Then, he blessed that part of the river and its fish, for the reason he
afterwards
stated.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
no.
I38 This indeed a which supplies void,
must have been found truly embarrassing to
bx, Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," the gleaner of particulars, respecting the
p. 336,
134 Three hundred are enumerated in Ire-
land and Scotland, according to some ancient accounts. This must be regarded,
illustrious Apostle of Caledonia, had it not issued from the press.
139 It was published for the Irish Archaeo-
logical and Celtic Society.
' 4° He flourished, in the second of century
the Christian era, and after a reign of nine years over Ireland, he died a. d. 120. See
however, tion.
as
savouring
of
great exaggera-
,35 Besides this, we find that he compiled other Lives of Irish Saints, thus described by Lhuyd : 25. Vita? Sanctorum Hibernico- rum per Magnum sive Manum filium Mugo-
Rev. John O'Hanlon's
"
Catechism oi Irish
Bania, daughter of Scalius Balbus, King of 1532, fol. Membr. See Archseologia Bri- Fomoire or Finland. See Roderick
nis O'Donnel, Hibernice descriptor, An. "
tannica," p. 435.
"Trias
O'Flaherty's "Ogygia," pars iii. , cap. lvi. , p. 303.
I42 See the O'Clery's "Calendar of the
Saints of Ireland," translated from the ori-
ginal Irish, by Dr. John O'Donovan, and edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 158.
159.
,36 See
Prsefatio, pp. 319, 320. This Vita Quinta
S. Coiumbae occupies from p. 389 to p. 453, with Colgan's notes included.
I37 See Dr. Lanigan's" Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, vii. ,
Colgan's
Thaumaturga,"
History," Lesson iv. , pp. 24, 25.
J4' He is said to have been married to
264 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
vision,^inanorchard,convenienttohispalaceatTemoria,orTara. There, he beheld three most beautiful men, clothed in white and brilliant garments, such as he had never before seen, and who saluted him in the name of the Most
However, I desire you to state, why and whence you have come to me. " The ambassadors of Heaven said : "We come from that great Lord and Creator of all things, who is one in essence and triune in persons, that you may be urged to abrogate that Law of Retaliation, hateful to God, yet which has existedinyourkingdomsolong,andthatyoushouldrepealit, tosubstitute one more just. Wherefore, with its abolition, decree, that for injustice or inhumanity, your judges should impose a money fine or some other penalty more humane, for cases of homicide or mutilation, and according to the degree
of committed. 145 To reward guilt
this
unknown formula, for us who worship and pray to our revered brazen gods.
Holy Trinity. Then,
pagan king replied :
you
bestow on your race, in future times, an illustrious hero I46 from your wife who
hitherto has not borne a child. He shall be celebrated in Hibernia, in Britain, and in its adjacent Islands ; from him shall descend, likewise, the kings and great chiefs of Ireland, while foremost of all and most beloved of God shall be Columba, endowed with virtues and Divi—ne gifts. The Irish Life of Colum Cille, states, I4 ? that the renowned hero I48 also constituted a
Sen-ghleann Choluim-Chille, but he did not pursue that animal across the river. ' 51 This was a cause of great astonishment to his master, as Finn had never before known his deer-hound to have been baulked in pursuit of prey. It is stated, that he had then a sudden inspiration from the Almighty, and which he revealed to those in company, who were there hunting with him. Then it was, that Finn—according to the account—foretold the birth of Colum Cille, nine generations removed from the reigning King Cormac,152 andfromwhomthatvalleyshouldbenamed. Hedeclared,moreover,that
—Finn Mac
1 ^ foretold Columba's
celebrated hound Bran I5° after a wild stag, which he followed to the River of
prophet
Cumhaill,
coming,
when the letting
143 By Prince O'Donnell.
144 Feidhlimidh Reachtmhar is represented as having been married to the daughter of a Danish king, at this time, and that she had been sterile, giving no hope of an heir to his possessions, according to a Tract on the Mothers and Wives of the Kings and Princes of Ireland.
145 As a curious illustration of the writer's
opinions, that the rich man should have
favourable and exceptional legislation over
the poor man, we have the following Latin
translation from the Irish: " Quemadmo- dium of Irish Biography," pp. 177, 178.
I5° See the " of Martyrology Donegal,"
by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 158, 159.
I5t This is particularized by Prince bro aut uita mulctetur ; ita abiectus et ex O'Donnell, as separating Seingleann from fcece plebis homo pro truncato a se inter- the rest of the mainland. Near the west of emptorie nobili minime spectato rigore ad tlie Tyrconnell territory, he says, is that sequalitate—msatisfaciet,simileinsedamnum placerunningouttowardstheocean,and
dum enim aequum non est, ut illustris
per- sona, siquando quempiam ex infima plebe membro, aut vita priuet, ipse vicissim mem-
patiendo. " Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Quinta S. Columboe, lib. i. , cap. xvii. , pp. 391, 392.
