Its singular square belfry, co-eval with the Anglo-Norman Church, and its ancient round tower,
supposed
to have been co-eval with the original church of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
19, p.
146.
It must be remarked, are entered in the Dublin Memorandums," "
that the valuable Illustrations of Irish
in this excellent — Topography," periodical,
Martyr- are from the pen of John D'Alton a name ology the Cathedral Church of the Holy
honourably connected with Irish history
and antiquities.
27 At present, under the square tower,
attached to the church, is a crypt or vaulted chapel ; and, it may be, that within it the body of St. Macculind had been formerly
deposited.
of
Trinity. " EditedbyJohnClarkeCrosthwaite and Rev. Dr. Todd. Introduction, n. (e) p. xlviii.
" Butler assigns his death to this year. See Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," vol. ix. , September 6th. He quotes Colgan's MSS. , to which he
appears to have, had access.
28
Notes by Mr. O'Donovan, in the volume
" 32 entitled, Dublin Memorandums," pp. 278,
279, belonging to the Irish Ordnance Sur- vey Office, now in the Royal Irish Academy.
* 9 The foregoing particulars in the text are derived from a communication signed
See "Monasticum Ilibernicum," p. 251. 3! lie remarks that Colgan makes no men-
tion of them.
34 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,
vol i. , chap vii. , sect, v. , n. 36, p. 338.
'•
September 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 173
Maculind—died towards the close of the fifth century—as stated by our Irish annalists and that he had been consecrated bishop at Rome by Pope Gregory. The first Sovereign Pontiff bearing that name filled the chair of St. Peter, from a. d. 590 to a. d. 604. 35 The death of St. Maculind is recorded at a. d. 497, in the Annals of Innisfallen,36 and by the Four Masters. 37 He went to his rest in the same year, according to Diuild Mac Firbis. 38 How- ever, in the "Chronicum Scotorum," at this date, we find no such entry; but, at a. d. 544, there is notice of the "Quies" of Mac Cuilind and of Odhran from Lethracha. 39 In the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the iii. of the Nones, or 6th of September, his feast is entered. 40 What Mac Firbis says is, "quies Cuindid son of Cathbadh, i. e. Mac Cuilind, Bishop of Lusca, &c, September 6. " At the same date, his name appears in the Martyrology of Donegal,41asMacCuilinn,Bishop,ofLusc. IntheIrishCalendarbelonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey, and now transferred to the Royal Irish Academy Library, his commemoration is at this date. 43 At the 6th of September, the Bollandists remark,^ how Greven announces the feast of a bishop, called Mastulinus, in Ireland j while he is named in like manner, in their Manuscript Florarium Sanctorum, but without giving him a place. Not finding such a name in any Catalogue of Irish Saints, nor in any other authority, they pass him over, at this date; apparently not reflecting, that such an entry had been the error of a scribe for the name of Macculindus. This holy man is specially commemorated among the Cistercians. 44 At the 6th of September, St. Mac Cuillinn was venerated in Scotland, and his feast is entered in the Kalendar of Drummond. 45 This holy man had an office,40 specially to commemorate his virtues, and to distinguish him among our Saints. 4 ? This office of nine lessons is assigned to him as a Bishop and Con- fessor. 48 In Scotland, the parish of Macalen or Macallan, now annexed to
Knockandhu, or Knockando,40 has been called after MacCallan, and dedi-
35 This was the year of his death.
36 See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hiber- nicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. Annales Inisfallensis, p. 4.
37 See Dr, O'Donovan's edition, vol i. , p.
See Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 120, 121.
39 Thus : Quier true Cuilmt) ocur O-onan O lecrvacViA. See William M. Hennessy's edition, pp. 48, 49.
40 Thus: "Mac Cuilinn Esp. Luscca. "
"
See Rev. Dr. Kelly's Calendar of Irish
Saints," p. xxxiii.
41 Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp. 236, 237.
.
4<5 According to a MS. in T. C. D. , classed B. 1-4, which records at September the 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini Epis. et Conf. , ix. Lect. , &c. This is entered in a compara- tively recent hand. In T. C. D. , a MS. classed B. 3. I. records at September the 6th, Ides viii. , Maculini Epis. et Conf. ix. Lect. In a MS. classed B. 3. 13. in T. C. D. , we find at September the 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini Epis. non. Lect. In T. C. D. , a MS. classed B. 3. 10. records at Septem- ber 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini Epis. et Conf. ix. Lect. A MS. in T. C. D. , and classed B. 3. 12. , contains at September 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini, Archiepis. , ix. Lect. A MS. in T. C. D. , classed B. 1. 2. , has at September 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini Epis. et Conf. , Duplex fin per constit.
