If such were the case, a very strong
inference
might be drawn, that the St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Januarii.
Appendix ad Acta S.
Finani, cap.
i.
There, the Menologic Ge- nealogies are cited (cap.
viii.
) as authority.
* This form is multiple, in its combina-
tions, with Irish places.
' Under its varieties of spelling, this word
has a variety of compounds, in Irish topo- graphy.
County of Down. " Sheet 27.
" See Dr. P. W. Joyce's "Origin and
History of Irish Names of Places," part iv. , chap, vii. , p. 473.
"See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Dublin. " Sheet
IS-
'3 See ibid. Sheets 17, 18, 22.
'* About three miles south-west from
Dublin. The parish and the castle in it took name from those little sand-ridges, now known as the Green Hills. See Dr. P. W. Joyce's ' ' Origin and History of Irish Names of Places, part iv. , chap, ix,, p. 507.
'S See "Ordnance Survey Townland
for the of Roscommon. " Maps County
Sheet 22.
'^ See " Ordnance Survey Townland
** InCormac's
theoldIrishform
Glossary,
\snet; in "Welsh, nyth ; in Cornish, neid ;
in Breton, neiz ; in Manx, edd. Yxova some
one or other of these originals, it is probable,
the Latin nidus^ "a nest," has been 99, 100.
^
the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Leitrim. *'
Maps for the County of Kerry. " Sheets
probably
the
Ord-
February 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 519
countyofGalway. ^7 Likewise,thereisaDrimna,intheparishofKilrush, barony of Moyarta, and county of Clare. ^^ There is a Drumna, in the parish of Cloon, barony of Mohill, and county of Leitrim/9 There is a Drumnee, in the parish of Cashel, barony of Kathclinc, and county of Longford. ^'^ Besides the foregoing, we find a Drumny in the parish of Donaghmoyne, baronyofFarney,andcountyofMonaghan. ^^ Thereisasaintofthissame name, Finanus, who is stated to have been connected with a place, called Dromhabrad. Yet, this denomination of Dromhabrad does not appear to be recognisable under any existing form of name, shown on the Ordnance Survey Maps of Ireland. He is called the son of Garuan, son to Amalgad, son of Endeus,^^ son to Olild, son of Nadfraich. 23 His feast has been
assigned by Colgan^** to this day.
Article IX. —Feast of St. Kilian, Martyr, and Patron of Wurtz-
BURGH. \Sei'enthCentury^ Atthisdate,Colganhasalengthyaccountof St. Kilian, and his martyr companions, Colman and Totnan. ^ Yet, it seems not to have been their chief festival, which occurs on the 8th of July, wheretheirconsecutiveActswillbefound. TheBoUandistsnotethisfeast,^ but they assert, that in the various breviaries of the diocese of Wurtzburgh
they possessed, no notice had been taken of it. Still, Galesinus,3 Dempster^ and Wions have their respective entries. The latter supposes it, to have been the feast for a Translation of the Martyrs' ReHcs \ and John Wilson, in his English Martyrology, coincides with such an opinion.
Article X. —Feast of the Translation of the Relics of St.
LiviNUS, Bishop and Martyr, at Ghent. \Seventh Century. '] The BoUandists have observed, in a Carthusian record, at Bruxelles, the notice of a translation of the relics of this holy martyr, at Ghent, assigned to this date. ^ The Life of St. Livinus will be found, at the 12th of November,
jfourtenttft JBag of jf^Jjruarg*
ARTICLE L—ST. MANCHAN, ABBOT OF MOHILL, COUNTY LEITRIM.
[PROBABLY IN THE SEVENTH CENTURY. ^
AS we must feel assured, that the lives of saintly men are studded over
with wondrous a direct of manifestations, indicating interposition
*7 See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Monaghan. " Sheet
Maps for the County of Galway. " Sheet 28.
126. ^' From him the territory, Hibh-Endeus,
^^ See ** Ordnance Survey Townland derived its name.
Maps for the County of Clare. " Sheet 67. =3 The «'Menologic Genealogy," cap.
*9 See " Ordnance Survey Townland xxxv. , and Seluacius are cited as authorities Maps for the County of Leitrim. " Sheet for this pedigree.
=4 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," ix. =° See " Ordnance Survey Townland Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Finani,
Maps for the County of Leitrim. 'V Sheets cap. i. , p. 46. —^
22,26. Article ix. See "Acta Sanctorum
29.
"See "Ordnance Survey Townland Hibernise," xiv. —a mistake for xiii. —Feb-
520 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS [February14.
