O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
Fin- nan led a hermit's life for many years m ar the monastery of Durrow, and that he was present at the battle of Dun-Keherne, and
that he was still living in his own time, A. n.
660. There are but lour saints of this name,
to whom these circumstances could apply. I.
Son of Pipan, St. Columba's cousin, whose
festivaliskept2ndNovember,inRathain,
Tirconnell. II. Son of Arennan, honoured in Very Rev. Archdeacon T. O'Rorke's
son of came off Aedh,
128 He was born in 624, so that he was in his fifth year, at the date of the battle. He speaks also in the first person here, as in other passages of his Life of St. Columba.
I2j The Rev. Dr. O'Conor suggests, that Finnan, the son of Arennan, and who is venerated on the 12th of February, was identical with him. See " Rerum Hiberni- carum Scriptores," tomus iv. , Annales Ultonienses, p. 60.
130 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Quinta Vita S. Columbos, lib. i. , cap. xcv. ,
p. 404.
131 See Rev. Dr. Reeves Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 49, and nn. (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, k, 1, m, n, o),
pp. 91 to 97.
132Tinsisrendered cataractoftheoak,"
"
History, Antiqui- Ballysadare and Kilvarnet, in the County of
'•
5°4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
there to receive him with all honours. There were present many holy persons, both men and women. 1^ Among these are enumerated the following names : St. Moninnia,^ofSliabhCulinn; thetwosonsofConall. ^sofKillchora; Manius,^6BishopofTyr-Oilill; Muredach,13? ofKillala,inTyrAmhalgaidh5 Ronius,138 Bishop of Kill Ronius ; Caiminus,,39 of Inis-Kealtra ; Regulus,'40 of Mucinis, in the territory of Dalgeis ; Senanus, 141 of Inis-Cathy ; Senanus,' 42
<. ss*'-'S? 5
Killasnet Old Church, County of Leitrim.
of Lathir Brivin ; Eminus,143 of Cluain-reilgeach, in Meath ; seven Bishops
of Cluain Hemain 44 Libania I45 and Fortchem,146 cf Odhba Kearo, in Par- ;'
47 of at the eastern side of 48 or Crouen 49
try j GrellaiV
Sligo," &c, cliap. i. , sect, i. , p. 2.
tember.
143 His festival is celebrated on the
August.
;'
of
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nice," xv. Febrtiarii, Vita S. Farannani Con-
133 See
Colgan's
5th
Cravibh,
Magh Lairg,'
144
134 Her festival occurs, on the 6ih of bishops were there and representing one
July. — — place. Some error of statements seems to lj5 Their festivals if any they had are have entered into this narrative. In an an- not known. cient Book of Iris—h Litanies, seven Bishops ,3i His feast occurs on the 2nd of Septem- of Cluain-Emhain supposed to have been
fe-soris, cap. vi. , vii. , pp. 336, 337.
It does not seem likely, that seven
ber.
I37 His festival occurs on the 12th of Au-
gust.
1)8 His festival is celebrated at the 23rd of
November.
39 His festival occurs on the 25th of
March.
140 His festival is celebrated on the 16th of
October.
141 His festival occurs on the 8th of
March.
143 His festival occurs on the 2nd of Sep-
in the county of Roscommon—
145 Her festival is supposed to be cele-
brated on the 1 8th of December.
146 His feast occurs, either on February
the 17th, or on the nth of October.
147 His festival occurs on the 10th of No-
vember.
148 A in the of and plain barony Boyle,
county of Roscommon.
149 In the of Caibre it was so reign Mor,
called.
150 Her feast occurs on the 241I1 of
,
are invoked.
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 505
Derbilia, of Rath
Irras;
Nuns,
Tyrua-Fiachra
;
Mugania,
haina,
belonged
province
,6s who
of Minister. It is 166 stated,
X5X Corcaria Keann, and Corcaria Caoin/52 the two
ofKill
daughters of Eogan, and the daughter of Cathald,' 53 from Kill-Comlach, at Magh-Luirg; Loman, 1 ^ of Lough Gill, between the countries of Carbry and
Breffney; Mofrisius,155 sontoFachtna,ofSligeach; Inella,adevoutvirgin;156
Kyria,^
Skyria ;
J 8 Osnata,'S7 of Gleann Dallain, 5
in Carbry
;
andGeghia,^ofGegheIsland;
l6° of Aradh,
161 of
162
seven
with Brochlacha l63
aidhne Here, indeed,
from
Carbry.
l6*
was met a
very distinguished assemblage of pious persons, to confer with one of the most
illustrious saints of the age and of his country.
Among the notabilities of Ireland, in the time of St. Columba,
was Aidus Slane, the eldest son of Diarmait Mac Cerbhaill, by Mug-
to the
that Aedh was so surnamed, from the River Slaine, near which he was
born. As heir to the lordship of the southern Hy Neill, he was a 16
consenting party to the grant of Ceanannus, or Kells, to St. Columba. ?
