558, 559, in "Journal of the
Historical and Archjeological Association of
Ireland," fourth series, vol.
Historical and Archjeological Association of
Ireland," fourth series, vol.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
series, vol.
i.
, part i.
, nn.
16, 17, p.
85.
s See Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesias- for Fermanagh," Sheet 10. On White Is- tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and
land itself are a graveyard and ruined chapel, and on Davy's Island to the south are the ruins of an abbey.
5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Dromore," n. (t), p. 80.
18, 19. '"
See Lewis' Topographical Dictionary
18, 19.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (e), p. 765, and vol. iii. , n. (m), p. 474.
* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii. The
Franciscan copy givest)i An acVi ep'0]\otnm a nioijv
of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 331. '
Article vi. — Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xii. The Franciscan copy inserts
DiAnniAic rriAC mecliAiiv
'
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 18, 19.
Article vii.
—'See Archdall's "Mo-
nasticon Hibemicum," p. 261, and n. (z z), ibid.
'
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 291
appearstobedistinctfromtheformerDonoughmore. Eitheretymonisap-
pUcable to various and wide-apart places in Ireland ; so that it is difficult to
pronounce on this bishop's exact locality. Under the head of Domhnach-mor
of Magh Ene,s Duald Mac Firbis records Dianach, bishop of that place,^ at
January i6tli. The parish of Donoughmore, barony of Raphoe, county of
Donegal, possibly represents this place. ? The beautiful glebe grounds and churchyard, where stands the modern church, on the northern bank of the
River Finn, indicate most probably the site of this ancient religious settle-
ment. A" well"isnearthe holy
spot. ^
Article VIII. —St. Jarlugh, Jarloga, or Jarnlaig, of Lismore, BishopandAbbot. TheMartyrologyofTallagh^entersJarloga,ofLismoir, at the 1 6th of January. Whether or not he be a distinct person from a
Jarloga, simply so entered there, may be questioned. Jarlugh of Lismor, Bishop and Abbot,^ occurs in the Martyrology of Donegal3 on this day. In the table appended to this work, the saint's name is Latinized or Grecised
HierologusA IntheAnnalsoftheFourMasters,^larnla,AbbotofLis-mor,
"
is said to have died a. d. 698 ; but in the Annals of Ulster the
larnlaig, Abbatis Lismoir," or " Rest of larnlaig. Abbot of Lismore," is entered at A. D. 699. ^ This charming town, situated on the River Blackwater,? is surrounded on every side with scenes of sylvan beauty. Lismore appears above the trees on the south side of the river. Its majestic castle is seated proudly on its throne of rocks, and the slender spire of the cathedral shoots into the liquid sky. ^
Article IX. —St. Cillen. Acts of charity and religion bring many
blessings during life. Cillen is mentioned in the Martyrology of Tallagh,* on the 1 6th of January. Precisely similar is the entry of his name, as we
s See
"
of the
of— Sheet County Donegal," 79.
Proc^dings
Royal
Irish
for the
Article viii.
Academy," Irish MSS. series, vol. i. , part i. ,
pp. 106, 107.
*
William M. Hennessy states, that it has not been as yet identified. See n.
7 There is a townland called Dromore, in
the parish of Donoughmore, barony of Raphoe, county of Donegal. But no traces
'
Series Episcoporum Ecclesise Catholicae, quotquot innotuerunt a Beato Petro Apos- of an old church are here discoverable. In tolo," Eddidit P. Pius Bonifacius Gams,
the same barony, there is a Dromore in the
parish of Clonleigh, and another in that of
Leek. Nor do either of these seem to be
so distinguished. Again, in this same
county, in the barony of Banagh, there is a
Dromore, in the parish of Inver, and ano-
ther, in the parish of Killymard. But in
neither does there appear the trace of an old
church. In the same county still, in the Survey Townland Maps for the County of barony of Kilmacreanan, and parish of Con- Waterford," Sheet 21.
^
v? al, there is a Dromore, but no trace of a
church. The same may be observed of the guide books, J. R. OTlanagan's " Black- Dromore, in the parish of Drumhome, water in Munster," p. 47, The illustrations
of of
barony Tirhugh, county Donegal.
See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Donegal," Sheets 44, S3,
61, 70, 71, 78, 93, 99, 103.
*"
See Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
to this work are— superblyproduced.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii. The Franciscan copy has
lA-plogi Lie]' tnoi-p.
