s As the stations were
designed
to honour a St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
"
' See some notices regarding him, at that '7 There is a townland and parish so day.
named, in the barony of Lower Slane. They '^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the are described, on the "Ordnance Survey Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 264, 265.
F, at p. 43. — Article vii.
—;
48 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
death is stated to have occurred, in 65 2. ^ The present saint followed him to the tomb, within less than three months, as he died on the ist of May suc- ceeding. 9 The Annals of Clonmacnoise state the year was 651 ; those of the Four Masters, a. d. 652 ; while, those of Ulster place his death under the year 653. '° Colgan conjectures, that the present St. Ossen might be con- founded with St. Ascicus, Bishop;" but, this is manifestly erroneous. From the Irish calendar, preserved in the Royal Irish Academy, we only find, at this date, the simple entry of Ossein,'^ without patronymic or place designated.
Article VII. St. Luaithrenn, Virgin or Widow. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,' there was veneration given on this day to Luaithrenn. In the table appended to tliis record, our saint is said to have been a Virgin, or a Widow. ^ Again, in the Introduction to that work, it is stated, there can be no question of a Cill Luaithrenn having been in Lein- ster. 3 Perhaps, we should connect the present saint, with such a locality for, she has a festival disiinct from that of her namesake, the Virgin Luaith- renn, who was venerated, on the 8th of June, and at a place, similarly de- nominated, in Corann, of Connaught. There is a townland and parish called Killurin,* in the barony of Shelmaliere West, county of Wexford, 5 and it pro- bablyderiveditsdenominationfromasaint,bearingsuchaname. Yet,we only find two saints, called Luaithrenn, in our Irish calendars. There is also a place, formerly called Cill lurin, and now known as Killurin,^ a townland in the west of the parish of Geshill, in the King's County. Here stood a castle, which was taken by O'Carroll, and by the Earl of Kildare, in 1532. Nothing but the entrenchments around it now remain. 7 According to popu- lar tradition, three saints, who were sisters, lived near Millstreet,* in the county of Cork. One named Latierna is still venerated in the parish of Drom- tarriff 9 There is a holy well and " pattern," on some day in the month of May. The people suppose, that unless they make their rounds, on that occasion,nogoodluckwillattendthemduringtherestoftheyear. Anotherof those sisters is venerated at Cullen,'° or as pronounced by the Irish-speaking population. Culling. There is a holy well, near tlie site of that old church, to which people come from great distances, to be cured of diseases. There is also an old whitethorn, growing outside the churchyard, and which, tradi- tion says, covers her grave. " Nothing seems to be known, regarding the thirdsister; nordoesitappear,thatthenamesLatiernaandLuaithrennmay be assimilated.
9 See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap, ii. , p. 14-
"See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 264, 265, and n. (u). Ibid.
"See '"Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Sexta S. Patricii, n. 122, p. 114.
" Thus Offein, in Common Place Book
of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 157.
* It is noted, on the "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the King's County," sheets 24, 25.
' This castle is shown on the old map of Leix and Ophaly, made in the reign of Philip and Maiy. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. v. , pp. 1410, 141 1, and n. (o). Ibid.
* In the parish of Drishane, and barony of West Muskerry, shown on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Cork," sheet 39.
' It is situated in the barony of Duhallow,
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 116, 117.
' See ii'id. , pp. 434, 435.
3 See tbid. , p. xxxix.
*• Marked on the "Ordnance Survey Town-
and it is described, on sheets 23, 30, 31, 39, land Maps for the County of Wexford," 40. Ibid.
sheets 31, 32, 36, 37. "^ This is not far from Millstreet, county 5 See Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary of Cork.
