^ In the
Genealogic
Sanctilogy,=' he finds three Aedhs, in the Catalogue of Saints, descended from King Laoighaire.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
" We are informed, that all of these are inscribed on our Irish
Ruins at Trim, County Meath.
Calendars. ThesituationofTrimisextremelypicturesqueandcommanding.
The Very Rev. Dean Butler has produced a valuable book on this ancient
town, and it is replete with information, especially regarding its ecclesiastical antiquities. ^3 Inthis,hetreatsaboutSt. Cormac. ^4 Anotherecclesiastical
5 See what is stated in the previous arti-
cle. See, also, Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiasti-
cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. ,
sect, xii. , p. 416.
^ Colgan does not think he can be St.
355-
^
His Natalis is not known.
9 In Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
of Belgium, as this name does not often genealogy of this Rumann—
" Rumann, son of Colman, an adept in wis- Rumold, Bishop of Ath-cliath, and patron dom, chronology and poetry, died. " The
Virgil occur in our Irish Annals. He proposed of Ireland—is contained in the " Book of
discussing this question further, when treat- ing on St. Rumold's career.
"''
Ballymote. The Annals of Ulster" have
his death at A. D. 746, and the " Annals of
7 If he be the same, as the present saint's
brother,averycurious—butevidentlyavery O'Donovanthinkstobethetrueyear. See
legendary account ot him—is contained in a vellum manuscript, in the Bodleian Library, at Oxford. This is said to have been copied from the ** Book of Rathain Ua Suanaigh," and the original Irish, with an English trans- lation, will be found in Dr. Petrie's " Ec- clesiastical Architecture of Ireland," &c, part ii. , sect, iii. , subsect. ii. , pp. 353 to
" See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 352, 353.
Four Masters," at A. D. 742, we have entered,
Tighernach," at AD. 747. The latter. Dr. PP- 344, 345, and n. (i).
'°
See notices of him, at the 5 th of Octo- ber.
" His feast occurs, however, at this day. *3 The Rev. Richard Butler published its
history in an anonymous tract, intituled
called the
February 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 607
historian,'5 who has indefatigably laboured to revive the former glories of
Meath, has given a very complete and interesting account of Ath-Truim, as calledinformertimes,andatpresentshortenedtoTrim. ^^ Itisstated,by him, that a religious establishment was founded here as early as St. Patrick's time. The present St. Cormac seems to have had a festival, on the 7th of February,^7oronthisday. However,intheoldCalendars,Cormac,Bishop of Trim, is expressly mentioned, at the 17th of February. This was the Natalis of a St. Comae, at Trim, according to St. yEngus, Marianus O'Gorman, Charles Maguire and other Calendarists. But, as it has been thought, there were different saints, similarly named, and connected with this place, Colgan would not undertake to define, if this were the Cormac intended. '^ However, where he treats of this saint, Colgan calls him Cormac junior, as if there had an older Cormac, Bishop of Trim, in the fifth century. - Yet, in the preceding article, it would seem, that this must have beenamistake. Now,aBishopCormac'snameappearsinvariousCalendars, at the 1 7th. of February. We know not, however, if this be the anniversary
of his death, or whether it occurred here. With many other companion,
saints, buried at Trim, on the 17th of February, in the Martyrology of Tal- lagh,^^ we find his name mentioned. =° It does not seem possible to glean
much more regarding him. To a. d. 741^^ or 742,^^ or 745^2 is assigned the death of this St. Cormac, Bishop of Trim.
Article XVII. —St. Ossan, Bishop of Kathossain, County of Meath. \Saienth Century. '] Colgan has some notices, regarding this saint, at the 17th of February. ^ He was born, most probably about, or after, the beginning of the seventh century. According to Duald Mac Firbis,^ we find' a Bishop Ossan, from Rath-0ssain,3 to the west of Ath Truim. It is thought, that he died on the 17th of February,-^ a. d. 6Z6. He is considered to have lived, at a period, somewhat earlier, than another homonymous saint vene-
" Some Notices of the Church of St. Patrick,
pretermitted saints, in the Bollandists' "Acta
Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Februarii xvii. , p. 3. These writers doubt, if all the fore-
"
vi. , n. p. 48. Also see chap, xl. , pp. 298 to 330.