* He must be the bishop and abbot of
this see, called Hierologus (Theologus) in
"
O. S. B. , p. 228.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
1 8, 19.
See ibid. , pp. 428, 429.
5 O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 300, 301.
*
7 See it pictured on the "Ordnance
See ibid. , n. (c. )
See that most elegant and descriptive of
Article ix.
p. xii. In the Franciscan copy CiiLeni occurs at this date.
'
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
Dormitatio
29 i LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6.
find Cillen'' likewise set down, in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 on this day. Having sweet comfort in the hour of death, he obtained fresh rewards with his crown of glory.
ArticleX. —St. LochinofDalAraidhe. Wefindthenameofsuch asaintsetdowninacalendar,compiledbytheRev. WilliamReeves;^ but more than the heading of this paragraph is not known concerning him.
Article XI. —St. Lithghean, of Clonmore-Leithghein, in Ophaly, OFLeinster. Thatsecuritysoughtfrommenisvain,saysSt. Hilary,*because eventheuseoflifeisnullwithoutthemercyofGod. Inthislatterhisservants havealwaystrusted. ASt. Lithgein,ofClunamoir,orClonmoreinhFailghe, or Ophaly, is entered on the i6th of January, in the Martyrology of Tallagh. ' The exact place where he was venerated is not knowTi. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,3 on this day was venerated, Lithghean, of Cluain- mor-Lithghein, in Ui Failghe, of the Leinster province. He belonged to the race of Cathaeir Mor, monarch of Ireland. Broinnfhinn Brece, daughter of Lughna, and sister to Bishop Ibhar, is said to have been his mother. Ac- cording to another account, however, his mother is stated to have been Mella,sistertoSt. Ibar,sonofLugneus. * Thereforeishesaidtohavebeen a brother to St. Abban Mac Ua Cormaic,^ and to five other holy men. It has been conjectured, that these were most probably the seven presbyters, buried at Killeen Cormac,^ a very ancient cemetery, near the stream called Greece, in the southern part of Kildare county. 7 Clonmore Leithghein is
placed in the barony of Ophaly, and in that shire f but we are unable to
find any such townland denomination on the Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Kildare. Perhaps it rather lay within the boundaries
of that part of ancient Ophaly, situated within the present boundaries of the
King'sCounty. 9 Whereverhelived,thissaintgavegoodadviceandgood
example ; and where such incentives to holiness are exercised, numbers will
be found ready to adopt and adapt in thought and practice such salutary bias of conduct.
'
In a note Dr. Todd here says, "After this word, a more recent hand has added Nenne- thus seu Nennius —
nise," xvi. Martii. Appendix ad Acta S.
18, 19. Article x.
—
"
This interesting spot
antiquities
'
beic'oepg, Alnni|'muige
given
at the
27th
of Oc-
SATti i:o|\ Loch ei|\ne. —Mar. M. Taml meaning that the martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Tamlacht notice on this day, "Nennethus or Nennius of Leithderg, in Inis Muighe Samh, in Loch Erne. " Then are we referred to January i8th.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
See
quities of Down, Connor and Dromore,"
Appendix LL, —p. 376. '
Episcopi, In Psalmorum Enaratio," Psal. lix. , p. 742.
361, 486 to 498, 544 to 560, See ibid.
9 Here we find four townland denomina- tions of Clonmore : one Clonmore in the parish of Seirkieran and barony of Bally- britt ; one in the parish of Cloncast, and barony of Coolestown ; one in the parish and barony of Geashill ; one in the parish of Castlejordan, and barony of Warrenstown.
"
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii. The
Franciscan copy has Sci LicVignein CtuAn
mo1]^ in h. poiLgi.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 18, 19.
See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Ecclesiastical Anti-
Article xi. Divi Hilarii Pictavonim "^
:
Abbani, cap. iii. , p. 626.
s See his life tober.
*
Francis Shearman, intituled " Loca Patri-
ciana," pp.
558, 559, in "Journal of the
Historical and Archjeological Association of
Ireland," fourth series, vol. ii. , No. l6,
October, 1873.
