This is said to have been owing to an
oversight
of Baronius, the compiler, who mistook
a IV.
a IV.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
' AccordingtotheMartyrologyofDonegal,^ on this day was venerated Gallus, of Loch Techet, and in the BoUandists' work ' he is likewise commemorated.
Article III. —Cruimhther Corc, of Cill-m6r-Ua-Niallian, now KiLMORE, County or Armagh. This holy man offered the unbloody sacrifice for his people, and discharged all his duties, with fervour and spiritual advantagetohisflock; for,sowemayfairlyinfer,fromtheprefix,whichhas been set to his name. This occurs, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 4th of April, as Cruimthir Corc, Cille Moire. The BoUandists » notice him as Crumtherus Corc, Presbyter, de Kill-mor. This particular spot, which is
spot
" In Irish Cloc CigeA|\n4iJ. Against that, the countrymen coming to market were in the habit of Itnocking their backs ;
for, if they neglected to do so, it was popu- larly supposed, that no luck should attend them on that day. See the County of Armagh and Monaghan Letters of the Irish Ordnance Survey. John O'Donovan's Let- ter, dated Cluain Eois, May 31st, 1835, p. 147-
* See the account, in his Life, at the 17th
of March, chap. xiii.
' The townland and town, so named, are
in the parish of Ballysadare, and Barony of Tirerrill, as seen on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Sligo," sheets 20, 26.
'See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (k), pp. 357.
358.
' Edited Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. by
94, 95.
»
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomusi. , Apnlis '*• Among the pretermitted saints, p. 319.
Article ii. —'
Gladstone, at the opening of the Welsh Na- tional Eisteddfod, at Mold, August 19th,
1873.
'Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx.
Speech
of William E.
Article ill. — Editedby Rev. Dr. Kelly, The Franciscan copy gives it 5Att toe* p. xx. The Franciscan copy has Ci\umchin
Ceicec.
' See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 6, 7.
Co|\c CibLe Tno^ve.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis
iv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 319.
32
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 4.
more fully written in the Martyrology of Donegal, means, the great church of O'Neilland. It is now known as Kilmore. s in the Barony of O NeiUand
West and Lower Orior, in the County of Armagh/ In the Martyrology of Donegal,5 we find entered, on this day, Cruimhther \t. e. Priest] Core, of Cill-mor, Ua Niallain. A great Catholic writer has observed, that society pays for the merchant's commodities their well ascertained values ; but it pays not sufficiently the sacrifices of the priest, the justice of the judge, or the blood of the soldier. *
Article IV. -St. Caemh, or Coine, Virgin, of Cill-Caoimhe, or CoiNE, PROBABLY KiLKiNE, CouNTY OF WiCKLOW. The great ones of earth pass away from life obtaining human applause, often undeserved y be- stowed: but, the good should be held, in each Christians grateful and affectionate remembrance, as the present holy woman deserved to be known in her day. On the 4th of April, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' we find her
Iim
Killkine Graveyard, County Wicklow.
name and place inserted, as Coini i-Cill6 Coine. The Bollandists ' have it, Coina de Kill-Coine. There is a Kilkine 3 old church, in the parish of Bally- kine,* in the County of Wicklow. The present saint may have been the sister of St. Kevin,5 founder of Glendalough, and, it seems not improbable, that she lived in the place previously mentioned ; or, at least, we do not find any nearer correspondingdenomination,ontheIrishOrdnanceMaps. Theoldgrave- yard of the place is still much used, but only a few fragments of the old church walls are to be seen there ;* and the situation—a peculiarly retired one—lies
3 This parish is shown, on the "Ordnance
Townland Maps for the County of
—
p. XX. The Frahciscan copy has it Coine
Citli Cornie.
» See ' ' Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis
iv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 319. 3 This is not found on the "General Al-
Survey
Armagh," sheets 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14. townland proper is on sheet 9.
The
Article iv.
•
Edited by
Rev. Dr.
< See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (c) p. loio.
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 94. 95-
"
tome v. , Les Poesies de Jacopone, p. 240.
'See Ozanam's
j^iuvres Completes,"
,^.
Kelly,
April 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 33
within a well-wooded demesne,' known as Whaley Abbey, near Avondale House and Demesne,' as also, near the celebrated Meeting of the Waters. " The festival, in honour of Caemh,'° Virgin, of Cill Caoimhe, was celebrated on this day, as we read, in the Martyrology of Donegal. " The first successor of St. Peter, in his chair at Rome, had decreed, that all women should enter the churches, with their heads veiled," as a mark of respect for the hoUness of God's House. In after time, this veiling of pious females was peculiarly a
distinctive usage of religious Virgins.
