^" An inscription bears the name of that lady, whose good taste and piety so appropriately
introduced
this ex- cellent representation of the monk of old.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
Todd Petriewasin — his
*
See her Life, given at that date.
barony of Lune, are represented on the
" Ordnance' Townland for the Survey Maps
Duncha mac Maeilduin,
however, have it
Prince of Killdelga, et aliarum Civitatum, etc. Codex Clarendon, tom. 49.
"
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 595
which is near Trim, in Sir William R. Wilde's admirable work,=^° although the ruins at and near this latter town are well described and copiously illustrated in it. There was a disciple of the great St. Columkille," and who was known as Silvan," son of Neman^s Don Mucusogoin. ='+ It cannot be asserted, nevertheless, that he must be identified^s with the holy man now under notice. There are the foundations of an old church visible at Kil- dellig,^^ a parish^? in the barony of Clarmallagh,='^ Queen's County. They lie about one mile distant, and towards the east from the Ballybrophy*? station on the Great Southern and Western Railway. On the interior, these ruins measure about thirty feet in length, by eighteen feet in width. The walls, of which only a few fragments remain, are nearly levelled to the ground. They seem to have been nearly four feet in thickness. They are mostly grass-covered, and the graveyard had clearly defined oblong boundaries,
informed,^' that a religious establishment existed here, at a very early period. The last mention of it is supposed to have been at a. d. 885, when its abbot is wrongly said to have been killed by the Danes. 3' This parish is also called Kildellygly. 33 There is a place denominated Deilge or Delliga,34 in the parish of Kilbolane,35 baronies of Orrery and Kilmore, county of Cork. We do not consider, however, that either of the latter places are connected with the present saint's particular veneration.
Article V. —Reputed Festival of St. Eusebius, Monk, at St. Gall, Switzerland. [Nijifk Century. ^ To the previous day, our readers
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap. Letters and Papers illustrative of the His- XXV. , p. 142. tory of the Irish Church from the Reforma- *» Allusion is made to " The Beauties of tion to the year 1800. " First Series, ii.
although unenclosed, in that field surrounding it.
covered by graves was very considerable, and interments are not yet wholly discontinued, as the writer learned by inquiries made on the spot. 3° We are
the Boyne, and its Tributary, the Black- Avater. "
^' '^
Patron Saints of the Churches of Ossory,
p. 7.
^^The townland and parish of Kildellig,
barony of Clarmallagh, are represented on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for
the Queen's County," Sheets 22, 28. There is also a Kildellig townland in the parish of
"son of the posterity of Soghain. " See the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for ibid. , and n. (c), p. 108. See, likewise, the Queen's County," Sheets 22, 28.
See his Life at the 9th of June.
Sometimes called Silnanus. See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 41, and n. (c), p. 77. Also, lib. ii. , cap. 4, p. 108.
*3 In Dr. Reeves' work, just quoted, he
is called " Silnanum, filium Nemanidon Mo-
cusogin. " The latter was a clan name, Sheet 22. Ibid.
formed probably from tTlocu SoJAin, "of ^This townland, in the parish of Agha- the sons of Soghain," or from tn ac u So^Ain, boe, and barony of Clandonagh is shown on
Dr. O'Donovan's "Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many," pp. 72, 73, n. (d. )
^^See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbae, lib. ii. , cap. iv. , p. 351•
=^5 See ibid. , n. 3, p. 381.
^^ To this place Archdall seems to refer
the present vSt. Sillan. See "Monasticon
3° jn the month of May, 1870.
3' By Archdall, in his " Monasticon Hi-
bernicum," p. 594. He assigns St. Sillan and St. [Cuanan to this church, which he
supposes to have merged into a parochial, after it had ceased to be a religious estab- lishment.
3^ This entry clearly refers to Kildalkey, in the County of Meath.
Hibemicum," p. 594.
signed to the ist of January. See the Right
33 See Lewis' "
of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 87.
^^ The saint of patron
in
Kildelgy church, the'deanery of Aghaboe, was St. Ernanusor Senanus, abbot, and whose festival is as-
Topographical Dictionary
" Ossoriense; being a Collection of Original
34 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. v. , pp. 1730, 1731, and n. (b. ) Ibid.
