'*" Oughaval is universally pronounced Ochval—but written
Oakvale—in
the neighbourhood.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
'^ In the Life of St.
Fintan, Abbot of Clonenagh, whose Acts have been already published, at the i7tli of February, we are told, that this religious youth, who is there called Columbanus, was a native ofLeix,intheLeinsterprovince.
Forthesakeofmakingapilgrimage,andof engaging in prayer, this Columbanus directed his course to the island of lona, in order to visit St.
Coluniba.
Here, he remained for some time, and he lived with this latter holy Abbot.
When Colman wished to return again to his own country, he asked Columba, how he should live there, not being able to con- fess his sins to the holy Abbot.
St.
Columba said, " Go to that pious man, whom I see standing among the Angels and before the tribunal of Christ, on each Sunday night.
" The holy youth asked, who and what sort of man he was.
St.
Columbaanswered,"Tliereisacertainsaindyandhandsomeman, in your part of the country, whose complexion is florid, whose eyes are brio-htly sparkling, and whose white locks of hair are thinly scattered on his head.
" Theyoung man then said, "Iknowof no man answering to this descrip- tion, in my country, except St.
Fintan.
"'9 Then St.
Columba joyfully said to him : " He it is, my son, whom I see before the tribunal of Christ, as I have already told you.
Go to him, for he is a good shepherd of Christ's flock, and he shall bring many souls with him to the kingdom of God.
'' St.
Colman or Columbanus—as he is here called—having received permission to revisit Ire- land, and having the benediction of St.
Columba, afterwards set out for his own country.
Coming to St.
Fintan, Columban told him all that the saintly Abbot of lona had said.
The holy old man, Fintan, hearing these words, blusheddeeply,sothathisfaceseemedasifonfire.
Hetoldtheyoungman, to be careful and not to relate these circumstances to any other person, at least, during his own lifetime.
This condition imposed a great restraint on Colman; for, St.
Fintan, shortly after their interview, departed this life.
^° From the foregoing account, we may infer, that St.
Colman, after his return from loiiii, was still a young man, who had probably learned the rudiments of monastic discipline, under that great master of a spiritual life, St.
Colum- kille.
The date regarding St.
Fintan's death is questioned.
Colgan says, he died
9 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum IIil)ei-- 'S See title of cap. v. , lib. i. , in Adamnan's
niK," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fin-
" Life of St. Columba. "
'^ He is so called, in the text of the same
tani', n. 25, p. 354.
'° See, also, Colgan's "Trias Thauma- chapter,
turga," Prima Vita S. Columbce, n. 10,
p_ 225.
II See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life
of St. Columba," n. (k), p. 213. "According to the Genealogy, as found
intheBookofLecain.
'3 See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba," p. 29, n. (d), p. 42, n. (a), pp. 124, 125, nn. (a, e, a).
'? See Adamnan's "Life of Columba," ''I'- '-. cap. 14, and lib. ii. , cap. 15, 16.
"* See Ussher's Works, vol. vi. " Britan- nicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitaies," cap. xvii. , p. 536.
'' AbbotofClonenagh. Seethisincident also briefly related in his Acts, at tlie 17th of Fcl)ruary, with accompanying notes.
-° See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Ilibcr- '< Noticed in the Irish Calendar, at the nice," xvii. F'ebruarii. Vita S. I'"iiitani, cap.
26ih of September. xxii. , p. 353.
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
379
long before the close of the sixth century,^' and allows him to have flourished in the year 560 ;22 while Dr. Lanigan maintains it as probable, that he reached the age of about seventy, thus departing towards the year 595, or two years before the death of St. Columkille, in 597. ^3 it seems evident, that St. Colman must have commenced the foundation of a religious establishment, at Ougliaval, shortly before or after the death of St. Fintan ; unless we admit Dr. Lanigan's other conjecture. This historian thinks it more probable, the bishop Cokimbanus, mentioned in St. Fintan's Life, was a different person from the Leinster bishop, Cokmibanus Mac-loigse. He admits, however, that the term
juvenus may be applied to a person near thirty years of age, and that Colman or Columbanus might have became a bishop, soon after the death of St. Fintan. Again, he may have died not long afterwards ; that is to say, before the death of St. Columkille, Abbot of lona. ^* Our saint is called a Leinster Bishop, by Cumineus,^^ andby Adamnan ;^^ and not a Bishop ofLagena,""? in Lagenia, as Mabillon misapprehends. ^^ Nor must we confound liim with another visitor of St. Columba, and who was named Columbanus, son of Beognai. ThepresentholymanwassurnamedMocu-Loigse,owingtohis having been descended from the family of a prince, named Laigis. From him was derived the name of Leix, a large district of Leinster. There, St. Columban was bishop, and at place, called Tulach-mac-Comguile. ^9 A certain Columbanus 3° is mentioned, 3' with others, who made Scotland famous, for tl)eir holy lives, good example, and solid learning. This was sufficient to cause David Camerarius, to enrol him a Saint and Bishop, in his Menology, as the Bollandists3* remark, when setting a Feast for him, at this day. It seems probable, he may have been confounded, with the present holy man; however, on this matter, we cannot presume to offer any safe opinion. Un- willing to admit an Irish name, Dempster33 perverts Lageniensis into Longinensis;34 while he states, that the place was unknown, and that the day forSt. Columbanus'adtuswasuncertain,beingknownonlytoGod. 3s The Scottish writer 36 in question has treated Columbanus' Acts and memory, in' his familiar style of fiction and of imagination. 37 Colgan takes him severly to
=' /^/fl'. , n. 26, p. 355.
