travelling through a region of Ulster, at a time immediately
preceding
the assumed
birth date of St.
birth date of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
1374.
There was also a Cluain-Dubhain, near the town of Clogher, where the holy virgins Cinnia and Cectum- bria are interred.
" See Professor series Eugene O'Curry's
of lectures "On the Manners and Customs
of the Ancient Irish," vol. ii. , lect. xviii. , p.
,384. Edited by W. K. Sullivan, Ph. D. , &c.
" So I am assured, by W. M. Ilennessy, who states, that the ancient Irish tract on the Borromean Tribute exactly identifies it with Hook.
supported by other authority. "
—"
Ecclesi- astical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap.
viii. , sect, xv. , n. 197, p. 426.
? See the Life of his brother St. Dabeog,
at the 1st ofJanuary.
^
Februarii. Vita S. Dubani, n. i, p. 314.
February ii. ] LIVES 0I< THE IRISH SAlNlS. 479
He flourished, towards the close of the fifth, or beginning of the sixth, century.
A true pilgrim on earth he was, although returning to the country of his fathers ; for, he shunned the company of men, and reputing Heaven as his true country, his expectations were directed to that abiding city, while he was everbentonobservingGod'sholylaw. Notwithstandingwhathasbeenhere written, Colgan elsewhere thinks the present St. Duban to have been that son of Corcan, the disciple of St. Patrick, who, when . he travelled through the beautiful pass of Barnesmore in Donegal, came to the region of Mag- Ithe. " There he built the church of Donoughmore, and set St. Dubhan over it. ^3 Another name for that holy man may be Nigellus. '''* However, the first accounts regarding this present saint seem to be the most reliable ; and, he appears to have had connexions with the south-east, rather than with the north-west, of Ireland. Thus, it is generally understood, that he was a brother to St. Canoe, whose notices precede, at this date.
Article V. —St. Cognat, Virgin, of Earnaidhe, or Urnev. The
"
word Ernaidhe, Urnaidhe, or Ornaidhe^ signifies primarily a prayer," but
^ Most
there is an exceedingly old church, at a place, called Nurney. ^ We find registered, on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ Cognat, virgin, of
Earnaidhe. Itispossible,theremaybesomemistake,inmakingthisentry,
and that the present saint is not a different person from the Gobnat, already
recorded, at this date. There is a parish of Urney, situated partly in the
barony of Lower,^ but, chiefly in that of Upper Loughtee,^ in the county of
Cavan. ^ The very ancient church and graveyard, here, are on the townland
ofUrneyproper,inUpperLoughtee. 9 Urneychurchandgraveyardareto be seen, on the north bank of the River Erne, after its waters have left the
beautifully intricate and irregular bounds of Lough Oughter. Considerable remains of the old church, now standing in the centre of the cemetery, reveal
its singular peculiarities of construction. ^° The ruins consist of a church, which measured thirty-nine feet in length, by nineteen feet and four inches
inwidth,interiorly; then,apassage,formedbytwoparallelstonewallsrun- ning cross-wise, takes up seven feet of space, and in its centre are stone steps, which ascend as high as the remaining side walls. Two doorways conduct throughthepassage,andleadintotwocells,attheextremewest-end. Each
ina sensea" secondary
it takestheAn-
commonly,
glicized form of Urney, in Tyrone, Cavan and King's County ; while, in Carlow and in Kildare, it incorporates the article, in English, and it becomes Nurney, in several parishes, villages and townlands. 3 In Carlow county
" This is a country district of Tirconnell, lying on the banks of the River Finn.
'3 See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. cxiv. , p. 144.
and 24 perches, including 72 acres, 3 roods, and 33 perches of water, superficial measure* ment.
7 This portion contains 7>493 ^cres, 2
prayer-house. "
'4 See ibid. , n—n. 163, 164, 165, p. 181. roods, and 2 perches, including 452 acres, 3
^
Article v. Pronounced
**erny. "
" as
^
In Latin "oratorium,"
3 SeeP. W. "
Joyce's Origin History
and
of Irish Names of Places," part iii. , chap.
ii. , pp. 294, 295.
4 Of this church, Mr. Du Noyer has pre-
served an his interesting sketch, among
port- folio drawings, in the library of the Royal
Irish Academy.
5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
46, 47.
