"'The appellation Fledhach is said to
have been derived from " a
jrlexvo, banquet,"
"3 See also Father Ward's " Sancti Rumoldi Martyris Inclyti, &c, Acta, &c," Dissertatio iIistorica, de Patria S.
have been derived from " a
jrlexvo, banquet,"
"3 See also Father Ward's " Sancti Rumoldi Martyris Inclyti, &c, Acta, &c," Dissertatio iIistorica, de Patria S.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
He knew perfectly well what had been written in it, concerning his
country's acts, laws, and histories, besides those Druidic sciences, which had
not been visited with condemnation the Church. 100 He was not a by only
proficient in the Latin language, but he was capable of fully appreciating its
tices have prevailed in tne middle and it was kept distinct from Hy. "—Adamnan's "
southern parts of Ireland, and are not, LifeofSt. Columba. " AppendixtoPre-
perhaps, altogether disused, even at the face, &c, n. (u), p. xliii.
" 105 " "
present time. The poor scholar" was a
well-known character to a late period, and
has been made the subject of an affecting
but exaggerated tale, by William Carleton.
The mode of acquiring subsistence, how- tional Notes postfixed to the Rev. Dr.
ever, differed from that related in the anecdote given ; the practice was substan- tially the same. This and many other instances, recorded in the Lives of our early Saints, tend to show the conservatism of old habits and customs in Ireland.
" Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. ,
sect, v. , p. 97.
loa u Natus est itaque sanctus Adampnanus
sicut beatus precinebat Columba quem a tenera infancia cunctis gratum divina reddidit
gracia. Successu vero temporis a prefato beato Columba monichalem suscepit habitum
et postea juxta abbatis sui perceptum ad Lismorensem devenit abbaciam. " Now, St.
Columba died, about the year 597 and St. Adamnan was not born at earliest date, before A. D. 623.
103 This he does, in his edition of the
Roman Martyrology, at the 9th of June. ,0<The Rev. Dr. Reeves says, that "St.
Columba had no more jurisdiction in Lis- more than in Applecross or Kingarth. Even when Lismore was made an episcopal seat,
101 See Rev. Dr.
Lanigan's
See Acta Sanctorum, tomus vi. ,
Septembris xxiii. De S. Adamnano, &c,
sec. i. , num. 10, p. 644.
I0*
Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba,"
pp. 373 to 375. The Annals of Innisfallen
place his death at the year 642.
""See Father Ward's "Sancti Rumoldi
Martyris inclyti, &c, Acta, &c. " Dissertatio Historica de Patria S. Rumoldi, Art. iii. , sect. 5, p. 218. That he was acquainted with the Greek and Hebrew languages may be inferred, from the circumstance of his introducing Greek words into the text of his 11 Vita S. Columbse. " He discusses the meaning and orthography of some Greek
"
names in his treatise,
lib. ii. , cap. 27, and lib. iii. , cap. 2.
108 He treats about the Hebrew form of Tyre, and its Latin equivalent, and alludes to the mention of this name in historical writers, as if he were familiar with such subjects.
109 He cites a verse of Juveneus, in lib. i. ,
cap. 18, and quotes Josephus, under the title of " Tertius Judaic* Captivitatis Liber. " He also refers to the commentaries of St.
Jerome, lib. iii. , cap. 20, 29.
110
See Chronicon Hyense, in the Addi-
An improvement seems to have been
De Locis Sanctis,"
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 485
elegancies of construction and classical phrases. His writings that remain
to our time sufficiently testify to this proficiency. Our saint appears to have unitedbodilylabourwithhisstudies. Onaparticularoccasion,herepresents himself as forming one of a party engaged in procuring wood for certain monastic repairs. " They had drawn together a small fleet of those vessels
1"
in order to carry the woodtoIonafromthemainland. Thismaterialforbuildingwastakenfroma countrysituatedaboutthemouthofariver,calledSale,"2 Whilstthesailors were rowing on a tranquil sea, a western wind suddenly arose, which proved unfavourable for the point to which their course had been directed. "3 Where- fore they ran for a neighbouring island called Arthrago, in the Scottish language, and here they sought a port of refuge. But being baffled for the present in achieving the object of their voyage, the navigators became impatient and began to complain. In a certain measure they accused their patron, St. Columba, in these terms : u O Saint, doth this delay of ours please thee ? Through God's providence, we have hitherto expected from thee, that some consolatory assistance should be afforded to our labours,
because we have considered that thou wert held in an exalted degree of honourbytheAlmighty. " Havingspokenthesewords,wonderfultorelate! after a short interval, and in a single instant, the contrary west wind fell. Almost sooner than words could express it, a favourable Vulturnus"* arose. The sailors were ordered to square the sail-yards in the form of a cross, and having hauled the ropes, their sails were spread. On the same day those navigators reached Iona, with fresh and favouring breezes, and with scarcely any effort on their part, The wood was safely landed, with the men belong- ing to the different vessels. Adamnan takes occasion to say, that those slight complaints, urged against their holy patron, proved of no little benefit to their community. They proved, likewise, St. Columba's powerful inter- cession before the throne of God. This must have been very great, as ought appear from such a sudden change of the winds. "*
made, before this, on the rude system of building with wattles. St. Columba used to
"
which were called currachs, to the number of twelve,
study in a hut,
Life by Adamnan, lib. i. , cap. 25. St. Finan,
in 652, erected a church after the model of Inverness and Argyle, is excluded from Hy, " quam more Scottorum, non de lapide, identification with the name mentioned in sed de robore secto totam composuit, atque the text. A N. E. wind should be required, harundine texit ;" that is, the walls were to convey the party from it to Iona ; yet, made of wooden sheeting, which was pro-
tected from the weather outside by a coat of
rush-thatch. An improvement was again
made on this system when a succeeding
bishop,
"
ablata harandine, plumbi laminis
wind accomplished the object of their voyage, Dr. Reeves was inclined to infer, from the sequel of this narrative, that a N. E. wind was the one that favoured the navigators'
tabulis suffultum. " See his
earn hoc et tectum et — course. Sale have been totam, est, ipsos Consequently may
quoque parietes ejus co-operire curavit. "
identical with the river Shiel.
