I49 The apse is
surmounted
by a life-size figure, in gilt bronze, having an angel fixed in a commanding position,
,5= The entrance doors are square-headed, thickly sheeted with oak, and ornamented with wolf-heads.
,5= The entrance doors are square-headed, thickly sheeted with oak, and ornamented with wolf-heads.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
120
described this locality in several spirit- stirring stanzas. In one of these, written in 1844, after a visit to Darrynane, allusion
It is described on the "Ordnance is thus made to St. Finbarr
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Waterford," sheets 16, 25. The townland so named is to be found on the latter sheet.
131 See Smith's H Natural and Civil
History of Kerry," chap, v. , p. 04. I know not on what authority, this statement has been advanced ; but its accuracy must be doubted, as the Canons Regular of St. Augustine had not an existence at that early period.
,2i
Allusion to this locality may be seen at the 7th of April, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Ait. i. There may be seen an engraving of the old church ruins, which are thought by some to have had St. Finan Lobhar as patron, or possibly St. Finan,
Patron and Abbot of Kinnety, venerated at that date.
123 His accomplished daughter, Mrs. Ellen Fitz-simon, has alluded to t—his locality, in
lordly
the following beautiful lines
"
:
I pass the arch, and in the grass-grown aisle
Pause o'er the marble that commemorates,
In plain but energetic phrase, the worth, Talents and virtues of those long, lone
laid
Within the narrow house. "
—" in Darrynane Eighteen
Hundred and Thirty-Two, and other Poems," pp. 3, 4.
,2*An admired Irish poet, under the signature Desmond in the Nation, has well
— :
" And who is the chief of this domain ? —
Does a slave hold the land where a monarch might reign ? —
Oh! no, by St. Finbar, nor cowards, nor slaves,
Could live in the sound of those free
dashing waves.
A chieftain, the—greatest the world has
e'er known
Laurel his coronet true hearts his
— throne—
— his Knowledge sceptre
clan
—a Nation his
O'Connell, the chieftain of proud Darry- nane ! "
—" Denis Poems," by
125 Already at the 2i>t of May, in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. i. , allusion has been made to this place, of which St. Barrfhion. venerated at that d;ite. is regarded as patron. There, too, an engraving of Kilbarron old church, County of Donegal, is presented.
of Places," in Eraser's
127 " Magazine.
See Origines ParochiaUs Scotise," pars ii. , i. , pp. 12, 16, 23.
128 See Francis H. Groome's " Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. ii. , p. 345.
Mac p. 275, Dublin edition, 1882. 8vo.
Florence
Carthy,
126 William Allingham on " Irish Names
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 58i
harbourforCampbeltown. IntheparishofTarbat,thereisChapelBarreat MiddGenie. I3° InSouthAyrshirethereisaparishandavillagecalledBarr. '31 In it are the ruins of a pre-Reformation chapel, known as Kirk Dominae. 13* In Forfarshire and in the parish of Stickathrow,133 is the scattered village of Inchbare. 13 * St. Finbarr is patron of the Isle of Barra, which takes its name from him,I35 and where a culius of the Saint was maintained136 until the last century,13? There is a church in this island called Kilbarr, which means St. Barr's church, and a little chapel near it, in which the Macneil, and those descended from his family, are usually interred. The natives had St. Barr's wooden image standing on the altar, and covered with linen, in the formofasurplice. '38 Alltheirgreatestasseverationswerebythissaint. Inthe Island of Barray the saint's image used to be clothed with a linen sheet every
year upon
the
day
ofhis
anniversary.
1^ Thisinsular oftheOuter parish
Hebrides is in Inverness-shire, and it has a Catholic church dedicated to St.
Barr. I4° Si. Finbar is patron of Dornoch,141 the episcopal seat of Caithness,
and a coast town and a parish of south-east Sutherland. It is the capital of
this county, and it was formerly a royal and parliamentary burgh. On the 25th of September, the Scottish Church kept the festivals of St.
f Fynber, a bishop who obtained special reverence in Caithness, and of S .
12
Finneis, * bishop and martyr, at Eddleston.
Among the more modern erections, designed to commemorate the first Bishop and chief Patron of Cork, the following are especially to be noticed : The Protestant Chapter of St. Finbar's being free from debt in 1861, the Finance Committee suggested that the surplus of income should be applied
1 to the formation of a fund for the repair or rebuilding of the cathedral. *3
Early in the following year, it was resolved to remove the structure then
existing, and to rebuild the church on a grandiose scale. Liberal subscrip-
tions were received, and designs prepared by Mr. William Burges, the
architect, were approved by the chapter. On the 12th of January, 1865, the first stone of the new cathedral was laid by Bishop John Gregg, with the usual
129 See ibid. y vol. i. , p. 227.
130 See Origines Parochiales Scotia? ," pars
ii. ,pp. 11,434.
131 See " New Statistical Account of
Scotland. " Ayrshire, p. 409.
132 See Francis H. Groome's " Ordnance
Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. i. , pp. 130, 131. 133 See " New Statistical Account of
Scotland. " Forfarshire, p. 668.
134 See Francis H. Groome's " Ordnance
Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. iv. , p. 283.
135 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," Appendix to
of the
I3? See " Old Statistical Survey of Scot- land," vol. xiii, p. 326.
prevented me, by carrying it away lest I might take occasion to ridicule their super- stition, as some Protestants have done formerly, and when I was gone, it was again exposed on the altar. They have several traditions concerning this great saint. There
is a chappie (about half a mile on the south side of the hill near St. Barr's Church), where I had occasion to get an account of a tradition concerning this saint which was thus : The inhabitants having begun to build the church, which they dedicated to him, they laid this wooden image within it, but it was invisibly transported (as they say) to the place where the church no—w
stands, and found there every morning. " "
Preface, p. lxxiv. , n. (d). 136 See M. Martin's "
land," vol. xiii. , p. 326.
