Yet, the mother still
continued
her moving entreaties.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v7
exxi.
3 By some anonymous writer, and taken
from a Manuscript belonging to Fulda, col- lated with other Manuscript Notes, these
In two chapters, and nineteen para-
graphs, with notes, pp. 139 to 141. Article XI. —l See "Historiae Catho- Hex Ibernire Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. ,
cap. xi. , p. 50.
It is evidently a mistake for June 30th, the Festival Day for St. Erentrudus, or Eren-
trude, Virgin Abbess of Nunberg, Bavaria,
an account of whom
the Sixth Volume of this work, at that date, Art. i.
l
Article i. — See the Life of St. Patrick,
in the Third Volume of this work, at the
of Art. i. 17th March,
2
However, it is stated, that the sons of Nadfraech were then baptized by St. Patrick, See ibid. , chap. xix.
may be found, in
5io I TVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 3 1
faech had veneration paid them at this date. Their names are entered in detail, with marked distinction, and in the following order, according to the foregoing Calendar, viz. : Colman, Bishop; Fallamain, Bishop Iarnog, the
;
sickly; and Natal of Cill-na-manach. It is not otherwise recorded, nor~does it seem probable, except in a remote degree, that Natfraich had many children,
who were saints. However, it is generally assumed, that ^Engus was the father of a numerous and holy offspring. There are four of his sons numbered among our saints, and they are called Colman, Foilan, Lugad and Natalis. * Nor does this account wholly agree with that of other authorities. s At the 31st of July, Marianus O'Gorman seems to say, that the feast of Angus' five
sons, viz. : Colman, the son of Darenia, Follamonius, or Follomen, Papan, Iernoc and Natal is, had been celebrated on that day. These he calls the sons of Natfraich. But, by another designation, we are to understand, that they were only his grandsons, ^Engus being their father. 6 In succeeding articles, we shall treat individually regarding each one of those saints, and as we find references to them in our records.
Article II. —St. Natalis or Naal, Abbot of Kilmanagh, County of Kilkenny. [Fifth and Sixth Centuries^ The Acts of this saint are given by Colgan, at the 27th of January; but, whether his festival should be assigned to that day, or not, has been already considered, in a previous part of this work, when treating about a St. Natalis or Naal of Kilnaile, who appears
1
This saint is variedly named in Irish Naal. Naile, Noele, Naaile, and sometimes
Natal or Nataile. Again, his name has been Latinized intoNaalis, Natalus,
Natalius, Natalis or Naalius. 2 He is said to have been the founder of a
religious establishment, at Kilmanagh, in the county of Kilkenny. There
stood a famous monastery, frequently mentioned in our Annals. -^ Alluding
to Natalus, called by some Naalius, and by others more correctly Natalis,
AbbotofKilnaile,orKinnawly,Colganremarks,4 however,thathedoesnot
seem to have been a different person from St. Natalus, s the son of ^Engus,
the first Christian of Mummonia. 6 he that the of King Also, supposes, 31st July
was a commemoration, a translation, or some secondary festival of St. Natalis, of Kilmanagh, while his principal Natalis was observed on the 27th ofJanuary. 7 Furthermore,Colganpossessedacopyofoursaint'sActs; but,
to have been a different person from the subject of this present memoir.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 206, 207.
Martii viii. Vita Metrica S. Senani Episcopi,
n. 8, p. 611, recte 525,
5 Nevertheless, this writer. to have appears
entertained doubts regarding their identity.
For, after that the Abbot oflnber- stating,
naile, Killnaile. and Deveni-h. had been
venerated on the 27th of January ; he adds,
that if St. Natalis, Abbot of Kilmanagh, and master of Scnan, were one and i
person, another festival must have been in- stituted as a commemorative one, at th
of See il>i<L, xxvii. be S. July. Januarii.
Natali, Abbate et Confessore, can. iv. , pp. 169, 170.
