" Yet the
fisheries
are not developed for
Western Donegall," chap, iii.
Western Donegall," chap, iii.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
This place is identical
with the present Tullycorbet,^ a parish, chiefly in the barony and county of Monaghan, but a part of this parish lies within the barony of Cremorne. s In the Franciscan copy of the Tallagh Martyrology, after the entry of thirteen foreign saints, the name of Bishop Calb first occurs, at this date. ^ Likewise, under the head of Tulagh Carbuid,? Duald Mac Firbis enters, Bishop Calbh, from Tulach-Carbaid, in Menna-tire, in Ui Meith, at January the 26th. ^ This is all that seems to be known regarding him.
Article V. —St. Ernen or Ernin, Bishop. We have no means left for discovering the time when or the place where this holy prelate lived. But we may rest assured he was a man who had been elevated, not as the result of any selfish ambition, but by the sheer force of an innocent and a holylife, ofagreatandmightymind,andofimmeasurabledevotednessto thecauseofourgloriousChurch. IntheFranciscancopyoftheMart)a- ology of Tallagh,^ the name of Ernen, bishop, is to be found in the entries for this particular date. ^ In the Martyrology of Donegal,3 on this day, occurs the name of Ernin, bishop. No further light is thrown on his acts.
iluentp-'Siebettt! ) IBap of Saituarp*
ARTICLE I. —ST. NATALIS OR NAAL, ABBOT AND PATRON OF INVER- NAILE, COUNTY OF DONEGAL, AND OF KINNAWLY, COUNTY OF FERMANAGH.
[SIXTH CENTURY. ']
study of holy men's lives promotes solid instruction and kindly
THE it disarms rancour and feeling ; dispels
it exercises the mind in a love and reverence for religion ; it preserves the fear of God in our souls ; while it puts man in sweet relationship with himself and with
mankind. Colgan professed to give the acts of this saint at the 27th of
January. Yet,heappearstohavebeenundersomemistake,byconfounding this saint with a St. Natalis or Naal, Abbot of Kilmanagh, in the county of Kil-
kenny. '' Butthepresentholyman,similarlynamed,andwhoselocalitywasin the northern parts of Ireland, most probably had been quite a distinct person. '
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiii.
*Thisparishis representedonthe *' Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Monaghan. " Sheets 13, 14, 18,
Dictionary
^The reading is Opf CAtb o rhulAlg cAi^vpAic in menriA Ci^m in h. meich.
^ Tally corbet in the county of Monaghan is identified with this place in "William M.
Hennessy's note.
8 See " Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , pait
i. , pp. 132, 133.
Articlev. —' Wetherereadepieniepi.
19.
s See Lewis' "
"Calendar of Irish Saints," published by Rev. Matthew Kelly, D. D. Seep. xiii.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Topopjraphical of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 658.
evil
temper ;
^
ptesent bishop's festival is omitted from the
It is remarkable, that at this date, the
26,27. —
at the 31st of July.
'See Dr. P. W. Joyce's "Origin and
History of Irish Names of Places," part ii. , chap, iii. , p. 140.
ARTICLE
'
The Life
of St. Natalis or Naal, Abbot of Kilmanagh, will be found
I.
January 27. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 451
According to some accounts, he was connected with Inver, to which the
denomination Naile, from his name, was afterwards added,3 and with
Damhinis, or Devenish, on Lough Erne, and in the county of Fermanagh. *
Another conjecture has been offered, that even here, it is possible, two dif-
ferent saints, bearing the name of Natalis or Naal, may have been con-
founded. 5 There is an Irish life of St. Naulus, transcribed by Michael
O'Clery. It is yet preserved among the MSS. in the Burgundian Library at Bruxelles. ^ The acts of St NataUs were in Colgan's possession, but he did
not judge it necessary to present any portion of these, because they con- tained some things that were doubtful, with fabulous circumstances, and some
things that were manifestly false. However, a part of what they contained was true. It is a loss, notwithstanding, that more liberal use had not been made of the document ; for possibly it would clear up points, that without its publication are very obscure. The present holy man is said to have been the son of -^nghus, son to Nadfraech, son to • Core, son to Lughaidh, who was King of Munster. Eithne, daughter of Crimhthann Crosgrach, was his mother, according to his own life. ? His acts state, likewise, that he was a brother to St. Molaisse, Abbot of Devenish. ^ This is manifestly incorrect. In the opinion of Dr. Lanigan, if any Abbot Naal be the son of ^ngus, it must have been St. Natalis of Kilmanagh, who flourished about the year 520. 9 He says the former supposition would be inconsistent with the fact of the present saint's father having been killed in 490, and the son having succeeded St. Molassius, Abbot of Devenish,^° who did not depart this life imtil 564. " Again, Naal is made a contemporary with St. Maidoc of Ferns, who belonged to a late part of the sixth century. "
Ttae life of Colum Cille'3 states, that Naile came into the presence of Colum Cille for the first time at the Inbher, and that Colum Cille and Ndile blessed the place. Thenceforward, it was from Naile this church has been named. It seems possible, too, that the present saint was identical with a Naal mentioned in the acts of St. Columba,'* and to whose church, it is said, a certain holy smith, named Senach,'S presented a bell. The Martyr-
3SeeiWi/. ,
* See Archdall's "Monasticon Hiberni-
who confounded two distinct possibly
p. 139.
