To her nunnery, Brendan was brought by Bishop Ere, where the holy virgin assumed the duty of rearing and of
educating
her young foster-son.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
As appear from these.
Fenit Island and Castle, County of Kerry.
brown stones were used with lime-stone, in the construction. '^' At present, it is not an easy matter to discover, if lime had been used or not, in the building ; for, in a bit of the north wall, w^hich remained several years ago near the east end, no lime was observable, in the mortar. The thickness of the wall was three feet six inches ; the length of the church was thirty-seven feet, six inches; its breadth was fifteen feet. From this description, it is obvious, that the ruins are those of a very ancient church. It was built many centuries ago, and possibly, in or not very long after St. Brendan's time. '" Detachedfromtheseruins—butquitenear—thefoundationsofanotherancient building may be traced ; this was probably a religious establishment, con- nected with the church. All around these ruins, to the distance of five or six perches, there are unmistakable traces of an ancient burial-ground, which has not been used for interments, within the memory of the oldest inhabitants.
Island and its Castle has been drawn on
the wood, by William F. Wakeman, from
a photograph of Mr. Daly, Tralce, procured
through the kindness of Rev. Denis
O'Donoghue, P. P. The engraving is by O'Donoghue, who observes, the ruins,
which he visited, in the beginning of the pre- '" See the communication of Mr. Thomas sent year 1855, are nearly as they had been O'Conor, in " Letters containing Information described, by Mr. Thomas O'Conor, over
Mrs. Millard.
;
yet, they formed a separate
relative to the Antiquities of the County of Kerry, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 15^41. "
"' Such is the opinion of Rev. Denis
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
399
The account from St. Brendan's Irisli Life clearly implies, that the house of his nativity was in Fenit, or in its immediate vicinity. Another indication of the precise locality for the saint's birth-place may be gathered from that Irish Life, when it mentions the visit of St. Bee Mac De, "the chief prophet of Ireland," to the house of Airde Mac Fitlaigh, the Brugaid, or large farmer, on the advent of Brendan's birth ; where, at the request of his wealthy host, St. Bee Mac De prophesied the birth of St. Brendan, on that very night, between him and the sea. Between the Cahir or Fort of Airde "3 and the sea lies Fenit Island to the west, and about three English miles distant. This suits admirably well the further statement,"'* that the house of Finlogh, the father of St. Brendan, was at a distance from that of Airde; while, there is no locality between Cahir-Airde and the sea, in any other direction, which fits in with that description so completely. An extraordinary illumination was over the house, and Angels hovered there, on i^he night when St. Brendan
was born; and, we are told, that the whole of Altraighe-Caille appeared to be in a blaze of light. This was seen by a holy Bishop, named St. Earc, or Ere, "5 from his residence, which must have commanded a view of that dis- trict, where Brendan was born. This statement should point, likewise, to Fenit, as the place thus seen by St. Ere. Of this saint's connexion with Kerry, there is scarcely any historical trace, except what is given in the Lives of his foster-child, St. Brendan ; but, fortunately, there remains an indelible trace of his connexion with this district, in the name of a very ancient church or sanctuary dedicated to his memory, and probably founded and occupied by himself. This is called Tarmuin-Eirc,'^^ or the sanctuary of Ere, the grass- grown ruins of which are to be seen at Lerrig,"? about three miles to the north of Ardfert. From the swelling slope—on which those venerable ruins lie—Fenit is distant about seven miles to the south-west. It can easily be seen from that spot, as there is no high ground intervening. We may, therefore, well credit that sitatement of the writer, who tells us, that the holy Bishop St. Ere, from his ancient Termon or Sanctuary at Lerrig, looking across
the plains about Ardfert, saw that wondrous light, which "filled all Fenit" on the night of this heavenly-gifted birth.
The celebrated Navigator, St. Brendan, is said to have been the son of Finlogue, or Finnlog. '^^ The wife of Finlog lived a holy life with her husband. Both parents appear to have selected Bishop Ere, as
forty years previous.
'^3 This local denomination is not found on
the Ordnance Survey Maps.
'=* In the Irish Life.
'^5 In the Irish Calendars, there are festi-
County of Kerry," sheets 20, 21. The town- land is divided into north and south.
'^^ In the lower margin of that copy of the Feilire of St. ^ngus, contained in the " Leabhar Breac ;" there is a pedigree thus drawn out by the Commentator : Brenann, son of Findlug, son of Olchu, son of Ogaman,
vals to different saints, bearing this name,
viz. : St. Earc, Priest, at July 13th; St.
Earc, bishop of Domhnach-mor of Magh- son of Findchure, son of Delbna, son of Danihairne, at September 17th; St. Earc, John, son of Usalec, son of Estamon, son of bishop, at October 2nd ; St. Earc, bishop of Mugh Toeth, who is called Ciar, son of Fer- Domhnach-mor, at October 27th ; and St. gus, son of Rossa. Or Brenaind, son of
Earc, bishop of Slane, at November 2nd. It is remarkable, also, that a female saint is
Findlug, son of Olchu, son of Findchath, son of Gossa (? ), son of Gaible, son of Ecne, son of Altae. See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. Ixxxvii.
'-' Thus we read : " cujus pater Findluag nomine erat fidelis, qui cum uxore sua in legitimo matrimonio sub confessione Erci Episcopi vivebat. " Prima Vita S. Brendani,
named Earc, daughter of Sinell of Miliuc her feast is at the 24th of October.
;
'^* This denomination is not to be found, on the '' Ordnance Survey Townland Maps," relating to the district.
