* According to an old tradition, the
townofRossaiLithryhadbeenwalledaboutbyaladyofthatcountry; but,
in the seventeenth century, scarcely could the former foundations be seen.
townofRossaiLithryhadbeenwalledaboutbyaladyofthatcountry; but,
in the seventeenth century, scarcely could the former foundations be seen.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
,
21
By Dr. Meredith Hanmer, it is called
of Cork," vol. i. , book
27 " See Colgan's
from an old author "magnum studium scho-
larium," which he tra—nslates into English
" a great Vniversitie. " " Chronicle of Ire-
" See Sir James Ware's " De Hibernia
et Antiquitatibus ejus," cap. xv. , p. 67.
*3 The Acts of St. Brendan are given in the Fifth Volume of this work, at the 16th
of May, Art. i.
Vol. VIII. —No. 4.
tern oculorum inveniie tuorum, nisi oculos et faciem tuam laueris lacte vberum vxoris Beoani artificis, quae etiam nunquam pepe- lit ; —
vtero conceptual. " Ibid. , p. 589.
2* No further account of him seems to be
extant.
3° See her Acts, in the First Volume of
n
land," p. 118.
2<5
See his Acts in the Third Volume of
2* Ifwearetoattach credit any
this work, at the 13th of March, Art i.
cap. iv. , pp. 589, 590.
2i The Angel said : "Non poteris sanita-
sed dono Dei modo sanctum habet in
i 94 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 14.
even learn in what part of Ireland this artist lived. Ignorant of such parti- culars, Fachannan took a resolution of visiting St. Ita,3° who was endowed
with the spirit of prophecy, that she might enlighten him on the subject. After a journey of five days, he came to Corco-baiscind. 31 Here some of his
disciples heard certain persons, within a mill, calling Beoanus, the artisan, by name. On enquiring if Beoanus, the artisan, and his place of residence could be found, one of those men present, directed their attention to a woman, thengoingtowardsatown. TheysaidshewaswifetoBeoanus,theartist. Then, one of St. Fachannan's disciples followed her, and courteously requested her to stop for a while, until their venerable superior should come to salute her. Immediately she stood, and declared it would afford her the greatest possible happiness, to receive that salute from God's holy servant. When St. Fachannan came up, and asked if she was wife to Beoanus, the artificer ; that previously unknown woman gently and modestly replied in the affirmative. The legend states, that when Fachannan had followed the angel's
directions, his sight was miraculously restored. On beholding objects around him, the saint gave thanks to God, and he blessed the woman Nessa, as like- wisethechildtheninherwomb. Withtheblessingofthiswomanandof
St. Ita, as we are told, St. Fachannan and his disciples returned to their 2
monastery rejoicing. 3
CHAPTER II.
fERIOD OP ST. FACHTNA LIVING AT ROSS—HIS DEATH—FESTIVAL—COMMEMORATIONS— SUCCESSORS IN THE SEE OF ROSS—RELIGIOUS FOUNDATIONS THERE—CONCLUSION.
An is 1 that our saint established himself at 2 before the opinion held, Ross,
year 570 ;3 although some modern writers conjecture his monastery had not beenfoundedthere,untilmanyyearssubsequenttothatperiod/ Itseems rather strange, Sir James Ware should in one place remark,' that Fachnan
6
although, in another work of the same writer,? he is said to have flourished,
8
in the beginning of that same century. It has been stated, likewise, that
St. Fachnan flourished in 590. 9 It is probable, indeed, that he was still alive inthatyear; buthehadlivedlongbeforeit.
founded the monastery of Ross, about the end of the sixth century ;
this work, at the 15th of January, Art. i.
3 To this year, the death of St. Ita has
3 ' A commensurate territory,
Baronies of
and Ibrickan, in the south-west of the present County of Clare. The district was so named from Cairbre Baschaoin, brother of Cairbre Muse, and he was the progenitor of the Corca-Baiscinn race. See " The Topogra- phical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," edited by Dr. John O'Donovan, p. lxxi. , n. 616.
been
present
32 See
Antiquities
Article 1.
—Chapter
Colgan's
Index
9 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan remarks: "From
Clonderalaw, Moyarta,
4 In Harris' vol. Ware,
"
" Acta Sanctorum Iliber-
By Colgan, in his Trias Thaumaturga,"
nise," xiii. Martii. Vita S. Mochoemoci,
Chronologicus.
these few words of Colgan, Archdall (at
cap. iv. , pp. 589, 590. 1
with
the
assigned,
—
Dr. Lanigan. See " Ecclesiastical History that Fachnan founded the abbey of Ross,
•
of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, iv. , n.
43> P- 194-
2
Called by old writers Ross-alithre.
ii.
By
Rev.
a sort of Molana)deduced,by strange
logic,
ii. ,
of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 266.
5 When treating about religious founda- tions, in the County of Cork.
6 See " De Hibernia et Antiquitatibus
ejus," cap. xxvi. , p. 200.
