,
FORTHESEEOFCLOGHER—
DEATH OF ST.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
i.
, pp.
178,179.
57 The year 1 152 is set down in the Cister-
cian List.
66
See Roger Dodsworth's and William "
Dugdale's Monasticon Anglicanum," pp. 1033, 1034.
" See a beautiful description with pictorial
**
tion was 3s. 4d.
It was styled De Castro Dei : its Taxa-
June 12. ] LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. 631
which is called the Mother of several monasteries in Ireland and in the Isle
of Man. 11. In the same county of Cork was a Cistercian monastery called 6
Mawre, 9 erected in the year 1172. 12. Dunbrody Abbey,? in the county of Wexford, was founded by Hervey de Montmorency, about the year 1175.
Other writers have it in the
2
1182 or
1184. 7
1 It is also called Dun-
year
Monaster-Evin, formerly Rosglas,?
At
River Barrow, and county of Kildare, a house for Cistercians was founded,? * as some state in 1178, while another authority has it 1189. 7s 14. Ashroe or Esarua in the county of Donegal is supposed to have been the site chosen for a Cistercian Abbey, so early as 1 178. It is called Abbatia de Samaria,76 in the Annals of Ireland, edited by William Camden. The Annals of Boyle place its foundation in the year 1183 ;77 while other accounts have it n84. 15. The Abbey of Chrore, having the Barrys as patrons, was erected a. d. 1 1 80. It was situated at Middleton, in the county of Cork, and it was known
as De Choro Benedicti. 78 16. in the of is said Jerpoint79 county Kilkenny
to have been erected in 1180, by Donat O'Donoghoe, and to have been en-
8 ' in the
endowed at Inislawnacht, by Donald O'Brien, King of Limerick, and by Malachy O'Felan, King of the Decies, in the county of Tipperary. It is some-
brothy. 7
13.
3 onthebanksofthe
dowed him. 8° by
17. Abbey Leix,
or Abbatia de
Lege Dei,
County, is said to have been erected by Cochegerius O'Moore, in the year 1183. 18. Abouttheyear1187,therewasaCistercianmonasteryfoundedand
times called the of the Monastery
Suir,
82 as it
lay
near that river. On 19.
an Island,83 formerly in Lough Strangford, called Inniscumhscraigh, there 8
was a monastery built before the Anglo-Norman Invasion. * Here, too, the
Abbey of Inis or Inis-Curcy, as now corruptly called, was founded by John De Courcy, in the county of Down, on the 3rd of June, a. d. 1180, or on the Kalends of July, a. d. 1187, according to other accounts. 20. About a. d.
1 189 or 1 190, Crovderg O'Conor, Prince of Connaught, is said to have founded Knockmoy,8* in the county of Galway, and here having taken the Cistercian habit, hedied and was buried a. d. 1224. 21. The beautiful Abbey of Leigh, otherwise known as Grey Abbey,86 was founded by Africa, wife of John de Courcy, in the county Down, a,d. 1193. In it, she was afterwards buried. 22. The Abbey of Corcumroe, in the county of Clare, was founded
The Cistercian List has 1200. It was called De Petra fertili. 87 23. TheAbbeyofComer,orCumber,88inthecountyofDown,was
in the year ) 197.
69 Alias De Fonte Vivo : its Taxation was 6s. 8d.
7° Alias De Portu Sanctse Marise : its
13s. 4d.
71 See an interesting description and his-
tory of this foundation, in J. N. Brewer's
7* Its Taxation was 3s. 46! .
79 Also called De Jerepont : its Taxation
was 13s. 4d.
Taxation was
*° See Dodsworth's and William Roger
"Beauties of Ireland," vol. i. , to pp. 372
1028, 1029.
*' Its Taxation was 8s. 8d.
8* Its Taxation was ios.
83 Now a peninsula. The Abbey was
called De Inis : its Taxation was 13s. 4d.
e* In the "Dublin Penny Journal," there are two woodcut illustrations of the original Abbey-church of Inch, and the later Abbey- church, with a description and historic data, by George Petrie, Esq. , vol. i. , No. 50, pp.
396, 397-
8s It was called De Colle Victoria; : its
Taxation was 13s. 4d.
86 It was also called De Jugo Dei : its
Taxation is not given in the Cistercian List.
375. 7* See Roger Dodsworth's and William
Dugdale's " Monasticon Anglicanum," pp. 1027, 1028.
its
73 See
ibid. , pp. 1031, 1032.
7* It was called De Rosea Valle :
Taxation was 6s.
's See " Chartularies of St. Mary's Abbey,
Dublin," &c, edited by John T. Gilbert, vol. ii. , p. 218.
76 Its Taxation was 3s. 4d.
77 See John D'Alton's "History of Ire- land, from the earliest Period to the year 1245," and Annals of Boyle, vol. ii. , pp. 308, 309, and n. (a).
"
Dugdale's Monasticon Anglicanum," pp.
Queen's
632 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [June 12.
8
founded in the year ii98, 9 or 1199. 9° 24. In the year 1200, William Mares-
chal,EarlofPembroke,foundedTinternAbbey,9* inthecountyofWexford, as an act of thanksgiving for having escaped from a great storm at sea. 25.
In the 1200 was founded the year
of the River of 2
God,' thought
monastery
by Sir James Ware to have been known as Shrowle or Shrowe, and supposed
by him to have been in the county of Longford. However, it should rather
be Kilbeggan, in the county of Westmeath. 26. In the year of our Lord
1202, the Convent of Stanley came to Ireland, and the monks dwelt at first
in Loghmeran, near Kilkenny, then at Athnamolt, and afterwards at the castle,
the place being called of the Holy Saviour, otherwise Duisque or Dusk, in
the county of Kilkenny. It is also called Downyskir. 93 Here, William
Mareschal when he came to Ireland, a. d. 1207, established a Cistercian
Abbey, and it was called De S. Salvatore. 94 27. A Cistercian house was
founded at Wetheny °s or Wodeny, also called Woney,06 in the county of
Limerick, a. d. 1205, by Theobald Walter,^ son of Hervey Walter, and brother
to Hubert Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury. The place is known as Abing-
don. 98 28. In 121 1, at Larha, sometimes called Abbey Lara or Larah, for-
merly known as Granard, in the county of Longford, a Cistercian house 99 was
established by Richard Tuite. 29. In 12 18, a Cistercian house was founded
at Dere, on the sixth of the March Kalends. It is likely this is the house
called De Claro Fonte,100 in the Cistercian List, which has its foundation at
1205. Sir James Ware supposes this possibly to have been identical with
Moycosquin, which was undoubtedly situated in the diocese of Derry. 30.
