36 A fragment of a curious and
nondescript
Round Tower37 stands about 16 feet in
There is an
height.
There is an
height.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
" Be- sides these, there is a small 4to paper MS.
jNo. 94), containing an imperfect copy of it. Again, the 410 paper MS. , No. 124, in
evidently
A. ,
History of Ireland," written in Irish,
128 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS:
[March 5.
are the ruins of Shanrahan'3 church—also celebrated as containing within the adjacent burial grounds the grave of the iniquitously executed Father
NicholasSheehy/^theformerparish-priest. 's Thesquarebelfryofafifteenth century church yet stands, and it is built of red sandstone. About it are said to be the ruins of a much more ancient church and abbey, the founder of which is believed, by some, to have been St. Kieran Cleragh, but rather is he to be regarded as a Ciaran, whose feast occurs on the loth of November. The chancel arch remains, and inside is a venerable yew-tree of rich foliage, with masses of clustering ivy around the ruins/^
Tubbrid Old Chapel, County of Tipperary.
According to the legend of his Life, after our St. Kieran arrived in Ireland, the Lord directed his course to the fountain of Fuaran. '7 Now, this is generally thought to have been identical with a stream,*^ which passes near the present Seirkyran'9 or St. Kieran, which was formerly known as Saighir,^'" and some-
Progress of the (. Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. i. , pp. 40to44-
'3
Shanralian signifies
fort," according to John O'Donovan, who describes this parish and its antiquities. See ibid. , pp. 44 to 46. The extent of this large parish, in the barony of Iffa and Offa West,
be seen on the ' ' Ordnance
may Survey
dicator of April 25th, 1871, written by Maurice Lenihan, Esq. , M. R. I. A.
'7 Its is thus "Huaran meaning stated :
enim sive Fueran sonat quod fons vivus sive viva vel frigida aqua e terra scaturiens. " In St. Kieran's First Life, this fountain is called Fueran; in St. Patrick's Tripartite Life, it is called Huar. See " Acta
"
Sanctorum Hiberniae, cap. v. , vi. , p. 458,
"the little old
Townland Maps for the County of Tippe-
rary," Sheets 74. 80, 81, 86, 87, 89, 90. and Trias Thaumaturga," pars, ii. , cap.
The townland proper is shown on Sheets
87, 90.
'< The complete account of this infamous
proceeding will be found, in the admirable work of Dr. Richard R. Madden, "The United Irishmen, their Lives and Times," First Series. Second edition, chap, ii. , pp. 21 to 89.
'5 The inscription on a slab over the grave dare only state "He died March iSTH, 1766, Aged 38 years. "
'* The foregoing particulars have been ex- tracted from an inleresiing contribution to
"
ix. , p. 130.
The Liineiick Reporter and Tipperary VtH'
King's County," Sheets 35. 36, 38, 39, 43.
The village and surrounding antiquities are defined on Sheet 39. Ibid.
'° In the gloss on the Festilogium of vEngus, (5 th of March), the name is written
Sai$ua|\, and explained as nomen Jontis^
'*
It has no name, however, on the Ord* nance Survey Maps, but it joins the Little Brosna River, near Killyon, and its source is traceable, from the western slope of the Slieve Bloom Mountains.
"
'9 Its parochial bounds are marked on the
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
Colgan's
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. T29
times called, from its founder, Saighir-Chiarain. It is a small village, at present, situated in the barony of Ballybritt, King's County, not far from the north-western extremity of the Slieve Bloom mountains. '^ It gives name to
a parish, which, although insulated by the diocese of Killaloe, is under the jurisdiction of the Ossorian bishops ; thus, affording an extremely interesting
landmark, indicating the sway borne in ancient times by the kings of Ossory, over the territory of Eile O'Carroll. In the first Life of Kieran,^^ the geo-
graphical position of Saighir^3 is most accurately marked : it is described as lying within the district of Eile, in the very centre of Ireland, on the confines of its ancient northern and southern divisions, Leath-Chuinn and Leath- Mogha,intheregionofMunster. ^^ AlloverIreland,atthistime,paganism was prevalent ; indeed, we can trace the existence of the pagan priesthood there, at a much later period.
Bell Hill, opposite the present church of Seir Kieran, to the north, is said
to have been the hill on which St. Kieran's bell miraculously rang, thus
pointing out to him where the fountain was to be found, at which St. Patrick
told him to erect his church. ^s It appears to be that stream, which takes its
rise on the western slope of the Slieve Bloom mountains, and which flows
into the Little Brosna River, before it arrives at Birr. ^^ It is said, St. Ciaran's
bell rang, according to the prediction of St. Patrick, when he arrived at that
fountain. According to St. Kieran's First Life, that bell obtained the desig-
nation of Bardan Kieran,^? or as Colgan suggests an emendation, Bodhran,
which " the mute. " ^^ It was afterwards held in signifies,
great honour,^9
"the name of a well," and there can be and, "it is not very differen—t from the one ""
little doubt that such was the true and preserved by oral tradition. Letters con- ancient orthography, SA15 being the proper taining Information relative to the Antiqui- name, and iia]\, in Latin, gelidus, "cool," ties of the King's County, collected during
the descriptive epithet. The " Leabliar Breac" contains that injunction, given by Patrick to Kieran, when on his way to Rome. The Apostle of Ireland met the latter returning home to his native country.
the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1837-8," vol. ii. , pp. 98, 99. Mr. O'Dono-
van's Letter, dated Birr, February 3i-d, 1838. Mr. O'Donovanafterwardsgivesthe
account, as found in the pages of Colgan.
wholesome and unsightly edifice.
