Dagseus, Bishop of Inis-Caoin, only alludes to him in a doubtful manner, at this date,
promising
his Life, at the i8th of August.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Farannan, Abbot of Kildare,^ who died on the 15th of January, a.
d.
691,^ may have exercised episcopal functions over this see.
7 If so, it is probable, the present holy man succeeded this latter.
According to Colgan, he died a.
d.
704 f but, the Annals of the Four Masters^ state, that this prelate died, a.
d.
707.
According to the Annals of Ulster, he departed this life in the year 708.
'°
. Article V. —Saints Eugene, Connall and Carbre, of Tegh Mac Nemain. These holy brothers are said to have been the sons of Nemhan. Their mother is called Fanchea, the daughter of Dallbronach. ^ Their church, at which St. Fechin^ wrought a miracle, is stated to have been known, as Tegh Mac Nemain, or " the Church of the Sons of Nemhan. " 3 Accord- ing to the Martyrologies of Tallagh and of Marianus O'Gorman, their feast occurs this day. 4 However, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh, we find no corresponding evidences. A festival in honour of the sons of Nemh- nall—possibly intended for Nemain—occurs in the Martyrology of Donegal,5 ashavingatthisdateaspecialvenerationpaidthem. TeghmacNemain has not yet been identified.
Article VI. —St. Fechin Mac Ua Chainche, of Lemmach, now probably Lawny or Larroy, County of Cavan. On this day, in the
of and of Martyrologies Tallagh^
=^ we find Fechin Mac mentioned,
Donegal,
Ua Chainche, of Lemmach. 3 His family pedigree does not seem to be
further traceable. This place is now Lawny or Lavroy, in the county of Cavan, according to a very probable conjecture.
and western
show, that organs were used in the most remote times. See " Rerum Hibericarum Scriptores," tom—us iv. , p. 199.
Article iv. 'See "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus iii. , Februarii xix. Among the pre-
termitted saints, p. 122.
^
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
of Hy-Foelan, and in the province of Lu- gemne. The latter name is thought to be
a misprint for Lagenia or Leinster, since the former district included the baronies—of
3 Edited
Drs. Todd and
Claneand —withthe
Salt, greater part
cliurclies,
there is evidence to
Article v. —^ to the tract According
by
Reeves, pp.
if not the entire of Ikeath and Oughteranny baronies, county of Kildare. In this dis- trict, Tegh mac Nemain must probably be
52, 53.
' See notices of him, at this date.
5 See a notice of him, at the 15th of Jan-
uary,
"
sought.
-* See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 296 to 299, with nire," xx, Januarii, n. 33, p. 142.
corresponding notes (t, a).
7 See Harris' vol. "Ware,
"
s Edited Drs. Todd and by
Reeves, pp.
Kildare," p. 382. ^"
See "Trias Thaumaturga.
Appendix 629.
ad Acta S.
Quinta Kelly, p. xvi.
^ Edited Drs. Todd and Brigidse, cap. ii. , p. by
Reeves, pp.
309. ^°
See ibid. ^ n. (1), p. 308.
O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 308,
52, 53.
3 William M. Hennessy has a note, in his
copyof the Martyrology, "teAtiioig, I^awny, or Lavoy, county of Cavan. "
i. ,
Bishops
of
52, 53.
Article vl—^ Edited by Rev. Dr.
" On the Mothers of the Irish Saints. "
^ See his Life, at the 20th of January.
3 This is said to have lain in the district
640 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February19.
Article VII. —Reputed Festival of a Translation of the Relics OF St. Gall, at St. Gall, Switzerland. Some authorities have stated,' that on the 19th of February, a Translation of the Relics of St. Gall took place, at the memorable abbey, called from him, in Switzerland. Florarius, a manuscript Martyrology, belonging to the Aquicinctinian monastery, Maurolycus, Felicius and Whitford, are agreed on this point. But, as the chief feast ot St. Gall occurs, on the i6th of October; for this latter day, we reserve his life, and those occurrences relating to his veneration after death.
