Underneath
the divided from the high altar, and from one table are three panels of Carrara marble
executed in bas-relief.
executed in bas-relief.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
Appendix ad Acta S.
27 See
Macaerthanni Epis. , cap. i. , p. 740.
Colgan's
January. date, Volume of this work, Art. iv.
33 fje was son to Lugneus, son of Cass, son to Rectatius, son of Cannech, son to Rev. Daniel O'Connor, has it, that at the Buan. His feast is supposed to have been time of the Reformation, the guardians of either on the 21st of February, or on the the sacred depositories at Clogher, in order 30th of March. The reader is referred to
28
But a local tradition, according to Very
222 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 15.
St. Dabyus, or Mobyus, or Mobyteus,35 St. Macnessius or Coeman,*6 St.
St. or 8 St. Senan,39 St. Thian or Thius. «° Maelruan,37 Mugcnia Libania,3
Besides these are added St. Brandubh, Bishop,41 St. Cailin or Cailan,*2 St. 6
Cassin,<3 St. Guasacus," St. Cualan or Colan. ^St. Manchan,* St. Lochan,*? St. Moluan. *8 Moreover, St. Guasacht/9 Bishop of Granard, and his two sisters named Emeria,5° the children of Milchon or Milchuo,51 besides his
a
own homonymous brother St. Maccarthen,s Bishop of Domnach in Gleann
Tochuir, are noted in this connection. 53 Among the foregoing is to be classed a holy woman, known in tradition by the name of St. Cera,54 and who is said to have been the spiritual sister of Saints Mac Carthinn and Tiger- nach, as also who was regarded as the patroness of the old territory called
Crich Muighdorn. 55
Of late years, a magnificent cathedral has been erected near the town of
Monaghan, and dedicated to St. Maccarthen. The foundation stone was laid
on the 21st June, i86i. s6
The ground upon which the cathedral stands was secured by the late Most Rev. Dr. M'Nally, then Bishop of Clogher. How- ever, owing to the heavy initial expenses of so re- sponsible an undertaking,
the work had made but little progress, at the time of
Bishop M'Nally's death in 1864. TheMostRev. Dr.
Donnelly warmly took up the task, which his pre- decessor was called away from, and by his energy in collecting funds from the British Isles, America, and Australia, he has succeeded
in accomplishing his highly meritorious object. The
building is mediaeval Go- thic, and it is very beauti- fully situated on an emin- ence, just outside the town of Monaghan. It is sur- rounded by eight acres of ground, from which is obtainable an excellent view of the town and sur- rounding country. In the grounds fronting the main entrance, there is a fine co-
St. Maccarthenn's Cathedral, Monaghan.
lossal statue of St. Maccarthan, wrought from Carrara marble The saint is
the Second Volume of this work, at the 18th and 21st of February, Art. i. , but there the reputed pedigrees differ from that here given. See, also, the Third Volume of this work, at March 30th, where there are two Colmans, Arts. vi. and x v.
son of Mail, &c. He is venerated at Lyn- nally, on the 26th of September. See his Acts, at that date, in the Ninth Volume of this work.
35 He was son to Comgell, son of Ere, son toArad, son of Columb, son to Cannech, son of Buan. His feast occurs at the 22nd of July. See the Seventh Volume of this.
34 He was son to
son to Cunned, son of /Engus, son to Fieg,
Beogna,
son of
Mochta,
August 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 223
represented in the attitude of blessing the diocese. 57 The main entrance to the cathedral, approached by a broad flight of steps, is surmounted by a tym-
panum, in which is set a bas-relief in white marble, representing Christ hand- ing the keys to St. Peter, while in niches on either side are finely executed
work, at that date, Art. i.
36 He was son to Fabricius, son of Fieg,
Cuculan, a bishop, noted in the Carthusian
Martyrology, as having been venerated in Ireland on the 1 8th of February. Under
son to Mail, &c. But some intermediate
links seem to be wanting in this pedigree. the name of Culan he is mentioned by
He was bishop of Connor, where his feast is observed on the 3rd of September. See his Acts, at that date, in the Ninth Volume of this work.
37 He was son to Colman, son to Senach, son to Egneth, son of Mochta, son to din- ned, son of yEngus, son of Fieg, son to
Canisius and Ferrarius, at the same date. Or it may be, he is the same as the Colan,
noted in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 1 6th of September. See the Second Volume
of this work, at the 1 8th ofFebruary, Art. 'ji. See, likewise, the Ninth Volume of this work, at the 16th of September.
46A hasbeenoffered,thathe conjecture
may have been the same as Manchan, the son of Indagius, venerated on the 24th of
January, according to the Martyrologies of Tallagh and of Marianus O'Gorman. See the First Volume of this work, at that date, Art. i.
v Thought to be the St. Lochan or Loichein, venerated in the territory of Hi Uetheach, and whose feast is on the 12th of January, or on the 12th of June. See the First Volume of this work, at January 1 2th, Art. v. , and the Sixth Volume, at June 12th, Art. x.
48 Supposed to have had his festival on the 15th of October, or on the 21st of November. 49 His feast is held on 24th of January, according to the Irish Calendars. See the First Volume of this work, at that date,
Art. iv.
s° Their festival occurs on the nth of De-
cember. See the Twelfth Volume of this work, at that date.
51 He was the son of Buan.
58 As we have already seen, it has been conjectured, that his feast belonged to the 24th of March ; but, nothing can be posi- tively determined, as regards the exact date. See the Third Volume of this work, at that date, Art. x.
S3 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," xxiv. Martii. Appendix ad Acta S. Maccarthenni, cap. hi. , pp. 741, 742.
s4 Her festival occurs, at the 9th of Sep- tember, where other notices of her may be found.
