No More Learning

venerableruins,andthemagnificentsceneryofFore. "^ Thisisfurtherin- tensified by many sacred traditions and Catholic memories, that yet linger
This opinion of his seems a very correct one,
yet Dr. Lanigan takes exception to it.
*3 In St. Fechin's a cross is said to time,
'9 See "Second Life," cap. xxxvi. , p. 137-
'° Ussher adds to this " statement, quasi
Kiriath-sepher. " See " Britannicarum Ec- have stood before the church door at this
clesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 500. " Such is the opinion of John O'Dono- van in the " Letters containing information relative to the Antiquities of the County of Westmeath, collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1837," vol. ii. , p. 4. Besides water gushing from the foot of a hill called Carraig Bhailear, there are two other fine wells at Fore, viz. , Cobe^A riA CojAine and tJubAc, ^eichin. This place seems to have been called Fore, even ante-
cedent to St. Feichin's birth.
place.
* Mr. O'Donovan gives a most interesting
and detailed description of Fore and its
"
Letters con- taining information relative to the Antiqui- ties of the County of Westmeath, collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1837," vol ii. , pp. 3 to 28. A note of Dr. Petrie referring to a window and door- way of St. Fechin's church, with two
sketches, accompanies this description.
^^ He lived contemporaneously with our
saint.
**The accompanying illustration of an
ancient gateway at Fore was drawn on the
"^
episcopal see, in former times. See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops of Meath," p. 138.
Harris supposed that it was a regular
various archaic objects, in
368 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 20.
about this former seat of monasticism.
and a
knelt, according to popular tradition. Every object, in fact, is redolent of pious reminiscences. ^^
Several ruins of churches and other antiquities are yet visible at Fore. We are told by Sir Henry Piers^s that it was anciently a town or university
faith is Ireland"ismagnifiedbyapilgrimagetoLoughLeneandFore. TheMonk's Island is here shown, and there it is said students fi:equented their classes in summer time. The holy well is still reverenced as a relic of ancient devotion. Here are numerous traces manifesting a high state of cultivation, to which St. Fechin's community reduced what had been only wild and profitless waste. The door lintel of the church at Fore is greatly admired by the tasteful antiquary. ^? One of St. Fechin's favourite places for prayer and meditation still bears the prints of his knees where he
elevated,
vivified,
patriotic
green
holy
A ruined monastery here presented a large pile of simple and unadornedmasonry. Inthebeginningofthepresentcentury,theoldchapel had three pointed windows, and it was in a tolerable state of preservation. The valley in which it was situated is a delightful place for retreat. One of the
churchyards here is covered with tombstones. Towards the east are earthen remains of what was formerly a strong fort. 3°
The old church, supposed to have been built by St. Fechin, is still in wonderful preservation. It measures 60 feet by 23 feet 9 inches. The rood- screen or choir-arch stood about 19 feet 3 inches from the east end. 3^ Dr. Petrie gives us an admirable account of the architectural features of the old church at Fore,32 with a very beautiful illustration of the door-way, which is as perfectly cyclopean in character as any monument to be seen in Greece. 33 Over this door-way is a plain architrave, containing a projecting tablet, and in its centre a plain cross sculptured in relief, appears within a circle. 34 The building of this church is thought to be referable to the first half of the
seventh century.
One day a certain antiquary, named Sellin,3s came to St. Fechin, while he
resided in the monastery at Fore. A modest and humble youth accompanied
:
him. TothelatterFechinspokeinapropheticmanner "Thisyoungman,
after a time, shall build the basilica3^ of our monastery. "37 In due course, this prediction was fulfilled. 3^ A certain cleric, called Ronan, the son of Guaire,39 had long suffered from a grievous headache, and he had consulted
of literature.
spot by George V. Du Noyer, and engraved by Mrs. Millard, Dublin, from the folio sketch preserved in the R. I. A.
sec. iii. , subs, i. , pp. 174, 175.
