Patricks
The scenery around Rathnew is
exquisite, as any to be found in the picturesque and romantic County of Wicklow.
exquisite, as any to be found in the picturesque and romantic County of Wicklow.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
731.
28 The saint is in- present
at the 18th of 1 The August. 3
204 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 18.
likewise, the Martyrology of Tallaghss mentions, that veneration was given to
Daigh Mac Cairill, of Innse cain. 36 In the Calendar of Cashel, he is noticed
at this day. 37 Also, Joannes Kirkestede, Martyr, alludes to his veneration, intheTract"DePnecipuisHibernianSanctisPraesulibus. "38 IntheEnglish
edition of Withford's English Martyrology, published at London in 1526, this holy man's feast is set down at the 18th of August, with a eulogy stating, that in his youth he wrought many miracles, afterwards that he raised from the dead thirteen persons, besides performing many other notable actions, and that he died in the one hundredth and fortieth year of his age, being distin- guished for his sanctity and perfection. The Martyrology of Donegal,39 at the same date, records Daigh, son of Cairill, Bishop of Inis-cain-Degha, in Conaill Muirtheimne. This holy man was venerated, likewise, in Scot- land, and his feast is entered at the 18th of August, in the Calendar of
Drummond. 40
The old writer of this saint's Acts states, that human capacity or memory
could not relate all the miracles he wrought, through the co-operation of
Divine Grace. His great works were the foundation of monasteries in various
parts of Ireland, healing the sick from divers diseases, liberating captives, and even raising the dead to life. Moreover, with his own hands forming
many things for use in the churches, his days passed without reproach, until after a life greatly prolonged, he happily slept in Christ.
Article II. —St. Ernin or Mernog, of Rathnoi, now Rathnew, County of Wicklow, and of Killdreenagh. [Sixth and Seventh Centuries. '] The lesson of this holy man's Acts shows us, that in all times some of the greatest saints have been born with poor surroundings and
prospects in life. Still the Almighty has providentially arranged to bring them to a superior station, and to perform their work well, while serving all the great requirements of religion. At the 18th day of August, St. ^Engus
1
enters the feast of St. Ernoc in his "Feilire," and to this a commentator
2
adds an explanatory scholion.
of August, a festival is also entered in honour of Ernin Mac Creisin, of Raith- nui, in h-Garrchon/ Hence, it would seem that Creisin is to be regarded as his father. At this date, the Bollandists s observe, that their predecessors had found the name of a certain Irish Erenseus. at the 14th of February, according to Thomas Dempster's arrangement ; but, they deferred further notice of him, to the 26th of April, the date for his feast'given by Camerarius,
35 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
36 The Irish in the Book of Leinster copy,
at xv. of the September Kalends, this same
script Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calen-
dar of Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. exxiv.
2
in ferro quam in aere, et scriba insignis. "
:
38 In these words " Daigaeus Monachus
et Episcopus Hiberniae, super mare siccis pedibus ambulavit : et Abbatem quendain et sex alios mortuosa morte suscitavit. "
39 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 222, 223.
40 Thus, at xv. of the September Kalends "Eodemquoque die apud Hiberniam Nata—le Sanctorum Confessorum Dega et Ernine. "
Erndc, i. e. , Ernin, i. e. , a pious son (was) he. Or Cresin nomen patris ejus. Or Ernine son of Cresine of RathNoe in Hui Garrchon in Fotharta of Leinster and of Cell Draignech in Hui Drona besides. " On the lower margin is another brief note, thus translated
:
" Kalendars of Scottish
Article ii.
tlie Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu-
:
In the Irish text of the Book of Leinster
Bishop Forbes' Saints," p. 22. —
* of See "Transactions
copy the entry reads thus: ennme mac
Cpepn o Udich nui m h. S^nchon.
s "
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Au-
gusti xviii. , p. 518.
In the Martyrology of Tallagh,3 at the 18th
day, is "OAijmAC CAipilllnpi Cam.
37 There he is said to have been "faber tarn Latin. The English translation is " My
This is partly in Irish, and partly in
"Son of etc. " Ibid. , p. exxxi.
4
into — English
Cressine, my Ernoc, 3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
August 18. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 265
while waiting for some more certain evidences to establish better his vene-
ration. Their notices were further deferred to this day, the 18th of August,
as Colgan indicated his feast ; and, as no better account of him could be
furnished, at the latter date, they place him among those saints whose festi-
vals are pretermitted. We find, that an Ernan, called the son of Degill and
of Cumenia, was also a cousin to St. Columba,6 who, was brother of Cumenia.
