3} Their exploits are fully set forth, in a
compilation from the Sagas and Northern Chronicles, in the work of Torfseus, known
in reference to this matter.
compilation from the Sagas and Northern Chronicles, in the work of Torfseus, known
in reference to this matter.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
276, 277.
37 See Dr. George Petrie's "Ecclesiastical
Architecture and Round Towers of Ireland,"
part H. , sect, iii. , subs. 3, p. 389.
28
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life
June 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
757
it refers to the seven disciples, who remained after him, to guide and govern
his community. Among these Cormac, the son of Dima, is first named,3° while all are alluded to in terms of the highest eulogy. According to a gloss
on a copy of the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman, and belonging to the O'Clerys, this St. Corbmac was an anchorite. 31 Moreover, the glossographer states he was a bishop, but we are not informed over what See he had been placed. Again, he is said to have founded a monastery, yet history appears to be silent, as to its name and site. 3*
CHAPTER II.
VISIT OF ST. CORBMAC UA LIATHAIN TO ST. COLUMBA IN SCOTLAND—ST. CORBMAC'S ARRIVAL IN THE ORKNEY ISLANDS—THEIR SETTLEMENT AND HISTORY—ST. CORB- MAC'S VOYAGES—PLACE OF HIS DEATH AND BURIAL—MEMORIALS AND COMMEMO- RATIONS IN IRELAND AND IN SCOTLAND—CONCLUSION.
Afterwards, Cormac appears to have relinquished his charge in Durrow, at leastforatime,andtohavegoneonavisittoSt. Columba,atIona. There is an account of his having been present, with three other celebrated Irish Saints, and all holy founders of monasteries, who sailed with him from Scotia or Ireland. These are named as * Mocu 2
Comgellus Aridi, Cainnechus, Mocu-Dalon, and Brendenuss Mocu Alti. All of these are noticed, as having visited the great Caledonian Apostle, in the Island of Hinba/* and as having assisted there in the church, while St. Columba consecrated in the Mystery
of the Holy Eucharist.
After this visit, it seems likely, that Cormac took charge of a mission to
the who were then 6 He had been recommended Orkney Islanders. s pagans.
to the king or chief of these people, in the presence of King Brudeus, while St. Columba had been staying in Drum Alban. Brudeus held hostages of the Orkney ruler—who seems to have been subordinate to him—at that time. Then Columba stated, that Cormac and some companions had sailed away in quest of a desert in the ocean, and that if they happened after their long
of St. Columba," Additional Notes F, pp. 274, 275.
29 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. x. , num. 37, p. 489. Also Quinta Ap- pendix, cap. iv. , sect, ii. , p. 507.
30 T—he following is an English transla- tion :
They are the seven pillars,
And they are the seven chiefs, Whom God has surely commanded To dwell in the same abode. "
— Adamnan's " Life of St. Rev. Dr. Reeves'
Columba," Additional Notes G, pp. 276,
277.
31 See note 3, by Rev. Dr. Todd, to the
**
Beloved the excellent seven,
Whom Christ has chosen to his king-
dom ;
To whom I leave, for their purity, The constant care of this my church.
Three of whom are here at this side, Cormac, son of Dima, and ^Engus,
**
32 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life
And Collan of
Who has join himself to them.
Libren, Senan, comely Conrach, The son of Ua Chein, and his brother, Are the four, besides the others, Who shall arrive at this place.
of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 17, n. (e), p. 222.
ChapterII. —1 Seeanaccountofhim in the Fifth Volume of this work, at the 10th of May, the date for his festival, Art. i.
2 His festival was held at the nth of October.
3SeehisLife,atthe 16thofMay,inthe
Fifth Volume of this work, Art. i.
* See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
pure
heart,
Martyrology of Donegal," p. 174.
of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 17, pp. 219 to 222, and nn. (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i).
"
Life
758 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 21.
voyage to touch at the Orkneys, he desired a guarantee, that they should there receive no injury. St. Columkille had a foreknowledge, likewise, that after a long and toilsome navigation, Corraac should be driven to the Ork- neys through stress of weather. This event actually took place, accordingly, while Cormac and his companions received protection from the Orkney king, when they landed on his shores. —
— inhabited those Islands, and that subsequently the Picts became possessors. Their occupation continued probably, until the close of the sixth century. With these appear to have been some Irish fathers, called Papse, who are supposed to have followed the rule of St. Columkille ; nor is it at all unlikely, that St. Cormac Ua Liathain had there formed a first establishment, and had thus helped to introduce Christianity. However, he does not seem to have remained long in this field of labour, nor to have left behind him any Culdee missionaries. ? Afterwards, the Papse were found in part possession with the Peti or Picts, when the Northmen formed their settlements in those Islands. The Orkney and Shetland Islands were invaded by the celebrated Norwegian King Harold Harfager, or the Fair Haired, in 876, and they were subjected
Inearlytimes,itisstated,thattheFir-Galeoin atribeoftheFirbolgs
to his rule. 8 On to he left Ronald or Count returning Norway, Rognovald,9
of Merca, as their administrator. There are yet many curious legends and ballads, recited in the Orkney IO and Shetland " Islands, and which some writers suppose to be of Scandinavian origin. " In 920, Sigurd, the brother of Ronald, became Orcadian King. The secular history of the Orkneys is traced, through the Earldoms of the respective lines of the Norse Angus, Stratherne, and Clair. '3 The antiquarian remains found in the Orkney and
Shetland Islands are
and Druidic colonization. 15
1 * Those found indicate a Celtic chiefly
Only during late years have—those monuments
quently encroached upon by the Saxons and Scandinavian pirates of Northern Europe. The great Theodosius pursued the fleet of
II, 12.
