8 The river here is wide, but shallow, and
any other day had been dedicated for his commemoration, and therefore accepted the
publication of his Mass, at this date, as con- firmatory of a solemn and public veneration for the Saint, in his native country.
any other day had been dedicated for his commemoration, and therefore accepted the
publication of his Mass, at this date, as con- firmatory of a solemn and public veneration for the Saint, in his native country.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
835.
It is stated, that
the- Monarch of Ireland had invited the King of Munster to that interview, in hopes of compounding their mutual differences, in order that they might act
in concert their common against
the Northmen. 52 Instead of
enemy
such a salutary measure, as appears by what follows, ambition urged the
latter treacherous potentate, to take advantage of the difficulties besetting the
Monarch, and to supplant him, if possible, in the government of the whole kingdom. Intheyear840,53anarmywasledbyFeidhlimidhtoCarman;54 while another army was led to meet him by Niall to Magh-ochtair, a plain in the barony of Ikeathy and Uachtarfhine or Oughteranny, in the north of the present County of Kildare. 55 A mysterious allusion by some Irish poet to this encounter states, that the crozier of the devout Feidhlimidh was left in the shrubbery, which by right of the battle of swords, Niall by force bore away from them. *6
It is stated in the old Annals of Innisfallen, that Feidhlimidh, son of
Crimhthann, received homage from Neill, son of Aedh, King of Tara, in the year 824—but more correctly in 840—and that Feidhlimidh then became sole Monarch of Ireland, and sat in the seat of the Abbot of Cluain-fearta. 57 However, although the King of Munster aspired to such a position, it is a mistake of. writers on Irish historical matters to suppose he ever attained it. 58 At the year 843,5° the Annals of Clonmacnoise6° relate the burning of the
46 See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
pp. 452, 453, and n. (p), ibid.
4? See -AnnAlA uLvoVi, or Annals of Ulster,
edited by William M. Hennessy, vol. i. ,
pp. 336, 337.
48 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 456, 457, and n.
ibid.
49 A term applied to the inhabitants of
(g),
Ui-MaineinConnaught. Seetheir
O'Donovan are these
:
in "Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many,"
commonly called the O'Kellys' Country,
edited by John O'Donovan, pp. 24 to 59.
50 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 456 to 459.
5 1 See-AnnAlAUlAT>h,or Annals of Ulster, edited by William M. Hennessy, vol. i. ,
pp. 340, 341.
ss See Charles O'Conor's "Dissertations on
the History of Ireland," sect, xvi. , p. 224. 53 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol i. , pp. 460, 461, and nn.
(h, i, 1, k), ibid.
54 Said to have been Carman-Magh-
genealogy
bAchAlb •JTe,obimi,6 pijlij ^oppAgbAi6 if r»A -opoigmj
"Ouf puce mall co neApc uaua, a ceApc An caca cloitmng.
This we are told is inserted in a modern hand, in the Stow copy of the Annals. Dr. O'Donovan remarks on it: "The reader must bear in mind that Felim, son of Crimhthann, was Abbot or Bishop of Cashel, in right of his crown of Munster. "
57 See the teAbliAp nA g-CeArxc or Book of Rights, edited by John O'Donovan.
Introduction, p. xvi, n. (f). ssSeeL'AbbeMa-Geoghegan's"Histoire
Ochtar. There were two places so named de lTrlande, Ancienne et Moderne," tome
in the present County of Kildare ; the first Carman in the south and the second in the north of that County. Wherefore, Dr.
O'Donovan was wrong in taking Carman here to have been the same as Loch-Garman,
the old name for Wexford. See ^anaIa UIa-oVi, or Annals of Ulster, edited by William M. Hennessy, vol. i. , n. II, p. 345.
"
ss See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 212, 213, and n. (m).
5° —in The words as given
the text of Dr.
i. , Seconde Partie, chap, v. , p. 380. «'
59 j. n Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters," this event is referred to A. D. 844. See vol. i. , pp. 470, 471*
*> See ibid, n. (m).
effecting
4o4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 28.
61
Termon lands belonging to St. Kieran, without respect of place, saint, or
shrine ; on which account, Feidhlimidh incurred a merited punishment,
inflicted by the patron saint of Clonmacnoise. After his return to Munster
the following year, he was overtaken by a flux, which brought him to the 62
grave.
Notwithstanding his irregularity and great desire of spoil, the Annals of
Clonmacnoise state, that Feidhlimidh was by some numbered among the scribes and anchorites of Ireland. It is generally believed, that Feidhlimidh governed the province of Munster for twenty-seven years. After such a term
of rule, he voluntarily abdicated his temporal state, for a more spiritual life; and, to atone for his former excesses, he resolved to spend the remainder of his days in works of penance. He therefore embraced the austere life of an anchoret—but in what place we are not informed—and he thus prepared for his last end, distinguished by virtues and merits, so that he deserved to be classed among the saints. 63 In Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four
""
of the Scoti, a scribe and an anchorite, the Chronicon Scotorum enters
the demise of this prince, at a. d. 847 6? while the author quotes some lines68 ;
64 it is said he died on the 18th
internal wound, inflicted through the miracle of God and of St. Ciaran. Moreover, some lines from an Irish poem are quoted,65 which are in a strain both of lamentation and of eulogy. Notwithstanding that the career of Feidhlimidh mac Crimthainn appears to have been one of turbulence and depredation, and that his death is said to have been brought about, as a punishment for his sacrileges ; it seems strange, that when recording his death, at a. d. 846, the Annals of Ulster describe this Munster potentate as an excellent scribe and anchorite. 66 With the high eulogy of being the best
Masters,"
(? 28th)
of
August,
61Hisfeastoccurs,onthe9thofSeptember.