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Article VIII. —St. Aedhgein, or Aedgein, Bishop and Abbotof Fore, County of Westmeath. [Eii^/ith Cenlu/y. '] In the Martyrology of Tallagli,' at the ist of May, we have the simple entry Aedgein, Fobhair, without any other distinction. The Bohandists, aUuding to the same autho- rity, at this date, enter Aidgenus Fovariensis. ^ The town of Fore is called Bailie Fob/iar, "the town of the books," by Ussher. 3 But, Dr, O'Donovan says, the name is derived from the many springs, which flow from the hill into a mill-pond, at the village of Fore. * Except that St. Aidghenius is num- beredamongtheAbbotsandPrelatesofFore,intheeighthcentury,5 little more is known regarding him. Under the head of Fabhar, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Aedgin, bishop and abbot of Fabhar, and that he rested a. d, 766, on May ist. ^ This, too, agrees with a statement, found in the Annals of the Four Masters. 7 It is quite likely, the present saint may have been one of those anchorites, who lived at Fore, from the earlier pait of the eighth cen- tury, and a representative of whom continued to reside ^ there in a cell, so late even as the last century. 9 The anchorite's cell has been used for years back, as a cemetery for the Nugent f. imily. '° This day, the Martyr- ology of Donegal " registers the name of Aedhgein, Bishop and Abbot of Fobhar.
Article IX. St. Goibnen, or Gobnenus. At the ist of May, the BoUandists' quote the Martyrology of I'allagh, for Colmanus, id est, Gobne- nus f but, no light is thrown on his history. In the published copy,3 there seems to be a transcriber's mistake, in the entry, Colman i Gaibnedhi. At Cranfield parish, in the county of Antrim, there is a well, long famed for its healing efficacy. A spring is said to have been produced by St. Patrick, in a miraculous manner, and at a locality, called Domhnacli Combuir. This place thesaintreceivedfromoneColladius,orCoUa. Asthefountainsprungup after the Irish Apostle's prayers, it was afterwards called in the native tongue Slaji, on account of its sanitary properties ; for many when afflicted with grievous distempers were restored to health, after drinking from its waters.
May I. ]
49
" The name of this saint is not known, but
a popular legend states, that she went to
fetch some fire from a smithy. The smith
is said to have made some rude remark, re-
garding the beauty of her feet. The saint is
said to have grown vain thereat ; but, soon
feehng sorrow for her fault, she prayed, that
no smith should ever live again at Cullen.
According to another version, in conse- Description of Westmeath," p. 65. quence of her bann, it is said, no fire can be ' See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "Antiquities lighted there, for a smith's purpose. The of Ireland," chap, xvii. , sect, i , p. 135. foregoing information was given to the '°SeeRev. A. Cogan's"DioceseofMeath, writer, in a letter from Father Denis Murphy, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap. Ixxiv. , S. J. , and headed, Presentation Convent, pp. 565, 556.
Douglas-street, Cork, August the 15th,
1878.
Article viii.
—
' Edited by Rev. Dr.
'See "Acta Sanctorum,"
Kelly, p. xxiii.
has ^Xe'Djein ITobhAi^x.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
Maii
saints, p. 3.
" In the Franciscan copy, we read Cob-
niAni, and over this name the comment . 1. Jobnmi.
3 See •' Primordin," cap. xvii. , p. 966.
* See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (s), pp. 22, 23.
^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxii.
It was likewise called St. Patrick's Well, 5 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- and Colgan says it appears to have been
nite," xx. Januarii, Appendix ad Acta S. Fechini, cap. iii. , p. 143.
* See " Proceedings of tlie Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 108, 109.
' See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 368, 369.
'^ See Sir Henry Piers' " Chonographical
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
116, 117. —
Article ix.
The Franciscan copy tomus i. , Maiii. Among the pretermitted
D
50
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
—
Whetlier tliis saint and locality can be connected with Cranfield parish, we have no means for discovering ; but, in the latter place, on May Eve, pil- grims were accustomed to resort, in 1727, to a running spring, said to have been consecrated by St. Colman, a famous Irish saint. These persons emptied and cleaned this well, in the twilight, and prayed around it during the night. The following May morning, small transparent amber stones were found,atthebottom. Theseweretakenout,andcarriedbythepeopleas preservatives from accidents by fire or water. They were in reality crystals of gypsum, or sulphate of lime, a salt sparingly soluble in water. They were chiefly sought, by those intending to emigrate. Stations were held here, also, on the 29th and 30th of June, and these were attended by a large num- ber of persons. Since 1828, the visitations have been discontinued.
