We read, in the
Martyrology
of Donegal,^ that Ronan, son of Fergus, had veneration paid him, at this date.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
' Our annals relate, likewise, that on the 6th of April, the holy Cathub,3 son of Fearghus,AbbotofAchadh-cinn,dieda.
d.
554* and,weareledtobelieve, he has been confounded with the present St.
Cathald,' or Cathlad,* who
otherkindof
tury, on the 8th of April, a. d. 704, according to the Annals of Ulster, and of the Four Masters. '' According to the Martyrology of Donegal," St. Cennfaelad, Abbot of Bennchair, was venerated on this day. In an Irish Calendar, preserved at the Royal Irish Academy, the same statement is made, but the year given, a. d. 674,^3 seems to be assigned for the date of his death. This feast is in the Calendar, compiled by Rev. William Reeves. ''* We find him recorded, in the Scottish Kalendar of Drummond,'^ as a holy confessor, at this date, assigned for his departure to Christ. The life of a true saint should not only be aglow with promise, like the bright mornings of Summer ;
every
slavery.
died,
in the
early part
ofthe cen- eighth
' See his Life, at the loth of May.
' In Vita S. Comgalli, cap. xiii.
9 The Book of Armagh relates: "Com-
gallus constituit magnum monasterum quod
Tocatur Beanchor— inregionequaediciturAlti-
tudo Ultorum. " Fleming's "Collectinea
preserved, in the Royal Irish Academy.
»• See " Ecclesiastical Antiquities of
Down, Connor, and Dromore," Appendix LL, p. 377.
''Thus at (vi. Idus) "In Hibemia Sanctus Confessor Cennfael ad Christum migravit. " —Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 10.
Article ii. — Edited by Rev. D. Kelly,
p. xx. See, also, annotation to the Mar-
tyrology of Donegal, 'IntheFranciscancopy,wefind,C&chubi
e^pi.
^ See an account of him, at the date men-
Sacra," p. 305, col. 2. "" "
See The Martyrology of Donegal," by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 98, 99.
" See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 306, 307, and n. (y. ) Ibid.
"
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. °°' 99-
'' The entry rttns CAetinf^oUaT) <lbb tioned.
t)e4nnea^ eP -o' 674. See, the copy in the Common Place Book F, p. 36, which for- merly belonged to the Ordnance Survey Office, in the Phoenix Park, but which is now
< See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 190, 191.
5 So is he named, in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, lib. ii. , cap. iii.
{^Sixth
8o LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 8.
seems to have succeeded St. Fortchern,? in the See of Trim,^ probably some
tune, about the close of the fifth or the beginning of the sixth century. He
is called a Pilgrim, in the Acts of St. Patrick. * Now, Colgan conjectures,
that he may have been identical with St. Cathub, venerated on the 6th of
April—although through mistake the 8th is printed—and who died a. d. 554. "° Accordingly, under the he—ad of Trim, Archdall states," that on the 8th of
April—an error in Colgan died the holy Cathald, Cathlad, or Cathub, at A. D. 554. Without sufticient examination of liis identity, in like manner, Rev.
Anthony Cogan has Cathlad, or Cathub, of Trim, who departed this life, a. d. 554. " Itisbynomeanscertain,thathisplacewasinTrim. Thenameof
the present holy prelate is to be found, also, in the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman. 'J The Bollandists ' record the festival of Cathubius Episcopus, at the 8th of April.
Article III. —St. Aedhan, Mac Ua Duibhne. The published
'
has a record, at the 8th of April, regarding a festi- val to Aedan Mac h. Suibne. Marianus O'Gorman enters a St. Aidan, at this day. Colgan thinks, he must be identical with aScribe orChronographer of Dur- row,=' in the King's County, and whose death is recorded, in the Annals of the Four Masters, 3 under a. d. 827. At another reference, where Colgan enumerates
various saints, who bore the name of Aidan, in his Appendix to the Acts of St. Maidoc,* also called Aidan, or Aedan, he introduces the present holy man, known as Aidanusfilius Hua-Duibhna. s The Bollandists * have entered his feast, at the 8th of April, as Aidanus filius Hua-Dubnei. Thus, uncer-
tainty prevails regarding him. Aedhan, Mac Ua Duibhne, was venerated, on this day, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal. ?