62 The popular tradition was, that while
taking rest in his bed, St. Kieran appeared to him in his habit, and with a pastoral staff. With the latter he gave King Fedlim a thrust, which caused an internal wound, and from this stroke he never afterwards recovered.
63 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars iii. , nn. 53, 54.
DuppMi a -Ohe -o Veit. bmi-6 connbiif bA r\om po-o biiT>e,
1? o -oeAjvd bj\6n -o einionncAib, x\&o mAin niAcCniorhcAinn ClAipe.
df fUAirini'O oo ;gViAoit>eAtAib cah x>o Amc An oe-oenbAi'6
It was portentous to the Gaeidhil when his last end arrived ;
Slaughter spread through sacred Ire- land from the hour that Feidhlimidh died.
There never went on regal bier a corpse so noble ;
A prince so generous under the King of Ailbin never shall be born. "
a At A. D. "Feidhlimidh mac Crim- 846,
thainn, rex M—uman, optimus pausavit scriba
64 See vol. i. ,
65 They are thus given
pp.
472, — 473.
:
Dr. Charles O'Conor's " Re-
flo rcAic a> a n eprn) UA15 on UAip AcbAt fTe-oLimi-o.
67 See edition of William M. Hennessy,
M. R. I. A. , pp. 146 147. 68 These are :
Our^fAn a T)e x> yei-6liiriit>,
Comi bAir bAnom no-obAix>e ; yo-oeanA br*6n x> einmnchAib t1at>mA1nniAcCr\michAm-ocUine.
The following fc an English translation :-
" Alas ! O God ! for Feidhlimidh
The cold wave of death has drowned
him ;
It is a cause of grief to the men of
Erinn,
That the son of Crimthann of Claire
lives not.
mweAchAiwinne-6r\i§i mAnbAnb^n
mmgnecAp,
rlAic FiaI ro «1$ tiAitbine cobnAt
no6on gignechAip.
Thus rendered into English :—
" Alas ! O God, for Feidhlimidh ; the wave of death has drowned him !
It is a cause of grief to the Irish lhat the son of Crimhthann of Claire lives not,
;
a. d. and of his 845,
et ancorita. "
rum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , Annales Ultonienses.
August 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 405
of an Irish poet, in lamentation for his death. The Martyrology of Donegal6? also records him at the 28th of August, as Feidhlimidh son of Cremthan, King of Munster.
From all we can learn, this King was distinguished by intellectual gifts,
and by energy of natural disposition ; yet neither of such qualifications could entitle him to our respect, did he not feel remorse for various misdeeds, and
repent for a long catalogue of crimes, which were perpetrated during the timehewasinvestedwithtemporaldominion. Likeanotherroyalpenitent, before he had been called out of this world, Feidhlimidh in the trouble of his soul and body recognised his own weakness and dependence,70 having recourse to humble supplication, that the Lord should not rebuke him in indignation, nor chastise him in wrath, while he had renounced the works of iniquity, and had shed tears of remorse for his many transgressions. Thus it happened in the case of Mary Magdalen, who from being a great sinner, afterwards became a great saint ; and with St. Paul, who from being a bitter persecutor of Christians afterwards became a glorious Apostle in the Church. To the last moment of life, God is merciful to even the greatest sinners, and accepts their sincere repentance with forgiveness, while if they persevere in
justice to the end, He has promised also to them the rewards of Heaven.
ArticleII. —FeastofSt. Flannan,Bishop,ofKillaloe. Because a Festival and Mass have been assigned for St. Flannan, Bishop and Con- fessor, as also the special Patron of the Church and Diocese of Killaloe, at
2
have the Acts of St. Flannan,3 Bishop of Killaloe, at this day. * Probably it was the date on which some translation of his relics took place. By
referring to his Life, which is given at the 1 8th of December, further parti- culars may be found, to throw some light on his personality and period.
Already, when treating about the Blessed Bryan Boroimha, King of Munster, Monarch of Ireland, and Martyr, at the 23rd of April,* allusion has been made to the origin of Killaloe, in the sixth century, said to have been foundedby,andtohavederiveditsnamefrom,St. Lua6orMolua. ? There are to be seen, at the present day, some very remarkable antiquities, and sur- rounded by the most romantic and charming scenery, along the banks of the River Shannon,8 The situation of the town is very picturesque, being erected
the 28th of August, by the Rev, Nicholas Anthony Kenny/ the Bollandists
69 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 228, 229.
7° Psalms, vi. —
work, Art. i. , chap. i.
6 to have been St. Lua or Molua Thought
of Clonfert Molua, whose feast occurs on the
*
Article ii.
propriae Sanctorum Patronorum ac Titula- rium Franciae et Hiberniae," published at
Paris, A. D. 1734.
2 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Au-
gusti xxviii. De S. Flannano Ep. et Conf.
Laonisa in Momonise Hiberniae, pp. 488 to
491.
3 These have been compiled by Father
nineteen
and whose Life be seen may
In a tract intituled," Missse
4th of August,
at that date in the present volume, Art. i.
John Pinius, S. J. , in two sections,
7 In the Irish Calendars, a St. Molua is venerated at the 4th of June ; St. Molua of Clonfert Molua, at the 4th of August ; a St. Molua, at the 15th of October ; a St. Molua at the 31st of November; and a St. Molua of Munghairit, at the 21st of December. Mo is but a term of endearment prefixed to the proper name Lua.
and
4 They had not been able to ascertain if broken by rapids. It is spanned by a
paragraphs.
