This day the
published
Martyrology of Tallaghs registers a festival in honor ofJoseph,BishopofTamlachtan.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
A
16. p. 354.
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
* See
niae," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani, n.
3 See "Annals of the Four
Masters,"
vol. i. , n. (p), p. 247.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xi. At
the 5th of January, we there find recorded, Airendan, mac Ogi, mac Eachdach. It is
bemise," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci.
Appendix, cap. v. , p. 223. Yet in a pre- introduced, under this single entry. In the
5 See Rev. —Dr. Kelly's edition, p. xi.
"
Art. III. See Acta Sanctorum Hi-
'
vious cap. i. , p. 221, Colgan clearly dis- tinguished St. Maidoc of Fems, from the
present saint, called Maidoc, son of Eochod, who was venerated at Lough Melge, in Con-
naught, on the 5th ofJanuary.
^ See " Leabhar Genealach Mhie Fhir-
Franciscan copy •Ai^Mn'OAin is kept quite dis- tinct from X\\&c Coje mAC ec]\Ach, as %\Titten down at the Nones of January,
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
6. 7.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemice," xxxi.
bhisich. " Professor O'Curry's copy, trans- Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Maidoci, scribed in 1837 from the original manuscript cap. i. , pp. 220, 221.
in possession of the Earl of Roden. ' Thus ^ Here Red Hugh O'Donnell encamped
we read : ITIao'ooJ o V^ajmia 11101^ o for one night in the month of April, a. d.
o " Maodoc of Ropnbe|\, "OiNUnnteAfcAii.
FemsMor, of Rosinver, and of Drumlane," p. 714. R. I. A.
1 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of 595,
the Four Masters," vol. vi. , pp. 1964, 1965.
easy to perceive, that duplicated saints are
January 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 69
metrical composition has this statement. It probably conveys the pith of local traditions.
"
Heretemplesroseandidolsfell; inislandsgreenthepealing
Was listened of the Sabbath-bell, while hosts to Heaven were kneeling. In smiling vale of silver streams (the ruins still respected),
St. Moeg's holy abbey gleams, by angel hands erected. "^
— is to have built a church—the time has not been ascer- Mogue thought
St.
removed, there ds another well dedicated to St. Caillin. "
tained atthisplace butintheIrishOrdnance ;
thefounder is incorrectly supposed to have been identical with Mogue, the Patron Saint of Ferns. 9 Near the church there is a well called afterj^him. '° And not far
^feSf^^^^^T'****^^*'
Rossinver Church Ruins, county of Leitrim.
A considerable portion of Rossinvefs crumbling pile, as altered or rebuilt during the middle ages, yet remains. It constitutes a very picturesque ruin. The style was " Decorated ;" however, at present, little work of an ornamental character may there be found. A part of the west end seems intended to have been used for a dwelling. Within the churchyard bounds some curious headstones appear. A very early leac or flag-stone, bearing an ancient Irish cross, and perhaps referable to St. Moeg's time, may be observed. At a little distance from the church, near its south-eastern angle,'^ this object will be found.
ing the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1836. " p. 249,
'^
doran," &c. Third Excursion, pp. 88, 89.
9 Venerated on the 31st of January, where by George A. Hanlon is copied from a
^
and published in that admirable Guide Book
See lines, written by Mr. P. Magenniss,
" See ibid. This must have been the killen, Balleek, Ballyshannon, and Bun- patron saint of Fenagh.
of W. F. Wakeman, "Lough Erne, Ennis-
his life will be found.
'° "
See Letters containing information re-
lative to the Antiquities of the Counties of Cavan and Leitrim (Breifny), collected dur-
drawing on wood by William F. Wakeman, \A'ho took a careful and correct drawing, on
the spot, in October, 1873.
