From him, it afterwards
received
the name Tibra-Libern, which means, the fountain of Libern or Libernus.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
** When St.
Mary's parish church passed out of the hands of Catholics, they shortly afterwards erected a chapel outside the town wall of Kilkenny city.
To this modern structure, they carried the traditional observances and rites of their olden church ; and among these may be traced a special veneration for St.
Rioch.
A full-sized oil painting** of this saint had been preserved in James'-street Chapel, down to the year 1804.
Those, who were living to a comparatively recent period, remembered to have seen it, and they described St.
Rioch as being represented, seated on a rock, in the midst of a forest and clothed in a loose scarlet robe, with a dog fawning and apparently engaged in licking the sores and bruises of his feet.
*6 That painting has been super- seded by another of St.
Rioch, and presenting greater artistic pretensions.
*?
From the description which Mr.
Hogan received regarding the first-mentioned picture, he apprehended that the Irish St.
Rioch, in the disturbance of the
There is no trace of any such observances at Jerpoint, Kells, Callan, Knocktopher, &g. ,
those being abbatial, not parochial, establish- ments. "—"TheJournal of the Kilkenny and South-East of Ireland Archaeological So- ciety," 1858-1859. New Series, vol. ii. , part ii. , p 478. \
''
the patron day crowds from remote and
neighbouring parishes visited the church,
*'
This is shown on a map traced by Mr.
found in the vicinity of nearly every ancient parish church. These institutions being
perverted from their original simplicity to purposes of superstition, profanity and dis- sipation, became public nuisances, and they w—ere in consequence generally suppressed. "
" note. Kilkenny," &c, part i. , p. 22,
45 So designated, in Rocque's map of Kil- kenny.
46 Nothing is at present known, regarding
astical district, which may safely be recog- the original history of this picture. It is ni-ed as this saint's ancient parish. The now impossible to determine, whether it
same w—riter allows, that i—t may be a difficult
if nol
may not have been transferred, with other
m Uter
to determine with
things that
have come down to our
impossible
any degree of certainty, the precise period
when . St. Rioch's ancient parish had been divided, or when his church had been
times, from St. Mary's Church to James'-street Chapel. From time immemorial, it had been suspended at the epistle side of the
suppressed. It is thought, however, that
the fust encroachment on St. Rioch's
ecclesiastical district took place nfter the
English obtained a settlement in Kilkenny,
and some time subsequent to the Anglo- decoration of an altar which had been Norman Inv. ision of Ireland. From the
premises, he seems to establish so satis- factorily, Mr. Hogan concludes, that the abolition of St. Rioch's parish must have
erected, and which still remains in the old chapel. The subjects were the Crucifixion ;
been accomplished, when Hugh Rufus, been dedicated ; aud a full-length painting
fiw Engluh bishop of Os^ory, governed of St. Rioch, patron of tue ancient parish*
that see.
This later painting stili exists, and it re- 44 The same writer has the following presents the saint in a pilgrim's garb, with remarks, on certain local observances pre- a flowing scarlet tunic over the habit of a
valent in the county of Kilkenny : "On religious,towhichthe scallop-shell isattached,
dressed the graves of their departed relations, *'
and performed pilgrimages or stations round the 'holy well,' one of which is to be
altar, until Bishop Lanigan's time.
47 Bishop Lanigan wrote to a gentleman, living in Portugal, and who was his friend, to order three pictures to be painted for the
the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, to
represent the title by which the church had
August i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. IS
8
of Montpellier; who died about the year 1327, and that, knowing nothing of our Irish patron, the foreign artist seems to have taken it for granted, that Roach of Montpellier,
was the saint required. Accordingly, it is surmised that he copied a picture for Kilkenny from some Continental original of the French pilgrim. «9 The old families s° of Kilkenny, were the principal benefactors of the former chapel ; its clergy were also natives of Kilkenny ; and, in consequence, the ecclesiastical traditions of the town were more directly transmitted and more faithfully preserved in the beginning of this century than since. During such period, the devout clients of St. Rioch assembled annually, to hold his festival day, and on the site of his old church. It seems evident, that their veneration is but the vestige of a more ancient and extensive practice. We are informed, by Mr. Hogan. tha' since his paper was written, the picture of St. Rioch has been purchased by the Rev. M. Birch, P. P. , for Muckalee parish chapel, so that the memory of this saint has almost perished, in the
1
very place where it was specially designed for preservation^
It may fairly be asserted, that sympathy with the motive power of a man's life is a real necessity for his biographer ; yet, even this cannot avail, in
many of the previous and subsequent notices, since a defective knowledge of his subject must obstruct the writer's treatment too frequently, although he should most desire elucidation from all extraneous sources. Accordingly, we may fairly state, that it was only possible here, as in various similar cases, to set down a few recorded events, regarding this faithful and holy missionary's career.