146 He is said to have been Conn of the
Hundred Fights, who, after a reign of thirty- live years over Ireland, was slain near Tara, A. D. 157. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iii. , An-
rising into high and uncultivated mountains, ending in a precipitous rock-bound pro- montory, which had long been consecrated to the memory of Columkille.
'*" He reigned over Ireland, from A. D. 226 to 266, when he died. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. no to 119.
" You use a and an strange
for such the Lord shall legislation,
nales IV. , Magistrorum, p. 77.
I47 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta
Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. xv. , p. 391. ,48 Prince O'Donnell relates, that he was famous in the Irish Annals and fables for his Herculean strength of body, and for his
victories in war.
,49 He flourished in the third
and he was son-in-law to King Cormac Ulfada, who reigned forty years over Ireland, and who died A. n. 266. For an account of Finn Mac
Cumhaill, see Alfred Webb's " Compen-
century,
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 265
Columba should be blessed by the Supreme Deity with multifarious graces
and accomplishments ; that many churches and possessions should belong to him; thattheplacetowhichthestagfledshouldbesacredtohismemory, and that it should prove a safe asylum to all those, who took refuge there ; and besides, that St. Columba would bless also many places in Erin and in Albain. Bealach damhain 'S3 was the name of that place thenceforth. The Druids of Conall Gulban X S4 are said to have predicted the birth of Colum Cille, beforehiscomingintothisworld. 155 Atthattime,Conallwasapagan,andhe had faith in Gentile auguries and necromancy. Diviners accompanied him to the deserts and woods, where Gartan was situated ; and while there engaged on a hunting excursion, it was observed, that when the dogs had captured some wild animals, these were spared by them, and moreover, the dogs appearedtotreatthoseanimalswithunwontedfamiliarty. Thesecircumstances awakened the attention of Conall, who learned then from his soothsayers, how on that very farm a descendant of his should be born, full of Divine grace, and that he should convert the place into a sacred asylum and a place ofrefuge. Thetreatmentofthewildanimalsbythedogswasdeclaredtobe a prognostic of that safeguard, which must protect persecuted and haunted persons from every species of force and outrage, when in aftertime they should seek St. Columba's tutelage, in that quarter.
It is, however, to the Christian patriarchs of the Irish Church, and to their
prophecies, that the chiefest importance is attached, because an interior light wasstrongerwithinthem. Thus,theIrishLifeofColumCillestates,156that St. Martin. 15 ? at the time of his death, foretold the birth of Colum Cille, for he requested that his Book of Gospels should be placed on his breast in the tomb, and he said, that a holy and blessed son should be born and come from Erin after a time, half whose name must be called from the bird, whose figure John saw descending on Jesus, at the stream of Jordan, and the other half from the church. He predicted, that St. Columkille should come thither, at the end of several years. ' 58 " He shall open my tomb," said Martin, " and God will preserve my book for him without stain and without darkness, for he shall bring it to Erin, and Martin's Gospel shall be its name in Erin after- wards. "'5? St. Patrick l6° foretold the future greatness of Columcille at Sith- Aodha, when he was blessing Conall Gulban, and his son Fergus. When he placed his right hand on the head of Fergus over across Conall, the latter
asked him he did why
" shall have a Fergus
and then Patrick
son's son, and Colum Cille shall be his name,161 and it is in honour of him, I
so,
153 Bealach-damham means " the path of the
stng," or "semita cervi," as Colgan renders it, in O'Donnell's Life of Columba in " Trias
Thaumaturga. " See cap. xv. , p. 391.
replied :
154 He was the
great-grandfather
of our
Todd's and Reeves' edition of the "
ology of Donegal," pp. 156, 157.
Martyr-
saint, according to our Irish Pedigrees. His
O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scripto- res," tomus ii. , Hiatus in Tigemaco supple- tus, p. 113.
155 According to O'Donnell's Irish Life of St. Columkille, for which account, the O'Clerys, in their Calendar, cite chap. 13. In Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," how- ever, it will be found at cap. xvi. , p. 391.
156 According to the O'Clerys, who divide O'Donnell's Life of St. Columba, in a man- ner of their own, this is to be found in chap.
r» The Life of Colum Cille, 62, ac- chap.
cording to the O'Clerys, agrees with this, ? >. , that he proceeded to the place were Martin
was, and that he brought away the Gospel of Martin with him. As divided by Colgan, however, this is in O'Donnell's Vita S.
Columbae at lib. iii. , cap. xxviii. See
in vol. iii. of this work, Art. i.
,61
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. lxxxix. , and n.
The " Genea- Sanctilogium
death is at a. d. in Rev. Dr. placed 464,
it is in "Trias Colgan's
3. However,
Thaumaturga," lib. i. , cap. viii. , p. 390.
1
logicum," and the Tripartite Life of the
I57 No doubt, St. Martin, Bishop of Tours, venerated on the I Ith of November, and who was greatly venerated in Ireland.
is8 The O'Clerys state 100. See Rev. Drs.
"
,6°
Trias Thaumaturga," p. 436.
See his Life, at the 17th day of March,
99, pp. 85,
13.