s As the stations were designed to honour a St. Colman, and as they were com- pleted on the 1st of May, there is no other saint of this name then venerated, althoughthereareverymanyColmans,inourcalendars. Itisalsoveryremark- able, that in Ireland, the holy wells were frequented by the peasantry, on May Day, and that patterns were held, at various places, at the same date. Not far from tiie foot of the Paps' Mountains, and about a mile from Killarney, there is a large stone fort or Caher, called Caher Crubhdarrig. ^ Near it, there is aholywell,atwhichagreatpatternusedtobeheld,onMayist. Thispattern has been suppressed by the local clergy, for many years back. Rounds are still made at the Avell, on May ist. 7 Goibnen was venerated on this day, as we find recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal. ^ Little do we know con-
Article X. St. Duicholl, of Cluain-Braoin. The name of this saint occurs, in the Martyrology ofTallagh,^ at the 1st of IMay, as Dicholla Cluana-brain. The BoUandists, quoting the same authority, have notices of St. Dichullus of Cluain-Brain, for the present day. ^ There was a place, for- merly known as Cluain Bhriain, meaning Brian's Lawn or I^Ieadow,3 and now Anglicized Cloonbrien. This is now a townland, in the parish of Athlacca, nearBruff,inthecountyofLimerick. 4 But,whetherornotitcanbeidentified with the present locality is questionable. The ancient name for Castletown, in the county of Louth, is said to have been Cluain Braoin; and, with the
' The foregoing information was commu- nicated by Mr. Michael Warren of Killarney, to Rev. James Graves, M. A. , Rector of Stoneyford, in May, 1884, wliile we were at the meeting there of the Kilkenny Arch-
cerning this saint, his age. or his exact locality
thoughts were often employed on sacred subjects, like so many of the holy persons, who lived contemporaneously with him. These were accustomed to pious and penitential exercises, while they were always careful to attend morning and evening to special devotions.
that miraculous fountain, which in his time
was near the church of Creamchoill, or near
the church of Schire, as both lay within Dal-
aradin, in the diocese and territory of Connor.
See " Trias Thaumalurga. " Jocelyn's Vita S.
Patricii, cap. cxxxvi. , p. 183. And " Acta seol'ogical Society.
Sanctorum Hiberni? e," xx. Februarii, Vita S. Olcani, p. 376, and nn. 14, 15, 16, p. 378.
5 See Rev. Dr. William Reeves' " Ecclesi- astical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore,"n. (i), p. 88.
' Not far from this Caher, there is another but a smaller stone fort, called Cahereen. This is said to have been a Royal [resi- dence.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 116, 117.
Articlex. —' EditedbyRev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiii. The Frnnciscan copy has it TOicollo cUiAin bpAin.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (c), p. 1035.
^ See '
'
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
;
yet, we may rest assured, his
——
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
saints of this localit)', we find the present holy man classed. 5 Colgan alhides to various holy persons bearing this name ; but, he does not furnish, a clue for identification of the age, when the present saint flourished. ^ The Tripar- tite Life of St. Patrick has a prophecy of the Apostle, concerning a certain Dichul. It calls him " abbas Ernatiensis,"? and he was afterwards abbot of Louth. ^ Who he was, otherwise, or at what time he lived, is not known ; at any rate, he lived long after St. Patrick's days, as Jocelyn relates. 9 Colgan conjectures, that he was the Dichul, revered in the church of Chuainbraoin, near Louth, and that this might have been, what the Tripartite Life calls Ernatiensis. But, he says nothing, as to the time of its erection, or by whom it had been founded, and whether or not, it had been an abbey. '° The place is thought to be unknown, byArchdall; and, yet, in his account of the abbey at Louth, that writer affords the proper clue to where Ernaidhe was, by printing the Inquisitions referring to Orney, alias Nurney, or le Urney. " It seems pro- bable, that on Dichul's translation to Louth, the church at Urney had been annexed to that monastery. Uiucholl of Cluiin Braoin is entered, in the
Martyrology ofDonegal,^^ as having a festival, ai the ist day of May.
