The old people
formerly
called the spot Mainister Curcaighe, meaning the monastery of Curcach.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
1489,hasNine Lessons,distributedthroughThreeNocturns; alltheLessonsandAntiphons being proper at Matins, Lauds and Vespers.
37 In the Missal of Mayence, printed a.
d.
1493, there is a Mass for St.
Arbogast, at this day ; as also in the Missal of Melitensis, printed at Strasburg, a.
d.
1505, and in its Calendar, the feast of our saint is noted as a semi-double.
In the Calendar and Missal of 151 2, printed at Strasburg, the feast of St.
Arbogast is set at the 21st of
8
July, while its Sequence is published by the Bollandists. 3
Although the present very renowned and virtuous prelate has not been
included in the home Calendars of our Irish Saints, like many other cele- brated ones who departed from life in the Continental countries; yet, have our more modern Irish writers claimed St. Arbogast as their countryman. Thus, the Right Rev. David Rothe, Bishop of Ossory, and author of a treatise 39 " Vin- dicise Hibernire sive Antiquioris Scotiae contra Dernpsterum," has classed St. Arbogast among the holy ones of Ireland. In Father Henry Fitzsimon's uCalendarofIrishSaints,"* thereisanArbogastus,Bishop,entered,butwith-
ology, published by Beckius, a. d. 1687,34
Strasbourg.
33 Thus: "Eodem die, sancti Arbogasti
episcopi et confessoris. "
34 Augustae Vindelicorum.
Kalendas Augusti, p. 105.
36 The first of these contains the miracle of
his raising to life the son of King Dagobert ; while the other relates his passing over the Brusch River with dry feet.
the
Antiphons for Vespers, Matins and Lauds, in their great work.
38 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Julii xxi. De S. Arbogaslo Episcopo Argen- toratensi in Gennania Prima. Commenta-
35 Thus "
: Argentoiati
san—cti Arbogasti Episcopi, miraculis clari. " "Martyrolo- gium Romanum," Editio novissima, xii.
rius
Prsevius, sect, i. , pp. 168 to 170.
The Bollandists
republished only
iv. , cap. xii. , p. 52.
4I No less than seven editions of that tract
& Printed at Antwerp, in 1621.
4° "
Fitzsimonquotes Gillebertusminorita
in Supplemento Sanctorum," as authority,
"
licse Ibernise Compendium," tomus i. , lib.
See O'Sullevan Beare's
Historiae Catho-
July 21. ] LIVES OF TH£ IRISH SAINTS. 289
out the date for his festival. * 1 In like manner, Father Stephen White 42 has notice of this holy Bishop. Assuming him to have been a Scotch saint, Thomas
Dempster, in his Menologium Scoticum, 4 3 enters Argobast at this date. The Cistercian Monk, in his " Lives of the Irish Saints,"" and the " Circle of the Seasons/'45 likewise, record his festival at this day.
This celebrated saint is styled a Bishop and a Confessor, in those different
accounts, which have reference to him. As such, he continued to exercise
humility and love of contemplation on the episcopal throne, as if he had still livedinthedesert. Inadministeringtheaffairsofhisdiocese,nothingcoulfl be more admirable than his extraordinary disinterestedness. He prescribed nothing for others, that he did not first practise. Thus did he feed the flock entrusted to his care, leading it into the ways of salvation, and edifying it by his holy life.
ArticleII. —TheSevenBishopsofTamhnachBuadha. Themystic number of seven in relation to our Irish saints and ecclesiastics has been as frequently recorded in our ancient books, as it has been found so often noted in the Sacred Scriptures. When Noe was commanded to enter the ark with
:
hisfamily,Godsaidtohim "Ofallcleanbeaststakesevenandseven,the
male and female. 1 " in his Pharaoh,
saw " seven beautiful kine, very
dream,
and fat, come up from the river j" and " other seven also came up out of the
river, ill and lean fleshed.
"2
Again, God ordered Josue 3 to go with his army
in procession around Jericho during seven days, and on the seventh, " the priests shall take the seven trumpets," etc. Then with reference to sacri-
:
fice, we read/ that Balaam said to Balac, King of Moab " Build me here
seven altars, and prepare as many calves, and the same number of rams, and
they laid together a calf and ram upon every altar. " Again, when Ezechias
the of thewicked " went purified temple God, profaned by King Achaz, they
into the house of the Lord, and they offered together seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he-goats, for sin. s" Examples of the same kind could easily be multiplied, but we have now to deal with an instance of seven Bishops in the Irish Calendars, and united on the same day for popular veneration. A festival, to honour Secht n Eps. Tamhnaighe,
in the
of
6 There were seven named bishops,
appears
respectively Saints Aidus, Diermit, Foebarchuo, Maclasrius, Manchinus, Tar- chell, and Tinius, while these are said to have been seven brothers. They
were sons of Muredac, son to Fochern, son of Dichull, son to Crimthann,
son of Armedac, son to Senach, son of Aid Loga, son to Oscuon, son of
Mienach, son to Lugad, son of Imchad, son to Fidchur, son of Eochod, son to Ennius Monchaoin, son of Ros, surnamed Rig-Foda, son of Fiacha Suighde, son of Feidhlemid Reachtmhar, founder of the Desies family.
and
at Lisbon in 1620 ;
one M. MC. "— 1619 copi,
Martyrology
Tallagh.
were issued, in various forms, viz. : one in
161 1 or 1612 says Dr. Rothe one at Douay ;
p. 15, and cap. iv. , p. 37.