Venerable Bede, " Historia Ecclesiastica "3 The Rev. Mr. Reeves thinks, that this
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 25. island lay to the S. E. of Hy, but could not
111
Scottish rivers. He says, that the river Shiel, which connects the fresh-water Lake of Lough Shiel with the sea, and forms part of a boundary line between the counties of
it appears from the sequence, that a S. E.
The Rev. Dr. Reeves has collected a identify it, as he acknowledges, unless it
great number of instances in which he shows,
were Arran.
II4 This a North-east wind, or signifies
according to some, a south-east wind. It is derived a vulturis volatus, quoniam altc rtsonat, or a Vulturno fluvio. See Ellis' revised edition of Ainsworth's Latin Dictionary, ad vocem. London, 1830.
"5 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 45, pp. 177, 178, with accompanying notes.
how this number the prevailed during
early
ages of Christianity, in many departments of "
religious economy. See Adamnan's Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes I. , pp.
299 to 303, with accompanying notes. He also shows how it was largely applied in secular use.
"a The Rev. Mr. Reeves has been unable to identify this Sale, with any of the modern
486 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 23.
According to the Annals of the Four Masters,"6 Finnachta Fleadhach, or
the Festive, in a. d. 674, began his reign as monarch over Ireland. This
prince is sometimes called Finnshneachta in the same Annals, as also in those
of Ulster. He succeeded Ceannfaeladh, son of Blathmac, who was slain in a
battlefoughtatAirceltair. Thechiefincidentofhisreignappearstohavebeen
his remission of the Borumha Laigean, which had long oppressed the people
11
composition,
12
? This action greatly displeased Adamnan, who had opposed it
of Leinster.
as a matter of policy ; although, no doubt, it was done in a considerate and equitablemanner. FinnachtabelongedtotheSouthernHy-Niallrace,and he was a valiant118 and We are in an old bardic
120
hospitable prince. "9 told,
that after the accidental introduction already mentioned,
Adamnan was invited to the court of this prince. Subsequently our saint
became the monarch's anmchara or spiritual director. This is supposed to
have been a chief reason, why the saint became so distinguished during
121
Finnachta's reign.
We are 122 that Adamnan founded informed,
monasteries in Ireland, 3 before he undertook the care of Iona, and that these were under his own rule ; the chief among them being Raphoe, the Pons Adamnani, Drumhome and Screen, If this be the case, he must have been sent in a missionary capacity from the parent house, to inaugurate other branches of the institute in Ireland ; but, it seems most probable, that whatever monasteries he may have founded, these had been chiefly erected at intervals during the various visits he made as head of the Columban order. To this list of places where he was venerated, Colgan adds the Churches of Dunbo,
Aregal,Boithfheabha,andGrelleach,in the diocese of Derry, as also memorials in other localities of Ireland. 12^ Drumhome was the seat of a powerful branch of the Cinel Conaill, which was in this parish ; and in it was also preserved the reliquary called the Cathach. 12* Adamnan was especially
1,6
pp. 282 to 285.
"7 It is said their exemption from this
tribute was due to the pleading of St. Moling Luachra, a holy and celebrated bishop. He is said to have taken advantage
120
contained in a vellum M. S. , which was
See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. ,
This composition is said to have been
of an ambiguous meaning attaching to the
term Iua«, which signifies either Monday, returned once more to his Kingdom, in
or the Day of Judgment ; thus converting the signification of a temporary respite into a perpetual surrender of the claim. The
whole of this legendary story is sufficiently told in the Life of St. Molingus, or St.
Moling Luachra of Teach-Moling, in the
Sixth Volume of this work, at the 17th of
June, the day for his feast. Art. i. , chap. iii.
688 or 689. See Dr. O'Conor's
118
Besides the victory obtained over
By Fleming in his "Collectanea Sacra," Dissertatio de Monastica S. Colum- bani Luxoviensis et Bobiensis Abbatis Professione. Art. iii. , sect, ii. , num. 87, p. 435.
Cennfaeladh in 673, he destroyed Ailech,
a stronghold of the Northern Hy-Niall, in A. D. 674 ; he defeated the Leinster-men at
Loughgower, near Dunshaughlin, in Meath, and he gained the battle of Tailltin over Becc Boirche, in A. D. 677. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 282 to 283, and notes, ibid.