266 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
put my right hand on the head of Fergus, because that son is nearer to him by a generation than to thee. Moreover, his son's son shall be pleasing to God and men. 162 He is stated, likewise, to have described the future sanc-
l6
tity of St. Columba, in elegant Irish metre. 3 Likewise, Patrick foretold
When at Domh-
16* he went in his chariot the next
which is called Daol, to bless that country. On coming to the ford's brink,
the spindles 165 of his chariot broke; and, as often as they were mended,'66
when Patrick went into the chariot, broke ,6 ? All marvelled at they again.
this occurrence. " Do not wonder," said Patrick through the spirit of pro- phecy, " for that land from the stream northwards stands not in need of my blessing. A son shall be born there, and Colum Cille shall be his name, and it is he that shall bless the land to the north, and it is in honour of him, that God has prohibited my blessing "it. " This happened at the mouth of
l63 ontheDaolwasthename tothat given
Colum Cille, when at another place, and before his birth.
nach Mor
Maighe Ithe,
day,
to that stream
that andAth-na river,
Charpaid
ford. l6° Itisstated,thatSt. PatrickalsopredictedColumCille,whenhewas
at the 1 ? Then, a Boyle.
which him from prevented
flood
crossing at the ford, where his chariot broke, ?
great
prevailed, 11
near the waterfall of Eas- that the waters extended towards the west should abound in fish, rather than those situated eastward.
Then, he blessed that part of the river and its fish, for the reason he afterwards stated. He said, likewise, that a son of eternal life should come, the servant of God Colum Cille, and that he would found a noble church at Eas-mic-n Eire, where there should be a Monastery for Monks. J " It was to furnish them with food, he blessed that part of the river. The prophecy of St. Patrick was duly fulfilled, when in succeeding times Columba visited that part of the country. ^ Looking down on it from an eminence, St. Patrick foretold the birth of Colum Cille, one time that he came to Eas Aodha-Ruaidh,' 75 that celebrated
mac-Neirc. '? 2 He there
prayed,
Saint, pars ii. , cap. cxiii. , p. 144, have a similar account.
162 For this statement, which is found in
the "Martyrology of Donegal," the O'Clerys
quote a " Life of Colum Cille," chap. 2. The
biography here referred to is that in Irish by
Manus O'Donnell. This was not parted
into in the but itisarbi- chapters original,
trarily divided, both by the O'Clerys and by Colgan, though in different proportions. What is here assigned to chap. 2, in Colgan
trees, in the plural, should imply the use of a four-wheeled conveyance.
l67 Dr. O'Donovan, in his " Annals of the Four Masters," at A. D. 665, vol. i. , n. (a), explains this term o—f fearsat, both literally and topographically. See p. 278.
is numbered lib. i. ,
cap.
iv. to vii. See
time.
' 7° A
complete
account of this and parish
" —
Trias Thaumaturga," p. 390. The order barony with some beautiful steelplate illus-
in the prediction is the same in the Life as trations may be found, in John D'Alton's
here.
"
History of Ireland," vol. i.
163 '7'
first line is thus The —
O'Clerys
quoted by
the
Afterwards, it was called the ford of the chariot. "
"
Ath-carbuid,
:
or
"
172 See
5enifi-oer\ inacoiaptie.
Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. xc. ,p. 86, and Septima Vita
S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. ci. , p. 143.
'"This prophecy was fulfilled, when St Columba a! terwards visited this place. See
" Irish Penny Magazine," vol. i. , No. 26, pp. 202, 203.
' 74 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. vi. , p. 390.
' 75 Said to have been so called, owing to the death of Aodh Ruadh, an ancient King of Ireland, who was drowned there. See John O'llart's "Irish Pedigrees; or the
It is thus rendered into English: "A son shall be born of his race. "
164 This place was in Cinel Connall.
165 Colgan renders it axis, in the singular. See " Trias Thaumaiurga," Quinta Vita S. Columba? , cap. v. , p. 390.
166 The term pei^ro, usual in the text, according to Dr. Reeves, is the plural of ^eAjvrAc, which signifies "a spindle," and it is in a secondary sense applied to the sand- bank of a ford or estuary. The idea of axle-
l68
In a note, Dr. Todd says at this proper
name " 'ford of the Athan-Charpaid, i. e. ,
chariot. "'
,6g By this name it went, in O'Donnell's
,
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 267
cataract on the Erne near 1 ? 6 The southern side of it River, Ballyshannon.
belonged to Connall, and the northern to Cairbre. This latter tyrant had
earnedforhimselfthemaledictionoftheIrishApostle; andtherefore,during
the time of his the northern side of the Erne was of fish. 1 " St. sway, deprived
Patrick blessed the south side of the cataract, and said for Colum Cille's sake heleftawantofblessingonthenorth,andthiswasfulfilled. 1? 8 St. Patrick
declared, moreover, that the territory and place of St. Columba should be considered sacred, and free from all exactions and dues for other prelates.
