When
treating
about St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
TheplacewascalledGreatBangor,bywhichthe early Irish Annalists'" distinguished it from Bangor oftlie Britons," in Wales.
It has been stated," that on the present site of the English church,
Article x. —' See the Bollandists' Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 306, 307.
"Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis vii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 655.
5 According to the Annals of Clonmac- noise.
'See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Article —
'
The
is the
I.
with its English translation :—
stanza,
following
t)<ir eriAip inmAfCii\
bamop cuip Achempuil nii\hAeiv4T> UimuticuiiN CentjfAetiT) Mi benoch^m.
" The death of Januarius the martjrr, he was his temple's great tower. Not re-
proached by his family was Cennfaelad, Abbot of Bangor. "
'
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. In the Franciscan copy, we meet with CirrofeAUaT) Ah bean.
' See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis
viii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 740. * See Dr. O'Donovao's '• Annals of the
Four vol. Masters,"
i. , pp. 294, 295,
and n.
Ibid.
1 According to the Annals of Ulster, 'See Archdall's "Monasticum Hibemi-
cum," p. 107.
» At p. 314.
'° The name benntAH^ ino]\ is usually ap-
plied, by them, to this place.
" This is designated by Tighemach,
bentidAm biMconum "Bangor of the Bri-
tons. " See Tighemach, at A. D. 622, 756; and also, the Annals of Ulster, at a. d. 671,
755.
" See Rev. William Reeves' " Ecclesiasti-
cal Antiquities of Down, Connor, and Dro- more," p. 13, and n. (p. ) Ibid.
'^ The foundation of this church is thus
(c. )
78 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 8.
stoodtheancientoneofBeanchuir,orBangor. '3 This,however,seemsto me an inexact location, nor does it accord with the tradition of the inhabi- tants. The situation of the old monastery was undoubtedly within a vale, on either side of which two gentle eminences or ridges of land are to be seen. And its locality well deserved the title of the Vale ofAngels—which accord- ing to the old narrative it formerly bore—as well on account of its beautiful site, as also for the reason, that a numerous band of holy men sung the praises of the Almighty, on the spot, and for a long lapse of ages. In the beginningofthelastcentury,BisliopDeBurgo'• sawsomeruinsofBangor monastery. Immediately adjoining the church, the ruined walls of an old building are even yet shown ; and they lie, partly within the garden of the Rectory, or Glebe House, and partly facing the ornamental grounds of Bangor
Ancient Remains at Bangor, County of Down.
Castle,withinthedemesneenclosure,andnotfarfromitsentrancegate. Those
ruins are situated, about one-half statute mile, from the waters of Bangor Bay. 's
They are partly covered with trees and creeping plants. Although of some extent and height, they appear quite featureless, on the exterior, whence only •the writer had been enabled to obtain a view of them. He was informed, by
an intelligent inhabitant of Bangor who accompanied him,'* that the ancient cemetery extended a considerable distance, from these old walls, into the demense, as could be proved, from the quantity of human bones, removed from time to time, by labourers engaged in effecting improvements. He gave
recorded, by the Four Masters, at the year bernia Dominicana. " Caput Primum Praeam-
— :
version is
:
" oot<jn. 21. focug, bulum, ((5. )
552
ComgAit beti'ocViAip. "
eAcciui\ betrocViai)- p.
And the Latinized " Ecclesia Bennchorensis f—undata
'5 The
accompanying
sketch, taken by the writer, on the spot. This sketch has been drawn on the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and it was engraved by Mrs. Millard.
'*Ontheoccasionofavisitmade,inthe month of June, 1857.
Benchorensem. " Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scripto-
res," tomus iii. , p. 157.
per Comgallum
'*Hewrites: "IbiporroRuderan—onnulla
antiqui Monasterii nuperrime vidi. "
"
Hi-
illustration is from a
April 8. ] LIVES 01' THE IRISH SAINTS. 79
me to understand, that local traditions confirmed these disentombed indica- tions of a former burial place ; while the same traditions assigned the ancient monastic site to that place, where the present old walls are to be seen. As we learn, from the Life of St. Comgall,'? Bangor was foundeii, about the year 558 ; and, before halia century had passed, it was in such celebrity, that a greatnumberofmonksflockedtoit. '^ Fromtheearliestperiod,Bangorhad been regarded, as belonging to the civil territory of the Ards. 's Among the Acts, which reflect such great credit on the memory of our Abbot, the Cain Adamnain states, that this Cennfaeladh was among the saints, who went security for liberating women from military service, from bondage, and from
"" He
but, it ought to become still more mellowed and beautiful, like the evening's setting sun. As the Autumn proves its richness, with the golden sheaves and luscious fruits, so must good works and words ripen into merit, towards the harvest time of a well-spent existence.