'^7 This is a town and townland, in the
parish of Kilmoyly, and barony of Clan-
maurice. They are noted, on the " Ord- cap. i. , p. i. Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's nance Survey Townland Maps for the " Acta Sancti Brendani. "
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
their confessor or siiiriiual director. '^9 According to St. Brendan's Irish Life,'3° he had a brother, wlio was a bishop, named Domanigen, and whose feast has been assigned to the 29th of April;'3i while, he had a sister, called Briga, or Brigh,'32 said to have been of Enach-duin. '^s Thus, St. Brendan was descended from the race of Ciar, son to Ferghus, son of Ros, son to Rudhraighe. Several years after the death of St. Patrick, his nativity took place, and probably towards the close of the fifth century. '34
Aswehavestated,Brendansprungfromregalancestors. Beforethebirth, his mother had a vision, in which a miraculous brilliancy surrounded her, and raysofgreatsplendour—seemingasfinestgold—issuedfromherbreasts. This circumstance she related to Bishop Ere, wlio thus interpreted it, by exclaiming : " O happy woman, a man of admirable blessedness, and full of the Holy Spirit, shall in due course be born to thee. " Not long afterwards, that predic- tion was fulfilled, in the birth of St. Brendan. '35 The period to which his birth has been referred was one fruitful of great glory for the Church in Ire- land. Through every quarter of the land, churches and monasteries might be seen rising ; then began those schools and colleges, which, down to the Middle Ages, continued to attract to their halls the youth of Continental na- tions. Both sexes participated in the glory of this renaissance ; and, we are told, in the neighbourhood of holy anchorets lived anchoretesses no less holy. Companies of virgins followed their spiritual mothers, as troops of disciples journeyedwiththeirmasters. Thesistersbecamethepossessorsofthehouses, which monks built ; the convents were open equally to the brethren and sisters; and, in this way, those pious relations among the members of both sexes sprungup,andwhichproducedsuchhappyfruit. Thesistersbecamenurses of the young ; and their pupils frequently became Bishops and Abbots, as we find exemplified in the case of our present saint. The Fourth Life of St.
Patrick, as also the Tripartite, state St. Brendan to have been born one hun- dred and twenty years, after the great Irish Aposde's death. '36 However, this is generally understood to be a mistake of statement and of calculation. '37 According to one supposition, '38 St. Patrick died a. d. 465 ; and, the birth of St. Brendan followed, about twenty years later, viz. , a. d. 484. The wealthy Airde having been shown by St. Bee Mac De '39 the house, in which the infant was to receive birth, that host arose in the morning, and went to the place, where prostrate on his knees, he venerated the newly-born child. Raising the infant to his bosom, Airde cried out, before all who were pre- sent: "O son, I acknowledge thee to be my foster-child, and receive me as thy fosterer. " He also presented the thirty cows with their calves, as an oftering to him, and then Airde joyfully returned to his home ; for his family and dwelling-place were within the future parish of St. Brendan. '-t" Owing to the
400
Brendan was born.
'^s See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
" Acta Sancti Brelidani," Prima Vita, cap. i. , p. i.
'^ See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixxix. , p. 44, and Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, iii. , cap. xlvii. , p. 158.
'3? It is thought, by Colgan, the numerals of January. See the " Martyrology of cxx. had been placed in error by some scribe
«3o See chap. vi.
3' Thus, at the third of the Kalends of May, the calendar quotes him as follows : "Domanigen Bishop of Tuaim, Muscraighe, j. e. , son of Fionlugh, brother of Brendan, son of Fionnlugh, who was of the race of Ciar, son of Fergus, son of Ros, son of Rudh- raighe. "
"^ Her feast has been assigned to the 7th
Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp. 8^ g.
"3 According to St. Brendan's Irish Life,
atchap. Ixix.
»3< It has l)een asserted, by Rev. Dr.
Lanigan, St. Patrick did not live until A. D. 484, this being the year, in which
for xxx.
'J^ See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap. Ti. , sect, viii. , n. 85, p. 292.
'3' His feast occurs, at the I2lh of Octo- ber.
'«° Se« Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 401
. miraculous manifestations vouchsafed to him, St. Ere '' was induced, to pro- ceed on the following day, to seek out the child of Benediction, whose birth wassignalizedinsoextraordinaryamanner. TakingBrendanintohisarms, Ere cried out : " O man of the Living God ! receive me as thy obedient monk. Oman of God! how the hearts of men ought rejoice at thy birth, when the Angels of Fleaven are glad of thy coming ! And, my heart, above that of all others, bounds with love for thee. " So great was his emotion, that the Bishop burst into tears. Then, having baptized the infant, this latter received thenameofBrendan,bywhichhewasafterwardssowellknown. Having then blessed him. Bishop Ere returned to his own home. ''*^ This baptism, according to a local tradition, took place at Tubrid Beg,'43 about five miles from Tralee. Adjoining the well are said to be traces of the. convent of St. Ita, or Ida,'44 who reared the saint. '^s The Irish Life of St. Brendan iden- tifies the spot, where he had been baptized, as Tubber-na-Molt, or the Wedders' Well. This is situated in the townland of Tubrid, not far from
Ardfert, and in the same parish.
According to his Irish Life, it may be observed, that the saint had
at first got from his family the name of Mobi. He was afterwards called Brendan, or Broenfind, meaning "fair," or "bright drop," because of the wonderful light that shone on the night of his birth over that house, where he was born, and it " filled all Fenit. "'46 After baptism, the infant remained only one year, in the house of his parents. It appears, that at the end of this time. Bishop Ere had some providential design in view, and he came to lead Brendan away from his family, at that early age. A female descendant of the princely house of the Desii, in the county of Waterford, whom the annalists style St. Ita,'47 was enrolled at an early age, in the list of consecrated virgins. . She repaired to the territory of Hy-Conaill, in the county of Limerick. There ,she fixed her residence, and was soon joined by great numbers of pious maidens.
To her nunnery, Brendan was brought by Bishop Ere, where the holy virgin assumed the duty of rearing and of educating her young foster-son.
For five years, she nurtured the boy, with great care and tenderness. He was of a joyous temperament, and his dispositions were gentle, so that his foster- mother had a great affection for her infant charge. One day, she asked what gave him such delight, as had been manifested in his looks. With artless simplicity, the child said : " Because I see you and the other pious nuns
" Acta Sancti Brendani," Prima Vita, cap. ii. , p. 2.
