This day was venerated
Maolan, of Achadh Gobhra, as is mentioned in the Martyrology of Donegal.
Maolan, of Achadh Gobhra, as is mentioned in the Martyrology of Donegal.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
This riot, which occurred, about Whitsuntide, in the year 889,37 was appeased by the Archbishop's influence and exertions.
While Dr.
Lanigan supposes the date should be a.
d.
890,3^ O'Flaherty assigns this occurrence to
3^ According to the "Annals of Ulster. "
See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum
Scriptores. " Tom. iv,, p. 237.
32 " Ware observes, {Bishops at Armagh)
that some Irish annalists have the following from north to south, and, in breadth, from succession after Moelcoba : I. Mocta, who ten to twenty-five miles, or, in English died in 889 ; 2. Moelathgen, who died in measure, seventy-five miles long, and fr—om 890 ; 3. Kellach Mac Saorgus, who died in
sect, v. , p. 502.
^ See his " Life of St. Columba. " Ap-
pendix, p. 167.
^7 "The archbishopric of Armagh ex-
tends into five counties, is fifty-nine miles
twelve and a half to thirty-two broad. "
; 4. Moel- Kiaran Mac-Eogain, who died in 914, or 915. He adds, that these are not reckoned by others among the Archbishops ofjArmagh, and that they were co—nsidered only as suffra- of Armagh, in his "Trias Thaumaturga. " gans of Maelbrigid. "' Dr. Lanigan's "Ec-
Sir Charles Coote's "Statistical Survey of
the County of Armagh," part i. , chap, i. , sect. 4, p. 19.
=^^
Colgan gives a list of the Archbishops
Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, p. 296. clesiastical History of Ii-eland," vol. iii. ,
There the Four Masters are said to have
placed Mocta, whom they call bishop, an- choret, and scribe of Armagh. However, in a MS. note to his copy of the "Trias
Thaumaturga," O'Flaherty asserts, that
Mocta was not a bishop. This Mocta was,
in all appearance, the person who w'as taken
by the Danes, together with Moelcoba Mac-
Crumvail. Colgan does not decide on this O'Neills, as we find it recorded, in our matter. The Four Masters also place Moe- "AnnalsoftheFourMasters. " SeeCol-
"
lathgen as bishop of Armagh, and they gan's
assign his death to 890, Yet, they had just Februarii, n. 12, p. 387.
before spoken of Maelbrigid as bishop and 3° Atteidh was not chieftain over the comorban of St. Patrick, in 889. Hence, Kinel Eogain or O'Neill family, as the Colgan concludes, that Moelathgen was order of narrative in "Annals of the Four
only a suffragen or coadjutor of his. O'Flaherty, in his MS. note, holds, that
Moelathgen was a real bishop of Armagh, and that he was the immediate predecessor
of Maelbrigid, placing his death in 891. The Four Masters next have Kellach Mac-
Saorgus, but not Moel-Kiaren, and after-
wards they treat of Maelbrigid. See Dr. bairne. "
"
Annals of the Four
Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. iii. , chap, xxii. , sect, i. , n. 9, p. 341-
^9 It is stated, by the Four Masters, that "he was of the family of Cill-mor. " The
ast-named place was Kilmore, in the county land," vol. iii. , chap, xxii. , sect, i. , p. 339, of Cavan, according to Dr. O'Donovan. and n. Ii, p. 342.
3° See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the 39 In a Manuscript note to his copy of
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 538, 539, and Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," now kept n. (ci. ) in the Royal Dublin Society's Library. Dr.
898, or as others say, in 903
chap, xxii. , sect, i. , n. 9, pp. 340, 341.
33 See " Memoir of the City and North Western Liberties of Londonderry," part
ii. , sect. 2, p. 27.
3-* Colgan prefers its authority to that of
the annalists, particularly where he treats
regarding Maelbrigid or St. Moelbrigid.
35 Flaithbheartach was the chief of the
Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xxii.
"
Masters would seem to indicate ; but, he
was king over the Ulidians, as we find, from a record of his death, at the year 897,
in Dr. O'Donovan's
Masters," vol. i. , pp. 554 to 557.
son of Luighne, King of Ulidia, was slain by [one of j his own tribe, i. c. . , by Mael-
"
37 The "Annals of Ulster" refer this event
to A. D. 892. See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum
Hibernicarum Scriptores. " Tom. iv. , p.
239.
