Romans by
birth—for
the conversion arid instruction of the people in Corco- baschind.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
Senan, a MS.
, belonging to the Duke of
" the fort of the
tive Catalogue of Materials relating to the or Burgum regis, in Latin. In all the
History of Great Britain and Ireland," vol.
i. , part i. , pp. 125, 126. —
ancient Irish histories, it is celebrated, as a chief seat of the senior representatives of
^5 It is thus described
Vita S.
Fiacha who assumed the Figeinte,
surname,
Senani, transcribed by Donall O'Duinin, MS. Stowe
36, s. 244 to 287, 4to paper. See Stowe Catalogue," p. 162.
3' See Dr. O' Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters," vol. v. , n. 6, p. 1580. The
3^ Colgan makes Hy-Fidhgente a part of Kerry County, and he refers to the Life of
St. Molua, who belonged to the country, in-
habited " Fidhgente. " It is said by nepotes
to have been situated, "in media planitie Mummonise, usque ad medium montis Lua- chrre in Occidente ad Australem plagam
"
^* In the large folio paper MS. intituled,
" When Brian Borumha was
Vitae Sanctorum," ex Codice Inisensi, pp. 244 to 250.
*' A folio MS. Collectanea, classed Vol.
viii. . No. 3201, contains a Life of St. Senan,
taken from the Irish Manuscript of the
Jesuit Salamancan College, and collated
with a MS. belonging to R. P. Ward ;
while, there is also a long Poem, and a
to this saint. In Vol. xxii. , containing Nos.
7672, 7673, 7674, there is a Vita S. Senani,
fol. 186.
="8
=*» See his Life, at the 17th of March.
30 The country of the Hy-Figeinte em- braced the greater and better part of the county of Limerick ; it extended from the Shannon to the middle of Slieve Loughra,
belonging to Trinity College, Dublin, classed E. 2, 14 ; namely, from Inishmore in the
:
placed. Hence, then, its name is not eccle-
signifies,
king,"
O'Donovan, after the reign of Brian Boru. ""
Hymn
In a MS. Vol. iv. part ii. there is an fluminis Sinna. "—" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Irish Life of St. Senan, p. 118 ; an account niae," viii. Martii, n. 3, p. 535.
of the miracles wrought after death through 33 It is divided into two districts, East and St. Senan, p. 233 ; and different poems West. Every Irish authority places Corco- attributed to St. Senan, St. Brendan and
others in Irish, p. 142. These were tran-
scribed, by Michael O'Clery, from older
MSS.
"
exact extent is given in a description of the
editor adds
King of Munster, Donovan, the ancestor of the O'Donovan family, was chief of all this territory, but his descendants were driven from it shortly after the English invasion. "
:
Bhaiscinn in the west of Thomond, and its
county of Clare, preserved in a manuscript,
mouth of the River Feargus, to Loophead,
and from the Shannon, to the boundary of
Hy-Brickan.
3* It was formerly conterminous with the
214 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS [March 8.
desire to welcome the messenger of Heaven, and their hearts were already- prepared to receive Gospel truths. Having provided a great number of
boats, they passed over the Shannon, at a place, called Donoghmore, a parish church, in Limerick diocese. 35 At this time, the shades of evening had set in, and the saint felt fatigued with instructions he had already given, and baptisms he had performed, for his neophytes. The people of Corco- baschinds^ presented themselves to him, and earnestly besought him to visit their part of the country, that they might be directed in the way of life, and instructed in Catholic doctrine. 37 St. Patrick told them, that on the follow- ing morning, he would give an answer to their petition. Alleging the defence- less state, in which their ships and territory had been left, they most earnestly urged him, not to delay, in complying with their request. The saint assented. Having expounded the dogmas of faith to them, at some length, and finding corresponding dispositions in their souls, he baptized them in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, and in waters of the adjoining river. Having made them living members of Christ's mystical body, he imparted his benediction to them, likewise, while invoking prosperity and fertility on their country. But, the Corcabaschind people, not satisfied with receiving Christian baptism themselves, requested the saint, that he would come as soon as possible to their country, so that their wives, children and servants might enjoy a like inestimable privilege. The saint excused himself this time, alleging as a
reason for not complying with their request, the number of clerics and people, who were in his train, and who usually followed him to receive instruction, on points of doctrine, and relative to their spiritual advancement. He promised, however, to avail himself of a more favourable opportunity, for satisfying their desires. To these objections, they answered, that means, for conveying himself and all his companions across that part of the Shannon, had
present baronies of Ibrickan, Moyarta and about two miles south-east of Limerick city. Clonderalaw. The original extent of the It contains a church in ruins, near the
country of Corca-Bhaiscinn is still preserved in the Ecclesiastical division, which is the best guide to follow, in ascertaining the original limits of this great tribal district,
which was circumscribed, from time to time, by the encroachment of the O'Briens, and of their correlatives. The " Liber Regalis
modern Catholic chapel.
^6 AH the Irish genealogists and historians
agree, that the country of CorcoBhaiscinn, in the west of Thomond, derived its appellation from the descendants of Cairbre Bascain, son of Conary the Great (the 122nd Monarch of Ireland) and brother of Cairbre Riada, the
"
Visitationis places the following parishes ancestor of the Dalriads of Scotland ; for
in the deanery of Corca-Vaskin, Barony of Core, when thus prefixed to the name or cog- Islands : I. Cionedagad, Barony of Clon- nomen of an ancestor, always signifies, pro- deralaw. 2. Kilchrist. 3. Disert Murhurly geny, race or offspring, and it is nearly
[Kildysart]. 4. Kilfeddan. 5. Killafin. synonymous with clann, cinel, or sliocht.
map of the county of Clare, preserved among the Ordnance Survey Records, Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, we find, that the territo- ries of East and West Corcabaschind com- prised the south-western portion of that county. This map is now bound up in the volume "Letters and Extracts relative to Ancient Territories in Thomond, 1841. "
6. Kilmurry and Clonderclagh, Barony of
Ibrickan. 7. Killarda [Killard], Barony of
Clonderalaw. 8. Killimure [Killimer]. 9.