43 Thus " xxi. Arentinoe Argobasti epis-
:
at in Liege
one at Antwerp in 1621 ; and again at Antwerp in 1627 ; as also one at Rome, in Porter's Annates, A. D. 1690. See Rev. Father Edmund Hogan's Sketch of Father Fitz-Simon's Life, sect. 18, in " Words of Comfort to persecuted Catholics, written in Exile, anno 1607," &c, pp. 281,
Forbes'" Kalendais of Scottish Saints," p. 204.
44 See pp. 114, 115.
in 1615
;
again
;
Bishop
s See ir. Paralip. xxiw, v. 21, et stq. "6
282. . Dublin, 1881, 8vo.
42 See Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. ii. , Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxix.
45 At p. 203. — Article ii.
'
Gen. vii. 2.
2
Gen. xli. 2, 3.
3 Josue, vi. , 4
4 In Numbers xxiii. 1.
2 9o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July it.
Colgan thinks those may be the seven bishops venerated at Tamnach-
Buadha, on this day. 7 Selbach enumerates twenty-three saints descending
from Fiach Suighdhe, and venerated in our different Calendars. At this date,
the Martyrology of Donegal 8 records the Seven Bishops of Tamhnacli
Buadha[BishopTeddaofTamhnach. 9] Wefindsevenbishops,thesonsof
one father, adds the Calendarist, while their names and history are among
the race of Fiach Suighdhe, son to Feidhlimidh Reachtmhar, son of Tuathal
Teachtmhar. There is an almost incredible number of Irish townlands,
TO
denominated Tamhnach—Anglice Tawny or Tawnagh—either singly or in
no
nach Buadha with any one of them. The ancient etymon probably has become
obsoleteamongourmodernlocalnames. UndertheheadofTamhnach Buadha,11 Duald Mac Firbis enters the seven bishops from Tamhnach-
12
Article III. —Reputed Feast of St. Tenna, of Tamhnach Buadha.
composition ;
yet, among these,
it
appears
easy
buadha, at July 21st.
The of Martyrology
1 at the 21st of a festival to July, registers
2
Buadha. ]
locality, we have seen how difficult it must be to identify its exact position.
Indeed, the present saint may not be distinct from the bishop Tedda there mentioned; whiletheinsertionheremayhaveresultedfromanincorrectand a double entry.
Article IV. —St. Sillan or Siollan, of Glinn munire, or of Dun-
1
more, in Ui Briuin-Cualann. The Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 21st
of July, mentions, that veneration was given to Siollan of Glinn munire. This place has not been clearly identified. Following the account of Marianus
O'Gorman, we have in the copy belonging to Eugene O'Curry, Sillan of Dun Mor,2 in Uibh Briuin Cualann, recorded at this date. This was a sept, giving
name to a territory, which comprised the greater part of Rathdown barony, in the present county of Dublin, and some of the northern part of Wicklow
County. ThechurchesofCill-Inghine-Leinin,nowKilliney,Tigh-Chonaill, now Stagonnell, and Dun-mor, are set down in the O'Clerys' Irish Calendar, as being in this territory. 3 This Sillan is noticed, by Colgan,* when enume-
honour of Tamhnach [Tenna,
From the notice of this previous
1 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xv. Januarii, Appendix ad Acta S.
Itse, cap. ii. , p. 73.
"This entry within brackets, is in the more recent hand. "
'
Article iv. — Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxix.
2 We search in vain for a bearing place
this name, within the ancient territory of Ui Briuin Cualann, on the Ordnance Survey Maps for the Counties of Dublin and Wick- low. Near the residence of Cork Abbey, and little on the left of the road from Bray to Dublin, there is a very fine and large moat, called Toole's Moat from the occupier of the land. It had a fosse all around it, but at
it is choked up with earth, present, nearly
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (n), p. 340.
4 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernice," xv. Februarii. Supplementum Vita S. Berachi Abbatis, cap. vii. , and n. 6, pp. 345, 348.
s see his Acts, at the 15th of February, in
8
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
196, 197.
s A note by Dr. Todd says at Tamhnach :
" The words within brackets are inserted by the more recent hand. "
10 See " General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, Parishes and Baro- nies of Ireland," pp. 850 to 852.
11 Not identified. William M. Ilennessy's note.
12 See " of Proceedings Royal
Article hi. — 1 Edited and Reeves, pp. 198, 199.
2
Irish Aca-
Irish
vol.
demy,"
part i. , pp. 128, 129.
