Cruachan
Brigh-eile it is usually called.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Maccalleus ?
Thus, to each of them might be attributed a part in the ceremony of veiling, although it be immediately and properly referable to the ministry of St.
Maccalleus.
^3
Some modem Anglo-Scottish writers, taking Hector Boece^-^ as guide, relate, that our St. Brigid of Kildare was veiled by St. Macchilla, Bishop of Sodor, in the Isle of Mona,^s or Man, about the year 443. But, the casual affinity of name seems to have occasioned this error. As already seen, the bishop who veiled St. Brigid was called Maccalle or Maccalleus ; while, the Bishop of Sodor—that being the episcopal see of the Isle of Man— Machaldus and Magiul, by Joceline,^^ Mac-fill by Probus,^7 and Mac-Cuill in an Irish MS. of the Life of St. Patrick. ^^ Although both of those persons alluded to had been bishops and flourished in St. Patrick's time ; it is certain, that this Maccullius or Macaldus, Bishop of Sodor or Man, was altogether different from St. Maccalleus,^9 the consecrator of St. Brigid, not only in re- ferencetotime,placeandacts,but,evenasregardsthename. Differences between them in point of time show that they must be distinguished. For St. Maccalleus,7° the consecrator of St. Brigid, was bishop before he veiled
5^ In Professor O'Looney's Irish MS. Life,
not only is it stated, that St. Brigid went to
take the veil from Bishop Mel, but it is even
asserted, he bestowed on her the honour of
''
above all other women, so that it is the honour of a bishop the men of Erin givetothesuccessorofSt. Brigideversince,"
eightieth [year of her age] she went into heaven. On the eighth, Brigid was conse- crated under the eight beatitudes [foods] of the Gospel, which she fulfilled, and the food of mercy is what Brigid used to call them," pp. 17, 18.
a bishop,
pp. 17, 18. Such account indicates great thorn Todd's St. Patrick, Apostle of Ire-
antiquity for this Irish Life. However, it must be remarked, that St. Brigid received
land. " Introductory Dissertation, pp. 11 to 14.
^3 As the native word mac a signifies son,
hence lirechan, who wrote St. Patrick's Acts a thousand years before Colgan's time, when speaking of a certain church founded by the Irish Apostle, in the southern part of Meath, observes, "in qua S. Brigida pallium
confirmation from St. and hence Mel,
pro-
bably arose some confusion between his hav-
ing conferred orders and the veil on this
pious virgin, as stated by some old writers.
"
Obits and Martyrology of the Cathe-
See
dral Church of the Holy Trinity," edited by
John Clarke Crosthwaite and Dr. James caepit sub manibus filii Caille in Uisnech Henthom Todd. Introduction, p. xcviii. , Midhe. "
and n. (y), ibid. ^4 See "Historia Scotorum," lib. ix. , fol.
59 In Professor O'Looney's Irish MS. 158.
Life it is called Tealach Midhe, pp. 17, 18.
^s According to Camerarius, the sepulchre
of the Scottish kings was in the Island of
Mona. See " De Statu Hominis, veteris
simul ac novae Ecclesiae, et Sanctis Regni
^°
the district of the Methians in Ultonia. See
"
Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Tertia S. Bri-
By this is probably to be understood,
gidse, cap. xviii. , and nn. 12, 13, pp. 529,
543- ^^
The Irish Life of St. Brigid in the Leabhar Breac likewise renders some por- tions of it different from that in the Book of Lismore. In the latter we read from Pro-
** On the eighth hour Brigid was born, and on a particular Wednesday in the eighteenth [year of her age] she took the veil, in the
Scotise ;" lib. i. , cap. iii. , sec. ii. , p. 141. ^^
fessor O'Looney's English translation
:
^7 See ibid. Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. X. , p. 53-
^8 Lib. iii. , cap. 35.
^9 He was a disciple to St. Mel and to Melchu, the nephews of St. Patrick.
7° He lived, died and was venerated in a part of Leinster, called Ifalge, in a place
^^
See on this subject. Rev. James Hen- "
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cli. p. 98.
is called
6o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
her,7^ and he died in the year 489. 7^ But, St. MacCuill or Maccaldus, after- wards Bishop of Man, it is stated, does not seem to have been baptized, much less consecrated as bishop, when St. Brigid had been veiled. 73 Be- sides, circumstances of their Hves and deaths, their acts and the places in which they flourished, evidence their non-identity.
