3 Archdall
say
God, the eyes of this man, which are closedjin darkness, shall now be opened, thyeyes,whichareopenonlytoevil,shallnowbeclosed.
say
God, the eyes of this man, which are closedjin darkness, shall now be opened, thyeyes,whichareopenonlytoevil,shallnowbeclosed.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
Dr.
Kelly, p.
xxii.
In the Franciscan copy, at
this date, we find moT3im6c cLuAin Cain.
April 26. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 503
land, and beautified by fine sylvan scenery. The old graveyard there has long been disused, and it is now enclosed with a low wall, within which young trees have been planted, so as nearly to obliterate tlie former graves. Only a portion of one gable remains, to commemorate the existence of a very ancient cliurch. 3 In it was a small window, deeply splayed inwards, but now completely overgrown with ivy. The graveyard rises high, over the adjoin- ing road and field. It nia) be questioned, if the present saint be a different person from the St. Modimog, Bishop and Confessor, of Cluain-Cain-Aradh, inMunster,andwhoisveneratedatthelothofDecember. ^ Thefestivalof Dimmdg, of Cluain-caoin, was celebrated on this day, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal. ' In the table added to this work, it is intimated within brackets, that he was patron of a place, which was situated in the county of Limerick. * However, this seems to be a mere conjecture.
Article III. —St. Cronan. There are few actual repetitions in Irish ecclesiastical history, however varied, and sometimes monotonous, may be the recurrence of our brief homonymous notices. A record is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 26ih of April, regarding St. Cronan. Nothing more is said to reveal his identity. A saint, who is called Cronan, had a fes- tival on this day, as we find entered again, in the Martyrology of Donegal. '
Article IV. —Conan. On the 26th of April, the name Conan is set down, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh;' nevertheless, it may have been only a repetition, and a misspelling for Cronan. However, on the authority of the Martyrology of Tallagh, the Bollandists, at this date, have the record of " Conanus pulcher. "'' In the Tripatite Life of St. Patrick, it is said, that when the Irish Apostle was in the west of Ireland, and at a place called Dromat, in Kierragia Artech, he wrought a remarkable miracle, to appease the contention ofthreebrothers. Theseafterwardspresentedhimwithsomeland,onwhich he built a church. Over this, he placed a certain Cona, or Conan, who was a worker in metals, and a brother to St. Sacelhis, a bishop. ' Among the many saints bearing the same name, Colgan is unable to identify him. * We find mentioned, on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal,' that veneration was given to Conan.
Article V. —The Daughters of Cuan.
Quoting the Martyrology of
Tallagh,
'
the Bollandists ' enter Filiae
at 26th. Cuani, April
no, in. —' Edited Article IV.
A festival in
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Aprilisxxvi. Among the pretermitted saints. p. 408.
' The accompanying illustration, sketched by the writer, in August, 1883, was tnns- ferred to the wood, by William F. Wake-
Rev. Kelly, p. xxii. It does not occur, in the
Aprilisxxvi. Amongthepretermittedfeasts, man, and it was engraved by Mrs. Mil- p. 408.
lard. See sheet 14, County Louth Maps.
* See notices of him, at that day.
'Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
110,111.
^ See Colgnn's "Trias Thaumaturga,"Sep- timaVita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. Ivi. , p. 137.
*See Mii. , n. 115, p. 178.
5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 110, III. —
Article v. See "Acta Sanctorum,"
'
SeeHit/. , —
pp. 402, 403.
Article hi.
Kelly, p. xxii. find Cnondin.
• Edited
'
EHited by Rev. Dr. In the Franciscan copy, we
tomus iii. , Aprilis xxvi. termiUed saints, p. 40S.
Among the pre-
by
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp.
' In a note, Dr. Todd
says
at this
proper
Franciscan copy,
'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
by
Dr.