Article II. —Reputep Feast of Cathald, or Cathlad, said to
HAVE been St. Cathub, Bishop of Trim, County of Meath. Century. \ Encompassed with the ruins of churches, monasteries, and castles, whose gray mouldering relics speak of ages long past, and old celebrities long forgotten, the ancient and celebrated city of Trim yet stands on a beautiful
site, over the Boyne. Formerly it was the seat of a bishop, and long after that time, it was the fortress and capital of the once powerful Meath palatinate. At an early period, this saint lived. We have recorded, in the Martyrology of Tallagh," that Cathub, a Bishop, had veneration paid him, at this date. ' Our annals relate, likewise, that on the 6th of April, the holy Cathub,3 son of Fearghus,AbbotofAchadh-cinn,dieda. d. 554* and,weareledtobelieve, he has been confounded with the present St. Cathald,' or Cathlad,* who
otherkindof
tury, on the 8th of April, a. d. 704, according to the Annals of Ulster, and of the Four Masters. '' According to the Martyrology of Donegal," St. Cennfaelad, Abbot of Bennchair, was venerated on this day. In an Irish Calendar, preserved at the Royal Irish Academy, the same statement is made, but the year given, a. d. 674,^3 seems to be assigned for the date of his death. This feast is in the Calendar, compiled by Rev. William Reeves. ''* We find him recorded, in the Scottish Kalendar of Drummond,'^ as a holy confessor, at this date, assigned for his departure to Christ. The life of a true saint should not only be aglow with promise, like the bright mornings of Summer ;
every
slavery.
died,
in the
early part
ofthe cen- eighth
' See his Life, at the loth of May.
' In Vita S. Comgalli, cap. xiii.
9 The Book of Armagh relates: "Com-
gallus constituit magnum monasterum quod
Tocatur Beanchor— inregionequaediciturAlti-
tudo Ultorum. " Fleming's "Collectinea
preserved, in the Royal Irish Academy.
»• See " Ecclesiastical Antiquities of
Down, Connor, and Dromore," Appendix LL, p. 377.
''Thus at (vi. Idus) "In Hibemia Sanctus Confessor Cennfael ad Christum migravit. " —Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 10.
Article ii. — Edited by Rev. D. Kelly,
p. xx. See, also, annotation to the Mar-
tyrology of Donegal, 'IntheFranciscancopy,wefind,C&chubi
e^pi.
^ See an account of him, at the date men-
Sacra," p. 305, col. 2. "" "
See The Martyrology of Donegal," by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 98, 99.
" See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 306, 307, and n. (y. ) Ibid.
"
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. °°' 99-
'' The entry rttns CAetinf^oUaT) <lbb tioned.
t)e4nnea^ eP -o' 674. See, the copy in the Common Place Book F, p. 36, which for- merly belonged to the Ordnance Survey Office, in the Phoenix Park, but which is now
< See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 190, 191.
5 So is he named, in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, lib. ii. , cap. iii.
{^Sixth
8o LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 8.
seems to have succeeded St. Fortchern,? in the See of Trim,^ probably some
tune, about the close of the fifth or the beginning of the sixth century. He
is called a Pilgrim, in the Acts of St. Patrick. * Now, Colgan conjectures,
that he may have been identical with St. Cathub, venerated on the 6th of
April—although through mistake the 8th is printed—and who died a. d. 554. "° Accordingly, under the he—ad of Trim, Archdall states," that on the 8th of
April—an error in Colgan died the holy Cathald, Cathlad, or Cathub, at A. D. 554. Without sufticient examination of liis identity, in like manner, Rev.
Anthony Cogan has Cathlad, or Cathub, of Trim, who departed this life, a. d. 554. " Itisbynomeanscertain,thathisplacewasinTrim. Thenameof
the present holy prelate is to be found, also, in the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman. 'J The Bollandists ' record the festival of Cathubius Episcopus, at the 8th of April.