140 The Easter Communions there
numbered 1,015, * n 1880, and the church has 500 seats. See Francis H. Groome's
Description Western Islands of Scotland," p. 92.
" I came very early in
138 Martin states
the morning with an intention to see this image, but was disappointed, for the natives
P- *34-
141 See an account of it in Francis H.
:
M. Martin's Description of the Western Islands of Scotland," p. 92.
"
Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. i. ,
139 See
"
Old Statistical Survey of Scot-
Groome's
"
On. i nance Gazetteer of Scot-
land,'' vol. ii. , pp. 362, 363.
142 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 275.
143 See the Rev. Andrew C. Robinson's
"St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork, His torical and Descriptive," p. 17.
582 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September25. ceremonies, and in the presence of a large and representative assemblage.
The work was 1 " but the rapidly pressed forward,
Mr. Walker, resigned the contract in 1866. On the 13th of March, 1867, the contract of Messrs. Gilbert Cockburne and Sons, Dublin, was accepted, and on the following 5th of August, the new contractors commenced work. 1** Although unfinished at the time, the ceremonial for the consecration of St. Fin Barr's Cathedral took
>r View of St. Fin Barre's Cnthedral, Cork.
Peterborough, Down,
Limerick, Tuam, and
Derry. Acrowdedand
distinguished congre-
gation was present, the
Corporation of Cork
being represented by
several of its mem-
bers. 1^6 At that time,
through want of suffi-
cient funds, the Cathe-
dral was not wholly
completed; but,onthe
6th of April, 1878,
Bishop John Gregg had the satisfaction of
laying the topmost stones of the western towers and spires, at- tended by a large body of the clergy and laity.
On the 23rd of October, 1879, his successor. Bishop Robert Samuel Gregg, attended by members of the Diocesan Synod then in session, laid the topmost stone of the great central tower, thus practically
'** An external view of the Cathedral, the south and north Portals were begun on
taken at an angle which introduces the the 1 2th of August ; the Triplet window of
western portals, duplex towers and spires, Ambulatory on the 7th of September ; with the great central lower and spire, one Bases of Nave columns, north side, on side and transept, is given in the frontis- the nth of October; south-east great piece to the work already quoted. The pier commenced October 30th, and north- appearance here presented introduces an east great pier, on the 31st ; north-east and obverse view of the external apse, choir and south-west great piers were begun on the transept, taken from an approved photo- 2nd of December. On the 27th of January, graph, before the great centra] tower had 1868, the Bases of Nave columns com- been completed. It was drawn and en- menced on the south side ; Arches of the graved on the wood by Gregor Grey. Apse windows were begun on the 17th of
,4S The work was pushed on energetically: March ; first string course of great piers
Robert
place on Wednesday, November 30th, 1870.
contractor,
The
bishop was the Right Rev. Dr. Gregg, Bishop of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross, who was assisted by the Lord Primate, the Archbishop of
Dublin, Bishops
and the
of Meath,
consecrating
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 583
the Cathe—dral of St. Fin Barre. 1^
The structure consists of a
the western side, is one of the grandest features in the design. It consists of a central and two side doorways in the Gothic style, embayed into deep
porticoes by retreating coils of masonry, resting on solid pillars, and diminishing until they reach the doors themselves. T 5° The sides of the
portals are enriched with statuary and sculpture, after the manner of French
cathedrals. The western window^1 is circular and of immense 152 great size,
being placed over the central doorway. Two lofty towers are being reared on each side of this western entrance, supported on red brick vaulting, with a circular well in the centre to admit the bells. Another, a great central tower, springs from the chancel roof, and rises to several hundred feet. Clustering round the central tower are octagonal pinnacles rising 14 feet from the base, richly carved at top, and two turrets terminating in conical roofs. The material employed in the building is the best Cork limestone, with buttresses and supports of Carlow stone. The nave has a clear length of 162 feet, with a width of 24 feet, or, including the sides of the aisle, a clear breadth of 57 feet 6 inches. 1 " Between the nave and aisles runs a double row of four massive Bathstone columns, resting on huge pedestals, and rising to 16 feet, where they support the arcade of the nave, and abut against the base of the central tower. The roof of nave, chancel, and aisles is plainly vaulted,
the work of completing building
The following is a detail of its architecture
early French style, with a mixture of the Norman. The west front
has a most stately and imposing aspect.
and laid out in
in suitable x 54 The walls of the allegories.
with aisles
into twin
1*8 and ter-
widening minatinginamagnificentcircularapse. ^9 Themainentrance,whichison
lofty nave,
transept gables,
panels, painted
aisles are pierced by four couplet lights in the pointed style, and supported by Bathstone columns carved with limestone mullions. Further lisrht is afforded
March 24th ; Lintel of north-west portal
set March 26th; south-west portal do. 1st
of April ; central portal left side and right
side commenced April 7th ; limestone Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork, Historical and columns to side portals do. April 17th ; Descriptive," pp. 18, 19.
