"
Catalogus aliquorum Sanctorum
G
9 8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Catalogus aliquorum Sanctorum
G
9 8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
ii.
, p.
149, and nn.
8, 9, p.
184.
See the Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix
E. E. , pp. 306, 307.
19 See "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire-
land," vol. ii. , p. 28.
20
Among those tables of procurations, re- lating to parishes in the Diocese of Dro- moire, and which were payable to the Primate in his Provincial Visitations, as found in Primate Dowdall's Registry, Dom- naghmore church was assessed at 3 marks, intheyear1422. AtA. D. 1546,wefindthe
Rector of Donnaghmore rated for 5 marks, and the vicar of the same place for 3 marks.
filias Manii de Airiodh-boinne, Dermora, Ethnea, et Cumana. Festivitas laudatarum Manii filiarum. "
5 A note by Dr. Todd says at Cumman's
name: "Ethne and Cumman were both
virgins, and sisters, daughters of Cormac, son of Ailill, of the race of Cathair Mor, King of Ireland. Sanct. Gen. , B. of Lecan. "
6 See his Life in the Third Volume of this work, at the 17th of March, Art. i. , chap, xvi.
1 This was in the southern part of Orgialla,
and it is now known, as the barony of Slane, in Meath.
Ringbane, Tullymurry.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 250.
:
4 The Latin extract runs thus " Tres
96 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 6.
erected many churches. 8 The children we speak of—but whose names are
not recorded—afterwards became religious, and they received the veil,
like- wise,athishands. ThereisaSt. Ethnea,andhersixsisters,mentionedin ourCalendars. Shehadsevenholybrothers,andalloftheseareclassedas bishops. She was the daughter of Muredoc, son to Fortchern, son of Dicull, son to Crimthann, son of Armedac, son of Senach, son to Aid Loga, son of Oscuon, son to Mienac, son of Lugad, son to Imchad, son of Fidchur, son to Eochod, sonofEnnius Monchaoin, son of Ross, surnamed Rig-foda, son
of Fiach the founder of the Decies — With her uncle on the Suidghe, family. 9
thesonofFortchern as
betracedinthefore-
father's
going genealogy this virgin St. Ethnea was venerated at
Iain, 10 now probably known as Killeen. The mother of St. Columkille bore the name of Ethnea, and Colgan hazards a conjecture," that she may have
I2
of February, or at the 29th of March, or at the 6th of July. But, as all are
denominated virgins, this is not a probable surmise, independent of their recordeddescent. IfwearetocreditColgan'sstatement,St. EthneaandSt. Cumania were sisters to St. Dermoria, also venerated on this day. '3 How-
Article V. —Reputed Feast of St. Dermor, Daughter of Maine.
A previous entry in the Martyrology of Donegal * disassociates Dermor, daughter of Maine, of Airiudh Bainne, from these virgins and sisters last- named,whoaresaidtohavebeendaughterstoCormac,sonofAilill. Buther name is set down separately, at the same 6th of July, as are also the con- joined names of Ethne and Cumman.
Article VI. —Three Daughters of Erni or Enuch Dirmaigh.
We find inserted in the of 1 at this Tri Martyrology Tallagh, date, ingena
Erni oc Enuch Dirmaighi. This same entry was communicated to the Bol- landists, by Father Thomas O'Sheerin, and it is set down by them, at the 6th
2
of July.
Article VII. —St. Fedchonniad, or Fedhchu, of Uamadh Fubi.
The of Fedchonniad is met with in the of 1 simple entry Martyrology Tallagh,
at the 6th of July. The Bollandists * acknowledge their indebtedness to Father Thomas O'Sheerin, for furnishing the name of Fedchno of Magh or
may
been one of the three female saints thus called in our Calendars, at the 26th
St. — side, Colman,
a called Kill- place
must have been the — of holy virgin daughter
the latter
Manius in Airedh-banne. Then, according to the same calculation as she isclassedamongthevirginsveiledbySt. Patrick—shemusthaveflourished in the fifth century.
in this
ever, case,
8
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, iii. , cap. ii. , p. 149, and nn. 8, 9, p. 184.
9 The " Menologic Genealogy," cap. xvi. , and Selbach, cap. xv.
'3 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 270. By mistake, however, the feast is printed the 6th of June, instead of the 6th of July.
Drs. Todd and
10 See
"Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
— Reeves, pp. 188,—189.
Colgan's
Article v.
'
Edited Edited
niae," xv. Januarii, Appendix ad Acta S.
Itae, cap. ii. , p. 73.
Article vi. Kelly, p. xxviii.
2
by
Rev. Dr.
11
See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Ap-
pendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. i. ,
p. 477«
12 take.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 250.
Article vii. — ' Edited by Rev. Dr.
The printer has inserted 23rd—a mis-
by
July 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 97
Campus Fuibh—eulogised by Marianus 0'Gorman3—at this date. At the
same day, in the Martyrology of Donegal,* the name Fedhchu, of Uamadh Fubi,is mentionedashavingbeenvenerated.