^* The parish of Birr, in the barony of "
The runs as follows English
" the Saig,
Rev. PP. of J. Purcell,
cold (refreshing) Erect a city on its brink. At the end of thirty revolving years, There
"
shall I and thou meet.
" These were called in Irish, Sliabh
Bladhma.
*^ This peculiarity of description furnishes
:
Seirkyran, having secured for this parish the historic ground of Bell-hill, hopes to be able to erect on its summit a church, more worthy of the founder of the diocese, than the present un-
Ballybritt, is defined on the Ordnance =^3 John O'Donovan thinks Saiji^x means Survey Townland Maps for the King's
a strong proof of its antiquity.
"
SAI5 UA^ CiiiiroAig cACAii\ |:oi\Ab]ui.
There is a bush on the top of this hill,
" thefountain:" ifnot appi-oach
Sheets The town itself 35, 36, 38.
SA15 tiA)\,
SAige (Suroe) uai^a,
tain. " See " Letters containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the King's
County,"
'5 Thus do we find it recorded — :
History of the Town of Birr," &c. , chap, x,, p. 168.
*7 This bell is said by some, to have been
made for St. Germanus, the bishop, and master of St. Patrick.
" the seat of the foun-
is marked on Sheet A well con- 35. writer,
County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1837-8," vol. ii. , p. loi. ** Thus run words in the First Life : " Vade ad Hiberniam ante me, et adi fon- tem in medio Hibernise in confinio Austra-
lium et Aquilonalium Hiberuiensium, qui Yocatur Fuaran," &c.
versant with the locality, tells us, that "a small stream, even yet called Fuaran, still purls away on the east side of the ruins at Seir
which is believed to have
the time of St. Kieran. The legend about the bell is told by the author of the Life of St. Kieran, as published by Colgan, thus ;
vegetated
since
—Thomas Lalor Cooke's
'' Kyran. " Early
^^
until it sounded on the spot destined for St.
Kieran's foundation. The destiny of Sai-
gher, and the meeting of St. Patrick and St.
Kieran, are well told, in the following beau-
tifiil " have verses,by Enigenensis. " They
been transmitted to the writer, and included,
in the published tract " The Feast of St. Kieran at Saigher. " Panegyric sermon by
Because as suggested, it continued so,
:
I30 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 5.
throughout the city and province of Kieran. 3° Even to the present day, tradition preserves a recollection of these circumstances, as connected with our saint. The place which Kieran had chosen for his dwelling was un- tenanted, save by wild beasts. From his disciples, we are told, he removed intoadesert,thicklycoveredwithwoods. Here,havingconstructedarude and humble habitation, the walls being of wicker-work, and the roof of dried grass,3^ Kiaran lived the life of a hermit, until such time as he could under- take the erection of a monastery. 3^ In this place, a city afterwards grew up, which went by the name of Saigir. 33
Deterred by the many difficulties which beset the advocacy of an earlier
date. Dr. Lanigan has fixed on the latter end of the fifth century, as the more
probable era for the foundation of Saigir. 34 But, thus, totally to reject all testimony, in favour of the earlier epoch, does not seem to be in accordance with the rules of sound criticism, much as it may tend to smooth the path of the historian. 35
Rev. N. Murphy, C. C. The composition in
"
St. Kiaran's Bell," and it is well worth insertion here, as a pleasing
Irish poetic tradition.
A hawthorn stands on yonder hill, Bare, desolate, and lone—
A token frail, but faithful still, Of centuries long flown.
The startled ear, at even-time, When weird-winds wander free,
May hear the ghostly Mass-bell chime Beneath that hoary tree.
And still, aroimd the peasant's hearth, The legend strange is told,
How, never touched by hands of earth. Rang out that Bell of old.
They tell how sainted Patrick's hand OnKTieran'sheadwaslaid,
While thus he spoke in a stem command
Like seraph-songs the sainted hear, Rang out the unseen Bell !
question is called
"
Ne're shall thy step be stayed,
3'
Antiquities of the Cathedral Church of St. Canice, Kilkenny. " By the Rev. James Graves, A. B. , and John G. A. Prim, sect, i. , chap, i. , pp. 2 to 5.
" Till sweet as song by seraphs sung, Which saints alone may hear,
A chime by hands unseen be rung. To charm thy mortal ear.
"There churches seven thou shalt build ;
3* " Archdall (at Seirkeran), after saying that Kieran founded this abbey in 402, adds, that the monastery was founded in succeed- ing ages. For this nonse—nse he refers to
But
Theirtrampleddust andseefulfill'd.
shall— ages yet see.
For age this prophecy.
" When strewn the Temples thou shalt raise,
A tree, sown by thy hand,
Shall live and preach to distant days,
God's blessings on the land. "
He wandered
That ancient pilgrim Saint
3< See Todd's "Church of St.
and wand—ered forth, far,
Patrick,"
Nor flood nor foe his path could bar, Till way-worn here and faint.
P- IS-
3= See "The Histoiy, Architecture and
Antiquities of the Cathedral Church of St. Canice, Kilkenny. " By Rev. James Graves,
He paused—when, hark
With joy no tongue can tell,
his
and G. A. A. B. , John
i. , p. 2.
sect,
!
upon
ear,
Prim,
i. , chap,
And here he built his churches seven,
— Won many a soul from earth to heaven,
Ere summer thrice was gone
And spread God's benison.
And though above his cloisters fair Now rots the clotted weed,
Though all their beauties blighted were To glut a tyrant's greed,
The hushed ear still, at even-time. When weird-winds wander free,
May hear the mystic Mass-bell chime Beneath yon aged tree.