^^
point from the former was engraved by Messrs. Jacquet et Bisson, Paris, from a
Trim, collected from various authorities.
^4 At pp. 7, 8.
J.
Diocese of
^s See the Rev. A. Cogan's
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap.
going are to be recognised as saints. They consider some may have been Magnates, in- scribed on a Necrology, connected with Trim. However, it seems scarcely possible, all the
The
— —Trim
photogi-aph,
i. , pp. 342, 343.
See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
present
of Feb- See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
furnished Mares, Dublin.
by
Frederick W. Four " vol. Masters,
view of
at a different
died on the
^7 See what is said, at this date, in Article xiii.
^^ See *' Acta Sanctorum Hiberaise," xvii.
Februarii. De S. Cormaco Juniore Ep.
Atht,, n. 9, pp. 361, 362.
^5 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
^° They are thus distinguished : Loman in Ath Truim with his companions,? . ^. , Patrick
Hostiarius orOstiarius,LurechMacCuanach, Fortchern and Coelochtra, or Cselus-Ochtra, Aedha, Aedha, Aedha or ^dus, Cormac, a bishop, Conan,Cuimaen or Comen, a bishop, Lactean or Lacten, a priest, Ossan and Saran, Conaill or Conall and Colman, and Lactan or Luctan, a bishop, Finnsegh or Finsecha, a virgin. These are all said to rest in Ath-Truim. See ibid. Also, among the
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , section xii. , n. 157, p. 418.
**
foregoing
=^ "
17th
ruary.
^^
^3 According to—the " Annals of Ulster. "
Article xvii.
^
See " Acta Sanctorum
Hibernise," xvii. Februarii. De Duobus
Sanctis Ossanis, pp. 366, 367, and the ac-
companying notes.
^
See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. " Irish MSS. series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 88, 89. Also pp. 124, 125.
3 This locality seems lost, among the Irish townland names, at present ; but its site is indicated by the O'Cleiys.
^ See Rev. Anthony Cogan's ** Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap. i. , p. 6, n. , and vol. iii. , chap. Ixxiii. , p. 584.
6o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February 17.
'* rated here, and on the same day. Colgan thinks, that a St. Ossan, at or near
Trim, is alluded to, as one of the makers of sacred vessels for St. Patrick,5
under the name of Essa. ^ Yet, this is clearly irreconcilable with chronology.
However this be, Ossan, Bishop, is the only mention made of him, in the
MartjTology of Tallagh. 7 The Martyrologist, Marianus O'Gorman, calls him " candidus. " In a moral sense, this word indicates his character for inter-
grity or innocence. If it refer to his physical appearance, we may assume that he was a man of clear or fair complexion. We read, as entered in the
Martyrology of Donegal,^ on this day, Ossan, Bishop, of Rath Ossian. His place is particularly pointed out, as being near the western gate of the ancient boroughorcityofTrim. The"AnnalsoftheFourMasters"9placehis death at a. d. 685, while calling him Bishop of Mainistir, or " of the Monas- tery. " The " Annals of Ulster " have his demise at a. d. 686.
Article XVIII. —St. Ossan, supposed to be a Priest, buried in
Trim. [Probably Seventh and Eighth Centuries^ This holy man is thought to have been a brother to St. Cormac,^ Bishop of Trim, regarding whose
family and connexions we have previously treated, on this day. Yet, what seems irreconcilable with this statement is the fact, that we are told, his
father was Athract, son of Aedh, son to Libren, son of Dalian, son to Enda, son of Laogaire. ^^ Thus, like the former Ossan, he belonged to the race of
Laeghaire, son of Niall, according to the O'Clerys. 3 Hence, his supposed connexionwithTrimandMeath. Theyearofhisdeathdoesnotseemto be recorded in our Annals ; and, those notices, we find in Colgan regarding him, are few and obscurely written.
