^i See the Bollandists'
previous
commen-
tary to his Life, num.
tary to his Life, num.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
253
Bernard, who, in no manner had been connected with those outrages, alone escaped. 3^
Another time, Mathgamanius, or Matthew, son to Domnald, son to Mur- chertach, wished to take away by violence certain herds, which were kept in a place of refuge, sacred to St. Senan. When his vicar, and the people of this place, wished to prevent that violence, Matthew shot two arrows at the vicar, intending to deprive him of life ; however, these arrows did not even pene- trate his garments, against which they lightly glanced. On seeing this, the chief was enraged, and leaping in among the cattle, he killed an ox ; but, be- fore himself or his companions could remove the quarters, Matthew was seized with a sudden illness, and he immediately expired. 3^ On a certain occasion, some wicked depredators, entering the lands dedicated to St. Senan, took away a cow, from the herd of a venerable priest, named O'Regan. Thisanimalwasbutcheredatapond,somedistancefromthat place, where the theft had been committed ; and, afterwards, a calf belonging to this cow, was covered with its hide, and sunk in the bottom of a pit near the pool. A public search was instituted, for recovery of the missing cow ; during which, it was believed, that the authors of this robbery must incur St. Senan's displeasure. After a month had elapsed, the robbers returned to the pit, whence they drew forth the skin-covered calf ; when, to their surprise, this animal was alive, and signified the fact, by bleating aloud three different times. Being seized with astonishment, at what they looked upon as a mira- culous occurrence, those thieves returned to the priest. To him they con- fessed, what had taken place ; whilst, at the same time, they promised him restitution for the injustice committed. They likewise engaged the future amendment of their lives. ^3
A clerical Synod being at one time convened, in St. Senan's church ;
amongst other decrees, one was passed, for the erection of a chapel, in
honour of the Blessed Virgin. But, a difficulty was presented, in the way of
obtaining stones, which could easily be dressed, or which might serve for the purpose of being converted into lime. While in such state of perplexity, the
clergy retired on this day; but, on the following, when going out, one of these clerics found near the church the very stones required, and, sufficient in
quantity,
Iniscattery was the see of a bishop, before the English invasion, and until
united with Limerick, about the beginning of the twelfth century. 35 Long after the death of St. Senan, the O'Brians held Iniscathay, to repel the Danish invaders of their territories. It was long an object for contention, between both parties, and our Annals3^ abound with notices of their quarrels. This island contains nearly 180 acres ; and about 20 of these were under wood, previous to the dissolution of monasteries,37 but, not a shrub now remains. 38
to build the whole sacred edifice. 3-t
" Acta Sanctoram Hiber- nise," viii. Martii. Vita Secunda S. Senani,
cap. xlix. , p. 534.
3^ See ibid. , cap. 1. , p. 534.
S. Senani, cap. vii. , num. 59, p. 778. Albert le Grand relates this incident, in a different manner. See n. (k), p. 779.
3* After relating this incident, the author
of the Prose Life adds : "Hoc ex multis
pauca per S. Senanum post mntem patrata miracula sufliciant. "—Colg:^'i\ "Acta Sane- torum Hibernioe," viii. ]M;. . ii. Vita Se- cunda S. Senani, cap. Iii, p. 534.
35 See Ferrar's "History of Limerick," part iii. , chap, iii. , pp. 185, 186.
3' See
Colgan's
33 the Bollandists' " See
Acta Sancto-
" The of Tnis- Legend
admirable
rum," tomus i. , viii. Martii. Vita Secunda cathy," will be found the Annals of this
36 See " flibernian Duffy's
Magazine," vol. i. , n. i. , p. 39. At the conclusion, in the
article,
island, with a correct topographical descrip- tion of the place, and of its venerable group of ecclesiastical ruins.
3? See Archdall's
"
Monasticon Hiberni-
cum," p. 51.
^s See Mr. and Mrs. Hall's "Ireland:
its Scenery, Character," &c. , vol. iii. , p.
434.
33 See an Article, in the "Gentleman's
254 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
On this island, Mr. Hills only found the remains of six churches, and probably of a seventh ;39 although, as we have stated, at no very remote period, the ruins of eleven old buildings had been shown. The people, about here, have a great devotion towards their patron saint, and they believe that any irreverence or acts of irreligious Vandalism, committed on the Island
of Iniscattery, will meet with condign punishment. Various exemplary instances are popularly remembered. '<°
In addition to the foregoing instances, it is stated by Albert le Grand,
that during the reign of Queen Elizabeth,*' daughter to King Henry VIII. ,*^ one Bernardulus'ts was destined for the Bishopric of Limerick, when it had been resolved to effect the overthrow of the Catholic Church, in Ireland. During his visitation of this diocese, Bernardulus^'t had heard of the judg- ments, visited on those, who dared to violate the possessions of St. Senan, on Scattery Island ; but, in order to carry out a decree, which obliged Catholics to forswear the Pope's primacy, and to affirm the Queen's supremacy, even in matters ecclesiastical, he had despatched two of his ministers, with a company of soldiers, to proclaim, that the inhabitants should assemble in St. Mary's Church, to hear the royal commands. All were most reluctantly obliged to attendthere; but,meantime,theirsecretprayerswereferventlyofferedtothe Immaculate Mother of God, and to their holy Patron, St. Senan. The chief minister having retired to rest, on that night, fell asleep ; yet, soon he awoke the guard with outcries, stating, that he had seen St. Senan, and that he had felt blows on his body, from the saint's pastoral staff, which left him so dis- abled, that for a day he could not rise from bed. However, this did not alter his purpose, nor did the prayers or warnings of the islanders move him ;
Notes on the Architecture of Ireland," v. , pp. 549,
in gi-eat pain. His wife, with tears, regretted that the poor man's advice had not been taken. The sailors were called, and a litter was prepared. Gently as the men could carry him, they conveyed him to the boat, and thence to his ship, where he suffered the greatest agony.
