Both bishops were of the
Scottish
nation.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Yet, no ancient tombs are here to be seen.
If any formerly existed, they are either destroyed, or buried under the clay.
There can be no doubt, that the monastery, built formerly in Mohill, had been gf considerable extent,*^ Whether or not, the patron
chiefs of —
orMunter-Eolas theformer
Rannells, Monter-Olis, territory
Lemanaghan Old Church, King's County.
saint died and had been buried here seems to be yet a subject for enquiry. It is probable, however, that his remains had been enshrined here, and pre-
"
served for a long time in the monastery. There is an entry, in the
Annals
able shrine, with very correct and elegant plates of its details, will be found in an article, written by the Rev. James Graves, A. B. , M. R. I. A. , on the "Church and Shrine of St. Manchan," in "The Journal
to be seen from one of the principal streets Association of Ireland," vol. iii. Fourth of Mohill. The graves, at that time, were
of the Royal Historical and Archaeological
series, April, 1874, No. 18, pp. 134 to 150. 22 <<
Priniordia," pp. 969, 970.
'3 *' Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 410. «*See "Annals of the Four Masters,"
vol. ii. , n. (i), p. 1 157.
=5 On one of those old maps, preserved
among the MSS. of Trinity College Library,
all thickly covered over with a species of broad-leafed weed.
°7 See Breifny (Cavan and Leitrim) Letters of the Irish Ordnance Survey, preserved in
the library of the Royal Irish Academy Mr, O'Donovan's letter, dated Mohill, June 1 8th, 1836, p. 177.
Dublin, a place, marked as the Abb. of
Moyhill, may be traced, and it is shown to
have been a large building.
=^
In June, 1876, the writer had an op-
portunity of inspecting this spot, which is
February 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 523
oftheFourMasters,"ata. d. i166,whereweread "TheshrineofManchan, :
of Maethail, was covered by Ruaidhri Ua Conchobhair, and an embroider- ing of gold was carried over it by him, in as good a style as a relic was ever
covered in Ireland. " ^^ We have
known shrine, said to have belonged to St. Manchan, Patron of Leth, or Lemanaghan, in the King's County. The ruins there are within a much frequented graveyard ; and, at present, the old church measures 53 feet 6 inches interiorly, by 18 feet 4 inches in width. =*9 A fine cut stone window,
square-headed, yet with two pointed lights, is in the east end. The walls,3° of excellent limestone, are all covered with ivy. In the south side wall, as also in the western gable,3^ large breaches are observable, and near the east gable, on the south side, are the cut stone jambs of a window, with various ornamental carvings and figures. On the right side of the east window, interiorly, d. piscina is seen, in the side wall; a recessed place is under the window,probablytoreceiveaformerhighaltar,nowremoved. Northwards, from the church was an isolated, oblong building, 23 feet 5 inches in length, by 1 7 feet 7 inches in width ;32 yet, only a small fragment of the walls is now over the ground. 33 The cemetery here is well enclosed,34 and rich lands extend around it. The antiquarian visitor to this place will feel particularly interested, to follow the course of an ancient paved causeway, leading from the cemetery towards a large circular stone enclosure, or miir, less than a quarter of a mile distant. The interior has been planted, and through a
tangled growth of trees and briars, it is possible to reach, in the very centre, a nearly perfect oratory or dwelling of extreme antiquity. It is roofless, however, and its walls are all over shrouded with ivy. This old cyclopean building, which bears the name of the House of St. Monaghan's Mother,35
measures interiorly 18 feet 3 inches, by 10 feet 7 inches. s^ The doorway,
in one of its gables, is exceedingly narrow ; for, at the bottom, it only measures 2 feet 3 inches, while at the top, it gradually diminishes to i foot 10 inches. It is exactly 5 feet 7 inches in height. The walls of this very curiousancientbuildingareabout3feetinwidth. NearLemonaghan,there is a place called Killmonaghan. The year of our saint's death cannot be accurately ascertained ; however, it has been placed, by conjecture, at a. d. 65137 or 652,32 yet, only by those, who, with Archbishop Ussher, identify himwithManchan,AbbotofMenadrochit,inLeix. Thedeathofthislatter is referred to about that time. Colgan thinks them to have been different pcrsons,39 while Dr. Lanigan,4° and other later writers, adopt the same
'^
See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. ii. ,
stones, are strewed about it, as desci-ibed in
Rev. James Graves' article, pp. 134 to 139. 3S In our Calendars, she is called St. Mella,
but the date for her festival is not g^ven.
minutely the building and mur^ at this place, giving some interesting illustrations of both, in the article to which allusion has been
already made. See pp. 139 to 141.
37 See M. I'Abbe Ma-Geoghegan's "His-
toire de I'lrlande," tome i. , seconde partie, chap, iii. , p. 308.
Wakeman.
30 These are over three feet in thickness. 3' Here stood a fine doorway, with beauti-
ful recessed and sharply cut mouldings, with-
in the memory of persons yet living.
32 By referring to the Rev. Mr. Graves'
measurements, in the article already quoted, it will be seen how closely his calculations agree with mine ; although, I have no doubt his deserve the palm for greater accuracy.