[Eighth Century^ Although it does not seem to be very certain, that the present sainthadanyconnexionwithIreland; yet,theEnglishMartyrology,which places his festival at this date, makes him one of St. Willibrord's' compa- nions. The latter holy man received his education in Ireland. Colgan,^ Ferrarius and the Bollandists,3 as also Sir Harris Nicolas,'^ and Bishop
Forbess note his festival, for the 19th of February. This holy bishop died about the year 740. '^ But, as his festival seems more generally referable to the 20th of October, for that date, we reserve further remarks.
Article IX. —The Blessed Bodeca, or Dudoco, Bishop of Bath, England. [Eleventh Century. '] Among the saints of Scotland, the Blessed Bodeca, or Dudoco, Bishop of Bath,' in England, is venerated, on this day, according to Camerarius. =* As we learn from Dempster, he belonged to an illus- trious family of Caithness, and that he became very dear to King Edward the Confessor,inEngland. ^ Again,wearetold,otherwritersgivehimadifferent feast. * AccordingtoGodwin,Dudoca,oraccordingtosomeotherauthori- ties, Bodeca, was a native of Saxony, in Germany, or as other writers state of Lotharingia, and he is said to have been the fourteenth bishop in succession overtheseeofWells. IfhewereaScot,atall,theremaybeasgoodreason for assigning his birth to Ireland as to Scotland. He is said to have been consecrated in a. d. 1031,5 and to have sat for twenty-seven years, seven months and seven days. ^ Simon of Durham places the death of Duduc or
Dudocus,intheyear1060. 7 Allthishoweverisveryproblematical,asmay
Article vii. —^ See Colgan's "Acta in the Rev. John Collinson's " History and Sanctorum Hiberniae," xx. Februarii. De Antiquities of the County of Somerset,"
Article VIII. —St. Acca, Bishop of Hexham, England.
S. Gain Abbatis Monasterii Sangallensis
vol. i. , pp. I to 84.
=" See " De Statu Hominis, veteris simul ac
novae Ecclesiae et Infidelium Conversione,"
Also the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorimi," tomus iii. , Februarii xix. Among the pretermitted saints, p.
Translatione, p. 382.
124.
Article viii.
—'
3 See Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
See his Life, at the 7th
tomus lib. num. Scotorum," i. , ii. , 153, pp.
87, 88.
Francis Godwin, the Scoti-Chronicon,
and other texts, are quoted, by Camerarius.
^ See Rev. CoUinson's John
Antiquities vol. iii. , p. 378.
was buried on the south side of the high
altar. "—/did.
7 See Sir William Dugdale's
of November.
=" See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xix.
Februarii. De S. Acca, Episcopo et Con-
fessore, p. 374.
" Somerset,
3 " See
ruarii xix. p. 124.
and ofthe of
Historv '
*
to Simeon of Durham, in
Monasti- con Anglicanum," &c. , vol. ii. , p. 275. Edited by John Caley, Henry Ellis, and
According
Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Feb- Among the pretermitted saints,
County
* See "The Chronology of History," p. 132.
s See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 261.
John
presided near twenty-eight years, and he
** Historia —
Regum Anglorum. "
the Rev. D. D. In this Bulkeley Bandinel,
same volume are to be found magnificent
and most complete account of Bath is that contained
Article ix.
*
The fullest
lib. i. , pars ii. , cap. ii. , sect. 2, p, 159. **
^ The Rev.
: Collinson states " He
"
February 19. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 641 be seen by referring to the pages of the Bollandists. ^ Dempster assumes
him to have been the writer of a intituled " book,
Compilatio Temporum," while his other writings are said to have perished. 9 In the time of King
HenryI. ,theseesofBathandWells,^°inSomersetshire,wereunited; and, afterwards, the prelates there were called Bishops of Bath and Wells.
Article X. —Reputed Festival of a St. Gero or Geron, Cologne.
\TenthCentury^ AlthoughDempsterremarks,thatSt. Gero,ifnotaScotus,
at least presided over a Scottish monastery, which Wilhelm, brother to
Achaius, King of Scotia, founded for his nation ; while, as abbot over it, Gero
showed his prudence and sanctity during his rule. ^ He is said to have
flourished in the year 990, and to have had his festival at the 19th of March. ^
'•'
In his
have been lost, in his day. ^ Religious zeal and literary labour, after their own type and fashion, seem to have been of a genuine kind, among the monastic inmates.