'•*' The Rev. S. Baring-Gould thinks he was, perhaps, the celebrated bishop of Slane, so called. See " Lives of the Saints," vol. v. , May 16, p. 217. We suppose, however, that he was quite a different person, and locally connected with Kerry.
^^ See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's " Acta Sancti Brendani," Prima Vita, cap. iii. , p. . 3.
"*3 This place, in the barony of Clan- maurice, is noted, on the " Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Kerry," sheet 21.
144 Her feast occurs, on the 15th of January.
145 For the foregoing information, the writer is indebted to Mrs. Katherine Mary Donovan, in a letter, headed Seafield, Tralee, Jan. nth, 1877. The following curious tradition of Tubbrid well was also communicated, in the same letter. In the
penal times, a priest came to celebrate Mass there. The authorities sent soldiers, with dogs, to catch both priest and people, as was then the fashion. On nearing that place, the troops saw two sheep with horns of gold leap out of the well, their dogs saw the sheep, and ran after them, the men followed the dogs—priest and people being invisible —and the hunt went on, until the sheep ran into the sea, at Ballyheigue, about ten miles away, and disappeared. When the pursuers returned to Tubrid, Mass was over, the priest was gone, the people were dispersed, and all were safe. Ever since the place is called Tubbernamule, and the well being a holy one, people come far and near to be cured, and we hear some curious cases occasionally of recoveries.
'** The text in Irish runs CiAbo|\ pnn :
po lin in IpiAiriAnn uibi.
''*' See her . Life, at the 15th of January,
in the First Volume of this work, Art. I.
"t^ Thus does Denis Florence MacCarthy
IC
—— :—;;
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 1 6.
speaking to me, and holding me by the hands. " Then, St. Ita repUed : " So, my child, may there be joy in Heaven, on thy account. " At the end of five years, however, the holy Bishop Ere appeared, and to her great regret claimed from St. Ita her foster-son, so that he might receive further instruction, and still suited to his years. There is little doubt, that Brandon retained for his kind governess during his life the most devoted filial affection, 't^ and that his parting was a cause of passing sorrow, in so sensitive a mind. St. Brendan then became the disciple of the holy prelate Ere, by whom he had been baptized ; and, under him, the industrious youth read his lessons, not only by day, but even by night. At one time, the boy asked for some milk to drink, but no cow was in that place. However, the Almighty, compassionating his wish, caused a deer with her young to descend from Luachra Mountain, and the child's longings were thus gratified. Afterwards, for many days, a deer in like manner came down from the same mountain to that place, and she was milked for little Brendan. His sister Brig often paid him a visit, and Brendan had a great affection for her. These visits animated her, to lead a virginal and holy life ; so that, in due course, she formed a female community, whilesheplacedherselfandhernuns,underthecareofBrendan. Tohim, as the Life remarks, her countenance shone as the light of the moon, while the face of his holy master, Bishop Ere, was bright as the sun's radiant disk. "»9
It was usual for this holy Bishop to make an annual visitation of his people, for the purpose of preaching to them. When he was ten years old, the pious child Brendan '5° went with the Prelate Ere, on one of these missionary excursions. One day, as the Bishop left his curricle, for the purpose of evangelizing the people of a locality, the boy Brendan remained sitting and reading in the chariot. A beautiful daughter of the local chieftain, on seeing him, desired to engage the boy in some youthful pranks, and for that purpose, she climbed upon the vehicle. Brendan then said : " What are you about,
402
openhisdelightfulpoem,regardingourSaint Brandon addressing his benevolent foster- mother, I la, where he says :
" O, Ita mother of my heart and mind
My nourisher, my fosterer, my friend.
Who taught me first to God's great will resigned,
Before His shinning altar steps to bend ;
Who poured his word upon my soul like balm,
And on mine eyes what pious fancy paints
And on mine ear the sweetly swelling psalm,
And all the sacred knowledge of the saints ;
*' Thou knowest only, O, my mother \ how to thee.
The blessed Ercus led me when a boy,
And how, within thine arms and at thine knee,
I learned the love, thatdeath cannot destroy ;
And how I parted hence with bitter tears,
Andfelt, whenturningfromthy friendly door.
In the reality of ripening years,
My paradise of childhood was no
tear-
Tears make the harvest of the heart to grow.
And love, though human, is almost divine.
The heart that loves not knows not how to pray
The eye can never smile that never weeps
'Tis through our sighs Hope's kind- ling sunbeams play,
And through our tears the bow of Promise peeps. "
"The Voyage of St. Brendan," Part L The Vocation, stanzas i. , iii. , iv.
*' See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's " Acta Sancti Brendani," Prima Vila, cap. iv. , p. 4.