See a very learned paper by Rev. John
7
have been admirably described, with illus- trative representations by the Rev. Mr. Shearman, ibid. , Nos. 14, 15, 16, pp. 339 to
and its
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 293
Article XII. —St, Dunchad O'Braoin, Abbot of Clonmacnoise, Anchorite and Pilgrim. \Tenth Century^^ It seems natural to venerate those distinguished and learned persons, who have rendered great services to a past generation. A love for those who are gone, and a desire to com- municate with them in Heaven is useful for us all. The more tender-hearted and affectionate and loving a people are, the more deeply will they realize and appreciate the devout feeling of praying to the saints, who have escaped from this world to enjoy eternal rest. The present very holy and accom- plished man belonged to the tenth century, and he was born probably about its commencement. Although in other countries, this age was regarded as comparatively sterile in the production of persons distinguished for learning
and virtue,' and although Ireland was labouring under peculiar disadvantages, after the invasion of northern pirates had destroyed many of her sanctuaries, or had dispersed her religious communities ; still, her writers and divines
were exceedingly numerous, during this age, as our annals abundantly testify. " Not unnoticed among the foremost was Donchad O'Braoin. The acts of this saint have been written by Colgan at the i6th of January. 3 A short life, in the possession of MacCarthy Riabhach, and a still shorter one, in the Chronicle of Clonmacnois, furnished materials for its composition, and he has added some critical notes. '* Dunchad O'Braoin was a scion of an illustrious family oftheNialls,andhewasborninthedistrictcalledBreghmuine. s Thisisnow knownasthebaronyofBrawny,inthecountyofWestmeath. ^ Hewasa religious, who embraced the monastic state at Clonmacnois. His love for literature was aided through his zeal. There he made wonderful progress in piety and learning. His humility, too, was most exemplary, for he wished to shunentirelytheattentionsandapplauseofmen. Secretinghimselfasmuch as possible, he lived the retired life of a holy anchorite. He is said to have shut himself up in a sort of prison. Tuathal, who had been both abbot and bishop of Clonmacnois, died a. d. 969. 7 Dunchad was chosen as his suc- cessor in the abbacy. Having been brought from his retreat, this humble man was forced to accept the responsible charge, for which he had been
selected.
Among the bishops at Clonmacnois, Harris has placed Dunchad on his list,butonlyconjecturally,ata. d. 969. ^ Yet,thereisnofoundationwhatso-
ever, for such an arrangement. Certain words, quoted from Colgan, prove nothing more than that Dunchad had been placed over the . monastery as abbot. Throughout his acts, or wherever else he is spoken of, Dunchad is never called bishop. Governing the monastery for some time merely as abbot, he desired a more retired state of life. He withdrew from the manage- ment of monastic affairs after some time. By many persons he was much admired in that part of Ireland. 9
See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for
the — Sheets
King's County," 4, 17, 27, 39.
'
Article xii. Such is the very general
opinion of our great church historians. See
also Sir James Ware "De Scriptoribus Hi-
hernias," lib. i. , cap. vi. , p. 46.
ensi, pp. 105 to 108.
"
These facts Colgan serves to establish in
5 said to have been The O'Braoins are
chiefs of this district. See "The Topo-
graphical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O Huidhrin. " Edited by
Dr. O'Donovan, pp. 2, 3, 10, 11. *SuchistheidentificationofHarris. See
hisactsofthissaintandinthe
ing notes. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xvi. Januarii. De B. Dunchado, macnois," p. 169.
Abb. Cluanensi.
105, and nn. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, pp. 106, 107.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xvi.
^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 694, 695.
*
Januarii.
De B.
Dunchado, Abb. ,
Cluan-
s See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
Cap. i. , ii. , iii. , iv. , p.
correspond-
See
ibid. ,
n.
i. , p.
106.
Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops of Clon-
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops at Clonmacnoise," p. 169.
294
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6.
The titles of abbot and of anchoret are invariably applied to him. On the banks of the Shannon may be seen at Clonmacnois,'° a venerable group of niins known as the seven churches, with two round towers yet very well preserved. Here the old burial-ground is covered with graves. " As in some other great monastic institutions, abbots were not always bishops at Clonmac-
Round Tower and Cross at Clonmacnoise.
noise. Neither were the bishops regularly abbots. " This saint is called a
holy and devout anchorite, and he is regarded as a pilgrim. '3
Through his prayers, Almighty God restored to life the infant son of a woman. This mother left her dead child at the entrance of our saint's cell. She then retired so as not to be seen, but she hoped that the saint would pray, and procure the infant's resuscitation. With this request he complied. This miracle is alluded to by Tighernach, author of the Annals of Clonmac- nois. This writer lived in the eleventh century. Tighernach says, that Dunchad was the last of the Irish saints, through whose intercession God had restored a dead person to life. '* Another miracle was wrought in favour of this holy man. For one festival day of St. Andrew, the Apostle, when Dunchad had been exhausted from the effects of severe fasting, he began to desire some nourishing diet. He prayed to God for such relief; and then a
nise," xvi. Januarii. De B. Dunchado, cap. vii. , p. io6.