Article II. —The Three Sons of Luissen, — and viz. , Liber, Failbhe,
of In—
is-mor. Saints Liberius, Albeus and Falbeus
times, had been confounded with St. Roach,*
Oilbhe,
are Latinized were brothers. We find entered, in the Mattyrology of
1
Tallagh, at the 1st of August, a veneration paid to Tri meic Lussen of
with a girdle round the waist. This figure stands erect in a forest, with his left foot resting on a rock, whilst a pilgrim's staff is held in the left hand, a travelling wallet being suspended from a hook near the top of the staff. To the wallet he appears to point attention, with the fourth finger of his
right band. The great peculiarity of this painting is an Irish expression of the coun- tenance, which is homely and familiar. An
"
Eques Foschini, Ulissipon- ensis, Inv. et Pinxit, A. D. 1807," is to be found attached to those three pictures already
mentioned.
48 He has been honoured on the 16th
August, on both sides of the Alps, since the middle of the fourteenth century. It is related of him, that falling sick in one of his pilgrimages, he crawled into a neighbouring forest, where a dog used to lick his sores. See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. viii. , August xvi.
49 The inscription already given should seem to imply, that Foschini was designer as well as the painter. This Mr. Hogan considered more than doubtful, as all the French engravings and modern lithographs
of St. Rioch invariably repres nt him as
precisely resembling the St. Rioch on the
inscription,
oil painting now existing in the old church, "
See Kilkenny," &c, parti. , pp. 23, 24. s° Such as the Langtons, Comerfords,
Maddens, Shees, and many others, 5t Mr. Ho^an observes, moreover
the sacrilege, founded an altar or chapel in St. Mary's Church, 'and dedicated it to
him,' where his memory was perpetuated and honoured, whence both were sub-
sequently transferred to St. Mary's Chapel, where unfortunately, they now no longer exist. " For the substance of the foregoing
information, and for these notices, the reader is referred to ** Topographical Illus- trations of the Southern and Western
" May we not safely infer, that the Bishop who abolished his parish, and suppressed his church (to use the sarcasm of Ledwich), 'to appease the tutelar saint, and to atone for
Suburbs of Kilkenny. " by Mr. John Hogan, "
in Proceedings and Papers of the Kilkenny and South -East of Ireland Archaeological Society," vol. ii. New Series, November,
1859, No. 24, pp. 468 to 480. 1
Article II. — Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi,
as their names
:
'
1 6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August i.
Innsi moir : i. e. , Liber and Failbe and Olbe. So they are called in this
Calendar. * AccordingtotheMartyrologiesofAengusandofMarianus,these were sons to Luscen or Luscin. Whether the latter was the real name of
their father, or only an appellation bestowed on him, may be questioned. An Irish Manuscript calls the former of these saints, Mac-an-daill or the son of Luscus. 3 TheyaresaidtohavebeenconnectedwithInismore. Theexact position of this island does not appear to have been correctly ascertained. However, it is thought to have been situated in some part of Southern or Western Munster. Another supposition makes it identical with the Island of Inismore, where St. Senan erected a Monastery/ A great number of our Islands went formerly by the name of Inis-more or Great Island. A St. Liberius is mentioned, as one of those disciples, left by St. Senan s in Inismore monastery, after his own departure from Inis-caorach. 6 From the circumstances of their place, and the date of their festival, Colgan is inclined to consider these saints, as disciples of St. Senan, when he lived at Inismore, and before he became Abbot over Iniscattery. If such were the case, we are furnished with a few meagre notices regarding St. Liberius, who is also called Libernus. It is stated,? that St. Senan was at Iniscarra, about a. d. 532, and he appears at no very remote period afterwards, to have founded his establishment at Inismore. That Inis-mor, however, in which Senan founded a monastery, lay far towards the West, and near the Atlantic. 8 A well or spring was found at Inismore, and it supplied the purest water for monastic purposes ; while, at the same time, water used in the celebration of the Divine Mysteries was always taken from that fountain. We are told, that while St. Liberius dwelt at Inismore with his disciples, a certain woman approached the fountain, to wash some garments belonging to her child. A saint, named Sedna or Sedonius,9 who was then or afterwards a Bishop, on seeing this desecration, gave vent to an exclamation, expressive of his anger. St. Liberius or Libernus asked him what had taken place, when his companion related the circumstance of the water being defiled, owing to that woman's action. The saints were moved to indignation, and with intemperate zeal, they invoked punishment upon the woman and her offspring. At this moment, the child, playing near the sea-margin, fell suddenly over a pre- cipitous bank, and was submerged in the waters. The distracted mother ran to St. Senan, and told him how her offspring had been deprived of life, through the imprecations of his disciples. On hearing this, the holy Abbot bitterly reproved his brethren, as being guilty of homicide. He ordered Liberius, who seemed to be a principal instrument in causing the child's death, to do penance on a certain rock, which overlooked the ocean, while
2
In the Book of Leinster copy they are thus entered : Uru rneic lurran Hip mopi i. e. bber* ocur- paloe ocur Olbe.
3 See " Acta Sanctorum Hi- Colgan's
n. 16 p. 539, {recti,) 535.
s See his Life, in the Third Volume of
this work, at the 8th of March, Art. i.
6 See
bernue," viii. Martii. Secunda Vita sive berniae," viii. Martii. Vita Secunda seu
Supplementum Vitae S. Senani, n. 18, p. 540. {recti,) 563.
4 Colgan does not consider Inismore to have been the same as that Island in the
Supplementum Vitae S. Senani, cap. xxvii. , p. 534, {recti,) 530.