8 The river here is wide, but shallow, and
any other day had been dedicated for his commemoration, and therefore accepted the
publication of his Mass, at this date, as con- firmatory of a solemn and public veneration for the Saint, in his native country.
5 See at that date, the Fourth volume of this
narrow bridge having nineteen arches. A view is drawn by Samuel Lover, Esq. ,
"
R. H. A. , for
to illustrate a historic article of John Dalton. See vol. i. , Illustrations of Irish Topography. No. xxii. , Killaloe, pp. 169 to 171.
The Irish Penny Magazine,"^
406 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 28.
on the ascent of a hill," and it is backed by a range of encircling mountains. To St. Lua has been attributed the erection of an undoubtedly ancient oratory,* the remains of which stand on Friar's Island in the river and near
the eastern shore. 10
views of the former ecclesiastical erections at Killaloe have been presented by T. Crofton Crokerin his illustrated work, descriptiveofmanylocalitiesandcustomsofMunster. " Themostancient insular oratory consisted of a nave and choir ; the nave measuring on the inside 21 feet 8 inches in length, and 12 feet 7 inches in breadth ; while the choir measures 10 feet 11 inches in length, by 6 feet 8 inches in width. The east window is round-head- ed, on both sides, and con- structed of chiselled brown sand-stone, extending the entire thickness of the wall. It measures on the inside 4 feet 7 inches, in height, and one foot 9 inches in width, at the springing of the arch, and two feet at the bottom.
Interesting
***
Ancient Island Oratory, at Killaloe.
height of the side-walls of this choir is 8 feet and the roof is about the same height. The choir-arch is semicircular,andconstructedofchiselledbrownsand-stone itseemstohave
;
consisted originally of several concentric little arches, but only the outer-
most or highest arch now remains. It measures 8 feet 6 inches in height to the vertex, and 3 feet 8 inches in width. The west gable of the nave is now destroyed," as are also the south wall—except five feet of its height—
9 This has been called from him Mollua's
oratory. See the Rev. Philip Dwyer's by Mrs. Millard. It forms the of
"
Diocese of Killaloe from the Reformation to the close of the Eighteenth Century,"
. chap, i. , Introductory, p. 3.
10 A of this drawing
transferred by him to the wood, engraved subject
the present illustration.
" See " Researches in the South of Ire-
and taken the spot, by William F. Wakeman, has been
"
6th of January, 1839.
ruin,
on
It was blown down, on the night of the
It is placed at the height of six feet from the level of
the ground, on the outside ;
while there it measures only
one foot 9 inches in height ;
in width it is only 8 inches
at top and 10 inches at
bottom. At the distance
of 2 feet 9 inches from the
middle gable, there is a
quadrangular doorway, on the south wall of the choir,
constructed ofchiselled
grit, measuring on the inside 5 feet 7^ inches in height, and in width one foot 10 inches at top, and 2 feet 2 inches at bottom. Broken on the out- side, the dimensions seem to have been nearly the same asthoseontheinside. The
land," chap, iii. , pp. 55, 56.
August 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 407
and the north wall—except six feet of its height. The island on which the ruins stand contains about one acre and a half of land. This insular oratory of considerable beauty is undoubtedly the oldest ecclesiastical structure now to befoundinKillaloe. Therewasadoor-wayonthewestgable,nowdestroyed. Three of its cut stones on one side remain, but not in their original position, and the lintel is to be seen on the ground ; it is a block of brown sand-stone chiselled, and measuring 4 feet 3 inches in length, one foot 10 inches in thickness,andonefoot6inchesinbreadth. Fromtheimpressionofthestones on which it rested, and from this lintel it appears, that the door-way was one foot i\\ inches in width at the top. The walls of the nave in this building
are 3 feet 2 inches in thickness, and built of large brown sand-stone blocks,
cementedwithlimeandsandmortar. ^ Anotherinteresting,largerandmore
1 ornamented building, with a stone-roof, has been ascribed also to St. Molua. *
Having some of its features evidently borrowed from the older oratory, it stillstandswithinthetown,andinagoodstateofpreservation. ^ Bysome writers, however, it is thought that on its site was the church originally
16 1? erected by St. Flannan. Afterwards was erected the mediaeval cathedral, a
small Gothic edifice, in the form of a cross, with nave, transepts and a choir, having a plain square battlemented tower, supported by four arches, in the centre of the cross. 18 The town and its churches are said to have been burned on various occasions. In the year 1054, it is related, that a bridge had been erected at Killaloe by Turlough O'Brien. The material with which it had been constructed was wood. In the year 11. 70, the Hy-Maine made
an inroad upon Ormond, which they plundered, and also they des- troyed the wooden bridge, at Cill-Dalua. ^ This does not appear to have been re-erected for a long time afterwards, as in the beginning of the four- teenth century, the passage over the Shannon here was only known as Clarisford, from Thomas De Clare, who had obtained possessions in the east
of Clare, from one of the Thomond
princes.
20 It is stated, that while St.
Lua21 was the first to have founded a monastery at Killaloe, St. Flannan
became his disciple, and succeeded him. He is said to have been conse-
crated as first of 22 of which diocese he is as the
Bishop Killaloe, regarded
13 See " Letters containing Information that it was an edifice of much greater anti relative to the Antiquities of the County of quity than that which now remains. See
Tipperary, collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. ii.
Letter of John O'Donovan, dated Nenagh, October 13th, 1840, pp. 28 to 30.