Article III. —St. Aedhan, Mac Ua Duibhne. The published
'
has a record, at the 8th of April, regarding a festi- val to Aedan Mac h. Suibne. Marianus O'Gorman enters a St. Aidan, at this day. Colgan thinks, he must be identical with aScribe orChronographer of Dur- row,=' in the King's County, and whose death is recorded, in the Annals of the Four Masters, 3 under a. d. 827. At another reference, where Colgan enumerates
various saints, who bore the name of Aidan, in his Appendix to the Acts of St. Maidoc,* also called Aidan, or Aedan, he introduces the present holy man, known as Aidanusfilius Hua-Duibhna. s The Bollandists * have entered his feast, at the 8th of April, as Aidanus filius Hua-Dubnei. Thus, uncer-
tainty prevails regarding him. Aedhan, Mac Ua Duibhne, was venerated, on this day, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal. ?
Article IV. —St. Falbens, or St. Failbhe, of Erdam. In the
Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 8th of April, the name is entered, Failbhe Erdaim. In the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman, there is a record of
his feast, as having been celebrated, on this day.
When treating about St.
'Thus he is called by Jocelyn, who states, CAchiib ep,, Mar. , Mart. Taml. "Cathub, that he was a Briton, by race. Colgan, in a bishop, Marianus Gorman, and Mart, of
Martyrology of Tallagh
note, makes a passing observation, that he does not find such a name, in our Calendars ; but, there isaCathfad, orCathbath, at the ist of July, and at the 1 6th of September. As this name is not found, among the saints
Tanlacht. "
'* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Aprilis viii. Among the pretermitted saints,
restin" at Trim, Colgan says, he may have p. xx. In the Franciscan copy, we have
returned to Britain.
^ His feast belongs to the 1 7th of February,
and to the nth of October.
* See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," i. , ii. , p. 507.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. , II, pp. no, III ; Septima Vita S. Patricii, pp. 442,443.
lib. ii. , cap. iii. , p. 129.
9 See his Life, at the 17th of March,
chap. X.
'" See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xvii.
SextaVita S. Patricii, cap. lii. , p. 76, andn.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aptilis Februarii, De S. Lomano Episcopo Athtru- viii. Among the pretermitted festivals, p.
mensi, cap. iv. , and n. 14, pp. 362, 363. "See "MonasticonHibernicum,"p. 575. " See " Diocese of Meath, Ancient and
Modern," vol. i. , cliap. vi. , p. 47.
'3 According to Dr. Todd, in the Donegal
740.
? Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
98, 99.
Article iv. —« Edited byRev. Dr. Kelly.
In the Franciscan copy, we read -p^iilbe Martyrology, a more recent hand adds, eApcAi.
p. 740. —' Article hi.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
^XexjAni IUac u Quibne. ^"
See Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap- pendix ad Acta S. Columbce, cap. iv. , sect.
* See his Life, at the of 31st
January.
s See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xxxi.
Januarii, cap. i. , p. 221.
''
April 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 8i
Failbe, or Falve,' Abbot of lona, Colgan s refers to Falveus, Abbas Erdamen- sis, who died in the year 766, and, who was venerated, as he states, at the 8th
of February, whereas his meaning apparently was, at the 8th of April. In the Annals of the Four Masters,* we have the death of Failbhe Erdaimh entered, at the year 766. There is no identification of his place. The Bollandists,5 with a misprint of date, notice Falbeus Erdamensis, at the 8th of April. The festival, in honour of Failbhe,* was celebrated, on this day, as we find a re- cord, in the Martyrology of Donegal. ?
Article V. —St. Ronan, son of Fergus. He is mentioned, as Ronan Mac Fergus, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 8th of April, with the repetitionofaword,asRonanMacmicFergusa. TheBollandists,"quoting the same authority, seem erroneously to call him Conanus filius Fergussii, a C having been substituted for R, in the first letter of his name. We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ that Ronan, son of Fergus, had veneration paid him, at this date.