Article VIII. —Reputed Festival of a St. Fuidbech. Another
ofFuidbechisseeninthe of 1 forthis We Martyrology Tallagh, day.
entry
incline to the opinion, that it must have been owing to the oversight or igno-
rance of some copyist, and we can hardly doubt, but that he is the same per- son as the Saint Fedhchu, whose name occurs, in the more recent Calendar.
Article IX. —St. Flann Mac Cellach, Bishop of Rechrann.
{EighthCentury. ] InaCalendar,compiledbytheRev. WilliamReeves,wefind entered at the 6th of July, St. Flann, the son of Kellech, son to Cronnmael, Bishop of Rechrann. But, whether this place was in the east of Bregia,
1 county of Dublin, or in the county of Antrim, as said by Dr. Reeves, Dr.
O'Donovan hesitates to decide. In our Annals, the death of St. Flann is set
2
Article X. —Reputed Feast of a St. Golinia, or Golina, Virgin.
1
TheBollandistsstate, thatthefeastofSt. GoliniaistobefoundintheIrish
Calendars, at the 6th of July ; but, they suspect there is some corruption of the entry, and they desire further enlightenment regarding her. Florarius 2 and Henry Fitzsimon3 enter St. Golina, virgin, at this same date/ The same name, written Colinia, occurs at the 6th of July, in the anonymous Calendar, published by O'Sullevan Beare. 5
down, as occurring, in the year 734.
Article XI. —Reputed Festival of St. Silvester, Companion of 1
St. Palladius, in Marr, Scotland. The Bollandists, having found in Dempster and Ferrarius a festival of St. Sylvester mentioned at the nth of
2 referred to this date, when were about to treat of St. Palladius. they
June,
But nothing had been found to warrant any special notice; at least, we are not furnished with any particulars, which might enable us to understand, if any such feast should have place in the Calendar, for the introduction seems to have been on the sole authority of Dempster, who may be regarded in the double capacity of inventive saint-maker and of unscrupulous saint-stealer.
Kelly, p. xxviii.
2
(z), ibid,
Article x. —1 See "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus ii. , Julii vi. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 249.
2 Thus: "In Hibernia, Golinise virginis. "
Julii vi. p. 250.
Among the pretermitted saints,
"
3 In Hibernian"
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
3 Thus :
Fube. " We suspect the reading should be
"heros nostra; gentis de Autro
Antro Fube. "
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. * See O'Sullevan Beare's Historic
"
Cathoiicce Ibernire Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xii. , p. 54.
5 See ibid. , cap. xi. , p. 50. Articlexi. —1 See"ActaSanctorum,"
tomus ii. , Julii vi. Among the pretermitted Appendix T, p. 249, and Appendix LL, feasts, p. 249.
188, 189. Article viii.
—
'
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxviii. Article ix. —»
See "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore,"
2 See the Sixth Volume of this work, at 2 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the that date, for a slight reference to him,
p. 379.
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 336, 337, and n. Art. iv.
"
Catalogus aliquorum Sanctorum
G
9 8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 7.
^ffaentb 2Bap of 3ulp,
ARTICLE I. —ST. MAOLRUAIN OR MAELRUAIN, ABBOT OF TALLAGII, COUNTY OF DUBLIN.
[EIGHTH CENTURY. }
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—PARENTAGE AND BIRTH OF ST. MAE1. RUAN—HE FOUNDS A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTE AT TALLAGH—DESCRIPTION OF THE PLACE—HE FORMS A SOCIETY OF CULDEES THERE—ANECDOTES—PERIOD OF FOUNDATION.
biography, says an eminent trench writer, is one of the most
recitals of the middle ages; it inspirited the weak and it terrified SAINnaTifLY
the powerful j it furnished a great bridle to curb society, and to preserve it from the violence of war. The legends or myths of Christianity were even
in harmony with social usages ; while through them, holy places were held sacred from the fierce intrusion of armed men. There the peaceful were pro-
tected,andtheirweaknesswasrespected; underthevividimpressionsofFaith,
1
morality had been observed, even through the stories of astounding miracles. The special contemporary, friend and companion, who knew the character of St. Maelruan so well, has set forth his fair renown, at this date, in the cele- brated " Feilire. "2 This must have been one of the earliest commemorations ofthepresentholyman. TheBollandists3 haveonlyverybrieflyrecorded the name of Moelruanus Episcopus, at the 7th of July. There are notices of him, likewise, in the work of Rev. Dr. Lanigan. * From all we can learn
regarding him, Maelruain belonged to the race of Eochaidh, son to Muiread- hach, who sprung from the seed of Heremon. s The father of St. Maelruan is called Colman. Broicseach was the name of his mother. 6 We are not informed about the place of his birth. This latter event occurred, most pro- bably about the beginning of the eighth century. It is greatly to be regretted, that we have so few personal records of a saint, who was so very remarkable in his time, and whose life had such a marked influence on the revival of reli-
gion and literature in the early Irish Church. We do not know where he had
Article i. —Chapter i. — ' See Cape-
Ague's"Charlemagne,"tomei. , chap,ii. ,
p. 39.
