Its site had been
presented
to him, by the people, in perpetual fee.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
A
about the beginning of the sixth century ; yet, not in the Monastery of Clonard, of which he received possession, only about the
year 540.
3' In the Life of our saint, as published by
the Bollandists, it is said, "accepto gradu
valedicens Magistro," &c. These expressions show, that the writer of our saint's Acts
ferred to was St. Finnian.
'^ This territory was within the province
of Munster, and under distinctive denomina- tions.
"The text has "ibique primitus apud Mac-Cunethin locum sibi constituit. "
" Papebroch suggests, it is more proba- ble, that Mac-Cuncthan should be written Mac-Kincpthum, as Kinoethus was an Irish
name well recognised, according to the histo-
rical Indices of Colgan. It was not known to Papebroch, that the person named was an Irish saint. See n. (e), p. 383.
3= Without warrant, Challoner as- ISishop
sumes, that Kuadhan founded an Abbey, at Muscrigia, or Muscrity, in Munster, and a
flourished at a recent comparatively
>* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
rilisxv. Vita S. Rodani, cap. i. , sect. L, pp.
382. 383-
3' This town and parish are in the barony
of Lower Ormond, and descriiied, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Tipperary," Sheets I, 3, 4, 5, 7. The town and townland are on Sheet 4.
Formerly, Lorrha lay within the territory of MuscraigeTire, the extent ofwhichis defined, by Sir Charles O'Carroll, in a letter to the
LordDeputy,a. d. 1585. Itwascomprised, also, within the principality of Thomond.
period, and when the conferring of University de- grees were established. The master here re-
Ap-
different one at Lothra. See Sancta," Part i. , p. 227.
"
Britannia
152 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 15.
collection of venerable ruins yet remain, but bearing a comparatively modern date. The old Dominican Abbey ruins 3' are the most picturesque, and they are situate witliin a cemetery, beside a small stream, which flows into the Friars' Lough,4° a little below the village of Lorrah, and thence into the Shannon. High old woods and copse trees crown the rising grounds, on its left bank. ^' Beside the Dominican church ruins, those of a medisval mill are to be found,
and on the stream's right bank, where they are seen, a deep cut through a rocky surface may be traced. Besides the foregoing interesting remains, there is a singular old mediaeval house, at Lorrah. Its walls are massive, and per- forated with windows. One of its gables was surmounted by a belfry. *" It consisted of two stories, and it is now thickly covered with ivy, on the gables. In the graveyard surrounding it are the pedestal and broken shaft of a mas- sive Irish cross. « This spot seems to have been the original site for St.
Ruadhan's Monastery, and it posseses the advantage of situation, over that
occupied by the old Dominican Abbey. It is generally supposed, that our saint founded his religious house,*'* at Lorrah, somewh—at near a. d. 550.
Ab—out the same time, St. Brendan Mac-Tualt *5 or rather perhaps Ua
See "The Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhaijain and Giolla na Naomh
O'Huidhrin," edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , p. Ixx. , n. 613.
3* In the first Life of St. Kieran of Saighir.
as published by Colgan, St. Ruadan is said to have been Abbot of Lothra, or Lorrah, during Kieran's lifetime. See Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. X. , sect, ii. , n. 31, p. 9, and chap, xii. , nn. 182. 183, pp. 233, 234-
3' An engraving of these will be found, in
" The Dublin Penny Journal," vol. ii. , No.
86. A description of the old building fol- lows, by T. A. , but the writer seems to have
been very uninformed, regarding the history of the place. See pp. 265, 266.
The Tipperary and Clare Mountains stretch off towards the south. The ruined walls are nearly three feet in thickness, and the church measured fifty feet, in length, by twenty-four, in breadth. The eastern gable is nearly perfect, with an elegant lancet-shaped win- dow of cut stone ; and, it has a semi-circular arch, beautifully turned, on the interior splay. At the other end, the grble has dis- appeared ; but, the side walls are tolerably preserved, except where there is a little breach on the south side. There the only en- trancedooroncestood. Achamberofsmall dimensions occupied the west end, and a ruinous cross-wall may yet be traced there, with a door havhig cut stone jambs curiously contrived and placed. This church is evi- dently an ancient one ; but, only unbaptized infants are now buried within its walls.
a for not far from and in a
Alt *^ had erected
town,calledTulach-Brendin. *^ Bothoftheseestablishmentsweresonear,
residence
himself,
Ruadhan,
*° This deep pool is now of mo<lerate size,
although before the bottom lands around it
underwent drainage, a vast sheet of water The fields around it are called the Church
spread over them, from below tlie Dominican
Parks.
the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and engraved by Mrs. Millard.
ruins. The
bream, perch and roach, in the Fiiars' visist to this place, the author drew the Lough. During a visit to the place, in accompanying sketch, since transferred to
catch
August, 1869, the writer had an opportunity for taking those notes from information ob-
Abbey
angler may
pike,
tained on the
*' At the distance of half a mile, on a
sloping ground the other side, are the ruins
of Porilanil old church, and a graveyard ex-
tends around it, but now disused for pur-
poses of interment. The railway from Birr
to Portumna interposes through a low, moory feast is assigned to the l6th of . May, where bottom. The site of Portland church is truly his Life will be found. But, as he remarks, magnificent, and it dominates over an arm the latter was son to Finlocha, son of Athil, of the River Shannon, spreading into Lough according to the Manuscript Life, at St. Derg, at some distance below. Rich pasture Maximinius. See, at cap. i. , n. (f), p. 383. lands surround the ruins, and have com-
spot.
engraving.
pletely obliterated the graveyard ; but, vene- rable old ash and hawthorn trees grow near the well-jointed and massive lime-stones.
conjecture of Papebroch.
