"
"
of Marianus O'Gorman.
"
of Marianus O'Gorman.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
m
attention is that mysterious monument, "
called Queen Blearie's Tomb. " It is the monument of a female, whose effigy lies at full length on a large altar sarcophagus. ***** Along a portion of the upper
end of the sounding aisle there is a series
of sculptured groups in compartments. They are the work of an ancient and rude
September 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 38
Thus, in the south-east boundary of the parish of Kelton in Kirkcudbright is
Kirk Mirren, where the vestige of an ancient chapel and churchyard may be
26 2 found. In the parish of Kilmarnock is St. Mirren's ruined Chapel ? upon
Inch Murryn, the largest Island of romantic Loch Lomond. 28 Owing to the name and to the patron, some former connexion with the Abbey of Paisley may be traced. In Kilsyth, on the south of Woodend, there is a remarkable
2
spring called St. Mirrin's Well. ? In the parish of Coylton, there is a farm
called Knock Murran. 3° On the south side of the North Esk is the Burn of Alurran. There are no distinct traces of this Saint's memory anywhere on the east coast of Scotland. 31
ArticleII. —St. AnmeirorAinmire,ofCluain-foda. TheMartyr-
of 1 records a festival in honour of Anmeir or Ainmire, of ology Tallagh
Cluain-foda,2 at the 15th of September. In modern phraseology, the locality must now be recognised in Clonfad, and there are various places so called, in different counties of Ireland ; but, hitherto we have not been able to identifythepresentSaintinconnectionwithanyofthem. Thereweretwo celebrated places, bearing this name, and mentioned in our Annals. One was known as Cluain-foda Baetanabha,3 that is " the long Lawn" or n Meadow " of Baetain-abha, in the parish of Killucan, barony of Farbil, and County of Westmeath. In our Irish Annals, it is noticed in connection with the founder St. Etchcenius or Etchen, who died in the year of grace 5 7 7, 4
Long
8 Westmeath. It was likewise called Cluain-foda-Fine, in Feara-Tulach. In
the year 835 died Fiachra, son of Dubhdacrich, Abbot of this place. 9 Again,
it is mentioned under the designation of Cluain-foda-Fini, at a. d. 887,'
when Conchobhar, son of Flanagan, Lord of Ui-Failge, was destroyed by fire in its church, and the relics of Finian were violated by the Feara-Tulach,
on his way from parleying with Flann, son of Maelseachlain, King of Ireland. One locality in Ireland was formerly known as Cluainfoda Anmireach. "
26 See " New Statistical Account of Scot- s When Aengus, son of Tibraide, Abbot land," vol. iv. , Kirkcudbright, Parish of of Cluain-foda Beadainabha, died. —Ibid. , Kelton, by the Rev. Samuel Cowan, p. 170. pp. 342, 343.
and with other
a Clnain-foda-Librain,? that
now known as Clonfad, in the barony of Fertullagh, and in the county of
Bishops
or Abbots, at a. d.
741,5
Lawn M or " Meadow,"
See Origines Parochiales Scotise," part i. , p. 35.
Gazetteer of Scotland," vol, ii. , p. 8.
29 See "Origines Parochiales Scoti? e,"
part i. , p. 43.
3° See New Statistical Account of Scot-
land," vol. v. , Ayr, Parish of Coylton, by Rev. Alexander Duncan, p. 656.
In this year (or recte 795), Tibraide, Abbot of Cluaiu-foda, died. —Ibid. , pp. 396, 397. The reader will hardly fail to observe how the influence of a family name was paramount in that monastery during the eighth century.
7 So called from St. Librain or Libran. who flourished in the sixth or seventh century, and of whom some account may be found in the Third Volume of tins work, at
28 See a
of it in "The Topographical, Statistical, and Historical
description
is,
" St. Librain's
*
27" 6 Ua
* See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of the nth of March, Art. iii.
8 The ancient name for the present Article ii. —« Edited by Rev. Dr. Barony of Fertullagh, County of West-
Scottish Saints,"
p. 398.
xxxiv.
2 In the Book of Leinster copy is
-Ainmepe CluAna pacA.
3 See the notices of St. Etchen, Bishop of
that place, at the nth of February, in the Second Volume of this work, Art. ii.
* See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 208, 209.
meath.
'See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 452, 453, and n. (n. ), ibid.
,0 See ibid. , pp. 540, 54', and n. (n. )
"See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xw. , p. I31.
Kelly,
and 6 There was also jg .
382 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. JSkptember 15.
