There is a Kilgobban, in
Kilgobban
parish,^
•"
Article IV.
•"
Article IV.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
Evidently misprint
Sancto- mantle muin, 'neck,") and (eo, "pin,"
'* They are so set down, in his "Catalogus
" The Vita S. Richarii, Mart. Anglic,
and Surius, are cited, in reference to Saints
Adrianus and Caidocus, Epis. , in Henry the plan of the fort with the neclc pin of her
Fitz->imon's " rum Hibemiae. "
Actuum Sanctorum
ordini Mensium—et Dicrum. "
MS.
hence its name ; while she compelled the sons of Uithorb to worlc at its erection. See " Cambrensis Eversus," Gr. itianus
Catalogus aliquorum
Article ii. 'See "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomusi. , Aprilisi. Amongthepretermitted saints, p. 2.
•See "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, pars, iii. , p. 296.
' His Life has been given, at the 22nd of February, the day for his feast.
* According to Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 558, 559.
i. , pp. 442, 443. »RedHughandhiscousinsDithorbaand
Kimlioath, by agreement ruled Erin in turn, each for seven years ; and at the end of his third reign of seven years. Red Hugh was drowned at the waterfall, thence called Eas Aedha-Ruaidh, " As-a-roe. " Uilhorba and Kimboath having each reigned seven years alter this, Macha claimed to reign as her father's successor. . She was relused, but
quae
habentur,
by
Lucius, edited by Rev. Matthew Kelly, vol.
5 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch- fought a iiattle, in which she defeated both
bishops of Armagh," p. 47.
* This saint is venerated, at the 7th of
October.
her antagonists. Uitliorba was soon afier- wards slain, and Macha toolt Kimboath as her husband and gave him the sovereignty.
' This metrical eflimon Cuimin of Coin- deire is said to have composed,
' that Macha drew Legend says, Queen
6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i. centuriesbeforetheChristianera. TheLatinformofthenamegiventoher
" an Avam. " " The large earthen mounds still encircle the hill, which is now corruptly called"TheNavan. " Incourseoftime,theadjoiningcitytookfromitthe nameArdMacha,"theheightofMacha,"nowArmagh. Acorrectdrawing
palace was Emania, from the Irish, an Eamam,^° pronounced,
Fort of Emania, near Armagh.
of this very remarkable fort is here presented. " The upper portion repre-
sents a low mound, on a hill, and partly fenced with stone. The compart-
ment below, and the intervening space, formed a circumvallation, anciently formed of stone, and in point of fact, it was a huge cashel, with its defences. The lowest portion, at present under tillage, seems to have constituted an outward line of defence, although owing to the changes of time, its exact character cannot now be defined. 's In the Martyrology of Donegal, we read, that a St. Ceallach obtained from God, to be blind, deaf and lame ;'< yet, we cannot state, that he was identical, with the present holy man. Colgan mentions a St. Keallach, Abbot of Hy, at the ist of April ;'5 but, it
After his death she ruled Erin for seven years. See "The Irish Penny Magazine," vol. i. , No. 2. Ancient Irish Biography, pp. lo, II.
'°
Sometimes called Eamain-Macha.
" See a notice of this locality, by William Allingham, in a paper "On the Names of Places in Ireland," published in Frazer's
" The was drawn on the original
ful works in bronze, enamel, glass, stone and iron have been discovered, a collection of which now forms the Museum of the
College of S. Columba, Rathfarnham, County Dublin. —
'' Thus Cuimin says :
" Ceallach, son of Connmach, loved
The religion which tormented his body, Blindness, deafness, lameness
Which was a severe re-
quest. "
'S See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. iii. , sect, v. , p. 502.
Magazine.
spot, by W. J. P. Malcernan, Esq. , and transferred to the wood, by William F. Wakeman. It
granted him,
was engraved by Mrs. Millard.
'3
1 have been informed, by Mr. Wake- man, that at the Navan Rath, most wonder-
April i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
is clear, that he was a distinct personage. '* He died a. d. 8io, recte 815,
according to Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters. " ' The
Martyrology of Donegal,'' at this day, records the name of Ceallach, successor to St Patrick.
Article III. —St. Aedhan Laech, of Cill-Aedhain, probably in THE County of Down. A saint is, in the highest sense, a true benefactor to the cause of humanity, although we may little discover about the particulars of his life. At this
their great work. '
I St of
place was within the county of Down, if saintwasconnectedwithCill-Aedhain,*plundereda. d. 1149. ' Theexisting name and situation of Cill Aedhain do not appear to have been identified, until the late Dr. O'Donovan offered that solution, but the denomination is rendered Aedhan's Cell.
