Columkille
for its patron.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
" A Day at Iona :
Recollec-
* the Chapter vi. Here
O'Clerys state, he had a religious foundation.
tutelage
336 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINJS. [June 9.
Thenceforward, that stone was called the Rock of Sadness. 3 The foundation of Raphoe is ascribed to St. Columba,* in an ancient poem, and in some other authorities. 5 In the early part of the seventeenth century, it possessed a Round Tower, probably belonging to the former cathedral, which had been there erected. From what we have seen already, it should seem, that St. Columba blessed churches at Raphoe in his lifetime, if he were not the actual
6
founder of a religious house, at that place. ? Ronan, son of Lugad, and pro-
nepos of St. Columba, on his uncle Sedne's side, held one of the Hy-Xiell, asahostage,andforsomereasonhehadbeendoomedtodeath. However, St. Columba asked and obtained his pardon from Ronan, saying he could refuse him no request. To reward him for this avowal, the saint predicted, that from him should proceed Dalach, who was to be the stock, from whom the future Tyrconnellian nobles and princes must descend. He also declared, that although then undistinguished among the higher chiefs, they should one day become more celebrated, provided they only lived piously and justly. Again, it was predicted of the same Dalach,8 that drops of blood should be seen in a well at Kill-mac-Nenain, as often as any of his posterity was about to perish by the sword. O'Donnell states, that the truth of this pre- diction stood the test of experience. '
Among the churches or religious houses of Blessed Columb in the north of
Ireland is to be reckoned that of Druim-Tomma, 10 now Drumhome, in the
of and of 11 as several monks of St. barony Tyrhugh, county Donegal,
Columba are stated to have been there buried. 12 we most Accordingly, may
probably attribute the period of its erection to the occasion on which he
returned to this part of Ireland. In the parish of Drumhome was also the
11 townland of Ballymagroarty, ^ where are the remains of an old chapel, * which
formerly bore the name of St. Columba. The O'Clerys state, that it was one of his foundations. Here, too, the celebrated Cathach, a reliquary of the saint,waskeptintheseventeenthcentury. 'S AplaceformerlycalledScreen-
16 and afterwards known as '? was for- Ballynascreen parish,
l8 considered as
forms the western portion of the barony of Loughinsholin, in the county of
Colaim-Cille,
merly
belonging
to Gleann in Tirone. 1 ? It now Coneadhan,
" nance Survey Townland Maps for the County
of Donegal," sheets 25, 26, 34, 35.
3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbce, lib. i. , cap. lxxii. ,
Kilmacrenan. It is to be found on the
Ord-
Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap, Ixxvii. , pp. 401, 402, and n. 72, p. 451.
,0
Also written Druim Tuama, in the O'Clerys' Calendar.
p. 401.
4 The old Irish Life of St. Columba
x. .
rived from the family of Mac Robhartaigh, pronounced Mac Roarty.
'*
This townland is divided into two por- tions, the Irish and Scotch. This ruined chapel is in the former division.
I5 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbre, cap. ii. , p. 495.
,6 Mentioned by this name at A. D. 1203,
in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 136, 137, and n. (e), ibid.
places his foundation of Rath-Bo h, next in order after his foundation at Derry. SeetheEng- lish translation appended, in William F. Skene's "Celtic Scotland," vol. ii. , Appen-
p. 133.
" See ibid. ,n. 118, pp. 141, 142.
13 In Irish t>Aile-tnecc nobayvcaicli, de-
dix I. , p. 484.
5 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
of St. Columba," Additional Notes G, p. 280.
6 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan, however, does not find sufficient arguments for ascribing such to Columba himself ; although a monas-
tery existed there in Adamnan's time, who "
was, perhaps, the founder of it. See Ec-
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
chap, xi. , sect, x. , p. 132.
7 *7 The O'Clerys in their Calendar class it
among St. Columba's foundations.
8 From him that
sprung distinguished
branch of the O'Donnell family, known as Siol n Dalaich.
9 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
In Irish baiLe m\ Scrxme, Anglicized " Town of the Shrine. "
"
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect.
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
,8 In the seventeenth
century.
* 9 See Rev. Robert King's "Old Church
of Ballynascreen," p. 103.