On his father's death, he succeeded to that local dignity. At the instance of
St. Columba, about the year 580, he granted to St. Columba Elo the land of
Fiod in 168 where the church of Lann-Elo or was sub- Elo, Ferceall, Lynally
sequently built. l6 9 The prince thus alluded to came on one occasion to visit Co- lumba, when the holy man was sojourning for some time in Ireland. It happened, probably about this time. As a remarkable instance of Columba's prescience,
: hespokeinthefollowingpropheticstraintoAid "Yououghttotakecare,
my son, lest by unlawfully slaying any of your kinsmen, you lose the honour attaching to the monarchy of Ireland, predestined for you by God ;^° for, if you commit that sin, you shall not enjoy the whole kingdom of your father, but a part of it in your tribe, and for a short time only. " In due course, these words of the saint were fulfilled, according to his prediction. Aedh Slaine's abode was on an island in Loch Leibhinn, now Lough Lene, near Fore, in
March.
'*' Now Kilskyre, in the county of Meath.
—if any they had—
our Calendar.
o Her festival not alluded to, in the Irish
Menologies.
*54 His festival occurs on the 4th of Feb-
ruary.
'55 His festival is supposed to occur on the
2 1 st of Decembe—r.
have been celebrated on the 24th of May,
at Teagh na ninghean, in Connaught, as he thinks these were the seven daughters of Ferguss, thus recorded.
j s2 These were virgins, but their festivals
are not
mentioned,
in
l62 It uncertain that she had a seems
place
'S6
been the same as Derinella is venerated on of All-Farannan, are given. See Art. ii. ,
saint —
This thought by Colgan
to have
Farannan,
the 26th of October.
*S7 Her festival occurs, on the 7th of
January.
'58 From her, it is likely Killasnet, in the
county of Leitrim, derived its name. This old church, surrounded by a graveyard, is
now in ruins. The accompanying illustra- tion is from a sketch by the writer, and taken on the spot, injune,i876. This sketch was drawn by William F. Wakeman, on the
chap. ii.
*•> See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nire," xxviii. Februarii, Vita S. Aidi, Epis. et Confessoris, cap. xviii. , p. 420.
which was Mrs. Millard. engraved by
,6' See Colgan's "Trias Tliaumatutga,"
Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. lxiv. ,
p. 400.
S. Colmaneli, fol. 106a b.
l6 ' See Archbishop Ussher's Works, edited
"
by Dr. Elrington, vol. vi. ,
Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 530.
'7° According to Adamnan, in his Life of our saint, King Oswald was said to be "a
wood,
*» Her festival occurred possibly on the
in College, Dublin, and classed E. 3. II. Vita
22nd of March, and it is thought by Colgan, that she maybe identical with a Degia, or Degitchia, venerated on that day.
160 Her feast is said to have occurred on
the 3rd of August.
,6t Their feast is supposed by Colgan to
Britannicarum
in our Calendars.
l63 Her festival is thought by Colgan to
have been celebrated on the 17th of Feb-
ruary.
l6* For the account, the reader foregoing
is referred to the Second Volume of this work, at the 15th of February, where the Acts of St. Confessor and Patron
l6° By Rev. Dr. Jeoffrey Keating, in his "
"General History of Ireland, book ii. , at A. D. 5S7.
Iti8 to the According
Manuscript
Trinity
506 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
the county of Westmeath: 1 ? 1 On the death of Aedh, son of Ainmire, in 598, he and Colman Rimidh, one of the Cenel Eoghain, were elevated as joint sovereigns of Ireland. His after career seems to have been both an unprin- cipled and an unhappy one. In the year 600/72 this wretched king is re- corded tohave accomplished—and in a treacherous manner—the assassination of his own nephew Suibhne, son of Colman Mor, also called Columbanus,1 " at Bridamh, on the Suainu. As usual in those times, and according to the old Celtic feeling, it was deemed a rightful proceeding for the next-of-kin to seek revenge for such a family outrage. Accordingly, retribution followed in 604, when Aedh Slaine fell by Conall, son of Suibhne, on the brink of Loch Semdy, in Westmeath. Aedh Guadan, foster-brother of Conall Guithbinn,
and wounded biro. 1** Aidus Slaine Baethgal Bile,
it is
four years and three months, as a colleague in the kingdom l? 5 with Colman Rimidh. Such division of was not unusual at this 6
government period. '? While the holy Abbot was in Connaught, on one occasion, he had a vision
regarding a certain Baithen, 177 the son of Cuanach, and who was remarkably
gifted, not more for his commanding stature and singular corporal beauty of shape, than for his personal purity and holiness of life. - This Columba men- tioned to his monks, and when the rumour reached Baithen, he began to fear that those praises bestowed on him for his bodily perfections might diminish the gifts of grace in his soul. Accordingly, he prayed the Almighty, that his stature might be diminished, and that some bodily defects should be set on him, so that his soul alone might be adorned with virtue. Whereupon, his earnest prayers were heard, and from that day forward, his stature decreased until he became lower than other men, while a sore grew on his breast, and it wasted the life-current in his veins to such a degree, that his appearance was totally changed, his face became pallid, and for the remainder of his days, he was oppressed with a painful illness. Thus was virtue perfected in infir- mity ; for, while his bodily strength declined daily, virtue and grace took more deeply their roots in his heart. 178
To the great success of Columba, these happy instruments of Divine grace,
who were employed under him, must have contributed in a great measure.