7 When giving the account of the Bishops
of Ross, at cap. xxix. 8"
about 590. "—
Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, iv. , n, 44, p. 195.
"Ecclesiastical of History
August 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 195
We cannot find any account of his decease in our Irish Annals. We are
told by Sir James Ware. 10 that he flourished in 599, but this is probably only
a conjecture. It is even doubtful if he were living, at this latter date. How-
ever, the 14th of August was the day for the festival of St. Fachtnan, Bishop
of Ross, as entered in our ancient Cale—ndars. Thus—especially if we assume
thathewasFachtnaMacMongaich hewascommemoratedintheFeilire
11 12
of St. ^Engus, in the Martyrology of Tallaght, in the Calendar of Cashel,
in the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman, andofCathal Maguire. ^ In the
1
Calendar of Drummond, at this date, * the Festival of St. Fachtne, Confessor
—without further designation—is commemorated.
In
the Feast of St. Fachnan—or as Latinized—Fachananus, as Bishop and
Confessor, is kept on the 14th of August; it being a Double of the First Class, with an Octave. The Lessons of his Office are taken from the Common 3 yet, De Burgo has no notice whatever of St. Fachananus, nor of his office. 15
After the death of St. Fachannan, his school at Ross maintained a high
7
'
-06.
»4 Thus at xix. Kal.
hus :
"
16 and numbers of students were accustomed to resort thither, great
celebrity,
in order to be qualified for the public functions of life. It is stated, that
1
Finchad, ? one of St. Barr's disciples, succeeded St. Fachtnan in the See of
Ross. Afterwards, there appears to have been no further record of its Bishops to the time of one Dongal Mac-Folact, said to have been the twenty-
l8
seventh Bishop of the See from the Patron Saint ;
while all of those
ances.
to the same or 1 ? we are informed, that in the family sept. Again,
belonged
twelfth century, one Benedict was Bishop over this See in n72, and that he
sat for eighteen years afterwards, while Maurice, who succeeded, died in
2°
1 196. Afterwards, a record of the Bishops of Ross has been well preserved ; and we learn, that after the Anglo-Norman Invasion, the Bishop there had a demesne, which was exempt in the Charter of King John, in which he con- firmed to Adam Roch the cantred of 21 with all its
appurten- Ross is considered to have been one of the principal Irish schools, by Sir
James Ware 22 and, because it was an ancient seat of
; learning,
it held an
10 See "De
lib. i. , cap. xiiii. , p. 96.
Irish distich from the Book of which he thus translates into Latin
"Dongalus a Fachtna, ter nonusEpisco- Pus> extat
Lugadia de gente, dedit cui Rossia mitram. "
Scriptoribus Hiberniae,"
See "Transactions of the Royal Irish
Lecain,
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , parti. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. cxxxi. 12 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
13 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
J« „n
itin English
niae'," Martii xiii.
Vita S. Mochoemoci, d,
i_ lL
,
paraphrased
Hi- berniam Sancti Confessoris Fachtne. "—See
"
Saints," KalendariumDrummondiense, p. 21.
"Hail,happyRoss! whocouldproduce thrice nine,
All mitred sages of Line, Lugadia's
From Fachnan, crowned with ever-
lasting praise,
Down to the date of Dongal's pious
Bishop Forbes'
Kalendars of Scottish
's In " Officia
Propria
Sanctorum
Hiber-
nUE 1s0' o
See Ussher s
P- 907.
»He " is styled,
18 See Roderick O'Flaherty's "
Ad Ann. Edw. I. 50
"
Sept. Apud
:
mn•
Pnmordia," cap. xvii. ,
S. Finchadius de Domh-
"
Days. "
—See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Ross," p. 584.
20 See ibid. , pp. 584 to 588.
nach-mor. " See Colgan's
Hiberniae," Martii xxvi. De S. Garvano Abbate, p. 750. Yet, there is no clue to his identity, under the designation of
more, in any of our Irish Calendars.
Ogygia," '? As proof of this O'Flaherty quotes an
Remgm.
« See " De Scriptoribus Hibernian"
pars. 111. , cap. lxvn. , p. 330.
Acta Sanctorum
"Bishops of
Donough-
2I In other records it is called "
dir. Comput. Joh. Samford in Offic.
Rosseliher,
The Rev. Mr. Duncan has t~
lib. i. , cap. xiv. , p. 96.
the
Diocese of
Ross,
— :
Rossyli-
196 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 14.
2
honourable place in the esteem of all.
