Taking our solitary walks, in several almost deserted localities of this Island, we are always sure to observe some
crumbling
fane, where various sacred forms and emblems still cling to the walls of ancient parish churches in that country.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
'' vol.
i.
, n.
(ni).
p.
t,2\.
of Thomas O'Conor, dated liirr, January 26tli, 183S, p. 50.
-'^ riie accomjianying illustration, drawn by the writer, in June, 1SS5, was afterwards traiislerrcd to the wood, hy William K.
°3 See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary Wakrnian, and it was e. igraved, by Mrs. of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 514. Millard.
—
May 2 1 . ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 525
Abbot of Druim-cuillin, in the territory of Fearceall, upon the confines of Leinster and Minister; but, by mistake,^^ he has been confounded with St. Barrus of Cork,-' whose feast occurs on the 25th of September, and who is quite a different personage. Most picturesque was the site selected for that establishment ; for, at the present time, Urumcullen is dominated by the wild and barren western slopes of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, yet stretching away from their base is a pleasant and varied surface of country, having undergone modern improvements and cultivation. Several handsome mansions, villas and demesnes are to be found,^^ surrounding the old site of St. Barrfinn's monastery, which seems to have had a vigorous life, for long after the founder's death; since, here, also, St. Mochudda or Carthage ^9 and his monks halted and were refreshed, on their way from Rahan to Lismore,3° as we have seen already, in the Life of that holy Abbot, Even yet, . as it appears, tlie memory of St. Barrfionn has been intertwined with local topography ; for, near Drumcullen, there is an eminence called Knockbarron—in Irish Cnoc- Barrind—and it may be Anglicized, " the hill of Barrind. " He must have been a person of great importance in his day, thus to have left his name behind in that place, after a lapse of thirteen centuries ;3' and, as we shall see, at a spot far away from the religious house here, his fame is still preserved, in the name of an ancient church and of a parish, much nearer to his native soil.
CHAPTER II.
THE PROBABLE MIGRATION OF ST. 13ARRFOINN FROM DRUMCULLEN, TOWARDS THE NORTHERN PART OF IRELAND—HIS SETTLEMENT AT KILLBARRIND—ITS LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION—VISITED THERE BY ST. COLUMBA—ST. BARRIND IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN THE FIRST EUROPEAN DISCOVERER OF THE AiMERICAN CONTINENT —HIS PLACE IN OUR CALENDARS—CONCLUSION.
From Drumcullen St. Barrfionn emigrated, most probably, towards the north of Ireland ; and, there he is said to have fixed the site for a religious estab- lishment, of some sort, and in a very retired situation. That place is now known as Kilbarron, "the church of St. Barrind," scarcely three miles distant from Ballyshannon. ^ The greater part of this town is included, within the present parish,^ which extends along the River Erne, from the vicinity of Belleek to Donegal Bay.
Here, St. Barfhionn, Barrindeus, or Barrinthus, is said to have founded a monastery, during the sixth century. 3 This account is much more probable, than another, for which no good authority has been advanced, that a St. Colman had previously established a church there. '* Beside the river called
=* See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia chap, ix. , pp. 155, 156. Edition of 1875, 8vo.
Sancta," part ii. , p. 143.
=7 See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiherni-
cum," p. 373.
=* See " The Parliamentary Gazetteer of
Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 84.
=^9 See his Life, in the present volume, at
the 14th of May, chap. iv.
3° See Rev. A. Cognn"s "Diocese of
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap. Ixxv. p. 609.
3" See "The Early History of the Town of Birr," &c. , by the late Thomas Lalor Cooke,
Chapter ii. — ^ William Allingliam has written an interesting account of this place, in a hook, intituled : " Ballyshannon, its History and Antiquities. "
- It is traversed by thehigh road fromBally- shannon to Enniskillen, and by a road from Ballyshannon to Donegal. See the " Parlia- mentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 360, 361.
3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbce, cap. iii. , num. 5, p. 480.
526
LIVES OF THE IRISHSAINTS. [May 21.
Fuinnseanach, and near the sea, St. Barind dwelt, at a time when St. Cokimba returned from Seangleann. There, both holy men had a conference. There, too,wasmiraculouslysentfromSeangleannthestaffofSt. Columba. AsSt. Barind had inspiredly declared it left in that place, and as it fell near them, a fountain of water gushed out at the spot; and afterwards, it was called Bach- all Barrinn, Latinized Baculum Barrindi,5 owing to the miracle which had
occurred, as preserved in the local tradition. Kill-Barrind old church is still to be seen, within a parish, now known as Killbarron, in the barony of Tir- hugh,andcountyofDonegal. Thewalls—evidentlyveryancient—arestill in tolerably good preservation, and of quadrangular shape. The two gables still stand, and they have apices highly pitched. On the side wall is a door-
^
Kilbarron Old Church, County of Donegal.
way, with pointed arcli, mucli resembling that in the church of St. ^^ndeus,^ on Aranmore. A large breach—formerly the place where an end window was—isnowopenononeofthegable-walls. 7 Asmaybeconjectured,fromthe abounding graves and tombstones about the old ruin, the cemetery has been for long ages a favourite place for interment, as the church was in times re- mote a place of resort, for those who venerated the holy patron. The church of Gill Bairrfhionn seems to have been called after the present saint, who was appointed its bishop, according to some accounts. The beautiful ruin of Kilbarron Castle,^ so sublimely situated on a wild rock overhanging the Atlan- tic, was once the residence of the O'Clerys, hereditary historians of the O'Donnells. Their family name has been immortalized, by producing that
* . See "The Early History of the 'J'own of Birr," &c. , by the late Thomas Lalor Cooke, cliap. ix. , p. 155.
5 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Prince O'Donnell's or Vita Quinta S. Co- lumba;, lib. i. , cap. xci. , ]). 404.
' See his Life, in the Third Volume of this work, at the 2lst of March, Art. i.
' The accompanying illustration, drawn on the spot by William Y. Wakeman, was by him transferred to the wood, which was engraved by Mrs. Millard.
