Cloyne
26 distinct wasja very
says,
August 8.
26 distinct wasja very
says,
August 8.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
303.
—
fc"*
18 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 8.
between the Scots and 2 However, the true cause for promote peac^ Angles.
his retirement was owing to the monks of Fame wishing to adopt the Roman rather than the Irish rite, regarding the tonsure and celebrating of Easter. Wherefore he brought with him those brothers, who desired a return to Scotia, where further action was intended to be taken. When Colman abandoned that place for his own home, taking with him some of the venerable father Aidan's bones, he left another portion of them in the church of Lindisfame. AvenerableandanamiablemannamedEata,3whohadbeen Abbot in the monastery of Mailros, was appointed superior over those monks,
On his departure, Colman asked and obtained this permission, as a favour from King Oswy ; for, Eata had been one of the twelve Anglo-boys whom Aidan had instructed in Christian discipline, during the early period of his episco- pacy. That king had always entertained a most kind regard for Bishop
Colman, because of his prudence and many virtues. On the departure of Colman, the servant of Christ, Tuda, was appointed bishop over the North- umbrians. He had been educated and consecrated, among the southern Scots. '* He had also come to Northumbria from Scotia, whilst Colman there
presided. Being a good and religious man, he governed only for a short time. 5 Having left some brothers in the church at Lindisfame, Colman went to the Island of Iona.
Although dissenting from his course of religious discipline, yet Bede pays a very high tribute to the genuine merits of this holy man. The subjects,
over whom Colman and his predecessors ruled, manifested their approval of moderationandeconomy. OnthedepartureofColmanandhismonks,few possessionsremainedinthemonastery. Thechurchalonewaswellappointed. Such things as had been found indispensably necessary for a religious estab- lishment alone remained. , The monks never retained money in their posses- sion ; for whatever they received from the rich was distributed among the poor. Cattle were kept solely for monastic use. As those monks only used the church for purposes of prayer, and for hearing God's word preached ; there was no necessity to take measures for the material wants of their house, or to acquire money. Nor had those monks occasion for the support of human
powers. When opportunity permitted, the king himself, with five or six attendants, came to the church, where, having engaged in religious exercises, the company soon departed. If it so happened that the monarch partook of
refreshments, he was always satisfied with the monks' plain and simple daily fare. The whole solicitude felt by these teachers of doctrine had been directed towards serving God and not the world, and towards refreshing their souls and not their bodies. During that time, the monastic profession had been held in great reverence.
Whenever the habit of a cleric or religions had been seen, everywhere its owner was welcomed as a special servant of God. Even if a monk were found on his journey, the people ran with heads inclined to receive the sign of the Cross, or hear some word of benediction from his lips. They even treasured in their recollection all exhortations bestowed on them. On Sundays, the people repaired in crowds to the church or monastery; not for purposes of recreation, but to hear the Word of God announced. If any
*
See Breviariuin Aberdonense, Pars Hye- malis, vol. lvi.
3 He is venerated as a saint, on the 26th
who chose to remain at Lindisfame, when the Scottish brothers left it.
of October, where further
garding him may be found.
re-
5 He was carried off, in the
lence, which spread over England in the year 664.
4
According to Dr. Challenor, this ex-
particulars
great pesti-
pression is interpreted as meaning those "
who dwelt in Munster. See Britannia Sancta," part ii. , p. 76.
August 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 119
priest happened to visit a hamlet, immediately its inhabitants collected together, and desired to hear him treat on heavenly topics. Nor, had the
priest or cleric any other object in visiting villages, than that of preaching, baptising, visiting the sick, or administering to the spiritual wants of the villagers. So far were those missionaries from being actuated by a spirit of avarice, that none of them would accept lands or means for building
monasteries,excepturgedtheretobymeninpower. Thesepracticeswere preserved after Colman's time, in the Northumbrian churches. It is declared
by Venerable Bede, that not only Colman, but many of his disciples, had
been reputed holy. Their miracles and virtues afforded proof of their
beatitude. Not doubting they were sanctified denizens of heaven, the holy
Abbot himself never ceased desiring to imitate their lives, morals and
6 discipline.
Having resolved on his final place for settlement, Colman pn leaving Britain brought with him all the Scots, whom he had collected in the Island
of Lindisfarne, as also about thirty brothers belonging to the Anglian nation, and who had been duly instructed in his monastic discipline. * From Iona, Colman sailed for Ireland, where he retired to a small island, called in the Scotic language Innisboufende, i. e. , the Island of the White Cow. It was
8
situated on a remote part of the Western shore.
The site of Innisbofinde has been determined. This place is now known
as Innisboffin, or Ennisboffin. It is an island and a parish, in the barony of Murisk, at the entrance to Ballynakill harbour, and in the county of Mayo.
