p. 531. Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
"•,3 ^? °'l\
Aprilis
?
. T^T. J1
.
Mn a note, Dr. Todd
says,
1•
at this word
Aedhech.
Article viii. -- See "CatalogusGene-
rahs Sanctorum.
Artici. e i. x. -' The followmg is the
text of this notice :- Tlei\eniu|- ince|"cop
mile
<! iC<smo]\d
bacam -oo)'! " conuAige hipiAX)Aic pno pini.
,,„ , „
a fair vine in God. '
g
3 Belonging to the Collegiate Church of
St. Mary.
* and Romanus, Gaius, Donatus, Victor,
Sextus are the names interposed.
,^i,^„^ ^j
April 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 57
^ftjcntft ©ap of april.
ARTICLE I. —ST. FINAN, PATRON AND ABBOT OF KINNETTV', KING'S COUNTY.
[SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES. }
CHAPTER I .
INTRODUCTION—SOURCES FOR ST. FINAN's BIOGRAPHY—PREDICTION OF ST. ABBAN— ST. FISAN's PARENTAGE AND NATIVITY—HIS EARLY BOYHOOD AND TUITION UNDER ST. BRENDAN—ST. FINAN IS RECOMMENDED TO FOUND A MONASTERY AT KINNETTY—HIS SUBSEQUENT ACTS.
distinguished holy men, our present subject of biography
AMONG a had to occupied deservedly high position. Colgan promised give
the Life of St. Finan, at this day. ' It seems to have been arranged for pub- lication, at this date ;' and, to the Manuscript, we have had access. This is
a ver)' legendary Life of St. Finan, Abbot of Kinnity, and it is now preserved amongtheFranciscanConventRecords,Dublin. ' Thisgivesusaverycon- fusednarrativeofhisacts,andoftheirsequence; but,asitmentionsafew localities, with which he had connexion, and as a few names of persons are there to be met with, it may serve to distinguish him from other holy men, bearing a like name, and thus help to elucidate their and St. Finan's own bio- graphy. This Manuscript is written in Latin, derived from an Irish text, and by the translator or transcriber divided into Tliirty-two Chapters. The Royal Irish Academy's Library also contains a Manuscript Life of St. Fionan, of Kinnety. * Again, there is an Irish Life of St. Fionan, of Lough Laoidhach, who is said to have been commemorated, at the i6th of March, among the ManuscriptsintheRoyalIrishAcademy. ' ThehistorianofKerry,Charles Smith, alludes to duplicate Lives of St. Finian,* one of which was identical with the Franciscan copy, as we learn from the first words. The Bollandists had a Life of this saint, in their Salamancan Manuscript -p but, they deemed it to have been written, with very little judgment, and to have been derived, solely from legendary sources. They remark, that although finding St. Finan's name, in a Catalogue of Irish Saints ; yet, it was wanting, in that issued by Father Henry Fitzsimon, and in the Martyrology of Tallaght. Therefore, they deferred giving St. Finian's Acts, until more light had been thrown upon them, or until they had a fuller knowledge, regarding his place in the Calen- dar.
Article i. —Chapter i. —'See ". \cta tion. It » a small 4(0 paper Manuscript,
Sanctonim Hibemiw," xxvi. Martii, p. 749. No. 12. *"'"
. See Catalogus Actaum Sanctorum
MS. habenturMensiumetDierum. "
' In the Manuwripl, intituled " Vilje Sanctorum," ex Cod. Initensi, pp. 257 to
264.
* It is amon? the Messrs. Hodges' and
Smiths' Collection. A quarto paper MS. , cUtsed No. 150, contains it.
* See Mesm. Hodges' and Smiths' CoUec-
One of these begins, Fuit vir vit»
venerabilis,"&c. Theotherbeginswith,
" Kinanus Sanctus de plebe quo Corcudu-
bine dicitur ortus fuit," &c. See Charles
"
Smith's Natural and Civil History of
Kerry," chap, vi. , p. 127, n. (f).
'See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Ap-
rilis vii. Among the pretermitted festivals, p. 656.
<iusr
S8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 7.
In the Life of St. Abban,' it is said, that when he built a monastery called
Ceall-achaidh-conchinn,9 within Corcaduibhne territory,'" in the western part of Munster," he also prophesied, that it should be called after St. Finan, an Abbot, not then born. '^ A conjecture, emanates from Colgan, that he can be no other, than St. Finan of Kinnetty. This he partly undertook to prove, at the 7th day—it is to be presumed of April—for his printer leaves this sen- tenceimperfect. '3 St. FinanwasdescendedfromthefamilyofConnor,King of Ireland ;' and, his father was Kennedy, son to Maenag, son of Ardeus, son to Fidai, son of Corcain, son to Nicadin, son of Irchuinnius, son to Cor- mac Finn, son of Corcodubnius, son to Cairbre Muse, son of King Conaire. 's Thus, he descended from the Corea Duibhne, i. e. of the race of Cairbre Muse,'* son to Conaire, who belonged to the posterity of Heremon. The O'Clerys state, that Becnat, daughter of Cian, was his mother. '? While she bore the saint in her womb, and while asleep, she had a vision of a golden- coloured fish, which seemed flying from the east, and which afterwards entered her mouth. During the time of her pregnancy, whenever she ven- tured abroad, no matter how thickly fell the rain or snow, her garments re- mained dry ; whatever small quantity she touched with her hands, in the shape of food, grew sufficient to gratify all the wants of those persons par- taking of it ; even she possessed the gift of healing the afflicted. These were regarded, as evident signs of the future sanctity of her son. ''
Our saint was a native of Corcodhuibhne,'' most probably the barony of
* His feast has been assigned, to the l6lh W. Burton, is found immediately after, in of March, and to the 27th of October. At the same volume. It is comprised, within
the latter date, his Life will be found, in this work.