^"^ Ibid. , Appendix, cap. iv. , p. 356.
^3 See " Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, -xi. , n. 172, p. 230.
^* Ibid. , pp. 230, 231.
-5 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," theconfinesof Scotland, called Lang ceaster;
Vita S. Columbce, cap. viii. , p. 321. ^*See/(5/(/. Vita S. Columbse, lib. iii. , cap.
12, p. 366.
'^^ There was no such town, however, in
^^ In a note, on the Life of St. Columba, by Cuminceus.
^' The Rev. Dr. Lanigan, ignorant of its precise location, expresses a wish that Colgan had given its more modern name. See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect. XV. , n. 182, p. 177.
Scotland.
3' By John Lesley, in " De Rebus Gestis
Scotorum," lib. iv.
Leinster, as Dr. Lanigan remarks ; nor does
the text of Cumineus point to any particular
spot. His " Episcopus Lagenensis" means bis tamen, et omni kvo ab ejus morte, no- no more, than that Columban was a bishop,
in the province of Leinster.
3° He
—:
" Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num.
have flourished, during the reign of Donald, the fifty-third King of
tantum est. "
is said to
32 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Maii xv. Among the pretermitted saints, p, 440.
33 ggg " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotoium," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num. 212.
and he supposes, that Longovicum might be read instead- -^as mentioned by an anony- nious Scotch writer in a work Notitia Utiius Imperii—which was a town belong- ing to the diocese of Durham. See ibid.
34 This he deems to be probably a town on
^s Xo this statement, Colgan adds : " no-
tissimus. "—"Trias Thaumaturga," Prima Vita S. Columbse, n. 10, p. 324.
^s Hg states, that Adamnanus Scolus, in Vita S. Columbae, lib ii. , characterizes him, " tanquam virum Episopatu dignum, et primitivoe apud SaxonesEcclesise Prsesulem : quaproiUer auguror hunc nostrum unum ex successoribus Sancti Aidani Scoti fuisse in Anglici populi institutione sed conjectura
282.
3? HavingalludedtoanotherColumbanus,
Dempster remarks regarding the present
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
task, for his misstatements, regarding that saint, 38 and then he proceeds to exa- mine and to produce reasons, for the information of his readers, that so they may be enabled to judge for themselves, concerning the amount of credit due to such falsehoods. 39 No insuperable difficulty exists, in resolving that religious young man, named Columbanus from the province of Leinster, as mentioned in the Acts of St. Fintan, into Columbanus bishop in Leinster, as found in Adamnan'sLifeofSt. Columba. Therecollection,thatLeixisgiven,asthe common country, and Columkille, as a contemporary, with the person named in either record, prevents us doubting much the identity of one and the same Columbanus. He was yet a comparatively young man, not much—if at all exceeding thirty years of age. Admitting the supposition, it is therefore pro- bable, that soon after Columban or Colman returned from lona, he selected Nuachcongbail, as a site for his church. Shortly afterwards, it is probable, hewasconstitutedachorepiscopusoraruralbishop. Theexactsiteforthis place of settlement was at Ougheval, a townland within the parish of Strad- bally, in the eastern part of the Queen's County. That church was built, also, within the ancient territory of Leix, and in the province of Leinster. The old
graveyard in which Colman's church once stood, is even yet, a favourite place for interment.
'*" Oughaval is universally pronounced Ochval—but written Oakvale—in the neighbourhood. ^' It is quite possible, that some portions of St. Coluniban's old church remain there ; but, if so, only the foundations can lay claim, to very remote antiquity. An extraordinary pile of rubble-stone building,-*^ intended to represent an old ruined church or a monastery, now occupies the site of a mediseval structure, which served for parochial services, down to the seventeenth century. It was erected by Pole Cosbv, Esq. , about the beginning of the last century,'*3 to serve for a family place' of interment,''* A crypt is beneath ; and, it rests on a rock-foundation. The subsoil of this cemetery 'ts is naturally a dry mould, covering a fine
38o
one, bearing that name, that he was superior in dignity, ^having been a Bishop, and not inferior for the renown of his holy works. See ibid.
the laUer by Messingham—of Adamnan's old and intelligent resident of the neigh- work, at cnp. 8, notices a Columban, an bourhood, who was well acquainted with
5^ He properly states, that in the Second
Book of St. Columba's Acts, Adamnan has
no mention of any Columbanus as Bishop of
Longeniensis, nor of any other See. knownorder. AlthoughtheCanisianandParisianedition ''^ Suchwastheaccountreceived,froman
Iri. -h Priest, and at cap. 18, another Colum- ban, the son of Euchad, Abbot and founder of Snamh-luthir, in Ilibcrnia ; yet, neither is nominated Bishop of Longiniensis, or of any other place. In Colgan's edition, deemed to be far more correct, than either of the former named, the fust Columl)a is only called a Prxsbytcr, and the latter is only styled Abbot, or founder of the afore- said Monastery. Lib. ii. , cap. 15, 43.
39 Our St. Columbanus is mcnliuned. not in the Second but in the Third ]5ouk of Adamnan, where he is called " Lageniensem Episcopum," cap. S; and Colgan adds: "quod non latuit Dempsterum, sed sponte siluit, ne reliqua ejus commenta facilius de- tcgerentur. "— In Colgan's edition is found,
"non Z<7,? -<f«/V7 sed /. rt^f7//Vfl," cap. 12.