33 As stated to Dr. Petrie, by the eminent
them, at the days of their respective festi- " Second Life," chap, xxiii. , p. 135.
vals. 35 We have no means for ascertaining "*See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of further particulars regarding this ancient
antiquarian traveller, Mr. Edward Dodwell. 34 xhis was the object alluded to, in Dr. Petrie's opinion, when it is stated, "ante cality will be found, when treating about fores Ecclesiae, ubi crux posita est. " See
^^ As several saints [succeeded St. Fechan at Fore, further notices of this charming lo-
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , chap. xviii. , p. 431.
archaeologist,
36 This was a church of the most ancient
^ See
' ' Collectanea de Rebus
to the Irish fashion, it was most probably separated from its sur-
rounding or adjoining monastic buildings.
37 Whether this meant, that he was to be the future architect of the church, or the
future superior, does not seem very clear.
38
g^c "Second Life," chap, x. , p. 134. 39 Under this form, we cannot find the name
ofthis Ronan, among the many homonymous Ronans mentioned in our calendai-s.
Valiancy's
form, and, according
Hibemicis. " Chorographical Description of Westmeath.
3° See Sir Richard Colt Hoare's "Journal
of a Tour in Ireland," A. D. 1806, pp. 25, 26. 3' See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. ,
chap. Ixxiv. , p. 562.
3* See " Round Towers and Ancient Ec-
clesiastical Architecture of Ireland, "part, ii. ,
The eye is charmed, the soul is
love for the "
hills of
January 20. ] LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS. 369
several of the most eminent physicians*" in Ireland, without hope of finding aremedy. Hethenresolvedtotravel,andhevisitedvariouscountries,with no better result. At last, coming to a certain part of Britain, he found a holy anchojet, who advised him to seek the valley of Fore, in the middle of Ireland. Ronan obeyed, and, through the prayers and blessing of St. Fechin, his health was completely restored, so that he returned rejoicing to his own monastery. *'
Several holy persons are mentioned as united in friendship with Fechin.
Among these was Coeman,*^—it is said Coemain Breac,*^—who was Abbot of
Roseach,** in Meath, and who died a. d. 614. 4s Again, the holy virgin Emania was benefited through the miraculous powers of our saint. *^ Also, a
pantry-keeper or cook, named Pastol, or Pastolius,*? belonging to the saint's monastery, seems to have been cognizant of Fechin's miraculous powers. *^ This person was remarkable for his simplicity of life and character. St. Ronan,*9 Abbot of Drumshallon,5° in the county of Louth, lived in friendship with our saint. St. Ultan, of Ardbraccan,si and St. Fintan Munnu,52 were contemporaries and intimates. The Abbot of Ardslaine^s was particularly intimatewithoursaint,andhewasnamedMochua. s4 Itisthoughthemust havebeenidenticalwithCronan,sonofSilni; whileCronanandMochuaare
^Tiom the most remote times the sci-
ence of medicine was cultivated in Ireland.
At the present day, various old and
learned treatises on the healing art are pre-
served among our Irish manuscripts. It is
much to be regretted, that some or all of
these have not hitherto been published, and
collated with the writings of Galen and Life," p. 140. However, it is not always
Hippocrates, as also'with the researches of modem medical practitioners. Old as their
nostrums undoubtedly are, yet they may contain some valuable prescriptions. In a country so renowned as Ireland for the eminence of her physicians and for medical teaching in her colleges, a thoroughly com- petent and scientific editor could not be wanting, with the aid of an Irish scholar and translator, to resolve and compare such texts for publication. At least, they should serve to illustrate the history of medicine and surgery in our country.
4' " Second Life," chap, xi. , p. 134.
*" At the request of this holy man. St.
Fechin wrought a miracle. See "First
Life," chap, xv. , p. 132.
« His feast occurs at the 14th of Septem-
ber.