504 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIJVTS. [April 26.
honour of the Daugliters of Ciian ' was celebrated on this day, as we find recorded in the Martyrology of Donegal. 3 Some doubt appears to have existed, in reference to the exact day for their festival. '*
Article VI. —St. Indreachtach, Abbot of Bangor. [Ninth and Tenth Centuries. '] St. Indreachtach, was son to Dobhailen ; and, he seems to have been born, some time during the ninth century. He became Abbot of Bangor, where a great religious institute was founded, about the year 559, by St. Comgall,' a native of Magheraniorne, in the county of Antrim. He was a of St. Columkille,' and their — monasteries
contemporary
—emblance to each other, both in their bore a great res
respective discipline being
semina-
and, in their economy, they were generally governed by a presbyter abbot, as also attended by a resident bishop. St. Indreachtach died, on the 26th day of April, ^ a. d. 901, according to tlie Annals of the Four Masters. Therei—n are quoted these following lines,
being a translation from the original Irish
" One and three hundred fair revolving years from the death of Comhgall
of Beannchair,
To the period of the happy death of the great illustrious Innreachtach. "<
As this saint is said to have died, about the commencement of the tentli cen- tury, we should not feel surprised at the omission of his name, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh, at the vi. of the Kalends of May, or 26th of April ;5 for, according to Colgan, St. Corpre, Abbot of Clonmacnoise, who died in 899, is the latest saint, whose name is inserted in that calendar.
Article VII. —St. Senan. Even when we know little regarding the
history of a saint, we may fairly assume, that his age and our own have derived some marked spiritual advantages, from the very fact of his existence. What we have gained from those going before us to Heaven, sometimes con- sciously, and more frequently unconsciously, reflects a brightness on our souls, which may be conceived as referable—at least in part—to remote happy ideas, drawn from some holy exemplar or teacher. It would appear, that St. Senan lived, during the first five centuries after our Island's conversion. His name is entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 26th of April; and, this record is thought sufficient, to warrant such an inference. The Bollandists merely notice him, as Senanus. ^ This day, we find registered, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 that veneration was given to a St. Senan.
ries of learning as also receptacles for piety
;
rame, Cuan ; "The more recent hand adds, '25 Apr. 1iijenA CuAtiain,' This seems to
Calends of May, or April 26, we meet no name, corresponding with Innreachtach.
* See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 560 to 563.
5 At this day, however, we find the follow-
" Cuiss Bennchair. " See Rev. Dr. Kelly's "Calendar of Irish Saints," &c. ,
p. xxii.
Article vii.
Kelly, p. xxii. SeriAin.
that the '
of Cuan,' here '
Daughters entered,maybethesameasthe Daus^hters
of Cuanan,' mentioned [in the Mart. Taml. ]
on the of
25th April. "
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 1:0. III.
• This title is resolved into IrigeariA CiiAin, in the Ordnance SuiTey Copy of the Irish Calendar of the Common Place Book F,atp. 41. —
sutjgest,
Article vi.
'
See his Life, at the loth
°" See
rilis xxvi.
ofMay.
' See his Life, at the 9th of June.
3 Li the Irish Calendar, belonging to the
Irish Ordnance Survey, and at the vi. of the
p. 408.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
:
ing entry
:
no, III. — Article viii.
Edited by Drs. Todd
—
Ihe Franciscan copy has
•
Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Ap-
the
Among pretermitted saints,
Edited Rev. Dr. by
r
Article VIII. —St. Domnall. According to the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman, and of Donegal,; tlie name of Domnall was venerated on this da)'. As we have no other indication to distinguish him, it may be doubted, if he be the blind Domhnaldiis restored to sight by St. Patrick. Allu- sion is made to him, as Doranallus by the Bollandists. ^ Jocelyn tell us, that a certain man, named Domnhaldus, who was blind even from his birlh, hear- ing the saint passing by, placed himself in the way. He trusted, that through St. Patrick, he should receive the light so much desired. But, as darkness was before his steps, and light was withdrawn from his eyes, while running forward, he fell, and when he would have arisen, no one was there who helped him with a hand. Then a certain priest, in company with the saint, when s£e- ing him fall, laughed, and mocked the mischance of the blind man. St. Patrick observing this was offended, and lest any among his disciples should so again presume, he checked the foolishness of the scorner with reproof, and
April 26. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 505
with " punishment, saying,
I
unto thee, since in the name of
my
however, to determine who was that St. Domnall, the disciple of St. Patrick, and whose feast belongs, perhaps, to the 26th of April. One Domnal was a fos- terer of Corbmac, son to Prince Enda, a convert. This Domnal was a disciple of St. Patrick. 5 A Domnal was bishop of Aleach mor, which place the monks of Clonmacnoiseafterwardspossessed. * Subsequently,heiscalledthesonof Crimthann. 7 Heisdistinguishedfromtwoothernamesakes,viz. ,Domnall, sonofColgne,ofTulach-liag,andDomnald,ofCuil-Chonalta. ' Again,the BoUandists have remarked,^ that Colgan did not doubt, but that St. Daniel, a British bishop,'" was identical with the St. Domnallus venerated, on this (lay, or with two other saints bearing a similar name, and noticed in our calendars.
