COINCHENN
OF CHAELCHAD OR CAELACHADH, CORCADUIBHNE, COUNTY OF KERRY.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
ii.
August 19. ] LIVES OF TH& IRISH SAINTS. 293
in the barony of Moycashel, and County of Westmeath, at that time ; or he may have lived at Killare, in the barony of Rathconrath, in the same county. A famous monastery existed at Drumrath, when the ancient
*4
biographer of St. Aidus wrote, and it was built in honour of our saint ;
but, 2
Archdall had no authority for assigning its erection, to the year 588. 5 A monastery is said to have been founded here in honour of St. Enan, and
sometime in the sixth
century.
26 In the Irish Annals, there is an account
2
regarding the death of an Abbot of Druim-ratha ? and, he flourished in the
;
eighth century. But, as there was another Druim-ratha,
28
in the district of
Legny, in the province of Connaught, it cannot be asserted positively, that the individualnoticedbelongedtoDrumrath,inWestmeath. Wearetold,that the festival of St. Enan used to be celebrated at Drumrany, on the Sunday
after the 18th of 2^ September.
to St. and ^Engus
Nevertheless, according
Marianus O'Gorman, our saint's festival was celebrated at Drumrath, on the
19th of August ;3° although the same St. y£ngus and the Tallagh Martyr-
x that his natal ology3 state,
on the 18th of 3 September. 3
was
There is no mention of our saint, however, at this latter day, in the copy of
the Irish Calendar, formerly belonging to the Ordnance Survey Office, Phoenix Park, and now deposited in the Library of the Koyal Irish
Academy. However, the patron saint of Drumrany is said to have been St. Winoc,33 whose memory was celebrated there, on the 18th September. His day fell on that date, and his pattern was held on the Sunday following. His well is called Tober-Enain,3+ and it lay in the townland of Drumrany, near the old church. It was "smothered up,"35 according
to the of the phraseology
about the 181 36 The year 7.
day
kept,
country people,
Oratory of Drumraithe was burned by the Ostmen, about the middle
of the tenth century; while seven score and ten persons perished in it. 37 This happened in the year 943 ; when, as the Annals of Clonmac-
2< Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernian,"
xxviii. Februarii. VitaS. Aidi,cap. xxxvi. ,
noise38 theDanes state,
fromDromrahie. Thechurch- yard solely remains, and now undistinguished by monastic ruins; however,
p. 421.
25 See Archdall's "Monasticon Hiberni-
brought
a
great prey
" Edain Droma Rathe. "—Rev. Dr. Kelly's
"
CalendarofIrishSaints,"&c,p. xxxiv.
32 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," xxviii. Februarii, n. 27, p. 423.
33 This denomination, however, is thought See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of to be a corruption from St. Finian ; but, in our Irish Calendars, we do not find a saint
cum," p. 710. 26
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. Hi. , chap, lxxiv. , p. 558.
2? Namely, Flaithgheal, son of Taich- leach, who died a. d. 788, according to Dr. O'Donovan'sAnnalsofthe FourMasters,"
vol. i. , and n. (a), pp. 394, 395.
28 Said to have been built by St. Fechin,
of Fore, who flourished in the seventh cen- tury. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi- berniae," Januarii xx. Supplementum Vitae S. Fechini, cap. viii. , p. 134.
"
Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 519, 520.
30 In the Irish Calendar, at the xiv. of the
Calends of September, (A'ugust 19th), I find: " enAn "OnotriA fUice m lanco^ tni'oe. " Ordnance Survey Office copy, Phoenix Park. Common Place Book F. , p. 72.
31 In the published Martyrology of Tallagh, I meet at the xvii. {rede xiv. ) of the Kalends
of October, (September 18th), the feast of
bearing the latter name, at the 18th of Sept.
34 According to Mr. John O'Donovan, who states it should be recte £hiou<Mn, from
whichonemightsuppose,thatEnan,ponAn, and Winoc are synonymous.
35 It was thus stated, by George Lennon, Esq. , when John O'Donovan visited the place to obtain antiquarian information for purposes of the Irish Ordnance Survey.
3<> Information See "Letters containing
relative to the Antiquities of the County of Westmeath, during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey, in the year 1837," vol. i.
29 See Lewis'
Mr. John O'Donovan's Letter, Athlone, September 6th, 1837, p. 46.
dated
37 This happened, a. d. 946, according to Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 660, 661.
38 They place this event at A. D. 943. See
ibid. , n. (x), p. 661.