*' This reign is calculated, from Novem- ber the 17th, A. D. 1558, to her death, which occurred, March 24th, 1603.
Magazine," Vol. i. , A. D, 1864.
550.
*" Even a local paper, the " Clare Adver-
tiser," of July 4th, 1857, relates an anecdote,
regarding a melancholy accident, which
happened to the chief Engineer of her
Majesty's ship, Hawke, in the old church
ruins of Iniscattery, on Saturday, the 27th
of June, 1857. Having landed there, with
some friends, to spend a festive day, after
dinner, the engineer and his friends walked
"
*' He ascended the throne, April 22nd, A. D. 1509, and died on the 28th of January, A. D. 1547. See Sir Harris Nicolas' "Chro- nology of History," pp. 333, 344, 338, 339.
scream—the alder branch fell on him—
tree broke, not at the place where in was
notched, but much higher up, and where it
1606 to A. D. 16 1 7, together with the see of Limerick, he held that of Kilfenora. He
wasnot tobreak. Therehe exepcted
"
of
to
"
sainted isle of old. " They viewed
the fine old tower, and holy well, and the
chapel of St. Sinan, in which there was an
alder tree, older than the oldest inhabitant
on the island. Visitors at all times have
held the antiquities of the island, in respect, if
not in veneration. The engineer was desirous
to possess some curiosity from the island, so
remarkable in Irish history ; he used a little
chopper, on the tree, when a poor man
present requested him to desist, saying such
things were never done by visitors. This
warning had not the desired effect. Not find-
ing the branch to yield, the engineer handed
the little hatchet to his companion, while he
made an effort to swing out of the tree, in
order to break it, where it was notched. crated in April, a. d. 1604. From A. D. Then the branch gave way, almost without
a pull. The engineer fell with a terrible
over the
the
died in
Limerick, on the 22nd of M. arch,
lay,
Bishops
Limerick," pp. 511
513.
*3 So called, because he was remarkably diminutive in stature.
*^ This must have been Bernard Adams,
who succeeded John Thomburgh, who was
appointed Protestant Bishop of Limerick,
by Queen Elizabeth, towards the close of A. D. 1593, and who is said to have resigned
this see July 4th, A. D. 1603, having then been translated to the Bishopric of Bristol, whence he was translated to the see of Wor- cester, on the 17th of Februaiy, A. D. 1616. According to Harris' Ware, Bernard Adams had been appointed by King James I. to succeed John Thomburgh, and he was conse-
A. D. 1625, English style, and he was buried
in St. Mary's Cathedral. See Vol. i. ,
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 255
for, he swore, that neither the saint, nor any other person, should prevent him from executing the queen's wishes, and from driving the abominations of Roman idolatry out of the island. The night following, this minister and his assistant lay, in the same chamber, but in two different beds ; when, once
more, during the night, St. Senan appeared, in pontifical garments, and sur- rounded with a great light, while carrying an episcopal crozier in his hand.
Drawing the bed-curtain aside, the apparition again struck the sleeping minister,untilbloodflowedfromhiswounds. Hiscrieswereineffectual,to bring the servants in the house to his aid, for the chamber door had been firmly fastened ; while, his room-mate looked on with terror, and fearing a like chastisement for himself The avenging spirit departed, and opening the door, the servants found access to their suffering master, who desired, at once, to be conveyed with his companions, on board a ship, which sailed from Iniscattery to Limerick. Four days after his arrival here, the miserable man died impenitent ; while, those who accompanied him to the island were so much afraid of future disagreeable consequences, that they refused to have anything more to do, in molesting the islanders on Iniscathay. 'ts
In the county of Wexford, the old parish of Templeshannon bears our saint's name, even at the present day. *^ It contains that portion of Ennis- corthy town, eastwards from the River Slaney. An ancient church is here to be seen. It is on the outskirts of the town, and it consisted of a nave-*? and choir. 48 A choir-arch, much disfigured, connects them ; while, the middle gablerisesalittleabovethesidewalls,theupperpartbeingremoved. The choir-arcli appears to have been pointed, and its gable is covered with ivy. Although burials are still continued, in the graveyard, attached to that church, no patron saint or day is now remembered by the people. ''9 It is said, a parish and church of Kilshenane,5° in the barony of Clanmaurice, and diocese of Ardfert, has St. Senan as the patron. s^
There are two chief festivals, occurring in the Irish Calendars, in honour of this great saint. One of these takes place, on the ist day of March, as we have already noticed it. Thus, too, Ussher remarkSjS^ that in the Killenen- sen Martyrology, at the Kalends, or ist of March, he found the festival of St.
*s See the Bollandists' " Acta Sancto- rum," tomus i. , Martii viii. De Sancto Se- nano. Appendix ex Alberto le Grand de SS. Armoricis, num. 63, 64, 65, p. 779.
on the — where it is about feet outside, 3 high,
by 2J feet it widens considerably on the inside. This gable is built of small and very thin stones, and it is about 2|- feet in thickness. The nave is built of large and small stones. See ibid,
** It is compounded of Teampull, "a
church,—" and Seanain, the genetive form of
Seanan the name of the famous Irish saint,
whose principal establishment was on Scat-
tery Island, in the Shannon. Thus, CeAm-
puLL SeAHAin is Latinized " ecclesia jured, however, at the top. On this gable, Senani. " See County of Wexford Antiqua-
rian Letters of the Irish Ordnance
Survey, vol. ii. , p. 251, Signed, "J. O'D. ," the initials of Mr. O'Donovan's name. The foregoing remarks are without date ; but, probably, they were wTitten in the summer
of 1840.