Brogan Cloen states,74 that Maccalleus placed the veil over St. Brigid's head -p while the Calendar of Cashel and Maguire76 corroborate such an account. By both the latter, too, are we informed,77 that this holy man had been venerated at Cruachan Brigh-eile,72 now Croghan Hill,79 in the former territoryofHy-FailgeorOiTaly. ^° Inlikemanner,TirechanandCogitosus^' assert, that the virgin received her religious dress, at the hands of Bishop Maccalle. ^^ To one well versed in the Irish language, it will be found, that both names, Maccalle and Macald are distinct, although from their ambiguity, or supposed affinity, they have led Avriters to confound St. Maccalleus with St. Maccaldus. ^3
called Cruachan, as appears from several
Lives of St. Brigid, published by Colgan. In no writer do we read of his having been
a robber, in any part of Ulster, called Mag- inis, or that he there exercised his vocation, after St. Brigid had been veiled and rendered renowned by her miracles, or after St. Patrick traversing Munster had returned to Ulster.
71 While Ussher assigns this veiling to
A. D, 467, Dr. Lanigan thinks it may be ad-
mitted, that she Avas professed in the year 469. See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
It lay within the ancient territory of Ofalia. It rises on the confines of ancient Meath and Leinster. See "Letters containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the King's County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1837," vol. i. , pp. 104 to 115.
79 On the very summit of Croghan Hill is a small moat or sepulchral tu? ? iulus. This seems to have been the monument of Congal,
teAcc ConJAibe, —^o^ "btM Gile i\o yvoencA.
Ibid. , p. no.
land," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sec. iii. , p. 386. ''
*'
72 As the Annals of the Four Masters"
have it from those of ^° From the or moat on Senat-mac-magnus, top
of Clonmacnoise, and of the Island.
73 By Ussher, Maccaille has been con- founded with Maguil or Maccaldus, Bishop of Man. In this island, it is said, likewise,
*
See Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. ,
Croghan Hill, the whole level plain or ctiiyv of Ofalia and its natural boundaries may be seen at aglance. It stretches, nearly as level as a lake south- wards, to the foot of the Slieve Bloom Moun- tains, and to the Sugar Loaf shaped Hills, at Killone, in the Queen's County, and east- wards to the Hill of Allen, in Kildare county. See ibid. , p. 112. Dr. O'Donovan describes the extent of this territory, which he illustrates with hand-drawn maps from
pp. 24 to 47, ibid.
^' He calls it "a white one. " See Col-
our saint was veiled.
chap, viii. , sec. iii. , and nn. 39, 40, pp. 386,
388.
7* See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga.
"
Hymnus, seu Prima Vita S. Brigida;, p. 515. 75 Regarding St. Brigid's virtues and mira-
holy virgin's
a short time after this
cles,
death, following
we find the —
Latin version "Trias gan's
Secunda
of his Irish Hymn
" Posuit avibas Maccalleus velum
Super caput SanctK Brigidaj Clarus est in ejus gestis ;
In coelo exaudita est ejus petitio
Deum precor in omnibus adversis,
Modis omnibus, quibus valet os meum,
Profundiorem pelago, magnifice prsedi- cabilem.
Thaumaturga. " Brigidae," cap. iii. , p. 519.
Trinum et Unum. ^Ibid.
Veridica narratio. "
Martyrologists name the saint venerated at the 25th of April Maccaille, i. e. , filius Caille.
Colgan remarks, that Alac signifies son, and Caille is either the proper name of a man,
or if it be appellative, it has the signification of a veil : so that in Latin, Mac-caille could be rendered filius veli, he having obtained such a name perhaps, from the circumstance of his having veiled St. Brigid.
^i The Bishop of Man, m St. Patrick's Irish Life and elsewhere, is called Mac- cuille ; by Probus Macfill or Mac/ail ; and by Joceline he is named Macaldus, in Latin ; thus by use of the single c, it seems to be supposed, that in Irish, he was called Ma- caill or Mac-aild. The Irish word Call^ which in the genetive case becomes Cuilly
:
Vita S.
^' We have already seen, that the Irish
76 Commenting on St. Angus' " Festi- logy," he calls it "the white veil. "
77 At the 28th of April.
78 In a letter, dated Tullamore, January 4th, 1838, John O'Donovan identifies Crua-
chan Bri Eile with the present conspicuous Hill of Croghan, in the parish of Croghan, and in the barony of Lower Philipslown.
" Poem of the Monuments.
alluded to in the
Laoidh na Leacht," or
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 6i
The profession of St. Brigid is held to have occurred a. d. 467,^-* or possibly A. D. 469. ^5 That our Apostle St. Patrick^^ officiated on this occa- sion^7 has been affirmed by such writers as John Brampton^^ and Henry of Marlborough. ^9 According to another account,9° she was veiled by two holy bishops, who were disciples of St. Patrick. In his Life of the saint, Ultan relates, that she received the veil from Bishop Mel,9' a disciple of St. Patrick ;92 and the same statement is to be found among her other acts, in the Irish language. This representation has been adopted by Harris. 93 However, the story about St. Mel of Ardagh having veiled her is contra- dicted by the best authorities, and it is not even worthy of refutation, in Dr. Lanigan'sopinion. 94 Itistoberegretted,thatwehavenotonrecordtheexact name of that church,95 in which St. Brigid made her religious profession.