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
337
Londonderry. An old church, situated in a picturesque valley on the Moyola
water, the site of an earlier 20 Various rich levels or straths occupies building.
lie in the Moyola valley, and they are sometimes covered by freshets in the
stream. 21
Tearmonn
At one the time,
man came to a — place, incorrectly called
Cetmainigh
Cuiminig
22
—
holy
but the true name is Tearmon
2
3
in
Tyrone. There, he resolved, that it should be consecrated, and should enjoy
ecclesiastical immunities for the future. Stamping the ground with his foot, inthreedifferentplaces,threeseparatefountainswereproduced. Then,he
"
Domnald, son of Aedh, son to Ainmreach, King of Ireland, accompanied by the race of Conalleid, shall penetrate into this district ; and, its people shall suffer much from his army. Yet, the Almighty hath granted to me, that these forces shall be unnerved, destitute of strength, and afflicted with disease, until they shall have offered satisfaction to the Comorban of this place, and until they shall have been sprinkled with the waters of these
prophesied :
wells. " This prophecy was duly completed, and thenceforth, the waters were "2
called the Conalleidan fountains. " * In the thirteenth and following cen- turies this place was known as Termon-conyn or Termon-conny. In after
times, it was called Termon-Maguirk, the present name of the parish being derived from the Mac Guirk family, who were formerly the Herenachs of its
2
ecclesiastical lands. s It is situated in the barony of Omagh East and county
of Tyrone. There is an old church here and a parish cemetery. Without the latter are two other places of interment. One of these is called Relig-na-
"
the children's cemetery," while the other bears for title Relig-na- " of the slain. " Some curious local and
26
paisde,
firgunta, Cemetery
reference to our saint, yet linger in the locality.
legends, having
In the time of St. Patrick, according to immemorial tradition, a wonderful
man, named Conla the Artist, was remarkable all over the country for his
2
skill in working the precious metals. ? His operations were carried on, at a
place called Dun-cruithne. 28 But while engaged on a splendid shrine, and before it was finished, he died. No other person could be found in that loca-
lity to complete the work, in a corresponding style, and there it remained until St. Columba came to the place, which was in Kiennacht. On behold- ing this unfinished shrine, our saint most earnestly desired its completion. But, being fully satisfied, that no living artist could accomplish such a task, hewenttothetombofConla,whichhecausedtobeopened. Therelaythe decaying bones of that wonderfully great artist. He blessed them, and pro-
:
nounced these words, with a loud voice " In the name of our Lord Jesus
20 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Liie of St. Columba," Additional Notes G, p. 282.
** See Rev. Dr. William Reeves' Adam-
nan's "Life of St. Columba," Additional
Notes G, p. 283.
2? tells us, that it had into Colgan passed
a proverb among the Irish, when they de- sired to praise the work of a skilful worker
"
Conla himself was not a better artist. " In like manner, when they desired to convey a notion regarding what was irre- parable in such work: "not even Conla, the artist in bronze, could set it to
rights. "
28
This means the Picts' Fort. But, after- wards, it was called Serin Choluim Chille, in the Ards country, better know as Ard- Macgiolligan. There is a mention of this place, in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick,
" See "
land," vol. i. , p. 135.
32
Gazetteer of Ire-
Parliamentary
In Colgan's version of Prince O'Don- nell's Irish Life of St. Columba.
23 The Rev. Dr. Reeves thinks it may de- rive its name from Cuimne, sister to St. Columba. See Adamnan's Life of St. Columba, Additional Notes G, p. 283.
"
94 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga, Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. Ixxxvi. , p. 403.
2s Deriving under the Primate. See "Acts
of Archbishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation of Derry, a. d. mcccxcvii," &c,
in metals :
edited by Rev, William Reeves, D. D. , Part i. , chap. 125.
M. R. I. n. A. ,
(g), p. 3.
*9 What became of this beautiful of object
338
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June g.
Christ,arisefromthedead. " Manypersonswerethenpresent,andtotheir great astonishment, the dry bones seemed to be covered with flesh ; and, as if awaking from a slumber, Conla arose. He finished the shrine, according to the desire of St. Columba, who placed in it the relics of many Irish saints. Moreover, the Legend relates, that after his work was completed. Conla became the parent of a race, afterwards known as the Clann-cnaimhsighe, or
" the posterity of the bones. "
was in
kept Ard-Mac-giolligan,
In the time of Prince O'Donnell, this shrine
20 which was a maritime of Northern port
Ulster,inKiennnahtaGlinneGemhin. 3° ThisplacewasknownasScreen,31 in after times, and it was an ancient chapel,32 in the townland of Craig, in the
parish of Tamlaghtard or Magilligan, in the county and diocese of Deny. " The townland of Ballymacrorty, in the parish ofTemplemore or Deny, is said to have had a monastery, the ruins of which were extant in the time of
Colgan. 34 Thisisclassed,asoneofthechurchesunderthepatronageofSt. Columba, in Inishowen and in the diocese of Derry. 35 The parish of
Desertegny, Inishowen, county of Donegal and diocese of Derry, is said to have had St.