* According to an old tradition, the
townofRossaiLithryhadbeenwalledaboutbyaladyofthatcountry; but,
in the seventeenth century, scarcely could the former foundations be seen. 2*
In there was also a Benedictine 2* which owed obedience to it, Monastery,
the Benedictine Abbey of St. James, without the walls of Wurtzburgh, in the
provinceofMentz,inGermany. 26 TheruinsofRoscarberyAbbeyaresituated on a rocky height near the cathedral, and these consist of two sides of a
chapel, exhibiting marks of a rude and comparatively high antiquity. Near the east end of the north wall, there is a small and narrow window ; and on the south side, there is a round-headed doorway, built with well-squared sand- stone, but destitute of artistic decoration. The stones in the walls are unhewn, yet they are properly embedded in a cement of lime, gravel and small stones. The inside of the walls appears to have been covered with a
2
thick coat of lime and gravel, worked into a plaster. ? — It is said, the epis-
copal t—own of Ross received the affix, alithre, or alithri which is now spelled,
a resort for and also oilithre on account of its having been great pilgrims,
to distinguish it from many other places, called Ross, in different parts of Ireland. 28 The old cathedral here has undergone alterations, at different times ; the nave is the oldest part ; but, it now possesses hardly any archi- tectural interest. A tower rises from the west end, and this is surmounted by a spire of hewn stone, about fifty feet in height ; these additions, however, are quite modern, as compared with the body of the cathedral. To this church was formerly attached besides the Bishop, a Chapter of Canons, consisting of a Dean, Chantor, Chancellor, Archdeacon and Treasurer, with five Preben- daries. 2? There is an Inquisition extant,3° and setting forth, the ancient
1
franchises of the See, viz. , wrecks of the sea, &C. 3
From our Annals, we learn, that Ross-Carbry suffered much from hostile
raids, in past ages ; and especially, in the feuds between the Mac-Carthys and O'Driscolls, it was nearly destroyed. Our saint was one of those memorable scholars of the sixth century, who imparted to Ireland its best and greatest pride in antiquity, by rendering it the seat of learning and sanctity in ages, during which the neighbouring nations were plunged in mental darkness, and
had no other boast than that of triumphant bloodshed. 32
Article II. —St. Fachananus, Bishop of Kilfenora Diocese. [Probably in the Sixth or Seventh Century. '] Still less do we know regard- ing the present than we can learn in reference to the preceding holy Bishop. However, as popular tradition has held this saint in veneration, and has
33 See ** De Hibernia et
Antiquitatibus
n. 194. 43, p.
29 These were Timoleague, De Insula, Carrogranemore, Templebryan, and Don- naghmore. The Diocese, moreover, was divided into three Rural Deaneries, viz. , Artagh, Tirerril and Carbury. See Harris'
ejus," &&, cap. xxvi. , p. 200.
3* See Dr. Meredith Hanmer's " Chroni-
cle of Ireland," p. 118.
a 5 Sir James Ware mistakes, when he sets
this down as a foundation for Augustinian Canons. See "De Hibernia, et Anticjuitatibus ejus," &c, cap. xxvi. , p. 200.
* See Father Ward's or Father O'Sheeran's
" Sancti Rumoldi Martyiis Inclyti, Archie-
piscopi Dublinensis, Mechliniensium Apos-
toli," &c. Dissertatio Historica, Art. XIV. ,
sect. 10, pp. 292, 293.
2
? See the "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. iii. , p. 157.
38 See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, iv. ,
"
3° Among the Records of the Court of
King's Bench, in Dublin, Anno 29, Edw. I. , Memb. 20.
3I Charles Smith produces from the King's Books a statement of the Diocese of Ross,in the "Ancient and Present State of theCounty and City of Cork," vol. i. , book i. , chap, ii. , pp. 72 to 74.
3' See "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire- land," vol. iii. , p. 158.
Ware, vol. i. ,
Bishops of Ross," p. 583.
August 14:] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 197
placed him for Patron over the Diocese of Kilfenora ; nothing appears to
disturb such claims on our respect, at the present time, as for many long
ages past those distinctions have been sufficiently established. Like many
other saintly persons, unrecorded in our Calendars, his name has solely
remained, and it has been associated with that See as its special guardian.
The time when he lived is likewise unknown, and even the early history of
his diocese is buried in obscurity. As the Patron Saints of Ross and Kil-
fenora Dioceses have been named Fachtnan and Fachananus, and as their
festival occurs on the 14th of August, it is very generally supposed, and
accepted as proved, that the same individual must have been the founder of
both Sees. That St. Fechannan or Fechnan of Ross should not be confounded
with a St. Fechannan or Fachnan, to whom Kilfenora church has been
1
dedicated, is an opinion also entertained; and, it is thought probable
enough, they may have been different persons. The Rev. Dr. Lanigan can
hardly believe, that Kilfenora had not a Fachnan or Fachtna of its own.
2
Among the real or pretended disciples of St. Barr, we find, besides Fachnan
of Ross, a St. Fachna seu Facundus de Ria. 3 These are related to have been distinct persons j* and, it cannot be doubted, that the latter existed in olden
times, probably in the seventh century. s Yet, nothing more particular appears to be known about St. Fachna de Ria. The origin of Kilfenora See is also buried in obscurity ; and, our Annals are silent regarding its early prelates. In the Book of Valuations of the Apostolic —Chamber, compiled by Centius Camerarius—afterwards Pope Honorius III. it is styled Celluma- brach, recte Cill-Fionnabhrach. 6 In the distribution of the ancient Irish Bishoprics,madebyCardinalPaparoin 1152,thiswasassignedasasuffragan See to the Archbishopric of Cashel ; but, since the Restoration of King Charles II. , it has been annexed to the ecclesiastical Province of Tuam. ? This diocese comprehends only the Baronies of Corcomroe and Burren, which are in the north -western division in the County of Clare. The former city or town of Kilfenora has now dwindled into an insignificant village. It is situated in the present barony of Corcomroe, and as the cathedral had been dedicated to St. Fachnan, so he is generally deemed to have been its first
*
Article ii. — Thus the Rev. Dr. Ria; S. Facundus de Ros-alither. De S.