He bequeathed to our saint, likewise, a Book of Gospels, at the time of his
death. That he desired should be kept by his successors to the See of
Armagh, trust,
also foretold the fame of Colum
in untilColumbashouldcomeintotheworld. 1? ? St. l8°
that a young scion
in the northern parts, and that it should become a great and tall tree after- wards, and that its branches should spread over Erin and Albion. Even were these destined to reach the last verge of the world's horizon. " That
" shall be
that happy woman Ethne, as from a fruitful stock, and going forth to spread,
by preaching the Divine word, so that the examples of his life shall render
him renowned throughout all those regions. Although not yet born, I scent the fragrance of his virtues and holiness, as if he were now before me. 182 St. Brigid also foretold, that St. Patrick, herself and St. Columkille should rest in the same tomb at Down. 183 Again we learn, as the Life of Colum
tree which I said the indicate,"
holy virgin,
Columba, sprung
from
l8« howPatrickforetolditshouldbeinthesametombwithhim- self and Brighit, that Colum Cille should be buried. Mochta l8 ^ is said to have been in lona or Hy long before St. Columba went there to take posses- sion of it. 186 There, his servant Maccrith 18 ? presented some nuts, which were gathered on the Island. However, at the instant, Mochta had an
Cille
Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation," part x. , chap. Hi. , sect. 8, p. 548, n.
I? 6 A description and view of the scenery here may be seen in Mr. and Mrs. Hall's
"Ireland: its Scenery, Character," &c, vol. hi. , pp. 272, 273.
states,
*" See " Trias Colgan's
bo
It is thus rendered into English
Thaumaturga," SeptimaVitaS. Patricii,lib. ii. , cap. ex. ,p. 144. However, O'Donnell seems to reverse the foregoing account. See ibid. Quinta
t1i|\
|\om
a
yd. f\4cujh. <
Vita S. lib. Columbse,
" The son of
He is surely beautiful, he is bloom-
ing,
Colum Cille, pure without blemish,
i. , cap. vii. , p. 390. 178 For the foregoing account, the O'Clerys
long-sided Eithene
cite 0'Donnell"s
"
Life of Colum Cille," as
chap. 2.
179 A curious story was current, that this
It is not too early to perceive him. "
Codex had been in the guardianship of St.
Brigid, for a time. Other accounts have it,
that the Codex was buried in the tomb with
St. Patrick, and that Angels afterwards Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. ix. , brought it thence to St. Columba. See Col- p. 390.
l83 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," gan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita l84 At chapter 5, according to the
S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. vii. , p. 390.
1°
See her Life, in vol. ii. of this work, Art. i. , at the 1st day of February.
is.
182 An Irish quatrain is quoted by the
O'Clerys. However, O'Donnell puts the prophecy, concerning this interment, in St.
Brighit's mouth.
Forthjs
O'Donnell's "Life of St. Columba," cap.
lK5
and at the 19th of August,
accountj iv. In "Trias
O'Clerys quote
His feast occurs at the 24th of March,
Colgan's
is in Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. ix. , p. 390.
,86
This is inconsistent with a statement in Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise. " Martii xxiv. , Vita S. Mochtei Episcopi Lug- madensis, cap. xvi. , p. 730, where Aodh,
_
Thaumaturga," it
^e
181 when she delivered a
— prophecy;
— Cille,
adorned by Divine agency with flowers should be born
O'Clerys, as if it —were a version of the fore-
going prophecy
1Y1ac An &ine caobpcoa,
SeAC Af bob ip blAcugA'o, Cobtntn citte c&\x> 5An on,
:
:
—
Brigid
268 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
inspiration, that Columba should come thither, and he refused to take them :
"I am not the Patron or master of this ground," said Mochta, "in which
those nuts grew, and were gathered ; but, they are reserved for him, who
shall come one hundred years later. " Afterwards, when Mochta went to
Ireland, his disciplesand companions observed, that while engaged in prayer, he
frequently looked towards its northern parts, and they asked him the reason :
" Because I foresee, that a holy man named Columba shall there be born," he
"
replied,
and, he shall spread the Gospel seed in both Scotias, while he
shall come out of the North, as a herald of salvation, to proclaim the triumph
of Faith and Morals among men. 188 Then, the holy prophet rejoicingly sang
averseinIrish,ofwhichtheforegoingpredictionsrevealthesubstance. 180 He also said, " The boundary of one narrow hedge shall divide the little farms of his monastery and of mine. 1 ? He shall become a man, most dear to God,
and of
great
merit in his
sight.
101 While he lived with his clerics in the
Island of —and had been within the — cavern of St. Lough Derg, penitential
Patrick, St. Dabeoc I02 also called Beoan or Beocc
of Colum Cille, long before his birth ,0+ and while ;
watchings during the night, he saw all the northern parts of Ireland effulgent with a heavenly light; and, when his clerics demanded of him what it meant,
replied : proceed,
quarter,
you
burning
shining light come,
"Inthat God shall
whence wonderfully
anda
he
to
with the brightness of Christ, and thence shall issue Columba, a son of light ; Felmid, son of Fergus, shall be his father, and Ethne shall conceive him ; in sacred learning he shall excel, he shall be a virgin in mind and body, and he shall have the gifts of prophecy.