'" See Beaufort's "Memoir of a Map of Ireland," p. 62.
has misquoted Colgan, and he was wrong in giving them that title. He omitted their
real designation. See Dr. Lanigan's "Ec- clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xxii. , § xv. , n. 180, pp. 391, 392.
'3 Such designations are applied to him in the Annals of Clonmacnoise, at A. D. 981.
" The accompanying engraving of Clon- macnoise is by Messrs. Bisson and Jaquet, Paris, from a photograph of Frederick H. Mares, 79 Grafton-street, Dublin.
'* See Colgan's
"
Acta Sanctorum Hi-
" Thus Moeldar, and his successor, St.
berniae," xvi. Januarii, De B. Dunchado, n. 23, p. 108.
Corpreus, Bishop of Clonmacnoise, do not appear to have been abbots there. Archdall
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
youth, who served him, went out into a field to collect straw. There two
had relieved him by so evident a miracle. '5 ^ In the year 974 or 975, he withdrew to Armagh, where sequestered and unnoticed he hoped to spend his days. His reputation however soon spread throughout that city. So much respect was paid to him there, he was
determined to leave it, that he might avoid further notoriety. '^
His intentions being discovered, the principal inhabitants of Armagh de- puted some venerable persons of the clergy to request that he should stay with them one year longer. The clergy alone were able to change his re- solves. He complied with their petition, and continued to reside at Armagh. At the year's end he again prepared for departure. But a similar request was
made. This repetition was annually continued, it is stated, and so he was induced to prolong his stay in that city. St. D—unchad O'Braoin there ended
January i6. ]
295
most beautiful men to and after a salutation " appeared him, said, Thy
master Dunchad, the servant of God, hath asked the Lord we serve for food and drink, and behold both are here for you to bring him. " Then taking the straw from this youth, they placed nourishing meats, and a vessel, containing mead or beer, mixed with honey, on his shoulders. This load he carefully brought to Dunchad, and related what had occurred. The blessed man gave special thanks to God, who had commiseration on his weakness, and who
his
i6th of and he died on the—
with the
17th
thus rendered
days, January corresponding
of the Calends of February a. d. 987. ^7 The year 988 is said, however, to be more correct. That most distinguished historian of Ireland, Eochaidh
has allusion to this— man in an Irish O'Flannagain, holy stanza,
into English by Dr. O'Donovan
:
"TheseatofMacha[i. e. QueenMacha]thetreacheroiis,voluptuous,haughty, Is a psalm-singing house possessed by saints ;
There came not within the walls of her fort
A being like unto Dunchadh O'Braein. "'^
We are told, furthermore, that at the end of his thirteenth year of pilgrimage to Armagh, he passed out of this Hfe. 's The amiable as well as the humble character of this holy man may be estimated from the disposition he evinced, to yield his opinions to the wiser judgments of virtuous persons, in the order of his living, lest he might seem to be overwise in his own conceits.
Article XIII. —Reputed Festival of St. Ninnida or Nennius of
Leth-derc, in Inis-Muighe-Samh, now Inishmacsaint Island, Lough Erne,CountyFermanagh. ItwillbeseenbyreferringtotheentryofSt. Cillen's name on this day, that the present saint was called Nennius or Nenne- thus. It would seem that his religious establishment was on Lough Erne.
On this day, the Martyrology of Tallagh^ registers the name of Ninnidh, Leth derc, as having been venerated. Marianus O'Gorman's Calendar enters his festival on the i6th of January. However, the festival and acts of this saint seem more appropriately referable to the 1 8th of this month, where they
may be seen.
'5 See ibid. , cap. ix. , p. io6.
'* The Four Masters state his object was to revisit Clonmacnoise. See Dr. O'Dono- van's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 720, 721.