According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 9 and the Annals of Clonmacnoise, it is stated, that St. Colman, with other holy men accompanying him, left Lindisfarne, and settled on this island in the year 664. However, according to the Annals of Ulster and of the Four Masters,10 these incidents occurred
11
in 667, or as Ussher states, in 668.
by most of our modern writers. 12 The monastery of this saint was named after
during the Progress of the Ordnance Sur-
of
9 Edited, with a translation, by Benjamin Thorpe, vol. i. , pp. 54 to 57, and vol. ii. , p.
the Island, on which it had been built
the saint, as that of Colman of Inis-bo-finne. The ruins of an ancient church are yet seen there, in the townland of Knocks Near it is a holy well, calledTobar-Flannain. BetweenthetownlandofWestquarterandFawn- more, on this island, is situated Loch Bo-finne, i. e. , the Lake of the White Cow. A local tradition has it, that an enchanted white cow, in Irish Bo- finne—which gave name to the island—is periodically to be seen emerging
6
Baert concludes the foregoing account
in these words:—"
vero
Letter
John O'Dono-
ipsique sancto id accomodare liceat, quod de
Sanctis Episcopis canit Ecclesia ex scrmone
S. Maximi ; cum dicat Scriptura, Gloria
Patris est filius sapiens ; quantae hujus sunt
Junii. Acta S. Colmani,
28, 29.
7" See Venerable Bede's
Appendix, pp.
Historia Eccle- siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iv. , cap. 4,
P- 27°- *"
Discipulis
ejus
vey
1838," vol.
i.
glorise, qui tantorum filiorum sapientia & 30.
deyotione laetatur ? ILcc dicta sunt, ut nemo
miretur, quod Molani conjecturam secutus,
Culmanum, Lindisfarnensem Episcopum,
Sanctorum cu/tu dignum existimaverim. "
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , vii.
,0 See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. ,
pp. 278, 279, and n. (;) ibid.
" See " Primonlia," and Index Chrono-
logicus, at A. D. DCLXVIII.
I2 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish saints," p. 303.
13 For an engraving, representing these
ancient remains, and a description of them, the reader is referred to the account of St. Bactan, or Baodan Mor, Abbot of Inismore, or Inis-bo-finne, in the First Volume of this
work, at the 14th of January, Art. i.
m See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
See a description of it in Letters re-
lating to the Antiquities of the County of Mayo, containing Information collected
These latter dates have been adopted
;
while the church was named from
in
van, dated Westport, July 14th, 1838, pp. 482 to 485.
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 8 .
from its waters. 14 There, St. Colman erected a monastery and established his companions and monks, who were natives of two distinct nations. It is
there
that this foundation took
erected, only a fragment of St. Colman's Abbey now remains. 16
stated,
place
a. d.
667.
buildings
Some differences afterwards arose among the Irish and the Saxon monks ;
when many of the inmates left that monastery, and wandered to certain known
places. Meantime, the Anglo-Saxon brothers appear to have remained during harvest time, and those who had gone returned again when winter approached. The monks desired to use in common, what the English had
garnered. However, Colman found a remedy for such a state of things. Looking around him, for a suitable place in Ireland, where he might erect a
It was so noted for the sanctity of its inhabitants, that in the time of St. Cormac and St. Adamnan, it is said to have been the dwelling for one hundred Saxon, i. e. , English Saints. x 9 This monastery of Mayo became a Bishop's See in course of time, and subse-
quently it was united to the Archbishopric of Tuam.
Colman died in the year 674, observes a calendarist,20 and this agrees
with our best known Annals. 21 in the Chronicle of his Yet, Clonmacnoise,
death is entered at 672, and in the Annals of Ulster at 675. " According to
he selected a
this district belonged, Colman purchased a part, for the erection of his religious establishment ; a condition having been imposed, that the monks, who should settle there, would offer their prayers to God, for the grantor himself. With the aid of that Chief and his retainers, a monastery was there built. The English monks then came to dwell in it, having left Innisbonnde to the Irish. And, even to the time of Bede, Mayo monastery had been
18
monastery,
spot,
called
Mayo.
always occupied by English monks.
Roderick
O'Flaherty,
he died on the 8th of a. d. 23 But Father
Stephen
White
places
his demise about the
year
680 or
690,
24 which must be
a mistake; for elsewhere, we meet with no other account having it so late in
the century. Doubtful regarding the particular St. Colman, which a southern
Irish diocese claims as Patron, a certain writer states, that he is inclined to connect St. Colman of Lindisfarne with Cloyne, rather than his namesake of Kilmacduagh, the latter appearing to have lived and died within the confines of his own diocese. 25 St. Colman of
However,
person from either of them. At the 8th of August, the Martyrology of
2
Donegal 7 enters the name Colman, Bishop of Inis Bofinne, in Conmaicna
mara, in the West of Connaught. This'holy man is entered in the Scottish Calendar, and particularly in that of Drummond,28 at this date. His day has
F«ur Masters," vol. n. i. ,
20 A note Dr. Todd by
(g), p. 279.
15 See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary tion
at such addi- " a. d. 674. This date is added by the
of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 18.
16 See a Report on this subject by G.
Henry Kinahan, M. R. I. A. , July, 1869, hi "Journal of the Historical and Archoeo- logical Association of Ireland," vol. i. , third series, 1868-69 part «» P- 348.
