No More Learning

stone representing the building of Solomon's temple, executed by Mr. Harrison, of Dublin,
It was presented to the dean and chapter by the contractors.
I49 The apse is surmounted by a life-size figure, in gilt bronze, having an angel fixed in a commanding position,
,5= The entrance doors are square-headed, thickly sheeted with oak, and ornamented with wolf-heads.
ISI In the spandrils around it are carved emblematical figures of an eagle, an angel, an ox, and a lion, supported on columns of
polished masonry.
I52 It is divided into eight floreated panels,
richly mounted.
;84 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 25,
by the clerestory windows, five in number, 3 feet 4 inches wide, beneath which are five corresponding trifolium arches, supported on Bathstone columns, richly carved. The chancel is marked off by a row of eight massive Cork red marble pillars, doubled, each of which has a parasitical Bathstone column
running up to the roof. 155
Round the pillars of the chancel is an ambulatory, lighted by seventeen
Interior View of St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork.
geela, where there are remains of an old chapel in a grave-yard, and said to have been a chapel of ease, is dedicated to St. Finbar. The present writer had been informed by Mr. Joseph Long,^ a native of the city, and who had an excellent local knowledge of Cork, that a tradition there prevailed regarding a chime of silver bells, formerly belonging to the church of St. Finnbarr. It was supposed, these bells had been buried under ground, behind the North Mall. It was reported, a certain family in Cork had a knowledge of where they had been buried ; but, it was thought, that family has become extinct, and that every clue to the bells' place of concealment is now lost.
Many buildings at present cover the site, as indicated by citizens of Cork. In the poem158 beginning "Patrick of the fort of Macha loves," it states,
interior of St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork,
is copied from an approved photograph, and drawn on the wood, engraved by Gregor Grey.
'ss The organ gallery, at the western end of the church, is approached by a spiral staircase, and it contains a magnificent organ, built by Mr. Hill, of London, at a cost of £1,500.
156 The foregoing description is taken chit fly from the Dublin Evening Mailoi Thursday,
December 1st, 1870.
157 Then engaged in cataloguing Irish
Manuscripts, contained in the Royal Irish
Academy, February, 1867.
158 Ascribed to Cuimin of Connor.
159 This is found in the English transla-
tion ;—
windows, arranged in
with rich
triple lights,
moulding, and supports. The ascent from the nave to the chancel is by
seven steps of Sicilian marble. 156
In the City of Cork,
the Catholic
church of the South Parish is dedicated to St. Finbar while there
;
is a parish known as St.
Finbar's West, with a church dedicated to the
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. At Sunday's Well is St. Finbar's In-
dustrial School, under
the management of the Sisters of the Good Shep- herd. The Seminary at Cork is also dedicated to St. Finbar. The parish church of Bantry is dedi- cated to him. The parish church of Inchi-
parish
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 585
that Bairre was humble to every person, and that he used to give assistance
to every needy person. ^ The holy man, Barrus, was great and wonderful, say his ancient biographers, both on earth and in Heaven. He was constant in faith as St. Peter, an excellent doctor like St. Paul, courageous as St. Andrew, supplanting vices like St. James, full of God's grace, like St. John. Like Abraham he was a true pilgrim; like Moses he was gentle, tender and forgiving ; like David he was a choice and praiseworthy psalmist ; likeSolomonhewasrenownedforknowledgeandwisdom. Indaily,and especially in his inward, life, Bairre united all the virtues of perfect men, such as humility, obedience, affability, patience, faith, hope, and charity. His well-regulated temper and gentle rule; his constant prayers and meditation ; his vigils, his fasting and abstinence ; his purity of heart and soul ; his powers and strength of mind ; his generosity and discernment
;
these and many other high qualifications are enumerated by his panegyrists. Having performed many miracles, having fought the good fight, and having kept the faith, this glorious Saint, owing to his merits, deserved the kingdom of Heaven and the sight of its King. Among choirs of angels he happily passed to the Lord.