2 Thus we find the stanza, taken from the
Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. CalendarofOengus. p. cix.
On the
ii. , Julii vii. Among the pretermitted feasts,
p. 452.
4 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. Hi. , chap. xx„ sect, vi. , p. 232, and on. 46, 47, pp. 233, 234.
S One hundred and eighty-one Irish kings are said to have reigned from the lime of Ihremon to Roderick. See Ciraldi Cam- brensis Opera, vol. v. Edited by James F. Dimock, M. A. , "
splendid sun of the isle of the Gael. " According to a note, in the I. eabhar "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Brcac copy of the Calendar of St. yEngus.
"
translation of Whitley Stokes, LL. D. :—
Leabliar Breac" copy, with the English
LAmoppluAgA-o tigniAp pApmern cpom coe-oen moelpu<Mii A-opech pichco 5piAn An nvopi ^oe-oel.
"With a beautiful host, Parmenius' great
Topographia Ilibernica,"
heavy troop, Moelruain ran to heaven—, Dist. in. , cap. xlv. , p. iSS. •
3 See "Acta tomus Sanctorum,"
July 7. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 99
been educated, although it seems to be a fact well established, that he had
been well grounded in a religious and literary training, before he thought of establishinghisownverycelebratedschool. Hemusthaveresolvedonleading
a religious life, when young, and he wns probably advanced to holy orders, when he was of an age to assume their obligations. Our writers, who allude tohim,callhimabishop; but,itdoesnotseemlikely,thatheattainedtothat distinction, at least, until he had first been in charge of his celebrated monas- tic institute, for which he had framed special Rules. However, there seems to be no very ancient authority or evidence, which might warrant us in sup- posing, that he had attained to the episcopal rank.
A pious and an illustrious King of Leinster, named Donnchadh or Don-
och, who flourished in the beginning of the eighth century, is said to have
bestowedthesiteofTamlachtonSt. Maelraan. ? But,asheonlyruledover
the province for one year, and perished in battle towards the close of a. d.
727, this seems too early a date for the religious foundation. From Dun-
8
chadh, the region around Tamlacht was subsequently called Ui-Dunchada. 9
This is known to have comprised that portion of the present county of
Dublin, through which the River Dodder flows. 10
11
It is more generally
12
believed, however, that Cellach, son of Dunchadh,
Tamlacht to St. Mae1main. Its earliest name was derived from the first recorded pestilence, 13 or Tam/i, which destroyed Parthalon's colony, and which is referred by the Four Masters to a. m. 2820, according to the long chronology of theSeptuagint. Theentrybythoseannalistsis, "NineTho—usandofParthalon's
died in one week on T * five thou- Sean-Mhagh-Ealta-Edair namely,
people
sand men and four thousand women. "** Whence it was named Tamlacht Muin-
tire Parthaloin ; while, after the lapse of ages, this place was called Tallagh,near Dublin. 10 The tumuli of these early colonists, who died from that sudden
for Tallacht or Tamlaght.
M This destruction of the colony of Par-
thalon, which is said to have occurred in
"the old plain of the valley of the flocks," stretchingbetweenBenEdair,nowknownas
Howth, and Tallaght, and on which-the city of Dublin now stands, is thus mentioned in the "Book of Invasions," contained in the " Book of Leinster. " " In Sean-Magh-Etair Parthalon became extinct in a thousand men and four thousand women, of one week's mortality," or " Tamh" This translation is by Professor Eugene O'Curry. This is the oldest manuscript account of that pestilence that we now possess.
'5 Likewise, in an ancient bardic poem, in
" Partha- Ion's people, to the number of nine thou-
sand, died of Tamh in one week. "
,6 In the "Chronicon Scotorum MSS. ,"
as translated by Mr. O'Curry, the following
entry occurs " In one thousand five hun- :
tired and four (400 according to Eochaidh O'Flinn) from Parthalon's arrival in Ireland till the first mortality ( Duiiie-bhadh, i. e. , human mortality) that came in Ireland after the Deluge ; that is, the death by pestilence (Tamh) of Parthalon's people, which hap- pened on Monday, in the calends of May, and continued till the Sunday following. It
'
was from that mortality ( Dnine-bhadh) of Parthalon's people the name of the (7aim-
" tures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient
7 See Professor Eugene O'Curry's
Lee-
Iiish History," Lect. xvii. , p. 364.
8 He had a son Faelan, father of Bran,
father to Murchadhach, father of Faelan, father to Lorcan, father of Dunchadh, from whom descended the families of Mac Gilla- mocholmog, of O'Byrne, and of O'Toole, so famous in the history of Leinster.
Dunchadh was awarded
9 This
to him as an inheritance.
territory
10 See "The Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'iluidhrin," edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , pp. xiii. , xiv. , and nn. 58, 59, and p. liv. , n. 438.
