^ When
treating
about the Life of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
Moc- ha-moci, cap.
xvi.
, p.
591, and n.
22, p.
597' '' If Dr.
O'Donovan's identification of
May 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
517
entertaining a friendly intercommunication, between their respective religious families, while St. Colman, the Bishop, remained in his place, St. Pulcherius returned, with his companions, to found the celebrated monastery of Liath-mdr Mochaemhdg, where a city arose in due course,^° and thither a great number of religious flocked, to place themselves under his guid- ances^
The Great Wood, or Doire-Mor, has long since disappeared ; but, we cannot doubt the truth of a statement, that the parish, now known as Kil- colnian, partly in the barony of Ballybritt, and partly in the barony of Clon- lisk, in the southern part of the King's County, derived its name from a reli- gious house founded there, in the sixth century, by the present St. Colman. Subsequently it became a p. u'ish church. ^^ It is not correct to state, that
m
Kilcolman Old Church, King's County.
no trace of the ruins remains. ^3 The old church walls lie two or three miles south-east of Birr, and within a graveyard now enclosed, by a modern stone wallofirregularshape. TheoldruinedchurchofKilcolmanparishmeasures about 42 feet in length, interiorly, by about 21 feet in width, while the walls are about 3 feet in thickness. There was a door in the south side wall, and a window. In the western gable, which stands, there is a small window. The other gable is destroyed. Those portions of the ruins, which remain, are
Laith-mor-MochaemhogwithLeamokevoge, . in the parish of Two-mile-Burris, county of Tippernry, be correct, this is an incorrect statement of the writer, who probably was unacquainted with the real distance between
it and Kilcolman, in the King's County.
^° See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
=' According to the compiler of the Donesral Martyrology. the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Chapters of the Life of St. Moc- hoemoc are cited, for the foregoinLj state- ments ; while, in Colgan, the Chapter is noted as the Sixteenth.
=^ See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary
nise," xiii. Martii. Vita S. Mochoemoci, of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 64. cap. xvi,, pp. 591, 592. '^ See ibid.
——
5i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 20,
thickly capped with ivy. ^* The graveyard around is yet much used for inter- ments, and it is considerably elevated over the adjoining fields. An ancient road winds towards it from the more modern high road ; while ash trees of venerable growth are around, so that the scene looks exceedingly picturesque. A branch of the Little Brosna flows in a valley beneath. Higher up on the hill are the ruins of an old castle. An oak-wood probably shaded the valley andtheadjoiningcountry,ataformerperiod. Populartraditions,regarding the church or its former patron, are not now remembered. ^^ We have already alluded ^^ to that incident in the Life of St. Mochsemoc, when Failbe Fland, King of Cashel, had offended Colman, the Bishop, and son to Daire, and as a consequence, both St. JNIochsemoc and St. Colman proceeded together, so that redress might be obtained from the king, in his city of Cashel. The king repented of his act, and of other crimes. He then bestowed honours and
blessings on both saints, when parting for their respective places.
In the published Martyrology of Tallagli,-? we have Colman Daire-mor en- tered at this date; but, we cannot find the year for his decease noted, in our Irish Annals. The Natalis of St. Coleman was celebrated, however, in Doiremor, betweenHeliandOssory,onthe20thofMay. ^^ Thisplace,whichformerly bore the title of Doire-mor, or " the Great Wood," seems afterwards to have obtained the designation of Kilcolman, from the present saint. We find set down, likewise, in tlie Martyrology of Donegal,^9 how on this day was vene- rated Colman, of Doire Mor. Under the head of Doire Mor, also, Duald Mac Firbis enters Cohiian, bishop, at the 20th of May. 3° A St. Colonatus is com- memorated, in the work of Bishop Forbes,^' and his feast is referred either to March lytli. May 20th, or July 9th. The feast of a St. Colman, referred, by
Father John Colgan 32 to May 2otIi, can hardly be any other, than that of the present saint ; although, he is styled Bishop of Doremoronsis—evidently a mistakeforDoiremor. Furtherillustrationsortraditionsofthisoncegreatly venerated Bishop, we have been unable to glean.