"
also a house in Darinis. Why not mention, likewise, Kilfenora, had he been there ?
especially as it became an episcopal See. It may be said, that Fachnan wa^revered there not as founder of the See, but as the saint in whose name the church was dedicated, long perhaps —before there was any bishop of Kil- fenora. " "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, iv. , n. 51, pp. 196, 197.
8
His feast occurs at the 25th of Septem- ber, where his Acts may be found, in the Ninth Volume of this work, Art. i.
That Fachnan of Ross did not found that See, or even a monastery there, is evident from its not being men- tioned in the Calendars, when treating of him, notwithstanding the care taken not to
Garvano Abbate, p. 750.
* The latter is alluded to in Ussher's
Lanigan argues :
Why may we not suppose, that he was the omit that, besides Ross, he had governed founder of Kilfenora ? Its very name seems
from a photograph, presents an interior 3 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- view of Kilfenora church, and it has been
nioe," at the 26th of March, where among
the disciples of St. Barr or Finnbar, we find
drawn on the wood by William F. Wake-
man. The engraving is by Mrs. Millard. ,
9 See James Frazer's "Handbook for
enumerated,
"
S. Fachna seu Facundus de
"
'*
Primordia," cap. xvi. , p. 791.
5 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan asks and adds :
to lead to this conclusion, Fachnan is often called Fechnan. Kilfenora is a compound name, thus probably formed ; Kil-fen (a contraction—of Fechnan)—o de, or from Ra, or Ria. "
and n. 51, pp. 196, 197. — 6
" Ecclesiastical of History
Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, iv. , p. 194,
Ibid.
This is the name it bears, in our Irish
Annals,
7 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
"
Bishops of
Kilfenoragh," p. 622.
8 The accompanying illustration, taken
198
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 14.
founder. rensis.
The church was called Fenabore, and this is Latinized Finabo- The Bishop of this See was also called the Bishop of Corcomroe. The place is undoubt- edly one of high anti-
Interior of Kilfenora Cathedral.
ture stood on the site of one having a much earlier date ; and that it served for the purposes of the former Diocesan Cathedral seems to be established, since it still remains within the ancient cemetery, now enclosed with a good stone wall. As the definite information about Fachananus is wanting, so the exactyearofthissaint'sdeathisnotknown. Itwouldappear,however,that he lived, at least until the close of the sixth century. This is proved from the following circumstances, if these particulars have a special reference to him. Our saint, it is assumed, must have been alive, in the year 587, as the Irish
10
Annalsstate,thatColman, sonofFearadhach,chiefofOssory,diedinthe
year 60 1. " Now, Fachannan is said to have lived fourteen years prior to
the death of this prince. We are told, in the Lifeaof St. Pulcherius,TM that 11
on a certain occasion, Colman, * prince of Ossory, * chased a fugitive and
Travellers in Ireland," Route No. 74, p. 385.
10
According tothe copyof ColganVTrias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbsc. n. 46, p. 375, with Roderick O'Flaherty's MS. note appended. This copy at present belongs
Volume of this work, at the 13th of March, the date for his feast, Art. i.
13 He was father to the celebrated Scanlan, prince of Ossory, who reigned over that principality, for more than thirty years. See Adamnan's "Vita S. Columbse," lib. i. , cap. xi. —
14 The Mac Gillaphadreig anglice Fitz- patrick—family claims descent from Cinn-
to the Dublin Society's Library. 11 "
See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 230, 231.
" See an "account of him in the Third
quity, and at present
interesting ruins of a former cathedral church
8
According to some accounts,9these ruins are portions of an ancient Abbey that stood here, before both the town and abbey had been burned by Murrough O'Brien, in 1055. A considerable part of the walls still exists while a circu-
;
larly-headed and triplet
window, and within
those fine ecclesiastical
ruins, its mullions are
well preserved. This
strikingarchitectural fea- ture is deeply recessed
in a framing of moulded chamfers. Several old tombs and many with
inscriptions are to be met with, in the interior of the church. There can hardly be a doubt, thatthis mediae valstruc-
are there.
August 14] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 199
an enemy, named Finanus, to St. Pulcherius' monastery, where refuge was
sought. There Colman violated the right of sanctuary, by searching every building in connection with it, so that he might slay that adversary. Where-
"
petitions to God ; two of these have been denied, but the third request has
been granted. The first petition was for a speedy'. death ; yet, the Almighty has been pleased to grant you, through St. Fachannan,*s a life of fourteen years not expired. The second petition was, that you should not obtain heaven l6
; yet, on account of St. Kainichus, ? eternal life will be granted you.