"
And
the parish and cathedral of St. Ciaran. " English MS. Life.
3" That is in Seir-Kieran and in the terri- — toiyofOssory.
who has it not. " Dr.
W^are, Lanigan's
"EcclesiasticalHistoryofIreland,"vol. ii. , chap. X. , sect. 2, n. 24, p. 8.
33 A description of this place, by T. O'Conor, will be found in " Letters contain- ing Information relative to the Antiquities of the King's County, collected during the Progress ot the Ordnance Survey in 1837-8," vol. ii. , pp. 59 to 66.
"^
it is now deposited as a relic in
See "The History, Architecture and
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 131
A more beautiful site could not have been selected, than that beside a
flowing stream, which runs under a sloped hill, where may be seen, at the present time, artificial ridges in a circular form around the stone-enclosed cemetery.
36 A fragment of a curious and nondescript Round Tower37 stands about 16 feet in
There is an
height.
entrance, at the N. W. side, which runs the whole height of
the building. 3S Only the north side, and the west wall of the
old church near
now traceable. 39
Down in a field, and
some distance re-
moved from the
cemetery, is shown
St. Kieran's
well,
near the adjoining
stream. A
large
whitethorn over it is
called St. Kieran's
bush. A very re-
markable moat, with
three circular
mounds, in Oakley
Park demesne, is a
special feature of the
scene. Within the
Round Tower, now
open to the ground,
on one side, are five
very small square
perforations, on the
it,
are
Seirkyran Round Tower and Old Church, King's County.
outer face of the wall ;
to m. eet. A coved roof rises over them, and on the outside, this part is thickly coated with ivy. Numbers of modern headstones, with inscriptions,
but, these are deeply splayed Internally, so as nearly
rise over the graves around, and the cemetery grounds are irregular, while old walls surround them on every side. Elder and hawthorn bushes grow over the surface. t° Another curious object here shown is the bush of St. Kieran, growing in the centre of a public road, and underneath it is a stone, with a cross, while the impression of St. Kieran's fingers, there, according to populartradition,is— toremain. Notfarremoved,the
imaginatively supposed
old fort of —
Ballybrit once a place of some importance and
3«Othercuriousrampartsareintheneigh- bourhood.
37 An Inquisition, dated December 27th, xi. Elizabeth, states, that this small tower, the great stone house covered with thatch, then used as a parish church, and two other houses, the residences of the Canons, were within the walls of this cemetery.
from which the
barony obtained its name*'
is remarkable for its curious
and for its subterranean chambers, as the neighbouring inhabitants relate.
3>* Oneithersidethewallsarefourfeetin thickness.
35 The accompanying illustration, sketched on the spot by the writer, in June, 1873, was drawn on the wood, by William F. Wake-
man, and engraved by George A. Hanlon. t" A modern Protestant Church has re-
placed that older one, represented in the
circumvallations,
132 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIN2S. [March 5
We are told, when Kieran came to this site of Saigir, for the first time, he
sat down under the shade of a certain tree. Then, the saint's sole com-
panions were the wild animals, many of which he appears to have tamed, and, except for their presence, he there lived as a solitary dweller in the desert. 4^ A wild boar fled from the same covert, on his approach, but it afterwards returned, and became domesticated with the servant of God. This animal, with his tusks, cut down twigs and grass, to furnish poor materialsforconstructingtheholyman'shermitagc-^s Theearlysaintswere thus satisfied, to have their cells constructed of wattles, interwoven with twigs, and thatched with hay, reeds or straw. <* The walls were probably coated with mud or plastered mortar. While Kieran lived alone in this place, various animals,'*5 such as a fox, a wolf, a deer and a badger,^^ came from the forest recesses, and are said to have subjected themselves to him, as if they had been monks devoted to his rule. 47 However this may be, soon his disciples discovered the place of his retreat, and in course of time, the wicker hut grew into a famous monastery, and subsequently into an eccle- siastical city, which gathered around the walls of his church. '*^
After living an eremitical life at Saighir, St. Kieran began to attract great
attention, among people dwelling in the adjoining country, to whom he announcedsublimeGospeltruths. Many,atlength,wereinducedtoembrace the Christian faith ; and, numbers among the Ossorians received baptism at his hands. About the same time, it is stated, three other holy bishops were engaged in spreading the Gospel, tliroughout Ireland's more southern parts, and with partial success. These prelates were Saints Ailbe,*? Ibar5° and Declan,5' who laboured in this neglected vineyard of the Lord, before the great Irish Apostle, St. Patrick, arrived. s' The fame and sanctity of Kieran
"Dublin Penny Journal. " See vol. iii. , No. 119, October nth, 1834.
Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 549.
*' See "The History, Architecture and Antiquities of the Cathedral Church of St. Canice, Kilkenny. " By the Rev. James Graves, A. B. , and John G. A, Prim,. sect. i. , chap. i.
chap, vi. , vii. , p. 458.
*•* Thus, St. Voice built his poor cottage
of reeds and See " of Aber- twigs. Breviary
deen," Pars Hyemalis, fol. xlv. St. David's original chapel was adorned only with wood- moss and ivy intertwined. See Giraldus Cambrensis' " Itinerarium Cambrise," lib. i. , cap. 3. St. Gwynllyw, towards the close of the sixth century, founded a teampull in the middle of the cemetery, and it was con- stnictedofplanksandtwigs. SeeRev. ]\Ir. Rees' "Lives of the Cambro-British Saints. " p. 148. St. Kevin of Glendalough wove for himself a hurdle oratory. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii iii. , p. 316.
