In 850, or 851, the heathen
Norsemen
laid Armagh waste ; and, this is thought to have weighed heavily on his spirits.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
—The Sons of Baethan, or Began.
On the 24th of
April,theMartyrologyofTallagh registers,MacBecgani,ashavingbeen venerated. The BoUandists have it Filii Baethani. ' In like manner, we learn,
inhonourofthesonsofBaethan,J wascelebrated,andonthis day, according to the Martyrology of Donegal. *
Article IX. —Reputed Feast of Brecan, Bishop and Abbot of ^IAGH Bile. Under the head of Magh Bile, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Brecan, bishop and abbot of Magh Bile, April 24th. ' But, the Martyr- ology of Tallagh and that of Donegal enter his festival, at the 29th of this month.
Article X. —The Sons of Caelbhadh. The Martyrology of Tallagh
'
noticesthesonsofCoelbad atthe24thofApril; and,quotingit,theBol-
landistshaveFiliiCaelbadii. ' TheMartyrologyofDonegal3mentions,that the sons of Caelbhadh were venerated on this day,
' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxii.
3 See "Ulster Journal of Archxology,'' vol. vi. , where the Rev. Dr. Reeves has a learned article, on St. Beretchert of Tully- lease, pp. 267 to 275.
'See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," Martii xiii. Vita S. Giraldi, Abbatis Elit- herensis et Magioensis, n. 5, p. 602.
5 See "Acta Sanctorum, tomus iii. ,
Aprilis xxiv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 260.
' See Rev. Dr. ©'Conor's " Rerum Hiber-
nicarum — tomus iv. , p. 82. Scriptores,"
'
Article vii. Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxii. The P'ranciscan copy has
Co. 4emndC Cuidcichmaig.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Aprilis xxiv. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 260.
3 Dr. Todd says in a note, at this proper
recording
thata
festival,
"
adds here ' Caomnac Guile ciotmuige,'
Aprilisxxiv. Amongthepretermittedsaints, p. 260.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, I lo, I II.
name, "Caoinnet. "
The more recent hand
" < Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
pp.
[Caomnat of Cuilciochmagh] Mart. Taml. '
1 lo, in. — ' Edited Article viii.
by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxii. The Franciscan copy reads :
nieicoaecAiti. '"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Aprilis xxiv. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 260.
' in ^ note by Dr. Todd, at Baethan, we are told :" The more recent hand adds here,
'
tnic begim [son of Began], Mart. Taml. ' The Brussels MS. reads, mic t)ec5din. "
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
no, in. — Article ix.
See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," MSS. Series,
vol. i. , part i. , pp. 120, 121.
Article x.
we read: rtleic CoelbdT).
°
copy,
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
—'In the Franciscan
476 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 24.
Article XI. —St. Flann, Son of Nessan. {Probably in the Seventh Century^ The mere record of this saint's festival takes place, on this day, in the Martyrologies of Donegal and of Cashel. He was one of Nessan's sons;' and,mostprobably,heflourishedintheseventhcentury.
Article XII. —Blessed P'lann Ua Tagain, Airchinnech of Durrow,
King's County. {Tenth and Elevetith Centuries. '] This was a wise and a
celebrated man. Colgan had intended to say more regarding him, at this
date. ' Flann Ua Tacain was Airchinnech of Durrow, in the present King's
County. Hewasregardedasapersonspeciallydistinguishedforhisknow- ledge. " He died a. d. 1022. 3
Article XIII. —St. Flann, Abbot of Iona, Scotland. {Ninth Century. '] Another St. Flann, who was Abbot of Hy, is venerated on the 24th of April. ' He was the son of Maelduin, and he belonged to the race of Conall Gulban. His pedigree is given in the Neamhseanchas, and it makes himtwelfthindescentfromConallGulban. FlannsucceededtotheAbbey of Iona, on the death of Feradhach Mac Cormaic, a. d. 880, and he departed this life April 24th, a. d. 891, after his incumbency of eleven years. '
Article XIV. —St. Lughaidh, Priest. By nature we are formed to desire
happiness, but it appears strange, that the generality of human beings so greatly mistake its real object. The pleasures of sense cannot procure a high or lasting enjoyment. It is the Christian, faithful to his noblest promptings of duty, that secures the proper aim of a well-directed life. The simple
record Sac—for Lughaidh
or " "—occurs in the
priest Martyrology
sacredos, of Tallagh,' at the 24th of April.