35 This parish is described on the "Ord-
Rev. Patrick Francis Moran's
Spicilegium
The extent of surface
Aghaboe, in the parish of Aghaboe, in the same barony and county. It is shown on
596 LIV^S OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
are referred for details regarding the life of this holy recluse. That appears to have been his proper festival. However, on this day, before the Kalends
of February—January 31st—the Necrology of St. Gall's Monastery,^ in Switzerland, records the death of Blessed Eusebius, a former monk and martyr, born in Scotia. He afterwards embraced a religious life, in the Coenobium of St. Gall. His death occurred about the year of Christ, 884. He was decapitated by some wicked inhabitants, whom he had reproved, and who were living near Mount St. Victor, whither he had retired to a solitary cell. Thither his head was miraculously brought, and afterwards it was preserved there with great religious veneration. The people used to flock in great numbers, to offer their devotions at his shrine. "^
Article VL—St. Oebhnat, Eabhnait, or Eabnait, of Ros-Enche, ORRosNASeanchae. Theholypersonthusnoticedappearstohavestood
a in our national mononymn calendars,
find the less
though in a confused and conflicting form of spelling ought to assist still more in the consummation devoutly to be desired. Yet our searches f—ail
under every head for investigation. The concluding form of this name judging by the general Irish analogies—would seem referable to a female ;
and, therefore, it is probable, we must regard this saint as some pious virgin. A festival in honour of Oebhnat find' of Ros na Seanchae, is entered in the
Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 31st of January. She probably lived before the tenth century. Again, on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 is likewise registered, Eabhnait, or Eabnat, of Ros Eanche. Where Ros-na- Seanche or Ros Eanche was situated, we have not been able to determine.
ArticleVII. —St. Mittan,ofKilmadock,Scotland. AttheKirk
of Kilmadoclj, on the 31st day of January, was held the yearly fair of St. Mittan. ' It was known as St. Mittan's day,* but who the saint in question was does not seem to be ascertained. In Dempster's long hst of Scottish, or presumably Scottish, saints' names,^ no corresponding denomination can be found. Camerarius likewise excludes him. * In a work, containing much valuable topographical information, we are informed that in the parish of Kilmadock,5 and at a place, known as Kilmadock proper, the ancient church stood. ^ Here, in remote times, it is said, St. Madoc, a Culdee Evangelist,
or 1:101111, signifying
"
white," or "fair," in
See Bishop Forbes' Kalendars of Scottish Saints. " Auctaria, p. 468.
3 In " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum," and in "Menologium Scotorum," this feast is not to be met with.
^ In his work, "De Statu Hominis Veteris simul ac nova; Ecclesiae, et Infidelium Con- versione. "
s Nearly in the middle of the southern border of Perthshire,
^
Itcontinuedtobeuseduntil1746. For- merly, Kilmadock had six sub-chapels.
difficulty
locality
nance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Cork," Sheets i, 2, 6, 7, East Riding; while a portion of it lies in the
barony of Upper Connello, and this is shown on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Limerick," Sheet 54. The townland of Deliga, proper, is noted on Sheets l, 6, in—the former county.
Article v. 'The extract, on this sub-
ject, published by the Bollandists, was ob- tained from the Jesuit, Daniel Feldner, of Constance.
* See the "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xxxi. Januarii. DeB. EusebioMonachoS. Galli, Martyre,—pp. 1130, 1 131.
'
Article vi. This term is probably in-
tended to express the Irish attribute of pnn
allusion to hair or complexion.
in identification.
l clue of al-
and therefore we —to might expect
The additiona—
"
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiv.
32, 33. — Article vii.
'
"Acts of the Scottish
Parliament," vol. vii. , p. 663. *"
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 597
had a mission. 7 That he is to be identified with St. Mittan seems sufficiently
probable—although as yet undetermined. If the identification could be
solved in the affirmative, this holy-man does not appear to be distinguishable
from St. Maidoc, the patron of Ferns, who, as we have already seen, was venerated here, and in other parts of Scotland, on this day.
Article VIII. —St. Molanfide, or Maolanfaidh, Abbot of Dairinis
OR MoLANA, County of Waterford. \_Sixth Cenhiry? \ From the sea-
beach at Ardmore, we find Gospel messengers speeding their way inland, and ascending the open course of the Blackwater River. The missionary
made his halt, at the picturesque little isle of Dair Inis, or Molana,'' and this, too, at an early period of our Christian annals and social civilization. The
entry of Maolon faidh, Dairinsi, without any further description, is recorded intheMartyrologyofTallagh,^atthe31stofJanuar}^ Besidesthis,weread. in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 as having been venerated on this day, Mae- lanfaidh. Abbot of Dairinis, at Lis-mor-Mochuda. '» The River Blackwater
formerly encompassed
the
called Dar Inis or — which is now island, Molana,
—and. s The
of Molafinde
touriststoYoughal isinthesuperbdemesneofRichardSmith,Esq. ,whose
mansion of Ballintra is contiguous. ^ This saint belonged to the race of Connla, son to Breasal of Laeghaire Lore's line. ? This latter was son to Ugaine Mor, King of Ireland. ^ The saint's abbey or monastery is said to have been erected, in the sixth century,^ on an island of the River Black- water, and no more truly delightful spot could have been selected. The monastery, however, was enlarged, at a subsequent period. A statue, presumed to represent this saint, in the flowing robes of his order, has been placed on a pedestal within the cloister.