Article IV. —St. Falbens, or St. Failbhe, of Erdam. In the
Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 8th of April, the name is entered, Failbhe Erdaim. In the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman, there is a record of
his feast, as having been celebrated, on this day. When treating about St.
'Thus he is called by Jocelyn, who states, CAchiib ep,, Mar. , Mart. Taml. "Cathub, that he was a Briton, by race. Colgan, in a bishop, Marianus Gorman, and Mart, of
Martyrology of Tallagh
note, makes a passing observation, that he does not find such a name, in our Calendars ; but, there isaCathfad, orCathbath, at the ist of July, and at the 1 6th of September. As this name is not found, among the saints
Tanlacht. "
'* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Aprilis viii. Among the pretermitted saints,
restin" at Trim, Colgan says, he may have p. xx. In the Franciscan copy, we have
returned to Britain.
^ His feast belongs to the 1 7th of February,
and to the nth of October.
* See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," i. , ii. , p. 507.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. , II, pp. no, III ; Septima Vita S. Patricii, pp. 442,443.
lib. ii. , cap. iii. , p. 129.
9 See his Life, at the 17th of March,
chap. X.
'" See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xvii.
SextaVita S. Patricii, cap. lii. , p. 76, andn.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aptilis Februarii, De S. Lomano Episcopo Athtru- viii. Among the pretermitted festivals, p.
mensi, cap. iv. , and n. 14, pp. 362, 363. "See "MonasticonHibernicum,"p. 575. " See " Diocese of Meath, Ancient and
Modern," vol. i. , cliap. vi. , p. 47.
'3 According to Dr. Todd, in the Donegal
740.
? Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
98, 99.
Article iv. —« Edited byRev. Dr. Kelly.
In the Franciscan copy, we read -p^iilbe Martyrology, a more recent hand adds, eApcAi.
p. 740. —' Article hi.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
^XexjAni IUac u Quibne. ^"
See Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap- pendix ad Acta S. Columbce, cap. iv. , sect.
* See his Life, at the of 31st
January.
s See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xxxi.
Januarii, cap. i. , p. 221.
''
April 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 8i
Failbe, or Falve,' Abbot of lona, Colgan s refers to Falveus, Abbas Erdamen- sis, who died in the year 766, and, who was venerated, as he states, at the 8th
of February, whereas his meaning apparently was, at the 8th of April. In the Annals of the Four Masters,* we have the death of Failbhe Erdaimh entered, at the year 766. There is no identification of his place. The Bollandists,5 with a misprint of date, notice Falbeus Erdamensis, at the 8th of April. The festival, in honour of Failbhe,* was celebrated, on this day, as we find a re- cord, in the Martyrology of Donegal. ?
Article V. —St. Ronan, son of Fergus. He is mentioned, as Ronan Mac Fergus, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 8th of April, with the repetitionofaword,asRonanMacmicFergusa. TheBollandists,"quoting the same authority, seem erroneously to call him Conanus filius Fergussii, a C having been substituted for R, in the first letter of his name.
We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ that Ronan, son of Fergus, had veneration paid him, at this date.
Article VI. —St. Januarius, Martyr. The holy Martyr Januarius ""
is noticed, in the Feilire of St . (Engus, as having been venerated in Ire- land. He suffered for the faith in Africa, with other companions, thus named,
in the ancient Martyrology of St. Jerome, viz. : Timorius, Januarius, Maca- rius, Connexus, Maxima, and Concessa. With several variations of names and entries, other ancient Calendars record this feast. The BoUandists treat of those African Martyrs, at the 8th of April,' yet without being able to throw much light on their history.
Article VII. —St. Tigernach, or Tighernan, of Aired, now
Errew, of Loch Conn, County of Mayo. On the 8th of April, in the
Martyrology of Tallagh,' we find the festival of Tigernach, Airidh. The
BoUandists also repeat this insertion, at the same date. ' His place is now
known, as Errew, on Lough Conn, in the parish of Crossmolina. s and in the
barony of Tirawley> The present saint must have flourished, towards the latter end of the fifth century, taking his pedigree, as given in the Book of
Lecan,5 for a basis of calculation. There, he is said to have been son of
'
His feast occurs, at the 10th of March.
5 SeeCoIgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- iriae,"x. Mariii, De S. Failbeo sive Falveo
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
'
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. , De Sanctis Martyri- bus, Timorio, Januario, Macario, Connexo, Maxima, et Concessa, Carthagine et alibi in
Abbate Hiensi, p. 576, and n. 4.