At 101 in the of Cork, a Cistercian foundation is referred to Tracton, county
a. d. 1224. Its possessions were confirmed by Edward III. , King of
In the time of David Mac
103
the Benedictine monks are said to have been removed from Hore Abbey,'°3 in the county of Tipperary, and a colony of Cistercians from Mellifont replaced
England.
31.
Carwill, Archbishop
of
Cashel,
them, in the year 1260. In the Cistercian List, however, the foundation is I0
placed at i272. 4
The foregoing does not exhaust the list of Cistercian Abbeys in Ireland.
TherewasoneatKilcooly,calledDeAlboCampo,,05 andfoundedin1200,
sessions of the various Cistercian houses in Ireland were exempt from the
I0 payment of tithes, in virtue of those privileges enjoyed by that order. 9
to the Cistercian List. At
in 1205 a Cistercian house was founded. io7 A monastery of the Cistercian order was built, likewise, at Killconnell. 108 The ancient and continued pos-
according
Loughsuidy,
8? Its Taxation was 6s. 8d.
88 In Latin De Commer : was 6s. 8d.
rives its
9s The Taxation of this house was 13s. 46! .
*
9°
91 Called De Voto : its Taxation was
13s. 4d. See Roger Dodsworth's and William
IO° ,01 ,02 "3 I0* ,05 ,o6 ,07 ,o8
Its Taxation is set down at 6s. 8d.
According According
to the Cistercian List.
to Sir Ware. James
De Albo Tractu. Its Taxation was 13s. 4d.
It is called De Rupe Cassel.
The Taxation is set down at 6s. 8d. Its Taxation was 6s. 8d.
Its Taxation was $>. 4d.
According to the Cistercian List.
See Roger Dodsworth's and William
Monasticon
s2 Or De Flumine Dei : its Taxation was
6s. 8d.
93 See Roger Dodsworth's and William
Dugdale's "Monasticon Anglicanum," pp.
1032,1033.
9* Its Taxation was 13s. 4d.
95 Latinized De Wethnia.
96 See Roger Dodsworth's and William
Dugdale's "Monasticon Anglicanum," pp.
1034, 1035.
9? From him the noble family of Butler de-
Dugdale's
Anglicanum, p. 1033.
its Taxation
origin.
"Its Taxation was 6s. 8d.
Alias,
also Latinized 106 Balliornan,
Dugdale's "Monasticon Anglicanum," p. 1029.
IO' See D'Alton's " of Ire- John History
land, from the earliest Period to the year 1245, when the Annals of Boyle, which are adopted, as the running Text authority terminate," vol. i. , pp. 179, 180.
June i2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 633
CHAPTER II.
SUPPOSEDPRIVILEGESOBTAINEDFROMPOPEINNOCENTII.
, FORTHESEEOFCLOGHER— DEATH OF ST. CHRISTIAN O'MORGAIR—BURIED AT ARMAGH—COMMEMORATIONS— FOUNDATION OF MOUNT MELLERY IN IRELAND—AFFILIATE BRANCHES—CONCLU- SION.
Few additional particulars can be gleaned, in reference to St. Criostan or
Gillachrist O'Morgair. although he was such a distinguished prelate in the Irish
Church. It is remarked, as we are 1 in the of that informed, Registry Clogher,
the brother of the renowed St. Malachy obtained from Pope Innocent II. ,
that the fourth part of the Tithes, or the Episcopal part through all Ergall,
2 shouldbeallottedtotheBishopsofClogher. Ifsuchwerethecase,itmust
be observed, that his brother Christian had died before St. Malachy set out on his first visit to Rome, which was in the year n39 or 1 140. 3 Christian
O'Morgair's death took place in the year 1138. + Others have it at 1139, and again about ii4o;5 but, the first-mentioned date appears to be the correct one. We cannot doubt, but his departure from earth had proved an afflic- tion to his more renowned brother, the great St. Malachy O'Morgair, then Pri- mate of all Ireland. 6 Christian was buried in the church dedicated to Saints PeterandPaul,atArmagh. ? Thisholybishophasbeencommemoratedin the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman, who flourished soon after his time. This St. Christinus has a place in Henry Fitzsimon's list of Irish Saints, but no date is there for his festival. 8 We find
in the
ology of Donegal,? at the 12th of June, that veneration was paid to Criostan
See at A. D. 1 1 quent. 37,
— White has Stephen
assigned
entered,
Martyr-
or Gillachrist Ua Morgair.
In a village called Melleray or Meilleraye in the Department of Loire- Inferieure,France,amonasteryofTrappistshadbeenestablished. 10 Incon- sequence of the French Revolution of 1830, which disturbed the kingdom, the venerable Abbot of the Cistercian Abbey of Melleray felt it to be his duty, as it was his most earnest desire, to make every effort to secure for his Irish children an asylum in their own country, for the institute had been threatened withdissolution. Hiscommunitythennumberednearlytwohundredmonks,and oftheseaconsiderablepartwasIrish. Withthisview,theAbbotdespatchedto Ireland his prior, the Very Rev. Father Vincent Ryan. " He arrived in Dublin inthemonthofJanuary,1831, andimmediatelywaitedonhisGraceMost
Chapterii. —' SeeHarris'Ware,vol. i. ,
"Bishops of Clogher," p. 180.