Columkille for its patron. 36 By Colgan, it is called Disert-
Egnich. 37
The townland of
Ballymagroarty,3
8 in the of Drumhome, parish
and barony of Tirhugh, in the county of Donegal, is divided into two por-
tions : one is called the Irish and the other the Scotch. In the former are the
remains of an old chapel. This formerly bore the name of St. Columba. It
is in the diocese of Raphoe. There was kept the celebrated Reliquary of St. Co-
lumba, known as the Cathach, 30 and there also were some ruins of a church. '*
St. Columb was of 41 a in the diocese of 3
patron Clonmany, parish Derry. * We are told, that St. Columkille founded a church, in the parish of Clon-
many, and barony of Inishowen, in the sixth century. A monastery also
existed in connection with it.
The surrounding scenery is of a bold and sub-
lime character. A Protestant church at present occupies this site, and the
burial-ground has received whole generations of departed persons. Within
a stone is yet pointed out, and on which, it is related, St. Columkille prayed. On his festival day, the 9th of June, stations are made around it, by the country
43
people.
While St. Columba was engaged singing the Divine praises, at a
place called Tulach na psalm, or " the hill of psalmody," not far from Kill- micnenain, on bended knees he asked from the Almighty three requests : First, that he would not deny any petition justly preferred, lest scandal might
art is not related by Colgan. 37 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta 30 See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. ii. ,
Quinta Vita S. Columba;, lib. i. , cap. num. 48, p. 494.
xcix. , p. 405, andnn. 81, 82, p. 451.
31 In Irish Sqvm 1 m-Ajvoa, Latinized
"ScriniumdeArdo. "
32 See "Acts of Archbishop Coltoninhis
38 Written Baile-meg-rabhartaieh, by Colgan, who states, that formerly it was the siteofamonastery. Thetownlandwasso called from the family of Mac Robertaigh,
Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of pronounced Mac Roarty. See Rev. Dr.
Derry, A. D. , Mcccxcvn,"n. (q), p. 78.
33 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes G,
p. 282.
34 See •' Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap- pendix ad Acta S. Columba, cap. ii. , P- 495-
35 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
"Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes G,
P- 285.
36 See Rev. William Reeves' "Acts of
Archbishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visi- tation of the Diocese of Derry, A. D. ,
MCCCXCVII," n. (t), p. 67.
Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes G, p. 2S4.
39 Now preserved in the Royal Irish Aca- demy.
4° See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbre, cap. ii. , num. 51, p. 495.
4I According to Colgan.
4* See Rev. Dr. Reeves' "Acts of Arch- bishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, a. d. , mcccxcvii. ," n. (u), p. 67.
43 See Maghtochair's " Inishowen : Its History, Traditions and Antiquities," chap.
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 339
arise or the Church might receive hurt ; secondly, that the love of God should nevergrowcoldinhisbreast; andthirdly,thatnoneofhiskindred,orthe race of Conall, should differ among themselves, but should remain unani- mous, rejecting fierceness for gentleness, and for levity substantial wisdom, and whenever they provoked God's justice and anger, he prayed that plague and famine should be their avengers. There Baithen, Brugacius, and Ternoc,44 his disciples, asked St. Columba what should happen in future times. At
:
first, he wept bitterly, and then turning to them, he said " My soul is dis-
turbed, and my heart is filled with bitterness, while in mind I behold the evils
tocomeonfutureages; whentheimmunitiesofchurchesshallbeviolated,
while churches shall be despoiled, and monks oppressed ; when even the
edifices erected by myself shall be turned into laymen's houses ; and when
the most just God shall afflict such wicked doers, with not only hunger, pesti-
lence, and disease, but even with more severe trials and afflictions ; when God
shall withdraw his graces and paternal protection from those badly using them,
and allow former sins to gather force, as also hatreds, contentions, parricides, and evils of this sort, to increase. 45
After this, St. Columba went to an Island, situated in a lake, called
Lochgama, in Breffny. 46 In the parish of Columbkille, in the barony of Granard, and in the north-eastern part of the county of Longford, there is an Island in Lough Gowna called formerly Inismor Locha Gamna, and at present known as Inchmore. Here was the former parish church,+7 and at present it is only a ruin, called Teampull Choluim-cille. 48 It seems to have been the site of a religious establishment, and if not founded bySt. Columba,atleastitwasdedicatedtohim. AtArmagh,St. Columb
is said to have built a church,49 afterwards known as Recles Cholaim
° ;
but, whether this was one of his own or was foundation,
Cille 5
dedicated to his memory, has not been clearly determined. It should seem, however, that he visited this holy city, and as we are told in the Irish Life, while Columba was one day in the church of Armagh, and engaged at the holy sacrifice of Mass, a certain wicked and froward scholar, was tempted by an evil spirit under angelic guise, to commit avery shameful sin, but without the church doors. He was prepared to yield compliance, and to leave the church, when grasping him by the hand, Columba told him, that a demon had tempted him, and he immediately obliged the seeming angel to assume his trueappearance. Instantly,afearfulspectrewaspresentedtotheeyesofthe astonished student, who was filled with horror at the sight. So foul was the appearance of this demon, that the scholar fainted away in dread, and on recovery, he assured St. Columba, that never thenceforth should he be guilty of carnal sins, or ever serve the purposes of so deformed a
51 spectre.
x. , pp. 72, 73.
