No More Learning

in safe 1^ custody.
left the
At the moment of his release, St. Columba is stated to have been engaged
sight, having
prince
words "
: Drink,
tinct occasions.
drink. " This the former on three dis- captive repeated,
St. Columba then said
:
" O Scanlan, because thy speech
is not opportune, thy posterity, although fortunate in some respects, shall not be prosperous in all. " These words, Scanlan did not receive as an oracle,
but as conveying some modified malediction, and he earnestly besought
Columbatoavertevilfromhis
Thenansweredthesaint "These
posterity.
words, which have just escaped my lips, went forth as God's decree, and they
are unalterable. However, from thy seed shall issue many princes and pre-
lates. " The soldiers, altogether astonished, ran to their monarch, and informed him of the prince's miraculous delivery, and of those circumstances
accompanying it. King Aedh then acknowledged, that the power of the Almighty was against him, and that Columkille was the peculiar favourite of
Heaven. J 9* He the saint's implored
forgiveness,
time, for his counsel and direction, while the Convention continued its session.
Some accounts have it, that while S. Columba had been attending the Con-
192 Some writers state, he endeavoured to throw off all allegiance to the Irish mon- arch.
193 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. iii. , cap. xi. , p. 433.
194 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan, however, re-
gards the foregoing story as apocryphal. See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
chap, xii. , sect, xiii. , p. 238, and nn. 215,
216, p. 243.
I95 In Mr. John Hogan's "St. Ciaran,
Patron of Ossory : A Memoir of his Life and Times," the pedigree of this Colman is drawn from Aengus Osraige, who flourished in the second century of the Christian era. See part i. , chap, vi. , p. 35. There, how- ever, Scanlan Mor is called the son of Ceann- faladh, and he is set down as seventeenth in descent, from the founder of that dynasty.
and he at the same begged,
:
492 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
vention at Drumcheat, he went to visit Scanlan Mor, the son of Colman,10*
106 When the saint had
who was then detained a
blessed this captive prince, he said :
Ossory,
It is
stated,
constantly
prisoner by King Aydus. "
be of good comfort. King Aydus whose captive you now are, will depart
this life before 10? and after a little time, shall be in own you, you king your
country of Ossory for thirty years. Then shall you be chased once more out
08 These
of own and shallliveinexileforafew your kingdom you
being expired, the people will proclaim you king again, and over them you shall rule for three short terms. "'» After receiving the saint's blessing, Scanlan remained with him for three days, until his final departure for Ossory. As a
guarantee of his gratitude, the prince is said to have engaged on behalf of himself and his posterity, that they should perpetually offer a tribute to Columba and to his successors. However, according to some accounts,
Scanlan yet feared treachery from King Aedh, who had planned to intercept his paths homewards. St. Columba encouraged him to trust in the Almighty, who had already rescued him from past evils, and who would preserve him from the threatened danger. The prince was promised further protection, whichshouldbringhimsafelytoOssory. WhenScanlanwasthusliberated, after the synod of Druimceatt, St. Columba gave him his staff, called the Bachall Mor,200 to serve as his safe conduct, directing him at the same time to proceed to Dearmach, and to deliver the staff to Laisranus. 201 There it appearstohavebeenleft. 202 Afterwards,theprinceandhispeopleofOssoryfor subsequent generations proclaimed themselves the devoted clients of theirgreat Patron St. Columba. Again, it is stated, that his father died on the day of Scan- lan's arrival in Ossory, and that thereupon Scanlan assumed the sovereignty. In consideration of St. Columba's services, that prince granted a visitation every seventh year from that day to Columcille and to his successors, in
Ossory.
Colman,
2°3
This statement however is incorrect, for his father
lord Aidus 2°5 and
of
of St. Columba.
605,
died, a. d.
2°* some
after the death of years King
200 that the Convention of Druimceat 2°7 sat
for a whole year and one month without prorogation ; while many most excellent laws were there framed, to correct abuses in the state, and for the future good
statement of Adam- nan, as we find it in his " Life of St. Co-
" Trias Vita Thaumaturga," Quinta
196 Such is the
simple
Colgan's
S. Columba? , lib. iii. , cap. xii. , p. 433.
lumba," lib. i. , cap. II, pp. 38, 39.
97. The death of Aidus is recorded by script, classed H. 2. 16, Trinity College,
Tighernach in his Annals, at 598
:
" CAcn
Dublin.
X1 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. iii. , cap. xiii. , p. 433.
202 See Right Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
" Irish Saints in Great Britain," chap, iii. , p. 89, and n. 1, ibid.
x^ According to the Irish Life, in the
Edinburgh Manuscript.