*^ The nave is about 30 feet, in length, by
19J feet, in breadth. The side walls, which
appear to retain the original height, and ex- tend the entire length of this portion of the church, are about 18 feet high. Only the northern portion of the gable remains ; and, at the southern extremity of the part remain- ing, there is a large stone, which seems to have been the lower stone of a doorway.
*' See ibid.
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kerry," Sheets 10, 16, 17, 22, 23, 30, 31.
The townland proper is on Sheet 16.
^i See the Bollandists' previous commen-
tary to his Life, num. 10, p. 761.
The walls of the nave are about 3 feet thick,
and they are covered with ivy. See ibid. ,
pp. 252, 253.
'*^ The choir was about \%\ paces long,
and it appears to have been of the same breadth with the nave ; but, as its side walls are now level with the ground, it is impossi- ble to measure the breadth with accuracy. The east gable is almost perfect, being slightly in-
there is a square window, formed of granite,
^o See it described on the
"
"
quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 454.
S' See
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
256 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
Senan, Confessor, in Hibernia, noted. As also noticed, at the previous day, March the 7th is marked for St. Senan's festival. The 8th of March, how- ever,isthefeast,whichwasmostsolemnlycommemorated. Atthisdate,St. Senanhasbeenentered,inthe"Feilire"ofSt. ^nguss. ss TheCalendarof Cashel, Cathal Maguire, and the Martyrology of Donegal54 have their respec- tiveaccountsofhim,onthisday. 55 Likewise,theMartyrologyofSalisbury,56 and the English Carthusian Martyrology of Newport, record his feast, substi- tuting, however, " Fenani " for " Senani," at this date. 57 Besides, the Kalen- dar of Drummond states, at the viii. Idus : In Ireland, the Holy Confessors Senan, Aed, and Conna, on this day, went to Christ. s^ The mediaeval Anti- phonaries59 of our Irish Churches furnish conclusive proof, that formerly the Office of St. Senan, Bishop and Confessor, contained nine lessons, as recited by the clergy, in different dioceses.
The people of Thomond and of Munster hold the well of St. Senan, on Scattery Island, in the greatest veneration. In former times, the sailors on merchant vessels, sailing from Limerick out to the Atlantic, if detained by contrary winds, at the mouth of the Shannon, usually went, in a religious manner, and drew water from it, invoking the patron's intercession. This supply was brought on board their ships, and within twenty-four hours, their expectation of favouring winds was never known to be disappointed. From the sepulchre of St. Senan, also, the people were accustomed to take small olive-coloured stones, which were regarded as relics. These, when put into what they drank, were supposed to effect a cure, or a prevention from plague, or from any kind of contagious disease. The seamen were in the habit of wearing them as amulets, about their persons, when out at sea, and believed that so they should not be drowned, while devoutly invoking the holy name of Senan. On one occasion, a shipwrecked merchant, thus furnished, and praying to the patron, found when his vessel disappeared, that some invisible force impelled him safely towards the shore. The brother of tliis merchant, being furnished, likewise, with similar relics, survived, and escaped from this accident ; while, it was remarked, that nine other mariners, not having them, perished in the raging sea. ^'° Besides, the celebrated well, on Scattery Island, in Killshinane parish, county of Kerry, there is a well, also dedicated to St. Senan. A patron is held there annually, on the 8th day of March. Again, there is a remarkable well of a St. Senan at Dumass, on the western bank of the Shannon, and in the county of Clare. ^' In addition to the fore- going, there is an object, marked as St. Senan's altar, on Henry Pelham's old
S3 The following Irish stanza, and its English translation, have been furnished by Professo—r O'Looney, from the " Leabhar Breac :"
X). UIII. \o, SeriAfi in-ofe cacIiaij
CpochAi^ ecjAAic n<i*^AcTi CoriAntnL clii bu<voAc1i
efpuc beoAet) bAjAch.
Senan of Innis Catha
Who strangled the hideous
Narach
Conandil the triumphant hero The bishop Beoaed the war-
like.
5* Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 68 to 71.
55 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- rum," tomus i. , Martii viii. De Sancto
Senano. Previous Commentary, num. 9,
p. 761.
5° Edited by Richard Whitford, A. D.
1526.
57 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctonim Hiber-
nise," Martii viii. Appendix ad Vitam S.
Senani, cap. vi. , p. 539.
ss See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p, 7.
59
Thus, in these Manuscripts, belonging to the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, and classed B. i. 3. ,andB. 3. 12. , at the 8th of March, the respective Calendars note ix. lect.
^° See the Bollandists' " Acta Sancto- rum," tomus i. , Martii viii. De Sancto Se- nano. Theforegoingaccountwillbefound in Appendix ex Alberto le Grand de SS. Armoricis, num. 61, 62, p. 779.
*' See " The Illustrated Dublin Journal," vol. i. . No. 4, p. 52.
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 257
Map of the County Clare. It is within the bounds of Killard parish,^^ in the barony of Ibrickan, During the last century, the Bell of St. Senan was reli-
giously preserved, by the people, living near Scattery Island ; and, it was used by them, for the purpose of giving evidence. Many believed, that to swear falsely on it was to ensure immediately the takmg of convulsions, to be followed by a speedy death. ^3
The hermit and the coenobite of our early Irish and Christian Church were moulded on the same framework of society, as fashions the religious of this nineteenth century. ^'* Still must it be regretted, that the history of the Irish coenobic life and Monastic Orders is as yet comparatively unwritten ; no man of this generation has dared to grapple with this vast subject, the materials for elucidating which are not yet stored up fully in printed books. They lie scattered, through the public libraries and record rooms, not alone of Ireland, but of half the cities of Europe ; they are locked up in the charter chests of great landowners, or in the still less accessible bookcases of wealthy and ignorant collectors. It is true, that even in a divisional sense, the task must prove a life-long labour, and much reading, during the most active period of life, must be directed to kindred subjects ; but, had such a work come to partial perfection, until of late years, it should have been written, on the authority of printed documents only, for facilities were but grudgingly afforded, by public authorities, for researchful acquaintance with muniments undertheircustody. Privateandunaidedeffortcouldthereforehavegiven but a very imperfect outline of the subject. Let us hope, however, that the glimpses, so imperfectly revealed in savored biography, may urge others to deal more completely with a grand historical picture.