*" This we deem to be the correct read-
ing.
*' In on the occasion of a August, 1856,
*3 This is shown in the object
** By Archdall, it is called, an Abbey of "
Regular Canons. See Monasticon Hiber- nicum. " p. 666.
5 The Bollandist editor supposed him to have been St. Brendan, the Navigator, whose
Perhaps, Tualt is used for Athil, whicli is the
April 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISIT SAINTS. 153
that the bells of either churches were heard, at one and the same station.
" I and Ruadan cannot dwell together therefore, I am resolved on leaving this place for him. " Brendan then went
and he built Clonfert,*' and Ruadhan blessed him, " Thy forth, saying, city
shall not be less important than mine. "<' When St. Ruadhan went out from
the northern parts of Ireland, he wrought many wonders, and he acquired a
He wished, likewise, to establish a residence for himself, in that quarter ; but, a certain man, on whose lands he desired to build, took him by the hand, and prevented him. It is stated, that the sea and the sea-shore 5° covered the fields of this man, so that they were no longer habitable. 5'
CHAPTER II.
MIRACLES WROUGHT BV ST. RUADHAN—HE VISITS TIR-OLLEA—HE RESTORES TO HEALTH THE QUEEN OF KING KCALAIN—HE BRINGS TO LIFE THE SON OF A BRITISH KING—HIS COMMUNITY AND THEIR SIMPLE HABITS OF LIVING AT LORRHA.
On a certain day, when St. Ruadan came to a city, which was called Snam- Luthir,' in the territory of Carbry's Race," it chanced, that the dead body of
the king, who ruled over this district, was brought in a chariot, to that city. Allhisformersubjectswerebewailinghisdeath. Ruadan,compassionating them, prayed to the Lord, and the king was instantly restored to life. After- wards, the ruler presented his city Luthir,' and his subjects, for the future disposal of St Ruadan. On a certain day, when St. Ruadan came to a place, called Roys-Enni,« which seems to have been in Hi-crich-archer. s he found a
great crowd of people there, and he asked for what purpose they had assem- "
Whereupon, Brendan said
:
;
and,
large parish.
bled. They answered, saying, In this city, during a great morUlity, the
*i Clonfert U said to have been situated on the cuiifiiies of Coniiaugfat and of Oriiiond, See cap. i. , n. (g), p. 383.
*• It may be a-. ked, wtiere Tulach-Brendin is now to be found,
•The Life says, "magnam parochiam ibiacquisivit,"&c. This ecclesiastical term comes from the Greeks, and we do not find, that before the end of the fourth century, parochta, or parislies, were formed in Italy. See Bergier's" Dictionnaire de Theologie," sub voct, Paroi&se, tome lii. . p 614.
Hibemise," xx. Jannaiii. Vita S. Fechini, cap. xxx. , and nn. 18, 19, pp. 136, 141.
5° Fromthisstatement. ihe
have been some maiiiime spot; but, where it was situated Acems a matter difficult 10 deter- "I"*-
5' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis XT. Vita S. Ruadani, cap. i. , secu 2, P- 3*^3-
Chapter ii. — 'In Colgan's "Trias Thauniaturga," Vita quarta S. Columl. se, lib. ii. ,nn, 34, 35, p. 384, weare told, thatthis Snam-Luthir was situated, in the territory, which was calle<l Carbre-Gabra, orCarbre- Mor, and sometimes Carbre Droma Cliabh. A certain St. Coleman, who is venerated at the 1st of January, istliought, by Colgan, to have been the founder of Snam-Luihir monastery. See, also, "Acta Sanctorum
Lorrha, . Tlthougha doubt had been exprrssed, at the Acts 01 St. Kieran, cap. 3, and lit (d), as to whether it had been the monastery of St. Ruadi. m, in Ormoml. However, meeting this word in
place appearsto
its present connexion,
•
It is placed, by Coliian, as a maritime
region, in Northern Connaught, and where
th^- Monasteryof Drumcliffhad beenfounded, in the t me of St. Columba. See Hid.
3 Papebroke appends a comment, at this word, l. uihir, which is deemed to have Iwen
I. uihir.
seems to have removed all doubt, as to its identity with Lorrha, from the mind of the etiitor.
Aprilis xv. De S. Rodano, &c. , cap. i. , sect, 3, n. (i). PP- 383, 384.
See ''Acia Sanctorum," lomus ii. ,
* The only denomination, approaching this locality in pronunciation, that I can find, is Kosscna, a townlanci in the parish of Kill-
abban, and barony of Slieveniartjy, which is described, on the "Ordnance Survey Town-
land Alaps for the Queen's County," Sheet 32.
s Amotig the Irish territorial denomina-
lions, I have not been able to find any simi- '
larly named,
IS4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 15.
people's substance had been buried in the earth f but, we know not, in what particularplace,thattreasurewashidden. " Then,Rodanwentthroughthe
circuit of the city, which he blessed, and sounding his bell, he prayed. Im- mediately, the earth's surface opened over that spot, where the people's sub- stance lay. Wherefore, the inhabitants of this place, giving thanks to God, presented their city and the neighbouring territory to St. Ruadan. ' After these occurrences, our saint proceeded from the north, to his sister Daroi. ' It would appear, she lived within the country of Ailell's Race ;' and, at a place called Senchue, he founded an establishment of some sort.