*°* See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiberni-
carum Scriptores," tomus ii. , Tigernachi Annales, p. 179.
2°5 In 598. If the death of Aidus was the cause of his liberation—which seems to be explained in the text—then the "aliqua exilii tempora," should denote that period which elapsed between 598 and 605.
t)um bobcc LabpAtToub mac eAchAch co-
tAinj; V11 iiii. , it), enairx [praelium Dunbolg
per Brandubh filium Eochachi cum Lage- niensibus iv. Id Jan] ubi ceciderunt Aed mac Ainmirech r»i enenn 1 rex Hibernia] anno regni xix setatis Lxiii. et Bee mac Cuanac ro AipgiAlX ocuf oAtne UAiple cle [rex Argiallise et nobilis alii]. " See also Rev. Dr. O'Connor's " Rerum Hibernica- rum Scriptores," tomusii. , pp. 160, 161.
198 It is remarkable, that a similar expul- sion and restoration of his father Colman is related in the Life of St. Cainnech at chap. 44, p. 27, in the Edition by the Marquis of Ormond. Also, in the Life of St. Mochoe-
"
Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," cap. xxx. , p. 594.
mog, published by Colgan, in his
ao6
's9 This all happened as predicted ; while the three short terms only represented three months, and not three years as expecied. See
ing to the Rev. Jeoffrey Keating,
2°7 Called in Latin Dorsum Cetre, or Dor-
sum Cette.
Son, be not sad, but rather rejoice and
200
According to the legend in the Manu-
days. '
In the Book of Glendalough, accord-
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 493
government of the people. However, it is not likely Columba and his disci- ples continued there, for all that time. Our holy Abbot cured the languors
of very many sick persons, by invoking the name of Christ, during the little
2
to their perfect health. °9 Crowds of the blind, lame and deaf resorted to
time he abode in that 208 whither he went to be place,
at the
of kings. For with the touch of his holy hand, or the hem of his garment, or with salt, bread, water or anything else blessed by him, he restored men
him,
and when came, he them motion and 210 they gave light, hearing.
CHAPTER XV.
VARIOUS VISITS OF ST. COLUMBA TO RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENTS, AFTER THE CON- VENTION AT DRUMCEAT—FOUNDATIONS ATTRIBUTED TO HIM—HIS SPIRIT OF PROPHECY MANIFESTED ON VARIOUS OCCASIONS—HE ATTENDS A GREAT RELIGIOUS ASSEMBLY AT EASDARA—AIDUS SLANE—BAITHEN, THE SON OF CUANACH—DISCI- PLES OF ST. COLUMKILLE.
It is that St. Columba remained at probable,
Drumceat,
but for a short
1
especially, when the measures in which he was interested had been satisfac-
torily concluded. He desired, however, to avail himself of the opportunity
now afforded, to ascertain in person the state of religious discipline in Ireland.
Thence he went to visit some monasteries, chiefly of his own foundation, or
his rule 2 how or which of them were thus honoured
governed by ; but, many
with his presence, on this occasion, cannot well be ascertained. 3 A certain
bishop of Cuil-raithen,4 now Coleraine, who was named Connall,s collected
innumerable from 6 in the districts of presents people living neighbouring
Maghelne,? which was bounded eastwardly by the Bush, and westwardly by the Bann river. In the seventeenth century, it was known as Tuogh, between the Band and the Boys, while it is at present nearly commensurate with the north-east Liberties of Coleraine. 8 With these gifts it was intended to furnish a banquet, to honour our saint. 9 He was then returning from attendance in that great synod held at Druimceat, and a vast multitude of persons accom-
at Cluain-Dallain, a church in the territory of the Dal-Aradii, at the 2nd of April. On
quantum videtur diverse" "Acta Sancto- rum," tomus ii. , Junii ix. , De Sancto Co- lumba, Abbate, Vita Secunda, lib. i. , cap. v. ,
208 " Adamnan states,
in Dorso Cette brevi commoratus est tempore. "
" Ea- dem die actum est inter Prsetermissos in
2°9 This Adamnan learned from the tradi-
tion of those that knew it. See Rev. Dr.
Reeves'Adamnan's"LifeofSt. Columba," Aprilinostro,deB. Conall—oDroma,abillo
lib. ii. , cap. 6, p. 113.
210 See " Trias Colgan's
Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. iii. , cap. xiv. ,
p. 433- — sect- 40, n. (a), p. 213.
* 6of"
The expression Adamnan is xenia populi multa. "
7 It is found written Eilniu in the Book of Armagh. Sometimes it is written Eillet principalement ti—ree de celle des anciens as, bann eccir* be Acur Gibte. Thus ren-
Chapter xv. See Rev. Dr. Reeves'
Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. ,
cap. 6, p. 113.