We are told it was near the Church of Domnach-Padruic, perhaps Temple Patrick in the County of Westmeath. Could the site of this locality be ascertained, it seems probable it should determine that of the present Saint Ainmire's place. At the 1 5th of September, a festival for the chaste Ainmire of
12
Cluain is given by Marianus O'Gorman.
entry for his feast in the Martyrology of Donegal. ^
Article III. —St. Lassar of Clonmore. This pious Virgin, St. Lassair, of Cluain-mor, was venerated at the 15th of September, as we read in
1 The name of Lassera or Lassair Lasra, Lassar,
the of Martyrologies
Tallagh.
was not an unusual one among the Irish female Saints. 2 Of these, some are
distinguishedbytheirpatronymics; othersbytheirconnexionwithaparticular
locality ; while others are not recognizable under either category. 3 The
present St. Lassar is said to have been of Cluain-mor. Many places, bearing
the name of Clonmore, are found in various parts of Ireland. Mr. John
McCall informs the writer, however, that the place of this holy virgin was
Clonmore Maedhoe, now Clonmore, in the County of Carlow,* which place
hasbeenalreadydescribedatthe8thofFebruary,5 whentreatingaboutSt.
Oncho or Onchuo, Confessor. At the 15th of September, the bright St:
Lassar is invoked in the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman, as the shining
one who is not 6 A commentator that she was of Cluana decrepid. adds,
Moir. At the present date, likewise, Lassar is noticed in the Martyrology of Donegal. 7 The same entry occurs in the Irish Calendar, belonging to the
8
Article IV. —The Sons of Tadhg. Some instances occur in our Irish
Calendars of Saints venerated, without their distinctive names being pre-
served, as in the present case. There is not wanting a precedent, in the
Roman
Saint's merits had been recognised, although his real name has not been placed on record. 2 In that copy of the Martyrology of Tallagh contained in
Ordnance Survey Records.
At this date, also, we rind the
and Missal, 1 for a similar distinction conferred, where a
Breviary
" See Dr. Whitley Stokes' " Felire Hui
Gormain," pp. 176, 1. 77.
13 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
6 Thus—
" 1n cAnrolech riAch cpAmiA,
lerme. " Kelly, p. xxxiv. In the Book of Leinster —Dr. Whitley Stokes' " Felire Hui Gor-
pp. 248, 249. — Article hi.
LAfpAp lAin-opech
*
copy is Larr'Aip Cluana mop.
2 See " Acta Sanctorum Colgan's
Finniani seu
Finneni,
3 See the list of saints, under the
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Ilibernioe," xxiii. Februarii. Vita S. pp. 248, 249.
Abbatis de Cluain- Krainl, nn. 26, 27, p. 399.
headings Lassar and Laissi, in the "Martyrology of Donegal," edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and
b Now in the Irish Academy. kept Royal
See "Common—I'lace Book," F. , p. 78.
•
Article iv. At the 30th August.
2 Allusion is here made to that intrepid Christian Martyr, who professed his faith in Reeves, in the Table of the Martyrology, Christ, when St. Felix had been led to
pp. 430to433.
4 In a letter, dated Dublin, 25 Patrick-
martyrdom. Beingapprehendedandunited in death with St. Felix, he was thenceforth called Adauctus, and for this reason, "quod
street, August 3rd, 1873.
5 See at that date, the Second Volume of sancto martyri Felici adauctus sit ad
this work, Art. i. coronam. "
main," p. 176.
» Edited Drs. Todd and Reeves, by
September 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 383
the Book of Leinster3 is the entry of a feast at the 15th of September, for the son or sons of Taide. Such name has been omitted from the published version by the Rev. Matthew Kelly, D. D. , at this date. Also, at the 15th of September, in the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman, are commemorated Tadg's sons for their austerity. * We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,' that a festival to honour the sons of Tadhg was celebrated on the 15th of September.
ArticleV. —St. CyrinusandhisCompanions,Martyrs. Thefeast of this holy Bishop and Martyr, with that of his companions, was celebrated on this day in the early Irish Church, as we learn from the Feilire1 of St.
Article VI. —Octave of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the early Irish Church, the Octave Day of the Blessed Virgin Mary's Nativity was observed as a Feast of Devotion, as we learn from the Feilire
—Dr. ^ Whitley Stokes' main," p. 176.
Felire Hui Gor-
A brief note is attached. 2 This festival to have been taken appears
^Engus.
from the ancient Hieronymian Martyrology,3 in which the names of Saints Cyrinus, Serapion, Leontius and Crocus are to be found. In the Martyr- ology of Raban Maur, only the names of Serapion and Leontius arc mentioned, at the 15th of September/ The Bollandists, who record \}r< feast at the present date, refer to the 12th of this month, as the one known to the Greeks, and also to be met with in the Roman Martyrology. s
1 An allusion to the consecration of a Basilica to her honour has
of
not been explained ; but, probably it had reference to some church erected in Ireland, and solemnly dedicated under her patronage, on this Octave of her Festival. The great Octave of Mary is celebrated on the 15th of
^Engus.
in the
commemoration of such a feast in Usuard and in other Latin Fasti, the Bollandists note it on this day. 3 It is also inserted in the Roman Martyrology. *
September,
"MaicTaidgaratenne.