Survey Records,
See ibid. The accompanying engraving
70 LIVES OF JHE IRISH SAINTS. [January 5.
In Killybeg townland, about three miles inland from Garrison, and in a
wild district, unapproachable to all but a pedestrian, there was formerly
anotherfoundationofSt. Moeg. Here,accordingtoColgan,asnoticedby "
theRev. Dr. Reeves,therewasa miraculousstone,"whichhadbeencalled Lac-Maodhoc, or " Moedoc's stone. " Unless this can be identified mth a curi- ous oboliscal dallan, which stands upon an eminence near the centre of the townland, no trace of the monument at present remains. The neighbouring peasantry call it " Fion Mac Cumhal's Finger-stone. "
and not to have been the Lac-Moedhog of Colgan. '3
Dr. O'Donovan says the western part of Rossinver parish was dedi-
cated to St. Mogue, whose coarbs were the 0'Ferguses. '+ One of this family living there in 1836 was said to have had in his possession a Life of St. Mogue. This information, however, Avas found to have been incorrect ; but a Mr. Ward then dwelling near Lough Melvin had a modem copy of it, from an old manuscript. A native of Fermanagh, James Maguire, Avrote a more ancient copy. This was in possession of Myles John O'Reilly, Esq. , who lent it to Dr. O'Donovan. From this curious legend, many historical facts may be inferred. Besides the veneration paid to the present saint, at these places already mentioned, it would appear that his memory had been respected in another locality. Solitude and beauty were to be found connected with the various localities. Under the head of Lis-Gabhail, Duald Mac Firbis enters,
tion of "
siurounds it. That object is
W. F. Wakeman. Heconsidersittohaveformedapurelypaganmonument,
giant's graves"
minutely
described
by
from onLoch for '^ This Lis-Gobhail,^5 Erne, January 5th.
Aedh, bishop,
Aedh seems to have been identical with the present saint. The illustrious St.
Bernard said to the monks of Citeaux, that they might find something far greater in the woods, than they could find in books. Stones and trees might teach them that which they could never learn from masters. " Think you
he " not," says,
from the
can suck
rock ? Do not the mountains drop sweetness, the hills run Avith milk and
honey, and the valleys stand thick with com ? "'? Such pious resignation in a life of solitude, and such a communing with the great Creator's works, led the contemplative to the real object of his heart's desire.
Article IV. —St. Joseph, Bishop of Tallagh, County of Dublin. Many old scenes of monastic life in Ireland are yet venerable and still endeared to popular recollection. Within the walled and enclosed graveyard of Tallagh, where, on a gentle eminence, stands the present Protestant church, the tall tower of a more ancient religious edifice may be seen. This formed the west entrance and porch to the more ancient church, the very foundations of which are now quite obliterated ; although early in the present century the building itself had been used for Protestant services. ' The tower contains in in the second story a bell ; but above it are opes, in which probably a peal of
you
honey
rock,
and oil from the
flinty
'3 See ibid. p. 90. There is an interesting
"
Topo- graphical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 536, 537. On the eastern shore of Lough
? telvin are the ruins of Rossinver's ancient church.
'• "Ordnance Survey Letters for the
County of Leitrim," pp. 227, b. 228.
'5 Now Lisgoole, in the county of Ferma- nagh, as identified by William M. Hennessy,
M. R. LA.
'* "
See Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy" Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , parti. , pp. 118,119.
^^ S. Bemardi "Opera Omnia. " Epis- tola, 106. —' —
description of Rossinver in Lewis'
An interesting collec-
Art. IV. The sexton not a very old
man in May, 1873—told the writer, structing the new one.
he recol- lected the pulling down of the old church, the materials of which were used in con-
January 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 71
three small bells had formerly been placed. It is connected by a covered passage with the Protestant church, the vestry of which is the under-part of this old tower. 2 Not far from the site of the obliterated church, and on the southern side of the cemetery, is shown the pedestal of an old stone cross, bedded in the earth, and at the head of a high grave are the arms of an old granite cross, which at one time surmounted the plinth. The intermediate shaft seems to have been broken, nor are its fragments discoverable. Here, it is said, St. Melruan,3 the patron of Tallagh, lies interred. Every year, on the 7th of July, at Tallagh, and from time immemorial, the inhabitants have been accustomed to walk from the adjoining village in procession, bearing a long pole, crowned with natural flowers, to the site of St, Melruan's grave. The
"
a walking circuit around the grave : then all the processionists return to the
standard-bearer carries what is locally called
the garland," seven times in
Old Tower of St. Melruan's Church, Tallagh.
village, after prayers have been said at the spot. The pole is carefully set aside, until required for floral decoration the following year. This custom is probably but the remnant of an ancient processional and solemn religious serviceinmemoryofSt. Melruan. Thesiteofhisgraveisheldtobesacred, and no person is allowed to be interred there. The people are accustomed to measure their family places of interment, as being so many feet or so many yards from the grave of Tallagh's holy patron. '*
Few other antique monuments are now to be seen, although there is a
^ The accompanying engraving by Mrs. Millard is copied from a sketch taken by the
author in July, 1855.