*
See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, voL L, pp. 368, 369.
}
more recent hand adds ©lATJAiTh, Mar. , Ci5ei\n4ch Ainit).
5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tonnis i. , Aprilis viii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 740. ' In a note, Dr. Todd here " The
says,
Africa, p. 745. — ARTICLE VII.
'
Rev. Dr. Editedby Kelly,
that Mariantis Gorman calls him "Failbhe of Erdamh," but epoAirfi is there added as a gloss. "
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
' Thus " de Aredh. " See : Tigemacus
"Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. Among the |)retermitted feasts, p. 740,
^ This very extensive parish is described, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
Sheets
for the County of Mayo," 27, 28, 29,
30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 45, 46, 47, 48, 58, 59. The townland of Errew is on sheets 38, 47.
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," Vol. iii. , n. (d) p. 3. : At fol. 46.
meaning
98, 99. — Article v.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. XX. In the Franciscan copy, it is non^ni
tn<jc ITepgnA.
'See "ActaSanctorum,"tomusi. , Aprilis
viii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 740.
'
98, 99. — Article vi.
xx. In the Franciscan we find p. copy,
r
82 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April's.
Ninnidh, son to Cairpri, son of Amhalgaidh, son to Fiachra, son of Eochaidh, monarch of Ireland. * He descended from the race of CoUa Uais, monarch
ofErinn,accordingtotheO'Clerys'Calendar. ' Thecelebratedgenealogist, Duald or Dubhaltach Mac Firbisigh, of Lecan, traces his descent from GioUa Phadraig, by whom St. Tighearnan of Errew was fostered. ^ On a point of Errew townland, stretching into Loch Conn, stood the ancient church of St.
On its site are the ruins of a modern Abbey of considerable extent, but now nearly decayed. Formerly, it was dedicated to the same saint. '° That extensive and romantic sheet of water, known as Lough Conn," lends an inexpressible charm to the neighbourhood. A holy well, called Tobar
Tighearnan. 9
Lough Conn, County of Mayo.
Tigheman, and dedicated to the patron, is situated to the south of Killeen townland. " A relic, known as Mias Tighearnain, or " St. Tighearnain's Dish," had been preserved for ages, in the family of O'Flynn, who are said to have been herenachs, or hereditary warders, of Errew. That object was held in the
' See O'Donovan's " John
A
hermit dwelt, who many a year had trod
Genealogies, Tribes,andCustomsofHy-Fiachrach,"n. (a),
p. 12.
"
'See MartyrologyofDonegal,"byRev.
Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 98, 99.
*
See John O'Donovan's "Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," pp. ioi to 103.
' To this primitive saint and to his place ofresidencemightprobablybeappliedthe descripticm, given by the following lines of a
—
In lonely cottage walled with mossy sod,
-Close by a little spring's perpetual rill.
With sacred solitude that pine-clad hill.
And loved with holy images to fill
distinguished Irish poetess
Mares, drawn on tlie wood, by Wiliiam F. Wakeraan, and it was engraved, by Mrs.
"
:
was Millard.
— His soul enrapt. " Mrs. Henry Tighe's
stanza xxxv.
Psyche," Canto iii. ,
"> The Barretts are said to have erected it.
"Theaccompanyingillustration, taken
from a Frederick H. Photograph, by
"
It is marked, on the "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Mayo," Sheet 38.
April 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 83
highest veneration, as a relic of the family's patron saint. '' This day is recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal,'* a festival in honour of Tighernan, of Air^d, at Loch Con. In the Annals of the Four Masters, '5 at the year 1413, the church of Airech-Locha-Con was profaned, by Robert Mac Wattin, for therehetookHenryBarrettaprisoner,andcarriedhimthencebyforce. But, the violator of this sanctuary passed not a night, in which St. Tighearnan of
Airech, the patron, did not appear to him, in a vision, and demand the pri- soner. This request of the saint was at length complied with, and Robert
Mac Wattin granted a quarter of land to Tighearnan Airech, for ever, as an eric for the violation of its sanctuary.