44 He is supposed by Colgan to have been
4?
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
the St. Ternoc, venerated at the 28th of
February. He is thought to have been one
of the name, whose pedigree is thus given in
the Sanctilogic Genealogy, as having been
the son of Ciaroc, son of Saran, son to Nar-
sluag, son of Coelbad, son to Crunn,
Badhrai, cap. 23. Saran, his grandfather,
lived in the time of St. Patrick, as men- G, p. 284.
tioned in his Tripartite Life, part ii. , cap. 130.
45 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
lib.
s° Its situation is pointed out in Stuart's
VitaS.
5I See "Trias Colgan's
Columbae, p. 406, and n. 84, p. 451.
Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columba;, lib. i. , cap. lxxix. ,
Quinta
46 See ibid. , cap. civ. , p. 406.
i. , cap. ciii. ,
" Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes
G, p. 282.
"
"Historical Memoirs of the City of Ar-
magh," chap. p. 96.
48 Allusion is made to it, in Dr. O'Dono- van's "Annals of the Four Masters," at a. d. 1415, when Eman mac Findbairr was prior. Also at a. d. 1500.
49 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes
p. 402.
only
34o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
Before St. Columba took up his abode in the glen of Donegal, which afterwards bore his name, certain tribes of Iberian or Celtiberian race are sup- posedtohaveevensettledinthosewesterndeserts. 53 Thatplace,nowknown as Glencolumkill Parish, in the barony of Banagh," and county of Donegal, is celebrated in the poems attributed to our saint, asGleann Gairge. 5* It is also called Seangleann, and the whole district is composed of rugged moun- tains and deep valleys. It seems to have been a haunt of paganism in St. Columba's time. The holy man received a summons from an Angel to enter those wilds, 55 and to consecrate those tracts to God, having expelled there- fromalldemoniacinfluences. Tothattime,thisplacehadbeendeemedthe haunt of malignant spirits, who, having been expelled by St. Patrick from
Cruachan Oigli and driven to the sea, betook themselves to Sean-gleann, whereintheshadowsofdenseclouds,theywereconcealedfrommen. Itis said, too, they had infected a river there with poison. With a great band of holy men, and obeying the Angelic monition, St. Columb entered this glen. When they approached one side of the river, the infernal spirit thence raised a spear or barb, which killed a servant of Columba, named Cearc. Imme- diately, with awakened zeal against the evil spirits, our saint hurled the spear in another direction, and caused it to clear the horizon from clouds and mists, far and wide. At length this stake or spear lighted on the ground, and there it remained fixed. The legend states, it soon took root, and grew up to be a great tree. 56 Then, Columba blessed the river, and immediately, the water was purified from poison. On passing over, the Angel of God was seen to prepare for him an azure-coloured and angular stone, which he was directed to cast against the demons. He obeyed, and soon were they driven from the remainder of that glen. All darkness vanished to the opening of the ocean, where in after time was to be seen a curious stone hanging on the very brow of a rock. On this occasion, the saint threw after them a bell, called Dubh-Duaibseach. Following the Angelic prescription, he invoked the name of Christ, and then ordered the demons to sink down from that rock into the ocean, so that thenceforth they might not be able to hurt any person. Obeying the holy man's orders, and having heard the Almighty's name invoked, those evil spirits were compelled to fly. In after times, the people showed a great rent in that rock, through which the foul spectres passed,
before rushing headlong into the ocean. 5? Another wonder is related. On praying to God for the recovery of the stone and bell, both are said to have floated through the air, and to have fallen down near where St. Columba stood. The bell sunk deeply into the earth and the tongue fell out, yet the saintwouldnotsufferanothertotakeitsplace. Then,theholymanblessed that place, afterwards known as Columkille's Glen. He desired, that for the future, it should be regarded as holy, and possess immunities from the secular power. Atthatrock,variousmiracleswerewrought. Thetonguelessbell was also kept there,58 as a sacred pledge. Columba also predicted, that any violater of the ecclesiastical privileges obtained should die
within a year from that day, when his transgression had occurred. 59
52 See James Ferguson's " Rude Stone Monuments in all Countries ; their Age and
Uses," chap, v. , pp. 225 to 228, and Appen- dix A, pp. 520 to 525. London, 1872, 8vo.
s6 In the time of Prince O'Donnell, it
continued to flourish, according to the popular tradition.
57 See Colgan's '-Trias Thaumaturga," 53 The district known now as Banagh Quinta Vita S. Columbre, lib. i.
Recollec-
* the Chapter vi. Here
O'Clerys state, he had a religious foundation.
tutelage
336 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINJS. [June 9.