17 " natur. "
18 Bede says, that even in his time, they lived there in great continence and simpli- city. They were under the rule of a canoni- cal Abbot, after the example of the Holy Fathers.
19 See Archbishop Ussher's " Britanni-
second hand. "
ai See Dr O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 284, 285. * See ibid. n. (c. )
a3 See " Chorographical Description of
West or II-Iar Connaught," 1 18. Edited p.
by James Hardiman, M. R. I. A.
2*
See "Apologia pro Hiberriia,"cap v. , p. 66. 2S See Rev. Courtenay Moore's " Chro- nicies of SS. Colman, and of St. Colman's,
Farahy, Diocese of Cloyne," p. 10.
26
See his Life, at the 24th of November, the date for his feast.
2? Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Qui lingua Scottorum Magco nomi-
carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. 212, 213.
xvii. , p. 499.
.
3» "
Apud Hiberniam Natale Sanctorum
:
x s Of all the
1 ? From that to whom Chief,
August,
676.
Cloyne
26 distinct wasja very
says,
August 8. 1 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 1,1
been placed at March 7th by Caraerarius, who marked him Apostle of the Hebrides, as well as of Northumbrian Notwithstanding such an error of statement, it is evident the memory of St. Colman was held in great venera- tion in both Scotias ; but, in the Scotia of his birth he died and was buried.
ArticleII. —St. Darta,orDaire,Virgin. Atthe8thdayofAugust, a festival for Daria, a holy Virgin, is entered in the published Martyrology of
beginning
Martyrology
Donegal
1 as also in the Book of Leinster 2 Marianus O'Gorman and copy.
Tallagh,
Cathal Maguire have inserted the name of this holy Virgin in their respective Calendars. The Bollandists 3 notice her, likewise, at the 8th of August. There are three saints having this name to be found in the Irish Martyrologies. 4 The first is St. Daria, Virgin, who died in the eighteenth year of her age, and on the 8th of August, as mentioned at this day. The second is St. Daria, Widow, named Bochana, who is venerated on the and of Novembers The third St. Daria was a widow, likewise, and she was venerated on the 26th of October. 6 Ithasbeenthoughtmostprobable,? thatthepresentholyvirginismore likely than any other bearing the same name and venerated in our Calendars, to have been that St. Daria mentioned in the Acts of St.
was one of her nuns. If so, she is said to have been blind from the time of her birth,9 and she must have flourished towards the close of the fifth or
Article III. —St. Beoan, son of Nessan, of Feigh Cullen, County
1
of Kildare. According to the Martyrology of Tallagh, veneration was
given at the 8th of August to Beoan mic Nessan, in Fidh Cullend. St. Beoan, the son of Nessan, is commemorated, on this day, likewise, in the
The
festival at the 8th of August, in honour of Daire, Virgin. It likewise adds,
11
of the sixth
of
century.
that from earlier records, her age was eighty years ; and, in the Table thereto
appended her name is Latinized, Daria, Virgo.
\* Feilire" of St. ^Engus.
2
There is a scholion annexed, stating that he was of
Fid Cuillinn in Ui-Foelain. 3 It is now called Feighcullen,* a parish, partly in
the Barony of East Ophaly,s but chiefly in that of Connell,6 County of Kil-
dare. It contains a large tract of bog. ? The O'Clerys state, that he was the
Confesso—rum Beoain et Colmani Episco- and also Quarta Vita S. Brigidae, cap. 89,
porum. " Kalendarium Drummondiense. p. 561.
8
See Bishop Forbes' Kalendars of Scottish These of the Third Life of St. Brigid
saints, p. 21. have been attributed to St. Ultan. 29SeeScottishEn—triesintheKalendarof 9See Rev. Baring-Gould's beautiful
David Camerari—
us. Ibid. ,
J
p. 235. Article ii. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi. In this calendar her name
legend
saints," vol. ii. , February i. , p. 20.
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. is clearly a misprint, as entered Darii 212, 213.
n
"
themasculineinsteadof
The entry, there, is likewise 'Oatvii Uif\. 3 See Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Au- gusti viii. Among the pretermitted saints,
Vir. " This
the feminine form for her name.
See —
ibid. , pp. 398, 399.
2
by
gives
See "Transactions of the Royal Irish 4 See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol.
p. 326.
Tertia Vita S. Brigidse, n. 67, p. 545.
i. , part i. On the calendar of Oengus, by
Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. exxiii.
3 See ibid. , p. exxx.
4 It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey
5
nus O'Gorman and of Donegal. See notices
According tothe Martyrologies of Maria-
of her, at the 2nd of November, in the Eleventh Volume of this work.
Townland Maps for the County of Kildare," See an account of her, at that date, in . sheets 17, 18, 23. The Townland proper is
6
the Tenth Volume of this work.
7 See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga. " Tertia Vita S. Brigidae, cap. 124, p. 541,
on sheet 17.
s This portion contains 1,133a. or. 37p.