Manuscript Series,
i. ,
In a note the Rev. Dr. Reeves says, at the denomination Tamhnach Buadha :
Donegal,
by
Drs. Todd
matter to Tamh- identify
July 21. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
291
rating several Irish saints bearing the same name, and one of whom had been sent to a place called Rath-ond, by St. Berach. s The Martyrology of 1 tone-
gal
6 records the name of Siollan, as to in Ui Briuin belonging Dunmor,
Cualann. 7 TheIrishCalendar,belongingtotheOrdnanceSurveyRecords,
8
has a similar entry, at the 21st of July, corresponding with xii. of the August
Kalends.
Article V. —St. Curcach, Virgin, of Kilcorker, County of Ros-
common. At the 21st of
we find entered in the — of Tal- July, Martyrology
1
lagh, that veneration was paid to St. Curcaise, Cille-Curcaise
a mistake for St. Curcach, of Cill-Curcaighe, a virgin. The eminent Irish scholar and topo- grapher, William M. Hennessy, identifies this place with Kilcorker, or Kil- corkey, near Belanagare, in the county of Roscommon. 2 This church of Cill-
Curcaighe lay within the ancient territory of Greaghraighe, comprising the present barony of Coolavin, and a great part of northern Roscommon. 3 At a place near Bray, but in the county of Dublin, and now known as Cork Abbey
—already alluded to at this date—there is
a
modern brick wall and vaulted. It is approached by a door, and a little to
the west was the site of a gravegard, from which headstones and human remains have been unearthed. Somewhat to the south and west of the man- sion it lay, while local tradition held, that an old abbey had been pulled down there, towards the close of the last century, to erect in its place the more modern structure.
The old people formerly called the spot Mainister Curcaighe, meaning the monastery of Curcach. s Whether or not, it may have had refer-
ence to the present Curcach, we have no means for correctly judging. In 6
the Martyrology of Donegal, St. Curcach, virgin, of Cill-Curcaighe, is placed at the 2 1 st of May. However, nothing seems to be known, which might determine the period when she flourished.
ArticleVI. —St. Lughan,Priest. Thelifeofapriestorabishopis
stillmoremeritoriousanddifficultthanthatofamonk. This,thegreatSt. T
John Chrysostom points out to his friend Basil, bishop of Raphana. The
nameof a 2 is set downin the of 3 and Lughan, Priest, Martyrologies Tallagh
4
of Donegal, at the 21st of July, but when or where he lived is unknown. We
the Second Volume of this work, Art. i.
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (z), p. 424.
6 Edited
198, 199.
7 Anote
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
by pp.
Dr. at thus by Todd, Cualann,
4 It is not remembered in a patron.
connexion with
s The
from a letter of John O'Donovan, written
Oum muinir\4e, M. Tam. 'Of Dun from 21 Great Charles-street, Dublin, and
Munira. ' But M. Curry's copy of the M. dated August 17th, 1837.
occurs: " The more recent hand adds here,
foregoing particulars are drawn
c6 Taml. has Sillan Glinn Munire. '"
8 Thus: SciolXxin "Ouine nior\ m Uib
brunt) CuaWi«. Common Place Book F,
p. 64. In the Royal Irish Academy Library.
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Article v. —1 Edited Kelly, p. xxix.
2
by
Rev. Dr.
a The more recent hand
Manuscript note in a copy belonging to him, and in his handwriting. This was obligingly lent to the writer, by Mr. Hen- nessy,whoselamenteddeathhasbeensucha loss to the cause of Irish literature, and to the promotion of which he ever lent a most willing assistance.
adds, Saxo, according to the Martyrology of Tamlacht.
The published one has Sax.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxix.
4 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Kelly, p. xxix.
198, 199. Article vi.
— dotio, lib. vi.
See his
treatise, De Sacer-
198, 199. — Article vii.
* Edited Drs.
by Todd
well,* built up with a rather
and Reeves, pp. 10—8, 199.
•
Article viii. Edited by Rev. Dr,
292
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 2 1
may suppose from the title given to him, that he was engaged in missionary work, and that his labours were fruitful in our Lord's vineyard.
Article VII. —St. Tondach, Bishop. According to the Martyrology 1
of Donegal, veneration was paid to Tondach, Bishop, at this date. In no other Calendar are we able to discover any trace of him.
Article VIII. —St. Bradge. to the of veneration was given to Bradge, at this date. We cannot find a similar entry in any other Calendar.
Article IX. —Feast of the Martyr Helius. In the ancient Irish Church, at the 21st of July, had been celebrated a festival for the Martyr Helius, as we find it recorded, in the " Feilire" of St. ^Engus. 1 There is a saint of this name mentioned, with many other holy martyrs, at Csesena in Italy. Some brief notices regarding them are given by the Bollandists. 2
Article X. —Feast of St. Praxedes. In the "Feilire" of St. iEngus, atthe21stofJuly,thefestivalofSt. Praxedesiscommemorated. TheBol- landists2 insertsuchnoticesastheycouldfindregardingthisholyvirgin,who lived at Rome in the first or second century. In the Menologium Scoticum of Dempster, the festival of St. Praxedis, virgin, is likewise entered 3 at this date.