^
This portion contains 440 acres, 2 roods,
Urny" or
roods and 13 perches of Lough Oughter, also 530 acres, 2 roods and 7 perches of water.
^ Its extent is described on the **Ord» nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cavan. " Sheets 15, 20, 25.
9 They are shown on Sheet 15, ibid.
^° The accompanying illustration, drawn on the wood by William F. Wakeman, and engraved by Mrs. Millard, is from a sketch, taken on the spot, by the author, in June, 1876. The sketch was taken from withiu the graveyard enclosure.
48o LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Februaryii.
of these cells measures interiorly twenty-nine feet in length, by ten feet six inches in breadth, while, one of these compartments has a coved-roof in a good state of preservation, and the former coved roof of the other—quite perfect until a very short time since—is now becoming quite ruinous. " These were dimly lighted, when in a perfect state, and they seem to have been only the cellars of a house, which once stood there, as an appendage to the church. The stone-stairway evidently led to some upper chambers. Although the gables yet stand, the whole extent of the church and erdamhs has been long ago unroofed. '^ To a very late period, the Catholics Avere
Urney Church, County of Cavan.
accustomed to assemble witliin the roofless walls, and assist there at a mid- night Mass, which used to be celebrated, at Christmas-tide. The walls of the old church are about three feet, in thickness, and they are now grown over with ivy. The neighbouring people have a great veneration for this church, which they regard, as being the most ancient, in the diocese of Kil- more ; and, they relate many interesting traditions, in connexion with it. Its situation is truly a most picturesque one, beside a bridge, which leads over a channel of the Upper P^rne, into a large island called Inismore,'^ which is a tract, rising high over the water, and of very considerable extent,
" A midcllc-aged peasant of the neigh- bourhood told the writer, that he received
the rudiments of education, in a school, taught by a Catholic master within one of those cells.
'^ The Catholic peasantry, in the neigh-
bourhood, have a tradition, that Urncy clnirch was built by a Bishop Brady, who
engaged three skilled masons, for the pur-
pose, and these were brought from a dis- tance. He is said, as a reward, to have made over to them a large tract of land ad- joining.
'3 It contains nearly 500 acres, and it is well inhabited, being intersected with high hedge rows, giving it a very umbrageous aspect.
February ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 481
inthelowerwatersofLoughOughter. ^4 Theplace,wherethispresentholy
virgin lived, cannot be determined, however, with accuracy ; and, her period has not been discovered, by the writer.
Article VI. —St. Jarlath or Hierlath, Archbishop of Armagh.
[Fifth Century. '] The Providence of God is often a subject of mystery to
men, incapable of connecting results known to them, with those supremely
wise decrees, from which they spring. This truth may even be drawn, in
the legend of this holy man's future devotion to the Church, and in the cir-
cumstances preceding his birth. The Acts of this holy bishop have been
collected from various sources. "^ The Bollandists have a by Colgan, only
short notice. ^ St. Jarlath was of the illustrious house of the Dalfiatach. 3 His father is named Trena, or Trien. By Jocelyn, he is called Triemi. It is noted, that he was the son of Fieg, the son of Imchad, son to Bressal, son of Sirchad, son to Fiatach surnamed Finn. ^- He was thus nearly related to Dichuo,St. Patrick'sfirstconvert. TrenaandTrichem,thefatherofDichuo, are said to have been brothers. Hence, St. Jarlath should be a first cousin to the latter,5 as, also, to St. Ailild I. ,^ who succeeded him, as Archbishop of Armagh. 7 It has been assumed, that a certain wicked man, living in Ulster,^
and named was identical with Tremei,9
Trena,
Jocelyn relates the miserable end of Triemei. " St. Patrick is said to have
been travelling, through a certain wood, in Mudornia,'^ when he met some cruelly treated slaves, belonging to this man, and who were engaged cutting wood, with very blunt axes. Another account has it, that the Irish Apostle
was proceeding through the way of Midluachair,^3 in order to reach Uladh, when he met these men, who are called carpenters, engaged in cutting down trunks of yew. Blood flowed from their hands, during this operation ; and, when St. Patrick stopped to enquire from them, he learned, that they were slavestoTrian,sonofFiac,sontoAmalgaid. ^^ Theytoldhim,nomeans were afforded them, for sharpening their axes, so that their work might be the less difficult. St. Patrick healed their wounds, and blessing their labours,