The Bollandists, from the same authority, enterLugadiusSacerdos,atthesamedate;' but,wefindnodetails,tofur- therelucidatehisbiography. ThenameofLughaidh,Priest,occursinthe
Martyrology of Donegal,3 as having a festival, on this day. He descended from the race of Eoghan, son of Niall, as we are there informed.
Article XV. —St. Diarmait, or Diarmaid, Bishop. Religious duty obliges to bear something as well as to do something ; rest may even occa- sionally become a duty ; but, not a single instant of life ought to be disen- gaged, from its peculiar claim on our time, even although this involve trouble and suffering. The name of Diarmaid is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at this date. He seems to have been a Bishop,' but when he lived is not
S. S. DichuUi, Muiiissae, et Neslugii, fra- truum, p. 60, n. 9. See, also, text and notes, in the Acts of these saints, which will be found, at the 15th of March.
'
Article xii. — . See "Triai Thauma-
lurga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbas, cap. iv. ,sect. i. , p. 507.
' See Rev. Dr. Reeves' " Adamnan's Life of St. Columba, Additional notes (O), p. 398.
of the
Article xi. — ' See
" Acta ' See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life Sanctorum Hibernise," xv. Martii, Acta of St. Columba. Additional notes (O),
3
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 802, 803.
See Dr. O'Donovan's
Article ,xiii. —' See
"Trias
Colgan's Thaumalurga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta
S. Columbse, cap. ii. , sect, v. , p. 502.
Colgan's
"Annals
Aprilisxxiv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 260.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
108, 109.
Article xv. — ' Edited Rev. Dr. by
Kelly, p. xxii. The Franciscan copy enters
t)i<! ,t\ni<Mc eap.
' The Bollandists, from the same autho-
rity, call him Diermitius Episcopus. See
p. 392. Article xiv.
Kelly, p. xxii.
tugjut) ppefb. ' See "Acta
—'
The Fr. mciscan copy has
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Sanctorum,"
tomus
iii. ,
i
April 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
477
known. OneDermodO'TigernachwasArchbishopofArmagh,andhesuc- ceeded Faranan, when the latter abdicated that office in 848. He was regarded as one of the wisest Doctors in Europe.
In 850, or 851, the heathen Norsemen laid Armagh waste ; and, this is thought to have weighed heavily on his spirits. It caused him to pine away with grief, and it brought him to a premature grave. 3 He died soon after Easter Sunday, a. d. 852. We find recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ that Dearmait, Bishop, had venera- tion paid him on this day ; but, we are not able to identify him clearly with that prelate, who ruled the See of Armagh, in the ninth century.
Article XVI. —St. Coip, or Coipp, Virgin, of Cluain Ciochmagh. The general character of a nun's life is that of peaceful seclusion, and a mo- notonous but fervent discharge of religious offices ; nor is there reason to believe, this holy virgin's time was passed in any other exceptional manner. An entry of her own and of herfather's name isfound, in the Martyrology of Tal- lagh," at the 24th of April. By the Bollandists,^sheis called CopiaFilia Car- navi. Thenameofherplace,however,isomitted. ASt. CipiaorCopia,mother of St. Bite, is classed among the holy women, veiled by St. Patrick. He left her,atthechurchofElphin. 3 Colganthinks,thatshemaybeidentifiedwith the present St. Coip. * According to the Martyrology of Donegal,5 veneration was given, on this day, to Coipp, virgin and daughter of Caerndn, of Cluain Ciochmagh.
Article XVII. —Reputed Festival for Isaac. In the Franciscan
copy, we do not meet with such a name, as heads this Article, at the 24th of
April ; but, a saint, called Isaac, is found entered in the published Martyr-
ology of Tallagh,' without any further description, at this day. Nor can we find, elsewhere, any warrant for his festival.