Cruachan Brigh-eile it is usually called. 9<5 From the account left us by Cogitosus, that church97 would seem to have been renowned for religious pilgrimages in his day, and to have been the scene of numerous miracles, wroughtonbehalfofthedevoutclientsofoursaint. Still,thisunnotedchurch
^haspossiblybeenidentified. 92 Itisthoughttohavebeenontheeasternside of the conspicuous Hill of Croghan,99 near Tyrrell's Pass, on the confines of
has the same as nut and the signification ;
word Caill, the same as wood; the word
faol as wolf; whilst all, aid or alt means a
forest. Wherefore, Mac-mill, Mac-caill, Mac-aill or Mac-aild may have the signifi-
cation oifilius nucis, filius sylva:, filius lupi, ox filius saltus, in Latin ; as if the name had been bestowed on him, "ex eo quod in sylvis et saltibus latrocinia exercebat. " Colgan adds, that these notices are given by him, not because he would assert, that he had furnished the right origin for such proper names ; but, because they show dif- ferences existing between them, and may be adopted, until better interpretations or de- rivations are offered. With those two names of the saints in question, and from many ap- pellatives of saints in Ireland, which com-
9° See " Sanctorum Hystorie plurimorum
noviter et laboriose ex diversis libris col- lecte. " Louvanii, A. D, 1485, 4to.
9^ See, in reference to this account, "The Book of Obits and Martyrology of the Ca- thedi-al Church of the Holy Trinity," edited by John Clarke (^rosthwaite and Rev. James Henthorn Todd, Introduction, pp. xcvi^ to cii. , with accompanying notes.
52 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap. xviii. , p. 519.
mence with Mac, scarcely one—
of Ireland," book i. , chap, iii. , p. 12.
94 Headds "It is to be found in the :
Third Life (cap. 18), with the author of which Mel appears to have been a great fa- vourite Yet, however partial to Mel, it mentions Maccaille, but
can be considered a name proper to whom it may
him as
St. Brigid to him. "
adopting its etymological origin
be applied, but many are conventional.
^'^ See Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesi-
arum Antiquitates," cap. xvi. , p. 336. Also, Index Chronologicus, A. D. CCCCLXVII. ^5 See Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , section
at least
makes him a
of Mel, and represents
iii. , p. 386.
^^Joceline relates, that St. Brigid was mained attached to its roots and growing,
present at a sermon of St. Patrick, in a place called Finnabhair. Afterwards, St. Patrick went to Munster, where, as well as in other Irish provinces, he spent nine years. See Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. xciv. , xcv. , pp. 86, 87. Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
^7 Some writers place St. Patrick's death so early as a. d. 458, while others say that he lived until A. D. 493. See " Life of St.
9^ Bri Eile or Croghan was the church of St, Maccaille, See "Letters containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the King's County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1837. " John O'Donovan's letter dated TuUamore,
112.
January 4th, 1838, p.
97 This was "in the city Medi. " See
"
Bishop Forbes' Kalendars of Scottish
Brigid," by 28.
Priest, chap, iii. , p.
an Irish
Saints," p. 288.
98 See Dr. O'Donovan's
"
Annals of the
^^ See " Historia Joronalensis," ad ann.
I185.
^9 In his " Chronicle," at A. D. 493.
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (m), p. 152.
99 The parish of Croghan is described on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the King's County. " Sheets 3, 10. On
93 See Harris' Ware. Vol, iii,,
"
Writers
disciple introducing
— " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. ,
chap, viii. , sec. iii. , p. 388.
95 In the Second Life, it is stated, while
the saint made her vows to heaven, she touched a wooden support, on which its altar rested, Cogitosus says, in his time, this wood was Still green, as if it had not been cut down and barked, but had yet re-
acceptance
privilege.
subject,
authority
'°* '"^
In the present county of Westmeath. According to Ussher.
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
the King's County and Westmeath. No church at present marks this site, but a frequented graveyard is to be seen on the spot indicated. The place
itself is elevated and greatly exposed to the action of passing winds. It would seem, according to another opinion, that our saint received her religious habit at Huisneach Midi,'°° usually supposed to have been identical with Usny Hill. '°' According to Tirechan, Maccaille was then at this place,'°^ which, although not his usual residence, was probably comprised within his ecclesi- astical district. '°3 Likely, also, the church had been built of wood, and had not suffered from fire, down to the time, in which Cogitosus wTote. This accident occurred, however, before the Latin Hexameter or Sixth Life of our saint had been composed. Allusion is there made to the miraculous circumstance regarding that portion of the altar, touched by the holy virgin, having escaped conflagration.