Article XI. —Reputed Feast of St. Claudia. In the Menologium Scoticum of Thomas Dempster, on the. 21st of July, we find entered ' a feast for a Blessed Claudia, a daughter of Scotia, or of Scota. While noticing this intrusion of Claudia as the mother of St. Praxedis, at this same date, the Bol- landists 2 refer to the 19th of May, for what they had stated, regarding St. Prudentiana.
Ilelio, Victore, Patroclo, Cajsariano, Adrianitide, Dimeso, Felice, Aurelio, Tliy- magrate, et forte Theodolo et Juliano,
p. 163. —x Article x.
"
copy. See
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. L, part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by
Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxi.
—x The stanza is following
Article IX.
found in the " Leabhar Breac" copy. The English translation is by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. :—
Cpoch arvo belli iru\v\cir\ mohair- r\elicc bechcAig Cornn5enr\<MT> cuchcAig p<Mf pruocicip pechcndig.
" The high cross of the martyr Helius mag-
nified, a grave-abounding cemetery: with
" Leabhar Transactions of the Royal Irish
maidens the of happy shapely passion
xxi. I)c S. Praxede Virgine, Roma-, pp.
13010132.
3 Thus, at the 21st of July: "Romae
1 According Martyrology Tallagh,
Praxedes. "— " Transactions of the Royal
li ish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series,
vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus,
by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxi. In a Scotx filiae. ML. "—Bishop Forbes' " Ka-
note annexed is the entry Daniel propheta, at this date, p. cxx.
9 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii xxi. DeSS. MartyribusCa? senatibus,Adriano,
2
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii
In the
Breac"
Praxedis virginis. "— Bishop Forbes' "Ka- lendars of Scottish Saints," p. 206.
" lendars of Scottish Saints, p. 206.
2
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 114.
' Article xi. — Thus :
Beatse Claudia
1
July 22. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
293
€totntp--0ffoitt* Dap of 3ulp.
ARTICLE I. — ST. BITEUS OR MOBIU, CALLED ALSO DOBI, OR DAVID, ABBOT OF INIS-COOSCRY, COUNTY OF DOWN.
THE original name of the present holy man was apparently Biu ; for, we
have to that the of affection mo was but a
admit, adjunct colloquial
addition. Formerly, in Ireland, it was not, and even yet it is not, always cus-
tomary to use the title of " saint. " With a simple reverence, the people called
the holy men and women among them merely by their names, often affec-
tionately prefixing Mo, "my," or Do, "thy. " Thus, we have in general use
"
in reference to times and places. In the early period, the Irish did not call their
the phrase
Patrick's Day," or "Stephen's Green," applied as the usual forms
"
Gilbride,&c. Theseobservationsprepareusforabetterunderstandingof
changes occurring, also, in the personal etymons, applied to holy persons in our Calendars. In the published Martyrology of Tallagh, we meet at the xi.
of the Kalends of or at the 22nd of August,
children by a saint's name, without prefixing Gilla,
servant," as Gilpatrick,
July,
Cumscraidh. 1 " It would seem, that our saint had been known under different
names, as we find him variously designated, by our ancient and modern
writers, Mo-biu, Do-biii, Dabius, David, Movean, and Bite, or Bitheus.
He is called St. Movean or Dabius, of Ireland, in some of the Scottish Calendars.
" 2"
Thus, in Bishop Forbes' Kalendars of Scottish Saints, some notices of this
holy Abbot are to be found. According to Colgan, St. Dabius was born of a mother who had been childless, until St. Mochua, then at Bangor, had prayed for her, as mentioned in his Life. 3 The Sanctilogy of the Irish Saints 4 states his father to have been Comgell, son of Ere, son to Arad, son of Columb, son to Cunneth, son of Buan, from whom the Dal-Buan family sprang, and this was a celebrated tribe in Ultonia, although now extinct or unknown. * If the
genealogical line be complete in the foregoing pedigree, it would be possible to form an approximate calculation of that period at which he flourished. In the Irish Calendar, he is said to have borne the name of Bitheus, also andtohavebeenAbbotofInse 6 Sometimesthe iscalled'
Cumsgraidhe. place
Inis Cooscry ; and this name it obtained, probably from some former owner, named Cosgraidh. ? It is now known simply as Inch, a parish in Lower Lecale
barony,
"
Martii xxx. Vita S. Mochuse sive Cronani Abb. Ballensis. Ex Hiberhicis MSS. interprete PH. Osuilevano, cap. iiii. , p. 789.
4 Chapter xxii.
5 See ibid. , n. 7, p. 791.
Article i. — j See Rev. Dr.
Kelly' Calendar of Irish Saints," &c, p. xxix.
of Down. 8
and
Map of this county, the parish of Inch is situated at the south-western extre- mity of Strangford Lough. It includes with its Islands an area of 6,494 acres, 1 rood, and 12 perches, of land, with 80 acres, 1 rood, and 9 perches, under water. It is bounded on the north by Killyleagh parish, on the east by
6 In the Irish at the xi. of the Calendar,
See pp. 320 and 414.