Article II. —%v. Liber, or Liberius, Abbot of Aghaboe, Queen's County. \Sixth and Seventh Centuries^ Some doubtful notices of this holy man are to be found in Colgan,^ and the Bollandists^ place him, among their pretermitted saints, at this date. Little is known regarding him ; but, it is stated, this saint was the son of a nobleman, called Aradius. It has been inferred, that Liber must have been born, about, or after, the middle of the sixth century, and that he flourished, towards the year 580. Then, it is said, that in his youth, the name he bore indicated his morals, until converted by a miracle of St. Canice,^ to a life of grace. He then became a model of virtue, and he is conjecturally thought, to have placed himself, as a disciple, under such holy guidance, as his great spiritual director afforded. Simply the name of Liber, with the letter S. appended, is seen in the Martyrology of Tallagh,'^ at the 8th of March. This saint is regarded, as the immediate successor of the founder of Aghaboe,^ Blessed Canice. This place is situated in the southern part of the Queen's County. In treating of Aghaboe and about its former history, the Rev. Edward Ledwich undertakes to give an exact description of the old ruins,^ near which he lived as a rector, for over twenty years. 7
<^^ It is shown on the " Ordnance Townland Maps for the County of Clare," Sheets 38, 46, 47, 56, 57.
*3 See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's " Gene- ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 188.
* See "Monastic Legends. " A paper, read by Edward George Kirvvan Browne,
before the Academia, at Hackney, p. 7. London,8vo. —
Article ii. 'See "Acta Sanctorum Hibern-jE. " viii. Martii. Vua s. Liberi or
^ See "Acta tomus Martii Sanctorum," i. ,
viii. , p. 749.
3 See his Life, at the nth of October,
^
•'*'.
. copperplate engraving has been R
Survey
His antiquarian knowledge, however, is
-t Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
p.
xviii.
5 it is now a parish, within the baronies
of Clandonagh, and of Clarmallagh, and it
is shown on the "Ordnance Survey Town- land Maps for the Queen's County," Sheets 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 34. The townland proper is on Sheet 22.
* From a
sketch, taken by Daniel Grose
2^8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
singularlyatfault,inreferencetovariousplacesandparticulars. Hehasalso contributed the historical article, on this place, published by Archdall. ' A much more complete account he has given, in the work or collection of William Shaw Mason. 9 This is accompanied by a map of the parish," together with some interesting engravings of Antiquities. " The old Cathedral here stood, on the site of the modern Protestant church, and some vestiges of the more ancient building are traceable, in the walls and about the founda-
The Dominican Abbey Church, Aghaboe, Queen's County.
tions. A much frequented graveyard surrounds it, and cut-stone pieces, rudely torn from the mulUons and carvmgs of the ruined Dominican Abbey, which is near, now are to be found, at the heads of humble graves. A predecessor of the Rev. Edward Ledwich in the living is charged by him, with having de- molished most of the venerable pile, to inclose a demesne. " The Abbey is said, in one account, to have been built, a. d. 1052, in another, a. d. 1250, and, again, a. d. 1382, by the Fitzpatricks. St. Canice having died, a. d. 598, or 599, it is thought, St. Liberius immediately succeeded him, as Abbot of Aghaboe. Here, he probably lived, for the rest of his life ; and, he died, in the year 618, according to the Annals of Ulster, and of the Four Masters ; but, in 619, according to those of Clonmacnois. '^ Marianus, his Scholiast,
introduced into Grose's "
Antiquities
of Ire-
and diocese of Ossory. By the Rev. Edward Ledwicli, LL. D. , Member of many learned
Societies, author of the Antiquities of Ire- land, and editor of Grose, on the same sub-
ject, pp. 13 to 78.
'°
Copied from the Down Survey.
" These are, exterior views of the Abbey and Church of Aghciboe, as also a view and
land," vol. ii. , pp. 39, 40.
"> The house in which Rev. Edward Led-
wich lived, and the glebe lands, have been sold to the tenant, Jeremiah Dunne, Esq. , who had been in possession, and who pur- chased them, under provisions of the late Irish Church Disestablishment Act.
* See his " Monasticon Hibernicum," pp.
to
588 590.
9 See "A Statistical Account, or Paro- chial Survey of Ireian. l, drawn up hom the Communications of the Clergy," vol. i. ,No. ii. Parish of Aghaboe, Queen's County
ground plan of the Mote of Monacoghlan.
" The interior view of the accompanying
ruins was sketched by the writer, in the summer of 1856. It has been transferred to the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and engraved by Mrs. Millard.
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 259
Maguire, and the Martyrology of Donegal,^^ register Liber, as having had a festival, on this day, and they assert, that he was Abbot of Achadh-bo-Cain- nigh ; for, such was the denomination, bestowed on this place, ever held sacred to the memory of the glorious Patron.
Article III. —St. Duthac or Dubthac, Patron and Bishop of Ross, Scotland. S^Eleventh Century? ^ Despising alike the applause of princes and of people, this holy man avoided company, banqueting, and all worldly comforts. Yet, by this course of life, he acquired a just meed of fame, among the people of Britain and Ireland, where his travels produced grace. ' A Life of St.