7 A further account of St. Jarlath's family connexions will be found, by referring to his Acts.
'4 Two very remarkable forts are on this island ; one known as Granshach, or River's- view Fort, and the other, as Corcabrack Fort. The road runs north of both
^ In Vita S. Quarta
forts, and through the island, which is left by the traveller again, over a long pontoon cause- way, called Carratraw Bridge. This island and its surroundings are to be seen on the /'Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
Patricii, cap. Ixxx. , p. 45, the Apostle is only said to have been
County of Cavan. " Sheets 15, 20. ^
" Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. Ivii. ,
Article vi. — See "Acta Sanctorum
160.
^° See Miss M. F. Cusack's " Life of St.
Hiberniae," xi. Februarii. De S.
Jarlatheo sive Hierlatio, Archiepiscopo Ardmachano,
Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," chap, x. , p. 536.
PP- 307, 308.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Feb-
ruarii xi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 506.
3 Descended from Fiatach, surnamed Finn, Monarch of Ireland.
4
" See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cxxxii. , cxxxiii. , p. 94.
Mugdorna, a country of East Ulster,
^3 The Slighe-Midhluachra was one of the tilogy," chap. xix. The Psalter of Cashel five principal roads, leading from Tara,
According to the Life of St. Benignus, chapter xviii. , and the "Genealogic Sane-
accords with this account.
s See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," n.
134, p. 114, where he cites the "Sane-
tilogy," cap. xix.
through the Moyra Pass, between Dundalk and Newry. It extended, probably, into the present county of Down,
u This appears to be a mistranscript for Imchadh.
21
*
See his Life, at the 13th of January. Vol. II.
Iviii. , p.
the father of St. ^° Jarlath.
travelling through a region of Ulster, at a time immediately preceding the assumed
birth date of St. Jarlath.
9 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga.
'-'See ibid. , and n. 134, p. 114, where Colgan says the correct reading should be
482 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February n.
the trees fell readily before their strokes. Besides this, the holy man went
to Trian's fort, where with prayer and fasting, he sought to mollify the tyrant,
but in vain. His fasting is said to have lasted for three days, according to
a custom observed in the administration of our ancient Brehon laws. ^s By
amiracle,therock,nearthatplace,flewintothreefragments. Oneofthese
wascasttothedistanceofonethousandpaces. St. Patrickthenannounced,
that a sudden and fearful fate should befall Trian, and that no king or ruler
of his posterity should survive. His wife, however, followed St. Patrick,
and entreated forgiveness. He blessed her, and the twin children to whom
she afterwards gave birth, viz. , St. Setna and St. Jarlaid. The Irish Apostle
even predicted, that the latter should become his successor in the see of
Armagh. But,theirobduratefather,takinghishorsesandchariot,withthe
intention of prosecuting still more severe measures against the servants, who
had complained of his harshness to St. Patrick, those animals of Trian
started away and bore the chariot into an adjoiijing lake,"^ where he was
immediatelydrowned. '7 ThefeastofSt. Jarlath'sbrother,Setna,Sednaor
Sedonius, is referred by Colgan, to the i6th of June. ^^ If there were such
a monster, who bore the name of Tremei, or Trena, Dr. Lanigan felt sure
he was different from the father of Jarlath. '^ The latter, however, and also
his brother became zealous imitators of th© Irish ^° The Setna, Apostle.
Tripartite represents Jarlath as having been baptized, when an infant, by St. Patrick ;2^ and, therefore, it must have happened after a. d. 432. Indeed, the inference might be, that this must have occurred, at a period much later. He was born at Rathtrena, in the now county of Dovvn. '*^ Accord- ing to another account, it was in the district of Mourne, or leading towards it. =3 Rath-Trena, or "the fort of Trena," was thus called, from the name of his father. 24 Through the course of that story, as given in the Tripartite Life, the birth of Jarlath is placed after St. Patrick's return from Munster,=5 that is, after a. d. 452. In such case, Jarlath could not have become a bishop in 468. =^^ He is classed among the disciples of St. Patrick. '7 Col-
gan,^^ and after him, Harris,^9 concluded, that Jarlath was rather young.
'5 A creditor might distrain the goods of a debtor, after having given proper notice. If, hovi^ever, the debtor belonged to the chieftain grade, the creditor should not only give previous notice, but remain some time without food before the debtor's house ; and, if the latter proved inexorable, the creditor,
See n. 59, p. 50, ibid.