"'The appellation Fledhach is said to
have been derived from " a
jrlexvo, banquet,"
"3 See also Father Ward's " Sancti Rumoldi Martyris Inclyti, &c, Acta, &c," Dissertatio iIistorica, de Patria S. Rumoldi,
and from the festivities which prevailed passages in the body of his edition of
during his reign. See Jeoffrey Keating's Adamnan's " Life of St. Columha. " See
M
History of Ireland," part ii. pp. 38, 284,
many
formerly in possession of William Monck Mason, Esq.
,21
The Annals of Tighernach and of Ulster state, that Finnachta became a clergy- man, in the year 687 or 688, but that he
"
Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , Annales Tigernachi, pp. 214, 215, and ibid. , tomus iv. Annales Ultonienses,
p. 64.
,2a
Art. iii. , p. 219.
Ia* See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
xxii. Februarii. De B. Malbrigido sive
Brigidano, Abbate Derensi et Primate
Ardmachano, p. 387, n. 7.
"5 At these and similar references, the
Rev. Dr. Reeves refers to and pages
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 487
venerated at Drumhome, a parish in the diocese of Raphoe, barony of Tirhugh, and County of Donegal. It is the Dorsum Tomme, and it was probably in the neighbourhood of St. Adamnan's birth-place. In the
136
barony of Coleraine, County of Londonderry, is the townland of Ballintemple, where was the site of the old church. Here foundations remain, measuring 52 by 18 feet. South of this is the only local commemoration remaining in the parish, namely, aneminencecalledSt. Onan'sRock. "7 IntheparishofClonleigh,diocese of Derry, County of Donegal, and barony of Raphoe, there is a townland called Ballindrait, supposed to have had some connexion with St. Adamnan. 128 It adjoins Raphoe on the east, and is the Pons Adamnani mentioned above
diocese of Deny, parish of Errigal,
by Fleming.
,29 At
present
no ancient church is in that The hamlet place.
of Greallach, now known as Templemoyle, in the parish of Cloncha,^
diocese of Derry, barony of Inishowen, County of Donegal, was dedicated
to St. Adamnan. ^1 It is a small burial ground, with the faintest traces of
a quadrilateral building. It is situated on a rocky slope, amid a wretched
group of cabins. The parish of Dunbo,132 in the same diocese, county, and
and barony, was dedicated to St. Adamnan. The ruins of the old church,
situate near Downhill, measure 63*2 by 27*6 feet. The parish of Bovevagh
in the same diocese and county, barony of Keenaght, had St. Eugenius as
x
the patron. 33 This name may be regarded as a Latin form of Eunan. '34
The old church measures fifty-one feet, by seventeen feet, six inches. The
townland of Kilonan, in the parish of Derrygalvin, County of Limerick, is supposed to have been so called from a church formerly dedicated to St. Eunan or Adamnan. *35 Another foundation attributed to St. Adamnan was
6
the monastery of Kill Rois,^ in the territory of Fera Rois, which extended
into the barony of Farney, in the County of Monaghan, and which took in a considerable part of the present County of Louth. *37
On the death of Failbhe, eighth abbot of Iona, a. d. 678, according to the 8x
Annals of Ulster,^ a. d. 679, according to the Annals of Tighernach, 39 or a. d. 677, according to those of the Four Masters,1 * Adamnan was elected
superior, both in North Britain and Ireland, when appointed as next Abbot,
136 Formerly called Airecal Adhamnain, age when these matters were better under- or "the habitation of Adamnan. " stood than now.
127 " I34 M
It is marked on the Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of London- derry," Sheet 18. At the time it was noted, there was not a man in the country that knew who St. Onan was.
128 The Irish name is "Ortoicec <Vd4tfm4in, or the "Bridge of Adamnan. " See Dr.
See Archbishop Colton's Metropoli- tan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry,
a. d. mcccxcvii. ," n. (o), p. 85.
,3S The name seems to be formed from
all <v6Airm4in, but without confirmation from any other ostensible local evidence.
I36 See " Some Account of the Territory or Dominion of Farney," by Evelyn Philip Shirley, chap, i. , at p. 2.
I37 The Obits of two Priors, at this place, are recorded in our Annals, at a. d. 825 , andatA. D. 845; andachurchtherecalled Magheross is noticed in Pope Nicholas' Taxation.
'38 See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiberni- carum Scriptores," tomus iv. , Annales Ultonienses, p. 61.
I3» See i&id. , tomus ii. , Tigernachi Annales, p. 210.
M° The Annals of Clonmacnoise place his death in the year 674. It occurred on the 22nd of March, at which date, some notices of him may be found, in the Third Vo'ume of this work, Art. i.
O'Donovan's
"
Annals of the Four Masters,"
at A. D. 1607, vol. vi. , p. 2353.
129 See "Collectanea Sacra," Dissertatio
de Monastica S. Columbani Luxoviensis et
Bobiensis Abbatis Professione. Art. iii. ,
sect, ii. , num. 87, p. 435.
130 In the Irish Calendar at July 16th it is
written CIuahi Caca.