Article XI. St. Cairbre, Bishop of Magh Bile, or Moville, Under the head of Magh-Bile, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Cairbre, Bishop of Magh Bile, at May ist. ' His festival is entered, at the 3rd of this month, in other Martyrologies. ^
Article XII. St. Mainchein, or Monchenus. His record is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ for the ist of May. At this same date, and citing the same authority, the BoUandists have Monchenus. ^ It is thought, hewasadescendantofConallGulban. 3 Onthisday,venerationwasgiven to Mainchein, as we read it set down, in the Martyrology of Donegal. » But, his Acts do not appear to have been preserved.
Article XIII. St. Asaph, Bishop of St. Asaph, Wales. [Sixth Century. '] In the Roman Martyrology, at the ist of I\Iay, St. Asaph, bishop,
May I. ]
51
for the County of Limerick," sheet 39.
s See " Louth Extracts for the Irish Ord- nance Survey," voL i. , p. 142, now preserved
in the Royal Irish Academy.
* See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
Januarii xvi. Vita S. Eurssei Confessoris, n. 6, p. 92.
7 The Irish word Ernaidhe, which signifies "an oratory," is usually rendered Nurney or Urney, in our topographical designations. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' "Acts of Archbishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, A. D. MCCCXCVll," &c. , n. (o), pp. 16, 17.
* See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. xciv. , xcv. , p. 166.
9 See ibid. Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cxl. , p. 96, and n. 148, p. 115.
'° From these premises Archdall deduces this notable statement: " We are told, that St. Patrick founded an abbey at Cluaim-
broain, near the town of Louth. "—" Monas- ticon tlibernicum, " p. 452.
" See ibid. , pp. 476, 478.
'- Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 116, 117. — "
Article xi. ' See Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 120, 121.
° See the Martyrologies of Tallagh and of
Donegal. Article xil.
Kelly, p. xxiii. mAiicheni.
—
The Franciscan copy has
' Edited by the Rev. Dr.
^ See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mail i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
^ If so, he was distantly related to the great St. Columkille. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbre, cap. iii. , p. 481.
"• Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Il6, 117. — Article xill.
'
See "Apologia pro
52
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
is commemorated. By Father Stephen White, he seems to be classed among the Irish Saints. ' However this may be, the holy Bishop Asaph was com- memorated with special veneration in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. At this date, the Bollandists have set together some few notices, referring to him. ' Johnof Tinmouth's Life of St. Kentigern seems to be the chief authority known, to elucidate his Acts ;3 together with the Lections in the Breviary of Aberdeen, wiiich are chiefly legendary. He flourished in the sixth century ; but when or where he was born has not been ascertained. By some writers, it has been stated, that he was a native of North Wales. 5 It is supposed, that St. Kentigern,^ or Cyndeyrn,? was the founder of Llanelwy, or St. Asaph,^ when he had fled away from Scotland. In his place of refuge, it is stated, that he collected a community, consisting of nine hundred and sixty-five monks, who lived a life of great self-denial, under his rule ; of these, three hundred illiterate ones were employed in agriculture, three hundred more worked in the monastery, while three hundred and sixty-five kept up the Divine psalmody, day and night. 9 According to Camerarius, St. Asaph came from Scotland to Wales, in company with St. Kentigern. The latter settled, in that part of the present Flintshire, which was removed some few miles in- landfromthetownofRhyl,ontheshoreoftheIrishSea. Caswallon,uncle of Maelgwyn Gwynedd, was then ruler over that district of North Wales. He assigned to St. Kentigern that pleasant tract of country, between the Rivers Elwy and Clwyd. '° To the year 543 " has been assigned the establish- ment of a See at that place, known at first as Llanelwy. Among St. Kenti- gern's disciples, St. Asaph, distinguished for his noble birth, was still more admirableforthevirtuesandmiracles,whichadornedhisearlyyears. About the year 560, it is thought, St. Asaph was consecrated bishop. On St.