Its site had been presented to him, by the people, in perpetual fee. The following legend seems to have reference to this place. At a certain time, a cook brought milk from a cattle-stall,'° into the city. For seven successive days, as he entered the town, the milk was spilled on the ground. At length, St. Ruadan went to the city entrance, to learn the cause for these accidents. There he saw two Demons ; one of these was at the right, and the other at the left, in the suburbs. Those malignant spirits struck the vessels, in which themilkwascontained,andfromeitherside. Thesevesselsfellbrokenonthe ground, off the horse that bore them. It is said, that the Demons acted in this manner, because the cook was not hospitable to the monastic guests. Then, St. Ruadan sent the Demons to the depths of the sea, so that they might not inflict more damage upon human beings. "
A certain young man, belonging to Aradaib-Cliachu," wishing to study the art of medicine, entreated St. Ruadan's blessing, on his hands. Then, our
saint blessed his hands and eyes, when immediately he became perfect, in every
branch of the healing art. At the same time, the Queen of King Kualain,
within a certain territory,'^ was afflicted with an incurable distemper; and,
we are told, that fifty physicians were in attendance on her, without their
being able to restore her to health. Abandoning all hope of receiving relief,
at the hands of her medical advisers, the Queen committed herself to the
power of God and of St. Ruadan. The Angel of the Lord came to our saint,
and told him, that Kualain's wife should be restored through him, as the phy-
sicians knew not the nature of her complaint. '* Our saint appeared to the
Queen, in a nocturnal vision, and he was surrounded with great light. Then,
"
; for, I shall send to you a youth, clothed in a particular habit, on an appointed day. He shall heal you from this infirmity. Leave, therefore, those physicians, who cannot heal you. " Saying these words, our saint disappeared. On another day, St.
he said to her,
Fear not, you must be restored to health
'This may serve to throw some light on the purposes, for which so many Irish earth- caves were constructed.
'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis XV. Vita S. Rodani, cap. i. , sect. 3, p.
383. ^
Probably Daria, or Dora, an Irish femi- nine name.
' This country was called Tir-olella. The place Senchue, or Senchua, as also the ter- ritory, in which it was situated, lay beyond the Shannon, in relation to the ancient ter- ritories of Meath. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Tripartita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xxxv. , p. 134.
'° The Latin word in the text, for this ren- dering, is "a bocceto," which Papebroke derives from two Greek words. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Aprilis xv. , n. (l),
cap. i. , p. 384.
" See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap-
rilis xv. Vita S. Kodani, cap. i. , sect. 4, p.
383.
"In Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Vita Tripartita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , n. 63,
a midland territory of Munster, near to Limerick, and
eastwards from it. "3Thewordsinthetextare, "infinibus
Legensium. " To these words, Papebroke has appended this comment : "An Lagenien- slum, Ita arbitramur. " See "Acta Sancto- ram," tomus ii. , Aprilis xv. De S. Rodano, &c. , cap. i. , sect. S, p. 383, and n. (n), p. 384.
"The text adds: " habet enim in uteto cruentum partum. "
Aracliach is said to have been
April 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. iSS
Ruadan called the young man, whose hands he had blessed, and he then said : « Go to Kualain's Queen, and heal her. " Taking his brazen vessel, wliich was filled with water, Ruadan blessed it. Following certain instructions, this young man departed, and he executed the orders of our saint. 's Soon the Queen's health was restored. According to the desire of our saint, this young physician would receive no other fee for his services, except linen, belonging to Kin'' Kualain. For a length of time, and to commemorate such a mira- cle, this linen was suspended over the altar, at Lothra. '*
We are told, that on another occasion, a ship belonging to Brandan was submerged in the depths of a sea, called Livemnech,"' whilst a son of the King of Britain '* chanced to be sleeping, in the prow of his vessel. Where-
He even
The number of St. Ruadan's religious is said to have been thrice fifty men. " BythebountyofGod,thesewerefurnishedwithamiraculouskind of food, procured for them, without further labour on their part, but such as proceeded from their prayers and fastings. '3 In the place where they dwelt grew a linden tree,'* which distilled a certain luscious sap,'' into a vessel,
5 The text has it :
"
ter viri. "
adds, way of by
'' said to his own " Go to Rodan for to him hath people : :
upon, Brandan
the Lord granted the elevation of our ship, from the deep, and the resuscita- tion of the King's son, who has been drowned in it. " The messengers went to St. Rodan. He then proceeded with them, and he prayed at the place,-" where that vessel had been lost Immediately, the ship arose from the deep,
and bearing the king's son, who was alive and safe within it.
appeared as if he were sleeping. The prince then said, that during the time he was beneath the water, St. Rodan had placed a hood around his head, so as to save him from suffocation. "
dedit
ilUque bibens 5tatim genuit cruentum pat-
tum et mortuum, quem in utero habebat. " " See "Acta Saiictonim," tomus ii. , Ap- rilU XT. Viu S. Rodani, cap. i. , sect. 5, 6,
P- 383-
"' Papebroke obsenres, in a note, that pro-
faabljr we should read Lumnech ; and, that below this city, the Shannon opens into a great estuary. It \% now known as Limerick, aciiy formerly of great importance, as it is at the present time. See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , ApriiisxT. , n. (o), p. 384.
