With this, too,
Tornan, son to Moeleach, son of Baithectra, son to Dicubas, son of Congall, son to Falvey, son of Foelan, son of Aidan, son to Ginteach, son of Lugad, son to Enna Boa-
agrees the following extract, taken from a copy of that Tract, belonging to the author, and which was transcribed from William M.
Tornan, son to Moeleach, son of Baithectra, son to Dicubas, son of Congall, son to Falvey, son of Foelan, son of Aidan, son to Ginteach, son of Lugad, son to Enna Boa-
agrees the following extract, taken from a copy of that Tract, belonging to the author, and which was transcribed from William M.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
There is a Kilbeg,''^ in theparishofKilcar,baronyofBanagh,andcountyofDonegal.
InCalway county, there is a Kilbeg, ^^ in the parish of Templetogher, barony of Bally- moe ; a Kilbeg,'^ in the parish of Cargin, barony of Clare ; a Kilbeg,^7 in the parish of Abbeygormacan, and barony of Longford ; a Kilbeg,'^ in the parish of Killinan, in the barony of Loughrea ; as also a Kilbeg,'9 in the parish of Moylough, and barony of Tiaquin.
There is also a Kilbeg Lo\ver^° in the parish and barony of Ross, and a Kilbeg Upper,^' in the same parish and barony.
ThereisaKilbeg,^^intheparishofBallybrackan,baronyofOffaly West, and county of Kildare.
There is a Kilbeg,23 in the parish of Geashill, barony of Upper Philipstown, and King's County.
There is a Kilbeg,^* in
year of Suibhne. Seanach Garbh, Abbot for the County of Wicklow," Sheet 27.
o—f Cluain-fearta-Breanainn [Clonfert], died. " ^ See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four for the County of Fermanagh," Sheets
Masters," vol. i. ,—pp. 242, 243.
Article hi. ^Edited by Rev. Dr.
8, 13.
^°
See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," Sheet 77*
Kelly, p. xvi.
^ " ^'
It is defined on the Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Meath," Sheets 5, 11, The townland proper is divided into Upper and Lower Kilbeg.
3 The parish is defined on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kildare," Sheets 13, 14; while the town-
See ibid. . Sheets 99, 113.
" See ibid. , Sheets 134, 142, 143.
^^3 See ? ^/a'. , Sheets 96, lio.
'"* See " (Jrdnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Donegal," Sheet 96. ^5 j^ee "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Galway," Sheet I.
land is on Sheet proper
'° See
'^ '^QQibid. ,
^^
See ibid. ,
^'> See ibid. . Sheets 59, 72.
^° See ibid. , Sheet 27.
^' See ibid. . Sheets 26, 27.
"See "Ordnance Survey Townland
13.
"•The accompanying drawing, taken in
Sheet
Sheet 107. Sheets 115, 124.
April, 1874, by the writer, has been trans- ferred to the wood by William F. Wake- man, and engraved by Mrs. Millard.
s This is defined on the " Ordnance Sur-
veyTownlandMapsfortheCountyofDone-
gal," Sheets 82, 91, 92, 97. Killybegs townland and town are on the latter Slieet.
Maps for the County of Kildare," Sheets 26, 27.
^ This is described on 82, 83, ibid.
Sheets, 73, 74, 75,
^3 ^jee " Ordnance Townland Survey
7 See
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
Maps for the King's County," Sheets 26, 27. ^"^ See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the Queen's County," Sheet 22.
*5 See "Ordnance Survey Townland
for the County of Wexford," Sheet 3. ^"
See Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
ibid. .
55.
662 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February21,
the parish of Aghaboe, in the barony of Clandonagh, and Queen's County. There is a Kilbegj^'s in the parish of Kilglass, barony of Ballintober North, and county of Roscommon. In Tipperary County, there is a Kilbeg*^ in the parishofToem,andbaronyofUpperKilnamanagh; aKilbeg,^? intheparish ofFinnoe,andbaronyofLowerOrmond; asalsoaKilbeg,'^^intheparishof Shanrahan, and barony of Iffa and Offa West. In the barony of Decies without Drum, Waterford County, there is a Kilbeg,'^9 in Clonea parish, as also a Kilbeg,3° in Kilbarrymeaden parish. In the parish of Tallow, and barony of Coshmore and Coshbride, there is also a Lower Kilbeg and an Upper Kilbeg. 3^ There is a Kilbeg, 3^ in the parish of Ardnurcher or Horse- leap, in the barony of Moycashel, and county of Westmeath. There is a Kilbeg,33 in the parish of Boystown, barony of LoAver Talbotstown, and county of Wicklow. In the parish of Valencia, barony of Iveragh, and county of Kerry, there is a Kilbeg East, and a Kilbeg West. 34 In the county of Limerick, there is a Kilbeg East, as also a Kilbeg West,35 in the parish of Ballingarry, and barony of Upper Connello. In the parish and county of Antrim, there is a Kilbegs,^^ in the barony of Upper Toome. The foregoing denominations must probably include the changed form of the presentsaint'sformerplace; but,withoutsomelocaltraditionofapatternor saint's day corresponding, it would not be possible to decide on any one spot. In conclusion, we find Cronan, of Cill Beg, is set down in the Mar- tyrology of Donegal,37 as being venerated on this day.