21
By Dr. Meredith Hanmer, it is called
of Cork," vol. i. , book
27 " See Colgan's
from an old author "magnum studium scho-
larium," which he tra—nslates into English
" a great Vniversitie. " " Chronicle of Ire-
" See Sir James Ware's " De Hibernia
et Antiquitatibus ejus," cap. xv. , p. 67.
*3 The Acts of St. Brendan are given in the Fifth Volume of this work, at the 16th
of May, Art. i.
Vol. VIII. —No. 4.
tern oculorum inveniie tuorum, nisi oculos et faciem tuam laueris lacte vberum vxoris Beoani artificis, quae etiam nunquam pepe- lit ; —
vtero conceptual. " Ibid. , p. 589.
2* No further account of him seems to be
extant.
3° See her Acts, in the First Volume of
n
land," p. 118.
2<5
See his Acts in the Third Volume of
2* Ifwearetoattach credit any
this work, at the 13th of March, Art i.
cap. iv. , pp. 589, 590.
2i The Angel said : "Non poteris sanita-
sed dono Dei modo sanctum habet in
i 94 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 14.
even learn in what part of Ireland this artist lived. Ignorant of such parti- culars, Fachannan took a resolution of visiting St. Ita,3° who was endowed
with the spirit of prophecy, that she might enlighten him on the subject. After a journey of five days, he came to Corco-baiscind. 31 Here some of his
disciples heard certain persons, within a mill, calling Beoanus, the artisan, by name. On enquiring if Beoanus, the artisan, and his place of residence could be found, one of those men present, directed their attention to a woman, thengoingtowardsatown. TheysaidshewaswifetoBeoanus,theartist. Then, one of St. Fachannan's disciples followed her, and courteously requested her to stop for a while, until their venerable superior should come to salute her. Immediately she stood, and declared it would afford her the greatest possible happiness, to receive that salute from God's holy servant. When St. Fachannan came up, and asked if she was wife to Beoanus, the artificer ; that previously unknown woman gently and modestly replied in the affirmative. The legend states, that when Fachannan had followed the angel's
directions, his sight was miraculously restored. On beholding objects around him, the saint gave thanks to God, and he blessed the woman Nessa, as like- wisethechildtheninherwomb. Withtheblessingofthiswomanandof
St. Ita, as we are told, St. Fachannan and his disciples returned to their 2
monastery rejoicing. 3
CHAPTER II.
fERIOD OP ST. FACHTNA LIVING AT ROSS—HIS DEATH—FESTIVAL—COMMEMORATIONS— SUCCESSORS IN THE SEE OF ROSS—RELIGIOUS FOUNDATIONS THERE—CONCLUSION.
An is 1 that our saint established himself at 2 before the opinion held, Ross,
year 570 ;3 although some modern writers conjecture his monastery had not beenfoundedthere,untilmanyyearssubsequenttothatperiod/ Itseems rather strange, Sir James Ware should in one place remark,' that Fachnan
6
although, in another work of the same writer,? he is said to have flourished,
8
in the beginning of that same century. It has been stated, likewise, that
St. Fachnan flourished in 590. 9 It is probable, indeed, that he was still alive inthatyear; buthehadlivedlongbeforeit.
founded the monastery of Ross, about the end of the sixth century ;
this work, at the 15th of January, Art. i.
3 To this year, the death of St. Ita has
3 ' A commensurate territory,
Baronies of
and Ibrickan, in the south-west of the present County of Clare. The district was so named from Cairbre Baschaoin, brother of Cairbre Muse, and he was the progenitor of the Corca-Baiscinn race. See " The Topogra- phical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'Huidhrin," edited by Dr. John O'Donovan, p. lxxi. , n. 616.
been
present
32 See
Antiquities
Article 1.
—Chapter
Colgan's
Index
9 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan remarks: "From
Clonderalaw, Moyarta,
4 In Harris' vol. Ware,
"
" Acta Sanctorum Iliber-
By Colgan, in his Trias Thaumaturga,"
nise," xiii. Martii. Vita S. Mochoemoci,
Chronologicus.
these few words of Colgan, Archdall (at
cap. iv. , pp. 589, 590. 1
with
the
assigned,
—
Dr. Lanigan. See " Ecclesiastical History that Fachnan founded the abbey of Ross,
•
of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, iv. , n.
43> P- 194-
2
Called by old writers Ross-alithre.
ii.
By
Rev.
a sort of Molana)deduced,by strange
logic,
ii. ,
of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 266.
5 When treating about religious founda- tions, in the County of Cork.
6 See " De Hibernia et Antiquitatibus
ejus," cap. xxvi. , p. 200.
7 When giving the account of the Bishops
of Ross, at cap. xxix. 8"
about 590. "—
Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, iv. , n, 44, p. 195.