3^ See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
Aididh,
February 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 667
A. D. 892. 39 This prelate induced both parties to abstain from violence, and to
make due reparation to Almighty God, whom they offended, and to atone for the violation of St. Patrick's law. He is said to have been a man remarkable
for his inflexible justice. '^" From the Ulidians, Moel-Brigid obtained host-
ages and an offering of thirty times seven cumhals-*^ to the church ; while,
four Ulidians, the chief instigators of this riot, after being proved guilty were
hung. In like manner, the Kinel Eogain rioters repaired those outrages
committed by them, and as many more of these were hung,^^ An act of
violence is recorded, as having taken place in Armagh, during this Arch-
bishop's administration. In the year 907, the privileges of the Cathedral of
Armagh were vioL^ted by Kernach Mac-Dulgen, by dragging a captive out
of the church, who had taken sanctuary there, and by drowning him in Loch-
Kirr,43 west of the city. But, this violation was retaliated on Kernach, by
Neall Glundub, then King of Ulster, and afterwards of Ireland, who drowned
him in the same lough. 't4 Several serious disasters and disturbances
occurredinArmagh,duringthetermofoursaint'sincumbency. 45 Weread,
that the Archbishop took . a journey towards Munster, a. d. 908, to procure the
liberation of a strange Briton, 4^ who being a pilgrim in the country, had been un-
justly detained there as a captive. '*7 Respecting the result of Moel-Brigid's mission, we are not informed. While he sat in this See, Armagh was three
timestakenandplunderedbytheDanes,namely,in890,893,and919; and, it was once set on fire in the year 914. 4^ According to the most reliable accounts, Moel-Brigid49 ruled over Armagh Metropolitan See for a duration of forty years ;So yet, the Calendar of Cashel gives him only twenty-nine
Lanigan adds: "I suspect that his only Ultonienses," pp. 246, 247. Also Dr.
O 'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 578, 579. In a note (f) at this
passage, Mr. O'Donovan remarks, that some
entries in the Four Masters, under a. d, 908,
are set down in the Annals of Ulster under
912, alias 913, Among these we find,
"
Maelbride mac-Dornain came into Mun- 4" Dr. O'Donovan says: "A cumhal ster to release pilgrims out of Walles. "
reason for this date was, that the placing of the riot in 890 would not agree with his
hypothesis of making Moelathgen, Arch- bishop of Armagh, predecessor of Mael- brigid. "
4° See Stuart's " Historical Memoirs of
the City of Armagh," chap, iii. , p. 113.
originally denoted a bondmaid, which was estimated as of the value of three cows, or anything estimated as of that value,"
4^ This event ,is related in Dr. O'Dono- van's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 542 to 545, and n. (n), at the year 889.
43 This is probably the present Loughna- shade, near Navan Fort,, which is shown on
From this latter account, we must infer,
more than one pilgrim had been detained in
captivity.
47 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch-
bishops of Armagh," p. 47.
'^^ See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch-
bishops of Armagh," p. 47.
49 He is called " successor of Patrick,
Collum Cille and Adamnan, head of the
"
the County of Armagh," Sheet 12. The of Europe," In—commemoration of his
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for
piety of all Ireland, and of the greater part
the
old name appears to have become obsolete. 44 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch-
bishops of Armagh," p. 47.
45 The friendly interference of the clergy
often prevented or terminated the quarrels of opposing chieftains ; though it not uu-
frequently proved ineffectual, and then they
had the mortification to see the solemn com-
pacts, which had been ratified by the oaths
of contending parties, impiously broken Upon the earthly world in carnal shape, when opportunity offered. See "The Five years and twenty, nine hundred. Dublin Jjterary Gazette, and National To the death of Maelbrighde in evil hour, Magazine," vol. i,, No. iii. Art. on the It was not a year without events
Ancient History and the Antiquities of Ire-
; Premature the death of the Abbot of Ard
Macha,
Maelbrighe, head of Europe, Connac of Gleann-da-locha,"
land, by Rev. Edward Johnston, p. 327.
4^ See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiberni-
carum tomus " Annales Scriptores," iv. ,
death it was said
"
Twelve years not trifling
On the eighth of the Calends of July Flann
:
was buried,
On the eighth of the Calends of noble March, Malbrighde most gifted of the brave Gaei-
dhil [died].
Since the divine son of God was born
668 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February22.
years of rule. s^ He departed this life, at a good old age, on the 22nd of February. s^ Marianus O'Gorman and Maguire introduce this holy prelate
intotheirrespectiveCalendars. s3 TheMartyrologyofDonegal54registers
on this day, Maelbrighde, son of Dornan—by some called Tornan—succes-
sor to Patrick and to Colum Cille. He was a man full of the grace of God,
and a vessel of wisdom and knowledge in his time. According to our
"Annals of the Four Masters,''ss the year of his demise was a. d. 925.
