And again, it is
mentioned
in her Fourth Life.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
i.
, chap, viii.
, sect.
X.
, n.
129, p.
409.
^° See Rev. Michael Comerford's " Col-
of Kildare. However, in no ancient record is he called Bishop of Kildare. The fact of his having lived in the plain of Geashill, in Kildare diocese, and before the church of this city had been built by St. Brigid, as ap- pears from her life, attributed to St. Ultan (cap. 54), may account for his having been called a bishop of the diocese, afterwards known as Kildare. Perhaps, for the same reason, Lonius was called Bishop of Kildare. See what is laid down in "Trias Thauma- tuiga," Vita Quarta S. Brigidae, n. 12, P- 565-
3= Dr. Laniganremarks,fromthecircum- stances of St. Ibar having had some com- munications with St. Brigid, and owing to tlie friendship existing between both saints, some mistaken writer must have supposed Ibar to have been St. Brigid's ordinary, and
37 See Professor Eugene O'Cuiry's "Lec- tures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History," Lect. xv. , p. 338.
3^ See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Secunda S. Brigidae. Prologus, p
76 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 3.
appointment was zealously exerted, may be assumed, and that her recom- mendation, coupled with his own deserts and established character, deter- mined his election to the See of Kildare, are also highly probable. The time of St. Conlatth's consecration, which must have been nearly contempo- raneous with the erection of Kildare See, is not recorded. Conlaeth is ex- pressly called first bishop of Kildare, by Cogitosus ; and, it is evident, from this same writer's words, there neither was, nor could have been, a bishop in that place before his time. t° Until the period of Conlaeth's appointment, or a short interval before, it is probable, there had hardly been a house on the present site of Kildare; nor was a bishop required, until the formation of a new town, and the establishment of a local religious institute, required his supervision and residence. It is probable, the new See had not been erected, for at least a few years after the foundation of St. Brigid's nunnery, and not earlier than a. d. 49o. t' The Cathedral of Kildare is said to have been first founded by St. Coiilian, in the year of Christ 503, and to have been dedicated to St. Brigid. -t^ Tiiis is an assumption, however, for which no certain data
can be fixed. It is likely enough, St. Brigid exerted herself with a corre- sponding zeal and energy, in the erection of its first church ; but, this had not been dedicated to her memory, at least during the lifetime of St. Conleth. We know, that St. Brigid survived him for a few years. Over the convents of St. Brigid, which were established throughout Ireland, St. Conleth and his successors in the See of Kildare, are said to have exercised a special jurisdic- tion. Yet, regarding this matter, our historians seem to have supplied no conclusive evidence. 43 In the opinion of some writers, before this bishop's appointment to Kildare, its religious institution had been attended, in mani- fold capacities, by a priest named Natfroich,''4 also called her charioteer. ^s This priest remained with St. Brigid all his lifetime, as a spiritual companion or chaplain to the holy Abbess, which office he is thought to have discharged, under the episcopacy of St. Conlaeth. Whilst at their meals, it was apart of Natfroich's duty, to read for St, Brigid and her nuns, in their refectory. ''^ He probably attended her, moreover, on many of those important journeys under-
taken to serve the interests of her religious order. 47
lections relating to the Dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin," Bishops of Kildare, p. i.
''' See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , rhap. viii. , sect. xi , n. 134, pp. 410, 411, 412.
'•"See "The Complete Irish Traveller,'' vol. i. , p. 90, published in London, 1788, 8vo. Here we have a copperplate engraving of the round tower at Kildare, with a portion of the Cathedral nuns, as standing at that time. These, however, were not the oldest structures erected at Kildare.
^3 "Fromthestatementswhichtheyadvance, this inference can only be deduced, that the Bishop of Kildare, in virtue of his dignity of Metropolitan, was charged, in a particular manner, with the care of tlie Rrigitine Con- vents, which were established in different parts of the Province of Leinster. " See Rev. P. J. Carew's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," chap, vi. , p. 240.
"< The Fourth Life of St. Brigid, prior to the foundation of Kildare, has the appoint- ment of Natfroich to the duty of attending St. Brigid which it erroneously attributes to St. Patrick, unless we should suppose, that
he was constituted her spiritual director, when she was very young, Seelib. i. ,cap. xliii. ^^ Xhe author of the "Third Life" has thoughtlessly changed, at cap. 41, the at- tendant on St. Brigid into that of o^naitri^a, and hence the denomination o{ chaiioteer,
added to his title of prie-t.
"t^ Colgan thinks, that Natfroich became a
bishop. He is called a " presbyter," as likewise a charioteer and reader at the table of St. Brigid, as may be collected from St. Ultan, in his Life of St. Brigid, cap. xli. , asalsofromanIrishlifeofthissaint, cap. xvii. His feast was celebrated at the lith day of December, according to M. Gorman, whocallshimbisliop. Colganadds:"Fuisse ergo videtur Episcopus Killdariensis floruit, anno 520. " See " Trias Th. iumaturga. " Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. BrigidiE, chap. ii. , p. 629.
