A certain book 9 is quoted, as
authority
for this statement.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
Gordon's " Scoti-
day
June.
while the
640 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 12.
the eleventh or beginning of the twelfth century ; and, it was probably begun
out of motives dictated by piety, necessity or expediency, however incon-
venient, irregular and conflicting must have been the usage. As the Scotch had received originally the doctrines and discipline of Christianity from Ire- land ; so, it is probable, that their practices had been borrowed or greatly in- fluenced by the like prevailing practices/ Ternan was the companion of St. Macharius, and a most devout lover of solitude. 41 A certain Convecturius is said to have been prince in the territory, where St. Ternan lived.
man with his companions was approaching. The prince cried out
:
The holy " Hypo-
? " St. Ternan salvation, that thou mayest know God and serve him alone. "
" We seek But, Convec-
crite,
what dost thou in
my territory
replied :
thy
" Cease from these deceiving words. " Thus repulsed, the saint retired from him. Convecturius thought to retire, also, but his feet adhered firmly to a stone. However, the saint prayed for his release. This miracle convinced that prince of his impiety, and professing a desire to be baptized, St. Ternan received his profession of Faith. *2 If we are to believe Thomas Dempster, he wrote one book intituled u Exhorationes ad Pictos," another
"
turius said
14 Contra and a third Pelagianos,"
:
Homilias ex Sacra but these Scriptura,"43
statements are given without guarantees, and they are wholly gratuitous St.
Machar of Aberdeen is said to have sent for some seed corn to St. Ternan. '' 4
Having none to give on loan, the latter sent some sacks of sand. Machar
sowed the sand, moved by a like faith, and the legend states, that he after-
wardsreapedanabundantharvest. 45 Oneofthefablesrelatedaboutthissaint
is, that he had been engaged in extripating the Pelagian heresy from among
the Picts 46 whereas, in it had no hold them in the time of St. ; reality, among
Ternan. 4? He flourished, it is said,48 a. d. 440, and he died at Abernethy, where his remains were afterwards held in distinguished veneration. He is said to have been buried in Liconium, which was probably the old name for that place, afterwards called Banchory-Ternan. 4? At the 12th of June, his festival is entered in the Carthusian additions to the Martyrology of Usuard 5° in Ferrarius 51 and in Canisius. s2 In the Martyrology,53 Calendar and Breviary of Aberdeen, at the 12th of June, is the feast of St. Terrenanus. It is entered, also in Adam King's Ka- lendar. s4 at the same date;55 in the Menologium Scotorum 5° of Thomas
49 See William F. Skene's "Celtic Scot- sect, xxiv. , xxv. , pp. 157 to 160. land : a History of Ancient Alban," vol. ii. ,
41 In the Martyrology of Aberdeen, we book ii. , chap, i. , p. 30.
read: "Eratenim Beati Mauricii contem- 5° Thus : "In Scotia Ternani Archiepis- poraneus et heremi cultor deuotissimus. " copi et Confessoris. "
Ecclesiastical History of Scotland," book ii. ,
42
chronicon," p.
" 5'In" Scoti-
See Rev. Dr. J. F. S. Gordon's
Catalogus Generalis. "
43 See Thomas
Dempster's
fol. cv.
45 See Rev. Dr.
F. S. Gordon's
"
Scoti-
siam de Banquorefternysepultus quern Sanc- tus Palladius Scotorum apostolus de sancto fonte leuauit — Rome
magno commendauit. " Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland," vol. ii. , p. 264.
vol. i. , 44.
5~ See " Germanicum. " Martyrologium
SJ The of Aberdeen at Martyrology says
" Historia Ec- clesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomusii. ,
lib. xviii. , num. 1107, p. 608.
44 Breviary of Aberdeen, Pars Hyemalis,
J. chronicon," vol. i. , pp. 44, 45.
adultumque Gregorio "
46 This is stated by Bishop Lesley, in his work, " De Origine, Moribus, et Rebus Gen- tis Scotorum," lib. iiii. , p. 131.
54 Thus at the 12th : "S. Turnane, arch- 47 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," bishop of ye 1'iclues ordenit le S. padie
tomus ii. , Junii xii. 1 )e Sancto Ternano Pic-
vnder king Kugenius 2. "
55 See Forbes' "Kalendars of Bishop
Scottish Saints," p. 154.
5" Thus : "xn Kinkar—niae Tarnani picto-
torum in Britannia
48 See Thomas Dempster's
num. 534.
Episcopo,
"
5, p. Historia Ec-
clesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xviii. , num. 1 107, p. 608.
rum Archiepiscopi. k. " Jbid. , p.
202.