2 We are told it was " une Regie qui etait
moines d'Orient. " "Les Petits Bollandis-
tes Vies des Saints," tome vi. , ixe. Jour de
xiv. , p. 243.
4 Formerly an episcopal See, and a city of
Ulster, situated on the River Bann.
5 According to Colgan, he was venerated
dered " The Bann between Le and Eille. " Lee was on the left side.
Juin, p. 541.
3 See Rev. Dr.
" Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect.
of Down, Connorand Antiquities Dromore,"
Appendix FF, p. 330.
9 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 50, and nn. (a,
Lanigan's
present
meeting
this, the Bollandist editor remarks
:
8
:
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' "Ecclesiastical
b, c, d. e, f), pp. 97 to 99.
I0 "
Called Platea monasterii strata," by
time;
panied him. that led to the
The former
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9. These offerings of the people were laid in the street lo or lawn
494
" The mercy of God accompanieth the bestower of this gift, for his
11 to be blessed
when pointing at the gift of a rich man, called Brendan, while naming the party,
monastery,
by
St.
Columb,
as he 12 passed by,
he said
relief of the poor and for his munificence. " Afterwards, pointing at the present
:
of a wise but covetous man, he said
unless the giver do penance for his sins. " Which words, being published among the people, Columbus, 1 ^ son of Aidus, 14 came in haste, and falling on his knees did penance, promising ever after to abjure covetousness, to amend his life, and to become more liberal and charitable. " The saint desired him to arise, and from that moment, his former covetousness and passion for wealth altogether ceased. The rich and liberal Brendan, hearing in like manner what the saint spoke regarding himself, came and fell down at Columba's feet beseeching prayers. Although charitable to the poor, still he had committed other offences. Being rebuked for some sins, Brendan pro- mised amendment from that time forward ; and, so it came to pass, that both of them were cured of those special faults, in which they were respectively prone to indulge. 15 In this lesson, we are able to recognise the applicability of the scriptural saying, that charity covereth a multitude of sins.
A similar instance occurred, when large offerings had been made, at a time when Columba visited the Great Cell of Deathrib,16 now known as Kil-
Adamnan, the equivalent in Irish of platea 350, and nn, 105, 106, 107, pp. 382. 381 ;
of Col—
which not a vestige now remains occupied the site of the present shambles, beside the river. The situation of the abbey is shown in " The Plot of Coleraine," among the MS.
Maps in Trinity College, Dublin.
12 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan observes, that at
this place, "the text is much confused in
abbey
eraine of
pp. l6
404,
It is recorded in the Annals ofTigh-
Colgan's edition, but is very clear in Mes- "J"
:
" I can in no manner taste of this gift,
1? in the
Among all the other gifts, he knew a present which had been specially made by a just man, named Diormit. 20 The place where this occurred is now a parish, in the diocese of Elphin, and situated a short dis- tance south-east from the confluence of the River Boyle with the Shannon. 21 This was one of the churches founded by St. Colum >a previously to his removal into Scotland. It was probably in connexion with
more,
barony
of Ballintober
North,'
or plateola is^Aicce.
11
— Quinta Vita S. Colunibse, lib. i. , cap. xcvi. ,
p. 3.
singham's," lib. i. , cap. 19. See Ecclesi- ? It is described, on the Ordnance Sur-
astical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap. vey Townland Maps for the County of Ros- xii. , sect, xiv. , n. 222, p. 246. However, common," sheets 17, 18.
the Rev. Dr. Reeves replies: "This is a
strange prejudice, for the opening sentence as it stands in the shorter recension, which
Messingham copies, is scarcely translata- ble. "
13 Columbus, Columba, Columbanus, and Colman are various forms of the same name.
"
,8
Such is the correct identification of Dr. John O'Donovan, at A. D. 730, in his Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 327, 328, n. (s). In this he is supported by an entry at 752, where the Ui Crumthainn, the in- habitants of the modern baronies of Bally- moe and Killian, in the north-east part of Galway, adjacent to Kilmore, are repre- sented as burning Cill-mor-dithraibh.
*' Colgan incorrectly supposed, that Cell- mor Deathrib was the church in the county of Cavan, and which gives name to the dio- cese of Kilmore. See "Trias Thaumatur-
14 His son Columbus was a
Hibernice raoi. Colgan identifies him with
the individual commemorated in Marianus
Gorman's Calendar, at November the 8th,
andat December nth. niAc Aex)& clam
Cotum . 1. Cuile 'OArtiAin . 1. Cuile broum. ga," Quarta Vita S. Columboe, lib. i. , cap. 1. , This is translated : "Colum, son of Aedh p. 350, and n. 108, p. 381.