Article XVIII. —Festival of the Three Innocent Children, in a Furnace,andthePassionofSt. George. IntheearlyIrishChurch,the aforenamed Feasts were observed, as we find recorded, in the Feiiire of St. . ^ngus,' at this date. The three innocent children were Sedrech, Misac, and Abdinego, as called by the Chaldeans; but, Ananias, Acarias, and Misahel, as named by the Hebrews. ' Those children were cast into a furnace of fire aflame, by Nebuchadnezzar ;3 but, nevertheless God the Father freed and
"Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Aprilis xxiv. Among the pretermitted festivals, p. 260.
3 See Harris' Ware, vol i. , "Archbishops of Armagh, "p. 45.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Article xvii. —' Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxii. — ' Article xviii.
108, 109. —= Article xvi.
m&c
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxii. The Franciscan entry is
netroac
Coip 1 e. CAi\Tiain.
'See "Acta Sanctonim," tomus iiL,
Aprilisxxiv. Amongthepretermittedsaints, p. 260.
buait) narpi <JnTipn j-ocViIa T)itie
pair 5i"P5i SP''*" buA'OA Co xxxaic mop mile.
Thus translated by Dr. Whitley Stokes :— ' See also what is said, at the notices of " The victory of the three innocent children, St. Coppa, or Cobba, at the l8th of in a furnace, a famous number. (The)
January.
•See "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima
VitaS. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xxxix. , p. 134, and n. 78, p. 176. Also Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 270.
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 108, 109.
passion of George, a sun of victory, with thirty great thousands. "
*
Such is the account, as furnished by the Glossograplier to the " Leabhar Breac' ver- sion, and he adds :—Aguj- xxx. vn. aguf
occxxix. incriAbcu-ooti ono. This is trans-
lated, by Dr. Whitley Stokes :
" Breac—" copy, the following stanza is met
with
:
In the
Leabhar
"
and 30, 729
478 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 25.
rescued them, so that the fire hurt them not. '* These are also entered, in the
FranciscancopyoftheMartyrologyofTallagh,5atthe24thofApril; asalso, in several ancient Kalendars and Manuscript Martyrologies,* at this same date. 7 In reference to St. George's thirty great thousands, these are stated' to have been the number of those martyrs he brought toChrist. 9 The BoUandists have notices, at this date, of George, of Maurice, and of Tiberius, belonging to the Theban Legion, who shed their blood, rather than deny their faith, in time of the Emperor Maximian, and at Pinerolium, in Piedmont, Italy. '" In a Greek Manuscript Synaxarium, and in other ancient authorities, at this samedateisafeastofSt. George,aMartyr. " Itseemsprobable,thatSt. George of the Theban Legion, with his companions in victorious death, was the subject for veneration, in our early Irish church.
Cluentp. -fiftf) Bap ot 9[pril.
ARTICLE I. —ST. MAGUIL, OR MACHALDUS, PATRON AND BISHOP, IN THE ISLE OF MAN.
[FIFTH CMNTURY. -[
equidistant from England, Ireland and Scotland, about thirty
NEARLY
miles in and twelve in
where lies the Isle broadest,
breadth,
of Man,' where a form of the Gaelic language is still in use. = The isolated
kingdom of the Manx, small though it may be, has an interesting religious, social and national history. 3 To our own great Apostle, St. Patrick, some
with Nebuchadnezzar moreover. " " Thus recorded : S. Georgii Megalo- 3 This history is related, in the Book of Martyris Dedicatio Ecclesia: Cyparissi. See,
—
tion of it is given, on Collin's "Large Map
of the Isle of Man," published during the last century, in royal folio size. It contains a view of Peel Castle. A still earlier Map of "the Isle, in royal folio size, bears the imprint of 1595, and of l6ioj this is known as T. Durham's " Isle of Man, ex- actly described, and into several Parished divided, with every Towne, Village, Baye and River thereincontayned. " There is an in- teresting description of this Island, on the back, with a Chronicle of the Kings of Man.