Article II. St. Conall, Abbot of Iniscaoil, County of Donegal. The present holy Abbot seems to have had a double festival, within this month. The Bollandists ^ notice Conallus of Iniscail, at this day, for which they quote Colgan,^ who incorrectly places his feast at the 12th of May possibly a typographical error for the 22nd. This St. Conall was son to Mann Coelius, son of Caither, son to Ennius, surnamed Bagan, the son of Conall Gubhan, according to the " Sanctilogium Genealogicum. " He was reverenced in the church of Iniscaoil, in the coiuity of Tyrconnell, on the 20th of ^lay. At present, the fertile Island there gives name to the large parish oflnish- keel,3inthebaroniesofBanagh^andBoylagh,5andcountyofDonegal. It
'"' The accompanying illustration of the 134, 135.
ruins was sketched by tlie \vriter in June, *" See "Proceedings oi the Royal Irish 1885. It was transferred to tlie wood, by Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part William F. Wakeman, and, it was engraved,
by Mrs. Millard.
"5 Notes taken, after a visit to the place, in August. 1872.
=' See the Third Volume of this work, at March I3tli, Art. i. , chap. iii.
^' See Rev. Dr. Kelly's "Calendar of Irish Saints," p. xxiv.
"^ See Coigan's " Acta Sanctorum Ilibei- nirc," xiii. Martii. Vita S. Mochoemoci, n. 20, p. 597.
^' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
306.
3= See " Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap-
pendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p.
269. — " Sanctorum," Article n. ' See Acta
tomus v. , Mali xx. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 170.
-'See "Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Columba;, cap. iii. . num. 10, p. 4S0.
i. , pp. 104, 105.
3" gee " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
—
May 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
contains about eighty green acres f and, its old church was built on a rocky ledge, not far from the mainland. ? A beautiful velvety soft strand stretches from it, towards the shore ; and, from this latter, at low tides, the Island can be reached on foot. ^ It is a lonely and an uninhabited spot. It may be doubted, if the present saint were identical with St. Conald Coel, Abbot on the same Island, and whose festival, with some biographical notices, has beensetdown,forthe22ndofthismonth. Ifso,however,additionalparti- culars regarding him will be found, at that date. On the vigil of their patron's festival, the people of Iniscoel neighbourhood were accustomed to observe a rigid fast, even to the time of Colgan. 9 This writer tells us, that St. Conall was Abbot of Inis-caoil. '° Father John Colgan intended," also, to have given the acts of this saint, at the 20th of May.
Article III. —St. Daniel, of Tulach. An entry is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 20th of May, respecting Daniel Tulchan. Quoting the same record, the Bollandists ^ enter, at this date Daniel Tulacen- sis. The latter word seems referable to a locality ; and, it has been thus ren- dered by the O'Clerys, when stating, on this day was venerated Daniel, of Tulach, in the Martyrology of Donegal. 3 Places, known as Tulach or Tul- lagh, simply, or in composition, are very numerous, throughout the whole of Ireland.
Article IV. St. Laidhgenn, or Laidcind. In the published Martyrology of Tallagh,^ this saint's name is called Laidcind ; but, it has beenmisplacedbysomescribe. Underadifferentform,hisnamealsoappears, when the Bollandists ^ assert, that Luidgenius is venerated, at the 20th of May, in the Tallagh Martyrology ; and, reference is made to Colgan, at the 12th of January, 3 with the possible remarks, which some of his successors might have to offer of a reliable character, at the 20th of May. Veneration was given on this day, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal. ^ to [Laidhgenn. ] s Marianus and the Martyrology of Tamlacht are quoted for the foregoing statement.
Article V. St. Cromdithruibh, of Inis-crainn. This name as entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 20th May, is Cruim Ditruib,^
3 It;is described, on the "Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Donegal," sheets 50, 58, 59, 64, 65, 66, 67, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 81, 82, 83, 84, 91, 92.
p. 205. —
Article hi. ' Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxiv.
"" See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Mali
^ This portion contains 21,627a. 2r. 27p. xx. S This portion contains 80,453a. 3r. 9p. 170.
Among the pretermitted saints, p.
^ These are within the barony of Boylagh, and marked on sheet 64, ibid.
^ More to the west, and under a bold jut- ting cliff, out on the Atlantic, the visitor by boat can enter a magnificent and vast ocean cavern, hollowed out by the ocean waves.
^ These observations are made, from a visit to this Island, in July, 1868.
9 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. iii. , n. 10, p. 480.
'° See ibid. Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. Columbas, cap. x. , n. 32, p. 489.