3 See his Life at the 7th of July.
the upper edge to a depth of 15 inches. At the bottom it measures 4 feet 6 inches in length by 4 feet 3 inches in width. This font is yet very perfect, although the granite of which it is composed has become a little disintegrated, owing to the effects of atmos-
* Lying in the open cemetery there is a
fine old granite font, in a solid mass, of ex-
ceedingly large dimensions. The hollowed pheric action and long exposure. The part is in a horse-shoe shape, cut clown from trough may have been an ancient lavatory.
72 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 5.
tradition, that very ancient Irish inscriptions had been read on tombs and crosses there during the last century. These have all disappeared, but many are probably buried in the soil beneath.
This day the published Martyrology of Tallaghs registers a festival in honor ofJoseph,BishopofTamlachtan. Inadditiontothisentryofthecalendar,
having its origin at his own locality, we read in the Martyrology of Donegal,*^ that Joseph, Bishop of Tamlacht-Maelruain,? set do\vn on this day, was vene- rated among our national saints. This name was no unusual one, in the
early period of our Christian history. ^ It is pleasing to discover, that the chaste spouse of the Immaculate Blessed Virgin Mary gave name to this holy man.
Under the heading of Tamlacht,^ Duald Mac Firbis enters the present
Joseph, Bishop of Tamlacht Maolruain, for January the 5th. ^° In the Irish Ordnance Survey Extracts for Dublin County his name occurs. "
Another distinguished ecclesiastic of this name is found in our Annals. " Under the head of Claun-uais,^3 Duald Mac Firbis and the Four Masters enter Joseph of Ros-mor,^4 who was an eminent bishop and scribe of Cluain-uais. He died in 's He over other churches.
Article V. —St. Arenanus, Airenanus, Airendan, or Airindain. In every affair of life we ought to begin ^vith God, and consult Him in everything that concerns us. To view Him as the author of all our blessings and all our hopes, as our best friend and our eternal protection, is the good advice given to Christians by a devout -smter. ^ Such was ever the practice that guided great saints. We find Arenanus^ registered in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 on this day. The name is enclosed within brackets. As we have already noticed, Airendan occurs in the published Martyrology of Tallagh,+ at this date. NearlythesamespellingofthenameisfoundintheFranciscancopy. s Further notices of this saint, his place, and the period when he flourished, seem to have escaped the searches of our Avriters.
5 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xi. In
the Franciscan copy it is only possible to
decipher 1 0fep epf CAm
^
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeve? , p. 7. ' Dr. Todd in a note says at this word, Tamhlacht Maelruain, " There is added in
'
83 9. presided
a more recent hand,
cius sancti Albini Flacci cujus extat epistola, '5
Fit dicipulus vel so-
more derives his title.
19 P- 53 ad S. Colcum ad Scholarcham in
Hibemia. Anno 795. '" Then are we re-
ferred to Ussher's Sylloge, Ep. 18. Works in the Annals of Ulster. At 837 it is entered
vol. iv. , p. 466. This, however, appears to
be a groundless conjecture. The Joseph there noted cannot be proved identical with this saint.
* See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters" at A. D. 780, 789, 811, 828, 839. 899, 936, 963, 1022.
Art. v.
'
9 See Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 128, 129.
" See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. "
as
had only been written in a previous line.
"
See I. O. S. Records, p. 130. These are now preserved in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. 7. •* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xi.
s in it the name is written <Vipinx)Ain.
'^ See O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four "
Masters, vol. i. , pp. 458 to 460, and n. (b). ^^ Clauin-uais ; the same as Cluain-Eois,
now Clones, county of Monaghan.
'•* "The Great Wood. " This is the place in the county Monaghan, whence Lord Ros-
"
in the Annals of Clonmacnoise. These also call him an—anchorite,
See " Star of Bethlehem. " In a note Dr. Todd says at the word, Arenanus, " This name is inserted in a more recent hand, and not in Irish characters. "
It is possible, in my opinion, that the writer may have intended it, t—o supply the omission of the name Airendan to wh—ich the afore-
said name bears a resemblance
gee "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , parti. , pp. 102, 103. Thfs is the date for his death
"^
Maccoige
January 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 73
^I'rt]^ Bap of Sanuarp*
ARTICLE I. —ST. DIMAN, DIMAUS, OR DIMA, DUBH, BISHOP OF CONNOR.
[SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES. ^
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION. —ST. DIMAN'S OR DIMA's DESCENT—EDUCATED BY ST. COLMAN ELO— EARLY STUDIES AND VIRTUES—ANECDOTE REGARDING ST. CRONAN's BOOK OF GOSPELS—ST. DIMAN BECOMES AN ABBOT—AFTERWARDS CALLED TO GOVERN THE CHURCH AND DIOCESE OF CONNOR.