'7 Yet the Annals of Clonmacnoise place his death under A. D. 981.
'* See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol.
s See Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesias- for Fermanagh," Sheet 10. On White Is- tical Antiquities of Down, Connor and
land itself are a graveyard and ruined chapel, and on Davy's Island to the south are the ruins of an abbey.
5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Dromore," n. (t), p. 80.
18, 19. '"
See Lewis' Topographical Dictionary
18, 19.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (e), p. 765, and vol. iii. , n. (m), p. 474.
* Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii. The
Franciscan copy givest)i An acVi ep'0]\otnm a nioijv
of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 331. '
Article vi. — Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xii. The Franciscan copy inserts
DiAnniAic rriAC mecliAiiv
'
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 18, 19.
Article vii.
—'See Archdall's "Mo-
nasticon Hibemicum," p. 261, and n. (z z), ibid.
'
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 291
appearstobedistinctfromtheformerDonoughmore. Eitheretymonisap-
pUcable to various and wide-apart places in Ireland ; so that it is difficult to
pronounce on this bishop's exact locality. Under the head of Domhnach-mor
of Magh Ene,s Duald Mac Firbis records Dianach, bishop of that place,^ at
January i6tli. The parish of Donoughmore, barony of Raphoe, county of
Donegal, possibly represents this place. ? The beautiful glebe grounds and churchyard, where stands the modern church, on the northern bank of the
River Finn, indicate most probably the site of this ancient religious settle-
ment. A" well"isnearthe holy
spot. ^
Article VIII. —St. Jarlugh, Jarloga, or Jarnlaig, of Lismore, BishopandAbbot. TheMartyrologyofTallagh^entersJarloga,ofLismoir, at the 1 6th of January. Whether or not he be a distinct person from a
Jarloga, simply so entered there, may be questioned. Jarlugh of Lismor, Bishop and Abbot,^ occurs in the Martyrology of Donegal3 on this day. In the table appended to this work, the saint's name is Latinized or Grecised
HierologusA IntheAnnalsoftheFourMasters,^larnla,AbbotofLis-mor,
"
is said to have died a. d. 698 ; but in the Annals of Ulster the
larnlaig, Abbatis Lismoir," or " Rest of larnlaig. Abbot of Lismore," is entered at A. D. 699. ^ This charming town, situated on the River Blackwater,? is surrounded on every side with scenes of sylvan beauty. Lismore appears above the trees on the south side of the river. Its majestic castle is seated proudly on its throne of rocks, and the slender spire of the cathedral shoots into the liquid sky. ^
Article IX. —St. Cillen. Acts of charity and religion bring many
blessings during life. Cillen is mentioned in the Martyrology of Tallagh,* on the 1 6th of January. Precisely similar is the entry of his name, as we
s See
"
of the
of— Sheet County Donegal," 79.
Proc^dings
Royal
Irish
for the
Article viii.
Academy," Irish MSS. series, vol. i. , part i. ,
pp. 106, 107.
*
William M. Hennessy states, that it has not been as yet identified. See n.
7 There is a townland called Dromore, in
the parish of Donoughmore, barony of Raphoe, county of Donegal. But no traces
'
Series Episcoporum Ecclesise Catholicae, quotquot innotuerunt a Beato Petro Apos- of an old church are here discoverable. In tolo," Eddidit P. Pius Bonifacius Gams,
the same barony, there is a Dromore in the
parish of Clonleigh, and another in that of
Leek. Nor do either of these seem to be
so distinguished. Again, in this same
county, in the barony of Banagh, there is a
Dromore, in the parish of Inver, and ano-
ther, in the parish of Killymard. But in
neither does there appear the trace of an old
church. In the same county still, in the Survey Townland Maps for the County of barony of Kilmacreanan, and parish of Con- Waterford," Sheet 21.
^
v? al, there is a Dromore, but no trace of a
church. The same may be observed of the guide books, J. R. OTlanagan's " Black- Dromore, in the parish of Drumhome, water in Munster," p. 47, The illustrations
of of
barony Tirhugh, county Donegal.
See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
for the County of Donegal," Sheets 44, S3,
61, 70, 71, 78, 93, 99, 103.
*"
See Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
to this work are— superblyproduced.
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii. The Franciscan copy has
lA-plogi Lie]' tnoi-p.