"
Annals of Ulster,"56 he died a. d. 926. 57 The true year, however,was927. Oursaintisnottobeconfoundedwithothers,bearinga similar name. s^ Many distinct Moel-Brigids were his contemporaries, and
some of these were distinguished by piety and learning.
ArticleH. —St. Fechin,aPriest. AFeicin,orFechin,aPriest,we find mentioned in the Martyrologies of Tallagh,^ of Marianus O'Gorman, and of Donegal,* as having a festival on this day. A notice occurs, likewise, in the BoUandists' work. 3
Article HI. —St. Moelan of Achadh Gobhra. The name of Moelan, Achaidh, occurs in the Martyrologies of Tallagh,^ and of Marianus O'Gorman, at the 22nd of February. The modern designation of this place has eluded enquiry, and probably it is not known.
This day was venerated
Maolan, of Achadh Gobhra, as is mentioned in the Martyrology of Donegal. ^ ""
According to the
The Mailanus Achadensis is in the BoUandists' at t— 3 entry work,hisdate.
This Latin form of the locality would seem to indicate Achonry Irish form of this place having been Achad-Chonaire.
the old
Article IV. —St. Caemhan, of Magh-macdodon, or Magh Men- NOiTE. On the 22nd of February, we find this saint entered in the Martyr- ology of Tallagh,' as Caemhan, Maighi Mennota. This place does not seem
to be known at present. We read in the Martyrology of Donegal,'' as having a festival on this day, St. Caomhan of Magh macdodon. 3 The Bollandists'*
"
have entered this saint, as
Cainanus filius Dodoni," in their great work. s
5° Which Colgan reckons from a. d. 885
to 925,
5' Colgan, and after him Harris, conjecture,
**
that, there is an erratum in the xxix. of said catalogue, and that instead of I, we should read x, thus making the xxxx. — This is certainly a probable correction. " Dr. Lani- gan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xxii. , sect, i. , n. 13, p. 342.
5^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum liiber- niae," xxii. Februarii, nn. 9, 13, p. 387.
53 See Colgan's "Trias 'riiaumaiurga. " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. iii. , p. 481, and ji. 502.
54 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
54, 55-
55 See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. ii. ,
pp. 616, 617.
s'" Mr. O' Donovan adds, in a note (y), at
pp. 617, 6i8, "The year 925 of the Annals
ss Yqx a catalogue and a referential ac- count ot these, the reader may resort to Dr.
of the Four Masters with corresponds
=* Ediied Drs. Todd and by
Reeves, pp.
926, alias 927, of the Annals of Ulster, and with
54, 55.
3 \x\ a note. Dr. Todd says at this word,
Macdodon, "The later hand adds here,
M. Taml. vocat lllennoice 'The niui^e :
Mart. ofTaml. says, he is of Magh Men-
922 of the Annals of Clonmacnoise. "'
57 See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Iliberni-
carum
Ultonienies," p. 258.
" Annales
S^riptores," tom. iv. ,
O'Donovan's
"
Annals of the Four Masters,"
vol. iii. , Index—Nominum, p. 239. '
Article ii. Edited t)y Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
^
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
54, 55.
3 See Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Feb-
ruarii xxii. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 280. Article ill.
Kelly, p xvi.
"
—
'" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
54, 55.
^ See Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Feb-
ruarii xxii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 280.
Article iv. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
"
'Edited by Rev. Dr.
February 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 669
Article V. —St. Midabaria, Miadhnat or Miodhabhair, of Ard- DROCHAiTorRinn-droichit. Thesimpleentry,Miadhuat,AiridDrochait, is set down in the Martyrology of Tallagh/ at the 22nd of February. We
" Midabarius Rinn Drochidii,"^ as if representingaman. However,thepresentholypersonwasafemale,asour calendarists and genealogies render apparent. Thus, the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Donegal^ record on this day, Miodhabhair, of Rinn-droichit. This holy woman is also called Midabaria. * Buimlinn seems
to have been another name for her church. s She was sister to Bearach,^ of
Cluain Coirpthe, in Connaught, exactly in Cinel Dobhtha. They were the children of Neamnann, son of Aimhirgin, and they descended from the race
of Brian, son to Eochaidh Muighmhedhoin. Fionnmaith, sister to Cruimh- ther Fraech, of Cluain Conmaicne, in Muintir Eolais, was the mother of both saints. Little else is known regarding this holy woman.