33 This is partly shown in the foreground
38 According to the
**
of the
34 Several ancient tombs, and fine carved
engraving.
already
alluded to the existence of a well
pp. 1 156, 1 157.
*9 The writer, who visited the site, in
June, 1876, obtained a sketch of this church,
as figured in the engraving, by Mrs. Millard,
from a drawing on the wood by W. F. Graves' measurement. He describes more
3'^ This closely agrees with Rev. Janaes
Annals of Ulster. " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xiv. Februarii. De S. Mancheno sive Manchano,
Abbate Mocthalensi, p. 332.
'° See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect, vi. , p. 29.
39 See
"
524 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February14.
opinion. WeretheancientLifeofthissaintextant,andaccessible,itshould, perhaps, enable us to decide this question more positively. His feast is
assigned to the 14th of February, on which day, some of his disciples are also venerated with him. Although, St. ^ngus the Culdee wholly passes
"
over all allusion to them, in his
Feilire," at this date ; yet, either he, or the
ancient author of the " Book of Litanies of the Saints of Ireland," has a
"
commemoration of St. Manchen, the Master," with one hundred and fifty
of his companions, who are invoked. -^^ At the 14th of February, or xvi. of the March Kalends, the Tallagh Martyrology notices a festival of St. Manchan
Moethla, and of his companions. ^^ From the number of these, Colgan presumes, that our saint is here meant, inasmuch as he presided over seven different churches—a distinction supposed to be referable only to him, among theotherholymen,bearinghisname. Wefind,likewise,thatMainchein,
of Moethail,'^3 is set down in the Martyrology of Donegal,'^'^ on this day. According to an inquisition, found in the Chief Remembrancer's Office, and taken in Queen Elizabeth's time, certain particulars are contained in it, re- garding an abbey that then existed in MohilL-^s It seems to have been erected,underthepatronageofthepresentholyman. AtInisnag,diocese of Ossory, St. Manchan, whose feast occurs on the 14th of February, was venerated as a patron. ^^ The holy ones of a former age constantly repeated the question—" What shall I do when God shall rise to judge ? And when he shall examine, what s—hall I answer him ? " Their minds were filled with those words of St. Peter " If the just man shall scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear ? " They meditated on our Lord's warning, to be always ready, as none can know the time of his coming ; and thus, hke home-sick mariners longing for the shore, they strained their gaze beyond the raging elements around, to catch a glimpse of that happier land towards which they were steering. Death does not bring to them the terrors it brings to the wicked, for though they may have sinned, the tears of re- pentancehavewashedouttheirstains; thoughtheymayhavewandered,like the prodigal into the strange land of vice, still love for their father, and re- membrance of the delights of their early home allured them back, and they were reinstalled in their lost inheritance.
Article II. —St. Cellach, or Kellach, Bishop and Confessor.
[^Seventh Century. '] Our early Christian communities were established, by men of great zeal and self-sacrifice ; who were clothed in rude garments ;
who broke their sleep, at night, to sing the praises of God ; who were, in fact, buriedalive,thattheymightknowGod. Crowdsofholyandferventsouls
4' See " The Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. iii. , June, 1 867, pp. 468, 469. It must be remarked, in this connexion, he and his disciples are distinguished from the Con- chennaighi with Manchan of Liethmor. See ibid. , May, 1867, pp. 396, 397. —
4' "Manchani Moethla cum sociissuis. "
Elizabeth finds, that this contained within the precincts, half an acre of land, whereon was a church with two buildings of stone, and a cemetery of no annual value ; adjoin- ing the same were three quarters of land with the tithes thereof, which were of the annual value of and the third of
and Cowlemagarre, annual value, besides
tothe
appropriated abbot. " Breifny (Cavan and Leitrim) Letters of the Irish Ordnance Survey, pre- served in the Royal Irish Academy. One
volume, p, 343.
'^ See "Statuta Dioecesis Ossoriensis,"
sect. 8, p. 25.
Rev. Dr. Kelly's &c. , p. XV.
**
Calendar of Irish Saints,"
40s. ; part all the tithes of the townland of Ballymachow
Dr. Todd at says
— was reprizes, 13s. 4d.
*3
"The more recent hand adds, * Cum sociis,' Mart. Taml. But, the Brussels MS. of the
"
Mart. Taml. reads, ' Cum sociis suis. '
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
48,49.
« ••Inquisition 27th June, 32nd Queen
In a note,
Mocthail,
February 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 525
were joined together, trying to emulate the zeal, the devotedness, the single- mindedness of pious men, who laboured to advance Christ's kingdom on earth. Unable to procure any Acts of this good missionary, in a connected form, Colgan furnishes his readers^ with these following notices of St. Cellach or Kellach. '* This name is said to be derived from the word, Ceall. 3 Ac-
or "abun- ad cellam. " CellachissometimesrenderedintoCellanus. Butitisimproperlyread,and written, by the British writers, Colach^ Coellach,5 Ceolath,^. Ceolla,7 Ceol- lachus,^ Colleach, and Ceolach, as also Coellet. 9 Colgan observes, that in
the Irish Martyrologies and Calendars, more than forty Irishmen having the name of Cellach are enumerated. All of these were celebrated for their
writers, St. Cellach was by birth an Irishman.
to it weare cording etymology, signifies,
"dives "
cellarum," spectans
dans in its common cellarum," but,
told, acceptation,
Article ii. —^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xiv. Februarii. De S. Cellaco sive Kellaco, Abbate et Confessore, ex variis, PP- 333 to 335.