131 See Archbishop Colton's "Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, a. d.
MCCCXCVII. ," n (z), p. 69.
I3* In this parish is the Munitio
Cethirini.
133 According to Archbishop King's List, local belief makes St. Ringan, that is,
Ninian, the patron ; but Colgan's authority, already cited, is superior, as he lived in an
488 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 23.
over the celebrated monastery belonging to the Columban institute, on the IslandofHy. Hissupremejurisdictionthusextendedoverallthemonastic institutions of St. Columkille. Almost contemporaneously, Aldfrid, the Northumbrian prince, known to the Irish by the name of Flann Fina,'41 and whose mothei 142 is said to have been of Irish birth or 1 had been
descent, -^,
obliged on the death of his reputed father, Oswy,144 to leave his native country, and to become an exile in Scotia or Ireland. :« There he was educated in piety and learning by some Irish monks. 1*6 Others will have it, that he sought a refuge in Hy 14? but probably he visited both places. 14* An
his death says : A. \tcp|tich tdac Oppu . 1. JTl-Atro pr>A Ia gAe-oelu hinAi-oh [he was called Fland Fina by the Irish] rex Saxon
;
Irish poem,'49 of twenty-four ranns, said to have been composed by him in
Whereupon it is related, Hiberniam, seuvi seu indignatione, secesserat. Ibi, et ab odio
U1 Thus at A. c. 704, Tighernach recording superseded on the ground of illegitimacy, ""
^
"
nicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , Tigernachi Quocirca, imperii habenis, habiliorem Annales, p. 222. So the Annals of Inis- aestimantes, qui quondam expulerant ultro fallen, in the parallel place a. d. 694, have expetiverunt. "—" Wilhelmi Malmesbirien- JTlAnn rine itiac goffA Rex Saxonorum sis," "Gesta Regum Anglorum," p. 52,
germani tutus, et magno otio Uteris imbutus, fnit. " See Dr. O'Conor's Rerum Hiber- omni philosophia composuerat animam.
edition of Thomas D. Hardy, 1840.
145 Irish writers observe; " Non sui tan- turn Uteris excolendi causa in Hiberniam mother. He is distinguished from J? lAnn venit, verum etiam ut Sanctis Hibernue pnn, an ecclesiastic, whom the Gloss and deprecantibus limace qui in aurem ejus the Felire of /Engus at January 14th, places irrepsit, et capitis humoribus attractis at Inbher Neola [An fheblA of the intumuit educto, molestia et morbo—ex ea Foyle ? ] on the confines of Tir Connell and recontracta immunis efficeretur. " Arch-
quievit. " See ibid. Annales Inisfalenses, y. 17.
143 The surname Fina was derived from his
Tir Eoghain ; or at Chuillinn beside Corcagh, as Mananus O'Gorman has it at the same
from
Cambrensis Eversus,"
M oreover, he is to be
day.
Flann Finn, as chief of the Cinel Eoghain, Christianity," vol. ii. , book iv. , chap, iv. ,
Aliter, Kina, daughter of Colman Rimidh, son of liaedan, son of Muircertach, son of Muiredhach, was mother of Flann Fina, King of the Saxons. Tract on the Mothers of the Iiish Saints in the Leabhar Lecain, fol. 43, a Manuscript classed H. 2. 16, in Trinity College, Dublin, p. 365 of the
278, Goodall finishes the climax ;
illas insulas minime Hibernia, Uteris nun- quam Celebris sed Hebrides, et ex iis Heii
—vel Iona insula pnecipue designari videtur. " "
Fordun's Scotichronicon," vol. i. , p.
159, n. 4.
148 Fordun writes: "Qui non pancis
distinguished
in 698, whom the Annals of Ulster call Flann Albus at a. d. 699. Pinkerton greatly errs in confounding this Aldfrid with Alchfrid, a legitimate son of Oswy, and who was invested with regal power by his father, but who died at an earlier date.
143 She is stated by . /Engus, a writer of the
eighth century, to have been from the
princely house of Niall : pnA injen
mic DAeTMin mic tTluijicefXAij mic Scotia, and, as appears by this passage of muijie'OAij;, mACAifi f? loimo ptiA 1115 Malmesbury and others, even t—he name
Chin-ofAetAT) mAtAift f/lom-o pnA mic
OffA. Aliter pnA injen ColmAin ftime Ireland in these times, when the name
SAXAn. "Fina, daughter ol Cennfaeladh, Hibernia was common to both. " was mother of Flann Fina, son of Ossa.
Catalogue. In the Claun Neill Genealogy
Fina is represented as the great grand- curam dedit. " Scotichronicon lib. iii. , p.
daughter of Muircertach, either through his son Baedan,—or through Ailill, father of
$*• ,4»
It begins :
Cennfaeladh.
Ibid. , fol.
63.
•"Oswy, King of Northumbria, died in
670, and was succeeded by his son Egfrid. Though an elder brother, Aldfrid was
Uo-oeA-o in Imp pnn Ail J?
In efimn ji e iaji n-imAjifJAij.
1m mAr bAn, ni bAech An bjieAch. ImAC lAec, imAc clefeAch
"
deacon Lynch's
edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, vol. ii. , p. 236.