47 This office is denominated Vita S. Maculini. It is in Nine Lessons, and classed among the Trinity College, Dublin, Manu-
scripts, E, 3. 8. This is elegantly and legibly written, or rather letter-traced.
404, note (k). 38 "
42
See the viii. of the Ides of September
(September 6th). We find, "mac Cml/m
erp lurga cdinij-aceT) airim aoir cr\iofC
An can x>o cua-—it) an ceppoj; fo t>o cumeintrie. 407. " Ordnance Survey Office Copy, Common Place Book F. , p. 75.
43 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
\i. the
Septembris Among pretermitted
Saints, p. 654.
44 At September the 6th, in the Annals
48 See " The Book of Obits and
ology of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Dublin," edited by John Clarke Crosthwaite
of the Cistercian Monks is found, St. and Rev. Dr. Todd, Introduction, p. xlviii. ,
Macuilindus, Bishop of Lusk, at p. 410.
45 See Bishop Forbes' '* Kalendars of
and n. (e), lxxvi. , pp. 69, 154.
49 Of this parish, a very complete account
has been given by the Rev. George Gordon,
Scottish Saints, p. 23.
Martyr-
174 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 6.
cated to St. Macalin. In the churchyard of Macallan, a sequestered rural burial-ground, in the wood of Easter Elchies, there is a ruined church, but fast
crumbling to decay. s° In the year 1839, the old church of Anglo-Norman erection at Lusk had been unroofed by a storm, and the building was allowed to become almost a ruin. Its ancient monuments were broken, covered with
rubbish, and exposed to every indignity.
Its singular square belfry, co-eval with the Anglo-Norman Church, and its ancient round tower, supposed to have been co-eval with the original church of St. Mac Culind, were rapidly going to decay. Since that time, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners undertook
the work of reparation. It cannot be called restoration, as the original church style has been changed. The Rev. William Reeves, M. R. I. A. , to whom Irish Ecclesiastical History owes so much, was Rector of Lusk for some years ; where he laboured nobly to repair the damages of time and accident during the period of his incumbency. In our annals are several allusions to Lusk, and from an early age. Thus in a. d. 695, Casson, a learned Chronographer, died, and the same year St. Adamnan held a Synod
in its monastery, at which were present all the principal prelates and clerics of the Kingdom. In 731 died Crunnmael, son to Colman, Abbot of Lusk. Whether the office of Bishop and Abbot had been kept distinct in this place, we have no means left for ascertaining, owing to the very brief mention of persons in connexion with their obits. The mortal wounding of Colman,
Bishop of Lusca, by the Hy Tuirtre, happened in 739 ; and in 784, the death of Conall, son to Crunnmhael, Abbot of Lusk, took place; in 787, that of Colga, son to Crnnnmhael, Abbot of Lusk ; and, in 791, that of Muireadhach, son to Aenghus, Abbot of Lusk. In 795, Ferghil Ua Taidhg, scribe of Lusk, died, and in 796, Maenach, son to Aenghus, Prior of Lusk. In 804, Cormac, son to Conall, (Economus of Lusk, died, and in 805, Maenach, son to Colgan, Abbot of Lusk. Subsequently, during this century, the Abbey was pillaged and destroyed, by the Northmen, in 825, and again the Oratory of
Lusk was burned them. s1 by
in our the ninth annals, during
Nevertheless,
and tenth centuries are frequent entries of obits both of Bishops and Abbots
connected with this place. 52 Tradition has preserved for us a beautiful
portraiture of St. Maculind ; viz. , that he was angelic in appearance, truthful and brilliant in discourse, just in his judgment, amiable to all, and had no enemy. Hewasfirmandconstantinfaith,anillustriousdoctorlikeSt. Peter, a vessel of election like St. Paul, courageous as St. Andrew, full of Divine grace like St. John ; «n fine, he was comparable to all the Apostles, since in allthingshefollowedtheirexample. Thuswasheadmirable,bothinword andinwork; havingthefavoursofGodtoguidehimthroughlife,hedeserved to change its transitory course for the company of the saints in Heaven. There he shines as the sun, and with the Angels he rejoices for ever before the true Sun of Justice and of Judgment.