" In the year 1390, this castle was demo- lished, by Domhnall O'Conor Sligo. See " Annals of Loch Cc. " Edited by William M. llennessy, vol. ii. , pp. 72, 73.
May 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
5 2 7
invaluable Irish Record, known as the " Annals of the Four Masters. "9 Swelling with impetuous onset, the Atlantic has lashed for centuries that rug- gedpromontory,peeringoverthewesterncoastofIreland. Undermined,rent, and excavated, the crumbled rocks have been rolled from their place ; but, from the elevated table-land above, the eye ranges over a vast and an undu- lating flow of billowy surface, sometimes sparkling gloriously under the sun- light, and sometimes hoarsely and mysteriously moaning through the misty veilandalongthestormyocean. Clyclopeanrocksandfragmentsofbroken stones are set round with a dazzling snow-white surf, dashing wildly over the
'°
pebble-strewn shore.
Belonging to an early period, and to the second class of Irish Saints, as by
many has been thought • St. Barrind is also said to have been the first Euro- pean discoverer of the American Continent," for, ivs related in the Acts of St. Brendan, there was a Father Barrindan, who had informed that celebrated navigator, about his own wonderful adventures, while away from Ireland on the great ocean. It is supposed, too, that from Kilbarron, in conjunction with his disciple, Mernoc,'^ St. Barrind sailed off in search of a great western island. This he is supposed to have found, when he landed on the shores of the American Continent. They travelled for fifteen days, before reaching the end of it. Moreover, it is said, that he returned to Ireland, when the glowing descriptions he gave of that distant region induced St. Brendan the Navigator to adventure in the same direction. '3 That western country, in which St. Barrind travelled, is called "a Land of Promise of the Saints,"'* and that which the Lord would grant to successive races " in the latter times," Modern commentators have just reason for referring this prophetic passage to the extraordinary emigration of Irish people and missionaries to America, during the present century.
St. Barrind died, on the 21st of May, and some time, it is thought, before the close of the sixth age. 'S Most probably, his first removal from DrumcuUen to Killbarrind may suggest the idea, that he was buried in the latter place, with which his memory appears to have been most associated. Marianus O'Gorman and Cathal Maguire, referring St. Barrindus to both places, has his feast, at the 21st of May. '^ The Martyrology of Donegal '7 mentions, that veneration was given on this day to Bairrfhionn, Bishop of Druim-Cuiliun, and of Cill-Bairrfhinn, to the north of Eas-Ruaidh—now the well-known waterfall designated Assaroe, and a chief feature of interest
9 So ably edited in the present century, by John O'Donovan, LL. D.
'° The scene to which allusion has been made, with its associated family history, has been well introduced in the pages of the " Irish Penny Journal," vol. i. , No. 29, at pp. 225 to 227, by Dr. George Petrie, who was author of the descriptive article.
" See Rev. A. Cogan's '" Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap. Ixxiv. , pp. 609, 610.
" Otherwise called Mernocus and Terno- cus. Colgan defers his allusions regarding him, to the 2nd of July, the i8th of August, and the 3rd of October.
'3 See our account of that adventure, in the present volume, at May i6th, Art. i. , chap. ii.
^4 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- ni^," Martii xxii. DeEgressione Farnilise S. Brendani, pp. 721 to 724.
'5 See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap. Ixxv. , pp. 609, 610.
'* See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Quinta S. Columba;, n. 76. p. 451.
^^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
I34) IjS-
'^ The surrounding scene is well described,
by a native poet, William Allingham, in "The Winding Banks of Erne, or the Emi- grant's Adieu to Ballyshannon :"
" The music of the waterfall, the mir- ror of the tide,
When all the green-hill'd harbour is full from side to side-
From Portnasun to Buliebawns, and round the Abbey Bay,
From the little rocky island to Cool- nargit sandhills grey. "
—
8—M.
5 2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[ ay21
toallnortherntourists. '^ Afterfoamingoveraseriesofrocks,inminorcascades, theRiverErneis heremagnificentlyprecipitatedintothewatersoftheAtlantic. On tiie Island of Saimer below it, Partholan, an early eastern colonist of Ire- land, is said to have located its first inhabitants ; and, on a small promontory, almost on every point inaccessible or perpendicular near it, and upon the Ballyshannon side, there is a Dun or Cahir, like that on Aranmore, and called Diibh-Cathair. That old fortification is divided from the mainland, by a fosse cut through earth and rock. \Vhat renders this fortress of remote anti- quity most interesting is, that it contains a subterranean house, partly exca- vated in a living rock, and partly constructed of Cyclopean masonry, the roof having been formed of enormous flags, resting on the inclined sides of cham- bers and galleries. '9 At this date, also, St. Barinnus was venerated in Scot- land,^" together with St. Colman, both Irish saints. ^' An Irish Calendar ^^ commemorates Barrfionn Bishop from Druim-Chuilinn, and from Kilbarfinn, near Easruadh to the north. Under the head of Druini Cuilinn, and at the 2ist of May, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Bairrionn bishop. ^3 It seems proba- ble, therefore, that this primitive saint exercised the episcopal as well as the abbatial functions, in the ministry in the early Irish Church.
Taking our solitary walks, in several almost deserted localities of this Island, we are always sure to observe some crumbling fane, where various sacred forms and emblems still cling to the walls of ancient parish churches in that country. These proclaim, in silent but intelligible language, that such structures could have neither been designed nor erected for any other purpose than Catholic worship ; and, did we need further confirmation of that fact, our history is not altogether silent on such themes. The very " stone shall cry out of the wall,"^-* according to the prophet's expression, even when pro- claiming the ravages of the Chaldeans, and of the conquerors, who ruled by rapine and injustice ; so, while the primitive church has gone to decay, sub- jected to a temporary desecration, we may still exclaim amid its ruins, " the Lord is in his holy temple : let all the earth keep silence before him. "*5 The material erection is perishable, like all the works of man ; still, the Church of Christ is indestructible, and in Ireland yet vigorous, the hope and the gua- rantee of spiritual progress in the future, with the happy return of peace and prosperity to a free, united, and Heaven-protected nation.