^EditedbyDrs. ToddandReeves. See Appendix to the Introduction, p. xlvii, and pp. 134, 135. —
Article iv. ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Mali xx. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 170.
^ When treating about the Life of St. Luidgenn,in "ActaSanctorumHibernise,"
n. i, p. 58.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
134, 135.
s in a note, Dr. Todd tells us, that a para-
" See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernia;," graph, within brackets in the original MS. , xxix. Januarii. De S. Dallano Martyre, n. l6, has been added by the more recent hand.
519
—— — "
520 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 20
o Inis Criiind. The Bollandists 3 also notice Crondithubhus or Croudi- thunius de Ivi Craind, and the Tallagh MartyroloL^y is quoted, at tlie same date ; but, evidently, with some typographical errors. It seems to be the fact, that they quote from a copy Colgan possessed, and distinct from what is not to be found in the Franciscan copy. There is a small island, in Lough Corrib, and which is called Iniscreamha, translated Wildgarlick Isle. + It is situated, near Cargan,5 and within this parish,^ in the barony of Clare, and county of Galway. 7 Certain old walls of a clyclopean character are yet remaining at this place. * It cannot be positively asserted, however, that the present Inis-crainn, or Inis Cruind, corresponds with that Wildgarlick Isle; indeed, it seems improbable, that any religious edifice was in the place, alluded to by Roderick O'Flaherty. According to the Martyrology of Done- gal,? St. Cromdithruibh, of Inis-crainn, had a festival, at this date.
ArticleVI. FestivalofSt. Marcellosa,withCompanions,Martyrs IN Africa. In the " Feilire "' of St. ^ngus, at the 20th of May, we find the festivalofSt. Marcellosus,Martyr. ^ This,however,appearstobeanincorrect rendering of the name, for Marcellosa, a woman, who, with other female com- panions, had been this day commemorated, in the ancient Martyrology, attri- buted to St. Jerome. 3 Also, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, belonging to the Franciscan copy, Dublin, the name appears, under a somewhat altered form,+ at this same date. Tliis holy Martyr Marcellosa, and her companions, Victoria, and Salsa,5 laid down their lives for the faith in Africa;^ but the exact place and time do not seem to be known.
Article VII. St. Mac Laithbhe, of Donoughmore. At the 20th of May, we find a record of this saint, in the published Martyrology of
Article v. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
- HerethereisthewordLatinized,with- in brackets. It refers, however, to a saint different from the present one.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii XX. Among the pretermitted saints. p. 170.
i>.
Articlevi. —' Seethe"LeabharBreac copy, where we read :
yinL nio|i inAiAcellofp Liii-o pocliAlinAin CAj-p Vor^'^GnLich icpii^p 5epb<. \]'p ppoc^pp.
-t 'I'he walls and a high ditch of a well for- tified place encompass almost the whde Is- land, as shown in an illustration to . Sir Wil inm R. Wilde's "Lough Coirib : its Shores an. l Islam s,' clinp. v. .
It is thus translated into English, by Dr.
89.
5 An illustration and description of this old castle are to be lound, in the work already
quoted. See /^/V/'. , pp. 87 to 89.
* The parish of Cargin is liescribed, on
the " Ordn. ince Survey Townland Maps for the County of Galway," sheets 41, 42, 55, 56.
Ibid, p. Ixxxviii. ^Thus: "xiii Kaiendasjunii. In Africa phicrl Description of \\ e^t or Iar-Ci>n- natalis Sam-taium Victoria. ', Marcello>a'
7 See Roderick OFlaherty's "Chorogra-
naught,'' edited by James Ilardiman, n. (m), p. 25.
** This Island is noted on the Map, pre-
fixed to the "Trilies and Customs ol Hy- otlier entries of foreign saints, the Francis-
Mnny," edited by John O'Donovan.
' I. dited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
'34» I35*
can copy of the Tallagh Martyrology is dc- fective to the ist day of . August
^ i" several old Martyrologies, their true
: \Vhitiey Stokes —
" Marcellosus' great
blood went undtr eartli a relic
tiv. l they are to be known, Gerv. ise, Protas- sius. "—'•Transactions of tlie Roy. d Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Uengus, p. Ixxx.
- Wc find the following scholion ap- pended : " Tassio sancti niarcellosi et sancta: marcello [leg. m—arc< llic? ] suce uirgi- nis. i. uirgo et niartir. '
Salsw.
