No More Learning

'3 This townland and parish, are shown
tory of Ireland," book ii. , pp. 453, 454.
^° According to Dr. O' Donovan's Annals
of the Four Masters," Aedh Oirdnidhe reigned from the year "793 [recte 798]," to the year 817. See vol. i. , pp. 400 to 429.
"" Edited by Rev. Dr, Kelly, p. xvii.
-^ Edited Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. by
on the
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Wexford, Sheet
'< See an account of this parish in ' ' Letters
containing Information relative to the Anti- quities of the County of Wexford, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. i. , pp. 288 to 290.
'S See the notices of Fotharta, in which it
is probable Finn-magh was situated, in con-
nexion with St. date,
Cele-Christ's life, at this
"
'See "Acta Sanctorum
47.
and
Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Archbishops of Armagh," p. 40.
'7 See O'Conor's " Historical Address,"
part ii. , lect. iv. , p. 74.
^^ See notices of St. Moshacra, son o
Bennan, at the 8th of January.
'9 He flourished, in the tenth century,
and reigned, from the year 913 to A. D. 254.
62, 63.
^3 In a note. Dr. Todd says, for
^^
Moh-
saccra, read Moshacra. "
2-* See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," p. 6.
=3 Thus : "V Nonas. In Hibernia in-
sola sanctorum confessorum Moacro et Cele
natalicia celebrantur.
Article ii.
—
102 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 3.
are given, by Colgan,^ and by the Bollandists. ' In those accounts, we are informed, that Ereclac or Ereclacius had been a disciple to the Irish Apostle, and that the latter was accompanied by him, during various journeys he
made, through the Ulster province, to spread a knowledge of the Gospel amongst its people. While in Dal-riadia, St. Patricks founded many churches ; and,amongthese,hebuiltRathmudhainchurch. ^ Afterwards,oursaintwas charged with its government. s Colgan assigns about the year 450, as the date of the foundation. In the Tripartite Life, the name is written Rath- mudain,^ which is Latinized, Arx Muadain,? It was so called from Muadain, the father of Enan. ^ The modem Protestant parish church occupies the ancient site. 9 While St. Patrick was here engaged in prosecuting his Apostolic labours, Ereclacius assumed his place as a fellow-labourer, at Rathmoain, as it was called in the time of Colgan ; and, it is now contracted to Ramoan, or Rathmoran, a parish in the diocese of Connor,'° barony of Gary, and countyofAntrim. " TheplaceisalsocalledRathmona,whichhasbeenin-
" the fort in the It lies on the sea-shore and forms the bog. "
terpreted
western boundary of Ballycastle Bay, in the extreme northern part of Ire-
land. " Interestingruins,antiquitiesandscenerycharacterizethislocality. *3 The error which Golgan falls into of placing Ramoan in the deanery of Hy- Tuirtre, he elsewhere corrects by describing it as in the territory of Cath- rugia, in Dalriadia. '* The River Shesk, which joins the Gary river at Bonamargy, flows from south to north, and divides this parishes from Gul- feightrin. '^ The year of our saint's death is not recorded; but, his festival has been assigned to the 3rd of March, by the Martyrologies of Tallagh,'^ of Marianus O'Gorman, of Maguire, and of Donegal. '^ His name also occurs in the Rev. William Reeves' diocesan Calendar. '9
Hibernias," Martii iii. De S. Ereclacio
Prsesbytero et Confessore, p. 455.
"See "Acta Sanctorum," Martii iii.
Among the pretermitted saints, p. 222. 3 See his Life, at the 17th of March.
* See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Septima
Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , and nn. 197, 198, p. 182.
s See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," Martii iii. De S. Ereclacio Praesby-
of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 483.
'3 This is elegantly illustrated, in a series
of views, to be found in "The Scenery and
Antiquities of Ireland," by W. H. Bartlett, vol. i. , pp. 36 to 48.
'* He says : "in regione Dalriedia Cath-
— et in Deconatu de Tuascheart. " rugia dicta,
cap. cxxx. , p. 146,
"
n. I, p. 455.
'5 Besides Ramoan and Killeena, in it are
to be found the following churches and cemeteries : —" It is stated that small bury-
tero et Confessore, p. 455.
" This is a corruption of Hac mo'6Ain.