11 He was the son of Murchadh, son to Bran Mut, or the Silent, belonging to the Ui Dunlaing.
12 He fell in the battle of Almhaor Allen, in Kildare, by the sword of his brother Faelan, ancestor of the Ui Faelan, or the O'Byrnes.
13 In a " Report of the Census Commis- sioners of Ireland for the year 1 85 1," part v. , vol. i. , we find a most valuable annalistic reference to diseases and pestilences, in this country, from the earliest times to the pre- sent. In this able report, which does so much credit to the learning and research of Sir William Robert Wilde, we find various accounts, which serve to furnish a derivation
the ''Book of Leinster, it is said
:
King of Leinster,
gave
100 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[July 7.
epidemic, can still be seen upon the hills in its vicinity. This is the first recorded pestilence in Ireland. The—Irish word Tamk means an epidemic
andthetermTamhleadit the monument1? —whichfre- plague
pestilence;
quently enters into topographical names in Ireland, signifies a place where a
number of cut off persons
were interred 18 together.
by pestilence
At present, this is the well-known village "9 and parish, in the barony of
Uppercross, and in the county of Dublin. It lies on the western slope of the mountains, which form so beautiful an outline, as seen from the metropolis of
Villa igh, County of Dul
Ireland. It lies about five miles from the city. The village is beautifully
20
Tavellagh or Taulagh-Maelruny, from having been founded and afterwards
21
dedicated to the present saint.
Amid the prevailing laxity of monastic discipline, here St. Maelruain
gathered around him a fraternity, for whom he ordained certain rules of stricter observance. These consisted partly of precepts for conventual and sacerdotalguidance; but,theywereespeciallydistinguished,bytheprinciples
laid down, and by the regulations prescribed for religious worship and the exercise of devotion. 22 It is very likely, that a very numerous community was formed, and the members placed themselves under his guidance, as
situated, in a fine open country.
This place is said to have been called
Abbot and f—ounder of a new order. A list of the u
of Maelruain ofTallagh" viz. ,thecontemporarieswithwhomhehadcontractedaninti-
leachta (the death or mortality place) of the men of Ireland is derived. "
17 See the version of Sanar* Cho]\niAic, or
engraved by Mrs. Millard.
Lewis' "
of Ii eland," vol. ii. , pp. 587, 588.
' See D'Alton S " of the John History
County of Dublin," p. 761.
'•
llie Culdees of the British Islands, as they appear in History : with an Appendix of Evidences. " By William Reeves, D. D. , &c, part ii. , sect, ii. , p. 7. 19 The accompanying illustration, drawn Dublin, 1864, 4I0. This remarkably re- on the spot by William F. Wakeman, and searched and learned Treatise seems to ex- by him transferred to the wood, has been haust all that can be known regarding the
Cormac's "
Stokes, LL. D. , p. 160.
'' translated and anno- tated by the late John O'Donovan, LL. D. Edited with Notes and Indices, by Whitley
18
Glossary,
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters, "vol. i. , pp. 8, 9, andn. (c), ibid,
unity-folk
Topographical Dictionary
July 7. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
101
mate union—is to be
Book of Leinster. 24 A stanza 2 * on the same men, is attributed to Cormac Mac Cuillanain.
ancient Culdees.
33 At the end of column
24 Now preserved in the Franciscan Con-
vent, Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
County of Dublin," p. 761.
3° See Professor " Lec- Eugene O'Curry's
tures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History," Lect. xvii. , p. 364.
25 At the end of column
3I See Dr. O'Donovan's vol. edition,
i. ,
26
5.
The same stanza is copied in the lower
margin, apparently in Colgan's handwriting.
pp. 272, 273.
32 In 817, a new rule and additional regu-
found,
in the detached ten 2*
folia, belonging
to the
Few personal anecdotes, regarding this holy Abbot Maelruain have been pre- served. A commentator on the " Feilire " of St. yEngus, at this date, has an account of a certain thief, who stole the only cow, belonging to the Ostiarius of Mailruain of Tallaght. The latter 2 ? was urgent on his patron saint to avenge the theft ; but, Maelruain advised the door-keeper to bide his time, and that the devil should inflict on the thief still greater evil, while his punishment in hell
should be the 28 because the heavier,
transgressor
more bad actions the longer he continued in this life. There is extant a
romantic Irish poem, entitled u Legendary Story of St. Maelruan, first bishop
of 2 ? From the character of the we well it is Tallagh. " heading, may suppose,
not a genuine account of any incident in his career.
It is stated, that St. Maelruan there founded a church, in honour of God
and of St. Michael the Archangel, in the year 769. 3° This, likewise, is the date given for the first erection of Tamlacht-Mailruain, in the u Annals of the
1
Four Masters. "*
years after the institution by Chrodegang of the order of Canons in his church of Metz, and to whom the title of Fratres Dominici had been given. It was subsequentlychangedtothatofCanonici.