-t? "PoorArchdalltellsus(atKildare)that Natfroich is said to have been coachman to St. Brigid ! Pray, where were coaches to be found in those days ? When St. Brigid and Natfroich happened to travel together, we may easily suppose that he drove the curri-
capacity both of Abbot and Bishop
this is probably to be explained, by regarding him as having charge—at least for some time—over a community of monks at Old Connell, after he had been appointed to preside over the See of Kildare. We are not informed, by whom he had been consecrated bishop ; but, it is probable, that a sufficiently numer- ous attendance of bishops honoured the occasion of his investiture by their presence. 49 St. Fiach of Sletty, the principal bishop of Leinster,
-f"
cle ; but this is very different from the me- sio ad 3 Maii legitur, ad quern diem fusius nial office of a charioteer. "—Dr. Lanigan's de eo agemus. Fuit Episcopus Kildariensis
"Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sect, xi. , and n. 135, pp. 410, 412.
"•^ See Rev. Michael Comerford's " Col- lections relating to the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin," Bishops of Kildare, p. 2.
"•9 See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sect. xi. p. 410, and n. 137, p. 412, where he says-- "Perhaps it was to the assemblage of bish- ops for the consecration ol' Conlaith, that Cogitosus alluded, when he writes (cap. 6),
* Advenientibus enim episcopis, et cum ea hospitantibus,' " &c.
s° See ibid. . , sect, xi. , p. 410.
5' In the Second Life of St. Brigid, by
Cogitosus, these vestments are called "ves-
timenta transmarina et peregiina Episcopi
Conlaith decorati luminis," &c. In a note,
postfixed to this passage, Colgan writes :
" In MS. Amandi et in libris editis legitur,
Conleach : sed rectius Conlaidii, ut in MS. applied to his vestments. These terms have S. Huberti, in Annalibus nostris ad an. 519, reference to changes of colour, necessary for qua obiit, et aliis Codicibus Hibernicis legi- various festivals.
tur : vel Conlaedh ut in Mariano et . ^Engus-
———
May 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 77
The pious Conlaeth has been represented, as officiating in the double
with Ibar and Ere, and perhaps Maccalleus—all friends of St, Brigid were then living. It is supposed, also, that St. Bronus, of Cassel-Irra, mentioned in some of her Lives, and who seems to have paid her a visit while she was in Connaught, might have come to Leinster, at this time. As he is said to have owed the exculpation of his character, from a charge brought against him in the presence of many bishops, and before a great assembly, to the kind interposition and miraculous powers of St. Brigid ; no doubt, he would have wished to manifest his attention and gratitude towards her, if time and opportunity allowed him to assist at this consecration of St. Conlaeth. 5° In the Acts of St. Brigid, it is related, that certain poor persons came to the holy Abbess asking for alms, at a tune when she had nothing to bestow, except vestments, used by St. Conlaeth, for celebration of the holy sacrifice of Mass. 5' These vestments, which were in her custody, she gave them ; and, when the holy bishop approached to offer up the sacrifice of propi- tiation at the usual time, he declared it would not be practicable to consecrate the body and blood of Christ without his vestments, which were missing. s^ St. Brigid prayed to God with great fervour. The Almighty was pleased to reward her charity, by the performance of a wonderful miracle. As a special gift of heaven, vestments, exactly resembling those given away, appeared im- mediately, and these the bishop assumed. All, who were cognizant of the circumstance, gave thanks to God. S3 We are told, in the two first Lives of St. Brigid, that those vestments were of various colours, and that they had been procured from Italy. 54 They were generally worn by St. Conlaeth, on Sundays and on festivals of the Apostles. ss It is also said, that those vest-
de quo supra inPrologo. "—" Trias Thau- maturga. " Vita Secunda S. Brigidse, n. 14, p. 526.
5= This incident is also related in the First Life of St. Brigid, as published by Bollan- dus. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. Vita Prima S. Brigidce, cap. xvi. , n. 104, p. 133. It is more circumstantially inserted, in the Second Life of this holy virgin. Ibid. , Vita Secunda S. Brigidre, cap. iv. , n. 31 p. 139.
And again, it is mentioned in her Fourth Life. Ibid. , Vita QuartaS. Brigidae, cap. x. , n. 68, p, 170.
s^ggg Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Quarta S. Brigidse, lib. ii. , cap. Ixxx. , p. 561. And Vita Tertia S. Brigidas, cap. cxiv. , p. 543, ibid.
54 Conlaeth is called " summus populo- rum Pontifex," in the Second Life of St. Brigid, cap. xxix. , p. 522.
55 The words, " mutatoriis vestibus," are
——
78 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 3
ments used—after the former ones had been bestowed on the poor—were broughttoBishopConlaeth,inatwo-wheeledchariot. s^ Suchaccountsasthe foregoing, taken from the acts of our ancient saints, frequently serve to illustrate former social usages and habits of life, at least during and before the period when the biographer wrote. From his allusion to the chariot having two wheels, perhaps, without any strained inference, we might assert, such a description implies, that chariots having more than two wheels were then known, although they may not have been ordinarily used. Indeed, it may be regarded as probable, our kings and superior chiefs travelled on state occa- sions, in highly ornate vehicles, with four wheels ; although the harness and
appointments greatly differed from the materials and workmanship exhibited, at the present day.