Kilmichill, Barony of Moyarta. 10. Kil- Mahon O'Brien conquered them. See macduane. 11. Kilrush. 12. Kilferigh. "Letters and Extracts relative to Ancient 13. Kilballihone, Barony of Ibrickan. 14. Territories in Thomond, 1841. " Ordnance Kilmurry. 15. Kilfarboy, Barony of Moy- Survey, sects, iv. and v. Corca Bhaiscin, arta. 16. Moifartach. There can be no East and West, p. 25. ^Yritten by John doubt, that the original country of Corca-
Bhaiscinn comprised these sixteen parishes and, this fact being discovered, the extent of the territory adjoining it, to the east, be- comes as clear as daylight. See Mr.
O'Donovan, in 1841.
'^^ According to Mr. O'Donovan's ancient
O'Donovan's
"
;
Ancient Territories in Tho-
mond," Signed "J. O'D," February 13th, 1841. "Letters and Extracts, relative to Ancient Territories in Thomond, 1841," pp. 25 to 44.
33 There is a parish, named Donoghmore,
^s The Tripartite Life of St. Patrick
The descendants of this Carbry Bascain in- habited this district, and were its chiefs, until the nth century, when the descendants of
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 215
been provided. At last, St. Patrick relieved himself from their importunities, by saying, that he could not go with them, until he had more fully instructed those people of the country, where he then preached, in the mysteries of
faith, and until he had built churches, and provided good pastors for them. He enquired, however, if there was any elevated place near him, from which he could obtain a view of their country. ^^ When conducted to a mountain, called Findinne,39 which he ascended, he obtained a view of the boundaries of Corcobaschind, towards the North and East. He then predicted, that in course of time, their bounds should be enlarged, on the East, as far as the mountain Echtge,-*" and on the North, to another, which he pointed out in Corcomroe. Afterthis,seeinginthefuture,theirstateandtheirpatron,St. Patrick said to those, who were present, and to the inhabitants of that
"
There is no reason why I should visit your territory in person, since God hath provided an illustrious and a be- loved patron, who will be born among you. For, a being, loved by God and man, shall spring from your race, while from his infancy, he shall be enriched with Divine graces. His name shall be Senan. As to a protector and patron, you shall not alone look upon him, but the people of Hy-Fidhgente shall also regard him. 'H When, with due honour and reverence, you invoke him, all things shall succeed prosperously with you. However, should you fail in this respect, your prosperity must end, and your lands shall cease to be fertile ; famine will come upon you, and your children shall bear a foreign yoke. He shall extirpate the huge monster, so hostile to you, which exists on the island opposite, and lying between yourselves and the people of Hy-Fidh- gente. This island shall afterwards be inhabited, by Senan and by his monks. But, until this son of light begin to shine among you, with the brightness of his sanctity and doctrine, I will send some of my disciples, who shall wash the remainder of your people in the waters of regeneration, and who shall not
42 saint sent
Then the — his two
country, showing in the distance :
in the doctrines of Faith. "
disciples, named Maculatus, a Priest, and Latius, a Deacon^^ who were
fail to instruct
you,
states, that St. Patrick, when he came to the district of Tuamonia, from the top of a mountain, called Fintine, near Domnach-
and Extracts relative to Ancient Territories in Tliomond, 1841," Signed "J. O'D. , February 13th, 1841," p. 71.
" S. Senanum Gerrchinnio Dubtacii filio natum, post annos aliquot nas- cendum," &c. —Septima Vita S. Patricii,
*' The following is a partial translation of
mor, predicted
—
" To you an infant shall be born,
lib. iii. , "Trias
xlvi. ,
p. 158. "
See
Colgan's
cap. Thaumaturga.
A future minister of God His name Senanus, shall adorn
This place of my abode.
And by the grace of God will be Succeeding bishop after me. "
39 The name now seems to be obsolete, in
that part of the country.
4° This mountain was situated in the
north-eastern part of Clare, and on the borders of Galway County. It is now called Slieve Aughtee. The ancient territory of
Tuath Echtghe comprised the greater part
of this mountain, from which it was named.
Dr. O'Donovan states, "this territory is
mentioned in Mac Namara's rent-roll pub-
lishedbyMr. Hardiman,butinnoother Senanusshoul—dbebornfortyyears—aswe authority is it mentioned as a distinct terri-
tory. It comprised the entire of the large
parish of Feakle, but we do not find that it
formed the estate of any pettv chief, at any
periodofourhistory. Beforetheyear1318,
it was a part of the countiy of the Hy- Jocelyn speaks of a St. Malachias. The
Bloid, and is still placed in the deanery of Hy-m-bloid, or as it is Anglicised O'Mulled.
It is my opinion, that it originally formed part of O'Shauahan's country. "— " Letters
Tripartite Life also mentions him, and a St. Lucius or Lugus ; but, Colgan felt unable to determine whether the above-named saints were identical with those here mentioned.
St. Patrick's prophecy :
See Ferrar's "History of Limerick," part iii. , chap, iii. , note, p. 185.
"t^ In Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Quarta S. Patricii, cap. Ixxix. , St. Patrick is stated, to have predicted, that St.
may suppose after this prophecy, p. 45,
and n. 55, p. 50.