PP- 535 'o 554- It furnishes several very curious details, regarding these ancient re- mains, accompanied by rough pen-and-ink
' The locality has not been ascertained.
'° It is now represented, by that long sketches. The artist, also, speaks of having
peninsula, stretching out into the Atlantic Ocean, west of Tralee, in the County of Kerry. It contains various groups of anti- quities, especially those remarkable bee-hive shaped houses. Sometimes, four or five specimens ofthose ancient dwellings arefound
together. This is especially the case iu a valley, which extends for four or five miles, and at present almost uninhabited.
" I submit these following extracts from
a letter, written by George Petrie, Esq. , dated 21st of September, 1841, and ad-
dressed to Lieutenant-. Colonel Larcom, re- garding an ancient ruin, in this district. He
remarks, it is a great pity, the antiqua-
had an intention of placing some antiquarian sketches, taken from this part of the country,
in his portfolio, on some subsequent journey, and occasion. There are twenty-one sketches
of antiquities, in the topographical collection for Kerry County, preserved in the Royal
Irish Academy; they all appear to have been the product of Mr. Wakeman's pencil, his name being appended to most of them, while his peculiar Petrie style and manner of anti- quarian definitions are discernible in all.
" See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," xvi. Martii, Vita S. Abbani, cap. xx. , p. 615.
3 See Ibid. , n. 18, p. 622.
rian remains could not be all
marked, on the Ordnance Map, and the most reinarkable of them be drawn with
'The"
and Selbach thus state the family descent of St. Finan, from the district of Ely and Fir- cell.
'5 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
niae. " Appendix ad Acta S. Finani, cap. i. ,
" As to the houses, I do not know what to say
ground plans.
bow-shaped
being
a great service. " County Kerry Letters,
but this is curious, that Saliust describes the houses of the people on the African coast of the Mediterranean, built by the Phenicians and Persians, as being of this shape—their form derived from their first which
;
houses,
were their boats turned upside-down ! Wake- man wiU, however, draw some of the most remarkable of th—ese remains, which will be
p. 46.
"" "
the Ordnance
Survey Office,
in the
Royal " A
'* Ex Codice
Vita S.
Finani,
Irish See Academy.
Inisensi, cap. i. , pp. 257, 258.
to
letter, alluded to by Mr. Petrie, dated Din-
pp. 527
gle, September i8th, 1841, and signed, Fred.
accurately
Menelogic Genealogy," cap. xvii. ,
529.
'' See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nioe," ix. JanuaiiL App. cap. i. , p. 46.
of
recent hand adds, 'ponan cam 1. cb&on Apoj-g. Mar. ' Cam means crooked ; the Mart. Tavtl. says, "obliquitas luit in oculis ejus. "
See Miss Cusack's History of the
Kingdom of Kerry," chap, xviii. , p. 407.
' In a note, Ur. Todd " The more says,
April 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 59
Corkaguinny, the OTalv/s ancient territory ;'° and, he was born sometime about or after the middle of the sixth century, as seems most probable. While he was a mere child, the grace of God worked so powerfully in Finian, that whenever his playmates felt unwell, they were healed by coming into contact with him. Again, he was able to predict any coming misfortune or pros- perity, for his young companions, since he was gifted with the spirit of pro- phesy. As a youth, being appointed to guard some calves, from approaching their cows giving milk, he was so intently engaged in Divine contemplation, that his object was frustrated, as the calves were able to escape for the pur- poseofsuckling; but,Finan,settinguphisstaff,drewalineacrossthefields; and, this was eflfective, in making a separation, between the calves and the cows. St. Brendan'^ conceivedagreatopinionofourholyyouth,andpro- claimed it to his parents. Under the care of that great saint, Finan appears to have been instructed. " He possessed the gift of miracles. So great was his reputation for holiness, that a brother who was dying wished to receive theHolyViaticum,athishands; and,althoughthedangerofhisdeathwas imminent, yet Finan delayed, until another duty had been discharged, for he knew beforehand, that the Almighty would preserve that brother's life, until he was able to come at the ninth hour. While a member of St. Brendan's monastery, and engaged in baking bread, for the use of his community, on a sudden, the monks thought the house, in which Finan dwelt, had taken fire, and they rushed in a body to extinguish the flames. However, St. Brendan told them, that the fire was illusory, since it was only the supernatural power of the Holy Ghost, that kindled such a light, and on approaching our saint, hewasfoundsittingtherealoneandunharmed. Knowingsuchwondersas were thus wrought through him to indicate his great perfection, and that he
was a light, which should not be placed under a bushel, but which ought rather
be elevated on a candlestick, as an example for others; St. Brendan thus
addressed his " brother it is not that both of disciple : My Finan, expedient,
us should dwell in the same place ; but, it is right, that both of us should col-
lect monks, and in places apart. If it rather)please you to dwell here, with
brothers that wish to continue, do so in God's name, and I shall pass to
another Then Finan answered " I am the and locality. " : P'ather, younger,
therefore it is more becoming, that I should not press longer on your labours, therefore bless me, that my journey may prove a prosperous one. " This
" to the mountain called
Go, my son, Bladhma,"^
Brendan and he did,
said,
and there remain, where you shall meet a drove of wild boars. " Taking his
leave, St. Finan journeyed on towards the foot of Slieve Bloom, and as the
holy senior had predicted, he met with boars in that place, which in after
times was called Kenetich,'* at present known as Kinnitty.