Article XL—St. Daigh, or Dagaeus, Bishop. We read on this day, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ regarding Dego, son of Nemnaill, and in that of Donegal,^ regarding Daigh, son of Nennaill, bishop, having had veneration paid to him, in the Irish Church. Colgan,3 who seems to think the present holy man to be identical with St.
Dagseus, Bishop of Inis-Caoin, only alludes to him in a doubtful manner, at this date, promising his Life, at the i8th of August. The Bollandists^ only pass him by at the 19th of February, refer- ring his Acts to the former date, where, also, we intend treating more speci- fically, on the biographical incidents, which relate to him.
Menologium Scoticum," at the 19th of February, Dempster states, also, that in the Scottish monastery of St. Pantaleon, at Cologne, the Abbot Geron was commemorated,^ as may be found in the Passion of St. Maurice. ^ Yet, the Bollandists aver, 5 there is no authority for such a statement, and that Gelenius^ has no mention of a holy or blessed Gero,7 among the AlDbots of St. Pantaleon. It is said, the present saint repaired this monastery, adorned the church, and decorated the cloister, as the Annals of Cologne testify. His writings—assumed by Dempster to have existed—are stated to
illustrations of Bath Abbey and Wells Ca-
thedral, with historical notices, pp. 256 to
See the Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Februarii xix. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 122.
9 See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. ii. , num. 153, p. 88.
ruarii xix. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 123.
296.
^ **
13, sect. 2, he enumerates the holy men be-
longing to the monastery of St. Pantaleon,
and some of its abbots are designated Beati. ^ Yet, it is said, a St. Gero, a Saxon, de- scended from the Diikes of Lusatia, had been venerated in the Metropolitan Church
^° An account of Wells is to be
found,
in
of on the 28th of Cologne,
lib. sect. 8.
Rev. Collinson's " and Anti- John History
quities of the County of Somerset," vol. iii. ,
June, syntagma i. ,
i. ,
to — pp. 375 411.
Article X. authority.
num.
Edited by Rev. Dr.
^
This is probably a mistake for the 19th
V. in Actis
Archiepiscopatus
Colo- "* See"Acta tomus Feb- Sanctorum," iii. ,
CL,, niensis.
Scottish Saints," p. 192.
*'
"
^
Jacob Cheyn is cited as
of February.
3 Dempster states: "Meminit ejus His-
toria Inventionis S.
recitat Surius, tom. iii. , plenius Gualterius
^
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Maurini, cap. vii. ,
ut
52, 53.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum xix. Hibernice,"
Februarii. De S. Dagaeo Episcopo, p. 374.
ruarii xix. Among the pretermitted saints, * See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of p. 123.
Acta —Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Feb-
De B. Colga, 2 t
s See
Vol. II. No. ii.
Hibernise," xx.
Februarii.
^
In lib. i. , Colonise Agrippinre syntagma
syntagma ^"
See Scotorum,"
Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis 581, p.
312.
ARTICLE XI.
Kelly, p. xvi.
—
'
6, and lib. iii. ,
tomusi. , hb.
Article i. —^ See "Acta Sanctorum
vii. ,
642 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February20.
Cto^ntietl) Baj) cif jfetinmri)*
ARTICLE I. —ST. COLGA, ABBOT OF LUSK, COUNTY OF DUBLIN [SEVENTH CENTURY. -\
step, taken in religious progress, tends to purify and to ennoble
a and an impart generous
Colgan acknowledges his inability to discover any important biographical particulars, regarding this saint,withtheexceptionofafew,whichareenteredinhiscollection. ^ The BoUandists'' and Dr. Lanigans have only a passing allusion to him. It is supposed, that our saint was son to Moenaegh,^ and that he presided over the monastery of Lusk,s as abbot. This establishment is thought to date back so far as before the close of the fifth century, when St. MacCuilinn^ or
a monk's EVERY
Nor can it fail to honourable impulse, in the home of his choice.
Abbate Luscano, p. 382.
5 Now a parish, in the diocese of Dublin, barony of Balrothery East, and defined on
profession.