Article II. —St. Colman, of Comhruire, now Kilcomreragh, at
Uisneach
County of Westmeath. — The Hill, \_Seventh Century. ']
name — a diminutive of Colum or Colin Colman, being
a contraction Columba was very frequently applied to very many of our early Irish
The name Colman, Comraire, appears in the Martyrology of Tallagh, as having veneration paid him, at the 25th of September. The like entry3 is in the Book of Leinster copy. The feast of Colman is entered in the Feilire of Marianus
commentator says, &*. ', Colman Comhruire rendered Colman of the Casket. Bronach,* daughter to Miliuc, son of Buan, with whom Patrick6 was in bondage, is said to have been his mother. ? Again, it is related, that
his mother was Galges, daughter of Aedh-finn or Hugh the White, prince of Hybruinn. He is said to have been the son of Fintan, and grandson of Finloga, prince of South Munster. His brother was the celebrated St. Fursa or 8 who
Saints. 1
Fursey,
preached
England and
2
Bairre, the fire of wisdom, loves Humility to the men of the world ; He never saw in want
A person that he did not assist. "
"
Rev. Dr. Kelly's p. 165. — Article 11.
"
iii. , chap, xix. , sect, i. , n. 12, p. 146.
Martyrology of Tallagh,"
'See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol.
2
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxv.
at the— of
O'Gorman,* 25th September, and the
and founded monasteries in
France. Uisneach was in the parish of Killare, barony of Rathconrath and county of Westmeath. It is now known as Usnagh hill,9 and somewhere in its vicinity, Comhruire must be sought. This place was also called Comhraire-Midhe, and it is now known as Kilcomreragh, near the hill of Uisneach. The church there is said to have been founded early in the
seventh century, by the present Saint. It seems likely he died during that period, or perhaps early in the eighth century. The death of Abbot Ferfio of
"
Asomewhat different — translation— English
yet substantially the same may be seen in
3 Thus : Colman Comnaine.
*See Dr. Whitley Stokes' " Feilire Hui
Gormain," pp. 184, 185.
5 See her commemoration at the 2nd of
April, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
6
See his Life at the 17th of March in the Third Volume of this work, Art. i.
7 Such is the O'Clery statement.
8
See his Life, at the 16th of January, in the First Volume of this work, Art. i.
9 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Anmls of the Four Masters," vol. i. , 11. (e), p. 166.
for
586 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 25.
10
Comhraire-Midhe, is recorded, at a. d. 757. Comraire monastery seemed
not to have survived the Danish invasions. 11 The history of St. Colman,
and the year of his death, do not appear to be known. He is recorded in
the Martyrology of Donegal,12 at this same date as Colman, of Comhruire, at Uisneach.
Article III. —Reputed St. Colman, Sci. The Martyrology ot
1
Tallagh, registers St. Colman, Sci. , as having been venerated, at the 25th of
September. In like manner, we meet such an insertion2 in the Book of
Leinster copy. As we do not meet this distinctive entry in any other Irish
Calendar,it seemstohavebeenasuperfluousnotice,andonlyintendedto commemorate the preceding saint.
Article IV. —St. Iomchaidh, of Kill Drochoid, County or Down.
1 as also in the Book of Leinster
25th of September. 3 From the name of this Saint's locality, it must be Anglicised, "Church of the Bridge. " Doubt exists as to the exact place where this Saint had been venerated, within that peninsula called the Ards of Ulster. There is no river in the Ards, deserving a bridge, except the Blackstaff, which divides the Great and Little Ards. The chapel of Grangia or Gransha, a townland at the south end of Inishargy parish,* was situated near the Blackstaff river. s The name of Iomchaidh is also entered in the
of 6 at this same date, as of in Ard Martyrology Donegal, being Cilldroichit,
Uladh.