Article XIX. —The Saints, called Aid or Aedh, buried at Trim. These holy personages are treated of, by Colgan, at the 17th of February.
^ In the Genealogic Sanctilogy,=' he finds three Aedhs, in the Catalogue of Saints, descended from King Laoighaire. First, ^dus Major,3 the son of Ferguss, son to Fethlimid, son of Laogaire. Secondly, ^dus Minor, son of the same Ferguss. -^ Thirdly, ^dus, son of Guaire, son to Lugid, son
"
of Laogaire. St. ^ngus mentions these three A^dhs, in his Tract,
On the
Homonymous Saints of Ireland. ^s Their descent from King Laogaire, and
their supposed Meathian origin, as a consequence, are thought by Colgan to
favour the idea, that all of them were venerated at Trim, on the 17th of February. Yet, in another part of his work, the same writer has the follow- ing statement, which conflicts, with the observations that precede. We are
5 See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Septima Sanctis Aedis Athtrumiae quiescentibus, p.
Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. xcviii. , p. 167. 367.
*" See ibid,, n. 133, p. 188.
7 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
52, 53.
9 See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
andn. — (r), pp. 292, 293.
Duobus Sanctis Ossanis, pp. 366, 367, with notes.
Chapter iii.
3 Colgan thinl« he is the same, as Aedh
Coel, or " the lean," son of Feradach, and
"
Article xi.
• It was by no means an unusual custom
to have more than one, bearing the same name, in old Irish families. They were generally distinguished, however, by some
cognomen.
s Book i. It is to be regretted, so many of
our Hagiographical Tracts are yet in MSS.
Article xviii.
Sanctorum Hiberniae," xvii. Februarii. De
" tothe According
Sanctilogic Genealogy,
'
Aedhan, Dartaighe, at the same date, in this work,
chapter iii.
3 See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' " Martyr-
ology of Donegal," pp. 52, 53.
Article xix. —' See " Acta Sanctorum
Hibei-uice," xvii. Februarii. De Tribus
See Colgan's "Acta
noted in the
the 12th of February ; and who, as Marianus adds, was venerated in Cluain Dartadha. See also a notice of St of Cluain
Martyrology of Tallagh," at
February 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 609
''
told, that according to the
whose pious father, Aidus Senior, was a saint, and the latter was son of Aidus, son to Lugad, son of David, son of Fiachrach. Thus he belonged to the race of Hy-Fiachrach. His feast has been assigned to the 17th of
7 February.
Article XX. —St. Miodhu, Son of Fachtna. On the 17th of Feb-
ruary, we find entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ Midu, son of Fachtna, o Shgid. It would seem, that the place of this saint's residence must be
sought for near Sligo. The Martyrology of Donegalj^* on this day, records, Miodhu, son of Fachtna. 3 This was possibly the St. Medanus, son of Fechina,
mentioned by Colgan, as having studied, when a youth,^ under Petrocus, the Briton.
ArticleXXI. —St. Dochonna,SonofOdhran. Dochonna,sonof Odhran, is mentioned in the Martyrologies of Tallagh^ and of Donegal,=^ on
this
day.
Article XXII. —St. Brelach, Son of Fithcheallach. We read in
the Martyrologies of Tallagh^ and of Donegal,^ as having a festival, on this day, Brelach, son of Fithcheallach. It has been conjectured, that the present
saint might possibly be identified with a Brochlecha, from Carbry, who assisted at the great Council of Ballysadare, about a. d. 580. 3 The latter ap- pears, however, to have been a female saint.
ArticleXXIII. —St. Fedcellaigh. ThenameofFedcellaigh,with-
out further designation, occurs in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 17th of
February. A query or note of interrogation is appended to the name, as if it were entered through some mistake of a copyist.
Article XXIV. —St. Roibne, Bishop. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,^ St. Roibne, as Bishop, was venerated, on this day.