"
Terrenani Pictorum archiprcsulis apud eccle-
FridieIdasJunijj
In Scotia natalis sancti
June 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 641
Dempster; and likewise, in the Scottish Entries 57 in the Kalendar of David
Camerarius. The head of this saint was preserved at Banquhory-Ternan,
where it was seen by the compiler s 8 of the Aberdeen Martyrology, about
a. d. 1530, or as calculated 1,100 years after his death, and even then, the
skin on that part where he had been tonsured and anointed was observed. 59
That miraculous bell ^—called the Ronnecht—was preserved at Banchory-
TernanuntiltheReformation. Oneofthose
ecclesiasticalrelics aBookoftheFourGospels hadbeenpreservedatBanchoryformany
——
interesting
ornamented with silver and 61 A gold.
and it was enclosed in a
monstrance containing his relicswas in the treasury of the church at Aberdeen. 62 The cathedral church is said to have been dedicated to him at Abernethy, withmanyothersinthatdistrict. 63 AchapelandwellbearthenameofSt. Ternan, at Findon, in Banchory-Devenick. 64 He was patron of the
ages,
parishes
case,
of
Slains,
65 of
Arbuthnott,
66 and of
Upper Banchory.
67 a Perhaps
church or a chapel in Brechin also bore his name. 68 Although it cannot be
ascertained, that the present holy bishop had been a native of Ireland, or
eventhathehadsetfootonhershores; yet,asappearsfromourCalendars, he was greatly venerated in our Island, and this seems to have caused mis-
conceptions regarding his country, places, and identity, as may be deduced from the succeeding article.
Article III. —Reputed Festival of St. Torannan, or Tarannan,
Abbot of Bangor, County of Down. There is some confusion x about
Torannan, who is evidently the same as St. Ternan, that bishop among the Picts, and who was the disciple of St. Palladius. In the Martyrology ofTal-
2 at the 12th of
This appears to be a mistake for the Benchory alluded to in the previous article, and it has set subsequent Irish calendarists astray. The gloss on a copy of the Felire of St. yEngus confounds him with Palladius 3 while another
lagh,
June,
is the
simple entry, Tarannan,
Abbot of Bandchair.
;
gloss in the Felire of St. ^Engus confounds him with St. Mothoria,* or Mothoren. s The suggestion, that he was abbot of Bangor and of Tulach
57 Thus : "12 Die. Sanctus Ternanus volueiit inter cetera in Britannie finibus mi- Episcopus et Confessor et post Ninianum randa singularis. "—"Proceedings of the
sanctu—m Pictorum Australium veluti Apos-
tolas. " Ibid. , p. 238. .
58 As he states: "Habetur caput Terre-
nani admirationis ita quod caro caracteris corone sue sacro oleo vncte ad mille centum annos nostris indignis oculis intuentibus manet incorrupta. Sed et alia continue cor-
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. " vol. ii. ,
264.
62 According to "Registrum Episcopatus
Aberdonense," tomus ii. , p. 185.
6s See Thomas Dempster's "Historia
Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. ,
lib. xviii. , num. 1 107, p. 608.
6* See " Memorials of and Jervise's Angus
Mearns," p. 364.
6s See "View of the Diocese of Aber-
deen," p. 387.
* See " New StatisticafAccount of Scot-
land," Kincardine, p. 160.
6? See ibid. , p. 323.
M See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
Scottish Saints,"—p. 451.
* of Article hi. In the opinion Rev.
Dr. Todd.
3 Edited Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvii. by
3 The festival of this Scottish Apostle is celebrated on the 6th day of July,
* Who is venerated June 9th.
s From this probably comes the sugges- tion, that he was abbot of Drumcliff.
is
ruscantia miracula videant
qui
eius
legendam
legunt. "
59 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 451.
"Registrum Niger Aberbrothock," in the year 1485, a conces- sion of St. Ternan's bell "vicario ejusdem
specialiter pro ornatione capitis dicti Sti. Ternani patroni nostri ejusdem ecclesise. "
p. 239.
61
60 There exists in the
de
It is thus described, by the compiler of the
Aberdeen " Martyrology :
Euuangelistarum quoque quatuor voluminibus metallo inclusis argento auro texto in superficie fabricatis re- muneraretur quorum Mathei euuangeliste volumen adhuc apud Eanquory, cuius miracula si curiosus aliquis inuestigare
Vol. VI. —No. ii.
p.
642 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 12.
Foirtceirn, as well as of Drumcliff, in the county of Sligo, occurs in the gloss of Marianus O'Gorman, who notices St. Torannan, in his Calendar, at this same date. At Drumcliff, an ancient rock-monument is found, and it is thoughttobeaworkreferabletopagantimes. 6 TheMartyrologyofDonegal? describes him more fully—and perhaps more inexactly—at the same date.