Although certain writers have assumed, that St. Brigid made her religious
profession so early as her fourteenth year •,^'"< yet, nothing has appeared in evidence to sustain this opinion. It is true, before the passing of a decree, at the Council of Trent, that age was deemed sufficient for receiving the veil. Hector Boece'°s seems therefore to have inferred St. Brigid's earliest
^°^ On this
pressed her preference for the state of virginity. In the early ages, conse- crated virgins lived with their friends, and discharged the ordinary household duties. Afterwards, it was found more desirable they should live in com- munity. Strictenclosurewasofalaterdate,anditwasgraduallyintroduced among the religious houses. It is needless to state, how much it has con- duced to promote sanctity in such holy institutions. '''7
Maccaille is said to have clothed her with a white cloak^°^ and to have
placed a white garment or veil over her head. Relating like circumstances, Tirechan says, that she received the pallium from Mac-Cuille or Maccaille. It is worth while remarking, the dress of ancient nuns was white ; nor were there any distinct orders of religious females in Ireland, until some centuries after St. Brigid's time, as all consecrated women followed the same rule she had observed. '°9
A learned Irish ecclesiastical historian"® will not have it inferred, that
of her
declares, St. Brigid must have been at least sixteen years old, at the period of her consecration, as in those times, that was the earliest age, compatible with the perfomiance of such a ceremony. It is probable, she had attained this latter age, at least, as her parents considered her marriageable, at a time she ex-
the latter maybe traced the curious anti-
quities adjacent to the ruiped church on
Croghan Hill.
100
the place of her profession is said to have
been at Tealach Midi, where Bishop Mel
was then living, pp. 17, 18. In other
words, this place may be rendered Tulach
Midi, or the Hill of Meath,
iii. , and n. 41, pp. 386, 388.
^°^ See " The Life of St. Brigid," by an
Irish Priest, chap, iii. , pp. 33, 34.
Xn Professor O'Looney's Irish Life,
The white garment of St. Brigid is
'°3 See Dr.
History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vii. , sec. ^^M P- 335-
as the — for their generally, regulation
Lanigan's
" Ecclesiastical as
wearing a particular habit. "
"
tical History of Ireland," vol. i,, chap, viii. , '°* See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of sec. iii. , n. 34, p. 3S7. He quotes Tille-
"
Memoires pour servir a I'Histoire Ecclesiastique," tomus x. , pp. 84 to 302 ; and Bingham's " Ecclesiastical Antiquities,"
the Saints," vol. ii. , February I. , p. 17. mont's *°s Ussher and other writers drew similar
accounts from him.
See Dr.
History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sec.
^*°*
Lanigan's
"Ecclesiastical book "°
vii. , chap, iv. , Dr. Lanigan.
sect. 6.
:
a more reliable
'°^
mentioned in her Third Life. See Col-
gan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Tertia Vita S. Brigidte, cap. 108, p. 540.
'°9 Such is the opinion of Dr. Lanigan,
" We find nothing about cutting
who adds
of hair, which was not practised in the pro- fession of holy virgins as early, or, at least
Ecclesias-
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. «3
our saint's father resided in the ancient province of Meath, as he is con- stantly called a Leinsterman. According to the same writer, he seems to have lived not far from Kildare, where Brigid afterwards founded her nun- nery. '" The reason why she had recourse to Maccaille was probably, be- cause he was then the nearest bishop to her father's house ; and, as the con- secration of virgins was reserved to the episcopal order, a priest could not receive her profession. It is a matter of considerable difficulty to determine theplace,wheretheholyvirginfirstestablishedherreligioushouse. Accord- ing to a local tradition, we find it stated, St. Brigid and her sister lived in Faughard Church. "^ This, however, is unreliable. Another opinion has been offered,"^ that our saint founded her first religious establishment in that part of the King's County, which formerly belonged to the ancient pro- vince of Meath, as may be conjectured from its having been not far from Usneach or Usny hill,"^ where Brigid received her veil. The place is spoken of, as being surrounded by the towns -of Meath. "s Usny hill"'^ is not far distant from the present King's County. "7 There Maccaille seems to have usually resided. In Fearcall, formerly a part of Meath, now the baronies of Ballycowen and Ballyboy,"^ in the King's County, there was a place called Rath-brighide, i. e. Brigidstown. "9 Dr. Lanigan supposes, St. Brigid's dwelling was either about that district, or in an adjoining one of
"' " In the Fourth Life (L. 2 c. 3) it is said that after an absence of some duration, she returned to her own country, that is, to the district where her relatives resided, and that in said tract a place was assigned to her for
a for — after- erecting monastery holy virgins,
wards called Kill-dara. " "Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," chap, viii. , § iii. , and
n. 37, PP- 385, 388.
"^
ground plan of Usneach cemetery, and a sectional part of its upper surface, are pre-
sented by Dr, Ferguson, in the paper to which allusion has been already made. The
principal cemetery enclosure is an irregular
Tradition
called Cilt mtii|Ae, or "the Church of
Mary. " See "Louth Letters, containing tition in the enclosures. Each division con-
"*
Interesting engravings, representing a
"
an Irish Priest, chap, iii. , p. 34.
states,
that it is likewise
Information relative to the Antiquities of
the County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1835," vol.
