'4^ The greater part of this
territory
now
Tripartite Life has
Eochadius alter.
Tripartite Life has
Eochadius alter.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
See Oratio pro
mortuis. " St. Gregory speaks of a very wicked man, who had been drawn by the devils into hell, and yet was he saved by St.
"
Severus. See Dialogorum," lib. i. , cap. especially, in the rendering of names. Col-
12. St. Peter is said to have resurrected a certain heathen, who was related to Caesar.
See Egesyppus, lib. iii. , cap. 2. St. Agnes is related, to have restored to life the prefect's
gan endeavours to solve the difficulties, in
reconciling the diversities of statement, by
observing, that in reference to the Irish word
Fiati, sometimes it is an appellative, mean-
" a
it is sometimes a proper name for a man, but then it is found more generally ^vritten Finn. There are two celebrated Irish heroes, known in history : one, as Mac-con, who in- vaded Ireland, about a. d. 195 or 196, having killed Art, King of Ireland, and son to Conn of the Hundred Battles, —the con- queror was otherwise called Lughaidh ; while, the other wa—s kno^vn, as Cairbre, sumamedNiethfear brothertoAlild,King o—f Connaught, and to Finn, King of Leinster,
and the latter invaded the kingdom of
Meath, or Termoria, som^ years before the birth of Christ, according to our annalists. But, their chronology tallies not with their being contemporaries, nor with the narra- tive, referring only to one hundred years, be- fore St. Patrick's time. Besides, Cairbre, sumamed Neithfear, was neither King of Connaught, where the giant's grave had been discovered, nor was he the King of Ire- land. There was a Cairbre, sumamed Liffechuir, King of Ireland, at a later period, and, who reigned, from A. D. 268 to A. D. 284 ; however, his time will not even aptly syncho- rise. In fine, Colgan suggests, that if for Mothefer, the error of a scribe, we substitute Morethach, a better solution may be ob- tained; since,aMorethach,orMoredliach, sumamed Tireach, King of Ireland, reigned from A. D. 327 to 356. Wherefore, if during any intermediate year of his reign, we sup- pose Fian or Finnan Mac Con to have lived, the period could well be regarded, as about one hundred years, previous to the time of St. Patrick. See nn. 67, 68, pp. 33, 34. Also, Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 108, ill, 118 to
whom the devil had to death, when
put ing,
band" or '* while troup ;"
son,
he desired to offer violence to that holy virgin. See St. Maximus Serm. 2, and St. Ambrosius, Serm. 90. Lethaldus, in his Life of St. Julianus, Bishop of Cenoma, re- lates, that on three different occasions did the holy prelate bring three pagans to life. Colgan concludes, by observing, that in such particular cases, their punishment had been suspended, in consequence of a fore- knowledge, that the saints would intercede for them ; but, such a pardon could not be obtained for souls, absolutely and irrevocably condemned to eternal punishment. Kor can any Catholic pray for deceased infidels, or for those dying in mortal sin, as St. Gregory teaches ; unless, indeed, from Divine Reve- lation, or other special instinct from the —Holy Ghost, a Christian be moved thereto
such only is piously deemed to be the pri"vilege of great saints.
Colgan cites many examples of giants, recorded to be of extraordinary stature, as mentioned in the Old Testament, in Deut.
ii. 13, iii. , Josue xiv. , xv. , I. Kings, xvii. , II. Kings, xxi. , I. Paralip. xx. , and, like- wise, by various ancient writers.
"^ So is it stated, in the Irish Tripartite Life. In the Third Life, this account runs :
'*
military
Ego sum Glas, filius Cais, qui fui porca-
rius Lugair Regis Hyrote et jugulavit me Fian Mac Con in regno Mothfer anno cente-
simo usque hodie. " See cap. Ixvii. , p. 26. The Fifth Life, by Probus, has a differently-
" Ego sum Macmaic
expressed statement
Cais Maicglais, quod potest dici, ego sum
maximus virorum insulanorum, fui porcarius
Ricrote Regis : et jugulavit me dormientem
Femmaic Magus in anno regni Nuotfer, qui
est annus centesimus usque hodie. " See 121, 122 to 125, and accompanying notes, lib. ii. , cap. xxi. , pp. 58, 59. Again, the as likewise, Roderick O'Flaherty's "Ogy- Sixth Life, by Jocelyn, relates, "respondit gia," pars, iii. , cap. xlviii. , pp. 282, 283.
:
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 609
Niafer,"^inthehundredthyear,andthathelaythereuntilthatday. Patrick afterwards baptized him, and he went again into his sepulchre. "^
Notwithstanding our Apostle's continuous labours and occupations, he never ceased from the exercise of prayer and contemplation. He was truly
indefatigable, in journeyings, in preaching, in administering the Sacraments, and in building churches. Whether resting or on his course, at any place, he was accustomed to recite the whole Psaltery, with Hymns and Scriptural
Canticles, as also the sublime Apocalypse of St. John the Evangelist. Three hundred genuflexions did he make each day ; one hundred times, by day, and one hundred times, by night, did he sign himself with the cross. For the sacred emblem of man's Redemption, he had a singular devotion.
wherever he saw the cross
Whether he was in a chariot or on a horse
erected, or knew it to be in his vicinity, the Blessed Patrick would go aside from his path, even although that sacred object were one thousand paces away, from the road. "^ But, his reverence for the Sunday was most remark- able, and he would not travel on that day. "? Whether he reached moun- tains, woods, or plains, in damp or dry weather, there he would remain for two nights. From first Vespers of the Lord's Day, until Tierce on Monday, Patrick would not stir from that place, where he might happen to be. One time, Patrick's charioteer wanted his horses ; but he could not find them, owingtothedarknessofthenight. Patrick,atonce,lifteduphishand,and his five fingers, like five torches, illuminated all the place, when the horses were immediately found.
Patrick then went across the ]\Iuaidh,'3o or Moy River,'3i which dis- charges itself into the Atlantic Ocean, ;at the bay of Killala. 's^ For some miles, it forms the boundary, between the counties of Mayo and Sligo. '33
"^ He is stated, by some of the old Irish ^^Titers, to have been Monarch of Ireland, about the beginning of the Christian era ; but, his name is not in any of the genuine lists of Irish Kings, nor in the "Annals of theFourMasters,"
woman, that was in foreign lands, had a son, who was buried in this country, during her absence ; and, she came from foreign
lands, and placed this cross over my grave. She thought it was over the grave of her son
itwasplaced; for,shewasnotable,through grief, to recognise her son's grave. " "This is the reason, why I missed the cross," said
"7 Probus states : "His dictis baptisatus
est a B. Patricio, facta confessione, dictoque
symbalo fidei ac Dominica oratione, prsedi- Patrick,
cante sancto Episcopo, et mergente eum in pagan. "
aqua profundissima tcr in nomine Sanctas
Trinitatis. Cumque fuisset baptisatus, Iceto animo,intrav—itsepulchrumsuum,etrequie- effectthispurpose.
vit in pace. " Quinta Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xxi. , p. 59.