His disciples were men of learning, as also men of zeal, intelligence, and piety. He chose persons of this stamp, for his first associates ; until his own seminaries furnished him afterwards, with a sufficient supply of capable assist- ants. The institution of schools and seminaries for learning thus prepared students for the ministry, and trained them up from infancy in the spirit and
Deo lib. i. and so like- ordinatus," , cap. I,
wise Dia. mait, father of this Aedh, lib. i. ,
eum ^ —
Ca
rnx,'' xx. Januarii, Vita S. Fechini, Supple-
mentum, cap. xxiii. , pp. 135, 141. Also, tween this chapter and the Annals as some-
'
n ' a l c
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
'1i/M1 c
bee Lolgan s
1tu
ti-i
ibid. , xxviii. Februarii, Vita S. Aidi, cap. xxvii. , p. 421.
172 At this year is the following entry in Tigernachi Annates : I11511I&C10 Suibhne 1111c C0I111A111 moin la lnXeo Slame a
mbpfOAtn pop SiiAimA.
' 7! Columbanus in the text of Adamnan is
an instance of the occasional use of that name for Colmanus.
'
77 His festival has been assigned to the
19th of February, by Colgan. A further 174 At the year mentioned, Tightrnach account of him will be found on that day. in
thus relates: Ingulatio xieoA SlAme o the Second Volume of this work, Art. ii. CoiiaU, mac Suibhne pop bpu IocVia Sem- 1? 8 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," oijhe.
JupoAn
coiiiaIca
ConAiU, Quinta Vita S.
Columbce, lib.
hi.
, cap.
xx.
-, guchbnToocup bAcrhjAlbile pon jumef- p.
434, and.
n.
11, p.
452.
reigned,
said, only
: untie dictum est :
cap
thing very remarkable. See "Trias Thau- maturga," Quaita Vita S. Columlxv, lib. i. , cap. xiv. , p. 342, and nn. 52, 53, 54, pp. 375, 376.
"
i;6 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life
of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 14, and nn. (a, b, c, d, e), pp. 42, 43.
^^ sUnie
•Aeoh SlAine pobi Suibne. '
Cr)n&a
,7S Colgan justly styles the harmony be-
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 507
habits of their holy office. In his religious houses, those pupils were
kept, until their character was fully formed, and until their qualifi-
cations were well known and proved. Such training had a powerful
tendency, to make their future labours successful. Of Columba's own
scholars or disciples, above one hundred had the honour of being included
among the saints. 1 ^ Their festivals had been observed, owing to the gratitude
of the inhabitants in those places, which had benefited by their labours. This
we find, from the accounts given of them, by various authors. The following is
an List ' 8o of some classed the most eminent of Columba's Alphabetical among
immediate disciples and contemporaries, as compiled with great labour and
monk of Durrow, and surnamed Laimhiodhan, of Ossorian race, and whose
feast has been to the 16th of 18^ 2. St. Aidan or
assigned February. Aodhan,
son of Libher, afterwards Bishop of Lindisfarne. '84 He was supposed by Colgan,tohavebeenatfirstamonkinIona. ,8s Ifthisconjectureandidentifi-
186
3.
St. Aidan Mocukein, or son of Kien, 18 ? abbot of Cuil-uisce, and said to have
been nephew to Columba on the side of Sinecha, sister to our saint. 4. St.
Ailbhe, son of Ronan, is said to have been venerated on the 30th of
188
181 and after
who has left us an interesting record of Iona's founder. 1. St. ^Engvis, a
care Father by
John Colgan,
him, by
cation be correct, his festival must be assigned to the 31st of August.
His feast has been
6. St. Baithen, son of Brendan, abbot of Hi. He was a favourite disciple, and the immediate successor of St. Columba.
St.
to the 29th of November. ' ?
of
January.
5.