^'
The exact date (or the erection of St. Finan's monastery, at this place, cannot be ascertained ; by some writers, it has been placed, so early as a. d. 557t'° 'jy others, at a much later period. The monastery of Kiniictty,'? was
'° See Dr. O'Uovovan's " Annals of the
cap. ii. , iii. , iv. , v. , vi. , vii. , pp. 25S, 259.
'' The parish of KinniUy, in the barony of Ballybritt, is shown, on the " Ordnance
Survey Townland . Maps for the King's County," Sheets 36, 37, 39. 40. The town itself is on Sheet 36.
" So states Archdall, in his " Monasticon Hibemicum," on the authority of Conry, at p. 401.
''It signifies, "the head of Eitteach," being in Irish, CeAnn eicig. The Legend of its origin is in the Dinn Seanchus, under the head Ttathbha.
Four Masters," vol. ii, p. 569, n. (h).
" His Life occurs, at the l6th of May. ""
See Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga," Adamnan's or Quarta Vila S. Columbx, lib.
i. , cap. xlix. , n. 103, p. 380.
•3 Or the present Slieve Bloom Moun-
tains, separjting the King's from the Queen's
"
counties. . See Coiyan s
llii^erniae," ix. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta . S. Finani Episcopi, cap. i. , p. 46. for a no- tice of this place, in connexion with S. Finan
of Kinnitty.
'* See Ex Codice Inisensi, Vita S. Finani,
Acta Sanctorum
6o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April 7.
situated, on the confines of Elia, or Ely, and of Ferra Kellia, or Fearaceall. ''
It seems most probable, St; Finan settled here, towards the close of the sixth
century. ^9 Among the many saints of his name, the appellation of Cam, or ""
crooked has been given to him, either on account of being stooped,^" or as others state, owing to an obliquity of vision. 3' From all authorities, Kin- netty is placed, on the confines of Ely and Fearaceall ; whence it is evident, that Ely O'Carroll extended northwards, at least so far as Kinnetty, where it was met by the southern boundary of Fearaceall. 3^ No remains of any reli- gious edifice exist, at this time, in Kinnetty -p it is thought, however, that the parish church occupies the site of St. Finan's old monastery. At present, even St. Finan's day is not remembered. There was a well, within the village, which, through faint recollection, some state was called Finan's well, but it is now closed up. s* St. Finanus of Kennetigh is said to have presided there,^' during the lifetime of his master, St. Brendan of Clonfert, who died a. d. 576, according to the most probable accounts.
One day, while our saint was engaged in celebrating the Divine Mysteries, certain sons of Belial came to his monastery, and asked for food from the servant. He requested them to wait, until the Abbot should have concluded the Holy Sacrifice. But, as the light is ungrateful to eyes that are diseased, so the strangers asked the servant to hasten, as their own time was urgent ; and, accordingly, on seeking the Abbot, he said, "Give them whatever you have. " It so happened, that a pious woman made an offering to the house ofnineloaves,andsomebutter. Theseweresetbeforetheguests. Instead
of thanking God and his holy servant, for this gift, the strangers began to scatter the food presented, in a foolish manner, and they pelted one ano- ther with it, in a sort of horse-play. The monk in attendance felt very
According to Colgan, in note 103, to . 'Engus, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, and, chapter xxxxiv. of hb. i. , Adamtian's Lifeof also, by Miss Cusack, in her "History of St. Colum Kille. The Note is given at page the Kingdom of Kerry," chap, xviii. , p. 407.
" The Devil himself teaches such evil acts. " you
and he cried
Then, they struck the monk, who fled for refuge to where the Abbot remained, vchile the latter predicted, that the unmannerly guests should be murdered that very day, and even before the sun had set. This was verified, except in the case of two, who had remonstrated with their companions. Those men escaped to St. Finan, who took them under his protection. '*
°'
indignant,
out,
380, in which Colgan observes the circum- stances of the Lives of Four . Saints of the name (Finanus) in order to identify one of them with the Finanus mentioned by Adam- nan, in the Life 'above referred to. See " Trias Thaumaturga. "
°' See Ur, I. anigan's "Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sec. 4, n. 48, p. 19.
3° In tlie " Leabhar Breac,'" or Speckled BookoftheMacEgans,Folio9bis read, pnan Camm Cliint) eccig niAC CmTDe-oij, that is, Finan Camm, or "the stooped," (? )
of Cindettig, or Kinnetty, the son of Cinde- dig, or Kennedy. And, in Folio 10 d. , fnan Camm Chirro eccigi ccoiceVi hell Aguf
pei\cel. l ; that is, Finan Camm, "the
stooped," of Cind Etty, or Kennetty, on the confines of Heli and Fercell.
""
i' This is s'ated, in the Feilire of St.
'
3" See the
nance Survey Office," vol. ii. , pp. 90, 91. T. O'Conor's Letter, dated Birr, Februaiy 2nd,
1838.
^3 In the churchyard, there are found no
ancient inscriptions, which might indicate the antiquity of this place. Tliere is one head-stoneinit, whichbearssomeornameii- tal lines indented, and, it is looked upon, by the people, as being of remote date.
343^5"King'sCountyLettersoftheOrd- nance Survey," and now preserved, in the Royal Irish Academy, vol. ii. , pp. 88, 89, 91,92. T. O'Conor's Letter, dated Birr, February 2nd, 1S38. Mr. O'Conor, after- wards gives historic notices, relating to Kin- netty. /;4/'rf. , pp. 92, 93.
3sxhisisrelaled,in chapterviii. , ofhisLife.