"* One day, as we are told, Patrick omitted to visit a cross, which was on his way ; but, at the same time, he knew not that it was there. His charioteer said to him, in the evening: "To-day, you left a cross, which was on your way, without visit- ing it. " Patrick then started from his guest's house, leaving his dinner, and he went back to the cross. While Patrick was praying at the cross," "This is a sepulchre," said Patrick ; who was buried here ? " answered from out of the
'^'
A voice " I am was buried here ; while living I was injuring my soul, until I died ; and I was buried here after- wards. " "What was the reason," asked
'3' This
town,
in a
parish
of the same
a it poor pagan,"
sepulchre. " and I
of It is to barony Tyrawley.
Patrick,
"that the
sign
of
Christianity, i. e. ,
'33 See Dr, O'Donovan's
"Genealoeies,
said,
name,
the was over " cross, placed thy grave?
Then answered the voice: "A certain Vol. hi. —No. io.
and Customs of (c), pp. 2, 3.
;
*'
i. e. its being over the grave of a
The cross was raised, afterwards, tiy Patrick, over the Christian's grave. By Jocelyn, he is said to have left his chariot, to
For this veneration, the Almighty miraculously rewarded him. Thus, one Sunday, while Patrick was in a cold, damp place, great rain fell upon the earth ; but, it rained not on that spot where the holy Apostle was "sicut in concha et vellere Gideoni accederat. "
'30 This is the Irish name for the river,
which is Latinized Moda, Moadus, Muadius
and Moyus.
'3» It rises in the barony of Leyny, in the
county ofSligo, and it flows through the barony of Gallen, in Mayo County.
is in the
be seen on the " Ordnance Survey Town- land Maps for the County of Mayo," Sheet 22.
Tribes
Hy-Fiachrach," 2 Q
n,
6io LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS
[March 17.
He entered Tir-Amalghaid/24 so called from Amalghaid,'3S the brother of
Dathi, Monarch of Ireland, and who succeeded, in a like capacity, his uncle,
Niall of the Nine — from a. d. to is said to Hostages, 405 428. ^36 Amalghaid
have had fifteen sons'37 not all of whom were probably alive at this period.
Over the province of Connaught, he was king for thirty-two years ; and, from his sons, were descended many of the most noble families there. ^ss When
St. Patrick arrived among the Hy-Amhalgaidh, that provincial potentate appears to have been living,'39 and also twelve of his sons, whose names are
thus recorded : Aengus, or ^ngussius j Fergus, or Fergussius; Fedhlimidh, or Fethlemius ; Enna, or Enda Crom ; Enna, or Enda Cullom ; Cormac, or Corbmacus ; Cairbre, or Carbreus ; Echui, or Eochodius Dianamh ; Oena •,''^° Eoghan, or Eugenius Coir ; Dubchonall, or Dubchonallus ; Ailill of the rough face, otherwise named Alillus Ainech. '^' The sons of Amhalghaidh were disputing about the sovereignty. ''** These would not admit any man, as king over them, with a surname. Aengus, who was the proudest among them, imposed additional names upon his brothers. These went to Tara, in twelve chariots,'''3 to have a decision of the matters in dispute ; and, there they were welcomed, by the King of Tara. '''-^ Aengus happened to be a foster-son to Laeghaire, and he received a special welcome, at the court. Aengus prayed the door-keepers, that they would not admit his nephew Conal], who was tlie son of Enna Drom, into the fort ; for, Aengus fearfed his wisdom and skill, in arguing for his right, and Aengus obtained this request, from the door-keepers. As Conall was outside the lias, he heard thesoundofPatrick'sbell,whichrangatTober-Patrick. '^s Thiswell,most likely was that one, also called Leagh and Loigleas,'-! ^ which lay to the west of Rath-na-Riogh,'47 the great fort, or royal residence. Conall then ap-
St. Patrick and saluted him. " O cleric " said " do know ! he, you
proached
this expression, which I have in commeriioration, i. e.
clamant ad te pueri,' &c. , which two girls uttered in their mother's womb, in
our " I am to whom that said Patrick
" I heard and,
country. " he,
refers,"
;
'34 From this ancient territory, the present
barony of Tyrawley, in the county of Mayo, derives its denomination.
'35 He was the son of Fiachra, son of
Eochaidh Amhalgaidh.
'36 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
'•3 The Irish Tripartite Life adds : "sicut '37 Their names are to be found in "The in libris Patricii inventus, quod exirent in
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 126 to 129.
Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy- Fiachrach," edited by John O'Donovan.
He had eight sons, by Tresi, the daughter of Natfraoch, King of Munster, and sister to ^ngus. Those eight sons are thus named, viz. : Fedhlim, Eochaidh, Eunda, Conall, Aongus, Eoghan, Cormac and Corrdubh. Amalghaid, by a second wife, Earca, the daughter of Eochaidh, King of Leinster, had seven sons, viz. : Fergus, Cormac Ceann- foda, Colom, Seudna, Eochaidh, Aoldob- har, and Emeach.
judicium tamen vii. fratres de eis. " Nearly similar words are in the Latin Tripartite.
'4+ This and the following legendary ac- count will be found in the Irish and Latin
Tripartite Lives, and partially in the Life by Jocelyn.
'« This well was at Tara. There are
several wells mentioned, in the prose and
poetic descriptions of that place, as given in Dr. Petrie's Essay.
'*^ Tirechan, in the Book of Armagh, re- cords, that St. Patrick baptized St. Ere in it,
'3^See/W(/. , from pp. 5 to I7> and the after his conversion, and many thous. md
accompanying notes.
'39 The "Annals of the Four Masters,"
pp. 140, 141, record his death, at A. D. 449. See Dr. O'Donovan's edition.
'*° In his place, as if an ah'as, the Latin
men on the same day. See Dr. Petrie's
"
'*' The first forms of name are taken, from
Academy," vol. xviii.
'47 This most remarkable of the Forts at
Tara is indicated on Plates 6, 7.
'4^ The greater part of this territory now
Tripartite Life has
Eochadius alter. "
'
Hibernenses omnes
the Irish Tiipartite Life, and the second forms, from the Latin version,
''' The Irish Tripartite Life adds, twenty four tribes—i. e. old tribes—that were in the country, as if these were to be under their jurisdiction.