Bathstone caps on Nave columns 23rd I48 Over the north transept door, on the April ; south transept four light windows tympanum, is a handsome design in lime-
begun 6th of May ; Tympanum of central portal on June 1st; cornice and brocking
south aisle, June 15th ; Nave arches 25th of July ; Transept rose windows commenced October 8th. On the 22nd of January, 1869, were erected the columns and caps to gallery of western Tower ; Rose window in the western front was commenced on the 1 8th of February ; Gutter course and Gur- goyles of nave on the 28th of June ; the Gurgoyles in chancel were finished on the 1st of October ; the western Rose window was finished on the loth of December. In 1870 and on the 9th of February, the eastern great arch was finished ; the great piers were finished on the nth of June; the
was continued
July, August, September and October ; the is set forth in an engraving, to which
glazing commenced in September ; the detailed measurements and references are
slating
during
the months of
x 53 The of the Cork Cathedral ground plan
plastering was finished in October ; and the Marble steps to chancel commenced on the 1st of November.
146 See Dr. Richard Caulfield's " Annals
annexed, in Rev. Andrew C. Robinson's
"St. Finbarre's Cathedral, Cork, Historical
and Descriptive," p. 40.
l& The accompanying illustration of the
:
The is in the building
of St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork," pp. 109 to 114.
I47 See Rev. Andrew C. Robinson's '* St.
stone representing the building of Solomon's temple, executed by Mr. Harrison, of Dublin,
It was presented to the dean and chapter by the contractors.
I49 The apse is surmounted by a life-size figure, in gilt bronze, having an angel fixed in a commanding position,
,5= The entrance doors are square-headed, thickly sheeted with oak, and ornamented with wolf-heads.
ISI In the spandrils around it are carved emblematical figures of an eagle, an angel, an ox, and a lion, supported on columns of
polished masonry.
I52 It is divided into eight floreated panels,
richly mounted.
;84 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 25,
by the clerestory windows, five in number, 3 feet 4 inches wide, beneath which are five corresponding trifolium arches, supported on Bathstone columns, richly carved. The chancel is marked off by a row of eight massive Cork red marble pillars, doubled, each of which has a parasitical Bathstone column
running up to the roof. 155
Round the pillars of the chancel is an ambulatory, lighted by seventeen
Interior View of St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork.
geela, where there are remains of an old chapel in a grave-yard, and said to have been a chapel of ease, is dedicated to St. Finbar. The present writer had been informed by Mr. Joseph Long,^ a native of the city, and who had an excellent local knowledge of Cork, that a tradition there prevailed regarding a chime of silver bells, formerly belonging to the church of St. Finnbarr. It was supposed, these bells had been buried under ground, behind the North Mall. It was reported, a certain family in Cork had a knowledge of where they had been buried ; but, it was thought, that family has become extinct, and that every clue to the bells' place of concealment is now lost.
Many buildings at present cover the site, as indicated by citizens of Cork. In the poem158 beginning "Patrick of the fort of Macha loves," it states,
interior of St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork,
is copied from an approved photograph, and drawn on the wood, engraved by Gregor Grey.
'ss The organ gallery, at the western end of the church, is approached by a spiral staircase, and it contains a magnificent organ, built by Mr. Hill, of London, at a cost of £1,500.
156 The foregoing description is taken chit fly from the Dublin Evening Mailoi Thursday,
December 1st, 1870.
157 Then engaged in cataloguing Irish
Manuscripts, contained in the Royal Irish
Academy, February, 1867.
158 Ascribed to Cuimin of Connor.
159 This is found in the English transla-
tion ;—
windows, arranged in
with rich
triple lights,
moulding, and supports. The ascent from the nave to the chancel is by
seven steps of Sicilian marble. 156
In the City of Cork,
the Catholic
church of the South Parish is dedicated to St. Finbar while there
;
is a parish known as St.
Finbar's West, with a church dedicated to the
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. At Sunday's Well is St. Finbar's In-
dustrial School, under
the management of the Sisters of the Good Shep- herd. The Seminary at Cork is also dedicated to St. Finbar. The parish church of Bantry is dedi- cated to him. The parish church of Inchi-
parish
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 585
that Bairre was humble to every person, and that he used to give assistance
to every needy person. ^ The holy man, Barrus, was great and wonderful, say his ancient biographers, both on earth and in Heaven. He was constant in faith as St. Peter, an excellent doctor like St. Paul, courageous as St. Andrew, supplanting vices like St. James, full of God's grace, like St. John. Like Abraham he was a true pilgrim; like Moses he was gentle, tender and forgiving ; like David he was a choice and praiseworthy psalmist ; likeSolomonhewasrenownedforknowledgeandwisdom. Indaily,and especially in his inward, life, Bairre united all the virtues of perfect men, such as humility, obedience, affability, patience, faith, hope, and charity. His well-regulated temper and gentle rule; his constant prayers and meditation ; his vigils, his fasting and abstinence ; his purity of heart and soul ; his powers and strength of mind ; his generosity and discernment
;
these and many other high qualifications are enumerated by his panegyrists. Having performed many miracles, having fought the good fight, and having kept the faith, this glorious Saint, owing to his merits, deserved the kingdom of Heaven and the sight of its King. Among choirs of angels he happily passed to the Lord.
Article II. —St. Colman, of Comhruire, now Kilcomreragh, at
Uisneach
County of Westmeath. — The Hill, \_Seventh Century. ']
name — a diminutive of Colum or Colin Colman, being
a contraction Columba was very frequently applied to very many of our early Irish
The name Colman, Comraire, appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh, as having veneration paid him, at the 25th of September. The like entry3 is in the Book of Leinster copy. The feast of Colman is entered in the Feilire of Marianus
commentator says, &*. ', Colman Comhruire rendered Colman of the Casket. Bronach,* daughter to Miliuc, son of Buan, with whom Patrick6 was in bondage, is said to have been his mother. ? Again, it is related, that
his mother was Galges, daughter of Aedh-finn or Hugh the White, prince of Hybruinn. He is said to have been the son of Fintan, and grandson of Finloga, prince of South Munster. His brother was the celebrated St. Fursa or 8 who
Saints. 1
Fursey,
preached
England and
2
Bairre, the fire of wisdom, loves Humility to the men of the world ; He never saw in want
A person that he did not assist. "
"
Rev. Dr. Kelly's p. 165. — Article 11.