Article IX. —St. Began, or Beccan of Clonard, County of Meath. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 26th of April, we find the namewrittenBeccan,Cluanaaird. ThesameauthorityisquotedbytheBol- landists, for their insertion of Becanus Cluanfensis. ' His death is recorded, at the —in the Annals of the Four Masters.
3 Archdall
say
God, the eyes of this man, which are closedjin darkness, shall now be opened, thyeyes,whichareopenonlytoevil,shallnowbeclosed. " Thishesaid,and making the sign of the cross, he removed darkness from the blind man, and lightwentfromthepriest,whomadeaneviluseofit. 3 Strangetosay,inthe Tripartite Life, this blind man is called Roan, the son of Conchnamha, and Rath Roan was the place, where the miracle took place. * Colgan finds it difficult,
year 687,
and Reeves, pp. no, III.
" See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Ap-
rilis xxvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 408.
i See Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga," p. 408.
"
Sexia Vita S. P. Atricii, cap. cxxiv. , p. 93.
* See ibid. Septima Vita S. Patricu, lib.
ii. , cap. Ixxxi. , Ixxxii. , pp. 140, I41.
5 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima
Vita S. Patiicii, lib ii. , cap. xviii. , p. 131.
rilis xxvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
°
him, in this See, and he thinks Domnal musthavebeena chorepiscopuj. Seeibid. ,
nn- 52. 53. 54. P- '75-
' See ibid. , cap. cxxvi. , p. 146. There he
cording to the English Martyrolojjy. AttTlCLE ix. —' Edited by Rev, Dr. Kelly, p. xxii. In the Franciscan copy, we have en-
tcred, at this day, beccani CLuAin. 'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
p. 408.
^ See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. ,
pp. 294, 295.
Col^jan
cannot find any bishop besides
Ap-
Verily
—no doubt through error states, that he died on the i6th of April. * It is likely to have been a typographical mistake, for the 26th. On this day, the Martyrology
is called Bishop of Aileach Airtich.
' See ibid.
'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Ap-
'"
Venerated at the 1st of December, ac-
iii. ,
rilis xxvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
5o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 27.
of Donegal ' records, that veneration was paid to Becan, of Cluain, a contrac- tion for Clonard.
Article X. —St. Cas, of Bennchar, or Bangor, County of Down.
We find an entry, in tlie Martyrology of Tallagli;' at tills date, regarding Cas of Bennchair. The Bollantlists record Cassius Benchorensis, at the 26tli of April. " We know not wiiether he attained any superior position, in tiiis cele- brated monastery. The Martyrology of Donegal 3 mentions, tliat Cas, of Bennchar,hadafestivalontliisday. IntheIrishCalendar,containedinthe Connnon Place Book F, we have his name also entered. '* In that calendar, moreover, compiled by tiie Rev. William Reeves,' his name occurs.
Article XI. —Festival of Isaac. In the Franciscan copy of the Tal- laghMartyrology,atthevi. oftheMayKalends—April26th—thereis entered a festival for Isaac," and he is placed among the Irish Saints.
Article XII. —Festival of St. Cyril, Martyr at Axiopolis, in
LowerMysia,orBulgaria. TheFeastofSt. Cyrilhadbeenobserved,in
""
the early Irish Church, as we learn from the Feilire of St. . ^Engus,' at the
26th of April. The Bollandists have some brief notices of this holy Martyr,
at the same date. ' He suffered at Axiopolis, on the banks of the River
Danube, in Bulgaria. With this agree the old Epternac Hieronymian
Martyrology, and a Manuscript Martyrology, belonging to Rheinaw, near Constance, in Suevia. 3 This martyrdom must have occurred, in the earlier ages
ofChristianity; but,theperiodisnotspecified.
Ctorntp. -Sfbfntlj Bap of ^pn'I,
ARTICLE I. —ST. ASCICUS, BISHOP AND PATRON OF ELPHIN, COUNTY OF ROSCOMMON.
[FIFTH CENTURY. l
seems to be known regarding this holy man, although he must
have been celebrated in his time. The Bollandists have a doubtful LITTLE '
notice of St. Ascycus—who may have been identical with St. Assanus—for,
*See"MonasticonHibernicum,"p. 520.
5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. no, III.