^" An inscription bears the name of that lady, whose good taste and piety so appropriately introduced this ex- cellent representation of the monk of old. " Near Ballynatray, on the Black- water, where it widens very considerably, there rises a small island, on the west side of the river. " It was anciently called Dar-Inis, or the island of
united to the mainl Abbey
visited frequently by
7 See Fullarton's
"
Imperial Gazetteer of
son of Trecim, son to Rectaire, son of Eire, son of Cullend, son to Drodai, son of Buain, son to Laeghaire Birn Buadach, son of jEngus Osraighe.
^ to Dr. Mor According Keating, Ugaine
ascended the throne A. M. 3586, and lived to a. m. 3616. According to the Four Masters his reign began a. m. 4567, and ended a. m. 4606. His son Laeghaire Lore reigned only two years after him. See O'Mahony's Keating's "History of Ireland," part ii. , chap, viii. , pp. 248 to 252. And Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Mas-
Scotland," vol. ii. , p. 200. '
Article viii. — See Rev. Samuel Hay- man's "New Hand-Book for Youghal,"
pp. ^
xi. to XV.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiv.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
32, 33.
•" Ubi abunn mor in mare exit. Leabhar
Breac, fol. 31, a lop. " This has been added
in William M. Hennessy's copy of the Done-
gal Martyrology, and it seems admirably to identify the site with Molana.
' The situation is
depicted
on the " Ord-
ters,"
vol. to with accom- i. , pp. 74 77,
nance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Waterford," Sheet 37.
panying notes.
'One unsubstantiated account has this
foundation date, at A. D. 501.
" See that beautifully illustrated work of
J. R. O'Flanagan, "Historical and Pic- turesque Guide to the River Blackwater in
Munster," pp. 33, 34, for engravings, re- presenting the Statue, with other views of
Molana Abbey.
" Erected by Mrs. Mary Broderick Smith,
a. d. 1820.
"See Smith's "Ancient and Present
*
and Picturesque Guide to the River Black- water in Munster," p. 33.
See J. R. O'Flanagan's "Historical
^ For the following genealogy of this saint, I feel indebted to the Rev. Mr. Shear- man. Mailanfuaid of Gill Moelanfuaid Hi Garban was son to Cruindmael, son of Com- gall, son to Lactair, son of Dungaile, son of Murgaile, son to Bran, son of Moileduin, son to Fechine, son of Senach, son to Nathi,
598 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
St. Molanfide. Now it is known as Molana. This saint is said to have been here the first abbot, over some Regular Canons. "3 These dwelt, it has been imagined,'^ in a house founded about the sixth century, on this island. The ancient abbey or church of Molana is no longer to be seen ; for the pre- sent ruins—evidently mediaeval—do not date back to the assumed period of St. MolanfideorMaolanfaidh. Thereisacopper-plateengraving,whichre- presentsthechiefarchitecturalfeaturesoftheruinedAbbeyofMolana; and this gives a pretty fair idea of its former extent and magnificence. ^5 Raymond le Gros"^ is said to have liberally assisted in the endowment of Molana Abbey, which lay near Youghal, and there his remains are thought to have been de- posited. '7 The early and mediaeval history of this religious house is interest- ing, although hardly as yet sufficiently investigated. ^^ The lands of Molan- assa or Molana Abbey, at his request, were granted'9 to Sir Walter Raleigh, about the period of suppression. These were to be held in fee-farm. Their assignee was subsequently the Earl of Cork. ^^'^ This noble foundation shared the fate of many similar institutions, about that period, when subjected to ir- religious lay spoliation ; its abbot and monks disappeared from the romantic and peaceful home of their choice and affections. Lonely and crumbling to decayarethepointedwindowsandhoarygablesofthisfineGothicpile; still time, historic associations, and sheltered position, have dealt less mercilessly towards it, than with most memorials of our olden piety.
Article IX. —St. Dathaedhog, son of Colga, or Taeda Mac Colgan, OFAcHADHDUMHA. TaedaMacColganisregisteredintheMartyrologyof Tallagh,' as having a festival, on this day. His name occurs under another forminthatcalendar,compiledbytheO'Clerys. Dathaedhog,sonofColga, and said to be of Achadh dumha,is set down in their Martyrology of Donegal,^' at the present date. The period when this saint floiurished and the situation of his place have alike eluded our hopes of discovery.