^5 Colgan has a note at this passage, where he endeavours to establish the
possible truth of this narrative, by showing, that the Creator of all things, could thus dispose the affections, even of irrational animals, to honour his servants. He refers to accounts, contained in ecclesiastical history and in the Lives of the Saints, for similar examples. See, "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
uiae," v. Martii, n. 10, p. 464. A very in- genious conjecture is hazarded by Mr.
*' See Lewis' "
in his edited
work, intituled,
« So states the First Life of St. Kieran,
" The Festivities at the House of Conan of Ceann-Sleibhe. " After giving an extract from a manuscript Life of St. Kiaran of Saigher, in Ossory, announced for publica- tion by Mr. John O'Daly of Dublm, and which embraces the account contained in the first published Life of this saint, by Colgan, the editor endeavours to show, that these animals were
O'Kearney,
l^eis cighe chonAtn Chinn-Shleibhe, or
spoken of,
St. Kieran's monks or disciples, bearing a fanciful resemblance to them. See, Intro-
duction, pp. 41 to 44.
^* Or Broc, as it is called in the Irish
language.
*' See Vita S. Kierani, ex Codice Kil-
kenniensi, cap. vii. , pp. 458, 459.
''*' See, "The History, Architecture and Antiquities of the Cathedral Church of St. Canice, Kilkenny. " By the Rev. James Graves, A. B. , and John G. A. Prim, sect.
I, chap. I, pp. 2 to 5.
*9 His feast occurs, on the I2lh of Sep-
tember.
50 His festival is held, on the 23rd of
April.
5" See his Life, at the 24tli of July.
s- The same remarks are made, in the
Lives of St. Albeus {cap. xvi. ), and of St.
Declan (cap. xiv. )
53 See Vita S. Kierani ex Codice Kilken-
impersonated by
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 133
drew to Saigir many neophytes, who became his disciples, and who embraced
a fervent life, under his direction. This increasing religious family obliged him to erect a monastery, for their accommodation, at the place of his retreat. S3 Here necessaries of life were supplied to St. Kieran, and to his disciples, in a miraculous manner. One day, the steward of his monastery told our saint, that swine were wanting for their use, and that it would be necessary to purchase some. But, Kieran replied, that the Lord, who already granted themwhathadbeenrequired,wouldalsosendthese. Onthedayfollowing, a sow, with her numerous litter, was seen within their enclosure, and from thisstockasufficientnumberofswinewasafterwardsprocured. s* Inlike manner, his steward declared, that sheep were wanting, and should be bought. But the saint answered, that he who sent the swine would also present sheep to them. On going forth, without the gate of their monastery, the steward beheld twenty-sevenss sheep grazing, and from that number, in due course, a large flock issued. s^
CHAPTER IV.
ST. LIADAIN AND HER NUN BRUINECHA—ST. KIERAN RESTORES FINTAn'S SON TO LIFE— ^NGUS, SON OF NATFRAICH, KING OF MUNSTER—RESTORATION OF HIS H4. RPERS— THE QUEEN, ETHNEA HUATHACU—ST. PATRICK BECOMES THE GUEST OF ST. KIERAN —THE KING OF TEMORIA INVADES OSSORY—ST. KIERAN'S RULE—MIRACLES OF THE SAINT—THE HOLY MEN WHO ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN HIS CONTEMPORARIES.
We learn from the Acts of St. Kieran, that his mother Liadain^ embraced a religious life—probably after the death of his father—and she lived under her
son's protection, at a place, called Killyon^ after her, and where a nunnery was founded not far from Saigher. Among her nuns was a virgin, named Bruinecha. 3 Further accounts of these must be sought for in other pages of this work. Among the many miracles of St. Kieran must be recorded in- stances, in which the dead were even raised to life, through his merits. A certain rich man, named Fintan, brought his son's dead body to our saint, requesting him, in the name of Christ, to resuscitate the deceased. Kieran approached the corpse of this young man, who had been named Leogaire ; when, through his faith in Christ, Finlan's son was restored to life, and i^resented to his father. The young man lived, afterwards, for a lengthened period. As a mark of grati- tude, he presented the village of Rathfera,+ with its lands, to the saint. s About this time, too, it is said, that ^ngus, son of Natfraich, King of Mun- ster, had been baptized, by St. Patrick, in the city of Cashel. A son of Ere, a descendant of Duach, and inhabiting the region of Ossory, had maliciously killed a horse, belonging to St. Patrick. Being apprehended, by the soldiers of ^ngus, that man was cast into chains previous to his being put to death.
niensi, cap. ix. , p. 459, and Vita S. Kierani
^ It is now a townland, in the parish of
DramcuUen, and barony of EgUsh. It is
sliown on the " Ordnance Townland Survey
ex MS. Salmanticensi, Officium, lect. iii. ,
in berniae. "
" Acta Sanctorum Hi-
p. 467,
Colgan's
5+ See Vita S. Kierani ex Codice Kill^en-
Maps of the King's County," Sheet 36.
3 Colgan has a conjecture, that she may be identical with a St. Brunsecha, or Brun- Trea, and who is venerated on the 29th of May. See "Acta Sanctorum
Ilibernias," n. 18, p. 464.
'•"The land called Rath-fearainn this
day," according to the English MS. Life.
s See Vita S. Kierani ex Codice Kilkeu-
niensi, cap. xiii. , p. 459. Ibid.
55 "
Twenty-eight," according
lish MS. Life.
to the
Eng-
sech, ofMagh
"
niK. " Vita S. Kierani ex Codice Kilken-
niensi, cap. xiv. , p. 459.