" See its position defined, on the " Ord-
local traditions. This was many years ago, and while the writer was very young.
" Neariy all the residents, in that part of the countr)', believed this uondcscript struc- ture to be a ruin, dating back to an exceed- ingly remote period.
••5 This has often become the scene of attraction, for many a youthful visit, on occasion of funerals ; and, the writer well remcml)ers, at this distant period, that strange fascination presented to fancy, in counting the number of skulls and in observ- ing the quantity of human remains, removed by rustic grave-diggers, during the progress of their operations. He has thus been ena- bled to attest, from personal observation, those peculiar indications of a very ancient burial-pKace, havinj; witnessed numerous relics of morfaliiy turned up, in nearly every
nance Survey Townland Maps for the part of tlie graveyard.
Queen's Cminty," sheet 19.
'*' Alkision has been already made to that
place, in tlie Fii>t Volume of this work, at the 19th of January, Art. ii. , where an illus- tration of it will be found.
^'^ The walls are exceedingly massive, and the architecture bizarre, resembling no
—
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 381
limestone formation. ''^ Tlie coffins of the dead are long preserved from total decay, while the decomposition of corpses proceeds rather slowly. On the west side of this churchyard, few corpses are interred, except those of unbaptized infants. A low wall, surmounting a deep and almost circular fosse, once sur- rounded the graveyard ; but, this has been completely obliterated, within the past few years. The burial-ground itself was considerably elevated, above the level of adjoining fields. 47 It is possible, St. Colman combined the epis- copal with the abbatial functions, at Oughaval ; but, regarding this matter, we have no certain record. It is most probable, that he did not attain an advanced age, as he died before St. Columkille, and previous to the close of the sixth century. In Adamnan's Life of the great Abbot of lona, he gives an account, regarding that vision of blessed Angels, who had conducted the soul oftheholybishopColumbanMocuLoigse^^(oHeaven. There,itisstated, that on the morning of a certain day, while the monks of lona were putting on their shoes,''? to engage in various labours of the monaster}', St. Colum- kille had resolved, that it should be observed as a holiday, and that prepara- tions should be made, for offering up the "Clean Oblation. " That holy Abbot likewise ordered some addition to their breakfast, as on a Sanday. 5° " And, to-day," said he, " however unworthy I may be, it behoves me to cele- brate the mysteries of the Holy Eucharist, through veneration for the spirit of Him, who hath ascended beyond the starry vault of Heaven into Paradise, during the past night,5i being borne thither among holy choirs of Angels. In obedience to orders received from the saint, his monks spent the day as one of rest; and, having prepared everything for a celebration of the Divine Mysteries, with white vestments,s' as if it were a solemn festival,s3 they pro- ceeded with their Abbot to the church. But, it happened, that while the usual prayer had been chaunted, during the progress of the holy offices, and in a measured strain, 54 St. Martin's name was commemorated. ss On a sudden,
^^ In many places, owing to the peculiar nature of the soil, it is found a matter of great difficulty to excavate graves to any consider- able depth, or to preserve their regular shape in digging, as many formerly opened had been filled in, and with heaps of loose stones.
'^^ There have been no very ancient monu- ments in the cemetery, within the writer's remembrance ; nor have any been in exist- ence, so far as he could traditionally learn.
•^ That is, niAC 11 toij^'e, or filius Nepo- tum Loigisi. See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's "Life St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 12, n. (a), p. 21 1.
"9 The terms made use of are "se cal- ceantes. " "In the Irish Lives," says the Rev. Mr. Reeves, " we are often meet with the words fico, and subtalaris, or solubaris, instead of calceus. " Ibid. , n. (b).
50 "From this passage we learn, that Sundays and other holidays were marked at Hy, by rest from labour, celebration of the Eucharist, and improved diet. " Ibid. , n. (c).
5' To express the meaning as translated, the words should be node prceterita. The words used, however, are " hac in nocte. "
5- Although giving two distinct references to words corresponding with his substituted emendation, the Rev. Mr. Reeves has not ex-
plained the meaning of the term, «//'fl/«j, To supply the omission, it must be observed, that it applies to festivals, on which white vestments were prescribed to be used, as on the feasts of Bishops, Confessors, Virgins, not Martyis, &c.
53 The correct reading " quasi die solemni Sabbati " isgiven in the Rev. Mr. Reeves' edi- tion of Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba. " The learned editor truly remarks, that the phrase "quasi die solemni Sabbati" as found in Colgan's and in the Bollandisis' version is absurd for " Sabbatum," which in Adamnan and other ancient authors always signified Saturday, which was only con- sidereda "diesSolemnis,"amongtheJews, See ? '/«'(/. , n. (f).
^4 The Rev. Mr. Reeves observes, that this was a prayer "pro animabus defuncto- rum. " St. Columba having now intro- duced a fresh name, he directed the choris- ters, " pro Sancto Columbano Episcopo decantare. " See ibid. , n. (g).