However, the patronymic of the present saint sufficiently distinguishes him from St. Columba's relative. The present Ernan must have been born, pro-
bably after the middle of the sixth century,7 judging from the recorded date
8
forthearrivalofSt. Columkille onavisittoClonmacnoise,whileSt. Alither*
was Abbot and while there,
was then a 10 poor boy.
son of
He was little esteemed by the community, although his dejected look and
threadbare dress caused him to be well known to the monks. " However, he eagerly desired to welcome the illustrious visitor, with the rest of those whocameforthtomeethim whilebarriershadbeenerectedtorestrainthe
;
pressure of a crowd collected, as the ecclesiastics moved in procession sing- ing hymns and psalms. But, such was Email's humility, that he sought to avoid the public gaze. Still, he desired much to steal unobserved, and to kiss the hem of St. Columkille's garment. Having approached from behind, the great Abbot had an inspiration which caused him to stop, and to place his handontheneckoftheboy,whomhebroughtbeforehiseyes. Theecclesias-
tics and monks who were present, wondering at the interruption, asked
Columba to send away the miserable and forlorn boy. However, the holy
Abbot checked them, and then, turning to the youth, desired him to extend
his tongue. Having done so, the saint blessed it, and prophesied thus :
"
Although this boy seems ungraceful and miserable, contemn him not ; for he shall please and not displease you, in a time to come ; he shall make daily progress in virtue and holy conversation ; so that henceforward, his wisdom and prudence are destined to improve. He shall become a worthy member in this congregation, while the Almighty shall cause his tongue to speak words of eloquence and of sound doctrine. " 12 This authentic state- ment, Adamnan *3 received from a predecessor in the monastery at Iona,
St. 1 * who heard Ernan himself relate this in the namely, Failbe, prophecy,
presence of St. Seghine,^ Abbot over Iona from 623 to 652. Notwith- standing, the foregoing circumstantial narrative, this saint is said to have been the maternal uncle of St. Columba,16 who is named Ernanus, and who was thecompanionofhismigrationtoScotland. 1? NowthisdepartureforIona
6
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columba;, cap. x. , num. 52, p. 490.
7 Possibly about the year 570.
8
See the Life of this holy Abbot, at the 9th of June, the day for his festival, in the Sixth Volume of this Art.
chap. xv.
9 At the 1 2th of May, in the Fifth Volume
of this work, some account of him may be seen, Art. i.
10
The rule of St. Alither over Clonmac- noise commenced a. d. 585, and continued to-A. D. 599.
p. 340.
13 He ruled over Iona monastery as Abbot
from 679 to 704. His feast occurs on the
23rd of September, where his Life may be found in the Ninth Volume of this work, Art. i.
14 He IonafromA. n. to governed 669 679.
His feast occurs at the 22nd of March, where notices of him may be found, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
j s He has a festival, at August 12th, where
notices of him may be seen in the present
volume, Art. iv.
16 See " Memoir of the City and North-
Western Liberties of Londonderry," part ii. , sect. 2, p. 27.
11
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life
of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. iii. , and nn.
(a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,k,1), pp. 23to26.
12
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. iii. ,
T? See "Trias Colgan's
Ernen,
Cressen,
work, i. ,
Thaumaturga. " Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. xlv. ,
p. 348, and n. 95, pp. 379, 380.
266 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 18.
must have taken place, probably before the period of the present saint's birth. This identification, and family relationship, however, would appear
tohavebeenamistakeof 18 Weareatalosstoknowthe Colgan.
particulars of our saint's early life, or where he had studied. It may have been at
Clonmacnois, and under the direction of his senior and contemporary, the Abbot St. Alither. However, he appears to have lived afterwards at Rath
Noi, and most likely he built a church there.
he was celebrated. 1 ? The him,isthepresentoldvillageofRathnew, intheCountyofWicklow,while
Ireland,
place
here 20
mentioned,
in connection with
Village and Graveyard of Rathnew, County of Wicklow.
the district of Ui Garrchon, in which it is situated, extended through the barony of Newcastle, and along the sea-shore. It is one of the few ancient
places, that has escaped the chicanery and land-grabbing greed in Ireland, and which have served to confiscate commonage tenures of so many villages
and lands throughout the Island, especially during the last two centuries. The villagers are free of rent, and prize their small huts and gardens to that degree, that they are disinclined to part with them for almost any money consideration. The old church ruins and burial-ground, about two miles north-west of Wicklow town, are situated in the very midst of an irregularly built group of cabins, on the high road leading towards Dublin. Only a frag- ment of the east gable now appears standing; but, the church formerly consisted of a nave and choir. Since their decay those walls, now level with the ground, sufficiently reveal the dimensions and plan. Interiorly, the nave measured
18 See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," n. (a), p. 87.
'» See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
QuartaVita S. Columtxe, lib. i. , cap. iii. ,
p. 340.
ao This is the head of a parish so named,
and the latter is described on the " Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Wicklow," sheets 19, 24, 25. The town and townland proper are marked on sheet 25.