Februarii, n. 3, p. 334.
" See " Acta Sanctorum," tomusii. , Feb*
est, Cella,"
'° Under the name
and
the Bollandists briefly allude to him. " Although called a Scot, by foreign
sanctity
learning.
Ceolathus, Bishop
Lichfield,
circumstances of Saints Aidan, Finan, Colman and Dima, having been his
colleagues and fellow-countrymen. ^3 St. Cellach was by profession a monk,
but, we know not if his noviceship commenced in Ireland. It is stated, however, that his monastery was at lona, before he became a preacher of the
word, in a more distant place. ''^ Inspired with missionary zeal, however, he left his native country, to contribute in spreading the Gospel, among the
Anglo-Saxons. It has been thought by Dempster—but very absurdly—that
during his pontificate, over the Mid-English, a celebrated dispute regarding
the Paschal celebration arose, and that he wrote four distinct books, which
are thus " De Paschate " De Petri distinguished, celebrando," Prerogativa,"
" De Concordia Ecclesiastica," and " Meditationes. " 's For these statements, however, he cites no authority. It is also said, this holy man had been the second bishop over Coventry,'^ and for this statement, William of Malmes- bury is cited ;'7 but, he has not the slightest allusion to this saint, in connexion with the text of his narrative. His efforts, as a missionary, were attended with great success. On the death of Dima,^^ his countryman, and the first appointed bishop, Cellach is said to have been elevated to the episcopal dignity, amongst the Mercians, and Middle English. ^?
Both bishops were of the Scottish nation. ='° According to Ferrarius,^'^ he was the first Bishop
that the letter K was not
" See "Acta Sanctorum
= He
used by the Irish, but its sound was given to the letter C, which was in use. Hence Kellach and Cellach will be found identical in pronunciation, although different in spel-
ling.
3 Id **
Februarii, nn. i, 2, p. 334.
'3 This Colgan engages to show more
fully at the 3rd of August, at the 9th of January, at the 8th of August, and at the
19th of July, when treating about them,
under the dates of their festivals. respective
'4 See Trithemius, "De Viris lUustribus Ordinis S. Benedicti," lib. iv. , cap. 147.
remarks,
Hiberni£e,"xiv.
Latini. < As by Trithemius.
s See Dempster's " Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num.
272, p. 160. ^"
"
Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num.
272, p. 161.
See Dempster's Menologium Scoti-
cum. " Bishop Forbes' Scottish Saints," p. 192.
7 See ibid. , p. 302.
" *^
^
and Matthew of Westminster.
Kalendars of
Worcester,
See ibid.
^^ " De Gestis Pontificum Anglife," lib.
iv. , p. clxiv.
'^ He was an Irishman,
'9 See Venerable Bede's "Historia Ec*
clesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. ii. , Cap. xxvi.
According
to Florence of
9 Huntingdon, lib. iii. , p. cxci.
'° "
See Acta Sanctoriun Hibemias," xiv.
^^
of
This appears from the
ruarii xiv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 742.
^s See Dempster's
Historia Ecclesiastica
526 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February14.
of Lichfield f^ and, again, we are told, that distinguished for his sanctity, he afterwardsruledoverthearchiepiscopalchurchofLincoln. Colganremarks, on this passage, that our saint was not the first, but the second Bishop of Lichfield, or over the whole province of Mercia, in which Lichfield is situated. The first bishop was St. Dima, according to what has been stated in previous notes. Nor do we find, from any other source, that our saint was Archbishop of Lincoln ; but only that he was bishop of the country around Lincoln, which was called Lindissia. The Latin name Lin- disfarnensis,^3 for Lincoln, might induce some to confound that see with Lindisfarne Island, whic—h was also a bishopric, over which the following holy
St.
bishops over this ancient see. ^-* Godwin states, that he was the second Scottish Bishop of Lichfield. 's Other English writers do not determine the exact place, in which he discharged the duties of his episcopal ofiice. ^'^ It would appear, that owing to the small number of faithful in those parts, at this time, our saint ruled over three distinct provinces as bishop. These districts were afterwards erected into five or six different sees. Having exercised the duties of his exalted station for some time, and being desirous to lead a life of greater retirement and asceticism, it is said, he became the inmate of a monastery, after having voluntarily renounced the cares of his episcopal station. =^7 At the year 656, this event is narrated by Matthew of Westminster,^^ who relates that Cellachus returned to Scotia. He was suc- ceeded by Trumhere,^9 or Trumher,3° when he had resigned. 3== The account given by some writers states, that his place of retreat was lona Island, where manyofhiscompatriotsresided. 3' VenerableBedetellsus,thathereturned to Scotia, whence he sprung ; and, by this term, he could only have under-
stood apparently Hibernia or Ireland, the proper land of the Scots. 33 How- ever, it appears, by this form of expression, he understood the Island of Hy. 34 The monastery of lona Island, whence the Scoto-British writers say Cellach came, and to which he returned, was founded by St. Columkille,35 an Irish- man. For the most part, it was inhabited by his fellow-countrymen and disciples. Hence, it was regarded as an appanage to Ireland. Bede him- self bears witness, that the Island of Hy, belonged to those Scoti or Scots, who preached the faith to the Northern Picts. Speaking of Hy, this writer
=° See ibid. , lib. iii. , cap. xxi. Also =7 See Godwin, " De Praesulibus Angliae,"
men successively ruled
seventeen
Finan, ten Colman, ;
Aidan,
three, and Tuda, one year. Afterwards, St. Eata, and St. Cuthbert, were
Florence of Worcester, in his Chronicle, at A. D. 655.
lib. iv. , p. 363.