'•
in a note, the circum- stancehererelatedneednotseemsurprising; for, at that time, Ireland was the school of religion and of letters, not only for the neighbouring Britons, but even for more re-
mote nations. See iMd. , n. (r).
« On this passage, Papebroch remarks, that St. Brandan, who was far removed from the place, must be supposed to have known of it, through some iaspiration, as Clonfert, he thoujjht, was a journey of four or even more days, from that estuary alluded to ; while, the habitation uf St. Rodan was much nearer, and therefore, St. Brendan preferred sending his disciples to Lorrha. See Hid. , n.
(q).
"» Probably, Lough Derg, on the Shannon, and not far distant from Ix>rrha, is meant.
Papebroch
Papebroke says,
furnish us with the following legend:
one time, there were four score Friars, four
"See" Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- 385-
rilis XV. Vita S.
P- 383-
sect.
"5 We ask, if this were a 7, may
Rodani, cap. L,
maple-tree, like to that, from which sugar-sap is known todistil,intheAmericanwoods? Itmaybe,
"Thewordsinthetext "
are, quinqua-
potum Reginae
:
ginta
comment: " Id est centum quinquaginta :
nisi quio putat pro ter legendum ires ; qui
sane esset exigiius numerus, respectu mul- tituilinis discipulurum aliis Sanctis passim adhxrentium. —"Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Aprilis xv. Vita S. Rodani, cap. ii. , n. (a), p. 385. In a letter received from Mi». Anne Russell, a lady residing in the Catholic parishes of Lorha and Durrow, and which is dated Lackeen, May 6th, 1854, the writer is informed, that the traditions of this place
— scoregreyhorses,andfourscorenuns all
Marys—in those Abbeys and
Monasteries. " Allusion is made to the ruins yet existing at
Lorrah.
by praising the Lord of the elements.
» " " in the This tree is called arbor Tilia,
Life of St. Finiiian, published by Colgan, at
the 23rd of February. Papebroke observes, that he would wish nothing of a more incre- dible character were tobe found, in the Lives
"
Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Aprilis xv. , cap. ii. , n. (b), p,
»3 the This, too, is stated by
O'Clerys There were one hundred and fifty persons in this congr^ation, and they used to obtain sufficiency always, without human labour to sustain them, by continually praying to and
of Irish §aints. See
"
At
:
iS6
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April 15.
placed beneath it. With this miraculous liquor, the monks and the guests of the monastery were regaled, and it had the taste of wine. Each of those, who
partook of it, tilled a cup with the liquor. They fed upon herbs, also, and they lived in a very simple manner. ^* But, the chief saints of Ireland, it is
related, felt jealous regarding such miracles. They murmured against Ruadan,
because their monks and alumni left them, and went to him.
with these complaints, they visited St. Finnian, Bishop of Clonard. He accompanied them to Ruadan, to entreat his abandonment of this idle style of living, lest he should furnish occasion for envy and murmuring to other saints. When St. Finnian entered the city of Ruadan, and when he
saw the tree already mentioned, elevating his hand, he blessed it.
Imme-
diately the sap ceased to flow, so that, on the night succeeding, the liquor sufficed only for sustenance of the monastic family, and not for its guests. '''
Thereupon, the cook, with the guests, preferred a complaint to St. Ruadan.
"
The latter said,
Pour out spring water for our guests, and it shall be changed
intowineforthem. " Whenthecookwenttodrawwaterfromthefountain,
suddenly a fish of wonderful size issued through the rocky bottom of the well.
At that time, when the Acts of our saint were written, we are informed, that
the imprint or shape of this water-occupant might be seen, in the place indi-
cated. This fish was set before the guests, and also the water, which had beenturnedintowine. Theyfeltinebriated,bythislatterbeverage,andfell
into a sleep. Then, the Irish saints besought Ruadan, that he would place his monks on the same standing, with tlieir own religious brethren. He hum- bly complied with their desires. St. Finnian then said to Ruadan, and to his monks, " Do you plough and reap your fields. These shall produce fruitful crops forever, without further culture or manure. " Afterwards, St. Finnian
blessed
St^
Ruadan, his house and lands, and then retired in ^^ It is peace.
that our Irish soil and climate have under- gone changes, in a long lapse of ages, to ac- count for such a vegetable product.
°' The words in the text are "oleraque similiter comedebant. " These words seem to me as implying, that the herbs were pro- vided, also, through a miracle,
deraret, verteretur. De hoc liquore plenum vas in hora pra:dicta inveniebatiir, de quo omnes fratres sufficientur in I'randio pasce- bantur. Ab hoia vero nona usque ad horam occasus solis vasis dimidietas de
li- quore inveniebatur, de quo hospites satie- bantur. Audita vero hujus miraculi fama, ''^ In a note, at this passage, Papebroch multi sanctorum venerunt ad S. Finnianum,
:
" Eam scilicet portionem, quae ab
rogantes ut cum eis ad cellam S. Ruadani
observes
hora 9 usque ad solis occasum fluens (quera-
admocium in Vita praedicta dicitur) medieta-
tem implebat suppositi vasis, ad usuni hospi-
tum ante nocteni supervenientium. "—"Acta descendens pervennit cum eis usque ad
Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Aprilis xv. Vita S. Rodani, cap. ii. , n. (c), p. 385.