''See "The Popular Encyclopedia; or Conversations Lexicon," vol. iv. , p. 655.
^ gee an interesting work on this subject,
"
Antiquities of the Isle of Man, Manners and Customs of the inhabi- tants, Tales of the Friaries, Abbeysand other
Religious Establishments," in two 8vo vo- lumes.
* See in vol. iii. of this work, the " Life of
length,
Daniel, chap. iii.
* See ibui. 260.
s And at p. 359, in the published version, ARTICLE contained in "The Book of Leinster,"
I.
'Avery excellentrepresenta-
edited by Robert Atkinson, M. A. , LL. D. , &c.
' Such as the Hieronymian, Raban, Ussurd, and Notker. See the BoUandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Aprilis
xxiv. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 261.
' However, the Roman Martyrology, Ado's and some other Martyrologies, have this festival, at the i6th of December. See ibid.
^ According to the Commentator on St. /Engus, in the " Leabhar Breac " version of the Feilire.
9 In the Franciscan copy of the Tallagh
Martyrology we read at this date : pAfj-io 5eop5ii cum xxx'oxjccbxxix.
"• See "Acta Sanctorum,," tomus iii. , Aprilis xxiv. De Sanctis Martyribus The- bais, Mauritio, Georgio et Tiberio, Pinarolii in Pedemontio, p. 266.
R. Townley's
among the pretermitted saints, ibid. , p.
April 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 479
writers have ascribed the first Christian fruits there gathered,* among the aboriginal inhabitants-^ We are further informed, that being regarded as first
founder of and
missionary
* of the Manx Church,? St. Patrick left Germanus,*
in 447, to rule as bishop over the people he converted, in the Isle of Man. 9
He is to have been one of St. Patrick's own '° He settled the
said, disciples.
matter of religion so firmly in this Island, that it was said, the people never after-
wards relapsed into paganism. He is stated to have died, during the lifetime of
St. Patrick. " ThecathedralchurchofManwasdedicate—d,however,toaSt.
Germanus. It is said, St. Patrick afterwards consecrated it some think Conin-
drus and others Romulus ;" while Jocelyn make them contemporaries, and
living together on the Isle of Man, having been placed there, by the Irish
Apostle,afterthedeathofGermanus. Theiraccessiontotheepiscopatehas
been assigned, to a. d. 474. '' However, this chronology has been contested ;'
for, many writers believe St. Patrick to have died, before the period named. '*
The early Lives of the Irish Apostle, although they mention Conindrus and
Romulus, are quite silent on this subject of St. Patrick having preached there.
They give us no hint, about the propagation of Christianity in Man, except on the occasion of Maccaldus' voyage thither. The Manx very generally give
the name of Maughold to him, whom they regard as a special Patron. He is also called Machella and Manchold. '*
The chief accounts remaining, to illustrate the Acts of St. Machaldus, are to be found in some of St. Patrick's Lives, and especially in those of the Tri- partite ' and of Jocelyn. '* By Probus,"' he is called Macfail, and Maguil
St. Patrick," at the 17th of March, the date for his festival, chap, vi. , xxii.
5 on his from Jocelyn pretends, returning
Germanus to have been St. Patrick's disci- ple, as also a Bishop in the Isle of Man. See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum "
an excursion to Great Britain, that St. Patrick pp. 643 to 842.
undertook the conversion of those " See Rev. inhabiting J.
various small islands, particularly Eubonia or Mannia.
'
The Tripartite Life throws out a hint, that the mission of St. Patrick had some in- 6uence on the Gospel prc^ess within that island. Thb exhibits Man as having be- come famous, after the arrival of St. Patrick, by serving as a retreat for monks.
' In Richard Gough's Camden's " Britan- nia," vol. iii. , it is said, St. Patrick converted the Isle of Man to the Christian faith, about 440, when the bishopric was first erected. See p. 701.
Cumming's Man," Appendix P, p. 342.