'^ Colgan says, he could not find any
saints, in ancient historical writings, bearing these names, among St. Patrick's disciples.
;
2l6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
Romans by birth—for the conversion arid instruction of the people in Corco- baschind. These erected a church, on the northern banks of the Shannon. Here, they were afterwards buried. ''4 AH those foregoing incidents are related more circumstantially, in St. Senan's second published Life, than in the first or Metrical Life. ^s In this latter, St. Patrick is said to have predicted, that our saint should succeed him in the episcopacy. Some have been led to believe, from such a statement, that St. Senan of Iniscatthy must have pre-
sided as Archbishop over Armagh.
Very differently the pedigrees of this holy man have been set forth.
According to the Prose Life of St. Senan, his father was named Ergind,*" son to Cobthac, son of Bolgius, son to Decius, son of Imchad, son to Corbius,
son of Roding, son to Lugad, son of Olild, son to Eochad, son of ^ngus, son to Fiachrius, son of Corbre Baschaoin, descended from Connor,''/ first of this name, who was Monarch of Ireland. "*^ In the " Leabhar Breac," <» and in the " Book of Leinster," 5° the statements about his paternal line greatly vary. 5' The mother of our saint was Comgella, daughter to Ernach, son to Gulban. ShewasanativeofthatpartinMunster,whichwascalledAlt- raighe. s^ The names of all those saints, descended from the mother of St. Senan, are recorded. 53 It would seem, that not only were St. Senan's parents of noble birth, but they also professed the Christian Faith. S4 Although they were thus distinguished, it appears, however, from what is afterwards related, that his father was a man of no very exalted station in life. For, after the prophecy of St. Patrick, we are told, when the chiefs and people of a country to the north of Inis-Catthy were assembled together, at a conven-
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," viii. Martii. Secunda Vita S. Senani, n. 5, p. 535. *^ This place of burial, and site of a
cliurch, was either on, or near, the Island of
persons, who then inhabited that district,
belonged to the distinguished race of Conary the Second, Monarch of Ireland in the
second century," vol. i. , No. i. , p. 37.
'* e We
Iniscatthy, regioneInis-Cathaigh," Thus, p. 19, I, 14
do not find their names, in the Litany, attri- buted to St. ^ngus, as published in the
Manuscript, we find the genealogy of St. Senan of Inis Cathaigh, as being the
Son of Gerrcend,
Son of Dubthach,
Son of Decce,
Son of Imchad,
Son of Corp [rede Corb], Son of
Son of
Son of
Son of
Son of Conaire,
Son of Mogh Lamha.
s° Thus, at p. 351, col. 2, of this Manu- script, we have the genealogy of St. Senan of Iniscathaigh, that he was the
Son of Eirggend, Son of Dubthach, Son of Decce, Son of Imchad, Son of Corb.
S' To Mr. Joseph O'Longan, the WTiter is
indebted for the extracts, in preceding notes.
5^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," Martii viii. Appendix ad Acta S.
Senani, cap. ii. , p. 537.
53 See among the Hodges and Smith col-
lection, in the Royal Irish Academy, the 4to paper MS. , No. 144.
54 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
"
Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. iii. , pp.
390 to 397, and 468 to 477.
45 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise,"viii. Martii. VitaMetricaS. Senani, cap. i. , ii. , p. 512, and Secunda Vita S. Senani, cap. ii. , iii. , iv. , p. 526.
4* The name of St. Senan's father was Ercan, according to the first stanza, of the
—
Lugaid (or Lughaidh),
Metrical Life, which runs as follows
:
Coir
pre,
" Senanus ex nobilibus
parentibus, Et ab ipsis cunabulis, Fidelibus Christicolis.
—Colgan's viii. Martii.
"
i. , p. 512. "
"
47 In the
Procreatur
Dei Habebantur in Scotia
Quorum haec sunt vocabula, Ercanus et Coemgella. "
Qui magna
gratia
Acta Sanctomm Hiberniae," Vita Metrica S. Senani, cap.
Book of Leinster," and in the Leabhar Breac," our saint is styled, otteof
the three luminaries of the race of Conaire, according to the Poem, "On the Nine Saints of the Race of Conaire. "
4* In a beautifully-written article, The
Legend of Iniscathy, contributed to
"Hibernian Magazine," the writer says:
"Senan's father, like the other leading cap. ! . , p. 526.