Article VIII. — Reputed Festival of St. Adamnan, Abbot of Iona,
Scotland. \Sei'aith and Eighth Cmturiesi\ According to Bucelin, at this daywascelebratedtheFeastofSt. Adamnan. ' HewasAbbotofIona,but the Irish and English Calendars have his festival, at the 23rd September. ' The Bollandists have a notice of him, at this date ;3 but, they seem to con- found, St. Adamnan, Abbot of Coldin^ham,* who has a feast on the 31st of January, as, also, on the 2nd of September, with St. Adamnan, Abbot of Iona, altogether a distinct personage.
Article IX. —Reputed Festival of St. Celestine I. , Pope and Confessor. \_Fourth and Eifth Centuries. \ The commemoration of this holy Pontiff has been assigned, to the 8th of April, by the Greeks, while it is con-
' tained,also,invariousFastioftheLatins,astheBollandists remark,atthis
date. Already have we given his Acts, at the 6th of April.
Article X. —Reputed Festival of St. Dima, or Dioma, Monk of Iona, and First Missionary Bishop among the Mercians and Mid- land Angles. \Seventh Century^ At the 22nd of February, some notices of this holy disciple of St. Columkille, have been given; and, to these, the reader is referred. Again, as we are informed, Camerarius has a feast for this St. Dima, a monk from Iona, and afterwards a bishop in England, at the 8th of April.
" Becoming very poor, daring a hard it not the only similar, relic of Tirawley,
summer, when provisions were exceedingly dear, the owners were induL-ed to sell it to
Mr. Knox, of Rappa Castle, and there it
preserved by the Knox family. See John O'Donovan's "Genealogies, Tribes and
Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," n. (a), p. 12, and
afterwards remained. It appears, however, n. (i), pp. 239, 240.
that lent it to the who '* Edited Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp.
gentlem. in peasantry, by were accustomed to swear upon it, at limes ; 98, 99,
but, the Rev. Ur. Lyons got temporary pos- session of it, on such an occasion. Aiier-
wards, he published a curious description of it, with an account of the superstitious osage to which the people converted the relic. He restored it to R. ippa Castle, on condition it should never again be lent to the
peasantry, for any superstitious purposes.
This enijagement was undertaken, and
honourably fulfilled, by the proprietor of Rappa Castle, who set a high value on this
' See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. iv. , pp. 812, 813, and—nn. (q, r, s). Ibid,
Mias Tigheamain, as
the primitive Irish Church.
a monument of It is the chief,
mitted saints, —740. p.
being
Article viu. of September.
'
See his Life, at the 23rd
' The Bollandists state, incorrectly, at the 2nd September.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 741,
* See his Life—, at the 31st ofJanuary, '
Article Ix. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. Among the preter-
'
A&ticlk xi. Thus he is entered
: iix
^
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 9.
Article XI. —Reputed Festival of the Elevation of the Priest Chroninus,orChronanus. QuotingtheauthorityofHectorBoetiusand of Florarius, Dempster speaks of the Elevation of Chroninus ; and, again, he is called Chronanus, at the 8th of April. The Bollandists,' who have a double entry, at this date, are of opinion, that he must be the Chromanus, Presbyter, alluded to by Camerarius, at May 15th, in his Scottish Calendar ; while they refer us, to what had been stated, in relation to a Chronanus Monachus," found among the pretermitted saints, at the 8th of March. 3
^iutl) Bap of april.
ARTICLE I. —ST. WALDETRUDE, WALTRUDE, OR VAUTRUDE, PATRONESS OF MONS, AND OF HAYNAULT, BELGIUM.
[SEVENTH CENTURY. ]
holy woman has been held in great veneration, not alone in the
Colgan appears to have collected her Acts, for publication, at the same date,' and even he promised to treat about her very fully ;' however, he did not
live to publish the Life of St. Waldetrude, whom he regards as deserving a place among our Irish Saints,^ although it is admitted, she was French, or Gallic Belgian, by birth and descent. The Bollandists have an account of
the pious princess,'* in a Life,5 taken from ancient Manuscripts. An old bio- graphyofthisholywomanhasbeen"publishedbyFatherMabillon. * The Fourth Volume of " Acta Sanctorum Belgii," has inserted the Acts ' of St.
city Mons, THIS of
of which she is
Low Countries, where her festival is celebrated, on the 9th day of April.