"
iii. , chap, xix. , sect, i. , n. 12, p. 146.
Martyrology of Tallagh,"
'See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol.
2
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxv.
at the— of
O'Gorman,* 25th September, and the
and founded monasteries in
France. Uisneach was in the parish of Killare, barony of Rathconrath and county of Westmeath. It is now known as Usnagh hill,9 and somewhere in its vicinity, Comhruire must be sought. This place was also called Comhraire-Midhe, and it is now known as Kilcomreragh, near the hill of Uisneach. The church there is said to have been founded early in the
seventh century, by the present Saint. It seems likely he died during that period, or perhaps early in the eighth century. The death of Abbot Ferfio of
"
Asomewhat different — translation— English
yet substantially the same may be seen in
3 Thus : Colman Comnaine.
*See Dr. Whitley Stokes' " Feilire Hui
Gormain," pp. 184, 185.
5 See her commemoration at the 2nd of
April, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
6
See his Life at the 17th of March in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
7 Such is the O'Clery statement.
8
See his Life, at the 16th of January, in the First Volume of this work, Art. i.
9 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Anmls of the Four Masters," vol. i. , 11. (e), p. 166.
for
586 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 25.
10
Comhraire-Midhe, is recorded, at a. d. 757. Comraire monastery seemed
not to have survived the Danish invasions. 11 The history of St. Colman,
and the year of his death, do not appear to be known. He is recorded in
the Martyrology of Donegal,12 at this same date as Colman, of Comhruire, at Uisneach.
Article III. —Reputed St. Colman, Sci. The Martyrology ot
1
Tallagh, registers St. Colman, Sci. , as having been venerated, at the 25th of
September. In like manner, we meet such an insertion2 in the Book of
Leinster copy. As we do not meet this distinctive entry in any other Irish
Calendar,it seemstohavebeenasuperfluousnotice,andonlyintendedto commemorate the preceding saint.
Article IV. —St. Iomchaidh, of Kill Drochoid, County or Down.
1 as also in the Book of Leinster
25th of September. 3 From the name of this Saint's locality, it must be Anglicised, "Church of the Bridge. " Doubt exists as to the exact place where this Saint had been venerated, within that peninsula called the Ards of Ulster. There is no river in the Ards, deserving a bridge, except the Blackstaff, which divides the Great and Little Ards. The chapel of Grangia or Gransha, a townland at the south end of Inishargy parish,* was situated near the Blackstaff river. s The name of Iomchaidh is also entered in the
of 6 at this same date, as of in Ard Martyrology Donegal, being Cilldroichit,
Uladh.
ArticleV. —St. CoelanorCaelan,ofEchinis. Whenthetopicor
individual for praise is honestly deserving, it seldom happens, that the faculty for praising is easy of exercise, because there is a want of complete knowledge
The
2 at that date. In the Feilire of Marianus O'Gorman the feast of
In the
published Martyrology
of
Tallagh,
Each-inis,
which means in u the horse-island. " There are no less English,
2 wefindthe
of Inthe September.
atthe
Feilire of Marianus O'Gorman, his name, place and feast are entered at the
copy,
simple entry, Imchad,
25th
the
feast for Coelan, at the 25th of September, The Book of Leinster has a
regarding
subject.
published Martyrology
like
entry,
Coelan is to be found at this date, and the commentator states, that he was
from Ech-inis. 3 The Martyrology of Donegal* records a festival, at the 25th
of September, to honour St. Caelan. It also gives the name of his place,
than fourteen ascertained denominations of its Anglicised form in various parts
of Ireland ' with perhaps many more not recorded, yet locally known to the ;
10 See to ibid. , pp. 358
4 See " Ordnance Survey Townland
for the County of Down," sheet 18. s See Rev. William Reeves'
and n.
"See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap.
lxxiv. , p. 558.
"Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Maps
258, 259. Article hi.
Appendix LL, p. 380, and n. (d) ibid.
361,
(e).
— 21
Kelly, p. xxxv.
Thus : Colma—ni Sci.
Reeves, pp
258, 259.
Akicle v. — Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly
Article iv Kelly, p. xxxiv.
2
•
Edited
Rev. Dr.
xxxv.
'Thus : Caelan.
3 See Dr. Whitley Stokes' "Feilire Hui
l
Edited by Rev. Dr.
6 Drs. Toddand Edited by
Thus: Imchao.
*Th« commentator notes that he was of
Chille droichit or Cell Droichit, in Ard Ulad. See Dr. Whitley Stokes' " Feilire Hui Gormain," pp. 184, 185.
Gormain," pp. 184, 185.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp
258, 259.
s See "General Alphabetical Index to the
by
p.
of 1 entersa Tallagh
" siastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," p. 21, and n. (m), ibid. . Also,
Eccle
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 587
people living in their neighbourhood. An Aghinish6 is found in the parish of Kinawley, in the barony of Knockninny, and County of Fermanagh.
There is an Aghinish, in the parish of Ballyovey, barony of Carra, and County of Mayo. ? Within Lough Carra, opposite the residence of Moore Hall, are
8
the ruins of an old church, which may possibly be identified with the cultus
of this St. Coelan or Caelan.