Bernard, who, in no manner had been connected with those outrages, alone escaped. 3^
Another time, Mathgamanius, or Matthew, son to Domnald, son to Mur- chertach, wished to take away by violence certain herds, which were kept in a place of refuge, sacred to St. Senan. When his vicar, and the people of this place, wished to prevent that violence, Matthew shot two arrows at the vicar, intending to deprive him of life ; however, these arrows did not even pene- trate his garments, against which they lightly glanced. On seeing this, the chief was enraged, and leaping in among the cattle, he killed an ox ; but, be- fore himself or his companions could remove the quarters, Matthew was seized with a sudden illness, and he immediately expired. 3^ On a certain occasion, some wicked depredators, entering the lands dedicated to St. Senan, took away a cow, from the herd of a venerable priest, named O'Regan. Thisanimalwasbutcheredatapond,somedistancefromthat place, where the theft had been committed ; and, afterwards, a calf belonging to this cow, was covered with its hide, and sunk in the bottom of a pit near the pool. A public search was instituted, for recovery of the missing cow ; during which, it was believed, that the authors of this robbery must incur St. Senan's displeasure. After a month had elapsed, the robbers returned to the pit, whence they drew forth the skin-covered calf ; when, to their surprise, this animal was alive, and signified the fact, by bleating aloud three different times. Being seized with astonishment, at what they looked upon as a mira- culous occurrence, those thieves returned to the priest. To him they con- fessed, what had taken place ; whilst, at the same time, they promised him restitution for the injustice committed. They likewise engaged the future amendment of their lives. ^3
A clerical Synod being at one time convened, in St. Senan's church ;
amongst other decrees, one was passed, for the erection of a chapel, in
honour of the Blessed Virgin. But, a difficulty was presented, in the way of
obtaining stones, which could easily be dressed, or which might serve for the purpose of being converted into lime. While in such state of perplexity, the
clergy retired on this day; but, on the following, when going out, one of these clerics found near the church the very stones required, and, sufficient in
quantity,
Iniscattery was the see of a bishop, before the English invasion, and until
united with Limerick, about the beginning of the twelfth century. 35 Long after the death of St. Senan, the O'Brians held Iniscathay, to repel the Danish invaders of their territories. It was long an object for contention, between both parties, and our Annals3^ abound with notices of their quarrels. This island contains nearly 180 acres ; and about 20 of these were under wood, previous to the dissolution of monasteries,37 but, not a shrub now remains. 38
to build the whole sacred edifice. 3-t
" Acta Sanctoram Hiber- nise," viii. Martii. Vita Secunda S. Senani,
cap. xlix. , p. 534.
3^ See ibid. , cap. 1. , p. 534.
S. Senani, cap. vii. , num. 59, p. 778. Albert le Grand relates this incident, in a different manner. See n. (k), p. 779.
3* After relating this incident, the author
of the Prose Life adds : "Hoc ex multis
pauca per S. Senanum post mntem patrata miracula sufliciant. "—Colg:^'i\ "Acta Sane- torum Hibernioe," viii. ]M;. . ii. Vita Se- cunda S. Senani, cap. Iii, p. 534.
35 See Ferrar's "History of Limerick," part iii. , chap, iii. , pp. 185, 186.
3' See
Colgan's
33 the Bollandists' " See
Acta Sancto-
" The of Tnis- Legend
admirable
rum," tomus i. , viii. Martii. Vita Secunda cathy," will be found the Annals of this
36 See " flibernian Duffy's
Magazine," vol. i. , n. i. , p. 39. At the conclusion, in the
article,
island, with a correct topographical descrip- tion of the place, and of its venerable group of ecclesiastical ruins.
3? See Archdall's
"
Monasticon Hiberni-
cum," p. 51.
^s See Mr. and Mrs. Hall's "Ireland:
its Scenery, Character," &c. , vol. iii. , p.
434.
33 See an Article, in the "Gentleman's
254 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
On this island, Mr. Hills only found the remains of six churches, and probably of a seventh ;39 although, as we have stated, at no very remote period, the ruins of eleven old buildings had been shown. The people, about here, have a great devotion towards their patron saint, and they believe that any irreverence or acts of irreligious Vandalism, committed on the Island
of Iniscattery, will meet with condign punishment. Various exemplary instances are popularly remembered. '<°
In addition to the foregoing instances, it is stated by Albert le Grand,
that during the reign of Queen Elizabeth,*' daughter to King Henry VIII. ,*^ one Bernardulus'ts was destined for the Bishopric of Limerick, when it had been resolved to effect the overthrow of the Catholic Church, in Ireland. During his visitation of this diocese, Bernardulus^'t had heard of the judg- ments, visited on those, who dared to violate the possessions of St. Senan, on Scattery Island ; but, in order to carry out a decree, which obliged Catholics to forswear the Pope's primacy, and to affirm the Queen's supremacy, even in matters ecclesiastical, he had despatched two of his ministers, with a company of soldiers, to proclaim, that the inhabitants should assemble in St. Mary's Church, to hear the royal commands. All were most reluctantly obliged to attendthere; but,meantime,theirsecretprayerswereferventlyofferedtothe Immaculate Mother of God, and to their holy Patron, St. Senan. The chief minister having retired to rest, on that night, fell asleep ; yet, soon he awoke the guard with outcries, stating, that he had seen St. Senan, and that he had felt blows on his body, from the saint's pastoral staff, which left him so dis- abled, that for a day he could not rise from bed. However, this did not alter his purpose, nor did the prayers or warnings of the islanders move him ;
Notes on the Architecture of Ireland," v. , pp. 549,
in gi-eat pain. His wife, with tears, regretted that the poor man's advice had not been taken. The sailors were called, and a litter was prepared. Gently as the men could carry him, they conveyed him to the boat, and thence to his ship, where he suffered the greatest agony.