April,
laech,
supposed,
Aidan
i. e. Tamlachtain Bairci. ' It is — that this
—
seemsto thathewasa" Martyrology, imply,
the BoUandists have " Aidanus Lsech " in entered,
date,
In the Martyrology of Tallagh,* we have inserted, at the
soldier,"
Tamlaght Boirche. ' If such be the case, his locality must be sought, among
the mountains of Moume, in or near the parishes of Kilkeel,' barony of Moume, or of Kilbrony,' barony of Upper Iveagh, and county of Down. Perhaps, it might be identical with KiIlowen,'° in Kilbrony parish. In the
-townland of Lisnacree," at the south-west edge of the parish of Kilkeel, is
thegraveyardofTamlachtchapel. " Onthisday,wefindAedhan,ofCill
Aedb;iin, in Ulster, registered in the Martyrology of Donegal, '3 as having been venerated.
*See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes, O. Cbronicon Hyense, p. 388.
5 By the Cinell-Conaill, Cinel-E^ghain,
ii. , pp.
' The word XAet is thus rendered, in
O'Reilly's "Irish-English Dictionary," sub. voce.
' This denomination is not found, it may be observed, on the Ordnance Survey Maps for Down.
' This extensive parish is marked, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Down, Sheets 48, 49, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57. The townland itself and town
' See vol. i. , pp. 422, 423.
and Airghialla, while under the leadership of the son of Niall 0"Loughlin, when they invaded Ulidia. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four vol.
'" Edited
by
Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp.
Masters," 1088, 1089, and n. (o). Ibid.
92. 93-
Article hi. —" See "AcU Sanctorum,"
tomus i. , Aprilis i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
•
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. In
the Franciscan copy, which now can be
safely read, from the version of it, in the fine
folio volume, so lately copied and collated
by Joseph O'Longan and Professor
O'Looney, from the original Manuscripts, we find at the Kalends of April Aem&n
Laech, i. e. Camliccain baijichi. The are noted, on Sheets 55, 56.
County of Down," Sheets 51, 52, 54, 55. The townland of Kilbrony is on Sheets 51, 54, while the denomination of Upper Kil- brony is on Sheets 51, 52.
"• The denomination of the Killoweii Mountains is found, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Down," Sheets 54, 55.
"See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Down," Sheet 55. " See Rev. William Reeves' " Ecclesias- tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dro- more. " Appendix K, p. 207, and Calendar
LL, p. 377.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
92. 93-
" The » This
Book of Lcinster, sometime called the nance Survey Townland Maps for the
volume, as published, is intituled
:
Book of Glendalough, a Collection of Pieces (Prose and Verse) in the Irish Language, compiled in part, about the middle of the Twelfth Century : now for the first time published from the original Manuscript in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, by the Royal Irish Academy," with Introduc- tion, Analysis of Contenu, and Index, by Robert Atkinson, . M. A. , LL. D. , Professor of Sanscrit and Comparative Grammar, in the University of Dublin, and Secretary of Council of the Royal Irish Academy. Dublin, 1880. "
'
It m. iy be rendered Tamlacht, of the Mourne Mountains.
* So identified, by Dr. O'Donovan.
parish
as seems not
unlikely
the
present
The wording of this saint's festival, in the Tallagh
or" * in layman,"
is noticed, on the " Ord-
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i. ArticleIV. —St. Tuan,ofTamlacht,CountyofDown. TheBol-
incorrectly placed by
" Tuanus Alius Carilli," in their collection,' at this date, and
landists
they quote as authority, the Irish Calendar next mentioned. The Martyr- ology of Tallagh,'^ at the ist of April, inserts the name of Tuan, son of Cairill. 3 This saint is said to have been called Ruanus,'* by Giraldus Cam- brensis ; yet, we do not find any warrant for such an assertion, although, indeed, that writer has an account of a Ruanus,^ who is reported to have survived a great pestilence, which devastated Ireland, a. m. 2820. * The in- credible statement is made, that he survived to the time of St. Patrick, who baptized him, and that he lived to be 1,500 years old, when he died. ' This is one of the many fables, with which Giraldus Cambrensis was pleased to
record,
overload his writings. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,^ Tuan, son of Coirell, of Tamlachta, in Boirche, had veneration paid him, at this date. The previous identification serves, for this particular locality.
Article V. —Reputed Festival of St. Celsus, Archbishop of Armagh. According to Marianus O'Gorman and the Annals of the —Four Masters, the decease of St. Celsus is placed, at the Kalends of April the present day. However, the Roman Martyrology and the BoUandists" notice him, at the 6th of the present month.