'? See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. i. , chap, viii. , sect, v. , n. 61, p. 393.
accompanied by
his witnesses law-agent,
" See Dr. " Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
and others, proceeded to levy his distress.
See Introduction, p. xlvi. , to the Brehon
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sect, v. , and n. 61, pp. 391 to 393.
^^
=3 See Miss M. F. Cusack's ** Life of St. "Loch-Trena is its name. This was Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," p. 478, and n.
Laws of Ireland, vol. i.
his last fall. He will not arise out of that
lake till the vespers of judgment and it will ;
not be to happiness even then. "
'7 See this account, as contained in the
English translation of the Irish Tripartite,
contained in Miss M. F. Cusack's " Life of
St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," part iii. , pp. 478, 479.
8, ibid.
^* See Dr. ** Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sect, v. , p. 391.
=^5 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars iii. , cap. Ivii. ,
Iviii. , p. 160,
=6
St. Patrick departed from Munster A. D. ^^ See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Septima 452. See Rev. Michael J. O'Farrell's
Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. Ivii. , Iviii. , p.
160, and n. 86, p. 187. In the Quarta Vita
S. Patricii, cap. Ixxx. , p. 45, there is simply mention of St. Setna as having been the
son of Trian. In a note, however, Colgan
"Popular Life of St. Patrick," chap, xvii. , p. 253.
=7 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 268.
^^ See " Acta Sanctorum xi. Ilibernice,"
associates him with his brother St.
Jarlath.
^°
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch-
bishops of Armagh," p. 36.
^^ "
See Miss M. F. Cusack's Life of St.
Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," p. 479.
February ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 4S3
whenraisedtotheseeofArmagh. But,whengivingcredittothesestories, Colgan should have followed them, as he found them ; and, consequently, he should have placed Jarlath's infancy, not merely after 432, but after 452. 3° It is generally allowed, that 4673^ or 468, was the year in which St. Benignus,
Archbishop of Armagh,32 died. Now, Jarlath succeeded Benignus in the see
ofArmagh. Hisaccessioncouldnothavebeenearlier,thanthelatterend
of A. D. 468. 33 St. Jarlath is placed the fourth in succession over the archi-
episcopal see of Armagh,34 according to the Catalogue of its Primates, and
Ussher dates his succession at a. d. 465. 35 For some years earlier than his
episcopacy, the King of Ireland was Alild Molt,36 or, as some call him,
Olioll Molt, who, from having been King of Connaught, was raised to the
throne of all Ireland a. d. 463. 37 This latter is held to have been the year,38
when the Monarch Laoghaire fell in battle. 39 It is said, he reigned fully
thirty years, after St. Patrick's arrival in Ireland. 4° Alild, having reigned
twenty years, was killed in the battle of Ocha, in Meath, according to the
"
fell, A. D. 483. 42 Whether King Laoghaire was a Christian, or not, seems a matter of some difficulty to ascertain. Yet the venerable Charles O'Conor and other modern writers speak of him as such, although it is thought he again apostatized. 43 It has been asserted, Ukewise, that the Christian reli- gion, during the reign of Olioll Molt, had been incorporated with the civil constitution. 44 This was as much as to say, that it became the religion of the State, although tolerance was accorded to the professors of Paganism. 45 Yet, it appears- very strange, that his name never occurs in the Lives of St. Patrick, not even in the Tripartite, in which we find so many chieftains and subordinate kings mentioned as Christians. Olioll's or x\lild's reign over Ireland began before the saint's death, and he had been King of Connaught for some years sooner. Therefore, it must seem that, had he been a Chris- tian, in consequence of his dignity, he ought to have been particularly noticed by the hagiologists. 4^ His name occurs, in one of the Lives of St. Brigid ; yet, without the least allusion to his religion. As to a connexion between Church and State having taken place in his time, this can hardly be
Februarii, n. 11, p. 308. 39 This is the year, marked in Ussher's
=^9 *•
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch- Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquilates,"
cap. xvii. , p. 490, and in Index Chrono-
Annals of the Four Masters," a. d. 478 ;4i but, according to other writers he
bishops of Armagh," p. 36.
3° See Dr.
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sect. v. , n. 61, p. 393.