Thenceforward, that stone was called the Rock of Sadness. 3 The foundation of Raphoe is ascribed to St. Columba,* in an ancient poem, and in some other authorities. 5 In the early part of the seventeenth century, it possessed a Round Tower, probably belonging to the former cathedral, which had been there erected. From what we have seen already, it should seem, that St. Columba blessed churches at Raphoe in his lifetime, if he were not the actual
6
founder of a religious house, at that place. ? Ronan, son of Lugad, and pro-
nepos of St. Columba, on his uncle Sedne's side, held one of the Hy-Xiell, asahostage,andforsomereasonhehadbeendoomedtodeath. However, St. Columba asked and obtained his pardon from Ronan, saying he could refuse him no request. To reward him for this avowal, the saint predicted, that from him should proceed Dalach, who was to be the stock, from whom the future Tyrconnellian nobles and princes must descend. He also declared, that although then undistinguished among the higher chiefs, they should one day become more celebrated, provided they only lived piously and justly. Again, it was predicted of the same Dalach,8 that drops of blood should be seen in a well at Kill-mac-Nenain, as often as any of his posterity was about to perish by the sword. O'Donnell states, that the truth of this pre- diction stood the test of experience. '
Among the churches or religious houses of Blessed Columb in the north of
Ireland is to be reckoned that of Druim-Tomma, 10 now Drumhome, in the
of and of 11 as several monks of St. barony Tyrhugh, county Donegal,
Columba are stated to have been there buried. 12 we most Accordingly, may
probably attribute the period of its erection to the occasion on which he
returned to this part of Ireland. In the parish of Drumhome was also the
11 townland of Ballymagroarty, ^ where are the remains of an old chapel, * which
formerly bore the name of St. Columba. The O'Clerys state, that it was one of his foundations. Here, too, the celebrated Cathach, a reliquary of the saint,waskeptintheseventeenthcentury. 'S AplaceformerlycalledScreen-
16 and afterwards known as '? was for- Ballynascreen parish,
l8 considered as
forms the western portion of the barony of Loughinsholin, in the county of
Colaim-Cille,
merly
belonging
to Gleann in Tirone. 1 ? It now Coneadhan,
" nance Survey Townland Maps for the County
of Donegal," sheets 25, 26, 34, 35.
3 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbce, lib. i. , cap. lxxii. ,
Kilmacrenan. It is to be found on the
Ord-
Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap, Ixxvii. , pp. 401, 402, and n. 72, p. 451.
,0
Also written Druim Tuama, in the O'Clerys' Calendar.
p. 401.
4 The old Irish Life of St. Columba
x. .
rived from the family of Mac Robhartaigh, pronounced Mac Roarty.
'*
This townland is divided into two por- tions, the Irish and Scotch. This ruined chapel is in the former division.
I5 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbre, cap. ii. , p. 495.
,6 Mentioned by this name at A. D. 1203,
in Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four
Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 136, 137, and n. (e), ibid.
places his foundation of Rath-Bo h, next in order after his foundation at Derry. SeetheEng- lish translation appended, in William F. Skene's "Celtic Scotland," vol. ii. , Appen-
p. 133.
" See ibid. ,n. 118, pp. 141, 142.
13 In Irish t>Aile-tnecc nobayvcaicli, de-
dix I. , p. 484.
5 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
of St. Columba," Additional Notes G, p. 280.
6 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan, however, does not find sufficient arguments for ascribing such to Columba himself ; although a monas-
tery existed there in Adamnan's time, who "
was, perhaps, the founder of it. See Ec-
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
chap, xi. , sect, x. , p. 132.
7 *7 The O'Clerys in their Calendar class it
among St. Columba's foundations.
8 From him that
sprung distinguished
branch of the O'Donnell family, known as Siol n Dalaich.
9 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
In Irish baiLe m\ Scrxme, Anglicized " Town of the Shrine. "
"
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect.
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
,8 In the seventeenth
century.
* 9 See Rev. Robert King's "Old Church
of Ballynascreen," p. 103.