•
His (east is referred to the yd of July,
by Colgan, in " Trias Thaumaturga," Sexia Vita S. Particii, n.
April,theMartyrologyofTallagh registers,MacBecgani,ashavingbeen venerated. The BoUandists have it Filii Baethani. ' In like manner, we learn,
inhonourofthesonsofBaethan,J wascelebrated,andonthis day, according to the Martyrology of Donegal. *
Article IX. —Reputed Feast of Brecan, Bishop and Abbot of ^IAGH Bile. Under the head of Magh Bile, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Brecan, bishop and abbot of Magh Bile, April 24th. ' But, the Martyr- ology of Tallagh and that of Donegal enter his festival, at the 29th of this month.
Article X. —The Sons of Caelbhadh. The Martyrology of Tallagh
'
noticesthesonsofCoelbad atthe24thofApril; and,quotingit,theBol-
landistshaveFiliiCaelbadii. ' TheMartyrologyofDonegal3mentions,that the sons of Caelbhadh were venerated on this day,
' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxii.
3 See "Ulster Journal of Archxology,'' vol. vi. , where the Rev. Dr. Reeves has a learned article, on St. Beretchert of Tully- lease, pp. 267 to 275.
'See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," Martii xiii. Vita S. Giraldi, Abbatis Elit- herensis et Magioensis, n. 5, p. 602.
5 See "Acta Sanctorum, tomus iii. ,
Aprilis xxiv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 260.
' See Rev. Dr. ©'Conor's " Rerum Hiber-
nicarum — tomus iv. , p. 82. Scriptores,"
'
Article vii. Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxii. The P'ranciscan copy has
Co. 4emndC Cuidcichmaig.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Aprilis xxiv. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 260.
3 Dr. Todd says in a note, at this proper
recording
thata
festival,
"
adds here ' Caomnac Guile ciotmuige,'
Aprilisxxiv. Amongthepretermittedsaints, p. 260.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, I lo, I II.
name, "Caoinnet. "
The more recent hand
" < Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
pp.
[Caomnat of Cuilciochmagh] Mart. Taml. '
1 lo, in. — ' Edited Article viii.
by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxii. The Franciscan copy reads :
nieicoaecAiti. '"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Aprilis xxiv. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 260.
' in ^ note by Dr. Todd, at Baethan, we are told :" The more recent hand adds here,
'
tnic begim [son of Began], Mart. Taml. ' The Brussels MS. reads, mic t)ec5din. "
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
no, in. — Article ix.
See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," MSS. Series,
vol. i. , part i. , pp. 120, 121.
Article x.
we read: rtleic CoelbdT).
°
copy,
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
—'In the Franciscan
476 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 24.
Article XI. —St. Flann, Son of Nessan. {Probably in the Seventh Century^ The mere record of this saint's festival takes place, on this day, in the Martyrologies of Donegal and of Cashel. He was one of Nessan's sons;' and,mostprobably,heflourishedintheseventhcentury.
Article XII. —Blessed P'lann Ua Tagain, Airchinnech of Durrow,
King's County. {Tenth and Elevetith Centuries. '] This was a wise and a
celebrated man. Colgan had intended to say more regarding him, at this
date. ' Flann Ua Tacain was Airchinnech of Durrow, in the present King's
County. Hewasregardedasapersonspeciallydistinguishedforhisknow- ledge. " He died a. d. 1022. 3
Article XIII. —St. Flann, Abbot of Iona, Scotland. {Ninth Century. '] Another St. Flann, who was Abbot of Hy, is venerated on the 24th of April. ' He was the son of Maelduin, and he belonged to the race of Conall Gulban. His pedigree is given in the Neamhseanchas, and it makes himtwelfthindescentfromConallGulban. FlannsucceededtotheAbbey of Iona, on the death of Feradhach Mac Cormaic, a. d. 880, and he departed this life April 24th, a. d. 891, after his incumbency of eleven years. '
Article XIV. —St. Lughaidh, Priest. By nature we are formed to desire
happiness, but it appears strange, that the generality of human beings so greatly mistake its real object. The pleasures of sense cannot procure a high or lasting enjoyment. It is the Christian, faithful to his noblest promptings of duty, that secures the proper aim of a well-directed life. The simple
record Sac—for Lughaidh
or " "—occurs in the
priest Martyrology
sacredos, of Tallagh,' at the 24th of April.