* The See of Clogher was situated in that
territory.
3 No doubt, Baronius in his "Annales
Ecclesiastici," places this visit of St. Malachy to Rome, in 1137, but his learned commen- tator Pagius has exposed the error of date, which he places at two or three years subse-
alsoadds,thatatthetimesthentreatedof,
there was no necessity for adding a year to those of the Irish Annals. See " Ecclesias-
tical History of Ireland," vol. iv. , chap. xxvii. , sect, ii. , n. 14, p. 107. But, Ur. Lanigan himself makes the same mis- take, in many of his dates, by the excess of a year, where there was no occasion for so
"
sect. \x. ,andnotes. 4 "The Age o: Christ, 1138. Gillachrist
Ua Morgair, Bishop of Clochar, a paragon in wisdom and piety; a brilliant lamp that en-
lightened the laity and clergy by preaching andgood deeds; a faithful and diligent servant of the Church in general, died, and was in- terred in the church of Peter and Paul at Ard-Macha. "—Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1058, 1059. Dr. Lanigan remarks, that Ware, although he found our saint's death noted down at 1138, yet thought that in reality it should be set down under 1 139. He
cap. iv. , p. 33.
6 See his Life, at the 3rd dayof November. 7 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xxiv. Martii, Vita S. Maccarthenni,
doing.
5 Father
circa annum salutis 1140. " "Apologia pro Hibernia,"
Appendix, cap. iv. , p. 742. 8"
See Catalogus aliquorum Sanctorum
Ibernise. "—O'Sullivan
Catholicae Ibernise Compendium," tomusi. , lib. iv. , cap. xii. , p. 53.
9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
168, 169.
,0 See " Gazetteer of the World," vol. ix. ,
"
Beare's Historiae
634 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 12.
Rev. Dr. Murray, who warmly approved of the object he had view, and ex- pressed his desire that the enterprise might be successful. " Father Ryan had also an interview with the great Liberator of the Irish Catholics ; and Daniel O'Connell promised to assist by every means in his power, to build up his institute in Ireland. '3
A brief account of the Mount Melleray Abbey foundation of this order must prove interesting, especially to every Irish reader. Having but too much reason to apprehend, that the English-speaking portion of the com-
munity at Melleray in France should be forced by the revolutionary authori-
ties, to quit the monastery and the country, Father Vincent Ryan was obliged, after much anxious and fruitless search for a suitable place, to rent tempora-
rilyahouseandafarmatRathmore,inthecountyofKerry. These,how- ever, were not very well suited for the purposes of a monastery, nor were they to be had on very favourable terms. At length, towards the end of October, 1831, the Irish, English and Scotch monks of Melleray were violently torn from their peaceful dwelling, by the enemies of religion, and consigned for several days to a prison in Nantes. Finally, they were put on board a ship of war, and landed at Queenstown, on the 1st of December, 1831. In Queenstownand in Cork, the monks were most benignantly received. They were treated with greatest respect, kindness and hospitality by the inhabitants. In a few days, the whole fraternity were located in the house prepared for them at Rathmore. Meanwhile, the prior renewed his efforts to procure some site where he could establish his community and his order permanently. By the aid, and through the intervention of some ecclesiastical '* and other friends, Father Ryan finally came to terms with Sir Richard Kane for the present farm of Mount Melleray, stretching along the slopes of the Knock- maeldun mountains. It contain—s about 700 statute acres ; and, at that time, it was but a wild
—and barren waste no
any part of it for the soil was so light anil poor as to be deemed utterly irre- claimable. Not a single tree or hardly a shrub of any size grew upon it ; no- thingcouldbeseenallaroundbutthedarkbrownheath. Nohumanhabitation was there, except one small cottage in a glen at the southern extremity of the farm. Of this cottage—though anything but comfortable—Father Vincent Ryan took possession for his community, on the Eve of the Ascension, 30th ofMay,1832; and,onthefollowingday,hecelebratedtheDivineMysteries in it. He called the " because in it the Cistercian order
p. 197.
'u
Foremost among these were the Most
11
ford .
" At the same time, the Archbishop as-
sured Father Ryan, that it would be attended
with very great difficulties, which prediction
subsequent events fully verified—.
IJ The venerated founder for Father
Ryan became first Abbot of the Irish house of Mount Melleray—was received and enter- tained in Dublin during a period of five months, by Mr. and Mrs. Robert White of that city, while prosecuting the work of his mission,
Rev. Dr. Foran, then P. P. , of Dungarvan, and afterwards Bishop of Watei ford, and the Very Rev. Drs. Fogarty and Hally, curates to Dr. Foran, and afterwards Vicars- General and parish priests, the former of Lis- more, and the latter of Dungarvan.
'5
The Abbey of Mount St. Bernard, near Leicester in England, is, in some measure, a filiation of Mount Melleray, and it was from Mount Melleray also that the colony went forth which founded the Abbey of New Mel- leray, in the diocese of Dubuque, North America.
lie was a native of the city of Water-
attempthavingeverbeenmadetocultivate
cottage Bethlehem,"
receivedanewbirthinIreland; and,hegavethenameofMountMellerayto
the whole farm, in order to confound the wicked designs of the enemies of
religion in France, who had lately done their utmost to destroy Old Melleray, the mother house, and when they could not succeed in that, they had impiously
lopped off the Irish branch, with a view to its perishing. However, it took new root in native soil and flourished, while in a short time, it spread as a
June 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 635
tree and bore fruit in several subsequent foundations. 's The people of the
surrounding parishes, animated and encouraged by their pastors, resolved to aid the good work, at least by their labour ; and during some months, they came in bodies, varying from 200 to 2,000, of all ages and of both sexes. With great zeal and enthusiasm, they put up fences around and through the farm. SomeofthemonkswerecalledfromRathmoretoMountMelleray. Beforethe endof September, i832,theysucceeded in preparing about 25 acres of the moun- tain for cultivation. They built, likewise, near the site of the present Abbey, a house 120 feet long, 16 feet wide, and 17 feet high. On the 19th of Novem- ber, Mass and all the Canonical hours of the Divine Office were sung in that house; and thus did the praises of God resound for the first time on the desert waste. Incredible as it may appear, the monks planted, during two months of the spring in 1833, more than 17,000 trees of various kinds, and laid out a very extensive garden, in addition to their other labours of building, of breaking up, of preparing the ground, of burning lime, and of manuring. On the 20th of August, Feast of the great St. Bernard, the glory of the Cistercian Order, and in that same year, the first stone of the new abbey was solemnly blessed by the Most Rev. Bishop of the diocese, Dr. Abraham. It was laid by Sir Richard Keane, in presence of a considerable number of the clergy, and of not less probably than 20,000 of the people.