9 fie was father to the celebrated Rollo,
these to the pirates
in which ,0 See Dr. " 366, Barry's
of Ork-
very interesting.
Orkneys,
he stained with their blood, according to the ney. "
History
:
poet Claudian — "
"Maduerunt Saxone fusio Orcades; incaluit Pictorum sanguine
Thule,
Scotorum cumulus flevit glacialis Ier- See
ne. "
6 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 42, pp. 166
to 171. 7 See
"
vol. ii. , p. 540.
'« Our
8
Petiie, LL. D. , after a visit to Orkney, in
1854, prepared an interesting paper, witli
Gazetteer of Scotland," In the time of Alfred, the Great King
distinguished antiquary, George
Imperial
of one Otter or Other a England,
and headed M of An- Description
Norwegian navigator gave that king an interesting
drawings,
tiqnities in Orkney recently examined, with
account of his
and discoveries, dur-
illustrative See " Drawings. "
voyages
ing the reign of Harold Harfager. See
Henry Wheaton's "History of the North-
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland,"
men,
or Danes and
Normans,
from the ear-
'5 See "
Imperial
Gazetteer of
Scotland,"
6
been
manythatremaininIreland. '? ThetumulusofMaes-Howe,intheOrkneys,
which was in 1861, was found to contain various Runic 8 opened inscriptions,'
ndicating former pillagers of the tomb. '? It is remarkable, that the Shetland
s The aborigines appear to have been best Times to the Conquest of England by Ficts or Celts, although these were subse- William of Normandy," chap, i. , pp.
Several of—
representing the most ancient specimens have a decided resemblance to
properly
examined. '
the illustrations those
the invader of Normandy,
See Dr. Samuel Hibbert's
of the Shetland Islands, comprising an Ac-
countoftheirGeology,Scenery,Antiquities, and Superstitions. " Edinburgh, 4to, 1822.
"
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland," vol. i. , pp. S6
to 89.
' 3 In the " Orkneyinga Saga," as edited
by Joseph Anderson.
vol. ii. , pp. 561062.
especially
"Description
June tx. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
759
Islands are singularly deficient in finds of Celtic remains. 20 Under the influ- ence of Olaf, the first Christian King of Norway, it is thought, that Christi- anity had been introduced among those northern islanders. In 996, Sigurd, who married the daughter of Malcolm II. , King of Scotland, succeeded to the rule of the Orkneys, and to some territories on the north coasts of Scotland;
Bryan Boroimhe, King of Ireland, a. d. 10 14. Einar and Torfin, the sons of Sigurd, were his successors, and the latter was a renowned sea-rover. Those who followed them were redoubtable foes, and loved to indulge in maritime adventures, epecially against the British shores. Swein Aslief was a distin- tinguished Orkney Viking of the twelfth century, and his life was full of adventure. 22 About the year 1325, the male line of Ronald's descendants failedinthepersonofMagnusV. ThesuccessionoftheScandinavianJarls is carried down to its 2 3 when a new current of
but, this warlike Jarl fell in the celebrated battle of Clontarf, fought against 21
close,
had place. The Orkney and Zetland Islands became subject to the crown
of Norway, until they were annexed to the kingdom of Scotland, in the year
2 i468.
In an ancient Irish poem 2 s yet preserved, there is a Dialogue between Columcille and Cormac in Hy, after escaping from the Coire Brecain. According to the allusions in it, we are to infer, that at this time Cormac had returned from a voyage—probably his third great maritime enterprise—which lasted for two years and a month, during which time he had been wandering from port to port, and over the wide ocean. He had reached, likewise, regions of intense cold. It also conveys an intimation, that Cormac had greatly desired to end his days, in the distant imaged land of his long search. In a spirit of self-sacrifice, he seems to have desired, that his labours should be crowned with a successful result, so that he might become an exile from Erinn. 26 However, St. Columcille predicts, that his last days must terminate
4
vol. ii. , p. 359.
16 The of the Isle of Antiquities, Eday,
one of the Orkneys, were examined in 1855
and 1856. The results have been published,
in the "Proceedings of the Society of Anti-
quaries of Scotland," vol. ii. , pp. 154 to
158, and pp. 178 to 179. James Farrer, Esq. ,
M. P. , reported these investigations, which were communicated to the Society, by John
Stuart, Esq.