Duffy's
49 at col. line of this
Oilill,
Oengus,
nia? ,"viii. Martii. Vita Secunda S. Senani,
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 2x7
tion, to decide on matters of public importance ; Ergind was also present, with his wife, who was then pregnant. A Druid showed reverence to the
couple, on their approach, and resigned his own place, to accommodate them. Hisactionbeingnoticed,bysomeofthosepresent,thisDruidwas
asked, why he gave precedency to Ergind, a man of more humble rank than himself. 55 Heanswered,thatinthusacting,hehadnotregardedthepersons of Ergind or of his wife ; but rather, the holiness of an infant, then borne by Comgella, whose offspring would hereafter be adopted, and venerated, by the people of that country, as their patron and protector. 5^ Immediately before giving birth to our saint, Comgella chanced to be sojourning at a place, called Magh-lacha,57 during the autumnal season. Having gone out to enjoy the benefit of a refreshing atmosphere, and while walking through an orchard, she was unexpectedly seized, with the pains of child-birth. But, in her extremity, an Angel of God appeared, and she was released from these pains, by giving birth to a son, whom this Angel blessed. s^ According to Dr. Lanigan, the birth and greatness of Senan, having been foretold by St. Patrick, when he had visited the present county of Limerick, about a. d. 448 :59 a period of forty years is supposed to have elapsed, between that prophecy, and the birth of our saint. This position he endeavours to establish, from a Life of St. Patrick, as published by Colgan. However, in a note to the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, Colgan observes,^" that one MS. has26years; thusfurnishingthediscrepancyofadifferentreading,totheafore- said forty-sixth chapter. Dr. Lanigan is of opinion, that the forty years, men- tionedinSt. Patrick'sfourthLife,comenearertothetruth; andhence,he supposes St. Senan to have been born, about the year 488, a date which will be found to agree, with the real series of his biographical transactions, although not reconcilable with some unchronological fables concerning him. Magh- lacha, the place of our saint's birth, was most probably situated in the present Clonderlach, or Clonderalaw barony, which lies to the east of Moyarta, according to Dr. Lanigan. This writer thinks, there is an affinity between the names Magh-lacha and Clonderlach. ^^ St. Senan Avas thus a native ot Corco-baschind, a district in the western part of Thomond. ^^ It would
''
55 The author of the Second Life adds,
Prose Life states, after relating this legend, that the very tree alluded to was to be seen, in his day. See the Metrical Life, chap, iii. , and the Prose Life, chap. vi.
59 gee his calculations in the "Ecclesias- tical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap; ix. , sect, iv. , p. 445.
'"= He tells that in one Irish Manu- us,
script, St. Senan was to be born after ye
or 120 and in another, after •piceA'o, years,
-pe '-p pceAt), or 26 years, which must be his meaning. According to Colgan's calcu- lation, he thinks, that the birth of St. Senan should be referred to 26 years, or at least, not after 40 years, from the time St. Patrick uttered the prediction. See "Trias Thau-
maturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. ,
Druidffi enina in magna erant veneratione apud hanc nationem. " This shows, that the number of those, who had here embraced the Christian faith, could not have been in a majority ; or, that many, who had been baptized by St. Patrick, were not then living, had
in various in- stances, had already lapsed into Paganism.
57 We are told, by a distinguished Clare- man, that Magh-lacha is "the name of a townland, in which are a lake and an old church, both called after St. Senan. It lies four miles N. E. of Kilrush, county Clare. "
emigrated, or, perhaps,
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
5^ See
niae," viii. Martii. Vita Secunda S. Senani, cap. v. , p. 526.
Colgan's
This note is written, before the initials of
" *'
his name, by Eugene Curry, in the Heath Extracts," vol. ii. , p. 153,
5* A miraculous event is said to have ac- companied the birth of St. Senan ; as according to both Lives of our saint, some dry wood, on which Comgella placed her hand, was afterwards known to bloom, and to send forth leaves. The author of the
cap. xlvi. , p. 158, and n. 78, p. 185.
Dr. Lanigan is wrong in this conjee- ture, for according to Mr. O'Donovan's
Ancient Map of Clare, preserved among the Records of the Irish Ordnance Survey
Office, in the Royal Irish Academy, Magh- lacha was situated, not in the barony of
Clonderalaw, but within the parish of Kil- rush, iii the barony of Moyarta. It however
2i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
appear, from the Metrical Life of our saint, that a church had been built in the neighbourhood, at the time of his birth. To this church he was brought, and here he was washed in the waters of regeneration, from the stain of original sin, having been baptized, in the name of the Most Holy Trinity. ^3
As our saint advanced in years, he grew in grace and faith ; and, his
knowledge appeared to partake somewhat of Divine inspiration. His absti- nence was of a remarkable character, even in his youth ; and, the Giver of all good lavished on him those happy dispositions of soul, which led him to theperfectpracticeofallvirtues. Oneday,whilstaccompanyinghismother on a journey, he observed her gathering some berries from the bushes. These she was about to taste, when he gently reproved her, with an admoni- tion, that refection had its own place and time. ^* The parents of our saint had two different houses, and not far distant, at a place, called Tracht- termuinn. At one time, the family of Senan, having resolved on moving from one of those residences to the other, they required our holy youth, to pre- pare the house, in which they were about to live, by placing its furniture and utensils, in their exact places. But, the boy neglected those injunctions, whileengagedinaworkofcharity,towardsonewholivednear; and,forthis neglect, Senan was reproved by his mother. However, he told her to have trust in the Lord ; promising that his negligence, in a short time, should be repaired, through Divine grace. No sooner had he spoken, than the house- hold utensils and other requisites were borne to their places, in a miraculous
manner, and were there deposited. On seeing this, his mother, and some persons, who were present, began to feel admiration and reverence towards a child, so highly favoured by Heaven. ^s We are told, when our saint, at another time, accompanied his mother and family to a certain village, in which they wished to remain ; the inhabitants of this place drove them out, with injuries and insults, which proved a cause of great grief to Senan's mother. The boy endeavoured to afford her consolation, by saying, that God was the avenger of all wrongs, causelessly inflicted on those, who were His servants. His observations appear to have been remarkably verified, in the present instance ; for, a visitation of Divine vengeance was afterwards poured down upon that place. A great plague carried off, not only the cattle of its inhabitants, but even the owners of this stock. All other possessions, in their village, likewise disappeared, and without leaving behind a single trace. It is related, that the village had been swallowed up,^^ with all its in-
bordered
on the western limits of
^* See " Acta Sanctonim Hiber- Colgan's
nise," viii. Martii, p. 527. Secunda Vita S. . Senani, cap. vi. These particulars are more diffusely related, in Vita Metrica S. Senani, cap. iii. , p. 513, As, however, there is an omission of
closely Clonderalaw.
^* " See Dr. Lanigan's
Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix.