" and of Tara Hill," History Antiquities
p. 167. "Transactions of the Royal Irish
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 6u
it, when I was in the Islands of the Tyrrhene Sea, and I knew not whether within or without me these words were spoken, so that I shall go with you, into
your country to baptize, to teach, and to announce the Gospel. " Then the holy man asked for what reason Conall had come there, when he related the whole
case to Patrick. The latter ** Go in said,
now,
as the doors are
open
and,
;
go to my faithful friend, Eoghan Mac Neill, who will assist you, if you lay
hold, secretly, of the finger next his little finger, for such is always a sign
between us. " And so it was done. When the prince approached,
what is Patrick's wish ? Conall said, That
;
you assist me. " Conall afterwards observed, If it be according to youth,
precedenceinaking'shouseorlandistobegiven,Iamtheyoungest; if according to mother's age, Enna Cromm is the oldest. " To his remarks,
""""
Welcome," said Eoghan
*'
" Honor to the and converse with the senior, truly,
Laeghaire replied :
learned; but,ifjewelsandtreasuresaregiventoanyone,however,Iwillnot
deprive him of them. " Thus, Laeghaire, King of Tara, and his brother Eoghan, son of Niell, decided the dispute. It is said, however, that the
Monarch Laeghaire had treacherously instigated Aengus to kill St. Patrick andConall,whenallweresettingouttogetherfromTara. Inthisplot,too,
Aengus endeavoured to engage Fergus and FedhUmidh, afterwards, while on their journey. They went along, and Patrick with them ; while the latter gave his chariot to Conall, so that it was the thirteenth chariot, in their tra,in. On setting out, they went northwards, towards their country. That place, which Aengus had fixed for the fratricide, is said to have been in Corann. ^^s Fergus simulated sleep. His brothers refused, however, what had been proposed to
them. " We will not kill the said innocent,"
they,
brother. " Aengus went towards St. Patrick, however, intending to kill him ;
and, he was accompanied by two bands, and by two Druids, namely, Reon,'49 or Roen,'5o and Rechred,'5i or Rechet,'52 of the race of Faelan the Warrior. These lay in wait, not more than a mile from that place, whence St. Patrick first saw his enemies. A cross, from the west of Cross-Patrick to Cill-Forclann,
accuracy,atthepresentday; for,CrosPhadruic,or thecrossofPatrick,"still retainsitsoriginalname. '^s ThatofKill-Forclann'54isnowobsolete,andall traces of the church are removed j'ss but, the site was pointed out, not so very long ago, on a rising ground, about half a mile from Killala. 'ss The plot against our saint's life failed, however, while the Druids, Reon^57 and Rech- red,'58 were defeated, at Telach-na-Druadh. 'S9 The latter miserably perished,
designated the situation. These two places can be determined, with sufficient "
forms the barony of Corran, which is nearly in the centre of the County Sligo.
called. In 1831, the place was called Killy-
''*' So is he in the Irish called,
Tripartite. '5° Thus is he named, in the Latin Tripar-
'ss About sixty perches, to the left of the road, leading from this town to Palmers- town,
'S? The legend adds, how Reon said, that the ground should swallow Patrick, on the place where he should be seen. This was related to Patrick. " It is I, who shall see him first," said Patrick. When Patrick therefore saw Reon, the ground swallowed
" I will said he, "if I him up. believe,"
am rescued. " Then, the ground flung him up, until he was above the winds, and he fell down half alive.
'ss The legend tells us, that Rechred was also lifted up, and cast down violently, until his head was broken against the rock, and that fire from Heaven burned him.
tite.
'5' He is so called, in the Irish version of
the Tripartite.
'5= Thus is his name written, in the Latin
Tripartite Life. He is called Rochait, by Jocelyn.
•53 It is now that of a townland, contain- ing an ancient churchyard, with some traces
the latter place.
'54 It is said to have been east of Cross-
Patrick.
'55 The natives of this district stated, that
parts of the church walls were originally so
of church ruins. It is to situated,
the right of the road leading from Ballina to Killala, and it lies about one mile southwards, from
brone. levelled.
Then the church walls were totally
" and we will not our slay
6i2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 17.
but the former believed, and he was baptized. It is stated, too, that Feadelm, the daughter of Amhalgaidh, had died a long time before these events.
" I will
Apostle is recorded to have worked the wonderful miracle of raising her from
the dead, and of presenting Feadelm to her brother. In fear and astonish- ment, after those miracles, Aengus then asked the saint's pardon, for his past offences; he,too,believedandhewasafterwardsbaptized.
A blind man went in great haste, to meet St. Patrick, on hearing the wonder- ful miracles he wrought ;'^° for, the desire of being healed, from his infirmity, urged him. Having no guide, however, the bhnd man fell more than once.
"
My </^- broth"^^^ said the holy man, " it would be fitter that you were the blind person, thanhe,whoseeksaremedyfromtheSunofJustice. " Theblindmanwasthen healed,andtheclericbecameblind. Afterwards,thepersonrestoredpraised the Almighty for that favour conferred upon him. Ruan, or Roan, the son of Cucnamha, or Conchmamha, Amhalgaidh's charioteer, or servant, was the person healed, at Roi-Ruain, or Rae-Roain, which was the name of that place. Migna, or Midgna, was the name of that disciple who was blinded ; and, another disciple of St. Patrick, who was called Donnmalius, remained with him, leading the life of a hermit, in Disert-Patrick, near the well and church at Cross Patrick. Afterwards, in commemoration of the miracle wrought, Rae-Roain belonged to St. Patrick. The Blessed Apostle met two lame men,^^^ in Ochtar-Caerthin,'^3 or Huachtar Charthuinn. '^* They com- plained to him regarding their infirmity, for they found it difficult to proceed through the mountains or plains, where they were obliged to travel. These poor men moved Patrick to compassionate them, and they were healed. He tlien went to Domhnach-Mor, or Donaghmore,'^s where Bishop Mucna'^^ was placed, and where, too, he had been buried. ^^' He went, aftenvards, to Cross-Patrick, where a noble, named Aedh Fota, or " the tall," who was son of Eochaidh, son of Oengus, came to him ; and, Patrick healed him from lameness, at a fountain, to the west of Cross-Patrick. In gratitude for the favour he received, Aedh presented to Patrick a plot of land there, on which hefoundedachurchorresidence. Helefttwoofhisfamilythere,likewise, viz. : Teloc'^^ and Nemnall, or Domnald. '^^ The great success of the Irish
Apostle had excited the envy and hatred of the Magi, who found therein theirpopularityandinfluenceonthewane. Findingtheycouldnotoppose him publicly, a number of them conspired to lie in wait for him, while he
Then, Aengus said,
believe,
if sister be resuscitated. " The Irish my
Thoughtlessly enough, one of St. Patrick's people laughed at him.
'S9 The Druid's rock is there, and near it
there was a church, at Cross-Patrick, which was eastwards from Telach-na-Druadh.
^layo. See John O'Donovan's " Genea-
logics. Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiach-
rach," n. (d), p. 466.
''* He is also called and he is Muicin,
thought to have been venerated, on the 4th of March,
'*7 He is said to have been the patron
saint of Maighin, or Moyne, near Killala.
At Moyne, a great abbey was afterwards erected .
'<'* His name is vaguely conjectured, by Colgan, to agi-ee with that of Tolan, of Disert Tola, whose feast occurs, at the 30th
of March, or with that of Tellean, of Tegli- Telle, venerated at the 25th of June,
'^^ No attempt, at identification, has been made, under this form, in the Latin Tripar- tite, nor in that preceding, as found in the Irish version,
between to the Irish Tripartite Life.
them, according
Glas-Conaigh lay
"^ Jocelyn relates this stoiy, but in a
manner quite different from that of the Tri-
partite. See cap. cxxiv. , p. 93.
'*" ** As God is my judge," Colgan inter-
this which was a favourite expression,
prets
one with St. Patrick, when he made any solemn asseveration.
'*" The Irish Tripartite calls them bacac/is.
'*3 Thus is the place named, in the Irish Tripartite Life. Its identification does not
appear.
'** Thus is the name found, in the Latin
Tripartite Life.