17 For a very exact pictorial and descriptive
representation of those in remote situations,
the reader is referred to a valuable work,
quite recently published, Lieut-Colonel W. at the 23rd of April, in the Fourth Volume G. Wood-Martin's " Rude Stone Monu- of this work, Art. i.
ments of Ireland. " Dublin, 1888, 8vo. " See " Proceedings of the Society of An-
18 These characters led Mr. Ferguson to a tiquaries of Scotland," vol. ii. , pp. 278 to
conclusion in favour of its erection for Earl Havard, who fell at Stennis about A. D. 970. He bases a considerable portion of his theory for ascertaining the dates of objects men- tioned in his "Rude Stone Monuments," upon the few instances in which any record exists regarding their origin. See chap, vii. , pp. 297 to 300. Mr. Anderson does not agree with Mr. Ferguson, in his well-argued
287.
3} Their exploits are fully set forth, in a
compilation from the Sagas and Northern Chronicles, in the work of Torfseus, known
in reference to this matter. We must remark, however, that no attempt is made to disprove Mr. Ferguson's criticisms, and we merely have Mr. Anderson's
opinions, without any arguments to back them, in the course oi his observations.
reasoning,
tion by Eugene O'Curry, is printed in Rev. «'
possessors and events
I9 See a most interesting paper in refer-
ence to this
subject
:
" Notice of Excava-
tions in the Chambered Mound of Maes-
Howe, in Orkney, and of the Runic Inscrip-
tions onthe walls of its central Chamb—er," by "
John Stuart, Esq;, Sec. S. A. Scot. Pro- ceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of
Scotland," vol. v. , part ii. , pp. 247 to 279.
Curious representations of Maes-Howe are
to be seen, in plates xvi. , xvii. , xviii. 20 "
See Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland,"
vol. ii. , p. 539-
See the Life of this renowned monarch,
"
1837, 8vo.
25 The original, with an English transla-
Orcades. "
2* See Samuel Laing's
as the
"
Journal of a Residence in Norway during the year 1834, 1835 and 1836, chap, ix. , p. 349. London,
Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St. Co-
lumba," Additional Notes F, pp. 264 to
269.
* A foolish legend is related by the scho-
7 6o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 21*
in Durrow, where his kindred of the Clann Colman should protect him. There is also a glowing description of the church and establishment of Durrow, as a " devout city with a hundred crosses. " On Ellanmore Island in the parish
2 28 ofNorthKnapdaill,deaneryofKintyre,? stoodanancientchurch, dedi-
cated to St. Charmaig or Cormac, of which several ruins still exist. There, is shown M'Cormac's 2 9 but whatever connexion our saint had with
too, — grave,
the place and probably during his lifetime he may have lived there
not appear to be probable, that he was there buried. 3° It is likely, St. Cormac Ua Liathain conformed to St. Columkille's request, and returned to Durrow ; where,accordingtotradition,31thecloseofhislifewasreligiouslyspent. A curious object of art, called the Crozier of Durrow, still exists ; but, unfor- tunately,onlyasafragment. Itisconsideredtobetheoldestofitskindwe now possess, and that it belonged to the great St. Columkille himself, the founder of the church at Durrow. It was presented by him to St. Cormac,
his dear friend and successor in that
monastery. 3
—
it does
2 St. Cormac Ua Liathain
died most probably, towards the close of the sixth or beginning of the seventh
century. 33 Besides this account, the Martyrology of Donegal,34 records him
atthesamedate,asCorbmacUaLiathain,AbbotofDearmagh. Underthe head of Darmhagh, Duald Mac Firbis enters Cormac Ua Liathan, abbot of Darmhagh, bishop, anno Christies at June 21st. 36 Not many miles away from Durrow, and north-west of the brewery of Frankfort, in the King's County,therewasaholywell,calledSt. Cormac'sWell. Itmayhavebeen dedicated to the present saint. 37 In the parish of Kilcormick,38 barony of Gorey, and county of Wexford, there is a St. Cormac's well, and here a patron was formerly held, on the 22nd of June. Possibly, the present saint was patron of that parish, as no other person bearing the name is to be found in our Calendars, at the date just given. 39 The church of St. Charmaig or
Hast on the" Feilire "of St. ^Engus about St. ing the name of St. Charmaig or Cormac; Cormac having lopped the finger off St. and both churches are held traditionally to Columcille to keep it as a relic. St. Co- have been built by him.
lumba is said to have predicted, that dogs should devour Cormac, and that such a pro- phecy had been fulfilled. The scholiast
adds, according to the English translation from the Irish: "He is that Cormac who
proceeded over sea after Colum Cille, and of Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. ,
the sea rose against him, and allowed him
p. cvi.
& See " Lectures on the Eugene O'Curry's
Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish His-
tory," Lect. xv. , pp. 337, 338.
33 The death of Cormac—Ua Liathain,
bishop, abbot and anchorite but he—cannot
it, because of the determination that Colomb C—ille's word should be fulfilled in that wise. " "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, On the Calendar of Oengus.
not to
pass
vol. i. , part i.