43 Thought to be the St. Cassin, son of Wakeman on the wood, engraved by Mrs. Neman, and venerated on the jst of March. Millard. For the engraving, the writer is
Mail. Hewasveneratedat
7th of July. See the Seventh Volume of this work, at that date, Art. i.
38 Said to have been daughter to Eochad, son to Muredach, son of Cared, son to Bressal, son of Almon, &c. However, it is supposed some links are wanting in this genealogy, since she does not appear to be the immediate daughter of Eochod, the son of Mured, but of some other Eochod derived from him. Her festival has been assigned to the 27th of January. See the First
Volume of this work, at that day, Art. vii.
39 He was son to Fintan, son of Strened,
son to Glinder, son of Core, son to Cunned, son of yEngus, son to Fieg, son of Mail, son ofCarthac,&c. Hisfestivaloccursonthe 2nd of September. See the Ninth Volume of this work, at that date.
40 He was son to Finan, son of Cassan, son to Fergus, son of Nied, son to Buan, &c. He was venerated in the Ards of Ulster, on the 27th of June. At that date, in our
I can find no mention of him but, most probably, he is the St. Thiu, venerated at the 24th. See Sixth Volume of
this work, Art. i. The foregoing pedigrees were drawn by Colgan from the Sanctilogium
Genealogicum ; the saints who immediately follow are said to have descended from the
same Echod, although their pedigrees are not fully given.
41 He is thought to have been venerated at Loch Ramor in Ulster, on the 6th of Feb- ruary, as Colman or Coluim. See the Second Volume of this work, at that date, Art. vii.
Calendars,
;
See in the Third Volume of this work, at that date, Art. vii.
44 Supposed to be identical with St. Guasacht afterwards mentioned.
43 He is thought to be identical with
indebted to Very Rev. Daniel O'Connor,
P. P. , Emyvale.
57 This statue was executed by the Italian
Tallagh,
onthe
*' For his feast reference is given to the
19th and 20th of July. But at these dates and
at that month nocorresponding name is in ®ur
Calendars. We suspect June must be meant,
as at the 19th of June, a St. Coelan or
Caolan is noted. See the Sixth Volume of 'senting this noble cathedral, is copied from this work, Art. ii. a fine engraving, and drawn by William F.
55 This is shown in a paper, contributed by Very Rev. Daniel ("anon O'Connor, P. P. , of Errigal Truaugh to the People's Advocate^ Monaghan, January 2nd, 1892.
56 The accompanying illustration, repre-
Pietro Lazzerini.
58 All these statues were executed by Pietro
sculptor,
224 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 15.
statues of St. Peter and St. Paul. The front is surmounted by two turrets, which have an altitude of 100 feet, and these are flanked by turrets of a smaller size. At the south front is the spire, which is octagonal in form, and it is embellished with angled turrets resting on pillars of polished granite. It is constructed of Dungannon stone, with facings of Armagh limestone, and its apex is crowned with a metal cross. The spire rises to a height of 250 feet, and it can be seen from a long distance, as the traveller approaches Monaghan. Above the entrance, at the base of the tower, and supporting the spire, is a marble bas-relief, representing the Blessed Virgin and Child. Both north and south transept gables are furnished with niches to accommo- date fourteen statues, seven on either side. On the south side are statues in CarraramarbleofSt. Tigernach,St. Ultan,St. Columkille,andSt. Dympna, patroness of the diocese ; Heber MacMahon, the soldier Bishop of Clogher ; Dr. Charles M'Nally, who laid the foundation stone of the church; and the Most Rev. Dr. Donnelly, the present bishop, holding a finished model of the building in his hand. On the other side are statues of biblical personages,
8
Abraham, Moses, David, Isaias, Jeremiah, St. Joachim, and St. Anne. s The sacristies, chapter-room, etc. , are on the east side of the building, which is altogether 190 feet long, 75 feet to the roof of nave, while the cathedral is
capable of accommodating, at least 1,200 worshippers.
On entering this noble structure, a beholder is struck at once by the perfec-
tion in which everything has been carried out, even to the minutest particular. The costly stained glass windows,5^ which entirely surround the interior, shed a devotional light, in unison with the pious surroundings ; the lofty vaulted roof, atthesametime,givingthenaveamostimposingappearance. Theroofof red pine, with moulded ribs, is supported on circular columns with carved capitals, from which spring graceful Gothic arches. The walls above are
pierced by clerestory windows. The passages of the flooring are tiled with tesselated borders, and underneath the seats is timber flooring. The church
is furnished with an admirable heating apparatus. The vestibule is laid with mosaics of various rich marbles, in the centre being a monogram of the letters S. M. C. interlacedroundacross. Itwouldbedifficult,indeed,toconveyatrue impression of the magnificence of the work within the choir and around the high altar, as also in the four side chapels, respectively dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, the Blessed Sacrament, St. Joseph, and St. Benedict Joseph Labre. 6° The entire floor of the sanctuary, measuring some fifty feet by thirty, is con- structed of marble, no less than fifteen different kinds of that stone being
Lazzerini, and they are excellently finished. 59 The valuable stained glass windows are all the gifts of friends belonging to the dio- cese, many of them living in America and in
other distant places.
60 Count Botto, an Italian contractor, had
quisite and a costly addition to the altar. The door is of bronze, while the pediment surmounting it and the panels at either side are exquisitely inlaid with coloured marbles and precions stones. The lofty baldachino over the high altar is supported on four
entrusted to him the construction of the Gothic four-foil marble columns with altars and sanctuary, and personally he moulded annulets inlaid, and capitals deco-
superintended the carrying out of this part rated in gold and sympathetic colours. The of the work. The high altar is approached architrave is also carved, and above are oil by three Carrara marble steps, and the table paintings of the Blessed Trinity, St. Peter, of the altar itself is supported on six pillars and St. Paul. The side chapels, which are of Mondragone marble.