Waldetrude,^ Hannonia, at the 9th of April. s
Notices of this holy woman
are
"
Rev. Alban 'o Butler,
by
the Petits
and Rev. by
given by —Chronanipresbyteri
Bollandistes,"
" Forbes'
elevatio. B. T.
otherkindof
tury, on the 8th of April, a. d. 704, according to the Annals of Ulster, and of the Four Masters. '' According to the Martyrology of Donegal," St. Cennfaelad, Abbot of Bennchair, was venerated on this day. In an Irish Calendar, preserved at the Royal Irish Academy, the same statement is made, but the year given, a. d. 674,^3 seems to be assigned for the date of his death. This feast is in the Calendar, compiled by Rev. William Reeves. ''* We find him recorded, in the Scottish Kalendar of Drummond,'^ as a holy confessor, at this date, assigned for his departure to Christ. The life of a true saint should not only be aglow with promise, like the bright mornings of Summer ;
every
slavery.
died,
in the
early part
ofthe cen- eighth
' See his Life, at the loth of May.
' In Vita S. Comgalli, cap. xiii.
9 The Book of Armagh relates: "Com-
gallus constituit magnum monasterum quod
Tocatur Beanchor— inregionequaediciturAlti-
tudo Ultorum. " Fleming's "Collectinea
preserved, in the Royal Irish Academy.
»• See " Ecclesiastical Antiquities of
Down, Connor, and Dromore," Appendix LL, p. 377.
''Thus at (vi. Idus) "In Hibemia Sanctus Confessor Cennfael ad Christum migravit. " —Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 10.
Article ii. — Edited by Rev. D. Kelly,
p. xx. See, also, annotation to the Mar-
tyrology of Donegal, 'IntheFranciscancopy,wefind,C&chubi
e^pi.
^ See an account of him, at the date men-
Sacra," p. 305, col. 2. "" "
See The Martyrology of Donegal," by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 98, 99.
" See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 306, 307, and n. (y. ) Ibid.
"
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. °°' 99-
'' The entry rttns CAetinf^oUaT) <lbb tioned.
t)e4nnea^ eP -o' 674. See, the copy in the Common Place Book F, p. 36, which for- merly belonged to the Ordnance Survey Office, in the Phoenix Park, but which is now
< See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 190, 191.
5 So is he named, in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, lib. ii. , cap. iii.
{^Sixth
8o LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 8.
seems to have succeeded St. Fortchern,? in the See of Trim,^ probably some
tune, about the close of the fifth or the beginning of the sixth century. He
is called a Pilgrim, in the Acts of St. Patrick. * Now, Colgan conjectures,
that he may have been identical with St. Cathub, venerated on the 6th of
April—although through mistake the 8th is printed—and who died a. d. 554. "° Accordingly, under the he—ad of Trim, Archdall states," that on the 8th of
April—an error in Colgan died the holy Cathald, Cathlad, or Cathub, at A. D. 554. Without sufticient examination of liis identity, in like manner, Rev.
Anthony Cogan has Cathlad, or Cathub, of Trim, who departed this life, a. d. 554. " Itisbynomeanscertain,thathisplacewasinTrim. Thenameof
the present holy prelate is to be found, also, in the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman. 'J The Bollandists ' record the festival of Cathubius Episcopus, at the 8th of April.
Article III. —St. Aedhan, Mac Ua Duibhne. The published
'
has a record, at the 8th of April, regarding a festi- val to Aedan Mac h. Suibne. Marianus O'Gorman enters a St. Aidan, at this day. Colgan thinks, he must be identical with aScribe orChronographer of Dur- row,=' in the King's County, and whose death is recorded, in the Annals of the Four Masters, 3 under a. d. 827. At another reference, where Colgan enumerates
various saints, who bore the name of Aidan, in his Appendix to the Acts of St. Maidoc,* also called Aidan, or Aedan, he introduces the present holy man, known as Aidanusfilius Hua-Duibhna. s The Bollandists * have entered his feast, at the 8th of April, as Aidanus filius Hua-Dubnei. Thus, uncer-
tainty prevails regarding him. Aedhan, Mac Ua Duibhne, was venerated, on this day, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal. ?
Article IV. —St. Falbens, or St. Failbhe, of Erdam. In the
Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 8th of April, the name is entered, Failbhe Erdaim. In the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman, there is a record of
his feast, as having been celebrated, on this day. When treating about St.