"
"
of Marianus O'Gorman. 2 the Finding
us—rnAC CA1'oe ? ? * •
3
4 Thus
3 There are
go by the title of Codices Hieronymiani, but which aPPear to have been taken from Calendars and Martyrologies, that date back to a period still more remote than the age of St. Jerome. Several of these belonged to
Martyrology
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, particular Churches. The Greeks and
posed, that Eusebius compiled a Greek Martyrology, afterwards used by St. Jerome
in the composition of one in Latin. Ancient
versions of this had been used in Ireland by
ourCalendarists. SeePereVictordeBucks
"
Recherches sur les Calendriers Ecclesias- tiques. " Bruxelles, 1877. 8vo.
4 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v,
Septembris xv. Among the pretermitted Saints, p. 2.
S Leaving out the name ot Cyrinus, we there read—" Alexandria; natalis sanctorum
Martyrum Ilieronidis, Leontii, Serapionis, Selesii, Valeriani et Stratonis, qui sub
pp. 248, 249. —
Article v. In the Leabhar Breac among the most ancient. It has been sup-
*
copy we have the following stanza at the 15th September :—
LACoireq\<vo mbAirlicc 111AipemupcocaIcu
CitMnur- cenfoccUi
luit) corluag mop mApcpai.
Thus translated by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. —
•'
At the consecration of the Basilica, Mary,
a rampart with strength, Cyrinus, without
vainglory, went with a great host of iMartyr-
dom. "— " Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. ,
parti. OntheCalendarofOengus,pp. MaximimoImperatoreobChristinomin—is
cxxxvn. , cxxxviii. confessionem in mare sunt demersi. "
"" Martyrologium Romanum, Edifio
novissima, p. 135.
2"
ibid. , p. cxlvi.
Cyrinus," i. , escop. agus martir. See
many
ancient
copies,
which
Oriental Martyrologies are known to be
384 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 15.
Article VII. —Reputed Feast of St. Muredac. The Bollandists remark, likewise, that Ferrarius, at the 5 th of October, has Murdachus, a bishop in Argadia, and they defer possibly to the latter date any further investigation of the Saint's history. The Florarium Manuscript, in their possession, notes Murdacus as a bishop, at this date, without assigning him
1 The Kalendar of Arbuthnott enters the festival of St. Murdac, as bishop and confessor, at the xvii kalends of October, or
2
Article VIII. —Reputed Feast of St. Cormac, of Munster. Vener-
1
ation was given to Cormac of Munster, at the 15th of September, according
2
to Marianus O'Gorman, followed by the Martyrology of Donegal. 3
this Cormac could have been, if not Cormac MacCuoillainan, King of
Munster, and Archbishop of Cashel, is not apparent. We have already treated about him on the day preceding.
Article IX. —Feast of Nicomedes, Martyr. At the 15th of September, Marianus O'Gorman enters the feast of the noble Nicomedes. 1 This holy priest suffered martyrdom at Rome, under the Emperor Domitian. 2 The Bollandists, who find this his Natalis in the ancient Martyrologies, have endeavoured to investigate his Acts in their great collection. 3 Father Constantine Suysken, in a commentary comprising three sections, deals with his cultus and memorials in thirty-nine paragraphs. 4
Article vi. —' See " Transactions of the Which is thus translated—" lauded Cormac Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript of Munster, without niggardliness, without Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of oppressiveness. ' — Dr. Whitley Stokes'
any particular place.
15th of September.
Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. . pp. cxxxvii.
Thus—
" Octauus mor Maire. "
—Dr. Whitley Stokes' " Felire Hui Gor- main," p. 176.
3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Septembris xv. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 4.
Romanum,"
Sanctorum,"
" Felire Hui Gormain," pp. 176, 177.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
" Felire Hui Gormain," pp. 176, 177.
2
He ruled from A. D. 81 to September 1 8th, A. I). 96, when he was assassinated. See the chief events of his reign set forth
in Philip Smith's "Ancient History,"
4 See "
vol. book ill. ,
xxxviii. ,
pp. 463
Martyrologium Editio novissima, p. 137.
Article vii. — ' See " Acta
viii. , chap,
tomus v. , Septembris xv. Among the
pretermitted feats, pp. 4, 5.
2 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," —
p. 104.
to 480.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Septembris xv. De S. Nicomede Pnsl>.
Mart. Romje, pp. 5 to 12.
4 The history of this saint is thus com-
" :
A note by Dr. Reeves
at this Romse via Nomentana natalis bead
Article viii.
says at ihis word Munster—"This entry, borrowed from Marian O'Gorman, is in the more recent hand with Marian annexed. "
3 Thus— 11
'
mumhanmolea Can T>occ4, can -oenj;e. "
cum
Komanum. " Editionovissima,
Copbrnac
tyrologium P. 137.
pp. 248, 249. — Article ix.