55 in the ancient Galilean Liturgy, which seems to have been closely followed by the Irish, it was usual for the prie^t, after he had placed the oblation on the altar to say the prayer, " Veni Sanctificator Omnipotens Sterne Deus, et benedic hoc sacrificium tuo nomini pra:paratum. " This was followed, according to the Rev. Dr. Reeves, by a reci-
38^
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
the holy Abbot called to his choristers, and said : " To-day you should sing for the holy bishop Columbanus," when they had come to the aforesaid name of St. Martin. 50 The nature of this commemoration we learn, from an ancient Liturgy,57 and from a form prescribed by St. Aurelianu=;, for the church of Arles. 5^ According to the Rev. Dr. Reeves, St. Columba seems to have composed on the spot a proper Preface for the occasion -p and thus, in virtue of his abbatial authority, to have instituted a festival for the church of Hy, in commemoration of the bishop's death. St. Martin was held in special veneration, by the Irish ; and, therefore, we are not surprised at finding his name on the Missal,^° then used at lona. And, after a short interval, certain persons that came from Leinster province to lona brought an account, how tlie bishop had died on that very same night, when his departure had been revealed to the holy Abbot. ^' The foregoing account is amplified, from the ancient Life of St. Columkille, attributed to Cummian. He also calls our saint, Episcopus Lagenensis. ^- Then all the monks understood, that Colum- banus, a bisiiop in Leinster ^^ and a dear friend of St. Columkille, had departed to the Lord. We think it probable, the ])resent St. Colman or Columban died, early on the morning of the 15th of ALiy. ^-* There can be nodoubt,thatinformertimes,thisholymanwasgreatlyvenerated. The festival of Colman Mac Ua Laigse, or Columbanus AIocu Laigse,^s is placed
tal from the diptychs of the saints' names, botl) deceased and living, in whose memory, or for whom, the offering was made.
5* " Ejusdem onomatis. " Latinized from the Greek ovbii-aro's.
57 It is thus given by Mabillon : " Simul- que precantes oramus etiam, Domine, pro animabus famulorum tuorum Patrum atque institutorum, quondam nostrorum, Aureliaui, Petri, Florentini, Redempti, Constantini, Himiteri, Hilarini, Januarini, Reparali, Chikiel)erti, WItrogotje, vel omnium fratrum nostrorum, quos de hoc loco ad te vocare dignatus es. Cunctorumque etiam hujusloci memores Fidehum, pariterque parentum nostrorum atque servientium hujus loci : et pio animabus omnium Fidelium famulorum tuorum, vel famularum, ac peregrinorum in pace Ecclesise defunctorum : ut eis tu, Domine Deus noster, peccatorum tribuas veniam, et requiem largiaris reternam nieritis et intercessionibus Sanctorum tuo- rum, Mariae genetricis Domini nostri Jesu- ("hnsti, Johannis LSaptistns et Prxcursoris
Domini nostri Jesu-Christi, Stephani, Petri, Fauli, Johnnnis, Jacobi, Andrea;, Philippi, Tliomne, Bartholomaei, Mattha:i, Jacobi, Simonis, Juda;, Mathia? , Genesii, Sym- phoriani, Baudilii, Victoris, Hilarii Episcopi et Confessoris, Martini Episcopi et Coit/cs- soris, Ca:sarii Episcopi, h? ec projjitius prKstare et exaudire digneris, qui vivis et regnas in unitate spiriius sancti Deus in srccula swculorum. Amen. "—" De Litur- gia Galiicana," hb. i. , cap. v. , num. 12, P- 43-
5" In these recitals of that ancient Missal, the first group consists of the fathers and founders of the Church of Aries, while the
econd group comprises the chief saints, be-
longing to the Calendar, and ending wiih the bishop of Aries, who died in 542.
59 Had the festival been an established one, the name of Martin should have followed the CoUectio post nomina of St. Martin's Missa. This may be seen, in Mabillon's"Liturgicum Gallicaimm," p. 291 ; also, in Muratori's " Liturgicum Romanum," tomus ii. , col. 645.
*° Being apparently the last therein men- tioned, St. Columkille directed the name of Columbanus to be subjoined.
*' See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbre, lib. iii. , cap. 12, p. 366. Also, Rev. Mr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 12, pp. 2X0 to 213.
°* See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Prima S. Columbas, cap. viii. , p. 321, 322.
*3 The Rev. Dr. Reeves remarks, at this passage, that diocesan Episcopacy was at this
Thaumaturga," Prima Vita S. Columbre, n. 10. p. 324.
*• That day was either already dedicated to some saint at lona, the celebration of whose feast might require the use of white vestments, or perhaps a Divine Revelation made to St. Columkille induced him to con- secrate that day to the memory ot this holy bishop, who had so lately departed to enjoy immortal bliss.
*5 As he is called, in the title prefixed to that chapter, which treats on his death, in
;
time unknown in Ireland
ception to his statement. It is also pertinently remarked, by Father John Colgan : " S. Columbanus non ideo vocetur Episcopus La^enieitsis, quod fuerit totius Lagenire Episcopus, vel Archiepiscopus sed ex eo,
;—
quod fuerit patria Lageniensis. " " Trias
;
but, we take ex-
May 15. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 383
been interred
;
—
at the 15th of May, by IMarianus O'Gorman, and by Charles Maguire. *''' In the Martyrology of Donegal, at this same day, he is commemorated, as Cohnan, son of Ua Laoighse,*"? of Tulach-mic-Comghaill, in Druimne Togha, i. e. , Nua Congbail, in Laoighis of Leinster. There he led a holy life, and passed away to taste the waters of eternal life.