Providence, while acts of devotion, at which the worldly may well stand amazed, are comprised in their noble courses of being ; so have we propor- tionately to regret the loss of materials, which might place their actions more
prominently before our view. Colgan'' has some very confusing entries, re- garding St. Manchan, Abbot of Mohill, at this date ; while the Bollandists^ have even briefer notices. It is said, that Archbishop Ussher had in his possession the Life of St. Manchan,^ written by Richard, Archbishop of Armagh. * Yet,thisdoesnotappeartohavebeenawell-foundedstatements In a sort of conjectural way—but with little probability—this saint has been classed with Menath (? Monach), said to have been one of St. Patrick's disciples. ^ Following Archbishop Richard's Life of our saint, he is said to have had seven churches subject to his jurisdiction, or to have been patron over that number of religious estabHshments,and to have beenaCanon Regular of St. Augustine. By his sanctified example, he converted many, living in various parts of Ireland, to the faith of Christ. In this life, it is stated, likewise, that the monastery of Canons Regular, at Mohill, in MonteroHs,7 had been first founded by him, and that, on this house, divers grants of glebe-lands, feudal privileges, vassals, tithes, first fruits, rents, dues, returns, oblations, &c. , were conferred. At present, a townland and town,^ in a parish? and barony, so named, are in the county of Leitrim ; and; here, it seems to be allowed, his religious establishment formerly existed. With consent of the clergy and people, all those donations were ratified and acknowledged, during every age, from a. d. 608, in which, it is said, St. Manchan flourished, to the time when this Life had been written. It is also stated, that grants were spontaneously, liberally, and piously conferred, on
of Mohill monastery. ^° A learned Irish historian observes, how- ever, that there were no Canons Regular in Ireland, so early as the year 608; while,fiefsandtitheswerenotknownthere,atsucharemoteepoch.
He then concludes, that the account, given by Richard Fitz-Ralph, Archbishop ofArmagh,savoursofamuchlaterperiod. " Bythiswearetounderstand,
the
prior
ruarii. De S. Kiliani Martyris et Sociorum ejus Translaiione, pp. 328 to 330.
= See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xiii. Februarii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 644.
*3lnhisMartyrology.
* In his " Menologium Scoticum. "
**
Trinity College, June 23rd, 1836, Dr. Todd
"
I have not been able to find the Life of St. Manchan in Ussher's Library, and I much doubt, whether Colgan was not too hasty in inferring from Ussher's
Primord,, p, 969, that it ever was there. There is no question, that Ussher had seen
the Life ; but, he does not
S In his — Martyrologium.
in his own
say
Colgan represents him
^
" " Acta
that it was
See
tomus ii. , xiii. Februarii. Among the pre- to do. " See the Breifny(Cavan and Leitrim)
Article X. termitted saints, p. 644.
Sanctorum,"
library,
as
i. Article —
Letters of the Irish Ordnance Survey, now
* *' Acta Sanctorum Hi- See
in the Irish lodged Royal
Academy's Library,
bernise," xiv. Februarii. De S. Mancheno sive Manchano Abbate Moethalensi, pp.
at p. 202.
^See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxii. , p. 268.
7ThisterritorywasinthecountyofLei- trim. It is frequently mentioned in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters. " See vol. vii. . Index Locorum, p. 93.
''Both are shown, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Leitrim. " Sheet32.
9 Its bounds are defined, ibid. Sheets 28,
29, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38. A portion, of this very extensive parish, lies in the barony of Leitrim.
'° See Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesi- arum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 502.
332, 333-
=» Among the pretermitted saints, in
**
Acta Sanctorum,"tomusii. , xiv. Februarii,p.
741.
3
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
See Colgan's
ni«," xiv. Februarii, n. 7, p. 333-
* The latter prelate flourished, in the four- teenth century. See a fuller account of him atthei6thofNovember.
s While Mr. O'Donovan had been engaged on the Irish Ordnance Survey, he wrote to Dr. Todd of Trinity College, Dublin, to ascertain if such a treatise existed, among the Ussher collection of MSS. , preserved in the University Library. In a letter, dated
replies to him.
February 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 521
perhaps, that materials for St. Manchan's Life had been collected from documents of no very remote date. The learned Ussher seems to have been of opinion, that our saint was identical with Manchan of Menodroichit, who died in the year 651," or 652, according to the Ulster Annals. ^3 In giving an account of the religious houses, and their founders, at Leitrim, Ware says, in like manner, that those Manchans were the same persons. ^* Following Ussher, Archdall appears to agree with Ware, in assigning the death of St. Manchan of Mohill, to a. d. 652. ^5 Yet, Colgan says, he would not willingly admit such identity ; the more so, since he had not been able to discover, that Manchan, Abbot of Moethel or Mohill, in Leitrim county, had been also Abbot of Menadroichit, in Leix. ^^ However, he declares, that his judgment should be suspended on such matters, until he had seen those Acts of our saint, and which, he tells us, were extant in his time, or until he had an elucidation, on this point, from other sources. '7 That our saint had been distinct from St. Manchan of Meno-drochit is likewise the opinion of Dr. Lanigan ; and, he adduces, in confirmation of it, this circum- stance, that while the feast of St. Manchan of Mohill has been referred to the 14th of February, that of St. Mancha—n of Meno-drochit—probably identical
with St. Manchan of Dysart Gallen'^ is recorded at the 2nd of January.
There are even grounds for suspecting, that the present St. Manchan, of Mohill, may have been identical, with St. Manchan, of Lemanaghan. It is
a curious and an interesting subject for investigation, to find, if the sacred object, alluded to by the Four Masters,^° as connected with St. Manchan of
Mohill, could have really applied to the shrine, now preserved^ and said to have been that of St. Manchan of Lemanaghan, the ornamental portions of which were for the most part gilt, and exhibit a degree of artistic skill, both in design and execution, fully deserving the encomiums pronounced regard- ing it.