Article XXV. —St. Gobnat, of Ballybooly. It seems doubtful, if this saint be identical with St. Gobnat,^ Patroness of Ballyvourney, or if she be a distinct St. Gobnat, connected with a place, called Ballybooly. ^
^
ix.
7 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nipe," iii. Februarii. Appendix ad Acta S.
Article xxi. —^ Edited Rev. Dr. by
Kelly, p. xvi.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Chapter
Colmani, cap. ii,,—p. 248. 52, 53. ^^
Article xx. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
Article xxii. — Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
^ Edited
^ Edited 52, 53-
"Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xv. Februarii,—n. 41, p. 340.
by
Drs. Todd and
by
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp.
Reeves, pp.
at this word Fachtna, "The more recent hand adds,
52, 53-
3 In a note Dr. Todd
Menologic Genealogy,"^ there was a St. Aidus,
3 See
'M. Taml. addit. juxta Sligeach. ' 'The Article xxiiL ^Edited by Rev. Dr.
M. Taml, adds near Sligo,' [oc Stipt). ]" Colgan thinks it possible this Fachtna may
Kelly, p. xv. — ARTICLE XXIV.
^
have been the father of a
who as-
Edited by Drs. Todd Reeves, pp. 52, 53.
Mifrisius,
sisted at the great Synod of Dromceat, A. D. 580. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernia;,"
and —
Article xxv.
nth of February.
ipeb. 17.
XV.
Februarii,
n.
^ jj^ ^. -q. Irish
MS. ,
10, 129a,
34, p. 339. '• "
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xii. Martii. Vita S. Dagani, cap. iv. , p. 585, and nn. 11, 12, 13, p. 586.
says
Colgan's
^ See her
classed H. I.
there is an entry to this effect : ^obnA-o o bAile boile 1 ino|\ in An'oe|'ce|\c ei\enn,
Life,
at the
2R
.
Pars Hyemalis, fo). Iv. , at Feb. 17. 7 See his Life, at the 31st of August.
6io LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i 7.
Article XXVI. —St. Finan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, England.
\Sei! enth Century? ^ This very holy man is said to have sprung from the race of the Scots, and to have been of a noble family. He was so devoted to study, without admonition on the part of his teachers, and he so strove to makehimselflearned,thathegavepromiseoffuturehighpromotion. ^ The Acts of this distinguished Missionary Bishop have been given already, at the 9th day of January. A St. Finanus is mentioned at the 17th of February, in the Anonymous Catalogue of Irish Saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare. Again, in the list of Henry Fitzsimons, at the same date, we find Finianus, Abbot, for which he quotes the authority of Floratius. ^* The Bollandists give, in a historic commentary of two sections and 15 paragraphs, the Acts of St. Finan,3 Bishop of Lindisfarne, at this day. ^ Colgan has entered, likewise, abriefnoticeregardinghim. s TheAberdeenBreviarystates,^thattheyear after the child-bearing of the Virgin, 650, Finan was a man of venerable life, a bishop of great sanctity, an eloquent teacher of the infidel races, remark- able for his training in virtue and" for his liberal education. The people declared with one consent, that this man of God was worthy of the episco- pate,andtheyfrequentlypredictedwhathisfutureshouldbe. Hesurpassed all his equals, in every manner of learning and knowledge, as well as in circumspection and prudence. He chiefly gave himself up to good works, and exhibited a most apt example of virtue. He was most obedient to his superiors, a very slave to his equals, and the lowly companion of those who were beneath him. Despising all other delights of the world, Finan occupied himself, above all things, by imbuing his mind with the Divine law, and in the practice of Divine contemplation. With all patience, humility and sub- jection, he betook himself to teachers and holy men, well instructed in the Christian Faith ; what he learned from them, he committed to memory, and commended to others in his preaching. On the death of Aidan,? the clergy and people held a meeting and unanimously elected St. Finnanus, who was of the name and race of the Scoti, to be Bishop of Lindisfern. ^ This he is said to have obtained, a.