Heis 8 as not described, also,
beenAbbotof butas Bennchor,
only having
having had some relation with Tulach Foirtceirn, in Leinster, and with
Druim-chliabh, of Cairpre, in Connacht. St. Torannan is said to have descended from the race of Cairbre Riada, son to Conaire, son of Mogh- lamha.
A certain book 9 is quoted, as authority for this statement. The writer is of opinion, that the Tulach Foirtceirn already mentioned is identical withTullow,10inthecountyofCarlow. 11 Amongsomebeautifulphotographs in possession of Miss Stokes, Dublin, there is a very fine representation of Drumcliff sculptured cross and round tower. 12 The name of Torannan also occurs at the 12th of June, in that Calendar compiled by the Rev. William
1 Reeves. 13 There is a very old church and burial-ground, called Kilternan, *
inthesouthernpartofthecountyofDublin. Theruinedchurchiswraptin ivy, while it is surrounded by elder trees and thorns.
Article IV. —St. Murchon, or Murchu, probably of Cill Mur- chaid or Murchon, in Corann, County of Sligo. In the Martyrology
to consider, whether this be the festival of Murchu of the race of Conall Cremhthainn. In the table appended to that work, after Murchu, we find the word Morcus. 3 And in the Introduction to the same Calendar of Irish Saints, an entry occurs, that Cill Murchaid is to be regarded, as belonging to Corann. 4 This Corann is now the name of a barony in the county of Sligo. 5 In the mountain of Corann, are the remarkable caves of Keis-Corainn,6 about which many curious s—tories are retailed ; and, one of these accounts for the origin of Keis or Ceis the name of a metamorphosed lady who was slain
1 at the 12th of is entered the name Murchon, but without June
of
further notice. In connexion with this saint's festival, the O'Clerys suggest, that there is a Murchu, of the race of Conall Cremhthainne. son to Niall of the Nine Hostages, and that there is a Cill Murchon in Coram), near Ceis Corann, in Connacht. The Martyrology of Donegal 2 adds a memorandum
Tallagh,
6"
See Henry O'Neill's Fine Arts and
Ancient Civilization of Ireland," part ii. ,
chap, ii. , pp. 39, 40.
7 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
In the Martyrology of Donegal. " See edition of Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
O'Neill has accurately and tastefully pour- trayed these objects at Drumcliff. :-ee his elegant work, " The Fine Arts and Ancient Civilization of Ireland," part ii. , chap, i. ,
pp. 29 to 34.
I3 See "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of
Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix LL, p. 379.
«• See D'Alton's " of the John History
166, 167. 8"
166, 167.
' In a note Dr. Todd
says,
" What this
book was does not
Sanctilogium Geneal. is intended. "
the
of — to Dublin," pp. 831 834.
appear. Probably Also called Tullowphelim, a pari. -h in
County Article
* Edited
10
the of barony
Iv. Kelly, p. xxvii.
by
Rathvilly, county
of
Carlow,
2 Edited Reeves.
by
and described on the "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Carlow,"
sheets 3, 8, 9, 13. The town of Tullow and and townland of Tullowphelim are marked out, on sheet 8.
" Near it lived St. who Fortkern, baptized
St. Finian of Clonard.
" In his illustrations of Irish art, Henry
Rev. Dr. Rev. Drs. Todd and
3 See ibid. , pp. 454, 455.
* See ibid. , p. xxxix.
s See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (b), p. 311.
6 A and illustrations of them description
may be seen, in the " Irish Penny Journal," vol. i. , No. 2, pp. 9, 10.
June 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
643
here—as having been prefixed to the mountain, which is composed of tabular limestone. The chief entrance to the caves is on the western side, and high up near its summit' The height of the two openings on the face of the moun- tain is not less than twenty feet. The caves themselves are of very great
Caves of Ceis-Corran, County of Sligo.
but all their
of Donegal,9 at this same date, mentions Murchu, as a saint, whose festival was celebrated.
Article V. —St. Cunera, Virgin and Martyr. Weare not able to
understand, on what grounds the present holy woman has been classed among
our Irish saints. Her personality, as also her period, has raised various his-
toric doubts. A wonderful combination of impossibilities and improbabilities,
it is 1 must be found in the household for the account of stated, tale, adopted
this saint, who is supposed to have been one of St. Ursula's companions. It is not possible now to say, what foundation of truth may underlie that fabulous character, which the story presents, for it abounds in absurd anachronisms and misstatements.
extent,
passages
have not
yet
been
explored.
Martyrology
been 2 printed.
Thus the " at Hystorie plurimorum Sanctorum," printed
In the very infancy of the typographic art, her Legend had
Louvain, a. d. 1485, has a notice of Kunera, Virgo et Martyr. 3 To this
7 The present engraving by Mrs. Millard
is from a sketch originally taken on the spot,
by William F. Wakeman, and by him trans-
ferred to the wood. It is a view as seen
from the interior.
fathomable depth, and spars of unimaginable
beauty. "
9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
168, 169. — Article v.
reach even to the opposite or eastern side At Cologne, in the year 1483. of the mountain, and contain lakes of un- 3 See fol. lxxxiii. , lxxxiiii.