"See*•
=' "
:
years ;
="9 SeeTrithemius' See,also,WilliamofMalmesbury, De p. 526.
Catalogus
GeneralisSanctonim. "
"Regula
S. Benedicti,"
Kalendars of
Gestis Pontificum Anglorum," lib. iv. , p. 307. Edited by N. E. S. A. Hamilton.
^3 See Dempster's "Menologium Scoti-
cum," in Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 192. The Bollandists xxx.
remark, that Dempster—quotes the authority 3" See Trithemius, **De Viris Illustribus
not Ordinis
of Brunus and Sinclair which they had S. Benedicti," lib. iv. , cap. 147.
seen— for his notice of this saint. See 33 The inhabitants of our island, he usually "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Februarii calls Scots. See " Historia Ecclesiastica
xiv.
Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. i. , lib. ii. ,
cap. iv. , lib. iii. , cap. iii. , xix. , xxiv. , lib.
iv. , xxvi. cap.
Among the pretermitted saints, p.
" Acta Sanctonim Hiber-
"5 See Godwin, "De Prsesulibus Angliae,"
742.
="* See
Colgan's
nice," xiv. Februarii, n. 8, p. 335.
34
Bede says, "Qui non multi post Epis-
lib.
"^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xiv. Februarii. De S. Cellaco sive Kellaco, Abbate et Confessore, pp. 333, 334.
copatu relicto, reversus est ad insulam Hy,
ubi — &arcemScotihabuere plurimorumcaput
iv. , p. 363.
"
.
Caenobiorum. "
Historia Ecclesiastica
^"^ " See
Flores Historiarum," a. d. dclvi.
3° " See Bishop Forbes'
Scottish Saints," pp. 302, 454.
3' See Bede's "Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxi. , xxiv. ,
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxi. 35 See his Life, at the 9th of June.
February 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 527
informs us, that although, by its natural and original position it belonged to Great Britain ; yet, the Picts, who had jurisdiction over it, transferred posses- sion to the Scottish or Irish monks. 3^ He also tells us, that these first occupants were St. Columkille37 and his disciples, who came over from Hibernia, a. d. 565, at a time, when Justinus Minor had succeeded Justinian, in the government of the Roman Empire. At this epoch, also, the ninth year of the reign of Bridius,3S son of Meilchon, over the Picts, had arrived ; and, this latter being converted to the true Faith, by Columba, bestowed on himtheislandknownasHy,whereontoerectamonastery. 39 Wearetold, that Cellach flourished about the year 645 ; but, Colgan does not undertake to pronounce regarding the exact year of his decease. Others state, that he flourished a. d. 657,^° 660,4^ or 666. 4» Dempster could not discover the
time when, or the place where, he died ; yet, he suspected, it must have been in Scotia, whither he retired. '^3 The day of his death is named, as the 14th
of this month, by foreign writers-'^'^ The Irish Calendarists, at this day, mentionnosaintbearingthename. However,itisoneoffrequentoccur- rence, in our Annals and Menologies. '^s Yet Dempster has it thus noted. -*^ There is a parish of Colace47 mentioned, in the Retours^^ of Aberdeen. 49 Whether or not, it had connexion with the present saint, we are unable to state. The English Martyrology has no mention of St. Coelath, at this date ; but, the Bollandists, in placing him among the pretermitted saints, s° promise to state more concerning him, at the 2nd of June, if they only discovered anything reliable, regarding his Acts and his cultus.
Article III. —St. Caomhan, Convan, Conan or Coman, Missionary
INTHEOrkneyIslands,Scotland. TheOrkneyarchipelago. FairIsle, and the Shetland archipelago, constitute the whole of the northern islands of Scotland. The Orkneys comprise the most southern group, and are geogra- phically divisible into the districts of South Isles, Mainland and North Isles. The district of South Isles includes the inhabited Islands of South Ronald- shay, Pentland Skerries, Swona, Burray, Hunda, Hoy, Flota, South Pharay,
and Graemsay. Ecclesiastically, it is distributed into the parish of South Ronaldshay, or into the united parishes of St. Mary and St. Peter, the united
parishes of Walls and Flota, and the united parishes of Hoy and Graemsay. The district of Mainland comprehends the inhabited islands of Pomona,
Cava, Lambholm, Copinshay, and Gairsay. Ecclesiastically, it is distributed into the parish of Orphir, the united parishes of Holm and Paplay, the united parishes of Deerness and St. Andrews, the parish of Kirkwall and St. Ola, the united parishes of Firth and Stenness, the parish of Stromness, the parish of Sandwick, the united parishes of Birsay and Harray, with the united parishes
s'^ These had spread the Gospel, through the province of the Northern Picts.
