It was
believed
by the local inhabitants, that men, or even animals, belong- ing to the brute creation, and affected with various distempers, often found restoration to health, either by laving in the water of the well, or by drinking it.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
D.
823.
^
cap. vi. , vii. , pp. 336, 337. "
As Cuanus, son to Midhorn, flourished about the year 570, it follows, that he must have been a distinct from of
Chapter hi. — According to the
person any those already named. Colgan thinks, he must have been either St. Cuanna, whose Natalis is celebrated on the nth of March,
** Annals of Ulster. " It is further particu-
larized, as having been held " Kal. Jan. in
3 feriam, et lunam 4, vel 5 incidentibus," &c. —Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum
Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 27.
^ See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
according to the Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Marianus O'Gorman and the Continuator
of yEngus, or St. Cuanna, a bishop, whose of St. Columba. " Additional Notes O, Natalis is celebrated on the 4th of February,
p. 370-
3 See Colgan, at n. 8, p. 338.
4 The " Annals of Clonmacnoise" have
this date.
s Colgan and CFlaherty, followed by Chalmers and others, have assigned it to
accordingtothesesameauthorities. Nor,is
there a difficulty interposed, in the latter case, because this Cuanna is said to have
been Abbot of Kill-chuanna, in Connaught ; for, after he founded the church of Kill- chuanna, he followed St, Mochudda—whose brother he was on the mother's side—into Munster,as stated in the Calendar of Cashel, at the 4th of February.
9 The same Martyrologists, at the 20th of
March and the 9th of July, mention this St.
Garuan.
'°
Colgan tells us, that he has treated about the three St. Colmans, who were sons of Eochad, but distinct as to race, and the days on which their feasts were celebrated, as might be seen in note 19, to the Life of St. Fechin of Fore, at the 20th of Jan- uary. The Natalis of the St. Colman, at present under consideration, was celebrated
this
^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nioe," XV. Februarii, n. 8, p. 338. Colgan
tells us, in the same note, that he had a copy
period.
of the Acts of this council. In these, it is ""
called the Conventus" or Concilium de Druim Cheadd. "
7The"AnnalsofClonmacnoise"andothcr Irish Annals mention the times, when saints bearing the name Cuan or Cuanus died. Thus, they tells us, that a St. Cuanna or Cuannanus of Roseo died, A. D. 717, on the loth of April ; on which day his Natalis is celebrated, according to the Martyrology
of Tallagh and of Marianus O'Gorman, as also,by the Continuatorof ^ngus. According
to the same authorities, on the 3rd of April
the Natalis of St. Cuanna, Abbot of Mag-
and a Cuannan, Abbot of Druim-chuilinn, died, in the year 721. Cuanna Ua Bessain, a scribe of Trefhod (Trevit or Trevet in
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 561
andSt. Baithen,"sontoBrendan. Allofthesewererelatedtooursaint. For, we are assured, that the foregoing saints were descended from five sons ofKingNialloftheNineHostages. " Thus,St. Cuanuswasadescendant of Ennius, St. Garuan of Conall Crimthann, St. Colman of Leogaire, and St. FarannanofEugenius; while,SaintsColumkilleandBaithenwerederived, from Conall Gulban.
Afterwards, accompanied by many holy persons already named, St. Columba having passed beyond the shore called Traigh- Eothuile,^3 he visited the region of Tyr-Fiachrach, "^4 where Tibradius,^5 the son of Maelduin, lived. ^^ This prince bestowed on him tracts of land which
were delightfully situated. They were given for the purpose of building three churches. He also endowed the churches which were to be built,
with ample possessions. The first of these places was called Cnoc-ara maoile,''^
at that time ; but, afterwards, it obtained the name Serin Adhamhnain,^^ or
"
the shrineTof Adamnan," '9 from the saint of this name. This church
was situated in the diocese of Killala, and in the territory of Tir Fhiachrach.
It was celebrated for possessing many relics, a list of which Colgan promised to give, in his notes to the Life of St. Adamnan. It is needless to add, and
much to be regretted, that Colgan did not live to accomplish his design. He, also, promised to say more, regarding this church, when that future
"
time, it bore the name of All-Farannan. It is Anglicized, St. Farannan's
should be ^° The eminence of Mullach presented. Ruadha,
opportunity
now Mullaroe,='^ or Red Hill, rises very near it. The second church was called Kill-Chuana,=2 from St. Cuannan, or Cuanna,^3 who had been set over the place, by St. Columba. The third of these sites, named All na fairgsiona, was conferred by St. Columba on our saint ; and from him, in course of
"or"
it is knownas thenameof Alternan,^s
^4
a townland, in the east of the parish of Easkey,^^ and adjoining the parish
at
on the 6th of September, in a parochial church, formerly called Rosglanda ; but, in Colgan's time, it was known as Domhnach-
more, in Tyrone.
" Besides his consanguinity to St. Colum-
height
cliff,''
and,
present,
Sheets 12, 13, 18, 19, 24, 25. The town- kille, St. Baithen was also a disciple and land denominations of Skreen Beg and
successor, in the abbacy of Hy or lona. Colgan promised to give his Life, at the 9th
Skreen More are represented on Sheets 13,
19.
^s In " Scrinium Sancti Adamnani. " Latin,
Near Skreen is St. Adamnan's well, holy
of
^^ We are likewise
June.
that the author of St. Farannan's Life refers the genealogy of those five saints, to the aforesaid five
told,
^^ Now Trawohelly, in the county of Sligo. Yet, under such denomination, it is not found on the Ordnance Survey Town-
^^ See his Life, at the 23rd of September, ^° "
sons of Niall.
Februarii, n. 42, p. 340.