" the fort of the
tive Catalogue of Materials relating to the or Burgum regis, in Latin. In all the
History of Great Britain and Ireland," vol.
i. , part i. , pp. 125, 126. —
ancient Irish histories, it is celebrated, as a chief seat of the senior representatives of
^5 It is thus described
Vita S.
Fiacha who assumed the Figeinte,
surname,
Senani, transcribed by Donall O'Duinin, MS. Stowe
36, s. 244 to 287, 4to paper. See Stowe Catalogue," p. 162.
3' See Dr. O' Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters," vol. v. , n. 6, p. 1580. The
3^ Colgan makes Hy-Fidhgente a part of Kerry County, and he refers to the Life of
St. Molua, who belonged to the country, in-
habited " Fidhgente. " It is said by nepotes
to have been situated, "in media planitie Mummonise, usque ad medium montis Lua- chrre in Occidente ad Australem plagam
"
^* In the large folio paper MS. intituled,
" When Brian Borumha was
Vitae Sanctorum," ex Codice Inisensi, pp. 244 to 250.
*' A folio MS. Collectanea, classed Vol.
viii. . No. 3201, contains a Life of St. Senan,
taken from the Irish Manuscript of the
Jesuit Salamancan College, and collated
with a MS. belonging to R. P. Ward ;
while, there is also a long Poem, and a
to this saint. In Vol. xxii. , containing Nos.
7672, 7673, 7674, there is a Vita S. Senani,
fol. 186.
="8
=*» See his Life, at the 17th of March.
30 The country of the Hy-Figeinte em- braced the greater and better part of the county of Limerick ; it extended from the Shannon to the middle of Slieve Loughra,
belonging to Trinity College, Dublin, classed E. 2, 14 ; namely, from Inishmore in the
:
placed. Hence, then, its name is not eccle-
signifies,
king,"
O'Donovan, after the reign of Brian Boru. ""
Hymn
In a MS. Vol. iv. part ii. there is an fluminis Sinna. "—" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Irish Life of St. Senan, p. 118 ; an account niae," viii. Martii, n. 3, p. 535.
of the miracles wrought after death through 33 It is divided into two districts, East and St. Senan, p. 233 ; and different poems West. Every Irish authority places Corco- attributed to St. Senan, St. Brendan and
others in Irish, p. 142. These were tran-
scribed, by Michael O'Clery, from older
MSS.
"
exact extent is given in a description of the
editor adds
King of Munster, Donovan, the ancestor of the O'Donovan family, was chief of all this territory, but his descendants were driven from it shortly after the English invasion. "
:
Bhaiscinn in the west of Thomond, and its
county of Clare, preserved in a manuscript,
mouth of the River Feargus, to Loophead,
and from the Shannon, to the boundary of
Hy-Brickan.
3* It was formerly conterminous with the
214 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS [March 8.
desire to welcome the messenger of Heaven, and their hearts were already- prepared to receive Gospel truths. Having provided a great number of
boats, they passed over the Shannon, at a place, called Donoghmore, a parish church, in Limerick diocese. 35 At this time, the shades of evening had set in, and the saint felt fatigued with instructions he had already given, and baptisms he had performed, for his neophytes. The people of Corco- baschinds^ presented themselves to him, and earnestly besought him to visit their part of the country, that they might be directed in the way of life, and instructed in Catholic doctrine. 37 St. Patrick told them, that on the follow- ing morning, he would give an answer to their petition. Alleging the defence- less state, in which their ships and territory had been left, they most earnestly urged him, not to delay, in complying with their request. The saint assented. Having expounded the dogmas of faith to them, at some length, and finding corresponding dispositions in their souls, he baptized them in the name of the Most Holy Trinity, and in waters of the adjoining river. Having made them living members of Christ's mystical body, he imparted his benediction to them, likewise, while invoking prosperity and fertility on their country. But, the Corcabaschind people, not satisfied with receiving Christian baptism themselves, requested the saint, that he would come as soon as possible to their country, so that their wives, children and servants might enjoy a like inestimable privilege. The saint excused himself this time, alleging as a
reason for not complying with their request, the number of clerics and people, who were in his train, and who usually followed him to receive instruction, on points of doctrine, and relative to their spiritual advancement. He promised, however, to avail himself of a more favourable opportunity, for satisfying their desires. To these objections, they answered, that means, for conveying himself and all his companions across that part of the Shannon, had
present baronies of Ibrickan, Moyarta and about two miles south-east of Limerick city. Clonderalaw. The original extent of the It contains a church in ruins, near the
country of Corca-Bhaiscinn is still preserved in the Ecclesiastical division, which is the best guide to follow, in ascertaining the original limits of this great tribal district,
which was circumscribed, from time to time, by the encroachment of the O'Briens, and of their correlatives. The " Liber Regalis
modern Catholic chapel.
^6 AH the Irish genealogists and historians
agree, that the country of CorcoBhaiscinn, in the west of Thomond, derived its appellation from the descendants of Cairbre Bascain, son of Conary the Great (the 122nd Monarch of Ireland) and brother of Cairbre Riada, the
"
Visitationis places the following parishes ancestor of the Dalriads of Scotland ; for
in the deanery of Corca-Vaskin, Barony of Core, when thus prefixed to the name or cog- Islands : I. Cionedagad, Barony of Clon- nomen of an ancestor, always signifies, pro- deralaw. 2. Kilchrist. 3. Disert Murhurly geny, race or offspring, and it is nearly
[Kildysart]. 4. Kilfeddan. 5. Killafin. synonymous with clann, cinel, or sliocht.
map of the county of Clare, preserved among the Ordnance Survey Records, Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, we find, that the territo- ries of East and West Corcabaschind com- prised the south-western portion of that county. This map is now bound up in the volume "Letters and Extracts relative to Ancient Territories in Thomond, 1841. "
6. Kilmurry and Clonderclagh, Barony of
Ibrickan. 7. Killarda [Killard], Barony of
Clonderalaw. 8. Killimure [Killimer]. 9.