' See some notices regarding him, at that '7 There is a townland and parish so day.
named, in the barony of Lower Slane. They '^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the are described, on the "Ordnance Survey Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 264, 265.
F, at p. 43. — Article vii.
—;
48 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
death is stated to have occurred, in 65 2. ^ The present saint followed him to the tomb, within less than three months, as he died on the ist of May suc- ceeding. 9 The Annals of Clonmacnoise state the year was 651 ; those of the Four Masters, a. d. 652 ; while, those of Ulster place his death under the year 653. '° Colgan conjectures, that the present St. Ossen might be con- founded with St. Ascicus, Bishop;" but, this is manifestly erroneous. From the Irish calendar, preserved in the Royal Irish Academy, we only find, at this date, the simple entry of Ossein,'^ without patronymic or place designated.
Article VII. St. Luaithrenn, Virgin or Widow. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,' there was veneration given on this day to Luaithrenn. In the table appended to tliis record, our saint is said to have been a Virgin, or a Widow. ^ Again, in the Introduction to that work, it is stated, there can be no question of a Cill Luaithrenn having been in Lein- ster. 3 Perhaps, we should connect the present saint, with such a locality for, she has a festival disiinct from that of her namesake, the Virgin Luaith- renn, who was venerated, on the 8th of June, and at a place, similarly de- nominated, in Corann, of Connaught. There is a townland and parish called Killurin,* in the barony of Shelmaliere West, county of Wexford, 5 and it pro- bablyderiveditsdenominationfromasaint,bearingsuchaname. Yet,we only find two saints, called Luaithrenn, in our Irish calendars. There is also a place, formerly called Cill lurin, and now known as Killurin,^ a townland in the west of the parish of Geshill, in the King's County. Here stood a castle, which was taken by O'Carroll, and by the Earl of Kildare, in 1532. Nothing but the entrenchments around it now remain. 7 According to popu- lar tradition, three saints, who were sisters, lived near Millstreet,* in the county of Cork. One named Latierna is still venerated in the parish of Drom- tarriff 9 There is a holy well and " pattern," on some day in the month of May. The people suppose, that unless they make their rounds, on that occasion,nogoodluckwillattendthemduringtherestoftheyear. Anotherof those sisters is venerated at Cullen,'° or as pronounced by the Irish-speaking population. Culling. There is a holy well, near tlie site of that old church, to which people come from great distances, to be cured of diseases. There is also an old whitethorn, growing outside the churchyard, and which, tradi- tion says, covers her grave. " Nothing seems to be known, regarding the thirdsister; nordoesitappear,thatthenamesLatiernaandLuaithrennmay be assimilated.
9 See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , chap, ii. , p. 14-
"See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 264, 265, and n. (u). Ibid.
"See '"Trias Thaumaturga," Vita Sexta S. Patricii, n. 122, p. 114.
" Thus Offein, in Common Place Book
of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 157.
* It is noted, on the "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the King's County," sheets 24, 25.
' This castle is shown on the old map of Leix and Ophaly, made in the reign of Philip and Maiy. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. v. , pp. 1410, 141 1, and n. (o). Ibid.
* In the parish of Drishane, and barony of West Muskerry, shown on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of
Cork," sheet 39.
' It is situated in the barony of Duhallow,
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 116, 117.
' See ii'id. , pp. 434, 435.
3 See tbid. , p. xxxix.
*• Marked on the "Ordnance Survey Town-
and it is described, on sheets 23, 30, 31, 39, land Maps for the County of Wexford," 40. Ibid.
sheets 31, 32, 36, 37. "^ This is not far from Millstreet, county 5 See Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary of Cork.