=' See " Ordnance Survey Townland
land Maps for this county.
^4 The fullest account of this be found in Dr. O'Donovan's "
Maps for the County of Sligo. " Sheet 19. =^ This church was situated in the same diocese and region, as the former one. the same of Tir-bhrivln. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
xv. Februarii, n. 43, p. 340,
^3 Who, among the Saints, Cuanna, or
Cuan, had been here, is not very easily as- certainable.
^-^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach, com- monly called the O'Dowda's Country," n. (f ), p. 258.
=5 its position is shown, as Alternan
Park, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Sligo. " Sheet 1 1. ^^ See Sheets, 10, ii, 17, 23, ibid,
2 o
Genealogies, name, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach, com-
within the
monly called O'Dowda Country. "
^5 He was sixth in descent from the ori-
ginal progenitor, Eochaidh Muighmeadhoin. See the Genealogical Table, showing the descent of the principal families of the Hy- Fiachrach race, from their great ancestor Eochaidh Muighmeadhoin, Monarch of
Ireland, in the fourth century to the present day, at p. 476, ibid.
'^ The Acts of St. Farannan are somewhat obscure, in the account here given, after St. Columba came to Tir-Fiachrach.
^7 Rather Cnoc na Maoili, now Skreen, Vol II.
territory
is to
There was another
church, having territory
an old church, giving name to a townland and parish, in the barony of Tireragh. This
"
Ordnance Survey- Townland Maps for the County of Sligo,"
parish is defined on the
See Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xv.
562
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS,
[February 15.
of Templeboy. =7 It is in the barony of Tireragh, and county of Sligo. In the immediate vicinity of Alternan, there are four townlands, called Bally- meeny, i. e. , O'Meeny's town, because this family^^ possessed them, with Cluain na g-Cliabhach and Alt-Farannain, formerly occupied by 0'Rothlain. =9 At the latter place was to be seen DubhachFharannain,. z>. , "St. Farannan's vat or keeve. " 3° His station was situated, in the diocese of Killala, and in the ancient territory of Tyr-Fiachrach.
In this place, the saint lived a most blameless and retired life. Here,
hedweltinacave,whichwasburiedintherecessesofalarge'wood. The
situation of this cavern was opposite the waters of ocean ; on which, and on
the wide vault of sky above, the eyes of Farannan were almost constantly
directed. Being, as it were, an exile from earth, his regards were continually
fixed on Heaven ; for, although residing in the world, his desires savoured
notofitslove. Hewasdesiroustoacquirevirtue,asmanyothersaredesirous
ofobtainingriches; while,hewasmoreseveretowardshisownbody,than
mere worldlings are indulgent to themselves in pleasure, and in the gratifica-
tion of corporal wants. His first concern was to thank the Creator, for all
his benefits and graces ; so that, the exercise of prayer was seldom inter-
mitted, notwithstanding the discharge of other stringent occupations. He continuallychantedthechurchhymnsorthePsalmsofDavid. Suchstrains
frequently awoke echoes within his lonely cave, and through the surrounding wood, being wafted afar, even over surging waves, or towards the wide canopy of sky. Thus, spiritually did he unite with celestial choirs, in cele- brating the power and majesty of Him, the great Master of Creation. 3^
From these canticles, he drew forth subjects, which served for nightly contemplations. From the close of day until aurora. , he was occupied in continuousvigils,or{intheexercisesofpenance. Heremained,forsometime, immersed in a well of cold water, up to the arm-pits. A fervour of spirit within enabled him to support this frigid element around him. This well formed a sort of basin, sunk in the middle of a stream, into which a cataract of falling water flowed ; and, the devotion of the people, in this locality, afterwards surrounded it with a stone wall. ^^
After emerging from his cold bath, Farannan passed the remaining part of night sleeping on the bare ground, in a sort of excavation, wdiich did not evencorrespondwiththenaturalproportionsofhisbody; whilstastone served for a pillow, and another rested against his feet. Here he snatched some short and uncomfortable rest. He arose before morning's dawn to
celebrate the praises of God, by reciting his office of lauds. That receptacle for our saint's wearied and macerated limbs, afterwards received the name of " St. Farannan's Bed. " 33 In the time, when lived the anonymous author of our Saint's Life, many persons made special pilgrimages to the place, 34 in which Farannan had spent his days, hoping to obtain various favours, through his pious invocation35 Even, in the seventeenth century, it was frequented
=7 It is described on Sheets, ii, 12, 13, 18, 24, ibid.
of St. Farannan's Tub.
^^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nice," xv. P'ebruarii. Vita S. . Farannani, cap. x. , p. 337.
=8 Called O'Maonaigh or O'Meeny.
^
«9 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Genealogies. Tribes and Customs of Ily-Fiachrach, com- monly the O'Dowda Country," n. (f), pp. 258, 259.
3° This is regarded as a holy well, in the townland of Alternan.
3"* Hence, it was called <\tc i:1iA]\AiiiiAin co jre^cAib, or " Alt-Fharannain, the mira- culous," by Giolla losa Mor Mac Firbis, a famous poet and antiquary, who compiled the "Book of Lecan," about A. D. 1418. See Edward
Account of nearly Four Hundred Irish Writers," p. cxiv.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
3'
nice," XV. Februarii. Vita S. Farannani,
See Colgan's
O'Reilly's "Chronological
cap. ix. , p. 337.