If such were the case, a very strong inference might be drawn, that the St. Manchan of Mohill—having so many churches subject to him—was probablyidenticalwiththeSt. ManchanofLemanagan; even,although,the places were somewhat apart, and although the festivals fell on different days. Should, however, this question be decisively negatived, we have no means for determining the age of this remarkable monument of Irish art, except by the consideration of its style. This must leave us to include a very long period, within which we might hesitate. We have not, on this object, as on some similar works, the assistance of any inscription, nor of any record, un- doubtedly applying to it. Should it be therefore finally distinguished from the shrine, the ornamentation of which is recorded by the Irish annalists, we might probably refer it to a period, somewhat earlier than the cross of Cong, to which in style it approaches, and, perhaps, to about that time, when the kingdom of Ireland was recovering from its long and harrassing contest with thepirateNorsemen. ^^ Whenorwhereoursaintcommencedhisreligious
"
*'
Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect.
See Dr. Lanigan's vi,, n. 82, p. 31.
Februarii, p. 332.
^**
See notices of him, already given, at the 2nd of January.
"
See Sir James Ware,
**
De Hibernia et
^^ See "Ecclesiastical of History
Antiquitatibus ejus," cap. xxvi. , p. 231.
^3 See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect, vi. , pp. 29, 30,
quitates," cap. xvii,, pp. 502, 503.
'4 See "De Hibernia et Antiquitatibus Annals, at vol. ii. , pp. 1156, 1157. The
ejus," cap. xxvi. , pp. 230, 231.
^s See " Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 410. ^^ Now forming part of the Queen's
County.
^^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xiv.
country people near Lemanaghan pronounce —their patron's name, as if written Monaghan
Irish
a well-known family name.
^^ "
See the Exhibition Expositor," No.
xii. , p. 5. A later account of this remark-
and n. 83, pp. 31, 32.
=° See Dr. O'Donovan's version of these
^9
522 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS, [February14.
coursenowseemstobeunknown. ReferringtotheauthorityofUssher,'' and to Archdallj's Dr. O'Donovan says, that St. Manchan erected his monastery, about a. d. 608, at Mohill, in Leitrim county. '+ The present site
of Mohill monastery's is occupied by a Protestant church, and its graveyard, is one yet much frequented. ^'^ There are no remains of the monastery
an old skull-house. — of the Mac visible, excepting Many
ancient inwhichMohill was situated are buried in this churchyard. Yet, no ancient tombs are here to be seen. If any formerly existed, they are either destroyed, or buried under the clay. There can be no doubt, that the monastery, built formerly in Mohill, had been gf considerable extent,*^ Whether or not, the patron
chiefs of —
orMunter-Eolas theformer
Rannells, Monter-Olis, territory
Lemanaghan Old Church, King's County.
saint died and had been buried here seems to be yet a subject for enquiry. It is probable, however, that his remains had been enshrined here, and pre-
"
served for a long time in the monastery. There is an entry, in the
Annals
able shrine, with very correct and elegant plates of its details, will be found in an article, written by the Rev. James Graves, A. B. , M. R. I. A. , on the "Church and Shrine of St. Manchan," in "The Journal
to be seen from one of the principal streets Association of Ireland," vol. iii. Fourth of Mohill. The graves, at that time, were
of the Royal Historical and Archaeological
series, April, 1874, No. 18, pp. 134 to 150. 22 <<
Priniordia," pp. 969, 970.
'3 *' Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 410. «*See "Annals of the Four Masters,"
vol. ii. , n. (i), p. 1 157.
=5 On one of those old maps, preserved
among the MSS. of Trinity College Library,
all thickly covered over with a species of broad-leafed weed.
°7 See Breifny (Cavan and Leitrim) Letters of the Irish Ordnance Survey, preserved in
the library of the Royal Irish Academy Mr, O'Donovan's letter, dated Mohill, June 1 8th, 1836, p. 177.
Dublin, a place, marked as the Abb. of
Moyhill, may be traced, and it is shown to
have been a large building.
=^
In June, 1876, the writer had an op-
portunity of inspecting this spot, which is
February 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 523
oftheFourMasters,"ata. d. i166,whereweread "TheshrineofManchan, :
of Maethail, was covered by Ruaidhri Ua Conchobhair, and an embroider- ing of gold was carried over it by him, in as good a style as a relic was ever
covered in Ireland. " ^^ We have
known shrine, said to have belonged to St. Manchan, Patron of Leth, or Lemanaghan, in the King's County. The ruins there are within a much frequented graveyard ; and, at present, the old church measures 53 feet 6 inches interiorly, by 18 feet 4 inches in width. =*9 A fine cut stone window,
square-headed, yet with two pointed lights, is in the east end. The walls,3° of excellent limestone, are all covered with ivy. In the south side wall, as also in the western gable,3^ large breaches are observable, and near the east gable, on the south side, are the cut stone jambs of a window, with various ornamental carvings and figures. On the right side of the east window, interiorly, d. piscina is seen, in the side wall; a recessed place is under the window,probablytoreceiveaformerhighaltar,nowremoved. Northwards, from the church was an isolated, oblong building, 23 feet 5 inches in length, by 1 7 feet 7 inches in width ;32 yet, only a small fragment of the walls is now over the ground. 33 The cemetery here is well enclosed,34 and rich lands extend around it. The antiquarian visitor to this place will feel particularly interested, to follow the course of an ancient paved causeway, leading from the cemetery towards a large circular stone enclosure, or miir, less than a quarter of a mile distant. The interior has been planted, and through a
tangled growth of trees and briars, it is possible to reach, in the very centre, a nearly perfect oratory or dwelling of extreme antiquity. It is roofless, however, and its walls are all over shrouded with ivy. This old cyclopean building, which bears the name of the House of St. Monaghan's Mother,35
measures interiorly 18 feet 3 inches, by 10 feet 7 inches. s^ The doorway,
in one of its gables, is exceedingly narrow ; for, at the bottom, it only measures 2 feet 3 inches, while at the top, it gradually diminishes to i foot 10 inches. It is exactly 5 feet 7 inches in height. The walls of this very curiousancientbuildingareabout3feetinwidth. NearLemonaghan,there is a place called Killmonaghan. The year of our saint's death cannot be accurately ascertained ; however, it has been placed, by conjecture, at a. d. 65137 or 652,32 yet, only by those, who, with Archbishop Ussher, identify himwithManchan,AbbotofMenadrochit,inLeix. Thedeathofthislatter is referred to about that time. Colgan thinks them to have been different pcrsons,39 while Dr. Lanigan,4° and other later writers, adopt the same
'^
See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. ii. ,
stones, are strewed about it, as desci-ibed in
Rev. James Graves' article, pp. 134 to 139. 3S In our Calendars, she is called St. Mella,
but the date for her festival is not g^ven.