Divine Lord, who was the Prince of Peace, blessed all those who
OUR them as the children of God. ^
promoted peace, regarding Through
our
Redeemer, Jesus Christ, St. Paul admonished the faithful to have peace with
God^, and again to be perfect, to take exhortation, to have one mind, and to be at peace, so that the God of peace and of love should be with them. 3 The same illustrious Apostle desired his flock, that they should be careful to keeptheunityofthespiritinthebondofpeace* ThusareChristianssure to be joined in a fraternity of faith and hope, believing in one Lord, one Baptism, while serving one God, the common Father of all created beings. s
This holy man was born in the sixth, and he flourished in Ireland after the
beginning of the seventh century. ^ St. Dirnan, or as he is sometime called, Dima,
wassonto^ngus. Thepedigreeproveshisrespectableoriginandconnexions. He descended from the royal line of the Dalcassian family. ? Diman was
born, probably, during the latter half of the sixth century. Owing to the "
colourofhishairorcomplexionhehadbeendenominated,Dubh,or black. "^
Art. I. —Chap. i. —'St. Matt. v. * The of of Maria- 9. Martyrologies Tallagh,
"Rom. V. I. 3 2 Cor. xiii. ii. Ephes. nus O'Gorman, of Charles Maguire, or the
iv. 3.
^
^^
Ibid. , 4, 5, 6.
This may be collected from the Life of
commentator on ^ngus, treat about saints having such name, at the ist and 20th of January ; at the 9th and 22nd of March ; at the 12th of May; at the 27thofJune; at the 3rd, 9th, and i6th of November ; and atthelothofDecember. Although,some- times, there is a distinction in Irish, between the words Dima and in Latin
St. Colman Elo, whose disciple he was, and who died a. d. 6io. St. Diman Dubh died
in the year 658, at a very advanced age. Wherefore, if he attained this very old age, he must have flourished at a period indicated in the text. See " Acta Sanctorum
n. 2, p. 16.
7 The Menologic Genealogy at chap. 35, thus makes out a pedigree for our saint : St. Dima Dubh, son of ^ngus, son to Cairthenn Finn, son of Blod, son to Cass. From this latter hero, the Dalcassian family had its name and origin. Cas was the son of Conall Eachluath. He belonged to the race of Cormac Cas, son to Oilioll Oluim. See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' edition of "The Mar- tyrology of Donegal," pp. 6, 7.
Diman, yet Hibernise," vi. Januarii. Vita S. Dimani. they are usually confounded. Whence he is
Colgan's
"
tory of England," lib. iii. , cap. 21, Diuina;
called by Bede in his
Ecclesiastical His-
"
cap. 46, Dimas and Diurna. By the writers
Florince of W^orcester, and Henry of Huntingdon, this saint is named Diuina; but by other authors he is more correctly styled, at one time, Dima, and again Dimanus. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," vi. Januarii, n. 3, p. 17.
and by Wion, in
Lignum Vitse," lib. ii. ,
74
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 6.
This designation distinguished him from many others saints similarly named. Having given indications of being called to a life of grace, and having been renowned for his many virtues, he became a monk under the direction of St. Colman Elo. 9 At that time, or afterwards, the latter is said to have been Apostolic Legate for the whole of Ireland. '"
At his school, the saint made great progress in science and ecclesiastical
learning ; while his virtues gave edification, as well to all his fellow-disciples as to his master. This latter renowned saint predicted his pupil's future great-
ness, promising Diman, moreover, a long life, which should be devoted to penitential and holy exercises. The master declared, likewise, that Dima's services should be employed in the interests of the Irish Church. " St.
Colman-Elo required his disciple to partake of generous food, whilst under his care and direction. " This was enjoined, with a view to strengthen his con- stitution for those labours in which he was afterwards desti—ned to engage. "
A—n anecdote is related regarding our saint. He
is said how- incorrectly,
ever, to have been required by St. Cronan, Abbot of Roscrea,^3 to transcribe
for him a book of Gospels. This manuscript had been preserved in a brass
box, richly plated with silver. Thady O'CarroU, chief of Ely O'Carroll, who lived about the middle of the twelfth century, caused it to be gilt. Donald
O'Cuanain, afterwards Bishop of Killaloe, and who is called O'Kenedy by Sir James Ware, renovated this most interesting relic about the year 1220, The MS. and box were preserved in the Abbey of Roscrea, until the dissolution of monasteries took place. Then they came into lay hands. At length they were bought by Henry Monck Mason, Esq. , LL. D. , M. R. I. A. , from Dr. Har- rison, of Nenagh, in Tipperary. From Mr.