*' This reign is calculated, from Novem- ber the 17th, A. D. 1558, to her death, which occurred, March 24th, 1603.
Magazine," Vol. i. , A. D, 1864.
550.
*" Even a local paper, the " Clare Adver-
tiser," of July 4th, 1857, relates an anecdote,
regarding a melancholy accident, which
happened to the chief Engineer of her
Majesty's ship, Hawke, in the old church
ruins of Iniscattery, on Saturday, the 27th
of June, 1857. Having landed there, with
some friends, to spend a festive day, after
dinner, the engineer and his friends walked
"
*' He ascended the throne, April 22nd, A. D. 1509, and died on the 28th of January, A. D. 1547. See Sir Harris Nicolas' "Chro- nology of History," pp. 333, 344, 338, 339.
scream—the alder branch fell on him—
tree broke, not at the place where in was
notched, but much higher up, and where it
1606 to A. D. 16 1 7, together with the see of Limerick, he held that of Kilfenora. He
wasnot tobreak. Therehe exepcted
"
of
to
"
sainted isle of old. " They viewed
the fine old tower, and holy well, and the
chapel of St. Sinan, in which there was an
alder tree, older than the oldest inhabitant
on the island. Visitors at all times have
held the antiquities of the island, in respect, if
not in veneration. The engineer was desirous
to possess some curiosity from the island, so
remarkable in Irish history ; he used a little
chopper, on the tree, when a poor man
present requested him to desist, saying such
things were never done by visitors. This
warning had not the desired effect. Not find-
ing the branch to yield, the engineer handed
the little hatchet to his companion, while he
made an effort to swing out of the tree, in
order to break it, where it was notched. crated in April, a. d. 1604. From A. D. Then the branch gave way, almost without
a pull. The engineer fell with a terrible
over the
the
died in
Limerick, on the 22nd of M. arch,
lay,
Bishops
Limerick," pp. 511
513.
*3 So called, because he was remarkably diminutive in stature.
*^ This must have been Bernard Adams,
who succeeded John Thomburgh, who was
appointed Protestant Bishop of Limerick,
by Queen Elizabeth, towards the close of A. D. 1593, and who is said to have resigned
this see July 4th, A. D. 1603, having then been translated to the Bishopric of Bristol, whence he was translated to the see of Wor- cester, on the 17th of Februaiy, A. D. 1616. According to Harris' Ware, Bernard Adams had been appointed by King James I. to succeed John Thomburgh, and he was conse-
A. D. 1625, English style, and he was buried
in St. Mary's Cathedral. See Vol. i. ,
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 255
for, he swore, that neither the saint, nor any other person, should prevent him from executing the queen's wishes, and from driving the abominations of Roman idolatry out of the island. The night following, this minister and his assistant lay, in the same chamber, but in two different beds ; when, once
more, during the night, St. Senan appeared, in pontifical garments, and sur- rounded with a great light, while carrying an episcopal crozier in his hand.
Drawing the bed-curtain aside, the apparition again struck the sleeping minister,untilbloodflowedfromhiswounds. Hiscrieswereineffectual,to bring the servants in the house to his aid, for the chamber door had been firmly fastened ; while, his room-mate looked on with terror, and fearing a like chastisement for himself The avenging spirit departed, and opening the door, the servants found access to their suffering master, who desired, at once, to be conveyed with his companions, on board a ship, which sailed from Iniscattery to Limerick. Four days after his arrival here, the miserable man died impenitent ; while, those who accompanied him to the island were so much afraid of future disagreeable consequences, that they refused to have anything more to do, in molesting the islanders on Iniscathay. 'ts
In the county of Wexford, the old parish of Templeshannon bears our saint's name, even at the present day. *^ It contains that portion of Ennis- corthy town, eastwards from the River Slaney. An ancient church is here to be seen. It is on the outskirts of the town, and it consisted of a nave-*? and choir. 48 A choir-arch, much disfigured, connects them ; while, the middle gablerisesalittleabovethesidewalls,theupperpartbeingremoved. The choir-arcli appears to have been pointed, and its gable is covered with ivy. Although burials are still continued, in the graveyard, attached to that church, no patron saint or day is now remembered by the people. ''9 It is said, a parish and church of Kilshenane,5° in the barony of Clanmaurice, and diocese of Ardfert, has St. Senan as the patron. s^
There are two chief festivals, occurring in the Irish Calendars, in honour of this great saint. One of these takes place, on the ist day of March, as we have already noticed it. Thus, too, Ussher remarkSjS^ that in the Killenen- sen Martyrology, at the Kalends, or ist of March, he found the festival of St.
*s See the Bollandists' " Acta Sancto- rum," tomus i. , Martii viii. De Sancto Se- nano. Appendix ex Alberto le Grand de SS. Armoricis, num. 63, 64, 65, p. 779.
on the — where it is about feet outside, 3 high,
by 2J feet it widens considerably on the inside. This gable is built of small and very thin stones, and it is about 2|- feet in thickness. The nave is built of large and small stones. See ibid,
** It is compounded of Teampull, "a
church,—" and Seanain, the genetive form of
Seanan the name of the famous Irish saint,
whose principal establishment was on Scat-
tery Island, in the Shannon. Thus, CeAm-
puLL SeAHAin is Latinized " ecclesia jured, however, at the top. On this gable, Senani. " See County of Wexford Antiqua-
rian Letters of the Irish Ordnance
Survey, vol. ii. , p. 251, Signed, "J. O'D. ," the initials of Mr. O'Donovan's name. The foregoing remarks are without date ; but, probably, they were wTitten in the summer
of 1840.