StateoftheCountyandCityofWaterford,"
Retains the marble that preserves his name,
And still the emerald isle that gem the west,
His deeds remembers and records his —fame. "
VI. , p. 3, London, 1820. These are usually found appended to the exceedingly rare volume, "Memoirs of the Family of
Grace," by Sheffield Grace, Esq. , F. S. A.
'* all due allowance for certain Making
mistakes, the reader will find an interesting account of this foundation in Archdall's
" Monasticon Hibernicum," pp. 695, 696. '9 By Queen Elizabeth. See the account of this transaction most appropriately al- luded to in a late valuable and an original
contribution to our national literature. Rev. John O'Rourke's "History of the Great Irish Famine of 1847, with notices of earlier
chap, iii. , p. 43- " '3 See Sir James Ware's
De Hibemia et Antiquitatibus ejus Disquisitiones," cap.
xxvi. , p. 195.
' The institution of Regular Canons in
Ireland refers, it is thought, to a period long
subsequent.
'5 See "Memoirs of the Family of Grace,"
by Sheffield Grace, Esq. , F. S. A. , p. 16.
Library, Dublin, contains an autograph note from the author, dated March 21, 1824.
'^ He was one of the early Anglo-Nor- man invaders of Ireland, and he is aptly styled, by his descendant, the Achilles of that expedition, of which Richard de Clare, surnamed Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke, was the Agamemnon. See ibid. , p. 4.
A
Newport, and now kept in the King's Inns'
presentation
copy of this work to Sir John
'7 See ibid. , p. 16. In allusion to the Irish Famines," chap, i. , pp. 6, 7 and notes,
='° See Harris' vol. ii. Ware,
le Gros in this ancient abbey of St. Molanfide, those beautiful
burial of
Raymond
"Antiquities of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 266.
"—— Lines written at J erpoint Abbey" contain Article ix.
this allusion
:
Kelly, p. ^
' And now Molana, where his ashes rest,
32, 33.
'
xiv.
Edited by^Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
,
Edited by Rev. Dr.
AXUARY 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 599
ArticleX. —St. Docaem,Bishop. TheMartyrologyofTallagh''men-
tions Docaem, a bishop, as having a festival, at the 31st of January. Else- where we cannot find an account regarding him.
Article XI. —St. Caornan or Cairnan, of Cill-Chaornain, or KiLCORNAN, County of Galway. [^Possibly in the Sixth and Seventh Cen- turies. ^ In the early Christian ages of Scotland, it is remarked, that when a
saintly pastor died, his grateful flock dedicated a church to his memory. ^ ThishabithadbeenacquiredfromtheirearlyIrishmissionaries forinIre-
——;
land as in the present instance such usage appears to have dated back to
the time of St. Patrick himself. A festival in honour of Cairnan is simply entered in the Martyrology of Tallagh. ^ We read of Caornan, in the Mar- tyrology of Donegal,^ as being venerated on this day. In the table sub- joined to this very interesting Menologium, the present saint is thought be- longing to Cill-Chaornain, in Connaught. '^ This place is now represented by Kilcornan,5 a townland in the parish of Stradbally,^ and barony of Dun- kellen, a part of the former Clanrickard territory. ? Mr. O'Donovan was of opinion, that the old church of Kilcornan, near Mr. Redington's house,? had been the original parish church, before its position was moved to Stradbally. ^ The church here lies in ruins, and it is picturesquely situated, within Kil- cornan demesne. 9 Stradbally is classed as a vicarage in the list of County Galway benefices. '° Between Kilcornan and Moyvaela in this parish is the brook, formerly called Turloch Airt," because King Airt was there killed by the companions-in-arms of Lugad Mac Con, who invaded Galway, with a great number of foreign auxiliaries. In the introduction to the Martyrology of Donegal it is stated, that Cill-Cornain lies in Clan-Rickard. " This territory of Clanrickard comprised six baronies, in the county of Galway, namely, Leitrim,Loughreagh,Dunkellin,Killartan,ClareandAthenry. 's Ithasbeen asserted, that Caimaan or Caornan, ' the son of Brandubh, the son of Meilge,^s
was one of St. Columba's disciples.
Article X. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
'
See the Protestant writer Cosmo Innes' " Sketches of Early Scottish History and Social Progress," chap. i. , pp.
2, 3.
^
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiv.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
ibid. , pp. 374, 375.
5 It is represented on the " Ordnance Sur-
He is also said to have been a relation
chap, iii. , pp. 54, 55.
*
See"CountyofGalwayLetters,"J. O. S. vol. i. , p. 289.
» It is shown on Sheet 95 of Galway
Townland Maps.
'° "
See Hely Button's Statistical and
Agricultural Survey of the County of Gal- way," chap, v. , § xxiv. , p. 477.
p. xiv.