Chapter iv. —-' See her Life, at the nth
of August.
jNo. 94), containing an imperfect copy of it. Again, the 410 paper MS. , No. 124, in
evidently
A. ,
History of Ireland," written in Irish,
128 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS:
[March 5.
are the ruins of Shanrahan'3 church—also celebrated as containing within the adjacent burial grounds the grave of the iniquitously executed Father
NicholasSheehy/^theformerparish-priest. 's Thesquarebelfryofafifteenth century church yet stands, and it is built of red sandstone. About it are said to be the ruins of a much more ancient church and abbey, the founder of which is believed, by some, to have been St. Kieran Cleragh, but rather is he to be regarded as a Ciaran, whose feast occurs on the loth of November. The chancel arch remains, and inside is a venerable yew-tree of rich foliage, with masses of clustering ivy around the ruins/^
Tubbrid Old Chapel, County of Tipperary.
According to the legend of his Life, after our St. Kieran arrived in Ireland, the Lord directed his course to the fountain of Fuaran. '7 Now, this is generally thought to have been identical with a stream,*^ which passes near the present Seirkyran'9 or St. Kieran, which was formerly known as Saighir,^'" and some-
Progress of the (. Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. i. , pp. 40to44-
'3
Shanralian signifies
fort," according to John O'Donovan, who describes this parish and its antiquities. See ibid. , pp. 44 to 46. The extent of this large parish, in the barony of Iffa and Offa West,
be seen on the ' ' Ordnance
may Survey
dicator of April 25th, 1871, written by Maurice Lenihan, Esq. , M. R. I. A.
'7 Its is thus "Huaran meaning stated :
enim sive Fueran sonat quod fons vivus sive viva vel frigida aqua e terra scaturiens. " In St. Kieran's First Life, this fountain is called Fueran; in St. Patrick's Tripartite Life, it is called Huar. See " Acta
"
Sanctorum Hiberniae, cap. v. , vi. , p. 458,
"the little old
Townland Maps for the County of Tippe-
rary," Sheets 74. 80, 81, 86, 87, 89, 90. and Trias Thaumaturga," pars, ii. , cap.
The townland proper is shown on Sheets
87, 90.
'< The complete account of this infamous
proceeding will be found, in the admirable work of Dr. Richard R. Madden, "The United Irishmen, their Lives and Times," First Series. Second edition, chap, ii. , pp. 21 to 89.
'5 The inscription on a slab over the grave dare only state "He died March iSTH, 1766, Aged 38 years. "
'* The foregoing particulars have been ex- tracted from an inleresiing contribution to
"
ix. , p. 130.
The Liineiick Reporter and Tipperary VtH'
King's County," Sheets 35. 36, 38, 39, 43.
The village and surrounding antiquities are defined on Sheet 39. Ibid.
'° In the gloss on the Festilogium of vEngus, (5 th of March), the name is written
Sai$ua|\, and explained as nomen Jontis^
'*
It has no name, however, on the Ord* nance Survey Maps, but it joins the Little Brosna River, near Killyon, and its source is traceable, from the western slope of the Slieve Bloom Mountains.
"
'9 Its parochial bounds are marked on the
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
Colgan's
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. T29
times called, from its founder, Saighir-Chiarain. It is a small village, at present, situated in the barony of Ballybritt, King's County, not far from the north-western extremity of the Slieve Bloom mountains. '^ It gives name to
a parish, which, although insulated by the diocese of Killaloe, is under the jurisdiction of the Ossorian bishops ; thus, affording an extremely interesting
landmark, indicating the sway borne in ancient times by the kings of Ossory, over the territory of Eile O'Carroll. In the first Life of Kieran,^^ the geo-
graphical position of Saighir^3 is most accurately marked : it is described as lying within the district of Eile, in the very centre of Ireland, on the confines of its ancient northern and southern divisions, Leath-Chuinn and Leath- Mogha,intheregionofMunster. ^^ AlloverIreland,atthistime,paganism was prevalent ; indeed, we can trace the existence of the pagan priesthood there, at a much later period.
Bell Hill, opposite the present church of Seir Kieran, to the north, is said
to have been the hill on which St. Kieran's bell miraculously rang, thus
pointing out to him where the fountain was to be found, at which St. Patrick
told him to erect his church. ^s It appears to be that stream, which takes its
rise on the western slope of the Slieve Bloom mountains, and which flows
into the Little Brosna River, before it arrives at Birr. ^^ It is said, St. Ciaran's
bell rang, according to the prediction of St. Patrick, when he arrived at that
fountain. According to St. Kieran's First Life, that bell obtained the desig-
nation of Bardan Kieran,^? or as Colgan suggests an emendation, Bodhran,
which " the mute. " ^^ It was afterwards held in signifies,
great honour,^9
"the name of a well," and there can be and, "it is not very differen—t from the one ""
little doubt that such was the true and preserved by oral tradition. Letters con- ancient orthography, SA15 being the proper taining Information relative to the Antiqui- name, and iia]\, in Latin, gelidus, "cool," ties of the King's County, collected during
the descriptive epithet. The " Leabliar Breac" contains that injunction, given by Patrick to Kieran, when on his way to Rome. The Apostle of Ireland met the latter returning home to his native country.
the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1837-8," vol. ii. , pp. 98, 99. Mr. O'Dono-
van's Letter, dated Birr, February 3i-d, 1838. Mr. O'Donovanafterwardsgivesthe
account, as found in the pages of Colgan.
wholesome and unsightly edifice.