'5^ It does not appear, how long our saint remained, as the foster-son of 15ishop Ere. See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the
—
" I wept— drops flow ;
but not with sin such
—
for earthly things with
I sighed
Heaven entwine
May 1 6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
403
girl ? return to your family. " However, refusing to do so, the boy raised a whip and struck her repeatedly and smartly several times. She then went home pouting and weeping. Her parents complained to the Bishop, about the rudeness of his pupil. After preaching, the holy old Bishop reproved him saying : " Why did you strike the innocent and guileless girl; forsportive- ness only urged her to play with you, and having no evil purpose. " Brendan then answered : " Indeed, I did not drive her away, through any other mo- tive,thanbecauseIwishedtobeundisturbedatmyspiritualreadmg," The Bishop answered : " My son, you shall do penance. " The holy youth declared, he was ready to fulfil whatever obligations should be imposed upon him. St. Ere told him, that on the morrow, he should remain alone, in a cave pointed out, and he was to recite Psalms for an entire day. Wherefore, St. Brendan went alone into that cave, and there he remained, until the followingmorning,singingPsalmsandHymnstoGod. However,unknown to the imprisoned Brendan, and having a tender care for him, the Bishop sat that whole night, near the cave of his alumnus, while during the watches of the hours passing, he beheld choirs of Angels, flying between the cave and the Heavens. Both left that place next morning, and together they gave thanks to God. 'S'
One day, while Saints Ere and Brendan walked together, a warrior happened to accompany them ; but, suddenly, this man saw several persons, who had hostile intentions towards him, when he declared to his com- panions, that he should certainly be killed, not being able to defend himself, againstsuchanumber. But,throughtheprayersofSt. Brendan,amiracle was wrought in his favour \ for, his enemies were deceived, on approaching a large stone, as the legend relates, and it stood as a memorial,'52 at the time when the author of our saint's Acts wrote. Again, Bishop Ere and his pupil Brendan rambled over the Mountain of Luachra. That summer day was very warm, and the Bishop felt exceedingly thirsty, and faint ; but, no water could there be found. However, Brendan procured a bucket or pail ; and, full of faith, he commanded the earth to open, when a fountain of limpid water issued therefrom. The Bishop drank from it, giving thanks to God. Afterwards, that spring was called St. Brendan's Well. 'ss At length, this holy disciple of St. Ere expressed his great desire, to go and to learn about the manner of living, then practised, by some of the great Irish fathers. The pious Bishop then said : " My son, this purpose is inspired by the Almighty : go and return to me, after a time, that you may receive the sacerdotal character from me before I die. " Having obtained this leave, and a blessing from Bishop Ere, the holy Brendan went first, to visit his nurse St. Ita. When about leaving her, she said : " Go, my dear son, and learn the rules of the most perfect fathers in Ireland, but beware and seldom visit holy virgins, so that scandal or defamation be not the result. " She told him, likewise, thatheshouldsoonmeetonthewayacertainlaic,thesonofLenin;''54 and,
she directed, that her foster-son should preach to that son of life the Divme Word. Herinjunctionwasfulfilled,forsoonBrendansawhim,andthenhe said : " Dear brother, do penance for thy sins, for God calls thee to his king-
Saints," vol. v. , May 16, p. 217.
'5' See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
" Acta Sancti Brendani," Prima Vita. cap. v. , p. 5.
'52 The Acts have it: " Lapisque ille truncus quasi corpus humanum stat adhuc. " It might be a curious subject for local inves- ligation, to discover some stone in Kerry so described.
'53 See Most Rev. Patrick F^. IVfooiran's " Acta S. Brendani," Prima Vita, cjap. vi. ,
vii. , pp. 6, 7.
'54 Supposed to be St. Colman Mac Leinn,
Patron of the See of Cloyne, whose/ death is given in Dr. O'Donovan's *' Annails of the Four Masters," at A. D. 600. See vol. i. , pp. 224, 225.
'55 See Most Rev. Patrick F'. Moran's
/
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
dom. Indeed, thou shall be the dove of God, and a bright dove in his temple ;
and, therefore, I give thee the name of Colman. " He became truly sanctified and wonderful ; while, in course of time, Colman built cells and monasteries in honour of God. '55 By some, it is stated, that St. Brendan received a part of his education, from St. Finian of Clonard. 's^ In the Life of this latter saint, Brandan, the son of Finlogh, is said to have studied under that master, who also had under his direction many of the most celebrated among the Irish Saints. '57 It appears, too, that Brendan, son of Finlogh, lived contem- poraneously with his namesake, St. Brendan of Birr,'58 ^. ^^ \,o'Oci were fellow- students. From this time forth, the holy man's life was dedicated to preaching thewordofGod. Accordingtooneaccount,itwasafterleavingthecele- brated scliool of Clonard, that St. Brendan went out to seek the Land of Promise. '59 Ifthisbethecase,weshouldassigntoanearlyperiodofhislife when men are generally most energetic, bold and adventurous—the wonder- ful voyage, which for all after ages has invested him with imperishable renown.
Moreover, St. Brendan is said to have visited and to have passed some time with St. Jarlath,'^° at Tuam-da-Ghualann,'^' after having completed his ele- mentary course under Bishop Ere. When the holy Bishop Jarlath was old and infirm, Brendan announced to him, that his resurrection should not be in that place, where he then lived. Afterwards, Jarlath enquired, where it might be, and Brendan said : " Sit in the waggon, as thou art old and feeble go along that road, and wherever the waggon-wheels become broken, there shall be the place for thy resurrection, and for that of many others, on the day ofjudgment. " Then,St. Jarlathreplied: "OyouthfulBrendan,whyhidest thou the secrets of the Lord, in thy person ? I know, however, that Divine Providence, hideth and is covered in thee : truly thou oughtest to be our master. " Accordingly, the Bishop took his seat in the waggon and drove onwards ; nor did he proceed far, until the wheels were broken. There, St. Jarlath remained to the day of his death, and the renomied city of Tuaym- da-gualann, in the province of Connaught, was afterwards built, on that very site. To it, many persons came. With the prayers and blessing of St. Jarlath, Brendan departed to another place. '^^ While our saint was in the plain of An, held to have been the same as Magh-Enna,'^3 now Moyhenna,'^-* in the barony of Carra, and county of Mayo, an Angel from Heaven appeared,'^5 and directed him to write that Rule of Life, by which he was afterwardstoguidehisconduct. Thenandthere,BrendanwrotethatRule, designated by the Angel. By it, Brendan ever afterwards regulated his life. '^^
404
** Acta Sancti Brendani," Prima Vita, cap. vlii. , p. 7.
'S* His feast occurs, at the 231x1 of Feb- ruary, as also, at the 12th of December.
"=' See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nia;," xxiii. Februarii, Vita S. P'iniani scu r'inr. eni, Abbatis de Cluain-eraird, cap. xix. , p. 395.
succeeding volume of this work.
'*' See Miss Mary Frances Cusack's
" History of the Kingdom of Kerry," chap, iii. , p. 47.
'*- See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's " Acta Sancti Brendani," Prima Vita, cap. ix. , p. 8.
""^ A castle, in ruins, near Turlogh, indi- '5* His festival occurs, at the 29th of No- cates the site. See John O'Donovan's vembcr. " Genealogies, Tribes, and Customs of Hy- 'S' . \mong the Burgundian MSS. at P^iachrach," Explanatory Index to the Map,
Bruxelles, there is a tract intituled, " S.