*
See her Life, given at that date.
barony of Lune, are represented on the
" Ordnance' Townland for the Survey Maps
Duncha mac Maeilduin,
however, have it
Prince of Killdelga, et aliarum Civitatum, etc. Codex Clarendon, tom. 49.
"
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 595
which is near Trim, in Sir William R. Wilde's admirable work,=^° although the ruins at and near this latter town are well described and copiously illustrated in it. There was a disciple of the great St. Columkille," and who was known as Silvan," son of Neman^s Don Mucusogoin. ='+ It cannot be asserted, nevertheless, that he must be identified^s with the holy man now under notice. There are the foundations of an old church visible at Kil- dellig,^^ a parish^? in the barony of Clarmallagh,='^ Queen's County. They lie about one mile distant, and towards the east from the Ballybrophy*? station on the Great Southern and Western Railway. On the interior, these ruins measure about thirty feet in length, by eighteen feet in width. The walls, of which only a few fragments remain, are nearly levelled to the ground. They seem to have been nearly four feet in thickness. They are mostly grass-covered, and the graveyard had clearly defined oblong boundaries,
informed,^' that a religious establishment existed here, at a very early period. The last mention of it is supposed to have been at a. d. 885, when its abbot is wrongly said to have been killed by the Danes. 3' This parish is also called Kildellygly. 33 There is a place denominated Deilge or Delliga,34 in the parish of Kilbolane,35 baronies of Orrery and Kilmore, county of Cork. We do not consider, however, that either of the latter places are connected with the present saint's particular veneration.
Article V. —Reputed Festival of St. Eusebius, Monk, at St. Gall, Switzerland. [Nijifk Century. ^ To the previous day, our readers
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap. Letters and Papers illustrative of the His- XXV. , p. 142. tory of the Irish Church from the Reforma- *» Allusion is made to " The Beauties of tion to the year 1800. " First Series, ii.
although unenclosed, in that field surrounding it.
covered by graves was very considerable, and interments are not yet wholly discontinued, as the writer learned by inquiries made on the spot. 3° We are
the Boyne, and its Tributary, the Black- Avater. "
^' '^
Patron Saints of the Churches of Ossory,
p. 7.
^^The townland and parish of Kildellig,
barony of Clarmallagh, are represented on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for
the Queen's County," Sheets 22, 28. There is also a Kildellig townland in the parish of
"son of the posterity of Soghain. " See the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for ibid. , and n. (c), p. 108. See, likewise, the Queen's County," Sheets 22, 28.
See his Life at the 9th of June.
Sometimes called Silnanus. See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 41, and n. (c), p. 77. Also, lib. ii. , cap. 4, p. 108.
*3 In Dr. Reeves' work, just quoted, he
is called " Silnanum, filium Nemanidon Mo-
cusogin. " The latter was a clan name, Sheet 22. Ibid.
formed probably from tTlocu SoJAin, "of ^This townland, in the parish of Agha- the sons of Soghain," or from tn ac u So^Ain, boe, and barony of Clandonagh is shown on
Dr. O'Donovan's "Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many," pp. 72, 73, n. (d. )
^^See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbae, lib. ii. , cap. iv. , p. 351•
=^5 See ibid. , n. 3, p. 381.
^^ To this place Archdall seems to refer
the present vSt. Sillan. See "Monasticon
3° jn the month of May, 1870.
3' By Archdall, in his " Monasticon Hi-
bernicum," p. 594. He assigns St. Sillan and St. [Cuanan to this church, which he
supposes to have merged into a parochial, after it had ceased to be a religious estab- lishment.
3^ This entry clearly refers to Kildalkey, in the County of Meath.
Hibemicum," p. 594.
signed to the ist of January. See the Right
33 See Lewis' "
of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 87.
^^ The saint of patron
in
Kildelgy church, the'deanery of Aghaboe, was St. Ernanusor Senanus, abbot, and whose festival is as-
Topographical Dictionary
" Ossoriense; being a Collection of Original
34 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. v. , pp. 1730, 1731, and n. (b. ) Ibid.