Ruins at Trim, County Meath.
Calendars. ThesituationofTrimisextremelypicturesqueandcommanding.
The Very Rev. Dean Butler has produced a valuable book on this ancient
town, and it is replete with information, especially regarding its ecclesiastical antiquities. ^3 Inthis,hetreatsaboutSt. Cormac. ^4 Anotherecclesiastical
5 See what is stated in the previous arti-
cle. See, also, Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiasti-
cal History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. ,
sect, xii. , p. 416.
^ Colgan does not think he can be St.
355-
^
His Natalis is not known.
9 In Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
of Belgium, as this name does not often genealogy of this Rumann—
" Rumann, son of Colman, an adept in wis- Rumold, Bishop of Ath-cliath, and patron dom, chronology and poetry, died. " The
Virgil occur in our Irish Annals. He proposed of Ireland—is contained in the " Book of
discussing this question further, when treat- ing on St. Rumold's career.
"''
Ballymote. The Annals of Ulster" have
his death at A. D. 746, and the " Annals of
7 If he be the same, as the present saint's
brother,averycurious—butevidentlyavery O'Donovanthinkstobethetrueyear. See
legendary account ot him—is contained in a vellum manuscript, in the Bodleian Library, at Oxford. This is said to have been copied from the ** Book of Rathain Ua Suanaigh," and the original Irish, with an English trans- lation, will be found in Dr. Petrie's " Ec- clesiastical Architecture of Ireland," &c, part ii. , sect, iii. , subsect. ii. , pp. 353 to
" See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 352, 353.
Four Masters," at A. D. 742, we have entered,
Tighernach," at AD. 747. The latter. Dr. PP- 344, 345, and n. (i).
'°
See notices of him, at the 5 th of Octo- ber.
" His feast occurs, however, at this day. *3 The Rev. Richard Butler published its
history in an anonymous tract, intituled
called the
February 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 607
historian,'5 who has indefatigably laboured to revive the former glories of
Meath, has given a very complete and interesting account of Ath-Truim, as calledinformertimes,andatpresentshortenedtoTrim. ^^ Itisstated,by him, that a religious establishment was founded here as early as St. Patrick's time. The present St. Cormac seems to have had a festival, on the 7th of February,^7oronthisday. However,intheoldCalendars,Cormac,Bishop of Trim, is expressly mentioned, at the 17th of February. This was the Natalis of a St. Comae, at Trim, according to St. yEngus, Marianus O'Gorman, Charles Maguire and other Calendarists. But, as it has been thought, there were different saints, similarly named, and connected with this place, Colgan would not undertake to define, if this were the Cormac intended. '^ However, where he treats of this saint, Colgan calls him Cormac junior, as if there had an older Cormac, Bishop of Trim, in the fifth century. - Yet, in the preceding article, it would seem, that this must have beenamistake. Now,aBishopCormac'snameappearsinvariousCalendars, at the 1 7th. of February. We know not, however, if this be the anniversary
of his death, or whether it occurred here. With many other companion,
saints, buried at Trim, on the 17th of February, in the Martyrology of Tal- lagh,^^ we find his name mentioned. =° It does not seem possible to glean
much more regarding him. To a. d. 741^^ or 742,^^ or 745^2 is assigned the death of this St. Cormac, Bishop of Trim.
Article XVII. —St. Ossan, Bishop of Kathossain, County of Meath. \Saienth Century. '] Colgan has some notices, regarding this saint, at the 17th of February. ^ He was born, most probably about, or after, the beginning of the seventh century. According to Duald Mac Firbis,^ we find' a Bishop Ossan, from Rath-0ssain,3 to the west of Ath Truim. It is thought, that he died on the 17th of February,-^ a. d. 6Z6. He is considered to have lived, at a period, somewhat earlier, than another homonymous saint vene-
" Some Notices of the Church of St. Patrick,
pretermitted saints, in the Bollandists' "Acta
Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Februarii xvii. , p. 3. These writers doubt, if all the fore-
"
vi. , n. p. 48. Also see chap, xl. , pp. 298 to 330.