'' He was St. Patrick, as may baptized by
be seen in his Life, at the 17th of March, in
the Third Volume of this work, Art. L,
chap. xix.
' See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nix," xxvii. Januarii. De S. Natali, Abbate et Confessore, nn. 19, 20, p. 174.
to the " logy," cap. xxxiv.
4
5 See the Rev. Dr. of Tallagh," p. xxx.
Genoa-
6
In the Brussels Manuscript of Marianus
According
Menelogic
"
Kelly's Marlyrology
O'Gorman, the following note occurs in the margin, as we are told by Rev. Dr. Todd :
" Kolluman, Papanus, Iernocus, et Natalis sunt filii Aengusii regis, filii Natfraich. "
Article ii. — ' See the Acts of St. Nata-
lis of Kilnaile, at the 27th of January, in the First Volume of this work, Art. i.
- See
nix," xxvii. Januarii. Do S. Natali, Abbate et Confessore, n. 1, p. 173.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," at A. n. 780, vol. i. , pp. 802, 839, 843.
4 See "Acta Sanctorum Ilibcinix,"
Colgan
's "Acta Sanctorum Iliber-
July 31. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
he acknowledges, that they contained many things false, doubtful and con- tradictory. Hence, he considered—them of no historical value. Moreover, he seems to cla—ss the present saint who he says was also venerated on the
8
27th of January among the disciples of St. Patrick. His mother was called
Ethnea, being daughter to Crimthann, King of Leinster,9 according to an
apocryphal Life of the saint, in Colgan's possession, and to the genealogy of 10
IrishSaints,inthePsalterofCashel, asalsototheMenologiumGenealogi-
cum. 11
death. Tin'slattereventtook
a native of the province of Minister. At an early age, our saint gave indica- tions of great sanctity, and having abandoned the pleasures of this world, he embracedtheprofessionofareligiouslife. Aftersometime,hebecamepre-
fect over a religious community of one hundred and fifty monks, at a place, "
ever afterwards called Kilmanagh, or the Church of the Monks," and pro-
bably owing to this very circumstance. His monastery was situated about eight miles to the west of Kilkenny City, and not far from Tipperary County. '3
of Formerly it
Probably
during
century,
At is a present, Kilmanagh
9 See "Acta Sanctorum
Hiberniae,"
"Statistical Survey of the County of Kil-
kenny," part i. , sec. 4, pp. 21, 22.
l6 An account of this saint and interesting
of his place, Kilmanagh, will be found in Rev. J. Holahan's "Notes on the Antiquities of the United Parishes of Ballycallan, Kil- managh and Killaloe," &c, pp. 25 to ^^.
1? When treating on the manorial posses- sionsofthe Grace family, we are informed,
he was born the fifth and before his father's
xxvii. Januarii. De S. Natali, Abbate et
Confessore, nn. 2, 3, p. 173.
10 11
Chap. xii.
Cap. xxxiv.
12 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 152, 153, and nn. (n, o), ibid.
14 It is on the " Ordnance
noted, Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Kil- kenny," sheets 18, 22. The town of this name is on sheet 18.
15 Of this barony, Mr. Tighe remarks : " The centre of this barony is formed of hills, sometimes moor)', but always with a slaty
subsoil, capable of great improvement, as they are so easily rendered dry. Below them lies a rich and extensive plain, spreading on one side, to the vicinity of Kilkenny, and to the low hills which border the Nore ; on the other, to the bounds of the county, extend- ing from Killmanagh to the south of Calkin, as far as Conlagmore, watered in its southern part by King's River, and turning westwar—ds towards Kilmagany and Knocktopher. "
by Sheffield Grace, that
"
the neighbouring
13 See Dr.
tory of Ireland,'' vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect, iv. , n. 50, p. 446. Only the modern Protestant church is to be seen at present in the ancient
graveyard.
of
Lanigan's
parishes
Kildrinagh, Killaghy-Grace,
place,
inthe
year 489.