3' we are Then,
told,
it received the name
3S Sec Dr. O'Donovan's "
Genealogies,
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 563
by multitudes, who were drawn thither, through devotional motives. It was also believed, that many persons, and even cattle, obtained relief from various disorders, through a veneration paid to our saint. 3^ Several individuals,
lying down in his bed, and offering up to God, and to the saint, their pious prayers, were cured of divers diseases. Such, also, was the reverence enter- tained, for whatever object had even a remote connexion with St. Farannan, that the very wood which surrounded his cave was considered to be sacred ; and, it was looked upon, as an act of profanity, to remove a single branch from any of its trees. In some few instances, it is said, God's judgments were manifested in a remarkable manner, against those who had the tenacity to disregard such a popular sentiment of veneration. 37
It is somewhat remarkable, that the author of our Saint's Life, although stating his festival to have been kept, on the 15th day of this month, does not inform us, if it be the date of Forannan's death. The year of his de- parture, likewise, is left unrecorded. 32 This holy man's fame survived him ; yet, in the immediate place of his mortal pilgrimage, he seems to have passed under another name. Thus, St. Ernan's Well, and the saint's grave, are shown on either side of the stream, which runs by Alternan Park into the Atlantic Ocean.
The present saint is mentioned in the Martyrology of Tallagh,39 yet merelyasFarrannanmacAedha,atthe15thofFebruary. TheMartyrology ofDonegal,4oonthisday,recordsForannan,^! sonofAedh. Inaftertime, when this great saint had been called, to the possession of a celestial inherit-
ance, his memory was held in great reverence, by people inhabiting the surroundingcountry. Manymiracleswerewroughtthroughhisintercession.
It was believed by the local inhabitants, that men, or even animals, belong- ing to the brute creation, and affected with various distempers, often found restoration to health, either by laving in the water of the well, or by drinking it. On account of many miracles and benefits, thus obtained through this saint's intercession, the inhabitants in that part of the country, to manifest their gratitude, imposed on themselves four annual fasts.
always kept
vigil
ofhis
feast,
days, namely,
ona
onthe
-^^ andonthreeother
Yet the seasons, in which these latter
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
days were kept, have not been recorded, for our information.
Less than a mile eastward, from the village of Prosperous,43 stands in hoary decay the unfrequented little ruin of Downings chapel,'*^ in the parish
Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach, com- monly called O'Dowda's Country," n. (f), pp. 258, 259.
"Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
37 In M'Firbis' poems on Tireragh, taken from the "Book of Tireragh," allusion is
genealogy is the Latin Life of St. Forannan, published by Colgan, at 15 Febr. This is the meaning of the concluding clause, be- .
ginning,
^-Colganadds,inanote "Itacolligitur
3^ See
" Take notice. "
Colgan's niae,"xv. Februarii,n. 44,p. 340.
:
made to
tracts. " vol. i,, pp. 243 to 246.
Sligo
Ex- nominis notavi num. 2. " supra
3^ See Colgan's
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
45, p. 340.
'*3 it is situated, in the parish of Killybegs,
in the barony of Clane, and it is shown on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kildare. " Sheet 13.
44
tion, that Oliver Cromwell, in his march of devastation, battered with cannon, from a
'^^'^^:^:^^^^^^^:^^^ church of Downings,
-Alc]:A|\AnAin
"
nias," XV. Februarii. Vita S. Farannani,
cap. xi. , xii,, pp. 337, 338.
39 Edited by kev. Dr. Kelly, p. XV,
4° Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
50, 51.
^^ In a note, Dr. Todd adds, at the word,
Foramidn, " The later hand has written in
in tlie "
—"Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xv. Februarii, n.
i. e. , Nota. The Irish MS.
the margin
do not give Fionnbarr as one of the sons of Eoghan, The only authority for this
j;. ^
ex Marian. Mart. Tamhl. & /Enguss auct. Vide quee de hoc, aliisque Sanctis hujus
'phe country people there have a
trac^i*
One of these was
564 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February15.
so named, in the barony of Clane, and county of Kildare. ^s The interior of this old building measures 42 feet 6 inches, in length, while it is 16 feet in width. The walls are about 2 feet 7 inches, in thickness. The church stood, within an ancient cemetery, some distance trom the public road, and the burial-ground is enclosed with a wall and hedge. -^^ A tradition of high
Downings Old Church, County Kildare.
and reliable antiquity states, that the site of the chapel was once the cell of
St. Farnan, and immediately adjacent, the saint's well bubbles up, in the
valley of Downings. It is said that, in his day, like the saints of our own
time, he battled with doubt and uncertainty against drunkenness. It may
be doubted, however, if St. Farnan be identical with the present St. Farannan,
who seems to have had connexion solely with the west of Ireland ; and, in
no manner, with the county of Kildare. Perhaps, he was the same as St.
Forannan, Abbot of Clonard, whose feast occurs, at the 12th of this month.
Actuated by the popular belief, St. Farnan blessed the well at Downings,
and called " the Well of that whosoever drank of its it, Sobriety," saying
water should never again relish the waters of intemperance. '7
The Pagan writer, Euripides, remarks, who knows whether that which is called death, be not the road to a new life, and life a real death ? 4^ The Christian's faith removed such a sceptical query, and the saints, both in life, and at point of death, resolved it most happily in the affirmative.
*s The townlands of Dovvnings North and of Downings South are defined on the ** Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for theCountyofKildare. " Sheet13.
4* The accompanying illustration was
sketched by the writer, on the spot, in
April, 1874; this drawing has been trans- ferred to the wood by William F. Wake-
man, and it has been engrav«d by Mrs. Millard.
7 Some of the foregoing particulars were communicated to The Leinster Independent^
in which journal they appeared, in 1871.
4^ See " rhrixus," the Fragment of a lost Drama.