cum," pp. 100, 259. ""
and the place of his residence answers very we—ll, as itwasnotmanymilesfromCashel. " Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. i. , chap, ix. , § iv. , n. 51, p. 446. "The parish of Devenish is shown in
the barony of Magheraboy, on the "Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the
"
County of Fermanagh. Sheets 13, 14, I5»
16, 19,20, 21, 22. The island and ruins of Devenish are marked on Sheet 22.
" Yet, to the writer, there seems to be nothing incredible in the supposition, for the difference in dates need only be seventy- four years ; and surely he might have been Abbot of Devenish after having attained such
an age,
"See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vol i. , chap, ix,, § iv. , n. 51, p. 446.
'3 Chapter xc. is quoted.
'* See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Quinta Vita S. Columbsp, lib. iii. , cap. iii. ,
p. 431.
's His feast seems to have been held on
5 Perhaps," says Dr. Lanigan, Naal of Devenish was a different person from the one of Invemaal. Yet, they are usually
spoken of as one and the same. " See clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix. , § iv. , n. 53, p. 447.
^This is classed Vol. xi. , Nos. 4190- 4200. It is at fol. 124.
7 They also relate, that when a young man, he was a disciple of St. Columba, These statements are contradictory and in-
credible, in the opinion of Colgan ; for he remarks, that ^Engus, his father, fell in battle A. D. 515 or 516, some years before the birth of St. Columba. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xxvii, Januarii, n. 14, p. 174.
^ Perhaps these were intended to have been the acts of St. Natalis, Abbot of Kil- managh, whose life will be found at the
of and that certain 31st July,
particulars, connected with this saint, had been mixed
up with them, through ignorance on the
part
of their
original compiler
or of a
copyist,
"
Ec-
saints, bearing the same name,
— The times 9Headds: "
agree,
452
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 27-
ology of Donegal states, likewise, that it was to St. Naal God gave water
from the hard, stony rock, when great thirst had seized upon him and St.
of ^^ with their monks. He made a distant cast of his Maedhog Ferns,
crozier at it, so that a stream of pure spring water gushed therefrom, just as this spring is now to be seen at Gill Naile. ^7 Here, it is possible his first
^^ Not unlike mtny other ecclesiastical edifices scattered over Ireland, and which owe their erection to the piety and good
establishment had
place.
Rui:is at Inver Naile, Co. Donegal.
taste of the monks of old, this little ruined church of St. Natalis is not ex- ceptional, as regards its pretty and picturesque situation. It stands on the
banks of theEidhneach or Eany(the ivy-producing river) as it empties its placid waters into the Bay of Inver. A belt of stately elms throws shadow upon its shattered walls, and around it are conical mountains of yellow sand, sparkling in the summer's sunshine. When the tide is at its full, the old ruin, with its quiet cemetery, is almost encircled with the briny water. ^9 This church of St. Natalis consists merely ofthe nave, which measures 61 feet in length by 21 feet 6 inches in its extreme width. Now nothing is left of its former carving and tracery save a few elaborately-cut jambs in the east ^vindow. The people around retain but very few legendary tales or old folk-lore con-
nected with this interesting building.
The very extensive parish of Inver^° is situated in the barony of Banagh,
and in the west of Donegal Gounty. The church ruins there are not far
the nth of May, at which date some no- tices of him will be found.
'^His life will be met with at the 31st of
January.
'? This statement is found in St. Naile's
own life, chap. x.
'* The accompanying illustration of Inver-
Naile old church, and of its surroundings, was engraved by William Oldliam, from an
elegant sketch, furnished by Mrs. Barrett, of Bruckless, in June, 1874.
'9 Salmon is ttdten near it by the fisher- men.
"°
It is represented on Sheets 75, 83, 84,
"
92. 93» 98, 99, of the
Tovvnland Maps for the County of Donegal. " The denomination "Inver Glebe" is on
Sheets 92, 98.
Ordnance Survey
January 27. ] LIVES 01' THE IRISH SAINTS. 453
from the mail-car road, leading from Donegal to Killybegs and the Wilds. ^^
The bay of Inver is a magnificent fishing bay,==^ with Doorin and St. John's Point, stretching out on either side. =3 The ancient cemetery^^ here has been recently enclosed by a good boundary wall. It contains very few memorials of the past, with the exception of a small stone cross, covered over with moss and lichen. ^5 Near the old ruined church^^ is the Holy Well of St. Natalis, or Nathal, and not far distant are places associated with his name, such as Lugnaal. '7 Amongthepopulartraditions,^^stillpreservedbythepeasantry, is one, that the River Eany^s was blessed by the saint, and that no plague was afterwards permitted to cross its waters.