Kilmichill, Barony of Moyarta. 10. Kil- Mahon O'Brien conquered them. See macduane. 11. Kilrush. 12. Kilferigh. "Letters and Extracts relative to Ancient 13. Kilballihone, Barony of Ibrickan. 14. Territories in Thomond, 1841. " Ordnance Kilmurry. 15. Kilfarboy, Barony of Moy- Survey, sects, iv. and v. Corca Bhaiscin, arta. 16. Moifartach. There can be no East and West, p. 25. ^Yritten by John doubt, that the original country of Corca-
Bhaiscinn comprised these sixteen parishes and, this fact being discovered, the extent of the territory adjoining it, to the east, be- comes as clear as daylight. See Mr.
O'Donovan, in 1841.
'^^ According to Mr. O'Donovan's ancient
O'Donovan's
"
;
Ancient Territories in Tho-
mond," Signed "J. O'D," February 13th, 1841. "Letters and Extracts, relative to Ancient Territories in Thomond, 1841," pp. 25 to 44.
33 There is a parish, named Donoghmore,
^s The Tripartite Life of St. Patrick
The descendants of this Carbry Bascain in- habited this district, and were its chiefs, until the nth century, when the descendants of
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 215
been provided. At last, St. Patrick relieved himself from their importunities, by saying, that he could not go with them, until he had more fully instructed those people of the country, where he then preached, in the mysteries of
faith, and until he had built churches, and provided good pastors for them. He enquired, however, if there was any elevated place near him, from which he could obtain a view of their country. ^^ When conducted to a mountain, called Findinne,39 which he ascended, he obtained a view of the boundaries of Corcobaschind, towards the North and East. He then predicted, that in course of time, their bounds should be enlarged, on the East, as far as the mountain Echtge,-*" and on the North, to another, which he pointed out in Corcomroe. Afterthis,seeinginthefuture,theirstateandtheirpatron,St. Patrick said to those, who were present, and to the inhabitants of that
"
There is no reason why I should visit your territory in person, since God hath provided an illustrious and a be- loved patron, who will be born among you. For, a being, loved by God and man, shall spring from your race, while from his infancy, he shall be enriched with Divine graces. His name shall be Senan. As to a protector and patron, you shall not alone look upon him, but the people of Hy-Fidhgente shall also regard him. 'H When, with due honour and reverence, you invoke him, all things shall succeed prosperously with you. However, should you fail in this respect, your prosperity must end, and your lands shall cease to be fertile ; famine will come upon you, and your children shall bear a foreign yoke. He shall extirpate the huge monster, so hostile to you, which exists on the island opposite, and lying between yourselves and the people of Hy-Fidh- gente. This island shall afterwards be inhabited, by Senan and by his monks. But, until this son of light begin to shine among you, with the brightness of his sanctity and doctrine, I will send some of my disciples, who shall wash the remainder of your people in the waters of regeneration, and who shall not
42 saint sent
Then the — his two
country, showing in the distance :
in the doctrines of Faith. "
disciples, named Maculatus, a Priest, and Latius, a Deacon^^ who were
fail to instruct
you,
states, that St. Patrick, when he came to the district of Tuamonia, from the top of a mountain, called Fintine, near Domnach-
and Extracts relative to Ancient Territories in Tliomond, 1841," Signed "J. O'D. , February 13th, 1841," p. 71.
" S. Senanum Gerrchinnio Dubtacii filio natum, post annos aliquot nas- cendum," &c. —Septima Vita S. Patricii,
*' The following is a partial translation of
mor, predicted
—
" To you an infant shall be born,
lib. iii. , "Trias
xlvi. ,
p. 158. "
See
Colgan's
cap. Thaumaturga.
A future minister of God His name Senanus, shall adorn
This place of my abode.
And by the grace of God will be Succeeding bishop after me. "
39 The name now seems to be obsolete, in
that part of the country.
4° This mountain was situated in the
north-eastern part of Clare, and on the borders of Galway County. It is now called Slieve Aughtee. The ancient territory of
Tuath Echtghe comprised the greater part
of this mountain, from which it was named.
Dr. O'Donovan states, "this territory is
mentioned in Mac Namara's rent-roll pub-
lishedbyMr. Hardiman,butinnoother Senanusshoul—dbebornfortyyears—aswe authority is it mentioned as a distinct terri-
tory. It comprised the entire of the large
parish of Feakle, but we do not find that it
formed the estate of any pettv chief, at any
periodofourhistory. Beforetheyear1318,
it was a part of the countiy of the Hy- Jocelyn speaks of a St. Malachias. The
Bloid, and is still placed in the deanery of Hy-m-bloid, or as it is Anglicised O'Mulled.
It is my opinion, that it originally formed part of O'Shauahan's country. "— " Letters
Tripartite Life also mentions him, and a St. Lucius or Lugus ; but, Colgan felt unable to determine whether the above-named saints were identical with those here mentioned.
St. Patrick's prophecy :
See Ferrar's "History of Limerick," part iii. , chap, iii. , note, p. 185.
"t^ In Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Quarta S. Patricii, cap. Ixxix. , St. Patrick is stated, to have predicted, that St.
may suppose after this prophecy, p. 45,
and n. 55, p. 50.