Article II. St. Silaus, Bishop and P. a. tron at Lucca, in Hetru- KiA, Italy. While travelling through many beautiful cities on the Continent, how little does it occur to the average class of Irish tourists, that our Island has given saints and sages to their peoi)le, who still remember with veneration and affection the moral and religious blessings, which have been received as their most precious inheritance. Areflection occurs to the great master of Roman eloquence, when he declares, that we are moved in some unaccount- able manner by the very localities, in which are found traces of those, whom weshouldloveoradmire. Headds,thateventhecityofAthensdidnotso much delight him by the splendour of its public works, and by its exquisite
'9 See William F. Wakeman's " Tourists' Guide to Ireland," p. 203.
'" At the xii. of tiie June Kalends, the Kaleiular of Drummond states : " Apud Hibftniam Naiale Sanctorum Confessorum Colmani et Barinni. "
="SeeBishopForbes'"KalendarsofScot- tish . Saints," p. 13.
" Belonging to the Royal Irish Academy,
an<l formerly known as Common Place Book F, belonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey. See May 21st.
"^ See " Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. . pp. 108, 109.
"' Ilahacuc,ii. , il. '5 Habacuc, ii. , 20.
May 2 1. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
529
remains of ancient art, as through the memory of those iUustrious men, who once dwelt there, and who, on that very spot, were wont to hold their dispu- tations and to teach their schools. Even their tombs did he contemplate with interest. ^ Such a sentiment belongs not to the frivolous and half-edu- cated wanderers on earth, who gaze superficially on fine exterior objects. It can only be evoked, from the cultivated intellect and high-toned sensibility, which are united in the quest for solid instruction and useful information. Where our saints are known abroad, and unremembered at home—as in the present case—it seems scarcely surprising, that Irish religious and patriotic feeling should be so often alike ignored or divorced, when our travellers range the fair city of Lucca, nor bear back to Ireland some associated memories of her famous sons and of the spot where their remains still repose. ^ Although with foreign errors, inseparable from distant and hOiiie communication, on the subjectofthisbiography yet,maywesuppose,thechiefpointsofinterestit
;
contains to rest on some good sources of tradition. From a Manuscript, be-
longing to the church of St. Justina,3 appears to have been originally taken the accounts of St. Silaus, as they now appear in print. It was edited by Francesco MariaFiorentini,4 who also wrote the Life of St. Silaus,s in Italian, and at considerable length. ° It was published, at Lucca, in a thin quarto shape, A. D. 1662 ; and, it is preceded by a few pages of an introduction. ? This Life contains fifteen chapters, together with two other supplementary Lives in Latin, followed by some verses of compliments paid to the author, and to Signor Gioralmo Cremona. At the end of his Italian Life of our saint, FrancescoMariaFiorentinii)ublishestheofficeofSilaus. ^ Itconsistsofnine Lessons, with Responses ; but, as we are told, the use of this office had been suspended or set aside, by a Roman decree. The Acts of this holy bishop have been published, likewise, by the Bollandists. 9 It is evident, however, that although the Italian compilers of the old Acts had some acquaintance with the personages and narratives of Irish hagiography, they had little real knowledge about the chronology and contemporaries of Irish ecclesiastical history. That Manuscript, from which the Life was taken, had been collated with another, belonging to Father Francis Harold,^° the nephew and suc- cessor to Father Luke Wadding. " There are, however, two omissions of
Articleii. —^ SeeCicero,"DeLegi- bus," lib. ii. , cap. 2.
^ St. Frigidian, whose festivals occur on the 13th of March, and at the i8th of November, was an Irishman and a Bishop here, as well as the present saint. See Ughelli's "Italia Sacra," tomus i. , Lucenses Episcopi, col. 794.
3 At Lucca, of which city St. Frigidian or Fridian is said to have been the first Bishop as he is its patron. See " Cronica " di Gio- vanni Villain a miglior lezione ridotta cull' ainto de Testi a Penna. tomo i. , lilsro primo, cap. xlix. , p. 70, Firenze, 1823, 8vo.
* When quoting his work, the Bollandists have Latinized his name into Florentinius. He was a learned medical doctor of Lucca. See Ughelli's "Italia Sacra," tomus i. , Lucenses Episcopi, col. 791.
5 It bears the following title: "Vita, Mi- racoli, e Memorie di S. Silao Ve. scovo Irian- dese, 11 cui Corpo si conserua in Lucca ap- presso le Antiche e Nobili Monache di S. Givstina. " Raccolte, e con probabili coniet- ture spiegate da Francesco Maria Fioren-
tini Nob : Lucchese. The copy of this book now in my possession was presented, by the late Denis Florence MacCarthy.
* This published Life appears to have been extracted, froin one written towards the close of the twelfth century according to the Bol- landists.
^ This is addressed, Alle Nobili e Reli- giose Monache di S. Givstina I'Avtore, and it is followed by a protestation of the writer to observe the Decree of Pope Urban VIII. , in reference to the publication of Saints' Acts.
^ See ibid. , pp. 108 to III.
' See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. . Mail xxi. De S. Silao Episc. Hiberno Luc£e in Hetruria, pp. 62 to 68.
"Rewrote " Vita Fr. Lucce Waddingi," which was prefixed to the second edition of " Annales Minorum, in quibus Res omnes trium Ordinum Franciscanorum tranctan- tur. " Romse, A. D. 1731. Sixteen volumes, folio.