Shannon—
name—
astical vol. ii. , History oflreland,''
chap, x. ,
bearing
a like
between sect, i. , 11. 10, p. 5.
the of Limerick and city
8
berniae," Martii viii. Secunda Vita sive
Supplementum Vitae S. Senani, n. 16, p.
539.
» See some notices of him in the
Third Volume of this work, at the 10th March, Art. i.
Iniscattery; but, he is under an impression, that it must have been another, near to or within the ancient territory of Corcobhaiscinn, in Killaloe Diocese. He remarks, moreover, that it may have been even a different Island, bearing the name of Inismore. See ibid. ,
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi-
Colgan's
Acta Hi- Sanctorum
? By Rev. Dr. Lanigan, in his " Ecclesi-
August u] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 17
he should there expect the judgment of God for his crime. Sednn, who co-operated in the act was then told, that he must not cease to seek for the drowned boy, in the midst of the waves, until the body should be found and restored to his mother. Both obeyed implicitly the command of their superior. Having left Liberius on the rock, according to orders, Sedna 10 proceeded to seek the boy in the midst of the waves. When that child had been submerged for twenty-four hours, he was found yet alive and safe, although tossed about on the water, which he was enabled to repel with opposing arms. Being thus miraculously rescued from what appeared to. have been inevitable death, the child was brought to St. Senan, who restored himtotheoverjoyedmother. AHthosewhowerepresent,werefilledwith astonishment,atwhattheyhadheardandseen. Theyextolledthosewonders, which God was pleased to work through his saints. Afterwards, St. Senan ordered Sidonius to bring Liberius from his position on the rock, saying that this latter disciple had obtained a favourable judge j since through His. favour and consideration, those waters which usually covered the rock, on which he stood, did not in the present instance encroach upon him, on any side, for the entire length of his staff. " Having returned to the monastery, Liberius complained to St. Senan regarding the inconvenience experienced, in using the water of a well, which was common to the brethren and to seculars. His disciple then requested the Abbot, through the bounty of God, to procure a fountain, which might specially serve for religious purposes. The holy man told him, such a favour would be granted to himself; and that if he wished to dig the' earth beneath his feet, through God's goodness, he should procure a fountain of limpid water. St. Liberius then began to dig the earth, with the end of his staff, Presently a rill of clear water burst forth.
From him, it afterwards received the name Tibra-Libern, which means, the fountain of Libern or Libernus. 12 On a certain occasion, Bishop Dalan, who appears to have been an inhabitant of Innismore, complained that there was danger of the sea washing away some land, belonging to the monastery. This, he maintained, must cause destruction to the religious establishment of Inismore, ; 3 the land belonging to which was of a sandy and soluble nature. St. Liberius replied, that the remedy, which must ,be sought for this dreaded contingency, was to bury his body after death, on that part of the monastic land, which lay nearest to the encroaching waves, saying at the same time, he trusted in the Lord, the earth in that place should not afterwards be washed away, by any ebbing or flowing of the tide. According to this request, his body was deposited in the very spot designated by him, and the water was restrained from its former destructive ravages. '* A
who was drowned, and afterwards rescued through his exertions. See the Life of St. Finan, Abbot of Kinnetty, in the Fourth' Volume of this Work, at April 7th, Art. I.
10 several Although mentioning
bishops, named Sedna or. Sedonius, and although he refers us to Sedonius Bishop of Saigir, whose acts are given by him, at the loth of March ; yet, on turning to that date, we find in the Acts of Sidonius, that Colgan is
I2 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi* bernise," viii. Martii. Secunda Vita seu doubtful if he were the same person Supplementum Vitae S. Senani, cap. xxiv. ,
mentioned in the Prose Life of St. Senan, in connection with this miracle. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibeinise," viii. Martii, n. 17, p.
xxv. , pp. 533, 534 (iectr), 529, 530.
I3 The Inchmore here mentioned is sup-
posed to be Inchmore, alias Deer Island, in
the River Fergus, where this river joins the "
539 (reclt), 535, and x. Martii, p. 572.
"It must be remarked, the foregoing Shannon. See Dutton's Statistical Survey
miracle is differently related, in the Metrical Life of St. Senan; and St. Finan—supposed to be Abbot of Kinnetty—is there said to have passed an imprecation on the child,
of the County of Clare," p. 330.
^ When treating about the monasterie
in the County of Clare, at Inchmore, Arch- dall places it in Loughrea, on the Shannon
r8- LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August i.
monastery of Inchmore in Lough-Ree—that lake between the counties of Roscommon and Longford—is noticed by Sir James Ware, who adds, that
it was founded perhaps by St. Liberius, son of Lossenus. It is suspected, that lie confounded the accounts of the two Inismores or Inchmores : viz. , that of Clare with that in Lough Ree. 's With regard to the brothers of St. Liberius, viz. , Albeus and Falbeus, we can find no particular account. Colgan seems to think, a certain disciple of St. Patrick, called Liber, left at
16
in the ancient territory of Dalaradia, may have been identical with one of those sons. 1 ? We may suppose the death of those three brothers, whose festivals are celebrated on the ist of August, to have taken place towards, or perhaps not long subsequent to, the middle of the sixth century. Their feast was observed on the ist day of August, at Inis-
more, according to all our ancient Calendars. In the Martyrology of
the church of Kill-glois,
18 are at the same Donegal, they registered
Oilbhe, three sons of Luissen, of Inis-mor.
date,
as Liber, and Failbhe,
Article IN. —St. Saran, Abbot of Bangor, County of Down. [Eighth Century. '] In former times, it is probable, that the acts of many native saints were preserved ; although, for want of some fostering care, those records have long since sunk into oblivion. A festival to honour Saran, Abbot of Bennchor, was celebrated at this date, as we find recorded in the
Martyrology of Tallagh. and at different dates.