Article VI. —Reputed Festival of St. Marnokdubus or Marnok-
DUBH, Scotland. The Bollandists' are very doubtlul, about entering the
name of this saint, on the unsupported authority of Dempster. But, it is also said, this feast is entered m the Scotichronicon of Magnus Maccullonus,=' as he has related, and in the Calendar of Ferrarius, who quotes these as authorities. Dempsters has the festival of a certain Marnokdubh,-^ or Mar- nocduus, a hermit, in Banzenoch,5 at the 22nd of February. ^ In his history,^ where this Scottish saint is said to have been venerated on the following day, we are told, that he was a disciple of Marnoc, the Culdee. ^ It is stated, that he lived on the western shores—we may presume—of Scotland, and that the holy confessor flourished a. d. 364. 9 Dempster continues, that if his writings had ever been published, they have now passed away from memory. ^° His memorials were preserved, in the shape of churches and altars, especially in the west of Scotland, and his sanctity was celebrated by Scottish historians. " Again, Marnoch Duff, or " the Black," is said, like- wise, to have been venerated on the 3rd of May. ^^
noite. ' ''
* See *' Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Feb-
ruarii xxii. Among tlie pretermitted saints, p. 280.
5 They quote Manuscript Martyrologies of Tallagh and of Marianus O'Gorman.
find the name of this saint
inserted,
Article v. —^ Edited
by
; but, the writer meant probably
"
Rev. Dr. land
ever, they remark, that Colgan corrects a mistake, which seems to have crept into some Irish MS. Calendars,
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Supplementum, cap. ii,, p. 344,
s Ibid. , n. 2, p. 347. Under either form,
we cannot the identify place.
Keliy, p. xvi. ^"
Acta Sane-
Ba- denoch, a highland district, about 35 miles long and 28 miles broad, in the souih-east of the mainland of Inverness-shire. "—" Im-
By the BoUandists. See
torum," tomus iii. , Februarii xxii. Among
the pretermitted saints, pp, 280, 281, How- perial Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. i. , p.
56,57. • See
115, This convenient vagueness, we fear, has often served Dempster's purpose, in preventing the full exposure of his hap- hazard statements.
''See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," XV. Februarii. Vita S. Berachi.
Scottish Saints,"
^ See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum," tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num. 886, p. 469.
^ This we are informed from his appears
Life, which had been written by Veremun- dus. See ibid.
5 However, a grave suspicion is advanced, that Dempster cites Veremundus, without having even seen, much less read, that author. See Ussher's "Works," vol. vi.
^
See the Life of this saint, at the 15th of
Colgan's
p. 192.
February, — Article vi,
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Februarii xxii. Among the pre-
termitted saints, p. 281.
*
This the BoUandists could not find.
3 See **
Scoticum. "
* It is said, this may be Latinized, Marno- cus Niger, owing to the habit he wore, according to a customary form of appella-
tion, among the Scots and Irish,
s Such a place cannot be found, in Scot-
Menologium
670 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 22.
Article VII. —St. Gurnin, or Guirminn, Daughter of Cugheala OR CoNGHAiL. We find a notice of this holy Avoman, called Garnimia, a virgin, and daughter to Congal, in the Bollandists. ^ Also, Guirminn or Gurnin, daughter of Conghail or Cughaela, is entered in the Martyrologies of Tallagh,'' of Marianus O'Gorman, and of Donegal,3 as having a festival at this date. Her charities to the poor were profuse, owing to the generous liberality of her disposition. Good souls, too, felt a pleasure, in enabling her to satisfy the ardent longings of her heart, to relieve distress in every shape. Her charity was only equalled by her humility, her beautiful child-like diffi- dence, her fervent piety, and her sweet disposition.
Artijcle VIII. —Festivals of St. Peter's Chair, at Antioch, of
THE Birth of St. and of St. Tecla. In the " of Laurence, Festilogy"
St. ^ngus,^ at this day, we find these festivals duly celebrated in Ireland, before the eighth century : —
"O. UIII. kl. 1t1 AnCUAl^ AO^-OAtl, pecA1]^ Acpec ecriAi ;
5ein l,Avi]Mnc lAiipiAec^A, La feiL coi-obg CccIa.
In Antioch^ was his Ordination (honor)— Peter his wisdom is known—
The birth of Laurence^—the full response— On the resplendent feast of Tecla. *
Article IX. —Festival of St. Dima or Dioma, First Missionary BishopamongtheMerciansandMidlandAngles. [Sez'enthCentury. '] This saint was a native of Ireland, where he was problbly born, about the be- ginning of the seventh century. He accompanied St. Cedd' to England.