CHAPTER II.
THE FAMILY T'EDIGREKS OF ST. BRIGID AND OF ST. CONLAETH—ARTISAN PROFICIENCY OF THIS HOLY MAN—OLD CONNELL SUPPOSED TO BE HIS USUAL PLACE FOR RESIDENCE—INQUIRY REGARDING THE NATURE OF ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY AT KILUARE DURING THE TIME OF ST. BRIGID AND OF ST. CONLETH DESCRIPTION OF AN ANCIENT CHURCH AT KILDARE —SUPERNATURAL INCIDENT— ADORNMENT OF ANCIENT SHRINES.
It has been stated by our genealogists, that a remote family affinity existed between St. Brigid and St. Conleth : for writers on Irish pedigrees trace both of them, from a common ancestor, called Ugaine Mdr, whose name has been Latinized,HugoniusMagnus. HewasKingofIreland,froma. m. 3619to 3649. ' It must be acknowledged, however, that some serious chronological and genealogical difficulties seem to interpose, in connecting St. Brigid ^ as a collateral relation and contemporary of St. Conleth. We find this latter saint the twenty-fifth in descent from Ugaine Mor, if indeed—according to Irish Manuscripts quoted—he be not even the thirty-sixth in a line-genera-
tion ; while, St. Brigid's branch of pedigree was the thirty-first, according to O'Flaherty's reduction, or the thirty-filth, according to Colgan,3 from the same common ancestor. This uncertainity of calculation is set forth by our writers, who have specially dealt with the intricacies of old Irish pedigrees. '*
It has been very satisfactorily shown, that the goldsmith's and lapidary's art had been brought to great perfection, at a very early period, in Ireland. ^ Indua, St. Conleth, had probably been a worker in metals before his religious
5* Speaking of St. Brigid, the First Life says ;
Quot patravit miracula
Non est qui plene possit referre : Benedixit paramenia sacra Conlaido QuK ex Italia attulit.
Quando erant ei necessaria
Ejus filius ate earn fecit rem perfaus-
tam
Attulit ilia paramenia varicolari
QuK posuit in curru duarum rotarum.
—Ibid. , Vita Prima S. Brigidse, sect. 40, 41,
^ From the scholiast on the Feihre of St.
/Engus, the late learned Irisli scholar, O'Beirne Crowe, A. B. , has furnished tlie following translation of his pedigree : " That is Candla, son of Cormac, son of Aengus, son of Echa, son of Setne, son of Fotha, son of Echa Lam-Derg, son of Mesincorb. "
^ See her family descent in "Trias Thau- maturga. " Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigitix," cap. 2, p. 613.
^ See Very Rev. James Henthorn Todd's " Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland. " Appendix A. , Tables iv. , v. , pp. 252, 253.
= At the earliest period, St. Patrick is said to have had no less than three artis's, belong- ing to his household, besides embroiderers and smiths. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals
p. 517. — Chapter II.
' See O'Flaherty's " Ogy- gia," pars, iii. , cap. xxxviii. , pp. 260, 261.
J.
May 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
79
retirement, for he was distinguished as St. Brigid's " chief artificer,"^ accord- ing to a gloss on the FeiHre-^ngus. The word Indua denotes an artist in gold, silver, and other metals. In Irish ecclesiastical records, another famous artist,namedConln,isalsomentioned. 7 Butheisnottobeconfoundedwith St. Conleth of Kildare. We may probably infer, that the latter lashioned many useful and ornamental objects for ecclesiastical purposes. Among these, chalices of gold, or silver, church vessels, and shrines for holy relics, may probably be included. In fictile as in pictorial art, a high degree of ex- cellence our early Christian artists must have attained; not alone from acquaintance with works of art on the Continent, but even from actual recorded accounts and surviving specimens of iheir proficiency reached at home. *^ Ancient Irish ecclesiastics of the highest rank considered it a suitable occu- pation, to work as artificers in the manufacture of reliquaries, shrines, pastoral staffs or croziers, bells, covers for sacred books, and other ornaments, suit- able for churches and for their minsters. Several beautiful specimens of art are
still preserved, and many of these are the works of ecclesiastics, belonging to centuries preceding the English invasion of Ireland. Many other speci- mens appear to have been destroyed, and melted down by the Danes, who re- morselesslyplunderedchurchesandmonasteriesoftheirvaluables. 9 Especially, they seized altar ornaments and vessels, formed from the precious metals. '°
It is likely, St. Conlaeth's chief place of residence was at Old Con- nellj" and thence, his reputation for sanctity became so widely diffused, that he had not only the approbation of St. Brigid, but even the petitions of the people, concurring in his election to the episcopal dignity. '^ Were we to admit his relationship with the holy abbess, it seems probable enough, he
was known to her from early youth. His near residence also warrants the assumption, that he had visited Brigid, long before the incidental relation to be met with in her Acts had originated. Still there are vestiges of a very remote period, near the spot he had selected for a home, which formerly had been called Condail of the Kings. '3
of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 134 to 141, and nn. , ibid.