Ar riCLE X. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
p. xxii. In the Franciscan copy, we read
CAiff bencliaip. 'See"ActaSanctorum,"tomusiii. , Ap-
Articlexii. —• Inthe"LeabharBreac" copy, we find : —
CnMtt,u|- CAin ambro
Cei"Aii" ^01 ^itini
T)o canAit) aitle CiMi'C
C0J-I. U45A-obuLtmbi.
Thus translated by Dr. Whitley Stokes :—
" a fair suffered full sharp Cyrilliis capiive
spear-points: to Christ he sings praise, with a vast host around him. "
'"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Ap-
rilis xxvi. De Sa cto Cyrillo, Martyrs Axiopoli in Mysia Inferiore, p. 415.
3
tilis xxvi.
p. 408.
3 Edited
no, III.
Among the pretermitted saints,
by
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp.
It is kept at present, in the Library of the Royal
<Thus, CAi-bednricliaip. Irish Academy.
5 See
"
Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, »
Connor and Dromore," Appendix LI. . , p.
See ibid. —
377-
Article xi. — Thus noted ifAAc.
i.
See p. 41.
"Acta
tomus ill. , Aprilis xxvii. Among the preter-
Article
'
See
Sanctonim,"
April 27. ] LIVES OF THE TRISH SAINTS. 507
both of these holy men have been commemorated, at the 27th of April.
Whatever we find recorded about St. Asacus or . '\siciis is generally drawn
from the various accounts, contained in the Acts of Ireland's great Apostle. "
A considerable share of obscurity surrounds the parentage and natal spot of
St. Ascicus. He appears to have been a married man, however, and Cipia is
thouglit to have been his wife, at the time of St. Patrick's arrival in Con-
naught. 3 Therefore might we conjecture, he was born early in the fifth cen-
tury. Both he and Cipia were parents of Bishop Bite. * The Life of St.
Patrick by JoceIyn,5 and that of the Tripartite,* give the most details we find
regarding Ascicus. He appears to have been one of St. Patrick's ^ earliest
disciples, after his arrival in Ireland, and on assuming the Apostleship of that
country. He is also regarded, as having worked in brass, and probably, he was a designer of ornament, in connexion with his artistic pursuits.
From a passage found in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, Dr. Lanigan insinuates,' that Ascicus was placed as a priest at Elphin, by the Irish Apostle,andnotmanyyearsafterthecommencementofhismission. While Ussher places the journey of St. Patrick to the western province, in the year 434,9 St. Patrick did not set out for Connaught, in Rev. Dr. Lanigan's opinion, before the year 435. '° Some short time after this date, he is said to have
visited the Royal residence of Cruachan, now Croghan, near Elphin. Then, St. Patrick came into the territory of Corca Ochland," originally extending from Slieve Baune to Tirellil," in the county of Sligo. '^ According to the Tripartite L'fe of St. Patrick, a Magus, named Ono, or Hono,'* lived at a mountain, called Bagna, or Badhghna,"' and now known as Slieve Baune, a mountainous range, in the Barony of Ballintobber North, in the county of Roscommon. '* A piece of landat this latter place was bestowed by Ono ' for a church, which St. Patrick then built. From the name of the donor, perhaps ElphinformerlyborethedesignationofImleachOnoorOna. There,St. Patrick
mitted saints, p. 475.
•
Some notices of Ascius occur, in Philip O'SulIevan's Decades S. Patricii.
3 The reader is referred to what has been
already written, in vol. iii. of this work, Life
of St. Patrick, chap. xi.
"
This lies between the country belonging to the posterity of Olikla, and the mountain called Baghna, joining the latter on the south side, and the former on the north.
" This shows the antiquity of the passage,
in St. Patrick sTripnrtite- Life, for at a very
early ptrio<l, the ClanMulrony conquered the race of Oilioll, and extended their terri. toiies to the very limits of Moy Naoi, and deprived the race of Eric the Red of all the rich plain known as Moylurg.
'J See Coigan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap.
xxxvii. , 134. " p.
He had a brother, called Id, or Ida, and they arc said to have been sons of ii^ngus, son of Ere Uerg or Ere the Red.
' The Abbe Mageoghegan—not knowing
where either the mountain —or the Baghna
country of Tir Oilill was situ. ited places
Corcathlann where he should have placed
Airteach, which is historically wrong ; for, Airteach w. ts a celelirated territory, in the time of St. Patrick, . nnd it retained its name, down to the reiyn of James I. , as it does even to this day.