I38 This indeed a which supplies void,
must have been found truly embarrassing to
bx, Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," the gleaner of particulars, respecting the
p. 336,
134 Three hundred are enumerated in Ire-
land and Scotland, according to some ancient accounts. This must be regarded,
illustrious Apostle of Caledonia, had it not issued from the press.
139 It was published for the Irish Archaeo-
logical and Celtic Society.
' 4° He flourished, in the second of century
the Christian era, and after a reign of nine years over Ireland, he died a. d. 120. See
however, tion.
as
savouring
of
great exaggera-
,35 Besides this, we find that he compiled other Lives of Irish Saints, thus described by Lhuyd : 25. Vita? Sanctorum Hibernico- rum per Magnum sive Manum filium Mugo-
Rev. John O'Hanlon's
"
Catechism oi Irish
Bania, daughter of Scalius Balbus, King of 1532, fol. Membr. See Archseologia Bri- Fomoire or Finland. See Roderick
nis O'Donnel, Hibernice descriptor, An. "
tannica," p. 435.
"Trias
O'Flaherty's "Ogygia," pars iii. , cap. lvi. , p. 303.
I42 See the O'Clery's "Calendar of the
Saints of Ireland," translated from the ori-
ginal Irish, by Dr. John O'Donovan, and edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 158.
159.
,36 See
Prsefatio, pp. 319, 320. This Vita Quinta
S. Coiumbae occupies from p. 389 to p. 453, with Colgan's notes included.
I37 See Dr. Lanigan's" Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, vii. ,
Colgan's
Thaumaturga,"
History," Lesson iv. , pp. 24, 25.
J4' He is said to have been married to
264 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
vision,^inanorchard,convenienttohispalaceatTemoria,orTara. There, he beheld three most beautiful men, clothed in white and brilliant garments, such as he had never before seen, and who saluted him in the name of the Most
However, I desire you to state, why and whence you have come to me. " The ambassadors of Heaven said : "We come from that great Lord and Creator of all things, who is one in essence and triune in persons, that you may be urged to abrogate that Law of Retaliation, hateful to God, yet which has existedinyourkingdomsolong,andthatyoushouldrepealit, tosubstitute one more just. Wherefore, with its abolition, decree, that for injustice or inhumanity, your judges should impose a money fine or some other penalty more humane, for cases of homicide or mutilation, and according to the degree
of committed. 145 To reward guilt
this
unknown formula, for us who worship and pray to our revered brazen gods.
Holy Trinity. Then,
pagan king replied :
you
bestow on your race, in future times, an illustrious hero I46 from your wife who
hitherto has not borne a child. He shall be celebrated in Hibernia, in Britain, and in its adjacent Islands ; from him shall descend, likewise, the kings and great chiefs of Ireland, while foremost of all and most beloved of God shall be Columba, endowed with virtues and Divi—ne gifts. The Irish Life of Colum Cille, states, I4 ? that the renowned hero I48 also constituted a
Sen-ghleann Choluim-Chille, but he did not pursue that animal across the river. ' 51 This was a cause of great astonishment to his master, as Finn had never before known his deer-hound to have been baulked in pursuit of prey. It is stated, that he had then a sudden inspiration from the Almighty, and which he revealed to those in company, who were there hunting with him. Then it was, that Finn—according to the account—foretold the birth of Colum Cille, nine generations removed from the reigning King Cormac,152 andfromwhomthatvalleyshouldbenamed. Hedeclared,moreover,that
—Finn Mac
1 ^ foretold Columba's
celebrated hound Bran I5° after a wild stag, which he followed to the River of
prophet
Cumhaill,
coming,
when the letting
143 By Prince O'Donnell.
144 Feidhlimidh Reachtmhar is represented as having been married to the daughter of a Danish king, at this time, and that she had been sterile, giving no hope of an heir to his possessions, according to a Tract on the Mothers and Wives of the Kings and Princes of Ireland.
145 As a curious illustration of the writer's
opinions, that the rich man should have
favourable and exceptional legislation over
the poor man, we have the following Latin
translation from the Irish: " Quemadmo- dium of Irish Biography," pp. 177, 178.
I5° See the " of Martyrology Donegal,"
by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 158, 159.
I5t This is particularized by Prince bro aut uita mulctetur ; ita abiectus et ex O'Donnell, as separating Seingleann from fcece plebis homo pro truncato a se inter- the rest of the mainland. Near the west of emptorie nobili minime spectato rigore ad tlie Tyrconnell territory, he says, is that sequalitate—msatisfaciet,simileinsedamnum placerunningouttowardstheocean,and
dum enim aequum non est, ut illustris
per- sona, siquando quempiam ex infima plebe membro, aut vita priuet, ipse vicissim mem-
patiendo. " Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Quinta S. Columboe, lib. i. , cap. xvii. , pp. 391, 392.
146 He is said to have been Conn of the
Hundred Fights, who, after a reign of thirty- live years over Ireland, was slain near Tara, A. D. 157. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iii. , An-
rising into high and uncultivated mountains, ending in a precipitous rock-bound pro- montory, which had long been consecrated to the memory of Columkille.