<* There is a parish of Russagh, in the
county of Westmeath, containing a burial- ground and a ruined church. It is described
'*
Letters con- taining information relative to the Antiqui- ties of the County of Westmeath, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey
in 1837," vol. i. , pp. 209, 210.
45 According to Ussher's calculation, A. D.
"
Index Chronologicus. " See Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," p. 537. Archdall calls Roseach, Rosse. He places it at about a mile to the south- east of Tara. See "Monasticon Hibemi-
necessary to search the calendar for names occurring in the acts of Irish saints.
4* See "The First Life," chap, xvii. , p.
132. "The Second Life," chap, xxxi. , p.
136.
49 See notices of him at the i8th of No-
vember. He died of the great pestilence,
A. D. 664.
5° This parish is in the barony of Ferrard,
''
Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Louth. " Sheets 19, 21, 22. The townlaud
of this name is on Sheet 21.
5' See his acts at the 4th of September.
He died A. D. 656. 5^Seehislifeatthe21stofOctober. He
died A. D. 634.
53 Dr. Lanigan Anglicizes this word " the height of Slane,"and he believes, it was at or near Slane, in the county of Meath. The parish of Slane, in the barony of Upper Slane, is marked on the " Ordnance Survev Townland Maps for the County of Meath. " Sheets 12, 13, 18, 19. The townland so called is marked on Sheet 19.
5^ Colgan was not able to give any special account regarding this St. Mochua of Ard- slaine. He thinks, however, this must either have been the St. Mochua, venerated on the 25th of January, or perhaps a Mochua, son of Ust or Justus, who died A. D. 668.
See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemioe," xx. Ja- nuarii, n. 37, p. 142.
by John O'Donovan, in the
615. See
"
Vol. I. 2B
cum,"p. 568.
4* See " Second Life," chap, xli. , p. 138.
Her festival does not appear to be known.
47 Not finding such an Irish or a Latin
name among our saints, Colgan suggests that Paschalis, P—aschasius, or Pastor might be the reading. Note 16 to " The First
and it is represented on the
370 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 20.
noticed as corresponding names,ss Now, a certain Cronan,56 son of Silni, is reckoned among the illustrious men who died in 665. 57 Moreover, the person called Mochua of Ardslaine, departed about the very same time with Fechin, and in that identical year. Nor does the name Mochua appear in the list given in our Irish annals, regarding those distinguished victims who died during the pestilence,s^
Fechin seems to have founded his monastery at Fore, antecedent to the
year 639. For it is related, how Domnald II. ,59 King of Ireland,^ marched with a great army into that country of the southern or Meath Hy-Nialls. His expedition was undertaken for the avowed purpose of measuring and of more equitably apportioning the boundaries of their principality,^^ The people of that territory applied for protection to our saint. He then happened to be at a place called Tibrada. Here, perhaps, he had some small religious es- tablishment. The southern or Median O'Neills had collected an army, at a place called Druimna, but it was numerically inferior to the forces of Domnald. St. Fechin is there said to have supplied the wants of the smaller army in a miraculous manner. Its leaders went with the holy abbot to a place called Rath-Dromnua,^2 and here a fortified camp was constructed. There, too, the saint fasted and prayed, while he repeatedly went as a mediator to visit
King Domnald. For a long time, he could obtain no terms. Certain mira-
culous manifestations, however, changed the purpose of this monarch, so that he was induced to desist from any further proceeding against the Southern Nialls. Between them and the king, the saint procured a perfect recon- ciliation. ^3 His power of persuasion appears to have been very efficacious with the kings and princes of his time. An instance of this influence is given in the case of a young man, who was named Erlomhan. His mother had applied to Fechin, that he might assist in procuring her son's liberation. He had been kept in chains by Moenach, King of Munster. *^* The saint gave agoldtorquehehadreceivedasapresentfromthemonarch. Thistoken was bestowed for the purpose of purchasing her son's release. On recog- nising it, and as coming from Fechin, the king immediately discharged Erlomhan from prison, on perceiving that the saint wished for this act of grace. He likewise returned the torque to that woman who had offered it. The saint had probably spent some time at Cashel^s with King Moe-
55 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- *' Hence this expedition was called
an mheic, "" the expedition of the measure" or "equality. "
^ This place is said to have been situated or Cronan, Abbot of Balla, in the county of in the county of Westmeath ; yet it does Mayo. This latter had been a disciple to not seem an easy task to identify it on the
Comgall of Bangor. He died A. D. 637. townland maps for that county.