The Church of Kinawley, Co. Fermanagh.
It is Stated, that St. Natalis was Abbot Cill-Naile and Daimhinis, in
Feara-Manach. 3° The present Kinawley,3^ or Kilnawly, county of Ferma-
^' For much information contained in text
and notes regarding Inver, the writer feels in-
debted to the Rev. James Stephens, P. P. , of
*7 See Kinnfaela's " Cliff Scenery of South
Western Donegall,"chap. iii. , p. 19.
Killybegs, in a letter dated July 2nd, 1874.
" Yet the fisheries are not developed for
Western Donegall," chap, iii. , p. 19.
'^ " At a turn in the river rise the grey, ancient-lookingruinsofanoldchurch. The boats, fishing gear, and nets, which the walls are still standing, and the place is fishermen are not able to supply on account used as a burial-ground. This church was of their scanty means. most probably connected with a monastery, '3 Miss Frances Cobbe, in "Once-a- with which the name of St. Natalis (Irish
want of fishery-piers, a better description of
Week," has given from her own observation an admirable description of this locality and the productiveness of its fisheries.
' It is much used by the people of Inver
parish.
"s This serres as a headstone for one of
the graves.
^ In the" Statistical Survey of the County
of Donegal," it is stated, that a small mon- astery was founded here in the 15th century, by Friars of the Third Order of St. Francis. And it is very probable, that this monastery was erected on the site of the ancient abbey ofwhichSt. Nataliswasabbot. Seep. in.
Nathal, pronounced Naal) is associated by the people of the district. " See ibid.
3° According to the "Martyrology of Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 28, 29.
3" The of is situated ])arish KinavTley
partly in the barony of Tullyhaw, and this portion is represented on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cavan," Sheets 4, 6, 7, 9 ; and partly in the baronies of Clanawley and Knockninny,
''
"^ *' See Kinnfaela's
Cliff Scenery of South-
while this portion is shown on the
nance Survey Townland Maps for the County
Ord- ofFermanagh. " Sheets32,33,34,37,38,
454 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 27.
nagh, is the place just mentioned. 3^ There is a popular tradition, that Kill
Naile old church, now Kinnawly,33 in Fermanagh, was first built by St. Naile. 34 In 1834, the handle of an old bell, belonging to him, had been
preserved by one Bartley Drum, of Shanvally, Avhose family possessed it from a remote period. There is a holy well in the parish called Tober Naile. 3S It is said, St. Naal succeeded St. Molaisse, at Devenish. This latter de- parted to bliss on the 12th day of September,3^ a. d. 563. 37 This year is set down for his death by Colgan ;3^ but the date has been transferred to 564, according to a false assumption of Dr. Lanigah. 39 The year of our saint's death is not known, although Archdall places it at a. d. 563. 't° To the year 564, it seems to be assigned, by a more learned and critical historian, yet on no authority that the present writer can discover. It is strongly suspected*' this latter date was originally marked for Naal or Natalis of Killmanagh, and that, through a confusion of names, it was referred to another, who lived at a later period. NataHs of Kilmanagh, although well known about a. d. 520, might have lived until 564. 't'
We only find Noell, Inbhir, without any other distinction, entered in the Martyrology of Tallagh,43 on the 27th of January. We read in the Martyr- ology of Donegal,44 likewise, and on this day, about NMle, of Inbher Naile,*5
in Tir-Baghuine, in Cinel Conaill. *^
39, 41, 42. It is of immense extent, con-
taining over 51,000 acres. In the latter
county, and in the barony of Clanawley
(Sheet 33), is represented the townland of
Kinawley proper. Here and in the adjoin- ing townland of Lismonaghan are to be
found St. Nawley's well, a graveyard, and an ancient fort.
3^ Thus identified in a MS. note of Wil- liam M. Hennessy, M. R. I. A.
33 Theaccompanyingillustrationwasdrawn
on the spot by William F. Wakeman, and
engraved by George A. Hanlon.
This is now the barony of Banagh, in
These are the sole entries of deaths, recorded
at A. D. 563, according to the Irish and
3+ Archdall calls his
Breffiny, while he is doubtful as to whether iv. , p. 447, where we read: "This ab-
place
its position was in Leitrim or Cavan county.
surdity, however, is a necessary result of a
close adherence to certain old hagiologists,
quoted by Colgan, whom Archdall followed
implicitly, and to the date 664 of the Four
"
Masters.
** See Archdall's " Monasticon Hibemi-
See
Monasticon Hibemicum," p. 410.
"
35SeeDr. O'Donovan'sletter, datedBel-
turbet, November 12th, 1834, in " County Fermanagh Letters of I. O. S," vol. i. , p. 83.
Kilnaile in
History
of
vol. — ix. , sec. Ireland," i. , chap,
3* At that day his life will be found.