*^ The nave is about 30 feet, in length, by
19J feet, in breadth. The side walls, which
appear to retain the original height, and ex- tend the entire length of this portion of the church, are about 18 feet high. Only the northern portion of the gable remains ; and, at the southern extremity of the part remain- ing, there is a large stone, which seems to have been the lower stone of a doorway.
*' See ibid.
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kerry," Sheets 10, 16, 17, 22, 23, 30, 31.
The townland proper is on Sheet 16.
^i See the Bollandists' previous commen-
tary to his Life, num. 10, p. 761.
The walls of the nave are about 3 feet thick,
and they are covered with ivy. See ibid. ,
pp. 252, 253.
'*^ The choir was about \%\ paces long,
and it appears to have been of the same breadth with the nave ; but, as its side walls are now level with the ground, it is impossi- ble to measure the breadth with accuracy. The east gable is almost perfect, being slightly in-
there is a square window, formed of granite,
^o See it described on the
"
"
quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 454.
S' See
Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
256 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
Senan, Confessor, in Hibernia, noted. As also noticed, at the previous day, March the 7th is marked for St. Senan's festival. The 8th of March, how- ever,isthefeast,whichwasmostsolemnlycommemorated. Atthisdate,St. Senanhasbeenentered,inthe"Feilire"ofSt. ^nguss. ss TheCalendarof Cashel, Cathal Maguire, and the Martyrology of Donegal54 have their respec- tiveaccountsofhim,onthisday. 55 Likewise,theMartyrologyofSalisbury,56 and the English Carthusian Martyrology of Newport, record his feast, substi- tuting, however, " Fenani " for " Senani," at this date. 57 Besides, the Kalen- dar of Drummond states, at the viii. Idus : In Ireland, the Holy Confessors Senan, Aed, and Conna, on this day, went to Christ. s^ The mediaeval Anti- phonaries59 of our Irish Churches furnish conclusive proof, that formerly the Office of St. Senan, Bishop and Confessor, contained nine lessons, as recited by the clergy, in different dioceses.
The people of Thomond and of Munster hold the well of St. Senan, on Scattery Island, in the greatest veneration. In former times, the sailors on merchant vessels, sailing from Limerick out to the Atlantic, if detained by contrary winds, at the mouth of the Shannon, usually went, in a religious manner, and drew water from it, invoking the patron's intercession. This supply was brought on board their ships, and within twenty-four hours, their expectation of favouring winds was never known to be disappointed. From the sepulchre of St. Senan, also, the people were accustomed to take small olive-coloured stones, which were regarded as relics. These, when put into what they drank, were supposed to effect a cure, or a prevention from plague, or from any kind of contagious disease. The seamen were in the habit of wearing them as amulets, about their persons, when out at sea, and believed that so they should not be drowned, while devoutly invoking the holy name of Senan. On one occasion, a shipwrecked merchant, thus furnished, and praying to the patron, found when his vessel disappeared, that some invisible force impelled him safely towards the shore. The brother of tliis merchant, being furnished, likewise, with similar relics, survived, and escaped from this accident ; while, it was remarked, that nine other mariners, not having them, perished in the raging sea. ^'° Besides, the celebrated well, on Scattery Island, in Killshinane parish, county of Kerry, there is a well, also dedicated to St. Senan. A patron is held there annually, on the 8th day of March. Again, there is a remarkable well of a St. Senan at Dumass, on the western bank of the Shannon, and in the county of Clare. ^' In addition to the fore- going, there is an object, marked as St. Senan's altar, on Henry Pelham's old
S3 The following Irish stanza, and its English translation, have been furnished by Professo—r O'Looney, from the " Leabhar Breac :"
X). UIII. \o, SeriAfi in-ofe cacIiaij
CpochAi^ ecjAAic n<i*^AcTi CoriAntnL clii bu<voAc1i
efpuc beoAet) bAjAch.
Senan of Innis Catha
Who strangled the hideous
Narach
Conandil the triumphant hero The bishop Beoaed the war-
like.
5* Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 68 to 71.
55 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- rum," tomus i. , Martii viii. De Sancto
Senano. Previous Commentary, num. 9,
p. 761.
5° Edited by Richard Whitford, A. D.
1526.
57 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctonim Hiber-
nise," Martii viii. Appendix ad Vitam S.
Senani, cap. vi. , p. 539.
ss See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p, 7.
59
Thus, in these Manuscripts, belonging to the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, and classed B. i. 3. ,andB. 3. 12. , at the 8th of March, the respective Calendars note ix. lect.
^° See the Bollandists' " Acta Sancto- rum," tomus i. , Martii viii. De Sancto Se- nano. Theforegoingaccountwillbefound in Appendix ex Alberto le Grand de SS. Armoricis, num. 61, 62, p. 779.
*' See " The Illustrated Dublin Journal," vol. i. . No. 4, p. 52.
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 257
Map of the County Clare. It is within the bounds of Killard parish,^^ in the barony of Ibrickan, During the last century, the Bell of St. Senan was reli-
giously preserved, by the people, living near Scattery Island ; and, it was used by them, for the purpose of giving evidence. Many believed, that to swear falsely on it was to ensure immediately the takmg of convulsions, to be followed by a speedy death. ^3
The hermit and the coenobite of our early Irish and Christian Church were moulded on the same framework of society, as fashions the religious of this nineteenth century. ^'* Still must it be regretted, that the history of the Irish coenobic life and Monastic Orders is as yet comparatively unwritten ; no man of this generation has dared to grapple with this vast subject, the materials for elucidating which are not yet stored up fully in printed books. They lie scattered, through the public libraries and record rooms, not alone of Ireland, but of half the cities of Europe ; they are locked up in the charter chests of great landowners, or in the still less accessible bookcases of wealthy and ignorant collectors. It is true, that even in a divisional sense, the task must prove a life-long labour, and much reading, during the most active period of life, must be directed to kindred subjects ; but, had such a work come to partial perfection, until of late years, it should have been written, on the authority of printed documents only, for facilities were but grudgingly afforded, by public authorities, for researchful acquaintance with muniments undertheircustody. Privateandunaidedeffortcouldthereforehavegiven but a very imperfect outline of the subject. Let us hope, however, that the glimpses, so imperfectly revealed in savored biography, may urge others to deal more completely with a grand historical picture.