See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum HibemiEe," "^3 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi- XXX. Martii. Vita S. Mochuse, sive Cro- bemise," xx. Januarii. Supplementum Vitte nani, cap. xxiii. , and n. 22, pp. 791, 792.
57 See ibid. , n, 31, p. 150, And Ussher's
" Index " Chronologicus, p. 539.
nise," X. Februarii. Vita S. Cronani, and "
floigheadh
n. i. , pp. 303, 304.
5* He must not be confounded with Mochua
He died A. D. 660. See Dr. . O'Donovan's 5' ""
Hence, Dr. Lanigan thinks it highly probable that Mochua, of Ardslaine, was no other than Cronan, son of Silne.
59 He was son of Aedh, son to Ainmire. He reigned as monarch over Ireland from A. D. 624 to A. D. 639. The events of his reign, as noticed in Dr. O'Donovan's " An- nals of the Four Masters," contain no allu- sion to this expedition. See vol. i. , pp. 246 to 257.
*° He belonged to the Northern Hy-Nialls and he was of Conall Gulban's race.
Annals of the Four Masters, vol. i. , pp. 270, 271. The Annals of Ulster place his death at A. D. 661.
*5 This celebrated old city is situated in
the present parish of St. John Baptist, in the barony of Middlethird. The parish lies within this latter and the barony of Sliev- ardagh. See " Ordnance Survey To%\Tiland Maps for the County of Tipperary. " Sheets 54, 60, 61, 62, 68, 69. The city is shown on Sheet 61, South Riding,
S. Fechini, cap. xxxiv. , p. 137.
'*This king is called the son of Fingen.
January 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 371
nach. ^ We find added that Erlomhan afterwards embraced the monastic state, and he continued under Fechin's rule. ^7 He Uved and died a very holy life. ^^ AcertainTirechanhadcometoRome, Itisconjecturedhemaybeidentical with St. Tirechan,'59 the disciple to St. Ultan, Bishop of Ardbraccan. His mother, with prayers and in tears, applied to Fechin, who was then at Cashel, to procure her son's return. The saint betook himself to the usual course of prayer. It is said, through his command, that Tirechan instantly appeared before him in Cashel,7° In the opinion of Dr. Lanigan, this is probably the perverted statement of a real fact. Perhaps St. Fechin had sent an order to Tirechan to revisit his mother, and that with such a request the traveller complied.
CHAPTER III.
ST. fechin's various miracles—HIS VISIT TO POULAPHOKA WATERFALL AND TO NAAS—TULACH FOBHUIR—HE VISITS ST. ERNAN AT CLUAIN-DEOCHRA—THE saint's PENITENTIAL EXERCISES—HE OBTAINS THE RELEASE OF AID, FROM DIERMIT II. AND BLAITHMAIC, JOINT MONARCHS OF IRELAND—CHURCHES CON- NECTED IN VENERATION WITH THIS SAINT—PUNISHMENT INFLICTED ON VIOLA- TORS OF HIS SANCTUARY—LAST ILLNESS OF ST. FECHIN—HIS DEATH AND FES-
TIVAL—HIS CHARACTER—CONCLUSION.