Article VI. —The Sons of Geran, or Goran. Who these holy
persons were has not been known, nor can it be ascertained, at what
particular time they flourished. In the published Martyrology of Tallagh,' the entry, Mic or "sons of" Gerain, at the ist of April, will be found, although
the scribe. The BoUandists '' notice them, as " Filii Gorani," at this date, and on the same authority. On this day was celebrated a festival, in honour of The Sons of Gerdn, as we find recorded, in the
Martyrology of Donegal. 3
ArticleVII. —St. Gobban. TheBoUandists' have
anoticeof
merely
this holy man, at the present date. His record is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh," at the ist of April, as Gobbani Sci. Nothing has been ascer-
tained, regarding his locality.
There is a Kilgobban, in Kilgobban parish,^
•"
Article IV. — See Acta Sanctorum," 'See Giraldus Cambrensis' "Opera,"
tomus i. , Aprilis i. Among the pretermitted vol. v. Edited by James F. Dimock, M. A. ,
saints, p. 3.
Topographia Hibemica. Dist. iii. , cap. ii. ,
p. 142.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
'
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. The
Franciscan copy has, likewise, Cuaii mAC
CAipiLL. 3 See
British
Stillingfleet's "Antiquities Churches," chap, v. , p.
of the
275.
92, 93. — Article v.
'See "Acta Sanctorum,"
(London Edition, 1840. ) Also, Rev. saints, p. 3. — "'
Rev. Dr. of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix Kelly, p. xx. The Franciscan copy has
William Reeves' Ecclesiastical Antiquities ARTICLE VI.
K, p. 207, and n. (h. ) LL, p. 377.
Edited by
» See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
hee
Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 158, 159, and follow-
ing pages, for some account of this romantic character.
s For some notices of him, the reader may
consult Rev. James Hely's translation of "
the saints, pretermitted
Halliday's Keating's
History
of
Among
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Oj^ygia," part i. , p. 5.
' See Dr. CDonovan's " Annals of the
O'Flaherty's
Four Masters," vol.
" Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. The
Ibid. , also Calendar
"
xn&c 5ei\Airi.
i. , pp. 8, 9.
•
Franciscan
has Sci. SobbAtii
tomus i. , Aprilis i.
Among the pretermitted
i.
92, 93. —' Article vii.
tomus i. , Aprilis i. saints, p. 3.
Aprilis p. 3.
copy
"
Among the pretermitted
See
Acta Sanctorum,"
April i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Barony of Corkaguiny, and county of Kerry. There is a Kilgobban,* in Clooney parish, barony of Upper Bunratty, and county of Clare ; a Kilgob- ban,5 in Ballyclough parish, barony of Duhallow, and county of Cork ; a Kilgobban,* in Killala parish, barony of Tyrawley, and county of Mayo; a Kilgobbin,? in Ballinadee parish, barony of East Carbery, and county of Cork. There is a Kilgobbin, in Kilgobbin parish,* barony of Rathdown,
Kilgobbin Old Church, County Dublin.
and county of Dublin, where a very interesting old church » may still be seen, mantled over with ivy. An ancient cemetery surrounds it, on an elevated site. Near it is an ancient castle," or fortified house. " Outside of the churchyard, there is a fine granite cross, about ten feet, in height. " There is a Kilgobbin, '3 in Adare parish, barony of Coshma, and county of Limerick. There is also a Kilgowan,"< in the parish and barony of Kilcullen, county of Kildare. 's There is a sculptured stone, also, in this Killgowan, which is ancient, and which has a cross, on one of its sides. This is supposed to com-
' This is marked, on the " Ordnance Survey Maps for the County of Kerry,"
author, on the spot, and transferred to the wood by William F. Wakeman.
"The principal part "lies in mortared masses over its former court. "
" It was erected by the Walshes, and forfeited by one of their descendants, in the time of Charles I.
" For an account of this place, the reader is referred to John D'Alton's "History of the County of Dublin," pp. 824 to 828.
'This is marked, on the "Ordnance Survey Townl. ind Maps for the County of Limerick," Sheets 12, 21.
'* It is noticed, on the " Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Kildare,
Sheets 28,32.
' See " General Alphabetical Index to
the Townlands and Towns, Parishes and Baronies of Ireland," p. 561.
' A drawing of it, by the Rev. John
Sheets 36, 37, 45, 46.
* This is noted, on the
"
Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Clare," Sheet 34.
5 This is noted, on the " Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps (or the County of Cork," Sheet 32.
' This is marked, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Mayo," Sheet 15.
' This is noted, on the
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork,
. Sheets in, 124.
" This is represented, on the " Ordnance
. Survey Townland Maps for the County of Dublin," Sheets 22, 23, 25, 26.
» The present engraving of it, by Mrs. Millard, is from a drawing, taken by the
10 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 2.
memorate a battle, fought in the eighth century. It is six feet eight inches in height. ^* Whether the present holy man, or some other saint, bearing the same name, had been connected with one, or more than one, of the foregoing places, does not sufficiently appear. The festival in honour of Gobban is
entered, in the Martyrology of Donegal,'? as occurring at this date.