^s See Codex Manuscriptus, ex Codice Inisensi, Vita S. Finani, cap. viii. , p. 259.
King's County Letters, Ord-
April 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 61
CHAP1 ER 11.
FISAN AT LOCH LEYN, OR KILLARNEV—HE IS PROBABLY THE PATRON THERE, AND AT AGHADOE—HIS MIRACLES.
In the old Life of St Finan, it is stated, that on one occasion, he had caused a boat to be built, near the waters of Loch Leyn, in Kerry,' and he sent word to the Regulus of its territory, tliat some of his people should come and haul it into the lake. The king and his servants obeyed that summons, but they were not able to carry it towards the water ; yet, by angelic power, this task was easily accomplished. " From this account, it may be inferred, that our saint lived' for some time, at or near the present Lakes of Killarney. Only on one of its Islands do we find, that an ancient religious house stood ; and, it may be questioned, if St. Finan of Kinnitty had not more connexion with it, than St. Finan, the Leper,3 who is popularly regarded as the founder. Be-
. -"353^:^
. St. ? 'inian"s Church on Innisfallen, Lower Lake of Killarney.
sides the monastery of Innis-Faithlenn,* which was the home of learned men, until destroyed in the reign of Henry VIII. , the Cathedral Church of Agha- doe 5 was also dedicated to St. Finnain Lobhar, it is thought. He was con-
sideredthepatronofSouthKerry. * Thispopularideamaybeerroneous, likewise, nor do the Acts of the latter saint sustain it; while, in the biography
of St. Finan Cam, he is represented, at least, as residing near Aghadoe,
namely, at Loch Leyn, or Killarney.
Chapter ii. —• The Latin has it "prope
Stagnum de Loch Leyn in Kyrrigia. " Before our saint's birth, hi. s mother is said to have bathed in Loch Leyn.
' Ex Manuscripto Codice Inisensi, cap. ix. , p. 259.
5 See his Life, at the i6th of March.
* The accompanying illustration of St.
Within two miles, over the margin of
Finan's old church, on the Island of Innis- fallen, is from a photogmpli, drawn on the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and en- graved, by Mrs. Millard.
5 The interesting doorway of Aghadoe Church is engraved, and represented, in Miss
Cusack's "
Kerry," chap, iii. , p. 51.
History
of
the Kingdom of
62 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April 7.
the Lower Lake at Killarney, on a site of surpassing magnificence, and on an
eminence, are the rains of Aghadoe church, formerly called Aghaboe. 7 This
place is of great antiquity, and it had been likewise dedicated to St. Finian.
Excepting the stump of an old round tower,^ and the ruins of a small old
castle,9nohouseorbuildingstandsnearit. '° Inthe"AnnalsofInnisfallen,"
"
Aghadoe is called
extreme antiquity. It is supposed, that the Round Tower fell during the last century," but no description of its state, when perfect, now remains. "
At one time, wliile the saint and his companions were on their way, cer-
tain miscreants met them, and intended to murder them; but, they were for-
tunately rescued by a valiant man, named Lonan, and, in return for this
the old abbey," and this seems a sufficient evidence of its
" Because on this
of the Faith, never shall your enemies prevail against you, but to the day of
Leyn,
favour,
St. Finan
said,
day you have saved us from enemies
your death you shall continue to be victorious. " '3 On a certain occasion, when Finan was about to visit his people, he received hospitality from a poor and pious man, who killed a calf, belonging to the only cow he had, to enter- tain his guest. On learning this circumstance, on the following day, the holy man prayed to God for his host, and immediately a calf appeared to replace that,whichhadbeenkilled. ThishappenednearLochLeyn,andthere,too,a horse under the chariot of Finan dropped dead. In a miraculous manner, a horse of a hyacinth '•• colour came up from Loch
and that celebrated animal continued with him for three years. At the end of this time, our saint is said to have ordered him to return again into the lake, from which he issued, and this was accomplished. '5 Another remarkable miracle is recorded, re- garding a great tree, which lay prostrate on the road, over which the chariot of St. Finan pa. ssed, and by his command, the tree arose to its original posi- tion, so that the chariot was enabled to move without impediment. However, when it had passed, the tree once more inclined to the earth, yet not even a
branch was broken, notwithstanding the changes of position effected. '* On a certain day, while journeying, in a chariot, by the sea-side, it chanced, that a marshy place had been an obstacle in the way. St. Finan desired his charioteer to drive over it, without any hesitation ; and, when the driver obeyed this order, the plain beneath became so firm, that not even the hoofs of his horses, nor the chariot wheels, showed signs of being wet from the salt-water. '? Another time, a paralysed boy, who had no use of his limbs whatever, was brought toour saint, who, embracing him, and on applying his hands, com- manded him, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to arise, and to walk. The youth was able miraculously to fulfil this injunction. '* One day, while thirsty, he told a servant with him, to procure water. However, none was known to be near, until Finan, ordering a sod of earth to be raised, a well of
water immediately sprang from the earth. '?
In the territory of Corcabuibne, the place of our saint's nativity, a great
^
See ibid.
7 In Latin, called
Irish round towers remained at
"See Miss Cusack's interesting account
of the ruins at this in her " of place, History
the Kingdom of Kerry," chap, xxiii. , pp. 371, 372.
'3 See Vita S. Finani, cap. x. , p.
"——
Herenius the bishop, great is his
thousand was a beautiful bush with vir-
ginity,
,g^^^„^^^^^^^of^^ ;„4,,^g^,,,^,,.