By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cvi.
2? In the Diocese of Argyll and of the Isles, Scotland.
28 This island church, styled by Fordun and by other chroniclers "a sanctuary has two compartments, of which the western,
supposed to have been the dwelling of a priest, has a vaulted roof, and in the walls are several vaulted recesses. In one of these, there is a recumbent effigy, which is popu- larly believed to be the image of St. Cormac. See Fordun's "Scotichronicon," lib. ii. , cap. x. "
be identical with the present saint nounced, at a. d. 865, in Dr. O'Donovan's
"
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 502, 503. His death is referred to a. d. 866, but without further distinction in the -Ant-iAla uLvoh or Annals of Ulster, edited by William M. Hennessy, vol. i. , pp. 376, 377.
s* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 174, 175.
3* See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 104, 105.
# However, where he adds 865, as the year for his death, there is manifestly a mistake 3° At Keils, on the headland west of Loch for some other individual, yet similarly
"» See Cosmo Innes'
les Scotise," vol. ii. , part i. , pp. 39, 40.
Origines Parochia-
Swein, there is also an ancient church, bear- named.
3I Such is the statement of the scholiast ""
on the Feilire of St. yEngus, in the "Leabhar Breac. " See "Transactions of
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part 1. On the Calendar
is an-
June 21. ]
LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS.
761
M'Charraaig—identified with St. Cormac Ua Laithian—in the parish of
North Knapdale, Scotland, belonged to the monks of Kilwinning, in Ayr- shire. *
Brief as are the notices of this holy and enterprising saint, they throw not- withstanding a considerable light on the history, manners and pursuits of our countrymen, in that remote age when he lived. The traces which remain,
regarding our Irish saints, are oftentimes very few and fragmentary ; but, nevertheless, they are remarkably interesting and suggestive. Personal danger was disregarded by St. Corbmac and by his brave companions of the sea, when there was a probability of reaching the great western world beyond the Atlan- tic—then in Ireland well known to exist—and to gain souls for Christ, their chief impelling motive. How much nobler and more heroic such purpose and action, than were those adopted by the avaricious and cruel despoilers in
many succeeding centuries, when the native races of America were subjected to the shocking brutalities of European adventurers and conquerors, whose crimes must be held in horror and detestation by every true Christian and friend of humanity ! History ever preserves and contrasts the differences between real and false glory, as also between the virtues and vices of men.
Article II. —St. Diarmaid, Bishop of Castledermot, County of Kildare. ^Supposed to have livid in the Fifth and sixth Ce? iturits~\ There can hardly be a doubt, that the present saint flourished in the earliest ages of Christianity in our country. In the " Feilire " of St. . ^Engus, the name of
this manis as
holy given Ainle,
1 whichthecommentatormakessynonymous
with Diarmait of Disert Diarmata Ui Aeda Roin. 2 The former appellation
interpreted English, delightful
mait and Disurt registered in the Martyrology of Tallagh,3 at the 21st of June. More circumstantial are the following details. He belonged to the race of Fiatach Finn, monarch of Erin. In the Book of Lecan,4 the genealogy of Diarmaid of Disert Diarmada is given, up to Muiredach Muinderg. It need scarcely be observed, that Disert Dearmada is the present Castledermot, in the baronies of Kilkea and Moone, county of Kildare. Besides St. ^Engus the Culdee, the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman and the Calendar of
is in " his colour. '' We find the name Diar-
commemorate St. at the 21st of June. 5 While he is Diarmit,
Cashel, also,
styled abbot of Castledermot, this saint is called bishop, in the Irish Calen- dars. 6 He is said to have been founder of a monastery at Castledermot, about the year 500. 7 The first name of this place was Diseart Diarmuda, afterwards called Tristledermot, and at present it is known as Castledermot. The name has thus been derived from the present saint. There are several
3? SeeRev. A. Cogan's"DioceseofMeath,
Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , p. 514, and
n. It is possible, also, that the a—ncient
church and monastery of Kilcormick now
calledFrankford—hadbeendedicatedtothe
present saint. Regarding their desecration,
tee the indignant, but justly merited remarks script Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Ca-
of Rev. A. Cogan, atp. 515.
38 See it described, on " Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Wex-
lendar of Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. xcv.
sheets 20, 21.
39 See " Letters containing Information
relative to the Antiquities of the County of
Wexford, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey, in 1840," vol. ii.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvu. "
ford,"
4 At fol. 42<*. a. See Martyrology of
Donegal," note by Rev. Dr. Todd, pp. 400,
401.
s See Colgan s Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
JohnO'Donovan's Letters, p. 94.
40 According to the Book of Assumptions, in the Scottish Acts of Parliament, vol. iv. ,
p. 652.
ArticleII. — See"Transactionsof
1
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Mana-
"
See ibid. , p. cvi
762 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 21.
ancient remains about here, among the principal of which are, a Round Tower,8 which is now used as a belfry to the Protestant church, with which it communicates, and beside which it stands, on the left angle of its gable, as you enter the church door. There is an ancient stone cross, which is perfect, and it standsonapedestal,withinafewyardsoftheRoundTower.