Article IV. —Reputed Festival of St. Cedd, Abbot of Lestingen, England. In a Manuscript Kalendar of the Benedictine Order, St. Cedd, brother to Bishop Cedd,^ and who was Abbot of Lestingen,' is set down at this date. Yet, he followed not the Benedictine, but rather the Irish, rite, prevailing at Lindisfarne. 3 Lestingen was granted to him by Edilbald,'* King of the Deiri. The reader is referred to the 7th day of January, where this saint's Life may be found.
Article V. —Reputed Festival of St. Chuniald. St. Chuniald is said^ to have been one of St. Rupert's companions, and to have been vene- rated, on this day, in Scotia. The Bollandists refer consideration of him to St. Rupert's Acts, at the 27th of March, although alluding to him, at this date,=* as also, relegating him, to the 24th of September.
Mapsfor the County of Roscommon," Sheet
24.
''^ See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Tipperary," Sheets 50, 51.
=7 See ibid. , Sheet 9.
=8
See ibid. , Sheets 81, 87.
=9 See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Limerick," Sheet
30.
36 See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Antrim," Sheets 49,
50-
37 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
54, 55.
Article iv. — The Manuscript
^ has Maps fortlie County of Waterford," Sheet "fratris Ji. Eraddi," but this must have
31.
been the error of some scribe.
' has "Len The Manuscript incorrectly
tingen. " 3SeetheBollandists'"ActaSanctorum
tomus iii. , February xxi. Among the pre- termitted saints, p. 233.
4 He was so—n to St. Oswald.
'
Articlk v. By David Camerarius.
" See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Feb- ruarii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 235. —' "
3° Sheet See ibid. .
25. 3' See ibid. . Sheet 33.
32See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Westmeath," Sheets
31,37.
33 See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Wicklow," Sheets 5, 10.
34 See " Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Kerry," Sheet 79.
35 See "Ordnance Survey Townland Article vi. In Menologium Bene-
February 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 663
Article VI. —St. Ursin or Ursicinus, a Monk, in France. Buce-
lin^ has a festival, at this date, for St. Ursin or Ursicinus, an Irish monk, of
Luxeu, among the Vosges mountains, in the east of France. Yet, this seems to be attributable to the fact, that he was a companion of St. German, an Abbot, and a Martyr, of Grandal, whose feast also falls on the 21st of Feb- ruary. ^ Notices of St. Ursin will be found, on the 20th of December.
Article VII. —Reputed Festival of St. Gildas the Wise. In his Benedictine Kalendar, Dorganus notes St. Gildas the Wise, at this day, and we are told, moreover, he was renowned for miracles, even so flir as raising the dead to life. ^ At the 29th of January, his Life has been already given.
Ctoentp-'^^ronU jaap of jf^iruarg^
ARTICLE I. —ST. MOEL-BRIGID, OR BRIGIDANUS, ABBOT OF DERRY AND PRIMATE OF ARMAGH.
[NINTH AND TENTH CENTURIES. ^
THE
truly great men of this world are those, who happily influence the countries and times in which live. has an account of
they Colgan
Moel-Brigid, at this date,^ and the BoUandists^ have briefer notices. This
distinguished saint was son to Tornan,^ who was descended Hneally, and the twelfth in generation, from Conall Gulban. -^ Marianus O'Gormans afid the MartyrologyofDonegal^writeoursaint'sfather,Dornan. Hewasthusof the same royal stock as St. Columkille himself. 7 The mother of Moel- Brigid was Soerlathia, daughter to Culebaith, and she was also of noble
birth. ^ The name to him given
signifies
" the servant of or " the Brigid,"
dictinum. " In fol, Verdkirchii, A. D, 1655. gan, son of Conall Gulban, chap. i.
^ See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum," ^ From him Tyr-connall derives its name,
tomus iii. , February xxi. Among the pre- and he was son to King Niall the Great,
termitted "DeSane- s See "ActaSanctorumHiber- saints, p. 235. Also, Colgan's
tis Martyribus Germano Abbate et Ran- nice," xxii. Februarii. De S. Malbrigido
doalpho Prseposito, Grandivalle in Dioecesi
sive Brigidiano, &c. , nn. 2, 3, p. 386.
^ See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' edition,
pp. 54, 55. ? SeehisLifeatthe9thofJune,
Basileensi," pp. 263 to 266, ibid. ^
Article vii. — See the Bollandists'
**
ActaSanctorum,"tomusiii. , Februarii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 233.
Article i. —^ See "Acta Sanctorum Saints," her pedigree is thus made out: Hibernice," xxii. Februarii. De B. Mai- Soerlaith, daughter of Culebaith, son to brigido sive Brigidano Abbate Derensi et Baithgail, v^'as mother to Maelbngid, son of
"
Primate Ardmachano. Ex diversis, pp. Tornain. See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum
386, 387. Plibernioe," xxii. Februarii. De B. Mal- ^"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Feb- brigido sive Brigidano, &c. , n. 4, pp. 386, ruarii xxii. Among the pretermitted saints, 387. If the foregoing be not an interpola- pp. 280, 281. tion, it would serve to prove, that St.
*'
3 The Sanctilogic Genalogy" thus Aingus could not have been the author of
weaves his pedigree : St. Malbrigid, son of the Tract, just quoted.