'Thus he is called by Jocelyn, who states, CAchiib ep,, Mar. , Mart. Taml. "Cathub, that he was a Briton, by race. Colgan, in a bishop, Marianus Gorman, and Mart, of
Martyrology of Tallagh
note, makes a passing observation, that he does not find such a name, in our Calendars ; but, there isaCathfad, orCathbath, at the ist of July, and at the 1 6th of September. As this name is not found, among the saints
Tanlacht. "
'* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. ,
Aprilis viii. Among the pretermitted saints,
restin" at Trim, Colgan says, he may have p. xx. In the Franciscan copy, we have
returned to Britain.
^ His feast belongs to the 1 7th of February,
and to the nth of October.
* See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," i. , ii. , p. 507.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. , II, pp. no, III ; Septima Vita S. Patricii, pp. 442,443.
lib. ii. , cap. iii. , p. 129.
9 See his Life, at the 17th of March,
chap. X.
'" See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xvii.
SextaVita S. Patricii, cap. lii. , p. 76, andn.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aptilis Februarii, De S. Lomano Episcopo Athtru- viii. Among the pretermitted festivals, p.
mensi, cap. iv. , and n. 14, pp. 362, 363. "See "MonasticonHibernicum,"p. 575. " See " Diocese of Meath, Ancient and
Modern," vol. i. , cliap. vi. , p. 47.
'3 According to Dr. Todd, in the Donegal
740.
? Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
98, 99.
Article iv. —« Edited byRev. Dr. Kelly.
In the Franciscan copy, we read -p^iilbe Martyrology, a more recent hand adds, eApcAi.
p. 740. —' Article hi.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
^XexjAni IUac u Quibne. ^"
See Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap- pendix ad Acta S. Columbce, cap. iv. , sect.
* See his Life, at the of 31st
January.
s See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xxxi.
Januarii, cap. i. , p. 221.
''
April 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 8i
Failbe, or Falve,' Abbot of lona, Colgan s refers to Falveus, Abbas Erdamen- sis, who died in the year 766, and, who was venerated, as he states, at the 8th
of February, whereas his meaning apparently was, at the 8th of April. In the Annals of the Four Masters,* we have the death of Failbhe Erdaimh entered, at the year 766. There is no identification of his place. The Bollandists,5 with a misprint of date, notice Falbeus Erdamensis, at the 8th of April. The festival, in honour of Failbhe,* was celebrated, on this day, as we find a re- cord, in the Martyrology of Donegal. ?
Article V. —St. Ronan, son of Fergus. He is mentioned, as Ronan Mac Fergus, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 8th of April, with the repetitionofaword,asRonanMacmicFergusa. TheBollandists,"quoting the same authority, seem erroneously to call him Conanus filius Fergussii, a C having been substituted for R, in the first letter of his name.
We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ that Ronan, son of Fergus, had veneration paid him, at this date.
Article VI. —St. Januarius, Martyr. The holy Martyr Januarius ""
is noticed, in the Feilire of St . (Engus, as having been venerated in Ire- land. He suffered for the faith in Africa, with other companions, thus named,
in the ancient Martyrology of St. Jerome, viz. : Timorius, Januarius, Maca- rius, Connexus, Maxima, and Concessa. With several variations of names and entries, other ancient Calendars record this feast. The BoUandists treat of those African Martyrs, at the 8th of April,' yet without being able to throw much light on their history.
Article VII. —St. Tigernach, or Tighernan, of Aired, now
Errew, of Loch Conn, County of Mayo. On the 8th of April, in the
Martyrology of Tallagh,' we find the festival of Tigernach, Airidh. The
BoUandists also repeat this insertion, at the same date. ' His place is now
known, as Errew, on Lough Conn, in the parish of Crossmolina. s and in the
barony of Tirawley> The present saint must have flourished, towards the latter end of the fifth century, taking his pedigree, as given in the Book of
Lecan,5 for a basis of calculation. There, he is said to have been son of
'
His feast occurs, at the 10th of March.
5 SeeCoIgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- iriae,"x. Mariii, De S. Failbeo sive Falveo
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
'
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. , De Sanctis Martyri- bus, Timorio, Januario, Macario, Connexo, Maxima, et Concessa, Carthagine et alibi in
Abbate Hiensi, p. 576, and n. 4.
*
See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, voL L, pp. 368, 369.
}
more recent hand adds ©lATJAiTh, Mar. , Ci5ei\n4ch Ainit).