"s It is found, in the parish of Killala,
and barony of Tyrawley, and county of
'7° Jocelyn tells us, that those Magi as*
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 613
was in the region of Tyrawley. Here a snare was contrived for his destruc- tion. ^70 But, Enna'71 saw that the Druids or Magi wished to murder St.
and to
" of the Hilltop
the sons of Amal- King
prevent
their he said to his son " Go and designs, Conall,
Patrick,
protect Patrick, that the Magi may not kill him. " '7^ The holy man per- ceived them, but a Heavenly Power protected him, for ethereal fire burned those Magi, to the number of nine. '^a Thus, was Patrick triumphant, over
the plots of his persecutors.
Traversing that region, the holy man journeyed towards the ocean, where
the fish-abounding Moy opens into Killala Bay. Here, he wished to establish
a See. He then founded Kilmore-Moy,'74 or Cill-Alaidh, now Killala,'7S over which he placed, as bishop, St. Muredach,^? ^ one of his illustrious
disciples, who belonged to the race of Laeghaire, son of Niall, the King of all Ireland. Here, too, Patrick baptized two celebrated virgins, that called
upon him, in the region of Caille-Fochladh,^77 firom their mother's womb, and while he was in the Islands of the Tyrrhene Sea. Those virgins'^s were Crebrea and Lasra^79 or Lassara,'^° the two daughters of Glerann,'^' son of Cummen,'^^ or Cumine. They are patronesses of Cill-Forglainn, or Kill-fhor- clann,'^3inHy-AmhalghaidhorTirawley,tothewestoftheMuaidh. There, the relics of those holy sisters were preserved, and with a special devotion.
"
the tribe Mac Amalgaidh," which was the ancient name of MuUaghfarry, or
St. Patrick went to Forrach-mac-Amalghaidh, or
the assembly-ground of
near Killala. '^•^
gaidh, with their subjects, had been assembled, at a great public convention.
Then, our glorious Apostle seized on this great opportunity, for announcing the Gospel of Christ, and for unsheathing the sword of the spirit, against those errors of idolatry that abounded. ^^^ The Lord helped him with signs and miracles. One day, coming to a place called Fearta, he found two women dead. The bodies lay buried on a hillside. '^^ Invoking the name
Assembly,"
Here,
'^'
Jocelyn does not otherwise name them, '^^ Thus is the name spelled, in the Irish
'? ' He was the son of Amalgaidh.
'72 Jocelyn says, that Conuall entered in the Latin Tripartite Life. Nennius is the
sumed white hoods, the more readily to deceive St. Patrick.
among the Magi, but only to finistrate their
designs.
'" Jocelyn tells us, that by his making a
sign of the cross there, a healing fountain
sprung from the ground.
'7* Sometimes this See was known as that
of Tir-Amalgaid, or of Hy-Fiachra-mui.
'75 In the barony of Tyrawley, and county
of Mayo.
'7* His feast occurs, at the 12th of August.
name, however, as given by the Scholiast on St. Fiach's Hymn, n. 15/, p. 5.
'^^ in Dr. O'Donovan's correspondence
from Mayo, June 2nd, 1838, he identifies the site of its church rums, although the
building had long disappeared. His interest- ing account is contained, in the Ordnance
Survey Memoirs, regarding the county of Mayo, as now preserved in the Royal Irish
'77 The Scholiast on St. Fiach
on Caille Fochlaidh, towards the north, and
in a maritime situation, on the Connaught Addenda P. , p. 466. The townland of coast, near to and west of the River Moy,
was their church of Foreland, where these
holy daughters were buried. See nn. 15/,
16 q, p. 5.
that
'78 Their feasts do not seem to have been distinguished, in our Calendars. "St. Patrick and the Children of Fochlut Wood," by Aubrey De Vere, is a poem, that appears among "The Legends of St. Patrick," pp. 60 to 82.
'79 So is she called, in the Irish Tripartite. By the Scholiast on St. Fiach, she is named Lassia.
'^° The Latin Tripartite Life thus writes her name.
'^•* See
Tiibes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach.
states,
John
Genealogies, "
Tripartite Life. Cumine is the rendering,
Academy, at p. 235.
"
O'Donovan's
Farragh, within the parish of Ballisakeery, between Ballina and Killala, indicates the site. Tirechan spells the word Forrgea.
"
likewise there. See the correspondence of
John O'Donovan, Mayo, 17th May, 1838,
among the Ordnance Survey Memoirs for Mayo County, preserved in the Royal Irish Academy's Li—brary, p. 59.
'^^ Jocelyn apparently confounding the narrative as found in his sources for infor- mation—states, that a certain Magus, Ro- chait, by name, there I'ising up to oppose
St. Patrick's preaching, was destroyed by fire from Heaven.
Cnoc-a-tionol, or the
Hill of Meeting," is
6i4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
of Christ, at their tomb, he ordered the heap of earth to be removed, and he restored them again to Hfe. '^7 One of these women had been pregnant, at the time of her death. '^^ The story goes, that Patrick and Conall went to the grave, where the dead pregnant woman had been buried,^^? and they travelled, by the lower road leading to Cill-Alaidh. Aengus, however, went bytheupperroad. Whentheyhadreachedthegrave,Patrickresuscitatedthe woman,andherunbornson. Wearetold,moreover,thatbothwerebaptized, inthewell,whichwascalled,Aenadharca,'9°or"theone-hornedhill. "'9' These
miracles were wrought, at Killala church. Being resuscitated, she preached to the multitudes there assembled, regarding the pains of hell and the rewards of heaven. With tears, she prayed her brother, that he would beUeve on account ofGodandPatrick. Hecompliedwithherwishes,andhewasbaptized. On
**
that day, twelve thousand were baptized in Tobur-enadharch,'9^ or
of Aen-adherca," '93 with the seven sons of Amhalgaidh, including Enna,'9* and the king. '9S And, Patrick left Magister Manchen,'96 also called Mancenus,'97 or Manchan the Master,'98 with them. ^99 He was well versed in the Scriptures, and his knowledge of dogma and morals caused him to receivethespecialtitlebestowedonhim. Thesegreateventsarethought to have realized St. Patrick's dream of the wood, and of the converts, near Foclut. =°° It has been frequently asserted, that not one drop of human bloodwasshed,duringthepeacefulprogressofSt. Patrick'scareer. Never- theless, we cannot forbear to mention, the cheerful sacrifices which were madebyhim,inthecauseofrehgion. Tosuchperilousadventuresasthose already related, he doubtless alludes, in his Confessions, where he states : " I came to the Irish nation to preach the Gospel, and to endure reproach from unbelievers. I heard them upbraid me as a stranger, and I suffered many persecutions, even unto chains. Yet, I gave myself up, without re- serve, for their advantage. And, if I was held worthy, I am ready, imme- diately and cheerfully, to lay down my life for His name's sake. " He adds :
" I spent myself, that they might comprehend me ; and everywhere among you, I advanced for your sake in many dangers, into distant regions, where nobody before had ever come, to baptize them, or to ordain them, or to con- firm their people in the faith. Now, all these things I did, by the grace of God, diligently and cheerfully for your salvation. In the meantime, I was giving rewards to their kings and to their children, who remained along with me ; and, nevertheless they seized me, and in that day, they sought most
*^^
Such is the account, as contained in Crom had been nominated as Dynast of St. Patrick's Acts, b)' Jocelyn. See cap.
mortuis. " St. Gregory speaks of a very wicked man, who had been drawn by the devils into hell, and yet was he saved by St.