With this, too,
Tornan, son to Moeleach, son of Baithectra, son to Dicubas, son of Congall, son to Falvey, son of Foelan, son of Aidan, son to Ginteach, son of Lugad, son to Enna Boa-
agrees the following extract, taken from a copy of that Tract, belonging to the author, and which was transcribed from William M. Ilennessy's copy, which he wrote out
^
St. ^ngus, "On the Mothers of the Irish
According to the Tract, attributed to
664 LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 22.
""
tonsured of Brigid," or the consecrated to Brigid," or the Brigidian. "
Our saint soon became greatly distinguished, for his virtues and learning. In consequence of an opinion entertained, respecting his varied merits and ac- complishments, he was appointed comorban or successor of St. Adamnan,9 mostprobablyasAbbotoverRaphoe. ^° Hewaselevated,also,toabbatial dignity—probably at a later period—over the church of St. Columba, at Derry,"accordingtoColgan. " Theearliestrecordedsettlementonthathill
above was named Doire Lough Foyle
Calgaich,
" the oak-wood of
the
warrior," or else " the oak-wood of Calgach"—a chief who bore that name—
signifying "warrior,'' and Latinized Galgacus. ^3 Dr. Lanigan agrees, that
Moelbrigid was St. Columba's successor ; yet, more probably, not at his
City of Londonderry.
monastery ot Derry,^^ but, at that of Durrow, in the King's County. How- ever, the Four Masters call Moelbrigid comorban, or successor, to Saints Patrick,Columba,andAdamnan. Astohis. beingasuccessorofColumba,
Colgan, at his Acts, refers it to Derry. 's At present, this commanding site is
Moel- Brigid had succeeded Adamnan, in his rule over this place.
"
SAefflAicVi in^en CuitobAi-o wc. bAecli-
from the
Leabhar Lecan. " MS. , R. I. A.
jAeLe mp rnAeLb|\i5T)o mc. uVioixriAm.
This too agrees with what is found in Drs. called, is defined on the Ordnance Survey
Todd's and Reeves' '* **
Townland Maps for the County of Donegal.
Sheets 62,
" 6i, 69, 70.
Now included in the parish of Temple-
more, barony North West Liberties of
of Done- gal," pp. 54, 55: Saerlaith, daughter of Cuilebaith, son to Baolhghal, was his
mother. "
9 St. Adamnan was venerated, at the
Martyrology
"
Greileach in Derry diocese ; at the church County of Londonderry," Sheets 13, 14,
churches of Dunboe, Errigle, Bovevagh and
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
at Drumhome
20, 21.
" *'
of Serin in Killala diocese
and Raphoe, in Raphoe diocese ; as also in
various other places, throughout Ireland.
But, as Raphoe was his principal church,
and that over which he was regarded as the
especial patron, it seems most probable, Allingham, in Fraser's Magazine for
;
'°
The parish of Raphoe, in the barony so "
Londonderry. This parish is shown on the
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nire," xxii, Februarii, n. 8, p. 387.
'3 See an interesting article, On the
Names of Places in Ireland, by William *'
February 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 665
occupied by a flourishing city. ^^ The famous Saint Cokmiba, or Colum Cille, " Dove of the Church," founded a monastery and church here a. d. 545, the
place having been granted to him by his own tribe, i. e. , by the race of Conall Gulbann, son of King Niall ; and, afterwards, it was called Derry Columkill. '? It is now more generally known by the name of Londonderry. ^^ For this posi- tion, there seems to be a good reason ;'9 since, it cannot be supposed, that St. Moelbrigid was at any time Abbot of Hy. The successor of Kellach there was Feradach, who lived until 880. The Annals of Ulster, which are very particular as to the succession at lona, make mention after him of Flan Mac- Maoledrin, who Avas Abbot there, until a. d. 891. Now, in this year, Moel-
brigidwasalreadyArchbishopofArmagh. Beinginthatrank,hecouldnot have been invested with the government of Hy, which, in Dr. Lanigan's
opinion, was always reserved to a priest. Therefore, Maelbrigid's being called successor of Adamnan is relative to his having been Abbot over
Raphoe,=° of which monastery Adamnan'^ had been the founder and he was the patron saint. ^^ But, it is not likely, the present holy man had been a bishop
at Raphoe. ^3 it might be said, that although Maelbrigid had not been Abbot of Hy, he was a successor of Columba, not at Derry, but at Durrow, in theKing'sCounty. Thishadbeentheotherchiefmonasteryofthatsaint in Ireland. Yet, considering that Maelbrigid had been also at Raphoe, it is much more probable, it not being far from Derry,^4 that this latter was the place, over which he had been abbot. This matter is left rather undeter- mined, however, since we are only told, Maelbrigid ruled over the church or monastery of St. Columba. Yet, both Colgan and Dr. Lanigan assert, that his administration cannot be referred to the affairs of lona Island. This position is most clearly proved. Still, it is odd, that in his account of the abbots and other distinguished persons at Hy, Colgan reckons^s Maelbrigid among them, notwithstanding what he says of him in his Acts. Smith, like-
^^
wise, adopts his statement.
elevated to the Primatial See of Armagh. ^7 On account of his great zeal for religion, and the exercise of eminent wisdom and virtue, he obtained a name
Town and Country," vol. Ixxix. , June, I S69, p. 787.
was at first called " Coleraine,'' but soon "Londonderry. " See William AUingham's
^^ Except the town and liberties of Derry,
now named "Londonderry," which were
annexed to the county of the same name,
the rest of old Inis Eogain, or Innishowen,
became a part of Donegal county. "The
Society of the Governors and Assistants,
London, of the new plantation of Ulster "
was incorpoi-ated in 1613. The Common Councilmen of the City of London, whom
this society represented, and afterwards p. 113.