5 See "Acta Sanctorum," tonnis i. , Aprilis viii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 740. ' In a note, Dr. Todd here " The
says,
Africa, p. 745. — ARTICLE VII.
'
Rev. Dr. Editedby Kelly,
that Mariantis Gorman calls him "Failbhe of Erdamh," but epoAirfi is there added as a gloss. "
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
' Thus " de Aredh. " See : Tigemacus
"Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. Among the |)retermitted feasts, p. 740,
^ This very extensive parish is described, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
Sheets
for the County of Mayo," 27, 28, 29,
30, 36, 37, 38, 39, 45, 46, 47, 48, 58, 59. The townland of Errew is on sheets 38, 47.
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," Vol. iii. , n. (d) p. 3. : At fol. 46.
meaning
98, 99. — Article v.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. XX. In the Franciscan copy, it is non^ni
tn<jc ITepgnA.
'See "ActaSanctorum,"tomusi. , Aprilis
viii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 740.
'
98, 99. — Article vi.
xx. In the Franciscan we find p. copy,
r
82 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[April's.
Ninnidh, son to Cairpri, son of Amhalgaidh, son to Fiachra, son of Eochaidh, monarch of Ireland. * He descended from the race of CoUa Uais, monarch
ofErinn,accordingtotheO'Clerys'Calendar. ' Thecelebratedgenealogist, Duald or Dubhaltach Mac Firbisigh, of Lecan, traces his descent from GioUa Phadraig, by whom St. Tighearnan of Errew was fostered. ^ On a point of Errew townland, stretching into Loch Conn, stood the ancient church of St.
On its site are the ruins of a modern Abbey of considerable extent, but now nearly decayed. Formerly, it was dedicated to the same saint. '° That extensive and romantic sheet of water, known as Lough Conn," lends an inexpressible charm to the neighbourhood. A holy well, called Tobar
Tighearnan. 9
Lough Conn, County of Mayo.
Tigheman, and dedicated to the patron, is situated to the south of Killeen townland. " A relic, known as Mias Tighearnain, or " St. Tighearnain's Dish," had been preserved for ages, in the family of O'Flynn, who are said to have been herenachs, or hereditary warders, of Errew. That object was held in the
' See O'Donovan's " John
A
hermit dwelt, who many a year had trod
Genealogies, Tribes,andCustomsofHy-Fiachrach,"n. (a),
p. 12.
"
'See MartyrologyofDonegal,"byRev.
Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 98, 99.
*
See John O'Donovan's "Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," pp. ioi to 103.
' To this primitive saint and to his place ofresidencemightprobablybeappliedthe descripticm, given by the following lines of a
—
In lonely cottage walled with mossy sod,
-Close by a little spring's perpetual rill.
With sacred solitude that pine-clad hill.
And loved with holy images to fill
distinguished Irish poetess
Mares, drawn on tlie wood, by Wiliiam F. Wakeraan, and it was engraved, by Mrs.
"
:
was Millard.
— His soul enrapt. " Mrs. Henry Tighe's
stanza xxxv.
Psyche," Canto iii. ,
"> The Barretts are said to have erected it.
"Theaccompanyingillustration, taken
from a Frederick H. Photograph, by
"
It is marked, on the "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Mayo," Sheet 38.
April 8. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 83
highest veneration, as a relic of the family's patron saint. '' This day is recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal,'* a festival in honour of Tighernan, of Air^d, at Loch Con. In the Annals of the Four Masters, '5 at the year 1413, the church of Airech-Locha-Con was profaned, by Robert Mac Wattin, for therehetookHenryBarrettaprisoner,andcarriedhimthencebyforce. But, the violator of this sanctuary passed not a night, in which St. Tighearnan of
Airech, the patron, did not appear to him, in a vision, and demand the pri- soner. This request of the saint was at length complied with, and Robert
Mac Wattin granted a quarter of land to Tighearnan Airech, for ever, as an eric for the violation of its sanctuary.
Article VIII. — Reputed Festival of St. Adamnan, Abbot of Iona,
Scotland. \Sei'aith and Eighth Cmturiesi\ According to Bucelin, at this daywascelebratedtheFeastofSt. Adamnan. ' HewasAbbotofIona,but the Irish and English Calendars have his festival, at the 23rd September. ' The Bollandists have a notice of him, at this date ;3 but, they seem to con- found, St. Adamnan, Abbot of Coldin^ham,* who has a feast on the 31st of January, as, also, on the 2nd of September, with St. Adamnan, Abbot of Iona, altogether a distinct personage.