3^ According to the "Annals of Ulster. "
See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum
Scriptores. " Tom. iv,, p. 237.
32 " Ware observes, {Bishops at Armagh)
that some Irish annalists have the following from north to south, and, in breadth, from succession after Moelcoba : I. Mocta, who ten to twenty-five miles, or, in English died in 889 ; 2. Moelathgen, who died in measure, seventy-five miles long, and fr—om 890 ; 3. Kellach Mac Saorgus, who died in
sect, v. , p. 502.
^ See his " Life of St. Columba. " Ap-
pendix, p. 167.
^7 "The archbishopric of Armagh ex-
tends into five counties, is fifty-nine miles
twelve and a half to thirty-two broad. "
; 4. Moel- Kiaran Mac-Eogain, who died in 914, or 915. He adds, that these are not reckoned by others among the Archbishops ofjArmagh, and that they were co—nsidered only as suffra- of Armagh, in his "Trias Thaumaturga. " gans of Maelbrigid. "' Dr. Lanigan's "Ec-
Sir Charles Coote's "Statistical Survey of
the County of Armagh," part i. , chap, i. , sect. 4, p. 19.
=^^
Colgan gives a list of the Archbishops
Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, p. 296. clesiastical History of Ii-eland," vol. iii. ,
There the Four Masters are said to have
placed Mocta, whom they call bishop, an- choret, and scribe of Armagh. However, in a MS. note to his copy of the "Trias
Thaumaturga," O'Flaherty asserts, that
Mocta was not a bishop. This Mocta was,
in all appearance, the person who w'as taken
by the Danes, together with Moelcoba Mac-
Crumvail. Colgan does not decide on this O'Neills, as we find it recorded, in our matter. The Four Masters also place Moe- "AnnalsoftheFourMasters. " SeeCol-
"
lathgen as bishop of Armagh, and they gan's
assign his death to 890, Yet, they had just Februarii, n. 12, p. 387.
before spoken of Maelbrigid as bishop and 3° Atteidh was not chieftain over the comorban of St. Patrick, in 889. Hence, Kinel Eogain or O'Neill family, as the Colgan concludes, that Moelathgen was order of narrative in "Annals of the Four
only a suffragen or coadjutor of his. O'Flaherty, in his MS. note, holds, that
Moelathgen was a real bishop of Armagh, and that he was the immediate predecessor
of Maelbrigid, placing his death in 891. The Four Masters next have Kellach Mac-
Saorgus, but not Moel-Kiaren, and after-
wards they treat of Maelbrigid. See Dr. bairne. "
"
Annals of the Four
Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. iii. , chap, xxii. , sect, i. , n. 9, p. 341-
^9 It is stated, by the Four Masters, that "he was of the family of Cill-mor. " The
ast-named place was Kilmore, in the county land," vol. iii. , chap, xxii. , sect, i. , p. 339, of Cavan, according to Dr. O'Donovan. and n. Ii, p. 342.
3° See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the 39 In a Manuscript note to his copy of
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 538, 539, and Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," now kept n. (ci. ) in the Royal Dublin Society's Library. Dr.
898, or as others say, in 903
chap, xxii. , sect, i. , n. 9, pp. 340, 341.
33 See " Memoir of the City and North Western Liberties of Londonderry," part
ii. , sect. 2, p. 27.
3-* Colgan prefers its authority to that of
the annalists, particularly where he treats
regarding Maelbrigid or St. Moelbrigid.
35 Flaithbheartach was the chief of the
Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xxii.
"
Masters would seem to indicate ; but, he
was king over the Ulidians, as we find, from a record of his death, at the year 897,
in Dr. O'Donovan's
Masters," vol. i. , pp. 554 to 557.
son of Luighne, King of Ulidia, was slain by [one of j his own tribe, i. c. . , by Mael-
"
37 The "Annals of Ulster" refer this event
to A. D. 892. See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum
Hibernicarum Scriptores. " Tom. iv. , p.
239.