'^ This latter obtained his copy, by having had a transcript made, at Lucca, and the
IL
530
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 21.
passages, where asterisks occur; and these have been introduced, most pro- bably, to mark the worthlessness of what was to be found in the original. A previous commentary," written by the Bollandists, takes exception to some statements, contained in this Life, which appears to be of very legendary character. According to St. Silaus' ancient Acts, as published by the Bol- landists, this saint was of high royal origin, in his native countr}^, Ireland of the Scots. But, it is uncertain or unknown, in what particular part of it he was born, '3 as also in what year or century ; for, the account contained in his old Acts is evidently erroneous, where it is stated, that our saint was a dis- ciple of St. Patrick,'* who brought him to Rome, in the time of Pope St. Gregory I. , nor does the alternative conjecture 's suthce to throw light on his period, that probably Pope Gelasius I. should be understood for that Sovereign
Pontiff. However, it does not appear to be probable, that St. Silaus could have lived so early as the fifth century. His infancy is said to have been illus- trated with miracles. One of these states, that the house in which he lived was surrounded with a celestial light, which indicated his future sanctity. Nor is this the only miracle related, regarding that period of his life. '^ He is said to have had a brother named Medogh,'? and a sister named Mingarda. '^ The first master under whom he studied is named Signabus or Sibnabus. 's From earliest youth, Silaus had been instructed, in the liberal arts and sciences ; while, in his more matured age, having diligently read the Sacred Scriptures, he became a cleric. During the time of his pupilage, it is stated, that one dark night, he wrote the Gospel of St. Matthew with his right hand, while holding up the fingers of his left hand, from which five different jets of lightproceeded. ThevirtuesofSt. Silausarehighlycommended. Hewas distinguished by a peculiar suavity and humility of disposition, and for his constant exercise of prayer. If we are to believe the old traditions regarding Silaus, he lived contemporaneously with the great Apostle of Ireland, St. Patrick, and became his disciple,^° until under such tuition, he finally was raised to the grade of Deacon. Then it was said, that going to Rome with St. Patrick,'' Silaus was ordained priest by St. Gregory the Pope. All this is exceedingly apocryphal and contradictory ; as also the statement, that St. Patrick summoned a synod of Bishops and of clerics in a province called Tesmoria,'' in the middle of Ireland,^3 and in which there was a city, known as Cluen. ^'* There, too, was a great monastery, the Abbot over which is named Cheranus,^5 the grandson of St. Silaus. '^ It is absurdly stated, that this synod was convoked, so that St. Silaus should there sing his first Mass. '^
Bollandist editor states, that Florentinus had received this copy, at Milan.
" It contains nine paragraplis of a critical nature, written by Father Daniel Pape- broke.
'3 See Francesco Maria Fiorentini's " Vita, Miracoli, e Memorie di S. Silao Ves- covo Irlandese," cap. 2, p. 7.
'* See his Life, at March 17th, in the Third Vokmie of this work.
'5 OfFrancescoMariaFiorentini.
"See Francesco Maiia Fiorentini's Life, chap. 3, pp. 1710 19.
'7 Maedoc is the nearest Irish approach to this form of speUing.
'* Elsewlicre, we do not find such a form of name in Ireland.
'9 Neitlier one of these denominations re- embles a Celtic name.
'°Wc ni. iy dismiss as idle legends, those
stories of miracles here related, in the Italian Life of our saint.
"' It need scarcely be observed, that such an account is not to be found, in any of his old Acts.
°' No doubt Temoria—the ancient name for Tara—is here meant,
'^ Allusion seems to be meant to the old Meathian province, in which Tara was situated.
^•i Clonmacnoise is undoubtedly meant.
"^ Or St. Kieran, Abbot of Clonmacnoise, whose feast was held on the 9th of Sep- tcmber.
=* This is contradictor)-, both of the cir- cumstance, that the former is said to have been tiie son ot a carpenter, and the latter son of a king, as also of the lives of ccliliacy, which both saints are supposed to have led.
May 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
531
Among the Irish Saints, contemporaneous with St, Silaus, are mentioned St. Ita,'^ and St. Brendan. ^9 The former is said to have predicted, that his place of repose after death should be in a convent, where religious women dwelt. Wishing to dedicate himself wholly to the service of his Creator, Silaus bestowed his patrimony entirely on the poor. He embraced a religious life. He is stated to have entered a monastery over which St. Brendan presided, and, it would appear, that he lived under that Rule, which had been estab- lished. 3° Onthedeathofthatsaint,themonasticbrothersunanimouslyselected Silaus to succeed him, as Abbot. 3^ Being elevated to such a dignity, he showed the excess of his humility, by treating all his subjects as equals, if not as superiors. He consulted their wishes, concerning all matters, con- sistent with their spiritual interests. The fame of his virtues induced the clergy and people of a large city 3^ in Ireland, to petition for his election as theirBishop,whentheSeebecamevacant. Althoughwishingtodeclinethis proffered dignity, Silaus was called from his monastery. Afterwards, at their request, he went to receive consecration from the hands of Pope Gregory, in Rome. By some, this Pontiff is said to have been Pope Gregory the Great. 33 The Bollandists, however, suppose the Pope Gregory mentioned in his Life must have been the seventh, bearing such a name;34 owing to the chronological probabilities or circumstances, alluded to in their prefixed commentary. 3S This supposition—if admitted—should bring our saint's period down to the eleventh century. Various miracles have been attributed to St. Sylaus, after he became Bishop ;3^ but, it is needless to relate these, as they are of a legendary and an incredible character. According to a custom then prevalent in Ire- land, the sister of our saint, who was named Mingarda, had undertaken a pil- grimage to Rome. She intended to visit the tombs of the Apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul, there to offer her prayers ; but, on the way thither, she came to Lucca. 37 This celebrated city belonged originally to the Etrurians,3^ and it was taken from them by the Ligurians. The era for its foundation and the name of its founder are alike unknown. About one hundred and
^'Then follows a legend, thus related in his office : " Sed cum Beatus Sylaus illam caneret Missam, corpus Christi in Sacra- mento, sicut est Ecclesice consuetude in tri- bus partibus fregit. Sed una ex illis ab An- gelo invisibiliter rapta est, et ab eodem An- gelo ad quamdam Abbatissara Deo devotam Ictam nomine causa salutis deportata est. Erat enim pluribus diebus satis infirma. Quam cum de manu Angeh accepisset sta- tim liberata est. "—Officium S. Sylai, Lect. V. See also Lect. vi. , vii.