Article VIII. —St. Bracan, or Brecan, Bishop of Cill Bracan. Duald Mac Firbis enters, under the head of Cill Bracan, a Bracan, or Brecan, bishop, at the ist of April. '
Article IX. —Festival for the Elevation of the Relics of St. OsMANNA,VirginandMartyr. TheActsofthissaintweretohavebeen prepared, by Colgan, for publication, at this day ;' but, it appears to have
been only the festival, for the taking up of St. Osmanna's relics, from a field, near Paris. The chief celebration of this holy virgin and martyr, as the Bol- landists ' remark, was at the 9th of September,3 or as others have it, at the 22nd of November. *
ArticleX. —ReputedFestivalofSt. Ambrose. IntheFeilire' of St. ^ngus, there is a commemoration of St. Ambrose, as also allusion to a festival of the Blessed Virgin,'' on the Kalends of April, which correspond with the first dav of this month.
^fconli ©ay of Slprtl.
ARTICLE I. —ST. BRONACH, VIRGIN, PATRONESS OF KILBRONY PARISH, COUNTY OF DOWN.
TIME was when the holy virgin, St. Bronach, gave a bright example of
and of devotion to her sacred those
faith, calling, among majestic
Francis Shearman may be seen elegantly 22nd of November, where Colgan, also, engraved in Miss Stokes' tract " On Two refers to her, at this date.
Works of Ancient Irish Art, known as the
Breac Moedog (or Slirine of St. Moedog), and the Soiscel Molaise (or Gospel of St. Molaise)," communicated to the Society of Antiquaries, p. 12.
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 92, 93. —
Article x. —' The recent publication, "On the Calendar of Oengus," by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , leaves hardly anything to be desired, in the way of learned and judicious editing ; and, therefore, gratefully thanking Professor Bryan O'Looney, for his kind and cordial transcripts and translations, as
Article viii. 'See "Proceedings of already acknowledged in the previous the Royal Irish Academy. " Irish MSS. volumes, our readers will understand, that
Series, vol. i. , part—i. , jjp. 94, 95.
'
Article ix.
Actuum Sanctomm quK MS. habentur, ordine Mensium et Dierum. "
'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
3 Further notices of her will be found, at
that day.
* See a notice of St. Osmana, Virgin, at
henceforth, from the three parallel versions
In his
"
Rawlinson Ji. 505, and Laud 610—as marked in the Bodleian Library, at Oxford,—and the Leabhar Breac. Royal Irish Academy, the text of this latter has been invariably followed, with the English translation, as furnished, in the "Transactions of the Royal
Irish Academy. " Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. Dublin, 1880, 4to. Having access
Catalogus
published by
Dr. Stokes, viz. :
April 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. II
mountainsofMoume,'thatrisewithinthemodemparishofKilbrony. Her period, however, does not seem to be known. She is called the Virgin of Glen-Seichis,' which was an ancient name for the modern parish of Kilbrony,3 in the county of Down, also bearing the names of Glentegys,* Clonfeys, Clonseys,5 and Kyllbronca, in ancient documents. This parish bears the name of Killowen, in addition to its many other denominations, from a district so called, which lies in its southern part. It is called, likewise, the
chiurch of Nister. * This
parish
was
a mensal one, — to the merely belonging
while we find that the M'Keon Bishop Dromore,' family
"*
was called by the present name of Kilbrony, from Bronach, its patron saint,
whose festival is placed by the O'Clerys,' at the 2nd of April. Of this parish,
likewise, St. Bronach is the special patroness. '" She is called, also, Bromana," and her festival belongs to this day. The old church " of this parish "J is situated, about half-a-mile north-east of that beautiful village, known as
"
The woods and wastes of Clandeboy,"
building
of —
and
other families styled themselves servants of St. Bronach. "
perhaps This church
to the original Manuscript, the text is printed in the old Irish characters, which could not have been done in Calcutta, where the learned editor passed his work through the press. Thus do we find the first stanza for the month of April :—
So«ftAic kt. Apfeit, 4mb|W)if comeic ngUaine ConjAib ipno fuba
•peil. oofeibb maipe.
" He ennobles April's calend, Ambrose guard of purity ; he takes—it is an exceeding happiness—a feast of Mary's feasts. "
A note appended informs us, that this was Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, in Italy ; although the Bollandists do not notice his festival, at this date.
' A note informs us, that this referred to-
5Amongtablesofprocurationspayableto the Primate, in his provincial Visitations, as found in Primate Dowdall's Registry, it is stated, that "ecclesia de Clonseys," one of the parishes in Dromore diocese "pertinet
ad mens. am Episcopi. " On this passage, the Rev. Dr. Reeves remarks, that Clonseys
is a corrupt form of Glen-Seichis, the ancient
name for Kilbrony.