"
Severus. See Dialogorum," lib. i. , cap. especially, in the rendering of names. Col-
12. St. Peter is said to have resurrected a certain heathen, who was related to Caesar.
See Egesyppus, lib. iii. , cap. 2. St. Agnes is related, to have restored to life the prefect's
gan endeavours to solve the difficulties, in
reconciling the diversities of statement, by
observing, that in reference to the Irish word
Fiati, sometimes it is an appellative, mean-
" a
it is sometimes a proper name for a man, but then it is found more generally ^vritten Finn. There are two celebrated Irish heroes, known in history : one, as Mac-con, who in- vaded Ireland, about a. d. 195 or 196, having killed Art, King of Ireland, and son to Conn of the Hundred Battles, —the con- queror was otherwise called Lughaidh ; while, the other wa—s kno^vn, as Cairbre, sumamedNiethfear brothertoAlild,King o—f Connaught, and to Finn, King of Leinster,
and the latter invaded the kingdom of
Meath, or Termoria, som^ years before the birth of Christ, according to our annalists. But, their chronology tallies not with their being contemporaries, nor with the narra- tive, referring only to one hundred years, be- fore St. Patrick's time. Besides, Cairbre, sumamed Neithfear, was neither King of Connaught, where the giant's grave had been discovered, nor was he the King of Ire- land. There was a Cairbre, sumamed Liffechuir, King of Ireland, at a later period, and, who reigned, from A. D. 268 to A. D. 284 ; however, his time will not even aptly syncho- rise. In fine, Colgan suggests, that if for Mothefer, the error of a scribe, we substitute Morethach, a better solution may be ob- tained; since,aMorethach,orMoredliach, sumamed Tireach, King of Ireland, reigned from A. D. 327 to 356. Wherefore, if during any intermediate year of his reign, we sup- pose Fian or Finnan Mac Con to have lived, the period could well be regarded, as about one hundred years, previous to the time of St. Patrick. See nn. 67, 68, pp. 33, 34. Also, Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 108, ill, 118 to
whom the devil had to death, when
put ing,
band" or '* while troup ;"
son,
he desired to offer violence to that holy virgin. See St. Maximus Serm. 2, and St. Ambrosius, Serm. 90. Lethaldus, in his Life of St. Julianus, Bishop of Cenoma, re- lates, that on three different occasions did the holy prelate bring three pagans to life. Colgan concludes, by observing, that in such particular cases, their punishment had been suspended, in consequence of a fore- knowledge, that the saints would intercede for them ; but, such a pardon could not be obtained for souls, absolutely and irrevocably condemned to eternal punishment. Kor can any Catholic pray for deceased infidels, or for those dying in mortal sin, as St. Gregory teaches ; unless, indeed, from Divine Reve- lation, or other special instinct from the —Holy Ghost, a Christian be moved thereto
such only is piously deemed to be the pri"vilege of great saints.
Colgan cites many examples of giants, recorded to be of extraordinary stature, as mentioned in the Old Testament, in Deut.
ii. 13, iii. , Josue xiv. , xv. , I. Kings, xvii. , II. Kings, xxi. , I. Paralip. xx. , and, like- wise, by various ancient writers.
"^ So is it stated, in the Irish Tripartite Life. In the Third Life, this account runs :
'*
military
Ego sum Glas, filius Cais, qui fui porca-
rius Lugair Regis Hyrote et jugulavit me Fian Mac Con in regno Mothfer anno cente-
simo usque hodie. " See cap. Ixvii. , p. 26. The Fifth Life, by Probus, has a differently-
" Ego sum Macmaic
expressed statement
Cais Maicglais, quod potest dici, ego sum
maximus virorum insulanorum, fui porcarius
Ricrote Regis : et jugulavit me dormientem
Femmaic Magus in anno regni Nuotfer, qui
est annus centesimus usque hodie. " See 121, 122 to 125, and accompanying notes, lib. ii. , cap. xxi. , pp. 58, 59. Again, the as likewise, Roderick O'Flaherty's "Ogy- Sixth Life, by Jocelyn, relates, "respondit gia," pars, iii. , cap. xlviii. , pp. 282, 283.
:
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 609
Niafer,"^inthehundredthyear,andthathelaythereuntilthatday. Patrick afterwards baptized him, and he went again into his sepulchre. "^
Notwithstanding our Apostle's continuous labours and occupations, he never ceased from the exercise of prayer and contemplation. He was truly
indefatigable, in journeyings, in preaching, in administering the Sacraments, and in building churches. Whether resting or on his course, at any place, he was accustomed to recite the whole Psaltery, with Hymns and Scriptural
Canticles, as also the sublime Apocalypse of St. John the Evangelist. Three hundred genuflexions did he make each day ; one hundred times, by day, and one hundred times, by night, did he sign himself with the cross. For the sacred emblem of man's Redemption, he had a singular devotion.
wherever he saw the cross
Whether he was in a chariot or on a horse
erected, or knew it to be in his vicinity, the Blessed Patrick would go aside from his path, even although that sacred object were one thousand paces away, from the road. "^ But, his reverence for the Sunday was most remark- able, and he would not travel on that day. "? Whether he reached moun- tains, woods, or plains, in damp or dry weather, there he would remain for two nights. From first Vespers of the Lord's Day, until Tierce on Monday, Patrick would not stir from that place, where he might happen to be. One time, Patrick's charioteer wanted his horses ; but he could not find them, owingtothedarknessofthenight. Patrick,atonce,lifteduphishand,and his five fingers, like five torches, illuminated all the place, when the horses were immediately found.
Patrick then went across the ]\Iuaidh,'3o or Moy River,'3i which dis- charges itself into the Atlantic Ocean, ;at the bay of Killala. 's^ For some miles, it forms the boundary, between the counties of Mayo and Sligo. '33
"^ He is stated, by some of the old Irish ^^Titers, to have been Monarch of Ireland, about the beginning of the Christian era ; but, his name is not in any of the genuine lists of Irish Kings, nor in the "Annals of theFourMasters,"
woman, that was in foreign lands, had a son, who was buried in this country, during her absence ; and, she came from foreign
lands, and placed this cross over my grave. She thought it was over the grave of her son
itwasplaced; for,shewasnotable,through grief, to recognise her son's grave. " "This is the reason, why I missed the cross," said
"7 Probus states : "His dictis baptisatus
est a B. Patricio, facta confessione, dictoque
symbalo fidei ac Dominica oratione, prsedi- Patrick,
cante sancto Episcopo, et mergente eum in pagan. "
aqua profundissima tcr in nomine Sanctas
Trinitatis. Cumque fuisset baptisatus, Iceto animo,intrav—itsepulchrumsuum,etrequie- effectthispurpose.
vit in pace. " Quinta Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xxi. , p. 59.