31 The accompanying illustration was sketched on the spot, by Wm. F. Wakeman, April 24th, 1891 ; it was afterwards trans- ferred by him to the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
Through all the churches of
August 18. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 267
58 feet in length, by 20 feet in widtli ; while the choir was 19 feet in length, by 20 feet in breadth. The cross wall was about two and a-half feet in thick- ness ; but, all the outer walls, on an average, were nearly three feet. The graveyard is enclosed with a modern wall, and the ground-surface is con-
lanes. *1 The is still much burial-ground
elevated over the
usedforinterments. Somepiecesofdressedstones,usedforformerdoorways or windows, lie at the head of certain 23 The of Rathnew
siderably
adjoining
graves. people
village and neighbourhood have no more special or interesting traditions regarding the church, than its being of extreme antiquity, and as they state, almost as old as the time of St.
Patricks The scenery around Rathnew is
exquisite, as any to be found in the picturesque and romantic County of Wicklow. ThefinewoodsandbeautifuldemesneofRosanaareverynear
this village. It is said, that a saint named Ethernanus, or more properly
2
Ernan, wrote St. Columba's Life, * and, moreover, that lie was nephew to the
great archimandrite, on the side of his sister. This statement, however, seems to rest solely on the authority of Dempster. The spot known as Cill-
2s in
a place, having some connection with the present saint.
is said to have been It is now called ofCarlow. TheUi Drona, or posterity of Drona, descended from Cathaeir Mar, and besides possessing the territory alluded to, they held part of the diocese of Kildare
and Leighlin, lying near the western side of the River Barrow, and around
the town of 2? Ui-Drona is now the Graiguenamanagh. represented by
baroniesofIdroneintheCountyofCarlow. Thisistheidentificationofhis
place, as arrived at by the Calendarists of Cashel and by Marianus
O'Gorman. 28 However, we believe, the Cill-draighnech having more imme-
diate reference to our saint was the Killadrina, or Killadrenan, not far from
Rathnew, and in the County of Wicklow. Of this, a notice and an illustra-
tion have been already furnished, when treating about St. Coemgin or Kevin,
draighnech, according
Ui-Drona, Dunleckney parish, County
Killdreenagh,
26atownlandin
Abbot of at the Glendalough,
of 29 The Annals of Ulster June.
to the
0'Clerys,
3rd day
record the death of St. Ernin, at a. d. 634. 3° Those of Tighernach have
placed it at a. d. 635. 31 The Four Masters have no record of this saint.
2
St. Ernan, i. e. , Mernog, is recorded also in the Martyrology of Donegal^ at
this day, as having belonged to the locality of Rath Noi, in Ui Garrchon, i. e. , inFortharta,33ofLeinster. TheMartyrologyofMarianus0'Gorman,34andhis scholiast, as also the Calendar of Cashel ^ and Feilire of St. ^Engus, accord his festival to the 18th of August. St. Marnan's, or Marnock's festival is
23 There are two Rev. Mr. Kavanaghs interred within the choir. The date of death inscribed on their headstones is 1717 and 1753 respectively.
23 Such is the substance of information
and of descriptive particulars obtained by a visit to this place in April, 187 1.
24 See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix Tertia ad Acta S. Columbse, pars, i. , p. 470.
25 See the "Martyrology of Donegal," edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
222, 223.
26
See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Carlow," Sheet 16.
27 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book of Rights," n. (k), p. 212.
28
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," QuartaVitaS. Columbre,n. 2Q, pp. 373,374.
i.
"9 In the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. See the Fifth Chapter of his Life,
3° See the -drmalA Ubvoh, or "Annals of Ulster," edited by William M. Hennessy, vol. i. , pp. 102, 103.
31 See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiberni- carum Scriptores," tomus ii.
32 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 222, 223.
33
jror jts supposed position in Wicklow,
see Dr. O'Donovan's " Leabhar na g-Ceart,
or Book of Rights," n. (d), p. 207.
34 "ErnineusidestMornocusdeRath-noi
in Hi-Garrchon, id est, in Fotharta Lagenise, et de Kill-Droigneach in Hi-Drona. "
& " Erneneus, id est Mernocus filius
Cresseni, de Rath-naoi in Hy-Garchon in
Lagenia, et Kill-Droighneach in Hi- Drona. "
268
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 18.
referred
by
Bishop Forbes, to the ist of March, or to the 18th 6 August,*
whereheisidentifiedwithSt. ErnenusorErnin,i. e. , MernogofRathnoiin
Ui Garchon, i. e. , in Fotharta, Leinster, and of Cill-draighnech in Ui Drona.