Fenit Island and Castle, County of Kerry.
brown stones were used with lime-stone, in the construction. '^' At present, it is not an easy matter to discover, if lime had been used or not, in the building ; for, in a bit of the north wall, w^hich remained several years ago near the east end, no lime was observable, in the mortar. The thickness of the wall was three feet six inches ; the length of the church was thirty-seven feet, six inches; its breadth was fifteen feet. From this description, it is obvious, that the ruins are those of a very ancient church. It was built many centuries ago, and possibly, in or not very long after St. Brendan's time. '" Detachedfromtheseruins—butquitenear—thefoundationsofanotherancient building may be traced ; this was probably a religious establishment, con- nected with the church. All around these ruins, to the distance of five or six perches, there are unmistakable traces of an ancient burial-ground, which has not been used for interments, within the memory of the oldest inhabitants.
Island and its Castle has been drawn on
the wood, by William F. Wakeman, from
a photograph of Mr. Daly, Tralce, procured
through the kindness of Rev. Denis
O'Donoghue, P. P. The engraving is by O'Donoghue, who observes, the ruins,
which he visited, in the beginning of the pre- '" See the communication of Mr. Thomas sent year 1855, are nearly as they had been O'Conor, in " Letters containing Information described, by Mr. Thomas O'Conor, over
Mrs. Millard.
;
yet, they formed a separate
relative to the Antiquities of the County of Kerry, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 15^41. "
"' Such is the opinion of Rev. Denis
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
399
The account from St. Brendan's Irisli Life clearly implies, that the house of his nativity was in Fenit, or in its immediate vicinity. Another indication of the precise locality for the saint's birth-place may be gathered from that Irish Life, when it mentions the visit of St. Bee Mac De, "the chief prophet of Ireland," to the house of Airde Mac Fitlaigh, the Brugaid, or large farmer, on the advent of Brendan's birth ; where, at the request of his wealthy host, St. Bee Mac De prophesied the birth of St. Brendan, on that very night, between him and the sea. Between the Cahir or Fort of Airde "3 and the sea lies Fenit Island to the west, and about three English miles distant. This suits admirably well the further statement,"'* that the house of Finlogh, the father of St. Brendan, was at a distance from that of Airde; while, there is no locality between Cahir-Airde and the sea, in any other direction, which fits in with that description so completely. An extraordinary illumination was over the house, and Angels hovered there, on i^he night when St. Brendan
was born; and, we are told, that the whole of Altraighe-Caille appeared to be in a blaze of light. This was seen by a holy Bishop, named St. Earc, or Ere, "5 from his residence, which must have commanded a view of that dis- trict, where Brendan was born. This statement should point, likewise, to Fenit, as the place thus seen by St. Ere. Of this saint's connexion with Kerry, there is scarcely any historical trace, except what is given in the Lives of his foster-child, St. Brendan ; but, fortunately, there remains an indelible trace of his connexion with this district, in the name of a very ancient church or sanctuary dedicated to his memory, and probably founded and occupied by himself. This is called Tarmuin-Eirc,'^^ or the sanctuary of Ere, the grass- grown ruins of which are to be seen at Lerrig,"? about three miles to the north of Ardfert. From the swelling slope—on which those venerable ruins lie—Fenit is distant about seven miles to the south-west. It can easily be seen from that spot, as there is no high ground intervening. We may, therefore, well credit that sitatement of the writer, who tells us, that the holy Bishop St. Ere, from his ancient Termon or Sanctuary at Lerrig, looking across
the plains about Ardfert, saw that wondrous light, which "filled all Fenit" on the night of this heavenly-gifted birth.
The celebrated Navigator, St. Brendan, is said to have been the son of Finlogue, or Finnlog. '^^ The wife of Finlog lived a holy life with her husband. Both parents appear to have selected Bishop Ere, as
forty years previous.
'^3 This local denomination is not found on
the Ordnance Survey Maps.
'=* In the Irish Life.
'^5 In the Irish Calendars, there are festi-
County of Kerry," sheets 20, 21. The town- land is divided into north and south.
'^^ In the lower margin of that copy of the Feilire of St. ^ngus, contained in the " Leabhar Breac ;" there is a pedigree thus drawn out by the Commentator : Brenann, son of Findlug, son of Olchu, son of Ogaman,
vals to different saints, bearing this name,
viz. : St. Earc, Priest, at July 13th; St.
Earc, bishop of Domhnach-mor of Magh- son of Findchure, son of Delbna, son of Danihairne, at September 17th; St. Earc, John, son of Usalec, son of Estamon, son of bishop, at October 2nd ; St. Earc, bishop of Mugh Toeth, who is called Ciar, son of Fer- Domhnach-mor, at October 27th ; and St. gus, son of Rossa. Or Brenaind, son of
Earc, bishop of Slane, at November 2nd. It is remarkable, also, that a female saint is
Findlug, son of Olchu, son of Findchath, son of Gossa (? ), son of Gaible, son of Ecne, son of Altae. See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. Ixxxvii.
'-' Thus we read : " cujus pater Findluag nomine erat fidelis, qui cum uxore sua in legitimo matrimonio sub confessione Erci Episcopi vivebat. " Prima Vita S. Brendani,
named Earc, daughter of Sinell of Miliuc her feast is at the 24th of October.
;
'^* This denomination is not to be found, on the '' Ordnance Survey Townland Maps," relating to the district.