Baithan, 8
Doire-chalgaich.
assigned
His feast also occurs, on this the 9th day of June. '? 7. St. Barrind, abbot 11
of Kill-barrind, in Tyrconnell. His feast also occurs, on the 9th of June. ? 8. St. Becan, son of Ernan, brother of Cumin Fionn. He was a monk at Iona,andahermit. Hisfeasthasbeenassignedtothe17thofMarch. 1? 2
9. St. Bee, or Beg-bhile, son of Tighernach. His feast has been assigned to
the 1 2th of October. 1 ^ 10. St.
said to have been a monk of
Hi, of Feb- ruary, but it is doubtful, if he were a disciple of St. Columba. n. St. Ber- chan, or Barchan, surnamed Mesloer,1*? a monk of Iona. 's6 12. St. Bran,
and abbot of 1 ? 4 Cluain-choirpe.
Berach,
His feast is referred to the
179 The festivals of most among the fol- lowing are noted in the Irish Calendars and Martyrologies. Thus, dingus the Culdee,
the Martyrologies of Tamlaght, of Cashel, of Maiianus O'Gorman, of Cathal Maguire, of Duald Mac Firbis, of Father Fitzsimon, and of the O'Clerys, have tlieir respective en- tries.
180
This order, adopted by Colgan, in- eludes not alone those expressly mentioned
15th
lSl See an account of him at that date, in this work.
l87 By Colgan, his festival is supposed to have been, on the 27th of August, or on the 14th of October.
l88 See a further account of him, in the
First Volume of this work, at that date,
Art. vii.
,8
* See an account of him in this work, and at that date.
in the Acts ol St. Columba as his
I&° See his
this Life ol St. Columba.
I9' Seeanaccountofhim given, at this date.
but also, those nearly related to him as nep-
hews,&c,andsomewholivedinhousesof
his foundation.
subsequently
181
gee "Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix
IS2 See an account of him, in the Third Volume of this work, and at that date, Art. ii.
Quarta ad Acta S. Columba;, cap. x. , pp.
487 to 492.
l8:" ''
See his Life of St. Columba," Ap-
pendix, pp. 154 to 161.
It3 See a further account of him, at
that date, in the Second Volume of this work, Art. iii.
184 "
See Bede's Historia Ecclesiastic Gen-
r 3 See anaccount of him, at that date, in the present work.
* 94 See his Life, in the Second Volume of this work, at that date, Art. i.
I9= See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Adamnan's Vita S. Columba-, lib. iii. , cap. xxi. , p. 368, and Quinta Vita S. Columboe,
disciples ;
Acts, immediately succeeding
tis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 3, pp. 166, 167.
185 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," lib. ii. , cap. ex. , p. 429.
Vita S.
p. 365, and n. 10, p. 386.
' 96 His name does not in of our appear any
Calendars.
Quarta
Columbas,
lib.
iii. , cap. vi. , . '
the Rev. 182 John Smith, D. D. ,
508 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
or Brannius, in Doire-Chalguich, son of Degill, and nephew of Columba, by hissisterCumenia. HeissaidtohavebeenveneratedatClaneinLeinster, on the 18th of May. IQ7 13. St. Cailten, monk of Iona, and Propositus of Kill-Dima, or Dimba, at Loch-ava. He is thought Io8 to have been venerated,
either at the of 100 or at the 25th July,
October. 200 St. son 14. Caiman,
29th
ofBrandubh, who was companion of St. Columkille, at the time he first set out
for Britain.
There is a St. Carnan venerated in our Calendars, at the 31st 201 asalsoanothersaint, thesame at for
of
name, Cluain-ich,
bearing
St. Ceata,2°3 or Catan.
named Peregrinus, said by Herman Greven to have suffered martyrdom in Italy. 16. St. Ceallach, a monk of Iona, and afterwards bishop of the Mer- cians, in England. His feast has been referred to the 1st of May ; however,
20
the bishop Ceallach or Kellach, of Killala, * then venerated, appears to have
been quite a different person. 17. St. Cobhran, son of Enan, and nephew of Columba, by his sister Minchotha. He is thought to have been the saint
January,
the 28th of 202 April.
He is some supposed by
15.
to have been the bishop Ceadan of Bede ; by others, the Cetheus, sur-
venerated at the church of Cluain, near
or he may have been venerated, in the church of Cluain-Chuallacta, at the
20? son of and brother of St. Brendan,
Cobran,
Derry,
19th
2nd of 206 18. St. August.
Cobhthach,
Baithen, one of St. Columba's companions to Britain. It is not known, with
certainty, if he have a festival. 19. St. Colgu, or Colgan, of Kill-cholgan, in
January.
23.
212
St. monk of Colman, Hi,
and afterwards said to be of Lin-
atthe8thof 21^ St. August. 24.
His feast is set down at 20th of 208 February,
Connaught.
this does not appear to be correct.
by Colgan ; but, 20. St. Colgo, or Colgan, son of Aodh treats of him at the 20th of 20?