Some modem Anglo-Scottish writers, taking Hector Boece^-^ as guide, relate, that our St. Brigid of Kildare was veiled by St. Macchilla, Bishop of Sodor, in the Isle of Mona,^s or Man, about the year 443. But, the casual affinity of name seems to have occasioned this error. As already seen, the bishop who veiled St. Brigid was called Maccalle or Maccalleus ; while, the Bishop of Sodor—that being the episcopal see of the Isle of Man— Machaldus and Magiul, by Joceline,^^ Mac-fill by Probus,^7 and Mac-Cuill in an Irish MS. of the Life of St. Patrick. ^^ Although both of those persons alluded to had been bishops and flourished in St. Patrick's time ; it is certain, that this Maccullius or Macaldus, Bishop of Sodor or Man, was altogether different from St. Maccalleus,^9 the consecrator of St. Brigid, not only in re- ferencetotime,placeandacts,but,evenasregardsthename. Differences between them in point of time show that they must be distinguished. For St. Maccalleus,7° the consecrator of St. Brigid, was bishop before he veiled
5^ In Professor O'Looney's Irish MS. Life,
not only is it stated, that St. Brigid went to
take the veil from Bishop Mel, but it is even
asserted, he bestowed on her the honour of
''
above all other women, so that it is the honour of a bishop the men of Erin givetothesuccessorofSt. Brigideversince,"
eightieth [year of her age] she went into heaven. On the eighth, Brigid was conse- crated under the eight beatitudes [foods] of the Gospel, which she fulfilled, and the food of mercy is what Brigid used to call them," pp. 17, 18.
a bishop,
pp. 17, 18. Such account indicates great thorn Todd's St. Patrick, Apostle of Ire-
antiquity for this Irish Life. However, it must be remarked, that St. Brigid received
land. " Introductory Dissertation, pp. 11 to 14.
^3 As the native word mac a signifies son,
hence lirechan, who wrote St. Patrick's Acts a thousand years before Colgan's time, when speaking of a certain church founded by the Irish Apostle, in the southern part of Meath, observes, "in qua S. Brigida pallium
confirmation from St. and hence Mel,
pro-
bably arose some confusion between his hav-
ing conferred orders and the veil on this
pious virgin, as stated by some old writers.
"
Obits and Martyrology of the Cathe-
See
dral Church of the Holy Trinity," edited by
John Clarke Crosthwaite and Dr. James caepit sub manibus filii Caille in Uisnech Henthom Todd. Introduction, p. xcviii. , Midhe. "
and n. (y), ibid. ^4 See "Historia Scotorum," lib. ix. , fol.
59 In Professor O'Looney's Irish MS. 158.
Life it is called Tealach Midhe, pp. 17, 18.
^s According to Camerarius, the sepulchre
of the Scottish kings was in the Island of
Mona. See " De Statu Hominis, veteris
simul ac novae Ecclesiae, et Sanctis Regni
^°
the district of the Methians in Ultonia. See
"
Trias Thaumaturga. " Vita Tertia S. Bri-
By this is probably to be understood,
gidse, cap. xviii. , and nn. 12, 13, pp. 529,
543- ^^
The Irish Life of St. Brigid in the Leabhar Breac likewise renders some por- tions of it different from that in the Book of Lismore. In the latter we read from Pro-
** On the eighth hour Brigid was born, and on a particular Wednesday in the eighteenth [year of her age] she took the veil, in the
Scotise ;" lib. i. , cap. iii. , sec. ii. , p. 141. ^^
fessor O'Looney's English translation
:
^7 See ibid. Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. X. , p. 53-
^8 Lib. iii. , cap. 35.
^9 He was a disciple to St. Mel and to Melchu, the nephews of St. Patrick.
7° He lived, died and was venerated in a part of Leinster, called Ifalge, in a place
^^
See on this subject. Rev. James Hen- "
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cli. p. 98.
is called
6o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
her,7^ and he died in the year 489. 7^ But, St. MacCuill or Maccaldus, after- wards Bishop of Man, it is stated, does not seem to have been baptized, much less consecrated as bishop, when St. Brigid had been veiled. 73 Be- sides, circumstances of their Hves and deaths, their acts and the places in which they flourished, evidence their non-identity.
Brogan Cloen states,74 that Maccalleus placed the veil over St. Brigid's head -p while the Calendar of Cashel and Maguire76 corroborate such an account. By both the latter, too, are we informed,77 that this holy man had been venerated at Cruachan Brigh-eile,72 now Croghan Hill,79 in the former territoryofHy-FailgeorOiTaly. ^° Inlikemanner,TirechanandCogitosus^' assert, that the virgin received her religious dress, at the hands of Bishop Maccalle. ^^ To one well versed in the Irish language, it will be found, that both names, Maccalle and Macald are distinct, although from their ambiguity, or supposed affinity, they have led Avriters to confound St. Maccalleus with St. Maccaldus. ^3
called Cruachan, as appears from several
Lives of St. Brigid, published by Colgan. In no writer do we read of his having been
a robber, in any part of Ulster, called Mag- inis, or that he there exercised his vocation, after St. Brigid had been veiled and rendered renowned by her miracles, or after St. Patrick traversing Munster had returned to Ulster.