35 This parish is described on the "Ord-
Rev. Patrick Francis Moran's
Spicilegium
The extent of surface
Aghaboe, in the parish of Aghaboe, in the same barony and county. It is shown on
596 LIV^S OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
are referred for details regarding the life of this holy recluse. That appears to have been his proper festival. However, on this day, before the Kalends
of February—January 31st—the Necrology of St. Gall's Monastery,^ in Switzerland, records the death of Blessed Eusebius, a former monk and martyr, born in Scotia. He afterwards embraced a religious life, in the Coenobium of St. Gall. His death occurred about the year of Christ, 884. He was decapitated by some wicked inhabitants, whom he had reproved, and who were living near Mount St. Victor, whither he had retired to a solitary cell. Thither his head was miraculously brought, and afterwards it was preserved there with great religious veneration. The people used to flock in great numbers, to offer their devotions at his shrine. "^
Article VL—St. Oebhnat, Eabhnait, or Eabnait, of Ros-Enche, ORRosNASeanchae. Theholypersonthusnoticedappearstohavestood
a in our national mononymn calendars,
find the less
though in a confused and conflicting form of spelling ought to assist still more in the consummation devoutly to be desired. Yet our searches f—ail
under every head for investigation. The concluding form of this name judging by the general Irish analogies—would seem referable to a female ;
and, therefore, it is probable, we must regard this saint as some pious virgin. A festival in honour of Oebhnat find' of Ros na Seanchae, is entered in the
Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 31st of January. She probably lived before the tenth century. Again, on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 is likewise registered, Eabhnait, or Eabnat, of Ros Eanche. Where Ros-na- Seanche or Ros Eanche was situated, we have not been able to determine.
ArticleVII. —St. Mittan,ofKilmadock,Scotland. AttheKirk
of Kilmadoclj, on the 31st day of January, was held the yearly fair of St. Mittan. ' It was known as St. Mittan's day,* but who the saint in question was does not seem to be ascertained. In Dempster's long hst of Scottish, or presumably Scottish, saints' names,^ no corresponding denomination can be found. Camerarius likewise excludes him. * In a work, containing much valuable topographical information, we are informed that in the parish of Kilmadock,5 and at a place, known as Kilmadock proper, the ancient church stood. ^ Here, in remote times, it is said, St. Madoc, a Culdee Evangelist,
or 1:101111, signifying
"
white," or "fair," in
See Bishop Forbes' Kalendars of Scottish Saints. " Auctaria, p. 468.
3 In " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum," and in "Menologium Scotorum," this feast is not to be met with.
^ In his work, "De Statu Hominis Veteris simul ac nova; Ecclesiae, et Infidelium Con- versione. "
s Nearly in the middle of the southern border of Perthshire,
^
Itcontinuedtobeuseduntil1746. For- merly, Kilmadock had six sub-chapels.
difficulty
locality
nance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Cork," Sheets i, 2, 6, 7, East Riding; while a portion of it lies in the
barony of Upper Connello, and this is shown on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Limerick," Sheet 54. The townland of Deliga, proper, is noted on Sheets l, 6, in—the former county.
Article v. 'The extract, on this sub-
ject, published by the Bollandists, was ob- tained from the Jesuit, Daniel Feldner, of Constance.
* See the "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , xxxi. Januarii. DeB. EusebioMonachoS. Galli, Martyre,—pp. 1130, 1 131.
'
Article vi. This term is probably in-
tended to express the Irish attribute of pnn
allusion to hair or complexion.
in identification.
l clue of al-
and therefore we —to might expect
The additiona—
"
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiv.
32, 33. — Article vii.
'
"Acts of the Scottish
Parliament," vol. vii. , p. 663. *"
January 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 597
had a mission. 7 That he is to be identified with St. Mittan seems sufficiently
probable—although as yet undetermined. If the identification could be
solved in the affirmative, this holy-man does not appear to be distinguishable
from St. Maidoc, the patron of Ferns, who, as we have already seen, was venerated here, and in other parts of Scotland, on this day.
Article VIII. —St. Molanfide, or Maolanfaidh, Abbot of Dairinis
OR MoLANA, County of Waterford. \_Sixth Cenhiry? \ From the sea-
beach at Ardmore, we find Gospel messengers speeding their way inland, and ascending the open course of the Blackwater River. The missionary
made his halt, at the picturesque little isle of Dair Inis, or Molana,'' and this, too, at an early period of our Christian annals and social civilization. The
entry of Maolon faidh, Dairinsi, without any further description, is recorded intheMartyrologyofTallagh,^atthe31stofJanuar}^ Besidesthis,weread. in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 as having been venerated on this day, Mae- lanfaidh. Abbot of Dairinis, at Lis-mor-Mochuda. '» The River Blackwater
formerly encompassed
the
called Dar Inis or — which is now island, Molana,
—and. s The
of Molafinde
touriststoYoughal isinthesuperbdemesneofRichardSmith,Esq. ,whose
mansion of Ballintra is contiguous. ^ This saint belonged to the race of Connla, son to Breasal of Laeghaire Lore's line. ? This latter was son to Ugaine Mor, King of Ireland. ^ The saint's abbey or monastery is said to have been erected, in the sixth century,^ on an island of the River Black- water, and no more truly delightful spot could have been selected. The monastery, however, was enlarged, at a subsequent period. A statue, presumed to represent this saint, in the flowing robes of his order, has been placed on a pedestal within the cloister.