^® In her Life, First Volume of this work, at January 15th, Art. i.
of Thomas O'Conor, dated liirr, January 26tli, 183S, p. 50.
-'^ riie accomjianying illustration, drawn by the writer, in June, 1SS5, was afterwards traiislerrcd to the wood, hy William K.
°3 See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary Wakrnian, and it was e. igraved, by Mrs. of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 514. Millard.
—
May 2 1 . ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 525
Abbot of Druim-cuillin, in the territory of Fearceall, upon the confines of Leinster and Minister; but, by mistake,^^ he has been confounded with St. Barrus of Cork,-' whose feast occurs on the 25th of September, and who is quite a different personage. Most picturesque was the site selected for that establishment ; for, at the present time, Urumcullen is dominated by the wild and barren western slopes of the Slieve Bloom Mountains, yet stretching away from their base is a pleasant and varied surface of country, having undergone modern improvements and cultivation. Several handsome mansions, villas and demesnes are to be found,^^ surrounding the old site of St. Barrfinn's monastery, which seems to have had a vigorous life, for long after the founder's death; since, here, also, St. Mochudda or Carthage ^9 and his monks halted and were refreshed, on their way from Rahan to Lismore,3° as we have seen already, in the Life of that holy Abbot, Even yet, . as it appears, tlie memory of St. Barrfionn has been intertwined with local topography ; for, near Drumcullen, there is an eminence called Knockbarron—in Irish Cnoc- Barrind—and it may be Anglicized, " the hill of Barrind. " He must have been a person of great importance in his day, thus to have left his name behind in that place, after a lapse of thirteen centuries ;3' and, as we shall see, at a spot far away from the religious house here, his fame is still preserved, in the name of an ancient church and of a parish, much nearer to his native soil.
CHAPTER II.
THE PROBABLE MIGRATION OF ST. 13ARRFOINN FROM DRUMCULLEN, TOWARDS THE NORTHERN PART OF IRELAND—HIS SETTLEMENT AT KILLBARRIND—ITS LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION—VISITED THERE BY ST. COLUMBA—ST. BARRIND IS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN THE FIRST EUROPEAN DISCOVERER OF THE AiMERICAN CONTINENT —HIS PLACE IN OUR CALENDARS—CONCLUSION.
From Drumcullen St. Barrfionn emigrated, most probably, towards the north of Ireland ; and, there he is said to have fixed the site for a religious estab- lishment, of some sort, and in a very retired situation. That place is now known as Kilbarron, "the church of St. Barrind," scarcely three miles distant from Ballyshannon. ^ The greater part of this town is included, within the present parish,^ which extends along the River Erne, from the vicinity of Belleek to Donegal Bay.
Here, St. Barfhionn, Barrindeus, or Barrinthus, is said to have founded a monastery, during the sixth century. 3 This account is much more probable, than another, for which no good authority has been advanced, that a St. Colman had previously established a church there. '* Beside the river called
=* See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia chap, ix. , pp. 155, 156. Edition of 1875, 8vo.
Sancta," part ii. , p. 143.
=7 See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiherni-
cum," p. 373.
=* See " The Parliamentary Gazetteer of
Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 84.
=^9 See his Life, in the present volume, at
the 14th of May, chap. iv.
3° See Rev. A. Cognn"s "Diocese of
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap. Ixxv. p. 609.
3" See "The Early History of the Town of Birr," &c. , by the late Thomas Lalor Cooke,
Chapter ii. — ^ William Allingliam has written an interesting account of this place, in a hook, intituled : " Ballyshannon, its History and Antiquities. "
- It is traversed by thehigh road fromBally- shannon to Enniskillen, and by a road from Ballyshannon to Donegal. See the " Parlia- mentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 360, 361.
3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbce, cap. iii. , num. 5, p. 480.
526
LIVES OF THE IRISHSAINTS. [May 21.
Fuinnseanach, and near the sea, St. Barind dwelt, at a time when St. Cokimba returned from Seangleann. There, both holy men had a conference. There, too,wasmiraculouslysentfromSeangleannthestaffofSt. Columba. AsSt. Barind had inspiredly declared it left in that place, and as it fell near them, a fountain of water gushed out at the spot; and afterwards, it was called Bach- all Barrinn, Latinized Baculum Barrindi,5 owing to the miracle which had
occurred, as preserved in the local tradition. Kill-Barrind old church is still to be seen, within a parish, now known as Killbarron, in the barony of Tir- hugh,andcountyofDonegal. Thewalls—evidentlyveryancient—arestill in tolerably good preservation, and of quadrangular shape. The two gables still stand, and they have apices highly pitched. On the side wall is a door-
^
Kilbarron Old Church, County of Donegal.
way, with pointed arcli, mucli resembling that in the church of St. ^^ndeus,^ on Aranmore. A large breach—formerly the place where an end window was—isnowopenononeofthegable-walls. 7 Asmaybeconjectured,fromthe abounding graves and tombstones about the old ruin, the cemetery has been for long ages a favourite place for interment, as the church was in times re- mote a place of resort, for those who venerated the holy patron. The church of Gill Bairrfhionn seems to have been called after the present saint, who was appointed its bishop, according to some accounts. The beautiful ruin of Kilbarron Castle,^ so sublimely situated on a wild rock overhanging the Atlan- tic, was once the residence of the O'Clerys, hereditary historians of the O'Donnells. Their family name has been immortalized, by producing that
* . See "The Early History of the 'J'own of Birr," &c. , by the late Thomas Lalor Cooke, cliap. ix. , p. 155.
5 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Prince O'Donnell's or Vita Quinta S. Co- lumba;, lib. i. , cap. xci. , ]). 404.
' See his Life, in the Third Volume of this work, at the 2lst of March, Art. i.
' The accompanying illustration, drawn on the spot by William Y. Wakeman, was by him transferred to the wood, which was engraved by Mrs. Millard.