3^ See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
Aididh,
February 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 667
A. D. 892. 39 This prelate induced both parties to abstain from violence, and to
make due reparation to Almighty God, whom they offended, and to atone for the violation of St. Patrick's law. He is said to have been a man remarkable
for his inflexible justice. '^" From the Ulidians, Moel-Brigid obtained host-
ages and an offering of thirty times seven cumhals-*^ to the church ; while,
four Ulidians, the chief instigators of this riot, after being proved guilty were
hung. In like manner, the Kinel Eogain rioters repaired those outrages
committed by them, and as many more of these were hung,^^ An act of
violence is recorded, as having taken place in Armagh, during this Arch-
bishop's administration. In the year 907, the privileges of the Cathedral of
Armagh were vioL^ted by Kernach Mac-Dulgen, by dragging a captive out
of the church, who had taken sanctuary there, and by drowning him in Loch-
Kirr,43 west of the city. But, this violation was retaliated on Kernach, by
Neall Glundub, then King of Ulster, and afterwards of Ireland, who drowned
him in the same lough. 't4 Several serious disasters and disturbances
occurredinArmagh,duringthetermofoursaint'sincumbency. 45 Weread,
that the Archbishop took . a journey towards Munster, a. d. 908, to procure the
liberation of a strange Briton, 4^ who being a pilgrim in the country, had been un-
justly detained there as a captive. '*7 Respecting the result of Moel-Brigid's mission, we are not informed. While he sat in this See, Armagh was three
timestakenandplunderedbytheDanes,namely,in890,893,and919; and, it was once set on fire in the year 914. 4^ According to the most reliable accounts, Moel-Brigid49 ruled over Armagh Metropolitan See for a duration of forty years ;So yet, the Calendar of Cashel gives him only twenty-nine
Lanigan adds: "I suspect that his only Ultonienses," pp. 246, 247. Also Dr.
O 'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 578, 579. In a note (f) at this
passage, Mr. O'Donovan remarks, that some
entries in the Four Masters, under a. d, 908,
are set down in the Annals of Ulster under
912, alias 913, Among these we find,
"
Maelbride mac-Dornain came into Mun- 4" Dr. O'Donovan says: "A cumhal ster to release pilgrims out of Walles. "
reason for this date was, that the placing of the riot in 890 would not agree with his
hypothesis of making Moelathgen, Arch- bishop of Armagh, predecessor of Mael- brigid. "
4° See Stuart's " Historical Memoirs of
the City of Armagh," chap, iii. , p. 113.
originally denoted a bondmaid, which was estimated as of the value of three cows, or anything estimated as of that value,"
4^ This event ,is related in Dr. O'Dono- van's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 542 to 545, and n. (n), at the year 889.
43 This is probably the present Loughna- shade, near Navan Fort,, which is shown on
From this latter account, we must infer,
more than one pilgrim had been detained in
captivity.
47 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch-
bishops of Armagh," p. 47.
'^^ See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch-
bishops of Armagh," p. 47.
49 He is called " successor of Patrick,
Collum Cille and Adamnan, head of the
"
the County of Armagh," Sheet 12. The of Europe," In—commemoration of his
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for
piety of all Ireland, and of the greater part
the
old name appears to have become obsolete. 44 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Arch-
bishops of Armagh," p. 47.
45 The friendly interference of the clergy
often prevented or terminated the quarrels of opposing chieftains ; though it not uu-
frequently proved ineffectual, and then they
had the mortification to see the solemn com-
pacts, which had been ratified by the oaths
of contending parties, impiously broken Upon the earthly world in carnal shape, when opportunity offered. See "The Five years and twenty, nine hundred. Dublin Jjterary Gazette, and National To the death of Maelbrighde in evil hour, Magazine," vol. i,, No. iii. Art. on the It was not a year without events
Ancient History and the Antiquities of Ire-
; Premature the death of the Abbot of Ard
Macha,
Maelbrighe, head of Europe, Connac of Gleann-da-locha,"
land, by Rev. Edward Johnston, p. 327.
4^ See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiberni-
carum tomus " Annales Scriptores," iv. ,
death it was said
"
Twelve years not trifling
On the eighth of the Calends of July Flann
:
was buried,
On the eighth of the Calends of noble March, Malbrighde most gifted of the brave Gaei-
dhil [died].
Since the divine son of God was born
668 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February22.
years of rule. s^ He departed this life, at a good old age, on the 22nd of February. s^ Marianus O'Gorman and Maguire introduce this holy prelate
intotheirrespectiveCalendars. s3 TheMartyrologyofDonegal54registers
on this day, Maelbrighde, son of Dornan—by some called Tornan—succes-
sor to Patrick and to Colum Cille. He was a man full of the grace of God,
and a vessel of wisdom and knowledge in his time. According to our
"Annals of the Four Masters,''ss the year of his demise was a. d. 925.