Towards the close of 1834, through the instrumentality of his Eminence Cardinal Weld, the new monastery was approved and erected into an Abbey by the Holy See. At the same time, it was recognised and affiliated to the Cistercian Family, by the Most Rev. Abbot General of the Order, residing at Rome. He confirmed the election of the Right Rev. Dom. Vincent Ryan as first Abbot, and delegated the Most Rev. Dr. Abraham to perform the ceremony of the Abbatial Benediction. This accordingly took place in the Bishop'sprivatechapelatWaterford,onSunday,the17thofMay,1835. It was the first time that this solemn and interesting ceremony had been performed
in for Ireland,
more than 200
16
Owing
to want of
probably
the building of Melleray Abbey proceeded but slowly. It was only towards, the end of 1838, that the interior works of the church were sufficiently ad-
vanced—though far from being completed—to admit of Divine service being
performed in it. On Saturday evening, the 21st of October, during that year, the Blessed Sacrament was solemnly placed in the tabernacle, and im- mediately after, vespers were sung for the first time in the new church. On
20th of August, and was received by the Abbot and community in the solemn manner prescribed by the Ritual of the Cistercian Order for the reception of distinguished per- sonagea in Church and State. The great Liberator spent a week on Retreat in the monastery, and extremely edified the whole community by his humble and modestdeport- ment, his fervent piety, his recollection, silence, and other virtues. He subsequently rendered important legal services to the community. A fuller account of O'ConnelPs visit to Mount Melleray, with an illustration of the interior of the church and the great Irish Agitator on Retreat there, may be found in Miss Mary F. Cusack's admirable biography, "The Liberator, his Life and
Masswas
itself could scarcely be said to be habitable before 1840, although the com-
the asolemnPontifical following day,
High
sung.
monastery
16 In 1837, the establishment at Rathmore was broken up, and all the monks— about 80 in number —were united at Mount Melleray. For some years, the New Abbey had a hard struggle for existence. The crops, sown with so much labour and care most generally failed ; and even when they did succeed, the ungrateful soil yielded but a poor return. The community was sometimes reduced to great straits —occasionally, even to abso- lute want. Yet, Almighty God did not abandon his servants, tie always sent them aid in reasonable time ; and the action of his merciful Providence in their regard was sometimes manifested in a most marvellous manner.
17 In 1838, Mount Melleray was honoured
with a visit from the illustrious Daniel Times, Political, Social and Religious," O'Connell. He arrived at the Abbey on the chap, xi. , pp. 629 to 633.
years.
funds,
1? The
6 3 6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June"
munity had been living in it, with great inconvenience, for some time pre- viously. However, the buildings were progressing to a state of completion,
duringtheyearssubsequent; althoughitrequiredgreateffortandpersever- ance, to bring them to their present convenient and useful extension. 18 The
venerable founder of Mount Melleray Abbey, Right Rev. Dr. Ryan, died on
the 9th of December, 1845, m the 57 tn vear °f his age, the 34th of his 1
religious profession, and the 10th of his Abbatial dignity. ?
Mount Melleray Abbey, County of Waterford.
The present Abbot of Mount Melleray, Right Rev. Dr. Bartholomew Fitzpatrick, was elected, and blessed by the Most Rev. Dr. Foran, Bishop of Waterford, in the Abbey Church, a. d. 1848. A long term of administration has since elapsed, and under it, the fraternity have enjoyed all the advantages
18 The accompanying illustration repre- sents the condition of the church and monas-
of thirty-five years since thewriterhad before
seen him ; and nearly a week spent on Retreat
tic buildings as they were presented over
forty years ago ; but, considerable additions
and improvements have since been made. It
is copied from a copperplate engraving of
that period, and executed by R. Hendiick,
Dublin. It was drawn by William F. At that time—as well as I recollect—a per- Wakeman on the wood, engraved by Mrs.
Millard.
'9 Since his return to Ireland in 1831, he
had endured incredible hardships, labours, and pains of all kinds, mental and physical,
in endeavouring to establish his community ; and he bore, with true Christian patience, the long and painful illness of which he died. A short time before he expired, he had all his brethren assembled around him, bade them an affecting farewell, and gave them his last benediction.
20 In August, 1876, an opportunity was afforded of visiting the Abbot of M—ount Mel-
Rev. Dr. —
leray, Right Fitzpatrick formerly
petual lease had been obtained, at 5s. per acre to the proprietor. As every cultivated spot on the grounds had been reclaimed from a state of nature, by the monks ; and, as that poor soil required the most unremit- ting toil, with constant manuring and tillage, to prevent its relapsing into barreness and waste ; it may well be inferred, that its pro- fitable occupation by the community under such conditions must be out of the question at the present time, subject to the original rentagreement. Oflateyears,anotherCis- tercian house, known as St. Joseph's Abbey, near Roscrea, county of Tipperary, has been
Rev.
Beardwood has been created its first Abbot.
Dean over Carlow College
after an absence
at Mount Melleray gave opportunities for ob- servation and information, regarding the ac- tual condition of the institute. Before leaving,
the guests are usually invited to inspect the farm and agricultural operations in progress.
founded. The'
Right
J.