146 See Dean Milman's " of Latin History
p. 267.
147 Such is the account of a Lindisfarne
:
Benedictine Monk. See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus hi. , Martii xx. Tertia Vita S. Cuthberti, lib.
country's acts, laws, and histories, besides those Druidic sciences, which had
not been visited with condemnation the Church. 100 He was not a by only
proficient in the Latin language, but he was capable of fully appreciating its
tices have prevailed in tne middle and it was kept distinct from Hy. "—Adamnan's "
southern parts of Ireland, and are not, LifeofSt. Columba. " AppendixtoPre-
perhaps, altogether disused, even at the face, &c, n. (u), p. xliii.
" 105 " "
present time. The poor scholar" was a
well-known character to a late period, and
has been made the subject of an affecting
but exaggerated tale, by William Carleton.
The mode of acquiring subsistence, how- tional Notes postfixed to the Rev. Dr.
ever, differed from that related in the anecdote given ; the practice was substan- tially the same. This and many other instances, recorded in the Lives of our early Saints, tend to show the conservatism of old habits and customs in Ireland.
" Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xviii. ,
sect, v. , p. 97.
loa u Natus est itaque sanctus Adampnanus
sicut beatus precinebat Columba quem a tenera infancia cunctis gratum divina reddidit
gracia. Successu vero temporis a prefato beato Columba monichalem suscepit habitum
et postea juxta abbatis sui perceptum ad Lismorensem devenit abbaciam. " Now, St.
Columba died, about the year 597 and St. Adamnan was not born at earliest date, before A. D. 623.
103 This he does, in his edition of the
Roman Martyrology, at the 9th of June. ,0<The Rev. Dr. Reeves says, that "St.
Columba had no more jurisdiction in Lis- more than in Applecross or Kingarth. Even when Lismore was made an episcopal seat,
101 See Rev. Dr.
Lanigan's
See Acta Sanctorum, tomus vi. ,
Septembris xxiii. De S. Adamnano, &c,
sec. i. , num. 10, p. 644.
I0*
Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba,"
pp. 373 to 375. The Annals of Innisfallen
place his death at the year 642.
""See Father Ward's "Sancti Rumoldi
Martyris inclyti, &c, Acta, &c. " Dissertatio Historica de Patria S. Rumoldi, Art. iii. , sect. 5, p. 218. That he was acquainted with the Greek and Hebrew languages may be inferred, from the circumstance of his introducing Greek words into the text of his 11 Vita S. Columbse. " He discusses the meaning and orthography of some Greek
"
names in his treatise,
lib. ii. , cap. 27, and lib. iii. , cap. 2.
108 He treats about the Hebrew form of Tyre, and its Latin equivalent, and alludes to the mention of this name in historical writers, as if he were familiar with such subjects.
109 He cites a verse of Juveneus, in lib. i. ,
cap. 18, and quotes Josephus, under the title of " Tertius Judaic* Captivitatis Liber. " He also refers to the commentaries of St.
Jerome, lib. iii. , cap. 20, 29.
110
See Chronicon Hyense, in the Addi-
An improvement seems to have been
De Locis Sanctis,"
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 485
elegancies of construction and classical phrases. His writings that remain
to our time sufficiently testify to this proficiency. Our saint appears to have unitedbodilylabourwithhisstudies. Onaparticularoccasion,herepresents himself as forming one of a party engaged in procuring wood for certain monastic repairs. " They had drawn together a small fleet of those vessels
1"
in order to carry the woodtoIonafromthemainland. Thismaterialforbuildingwastakenfroma countrysituatedaboutthemouthofariver,calledSale,"2 Whilstthesailors were rowing on a tranquil sea, a western wind suddenly arose, which proved unfavourable for the point to which their course had been directed. "3 Where- fore they ran for a neighbouring island called Arthrago, in the Scottish language, and here they sought a port of refuge. But being baffled for the present in achieving the object of their voyage, the navigators became impatient and began to complain. In a certain measure they accused their patron, St. Columba, in these terms : u O Saint, doth this delay of ours please thee ? Through God's providence, we have hitherto expected from thee, that some consolatory assistance should be afforded to our labours,
because we have considered that thou wert held in an exalted degree of honourbytheAlmighty. " Havingspokenthesewords,wonderfultorelate! after a short interval, and in a single instant, the contrary west wind fell. Almost sooner than words could express it, a favourable Vulturnus"* arose. The sailors were ordered to square the sail-yards in the form of a cross, and having hauled the ropes, their sails were spread. On the same day those navigators reached Iona, with fresh and favouring breezes, and with scarcely any effort on their part, The wood was safely landed, with the men belong- ing to the different vessels. Adamnan takes occasion to say, that those slight complaints, urged against their holy patron, proved of no little benefit to their community. They proved, likewise, St. Columba's powerful inter- cession before the throne of God. This must have been very great, as ought appear from such a sudden change of the winds. "*
made, before this, on the rude system of building with wattles. St. Columba used to
"
which were called currachs, to the number of twelve,
study in a hut,
Life by Adamnan, lib. i. , cap. 25. St. Finan,
in 652, erected a church after the model of Inverness and Argyle, is excluded from Hy, " quam more Scottorum, non de lapide, identification with the name mentioned in sed de robore secto totam composuit, atque the text. A N. E. wind should be required, harundine texit ;" that is, the walls were to convey the party from it to Iona ; yet, made of wooden sheeting, which was pro-
tected from the weather outside by a coat of
rush-thatch. An improvement was again
made on this system when a succeeding
bishop,
"
ablata harandine, plumbi laminis
wind accomplished the object of their voyage, Dr. Reeves was inclined to infer, from the sequel of this narrative, that a N. E. wind was the one that favoured the navigators'
tabulis suffultum. " See his
earn hoc et tectum et — course. Sale have been totam, est, ipsos Consequently may
quoque parietes ejus co-operire curavit. "
identical with the river Shiel.