' In the Taxation of Dromore diocese,
compiled a. d.
Sancto- mantle muin, 'neck,") and (eo, "pin,"
'* They are so set down, in his "Catalogus
" The Vita S. Richarii, Mart. Anglic,
and Surius, are cited, in reference to Saints
Adrianus and Caidocus, Epis. , in Henry the plan of the fort with the neclc pin of her
Fitz->imon's " rum Hibemiae. "
Actuum Sanctorum
ordini Mensium—et Dicrum. "
MS.
hence its name ; while she compelled the sons of Uithorb to worlc at its erection. See " Cambrensis Eversus," Gr. itianus
Catalogus aliquorum
Article ii. 'See "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomusi. , Aprilisi. Amongthepretermitted saints, p. 2.
•See "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, pars, iii. , p. 296.
' His Life has been given, at the 22nd of February, the day for his feast.
* According to Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 558, 559.
i. , pp. 442, 443. »RedHughandhiscousinsDithorbaand
Kimlioath, by agreement ruled Erin in turn, each for seven years ; and at the end of his third reign of seven years. Red Hugh was drowned at the waterfall, thence called Eas Aedha-Ruaidh, " As-a-roe. " Uilhorba and Kimboath having each reigned seven years alter this, Macha claimed to reign as her father's successor. . She was relused, but
quae
habentur,
by
Lucius, edited by Rev. Matthew Kelly, vol.
5 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch- fought a iiattle, in which she defeated both
bishops of Armagh," p. 47.
* This saint is venerated, at the 7th of
October.
her antagonists. Uitliorba was soon afier- wards slain, and Macha toolt Kimboath as her husband and gave him the sovereignty.
' This metrical eflimon Cuimin of Coin- deire is said to have composed,
' that Macha drew Legend says, Queen
6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i. centuriesbeforetheChristianera. TheLatinformofthenamegiventoher
" an Avam. " " The large earthen mounds still encircle the hill, which is now corruptly called"TheNavan. " Incourseoftime,theadjoiningcitytookfromitthe nameArdMacha,"theheightofMacha,"nowArmagh. Acorrectdrawing
palace was Emania, from the Irish, an Eamam,^° pronounced,
Fort of Emania, near Armagh.
of this very remarkable fort is here presented. " The upper portion repre-
sents a low mound, on a hill, and partly fenced with stone. The compart-
ment below, and the intervening space, formed a circumvallation, anciently formed of stone, and in point of fact, it was a huge cashel, with its defences. The lowest portion, at present under tillage, seems to have constituted an outward line of defence, although owing to the changes of time, its exact character cannot now be defined. 's In the Martyrology of Donegal, we read, that a St. Ceallach obtained from God, to be blind, deaf and lame ;'< yet, we cannot state, that he was identical, with the present holy man. Colgan mentions a St. Keallach, Abbot of Hy, at the ist of April ;'5 but, it
After his death she ruled Erin for seven years. See "The Irish Penny Magazine," vol. i. , No. 2. Ancient Irish Biography, pp. lo, II.
'°
Sometimes called Eamain-Macha.
" See a notice of this locality, by William Allingham, in a paper "On the Names of Places in Ireland," published in Frazer's
" The was drawn on the original
ful works in bronze, enamel, glass, stone and iron have been discovered, a collection of which now forms the Museum of the
College of S. Columba, Rathfarnham, County Dublin. —
'' Thus Cuimin says :
" Ceallach, son of Connmach, loved
The religion which tormented his body, Blindness, deafness, lameness
Which was a severe re-
quest. "
'S See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. iii. , sect, v. , p. 502.
Magazine.
spot, by W. J. P. Malcernan, Esq. , and transferred to the wood, by William F. Wakeman. It
granted him,
was engraved by Mrs. Millard.
'3
1 have been informed, by Mr. Wake- man, that at the Navan Rath, most wonder-
April i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
is clear, that he was a distinct personage. '* He died a. d. 8io, recte 815,
according to Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters. " ' The
Martyrology of Donegal,'' at this day, records the name of Ceallach, successor to St Patrick.
Article III. —St. Aedhan Laech, of Cill-Aedhain, probably in THE County of Down. A saint is, in the highest sense, a true benefactor to the cause of humanity, although we may little discover about the particulars of his life. At this
their great work. '
I St of
place was within the county of Down, if saintwasconnectedwithCill-Aedhain,*plundereda. d. 1149. ' Theexisting name and situation of Cill Aedhain do not appear to have been identified, until the late Dr. O'Donovan offered that solution, but the denomination is rendered Aedhan's Cell.