'"See John O'Donovan's "Tribes and
Cu'. toms of Hy-Many," n.
this date, we find moT3im6c cLuAin Cain.
April 26. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 503
land, and beautified by fine sylvan scenery. The old graveyard there has long been disused, and it is now enclosed with a low wall, within which young trees have been planted, so as nearly to obliterate tlie former graves. Only a portion of one gable remains, to commemorate the existence of a very ancient cliurch. 3 In it was a small window, deeply splayed inwards, but now completely overgrown with ivy. The graveyard rises high, over the adjoin- ing road and field. It nia) be questioned, if the present saint be a different person from the St. Modimog, Bishop and Confessor, of Cluain-Cain-Aradh, inMunster,andwhoisveneratedatthelothofDecember. ^ Thefestivalof Dimmdg, of Cluain-caoin, was celebrated on this day, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal. ' In the table added to this work, it is intimated within brackets, that he was patron of a place, which was situated in the county of Limerick. * However, this seems to be a mere conjecture.
Article III. —St. Cronan. There are few actual repetitions in Irish ecclesiastical history, however varied, and sometimes monotonous, may be the recurrence of our brief homonymous notices. A record is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 26ih of April, regarding St. Cronan. Nothing more is said to reveal his identity. A saint, who is called Cronan, had a fes- tival on this day, as we find entered again, in the Martyrology of Donegal. '
Article IV. —Conan. On the 26th of April, the name Conan is set down, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh;' nevertheless, it may have been only a repetition, and a misspelling for Cronan. However, on the authority of the Martyrology of Tallagh, the Bollandists, at this date, have the record of " Conanus pulcher. "'' In the Tripatite Life of St. Patrick, it is said, that when the Irish Apostle was in the west of Ireland, and at a place called Dromat, in Kierragia Artech, he wrought a remarkable miracle, to appease the contention ofthreebrothers. Theseafterwardspresentedhimwithsomeland,onwhich he built a church. Over this, he placed a certain Cona, or Conan, who was a worker in metals, and a brother to St. Sacelhis, a bishop. ' Among the many saints bearing the same name, Colgan is unable to identify him. * We find mentioned, on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal,' that veneration was given to Conan.
Article V. —The Daughters of Cuan.
Quoting the Martyrology of
Tallagh,
'
the Bollandists ' enter Filiae
at 26th. Cuani, April
no, in. —' Edited Article IV.
A festival in
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Aprilisxxvi. Among the pretermitted saints. p. 408.
' The accompanying illustration, sketched by the writer, in August, 1883, was tnns- ferred to the wood, by William F. Wake-
Rev. Kelly, p. xxii. It does not occur, in the
Aprilisxxvi. Amongthepretermittedfeasts, man, and it was engraved by Mrs. Mil- p. 408.
lard. See sheet 14, County Louth Maps.
* See notices of him, at that day.
'Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
110,111.
^ See Colgnn's "Trias Thaumaturga,"Sep- timaVita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. Ivi. , p. 137.
*See Mii. , n. 115, p. 178.
5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 110, III. —
Article v. See "Acta Sanctorum,"
'
SeeHit/. , —
pp. 402, 403.
Article hi.
Kelly, p. xxii. find Cnondin.
• Edited
'
EHited by Rev. Dr. In the Franciscan copy, we
tomus iii. , Aprilis xxvi. termiUed saints, p. 40S.
Among the pre-
by
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp.
' In a note, Dr. Todd
says
at this
proper
Franciscan copy,
'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
by
Dr.
504 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIJVTS. [April 26.
honour of the Daugliters of Ciian ' was celebrated on this day, as we find recorded in the Martyrology of Donegal. 3 Some doubt appears to have existed, in reference to the exact day for their festival. '*
Article VI. —St. Indreachtach, Abbot of Bangor. [Ninth and Tenth Centuries. '] St. Indreachtach, was son to Dobhailen ; and, he seems to have been born, some time during the ninth century. He became Abbot of Bangor, where a great religious institute was founded, about the year 559, by St. Comgall,' a native of Magheraniorne, in the county of Antrim. He was a of St. Columkille,' and their — monasteries
contemporary
—emblance to each other, both in their bore a great res
respective discipline being
semina-
and, in their economy, they were generally governed by a presbyter abbot, as also attended by a resident bishop. St. Indreachtach died, on the 26th day of April, ^ a. d. 901, according to tlie Annals of the Four Masters. Therei—n are quoted these following lines,
being a translation from the original Irish
" One and three hundred fair revolving years from the death of Comhgall
of Beannchair,
To the period of the happy death of the great illustrious Innreachtach. "<
As this saint is said to have died, about the commencement of the tentli cen- tury, we should not feel surprised at the omission of his name, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh, at the vi. of the Kalends of May, or 26th of April ;5 for, according to Colgan, St. Corpre, Abbot of Clonmacnoise, who died in 899, is the latest saint, whose name is inserted in that calendar.