12 He tohavebeen appears
1 * in the
Kilkenny. By the people it has been called Killmanach Drohid.
part
Country. for
of Grace's great reputation
over his 8
parish,
county large community,
1 ?
The saint
was a
with a
profiting by his lessons, placed themselves under his direction. Among the most illustrious of these was the youthful St. Senan, '9 afterwards Abbot of Iniscathy. We are informed, in the Metrical Life of this latter saint, that Natalis was in the habit of requiring all his disciples, in turn, to watch over and tend flocks and
while St. Natalis and his —
2I Killmor-aradhthire church
8"
See Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap-
pendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. v. , p. 269.
learning
and
sanctity. '
Many,
desirous of
herds, belonging youthful disciple
day,
" Ecclesiastical His-
barony presided
of 1 * Crannagh,
to the 20 On a certain monastery.
Senan
said to have been Kilmore,
on their
near Iniscathy,
proceeded 22
way
to
Ballycallan, Kilmanagh, and others, were
also formerly in the patronage of this family. "
—"
of Tullaroan or Grace's
Survey p. 117.
Parish,"
Colgan's
16
" Acta Sanctorum Iliber-
l8 See
niae," viii. Martii. Vita Metrics S. Senani
Episcopi et Confessore, sect, x. , p. 606,
recte
19 See the Life of St. Senan to be found at
the 8th of March, in the Third Volume of
this work, Art. i.
20 "
See also Colgan's Acta Sanctorum
Hiberniae," viii. Martii. Secunda sine Sup- plementvm Vitae S. Senani, cap. xii. , p. 613, ; arte 527.
w It must be remarked, likewise, that the church, which is called Killmor-Aradhthire, in St. Senan's prose Life, is converted into a place called Ceallaraacht, in his metrical Life, and this is said to have been the spot, where the miracle was wrought.
516.
5 i2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July
in the county of Clare 23—they observed a great concourse of persons at its entrance. Tears and lamentations of this multitude, especially weeping
parents and kindred, gave them to understand, that the only son of a Dynast, over that part of the country, was dead, and about to be interred. The deceased person's mother, seeing God's holy servants approach, ran towards
them. Casting herself on her knees with passionate earnestness, she besought them to address the Almighty, that her son might be restored to life, through their potent intercession. St. Natalis replied, that effecting such an object was out of his power.
Yet, the mother still continued her moving entreaties. At length, taking compassion on her misfortune, Natalis ordered the body of her deceased son to be brought before St. Senan, who he said would endea- vour by his prayers, to gratify her wishes. The latter, however, through humility, thought himself unworthy in God's sight of being the instrument employed for effecting such a miracle. But, the venerable superior com- manded him to offer up prayers, assuring him they would be favourably heard. Not daring to disobey, Senan fell down and embraced the dead man's body ; he then poured forth most fervent prayers, for a restoration to life. 2'* The Almighty deigned to reward his fervour and humility, and the faith of all pre- sent, by restoring the dead to his former health and vigour. The multitude gave thanks to God, and thenceforth, they began to extol the sanctity and power of his holy servants/5 St. Natalis predicted the future greatness and sanctity of his disciple, St. Senan, and advised him to depart for another place,whereheshouldfoundamonastery,andruleovermanymonks. As his memory was celebrated at Kilmanagh, on the 31st of July f6 this was probably the day of Naal's death. The feast of St. Naul or Natalis is yet kept with great veneration on the 31st of July, at his holy well, which is to be seen
of 2^ of Marianus Martyrologies Tallagh,
2? Afestival,inhonour of Natalis or Natal, of Cill-manach, or Cill-na-manach,28 is set down in the
inthe of inthe of
parish Kilmanagh, county Kilkenny.
O'Gorman,
31st of July. The Rev. Dr. Lanigan supposes, that our saint might have
lived until the year 564.
s1
But, there is no authority, for a conclusive opinion
2
on this point. From this saint, it is probable, that Killenaule,3 situated in
the county of Tipperary, took its name. 3^ As seems most probable, it was
- In the Diocese of Killaloe. See ibid. ,
recte 535.