37 See Dr. George Petrie's "Ecclesiastical
Architecture and Round Towers of Ireland,"
part H. , sect, iii. , subs. 3, p. 389.
28
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life
June 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
757
it refers to the seven disciples, who remained after him, to guide and govern
his community. Among these Cormac, the son of Dima, is first named,3° while all are alluded to in terms of the highest eulogy. According to a gloss
on a copy of the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman, and belonging to the O'Clerys, this St. Corbmac was an anchorite. 31 Moreover, the glossographer states he was a bishop, but we are not informed over what See he had been placed. Again, he is said to have founded a monastery, yet history appears to be silent, as to its name and site. 3*
CHAPTER II.
VISIT OF ST. CORBMAC UA LIATHAIN TO ST. COLUMBA IN SCOTLAND—ST. CORBMAC'S ARRIVAL IN THE ORKNEY ISLANDS—THEIR SETTLEMENT AND HISTORY—ST. CORB- MAC'S VOYAGES—PLACE OF HIS DEATH AND BURIAL—MEMORIALS AND COMMEMO- RATIONS IN IRELAND AND IN SCOTLAND—CONCLUSION.
Afterwards, Cormac appears to have relinquished his charge in Durrow, at leastforatime,andtohavegoneonavisittoSt. Columba,atIona. There is an account of his having been present, with three other celebrated Irish Saints, and all holy founders of monasteries, who sailed with him from Scotia or Ireland. These are named as * Mocu 2
Comgellus Aridi, Cainnechus, Mocu-Dalon, and Brendenuss Mocu Alti. All of these are noticed, as having visited the great Caledonian Apostle, in the Island of Hinba/* and as having assisted there in the church, while St. Columba consecrated in the Mystery
of the Holy Eucharist.
After this visit, it seems likely, that Cormac took charge of a mission to
the who were then 6 He had been recommended Orkney Islanders. s pagans.
to the king or chief of these people, in the presence of King Brudeus, while St. Columba had been staying in Drum Alban. Brudeus held hostages of the Orkney ruler—who seems to have been subordinate to him—at that time. Then Columba stated, that Cormac and some companions had sailed away in quest of a desert in the ocean, and that if they happened after their long
of St. Columba," Additional Notes F, pp. 274, 275.
29 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. x. , num. 37, p. 489. Also Quinta Ap- pendix, cap. iv. , sect, ii. , p. 507.
30 T—he following is an English transla- tion :
They are the seven pillars,
And they are the seven chiefs, Whom God has surely commanded To dwell in the same abode. "
— Adamnan's " Life of St. Rev. Dr. Reeves'
Columba," Additional Notes G, pp. 276,
277.
31 See note 3, by Rev. Dr. Todd, to the
**
Beloved the excellent seven,
Whom Christ has chosen to his king-
dom ;
To whom I leave, for their purity, The constant care of this my church.
Three of whom are here at this side, Cormac, son of Dima, and ^Engus,
**
32 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life
And Collan of
Who has join himself to them.
Libren, Senan, comely Conrach, The son of Ua Chein, and his brother, Are the four, besides the others, Who shall arrive at this place.
of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 17, n. (e), p. 222.
ChapterII. —1 Seeanaccountofhim in the Fifth Volume of this work, at the 10th of May, the date for his festival, Art. i.
2 His festival was held at the nth of October.
3SeehisLife,atthe 16thofMay,inthe
Fifth Volume of this work, Art. i.
* See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
pure
heart,
Martyrology of Donegal," p. 174.
of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 17, pp. 219 to 222, and nn. (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i).
"
Life
758 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 21.
voyage to touch at the Orkneys, he desired a guarantee, that they should there receive no injury. St. Columkille had a foreknowledge, likewise, that after a long and toilsome navigation, Corraac should be driven to the Ork- neys through stress of weather. This event actually took place, accordingly, while Cormac and his companions received protection from the Orkney king, when they landed on his shores. —
— inhabited those Islands, and that subsequently the Picts became possessors. Their occupation continued probably, until the close of the sixth century. With these appear to have been some Irish fathers, called Papse, who are supposed to have followed the rule of St. Columkille ; nor is it at all unlikely, that St. Cormac Ua Liathain had there formed a first establishment, and had thus helped to introduce Christianity. However, he does not seem to have remained long in this field of labour, nor to have left behind him any Culdee missionaries. ? Afterwards, the Papse were found in part possession with the Peti or Picts, when the Northmen formed their settlements in those Islands. The Orkney and Shetland Islands were invaded by the celebrated Norwegian King Harold Harfager, or the Fair Haired, in 876, and they were subjected
Inearlytimes,itisstated,thattheFir-Galeoin atribeoftheFirbolgs
to his rule. 8 On to he left Ronald or Count returning Norway, Rognovald,9
of Merca, as their administrator. There are yet many curious legends and ballads, recited in the Orkney IO and Shetland " Islands, and which some writers suppose to be of Scandinavian origin. " In 920, Sigurd, the brother of Ronald, became Orcadian King. The secular history of the Orkneys is traced, through the Earldoms of the respective lines of the Norse Angus, Stratherne, and Clair. '3 The antiquarian remains found in the Orkney and
Shetland Islands are
and Druidic colonization. 15
1 * Those found indicate a Celtic chiefly
Only during late years have—those monuments
quently encroached upon by the Saxons and Scandinavian pirates of Northern Europe. The great Theodosius pursued the fleet of
II, 12.