Great Connell, on which are some interest- ing ruins of the monastery—which had been founded by Lord Meyler Fitz Henry, who died a. d. 1220, and who was there buried,
* In a table, subjoined to the " Martyr-
ology of Donegal," he is termed, "brazier
of Jirigid, first bishop of Cilldara, and See Jacobi Grace, Kilkenniensis, " Annales archbishop also. " See, also, /^/if. , pp. 388, 389. Hibernice," pp. 28, 29. Edition by Rev.
7 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Richard Butler, M. R. I. A.
Prince O'Donnell, in the Vita Quinta S. Columbre, hb. i. , cap. xcix. , p. 405.
'- This the Italian " Breviarium Gienen-
See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix on the mechanical and liberal arts, as prac- Prima ad Acta S. Brigidas, p. 601.
^ The Rev. Dr. C. O'Conor's dissertations
tised in Ireland, are not the least interesting, among the valuable comments annexed to his edited works. See " Rerum Hibernica- rum Scriptores,"voliv. Annales Ultonienses, Annotationes, ad ssec. viii. , i^p. 134 to 172.
9 Here there is a mine of information to be developed, and worthy the most accom- plished antiquary's serious and fuller inves- ligation.
'° See Dr. Todd's "Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland. " Introductory Disserta- tion, p. 26.
All of the foregoing townlands are now included within Great Connell parish. Several years ago, while Mr. Flood, ofNewhall, and Mr. Duggan, of Ladytown, were engaged in walling in the cemetery at their own ex- pense, several fragments of sculptured figures were exhumed, and piously re-erected. After- wards, brick and stone were taken from it, while Colonel Gray was engaged in building Conall-More Lodge. These exhibited here and there specimens of tesselated tihng, almost unknown in modern architecture. See The Leinster Independatt, of Satur-
" On the right bank of the Liffey are
these various townlands: first, that of Old day, February 24th, 1872.
Connell, on which was the site of the oldest church, near Old Connell house; secondly, Little Connell, in which nothing of antiqua- rian interest can be met with ; and thirdly,
'3 xhus identified, at n. (k), by Dr.
O'Donovan, in the "Three Fragments of Annals," p. 44.
Not far removed from the site of Old
sis" states, in its Second Lection.
—
8o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 3.
Connell burial ground, an ancient artificial mound, and rising to considerable altitude, may yet be seen ; some large trees grow on its sides and summit. ''* It is rather remarkable, that many similar elevations may still be found, near the site of our most ancient religious establishments ; nor are instances want- ing, in that extent of country, not far removed from theplace. 's However, it seems possible enough, that many, if not most, of those ancient tumuli are pre-Christian.
In the time, and with the approval of St. Brigid herself, as Colgan supposes, there v. 'ere tlnee distinct ecclesiastical jurisdictions estab- lished within the city of Kildare—viz. , those of Bishop, of Abbot, and of
Moat at Old Connell, County of Kiklaie.
Abbess. Hethinks,thatthiscanbeproved,fromanarchitecturaldescrip- tion,'^ regarding the church of Kildare, pointing out its divisions, and the uses for which each compartment had been destined. It would seem, that while there was but one monastery tliere, monks and nuns lived in it, although effectually separated by a wall or an enclosure, as well in the church, as in the house. '7 To the former, it is noticed, that thebisliop, with liisbaud of regu- lars, entered from the east, and through a door at tiie right. The abbess, with her nuns, approached by another door, at the left side of the cathedral. '^
' The accompanying representation was formed a much wider line of separation. sketched on the spot, by the writer, in See Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History August, 1883. It has been transferred to of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, xvi. , n. 141, the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and it p. 414.
was engraved, by Mrs. Millard. '* Colgan add : " Pr? eterea quia utrumque '5 It is sufficient to mention Clonenagh, sexum ordinis S. Brigidse, seu Biigittse,
and At^haboe.
'" Wiiich is given by Cogitosus.
'' Colgan imagined that both habitations
were separated merely by a wall ; but the church—and a very large one it was
Suecic in codem Cxnobio commorari vide- mus : non est enim vero absimile hanc sanc- tam feminam ordinem suum instituisse ad imitationem S. Brigida; noslnr, cujus et no- men prsetulit et virtutes in multis aliis imi-
May 3 ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
It has been remarked,'? that a question may be raised—if the abbot witli liis monks Avere subject to the Abbess of Kildare, from the time of St. Brigid's death, and for many subsequent years ? The affirmative, Colgan deems pro- bable, because St. Conlaeth, whom he supposes first superior over a com- munity of monks at Kildare, ^° had been subject to St. Brigid, the first abbess
; and because, in the order of St. Brigid of Sweden, which he imagines to have been framed on the rules of St. Brigid of Kildare's religious institute, the abbess had jurisdiction over the abbot, governing communities of men.