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Article VIII. —St. Aedhgein, or Aedgein, Bishop and Abbotof Fore, County of Westmeath. [Eii^/ith Cenlu/y. '] In the Martyrology of Tallagli,' at the ist of May, we have the simple entry Aedgein, Fobhair, without any other distinction. The Bohandists, aUuding to the same autho- rity, at this date, enter Aidgenus Fovariensis. ^ The town of Fore is called Bailie Fob/iar, "the town of the books," by Ussher. 3 But, Dr, O'Donovan says, the name is derived from the many springs, which flow from the hill into a mill-pond, at the village of Fore. * Except that St. Aidghenius is num- beredamongtheAbbotsandPrelatesofFore,intheeighthcentury,5 little more is known regarding him. Under the head of Fabhar, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Aedgin, bishop and abbot of Fabhar, and that he rested a. d, 766, on May ist. ^ This, too, agrees with a statement, found in the Annals of the Four Masters. 7 It is quite likely, the present saint may have been one of those anchorites, who lived at Fore, from the earlier pait of the eighth cen- tury, and a representative of whom continued to reside ^ there in a cell, so late even as the last century. 9 The anchorite's cell has been used for years back, as a cemetery for the Nugent f. imily. '° This day, the Martyr- ology of Donegal " registers the name of Aedhgein, Bishop and Abbot of Fobhar.
Article IX. St. Goibnen, or Gobnenus. At the ist of May, the BoUandists' quote the Martyrology of I'allagh, for Colmanus, id est, Gobne- nus f but, no light is thrown on his history. In the published copy,3 there seems to be a transcriber's mistake, in the entry, Colman i Gaibnedhi. At Cranfield parish, in the county of Antrim, there is a well, long famed for its healing efficacy. A spring is said to have been produced by St. Patrick, in a miraculous manner, and at a locality, called Domhnacli Combuir. This place thesaintreceivedfromoneColladius,orCoUa. Asthefountainsprungup after the Irish Apostle's prayers, it was afterwards called in the native tongue Slaji, on account of its sanitary properties ; for many when afflicted with grievous distempers were restored to health, after drinking from its waters.
May I. ]
49
" The name of this saint is not known, but
a popular legend states, that she went to
fetch some fire from a smithy. The smith
is said to have made some rude remark, re-
garding the beauty of her feet. The saint is
said to have grown vain thereat ; but, soon
feehng sorrow for her fault, she prayed, that
no smith should ever live again at Cullen.
According to another version, in conse- Description of Westmeath," p. 65. quence of her bann, it is said, no fire can be ' See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "Antiquities lighted there, for a smith's purpose. The of Ireland," chap, xvii. , sect, i , p. 135. foregoing information was given to the '°SeeRev. A. Cogan's"DioceseofMeath, writer, in a letter from Father Denis Murphy, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap. Ixxiv. , S. J. , and headed, Presentation Convent, pp. 565, 556.
Douglas-street, Cork, August the 15th,
1878.
Article viii.
—
' Edited by Rev. Dr.
'See "Acta Sanctorum,"
Kelly, p. xxiii.
has ^Xe'Djein ITobhAi^x.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
Maii
saints, p. 3.
" In the Franciscan copy, we read Cob-
niAni, and over this name the comment . 1. Jobnmi.
3 See •' Primordin," cap. xvii. , p. 966.
* See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (s), pp. 22, 23.
^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxii.
It was likewise called St. Patrick's Well, 5 See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- and Colgan says it appears to have been
nite," xx. Januarii, Appendix ad Acta S. Fechini, cap. iii. , p. 143.
* See " Proceedings of tlie Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 108, 109.
' See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 368, 369.
'^ See Sir Henry Piers' " Chonographical
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
116, 117. —
Article ix.
The Franciscan copy tomus i. , Maiii. Among the pretermitted
D
50
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
—
Whetlier tliis saint and locality can be connected with Cranfield parish, we have no means for discovering ; but, in the latter place, on May Eve, pil- grims were accustomed to resort, in 1727, to a running spring, said to have been consecrated by St. Colman, a famous Irish saint. These persons emptied and cleaned this well, in the twilight, and prayed around it during the night. The following May morning, small transparent amber stones were found,atthebottom. Theseweretakenout,andcarriedbythepeopleas preservatives from accidents by fire or water. They were in reality crystals of gypsum, or sulphate of lime, a salt sparingly soluble in water. They were chiefly sought, by those intending to emigrate. Stations were held here, also, on the 29th and 30th of June, and these were attended by a large num- ber of persons. Since 1828, the visitations have been discontinued.