'* See " Acta Sanctorum," lomusii. , Ap- rilis XV. Vita S. Ruadani, cap.
about the beginning of the sixth century ; yet, not in the Monastery of Clonard, of which he received possession, only about the
year 540.
3' In the Life of our saint, as published by
the Bollandists, it is said, "accepto gradu
valedicens Magistro," &c. These expressions show, that the writer of our saint's Acts
ferred to was St. Finnian.
'^ This territory was within the province
of Munster, and under distinctive denomina- tions.
"The text has "ibique primitus apud Mac-Cunethin locum sibi constituit. "
" Papebroch suggests, it is more proba- ble, that Mac-Cuncthan should be written Mac-Kincpthum, as Kinoethus was an Irish
name well recognised, according to the histo-
rical Indices of Colgan. It was not known to Papebroch, that the person named was an Irish saint. See n. (e), p. 383.
3= Without warrant, Challoner as- ISishop
sumes, that Kuadhan founded an Abbey, at Muscrigia, or Muscrity, in Munster, and a
flourished at a recent comparatively
>* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
rilisxv. Vita S. Rodani, cap. i. , sect. L, pp.
382. 383-
3' This town and parish are in the barony
of Lower Ormond, and descriiied, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Tipperary," Sheets I, 3, 4, 5, 7. The town and townland are on Sheet 4.
Formerly, Lorrha lay within the territory of MuscraigeTire, the extent ofwhichis defined, by Sir Charles O'Carroll, in a letter to the
LordDeputy,a. d. 1585. Itwascomprised, also, within the principality of Thomond.
period, and when the conferring of University de- grees were established. The master here re-
Ap-
different one at Lothra. See Sancta," Part i. , p. 227.
"
Britannia
152 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 15.
collection of venerable ruins yet remain, but bearing a comparatively modern date. The old Dominican Abbey ruins 3' are the most picturesque, and they are situate witliin a cemetery, beside a small stream, which flows into the Friars' Lough,4° a little below the village of Lorrah, and thence into the Shannon. High old woods and copse trees crown the rising grounds, on its left bank. ^' Beside the Dominican church ruins, those of a medisval mill are to be found,
and on the stream's right bank, where they are seen, a deep cut through a rocky surface may be traced. Besides the foregoing interesting remains, there is a singular old mediaeval house, at Lorrah. Its walls are massive, and per- forated with windows. One of its gables was surmounted by a belfry. *" It consisted of two stories, and it is now thickly covered with ivy, on the gables. In the graveyard surrounding it are the pedestal and broken shaft of a mas- sive Irish cross. « This spot seems to have been the original site for St.
Ruadhan's Monastery, and it posseses the advantage of situation, over that
occupied by the old Dominican Abbey. It is generally supposed, that our saint founded his religious house,*'* at Lorrah, somewh—at near a. d. 550.
Ab—out the same time, St. Brendan Mac-Tualt *5 or rather perhaps Ua
See "The Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhaijain and Giolla na Naomh
O'Huidhrin," edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , p. Ixx. , n. 613.
3* In the first Life of St. Kieran of Saighir.
as published by Colgan, St. Ruadan is said to have been Abbot of Lothra, or Lorrah, during Kieran's lifetime. See Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. X. , sect, ii. , n. 31, p. 9, and chap, xii. , nn. 182. 183, pp. 233, 234-
3' An engraving of these will be found, in
" The Dublin Penny Journal," vol. ii. , No.
86. A description of the old building fol- lows, by T. A. , but the writer seems to have
been very uninformed, regarding the history of the place. See pp. 265, 266.
The Tipperary and Clare Mountains stretch off towards the south. The ruined walls are nearly three feet in thickness, and the church measured fifty feet, in length, by twenty-four, in breadth. The eastern gable is nearly perfect, with an elegant lancet-shaped win- dow of cut stone ; and, it has a semi-circular arch, beautifully turned, on the interior splay. At the other end, the grble has dis- appeared ; but, the side walls are tolerably preserved, except where there is a little breach on the south side. There the only en- trancedooroncestood. Achamberofsmall dimensions occupied the west end, and a ruinous cross-wall may yet be traced there, with a door havhig cut stone jambs curiously contrived and placed. This church is evi- dently an ancient one ; but, only unbaptized infants are now buried within its walls.
a for not far from and in a
Alt *^ had erected
town,calledTulach-Brendin. *^ Bothoftheseestablishmentsweresonear,
residence
himself,
Ruadhan,
*° This deep pool is now of mo<lerate size,
although before the bottom lands around it
underwent drainage, a vast sheet of water The fields around it are called the Church
spread over them, from below tlie Dominican
Parks.
the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and engraved by Mrs. Millard.
ruins. The
bream, perch and roach, in the Fiiars' visist to this place, the author drew the Lough. During a visit to the place, in accompanying sketch, since transferred to
catch
August, 1869, the writer had an opportunity for taking those notes from information ob-
Abbey
angler may
pike,
tained on the
*' At the distance of half a mile, on a
sloping ground the other side, are the ruins
of Porilanil old church, and a graveyard ex-
tends around it, but now disused for pur-
poses of interment. The railway from Birr
to Portumna interposes through a low, moory feast is assigned to the l6th of . May, where bottom. The site of Portland church is truly his Life will be found. But, as he remarks, magnificent, and it dominates over an arm the latter was son to Finlocha, son of Athil, of the River Shannon, spreading into Lough according to the Manuscript Life, at St. Derg, at some distance below. Rich pasture Maximinius. See, at cap. i. , n. (f), p. 383. lands surround the ruins, and have com-
spot.
engraving.
pletely obliterated the graveyard ; but, vene- rable old ash and hawthorn trees grow near the well-jointed and massive lime-stones.
conjecture of Papebroch.