Camillus
June 12. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
57 The year 1 152 is set down in the Cister-
cian List.
66
See Roger Dodsworth's and William "
Dugdale's Monasticon Anglicanum," pp. 1033, 1034.
" See a beautiful description with pictorial
**
tion was 3s. 4d.
It was styled De Castro Dei : its Taxa-
June 12. ] LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. 631
which is called the Mother of several monasteries in Ireland and in the Isle
of Man. 11. In the same county of Cork was a Cistercian monastery called 6
Mawre, 9 erected in the year 1172. 12. Dunbrody Abbey,? in the county of Wexford, was founded by Hervey de Montmorency, about the year 1175.
Other writers have it in the
2
1182 or
1184. 7
1 It is also called Dun-
year
Monaster-Evin, formerly Rosglas,?
At
River Barrow, and county of Kildare, a house for Cistercians was founded,? * as some state in 1178, while another authority has it 1189. 7s 14. Ashroe or Esarua in the county of Donegal is supposed to have been the site chosen for a Cistercian Abbey, so early as 1 178. It is called Abbatia de Samaria,76 in the Annals of Ireland, edited by William Camden. The Annals of Boyle place its foundation in the year 1183 ;77 while other accounts have it n84. 15. The Abbey of Chrore, having the Barrys as patrons, was erected a. d. 1 1 80. It was situated at Middleton, in the county of Cork, and it was known
as De Choro Benedicti. 78 16. in the of is said Jerpoint79 county Kilkenny
to have been erected in 1180, by Donat O'Donoghoe, and to have been en-
8 ' in the
endowed at Inislawnacht, by Donald O'Brien, King of Limerick, and by Malachy O'Felan, King of the Decies, in the county of Tipperary. It is some-
brothy. 7
13.
3 onthebanksofthe
dowed him. 8° by
17. Abbey Leix,
or Abbatia de
Lege Dei,
County, is said to have been erected by Cochegerius O'Moore, in the year 1183. 18. Abouttheyear1187,therewasaCistercianmonasteryfoundedand
times called the of the Monastery
Suir,
82 as it
lay
near that river. On 19.
an Island,83 formerly in Lough Strangford, called Inniscumhscraigh, there 8
was a monastery built before the Anglo-Norman Invasion. * Here, too, the
Abbey of Inis or Inis-Curcy, as now corruptly called, was founded by John De Courcy, in the county of Down, on the 3rd of June, a. d. 1180, or on the Kalends of July, a. d. 1187, according to other accounts. 20. About a. d.
1 189 or 1 190, Crovderg O'Conor, Prince of Connaught, is said to have founded Knockmoy,8* in the county of Galway, and here having taken the Cistercian habit, hedied and was buried a. d. 1224. 21. The beautiful Abbey of Leigh, otherwise known as Grey Abbey,86 was founded by Africa, wife of John de Courcy, in the county Down, a,d. 1193. In it, she was afterwards buried. 22. The Abbey of Corcumroe, in the county of Clare, was founded
The Cistercian List has 1200. It was called De Petra fertili. 87 23. TheAbbeyofComer,orCumber,88inthecountyofDown,was
in the year ) 197.
69 Alias De Fonte Vivo : its Taxation was 6s. 8d.
7° Alias De Portu Sanctse Marise : its
13s. 4d.
71 See an interesting description and his-
tory of this foundation, in J. N. Brewer's
7* Its Taxation was 3s. 46! .
79 Also called De Jerepont : its Taxation
was 13s. 4d.
Taxation was
*° See Dodsworth's and William Roger
"Beauties of Ireland," vol. i. , to pp. 372
1028, 1029.
*' Its Taxation was 8s. 8d.
8* Its Taxation was ios.
83 Now a peninsula. The Abbey was
called De Inis : its Taxation was 13s. 4d.
e* In the "Dublin Penny Journal," there are two woodcut illustrations of the original Abbey-church of Inch, and the later Abbey- church, with a description and historic data, by George Petrie, Esq. , vol. i. , No. 50, pp.
396, 397-
8s It was called De Colle Victoria; : its
Taxation was 13s. 4d.
86 It was also called De Jugo Dei : its
Taxation is not given in the Cistercian List.
375. 7* See Roger Dodsworth's and William
Dugdale's " Monasticon Anglicanum," pp. 1027, 1028.
its
73 See
ibid. , pp. 1031, 1032.
7* It was called De Rosea Valle :
Taxation was 6s.
's See " Chartularies of St. Mary's Abbey,
Dublin," &c, edited by John T. Gilbert, vol. ii. , p. 218.
76 Its Taxation was 3s. 4d.
77 See John D'Alton's "History of Ire- land, from the earliest Period to the year 1245," and Annals of Boyle, vol. ii. , pp. 308, 309, and n. (a).
"
Dugdale's Monasticon Anglicanum," pp.
Queen's
632 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [June 12.
8
founded in the year ii98, 9 or 1199. 9° 24. In the year 1200, William Mares-
chal,EarlofPembroke,foundedTinternAbbey,9* inthecountyofWexford, as an act of thanksgiving for having escaped from a great storm at sea. 25.
In the 1200 was founded the year
of the River of 2
God,' thought
monastery
by Sir James Ware to have been known as Shrowle or Shrowe, and supposed
by him to have been in the county of Longford. However, it should rather
be Kilbeggan, in the county of Westmeath. 26. In the year of our Lord
1202, the Convent of Stanley came to Ireland, and the monks dwelt at first
in Loghmeran, near Kilkenny, then at Athnamolt, and afterwards at the castle,
the place being called of the Holy Saviour, otherwise Duisque or Dusk, in
the county of Kilkenny. It is also called Downyskir. 93 Here, William
Mareschal when he came to Ireland, a. d. 1207, established a Cistercian
Abbey, and it was called De S. Salvatore. 94 27. A Cistercian house was
founded at Wetheny °s or Wodeny, also called Woney,06 in the county of
Limerick, a. d. 1205, by Theobald Walter,^ son of Hervey Walter, and brother
to Hubert Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury. The place is known as Abing-
don. 98 28. In 121 1, at Larha, sometimes called Abbey Lara or Larah, for-
merly known as Granard, in the county of Longford, a Cistercian house 99 was
established by Richard Tuite. 29. In 12 18, a Cistercian house was founded
at Dere, on the sixth of the March Kalends. It is likely this is the house
called De Claro Fonte,100 in the Cistercian List, which has its foundation at
1205. Sir James Ware supposes this possibly to have been identical with
Moycosquin, which was undoubtedly situated in the diocese of Derry. 30.