June 9. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
337
Londonderry. An old church, situated in a picturesque valley on the Moyola
water, the site of an earlier 20 Various rich levels or straths occupies building.
lie in the Moyola valley, and they are sometimes covered by freshets in the
stream. 21
Tearmonn
At one the time,
man came to a — place, incorrectly called
Cetmainigh
Cuiminig
22
—
holy
but the true name is Tearmon
2
3
in
Tyrone. There, he resolved, that it should be consecrated, and should enjoy
ecclesiastical immunities for the future. Stamping the ground with his foot, inthreedifferentplaces,threeseparatefountainswereproduced. Then,he
"
Domnald, son of Aedh, son to Ainmreach, King of Ireland, accompanied by the race of Conalleid, shall penetrate into this district ; and, its people shall suffer much from his army. Yet, the Almighty hath granted to me, that these forces shall be unnerved, destitute of strength, and afflicted with disease, until they shall have offered satisfaction to the Comorban of this place, and until they shall have been sprinkled with the waters of these
prophesied :
wells. " This prophecy was duly completed, and thenceforth, the waters were "2
called the Conalleidan fountains. " * In the thirteenth and following cen- turies this place was known as Termon-conyn or Termon-conny. In after
times, it was called Termon-Maguirk, the present name of the parish being derived from the Mac Guirk family, who were formerly the Herenachs of its
2
ecclesiastical lands. s It is situated in the barony of Omagh East and county
of Tyrone. There is an old church here and a parish cemetery. Without the latter are two other places of interment. One of these is called Relig-na-
"
the children's cemetery," while the other bears for title Relig-na- " of the slain. " Some curious local and
26
paisde,
firgunta, Cemetery
reference to our saint, yet linger in the locality.
legends, having
In the time of St. Patrick, according to immemorial tradition, a wonderful
man, named Conla the Artist, was remarkable all over the country for his
2
skill in working the precious metals. ? His operations were carried on, at a
place called Dun-cruithne. 28 But while engaged on a splendid shrine, and before it was finished, he died. No other person could be found in that loca-
lity to complete the work, in a corresponding style, and there it remained until St. Columba came to the place, which was in Kiennacht. On behold- ing this unfinished shrine, our saint most earnestly desired its completion. But, being fully satisfied, that no living artist could accomplish such a task, hewenttothetombofConla,whichhecausedtobeopened. Therelaythe decaying bones of that wonderfully great artist. He blessed them, and pro-
:
nounced these words, with a loud voice " In the name of our Lord Jesus
20 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Liie of St. Columba," Additional Notes G, p. 282.
** See Rev. Dr. William Reeves' Adam-
nan's "Life of St. Columba," Additional
Notes G, p. 283.
2? tells us, that it had into Colgan passed
a proverb among the Irish, when they de- sired to praise the work of a skilful worker
"
Conla himself was not a better artist. " In like manner, when they desired to convey a notion regarding what was irre- parable in such work: "not even Conla, the artist in bronze, could set it to
rights. "
28
This means the Picts' Fort. But, after- wards, it was called Serin Choluim Chille, in the Ards country, better know as Ard- Macgiolligan. There is a mention of this place, in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick,
" See "
land," vol. i. , p. 135.
32
Gazetteer of Ire-
Parliamentary
In Colgan's version of Prince O'Don- nell's Irish Life of St. Columba.
23 The Rev. Dr. Reeves thinks it may de- rive its name from Cuimne, sister to St. Columba. See Adamnan's Life of St. Columba, Additional Notes G, p. 283.
"
94 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga, Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. i. , cap. Ixxxvi. , p. 403.
2s Deriving under the Primate. See "Acts
of Archbishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation of Derry, a. d. mcccxcvii," &c,
in metals :
edited by Rev, William Reeves, D. D. , Part i. , chap. 125.
M. R. I. n. A. ,
(g), p. 3.
*9 What became of this beautiful of object
338
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June g.
Christ,arisefromthedead. " Manypersonswerethenpresent,andtotheir great astonishment, the dry bones seemed to be covered with flesh ; and, as if awaking from a slumber, Conla arose. He finished the shrine, according to the desire of St. Columba, who placed in it the relics of many Irish saints. Moreover, the Legend relates, that after his work was completed. Conla became the parent of a race, afterwards known as the Clann-cnaimhsighe, or
" the posterity of the bones. "
was in
kept Ard-Mac-giolligan,
In the time of Prince O'Donnell, this shrine
20 which was a maritime of Northern port
Ulster,inKiennnahtaGlinneGemhin. 3° ThisplacewasknownasScreen,31 in after times, and it was an ancient chapel,32 in the townland of Craig, in the
parish of Tamlaghtard or Magilligan, in the county and diocese of Deny. " The townland of Ballymacrorty, in the parish ofTemplemore or Deny, is said to have had a monastery, the ruins of which were extant in the time of
Colgan. 34 Thisisclassed,asoneofthechurchesunderthepatronageofSt. Columba, in Inishowen and in the diocese of Derry. 35 The parish of
Desertegny, Inishowen, county of Donegal and diocese of Derry, is said to have had St.