Clain, of Cuil Damhain, i. e. , Cuil Briuin. "
*> He is not otherwise known in his-
tory.
" From the of Kilmore on the position
"
Quarta Vita S. Columke, lib. i. , cap. 1. , p.
•8 See Colgan's
Trias Thaumaturga,"
vir sapiens,"
8 and of Roscommon. r9 county
405.
ernach at A. D. 736, 737, and in the Annals of Ulster, at A. D. 735, 736, as CilX-mop TMcpib. The Irish word oicpeab orTMcjuib
"
a wilderness. " See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Prima Vita S. Patricii, or Fiech's Hymn, 22,
is interpreted as meaning
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 495
his sojourn in this neighbourhood, that the incidents occurred, which are
related Adamnan 22 the river. by regarding Boyle
Derry, which lay at a short distance from Drumceat, St. Columba undoubtedly visited after his return from Scotland. ^ This is shadowed forth in the accounts or legends, regarding the liberation of Scanlan, Prince of Ossory; and it ismost natural to suppose, that the holy Abbot felt a special interest in examining the affairs, pertaining to the spiritual and temporal concerns of those subjects, who resided in his favourite Irish monastery. At Druim Cliabh, in Cairbre Droma Cliabh, now Drumcliff, in the county of Sligo, St. Columba is said to have founded a religious establishment,'4 but whether at this time or earlier has not been stated. We are told, when Columba visited that part of Carbery, known as Druim Cliabh, it so happened, that the daughter of Aedh, son to Ainmreach, had accidentally fallen into a river, called Methach, and she was drowned. Inconsolable for the loss of his daughter, the king sent for St. Columb, and earnestly besought him to raise her to life. The holy man was moved, by his faith and paternal sorrow. He placed the end of his bacull on the girl's breast ; when, to the great joy and admiration of all, she came to life.
To manifest his gratitude, the king then bestowed Drumcliffe, with
itsadjacentlands,onSt. Columba. There,heafterwardsbuiltachurch,and
placed one of his companions, Motharian,2* over it. However, the monas- tery of that place on close examination will be found probably, not to have been established until after our saint's death. 26 At that time, Aidus asked St. Columb, how many Kings or Dynasts of Ireland, who were contemporaneous with himself, enjoyed eternal life. The saint answered, only three were dis- tinguished for their remarkable piety, and had escaped the fire of Purgatory. These were Daimhin 2? of 28 Ailild 29
Dahmhairgid, King Oirghellia, Inbhanda, 1
King of Connaught,3° and Fearedach,^ son to Duach, lord of Ossory. Then, Aid asked, " shall I be saved ? " " By no means," returned the saint, with
great freedom of speech, "unless by penance and good works, you satisfy for the many crimes of your previous life. " Then, Aidus asked the saint, how
he might hope to have a complete victory over the people of Leinster, against whom he was about to conduct an expedition. But, Columba told him, that he could not promise such success, since his own mother be- longed to Leinster; and besides, he had promised a number of people assembled at Durrow, that so long as they contended with justice on their side, no strange potentate should obtain a victory over them. " Nevertheless," said he to the
"I shall bestowon
andso
wearit in
a
shall not fall. " This gift Aedh thankfully accepted. Afterwards, he wore it on
you
Shannon, and in the territory of Tir-Briuin, it is sometimes called in the Irish Annals, Cill-mor- Tir Bruin na Sinna, " Kilmore in Tir Briuin of the Shannon," or Cill-mor na Sinna, "Kilmore of the Shannon. " See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," at a. d. 1232, 1249, 1 330.
22SeeVitaS. Columbae,lib. i. , cap. xlii. , and lib. ii. , cap. xix.
23 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect. xiv. , p. 243.
25 His feast falls, on the 9th ofJune.
in his
long
you
battle, you
king,
24 See the
Donegal," Rev. Dr. Todd's and Reeves' edition, pp. 150, 151.
26
"
3I In the year 582, he was killed by his own familiars. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 210, 211.
3a This happened, A. D. 594.
O'Clerys'
Such is the opinion of Rev. Dr. Lanigan,
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
" of Martyrology
hood,
as
vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, x. , p. 1 32. See also, n. 114, pp. 137, 138.
2? From him are descended the Airghialla.
"
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 202, 203.
* His death is commemorated at A. D. 560. See ibid.
29HewassonofEoghan.
3° He was killed, with his brother Aedh Forthamhail, in the battle of Cuil Conaire, in the territory of Cera, A. D. 550. See
See Dr.