minutely the building and mur^ at this place, giving some interesting illustrations of both, in the article to which allusion has been
already made. See pp. 139 to 141.
37 See M. I'Abbe Ma-Geoghegan's "His-
toire de I'lrlande," tome i. , seconde partie, chap, iii. , p. 308.
Wakeman.
30 These are over three feet in thickness. 3' Here stood a fine doorway, with beauti-
ful recessed and sharply cut mouldings, with-
in the memory of persons yet living.
32 By referring to the Rev. Mr. Graves'
measurements, in the article already quoted, it will be seen how closely his calculations agree with mine ; although, I have no doubt his deserve the palm for greater accuracy.
33 This is partly shown in the foreground
38 According to the
**
of the
34 Several ancient tombs, and fine carved
engraving.
already
alluded to the existence of a well
pp. 1 156, 1 157.
*9 The writer, who visited the site, in
June, 1876, obtained a sketch of this church,
as figured in the engraving, by Mrs. Millard,
from a drawing on the wood by W. F. Graves' measurement. He describes more
3'^ This closely agrees with Rev. Janaes
Annals of Ulster. " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xiv. Februarii. De S. Mancheno sive Manchano,
Abbate Mocthalensi, p. 332.
'° See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect, vi. , p. 29.
39 See
"
524 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February14.
opinion. WeretheancientLifeofthissaintextant,andaccessible,itshould, perhaps, enable us to decide this question more positively. His feast is
assigned to the 14th of February, on which day, some of his disciples are also venerated with him. Although, St. ^ngus the Culdee wholly passes
"
over all allusion to them, in his
Feilire," at this date ; yet, either he, or the
ancient author of the " Book of Litanies of the Saints of Ireland," has a
"
commemoration of St. Manchen, the Master," with one hundred and fifty
of his companions, who are invoked. -^^ At the 14th of February, or xvi. of the March Kalends, the Tallagh Martyrology notices a festival of St. Manchan
Moethla, and of his companions. ^^ From the number of these, Colgan presumes, that our saint is here meant, inasmuch as he presided over seven different churches—a distinction supposed to be referable only to him, among theotherholymen,bearinghisname. Wefind,likewise,thatMainchein,
of Moethail,'^3 is set down in the Martyrology of Donegal,'^'^ on this day. According to an inquisition, found in the Chief Remembrancer's Office, and taken in Queen Elizabeth's time, certain particulars are contained in it, re- garding an abbey that then existed in MohilL-^s It seems to have been erected,underthepatronageofthepresentholyman. AtInisnag,diocese of Ossory, St. Manchan, whose feast occurs on the 14th of February, was venerated as a patron. ^^ The holy ones of a former age constantly repeated the question—" What shall I do when God shall rise to judge ? And when he shall examine, what s—hall I answer him ? " Their minds were filled with those words of St. Peter " If the just man shall scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear ? " They meditated on our Lord's warning, to be always ready, as none can know the time of his coming ; and thus, hke home-sick mariners longing for the shore, they strained their gaze beyond the raging elements around, to catch a glimpse of that happier land towards which they were steering. Death does not bring to them the terrors it brings to the wicked, for though they may have sinned, the tears of re- pentancehavewashedouttheirstains; thoughtheymayhavewandered,like the prodigal into the strange land of vice, still love for their father, and re- membrance of the delights of their early home allured them back, and they were reinstalled in their lost inheritance.
Article II. —St. Cellach, or Kellach, Bishop and Confessor.
[^Seventh Century. '] Our early Christian communities were established, by men of great zeal and self-sacrifice ; who were clothed in rude garments ;
who broke their sleep, at night, to sing the praises of God ; who were, in fact, buriedalive,thattheymightknowGod. Crowdsofholyandferventsouls
4' See " The Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. iii. , June, 1 867, pp. 468, 469. It must be remarked, in this connexion, he and his disciples are distinguished from the Con- chennaighi with Manchan of Liethmor. See ibid. , May, 1867, pp. 396, 397.