16. p. 354.
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
* See
niae," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani, n.
3 See "Annals of the Four
Masters,"
vol. i. , n. (p), p. 247.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xi. At
the 5th of January, we there find recorded, Airendan, mac Ogi, mac Eachdach. It is
bemise," xxxi. Januarii. Vita S. Maidoci.
Appendix, cap. v. , p. 223. Yet in a pre- introduced, under this single entry. In the
5 See Rev. —Dr. Kelly's edition, p. xi.
"
Art. III. See Acta Sanctorum Hi-
'
vious cap. i. , p. 221, Colgan clearly dis- tinguished St. Maidoc of Fems, from the
present saint, called Maidoc, son of Eochod, who was venerated at Lough Melge, in Con-
naught, on the 5th ofJanuary.
^ See " Leabhar Genealach Mhie Fhir-
Franciscan copy •Ai^Mn'OAin is kept quite dis- tinct from X\\&c Coje mAC ec]\Ach, as %\Titten down at the Nones of January,
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
6. 7.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemice," xxxi.
bhisich. " Professor O'Curry's copy, trans- Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Maidoci, scribed in 1837 from the original manuscript cap. i. , pp. 220, 221.
in possession of the Earl of Roden. ' Thus ^ Here Red Hugh O'Donnell encamped
we read : ITIao'ooJ o V^ajmia 11101^ o for one night in the month of April, a. d.
o " Maodoc of Ropnbe|\, "OiNUnnteAfcAii.
FemsMor, of Rosinver, and of Drumlane," p. 714. R. I. A.
1 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of 595,
the Four Masters," vol. vi. , pp. 1964, 1965.
easy to perceive, that duplicated saints are
January 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 69
metrical composition has this statement. It probably conveys the pith of local traditions.
"
Heretemplesroseandidolsfell; inislandsgreenthepealing
Was listened of the Sabbath-bell, while hosts to Heaven were kneeling. In smiling vale of silver streams (the ruins still respected),
St. Moeg's holy abbey gleams, by angel hands erected. "^
— is to have built a church—the time has not been ascer- Mogue thought
St.
removed, there ds another well dedicated to St. Caillin. "
tained atthisplace butintheIrishOrdnance ;
thefounder is incorrectly supposed to have been identical with Mogue, the Patron Saint of Ferns. 9 Near the church there is a well called afterj^him. '° And not far
^feSf^^^^^T'****^^*'
Rossinver Church Ruins, county of Leitrim.
A considerable portion of Rossinvefs crumbling pile, as altered or rebuilt during the middle ages, yet remains. It constitutes a very picturesque ruin. The style was " Decorated ;" however, at present, little work of an ornamental character may there be found. A part of the west end seems intended to have been used for a dwelling. Within the churchyard bounds some curious headstones appear. A very early leac or flag-stone, bearing an ancient Irish cross, and perhaps referable to St. Moeg's time, may be observed. At a little distance from the church, near its south-eastern angle,'^ this object will be found.
ing the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1836. " p. 249,
'^
doran," &c. Third Excursion, pp. 88, 89.
9 Venerated on the 31st of January, where by George A. Hanlon is copied from a
^
and published in that admirable Guide Book
See lines, written by Mr. P. Magenniss,
" See ibid. This must have been the killen, Balleek, Ballyshannon, and Bun- patron saint of Fenagh.
of W. F. Wakeman, "Lough Erne, Ennis-
his life will be found.
'° "
See Letters containing information re-
lative to the Antiquities of the Counties of Cavan and Leitrim (Breifny), collected dur-
drawing on wood by William F. Wakeman, \A'ho took a careful and correct drawing, on
the spot, in October, 1873.