Article VI. —St. Januarius, Martyr. The holy Martyr Januarius ""
is noticed, in the Feilire of St . (Engus, as having been venerated in Ire- land. He suffered for the faith in Africa, with other companions, thus named,
in the ancient Martyrology of St. Jerome, viz. : Timorius, Januarius, Maca- rius, Connexus, Maxima, and Concessa. With several variations of names and entries, other ancient Calendars record this feast. The BoUandists treat of those African Martyrs, at the 8th of April,' yet without being able to throw much light on their history.
Article VII. —St. Tigernach, or Tighernan, of Aired, now
Errew, of Loch Conn, County of Mayo. On the 8th of April, in the
Martyrology of Tallagh,' we find the festival of Tigernach, Airidh. The
BoUandists also repeat this insertion, at the same date. ' His place is now
known, as Errew, on Lough Conn, in the parish of Crossmolina. s and in the
barony of Tirawley> The present saint must have flourished, towards the latter end of the fifth century, taking his pedigree, as given in the Book of
Lecan,5 for a basis of calculation. There, he is said to have been son of
'
His feast occurs, at the 10th of March.
5 SeeCoIgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- iriae,"x. Mariii, De S. Failbeo sive Falveo
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
'
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. , De Sanctis Martyri- bus, Timorio, Januario, Macario, Connexo, Maxima, et Concessa, Carthagine et alibi in
Abbate Hiensi, p. 576, and n. 4.
*
See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, voL L, pp. 368, 369.
}
more recent hand adds ©lATJAiTh, Mar. , Ci5ei\n4ch Ainit).
5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tonnis i. , Aprilis viii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 740. ' In a note, Dr. Todd here " The
says,
Africa, p. 745. — ARTICLE VII.
'
Rev. Dr. Editedby Kelly,
that Mariantis Gorman calls him "Failbhe of Erdamh," but epoAirfi is there added as a gloss. "
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
' Thus " de Aredh. " See : Tigemacus
"Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. Among the |)retermitted feasts, p. 740,
^ This very extensive parish is described, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
Sheets
for the County of Mayo," 27, 28, 29,
30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 45, 46, 47, 48, 58, 59. The townland of Errew is on sheets 38, 47.
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," Vol. iii. , n. (d) p. 3. : At fol. 46.
meaning
98, 99. — Article v.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. XX. In the Franciscan copy, it is non^ni
tn<jc ITepgnA.
'See "ActaSanctorum,"tomusi. , Aprilis
viii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 740.
'
98, 99. — Article vi.
xx. In the Franciscan we find p. copy,
r
82 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April's.
Ninnidh, son to Cairpri, son of Amhalgaidh, son to Fiachra, son of Eochaidh, monarch of Ireland. * He descended from the race of CoUa Uais, monarch
ofErinn,accordingtotheO'Clerys'Calendar. ' Thecelebratedgenealogist, Duald or Dubhaltach Mac Firbisigh, of Lecan, traces his descent from GioUa Phadraig, by whom St. Tighearnan of Errew was fostered. ^ On a point of Errew townland, stretching into Loch Conn, stood the ancient church of St.
On its site are the ruins of a modern Abbey of considerable extent, but now nearly decayed. Formerly, it was dedicated to the same saint. '° That extensive and romantic sheet of water, known as Lough Conn," lends an inexpressible charm to the neighbourhood. A holy well, called Tobar
Tighearnan. 9
Lough Conn, County of Mayo.
Tigheman, and dedicated to the patron, is situated to the south of Killeen townland. " A relic, known as Mias Tighearnain, or " St. Tighearnain's Dish," had been preserved for ages, in the family of O'Flynn, who are said to have been herenachs, or hereditary warders, of Errew. That object was held in the
' See O'Donovan's " John
A
hermit dwelt, who many a year had trod
Genealogies, Tribes,andCustomsofHy-Fiachrach,"n. (a),
p. 12.
"
'See MartyrologyofDonegal,"byRev.
Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 98, 99.
*
See John O'Donovan's "Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," pp. ioi to 103.
' To this primitive saint and to his place ofresidencemightprobablybeappliedthe descripticm, given by the following lines of a
—
In lonely cottage walled with mossy sod,
-Close by a little spring's perpetual rill.
With sacred solitude that pine-clad hill.
And loved with holy images to fill
distinguished Irish poetess
Mares, drawn on tlie wood, by Wiliiam F. Wakeraan, and it was engraved, by Mrs.