9 fie was father to the celebrated Rollo,
these to the pirates
in which ,0 See Dr. " 366, Barry's
of Ork-
very interesting.
Orkneys,
he stained with their blood, according to the ney. "
History
:
poet Claudian — "
"Maduerunt Saxone fusio Orcades; incaluit Pictorum sanguine
Thule,
Scotorum cumulus flevit glacialis Ier- See
ne. "
6 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 42, pp. 166
to 171. 7 See
"
vol. ii. , p. 540.
'« Our
8
Petiie, LL. D. , after a visit to Orkney, in
1854, prepared an interesting paper, witli
Gazetteer of Scotland," In the time of Alfred, the Great King
distinguished antiquary, George
Imperial
of one Otter or Other a England,
and headed M of An- Description
Norwegian navigator gave that king an interesting
drawings,
tiqnities in Orkney recently examined, with
account of his
and discoveries, dur-
illustrative See " Drawings. "
voyages
ing the reign of Harold Harfager. See
Henry Wheaton's "History of the North-
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland,"
men,
or Danes and
Normans,
from the ear-
'5 See "
Imperial
Gazetteer of
Scotland,"
6
been
manythatremaininIreland. '? ThetumulusofMaes-Howe,intheOrkneys,
which was in 1861, was found to contain various Runic 8 opened inscriptions,'
ndicating former pillagers of the tomb. '? It is remarkable, that the Shetland
s The aborigines appear to have been best Times to the Conquest of England by Ficts or Celts, although these were subse- William of Normandy," chap, i. , pp.
Several of—
representing the most ancient specimens have a decided resemblance to
properly
examined. '
the illustrations those
the invader of Normandy,
See Dr. Samuel Hibbert's
of the Shetland Islands, comprising an Ac-
countoftheirGeology,Scenery,Antiquities, and Superstitions. " Edinburgh, 4to, 1822.
"
Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland," vol. i. , pp. S6
to 89.
' 3 In the " Orkneyinga Saga," as edited
by Joseph Anderson.
vol. ii. , pp. 561062.
especially
"Description
June tx. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
759
Islands are singularly deficient in finds of Celtic remains. 20 Under the influ- ence of Olaf, the first Christian King of Norway, it is thought, that Christi- anity had been introduced among those northern islanders. In 996, Sigurd, who married the daughter of Malcolm II. , King of Scotland, succeeded to the rule of the Orkneys, and to some territories on the north coasts of Scotland;
Bryan Boroimhe, King of Ireland, a. d. 10 14. Einar and Torfin, the sons of Sigurd, were his successors, and the latter was a renowned sea-rover. Those who followed them were redoubtable foes, and loved to indulge in maritime adventures, epecially against the British shores. Swein Aslief was a distin- tinguished Orkney Viking of the twelfth century, and his life was full of adventure. 22 About the year 1325, the male line of Ronald's descendants failedinthepersonofMagnusV. ThesuccessionoftheScandinavianJarls is carried down to its 2 3 when a new current of
but, this warlike Jarl fell in the celebrated battle of Clontarf, fought against 21
close,
had place. The Orkney and Zetland Islands became subject to the crown
of Norway, until they were annexed to the kingdom of Scotland, in the year
2 i468.
In an ancient Irish poem 2 s yet preserved, there is a Dialogue between Columcille and Cormac in Hy, after escaping from the Coire Brecain. According to the allusions in it, we are to infer, that at this time Cormac had returned from a voyage—probably his third great maritime enterprise—which lasted for two years and a month, during which time he had been wandering from port to port, and over the wide ocean. He had reached, likewise, regions of intense cold. It also conveys an intimation, that Cormac had greatly desired to end his days, in the distant imaged land of his long search. In a spirit of self-sacrifice, he seems to have desired, that his labours should be crowned with a successful result, so that he might become an exile from Erinn. 26 However, St. Columcille predicts, that his last days must terminate
4
vol. ii. , p. 359.
16 The of the Isle of Antiquities, Eday,
one of the Orkneys, were examined in 1855
and 1856. The results have been published,
in the "Proceedings of the Society of Anti-
quaries of Scotland," vol. ii. , pp. 154 to
158, and pp. 178 to 179. James Farrer, Esq. ,
M. P. , reported these investigations, which were communicated to the Society, by John
Stuart, Esq.