Underneath the divided from the high altar, and from one table are three panels of Carrara marble
executed in bas-relief. The central one is
a reproduction of Leonardo Da Vinci's Last
Supper;ontherightandleftarerepresenta- oneateithersideo—fthenaveandthetwo
tions of the Pelican and her Young, and the Chalice, Vine and Wheat. The taber- nacle, which is octagonal in shape, is an ex-
others in the aisles are four life-size marble statues of the Sacred Heart, St. Patrick, St. Bridget, and St. John the Baptist.
another, by Gothic grills, arc little gems of art. The reredos in each case is of inla—id Carrara marble. In front of the sanctuary
August 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 2 2 5
used for the purpose. The bishop's throne in the sanctuary is in perfect keeping with the general architecture of the church. It is constructed of
Carraramarble,whiletheseat,back,andarmsareupholsteredinoldgold. The canons' stalls are of solid polished oak, inlaid with walnut, and they are beauti-
fully carved. 61 The pulpit, in its gracefulness and embellishment, is in keeping
with all the other within the sacred appointments
building.
21st of August, 1892, the solemn dedication of the cathedral took place, in
presence of a crowded congregation of prelates, priests and laity, assembled from all parts of Ireland, and even from the most distant countries. The
Most Rev. Archbishop of Armagh, Dr. Logue, performed the ceremony of dedication ; the Most Rev. Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Walsh, sang the High Mass ; the Most Rev. Bishop of Raphoe, Dr. O'Donnell, preached the dedi- cation sermon, while the Most Rev. Bishop of Clogher, Dr. Donnelly, pre- sided on the throne. A vast number of people thronged the cathedral
as room was not available for all within that 63 spacious building.
grounds,
The Catholic Church of Clogher has been dedicated, likewise, t—o St. Mac
Carthenn. Moreover,thefineDiocesan
ofSt. Macartan — Seminary occupy-
ing a most eligible site in the immediate neighbourhood of Monaghan renders the best services possible to the cause of higher Catholic education.
Other churches, chapels and schools, belonging to the diocese, have been dedicated, in great number, to the patron saint.
It is thought, that among the existing Sees of Ireland, Clogher may claim to have been first governed by St. Patrick, before he concluded on fixing his
primatialSeeatArmagh. ThegovernmentofClogher,also,theIrishApostle relinquishedtoSt. Maccarthenn,it wouldseem,whenhehadresolvedon
finally selecting his metropolitan seat. After our saint, the holy bishop
64 his immediate
ruled to a. d. when he died. A 550,
Tigernach,
thoroughly reliable record of the succeeding prelates has not been preserved, as may be seen, from the varying list furnished by Father John Colgan, and from that found in the Registry of Clogher, as given in Harris' Ware. 65
66
successor,
According to the latter Register, St. Sinell
succeeded St. Tigernach j then
Deodeagha Mac Cairvill 67 next Feidlimid or Felim 68 next St. 69 fifth ; ; Ultan,
Bishop of Clogher from St. MacCarthin. He is different from St. Ultan, brother of St. Fursey. He is said to be entombed near the sepulchre of St. Mac Carthin at Clogher. Afterwards follow the names ofSethne, Earch, Eirglean, Cedach, and Crimer-Rodan, about whom nothing is noted, not even the years when they lived. Next comes St. Laserian, otherwise called Molaisre,70 Abbot of
61 6 These were the work of Messrs. Brien
and Keating, Wexford, who also supplied the exquisitely carved oak frames for the Stations of the Cross, as also the oak furni- ture for the chapter-room and vestries. The Stations themselves are of coloured plaster in relief.
62 The foregoing description is taken from the Freeman's Journal and National Press
of August 20th, 1892.
63 See Freeman's foumal and National
? . To him, we are told, the church of Iniscain, in the diocese of Clogher, is con- secrated, and a fountain called Glanogna-
gugan.
68 He is said to have been buried in the
church of Clunes near Tigernach, and to him was consecrated Tibrad Felim or Felim's Well.
6? There are several saints bearing this name in the Irish Calendars.
7° He died on the 1 2th of September.
stated to have lived during the lifetime of
St. Patrick, it is evident, says Sir James Ware, that Ende could not be correctly
placed on that list in a chronological order,
2
? Several saints of this name are in the
Press of
6* See his Acts at the 4th of April, in the
Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
63 See vol. i. , "Bishops of Clogher," pp.
177 to 179.
66 To his memory the church of Clarins-
lochtain is said to have been dedicated, as also a fountain called Glais-Dergain.
? J He isintended the by
Monday, August
22nd, 1892.
Registry ofClogher to represent St. Enda, of Aran Island, vene- rated on the 21st of March ; but, as he is
62 On the Sunday,
226 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 15.
Devenish; then the mere names of Tigernaand Altigerna occur. Afterwards,
xMac 2
St. Ende or Enna ? Conail, St. Ronan,? and St. /Edan or Aidan,73 are
placed. Then, we are told, that Maelcob or Maelcab succeeded and flourished in the year 640. 74 Next in succession is St. Adamnanus, called Legate of Ireland,andreckonedoneoftheBishopsinthisSee. Itisdoubtfulwhetherhe be the same as Adamnanus,? * Abbot of Hy. The times agree well enough. To him was consecrated the burying-place, at the upper end of the great street in thecityofClogher,andonthenorthside. ? 6 AfterwardsisrecordedDianach77 and Altigren. Immediately afterwards, a huge anachronism is permitted, in plac-
8
ing St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise,7 son to the Artificer.