Article V. St. Saran, of Inis-mor, or the " Great Island," in Ui-Mac-Caille, or Imokilly, in Ui-Liathain, County of Cork. As a learned hagiographist has well observed, if a calendar be an abridgment of ecclesiastical history in general, where exhibiting local peculiarities, it sums up the results of the most remarkable Christian fruits in that country to which it belongs. ' An illustrative record is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 15th of May, relating to Saran mac Airechtair, of Inis-moir, in h. mac Caille. 3 We have already seen, in previous notices, regarding St. Dubhlitir, that the present saint's name and feast had been entered likewise in the Felire . Unguis j4 and hence, we may very fairly conclude, that he lived during, or previous to, the eighth century. A festival was celebrated on this day, according to the Martyrology of Donegal,5 in honour of Saran, son to Archur, of Inis-mor, in Ui-Mac Caille,^ in Ui Liathain. 7 This latter was a large dis- trict, in the county of Cork. Formerly it included Castle Lyons, and the GreatIsland,nearCork. ^ Itseemsprettycertain,thatSt. Saranlivedonthe latter—at the entrance to Cork harbour—where probably he died and had
yet, we seek in vain, on the large Ordnance Survey Maps of this Island, for any local denomination, with which he might possibly be identified. From the facts, recorded in our Annals, that Castle Lyons, or Caislean Ui Liathain, and Great Island, in olden times known as Oilean Mor Arda Neimhidh,^ were in the ancient territory of Ui Liathain, we can form a good idea of its position and even extent. '" After the Anglo-Norman invasion,
Adamnan's Life of St.
9 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum IIil)ei-- 'S See title of cap. v. , lib. i. , in Adamnan's
niK," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fin-
" Life of St. Columba. "
'^ He is so called, in the text of the same
tani', n. 25, p. 354.
'° See, also, Colgan's "Trias Thauma- chapter,
turga," Prima Vita S. Columbce, n. 10,
p_ 225.
II See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life
of St. Columba," n. (k), p. 213. "According to the Genealogy, as found
intheBookofLecain.
'3 See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba," p. 29, n. (d), p. 42, n. (a), pp. 124, 125, nn. (a, e, a).
'? See Adamnan's "Life of Columba," ''I'- '-. cap. 14, and lib. ii. , cap. 15, 16.
"* See Ussher's Works, vol. vi. " Britan- nicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitaies," cap. xvii. , p. 536.
'' AbbotofClonenagh. Seethisincident also briefly related in his Acts, at tlie 17th of Fcl)ruary, with accompanying notes.
-° See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Ilibcr- '< Noticed in the Irish Calendar, at the nice," xvii. F'ebruarii. Vita S. I'"iiitani, cap.
26ih of September. xxii. , p. 353.
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
379
long before the close of the sixth century,^' and allows him to have flourished in the year 560 ;22 while Dr. Lanigan maintains it as probable, that he reached the age of about seventy, thus departing towards the year 595, or two years before the death of St. Columkille, in 597. ^3 it seems evident, that St. Colman must have commenced the foundation of a religious establishment, at Ougliaval, shortly before or after the death of St. Fintan ; unless we admit Dr. Lanigan's other conjecture. This historian thinks it more probable, the bishop Cokimbanus, mentioned in St. Fintan's Life, was a different person from the Leinster bishop, Cokmibanus Mac-loigse. He admits, however, that the term
juvenus may be applied to a person near thirty years of age, and that Colman or Columbanus might have became a bishop, soon after the death of St. Fintan. Again, he may have died not long afterwards ; that is to say, before the death of St. Columkille, Abbot of lona. ^* Our saint is called a Leinster Bishop, by Cumineus,^^ andby Adamnan ;^^ and not a Bishop ofLagena,""? in Lagenia, as Mabillon misapprehends. ^^ Nor must we confound liim with another visitor of St. Columba, and who was named Columbanus, son of Beognai. ThepresentholymanwassurnamedMocu-Loigse,owingtohis having been descended from the family of a prince, named Laigis. From him was derived the name of Leix, a large district of Leinster. There, St. Columban was bishop, and at place, called Tulach-mac-Comguile. ^9 A certain Columbanus 3° is mentioned, 3' with others, who made Scotland famous, for tl)eir holy lives, good example, and solid learning. This was sufficient to cause David Camerarius, to enrol him a Saint and Bishop, in his Menology, as the Bollandists3* remark, when setting a Feast for him, at this day. It seems probable, he may have been confounded, with the present holy man; however, on this matter, we cannot presume to offer any safe opinion. Un- willing to admit an Irish name, Dempster33 perverts Lageniensis into Longinensis;34 while he states, that the place was unknown, and that the day forSt. Columbanus'adtuswasuncertain,beingknownonlytoGod. 3s The Scottish writer 36 in question has treated Columbanus' Acts and memory, in' his familiar style of fiction and of imagination. 37 Colgan takes him severly to
=' /^/fl'. , n. 26, p. 355.
^"^ Ibid. , Appendix, cap. iv. , p. 356.
^3 See " Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
land," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, -xi. , n. 172, p. 230.
^* Ibid. , pp. 230, 231.
-5 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," theconfinesof Scotland, called Lang ceaster;
Vita S. Columbce, cap. viii. , p. 321. ^*See/(5/(/. Vita S. Columbse, lib. iii. , cap.
12, p. 366.
'^^ There was no such town, however, in
^^ In a note, on the Life of St. Columba, by Cuminceus.
^' The Rev. Dr. Lanigan, ignorant of its precise location, expresses a wish that Colgan had given its more modern name. See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect. XV. , n. 182, p. 177.
Scotland.
3' By John Lesley, in " De Rebus Gestis
Scotorum," lib. iv.
Leinster, as Dr. Lanigan remarks ; nor does
the text of Cumineus point to any particular
spot. His " Episcopus Lagenensis" means bis tamen, et omni kvo ab ejus morte, no- no more, than that Columban was a bishop,
in the province of Leinster.