See the Rev. William Reeves' "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore," Appendix
E. E. , pp. 306, 307.
19 See "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire-
land," vol. ii. , p. 28.
20
Among those tables of procurations, re- lating to parishes in the Diocese of Dro- moire, and which were payable to the Primate in his Provincial Visitations, as found in Primate Dowdall's Registry, Dom- naghmore church was assessed at 3 marks, intheyear1422. AtA. D. 1546,wefindthe
Rector of Donnaghmore rated for 5 marks, and the vicar of the same place for 3 marks.
filias Manii de Airiodh-boinne, Dermora, Ethnea, et Cumana. Festivitas laudatarum Manii filiarum. "
5 A note by Dr. Todd says at Cumman's
name: "Ethne and Cumman were both
virgins, and sisters, daughters of Cormac, son of Ailill, of the race of Cathair Mor, King of Ireland. Sanct. Gen. , B. of Lecan. "
6 See his Life in the Third Volume of this work, at the 17th of March, Art. i. , chap, xvi.
1 This was in the southern part of Orgialla,
and it is now known, as the barony of Slane, in Meath.
Ringbane, Tullymurry.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 250.
:
4 The Latin extract runs thus " Tres
96 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 6.
erected many churches. 8 The children we speak of—but whose names are
not recorded—afterwards became religious, and they received the veil,
like- wise,athishands. ThereisaSt. Ethnea,andhersixsisters,mentionedin ourCalendars. Shehadsevenholybrothers,andalloftheseareclassedas bishops. She was the daughter of Muredoc, son to Fortchern, son of Dicull, son to Crimthann, son of Armedac, son of Senach, son to Aid Loga, son of Oscuon, son to Mienac, son of Lugad, son to Imchad, son of Fidchur, son to Eochod, sonofEnnius Monchaoin, son of Ross, surnamed Rig-foda, son
of Fiach the founder of the Decies — With her uncle on the Suidghe, family. 9
thesonofFortchern as
betracedinthefore-
father's
going genealogy this virgin St. Ethnea was venerated at
Iain, 10 now probably known as Killeen. The mother of St. Columkille bore the name of Ethnea, and Colgan hazards a conjecture," that she may have
I2
of February, or at the 29th of March, or at the 6th of July. But, as all are
denominated virgins, this is not a probable surmise, independent of their recordeddescent. IfwearetocreditColgan'sstatement,St. EthneaandSt. Cumania were sisters to St. Dermoria, also venerated on this day. '3 How-
Article V. —Reputed Feast of St. Dermor, Daughter of Maine.
A previous entry in the Martyrology of Donegal * disassociates Dermor, daughter of Maine, of Airiudh Bainne, from these virgins and sisters last- named,whoaresaidtohavebeendaughterstoCormac,sonofAilill. Buther name is set down separately, at the same 6th of July, as are also the con- joined names of Ethne and Cumman.
Article VI. —Three Daughters of Erni or Enuch Dirmaigh.
We find inserted in the of 1 at this Tri Martyrology Tallagh, date, ingena
Erni oc Enuch Dirmaighi. This same entry was communicated to the Bol- landists, by Father Thomas O'Sheerin, and it is set down by them, at the 6th
2
of July.
Article VII. —St. Fedchonniad, or Fedhchu, of Uamadh Fubi.
The of Fedchonniad is met with in the of 1 simple entry Martyrology Tallagh,
at the 6th of July. The Bollandists * acknowledge their indebtedness to Father Thomas O'Sheerin, for furnishing the name of Fedchno of Magh or
may
been one of the three female saints thus called in our Calendars, at the 26th
St. — side, Colman,
a called Kill- place
must have been the — of holy virgin daughter
the latter
Manius in Airedh-banne. Then, according to the same calculation as she isclassedamongthevirginsveiledbySt. Patrick—shemusthaveflourished in the fifth century.
in this
ever, case,
8
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, iii. , cap. ii. , p. 149, and nn. 8, 9, p. 184.
9 The " Menologic Genealogy," cap. xvi. , and Selbach, cap. xv.
'3 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 270. By mistake, however, the feast is printed the 6th of June, instead of the 6th of July.
Drs. Todd and
10 See
"Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
— Reeves, pp. 188,—189.
Colgan's
Article v.
'
Edited Edited
niae," xv. Januarii, Appendix ad Acta S.
Itae, cap. ii. , p. 73.
Article vi. Kelly, p. xxviii.
2
by
Rev. Dr.
11
See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Ap-
pendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. i. ,
p. 477«
12 take.
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Julii vi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 250.
Article vii. — ' Edited by Rev. Dr.
The printer has inserted 23rd—a mis-
by
July 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 97
Campus Fuibh—eulogised by Marianus 0'Gorman3—at this date. At the
same day, in the Martyrology of Donegal,* the name Fedhchu, of Uamadh Fubi,is mentionedashavingbeenvenerated.