Lusk Church and Tower, County of DubHn.
Macculind, its founder, is said to have died. The place is certainly most
" •' See
ruarii xx.
p. 169.
3 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. iii,, chap, xviii. , sect, xv. , p. 140 and nn. 191, 192, p. 142.
*'
See Colgan's Luscano, p. 382,
Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Fob- Among the pretermitted saints, the
''
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," xx. Februarii. De B. Colga Abbate
September.
7 A very complete account of Lusk and
the County of Dublin. " Sheets 4, 5, 7, 8,
12. The town and its antiquities are noted
on Sheet 8.
^
See his Life, which occurs at the 6th of
its annals will be found in D'Alton's
"
His-
February 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 643
ancient, and it has many historic associations of very great importance. ^ In
the old graveyard may still be seen a very perfect specimen of an Irish round tower, attached to a mediaeval church,^ which has lately undergone
with other prelates of Ireland, to the Acts of a synod, held by Adamnan,'^ about the year 695 or 696. A copy of these decrees, called the Cain
restoration,
very
excellent of Gothic architecture. '° No a style doubt,
9 in a
more ancient church occupied this site. This holy man flourished about the year 690, or even later ; for, he is named, as one of those who subscribed
or the " canons of
He has also placed on record some of the subscribers' names,^3 to these statutes. '* Wherefore our saint was not identical with one bearing a similar name, and exercising a like office, in the same place, and whose death occurred a. d. 782, according to the Annals of the Four Masters. 's The Colga, who died in 782, or more correctly, 787, is expressly named in our Annals,assontoCrunnmail. '^ ThepresentSt. Colgadidnotlongsurvive theyear,inwhichthecelebratedsynodofAdamnanhadbeenheld; for,we read, about the death of his successor, an abbot of Lusk, who departed this life, in the year 731. ^7 The present holy man died, probably, near the be- ginning of the eighth century ; nor do we know what reason, his namesake, Father John Colgan, had, for giving him a festival at this date, beyond the circumstance of another celebrated Colga or Colgu having been venerated on the 20th day of February.
Article II. —St. Olcan or Bolcan, Bishop of Armoy, County of Antrim. \Fifth Century. '] Not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified,^ as we are informed by the great Apostle of the Gentiles. At this date, Colgan has extracted the actions of this holy bishop, from various writers, and especially from these, treating about the great St. Patrick. ^ In like manner, the Bollandists, and Rev. S. Baring Gould, have Acts of St. Olcan, or Bolcan, Bishop, at the 20th of Feb- ruary. 3 It is said, that the parents of this saint lived in Anglia,+ and that
Adhamnain,
Adamnan/'
had been in ^^ Colgan's possession.
tory of the Couutyof Dublin," pp. 41410425.
^ A
spirited
picturesque composite tower, by Samuel Lover, R. H. A. , will be found in the "Irish
Penny Magazine," vol. i. , No. 19, p. 145. A topograpliical, descriptive and historical article, by John D'Alton, follows this illustration.
9 The accompanying engraving, by Mrs. Millard, is from a sketch taken on the spot, by William F. Wakeman, and transferred to the wood.
the year 695, he is undecided between it
and 696, or 697. See Rev. Mr. 694,
Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Cohimba,"
n. (h), p. 179.
^s See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
pp. 388, 389. At the year 782 {rede 787), according to the editor, we have a record
sketch of this church and its
"
^° This was effected, for purposes of Pro- nise," xx, Februarii. Vita S. Colgae. Ap-
testant worship, during the incumbency of that highly distinguished Irish antiquary. Rev. William Reeves, D. D. , when he was rector of this parish.
" See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernite," xx. Februarii. De B. Colga, Abbate Luscano, p. 382.
of Lusk ; Mosacer, abbot
Lubnei, Abbot of Saigir ; Mochonna, BishopofDerry; Ecbertus,Anglus.
^^ These Acts were not dated, and al- though Colgan generally assigns them to
pendix, p. 382. — Article II.
i. , 22. -"
^
See Rom. ii. , 13 James
;
" See his Life, at the 23rd of September.
See Acta Sanctoi-um Hibernias," xx.