294 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 19.
the memory of St. Enan, even after such a lapse of time, is still reverenced by the faithful inhabitants of that vicinity. 39
Article IV. —Reputed Feast for St. Magnus, Earl of Orkney, Martyr- Atthe16thofApril,theactsofthisholymanhavebeenalready
of 2 to the Scan- August, according
1 hehadafeastatthe given; but,
19th
dinavian Kalendar, in the Fasti Danici of Olans Wormius. 3 It seems most
likely, however, that he has been confounded with a St. Magnus, Bishop of
Anagni, and Martyr, whose festival was held on the present day, and who
suffered, about the year 250,4 during the persecution of the Emperor Decius. s
Or it is possible, that St. Magnus, Martyr at Csesarea in Cappadocia, may have been mistaken for him. The festival of this latter holy Martyr was
In the "Feilire
the 19th of August, there is a festival noted for the Martyr St. Magnus, with
atrainofvictoriousandbloomingcompanions. ? Tothis,however,isadded
no further explanation. No doubt, his metrical eulogy is intended to refer
to one or other of the holy martyrs just noticed; although, it seems most
probable, that St. Magnus, bishop of Anagni, is the one to whom allusion has been made in the " Feilire. "
Article V. —Reputed Feast of St. Solonius or Solon, an Early
Dempster's Menologium Scotorum, there is a festival at the 19th of August, at Mar, in Scotland. Ferrarius follows this account. 2 The Bollandists 3 have allusion to this Solonius, at the same date, with a remark, that they desired to have more certain and definite information regarding his cultus and acts. He must have flourished in the fifth century, if we are to accept the state- ment, that he buried St. Palladius,* whose death has been assigned to a date somewhat later than a. d. 432. We are informed, however, that in one of the churches, founded by Palladius, and named Domnach-arda, in Hy
6 The same editor introduces his Acts, in seven paragraphs, with annotations, and a previous Commentary is comprised in five
kept, likewise, on the 19th of August.
of St. ^Engus, at
Companion of St. Palladius, in Wicklow. [Fifth Century. '] In 1
39 See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap, lxxiv. , pp. 558, 559.
•
Article iv. — See the Fourth Volume
ibid. De
Martyre Caesareae in Cappadocia, pp. 717
to 719.
i See Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by
Whitley Stokes—, LL. D. , p. cxxiv.
Thus entered :—xix. " In
previous Commentary in four sections and
of this work, at that date, Art. ii.
2
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of
the Saints," vol. iv. ,
3 Published at Hafnia, 1643.
4 See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Viesdes
Saints," &c, tome x. , xix« Jour d'Aout, p. 17.
"
April
16th,
p.
211.
5 The
introduces short Acts of this saint, with a Apostolum sepelivit, B. " Bishop Forbes'
Bollandist,FatherGuilielmusCuper,
— S. Palladium Presbyteri, qui
sixty-threeparagraphs,whichexhaustnearly
all the information that can be gleaned re-
garding his cultus. The Acts, in two and n. 33, p. 18.
chapters and seventeen paragraphs, preceded by a short prologue, and with notes added, follow. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Augusti xix. De S. Magno Episc. et Mart, in Italia, pp. 701 to 717.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Au- gusti xix. Among the pretermitted Saints, p. 698.
4 See his Life, at the 6th of July, in the Seventh Volume of this work, Art. i.
6
"
paragraphs. See
Sancto Magno
Article v. Marria Solonii
" 2
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 209. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Secunda Vita S. Patricii, cap. xxiv. , p. 13,
August 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 295
Garrchon, on the eastern coast of Ireland, he left his disciples Sylvester s and Salonius, who were there buried. Their remains were preserved in that church, until they were removed, at the close of the sixth century, to the
InchorHolmof 6in the Baethin,
and of County
of
Wicklow. In that locality, those saints were venerated until the year 770
or 774, when the church there experienced the fate of the Churches ot Glendalough and of some other sanctuaries in that district of country. ?
Ctonttietl) 23aj) of 3ugu£t
ARTICLE I. —ST.
COINCHENN OF CHAELCHAD OR CAELACHADH, CORCADUIBHNE, COUNTY OF KERRY.
EIGHTH CENTURY.
for any memoir of this holy virgin are extremely meagre,
as but a few references to her are to be found in our Calendars and MATERIALS
1
Annals. In the published Martyrology of Taliagh, a St. Conchan of Chael-
chad is inserted at this date. It seems most probable, that the local name shouldhavebeenwrittenChaelachad. InthatcopyfoundintheBookof
Leinster, at the 13th of the September Kalends, the spelling is slightly different. 2 Marianus O'Gorman has notices of her at this day. She would seem as Conchind of Cill-Achaid to have had another festival at the 28th of April. 3 This pious lady was a daughter to Kellach * or Cellach Cualann, a
nise Apostolo, pp. 570, 571. 68
See an account of St. Baoithin, of En- nisboyne, Co. Wicklow, in the Fifth Volume
of this work, at the 22nd of
Twelve generations of his lineal descend- ants are thus named, by Duald MacFirbis :
" Cathal " of
"
Culochair, son of Madudan, son of Ragh- allach,sonof Flann, son of Dubhdraithreach, son of Madudan, son of Cathal, son of Ceallach, son of Edersgel, son of Ceallach Cualann. "
9 By Colgan, in his
Art. ii.