James Frost's "History and Topography of the County of Clare, from the earliest times
to the beginning of the 1 8th century," with map and illustrations, chap, x. , p. 175. Dublin, 1893, 8vo.
x' It is said, by Donald, King of Lime- rick, about a. d. 1 160.
l8 The architectural peculiarities of this building have been well described by Mr.
»« See Very Rev. P. White's
"
History of Tipperary, p. 8. This
Clare and the Dalcassian Clans of
Limerick and Galway," chap, i. ,
valuable work, dealing chiefly with the civil history of the county, contains an ancient
and a modern map, coloured, which greatly serve to show the student of its contents the former Irish divisions as compared with the modern localities. Dublin, 1893, 8vo.
' s It has been already illustrated and suf-
ficiently described, in the Fourth Volume of
this work, at the 23rd of April, Art. i. The Collectanea, vol. i. , p. 439, and Ware's Blessed Bryan Boroimha, King of Munster, Bishops, p. 589, this saint is called Molua-
Monarch of Ireland, and Martyr, chap. i. lobhair, the grandson of Eocha Bailldearg, "
16 Attached to the stone-roofed church, King of North Munster. See Monasticon on the north side of the cathedral, another Hibernicum," p. 52.
building appears to have stood, because on *" About A. D. 639, after his consecration
"
the east gable are seen marks left by the at Rome. See James Frost's History and
'
roof of a structure somewhat smaller in size. Topography of the County of Clare, Some suppose it was the choir, and others chap, x. , p. 157.
&c,
Bell.
I9 See Dr. O'Donovan's
"
Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1 178, 1 179.
2° See " The Parliamentary Gazetteer of
Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 451.
2I According to Archdall, who cites the
4o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 38.
Chief Patron. In the remarkable stone-roofed church at Killaloe, it is supposed his remains were first deposited, although afterwards translated to the more modern Cathedral. **
Article III. —Feast of Quiriacus and of his Companions, Martyrs.
"1
According to the Feilire" of St. ^Engus, at the 28th of August, the Festival
of Quiriacus and of his companions was celebrated in Ireland. At this date,
the Bollandists* have the u M. translation How- simple record, Quiriaci
ever, there are no other special Acts or memorials of Quiriacus given by them at this date.
Article IV. —Festival of Saint Hermes, Martyr. In the Irish Church, Hermes was commemorated as a Martyr, at the 28th of August, as
found in the " Feilire " of St.
1 In a comment attached, we are informed, that being a Roman Prefect his martyrdom occurred in Afri, under the Emperor Aurelian. * However, this latter account is incorrect ; for, it is only recorded in the Acts of Pope St. Alexander I. ,3 that the latter had con- verted Hermes, a rich patrician and prefect of Rome from paganism to Christianity, together with his wife, children, and his sister Theodora. After- wards Hermes liberated over twelve hundred of his slaves, with their wives and children. Whereupon, when it was known, that he had become a Christian, Pope Alexander was apprehended and cast into prison, by order of the Emperor Aurelian. * The tribune Quirinus had reproved Hermes for becoming a Christian, and thus subjecting himself, not only to lose his pre- torship, but even to expose himself to the persecution then prevailing. Nevertheless, when Hermes had related the miracles wrought by Alexander, and had even convinced Quirinus, that through angelic aid the Pope had been able to leave the prison, and to come into his own house, where Hermes then was present ; notwithstanding his previous strong prejudices against the Christians, Quirinus himself became a convert and was baptized, together with all the other members of his household. Then it is related, that when Aurelianus heard of what had transpired, he ordered Hermes to bebeheaded. AfterwardshisremainswerebroughtbyhissisterTheodora,
a3 See "The Irish Penny Magazine," vol.
i. Illustrations of Irish Topography, No.
xxii. , p. 169.
Article hi. — 1 In the " Leabhar Breac "
feasts, p. 141. — 3 To this is added, by way of reference "ex Usuardo monasterii S. Martini Tor-
copy is the following notice at this date.
Stokes, LL. D.
Series, vol. i. , part i.
On the Calendar
of
"
:
UoriAn Ciniacuf ConacLeip cain cacViIaic
epmif CefAif pochneiT) 1ncdurvo<Mj\e Ah -Appaic.
May Quiriacus protect us, with his train
Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. ,
pp. cxxv. , cxxvi.
2
See ibid. , p. cxxxiii.
> He satin the chair of St. Peter from A. D.
109 to A. D. 119.
4 However this statement is irreconcilable
with the time allowed for the Emperor Aurelian, who was not born for a long period
St. Alexander I. That Roman Emperor is thought to have been born about a. d. 212, and he died after a reign of five years in March, 275. Flavius Vopiscus, a Latin historian, who lived at Rome towards the close of the third century has written an interesting "Vita Aureliani. "
fair Catholic. Hermes suffered a
Africa. "
"
great out of Transactions of the Royal Irish
wound — the
: (Augustine) conspicuous
after the death of
Pope
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. ,
part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, pp.
cxxv. , cxxvi.
3
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Augusti xxviii. Among the pretermitted
^Engus.
of the The English t—ranslation is by Whitley Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript
naci" — Article iv.
*
See "Transactions
August 29. ] LIVES Of THE IRISH SAINTS.
409
and buried on the Salarian Way, not far from the city of Rome, on the V. of the September Kalends, which corresponds with the 28th day of August. The foregoing is in substance what the Bollandist Father John Stilting relates of him at this date,5 where he gives a critical and historic commentary on his Acts.