• There, the entry, at the xiii. Kalends of
June, is nK\i\celLo|-Ae. Here, with three
;
on one fes-
——— —1;
May 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 5 2
Tallagh,' as Mac Laithbhe Domnaighmoir. This latter word was the name ofaplace. Manylocalities,calledDonoughmore,areknowninvariousparts of our Island; so that it is difficult to discover that one, with which he had been connected. Marluithces de Momech-mou is noted by the BoUandists,^ at the 20th of May, and for this feast, the Tallagh Martyrology is quoted but, we suspect, the reference has been taken incorrectly from that source. The Martyrology of Donegal, 3 on this day, registers Mac Laithbhe, of Domh- nach-mor. as havini: been venerated.
Article VIII. Festival of St. Columbanus of Luxeu, Disciple OF St. Columbanus, Abbot. We are told by the Bollandists,' at the 20th of May, that a Manuscript Benedictine Kalendar has the entry of such a fes- tival, at this date ; but, Mabillon and Menard commemorate, both master and disciple, at the succeeding day. ^
Article IX. Reputed Festival for St. Dympna and St. Gere- BERN, Belgium. At the 20th of May, Thomas Dempster^ has a record of St. Dympna'sandofSt. Gerebern'sMartyrdom,inBelgium. TheBoUandists^ also notice this allusion to St. Dympna, Virgin, and to St. Gerebern, Priest, at the 20th of May. We have aliLady treated about them, on the 15th of ihis montli.
ArticleX. FeastofSaintsGervasiusandProtassius,Martyrs. At the 20th of May, according to the " Feilire "' of St. ^ngus, the Martyr- dom of Saints Gervasius and Protassius was commemorated, in the ancient IrishChurch. Welearn,also,thatSt. GervasiusandProtasiusareindicated in old Martyrologies, at this date, as having had a festival. ^ However, these Martyrs are most generally commemorated, on the 29th of June.
Article XL St. Ronanus. It would appear to have been Colgan's intention, to publish a Life of St. Ronan, at the 20th of May, for there his name is found on the posthumous list. '
names appear to have been mis-spelled.
° See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Mail xx. De Sanctis Martyribus
advenisse sentiens, e Scotia fugit, et hie Christo immulata est. Const, i'el. Ibidem Gerebemi presbyteri decoUatio hie Inuer- lothacae natus coenobii conditor. i! . '' Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 200.
° See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Maii xx. Among the pretermitted saints,
p,170. —"
Article x. ' See the Leabhar Breac'
copy, in "Transactions of the Royai Irish Academy," Irish ]\Ianu>cript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus. Edited by \\hitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. Ixxn.
- S-e the BoUandists' " Acta Sanctorum. " tomus v. , Maii xx. Among the pretermitted
Afris Victoria. Marcellosa, Salsa, p. 173.
Article VII. — Kelly, p. xxiv.
'
Edited by Rev. Dr.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Mail XX. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 170.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. ''34> 135-
Article VIII. — ' See "Acta Sancto- rum," tomus v. , Maii xx. Among the pre- temiitted sainis, p. 172.
" Poterit de eo Article ix. —' In his "Menologium
= The Bollandists add : agi tunc xxi. aut xxii. Nov. "
"xx. In Bel- giopassio Dympna; virginis Hibernire qua; patrem suum incaestuossissimum idolatram
See
Scotorum," it is thus noticed
:
saints, p. 171. — Article xt. '
" Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum quse MS. habentur, ordine Men-
sium et Dierum. "
fiiiJ ;
—— .
5 2 2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 2 1
CUjentp4rs! t JBap of iHap.
ARTICLE I. —ST. BAIRRFHIONN, PATRON OF DRUIM-CUILINN, OR DRUI. M-CULLEN, KING'S COUNTY, AND OF CILL-BAIRRFHINN, NOW KILBARRON, COUNTY OF DONEGAL.
[SIXTH CENTURY. } CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—ST. BAIRRFHIONN'S FAMILY AND PERIOD—A DISCIPLE OF ST. COLUMBA —HIS CONNEXION WITH DRUMCULLIN—DESCRIPTION OF THE PLACE.
WE may attribute to the inherent characteristics of Irish nationality and devotion to the Church the preservation of traditions and monu- ments, which yet shed a lustre over our remote eras. The ancient language, manners, and habits, of our people, after die Anglo-Norman invasion, resisted every attempt made to extirpate them by iniquitous legislation.