Article VII. —St. Senan. Even when we know little regarding the
history of a saint, we may fairly assume, that his age and our own have derived some marked spiritual advantages, from the very fact of his existence. What we have gained from those going before us to Heaven, sometimes con- sciously, and more frequently unconsciously, reflects a brightness on our souls, which may be conceived as referable—at least in part—to remote happy ideas, drawn from some holy exemplar or teacher. It would appear, that St. Senan lived, during the first five centuries after our Island's conversion. His name is entered, in the Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 26th of April; and, this record is thought sufficient, to warrant such an inference. The Bollandists merely notice him, as Senanus. ^ This day, we find registered, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 that veneration was given to a St. Senan.
ries of learning as also receptacles for piety
;
rame, Cuan ; "The more recent hand adds, '25 Apr. 1iijenA CuAtiain,' This seems to
Calends of May, or April 26, we meet no name, corresponding with Innreachtach.
* See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 560 to 563.
5 At this day, however, we find the follow-
" Cuiss Bennchair. " See Rev. Dr. Kelly's "Calendar of Irish Saints," &c. ,
p. xxii.
Article vii.
Kelly, p. xxii. SeriAin.
that the '
of Cuan,' here '
Daughters entered,maybethesameasthe Daus^hters
of Cuanan,' mentioned [in the Mart. Taml. ]
on the of
25th April. "
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 1:0. III.
• This title is resolved into IrigeariA CiiAin, in the Ordnance SuiTey Copy of the Irish Calendar of the Common Place Book F,atp. 41. —
sutjgest,
Article vi.
'
See his Life, at the loth
°" See
rilis xxvi.
ofMay.
' See his Life, at the 9th of June.
3 Li the Irish Calendar, belonging to the
Irish Ordnance Survey, and at the vi. of the
p. 408.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
:
ing entry
:
no, III. — Article viii.
Edited by Drs. Todd
—
Ihe Franciscan copy has
•
Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Ap-
the
Among pretermitted saints,
Edited Rev. Dr. by
r
Article VIII. —St. Domnall. According to the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gorman, and of Donegal,; tlie name of Domnall was venerated on this da)'. As we have no other indication to distinguish him, it may be doubted, if he be the blind Domhnaldiis restored to sight by St. Patrick. Allu- sion is made to him, as Doranallus by the Bollandists. ^ Jocelyn tell us, that a certain man, named Domnhaldus, who was blind even from his birlh, hear- ing the saint passing by, placed himself in the way. He trusted, that through St. Patrick, he should receive the light so much desired. But, as darkness was before his steps, and light was withdrawn from his eyes, while running forward, he fell, and when he would have arisen, no one was there who helped him with a hand. Then a certain priest, in company with the saint, when s£e- ing him fall, laughed, and mocked the mischance of the blind man. St. Patrick observing this was offended, and lest any among his disciples should so again presume, he checked the foolishness of the scorner with reproof, and
April 26. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 505
with " punishment, saying,
I
unto thee, since in the name of
my
however, to determine who was that St. Domnall, the disciple of St. Patrick, and whose feast belongs, perhaps, to the 26th of April. One Domnal was a fos- terer of Corbmac, son to Prince Enda, a convert. This Domnal was a disciple of St. Patrick. 5 A Domnal was bishop of Aleach mor, which place the monks of Clonmacnoiseafterwardspossessed. * Subsequently,heiscalledthesonof Crimthann. 7 Heisdistinguishedfromtwoothernamesakes,viz. ,Domnall, sonofColgne,ofTulach-liag,andDomnald,ofCuil-Chonalta. ' Again,the BoUandists have remarked,^ that Colgan did not doubt, but that St. Daniel, a British bishop,'" was identical with the St. Domnallus venerated, on this (lay, or with two other saints bearing a similar name, and noticed in our calendars.