^^
point from the former was engraved by Messrs. Jacquet et Bisson, Paris, from a
Trim, collected from various authorities.
^4 At pp. 7, 8.
J.
Diocese of
^s See the Rev. A. Cogan's
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap.
going are to be recognised as saints. They consider some may have been Magnates, in- scribed on a Necrology, connected with Trim. However, it seems scarcely possible, all the
The
— —Trim
photogi-aph,
i. , pp. 342, 343.
See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
present
of Feb- See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
furnished Mares, Dublin.
by
Frederick W. Four " vol. Masters,
view of
at a different
died on the
^7 See what is said, at this date, in Article xiii.
^^ See *' Acta Sanctorum Hiberaise," xvii.
Februarii. De S. Cormaco Juniore Ep.
Atht,, n. 9, pp. 361, 362.
^5 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
^° They are thus distinguished : Loman in Ath Truim with his companions,? . ^. , Patrick
Hostiarius orOstiarius,LurechMacCuanach, Fortchern and Coelochtra, or Cselus-Ochtra, Aedha, Aedha, Aedha or ^dus, Cormac, a bishop, Conan,Cuimaen or Comen, a bishop, Lactean or Lacten, a priest, Ossan and Saran, Conaill or Conall and Colman, and Lactan or Luctan, a bishop, Finnsegh or Finsecha, a virgin. These are all said to rest in Ath-Truim. See ibid. Also, among the
tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , section xii. , n. 157, p. 418.
**
foregoing
=^ "
17th
ruary.
^^
^3 According to—the " Annals of Ulster. "
Article xvii.
^
See " Acta Sanctorum
Hibernise," xvii. Februarii. De Duobus
Sanctis Ossanis, pp. 366, 367, and the ac-
companying notes.
^
See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. " Irish MSS. series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 88, 89. Also pp. 124, 125.
3 This locality seems lost, among the Irish townland names, at present ; but its site is indicated by the O'Cleiys.
^ See Rev. Anthony Cogan's ** Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap. i. , p. 6, n. , and vol. iii. , chap. Ixxiii. , p. 584.
6o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February 17.
'* rated here, and on the same day. Colgan thinks, that a St. Ossan, at or near
Trim, is alluded to, as one of the makers of sacred vessels for St. Patrick,5
under the name of Essa. ^ Yet, this is clearly irreconcilable with chronology.
However this be, Ossan, Bishop, is the only mention made of him, in the
MartjTology of Tallagh. 7 The Martyrologist, Marianus O'Gorman, calls him " candidus. " In a moral sense, this word indicates his character for inter-
grity or innocence. If it refer to his physical appearance, we may assume that he was a man of clear or fair complexion. We read, as entered in the
Martyrology of Donegal,^ on this day, Ossan, Bishop, of Rath Ossian. His place is particularly pointed out, as being near the western gate of the ancient boroughorcityofTrim. The"AnnalsoftheFourMasters"9placehis death at a. d. 685, while calling him Bishop of Mainistir, or " of the Monas- tery. " The " Annals of Ulster " have his demise at a. d. 686.
Article XVIII. —St. Ossan, supposed to be a Priest, buried in
Trim. [Probably Seventh and Eighth Centuries^ This holy man is thought to have been a brother to St. Cormac,^ Bishop of Trim, regarding whose
family and connexions we have previously treated, on this day. Yet, what seems irreconcilable with this statement is the fact, that we are told, his
father was Athract, son of Aedh, son to Libren, son of Dalian, son to Enda, son of Laogaire. ^^ Thus, like the former Ossan, he belonged to the race of
Laeghaire, son of Niall, according to the O'Clerys. 3 Hence, his supposed connexionwithTrimandMeath. Theyearofhisdeathdoesnotseemto be recorded in our Annals ; and, those notices, we find in Colgan regarding him, are few and obscurely written.