Episcopi et Confessoris,, pp. 375 to 378.
^ See"ActaSanctorum,"tomusiii. , Feb- ruarii xx. De S. Olcano, vel Bolcano, Epis- '3 Thus we find noticed : Aldus, Bishop copo in Hibernia, pp.
. Article V. —Saints Eugene, Connall and Carbre, of Tegh Mac Nemain. These holy brothers are said to have been the sons of Nemhan. Their mother is called Fanchea, the daughter of Dallbronach. ^ Their church, at which St. Fechin^ wrought a miracle, is stated to have been known, as Tegh Mac Nemain, or " the Church of the Sons of Nemhan. " 3 Accord- ing to the Martyrologies of Tallagh and of Marianus O'Gorman, their feast occurs this day. 4 However, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh, we find no corresponding evidences. A festival in honour of the sons of Nemh- nall—possibly intended for Nemain—occurs in the Martyrology of Donegal,5 ashavingatthisdateaspecialvenerationpaidthem. TeghmacNemain has not yet been identified.
Article VI. —St. Fechin Mac Ua Chainche, of Lemmach, now probably Lawny or Larroy, County of Cavan. On this day, in the
of and of Martyrologies Tallagh^
=^ we find Fechin Mac mentioned,
Donegal,
Ua Chainche, of Lemmach. 3 His family pedigree does not seem to be
further traceable. This place is now Lawny or Lavroy, in the county of Cavan, according to a very probable conjecture.
and western
show, that organs were used in the most remote times. See " Rerum Hibericarum Scriptores," tom—us iv. , p. 199.
Article iv. 'See "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus iii. , Februarii xix. Among the pre-
termitted saints, p. 122.
^
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xvi.
of Hy-Foelan, and in the province of Lu- gemne. The latter name is thought to be
a misprint for Lagenia or Leinster, since the former district included the baronies—of
3 Edited
Drs. Todd and
Claneand —withthe
Salt, greater part
cliurclies,
there is evidence to
Article v. —^ to the tract According
by
Reeves, pp.
if not the entire of Ikeath and Oughteranny baronies, county of Kildare. In this dis- trict, Tegh mac Nemain must probably be
52, 53.
' See notices of him, at this date.
5 See a notice of him, at the 15th of Jan-
uary,
"
sought.
-* See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 296 to 299, with nire," xx, Januarii, n. 33, p. 142.
corresponding notes (t, a).
7 See Harris' vol. "Ware,
"
s Edited Drs. Todd and by
Reeves, pp.
Kildare," p. 382. ^"
See "Trias Thaumaturga.
Appendix 629.
ad Acta S.
Quinta Kelly, p. xvi.
^ Edited Drs. Todd and Brigidse, cap. ii. , p. by
Reeves, pp.
309. ^°
See ibid. ^ n. (1), p. 308.
O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 308,
52, 53.
3 William M. Hennessy has a note, in his
copyof the Martyrology, "teAtiioig, I^awny, or Lavoy, county of Cavan. "
i. ,
Bishops
of
52, 53.
Article vl—^ Edited by Rev. Dr.
" On the Mothers of the Irish Saints. "
^ See his Life, at the 20th of January.
3 This is said to have lain in the district
640 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February19.
Article VII. —Reputed Festival of a Translation of the Relics OF St. Gall, at St. Gall, Switzerland. Some authorities have stated,' that on the 19th of February, a Translation of the Relics of St. Gall took place, at the memorable abbey, called from him, in Switzerland. Florarius, a manuscript Martyrology, belonging to the Aquicinctinian monastery, Maurolycus, Felicius and Whitford, are agreed on this point. But, as the chief feast ot St. Gall occurs, on the i6th of October; for this latter day, we reserve his life, and those occurrences relating to his veneration after death.
[Eighth Century^ Although it does not seem to be very certain, that the present sainthadanyconnexionwithIreland; yet,theEnglishMartyrology,which places his festival at this date, makes him one of St. Willibrord's' compa- nions. The latter holy man received his education in Ireland. Colgan,^ Ferrarius and the Bollandists,3 as also Sir Harris Nicolas,'^ and Bishop
Forbess note his festival, for the 19th of February. This holy bishop died about the year 740. '^ But, as his festival seems more generally referable to the 20th of October, for that date, we reserve further remarks.