^" An inscription bears the name of that lady, whose good taste and piety so appropriately introduced this ex- cellent representation of the monk of old. " Near Ballynatray, on the Black- water, where it widens very considerably, there rises a small island, on the west side of the river. " It was anciently called Dar-Inis, or the island of
united to the mainl Abbey
visited frequently by
7 See Fullarton's
"
Imperial Gazetteer of
son of Trecim, son to Rectaire, son of Eire, son of Cullend, son to Drodai, son of Buain, son to Laeghaire Birn Buadach, son of jEngus Osraighe.
^ to Dr. Mor According Keating, Ugaine
ascended the throne A. M. 3586, and lived to a. m. 3616. According to the Four Masters his reign began a. m. 4567, and ended a. m. 4606. His son Laeghaire Lore reigned only two years after him. See O'Mahony's Keating's "History of Ireland," part ii. , chap, viii. , pp. 248 to 252. And Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Mas-
Scotland," vol. ii. , p. 200. '
Article viii. — See Rev. Samuel Hay- man's "New Hand-Book for Youghal,"
pp. ^
xi. to XV.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiv.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
32, 33.
•" Ubi abunn mor in mare exit. Leabhar
Breac, fol. 31, a lop. " This has been added
in William M. Hennessy's copy of the Done-
gal Martyrology, and it seems admirably to identify the site with Molana.
' The situation is
depicted
on the " Ord-
ters,"
vol. to with accom- i. , pp. 74 77,
nance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Waterford," Sheet 37.
panying notes.
'One unsubstantiated account has this
foundation date, at A. D. 501.
" See that beautifully illustrated work of
J. R. O'Flanagan, "Historical and Pic- turesque Guide to the River Blackwater in
Munster," pp. 33, 34, for engravings, re- presenting the Statue, with other views of
Molana Abbey.
" Erected by Mrs. Mary Broderick Smith,
a. d. 1820.
"See Smith's "Ancient and Present
*
and Picturesque Guide to the River Black- water in Munster," p. 33.
See J. R. O'Flanagan's "Historical
^ For the following genealogy of this saint, I feel indebted to the Rev. Mr. Shear- man. Mailanfuaid of Gill Moelanfuaid Hi Garban was son to Cruindmael, son of Com- gall, son to Lactair, son of Dungaile, son of Murgaile, son to Bran, son of Moileduin, son to Fechine, son of Senach, son to Nathi,
598 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 31.
St. Molanfide. Now it is known as Molana. This saint is said to have been here the first abbot, over some Regular Canons. "3 These dwelt, it has been imagined,'^ in a house founded about the sixth century, on this island. The ancient abbey or church of Molana is no longer to be seen ; for the pre- sent ruins—evidently mediaeval—do not date back to the assumed period of St. MolanfideorMaolanfaidh. Thereisacopper-plateengraving,whichre- presentsthechiefarchitecturalfeaturesoftheruinedAbbeyofMolana; and this gives a pretty fair idea of its former extent and magnificence. ^5 Raymond le Gros"^ is said to have liberally assisted in the endowment of Molana Abbey, which lay near Youghal, and there his remains are thought to have been de- posited. '7 The early and mediaeval history of this religious house is interest- ing, although hardly as yet sufficiently investigated. ^^ The lands of Molan- assa or Molana Abbey, at his request, were granted'9 to Sir Walter Raleigh, about the period of suppression. These were to be held in fee-farm. Their assignee was subsequently the Earl of Cork. ^^'^ This noble foundation shared the fate of many similar institutions, about that period, when subjected to ir- religious lay spoliation ; its abbot and monks disappeared from the romantic and peaceful home of their choice and affections. Lonely and crumbling to decayarethepointedwindowsandhoarygablesofthisfineGothicpile; still time, historic associations, and sheltered position, have dealt less mercilessly towards it, than with most memorials of our olden piety.
Article IX. —St. Dathaedhog, son of Colga, or Taeda Mac Colgan, OFAcHADHDUMHA. TaedaMacColganisregisteredintheMartyrologyof Tallagh,' as having a festival, on this day. His name occurs under another forminthatcalendar,compiledbytheO'Clerys. Dathaedhog,sonofColga, and said to be of Achadh dumha,is set down in their Martyrology of Donegal,^' at the present date. The period when this saint floiurished and the situation of his place have alike eluded our hopes of discovery.