37 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the cum," p. 100. For this statement, Arch-
Four Masters," vol. i,, pp. 202, 203. But in note (t), p. 204, ibid. , it is said, "the death of this saint is entered twice in the Annals of
Ulster, first under the year 563 (aer. , com.
564), and again under 570. "
38 At the close of St. Natalis' Acts, at the
27th of January, Colgan observes that he died A. D. 563, according to the Annals of
dall cites as authority, Tr. Th. p. 169 (. recte), 269, where allusion is made to the Abbot Natalis, mentioned in the Acts of St. Senan at the 8th of March, chap. x. See, like- wise, the "Monasticon Hibemicum," p. 410.
*' By Dr. Lanigan.
*^ See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland. "
vol. i. , chap. , ix. , sec, iv. , p. 444, and n. Donegall. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- 53. PP- 447, 448.
nian," xxvii. Januarii, n. 24, p. 174. But, through some mistake in getting the work
through press, this note has no particular
reference to any portion of the text preced-
it. the note have reference ing If, however,
•3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiii. In the Franciscan copy we find TloeLe 1nbi]\.
+• Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
28, 29.
<5 In " Naile's river mouth. " English
it must be to St.
** " Tleote 1 chotiAiLL 1tibe]\ coctmcIi Ci|\e
to
only saint who is recorded to have died in
that year, or to Eochaidh or Baedan, who
was slain during this year, after having tion of his an additional query, "? another been two years in the sovereignty of Ireland. Natalis in Breffny O'Reilly. " MS. note to
anything,
Molasius,
the
English text, in Dr. O'Donovan's edition of "
the Annals of the Four Masters," See
vol. i. , pp. 202 to 205.
39 He ridicules Archdall for an oversight,
in making St. Natalis, who is thought to
have died on the 27th of January, A. D. 563,
succeed St. Molaisse at Devenish, who died
on the I2th of September, a. d. 563. See
"
410. Dr. Lanigan himself falls into an
Monasticon Hibemicum," pp. 100, 259,
error of date in n. 53, to his
"
Ecclesiastical
^Vguf [cii\e] eojAin. Leabhar Breac, 30, a. Mr. Hennessy appends to this annota-
January 27. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 455
thecountyofDonegal. Thepresentsaintwasveneratedinthreeplaces/7 where he exercised abbatial functions ; having had his solemn memorial festival, and being considered local patron of Inber-naile church, in the region of Tyrconnell, of Kill-naile church, in the district of Breffney, and in the monastery of Devenish, where he is said to have succeeded St. Molaisse. *^ This latter holy man was an illustrious founder of monasticism in the northern parts of Ireland.
Article II. —St. Croine, Virgin, of Kill-Crony, in the County of WicKLOw, or at Inishcrone, County of Sligo. The old church of Kil- cronv lies over the valley of a little mountain stream, which runs into the Bray river, about two miles from the town. The situation is a very beauti- ful one, just above the junction of the Cookstown and Dargle rivers, and high over the banks of the latter, within a short walk from the picturesque village of Enniskerry. Kilcroney^ is situated in the parish of Kilmacanoge, in the baronyofRathdown. Theretheremainsofaveryancientchurchmaybe
seen, and it appears to have been a very well-jointed quadrangular building of the most primitive type. Interiorly it measures 35 feet in length, by 19 feet 4 inches in breadth. The width of the walls averages 2 feet, 8 inches. In the
^^i. f. '«'\\<tM^^^
Kilcrony Church, Co. Wicklow.
south side wall, there is a very perfect door, square headed, and built up with remarkably large and fine chiselled granite blocks, immediately around the jambs. This door-way measures 6 feet 6 inches in height : at the bottom, it
"
Martyrology of Donegal. " <7 According to Colgan.
*^Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemite," County of Wicklow. " Sheet 7. This xxvii. Januarii. De S. Natali, cap. iii. , p. towtiland contains over 218 acres.
169, and n. 18, p. 174.
his copy of the
Article ii.
nance Survey To^vnland Maps for the
—' is shown on the "Ord- It
456 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 27.
is 2 feet 7 inches wide, and it inclines upwards to 2 feet 5 inches. One
massive stone crowns the upper part. In the south wall, likewise, there is a
beautiful little window, elegantly chiselled, and with rounded head, as seen
from the inside, where it is deeply splayed, and the stones all around are well
jointed. The ope proper measures i foot 6 inches long, by 8 inches wide.
The end gables and much of the upper part of the north wall are destroyed,
but there is no ingress to the interior except through the door-way, closed by
a locked half-size and iron-wrought grille. The walls are thickly mantled
overwithivyandintermingledelderbushes. ^ Theinteriorofthebuilding
is all carpeted over the graves with a thick interlacing of ground-ivy, pre-
senting a beautiful and suggestive idea, in a place so lone and gloomy. 3 In-
terments have long ceased, and the surrounding graveyard is completelyobli-
terated. Splendidparterres,bloomingwithmostglowingflowersandstudded with rare plants, as also with finely grown and ornamental shrubs, are set
out around the building.
with the present Tullycorbet,^ a parish, chiefly in the barony and county of Monaghan, but a part of this parish lies within the barony of Cremorne. s In the Franciscan copy of the Tallagh Martyrology, after the entry of thirteen foreign saints, the name of Bishop Calb first occurs, at this date. ^ Likewise, under the head of Tulagh Carbuid,? Duald Mac Firbis enters, Bishop Calbh, from Tulach-Carbaid, in Menna-tire, in Ui Meith, at January the 26th. ^ This is all that seems to be known regarding him.