^* The parish of Birr, in the barony of "
The runs as follows English
" the Saig,
Rev. PP. of J. Purcell,
cold (refreshing) Erect a city on its brink. At the end of thirty revolving years, There
"
shall I and thou meet.
" These were called in Irish, Sliabh
Bladhma.
*^ This peculiarity of description furnishes
:
Seirkyran, having secured for this parish the historic ground of Bell-hill, hopes to be able to erect on its summit a church, more worthy of the founder of the diocese, than the present un-
Ballybritt, is defined on the Ordnance =^3 John O'Donovan thinks Saiji^x means Survey Townland Maps for the King's
a strong proof of its antiquity.
"
SAI5 UA^ CiiiiroAig cACAii\ |:oi\Ab]ui.
There is a bush on the top of this hill,
" thefountain:" ifnot appi-oach
Sheets The town itself 35, 36, 38.
SA15 tiA)\,
SAige (Suroe) uai^a,
tain. " See " Letters containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the King's
County,"
'5 Thus do we find it recorded — :
History of the Town of Birr," &c. , chap, x,, p. 168.
*7 This bell is said by some, to have been
made for St. Germanus, the bishop, and master of St. Patrick.
" the seat of the foun-
is marked on Sheet A well con- 35. writer,
County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1837-8," vol. ii. , p. loi. ** Thus run words in the First Life : " Vade ad Hiberniam ante me, et adi fon- tem in medio Hibernise in confinio Austra-
lium et Aquilonalium Hiberuiensium, qui Yocatur Fuaran," &c.
versant with the locality, tells us, that "a small stream, even yet called Fuaran, still purls away on the east side of the ruins at Seir
which is believed to have
the time of St. Kieran. The legend about the bell is told by the author of the Life of St. Kieran, as published by Colgan, thus ;
vegetated
since
—Thomas Lalor Cooke's
'' Kyran. " Early
^^
until it sounded on the spot destined for St.
Kieran's foundation. The destiny of Sai-
gher, and the meeting of St. Patrick and St.
Kieran, are well told, in the following beau-
tifiil " have verses,by Enigenensis. " They
been transmitted to the writer, and included,
in the published tract " The Feast of St. Kieran at Saigher. " Panegyric sermon by
Because as suggested, it continued so,
:
I30 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 5.
throughout the city and province of Kieran. 3° Even to the present day, tradition preserves a recollection of these circumstances, as connected with our saint. The place which Kieran had chosen for his dwelling was un- tenanted, save by wild beasts. From his disciples, we are told, he removed intoadesert,thicklycoveredwithwoods. Here,havingconstructedarude and humble habitation, the walls being of wicker-work, and the roof of dried grass,3^ Kiaran lived the life of a hermit, until such time as he could under- take the erection of a monastery. 3^ In this place, a city afterwards grew up, which went by the name of Saigir. 33
Deterred by the many difficulties which beset the advocacy of an earlier
date. Dr. Lanigan has fixed on the latter end of the fifth century, as the more
probable era for the foundation of Saigir. 34 But, thus, totally to reject all testimony, in favour of the earlier epoch, does not seem to be in accordance with the rules of sound criticism, much as it may tend to smooth the path of the historian. 35
Rev. N. Murphy, C. C. The composition in
"
St. Kiaran's Bell," and it is well worth insertion here, as a pleasing
Irish poetic tradition.
A hawthorn stands on yonder hill, Bare, desolate, and lone—
A token frail, but faithful still, Of centuries long flown.
The startled ear, at even-time, When weird-winds wander free,
May hear the ghostly Mass-bell chime Beneath that hoary tree.
And still, aroimd the peasant's hearth, The legend strange is told,
How, never touched by hands of earth. Rang out that Bell of old.
They tell how sainted Patrick's hand OnKTieran'sheadwaslaid,
While thus he spoke in a stem command
Like seraph-songs the sainted hear, Rang out the unseen Bell !
question is called
"
Ne're shall thy step be stayed,
3'
Antiquities of the Cathedral Church of St. Canice, Kilkenny. " By the Rev. James Graves, A. B. , and John G. A. Prim, sect, i. , chap, i. , pp. 2 to 5.
" Till sweet as song by seraphs sung, Which saints alone may hear,
A chime by hands unseen be rung. To charm thy mortal ear.
"There churches seven thou shalt build ;
3* " Archdall (at Seirkeran), after saying that Kieran founded this abbey in 402, adds, that the monastery was founded in succeed- ing ages. For this nonse—nse he refers to
But
Theirtrampleddust andseefulfill'd.
shall— ages yet see.
For age this prophecy.
" When strewn the Temples thou shalt raise,
A tree, sown by thy hand,
Shall live and preach to distant days,
God's blessings on the land. "
He wandered
That ancient pilgrim Saint
3< See Todd's "Church of St.
and wand—ered forth, far,
Patrick,"
Nor flood nor foe his path could bar, Till way-worn here and faint.
P- IS-
3= See "The Histoiy, Architecture and
Antiquities of the Cathedral Church of St. Canice, Kilkenny. " By Rev. James Graves,
He paused—when, hark
With joy no tongue can tell,
his
and G. A. A. B. , John
i. , p. 2.
sect,
!
upon
ear,
Prim,
i. , chap,
And here he built his churches seven,
— Won many a soul from earth to heaven,
Ere summer thrice was gone
And spread God's benison.
And though above his cloisters fair Now rots the clotted weed,
Though all their beauties blighted were To glut a tyrant's greed,
The hushed ear still, at even-time. When weird-winds wander free,
May hear the mystic Mass-bell chime Beneath yon aged tree.
"
And
the parish and cathedral of St. Ciaran. " English MS. Life.