At 101 in the of Cork, a Cistercian foundation is referred to Tracton, county
a. d. 1224. Its possessions were confirmed by Edward III. , King of
In the time of David Mac
103
the Benedictine monks are said to have been removed from Hore Abbey,'°3 in the county of Tipperary, and a colony of Cistercians from Mellifont replaced
England.
31.
Carwill, Archbishop
of
Cashel,
them, in the year 1260. In the Cistercian List, however, the foundation is I0
placed at i272. 4
The foregoing does not exhaust the list of Cistercian Abbeys in Ireland.
TherewasoneatKilcooly,calledDeAlboCampo,,05 andfoundedin1200,
sessions of the various Cistercian houses in Ireland were exempt from the
I0 payment of tithes, in virtue of those privileges enjoyed by that order. 9
to the Cistercian List. At
in 1205 a Cistercian house was founded. io7 A monastery of the Cistercian order was built, likewise, at Killconnell. 108 The ancient and continued pos-
according
Loughsuidy,
8? Its Taxation was 6s. 8d.
88 In Latin De Commer : was 6s. 8d.
rives its
9s The Taxation of this house was 13s. 46! .
*
9°
91 Called De Voto : its Taxation was
13s. 4d. See Roger Dodsworth's and William
IO° ,01 ,02 "3 I0* ,05 ,o6 ,07 ,o8
Its Taxation is set down at 6s. 8d.
According According
to the Cistercian List.
to Sir Ware. James
De Albo Tractu. Its Taxation was 13s. 4d.
It is called De Rupe Cassel.
The Taxation is set down at 6s. 8d. Its Taxation was 6s. 8d.
Its Taxation was $>. 4d.
According to the Cistercian List.
See Roger Dodsworth's and William
Monasticon
s2 Or De Flumine Dei : its Taxation was
6s. 8d.
93 See Roger Dodsworth's and William
Dugdale's "Monasticon Anglicanum," pp.
1032,1033.
9* Its Taxation was 13s. 4d.
95 Latinized De Wethnia.
96 See Roger Dodsworth's and William
Dugdale's "Monasticon Anglicanum," pp.
1034, 1035.
9? From him the noble family of Butler de-
Dugdale's
Anglicanum, p. 1033.
its Taxation
origin.
"Its Taxation was 6s. 8d.
Alias,
also Latinized 106 Balliornan,
Dugdale's "Monasticon Anglicanum," p. 1029.
IO' See D'Alton's " of Ire- John History
land, from the earliest Period to the year 1245, when the Annals of Boyle, which are adopted, as the running Text authority terminate," vol. i. , pp. 179, 180.
June i2. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 633
CHAPTER II.
SUPPOSEDPRIVILEGESOBTAINEDFROMPOPEINNOCENTII.
, FORTHESEEOFCLOGHER— DEATH OF ST. CHRISTIAN O'MORGAIR—BURIED AT ARMAGH—COMMEMORATIONS— FOUNDATION OF MOUNT MELLERY IN IRELAND—AFFILIATE BRANCHES—CONCLU- SION.
Few additional particulars can be gleaned, in reference to St. Criostan or
Gillachrist O'Morgair. although he was such a distinguished prelate in the Irish
Church. It is remarked, as we are 1 in the of that informed, Registry Clogher,
the brother of the renowed St. Malachy obtained from Pope Innocent II. ,
that the fourth part of the Tithes, or the Episcopal part through all Ergall,
2 shouldbeallottedtotheBishopsofClogher. Ifsuchwerethecase,itmust
be observed, that his brother Christian had died before St. Malachy set out on his first visit to Rome, which was in the year n39 or 1 140. 3 Christian
O'Morgair's death took place in the year 1138. + Others have it at 1139, and again about ii4o;5 but, the first-mentioned date appears to be the correct one. We cannot doubt, but his departure from earth had proved an afflic- tion to his more renowned brother, the great St. Malachy O'Morgair, then Pri- mate of all Ireland. 6 Christian was buried in the church dedicated to Saints PeterandPaul,atArmagh. ? Thisholybishophasbeencommemoratedin the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman, who flourished soon after his time. This St. Christinus has a place in Henry Fitzsimon's list of Irish Saints, but no date is there for his festival. 8 We find
in the
ology of Donegal,? at the 12th of June, that veneration was paid to Criostan
See at A. D. 1 1 quent. 37,
— White has Stephen
assigned
entered,
Martyr-
or Gillachrist Ua Morgair.
In a village called Melleray or Meilleraye in the Department of Loire- Inferieure,France,amonasteryofTrappistshadbeenestablished. 10 Incon- sequence of the French Revolution of 1830, which disturbed the kingdom, the venerable Abbot of the Cistercian Abbey of Melleray felt it to be his duty, as it was his most earnest desire, to make every effort to secure for his Irish children an asylum in their own country, for the institute had been threatened withdissolution. Hiscommunitythennumberednearlytwohundredmonks,and oftheseaconsiderablepartwasIrish. Withthisview,theAbbotdespatchedto Ireland his prior, the Very Rev. Father Vincent Ryan. " He arrived in Dublin inthemonthofJanuary,1831, andimmediatelywaitedonhisGraceMost
Chapterii. —' SeeHarris'Ware,vol. i. ,
"Bishops of Clogher," p. 180.