Article V. —Festival of St. Augustine. As in the Universal
Church, the great St. Augustine was commemorated in Ireland, on the 28th
of Wefindhimmentionedwithdistinctive 1 inthe"Feilire"2 August. praise
of St.
the- Monarch of Ireland had invited the King of Munster to that interview, in hopes of compounding their mutual differences, in order that they might act
in concert their common against
the Northmen. 52 Instead of
enemy
such a salutary measure, as appears by what follows, ambition urged the
latter treacherous potentate, to take advantage of the difficulties besetting the
Monarch, and to supplant him, if possible, in the government of the whole kingdom. Intheyear840,53anarmywasledbyFeidhlimidhtoCarman;54 while another army was led to meet him by Niall to Magh-ochtair, a plain in the barony of Ikeathy and Uachtarfhine or Oughteranny, in the north of the present County of Kildare. 55 A mysterious allusion by some Irish poet to this encounter states, that the crozier of the devout Feidhlimidh was left in the shrubbery, which by right of the battle of swords, Niall by force bore away from them. *6
It is stated in the old Annals of Innisfallen, that Feidhlimidh, son of
Crimhthann, received homage from Neill, son of Aedh, King of Tara, in the year 824—but more correctly in 840—and that Feidhlimidh then became sole Monarch of Ireland, and sat in the seat of the Abbot of Cluain-fearta. 57 However, although the King of Munster aspired to such a position, it is a mistake of. writers on Irish historical matters to suppose he ever attained it. 58 At the year 843,5° the Annals of Clonmacnoise6° relate the burning of the
46 See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
pp. 452, 453, and n. (p), ibid.
4? See -AnnAlA uLvoVi, or Annals of Ulster,
edited by William M. Hennessy, vol. i. ,
pp. 336, 337.
48 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 456, 457, and n.
ibid.
49 A term applied to the inhabitants of
(g),
Ui-MaineinConnaught. Seetheir
O'Donovan are these
:
in "Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many,"
commonly called the O'Kellys' Country,
edited by John O'Donovan, pp. 24 to 59.
50 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 456 to 459.
5 1 See-AnnAlAUlAT>h,or Annals of Ulster, edited by William M. Hennessy, vol. i. ,
pp. 340, 341.
ss See Charles O'Conor's "Dissertations on
the History of Ireland," sect, xvi. , p. 224. 53 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol i. , pp. 460, 461, and nn.
(h, i, 1, k), ibid.
54 Said to have been Carman-Magh-
genealogy
bAchAlb •JTe,obimi,6 pijlij ^oppAgbAi6 if r»A -opoigmj
"Ouf puce mall co neApc uaua, a ceApc An caca cloitmng.
This we are told is inserted in a modern hand, in the Stow copy of the Annals. Dr. O'Donovan remarks on it: "The reader must bear in mind that Felim, son of Crimhthann, was Abbot or Bishop of Cashel, in right of his crown of Munster. "
57 See the teAbliAp nA g-CeArxc or Book of Rights, edited by John O'Donovan.
Introduction, p. xvi, n. (f). ssSeeL'AbbeMa-Geoghegan's"Histoire
Ochtar. There were two places so named de lTrlande, Ancienne et Moderne," tome
in the present County of Kildare ; the first Carman in the south and the second in the north of that County. Wherefore, Dr.
O'Donovan was wrong in taking Carman here to have been the same as Loch-Garman,
the old name for Wexford. See ^anaIa UIa-oVi, or Annals of Ulster, edited by William M. Hennessy, vol. i. , n. II, p. 345.
"
ss See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 212, 213, and n. (m).
5° —in The words as given
the text of Dr.
i. , Seconde Partie, chap, v. , p. 380. «'
59 j. n Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters," this event is referred to A. D. 844. See vol. i. , pp. 470, 471*
*> See ibid, n. (m).
effecting
4o4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 28.
61
Termon lands belonging to St. Kieran, without respect of place, saint, or
shrine ; on which account, Feidhlimidh incurred a merited punishment,
inflicted by the patron saint of Clonmacnoise. After his return to Munster
the following year, he was overtaken by a flux, which brought him to the 62
grave.
Notwithstanding his irregularity and great desire of spoil, the Annals of
Clonmacnoise state, that Feidhlimidh was by some numbered among the scribes and anchorites of Ireland. It is generally believed, that Feidhlimidh governed the province of Munster for twenty-seven years. After such a term
of rule, he voluntarily abdicated his temporal state, for a more spiritual life; and, to atone for his former excesses, he resolved to spend the remainder of his days in works of penance. He therefore embraced the austere life of an anchoret—but in what place we are not informed—and he thus prepared for his last end, distinguished by virtues and merits, so that he deserved to be classed among the saints. 63 In Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four
""
of the Scoti, a scribe and an anchorite, the Chronicon Scotorum enters
the demise of this prince, at a. d. 847 6? while the author quotes some lines68 ;
64 it is said he died on the 18th
internal wound, inflicted through the miracle of God and of St. Ciaran. Moreover, some lines from an Irish poem are quoted,65 which are in a strain both of lamentation and of eulogy. Notwithstanding that the career of Feidhlimidh mac Crimthainn appears to have been one of turbulence and depredation, and that his death is said to have been brought about, as a punishment for his sacrileges ; it seems strange, that when recording his death, at a. d. 846, the Annals of Ulster describe this Munster potentate as an excellent scribe and anchorite. 66 With the high eulogy of being the best
Masters,"
(? 28th)
of
August,
61Hisfeastoccurs,onthe9thofSeptember.