6
,0
Article hi.
Kelly, p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinster
copy we find beoani pin rlerfAin 1 fit) ChuiLltro.
'
•
Edited
Rer. Dr.
This portion contains 3,042a. 2r. 1 7p.
Brigid,
8 and who
"
of Sister Dora. Lives of the
IO a registers
122 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 8.
son of Neassan, and that he sprung from the race of Cathaoir Mor, of Leinster. Near the Hill of Allen, in the County of Kildare, Feigh-Cullen was the site of an ancient church, the ruins of which existed within the memory of some
still living.
Patrick,
place
was Kill-fiacle in
Tipperary ;"
so that he to appears
Martyrology
of 1 recordsthe Tallagh,
simple entry,
Curcach,CluanaLothair. 2
Kalendars of
8th Aug.
8
The rude Baptismal trough, used at this church in primitive
Christian times, is now preserved at Allen. In a field adjoining the church, the
foundation of an extensive building can be traced, regarding which, however,
history and tradition are silent. 9 A Beoan is set down as a disciple of St.
10 but his
have been dis-tinct from the present saint. The Martyrology of Donegal" records him at the 8th of August as Beoan, Bishop of Fidh Chuilinn, in Ui
In the Calendar of Drummond, he is entered at the same date. 1 ^
Failge.
In conjunction with two other saints bearing the same name, we find a
1 peculiar arrangement, in the table postfixed to this Martyrology. *
Article IV. —Blessed Ultan, the Scot or Irishman, Monk of
Lindisfarne. \_Eighth Century. '] This pious and distinguished Cenobite
seems to have been born towards the commencement of the eighth century.
He was a Scot race, to Menard. 1 At that such by according Hugh period,
adesignationimplied,thathisoriginhadbeenderivedfromIreland. Harps- feld has not forgotten to commemorate the virtues and accomplishments of this religious man. 2 His festival has been placed at the 17th of January, by Colgan,3 for no better reason, than because the first St. Ultan, occurring in the order on our National Calendars, has been assigned to that day. In a passing allusion to this reputed festival,« we promised to reserve other particulars—so far as they are revealed for us—to be inserted at the 8th day of August, when his name is inscribed in the Benedictine Martyrology.
Article V. —St. Curcach, Virgin, of Cluain-lothair, now Cloon- logher, County of Leitrtm. At the 8th of August, the published
7 See Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, vol. i. , pp. 616, 617.
8 They were pulled down on the occasion
of erecting the present Protestant Church.
See Right Rev. Michael Comerford's
"
to the Dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin," vol. ii , p. 62.
9 In the year A. D. 956, a great battle was
13 See Bishop Forbes Scottish Saints," p. 21.
Collections
relating
Beoan, bishop of Vitalianus) 26th Oct. J-(
3rd Dec.
here. It thus recorded in Dr. —" —of fought is^ Martyrology
Donegal," pp,
O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters. " "A victory was gained over the Ui-Dun- chadha, the Ui-Failghe, and the Clann- Ceallaigh, at Fidh-Chuilinn, namely, over Domhnal, son of Lorchan, and Domhnal, son of Maelmordha, by the Ui-Faelain, namely, by Murchadh, son of Finn ;in which were slain Cearnach, son of Lorcan, chief
305.
and Naeideanan Ua Domhnaill, and many others of the nobility
of
Clann-Ceallaigh,
besides them,'' vol. ii. , pp. 676, 677.
Article v. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi.
10
of Ireland, and whose life is to be found in the Third Volume of this work,
at the 17th of March.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 212, 213.
2 In the Book of Leinster copy, the
entry
Apostle
Colgan's
" Trias Thaumaturga. "
of this saint reads , Cur\chAcn CluAiti
Lochup.
3 The parish so called is described on the
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Leitrim,'' sheets 7, II, 12, 15, 16. The Townland proper is on sheet II. 4 See General Index to the
"See
Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. xxxii. , p. 156, and p. 62, n. 186.
'+ Thus entered:— Beoan, bishop o
Fiodh-cuilin,
Tamlelacht, Beoan, bishop
304, Article iv. See his observations on
the " Martyrologium Benedictinum," lib. ii. ,
See Ilistoria Ecclesiastica," Saec ix. , cap. xiv.
3 See '* Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xvii Tanuarii. De B. Ultano Scoto, seu Hiberno, Lindisfarnensi Monacho, with notes, p. 109.
4 At the 17t—h day of January. '
Augusti viii. 2"
'
Alphabetical
August 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 123
This place must be Cloonlogher, in a parish of the same name,3 barony of
Dromahaire, and County of Leitrim. 4 It is a vicarage in the Diocese of
of mountain land. 5 Her name also, in Kilmore, consisting chiefly appears,
the of 6 at this same date, as Curcach, of Cluain- Martyrology Donegal,
lothair, Virgin. There is a Curcach, daughter to Dael, son of Maisine, and belonging to the race of Colla Menn, adds the calendarist. There is a Cluain Lothaire in Breifne O'Ruairc, and Curcach is patron there, follows the foregoing announcement.