Article VIII. —Reputed Festival of a St. Fuidbech. Another
ofFuidbechisseeninthe of 1 forthis We Martyrology Tallagh, day.
entry
incline to the opinion, that it must have been owing to the oversight or igno-
rance of some copyist, and we can hardly doubt, but that he is the same per- son as the Saint Fedhchu, whose name occurs, in the more recent Calendar.
Article IX. —St. Flann Mac Cellach, Bishop of Rechrann.
{EighthCentury. ] InaCalendar,compiledbytheRev. WilliamReeves,wefind entered at the 6th of July, St. Flann, the son of Kellech, son to Cronnmael, Bishop of Rechrann. But, whether this place was in the east of Bregia,
1 county of Dublin, or in the county of Antrim, as said by Dr. Reeves, Dr.
O'Donovan hesitates to decide. In our Annals, the death of St. Flann is set
2
Article X. —Reputed Feast of a St. Golinia, or Golina, Virgin.
1
TheBollandistsstate, thatthefeastofSt. GoliniaistobefoundintheIrish
Calendars, at the 6th of July ; but, they suspect there is some corruption of the entry, and they desire further enlightenment regarding her. Florarius 2 and Henry Fitzsimon3 enter St. Golina, virgin, at this same date/ The same name, written Colinia, occurs at the 6th of July, in the anonymous Calendar, published by O'Sullevan Beare. 5
down, as occurring, in the year 734.
Article XI. —Reputed Festival of St. Silvester, Companion of 1
St. Palladius, in Marr, Scotland. The Bollandists, having found in Dempster and Ferrarius a festival of St. Sylvester mentioned at the nth of
2 referred to this date, when were about to treat of St. Palladius. they
June,
But nothing had been found to warrant any special notice; at least, we are not furnished with any particulars, which might enable us to understand, if any such feast should have place in the Calendar, for the introduction seems to have been on the sole authority of Dempster, who may be regarded in the double capacity of inventive saint-maker and of unscrupulous saint-stealer.
Kelly, p. xxviii.
2
(z), ibid,
Article x. —1 See "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus ii. , Julii vi. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 249.
2 Thus: "In Hibernia, Golinise virginis. "
Julii vi. p. 250.
Among the pretermitted saints,
"
3 In Hibernian"
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
3 Thus :
Fube. " We suspect the reading should be
"heros nostra; gentis de Autro
Antro Fube. "
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. * See O'Sullevan Beare's Historic
"
Cathoiicce Ibernire Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xii. , p. 54.
5 See ibid. , cap. xi. , p. 50. Articlexi. —1 See"ActaSanctorum,"
tomus ii. , Julii vi. Among the pretermitted Appendix T, p. 249, and Appendix LL, feasts, p. 249.
188, 189. Article viii.
—
'
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxviii. Article ix. —»
See "Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, Connor and Dromore,"
2 See the Sixth Volume of this work, at 2 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the that date, for a slight reference to him,
p. 379.
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 336, 337, and n. Art. iv.
"
Catalogus aliquorum Sanctorum
G
9 8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 7.
^ffaentb 2Bap of 3ulp,
ARTICLE I. —ST. MAOLRUAIN OR MAELRUAIN, ABBOT OF TALLAGII, COUNTY OF DUBLIN.
[EIGHTH CENTURY. }
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—PARENTAGE AND BIRTH OF ST. MAE1. RUAN—HE FOUNDS A RELIGIOUS INSTITUTE AT TALLAGH—DESCRIPTION OF THE PLACE—HE FORMS A SOCIETY OF CULDEES THERE—ANECDOTES—PERIOD OF FOUNDATION.
biography, says an eminent trench writer, is one of the most
recitals of the middle ages; it inspirited the weak and it terrified SAINnaTifLY
the powerful j it furnished a great bridle to curb society, and to preserve it from the violence of war. The legends or myths of Christianity were even
in harmony with social usages ; while through them, holy places were held sacred from the fierce intrusion of armed men. There the peaceful were pro-
tected,andtheirweaknesswasrespected; underthevividimpressionsofFaith,
1
morality had been observed, even through the stories of astounding miracles. The special contemporary, friend and companion, who knew the character of St. Maelruan so well, has set forth his fair renown, at this date, in the cele- brated " Feilire. "2 This must have been one of the earliest commemorations ofthepresentholyman. TheBollandists3 haveonlyverybrieflyrecorded the name of Moelruanus Episcopus, at the 7th of July. There are notices of him, likewise, in the work of Rev. Dr. Lanigan. * From all we can learn
regarding him, Maelruain belonged to the race of Eochaidh, son to Muiread- hach, who sprung from the seed of Heremon. s The father of St. Maelruan is called Colman. Broicseach was the name of his mother. 6 We are not informed about the place of his birth. This latter event occurred, most pro- bably about the beginning of the eighth century. It is greatly to be regretted, that we have so few personal records of a saint, who was so very remarkable in his time, and whose life had such a marked influence on the revival of reli-
gion and literature in the early Irish Church. We do not know where he had
Article i. —Chapter i. — ' See Cape-
Ague's"Charlemagne,"tomei. , chap,ii. ,
p. 39.