^° See Rev. Michael Comerford's " Col-
of Kildare. However, in no ancient record is he called Bishop of Kildare. The fact of his having lived in the plain of Geashill, in Kildare diocese, and before the church of this city had been built by St. Brigid, as ap- pears from her life, attributed to St. Ultan (cap. 54), may account for his having been called a bishop of the diocese, afterwards known as Kildare. Perhaps, for the same reason, Lonius was called Bishop of Kildare. See what is laid down in "Trias Thauma- tuiga," Vita Quarta S. Brigidae, n. 12, P- 565-
3= Dr. Laniganremarks,fromthecircum- stances of St. Ibar having had some com- munications with St. Brigid, and owing to tlie friendship existing between both saints, some mistaken writer must have supposed Ibar to have been St. Brigid's ordinary, and
37 See Professor Eugene O'Cuiry's "Lec- tures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History," Lect. xv. , p. 338.
3^ See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Secunda S. Brigidae. Prologus, p
76 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 3.
appointment was zealously exerted, may be assumed, and that her recom- mendation, coupled with his own deserts and established character, deter- mined his election to the See of Kildare, are also highly probable. The time of St. Conlatth's consecration, which must have been nearly contempo- raneous with the erection of Kildare See, is not recorded. Conlaeth is ex- pressly called first bishop of Kildare, by Cogitosus ; and, it is evident, from this same writer's words, there neither was, nor could have been, a bishop in that place before his time. t° Until the period of Conlaeth's appointment, or a short interval before, it is probable, there had hardly been a house on the present site of Kildare; nor was a bishop required, until the formation of a new town, and the establishment of a local religious institute, required his supervision and residence. It is probable, the new See had not been erected, for at least a few years after the foundation of St. Brigid's nunnery, and not earlier than a. d. 49o. t' The Cathedral of Kildare is said to have been first founded by St. Coiilian, in the year of Christ 503, and to have been dedicated to St. Brigid. -t^ Tiiis is an assumption, however, for which no certain data
can be fixed. It is likely enough, St. Brigid exerted herself with a corre- sponding zeal and energy, in the erection of its first church ; but, this had not been dedicated to her memory, at least during the lifetime of St. Conleth. We know, that St. Brigid survived him for a few years. Over the convents of St. Brigid, which were established throughout Ireland, St. Conleth and his successors in the See of Kildare, are said to have exercised a special jurisdic- tion. Yet, regarding this matter, our historians seem to have supplied no conclusive evidence. 43 In the opinion of some writers, before this bishop's appointment to Kildare, its religious institution had been attended, in mani- fold capacities, by a priest named Natfroich,''4 also called her charioteer. ^s This priest remained with St. Brigid all his lifetime, as a spiritual companion or chaplain to the holy Abbess, which office he is thought to have discharged, under the episcopacy of St. Conlaeth. Whilst at their meals, it was apart of Natfroich's duty, to read for St, Brigid and her nuns, in their refectory. ''^ He probably attended her, moreover, on many of those important journeys under-
taken to serve the interests of her religious order. 47
lections relating to the Dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin," Bishops of Kildare, p. i.
''' See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , rhap. viii. , sect. xi , n. 134, pp. 410, 411, 412.
'•"See "The Complete Irish Traveller,'' vol. i. , p. 90, published in London, 1788, 8vo. Here we have a copperplate engraving of the round tower at Kildare, with a portion of the Cathedral nuns, as standing at that time. These, however, were not the oldest structures erected at Kildare.
^3 "Fromthestatementswhichtheyadvance, this inference can only be deduced, that the Bishop of Kildare, in virtue of his dignity of Metropolitan, was charged, in a particular manner, with the care of tlie Rrigitine Con- vents, which were established in different parts of the Province of Leinster. " See Rev. P. J. Carew's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," chap, vi. , p. 240.
"< The Fourth Life of St. Brigid, prior to the foundation of Kildare, has the appoint- ment of Natfroich to the duty of attending St. Brigid which it erroneously attributes to St. Patrick, unless we should suppose, that
he was constituted her spiritual director, when she was very young, Seelib. i. ,cap. xliii. ^^ Xhe author of the "Third Life" has thoughtlessly changed, at cap. 41, the at- tendant on St. Brigid into that of o^naitri^a, and hence the denomination o{ chaiioteer,
added to his title of prie-t.
"t^ Colgan thinks, that Natfroich became a
bishop. He is called a " presbyter," as likewise a charioteer and reader at the table of St. Brigid, as may be collected from St. Ultan, in his Life of St. Brigid, cap. xli. , asalsofromanIrishlifeofthissaint, cap. xvii. His feast was celebrated at the lith day of December, according to M. Gorman, whocallshimbisliop. Colganadds:"Fuisse ergo videtur Episcopus Killdariensis floruit, anno 520. " See " Trias Th. iumaturga. " Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. BrigidiE, chap. ii. , p. 629.