3" That is in Seir-Kieran and in the terri- — toiyofOssory.
who has it not. " Dr.
W^are, Lanigan's
"EcclesiasticalHistoryofIreland,"vol. ii. , chap. X. , sect. 2, n. 24, p. 8.
33 A description of this place, by T. O'Conor, will be found in " Letters contain- ing Information relative to the Antiquities of the King's County, collected during the Progress ot the Ordnance Survey in 1837-8," vol. ii. , pp. 59 to 66.
"^
it is now deposited as a relic in
See "The History, Architecture and
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 131
A more beautiful site could not have been selected, than that beside a
flowing stream, which runs under a sloped hill, where may be seen, at the present time, artificial ridges in a circular form around the stone-enclosed cemetery.
36 A fragment of a curious and nondescript Round Tower37 stands about 16 feet in
There is an
height.
entrance, at the N. W. side, which runs the whole height of
the building. 3S Only the north side, and the west wall of the
old church near
now traceable. 39
Down in a field, and
some distance re-
moved from the
cemetery, is shown
St. Kieran's
well,
near the adjoining
stream. A
large
whitethorn over it is
called St. Kieran's
bush. A very re-
markable moat, with
three circular
mounds, in Oakley
Park demesne, is a
special feature of the
scene. Within the
Round Tower, now
open to the ground,
on one side, are five
very small square
perforations, on the
it,
are
Seirkyran Round Tower and Old Church, King's County.
outer face of the wall ;
to m. eet. A coved roof rises over them, and on the outside, this part is thickly coated with ivy. Numbers of modern headstones, with inscriptions,
but, these are deeply splayed Internally, so as nearly
rise over the graves around, and the cemetery grounds are irregular, while old walls surround them on every side. Elder and hawthorn bushes grow over the surface. t° Another curious object here shown is the bush of St. Kieran, growing in the centre of a public road, and underneath it is a stone, with a cross, while the impression of St. Kieran's fingers, there, according to populartradition,is— toremain. Notfarremoved,the
imaginatively supposed
old fort of —
Ballybrit once a place of some importance and
3«Othercuriousrampartsareintheneigh- bourhood.
37 An Inquisition, dated December 27th, xi. Elizabeth, states, that this small tower, the great stone house covered with thatch, then used as a parish church, and two other houses, the residences of the Canons, were within the walls of this cemetery.
from which the
barony obtained its name*'
is remarkable for its curious
and for its subterranean chambers, as the neighbouring inhabitants relate.
3>* Oneithersidethewallsarefourfeetin thickness.
35 The accompanying illustration, sketched on the spot by the writer, in June, 1873, was drawn on the wood, by William F. Wake-
man, and engraved by George A. Hanlon. t" A modern Protestant Church has re-
placed that older one, represented in the
circumvallations,
132 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIN2S. [March 5
We are told, when Kieran came to this site of Saigir, for the first time, he
sat down under the shade of a certain tree. Then, the saint's sole com-
panions were the wild animals, many of which he appears to have tamed, and, except for their presence, he there lived as a solitary dweller in the desert. 4^ A wild boar fled from the same covert, on his approach, but it afterwards returned, and became domesticated with the servant of God. This animal, with his tusks, cut down twigs and grass, to furnish poor materialsforconstructingtheholyman'shermitagc-^s Theearlysaintswere thus satisfied, to have their cells constructed of wattles, interwoven with twigs, and thatched with hay, reeds or straw. <* The walls were probably coated with mud or plastered mortar. While Kieran lived alone in this place, various animals,'*5 such as a fox, a wolf, a deer and a badger,^^ came from the forest recesses, and are said to have subjected themselves to him, as if they had been monks devoted to his rule. 47 However this may be, soon his disciples discovered the place of his retreat, and in course of time, the wicker hut grew into a famous monastery, and subsequently into an eccle- siastical city, which gathered around the walls of his church. '*^
After living an eremitical life at Saighir, St. Kieran began to attract great
attention, among people dwelling in the adjoining country, to whom he announcedsublimeGospeltruths. Many,atlength,wereinducedtoembrace the Christian faith ; and, numbers among the Ossorians received baptism at his hands. About the same time, it is stated, three other holy bishops were engaged in spreading the Gospel, tliroughout Ireland's more southern parts, and with partial success. These prelates were Saints Ailbe,*? Ibar5° and Declan,5' who laboured in this neglected vineyard of the Lord, before the great Irish Apostle, St. Patrick, arrived. s' The fame and sanctity of Kieran
"Dublin Penny Journal. " See vol. iii. , No. 119, October nth, 1834.
Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 549.
*' See "The History, Architecture and Antiquities of the Cathedral Church of St. Canice, Kilkenny. " By the Rev. James Graves, A. B. , and John G. A, Prim,. sect. i. , chap. i.
chap, vi. , vii. , p. 458.
*•* Thus, St. Voice built his poor cottage
of reeds and See " of Aber- twigs. Breviary
deen," Pars Hyemalis, fol. xlv. St. David's original chapel was adorned only with wood- moss and ivy intertwined. See Giraldus Cambrensis' " Itinerarium Cambrise," lib. i. , cap. 3. St. Gwynllyw, towards the close of the sixth century, founded a teampull in the middle of the cemetery, and it was con- stnictedofplanksandtwigs. SeeRev. ]\Ir. Rees' "Lives of the Cambro-British Saints. " p. 148. St. Kevin of Glendalough wove for himself a hurdle oratory. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Junii iii. , p. 316.