'*" He reigned over Ireland, from A. D. 226 to 266, when he died. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. no to 119.
" You use a and an strange
for such the Lord shall legislation,
nales IV. , Magistrorum, p. 77.
I47 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta
Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. xv. , p. 391. ,48 Prince O'Donnell relates, that he was famous in the Irish Annals and fables for his Herculean strength of body, and for his
victories in war.
,49 He flourished in the third
and he was son-in-law to King Cormac Ulfada, who reigned forty years over Ireland, and who died A. n. 266. For an account of Finn Mac
Cumhaill, see Alfred Webb's " Compen-
century,
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 265
Columba should be blessed by the Supreme Deity with multifarious graces
and accomplishments ; that many churches and possessions should belong to him; thattheplacetowhichthestagfledshouldbesacredtohismemory, and that it should prove a safe asylum to all those, who took refuge there ; and besides, that St. Columba would bless also many places in Erin and in Albain. Bealach damhain 'S3 was the name of that place thenceforth. The Druids of Conall Gulban X S4 are said to have predicted the birth of Colum Cille, beforehiscomingintothisworld. 155 Atthattime,Conallwasapagan,andhe had faith in Gentile auguries and necromancy. Diviners accompanied him to the deserts and woods, where Gartan was situated ; and while there engaged on a hunting excursion, it was observed, that when the dogs had captured some wild animals, these were spared by them, and moreover, the dogs appearedtotreatthoseanimalswithunwontedfamiliarty. Thesecircumstances awakened the attention of Conall, who learned then from his soothsayers, how on that very farm a descendant of his should be born, full of Divine grace, and that he should convert the place into a sacred asylum and a place ofrefuge. Thetreatmentofthewildanimalsbythedogswasdeclaredtobe a prognostic of that safeguard, which must protect persecuted and haunted persons from every species of force and outrage, when in aftertime they should seek St. Columba's tutelage, in that quarter.
It is, however, to the Christian patriarchs of the Irish Church, and to their
prophecies, that the chiefest importance is attached, because an interior light wasstrongerwithinthem. Thus,theIrishLifeofColumCillestates,156that St. Martin. 15 ? at the time of his death, foretold the birth of Colum Cille, for he requested that his Book of Gospels should be placed on his breast in the tomb, and he said, that a holy and blessed son should be born and come from Erin after a time, half whose name must be called from the bird, whose figure John saw descending on Jesus, at the stream of Jordan, and the other half from the church. He predicted, that St. Columkille should come thither, at the end of several years. ' 58 " He shall open my tomb," said Martin, " and God will preserve my book for him without stain and without darkness, for he shall bring it to Erin, and Martin's Gospel shall be its name in Erin after- wards. "'5? St. Patrick l6° foretold the future greatness of Columcille at Sith- Aodha, when he was blessing Conall Gulban, and his son Fergus. When he placed his right hand on the head of Fergus over across Conall, the latter
asked him he did why
" shall have a Fergus
and then Patrick
son's son, and Colum Cille shall be his name,161 and it is in honour of him, I
so,
153 Bealach-damham means " the path of the
stng," or "semita cervi," as Colgan renders it, in O'Donnell's Life of Columba in " Trias
Thaumaturga. " See cap. xv. , p. 391.
replied :
154 He was the
great-grandfather
of our
Todd's and Reeves' edition of the "
ology of Donegal," pp. 156, 157.
Martyr-
saint, according to our Irish Pedigrees. His
O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scripto- res," tomus ii. , Hiatus in Tigemaco supple- tus, p. 113.
155 According to O'Donnell's Irish Life of St. Columkille, for which account, the O'Clerys, in their Calendar, cite chap. 13. In Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," how- ever, it will be found at cap. xvi. , p. 391.
156 According to the O'Clerys, who divide O'Donnell's Life of St. Columba, in a man- ner of their own, this is to be found in chap.
r» The Life of Colum Cille, 62, ac- chap.
cording to the O'Clerys, agrees with this, ? >. , that he proceeded to the place were Martin
was, and that he brought away the Gospel of Martin with him. As divided by Colgan, however, this is in O'Donnell's Vita S.
Columbae at lib. iii. , cap. xxviii. See
in vol. iii. of this work, Art. i.
,61
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. lxxxix. , and n.
The " Genea- Sanctilogium
death is at a. d. in Rev. Dr. placed 464,
it is in "Trias Colgan's
3. However,
Thaumaturga," lib. i. , cap. viii. , p. 390.
1
logicum," and the Tripartite Life of the
I57 No doubt, St. Martin, Bishop of Tours, venerated on the I Ith of November, and who was greatly venerated in Ireland.
is8 The O'Clerys state 100. See Rev. Drs.
"
,6°
Trias Thaumaturga," p. 436.
See his Life, at the 17th day of March,
99, pp. 85,
13.