1 This name Colgan derives from Muad- "ig-g'ounds for infants existed in the
aun, who was the father of Enan, the townl. inds Bal'ydurnian, Ballyveely, Drum-
minister of the neighbouring church of avoley, and Killrobert, but their place are
Druim-indich. not now distinguishable, being under culti-
*
See notices of him, at the 25th of vation. In Ardagh there is a spot called
Friary, whither it is reported the brethren of Bonamargy retired upon the dissolution of that house. Here al>o is shown the earn of a MacQuillin. "—Rev. Dr. Reeves' " Eccle- siastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore. " Appendix Z, p. 285.
"" The bounds of this parish, in the barony
"
March. " 9 See Rev. Dr. Reeves'
Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dro- more," n. (r), p. 79, and Appendix Z, p.
284. »°
It is said to be in the deaconate of Hy- Tuirtre. Colgan here jilaces Ramoan, in
; but, he corrects
Hibernias," where he describes it, as being Antrim," Sheets 5, 9, 10, 14, 15, 19. Bo-
of
this statement, in the "Acta Sanctorum vey Townland Maps for the County of
the deanery of Hy-Turtre
Cary,
Ordnance Sur-
in the region of Dalriedia, in a district, called Cathrugia, and in the deanery of Tuash-ceart. See iii. Martii. Vita S. Ere-
clacii, n. i. , p. 455.
" See its bounds on "Ordnance Survey
Townland for of
Maps theCounty Antrim,"
namargy, a townland lying within it, is noted on Sheets 5, 9.
'7 Edited by Rev, Dr. Kelly, p. xvii.
Sheets 4, 5, 8, 9, 14.
62, 63.
*5 See "Ecclesiastical of Antiquities
Down, Connor and Dromore,'' Appendix LL, p. 377.
" See Lewis' ' '
Topo^aphical Dictionary
'^
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," Martii iii. ,
are foimd on the
March 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 103
Article III. —St. Foila'or Foilenna, Virgin, and Patroness of KiLL-FAILE, NOW KiLLEELY PARISH, CoUNTY OF GaLWAY. Colgan COuld not procure any special Acts of this saint, who was venerated in the southern parts of Connaught, in his own time. ^ However, he and the BoUandists' have short notices of her, at this day. St. Foilenna, Failenna, or Fallenda, or as more commonly called, St. Foila or Faila, also denominated Foilend,3 or Faoileann,'' is thought to have been daughter to Aidan, surnaraed Draig- nech, son to Lugadius, son to Dathy,5 King of Ireland f and, her mother, Cuillenn, or Cullenda, was likewise descended from a distinguished family. ? She had three brothers, Colgeus, or Colga,^ Aldus and Sorarius, who are numbered amongst the saints of our country. 9 At what particular time St. Foila was born, we are not informed ; but, it was thought, probably, in an early part or towards the middle of the sixth century. It seems probable, she lived in Kill-faile. This place is identical with the present parish of Killeely,inthebaronyofDunkellin,countyofGalway. '° Theoldchurch there is yet in good preservation, being, in the opinion of Dr. O'Donovan, modernizedduringthe14thor15thcentury. Measuredontheinside,itis63 feet long by 21 broad. " The pointed or Gothic style there prevails. It is remarkable, that this parish joins Kilcolgan, where St. Faile's brother, Colga orColgan,"hadbeenvenerated. BothchurcheswerenearAthchathMedh-
ruidhe, the ancient name for Clarinbridge. Both saints also belonged to the race of the Hy Fiachrach Aidhne. '3 The church of Kill-faile derives its name from St. Foila, and it is situated within the diocese of Kilmacduagh. During her lifetime, St. Foila performed many miracles. The day and year of her death is not recorded ; but, the former probably fell on the 3rd of March,"^ when her festival was kept, in the church of Kill-faile. It is com- memorated on this day, according to the Martyrologies of Tamlacht,'s of Marianus O'Gorman, of Maguire and of Donegal. '^ After her death, frequent pilgrimages were made to St. Foila's tomb, from distant parts of the
Article hi. —'See Colgan's "Acta vey Townland Maps for the County of
Sanctorum Hibernize," iii. Martii. De S.
Foilenna, Virgine, p. 456.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," Martii iii.
Among the pretermitted saints, p. 222.
3 Such is the name she bears in Rev. Dr.
Galway," Sheets 95, 96, 103, 104. The townland so called is to be found on Sheet
103, ibid. , and it is distinguished by the denominations of Killeely Beg and Killeely More.
"See "Letters Information containing
relative to the Antiquities of the County of Galway, collected during the Progress of the
" of xvii. Kelly's Martyrology Tallagh," p.