"Ecclesiastical of History
August 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 195
We cannot find any account of his decease in our Irish Annals. We are
told by Sir James Ware. 10 that he flourished in 599, but this is probably only
a conjecture. It is even doubtful if he were living, at this latter date. How-
ever, the 14th of August was the day for the festival of St. Fachtnan, Bishop
of Ross, as entered in our ancient Cale—ndars. Thus—especially if we assume
thathewasFachtnaMacMongaich hewascommemoratedintheFeilire
11 12
of St. ^Engus, in the Martyrology of Tallaght, in the Calendar of Cashel,
in the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman, andofCathal Maguire. ^ In the
1
Calendar of Drummond, at this date, * the Festival of St. Fachtne, Confessor
—without further designation—is commemorated.
In
the Feast of St. Fachnan—or as Latinized—Fachananus, as Bishop and
Confessor, is kept on the 14th of August; it being a Double of the First Class, with an Octave. The Lessons of his Office are taken from the Common 3 yet, De Burgo has no notice whatever of St. Fachananus, nor of his office. 15
After the death of St. Fachannan, his school at Ross maintained a high
7
'
-06.
»4 Thus at xix. Kal.
hus :
"
16 and numbers of students were accustomed to resort thither, great
celebrity,
in order to be qualified for the public functions of life. It is stated, that
1
Finchad, ? one of St. Barr's disciples, succeeded St. Fachtnan in the See of
Ross. Afterwards, there appears to have been no further record of its Bishops to the time of one Dongal Mac-Folact, said to have been the twenty-
l8
seventh Bishop of the See from the Patron Saint ;
while all of those
ances.
to the same or 1 ? we are informed, that in the family sept. Again,
belonged
twelfth century, one Benedict was Bishop over this See in n72, and that he
sat for eighteen years afterwards, while Maurice, who succeeded, died in
2°
1 196. Afterwards, a record of the Bishops of Ross has been well preserved ; and we learn, that after the Anglo-Norman Invasion, the Bishop there had a demesne, which was exempt in the Charter of King John, in which he con- firmed to Adam Roch the cantred of 21 with all its
appurten- Ross is considered to have been one of the principal Irish schools, by Sir
James Ware 22 and, because it was an ancient seat of
; learning,
it held an
10 See "De
lib. i. , cap. xiiii. , p. 96.
Irish distich from the Book of which he thus translates into Latin
"Dongalus a Fachtna, ter nonusEpisco- Pus> extat
Lugadia de gente, dedit cui Rossia mitram. "
Scriptoribus Hiberniae,"
See "Transactions of the Royal Irish
Lecain,
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , parti. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. cxxxi. 12 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
13 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
J« „n
itin English
niae'," Martii xiii.
Vita S. Mochoemoci, d,
i_ lL
,
paraphrased
Hi- berniam Sancti Confessoris Fachtne. "—See
"
Saints," KalendariumDrummondiense, p. 21.
"Hail,happyRoss! whocouldproduce thrice nine,
All mitred sages of Line, Lugadia's
From Fachnan, crowned with ever-
lasting praise,
Down to the date of Dongal's pious
Bishop Forbes'
Kalendars of Scottish
's In " Officia
Propria
Sanctorum
Hiber-
nUE 1s0' o
See Ussher s
P- 907.
»He " is styled,
18 See Roderick O'Flaherty's "
Ad Ann. Edw. I. 50
"
Sept. Apud
:
mn•
Pnmordia," cap. xvii. ,
S. Finchadius de Domh-
"
Days. "
—See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Ross," p. 584.
20 See ibid. , pp. 584 to 588.
nach-mor. " See Colgan's
Hiberniae," Martii xxvi. De S. Garvano Abbate, p. 750. Yet, there is no clue to his identity, under the designation of
more, in any of our Irish Calendars.
Ogygia," '? As proof of this O'Flaherty quotes an
Remgm.
« See " De Scriptoribus Hibernian"
pars. 111. , cap. lxvn. , p. 330.
Acta Sanctorum
"Bishops of
Donough-
2I In other records it is called "
dir. Comput. Joh. Samford in Offic.
Rosseliher,
The Rev. Mr. Duncan has t~
lib. i. , cap. xiv. , p. 96.
the
Diocese of
Ross,
— :
Rossyli-
196 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 14.
2
honourable place in the esteem of all.