7 See Rev. John Francis Shearman's
"Loca Patrici—ana," No. hi. , p. 31. Article I. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
xxxii.
2
Thus : CoincViAnT) o CriAelchA-o.
3 See the Fourth Volume of this work, at
that date, Art. vii.
4 See
Colgan's
nise," vii. Januarii. De S. Kentigerna Vidua, n. 8, p. 22.
5 The Annals of Clonmacnoise have the
death of Ceallagh Cwallan, King of Leinster, at a. d. 712. The Four Masters enter the
"
Vita S.
May,
Ui-Ceallaigh Cualann],
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
xvi.
Acta Sanctorum Abbani,
parish
Dunganstown,
of Leinster, who died from a. d. s to 6 She was a sister to 712 714.
King
St. Keantigerna,7 who is venerated at the 7th of January. Her father was ancestor of a tribe, ealled the Ui-Ceallaigh Cualann, seated in the northern
8
part of the present County of Wicklow.
daughter of Kellach had been identical with St. Conchenna, Virgin, who is said » to have been venerated at Ceall Achaidh Conchinn, or Coincheann. 10
s The feast of this saint is placed at the death of Ceallach Cualann, son of Gerrtide, 14th of August, by Dempster, and by King of Leinster, at A. D. 713. See Dr.
Ferrarius, at the 15th. By Colgan his feast has been given for the loth of March, at which date some account of him may be found, in the "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," De S. Syvestro S. Paladii Socio et Hiber-
O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 312, 313, and nn. (f, h,) ibid.
6
The Annals of Ulster have his death at
It may be suspected, that this holy
a. d. 714.
i See a notice of her in the First Volume
of this work, at that date, Art. ii.
[chief
son of Amhalgaidh, son of Tuathal, son of
Hibernise,"
I0 The place is thought to have derived its
Martii,
cap. xx. , p. 615, and n. 17, p. 622.
name from this who was virgin,
venerated, says Colgan, on the 28th of April.
" Before the Anglo-Norman Invasion,
296 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 20.
It was situated in the territory of Corcaduibhne,11 now the barony of Cor-
12
caguiney, intheextremewesternpartoftheCountyofKerry. Thisplace
has been incorrectly identified by Archdall *3 with Killeagh, a small village,
1
on the west side of Youghal Bay, in the County of Cork. * Yet, this state-
ment is directly contradicted and rectified in another part of the same work. 1 * The author does not even appear to have noticed his counter-statements. The denomination now " the
Cill-achaidh, Anglicised Killahy, signifies Church of the Field," 16 and in Irish local names it has been generally
softened down to Killeigh. As we are particularly informed, the present Killeagh lay within the region of Corcaduibhne, in the western part of Munster. However,wefailtofindsuchalocalityinthepresentCorcaguiney barony, County of Kerry. St. Abban x 7 founded this place originally for ecclesiastics, as we are informed in his acts, and for those persons he left there; while he prophesied, that in course of time, their habitation should be called after a St. Finian,18 not then born. This prophecy was afterwards fulfilled. Therefore, in the denomination Kilfinian, we may probably find that of Ceall Achaid Conchenn merged. In the barony of Trughanacmy and parish of Kiltallagh, there is a Killegh,^ as also in the barony of Magunihy, and parish
of Molahiffe, we find a townland so named. 20 As these places are all in the
County of Kerry, and immediately adjoining the barony of Corcaguiney, towards the east, perhaps we may conjecture the former territory of Corca Duibhne to have been anciently more extensive than has been generally represented. The present holy woman's death is referred by the Annals of the Four Masters to a. d. 21 In the of 22 it is
738. Martyrology Donegal, mentioned, that Coinchenn, of Cael-achadh, had a festival, at the 20th ot August. This saint seems to have been venerated, also, on the 28th of
2
April ; and, as Archdall states, 3 but without sufficient authority, at Cor-
caguiney, in the County of Kerry.