23 See/^/V. Metrical Life of St. Senan, n.
10, p. 611, rccte 525.
'-'* See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum I liber-
nioe," xxvii. Januarii. De S. Natali Ablate
et Confessore, cap. xiii. , p. 173.
25 In giving this narrative, as found in the
text, St. Senan's prose Life has been chiefly
followed. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum
Ilibernioe," viii. Martii. Vita S. Senani,
cap. xv. , p. 611. It is more diffusely set
forth in his metrical Life. See ibid. ,
608,609. At the Acts of St. Natalis, copied vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect, iv. , n. 53, pp. from this Life, the chapter is marked xiii. 448.
26 This notation of the festival of Naal of '-' It is in the of and barony Slievardagh,
Kilmanagh is an additional proof of his distinguished, on the "Ordnance Survey
n. 6,
p. 539,
dated 30th of October, 18S7.
23 A note by Dr. Todd says, at Cill-na-
manach : "The more recent hand adds here, 'p<\pAii. Mar. et M. Tam. , 1. Sinc-
peib. M. Tarn. , i. e. , both Mar. O'Gorman and the M. Taml. mention Papan here as one of the sons of Nadfraich,' the M. Taml. adds, that he was 'in Sintreibh,' or rather Sentreibh, i. e. , Santry, count" Dablin. "
*» Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxx.
3° Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp. 206, 207.
having been different from the I»'aal of Iver- naal, &c, whose festival was held on the 27th
"
Townland Maps for the County of Tippe- rary," sheets 48, 54, 62. The town and townland are on sheet 54.
33 See "The Legend of Iniscathy," in Duffy's "Hibernian Magazine,'' voli i. ,
p. 37.
34 July 6th, 1752, the paii:,h chapel u a in
of January. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's chap, ix. , sect, iv. , n. 54, p. 448.
Eccle- siastical History of Ireland," vol. i. ,
3'
Rev. Nicholas Murphy, to the writer, and
Letter of the Parish Priest there, Very
pp.
3t See"Ecclesiastical ofIreland," History
and of 3° at the Donegal,
July 31. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
dedicated to the present St. Naal ; although that tradition had been lost, in the middle of the last century. 34 A new church has been erected by the Rev. Martin Laffin, parish priest of Killenaule. It was built about the year 1860. 35 In the same county of Tipperary, and in the barony of Lower Onnond, there are two other townlands designated Killenaule^ one of these is in the parishofDorrhn,whiletheotherisinthatofLoaghkeen. Bothplaceswere probably called after the present holy man. There is also an old church at Kilnamanagh,37intheparishofDonohill,countyofTipperary. s8 Farawayin
Kilnamanagh old Church, County of Tipperary.
the west, among the wild and truly picturesque hills of Kilnamanagh, lies in primeval beauty a lonely dell, through which wind the limpid waters of a mountain stream, commonly known in that locality as the Multeen. Rath- crowned hills look down from either side, upon this spell-bound valley ; and the subtle fragrance of bursting flowers and of waving foliage fills the air with a
good repair, and the pastor was a Rev. John Christopher Butler and Archbishop James Mannin, as we discover from the Visitation Butler. The altar vessels too are nowa- Book of Archbishop Butler, in Extracts days superb, and the vestments, &c, are rich
printed from it in the " Limerick Reporter," of February 18th, 1873, under the heading
in the extreme. What a difference between these and those of the days of 1752. " Ibid.
36 Both are shown, on the "Ordnance
"
Cashel of the Kings. "
35 We are told by Maurice Lenihan, Esq. ,
proprietor and editor of the "Limerick Tipperary," sheet 5.