'^7 This is a town and townland, in the
parish of Kilmoyly, and barony of Clan-
maurice. They are noted, on the " Ord- cap. i. , p. i. Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's nance Survey Townland Maps for the " Acta Sancti Brendani. "
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
their confessor or siiiriiual director. '^9 According to St. Brendan's Irish Life,'3° he had a brother, wlio was a bishop, named Domanigen, and whose feast has been assigned to the 29th of April;'3i while, he had a sister, called Briga, or Brigh,'32 said to have been of Enach-duin. '^s Thus, St. Brendan was descended from the race of Ciar, son to Ferghus, son of Ros, son to Rudhraighe. Several years after the death of St. Patrick, his nativity took place, and probably towards the close of the fifth century. '34
Aswehavestated,Brendansprungfromregalancestors. Beforethebirth, his mother had a vision, in which a miraculous brilliancy surrounded her, and raysofgreatsplendour—seemingasfinestgold—issuedfromherbreasts. This circumstance she related to Bishop Ere, wlio thus interpreted it, by exclaiming : " O happy woman, a man of admirable blessedness, and full of the Holy Spirit, shall in due course be born to thee. " Not long afterwards, that predic- tion was fulfilled, in the birth of St. Brendan. '35 The period to which his birth has been referred was one fruitful of great glory for the Church in Ire- land. Through every quarter of the land, churches and monasteries might be seen rising ; then began those schools and colleges, which, down to the Middle Ages, continued to attract to their halls the youth of Continental na- tions. Both sexes participated in the glory of this renaissance ; and, we are told, in the neighbourhood of holy anchorets lived anchoretesses no less holy. Companies of virgins followed their spiritual mothers, as troops of disciples journeyedwiththeirmasters. Thesistersbecamethepossessorsofthehouses, which monks built ; the convents were open equally to the brethren and sisters; and, in this way, those pious relations among the members of both sexes sprungup,andwhichproducedsuchhappyfruit. Thesistersbecamenurses of the young ; and their pupils frequently became Bishops and Abbots, as we find exemplified in the case of our present saint. The Fourth Life of St.
Patrick, as also the Tripartite, state St. Brendan to have been born one hun- dred and twenty years, after the great Irish Aposde's death. '36 However, this is generally understood to be a mistake of statement and of calculation. '37 According to one supposition, '38 St. Patrick died a. d. 465 ; and, the birth of St. Brendan followed, about twenty years later, viz. , a. d. 484. The wealthy Airde having been shown by St. Bee Mac De '39 the house, in which the infant was to receive birth, that host arose in the morning, and went to the place, where prostrate on his knees, he venerated the newly-born child. Raising the infant to his bosom, Airde cried out, before all who were pre- sent: "O son, I acknowledge thee to be my foster-child, and receive me as thy fosterer. " He also presented the thirty cows with their calves, as an oftering to him, and then Airde joyfully returned to his home ; for his family and dwelling-place were within the future parish of St. Brendan. '-t" Owing to the
400
Brendan was born.
'^s See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
" Acta Sancti Brelidani," Prima Vita, cap. i. , p. i.
'^ See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Quarta Vita S. Patricii, cap. Ixxix. , p. 44, and Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, iii. , cap. xlvii. , p. 158.
'3? It is thought, by Colgan, the numerals of January. See the " Martyrology of cxx. had been placed in error by some scribe
«3o See chap. vi.
3' Thus, at the third of the Kalends of May, the calendar quotes him as follows : "Domanigen Bishop of Tuaim, Muscraighe, j. e. , son of Fionlugh, brother of Brendan, son of Fionnlugh, who was of the race of Ciar, son of Fergus, son of Ros, son of Rudh- raighe. "
"^ Her feast has been assigned to the 7th
Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp. 8^ g.
"3 According to St. Brendan's Irish Life,
atchap. Ixix.
»3< It has l)een asserted, by Rev. Dr.
Lanigan, St. Patrick did not live until A. D. 484, this being the year, in which
for xxx.
'J^ See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap. Ti. , sect, viii. , n. 85, p. 292.
'3' His feast occurs, at the I2lh of Octo- ber.
'«° Se« Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
May 1 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 401
. miraculous manifestations vouchsafed to him, St. Ere '' was induced, to pro- ceed on the following day, to seek out the child of Benediction, whose birth wassignalizedinsoextraordinaryamanner. TakingBrendanintohisarms, Ere cried out : " O man of the Living God ! receive me as thy obedient monk. Oman of God! how the hearts of men ought rejoice at thy birth, when the Angels of Fleaven are glad of thy coming ! And, my heart, above that of all others, bounds with love for thee. " So great was his emotion, that the Bishop burst into tears. Then, having baptized the infant, this latter received thenameofBrendan,bywhichhewasafterwardssowellknown. Having then blessed him. Bishop Ere returned to his own home. ''*^ This baptism, according to a local tradition, took place at Tubrid Beg,'43 about five miles from Tralee. Adjoining the well are said to be traces of the. convent of St. Ita, or Ida,'44 who reared the saint. '^s The Irish Life of St. Brendan iden- tifies the spot, where he had been baptized, as Tubber-na-Molt, or the Wedders' Well. This is situated in the townland of Tubrid, not far from
Ardfert, and in the same parish.
According to his Irish Life, it may be observed, that the saint had
at first got from his family the name of Mobi. He was afterwards called Brendan, or Broenfind, meaning "fair," or "bright drop," because of the wonderful light that shone on the night of his birth over that house, where he was born, and it " filled all Fenit. "'46 After baptism, the infant remained only one year, in the house of his parents. It appears, that at the end of this time. Bishop Ere had some providential design in view, and he came to lead Brendan away from his family, at that early age. A female descendant of the princely house of the Desii, in the county of Waterford, whom the annalists style St. Ita,'47 was enrolled at an early age, in the list of consecrated virgins. . She repaired to the territory of Hy-Conaill, in the county of Limerick. There ,she fixed her residence, and was soon joined by great numbers of pious maidens.
To her nunnery, Brendan was brought by Bishop Ere, where the holy virgin assumed the duty of rearing and of educating her young foster-son.
For five years, she nurtured the boy, with great care and tenderness. He was of a joyous temperament, and his dispositions were gentle, so that his foster- mother had a great affection for her infant charge. One day, she asked what gave him such delight, as had been manifested in his looks. With artless simplicity, the child said : " Because I see you and the other pious nuns
" Acta Sancti Brendani," Prima Vita, cap. ii. , p. 2.
'•*' The Rev. S. Baring-Gould thinks he was, perhaps, the celebrated bishop of Slane, so called. See " Lives of the Saints," vol. v. , May 16, p. 217. We suppose, however, that he was quite a different person, and locally connected with Kerry.