Article II. —St. Lasar, or Lassar, Virgin, of Cill Arcalgach, near Lough Lene, County of Westmeath. There are many models of saintliness in humble and obscure life, which prove that wonderful and almost exhaustless charity may be distributed from the scantiest stores. Not only over persons of the humbler class, but over many in a superior social position, most beneficent influences are exercised by God's servants. Troubled
this territory was held by the Ui Failbhe or O'Falvys. Afterwards, the MacCarthys and
13 See "The Annals of Ireland," &c, with Annotations by Philip MacDermot, Esq. , M. D , and Owen Connellan, Esq. , note at p. 178.
concerning a nunnery at this place, in M. de la Boullaye le Gouz's "Tour in Ireland,
13 See "Monasticon
20
See ibid. , sheet 48.
2I See Dr. O'Donovan's
pp. 340, 341.
22
the Irish became more
chap, vi. , p. 33, and n. 70, ibid.
I5 See "Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 303. l6 See Dr. Patrick W. "
O'Sullivans
powerful there, as also the Anglo-Norman families of the Fitzgeralds, Ferriters, Husseys, Trants, and others, who settled there, and who were supported against the O'Falvys, by the Earl of Desmond. See Dr. O'Donovan's leabriArx 11A 5-CeApc or Book of Rights, n. (e,) pp. 47, 48.
among
Joyce's Origin and History of Irish Names of Places,"
Hibernicum," p. 73. 14 Some curious particulars are related
edition,
vol. i.
a. d. Edited 1644. "
by
T. Crofton
Croker,
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 224, 225.
23 See "Monasticon
part iii. , chap, ii. , p. 304.
'7 See Acts of this saint, at the 27th of
October.
,8
Colgan supposes him to have been St. Finan of Kinnetich, whose feast occurs on the 7th of April.
I9 Described on the "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Kerry," sheet 47.
Hibernicum," p. 303.
August 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 297
1
spirits are calmed and afflicted souls are comforted by the lowliest. Especially such must be the case, when pious women renounce the deceitful
ways of this world, to lead lives wholly devoted to religion, and resolving in retirement to secure their own salvation and the happiness of others. A
festival in honour of Lasar, of Chill Arealgaich, is registered in the published 2
Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 20th of August. Again, at the 13th of the September Kalends, that copy in the Book of Leinster spells the entry in a manner somewhat different. 3 At this same date, the Martyrology of Donegal *
mentions Lassar, Virgin, of Cill Arcalgach,s on the brink of Loch Lebenn, in Meath. Her place of res—idence must be sought for within or on the banks ofthepresentLoughLeane knowninourancientannalsasLochLephinn or Loch Leibhinn. It is now called Lough Lene, about two miles and three quarters of a mile in length, by one mile in width j and for its extent, it is one of the loveliest of the numerous lakes in Westmeath. It contains two wooded islets ; and, on one of these, it is said a monastery formerly existed. 6 In the Acts of St. Finian,? the holy Bishop of Clonard,8 allusion is made to a certain Lassara, a virgin, who was remarkable for the many miracles she wrought, and who built a church at a place called Daire mac Aidmecain. 9 There seems to be a great distinction in orthography, however, between Cill Arcalgach and Daire mac Aidmecain. Colgan is of opinion, that the virgin of this latter place was descended from the race of Laeghaire, the son of Niall. Lough Leane lies about one mile south of Fore Village, in the baronyofDemifore,andinthenorthernpartofWestmeathCounty. Onan island of this lake lived Diarmaid, King of Meath, in the time of St. Fechin, who died a. d. 664. According to local tradition, the tyrant Turgesius had a residence on this same island. 10 On the summit of an adjoining hill, a con- spicuous mound is still shown as Turgesius' Fort, by the country people. " The Irish Calendar now preserved in the Royal Irish Academy « has a notice of this person,^ as Lasar, Virgin of Cill Arcalgach, on the border of LochaLeibhean. Wecannotattemptfurthertoidentifyher,nortoknow the period in which she lived.
Article ii. —" For a
pugnant example
p. 554.
? This saint has a double festival : one at
the 23rd of February, where some notices of him may be found, in the Second Volume of this work ; the other and chief feast is held on the 12th of December, when his life is given.
nise," xxiii. Februarii, Vita S. Finiani seu Finneni, Abbatis de Cluain-eraird, cap. xxii. , p. 395.
date, the same editor states, that Ardghal is a territory in East Meath, although its exact position has not been determined. See
in modern times, the pious reader may
peruse that edifying Life of Marie-Eustelle
Harpin, the seamstress of St. Pallais, called
the Angel of the Eucharist, London, 1872,
second edition.
3
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
3 Thus : o Cill lAfr'Atx
8 See 's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan
-ArxchAigAch.
4 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
224, 225.
5 In Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," we read at a. d. 742, that
Dunlaing, son of Dunchu, and chief of the
Cinel-Ardghail, died. The learned editor
couldnotdeterminethe situation of that tribe.
See vol. i. , pp. 344 345, and n. (n. ) ibid. In Calendars.