'^ Colgan says, he could not find any
saints, in ancient historical writings, bearing these names, among St. Patrick's disciples.
;
2l6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
Romans by birth—for the conversion arid instruction of the people in Corco- baschind. These erected a church, on the northern banks of the Shannon. Here, they were afterwards buried. ''4 AH those foregoing incidents are related more circumstantially, in St. Senan's second published Life, than in the first or Metrical Life. ^s In this latter, St. Patrick is said to have predicted, that our saint should succeed him in the episcopacy. Some have been led to believe, from such a statement, that St. Senan of Iniscatthy must have pre-
sided as Archbishop over Armagh.
Very differently the pedigrees of this holy man have been set forth.
According to the Prose Life of St. Senan, his father was named Ergind,*" son to Cobthac, son of Bolgius, son to Decius, son of Imchad, son to Corbius,
son of Roding, son to Lugad, son of Olild, son to Eochad, son of ^ngus, son to Fiachrius, son of Corbre Baschaoin, descended from Connor,''/ first of this name, who was Monarch of Ireland. "*^ In the " Leabhar Breac," <» and in the " Book of Leinster," 5° the statements about his paternal line greatly vary. 5' The mother of our saint was Comgella, daughter to Ernach, son to Gulban. ShewasanativeofthatpartinMunster,whichwascalledAlt- raighe. s^ The names of all those saints, descended from the mother of St. Senan, are recorded. 53 It would seem, that not only were St. Senan's parents of noble birth, but they also professed the Christian Faith. S4 Although they were thus distinguished, it appears, however, from what is afterwards related, that his father was a man of no very exalted station in life. For, after the prophecy of St. Patrick, we are told, when the chiefs and people of a country to the north of Inis-Catthy were assembled together, at a conven-
See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," viii. Martii. Secunda Vita S. Senani, n. 5, p. 535. *^ This place of burial, and site of a
cliurch, was either on, or near, the Island of
persons, who then inhabited that district,
belonged to the distinguished race of Conary the Second, Monarch of Ireland in the
second century," vol. i. , No. i. , p. 37.
'* e We
Iniscatthy, regioneInis-Cathaigh," Thus, p. 19, I, 14
do not find their names, in the Litany, attri- buted to St. ^ngus, as published in the
Manuscript, we find the genealogy of St. Senan of Inis Cathaigh, as being the
Son of Gerrcend,
Son of Dubthach,
Son of Decce,
Son of Imchad,
Son of Corp [rede Corb], Son of
Son of
Son of
Son of
Son of Conaire,
Son of Mogh Lamha.
s° Thus, at p. 351, col. 2, of this Manu- script, we have the genealogy of St. Senan of Iniscathaigh, that he was the
Son of Eirggend, Son of Dubthach, Son of Decce, Son of Imchad, Son of Corb.
S' To Mr. Joseph O'Longan, the WTiter is
indebted for the extracts, in preceding notes.
5^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," Martii viii. Appendix ad Acta S.
Senani, cap. ii. , p. 537.
53 See among the Hodges and Smith col-
lection, in the Royal Irish Academy, the 4to paper MS. , No. 144.
54 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
"
Irish Ecclesiastical Record," vol. iii. , pp.
390 to 397, and 468 to 477.
45 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise,"viii. Martii. VitaMetricaS. Senani, cap. i. , ii. , p. 512, and Secunda Vita S. Senani, cap. ii. , iii. , iv. , p. 526.
4* The name of St. Senan's father was Ercan, according to the first stanza, of the
—
Lugaid (or Lughaidh),
Metrical Life, which runs as follows
:
Coir
pre,
" Senanus ex nobilibus
parentibus, Et ab ipsis cunabulis, Fidelibus Christicolis.
—Colgan's viii. Martii.
"
i. , p. 512. "
"
47 In the
Procreatur
Dei Habebantur in Scotia
Quorum haec sunt vocabula, Ercanus et Coemgella. "
Qui magna
gratia
Acta Sanctomm Hiberniae," Vita Metrica S. Senani, cap.
Book of Leinster," and in the Leabhar Breac," our saint is styled, otteof
the three luminaries of the race of Conaire, according to the Poem, "On the Nine Saints of the Race of Conaire. "
4* In a beautifully-written article, The
Legend of Iniscathy, contributed to
"Hibernian Magazine," the writer says:
"Senan's father, like the other leading cap. ! . , p. 526.
Duffy's
49 at col. line of this
Oilill,
Oengus,
nia? ,"viii. Martii. Vita Secunda S. Senani,
March 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 2x7
tion, to decide on matters of public importance ; Ergind was also present, with his wife, who was then pregnant. A Druid showed reverence to the
couple, on their approach, and resigned his own place, to accommodate them. Hisactionbeingnoticed,bysomeofthosepresent,thisDruidwas
asked, why he gave precedency to Ergind, a man of more humble rank than himself. 55 Heanswered,thatinthusacting,hehadnotregardedthepersons of Ergind or of his wife ; but rather, the holiness of an infant, then borne by Comgella, whose offspring would hereafter be adopted, and venerated, by the people of that country, as their patron and protector. 5^ Immediately before giving birth to our saint, Comgella chanced to be sojourning at a place, called Magh-lacha,57 during the autumnal season. Having gone out to enjoy the benefit of a refreshing atmosphere, and while walking through an orchard, she was unexpectedly seized, with the pains of child-birth. But, in her extremity, an Angel of God appeared, and she was released from these pains, by giving birth to a son, whom this Angel blessed. s^ According to Dr. Lanigan, the birth and greatness of Senan, having been foretold by St. Patrick, when he had visited the present county of Limerick, about a. d. 448 :59 a period of forty years is supposed to have elapsed, between that prophecy, and the birth of our saint. This position he endeavours to establish, from a Life of St. Patrick, as published by Colgan. However, in a note to the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, Colgan observes,^" that one MS. has26years; thusfurnishingthediscrepancyofadifferentreading,totheafore- said forty-sixth chapter. Dr. Lanigan is of opinion, that the forty years, men- tionedinSt. Patrick'sfourthLife,comenearertothetruth; andhence,he supposes St. Senan to have been born, about the year 488, a date which will be found to agree, with the real series of his biographical transactions, although not reconcilable with some unchronological fables concerning him. Magh- lacha, the place of our saint's birth, was most probably situated in the present Clonderlach, or Clonderalaw barony, which lies to the east of Moyarta, according to Dr. Lanigan. This writer thinks, there is an affinity between the names Magh-lacha and Clonderlach. ^^ St. Senan Avas thus a native ot Corco-baschind, a district in the western part of Thomond. ^^ It would
''
55 The author of the Second Life adds,
Prose Life states, after relating this legend, that the very tree alluded to was to be seen, in his day. See the Metrical Life, chap, iii. , and the Prose Life, chap. vi.