3* See Rev. Robert King's "Memoir In- troductory to the Early History of the Pri- macy of Armagh," p. 68.
" See Professor series Eugene O'Curry's
of lectures "On the Manners and Customs
of the Ancient Irish," vol. ii. , lect. xviii. , p.
,384. Edited by W. K. Sullivan, Ph. D. , &c.
" So I am assured, by W. M. Ilennessy, who states, that the ancient Irish tract on the Borromean Tribute exactly identifies it with Hook.
supported by other authority. "
—"
Ecclesi- astical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap.
viii. , sect, xv. , n. 197, p. 426.
? See the Life of his brother St. Dabeog,
at the 1st ofJanuary.
^
Februarii. Vita S. Dubani, n. i, p. 314.
February ii. ] LIVES 0I< THE IRISH SAlNlS. 479
He flourished, towards the close of the fifth, or beginning of the sixth, century.
A true pilgrim on earth he was, although returning to the country of his fathers ; for, he shunned the company of men, and reputing Heaven as his true country, his expectations were directed to that abiding city, while he was everbentonobservingGod'sholylaw. Notwithstandingwhathasbeenhere written, Colgan elsewhere thinks the present St. Duban to have been that son of Corcan, the disciple of St. Patrick, who, when . he travelled through the beautiful pass of Barnesmore in Donegal, came to the region of Mag- Ithe. " There he built the church of Donoughmore, and set St. Dubhan over it. ^3 Another name for that holy man may be Nigellus. '''* However, the first accounts regarding this present saint seem to be the most reliable ; and, he appears to have had connexions with the south-east, rather than with the north-west, of Ireland. Thus, it is generally understood, that he was a brother to St. Canoe, whose notices precede, at this date.
Article V. —St. Cognat, Virgin, of Earnaidhe, or Urnev. The
"
word Ernaidhe, Urnaidhe, or Ornaidhe^ signifies primarily a prayer," but
^ Most
there is an exceedingly old church, at a place, called Nurney. ^ We find registered, on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ Cognat, virgin, of
Earnaidhe. Itispossible,theremaybesomemistake,inmakingthisentry,
and that the present saint is not a different person from the Gobnat, already
recorded, at this date. There is a parish of Urney, situated partly in the
barony of Lower,^ but, chiefly in that of Upper Loughtee,^ in the county of
Cavan. ^ The very ancient church and graveyard, here, are on the townland
ofUrneyproper,inUpperLoughtee. 9 Urneychurchandgraveyardareto be seen, on the north bank of the River Erne, after its waters have left the
beautifully intricate and irregular bounds of Lough Oughter. Considerable remains of the old church, now standing in the centre of the cemetery, reveal
its singular peculiarities of construction. ^° The ruins consist of a church, which measured thirty-nine feet in length, by nineteen feet and four inches
inwidth,interiorly; then,apassage,formedbytwoparallelstonewallsrun- ning cross-wise, takes up seven feet of space, and in its centre are stone steps, which ascend as high as the remaining side walls. Two doorways conduct throughthepassage,andleadintotwocells,attheextremewest-end. Each
ina sensea" secondary
it takestheAn-
commonly,
glicized form of Urney, in Tyrone, Cavan and King's County ; while, in Carlow and in Kildare, it incorporates the article, in English, and it becomes Nurney, in several parishes, villages and townlands. 3 In Carlow county
" This is a country district of Tirconnell, lying on the banks of the River Finn.
'3 See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. cxiv. , p. 144.
and 24 perches, including 72 acres, 3 roods, and 33 perches of water, superficial measure* ment.
7 This portion contains 7>493 ^cres, 2
prayer-house. "
'4 See ibid. , n—n. 163, 164, 165, p. 181. roods, and 2 perches, including 452 acres, 3
^
Article v. Pronounced
**erny. "
" as
^
In Latin "oratorium,"
3 SeeP. W. "
Joyce's Origin History
and
of Irish Names of Places," part iii. , chap.
ii. , pp. 294, 295.
4 Of this church, Mr. Du Noyer has pre-
served an his interesting sketch, among
port- folio drawings, in the library of the Royal
Irish Academy.
5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
46, 47.
^
This portion contains 440 acres, 2 roods,
Urny" or
roods and 13 perches of Lough Oughter, also 530 acres, 2 roods and 7 perches of water.