"
Annals of Ulster,"56 he died a. d. 926. 57 The true year, however,was927. Oursaintisnottobeconfoundedwithothers,bearinga similar name. s^ Many distinct Moel-Brigids were his contemporaries, and
some of these were distinguished by piety and learning.
ArticleH. —St. Fechin,aPriest. AFeicin,orFechin,aPriest,we find mentioned in the Martyrologies of Tallagh,^ of Marianus O'Gorman, and of Donegal,* as having a festival on this day. A notice occurs, likewise, in the BoUandists' work. 3
Article HI. —St. Moelan of Achadh Gobhra. The name of Moelan, Achaidh, occurs in the Martyrologies of Tallagh,^ and of Marianus O'Gorman, at the 22nd of February. The modern designation of this place has eluded enquiry, and probably it is not known.
This day was venerated
Maolan, of Achadh Gobhra, as is mentioned in the Martyrology of Donegal. ^ ""
According to the
The Mailanus Achadensis is in the BoUandists' at t— 3 entry work,hisdate.
This Latin form of the locality would seem to indicate Achonry Irish form of this place having been Achad-Chonaire.
the old
Article IV. —St. Caemhan, of Magh-macdodon, or Magh Men- NOiTE. On the 22nd of February, we find this saint entered in the Martyr- ology of Tallagh,' as Caemhan, Maighi Mennota. This place does not seem
to be known at present. We read in the Martyrology of Donegal,'' as having a festival on this day, St. Caomhan of Magh macdodon. 3 The Bollandists'*
"
have entered this saint, as
Cainanus filius Dodoni," in their great work. s
5° Which Colgan reckons from a. d. 885
to 925,
5' Colgan, and after him Harris, conjecture,
**
that, there is an erratum in the xxix. of said catalogue, and that instead of I, we should read x, thus making the xxxx. — This is certainly a probable correction. " Dr. Lani- gan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xxii. , sect, i. , n. 13, p. 342.
5^ See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum liiber- niae," xxii. Februarii, nn. 9, 13, p. 387.
53 See Colgan's "Trias 'riiaumaiurga. " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. iii. , p. 481, and ji. 502.
54 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
54, 55-
55 See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. ii. ,
pp. 616, 617.
s'" Mr. O' Donovan adds, in a note (y), at
pp. 617, 6i8, "The year 925 of the Annals
ss Yqx a catalogue and a referential ac- count ot these, the reader may resort to Dr.
of the Four Masters with corresponds
=* Ediied Drs. Todd and by
Reeves, pp.
926, alias 927, of the Annals of Ulster, and with
54, 55.
3 \x\ a note. Dr. Todd says at this word,
Macdodon, "The later hand adds here,
M. Taml. vocat lllennoice 'The niui^e :
Mart. ofTaml. says, he is of Magh Men-
922 of the Annals of Clonmacnoise. "'
57 See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Iliberni-
carum
Ultonienies," p. 258.
" Annales
S^riptores," tom. iv. ,
O'Donovan's
"
Annals of the Four Masters,"
vol. iii. , Index—Nominum, p. 239. '
Article ii. Edited t)y Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
^
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
54, 55.
3 See Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Feb-
ruarii xxii. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 280. Article ill.
Kelly, p xvi.
"
—
'" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
54, 55.
^ See Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Feb-
ruarii xxii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 280.
Article iv. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
"
'Edited by Rev. Dr.
February 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 669
Article V. —St. Midabaria, Miadhnat or Miodhabhair, of Ard- DROCHAiTorRinn-droichit. Thesimpleentry,Miadhuat,AiridDrochait, is set down in the Martyrology of Tallagh/ at the 22nd of February. We
" Midabarius Rinn Drochidii,"^ as if representingaman. However,thepresentholypersonwasafemale,asour calendarists and genealogies render apparent. Thus, the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Donegal^ record on this day, Miodhabhair, of Rinn-droichit. This holy woman is also called Midabaria. * Buimlinn seems
to have been another name for her church. s She was sister to Bearach,^ of
Cluain Coirpthe, in Connaught, exactly in Cinel Dobhtha. They were the children of Neamnann, son of Aimhirgin, and they descended from the race
of Brian, son to Eochaidh Muighmhedhoin. Fionnmaith, sister to Cruimh- ther Fraech, of Cluain Conmaicne, in Muintir Eolais, was the mother of both saints. Little else is known regarding this holy woman.