May 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
517
entertaining a friendly intercommunication, between their respective religious families, while St. Colman, the Bishop, remained in his place, St. Pulcherius returned, with his companions, to found the celebrated monastery of Liath-mdr Mochaemhdg, where a city arose in due course,^° and thither a great number of religious flocked, to place themselves under his guid- ances^
The Great Wood, or Doire-Mor, has long since disappeared ; but, we cannot doubt the truth of a statement, that the parish, now known as Kil- colnian, partly in the barony of Ballybritt, and partly in the barony of Clon- lisk, in the southern part of the King's County, derived its name from a reli- gious house founded there, in the sixth century, by the present St. Colman. Subsequently it became a p. u'ish church. ^^ It is not correct to state, that
m
Kilcolman Old Church, King's County.
no trace of the ruins remains. ^3 The old church walls lie two or three miles south-east of Birr, and within a graveyard now enclosed, by a modern stone wallofirregularshape. TheoldruinedchurchofKilcolmanparishmeasures about 42 feet in length, interiorly, by about 21 feet in width, while the walls are about 3 feet in thickness. There was a door in the south side wall, and a window. In the western gable, which stands, there is a small window. The other gable is destroyed. Those portions of the ruins, which remain, are
Laith-mor-MochaemhogwithLeamokevoge, . in the parish of Two-mile-Burris, county of Tippernry, be correct, this is an incorrect statement of the writer, who probably was unacquainted with the real distance between
it and Kilcolman, in the King's County.
^° See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
=' According to the compiler of the Donesral Martyrology. the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Chapters of the Life of St. Moc- hoemoc are cited, for the foregoinLj state- ments ; while, in Colgan, the Chapter is noted as the Sixteenth.
=^ See Lewis' "Topographical Dictionary
nise," xiii. Martii. Vita S. Mochoemoci, of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 64. cap. xvi,, pp. 591, 592. '^ See ibid.
——
5i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 20,
thickly capped with ivy. ^* The graveyard around is yet much used for inter- ments, and it is considerably elevated over the adjoining fields. An ancient road winds towards it from the more modern high road ; while ash trees of venerable growth are around, so that the scene looks exceedingly picturesque. A branch of the Little Brosna flows in a valley beneath. Higher up on the hill are the ruins of an old castle. An oak-wood probably shaded the valley andtheadjoiningcountry,ataformerperiod. Populartraditions,regarding the church or its former patron, are not now remembered. ^^ We have already alluded ^^ to that incident in the Life of St. Mochsemoc, when Failbe Fland, King of Cashel, had offended Colman, the Bishop, and son to Daire, and as a consequence, both St. JNIochsemoc and St. Colman proceeded together, so that redress might be obtained from the king, in his city of Cashel. The king repented of his act, and of other crimes. He then bestowed honours and
blessings on both saints, when parting for their respective places.
In the published Martyrology of Tallagli,-? we have Colman Daire-mor en- tered at this date; but, we cannot find the year for his decease noted, in our Irish Annals. The Natalis of St. Coleman was celebrated, however, in Doiremor, betweenHeliandOssory,onthe20thofMay. ^^ Thisplace,whichformerly bore the title of Doire-mor, or " the Great Wood," seems afterwards to have obtained the designation of Kilcolman, from the present saint. We find set down, likewise, in tlie Martyrology of Donegal,^9 how on this day was vene- rated Colman, of Doire Mor. Under the head of Doire Mor, also, Duald Mac Firbis enters Cohiian, bishop, at the 20th of May. 3° A St. Colonatus is com- memorated, in the work of Bishop Forbes,^' and his feast is referred either to March lytli. May 20th, or July 9th. The feast of a St. Colman, referred, by
Father John Colgan 32 to May 2otIi, can hardly be any other, than that of the present saint ; although, he is styled Bishop of Doremoronsis—evidently a mistakeforDoiremor. Furtherillustrationsortraditionsofthisoncegreatly venerated Bishop, we have been unable to glean.