Article VI.
—
fc"*
18 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 8.
between the Scots and 2 However, the true cause for promote peac^ Angles.
his retirement was owing to the monks of Fame wishing to adopt the Roman rather than the Irish rite, regarding the tonsure and celebrating of Easter. Wherefore he brought with him those brothers, who desired a return to Scotia, where further action was intended to be taken. When Colman abandoned that place for his own home, taking with him some of the venerable father Aidan's bones, he left another portion of them in the church of Lindisfame. AvenerableandanamiablemannamedEata,3whohadbeen Abbot in the monastery of Mailros, was appointed superior over those monks,
On his departure, Colman asked and obtained this permission, as a favour from King Oswy ; for, Eata had been one of the twelve Anglo-boys whom Aidan had instructed in Christian discipline, during the early period of his episco- pacy. That king had always entertained a most kind regard for Bishop
Colman, because of his prudence and many virtues. On the departure of Colman, the servant of Christ, Tuda, was appointed bishop over the North- umbrians. He had been educated and consecrated, among the southern Scots. '* He had also come to Northumbria from Scotia, whilst Colman there
presided. Being a good and religious man, he governed only for a short time. 5 Having left some brothers in the church at Lindisfame, Colman went to the Island of Iona.
Although dissenting from his course of religious discipline, yet Bede pays a very high tribute to the genuine merits of this holy man. The subjects,
over whom Colman and his predecessors ruled, manifested their approval of moderationandeconomy. OnthedepartureofColmanandhismonks,few possessionsremainedinthemonastery. Thechurchalonewaswellappointed. Such things as had been found indispensably necessary for a religious estab- lishment alone remained. , The monks never retained money in their posses- sion ; for whatever they received from the rich was distributed among the poor. Cattle were kept solely for monastic use. As those monks only used the church for purposes of prayer, and for hearing God's word preached ; there was no necessity to take measures for the material wants of their house, or to acquire money. Nor had those monks occasion for the support of human
powers. When opportunity permitted, the king himself, with five or six attendants, came to the church, where, having engaged in religious exercises, the company soon departed. If it so happened that the monarch partook of
refreshments, he was always satisfied with the monks' plain and simple daily fare. The whole solicitude felt by these teachers of doctrine had been directed towards serving God and not the world, and towards refreshing their souls and not their bodies. During that time, the monastic profession had been held in great reverence.
Whenever the habit of a cleric or religions had been seen, everywhere its owner was welcomed as a special servant of God. Even if a monk were found on his journey, the people ran with heads inclined to receive the sign of the Cross, or hear some word of benediction from his lips. They even treasured in their recollection all exhortations bestowed on them. On Sundays, the people repaired in crowds to the church or monastery; not for purposes of recreation, but to hear the Word of God announced. If any
*
See Breviariuin Aberdonense, Pars Hye- malis, vol. lvi.
3 He is venerated as a saint, on the 26th
who chose to remain at Lindisfame, when the Scottish brothers left it.
of October, where further
garding him may be found.
re-
5 He was carried off, in the
lence, which spread over England in the year 664.
4
According to Dr. Challenor, this ex-
particulars
great pesti-
pression is interpreted as meaning those "
who dwelt in Munster. See Britannia Sancta," part ii. , p. 76.
August 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 119
priest happened to visit a hamlet, immediately its inhabitants collected together, and desired to hear him treat on heavenly topics. Nor, had the
priest or cleric any other object in visiting villages, than that of preaching, baptising, visiting the sick, or administering to the spiritual wants of the villagers. So far were those missionaries from being actuated by a spirit of avarice, that none of them would accept lands or means for building
monasteries,excepturgedtheretobymeninpower. Thesepracticeswere preserved after Colman's time, in the Northumbrian churches. It is declared
by Venerable Bede, that not only Colman, but many of his disciples, had
been reputed holy. Their miracles and virtues afforded proof of their
beatitude. Not doubting they were sanctified denizens of heaven, the holy
Abbot himself never ceased desiring to imitate their lives, morals and
6 discipline.
Having resolved on his final place for settlement, Colman pn leaving Britain brought with him all the Scots, whom he had collected in the Island
of Lindisfarne, as also about thirty brothers belonging to the Anglian nation, and who had been duly instructed in his monastic discipline. * From Iona, Colman sailed for Ireland, where he retired to a small island, called in the Scotic language Innisboufende, i. e. , the Island of the White Cow. It was
8
situated on a remote part of the Western shore.
The site of Innisbofinde has been determined. This place is now known
as Innisboffin, or Ennisboffin. It is an island and a parish, in the barony of Murisk, at the entrance to Ballynakill harbour, and in the county of Mayo.