8
local accounts are to be trusted, these caves
Dr. George Petrie writes, that if the
12, p. 154. ''3
*
8 The
Rev. S.
Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. vi. , June
See
Baring-
644 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 12.
Molanusalludesinhiswork. * ThisSt. CuneraismentionedbyFatherHer- mann Crombach, S. J. , 5 in his work 6 'on St. Ursula and her companions in
martyrdom. HeusedforthispurposeaManuscript,whichbelongedtothe CathedralChurchofSt. Martin,atUtrecht,asalsoone? submittedtohimby
the Archbishop of Phillipi, who was named Philip, and who was Vicar Apos- tolic of the Federate States of Holland. It seems to have been Colgan's inten-
seems to have been composed about the beginning of the fourteenth century.
To this various miracles are
holy virgin's and martyr's intercession. These Acts are illustrated with notes. In the " Acta Sanctorum Belgii Selecta,"' 5 the Acts of St. Cunera, virgin and martyr, are given at the 12th of June, in a Historico-critical commentary by
notice of this woman occurs in holy
The Latin Legend 18 of St. Cunera seems to have been compiled from popular traditions, and to have been in- corporated into the Lessons of a Breviary, or of some office, used in the church of Rhenen. Of this Legend there are other versions, but they are all worthless and unreliable. 1 ' The Legend of St. Cunera states, that there is a certain
8 that the Acts of St. a should be on the 12th Cunera, virgin, published,
tion,
day of June. Her name is found in anothei memorandum. In Colgan's posthu- mous Calendar^ he mentions St. Cunera, virgin, at the 1 2th of June, as one whose Acts he had prepared for publication. The Bollandists IO have pub- lished Acts of this holy virgin and martyr. A previous commentary " has been added by Father Daniel Papebroke, who has entered upon a process of difficultinvestigationtoillustrateherhistoryandperiod. " HerLegendis given in a sermon,^ which was delivered on the day of her festival, and it
Father Daniel 6 A Papebroke. '
simple the compilation of Mgr. Paul Guerin. 1 ?
4 He observes " historiam Latine impres-
sum tomo secundo Legends Lo—vanii et Colo-
"
nise ia infantia typographic. " In Natali-
bus Sanctorum Belgii. "
5 See an account of him and of his works
the Rhine Legends regarding her and a double inspection of her Relics. The third section refers to the veneration of her Relics in various places, and miracles as they have been reported.
from ; one of these belonged to the monas- tery of Bodensee, the other belonged to the church of St. Saviour, at Utrecht.
13 This is set forth in eight paragraphs.
14 The first collection of these, as furnished by Father Papebroke, is taken from a muti- lated Rhenish manuscript, which had been
in Michaud's "
Biographie
Universelle An-
" He had two to work Manuscript copies
cienne et Moderne," tome ix. , p. 515.
Martyrum. " This was published at Cologne, in two folio volumes, A. D. 1647.
6" It is intituled :
Ursula Vindicata, sive Vita et Martyrium SS. Ursulse et Sociorum
added,
1 * and which have been attributed to this
7 The original of was found " in area S.
Cunerse. " This Manuscript has been de-
scribed in John Gerbrand's "Chronicon written about three hundred years before
Episcoporum Ultra jectinorum et Comitum Hollandiae," cap. iv. , v. , vi. The author was a Carmelite, denominated a Leyda.
8 He alludes to her, in "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xxviii. Januarii. De S. Cannera Virgine, n. 2, p. 175.
a. d. 1698, when he wrote. There are two
sections and twenty paragraphs comprised. A second series is given, from a collection
made and printed in German, about the year 1520. This has been rendered into Latin, by Hermann Crombach, S. J. , and it is intro-
duced with a notice in two sections, prefixed,
9 " Actuum Sanctorum Catalogus
quae MS. habentur, ordine Mensium et Die-
comprising twenty-three paragraphs.
,s See vol. v. , pp. 288 to 301.
t6 This is followed from
rum. "
10 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
by Excerpts the miracles of St. Cunera, sects. 1 to 5.
ii. , Junii xii. De S. Cunera Virg. Mart. Rhenis
'? See " Les Petits Bollandists, Vies des Saints," tome vi. , xiie Jour de Juin, p. 584.