6
See Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
Article VI.
described this locality in several spirit- stirring stanzas. In one of these, written in 1844, after a visit to Darrynane, allusion
It is described on the "Ordnance is thus made to St. Finbarr
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Waterford," sheets 16, 25. The townland so named is to be found on the latter sheet.
131 See Smith's H Natural and Civil
History of Kerry," chap, v. , p. 04. I know not on what authority, this statement has been advanced ; but its accuracy must be doubted, as the Canons Regular of St. Augustine had not an existence at that early period.
,2i
Allusion to this locality may be seen at the 7th of April, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Ait. i. There may be seen an engraving of the old church ruins, which are thought by some to have had St. Finan Lobhar as patron, or possibly St. Finan,
Patron and Abbot of Kinnety, venerated at that date.
123 His accomplished daughter, Mrs. Ellen Fitz-simon, has alluded to t—his locality, in
lordly
the following beautiful lines
"
:
I pass the arch, and in the grass-grown aisle
Pause o'er the marble that commemorates,
In plain but energetic phrase, the worth, Talents and virtues of those long, lone
laid
Within the narrow house. "
—" in Darrynane Eighteen
Hundred and Thirty-Two, and other Poems," pp. 3, 4.
,2*An admired Irish poet, under the signature Desmond in the Nation, has well
— :
" And who is the chief of this domain ? —
Does a slave hold the land where a monarch might reign ? —
Oh! no, by St. Finbar, nor cowards, nor slaves,
Could live in the sound of those free
dashing waves.
A chieftain, the—greatest the world has
e'er known
Laurel his coronet true hearts his
— throne—
— his Knowledge sceptre
clan
—a Nation his
O'Connell, the chieftain of proud Darry- nane ! "
—" Denis Poems," by
125 Already at the 2i>t of May, in the Fifth Volume of this work, Art. i. , allusion has been made to this place, of which St. Barrfhion. venerated at that d;ite. is regarded as patron. There, too, an engraving of Kilbarron old church, County of Donegal, is presented.
of Places," in Eraser's
127 " Magazine.
See Origines ParochiaUs Scotise," pars ii. , i. , pp. 12, 16, 23.
128 See Francis H. Groome's " Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. ii. , p. 345.
Mac p. 275, Dublin edition, 1882. 8vo.
Florence
Carthy,
126 William Allingham on " Irish Names
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 58i
harbourforCampbeltown. IntheparishofTarbat,thereisChapelBarreat MiddGenie. I3° InSouthAyrshirethereisaparishandavillagecalledBarr. '31 In it are the ruins of a pre-Reformation chapel, known as Kirk Dominae. 13* In Forfarshire and in the parish of Stickathrow,133 is the scattered village of Inchbare. 13 * St. Finbarr is patron of the Isle of Barra, which takes its name from him,I35 and where a culius of the Saint was maintained136 until the last century,13? There is a church in this island called Kilbarr, which means St. Barr's church, and a little chapel near it, in which the Macneil, and those descended from his family, are usually interred. The natives had St. Barr's wooden image standing on the altar, and covered with linen, in the formofasurplice. '38 Alltheirgreatestasseverationswerebythissaint. Inthe Island of Barray the saint's image used to be clothed with a linen sheet every
year upon
the
day
ofhis
anniversary.
1^ Thisinsular oftheOuter parish
Hebrides is in Inverness-shire, and it has a Catholic church dedicated to St.
Barr. I4° Si. Finbar is patron of Dornoch,141 the episcopal seat of Caithness,
and a coast town and a parish of south-east Sutherland. It is the capital of
this county, and it was formerly a royal and parliamentary burgh. On the 25th of September, the Scottish Church kept the festivals of St.
f Fynber, a bishop who obtained special reverence in Caithness, and of S .
12
Finneis, * bishop and martyr, at Eddleston.
Among the more modern erections, designed to commemorate the first Bishop and chief Patron of Cork, the following are especially to be noticed : The Protestant Chapter of St. Finbar's being free from debt in 1861, the Finance Committee suggested that the surplus of income should be applied
1 to the formation of a fund for the repair or rebuilding of the cathedral. *3
Early in the following year, it was resolved to remove the structure then
existing, and to rebuild the church on a grandiose scale. Liberal subscrip-
tions were received, and designs prepared by Mr. William Burges, the
architect, were approved by the chapter. On the 12th of January, 1865, the first stone of the new cathedral was laid by Bishop John Gregg, with the usual
129 See ibid. y vol. i. , p. 227.
130 See Origines Parochiales Scotia? ," pars
ii. ,pp. 11,434.
131 See " New Statistical Account of
Scotland. " Ayrshire, p. 409.
132 See Francis H. Groome's " Ordnance
Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. i. , pp. 130, 131. 133 See " New Statistical Account of
Scotland. " Forfarshire, p. 668.
134 See Francis H. Groome's " Ordnance
Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. iv. , p. 283.
135 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," Appendix to
of the
I3? See " Old Statistical Survey of Scot- land," vol. xiii, p. 326.
prevented me, by carrying it away lest I might take occasion to ridicule their super- stition, as some Protestants have done formerly, and when I was gone, it was again exposed on the altar. They have several traditions concerning this great saint. There
is a chappie (about half a mile on the south side of the hill near St. Barr's Church), where I had occasion to get an account of a tradition concerning this saint which was thus : The inhabitants having begun to build the church, which they dedicated to him, they laid this wooden image within it, but it was invisibly transported (as they say) to the place where the church no—w
stands, and found there every morning. " "
Preface, p. lxxiv. , n. (d). 136 See M. Martin's "
land," vol. xiii. , p. 326.