8
July, while its Sequence is published by the Bollandists. 3
Although the present very renowned and virtuous prelate has not been
included in the home Calendars of our Irish Saints, like many other cele- brated ones who departed from life in the Continental countries; yet, have our more modern Irish writers claimed St. Arbogast as their countryman. Thus, the Right Rev. David Rothe, Bishop of Ossory, and author of a treatise 39 " Vin- dicise Hibernire sive Antiquioris Scotiae contra Dernpsterum," has classed St. Arbogast among the holy ones of Ireland. In Father Henry Fitzsimon's uCalendarofIrishSaints,"* thereisanArbogastus,Bishop,entered,butwith-
ology, published by Beckius, a. d. 1687,34
Strasbourg.
33 Thus: "Eodem die, sancti Arbogasti
episcopi et confessoris. "
34 Augustae Vindelicorum.
Kalendas Augusti, p. 105.
36 The first of these contains the miracle of
his raising to life the son of King Dagobert ; while the other relates his passing over the Brusch River with dry feet.
the
Antiphons for Vespers, Matins and Lauds, in their great work.
38 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Julii xxi. De S. Arbogaslo Episcopo Argen- toratensi in Gennania Prima. Commenta-
35 Thus "
: Argentoiati
san—cti Arbogasti Episcopi, miraculis clari. " "Martyrolo- gium Romanum," Editio novissima, xii.
rius
Prsevius, sect, i. , pp. 168 to 170.
The Bollandists
republished only
iv. , cap. xii. , p. 52.
4I No less than seven editions of that tract
& Printed at Antwerp, in 1621.
4° "
Fitzsimonquotes Gillebertusminorita
in Supplemento Sanctorum," as authority,
"
licse Ibernise Compendium," tomus i. , lib.
See O'Sullevan Beare's
Historiae Catho-
July 21. ] LIVES OF TH£ IRISH SAINTS. 289
out the date for his festival. * 1 In like manner, Father Stephen White 42 has notice of this holy Bishop. Assuming him to have been a Scotch saint, Thomas
Dempster, in his Menologium Scoticum, 4 3 enters Argobast at this date. The Cistercian Monk, in his " Lives of the Irish Saints,"" and the " Circle of the Seasons/'45 likewise, record his festival at this day.
This celebrated saint is styled a Bishop and a Confessor, in those different
accounts, which have reference to him. As such, he continued to exercise
humility and love of contemplation on the episcopal throne, as if he had still livedinthedesert. Inadministeringtheaffairsofhisdiocese,nothingcoulfl be more admirable than his extraordinary disinterestedness. He prescribed nothing for others, that he did not first practise. Thus did he feed the flock entrusted to his care, leading it into the ways of salvation, and edifying it by his holy life.
ArticleII. —TheSevenBishopsofTamhnachBuadha. Themystic number of seven in relation to our Irish saints and ecclesiastics has been as frequently recorded in our ancient books, as it has been found so often noted in the Sacred Scriptures. When Noe was commanded to enter the ark with
:
hisfamily,Godsaidtohim "Ofallcleanbeaststakesevenandseven,the
male and female. 1 " in his Pharaoh,
saw " seven beautiful kine, very
dream,
and fat, come up from the river j" and " other seven also came up out of the
river, ill and lean fleshed.
"2
Again, God ordered Josue 3 to go with his army
in procession around Jericho during seven days, and on the seventh, " the priests shall take the seven trumpets," etc. Then with reference to sacri-
:
fice, we read/ that Balaam said to Balac, King of Moab " Build me here
seven altars, and prepare as many calves, and the same number of rams, and
they laid together a calf and ram upon every altar. " Again, when Ezechias
the of thewicked " went purified temple God, profaned by King Achaz, they
into the house of the Lord, and they offered together seven bullocks, and seven rams, and seven lambs, and seven he-goats, for sin. s" Examples of the same kind could easily be multiplied, but we have now to deal with an instance of seven Bishops in the Irish Calendars, and united on the same day for popular veneration. A festival, to honour Secht n Eps. Tamhnaighe,
in the
of
6 There were seven named bishops,
appears
respectively Saints Aidus, Diermit, Foebarchuo, Maclasrius, Manchinus, Tar- chell, and Tinius, while these are said to have been seven brothers. They
were sons of Muredac, son to Fochern, son of Dichull, son to Crimthann,
son of Armedac, son to Senach, son of Aid Loga, son to Oscuon, son of
Mienach, son to Lugad, son of Imchad, son to Fidchur, son of Eochod, son to Ennius Monchaoin, son of Ros, surnamed Rig-Foda, son of Fiacha Suighde, son of Feidhlemid Reachtmhar, founder of the Desies family.
and
at Lisbon in 1620 ;
one M. MC. "— 1619 copi,
Martyrology
Tallagh.
were issued, in various forms, viz. : one in
161 1 or 1612 says Dr. Rothe one at Douay ;
p. 15, and cap. iv. , p. 37.