According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle 9 and the Annals of Clonmacnoise, it is stated, that St. Colman, with other holy men accompanying him, left Lindisfarne, and settled on this island in the year 664. However, according to the Annals of Ulster and of the Four Masters,10 these incidents occurred
11
in 667, or as Ussher states, in 668.
by most of our modern writers. 12 The monastery of this saint was named after
during the Progress of the Ordnance Sur-
of
9 Edited, with a translation, by Benjamin Thorpe, vol. i. , pp. 54 to 57, and vol. ii. , p.
the Island, on which it had been built
the saint, as that of Colman of Inis-bo-finne. The ruins of an ancient church are yet seen there, in the townland of Knocks Near it is a holy well, calledTobar-Flannain. BetweenthetownlandofWestquarterandFawn- more, on this island, is situated Loch Bo-finne, i. e. , the Lake of the White Cow. A local tradition has it, that an enchanted white cow, in Irish Bo- finne—which gave name to the island—is periodically to be seen emerging
6
Baert concludes the foregoing account
in these words:—"
vero
Letter
John O'Dono-
ipsique sancto id accomodare liceat, quod de
Sanctis Episcopis canit Ecclesia ex scrmone
S. Maximi ; cum dicat Scriptura, Gloria
Patris est filius sapiens ; quantae hujus sunt
Junii. Acta S. Colmani,
28, 29.
7" See Venerable Bede's
Appendix, pp.
Historia Eccle- siastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. iv. , cap. 4,
P- 27°- *"
Discipulis
ejus
vey
1838," vol.
i.
glorise, qui tantorum filiorum sapientia & 30.
deyotione laetatur ? ILcc dicta sunt, ut nemo
miretur, quod Molani conjecturam secutus,
Culmanum, Lindisfarnensem Episcopum,
Sanctorum cu/tu dignum existimaverim. "
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , vii.
,0 See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. ,
pp. 278, 279, and n. (;) ibid.
" See " Primonlia," and Index Chrono-
logicus, at A. D. DCLXVIII.
I2 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish saints," p. 303.
13 For an engraving, representing these
ancient remains, and a description of them, the reader is referred to the account of St. Bactan, or Baodan Mor, Abbot of Inismore, or Inis-bo-finne, in the First Volume of this
work, at the 14th of January, Art. i.
m See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
See a description of it in Letters re-
lating to the Antiquities of the County of Mayo, containing Information collected
These latter dates have been adopted
;
while the church was named from
in
van, dated Westport, July 14th, 1838, pp. 482 to 485.
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 8 .
from its waters. 14 There, St. Colman erected a monastery and established his companions and monks, who were natives of two distinct nations. It is
there
that this foundation took
erected, only a fragment of St. Colman's Abbey now remains. 16
stated,
place
a. d.
667.
buildings
Some differences afterwards arose among the Irish and the Saxon monks ;
when many of the inmates left that monastery, and wandered to certain known
places. Meantime, the Anglo-Saxon brothers appear to have remained during harvest time, and those who had gone returned again when winter approached. The monks desired to use in common, what the English had
garnered. However, Colman found a remedy for such a state of things. Looking around him, for a suitable place in Ireland, where he might erect a
It was so noted for the sanctity of its inhabitants, that in the time of St. Cormac and St. Adamnan, it is said to have been the dwelling for one hundred Saxon, i. e. , English Saints. x 9 This monastery of Mayo became a Bishop's See in course of time, and subse-
quently it was united to the Archbishopric of Tuam.
Colman died in the year 674, observes a calendarist,20 and this agrees
with our best known Annals. 21 in the Chronicle of his Yet, Clonmacnoise,
death is entered at 672, and in the Annals of Ulster at 675. " According to
he selected a
this district belonged, Colman purchased a part, for the erection of his religious establishment ; a condition having been imposed, that the monks, who should settle there, would offer their prayers to God, for the grantor himself. With the aid of that Chief and his retainers, a monastery was there built. The English monks then came to dwell in it, having left Innisbonnde to the Irish. And, even to the time of Bede, Mayo monastery had been
18
monastery,
spot,
called
Mayo.
always occupied by English monks.
Roderick
O'Flaherty,
he died on the 8th of a. d. 23 But Father
Stephen
White
places
his demise about the
year
680 or
690,
24 which must be
a mistake; for elsewhere, we meet with no other account having it so late in
the century. Doubtful regarding the particular St. Colman, which a southern
Irish diocese claims as Patron, a certain writer states, that he is inclined to connect St. Colman of Lindisfarne with Cloyne, rather than his namesake of Kilmacduagh, the latter appearing to have lived and died within the confines of his own diocese. 25 St. Colman of
However,
person from either of them. At the 8th of August, the Martyrology of
2
Donegal 7 enters the name Colman, Bishop of Inis Bofinne, in Conmaicna
mara, in the West of Connaught. This'holy man is entered in the Scottish Calendar, and particularly in that of Drummond,28 at this date. His day has
F«ur Masters," vol. n. i. ,
20 A note Dr. Todd by
(g), p. 279.
15 See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary tion
at such addi- " a. d. 674. This date is added by the
of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 18.
16 See a Report on this subject by G.
Henry Kinahan, M. R. I. A. , July, 1869, hi "Journal of the Historical and Archoeo- logical Association of Ireland," vol. i. , third series, 1868-69 part «» P- 348.