Article IX. —The Blessed Bodeca, or Dudoco, Bishop of Bath, England. [Eleventh Century. '] Among the saints of Scotland, the Blessed Bodeca, or Dudoco, Bishop of Bath,' in England, is venerated, on this day, according to Camerarius. =* As we learn from Dempster, he belonged to an illus- trious family of Caithness, and that he became very dear to King Edward the Confessor,inEngland. ^ Again,wearetold,otherwritersgivehimadifferent feast. * AccordingtoGodwin,Dudoca,oraccordingtosomeotherauthori- ties, Bodeca, was a native of Saxony, in Germany, or as other writers state of Lotharingia, and he is said to have been the fourteenth bishop in succession overtheseeofWells. IfhewereaScot,atall,theremaybeasgoodreason for assigning his birth to Ireland as to Scotland. He is said to have been consecrated in a. d. 1031,5 and to have sat for twenty-seven years, seven months and seven days. ^ Simon of Durham places the death of Duduc or
Dudocus,intheyear1060. 7 Allthishoweverisveryproblematical,asmay
Article vii. —^ See Colgan's "Acta in the Rev. John Collinson's " History and Sanctorum Hiberniae," xx. Februarii. De Antiquities of the County of Somerset,"
Article VIII. —St. Acca, Bishop of Hexham, England.
S. Gain Abbatis Monasterii Sangallensis
vol. i. , pp. I to 84.
=" See " De Statu Hominis, veteris simul ac
novae Ecclesiae et Infidelium Conversione,"
Also the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorimi," tomus iii. , Februarii xix. Among the pretermitted saints, p.
Translatione, p. 382.
124.
Article viii.
—'
3 See Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
See his Life, at the 7th
tomus lib. num. Scotorum," i. , ii. , 153, pp.
87, 88.
Francis Godwin, the Scoti-Chronicon,
and other texts, are quoted, by Camerarius.
^ See Rev. CoUinson's John
Antiquities vol. iii. , p. 378.
was buried on the south side of the high
altar. "—/did.
7 See Sir William Dugdale's
of November.
=" See " Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xix.
Februarii. De S. Acca, Episcopo et Con-
fessore, p. 374.
" Somerset,
3 " See
ruarii xix. p. 124.
and ofthe of
Historv '
*
to Simeon of Durham, in
Monasti- con Anglicanum," &c. , vol. ii. , p. 275. Edited by John Caley, Henry Ellis, and
According
Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Feb- Among the pretermitted saints,
County
* See "The Chronology of History," p. 132.
s See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 261.
John
presided near twenty-eight years, and he
** Historia —
Regum Anglorum. "
the Rev. D. D. In this Bulkeley Bandinel,
same volume are to be found magnificent
and most complete account of Bath is that contained
Article ix.
*
The fullest
lib. i. , pars ii. , cap. ii. , sect. 2, p, 159. **
^ The Rev.
: Collinson states " He
"
February 19. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 641 be seen by referring to the pages of the Bollandists. ^ Dempster assumes
him to have been the writer of a intituled " book,
Compilatio Temporum," while his other writings are said to have perished. 9 In the time of King
HenryI. ,theseesofBathandWells,^°inSomersetshire,wereunited; and, afterwards, the prelates there were called Bishops of Bath and Wells.
Article X. —Reputed Festival of a St. Gero or Geron, Cologne.
\TenthCentury^ AlthoughDempsterremarks,thatSt. Gero,ifnotaScotus,
at least presided over a Scottish monastery, which Wilhelm, brother to
Achaius, King of Scotia, founded for his nation ; while, as abbot over it, Gero
showed his prudence and sanctity during his rule. ^ He is said to have
flourished in the year 990, and to have had his festival at the 19th of March. ^
'•'
In his
have been lost, in his day. ^ Religious zeal and literary labour, after their own type and fashion, seem to have been of a genuine kind, among the monastic inmates.
Article XL—St. Daigh, or Dagaeus, Bishop. We read on this day, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ regarding Dego, son of Nemnaill, and in that of Donegal,^ regarding Daigh, son of Nennaill, bishop, having had veneration paid to him, in the Irish Church. Colgan,3 who seems to think the present holy man to be identical with St.