43 Thus " xxi. Arentinoe Argobasti epis-
:
at in Liege
one at Antwerp in 1621 ; and again at Antwerp in 1627 ; as also one at Rome, in Porter's Annates, A. D. 1690. See Rev. Father Edmund Hogan's Sketch of Father Fitz-Simon's Life, sect. 18, in " Words of Comfort to persecuted Catholics, written in Exile, anno 1607," &c, pp. 281,
Forbes'" Kalendais of Scottish Saints," p. 204.
44 See pp. 114, 115.
in 1615
;
again
;
Bishop
s See ir. Paralip. xxiw, v. 21, et stq. "6
282. . Dublin, 1881, 8vo.
42 See Apologia pro Hibernia," cap. ii. , Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxix.
45 At p. 203. — Article ii.
'
Gen. vii. 2.
2
Gen. xli. 2, 3.
3 Josue, vi. , 4
4 In Numbers xxiii. 1.
2 9o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July it.
Colgan thinks those may be the seven bishops venerated at Tamnach-
Buadha, on this day. 7 Selbach enumerates twenty-three saints descending
from Fiach Suighdhe, and venerated in our different Calendars. At this date,
the Martyrology of Donegal 8 records the Seven Bishops of Tamhnacli
Buadha[BishopTeddaofTamhnach. 9] Wefindsevenbishops,thesonsof
one father, adds the Calendarist, while their names and history are among
the race of Fiach Suighdhe, son to Feidhlimidh Reachtmhar, son of Tuathal
Teachtmhar. There is an almost incredible number of Irish townlands,
TO
denominated Tamhnach—Anglice Tawny or Tawnagh—either singly or in
no
nach Buadha with any one of them. The ancient etymon probably has become
obsoleteamongourmodernlocalnames. UndertheheadofTamhnach Buadha,11 Duald Mac Firbis enters the seven bishops from Tamhnach-
12
Article III. —Reputed Feast of St. Tenna, of Tamhnach Buadha.
composition ;
yet, among these,
it
appears
easy
buadha, at July 21st.
The of Martyrology
1 at the 21st of a festival to July, registers
2
Buadha. ]
locality, we have seen how difficult it must be to identify its exact position.
Indeed, the present saint may not be distinct from the bishop Tedda there mentioned; whiletheinsertionheremayhaveresultedfromanincorrectand a double entry.
Article IV. —St. Sillan or Siollan, of Glinn munire, or of Dun-
1
more, in Ui Briuin-Cualann. The Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 21st
of July, mentions, that veneration was given to Siollan of Glinn munire. This place has not been clearly identified. Following the account of Marianus
O'Gorman, we have in the copy belonging to Eugene O'Curry, Sillan of Dun Mor,2 in Uibh Briuin Cualann, recorded at this date. This was a sept, giving
name to a territory, which comprised the greater part of Rathdown barony, in the present county of Dublin, and some of the northern part of Wicklow
County. ThechurchesofCill-Inghine-Leinin,nowKilliney,Tigh-Chonaill, now Stagonnell, and Dun-mor, are set down in the O'Clerys' Irish Calendar, as being in this territory. 3 This Sillan is noticed, by Colgan,* when enume-
honour of Tamhnach [Tenna,
From the notice of this previous
1 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," xv. Januarii, Appendix ad Acta S.
Itse, cap. ii. , p. 73.
"This entry within brackets, is in the more recent hand. "
'
Article iv. — Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xxix.
2 We search in vain for a bearing place
this name, within the ancient territory of Ui Briuin Cualann, on the Ordnance Survey Maps for the Counties of Dublin and Wick- low. Near the residence of Cork Abbey, and little on the left of the road from Bray to Dublin, there is a very fine and large moat, called Toole's Moat from the occupier of the land. It had a fosse all around it, but at
it is choked up with earth, present, nearly
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (n), p. 340.
4 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernice," xv. Februarii. Supplementum Vita S. Berachi Abbatis, cap. vii. , and n. 6, pp. 345, 348.
s see his Acts, at the 15th of February, in
8
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
196, 197.
s A note by Dr. Todd says at Tamhnach :
" The words within brackets are inserted by the more recent hand. "
10 See " General Alphabetical Index to the Townlands and Towns, Parishes and Baro- nies of Ireland," pp. 850 to 852.
11 Not identified. William M. Ilennessy's note.
12 See " of Proceedings Royal
Article hi. — 1 Edited and Reeves, pp. 198, 199.
2
Irish Aca-
Irish
vol.
demy,"
part i. , pp. 128, 129.