17 " natur. "
18 Bede says, that even in his time, they lived there in great continence and simpli- city. They were under the rule of a canoni- cal Abbot, after the example of the Holy Fathers.
19 See Archbishop Ussher's " Britanni-
second hand. "
ai See Dr O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 284, 285. * See ibid. n. (c. )
a3 See " Chorographical Description of
West or II-Iar Connaught," 1 18. Edited p.
by James Hardiman, M. R. I. A.
2*
See "Apologia pro Hiberriia,"cap v. , p. 66. 2S See Rev. Courtenay Moore's " Chro- nicies of SS. Colman, and of St. Colman's,
Farahy, Diocese of Cloyne," p. 10.
26
See his Life, at the 24th of November, the date for his feast.
2? Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Qui lingua Scottorum Magco nomi-
carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. 212, 213.
xvii. , p. 499.
.
3» "
Apud Hiberniam Natale Sanctorum
:
x s Of all the
1 ? From that to whom Chief,
August,
676.
Cloyne
26 distinct wasja very
says,
August 8. 1 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 1,1
been placed at March 7th by Caraerarius, who marked him Apostle of the Hebrides, as well as of Northumbrian Notwithstanding such an error of statement, it is evident the memory of St. Colman was held in great venera- tion in both Scotias ; but, in the Scotia of his birth he died and was buried.
ArticleII. —St. Darta,orDaire,Virgin. Atthe8thdayofAugust, a festival for Daria, a holy Virgin, is entered in the published Martyrology of
beginning
Martyrology
Donegal
1 as also in the Book of Leinster 2 Marianus O'Gorman and copy.
Tallagh,
Cathal Maguire have inserted the name of this holy Virgin in their respective Calendars. The Bollandists 3 notice her, likewise, at the 8th of August. There are three saints having this name to be found in the Irish Martyrologies. 4 The first is St. Daria, Virgin, who died in the eighteenth year of her age, and on the 8th of August, as mentioned at this day. The second is St. Daria, Widow, named Bochana, who is venerated on the and of Novembers The third St. Daria was a widow, likewise, and she was venerated on the 26th of October. 6 Ithasbeenthoughtmostprobable,? thatthepresentholyvirginismore likely than any other bearing the same name and venerated in our Calendars, to have been that St. Daria mentioned in the Acts of St.
was one of her nuns. If so, she is said to have been blind from the time of her birth,9 and she must have flourished towards the close of the fifth or
Article III. —St. Beoan, son of Nessan, of Feigh Cullen, County
1
of Kildare. According to the Martyrology of Tallagh, veneration was
given at the 8th of August to Beoan mic Nessan, in Fidh Cullend. St. Beoan, the son of Nessan, is commemorated, on this day, likewise, in the
The
festival at the 8th of August, in honour of Daire, Virgin. It likewise adds,
11
of the sixth
of
century.
that from earlier records, her age was eighty years ; and, in the Table thereto
appended her name is Latinized, Daria, Virgo.
\* Feilire" of St. ^Engus.
2
There is a scholion annexed, stating that he was of
Fid Cuillinn in Ui-Foelain. 3 It is now called Feighcullen,* a parish, partly in
the Barony of East Ophaly,s but chiefly in that of Connell,6 County of Kil-
dare. It contains a large tract of bog. ? The O'Clerys state, that he was the
Confesso—rum Beoain et Colmani Episco- and also Quarta Vita S. Brigidae, cap. 89,
porum. " Kalendarium Drummondiense. p. 561.
8
See Bishop Forbes' Kalendars of Scottish These of the Third Life of St. Brigid
saints, p. 21. have been attributed to St. Ultan. 29SeeScottishEn—triesintheKalendarof 9See Rev. Baring-Gould's beautiful
David Camerari—
us. Ibid. ,
J
p. 235. Article ii. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi. In this calendar her name
legend
saints," vol. ii. , February i. , p. 20.
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. is clearly a misprint, as entered Darii 212, 213.
n
"
themasculineinsteadof
The entry, there, is likewise 'Oatvii Uif\. 3 See Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Au- gusti viii. Among the pretermitted saints,
Vir. " This
the feminine form for her name.
See —
ibid. , pp. 398, 399.
2
by
gives
See "Transactions of the Royal Irish 4 See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol.
p. 326.
Tertia Vita S. Brigidse, n. 67, p. 545.
i. , part i. On the calendar of Oengus, by
Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. exxiii.
3 See ibid. , p. exxx.
4 It is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey
5
nus O'Gorman and of Donegal. See notices
According tothe Martyrologies of Maria-
of her, at the 2nd of November, in the Eleventh Volume of this work.
Townland Maps for the County of Kildare," See an account of her, at that date, in . sheets 17, 18, 23. The Townland proper is
6
the Tenth Volume of this work.
7 See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga. " Tertia Vita S. Brigidae, cap. 124, p. 541,
on sheet 17.
s This portion contains 1,133a. or. 37p.
6
,0
Article hi.