"
:
was Millard.
— His soul enrapt. " Mrs.
Article x. —' See the Bollandists' Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 306, 307.
"Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis vii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 655.
5 According to the Annals of Clonmac- noise.
'See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Article —
'
The
is the
I.
with its English translation :—
stanza,
following
t)<ir eriAip inmAfCii\
bamop cuip Achempuil nii\hAeiv4T> UimuticuiiN CentjfAetiT) Mi benoch^m.
" The death of Januarius the martjrr, he was his temple's great tower. Not re-
proached by his family was Cennfaelad, Abbot of Bangor. "
'
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. In the Franciscan copy, we meet with CirrofeAUaT) Ah bean.
' See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis
viii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 740. * See Dr. O'Donovao's '• Annals of the
Four vol. Masters,"
i. , pp. 294, 295,
and n.
Ibid.
1 According to the Annals of Ulster, 'See Archdall's "Monasticum Hibemi-
cum," p. 107.
» At p. 314.
'° The name benntAH^ ino]\ is usually ap-
plied, by them, to this place.
" This is designated by Tighemach,
bentidAm biMconum "Bangor of the Bri-
tons. " See Tighemach, at A. D. 622, 756; and also, the Annals of Ulster, at a. d. 671,
755.
" See Rev. William Reeves' " Ecclesiasti-
cal Antiquities of Down, Connor, and Dro- more," p. 13, and n. (p. ) Ibid.
'^ The foundation of this church is thus
(c. )
78 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 8.
stoodtheancientoneofBeanchuir,orBangor. '3 This,however,seemsto me an inexact location, nor does it accord with the tradition of the inhabi- tants. The situation of the old monastery was undoubtedly within a vale, on either side of which two gentle eminences or ridges of land are to be seen. And its locality well deserved the title of the Vale ofAngels—which accord- ing to the old narrative it formerly bore—as well on account of its beautiful site, as also for the reason, that a numerous band of holy men sung the praises of the Almighty, on the spot, and for a long lapse of ages. In the beginningofthelastcentury,BisliopDeBurgo'• sawsomeruinsofBangor monastery. Immediately adjoining the church, the ruined walls of an old building are even yet shown ; and they lie, partly within the garden of the Rectory, or Glebe House, and partly facing the ornamental grounds of Bangor
Ancient Remains at Bangor, County of Down.
Castle,withinthedemesneenclosure,andnotfarfromitsentrancegate. Those
ruins are situated, about one-half statute mile, from the waters of Bangor Bay. 's
They are partly covered with trees and creeping plants. Although of some extent and height, they appear quite featureless, on the exterior, whence only •the writer had been enabled to obtain a view of them. He was informed, by
an intelligent inhabitant of Bangor who accompanied him,'* that the ancient cemetery extended a considerable distance, from these old walls, into the demense, as could be proved, from the quantity of human bones, removed from time to time, by labourers engaged in effecting improvements. He gave
recorded, by the Four Masters, at the year bernia Dominicana. " Caput Primum Praeam-
— :
version is
:
" oot<jn. 21. focug, bulum, ((5. )
552
ComgAit beti'ocViAip. "
eAcciui\ betrocViai)- p.
And the Latinized " Ecclesia Bennchorensis f—undata
'5 The
accompanying
sketch, taken by the writer, on the spot. This sketch has been drawn on the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and it was engraved by Mrs. Millard.
'*Ontheoccasionofavisitmade,inthe month of June, 1857.
Benchorensem. " Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scripto-
res," tomus iii. , p. 157.
per Comgallum
'*Hewrites: "IbiporroRuderan—onnulla
antiqui Monasterii nuperrime vidi. "
"
Hi-
illustration is from a
April 8. ] LIVES 01' THE IRISH SAINTS. 79
me to understand, that local traditions confirmed these disentombed indica- tions of a former burial place ; while the same traditions assigned the ancient monastic site to that place, where the present old walls are to be seen. As we learn, from the Life of St. Comgall,'? Bangor was foundeii, about the year 558 ; and, before halia century had passed, it was in such celebrity, that a greatnumberofmonksflockedtoit. '^ Fromtheearliestperiod,Bangorhad been regarded, as belonging to the civil territory of the Ards. 's Among the Acts, which reflect such great credit on the memory of our Abbot, the Cain Adamnain states, that this Cennfaeladh was among the saints, who went security for liberating women from military service, from bondage, and from
"" He
but, it ought to become still more mellowed and beautiful, like the evening's setting sun. As the Autumn proves its richness, with the golden sheaves and luscious fruits, so must good works and words ripen into merit, towards the harvest time of a well-spent existence.