Article V. —St. Croinseach, or Cronsecha. Simply the festival
Cronsigi, is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 4th of April. The Bollandists ' enter Cronsecha, at the same date. We find the name of Croin-
seach entered, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ as having been vene- rated on this day.
Article VI. —St. Beghanus, or Beganus, Abbot. Such is the name of a Saint, found at this day, in the Anonymous Catalogue of our National Saints, published by O'SuUivan Beare. " His name as Beganus, Abbot, at
"
the 4th of April, is to be met with, likewise, in Henry Fitzsimon's
Aliquorum Sanctorum Iberniae ;" and, he —cites the Carthusian Martyrology, for
the Bollandists ' the of —a Manu quoting authority
this statement.
script Copy of Florarius, and Greven, in his additions to Usuard have a notice of Abbot Beganus, in Hibernia, at the 4th of April.
'
nell, Esq. , M. P. ;
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Ap- Among the pretermitted saints, p.
Again,
Article VII. —St. Colman Fionn, or Colmanus Candidus. The poor and unpretending minister of God is often the greatest attraction the lowly and humble find, in a large extent of country. The humble pastor, too,
phabetical Index to the Townlands and
depart,
Ere the bloom of that valley shall fade
from myheart. "
" In a note, Dr. Todd here
Towns, Parishes, and Baronies of Ireland.
"
*Thisparishissituated,intheBaronyof
Ballinacor South, and it is described, on the-
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Wicklow," sheets 29, 30, 34, 35, 39, 40.
5 See his life, at the 3rd of June.
' The accompanying sketch was taken, by the writer, on the spot, in July, 1873. It was drawn, on the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and engraved by Mrs. Millard.
' The Demesne, and church ruins within it, are noted, on the townland of Bahana. They are shown, on the '-Ordnance Survey
TownlandMapsfortheCounty of Wicklow, sheet 35.
" The more recent hand notes, Caoine CiLle CAOine,Mart. Tamlact; meaningthatshe is called Caoine of Cille Caoine, in the
The residence of Charles Stewart Par-
and, for a beautiful descrip-
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
tion of this place, the reader is referred to J. "
94, 95. — Article vi.
N. Brewer's Beauties of Ireland," vol. i. .
pp. 324 to 326.
' Immortalized by Thomas Moore, in the
charming Ir—ish Melody, which begins with
these lines
" 319-—
:
There is not in the wide world a valley so sweet,
As that vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet.
Oh! the last ray of feeling and life must
rilis iv. the saints Among pretermitted
, p.
Martyrology of Tallagh. "
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
94,95-
" See " Breviarium Romanum," at the
Feast of St. Li—nus, the 23rd of September. '
Article v. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
p. xx. The Franciscan copy has Cjuni-
feachi.
319.
^
" rilis iv.
See "Historiae Catho- licae IbemiaeCompendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. ,
cap. xi. , p. 50.
"
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Ap-
Article vii. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. The Franciscan copy has CoLmAni
ptiv>.
'See Acta Sanctorum, tomus i. , Ap-
rilisiv. Among thepretermitted saints, p. 319. C
""
Catalogus
says,
34 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 4.
effect on a
is good, and therefore love him," than could the most eloquent and courtly
of preachers, by the most cultivated art of rhetoric, or by the most eloquent sermon he could preach. We have no doubt, many of the almost unknown saintsofIrelandmightbeinstancedasexamples. Anentryappears,ofCol- man Find, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 4th of April. The BoUandists '^ mark this festival, also, as one sacred to the memory of Col- manusCandidus. Afestival, inhonourofColmanFionn,wascelebratedon this day, according to the Martyrology of Donegal. ^
Article VIII. —King Conuallus, said to have been venerated,
IN Scotland. [Sixth Century. ] According to Camerarius, there was a King, named Conuallus, and the first bearing this name, who was venerated
in Scotland, at the 4th of April. " He was remarkable, for his piety, and for his respect to the clergy f while, he is said, to have merited the commenda- tion of St. Columba himself. The name is Irish, but little seems to be known, regarding the origin of this Conuallus.
Article IX. —Deposition of St. Celsus, Archbishop of Ar. magh.