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 565
Article III. —Feast of St. Dichul, Abbot of Lure. \Sixth and
Seventh Centuries^
According to one account/ a feast of St. Dichul is held
of The Acts of this saint will be found February. 3
in =^ on the France,
15th
written, at the i8th day of January. *» Mabillon describes Lure, towards the
close of the seventeenth century, when the relics of St. Deicolus or Dichul were there preserved. s The Bollandists have only a passing allusion to St. Deicolus, abbot and disciple to St. Columbanus, at this day. ^
Article IV. —St. Fergus, or Ferghas, Son of Aedh, or Aengus. The sacred Scriptures assure us, that some are born, of whom no memorial remains, although these were men of mercy, whose godly deeds have not failed. ^ The name, Fergus, son of ^ngus, occurs, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 15th of February. His father's name seems differently written in another Calendar. The Martyrology of Donegal,3 on this day, records Ferghas, son of Aedh. 4 No further information have we to com- municate.
Article V. —Reputed Feast of St. Eruald, Erwald, Arnwal, or Arnual, in Franconia. [Probably about the Seventh Century. '] Under these various names, the Bollandists have some brief allusions to this holy man,atthe19thofJanuary,^asalso,atthe15thofFebruary. ^ Trithemius3 treats about the holy martyr Erualdus, who, with his companions, came from Scotia,intoGermany. HepreachedtheGospelinFranconia. ^ Camerarius has placed his festival, at this day ;5 although other writers have inserted it, atthe19thofJanuary; while,manyreferittothe8thofJuly,^whichisthe chief festival for his martyred companion, St. Kilian. 7 Yet, at this latter date, the Bollandists assert, the present saint to be one and the same, whose feast is set down, in the Irish and Scottish Calendars, at the 2nd of October. At that day, they have a few short notices of him, under the title of " Annualis
Presbyter. ''
^ For the latter we reserve further observations. date,
ArticleVI. —FestivalofHolyMartyrs. Atthe15thofFebruary,
"
the following stanza, transcribed from the Feilire" of St. ^ngus, as found
Articlehi,—^ MS. aFlorario.
^"
At that day, it is said : In Francia S.
Deicolce Abbatis discipuli S. Columbani. "
Articlev. —^ See "Acta Sanctoram,"
tomus ii. , Januarii xix. Among the preter-
mitted saints, p. 213.
"^ 3 See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xviii. Januarii, Vita S. Deicoli, n.
44, p. 127.
4 Further notices will be found, at the
2 1st of November,
s See "Vetera Analccta. "
See inter pr£etermissos, ibid. , tomus ii. , Februarii xv, , p, 805.
3 See "De Viris Illustribus Ordinis
Sancti Benedicti," lib, iii,, cap, 146.
This was a circle of the old German Em-
pire, in the centre of Germany, containing an area of about 10,500 square miles, inter- sected from east and west, by the River Maine, and comprising one of the finest dis-
Iter Germani- ^ He is found among the pretermitted
carum, p. 2.
saints in the
"
Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii,,
Februarii xv,, —803, p.
^
Article iv. See Ecclesiasticus, xliv,,
10.
9, ^
Edited by the Rev, Dr. Kelly, p. xv.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
50, 51.
4 In a note, Dr. Todd says, at Aedk :
tricts in Germany. See
vol.
World," vi. , p. 455.
"
Gazetteer of the
"
Marianum et M. Taml, dicitur mAc ^on- gufA. ' It is thus translated : 'But, accord- ing to M. O'Gorman and the Mart. Taml. he is called son of Aengus. "
The later hand adds here,
*
Sed secundum
s See " De Statu Hominis, veteris simul ac novae Ecclesiae et Sanctis Regni Scotise," lib, i,, pars ii,, cap, iii^ sec, 2, p. 148.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
viii. Among the pretermitted saints, p.
534.
7 See his Acts, at the 8th of July.
^
See ibid. , tomus i,, Octobris ii. the pretermitted saints, p. 318.
Julii
Among
566 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February15. in the " Leabhar Breac," is thus translated by Professor O'Looney : —
"O. u. W. kt. Caii
A]^ bA^AAcll •OA'OAIg ;
Article vi. —* See tomus ii. , Februarii
XV. , pp. 803 to 852.
= 'I'o this we hnd appended a note (a)
**
Chanty i. e. , it is chanted because of the nobleness of the festival, even though it should fall on Sunday, or on the- Feast of Barrach the triumphant, i. e. , Barrach, sou of Nemnand, son of Nemangen, son of Fin-
son of Mai, son of Dublha, son of Ocn-
tan,
gus, son of Ere Uerg, son of Brian, son of
Whomsoever they prayed for at the gasp of death
Should not suffer death, 7>,, Hell. "
cclelj|\AT) 'oomnAij;, IIA
La
buAiX) tiiAic "Oe "OiAniAic.
cefA-o fltiAi^ biMgAi^,
Chant the Sunday's celebration On the morrow at night
With the passion of a powerful host
The victory of the son of God they obtain. "
This stanza seems to have reference, to various holy martyrs, venerated in the Church, at this date, as may be seen by consulting the " Acta Sanc- torum" of the Bollandists-' Regarding the "Sunday's celebration," and " the morrow at night," I feel unable further to present any illustration, other than what is contained in a comment to the Irish word, cAn. '
Article VII. —Festival of the Blessed Richard Fitz Ralph,
Archbishop of Armagh. {Fourteenth Century. ] The manuscript,^ in T. C. D. , classed B. i, i, contains in its calendar hst, at February the 15th,
an entry,= which indicates, that this day was held sacred, to the memory of St. Richard,ArchbishopofArmagh. Furtheraccountsofhimarereserved for the 1 6th of November.
Article VIII. —Reputed Feast of St. Columcan, Abbot and Recluse at Ghent. [Tent/i Centt/ry. ] According to several of the Con- tinental writers, St. Columban's death, or Natalis, occurred on this day.