1
Several Sarans are mentioned in our Calendars,
Of the early history of the present Saran, no record
seems to be extant ; but, we may fairly infer, that he belonged to the religious
community of the Bangor monks, whose abbot St. Flann of Antrim departed
a
this life, a. d. , 722.
successor. Referring to the present saint, Major-General J. H. Lefroy appears to derive the parochial name of Kilsaran,3 in the Barony of Ferrard, and County of Louth, from this holy Abbot of Bangor ; but, on what grounds, we do not find stated. '' The death of Saran, abbot of Bangor, occurred, in the year of our Lord 742. 5 His feast occurs at this date, likewise, in the
6
Article IV. —St. Nathi, of CuilSaccaile, in Dalaradia, County of Down. We find entered, at the ist of August, in the Martyrology of
1
Tallagh, that veneration was given to Nathi, Chule Sacaille. This place
must probably be identified with Cuil Fuitheirbe, in the Dalaradian territory.
meaning it may be supposed, that expansion Article HI. —» Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, or lake, formed by the junction of that river p. xxx. The copy in the Book of Leinster with the Fergus. See "Monasticon Hi- has Sap^m benchop.
Martyrology of Donegal.
bernicum," p. 47.
15 " Ware has not the Inchmore in Clare,
nor has Harris ; Archdall has both it and
the one in Roscommon, jumbling together the accounts of them in a manner, wh ch is
a
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
"
char>. x. , sect. I, n. 14, pp. 5, 6.
16
See "Trias Thaumatur^a. " Septima Vita S. Patricii. Lib. ii. , cap. exxxi. , pp. 146, 147, and nn. 207, 208, pp. 182, 183.
17 Also Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 267.
*»
Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 208, 209.
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
471, 472.
s See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 342, ^43.
It is probable, that Saran was appointed his immediate
Archaeological Association of Ireland, "vol. i. not worth unravelling. "—Dr. Lanigan's Fourth Series. April, 1871. No. 6, pp.
Four Masters,'' vol. i. , pp. 320, 321.
3 In Irish Cill SapAn.
* See "Journal of the Historical and
6
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
"
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi. That copy in the Book of Leinster at the Kalends of August has UacIh CuU>
SaccaiIU.
208, 209. — Article iv.
August i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 19
However,theexactlocalityisnotknown. TheHistoryoftheSaintsstates
2 that there is a Nathi, Bishop, and that he was the son of
Senach, sprung from the race of Mesincorb, of Leinster. With this coincides
the statement of Roderick O'Flaherty, 3 and of another record to be found in
the Book of Lecan,* where this saint is called Nathias of Cuil-fothribh, in
Dalaradia. Although placed by Rev. William Reeves in his local Calendar,
where he was venerated. 5 Under the head of Cuil Sacaille—also rendered Cill or Cluian—Duald Mac Firbis enters Nathi, bishop of Cuil Fothairbe, or Fuithirbe, or of Cuil Sacaille, at August 1st. 6 This Nathi's name appears also in the Martyrology of Donegal ? at the same date, as Nathi, Bishop of Cuil Fuitheirbe.
Article V. —St. Lachten Fothirbe, or Laichtein. In the Mar-
of 1 at the 1st of August, appears the name of Lachten tyrology Tallagh,
Fothirbe,ashavingvenerationpaidhim. Aconjecturehasbeenofferedby
Article VI. —St. Dolochus or Tolochus. In our earlier calendars,
we do not find any entry corresponding with the present, at this date. However, there is a Dolochus or Tolochus entered at the 1st of August, in
1
the anonymous Calendar of Irish Saints, published by O'Sullivan Beare. The Bollandists 2 allude to this entry, in the Irish tablets, at this same date ; but, nothing more could they give regarding his acts, age or cultus.
1
in the
poem,
the learned antiquary and topographer does not attempt to identify that spot,
2 that he be the Lactan or Lactantius, who was the may possibly
Colgan,
companion and disciple to the illustrious St. Fursey,3 the Abbot of Lagny. The simple entry of Laichtein occurs in the Martyrology of Donegal/ at this same date. This may possibly be the day for his festival, although he is already noticed under the 26th day of June,
Article VII. —Subach: of Corann, County of Sligo.
According to the Martyrology of Donegal, a festival to honour Subach, of Corann, was celebrated at the 1st of August. In a table appended to this work, he receives the Latin appelation, Hilarius. 2 Corann is now the name given to
a barony, in the county of Sligo. 3
Article VIII. —St. Soicheall or Sacell, Bishop of Bais-liac-mor, nowBaslick,CountyofRoscommon. AccordingtotheMartyrologiesof
'
2 A note by Rev. Dr. Todd has it: "Meaning the Poetical History of the Saints, called the Naomhsenchus. "
3 See " Ogygia," Pars, iii. , cap. li. , p. 293. * At Fob 134. b. b.
5 See " Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down,
ConnorandDromore. " AppendixLL. , p. 379, and n. (z. ) ibid.