April,
laech,
supposed,
Aidan
i. e. Tamlachtain Bairci. ' It is — that this
—
seemsto thathewasa" Martyrology, imply,
the BoUandists have " Aidanus Lsech " in entered,
date,
In the Martyrology of Tallagh,* we have inserted, at the
soldier,"
Tamlaght Boirche. ' If such be the case, his locality must be sought, among
the mountains of Moume, in or near the parishes of Kilkeel,' barony of Moume, or of Kilbrony,' barony of Upper Iveagh, and county of Down. Perhaps, it might be identical with KiIlowen,'° in Kilbrony parish. In the
-townland of Lisnacree," at the south-west edge of the parish of Kilkeel, is
thegraveyardofTamlachtchapel. " Onthisday,wefindAedhan,ofCill
Aedb;iin, in Ulster, registered in the Martyrology of Donegal, '3 as having been venerated.
*See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes, O. Cbronicon Hyense, p. 388.
5 By the Cinell-Conaill, Cinel-E^ghain,
ii. , pp.
' The word XAet is thus rendered, in
O'Reilly's "Irish-English Dictionary," sub. voce.
' This denomination is not found, it may be observed, on the Ordnance Survey Maps for Down.
' This extensive parish is marked, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Down, Sheets 48, 49, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57. The townland itself and town
' See vol. i. , pp. 422, 423.
and Airghialla, while under the leadership of the son of Niall 0"Loughlin, when they invaded Ulidia. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four vol.
'" Edited
by
Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp.
Masters," 1088, 1089, and n. (o). Ibid.
92. 93-
Article hi. —" See "AcU Sanctorum,"
tomus i. , Aprilis i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
•
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. In
the Franciscan copy, which now can be
safely read, from the version of it, in the fine
folio volume, so lately copied and collated
by Joseph O'Longan and Professor
O'Looney, from the original Manuscripts, we find at the Kalends of April Aem&n
Laech, i. e. Camliccain baijichi. The are noted, on Sheets 55, 56.
County of Down," Sheets 51, 52, 54, 55. The townland of Kilbrony is on Sheets 51, 54, while the denomination of Upper Kil- brony is on Sheets 51, 52.
"• The denomination of the Killoweii Mountains is found, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Down," Sheets 54, 55.
"See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Down," Sheet 55. " See Rev. William Reeves' " Ecclesias- tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dro- more. " Appendix K, p. 207, and Calendar
LL, p. 377.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
92. 93-
" The » This
Book of Lcinster, sometime called the nance Survey Townland Maps for the
volume, as published, is intituled
:
Book of Glendalough, a Collection of Pieces (Prose and Verse) in the Irish Language, compiled in part, about the middle of the Twelfth Century : now for the first time published from the original Manuscript in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, by the Royal Irish Academy," with Introduc- tion, Analysis of Contenu, and Index, by Robert Atkinson, . M. A. , LL. D. , Professor of Sanscrit and Comparative Grammar, in the University of Dublin, and Secretary of Council of the Royal Irish Academy. Dublin, 1880. "
'
It m. iy be rendered Tamlacht, of the Mourne Mountains.
* So identified, by Dr. O'Donovan.
parish
as seems not
unlikely
the
present
The wording of this saint's festival, in the Tallagh
or" * in layman,"
is noticed, on the " Ord-
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April i. ArticleIV. —St. Tuan,ofTamlacht,CountyofDown. TheBol-
incorrectly placed by
" Tuanus Alius Carilli," in their collection,' at this date, and
landists
they quote as authority, the Irish Calendar next mentioned. The Martyr- ology of Tallagh,'^ at the ist of April, inserts the name of Tuan, son of Cairill. 3 This saint is said to have been called Ruanus,'* by Giraldus Cam- brensis ; yet, we do not find any warrant for such an assertion, although, indeed, that writer has an account of a Ruanus,^ who is reported to have survived a great pestilence, which devastated Ireland, a. m. 2820. * The in- credible statement is made, that he survived to the time of St. Patrick, who baptized him, and that he lived to be 1,500 years old, when he died. ' This is one of the many fables, with which Giraldus Cambrensis was pleased to
record,
overload his writings. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,^ Tuan, son of Coirell, of Tamlachta, in Boirche, had veneration paid him, at this date. The previous identification serves, for this particular locality.
Article V. —Reputed Festival of St. Celsus, Archbishop of Armagh. According to Marianus O'Gorman and the Annals of the —Four Masters, the decease of St. Celsus is placed, at the Kalends of April the present day. However, the Roman Martyrology and the BoUandists" notice him, at the 6th of the present month.
Article VI. —The Sons of Geran, or Goran. Who these holy
persons were has not been known, nor can it be ascertained, at what
particular time they flourished. In the published Martyrology of Tallagh,' the entry, Mic or "sons of" Gerain, at the ist of April, will be found, although
the scribe. The BoUandists '' notice them, as " Filii Gorani," at this date, and on the same authority. On this day was celebrated a festival, in honour of The Sons of Gerdn, as we find recorded, in the
Martyrology of Donegal. 3
ArticleVII. —St. Gobban. TheBoUandists' have
anoticeof
merely
this holy man, at the present date. His record is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh," at the ist of April, as Gobbani Sci. Nothing has been ascer-
tained, regarding his locality.