Reporter," and who likewise contributed
the papers entitled "Cashel of the Kings,"
that the modern church " is a masterpiece of
architectural beauty, and one of the finest Tipperary Records. See vol. ii. in the rural parochial churches in the archdiocese,
indeed we may add in the south of Ireland. A far different temple from the humble straw- covered cabin in which the Divine Mysteries were celebrated in the times of Archbishop
Library of the Royal Irish Academy.
38 It is partly in the barony of Lower Kil- namanagh, and partly in that of Clanwilliam,
while it is shown, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Tippe-
Survey Townland Maps for the County of
v Of this a drawing, by the late George V. Dunoyer, is found among the Irish Oid- nance Survey Sketches for the County of
I5
5 i4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 31,
balmysweetness. Thatoldchurchnowpresentsonlyafewfragmentsofits
walls. 39 It was 60 feet in length, by 21 feet in breadth ; but, the gable is now
the only part remaining, being four feet in thickness, and built of long girt-
stones gathered on the mountain, but not quarried. It had two windows one placed within two feet of the present ground-level ; but, both are now
entirely disfigured. From this church that barony, formerly belonging to the O'Dwyers, took its name. 4° There are various Kilnamanaghs enumerated
among our Irish townland denominations, viz. : 1. Kilnamanagh, in the
parish of Tallagh, barony of Uppercross, and county of Dublin. 2. Kilna- 1
managh, a parish,* in Frenchpark barony and, 3. Kilnamanagh, a town-
;— land/intheparishofSt. Peter's,baronyofAthlone bothinthecountyof
2
Roscommon. 4. Kilnamanagh, in the parish of Ballysadare, in the barony
of Leyny, and county of Sligo.
5. Kilnamanagh Beg, and 6.
Kilnamanagh
and — of county
both in
More —both in the
of of Glenealy, barony
and 8.
Wicklow. 4 3
parish
7. KilnamanaghLower,
Arklow, KilnamanaghUpper
the parish of Kilnamanagh, barony of Ballaghkeen, and county of Wexford. 4- 4 There is also a Kilnamanagh parish, in the barony of Bear, and county of Cork. ^5 Among the ancient churches on the Island of Aran, there was a Kill-
';
the church
to have been dedicated to St. Cathradoch or Caradoc, the monk, who was
3
also surnamed Garbh, or the Roughs There is a place called St. Nathalis/ north of Glanworth, in the county of Cork. This has been identified, by Mr. Joseph O'Longan, with Achadh Loisethe, mentioned in the old Tract, caih-d
" na-manach, meaning
" 46
or cell of the monks. '' This is said
This treatise is to be found, in the "Book of Lismore. " Thatplacemayhavereceivedits designation,likewise,fromthe
%i Forbuis
prcFent holy man.
Dromadamhghaire. ''^
Article III. —St. Colman, Son of Dairine, Bishop of Derkv-
more, King's Countv. [Sixth Cen1ur$. '\ This holy man, it seems
probable, flourished during the fifth and sixth centuries. His father is said
to have been /Enguss, King of Minister, and also the son of Natfraich.
1
In the "Feline" of St. ALngus, at the 31st of July, Colman, son of Daraine,
lary," sheets 45, 51, 52, 59.
39 The accompanying illustration, from
Du Noyer's drawing, has heen copied by William F. Wakeman, and transferred by him to the wood, engraved by Mis. Millard.
40 See "Letters containing Information re- lative to the Antiquities of the County of Tipperary, collected during the Progress of
vey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," sheets 114, 126, 127.
< 6 See Archbishop Keely's List of Churches, in Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernian," xxi. Martii. Appendix ad Acta S. Endei, cap. vii. , p. 715.
4 ? See the Fifth Volume of this work, at
May 19th, Art. iv.
*>* The of St. Nathlash, in the
in 1840," vol. L Letter of John O'Uonovan, dated Cashed, Septem-
ber 21st, 1S40, p. 262.
4 ' This is shown, on the " Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of Ros-
the Ordnance
Survey
parish
barony of Fermoy, is shown on the Ord-
sheets land is on 9, 15.