*" This we deem to be the correct read-
ing.
*' In on the occasion of a August, 1856,
*3 This is shown in the object
** By Archdall, it is called, an Abbey of "
Regular Canons. See Monasticon Hiber- nicum. " p. 666.
5 The Bollandist editor supposed him to have been St. Brendan, the Navigator, whose
Perhaps, Tualt is used for Athil, whicli is the
April 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISIT SAINTS. 153
that the bells of either churches were heard, at one and the same station.
" I and Ruadan cannot dwell together therefore, I am resolved on leaving this place for him. " Brendan then went
and he built Clonfert,*' and Ruadhan blessed him, " Thy forth, saying, city
shall not be less important than mine. "<' When St. Ruadhan went out from
the northern parts of Ireland, he wrought many wonders, and he acquired a
He wished, likewise, to establish a residence for himself, in that quarter ; but, a certain man, on whose lands he desired to build, took him by the hand, and prevented him. It is stated, that the sea and the sea-shore 5° covered the fields of this man, so that they were no longer habitable. 5'
CHAPTER II.
MIRACLES WROUGHT BV ST. RUADHAN—HE VISITS TIR-OLLEA—HE RESTORES TO HEALTH THE QUEEN OF KING KCALAIN—HE BRINGS TO LIFE THE SON OF A BRITISH KING—HIS COMMUNITY AND THEIR SIMPLE HABITS OF LIVING AT LORRHA.
On a certain day, when St. Ruadan came to a city, which was called Snam- Luthir,' in the territory of Carbry's Race," it chanced, that the dead body of
the king, who ruled over this district, was brought in a chariot, to that city. Allhisformersubjectswerebewailinghisdeath. Ruadan,compassionating them, prayed to the Lord, and the king was instantly restored to life. After- wards, the ruler presented his city Luthir,' and his subjects, for the future disposal of St Ruadan. On a certain day, when St. Ruadan came to a place, called Roys-Enni,« which seems to have been in Hi-crich-archer. s he found a
great crowd of people there, and he asked for what purpose they had assem- "
Whereupon, Brendan said
:
;
and,
large parish.
bled. They answered, saying, In this city, during a great morUlity, the
*i Clonfert U said to have been situated on the cuiifiiies of Coniiaugfat and of Oriiiond, See cap. i. , n. (g), p. 383.
*• It may be a-. ked, wtiere Tulach-Brendin is now to be found,
•The Life says, "magnam parochiam ibiacquisivit,"&c. This ecclesiastical term comes from the Greeks, and we do not find, that before the end of the fourth century, parochta, or parislies, were formed in Italy. See Bergier's" Dictionnaire de Theologie," sub voct, Paroi&se, tome lii. . p 614.
Hibemise," xx. Jannaiii. Vita S. Fechini, cap. xxx. , and nn. 18, 19, pp. 136, 141.
5° Fromthisstatement. ihe
have been some maiiiime spot; but, where it was situated Acems a matter difficult 10 deter- "I"*-
5' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis XT. Vita S. Ruadani, cap. i. , secu 2, P- 3*^3-
Chapter ii. — 'In Colgan's "Trias Thauniaturga," Vita quarta S. Columl. se, lib. ii. ,nn, 34, 35, p. 384, weare told, thatthis Snam-Luthir was situated, in the territory, which was calle<l Carbre-Gabra, orCarbre- Mor, and sometimes Carbre Droma Cliabh. A certain St. Coleman, who is venerated at the 1st of January, istliought, by Colgan, to have been the founder of Snam-Luihir monastery. See, also, "Acta Sanctorum
Lorrha, . Tlthougha doubt had been exprrssed, at the Acts 01 St. Kieran, cap. 3, and lit (d), as to whether it had been the monastery of St. Ruadi. m, in Ormoml. However, meeting this word in
place appearsto
its present connexion,
•
It is placed, by Coliian, as a maritime
region, in Northern Connaught, and where
th^- Monasteryof Drumcliffhad beenfounded, in the t me of St. Columba. See Hid.
3 Papebroke appends a comment, at this word, l. uihir, which is deemed to have Iwen
I. uihir.
seems to have removed all doubt, as to its identity with Lorrha, from the mind of the etiitor.
Aprilis xv. De S. Rodano, &c. , cap. i. , sect, 3, n. (i). PP- 383, 384.
See ''Acia Sanctorum," lomus ii. ,
* The only denomination, approaching this locality in pronunciation, that I can find, is Kosscna, a townlanci in the parish of Kill-
abban, and barony of Slieveniartjy, which is described, on the "Ordnance Survey Town-
land Alaps for the Queen's County," Sheet 32.
s Amotig the Irish territorial denomina-
lions, I have not been able to find any simi- '
larly named,
IS4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 15.
people's substance had been buried in the earth f but, we know not, in what particularplace,thattreasurewashidden. " Then,Rodanwentthroughthe
circuit of the city, which he blessed, and sounding his bell, he prayed. Im- mediately, the earth's surface opened over that spot, where the people's sub- stance lay. Wherefore, the inhabitants of this place, giving thanks to God, presented their city and the neighbouring territory to St. Ruadan. ' After these occurrences, our saint proceeded from the north, to his sister Daroi. ' It would appear, she lived within the country of Ailell's Race ;' and, at a place called Senchue, he founded an establishment of some sort.