2 Thus we find the stanza, taken from the
Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. CalendarofOengus. p. cix.
On the
ii. , Julii vii. Among the pretermitted feasts,
p. 452.
4 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. Hi. , chap. xx„ sect, vi. , p. 232, and on. 46, 47, pp. 233, 234.
S One hundred and eighty-one Irish kings are said to have reigned from the lime of Ihremon to Roderick. See Ciraldi Cam- brensis Opera, vol. v. Edited by James F. Dimock, M. A. , "
splendid sun of the isle of the Gael. " According to a note, in the I. eabhar "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Brcac copy of the Calendar of St. yEngus.
"
translation of Whitley Stokes, LL. D. :—
Leabliar Breac" copy, with the English
LAmoppluAgA-o tigniAp pApmern cpom coe-oen moelpu<Mii A-opech pichco 5piAn An nvopi ^oe-oel.
"With a beautiful host, Parmenius' great
Topographia Ilibernica,"
heavy troop, Moelruain ran to heaven—, Dist. in. , cap. xlv. , p. iSS. •
3 See "Acta tomus Sanctorum,"
July 7. ] LIVES OE THE IRISH SAINTS. 99
been educated, although it seems to be a fact well established, that he had
been well grounded in a religious and literary training, before he thought of establishinghisownverycelebratedschool. Hemusthaveresolvedonleading
a religious life, when young, and he wns probably advanced to holy orders, when he was of an age to assume their obligations. Our writers, who allude tohim,callhimabishop; but,itdoesnotseemlikely,thatheattainedtothat distinction, at least, until he had first been in charge of his celebrated monas- tic institute, for which he had framed special Rules. However, there seems to be no very ancient authority or evidence, which might warrant us in sup- posing, that he had attained to the episcopal rank.
A pious and an illustrious King of Leinster, named Donnchadh or Don-
och, who flourished in the beginning of the eighth century, is said to have
bestowedthesiteofTamlachtonSt. Maelraan. ? But,asheonlyruledover
the province for one year, and perished in battle towards the close of a. d.
727, this seems too early a date for the religious foundation. From Dun-
8
chadh, the region around Tamlacht was subsequently called Ui-Dunchada. 9
This is known to have comprised that portion of the present county of
Dublin, through which the River Dodder flows. 10
11
It is more generally
12
believed, however, that Cellach, son of Dunchadh,
Tamlacht to St. Mae1main. Its earliest name was derived from the first recorded pestilence, 13 or Tam/i, which destroyed Parthalon's colony, and which is referred by the Four Masters to a. m. 2820, according to the long chronology of theSeptuagint. Theentrybythoseannalistsis, "NineTho—usandofParthalon's
died in one week on T * five thou- Sean-Mhagh-Ealta-Edair namely,
people
sand men and four thousand women. "** Whence it was named Tamlacht Muin-
tire Parthaloin ; while, after the lapse of ages, this place was called Tallagh,near Dublin. 10 The tumuli of these early colonists, who died from that sudden
for Tallacht or Tamlaght.
M This destruction of the colony of Par-
thalon, which is said to have occurred in
"the old plain of the valley of the flocks," stretchingbetweenBenEdair,nowknownas
Howth, and Tallaght, and on which-the city of Dublin now stands, is thus mentioned in the "Book of Invasions," contained in the " Book of Leinster. " " In Sean-Magh-Etair Parthalon became extinct in a thousand men and four thousand women, of one week's mortality," or " Tamh" This translation is by Professor Eugene O'Curry. This is the oldest manuscript account of that pestilence that we now possess.
'5 Likewise, in an ancient bardic poem, in
" Partha- Ion's people, to the number of nine thou-
sand, died of Tamh in one week. "
,6 In the "Chronicon Scotorum MSS. ,"
as translated by Mr. O'Curry, the following
entry occurs " In one thousand five hun- :
tired and four (400 according to Eochaidh O'Flinn) from Parthalon's arrival in Ireland till the first mortality ( Duiiie-bhadh, i. e. , human mortality) that came in Ireland after the Deluge ; that is, the death by pestilence (Tamh) of Parthalon's people, which hap- pened on Monday, in the calends of May, and continued till the Sunday following. It
'
was from that mortality ( Dnine-bhadh) of Parthalon's people the name of the (7aim-
" tures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient
7 See Professor Eugene O'Curry's
Lee-
Iiish History," Lect. xvii. , p. 364.
8 He had a son Faelan, father of Bran,
father to Murchadhach, father of Faelan, father to Lorcan, father of Dunchadh, from whom descended the families of Mac Gilla- mocholmog, of O'Byrne, and of O'Toole, so famous in the history of Leinster.
Dunchadh was awarded
9 This
to him as an inheritance.
territory
10 See "The Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'iluidhrin," edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , pp. xiii. , xiv. , and nn. 58, 59, and p. liv. , n. 438.