Thus—"Nicomeid saer sunna," rendered —into English, "noble Nicomedes here. " Dr. Whitley Stokes'
l
in the Roman
pressed Martyrology
day
Nicomedis Presbyter] et Martyris ; qui diceret compellentibus se sacrificare : Ego non sacrifico nisi Deo omnipotenti, qui regnat in coelis ; plumbatis diutissime ciesus migravit ad Dominum. "—"Mar-
Who
September i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 385
MfUtwW) IBaj) of September.
ARTICLE T. —ST. MONENN OR MAOINEANN, BISHOP, OF CLONCURRY, COUNTY OF KILDARE, AND SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN IDENTICAL WITH ST. NINIAN, APOSTLE OF THE SOUTHERN PICTS.
[FOURTH AND FIFTH CENTURIES. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—WRITERS OF ST. NINIAN's ACTS—SUPPOSED IDENTITY OF NINIAN WITH MONEEN OR MAOINEAN—BIRTH AND EARLY YEARS OF NINIAN—HIS JOURNEYS TO GAUL, ON HIS WAY TO ROME—HIS STUDIES THERE—HIS ORDINATION AS PRIEST AND HIS CONSECRATION AS BISHOP—HIS VISIT TO ST. MARTIN, BISHOP OF TOURS— HIS RETURN TO SCOTLAND.
time; probable,
chiefly the record of local and popular traditions. We cannot be sure, that such narratives are to be trusted in all particulars. It should be a great honour conferred on our Island, to have had the celebrated Apostle of the Southern Picts spend the closing years of his grand career among us, as has been asserted in an old Irish Life. It is thought to be not improbable, that St. Ninian of Candida Casa may have been identical with St. Monean or
early writers, who have treated about the present Saint, lived long after his and it seems their notices of him have been
THE
Maioneann of Cluain Conaire in Ireland, and whose feast falls on this
• day.
We must only lay before our readers, the combined statements of other
writers, in reference to such matters ; our own opinions not lining been
conclusively matured on the subject. Again, it is said, the Irish called him
9 Ringan.
Already have we treated about St. Ninian at considerable length, on the 25th ot Julys —supposed by some writers to have been one of his festivals. Yet, certain omissions of narrative there to be detected are here inserted. In the order of Scottish Episcopal succession, St. Ninian is placed first,* among the eminent prelates. The earliest authentic record of Ninian, the Pictish Apostle, is to be found in the History of Venerable Bede. 5 In our Irish Martyrologies, which are supposed to supply the next conjectural
notices regarding the Saint, his name is to be found under the forms of
"
Moinenn or Moinend, whic—h have been rendered into the English of Nenn" or " Nennius" the of " "
My endearing epithet my being placed before his name, a practice peculiar to the Irish, in reference to their holy men so greatly venerated. Thus, the festival of St. Moinenn or Moinend is
My
commemorated on the 16th of September, in the "Felire" of St. ^Engus.
Article l—Chapter 1. —1 See Bishop
6
« See Rev. Dr. J. F. S. Gordon's " Scoti-
chronicon," vol. i. , p. 25.
5 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. iv.
6 In the " Leabhar Breac" copy is the
" 421.
2
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. Under such form, likewise, it is applied
Forbes'
to the St. Ninian's church,
parish
and
— :
village in Stirlingshire. See William "
following stanza, at this day
1rl terpen ronA1 uLA1f„en m0n men*.
Thus translated by Whitley Stokes, 1b
Nimmo's HistoryofStirlingshire,"vol. i. , chap, xxi. , p. 376. Third Edition. Re- vised, enlarged, and brought down to the Present Time, by R. Gillespie.
3 See at that date, the Seventh Volume of this work, Art. i.
Vol. IX. -No. 7.
m
^chenghat) oon* mom^ent) nuAll cechgetiAi
386 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September16.
In a comment, his place in Ireland is particularised. 7 The published
of 8 records a festival to honour Monenn of Cluana Martyrology Tallagh
Conaire, at the 16th of September, but incorrectly under the heading Idus, instead of the xvi Kalends. The same error appears in the Book of Leinster Copy,9 for this day. An Irish Life of St. Ninian was extant, and it has been
quoted by Archbishop Ussher.
10
This, however, contains matter not always
reconcilable with that
Ailred. Of the Irish 11 Life,
written
the Bollandists had a translation made by Father Henry Fitzsimon, but they
biography
think it of little value, and to abound in false statements.