\_Eleventh and Tivelfth Centuries. "] Already we have alluded to the death of St. Celsus, as having occurred, on the ist of April ; and, on this day, the Annals
that he was interred at Lis-mor-Mochuda. ' How- ever, the chief celebration of this holy man, at present, is on the 6th of this month ; on which day, it is noticed, in the Roman Martyrology.
This is said to have been owing to an oversight of Baronius, the compiler, who mistook
a IV. for a vi. ,' in consulting his authority for the insertion.
ArticleX. —St. Ultan,SonofCait. Anentryofthisnameisfound, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 4th of April. The BoUandists ^ re- cord a festival, for Ultanus filius Caidi, at this same date. Again, Ultan, son
of Cait, is registered, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ as having veneration paid him, on this day.
Article XI. —St. Aithbe. \V'eread,in the Martyrology of Donegal,' that
a St. Aithbe was venerated, at this date. In Kilturk Parish, County of Wex-
ford, a patron had been formerly held, on the 4th day of April. ' Whether it referred to any of the foregoing holy persons, or to same local saint, not specified, we are quite unable to state.
generally produces greater
congregation, by simply saying,
of the Four Masters
state,
3
Edited by
Drs. Todd and
Article x. —' Edited Rev. Dr. by
Reeves, pp.
—
the Kalendar of David Camerarius, in Bis-
hop Korbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints,"
p. 236. See, also, p. 3'5-
"See Boethius " Historia Scotice. " Lib.
-p. XX. tllcAn
Kelly, In the Franciscan copy it is written
94, 95.
Article viii.
'
See Scottish entries in
itiac CAicce.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Ap-
ix. , fol. i66a. Par. ed. 1575. Likewise, 94, 95. —'
Edited by Drs. Todd . ind
Lesley, "De Origine Scotorum. " Lib. iv. ,
p. 147-
Article ix. —' See Dr. O'Donovan's edi-
tion,vol. i. , pp. 1034,1035.
'See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of
the Saints," vol. iv. , April 6, p. 109.
ARTICLE XI.
=
rilis iv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 319-
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Reeves, pp. 94, 95.
" See the County of Wexford Irish Ord-
nanceSurveyRecords,nowpreserved,inthe Library of the Royal Irish Academy, voL ii.
" God
April 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 35
Jfi'ftl) 33ap of aprtl.
ARTICLE I. - -ST. BEGAN, AT IMLECH-FIAICH, IN FERA-CUL-BREAGH, NOW EMLAGH, COUNTY OF MEATH.
[SIXTH CENTURY. ']
THE present holy man was distinguished, among the Saints of Ireland.
The his at this calls him MartyrologyofTallagh,' recording festival, date,
St. BegainmicCule; and,aswearetold,thenameisthusderived,fromhis mother. Referring to tlie same authority, the Bollandists briefly enter, on the sth of April, Beccanus filius Culje. " The same paternity is assigned to him, in the "Feilire" of St. . ^Engus. He descended from the race of Eoghan Mor, son of Oilioll Oluim, according to the O'Clerys' Calen- dar. St. Becan, or Began, is said to have lived contemporaneously with St. Columkille. 3 He founded a monastery, about the close of the sixth or the beginning of the seventh century, at Kilbeggan,4 a town, situated on the River Brosna. s According to one account, when St. Colum-CiUe ^ and the King of Erinn, Diarmait, son of Fergus Cearbheoil, after killing Bresal, -his son, came to where Becan was, they found him erecting a fort, with a wet cloak about him, and he praying. ? The saint felt highly incensed against the monarch, whom he humbled in a miraculous manner ; but, afterwards, he re- lented, owing to the prayers of Columba. ' However, we cannot find these statements, in the proper Acts of the latter saint. That locality with which Becan was connected, Imleach Fia, or Imleach Fise, was also denominated Imleach-Becain,9 from this saint. His old church, at Emlagh,'° gave name to a parish, so called, and lying in the barony of Lower Kells, towards the north-eastofthetownofKells,inthecountyofMeath. " AftertheAnglo-
Article I. —' Edited by Rev Dr.
Kelly, p. XX. The Franciscan copy has
See ActaSanctorum,"tomusi. ,Apri- lis V. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 396. 3 See Rev. Anthony Cogan's " Ecclesias-
" Hand on a stone, hand lifted up,
Knee bent to set a rock.
Eye shedding tears, other lamentation.