11 He was the son of Murchadh, son to Bran Mut, or the Silent, belonging to the Ui Dunlaing.
12 He fell in the battle of Almhaor Allen, in Kildare, by the sword of his brother Faelan, ancestor of the Ui Faelan, or the O'Byrnes.
13 In a " Report of the Census Commis- sioners of Ireland for the year 1 85 1," part v. , vol. i. , we find a most valuable annalistic reference to diseases and pestilences, in this country, from the earliest times to the pre- sent. In this able report, which does so much credit to the learning and research of Sir William Robert Wilde, we find various accounts, which serve to furnish a derivation
the ''Book of Leinster, it is said
:
King of Leinster,
gave
100 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[July 7.
epidemic, can still be seen upon the hills in its vicinity. This is the first recorded pestilence in Ireland. The—Irish word Tamk means an epidemic
andthetermTamhleadit the monument1? —whichfre- plague
pestilence;
quently enters into topographical names in Ireland, signifies a place where a
number of cut off persons
were interred 18 together.
by pestilence
At present, this is the well-known village "9 and parish, in the barony of
Uppercross, and in the county of Dublin. It lies on the western slope of the mountains, which form so beautiful an outline, as seen from the metropolis of
Villa igh, County of Dul
Ireland. It lies about five miles from the city. The village is beautifully
20
Tavellagh or Taulagh-Maelruny, from having been founded and afterwards
21
dedicated to the present saint.
Amid the prevailing laxity of monastic discipline, here St. Maelruain
gathered around him a fraternity, for whom he ordained certain rules of stricter observance. These consisted partly of precepts for conventual and sacerdotalguidance; but,theywereespeciallydistinguished,bytheprinciples
laid down, and by the regulations prescribed for religious worship and the exercise of devotion. 22 It is very likely, that a very numerous community was formed, and the members placed themselves under his guidance, as
situated, in a fine open country.
This place is said to have been called
Abbot and f—ounder of a new order. A list of the u
of Maelruain ofTallagh" viz. ,thecontemporarieswithwhomhehadcontractedaninti-
leachta (the death or mortality place) of the men of Ireland is derived. "
17 See the version of Sanar* Cho]\niAic, or
engraved by Mrs. Millard.
Lewis' "
of Ii eland," vol. ii. , pp. 587, 588.
' See D'Alton S " of the John History
County of Dublin," p. 761.
'•
llie Culdees of the British Islands, as they appear in History : with an Appendix of Evidences. " By William Reeves, D. D. , &c, part ii. , sect, ii. , p. 7. 19 The accompanying illustration, drawn Dublin, 1864, 4I0. This remarkably re- on the spot by William F. Wakeman, and searched and learned Treatise seems to ex- by him transferred to the wood, has been haust all that can be known regarding the
Cormac's "
Stokes, LL. D. , p. 160.
'' translated and anno- tated by the late John O'Donovan, LL. D. Edited with Notes and Indices, by Whitley
18
Glossary,
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters, "vol. i. , pp. 8, 9, andn. (c), ibid,
unity-folk
Topographical Dictionary
July 7. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
101
mate union—is to be
Book of Leinster. 24 A stanza 2 * on the same men, is attributed to Cormac Mac Cuillanain.
ancient Culdees.
33 At the end of column
24 Now preserved in the Franciscan Con-
vent, Merchants' Quay, Dublin.
County of Dublin," p. 761.
3° See Professor " Lec- Eugene O'Curry's
tures on the Manuscript Materials of Ancient Irish History," Lect. xvii. , p. 364.
25 At the end of column
3I See Dr. O'Donovan's vol. edition,
i. ,
26
5.
The same stanza is copied in the lower
margin, apparently in Colgan's handwriting.
pp. 272, 273.
32 In 817, a new rule and additional regu-
found,
in the detached ten 2*
folia, belonging
to the
Few personal anecdotes, regarding this holy Abbot Maelruain have been pre- served. A commentator on the " Feilire " of St. yEngus, at this date, has an account of a certain thief, who stole the only cow, belonging to the Ostiarius of Mailruain of Tallaght. The latter 2 ? was urgent on his patron saint to avenge the theft ; but, Maelruain advised the door-keeper to bide his time, and that the devil should inflict on the thief still greater evil, while his punishment in hell
should be the 28 because the heavier,
transgressor
more bad actions the longer he continued in this life. There is extant a
romantic Irish poem, entitled u Legendary Story of St. Maelruan, first bishop
of 2 ? From the character of the we well it is Tallagh. " heading, may suppose,
not a genuine account of any incident in his career.
It is stated, that St. Maelruan there founded a church, in honour of God
and of St. Michael the Archangel, in the year 769. 3° This, likewise, is the date given for the first erection of Tamlacht-Mailruain, in the u Annals of the
1
Four Masters. "*
years after the institution by Chrodegang of the order of Canons in his church of Metz, and to whom the title of Fratres Dominici had been given. It was subsequentlychangedtothatofCanonici.