Article II. —Reputep Feast of Cathald, or Cathlad, said to
HAVE been St. Cathub, Bishop of Trim, County of Meath. Century. \ Encompassed with the ruins of churches, monasteries, and castles, whose gray mouldering relics speak of ages long past, and old celebrities long forgotten, the ancient and celebrated city of Trim yet stands on a beautiful
site, over the Boyne. Formerly it was the seat of a bishop, and long after that time, it was the fortress and capital of the once powerful Meath palatinate. At an early period, this saint lived. We have recorded, in the Martyrology of Tallagh," that Cathub, a Bishop, had veneration paid him, at this date. ' Our annals relate, likewise, that on the 6th of April, the holy Cathub,3 son of Fearghus,AbbotofAchadh-cinn,dieda. d. 554* and,weareledtobelieve, he has been confounded with the present St. Cathald,' or Cathlad,* who
otherkindof
tury, on the 8th of April, a. d. 704, according to the Annals of Ulster, and of the Four Masters. '' According to the Martyrology of Donegal," St. Cennfaelad, Abbot of Bennchair, was venerated on this day. In an Irish Calendar, preserved at the Royal Irish Academy, the same statement is made, but the year given, a. d. 674,^3 seems to be assigned for the date of his death. This feast is in the Calendar, compiled by Rev. William Reeves. ''* We find him recorded, in the Scottish Kalendar of Drummond,'^ as a holy confessor, at this date, assigned for his departure to Christ. The life of a true saint should not only be aglow with promise, like the bright mornings of Summer ;
every
slavery.
died,
in the
early part
ofthe cen- eighth
' See his Life, at the loth of May.
' In Vita S. Comgalli, cap. xiii.
9 The Book of Armagh relates: "Com-
gallus constituit magnum monasterum quod
Tocatur Beanchor— inregionequaediciturAlti-
tudo Ultorum. " Fleming's "Collectinea
preserved, in the Royal Irish Academy.
»• See " Ecclesiastical Antiquities of
Down, Connor, and Dromore," Appendix LL, p. 377.
''Thus at (vi. Idus) "In Hibemia Sanctus Confessor Cennfael ad Christum migravit. " —Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 10.
Article ii. — Edited by Rev. D. Kelly,
p. xx. See, also, annotation to the Mar-
tyrology of Donegal, 'IntheFranciscancopy,wefind,C&chubi
e^pi.
^ See an account of him, at the date men-
Sacra," p. 305, col. 2. "" "
See The Martyrology of Donegal," by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 98, 99.
" See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 306, 307, and n. (y. ) Ibid.
"
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. °°' 99-
'' The entry rttns CAetinf^oUaT) <lbb tioned.
t)e4nnea^ eP -o' 674. See, the copy in the Common Place Book F, p. 36, which for- merly belonged to the Ordnance Survey Office, in the Phoenix Park, but which is now
< See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 190, 191.
5 So is he named, in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, lib. ii. , cap. iii.
{^Sixth
8o LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 8.
seems to have succeeded St. Fortchern,? in the See of Trim,^ probably some
tune, about the close of the fifth or the beginning of the sixth century. He
is called a Pilgrim, in the Acts of St. Patrick. * Now, Colgan conjectures,
that he may have been identical with St. Cathub, venerated on the 6th of
April—although through mistake the 8th is printed—and who died a. d. 554. "° Accordingly, under the he—ad of Trim, Archdall states," that on the 8th of
April—an error in Colgan died the holy Cathald, Cathlad, or Cathub, at A. D. 554. Without sufticient examination of liis identity, in like manner, Rev.
Anthony Cogan has Cathlad, or Cathub, of Trim, who departed this life, a. d. 554. " Itisbynomeanscertain,thathisplacewasinTrim. Thenameof
the present holy prelate is to be found, also, in the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman. 'J The Bollandists ' record the festival of Cathubius Episcopus, at the 8th of April.