Kelly, p. xxxi. In the Book of Leinster
copy we find beoani pin rlerfAin 1 fit) ChuiLltro.
'
•
Edited
Rer. Dr.
This portion contains 3,042a. 2r. 1 7p.
Brigid,
8 and who
"
of Sister Dora. Lives of the
IO a registers
122 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 8.
son of Neassan, and that he sprung from the race of Cathaoir Mor, of Leinster. Near the Hill of Allen, in the County of Kildare, Feigh-Cullen was the site of an ancient church, the ruins of which existed within the memory of some
still living.
Patrick,
place
was Kill-fiacle in
Tipperary ;"
so that he to appears
Martyrology
of 1 recordsthe Tallagh,
simple entry,
Curcach,CluanaLothair. 2
Kalendars of
8th Aug.
8
The rude Baptismal trough, used at this church in primitive
Christian times, is now preserved at Allen. In a field adjoining the church, the
foundation of an extensive building can be traced, regarding which, however,
history and tradition are silent. 9 A Beoan is set down as a disciple of St.
10 but his
have been dis-tinct from the present saint. The Martyrology of Donegal" records him at the 8th of August as Beoan, Bishop of Fidh Chuilinn, in Ui
In the Calendar of Drummond, he is entered at the same date. 1 ^
Failge.
In conjunction with two other saints bearing the same name, we find a
1 peculiar arrangement, in the table postfixed to this Martyrology. *
Article IV. —Blessed Ultan, the Scot or Irishman, Monk of
Lindisfarne. \_Eighth Century. '] This pious and distinguished Cenobite
seems to have been born towards the commencement of the eighth century.
He was a Scot race, to Menard. 1 At that such by according Hugh period,
adesignationimplied,thathisoriginhadbeenderivedfromIreland. Harps- feld has not forgotten to commemorate the virtues and accomplishments of this religious man. 2 His festival has been placed at the 17th of January, by Colgan,3 for no better reason, than because the first St. Ultan, occurring in the order on our National Calendars, has been assigned to that day. In a passing allusion to this reputed festival,« we promised to reserve other particulars—so far as they are revealed for us—to be inserted at the 8th day of August, when his name is inscribed in the Benedictine Martyrology.
Article V. —St. Curcach, Virgin, of Cluain-lothair, now Cloon- logher, County of Leitrtm. At the 8th of August, the published
7 See Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, vol. i. , pp. 616, 617.
8 They were pulled down on the occasion
of erecting the present Protestant Church.
See Right Rev. Michael Comerford's
"
to the Dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin," vol. ii , p. 62.
9 In the year A. D. 956, a great battle was
13 See Bishop Forbes Scottish Saints," p. 21.
Collections
relating
Beoan, bishop of Vitalianus) 26th Oct. J-(
3rd Dec.
here. It thus recorded in Dr. —" —of fought is^ Martyrology
Donegal," pp,
O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters. " "A victory was gained over the Ui-Dun- chadha, the Ui-Failghe, and the Clann- Ceallaigh, at Fidh-Chuilinn, namely, over Domhnal, son of Lorchan, and Domhnal, son of Maelmordha, by the Ui-Faelain, namely, by Murchadh, son of Finn ;in which were slain Cearnach, son of Lorcan, chief
305.
and Naeideanan Ua Domhnaill, and many others of the nobility
of
Clann-Ceallaigh,
besides them,'' vol. ii. , pp. 676, 677.
Article v. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxi.
10
of Ireland, and whose life is to be found in the Third Volume of this work,
at the 17th of March.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 212, 213.
2 In the Book of Leinster copy, the
entry
Apostle
Colgan's
" Trias Thaumaturga. "
of this saint reads , Cur\chAcn CluAiti
Lochup.
3 The parish so called is described on the
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Leitrim,'' sheets 7, II, 12, 15, 16. The Townland proper is on sheet II. 4 See General Index to the
"See
Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. xxxii. , p. 156, and p. 62, n. 186.
'+ Thus entered:— Beoan, bishop o
Fiodh-cuilin,
Tamlelacht, Beoan, bishop
304, Article iv. See his observations on
the " Martyrologium Benedictinum," lib. ii. ,
See Ilistoria Ecclesiastica," Saec ix. , cap. xiv.
3 See '* Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xvii Tanuarii. De B. Ultano Scoto, seu Hiberno, Lindisfarnensi Monacho, with notes, p. 109.
4 At the 17t—h day of January. '
Augusti viii. 2"
'
Alphabetical
August 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 123
This place must be Cloonlogher, in a parish of the same name,3 barony of
Dromahaire, and County of Leitrim. 4 It is a vicarage in the Diocese of
of mountain land. 5 Her name also, in Kilmore, consisting chiefly appears,
the of 6 at this same date, as Curcach, of Cluain- Martyrology Donegal,
lothair, Virgin. There is a Curcach, daughter to Dael, son of Maisine, and belonging to the race of Colla Menn, adds the calendarist. There is a Cluain Lothaire in Breifne O'Ruairc, and Curcach is patron there, follows the foregoing announcement.
Article VI.