August 19. ] LIVES OF TH& IRISH SAINTS. 293
in the barony of Moycashel, and County of Westmeath, at that time ; or he may have lived at Killare, in the barony of Rathconrath, in the same county. A famous monastery existed at Drumrath, when the ancient
*4
biographer of St. Aidus wrote, and it was built in honour of our saint ;
but, 2
Archdall had no authority for assigning its erection, to the year 588. 5 A monastery is said to have been founded here in honour of St. Enan, and
sometime in the sixth
century.
26 In the Irish Annals, there is an account
2
regarding the death of an Abbot of Druim-ratha ? and, he flourished in the
;
eighth century. But, as there was another Druim-ratha,
28
in the district of
Legny, in the province of Connaught, it cannot be asserted positively, that the individualnoticedbelongedtoDrumrath,inWestmeath. Wearetold,that the festival of St. Enan used to be celebrated at Drumrany, on the Sunday
after the 18th of 2^ September.
to St. and ^Engus
Nevertheless, according
Marianus O'Gorman, our saint's festival was celebrated at Drumrath, on the
19th of August ;3° although the same St. y£ngus and the Tallagh Martyr-
x that his natal ology3 state,
on the 18th of 3 September. 3
was
There is no mention of our saint, however, at this latter day, in the copy of
the Irish Calendar, formerly belonging to the Ordnance Survey Office, Phoenix Park, and now deposited in the Library of the Koyal Irish
Academy. However, the patron saint of Drumrany is said to have been St. Winoc,33 whose memory was celebrated there, on the 18th September. His day fell on that date, and his pattern was held on the Sunday following. His well is called Tober-Enain,3+ and it lay in the townland of Drumrany, near the old church. It was "smothered up,"35 according
to the of the phraseology
about the 181 36 The year 7.
day
kept,
country people,
Oratory of Drumraithe was burned by the Ostmen, about the middle
of the tenth century; while seven score and ten persons perished in it. 37 This happened in the year 943 ; when, as the Annals of Clonmac-
2< Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernian,"
xxviii. Februarii. VitaS. Aidi,cap. xxxvi. ,
noise38 theDanes state,
fromDromrahie. Thechurch- yard solely remains, and now undistinguished by monastic ruins; however,
p. 421.
25 See Archdall's "Monasticon Hiberni-
brought
a
great prey
" Edain Droma Rathe. "—Rev. Dr. Kelly's
"
CalendarofIrishSaints,"&c,p. xxxiv.
32 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," xxviii. Februarii, n. 27, p. 423.
33 This denomination, however, is thought See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of to be a corruption from St. Finian ; but, in our Irish Calendars, we do not find a saint
cum," p. 710. 26
Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. Hi. , chap, lxxiv. , p. 558.
2? Namely, Flaithgheal, son of Taich- leach, who died a. d. 788, according to Dr. O'Donovan'sAnnalsofthe FourMasters,"
vol. i. , and n. (a), pp. 394, 395.
28 Said to have been built by St. Fechin,
of Fore, who flourished in the seventh cen- tury. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi- berniae," Januarii xx. Supplementum Vitae S. Fechini, cap. viii. , p. 134.
"
Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. i. , pp. 519, 520.
30 In the Irish Calendar, at the xiv. of the
Calends of September, (A'ugust 19th), I find: " enAn "OnotriA fUice m lanco^ tni'oe. " Ordnance Survey Office copy, Phoenix Park. Common Place Book F. , p. 72.
31 In the published Martyrology of Tallagh, I meet at the xvii. {rede xiv. ) of the Kalends
of October, (September 18th), the feast of
bearing the latter name, at the 18th of Sept.
34 According to Mr. John O'Donovan, who states it should be recte £hiou<Mn, from
whichonemightsuppose,thatEnan,ponAn, and Winoc are synonymous.
35 It was thus stated, by George Lennon, Esq. , when John O'Donovan visited the place to obtain antiquarian information for purposes of the Irish Ordnance Survey.
3<> Information See "Letters containing
relative to the Antiquities of the County of Westmeath, during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey, in the year 1837," vol. i.
29 See Lewis'
Mr. John O'Donovan's Letter, Athlone, September 6th, 1837, p. 46.
dated
37 This happened, a. d. 946, according to Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 660, 661.
38 They place this event at A. D. 943. See
ibid. , n. (x), p. 661.