^^ See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's " Acta Sancti Brendani," Prima Vita, cap. iii. , p. . 3.
"*3 This place, in the barony of Clan- maurice, is noted, on the " Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Kerry," sheet 21.
144 Her feast occurs, on the 15th of January.
145 For the foregoing information, the writer is indebted to Mrs. Katherine Mary Donovan, in a letter, headed Seafield, Tralee, Jan. nth, 1877. The following curious tradition of Tubbrid well was also communicated, in the same letter. In the
penal times, a priest came to celebrate Mass there. The authorities sent soldiers, with dogs, to catch both priest and people, as was then the fashion. On nearing that place, the troops saw two sheep with horns of gold leap out of the well, their dogs saw the sheep, and ran after them, the men followed the dogs—priest and people being invisible —and the hunt went on, until the sheep ran into the sea, at Ballyheigue, about ten miles away, and disappeared. When the pursuers returned to Tubrid, Mass was over, the priest was gone, the people were dispersed, and all were safe. Ever since the place is called Tubbernamule, and the well being a holy one, people come far and near to be cured, and we hear some curious cases occasionally of recoveries.
'** The text in Irish runs CiAbo|\ pnn :
po lin in IpiAiriAnn uibi.
''*' See her . Life, at the 15th of January,
in the First Volume of this work, Art. I.
"t^ Thus does Denis Florence MacCarthy
IC
—— :—;;
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 1 6.
speaking to me, and holding me by the hands. " Then, St. Ita repUed : " So, my child, may there be joy in Heaven, on thy account. " At the end of five years, however, the holy Bishop Ere appeared, and to her great regret claimed from St. Ita her foster-son, so that he might receive further instruction, and still suited to his years. There is little doubt, that Brandon retained for his kind governess during his life the most devoted filial affection, 't^ and that his parting was a cause of passing sorrow, in so sensitive a mind. St. Brendan then became the disciple of the holy prelate Ere, by whom he had been baptized ; and, under him, the industrious youth read his lessons, not only by day, but even by night. At one time, the boy asked for some milk to drink, but no cow was in that place. However, the Almighty, compassionating his wish, caused a deer with her young to descend from Luachra Mountain, and the child's longings were thus gratified. Afterwards, for many days, a deer in like manner came down from the same mountain to that place, and she was milked for little Brendan. His sister Brig often paid him a visit, and Brendan had a great affection for her. These visits animated her, to lead a virginal and holy life ; so that, in due course, she formed a female community, whilesheplacedherselfandhernuns,underthecareofBrendan. Tohim, as the Life remarks, her countenance shone as the light of the moon, while the face of his holy master, Bishop Ere, was bright as the sun's radiant disk. "»9
It was usual for this holy Bishop to make an annual visitation of his people, for the purpose of preaching to them. When he was ten years old, the pious child Brendan '5° went with the Prelate Ere, on one of these missionary excursions. One day, as the Bishop left his curricle, for the purpose of evangelizing the people of a locality, the boy Brendan remained sitting and reading in the chariot. A beautiful daughter of the local chieftain, on seeing him, desired to engage the boy in some youthful pranks, and for that purpose, she climbed upon the vehicle. Brendan then said : " What are you about,
402
openhisdelightfulpoem,regardingourSaint Brandon addressing his benevolent foster- mother, I la, where he says :
" O, Ita mother of my heart and mind
My nourisher, my fosterer, my friend.
Who taught me first to God's great will resigned,
Before His shinning altar steps to bend ;
Who poured his word upon my soul like balm,
And on mine eyes what pious fancy paints
And on mine ear the sweetly swelling psalm,
And all the sacred knowledge of the saints ;
*' Thou knowest only, O, my mother \ how to thee.
The blessed Ercus led me when a boy,
And how, within thine arms and at thine knee,
I learned the love, thatdeath cannot destroy ;
And how I parted hence with bitter tears,
Andfelt, whenturningfromthy friendly door.
In the reality of ripening years,
My paradise of childhood was no
tear-
Tears make the harvest of the heart to grow.
And love, though human, is almost divine.
The heart that loves not knows not how to pray
The eye can never smile that never weeps
'Tis through our sighs Hope's kind- ling sunbeams play,
And through our tears the bow of Promise peeps. "
"The Voyage of St. Brendan," Part L The Vocation, stanzas i. , iii. , iv.
*' See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's " Acta Sancti Brendani," Prima Vila, cap. iv. , p. 4.