-t? "PoorArchdalltellsus(atKildare)that Natfroich is said to have been coachman to St. Brigid ! Pray, where were coaches to be found in those days ? When St. Brigid and Natfroich happened to travel together, we may easily suppose that he drove the curri-
capacity both of Abbot and Bishop
this is probably to be explained, by regarding him as having charge—at least for some time—over a community of monks at Old Connell, after he had been appointed to preside over the See of Kildare. We are not informed, by whom he had been consecrated bishop ; but, it is probable, that a sufficiently numer- ous attendance of bishops honoured the occasion of his investiture by their presence. 49 St. Fiach of Sletty, the principal bishop of Leinster,
-f"
cle ; but this is very different from the me- sio ad 3 Maii legitur, ad quern diem fusius nial office of a charioteer. "—Dr. Lanigan's de eo agemus. Fuit Episcopus Kildariensis
"Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sect, xi. , and n. 135, pp. 410, 412.
"•^ See Rev. Michael Comerford's " Col- lections relating to the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin," Bishops of Kildare, p. 2.
"•9 See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sect. xi. p. 410, and n. 137, p. 412, where he says-- "Perhaps it was to the assemblage of bish- ops for the consecration ol' Conlaith, that Cogitosus alluded, when he writes (cap. 6),
* Advenientibus enim episcopis, et cum ea hospitantibus,' " &c.
s° See ibid. . , sect, xi. , p. 410.
5' In the Second Life of St. Brigid, by
Cogitosus, these vestments are called "ves-
timenta transmarina et peregiina Episcopi
Conlaith decorati luminis," &c. In a note,
postfixed to this passage, Colgan writes :
" In MS. Amandi et in libris editis legitur,
Conleach : sed rectius Conlaidii, ut in MS. applied to his vestments. These terms have S. Huberti, in Annalibus nostris ad an. 519, reference to changes of colour, necessary for qua obiit, et aliis Codicibus Hibernicis legi- various festivals.
tur : vel Conlaedh ut in Mariano et . ^Engus-
———
May 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 77
The pious Conlaeth has been represented, as officiating in the double
with Ibar and Ere, and perhaps Maccalleus—all friends of St, Brigid were then living. It is supposed, also, that St. Bronus, of Cassel-Irra, mentioned in some of her Lives, and who seems to have paid her a visit while she was in Connaught, might have come to Leinster, at this time. As he is said to have owed the exculpation of his character, from a charge brought against him in the presence of many bishops, and before a great assembly, to the kind interposition and miraculous powers of St. Brigid ; no doubt, he would have wished to manifest his attention and gratitude towards her, if time and opportunity allowed him to assist at this consecration of St. Conlaeth. 5° In the Acts of St. Brigid, it is related, that certain poor persons came to the holy Abbess asking for alms, at a tune when she had nothing to bestow, except vestments, used by St. Conlaeth, for celebration of the holy sacrifice of Mass. 5' These vestments, which were in her custody, she gave them ; and, when the holy bishop approached to offer up the sacrifice of propi- tiation at the usual time, he declared it would not be practicable to consecrate the body and blood of Christ without his vestments, which were missing. s^ St. Brigid prayed to God with great fervour. The Almighty was pleased to reward her charity, by the performance of a wonderful miracle. As a special gift of heaven, vestments, exactly resembling those given away, appeared im- mediately, and these the bishop assumed. All, who were cognizant of the circumstance, gave thanks to God. S3 We are told, in the two first Lives of St. Brigid, that those vestments were of various colours, and that they had been procured from Italy. 54 They were generally worn by St. Conlaeth, on Sundays and on festivals of the Apostles. ss It is also said, that those vest-
de quo supra inPrologo. "—" Trias Thau- maturga. " Vita Secunda S. Brigidse, n. 14, p. 526.
5= This incident is also related in the First Life of St. Brigid, as published by Bollan- dus. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. Vita Prima S. Brigidce, cap. xvi. , n. 104, p. 133. It is more circumstantially inserted, in the Second Life of this holy virgin. Ibid. , Vita Secunda S. Brigidre, cap. iv. , n. 31 p. 139.
And again, it is mentioned in her Fourth Life. Ibid. , Vita QuartaS. Brigidae, cap. x. , n. 68, p, 170.
s^ggg Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Quarta S. Brigidse, lib. ii. , cap. Ixxx. , p. 561. And Vita Tertia S. Brigidas, cap. cxiv. , p. 543, ibid.
54 Conlaeth is called " summus populo- rum Pontifex," in the Second Life of St. Brigid, cap. xxix. , p. 522.
55 The words, " mutatoriis vestibus," are
——
78 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 3
ments used—after the former ones had been bestowed on the poor—were broughttoBishopConlaeth,inatwo-wheeledchariot. s^ Suchaccountsasthe foregoing, taken from the acts of our ancient saints, frequently serve to illustrate former social usages and habits of life, at least during and before the period when the biographer wrote. From his allusion to the chariot having two wheels, perhaps, without any strained inference, we might assert, such a description implies, that chariots having more than two wheels were then known, although they may not have been ordinarily used. Indeed, it may be regarded as probable, our kings and superior chiefs travelled on state occa- sions, in highly ornate vehicles, with four wheels ; although the harness and
appointments greatly differed from the materials and workmanship exhibited, at the present day.