Manuscript Series,
i. ,
In a note the Rev. Dr. Reeves says, at the denomination Tamhnach Buadha :
Donegal,
by
Drs. Todd
matter to Tamh- identify
July 21. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
291
rating several Irish saints bearing the same name, and one of whom had been sent to a place called Rath-ond, by St. Berach. s The Martyrology of 1 tone-
gal
6 records the name of Siollan, as to in Ui Briuin belonging Dunmor,
Cualann. 7 TheIrishCalendar,belongingtotheOrdnanceSurveyRecords,
8
has a similar entry, at the 21st of July, corresponding with xii. of the August
Kalends.
Article V. —St. Curcach, Virgin, of Kilcorker, County of Ros-
common. At the 21st of
we find entered in the — of Tal- July, Martyrology
1
lagh, that veneration was paid to St. Curcaise, Cille-Curcaise
a mistake for St. Curcach, of Cill-Curcaighe, a virgin. The eminent Irish scholar and topo- grapher, William M. Hennessy, identifies this place with Kilcorker, or Kil- corkey, near Belanagare, in the county of Roscommon. 2 This church of Cill-
Curcaighe lay within the ancient territory of Greaghraighe, comprising the present barony of Coolavin, and a great part of northern Roscommon. 3 At a place near Bray, but in the county of Dublin, and now known as Cork Abbey
—already alluded to at this date—there is
a
modern brick wall and vaulted. It is approached by a door, and a little to
the west was the site of a gravegard, from which headstones and human remains have been unearthed. Somewhat to the south and west of the man- sion it lay, while local tradition held, that an old abbey had been pulled down there, towards the close of the last century, to erect in its place the more modern structure.
The old people formerly called the spot Mainister Curcaighe, meaning the monastery of Curcach. s Whether or not, it may have had refer-
ence to the present Curcach, we have no means for correctly judging. In 6
the Martyrology of Donegal, St. Curcach, virgin, of Cill-Curcaighe, is placed at the 2 1 st of May. However, nothing seems to be known, which might determine the period when she flourished.
ArticleVI. —St. Lughan,Priest. Thelifeofapriestorabishopis
stillmoremeritoriousanddifficultthanthatofamonk. This,thegreatSt. T
John Chrysostom points out to his friend Basil, bishop of Raphana. The
nameof a 2 is set downin the of 3 and Lughan, Priest, Martyrologies Tallagh
4
of Donegal, at the 21st of July, but when or where he lived is unknown. We
the Second Volume of this work, Art. i.
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (z), p. 424.
6 Edited
198, 199.
7 Anote
Drs. Todd and Reeves,
by pp.
Dr. at thus by Todd, Cualann,
4 It is not remembered in a patron.
connexion with
s The
from a letter of John O'Donovan, written
Oum muinir\4e, M. Tam. 'Of Dun from 21 Great Charles-street, Dublin, and
Munira. ' But M. Curry's copy of the M. dated August 17th, 1837.
occurs: " The more recent hand adds here,
foregoing particulars are drawn
c6 Taml. has Sillan Glinn Munire. '"
8 Thus: SciolXxin "Ouine nior\ m Uib
brunt) CuaWi«. Common Place Book F,
p. 64. In the Royal Irish Academy Library.
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
Article v. —1 Edited Kelly, p. xxix.
2
by
Rev. Dr.
a The more recent hand
Manuscript note in a copy belonging to him, and in his handwriting. This was obligingly lent to the writer, by Mr. Hen- nessy,whoselamenteddeathhasbeensucha loss to the cause of Irish literature, and to the promotion of which he ever lent a most willing assistance.
adds, Saxo, according to the Martyrology of Tamlacht.
The published one has Sax.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxix.
4 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Kelly, p. xxix.
198, 199. Article vi.
— dotio, lib. vi.
See his
treatise, De Sacer-
198, 199. — Article vii.
* Edited Drs.
by Todd
well,* built up with a rather
and Reeves, pp. 10—8, 199.
•
Article viii. Edited by Rev. Dr,
292
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 2 1
may suppose from the title given to him, that he was engaged in missionary work, and that his labours were fruitful in our Lord's vineyard.
Article VII. —St. Tondach, Bishop. According to the Martyrology 1
of Donegal, veneration was paid to Tondach, Bishop, at this date. In no other Calendar are we able to discover any trace of him.
Article VIII. —St. Bradge. to the of veneration was given to Bradge, at this date. We cannot find a similar entry in any other Calendar.
Article IX. —Feast of the Martyr Helius. In the ancient Irish Church, at the 21st of July, had been celebrated a festival for the Martyr Helius, as we find it recorded, in the " Feilire" of St. ^Engus. 1 There is a saint of this name mentioned, with many other holy martyrs, at Csesena in Italy. Some brief notices regarding them are given by the Bollandists. 2
Article X. —Feast of St. Praxedes. In the "Feilire" of St. iEngus, atthe21stofJuly,thefestivalofSt. Praxedesiscommemorated. TheBol- landists2 insertsuchnoticesastheycouldfindregardingthisholyvirgin,who lived at Rome in the first or second century. In the Menologium Scoticum of Dempster, the festival of St. Praxedis, virgin, is likewise entered 3 at this date.