Andmouthpraying. "
becjAin mac Culise. '"
of
dem," vol. iii. , chap. Ixxiv. . p. 576.
* The parish so called is situated, in the barony of Moycashel, and, it isshown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Westmeath," sheets 32, 37, 38. The to^vn, and townland, in its separate divi- sions, north and south, are noted, on sheet 38.
5 Its after history seems lost, but a Cister-
tical
History
Meath,
Ancient and Mrf-
cian
Abbey
was
founded
See Archdall's "Monas-
"
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , at A. i). 990, pp. 726,
727.
'"> It is on the "Ordnance noticed, Survey
for the ofMeath," County
about A. D. 1200.
subsequently
here,
from the dead. '
ticon Hibemicum," pp. 717 10720.
'
His Life will be found, at the 9th of June.
» See Dr. O'Donovan's
"
' It was —
said, by
an old
poet, regarding
this saint
"Makinga wall, praying.
Kneeling, pure prayer,
Townland
:
Maps sheets II, 17.
His tears flowing without unwillingness. Were the virtues of Becan without fault.
" See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. n. (y), p. 329.
^
occurrence in that dramatic form of narra- tive, which was so peculiar a usage among
The O'Clerys' Calendar thus states the
old Irish writers
:
—
"Becan looked aside, and he saw Diar- njaid. 'Into the earth, thou murderer,' said he. Diarmaid sunk into the earth and
'
to his knees.
has come to thee,' said Colum Cille, *to resuscitate his son for him. ' Becan, after- wards, resuscitated Bresal this king's son,
Under my protection, he
36 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 5.
Norman invasion, Emlagh became a parish church. " By some writers, the
present holy man is represented as the patron of Kilbeggan,'3 a town ofsome importance,intheCountyofVVestmeath. '< Herethereweretwochurches,here, theabbeyandparochialchurch. Thesiteofoneisoccupied,byaProtestant
"
the Church of the Relic," marks the other spot. The site of the Cistercian Abbey is now a green field ; every stone of that fine and once-frequented structure having been removed. Only the cross, on the modern tombstones of the faithful, remains, to afford a trace of former Catholicity. 's TheMartyrology of Donegal,"* on this day, re- cords a festival, in honour of Becan, son of Cula,"? at Imlech Fiaich, in Fera- Cul-Breagh. The Rev. Alban Burler,"' and the " Circle of the Seasons,"'? com- memorate St. Beacon, Abbot, at the 5th of April. He is noticed, likewise, in theKalendar of Drummond. ^° At the Nones, corresponding with the present
date, the obiit of this holy man being there is recorded.
Article II. —St. Vincent Ferrer, Confessor, and a Missionary IN Ireland. Fourteenth andFifteenth Centuries. '] This illustrious saint, so distinguished for his missionary zeal and virtues, deigned to honour our
Island, by his living presence. To God, he gained many souls abroad, by the force of example and precept ; while in Ireland, it is to be hoped, his short stay had been productive of incalculably good results. The Acts of this saint are recorded, by many writers. Among the earliest composed may be mentioned the Life of St. Vincent Ferrier, by Pedro Ranzano, in 1455,' and another account, which vyas drawn up, by Francis Castilione, in 1470. Both of these Acts are to be found, in the Bollandists' great collection,^ while they are edited and annotated, by Father Godefrid Henschenn. s The first of these Lives is the most complete narrative of his saintly morals, learning, labours,miracles,prophecies,andzeal,whichhasbeendiscovered; whilethe latter account is chiefly a narrative of miracles, wrought after his death, in Armoric Britain. The Bull of this Saint's canonization has an account of various miracles, wrought by him during life, and through his intercession, when called out of this world. St. Antoninus treated about St. Vincent
"
Ferrer's virtues and miracles, in the fifteenth century. * In Hispania Biblio-
theca, seu De Academiis," &c. ,s the reader will find an account of this holy man. An anonymous Spaniard, belonging to the Convent of Placentia, Surius, Joannes Antonius Flaminius, and Leander Albertus, wrote Lives of
house of worship, while a green mound, called
"See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap. xxiii. , p. 136.
3 According to some, the Anglicised ren- dering of this denomination should be "the Church of the Small Stream. "
'* See the "
Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 363, 364.
^Thereweread:"ApudHiberniamSanc- tus Confessor Becan hoc die ad Christum migravit. "—Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 9.
Parliamentary
Gazetteer of
publish it,
from a Utrecht
Manuscript.