The town-
< 9 Translation, n. 8, p. 2, fol.
ARTICLE ill. — 1 In the " Leabhar
common,"
8, 9,
10,
15.
42 It is described on sheet 52, ibid.
43 These are to be found, on the
"
Breac
copy, the following stanza is found : :
Orel- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County
Stokes,
LL. D. ^
ut
Of WickldW sheets 30, 31.
44 1 he /| is shown, on the " Ordnance parish
Survey Townland Maps for the County of
mylo
Wayfowl "(. licptcjr. 99 Wexford," sheets 21, 22.
Tlip tn\vn1nnil« seon The townlands
roncniAOA atvo ai-c b
eJroo ah Ahem
named are on sheet 21.
4s This is shown, on the "Ordnance Sur-
t)<JpAl11'
"July's host, a protection of thousands.
nance Survey Townland Maps for County of Cork," sheets iS, 26.
3 By some anonymous writer, and taken
from a Manuscript belonging to Fulda, col- lated with other Manuscript Notes, these
In two chapters, and nineteen para-
graphs, with notes, pp. 139 to 141. Article XI. —l See "Historiae Catho- Hex Ibernire Compendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. ,
cap. xi. , p. 50.
It is evidently a mistake for June 30th, the Festival Day for St. Erentrudus, or Eren-
trude, Virgin Abbess of Nunberg, Bavaria,
an account of whom
the Sixth Volume of this work, at that date, Art. i.
l
Article i. — See the Life of St. Patrick,
in the Third Volume of this work, at the
of Art. i. 17th March,
2
However, it is stated, that the sons of Nadfraech were then baptized by St. Patrick, See ibid. , chap. xix.
may be found, in
5io I TVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 3 1
faech had veneration paid them at this date. Their names are entered in detail, with marked distinction, and in the following order, according to the foregoing Calendar, viz. : Colman, Bishop; Fallamain, Bishop Iarnog, the
;
sickly; and Natal of Cill-na-manach. It is not otherwise recorded, nor~does it seem probable, except in a remote degree, that Natfraich had many children,
who were saints. However, it is generally assumed, that ^Engus was the father of a numerous and holy offspring. There are four of his sons numbered among our saints, and they are called Colman, Foilan, Lugad and Natalis. * Nor does this account wholly agree with that of other authorities. s At the 31st of July, Marianus O'Gorman seems to say, that the feast of Angus' five
sons, viz. : Colman, the son of Darenia, Follamonius, or Follomen, Papan, Iernoc and Natal is, had been celebrated on that day. These he calls the sons of Natfraich. But, by another designation, we are to understand, that they were only his grandsons, ^Engus being their father. 6 In succeeding articles, we shall treat individually regarding each one of those saints, and as we find references to them in our records.
Article II. —St. Natalis or Naal, Abbot of Kilmanagh, County of Kilkenny. [Fifth and Sixth Centuries^ The Acts of this saint are given by Colgan, at the 27th of January; but, whether his festival should be assigned to that day, or not, has been already considered, in a previous part of this work, when treating about a St. Natalis or Naal of Kilnaile, who appears
1
This saint is variedly named in Irish Naal. Naile, Noele, Naaile, and sometimes
Natal or Nataile. Again, his name has been Latinized intoNaalis, Natalus,
Natalius, Natalis or Naalius. 2 He is said to have been the founder of a
religious establishment, at Kilmanagh, in the county of Kilkenny. There
stood a famous monastery, frequently mentioned in our Annals. -^ Alluding
to Natalus, called by some Naalius, and by others more correctly Natalis,
AbbotofKilnaile,orKinnawly,Colganremarks,4 however,thathedoesnot
seem to have been a different person from St. Natalus, s the son of ^Engus,
the first Christian of Mummonia. 6 he that the of King Also, supposes, 31st July
was a commemoration, a translation, or some secondary festival of St. Natalis, of Kilmanagh, while his principal Natalis was observed on the 27th ofJanuary. 7 Furthermore,Colganpossessedacopyofoursaint'sActs; but,
to have been a different person from the subject of this present memoir.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 206, 207.