17 For a very exact pictorial and descriptive
representation of those in remote situations,
the reader is referred to a valuable work,
quite recently published, Lieut-Colonel W. at the 23rd of April, in the Fourth Volume G. Wood-Martin's " Rude Stone Monu- of this work, Art. i.
ments of Ireland. " Dublin, 1888, 8vo. " See " Proceedings of the Society of An-
18 These characters led Mr. Ferguson to a tiquaries of Scotland," vol. ii. , pp. 278 to
conclusion in favour of its erection for Earl Havard, who fell at Stennis about A. D. 970. He bases a considerable portion of his theory for ascertaining the dates of objects men- tioned in his "Rude Stone Monuments," upon the few instances in which any record exists regarding their origin. See chap, vii. , pp. 297 to 300. Mr. Anderson does not agree with Mr. Ferguson, in his well-argued
287.
3} Their exploits are fully set forth, in a
compilation from the Sagas and Northern Chronicles, in the work of Torfseus, known
in reference to this matter. We must remark, however, that no attempt is made to disprove Mr. Ferguson's criticisms, and we merely have Mr. Anderson's
opinions, without any arguments to back them, in the course oi his observations.
reasoning,
tion by Eugene O'Curry, is printed in Rev. «'
possessors and events
I9 See a most interesting paper in refer-
ence to this
subject
:
" Notice of Excava-
tions in the Chambered Mound of Maes-
Howe, in Orkney, and of the Runic Inscrip-
tions onthe walls of its central Chamb—er," by "
John Stuart, Esq;, Sec. S. A. Scot. Pro- ceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of
Scotland," vol. v. , part ii. , pp. 247 to 279.
Curious representations of Maes-Howe are
to be seen, in plates xvi. , xvii. , xviii. 20 "
See Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland,"
vol. ii. , p. 539-
See the Life of this renowned monarch,
"
1837, 8vo.
25 The original, with an English transla-
Orcades. "
2* See Samuel Laing's
as the
"
Journal of a Residence in Norway during the year 1834, 1835 and 1836, chap, ix. , p. 349. London,
Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St. Co-
lumba," Additional Notes F, pp. 264 to
269.
* A foolish legend is related by the scho-
7 6o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 21*
in Durrow, where his kindred of the Clann Colman should protect him. There is also a glowing description of the church and establishment of Durrow, as a " devout city with a hundred crosses. " On Ellanmore Island in the parish
2 28 ofNorthKnapdaill,deaneryofKintyre,? stoodanancientchurch, dedi-
cated to St. Charmaig or Cormac, of which several ruins still exist. There, is shown M'Cormac's 2 9 but whatever connexion our saint had with
too, — grave,
the place and probably during his lifetime he may have lived there
not appear to be probable, that he was there buried. 3° It is likely, St. Cormac Ua Liathain conformed to St. Columkille's request, and returned to Durrow ; where,accordingtotradition,31thecloseofhislifewasreligiouslyspent. A curious object of art, called the Crozier of Durrow, still exists ; but, unfor- tunately,onlyasafragment. Itisconsideredtobetheoldestofitskindwe now possess, and that it belonged to the great St. Columkille himself, the founder of the church at Durrow. It was presented by him to St. Cormac,
his dear friend and successor in that
monastery. 3
—
it does
2 St. Cormac Ua Liathain
died most probably, towards the close of the sixth or beginning of the seventh
century. 33 Besides this account, the Martyrology of Donegal,34 records him
atthesamedate,asCorbmacUaLiathain,AbbotofDearmagh. Underthe head of Darmhagh, Duald Mac Firbis enters Cormac Ua Liathan, abbot of Darmhagh, bishop, anno Christies at June 21st. 36 Not many miles away from Durrow, and north-west of the brewery of Frankfort, in the King's County,therewasaholywell,calledSt. Cormac'sWell. Itmayhavebeen dedicated to the present saint. 37 In the parish of Kilcormick,38 barony of Gorey, and county of Wexford, there is a St. Cormac's well, and here a patron was formerly held, on the 22nd of June. Possibly, the present saint was patron of that parish, as no other person bearing the name is to be found in our Calendars, at the date just given. 39 The church of St. Charmaig or
Hast on the" Feilire "of St. ^Engus about St. ing the name of St. Charmaig or Cormac; Cormac having lopped the finger off St. and both churches are held traditionally to Columcille to keep it as a relic. St. Co- have been built by him.
lumba is said to have predicted, that dogs should devour Cormac, and that such a pro- phecy had been fulfilled. The scholiast
adds, according to the English translation from the Irish: "He is that Cormac who
proceeded over sea after Colum Cille, and of Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. ,
the sea rose against him, and allowed him
p. cvi.
& See " Lectures on the Eugene O'Curry's
Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish His-
tory," Lect. xv. , pp. 337, 338.
33 The death of Cormac—Ua Liathain,
bishop, abbot and anchorite but he—cannot
it, because of the determination that Colomb C—ille's word should be fulfilled in that wise. " "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, On the Calendar of Oengus.
not to
pass
vol. i. , part i.
By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cvi.
2? In the Diocese of Argyll and of the Isles, Scotland.