Article II. —%v. Liber, or Liberius, Abbot of Aghaboe, Queen's County. \Sixth and Seventh Centuries^ Some doubtful notices of this holy man are to be found in Colgan,^ and the Bollandists^ place him, among their pretermitted saints, at this date. Little is known regarding him ; but, it is stated, this saint was the son of a nobleman, called Aradius. It has been inferred, that Liber must have been born, about, or after, the middle of the sixth century, and that he flourished, towards the year 580. Then, it is said, that in his youth, the name he bore indicated his morals, until converted by a miracle of St. Canice,^ to a life of grace. He then became a model of virtue, and he is conjecturally thought, to have placed himself, as a disciple, under such holy guidance, as his great spiritual director afforded. Simply the name of Liber, with the letter S. appended, is seen in the Martyrology of Tallagh,'^ at the 8th of March. This saint is regarded, as the immediate successor of the founder of Aghaboe,^ Blessed Canice. This place is situated in the southern part of the Queen's County. In treating of Aghaboe and about its former history, the Rev. Edward Ledwich undertakes to give an exact description of the old ruins,^ near which he lived as a rector, for over twenty years. 7
<^^ It is shown on the " Ordnance Townland Maps for the County of Clare," Sheets 38, 46, 47, 56, 57.
*3 See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's " Gene- ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 188.
* See "Monastic Legends. " A paper, read by Edward George Kirvvan Browne,
before the Academia, at Hackney, p. 7. London,8vo. —
Article ii. 'See "Acta Sanctorum Hibern-jE. " viii. Martii. Vua s. Liberi or
^ See "Acta tomus Martii Sanctorum," i. ,
viii. , p. 749.
3 See his Life, at the nth of October,
^
•'*'.
. copperplate engraving has been R
Survey
His antiquarian knowledge, however, is
-t Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
p.
xviii.
5 it is now a parish, within the baronies
of Clandonagh, and of Clarmallagh, and it
is shown on the "Ordnance Survey Town- land Maps for the Queen's County," Sheets 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 34. The townland proper is on Sheet 22.
* From a
sketch, taken by Daniel Grose
2^8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
singularlyatfault,inreferencetovariousplacesandparticulars. Hehasalso contributed the historical article, on this place, published by Archdall. ' A much more complete account he has given, in the work or collection of William Shaw Mason. 9 This is accompanied by a map of the parish," together with some interesting engravings of Antiquities. " The old Cathedral here stood, on the site of the modern Protestant church, and some vestiges of the more ancient building are traceable, in the walls and about the founda-
The Dominican Abbey Church, Aghaboe, Queen's County.
tions. A much frequented graveyard surrounds it, and cut-stone pieces, rudely torn from the mulUons and carvmgs of the ruined Dominican Abbey, which is near, now are to be found, at the heads of humble graves. A predecessor of the Rev. Edward Ledwich in the living is charged by him, with having de- molished most of the venerable pile, to inclose a demesne. " The Abbey is said, in one account, to have been built, a. d. 1052, in another, a. d. 1250, and, again, a. d. 1382, by the Fitzpatricks. St. Canice having died, a. d. 598, or 599, it is thought, St. Liberius immediately succeeded him, as Abbot of Aghaboe. Here, he probably lived, for the rest of his life ; and, he died, in the year 618, according to the Annals of Ulster, and of the Four Masters ; but, in 619, according to those of Clonmacnois. '^ Marianus, his Scholiast,
introduced into Grose's "
Antiquities
of Ire-
and diocese of Ossory. By the Rev. Edward Ledwicli, LL. D. , Member of many learned
Societies, author of the Antiquities of Ire- land, and editor of Grose, on the same sub-
ject, pp. 13 to 78.
'°
Copied from the Down Survey.
" These are, exterior views of the Abbey and Church of Aghciboe, as also a view and
land," vol. ii. , pp. 39, 40.
"> The house in which Rev. Edward Led-
wich lived, and the glebe lands, have been sold to the tenant, Jeremiah Dunne, Esq. , who had been in possession, and who pur- chased them, under provisions of the late Irish Church Disestablishment Act.
* See his " Monasticon Hibernicum," pp.
to
588 590.
9 See "A Statistical Account, or Paro- chial Survey of Ireian. l, drawn up hom the Communications of the Clergy," vol. i. ,No. ii. Parish of Aghaboe, Queen's County
ground plan of the Mote of Monacoghlan.
" The interior view of the accompanying
ruins was sketched by the writer, in the summer of 1856. It has been transferred to the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and engraved by Mrs. Millard.
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 259
Maguire, and the Martyrology of Donegal,^^ register Liber, as having had a festival, on this day, and they assert, that he was Abbot of Achadh-bo-Cain- nigh ; for, such was the denomination, bestowed on this place, ever held sacred to the memory of the glorious Patron.
Article III. —St. Duthac or Dubthac, Patron and Bishop of Ross, Scotland. S^Eleventh Century? ^ Despising alike the applause of princes and of people, this holy man avoided company, banqueting, and all worldly comforts. Yet, by this course of life, he acquired a just meed of fame, among the people of Britain and Ireland, where his travels produced grace. ' A Life of St.