^,^1^, . . ^^j^ Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
^|_ p^SanctisMartyribusNicomediensibus, Firmo, Herenxo Episcopo, Himnaro, Solu- j^^^^ Quiriaco, Moyse, Romano, Successo, Quartilla, Romana, Donato, Sixto. Victore, 5,,;,; (^ y^tyro. Their commemo- ration is written, by Father Godefrid Hen-
'
the preterm, ted samts, p. 531. Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
"•,3 ^? °'l\
Aprilis
?
. T^T. J1
.
Mn a note, Dr. Todd
says,
1•
at this word
Aedhech.
Article viii. -- See "CatalogusGene-
rahs Sanctorum.
Artici. e i. x. -' The followmg is the
text of this notice :- Tlei\eniu|- ince|"cop
mile
<! iC<smo]\d
bacam -oo)'! " conuAige hipiAX)Aic pno pini.
,,„ , „
a fair vine in God. '
g
3 Belonging to the Collegiate Church of
St. Mary.
* and Romanus, Gaius, Donatus, Victor,
Sextus are the names interposed.
,^i,^„^ ^j
April 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 57
^ftjcntft ©ap of april.
ARTICLE I. —ST. FINAN, PATRON AND ABBOT OF KINNETTV', KING'S COUNTY.
[SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES. }
CHAPTER I .
INTRODUCTION—SOURCES FOR ST. FINAN's BIOGRAPHY—PREDICTION OF ST. ABBAN— ST. FISAN's PARENTAGE AND NATIVITY—HIS EARLY BOYHOOD AND TUITION UNDER ST. BRENDAN—ST. FINAN IS RECOMMENDED TO FOUND A MONASTERY AT KINNETTY—HIS SUBSEQUENT ACTS.
distinguished holy men, our present subject of biography
AMONG a had to occupied deservedly high position. Colgan promised give
the Life of St. Finan, at this day. ' It seems to have been arranged for pub- lication, at this date ;' and, to the Manuscript, we have had access. This is
a ver)' legendary Life of St. Finan, Abbot of Kinnity, and it is now preserved amongtheFranciscanConventRecords,Dublin. ' Thisgivesusaverycon- fusednarrativeofhisacts,andoftheirsequence; but,asitmentionsafew localities, with which he had connexion, and as a few names of persons are there to be met with, it may serve to distinguish him from other holy men, bearing a like name, and thus help to elucidate their and St. Finan's own bio- graphy. This Manuscript is written in Latin, derived from an Irish text, and by the translator or transcriber divided into Tliirty-two Chapters. The Royal Irish Academy's Library also contains a Manuscript Life of St. Fionan, of Kinnety. * Again, there is an Irish Life of St. Fionan, of Lough Laoidhach, who is said to have been commemorated, at the i6th of March, among the ManuscriptsintheRoyalIrishAcademy. ' ThehistorianofKerry,Charles Smith, alludes to duplicate Lives of St. Finian,* one of which was identical with the Franciscan copy, as we learn from the first words. The Bollandists had a Life of this saint, in their Salamancan Manuscript -p but, they deemed it to have been written, with very little judgment, and to have been derived, solely from legendary sources. They remark, that although finding St. Finan's name, in a Catalogue of Irish Saints ; yet, it was wanting, in that issued by Father Henry Fitzsimon, and in the Martyrology of Tallaght. Therefore, they deferred giving St. Finian's Acts, until more light had been thrown upon them, or until they had a fuller knowledge, regarding his place in the Calen- dar.
Article i. —Chapter i. —'See ". \cta tion. It » a small 4(0 paper Manuscript,
Sanctonim Hibemiw," xxvi. Martii, p. 749. No. 12. *"'"
. See Catalogus Actaum Sanctorum
MS. habenturMensiumetDierum. "
' In the Manuwripl, intituled " Vilje Sanctorum," ex Cod. Initensi, pp. 257 to
264.
* It is amon? the Messrs. Hodges' and
Smiths' Collection. A quarto paper MS. , cUtsed No. 150, contains it.
* See Mesm. Hodges' and Smiths' CoUec-
One of these begins, Fuit vir vit»
venerabilis,"&c. Theotherbeginswith,
" Kinanus Sanctus de plebe quo Corcudu-
bine dicitur ortus fuit," &c. See Charles
"
Smith's Natural and Civil History of
Kerry," chap, vi. , p. 127, n. (f).
'See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Ap-
rilis vii. Among the pretermitted festivals, p. 656.
<iusr
S8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 7.
In the Life of St. Abban,' it is said, that when he built a monastery called
Ceall-achaidh-conchinn,9 within Corcaduibhne territory,'" in the western part of Munster," he also prophesied, that it should be called after St. Finan, an Abbot, not then born. '^ A conjecture, emanates from Colgan, that he can be no other, than St. Finan of Kinnetty. This he partly undertook to prove, at the 7th day—it is to be presumed of April—for his printer leaves this sen- tenceimperfect. '3 St. FinanwasdescendedfromthefamilyofConnor,King of Ireland ;' and, his father was Kennedy, son to Maenag, son of Ardeus, son to Fidai, son of Corcain, son to Nicadin, son of Irchuinnius, son to Cor- mac Finn, son of Corcodubnius, son to Cairbre Muse, son of King Conaire. 's Thus, he descended from the Corea Duibhne, i. e. of the race of Cairbre Muse,'* son to Conaire, who belonged to the posterity of Heremon. The O'Clerys state, that Becnat, daughter of Cian, was his mother. '? While she bore the saint in her womb, and while asleep, she had a vision of a golden- coloured fish, which seemed flying from the east, and which afterwards entered her mouth. During the time of her pregnancy, whenever she ven- tured abroad, no matter how thickly fell the rain or snow, her garments re- mained dry ; whatever small quantity she touched with her hands, in the shape of food, grew sufficient to gratify all the wants of those persons par- taking of it ; even she possessed the gift of healing the afflicted. These were regarded, as evident signs of the future sanctity of her son. ''
Our saint was a native of Corcodhuibhne,'' most probably the barony of
* His feast has been assigned, to the l6lh W. Burton, is found immediately after, in of March, and to the 27th of October. At the same volume. It is comprised, within
the latter date, his Life will be found, in this work.