Martii viii. Vita Metrica S. Senani Episcopi,
n. 8, p. 611, recte 525,
5 Nevertheless, this writer. to have appears
entertained doubts regarding their identity.
For, after that the Abbot oflnber- stating,
naile, Killnaile. and Deveni-h. had been
venerated on the 27th of January ; he adds,
that if St. Natalis, Abbot of Kilmanagh, and master of Scnan, were one and i
person, another festival must have been in- stituted as a commemorative one, at th
of See il>i<L, xxvii. be S. July. Januarii.
Natali, Abbate et Confessore, can. iv. , pp. 169, 170.
'' He was St. Patrick, as may baptized by
be seen in his Life, at the 17th of March, in
the Third Volume of this work, Art. L,
chap. xix.
' See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nix," xxvii. Januarii. De S. Natali, Abbate et Confessore, nn. 19, 20, p. 174.
to the " logy," cap. xxxiv.
4
5 See the Rev. Dr. of Tallagh," p. xxx.
Genoa-
6
In the Brussels Manuscript of Marianus
According
Menelogic
"
Kelly's Marlyrology
O'Gorman, the following note occurs in the margin, as we are told by Rev. Dr. Todd :
" Kolluman, Papanus, Iernocus, et Natalis sunt filii Aengusii regis, filii Natfraich. "
Article ii. — ' See the Acts of St. Nata-
lis of Kilnaile, at the 27th of January, in the First Volume of this work, Art. i.
- See
nix," xxvii. Januarii. Do S. Natali, Abbate et Confessore, n. 1, p. 173.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," at A. n. 780, vol. i. , pp. 802, 839, 843.
4 See "Acta Sanctorum Ilibcinix,"
Colgan
's "Acta Sanctorum Iliber-
July 31. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
he acknowledges, that they contained many things false, doubtful and con- tradictory. Hence, he considered—them of no historical value. Moreover, he seems to cla—ss the present saint who he says was also venerated on the
8
27th of January among the disciples of St. Patrick. His mother was called
Ethnea, being daughter to Crimthann, King of Leinster,9 according to an
apocryphal Life of the saint, in Colgan's possession, and to the genealogy of 10
IrishSaints,inthePsalterofCashel, asalsototheMenologiumGenealogi-
cum. 11
death. Tin'slattereventtook
a native of the province of Minister. At an early age, our saint gave indica- tions of great sanctity, and having abandoned the pleasures of this world, he embracedtheprofessionofareligiouslife. Aftersometime,hebecamepre-
fect over a religious community of one hundred and fifty monks, at a place, "
ever afterwards called Kilmanagh, or the Church of the Monks," and pro-
bably owing to this very circumstance. His monastery was situated about eight miles to the west of Kilkenny City, and not far from Tipperary County. '3
of Formerly it
Probably
during
century,
At is a present, Kilmanagh
9 See "Acta Sanctorum
Hiberniae,"
"Statistical Survey of the County of Kil-
kenny," part i. , sec. 4, pp. 21, 22.
l6 An account of this saint and interesting
of his place, Kilmanagh, will be found in Rev. J. Holahan's "Notes on the Antiquities of the United Parishes of Ballycallan, Kil- managh and Killaloe," &c, pp. 25 to ^^.
1? When treating on the manorial posses- sionsofthe Grace family, we are informed,
he was born the fifth and before his father's
xxvii. Januarii. De S. Natali, Abbate et
Confessore, nn. 2, 3, p. 173.
10 11
Chap. xii.
Cap. xxxiv.
12 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 152, 153, and nn. (n, o), ibid.
14 It is on the " Ordnance
noted, Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Kil- kenny," sheets 18, 22. The town of this name is on sheet 18.