s As the stations were designed to honour a St. Colman, and as they were com- pleted on the 1st of May, there is no other saint of this name then venerated, althoughthereareverymanyColmans,inourcalendars. Itisalsoveryremark- able, that in Ireland, the holy wells were frequented by the peasantry, on May Day, and that patterns were held, at various places, at the same date. Not far from tiie foot of the Paps' Mountains, and about a mile from Killarney, there is a large stone fort or Caher, called Caher Crubhdarrig. ^ Near it, there is aholywell,atwhichagreatpatternusedtobeheld,onMayist. Thispattern has been suppressed by the local clergy, for many years back. Rounds are still made at the Avell, on May ist. 7 Goibnen was venerated on this day, as we find recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal. ^ Little do we know con-
Article X. St. Duicholl, of Cluain-Braoin. The name of this saint occurs, in the Martyrology ofTallagh,^ at the 1st of IMay, as Dicholla Cluana-brain. The BoUandists, quoting the same authority, have notices of St. Dichullus of Cluain-Brain, for the present day. ^ There was a place, for- merly known as Cluain Bhriain, meaning Brian's Lawn or I^Ieadow,3 and now Anglicized Cloonbrien. This is now a townland, in the parish of Athlacca, nearBruff,inthecountyofLimerick. 4 But,whetherornotitcanbeidentified with the present locality is questionable. The ancient name for Castletown, in the county of Louth, is said to have been Cluain Braoin; and, with the
' The foregoing information was commu- nicated by Mr. Michael Warren of Killarney, to Rev. James Graves, M. A. , Rector of Stoneyford, in May, 1884, wliile we were at the meeting there of the Kilkenny Arch-
cerning this saint, his age. or his exact locality
thoughts were often employed on sacred subjects, like so many of the holy persons, who lived contemporaneously with him. These were accustomed to pious and penitential exercises, while they were always careful to attend morning and evening to special devotions.
that miraculous fountain, which in his time
was near the church of Creamchoill, or near
the church of Schire, as both lay within Dal-
aradin, in the diocese and territory of Connor.
See " Trias Thaumalurga. " Jocelyn's Vita S.
Patricii, cap. cxxxvi. , p. 183. And " Acta seol'ogical Society.
Sanctorum Hiberni? e," xx. Februarii, Vita S. Olcani, p. 376, and nn. 14, 15, 16, p. 378.
5 See Rev. Dr. William Reeves' " Ecclesi- astical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore,"n. (i), p. 88.
' Not far from this Caher, there is another but a smaller stone fort, called Cahereen. This is said to have been a Royal [resi- dence.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 116, 117.
Articlex. —' EditedbyRev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxiii. The Frnnciscan copy has it TOicollo cUiAin bpAin.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Maii i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (c), p. 1035.
^ See '
'
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
;
yet, we may rest assured, his
——
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
saints of this localit)', we find the present holy man classed. 5 Colgan alhides to various holy persons bearing this name ; but, he does not furnish, a clue for identification of the age, when the present saint flourished. ^ The Tripar- tite Life of St. Patrick has a prophecy of the Apostle, concerning a certain Dichul. It calls him " abbas Ernatiensis,"? and he was afterwards abbot of Louth. ^ Who he was, otherwise, or at what time he lived, is not known ; at any rate, he lived long after St. Patrick's days, as Jocelyn relates. 9 Colgan conjectures, that he was the Dichul, revered in the church of Chuainbraoin, near Louth, and that this might have been, what the Tripartite Life calls Ernatiensis. But, he says nothing, as to the time of its erection, or by whom it had been founded, and whether or not, it had been an abbey. '° The place is thought to be unknown, byArchdall; and, yet, in his account of the abbey at Louth, that writer affords the proper clue to where Ernaidhe was, by printing the Inquisitions referring to Orney, alias Nurney, or le Urney. " It seems pro- bable, that on Dichul's translation to Louth, the church at Urney had been annexed to that monastery. Uiucholl of Cluiin Braoin is entered, in the
Martyrology ofDonegal,^^ as having a festival, ai the ist day of May.