then Airmeadach
-p
next Cunnacht; next Maelmochair; next Synach ; next Artgail Mac Dairin ; next Cairbre ; next Maelduin ; next Dermod ; next Conaid I. ; next Moraind; next Dubroith. 81 After these, we find entered Ailil, called in the Annals of Ulster,Scribe,BishopandAbbotofClogher,whodiedin868. 8i Thenfollow Cairbre the Second, and 83 in succession Cend-
8
faelad * or Cenfail, the son of Lorcan, called Comorban of Clunes and
who died in 8 s Afterwards follow Conaid II. next Tomultach; Clogher, 929. ;
next Cellach ; next Murigach ; afterwards Odo O'Buigil ; and then Mac-Mal-
Josa O'Cullean. 86 The list of prelates taken from the Registry of Clogher
O'Morgair, ? brother to the celebrated St. Malachy O'Morgair, Archbishop of Armagh, ruled over the See of Clogher, from n 26 to 11 39. There was a celebrated and zealous bishop of this See, called Aodh, or Hugh O'Kelly, also known as Bishop of Oriel or Airghiall, and head of the Canons of Erin. He died, as some say, in 1180; but, as more generally stated, in a. d. 1182. The day of his death is not recorded. 80
then Faeldobar, who died on the
of 80
29th June, 731;
^Engus. Immediately appears
being exhausted, we are brought to the twelfth century, when Christian 8 88
The Catalogue of Prelates, as given by Colgan, differs in many important respects from that in the Registry of Clogher, and it is much briefer. It is also better sustained, by the authority of our Irish Annals. Thus, after St. Tigher- nach,heplacesLiberius,whodiedonthe 2ndofNovember,00 the
although year is uncertain. Next comes St. Aitmetus, whose feast is on the 2nd of Feb-
Irish Calendar. 84 We are informed, that in the Martyr-
—— 73 His festival is said to have been on the ology of Killeen now a lost book the
31st of August.
74 He is said to have been son to Hugh,
King of Ireland.
75 He was venerated on the 23rd Sep-
tember.
76 We are told, moreover, that he left to
memory of a Cenfaelad is commemorated on
7th of April. In other Irish Martyrologies, we do not find the entry of such a saint, at that date.
»s See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 624, 625.
his church a brass bell, to be rung
86 Of these latter, more nothing
every morning through the streets of Clogher.
particular of Bishops, Clogher, in
8 > His feast occurs on the I2th of June. See at that day, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. i.
88 His feast is held on the 3rd of Novem- ber.
"'See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. part i. , pp. 84, 85, and n. 3. Also. Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol iii. ,
pp. 60,61. And "Harris' Ware," vol. i.
77 To him, the church of Domnach-mor- magiene is said to have been dedicated.
78 His feast occurs, on the 9th of Sep- tember.
7» He is said to have written a Life of St. Patrick.
80 On that day, his festival was celebrated. See the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. iii.
of
i. , Bishops Clogher,"
81
tice. 82
About these, we find no further no-
In Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," his death is placed at A. n. 867. See vol. i. , pp. 510, 511.
83 About these, is noted. nothing
"
of 180. Clogher," p.
has been noticed. taken from the
I larris' Ware, vol. pp. 177 to 179.
See the list
Bishops
Next comes Conail ;
Registry "
of
August 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 227
1 Then comes Hermetius,92 and afterwards who died on ruary. 9 Feldobar,
the 29th of June," a. d. 731. Next, he names Artgal, Abbot of Clogher, and son of Damenius, who died in 765. 94 Then Moran, son of Indract, Abbot
of Clogher, who died in 841. 95 Then Ailild, Scribe, Abbot, and Bishop of Clogher,whodiedin867. 96 ThenfollowsKenfail,thesonofLorcanComor- ban of Clunes and Clogher, who died in 929. 97 Next is Conaing O'Dom-
Archenach or Chief Prince of
follows the name of Muredach O'Cuillen, who was slain in 1126. 99 After-
nallan,
Clogher,
wards comes the name of Christian Hua Morgair, who died 1
,0° Now, it is plain, thaUhe foregoing list of prelates, as given by Colgan, must be quite imperfect. In general, from the death of St. Patrick to the death of Mure- dach O'Cuillin takes more than 600 years; and, during this period, there is
101
Truly great men love labour and privation, even crosses and tribulations, because they aim at noble results to be achieved through them. As carrion flies are known to corrupt the most wholesome meats and alight upon the sweetest and most luscious preserved fruits, so do the multitude of worldlings seek only the world's creature comforts, its allurements, and its pleasures. Consuming such luxuries, men of idle and vicious habits live for a short time, and then worthlessly disappear. The indusrious bee fastens for a while on the most bitter herbs and thence extracts honey, to be stored within the hive. It is thus a true servant of God labours through the short spring and summer of his existence, that he may rest and enjoy himself, when the autumn or winter days close the harvest of his painstaking duties. In the present instance, a holy bishop voluntarily encountered toils, in a spirit of humility and charity, until old age and rest came upon him ; they soon passed away, in this life ; but, everlasting happiness and reward succeeded for him in Heaven.
Article II. —Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin MaryintoHeaven. TheDormitionorAssumptionoftheBlessedVirgin Mary into Heaven appears to have been held as a great Festival in Ireland, and at a period so very remot—e, that we cannot arrive at its origin. Thus, in
only a list of twelve Bishops.
—hich was
the Calendar of St. ^Engus w compiled
at least so
beginning of the ninth century it is celebrated in Irish verse, at this date,
and in his Feilire. 1 To such
entry,
early
the scholiast has added two notes. 2
berniaj," Martii xxxiv. Appendix ad Acta S. Maccarthenni, cap. vi. , p. 742.