71 While Ussher assigns this veiling to
A. D, 467, Dr. Lanigan thinks it may be ad-
mitted, that she Avas professed in the year 469. See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire-
It lay within the ancient territory of Ofalia. It rises on the confines of ancient Meath and Leinster. See "Letters containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the King's County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1837," vol. i. , pp. 104 to 115.
79 On the very summit of Croghan Hill is a small moat or sepulchral tu? ? iulus. This seems to have been the monument of Congal,
teAcc ConJAibe, —^o^ "btM Gile i\o yvoencA.
Ibid. , p. no.
land," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sec. iii. , p. 386. ''
*'
72 As the Annals of the Four Masters"
have it from those of ^° From the or moat on Senat-mac-magnus, top
of Clonmacnoise, and of the Island.
73 By Ussher, Maccaille has been con- founded with Maguil or Maccaldus, Bishop of Man. In this island, it is said, likewise,
*
See Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. ,
Croghan Hill, the whole level plain or ctiiyv of Ofalia and its natural boundaries may be seen at aglance. It stretches, nearly as level as a lake south- wards, to the foot of the Slieve Bloom Moun- tains, and to the Sugar Loaf shaped Hills, at Killone, in the Queen's County, and east- wards to the Hill of Allen, in Kildare county. See ibid. , p. 112. Dr. O'Donovan describes the extent of this territory, which he illustrates with hand-drawn maps from
pp. 24 to 47, ibid.
^' He calls it "a white one. " See Col-
our saint was veiled.
chap, viii. , sec. iii. , and nn. 39, 40, pp. 386,
388.
7* See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga.
"
Hymnus, seu Prima Vita S. Brigida;, p. 515. 75 Regarding St. Brigid's virtues and mira-
holy virgin's
a short time after this
cles,
death, following
we find the —
Latin version "Trias gan's
Secunda
of his Irish Hymn
" Posuit avibas Maccalleus velum
Super caput SanctK Brigidaj Clarus est in ejus gestis ;
In coelo exaudita est ejus petitio
Deum precor in omnibus adversis,
Modis omnibus, quibus valet os meum,
Profundiorem pelago, magnifice prsedi- cabilem.
Thaumaturga. " Brigidae," cap. iii. , p. 519.
Trinum et Unum. ^Ibid.
Veridica narratio. "
Martyrologists name the saint venerated at the 25th of April Maccaille, i. e. , filius Caille.
Colgan remarks, that Alac signifies son, and Caille is either the proper name of a man,
or if it be appellative, it has the signification of a veil : so that in Latin, Mac-caille could be rendered filius veli, he having obtained such a name perhaps, from the circumstance of his having veiled St. Brigid.
^i The Bishop of Man, m St. Patrick's Irish Life and elsewhere, is called Mac- cuille ; by Probus Macfill or Mac/ail ; and by Joceline he is named Macaldus, in Latin ; thus by use of the single c, it seems to be supposed, that in Irish, he was called Ma- caill or Mac-aild. The Irish word Call^ which in the genetive case becomes Cuilly
:
Vita S.
^' We have already seen, that the Irish
76 Commenting on St. Angus' " Festi- logy," he calls it "the white veil. "
77 At the 28th of April.
78 In a letter, dated Tullamore, January 4th, 1838, John O'Donovan identifies Crua-
chan Bri Eile with the present conspicuous Hill of Croghan, in the parish of Croghan, and in the barony of Lower Philipslown.
" Poem of the Monuments.
alluded to in the
Laoidh na Leacht," or
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 6i
The profession of St. Brigid is held to have occurred a. d. 467,^-* or possibly A. D. 469. ^5 That our Apostle St. Patrick^^ officiated on this occa- sion^7 has been affirmed by such writers as John Brampton^^ and Henry of Marlborough. ^9 According to another account,9° she was veiled by two holy bishops, who were disciples of St. Patrick. In his Life of the saint, Ultan relates, that she received the veil from Bishop Mel,9' a disciple of St. Patrick ;92 and the same statement is to be found among her other acts, in the Irish language. This representation has been adopted by Harris. 93 However, the story about St. Mel of Ardagh having veiled her is contra- dicted by the best authorities, and it is not even worthy of refutation, in Dr. Lanigan'sopinion. 94 Itistoberegretted,thatwehavenotonrecordtheexact name of that church,95 in which St. Brigid made her religious profession.