Article V. —St. Ernen or Ernin, Bishop. We have no means left for discovering the time when or the place where this holy prelate lived. But we may rest assured he was a man who had been elevated, not as the result of any selfish ambition, but by the sheer force of an innocent and a holylife, ofagreatandmightymind,andofimmeasurabledevotednessto thecauseofourgloriousChurch. IntheFranciscancopyoftheMart)a- ology of Tallagh,^ the name of Ernen, bishop, is to be found in the entries for this particular date. ^ In the Martyrology of Donegal,3 on this day, occurs the name of Ernin, bishop. No further light is thrown on his acts.
iluentp-'Siebettt! ) IBap of Saituarp*
ARTICLE I. —ST. NATALIS OR NAAL, ABBOT AND PATRON OF INVER- NAILE, COUNTY OF DONEGAL, AND OF KINNAWLY, COUNTY OF FERMANAGH.
[SIXTH CENTURY. ']
study of holy men's lives promotes solid instruction and kindly
THE it disarms rancour and feeling ; dispels
it exercises the mind in a love and reverence for religion ; it preserves the fear of God in our souls ; while it puts man in sweet relationship with himself and with
mankind. Colgan professed to give the acts of this saint at the 27th of
January. Yet,heappearstohavebeenundersomemistake,byconfounding this saint with a St. Natalis or Naal, Abbot of Kilmanagh, in the county of Kil-
kenny. '' Butthepresentholyman,similarlynamed,andwhoselocalitywasin the northern parts of Ireland, most probably had been quite a distinct person. '
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiii.
*Thisparishis representedonthe *' Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Monaghan. " Sheets 13, 14, 18,
Dictionary
^The reading is Opf CAtb o rhulAlg cAi^vpAic in menriA Ci^m in h. meich.
^ Tally corbet in the county of Monaghan is identified with this place in "William M.
Hennessy's note.
8 See " Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , pait
i. , pp. 132, 133.
Articlev. —' Wetherereadepieniepi.
19.
s See Lewis' "
"Calendar of Irish Saints," published by Rev. Matthew Kelly, D. D. Seep. xiii.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Topopjraphical of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 658.
evil
temper ;
^
ptesent bishop's festival is omitted from the
It is remarkable, that at this date, the
26,27. —
at the 31st of July.
'See Dr. P. W. Joyce's "Origin and
History of Irish Names of Places," part ii. , chap, iii. , p. 140.
ARTICLE
'
The Life
of St. Natalis or Naal, Abbot of Kilmanagh, will be found
I.
January 27. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 451
According to some accounts, he was connected with Inver, to which the
denomination Naile, from his name, was afterwards added,3 and with
Damhinis, or Devenish, on Lough Erne, and in the county of Fermanagh. *
Another conjecture has been offered, that even here, it is possible, two dif-
ferent saints, bearing the name of Natalis or Naal, may have been con-
founded. 5 There is an Irish life of St. Naulus, transcribed by Michael
O'Clery. It is yet preserved among the MSS. in the Burgundian Library at Bruxelles. ^ The acts of St NataUs were in Colgan's possession, but he did
not judge it necessary to present any portion of these, because they con- tained some things that were doubtful, with fabulous circumstances, and some
things that were manifestly false. However, a part of what they contained was true. It is a loss, notwithstanding, that more liberal use had not been made of the document ; for possibly it would clear up points, that without its publication are very obscure. The present holy man is said to have been the son of -^nghus, son to Nadfraech, son to • Core, son to Lughaidh, who was King of Munster. Eithne, daughter of Crimhthann Crosgrach, was his mother, according to his own life. ? His acts state, likewise, that he was a brother to St. Molaisse, Abbot of Devenish. ^ This is manifestly incorrect. In the opinion of Dr. Lanigan, if any Abbot Naal be the son of ^ngus, it must have been St. Natalis of Kilmanagh, who flourished about the year 520. 9 He says the former supposition would be inconsistent with the fact of the present saint's father having been killed in 490, and the son having succeeded St. Molassius, Abbot of Devenish,^° who did not depart this life imtil 564. " Again, Naal is made a contemporary with St. Maidoc of Ferns, who belonged to a late part of the sixth century. "
Ttae life of Colum Cille'3 states, that Naile came into the presence of Colum Cille for the first time at the Inbher, and that Colum Cille and Ndile blessed the place. Thenceforward, it was from Naile this church has been named. It seems possible, too, that the present saint was identical with a Naal mentioned in the acts of St. Columba,'* and to whose church, it is said, a certain holy smith, named Senach,'S presented a bell. The Martyr-
3SeeiWi/. ,
* See Archdall's "Monasticon Hiberni-
who confounded two distinct possibly
p. 139.