Article II. St. Conall, Abbot of Iniscaoil, County of Donegal. The present holy Abbot seems to have had a double festival, within this month. The Bollandists ^ notice Conallus of Iniscail, at this day, for which they quote Colgan,^ who incorrectly places his feast at the 12th of May possibly a typographical error for the 22nd. This St. Conall was son to Mann Coelius, son of Caither, son to Ennius, surnamed Bagan, the son of Conall Gubhan, according to the " Sanctilogium Genealogicum. " He was reverenced in the church of Iniscaoil, in the coiuity of Tyrconnell, on the 20th of ^lay. At present, the fertile Island there gives name to the large parish oflnish- keel,3inthebaroniesofBanagh^andBoylagh,5andcountyofDonegal. It
'"' The accompanying illustration of the 134, 135.
ruins was sketched by tlie \vriter in June, *" See "Proceedings oi the Royal Irish 1885. It was transferred to tlie wood, by Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part William F. Wakeman, and, it was engraved,
by Mrs. Millard.
"5 Notes taken, after a visit to the place, in August. 1872.
=' See the Third Volume of this work, at March I3tli, Art. i. , chap. iii.
^' See Rev. Dr. Kelly's "Calendar of Irish Saints," p. xxiv.
"^ See Coigan's " Acta Sanctorum Ilibei- nirc," xiii. Martii. Vita S. Mochoemoci, n. 20, p. 597.
^' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
306.
3= See " Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap-
pendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p.
269. — " Sanctorum," Article n. ' See Acta
tomus v. , Mali xx. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 170.
-'See "Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Columba;, cap. iii. . num. 10, p. 4S0.
i. , pp. 104, 105.
3" gee " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
—
May 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
contains about eighty green acres f and, its old church was built on a rocky ledge, not far from the mainland. ? A beautiful velvety soft strand stretches from it, towards the shore ; and, from this latter, at low tides, the Island can be reached on foot. ^ It is a lonely and an uninhabited spot. It may be doubted, if the present saint were identical with St. Conald Coel, Abbot on the same Island, and whose festival, with some biographical notices, has beensetdown,forthe22ndofthismonth. Ifso,however,additionalparti- culars regarding him will be found, at that date. On the vigil of their patron's festival, the people of Iniscoel neighbourhood were accustomed to observe a rigid fast, even to the time of Colgan. 9 This writer tells us, that St. Conall was Abbot of Inis-caoil. '° Father John Colgan intended," also, to have given the acts of this saint, at the 20th of May.
Article III. —St. Daniel, of Tulach. An entry is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 20th of May, respecting Daniel Tulchan. Quoting the same record, the Bollandists ^ enter, at this date Daniel Tulacen- sis. The latter word seems referable to a locality ; and, it has been thus ren- dered by the O'Clerys, when stating, on this day was venerated Daniel, of Tulach, in the Martyrology of Donegal. 3 Places, known as Tulach or Tul- lagh, simply, or in composition, are very numerous, throughout the whole of Ireland.
Article IV. St. Laidhgenn, or Laidcind. In the published Martyrology of Tallagh,^ this saint's name is called Laidcind ; but, it has beenmisplacedbysomescribe. Underadifferentform,hisnamealsoappears, when the Bollandists ^ assert, that Luidgenius is venerated, at the 20th of May, in the Tallagh Martyrology ; and, reference is made to Colgan, at the 12th of January, 3 with the possible remarks, which some of his successors might have to offer of a reliable character, at the 20th of May. Veneration was given on this day, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal. ^ to [Laidhgenn. ] s Marianus and the Martyrology of Tamlacht are quoted for the foregoing statement.
Article V. St. Cromdithruibh, of Inis-crainn. This name as entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 20th May, is Cruim Ditruib,^
3 It;is described, on the "Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Donegal," sheets 50, 58, 59, 64, 65, 66, 67, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 81, 82, 83, 84, 91, 92.
p. 205. —
Article hi. ' Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxiv.
"" See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Mali
^ This portion contains 21,627a. 2r. 27p. xx. S This portion contains 80,453a. 3r. 9p. 170.
Among the pretermitted saints, p.
^ These are within the barony of Boylagh, and marked on sheet 64, ibid.
^ More to the west, and under a bold jut- ting cliff, out on the Atlantic, the visitor by boat can enter a magnificent and vast ocean cavern, hollowed out by the ocean waves.
^ These observations are made, from a visit to this Island, in July, 1868.
9 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. iii. , n. 10, p. 480.
'° See ibid. Appendix Quinta ad Acta S. Columbas, cap. x. , n. 32, p. 489.
^EditedbyDrs. ToddandReeves. See Appendix to the Introduction, p. xlvii, and pp. 134, 135. —
Article iv. ' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Mali xx. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 170.