* The See of Clogher was situated in that
territory.
3 No doubt, Baronius in his "Annales
Ecclesiastici," places this visit of St. Malachy to Rome, in 1137, but his learned commen- tator Pagius has exposed the error of date, which he places at two or three years subse-
alsoadds,thatatthetimesthentreatedof,
there was no necessity for adding a year to those of the Irish Annals. See " Ecclesias-
tical History of Ireland," vol. iv. , chap. xxvii. , sect, ii. , n. 14, p. 107. But, Ur. Lanigan himself makes the same mis- take, in many of his dates, by the excess of a year, where there was no occasion for so
"
sect. \x. ,andnotes. 4 "The Age o: Christ, 1138. Gillachrist
Ua Morgair, Bishop of Clochar, a paragon in wisdom and piety; a brilliant lamp that en-
lightened the laity and clergy by preaching andgood deeds; a faithful and diligent servant of the Church in general, died, and was in- terred in the church of Peter and Paul at Ard-Macha. "—Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1058, 1059. Dr. Lanigan remarks, that Ware, although he found our saint's death noted down at 1138, yet thought that in reality it should be set down under 1 139. He
cap. iv. , p. 33.
6 See his Life, at the 3rd dayof November. 7 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xxiv. Martii, Vita S. Maccarthenni,
doing.
5 Father
circa annum salutis 1140. " "Apologia pro Hibernia,"
Appendix, cap. iv. , p. 742. 8"
See Catalogus aliquorum Sanctorum
Ibernise. "—O'Sullivan
Catholicae Ibernise Compendium," tomusi. , lib. iv. , cap. xii. , p. 53.
9 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
168, 169.
,0 See " Gazetteer of the World," vol. ix. ,
"
Beare's Historiae
634 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 12.
Rev. Dr. Murray, who warmly approved of the object he had view, and ex- pressed his desire that the enterprise might be successful. " Father Ryan had also an interview with the great Liberator of the Irish Catholics ; and Daniel O'Connell promised to assist by every means in his power, to build up his institute in Ireland. '3
A brief account of the Mount Melleray Abbey foundation of this order must prove interesting, especially to every Irish reader. Having but too much reason to apprehend, that the English-speaking portion of the com-
munity at Melleray in France should be forced by the revolutionary authori-
ties, to quit the monastery and the country, Father Vincent Ryan was obliged, after much anxious and fruitless search for a suitable place, to rent tempora-
rilyahouseandafarmatRathmore,inthecountyofKerry. These,how- ever, were not very well suited for the purposes of a monastery, nor were they to be had on very favourable terms. At length, towards the end of October, 1831, the Irish, English and Scotch monks of Melleray were violently torn from their peaceful dwelling, by the enemies of religion, and consigned for several days to a prison in Nantes. Finally, they were put on board a ship of war, and landed at Queenstown, on the 1st of December, 1831. In Queenstownand in Cork, the monks were most benignantly received. They were treated with greatest respect, kindness and hospitality by the inhabitants. In a few days, the whole fraternity were located in the house prepared for them at Rathmore. Meanwhile, the prior renewed his efforts to procure some site where he could establish his community and his order permanently. By the aid, and through the intervention of some ecclesiastical '* and other friends, Father Ryan finally came to terms with Sir Richard Kane for the present farm of Mount Melleray, stretching along the slopes of the Knock- maeldun mountains. It contain—s about 700 statute acres ; and, at that time, it was but a wild
—and barren waste no
any part of it for the soil was so light anil poor as to be deemed utterly irre- claimable. Not a single tree or hardly a shrub of any size grew upon it ; no- thingcouldbeseenallaroundbutthedarkbrownheath. Nohumanhabitation was there, except one small cottage in a glen at the southern extremity of the farm. Of this cottage—though anything but comfortable—Father Vincent Ryan took possession for his community, on the Eve of the Ascension, 30th ofMay,1832; and,onthefollowingday,hecelebratedtheDivineMysteries in it. He called the " because in it the Cistercian order
p. 197.
'u
Foremost among these were the Most
11
ford .
" At the same time, the Archbishop as-
sured Father Ryan, that it would be attended
with very great difficulties, which prediction
subsequent events fully verified—.
IJ The venerated founder for Father
Ryan became first Abbot of the Irish house of Mount Melleray—was received and enter- tained in Dublin during a period of five months, by Mr. and Mrs. Robert White of that city, while prosecuting the work of his mission,
Rev. Dr. Foran, then P. P. , of Dungarvan, and afterwards Bishop of Watei ford, and the Very Rev. Drs. Fogarty and Hally, curates to Dr. Foran, and afterwards Vicars- General and parish priests, the former of Lis- more, and the latter of Dungarvan.
'5
The Abbey of Mount St. Bernard, near Leicester in England, is, in some measure, a filiation of Mount Melleray, and it was from Mount Melleray also that the colony went forth which founded the Abbey of New Mel- leray, in the diocese of Dubuque, North America.
lie was a native of the city of Water-
attempthavingeverbeenmadetocultivate
cottage Bethlehem,"
receivedanewbirthinIreland; and,hegavethenameofMountMellerayto
the whole farm, in order to confound the wicked designs of the enemies of
religion in France, who had lately done their utmost to destroy Old Melleray, the mother house, and when they could not succeed in that, they had impiously
lopped off the Irish branch, with a view to its perishing. However, it took new root in native soil and flourished, while in a short time, it spread as a
June 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 635
tree and bore fruit in several subsequent foundations. 's The people of the
surrounding parishes, animated and encouraged by their pastors, resolved to aid the good work, at least by their labour ; and during some months, they came in bodies, varying from 200 to 2,000, of all ages and of both sexes. With great zeal and enthusiasm, they put up fences around and through the farm. SomeofthemonkswerecalledfromRathmoretoMountMelleray. Beforethe endof September, i832,theysucceeded in preparing about 25 acres of the moun- tain for cultivation. They built, likewise, near the site of the present Abbey, a house 120 feet long, 16 feet wide, and 17 feet high. On the 19th of Novem- ber, Mass and all the Canonical hours of the Divine Office were sung in that house; and thus did the praises of God resound for the first time on the desert waste. Incredible as it may appear, the monks planted, during two months of the spring in 1833, more than 17,000 trees of various kinds, and laid out a very extensive garden, in addition to their other labours of building, of breaking up, of preparing the ground, of burning lime, and of manuring. On the 20th of August, Feast of the great St. Bernard, the glory of the Cistercian Order, and in that same year, the first stone of the new abbey was solemnly blessed by the Most Rev. Bishop of the diocese, Dr. Abraham. It was laid by Sir Richard Keane, in presence of a considerable number of the clergy, and of not less probably than 20,000 of the people.