cum," pp. 100, 259. ""
and the place of his residence answers very we—ll, as itwasnotmanymilesfromCashel. " Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land," vol. i. , chap, ix. , § iv. , n. 51, p. 446. "The parish of Devenish is shown in
the barony of Magheraboy, on the "Ord- nance Survey Townland Maps for the
"
County of Fermanagh. Sheets 13, 14, I5»
16, 19,20, 21, 22. The island and ruins of Devenish are marked on Sheet 22.
" Yet, to the writer, there seems to be nothing incredible in the supposition, for the difference in dates need only be seventy- four years ; and surely he might have been Abbot of Devenish after having attained such
an age,
"See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vol i. , chap, ix,, § iv. , n. 51, p. 446.
'3 Chapter xc. is quoted.
'* See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga,"
Quinta Vita S. Columbsp, lib. iii. , cap. iii. ,
p. 431.
's His feast seems to have been held on
5 Perhaps," says Dr. Lanigan, Naal of Devenish was a different person from the one of Invemaal. Yet, they are usually
spoken of as one and the same. " See clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, ix. , § iv. , n. 53, p. 447.
^This is classed Vol. xi. , Nos. 4190- 4200. It is at fol. 124.
7 They also relate, that when a young man, he was a disciple of St. Columba, These statements are contradictory and in-
credible, in the opinion of Colgan ; for he remarks, that ^Engus, his father, fell in battle A. D. 515 or 516, some years before the birth of St. Columba. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xxvii, Januarii, n. 14, p. 174.
^ Perhaps these were intended to have been the acts of St. Natalis, Abbot of Kil- managh, whose life will be found at the
of and that certain 31st July,
particulars, connected with this saint, had been mixed
up with them, through ignorance on the
part
of their
original compiler
or of a
copyist,
"
Ec-
saints, bearing the same name,
— The times 9Headds: "
agree,
452
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 27-
ology of Donegal states, likewise, that it was to St. Naal God gave water
from the hard, stony rock, when great thirst had seized upon him and St.
of ^^ with their monks. He made a distant cast of his Maedhog Ferns,
crozier at it, so that a stream of pure spring water gushed therefrom, just as this spring is now to be seen at Gill Naile. ^7 Here, it is possible his first
^^ Not unlike mtny other ecclesiastical edifices scattered over Ireland, and which owe their erection to the piety and good
establishment had
place.
Rui:is at Inver Naile, Co. Donegal.
taste of the monks of old, this little ruined church of St. Natalis is not ex- ceptional, as regards its pretty and picturesque situation. It stands on the
banks of theEidhneach or Eany(the ivy-producing river) as it empties its placid waters into the Bay of Inver. A belt of stately elms throws shadow upon its shattered walls, and around it are conical mountains of yellow sand, sparkling in the summer's sunshine. When the tide is at its full, the old ruin, with its quiet cemetery, is almost encircled with the briny water. ^9 This church of St. Natalis consists merely ofthe nave, which measures 61 feet in length by 21 feet 6 inches in its extreme width. Now nothing is left of its former carving and tracery save a few elaborately-cut jambs in the east ^vindow. The people around retain but very few legendary tales or old folk-lore con-
nected with this interesting building.
The very extensive parish of Inver^° is situated in the barony of Banagh,
and in the west of Donegal Gounty. The church ruins there are not far
the nth of May, at which date some no- tices of him will be found.
'^His life will be met with at the 31st of
January.
'? This statement is found in St. Naile's
own life, chap. x.
'* The accompanying illustration of Inver-
Naile old church, and of its surroundings, was engraved by William Oldliam, from an
elegant sketch, furnished by Mrs. Barrett, of Bruckless, in June, 1874.
'9 Salmon is ttdten near it by the fisher- men.
"°
It is represented on Sheets 75, 83, 84,
"
92. 93» 98, 99, of the
Tovvnland Maps for the County of Donegal. " The denomination "Inver Glebe" is on
Sheets 92, 98.
Ordnance Survey
January 27. ] LIVES 01' THE IRISH SAINTS. 453
from the mail-car road, leading from Donegal to Killybegs and the Wilds. ^^
The bay of Inver is a magnificent fishing bay,==^ with Doorin and St. John's Point, stretching out on either side. =3 The ancient cemetery^^ here has been recently enclosed by a good boundary wall. It contains very few memorials of the past, with the exception of a small stone cross, covered over with moss and lichen. ^5 Near the old ruined church^^ is the Holy Well of St. Natalis, or Nathal, and not far distant are places associated with his name, such as Lugnaal. '7 Amongthepopulartraditions,^^stillpreservedbythepeasantry, is one, that the River Eany^s was blessed by the saint, and that no plague was afterwards permitted to cross its waters.