^ See Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves' " Mar-
tyrclogy of Donegal," pp. 62, 63.
s The death of this monarch is re-
"
corded, in Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
Four Masters," at A. D. 428. See vol. i. ,
pp. 128, 129.
* Her descent is thus noted in the " Sane-
tilogic Genealogy," chap. 9.
7 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nias," Martii iii. De S. Foilenna Virgine, p. 456.
^ The "Martyrology of Donegal" styles him, son to Aedh, of Cill Colgan, at Ath-
Ordnance Survey in 1838," vol. i. John O'Donovan's Letter, dated, Galway Oct. 6th, 1838, pp. 364, 365.
cliath Meadhraighe, in Connaught.
'3 John O'Donovan's Letter, dated, Oct.
9 In the "
9, their descent is traced through the same mation relative to the Antiquities of the
Sanctilogic Genealogy," chap.
nth, 1838.
See " Letters Infor- containing
ancestral line, as that of their sister. See ibid. But, at the 20th of February, where
County of Galway, collected during the Pro- gress of the Ordnance Survey in 1838," vol.
•* Edited Drs. Todd and by
Colgan gives the Acts of Colgeus, we find
the father and grandfather of himself and
brothers called Aldus. See ibid. De S. niae," iii. Martii, n. 7, p. 456.
Colgo sive Colgano, Abbate de Kill-Colgan, in Connacia, n. 8.
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- '5 Edited by Rev, Dr. Kelly, p. xvii.
" p. 381. " See it defined, on the
Reeves, pp.
Ordnance Sur-
62, 63.
" Colgan places his festival, at the 20th cf February. See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," Februarii xx. De S. Colgo sive Colgano, Abbate de Kill-Colgan in Conna- cia, pp. 380, 381. At the 25th of Februarj', with much diffidence, we have ventured to treat on this saint and his festival, vol. ii. , art. iii.
i. , pp. 430, 431. " '* See, Colgan's
104 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 3.
country, by persons afflicted with various maladies. For the cure of these, they reposed great confidence, in her merits and intercession.
Article IV. —St. Conna, Virgin. The Bollandists have a brief notice,
regardingthisholyvirgin; althoughstating,thatinothercases,Conna,often writtenCuanna,isthenameofaman. ^ IntheMartyrologyofTallagh,^we findthename,ConnaVir,entered,atthe3rdofMarch. Colganentertains
thatshe —beidenticalwithaSt. Matona—a
opinion, may probable corrup-
an
tion of St. Mo-chonna who was sister to St. Benignus,^ and St. Kethech. 4 If so, this saint's father was from the race of Kien, the son of OlioU Olum, andfromtheterritoryofKiennacht. s Hermotherissupposedtohavebeen from the territory of Tir-Olill. She received the veil, at the hands of St. Patrick,^ a priest St. Rodan^ assisting. To the care of this latter, she was afterwards committed, when the Irish Apostle had founded the church, in Domhach, in the territory of Hua-Noella, which church was afterwards called Sencheall Dumhaige. ^ Here, she is said to have been lelt, and she is regarded, as having been one of St. Patrick's disciples. 9 By Marianus O'Gorman and by Maguire, the festival of St. Conna is set down, at the 3rd ofMarch. Onthisday,wehaverecorded,intheMartyrologyofDonegal,'" Conna, a virgin. There is a Condath, daughter of Colman, descended from the race of Laeghaire, son to Niall, add the O'Clerys, as if doubting the correct identification of this holy woman. '
Article V. —Festival of a Reputed St. Haggard, Parish of Tom- haggard, County of Wexford. In the parish of Tomhaggard, county of Wexford, St. Haggard was regarded as the patron, and his day was kept, on the 3rd of March, according to popular tradition. Dr. O'Donovan takes the name of Tomhaggard, to mean " the priest's mound," or " tumulus. "^ The old church of Tomhaggard was 60 feet long, by 16 feet in breadth—inside— at the east end, and 14^ feet, at the west. The cause of this difference is, that 28 feet of the side-walls, a portion of which has the appearance of anti- quity, are thicker than the remainder or more modern portion. " This church has some curious antiquarian and architectural features. 3 Whether or not, the St. Haggard of Wexford tradition has been confounded with St. Sacer* or Mo-Sacra of Saggart is only offered, as an informal conjecture, yet to be solved.
Article VI. —Deochain Reat, or St. Reat, Deacon. When St. Patrick* visited the territory of Innishowen, he met three deacons, his
Article iv. —' See
tomus i. , Martii iii.
mitted saints, p. 222.