18 FatherPapebrokeobtainedacopyofthe
Rhenen Legend, wanting six folios. This
was presented to him by Peter, Archbishop of Sebaste, Vicar Apostolic of the Federal States of Holland.
apud Belgas in Dioce. Ultraiectina, pp. 557 to 572.
day
June.
while the
640 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 12.
the eleventh or beginning of the twelfth century ; and, it was probably begun
out of motives dictated by piety, necessity or expediency, however incon-
venient, irregular and conflicting must have been the usage. As the Scotch had received originally the doctrines and discipline of Christianity from Ire- land ; so, it is probable, that their practices had been borrowed or greatly in- fluenced by the like prevailing practices/ Ternan was the companion of St. Macharius, and a most devout lover of solitude. 41 A certain Convecturius is said to have been prince in the territory, where St. Ternan lived.
man with his companions was approaching. The prince cried out
:
The holy " Hypo-
? " St. Ternan salvation, that thou mayest know God and serve him alone. "
" We seek But, Convec-
crite,
what dost thou in
my territory
replied :
thy
" Cease from these deceiving words. " Thus repulsed, the saint retired from him. Convecturius thought to retire, also, but his feet adhered firmly to a stone. However, the saint prayed for his release. This miracle convinced that prince of his impiety, and professing a desire to be baptized, St. Ternan received his profession of Faith. *2 If we are to believe Thomas Dempster, he wrote one book intituled u Exhorationes ad Pictos," another
"
turius said
14 Contra and a third Pelagianos,"
:
Homilias ex Sacra but these Scriptura,"43
statements are given without guarantees, and they are wholly gratuitous St.
Machar of Aberdeen is said to have sent for some seed corn to St. Ternan. '' 4
Having none to give on loan, the latter sent some sacks of sand. Machar
sowed the sand, moved by a like faith, and the legend states, that he after-
wardsreapedanabundantharvest. 45 Oneofthefablesrelatedaboutthissaint
is, that he had been engaged in extripating the Pelagian heresy from among
the Picts 46 whereas, in it had no hold them in the time of St. ; reality, among
Ternan. 4? He flourished, it is said,48 a. d. 440, and he died at Abernethy, where his remains were afterwards held in distinguished veneration. He is said to have been buried in Liconium, which was probably the old name for that place, afterwards called Banchory-Ternan. 4? At the 12th of June, his festival is entered in the Carthusian additions to the Martyrology of Usuard 5° in Ferrarius 51 and in Canisius. s2 In the Martyrology,53 Calendar and Breviary of Aberdeen, at the 12th of June, is the feast of St. Terrenanus. It is entered, also in Adam King's Ka- lendar. s4 at the same date;55 in the Menologium Scotorum 5° of Thomas
49 See William F. Skene's "Celtic Scot- sect, xxiv. , xxv. , pp. 157 to 160. land : a History of Ancient Alban," vol. ii. ,
41 In the Martyrology of Aberdeen, we book ii. , chap, i. , p. 30.
read: "Eratenim Beati Mauricii contem- 5° Thus : "In Scotia Ternani Archiepis- poraneus et heremi cultor deuotissimus. " copi et Confessoris. "
Ecclesiastical History of Scotland," book ii. ,
42
chronicon," p.
" 5'In" Scoti-
See Rev. Dr. J. F. S. Gordon's
Catalogus Generalis. "
43 See Thomas
Dempster's
fol. cv.
45 See Rev. Dr.
F. S. Gordon's
"
Scoti-
siam de Banquorefternysepultus quern Sanc- tus Palladius Scotorum apostolus de sancto fonte leuauit — Rome
magno commendauit. " Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland," vol. ii. , p. 264.
vol. i. , 44.
5~ See " Germanicum. " Martyrologium
SJ The of Aberdeen at Martyrology says
" Historia Ec- clesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomusii. ,
lib. xviii. , num. 1107, p. 608.
44 Breviary of Aberdeen, Pars Hyemalis,
J. chronicon," vol. i. , pp. 44, 45.
adultumque Gregorio "
46 This is stated by Bishop Lesley, in his work, " De Origine, Moribus, et Rebus Gen- tis Scotorum," lib. iiii. , p. 131.
54 Thus at the 12th : "S. Turnane, arch- 47 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," bishop of ye 1'iclues ordenit le S. padie
tomus ii. , Junii xii. 1 )e Sancto Ternano Pic-
vnder king Kugenius 2. "
55 See Forbes' "Kalendars of Bishop
Scottish Saints," p. 154.
5" Thus : "xn Kinkar—niae Tarnani picto-
torum in Britannia
48 See Thomas Dempster's
num. 534.
Episcopo,
"
5, p. Historia Ec-
clesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. , lib. xviii. , num. 1 107, p. 608.
rum Archiepiscopi. k. " Jbid. , p.
202.