* This form is multiple, in its combina-
tions, with Irish places.
' Under its varieties of spelling, this word
has a variety of compounds, in Irish topo- graphy.
County of Down. " Sheet 27.
" See Dr. P. W. Joyce's "Origin and
History of Irish Names of Places," part iv. , chap, vii. , p. 473.
"See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Dublin. " Sheet
IS-
'3 See ibid. Sheets 17, 18, 22.
'* About three miles south-west from
Dublin. The parish and the castle in it took name from those little sand-ridges, now known as the Green Hills. See Dr. P. W. Joyce's ' ' Origin and History of Irish Names of Places, part iv. , chap, ix,, p. 507.
'S See "Ordnance Survey Townland
for the of Roscommon. " Maps County
Sheet 22.
'^ See " Ordnance Survey Townland
** InCormac's
theoldIrishform
Glossary,
\snet; in "Welsh, nyth ; in Cornish, neid ;
in Breton, neiz ; in Manx, edd. Yxova some
one or other of these originals, it is probable,
the Latin nidus^ "a nest," has been 99, 100.
^
the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Leitrim. *'
Maps for the County of Kerry. " Sheets
probably
the
Ord-
February 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 519
countyofGalway. ^7 Likewise,thereisaDrimna,intheparishofKilrush, barony of Moyarta, and county of Clare. ^^ There is a Drumna, in the parish of Cloon, barony of Mohill, and county of Leitrim/9 There is a Drumnee, in the parish of Cashel, barony of Kathclinc, and county of Longford. ^'^ Besides the foregoing, we find a Drumny in the parish of Donaghmoyne, baronyofFarney,andcountyofMonaghan. ^^ Thereisasaintofthissame name, Finanus, who is stated to have been connected with a place, called Dromhabrad. Yet, this denomination of Dromhabrad does not appear to be recognisable under any existing form of name, shown on the Ordnance Survey Maps of Ireland. He is called the son of Garuan, son to Amalgad, son of Endeus,^^ son to Olild, son of Nadfraich. 23 His feast has been
assigned by Colgan^** to this day.
Article IX. —Feast of St. Kilian, Martyr, and Patron of Wurtz-
BURGH. \Sei'enthCentury^ Atthisdate,Colganhasalengthyaccountof St. Kilian, and his martyr companions, Colman and Totnan. ^ Yet, it seems not to have been their chief festival, which occurs on the 8th of July, wheretheirconsecutiveActswillbefound. TheBoUandistsnotethisfeast,^ but they assert, that in the various breviaries of the diocese of Wurtzburgh
they possessed, no notice had been taken of it. Still, Galesinus,3 Dempster^ and Wions have their respective entries. The latter supposes it, to have been the feast for a Translation of the Martyrs' ReHcs \ and John Wilson, in his English Martyrology, coincides with such an opinion.
Article X. —Feast of the Translation of the Relics of St.
LiviNUS, Bishop and Martyr, at Ghent. \Seventh Century. '] The BoUandists have observed, in a Carthusian record, at Bruxelles, the notice of a translation of the relics of this holy martyr, at Ghent, assigned to this date. ^ The Life of St. Livinus will be found, at the 12th of November,
jfourtenttft JBag of jf^Jjruarg*
ARTICLE L—ST. MANCHAN, ABBOT OF MOHILL, COUNTY LEITRIM.
[PROBABLY IN THE SEVENTH CENTURY. ^
AS we must feel assured, that the lives of saintly men are studded over
with wondrous a direct of manifestations, indicating interposition
*7 See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Monaghan. " Sheet
Maps for the County of Galway. " Sheet 28.
126. ^' From him the territory, Hibh-Endeus,
^^ See ** Ordnance Survey Townland derived its name.
Maps for the County of Clare. " Sheet 67. =3 The «'Menologic Genealogy," cap.
*9 See " Ordnance Survey Townland xxxv. , and Seluacius are cited as authorities Maps for the County of Leitrim. " Sheet for this pedigree.
=4 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," ix. =° See " Ordnance Survey Townland Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Finani,
Maps for the County of Leitrim. 'V Sheets cap. i. , p. 46. —^
22,26. Article ix. See "Acta Sanctorum
29.
"See "Ordnance Survey Townland Hibernise," xiv. —a mistake for xiii. —Feb-
520 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS [February14.