Dagseus, Bishop of Inis-Caoin, only alludes to him in a doubtful manner, at this date, promising his Life, at the i8th of August. The Bollandists^ only pass him by at the 19th of February, refer- ring his Acts to the former date, where, also, we intend treating more speci- fically, on the biographical incidents, which relate to him.
Menologium Scoticum," at the 19th of February, Dempster states, also, that in the Scottish monastery of St. Pantaleon, at Cologne, the Abbot Geron was commemorated,^ as may be found in the Passion of St. Maurice. ^ Yet, the Bollandists aver, 5 there is no authority for such a statement, and that Gelenius^ has no mention of a holy or blessed Gero,7 among the AlDbots of St. Pantaleon. It is said, the present saint repaired this monastery, adorned the church, and decorated the cloister, as the Annals of Cologne testify. His writings—assumed by Dempster to have existed—are stated to
illustrations of Bath Abbey and Wells Ca-
thedral, with historical notices, pp. 256 to
See the Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Februarii xix. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 122.
9 See "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. ii. , num. 153, p. 88.
ruarii xix. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 123.
296.
^ **
13, sect. 2, he enumerates the holy men be-
longing to the monastery of St. Pantaleon,
and some of its abbots are designated Beati. ^ Yet, it is said, a St. Gero, a Saxon, de- scended from the Diikes of Lusatia, had been venerated in the Metropolitan Church
^° An account of Wells is to be
found,
in
of on the 28th of Cologne,
lib. sect. 8.
Rev. Collinson's " and Anti- John History
quities of the County of Somerset," vol. iii. ,
June, syntagma i. ,
i. ,
to — pp. 375 411.
Article X. authority.
num.
Edited by Rev. Dr.
^
This is probably a mistake for the 19th
V. in Actis
Archiepiscopatus
Colo- "* See"Acta tomus Feb- Sanctorum," iii. ,
CL,, niensis.
Scottish Saints," p. 192.
*'
"
^
Jacob Cheyn is cited as
of February.
3 Dempster states: "Meminit ejus His-
toria Inventionis S.
recitat Surius, tom. iii. , plenius Gualterius
^
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Maurini, cap. vii. ,
ut
52, 53.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum xix. Hibernice,"
Februarii. De S. Dagaeo Episcopo, p. 374.
ruarii xix. Among the pretermitted saints, * See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of p. 123.
Acta —Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Feb-
De B. Colga, 2 t
s See
Vol. II. No. ii.
Hibernise," xx.
Februarii.
^
In lib. i. , Colonise Agrippinre syntagma
syntagma ^"
See Scotorum,"
Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis 581, p.
312.
ARTICLE XI.
Kelly, p. xvi.
—
'
6, and lib. iii. ,
tomusi. , hb.
Article i. —^ See "Acta Sanctorum
vii. ,
642 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February20.
Cto^ntietl) Baj) cif jfetinmri)*
ARTICLE I. —ST. COLGA, ABBOT OF LUSK, COUNTY OF DUBLIN [SEVENTH CENTURY. -\
step, taken in religious progress, tends to purify and to ennoble
a and an impart generous
Colgan acknowledges his inability to discover any important biographical particulars, regarding this saint,withtheexceptionofafew,whichareenteredinhiscollection. ^ The BoUandists'' and Dr. Lanigans have only a passing allusion to him. It is supposed, that our saint was son to Moenaegh,^ and that he presided over the monastery of Lusk,s as abbot. This establishment is thought to date back so far as before the close of the fifth century, when St. MacCuilinn^ or
a monk's EVERY
Nor can it fail to honourable impulse, in the home of his choice.
Abbate Luscano, p. 382.
5 Now a parish, in the diocese of Dublin, barony of Balrothery East, and defined on
profession.
Lusk Church and Tower, County of DubHn.
Macculind, its founder, is said to have died. The place is certainly most
" •' See
ruarii xx.
p. 169.
3 See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
vol. iii,, chap, xviii. , sect, xv. , p. 140 and nn. 191, 192, p. 142.