3° He
—:
" Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num.
have flourished, during the reign of Donald, the fifty-third King of
tantum est. "
is said to
32 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Maii xv. Among the pretermitted saints, p, 440.
33 ggg " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotoium," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num. 212.
and he supposes, that Longovicum might be read instead- -^as mentioned by an anony- nious Scotch writer in a work Notitia Utiius Imperii—which was a town belong- ing to the diocese of Durham. See ibid.
34 This he deems to be probably a town on
^s Xo this statement, Colgan adds : " no-
tissimus. "—"Trias Thaumaturga," Prima Vita S. Columbse, n. 10, p. 324.
^s Hg states, that Adamnanus Scolus, in Vita S. Columbae, lib ii. , characterizes him, " tanquam virum Episopatu dignum, et primitivoe apud SaxonesEcclesise Prsesulem : quaproiUer auguror hunc nostrum unum ex successoribus Sancti Aidani Scoti fuisse in Anglici populi institutione sed conjectura
282.
3? HavingalludedtoanotherColumbanus,
Dempster remarks regarding the present
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
task, for his misstatements, regarding that saint, 38 and then he proceeds to exa- mine and to produce reasons, for the information of his readers, that so they may be enabled to judge for themselves, concerning the amount of credit due to such falsehoods. 39 No insuperable difficulty exists, in resolving that religious young man, named Columbanus from the province of Leinster, as mentioned in the Acts of St. Fintan, into Columbanus bishop in Leinster, as found in Adamnan'sLifeofSt. Columba. Therecollection,thatLeixisgiven,asthe common country, and Columkille, as a contemporary, with the person named in either record, prevents us doubting much the identity of one and the same Columbanus. He was yet a comparatively young man, not much—if at all exceeding thirty years of age. Admitting the supposition, it is therefore pro- bable, that soon after Columban or Colman returned from lona, he selected Nuachcongbail, as a site for his church. Shortly afterwards, it is probable, hewasconstitutedachorepiscopusoraruralbishop. Theexactsiteforthis place of settlement was at Ougheval, a townland within the parish of Strad- bally, in the eastern part of the Queen's County. That church was built, also, within the ancient territory of Leix, and in the province of Leinster. The old
graveyard in which Colman's church once stood, is even yet, a favourite place for interment.
'*" Oughaval is universally pronounced Ochval—but written Oakvale—in the neighbourhood. ^' It is quite possible, that some portions of St. Coluniban's old church remain there ; but, if so, only the foundations can lay claim, to very remote antiquity. An extraordinary pile of rubble-stone building,-*^ intended to represent an old ruined church or a monastery, now occupies the site of a mediseval structure, which served for parochial services, down to the seventeenth century. It was erected by Pole Cosbv, Esq. , about the beginning of the last century,'*3 to serve for a family place' of interment,''* A crypt is beneath ; and, it rests on a rock-foundation. The subsoil of this cemetery 'ts is naturally a dry mould, covering a fine
38o
one, bearing that name, that he was superior in dignity, ^having been a Bishop, and not inferior for the renown of his holy works. See ibid.
the laUer by Messingham—of Adamnan's old and intelligent resident of the neigh- work, at cnp. 8, notices a Columban, an bourhood, who was well acquainted with
5^ He properly states, that in the Second
Book of St. Columba's Acts, Adamnan has
no mention of any Columbanus as Bishop of
Longeniensis, nor of any other See. knownorder. AlthoughtheCanisianandParisianedition ''^ Suchwastheaccountreceived,froman
Iri. -h Priest, and at cap. 18, another Colum- ban, the son of Euchad, Abbot and founder of Snamh-luthir, in Ilibcrnia ; yet, neither is nominated Bishop of Longiniensis, or of any other place. In Colgan's edition, deemed to be far more correct, than either of the former named, the fust Columl)a is only called a Prxsbytcr, and the latter is only styled Abbot, or founder of the afore- said Monastery. Lib. ii. , cap. 15, 43.
39 Our St. Columbanus is mcnliuned. not in the Second but in the Third ]5ouk of Adamnan, where he is called " Lageniensem Episcopum," cap. S; and Colgan adds: "quod non latuit Dempsterum, sed sponte siluit, ne reliqua ejus commenta facilius de- tcgerentur. "— In Colgan's edition is found,
"non Z<7,? -<f«/V7 sed /. rt^f7//Vfl," cap. 12.
" See its position defined, on the " Ord-
local traditions. This was many years ago, and while the writer was very young.
" Neariy all the residents, in that part of the countr)', believed this uondcscript struc- ture to be a ruin, dating back to an exceed- ingly remote period.
••5 This has often become the scene of attraction, for many a youthful visit, on occasion of funerals ; and, the writer well remcml)ers, at this distant period, that strange fascination presented to fancy, in counting the number of skulls and in observ- ing the quantity of human remains, removed by rustic grave-diggers, during the progress of their operations. He has thus been ena- bled to attest, from personal observation, those peculiar indications of a very ancient burial-pKace, havinj; witnessed numerous relics of morfaliiy turned up, in nearly every
nance Survey Townland Maps for the part of tlie graveyard.
Queen's Cminty," sheet 19.
'*' Alkision has been already made to that
place, in tlie Fii>t Volume of this work, at the 19th of January, Art. ii. , where an illus- tration of it will be found.