Article XIX. —The Saints, called Aid or Aedh, buried at Trim. These holy personages are treated of, by Colgan, at the 17th of February.
^ In the Genealogic Sanctilogy,=' he finds three Aedhs, in the Catalogue of Saints, descended from King Laoighaire. First, ^dus Major,3 the son of Ferguss, son to Fethlimid, son of Laogaire. Secondly, ^dus Minor, son of the same Ferguss. -^ Thirdly, ^dus, son of Guaire, son to Lugid, son
"
of Laogaire. St. ^ngus mentions these three A^dhs, in his Tract,
On the
Homonymous Saints of Ireland. ^s Their descent from King Laogaire, and
their supposed Meathian origin, as a consequence, are thought by Colgan to
favour the idea, that all of them were venerated at Trim, on the 17th of February. Yet, in another part of his work, the same writer has the follow- ing statement, which conflicts, with the observations that precede. We are
5 See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Septima Sanctis Aedis Athtrumiae quiescentibus, p.
Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. xcviii. , p. 167. 367.
*" See ibid,, n. 133, p. 188.
7 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
52, 53.
9 See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
andn. — (r), pp. 292, 293.
Duobus Sanctis Ossanis, pp. 366, 367, with notes.
Chapter iii.
3 Colgan thinl« he is the same, as Aedh
Coel, or " the lean," son of Feradach, and
"
Article xi.
• It was by no means an unusual custom
to have more than one, bearing the same name, in old Irish families. They were generally distinguished, however, by some
cognomen.
s Book i. It is to be regretted, so many of
our Hagiographical Tracts are yet in MSS.
Article xviii.
Sanctorum Hiberniae," xvii. Februarii. De
" tothe According
Sanctilogic Genealogy,
'
Aedhan, Dartaighe, at the same date, in this work,
chapter iii.
3 See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' " Martyr-
ology of Donegal," pp. 52, 53.
Article xix. —' See " Acta Sanctorum
Hibei-uice," xvii. Februarii. De Tribus
See Colgan's "Acta
noted in the
the 12th of February ; and who, as Marianus adds, was venerated in Cluain Dartadha. See also a notice of St of Cluain
Martyrology of Tallagh," at
February 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 609
''
told, that according to the
whose pious father, Aidus Senior, was a saint, and the latter was son of Aidus, son to Lugad, son of David, son of Fiachrach. Thus he belonged to the race of Hy-Fiachrach. His feast has been assigned to the 17th of
7 February.
Article XX. —St. Miodhu, Son of Fachtna. On the 17th of Feb-
ruary, we find entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ Midu, son of Fachtna, o Shgid. It would seem, that the place of this saint's residence must be
sought for near Sligo. The Martyrology of Donegalj^* on this day, records, Miodhu, son of Fachtna. 3 This was possibly the St. Medanus, son of Fechina,
mentioned by Colgan, as having studied, when a youth,^ under Petrocus, the Briton.
ArticleXXI. —St. Dochonna,SonofOdhran. Dochonna,sonof Odhran, is mentioned in the Martyrologies of Tallagh^ and of Donegal,=^ on
this
day.
Article XXII. —St. Brelach, Son of Fithcheallach. We read in
the Martyrologies of Tallagh^ and of Donegal,^ as having a festival, on this day, Brelach, son of Fithcheallach. It has been conjectured, that the present
saint might possibly be identified with a Brochlecha, from Carbry, who assisted at the great Council of Ballysadare, about a. d. 580. 3 The latter ap- pears, however, to have been a female saint.
ArticleXXIII. —St. Fedcellaigh. ThenameofFedcellaigh,with-
out further designation, occurs in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 17th of
February. A query or note of interrogation is appended to the name, as if it were entered through some mistake of a copyist.
Article XXIV. —St. Roibne, Bishop. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,^ St. Roibne, as Bishop, was venerated, on this day.