The Church of Kinawley, Co. Fermanagh.
It is Stated, that St. Natalis was Abbot Cill-Naile and Daimhinis, in
Feara-Manach. 3° The present Kinawley,3^ or Kilnawly, county of Ferma-
^' For much information contained in text
and notes regarding Inver, the writer feels in-
debted to the Rev. James Stephens, P. P. , of
*7 See Kinnfaela's " Cliff Scenery of South
Western Donegall,"chap. iii. , p. 19.
Killybegs, in a letter dated July 2nd, 1874.
" Yet the fisheries are not developed for
Western Donegall," chap, iii. , p. 19.
'^ " At a turn in the river rise the grey, ancient-lookingruinsofanoldchurch. The boats, fishing gear, and nets, which the walls are still standing, and the place is fishermen are not able to supply on account used as a burial-ground. This church was of their scanty means. most probably connected with a monastery, '3 Miss Frances Cobbe, in "Once-a- with which the name of St. Natalis (Irish
want of fishery-piers, a better description of
Week," has given from her own observation an admirable description of this locality and the productiveness of its fisheries.
' It is much used by the people of Inver
parish.
"s This serres as a headstone for one of
the graves.
^ In the" Statistical Survey of the County
of Donegal," it is stated, that a small mon- astery was founded here in the 15th century, by Friars of the Third Order of St. Francis. And it is very probable, that this monastery was erected on the site of the ancient abbey ofwhichSt. Nataliswasabbot. Seep. in.
Nathal, pronounced Naal) is associated by the people of the district. " See ibid.
3° According to the "Martyrology of Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 28, 29.
3" The of is situated ])arish KinavTley
partly in the barony of Tullyhaw, and this portion is represented on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Cavan," Sheets 4, 6, 7, 9 ; and partly in the baronies of Clanawley and Knockninny,
''
"^ *' See Kinnfaela's
Cliff Scenery of South-
while this portion is shown on the
nance Survey Townland Maps for the County
Ord- ofFermanagh. " Sheets32,33,34,37,38,
454 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 27.
nagh, is the place just mentioned. 3^ There is a popular tradition, that Kill
Naile old church, now Kinnawly,33 in Fermanagh, was first built by St. Naile. 34 In 1834, the handle of an old bell, belonging to him, had been
preserved by one Bartley Drum, of Shanvally, Avhose family possessed it from a remote period. There is a holy well in the parish called Tober Naile. 3S It is said, St. Naal succeeded St. Molaisse, at Devenish. This latter de- parted to bliss on the 12th day of September,3^ a. d. 563. 37 This year is set down for his death by Colgan ;3^ but the date has been transferred to 564, according to a false assumption of Dr. Lanigah. 39 The year of our saint's death is not known, although Archdall places it at a. d. 563. 't° To the year 564, it seems to be assigned, by a more learned and critical historian, yet on no authority that the present writer can discover. It is strongly suspected*' this latter date was originally marked for Naal or Natalis of Killmanagh, and that, through a confusion of names, it was referred to another, who lived at a later period. NataHs of Kilmanagh, although well known about a. d. 520, might have lived until 564. 't'
We only find Noell, Inbhir, without any other distinction, entered in the Martyrology of Tallagh,43 on the 27th of January. We read in the Martyr- ology of Donegal,44 likewise, and on this day, about NMle, of Inbher Naile,*5
in Tir-Baghuine, in Cinel Conaill. *^
39, 41, 42. It is of immense extent, con-
taining over 51,000 acres. In the latter
county, and in the barony of Clanawley
(Sheet 33), is represented the townland of
Kinawley proper. Here and in the adjoin- ing townland of Lismonaghan are to be
found St. Nawley's well, a graveyard, and an ancient fort.
3^ Thus identified in a MS. note of Wil- liam M. Hennessy, M. R. I. A.
33 Theaccompanyingillustrationwasdrawn
on the spot by William F. Wakeman, and
engraved by George A. Hanlon.
This is now the barony of Banagh, in
These are the sole entries of deaths, recorded
at A. D. 563, according to the Irish and
3+ Archdall calls his
Breffiny, while he is doubtful as to whether iv. , p. 447, where we read: "This ab-
place
its position was in Leitrim or Cavan county.
surdity, however, is a necessary result of a
close adherence to certain old hagiologists,
quoted by Colgan, whom Archdall followed
implicitly, and to the date 664 of the Four
"
Masters.
** See Archdall's " Monasticon Hibemi-
See
Monasticon Hibemicum," p. 410.
"
35SeeDr. O'Donovan'sletter, datedBel-
turbet, November 12th, 1834, in " County Fermanagh Letters of I. O. S," vol. i. , p. 83.
Kilnaile in
History
of
vol. — ix. , sec. Ireland," i. , chap,
3* At that day his life will be found.