Article IX. —St. Began, or Beccan of Clonard, County of Meath. In the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 26th of April, we find the namewrittenBeccan,Cluanaaird. ThesameauthorityisquotedbytheBol- landists, for their insertion of Becanus Cluanfensis. ' His death is recorded, at the —in the Annals of the Four Masters.
3 Archdall
say
God, the eyes of this man, which are closedjin darkness, shall now be opened, thyeyes,whichareopenonlytoevil,shallnowbeclosed. " Thishesaid,and making the sign of the cross, he removed darkness from the blind man, and lightwentfromthepriest,whomadeaneviluseofit. 3 Strangetosay,inthe Tripartite Life, this blind man is called Roan, the son of Conchnamha, and Rath Roan was the place, where the miracle took place. * Colgan finds it difficult,
year 687,
and Reeves, pp. no, III.
" See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Ap-
rilis xxvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
p. 408.
i See Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga," p. 408.
"
Sexia Vita S. P. Atricii, cap. cxxiv. , p. 93.
* See ibid. Septima Vita S. Patricu, lib.
ii. , cap. Ixxxi. , Ixxxii. , pp. 140, I41.
5 See "Trias Thaumaturga," Septima
Vita S. Patiicii, lib ii. , cap. xviii. , p. 131.
rilis xxvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
°
him, in this See, and he thinks Domnal musthavebeena chorepiscopuj. Seeibid. ,
nn- 52. 53. 54. P- '75-
' See ibid. , cap. cxxvi. , p. 146. There he
cording to the English Martyrolojjy. AttTlCLE ix. —' Edited by Rev, Dr. Kelly, p. xxii. In the Franciscan copy, we have en-
tcred, at this day, beccani CLuAin. 'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
p. 408.
^ See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, vol. i. ,
pp. 294, 295.
Col^jan
cannot find any bishop besides
Ap-
Verily
—no doubt through error states, that he died on the i6th of April. * It is likely to have been a typographical mistake, for the 26th. On this day, the Martyrology
is called Bishop of Aileach Airtich.
' See ibid.
'See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Ap-
'"
Venerated at the 1st of December, ac-
iii. ,
rilis xxvi. Among the pretermitted saints,
5o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 27.
of Donegal ' records, that veneration was paid to Becan, of Cluain, a contrac- tion for Clonard.
Article X. —St. Cas, of Bennchar, or Bangor, County of Down.
We find an entry, in tlie Martyrology of Tallagli;' at tills date, regarding Cas of Bennchair. The Bollantlists record Cassius Benchorensis, at the 26tli of April. " We know not wiiether he attained any superior position, in tiiis cele- brated monastery. The Martyrology of Donegal 3 mentions, tliat Cas, of Bennchar,hadafestivalontliisday. IntheIrishCalendar,containedinthe Connnon Place Book F, we have his name also entered. '* In that calendar, moreover, compiled by tiie Rev. William Reeves,' his name occurs.
Article XI. —Festival of Isaac. In the Franciscan copy of the Tal- laghMartyrology,atthevi. oftheMayKalends—April26th—thereis entered a festival for Isaac," and he is placed among the Irish Saints.
Article XII. —Festival of St. Cyril, Martyr at Axiopolis, in
LowerMysia,orBulgaria. TheFeastofSt. Cyrilhadbeenobserved,in
""
the early Irish Church, as we learn from the Feilire of St. . ^Engus,' at the
26th of April. The Bollandists have some brief notices of this holy Martyr,
at the same date. ' He suffered at Axiopolis, on the banks of the River
Danube, in Bulgaria. With this agree the old Epternac Hieronymian
Martyrology, and a Manuscript Martyrology, belonging to Rheinaw, near Constance, in Suevia. 3 This martyrdom must have occurred, in the earlier ages
ofChristianity; but,theperiodisnotspecified.
Ctorntp. -Sfbfntlj Bap of ^pn'I,
ARTICLE I. —ST. ASCICUS, BISHOP AND PATRON OF ELPHIN, COUNTY OF ROSCOMMON.
[FIFTH CENTURY. l
seems to be known regarding this holy man, although he must
have been celebrated in his time. The Bollandists have a doubtful LITTLE '
notice of St. Ascycus—who may have been identical with St. Assanus—for,
*See"MonasticonHibernicum,"p. 520.
5 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. no, III.
Ar riCLE X. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
p. xxii. In the Franciscan copy, we read
CAiff bencliaip. 'See"ActaSanctorum,"tomusiii. , Ap-
Articlexii. —• Inthe"LeabharBreac" copy, we find : —
CnMtt,u|- CAin ambro
Cei"Aii" ^01 ^itini
T)o canAit) aitle CiMi'C
C0J-I. U45A-obuLtmbi.