Survey Records,
See ibid. The accompanying engraving
70 LIVES OF JHE IRISH SAINTS. [January 5.
In Killybeg townland, about three miles inland from Garrison, and in a
wild district, unapproachable to all but a pedestrian, there was formerly
anotherfoundationofSt. Moeg. Here,accordingtoColgan,asnoticedby "
theRev. Dr. Reeves,therewasa miraculousstone,"whichhadbeencalled Lac-Maodhoc, or " Moedoc's stone. " Unless this can be identified mth a curi- ous oboliscal dallan, which stands upon an eminence near the centre of the townland, no trace of the monument at present remains. The neighbouring peasantry call it " Fion Mac Cumhal's Finger-stone. "
and not to have been the Lac-Moedhog of Colgan. '3
Dr. O'Donovan says the western part of Rossinver parish was dedi-
cated to St. Mogue, whose coarbs were the 0'Ferguses. '+ One of this family living there in 1836 was said to have had in his possession a Life of St. Mogue. This information, however, Avas found to have been incorrect ; but a Mr. Ward then dwelling near Lough Melvin had a modem copy of it, from an old manuscript. A native of Fermanagh, James Maguire, Avrote a more ancient copy. This was in possession of Myles John O'Reilly, Esq. , who lent it to Dr. O'Donovan. From this curious legend, many historical facts may be inferred. Besides the veneration paid to the present saint, at these places already mentioned, it would appear that his memory had been respected in another locality. Solitude and beauty were to be found connected with the various localities. Under the head of Lis-Gabhail, Duald Mac Firbis enters,
tion of "
siurounds it. That object is
W. F. Wakeman. Heconsidersittohaveformedapurelypaganmonument,
giant's graves"
minutely
described
by
from onLoch for '^ This Lis-Gobhail,^5 Erne, January 5th.
Aedh, bishop,
Aedh seems to have been identical with the present saint. The illustrious St.
Bernard said to the monks of Citeaux, that they might find something far greater in the woods, than they could find in books. Stones and trees might teach them that which they could never learn from masters. " Think you
he " not," says,
from the
can suck
rock ? Do not the mountains drop sweetness, the hills run Avith milk and
honey, and the valleys stand thick with com ? "'? Such pious resignation in a life of solitude, and such a communing with the great Creator's works, led the contemplative to the real object of his heart's desire.
Article IV. —St. Joseph, Bishop of Tallagh, County of Dublin. Many old scenes of monastic life in Ireland are yet venerable and still endeared to popular recollection. Within the walled and enclosed graveyard of Tallagh, where, on a gentle eminence, stands the present Protestant church, the tall tower of a more ancient religious edifice may be seen. This formed the west entrance and porch to the more ancient church, the very foundations of which are now quite obliterated ; although early in the present century the building itself had been used for Protestant services. ' The tower contains in in the second story a bell ; but above it are opes, in which probably a peal of
you
honey
rock,
and oil from the
flinty
'3 See ibid. p. 90. There is an interesting
"
Topo- graphical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 536, 537. On the eastern shore of Lough
? telvin are the ruins of Rossinver's ancient church.
'• "Ordnance Survey Letters for the
County of Leitrim," pp. 227, b. 228.
'5 Now Lisgoole, in the county of Ferma- nagh, as identified by William M. Hennessy,
M. R. LA.
'* "
See Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy" Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , parti. , pp. 118,119.
^^ S. Bemardi "Opera Omnia. " Epis- tola, 106. —' —
description of Rossinver in Lewis'
An interesting collec-
Art. IV. The sexton not a very old
man in May, 1873—told the writer, structing the new one.
he recol- lected the pulling down of the old church, the materials of which were used in con-
January 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 71
three small bells had formerly been placed. It is connected by a covered passage with the Protestant church, the vestry of which is the under-part of this old tower. 2 Not far from the site of the obliterated church, and on the southern side of the cemetery, is shown the pedestal of an old stone cross, bedded in the earth, and at the head of a high grave are the arms of an old granite cross, which at one time surmounted the plinth. The intermediate shaft seems to have been broken, nor are its fragments discoverable. Here, it is said, St. Melruan,3 the patron of Tallagh, lies interred. Every year, on the 7th of July, at Tallagh, and from time immemorial, the inhabitants have been accustomed to walk from the adjoining village in procession, bearing a long pole, crowned with natural flowers, to the site of St, Melruan's grave. The
"
a walking circuit around the grave : then all the processionists return to the
standard-bearer carries what is locally called
the garland," seven times in
Old Tower of St. Melruan's Church, Tallagh.
village, after prayers have been said at the spot. The pole is carefully set aside, until required for floral decoration the following year. This custom is probably but the remnant of an ancient processional and solemn religious serviceinmemoryofSt. Melruan. Thesiteofhisgraveisheldtobesacred, and no person is allowed to be interred there. The people are accustomed to measure their family places of interment, as being so many feet or so many yards from the grave of Tallagh's holy patron. '*
Few other antique monuments are now to be seen, although there is a
^ The accompanying engraving by Mrs. Millard is copied from a sketch taken by the
author in July, 1855.
3 See his Life at the 7th of July.
the upper edge to a depth of 15 inches. At the bottom it measures 4 feet 6 inches in length by 4 feet 3 inches in width. This font is yet very perfect, although the granite of which it is composed has become a little disintegrated, owing to the effects of atmos-
* Lying in the open cemetery there is a
fine old granite font, in a solid mass, of ex-
ceedingly large dimensions. The hollowed pheric action and long exposure. The part is in a horse-shoe shape, cut clown from trough may have been an ancient lavatory.