62 The popular tradition was, that while
taking rest in his bed, St. Kieran appeared to him in his habit, and with a pastoral staff. With the latter he gave King Fedlim a thrust, which caused an internal wound, and from this stroke he never afterwards recovered.
63 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars iii. , nn. 53, 54.
DuppMi a -Ohe -o Veit. bmi-6 connbiif bA r\om po-o biiT>e,
1? o -oeAjvd bj\6n -o einionncAib, x\&o mAin niAcCniorhcAinn ClAipe.
df fUAirini'O oo ;gViAoit>eAtAib cah x>o Amc An oe-oenbAi'6
It was portentous to the Gaeidhil when his last end arrived ;
Slaughter spread through sacred Ire- land from the hour that Feidhlimidh died.
There never went on regal bier a corpse so noble ;
A prince so generous under the King of Ailbin never shall be born. "
a At A. D. "Feidhlimidh mac Crim- 846,
thainn, rex M—uman, optimus pausavit scriba
64 See vol. i. ,
65 They are thus given
pp.
472, — 473.
:
Dr. Charles O'Conor's " Re-
flo rcAic a> a n eprn) UA15 on UAip AcbAt fTe-oLimi-o.
67 See edition of William M. Hennessy,
M. R. I. A. , pp. 146 147. 68 These are :
Our^fAn a T)e x> yei-6liiriit>,
Comi bAir bAnom no-obAix>e ; yo-oeanA br*6n x> einmnchAib t1at>mA1nniAcCr\michAm-ocUine.
The following fc an English translation :-
" Alas ! O God ! for Feidhlimidh
The cold wave of death has drowned
him ;
It is a cause of grief to the men of
Erinn,
That the son of Crimthann of Claire
lives not.
mweAchAiwinne-6r\i§i mAnbAnb^n
mmgnecAp,
rlAic FiaI ro «1$ tiAitbine cobnAt
no6on gignechAip.
Thus rendered into English :—
" Alas ! O God, for Feidhlimidh ; the wave of death has drowned him !
It is a cause of grief to the Irish lhat the son of Crimhthann of Claire lives not,
;
a. d. and of his 845,
et ancorita. "
rum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , Annales Ultonienses.
August 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 405
of an Irish poet, in lamentation for his death. The Martyrology of Donegal6? also records him at the 28th of August, as Feidhlimidh son of Cremthan, King of Munster.
From all we can learn, this King was distinguished by intellectual gifts,
and by energy of natural disposition ; yet neither of such qualifications could entitle him to our respect, did he not feel remorse for various misdeeds, and
repent for a long catalogue of crimes, which were perpetrated during the timehewasinvestedwithtemporaldominion. Likeanotherroyalpenitent, before he had been called out of this world, Feidhlimidh in the trouble of his soul and body recognised his own weakness and dependence,70 having recourse to humble supplication, that the Lord should not rebuke him in indignation, nor chastise him in wrath, while he had renounced the works of iniquity, and had shed tears of remorse for his many transgressions. Thus it happened in the case of Mary Magdalen, who from being a great sinner, afterwards became a great saint ; and with St. Paul, who from being a bitter persecutor of Christians afterwards became a glorious Apostle in the Church. To the last moment of life, God is merciful to even the greatest sinners, and accepts their sincere repentance with forgiveness, while if they persevere in
justice to the end, He has promised also to them the rewards of Heaven.
ArticleII. —FeastofSt. Flannan,Bishop,ofKillaloe. Because a Festival and Mass have been assigned for St. Flannan, Bishop and Con- fessor, as also the special Patron of the Church and Diocese of Killaloe, at
2
have the Acts of St. Flannan,3 Bishop of Killaloe, at this day. * Probably it was the date on which some translation of his relics took place. By
referring to his Life, which is given at the 1 8th of December, further parti- culars may be found, to throw some light on his personality and period.
Already, when treating about the Blessed Bryan Boroimha, King of Munster, Monarch of Ireland, and Martyr, at the 23rd of April,* allusion has been made to the origin of Killaloe, in the sixth century, said to have been foundedby,andtohavederiveditsnamefrom,St. Lua6orMolua. ? There are to be seen, at the present day, some very remarkable antiquities, and sur- rounded by the most romantic and charming scenery, along the banks of the River Shannon,8 The situation of the town is very picturesque, being erected
the 28th of August, by the Rev, Nicholas Anthony Kenny/ the Bollandists
69 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 228, 229.
7° Psalms, vi. —
work, Art. i. , chap. i.
6 to have been St. Lua or Molua Thought
of Clonfert Molua, whose feast occurs on the
*
Article ii.
propriae Sanctorum Patronorum ac Titula- rium Franciae et Hiberniae," published at
Paris, A. D. 1734.
2 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Au-
gusti xxviii. De S. Flannano Ep. et Conf.
Laonisa in Momonise Hiberniae, pp. 488 to
491.
3 These have been compiled by Father
nineteen
and whose Life be seen may
In a tract intituled," Missse
4th of August,
at that date in the present volume, Art. i.
John Pinius, S. J. , in two sections,
7 In the Irish Calendars, a St. Molua is venerated at the 4th of June ; St. Molua of Clonfert Molua, at the 4th of August ; a St. Molua, at the 15th of October ; a St. Molua at the 31st of November; and a St. Molua of Munghairit, at the 21st of December. Mo is but a term of endearment prefixed to the proper name Lua.
and
4 They had not been able to ascertain if broken by rapids. It is spanned by a
paragraphs.