Draighneach,
as if lie had a
a monk of Hi.
Colgan 210
day.
February,
festival,
at that
21.
that he was still living in his own time, A. n.
660. There are but lour saints of this name,
to whom these circumstances could apply. I.
Son of Pipan, St. Columba's cousin, whose
festivaliskept2ndNovember,inRathain,
Tirconnell. II. Son of Arennan, honoured in Very Rev. Archdeacon T. O'Rorke's
son of came off Aedh,
128 He was born in 624, so that he was in his fifth year, at the date of the battle. He speaks also in the first person here, as in other passages of his Life of St. Columba.
I2j The Rev. Dr. O'Conor suggests, that Finnan, the son of Arennan, and who is venerated on the 12th of February, was identical with him. See " Rerum Hiberni- carum Scriptores," tomus iv. , Annales Ultonienses, p. 60.
130 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Quinta Vita S. Columbos, lib. i. , cap. xcv. ,
p. 404.
131 See Rev. Dr. Reeves Adamnan's
" Life of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 49, and nn. (a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, k, 1, m, n, o),
pp. 91 to 97.
132Tinsisrendered cataractoftheoak,"
"
History, Antiqui- Ballysadare and Kilvarnet, in the County of
'•
5°4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
there to receive him with all honours. There were present many holy persons, both men and women. 1^ Among these are enumerated the following names : St. Moninnia,^ofSliabhCulinn; thetwosonsofConall. ^sofKillchora; Manius,^6BishopofTyr-Oilill; Muredach,13? ofKillala,inTyrAmhalgaidh5 Ronius,138 Bishop of Kill Ronius ; Caiminus,,39 of Inis-Kealtra ; Regulus,'40 of Mucinis, in the territory of Dalgeis ; Senanus, 141 of Inis-Cathy ; Senanus,' 42
<. ss*'-'S? 5
Killasnet Old Church, County of Leitrim.
of Lathir Brivin ; Eminus,143 of Cluain-reilgeach, in Meath ; seven Bishops
of Cluain Hemain 44 Libania I45 and Fortchem,146 cf Odhba Kearo, in Par- ;'
47 of at the eastern side of 48 or Crouen 49
try j GrellaiV
Sligo," &c, cliap. i. , sect, i. , p. 2.
tember.
143 His festival is celebrated on the
August.
;'
of
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nice," xv. Febrtiarii, Vita S. Farannani Con-
133 See
Colgan's
5th
Cravibh,
Magh Lairg,'
144
134 Her festival occurs, on the 6ih of bishops were there and representing one
July. — — place. Some error of statements seems to lj5 Their festivals if any they had are have entered into this narrative. In an an- not known. cient Book of Iris—h Litanies, seven Bishops ,3i His feast occurs on the 2nd of Septem- of Cluain-Emhain supposed to have been
fe-soris, cap. vi. , vii. , pp. 336, 337.
It does not seem likely, that seven
ber.
I37 His festival occurs on the 12th of Au-
gust.
1)8 His festival is celebrated at the 23rd of
November.
39 His festival occurs on the 25th of
March.
140 His festival is celebrated on the 16th of
October.
141 His festival occurs on the 8th of
March.
143 His festival occurs on the 2nd of Sep-
in the county of Roscommon—
145 Her festival is supposed to be cele-
brated on the 1 8th of December.
146 His feast occurs, either on February
the 17th, or on the nth of October.
147 His festival occurs on the 10th of No-
vember.
148 A in the of and plain barony Boyle,
county of Roscommon.
149 In the of Caibre it was so reign Mor,
called.
150 Her feast occurs on the 241I1 of
,
are invoked.
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 505
Derbilia, of Rath
Irras;
Nuns,
Tyrua-Fiachra
;
Mugania,
haina,
belonged
province
,6s who
of Minister. It is 166 stated,
X5X Corcaria Keann, and Corcaria Caoin/52 the two
ofKill
daughters of Eogan, and the daughter of Cathald,' 53 from Kill-Comlach, at Magh-Luirg; Loman, 1 ^ of Lough Gill, between the countries of Carbry and
Breffney; Mofrisius,155 sontoFachtna,ofSligeach; Inella,adevoutvirgin;156
Kyria,^
Skyria ;
J 8 Osnata,'S7 of Gleann Dallain, 5
in Carbry
;
andGeghia,^ofGegheIsland;
l6° of Aradh,
161 of
162
seven
with Brochlacha l63
aidhne Here, indeed,
from
Carbry.
l6*
was met a
very distinguished assemblage of pious persons, to confer with one of the most
illustrious saints of the age and of his country.
Among the notabilities of Ireland, in the time of St. Columba,
was Aidus Slane, the eldest son of Diarmait Mac Cerbhaill, by Mug-
to the
that Aedh was so surnamed, from the River Slaine, near which he was
born. As heir to the lordship of the southern Hy Neill, he was a 16
consenting party to the grant of Ceanannus, or Kells, to St. Columba. ?