"
Eraser's Ma-
certain also of the city companies, thus be- came landlords of extensive disti'icts, in this part of Ireland.
'3 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xxii.
Februarii. De B. Malbrigido sive Brigid-
ano, &c. , p. 386.
^^ ^^
See his Life at the 23rd of September,
^^ A excellent tinted very
46, and "
of
view of it is given in Rev. G. Vaughan of Raphoe," p. 270.
lithographic
bishops
Armagh," p.
After enjoying those dignities, our saint was
" Statistical of the Survey
""
'7 Still, the old short name Derry Survey of the County of Londonderry,"
Sampson's
County of Londonderry,'' chap, v. , sect, i. ,
^"^ There is a Plan of the city and suburbs of Londonderry, with the Waterside, drawn by Robert Porter in 1 799, from actual survey,
p. 280. The accompanying illustration,
however, is from a ditferent point of view. — in Rev. G. Vaughan Sampson's
"
Statistical
"""
o—ftener pronounced Darry and Dorry" chap, v. , sect, i. , p. 284.
"
holds its ground in every-day use. -5 See Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta
^^
James I. formed a new county, which Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. iii. ,
article, already cited, from gazine," vol. Ixxix. , p. 788.
'^ The annexed illustration of London- derry is from a sketch taken by William F. Wakeman, and transferred by him to the wood. The engraving is by Mrs. Millard.
='° He is stated to have been a bishop of Raphoe, in James Stuart's " Historical Memoirs of the City of Armagh," chap, iii. ,
See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xxii. , sect. i. , n. 10, pp. 341, 342.
^3 This, however, is a mistake, to be
found in Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
"
Arch- Bishops
666
LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February23.
" Head of
and modern writers, regarding the order of succession, in Armagh See, as,
and for repute
and of the
in
of Europe. " There is a difference of opinion, among our Irish Annalists
being,
Religion
Ireland,
greater part
with to the names of its incumbents. "^^ Maelcoba Mac Crunn- regard
also,
vail,^9 Abbot of Armagh, is said to have died, at an advanced age, a. d.
885,3° or 887. 31 It is thought our saint, as his immediate successor,32 ^y^g
then promoted to the coarbship. 33 In such conjecture. Dr. Lanigan is sustained by the authority of the Cashel Psalter. 34 During the time of this
Archbishop's administration, a great riot took place in Armagh Cathedral Church, between the Ily Nialls of Kinel-Eogain or Tyrone, and the people of Ulidia or East Ulster. Flaithbheartach, son to Murehadh,35 was chief over the former faction, and Atteidh, son to Luighne, chieftains'^ over the
latter. This riot, which occurred, about Whitsuntide, in the year 889,37 was appeased by the Archbishop's influence and exertions. While Dr. Lanigan supposes the date should be a. d. 890,3^ O'Flaherty assigns this occurrence to
3^ According to the "Annals of Ulster. "
See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum
Scriptores. " Tom. iv,, p. 237.
32 " Ware observes, {Bishops at Armagh)
that some Irish annalists have the following from north to south, and, in breadth, from succession after Moelcoba : I. Mocta, who ten to twenty-five miles, or, in English died in 889 ; 2. Moelathgen, who died in measure, seventy-five miles long, and fr—om 890 ; 3. Kellach Mac Saorgus, who died in
sect, v. , p. 502.
^ See his " Life of St. Columba. " Ap-
pendix, p. 167.
^7 "The archbishopric of Armagh ex-
tends into five counties, is fifty-nine miles
twelve and a half to thirty-two broad. "
; 4. Moel- Kiaran Mac-Eogain, who died in 914, or 915. He adds, that these are not reckoned by others among the Archbishops ofjArmagh, and that they were co—nsidered only as suffra- of Armagh, in his "Trias Thaumaturga. " gans of Maelbrigid. "' Dr. Lanigan's "Ec-
Sir Charles Coote's "Statistical Survey of
the County of Armagh," part i. , chap, i. , sect. 4, p. 19.
=^^
Colgan gives a list of the Archbishops
Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, p. 296. clesiastical History of Ii-eland," vol. iii. ,
There the Four Masters are said to have
placed Mocta, whom they call bishop, an- choret, and scribe of Armagh. However, in a MS. note to his copy of the "Trias
Thaumaturga," O'Flaherty asserts, that
Mocta was not a bishop. This Mocta was,
in all appearance, the person who w'as taken
by the Danes, together with Moelcoba Mac-
Crumvail. Colgan does not decide on this O'Neills, as we find it recorded, in our matter. The Four Masters also place Moe- "AnnalsoftheFourMasters. " SeeCol-
"
lathgen as bishop of Armagh, and they gan's
assign his death to 890, Yet, they had just Februarii, n. 12, p. 387.