Scotorum," tomus i. , lib.
chiefs of —
orMunter-Eolas theformer
Rannells, Monter-Olis, territory
Lemanaghan Old Church, King's County.
saint died and had been buried here seems to be yet a subject for enquiry. It is probable, however, that his remains had been enshrined here, and pre-
"
served for a long time in the monastery. There is an entry, in the
Annals
able shrine, with very correct and elegant plates of its details, will be found in an article, written by the Rev. James Graves, A. B. , M. R. I. A. , on the "Church and Shrine of St. Manchan," in "The Journal
to be seen from one of the principal streets Association of Ireland," vol. iii. Fourth of Mohill. The graves, at that time, were
of the Royal Historical and Archaeological
series, April, 1874, No. 18, pp. 134 to 150. 22 <<
Priniordia," pp. 969, 970.
'3 *' Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 410. «*See "Annals of the Four Masters,"
vol. ii. , n. (i), p. 1 157.
=5 On one of those old maps, preserved
among the MSS. of Trinity College Library,
all thickly covered over with a species of broad-leafed weed.
°7 See Breifny (Cavan and Leitrim) Letters of the Irish Ordnance Survey, preserved in
the library of the Royal Irish Academy Mr, O'Donovan's letter, dated Mohill, June 1 8th, 1836, p. 177.
Dublin, a place, marked as the Abb. of
Moyhill, may be traced, and it is shown to
have been a large building.
=^
In June, 1876, the writer had an op-
portunity of inspecting this spot, which is
February 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 523
oftheFourMasters,"ata. d. i166,whereweread "TheshrineofManchan, :
of Maethail, was covered by Ruaidhri Ua Conchobhair, and an embroider- ing of gold was carried over it by him, in as good a style as a relic was ever
covered in Ireland. " ^^ We have
known shrine, said to have belonged to St. Manchan, Patron of Leth, or Lemanaghan, in the King's County. The ruins there are within a much frequented graveyard ; and, at present, the old church measures 53 feet 6 inches interiorly, by 18 feet 4 inches in width. =*9 A fine cut stone window,
square-headed, yet with two pointed lights, is in the east end. The walls,3° of excellent limestone, are all covered with ivy. In the south side wall, as also in the western gable,3^ large breaches are observable, and near the east gable, on the south side, are the cut stone jambs of a window, with various ornamental carvings and figures. On the right side of the east window, interiorly, d. piscina is seen, in the side wall; a recessed place is under the window,probablytoreceiveaformerhighaltar,nowremoved. Northwards, from the church was an isolated, oblong building, 23 feet 5 inches in length, by 1 7 feet 7 inches in width ;32 yet, only a small fragment of the walls is now over the ground. 33 The cemetery here is well enclosed,34 and rich lands extend around it. The antiquarian visitor to this place will feel particularly interested, to follow the course of an ancient paved causeway, leading from the cemetery towards a large circular stone enclosure, or miir, less than a quarter of a mile distant. The interior has been planted, and through a
tangled growth of trees and briars, it is possible to reach, in the very centre, a nearly perfect oratory or dwelling of extreme antiquity. It is roofless, however, and its walls are all over shrouded with ivy. This old cyclopean building, which bears the name of the House of St. Monaghan's Mother,35
measures interiorly 18 feet 3 inches, by 10 feet 7 inches. s^ The doorway,
in one of its gables, is exceedingly narrow ; for, at the bottom, it only measures 2 feet 3 inches, while at the top, it gradually diminishes to i foot 10 inches. It is exactly 5 feet 7 inches in height. The walls of this very curiousancientbuildingareabout3feetinwidth. NearLemonaghan,there is a place called Killmonaghan. The year of our saint's death cannot be accurately ascertained ; however, it has been placed, by conjecture, at a. d. 65137 or 652,32 yet, only by those, who, with Archbishop Ussher, identify himwithManchan,AbbotofMenadrochit,inLeix. Thedeathofthislatter is referred to about that time. Colgan thinks them to have been different pcrsons,39 while Dr. Lanigan,4° and other later writers, adopt the same
'^
See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. ii. ,
stones, are strewed about it, as desci-ibed in
Rev. James Graves' article, pp. 134 to 139. 3S In our Calendars, she is called St. Mella,
but the date for her festival is not g^ven.
minutely the building and mur^ at this place, giving some interesting illustrations of both, in the article to which allusion has been
already made. See pp. 139 to 141.
37 See M. I'Abbe Ma-Geoghegan's "His-
toire de I'lrlande," tome i. , seconde partie, chap, iii. , p. 308.
Wakeman.
30 These are over three feet in thickness. 3' Here stood a fine doorway, with beauti-
ful recessed and sharply cut mouldings, with-
in the memory of persons yet living.
32 By referring to the Rev. Mr. Graves'
measurements, in the article already quoted, it will be seen how closely his calculations agree with mine ; although, I have no doubt his deserve the palm for greater accuracy.
33 This is partly shown in the foreground
38 According to the
**
of the
34 Several ancient tombs, and fine carved
engraving.
already
alluded to the existence of a well
pp. 1 156, 1 157.