8 The river here is wide, but shallow, and
any other day had been dedicated for his commemoration, and therefore accepted the
publication of his Mass, at this date, as con- firmatory of a solemn and public veneration for the Saint, in his native country.
5 See at that date, the Fourth volume of this
narrow bridge having nineteen arches. A view is drawn by Samuel Lover, Esq. ,
"
R. H. A. , for
to illustrate a historic article of John Dalton. See vol. i. , Illustrations of Irish Topography. No. xxii. , Killaloe, pp. 169 to 171.
The Irish Penny Magazine,"^
406 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 28.
on the ascent of a hill," and it is backed by a range of encircling mountains. To St. Lua has been attributed the erection of an undoubtedly ancient oratory,* the remains of which stand on Friar's Island in the river and near
the eastern shore. 10
views of the former ecclesiastical erections at Killaloe have been presented by T. Crofton Crokerin his illustrated work, descriptiveofmanylocalitiesandcustomsofMunster. " Themostancient insular oratory consisted of a nave and choir ; the nave measuring on the inside 21 feet 8 inches in length, and 12 feet 7 inches in breadth ; while the choir measures 10 feet 11 inches in length, by 6 feet 8 inches in width. The east window is round-head- ed, on both sides, and con- structed of chiselled brown sand-stone, extending the entire thickness of the wall. It measures on the inside 4 feet 7 inches, in height, and one foot 9 inches in width, at the springing of the arch, and two feet at the bottom.
Interesting
***
Ancient Island Oratory, at Killaloe.
height of the side-walls of this choir is 8 feet and the roof is about the same height. The choir-arch is semicircular,andconstructedofchiselledbrownsand-stone itseemstohave
;
consisted originally of several concentric little arches, but only the outer-
most or highest arch now remains. It measures 8 feet 6 inches in height to the vertex, and 3 feet 8 inches in width. The west gable of the nave is now destroyed," as are also the south wall—except five feet of its height—
9 This has been called from him Mollua's
oratory. See the Rev. Philip Dwyer's by Mrs. Millard. It forms the of
"
Diocese of Killaloe from the Reformation to the close of the Eighteenth Century,"
. chap, i. , Introductory, p. 3.
10 A of this drawing
transferred by him to the wood, engraved subject
the present illustration.
" See " Researches in the South of Ire-
and taken the spot, by William F. Wakeman, has been
"
6th of January, 1839.
ruin,
on
It was blown down, on the night of the
It is placed at the height of six feet from the level of
the ground, on the outside ;
while there it measures only
one foot 9 inches in height ;
in width it is only 8 inches
at top and 10 inches at
bottom. At the distance
of 2 feet 9 inches from the
middle gable, there is a
quadrangular doorway, on the south wall of the choir,
constructed ofchiselled
grit, measuring on the inside 5 feet 7^ inches in height, and in width one foot 10 inches at top, and 2 feet 2 inches at bottom. Broken on the out- side, the dimensions seem to have been nearly the same asthoseontheinside. The
land," chap, iii. , pp. 55, 56.
August 28. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 407
and the north wall—except six feet of its height. The island on which the ruins stand contains about one acre and a half of land. This insular oratory of considerable beauty is undoubtedly the oldest ecclesiastical structure now to befoundinKillaloe. Therewasadoor-wayonthewestgable,nowdestroyed. Three of its cut stones on one side remain, but not in their original position, and the lintel is to be seen on the ground ; it is a block of brown sand-stone chiselled, and measuring 4 feet 3 inches in length, one foot 10 inches in thickness,andonefoot6inchesinbreadth. Fromtheimpressionofthestones on which it rested, and from this lintel it appears, that the door-way was one foot i\\ inches in width at the top. The walls of the nave in this building
are 3 feet 2 inches in thickness, and built of large brown sand-stone blocks,
cementedwithlimeandsandmortar. ^ Anotherinteresting,largerandmore
1 ornamented building, with a stone-roof, has been ascribed also to St. Molua. *
Having some of its features evidently borrowed from the older oratory, it stillstandswithinthetown,andinagoodstateofpreservation. ^ Bysome writers, however, it is thought that on its site was the church originally
16 1? erected by St. Flannan. Afterwards was erected the mediaeval cathedral, a
small Gothic edifice, in the form of a cross, with nave, transepts and a choir, having a plain square battlemented tower, supported by four arches, in the centre of the cross. 18 The town and its churches are said to have been burned on various occasions. In the year 1054, it is related, that a bridge had been erected at Killaloe by Turlough O'Brien. The material with which it had been constructed was wood. In the year 11. 70, the Hy-Maine made
an inroad upon Ormond, which they plundered, and also they des- troyed the wooden bridge, at Cill-Dalua. ^ This does not appear to have been re-erected for a long time afterwards, as in the beginning of the four- teenth century, the passage over the Shannon here was only known as Clarisford, from Thomas De Clare, who had obtained possessions in the east
of Clare, from one of the Thomond
princes.
20 It is stated, that while St.
Lua21 was the first to have founded a monastery at Killaloe, St. Flannan
became his disciple, and succeeded him. He is said to have been conse-
crated as first of 22 of which diocese he is as the
Bishop Killaloe, regarded
13 See " Letters containing Information that it was an edifice of much greater anti relative to the Antiquities of the County of quity than that which now remains. See
Tipperary, collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. ii.
Letter of John O'Donovan, dated Nenagh, October 13th, 1840, pp. 28 to 30.
James Frost's "History and Topography of the County of Clare, from the earliest times
to the beginning of the 1 8th century," with map and illustrations, chap, x. , p. 175. Dublin, 1893, 8vo.
x' It is said, by Donald, King of Lime- rick, about a. d. 1 160.
l8 The architectural peculiarities of this building have been well described by Mr.