CHAPTER II.
THE FAMILY T'EDIGREKS OF ST. BRIGID AND OF ST. CONLAETH—ARTISAN PROFICIENCY OF THIS HOLY MAN—OLD CONNELL SUPPOSED TO BE HIS USUAL PLACE FOR RESIDENCE—INQUIRY REGARDING THE NATURE OF ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY AT KILUARE DURING THE TIME OF ST. BRIGID AND OF ST. CONLETH DESCRIPTION OF AN ANCIENT CHURCH AT KILDARE —SUPERNATURAL INCIDENT— ADORNMENT OF ANCIENT SHRINES.
It has been stated by our genealogists, that a remote family affinity existed between St. Brigid and St. Conleth : for writers on Irish pedigrees trace both of them, from a common ancestor, called Ugaine Mdr, whose name has been Latinized,HugoniusMagnus. HewasKingofIreland,froma. m. 3619to 3649. ' It must be acknowledged, however, that some serious chronological and genealogical difficulties seem to interpose, in connecting St. Brigid ^ as a collateral relation and contemporary of St. Conleth. We find this latter saint the twenty-fifth in descent from Ugaine Mor, if indeed—according to Irish Manuscripts quoted—he be not even the thirty-sixth in a line-genera-
tion ; while, St. Brigid's branch of pedigree was the thirty-first, according to O'Flaherty's reduction, or the thirty-filth, according to Colgan,3 from the same common ancestor. This uncertainity of calculation is set forth by our writers, who have specially dealt with the intricacies of old Irish pedigrees. '*
It has been very satisfactorily shown, that the goldsmith's and lapidary's art had been brought to great perfection, at a very early period, in Ireland. ^ Indua, St. Conleth, had probably been a worker in metals before his religious
5* Speaking of St. Brigid, the First Life says ;
Quot patravit miracula
Non est qui plene possit referre : Benedixit paramenia sacra Conlaido QuK ex Italia attulit.
Quando erant ei necessaria
Ejus filius ate earn fecit rem perfaus-
tam
Attulit ilia paramenia varicolari
QuK posuit in curru duarum rotarum.
—Ibid. , Vita Prima S. Brigidse, sect. 40, 41,
^ From the scholiast on the Feihre of St.
/Engus, the late learned Irisli scholar, O'Beirne Crowe, A. B. , has furnished tlie following translation of his pedigree : " That is Candla, son of Cormac, son of Aengus, son of Echa, son of Setne, son of Fotha, son of Echa Lam-Derg, son of Mesincorb. "
^ See her family descent in "Trias Thau- maturga. " Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigitix," cap. 2, p. 613.
^ See Very Rev. James Henthorn Todd's " Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland. " Appendix A. , Tables iv. , v. , pp. 252, 253.
= At the earliest period, St. Patrick is said to have had no less than three artis's, belong- ing to his household, besides embroiderers and smiths. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals
p. 517. — Chapter II.
' See O'Flaherty's " Ogy- gia," pars, iii. , cap. xxxviii. , pp. 260, 261.
J.
May 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
79
retirement, for he was distinguished as St. Brigid's " chief artificer,"^ accord- ing to a gloss on the FeiHre-^ngus. The word Indua denotes an artist in gold, silver, and other metals. In Irish ecclesiastical records, another famous artist,namedConln,isalsomentioned. 7 Butheisnottobeconfoundedwith St. Conleth of Kildare. We may probably infer, that the latter lashioned many useful and ornamental objects for ecclesiastical purposes. Among these, chalices of gold, or silver, church vessels, and shrines for holy relics, may probably be included. In fictile as in pictorial art, a high degree of ex- cellence our early Christian artists must have attained; not alone from acquaintance with works of art on the Continent, but even from actual recorded accounts and surviving specimens of iheir proficiency reached at home. *^ Ancient Irish ecclesiastics of the highest rank considered it a suitable occu- pation, to work as artificers in the manufacture of reliquaries, shrines, pastoral staffs or croziers, bells, covers for sacred books, and other ornaments, suit- able for churches and for their minsters. Several beautiful specimens of art are
still preserved, and many of these are the works of ecclesiastics, belonging to centuries preceding the English invasion of Ireland. Many other speci- mens appear to have been destroyed, and melted down by the Danes, who re- morselesslyplunderedchurchesandmonasteriesoftheirvaluables. 9 Especially, they seized altar ornaments and vessels, formed from the precious metals. '°
It is likely, St. Conlaeth's chief place of residence was at Old Con- nellj" and thence, his reputation for sanctity became so widely diffused, that he had not only the approbation of St. Brigid, but even the petitions of the people, concurring in his election to the episcopal dignity. '^ Were we to admit his relationship with the holy abbess, it seems probable enough, he
was known to her from early youth. His near residence also warrants the assumption, that he had visited Brigid, long before the incidental relation to be met with in her Acts had originated. Still there are vestiges of a very remote period, near the spot he had selected for a home, which formerly had been called Condail of the Kings. '3
of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 134 to 141, and nn. , ibid.