"* One day, as we are told, Patrick omitted to visit a cross, which was on his way ; but, at the same time, he knew not that it was there. His charioteer said to him, in the evening: "To-day, you left a cross, which was on your way, without visit- ing it. " Patrick then started from his guest's house, leaving his dinner, and he went back to the cross. While Patrick was praying at the cross," "This is a sepulchre," said Patrick ; who was buried here ? " answered from out of the
'^'
A voice " I am was buried here ; while living I was injuring my soul, until I died ; and I was buried here after- wards. " "What was the reason," asked
'3' This
town,
in a
parish
of the same
a it poor pagan,"
sepulchre. " and I
of It is to barony Tyrawley.
Patrick,
"that the
sign
of
Christianity, i. e. ,
'33 See Dr, O'Donovan's
"Genealoeies,
said,
name,
the was over " cross, placed thy grave?
Then answered the voice: "A certain Vol. hi. —No. io.
and Customs of (c), pp. 2, 3.
;
*'
i. e. its being over the grave of a
The cross was raised, afterwards, tiy Patrick, over the Christian's grave. By Jocelyn, he is said to have left his chariot, to
For this veneration, the Almighty miraculously rewarded him. Thus, one Sunday, while Patrick was in a cold, damp place, great rain fell upon the earth ; but, it rained not on that spot where the holy Apostle was "sicut in concha et vellere Gideoni accederat. "
'30 This is the Irish name for the river,
which is Latinized Moda, Moadus, Muadius
and Moyus.
'3» It rises in the barony of Leyny, in the
county ofSligo, and it flows through the barony of Gallen, in Mayo County.
is in the
be seen on the " Ordnance Survey Town- land Maps for the County of Mayo," Sheet 22.
Tribes
Hy-Fiachrach," 2 Q
n,
6io LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS
[March 17.
He entered Tir-Amalghaid/24 so called from Amalghaid,'3S the brother of
Dathi, Monarch of Ireland, and who succeeded, in a like capacity, his uncle,
Niall of the Nine — from a. d. to is said to Hostages, 405 428. ^36 Amalghaid
have had fifteen sons'37 not all of whom were probably alive at this period.
Over the province of Connaught, he was king for thirty-two years ; and, from his sons, were descended many of the most noble families there. ^ss When
St. Patrick arrived among the Hy-Amhalgaidh, that provincial potentate appears to have been living,'39 and also twelve of his sons, whose names are
thus recorded : Aengus, or ^ngussius j Fergus, or Fergussius; Fedhlimidh, or Fethlemius ; Enna, or Enda Crom ; Enna, or Enda Cullom ; Cormac, or Corbmacus ; Cairbre, or Carbreus ; Echui, or Eochodius Dianamh ; Oena •,''^° Eoghan, or Eugenius Coir ; Dubchonall, or Dubchonallus ; Ailill of the rough face, otherwise named Alillus Ainech. '^' The sons of Amhalghaidh were disputing about the sovereignty. ''** These would not admit any man, as king over them, with a surname. Aengus, who was the proudest among them, imposed additional names upon his brothers. These went to Tara, in twelve chariots,'''3 to have a decision of the matters in dispute ; and, there they were welcomed, by the King of Tara. '''-^ Aengus happened to be a foster-son to Laeghaire, and he received a special welcome, at the court. Aengus prayed the door-keepers, that they would not admit his nephew Conal], who was tlie son of Enna Drom, into the fort ; for, Aengus fearfed his wisdom and skill, in arguing for his right, and Aengus obtained this request, from the door-keepers. As Conall was outside the lias, he heard thesoundofPatrick'sbell,whichrangatTober-Patrick. '^s Thiswell,most likely was that one, also called Leagh and Loigleas,'-! ^ which lay to the west of Rath-na-Riogh,'47 the great fort, or royal residence. Conall then ap-
St. Patrick and saluted him. " O cleric " said " do know ! he, you
proached
this expression, which I have in commeriioration, i. e.
clamant ad te pueri,' &c. , which two girls uttered in their mother's womb, in
our " I am to whom that said Patrick
" I heard and,
country. " he,
refers,"
;
'34 From this ancient territory, the present
barony of Tyrawley, in the county of Mayo, derives its denomination.
'35 He was the son of Fiachra, son of
Eochaidh Amhalgaidh.
'36 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
'•3 The Irish Tripartite Life adds : "sicut '37 Their names are to be found in "The in libris Patricii inventus, quod exirent in
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 126 to 129.
Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy- Fiachrach," edited by John O'Donovan.
He had eight sons, by Tresi, the daughter of Natfraoch, King of Munster, and sister to ^ngus. Those eight sons are thus named, viz. : Fedhlim, Eochaidh, Eunda, Conall, Aongus, Eoghan, Cormac and Corrdubh. Amalghaid, by a second wife, Earca, the daughter of Eochaidh, King of Leinster, had seven sons, viz. : Fergus, Cormac Ceann- foda, Colom, Seudna, Eochaidh, Aoldob- har, and Emeach.
judicium tamen vii. fratres de eis. " Nearly similar words are in the Latin Tripartite.
'4+ This and the following legendary ac- count will be found in the Irish and Latin
Tripartite Lives, and partially in the Life by Jocelyn.
'« This well was at Tara. There are
several wells mentioned, in the prose and
poetic descriptions of that place, as given in Dr. Petrie's Essay.
'*^ Tirechan, in the Book of Armagh, re- cords, that St. Patrick baptized St. Ere in it,
'3^See/W(/. , from pp. 5 to I7> and the after his conversion, and many thous. md
accompanying notes.
'39 The "Annals of the Four Masters,"
pp. 140, 141, record his death, at A. D. 449. See Dr. O'Donovan's edition.
'*° In his place, as if an ah'as, the Latin
men on the same day. See Dr. Petrie's
"
'*' The first forms of name are taken, from
Academy," vol. xviii.
'47 This most remarkable of the Forts at
Tara is indicated on Plates 6, 7.
'4^ The greater part of this territory now
Tripartite Life has
Eochadius alter. "
'
Hibernenses omnes
the Irish Tiipartite Life, and the second forms, from the Latin version,
''' The Irish Tripartite Life adds, twenty four tribes—i. e. old tribes—that were in the country, as if these were to be under their jurisdiction.