" In the year 1390, this castle was demo- lished, by Domhnall O'Conor Sligo. See " Annals of Loch Cc. " Edited by William M. llennessy, vol. ii. , pp. 72, 73.
May 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
5 2 7
invaluable Irish Record, known as the " Annals of the Four Masters. "9 Swelling with impetuous onset, the Atlantic has lashed for centuries that rug- gedpromontory,peeringoverthewesterncoastofIreland. Undermined,rent, and excavated, the crumbled rocks have been rolled from their place ; but, from the elevated table-land above, the eye ranges over a vast and an undu- lating flow of billowy surface, sometimes sparkling gloriously under the sun- light, and sometimes hoarsely and mysteriously moaning through the misty veilandalongthestormyocean. Clyclopeanrocksandfragmentsofbroken stones are set round with a dazzling snow-white surf, dashing wildly over the
'°
pebble-strewn shore.
Belonging to an early period, and to the second class of Irish Saints, as by
many has been thought • St. Barrind is also said to have been the first Euro- pean discoverer of the American Continent," for, ivs related in the Acts of St. Brendan, there was a Father Barrindan, who had informed that celebrated navigator, about his own wonderful adventures, while away from Ireland on the great ocean. It is supposed, too, that from Kilbarron, in conjunction with his disciple, Mernoc,'^ St. Barrind sailed off in search of a great western island. This he is supposed to have found, when he landed on the shores of the American Continent. They travelled for fifteen days, before reaching the end of it. Moreover, it is said, that he returned to Ireland, when the glowing descriptions he gave of that distant region induced St. Brendan the Navigator to adventure in the same direction. '3 That western country, in which St. Barrind travelled, is called "a Land of Promise of the Saints,"'* and that which the Lord would grant to successive races " in the latter times," Modern commentators have just reason for referring this prophetic passage to the extraordinary emigration of Irish people and missionaries to America, during the present century.
St. Barrind died, on the 21st of May, and some time, it is thought, before the close of the sixth age. 'S Most probably, his first removal from DrumcuUen to Killbarrind may suggest the idea, that he was buried in the latter place, with which his memory appears to have been most associated. Marianus O'Gorman and Cathal Maguire, referring St. Barrindus to both places, has his feast, at the 21st of May. '^ The Martyrology of Donegal '7 mentions, that veneration was given on this day to Bairrfhionn, Bishop of Druim-Cuiliun, and of Cill-Bairrfhinn, to the north of Eas-Ruaidh—now the well-known waterfall designated Assaroe, and a chief feature of interest
9 So ably edited in the present century, by John O'Donovan, LL. D.
'° The scene to which allusion has been made, with its associated family history, has been well introduced in the pages of the " Irish Penny Journal," vol. i. , No. 29, at pp. 225 to 227, by Dr. George Petrie, who was author of the descriptive article.
" See Rev. A. Cogan's '" Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap. Ixxiv. , pp. 609, 610.
" Otherwise called Mernocus and Terno- cus. Colgan defers his allusions regarding him, to the 2nd of July, the i8th of August, and the 3rd of October.
'3 See our account of that adventure, in the present volume, at May i6th, Art. i. , chap. ii.
^4 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- ni^," Martii xxii. DeEgressione Farnilise S. Brendani, pp. 721 to 724.
'5 See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap. Ixxv. , pp. 609, 610.
'* See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Quinta S. Columba;, n. 76. p. 451.
^^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
I34) IjS-
'^ The surrounding scene is well described,
by a native poet, William Allingham, in "The Winding Banks of Erne, or the Emi- grant's Adieu to Ballyshannon :"
" The music of the waterfall, the mir- ror of the tide,
When all the green-hill'd harbour is full from side to side-
From Portnasun to Buliebawns, and round the Abbey Bay,
From the little rocky island to Cool- nargit sandhills grey. "
—
8—M.
5 2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[ ay21
toallnortherntourists. '^ Afterfoamingoveraseriesofrocks,inminorcascades, theRiverErneis heremagnificentlyprecipitatedintothewatersoftheAtlantic. On tiie Island of Saimer below it, Partholan, an early eastern colonist of Ire- land, is said to have located its first inhabitants ; and, on a small promontory, almost on every point inaccessible or perpendicular near it, and upon the Ballyshannon side, there is a Dun or Cahir, like that on Aranmore, and called Diibh-Cathair. That old fortification is divided from the mainland, by a fosse cut through earth and rock. \Vhat renders this fortress of remote anti- quity most interesting is, that it contains a subterranean house, partly exca- vated in a living rock, and partly constructed of Cyclopean masonry, the roof having been formed of enormous flags, resting on the inclined sides of cham- bers and galleries. '9 At this date, also, St. Barinnus was venerated in Scot- land,^" together with St. Colman, both Irish saints. ^' An Irish Calendar ^^ commemorates Barrfionn Bishop from Druim-Chuilinn, and from Kilbarfinn, near Easruadh to the north. Under the head of Druini Cuilinn, and at the 2ist of May, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Bairrionn bishop. ^3 It seems proba- ble, therefore, that this primitive saint exercised the episcopal as well as the abbatial functions, in the ministry in the early Irish Church.
Taking our solitary walks, in several almost deserted localities of this Island, we are always sure to observe some crumbling fane, where various sacred forms and emblems still cling to the walls of ancient parish churches in that country. These proclaim, in silent but intelligible language, that such structures could have neither been designed nor erected for any other purpose than Catholic worship ; and, did we need further confirmation of that fact, our history is not altogether silent on such themes. The very " stone shall cry out of the wall,"^-* according to the prophet's expression, even when pro- claiming the ravages of the Chaldeans, and of the conquerors, who ruled by rapine and injustice ; so, while the primitive church has gone to decay, sub- jected to a temporary desecration, we may still exclaim amid its ruins, " the Lord is in his holy temple : let all the earth keep silence before him. "*5 The material erection is perishable, like all the works of man ; still, the Church of Christ is indestructible, and in Ireland yet vigorous, the hope and the gua- rantee of spiritual progress in the future, with the happy return of peace and prosperity to a free, united, and Heaven-protected nation.