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
—
p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinster copy it
reads thus
2 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise. " xvi.
Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Furssei, cap. vi. , p. 96, and xi. Februarii. Vita S. Fursaei,
cap. xii. , and n. 12, pp. 291, 299.
There is no trace of any such observances at Jerpoint, Kells, Callan, Knocktopher, &g. ,
those being abbatial, not parochial, establish- ments. "—"TheJournal of the Kilkenny and South-East of Ireland Archaeological So- ciety," 1858-1859. New Series, vol. ii. , part ii. , p 478. \
''
the patron day crowds from remote and
neighbouring parishes visited the church,
*'
This is shown on a map traced by Mr.
found in the vicinity of nearly every ancient parish church. These institutions being
perverted from their original simplicity to purposes of superstition, profanity and dis- sipation, became public nuisances, and they w—ere in consequence generally suppressed. "
" note. Kilkenny," &c, part i. , p. 22,
45 So designated, in Rocque's map of Kil- kenny.
46 Nothing is at present known, regarding
astical district, which may safely be recog- the original history of this picture. It is ni-ed as this saint's ancient parish. The now impossible to determine, whether it
same w—riter allows, that i—t may be a difficult
if nol
may not have been transferred, with other
m Uter
to determine with
things that
have come down to our
impossible
any degree of certainty, the precise period
when . St. Rioch's ancient parish had been divided, or when his church had been
times, from St. Mary's Church to James'-street Chapel. From time immemorial, it had been suspended at the epistle side of the
suppressed. It is thought, however, that
the fust encroachment on St. Rioch's
ecclesiastical district took place nfter the
English obtained a settlement in Kilkenny,
and some time subsequent to the Anglo- decoration of an altar which had been Norman Inv. ision of Ireland. From the
premises, he seems to establish so satis- factorily, Mr. Hogan concludes, that the abolition of St. Rioch's parish must have
erected, and which still remains in the old chapel. The subjects were the Crucifixion ;
been accomplished, when Hugh Rufus, been dedicated ; aud a full-length painting
fiw Engluh bishop of Os^ory, governed of St. Rioch, patron of tue ancient parish*
that see.
This later painting stili exists, and it re- 44 The same writer has the following presents the saint in a pilgrim's garb, with remarks, on certain local observances pre- a flowing scarlet tunic over the habit of a
valent in the county of Kilkenny : "On religious,towhichthe scallop-shell isattached,
dressed the graves of their departed relations, *'
and performed pilgrimages or stations round the 'holy well,' one of which is to be
altar, until Bishop Lanigan's time.
47 Bishop Lanigan wrote to a gentleman, living in Portugal, and who was his friend, to order three pictures to be painted for the
the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, to
represent the title by which the church had
August i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. IS
8
of Montpellier; who died about the year 1327, and that, knowing nothing of our Irish patron, the foreign artist seems to have taken it for granted, that Roach of Montpellier,
was the saint required. Accordingly, it is surmised that he copied a picture for Kilkenny from some Continental original of the French pilgrim. «9 The old families s° of Kilkenny, were the principal benefactors of the former chapel ; its clergy were also natives of Kilkenny ; and, in consequence, the ecclesiastical traditions of the town were more directly transmitted and more faithfully preserved in the beginning of this century than since. During such period, the devout clients of St. Rioch assembled annually, to hold his festival day, and on the site of his old church. It seems evident, that their veneration is but the vestige of a more ancient and extensive practice. We are informed, by Mr. Hogan. tha' since his paper was written, the picture of St. Rioch has been purchased by the Rev. M. Birch, P. P. , for Muckalee parish chapel, so that the memory of this saint has almost perished, in the
1
very place where it was specially designed for preservation^
It may fairly be asserted, that sympathy with the motive power of a man's life is a real necessity for his biographer ; yet, even this cannot avail, in
many of the previous and subsequent notices, since a defective knowledge of his subject must obstruct the writer's treatment too frequently, although he should most desire elucidation from all extraneous sources. Accordingly, we may fairly state, that it was only possible here, as in various similar cases, to set down a few recorded events, regarding this faithful and holy missionary's career.
Article II. —The Three Sons of Luissen, — and viz. , Liber, Failbhe,
of In—
is-mor. Saints Liberius, Albeus and Falbeus
times, had been confounded with St. Roach,*
Oilbhe,
are Latinized were brothers. We find entered, in the Mattyrology of
1
Tallagh, at the 1st of August, a veneration paid to Tri meic Lussen of
with a girdle round the waist. This figure stands erect in a forest, with his left foot resting on a rock, whilst a pilgrim's staff is held in the left hand, a travelling wallet being suspended from a hook near the top of the staff. To the wallet he appears to point attention, with the fourth finger of his
right band. The great peculiarity of this painting is an Irish expression of the coun- tenance, which is homely and familiar. An
"
Eques Foschini, Ulissipon- ensis, Inv. et Pinxit, A. D. 1807," is to be found attached to those three pictures already
mentioned.