This saint is known in Scotland as Marnan, or with the diminutive termina- tionasMarnochorMarnock. However,althoughtheScottishsaintMarnan or Marnock is praised for his episcopal virtues and his gift for preaching the word of God, and so far resembling the Irish St. Ernan, yet it is not probable they could have been one and the same person. Of late years, a handsome Catholic Chapel has been built at Rathnew, by Rev. Canon William Dillon, P. P. of Wicklow, and it has been dedicated to St. Ernin. It may be well to observe,thatthewordMernocisacontractionofMo-Ernin-occ. Suchaname ispreservedinthetwoKilmarnocksandalsoinInchmarnoc,Scotland. 37 The
" and the suffix " indicate the prefix mo, signifying my," occ, meaning little,"
idea of affection and familiarity, as annexed to the original name. *8
Article III. —St. Feidhlimjdh, Son of Crimhthann, King of Munster. At this date, the name of Feidhlimidli has not been entered in the Martyrology of Tallagh ; but, it has been introduced into copies, tran- scribed after the death of Saints Maelruin and yEngus, at the 28th of the pre- sentmonth. ThisprinceiscalledFeidhlimidh,MacorsonofCrimhthainn. HeruledasKingofMunster. Thisprinceissaidtohavebeenthebestof the Irish in his time ; and yet, he died of an internal wound, inflicted through the miracle of God and of St. Kiarain. An Irish elegy was composed after his death. He this life, on the 18th of
Article IV. —Reputed Feast of Salust, Companion of St. Dysibod. Atthe8thofJuly,wheretheActsofSt. Disibodaretobefound, allusion has been made already to one of his missionary companions, named
departed
day has been assigned, as the festival for this pious prince of Munster, viz. , the 281I1 of August. To this latter date, the reader is referred for some notices concerning him.
ever,
sanctity
Camerarius has
given Bollandists, having
p. 392.
was celebrated on the 25th of October.
38 See Rev. William- Reeves' Adamnan's
chap. ii.
a See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Au-
11
Life of St. Col—umba," n. (i. ), pp. 25, 26.
gusti xviii.
Among the pretermitted saints,
Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. ,
' Article iii. See
p. 518.
Article v. — See "Acta Sanctorum,"
2
no memorial of his
or veneration,
August,
him a festival, at the 18th of How- August.
Salust. 1
the
merely note the entry of his name, as found in the "Vita S. Disibodi,"
published by Surius.
Article V. —Reputed Feast of St. Jeron or Hieron, Martyr, in
Holland. On the 18th of in a Calendar, noticed the Bollandists, 1 August, by
was found an unwarranted feast set down for St. Jeron or Hieron, Martyr, in Holland. However, it seems to have been a mistake, as his true festival was on the day 'preceding, where we have already inserted his Acts.
Article VI. —St. Ronan. There are several saints bearing this name, included in the Irish Calendars ; but of most, we have nothing left to deter- mine their identity or period, or even the localities with which they were
36 See " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp. 472, 473. — Volume
Article iv. ' See the Seventh
37 In the Breviary of Aberdeen, the festi- of this work, at that date, Art. ii. , Life val of a St. Mernoc, patron of Kilmarnock, of St. Disibod, Bishop and Confessor,
1
a. d. x Another 845.
August 18. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 269
respectively connected. At the 18th of August, the Martyrology of Donegal 1 registers a festival in honour of Ronan, having in like manner, no further designation. In Scotland, also, this name appears to have been known, and it is found as a compound word in local denominations. On the east side of
Iona, there is an old church, Tempul Ronain, and a village at a landing place, 2
called Port Ronan, a little to the south of the cathedral and chief group of
antiquities there. Tempul Ronain was formerly a parish church, dependent on the Monastefy of Iona. It had a nunnery connected, in which several
prioresses
are said to have been buried. 3 Towards the close of the last cen-
St. Ronan's Bay and Village, Iona.
tury, the nunnery church was quite entire, one end of it being arched and verybeautiful; thenalsostoodtheparishchurchentire,buttottering. 4This was a building about the size of St. Oran's chapel, and north-east of the nunnery,butinsideofitsenclosures Itisnotknown,however,towhichof the saints named Ronan, this place had been dedicated.
Article VIL—St. Colman, of Chule or Cuile. According to the
of * and of 2 veneration was given to Colman, Martyrologies Tallagh Donegal,
of Chule or Cuil, at the 18th of August. There was an ancient castle, and
perhaps a church, at Coole, in the old territory, known as Dealbhna Eathra,
otherwise Delvin Mac Coghlan, included in the present barony of Garrycastle,
King's County.
3
tomus iii. , Augustii xviii.
termitted feasts, p. 518. x
2 The accompanying illustration is from a Article \ti. Edited by Rev.
Among the pre-
" Additional Notes
Article vi. — Edited by Drs. Todd of St. Columba. "
P,
and Reeves, pp. 222, 223. Topographia Hye—nsis, sect, i. , p. 416. 1
Dr. sketch taken on the spot, by Miss Mary Kelly, p. xxxii. In the Irish of the Book
McHardy. It was transferred by William F. Wakeman to the wood, and it was engraved by Mrs. Millard.
of
of Leinster Copy, the entry is Colman Chute, at the xv. of the September Kalends. 2 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
222, 223.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. v. , n. (y), p. 1346.