Article II. St. Silaus, Bishop and P. a. tron at Lucca, in Hetru- KiA, Italy. While travelling through many beautiful cities on the Continent, how little does it occur to the average class of Irish tourists, that our Island has given saints and sages to their peoi)le, who still remember with veneration and affection the moral and religious blessings, which have been received as their most precious inheritance. Areflection occurs to the great master of Roman eloquence, when he declares, that we are moved in some unaccount- able manner by the very localities, in which are found traces of those, whom weshouldloveoradmire. Headds,thateventhecityofAthensdidnotso much delight him by the splendour of its public works, and by its exquisite
'9 See William F. Wakeman's " Tourists' Guide to Ireland," p. 203.
'" At the xii. of tiie June Kalends, the Kaleiular of Drummond states : " Apud Hibftniam Naiale Sanctorum Confessorum Colmani et Barinni. "
="SeeBishopForbes'"KalendarsofScot- tish . Saints," p. 13.
" Belonging to the Royal Irish Academy,
an<l formerly known as Common Place Book F, belonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey. See May 21st.
"^ See " Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. . pp. 108, 109.
"' Ilahacuc,ii. , il. '5 Habacuc, ii. , 20.
May 2 1. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
529
remains of ancient art, as through the memory of those iUustrious men, who once dwelt there, and who, on that very spot, were wont to hold their dispu- tations and to teach their schools. Even their tombs did he contemplate with interest. ^ Such a sentiment belongs not to the frivolous and half-edu- cated wanderers on earth, who gaze superficially on fine exterior objects. It can only be evoked, from the cultivated intellect and high-toned sensibility, which are united in the quest for solid instruction and useful information. Where our saints are known abroad, and unremembered at home—as in the present case—it seems scarcely surprising, that Irish religious and patriotic feeling should be so often alike ignored or divorced, when our travellers range the fair city of Lucca, nor bear back to Ireland some associated memories of her famous sons and of the spot where their remains still repose. ^ Although with foreign errors, inseparable from distant and hOiiie communication, on the subjectofthisbiography yet,maywesuppose,thechiefpointsofinterestit
;
contains to rest on some good sources of tradition. From a Manuscript, be-
longing to the church of St. Justina,3 appears to have been originally taken the accounts of St. Silaus, as they now appear in print. It was edited by Francesco MariaFiorentini,4 who also wrote the Life of St. Silaus,s in Italian, and at considerable length. ° It was published, at Lucca, in a thin quarto shape, A. D. 1662 ; and, it is preceded by a few pages of an introduction. ? This Life contains fifteen chapters, together with two other supplementary Lives in Latin, followed by some verses of compliments paid to the author, and to Signor Gioralmo Cremona. At the end of his Italian Life of our saint, FrancescoMariaFiorentinii)ublishestheofficeofSilaus. ^ Itconsistsofnine Lessons, with Responses ; but, as we are told, the use of this office had been suspended or set aside, by a Roman decree. The Acts of this holy bishop have been published, likewise, by the Bollandists. 9 It is evident, however, that although the Italian compilers of the old Acts had some acquaintance with the personages and narratives of Irish hagiography, they had little real knowledge about the chronology and contemporaries of Irish ecclesiastical history. That Manuscript, from which the Life was taken, had been collated with another, belonging to Father Francis Harold,^° the nephew and suc- cessor to Father Luke Wadding. " There are, however, two omissions of
Articleii. —^ SeeCicero,"DeLegi- bus," lib. ii. , cap. 2.
^ St. Frigidian, whose festivals occur on the 13th of March, and at the i8th of November, was an Irishman and a Bishop here, as well as the present saint. See Ughelli's "Italia Sacra," tomus i. , Lucenses Episcopi, col. 794.
3 At Lucca, of which city St. Frigidian or Fridian is said to have been the first Bishop as he is its patron. See " Cronica " di Gio- vanni Villain a miglior lezione ridotta cull' ainto de Testi a Penna. tomo i. , lilsro primo, cap. xlix. , p. 70, Firenze, 1823, 8vo.
* When quoting his work, the Bollandists have Latinized his name into Florentinius. He was a learned medical doctor of Lucca. See Ughelli's "Italia Sacra," tomus i. , Lucenses Episcopi, col. 791.
5 It bears the following title: "Vita, Mi- racoli, e Memorie di S. Silao Ve. scovo Irian- dese, 11 cui Corpo si conserua in Lucca ap- presso le Antiche e Nobili Monache di S. Givstina. " Raccolte, e con probabili coniet- ture spiegate da Francesco Maria Fioren-
tini Nob : Lucchese. The copy of this book now in my possession was presented, by the late Denis Florence MacCarthy.
* This published Life appears to have been extracted, froin one written towards the close of the twelfth century according to the Bol- landists.
^ This is addressed, Alle Nobili e Reli- giose Monache di S. Givstina I'Avtore, and it is followed by a protestation of the writer to observe the Decree of Pope Urban VIII. , in reference to the publication of Saints' Acts.
^ See ibid. , pp. 108 to III.
' See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. . Mail xxi. De S. Silao Episc. Hiberno Luc£e in Hetruria, pp. 62 to 68.
"Rewrote " Vita Fr. Lucce Waddingi," which was prefixed to the second edition of " Annales Minorum, in quibus Res omnes trium Ordinum Franciscanorum tranctan- tur. " Romse, A. D. 1731. Sixteen volumes, folio.