It
's See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , chap, xix. , pp. 520, 521.
has Four Prologues, and it is contained in
Four Books, comprising Fourteen Chapters.
°
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Article III. —Cruimhther Corc, of Cill-m6r-Ua-Niallian, now KiLMORE, County or Armagh. This holy man offered the unbloody sacrifice for his people, and discharged all his duties, with fervour and spiritual advantagetohisflock; for,sowemayfairlyinfer,fromtheprefix,whichhas been set to his name. This occurs, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 4th of April, as Cruimthir Corc, Cille Moire. The BoUandists » notice him as Crumtherus Corc, Presbyter, de Kill-mor. This particular spot, which is
spot
" In Irish Cloc CigeA|\n4iJ. Against that, the countrymen coming to market were in the habit of Itnocking their backs ;
for, if they neglected to do so, it was popu- larly supposed, that no luck should attend them on that day. See the County of Armagh and Monaghan Letters of the Irish Ordnance Survey. John O'Donovan's Let- ter, dated Cluain Eois, May 31st, 1835, p. 147-
* See the account, in his Life, at the 17th
of March, chap. xiii.
' The townland and town, so named, are
in the parish of Ballysadare, and Barony of Tirerrill, as seen on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Sligo," sheets 20, 26.
'See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (k), pp. 357.
358.
' Edited Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. by
94, 95.
»
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomusi. , Apnlis '*• Among the pretermitted saints, p. 319.
Article ii. —'
Gladstone, at the opening of the Welsh Na- tional Eisteddfod, at Mold, August 19th,
1873.
'Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx.
Speech
of William E.
Article ill. — Editedby Rev. Dr. Kelly, The Franciscan copy gives it 5Att toe* p. xx. The Franciscan copy has Ci\umchin
Ceicec.
' See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 6, 7.
Co|\c CibLe Tno^ve.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis
iv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 319.
32
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 4.
more fully written in the Martyrology of Donegal, means, the great church of O'Neilland. It is now known as Kilmore. s in the Barony of O NeiUand
West and Lower Orior, in the County of Armagh/ In the Martyrology of Donegal,5 we find entered, on this day, Cruimhther \t. e. Priest] Core, of Cill-mor, Ua Niallain. A great Catholic writer has observed, that society pays for the merchant's commodities their well ascertained values ; but it pays not sufficiently the sacrifices of the priest, the justice of the judge, or the blood of the soldier. *
Article IV. -St. Caemh, or Coine, Virgin, of Cill-Caoimhe, or CoiNE, PROBABLY KiLKiNE, CouNTY OF WiCKLOW. The great ones of earth pass away from life obtaining human applause, often undeserved y be- stowed: but, the good should be held, in each Christians grateful and affectionate remembrance, as the present holy woman deserved to be known in her day. On the 4th of April, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' we find her
Iim
Killkine Graveyard, County Wicklow.
name and place inserted, as Coini i-Cill6 Coine. The Bollandists ' have it, Coina de Kill-Coine. There is a Kilkine 3 old church, in the parish of Bally- kine,* in the County of Wicklow. The present saint may have been the sister of St. Kevin,5 founder of Glendalough, and, it seems not improbable, that she lived in the place previously mentioned ; or, at least, we do not find any nearer correspondingdenomination,ontheIrishOrdnanceMaps. Theoldgrave- yard of the place is still much used, but only a few fragments of the old church walls are to be seen there ;* and the situation—a peculiarly retired one—lies
3 This parish is shown, on the "Ordnance
Townland Maps for the County of
—
p. XX. The Frahciscan copy has it Coine
Citli Cornie.
» See ' ' Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis
iv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 319. 3 This is not found on the "General Al-
Survey
Armagh," sheets 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14. townland proper is on sheet 9.
The
Article iv.
•
Edited by
Rev. Dr.
< See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (c) p. loio.
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 94. 95-
"
tome v. , Les Poesies de Jacopone, p. 240.
'See Ozanam's
j^iuvres Completes,"
,^.
Kelly,
April 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 33
within a well-wooded demesne,' known as Whaley Abbey, near Avondale House and Demesne,' as also, near the celebrated Meeting of the Waters. " The festival, in honour of Caemh,'° Virgin, of Cill Caoimhe, was celebrated on this day, as we read, in the Martyrology of Donegal. " The first successor of St. Peter, in his chair at Rome, had decreed, that all women should enter the churches, with their heads veiled," as a mark of respect for the hoUness of God's House. In after time, this veiling of pious females was peculiarly a
distinctive usage of religious Virgins.