Venerable Bede, " Historia Ecclesiastica "3 The Rev. Mr. Reeves thinks, that this
Gentis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 25. island lay to the S. E. of Hy, but could not
111
Scottish rivers. He says, that the river Shiel, which connects the fresh-water Lake of Lough Shiel with the sea, and forms part of a boundary line between the counties of
it appears from the sequence, that a S. E.
The Rev. Dr. Reeves has collected a identify it, as he acknowledges, unless it
great number of instances in which he shows,
were Arran.
II4 This a North-east wind, or signifies
according to some, a south-east wind. It is derived a vulturis volatus, quoniam altc rtsonat, or a Vulturno fluvio. See Ellis' revised edition of Ainsworth's Latin Dictionary, ad vocem. London, 1830.
"5 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," lib. ii. , cap. 45, pp. 177, 178, with accompanying notes.
how this number the prevailed during
early
ages of Christianity, in many departments of "
religious economy. See Adamnan's Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes I. , pp.
299 to 303, with accompanying notes. He also shows how it was largely applied in secular use.
"a The Rev. Mr. Reeves has been unable to identify this Sale, with any of the modern
486 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 23.
According to the Annals of the Four Masters,"6 Finnachta Fleadhach, or
the Festive, in a. d. 674, began his reign as monarch over Ireland. This
prince is sometimes called Finnshneachta in the same Annals, as also in those
of Ulster. He succeeded Ceannfaeladh, son of Blathmac, who was slain in a
battlefoughtatAirceltair. Thechiefincidentofhisreignappearstohavebeen
his remission of the Borumha Laigean, which had long oppressed the people
11
composition,
12
? This action greatly displeased Adamnan, who had opposed it
of Leinster.
as a matter of policy ; although, no doubt, it was done in a considerate and equitablemanner. FinnachtabelongedtotheSouthernHy-Niallrace,and he was a valiant118 and We are in an old bardic
120
hospitable prince. "9 told,
that after the accidental introduction already mentioned,
Adamnan was invited to the court of this prince. Subsequently our saint
became the monarch's anmchara or spiritual director. This is supposed to
have been a chief reason, why the saint became so distinguished during
121
Finnachta's reign.
We are 122 that Adamnan founded informed,
monasteries in Ireland, 3 before he undertook the care of Iona, and that these were under his own rule ; the chief among them being Raphoe, the Pons Adamnani, Drumhome and Screen, If this be the case, he must have been sent in a missionary capacity from the parent house, to inaugurate other branches of the institute in Ireland ; but, it seems most probable, that whatever monasteries he may have founded, these had been chiefly erected at intervals during the various visits he made as head of the Columban order. To this list of places where he was venerated, Colgan adds the Churches of Dunbo,
Aregal,Boithfheabha,andGrelleach,in the diocese of Derry, as also memorials in other localities of Ireland. 12^ Drumhome was the seat of a powerful branch of the Cinel Conaill, which was in this parish ; and in it was also preserved the reliquary called the Cathach. 12* Adamnan was especially
1,6
pp. 282 to 285.
"7 It is said their exemption from this
tribute was due to the pleading of St. Moling Luachra, a holy and celebrated bishop. He is said to have taken advantage
120
contained in a vellum M. S. , which was
See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. ,
This composition is said to have been
of an ambiguous meaning attaching to the
term Iua«, which signifies either Monday, returned once more to his Kingdom, in
or the Day of Judgment ; thus converting the signification of a temporary respite into a perpetual surrender of the claim. The
whole of this legendary story is sufficiently told in the Life of St. Molingus, or St.
Moling Luachra of Teach-Moling, in the
Sixth Volume of this work, at the 17th of
June, the day for his feast. Art. i. , chap. iii.
688 or 689. See Dr. O'Conor's
118
Besides the victory obtained over
By Fleming in his "Collectanea Sacra," Dissertatio de Monastica S. Colum- bani Luxoviensis et Bobiensis Abbatis Professione. Art. iii. , sect, ii. , num. 87, p. 435.
Cennfaeladh in 673, he destroyed Ailech,
a stronghold of the Northern Hy-Niall, in A. D. 674 ; he defeated the Leinster-men at
Loughgower, near Dunshaughlin, in Meath, and he gained the battle of Tailltin over Becc Boirche, in A. D. 677. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 282 to 283, and notes, ibid.