12
T3
who 1 * in Lincolnshire, and who died a. d. 1166, wrote the Life of St. Ninian,1' while in the composition of that 16 Ailred's Life of our Saint was first printed by John Pinkerton, ? from a beautiful
became the Cistercian Abbot of
Revesby, Memoir he had the assistance of a " Liber barbaris
(sic) scriptus.
attention is that mysterious monument, "
called Queen Blearie's Tomb. " It is the monument of a female, whose effigy lies at full length on a large altar sarcophagus. ***** Along a portion of the upper
end of the sounding aisle there is a series
of sculptured groups in compartments. They are the work of an ancient and rude
September 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 38
Thus, in the south-east boundary of the parish of Kelton in Kirkcudbright is
Kirk Mirren, where the vestige of an ancient chapel and churchyard may be
26 2 found. In the parish of Kilmarnock is St. Mirren's ruined Chapel ? upon
Inch Murryn, the largest Island of romantic Loch Lomond. 28 Owing to the name and to the patron, some former connexion with the Abbey of Paisley may be traced. In Kilsyth, on the south of Woodend, there is a remarkable
2
spring called St. Mirrin's Well. ? In the parish of Coylton, there is a farm
called Knock Murran. 3° On the south side of the North Esk is the Burn of Alurran. There are no distinct traces of this Saint's memory anywhere on the east coast of Scotland. 31
ArticleII. —St. AnmeirorAinmire,ofCluain-foda. TheMartyr-
of 1 records a festival in honour of Anmeir or Ainmire, of ology Tallagh
Cluain-foda,2 at the 15th of September. In modern phraseology, the locality must now be recognised in Clonfad, and there are various places so called, in different counties of Ireland ; but, hitherto we have not been able to identifythepresentSaintinconnectionwithanyofthem. Thereweretwo celebrated places, bearing this name, and mentioned in our Annals. One was known as Cluain-foda Baetanabha,3 that is " the long Lawn" or n Meadow " of Baetain-abha, in the parish of Killucan, barony of Farbil, and County of Westmeath. In our Irish Annals, it is noticed in connection with the founder St. Etchcenius or Etchen, who died in the year of grace 5 7 7, 4
Long
8 Westmeath. It was likewise called Cluain-foda-Fine, in Feara-Tulach. In
the year 835 died Fiachra, son of Dubhdacrich, Abbot of this place. 9 Again,
it is mentioned under the designation of Cluain-foda-Fini, at a. d. 887,'
when Conchobhar, son of Flanagan, Lord of Ui-Failge, was destroyed by fire in its church, and the relics of Finian were violated by the Feara-Tulach,
on his way from parleying with Flann, son of Maelseachlain, King of Ireland. One locality in Ireland was formerly known as Cluainfoda Anmireach. "
26 See " New Statistical Account of Scot- s When Aengus, son of Tibraide, Abbot land," vol. iv. , Kirkcudbright, Parish of of Cluain-foda Beadainabha, died. —Ibid. , Kelton, by the Rev. Samuel Cowan, p. 170. pp. 342, 343.
and with other
a Clnain-foda-Librain,? that
now known as Clonfad, in the barony of Fertullagh, and in the county of
Bishops
or Abbots, at a. d.
741,5
Lawn M or " Meadow,"
See Origines Parochiales Scotise," part i. , p. 35.
Gazetteer of Scotland," vol, ii. , p. 8.
29 See "Origines Parochiales Scoti? e,"
part i. , p. 43.
3° See New Statistical Account of Scot-
land," vol. v. , Ayr, Parish of Coylton, by Rev. Alexander Duncan, p. 656.
In this year (or recte 795), Tibraide, Abbot of Cluaiu-foda, died. —Ibid. , pp. 396, 397. The reader will hardly fail to observe how the influence of a family name was paramount in that monastery during the eighth century.
7 So called from St. Librain or Libran. who flourished in the sixth or seventh century, and of whom some account may be found in the Third Volume of tins work, at
28 See a
of it in "The Topographical, Statistical, and Historical
description
is,
" St. Librain's
*
27" 6 Ua
* See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of the nth of March, Art. iii.
8 The ancient name for the present Article ii. —« Edited by Rev. Dr. Barony of Fertullagh, County of West-
Scottish Saints,"
p. 398.
xxxiv.
2 In the Book of Leinster copy is
-Ainmepe CluAna pacA.
3 See the notices of St. Etchen, Bishop of
that place, at the nth of February, in the Second Volume of this work, Art. ii.
* See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 208, 209.
meath.
'See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 452, 453, and n. (n. ), ibid.
,0 See ibid. , pp. 540, 54', and n. (n. )
"See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xw. , p. I31.
Kelly,
and 6 There was also jg .
382 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. JSkptember 15.