Cruachan Brigh-eile it is usually called. 9<5 From the account left us by Cogitosus, that church97 would seem to have been renowned for religious pilgrimages in his day, and to have been the scene of numerous miracles, wroughtonbehalfofthedevoutclientsofoursaint. Still,thisunnotedchurch
^haspossiblybeenidentified. 92 Itisthoughttohavebeenontheeasternside of the conspicuous Hill of Croghan,99 near Tyrrell's Pass, on the confines of
has the same as nut and the signification ;
word Caill, the same as wood; the word
faol as wolf; whilst all, aid or alt means a
forest. Wherefore, Mac-mill, Mac-caill, Mac-aill or Mac-aild may have the signifi-
cation oifilius nucis, filius sylva:, filius lupi, ox filius saltus, in Latin ; as if the name had been bestowed on him, "ex eo quod in sylvis et saltibus latrocinia exercebat. " Colgan adds, that these notices are given by him, not because he would assert, that he had furnished the right origin for such proper names ; but, because they show dif- ferences existing between them, and may be adopted, until better interpretations or de- rivations are offered. With those two names of the saints in question, and from many ap- pellatives of saints in Ireland, which com-
9° See " Sanctorum Hystorie plurimorum
noviter et laboriose ex diversis libris col- lecte. " Louvanii, A. D, 1485, 4to.
9^ See, in reference to this account, "The Book of Obits and Martyrology of the Ca- thedi-al Church of the Holy Trinity," edited by John Clarke (^rosthwaite and Rev. James Henthorn Todd, Introduction, pp. xcvi^ to cii. , with accompanying notes.
52 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Tertia Vita S. Patricii, cap. xviii. , p. 519.
mence with Mac, scarcely one—
of Ireland," book i. , chap, iii. , p. 12.
94 Headds "It is to be found in the :
Third Life (cap. 18), with the author of which Mel appears to have been a great fa- vourite Yet, however partial to Mel, it mentions Maccaille, but
can be considered a name proper to whom it may
him as
St. Brigid to him. "
adopting its etymological origin
be applied, but many are conventional.
^'^ See Ussher's " Britannicarum Ecclesi-
arum Antiquitates," cap. xvi. , p. 336. Also, Index Chronologicus, A. D. CCCCLXVII. ^5 See Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical His- tory of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , section
at least
makes him a
of Mel, and represents
iii. , p. 386.
^^Joceline relates, that St. Brigid was mained attached to its roots and growing,
present at a sermon of St. Patrick, in a place called Finnabhair. Afterwards, St. Patrick went to Munster, where, as well as in other Irish provinces, he spent nine years. See Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. xciv. , xcv. , pp. 86, 87. Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
^7 Some writers place St. Patrick's death so early as a. d. 458, while others say that he lived until A. D. 493. See " Life of St.
9^ Bri Eile or Croghan was the church of St, Maccaille, See "Letters containing Information relative to the Antiquities of the King's County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1837. " John O'Donovan's letter dated TuUamore,
112.
January 4th, 1838, p.
97 This was "in the city Medi. " See
"
Bishop Forbes' Kalendars of Scottish
Brigid," by 28.
Priest, chap, iii. , p.
an Irish
Saints," p. 288.
98 See Dr. O'Donovan's
"
Annals of the
^^ See " Historia Joronalensis," ad ann.
I185.
^9 In his " Chronicle," at A. D. 493.
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (m), p. 152.
99 The parish of Croghan is described on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the King's County. " Sheets 3, 10. On
93 See Harris' Ware. Vol, iii,,
"
Writers
disciple introducing
— " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. ,
chap, viii. , sec. iii. , p. 388.
95 In the Second Life, it is stated, while
the saint made her vows to heaven, she touched a wooden support, on which its altar rested, Cogitosus says, in his time, this wood was Still green, as if it had not been cut down and barked, but had yet re-
acceptance
privilege.
subject,
authority
'°* '"^
In the present county of Westmeath. According to Ussher.
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[February i.
the King's County and Westmeath. No church at present marks this site, but a frequented graveyard is to be seen on the spot indicated. The place
itself is elevated and greatly exposed to the action of passing winds. It would seem, according to another opinion, that our saint received her religious habit at Huisneach Midi,'°° usually supposed to have been identical with Usny Hill. '°' According to Tirechan, Maccaille was then at this place,'°^ which, although not his usual residence, was probably comprised within his ecclesi- astical district. '°3 Likely, also, the church had been built of wood, and had not suffered from fire, down to the time, in which Cogitosus wTote. This accident occurred, however, before the Latin Hexameter or Sixth Life of our saint had been composed. Allusion is there made to the miraculous circumstance regarding that portion of the altar, touched by the holy virgin, having escaped conflagration.