* He must be the bishop and abbot of
this see, called Hierologus (Theologus) in
"
O. S. B. , p. 228.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
1 8, 19.
See ibid. , pp. 428, 429.
5 O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 300, 301.
*
7 See it pictured on the "Ordnance
See ibid. , n. (c. )
See that most elegant and descriptive of
Article ix.
p. xii. In the Franciscan copy CiiLeni occurs at this date.
'
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
Dormitatio
29 i LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6.
find Cillen'' likewise set down, in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 on this day. Having sweet comfort in the hour of death, he obtained fresh rewards with his crown of glory.
ArticleX. —St. LochinofDalAraidhe. Wefindthenameofsuch asaintsetdowninacalendar,compiledbytheRev. WilliamReeves;^ but more than the heading of this paragraph is not known concerning him.
Article XI. —St. Lithghean, of Clonmore-Leithghein, in Ophaly, OFLeinster. Thatsecuritysoughtfrommenisvain,saysSt. Hilary,*because eventheuseoflifeisnullwithoutthemercyofGod. Inthislatterhisservants havealwaystrusted. ASt. Lithgein,ofClunamoir,orClonmoreinhFailghe, or Ophaly, is entered on the i6th of January, in the Martyrology of Tallagh. ' The exact place where he was venerated is not knowTi. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,3 on this day was venerated, Lithghean, of Cluain- mor-Lithghein, in Ui Failghe, of the Leinster province. He belonged to the race of Cathaeir Mor, monarch of Ireland. Broinnfhinn Brece, daughter of Lughna, and sister to Bishop Ibhar, is said to have been his mother. Ac- cording to another account, however, his mother is stated to have been Mella,sistertoSt. Ibar,sonofLugneus. * Thereforeishesaidtohavebeen a brother to St. Abban Mac Ua Cormaic,^ and to five other holy men. It has been conjectured, that these were most probably the seven presbyters, buried at Killeen Cormac,^ a very ancient cemetery, near the stream called Greece, in the southern part of Kildare county. 7 Clonmore Leithghein is
placed in the barony of Ophaly, and in that shire f but we are unable to
find any such townland denomination on the Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Kildare. Perhaps it rather lay within the boundaries
of that part of ancient Ophaly, situated within the present boundaries of the
King'sCounty. 9 Whereverhelived,thissaintgavegoodadviceandgood
example ; and where such incentives to holiness are exercised, numbers will
be found ready to adopt and adapt in thought and practice such salutary bias of conduct.
'
In a note Dr. Todd here says, "After this word, a more recent hand has added Nenne- thus seu Nennius —
nise," xvi. Martii. Appendix ad Acta S.
18, 19. Article x.
—
"
This interesting spot
antiquities
'
beic'oepg, Alnni|'muige
given
at the
27th
of Oc-
SATti i:o|\ Loch ei|\ne. —Mar. M. Taml meaning that the martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman and of Tamlacht notice on this day, "Nennethus or Nennius of Leithderg, in Inis Muighe Samh, in Loch Erne. " Then are we referred to January i8th.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
See
quities of Down, Connor and Dromore,"
Appendix LL, —p. 376. '
Episcopi, In Psalmorum Enaratio," Psal. lix. , p. 742.
361, 486 to 498, 544 to 560, See ibid.
9 Here we find four townland denomina- tions of Clonmore : one Clonmore in the parish of Seirkieran and barony of Bally- britt ; one in the parish of Cloncast, and barony of Coolestown ; one in the parish and barony of Geashill ; one in the parish of Castlejordan, and barony of Warrenstown.
"
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii. The
Franciscan copy has Sci LicVignein CtuAn
mo1]^ in h. poiLgi.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 18, 19.
See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
Ecclesiastical Anti-
Article xi. Divi Hilarii Pictavonim "^
:
Abbani, cap. iii. , p. 626.
s See his life tober.
*
Francis Shearman, intituled " Loca Patri-
ciana," pp.
558, 559, in "Journal of the
Historical and Archjeological Association of
Ireland," fourth series, vol. ii. , No. l6,
October, 1873.