Article XI. St. Cairbre, Bishop of Magh Bile, or Moville, Under the head of Magh-Bile, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Cairbre, Bishop of Magh Bile, at May ist. ' His festival is entered, at the 3rd of this month, in other Martyrologies. ^
Article XII. St. Mainchein, or Monchenus. His record is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ for the ist of May. At this same date, and citing the same authority, the BoUandists have Monchenus. ^ It is thought, hewasadescendantofConallGulban. 3 Onthisday,venerationwasgiven to Mainchein, as we read it set down, in the Martyrology of Donegal. » But, his Acts do not appear to have been preserved.
Article XIII. St. Asaph, Bishop of St. Asaph, Wales. [Sixth Century. '] In the Roman Martyrology, at the ist of I\Iay, St. Asaph, bishop,
May I. ]
51
for the County of Limerick," sheet 39.
s See " Louth Extracts for the Irish Ord- nance Survey," voL i. , p. 142, now preserved
in the Royal Irish Academy.
* See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
Januarii xvi. Vita S. Eurssei Confessoris, n. 6, p. 92.
7 The Irish word Ernaidhe, which signifies "an oratory," is usually rendered Nurney or Urney, in our topographical designations. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' "Acts of Archbishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, A. D. MCCCXCVll," &c. , n. (o), pp. 16, 17.
* See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. xciv. , xcv. , p. 166.
9 See ibid. Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cxl. , p. 96, and n. 148, p. 115.
'° From these premises Archdall deduces this notable statement: " We are told, that St. Patrick founded an abbey at Cluaim-
broain, near the town of Louth. "—" Monas- ticon tlibernicum, " p. 452.
" See ibid. , pp. 476, 478.
'- Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 116, 117. — "
Article xi. ' See Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 120, 121.
° See the Martyrologies of Tallagh and of
Donegal. Article xil.
Kelly, p. xxiii. mAiicheni.
—
The Franciscan copy has
' Edited by the Rev. Dr.
^ See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Mail i. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
^ If so, he was distantly related to the great St. Columkille. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbre, cap. iii. , p. 481.
"• Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Il6, 117. — Article xill.
'
See "Apologia pro
52
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i.
is commemorated. By Father Stephen White, he seems to be classed among the Irish Saints. ' However this may be, the holy Bishop Asaph was com- memorated with special veneration in England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. At this date, the Bollandists have set together some few notices, referring to him. ' Johnof Tinmouth's Life of St. Kentigern seems to be the chief authority known, to elucidate his Acts ;3 together with the Lections in the Breviary of Aberdeen, wiiich are chiefly legendary. He flourished in the sixth century ; but when or where he was born has not been ascertained. By some writers, it has been stated, that he was a native of North Wales. 5 It is supposed, that St. Kentigern,^ or Cyndeyrn,? was the founder of Llanelwy, or St. Asaph,^ when he had fled away from Scotland. In his place of refuge, it is stated, that he collected a community, consisting of nine hundred and sixty-five monks, who lived a life of great self-denial, under his rule ; of these, three hundred illiterate ones were employed in agriculture, three hundred more worked in the monastery, while three hundred and sixty-five kept up the Divine psalmody, day and night. 9 According to Camerarius, St. Asaph came from Scotland to Wales, in company with St. Kentigern. The latter settled, in that part of the present Flintshire, which was removed some few miles in- landfromthetownofRhyl,ontheshoreoftheIrishSea. Caswallon,uncle of Maelgwyn Gwynedd, was then ruler over that district of North Wales. He assigned to St. Kentigern that pleasant tract of country, between the Rivers Elwy and Clwyd. '° To the year 543 " has been assigned the establish- ment of a See at that place, known at first as Llanelwy. Among St. Kenti- gern's disciples, St. Asaph, distinguished for his noble birth, was still more admirableforthevirtuesandmiracles,whichadornedhisearlyyears. About the year 560, it is thought, St. Asaph was consecrated bishop. On St.