72 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 5.
tradition, that very ancient Irish inscriptions had been read on tombs and crosses there during the last century. These have all disappeared, but many are probably buried in the soil beneath.
This day the published Martyrology of Tallaghs registers a festival in honor ofJoseph,BishopofTamlachtan. Inadditiontothisentryofthecalendar,
having its origin at his own locality, we read in the Martyrology of Donegal,*^ that Joseph, Bishop of Tamlacht-Maelruain,? set do\vn on this day, was vene- rated among our national saints. This name was no unusual one, in the
early period of our Christian history. ^ It is pleasing to discover, that the chaste spouse of the Immaculate Blessed Virgin Mary gave name to this holy man.
Under the heading of Tamlacht,^ Duald Mac Firbis enters the present
Joseph, Bishop of Tamlacht Maolruain, for January the 5th. ^° In the Irish Ordnance Survey Extracts for Dublin County his name occurs. "
Another distinguished ecclesiastic of this name is found in our Annals. " Under the head of Claun-uais,^3 Duald Mac Firbis and the Four Masters enter Joseph of Ros-mor,^4 who was an eminent bishop and scribe of Cluain-uais. He died in 's He over other churches.
Article V. —St. Arenanus, Airenanus, Airendan, or Airindain. In every affair of life we ought to begin ^vith God, and consult Him in everything that concerns us. To view Him as the author of all our blessings and all our hopes, as our best friend and our eternal protection, is the good advice given to Christians by a devout -smter. ^ Such was ever the practice that guided great saints. We find Arenanus^ registered in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 on this day. The name is enclosed within brackets. As we have already noticed, Airendan occurs in the published Martyrology of Tallagh,+ at this date. NearlythesamespellingofthenameisfoundintheFranciscancopy. s Further notices of this saint, his place, and the period when he flourished, seem to have escaped the searches of our Avriters.
5 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xi. In
the Franciscan copy it is only possible to
decipher 1 0fep epf CAm
^
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeve? , p. 7. ' Dr. Todd in a note says at this word, Tamhlacht Maelruain, " There is added in
'
83 9. presided
a more recent hand,
cius sancti Albini Flacci cujus extat epistola, '5
Fit dicipulus vel so-
more derives his title.
19 P- 53 ad S. Colcum ad Scholarcham in
Hibemia. Anno 795. '" Then are we re-
ferred to Ussher's Sylloge, Ep. 18. Works in the Annals of Ulster. At 837 it is entered
vol. iv. , p. 466. This, however, appears to
be a groundless conjecture. The Joseph there noted cannot be proved identical with this saint.
* See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters" at A. D. 780, 789, 811, 828, 839. 899, 936, 963, 1022.
Art. v.
'
9 See Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 128, 129.
" See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. "
as
had only been written in a previous line.
"
See I. O. S. Records, p. 130. These are now preserved in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, p. 7. •* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xi.
s in it the name is written <Vipinx)Ain.
'^ See O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four "
Masters, vol. i. , pp. 458 to 460, and n. (b). ^^ Clauin-uais ; the same as Cluain-Eois,
now Clones, county of Monaghan.
'•* "The Great Wood. " This is the place in the county Monaghan, whence Lord Ros-
"
in the Annals of Clonmacnoise. These also call him an—anchorite,
See " Star of Bethlehem. " In a note Dr. Todd says at the word, Arenanus, " This name is inserted in a more recent hand, and not in Irish characters. "
It is possible, in my opinion, that the writer may have intended it, t—o supply the omission of the name Airendan to wh—ich the afore-
said name bears a resemblance
gee "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , parti. , pp. 102, 103. Thfs is the date for his death
"^
Maccoige
January 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 73
^I'rt]^ Bap of Sanuarp*
ARTICLE I. —ST. DIMAN, DIMAUS, OR DIMA, DUBH, BISHOP OF CONNOR.
[SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES. ^
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION. —ST. DIMAN'S OR DIMA's DESCENT—EDUCATED BY ST. COLMAN ELO— EARLY STUDIES AND VIRTUES—ANECDOTE REGARDING ST. CRONAN's BOOK OF GOSPELS—ST. DIMAN BECOMES AN ABBOT—AFTERWARDS CALLED TO GOVERN THE CHURCH AND DIOCESE OF CONNOR.