"
Terrenani Pictorum archiprcsulis apud eccle-
FridieIdasJunijj
In Scotia natalis sancti
June 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 641
Dempster; and likewise, in the Scottish Entries 57 in the Kalendar of David
Camerarius. The head of this saint was preserved at Banquhory-Ternan,
where it was seen by the compiler s 8 of the Aberdeen Martyrology, about
a. d. 1530, or as calculated 1,100 years after his death, and even then, the
skin on that part where he had been tonsured and anointed was observed. 59
That miraculous bell ^—called the Ronnecht—was preserved at Banchory-
TernanuntiltheReformation. Oneofthose
ecclesiasticalrelics aBookoftheFourGospels hadbeenpreservedatBanchoryformany
——
interesting
ornamented with silver and 61 A gold.
and it was enclosed in a
monstrance containing his relicswas in the treasury of the church at Aberdeen. 62 The cathedral church is said to have been dedicated to him at Abernethy, withmanyothersinthatdistrict. 63 AchapelandwellbearthenameofSt. Ternan, at Findon, in Banchory-Devenick. 64 He was patron of the
ages,
parishes
case,
of
Slains,
65 of
Arbuthnott,
66 and of
Upper Banchory.
67 a Perhaps
church or a chapel in Brechin also bore his name. 68 Although it cannot be
ascertained, that the present holy bishop had been a native of Ireland, or
eventhathehadsetfootonhershores; yet,asappearsfromourCalendars, he was greatly venerated in our Island, and this seems to have caused mis-
conceptions regarding his country, places, and identity, as may be deduced from the succeeding article.
Article III. —Reputed Festival of St. Torannan, or Tarannan,
Abbot of Bangor, County of Down. There is some confusion x about
Torannan, who is evidently the same as St. Ternan, that bishop among the Picts, and who was the disciple of St. Palladius. In the Martyrology ofTal-
2 at the 12th of
This appears to be a mistake for the Benchory alluded to in the previous article, and it has set subsequent Irish calendarists astray. The gloss on a copy of the Felire of St. yEngus confounds him with Palladius 3 while another
lagh,
June,
is the
simple entry, Tarannan,
Abbot of Bandchair.
;
gloss in the Felire of St. ^Engus confounds him with St. Mothoria,* or Mothoren. s The suggestion, that he was abbot of Bangor and of Tulach
57 Thus : "12 Die. Sanctus Ternanus volueiit inter cetera in Britannie finibus mi- Episcopus et Confessor et post Ninianum randa singularis. "—"Proceedings of the
sanctu—m Pictorum Australium veluti Apos-
tolas. " Ibid. , p. 238. .
58 As he states: "Habetur caput Terre-
nani admirationis ita quod caro caracteris corone sue sacro oleo vncte ad mille centum annos nostris indignis oculis intuentibus manet incorrupta. Sed et alia continue cor-
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. " vol. ii. ,
264.
62 According to "Registrum Episcopatus
Aberdonense," tomus ii. , p. 185.
6s See Thomas Dempster's "Historia
Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus ii. ,
lib. xviii. , num. 1 107, p. 608.
6* See " Memorials of and Jervise's Angus
Mearns," p. 364.
6s See "View of the Diocese of Aber-
deen," p. 387.
* See " New StatisticafAccount of Scot-
land," Kincardine, p. 160.
6? See ibid. , p. 323.
M See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
Scottish Saints,"—p. 451.
* of Article hi. In the opinion Rev.
Dr. Todd.
3 Edited Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvii. by
3 The festival of this Scottish Apostle is celebrated on the 6th day of July,
* Who is venerated June 9th.
s From this probably comes the sugges- tion, that he was abbot of Drumcliff.
is
ruscantia miracula videant
qui
eius
legendam
legunt. "
59 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 451.
"Registrum Niger Aberbrothock," in the year 1485, a conces- sion of St. Ternan's bell "vicario ejusdem
specialiter pro ornatione capitis dicti Sti. Ternani patroni nostri ejusdem ecclesise. "
p. 239.
61
60 There exists in the
de
It is thus described, by the compiler of the
Aberdeen " Martyrology :
Euuangelistarum quoque quatuor voluminibus metallo inclusis argento auro texto in superficie fabricatis re- muneraretur quorum Mathei euuangeliste volumen adhuc apud Eanquory, cuius miracula si curiosus aliquis inuestigare
Vol. VI. —No. ii.
p.
642 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 12.
Foirtceirn, as well as of Drumcliff, in the county of Sligo, occurs in the gloss of Marianus O'Gorman, who notices St. Torannan, in his Calendar, at this same date. At Drumcliff, an ancient rock-monument is found, and it is thoughttobeaworkreferabletopagantimes. 6 TheMartyrologyofDonegal? describes him more fully—and perhaps more inexactly—at the same date.
Heis 8 as not described, also,
beenAbbotof butas Bennchor,
only having
having had some relation with Tulach Foirtceirn, in Leinster, and with
Druim-chliabh, of Cairpre, in Connacht. St. Torannan is said to have descended from the race of Cairbre Riada, son to Conaire, son of Mogh- lamha.