Article IX. —Reputed Festival of St. Celestine I. , Pope and Confessor. \_Fourth and Eifth Centuries. \ The commemoration of this holy Pontiff has been assigned, to the 8th of April, by the Greeks, while it is con-
' tained,also,invariousFastioftheLatins,astheBollandists remark,atthis
date. Already have we given his Acts, at the 6th of April.
Article X. —Reputed Festival of St. Dima, or Dioma, Monk of Iona, and First Missionary Bishop among the Mercians and Mid- land Angles. \Seventh Century^ At the 22nd of February, some notices of this holy disciple of St. Columkille, have been given; and, to these, the reader is referred. Again, as we are informed, Camerarius has a feast for this St. Dima, a monk from Iona, and afterwards a bishop in England, at the 8th of April.
" Becoming very poor, daring a hard it not the only similar, relic of Tirawley,
summer, when provisions were exceedingly dear, the owners were induL-ed to sell it to
Mr. Knox, of Rappa Castle, and there it
preserved by the Knox family. See John O'Donovan's "Genealogies, Tribes and
Customs of Hy-Fiachrach," n. (a), p. 12, and
afterwards remained. It appears, however, n. (i), pp. 239, 240.
that lent it to the who '* Edited Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp.
gentlem. in peasantry, by were accustomed to swear upon it, at limes ; 98, 99,
but, the Rev. Ur. Lyons got temporary pos- session of it, on such an occasion. Aiier-
wards, he published a curious description of it, with an account of the superstitious osage to which the people converted the relic. He restored it to R. ippa Castle, on condition it should never again be lent to the
peasantry, for any superstitious purposes.
This enijagement was undertaken, and
honourably fulfilled, by the proprietor of Rappa Castle, who set a high value on this
' See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. iv. , pp. 812, 813, and—nn. (q, r, s). Ibid,
Mias Tigheamain, as
the primitive Irish Church.
a monument of It is the chief,
mitted saints, —740. p.
being
Article viu. of September.
'
See his Life, at the 23rd
' The Bollandists state, incorrectly, at the 2nd September.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 741,
* See his Life—, at the 31st ofJanuary, '
Article Ix. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis viii. Among the preter-
'
A&ticlk xi. Thus he is entered
: iix
^
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 9.
Article XI. —Reputed Festival of the Elevation of the Priest Chroninus,orChronanus. QuotingtheauthorityofHectorBoetiusand of Florarius, Dempster speaks of the Elevation of Chroninus ; and, again, he is called Chronanus, at the 8th of April. The Bollandists,' who have a double entry, at this date, are of opinion, that he must be the Chromanus, Presbyter, alluded to by Camerarius, at May 15th, in his Scottish Calendar ; while they refer us, to what had been stated, in relation to a Chronanus Monachus," found among the pretermitted saints, at the 8th of March. 3
^iutl) Bap of april.
ARTICLE I. —ST. WALDETRUDE, WALTRUDE, OR VAUTRUDE, PATRONESS OF MONS, AND OF HAYNAULT, BELGIUM.
[SEVENTH CENTURY. ]
holy woman has been held in great veneration, not alone in the
Colgan appears to have collected her Acts, for publication, at the same date,' and even he promised to treat about her very fully ;' however, he did not
live to publish the Life of St. Waldetrude, whom he regards as deserving a place among our Irish Saints,^ although it is admitted, she was French, or Gallic Belgian, by birth and descent. The Bollandists have an account of
the pious princess,'* in a Life,5 taken from ancient Manuscripts. An old bio- graphyofthisholywomanhasbeen"publishedbyFatherMabillon. * The Fourth Volume of " Acta Sanctorum Belgii," has inserted the Acts ' of St.
city Mons, THIS of
of which she is
Low Countries, where her festival is celebrated, on the 9th day of April.
Waldetrude,^ Hannonia, at the 9th of April. s
Notices of this holy woman
are
"
Rev. Alban 'o Butler,
by
the Petits
and Rev. by
given by —Chronanipresbyteri
Bollandistes,"
" Forbes'
elevatio. B. T.