140 The Easter Communions there
numbered 1,015, * n 1880, and the church has 500 seats. See Francis H. Groome's
Description Western Islands of Scotland," p. 92.
" I came very early in
138 Martin states
the morning with an intention to see this image, but was disappointed, for the natives
P- *34-
141 See an account of it in Francis H.
:
M. Martin's Description of the Western Islands of Scotland," p. 92.
"
Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. i. ,
139 See
"
Old Statistical Survey of Scot-
Groome's
"
On. i nance Gazetteer of Scot-
land,'' vol. ii. , pp. 362, 363.
142 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 275.
143 See the Rev. Andrew C. Robinson's
"St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork, His torical and Descriptive," p. 17.
582 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September25. ceremonies, and in the presence of a large and representative assemblage.
The work was 1 " but the rapidly pressed forward,
Mr. Walker, resigned the contract in 1866. On the 13th of March, 1867, the contract of Messrs. Gilbert Cockburne and Sons, Dublin, was accepted, and on the following 5th of August, the new contractors commenced work. 1** Although unfinished at the time, the ceremonial for the consecration of St. Fin Barr's Cathedral took
>r View of St. Fin Barre's Cnthedral, Cork.
Peterborough, Down,
Limerick, Tuam, and
Derry. Acrowdedand
distinguished congre-
gation was present, the
Corporation of Cork
being represented by
several of its mem-
bers. 1^6 At that time,
through want of suffi-
cient funds, the Cathe-
dral was not wholly
completed; but,onthe
6th of April, 1878,
Bishop John Gregg had the satisfaction of
laying the topmost stones of the western towers and spires, at- tended by a large body of the clergy and laity.
On the 23rd of October, 1879, his successor. Bishop Robert Samuel Gregg, attended by members of the Diocesan Synod then in session, laid the topmost stone of the great central tower, thus practically
'** An external view of the Cathedral, the south and north Portals were begun on
taken at an angle which introduces the the 1 2th of August ; the Triplet window of
western portals, duplex towers and spires, Ambulatory on the 7th of September ; with the great central lower and spire, one Bases of Nave columns, north side, on side and transept, is given in the frontis- the nth of October; south-east great piece to the work already quoted. The pier commenced October 30th, and north- appearance here presented introduces an east great pier, on the 31st ; north-east and obverse view of the external apse, choir and south-west great piers were begun on the transept, taken from an approved photo- 2nd of December. On the 27th of January, graph, before the great centra] tower had 1868, the Bases of Nave columns com- been completed. It was drawn and en- menced on the south side ; Arches of the graved on the wood by Gregor Grey. Apse windows were begun on the 17th of
,4S The work was pushed on energetically: March ; first string course of great piers
Robert
place on Wednesday, November 30th, 1870.
contractor,
The
bishop was the Right Rev. Dr. Gregg, Bishop of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross, who was assisted by the Lord Primate, the Archbishop of
Dublin, Bishops
and the
of Meath,
consecrating
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 583
the Cathe—dral of St. Fin Barre. 1^
The structure consists of a
the western side, is one of the grandest features in the design. It consists of a central and two side doorways in the Gothic style, embayed into deep
porticoes by retreating coils of masonry, resting on solid pillars, and diminishing until they reach the doors themselves. T 5° The sides of the
portals are enriched with statuary and sculpture, after the manner of French
cathedrals. The western window^1 is circular and of immense 152 great size,
being placed over the central doorway. Two lofty towers are being reared on each side of this western entrance, supported on red brick vaulting, with a circular well in the centre to admit the bells. Another, a great central tower, springs from the chancel roof, and rises to several hundred feet. Clustering round the central tower are octagonal pinnacles rising 14 feet from the base, richly carved at top, and two turrets terminating in conical roofs. The material employed in the building is the best Cork limestone, with buttresses and supports of Carlow stone. The nave has a clear length of 162 feet, with a width of 24 feet, or, including the sides of the aisle, a clear breadth of 57 feet 6 inches. 1 " Between the nave and aisles runs a double row of four massive Bathstone columns, resting on huge pedestals, and rising to 16 feet, where they support the arcade of the nave, and abut against the base of the central tower. The roof of nave, chancel, and aisles is plainly vaulted,
the work of completing building
The following is a detail of its architecture
early French style, with a mixture of the Norman. The west front
has a most stately and imposing aspect.
and laid out in
in suitable x 54 The walls of the allegories.
with aisles
into twin
1*8 and ter-
widening minatinginamagnificentcircularapse. ^9 Themainentrance,whichison
lofty nave,
transept gables,
panels, painted
aisles are pierced by four couplet lights in the pointed style, and supported by Bathstone columns carved with limestone mullions. Further lisrht is afforded
March 24th ; Lintel of north-west portal
set March 26th; south-west portal do. 1st
of April ; central portal left side and right
side commenced April 7th ; limestone Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork, Historical and columns to side portals do. April 17th ; Descriptive," pp. 18, 19.