48 He has been honoured on the 16th
August, on both sides of the Alps, since the middle of the fourteenth century. It is related of him, that falling sick in one of his pilgrimages, he crawled into a neighbouring forest, where a dog used to lick his sores. See Rev. Alban Butler's "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. viii. , August xvi.
49 The inscription already given should seem to imply, that Foschini was designer as well as the painter. This Mr. Hogan considered more than doubtful, as all the French engravings and modern lithographs
of St. Rioch invariably repres nt him as
precisely resembling the St. Rioch on the
inscription,
oil painting now existing in the old church, "
See Kilkenny," &c, parti. , pp. 23, 24. s° Such as the Langtons, Comerfords,
Maddens, Shees, and many others, 5t Mr. Ho^an observes, moreover
the sacrilege, founded an altar or chapel in St. Mary's Church, 'and dedicated it to
him,' where his memory was perpetuated and honoured, whence both were sub-
sequently transferred to St. Mary's Chapel, where unfortunately, they now no longer exist. " For the substance of the foregoing
information, and for these notices, the reader is referred to ** Topographical Illus- trations of the Southern and Western
" May we not safely infer, that the Bishop who abolished his parish, and suppressed his church (to use the sarcasm of Ledwich), 'to appease the tutelar saint, and to atone for
Suburbs of Kilkenny. " by Mr. John Hogan, "
in Proceedings and Papers of the Kilkenny and South -East of Ireland Archaeological Society," vol. ii. New Series, November,
1859, No. 24, pp. 468 to 480. 1
Article II. — Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi,
as their names
:
'
1 6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August i.
Innsi moir : i. e. , Liber and Failbe and Olbe. So they are called in this
Calendar. * AccordingtotheMartyrologiesofAengusandofMarianus,these were sons to Luscen or Luscin. Whether the latter was the real name of
their father, or only an appellation bestowed on him, may be questioned. An Irish Manuscript calls the former of these saints, Mac-an-daill or the son of Luscus. 3 TheyaresaidtohavebeenconnectedwithInismore. Theexact position of this island does not appear to have been correctly ascertained. However, it is thought to have been situated in some part of Southern or Western Munster. Another supposition makes it identical with the Island of Inismore, where St. Senan erected a Monastery/ A great number of our Islands went formerly by the name of Inis-more or Great Island. A St. Liberius is mentioned, as one of those disciples, left by St. Senan s in Inismore monastery, after his own departure from Inis-caorach. 6 From the circumstances of their place, and the date of their festival, Colgan is inclined to consider these saints, as disciples of St. Senan, when he lived at Inismore, and before he became Abbot over Iniscattery. If such were the case, we are furnished with a few meagre notices regarding St. Liberius, who is also called Libernus. It is stated,? that St. Senan was at Iniscarra, about a. d. 532, and he appears at no very remote period afterwards, to have founded his establishment at Inismore. That Inis-mor, however, in which Senan founded a monastery, lay far towards the West, and near the Atlantic. 8 A well or spring was found at Inismore, and it supplied the purest water for monastic purposes ; while, at the same time, water used in the celebration of the Divine Mysteries was always taken from that fountain. We are told, that while St. Liberius dwelt at Inismore with his disciples, a certain woman approached the fountain, to wash some garments belonging to her child. A saint, named Sedna or Sedonius,9 who was then or afterwards a Bishop, on seeing this desecration, gave vent to an exclamation, expressive of his anger. St. Liberius or Libernus asked him what had taken place, when his companion related the circumstance of the water being defiled, owing to that woman's action. The saints were moved to indignation, and with intemperate zeal, they invoked punishment upon the woman and her offspring. At this moment, the child, playing near the sea-margin, fell suddenly over a pre- cipitous bank, and was submerged in the waters. The distracted mother ran to St. Senan, and told him how her offspring had been deprived of life, through the imprecations of his disciples. On hearing this, the holy Abbot bitterly reproved his brethren, as being guilty of homicide. He ordered Liberius, who seemed to be a principal instrument in causing the child's death, to do penance on a certain rock, which overlooked the ocean, while
2
In the Book of Leinster copy they are thus entered : Uru rneic lurran Hip mopi i. e. bber* ocur- paloe ocur Olbe.
3 See " Acta Sanctorum Hi- Colgan's
n. 16 p. 539, {recti,) 535.
s See his Life, in the Third Volume of
this work, at the 8th of March, Art. i.
6 See
bernue," viii. Martii. Secunda Vita sive berniae," viii. Martii. Vita Secunda seu
Supplementum Vitae S. Senani, n. 18, p. 540. {recti,) 563.
4 Colgan does not consider Inismore to have been the same as that Island in the
Supplementum Vitae S. Senani, cap. xxvii. , p. 534, {recti,) 530.
Shannon—
name—
astical vol. ii. , History oflreland,''
chap, x. ,
bearing
a like
between sect, i. , 11. 10, p. 5.
the of Limerick and city
8
berniae," Martii viii. Secunda Vita sive
Supplementum Vitae S. Senani, n. 16, p.
539.
» See some notices of him in the
Third Volume of this work, at the 10th March, Art. i.