294 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 19.
the memory of St. Enan, even after such a lapse of time, is still reverenced by the faithful inhabitants of that vicinity. 39
Article IV. —Reputed Feast for St. Magnus, Earl of Orkney, Martyr- Atthe16thofApril,theactsofthisholymanhavebeenalready
of 2 to the Scan- August, according
1 hehadafeastatthe given; but,
19th
dinavian Kalendar, in the Fasti Danici of Olans Wormius. 3 It seems most
likely, however, that he has been confounded with a St. Magnus, Bishop of
Anagni, and Martyr, whose festival was held on the present day, and who
suffered, about the year 250,4 during the persecution of the Emperor Decius. s
Or it is possible, that St. Magnus, Martyr at Csesarea in Cappadocia, may have been mistaken for him. The festival of this latter holy Martyr was
In the "Feilire
the 19th of August, there is a festival noted for the Martyr St. Magnus, with
atrainofvictoriousandbloomingcompanions. ? Tothis,however,isadded
no further explanation. No doubt, his metrical eulogy is intended to refer
to one or other of the holy martyrs just noticed; although, it seems most
probable, that St. Magnus, bishop of Anagni, is the one to whom allusion has been made in the " Feilire. "
Article V. —Reputed Feast of St. Solonius or Solon, an Early
Dempster's Menologium Scotorum, there is a festival at the 19th of August, at Mar, in Scotland. Ferrarius follows this account. 2 The Bollandists 3 have allusion to this Solonius, at the same date, with a remark, that they desired to have more certain and definite information regarding his cultus and acts. He must have flourished in the fifth century, if we are to accept the state- ment, that he buried St. Palladius,* whose death has been assigned to a date somewhat later than a. d. 432. We are informed, however, that in one of the churches, founded by Palladius, and named Domnach-arda, in Hy
6 The same editor introduces his Acts, in seven paragraphs, with annotations, and a previous Commentary is comprised in five
kept, likewise, on the 19th of August.
of St. ^Engus, at
Companion of St. Palladius, in Wicklow. [Fifth Century. '] In 1
39 See Rev. A. Cogan's "Diocese of Meath, Ancient and Modern," vol. iii. , chap, lxxiv. , pp. 558, 559.
•
Article iv. — See the Fourth Volume
ibid. De
Martyre Caesareae in Cappadocia, pp. 717
to 719.
i See Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by
Whitley Stokes—, LL. D. , p. cxxiv.
Thus entered :—xix. " In
previous Commentary in four sections and
of this work, at that date, Art. ii.
2
See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of
the Saints," vol. iv. ,
3 Published at Hafnia, 1643.
4 See Les Petits Bollandistes, "Viesdes
Saints," &c, tome x. , xix« Jour d'Aout, p. 17.
"
April
16th,
p.
211.
5 The
introduces short Acts of this saint, with a Apostolum sepelivit, B. " Bishop Forbes'
Bollandist,FatherGuilielmusCuper,
— S. Palladium Presbyteri, qui
sixty-threeparagraphs,whichexhaustnearly
all the information that can be gleaned re-
garding his cultus. The Acts, in two and n. 33, p. 18.
chapters and seventeen paragraphs, preceded by a short prologue, and with notes added, follow. See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Augusti xix. De S. Magno Episc. et Mart, in Italia, pp. 701 to 717.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Au- gusti xix. Among the pretermitted Saints, p. 698.
4 See his Life, at the 6th of July, in the Seventh Volume of this work, Art. i.
6
"
paragraphs. See
Sancto Magno
Article v. Marria Solonii
" 2
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 209. See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Secunda Vita S. Patricii, cap. xxiv. , p. 13,
August 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 295
Garrchon, on the eastern coast of Ireland, he left his disciples Sylvester s and Salonius, who were there buried. Their remains were preserved in that church, until they were removed, at the close of the sixth century, to the
InchorHolmof 6in the Baethin,
and of County
of
Wicklow. In that locality, those saints were venerated until the year 770
or 774, when the church there experienced the fate of the Churches ot Glendalough and of some other sanctuaries in that district of country. ?
Ctonttietl) 23aj) of 3ugu£t
ARTICLE I. —ST.
COINCHENN OF CHAELCHAD OR CAELACHADH, CORCADUIBHNE, COUNTY OF KERRY.
EIGHTH CENTURY.
for any memoir of this holy virgin are extremely meagre,
as but a few references to her are to be found in our Calendars and MATERIALS
1
Annals. In the published Martyrology of Taliagh, a St. Conchan of Chael-
chad is inserted at this date. It seems most probable, that the local name shouldhavebeenwrittenChaelachad. InthatcopyfoundintheBookof
Leinster, at the 13th of the September Kalends, the spelling is slightly different. 2 Marianus O'Gorman has notices of her at this day. She would seem as Conchind of Cill-Achaid to have had another festival at the 28th of April. 3 This pious lady was a daughter to Kellach * or Cellach Cualann, a
nise Apostolo, pp. 570, 571. 68
See an account of St. Baoithin, of En- nisboyne, Co. Wicklow, in the Fifth Volume
of this work, at the 22nd of
Twelve generations of his lineal descend- ants are thus named, by Duald MacFirbis :
" Cathal " of
"
Culochair, son of Madudan, son of Ragh- allach,sonof Flann, son of Dubhdraithreach, son of Madudan, son of Cathal, son of Ceallach, son of Edersgel, son of Ceallach Cualann. "
9 By Colgan, in his
Art. ii.