before spoken of Maelbrigid as bishop and 3° Atteidh was not chieftain over the comorban of St. Patrick, in 889. Hence, Kinel Eogain or O'Neill family, as the Colgan concludes, that Moelathgen was order of narrative in "Annals of the Four
only a suffragen or coadjutor of his. O'Flaherty, in his MS. note, holds, that
Moelathgen was a real bishop of Armagh, and that he was the immediate predecessor
of Maelbrigid, placing his death in 891. The Four Masters next have Kellach Mac-
Saorgus, but not Moel-Kiaren, and after-
wards they treat of Maelbrigid. See Dr. bairne. "
"
Annals of the Four
Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. iii. , chap, xxii. , sect, i. , n. 9, p. 341-
^9 It is stated, by the Four Masters, that "he was of the family of Cill-mor.
year of Suibhne. Seanach Garbh, Abbot for the County of Wicklow," Sheet 27.
o—f Cluain-fearta-Breanainn [Clonfert], died. " ^ See " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four for the County of Fermanagh," Sheets
Masters," vol. i. ,—pp. 242, 243.
Article hi. ^Edited by Rev. Dr.
8, 13.
^°
See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," Sheet 77*
Kelly, p. xvi.
^ " ^'
It is defined on the Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Meath," Sheets 5, 11, The townland proper is divided into Upper and Lower Kilbeg.
3 The parish is defined on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Kildare," Sheets 13, 14; while the town-
See ibid. . Sheets 99, 113.
" See ibid. , Sheets 134, 142, 143.
^^3 See ? ^/a'. , Sheets 96, lio.
'"* See " (Jrdnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Donegal," Sheet 96. ^5 j^ee "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Galway," Sheet I.
land is on Sheet proper
'° See
'^ '^QQibid. ,
^^
See ibid. ,
^'> See ibid. . Sheets 59, 72.
^° See ibid. , Sheet 27.
^' See ibid. . Sheets 26, 27.
"See "Ordnance Survey Townland
13.
"•The accompanying drawing, taken in
Sheet
Sheet 107. Sheets 115, 124.
April, 1874, by the writer, has been trans- ferred to the wood by William F. Wake- man, and engraved by Mrs. Millard.
s This is defined on the " Ordnance Sur-
veyTownlandMapsfortheCountyofDone-
gal," Sheets 82, 91, 92, 97. Killybegs townland and town are on the latter Slieet.
Maps for the County of Kildare," Sheets 26, 27.
^ This is described on 82, 83, ibid.
Sheets, 73, 74, 75,
^3 ^jee " Ordnance Townland Survey
7 See
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
Maps for the King's County," Sheets 26, 27. ^"^ See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the Queen's County," Sheet 22.
*5 See "Ordnance Survey Townland
for the County of Wexford," Sheet 3. ^"
See Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
ibid. .
55.
662 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February21,
the parish of Aghaboe, in the barony of Clandonagh, and Queen's County. There is a Kilbegj^'s in the parish of Kilglass, barony of Ballintober North, and county of Roscommon. In Tipperary County, there is a Kilbeg*^ in the parishofToem,andbaronyofUpperKilnamanagh; aKilbeg,^? intheparish ofFinnoe,andbaronyofLowerOrmond; asalsoaKilbeg,'^^intheparishof Shanrahan, and barony of Iffa and Offa West. In the barony of Decies without Drum, Waterford County, there is a Kilbeg,'^9 in Clonea parish, as also a Kilbeg,3° in Kilbarrymeaden parish. In the parish of Tallow, and barony of Coshmore and Coshbride, there is also a Lower Kilbeg and an Upper Kilbeg. 3^ There is a Kilbeg, 3^ in the parish of Ardnurcher or Horse- leap, in the barony of Moycashel, and county of Westmeath. There is a Kilbeg,33 in the parish of Boystown, barony of LoAver Talbotstown, and county of Wicklow. In the parish of Valencia, barony of Iveragh, and county of Kerry, there is a Kilbeg East, and a Kilbeg West. 34 In the county of Limerick, there is a Kilbeg East, as also a Kilbeg West,35 in the parish of Ballingarry, and barony of Upper Connello. In the parish and county of Antrim, there is a Kilbegs,^^ in the barony of Upper Toome. The foregoing denominations must probably include the changed form of the presentsaint'sformerplace; but,withoutsomelocaltraditionofapatternor saint's day corresponding, it would not be possible to decide on any one spot. In conclusion, we find Cronan, of Cill Beg, is set down in the Mar- tyrology of Donegal,37 as being venerated on this day.
Article IV. —Reputed Festival of St. Cedd, Abbot of Lestingen, England. In a Manuscript Kalendar of the Benedictine Order, St. Cedd, brother to Bishop Cedd,^ and who was Abbot of Lestingen,' is set down at this date. Yet, he followed not the Benedictine, but rather the Irish, rite, prevailing at Lindisfarne. 3 Lestingen was granted to him by Edilbald,'* King of the Deiri. The reader is referred to the 7th day of January, where this saint's Life may be found.
Article V. —Reputed Festival of St. Chuniald. St. Chuniald is said^ to have been one of St. Rupert's companions, and to have been vene- rated, on this day, in Scotia. The Bollandists refer consideration of him to St. Rupert's Acts, at the 27th of March, although alluding to him, at this date,=* as also, relegating him, to the 24th of September.
Mapsfor the County of Roscommon," Sheet
24.