I01
It is also to be noticed, that from the death of Conaing O'Domnallan to that of Muredach O'Cuillin, there is a period of 167
90 According to Marianus O'Gorman and others.
27 See
Macaerthanni Epis. , cap. i. , p. 740.
Colgan's
January. date, Volume of this work, Art. iv.
33 fje was son to Lugneus, son of Cass, son to Rectatius, son of Cannech, son to Rev. Daniel O'Connor, has it, that at the Buan. His feast is supposed to have been time of the Reformation, the guardians of either on the 21st of February, or on the the sacred depositories at Clogher, in order 30th of March. The reader is referred to
28
But a local tradition, according to Very
222 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 15.
St. Dabyus, or Mobyus, or Mobyteus,35 St. Macnessius or Coeman,*6 St.
St. or 8 St. Senan,39 St. Thian or Thius. «° Maelruan,37 Mugcnia Libania,3
Besides these are added St. Brandubh, Bishop,41 St. Cailin or Cailan,*2 St. 6
Cassin,<3 St. Guasacus," St. Cualan or Colan. ^St. Manchan,* St. Lochan,*? St. Moluan. *8 Moreover, St. Guasacht/9 Bishop of Granard, and his two sisters named Emeria,5° the children of Milchon or Milchuo,51 besides his
a
own homonymous brother St. Maccarthen,s Bishop of Domnach in Gleann
Tochuir, are noted in this connection. 53 Among the foregoing is to be classed a holy woman, known in tradition by the name of St. Cera,54 and who is said to have been the spiritual sister of Saints Mac Carthinn and Tiger- nach, as also who was regarded as the patroness of the old territory called
Crich Muighdorn. 55
Of late years, a magnificent cathedral has been erected near the town of
Monaghan, and dedicated to St. Maccarthen. The foundation stone was laid
on the 21st June, i86i. s6
The ground upon which the cathedral stands was secured by the late Most Rev. Dr. M'Nally, then Bishop of Clogher. How- ever, owing to the heavy initial expenses of so re- sponsible an undertaking,
the work had made but little progress, at the time of
Bishop M'Nally's death in 1864. TheMostRev. Dr.
Donnelly warmly took up the task, which his pre- decessor was called away from, and by his energy in collecting funds from the British Isles, America, and Australia, he has succeeded
in accomplishing his highly meritorious object. The
building is mediaeval Go- thic, and it is very beauti- fully situated on an emin- ence, just outside the town of Monaghan. It is sur- rounded by eight acres of ground, from which is obtainable an excellent view of the town and sur- rounding country. In the grounds fronting the main entrance, there is a fine co-
St. Maccarthenn's Cathedral, Monaghan.
lossal statue of St. Maccarthan, wrought from Carrara marble The saint is
the Second Volume of this work, at the 18th and 21st of February, Art. i. , but there the reputed pedigrees differ from that here given. See, also, the Third Volume of this work, at March 30th, where there are two Colmans, Arts. vi. and x v.
son of Mail, &c. He is venerated at Lyn- nally, on the 26th of September. See his Acts, at that date, in the Ninth Volume of this work.
35 He was son to Comgell, son of Ere, son toArad, son of Columb, son to Cannech, son of Buan. His feast occurs at the 22nd of July. See the Seventh Volume of this.
34 He was son to
son to Cunned, son of /Engus, son to Fieg,
Beogna,
son of
Mochta,
August 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 223
represented in the attitude of blessing the diocese. 57 The main entrance to the cathedral, approached by a broad flight of steps, is surmounted by a tym-
panum, in which is set a bas-relief in white marble, representing Christ hand- ing the keys to St. Peter, while in niches on either side are finely executed
work, at that date, Art. i.
36 He was son to Fabricius, son of Fieg,
Cuculan, a bishop, noted in the Carthusian
Martyrology, as having been venerated in Ireland on the 1 8th of February. Under
son to Mail, &c. But some intermediate
links seem to be wanting in this pedigree. the name of Culan he is mentioned by
He was bishop of Connor, where his feast is observed on the 3rd of September. See his Acts, at that date, in the Ninth Volume of this work.
37 He was son to Colman, son to Senach, son to Egneth, son of Mochta, son to din- ned, son of yEngus, son of Fieg, son to
Canisius and Ferrarius, at the same date. Or it may be, he is the same as the Colan,
noted in the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 1 6th of September. See the Second Volume
of this work, at the 1 8th ofFebruary, Art. 'ji. See, likewise, the Ninth Volume of this work, at the 16th of September.
46A hasbeenoffered,thathe conjecture
may have been the same as Manchan, the son of Indagius, venerated on the 24th of
January, according to the Martyrologies of Tallagh and of Marianus O'Gorman. See the First Volume of this work, at that date, Art. i.
v Thought to be the St. Lochan or Loichein, venerated in the territory of Hi Uetheach, and whose feast is on the 12th of January, or on the 12th of June. See the First Volume of this work, at January 1 2th, Art. v. , and the Sixth Volume, at June 12th, Art. x.
48 Supposed to have had his festival on the 15th of October, or on the 21st of November. 49 His feast is held on 24th of January, according to the Irish Calendars. See the First Volume of this work, at that date,
Art. iv.
s° Their festival occurs on the nth of De-
cember. See the Twelfth Volume of this work, at that date.
51 He was the son of Buan.
58 As we have already seen, it has been conjectured, that his feast belonged to the 24th of March ; but, nothing can be posi- tively determined, as regards the exact date. See the Third Volume of this work, at that date, Art. x.
S3 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," xxiv. Martii. Appendix ad Acta S. Maccarthenni, cap. hi. , pp. 741, 742.
s4 Her festival occurs, at the 9th of Sep- tember, where other notices of her may be found.