Article XXV. —St. Gobnat, of Ballybooly. It seems doubtful, if this saint be identical with St. Gobnat,^ Patroness of Ballyvourney, or if she be a distinct St. Gobnat, connected with a place, called Ballybooly. ^
^
ix.
7 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nipe," iii. Februarii. Appendix ad Acta S.
Article xxi. —^ Edited Rev. Dr. by
Kelly, p. xvi.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Chapter
Colmani, cap. ii,,—p. 248. 52, 53. ^^
Article xx. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
Article xxii. — Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
^ Edited
^ Edited 52, 53-
"Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xv. Februarii,—n. 41, p. 340.
by
Drs. Todd and
by
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp.
Reeves, pp.
at this word Fachtna, "The more recent hand adds,
52, 53-
3 In a note Dr. Todd
Menologic Genealogy,"^ there was a St. Aidus,
3 See
'M. Taml. addit. juxta Sligeach. ' 'The Article xxiiL ^Edited by Rev. Dr.
M. Taml, adds near Sligo,' [oc Stipt). ]" Colgan thinks it possible this Fachtna may
Kelly, p. xv. — ARTICLE XXIV.
^
have been the father of a
who as-
Edited by Drs. Todd Reeves, pp. 52, 53.
Mifrisius,
sisted at the great Synod of Dromceat, A. D. 580. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernia;,"
and —
Article xxv.
nth of February.
ipeb. 17.
XV.
Februarii,
n.
^ jj^ ^. -q. Irish
MS. ,
10, 129a,
34, p. 339. '• "
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xii. Martii. Vita S. Dagani, cap. iv. , p. 585, and nn. 11, 12, 13, p. 586.
says
Colgan's
^ See her
classed H. I.
there is an entry to this effect : ^obnA-o o bAile boile 1 ino|\ in An'oe|'ce|\c ei\enn,
Life,
at the
2R
.
Pars Hyemalis, fo). Iv. , at Feb. 17. 7 See his Life, at the 31st of August.
6io LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i 7.
Article XXVI. —St. Finan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, England.
\Sei! enth Century? ^ This very holy man is said to have sprung from the race of the Scots, and to have been of a noble family. He was so devoted to study, without admonition on the part of his teachers, and he so strove to makehimselflearned,thathegavepromiseoffuturehighpromotion. ^ The Acts of this distinguished Missionary Bishop have been given already, at the 9th day of January. A St. Finanus is mentioned at the 17th of February, in the Anonymous Catalogue of Irish Saints, published by O'Sullevan Beare. Again, in the list of Henry Fitzsimons, at the same date, we find Finianus, Abbot, for which he quotes the authority of Floratius. ^* The Bollandists give, in a historic commentary of two sections and 15 paragraphs, the Acts of St. Finan,3 Bishop of Lindisfarne, at this day. ^ Colgan has entered, likewise, abriefnoticeregardinghim. s TheAberdeenBreviarystates,^thattheyear after the child-bearing of the Virgin, 650, Finan was a man of venerable life, a bishop of great sanctity, an eloquent teacher of the infidel races, remark- able for his training in virtue and" for his liberal education. The people declared with one consent, that this man of God was worthy of the episco- pate,andtheyfrequentlypredictedwhathisfutureshouldbe. Hesurpassed all his equals, in every manner of learning and knowledge, as well as in circumspection and prudence. He chiefly gave himself up to good works, and exhibited a most apt example of virtue. He was most obedient to his superiors, a very slave to his equals, and the lowly companion of those who were beneath him. Despising all other delights of the world, Finan occupied himself, above all things, by imbuing his mind with the Divine law, and in the practice of Divine contemplation. With all patience, humility and sub- jection, he betook himself to teachers and holy men, well instructed in the Christian Faith ; what he learned from them, he committed to memory, and commended to others in his preaching. On the death of Aidan,? the clergy and people held a meeting and unanimously elected St. Finnanus, who was of the name and race of the Scoti, to be Bishop of Lindisfern. ^ This he is said to have obtained, a.