"'The appellation Fledhach is said to
have been derived from " a
jrlexvo, banquet,"
"3 See also Father Ward's " Sancti Rumoldi Martyris Inclyti, &c, Acta, &c," Dissertatio iIistorica, de Patria S. Rumoldi,
and from the festivities which prevailed passages in the body of his edition of
during his reign. See Jeoffrey Keating's Adamnan's " Life of St. Columha. " See
M
History of Ireland," part ii. pp. 38, 284,
many
formerly in possession of William Monck Mason, Esq.
,21
The Annals of Tighernach and of Ulster state, that Finnachta became a clergy- man, in the year 687 or 688, but that he
"
Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , Annales Tigernachi, pp. 214, 215, and ibid. , tomus iv. Annales Ultonienses,
p. 64.
,2a
Art. iii. , p. 219.
Ia* See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
xxii. Februarii. De B. Malbrigido sive
Brigidano, Abbate Derensi et Primate
Ardmachano, p. 387, n. 7.
"5 At these and similar references, the
Rev. Dr. Reeves refers to and pages
September 23. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 487
venerated at Drumhome, a parish in the diocese of Raphoe, barony of Tirhugh, and County of Donegal. It is the Dorsum Tomme, and it was probably in the neighbourhood of St. Adamnan's birth-place. In the
136
barony of Coleraine, County of Londonderry, is the townland of Ballintemple, where was the site of the old church. Here foundations remain, measuring 52 by 18 feet. South of this is the only local commemoration remaining in the parish, namely, aneminencecalledSt. Onan'sRock. "7 IntheparishofClonleigh,diocese of Derry, County of Donegal, and barony of Raphoe, there is a townland called Ballindrait, supposed to have had some connexion with St. Adamnan. 128 It adjoins Raphoe on the east, and is the Pons Adamnani mentioned above
diocese of Deny, parish of Errigal,
by Fleming.
,29 At
present
no ancient church is in that The hamlet place.
of Greallach, now known as Templemoyle, in the parish of Cloncha,^
diocese of Derry, barony of Inishowen, County of Donegal, was dedicated
to St. Adamnan. ^1 It is a small burial ground, with the faintest traces of
a quadrilateral building. It is situated on a rocky slope, amid a wretched
group of cabins. The parish of Dunbo,132 in the same diocese, county, and
and barony, was dedicated to St. Adamnan. The ruins of the old church,
situate near Downhill, measure 63*2 by 27*6 feet. The parish of Bovevagh
in the same diocese and county, barony of Keenaght, had St. Eugenius as
x
the patron. 33 This name may be regarded as a Latin form of Eunan. '34
The old church measures fifty-one feet, by seventeen feet, six inches. The
townland of Kilonan, in the parish of Derrygalvin, County of Limerick, is supposed to have been so called from a church formerly dedicated to St. Eunan or Adamnan. *35 Another foundation attributed to St. Adamnan was
6
the monastery of Kill Rois,^ in the territory of Fera Rois, which extended
into the barony of Farney, in the County of Monaghan, and which took in a considerable part of the present County of Louth. *37
On the death of Failbhe, eighth abbot of Iona, a. d. 678, according to the 8x
Annals of Ulster,^ a. d. 679, according to the Annals of Tighernach, 39 or a. d. 677, according to those of the Four Masters,1 * Adamnan was elected
superior, both in North Britain and Ireland, when appointed as next Abbot,
136 Formerly called Airecal Adhamnain, age when these matters were better under- or "the habitation of Adamnan. " stood than now.
127 " I34 M
It is marked on the Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of London- derry," Sheet 18. At the time it was noted, there was not a man in the country that knew who St. Onan was.
128 The Irish name is "Ortoicec <Vd4tfm4in, or the "Bridge of Adamnan. " See Dr.
See Archbishop Colton's Metropoli- tan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry,
a. d. mcccxcvii. ," n. (o), p. 85.
,3S The name seems to be formed from
all <v6Airm4in, but without confirmation from any other ostensible local evidence.
I36 See " Some Account of the Territory or Dominion of Farney," by Evelyn Philip Shirley, chap, i. , at p. 2.
I37 The Obits of two Priors, at this place, are recorded in our Annals, at a. d. 825 , andatA. D. 845; andachurchtherecalled Magheross is noticed in Pope Nicholas' Taxation.
'38 See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiberni- carum Scriptores," tomus iv. , Annales Ultonienses, p. 61.
I3» See i&id. , tomus ii. , Tigernachi Annales, p. 210.
M° The Annals of Clonmacnoise place his death in the year 674. It occurred on the 22nd of March, at which date, some notices of him may be found, in the Third Vo'ume of this work, Art. i.
O'Donovan's
"
Annals of the Four Masters,"
at A. D. 1607, vol. vi. , p. 2353.
129 See "Collectanea Sacra," Dissertatio
de Monastica S. Columbani Luxoviensis et
Bobiensis Abbatis Professione. Art. iii. ,
sect, ii. , num. 87, p. 435.
130 In the Irish Calendar at July 16th it is
written CIuahi Caca.
131 See Archbishop Colton's "Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, a. d.
MCCCXCVII. ," n (z), p. 69.
I3* In this parish is the Munitio
Cethirini.