Article VI. —Reputed Festival of St. Marnokdubus or Marnok-
DUBH, Scotland. The Bollandists' are very doubtlul, about entering the
name of this saint, on the unsupported authority of Dempster. But, it is also said, this feast is entered m the Scotichronicon of Magnus Maccullonus,=' as he has related, and in the Calendar of Ferrarius, who quotes these as authorities. Dempsters has the festival of a certain Marnokdubh,-^ or Mar- nocduus, a hermit, in Banzenoch,5 at the 22nd of February. ^ In his history,^ where this Scottish saint is said to have been venerated on the following day, we are told, that he was a disciple of Marnoc, the Culdee. ^ It is stated, that he lived on the western shores—we may presume—of Scotland, and that the holy confessor flourished a. d. 364. 9 Dempster continues, that if his writings had ever been published, they have now passed away from memory. ^° His memorials were preserved, in the shape of churches and altars, especially in the west of Scotland, and his sanctity was celebrated by Scottish historians. " Again, Marnoch Duff, or " the Black," is said, like- wise, to have been venerated on the 3rd of May. ^^
noite. ' ''
* See *' Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Feb-
ruarii xxii. Among tlie pretermitted saints, p. 280.
5 They quote Manuscript Martyrologies of Tallagh and of Marianus O'Gorman.
find the name of this saint
inserted,
Article v. —^ Edited
by
; but, the writer meant probably
"
Rev. Dr. land
ever, they remark, that Colgan corrects a mistake, which seems to have crept into some Irish MS. Calendars,
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Supplementum, cap. ii,, p. 344,
s Ibid. , n. 2, p. 347. Under either form,
we cannot the identify place.
Keliy, p. xvi. ^"
Acta Sane-
Ba- denoch, a highland district, about 35 miles long and 28 miles broad, in the souih-east of the mainland of Inverness-shire. "—" Im-
By the BoUandists. See
torum," tomus iii. , Februarii xxii. Among
the pretermitted saints, pp, 280, 281, How- perial Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. i. , p.
56,57. • See
115, This convenient vagueness, we fear, has often served Dempster's purpose, in preventing the full exposure of his hap- hazard statements.
''See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," XV. Februarii. Vita S. Berachi.
Scottish Saints,"
^ See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco-
torum," tomus ii. , lib. xii. , num. 886, p. 469.
^ This we are informed from his appears
Life, which had been written by Veremun- dus. See ibid.
5 However, a grave suspicion is advanced, that Dempster cites Veremundus, without having even seen, much less read, that author. See Ussher's "Works," vol. vi.
^
See the Life of this saint, at the 15th of
Colgan's
p. 192.
February, — Article vi,
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Februarii xxii. Among the pre-
termitted saints, p. 281.
*
This the BoUandists could not find.
3 See **
Scoticum. "
* It is said, this may be Latinized, Marno- cus Niger, owing to the habit he wore, according to a customary form of appella-
tion, among the Scots and Irish,
s Such a place cannot be found, in Scot-
Menologium
670 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 22.
Article VII. —St. Gurnin, or Guirminn, Daughter of Cugheala OR CoNGHAiL. We find a notice of this holy Avoman, called Garnimia, a virgin, and daughter to Congal, in the Bollandists. ^ Also, Guirminn or Gurnin, daughter of Conghail or Cughaela, is entered in the Martyrologies of Tallagh,'' of Marianus O'Gorman, and of Donegal,3 as having a festival at this date. Her charities to the poor were profuse, owing to the generous liberality of her disposition. Good souls, too, felt a pleasure, in enabling her to satisfy the ardent longings of her heart, to relieve distress in every shape. Her charity was only equalled by her humility, her beautiful child-like diffi- dence, her fervent piety, and her sweet disposition.
Artijcle VIII. —Festivals of St. Peter's Chair, at Antioch, of
THE Birth of St. and of St. Tecla. In the " of Laurence, Festilogy"
St. ^ngus,^ at this day, we find these festivals duly celebrated in Ireland, before the eighth century : —
"O. UIII. kl. 1t1 AnCUAl^ AO^-OAtl, pecA1]^ Acpec ecriAi ;
5ein l,Avi]Mnc lAiipiAec^A, La feiL coi-obg CccIa.
In Antioch^ was his Ordination (honor)— Peter his wisdom is known—
The birth of Laurence^—the full response— On the resplendent feast of Tecla. *
Article IX. —Festival of St. Dima or Dioma, First Missionary BishopamongtheMerciansandMidlandAngles. [Sez'enthCentury. '] This saint was a native of Ireland, where he was problbly born, about the be- ginning of the seventh century. He accompanied St. Cedd' to England.