See a very learned paper by Rev. John
7
have been admirably described, with illus- trative representations by the Rev. Mr. Shearman, ibid. , Nos. 14, 15, 16, pp. 339 to
and its
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 293
Article XII. —St, Dunchad O'Braoin, Abbot of Clonmacnoise, Anchorite and Pilgrim. \Tenth Century^^ It seems natural to venerate those distinguished and learned persons, who have rendered great services to a past generation. A love for those who are gone, and a desire to com- municate with them in Heaven is useful for us all. The more tender-hearted and affectionate and loving a people are, the more deeply will they realize and appreciate the devout feeling of praying to the saints, who have escaped from this world to enjoy eternal rest. The present very holy and accom- plished man belonged to the tenth century, and he was born probably about its commencement. Although in other countries, this age was regarded as comparatively sterile in the production of persons distinguished for learning
and virtue,' and although Ireland was labouring under peculiar disadvantages, after the invasion of northern pirates had destroyed many of her sanctuaries, or had dispersed her religious communities ; still, her writers and divines
were exceedingly numerous, during this age, as our annals abundantly testify. " Not unnoticed among the foremost was Donchad O'Braoin. The acts of this saint have been written by Colgan at the i6th of January. 3 A short life, in the possession of MacCarthy Riabhach, and a still shorter one, in the Chronicle of Clonmacnois, furnished materials for its composition, and he has added some critical notes. '* Dunchad O'Braoin was a scion of an illustrious family oftheNialls,andhewasborninthedistrictcalledBreghmuine. s Thisisnow knownasthebaronyofBrawny,inthecountyofWestmeath. ^ Hewasa religious, who embraced the monastic state at Clonmacnois. His love for literature was aided through his zeal. There he made wonderful progress in piety and learning. His humility, too, was most exemplary, for he wished to shunentirelytheattentionsandapplauseofmen. Secretinghimselfasmuch as possible, he lived the retired life of a holy anchorite. He is said to have shut himself up in a sort of prison. Tuathal, who had been both abbot and bishop of Clonmacnois, died a. d. 969. 7 Dunchad was chosen as his suc- cessor in the abbacy. Having been brought from his retreat, this humble man was forced to accept the responsible charge, for which he had been
selected.
Among the bishops at Clonmacnois, Harris has placed Dunchad on his list,butonlyconjecturally,ata. d. 969. ^ Yet,thereisnofoundationwhatso-
ever, for such an arrangement. Certain words, quoted from Colgan, prove nothing more than that Dunchad had been placed over the . monastery as abbot. Throughout his acts, or wherever else he is spoken of, Dunchad is never called bishop. Governing the monastery for some time merely as abbot, he desired a more retired state of life. He withdrew from the manage- ment of monastic affairs after some time. By many persons he was much admired in that part of Ireland. 9
See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for
the — Sheets
King's County," 4, 17, 27, 39.
'
Article xii. Such is the very general
opinion of our great church historians. See
also Sir James Ware "De Scriptoribus Hi-
hernias," lib. i. , cap. vi. , p. 46.
ensi, pp. 105 to 108.
"
These facts Colgan serves to establish in
5 said to have been The O'Braoins are
chiefs of this district. See "The Topo-
graphical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O Huidhrin. " Edited by
Dr. O'Donovan, pp. 2, 3, 10, 11. *SuchistheidentificationofHarris. See
hisactsofthissaintandinthe
ing notes. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xvi. Januarii. De B. Dunchado, macnois," p. 169.
Abb. Cluanensi.
105, and nn. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, pp. 106, 107.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xvi.
^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 694, 695.
*
Januarii.
De B.
Dunchado, Abb. ,
Cluan-
s See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
Cap. i. , ii. , iii. , iv. , p.
correspond-
See
ibid. ,
n.
i. , p.
106.
Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops of Clon-
See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , "Bishops at Clonmacnoise," p. 169.
294
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6.
The titles of abbot and of anchoret are invariably applied to him. On the banks of the Shannon may be seen at Clonmacnois,'° a venerable group of niins known as the seven churches, with two round towers yet very well preserved. Here the old burial-ground is covered with graves. " As in some other great monastic institutions, abbots were not always bishops at Clonmac-
Round Tower and Cross at Clonmacnoise.
noise. Neither were the bishops regularly abbots. " This saint is called a
holy and devout anchorite, and he is regarded as a pilgrim. '3
Through his prayers, Almighty God restored to life the infant son of a woman. This mother left her dead child at the entrance of our saint's cell. She then retired so as not to be seen, but she hoped that the saint would pray, and procure the infant's resuscitation. With this request he complied. This miracle is alluded to by Tighernach, author of the Annals of Clonmac- nois. This writer lived in the eleventh century. Tighernach says, that Dunchad was the last of the Irish saints, through whose intercession God had restored a dead person to life. '* Another miracle was wrought in favour of this holy man. For one festival day of St. Andrew, the Apostle, when Dunchad had been exhausted from the effects of severe fasting, he began to desire some nourishing diet. He prayed to God for such relief; and then a
nise," xvi. Januarii. De B. Dunchado, cap. vii. , p. io6.