*9 The writer, who visited the site, in
June, 1876, obtained a sketch of this church,
as figured in the engraving, by Mrs. Millard,
from a drawing on the wood by W. F. Graves' measurement. He describes more
3'^ This closely agrees with Rev. Janaes
Annals of Ulster. " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xiv. Februarii. De S. Mancheno sive Manchano,
Abbate Mocthalensi, p. 332.
'° See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. iii. , chap, xvii. , sect, vi. , p. 29.
39 See
"
524 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February14.
opinion. WeretheancientLifeofthissaintextant,andaccessible,itshould, perhaps, enable us to decide this question more positively. His feast is
assigned to the 14th of February, on which day, some of his disciples are also venerated with him. Although, St. ^ngus the Culdee wholly passes
"
over all allusion to them, in his
Feilire," at this date ; yet, either he, or the
ancient author of the " Book of Litanies of the Saints of Ireland," has a
"
commemoration of St. Manchen, the Master," with one hundred and fifty
of his companions, who are invoked. -^^ At the 14th of February, or xvi. of the March Kalends, the Tallagh Martyrology notices a festival of St. Manchan
Moethla, and of his companions. ^^ From the number of these, Colgan presumes, that our saint is here meant, inasmuch as he presided over seven different churches—a distinction supposed to be referable only to him, among theotherholymen,bearinghisname. Wefind,likewise,thatMainchein,
of Moethail,'^3 is set down in the Martyrology of Donegal,'^'^ on this day. According to an inquisition, found in the Chief Remembrancer's Office, and taken in Queen Elizabeth's time, certain particulars are contained in it, re- garding an abbey that then existed in MohilL-^s It seems to have been erected,underthepatronageofthepresentholyman. AtInisnag,diocese of Ossory, St. Manchan, whose feast occurs on the 14th of February, was venerated as a patron. ^^ The holy ones of a former age constantly repeated the question—" What shall I do when God shall rise to judge ? And when he shall examine, what s—hall I answer him ? " Their minds were filled with those words of St. Peter " If the just man shall scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear ? " They meditated on our Lord's warning, to be always ready, as none can know the time of his coming ; and thus, hke home-sick mariners longing for the shore, they strained their gaze beyond the raging elements around, to catch a glimpse of that happier land towards which they were steering. Death does not bring to them the terrors it brings to the wicked, for though they may have sinned, the tears of re- pentancehavewashedouttheirstains; thoughtheymayhavewandered,like the prodigal into the strange land of vice, still love for their father, and re- membrance of the delights of their early home allured them back, and they were reinstalled in their lost inheritance.
Article II. —St. Cellach, or Kellach, Bishop and Confessor.
[^Seventh Century. '] Our early Christian communities were established, by men of great zeal and self-sacrifice ; who were clothed in rude garments ;
who broke their sleep, at night, to sing the praises of God ; who were, in fact, buriedalive,thattheymightknowGod. Crowdsofholyandferventsouls
4' See " The Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. iii. , June, 1 867, pp. 468, 469. It must be remarked, in this connexion, he and his disciples are distinguished from the Con- chennaighi with Manchan of Liethmor. See ibid. , May, 1867, pp. 396, 397. —
4' "Manchani Moethla cum sociissuis. "
Elizabeth finds, that this contained within the precincts, half an acre of land, whereon was a church with two buildings of stone, and a cemetery of no annual value ; adjoin- ing the same were three quarters of land with the tithes thereof, which were of the annual value of and the third of
and Cowlemagarre, annual value, besides
tothe
appropriated abbot. " Breifny (Cavan and Leitrim) Letters of the Irish Ordnance Survey, pre- served in the Royal Irish Academy. One
volume, p, 343.
'^ See "Statuta Dioecesis Ossoriensis,"
sect. 8, p. 25.
Rev. Dr. Kelly's &c. , p. XV.
**
Calendar of Irish Saints,"
40s. ; part all the tithes of the townland of Ballymachow
Dr. Todd at says
— was reprizes, 13s. 4d.
*3
"The more recent hand adds, * Cum sociis,' Mart. Taml. But, the Brussels MS. of the
"
Mart. Taml. reads, ' Cum sociis suis. '
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
48,49.
« ••Inquisition 27th June, 32nd Queen
In a note,
Mocthail,
February 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 525
were joined together, trying to emulate the zeal, the devotedness, the single- mindedness of pious men, who laboured to advance Christ's kingdom on earth. Unable to procure any Acts of this good missionary, in a connected form, Colgan furnishes his readers^ with these following notices of St. Cellach or Kellach. '* This name is said to be derived from the word, Ceall. 3 Ac-
or "abun- ad cellam. " CellachissometimesrenderedintoCellanus. Butitisimproperlyread,and written, by the British writers, Colach^ Coellach,5 Ceolath,^. Ceolla,7 Ceol- lachus,^ Colleach, and Ceolach, as also Coellet. 9 Colgan observes, that in
the Irish Martyrologies and Calendars, more than forty Irishmen having the name of Cellach are enumerated. All of these were celebrated for their
writers, St. Cellach was by birth an Irishman.
to it weare cording etymology, signifies,
"dives "
cellarum," spectans
dans in its common cellarum," but,
told, acceptation,
Article ii. —^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xiv. Februarii. De S. Cellaco sive Kellaco, Abbate et Confessore, ex variis, PP- 333 to 335.