Article IV. —St. Sciath, Virgin, of Fert-Sceithe, now Ardskeagh, inMuskerryoftheThreePlains,CountyofCork. Venerationwas
Minister, in the "New Statistical Account the Chronicuni Scotonim, and of the Four
of Scotland," vol. xiii. , Elgin, pp. 60 Masters.
to 82. 52 For the mediaeval history of Lusk, as
s° See ibid. , p. 68. also for an account of its local characteristics '
s Although there are differences as to and antiquities, the reader is referred to dates, the foregoing instances are taken John D'Alton's "History of the County of from the Annals of Tighernach, of Ulster, of Dublin," pp. 414 to 425.
September 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
175
1
given, at the 6th of September, according to the Manuscript copy, as also in
3
the published Martyrology of Tallagh, to Scieth of Fiort Sceith, in
Muscraithe tre Maighi. 3 Immediately afterwards is mentioned, The Arrival of the Relics of Scethi, daughter of Mechi, at Tamlachta, or Tallagh. 4 Although in a separate line, we can hardly believe it is intended to comme- morate a different feast from the former celebration. The festival of Sciath
is to be found in the Feilire of St. ^ngus, at the 6th of September. *
ingtotheO'Clerys. 7 TheMuscraigheTriMaighe,orMuskerryoftheThree Plains, in whi< h the saint's place was situated, had been regarded as the terri-
we have noticed a feast for this
She descended from the race of Conaire, monarch of Erinn, who sprung from theseedofHeremon. Eilhue,daughterofConcraidh,washermother,accord-
Already
holy virgin,
tory
of the O'
Donnegan's.
8 The Church of Fiort Sceithe, which is
placed by
the Calendars of Marianus and the O'Clerys at September 6th, in Muscraighe-
tri-maighe, is known at present by the name of Ardskeagh. 9 This is a small
parish, in that part of the barony of Fermoy, bordering on the baronies of
Orrery and Kilmore. In the ancient taxation of the diocese of Cloyne, there is a rural deanery, called Muscry-donnegan. It contains the parishes now
comprehended in the baronies of Orrery and Kilmore, with small adjacent
portions of Duhallow and Fermoy. Among the Churches in this deanery,
Orwerg, (i. e. Orbraidhe or Orrery) and Fersket/i, {i. e. Feart Skeithe,) called
ArdskaghTM are two. This latter is now known as Ardskeagh. Thus, the
identity of Muscraighe-tri-maighe and the barony of Orrery is proved to a demonstration. " Ardskeaghisnowaparish,inthebaronyofCondonsand
Clongibbons,intheCountyofCork. ThisParish,alsocalledArdskreagh, is separated from the main body of the barony in which it is included, by the intervention of the northern part of the barony of Fermoy. Some remains of
12
its old Church yet exist in the burial ground.
Donegal,^ at this same date, the patroness is recorded as Sciath, Virgin, of Fert Sceithe, in Museraighe of the Three Plains, in Munster. This saint was venerated, likewise, in Scotland, and at the 6th of September, she is entered as Scetthe, in the Calendar of Drummond. 14
Article V. —St. Colum, of Rosglan, or Domhnach-mor-Maighe- Imchlain, now Donaghmore, near Dungannon, County of Tyrone.
Article iv. — » In that copy of the 9 It is described $n the " Ordnance Sur- Tallagh Martyrology, found in the Book of vey Townland Maps for the County of Leiuster, we read : Sciafc o pj\c Sceiui m Cork," sheets 3, 8.
niurqvge cru tTUij;i.
2 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxiii.
3 See what is said about this holy virgin,
at the 1st and 15th day ofJanuary, on whuch days she is also commemorated.
,0
In 1615.
" O'Brian's statement, in his " Irish
Dictionary," voce Muscraighe, has been fully established: notwithstanding the op-
posite opinion of Dr. O'Donovan, in the
" Leabhar who treats it as wild na-g Ceart,"
and conjectural. See n. (v), pp. 44, 45, Dr Reeves has proved the contrary, in a note furnished to Dr. O'Donovan, for his edition of " The Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh
4 In the
in the Book of Leinster, we find noticed,
^ouencuf lleliquiA|\um Sceci \Xe nieclu -a-o CAtnLa6.
s See " Transactions of the Royal Irish
7 See "
Martyrology
of edited Donegal,"
Tallagh Martyrology
at this
day,
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. ,
parti. On the Calendar of Oengus. By O'Huidhrin. " See n. 605, pp. lxix. , lxx.
Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxxxvi.
6
See the First Volume of this work, at that date, Art. vii.
'-'
See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 57.
'3 Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp. 238, 239.
,4 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 238, 239. 8 %<
See O'Donovan's
or Book of Rights," n. (v. ), p. 42.
Scottish — Saints," p. 23.
Leabhar-na-g Ceart,
"
Article v.
See
Transactions of the
at the 1st of 6 January.
In the Martyrology of
176 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 6.
{Fifth Century? ) The present St. Columb of Ross Glandae and St. Sciath, are denominated a fair pair of champions, by St. ^Engus the Culdee in his Feilire, at the 6th dayof 1 In the of 2 at
September. Martyrology Tallagh, the 6th of September, there is a festival to honour Colum of Rosnossaire {i. e.
Colum Midisil). This is also noted as a feast, in that copy contained in the Book of Leinster. 3 The present Colum was descended from the race of Laeghaire, son of Niall, according to the O'Clerys. 4 We find, that when St. Patricks had been repelled by the people of Fera-Gaura, he visited the district of Imchlair. This saint was placed over the Church founded at
in the
when he had brought the people there to embrace Christianity. In the
Donoughmore,
Martyrology of Donegal,? at the same date, this saint is named Colum, of
present barony
Dungannon, by
Ros Glanda. 8 We are that Glan is the name of a told,
which was before St. Patrick's time, while Domhnoch mor Maighe Imchlair was after- wards the name of that 10 The old church stood a little to the north-
place.
east of the present village. The only traces of its venerable antiquity now
remaining is a large and elegant cross of freestone ; on which numerous
carvings, representing various passages of Scripture, are seen. 11 The people about here, baptised by St. Patrick, were blessed by him, as also was that
in which
founded a Monastery, over which it is said he placed St. Colum,'3 or Columbanus. Hischurchsoonacquiredgrantsoflandandothervaluable possessions; and it continued to flourish until after the Invasion of Ireland by Henry II. 1* The parochial surface extends from the rich champaign ground in the vicinity of Dungannon, to the bleak and dismal moorish tableau in the neighbourhood of Pomeroy ; and, it embraces every variety of soil, from the most fertile arable land to the spongy bog and the sterile
well,
they
received
regeneration.
Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Martyrology, at this word: "Glen aium Series, vol. i. , parti. On the Calendar of tiobraid boi and ria Patrick agus Domhnach
Oengus, p. cxxxvi. In an Irish comment attached, Sciath is described as of Muscraige Tri-maige in Mumain. In another note, it is stated, that Ross Glanda was formerly the name of the stead, i. e. , Glan (" pure"), the name of the well that is there, and Domnach Mor was its name, whe#the scholiast wrote. It is stated, likewise, since Patrick sent Colomb Croxaire of Ross GialMn in Ui- Liathain in Munster, or Colomb of Domnach Maige Imchlair in Tyrone ; and Glan (is) the name of a well that is in the stead.
ibid. , p. cxliii.
'Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxiii.
3 Thus: CoUnm o nuer*onoepMr\e ix>
Ajjuf Coltnan mi-oiril.
mor maighe Iomchlair (Donaghmore, near Dungannon), a ainm anin : Thir Eog-hain ata. "
9 There is yet a fine old sculptured cross, at the Catholic church here, and it is
adorned with Scriptural subjects. See Miss Cusack's "Life of St, Patrick, Apostle of
Ireland," p. 446, n. (4).
10 At present identical with Donaghmore,
near Dungannon, in the county of Tyrone, according to William M. Hennessy's Copy. "This was thrown down and mutilated in the war of 1641. It remained in a neglected state until Richard Vincent, Esq. , caused it to be removed and placed where it now
stands, at the head of the village, in 1776.
6
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Trias Thaumnturga. " Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. excii. ,
See the "Martyrology of Donegal,"
It is 16 feet in height, and it consists of a
238, 239.
5 See his Life, in the Third Volume of
this work, at 17th of March, Art. i.
Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol.
Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (p), pp. 116 to 118.
7
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 238, 239.