Iniscattery; but, he is under an impression, that it must have been another, near to or within the ancient territory of Corcobhaiscinn, in Killaloe Diocese. He remarks, moreover, that it may have been even a different Island, bearing the name of Inismore. See ibid. ,
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi-
Colgan's
Acta Hi- Sanctorum
? By Rev. Dr. Lanigan, in his " Ecclesi-
August u] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 17
he should there expect the judgment of God for his crime. Sednn, who co-operated in the act was then told, that he must not cease to seek for the drowned boy, in the midst of the waves, until the body should be found and restored to his mother. Both obeyed implicitly the command of their superior. Having left Liberius on the rock, according to orders, Sedna 10 proceeded to seek the boy in the midst of the waves. When that child had been submerged for twenty-four hours, he was found yet alive and safe, although tossed about on the water, which he was enabled to repel with opposing arms. Being thus miraculously rescued from what appeared to. have been inevitable death, the child was brought to St. Senan, who restored himtotheoverjoyedmother. AHthosewhowerepresent,werefilledwith astonishment,atwhattheyhadheardandseen. Theyextolledthosewonders, which God was pleased to work through his saints. Afterwards, St. Senan ordered Sidonius to bring Liberius from his position on the rock, saying that this latter disciple had obtained a favourable judge j since through His. favour and consideration, those waters which usually covered the rock, on which he stood, did not in the present instance encroach upon him, on any side, for the entire length of his staff. " Having returned to the monastery, Liberius complained to St. Senan regarding the inconvenience experienced, in using the water of a well, which was common to the brethren and to seculars. His disciple then requested the Abbot, through the bounty of God, to procure a fountain, which might specially serve for religious purposes. The holy man told him, such a favour would be granted to himself; and that if he wished to dig the' earth beneath his feet, through God's goodness, he should procure a fountain of limpid water. St. Liberius then began to dig the earth, with the end of his staff, Presently a rill of clear water burst forth.
From him, it afterwards received the name Tibra-Libern, which means, the fountain of Libern or Libernus. 12 On a certain occasion, Bishop Dalan, who appears to have been an inhabitant of Innismore, complained that there was danger of the sea washing away some land, belonging to the monastery. This, he maintained, must cause destruction to the religious establishment of Inismore, ; 3 the land belonging to which was of a sandy and soluble nature. St. Liberius replied, that the remedy, which must ,be sought for this dreaded contingency, was to bury his body after death, on that part of the monastic land, which lay nearest to the encroaching waves, saying at the same time, he trusted in the Lord, the earth in that place should not afterwards be washed away, by any ebbing or flowing of the tide. According to this request, his body was deposited in the very spot designated by him, and the water was restrained from its former destructive ravages. '* A
who was drowned, and afterwards rescued through his exertions. See the Life of St. Finan, Abbot of Kinnetty, in the Fourth' Volume of this Work, at April 7th, Art. I.
10 several Although mentioning
bishops, named Sedna or. Sedonius, and although he refers us to Sedonius Bishop of Saigir, whose acts are given by him, at the loth of March ; yet, on turning to that date, we find in the Acts of Sidonius, that Colgan is
I2 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi* bernise," viii. Martii. Secunda Vita seu doubtful if he were the same person Supplementum Vitae S. Senani, cap. xxiv. ,
mentioned in the Prose Life of St. Senan, in connection with this miracle. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibeinise," viii. Martii, n. 17, p.
xxv. , pp. 533, 534 (iectr), 529, 530.
I3 The Inchmore here mentioned is sup-
posed to be Inchmore, alias Deer Island, in
the River Fergus, where this river joins the "
539 (reclt), 535, and x. Martii, p. 572.
"It must be remarked, the foregoing Shannon. See Dutton's Statistical Survey
miracle is differently related, in the Metrical Life of St. Senan; and St. Finan—supposed to be Abbot of Kinnetty—is there said to have passed an imprecation on the child,
of the County of Clare," p. 330.
^ When treating about the monasterie
in the County of Clare, at Inchmore, Arch- dall places it in Loughrea, on the Shannon
r8- LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August i.
monastery of Inchmore in Lough-Ree—that lake between the counties of Roscommon and Longford—is noticed by Sir James Ware, who adds, that
it was founded perhaps by St. Liberius, son of Lossenus. It is suspected, that lie confounded the accounts of the two Inismores or Inchmores : viz. , that of Clare with that in Lough Ree. 's With regard to the brothers of St. Liberius, viz. , Albeus and Falbeus, we can find no particular account. Colgan seems to think, a certain disciple of St. Patrick, called Liber, left at
16
in the ancient territory of Dalaradia, may have been identical with one of those sons. 1 ? We may suppose the death of those three brothers, whose festivals are celebrated on the ist of August, to have taken place towards, or perhaps not long subsequent to, the middle of the sixth century. Their feast was observed on the ist day of August, at Inis-
more, according to all our ancient Calendars. In the Martyrology of
the church of Kill-glois,
18 are at the same Donegal, they registered
Oilbhe, three sons of Luissen, of Inis-mor.
date,
as Liber, and Failbhe,
Article IN. —St. Saran, Abbot of Bangor, County of Down. [Eighth Century. '] In former times, it is probable, that the acts of many native saints were preserved ; although, for want of some fostering care, those records have long since sunk into oblivion. A festival to honour Saran, Abbot of Bennchor, was celebrated at this date, as we find recorded in the
Martyrology of Tallagh. and at different dates.