Februarii, n. 3, p. 334.
" See " Acta Sanctorum," tomusii. , Feb*
est, Cella,"
'° Under the name
and
the Bollandists briefly allude to him. " Although called a Scot, by foreign
sanctity
learning.
Ceolathus, Bishop
Lichfield,
circumstances of Saints Aidan, Finan, Colman and Dima, having been his
colleagues and fellow-countrymen. ^3 St. Cellach was by profession a monk,
but, we know not if his noviceship commenced in Ireland. It is stated, however, that his monastery was at lona, before he became a preacher of the
word, in a more distant place. ''^ Inspired with missionary zeal, however, he left his native country, to contribute in spreading the Gospel, among the
Anglo-Saxons. It has been thought by Dempster—but very absurdly—that
during his pontificate, over the Mid-English, a celebrated dispute regarding
the Paschal celebration arose, and that he wrote four distinct books, which
are thus " De Paschate " De Petri distinguished, celebrando," Prerogativa,"
" De Concordia Ecclesiastica," and " Meditationes. " 's For these statements, however, he cites no authority. It is also said, this holy man had been the second bishop over Coventry,'^ and for this statement, William of Malmes- bury is cited ;'7 but, he has not the slightest allusion to this saint, in connexion with the text of his narrative. His efforts, as a missionary, were attended with great success. On the death of Dima,^^ his countryman, and the first appointed bishop, Cellach is said to have been elevated to the episcopal dignity, amongst the Mercians, and Middle English. ^?
Both bishops were of the Scottish nation. ='° According to Ferrarius,^'^ he was the first Bishop
that the letter K was not
" See "Acta Sanctorum
= He
used by the Irish, but its sound was given to the letter C, which was in use. Hence Kellach and Cellach will be found identical in pronunciation, although different in spel-
ling.
3 Id **
Februarii, nn. i, 2, p. 334.
'3 This Colgan engages to show more
fully at the 3rd of August, at the 9th of January, at the 8th of August, and at the
19th of July, when treating about them,
under the dates of their festivals. respective
'4 See Trithemius, "De Viris lUustribus Ordinis S. Benedicti," lib. iv. , cap. 147.
remarks,
Hiberni£e,"xiv.
Latini. < As by Trithemius.
s See Dempster's " Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num.
272, p. 160. ^"
"
Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num.
272, p. 161.
See Dempster's Menologium Scoti-
cum. " Bishop Forbes' Scottish Saints," p. 192.
7 See ibid. , p. 302.
" *^
^
and Matthew of Westminster.
Kalendars of
Worcester,
See ibid.
^^ " De Gestis Pontificum Anglife," lib.
iv. , p. clxiv.
'^ He was an Irishman,
'9 See Venerable Bede's "Historia Ec*
clesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. ii. , Cap. xxvi.
According
to Florence of
9 Huntingdon, lib. iii. , p. cxci.
'° "
See Acta Sanctoriun Hibemias," xiv.
^^
of
This appears from the
ruarii xiv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 742.
^s See Dempster's
Historia Ecclesiastica
526 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February14.
of Lichfield f^ and, again, we are told, that distinguished for his sanctity, he afterwardsruledoverthearchiepiscopalchurchofLincoln. Colganremarks, on this passage, that our saint was not the first, but the second Bishop of Lichfield, or over the whole province of Mercia, in which Lichfield is situated. The first bishop was St. Dima, according to what has been stated in previous notes. Nor do we find, from any other source, that our saint was Archbishop of Lincoln ; but only that he was bishop of the country around Lincoln, which was called Lindissia. The Latin name Lin- disfarnensis,^3 for Lincoln, might induce some to confound that see with Lindisfarne Island, whic—h was also a bishopric, over which the following holy
St.
bishops over this ancient see. ^-* Godwin states, that he was the second Scottish Bishop of Lichfield. 's Other English writers do not determine the exact place, in which he discharged the duties of his episcopal ofiice. ^'^ It would appear, that owing to the small number of faithful in those parts, at this time, our saint ruled over three distinct provinces as bishop. These districts were afterwards erected into five or six different sees. Having exercised the duties of his exalted station for some time, and being desirous to lead a life of greater retirement and asceticism, it is said, he became the inmate of a monastery, after having voluntarily renounced the cares of his episcopal station. =^7 At the year 656, this event is narrated by Matthew of Westminster,^^ who relates that Cellachus returned to Scotia. He was suc- ceeded by Trumhere,^9 or Trumher,3° when he had resigned. 3== The account given by some writers states, that his place of retreat was lona Island, where manyofhiscompatriotsresided. 3' VenerableBedetellsus,thathereturned to Scotia, whence he sprung ; and, by this term, he could only have under-
stood apparently Hibernia or Ireland, the proper land of the Scots. 33 How- ever, it appears, by this form of expression, he understood the Island of Hy. 34 The monastery of lona Island, whence the Scoto-British writers say Cellach came, and to which he returned, was founded by St. Columkille,35 an Irish- man. For the most part, it was inhabited by his fellow-countrymen and disciples. Hence, it was regarded as an appanage to Ireland. Bede him- self bears witness, that the Island of Hy, belonged to those Scoti or Scots, who preached the faith to the Northern Picts. Speaking of Hy, this writer
=° See ibid. , lib. iii. , cap. xxi. Also =7 See Godwin, " De Praesulibus Angliae,"
men successively ruled
seventeen
Finan, ten Colman, ;
Aidan,
three, and Tuda, one year. Afterwards, St. Eata, and St. Cuthbert, were
Florence of Worcester, in his Chronicle, at A. D. 655.
lib. iv. , p. 363.