^'^ The walls are exceedingly massive, and the architecture bizarre, resembling no
—
May 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 381
limestone formation. ''^ Tlie coffins of the dead are long preserved from total decay, while the decomposition of corpses proceeds rather slowly. On the west side of this churchyard, few corpses are interred, except those of unbaptized infants. A low wall, surmounting a deep and almost circular fosse, once sur- rounded the graveyard ; but, this has been completely obliterated, within the past few years. The burial-ground itself was considerably elevated, above the level of adjoining fields. 47 It is possible, St. Colman combined the epis- copal with the abbatial functions, at Oughaval ; but, regarding this matter, we have no certain record. It is most probable, that he did not attain an advanced age, as he died before St. Columkille, and previous to the close of the sixth century. In Adamnan's Life of the great Abbot of lona, he gives an account, regarding that vision of blessed Angels, who had conducted the soul oftheholybishopColumbanMocuLoigse^^(oHeaven. There,itisstated, that on the morning of a certain day, while the monks of lona were putting on their shoes,''? to engage in various labours of the monaster}', St. Colum- kille had resolved, that it should be observed as a holiday, and that prepara- tions should be made, for offering up the "Clean Oblation. " That holy Abbot likewise ordered some addition to their breakfast, as on a Sanday. 5° " And, to-day," said he, " however unworthy I may be, it behoves me to cele- brate the mysteries of the Holy Eucharist, through veneration for the spirit of Him, who hath ascended beyond the starry vault of Heaven into Paradise, during the past night,5i being borne thither among holy choirs of Angels. In obedience to orders received from the saint, his monks spent the day as one of rest; and, having prepared everything for a celebration of the Divine Mysteries, with white vestments,s' as if it were a solemn festival,s3 they pro- ceeded with their Abbot to the church. But, it happened, that while the usual prayer had been chaunted, during the progress of the holy offices, and in a measured strain, 54 St. Martin's name was commemorated. ss On a sudden,
^^ In many places, owing to the peculiar nature of the soil, it is found a matter of great difficulty to excavate graves to any consider- able depth, or to preserve their regular shape in digging, as many formerly opened had been filled in, and with heaps of loose stones.
'^^ There have been no very ancient monu- ments in the cemetery, within the writer's remembrance ; nor have any been in exist- ence, so far as he could traditionally learn.
•^ That is, niAC 11 toij^'e, or filius Nepo- tum Loigisi. See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's "Life St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 12, n. (a), p. 21 1.
"9 The terms made use of are "se cal- ceantes. " "In the Irish Lives," says the Rev. Mr. Reeves, " we are often meet with the words fico, and subtalaris, or solubaris, instead of calceus. " Ibid. , n. (b).
50 "From this passage we learn, that Sundays and other holidays were marked at Hy, by rest from labour, celebration of the Eucharist, and improved diet. " Ibid. , n. (c).
5' To express the meaning as translated, the words should be node prceterita. The words used, however, are " hac in nocte. "
5- Although giving two distinct references to words corresponding with his substituted emendation, the Rev. Mr. Reeves has not ex-
plained the meaning of the term, «//'fl/«j, To supply the omission, it must be observed, that it applies to festivals, on which white vestments were prescribed to be used, as on the feasts of Bishops, Confessors, Virgins, not Martyis, &c.
53 The correct reading " quasi die solemni Sabbati " isgiven in the Rev. Mr. Reeves' edi- tion of Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba. " The learned editor truly remarks, that the phrase "quasi die solemni Sabbati" as found in Colgan's and in the Bollandisis' version is absurd for " Sabbatum," which in Adamnan and other ancient authors always signified Saturday, which was only con- sidereda "diesSolemnis,"amongtheJews, See ? '/«'(/. , n. (f).
^4 The Rev. Mr. Reeves observes, that this was a prayer "pro animabus defuncto- rum. " St. Columba having now intro- duced a fresh name, he directed the choris- ters, " pro Sancto Columbano Episcopo decantare. " See ibid. , n. (g).
55 in the ancient Galilean Liturgy, which seems to have been closely followed by the Irish, it was usual for the prie^t, after he had placed the oblation on the altar to say the prayer, " Veni Sanctificator Omnipotens Sterne Deus, et benedic hoc sacrificium tuo nomini pra:paratum. " This was followed, according to the Rev. Dr. Reeves, by a reci-
38^
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 15.
the holy Abbot called to his choristers, and said : " To-day you should sing for the holy bishop Columbanus," when they had come to the aforesaid name of St. Martin. 50 The nature of this commemoration we learn, from an ancient Liturgy,57 and from a form prescribed by St. Aurelianu=;, for the church of Arles. 5^ According to the Rev. Dr. Reeves, St. Columba seems to have composed on the spot a proper Preface for the occasion -p and thus, in virtue of his abbatial authority, to have instituted a festival for the church of Hy, in commemoration of the bishop's death. St. Martin was held in special veneration, by the Irish ; and, therefore, we are not surprised at finding his name on the Missal,^° then used at lona. And, after a short interval, certain persons that came from Leinster province to lona brought an account, how tlie bishop had died on that very same night, when his departure had been revealed to the holy Abbot. ^' The foregoing account is amplified, from the ancient Life of St. Columkille, attributed to Cummian. He also calls our saint, Episcopus Lagenensis. ^- Then all the monks understood, that Colum- banus, a bisiiop in Leinster ^^ and a dear friend of St. Columkille, had departed to the Lord. We think it probable, the ])resent St. Colman or Columban died, early on the morning of the 15th of ALiy. ^-* There can be nodoubt,thatinformertimes,thisholymanwasgreatlyvenerated. The festival of Colman Mac Ua Laigse, or Columbanus AIocu Laigse,^s is placed
tal from the diptychs of the saints' names, botl) deceased and living, in whose memory, or for whom, the offering was made.