ArticleV. —St. CoelanorCaelan,ofEchinis. Whenthetopicor
individual for praise is honestly deserving, it seldom happens, that the faculty for praising is easy of exercise, because there is a want of complete knowledge
The
2 at that date. In the Feilire of Marianus O'Gorman the feast of
In the
published Martyrology
of
Tallagh,
Each-inis,
which means in u the horse-island. " There are no less English,
2 wefindthe
of Inthe September.
atthe
Feilire of Marianus O'Gorman, his name, place and feast are entered at the
copy,
simple entry, Imchad,
25th
the
feast for Coelan, at the 25th of September, The Book of Leinster has a
regarding
subject.
published Martyrology
like
entry,
Coelan is to be found at this date, and the commentator states, that he was
from Ech-inis. 3 The Martyrology of Donegal* records a festival, at the 25th
of September, to honour St. Caelan. It also gives the name of his place,
than fourteen ascertained denominations of its Anglicised form in various parts
of Ireland ' with perhaps many more not recorded, yet locally known to the ;
10 See to ibid. , pp. 358
4 See " Ordnance Survey Townland
for the County of Down," sheet 18. s See Rev. William Reeves'
and n.
"See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap.
lxxiv. , p. 558.
"Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Maps
258, 259. Article hi.
Appendix LL, p. 380, and n. (d) ibid.
361,
(e).
— 21
Kelly, p. xxxv.
Thus : Colma—ni Sci.
Reeves, pp
258, 259.
Akicle v. — Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly
Article iv Kelly, p. xxxiv.
2
•
Edited
Rev. Dr.
xxxv.
'Thus : Caelan.
3 See Dr. Whitley Stokes' "Feilire Hui
l
Edited by Rev. Dr.
6 Drs. Toddand Edited by
Thus: Imchao.
*Th« commentator notes that he was of
Chille droichit or Cell Droichit, in Ard Ulad. See Dr. Whitley Stokes' " Feilire Hui Gormain," pp. 184, 185.
Gormain," pp. 184, 185.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp
258, 259.
s See "General Alphabetical Index to the
by
p.
of 1 entersa Tallagh
" siastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," p. 21, and n. (m), ibid. . Also,
Eccle
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 587
people living in their neighbourhood. An Aghinish6 is found in the parish of Kinawley, in the barony of Knockninny, and County of Fermanagh.
There is an Aghinish, in the parish of Ballyovey, barony of Carra, and County of Mayo. ?
Within Lough Carra, opposite the residence of Moore Hall, are
8
the ruins of an old church, which may possibly be identified with the cultus
of this St. Coelan or Caelan.
6
See Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
Article VI. —St. Ainmire, of Ross-ua-Chonna, in Mughdhorna. l
The Martyrology of Donegal mentions, that veneration was given at the 25thofSeptembertoAinmire,ofRoss-ua-Chonna,inMughdhorna. Inthe Feilire of Marianus O'Gorman2 there is mention of a true Ainmire, my Superior," at this day ; while a commentator adds, that he was from Ross
Hua Chonna in Mughdornaibh. 3 The Mughdhorna Breagh* were a Sept of theOirghialla5 seatedinBregia,inEastMeath,buttheirexactpositionhas notbeendetermined. TheyaretobedistinguishedfromtheMughdhorna- Maighen, who were seated in and gave name to the barony of Cremorne, in
6
the County of Monaghan.
Article VII. —St. Sineall, of Druim-Broan. In the published 1
Martyrology of Tallagh, there seems an incorrect entry, Linell (for Sinell)
Droma broon. The 2 is to be found in the Book of Leinster proper entry
copy. Inthe"FeilireofMarianusO'Gorman"3 thereisanentryofSinell,andhis
commentator adds, that he was of Droma Broan or Druim Brdan. Among the townland denominations of Ireland, we can only discover one place called Drumbrone, which is situated in the parish of Magheracloone, in the barony of Farney, and County of Monaghan. * Sineall, of Drium Broan, is set down in the Martyrology of Donegal,5 as having had a festival, at the 25th of September.
Article VIII. —St. Seanan or Senan, Bishop of Cork. The pub-
1 recordsthename
—now Cork city—as having had veneration paid him, at the 25th of Septem-
ber. Also, in the Book of Leinster he is 2 in like manner. The copy, entered,
Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman has a Senan, with eulogy,3 at this date, and the commentator calls him a bishop, but without naming his see. Pro-
lished of Martyrology
Tallagh
Senan, Bishop
of
Corcaighe
Townlands and Towns, Parishes and Baronies of Ireland," p. 530.
Latinised Provincia Mugdornorum and Regio
for the County of Fermanagh," sheet 34.