'" See Beaufort's "Memoir of a Map of Ireland," p. 62.
has misquoted Colgan, and he was wrong in giving them that title. He omitted their
real designation. See Dr. Lanigan's "Ec- clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xxii. , § xv. , n. 180, pp. 391, 392.
'3 Such designations are applied to him in the Annals of Clonmacnoise, at A. D. 981.
" The accompanying engraving of Clon- macnoise is by Messrs. Bisson and Jaquet, Paris, from a photograph of Frederick H. Mares, 79 Grafton-street, Dublin.
'* See Colgan's
"
Acta Sanctorum Hi-
" Thus Moeldar, and his successor, St.
berniae," xvi. Januarii, De B. Dunchado, n. 23, p. 108.
Corpreus, Bishop of Clonmacnoise, do not appear to have been abbots there. Archdall
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
youth, who served him, went out into a field to collect straw. There two
had relieved him by so evident a miracle. '5 ^ In the year 974 or 975, he withdrew to Armagh, where sequestered and unnoticed he hoped to spend his days. His reputation however soon spread throughout that city. So much respect was paid to him there, he was
determined to leave it, that he might avoid further notoriety. '^
His intentions being discovered, the principal inhabitants of Armagh de- puted some venerable persons of the clergy to request that he should stay with them one year longer. The clergy alone were able to change his re- solves. He complied with their petition, and continued to reside at Armagh. At the year's end he again prepared for departure. But a similar request was
made. This repetition was annually continued, it is stated, and so he was induced to prolong his stay in that city. St. D—unchad O'Braoin there ended
January i6. ]
295
most beautiful men to and after a salutation " appeared him, said, Thy
master Dunchad, the servant of God, hath asked the Lord we serve for food and drink, and behold both are here for you to bring him. " Then taking the straw from this youth, they placed nourishing meats, and a vessel, containing mead or beer, mixed with honey, on his shoulders. This load he carefully brought to Dunchad, and related what had occurred. The blessed man gave special thanks to God, who had commiseration on his weakness, and who
his
i6th of and he died on the—
with the
17th
thus rendered
days, January corresponding
of the Calends of February a. d. 987. ^7 The year 988 is said, however, to be more correct. That most distinguished historian of Ireland, Eochaidh
has allusion to this— man in an Irish O'Flannagain, holy stanza,
into English by Dr. O'Donovan
:
"TheseatofMacha[i. e. QueenMacha]thetreacheroiis,voluptuous,haughty, Is a psalm-singing house possessed by saints ;
There came not within the walls of her fort
A being like unto Dunchadh O'Braein. "'^
We are told, furthermore, that at the end of his thirteenth year of pilgrimage to Armagh, he passed out of this Hfe. 's The amiable as well as the humble character of this holy man may be estimated from the disposition he evinced, to yield his opinions to the wiser judgments of virtuous persons, in the order of his living, lest he might seem to be overwise in his own conceits.
Article XIII. —Reputed Festival of St. Ninnida or Nennius of
Leth-derc, in Inis-Muighe-Samh, now Inishmacsaint Island, Lough Erne,CountyFermanagh. ItwillbeseenbyreferringtotheentryofSt. Cillen's name on this day, that the present saint was called Nennius or Nenne- thus. It would seem that his religious establishment was on Lough Erne.
On this day, the Martyrology of Tallagh^ registers the name of Ninnidh, Leth derc, as having been venerated. Marianus O'Gorman's Calendar enters his festival on the i6th of January. However, the festival and acts of this saint seem more appropriately referable to the 1 8th of this month, where they
may be seen.
'5 See ibid. , cap. ix. , p. io6.
'* The Four Masters state his object was to revisit Clonmacnoise. See Dr. O'Dono- van's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 720, 721.
'7 Yet the Annals of Clonmacnoise place his death under A. D. 981.
'* See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol.