^
cap. vi. , vii. , pp. 336, 337. "
As Cuanus, son to Midhorn, flourished about the year 570, it follows, that he must have been a distinct from of
Chapter hi. — According to the
person any those already named. Colgan thinks, he must have been either St. Cuanna, whose Natalis is celebrated on the nth of March,
** Annals of Ulster. " It is further particu-
larized, as having been held " Kal. Jan. in
3 feriam, et lunam 4, vel 5 incidentibus," &c. —Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum
Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 27.
^ See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
according to the Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Marianus O'Gorman and the Continuator
of yEngus, or St. Cuanna, a bishop, whose of St. Columba. " Additional Notes O, Natalis is celebrated on the 4th of February,
p. 370-
3 See Colgan, at n. 8, p. 338.
4 The " Annals of Clonmacnoise" have
this date.
s Colgan and CFlaherty, followed by Chalmers and others, have assigned it to
accordingtothesesameauthorities. Nor,is
there a difficulty interposed, in the latter case, because this Cuanna is said to have
been Abbot of Kill-chuanna, in Connaught ; for, after he founded the church of Kill- chuanna, he followed St, Mochudda—whose brother he was on the mother's side—into Munster,as stated in the Calendar of Cashel, at the 4th of February.
9 The same Martyrologists, at the 20th of
March and the 9th of July, mention this St.
Garuan.
'°
Colgan tells us, that he has treated about the three St. Colmans, who were sons of Eochad, but distinct as to race, and the days on which their feasts were celebrated, as might be seen in note 19, to the Life of St. Fechin of Fore, at the 20th of Jan- uary. The Natalis of the St. Colman, at present under consideration, was celebrated
this
^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nioe," XV. Februarii, n. 8, p. 338. Colgan
tells us, in the same note, that he had a copy
period.
of the Acts of this council. In these, it is ""
called the Conventus" or Concilium de Druim Cheadd. "
7The"AnnalsofClonmacnoise"andothcr Irish Annals mention the times, when saints bearing the name Cuan or Cuanus died. Thus, they tells us, that a St. Cuanna or Cuannanus of Roseo died, A. D. 717, on the loth of April ; on which day his Natalis is celebrated, according to the Martyrology
of Tallagh and of Marianus O'Gorman, as also,by the Continuatorof ^ngus. According
to the same authorities, on the 3rd of April
the Natalis of St. Cuanna, Abbot of Mag-
and a Cuannan, Abbot of Druim-chuilinn, died, in the year 721. Cuanna Ua Bessain, a scribe of Trefhod (Trevit or Trevet in
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 561
andSt. Baithen,"sontoBrendan. Allofthesewererelatedtooursaint. For, we are assured, that the foregoing saints were descended from five sons ofKingNialloftheNineHostages. " Thus,St. Cuanuswasadescendant of Ennius, St. Garuan of Conall Crimthann, St. Colman of Leogaire, and St. FarannanofEugenius; while,SaintsColumkilleandBaithenwerederived, from Conall Gulban.
Afterwards, accompanied by many holy persons already named, St. Columba having passed beyond the shore called Traigh- Eothuile,^3 he visited the region of Tyr-Fiachrach, "^4 where Tibradius,^5 the son of Maelduin, lived. ^^ This prince bestowed on him tracts of land which
were delightfully situated. They were given for the purpose of building three churches. He also endowed the churches which were to be built,
with ample possessions. The first of these places was called Cnoc-ara maoile,''^
at that time ; but, afterwards, it obtained the name Serin Adhamhnain,^^ or
"
the shrineTof Adamnan," '9 from the saint of this name. This church
was situated in the diocese of Killala, and in the territory of Tir Fhiachrach.
It was celebrated for possessing many relics, a list of which Colgan promised to give, in his notes to the Life of St. Adamnan. It is needless to add, and
much to be regretted, that Colgan did not live to accomplish his design. He, also, promised to say more, regarding this church, when that future
"
time, it bore the name of All-Farannan. It is Anglicized, St. Farannan's
should be ^° The eminence of Mullach presented. Ruadha,
opportunity
now Mullaroe,='^ or Red Hill, rises very near it. The second church was called Kill-Chuana,=2 from St. Cuannan, or Cuanna,^3 who had been set over the place, by St. Columba. The third of these sites, named All na fairgsiona, was conferred by St. Columba on our saint ; and from him, in course of
"or"
it is knownas thenameof Alternan,^s
^4
a townland, in the east of the parish of Easkey,^^ and adjoining the parish
at
on the 6th of September, in a parochial church, formerly called Rosglanda ; but, in Colgan's time, it was known as Domhnach-
more, in Tyrone.
" Besides his consanguinity to St. Colum-
height
cliff,''
and,
present,
Sheets 12, 13, 18, 19, 24, 25. The town- kille, St. Baithen was also a disciple and land denominations of Skreen Beg and
successor, in the abbacy of Hy or lona. Colgan promised to give his Life, at the 9th
Skreen More are represented on Sheets 13,
19.
^s In " Scrinium Sancti Adamnani. " Latin,
Near Skreen is St. Adamnan's well, holy
of
^^ We are likewise
June.
that the author of St. Farannan's Life refers the genealogy of those five saints, to the aforesaid five
told,
^^ Now Trawohelly, in the county of Sligo. Yet, under such denomination, it is not found on the Ordnance Survey Town-
^^ See his Life, at the 23rd of September, ^° "
sons of Niall.
Februarii, n. 42, p. 340.
=' See " Ordnance Survey Townland
land Maps for this county.