8 The
William M. Hennessy's Copy of this
14 Lewis' " See
following
MS. note is found in
See
4
edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
that the valuable Illustrations of Irish
in this excellent — Topography," periodical,
Martyr- are from the pen of John D'Alton a name ology the Cathedral Church of the Holy
honourably connected with Irish history
and antiquities.
27 At present, under the square tower,
attached to the church, is a crypt or vaulted chapel ; and, it may be, that within it the body of St. Macculind had been formerly
deposited.
of
Trinity. " EditedbyJohnClarkeCrosthwaite and Rev. Dr. Todd. Introduction, n. (e) p. xlviii.
" Butler assigns his death to this year. See Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and other Principal Saints," vol. ix. , September 6th. He quotes Colgan's MSS. , to which he
appears to have, had access.
28
Notes by Mr. O'Donovan, in the volume
" 32 entitled, Dublin Memorandums," pp. 278,
279, belonging to the Irish Ordnance Sur- vey Office, now in the Royal Irish Academy.
* 9 The foregoing particulars in the text are derived from a communication signed
See "Monasticum Ilibernicum," p. 251. 3! lie remarks that Colgan makes no men-
tion of them.
34 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,
vol i. , chap vii. , sect, v. , n. 36, p. 338.
'•
September 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 173
Maculind—died towards the close of the fifth century—as stated by our Irish annalists and that he had been consecrated bishop at Rome by Pope Gregory. The first Sovereign Pontiff bearing that name filled the chair of St. Peter, from a. d. 590 to a. d. 604. 35 The death of St. Maculind is recorded at a. d. 497, in the Annals of Innisfallen,36 and by the Four Masters. 37 He went to his rest in the same year, according to Diuild Mac Firbis. 38 How- ever, in the "Chronicum Scotorum," at this date, we find no such entry; but, at a. d. 544, there is notice of the "Quies" of Mac Cuilind and of Odhran from Lethracha. 39 In the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the iii. of the Nones, or 6th of September, his feast is entered. 40 What Mac Firbis says is, "quies Cuindid son of Cathbadh, i. e. Mac Cuilind, Bishop of Lusca, &c, September 6. " At the same date, his name appears in the Martyrology of Donegal,41asMacCuilinn,Bishop,ofLusc. IntheIrishCalendarbelonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey, and now transferred to the Royal Irish Academy Library, his commemoration is at this date. 43 At the 6th of September, the Bollandists remark,^ how Greven announces the feast of a bishop, called Mastulinus, in Ireland j while he is named in like manner, in their Manuscript Florarium Sanctorum, but without giving him a place. Not finding such a name in any Catalogue of Irish Saints, nor in any other authority, they pass him over, at this date; apparently not reflecting, that such an entry had been the error of a scribe for the name of Macculindus. This holy man is specially commemorated among the Cistercians. 44 At the 6th of September, St. Mac Cuillinn was venerated in Scotland, and his feast is entered in the Kalendar of Drummond. 45 This holy man had an office,40 specially to commemorate his virtues, and to distinguish him among our Saints. 4 ? This office of nine lessons is assigned to him as a Bishop and Con- fessor. 48 In Scotland, the parish of Macalen or Macallan, now annexed to
Knockandhu, or Knockando,40 has been called after MacCallan, and dedi-
35 This was the year of his death.
36 See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hiber- nicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. Annales Inisfallensis, p. 4.
37 See Dr, O'Donovan's edition, vol i. , p.
See Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 120, 121.
39 Thus : Quier true Cuilmt) ocur O-onan O lecrvacViA. See William M. Hennessy's edition, pp. 48, 49.
40 Thus: "Mac Cuilinn Esp. Luscca. "
"
See Rev. Dr. Kelly's Calendar of Irish
Saints," p. xxxiii.
41 Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp. 236, 237.
.
4<5 According to a MS. in T. C. D. , classed B. 1-4, which records at September the 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini Epis. et Conf. , ix. Lect. , &c. This is entered in a compara- tively recent hand. In T. C. D. , a MS. classed B. 3. I. records at September the 6th, Ides viii. , Maculini Epis. et Conf. ix. Lect. In a MS. classed B. 3. 13. in T. C. D. , we find at September the 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini Epis. non. Lect. In T. C. D. , a MS. classed B. 3. 10. records at Septem- ber 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini Epis. et Conf. ix. Lect. A MS. in T. C. D. , and classed B. 3. 12. , contains at September 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini, Archiepis. , ix. Lect. A MS. in T. C. D. , classed B. 1. 2. , has at September 6th, Ides viii. , Sancti Maculini Epis. et Conf. , Duplex fin per constit.