PP- 535 'o 554- It furnishes several very curious details, regarding these ancient re- mains, accompanied by rough pen-and-ink
' The locality has not been ascertained.
'° It is now represented, by that long sketches. The artist, also, speaks of having
peninsula, stretching out into the Atlantic Ocean, west of Tralee, in the County of Kerry. It contains various groups of anti- quities, especially those remarkable bee-hive shaped houses. Sometimes, four or five specimens ofthose ancient dwellings arefound
together. This is especially the case iu a valley, which extends for four or five miles, and at present almost uninhabited.
" I submit these following extracts from
a letter, written by George Petrie, Esq. , dated 21st of September, 1841, and ad-
dressed to Lieutenant-. Colonel Larcom, re- garding an ancient ruin, in this district. He
remarks, it is a great pity, the antiqua-
had an intention of placing some antiquarian sketches, taken from this part of the country,
in his portfolio, on some subsequent journey, and occasion. There are twenty-one sketches
of antiquities, in the topographical collection for Kerry County, preserved in the Royal
Irish Academy; they all appear to have been the product of Mr. Wakeman's pencil, his name being appended to most of them, while his peculiar Petrie style and manner of anti- quarian definitions are discernible in all.
" See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," xvi. Martii, Vita S. Abbani, cap. xx. , p. 615.
3 See Ibid. , n. 18, p. 622.
rian remains could not be all
marked, on the Ordnance Map, and the most reinarkable of them be drawn with
'The"
and Selbach thus state the family descent of St. Finan, from the district of Ely and Fir- cell.
'5 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
niae. " Appendix ad Acta S. Finani, cap. i. ,
" As to the houses, I do not know what to say
ground plans.
bow-shaped
being
a great service. " County Kerry Letters,
but this is curious, that Saliust describes the houses of the people on the African coast of the Mediterranean, built by the Phenicians and Persians, as being of this shape—their form derived from their first which
;
houses,
were their boats turned upside-down ! Wake- man wiU, however, draw some of the most remarkable of th—ese remains, which will be
p. 46.
"" "
the Ordnance
Survey Office,
in the
Royal " A
'* Ex Codice
Vita S.
Finani,
Irish See Academy.
Inisensi, cap. i. , pp. 257, 258.
to
letter, alluded to by Mr. Petrie, dated Din-
pp. 527
gle, September i8th, 1841, and signed, Fred.
accurately
Menelogic Genealogy," cap. xvii. ,
529.
'' See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nioe," ix. JanuaiiL App. cap. i. , p. 46.
of
recent hand adds, 'ponan cam 1. cb&on Apoj-g. Mar. ' Cam means crooked ; the Mart. Tavtl. says, "obliquitas luit in oculis ejus. "
See Miss Cusack's History of the
Kingdom of Kerry," chap, xviii. , p. 407.
' In a note, Ur. Todd " The more says,
April 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 59
Corkaguinny, the OTalv/s ancient territory ;'° and, he was born sometime about or after the middle of the sixth century, as seems most probable. While he was a mere child, the grace of God worked so powerfully in Finian, that whenever his playmates felt unwell, they were healed by coming into contact with him. Again, he was able to predict any coming misfortune or pros- perity, for his young companions, since he was gifted with the spirit of pro- phesy. As a youth, being appointed to guard some calves, from approaching their cows giving milk, he was so intently engaged in Divine contemplation, that his object was frustrated, as the calves were able to escape for the pur- poseofsuckling; but,Finan,settinguphisstaff,drewalineacrossthefields; and, this was eflfective, in making a separation, between the calves and the cows. St. Brendan'^ conceivedagreatopinionofourholyyouth,andpro- claimed it to his parents. Under the care of that great saint, Finan appears to have been instructed. " He possessed the gift of miracles. So great was his reputation for holiness, that a brother who was dying wished to receive theHolyViaticum,athishands; and,althoughthedangerofhisdeathwas imminent, yet Finan delayed, until another duty had been discharged, for he knew beforehand, that the Almighty would preserve that brother's life, until he was able to come at the ninth hour. While a member of St. Brendan's monastery, and engaged in baking bread, for the use of his community, on a sudden, the monks thought the house, in which Finan dwelt, had taken fire, and they rushed in a body to extinguish the flames. However, St. Brendan told them, that the fire was illusory, since it was only the supernatural power of the Holy Ghost, that kindled such a light, and on approaching our saint, hewasfoundsittingtherealoneandunharmed. Knowingsuchwondersas were thus wrought through him to indicate his great perfection, and that he
was a light, which should not be placed under a bushel, but which ought rather
be elevated on a candlestick, as an example for others; St. Brendan thus
addressed his " brother it is not that both of disciple : My Finan, expedient,
us should dwell in the same place ; but, it is right, that both of us should col-
lect monks, and in places apart. If it rather)please you to dwell here, with
brothers that wish to continue, do so in God's name, and I shall pass to
another Then Finan answered " I am the and locality. " : P'ather, younger,
therefore it is more becoming, that I should not press longer on your labours, therefore bless me, that my journey may prove a prosperous one. " This
" to the mountain called
Go, my son, Bladhma,"^
Brendan and he did,
said,
and there remain, where you shall meet a drove of wild boars. " Taking his
leave, St. Finan journeyed on towards the foot of Slieve Bloom, and as the
holy senior had predicted, he met with boars in that place, which in after
times was called Kenetich,'* at present known as Kinnitty.