59 gee his calculations in the "Ecclesias- tical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap; ix. , sect, iv. , p. 445.
'"= He tells that in one Irish Manu- us,
script, St. Senan was to be born after ye
or 120 and in another, after •piceA'o, years,
-pe '-p pceAt), or 26 years, which must be his meaning. According to Colgan's calcu- lation, he thinks, that the birth of St. Senan should be referred to 26 years, or at least, not after 40 years, from the time St. Patrick uttered the prediction. See "Trias Thau-
maturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. ,
Druidffi enina in magna erant veneratione apud hanc nationem. " This shows, that the number of those, who had here embraced the Christian faith, could not have been in a majority ; or, that many, who had been baptized by St. Patrick, were not then living, had
in various in- stances, had already lapsed into Paganism.
57 We are told, by a distinguished Clare- man, that Magh-lacha is "the name of a townland, in which are a lake and an old church, both called after St. Senan. It lies four miles N. E. of Kilrush, county Clare. "
emigrated, or, perhaps,
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
5^ See
niae," viii. Martii. Vita Secunda S. Senani, cap. v. , p. 526.
Colgan's
This note is written, before the initials of
" *'
his name, by Eugene Curry, in the Heath Extracts," vol. ii. , p. 153,
5* A miraculous event is said to have ac- companied the birth of St. Senan ; as according to both Lives of our saint, some dry wood, on which Comgella placed her hand, was afterwards known to bloom, and to send forth leaves. The author of the
cap. xlvi. , p. 158, and n. 78, p. 185.
Dr. Lanigan is wrong in this conjee- ture, for according to Mr. O'Donovan's
Ancient Map of Clare, preserved among the Records of the Irish Ordnance Survey
Office, in the Royal Irish Academy, Magh- lacha was situated, not in the barony of
Clonderalaw, but within the parish of Kil- rush, iii the barony of Moyarta. It however
2i8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 8.
appear, from the Metrical Life of our saint, that a church had been built in the neighbourhood, at the time of his birth. To this church he was brought, and here he was washed in the waters of regeneration, from the stain of original sin, having been baptized, in the name of the Most Holy Trinity. ^3
As our saint advanced in years, he grew in grace and faith ; and, his
knowledge appeared to partake somewhat of Divine inspiration. His absti- nence was of a remarkable character, even in his youth ; and, the Giver of all good lavished on him those happy dispositions of soul, which led him to theperfectpracticeofallvirtues. Oneday,whilstaccompanyinghismother on a journey, he observed her gathering some berries from the bushes. These she was about to taste, when he gently reproved her, with an admoni- tion, that refection had its own place and time. ^* The parents of our saint had two different houses, and not far distant, at a place, called Tracht- termuinn. At one time, the family of Senan, having resolved on moving from one of those residences to the other, they required our holy youth, to pre- pare the house, in which they were about to live, by placing its furniture and utensils, in their exact places. But, the boy neglected those injunctions, whileengagedinaworkofcharity,towardsonewholivednear; and,forthis neglect, Senan was reproved by his mother. However, he told her to have trust in the Lord ; promising that his negligence, in a short time, should be repaired, through Divine grace. No sooner had he spoken, than the house- hold utensils and other requisites were borne to their places, in a miraculous
manner, and were there deposited. On seeing this, his mother, and some persons, who were present, began to feel admiration and reverence towards a child, so highly favoured by Heaven. ^s We are told, when our saint, at another time, accompanied his mother and family to a certain village, in which they wished to remain ; the inhabitants of this place drove them out, with injuries and insults, which proved a cause of great grief to Senan's mother. The boy endeavoured to afford her consolation, by saying, that God was the avenger of all wrongs, causelessly inflicted on those, who were His servants. His observations appear to have been remarkably verified, in the present instance ; for, a visitation of Divine vengeance was afterwards poured down upon that place. A great plague carried off, not only the cattle of its inhabitants, but even the owners of this stock. All other possessions, in their village, likewise disappeared, and without leaving behind a single trace. It is related, that the village had been swallowed up,^^ with all its in-
bordered
on the western limits of
^* See " Acta Sanctonim Hiber- Colgan's
nise," viii. Martii, p. 527. Secunda Vita S. . Senani, cap. vi. These particulars are more diffusely related, in Vita Metrica S. Senani, cap. iii. , p. 513, As, however, there is an omission of
closely Clonderalaw.
^* " See Dr. Lanigan's
Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix.