47 This office is denominated Vita S. Maculini. It is in Nine Lessons, and classed among the Trinity College, Dublin, Manu-
scripts, E, 3. 8. This is elegantly and legibly written, or rather letter-traced.
404, note (k). 38 "
42
See the viii. of the Ides of September
(September 6th). We find, "mac Cml/m
erp lurga cdinij-aceT) airim aoir cr\iofC
An can x>o cua-—it) an ceppoj; fo t>o cumeintrie. 407. " Ordnance Survey Office Copy, Common Place Book F. , p. 75.
43 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
\i. the
Septembris Among pretermitted
Saints, p. 654.
44 At September the 6th, in the Annals
48 See " The Book of Obits and
ology of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. Dublin," edited by John Clarke Crosthwaite
of the Cistercian Monks is found, St. and Rev. Dr. Todd, Introduction, p. xlviii. ,
Macuilindus, Bishop of Lusk, at p. 410.
45 See Bishop Forbes' '* Kalendars of
and n. (e), lxxvi. , pp. 69, 154.
49 Of this parish, a very complete account
has been given by the Rev. George Gordon,
Scottish Saints, p. 23.
Martyr-
174 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 6.
cated to St. Macalin. In the churchyard of Macallan, a sequestered rural burial-ground, in the wood of Easter Elchies, there is a ruined church, but fast
crumbling to decay. s° In the year 1839, the old church of Anglo-Norman erection at Lusk had been unroofed by a storm, and the building was allowed to become almost a ruin. Its ancient monuments were broken, covered with
rubbish, and exposed to every indignity.
Its singular square belfry, co-eval with the Anglo-Norman Church, and its ancient round tower, supposed to have been co-eval with the original church of St. Mac Culind, were rapidly going to decay. Since that time, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners undertook
the work of reparation. It cannot be called restoration, as the original church style has been changed. The Rev. William Reeves, M. R. I. A. , to whom Irish Ecclesiastical History owes so much, was Rector of Lusk for some years ; where he laboured nobly to repair the damages of time and accident during the period of his incumbency. In our annals are several allusions to Lusk, and from an early age. Thus in a. d. 695, Casson, a learned Chronographer, died, and the same year St. Adamnan held a Synod
in its monastery, at which were present all the principal prelates and clerics of the Kingdom. In 731 died Crunnmael, son to Colman, Abbot of Lusk. Whether the office of Bishop and Abbot had been kept distinct in this place, we have no means left for ascertaining, owing to the very brief mention of persons in connexion with their obits. The mortal wounding of Colman,
Bishop of Lusca, by the Hy Tuirtre, happened in 739 ; and in 784, the death of Conall, son to Crunnmhael, Abbot of Lusk, took place; in 787, that of Colga, son to Crnnnmhael, Abbot of Lusk ; and, in 791, that of Muireadhach, son to Aenghus, Abbot of Lusk. In 795, Ferghil Ua Taidhg, scribe of Lusk, died, and in 796, Maenach, son to Aenghus, Prior of Lusk. In 804, Cormac, son to Conall, (Economus of Lusk, died, and in 805, Maenach, son to Colgan, Abbot of Lusk. Subsequently, during this century, the Abbey was pillaged and destroyed, by the Northmen, in 825, and again the Oratory of
Lusk was burned them. s1 by
in our the ninth annals, during
Nevertheless,
and tenth centuries are frequent entries of obits both of Bishops and Abbots
connected with this place. 52 Tradition has preserved for us a beautiful
portraiture of St. Maculind ; viz. , that he was angelic in appearance, truthful and brilliant in discourse, just in his judgment, amiable to all, and had no enemy. Hewasfirmandconstantinfaith,anillustriousdoctorlikeSt. Peter, a vessel of election like St. Paul, courageous as St. Andrew, full of Divine grace like St. John ; «n fine, he was comparable to all the Apostles, since in allthingshefollowedtheirexample. Thuswasheadmirable,bothinword andinwork; havingthefavoursofGodtoguidehimthroughlife,hedeserved to change its transitory course for the company of the saints in Heaven. There he shines as the sun, and with the Angels he rejoices for ever before the true Sun of Justice and of Judgment.