Providence, while acts of devotion, at which the worldly may well stand amazed, are comprised in their noble courses of being ; so have we propor- tionately to regret the loss of materials, which might place their actions more
prominently before our view. Colgan'' has some very confusing entries, re- garding St. Manchan, Abbot of Mohill, at this date ; while the Bollandists^ have even briefer notices. It is said, that Archbishop Ussher had in his possession the Life of St. Manchan,^ written by Richard, Archbishop of Armagh. * Yet,thisdoesnotappeartohavebeenawell-foundedstatements In a sort of conjectural way—but with little probability—this saint has been classed with Menath (? Monach), said to have been one of St. Patrick's disciples. ^ Following Archbishop Richard's Life of our saint, he is said to have had seven churches subject to his jurisdiction, or to have been patron over that number of religious estabHshments,and to have beenaCanon Regular of St. Augustine. By his sanctified example, he converted many, living in various parts of Ireland, to the faith of Christ. In this life, it is stated, likewise, that the monastery of Canons Regular, at Mohill, in MonteroHs,7 had been first founded by him, and that, on this house, divers grants of glebe-lands, feudal privileges, vassals, tithes, first fruits, rents, dues, returns, oblations, &c. , were conferred. At present, a townland and town,^ in a parish? and barony, so named, are in the county of Leitrim ; and; here, it seems to be allowed, his religious establishment formerly existed. With consent of the clergy and people, all those donations were ratified and acknowledged, during every age, from a. d. 608, in which, it is said, St. Manchan flourished, to the time when this Life had been written. It is also stated, that grants were spontaneously, liberally, and piously conferred, on
of Mohill monastery. ^° A learned Irish historian observes, how- ever, that there were no Canons Regular in Ireland, so early as the year 608; while,fiefsandtitheswerenotknownthere,atsucharemoteepoch.
He then concludes, that the account, given by Richard Fitz-Ralph, Archbishop ofArmagh,savoursofamuchlaterperiod. " Bythiswearetounderstand,
the
prior
ruarii. De S. Kiliani Martyris et Sociorum ejus Translaiione, pp. 328 to 330.
= See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xiii. Februarii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 644.
*3lnhisMartyrology.
* In his " Menologium Scoticum. "
**
Trinity College, June 23rd, 1836, Dr. Todd
"
I have not been able to find the Life of St. Manchan in Ussher's Library, and I much doubt, whether Colgan was not too hasty in inferring from Ussher's
Primord,, p, 969, that it ever was there. There is no question, that Ussher had seen
the Life ; but, he does not
S In his — Martyrologium.
in his own
say
Colgan represents him
^
" " Acta
that it was
See
tomus ii. , xiii. Februarii. Among the pre- to do. " See the Breifny(Cavan and Leitrim)
Article X. termitted saints, p. 644.
Sanctorum,"
library,
as
i. Article —
Letters of the Irish Ordnance Survey, now
* *' Acta Sanctorum Hi- See
in the Irish lodged Royal
Academy's Library,
bernise," xiv. Februarii. De S. Mancheno sive Manchano Abbate Moethalensi, pp.
at p. 202.
^See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxii. , p. 268.
7ThisterritorywasinthecountyofLei- trim. It is frequently mentioned in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters. " See vol. vii. . Index Locorum, p. 93.
''Both are shown, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Leitrim. " Sheet32.
9 Its bounds are defined, ibid. Sheets 28,
29, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38. A portion, of this very extensive parish, lies in the barony of Leitrim.
'° See Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesi- arum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 502.
332, 333-
=» Among the pretermitted saints, in
**
Acta Sanctorum,"tomusii. , xiv. Februarii,p.
741.
3
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
See Colgan's
ni«," xiv. Februarii, n. 7, p. 333-
* The latter prelate flourished, in the four- teenth century. See a fuller account of him atthei6thofNovember.
s While Mr. O'Donovan had been engaged on the Irish Ordnance Survey, he wrote to Dr. Todd of Trinity College, Dublin, to ascertain if such a treatise existed, among the Ussher collection of MSS. , preserved in the University Library. In a letter, dated
replies to him.
February 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 521
perhaps, that materials for St. Manchan's Life had been collected from documents of no very remote date. The learned Ussher seems to have been of opinion, that our saint was identical with Manchan of Menodroichit, who died in the year 651," or 652, according to the Ulster Annals. ^3 In giving an account of the religious houses, and their founders, at Leitrim, Ware says, in like manner, that those Manchans were the same persons. ^* Following Ussher, Archdall appears to agree with Ware, in assigning the death of St. Manchan of Mohill, to a. d. 652. ^5 Yet, Colgan says, he would not willingly admit such identity ; the more so, since he had not been able to discover, that Manchan, Abbot of Moethel or Mohill, in Leitrim county, had been also Abbot of Menadroichit, in Leix. ^^ However, he declares, that his judgment should be suspended on such matters, until he had seen those Acts of our saint, and which, he tells us, were extant in his time, or until he had an elucidation, on this point, from other sources. '7 That our saint had been distinct from St. Manchan of Meno-drochit is likewise the opinion of Dr. Lanigan ; and, he adduces, in confirmation of it, this circum- stance, that while the feast of St. Manchan of Mohill has been referred to the 14th of February, that of St. Mancha—n of Meno-drochit—probably identical
with St. Manchan of Dysart Gallen'^ is recorded at the 2nd of January.
There are even grounds for suspecting, that the present St. Manchan, of Mohill, may have been identical, with St. Manchan, of Lemanaghan. It is
a curious and an interesting subject for investigation, to find, if the sacred object, alluded to by the Four Masters,^° as connected with St. Manchan of
Mohill, could have really applied to the shrine, now preserved^ and said to have been that of St. Manchan of Lemanaghan, the ornamental portions of which were for the most part gilt, and exhibit a degree of artistic skill, both in design and execution, fully deserving the encomiums pronounced regard- ing it.