'5^ It does not appear, how long our saint remained, as the foster-son of 15ishop Ere. See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of the
—
" I wept— drops flow ;
but not with sin such
—
for earthly things with
I sighed
Heaven entwine
May 1 6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
403
girl ? return to your family. " However, refusing to do so, the boy raised a whip and struck her repeatedly and smartly several times. She then went home pouting and weeping. Her parents complained to the Bishop, about the rudeness of his pupil. After preaching, the holy old Bishop reproved him saying : " Why did you strike the innocent and guileless girl; forsportive- ness only urged her to play with you, and having no evil purpose. " Brendan then answered : " Indeed, I did not drive her away, through any other mo- tive,thanbecauseIwishedtobeundisturbedatmyspiritualreadmg," The Bishop answered : " My son, you shall do penance. " The holy youth declared, he was ready to fulfil whatever obligations should be imposed upon him. St. Ere told him, that on the morrow, he should remain alone, in a cave pointed out, and he was to recite Psalms for an entire day. Wherefore, St. Brendan went alone into that cave, and there he remained, until the followingmorning,singingPsalmsandHymnstoGod. However,unknown to the imprisoned Brendan, and having a tender care for him, the Bishop sat that whole night, near the cave of his alumnus, while during the watches of the hours passing, he beheld choirs of Angels, flying between the cave and the Heavens. Both left that place next morning, and together they gave thanks to God. 'S'
One day, while Saints Ere and Brendan walked together, a warrior happened to accompany them ; but, suddenly, this man saw several persons, who had hostile intentions towards him, when he declared to his com- panions, that he should certainly be killed, not being able to defend himself, againstsuchanumber. But,throughtheprayersofSt. Brendan,amiracle was wrought in his favour \ for, his enemies were deceived, on approaching a large stone, as the legend relates, and it stood as a memorial,'52 at the time when the author of our saint's Acts wrote. Again, Bishop Ere and his pupil Brendan rambled over the Mountain of Luachra. That summer day was very warm, and the Bishop felt exceedingly thirsty, and faint ; but, no water could there be found. However, Brendan procured a bucket or pail ; and, full of faith, he commanded the earth to open, when a fountain of limpid water issued therefrom. The Bishop drank from it, giving thanks to God. Afterwards, that spring was called St. Brendan's Well. 'ss At length, this holy disciple of St. Ere expressed his great desire, to go and to learn about the manner of living, then practised, by some of the great Irish fathers. The pious Bishop then said : " My son, this purpose is inspired by the Almighty : go and return to me, after a time, that you may receive the sacerdotal character from me before I die. " Having obtained this leave, and a blessing from Bishop Ere, the holy Brendan went first, to visit his nurse St. Ita. When about leaving her, she said : " Go, my dear son, and learn the rules of the most perfect fathers in Ireland, but beware and seldom visit holy virgins, so that scandal or defamation be not the result. " She told him, likewise, thatheshouldsoonmeetonthewayacertainlaic,thesonofLenin;''54 and,
she directed, that her foster-son should preach to that son of life the Divme Word. Herinjunctionwasfulfilled,forsoonBrendansawhim,andthenhe said : " Dear brother, do penance for thy sins, for God calls thee to his king-
Saints," vol. v. , May 16, p. 217.
'5' See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's
" Acta Sancti Brendani," Prima Vita. cap. v. , p. 5.
'52 The Acts have it: " Lapisque ille truncus quasi corpus humanum stat adhuc. " It might be a curious subject for local inves- ligation, to discover some stone in Kerry so described.
'53 See Most Rev. Patrick F^. IVfooiran's " Acta S. Brendani," Prima Vita, cjap. vi. ,
vii. , pp. 6, 7.
'54 Supposed to be St. Colman Mac Leinn,
Patron of the See of Cloyne, whose/ death is given in Dr. O'Donovan's *' Annails of the Four Masters," at A. D. 600. See vol. i. , pp. 224, 225.
'55 See Most Rev. Patrick F'. Moran's
/
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May i6.
dom. Indeed, thou shall be the dove of God, and a bright dove in his temple ;
and, therefore, I give thee the name of Colman. " He became truly sanctified and wonderful ; while, in course of time, Colman built cells and monasteries in honour of God. '55 By some, it is stated, that St. Brendan received a part of his education, from St. Finian of Clonard. 's^ In the Life of this latter saint, Brandan, the son of Finlogh, is said to have studied under that master, who also had under his direction many of the most celebrated among the Irish Saints. '57 It appears, too, that Brendan, son of Finlogh, lived contem- poraneously with his namesake, St. Brendan of Birr,'58 ^. ^^ \,o'Oci were fellow- students. From this time forth, the holy man's life was dedicated to preaching thewordofGod. Accordingtooneaccount,itwasafterleavingthecele- brated scliool of Clonard, that St. Brendan went out to seek the Land of Promise. '59 Ifthisbethecase,weshouldassigntoanearlyperiodofhislife when men are generally most energetic, bold and adventurous—the wonder- ful voyage, which for all after ages has invested him with imperishable renown.
Moreover, St. Brendan is said to have visited and to have passed some time with St. Jarlath,'^° at Tuam-da-Ghualann,'^' after having completed his ele- mentary course under Bishop Ere. When the holy Bishop Jarlath was old and infirm, Brendan announced to him, that his resurrection should not be in that place, where he then lived. Afterwards, Jarlath enquired, where it might be, and Brendan said : " Sit in the waggon, as thou art old and feeble go along that road, and wherever the waggon-wheels become broken, there shall be the place for thy resurrection, and for that of many others, on the day ofjudgment. " Then,St. Jarlathreplied: "OyouthfulBrendan,whyhidest thou the secrets of the Lord, in thy person ? I know, however, that Divine Providence, hideth and is covered in thee : truly thou oughtest to be our master. " Accordingly, the Bishop took his seat in the waggon and drove onwards ; nor did he proceed far, until the wheels were broken. There, St. Jarlath remained to the day of his death, and the renomied city of Tuaym- da-gualann, in the province of Connaught, was afterwards built, on that very site. To it, many persons came. With the prayers and blessing of St. Jarlath, Brendan departed to another place. '^^ While our saint was in the plain of An, held to have been the same as Magh-Enna,'^3 now Moyhenna,'^-* in the barony of Carra, and county of Mayo, an Angel from Heaven appeared,'^5 and directed him to write that Rule of Life, by which he was afterwardstoguidehisconduct. Thenandthere,BrendanwrotethatRule, designated by the Angel. By it, Brendan ever afterwards regulated his life. '^^
404
** Acta Sancti Brendani," Prima Vita, cap. vlii. , p. 7.
'S* His feast occurs, at the 231x1 of Feb- ruary, as also, at the 12th of December.
"=' See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nia;," xxiii. Februarii, Vita S. P'iniani scu r'inr. eni, Abbatis de Cluain-eraird, cap. xix. , p. 395.
succeeding volume of this work.
'*' See Miss Mary Frances Cusack's
" History of the Kingdom of Kerry," chap, iii. , p. 47.
'*- See Most Rev. Patrick F. Moran's " Acta Sancti Brendani," Prima Vita, cap. ix. , p. 8.
""^ A castle, in ruins, near Turlogh, indi- '5* His festival occurs, at the 29th of No- cates the site. See John O'Donovan's vembcr. " Genealogies, Tribes, and Customs of Hy- 'S' . \mong the Burgundian MSS. at P^iachrach," Explanatory Index to the Map,
Bruxelles, there is a tract intituled, " S.