43 Thought to be the St. Cassin, son of Wakeman on the wood, engraved by Mrs. Neman, and venerated on the jst of March. Millard. For the engraving, the writer is
Mail. Hewasveneratedat
7th of July. See the Seventh Volume of this work, at that date, Art. i.
38 Said to have been daughter to Eochad, son to Muredach, son of Cared, son to Bressal, son of Almon, &c. However, it is supposed some links are wanting in this genealogy, since she does not appear to be the immediate daughter of Eochod, the son of Mured, but of some other Eochod derived from him. Her festival has been assigned to the 27th of January. See the First
Volume of this work, at that day, Art. vii.
39 He was son to Fintan, son of Strened,
son to Glinder, son of Core, son to Cunned, son of yEngus, son to Fieg, son of Mail, son ofCarthac,&c. Hisfestivaloccursonthe 2nd of September. See the Ninth Volume of this work, at that date.
40 He was son to Finan, son of Cassan, son to Fergus, son of Nied, son to Buan, &c. He was venerated in the Ards of Ulster, on the 27th of June. At that date, in our
I can find no mention of him but, most probably, he is the St. Thiu, venerated at the 24th. See Sixth Volume of
this work, Art. i. The foregoing pedigrees were drawn by Colgan from the Sanctilogium
Genealogicum ; the saints who immediately follow are said to have descended from the
same Echod, although their pedigrees are not fully given.
41 He is thought to have been venerated at Loch Ramor in Ulster, on the 6th of Feb- ruary, as Colman or Coluim. See the Second Volume of this work, at that date, Art. vii.
Calendars,
;
See in the Third Volume of this work, at that date, Art. vii.
44 Supposed to be identical with St. Guasacht afterwards mentioned.
43 He is thought to be identical with
indebted to Very Rev. Daniel O'Connor,
P. P. , Emyvale.
57 This statue was executed by the Italian
Tallagh,
onthe
*' For his feast reference is given to the
19th and 20th of July. But at these dates and
at that month nocorresponding name is in ®ur
Calendars. We suspect June must be meant,
as at the 19th of June, a St. Coelan or
Caolan is noted. See the Sixth Volume of 'senting this noble cathedral, is copied from this work, Art. ii. a fine engraving, and drawn by William F.
55 This is shown in a paper, contributed by Very Rev. Daniel ("anon O'Connor, P. P. , of Errigal Truaugh to the People's Advocate^ Monaghan, January 2nd, 1892.
56 The accompanying illustration, repre-
Pietro Lazzerini.
58 All these statues were executed by Pietro
sculptor,
224 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 15.
statues of St. Peter and St. Paul. The front is surmounted by two turrets, which have an altitude of 100 feet, and these are flanked by turrets of a smaller size. At the south front is the spire, which is octagonal in form, and it is embellished with angled turrets resting on pillars of polished granite. It is constructed of Dungannon stone, with facings of Armagh limestone, and its apex is crowned with a metal cross. The spire rises to a height of 250 feet, and it can be seen from a long distance, as the traveller approaches Monaghan. Above the entrance, at the base of the tower, and supporting the spire, is a marble bas-relief, representing the Blessed Virgin and Child. Both north and south transept gables are furnished with niches to accommo- date fourteen statues, seven on either side. On the south side are statues in CarraramarbleofSt. Tigernach,St. Ultan,St. Columkille,andSt. Dympna, patroness of the diocese ; Heber MacMahon, the soldier Bishop of Clogher ; Dr. Charles M'Nally, who laid the foundation stone of the church; and the Most Rev. Dr. Donnelly, the present bishop, holding a finished model of the building in his hand. On the other side are statues of biblical personages,
8
Abraham, Moses, David, Isaias, Jeremiah, St. Joachim, and St. Anne. s The sacristies, chapter-room, etc. , are on the east side of the building, which is altogether 190 feet long, 75 feet to the roof of nave, while the cathedral is
capable of accommodating, at least 1,200 worshippers.
On entering this noble structure, a beholder is struck at once by the perfec-
tion in which everything has been carried out, even to the minutest particular. The costly stained glass windows,5^ which entirely surround the interior, shed a devotional light, in unison with the pious surroundings ; the lofty vaulted roof, atthesametime,givingthenaveamostimposingappearance. Theroofof red pine, with moulded ribs, is supported on circular columns with carved capitals, from which spring graceful Gothic arches. The walls above are
pierced by clerestory windows. The passages of the flooring are tiled with tesselated borders, and underneath the seats is timber flooring. The church
is furnished with an admirable heating apparatus. The vestibule is laid with mosaics of various rich marbles, in the centre being a monogram of the letters S. M. C. interlacedroundacross. Itwouldbedifficult,indeed,toconveyatrue impression of the magnificence of the work within the choir and around the high altar, as also in the four side chapels, respectively dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, the Blessed Sacrament, St. Joseph, and St. Benedict Joseph Labre. 6° The entire floor of the sanctuary, measuring some fifty feet by thirty, is con- structed of marble, no less than fifteen different kinds of that stone being
Lazzerini, and they are excellently finished. 59 The valuable stained glass windows are all the gifts of friends belonging to the dio- cese, many of them living in America and in
other distant places.
60 Count Botto, an Italian contractor, had
quisite and a costly addition to the altar. The door is of bronze, while the pediment surmounting it and the panels at either side are exquisitely inlaid with coloured marbles and precions stones. The lofty baldachino over the high altar is supported on four
entrusted to him the construction of the Gothic four-foil marble columns with altars and sanctuary, and personally he moulded annulets inlaid, and capitals deco-
superintended the carrying out of this part rated in gold and sympathetic colours. The of the work. The high altar is approached architrave is also carved, and above are oil by three Carrara marble steps, and the table paintings of the Blessed Trinity, St. Peter, of the altar itself is supported on six pillars and St. Paul. The side chapels, which are of Mondragone marble.