If such were the case, a very strong inference might be drawn, that the St. Manchan of Mohill—having so many churches subject to him—was probablyidenticalwiththeSt. ManchanofLemanagan; even,although,the places were somewhat apart, and although the festivals fell on different days. Should, however, this question be decisively negatived, we have no means for determining the age of this remarkable monument of Irish art, except by the consideration of its style. This must leave us to include a very long period, within which we might hesitate. We have not, on this object, as on some similar works, the assistance of any inscription, nor of any record, un- doubtedly applying to it. Should it be therefore finally distinguished from the shrine, the ornamentation of which is recorded by the Irish annalists, we might probably refer it to a period, somewhat earlier than the cross of Cong, to which in style it approaches, and, perhaps, to about that time, when the kingdom of Ireland was recovering from its long and harrassing contest with thepirateNorsemen. ^^ Whenorwhereoursaintcommencedhisreligious
"
*'
Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect.
See Dr. Lanigan's vi,, n. 82, p. 31.
Februarii, p. 332.
^**
See notices of him, already given, at the 2nd of January.
"
See Sir James Ware,
**
De Hibernia et
^^ See "Ecclesiastical of History
Antiquitatibus ejus," cap. xxvi. , p. 231.
^3 See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect, vi. , pp. 29, 30,
quitates," cap. xvii,, pp. 502, 503.
'4 See "De Hibernia et Antiquitatibus Annals, at vol. ii. , pp. 1156, 1157. The
ejus," cap. xxvi. , pp. 230, 231.
^s See " Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 410. ^^ Now forming part of the Queen's
County.
^^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xiv.
country people near Lemanaghan pronounce —their patron's name, as if written Monaghan
Irish
a well-known family name.
^^ "
See the Exhibition Expositor," No.
xii. , p. 5. A later account of this remark-
and n. 83, pp. 31, 32.
=° See Dr. O'Donovan's version of these
^9
522 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS, [February14.
coursenowseemstobeunknown. ReferringtotheauthorityofUssher,'' and to Archdallj's Dr. O'Donovan says, that St. Manchan erected his monastery, about a. d. 608, at Mohill, in Leitrim county. '+ The present site
of Mohill monastery's is occupied by a Protestant church, and its graveyard, is one yet much frequented. ^'^ There are no remains of the monastery
an old skull-house. — of the Mac visible, excepting Many
ancient inwhichMohill was situated are buried in this churchyard. Yet, no ancient tombs are here to be seen. If any formerly existed, they are either destroyed, or buried under the clay. There can be no doubt, that the monastery, built formerly in Mohill, had been gf considerable extent,*^ Whether or not, the patron
chiefs of —
orMunter-Eolas theformer
Rannells, Monter-Olis, territory
Lemanaghan Old Church, King's County.
saint died and had been buried here seems to be yet a subject for enquiry. It is probable, however, that his remains had been enshrined here, and pre-
"
served for a long time in the monastery. There is an entry, in the
Annals
able shrine, with very correct and elegant plates of its details, will be found in an article, written by the Rev. James Graves, A. B. , M. R. I. A. , on the "Church and Shrine of St. Manchan," in "The Journal
to be seen from one of the principal streets Association of Ireland," vol. iii. Fourth of Mohill. The graves, at that time, were
of the Royal Historical and Archaeological
series, April, 1874, No. 18, pp. 134 to 150. 22 <<
Priniordia," pp. 969, 970.
'3 *' Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 410. «*See "Annals of the Four Masters,"
vol. ii. , n. (i), p. 1 157.
=5 On one of those old maps, preserved
among the MSS. of Trinity College Library,
all thickly covered over with a species of broad-leafed weed.
°7 See Breifny (Cavan and Leitrim) Letters of the Irish Ordnance Survey, preserved in
the library of the Royal Irish Academy Mr, O'Donovan's letter, dated Mohill, June 1 8th, 1836, p. 177.
Dublin, a place, marked as the Abb. of
Moyhill, may be traced, and it is shown to
have been a large building.
=^
In June, 1876, the writer had an op-
portunity of inspecting this spot, which is
February 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 523
oftheFourMasters,"ata. d. i166,whereweread "TheshrineofManchan, :
of Maethail, was covered by Ruaidhri Ua Conchobhair, and an embroider- ing of gold was carried over it by him, in as good a style as a relic was ever
covered in Ireland. " ^^ We have
known shrine, said to have belonged to St. Manchan, Patron of Leth, or Lemanaghan, in the King's County. The ruins there are within a much frequented graveyard ; and, at present, the old church measures 53 feet 6 inches interiorly, by 18 feet 4 inches in width. =*9 A fine cut stone window,
square-headed, yet with two pointed lights, is in the east end. The walls,3° of excellent limestone, are all covered with ivy. In the south side wall, as also in the western gable,3^ large breaches are observable, and near the east gable, on the south side, are the cut stone jambs of a window, with various ornamental carvings and figures. On the right side of the east window, interiorly, d. piscina is seen, in the side wall; a recessed place is under the window,probablytoreceiveaformerhighaltar,nowremoved. Northwards, from the church was an isolated, oblong building, 23 feet 5 inches in length, by 1 7 feet 7 inches in width ;32 yet, only a small fragment of the walls is now over the ground. 33 The cemetery here is well enclosed,34 and rich lands extend around it. The antiquarian visitor to this place will feel particularly interested, to follow the course of an ancient paved causeway, leading from the cemetery towards a large circular stone enclosure, or miir, less than a quarter of a mile distant. The interior has been planted, and through a
tangled growth of trees and briars, it is possible to reach, in the very centre, a nearly perfect oratory or dwelling of extreme antiquity. It is roofless, however, and its walls are all over shrouded with ivy. This old cyclopean building, which bears the name of the House of St. Monaghan's Mother,35
measures interiorly 18 feet 3 inches, by 10 feet 7 inches. s^ The doorway,
in one of its gables, is exceedingly narrow ; for, at the bottom, it only measures 2 feet 3 inches, while at the top, it gradually diminishes to i foot 10 inches. It is exactly 5 feet 7 inches in height. The walls of this very curiousancientbuildingareabout3feetinwidth. NearLemonaghan,there is a place called Killmonaghan. The year of our saint's death cannot be accurately ascertained ; however, it has been placed, by conjecture, at a. d. 65137 or 652,32 yet, only by those, who, with Archbishop Ussher, identify himwithManchan,AbbotofMenadrochit,inLeix. Thedeathofthislatter is referred to about that time. Colgan thinks them to have been different pcrsons,39 while Dr. Lanigan,4° and other later writers, adopt the same
'^
See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. ii. ,
stones, are strewed about it, as desci-ibed in
Rev. James Graves' article, pp. 134 to 139. 3S In our Calendars, she is called St. Mella,
but the date for her festival is not g^ven.