^
"Acta Sanctorum," Among the preter-
the i8tli of January, or ou the 24ih of August.
^
See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap. xli. , p. 135, and nn. 81, 82, 83, 84, 89, 109, pp. 176 to 1 78. Ibid.
' See Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patri- cii, cap. xxiii. , p. 270.
^° Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
62, 63. —
Article v. Thus, by corniption,
Saggart, in the county of Dublin.
^Within about three feet of the west
gable, the ancient character disappears, in
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvii.
3 Colgan thinks, he may have been vene-
rated, on the 3rd of April.
* His feast is supposed to fall, on the l6th
of June.
5 There was a Northern Kiennacta Glinne
Gemhin, in Ultonia, and a Southern one, within the bounds of Meath, called Kien-
nacta Breagh, and sometimes, Kinnacta
Arda. Both obtained name, from their also a coiTuption, C015 1110 v^^'^^^j like
being inhabited by the race of Kien.
*
' It is thought, his feast may have been on
See his Life, at the 17th of March.
'
CUdim aw c-fAjAi^c. He says it might be
March 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 105
nephews, by one of his sisters. This happened in the territory of Bredach, where he built the church of Domnach bile, afterwards known as Moville, in the county of Donegal. ^ Colgan remarks that the name of Reat is not a common one, among the Irish. 3 He is mentioned, at the 3rd of March, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,* as Deochain Reat. We find, in the INIartyrology ofDonegaljSthatthedeacon,St. Reat,^hadafestivalonthisday. Hisname has been Latinized, Reatus, Deacon, in the table appended to the same pub- lished record. 7 The BoUandists^ have some notices, with dubious comments regarding his identity, at the present date.
Article VII. —St. Modimoc or Modhiomog, Bishop. The name,
Modimoc, Bishop, occurs in the Martyrologies of Tallagh/ and of Marianus O'Gorman, at the 3rd of March. ^ He is recorded a little more fiilly else-
where, and some particulars regarding him are found. We read, in the
Martyrology of Donegal,3 on this day, regarding Modhioindg, it is found, in the Life of Barre,* that Modhiomog was at school with him \i. e. with Barre] at Loch Irce, and that he offered his church to God and to Barres in perpe- tuity. However, according to Colgan,^ the Modimicus, Dodimocus or Dimanus, venerated on this day, was an anchoret, as also an abbot, at Clonard, and Kildare. He is said to have died, in 743. 7
Article VIII. —St. Cele Christ, or Christicola, Bishop of Kill-
Cele-Chriost,inUi-Donchadha,inFotharta,Leinster. {Seventhand Eighth Centuries? ^ This devoted servant of Christ, in after time, deserved well the name he seems to have obtained in baptism, of Cele-Chriost, Latin-
Corbmac, the son of Eugene,^ son to Niall of the Nine Hostages, according to one account ;3 although, his pedigree must be regarded as greatly deficient here, in some of the intermediate generations. The Rev. John Francis Shearman states, that the immediate progenitor of St. Celechrist and of his brother St. — is
i. e. " of Christ. "^ He descended from an illus- worshipper
ized, Christicola,
trious family ; his father being called Euchoaid or Euchodius, the son of
should thus run
:
Eochaidh,
son of
Cormac,
son to son of Eochaidh,
Illann,
ComghalH missing;
while the order of backward descent
the walls ; but, their thickness continues the
same, in that direction, as in the older p. 222.
— "^"
portion.
3 See a more detailed
of this parish, in Letters containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the County of
Wexford, collected during the Progress of
the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. ii. , pp. 198 to 201.
xvii.
See the Bollandists' Acta Sanctorum,"
fomus i. , Martii iii. Among the preter- mitted saints, p. 222.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
description
Kelly, p.
4'
Already noti—ced, at this day.
Chapter x.
Article vi.
•
See his
at the Life, 17th
s His Life ber.
of March.
^ See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. cxxii. , p. 145'
3 He would not affirm, however, that this deacon was one of St. Patrick's nephews. ^QQibtd. , nn. 176, 177, p. 181.
4 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvii.
Drs. Todd and
In a note, Dr. Todd says at this word
5 Edited 62, 63.
^ He died a. d.
3 That of the
* Reat :
^
^^
chap. i.
<* He was Abbot of Bochonais, and his
festival will be found at the 4th of Septem- ber.
_
by
i.