''^ See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Tipperary," Sheets 50, 51.
=7 See ibid. , Sheet 9.
=8
See ibid. , Sheets 81, 87.
=9 See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Limerick," Sheet
30.
36 See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Antrim," Sheets 49,
50-
37 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
54, 55.
Article iv. — The Manuscript
^ has Maps fortlie County of Waterford," Sheet "fratris Ji. Eraddi," but this must have
31.
been the error of some scribe.
' has "Len The Manuscript incorrectly
tingen. " 3SeetheBollandists'"ActaSanctorum
tomus iii. , February xxi. Among the pre- termitted saints, p. 233.
4 He was so—n to St. Oswald.
'
Articlk v. By David Camerarius.
" See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Feb- ruarii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 235. —' "
3° Sheet See ibid. .
25. 3' See ibid. . Sheet 33.
32See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Westmeath," Sheets
31,37.
33 See "Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Wicklow," Sheets 5, 10.
34 See " Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Kerry," Sheet 79.
35 See "Ordnance Survey Townland Article vi. In Menologium Bene-
February 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 663
Article VI. —St. Ursin or Ursicinus, a Monk, in France. Buce-
lin^ has a festival, at this date, for St. Ursin or Ursicinus, an Irish monk, of
Luxeu, among the Vosges mountains, in the east of France. Yet, this seems to be attributable to the fact, that he was a companion of St. German, an Abbot, and a Martyr, of Grandal, whose feast also falls on the 21st of Feb- ruary. ^ Notices of St. Ursin will be found, on the 20th of December.
Article VII. —Reputed Festival of St. Gildas the Wise. In his Benedictine Kalendar, Dorganus notes St. Gildas the Wise, at this day, and we are told, moreover, he was renowned for miracles, even so flir as raising the dead to life. ^ At the 29th of January, his Life has been already given.
Ctoentp-'^^ronU jaap of jf^iruarg^
ARTICLE I. —ST. MOEL-BRIGID, OR BRIGIDANUS, ABBOT OF DERRY AND PRIMATE OF ARMAGH.
[NINTH AND TENTH CENTURIES. ^
THE
truly great men of this world are those, who happily influence the countries and times in which live. has an account of
they Colgan
Moel-Brigid, at this date,^ and the BoUandists^ have briefer notices. This
distinguished saint was son to Tornan,^ who was descended Hneally, and the twelfth in generation, from Conall Gulban. -^ Marianus O'Gormans afid the MartyrologyofDonegal^writeoursaint'sfather,Dornan. Hewasthusof the same royal stock as St. Columkille himself. 7 The mother of Moel- Brigid was Soerlathia, daughter to Culebaith, and she was also of noble
birth. ^ The name to him given
signifies
" the servant of or " the Brigid,"
dictinum. " In fol, Verdkirchii, A. D, 1655. gan, son of Conall Gulban, chap. i.
^ See the Bollandists' " Acta Sanctorum," ^ From him Tyr-connall derives its name,
tomus iii. , February xxi. Among the pre- and he was son to King Niall the Great,
termitted "DeSane- s See "ActaSanctorumHiber- saints, p. 235. Also, Colgan's
tis Martyribus Germano Abbate et Ran- nice," xxii. Februarii. De S. Malbrigido
doalpho Prseposito, Grandivalle in Dioecesi
sive Brigidiano, &c. , nn. 2, 3, p. 386.
^ See Drs. Todd's and Reeves' edition,
pp. 54, 55. ? SeehisLifeatthe9thofJune,
Basileensi," pp. 263 to 266, ibid. ^
Article vii. — See the Bollandists'
**
ActaSanctorum,"tomusiii. , Februarii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 233.
Article i. —^ See "Acta Sanctorum Saints," her pedigree is thus made out: Hibernice," xxii. Februarii. De B. Mai- Soerlaith, daughter of Culebaith, son to brigido sive Brigidano Abbate Derensi et Baithgail, v^'as mother to Maelbngid, son of
"
Primate Ardmachano. Ex diversis, pp. Tornain. See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum
386, 387. Plibernioe," xxii. Februarii. De B. Mal- ^"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Feb- brigido sive Brigidano, &c. , n. 4, pp. 386, ruarii xxii. Among the pretermitted saints, 387. If the foregoing be not an interpola- pp. 280, 281. tion, it would serve to prove, that St.
*'
3 The Sanctilogic Genalogy" thus Aingus could not have been the author of
weaves his pedigree : St. Malbrigid, son of the Tract, just quoted.
With this, too,
Tornan, son to Moeleach, son of Baithectra, son to Dicubas, son of Congall, son to Falvey, son of Foelan, son of Aidan, son to Ginteach, son of Lugad, son to Enna Boa-
agrees the following extract, taken from a copy of that Tract, belonging to the author, and which was transcribed from William M. Ilennessy's copy, which he wrote out
^
St. ^ngus, "On the Mothers of the Irish
According to the Tract, attributed to
664 LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 22.
""
tonsured of Brigid," or the consecrated to Brigid," or the Brigidian. "
Our saint soon became greatly distinguished, for his virtues and learning. In consequence of an opinion entertained, respecting his varied merits and ac- complishments, he was appointed comorban or successor of St. Adamnan,9 mostprobablyasAbbotoverRaphoe. ^° Hewaselevated,also,toabbatial dignity—probably at a later period—over the church of St. Columba, at Derry,"accordingtoColgan. " Theearliestrecordedsettlementonthathill
above was named Doire Lough Foyle
Calgaich,
" the oak-wood of
the
warrior," or else " the oak-wood of Calgach"—a chief who bore that name—
signifying "warrior,'' and Latinized Galgacus. ^3 Dr. Lanigan agrees, that
Moelbrigid was St. Columba's successor ; yet, more probably, not at his
City of Londonderry.