'^ This latter obtained his copy, by having had a transcript made, at Lucca, and the
IL
530
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 21.
passages, where asterisks occur; and these have been introduced, most pro- bably, to mark the worthlessness of what was to be found in the original. A previous commentary," written by the Bollandists, takes exception to some statements, contained in this Life, which appears to be of very legendary character. According to St. Silaus' ancient Acts, as published by the Bol- landists, this saint was of high royal origin, in his native countr}^, Ireland of the Scots. But, it is uncertain or unknown, in what particular part of it he was born, '3 as also in what year or century ; for, the account contained in his old Acts is evidently erroneous, where it is stated, that our saint was a dis- ciple of St. Patrick,'* who brought him to Rome, in the time of Pope St. Gregory I. , nor does the alternative conjecture 's suthce to throw light on his period, that probably Pope Gelasius I. should be understood for that Sovereign
Pontiff. However, it does not appear to be probable, that St. Silaus could have lived so early as the fifth century. His infancy is said to have been illus- trated with miracles. One of these states, that the house in which he lived was surrounded with a celestial light, which indicated his future sanctity. Nor is this the only miracle related, regarding that period of his life. '^ He is said to have had a brother named Medogh,'? and a sister named Mingarda. '^ The first master under whom he studied is named Signabus or Sibnabus. 's From earliest youth, Silaus had been instructed, in the liberal arts and sciences ; while, in his more matured age, having diligently read the Sacred Scriptures, he became a cleric. During the time of his pupilage, it is stated, that one dark night, he wrote the Gospel of St. Matthew with his right hand, while holding up the fingers of his left hand, from which five different jets of lightproceeded. ThevirtuesofSt. Silausarehighlycommended. Hewas distinguished by a peculiar suavity and humility of disposition, and for his constant exercise of prayer. If we are to believe the old traditions regarding Silaus, he lived contemporaneously with the great Apostle of Ireland, St. Patrick, and became his disciple,^° until under such tuition, he finally was raised to the grade of Deacon. Then it was said, that going to Rome with St. Patrick,'' Silaus was ordained priest by St. Gregory the Pope. All this is exceedingly apocryphal and contradictory ; as also the statement, that St. Patrick summoned a synod of Bishops and of clerics in a province called Tesmoria,'' in the middle of Ireland,^3 and in which there was a city, known as Cluen. ^'* There, too, was a great monastery, the Abbot over which is named Cheranus,^5 the grandson of St. Silaus. '^ It is absurdly stated, that this synod was convoked, so that St. Silaus should there sing his first Mass. '^
Bollandist editor states, that Florentinus had received this copy, at Milan.
" It contains nine paragraplis of a critical nature, written by Father Daniel Pape- broke.
'3 See Francesco Maria Fiorentini's " Vita, Miracoli, e Memorie di S. Silao Ves- covo Irlandese," cap. 2, p. 7.
'* See his Life, at March 17th, in the Third Vokmie of this work.
'5 OfFrancescoMariaFiorentini.
"See Francesco Maiia Fiorentini's Life, chap. 3, pp. 1710 19.
'7 Maedoc is the nearest Irish approach to this form of speUing.
'* Elsewlicre, we do not find such a form of name in Ireland.
'9 Neitlier one of these denominations re- embles a Celtic name.
'°Wc ni. iy dismiss as idle legends, those
stories of miracles here related, in the Italian Life of our saint.
"' It need scarcely be observed, that such an account is not to be found, in any of his old Acts.
°' No doubt Temoria—the ancient name for Tara—is here meant,
'^ Allusion seems to be meant to the old Meathian province, in which Tara was situated.
^•i Clonmacnoise is undoubtedly meant.
"^ Or St. Kieran, Abbot of Clonmacnoise, whose feast was held on the 9th of Sep- tcmber.
=* This is contradictor)-, both of the cir- cumstance, that the former is said to have been tiie son ot a carpenter, and the latter son of a king, as also of the lives of ccliliacy, which both saints are supposed to have led.
May 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
531
Among the Irish Saints, contemporaneous with St, Silaus, are mentioned St. Ita,'^ and St. Brendan. ^9 The former is said to have predicted, that his place of repose after death should be in a convent, where religious women dwelt. Wishing to dedicate himself wholly to the service of his Creator, Silaus bestowed his patrimony entirely on the poor. He embraced a religious life. He is stated to have entered a monastery over which St. Brendan presided, and, it would appear, that he lived under that Rule, which had been estab- lished. 3° Onthedeathofthatsaint,themonasticbrothersunanimouslyselected Silaus to succeed him, as Abbot. 3^ Being elevated to such a dignity, he showed the excess of his humility, by treating all his subjects as equals, if not as superiors. He consulted their wishes, concerning all matters, con- sistent with their spiritual interests. The fame of his virtues induced the clergy and people of a large city 3^ in Ireland, to petition for his election as theirBishop,whentheSeebecamevacant. Althoughwishingtodeclinethis proffered dignity, Silaus was called from his monastery. Afterwards, at their request, he went to receive consecration from the hands of Pope Gregory, in Rome. By some, this Pontiff is said to have been Pope Gregory the Great. 33 The Bollandists, however, suppose the Pope Gregory mentioned in his Life must have been the seventh, bearing such a name;34 owing to the chronological probabilities or circumstances, alluded to in their prefixed commentary. 3S This supposition—if admitted—should bring our saint's period down to the eleventh century. Various miracles have been attributed to St. Sylaus, after he became Bishop ;3^ but, it is needless to relate these, as they are of a legendary and an incredible character. According to a custom then prevalent in Ire- land, the sister of our saint, who was named Mingarda, had undertaken a pil- grimage to Rome. She intended to visit the tombs of the Apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul, there to offer her prayers ; but, on the way thither, she came to Lucca. 37 This celebrated city belonged originally to the Etrurians,3^ and it was taken from them by the Ligurians. The era for its foundation and the name of its founder are alike unknown. About one hundred and
^'Then follows a legend, thus related in his office : " Sed cum Beatus Sylaus illam caneret Missam, corpus Christi in Sacra- mento, sicut est Ecclesice consuetude in tri- bus partibus fregit. Sed una ex illis ab An- gelo invisibiliter rapta est, et ab eodem An- gelo ad quamdam Abbatissara Deo devotam Ictam nomine causa salutis deportata est. Erat enim pluribus diebus satis infirma. Quam cum de manu Angeh accepisset sta- tim liberata est. "—Officium S. Sylai, Lect. V. See also Lect. vi. , vii.
^® In her Life, First Volume of this work, at January 15th, Art. i.