The Bollandists, from the same authority, enterLugadiusSacerdos,atthesamedate;' but,wefindnodetails,tofur- therelucidatehisbiography. ThenameofLughaidh,Priest,occursinthe
Martyrology of Donegal,3 as having a festival, on this day. He descended from the race of Eoghan, son of Niall, as we are there informed.
Article XV. —St. Diarmait, or Diarmaid, Bishop. Religious duty obliges to bear something as well as to do something ; rest may even occa- sionally become a duty ; but, not a single instant of life ought to be disen- gaged, from its peculiar claim on our time, even although this involve trouble and suffering. The name of Diarmaid is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at this date. He seems to have been a Bishop,' but when he lived is not
S. S. DichuUi, Muiiissae, et Neslugii, fra- truum, p. 60, n. 9. See, also, text and notes, in the Acts of these saints, which will be found, at the 15th of March.
'
Article xii. — . See "Triai Thauma-
lurga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbas, cap. iv. ,sect. i. , p. 507.
' See Rev. Dr. Reeves' " Adamnan's Life of St. Columba, Additional notes (O), p. 398.
of the
Article xi. — ' See
" Acta ' See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life Sanctorum Hibernise," xv. Martii, Acta of St. Columba. Additional notes (O),
3
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 802, 803.
See Dr. O'Donovan's
Article ,xiii. —' See
"Trias
Colgan's Thaumalurga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta
S. Columbse, cap. ii. , sect, v. , p. 502.
Colgan's
"Annals
Aprilisxxiv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 260.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
108, 109.
Article xv. — ' Edited Rev. Dr. by
Kelly, p. xxii. The Franciscan copy enters
t)i<! ,t\ni<Mc eap.
' The Bollandists, from the same autho-
rity, call him Diermitius Episcopus. See
p. 392. Article xiv.
Kelly, p. xxii.
tugjut) ppefb. ' See "Acta
—'
The Fr. mciscan copy has
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Sanctorum,"
tomus
iii. ,
i
April 24. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
477
known. OneDermodO'TigernachwasArchbishopofArmagh,andhesuc- ceeded Faranan, when the latter abdicated that office in 848. He was regarded as one of the wisest Doctors in Europe.
In 850, or 851, the heathen Norsemen laid Armagh waste ; and, this is thought to have weighed heavily on his spirits. It caused him to pine away with grief, and it brought him to a premature grave. 3 He died soon after Easter Sunday, a. d. 852. We find recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ that Dearmait, Bishop, had venera- tion paid him on this day ; but, we are not able to identify him clearly with that prelate, who ruled the See of Armagh, in the ninth century.
Article XVI. —St. Coip, or Coipp, Virgin, of Cluain Ciochmagh. The general character of a nun's life is that of peaceful seclusion, and a mo- notonous but fervent discharge of religious offices ; nor is there reason to believe, this holy virgin's time was passed in any other exceptional manner. An entry of her own and of herfather's name isfound, in the Martyrology of Tal- lagh," at the 24th of April. By the Bollandists,^sheis called CopiaFilia Car- navi. Thenameofherplace,however,isomitted. ASt. CipiaorCopia,mother of St. Bite, is classed among the holy women, veiled by St. Patrick. He left her,atthechurchofElphin. 3 Colganthinks,thatshemaybeidentifiedwith the present St. Coip. * According to the Martyrology of Donegal,5 veneration was given, on this day, to Coipp, virgin and daughter of Caerndn, of Cluain Ciochmagh.
Article XVII. —Reputed Festival for Isaac. In the Franciscan
copy, we do not meet with such a name, as heads this Article, at the 24th of
April ; but, a saint, called Isaac, is found entered in the published Martyr-
ology of Tallagh,' without any further description, at this day. Nor can we find, elsewhere, any warrant for his festival.