3 to Martin's " According
Description the Western Isles of Scotland," p. 262.
28 The saint is in- present
at the 18th of 1 The August. 3
204 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 18.
likewise, the Martyrology of Tallaghss mentions, that veneration was given to
Daigh Mac Cairill, of Innse cain. 36 In the Calendar of Cashel, he is noticed
at this day. 37 Also, Joannes Kirkestede, Martyr, alludes to his veneration, intheTract"DePnecipuisHibernianSanctisPraesulibus. "38 IntheEnglish
edition of Withford's English Martyrology, published at London in 1526, this holy man's feast is set down at the 18th of August, with a eulogy stating, that in his youth he wrought many miracles, afterwards that he raised from the dead thirteen persons, besides performing many other notable actions, and that he died in the one hundredth and fortieth year of his age, being distin- guished for his sanctity and perfection. The Martyrology of Donegal,39 at the same date, records Daigh, son of Cairill, Bishop of Inis-cain-Degha, in Conaill Muirtheimne. This holy man was venerated, likewise, in Scot- land, and his feast is entered at the 18th of August, in the Calendar of
Drummond. 40
The old writer of this saint's Acts states, that human capacity or memory
could not relate all the miracles he wrought, through the co-operation of
Divine Grace. His great works were the foundation of monasteries in various
parts of Ireland, healing the sick from divers diseases, liberating captives, and even raising the dead to life. Moreover, with his own hands forming
many things for use in the churches, his days passed without reproach, until after a life greatly prolonged, he happily slept in Christ.
Article II. —St. Ernin or Mernog, of Rathnoi, now Rathnew, County of Wicklow, and of Killdreenagh. [Sixth and Seventh Centuries. '] The lesson of this holy man's Acts shows us, that in all times some of the greatest saints have been born with poor surroundings and
prospects in life. Still the Almighty has providentially arranged to bring them to a superior station, and to perform their work well, while serving all the great requirements of religion. At the 18th day of August, St. ^Engus
1
enters the feast of St. Ernoc in his "Feilire," and to this a commentator
2
adds an explanatory scholion.
of August, a festival is also entered in honour of Ernin Mac Creisin, of Raith- nui, in h-Garrchon/ Hence, it would seem that Creisin is to be regarded as his father. At this date, the Bollandists s observe, that their predecessors had found the name of a certain Irish Erenseus. at the 14th of February, according to Thomas Dempster's arrangement ; but, they deferred further notice of him, to the 26th of April, the date for his feast'given by Camerarius,
35 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
36 The Irish in the Book of Leinster copy,
at xv. of the September Kalends, this same
script Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calen-
dar of Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. exxiv.
2
in ferro quam in aere, et scriba insignis. "
:
38 In these words " Daigaeus Monachus
et Episcopus Hiberniae, super mare siccis pedibus ambulavit : et Abbatem quendain et sex alios mortuosa morte suscitavit. "
39 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 222, 223.
40 Thus, at xv. of the September Kalends "Eodemquoque die apud Hiberniam Nata—le Sanctorum Confessorum Dega et Ernine. "
Erndc, i. e. , Ernin, i. e. , a pious son (was) he. Or Cresin nomen patris ejus. Or Ernine son of Cresine of RathNoe in Hui Garrchon in Fotharta of Leinster and of Cell Draignech in Hui Drona besides. " On the lower margin is another brief note, thus translated
:
" Kalendars of Scottish
Article ii.
tlie Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu-
:
In the Irish text of the Book of Leinster
Bishop Forbes' Saints," p. 22. —
* of See "Transactions
copy the entry reads thus: ennme mac
Cpepn o Udich nui m h. S^nchon.
s "
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Au-
gusti xviii. , p. 518.
In the Martyrology of Tallagh,3 at the 18th
day, is "OAijmAC CAipilllnpi Cam.
37 There he is said to have been "faber tarn Latin. The English translation is " My
This is partly in Irish, and partly in
"Son of etc. " Ibid. , p. exxxi.
4
into — English
Cressine, my Ernoc, 3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
August 18. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 265
while waiting for some more certain evidences to establish better his vene-
ration. Their notices were further deferred to this day, the 18th of August,
as Colgan indicated his feast ; and, as no better account of him could be
furnished, at the latter date, they place him among those saints whose festi-
vals are pretermitted. We find, that an Ernan, called the son of Degill and
of Cumenia, was also a cousin to St. Columba,6 who, was brother of Cumenia.