We are told it was near the Church of Domnach-Padruic, perhaps Temple Patrick in the County of Westmeath. Could the site of this locality be ascertained, it seems probable it should determine that of the present Saint Ainmire's place. At the 1 5th of September, a festival for the chaste Ainmire of
12
Cluain is given by Marianus O'Gorman.
entry for his feast in the Martyrology of Donegal. ^
Article III. —St. Lassar of Clonmore. This pious Virgin, St. Lassair, of Cluain-mor, was venerated at the 15th of September, as we read in
1 The name of Lassera or Lassair Lasra, Lassar,
the of Martyrologies
Tallagh.
was not an unusual one among the Irish female Saints. 2 Of these, some are
distinguishedbytheirpatronymics; othersbytheirconnexionwithaparticular
locality ; while others are not recognizable under either category. 3 The
present St. Lassar is said to have been of Cluain-mor. Many places, bearing
the name of Clonmore, are found in various parts of Ireland. Mr. John
McCall informs the writer, however, that the place of this holy virgin was
Clonmore Maedhoe, now Clonmore, in the County of Carlow,* which place
hasbeenalreadydescribedatthe8thofFebruary,5 whentreatingaboutSt.
Oncho or Onchuo, Confessor. At the 15th of September, the bright St:
Lassar is invoked in the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman, as the shining
one who is not 6 A commentator that she was of Cluana decrepid. adds,
Moir. At the present date, likewise, Lassar is noticed in the Martyrology of Donegal. 7 The same entry occurs in the Irish Calendar, belonging to the
8
Article IV. —The Sons of Tadhg. Some instances occur in our Irish
Calendars of Saints venerated, without their distinctive names being pre-
served, as in the present case. There is not wanting a precedent, in the
Roman
Saint's merits had been recognised, although his real name has not been placed on record. 2 In that copy of the Martyrology of Tallagh contained in
Ordnance Survey Records.
At this date, also, we rind the
and Missal, 1 for a similar distinction conferred, where a
Breviary
" See Dr. Whitley Stokes' " Felire Hui
Gormain," pp. 176, 1. 77.
13 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
6 Thus—
" 1n cAnrolech riAch cpAmiA,
lerme. " Kelly, p. xxxiv. In the Book of Leinster —Dr. Whitley Stokes' " Felire Hui Gor-
pp. 248, 249. — Article hi.
LAfpAp lAin-opech
*
copy is Larr'Aip Cluana mop.
2 See " Acta Sanctorum Colgan's
Finniani seu
Finneni,
3 See the list of saints, under the
Edited by Rev. Dr.
Ilibernioe," xxiii. Februarii. Vita S. pp. 248, 249.
Abbatis de Cluain- Krainl, nn. 26, 27, p. 399.
headings Lassar and Laissi, in the "Martyrology of Donegal," edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and
b Now in the Irish Academy. kept Royal
See "Common—I'lace Book," F. , p. 78.
•
Article iv. At the 30th August.
2 Allusion is here made to that intrepid Christian Martyr, who professed his faith in Reeves, in the Table of the Martyrology, Christ, when St. Felix had been led to
pp. 430to433.
4 In a letter, dated Dublin, 25 Patrick-
martyrdom. Beingapprehendedandunited in death with St. Felix, he was thenceforth called Adauctus, and for this reason, "quod
street, August 3rd, 1873.
5 See at that date, the Second Volume of sancto martyri Felici adauctus sit ad
this work, Art. i. coronam. "
main," p. 176.
» Edited Drs. Todd and Reeves, by
September 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 383
the Book of Leinster3 is the entry of a feast at the 15th of September, for the son or sons of Taide. Such name has been omitted from the published version by the Rev. Matthew Kelly, D. D. , at this date. Also, at the 15th of September, in the Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman, are commemorated Tadg's sons for their austerity. * We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,' that a festival to honour the sons of Tadhg was celebrated on the 15th of September.
ArticleV. —St. CyrinusandhisCompanions,Martyrs. Thefeast of this holy Bishop and Martyr, with that of his companions, was celebrated on this day in the early Irish Church, as we learn from the Feilire1 of St.
Article VI. —Octave of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the early Irish Church, the Octave Day of the Blessed Virgin Mary's Nativity was observed as a Feast of Devotion, as we learn from the Feilire
—Dr. ^ Whitley Stokes' main," p. 176.
Felire Hui Gor-
A brief note is attached. 2 This festival to have been taken appears
^Engus.
from the ancient Hieronymian Martyrology,3 in which the names of Saints Cyrinus, Serapion, Leontius and Crocus are to be found. In the Martyr- ology of Raban Maur, only the names of Serapion and Leontius arc mentioned, at the 15th of September/ The Bollandists, who record \}r< feast at the present date, refer to the 12th of this month, as the one known to the Greeks, and also to be met with in the Roman Martyrology. s
1 An allusion to the consecration of a Basilica to her honour has
of
not been explained ; but, probably it had reference to some church erected in Ireland, and solemnly dedicated under her patronage, on this Octave of her Festival. The great Octave of Mary is celebrated on the 15th of
^Engus.
in the
commemoration of such a feast in Usuard and in other Latin Fasti, the Bollandists note it on this day. 3 It is also inserted in the Roman Martyrology. *
September,
"MaicTaidgaratenne.