^'
The exact date (or the erection of St. Finan's monastery, at this place, cannot be ascertained ; by some writers, it has been placed, so early as a. d. 557t'° 'jy others, at a much later period. The monastery of Kiniictty,'? was
'° See Dr. O'Uovovan's " Annals of the
cap. ii. , iii. , iv. , v. , vi. , vii. , pp. 25S, 259.
'' The parish of KinniUy, in the barony of Ballybritt, is shown, on the " Ordnance
Survey Townland . Maps for the King's County," Sheets 36, 37, 39. 40. The town itself is on Sheet 36.
" So states Archdall, in his " Monasticon Hibemicum," on the authority of Conry, at p. 401.
''It signifies, "the head of Eitteach," being in Irish, CeAnn eicig. The Legend of its origin is in the Dinn Seanchus, under the head Ttathbha.
Four Masters," vol. ii, p. 569, n. (h).
" His Life occurs, at the l6th of May. ""
See Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga," Adamnan's or Quarta Vila S. Columbx, lib.
i. , cap. xlix. , n. 103, p. 380.
•3 Or the present Slieve Bloom Moun-
tains, separjting the King's from the Queen's
"
counties. . See Coiyan s
llii^erniae," ix. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta . S. Finani Episcopi, cap. i. , p. 46. for a no- tice of this place, in connexion with S. Finan
of Kinnitty.
'* See Ex Codice Inisensi, Vita S. Finani,
Acta Sanctorum
6o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April 7.
situated, on the confines of Elia, or Ely, and of Ferra Kellia, or Fearaceall. ''
It seems most probable, St; Finan settled here, towards the close of the sixth
century. ^9 Among the many saints of his name, the appellation of Cam, or ""
crooked has been given to him, either on account of being stooped,^" or as others state, owing to an obliquity of vision. 3' From all authorities, Kin- netty is placed, on the confines of Ely and Fearaceall ; whence it is evident, that Ely O'Carroll extended northwards, at least so far as Kinnetty, where it was met by the southern boundary of Fearaceall. 3^ No remains of any reli- gious edifice exist, at this time, in Kinnetty -p it is thought, however, that the parish church occupies the site of St. Finan's old monastery. At present, even St. Finan's day is not remembered. There was a well, within the village, which, through faint recollection, some state was called Finan's well, but it is now closed up. s* St. Finanus of Kennetigh is said to have presided there,^' during the lifetime of his master, St. Brendan of Clonfert, who died a. d. 576, according to the most probable accounts.
One day, while our saint was engaged in celebrating the Divine Mysteries, certain sons of Belial came to his monastery, and asked for food from the servant. He requested them to wait, until the Abbot should have concluded the Holy Sacrifice. But, as the light is ungrateful to eyes that are diseased, so the strangers asked the servant to hasten, as their own time was urgent ; and, accordingly, on seeking the Abbot, he said, "Give them whatever you have. " It so happened, that a pious woman made an offering to the house ofnineloaves,andsomebutter. Theseweresetbeforetheguests. Instead
of thanking God and his holy servant, for this gift, the strangers began to scatter the food presented, in a foolish manner, and they pelted one ano- ther with it, in a sort of horse-play. The monk in attendance felt very
According to Colgan, in note 103, to . 'Engus, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, and, chapter xxxxiv. of hb. i. , Adamtian's Lifeof also, by Miss Cusack, in her "History of St. Colum Kille. The Note is given at page the Kingdom of Kerry," chap, xviii. , p. 407.
" The Devil himself teaches such evil acts. " you
and he cried
Then, they struck the monk, who fled for refuge to where the Abbot remained, vchile the latter predicted, that the unmannerly guests should be murdered that very day, and even before the sun had set. This was verified, except in the case of two, who had remonstrated with their companions. Those men escaped to St. Finan, who took them under his protection. '*
°'
indignant,
out,
380, in which Colgan observes the circum- stances of the Lives of Four . Saints of the name (Finanus) in order to identify one of them with the Finanus mentioned by Adam- nan, in the Life 'above referred to. See " Trias Thaumaturga. "
°' See Ur, I. anigan's "Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sec. 4, n. 48, p. 19.
3° In tlie " Leabhar Breac,'" or Speckled BookoftheMacEgans,Folio9bis read, pnan Camm Cliint) eccig niAC CmTDe-oij, that is, Finan Camm, or "the stooped," (? )
of Cindettig, or Kinnetty, the son of Cinde- dig, or Kennedy. And, in Folio 10 d. , fnan Camm Chirro eccigi ccoiceVi hell Aguf
pei\cel. l ; that is, Finan Camm, "the
stooped," of Cind Etty, or Kennetty, on the confines of Heli and Fercell.
""
i' This is s'ated, in the Feilire of St.
'
3" See the
nance Survey Office," vol. ii. , pp. 90, 91. T. O'Conor's Letter, dated Birr, Februaiy 2nd,
1838.
^3 In the churchyard, there are found no
ancient inscriptions, which might indicate the antiquity of this place. Tliere is one head-stoneinit, whichbearssomeornameii- tal lines indented, and, it is looked upon, by the people, as being of remote date.