" and of Tara Hill," History Antiquities
p. 167. "Transactions of the Royal Irish
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 6u
it, when I was in the Islands of the Tyrrhene Sea, and I knew not whether within or without me these words were spoken, so that I shall go with you, into
your country to baptize, to teach, and to announce the Gospel. " Then the holy man asked for what reason Conall had come there, when he related the whole
case to Patrick. The latter ** Go in said,
now,
as the doors are
open
and,
;
go to my faithful friend, Eoghan Mac Neill, who will assist you, if you lay
hold, secretly, of the finger next his little finger, for such is always a sign
between us. " And so it was done. When the prince approached,
what is Patrick's wish ? Conall said, That
;
you assist me. " Conall afterwards observed, If it be according to youth,
precedenceinaking'shouseorlandistobegiven,Iamtheyoungest; if according to mother's age, Enna Cromm is the oldest. " To his remarks,
""""
Welcome," said Eoghan
*'
" Honor to the and converse with the senior, truly,
Laeghaire replied :
learned; but,ifjewelsandtreasuresaregiventoanyone,however,Iwillnot
deprive him of them. " Thus, Laeghaire, King of Tara, and his brother Eoghan, son of Niell, decided the dispute. It is said, however, that the
Monarch Laeghaire had treacherously instigated Aengus to kill St. Patrick andConall,whenallweresettingouttogetherfromTara. Inthisplot,too,
Aengus endeavoured to engage Fergus and FedhUmidh, afterwards, while on their journey. They went along, and Patrick with them ; while the latter gave his chariot to Conall, so that it was the thirteenth chariot, in their tra,in. On setting out, they went northwards, towards their country. That place, which Aengus had fixed for the fratricide, is said to have been in Corann. ^^s Fergus simulated sleep. His brothers refused, however, what had been proposed to
them. " We will not kill the said innocent,"
they,
brother. " Aengus went towards St. Patrick, however, intending to kill him ;
and, he was accompanied by two bands, and by two Druids, namely, Reon,'49 or Roen,'5o and Rechred,'5i or Rechet,'52 of the race of Faelan the Warrior. These lay in wait, not more than a mile from that place, whence St. Patrick first saw his enemies. A cross, from the west of Cross-Patrick to Cill-Forclann,
accuracy,atthepresentday; for,CrosPhadruic,or thecrossofPatrick,"still retainsitsoriginalname. '^s ThatofKill-Forclann'54isnowobsolete,andall traces of the church are removed j'ss but, the site was pointed out, not so very long ago, on a rising ground, about half a mile from Killala. 'ss The plot against our saint's life failed, however, while the Druids, Reon^57 and Rech- red,'58 were defeated, at Telach-na-Druadh. 'S9 The latter miserably perished,
designated the situation. These two places can be determined, with sufficient "
forms the barony of Corran, which is nearly in the centre of the County Sligo.
called. In 1831, the place was called Killy-
''*' So is he in the Irish called,
Tripartite. '5° Thus is he named, in the Latin Tripar-
'ss About sixty perches, to the left of the road, leading from this town to Palmers- town,
'S? The legend adds, how Reon said, that the ground should swallow Patrick, on the place where he should be seen. This was related to Patrick. " It is I, who shall see him first," said Patrick. When Patrick therefore saw Reon, the ground swallowed
" I will said he, "if I him up. believe,"
am rescued. " Then, the ground flung him up, until he was above the winds, and he fell down half alive.
'ss The legend tells us, that Rechred was also lifted up, and cast down violently, until his head was broken against the rock, and that fire from Heaven burned him.
tite.
'5' He is so called, in the Irish version of
the Tripartite.
'5= Thus is his name written, in the Latin
Tripartite Life. He is called Rochait, by Jocelyn.
•53 It is now that of a townland, contain- ing an ancient churchyard, with some traces
the latter place.
'54 It is said to have been east of Cross-
Patrick.
'55 The natives of this district stated, that
parts of the church walls were originally so
of church ruins. It is to situated,
the right of the road leading from Ballina to Killala, and it lies about one mile southwards, from
brone. levelled.
Then the church walls were totally
" and we will not our slay
6i2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 17.
but the former believed, and he was baptized. It is stated, too, that Feadelm, the daughter of Amhalgaidh, had died a long time before these events.
" I will
Apostle is recorded to have worked the wonderful miracle of raising her from
the dead, and of presenting Feadelm to her brother. In fear and astonish- ment, after those miracles, Aengus then asked the saint's pardon, for his past offences; he,too,believedandhewasafterwardsbaptized.
A blind man went in great haste, to meet St. Patrick, on hearing the wonder- ful miracles he wrought ;'^° for, the desire of being healed, from his infirmity, urged him. Having no guide, however, the bhnd man fell more than once.
"
My </^- broth"^^^ said the holy man, " it would be fitter that you were the blind person, thanhe,whoseeksaremedyfromtheSunofJustice. " Theblindmanwasthen healed,andtheclericbecameblind. Afterwards,thepersonrestoredpraised the Almighty for that favour conferred upon him. Ruan, or Roan, the son of Cucnamha, or Conchmamha, Amhalgaidh's charioteer, or servant, was the person healed, at Roi-Ruain, or Rae-Roain, which was the name of that place. Migna, or Midgna, was the name of that disciple who was blinded ; and, another disciple of St. Patrick, who was called Donnmalius, remained with him, leading the life of a hermit, in Disert-Patrick, near the well and church at Cross Patrick. Afterwards, in commemoration of the miracle wrought, Rae-Roain belonged to St. Patrick. The Blessed Apostle met two lame men,^^^ in Ochtar-Caerthin,'^3 or Huachtar Charthuinn. '^* They com- plained to him regarding their infirmity, for they found it difficult to proceed through the mountains or plains, where they were obliged to travel. These poor men moved Patrick to compassionate them, and they were healed. He tlien went to Domhnach-Mor, or Donaghmore,'^s where Bishop Mucna'^^ was placed, and where, too, he had been buried. ^^' He went, aftenvards, to Cross-Patrick, where a noble, named Aedh Fota, or " the tall," who was son of Eochaidh, son of Oengus, came to him ; and, Patrick healed him from lameness, at a fountain, to the west of Cross-Patrick. In gratitude for the favour he received, Aedh presented to Patrick a plot of land there, on which hefoundedachurchorresidence. Helefttwoofhisfamilythere,likewise, viz. : Teloc'^^ and Nemnall, or Domnald. '^^ The great success of the Irish
Apostle had excited the envy and hatred of the Magi, who found therein theirpopularityandinfluenceonthewane. Findingtheycouldnotoppose him publicly, a number of them conspired to lie in wait for him, while he
Then, Aengus said,
believe,
if sister be resuscitated. " The Irish my
Thoughtlessly enough, one of St. Patrick's people laughed at him.
'S9 The Druid's rock is there, and near it
there was a church, at Cross-Patrick, which was eastwards from Telach-na-Druadh.
^layo. See John O'Donovan's " Genea-
logics. Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiach-
rach," n. (d), p. 466.
''* He is also called and he is Muicin,
thought to have been venerated, on the 4th of March,
'*7 He is said to have been the patron
saint of Maighin, or Moyne, near Killala.
At Moyne, a great abbey was afterwards erected .
'<'* His name is vaguely conjectured, by Colgan, to agi-ee with that of Tolan, of Disert Tola, whose feast occurs, at the 30th
of March, or with that of Tellean, of Tegli- Telle, venerated at the 25th of June,
'^^ No attempt, at identification, has been made, under this form, in the Latin Tripar- tite, nor in that preceding, as found in the Irish version,
between to the Irish Tripartite Life.
them, according
Glas-Conaigh lay
"^ Jocelyn relates this stoiy, but in a
manner quite different from that of the Tri-
partite. See cap. cxxiv. , p. 93.
'*" ** As God is my judge," Colgan inter-
this which was a favourite expression,
prets
one with St. Patrick, when he made any solemn asseveration.
'*" The Irish Tripartite calls them bacac/is.
'*3 Thus is the place named, in the Irish Tripartite Life. Its identification does not
appear.
'** Thus is the name found, in the Latin
Tripartite Life.