monastery ot Derry,^^ but, at that of Durrow, in the King's County. How- ever, the Four Masters call Moelbrigid comorban, or successor, to Saints Patrick,Columba,andAdamnan. Astohis. beingasuccessorofColumba,
Colgan, at his Acts, refers it to Derry. 's At present, this commanding site is
Moel- Brigid had succeeded Adamnan, in his rule over this place.
"
SAefflAicVi in^en CuitobAi-o wc. bAecli-
from the
Leabhar Lecan. " MS. , R. I. A.
jAeLe mp rnAeLb|\i5T)o mc. uVioixriAm.
This too agrees with what is found in Drs. called, is defined on the Ordnance Survey
Todd's and Reeves' '* **
Townland Maps for the County of Donegal.
Sheets 62,
" 6i, 69, 70.
Now included in the parish of Temple-
more, barony North West Liberties of
of Done- gal," pp. 54, 55: Saerlaith, daughter of Cuilebaith, son to Baolhghal, was his
mother. "
9 St. Adamnan was venerated, at the
Martyrology
"
Greileach in Derry diocese ; at the church County of Londonderry," Sheets 13, 14,
churches of Dunboe, Errigle, Bovevagh and
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the
at Drumhome
20, 21.
" *'
of Serin in Killala diocese
and Raphoe, in Raphoe diocese ; as also in
various other places, throughout Ireland.
But, as Raphoe was his principal church,
and that over which he was regarded as the
especial patron, it seems most probable, Allingham, in Fraser's Magazine for
;
'°
The parish of Raphoe, in the barony so "
Londonderry. This parish is shown on the
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nire," xxii, Februarii, n. 8, p. 387.
'3 See an interesting article, On the
Names of Places in Ireland, by William *'
February 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 665
occupied by a flourishing city. ^^ The famous Saint Cokmiba, or Colum Cille, " Dove of the Church," founded a monastery and church here a. d. 545, the
place having been granted to him by his own tribe, i. e. , by the race of Conall Gulbann, son of King Niall ; and, afterwards, it was called Derry Columkill. '? It is now more generally known by the name of Londonderry. ^^ For this posi- tion, there seems to be a good reason ;'9 since, it cannot be supposed, that St. Moelbrigid was at any time Abbot of Hy. The successor of Kellach there was Feradach, who lived until 880. The Annals of Ulster, which are very particular as to the succession at lona, make mention after him of Flan Mac- Maoledrin, who Avas Abbot there, until a. d. 891. Now, in this year, Moel-
brigidwasalreadyArchbishopofArmagh. Beinginthatrank,hecouldnot have been invested with the government of Hy, which, in Dr. Lanigan's
opinion, was always reserved to a priest. Therefore, Maelbrigid's being called successor of Adamnan is relative to his having been Abbot over
Raphoe,=° of which monastery Adamnan'^ had been the founder and he was the patron saint. ^^ But, it is not likely, the present holy man had been a bishop
at Raphoe. ^3 it might be said, that although Maelbrigid had not been Abbot of Hy, he was a successor of Columba, not at Derry, but at Durrow, in theKing'sCounty. Thishadbeentheotherchiefmonasteryofthatsaint in Ireland. Yet, considering that Maelbrigid had been also at Raphoe, it is much more probable, it not being far from Derry,^4 that this latter was the place, over which he had been abbot. This matter is left rather undeter- mined, however, since we are only told, Maelbrigid ruled over the church or monastery of St. Columba. Yet, both Colgan and Dr. Lanigan assert, that his administration cannot be referred to the affairs of lona Island. This position is most clearly proved. Still, it is odd, that in his account of the abbots and other distinguished persons at Hy, Colgan reckons^s Maelbrigid among them, notwithstanding what he says of him in his Acts. Smith, like-
^^
wise, adopts his statement.
elevated to the Primatial See of Armagh. ^7 On account of his great zeal for religion, and the exercise of eminent wisdom and virtue, he obtained a name
Town and Country," vol. Ixxix. , June, I S69, p. 787.
was at first called " Coleraine,'' but soon "Londonderry. " See William AUingham's
^^ Except the town and liberties of Derry,
now named "Londonderry," which were
annexed to the county of the same name,
the rest of old Inis Eogain, or Innishowen,
became a part of Donegal county. "The
Society of the Governors and Assistants,
London, of the new plantation of Ulster "
was incorpoi-ated in 1613. The Common Councilmen of the City of London, whom
this society represented, and afterwards p. 113.
"
Eraser's Ma-
certain also of the city companies, thus be- came landlords of extensive disti'icts, in this part of Ireland.
'3 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xxii.
Februarii. De B. Malbrigido sive Brigid-
ano, &c. , p. 386.