Columkille for its patron. 36 By Colgan, it is called Disert-
Egnich. 37
The townland of
Ballymagroarty,3
8 in the of Drumhome, parish
and barony of Tirhugh, in the county of Donegal, is divided into two por-
tions : one is called the Irish and the other the Scotch. In the former are the
remains of an old chapel. This formerly bore the name of St. Columba. It
is in the diocese of Raphoe. There was kept the celebrated Reliquary of St. Co-
lumba, known as the Cathach, 30 and there also were some ruins of a church. '*
St. Columb was of 41 a in the diocese of 3
patron Clonmany, parish Derry. * We are told, that St. Columkille founded a church, in the parish of Clon-
many, and barony of Inishowen, in the sixth century. A monastery also
existed in connection with it.
The surrounding scenery is of a bold and sub-
lime character. A Protestant church at present occupies this site, and the
burial-ground has received whole generations of departed persons. Within
a stone is yet pointed out, and on which, it is related, St. Columkille prayed. On his festival day, the 9th of June, stations are made around it, by the country
43
people.
While St. Columba was engaged singing the Divine praises, at a
place called Tulach na psalm, or " the hill of psalmody," not far from Kill- micnenain, on bended knees he asked from the Almighty three requests : First, that he would not deny any petition justly preferred, lest scandal might
art is not related by Colgan. 37 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta 30 See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix ad Acta S. Columbae, cap. ii. ,
Quinta Vita S. Columba;, lib. i. , cap. num. 48, p. 494.
xcix. , p. 405, andnn. 81, 82, p. 451.
31 In Irish Sqvm 1 m-Ajvoa, Latinized
"ScriniumdeArdo. "
32 See "Acts of Archbishop Coltoninhis
38 Written Baile-meg-rabhartaieh, by Colgan, who states, that formerly it was the siteofamonastery. Thetownlandwasso called from the family of Mac Robertaigh,
Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of pronounced Mac Roarty. See Rev. Dr.
Derry, A. D. , Mcccxcvn,"n. (q), p. 78.
33 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes G,
p. 282.
34 See •' Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap- pendix ad Acta S. Columba, cap. ii. , P- 495-
35 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
"Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes G,
P- 285.
36 See Rev. William Reeves' "Acts of
Archbishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visi- tation of the Diocese of Derry, A. D. ,
MCCCXCVII," n. (t), p. 67.
Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes G, p. 2S4.
39 Now preserved in the Royal Irish Aca- demy.
4° See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Columbre, cap. ii. , num. 51, p. 495.
4I According to Colgan.
4* See Rev. Dr. Reeves' "Acts of Arch- bishop Colton in his Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, a. d. , mcccxcvii. ," n. (u), p. 67.
43 See Maghtochair's " Inishowen : Its History, Traditions and Antiquities," chap.
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 339
arise or the Church might receive hurt ; secondly, that the love of God should nevergrowcoldinhisbreast; andthirdly,thatnoneofhiskindred,orthe race of Conall, should differ among themselves, but should remain unani- mous, rejecting fierceness for gentleness, and for levity substantial wisdom, and whenever they provoked God's justice and anger, he prayed that plague and famine should be their avengers. There Baithen, Brugacius, and Ternoc,44 his disciples, asked St. Columba what should happen in future times. At
:
first, he wept bitterly, and then turning to them, he said " My soul is dis-
turbed, and my heart is filled with bitterness, while in mind I behold the evils
tocomeonfutureages; whentheimmunitiesofchurchesshallbeviolated,
while churches shall be despoiled, and monks oppressed ; when even the
edifices erected by myself shall be turned into laymen's houses ; and when
the most just God shall afflict such wicked doers, with not only hunger, pesti-
lence, and disease, but even with more severe trials and afflictions ; when God
shall withdraw his graces and paternal protection from those badly using them,
and allow former sins to gather force, as also hatreds, contentions, parricides, and evils of this sort, to increase. 45
After this, St. Columba went to an Island, situated in a lake, called
Lochgama, in Breffny. 46 In the parish of Columbkille, in the barony of Granard, and in the north-eastern part of the county of Longford, there is an Island in Lough Gowna called formerly Inismor Locha Gamna, and at present known as Inchmore. Here was the former parish church,+7 and at present it is only a ruin, called Teampull Choluim-cille. 48 It seems to have been the site of a religious establishment, and if not founded bySt. Columba,atleastitwasdedicatedtohim. AtArmagh,St. Columb
is said to have built a church,49 afterwards known as Recles Cholaim
° ;
but, whether this was one of his own or was foundation,
Cille 5
dedicated to his memory, has not been clearly determined. It should seem, however, that he visited this holy city, and as we are told in the Irish Life, while Columba was one day in the church of Armagh, and engaged at the holy sacrifice of Mass, a certain wicked and froward scholar, was tempted by an evil spirit under angelic guise, to commit avery shameful sin, but without the church doors. He was prepared to yield compliance, and to leave the church, when grasping him by the hand, Columba told him, that a demon had tempted him, and he immediately obliged the seeming angel to assume his trueappearance. Instantly,afearfulspectrewaspresentedtotheeyesofthe astonished student, who was filled with horror at the sight. So foul was the appearance of this demon, that the scholar fainted away in dread, and on recovery, he assured St. Columba, that never thenceforth should he be guilty of carnal sins, or ever serve the purposes of so deformed a
51 spectre.
x. , pp. 72, 73.