Bathstone caps on Nave columns 23rd I48 Over the north transept door, on the April ; south transept four light windows tympanum, is a handsome design in lime-
begun 6th of May ; Tympanum of central portal on June 1st; cornice and brocking
south aisle, June 15th ; Nave arches 25th of July ; Transept rose windows commenced October 8th. On the 22nd of January, 1869, were erected the columns and caps to gallery of western Tower ; Rose window in the western front was commenced on the 1 8th of February ; Gutter course and Gur- goyles of nave on the 28th of June ; the Gurgoyles in chancel were finished on the 1st of October ; the western Rose window was finished on the loth of December. In 1870 and on the 9th of February, the eastern great arch was finished ; the great piers were finished on the nth of June; the
was continued
July, August, September and October ; the is set forth in an engraving, to which
glazing commenced in September ; the detailed measurements and references are
slating
during
the months of
x 53 The of the Cork Cathedral ground plan
plastering was finished in October ; and the Marble steps to chancel commenced on the 1st of November.
146 See Dr. Richard Caulfield's " Annals
annexed, in Rev. Andrew C. Robinson's
"St. Finbarre's Cathedral, Cork, Historical
and Descriptive," p. 40.
l& The accompanying illustration of the
:
The is in the building
of St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork," pp. 109 to 114.
I47 See Rev. Andrew C. Robinson's '* St.
stone representing the building of Solomon's temple, executed by Mr. Harrison, of Dublin,
It was presented to the dean and chapter by the contractors.
I49 The apse is surmounted by a life-size figure, in gilt bronze, having an angel fixed in a commanding position,
,5= The entrance doors are square-headed, thickly sheeted with oak, and ornamented with wolf-heads.
ISI In the spandrils around it are carved emblematical figures of an eagle, an angel, an ox, and a lion, supported on columns of
polished masonry.
I52 It is divided into eight floreated panels,
richly mounted.
;84 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 25,
by the clerestory windows, five in number, 3 feet 4 inches wide, beneath which are five corresponding trifolium arches, supported on Bathstone columns, richly carved. The chancel is marked off by a row of eight massive Cork red marble pillars, doubled, each of which has a parasitical Bathstone column
running up to the roof. 155
Round the pillars of the chancel is an ambulatory, lighted by seventeen
Interior View of St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork.
geela, where there are remains of an old chapel in a grave-yard, and said to have been a chapel of ease, is dedicated to St. Finbar. The present writer had been informed by Mr. Joseph Long,^ a native of the city, and who had an excellent local knowledge of Cork, that a tradition there prevailed regarding a chime of silver bells, formerly belonging to the church of St. Finnbarr. It was supposed, these bells had been buried under ground, behind the North Mall. It was reported, a certain family in Cork had a knowledge of where they had been buried ; but, it was thought, that family has become extinct, and that every clue to the bells' place of concealment is now lost.
Many buildings at present cover the site, as indicated by citizens of Cork. In the poem158 beginning "Patrick of the fort of Macha loves," it states,
interior of St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork,
is copied from an approved photograph, and drawn on the wood, engraved by Gregor Grey.
'ss The organ gallery, at the western end of the church, is approached by a spiral staircase, and it contains a magnificent organ, built by Mr. Hill, of London, at a cost of £1,500.
156 The foregoing description is taken chit fly from the Dublin Evening Mailoi Thursday,
December 1st, 1870.
157 Then engaged in cataloguing Irish
Manuscripts, contained in the Royal Irish
Academy, February, 1867.
158 Ascribed to Cuimin of Connor.
159 This is found in the English transla-
tion ;—
windows, arranged in
with rich
triple lights,
moulding, and supports. The ascent from the nave to the chancel is by
seven steps of Sicilian marble. 156
In the City of Cork,
the Catholic
church of the South Parish is dedicated to St. Finbar while there
;
is a parish known as St.
Finbar's West, with a church dedicated to the
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. At Sunday's Well is St. Finbar's In-
dustrial School, under
the management of the Sisters of the Good Shep- herd. The Seminary at Cork is also dedicated to St. Finbar. The parish church of Bantry is dedi- cated to him. The parish church of Inchi-
parish
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 585
that Bairre was humble to every person, and that he used to give assistance
to every needy person. ^ The holy man, Barrus, was great and wonderful, say his ancient biographers, both on earth and in Heaven. He was constant in faith as St. Peter, an excellent doctor like St. Paul, courageous as St. Andrew, supplanting vices like St. James, full of God's grace, like St. John. Like Abraham he was a true pilgrim; like Moses he was gentle, tender and forgiving ; like David he was a choice and praiseworthy psalmist ; likeSolomonhewasrenownedforknowledgeandwisdom. Indaily,and especially in his inward, life, Bairre united all the virtues of perfect men, such as humility, obedience, affability, patience, faith, hope, and charity. His well-regulated temper and gentle rule; his constant prayers and meditation ; his vigils, his fasting and abstinence ; his purity of heart and soul ; his powers and strength of mind ; his generosity and discernment
;
these and many other high qualifications are enumerated by his panegyrists. Having performed many miracles, having fought the good fight, and having kept the faith, this glorious Saint, owing to his merits, deserved the kingdom of Heaven and the sight of its King. Among choirs of angels he happily passed to the Lord.
Article II. —St. Colman, of Comhruire, now Kilcomreragh, at
Uisneach
County of Westmeath. — The Hill, \_Seventh Century. ']
name — a diminutive of Colum or Colin Colman, being
a contraction Columba was very frequently applied to very many of our early Irish
The name Colman, Comraire, appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh, as having veneration paid him, at the 25th of September. The like entry3 is in the Book of Leinster copy. The feast of Colman is entered in the Feilire of Marianus
commentator says, &*. ', Colman Comhruire rendered Colman of the Casket. Bronach,* daughter to Miliuc, son of Buan, with whom Patrick6 was in bondage, is said to have been his mother. ? Again, it is related, that
his mother was Galges, daughter of Aedh-finn or Hugh the White, prince of Hybruinn. He is said to have been the son of Fintan, and grandson of Finloga, prince of South Munster. His brother was the celebrated St. Fursa or 8 who
Saints. 1
Fursey,
preached
England and
2
Bairre, the fire of wisdom, loves Humility to the men of the world ; He never saw in want
A person that he did not assist. "
"
Rev. Dr. Kelly's p. 165. — Article 11.