StateoftheCountyandCityofWaterford,"
Retains the marble that preserves his name,
And still the emerald isle that gem the west,
His deeds remembers and records his —fame. "
VI. , p. 3, London, 1820. These are usually found appended to the exceedingly rare volume, "Memoirs of the Family of
Grace," by Sheffield Grace, Esq. , F. S. A.
'* all due allowance for certain Making
mistakes, the reader will find an interesting account of this foundation in Archdall's
" Monasticon Hibernicum," pp. 695, 696. '9 By Queen Elizabeth. See the account of this transaction most appropriately al- luded to in a late valuable and an original
contribution to our national literature. Rev. John O'Rourke's "History of the Great Irish Famine of 1847, with notices of earlier
chap, iii. , p. 43- " '3 See Sir James Ware's
De Hibemia et Antiquitatibus ejus Disquisitiones," cap.
xxvi. , p. 195.
' The institution of Regular Canons in
Ireland refers, it is thought, to a period long
subsequent.
'5 See "Memoirs of the Family of Grace,"
by Sheffield Grace, Esq. , F. S. A. , p. 16.
Library, Dublin, contains an autograph note from the author, dated March 21, 1824.
'^ He was one of the early Anglo-Nor- man invaders of Ireland, and he is aptly styled, by his descendant, the Achilles of that expedition, of which Richard de Clare, surnamed Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke, was the Agamemnon. See ibid. , p. 4.
A
Newport, and now kept in the King's Inns'
presentation
copy of this work to Sir John
'7 See ibid. , p. 16. In allusion to the Irish Famines," chap, i. , pp. 6, 7 and notes,
='° See Harris' vol. ii. Ware,
le Gros in this ancient abbey of St. Molanfide, those beautiful
burial of
Raymond
"Antiquities of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 266.
"—— Lines written at J erpoint Abbey" contain Article ix.
this allusion
:
Kelly, p. ^
' And now Molana, where his ashes rest,
32, 33.
'
xiv.
Edited by^Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
,
Edited by Rev. Dr.
AXUARY 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 599
ArticleX. —St. Docaem,Bishop. TheMartyrologyofTallagh''men-
tions Docaem, a bishop, as having a festival, at the 31st of January. Else- where we cannot find an account regarding him.
Article XI. —St. Caornan or Cairnan, of Cill-Chaornain, or KiLCORNAN, County of Galway. [^Possibly in the Sixth and Seventh Cen- turies. ^ In the early Christian ages of Scotland, it is remarked, that when a
saintly pastor died, his grateful flock dedicated a church to his memory. ^ ThishabithadbeenacquiredfromtheirearlyIrishmissionaries forinIre-
——;
land as in the present instance such usage appears to have dated back to
the time of St. Patrick himself. A festival in honour of Cairnan is simply entered in the Martyrology of Tallagh. ^ We read of Caornan, in the Mar- tyrology of Donegal,^ as being venerated on this day. In the table sub- joined to this very interesting Menologium, the present saint is thought be- longing to Cill-Chaornain, in Connaught. '^ This place is now represented by Kilcornan,5 a townland in the parish of Stradbally,^ and barony of Dun- kellen, a part of the former Clanrickard territory. ? Mr. O'Donovan was of opinion, that the old church of Kilcornan, near Mr. Redington's house,? had been the original parish church, before its position was moved to Stradbally. ^ The church here lies in ruins, and it is picturesquely situated, within Kil- cornan demesne. 9 Stradbally is classed as a vicarage in the list of County Galway benefices. '° Between Kilcornan and Moyvaela in this parish is the brook, formerly called Turloch Airt," because King Airt was there killed by the companions-in-arms of Lugad Mac Con, who invaded Galway, with a great number of foreign auxiliaries. In the introduction to the Martyrology of Donegal it is stated, that Cill-Cornain lies in Clan-Rickard. " This territory of Clanrickard comprised six baronies, in the county of Galway, namely, Leitrim,Loughreagh,Dunkellin,Killartan,ClareandAthenry. 's Ithasbeen asserted, that Caimaan or Caornan, ' the son of Brandubh, the son of Meilge,^s
was one of St. Columba's disciples.
Article X. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
'
See the Protestant writer Cosmo Innes' " Sketches of Early Scottish History and Social Progress," chap. i. , pp.
2, 3.
^
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiv.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
ibid. , pp. 374, 375.
5 It is represented on the " Ordnance Sur-
He is also said to have been a relation
chap, iii. , pp. 54, 55.
*
See"CountyofGalwayLetters,"J. O. S. vol. i. , p. 289.
» It is shown on Sheet 95 of Galway
Townland Maps.
'° "
See Hely Button's Statistical and
Agricultural Survey of the County of Gal- way," chap, v. , § xxiv. , p. 477.
p. xiv.