7 See Rev. John Francis Shearman's
"Loca Patrici—ana," No. hi. , p. 31. Article I. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
xxxii.
2
Thus : CoincViAnT) o CriAelchA-o.
3 See the Fourth Volume of this work, at
that date, Art. vii.
4 See
Colgan's
nise," vii. Januarii. De S. Kentigerna Vidua, n. 8, p. 22.
5 The Annals of Clonmacnoise have the
death of Ceallagh Cwallan, King of Leinster, at a. d. 712. The Four Masters enter the
"
Vita S.
May,
Ui-Ceallaigh Cualann],
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
xvi.
Acta Sanctorum Abbani,
parish
Dunganstown,
of Leinster, who died from a. d. s to 6 She was a sister to 712 714.
King
St. Keantigerna,7 who is venerated at the 7th of January. Her father was ancestor of a tribe, ealled the Ui-Ceallaigh Cualann, seated in the northern
8
part of the present County of Wicklow.
daughter of Kellach had been identical with St. Conchenna, Virgin, who is said » to have been venerated at Ceall Achaidh Conchinn, or Coincheann. 10
s The feast of this saint is placed at the death of Ceallach Cualann, son of Gerrtide, 14th of August, by Dempster, and by King of Leinster, at A. D. 713. See Dr.
Ferrarius, at the 15th. By Colgan his feast has been given for the loth of March, at which date some account of him may be found, in the "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," De S. Syvestro S. Paladii Socio et Hiber-
O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 312, 313, and nn. (f, h,) ibid.
6
The Annals of Ulster have his death at
It may be suspected, that this holy
a. d. 714.
i See a notice of her in the First Volume
of this work, at that date, Art. ii.
[chief
son of Amhalgaidh, son of Tuathal, son of
Hibernise,"
I0 The place is thought to have derived its
Martii,
cap. xx. , p. 615, and n. 17, p. 622.
name from this who was virgin,
venerated, says Colgan, on the 28th of April.
" Before the Anglo-Norman Invasion,
296 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 20.
It was situated in the territory of Corcaduibhne,11 now the barony of Cor-
12
caguiney, intheextremewesternpartoftheCountyofKerry. Thisplace
has been incorrectly identified by Archdall *3 with Killeagh, a small village,
1
on the west side of Youghal Bay, in the County of Cork. * Yet, this state-
ment is directly contradicted and rectified in another part of the same work. 1 * The author does not even appear to have noticed his counter-statements. The denomination now " the
Cill-achaidh, Anglicised Killahy, signifies Church of the Field," 16 and in Irish local names it has been generally
softened down to Killeigh. As we are particularly informed, the present Killeagh lay within the region of Corcaduibhne, in the western part of Munster. However,wefailtofindsuchalocalityinthepresentCorcaguiney barony, County of Kerry. St. Abban x 7 founded this place originally for ecclesiastics, as we are informed in his acts, and for those persons he left there; while he prophesied, that in course of time, their habitation should be called after a St. Finian,18 not then born. This prophecy was afterwards fulfilled. Therefore, in the denomination Kilfinian, we may probably find that of Ceall Achaid Conchenn merged. In the barony of Trughanacmy and parish of Kiltallagh, there is a Killegh,^ as also in the barony of Magunihy, and parish
of Molahiffe, we find a townland so named. 20 As these places are all in the
County of Kerry, and immediately adjoining the barony of Corcaguiney, towards the east, perhaps we may conjecture the former territory of Corca Duibhne to have been anciently more extensive than has been generally represented. The present holy woman's death is referred by the Annals of the Four Masters to a. d. 21 In the of 22 it is
738. Martyrology Donegal, mentioned, that Coinchenn, of Cael-achadh, had a festival, at the 20th ot August. This saint seems to have been venerated, also, on the 28th of
2
April ; and, as Archdall states, 3 but without sufficient authority, at Cor-
caguiney, in the County of Kerry.