^4 The fullest account of this be found in Dr. O'Donovan's "
Maps for the County of Sligo. " Sheet 19. =^ This church was situated in the same diocese and region, as the former one. the same of Tir-bhrivln. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
xv. Februarii, n. 43, p. 340,
^3 Who, among the Saints, Cuanna, or
Cuan, had been here, is not very easily as- certainable.
^-^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach, com- monly called the O'Dowda's Country," n. (f ), p. 258.
=5 its position is shown, as Alternan
Park, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Sligo. " Sheet 1 1. ^^ See Sheets, 10, ii, 17, 23, ibid,
2 o
Genealogies, name, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach, com-
within the
monly called O'Dowda Country. "
^5 He was sixth in descent from the ori-
ginal progenitor, Eochaidh Muighmeadhoin. See the Genealogical Table, showing the descent of the principal families of the Hy- Fiachrach race, from their great ancestor Eochaidh Muighmeadhoin, Monarch of
Ireland, in the fourth century to the present day, at p. 476, ibid.
'^ The Acts of St. Farannan are somewhat obscure, in the account here given, after St. Columba came to Tir-Fiachrach.
^7 Rather Cnoc na Maoili, now Skreen, Vol II.
territory
is to
There was another
church, having territory
an old church, giving name to a townland and parish, in the barony of Tireragh. This
"
Ordnance Survey- Townland Maps for the County of Sligo,"
parish is defined on the
See Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xv.
562
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS,
[February 15.
of Templeboy. =7 It is in the barony of Tireragh, and county of Sligo. In the immediate vicinity of Alternan, there are four townlands, called Bally- meeny, i. e. , O'Meeny's town, because this family^^ possessed them, with Cluain na g-Cliabhach and Alt-Farannain, formerly occupied by 0'Rothlain. =9 At the latter place was to be seen DubhachFharannain,. z>. , "St. Farannan's vat or keeve. " 3° His station was situated, in the diocese of Killala, and in the ancient territory of Tyr-Fiachrach.
In this place, the saint lived a most blameless and retired life. Here,
hedweltinacave,whichwasburiedintherecessesofalarge'wood. The
situation of this cavern was opposite the waters of ocean ; on which, and on
the wide vault of sky above, the eyes of Farannan were almost constantly
directed. Being, as it were, an exile from earth, his regards were continually
fixed on Heaven ; for, although residing in the world, his desires savoured
notofitslove. Hewasdesiroustoacquirevirtue,asmanyothersaredesirous
ofobtainingriches; while,hewasmoreseveretowardshisownbody,than
mere worldlings are indulgent to themselves in pleasure, and in the gratifica-
tion of corporal wants. His first concern was to thank the Creator, for all
his benefits and graces ; so that, the exercise of prayer was seldom inter-
mitted, notwithstanding the discharge of other stringent occupations. He continuallychantedthechurchhymnsorthePsalmsofDavid. Suchstrains
frequently awoke echoes within his lonely cave, and through the surrounding wood, being wafted afar, even over surging waves, or towards the wide canopy of sky. Thus, spiritually did he unite with celestial choirs, in cele- brating the power and majesty of Him, the great Master of Creation. 3^
From these canticles, he drew forth subjects, which served for nightly contemplations. From the close of day until aurora. , he was occupied in continuousvigils,or{intheexercisesofpenance. Heremained,forsometime, immersed in a well of cold water, up to the arm-pits. A fervour of spirit within enabled him to support this frigid element around him. This well formed a sort of basin, sunk in the middle of a stream, into which a cataract of falling water flowed ; and, the devotion of the people, in this locality, afterwards surrounded it with a stone wall. ^^
After emerging from his cold bath, Farannan passed the remaining part of night sleeping on the bare ground, in a sort of excavation, wdiich did not evencorrespondwiththenaturalproportionsofhisbody; whilstastone served for a pillow, and another rested against his feet. Here he snatched some short and uncomfortable rest. He arose before morning's dawn to
celebrate the praises of God, by reciting his office of lauds. That receptacle for our saint's wearied and macerated limbs, afterwards received the name of " St. Farannan's Bed. " 33 In the time, when lived the anonymous author of our Saint's Life, many persons made special pilgrimages to the place, 34 in which Farannan had spent his days, hoping to obtain various favours, through his pious invocation35 Even, in the seventeenth century, it was frequented
=7 It is described on Sheets, ii, 12, 13, 18, 24, ibid.
of St. Farannan's Tub.
^^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nice," xv. P'ebruarii. Vita S. . Farannani, cap. x. , p. 337.
=8 Called O'Maonaigh or O'Meeny.
^
«9 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Genealogies. Tribes and Customs of Ily-Fiachrach, com- monly the O'Dowda Country," n. (f), pp. 258, 259.
3° This is regarded as a holy well, in the townland of Alternan.
3"* Hence, it was called <\tc i:1iA]\AiiiiAin co jre^cAib, or " Alt-Fharannain, the mira- culous," by Giolla losa Mor Mac Firbis, a famous poet and antiquary, who compiled the "Book of Lecan," about A. D. 1418. See Edward
Account of nearly Four Hundred Irish Writers," p. cxiv.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
3'
nice," XV. Februarii. Vita S. Farannani,
See Colgan's
O'Reilly's "Chronological
cap. ix. , p. 337.