Divine Lord, who was the Prince of Peace, blessed all those who
OUR them as the children of God. ^
promoted peace, regarding Through
our
Redeemer, Jesus Christ, St. Paul admonished the faithful to have peace with
God^, and again to be perfect, to take exhortation, to have one mind, and to be at peace, so that the God of peace and of love should be with them. 3 The same illustrious Apostle desired his flock, that they should be careful to keeptheunityofthespiritinthebondofpeace* ThusareChristianssure to be joined in a fraternity of faith and hope, believing in one Lord, one Baptism, while serving one God, the common Father of all created beings. s
This holy man was born in the sixth, and he flourished in Ireland after the
beginning of the seventh century. ^ St. Dirnan, or as he is sometime called, Dima,
wassonto^ngus. Thepedigreeproveshisrespectableoriginandconnexions. He descended from the royal line of the Dalcassian family. ? Diman was
born, probably, during the latter half of the sixth century. Owing to the "
colourofhishairorcomplexionhehadbeendenominated,Dubh,or black. "^
Art. I. —Chap. i. —'St. Matt. v. * The of of Maria- 9. Martyrologies Tallagh,
"Rom. V. I. 3 2 Cor. xiii. ii. Ephes. nus O'Gorman, of Charles Maguire, or the
iv. 3.
^
^^
Ibid. , 4, 5, 6.
This may be collected from the Life of
commentator on ^ngus, treat about saints having such name, at the ist and 20th of January ; at the 9th and 22nd of March ; at the 12th of May; at the 27thofJune; at the 3rd, 9th, and i6th of November ; and atthelothofDecember. Although,some- times, there is a distinction in Irish, between the words Dima and in Latin
St. Colman Elo, whose disciple he was, and who died a. d. 6io. St. Diman Dubh died
in the year 658, at a very advanced age. Wherefore, if he attained this very old age, he must have flourished at a period indicated in the text. See " Acta Sanctorum
n. 2, p. 16.
7 The Menologic Genealogy at chap. 35, thus makes out a pedigree for our saint : St. Dima Dubh, son of ^ngus, son to Cairthenn Finn, son of Blod, son to Cass. From this latter hero, the Dalcassian family had its name and origin. Cas was the son of Conall Eachluath. He belonged to the race of Cormac Cas, son to Oilioll Oluim. See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' edition of "The Mar- tyrology of Donegal," pp. 6, 7.
Diman, yet Hibernise," vi. Januarii. Vita S. Dimani. they are usually confounded. Whence he is
Colgan's
"
tory of England," lib. iii. , cap. 21, Diuina;
called by Bede in his
Ecclesiastical His-
"
cap. 46, Dimas and Diurna. By the writers
Florince of W^orcester, and Henry of Huntingdon, this saint is named Diuina; but by other authors he is more correctly styled, at one time, Dima, and again Dimanus. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," vi. Januarii, n. 3, p. 17.
and by Wion, in
Lignum Vitse," lib. ii. ,
74
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 6.
This designation distinguished him from many others saints similarly named. Having given indications of being called to a life of grace, and having been renowned for his many virtues, he became a monk under the direction of St. Colman Elo. 9 At that time, or afterwards, the latter is said to have been Apostolic Legate for the whole of Ireland. '"
At his school, the saint made great progress in science and ecclesiastical
learning ; while his virtues gave edification, as well to all his fellow-disciples as to his master. This latter renowned saint predicted his pupil's future great-
ness, promising Diman, moreover, a long life, which should be devoted to penitential and holy exercises. The master declared, likewise, that Dima's services should be employed in the interests of the Irish Church. " St.
Colman-Elo required his disciple to partake of generous food, whilst under his care and direction. " This was enjoined, with a view to strengthen his con- stitution for those labours in which he was afterwards desti—ned to engage. "
A—n anecdote is related regarding our saint. He
is said how- incorrectly,
ever, to have been required by St. Cronan, Abbot of Roscrea,^3 to transcribe
for him a book of Gospels. This manuscript had been preserved in a brass
box, richly plated with silver. Thady O'CarroU, chief of Ely O'Carroll, who lived about the middle of the twelfth century, caused it to be gilt. Donald
O'Cuanain, afterwards Bishop of Killaloe, and who is called O'Kenedy by Sir James Ware, renovated this most interesting relic about the year 1220, The MS. and box were preserved in the Abbey of Roscrea, until the dissolution of monasteries took place. Then they came into lay hands. At length they were bought by Henry Monck Mason, Esq. , LL. D. , M. R. I. A. , from Dr. Har- rison, of Nenagh, in Tipperary. From Mr.