1
Several Sarans are mentioned in our Calendars,
Of the early history of the present Saran, no record
seems to be extant ; but, we may fairly infer, that he belonged to the religious
community of the Bangor monks, whose abbot St. Flann of Antrim departed
a
this life, a. d. , 722.
successor. Referring to the present saint, Major-General J. H. Lefroy appears to derive the parochial name of Kilsaran,3 in the Barony of Ferrard, and County of Louth, from this holy Abbot of Bangor ; but, on what grounds, we do not find stated. '' The death of Saran, abbot of Bangor, occurred, in the year of our Lord 742. 5 His feast occurs at this date, likewise, in the
6
Article IV. —St. Nathi, of CuilSaccaile, in Dalaradia, County of Down. We find entered, at the ist of August, in the Martyrology of
1
Tallagh, that veneration was given to Nathi, Chule Sacaille. This place
must probably be identified with Cuil Fuitheirbe, in the Dalaradian territory.
meaning it may be supposed, that expansion Article HI. —» Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, or lake, formed by the junction of that river p. xxx. The copy in the Book of Leinster with the Fergus. See "Monasticon Hi- has Sap^m benchop.
Martyrology of Donegal.
bernicum," p. 47.
15 " Ware has not the Inchmore in Clare,
nor has Harris ; Archdall has both it and
the one in Roscommon, jumbling together the accounts of them in a manner, wh ch is
a
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
"
char>. x. , sect. I, n. 14, pp. 5, 6.
16
See "Trias Thaumatur^a. " Septima Vita S. Patricii. Lib. ii. , cap. exxxi. , pp. 146, 147, and nn. 207, 208, pp. 182, 183.
17 Also Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 267.
*»
Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 208, 209.
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
471, 472.
s See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 342, ^43.
It is probable, that Saran was appointed his immediate
Archaeological Association of Ireland, "vol. i. not worth unravelling. "—Dr. Lanigan's Fourth Series. April, 1871. No. 6, pp.
Four Masters,'' vol. i. , pp. 320, 321.
3 In Irish Cill SapAn.
* See "Journal of the Historical and
6
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
"
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi. That copy in the Book of Leinster at the Kalends of August has UacIh CuU>
SaccaiIU.
208, 209. — Article iv.
August i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 19
However,theexactlocalityisnotknown. TheHistoryoftheSaintsstates
2 that there is a Nathi, Bishop, and that he was the son of
Senach, sprung from the race of Mesincorb, of Leinster. With this coincides
the statement of Roderick O'Flaherty, 3 and of another record to be found in
the Book of Lecan,* where this saint is called Nathias of Cuil-fothribh, in
Dalaradia. Although placed by Rev. William Reeves in his local Calendar,
where he was venerated. 5 Under the head of Cuil Sacaille—also rendered Cill or Cluian—Duald Mac Firbis enters Nathi, bishop of Cuil Fothairbe, or Fuithirbe, or of Cuil Sacaille, at August 1st. 6 This Nathi's name appears also in the Martyrology of Donegal ? at the same date, as Nathi, Bishop of Cuil Fuitheirbe.
Article V. —St. Lachten Fothirbe, or Laichtein. In the Mar-
of 1 at the 1st of August, appears the name of Lachten tyrology Tallagh,
Fothirbe,ashavingvenerationpaidhim. Aconjecturehasbeenofferedby
Article VI. —St. Dolochus or Tolochus. In our earlier calendars,
we do not find any entry corresponding with the present, at this date. However, there is a Dolochus or Tolochus entered at the 1st of August, in
1
the anonymous Calendar of Irish Saints, published by O'Sullivan Beare. The Bollandists 2 allude to this entry, in the Irish tablets, at this same date ; but, nothing more could they give regarding his acts, age or cultus.
1
in the
poem,
the learned antiquary and topographer does not attempt to identify that spot,
2 that he be the Lactan or Lactantius, who was the may possibly
Colgan,
companion and disciple to the illustrious St. Fursey,3 the Abbot of Lagny. The simple entry of Laichtein occurs in the Martyrology of Donegal/ at this same date. This may possibly be the day for his festival, although he is already noticed under the 26th day of June,
Article VII. —Subach: of Corann, County of Sligo.
According to the Martyrology of Donegal, a festival to honour Subach, of Corann, was celebrated at the 1st of August. In a table appended to this work, he receives the Latin appelation, Hilarius. 2 Corann is now the name given to
a barony, in the county of Sligo. 3
Article VIII. —St. Soicheall or Sacell, Bishop of Bais-liac-mor, nowBaslick,CountyofRoscommon. AccordingtotheMartyrologiesof
'
2 A note by Rev. Dr. Todd has it: "Meaning the Poetical History of the Saints, called the Naomhsenchus. "
3 See " Ogygia," Pars, iii. , cap. li. , p. 293. * At Fob 134. b. b.
5 See " Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down,
ConnorandDromore. " AppendixLL. , p. 379, and n. (z. ) ibid.
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
—
p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinster copy it
reads thus
2 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise. " xvi.
Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Furssei, cap. vi. , p. 96, and xi. Februarii. Vita S. Fursaei,
cap. xii. , and n. 12, pp. 291, 299.