3' we are Then,
told,
it received the name
3S Sec Dr. O'Donovan's "
Genealogies,
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 563
by multitudes, who were drawn thither, through devotional motives. It was also believed, that many persons, and even cattle, obtained relief from various disorders, through a veneration paid to our saint. 3^ Several individuals,
lying down in his bed, and offering up to God, and to the saint, their pious prayers, were cured of divers diseases. Such, also, was the reverence enter- tained, for whatever object had even a remote connexion with St. Farannan, that the very wood which surrounded his cave was considered to be sacred ; and, it was looked upon, as an act of profanity, to remove a single branch from any of its trees. In some few instances, it is said, God's judgments were manifested in a remarkable manner, against those who had the tenacity to disregard such a popular sentiment of veneration. 37
It is somewhat remarkable, that the author of our Saint's Life, although stating his festival to have been kept, on the 15th day of this month, does not inform us, if it be the date of Forannan's death. The year of his de- parture, likewise, is left unrecorded. 32 This holy man's fame survived him ; yet, in the immediate place of his mortal pilgrimage, he seems to have passed under another name. Thus, St. Ernan's Well, and the saint's grave, are shown on either side of the stream, which runs by Alternan Park into the Atlantic Ocean.
The present saint is mentioned in the Martyrology of Tallagh,39 yet merelyasFarrannanmacAedha,atthe15thofFebruary. TheMartyrology ofDonegal,4oonthisday,recordsForannan,^! sonofAedh. Inaftertime, when this great saint had been called, to the possession of a celestial inherit-
ance, his memory was held in great reverence, by people inhabiting the surroundingcountry. Manymiracleswerewroughtthroughhisintercession.
It was believed by the local inhabitants, that men, or even animals, belong- ing to the brute creation, and affected with various distempers, often found restoration to health, either by laving in the water of the well, or by drinking it. On account of many miracles and benefits, thus obtained through this saint's intercession, the inhabitants in that part of the country, to manifest their gratitude, imposed on themselves four annual fasts.
always kept
vigil
ofhis
feast,
days, namely,
ona
onthe
-^^ andonthreeother
Yet the seasons, in which these latter
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
days were kept, have not been recorded, for our information.
Less than a mile eastward, from the village of Prosperous,43 stands in hoary decay the unfrequented little ruin of Downings chapel,'*^ in the parish
Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach, com- monly called O'Dowda's Country," n. (f), pp. 258, 259.
"Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
37 In M'Firbis' poems on Tireragh, taken from the "Book of Tireragh," allusion is
genealogy is the Latin Life of St. Forannan, published by Colgan, at 15 Febr. This is the meaning of the concluding clause, be- .
ginning,
^-Colganadds,inanote "Itacolligitur
3^ See
" Take notice. "
Colgan's niae,"xv. Februarii,n. 44,p. 340.
:
made to
tracts. " vol. i,, pp. 243 to 246.
Sligo
Ex- nominis notavi num. 2. " supra
3^ See Colgan's
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
45, p. 340.
'*3 it is situated, in the parish of Killybegs,
in the barony of Clane, and it is shown on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kildare. " Sheet 13.
44
tion, that Oliver Cromwell, in his march of devastation, battered with cannon, from a
'^^'^^:^:^^^^^^^:^^^ church of Downings,
-Alc]:A|\AnAin
"
nias," XV. Februarii. Vita S. Farannani,
cap. xi. , xii,, pp. 337, 338.
39 Edited by kev. Dr. Kelly, p. XV,
4° Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
50, 51.
^^ In a note, Dr. Todd adds, at the word,
Foramidn, " The later hand has written in
in tlie "
—"Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xv. Februarii, n.
i. e. , Nota. The Irish MS.
the margin
do not give Fionnbarr as one of the sons of Eoghan, The only authority for this
j;. ^
ex Marian. Mart. Tamhl. & /Enguss auct. Vide quee de hoc, aliisque Sanctis hujus
'phe country people there have a
trac^i*
One of these was
564 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February15.
so named, in the barony of Clane, and county of Kildare. ^s The interior of this old building measures 42 feet 6 inches, in length, while it is 16 feet in width. The walls are about 2 feet 7 inches, in thickness. The church stood, within an ancient cemetery, some distance trom the public road, and the burial-ground is enclosed with a wall and hedge. -^^ A tradition of high
Downings Old Church, County Kildare.
and reliable antiquity states, that the site of the chapel was once the cell of
St. Farnan, and immediately adjacent, the saint's well bubbles up, in the
valley of Downings. It is said that, in his day, like the saints of our own
time, he battled with doubt and uncertainty against drunkenness. It may
be doubted, however, if St. Farnan be identical with the present St. Farannan,
who seems to have had connexion solely with the west of Ireland ; and, in
no manner, with the county of Kildare. Perhaps, he was the same as St.
Forannan, Abbot of Clonard, whose feast occurs, at the 12th of this month.
Actuated by the popular belief, St. Farnan blessed the well at Downings,
and called " the Well of that whosoever drank of its it, Sobriety," saying
water should never again relish the waters of intemperance. '7
The Pagan writer, Euripides, remarks, who knows whether that which is called death, be not the road to a new life, and life a real death ? 4^ The Christian's faith removed such a sceptical query, and the saints, both in life, and at point of death, resolved it most happily in the affirmative.
*s The townlands of Dovvnings North and of Downings South are defined on the ** Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for theCountyofKildare. " Sheet13.
4* The accompanying illustration was
sketched by the writer, on the spot, in
April, 1874; this drawing has been trans- ferred to the wood by William F. Wake-
man, and it has been engrav«d by Mrs. Millard.
7 Some of the foregoing particulars were communicated to The Leinster Independent^
in which journal they appeared, in 1871.
4^ See " rhrixus," the Fragment of a lost Drama.