A certain book 9 is quoted, as authority for this statement. The writer is of opinion, that the Tulach Foirtceirn already mentioned is identical withTullow,10inthecountyofCarlow. 11 Amongsomebeautifulphotographs in possession of Miss Stokes, Dublin, there is a very fine representation of Drumcliff sculptured cross and round tower. 12 The name of Torannan also occurs at the 12th of June, in that Calendar compiled by the Rev. William
1 Reeves. 13 There is a very old church and burial-ground, called Kilternan, *
inthesouthernpartofthecountyofDublin. Theruinedchurchiswraptin ivy, while it is surrounded by elder trees and thorns.
Article IV. —St. Murchon, or Murchu, probably of Cill Mur- chaid or Murchon, in Corann, County of Sligo. In the Martyrology
to consider, whether this be the festival of Murchu of the race of Conall Cremhthainn. In the table appended to that work, after Murchu, we find the word Morcus. 3 And in the Introduction to the same Calendar of Irish Saints, an entry occurs, that Cill Murchaid is to be regarded, as belonging to Corann. 4 This Corann is now the name of a barony in the county of Sligo. 5 In the mountain of Corann, are the remarkable caves of Keis-Corainn,6 about which many curious s—tories are retailed ; and, one of these accounts for the origin of Keis or Ceis the name of a metamorphosed lady who was slain
1 at the 12th of is entered the name Murchon, but without June
of
further notice. In connexion with this saint's festival, the O'Clerys suggest, that there is a Murchu, of the race of Conall Cremhthainne. son to Niall of the Nine Hostages, and that there is a Cill Murchon in Coram), near Ceis Corann, in Connacht. The Martyrology of Donegal 2 adds a memorandum
Tallagh,
6"
See Henry O'Neill's Fine Arts and
Ancient Civilization of Ireland," part ii. ,
chap, ii. , pp. 39, 40.
7 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
In the Martyrology of Donegal. " See edition of Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
O'Neill has accurately and tastefully pour- trayed these objects at Drumcliff. :-ee his elegant work, " The Fine Arts and Ancient Civilization of Ireland," part ii. , chap, i. ,
pp. 29 to 34.
I3 See "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of
Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix LL, p. 379.
«• See D'Alton's " of the John History
166, 167. 8"
166, 167.
' In a note Dr. Todd
says,
" What this
book was does not
Sanctilogium Geneal. is intended. "
the
of — to Dublin," pp. 831 834.
appear. Probably Also called Tullowphelim, a pari. -h in
County Article
* Edited
10
the of barony
Iv. Kelly, p. xxvii.
by
Rathvilly, county
of
Carlow,
2 Edited Reeves.
by
and described on the "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Carlow,"
sheets 3, 8, 9, 13. The town of Tullow and and townland of Tullowphelim are marked out, on sheet 8.
" Near it lived St. who Fortkern, baptized
St. Finian of Clonard.
" In his illustrations of Irish art, Henry
Rev. Dr. Rev. Drs. Todd and
3 See ibid. , pp. 454, 455.
* See ibid. , p. xxxix.
s See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (b), p. 311.
6 A and illustrations of them description
may be seen, in the " Irish Penny Journal," vol. i. , No. 2, pp. 9, 10.
June 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
643
here—as having been prefixed to the mountain, which is composed of tabular limestone. The chief entrance to the caves is on the western side, and high up near its summit' The height of the two openings on the face of the moun- tain is not less than twenty feet. The caves themselves are of very great
Caves of Ceis-Corran, County of Sligo.
but all their
of Donegal,9 at this same date, mentions Murchu, as a saint, whose festival was celebrated.
Article V. —St. Cunera, Virgin and Martyr. Weare not able to
understand, on what grounds the present holy woman has been classed among
our Irish saints. Her personality, as also her period, has raised various his-
toric doubts. A wonderful combination of impossibilities and improbabilities,
it is 1 must be found in the household for the account of stated, tale, adopted
this saint, who is supposed to have been one of St. Ursula's companions. It is not possible now to say, what foundation of truth may underlie that fabulous character, which the story presents, for it abounds in absurd anachronisms and misstatements.
extent,
passages
have not
yet
been
explored.
Martyrology
been 2 printed.
Thus the " at Hystorie plurimorum Sanctorum," printed
In the very infancy of the typographic art, her Legend had
Louvain, a. d. 1485, has a notice of Kunera, Virgo et Martyr. 3 To this
7 The present engraving by Mrs. Millard
is from a sketch originally taken on the spot,
by William F. Wakeman, and by him trans-
ferred to the wood. It is a view as seen
from the interior.
fathomable depth, and spars of unimaginable
beauty. "
9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
168, 169. — Article v.
reach even to the opposite or eastern side At Cologne, in the year 1483. of the mountain, and contain lakes of un- 3 See fol. lxxxiii. , lxxxiiii.