Article III. —St. Aedhan, Mac Ua Duibhne. The published
'
has a record, at the 8th of April, regarding a festi- val to Aedan Mac h. Suibne. Marianus O'Gorman enters a St. Aidan, at this day. Colgan thinks, he must be identical with aScribe orChronographer of Dur- row,=' in the King's County, and whose death is recorded, in the Annals of the Four Masters, 3 under a. d. 827. At another reference, where Colgan enumerates
various saints, who bore the name of Aidan, in his Appendix to the Acts of St. Maidoc,* also called Aidan, or Aedan, he introduces the present holy man, known as Aidanusfilius Hua-Duibhna. s The Bollandists * have entered his feast, at the 8th of April, as Aidanus filius Hua-Dubnei. Thus, uncer-
tainty prevails regarding him. Aedhan, Mac Ua Duibhne, was venerated, on this day, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal. ?
Article IV. —St. Falbens, or St. Failbhe, of Erdam. In the
Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 8th of April, the name is entered, Failbhe Erdaim. In the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman, there is a record of
his feast, as having been celebrated, on this day.
When treating about St.
'Thus he is called by Jocelyn, who states, CAchiib ep,, Mar. , Mart. Taml. "Cathub, that he was a Briton, by race. Colgan, in a bishop, Marianus Gorman, and Mart, of
Martyrology of Tallagh
note, makes a passing observation, that he does not find such a name, in our Calendars ; but, there isaCathfad, orCathbath, at the ist of July, and at the 1 6th of September. As this name is not found, among the saints
Tanlacht. "
'* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Aprilis viii. Among the pretermitted saints,
restin" at Trim, Colgan says, he may have p. xx. In the Franciscan copy, we have
returned to Britain.
^ His feast belongs to the 1 7th of February,
and to the nth of October.
* See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," i. , ii. , p. 507.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. , II, pp. no, III ; Septima Vita S. Patricii, pp. 442,443.
lib. ii. , cap. iii. , p. 129.
9 See his Life, at the 17th of March,
chap. X.
'" See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xvii.
SextaVita S. Patricii, cap. lii. , p. 76, andn.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aptilis Februarii, De S. Lomano Episcopo Athtru- viii. Among the pretermitted festivals, p.
mensi, cap. iv. , and n. 14, pp. 362, 363. "See "MonasticonHibernicum,"p. 575. " See " Diocese of Meath, Ancient and
Modern," vol. i. , cliap. vi. , p. 47.
'3 According to Dr. Todd, in the Donegal
740.
? Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
98, 99.
Article iv. —« Edited byRev. Dr. Kelly.
In the Franciscan copy, we read -p^iilbe Martyrology, a more recent hand adds, eApcAi.
p. 740. —' Article hi.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
^XexjAni IUac u Quibne. ^"
See Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap- pendix ad Acta S. Columbce, cap. iv. , sect.
* See his Life, at the of 31st
January.
s See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xxxi.
Januarii, cap. i. , p. 221.
''
April 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 8i
Failbe, or Falve,' Abbot of lona, Colgan s refers to Falveus, Abbas Erdamen- sis, who died in the year 766, and, who was venerated, as he states, at the 8th
of February, whereas his meaning apparently was, at the 8th of April. In the Annals of the Four Masters,* we have the death of Failbhe Erdaimh entered, at the year 766. There is no identification of his place. The Bollandists,5 with a misprint of date, notice Falbeus Erdamensis, at the 8th of April. The festival, in honour of Failbhe,* was celebrated, on this day, as we find a re- cord, in the Martyrology of Donegal. ?
Article V. —St. Ronan, son of Fergus. He is mentioned, as Ronan Mac Fergus, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 8th of April, with the repetitionofaword,asRonanMacmicFergusa. TheBollandists,"quoting the same authority, seem erroneously to call him Conanus filius Fergussii, a C having been substituted for R, in the first letter of his name. We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ that Ronan, son of Fergus, had veneration paid him, at this date.