"s It is found, in the parish of Killala,
and barony of Tyrawley, and county of
'7° Jocelyn tells us, that those Magi as*
March 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 613
was in the region of Tyrawley. Here a snare was contrived for his destruc- tion. ^70 But, Enna'71 saw that the Druids or Magi wished to murder St.
and to
" of the Hilltop
the sons of Amal- King
prevent
their he said to his son " Go and designs, Conall,
Patrick,
protect Patrick, that the Magi may not kill him. " '7^ The holy man per- ceived them, but a Heavenly Power protected him, for ethereal fire burned those Magi, to the number of nine. '^a Thus, was Patrick triumphant, over
the plots of his persecutors.
Traversing that region, the holy man journeyed towards the ocean, where
the fish-abounding Moy opens into Killala Bay. Here, he wished to establish
a See. He then founded Kilmore-Moy,'74 or Cill-Alaidh, now Killala,'7S over which he placed, as bishop, St. Muredach,^? ^ one of his illustrious
disciples, who belonged to the race of Laeghaire, son of Niall, the King of all Ireland. Here, too, Patrick baptized two celebrated virgins, that called
upon him, in the region of Caille-Fochladh,^77 firom their mother's womb, and while he was in the Islands of the Tyrrhene Sea. Those virgins'^s were Crebrea and Lasra^79 or Lassara,'^° the two daughters of Glerann,'^' son of Cummen,'^^ or Cumine. They are patronesses of Cill-Forglainn, or Kill-fhor- clann,'^3inHy-AmhalghaidhorTirawley,tothewestoftheMuaidh. There, the relics of those holy sisters were preserved, and with a special devotion.
"
the tribe Mac Amalgaidh," which was the ancient name of MuUaghfarry, or
St. Patrick went to Forrach-mac-Amalghaidh, or
the assembly-ground of
near Killala. '^•^
gaidh, with their subjects, had been assembled, at a great public convention.
Then, our glorious Apostle seized on this great opportunity, for announcing the Gospel of Christ, and for unsheathing the sword of the spirit, against those errors of idolatry that abounded. ^^^ The Lord helped him with signs and miracles. One day, coming to a place called Fearta, he found two women dead. The bodies lay buried on a hillside. '^^ Invoking the name
Assembly,"
Here,
'^'
Jocelyn does not otherwise name them, '^^ Thus is the name spelled, in the Irish
'? ' He was the son of Amalgaidh.
'72 Jocelyn says, that Conuall entered in the Latin Tripartite Life. Nennius is the
sumed white hoods, the more readily to deceive St. Patrick.
among the Magi, but only to finistrate their
designs.
'" Jocelyn tells us, that by his making a
sign of the cross there, a healing fountain
sprung from the ground.
'7* Sometimes this See was known as that
of Tir-Amalgaid, or of Hy-Fiachra-mui.
'75 In the barony of Tyrawley, and county
of Mayo.
'7* His feast occurs, at the 12th of August.
name, however, as given by the Scholiast on St. Fiach's Hymn, n. 15/, p. 5.
'^^ in Dr. O'Donovan's correspondence
from Mayo, June 2nd, 1838, he identifies the site of its church rums, although the
building had long disappeared. His interest- ing account is contained, in the Ordnance
Survey Memoirs, regarding the county of Mayo, as now preserved in the Royal Irish
'77 The Scholiast on St. Fiach
on Caille Fochlaidh, towards the north, and
in a maritime situation, on the Connaught Addenda P. , p. 466. The townland of coast, near to and west of the River Moy,
was their church of Foreland, where these
holy daughters were buried. See nn. 15/,
16 q, p. 5.
that
'78 Their feasts do not seem to have been distinguished, in our Calendars. "St. Patrick and the Children of Fochlut Wood," by Aubrey De Vere, is a poem, that appears among "The Legends of St. Patrick," pp. 60 to 82.
'79 So is she called, in the Irish Tripartite. By the Scholiast on St. Fiach, she is named Lassia.
'^° The Latin Tripartite Life thus writes her name.
'^•* See
Tiibes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach.
states,
John
Genealogies, "
Tripartite Life. Cumine is the rendering,
Academy, at p. 235.
"
O'Donovan's
Farragh, within the parish of Ballisakeery, between Ballina and Killala, indicates the site. Tirechan spells the word Forrgea.
"
likewise there. See the correspondence of
John O'Donovan, Mayo, 17th May, 1838,
among the Ordnance Survey Memoirs for Mayo County, preserved in the Royal Irish Academy's Li—brary, p. 59.
'^^ Jocelyn apparently confounding the narrative as found in his sources for infor- mation—states, that a certain Magus, Ro- chait, by name, there I'ising up to oppose
St. Patrick's preaching, was destroyed by fire from Heaven.
Cnoc-a-tionol, or the
Hill of Meeting," is
6i4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 17.
of Christ, at their tomb, he ordered the heap of earth to be removed, and he restored them again to Hfe. '^7 One of these women had been pregnant, at the time of her death. '^^ The story goes, that Patrick and Conall went to the grave, where the dead pregnant woman had been buried,^^? and they travelled, by the lower road leading to Cill-Alaidh. Aengus, however, went bytheupperroad. Whentheyhadreachedthegrave,Patrickresuscitatedthe woman,andherunbornson. Wearetold,moreover,thatbothwerebaptized, inthewell,whichwascalled,Aenadharca,'9°or"theone-hornedhill. "'9' These
miracles were wrought, at Killala church. Being resuscitated, she preached to the multitudes there assembled, regarding the pains of hell and the rewards of heaven. With tears, she prayed her brother, that he would beUeve on account ofGodandPatrick. Hecompliedwithherwishes,andhewasbaptized. On
**
that day, twelve thousand were baptized in Tobur-enadharch,'9^ or
of Aen-adherca," '93 with the seven sons of Amhalgaidh, including Enna,'9* and the king. '9S And, Patrick left Magister Manchen,'96 also called Mancenus,'97 or Manchan the Master,'98 with them. ^99 He was well versed in the Scriptures, and his knowledge of dogma and morals caused him to receivethespecialtitlebestowedonhim. Thesegreateventsarethought to have realized St. Patrick's dream of the wood, and of the converts, near Foclut. =°° It has been frequently asserted, that not one drop of human bloodwasshed,duringthepeacefulprogressofSt. Patrick'scareer. Never- theless, we cannot forbear to mention, the cheerful sacrifices which were madebyhim,inthecauseofrehgion. Tosuchperilousadventuresasthose already related, he doubtless alludes, in his Confessions, where he states : " I came to the Irish nation to preach the Gospel, and to endure reproach from unbelievers. I heard them upbraid me as a stranger, and I suffered many persecutions, even unto chains. Yet, I gave myself up, without re- serve, for their advantage. And, if I was held worthy, I am ready, imme- diately and cheerfully, to lay down my life for His name's sake. " He adds :
" I spent myself, that they might comprehend me ; and everywhere among you, I advanced for your sake in many dangers, into distant regions, where nobody before had ever come, to baptize them, or to ordain them, or to con- firm their people in the faith. Now, all these things I did, by the grace of God, diligently and cheerfully for your salvation. In the meantime, I was giving rewards to their kings and to their children, who remained along with me ; and, nevertheless they seized me, and in that day, they sought most
*^^
Such is the account, as contained in Crom had been nominated as Dynast of St. Patrick's Acts, b)' Jocelyn. See cap.