5* " Ejusdem onomatis. " Latinized from the Greek ovbii-aro's.
57 It is thus given by Mabillon : " Simul- que precantes oramus etiam, Domine, pro animabus famulorum tuorum Patrum atque institutorum, quondam nostrorum, Aureliaui, Petri, Florentini, Redempti, Constantini, Himiteri, Hilarini, Januarini, Reparali, Chikiel)erti, WItrogotje, vel omnium fratrum nostrorum, quos de hoc loco ad te vocare dignatus es. Cunctorumque etiam hujusloci memores Fidehum, pariterque parentum nostrorum atque servientium hujus loci : et pio animabus omnium Fidelium famulorum tuorum, vel famularum, ac peregrinorum in pace Ecclesise defunctorum : ut eis tu, Domine Deus noster, peccatorum tribuas veniam, et requiem largiaris reternam nieritis et intercessionibus Sanctorum tuo- rum, Mariae genetricis Domini nostri Jesu- ("hnsti, Johannis LSaptistns et Prxcursoris
Domini nostri Jesu-Christi, Stephani, Petri, Fauli, Johnnnis, Jacobi, Andrea;, Philippi, Tliomne, Bartholomaei, Mattha:i, Jacobi, Simonis, Juda;, Mathia? , Genesii, Sym- phoriani, Baudilii, Victoris, Hilarii Episcopi et Confessoris, Martini Episcopi et Coit/cs- soris, Ca:sarii Episcopi, h? ec projjitius prKstare et exaudire digneris, qui vivis et regnas in unitate spiriius sancti Deus in srccula swculorum. Amen. "—" De Litur- gia Galiicana," hb. i. , cap. v. , num. 12, P- 43-
5" In these recitals of that ancient Missal, the first group consists of the fathers and founders of the Church of Aries, while the
econd group comprises the chief saints, be-
longing to the Calendar, and ending wiih the bishop of Aries, who died in 542.
59 Had the festival been an established one, the name of Martin should have followed the CoUectio post nomina of St. Martin's Missa. This may be seen, in Mabillon's"Liturgicum Gallicaimm," p. 291 ; also, in Muratori's " Liturgicum Romanum," tomus ii. , col. 645.
*° Being apparently the last therein men- tioned, St. Columkille directed the name of Columbanus to be subjoined.
*' See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbre, lib. iii. , cap. 12, p. 366. Also, Rev. Mr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 12, pp. 2X0 to 213.
°* See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Prima S. Columbas, cap. viii. , p. 321, 322.
*3 The Rev. Dr. Reeves remarks, at this passage, that diocesan Episcopacy was at this
Thaumaturga," Prima Vita S. Columbre, n. 10. p. 324.
*• That day was either already dedicated to some saint at lona, the celebration of whose feast might require the use of white vestments, or perhaps a Divine Revelation made to St. Columkille induced him to con- secrate that day to the memory ot this holy bishop, who had so lately departed to enjoy immortal bliss.
*5 As he is called, in the title prefixed to that chapter, which treats on his death, in
;
time unknown in Ireland
ception to his statement. It is also pertinently remarked, by Father John Colgan : " S. Columbanus non ideo vocetur Episcopus La^enieitsis, quod fuerit totius Lagenire Episcopus, vel Archiepiscopus sed ex eo,
;—
quod fuerit patria Lageniensis. " " Trias
;
but, we take ex-
May 15. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 383
been interred
;
—
at the 15th of May, by IMarianus O'Gorman, and by Charles Maguire. *''' In the Martyrology of Donegal, at this same day, he is commemorated, as Cohnan, son of Ua Laoighse,*"? of Tulach-mic-Comghaill, in Druimne Togha, i. e. , Nua Congbail, in Laoighis of Leinster. There he led a holy life, and passed away to taste the waters of eternal life.
Article V. St. Saran, of Inis-mor, or the " Great Island," in Ui-Mac-Caille, or Imokilly, in Ui-Liathain, County of Cork. As a learned hagiographist has well observed, if a calendar be an abridgment of ecclesiastical history in general, where exhibiting local peculiarities, it sums up the results of the most remarkable Christian fruits in that country to which it belongs. ' An illustrative record is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 15th of May, relating to Saran mac Airechtair, of Inis-moir, in h. mac Caille. 3 We have already seen, in previous notices, regarding St. Dubhlitir, that the present saint's name and feast had been entered likewise in the Felire . Unguis j4 and hence, we may very fairly conclude, that he lived during, or previous to, the eighth century. A festival was celebrated on this day, according to the Martyrology of Donegal,5 in honour of Saran, son to Archur, of Inis-mor, in Ui-Mac Caille,^ in Ui Liathain. 7 This latter was a large dis- trict, in the county of Cork. Formerly it included Castle Lyons, and the GreatIsland,nearCork. ^ Itseemsprettycertain,thatSt. Saranlivedonthe latter—at the entrance to Cork harbour—where probably he died and had
yet, we seek in vain, on the large Ordnance Survey Maps of this Island, for any local denomination, with which he might possibly be identified. From the facts, recorded in our Annals, that Castle Lyons, or Caislean Ui Liathain, and Great Island, in olden times known as Oilean Mor Arda Neimhidh,^ were in the ancient territory of Ui Liathain, we can form a good idea of its position and even extent. '" After the Anglo-Norman invasion,
Adamnan's Life of St.