^ Its extent is described on the **Ord» nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cavan. " Sheets 15, 20, 25.
9 They are shown on Sheet 15, ibid.
^° The accompanying illustration, drawn on the wood by William F. Wakeman, and engraved by Mrs. Millard, is from a sketch, taken on the spot, by the author, in June, 1876. The sketch was taken from withiu the graveyard enclosure.
48o LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [Februaryii.
of these cells measures interiorly twenty-nine feet in length, by ten feet six inches in breadth, while, one of these compartments has a coved-roof in a good state of preservation, and the former coved roof of the other—quite perfect until a very short time since—is now becoming quite ruinous. " These were dimly lighted, when in a perfect state, and they seem to have been only the cellars of a house, which once stood there, as an appendage to the church. The stone-stairway evidently led to some upper chambers. Although the gables yet stand, the whole extent of the church and erdamhs has been long ago unroofed. '^ To a very late period, the Catholics Avere
Urney Church, County of Cavan.
accustomed to assemble witliin the roofless walls, and assist there at a mid- night Mass, which used to be celebrated, at Christmas-tide. The walls of the old church are about three feet, in thickness, and they are now grown over with ivy. The neighbouring people have a great veneration for this church, which they regard, as being the most ancient, in the diocese of Kil- more ; and, they relate many interesting traditions, in connexion with it. Its situation is truly a most picturesque one, beside a bridge, which leads over a channel of the Upper P^rne, into a large island called Inismore,'^ which is a tract, rising high over the water, and of very considerable extent,
" A midcllc-aged peasant of the neigh- bourhood told the writer, that he received
the rudiments of education, in a school, taught by a Catholic master within one of those cells.
'^ The Catholic peasantry, in the neigh-
bourhood, have a tradition, that Urncy clnirch was built by a Bishop Brady, who
engaged three skilled masons, for the pur-
pose, and these were brought from a dis- tance. He is said, as a reward, to have made over to them a large tract of land ad- joining.
'3 It contains nearly 500 acres, and it is well inhabited, being intersected with high hedge rows, giving it a very umbrageous aspect.
February ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 481
inthelowerwatersofLoughOughter. ^4 Theplace,wherethispresentholy
virgin lived, cannot be determined, however, with accuracy ; and, her period has not been discovered, by the writer.
Article VI. —St. Jarlath or Hierlath, Archbishop of Armagh.
[Fifth Century. '] The Providence of God is often a subject of mystery to
men, incapable of connecting results known to them, with those supremely
wise decrees, from which they spring. This truth may even be drawn, in
the legend of this holy man's future devotion to the Church, and in the cir-
cumstances preceding his birth. The Acts of this holy bishop have been
collected from various sources. "^ The Bollandists have a by Colgan, only
short notice. ^ St. Jarlath was of the illustrious house of the Dalfiatach. 3 His father is named Trena, or Trien. By Jocelyn, he is called Triemi. It is noted, that he was the son of Fieg, the son of Imchad, son to Bressal, son of Sirchad, son to Fiatach surnamed Finn. ^- He was thus nearly related to Dichuo,St. Patrick'sfirstconvert. TrenaandTrichem,thefatherofDichuo, are said to have been brothers. Hence, St. Jarlath should be a first cousin to the latter,5 as, also, to St. Ailild I. ,^ who succeeded him, as Archbishop of Armagh. 7 It has been assumed, that a certain wicked man, living in Ulster,^
and named was identical with Tremei,9
Trena,
Jocelyn relates the miserable end of Triemei. " St. Patrick is said to have
been travelling, through a certain wood, in Mudornia,'^ when he met some cruelly treated slaves, belonging to this man, and who were engaged cutting wood, with very blunt axes. Another account has it, that the Irish Apostle
was proceeding through the way of Midluachair,^3 in order to reach Uladh, when he met these men, who are called carpenters, engaged in cutting down trunks of yew. Blood flowed from their hands, during this operation ; and, when St. Patrick stopped to enquire from them, he learned, that they were slavestoTrian,sonofFiac,sontoAmalgaid. ^^ Theytoldhim,nomeans were afforded them, for sharpening their axes, so that their work might be the less difficult. St. Patrick healed their wounds, and blessing their labours,
7 A further account of St. Jarlath's family connexions will be found, by referring to his Acts.
'4 Two very remarkable forts are on this island ; one known as Granshach, or River's- view Fort, and the other, as Corcabrack Fort. The road runs north of both
^ In Vita S. Quarta
forts, and through the island, which is left by the traveller again, over a long pontoon cause- way, called Carratraw Bridge. This island and its surroundings are to be seen on the /'Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
Patricii, cap. Ixxx. , p. 45, the Apostle is only said to have been
County of Cavan. " Sheets 15, 20. ^
" Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. Ivii. ,
Article vi. — See "Acta Sanctorum
160.