^ When treating about the Life of St. Luidgenn,in "ActaSanctorumHibernise,"
n. i, p. 58.
^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
134, 135.
s in a note, Dr. Todd tells us, that a para-
" See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernia;," graph, within brackets in the original MS. , xxix. Januarii. De S. Dallano Martyre, n. l6, has been added by the more recent hand.
519
—— — "
520 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 20
o Inis Criiind. The Bollandists 3 also notice Crondithubhus or Croudi- thunius de Ivi Craind, and the Tallagh MartyroloL^y is quoted, at tlie same date ; but, evidently, with some typographical errors. It seems to be the fact, that they quote from a copy Colgan possessed, and distinct from what is not to be found in the Franciscan copy. There is a small island, in Lough Corrib, and which is called Iniscreamha, translated Wildgarlick Isle. + It is situated, near Cargan,5 and within this parish,^ in the barony of Clare, and county of Galway. 7 Certain old walls of a clyclopean character are yet remaining at this place. * It cannot be positively asserted, however, that the present Inis-crainn, or Inis Cruind, corresponds with that Wildgarlick Isle; indeed, it seems improbable, that any religious edifice was in the place, alluded to by Roderick O'Flaherty. According to the Martyrology of Done- gal,? St. Cromdithruibh, of Inis-crainn, had a festival, at this date.
ArticleVI. FestivalofSt. Marcellosa,withCompanions,Martyrs IN Africa. In the " Feilire "' of St. ^ngus, at the 20th of May, we find the festivalofSt. Marcellosus,Martyr. ^ This,however,appearstobeanincorrect rendering of the name, for Marcellosa, a woman, who, with other female com- panions, had been this day commemorated, in the ancient Martyrology, attri- buted to St. Jerome. 3 Also, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, belonging to the Franciscan copy, Dublin, the name appears, under a somewhat altered form,+ at this same date. Tliis holy Martyr Marcellosa, and her companions, Victoria, and Salsa,5 laid down their lives for the faith in Africa;^ but the exact place and time do not seem to be known.
Article VII. St. Mac Laithbhe, of Donoughmore. At the 20th of May, we find a record of this saint, in the published Martyrology of
Article v. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiv.
- HerethereisthewordLatinized,with- in brackets. It refers, however, to a saint different from the present one.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii XX. Among the pretermitted saints. p. 170.
i>.
Articlevi. —' Seethe"LeabharBreac copy, where we read :
yinL nio|i inAiAcellofp Liii-o pocliAlinAin CAj-p Vor^'^GnLich icpii^p 5epb<. \]'p ppoc^pp.
-t 'I'he walls and a high ditch of a well for- tified place encompass almost the whde Is- land, as shown in an illustration to . Sir Wil inm R. Wilde's "Lough Coirib : its Shores an. l Islam s,' clinp. v. .
It is thus translated into English, by Dr.
89.
5 An illustration and description of this old castle are to be lound, in the work already
quoted. See /^/V/'. , pp. 87 to 89.
* The parish of Cargin is liescribed, on
the " Ordn. ince Survey Townland Maps for the County of Galway," sheets 41, 42, 55, 56.
Ibid, p. Ixxxviii. ^Thus: "xiii Kaiendasjunii. In Africa phicrl Description of \\ e^t or Iar-Ci>n- natalis Sam-taium Victoria. ', Marcello>a'
7 See Roderick OFlaherty's "Chorogra-
naught,'' edited by James Ilardiman, n. (m), p. 25.
** This Island is noted on the Map, pre-
fixed to the "Trilies and Customs ol Hy- otlier entries of foreign saints, the Francis-
Mnny," edited by John O'Donovan.
' I. dited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
'34» I35*
can copy of the Tallagh Martyrology is dc- fective to the ist day of . August
^ i" several old Martyrologies, their true
: \Vhitiey Stokes —
" Marcellosus' great
blood went undtr eartli a relic
tiv. l they are to be known, Gerv. ise, Protas- sius. "—'•Transactions of tlie Roy. d Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Uengus, p. Ixxx.
- Wc find the following scholion ap- pended : " Tassio sancti niarcellosi et sancta: marcello [leg. m—arc< llic? ] suce uirgi- nis. i. uirgo et niartir. '
Salsw.