*'
See Colgan's Luscano, p. 382,
Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Fob- Among the pretermitted saints, the
''
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," xx. Februarii. De B. Colga Abbate
September.
7 A very complete account of Lusk and
the County of Dublin. " Sheets 4, 5, 7, 8,
12. The town and its antiquities are noted
on Sheet 8.
^
See his Life, which occurs at the 6th of
its annals will be found in D'Alton's
"
His-
February 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 643
ancient, and it has many historic associations of very great importance. ^ In
the old graveyard may still be seen a very perfect specimen of an Irish round tower, attached to a mediaeval church,^ which has lately undergone
with other prelates of Ireland, to the Acts of a synod, held by Adamnan,'^ about the year 695 or 696. A copy of these decrees, called the Cain
restoration,
very
excellent of Gothic architecture. '° No a style doubt,
9 in a
more ancient church occupied this site. This holy man flourished about the year 690, or even later ; for, he is named, as one of those who subscribed
or the " canons of
He has also placed on record some of the subscribers' names,^3 to these statutes. '* Wherefore our saint was not identical with one bearing a similar name, and exercising a like office, in the same place, and whose death occurred a. d. 782, according to the Annals of the Four Masters. 's The Colga, who died in 782, or more correctly, 787, is expressly named in our Annals,assontoCrunnmail. '^ ThepresentSt. Colgadidnotlongsurvive theyear,inwhichthecelebratedsynodofAdamnanhadbeenheld; for,we read, about the death of his successor, an abbot of Lusk, who departed this life, in the year 731. ^7 The present holy man died, probably, near the be- ginning of the eighth century ; nor do we know what reason, his namesake, Father John Colgan, had, for giving him a festival at this date, beyond the circumstance of another celebrated Colga or Colgu having been venerated on the 20th day of February.
Article II. —St. Olcan or Bolcan, Bishop of Armoy, County of Antrim. \Fifth Century. '] Not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified,^ as we are informed by the great Apostle of the Gentiles. At this date, Colgan has extracted the actions of this holy bishop, from various writers, and especially from these, treating about the great St. Patrick. ^ In like manner, the Bollandists, and Rev. S. Baring Gould, have Acts of St. Olcan, or Bolcan, Bishop, at the 20th of Feb- ruary. 3 It is said, that the parents of this saint lived in Anglia,+ and that
Adhamnain,
Adamnan/'
had been in ^^ Colgan's possession.
tory of the Couutyof Dublin," pp. 41410425.
^ A
spirited
picturesque composite tower, by Samuel Lover, R. H. A. , will be found in the "Irish
Penny Magazine," vol. i. , No. 19, p. 145. A topograpliical, descriptive and historical article, by John D'Alton, follows this illustration.
9 The accompanying engraving, by Mrs. Millard, is from a sketch taken on the spot, by William F. Wakeman, and transferred to the wood.
the year 695, he is undecided between it
and 696, or 697. See Rev. Mr. 694,
Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Cohimba,"
n. (h), p. 179.
^s See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
pp. 388, 389. At the year 782 {rede 787), according to the editor, we have a record
sketch of this church and its
"
^° This was effected, for purposes of Pro- nise," xx, Februarii. Vita S. Colgae. Ap-
testant worship, during the incumbency of that highly distinguished Irish antiquary. Rev. William Reeves, D. D. , when he was rector of this parish.
" See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernite," xx. Februarii. De B. Colga, Abbate Luscano, p. 382.
of Lusk ; Mosacer, abbot
Lubnei, Abbot of Saigir ; Mochonna, BishopofDerry; Ecbertus,Anglus.
^^ These Acts were not dated, and al- though Colgan generally assigns them to
pendix, p. 382. — Article II.
i. , 22. -"
^
See Rom. ii. , 13 James
;
" See his Life, at the 23rd of September.
See Acta Sanctoi-um Hibernias," xx.
Episcopi et Confessoris,, pp. 375 to 378.
^ See"ActaSanctorum,"tomusiii. , Feb- ruarii xx. De S. Olcano, vel Bolcano, Epis- '3 Thus we find noticed : Aldus, Bishop copo in Hibernia, pp.