Its site had been presented to him, by the people, in perpetual fee. The following legend seems to have reference to this place. At a certain time, a cook brought milk from a cattle-stall,'° into the city. For seven successive days, as he entered the town, the milk was spilled on the ground. At length, St. Ruadan went to the city entrance, to learn the cause for these accidents. There he saw two Demons ; one of these was at the right, and the other at the left, in the suburbs. Those malignant spirits struck the vessels, in which themilkwascontained,andfromeitherside. Thesevesselsfellbrokenonthe ground, off the horse that bore them. It is said, that the Demons acted in this manner, because the cook was not hospitable to the monastic guests. Then, St. Ruadan sent the Demons to the depths of the sea, so that they might not inflict more damage upon human beings. "
A certain young man, belonging to Aradaib-Cliachu," wishing to study the art of medicine, entreated St. Ruadan's blessing, on his hands. Then, our
saint blessed his hands and eyes, when immediately he became perfect, in every
branch of the healing art. At the same time, the Queen of King Kualain,
within a certain territory,'^ was afflicted with an incurable distemper; and,
we are told, that fifty physicians were in attendance on her, without their
being able to restore her to health. Abandoning all hope of receiving relief,
at the hands of her medical advisers, the Queen committed herself to the
power of God and of St. Ruadan. The Angel of the Lord came to our saint,
and told him, that Kualain's wife should be restored through him, as the phy-
sicians knew not the nature of her complaint. '* Our saint appeared to the
Queen, in a nocturnal vision, and he was surrounded with great light. Then,
"
; for, I shall send to you a youth, clothed in a particular habit, on an appointed day. He shall heal you from this infirmity. Leave, therefore, those physicians, who cannot heal you. " Saying these words, our saint disappeared. On another day, St.
he said to her,
Fear not, you must be restored to health
'This may serve to throw some light on the purposes, for which so many Irish earth- caves were constructed.
'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis XV. Vita S. Rodani, cap. i. , sect. 3, p.
383. ^
Probably Daria, or Dora, an Irish femi- nine name.
' This country was called Tir-olella. The place Senchue, or Senchua, as also the ter- ritory, in which it was situated, lay beyond the Shannon, in relation to the ancient ter- ritories of Meath. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Tripartita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xxxv. , p. 134.
'° The Latin word in the text, for this ren- dering, is "a bocceto," which Papebroke derives from two Greek words. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Aprilis xv. , n. (l),
cap. i. , p. 384.
" See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap-
rilis xv. Vita S. Kodani, cap. i. , sect. 4, p.
383.
"In Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Vita Tripartita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , n. 63,
a midland territory of Munster, near to Limerick, and
eastwards from it. "3Thewordsinthetextare, "infinibus
Legensium. " To these words, Papebroke has appended this comment : "An Lagenien- slum, Ita arbitramur. " See "Acta Sancto- ram," tomus ii. , Aprilis xv. De S. Rodano, &c. , cap. i. , sect. S, p. 383, and n. (n), p. 384.
"The text adds: " habet enim in uteto cruentum partum. "
Aracliach is said to have been
April 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. iSS
Ruadan called the young man, whose hands he had blessed, and he then said : « Go to Kualain's Queen, and heal her. " Taking his brazen vessel, wliich was filled with water, Ruadan blessed it. Following certain instructions, this young man departed, and he executed the orders of our saint. 's Soon the Queen's health was restored. According to the desire of our saint, this young physician would receive no other fee for his services, except linen, belonging to Kin'' Kualain. For a length of time, and to commemorate such a mira- cle, this linen was suspended over the altar, at Lothra. '*
We are told, that on another occasion, a ship belonging to Brandan was submerged in the depths of a sea, called Livemnech,"' whilst a son of the King of Britain '* chanced to be sleeping, in the prow of his vessel. Where-
He even
The number of St. Ruadan's religious is said to have been thrice fifty men. " BythebountyofGod,thesewerefurnishedwithamiraculouskind of food, procured for them, without further labour on their part, but such as proceeded from their prayers and fastings. '3 In the place where they dwelt grew a linden tree,'* which distilled a certain luscious sap,'' into a vessel,
5 The text has it :
"
ter viri. "
adds, way of by
'' said to his own " Go to Rodan for to him hath people : :
upon, Brandan
the Lord granted the elevation of our ship, from the deep, and the resuscita- tion of the King's son, who has been drowned in it. " The messengers went to St. Rodan. He then proceeded with them, and he prayed at the place,-" where that vessel had been lost Immediately, the ship arose from the deep,
and bearing the king's son, who was alive and safe within it.
appeared as if he were sleeping. The prince then said, that during the time he was beneath the water, St. Rodan had placed a hood around his head, so as to save him from suffocation. "
dedit
ilUque bibens 5tatim genuit cruentum pat-
tum et mortuum, quem in utero habebat. " " See "Acta Saiictonim," tomus ii. , Ap- rilU XT. Viu S. Rodani, cap. i. , sect. 5, 6,
P- 383-
"' Papebroke obsenres, in a note, that pro-
faabljr we should read Lumnech ; and, that below this city, the Shannon opens into a great estuary. It \% now known as Limerick, aciiy formerly of great importance, as it is at the present time. See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , ApriiisxT. , n. (o), p. 384.