Article XVIII. —Festival of the Three Innocent Children, in a Furnace,andthePassionofSt. George. IntheearlyIrishChurch,the aforenamed Feasts were observed, as we find recorded, in the Feiiire of St. . ^ngus,' at this date. The three innocent children were Sedrech, Misac, and Abdinego, as called by the Chaldeans; but, Ananias, Acarias, and Misahel, as named by the Hebrews. ' Those children were cast into a furnace of fire aflame, by Nebuchadnezzar ;3 but, nevertheless God the Father freed and
"Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Aprilis xxiv. Among the pretermitted festivals, p. 260.
3 See Harris' Ware, vol i. , "Archbishops of Armagh, "p. 45.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Article xvii. —' Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxii. — ' Article xviii.
108, 109. —= Article xvi.
m&c
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxii. The Franciscan entry is
netroac
Coip 1 e. CAi\Tiain.
'See "Acta Sanctonim," tomus iiL,
Aprilisxxiv. Amongthepretermittedsaints, p. 260.
buait) narpi <JnTipn j-ocViIa T)itie
pair 5i"P5i SP''*" buA'OA Co xxxaic mop mile.
Thus translated by Dr. Whitley Stokes :— ' See also what is said, at the notices of " The victory of the three innocent children, St. Coppa, or Cobba, at the l8th of in a furnace, a famous number. (The)
January.
•See "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima
VitaS. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xxxix. , p. 134, and n. 78, p. 176. Also Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 270.
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 108, 109.
passion of George, a sun of victory, with thirty great thousands. "
*
Such is the account, as furnished by the Glossograplier to the " Leabhar Breac' ver- sion, and he adds :—Aguj- xxx. vn. aguf
occxxix. incriAbcu-ooti ono. This is trans-
lated, by Dr. Whitley Stokes :
" Breac—" copy, the following stanza is met
with
:
In the
Leabhar
"
and 30, 729
478 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 25.
rescued them, so that the fire hurt them not. '* These are also entered, in the
FranciscancopyoftheMartyrologyofTallagh,5atthe24thofApril; asalso, in several ancient Kalendars and Manuscript Martyrologies,* at this same date. 7 In reference to St. George's thirty great thousands, these are stated' to have been the number of those martyrs he brought toChrist. 9 The BoUandists have notices, at this date, of George, of Maurice, and of Tiberius, belonging to the Theban Legion, who shed their blood, rather than deny their faith, in time of the Emperor Maximian, and at Pinerolium, in Piedmont, Italy. '" In a Greek Manuscript Synaxarium, and in other ancient authorities, at this samedateisafeastofSt. George,aMartyr. " Itseemsprobable,thatSt. George of the Theban Legion, with his companions in victorious death, was the subject for veneration, in our early Irish church.
Cluentp. -fiftf) Bap ot 9[pril.
ARTICLE I. —ST. MAGUIL, OR MACHALDUS, PATRON AND BISHOP, IN THE ISLE OF MAN.
[FIFTH CMNTURY. -[
equidistant from England, Ireland and Scotland, about thirty
NEARLY
miles in and twelve in
where lies the Isle broadest,
breadth,
of Man,' where a form of the Gaelic language is still in use. = The isolated
kingdom of the Manx, small though it may be, has an interesting religious, social and national history. 3 To our own great Apostle, St. Patrick, some
with Nebuchadnezzar moreover. " " Thus recorded : S. Georgii Megalo- 3 This history is related, in the Book of Martyris Dedicatio Ecclesia: Cyparissi. See,
—
tion of it is given, on Collin's "Large Map
of the Isle of Man," published during the last century, in royal folio size. It contains a view of Peel Castle. A still earlier Map of "the Isle, in royal folio size, bears the imprint of 1595, and of l6ioj this is known as T. Durham's " Isle of Man, ex- actly described, and into several Parished divided, with every Towne, Village, Baye and River thereincontayned. " There is an in- teresting description of this Island, on the back, with a Chronicle of the Kings of Man.