There is a Kilgobban, in Kilgobban parish,^
•"
Article IV. — See Acta Sanctorum," 'See Giraldus Cambrensis' "Opera,"
tomus i. , Aprilis i. Among the pretermitted vol. v. Edited by James F. Dimock, M. A. ,
saints, p. 3.
Topographia Hibemica. Dist. iii. , cap. ii. ,
p. 142.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
'
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. The
Franciscan copy has, likewise, Cuaii mAC
CAipiLL. 3 See
British
Stillingfleet's "Antiquities Churches," chap, v. , p.
of the
275.
92, 93. — Article v.
'See "Acta Sanctorum,"
(London Edition, 1840. ) Also, Rev. saints, p. 3. — "'
Rev. Dr. of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix Kelly, p. xx. The Franciscan copy has
William Reeves' Ecclesiastical Antiquities ARTICLE VI.
K, p. 207, and n. (h. ) LL, p. 377.
Edited by
» See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
hee
Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 158, 159, and follow-
ing pages, for some account of this romantic character.
s For some notices of him, the reader may
consult Rev. James Hely's translation of "
the saints, pretermitted
Halliday's Keating's
History
of
Among
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Oj^ygia," part i. , p. 5.
' See Dr. CDonovan's " Annals of the
O'Flaherty's
Four Masters," vol.
" Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. The
Ibid. , also Calendar
"
xn&c 5ei\Airi.
i. , pp. 8, 9.
•
Franciscan
has Sci. SobbAtii
tomus i. , Aprilis i.
Among the pretermitted
i.
92, 93. —' Article vii.
tomus i. , Aprilis i. saints, p. 3.
Aprilis p. 3.
copy
"
Among the pretermitted
See
Acta Sanctorum,"
April i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Barony of Corkaguiny, and county of Kerry. There is a Kilgobban,* in Clooney parish, barony of Upper Bunratty, and county of Clare ; a Kilgob- ban,5 in Ballyclough parish, barony of Duhallow, and county of Cork ; a Kilgobban,* in Killala parish, barony of Tyrawley, and county of Mayo; a Kilgobbin,? in Ballinadee parish, barony of East Carbery, and county of Cork. There is a Kilgobbin, in Kilgobbin parish,* barony of Rathdown,
Kilgobbin Old Church, County Dublin.
and county of Dublin, where a very interesting old church » may still be seen, mantled over with ivy. An ancient cemetery surrounds it, on an elevated site. Near it is an ancient castle," or fortified house. " Outside of the churchyard, there is a fine granite cross, about ten feet, in height. " There is a Kilgobbin, '3 in Adare parish, barony of Coshma, and county of Limerick. There is also a Kilgowan,"< in the parish and barony of Kilcullen, county of Kildare. 's There is a sculptured stone, also, in this Killgowan, which is ancient, and which has a cross, on one of its sides. This is supposed to com-
' This is marked, on the " Ordnance Survey Maps for the County of Kerry,"
author, on the spot, and transferred to the wood by William F. Wakeman.
"The principal part "lies in mortared masses over its former court. "
" It was erected by the Walshes, and forfeited by one of their descendants, in the time of Charles I.
" For an account of this place, the reader is referred to John D'Alton's "History of the County of Dublin," pp. 824 to 828.
'This is marked, on the "Ordnance Survey Townl. ind Maps for the County of Limerick," Sheets 12, 21.
'* It is noticed, on the " Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Kildare,
Sheets 28,32.
' See " General Alphabetical Index to
the Townlands and Towns, Parishes and Baronies of Ireland," p. 561.
' A drawing of it, by the Rev. John
Sheets 36, 37, 45, 46.
* This is noted, on the
"
Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Clare," Sheet 34.
5 This is noted, on the " Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps (or the County of Cork," Sheet 32.
' This is marked, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Mayo," Sheet 15.
' This is noted, on the
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork,
. Sheets in, 124.
" This is represented, on the " Ordnance
. Survey Townland Maps for the County of Dublin," Sheets 22, 23, 25, 26.
» The present engraving of it, by Mrs. Millard, is from a drawing, taken by the
10 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 2.
memorate a battle, fought in the eighth century. It is six feet eight inches in height. ^* Whether the present holy man, or some other saint, bearing the same name, had been connected with one, or more than one, of the foregoing places, does not sufficiently appear. The festival in honour of Gobban is
entered, in the Martyrology of Donegal,'? as occurring at this date.