7 See Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Mayo," sheet 109.
O'Donovan, LL. D. , p. xxi. , num. 121. 6"
8
So I have been informed by the late
Four Masters," vol. i, n. (f), p. 420.
Article vii. —l Edited a — of the xxxv.
who had *2
Reeves, pp. 258, 259.
Rev. Canon Ulick
Rev. Mr.
Very
good knowledge
J. Bourke,
by
vicinity. Articlevi. EditedbyDrs. Toddand
Kelly, p.
Thus SmellDfoniAbpoon.
2
See Dr. Whitley Stokes' "Feilire Hui
Gormain," pp. 184, 185.
4 See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Monaghan," Sheet 30.
5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Gormain," pp. 184, 185.
3 See ibid. , notes.
* The Mughdorni were the descendants of
Mughdom Dubh, son of Colla Meann. See "1
258,259.
Roderick O'Flaherty's Ogygia," pars iii. , Article viii. — Edited by Rev. Dr.
cap. lxxvi. , p. 363. Kelly, p. xxxv.
5 The Mughdhorna territory is more 2 'Thus : Sen<\n Cope,
usually called Crich Mughdhorn ; it is 3 There he is noted us " Senan Saigthir,"
"
Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na
Naomh O'Huidhrin," edited by John
Mugdornorum. See the
Topographical
See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
:
3 See Dr. Whitley Stokes' " Feilire Hui
5 88 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 25.
bably on the authority of the Tallagh Martyrology, Colgan notices his feast for this day, and states, that he ruled as bishop over the See of Cork. * He
is simply set down as Seanan, Bishop, in the Martyrology of Donegal,s at this same date.
Article IX. —St. Modain or Modoe, in Ailbhe. The published
1
Martyrology of Tallagh mentions'a festival in honour of Modoe, in Ailbhe, at
the 25th of September. In the Book of Leinster, the entry is somewhat different. 2 —In the Feilire of Marianus 0'Gorman,3 there is a line "Mo Doe fri decraib " rendered " My Doe, against hardships," and the commentator adds that he was in Ailbe. In the Annals of the Four Masters,* at the year of Christ 528, we have the account of a battle fought at Ailbhe, in Breagh, a place now known as Cluan-Ailbhe, in barony of Upper Duleek, and County of Meath. In the Martyrology of Donegal,s there is a commemoration of Modoe in Ailbhe,6 at this date.
Article X. —Feast of Firmin or Firminus, First Bishop of Amiens, by some writers reputed an Irish Saint. Although by some rather modern writers, St. Firminus has been regarded as a native of Ireland; yet the more ancient accounts and the circumstances of his career are manifestly in contradiction of those authorities. At the 25th day of September, Colgan had desired to publish the Acts of St. Firminus, as we learn from the
1 This
list ofhis
according to some writers. His father is said to have been named Firmus, and to have been distinguished for his social rank. From him, as we are informed, the son was called Firminus. 2 The idea of the present holy bishop having been a native of our Island seems—to have arisen from an
posthumous
Manuscripts.
holy
Ireland,
error
—ofPetrusde in Hiberia asfoundinhisancient
Natalibus, mistaking
Acts for Hibernia, in which the city of Pampilonia is placed. Firmin was born, it is stated, in the second half of the first century. 3 The Life of St.
Firminus, Bishop and Martyr of Amiens, has been published* by the Bollan- dists,satthe25thofSeptember. Ithasbeenedited6fromtwoManuscripts;
which is rendered " Senan who is sought. " Magh-n- Ailbhe, 'plain of Ailbhe,' is "
See Dr. Whitley Stokes' Feilire Hui intended, as it is not unusual to find in such
Gormain," pp. 184, 185.
4 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," viii. ,
Martii, Vita S. Senani, Appendix, cap. i. ,p. 541, (recte) 537.
cases as Cairbre, Laoghaire, &c, a personal name applied to a region, without anyquali-
5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
258, 259. In the Irish Ordnance Survey Meusium et Dierum. "
MS. we read Senan at copy, simply, epp,
thisday. " Seep. 81. .
'
Article ix. —Edited by Rev. Mr.