''See "The Popular Encyclopedia; or Conversations Lexicon," vol. iv. , p. 655.
^ gee an interesting work on this subject,
"
Antiquities of the Isle of Man, Manners and Customs of the inhabi- tants, Tales of the Friaries, Abbeysand other
Religious Establishments," in two 8vo vo- lumes.
* See in vol. iii. of this work, the " Life of
length,
Daniel, chap. iii.
* See ibui. 260.
s And at p. 359, in the published version, ARTICLE contained in "The Book of Leinster,"
I.
'Avery excellentrepresenta-
edited by Robert Atkinson, M. A. , LL. D. , &c.
' Such as the Hieronymian, Raban, Ussurd, and Notker. See the BoUandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Aprilis
xxiv. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 261.
' However, the Roman Martyrology, Ado's and some other Martyrologies, have this festival, at the i6th of December. See ibid.
^ According to the Commentator on St. /Engus, in the " Leabhar Breac " version of the Feilire.
9 In the Franciscan copy of the Tallagh
Martyrology we read at this date : pAfj-io 5eop5ii cum xxx'oxjccbxxix.
"• See "Acta Sanctorum,," tomus iii. , Aprilis xxiv. De Sanctis Martyribus The- bais, Mauritio, Georgio et Tiberio, Pinarolii in Pedemontio, p. 266.
R. Townley's
among the pretermitted saints, ibid. , p.
April 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 479
writers have ascribed the first Christian fruits there gathered,* among the aboriginal inhabitants-^ We are further informed, that being regarded as first
founder of and
missionary
* of the Manx Church,? St. Patrick left Germanus,*
in 447, to rule as bishop over the people he converted, in the Isle of Man. 9
He is to have been one of St. Patrick's own '° He settled the
said, disciples.
matter of religion so firmly in this Island, that it was said, the people never after-
wards relapsed into paganism. He is stated to have died, during the lifetime of
St. Patrick. " ThecathedralchurchofManwasdedicate—d,however,toaSt.
Germanus. It is said, St. Patrick afterwards consecrated it some think Conin-
drus and others Romulus ;" while Jocelyn make them contemporaries, and
living together on the Isle of Man, having been placed there, by the Irish
Apostle,afterthedeathofGermanus. Theiraccessiontotheepiscopatehas
been assigned, to a. d. 474. '' However, this chronology has been contested ;'
for, many writers believe St. Patrick to have died, before the period named. '*
The early Lives of the Irish Apostle, although they mention Conindrus and
Romulus, are quite silent on this subject of St. Patrick having preached there.
They give us no hint, about the propagation of Christianity in Man, except on the occasion of Maccaldus' voyage thither. The Manx very generally give
the name of Maughold to him, whom they regard as a special Patron. He is also called Machella and Manchold. '*
The chief accounts remaining, to illustrate the Acts of St. Machaldus, are to be found in some of St. Patrick's Lives, and especially in those of the Tri- partite ' and of Jocelyn. '* By Probus,"' he is called Macfail, and Maguil
St. Patrick," at the 17th of March, the date for his festival, chap, vi. , xxii.
5 on his from Jocelyn pretends, returning
Germanus to have been St. Patrick's disci- ple, as also a Bishop in the Isle of Man. See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum "
an excursion to Great Britain, that St. Patrick pp. 643 to 842.
undertook the conversion of those " See Rev. inhabiting J.
various small islands, particularly Eubonia or Mannia.
'
The Tripartite Life throws out a hint, that the mission of St. Patrick had some in- 6uence on the Gospel prc^ess within that island. Thb exhibits Man as having be- come famous, after the arrival of St. Patrick, by serving as a retreat for monks.
' In Richard Gough's Camden's " Britan- nia," vol. iii. , it is said, St. Patrick converted the Isle of Man to the Christian faith, about 440, when the bishopric was first erected. See p. 701.
Cumming's Man," Appendix P, p. 342.
•
His (east is referred to the yd of July,
by Colgan, in " Trias Thaumaturga," Sexia Vita S. Particii, n.