Underneath the divided from the high altar, and from one table are three panels of Carrara marble
executed in bas-relief. The central one is
a reproduction of Leonardo Da Vinci's Last
Supper;ontherightandleftarerepresenta- oneateithersideo—fthenaveandthetwo
tions of the Pelican and her Young, and the Chalice, Vine and Wheat. The taber- nacle, which is octagonal in shape, is an ex-
others in the aisles are four life-size marble statues of the Sacred Heart, St. Patrick, St. Bridget, and St. John the Baptist.
another, by Gothic grills, arc little gems of art. The reredos in each case is of inla—id Carrara marble. In front of the sanctuary
August 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 2 2 5
used for the purpose. The bishop's throne in the sanctuary is in perfect keeping with the general architecture of the church. It is constructed of
Carraramarble,whiletheseat,back,andarmsareupholsteredinoldgold. The canons' stalls are of solid polished oak, inlaid with walnut, and they are beauti-
fully carved. 61 The pulpit, in its gracefulness and embellishment, is in keeping
with all the other within the sacred appointments
building.
21st of August, 1892, the solemn dedication of the cathedral took place, in
presence of a crowded congregation of prelates, priests and laity, assembled from all parts of Ireland, and even from the most distant countries. The
Most Rev. Archbishop of Armagh, Dr. Logue, performed the ceremony of dedication ; the Most Rev. Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Walsh, sang the High Mass ; the Most Rev. Bishop of Raphoe, Dr. O'Donnell, preached the dedi- cation sermon, while the Most Rev. Bishop of Clogher, Dr. Donnelly, pre- sided on the throne. A vast number of people thronged the cathedral
as room was not available for all within that 63 spacious building.
grounds,
The Catholic Church of Clogher has been dedicated, likewise, t—o St. Mac
Carthenn. Moreover,thefineDiocesan
ofSt. Macartan — Seminary occupy-
ing a most eligible site in the immediate neighbourhood of Monaghan renders the best services possible to the cause of higher Catholic education.
Other churches, chapels and schools, belonging to the diocese, have been dedicated, in great number, to the patron saint.
It is thought, that among the existing Sees of Ireland, Clogher may claim to have been first governed by St. Patrick, before he concluded on fixing his
primatialSeeatArmagh. ThegovernmentofClogher,also,theIrishApostle relinquishedtoSt. Maccarthenn,it wouldseem,whenhehadresolvedon
finally selecting his metropolitan seat. After our saint, the holy bishop
64 his immediate
ruled to a. d. when he died. A 550,
Tigernach,
thoroughly reliable record of the succeeding prelates has not been preserved, as may be seen, from the varying list furnished by Father John Colgan, and from that found in the Registry of Clogher, as given in Harris' Ware. 65
66
successor,
According to the latter Register, St. Sinell
succeeded St. Tigernach j then
Deodeagha Mac Cairvill 67 next Feidlimid or Felim 68 next St. 69 fifth ; ; Ultan,
Bishop of Clogher from St. MacCarthin. He is different from St. Ultan, brother of St. Fursey. He is said to be entombed near the sepulchre of St. Mac Carthin at Clogher. Afterwards follow the names ofSethne, Earch, Eirglean, Cedach, and Crimer-Rodan, about whom nothing is noted, not even the years when they lived. Next comes St. Laserian, otherwise called Molaisre,70 Abbot of
61 6 These were the work of Messrs. Brien
and Keating, Wexford, who also supplied the exquisitely carved oak frames for the Stations of the Cross, as also the oak furni- ture for the chapter-room and vestries. The Stations themselves are of coloured plaster in relief.
62 The foregoing description is taken from the Freeman's Journal and National Press
of August 20th, 1892.
63 See Freeman's foumal and National
? . To him, we are told, the church of Iniscain, in the diocese of Clogher, is con- secrated, and a fountain called Glanogna-
gugan.
68 He is said to have been buried in the
church of Clunes near Tigernach, and to him was consecrated Tibrad Felim or Felim's Well.
6? There are several saints bearing this name in the Irish Calendars.
7° He died on the 1 2th of September.
stated to have lived during the lifetime of
St. Patrick, it is evident, says Sir James Ware, that Ende could not be correctly
placed on that list in a chronological order,
2
? Several saints of this name are in the
Press of
6* See his Acts at the 4th of April, in the
Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
63 See vol. i. , "Bishops of Clogher," pp.
177 to 179.
66 To his memory the church of Clarins-
lochtain is said to have been dedicated, as also a fountain called Glais-Dergain.
? J He isintended the by
Monday, August
22nd, 1892.
Registry ofClogher to represent St. Enda, of Aran Island, vene- rated on the 21st of March ; but, as he is
62 On the Sunday,
226 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 15.
Devenish; then the mere names of Tigernaand Altigerna occur. Afterwards,
xMac 2
St. Ende or Enna ? Conail, St. Ronan,? and St. /Edan or Aidan,73 are
placed. Then, we are told, that Maelcob or Maelcab succeeded and flourished in the year 640. 74 Next in succession is St. Adamnanus, called Legate of Ireland,andreckonedoneoftheBishopsinthisSee. Itisdoubtfulwhetherhe be the same as Adamnanus,? * Abbot of Hy. The times agree well enough. To him was consecrated the burying-place, at the upper end of the great street in thecityofClogher,andonthenorthside. ? 6 AfterwardsisrecordedDianach77 and Altigren. Immediately afterwards, a huge anachronism is permitted, in plac-
8
ing St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise,7 son to the Artificer.