'•
in a note, the circum- stancehererelatedneednotseemsurprising; for, at that time, Ireland was the school of religion and of letters, not only for the neighbouring Britons, but even for more re-
mote nations. See iMd. , n. (r).
« On this passage, Papebroch remarks, that St. Brandan, who was far removed from the place, must be supposed to have known of it, through some iaspiration, as Clonfert, he thoujjht, was a journey of four or even more days, from that estuary alluded to ; while, the habitation uf St. Rodan was much nearer, and therefore, St. Brendan preferred sending his disciples to Lorrha. See Hid. , n.
(q).
"» Probably, Lough Derg, on the Shannon, and not far distant from Ix>rrha, is meant.
Papebroch
Papebroke says,
furnish us with the following legend:
one time, there were four score Friars, four
"See" Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- 385-
rilis XV. Vita S.
P- 383-
sect.
"5 We ask, if this were a 7, may
Rodani, cap. L,
maple-tree, like to that, from which sugar-sap is known todistil,intheAmericanwoods? Itmaybe,
"Thewordsinthetext "
are, quinqua-
potum Reginae
:
ginta
comment: " Id est centum quinquaginta :
nisi quio putat pro ter legendum ires ; qui
sane esset exigiius numerus, respectu mul- tituilinis discipulurum aliis Sanctis passim adhxrentium. —"Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Aprilis xv. Vita S. Rodani, cap. ii. , n. (a), p. 385. In a letter received from Mi». Anne Russell, a lady residing in the Catholic parishes of Lorha and Durrow, and which is dated Lackeen, May 6th, 1854, the writer is informed, that the traditions of this place
— scoregreyhorses,andfourscorenuns all
Marys—in those Abbeys and
Monasteries. " Allusion is made to the ruins yet existing at
Lorrah.
by praising the Lord of the elements.
» " " in the This tree is called arbor Tilia,
Life of St. Finiiian, published by Colgan, at
the 23rd of February. Papebroke observes, that he would wish nothing of a more incre- dible character were tobe found, in the Lives
"
Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Aprilis xv. , cap. ii. , n. (b), p,
»3 the This, too, is stated by
O'Clerys There were one hundred and fifty persons in this congr^ation, and they used to obtain sufficiency always, without human labour to sustain them, by continually praying to and
of Irish §aints. See
"
At
:
iS6
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April 15.
placed beneath it. With this miraculous liquor, the monks and the guests of the monastery were regaled, and it had the taste of wine. Each of those, who
partook of it, tilled a cup with the liquor. They fed upon herbs, also, and they lived in a very simple manner. ^* But, the chief saints of Ireland, it is
related, felt jealous regarding such miracles. They murmured against Ruadan,
because their monks and alumni left them, and went to him.
with these complaints, they visited St. Finnian, Bishop of Clonard. He accompanied them to Ruadan, to entreat his abandonment of this idle style of living, lest he should furnish occasion for envy and murmuring to other saints. When St. Finnian entered the city of Ruadan, and when he
saw the tree already mentioned, elevating his hand, he blessed it.
Imme-
diately the sap ceased to flow, so that, on the night succeeding, the liquor sufficed only for sustenance of the monastic family, and not for its guests. '''
Thereupon, the cook, with the guests, preferred a complaint to St. Ruadan.
"
The latter said,
Pour out spring water for our guests, and it shall be changed
intowineforthem. " Whenthecookwenttodrawwaterfromthefountain,
suddenly a fish of wonderful size issued through the rocky bottom of the well.
At that time, when the Acts of our saint were written, we are informed, that
the imprint or shape of this water-occupant might be seen, in the place indi-
cated. This fish was set before the guests, and also the water, which had beenturnedintowine. Theyfeltinebriated,bythislatterbeverage,andfell
into a sleep. Then, the Irish saints besought Ruadan, that he would place his monks on the same standing, with tlieir own religious brethren. He hum- bly complied with their desires. St. Finnian then said to Ruadan, and to his monks, " Do you plough and reap your fields. These shall produce fruitful crops forever, without further culture or manure. " Afterwards, St. Finnian
blessed
St^
Ruadan, his house and lands, and then retired in ^^ It is peace.
that our Irish soil and climate have under- gone changes, in a long lapse of ages, to ac- count for such a vegetable product.
°' The words in the text are "oleraque similiter comedebant. " These words seem to me as implying, that the herbs were pro- vided, also, through a miracle,
deraret, verteretur. De hoc liquore plenum vas in hora pra:dicta inveniebatiir, de quo omnes fratres sufficientur in I'randio pasce- bantur. Ab hoia vero nona usque ad horam occasus solis vasis dimidietas de
li- quore inveniebatur, de quo hospites satie- bantur. Audita vero hujus miraculi fama, ''^ In a note, at this passage, Papebroch multi sanctorum venerunt ad S. Finnianum,
:
" Eam scilicet portionem, quae ab
rogantes ut cum eis ad cellam S. Ruadani
observes
hora 9 usque ad solis occasum fluens (quera-
admocium in Vita praedicta dicitur) medieta-
tem implebat suppositi vasis, ad usuni hospi-
tum ante nocteni supervenientium. "—"Acta descendens pervennit cum eis usque ad
Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Aprilis xv. Vita S. Rodani, cap. ii. , n. (c), p. 385.
'* See " Acta Sanctorum," lomusii. , Ap- rilis XV. Vita S. Ruadani, cap.