minutely the building and mur^ at this place, giving some interesting illustrations of both, in the article to which allusion has been
already made. See pp. 139 to 141.
37 See M. I'Abbe Ma-Geoghegan's "His-
toire de I'lrlande," tome i. , seconde partie, chap, iii. , p. 308.
Wakeman.
30 These are over three feet in thickness. 3' Here stood a fine doorway, with beauti-
ful recessed and sharply cut mouldings, with-
in the memory of persons yet living.
32 By referring to the Rev. Mr. Graves'
measurements, in the article already quoted, it will be seen how closely his calculations agree with mine ; although, I have no doubt his deserve the palm for greater accuracy.
33 This is partly shown in the foreground
38 According to the
**
of the
34 Several ancient tombs, and fine carved
engraving.
already
alluded to the existence of a well
pp. 1 156, 1 157.
*9 The writer, who visited the site, in
June, 1876, obtained a sketch of this church,
as figured in the engraving, by Mrs. Millard,
from a drawing on the wood by W. F. Graves' measurement. He describes more
3'^ This closely agrees with Rev. Janaes
Annals of Ulster. " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xiv. Februarii. De S. Mancheno sive Manchano,
Abbate Mocthalensi, p. 332.
'° See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect, vi. , p. 29.
39 See
"
524 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February14.
opinion. WeretheancientLifeofthissaintextant,andaccessible,itshould, perhaps, enable us to decide this question more positively. His feast is
assigned to the 14th of February, on which day, some of his disciples are also venerated with him. Although, St. ^ngus the Culdee wholly passes
"
over all allusion to them, in his
Feilire," at this date ; yet, either he, or the
ancient author of the " Book of Litanies of the Saints of Ireland," has a
"
commemoration of St. Manchen, the Master," with one hundred and fifty
of his companions, who are invoked. -^^ At the 14th of February, or xvi. of the March Kalends, the Tallagh Martyrology notices a festival of St. Manchan
Moethla, and of his companions. ^^ From the number of these, Colgan presumes, that our saint is here meant, inasmuch as he presided over seven different churches—a distinction supposed to be referable only to him, among theotherholymen,bearinghisname. Wefind,likewise,thatMainchein,
of Moethail,'^3 is set down in the Martyrology of Donegal,'^'^ on this day. According to an inquisition, found in the Chief Remembrancer's Office, and taken in Queen Elizabeth's time, certain particulars are contained in it, re- garding an abbey that then existed in MohilL-^s It seems to have been erected,underthepatronageofthepresentholyman. AtInisnag,diocese of Ossory, St. Manchan, whose feast occurs on the 14th of February, was venerated as a patron. ^^ The holy ones of a former age constantly repeated the question—" What shall I do when God shall rise to judge ? And when he shall examine, what s—hall I answer him ? " Their minds were filled with those words of St. Peter " If the just man shall scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear ? " They meditated on our Lord's warning, to be always ready, as none can know the time of his coming ; and thus, hke home-sick mariners longing for the shore, they strained their gaze beyond the raging elements around, to catch a glimpse of that happier land towards which they were steering. Death does not bring to them the terrors it brings to the wicked, for though they may have sinned, the tears of re- pentancehavewashedouttheirstains; thoughtheymayhavewandered,like the prodigal into the strange land of vice, still love for their father, and re- membrance of the delights of their early home allured them back, and they were reinstalled in their lost inheritance.
Article II. —St. Cellach, or Kellach, Bishop and Confessor.
[^Seventh Century. '] Our early Christian communities were established, by men of great zeal and self-sacrifice ; who were clothed in rude garments ;
who broke their sleep, at night, to sing the praises of God ; who were, in fact, buriedalive,thattheymightknowGod. Crowdsofholyandferventsouls
4' See " The Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. iii. , June, 1 867, pp. 468, 469. It must be remarked, in this connexion, he and his disciples are distinguished from the Con- chennaighi with Manchan of Liethmor. See ibid. , May, 1867, pp. 396, 397.