However, the patronymic of the present saint sufficiently distinguishes him from St. Columba's relative. The present Ernan must have been born, pro-
bably after the middle of the sixth century,7 judging from the recorded date
8
forthearrivalofSt. Columkille onavisittoClonmacnoise,whileSt. Alither*
was Abbot and while there,
was then a 10 poor boy.
son of
He was little esteemed by the community, although his dejected look and
threadbare dress caused him to be well known to the monks. " However, he eagerly desired to welcome the illustrious visitor, with the rest of those whocameforthtomeethim whilebarriershadbeenerectedtorestrainthe
;
pressure of a crowd collected, as the ecclesiastics moved in procession sing- ing hymns and psalms. But, such was Email's humility, that he sought to avoid the public gaze. Still, he desired much to steal unobserved, and to kiss the hem of St. Columkille's garment. Having approached from behind, the great Abbot had an inspiration which caused him to stop, and to place his handontheneckoftheboy,whomhebroughtbeforehiseyes. Theecclesias-
tics and monks who were present, wondering at the interruption, asked
Columba to send away the miserable and forlorn boy. However, the holy
Abbot checked them, and then, turning to the youth, desired him to extend
his tongue. Having done so, the saint blessed it, and prophesied thus :
"
Although this boy seems ungraceful and miserable, contemn him not ; for he shall please and not displease you, in a time to come ; he shall make daily progress in virtue and holy conversation ; so that henceforward, his wisdom and prudence are destined to improve. He shall become a worthy member in this congregation, while the Almighty shall cause his tongue to speak words of eloquence and of sound doctrine. " 12 This authentic state- ment, Adamnan *3 received from a predecessor in the monastery at Iona,
St. 1 * who heard Ernan himself relate this in the namely, Failbe, prophecy,
presence of St. Seghine,^ Abbot over Iona from 623 to 652. Notwith- standing, the foregoing circumstantial narrative, this saint is said to have been the maternal uncle of St. Columba,16 who is named Ernanus, and who was thecompanionofhismigrationtoScotland. 1? NowthisdepartureforIona
6
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columba;, cap. x. , num. 52, p. 490.
7 Possibly about the year 570.
8
See the Life of this holy Abbot, at the 9th of June, the day for his festival, in the Sixth Volume of this Art.
chap. xv.
9 At the 1 2th of May, in the Fifth Volume
of this work, some account of him may be seen, Art. i.
10
The rule of St. Alither over Clonmac- noise commenced a. d. 585, and continued to-A. D. 599.
p. 340.
13 He ruled over Iona monastery as Abbot
from 679 to 704. His feast occurs on the
23rd of September, where his Life may be found in the Ninth Volume of this work, Art. i.
14 He IonafromA. n. to governed 669 679.
His feast occurs at the 22nd of March, where notices of him may be found, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
j s He has a festival, at August 12th, where
notices of him may be seen in the present
volume, Art. iv.
16 See " Memoir of the City and North-
Western Liberties of Londonderry," part ii. , sect. 2, p. 27.
11
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life
of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. iii. , and nn.
(a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i,k,1), pp. 23to26.
12
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. iii. ,
T? See "Trias Colgan's
Ernen,
Cressen,
work, i. ,
Thaumaturga. " Quarta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. xlv. ,
p. 348, and n. 95, pp. 379, 380.
266 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 18.
must have taken place, probably before the period of the present saint's birth. This identification, and family relationship, however, would appear
tohavebeenamistakeof 18 Weareatalosstoknowthe Colgan.
particulars of our saint's early life, or where he had studied. It may have been at
Clonmacnois, and under the direction of his senior and contemporary, the Abbot St. Alither. However, he appears to have lived afterwards at Rath
Noi, and most likely he built a church there.
he was celebrated. 1 ? The him,isthepresentoldvillageofRathnew, intheCountyofWicklow,while
Ireland,
place
here 20
mentioned,
in connection with
Village and Graveyard of Rathnew, County of Wicklow.
the district of Ui Garrchon, in which it is situated, extended through the barony of Newcastle, and along the sea-shore. It is one of the few ancient
places, that has escaped the chicanery and land-grabbing greed in Ireland, and which have served to confiscate commonage tenures of so many villages
and lands throughout the Island, especially during the last two centuries. The villagers are free of rent, and prize their small huts and gardens to that degree, that they are disinclined to part with them for almost any money consideration. The old church ruins and burial-ground, about two miles north-west of Wicklow town, are situated in the very midst of an irregularly built group of cabins, on the high road leading towards Dublin. Only a frag- ment of the east gable now appears standing; but, the church formerly consisted of a nave and choir. Since their decay those walls, now level with the ground, sufficiently reveal the dimensions and plan. Interiorly, the nave measured
18 See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," n. (a), p. 87.
'» See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
QuartaVita S. Columtxe, lib. i. , cap. iii. ,
p. 340.
ao This is the head of a parish so named,
and the latter is described on the " Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Wicklow," sheets 19, 24, 25. The town and townland proper are marked on sheet 25.
31 The accompanying illustration was sketched on the spot, by Wm. F. Wakeman, April 24th, 1891 ; it was afterwards trans- ferred by him to the wood, engraved by Mrs. Millard.