Towards the close of 1834, through the instrumentality of his Eminence Cardinal Weld, the new monastery was approved and erected into an Abbey by the Holy See. At the same time, it was recognised and affiliated to the Cistercian Family, by the Most Rev. Abbot General of the Order, residing at Rome. He confirmed the election of the Right Rev. Dom. Vincent Ryan as first Abbot, and delegated the Most Rev. Dr. Abraham to perform the ceremony of the Abbatial Benediction. This accordingly took place in the Bishop'sprivatechapelatWaterford,onSunday,the17thofMay,1835. It was the first time that this solemn and interesting ceremony had been performed
in for Ireland,
more than 200
16
Owing
to want of
probably
the building of Melleray Abbey proceeded but slowly. It was only towards, the end of 1838, that the interior works of the church were sufficiently ad-
vanced—though far from being completed—to admit of Divine service being
performed in it. On Saturday evening, the 21st of October, during that year, the Blessed Sacrament was solemnly placed in the tabernacle, and im- mediately after, vespers were sung for the first time in the new church. On
20th of August, and was received by the Abbot and community in the solemn manner prescribed by the Ritual of the Cistercian Order for the reception of distinguished per- sonagea in Church and State. The great Liberator spent a week on Retreat in the monastery, and extremely edified the whole community by his humble and modestdeport- ment, his fervent piety, his recollection, silence, and other virtues. He subsequently rendered important legal services to the community. A fuller account of O'ConnelPs visit to Mount Melleray, with an illustration of the interior of the church and the great Irish Agitator on Retreat there, may be found in Miss Mary F. Cusack's admirable biography, "The Liberator, his Life and
Masswas
itself could scarcely be said to be habitable before 1840, although the com-
the asolemnPontifical following day,
High
sung.
monastery
16 In 1837, the establishment at Rathmore was broken up, and all the monks— about 80 in number —were united at Mount Melleray. For some years, the New Abbey had a hard struggle for existence. The crops, sown with so much labour and care most generally failed ; and even when they did succeed, the ungrateful soil yielded but a poor return. The community was sometimes reduced to great straits —occasionally, even to abso- lute want. Yet, Almighty God did not abandon his servants, tie always sent them aid in reasonable time ; and the action of his merciful Providence in their regard was sometimes manifested in a most marvellous manner.
17 In 1838, Mount Melleray was honoured
with a visit from the illustrious Daniel Times, Political, Social and Religious," O'Connell. He arrived at the Abbey on the chap, xi. , pp. 629 to 633.
years.
funds,
1? The
6 3 6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June"
munity had been living in it, with great inconvenience, for some time pre- viously. However, the buildings were progressing to a state of completion,
duringtheyearssubsequent; althoughitrequiredgreateffortandpersever- ance, to bring them to their present convenient and useful extension. 18 The
venerable founder of Mount Melleray Abbey, Right Rev. Dr. Ryan, died on
the 9th of December, 1845, m the 57 tn vear °f his age, the 34th of his 1
religious profession, and the 10th of his Abbatial dignity. ?
Mount Melleray Abbey, County of Waterford.
The present Abbot of Mount Melleray, Right Rev. Dr. Bartholomew Fitzpatrick, was elected, and blessed by the Most Rev. Dr. Foran, Bishop of Waterford, in the Abbey Church, a. d. 1848. A long term of administration has since elapsed, and under it, the fraternity have enjoyed all the advantages
18 The accompanying illustration repre- sents the condition of the church and monas-
of thirty-five years since thewriterhad before
seen him ; and nearly a week spent on Retreat
tic buildings as they were presented over
forty years ago ; but, considerable additions
and improvements have since been made. It
is copied from a copperplate engraving of
that period, and executed by R. Hendiick,
Dublin. It was drawn by William F. At that time—as well as I recollect—a per- Wakeman on the wood, engraved by Mrs.
Millard.
'9 Since his return to Ireland in 1831, he
had endured incredible hardships, labours, and pains of all kinds, mental and physical,
in endeavouring to establish his community ; and he bore, with true Christian patience, the long and painful illness of which he died. A short time before he expired, he had all his brethren assembled around him, bade them an affecting farewell, and gave them his last benediction.
20 In August, 1876, an opportunity was afforded of visiting the Abbot of M—ount Mel-
Rev. Dr. —
leray, Right Fitzpatrick formerly
petual lease had been obtained, at 5s. per acre to the proprietor. As every cultivated spot on the grounds had been reclaimed from a state of nature, by the monks ; and, as that poor soil required the most unremit- ting toil, with constant manuring and tillage, to prevent its relapsing into barreness and waste ; it may well be inferred, that its pro- fitable occupation by the community under such conditions must be out of the question at the present time, subject to the original rentagreement. Oflateyears,anotherCis- tercian house, known as St. Joseph's Abbey, near Roscrea, county of Tipperary, has been
Rev.
Beardwood has been created its first Abbot.
Dean over Carlow College
after an absence
at Mount Melleray gave opportunities for ob- servation and information, regarding the ac- tual condition of the institute. Before leaving,
the guests are usually invited to inspect the farm and agricultural operations in progress.
founded. The'
Right
J.
Camillus
June 12. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