^° See Miss M. F. Cusack's " Life of St.
Hiberniae," xi. Februarii. De S.
Jarlatheo sive Hierlatio, Archiepiscopo Ardmachano,
Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," chap, x. , p. 536.
PP- 307, 308.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Feb-
ruarii xi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 506.
3 Descended from Fiatach, surnamed Finn, Monarch of Ireland.
4
" See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cxxxii. , cxxxiii. , p. 94.
Mugdorna, a country of East Ulster,
^3 The Slighe-Midhluachra was one of the tilogy," chap. xix. The Psalter of Cashel five principal roads, leading from Tara,
According to the Life of St. Benignus, chapter xviii. , and the "Genealogic Sane-
accords with this account.
s See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," n.
134, p. 114, where he cites the "Sane-
tilogy," cap. xix.
through the Moyra Pass, between Dundalk and Newry. It extended, probably, into the present county of Down,
u This appears to be a mistranscript for Imchadh.
21
*
See his Life, at the 13th of January. Vol. II.
Iviii. , p.
the father of St. ^° Jarlath.
travelling through a region of Ulster, at a time immediately preceding the assumed
birth date of St. Jarlath.
9 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga.
'-'See ibid. , and n. 134, p. 114, where Colgan says the correct reading should be
482 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February n.
the trees fell readily before their strokes. Besides this, the holy man went
to Trian's fort, where with prayer and fasting, he sought to mollify the tyrant,
but in vain. His fasting is said to have lasted for three days, according to
a custom observed in the administration of our ancient Brehon laws. ^s By
amiracle,therock,nearthatplace,flewintothreefragments. Oneofthese
wascasttothedistanceofonethousandpaces. St. Patrickthenannounced,
that a sudden and fearful fate should befall Trian, and that no king or ruler
of his posterity should survive. His wife, however, followed St. Patrick,
and entreated forgiveness. He blessed her, and the twin children to whom
she afterwards gave birth, viz. , St. Setna and St. Jarlaid. The Irish Apostle
even predicted, that the latter should become his successor in the see of
Armagh. But,theirobduratefather,takinghishorsesandchariot,withthe
intention of prosecuting still more severe measures against the servants, who
had complained of his harshness to St. Patrick, those animals of Trian
started away and bore the chariot into an adjoiijing lake,"^ where he was
immediatelydrowned. '7 ThefeastofSt. Jarlath'sbrother,Setna,Sednaor
Sedonius, is referred by Colgan, to the i6th of June. ^^ If there were such
a monster, who bore the name of Tremei, or Trena, Dr. Lanigan felt sure
he was different from the father of Jarlath. '^ The latter, however, and also
his brother became zealous imitators of th© Irish ^° The Setna, Apostle.
Tripartite represents Jarlath as having been baptized, when an infant, by St. Patrick ;2^ and, therefore, it must have happened after a. d. 432. Indeed, the inference might be, that this must have occurred, at a period much later. He was born at Rathtrena, in the now county of Dovvn. '*^ Accord- ing to another account, it was in the district of Mourne, or leading towards it. =3 Rath-Trena, or "the fort of Trena," was thus called, from the name of his father. 24 Through the course of that story, as given in the Tripartite Life, the birth of Jarlath is placed after St. Patrick's return from Munster,=5 that is, after a. d. 452. In such case, Jarlath could not have become a bishop in 468. =^^ He is classed among the disciples of St. Patrick. '7 Col-
gan,^^ and after him, Harris,^9 concluded, that Jarlath was rather young.
'5 A creditor might distrain the goods of a debtor, after having given proper notice. If, hovi^ever, the debtor belonged to the chieftain grade, the creditor should not only give previous notice, but remain some time without food before the debtor's house ; and, if the latter proved inexorable, the creditor,
See n. 59, p. 50, ibid.