28 This island church, styled by Fordun and by other chroniclers "a sanctuary has two compartments, of which the western,
supposed to have been the dwelling of a priest, has a vaulted roof, and in the walls are several vaulted recesses. In one of these, there is a recumbent effigy, which is popu- larly believed to be the image of St. Cormac. See Fordun's "Scotichronicon," lib. ii. , cap. x. "
be identical with the present saint nounced, at a. d. 865, in Dr. O'Donovan's
"
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 502, 503. His death is referred to a. d. 866, but without further distinction in the -Ant-iAla uLvoh or Annals of Ulster, edited by William M. Hennessy, vol. i. , pp. 376, 377.
s* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 174, 175.
3* See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 104, 105.
# However, where he adds 865, as the year for his death, there is manifestly a mistake 3° At Keils, on the headland west of Loch for some other individual, yet similarly
"» See Cosmo Innes'
les Scotise," vol. ii. , part i. , pp. 39, 40.
Origines Parochia-
Swein, there is also an ancient church, bear- named.
3I Such is the statement of the scholiast ""
on the Feilire of St. yEngus, in the "Leabhar Breac. " See "Transactions of
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part 1. On the Calendar
is an-
June 21. ]
LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS.
761
M'Charraaig—identified with St. Cormac Ua Laithian—in the parish of
North Knapdale, Scotland, belonged to the monks of Kilwinning, in Ayr- shire. *
Brief as are the notices of this holy and enterprising saint, they throw not- withstanding a considerable light on the history, manners and pursuits of our countrymen, in that remote age when he lived. The traces which remain,
regarding our Irish saints, are oftentimes very few and fragmentary ; but, nevertheless, they are remarkably interesting and suggestive. Personal danger was disregarded by St. Corbmac and by his brave companions of the sea, when there was a probability of reaching the great western world beyond the Atlan- tic—then in Ireland well known to exist—and to gain souls for Christ, their chief impelling motive. How much nobler and more heroic such purpose and action, than were those adopted by the avaricious and cruel despoilers in
many succeeding centuries, when the native races of America were subjected to the shocking brutalities of European adventurers and conquerors, whose crimes must be held in horror and detestation by every true Christian and friend of humanity ! History ever preserves and contrasts the differences between real and false glory, as also between the virtues and vices of men.
Article II. —St. Diarmaid, Bishop of Castledermot, County of Kildare. ^Supposed to have livid in the Fifth and sixth Ce? iturits~\ There can hardly be a doubt, that the present saint flourished in the earliest ages of Christianity in our country. In the " Feilire " of St. . ^Engus, the name of
this manis as
holy given Ainle,
1 whichthecommentatormakessynonymous
with Diarmait of Disert Diarmata Ui Aeda Roin. 2 The former appellation
interpreted English, delightful
mait and Disurt registered in the Martyrology of Tallagh,3 at the 21st of June. More circumstantial are the following details. He belonged to the race of Fiatach Finn, monarch of Erin. In the Book of Lecan,4 the genealogy of Diarmaid of Disert Diarmada is given, up to Muiredach Muinderg. It need scarcely be observed, that Disert Dearmada is the present Castledermot, in the baronies of Kilkea and Moone, county of Kildare. Besides St. ^Engus the Culdee, the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman and the Calendar of
is in " his colour. '' We find the name Diar-
commemorate St. at the 21st of June. 5 While he is Diarmit,
Cashel, also,
styled abbot of Castledermot, this saint is called bishop, in the Irish Calen- dars. 6 He is said to have been founder of a monastery at Castledermot, about the year 500. 7 The first name of this place was Diseart Diarmuda, afterwards called Tristledermot, and at present it is known as Castledermot. The name has thus been derived from the present saint. There are several
3? SeeRev. A. Cogan's"DioceseofMeath,
Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , p. 514, and
n. It is possible, also, that the a—ncient
church and monastery of Kilcormick now
calledFrankford—hadbeendedicatedtothe
present saint. Regarding their desecration,
tee the indignant, but justly merited remarks script Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Ca-
of Rev. A. Cogan, atp. 515.
38 See it described, on " Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Wex-
lendar of Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. xcv.
sheets 20, 21.
39 See " Letters containing Information
relative to the Antiquities of the County of
Wexford, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey, in 1840," vol. ii.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxvu. "
ford,"
4 At fol. 42<*. a. See Martyrology of
Donegal," note by Rev. Dr. Todd, pp. 400,
401.
s See Colgan s Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
JohnO'Donovan's Letters, p. 94.
40 According to the Book of Assumptions, in the Scottish Acts of Parliament, vol. iv. ,
p. 652.
ArticleII. — See"Transactionsof
1
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Mana-
"
See ibid. , p. cvi
762 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 21.
ancient remains about here, among the principal of which are, a Round Tower,8 which is now used as a belfry to the Protestant church, with which it communicates, and beside which it stands, on the left angle of its gable, as you enter the church door. There is an ancient stone cross, which is perfect, and it standsonapedestal,withinafewyardsoftheRoundTower.