Article V. —St. Croinseach, or Cronsecha. Simply the festival
Cronsigi, is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 4th of April. The Bollandists ' enter Cronsecha, at the same date. We find the name of Croin-
seach entered, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ as having been vene- rated on this day.
Article VI. —St. Beghanus, or Beganus, Abbot. Such is the name of a Saint, found at this day, in the Anonymous Catalogue of our National Saints, published by O'SuUivan Beare. " His name as Beganus, Abbot, at
"
the 4th of April, is to be met with, likewise, in Henry Fitzsimon's
Aliquorum Sanctorum Iberniae ;" and, he —cites the Carthusian Martyrology, for
the Bollandists ' the of —a Manu quoting authority
this statement.
script Copy of Florarius, and Greven, in his additions to Usuard have a notice of Abbot Beganus, in Hibernia, at the 4th of April.
'
nell, Esq. , M. P. ;
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Ap- Among the pretermitted saints, p.
Again,
Article VII. —St. Colman Fionn, or Colmanus Candidus. The poor and unpretending minister of God is often the greatest attraction the lowly and humble find, in a large extent of country. The humble pastor, too,
phabetical Index to the Townlands and
depart,
Ere the bloom of that valley shall fade
from myheart. "
" In a note, Dr. Todd here
Towns, Parishes, and Baronies of Ireland.
"
*Thisparishissituated,intheBaronyof
Ballinacor South, and it is described, on the-
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Wicklow," sheets 29, 30, 34, 35, 39, 40.
5 See his life, at the 3rd of June.
' The accompanying sketch was taken, by the writer, on the spot, in July, 1873. It was drawn, on the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and engraved by Mrs. Millard.
' The Demesne, and church ruins within it, are noted, on the townland of Bahana. They are shown, on the '-Ordnance Survey
TownlandMapsfortheCounty of Wicklow, sheet 35.
" The more recent hand notes, Caoine CiLle CAOine,Mart. Tamlact; meaningthatshe is called Caoine of Cille Caoine, in the
The residence of Charles Stewart Par-
and, for a beautiful descrip-
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
tion of this place, the reader is referred to J. "
94, 95. — Article vi.
N. Brewer's Beauties of Ireland," vol. i. .
pp. 324 to 326.
' Immortalized by Thomas Moore, in the
charming Ir—ish Melody, which begins with
these lines
" 319-—
:
There is not in the wide world a valley so sweet,
As that vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet.
Oh! the last ray of feeling and life must
rilis iv. the saints Among pretermitted
, p.
Martyrology of Tallagh. "
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
94,95-
" See " Breviarium Romanum," at the
Feast of St. Li—nus, the 23rd of September. '
Article v. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
p. xx. The Franciscan copy has Cjuni-
feachi.
319.
^
" rilis iv.
See "Historiae Catho- licae IbemiaeCompendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. ,
cap. xi. , p. 50.
"
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Ap-
Article vii. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. The Franciscan copy has CoLmAni
ptiv>.
'See Acta Sanctorum, tomus i. , Ap-
rilisiv. Among thepretermitted saints, p. 319. C
""
Catalogus
says,
34 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 4.
effect on a
is good, and therefore love him," than could the most eloquent and courtly
of preachers, by the most cultivated art of rhetoric, or by the most eloquent sermon he could preach. We have no doubt, many of the almost unknown saintsofIrelandmightbeinstancedasexamples. Anentryappears,ofCol- man Find, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 4th of April. The BoUandists '^ mark this festival, also, as one sacred to the memory of Col- manusCandidus. Afestival, inhonourofColmanFionn,wascelebratedon this day, according to the Martyrology of Donegal. ^
Article VIII. —King Conuallus, said to have been venerated,
IN Scotland. [Sixth Century. ] According to Camerarius, there was a King, named Conuallus, and the first bearing this name, who was venerated
in Scotland, at the 4th of April. " He was remarkable, for his piety, and for his respect to the clergy f while, he is said, to have merited the commenda- tion of St. Columba himself. The name is Irish, but little seems to be known, regarding the origin of this Conuallus.
Article IX. —Deposition of St. Celsus, Archbishop of Ar. magh.
\_Eleventh and Tivelfth Centuries. "] Already we have alluded to the death of St. Celsus, as having occurred, on the ist of April ; and, on this day, the Annals
that he was interred at Lis-mor-Mochuda. ' How- ever, the chief celebration of this holy man, at present, is on the 6th of this month ; on which day, it is noticed, in the Roman Martyrology.