343^5"King'sCountyLettersoftheOrd- nance Survey," and now preserved, in the Royal Irish Academy, vol. ii. , pp. 88, 89, 91,92. T. O'Conor's Letter, dated Birr, February 2nd, 1S38. Mr. O'Conor, after- wards gives historic notices, relating to Kin- netty. /;4/'rf. , pp. 92, 93.
3sxhisisrelaled,in chapterviii. , ofhisLife.
^s See Codex Manuscriptus, ex Codice Inisensi, Vita S. Finani, cap. viii. , p. 259.
King's County Letters, Ord-
April 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 61
CHAP1 ER 11.
FISAN AT LOCH LEYN, OR KILLARNEV—HE IS PROBABLY THE PATRON THERE, AND AT AGHADOE—HIS MIRACLES.
In the old Life of St Finan, it is stated, that on one occasion, he had caused a boat to be built, near the waters of Loch Leyn, in Kerry,' and he sent word to the Regulus of its territory, tliat some of his people should come and haul it into the lake. The king and his servants obeyed that summons, but they were not able to carry it towards the water ; yet, by angelic power, this task was easily accomplished. " From this account, it may be inferred, that our saint lived' for some time, at or near the present Lakes of Killarney. Only on one of its Islands do we find, that an ancient religious house stood ; and, it may be questioned, if St. Finan of Kinnitty had not more connexion with it, than St. Finan, the Leper,3 who is popularly regarded as the founder. Be-
. -"353^:^
. St. ? 'inian"s Church on Innisfallen, Lower Lake of Killarney.
sides the monastery of Innis-Faithlenn,* which was the home of learned men, until destroyed in the reign of Henry VIII. , the Cathedral Church of Agha- doe 5 was also dedicated to St. Finnain Lobhar, it is thought. He was con-
sideredthepatronofSouthKerry. * Thispopularideamaybeerroneous, likewise, nor do the Acts of the latter saint sustain it; while, in the biography
of St. Finan Cam, he is represented, at least, as residing near Aghadoe,
namely, at Loch Leyn, or Killarney.
Chapter ii. —• The Latin has it "prope
Stagnum de Loch Leyn in Kyrrigia. " Before our saint's birth, hi. s mother is said to have bathed in Loch Leyn.
' Ex Manuscripto Codice Inisensi, cap. ix. , p. 259.
5 See his Life, at the i6th of March.
* The accompanying illustration of St.
Within two miles, over the margin of
Finan's old church, on the Island of Innis- fallen, is from a photogmpli, drawn on the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and en- graved, by Mrs. Millard.
5 The interesting doorway of Aghadoe Church is engraved, and represented, in Miss
Cusack's "
Kerry," chap, iii. , p. 51.
History
of
the Kingdom of
62 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April 7.
the Lower Lake at Killarney, on a site of surpassing magnificence, and on an
eminence, are the rains of Aghadoe church, formerly called Aghaboe. 7 This
place is of great antiquity, and it had been likewise dedicated to St. Finian.
Excepting the stump of an old round tower,^ and the ruins of a small old
castle,9nohouseorbuildingstandsnearit. '° Inthe"AnnalsofInnisfallen,"
"
Aghadoe is called
extreme antiquity. It is supposed, that the Round Tower fell during the last century," but no description of its state, when perfect, now remains. "
At one time, wliile the saint and his companions were on their way, cer-
tain miscreants met them, and intended to murder them; but, they were for-
tunately rescued by a valiant man, named Lonan, and, in return for this
the old abbey," and this seems a sufficient evidence of its
" Because on this
of the Faith, never shall your enemies prevail against you, but to the day of
Leyn,
favour,
St. Finan
said,
day you have saved us from enemies
your death you shall continue to be victorious. " '3 On a certain occasion, when Finan was about to visit his people, he received hospitality from a poor and pious man, who killed a calf, belonging to the only cow he had, to enter- tain his guest. On learning this circumstance, on the following day, the holy man prayed to God for his host, and immediately a calf appeared to replace that,whichhadbeenkilled. ThishappenednearLochLeyn,andthere,too,a horse under the chariot of Finan dropped dead. In a miraculous manner, a horse of a hyacinth '•• colour came up from Loch
and that celebrated animal continued with him for three years. At the end of this time, our saint is said to have ordered him to return again into the lake, from which he issued, and this was accomplished. '5 Another remarkable miracle is recorded, re- garding a great tree, which lay prostrate on the road, over which the chariot of St. Finan pa. ssed, and by his command, the tree arose to its original posi- tion, so that the chariot was enabled to move without impediment. However, when it had passed, the tree once more inclined to the earth, yet not even a
branch was broken, notwithstanding the changes of position effected. '* On a certain day, while journeying, in a chariot, by the sea-side, it chanced, that a marshy place had been an obstacle in the way. St. Finan desired his charioteer to drive over it, without any hesitation ; and, when the driver obeyed this order, the plain beneath became so firm, that not even the hoofs of his horses, nor the chariot wheels, showed signs of being wet from the salt-water. '? Another time, a paralysed boy, who had no use of his limbs whatever, was brought toour saint, who, embracing him, and on applying his hands, com- manded him, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to arise, and to walk. The youth was able miraculously to fulfil this injunction. '* One day, while thirsty, he told a servant with him, to procure water. However, none was known to be near, until Finan, ordering a sod of earth to be raised, a well of
water immediately sprang from the earth. '?
In the territory of Corcabuibne, the place of our saint's nativity, a great
^
See ibid.
7 In Latin, called
Irish round towers remained at
"See Miss Cusack's interesting account
of the ruins at this in her " of place, History
the Kingdom of Kerry," chap, xxiii. , pp. 371, 372.
'3 See Vita S. Finani, cap. x. , p.