• There, the entry, at the xiii. Kalends of
June, is nK\i\celLo|-Ae. Here, with three
;
on one fes-
——— —1;
May 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 5 2
Tallagh,' as Mac Laithbhe Domnaighmoir. This latter word was the name ofaplace. Manylocalities,calledDonoughmore,areknowninvariousparts of our Island; so that it is difficult to discover that one, with which he had been connected. Marluithces de Momech-mou is noted by the BoUandists,^ at the 20th of May, and for this feast, the Tallagh Martyrology is quoted but, we suspect, the reference has been taken incorrectly from that source. The Martyrology of Donegal, 3 on this day, registers Mac Laithbhe, of Domh- nach-mor. as havini: been venerated.
Article VIII. Festival of St. Columbanus of Luxeu, Disciple OF St. Columbanus, Abbot. We are told by the Bollandists,' at the 20th of May, that a Manuscript Benedictine Kalendar has the entry of such a fes- tival, at this date ; but, Mabillon and Menard commemorate, both master and disciple, at the succeeding day. ^
Article IX. Reputed Festival for St. Dympna and St. Gere- BERN, Belgium. At the 20th of May, Thomas Dempster^ has a record of St. Dympna'sandofSt. Gerebern'sMartyrdom,inBelgium. TheBoUandists^ also notice this allusion to St. Dympna, Virgin, and to St. Gerebern, Priest, at the 20th of May. We have aliLady treated about them, on the 15th of ihis montli.
ArticleX. FeastofSaintsGervasiusandProtassius,Martyrs. At the 20th of May, according to the " Feilire "' of St. ^ngus, the Martyr- dom of Saints Gervasius and Protassius was commemorated, in the ancient IrishChurch. Welearn,also,thatSt. GervasiusandProtasiusareindicated in old Martyrologies, at this date, as having had a festival. ^ However, these Martyrs are most generally commemorated, on the 29th of June.
Article XL St. Ronanus. It would appear to have been Colgan's intention, to publish a Life of St. Ronan, at the 20th of May, for there his name is found on the posthumous list. '
names appear to have been mis-spelled.
° See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Mail xx. De Sanctis Martyribus
advenisse sentiens, e Scotia fugit, et hie Christo immulata est. Const, i'el. Ibidem Gerebemi presbyteri decoUatio hie Inuer- lothacae natus coenobii conditor. i! . '' Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 200.
° See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Maii xx. Among the pretermitted saints,
p,170. —"
Article x. ' See the Leabhar Breac'
copy, in "Transactions of the Royai Irish Academy," Irish ]\Ianu>cript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus. Edited by \\hitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. Ixxn.
- S-e the BoUandists' " Acta Sanctorum. " tomus v. , Maii xx. Among the pretermitted
Afris Victoria. Marcellosa, Salsa, p. 173.
Article VII. — Kelly, p. xxiv.
'
Edited by Rev. Dr.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Mail XX. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 170.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. ''34> 135-
Article VIII. — ' See "Acta Sancto- rum," tomus v. , Maii xx. Among the pre- temiitted sainis, p. 172.
" Poterit de eo Article ix. —' In his "Menologium
= The Bollandists add : agi tunc xxi. aut xxii. Nov. "
"xx. In Bel- giopassio Dympna; virginis Hibernire qua; patrem suum incaestuossissimum idolatram
See
Scotorum," it is thus noticed
:
saints, p. 171. — Article xt. '
" Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum quse MS. habentur, ordine Men-
sium et Dierum. "
fiiiJ ;
—— .
5 2 2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 2 1
CUjentp4rs! t JBap of iHap.
ARTICLE I. —ST. BAIRRFHIONN, PATRON OF DRUIM-CUILINN, OR DRUI. M-CULLEN, KING'S COUNTY, AND OF CILL-BAIRRFHINN, NOW KILBARRON, COUNTY OF DONEGAL.
[SIXTH CENTURY. } CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—ST. BAIRRFHIONN'S FAMILY AND PERIOD—A DISCIPLE OF ST. COLUMBA —HIS CONNEXION WITH DRUMCULLIN—DESCRIPTION OF THE PLACE.
WE may attribute to the inherent characteristics of Irish nationality and devotion to the Church the preservation of traditions and monu- ments, which yet shed a lustre over our remote eras. The ancient language, manners, and habits, of our people, after die Anglo-Norman invasion, resisted every attempt made to extirpate them by iniquitous legislation.