»« See Very Rev. P. White's
"
History of Tipperary, p. 8. This
Clare and the Dalcassian Clans of
Limerick and Galway," chap, i. ,
valuable work, dealing chiefly with the civil history of the county, contains an ancient
and a modern map, coloured, which greatly serve to show the student of its contents the former Irish divisions as compared with the modern localities. Dublin, 1893, 8vo.
' s It has been already illustrated and suf-
ficiently described, in the Fourth Volume of
this work, at the 23rd of April, Art. i. The Collectanea, vol. i. , p. 439, and Ware's Blessed Bryan Boroimha, King of Munster, Bishops, p. 589, this saint is called Molua-
Monarch of Ireland, and Martyr, chap. i. lobhair, the grandson of Eocha Bailldearg, "
16 Attached to the stone-roofed church, King of North Munster. See Monasticon on the north side of the cathedral, another Hibernicum," p. 52.
building appears to have stood, because on *" About A. D. 639, after his consecration
"
the east gable are seen marks left by the at Rome. See James Frost's History and
'
roof of a structure somewhat smaller in size. Topography of the County of Clare, Some suppose it was the choir, and others chap, x. , p. 157.
&c,
Bell.
I9 See Dr. O'Donovan's
"
Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1 178, 1 179.
2° See " The Parliamentary Gazetteer of
Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 451.
2I According to Archdall, who cites the
4o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 38.
Chief Patron. In the remarkable stone-roofed church at Killaloe, it is supposed his remains were first deposited, although afterwards translated to the more modern Cathedral. **
Article III. —Feast of Quiriacus and of his Companions, Martyrs.
"1
According to the Feilire" of St. ^Engus, at the 28th of August, the Festival
of Quiriacus and of his companions was celebrated in Ireland. At this date,
the Bollandists* have the u M. translation How- simple record, Quiriaci
ever, there are no other special Acts or memorials of Quiriacus given by them at this date.
Article IV. —Festival of Saint Hermes, Martyr. In the Irish Church, Hermes was commemorated as a Martyr, at the 28th of August, as
found in the " Feilire " of St.
1 In a comment attached, we are informed, that being a Roman Prefect his martyrdom occurred in Afri, under the Emperor Aurelian. * However, this latter account is incorrect ; for, it is only recorded in the Acts of Pope St. Alexander I. ,3 that the latter had con- verted Hermes, a rich patrician and prefect of Rome from paganism to Christianity, together with his wife, children, and his sister Theodora. After- wards Hermes liberated over twelve hundred of his slaves, with their wives and children. Whereupon, when it was known, that he had become a Christian, Pope Alexander was apprehended and cast into prison, by order of the Emperor Aurelian. * The tribune Quirinus had reproved Hermes for becoming a Christian, and thus subjecting himself, not only to lose his pre- torship, but even to expose himself to the persecution then prevailing. Nevertheless, when Hermes had related the miracles wrought by Alexander, and had even convinced Quirinus, that through angelic aid the Pope had been able to leave the prison, and to come into his own house, where Hermes then was present ; notwithstanding his previous strong prejudices against the Christians, Quirinus himself became a convert and was baptized, together with all the other members of his household. Then it is related, that when Aurelianus heard of what had transpired, he ordered Hermes to bebeheaded. AfterwardshisremainswerebroughtbyhissisterTheodora,
a3 See "The Irish Penny Magazine," vol.
i. Illustrations of Irish Topography, No.
xxii. , p. 169.
Article hi. — 1 In the " Leabhar Breac "
feasts, p. 141. — 3 To this is added, by way of reference "ex Usuardo monasterii S. Martini Tor-
copy is the following notice at this date.
Stokes, LL. D.
Series, vol. i. , part i.
On the Calendar
of
"
:
UoriAn Ciniacuf ConacLeip cain cacViIaic
epmif CefAif pochneiT) 1ncdurvo<Mj\e Ah -Appaic.
May Quiriacus protect us, with his train
Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. ,
pp. cxxv. , cxxvi.
2
See ibid. , p. cxxxiii.
> He satin the chair of St. Peter from A. D.
109 to A. D. 119.
4 However this statement is irreconcilable
with the time allowed for the Emperor Aurelian, who was not born for a long period
St. Alexander I. That Roman Emperor is thought to have been born about a. d. 212, and he died after a reign of five years in March, 275. Flavius Vopiscus, a Latin historian, who lived at Rome towards the close of the third century has written an interesting "Vita Aureliani. "
fair Catholic. Hermes suffered a
Africa. "
"
great out of Transactions of the Royal Irish
wound — the
: (Augustine) conspicuous
after the death of
Pope
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. ,
part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, pp.
cxxv. , cxxvi.
3
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vi. , Augusti xxviii. Among the pretermitted
^Engus.
of the The English t—ranslation is by Whitley Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript
naci" — Article iv.
*
See "Transactions
August 29. ] LIVES Of THE IRISH SAINTS.
409
and buried on the Salarian Way, not far from the city of Rome, on the V. of the September Kalends, which corresponds with the 28th day of August. The foregoing is in substance what the Bollandist Father John Stilting relates of him at this date,5 where he gives a critical and historic commentary on his Acts.
Article V. —Festival of St. Augustine. As in the Universal
Church, the great St. Augustine was commemorated in Ireland, on the 28th
of Wefindhimmentionedwithdistinctive 1 inthe"Feilire"2 August. praise
of St.