Through all the churches of
August 18. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 267
58 feet in length, by 20 feet in widtli ; while the choir was 19 feet in length, by 20 feet in breadth. The cross wall was about two and a-half feet in thick- ness ; but, all the outer walls, on an average, were nearly three feet. The graveyard is enclosed with a modern wall, and the ground-surface is con-
lanes. *1 The is still much burial-ground
elevated over the
usedforinterments. Somepiecesofdressedstones,usedforformerdoorways or windows, lie at the head of certain 23 The of Rathnew
siderably
adjoining
graves. people
village and neighbourhood have no more special or interesting traditions regarding the church, than its being of extreme antiquity, and as they state, almost as old as the time of St.
Patricks The scenery around Rathnew is
exquisite, as any to be found in the picturesque and romantic County of Wicklow. ThefinewoodsandbeautifuldemesneofRosanaareverynear
this village. It is said, that a saint named Ethernanus, or more properly
2
Ernan, wrote St. Columba's Life, * and, moreover, that lie was nephew to the
great archimandrite, on the side of his sister. This statement, however, seems to rest solely on the authority of Dempster. The spot known as Cill-
2s in
a place, having some connection with the present saint.
is said to have been It is now called ofCarlow. TheUi Drona, or posterity of Drona, descended from Cathaeir Mar, and besides possessing the territory alluded to, they held part of the diocese of Kildare
and Leighlin, lying near the western side of the River Barrow, and around
the town of 2? Ui-Drona is now the Graiguenamanagh. represented by
baroniesofIdroneintheCountyofCarlow. Thisistheidentificationofhis
place, as arrived at by the Calendarists of Cashel and by Marianus
O'Gorman. 28 However, we believe, the Cill-draighnech having more imme-
diate reference to our saint was the Killadrina, or Killadrenan, not far from
Rathnew, and in the County of Wicklow. Of this, a notice and an illustra-
tion have been already furnished, when treating about St. Coemgin or Kevin,
draighnech, according
Ui-Drona, Dunleckney parish, County
Killdreenagh,
26atownlandin
Abbot of at the Glendalough,
of 29 The Annals of Ulster June.
to the
0'Clerys,
3rd day
record the death of St. Ernin, at a. d. 634. 3° Those of Tighernach have
placed it at a. d. 635. 31 The Four Masters have no record of this saint.
2
St. Ernan, i. e. , Mernog, is recorded also in the Martyrology of Donegal^ at
this day, as having belonged to the locality of Rath Noi, in Ui Garrchon, i. e. , inFortharta,33ofLeinster. TheMartyrologyofMarianus0'Gorman,34andhis scholiast, as also the Calendar of Cashel ^ and Feilire of St. ^Engus, accord his festival to the 18th of August. St. Marnan's, or Marnock's festival is
23 There are two Rev. Mr. Kavanaghs interred within the choir. The date of death inscribed on their headstones is 1717 and 1753 respectively.
23 Such is the substance of information
and of descriptive particulars obtained by a visit to this place in April, 187 1.
24 See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix Tertia ad Acta S. Columbse, pars, i. , p. 470.
25 See the "Martyrology of Donegal," edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
222, 223.
26
See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Carlow," Sheet 16.
27 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book of Rights," n. (k), p. 212.
28
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," QuartaVitaS. Columbre,n. 2Q, pp. 373,374.
i.
"9 In the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. See the Fifth Chapter of his Life,
3° See the -drmalA Ubvoh, or "Annals of Ulster," edited by William M. Hennessy, vol. i. , pp. 102, 103.
31 See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiberni- carum Scriptores," tomus ii.
32 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 222, 223.
33
jror jts supposed position in Wicklow,
see Dr. O'Donovan's " Leabhar na g-Ceart,
or Book of Rights," n. (d), p. 207.
34 "ErnineusidestMornocusdeRath-noi
in Hi-Garrchon, id est, in Fotharta Lagenise, et de Kill-Droigneach in Hi-Drona. "
& " Erneneus, id est Mernocus filius
Cresseni, de Rath-naoi in Hy-Garchon in
Lagenia, et Kill-Droighneach in Hi- Drona. "
268
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 18.
referred
by
Bishop Forbes, to the ist of March, or to the 18th 6 August,*
whereheisidentifiedwithSt. ErnenusorErnin,i. e. , MernogofRathnoiin
Ui Garchon, i. e. , in Fotharta, Leinster, and of Cill-draighnech in Ui Drona.