266 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
put my right hand on the head of Fergus, because that son is nearer to him by a generation than to thee. Moreover, his son's son shall be pleasing to God and men. 162 He is stated, likewise, to have described the future sanc-
l6
tity of St. Columba, in elegant Irish metre. 3 Likewise, Patrick foretold
When at Domh-
16* he went in his chariot the next
which is called Daol, to bless that country. On coming to the ford's brink,
the spindles 165 of his chariot broke; and, as often as they were mended,'66
when Patrick went into the chariot, broke ,6 ? All marvelled at they again.
this occurrence. " Do not wonder," said Patrick through the spirit of pro- phecy, " for that land from the stream northwards stands not in need of my blessing. A son shall be born there, and Colum Cille shall be his name, and it is he that shall bless the land to the north, and it is in honour of him, that God has prohibited my blessing "it. " This happened at the mouth of
l63 ontheDaolwasthename tothat given
Colum Cille, when at another place, and before his birth.
nach Mor
Maighe Ithe,
day,
to that stream
that andAth-na river,
Charpaid
ford. l6° Itisstated,thatSt. PatrickalsopredictedColumCille,whenhewas
at the 1 ? Then, a Boyle.
which him from prevented
flood
crossing at the ford, where his chariot broke, ?
great
prevailed, 11
near the waterfall of Eas- that the waters extended towards the west should abound in fish, rather than those situated eastward.
Then, he blessed that part of the river and its fish, for the reason he afterwards stated. He said, likewise, that a son of eternal life should come, the servant of God Colum Cille, and that he would found a noble church at Eas-mic-n Eire, where there should be a Monastery for Monks. J " It was to furnish them with food, he blessed that part of the river. The prophecy of St. Patrick was duly fulfilled, when in succeeding times Columba visited that part of the country. ^ Looking down on it from an eminence, St. Patrick foretold the birth of Colum Cille, one time that he came to Eas Aodha-Ruaidh,' 75 that celebrated
mac-Neirc. '? 2 He there
prayed,
Saint, pars ii. , cap. cxiii. , p. 144, have a similar account.
162 For this statement, which is found in
the "Martyrology of Donegal," the O'Clerys
quote a " Life of Colum Cille," chap. 2. The
biography here referred to is that in Irish by
Manus O'Donnell. This was not parted
into in the but itisarbi- chapters original,
trarily divided, both by the O'Clerys and by Colgan, though in different proportions. What is here assigned to chap. 2, in Colgan
trees, in the plural, should imply the use of a four-wheeled conveyance.
l67 Dr. O'Donovan, in his " Annals of the Four Masters," at A. D. 665, vol. i. , n. (a), explains this term o—f fearsat, both literally and topographically. See p. 278.
is numbered lib. i. ,
cap.
iv. to vii. See
time.
' 7° A
complete
account of this and parish
" —
Trias Thaumaturga," p. 390. The order barony with some beautiful steelplate illus-
in the prediction is the same in the Life as trations may be found, in John D'Alton's
here.
"
History of Ireland," vol. i.
163 '7'
first line is thus The —
O'Clerys
quoted by
the
Afterwards, it was called the ford of the chariot. "
"
Ath-carbuid,
:
or
"
172 See
5enifi-oer\ inacoiaptie.
Trias Thaumaturga," Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. xc. ,p. 86, and Septima Vita
S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. ci. , p. 143.
'"This prophecy was fulfilled, when St Columba a! terwards visited this place. See
" Irish Penny Magazine," vol. i. , No. 26, pp. 202, 203.
' 74 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. vi. , p. 390.
' 75 Said to have been so called, owing to the death of Aodh Ruadh, an ancient King of Ireland, who was drowned there. See John O'llart's "Irish Pedigrees; or the
It is thus rendered into English: "A son shall be born of his race. "
164 This place was in Cinel Connall.
165 Colgan renders it axis, in the singular. See " Trias Thaumaiurga," Quinta Vita S. Columba? , cap. v. , p. 390.
166 The term pei^ro, usual in the text, according to Dr. Reeves, is the plural of ^eAjvrAc, which signifies "a spindle," and it is in a secondary sense applied to the sand- bank of a ford or estuary. The idea of axle-
l68
In a note, Dr. Todd says at this proper
name " 'ford of the Athan-Charpaid, i. e. ,
chariot. "'
,6g By this name it went, in O'Donnell's
,
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 267
cataract on the Erne near 1 ? 6 The southern side of it River, Ballyshannon.
belonged to Connall, and the northern to Cairbre. This latter tyrant had
earnedforhimselfthemaledictionoftheIrishApostle; andtherefore,during
the time of his the northern side of the Erne was of fish. 1 " St. sway, deprived
Patrick blessed the south side of the cataract, and said for Colum Cille's sake heleftawantofblessingonthenorth,andthiswasfulfilled. 1? 8 St. Patrick
declared, moreover, that the territory and place of St. Columba should be considered sacred, and free from all exactions and dues for other prelates.