Article IV. —St. Sciath, Virgin, of Fert-Sceithe, now Ardskeagh, inMuskerryoftheThreePlains,CountyofCork. Venerationwas
Minister, in the "New Statistical Account the Chronicuni Scotonim, and of the Four
of Scotland," vol. xiii. , Elgin, pp. 60 Masters.
to 82. 52 For the mediaeval history of Lusk, as
s° See ibid. , p. 68. also for an account of its local characteristics '
s Although there are differences as to and antiquities, the reader is referred to dates, the foregoing instances are taken John D'Alton's "History of the County of from the Annals of Tighernach, of Ulster, of Dublin," pp. 414 to 425.
September 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
175
1
given, at the 6th of September, according to the Manuscript copy, as also in
3
the published Martyrology of Tallagh, to Scieth of Fiort Sceith, in
Muscraithe tre Maighi. 3 Immediately afterwards is mentioned, The Arrival of the Relics of Scethi, daughter of Mechi, at Tamlachta, or Tallagh. 4 Although in a separate line, we can hardly believe it is intended to comme- morate a different feast from the former celebration. The festival of Sciath
is to be found in the Feilire of St. ^ngus, at the 6th of September. *
ingtotheO'Clerys. 7 TheMuscraigheTriMaighe,orMuskerryoftheThree Plains, in whi< h the saint's place was situated, had been regarded as the terri-
we have noticed a feast for this
She descended from the race of Conaire, monarch of Erinn, who sprung from theseedofHeremon. Eilhue,daughterofConcraidh,washermother,accord-
Already
holy virgin,
tory
of the O'
Donnegan's.
8 The Church of Fiort Sceithe, which is
placed by
the Calendars of Marianus and the O'Clerys at September 6th, in Muscraighe-
tri-maighe, is known at present by the name of Ardskeagh. 9 This is a small
parish, in that part of the barony of Fermoy, bordering on the baronies of
Orrery and Kilmore. In the ancient taxation of the diocese of Cloyne, there is a rural deanery, called Muscry-donnegan. It contains the parishes now
comprehended in the baronies of Orrery and Kilmore, with small adjacent
portions of Duhallow and Fermoy. Among the Churches in this deanery,
Orwerg, (i. e. Orbraidhe or Orrery) and Fersket/i, {i. e. Feart Skeithe,) called
ArdskaghTM are two. This latter is now known as Ardskeagh. Thus, the
identity of Muscraighe-tri-maighe and the barony of Orrery is proved to a demonstration. " Ardskeaghisnowaparish,inthebaronyofCondonsand
Clongibbons,intheCountyofCork. ThisParish,alsocalledArdskreagh, is separated from the main body of the barony in which it is included, by the intervention of the northern part of the barony of Fermoy. Some remains of
12
its old Church yet exist in the burial ground.
Donegal,^ at this same date, the patroness is recorded as Sciath, Virgin, of Fert Sceithe, in Museraighe of the Three Plains, in Munster. This saint was venerated, likewise, in Scotland, and at the 6th of September, she is entered as Scetthe, in the Calendar of Drummond. 14
Article V. —St. Colum, of Rosglan, or Domhnach-mor-Maighe- Imchlain, now Donaghmore, near Dungannon, County of Tyrone.
Article iv. — » In that copy of the 9 It is described $n the " Ordnance Sur- Tallagh Martyrology, found in the Book of vey Townland Maps for the County of Leiuster, we read : Sciafc o pj\c Sceiui m Cork," sheets 3, 8.
niurqvge cru tTUij;i.
2 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxiii.
3 See what is said about this holy virgin,
at the 1st and 15th day ofJanuary, on whuch days she is also commemorated.
,0
In 1615.
" O'Brian's statement, in his " Irish
Dictionary," voce Muscraighe, has been fully established: notwithstanding the op-
posite opinion of Dr. O'Donovan, in the
" Leabhar who treats it as wild na-g Ceart,"
and conjectural. See n. (v), pp. 44, 45, Dr Reeves has proved the contrary, in a note furnished to Dr. O'Donovan, for his edition of " The Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh
4 In the
in the Book of Leinster, we find noticed,
^ouencuf lleliquiA|\um Sceci \Xe nieclu -a-o CAtnLa6.
s See " Transactions of the Royal Irish
7 See "
Martyrology
of edited Donegal,"
Tallagh Martyrology
at this
day,
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. ,
parti. On the Calendar of Oengus. By O'Huidhrin. " See n. 605, pp. lxix. , lxx.
Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxxxvi.
6
See the First Volume of this work, at that date, Art. vii.
'-'
See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 57.
'3 Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp. 238, 239.
,4 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 238, 239. 8 %<
See O'Donovan's
or Book of Rights," n. (v. ), p. 42.
Scottish — Saints," p. 23.
Leabhar-na-g Ceart,
"
Article v.
See
Transactions of the
at the 1st of 6 January.
In the Martyrology of
176 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 6.
{Fifth Century? ) The present St. Columb of Ross Glandae and St. Sciath, are denominated a fair pair of champions, by St. ^Engus the Culdee in his Feilire, at the 6th dayof 1 In the of 2 at
September. Martyrology Tallagh, the 6th of September, there is a festival to honour Colum of Rosnossaire {i. e.
Colum Midisil). This is also noted as a feast, in that copy contained in the Book of Leinster. 3 The present Colum was descended from the race of Laeghaire, son of Niall, according to the O'Clerys. 4 We find, that when St. Patricks had been repelled by the people of Fera-Gaura, he visited the district of Imchlair. This saint was placed over the Church founded at
in the
when he had brought the people there to embrace Christianity. In the
Donoughmore,
Martyrology of Donegal,? at the same date, this saint is named Colum, of
present barony
Dungannon, by
Ros Glanda. 8 We are that Glan is the name of a told,
which was before St. Patrick's time, while Domhnoch mor Maighe Imchlair was after- wards the name of that 10 The old church stood a little to the north-
place.
east of the present village. The only traces of its venerable antiquity now
remaining is a large and elegant cross of freestone ; on which numerous
carvings, representing various passages of Scripture, are seen. 11 The people about here, baptised by St. Patrick, were blessed by him, as also was that
in which
founded a Monastery, over which it is said he placed St. Colum,'3 or Columbanus. Hischurchsoonacquiredgrantsoflandandothervaluable possessions; and it continued to flourish until after the Invasion of Ireland by Henry II. 1* The parochial surface extends from the rich champaign ground in the vicinity of Dungannon, to the bleak and dismal moorish tableau in the neighbourhood of Pomeroy ; and, it embraces every variety of soil, from the most fertile arable land to the spongy bog and the sterile
well,
they
received
regeneration.
Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Martyrology, at this word: "Glen aium Series, vol. i. , parti. On the Calendar of tiobraid boi and ria Patrick agus Domhnach
Oengus, p. cxxxvi. In an Irish comment attached, Sciath is described as of Muscraige Tri-maige in Mumain. In another note, it is stated, that Ross Glanda was formerly the name of the stead, i. e. , Glan (" pure"), the name of the well that is there, and Domnach Mor was its name, whe#the scholiast wrote. It is stated, likewise, since Patrick sent Colomb Croxaire of Ross GialMn in Ui- Liathain in Munster, or Colomb of Domnach Maige Imchlair in Tyrone ; and Glan (is) the name of a well that is in the stead.
ibid. , p. cxliii.
'Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxiii.
3 Thus: CoUnm o nuer*onoepMr\e ix>
Ajjuf Coltnan mi-oiril.
mor maighe Iomchlair (Donaghmore, near Dungannon), a ainm anin : Thir Eog-hain ata. "
9 There is yet a fine old sculptured cross, at the Catholic church here, and it is
adorned with Scriptural subjects. See Miss Cusack's "Life of St, Patrick, Apostle of
Ireland," p. 446, n. (4).
10 At present identical with Donaghmore,
near Dungannon, in the county of Tyrone, according to William M. Hennessy's Copy. "This was thrown down and mutilated in the war of 1641. It remained in a neglected state until Richard Vincent, Esq. , caused it to be removed and placed where it now
stands, at the head of the village, in 1776.
6
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Trias Thaumnturga. " Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. excii. ,
See the "Martyrology of Donegal,"
It is 16 feet in height, and it consists of a
238, 239.
5 See his Life, in the Third Volume of
this work, at 17th of March, Art. i.
Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol.
Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (p), pp. 116 to 118.
7
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 238, 239.
8 The
William M. Hennessy's Copy of this
14 Lewis' " See
following
MS. note is found in
See
4
edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