On his father's death, he succeeded to that local dignity. At the instance of
St. Columba, about the year 580, he granted to St. Columba Elo the land of
Fiod in 168 where the church of Lann-Elo or was sub- Elo, Ferceall, Lynally
sequently built. l6 9 The prince thus alluded to came on one occasion to visit Co- lumba, when the holy man was sojourning for some time in Ireland. It happened, probably about this time. As a remarkable instance of Columba's prescience,
: hespokeinthefollowingpropheticstraintoAid "Yououghttotakecare,
my son, lest by unlawfully slaying any of your kinsmen, you lose the honour attaching to the monarchy of Ireland, predestined for you by God ;^° for, if you commit that sin, you shall not enjoy the whole kingdom of your father, but a part of it in your tribe, and for a short time only. " In due course, these words of the saint were fulfilled, according to his prediction. Aedh Slaine's abode was on an island in Loch Leibhinn, now Lough Lene, near Fore, in
March.
'*' Now Kilskyre, in the county of Meath.
—if any they had—
our Calendar.
o Her festival not alluded to, in the Irish
Menologies.
*54 His festival occurs on the 4th of Feb-
ruary.
'55 His festival is supposed to occur on the
2 1 st of Decembe—r.
have been celebrated on the 24th of May,
at Teagh na ninghean, in Connaught, as he thinks these were the seven daughters of Ferguss, thus recorded.
j s2 These were virgins, but their festivals
are not
mentioned,
in
l62 It uncertain that she had a seems
place
'S6
been the same as Derinella is venerated on of All-Farannan, are given. See Art. ii. ,
saint —
This thought by Colgan
to have
Farannan,
the 26th of October.
*S7 Her festival occurs, on the 7th of
January.
'58 From her, it is likely Killasnet, in the
county of Leitrim, derived its name. This old church, surrounded by a graveyard, is
now in ruins. The accompanying illustra- tion is from a sketch by the writer, and taken on the spot, injune,i876. This sketch was drawn by William F. Wakeman, on the
chap. ii.
*•> See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nire," xxviii. Februarii, Vita S. Aidi, Epis. et Confessoris, cap. xviii. , p. 420.
which was Mrs. Millard. engraved by
,6' See Colgan's "Trias Tliaumatutga,"
Quinta Vita S. Columbae, lib. i. , cap. lxiv. ,
p. 400.
S. Colmaneli, fol. 106a b.
l6 ' See Archbishop Ussher's Works, edited
"
by Dr. Elrington, vol. vi. ,
Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 530.
'7° According to Adamnan, in his Life of our saint, King Oswald was said to be "a
wood,
*» Her festival occurred possibly on the
in College, Dublin, and classed E. 3. II. Vita
22nd of March, and it is thought by Colgan, that she maybe identical with a Degia, or Degitchia, venerated on that day.
160 Her feast is said to have occurred on
the 3rd of August.
,6t Their feast is supposed by Colgan to
Britannicarum
in our Calendars.
l63 Her festival is thought by Colgan to
have been celebrated on the 17th of Feb-
ruary.
l6* For the account, the reader foregoing
is referred to the Second Volume of this work, at the 15th of February, where the Acts of St. Confessor and Patron
l6° By Rev. Dr. Jeoffrey Keating, in his "
"General History of Ireland, book ii. , at A. D. 5S7.
Iti8 to the According
Manuscript
Trinity
506 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
the county of Westmeath: 1 ? 1 On the death of Aedh, son of Ainmire, in 598, he and Colman Rimidh, one of the Cenel Eoghain, were elevated as joint sovereigns of Ireland. His after career seems to have been both an unprin- cipled and an unhappy one. In the year 600/72 this wretched king is re- corded tohave accomplished—and in a treacherous manner—the assassination of his own nephew Suibhne, son of Colman Mor, also called Columbanus,1 " at Bridamh, on the Suainu. As usual in those times, and according to the old Celtic feeling, it was deemed a rightful proceeding for the next-of-kin to seek revenge for such a family outrage. Accordingly, retribution followed in 604, when Aedh Slaine fell by Conall, son of Suibhne, on the brink of Loch Semdy, in Westmeath. Aedh Guadan, foster-brother of Conall Guithbinn,
and wounded biro. 1** Aidus Slaine Baethgal Bile,
it is
four years and three months, as a colleague in the kingdom l? 5 with Colman Rimidh. Such division of was not unusual at this 6
government period. '? While the holy Abbot was in Connaught, on one occasion, he had a vision
regarding a certain Baithen, 177 the son of Cuanach, and who was remarkably
gifted, not more for his commanding stature and singular corporal beauty of shape, than for his personal purity and holiness of life. - This Columba men- tioned to his monks, and when the rumour reached Baithen, he began to fear that those praises bestowed on him for his bodily perfections might diminish the gifts of grace in his soul. Accordingly, he prayed the Almighty, that his stature might be diminished, and that some bodily defects should be set on him, so that his soul alone might be adorned with virtue. Whereupon, his earnest prayers were heard, and from that day forward, his stature decreased until he became lower than other men, while a sore grew on his breast, and it wasted the life-current in his veins to such a degree, that his appearance was totally changed, his face became pallid, and for the remainder of his days, he was oppressed with a painful illness. Thus was virtue perfected in infir- mity ; for, while his bodily strength declined daily, virtue and grace took more deeply their roots in his heart. 178
To the great success of Columba, these happy instruments of Divine grace,
who were employed under him, must have contributed in a great measure.