He bequeathed to our saint, likewise, a Book of Gospels, at the time of his
death. That he desired should be kept by his successors to the See of
Armagh, trust,
also foretold the fame of Colum
in untilColumbashouldcomeintotheworld. 1? ? St. l8°
that a young scion
in the northern parts, and that it should become a great and tall tree after- wards, and that its branches should spread over Erin and Albion. Even were these destined to reach the last verge of the world's horizon. " That
" shall be
that happy woman Ethne, as from a fruitful stock, and going forth to spread,
by preaching the Divine word, so that the examples of his life shall render
him renowned throughout all those regions. Although not yet born, I scent the fragrance of his virtues and holiness, as if he were now before me. 182 St. Brigid also foretold, that St. Patrick, herself and St. Columkille should rest in the same tomb at Down. 183 Again we learn, as the Life of Colum
tree which I said the indicate,"
holy virgin,
Columba, sprung
from
l8« howPatrickforetolditshouldbeinthesametombwithhim- self and Brighit, that Colum Cille should be buried. Mochta l8 ^ is said to have been in lona or Hy long before St. Columba went there to take posses- sion of it. 186 There, his servant Maccrith 18 ? presented some nuts, which were gathered on the Island. However, at the instant, Mochta had an
Cille
Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation," part x. , chap. Hi. , sect. 8, p. 548, n.
I? 6 A description and view of the scenery here may be seen in Mr. and Mrs. Hall's
"Ireland: its Scenery, Character," &c, vol. hi. , pp. 272, 273.
states,
*" See " Trias Colgan's
bo
It is thus rendered into English
Thaumaturga," SeptimaVitaS. Patricii,lib. ii. , cap. ex. ,p. 144. However, O'Donnell seems to reverse the foregoing account. See ibid. Quinta
t1i|\
|\om
a
yd. f\4cujh. <
Vita S. lib. Columbse,
" The son of
He is surely beautiful, he is bloom-
ing,
Colum Cille, pure without blemish,
i. , cap. vii. , p. 390. 178 For the foregoing account, the O'Clerys
long-sided Eithene
cite 0'Donnell"s
"
Life of Colum Cille," as
chap. 2.
179 A curious story was current, that this
It is not too early to perceive him. "
Codex had been in the guardianship of St.
Brigid, for a time. Other accounts have it,
that the Codex was buried in the tomb with
St. Patrick, and that Angels afterwards Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. ix. , brought it thence to St. Columba. See Col- p. 390.
l83 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," gan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita l84 At chapter 5, according to the
S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. vii. , p. 390.
1°
See her Life, in vol. ii. of this work, Art. i. , at the 1st day of February.
is.
182 An Irish quatrain is quoted by the
O'Clerys. However, O'Donnell puts the prophecy, concerning this interment, in St.
Brighit's mouth.
Forthjs
O'Donnell's "Life of St. Columba," cap.
lK5
and at the 19th of August,
accountj iv. In "Trias
O'Clerys quote
His feast occurs at the 24th of March,
Colgan's
is in Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. ix. , p. 390.
,86
This is inconsistent with a statement in Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise. " Martii xxiv. , Vita S. Mochtei Episcopi Lug- madensis, cap. xvi. , p. 730, where Aodh,
_
Thaumaturga," it
^e
181 when she delivered a
— prophecy;
— Cille,
adorned by Divine agency with flowers should be born
O'Clerys, as if it —were a version of the fore-
going prophecy
1Y1ac An &ine caobpcoa,
SeAC Af bob ip blAcugA'o, Cobtntn citte c&\x> 5An on,
:
:
—
Brigid
268 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[June 9.
inspiration, that Columba should come thither, and he refused to take them :
"I am not the Patron or master of this ground," said Mochta, "in which
those nuts grew, and were gathered ; but, they are reserved for him, who
shall come one hundred years later. " Afterwards, when Mochta went to
Ireland, his disciplesand companions observed, that while engaged in prayer, he
frequently looked towards its northern parts, and they asked him the reason :
" Because I foresee, that a holy man named Columba shall there be born," he
"
replied,
and, he shall spread the Gospel seed in both Scotias, while he
shall come out of the North, as a herald of salvation, to proclaim the triumph
of Faith and Morals among men. 188 Then, the holy prophet rejoicingly sang
averseinIrish,ofwhichtheforegoingpredictionsrevealthesubstance. 180 He also said, " The boundary of one narrow hedge shall divide the little farms of his monastery and of mine. 1 ? He shall become a man, most dear to God,
and of
great
merit in his
sight.
101 While he lived with his clerics in the
Island of —and had been within the — cavern of St. Lough Derg, penitential
Patrick, St. Dabeoc I02 also called Beoan or Beocc
of Colum Cille, long before his birth ,0+ and while ;
watchings during the night, he saw all the northern parts of Ireland effulgent with a heavenly light; and, when his clerics demanded of him what it meant,
replied : proceed,
quarter,
you
burning
shining light come,
"Inthat God shall
whence wonderfully
anda
he
to
with the brightness of Christ, and thence shall issue Columba, a son of light ; Felmid, son of Fergus, shall be his father, and Ethne shall conceive him ; in sacred learning he shall excel, he shall be a virgin in mind and body, and he shall have the gifts of prophecy.