44 He is supposed by Colgan to have been
4?
See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's
the St. Ternoc, venerated at the 28th of
February. He is thought to have been one
of the name, whose pedigree is thus given in
the Sanctilogic Genealogy, as having been
the son of Ciaroc, son of Saran, son to Nar-
sluag, son of Coelbad, son to Crunn,
Badhrai, cap. 23. Saran, his grandfather,
lived in the time of St. Patrick, as men- G, p. 284.
tioned in his Tripartite Life, part ii. , cap. 130.
45 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
lib.
s° Its situation is pointed out in Stuart's
VitaS.
5I See "Trias Colgan's
Columbae, p. 406, and n. 84, p. 451.
Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columba;, lib. i. , cap. lxxix. ,
Quinta
46 See ibid. , cap. civ. , p. 406.
i. , cap. ciii. ,
" Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes
G, p. 282.
"
"Historical Memoirs of the City of Ar-
magh," chap. p. 96.
48 Allusion is made to it, in Dr. O'Dono- van's "Annals of the Four Masters," at a. d. 1415, when Eman mac Findbairr was prior. Also at a. d. 1500.
49 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's Life of St. Columba," Additional Notes
p. 402.
only
34o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
Before St. Columba took up his abode in the glen of Donegal, which afterwards bore his name, certain tribes of Iberian or Celtiberian race are sup- posedtohaveevensettledinthosewesterndeserts. 53 Thatplace,nowknown as Glencolumkill Parish, in the barony of Banagh," and county of Donegal, is celebrated in the poems attributed to our saint, asGleann Gairge. 5* It is also called Seangleann, and the whole district is composed of rugged moun- tains and deep valleys. It seems to have been a haunt of paganism in St. Columba's time. The holy man received a summons from an Angel to enter those wilds, 55 and to consecrate those tracts to God, having expelled there- fromalldemoniacinfluences. Tothattime,thisplacehadbeendeemedthe haunt of malignant spirits, who, having been expelled by St. Patrick from
Cruachan Oigli and driven to the sea, betook themselves to Sean-gleann, whereintheshadowsofdenseclouds,theywereconcealedfrommen. Itis said, too, they had infected a river there with poison. With a great band of holy men, and obeying the Angelic monition, St. Columb entered this glen. When they approached one side of the river, the infernal spirit thence raised a spear or barb, which killed a servant of Columba, named Cearc. Imme- diately, with awakened zeal against the evil spirits, our saint hurled the spear in another direction, and caused it to clear the horizon from clouds and mists, far and wide. At length this stake or spear lighted on the ground, and there it remained fixed. The legend states, it soon took root, and grew up to be a great tree. 56 Then, Columba blessed the river, and immediately, the water was purified from poison. On passing over, the Angel of God was seen to prepare for him an azure-coloured and angular stone, which he was directed to cast against the demons. He obeyed, and soon were they driven from the remainder of that glen. All darkness vanished to the opening of the ocean, where in after time was to be seen a curious stone hanging on the very brow of a rock. On this occasion, the saint threw after them a bell, called Dubh-Duaibseach. Following the Angelic prescription, he invoked the name of Christ, and then ordered the demons to sink down from that rock into the ocean, so that thenceforth they might not be able to hurt any person. Obeying the holy man's orders, and having heard the Almighty's name invoked, those evil spirits were compelled to fly. In after times, the people showed a great rent in that rock, through which the foul spectres passed,
before rushing headlong into the ocean. 5? Another wonder is related. On praying to God for the recovery of the stone and bell, both are said to have floated through the air, and to have fallen down near where St. Columba stood. The bell sunk deeply into the earth and the tongue fell out, yet the saintwouldnotsufferanothertotakeitsplace. Then,theholymanblessed that place, afterwards known as Columkille's Glen. He desired, that for the future, it should be regarded as holy, and possess immunities from the secular power. Atthatrock,variousmiracleswerewrought. Thetonguelessbell was also kept there,58 as a sacred pledge. Columba also predicted, that any violater of the ecclesiastical privileges obtained should die
within a year from that day, when his transgression had occurred. 59
52 See James Ferguson's " Rude Stone Monuments in all Countries ; their Age and
Uses," chap, v. , pp. 225 to 228, and Appen- dix A, pp. 520 to 525. London, 1872, 8vo.
s6 In the time of Prince O'Donnell, it
continued to flourish, according to the popular tradition.
57 See Colgan's '-Trias Thaumaturga," 53 The district known now as Banagh Quinta Vita S. Columbre, lib. i.