^5 Colgan has a note at this passage, where he endeavours to establish the
possible truth of this narrative, by showing, that the Creator of all things, could thus dispose the affections, even of irrational animals, to honour his servants. He refers to accounts, contained in ecclesiastical history and in the Lives of the Saints, for similar examples. See, "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
uiae," v. Martii, n. 10, p. 464. A very in- genious conjecture is hazarded by Mr.
*' See Lewis' "
in his edited
work, intituled,
« So states the First Life of St. Kieran,
" The Festivities at the House of Conan of Ceann-Sleibhe. " After giving an extract from a manuscript Life of St. Kiaran of Saigher, in Ossory, announced for publica- tion by Mr. John O'Daly of Dublm, and which embraces the account contained in the first published Life of this saint, by Colgan, the editor endeavours to show, that these animals were
O'Kearney,
l^eis cighe chonAtn Chinn-Shleibhe, or
spoken of,
St. Kieran's monks or disciples, bearing a fanciful resemblance to them. See, Intro-
duction, pp. 41 to 44.
^* Or Broc, as it is called in the Irish
language.
*' See Vita S. Kierani, ex Codice Kil-
kenniensi, cap. vii. , pp. 458, 459.
''*' See, "The History, Architecture and Antiquities of the Cathedral Church of St. Canice, Kilkenny. " By the Rev. James Graves, A. B. , and John G. A. Prim, sect.
I, chap. I, pp. 2 to 5.
*9 His feast occurs, on the I2lh of Sep-
tember.
50 His festival is held, on the 23rd of
April.
5" See his Life, at the 24tli of July.
s- The same remarks are made, in the
Lives of St. Albeus {cap. xvi. ), and of St.
Declan (cap. xiv. )
53 See Vita S. Kierani ex Codice Kilken-
impersonated by
March 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 133
drew to Saigir many neophytes, who became his disciples, and who embraced
a fervent life, under his direction. This increasing religious family obliged him to erect a monastery, for their accommodation, at the place of his retreat. S3 Here necessaries of life were supplied to St. Kieran, and to his disciples, in a miraculous manner. One day, the steward of his monastery told our saint, that swine were wanting for their use, and that it would be necessary to purchase some. But, Kieran replied, that the Lord, who already granted themwhathadbeenrequired,wouldalsosendthese. Onthedayfollowing, a sow, with her numerous litter, was seen within their enclosure, and from thisstockasufficientnumberofswinewasafterwardsprocured. s* Inlike manner, his steward declared, that sheep were wanting, and should be bought. But the saint answered, that he who sent the swine would also present sheep to them. On going forth, without the gate of their monastery, the steward beheld twenty-sevenss sheep grazing, and from that number, in due course, a large flock issued. s^
CHAPTER IV.
ST. LIADAIN AND HER NUN BRUINECHA—ST. KIERAN RESTORES FINTAn'S SON TO LIFE— ^NGUS, SON OF NATFRAICH, KING OF MUNSTER—RESTORATION OF HIS H4. RPERS— THE QUEEN, ETHNEA HUATHACU—ST. PATRICK BECOMES THE GUEST OF ST. KIERAN —THE KING OF TEMORIA INVADES OSSORY—ST. KIERAN'S RULE—MIRACLES OF THE SAINT—THE HOLY MEN WHO ARE SAID TO HAVE BEEN HIS CONTEMPORARIES.
We learn from the Acts of St. Kieran, that his mother Liadain^ embraced a religious life—probably after the death of his father—and she lived under her
son's protection, at a place, called Killyon^ after her, and where a nunnery was founded not far from Saigher. Among her nuns was a virgin, named Bruinecha. 3 Further accounts of these must be sought for in other pages of this work. Among the many miracles of St. Kieran must be recorded in- stances, in which the dead were even raised to life, through his merits. A certain rich man, named Fintan, brought his son's dead body to our saint, requesting him, in the name of Christ, to resuscitate the deceased. Kieran approached the corpse of this young man, who had been named Leogaire ; when, through his faith in Christ, Finlan's son was restored to life, and i^resented to his father. The young man lived, afterwards, for a lengthened period. As a mark of grati- tude, he presented the village of Rathfera,+ with its lands, to the saint. s About this time, too, it is said, that ^ngus, son of Natfraich, King of Mun- ster, had been baptized, by St. Patrick, in the city of Cashel. A son of Ere, a descendant of Duach, and inhabiting the region of Ossory, had maliciously killed a horse, belonging to St. Patrick. Being apprehended, by the soldiers of ^ngus, that man was cast into chains previous to his being put to death.
niensi, cap. ix. , p. 459, and Vita S. Kierani
^ It is now a townland, in the parish of
DramcuUen, and barony of EgUsh. It is
sliown on the " Ordnance Townland Survey
ex MS. Salmanticensi, Officium, lect. iii. ,
in berniae. "
" Acta Sanctorum Hi-
p. 467,
Colgan's
5+ See Vita S. Kierani ex Codice Kill^en-
Maps of the King's County," Sheet 36.
3 Colgan has a conjecture, that she may be identical with a St. Brunsecha, or Brun- Trea, and who is venerated on the 29th of May. See "Acta Sanctorum
Ilibernias," n. 18, p. 464.
'•"The land called Rath-fearainn this
day," according to the English MS. Life.
s See Vita S. Kierani ex Codice Kilkeu-
niensi, cap. xiii. , p. 459. Ibid.
55 "
Twenty-eight," according
lish MS. Life.
to the
Eng-
sech, ofMagh
"
niK. " Vita S. Kierani ex Codice Kilken-
niensi, cap. xiv. , p. 459.
Chapter iv. —-' See her Life, at the nth
of August.