Article II. —St. Lasar, or Lassar, Virgin, of Cill Arcalgach, near Lough Lene, County of Westmeath. There are many models of saintliness in humble and obscure life, which prove that wonderful and almost exhaustless charity may be distributed from the scantiest stores. Not only over persons of the humbler class, but over many in a superior social position, most beneficent influences are exercised by God's servants. Troubled
this territory was held by the Ui Failbhe or O'Falvys. Afterwards, the MacCarthys and
13 See "The Annals of Ireland," &c, with Annotations by Philip MacDermot, Esq. , M. D , and Owen Connellan, Esq. , note at p. 178.
concerning a nunnery at this place, in M. de la Boullaye le Gouz's "Tour in Ireland,
13 See "Monasticon
20
See ibid. , sheet 48.
2I See Dr. O'Donovan's
pp. 340, 341.
22
the Irish became more
chap, vi. , p. 33, and n. 70, ibid.
I5 See "Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 303. l6 See Dr. Patrick W. "
O'Sullivans
powerful there, as also the Anglo-Norman families of the Fitzgeralds, Ferriters, Husseys, Trants, and others, who settled there, and who were supported against the O'Falvys, by the Earl of Desmond. See Dr. O'Donovan's leabriArx 11A 5-CeApc or Book of Rights, n. (e,) pp. 47, 48.
among
Joyce's Origin and History of Irish Names of Places,"
Hibernicum," p. 73. 14 Some curious particulars are related
edition,
vol. i.
a. d. Edited 1644. "
by
T. Crofton
Croker,
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 224, 225.
23 See "Monasticon
part iii. , chap, ii. , p. 304.
'7 See Acts of this saint, at the 27th of
October.
,8
Colgan supposes him to have been St. Finan of Kinnetich, whose feast occurs on the 7th of April.
I9 Described on the "Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Kerry," sheet 47.
Hibernicum," p. 303.
August 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 297
1
spirits are calmed and afflicted souls are comforted by the lowliest. Especially such must be the case, when pious women renounce the deceitful
ways of this world, to lead lives wholly devoted to religion, and resolving in retirement to secure their own salvation and the happiness of others. A
festival in honour of Lasar, of Chill Arealgaich, is registered in the published 2
Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 20th of August. Again, at the 13th of the September Kalends, that copy in the Book of Leinster spells the entry in a manner somewhat different. 3 At this same date, the Martyrology of Donegal *
mentions Lassar, Virgin, of Cill Arcalgach,s on the brink of Loch Lebenn, in Meath. Her place of res—idence must be sought for within or on the banks ofthepresentLoughLeane knowninourancientannalsasLochLephinn or Loch Leibhinn. It is now called Lough Lene, about two miles and three quarters of a mile in length, by one mile in width j and for its extent, it is one of the loveliest of the numerous lakes in Westmeath. It contains two wooded islets ; and, on one of these, it is said a monastery formerly existed. 6 In the Acts of St. Finian,? the holy Bishop of Clonard,8 allusion is made to a certain Lassara, a virgin, who was remarkable for the many miracles she wrought, and who built a church at a place called Daire mac Aidmecain. 9 There seems to be a great distinction in orthography, however, between Cill Arcalgach and Daire mac Aidmecain. Colgan is of opinion, that the virgin of this latter place was descended from the race of Laeghaire, the son of Niall. Lough Leane lies about one mile south of Fore Village, in the baronyofDemifore,andinthenorthernpartofWestmeathCounty. Onan island of this lake lived Diarmaid, King of Meath, in the time of St. Fechin, who died a. d. 664. According to local tradition, the tyrant Turgesius had a residence on this same island. 10 On the summit of an adjoining hill, a con- spicuous mound is still shown as Turgesius' Fort, by the country people. " The Irish Calendar now preserved in the Royal Irish Academy « has a notice of this person,^ as Lasar, Virgin of Cill Arcalgach, on the border of LochaLeibhean. Wecannotattemptfurthertoidentifyher,nortoknow the period in which she lived.
Article ii. —" For a
pugnant example
p. 554.
? This saint has a double festival : one at
the 23rd of February, where some notices of him may be found, in the Second Volume of this work ; the other and chief feast is held on the 12th of December, when his life is given.
nise," xxiii. Februarii, Vita S. Finiani seu Finneni, Abbatis de Cluain-eraird, cap. xxii. , p. 395.
date, the same editor states, that Ardghal is a territory in East Meath, although its exact position has not been determined. See
in modern times, the pious reader may
peruse that edifying Life of Marie-Eustelle
Harpin, the seamstress of St. Pallais, called
the Angel of the Eucharist, London, 1872,
second edition.
3
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
3 Thus : o Cill lAfr'Atx
8 See 's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan
-ArxchAigAch.
4 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
224, 225.
5 In Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," we read at a. d. 742, that
Dunlaing, son of Dunchu, and chief of the
Cinel-Ardghail, died. The learned editor
couldnotdeterminethe situation of that tribe.
See vol. i. , pp. 344 345, and n. (n. ) ibid. In Calendars.