* According to an old tradition, the
townofRossaiLithryhadbeenwalledaboutbyaladyofthatcountry; but,
in the seventeenth century, scarcely could the former foundations be seen. 2*
In there was also a Benedictine 2* which owed obedience to it, Monastery,
the Benedictine Abbey of St. James, without the walls of Wurtzburgh, in the
provinceofMentz,inGermany. 26 TheruinsofRoscarberyAbbeyaresituated on a rocky height near the cathedral, and these consist of two sides of a
chapel, exhibiting marks of a rude and comparatively high antiquity. Near the east end of the north wall, there is a small and narrow window ; and on the south side, there is a round-headed doorway, built with well-squared sand- stone, but destitute of artistic decoration. The stones in the walls are unhewn, yet they are properly embedded in a cement of lime, gravel and small stones. The inside of the walls appears to have been covered with a
2
thick coat of lime and gravel, worked into a plaster. ? — It is said, the epis-
copal t—own of Ross received the affix, alithre, or alithri which is now spelled,
a resort for and also oilithre on account of its having been great pilgrims,
to distinguish it from many other places, called Ross, in different parts of Ireland. 28 The old cathedral here has undergone alterations, at different times ; the nave is the oldest part ; but, it now possesses hardly any archi- tectural interest. A tower rises from the west end, and this is surmounted by a spire of hewn stone, about fifty feet in height ; these additions, however, are quite modern, as compared with the body of the cathedral. To this church was formerly attached besides the Bishop, a Chapter of Canons, consisting of a Dean, Chantor, Chancellor, Archdeacon and Treasurer, with five Preben- daries. 2? There is an Inquisition extant,3° and setting forth, the ancient
1
franchises of the See, viz. , wrecks of the sea, &C. 3
From our Annals, we learn, that Ross-Carbry suffered much from hostile
raids, in past ages ; and especially, in the feuds between the Mac-Carthys and O'Driscolls, it was nearly destroyed. Our saint was one of those memorable scholars of the sixth century, who imparted to Ireland its best and greatest pride in antiquity, by rendering it the seat of learning and sanctity in ages, during which the neighbouring nations were plunged in mental darkness, and
had no other boast than that of triumphant bloodshed. 32
Article II. —St. Fachananus, Bishop of Kilfenora Diocese. [Probably in the Sixth or Seventh Century. '] Still less do we know regard- ing the present than we can learn in reference to the preceding holy Bishop. However, as popular tradition has held this saint in veneration, and has
33 See ** De Hibernia et
Antiquitatibus
n. 194. 43, p.
29 These were Timoleague, De Insula, Carrogranemore, Templebryan, and Don- naghmore. The Diocese, moreover, was divided into three Rural Deaneries, viz. , Artagh, Tirerril and Carbury. See Harris'
ejus," &&, cap. xxvi. , p. 200.
3* See Dr. Meredith Hanmer's " Chroni-
cle of Ireland," p. 118.
a 5 Sir James Ware mistakes, when he sets
this down as a foundation for Augustinian Canons. See "De Hibernia, et Anticjuitatibus ejus," &c, cap. xxvi. , p. 200.
* See Father Ward's or Father O'Sheeran's
" Sancti Rumoldi Martyiis Inclyti, Archie-
piscopi Dublinensis, Mechliniensium Apos-
toli," &c. Dissertatio Historica, Art. XIV. ,
sect. 10, pp. 292, 293.
2
? See the "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland," vol. iii. , p. 157.
38 See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, iv. ,
"
3° Among the Records of the Court of
King's Bench, in Dublin, Anno 29, Edw. I. , Memb. 20.
3I Charles Smith produces from the King's Books a statement of the Diocese of Ross,in the "Ancient and Present State of theCounty and City of Cork," vol. i. , book i. , chap, ii. , pp. 72 to 74.
3' See "Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ire- land," vol. iii. , p. 158.
Ware, vol. i. ,
Bishops of Ross," p. 583.
August 14:] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 197
placed him for Patron over the Diocese of Kilfenora ; nothing appears to
disturb such claims on our respect, at the present time, as for many long
ages past those distinctions have been sufficiently established. Like many
other saintly persons, unrecorded in our Calendars, his name has solely
remained, and it has been associated with that See as its special guardian.
The time when he lived is likewise unknown, and even the early history of
his diocese is buried in obscurity. As the Patron Saints of Ross and Kil-
fenora Dioceses have been named Fachtnan and Fachananus, and as their
festival occurs on the 14th of August, it is very generally supposed, and
accepted as proved, that the same individual must have been the founder of
both Sees. That St. Fechannan or Fechnan of Ross should not be confounded
with a St. Fechannan or Fachnan, to whom Kilfenora church has been
1
dedicated, is an opinion also entertained; and, it is thought probable
enough, they may have been different persons. The Rev. Dr. Lanigan can
hardly believe, that Kilfenora had not a Fachnan or Fachtna of its own.
2
Among the real or pretended disciples of St. Barr, we find, besides Fachnan
of Ross, a St. Fachna seu Facundus de Ria. 3 These are related to have been distinct persons j* and, it cannot be doubted, that the latter existed in olden
times, probably in the seventh century. s Yet, nothing more particular appears to be known about St. Fachna de Ria. The origin of Kilfenora See is also buried in obscurity ; and, our Annals are silent regarding its early prelates. In the Book of Valuations of the Apostolic —Chamber, compiled by Centius Camerarius—afterwards Pope Honorius III. it is styled Celluma- brach, recte Cill-Fionnabhrach. 6 In the distribution of the ancient Irish Bishoprics,madebyCardinalPaparoin 1152,thiswasassignedasasuffragan See to the Archbishopric of Cashel ; but, since the Restoration of King Charles II. , it has been annexed to the ecclesiastical Province of Tuam. ? This diocese comprehends only the Baronies of Corcomroe and Burren, which are in the north -western division in the County of Clare. The former city or town of Kilfenora has now dwindled into an insignificant village. It is situated in the present barony of Corcomroe, and as the cathedral had been dedicated to St. Fachnan, so he is generally deemed to have been its first
*
Article ii. — Thus the Rev. Dr. Ria; S. Facundus de Ros-alither. De S.