His disciples were men of learning, as also men of zeal, intelligence, and piety. He chose persons of this stamp, for his first associates ; until his own seminaries furnished him afterwards, with a sufficient supply of capable assist- ants. The institution of schools and seminaries for learning thus prepared students for the ministry, and trained them up from infancy in the spirit and
Deo lib. i. and so like- ordinatus," , cap. I,
wise Dia. mait, father of this Aedh, lib. i. ,
eum ^ —
Ca
rnx,'' xx. Januarii, Vita S. Fechini, Supple-
mentum, cap. xxiii. , pp. 135, 141. Also, tween this chapter and the Annals as some-
'
n ' a l c
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
'1i/M1 c
bee Lolgan s
1tu
ti-i
ibid. , xxviii. Februarii, Vita S. Aidi, cap. xxvii. , p. 421.
172 At this year is the following entry in Tigernachi Annates : I11511I&C10 Suibhne 1111c C0I111A111 moin la lnXeo Slame a
mbpfOAtn pop SiiAimA.
' 7! Columbanus in the text of Adamnan is
an instance of the occasional use of that name for Colmanus.
'
77 His festival has been assigned to the
19th of February, by Colgan. A further 174 At the year mentioned, Tightrnach account of him will be found on that day. in
thus relates: Ingulatio xieoA SlAme o the Second Volume of this work, Art. ii. CoiiaU, mac Suibhne pop bpu IocVia Sem- 1? 8 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," oijhe.
reigned,
said, only
: untie dictum est :
cap
thing very remarkable. See "Trias Thau- maturga," Quaita Vita S. Columlxv, lib. i. , cap. xiv. , p. 342, and nn. 52, 53, 54, pp. 375, 376.
"
i;6 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life
of St. Columba," lib. i. , cap. 14, and nn. (a, b, c, d, e), pp. 42, 43.
^^ sUnie
•Aeoh SlAine pobi Suibne. '
Cr)n&a
,7S Colgan justly styles the harmony be-
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 507
habits of their holy office. In his religious houses, those pupils were
kept, until their character was fully formed, and until their qualifi-
cations were well known and proved. Such training had a powerful
tendency, to make their future labours successful. Of Columba's own
scholars or disciples, above one hundred had the honour of being included
among the saints. 1 ^ Their festivals had been observed, owing to the gratitude
of the inhabitants in those places, which had benefited by their labours. This
we find, from the accounts given of them, by various authors. The following is
an List ' 8o of some classed the most eminent of Columba's Alphabetical among
immediate disciples and contemporaries, as compiled with great labour and
monk of Durrow, and surnamed Laimhiodhan, of Ossorian race, and whose
feast has been to the 16th of 18^ 2. St. Aidan or
assigned February. Aodhan,
son of Libher, afterwards Bishop of Lindisfarne. '84 He was supposed by Colgan,tohavebeenatfirstamonkinIona. ,8s Ifthisconjectureandidentifi-
186
3.
St. Aidan Mocukein, or son of Kien, 18 ? abbot of Cuil-uisce, and said to have
been nephew to Columba on the side of Sinecha, sister to our saint. 4. St.
Ailbhe, son of Ronan, is said to have been venerated on the 30th of
188
181 and after
who has left us an interesting record of Iona's founder. 1. St. ^Engvis, a
care Father by
John Colgan,
him, by
cation be correct, his festival must be assigned to the 31st of August.
His feast has been
6. St. Baithen, son of Brendan, abbot of Hi. He was a favourite disciple, and the immediate successor of St. Columba.
St.
to the 29th of November. ' ?
of
January.
5.