Various miracles are ascribed to the holy abbot. One of these is said to have occurred at Loch Neochra,^ in the territory of Farbill. " A spot, called Fiodh Bile, and the lake itself, are said to have been presented to him in grateful acknowledgment for services rendered to the inhabitants there re- siding. Another spot was called Ceachuir Fechin,3 in the country of Teffia,* while here a muddy and marshy place was substituted for a good fishing lake, to punish the inhospitality of some fishermen, who refused food to certain monks. Another instance of ingratitude, experienced from one Foelan, at Nuadhchongbhail,s was reprobated by Fechin, who predicted that his family should never exceed the number of nine persons. This prediction was ful-
**See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi-
bemias,''xx. Januarii. Supplementum Vitas
S. Fechini, cap. xxxvii. , p. 137. "
Tirechan. See " Westmeath Letters of I. O. S. ," vol. ii. , pp. 231, 232.
3 Colgan says, in his day, this place was known as Keachuir, a marshy district lying between the counties of Longford and Lei- trim. It seems to the writer, the position must be sought for in some other direction,
* This is the Latinized name of Teathbha or Teathfa territory, forming the north-west portion of ancient Midhe or Meath. It was divided into North and South Teabhtha, by the River Inny. The former comprised nearly all the present county of Longford, and the latter about the western half of the present county Westmeath. SeeDr. O'Dono- van's " Leabhar na g-Ceart, or Book of Rights," n. (g), p. 180.
s The reader is referred to what has been
already stated, regarding different places in Ireland, called by this name, at the notices
of St. Fachtna, Bishop of Nuacongbhail, on the 19th of January.
*7See Second Life," chap, xxxvii. , pp. *37» 138.
'^
Yet his name does not appear in the
Irish calendars, although Colgan conjee- tures he may be identical with a St. Justan
Lene, venerated on the 29th of July, or with
a St. Sanctan, whose feast occurs on the loth
of June.
^ See notices of him at the 3rd of July,
the day for his feast.
7° See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi-
bemise," xx. Januarii. Vita Secunda S.
Fechini, cap. —xiv. , pp. 134. 135. '
Chap. hi. On the Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps it seems difficult to identify
it under this name.
^
Mr. O'Donovan considered it probable the present barony of Farbill, county of Westmeath, was extensive as this territory. Feara Bile is called "Campus Bile," by
372 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 20.
filled. Another remarkable miracle was wrought at Loch Calguigh,^ in the
country of Hy-Many. 7 Again, at Loch-Cutra,^ in the territory of Hy-Fiach- rach Aidne,9 a miracle was performed, and to commemorate it, a remarkable rock was afterwards visible, on an island, in the middle of that lake. '° On this island also grew that kind of herbage, called by the Irish, Flothchiep or Foltchib. " On another occasion, the saint is said to have received a leper most kindly at the guest-house in Fore, and afterwards to have interested the Queen"ofKingDiermait,'3thesonofAidusSlaine,onhisbehalf Thisholy woman then lived with her husband on a lake island, said to have been called Inis-Locha Leibhionn,'4 only about one mile from Fore. She charitably at- tended to the wants of this leper, 's and a miracle is related in connexion withhiscure. St. Fechin,atonetime,travelledtoaspotkno\vnasSnamhlu-
thir,intheterritoryofCarbreGabhra. HereherestoredsighttooneCol- man,^^sonofEochad. Thisplacemusthavebeensituatedinthenorthof
Longford county, barony of Granard, or in the north-eastern part of Sligo county,intheprovinceofConnaught,'7 ThislatterdistrictiscalledCarbre
' According to Dr. O'Donovan, this lake '* Now Lough Lene, near Fore. On it
''
has not been identified. See
the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 892, 893, Castle Island and Turgesius' Island. See
and n. (z), ibid.
1 A valuable map and a description of this
district, known as O'Kelly's Country, will be found in Dr. O'Donovan's "Tribes and
Customs of Hy-Many," published by the Irish Archaeological Society, 1843. Its ex- act boundaries are set forth in a vellum MS. ,
"Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Westmeath. " Sheet 8.