"
iii. , chap, xix. , sect, i. , n. 12, p. 146.
Martyrology of Tallagh,"
'See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol.
2
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxv.
at the— of
O'Gorman,* 25th September, and the
and founded monasteries in
France. Uisneach was in the parish of Killare, barony of Rathconrath and county of Westmeath. It is now known as Usnagh hill,9 and somewhere in its vicinity, Comhruire must be sought. This place was also called Comhraire-Midhe, and it is now known as Kilcomreragh, near the hill of Uisneach. The church there is said to have been founded early in the
seventh century, by the present Saint. It seems likely he died during that period, or perhaps early in the eighth century. The death of Abbot Ferfio of
"
Asomewhat different — translation— English
yet substantially the same may be seen in
3 Thus : Colman Comnaine.
*See Dr. Whitley Stokes' " Feilire Hui
Gormain," pp. 184, 185.
5 See her commemoration at the 2nd of
April, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
6
See his Life at the 17th of March in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
7 Such is the O'Clery statement.
8
See his Life, at the 16th of January, in the First Volume of this work, Art. i.
9 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Anmls of the Four Masters," vol. i. , 11. (e), p. 166.
for
586 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 25.
10
Comhraire-Midhe, is recorded, at a. d. 757. Comraire monastery seemed
not to have survived the Danish invasions. 11 The history of St. Colman,
and the year of his death, do not appear to be known. He is recorded in
the Martyrology of Donegal,12 at this same date as Colman, of Comhruire, at Uisneach.
Article III. —Reputed St. Colman, Sci. The Martyrology ot
1
Tallagh, registers St. Colman, Sci. , as having been venerated, at the 25th of
September. In like manner, we meet such an insertion2 in the Book of
Leinster copy. As we do not meet this distinctive entry in any other Irish
Calendar,it seemstohavebeenasuperfluousnotice,andonlyintendedto commemorate the preceding saint.
Article IV. —St. Iomchaidh, of Kill Drochoid, County or Down.
1 as also in the Book of Leinster
25th of September. 3 From the name of this Saint's locality, it must be Anglicised, "Church of the Bridge. " Doubt exists as to the exact place where this Saint had been venerated, within that peninsula called the Ards of Ulster. There is no river in the Ards, deserving a bridge, except the Blackstaff, which divides the Great and Little Ards. The chapel of Grangia or Gransha, a townland at the south end of Inishargy parish,* was situated near the Blackstaff river. s The name of Iomchaidh is also entered in the
of 6 at this same date, as of in Ard Martyrology Donegal, being Cilldroichit,
Uladh.
ArticleV. —St. CoelanorCaelan,ofEchinis. Whenthetopicor
individual for praise is honestly deserving, it seldom happens, that the faculty for praising is easy of exercise, because there is a want of complete knowledge
The
2 at that date. In the Feilire of Marianus O'Gorman the feast of
In the
published Martyrology
of
Tallagh,
Each-inis,
which means in u the horse-island. " There are no less English,
2 wefindthe
of Inthe September.
atthe
Feilire of Marianus O'Gorman, his name, place and feast are entered at the
copy,
simple entry, Imchad,
25th
the
feast for Coelan, at the 25th of September, The Book of Leinster has a
regarding
subject.
published Martyrology
like
entry,
Coelan is to be found at this date, and the commentator states, that he was
from Ech-inis. 3 The Martyrology of Donegal* records a festival, at the 25th
of September, to honour St. Caelan. It also gives the name of his place,
than fourteen ascertained denominations of its Anglicised form in various parts
of Ireland ' with perhaps many more not recorded, yet locally known to the ;
10 See to ibid. , pp. 358
4 See " Ordnance Survey Townland
for the County of Down," sheet 18. s See Rev. William Reeves'
and n.
"See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap.
lxxiv. , p. 558.
"Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Maps
258, 259. Article hi.
Appendix LL, p. 380, and n. (d) ibid.
361,
(e).
— 21
Kelly, p. xxxv.
Thus : Colma—ni Sci.
Reeves, pp
258, 259.
Akicle v. — Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly
Article iv Kelly, p. xxxiv.
2
•
Edited
Rev. Dr.
xxxv.
'Thus : Caelan.
3 See Dr. Whitley Stokes' "Feilire Hui
l
Edited by Rev. Dr.
6 Drs. Toddand Edited by
Thus: Imchao.
*Th« commentator notes that he was of
Chille droichit or Cell Droichit, in Ard Ulad. See Dr. Whitley Stokes' " Feilire Hui Gormain," pp. 184, 185.
Gormain," pp. 184, 185.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp
258, 259.
s See "General Alphabetical Index to the
by
p.
of 1 entersa Tallagh
" siastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," p. 21, and n. (m), ibid. . Also,
Eccle
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 587
people living in their neighbourhood. An Aghinish6 is found in the parish of Kinawley, in the barony of Knockninny, and County of Fermanagh.
There is an Aghinish, in the parish of Ballyovey, barony of Carra, and County of Mayo. ? Within Lough Carra, opposite the residence of Moore Hall, are
8
the ruins of an old church, which may possibly be identified with the cultus
of this St. Coelan or Caelan.
6
See Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
Article VI.