133 According to Archbishop King's List, local belief makes St. Ringan, that is,
Ninian, the patron ; but Colgan's authority, already cited, is superior, as he lived in an
488 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 23.
over the celebrated monastery belonging to the Columban institute, on the IslandofHy. Hissupremejurisdictionthusextendedoverallthemonastic institutions of St. Columkille. Almost contemporaneously, Aldfrid, the Northumbrian prince, known to the Irish by the name of Flann Fina,'41 and whose mothei 142 is said to have been of Irish birth or 1 had been
descent, -^,
obliged on the death of his reputed father, Oswy,144 to leave his native country, and to become an exile in Scotia or Ireland. :« There he was educated in piety and learning by some Irish monks. 1*6 Others will have it, that he sought a refuge in Hy 14? but probably he visited both places. 14* An
his death says : A. \tcp|tich tdac Oppu . 1. JTl-Atro pr>A Ia gAe-oelu hinAi-oh [he was called Fland Fina by the Irish] rex Saxon
;
Irish poem,'49 of twenty-four ranns, said to have been composed by him in
Whereupon it is related, Hiberniam, seuvi seu indignatione, secesserat. Ibi, et ab odio
U1 Thus at A. c. 704, Tighernach recording superseded on the ground of illegitimacy, ""
^
"
nicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , Tigernachi Quocirca, imperii habenis, habiliorem Annales, p. 222. So the Annals of Inis- aestimantes, qui quondam expulerant ultro fallen, in the parallel place a. d. 694, have expetiverunt. "—" Wilhelmi Malmesbirien- JTlAnn rine itiac goffA Rex Saxonorum sis," "Gesta Regum Anglorum," p. 52,
germani tutus, et magno otio Uteris imbutus, fnit. " See Dr. O'Conor's Rerum Hiber- omni philosophia composuerat animam.
edition of Thomas D. Hardy, 1840.
145 Irish writers observe; " Non sui tan- turn Uteris excolendi causa in Hiberniam mother. He is distinguished from J? lAnn venit, verum etiam ut Sanctis Hibernue pnn, an ecclesiastic, whom the Gloss and deprecantibus limace qui in aurem ejus the Felire of /Engus at January 14th, places irrepsit, et capitis humoribus attractis at Inbher Neola [An fheblA of the intumuit educto, molestia et morbo—ex ea Foyle ? ] on the confines of Tir Connell and recontracta immunis efficeretur. " Arch-
quievit. " See ibid. Annales Inisfalenses, y. 17.
143 The surname Fina was derived from his
Tir Eoghain ; or at Chuillinn beside Corcagh, as Mananus O'Gorman has it at the same
from
Cambrensis Eversus,"
M oreover, he is to be
day.
Flann Finn, as chief of the Cinel Eoghain, Christianity," vol. ii. , book iv. , chap, iv. ,
Aliter, Kina, daughter of Colman Rimidh, son of liaedan, son of Muircertach, son of Muiredhach, was mother of Flann Fina, King of the Saxons. Tract on the Mothers of the Iiish Saints in the Leabhar Lecain, fol. 43, a Manuscript classed H. 2. 16, in Trinity College, Dublin, p. 365 of the
278, Goodall finishes the climax ;
illas insulas minime Hibernia, Uteris nun- quam Celebris sed Hebrides, et ex iis Heii
—vel Iona insula pnecipue designari videtur. " "
Fordun's Scotichronicon," vol. i. , p.
159, n. 4.
148 Fordun writes: "Qui non pancis
distinguished
in 698, whom the Annals of Ulster call Flann Albus at a. d. 699. Pinkerton greatly errs in confounding this Aldfrid with Alchfrid, a legitimate son of Oswy, and who was invested with regal power by his father, but who died at an earlier date.
143 She is stated by . /Engus, a writer of the
eighth century, to have been from the
princely house of Niall : pnA injen
mic DAeTMin mic tTluijicefXAij mic Scotia, and, as appears by this passage of muijie'OAij;, mACAifi f? loimo ptiA 1115 Malmesbury and others, even t—he name
Chin-ofAetAT) mAtAift f/lom-o pnA mic
OffA. Aliter pnA injen ColmAin ftime Ireland in these times, when the name
SAXAn. "Fina, daughter ol Cennfaeladh, Hibernia was common to both. " was mother of Flann Fina, son of Ossa.
Catalogue. In the Claun Neill Genealogy
Fina is represented as the great grand- curam dedit. " Scotichronicon lib. iii. , p.
daughter of Muircertach, either through his son Baedan,—or through Ailill, father of
$*• ,4»
It begins :
Cennfaeladh.
Ibid. , fol.
63.
•"Oswy, King of Northumbria, died in
670, and was succeeded by his son Egfrid. Though an elder brother, Aldfrid was
Uo-oeA-o in Imp pnn Ail J?
In efimn ji e iaji n-imAjifJAij.
1m mAr bAn, ni bAech An bjieAch. ImAC lAec, imAc clefeAch
"
deacon Lynch's
edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, vol. ii. , p. 236.
146 See Dean Milman's " of Latin History
p. 267.
147 Such is the account of a Lindisfarne
:
Benedictine Monk. See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus hi. , Martii xx. Tertia Vita S. Cuthberti, lib.