Thus translated by Dr. Whitley Stokes :—
" a fair suffered full sharp Cyrilliis capiive
spear-points: to Christ he sings praise, with a vast host around him. "
'"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Ap-
rilis xxvi. De Sa cto Cyrillo, Martyrs Axiopoli in Mysia Inferiore, p. 415.
3
tilis xxvi.
p. 408.
3 Edited
no, III.
Among the pretermitted saints,
by
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp.
It is kept at present, in the Library of the Royal
<Thus, CAi-bednricliaip. Irish Academy.
5 See
"
Ecclesiastical Antiquities of Down, »
Connor and Dromore," Appendix LI. . , p.
See ibid. —
377-
Article xi. — Thus noted ifAAc.
i.
See p. 41.
"Acta
tomus ill. , Aprilis xxvii. Among the preter-
Article
'
See
Sanctonim,"
April 27. ] LIVES OF THE TRISH SAINTS. 507
both of these holy men have been commemorated, at the 27th of April.
Whatever we find recorded about St. Asacus or . '\siciis is generally drawn
from the various accounts, contained in the Acts of Ireland's great Apostle. "
A considerable share of obscurity surrounds the parentage and natal spot of
St. Ascicus. He appears to have been a married man, however, and Cipia is
thouglit to have been his wife, at the time of St. Patrick's arrival in Con-
naught. 3 Therefore might we conjecture, he was born early in the fifth cen-
tury. Both he and Cipia were parents of Bishop Bite. * The Life of St.
Patrick by JoceIyn,5 and that of the Tripartite,* give the most details we find
regarding Ascicus. He appears to have been one of St. Patrick's ^ earliest
disciples, after his arrival in Ireland, and on assuming the Apostleship of that
country. He is also regarded, as having worked in brass, and probably, he was a designer of ornament, in connexion with his artistic pursuits.
From a passage found in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, Dr. Lanigan insinuates,' that Ascicus was placed as a priest at Elphin, by the Irish Apostle,andnotmanyyearsafterthecommencementofhismission. While Ussher places the journey of St. Patrick to the western province, in the year 434,9 St. Patrick did not set out for Connaught, in Rev. Dr. Lanigan's opinion, before the year 435. '° Some short time after this date, he is said to have
visited the Royal residence of Cruachan, now Croghan, near Elphin. Then, St. Patrick came into the territory of Corca Ochland," originally extending from Slieve Baune to Tirellil," in the county of Sligo. '^ According to the Tripartite L'fe of St. Patrick, a Magus, named Ono, or Hono,'* lived at a mountain, called Bagna, or Badhghna,"' and now known as Slieve Baune, a mountainous range, in the Barony of Ballintobber North, in the county of Roscommon. '* A piece of landat this latter place was bestowed by Ono ' for a church, which St. Patrick then built. From the name of the donor, perhaps ElphinformerlyborethedesignationofImleachOnoorOna. There,St. Patrick
mitted saints, p. 475.
•
Some notices of Ascius occur, in Philip O'SulIevan's Decades S. Patricii.
3 The reader is referred to what has been
already written, in vol. iii. of this work, Life
of St. Patrick, chap. xi.
"
This lies between the country belonging to the posterity of Olikla, and the mountain called Baghna, joining the latter on the south side, and the former on the north.
" This shows the antiquity of the passage,
in St. Patrick sTripnrtite- Life, for at a very
early ptrio<l, the ClanMulrony conquered the race of Oilioll, and extended their terri. toiies to the very limits of Moy Naoi, and deprived the race of Eric the Red of all the rich plain known as Moylurg.
'J See Coigan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Septima Vita S. Patricii, pars, ii. , cap.
xxxvii. , 134. " p.
He had a brother, called Id, or Ida, and they arc said to have been sons of ii^ngus, son of Ere Uerg or Ere the Red.
' The Abbe Mageoghegan—not knowing
where either the mountain —or the Baghna
country of Tir Oilill was situ. ited places
Corcathlann where he should have placed
Airteach, which is historically wrong ; for, Airteach w. ts a celelirated territory, in the time of St. Patrick, . nnd it retained its name, down to the reiyn of James I. , as it does even to this day.
'"See John O'Donovan's "Tribes and
Cu'. toms of Hy-Many," n.