Article VI. —St. Januarius, Martyr. The holy Martyr Januarius ""
is noticed, in the Feilire of St . (Engus, as having been venerated in Ire- land. He suffered for the faith in Africa, with other companions, thus named,
in the ancient Martyrology of St. Jerome, viz. : Timorius, Januarius, Maca- rius, Connexus, Maxima, and Concessa. With several variations of names and entries, other ancient Calendars record this feast. The BoUandists treat of those African Martyrs, at the 8th of April,' yet without being able to throw much light on their history.
Article VII. —St. Tigernach, or Tighernan, of Aired, now
Errew, of Loch Conn, County of Mayo. On the 8th of April, in the
Martyrology of Tallagh,' we find the festival of Tigernach, Airidh. The
BoUandists also repeat this insertion, at the same date. ' His place is now
known, as Errew, on Lough Conn, in the parish of Crossmolina. s and in the
barony of Tirawley> The present saint must have flourished, towards the latter end of the fifth century, taking his pedigree, as given in the Book of
Lecan,5 for a basis of calculation. There, he is said to have been son of
'
His feast occurs, at the 10th of March.
5 SeeCoIgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- iriae,"x. Mariii, De S. Failbeo sive Falveo
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
'
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. , De Sanctis Martyri- bus, Timorio, Januario, Macario, Connexo, Maxima, et Concessa, Carthagine et alibi in
Abbate Hiensi, p. 576, and n. 4.
*
See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, voL L, pp. 368, 369.
}
more recent hand adds ©lATJAiTh, Mar. , Ci5ei\n4ch Ainit).
5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tonnis i. , Aprilis viii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 740. ' In a note, Dr. Todd here " The
says,
Africa, p. 745. — ARTICLE VII.
'
Rev. Dr. Editedby Kelly,
that Mariantis Gorman calls him "Failbhe of Erdamh," but epoAirfi is there added as a gloss. "
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
' Thus " de Aredh. " See : Tigemacus
"Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. Among the |)retermitted feasts, p. 740,
^ This very extensive parish is described, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
Sheets
for the County of Mayo," 27, 28, 29,
30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 45, 46, 47, 48, 58, 59. The townland of Errew is on sheets 38, 47.
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," Vol. iii. , n. (d) p. 3. : At fol. 46.
meaning
98, 99. — Article v.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. XX. In the Franciscan copy, it is non^ni
tn<jc ITepgnA.
'See "ActaSanctorum,"tomusi. , Aprilis
viii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 740.
'
98, 99. — Article vi.
xx. In the Franciscan we find p. copy,
r
82 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April's.
Ninnidh, son to Cairpri, son of Amhalgaidh, son to Fiachra, son of Eochaidh, monarch of Ireland. * He descended from the race of CoUa Uais, monarch
ofErinn,accordingtotheO'Clerys'Calendar. ' Thecelebratedgenealogist, Duald or Dubhaltach Mac Firbisigh, of Lecan, traces his descent from GioUa Phadraig, by whom St. Tighearnan of Errew was fostered. ^ On a point of Errew townland, stretching into Loch Conn, stood the ancient church of St.
On its site are the ruins of a modern Abbey of considerable extent, but now nearly decayed. Formerly, it was dedicated to the same saint. '° That extensive and romantic sheet of water, known as Lough Conn," lends an inexpressible charm to the neighbourhood. A holy well, called Tobar
Tighearnan. 9
Lough Conn, County of Mayo.
Tigheman, and dedicated to the patron, is situated to the south of Killeen townland. " A relic, known as Mias Tighearnain, or " St. Tighearnain's Dish," had been preserved for ages, in the family of O'Flynn, who are said to have been herenachs, or hereditary warders, of Errew. That object was held in the
' See O'Donovan's " John
A
hermit dwelt, who many a year had trod
Genealogies, Tribes,andCustomsofHy-Fiachrach,"n. (a),
p. 12.
"
'See MartyrologyofDonegal,"byRev.
Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 98, 99.
*
See John O'Donovan's "Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," pp. ioi to 103.
' To this primitive saint and to his place ofresidencemightprobablybeappliedthe descripticm, given by the following lines of a
—
In lonely cottage walled with mossy sod,
-Close by a little spring's perpetual rill.
With sacred solitude that pine-clad hill.
And loved with holy images to fill
distinguished Irish poetess
Mares, drawn on tlie wood, by Wiliiam F. Wakeraan, and it was engraved, by Mrs.
"
:
was Millard.
— His soul enrapt. " Mrs.