'? See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. i. , chap, viii. , sect, v. , n. 61, p. 393.
accompanied by
his witnesses law-agent,
" See Dr. " Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
and others, proceeded to levy his distress.
See Introduction, p. xlvi. , to the Brehon
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sect, v. , and n. 61, pp. 391 to 393.
^^
=3 See Miss M. F. Cusack's ** Life of St. "Loch-Trena is its name. This was Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," p. 478, and n.
Laws of Ireland, vol. i.
his last fall. He will not arise out of that
lake till the vespers of judgment and it will ;
not be to happiness even then. "
'7 See this account, as contained in the
English translation of the Irish Tripartite,
contained in Miss M. F. Cusack's " Life of
St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," part iii. , pp. 478, 479.
8, ibid.
^* See Dr. ** Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sect, v. , p. 391.
=^5 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars iii. , cap. Ivii. ,
Iviii. , p. 160,
=6
St. Patrick departed from Munster A. D. ^^ See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Septima 452. See Rev. Michael J. O'Farrell's
Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. Ivii. , Iviii. , p.
160, and n. 86, p. 187. In the Quarta Vita
S. Patricii, cap. Ixxx. , p. 45, there is simply mention of St. Setna as having been the
son of Trian. In a note, however, Colgan
"Popular Life of St. Patrick," chap, xvii. , p. 253.
=7 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 268.
^^ See " Acta Sanctorum xi. Ilibernice,"
associates him with his brother St.
Jarlath.
^°
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch-
bishops of Armagh," p. 36.
^^ "
See Miss M. F. Cusack's Life of St.
Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," p. 479.
February ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 4S3
whenraisedtotheseeofArmagh. But,whengivingcredittothesestories, Colgan should have followed them, as he found them ; and, consequently, he should have placed Jarlath's infancy, not merely after 432, but after 452. 3° It is generally allowed, that 4673^ or 468, was the year in which St. Benignus,
Archbishop of Armagh,32 died. Now, Jarlath succeeded Benignus in the see
ofArmagh. Hisaccessioncouldnothavebeenearlier,thanthelatterend
of A. D. 468. 33 St. Jarlath is placed the fourth in succession over the archi-
episcopal see of Armagh,34 according to the Catalogue of its Primates, and
Ussher dates his succession at a. d. 465. 35 For some years earlier than his
episcopacy, the King of Ireland was Alild Molt,36 or, as some call him,
Olioll Molt, who, from having been King of Connaught, was raised to the
throne of all Ireland a. d. 463. 37 This latter is held to have been the year,38
when the Monarch Laoghaire fell in battle. 39 It is said, he reigned fully
thirty years, after St. Patrick's arrival in Ireland. 4° Alild, having reigned
twenty years, was killed in the battle of Ocha, in Meath, according to the
"
fell, A. D. 483. 42 Whether King Laoghaire was a Christian, or not, seems a matter of some difficulty to ascertain. Yet the venerable Charles O'Conor and other modern writers speak of him as such, although it is thought he again apostatized. 43 It has been asserted, Ukewise, that the Christian reli- gion, during the reign of Olioll Molt, had been incorporated with the civil constitution. 44 This was as much as to say, that it became the religion of the State, although tolerance was accorded to the professors of Paganism. 45 Yet, it appears- very strange, that his name never occurs in the Lives of St. Patrick, not even in the Tripartite, in which we find so many chieftains and subordinate kings mentioned as Christians. Olioll's or x\lild's reign over Ireland began before the saint's death, and he had been King of Connaught for some years sooner. Therefore, it must seem that, had he been a Chris- tian, in consequence of his dignity, he ought to have been particularly noticed by the hagiologists. 4^ His name occurs, in one of the Lives of St. Brigid ; yet, without the least allusion to his religion. As to a connexion between Church and State having taken place in his time, this can hardly be
Februarii, n. 11, p. 308. 39 This is the year, marked in Ussher's
=^9 *•
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch- Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquilates,"
cap. xvii. , p. 490, and in Index Chrono-
Annals of the Four Masters," a. d. 478 ;4i but, according to other writers he
bishops of Armagh," p. 36.
3° See Dr.
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sect. v. , n. 61, p. 393.
3* See Rev. Robert King's "Memoir In- troductory to the Early History of the Pri- macy of Armagh," p. 68.