Article XI. —Reputed Feast of St. Claudia. In the Menologium Scoticum of Thomas Dempster, on the. 21st of July, we find entered ' a feast for a Blessed Claudia, a daughter of Scotia, or of Scota. While noticing this intrusion of Claudia as the mother of St. Praxedis, at this same date, the Bol- landists 2 refer to the 19th of May, for what they had stated, regarding St. Prudentiana.
Ilelio, Victore, Patroclo, Cajsariano, Adrianitide, Dimeso, Felice, Aurelio, Tliy- magrate, et forte Theodolo et Juliano,
p. 163. —x Article x.
"
copy. See
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. L, part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by
Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxi.
—x The stanza is following
Article IX.
found in the " Leabhar Breac" copy. The English translation is by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. :—
Cpoch arvo belli iru\v\cir\ mohair- r\elicc bechcAig Cornn5enr\<MT> cuchcAig p<Mf pruocicip pechcndig.
" The high cross of the martyr Helius mag-
nified, a grave-abounding cemetery: with
" Leabhar Transactions of the Royal Irish
maidens the of happy shapely passion
xxi. I)c S. Praxede Virgine, Roma-, pp.
13010132.
3 Thus, at the 21st of July: "Romae
1 According Martyrology Tallagh,
Praxedes. "— " Transactions of the Royal
li ish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series,
vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus,
by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. cxi. In a Scotx filiae. ML. "—Bishop Forbes' " Ka-
note annexed is the entry Daniel propheta, at this date, p. cxx.
9 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii xxi. DeSS. MartyribusCa? senatibus,Adriano,
2
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii
In the
Breac"
Praxedis virginis. "— Bishop Forbes' "Ka- lendars of Scottish Saints," p. 206.
" lendars of Scottish Saints, p. 206.
2
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Julii xxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 114.
' Article xi. — Thus :
Beatse Claudia
1
July 22. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
293
€totntp--0ffoitt* Dap of 3ulp.
ARTICLE I. — ST. BITEUS OR MOBIU, CALLED ALSO DOBI, OR DAVID, ABBOT OF INIS-COOSCRY, COUNTY OF DOWN.
THE original name of the present holy man was apparently Biu ; for, we
have to that the of affection mo was but a
admit, adjunct colloquial
addition. Formerly, in Ireland, it was not, and even yet it is not, always cus-
tomary to use the title of " saint. " With a simple reverence, the people called
the holy men and women among them merely by their names, often affec-
tionately prefixing Mo, "my," or Do, "thy. " Thus, we have in general use
"
in reference to times and places. In the early period, the Irish did not call their
the phrase
Patrick's Day," or "Stephen's Green," applied as the usual forms
"
Gilbride,&c. Theseobservationsprepareusforabetterunderstandingof
changes occurring, also, in the personal etymons, applied to holy persons in our Calendars. In the published Martyrology of Tallagh, we meet at the xi.
of the Kalends of or at the 22nd of August,
children by a saint's name, without prefixing Gilla,
servant," as Gilpatrick,
July,
Cumscraidh. 1 " It would seem, that our saint had been known under different
names, as we find him variously designated, by our ancient and modern
writers, Mo-biu, Do-biii, Dabius, David, Movean, and Bite, or Bitheus.
He is called St. Movean or Dabius, of Ireland, in some of the Scottish Calendars.
" 2"
Thus, in Bishop Forbes' Kalendars of Scottish Saints, some notices of this
holy Abbot are to be found. According to Colgan, St. Dabius was born of a mother who had been childless, until St. Mochua, then at Bangor, had prayed for her, as mentioned in his Life. 3 The Sanctilogy of the Irish Saints 4 states his father to have been Comgell, son of Ere, son to Arad, son of Columb, son to Cunneth, son of Buan, from whom the Dal-Buan family sprang, and this was a celebrated tribe in Ultonia, although now extinct or unknown. * If the
genealogical line be complete in the foregoing pedigree, it would be possible to form an approximate calculation of that period at which he flourished. In the Irish Calendar, he is said to have borne the name of Bitheus, also andtohavebeenAbbotofInse 6 Sometimesthe iscalled'
Cumsgraidhe. place
Inis Cooscry ; and this name it obtained, probably from some former owner, named Cosgraidh. ? It is now known simply as Inch, a parish in Lower Lecale
barony,
"
Martii xxx. Vita S. Mochuse sive Cronani Abb. Ballensis. Ex Hiberhicis MSS. interprete PH. Osuilevano, cap. iiii. , p. 789.
4 Chapter xxii.
5 See ibid. , n. 7, p. 791.
Article i. — j See Rev. Dr.
Kelly' Calendar of Irish Saints," &c, p. xxix.
of Down. 8
and
Map of this county, the parish of Inch is situated at the south-western extre- mity of Strangford Lough. It includes with its Islands an area of 6,494 acres, 1 rood, and 12 perches, of land, with 80 acres, 1 rood, and 9 perches, under water. It is bounded on the north by Killyleagh parish, on the east by
6 In the Irish at the xi. of the Calendar,
See pp. 320 and 414.