This is said to have been owing to an oversight of Baronius, the compiler, who mistook
a IV. for a vi. ,' in consulting his authority for the insertion.
ArticleX. —St. Ultan,SonofCait. Anentryofthisnameisfound, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 4th of April. The BoUandists ^ re- cord a festival, for Ultanus filius Caidi, at this same date. Again, Ultan, son
of Cait, is registered, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ as having veneration paid him, on this day.
Article XI. —St. Aithbe. \V'eread,in the Martyrology of Donegal,' that
a St. Aithbe was venerated, at this date. In Kilturk Parish, County of Wex-
ford, a patron had been formerly held, on the 4th day of April. ' Whether it referred to any of the foregoing holy persons, or to same local saint, not specified, we are quite unable to state.
generally produces greater
congregation, by simply saying,
of the Four Masters
state,
3
Edited by
Drs. Todd and
Article x. —' Edited Rev. Dr. by
Reeves, pp.
—
the Kalendar of David Camerarius, in Bis-
hop Korbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints,"
p. 236. See, also, p. 3'5-
"See Boethius " Historia Scotice. " Lib.
-p. XX. tllcAn
Kelly, In the Franciscan copy it is written
94, 95.
Article viii.
'
See Scottish entries in
itiac CAicce.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Ap-
ix. , fol. i66a. Par. ed. 1575. Likewise, 94, 95. —'
Edited by Drs. Todd . ind
Lesley, "De Origine Scotorum. " Lib. iv. ,
p. 147-
Article ix. —' See Dr. O'Donovan's edi-
tion,vol. i. , pp. 1034,1035.
'See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of
the Saints," vol. iv. , April 6, p. 109.
ARTICLE XI.
=
rilis iv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 319-
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Reeves, pp. 94, 95.
" See the County of Wexford Irish Ord-
nanceSurveyRecords,nowpreserved,inthe Library of the Royal Irish Academy, voL ii.
" God
April 5. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 35
Jfi'ftl) 33ap of aprtl.
ARTICLE I. - -ST. BEGAN, AT IMLECH-FIAICH, IN FERA-CUL-BREAGH, NOW EMLAGH, COUNTY OF MEATH.
[SIXTH CENTURY. ']
THE present holy man was distinguished, among the Saints of Ireland.
The his at this calls him MartyrologyofTallagh,' recording festival, date,
St. BegainmicCule; and,aswearetold,thenameisthusderived,fromhis mother. Referring to tlie same authority, the Bollandists briefly enter, on the sth of April, Beccanus filius Culje. " The same paternity is assigned to him, in the "Feilire" of St. . ^Engus. He descended from the race of Eoghan Mor, son of Oilioll Oluim, according to the O'Clerys' Calen- dar. St. Becan, or Began, is said to have lived contemporaneously with St. Columkille. 3 He founded a monastery, about the close of the sixth or the beginning of the seventh century, at Kilbeggan,4 a town, situated on the River Brosna. s According to one account, when St. Colum-CiUe ^ and the King of Erinn, Diarmait, son of Fergus Cearbheoil, after killing Bresal, -his son, came to where Becan was, they found him erecting a fort, with a wet cloak about him, and he praying. ? The saint felt highly incensed against the monarch, whom he humbled in a miraculous manner ; but, afterwards, he re- lented, owing to the prayers of Columba. ' However, we cannot find these statements, in the proper Acts of the latter saint. That locality with which Becan was connected, Imleach Fia, or Imleach Fise, was also denominated Imleach-Becain,9 from this saint. His old church, at Emlagh,'° gave name to a parish, so called, and lying in the barony of Lower Kells, towards the north-eastofthetownofKells,inthecountyofMeath. " AftertheAnglo-
Article I. —' Edited by Rev Dr.
Kelly, p. XX. The Franciscan copy has
See ActaSanctorum,"tomusi. ,Apri- lis V. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 396. 3 See Rev. Anthony Cogan's " Ecclesias-
" Hand on a stone, hand lifted up,
Knee bent to set a rock.
Eye shedding tears, other lamentation.
Andmouthpraying. "
becjAin mac Culise. '"
of
dem," vol. iii. , chap. Ixxiv. . p. 576.