Kelly, p. xxxv.
2 Thus : moodi i. e. m -dilbe-.
3 See Dr. Whitley Stokes' " Feilire Hui
Gormain," pp. 184, 185.
4
See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. , pp. 176, 177, and n. (m).
2 See " Officia Sanc- DeBurgo's Propria
torum Hiberniae," Die xxv. Septembris. In Fest-» S. Firmini. Officium. Lect. iv. , p. 80.
lis feast is to he found at the same date in the "Supplementumad Breviarium Romano- Seraphicum," p. 74. Printed in Dublin, 1752, i2mo. , by Ignatius Kelly, of St.
Mary's-lane.
3 See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Vies des
s Edited pp. 258, 259.
6 Ailbhe
Rev. Drs. Todd and
tome xi. xxv. e de
Jour Septembre,
by
Reeves,
Saints," p. 372.
In a note Dr. Reeves says at the word
4 In two chapters containing nineteen
paragraphs.
s bee "Acta Sanctorum," tomus vii.
:
" The
manuscript, following
the
note on Marian, has in, which makes Ailbe
the name of a place not of a man. Probably Septembris xxv. De S. Firmino Episc.
Cluain-Ailbhe,
'
lawn of Ailbhe,' or Mart. Ambianis in Gallia, pp. 24 to 57.
fication. " — Article x.
manwasbornin
'See "Catalogus Actuum Sanctorum quae MS. habentur, Ordine
I
September 25. ] LIVES OJ- THE IRISH SA/ATS. 589
one belonging to Amiens, and the other to Antwerp, while these have been collated witli six others, and the edition of Bosquet. Notes and a previous commentary''areannexed. ThepublishedLatinLifeofSt. Firminusstates, that at an early period of Christianity, he was the son of Firmus, a senator of great virtue and noble birth, as also of Eugenia, his wife, a lady of like conditions, who lived in a city of Hyberia, called Pampolana. They were originally Pagans, but afterwards converts to the true Religion. Their children are named Firminus, and Faustus, brothers, with a sister named Eusebia ; and of these Firminus the oldest was entrusted by his parents to the care and instruction of a 8 whom he had been
bap-
priest, Honestus, by
tised. Having passed seven years under the discipline of that holy man,
St. Firmin went forth to spread the Gospel in Gaul, and there he was ordained priest by St, Honoratus,9 Bishop of Toulouse. Afterwards he was
10
consecrated bishop.
mission among the people of Aquitaine, where he converted many to the true Faith. Subsequently, he travelled to the north-eastern parts of France,
where the Christians were violently persecuted by the Roman governor, Valerus. He first preached at Beauvais," where he was arrested and cast into prison, from which he was released, but only to engage the more ear- nestly in his apostolic labours. About this time, Trajan ruled over the Roman Empire, while Sebastian and Longalus were governors of Bclgic Gaul Thence Firmin proceeded to the territory of the Ambiani,12 and in their chief called now known as Amiens,1 he
Inspired by great zeal for God's glory, he began his
city, Ambianum,^ '*
laboured to convert the pagans from idolatry. He there founded a church and had numerous disciples. Among his converts was a senator named Faustinien, who with his family was baptised, as also many others of distin- guished rank. He likewise wrought a number of miracles. His missionary work extended to the surrounding country, and even among the Morini. It is said the episcopal see of Amiens had been established on the outskirts of
that 15 city,
by
St.
Firmin,
on the site of the of St. Acheul. present Abbey
The first church he founded was, no doubt, of moderate dimensions, and
probably of perishable materials, and it has long since disappeared. The
presentCathedralofAmiensl6 is oneofthemostmagnificentGothicstruc-
tures in the world while it is remarkable for its noble dimensions and the ;
extraordinary height of its vaulted roof over the nave. The front or western entrance is flanked on both angles of the facade with two lofty and imposing towers, symmetrical in height and closely corresponding in architectural
6 I2
By Father John Stilting, S. J. These people are alluded to by Cse-ar,
'•
7 The commentary is comprised in ten in his work Commentariorum de Bello
sections, and it contains one hundred and Gallico," lib. ii. , cap. xv.