Baithan, 8
Doire-chalgaich.
assigned
His feast also occurs, on this the 9th day of June. '? 7. St. Barrind, abbot 11
of Kill-barrind, in Tyrconnell. His feast also occurs, on the 9th of June. ? 8. St. Becan, son of Ernan, brother of Cumin Fionn. He was a monk at Iona,andahermit. Hisfeasthasbeenassignedtothe17thofMarch. 1? 2
9. St. Bee, or Beg-bhile, son of Tighernach. His feast has been assigned to
the 1 2th of October. 1 ^ 10. St.
said to have been a monk of
Hi, of Feb- ruary, but it is doubtful, if he were a disciple of St. Columba. n. St. Ber- chan, or Barchan, surnamed Mesloer,1*? a monk of Iona. 's6 12. St. Bran,
and abbot of 1 ? 4 Cluain-choirpe.
Berach,
His feast is referred to the
179 The festivals of most among the fol- lowing are noted in the Irish Calendars and Martyrologies. Thus, dingus the Culdee,
the Martyrologies of Tamlaght, of Cashel, of Maiianus O'Gorman, of Cathal Maguire, of Duald Mac Firbis, of Father Fitzsimon, and of the O'Clerys, have tlieir respective en- tries.
180
This order, adopted by Colgan, in- eludes not alone those expressly mentioned
15th
lSl See an account of him at that date, in this work.
l87 By Colgan, his festival is supposed to have been, on the 27th of August, or on the 14th of October.
l88 See a further account of him, in the
First Volume of this work, at that date,
Art. vii.
,8
* See an account of him in this work, and at that date.
in the Acts ol St. Columba as his
I&° See his
this Life ol St. Columba.
I9' Seeanaccountofhim given, at this date.
but also, those nearly related to him as nep-
hews,&c,andsomewholivedinhousesof
his foundation.
subsequently
181
gee "Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix
IS2 See an account of him, in the Third Volume of this work, and at that date, Art. ii.
Quarta ad Acta S. Columba;, cap. x. , pp.
487 to 492.
l8:" ''
See his Life of St. Columba," Ap-
pendix, pp. 154 to 161.
It3 See a further account of him, at
that date, in the Second Volume of this work, Art. iii.
184 "
See Bede's Historia Ecclesiastic Gen-
r 3 See anaccount of him, at that date, in the present work.
* 94 See his Life, in the Second Volume of this work, at that date, Art. i.
I9= See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Adamnan's Vita S. Columba-, lib. iii. , cap. xxi. , p. 368, and Quinta Vita S. Columboe,
disciples ;
Acts, immediately succeeding
tis Anglorum," lib. iii. , cap. 3, pp. 166, 167.
185 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," lib. ii. , cap. ex. , p. 429.
Vita S.
p. 365, and n. 10, p. 386.
' 96 His name does not in of our appear any
Calendars.
Quarta
Columbas,
lib.
iii. , cap. vi. , . '
the Rev. 182 John Smith, D. D. ,
508 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
or Brannius, in Doire-Chalguich, son of Degill, and nephew of Columba, by hissisterCumenia. HeissaidtohavebeenveneratedatClaneinLeinster, on the 18th of May. IQ7 13. St. Cailten, monk of Iona, and Propositus of Kill-Dima, or Dimba, at Loch-ava. He is thought Io8 to have been venerated,
either at the of 100 or at the 25th July,
October. 200 St. son 14. Caiman,
29th
ofBrandubh, who was companion of St. Columkille, at the time he first set out
for Britain.
There is a St. Carnan venerated in our Calendars, at the 31st 201 asalsoanothersaint, thesame at for
of
name, Cluain-ich,
bearing
St. Ceata,2°3 or Catan.
named Peregrinus, said by Herman Greven to have suffered martyrdom in Italy. 16. St. Ceallach, a monk of Iona, and afterwards bishop of the Mer- cians, in England. His feast has been referred to the 1st of May ; however,
20
the bishop Ceallach or Kellach, of Killala, * then venerated, appears to have
been quite a different person. 17. St. Cobhran, son of Enan, and nephew of Columba, by his sister Minchotha. He is thought to have been the saint
January,
the 28th of 202 April.
He is some supposed by
15.
to have been the bishop Ceadan of Bede ; by others, the Cetheus, sur-
venerated at the church of Cluain, near
or he may have been venerated, in the church of Cluain-Chuallacta, at the
20? son of and brother of St. Brendan,
Cobran,
Derry,
19th
2nd of 206 18. St. August.
Cobhthach,
Baithen, one of St. Columba's companions to Britain. It is not known, with
certainty, if he have a festival. 19. St. Colgu, or Colgan, of Kill-cholgan, in
January.
23.
212
St. monk of Colman, Hi,
and afterwards said to be of Lin-
atthe8thof 21^ St. August. 24.
His feast is set down at 20th of 208 February,
Connaught.
this does not appear to be correct.
by Colgan ; but, 20. St. Colgo, or Colgan, son of Aodh treats of him at the 20th of 20?
Draighneach,
as if lie had a
a monk of Hi.
Colgan 210
day.
February,
festival,
at that
21.