37 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the cum," p. 100. For this statement, Arch-
Four Masters," vol. i,, pp. 202, 203. But in note (t), p. 204, ibid. , it is said, "the death of this saint is entered twice in the Annals of
Ulster, first under the year 563 (aer. , com.
564), and again under 570. "
38 At the close of St. Natalis' Acts, at the
27th of January, Colgan observes that he died A. D. 563, according to the Annals of
dall cites as authority, Tr. Th. p. 169 (. recte), 269, where allusion is made to the Abbot Natalis, mentioned in the Acts of St. Senan at the 8th of March, chap. x. See, like- wise, the "Monasticon Hibemicum," p. 410.
*' By Dr. Lanigan.
*^ See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland. "
vol. i. , chap. , ix. , sec, iv. , p. 444, and n. Donegall. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- 53. PP- 447, 448.
nian," xxvii. Januarii, n. 24, p. 174. But, through some mistake in getting the work
through press, this note has no particular
reference to any portion of the text preced-
it. the note have reference ing If, however,
•3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xiii. In the Franciscan copy we find TloeLe 1nbi]\.
+• Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
28, 29.
<5 In " Naile's river mouth. " English
it must be to St.
** " Tleote 1 chotiAiLL 1tibe]\ coctmcIi Ci|\e
to
only saint who is recorded to have died in
that year, or to Eochaidh or Baedan, who
was slain during this year, after having tion of his an additional query, "? another been two years in the sovereignty of Ireland. Natalis in Breffny O'Reilly. " MS. note to
anything,
Molasius,
the
English text, in Dr. O'Donovan's edition of "
the Annals of the Four Masters," See
vol. i. , pp. 202 to 205.
39 He ridicules Archdall for an oversight,
in making St. Natalis, who is thought to
have died on the 27th of January, A. D. 563,
succeed St. Molaisse at Devenish, who died
on the I2th of September, a. d. 563. See
"
410. Dr. Lanigan himself falls into an
Monasticon Hibemicum," pp. 100, 259,
error of date in n. 53, to his
"
Ecclesiastical
^Vguf [cii\e] eojAin. Leabhar Breac, 30, a. Mr. Hennessy appends to this annota-
January 27. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 455
thecountyofDonegal. Thepresentsaintwasveneratedinthreeplaces/7 where he exercised abbatial functions ; having had his solemn memorial festival, and being considered local patron of Inber-naile church, in the region of Tyrconnell, of Kill-naile church, in the district of Breffney, and in the monastery of Devenish, where he is said to have succeeded St. Molaisse. *^ This latter holy man was an illustrious founder of monasticism in the northern parts of Ireland.
Article II. —St. Croine, Virgin, of Kill-Crony, in the County of WicKLOw, or at Inishcrone, County of Sligo. The old church of Kil- cronv lies over the valley of a little mountain stream, which runs into the Bray river, about two miles from the town. The situation is a very beauti- ful one, just above the junction of the Cookstown and Dargle rivers, and high over the banks of the latter, within a short walk from the picturesque village of Enniskerry. Kilcroney^ is situated in the parish of Kilmacanoge, in the baronyofRathdown. Theretheremainsofaveryancientchurchmaybe
seen, and it appears to have been a very well-jointed quadrangular building of the most primitive type. Interiorly it measures 35 feet in length, by 19 feet 4 inches in breadth. The width of the walls averages 2 feet, 8 inches. In the
^^i. f. '«'\\<tM^^^
Kilcrony Church, Co. Wicklow.
south side wall, there is a very perfect door, square headed, and built up with remarkably large and fine chiselled granite blocks, immediately around the jambs. This door-way measures 6 feet 6 inches in height : at the bottom, it
"
Martyrology of Donegal. " <7 According to Colgan.
*^Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibemite," County of Wicklow. " Sheet 7. This xxvii. Januarii. De S. Natali, cap. iii. , p. towtiland contains over 218 acres.
169, and n. 18, p. 174.
his copy of the
Article ii.
nance Survey To^vnland Maps for the
—' is shown on the "Ord- It
456 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 27.
is 2 feet 7 inches wide, and it inclines upwards to 2 feet 5 inches. One
massive stone crowns the upper part. In the south wall, likewise, there is a
beautiful little window, elegantly chiselled, and with rounded head, as seen
from the inside, where it is deeply splayed, and the stones all around are well
jointed. The ope proper measures i foot 6 inches long, by 8 inches wide.
The end gables and much of the upper part of the north wall are destroyed,
but there is no ingress to the interior except through the door-way, closed by
a locked half-size and iron-wrought grille. The walls are thickly mantled
overwithivyandintermingledelderbushes. ^ Theinteriorofthebuilding
is all carpeted over the graves with a thick interlacing of ground-ivy, pre-
senting a beautiful and suggestive idea, in a place so lone and gloomy. 3 In-
terments have long ceased, and the surrounding graveyard is completelyobli-
terated. Splendidparterres,bloomingwithmostglowingflowersandstudded with rare plants, as also with finely grown and ornamental shrubs, are set
out around the building.