"See*•
=' "
:
years ;
="9 SeeTrithemius' See,also,WilliamofMalmesbury, De p. 526.
Catalogus
GeneralisSanctonim. "
"Regula
S. Benedicti,"
Kalendars of
Gestis Pontificum Anglorum," lib. iv. , p. 307. Edited by N. E. S. A. Hamilton.
^3 See Dempster's "Menologium Scoti-
cum," in Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 192. The Bollandists xxx.
remark, that Dempster—quotes the authority 3" See Trithemius, **De Viris Illustribus
not Ordinis
of Brunus and Sinclair which they had S. Benedicti," lib. iv. , cap. 147.
seen— for his notice of this saint. See 33 The inhabitants of our island, he usually "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Februarii calls Scots. See " Historia Ecclesiastica
xiv.
Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. i. , lib. ii. ,
cap. iv. , lib. iii. , cap. iii. , xix. , xxiv. , lib.
iv. , xxvi. cap.
Among the pretermitted saints, p.
" Acta Sanctonim Hiber-
"5 See Godwin, "De Prsesulibus Angliae,"
742.
="* See
Colgan's
nice," xiv. Februarii, n. 8, p. 335.
34
Bede says, "Qui non multi post Epis-
lib.
"^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xiv. Februarii. De S. Cellaco sive Kellaco, Abbate et Confessore, pp. 333, 334.
copatu relicto, reversus est ad insulam Hy,
ubi — &arcemScotihabuere plurimorumcaput
iv. , p. 363.
"
.
Caenobiorum. "
Historia Ecclesiastica
^"^ " See
Flores Historiarum," a. d. dclvi.
3° " See Bishop Forbes'
Scottish Saints," pp. 302, 454.
3' See Bede's "Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxi. , xxiv. ,
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. xxi. 35 See his Life, at the 9th of June.
February 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 527
informs us, that although, by its natural and original position it belonged to Great Britain ; yet, the Picts, who had jurisdiction over it, transferred posses- sion to the Scottish or Irish monks. 3^ He also tells us, that these first occupants were St. Columkille37 and his disciples, who came over from Hibernia, a. d. 565, at a time, when Justinus Minor had succeeded Justinian, in the government of the Roman Empire. At this epoch, also, the ninth year of the reign of Bridius,3S son of Meilchon, over the Picts, had arrived ; and, this latter being converted to the true Faith, by Columba, bestowed on himtheislandknownasHy,whereontoerectamonastery. 39 Wearetold, that Cellach flourished about the year 645 ; but, Colgan does not undertake to pronounce regarding the exact year of his decease. Others state, that he flourished a. d. 657,^° 660,4^ or 666. 4» Dempster could not discover the
time when, or the place where, he died ; yet, he suspected, it must have been in Scotia, whither he retired. '^3 The day of his death is named, as the 14th
of this month, by foreign writers-'^'^ The Irish Calendarists, at this day, mentionnosaintbearingthename. However,itisoneoffrequentoccur- rence, in our Annals and Menologies. '^s Yet Dempster has it thus noted. -*^ There is a parish of Colace47 mentioned, in the Retours^^ of Aberdeen. 49 Whether or not, it had connexion with the present saint, we are unable to state. The English Martyrology has no mention of St. Coelath, at this date ; but, the Bollandists, in placing him among the pretermitted saints, s° promise to state more concerning him, at the 2nd of June, if they only discovered anything reliable, regarding his Acts and his cultus.
Article III. —St. Caomhan, Convan, Conan or Coman, Missionary
INTHEOrkneyIslands,Scotland. TheOrkneyarchipelago. FairIsle, and the Shetland archipelago, constitute the whole of the northern islands of Scotland. The Orkneys comprise the most southern group, and are geogra- phically divisible into the districts of South Isles, Mainland and North Isles. The district of South Isles includes the inhabited Islands of South Ronald- shay, Pentland Skerries, Swona, Burray, Hunda, Hoy, Flota, South Pharay,
and Graemsay. Ecclesiastically, it is distributed into the parish of South Ronaldshay, or into the united parishes of St. Mary and St. Peter, the united
parishes of Walls and Flota, and the united parishes of Hoy and Graemsay. The district of Mainland comprehends the inhabited islands of Pomona,
Cava, Lambholm, Copinshay, and Gairsay. Ecclesiastically, it is distributed into the parish of Orphir, the united parishes of Holm and Paplay, the united parishes of Deerness and St. Andrews, the parish of Kirkwall and St. Ola, the united parishes of Firth and Stenness, the parish of Stromness, the parish of Sandwick, the united parishes of Birsay and Harray, with the united parishes
s'^ These had spread the Gospel, through the province of the Northern Picts.
Scotorum," tomus i. , lib.