then Airmeadach
-p
next Cunnacht; next Maelmochair; next Synach ; next Artgail Mac Dairin ; next Cairbre ; next Maelduin ; next Dermod ; next Conaid I. ; next Moraind; next Dubroith. 81 After these, we find entered Ailil, called in the Annals of Ulster,Scribe,BishopandAbbotofClogher,whodiedin868. 8i Thenfollow Cairbre the Second, and 83 in succession Cend-
8
faelad * or Cenfail, the son of Lorcan, called Comorban of Clunes and
who died in 8 s Afterwards follow Conaid II. next Tomultach; Clogher, 929. ;
next Cellach ; next Murigach ; afterwards Odo O'Buigil ; and then Mac-Mal-
Josa O'Cullean. 86 The list of prelates taken from the Registry of Clogher
O'Morgair, ? brother to the celebrated St. Malachy O'Morgair, Archbishop of Armagh, ruled over the See of Clogher, from n 26 to 11 39. There was a celebrated and zealous bishop of this See, called Aodh, or Hugh O'Kelly, also known as Bishop of Oriel or Airghiall, and head of the Canons of Erin. He died, as some say, in 1180; but, as more generally stated, in a. d. 1182. The day of his death is not recorded. 80
then Faeldobar, who died on the
of 80
29th June, 731;
^Engus. Immediately appears
being exhausted, we are brought to the twelfth century, when Christian 8 88
The Catalogue of Prelates, as given by Colgan, differs in many important respects from that in the Registry of Clogher, and it is much briefer. It is also better sustained, by the authority of our Irish Annals. Thus, after St. Tigher- nach,heplacesLiberius,whodiedonthe 2ndofNovember,00 the
although year is uncertain. Next comes St. Aitmetus, whose feast is on the 2nd of Feb-
Irish Calendar. 84 We are informed, that in the Martyr-
—— 73 His festival is said to have been on the ology of Killeen now a lost book the
31st of August.
74 He is said to have been son to Hugh,
King of Ireland.
75 He was venerated on the 23rd Sep-
tember.
76 We are told, moreover, that he left to
memory of a Cenfaelad is commemorated on
7th of April. In other Irish Martyrologies, we do not find the entry of such a saint, at that date.
»s See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 624, 625.
his church a brass bell, to be rung
86 Of these latter, more nothing
every morning through the streets of Clogher.
particular of Bishops, Clogher, in
8 > His feast occurs on the I2th of June. See at that day, in the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. i.
88 His feast is held on the 3rd of Novem- ber.
"'See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. part i. , pp. 84, 85, and n. 3. Also. Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol iii. ,
pp. 60,61. And "Harris' Ware," vol. i.
77 To him, the church of Domnach-mor- magiene is said to have been dedicated.
78 His feast occurs, on the 9th of Sep- tember.
7» He is said to have written a Life of St. Patrick.
80 On that day, his festival was celebrated. See the Sixth Volume of this work, Art. iii.
of
i. , Bishops Clogher,"
81
tice. 82
About these, we find no further no-
In Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," his death is placed at A. n. 867. See vol. i. , pp. 510, 511.
83 About these, is noted. nothing
"
of 180. Clogher," p.
has been noticed. taken from the
I larris' Ware, vol. pp. 177 to 179.
See the list
Bishops
Next comes Conail ;
Registry "
of
August 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 227
1 Then comes Hermetius,92 and afterwards who died on ruary. 9 Feldobar,
the 29th of June," a. d. 731. Next, he names Artgal, Abbot of Clogher, and son of Damenius, who died in 765. 94 Then Moran, son of Indract, Abbot
of Clogher, who died in 841. 95 Then Ailild, Scribe, Abbot, and Bishop of Clogher,whodiedin867. 96 ThenfollowsKenfail,thesonofLorcanComor- ban of Clunes and Clogher, who died in 929. 97 Next is Conaing O'Dom-
Archenach or Chief Prince of
follows the name of Muredach O'Cuillen, who was slain in 1126. 99 After-
nallan,
Clogher,
wards comes the name of Christian Hua Morgair, who died 1
,0° Now, it is plain, thaUhe foregoing list of prelates, as given by Colgan, must be quite imperfect. In general, from the death of St. Patrick to the death of Mure- dach O'Cuillin takes more than 600 years; and, during this period, there is
101
Truly great men love labour and privation, even crosses and tribulations, because they aim at noble results to be achieved through them. As carrion flies are known to corrupt the most wholesome meats and alight upon the sweetest and most luscious preserved fruits, so do the multitude of worldlings seek only the world's creature comforts, its allurements, and its pleasures. Consuming such luxuries, men of idle and vicious habits live for a short time, and then worthlessly disappear. The indusrious bee fastens for a while on the most bitter herbs and thence extracts honey, to be stored within the hive. It is thus a true servant of God labours through the short spring and summer of his existence, that he may rest and enjoy himself, when the autumn or winter days close the harvest of his painstaking duties. In the present instance, a holy bishop voluntarily encountered toils, in a spirit of humility and charity, until old age and rest came upon him ; they soon passed away, in this life ; but, everlasting happiness and reward succeeded for him in Heaven.
Article II. —Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin MaryintoHeaven. TheDormitionorAssumptionoftheBlessedVirgin Mary into Heaven appears to have been held as a great Festival in Ireland, and at a period so very remot—e, that we cannot arrive at its origin. Thus, in
only a list of twelve Bishops.
—hich was
the Calendar of St. ^Engus w compiled
at least so
beginning of the ninth century it is celebrated in Irish verse, at this date,
and in his Feilire. 1 To such
entry,
early
the scholiast has added two notes. 2
berniaj," Martii xxxiv. Appendix ad Acta S. Maccarthenni, cap. vi. , p. 742.
I01
It is also to be noticed, that from the death of Conaing O'Domnallan to that of Muredach O'Cuillin, there is a period of 167
90 According to Marianus O'Gorman and others.