Great Connell, on which are some interest- ing ruins of the monastery—which had been founded by Lord Meyler Fitz Henry, who died a. d. 1220, and who was there buried,
* In a table, subjoined to the " Martyr-
ology of Donegal," he is termed, "brazier
of Jirigid, first bishop of Cilldara, and See Jacobi Grace, Kilkenniensis, " Annales archbishop also. " See, also, /^/if. , pp. 388, 389. Hibernice," pp. 28, 29. Edition by Rev.
7 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Richard Butler, M. R. I. A.
Prince O'Donnell, in the Vita Quinta S. Columbre, hb. i. , cap. xcix. , p. 405.
'- This the Italian " Breviarium Gienen-
See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix on the mechanical and liberal arts, as prac- Prima ad Acta S. Brigidas, p. 601.
^ The Rev. Dr. C. O'Conor's dissertations
tised in Ireland, are not the least interesting, among the valuable comments annexed to his edited works. See " Rerum Hibernica- rum Scriptores,"voliv. Annales Ultonienses, Annotationes, ad ssec. viii. , i^p. 134 to 172.
9 Here there is a mine of information to be developed, and worthy the most accom- plished antiquary's serious and fuller inves- ligation.
'° See Dr. Todd's "Life of St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland. " Introductory Disserta- tion, p. 26.
All of the foregoing townlands are now included within Great Connell parish. Several years ago, while Mr. Flood, ofNewhall, and Mr. Duggan, of Ladytown, were engaged in walling in the cemetery at their own ex- pense, several fragments of sculptured figures were exhumed, and piously re-erected. After- wards, brick and stone were taken from it, while Colonel Gray was engaged in building Conall-More Lodge. These exhibited here and there specimens of tesselated tihng, almost unknown in modern architecture. See The Leinster Independatt, of Satur-
" On the right bank of the Liffey are
these various townlands: first, that of Old day, February 24th, 1872.
Connell, on which was the site of the oldest church, near Old Connell house; secondly, Little Connell, in which nothing of antiqua- rian interest can be met with ; and thirdly,
'3 xhus identified, at n. (k), by Dr.
O'Donovan, in the "Three Fragments of Annals," p. 44.
Not far removed from the site of Old
sis" states, in its Second Lection.
—
8o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 3.
Connell burial ground, an ancient artificial mound, and rising to considerable altitude, may yet be seen ; some large trees grow on its sides and summit. ''* It is rather remarkable, that many similar elevations may still be found, near the site of our most ancient religious establishments ; nor are instances want- ing, in that extent of country, not far removed from theplace. 's However, it seems possible enough, that many, if not most, of those ancient tumuli are pre-Christian.
In the time, and with the approval of St. Brigid herself, as Colgan supposes, there v. 'ere tlnee distinct ecclesiastical jurisdictions estab- lished within the city of Kildare—viz. , those of Bishop, of Abbot, and of
Moat at Old Connell, County of Kiklaie.
Abbess. Hethinks,thatthiscanbeproved,fromanarchitecturaldescrip- tion,'^ regarding the church of Kildare, pointing out its divisions, and the uses for which each compartment had been destined. It would seem, that while there was but one monastery tliere, monks and nuns lived in it, although effectually separated by a wall or an enclosure, as well in the church, as in the house. '7 To the former, it is noticed, that thebisliop, with liisbaud of regu- lars, entered from the east, and through a door at tiie right. The abbess, with her nuns, approached by another door, at the left side of the cathedral. '^
' The accompanying representation was formed a much wider line of separation. sketched on the spot, by the writer, in See Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History August, 1883. It has been transferred to of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, xvi. , n. 141, the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and it p. 414.
was engraved, by Mrs. Millard. '* Colgan add : " Pr? eterea quia utrumque '5 It is sufficient to mention Clonenagh, sexum ordinis S. Brigidse, seu Biigittse,
and At^haboe.
'" Wiiich is given by Cogitosus.
'' Colgan imagined that both habitations
were separated merely by a wall ; but the church—and a very large one it was
Suecic in codem Cxnobio commorari vide- mus : non est enim vero absimile hanc sanc- tam feminam ordinem suum instituisse ad imitationem S. Brigida; noslnr, cujus et no- men prsetulit et virtutes in multis aliis imi-
May 3 ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
It has been remarked,'? that a question may be raised—if the abbot witli liis monks Avere subject to the Abbess of Kildare, from the time of St. Brigid's death, and for many subsequent years ? The affirmative, Colgan deems pro- bable, because St. Conlaeth, whom he supposes first superior over a com- munity of monks at Kildare, ^° had been subject to St. Brigid, the first abbess
; and because, in the order of St. Brigid of Sweden, which he imagines to have been framed on the rules of St. Brigid of Kildare's religious institute, the abbess had jurisdiction over the abbot, governing communities of men.