8
local accounts are to be trusted, these caves
Dr. George Petrie writes, that if the
12, p. 154. ''3
*
8 The
Rev. S.
Gould's "Lives of the Saints," vol. vi. , June
See
Baring-
644 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 12.
Molanusalludesinhiswork. * ThisSt. CuneraismentionedbyFatherHer- mann Crombach, S. J. , 5 in his work 6 'on St. Ursula and her companions in
martyrdom. HeusedforthispurposeaManuscript,whichbelongedtothe CathedralChurchofSt. Martin,atUtrecht,asalsoone? submittedtohimby
the Archbishop of Phillipi, who was named Philip, and who was Vicar Apos- tolic of the Federate States of Holland. It seems to have been Colgan's inten-
seems to have been composed about the beginning of the fourteenth century.
To this various miracles are
holy virgin's and martyr's intercession. These Acts are illustrated with notes. In the " Acta Sanctorum Belgii Selecta,"' 5 the Acts of St. Cunera, virgin and martyr, are given at the 12th of June, in a Historico-critical commentary by
notice of this woman occurs in holy
The Latin Legend 18 of St. Cunera seems to have been compiled from popular traditions, and to have been in- corporated into the Lessons of a Breviary, or of some office, used in the church of Rhenen. Of this Legend there are other versions, but they are all worthless and unreliable. 1 ' The Legend of St. Cunera states, that there is a certain
8 that the Acts of St. a should be on the 12th Cunera, virgin, published,
tion,
day of June. Her name is found in anothei memorandum. In Colgan's posthu- mous Calendar^ he mentions St. Cunera, virgin, at the 1 2th of June, as one whose Acts he had prepared for publication. The Bollandists IO have pub- lished Acts of this holy virgin and martyr. A previous commentary " has been added by Father Daniel Papebroke, who has entered upon a process of difficultinvestigationtoillustrateherhistoryandperiod. " HerLegendis given in a sermon,^ which was delivered on the day of her festival, and it
Father Daniel 6 A Papebroke. '
simple the compilation of Mgr. Paul Guerin. 1 ?
4 He observes " historiam Latine impres-
sum tomo secundo Legends Lo—vanii et Colo-
"
nise ia infantia typographic. " In Natali-
bus Sanctorum Belgii. "
5 See an account of him and of his works
the Rhine Legends regarding her and a double inspection of her Relics. The third section refers to the veneration of her Relics in various places, and miracles as they have been reported.
from ; one of these belonged to the monas- tery of Bodensee, the other belonged to the church of St. Saviour, at Utrecht.
13 This is set forth in eight paragraphs.
14 The first collection of these, as furnished by Father Papebroke, is taken from a muti- lated Rhenish manuscript, which had been
in Michaud's "
Biographie
Universelle An-
" He had two to work Manuscript copies
cienne et Moderne," tome ix. , p. 515.
Martyrum. " This was published at Cologne, in two folio volumes, A. D. 1647.
6" It is intituled :
Ursula Vindicata, sive Vita et Martyrium SS. Ursulse et Sociorum
added,
1 * and which have been attributed to this
7 The original of was found " in area S.
Cunerse. " This Manuscript has been de-
scribed in John Gerbrand's "Chronicon written about three hundred years before
Episcoporum Ultra jectinorum et Comitum Hollandiae," cap. iv. , v. , vi. The author was a Carmelite, denominated a Leyda.
8 He alludes to her, in "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xxviii. Januarii. De S. Cannera Virgine, n. 2, p. 175.
a. d. 1698, when he wrote. There are two
sections and twenty paragraphs comprised. A second series is given, from a collection
made and printed in German, about the year 1520. This has been rendered into Latin, by Hermann Crombach, S. J. , and it is intro-
duced with a notice in two sections, prefixed,
9 " Actuum Sanctorum Catalogus
quae MS. habentur, ordine Mensium et Die-
comprising twenty-three paragraphs.
,s See vol. v. , pp. 288 to 301.
t6 This is followed from
rum. "
10 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
by Excerpts the miracles of St. Cunera, sects. 1 to 5.
ii. , Junii xii. De S. Cunera Virg. Mart. Rhenis
'? See " Les Petits Bollandists, Vies des Saints," tome vi. , xiie Jour de Juin, p. 584.
18 FatherPapebrokeobtainedacopyofthe
Rhenen Legend, wanting six folios. This
was presented to him by Peter, Archbishop of Sebaste, Vicar Apostolic of the Federal States of Holland.
apud Belgas in Dioce. Ultraiectina, pp. 557 to 572.