Article VIII. —St. Bracan, or Brecan, Bishop of Cill Bracan. Duald Mac Firbis enters, under the head of Cill Bracan, a Bracan, or Brecan, bishop, at the ist of April. '
Article IX. —Festival for the Elevation of the Relics of St. OsMANNA,VirginandMartyr. TheActsofthissaintweretohavebeen prepared, by Colgan, for publication, at this day ;' but, it appears to have
been only the festival, for the taking up of St. Osmanna's relics, from a field, near Paris. The chief celebration of this holy virgin and martyr, as the Bol- landists ' remark, was at the 9th of September,3 or as others have it, at the 22nd of November. *
ArticleX. —ReputedFestivalofSt. Ambrose. IntheFeilire' of St. ^ngus, there is a commemoration of St. Ambrose, as also allusion to a festival of the Blessed Virgin,'' on the Kalends of April, which correspond with the first dav of this month.
^fconli ©ay of Slprtl.
ARTICLE I. —ST. BRONACH, VIRGIN, PATRONESS OF KILBRONY PARISH, COUNTY OF DOWN.
TIME was when the holy virgin, St. Bronach, gave a bright example of
and of devotion to her sacred those
faith, calling, among majestic
Francis Shearman may be seen elegantly 22nd of November, where Colgan, also, engraved in Miss Stokes' tract " On Two refers to her, at this date.
Works of Ancient Irish Art, known as the
Breac Moedog (or Slirine of St. Moedog), and the Soiscel Molaise (or Gospel of St. Molaise)," communicated to the Society of Antiquaries, p. 12.
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 92, 93. —
Article x. —' The recent publication, "On the Calendar of Oengus," by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , leaves hardly anything to be desired, in the way of learned and judicious editing ; and, therefore, gratefully thanking Professor Bryan O'Looney, for his kind and cordial transcripts and translations, as
Article viii. 'See "Proceedings of already acknowledged in the previous the Royal Irish Academy. " Irish MSS. volumes, our readers will understand, that
Series, vol. i. , part—i. , jjp. 94, 95.
'
Article ix.
Actuum Sanctomm quK MS. habentur, ordine Mensium et Dierum. "
'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
3 Further notices of her will be found, at
that day.
* See a notice of St. Osmana, Virgin, at
henceforth, from the three parallel versions
In his
"
Rawlinson Ji. 505, and Laud 610—as marked in the Bodleian Library, at Oxford,—and the Leabhar Breac. Royal Irish Academy, the text of this latter has been invariably followed, with the English translation, as furnished, in the "Transactions of the Royal
Irish Academy. " Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. Dublin, 1880, 4to. Having access
Catalogus
published by
Dr. Stokes, viz. :
April 2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. II
mountainsofMoume,'thatrisewithinthemodemparishofKilbrony. Her period, however, does not seem to be known. She is called the Virgin of Glen-Seichis,' which was an ancient name for the modern parish of Kilbrony,3 in the county of Down, also bearing the names of Glentegys,* Clonfeys, Clonseys,5 and Kyllbronca, in ancient documents. This parish bears the name of Killowen, in addition to its many other denominations, from a district so called, which lies in its southern part. It is called, likewise, the
chiurch of Nister. * This
parish
was
a mensal one, — to the merely belonging
while we find that the M'Keon Bishop Dromore,' family
"*
was called by the present name of Kilbrony, from Bronach, its patron saint,
whose festival is placed by the O'Clerys,' at the 2nd of April. Of this parish,
likewise, St. Bronach is the special patroness. '" She is called, also, Bromana," and her festival belongs to this day. The old church " of this parish "J is situated, about half-a-mile north-east of that beautiful village, known as
"
The woods and wastes of Clandeboy,"
building
of —
and
other families styled themselves servants of St. Bronach. "
perhaps This church
to the original Manuscript, the text is printed in the old Irish characters, which could not have been done in Calcutta, where the learned editor passed his work through the press. Thus do we find the first stanza for the month of April :—
So«ftAic kt. Apfeit, 4mb|W)if comeic ngUaine ConjAib ipno fuba
•peil. oofeibb maipe.
" He ennobles April's calend, Ambrose guard of purity ; he takes—it is an exceeding happiness—a feast of Mary's feasts. "
A note appended informs us, that this was Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, in Italy ; although the Bollandists do not notice his festival, at this date.
' A note informs us, that this referred to-
5Amongtablesofprocurationspayableto the Primate, in his provincial Visitations, as found in Primate Dowdall's Registry, it is stated, that "ecclesia de Clonseys," one of the parishes in Dromore diocese "pertinet
ad mens. am Episcopi. " On this passage, the Rev. Dr. Reeves remarks, that Clonseys
is a corrupt form of Glen-Seichis, the ancient
name for Kilbrony.
' In the Taxation of Dromore diocese,
compiled a. d.