"
also a house in Darinis. Why not mention, likewise, Kilfenora, had he been there ?
especially as it became an episcopal See. It may be said, that Fachnan wa^revered there not as founder of the See, but as the saint in whose name the church was dedicated, long perhaps —before there was any bishop of Kil- fenora. " "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, iv. , n. 51, pp. 196, 197.
8
His feast occurs at the 25th of Septem- ber, where his Acts may be found, in the Ninth Volume of this work, Art. i.
That Fachnan of Ross did not found that See, or even a monastery there, is evident from its not being men- tioned in the Calendars, when treating of him, notwithstanding the care taken not to
Garvano Abbate, p. 750.
* The latter is alluded to in Ussher's
Lanigan argues :
Why may we not suppose, that he was the omit that, besides Ross, he had governed founder of Kilfenora ? Its very name seems
from a photograph, presents an interior 3 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- view of Kilfenora church, and it has been
nioe," at the 26th of March, where among
the disciples of St. Barr or Finnbar, we find
drawn on the wood by William F. Wake-
man. The engraving is by Mrs. Millard. ,
9 See James Frazer's "Handbook for
enumerated,
"
S. Fachna seu Facundus de
"
'*
Primordia," cap. xvi. , p. 791.
5 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan asks and adds :
to lead to this conclusion, Fachnan is often called Fechnan. Kilfenora is a compound name, thus probably formed ; Kil-fen (a contraction—of Fechnan)—o de, or from Ra, or Ria. "
and n. 51, pp. 196, 197. — 6
" Ecclesiastical of History
Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, iv. , p. 194,
Ibid.
This is the name it bears, in our Irish
Annals,
7 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
"
Bishops of
Kilfenoragh," p. 622.
8 The accompanying illustration, taken
198
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 14.
founder. rensis.
The church was called Fenabore, and this is Latinized Finabo- The Bishop of this See was also called the Bishop of Corcomroe. The place is undoubt- edly one of high anti-
Interior of Kilfenora Cathedral.
ture stood on the site of one having a much earlier date ; and that it served for the purposes of the former Diocesan Cathedral seems to be established, since it still remains within the ancient cemetery, now enclosed with a good stone wall. As the definite information about Fachananus is wanting, so the exactyearofthissaint'sdeathisnotknown. Itwouldappear,however,that he lived, at least until the close of the sixth century. This is proved from the following circumstances, if these particulars have a special reference to him. Our saint, it is assumed, must have been alive, in the year 587, as the Irish
10
Annalsstate,thatColman, sonofFearadhach,chiefofOssory,diedinthe
year 60 1. " Now, Fachannan is said to have lived fourteen years prior to
the death of this prince. We are told, in the Lifeaof St. Pulcherius,TM that 11
on a certain occasion, Colman, * prince of Ossory, * chased a fugitive and
Travellers in Ireland," Route No. 74, p. 385.
10
According tothe copyof ColganVTrias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Columbsc. n. 46, p. 375, with Roderick O'Flaherty's MS. note appended. This copy at present belongs
Volume of this work, at the 13th of March, the date for his feast, Art. i.
13 He was father to the celebrated Scanlan, prince of Ossory, who reigned over that principality, for more than thirty years. See Adamnan's "Vita S. Columbse," lib. i. , cap. xi. —
14 The Mac Gillaphadreig anglice Fitz- patrick—family claims descent from Cinn-
to the Dublin Society's Library. 11 "
See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 230, 231.
" See an "account of him in the Third
quity, and at present
interesting ruins of a former cathedral church
8
According to some accounts,9these ruins are portions of an ancient Abbey that stood here, before both the town and abbey had been burned by Murrough O'Brien, in 1055. A considerable part of the walls still exists while a circu-
;
larly-headed and triplet
window, and within
those fine ecclesiastical
ruins, its mullions are
well preserved. This
strikingarchitectural fea- ture is deeply recessed
in a framing of moulded chamfers. Several old tombs and many with
inscriptions are to be met with, in the interior of the church. There can hardly be a doubt, thatthis mediae valstruc-
are there.
August 14] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 199
an enemy, named Finanus, to St. Pulcherius' monastery, where refuge was
sought. There Colman violated the right of sanctuary, by searching every building in connection with it, so that he might slay that adversary. Where-
"
petitions to God ; two of these have been denied, but the third request has
been granted. The first petition was for a speedy'. death ; yet, the Almighty has been pleased to grant you, through St. Fachannan,*s a life of fourteen years not expired. The second petition was, that you should not obtain heaven l6
; yet, on account of St. Kainichus, ? eternal life will be granted you.