* The parish so called is situated, in the barony of Moycashel, and, it isshown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
County of Westmeath," sheets 32, 37, 38. The to^vn, and townland, in its separate divi- sions, north and south, are noted, on sheet 38.
5 Its after history seems lost, but a Cister-
tical
History
Meath,
Ancient and Mrf-
cian
Abbey
was
founded
See Archdall's "Monas-
"
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , at A. i). 990, pp. 726,
727.
'"> It is on the "Ordnance noticed, Survey
for the ofMeath," County
about A. D. 1200.
subsequently
here,
from the dead. '
ticon Hibemicum," pp. 717 10720.
'
His Life will be found, at the 9th of June.
» See Dr. O'Donovan's
"
' It was —
said, by
an old
poet, regarding
this saint
"Makinga wall, praying.
Kneeling, pure prayer,
Townland
:
Maps sheets II, 17.
His tears flowing without unwillingness. Were the virtues of Becan without fault.
" See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. n. (y), p. 329.
^
occurrence in that dramatic form of narra- tive, which was so peculiar a usage among
The O'Clerys' Calendar thus states the
old Irish writers
:
—
"Becan looked aside, and he saw Diar- njaid. 'Into the earth, thou murderer,' said he. Diarmaid sunk into the earth and
'
to his knees.
has come to thee,' said Colum Cille, *to resuscitate his son for him. ' Becan, after- wards, resuscitated Bresal this king's son,
Under my protection, he
36 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 5.
Norman invasion, Emlagh became a parish church. " By some writers, the
present holy man is represented as the patron of Kilbeggan,'3 a town ofsome importance,intheCountyofVVestmeath. '< Herethereweretwochurches,here, theabbeyandparochialchurch. Thesiteofoneisoccupied,byaProtestant
"
the Church of the Relic," marks the other spot. The site of the Cistercian Abbey is now a green field ; every stone of that fine and once-frequented structure having been removed. Only the cross, on the modern tombstones of the faithful, remains, to afford a trace of former Catholicity. 's TheMartyrology of Donegal,"* on this day, re- cords a festival, in honour of Becan, son of Cula,"? at Imlech Fiaich, in Fera- Cul-Breagh. The Rev. Alban Burler,"' and the " Circle of the Seasons,"'? com- memorate St. Beacon, Abbot, at the 5th of April. He is noticed, likewise, in theKalendar of Drummond. ^° At the Nones, corresponding with the present
date, the obiit of this holy man being there is recorded.
Article II. —St. Vincent Ferrer, Confessor, and a Missionary IN Ireland. Fourteenth andFifteenth Centuries. '] This illustrious saint, so distinguished for his missionary zeal and virtues, deigned to honour our
Island, by his living presence. To God, he gained many souls abroad, by the force of example and precept ; while in Ireland, it is to be hoped, his short stay had been productive of incalculably good results. The Acts of this saint are recorded, by many writers. Among the earliest composed may be mentioned the Life of St. Vincent Ferrier, by Pedro Ranzano, in 1455,' and another account, which vyas drawn up, by Francis Castilione, in 1470. Both of these Acts are to be found, in the Bollandists' great collection,^ while they are edited and annotated, by Father Godefrid Henschenn. s The first of these Lives is the most complete narrative of his saintly morals, learning, labours,miracles,prophecies,andzeal,whichhasbeendiscovered; whilethe latter account is chiefly a narrative of miracles, wrought after his death, in Armoric Britain. The Bull of this Saint's canonization has an account of various miracles, wrought by him during life, and through his intercession, when called out of this world. St. Antoninus treated about St. Vincent
"
Ferrer's virtues and miracles, in the fifteenth century. * In Hispania Biblio-
theca, seu De Academiis," &c. ,s the reader will find an account of this holy man. An anonymous Spaniard, belonging to the Convent of Placentia, Surius, Joannes Antonius Flaminius, and Leander Albertus, wrote Lives of
house of worship, while a green mound, called
"See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap. xxiii. , p. 136.
3 According to some, the Anglicised ren- dering of this denomination should be "the Church of the Small Stream. "
'* See the "
Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 363, 364.
^Thereweread:"ApudHiberniamSanc- tus Confessor Becan hoc die ad Christum migravit. "—Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 9.
Parliamentary
Gazetteer of
publish it,
from a Utrecht
Manuscript.
It
's See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. ii. , chap, xix. , pp. 520, 521.
has Four Prologues, and it is contained in
Four Books, comprising Fourteen Chapters.
°
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