"
"
of Marianus O'Gorman. 2 the Finding
us—rnAC CA1'oe ? ? * •
3
4 Thus
3 There are
go by the title of Codices Hieronymiani, but which aPPear to have been taken from Calendars and Martyrologies, that date back to a period still more remote than the age of St. Jerome. Several of these belonged to
Martyrology
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, particular Churches. The Greeks and
posed, that Eusebius compiled a Greek Martyrology, afterwards used by St. Jerome
in the composition of one in Latin. Ancient
versions of this had been used in Ireland by
ourCalendarists. SeePereVictordeBucks
"
Recherches sur les Calendriers Ecclesias- tiques. " Bruxelles, 1877. 8vo.
4 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v,
Septembris xv. Among the pretermitted Saints, p. 2.
S Leaving out the name ot Cyrinus, we there read—" Alexandria; natalis sanctorum
Martyrum Ilieronidis, Leontii, Serapionis, Selesii, Valeriani et Stratonis, qui sub
pp. 248, 249. —
Article v. In the Leabhar Breac among the most ancient. It has been sup-
*
copy we have the following stanza at the 15th September :—
LACoireq\<vo mbAirlicc 111AipemupcocaIcu
CitMnur- cenfoccUi
luit) corluag mop mApcpai.
Thus translated by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. —
•'
At the consecration of the Basilica, Mary,
a rampart with strength, Cyrinus, without
vainglory, went with a great host of iMartyr-
dom. "— " Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. ,
parti. OntheCalendarofOengus,pp. MaximimoImperatoreobChristinomin—is
cxxxvn. , cxxxviii. confessionem in mare sunt demersi. "
"" Martyrologium Romanum, Edifio
novissima, p. 135.
2"
ibid. , p. cxlvi.
Cyrinus," i. , escop. agus martir. See
many
ancient
copies,
which
Oriental Martyrologies are known to be
384 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 15.
Article VII. —Reputed Feast of St. Muredac. The Bollandists remark, likewise, that Ferrarius, at the 5 th of October, has Murdachus, a bishop in Argadia, and they defer possibly to the latter date any further investigation of the Saint's history. The Florarium Manuscript, in their possession, notes Murdacus as a bishop, at this date, without assigning him
1 The Kalendar of Arbuthnott enters the festival of St. Murdac, as bishop and confessor, at the xvii kalends of October, or
2
Article VIII. —Reputed Feast of St. Cormac, of Munster. Vener-
1
ation was given to Cormac of Munster, at the 15th of September, according
2
to Marianus O'Gorman, followed by the Martyrology of Donegal. 3
this Cormac could have been, if not Cormac MacCuoillainan, King of
Munster, and Archbishop of Cashel, is not apparent. We have already treated about him on the day preceding.
Article IX. —Feast of Nicomedes, Martyr. At the 15th of September, Marianus O'Gorman enters the feast of the noble Nicomedes. 1 This holy priest suffered martyrdom at Rome, under the Emperor Domitian. 2 The Bollandists, who find this his Natalis in the ancient Martyrologies, have endeavoured to investigate his Acts in their great collection. 3 Father Constantine Suysken, in a commentary comprising three sections, deals with his cultus and memorials in thirty-nine paragraphs. 4
Article vi. —' See " Transactions of the Which is thus translated—" lauded Cormac Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript of Munster, without niggardliness, without Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of oppressiveness. ' — Dr. Whitley Stokes'
any particular place.
15th of September.
Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. . pp. cxxxvii.
Thus—
" Octauus mor Maire. "
—Dr. Whitley Stokes' " Felire Hui Gor- main," p. 176.
3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Septembris xv. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 4.
Romanum,"
Sanctorum,"
" Felire Hui Gormain," pp. 176, 177.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves,
" Felire Hui Gormain," pp. 176, 177.
2
He ruled from A. D. 81 to September 1 8th, A. I). 96, when he was assassinated. See the chief events of his reign set forth
in Philip Smith's "Ancient History,"
4 See "
vol. book ill. ,
xxxviii. ,
pp. 463
Martyrologium Editio novissima, p. 137.
Article vii. — ' See " Acta
viii. , chap,
tomus v. , Septembris xv. Among the
pretermitted feats, pp. 4, 5.
2 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," —
p. 104.
to 480.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Septembris xv. De S. Nicomede Pnsl>.
Mart. Romje, pp. 5 to 12.
4 The history of this saint is thus com-
" :
A note by Dr. Reeves
at this Romse via Nomentana natalis bead
Article viii.
says at ihis word Munster—"This entry, borrowed from Marian O'Gorman, is in the more recent hand with Marian annexed. "
3 Thus— 11
'
mumhanmolea Can T>occ4, can -oenj;e. "
cum
Komanum. " Editionovissima,
Copbrnac
tyrologium P. 137.
pp. 248, 249. — Article ix.