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 565
Article III. —Feast of St. Dichul, Abbot of Lure. \Sixth and
Seventh Centuries^
According to one account/ a feast of St. Dichul is held
of The Acts of this saint will be found February. 3
in =^ on the France,
15th
written, at the i8th day of January. *» Mabillon describes Lure, towards the
close of the seventeenth century, when the relics of St. Deicolus or Dichul were there preserved. s The Bollandists have only a passing allusion to St. Deicolus, abbot and disciple to St. Columbanus, at this day. ^
Article IV. —St. Fergus, or Ferghas, Son of Aedh, or Aengus. The sacred Scriptures assure us, that some are born, of whom no memorial remains, although these were men of mercy, whose godly deeds have not failed. ^ The name, Fergus, son of ^ngus, occurs, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 15th of February. His father's name seems differently written in another Calendar. The Martyrology of Donegal,3 on this day, records Ferghas, son of Aedh. 4 No further information have we to com- municate.
Article V. —Reputed Feast of St. Eruald, Erwald, Arnwal, or Arnual, in Franconia. [Probably about the Seventh Century. '] Under these various names, the Bollandists have some brief allusions to this holy man,atthe19thofJanuary,^asalso,atthe15thofFebruary. ^ Trithemius3 treats about the holy martyr Erualdus, who, with his companions, came from Scotia,intoGermany. HepreachedtheGospelinFranconia. ^ Camerarius has placed his festival, at this day ;5 although other writers have inserted it, atthe19thofJanuary; while,manyreferittothe8thofJuly,^whichisthe chief festival for his martyred companion, St. Kilian. 7 Yet, at this latter date, the Bollandists assert, the present saint to be one and the same, whose feast is set down, in the Irish and Scottish Calendars, at the 2nd of October. At that day, they have a few short notices of him, under the title of " Annualis
Presbyter. ''
^ For the latter we reserve further observations. date,
ArticleVI. —FestivalofHolyMartyrs. Atthe15thofFebruary,
"
the following stanza, transcribed from the Feilire" of St. ^ngus, as found
Articlehi,—^ MS. aFlorario.
^"
At that day, it is said : In Francia S.
Deicolce Abbatis discipuli S. Columbani. "
Articlev. —^ See "Acta Sanctoram,"
tomus ii. , Januarii xix. Among the preter-
mitted saints, p. 213.
"^ 3 See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xviii. Januarii, Vita S. Deicoli, n.
44, p. 127.
4 Further notices will be found, at the
2 1st of November,
s See "Vetera Analccta. "
See inter pr£etermissos, ibid. , tomus ii. , Februarii xv, , p, 805.
3 See "De Viris Illustribus Ordinis
Sancti Benedicti," lib, iii,, cap, 146.
This was a circle of the old German Em-
pire, in the centre of Germany, containing an area of about 10,500 square miles, inter- sected from east and west, by the River Maine, and comprising one of the finest dis-
Iter Germani- ^ He is found among the pretermitted
carum, p. 2.
saints in the
"
Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii,,
Februarii xv,, —803, p.
^
Article iv. See Ecclesiasticus, xliv,,
10.
9, ^
Edited by the Rev, Dr. Kelly, p. xv.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
50, 51.
4 In a note, Dr. Todd says, at Aedk :
tricts in Germany. See
vol.
World," vi. , p. 455.
"
Gazetteer of the
"
Marianum et M. Taml, dicitur mAc ^on- gufA. ' It is thus translated : 'But, accord- ing to M. O'Gorman and the Mart. Taml. he is called son of Aengus. "
The later hand adds here,
*
Sed secundum
s See " De Statu Hominis, veteris simul ac novae Ecclesiae et Sanctis Regni Scotise," lib, i,, pars ii,, cap, iii^ sec, 2, p. 148.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
viii. Among the pretermitted saints, p.
534.
7 See his Acts, at the 8th of July.
^
See ibid. , tomus i,, Octobris ii. the pretermitted saints, p. 318.
Julii
Among
566 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February15. in the " Leabhar Breac," is thus translated by Professor O'Looney : —
"O. u. W. kt. Caii
A]^ bA^AAcll •OA'OAIg ;
Article vi. —* See tomus ii. , Februarii
XV. , pp. 803 to 852.
= 'I'o this we hnd appended a note (a)
**
Chanty i. e. , it is chanted because of the nobleness of the festival, even though it should fall on Sunday, or on the- Feast of Barrach the triumphant, i. e. , Barrach, sou of Nemnand, son of Nemangen, son of Fin-
son of Mai, son of Dublha, son of Ocn-
tan,
gus, son of Ere Uerg, son of Brian, son of
Whomsoever they prayed for at the gasp of death
Should not suffer death, 7>,, Hell. "
cclelj|\AT) 'oomnAij;, IIA
La
buAiX) tiiAic "Oe "OiAniAic.
cefA-o fltiAi^ biMgAi^,
Chant the Sunday's celebration On the morrow at night
With the passion of a powerful host
The victory of the son of God they obtain. "
This stanza seems to have reference, to various holy martyrs, venerated in the Church, at this date, as may be seen by consulting the " Acta Sanc- torum" of the Bollandists-' Regarding the "Sunday's celebration," and " the morrow at night," I feel unable further to present any illustration, other than what is contained in a comment to the Irish word, cAn. '
Article VII. —Festival of the Blessed Richard Fitz Ralph,
Archbishop of Armagh. {Fourteenth Century. ] The manuscript,^ in T. C. D. , classed B. i, i, contains in its calendar hst, at February the 15th,
an entry,= which indicates, that this day was held sacred, to the memory of St. Richard,ArchbishopofArmagh. Furtheraccountsofhimarereserved for the 1 6th of November.
Article VIII. —Reputed Feast of St. Columcan, Abbot and Recluse at Ghent. [Tent/i Centt/ry. ] According to several of the Con- tinental writers, St. Columban's death, or Natalis, occurred on this day.