^^ ^^
See his Life at the 23rd of September,
^^ A excellent tinted very
46, and "
of
view of it is given in Rev. G. Vaughan of Raphoe," p. 270.
lithographic
bishops
Armagh," p.
After enjoying those dignities, our saint was
" Statistical of the Survey
""
'7 Still, the old short name Derry Survey of the County of Londonderry,"
Sampson's
County of Londonderry,'' chap, v. , sect, i. ,
^"^ There is a Plan of the city and suburbs of Londonderry, with the Waterside, drawn by Robert Porter in 1 799, from actual survey,
p. 280. The accompanying illustration,
however, is from a ditferent point of view. — in Rev. G. Vaughan Sampson's
"
Statistical
"""
o—ftener pronounced Darry and Dorry" chap, v. , sect, i. , p. 284.
"
holds its ground in every-day use. -5 See Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta
^^
James I. formed a new county, which Appendix ad Acta S. Columbse, cap. iii. ,
article, already cited, from gazine," vol. Ixxix. , p. 788.
'^ The annexed illustration of London- derry is from a sketch taken by William F. Wakeman, and transferred by him to the wood. The engraving is by Mrs. Millard.
='° He is stated to have been a bishop of Raphoe, in James Stuart's " Historical Memoirs of the City of Armagh," chap, iii. ,
See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. iii. , chap, xxii. , sect. i. , n. 10, pp. 341, 342.
^3 This, however, is a mistake, to be
found in Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
"
Arch- Bishops
666
LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February23.
" Head of
and modern writers, regarding the order of succession, in Armagh See, as,
and for repute
and of the
in
of Europe. " There is a difference of opinion, among our Irish Annalists
being,
Religion
Ireland,
greater part
with to the names of its incumbents. "^^ Maelcoba Mac Crunn- regard
also,
vail,^9 Abbot of Armagh, is said to have died, at an advanced age, a. d.
885,3° or 887. 31 It is thought our saint, as his immediate successor,32 ^y^g
then promoted to the coarbship. 33 In such conjecture. Dr. Lanigan is sustained by the authority of the Cashel Psalter. 34 During the time of this
Archbishop's administration, a great riot took place in Armagh Cathedral Church, between the Ily Nialls of Kinel-Eogain or Tyrone, and the people of Ulidia or East Ulster. Flaithbheartach, son to Murehadh,35 was chief over the former faction, and Atteidh, son to Luighne, chieftains'^ over the
latter. This riot, which occurred, about Whitsuntide, in the year 889,37 was appeased by the Archbishop's influence and exertions. While Dr. Lanigan supposes the date should be a. d. 890,3^ O'Flaherty assigns this occurrence to
3^ According to the "Annals of Ulster. "
See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum
Scriptores. " Tom. iv,, p. 237.
32 " Ware observes, {Bishops at Armagh)
that some Irish annalists have the following from north to south, and, in breadth, from succession after Moelcoba : I. Mocta, who ten to twenty-five miles, or, in English died in 889 ; 2. Moelathgen, who died in measure, seventy-five miles long, and fr—om 890 ; 3. Kellach Mac Saorgus, who died in
sect, v. , p. 502.
^ See his " Life of St. Columba. " Ap-
pendix, p. 167.
^7 "The archbishopric of Armagh ex-
tends into five counties, is fifty-nine miles
twelve and a half to thirty-two broad. "
; 4. Moel- Kiaran Mac-Eogain, who died in 914, or 915. He adds, that these are not reckoned by others among the Archbishops ofjArmagh, and that they were co—nsidered only as suffra- of Armagh, in his "Trias Thaumaturga. " gans of Maelbrigid. "' Dr. Lanigan's "Ec-
Sir Charles Coote's "Statistical Survey of
the County of Armagh," part i. , chap, i. , sect. 4, p. 19.
=^^
Colgan gives a list of the Archbishops
Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, p. 296. clesiastical History of Ii-eland," vol. iii. ,
There the Four Masters are said to have
placed Mocta, whom they call bishop, an- choret, and scribe of Armagh. However, in a MS. note to his copy of the "Trias
Thaumaturga," O'Flaherty asserts, that
Mocta was not a bishop. This Mocta was,
in all appearance, the person who w'as taken
by the Danes, together with Moelcoba Mac-
Crumvail. Colgan does not decide on this O'Neills, as we find it recorded, in our matter. The Four Masters also place Moe- "AnnalsoftheFourMasters. " SeeCol-
"
lathgen as bishop of Armagh, and they gan's
assign his death to 890, Yet, they had just Februarii, n. 12, p. 387.
before spoken of Maelbrigid as bishop and 3° Atteidh was not chieftain over the comorban of St. Patrick, in 889. Hence, Kinel Eogain or O'Neill family, as the Colgan concludes, that Moelathgen was order of narrative in "Annals of the Four
only a suffragen or coadjutor of his. O'Flaherty, in his MS. note, holds, that
Moelathgen was a real bishop of Armagh, and that he was the immediate predecessor
of Maelbrigid, placing his death in 891. The Four Masters next have Kellach Mac-
Saorgus, but not Moel-Kiaren, and after-
wards they treat of Maelbrigid. See Dr. bairne. "
"
Annals of the Four
Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. iii. , chap, xxii. , sect, i. , n. 9, p. 341-
^9 It is stated, by the Four Masters, that "he was of the family of Cill-mor.