Thus—"Nicomeid saer sunna," rendered —into English, "noble Nicomedes here. " Dr. Whitley Stokes'
l
in the Roman
pressed Martyrology
day
Nicomedis Presbyter] et Martyris ; qui diceret compellentibus se sacrificare : Ego non sacrifico nisi Deo omnipotenti, qui regnat in coelis ; plumbatis diutissime ciesus migravit ad Dominum. "—"Mar-
Who
September i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 385
MfUtwW) IBaj) of September.
ARTICLE T. —ST. MONENN OR MAOINEANN, BISHOP, OF CLONCURRY, COUNTY OF KILDARE, AND SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN IDENTICAL WITH ST. NINIAN, APOSTLE OF THE SOUTHERN PICTS.
[FOURTH AND FIFTH CENTURIES. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—WRITERS OF ST. NINIAN's ACTS—SUPPOSED IDENTITY OF NINIAN WITH MONEEN OR MAOINEAN—BIRTH AND EARLY YEARS OF NINIAN—HIS JOURNEYS TO GAUL, ON HIS WAY TO ROME—HIS STUDIES THERE—HIS ORDINATION AS PRIEST AND HIS CONSECRATION AS BISHOP—HIS VISIT TO ST. MARTIN, BISHOP OF TOURS— HIS RETURN TO SCOTLAND.
time; probable,
chiefly the record of local and popular traditions. We cannot be sure, that such narratives are to be trusted in all particulars. It should be a great honour conferred on our Island, to have had the celebrated Apostle of the Southern Picts spend the closing years of his grand career among us, as has been asserted in an old Irish Life. It is thought to be not improbable, that St. Ninian of Candida Casa may have been identical with St. Monean or
early writers, who have treated about the present Saint, lived long after his and it seems their notices of him have been
THE
Maioneann of Cluain Conaire in Ireland, and whose feast falls on this
• day.
We must only lay before our readers, the combined statements of other
writers, in reference to such matters ; our own opinions not lining been
conclusively matured on the subject. Again, it is said, the Irish called him
9 Ringan.
Already have we treated about St. Ninian at considerable length, on the 25th ot Julys —supposed by some writers to have been one of his festivals. Yet, certain omissions of narrative there to be detected are here inserted. In the order of Scottish Episcopal succession, St. Ninian is placed first,* among the eminent prelates. The earliest authentic record of Ninian, the Pictish Apostle, is to be found in the History of Venerable Bede. 5 In our Irish Martyrologies, which are supposed to supply the next conjectural
notices regarding the Saint, his name is to be found under the forms of
"
Moinenn or Moinend, whic—h have been rendered into the English of Nenn" or " Nennius" the of " "
My endearing epithet my being placed before his name, a practice peculiar to the Irish, in reference to their holy men so greatly venerated. Thus, the festival of St. Moinenn or Moinend is
My
commemorated on the 16th of September, in the "Felire" of St. ^Engus.
Article l—Chapter 1. —1 See Bishop
6
« See Rev. Dr. J. F. S. Gordon's " Scoti-
chronicon," vol. i. , p. 25.
5 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. iv.
6 In the " Leabhar Breac" copy is the
" 421.
2
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. Under such form, likewise, it is applied
Forbes'
to the St. Ninian's church,
parish
and
— :
village in Stirlingshire. See William "
following stanza, at this day
1rl terpen ronA1 uLA1f„en m0n men*.
Thus translated by Whitley Stokes, 1b
Nimmo's HistoryofStirlingshire,"vol. i. , chap, xxi. , p. 376. Third Edition. Re- vised, enlarged, and brought down to the Present Time, by R. Gillespie.
3 See at that date, the Seventh Volume of this work, Art. i.
Vol. IX. -No. 7.
m
^chenghat) oon* mom^ent) nuAll cechgetiAi
386 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September16.
In a comment, his place in Ireland is particularised. 7 The published
of 8 records a festival to honour Monenn of Cluana Martyrology Tallagh
Conaire, at the 16th of September, but incorrectly under the heading Idus, instead of the xvi Kalends. The same error appears in the Book of Leinster Copy,9 for this day. An Irish Life of St. Ninian was extant, and it has been
quoted by Archbishop Ussher.
10
This, however, contains matter not always
reconcilable with that
Ailred. Of the Irish 11 Life,
written
the Bollandists had a translation made by Father Henry Fitzsimon, but they
biography
think it of little value, and to abound in false statements.
12
T3
who 1 * in Lincolnshire, and who died a. d. 1166, wrote the Life of St. Ninian,1' while in the composition of that 16 Ailred's Life of our Saint was first printed by John Pinkerton, ? from a beautiful
became the Cistercian Abbot of
Revesby, Memoir he had the assistance of a " Liber barbaris
(sic) scriptus.