This saint is known in Scotland as Marnan, or with the diminutive termina- tionasMarnochorMarnock. However,althoughtheScottishsaintMarnan or Marnock is praised for his episcopal virtues and his gift for preaching the word of God, and so far resembling the Irish St. Ernan, yet it is not probable they could have been one and the same person. Of late years, a handsome Catholic Chapel has been built at Rathnew, by Rev. Canon William Dillon, P. P. of Wicklow, and it has been dedicated to St. Ernin. It may be well to observe,thatthewordMernocisacontractionofMo-Ernin-occ. Suchaname ispreservedinthetwoKilmarnocksandalsoinInchmarnoc,Scotland. 37 The
" and the suffix " indicate the prefix mo, signifying my," occ, meaning little,"
idea of affection and familiarity, as annexed to the original name. *8
Article III. —St. Feidhlimjdh, Son of Crimhthann, King of Munster. At this date, the name of Feidhlimidli has not been entered in the Martyrology of Tallagh ; but, it has been introduced into copies, tran- scribed after the death of Saints Maelruin and yEngus, at the 28th of the pre- sentmonth. ThisprinceiscalledFeidhlimidh,MacorsonofCrimhthainn. HeruledasKingofMunster. Thisprinceissaidtohavebeenthebestof the Irish in his time ; and yet, he died of an internal wound, inflicted through the miracle of God and of St. Kiarain. An Irish elegy was composed after his death. He this life, on the 18th of
Article IV. —Reputed Feast of Salust, Companion of St. Dysibod. Atthe8thofJuly,wheretheActsofSt. Disibodaretobefound, allusion has been made already to one of his missionary companions, named
departed
day has been assigned, as the festival for this pious prince of Munster, viz. , the 281I1 of August. To this latter date, the reader is referred for some notices concerning him.
ever,
sanctity
Camerarius has
given Bollandists, having
p. 392.
was celebrated on the 25th of October.
38 See Rev. William- Reeves' Adamnan's
chap. ii.
a See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Au-
11
Life of St. Col—umba," n. (i. ), pp. 25, 26.
gusti xviii.
Among the pretermitted saints,
Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. ,
' Article iii. See
p. 518.
Article v. — See "Acta Sanctorum,"
2
no memorial of his
or veneration,
August,
him a festival, at the 18th of How- August.
Salust. 1
the
merely note the entry of his name, as found in the "Vita S. Disibodi,"
published by Surius.
Article V. —Reputed Feast of St. Jeron or Hieron, Martyr, in
Holland. On the 18th of in a Calendar, noticed the Bollandists, 1 August, by
was found an unwarranted feast set down for St. Jeron or Hieron, Martyr, in Holland. However, it seems to have been a mistake, as his true festival was on the day 'preceding, where we have already inserted his Acts.
Article VI. —St. Ronan. There are several saints bearing this name, included in the Irish Calendars ; but of most, we have nothing left to deter- mine their identity or period, or even the localities with which they were
36 See " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp. 472, 473. — Volume
Article iv. ' See the Seventh
37 In the Breviary of Aberdeen, the festi- of this work, at that date, Art. ii. , Life val of a St. Mernoc, patron of Kilmarnock, of St. Disibod, Bishop and Confessor,
1
a. d. x Another 845.
August 18. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 269
respectively connected. At the 18th of August, the Martyrology of Donegal 1 registers a festival in honour of Ronan, having in like manner, no further designation. In Scotland, also, this name appears to have been known, and it is found as a compound word in local denominations. On the east side of
Iona, there is an old church, Tempul Ronain, and a village at a landing place, 2
called Port Ronan, a little to the south of the cathedral and chief group of
antiquities there. Tempul Ronain was formerly a parish church, dependent on the Monastefy of Iona. It had a nunnery connected, in which several
prioresses
are said to have been buried. 3 Towards the close of the last cen-
St. Ronan's Bay and Village, Iona.
tury, the nunnery church was quite entire, one end of it being arched and verybeautiful; thenalsostoodtheparishchurchentire,buttottering. 4This was a building about the size of St. Oran's chapel, and north-east of the nunnery,butinsideofitsenclosures Itisnotknown,however,towhichof the saints named Ronan, this place had been dedicated.
Article VIL—St. Colman, of Chule or Cuile. According to the
of * and of 2 veneration was given to Colman, Martyrologies Tallagh Donegal,
of Chule or Cuil, at the 18th of August. There was an ancient castle, and
perhaps a church, at Coole, in the old territory, known as Dealbhna Eathra,
otherwise Delvin Mac Coghlan, included in the present barony of Garrycastle,
King's County.
3
tomus iii. , Augustii xviii.
termitted feasts, p. 518. x
2 The accompanying illustration is from a Article \ti. Edited by Rev.
Among the pre-
" Additional Notes
Article vi. — Edited by Drs. Todd of St. Columba. "
P,
and Reeves, pp. 222, 223. Topographia Hye—nsis, sect, i. , p. 416. 1
Dr. sketch taken on the spot, by Miss Mary Kelly, p. xxxii. In the Irish of the Book
McHardy. It was transferred by William F. Wakeman to the wood, and it was engraved by Mrs. Millard.
of
of Leinster Copy, the entry is Colman Chute, at the xv. of the September Kalends. 2 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
222, 223.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. v. , n. (y), p. 1346.
3 to Martin's " According
Description the Western Isles of Scotland," p. 262.