Although certain writers have assumed, that St. Brigid made her religious
profession so early as her fourteenth year •,^'"< yet, nothing has appeared in evidence to sustain this opinion. It is true, before the passing of a decree, at the Council of Trent, that age was deemed sufficient for receiving the veil. Hector Boece'°s seems therefore to have inferred St. Brigid's earliest
^°^ On this
pressed her preference for the state of virginity. In the early ages, conse- crated virgins lived with their friends, and discharged the ordinary household duties. Afterwards, it was found more desirable they should live in com- munity. Strictenclosurewasofalaterdate,anditwasgraduallyintroduced among the religious houses. It is needless to state, how much it has con- duced to promote sanctity in such holy institutions. '''7
Maccaille is said to have clothed her with a white cloak^°^ and to have
placed a white garment or veil over her head. Relating like circumstances, Tirechan says, that she received the pallium from Mac-Cuille or Maccaille. It is worth while remarking, the dress of ancient nuns was white ; nor were there any distinct orders of religious females in Ireland, until some centuries after St. Brigid's time, as all consecrated women followed the same rule she had observed. '°9
A learned Irish ecclesiastical historian"® will not have it inferred, that
of her
declares, St. Brigid must have been at least sixteen years old, at the period of her consecration, as in those times, that was the earliest age, compatible with the perfomiance of such a ceremony. It is probable, she had attained this latter age, at least, as her parents considered her marriageable, at a time she ex-
the latter maybe traced the curious anti-
quities adjacent to the ruiped church on
Croghan Hill.
100
the place of her profession is said to have
been at Tealach Midi, where Bishop Mel
was then living, pp. 17, 18. In other
words, this place may be rendered Tulach
Midi, or the Hill of Meath,
iii. , and n. 41, pp. 386, 388.
^°^ See " The Life of St. Brigid," by an
Irish Priest, chap, iii. , pp. 33, 34.
Xn Professor O'Looney's Irish Life,
The white garment of St. Brigid is
'°3 See Dr.
History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, vii. , sec. ^^M P- 335-
as the — for their generally, regulation
Lanigan's
" Ecclesiastical as
wearing a particular habit. "
"
tical History of Ireland," vol. i,, chap, viii. , '°* See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of sec. iii. , n. 34, p. 3S7. He quotes Tille-
"
Memoires pour servir a I'Histoire Ecclesiastique," tomus x. , pp. 84 to 302 ; and Bingham's " Ecclesiastical Antiquities,"
the Saints," vol. ii. , February I. , p. 17. mont's *°s Ussher and other writers drew similar
accounts from him.
See Dr.
History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sec.
^*°*
Lanigan's
"Ecclesiastical book "°
vii. , chap, iv. , Dr. Lanigan.
sect. 6.
:
a more reliable
'°^
mentioned in her Third Life. See Col-
gan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Tertia Vita S. Brigidte, cap. 108, p. 540.
'°9 Such is the opinion of Dr. Lanigan,
" We find nothing about cutting
who adds
of hair, which was not practised in the pro- fession of holy virgins as early, or, at least
Ecclesias-
February i. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. «3
our saint's father resided in the ancient province of Meath, as he is con- stantly called a Leinsterman. According to the same writer, he seems to have lived not far from Kildare, where Brigid afterwards founded her nun- nery. '" The reason why she had recourse to Maccaille was probably, be- cause he was then the nearest bishop to her father's house ; and, as the con- secration of virgins was reserved to the episcopal order, a priest could not receive her profession. It is a matter of considerable difficulty to determine theplace,wheretheholyvirginfirstestablishedherreligioushouse. Accord- ing to a local tradition, we find it stated, St. Brigid and her sister lived in Faughard Church. "^ This, however, is unreliable. Another opinion has been offered,"^ that our saint founded her first religious establishment in that part of the King's County, which formerly belonged to the ancient pro- vince of Meath, as may be conjectured from its having been not far from Usneach or Usny hill,"^ where Brigid received her veil. The place is spoken of, as being surrounded by the towns -of Meath. "s Usny hill"'^ is not far distant from the present King's County. "7 There Maccaille seems to have usually resided. In Fearcall, formerly a part of Meath, now the baronies of Ballycowen and Ballyboy,"^ in the King's County, there was a place called Rath-brighide, i. e. Brigidstown. "9 Dr. Lanigan supposes, St. Brigid's dwelling was either about that district, or in an adjoining one of
"' " In the Fourth Life (L. 2 c. 3) it is said that after an absence of some duration, she returned to her own country, that is, to the district where her relatives resided, and that in said tract a place was assigned to her for
a for — after- erecting monastery holy virgins,
wards called Kill-dara. " "Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," chap, viii. , § iii. , and
n. 37, PP- 385, 388.
"^
ground plan of Usneach cemetery, and a sectional part of its upper surface, are pre-
sented by Dr, Ferguson, in the paper to which allusion has been already made. The
principal cemetery enclosure is an irregular
Tradition
called Cilt mtii|Ae, or "the Church of
Mary. " See "Louth Letters, containing tition in the enclosures. Each division con-
"*
Interesting engravings, representing a
"
an Irish Priest, chap, iii. , p. 34.
states,
that it is likewise
Information relative to the Antiquities of
the County, collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1835," vol.