15 Of this barony, Mr. Tighe remarks : " The centre of this barony is formed of hills, sometimes moor)', but always with a slaty
subsoil, capable of great improvement, as they are so easily rendered dry. Below them lies a rich and extensive plain, spreading on one side, to the vicinity of Kilkenny, and to the low hills which border the Nore ; on the other, to the bounds of the county, extend- ing from Killmanagh to the south of Calkin, as far as Conlagmore, watered in its southern part by King's River, and turning westwar—ds towards Kilmagany and Knocktopher. "
by Sheffield Grace, that
"
the neighbouring
13 See Dr.
tory of Ireland,'' vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect, iv. , n. 50, p. 446. Only the modern Protestant church is to be seen at present in the ancient
graveyard.
of
Lanigan's
parishes
Kildrinagh, Killaghy-Grace,
place,
inthe
year 489.
12 He tohavebeen appears
1 * in the
Kilkenny. By the people it has been called Killmanach Drohid.
part
Country. for
of Grace's great reputation
over his 8
parish,
county large community,
1 ?
The saint
was a
with a
profiting by his lessons, placed themselves under his direction. Among the most illustrious of these was the youthful St. Senan, '9 afterwards Abbot of Iniscathy. We are informed, in the Metrical Life of this latter saint, that Natalis was in the habit of requiring all his disciples, in turn, to watch over and tend flocks and
while St. Natalis and his —
2I Killmor-aradhthire church
8"
See Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Ap-
pendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. v. , p. 269.
learning
and
sanctity. '
Many,
desirous of
herds, belonging youthful disciple
day,
" Ecclesiastical His-
barony presided
of 1 * Crannagh,
to the 20 On a certain monastery.
Senan
said to have been Kilmore,
on their
near Iniscathy,
proceeded 22
way
to
Ballycallan, Kilmanagh, and others, were
also formerly in the patronage of this family. "
—"
of Tullaroan or Grace's
Survey p. 117.
Parish,"
Colgan's
16
" Acta Sanctorum Iliber-
l8 See
niae," viii. Martii. Vita Metrics S. Senani
Episcopi et Confessore, sect, x. , p. 606,
recte
19 See the Life of St. Senan to be found at
the 8th of March, in the Third Volume of
this work, Art. i.
20 "
See also Colgan's Acta Sanctorum
Hiberniae," viii. Martii. Secunda sine Sup- plementvm Vitae S. Senani, cap. xii. , p. 613, ; arte 527.
w It must be remarked, likewise, that the church, which is called Killmor-Aradhthire, in St. Senan's prose Life, is converted into a place called Ceallaraacht, in his metrical Life, and this is said to have been the spot, where the miracle was wrought.
516.
5 i2 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July
in the county of Clare 23—they observed a great concourse of persons at its entrance. Tears and lamentations of this multitude, especially weeping
parents and kindred, gave them to understand, that the only son of a Dynast, over that part of the country, was dead, and about to be interred. The deceased person's mother, seeing God's holy servants approach, ran towards
them. Casting herself on her knees with passionate earnestness, she besought them to address the Almighty, that her son might be restored to life, through their potent intercession. St. Natalis replied, that effecting such an object was out of his power.
Yet, the mother still continued her moving entreaties. At length, taking compassion on her misfortune, Natalis ordered the body of her deceased son to be brought before St. Senan, who he said would endea- vour by his prayers, to gratify her wishes. The latter, however, through humility, thought himself unworthy in God's sight of being the instrument employed for effecting such a miracle. But, the venerable superior com- manded him to offer up prayers, assuring him they would be favourably heard. Not daring to disobey, Senan fell down and embraced the dead man's body ; he then poured forth most fervent prayers, for a restoration to life. 2'* The Almighty deigned to reward his fervour and humility, and the faith of all pre- sent, by restoring the dead to his former health and vigour. The multitude gave thanks to God, and thenceforth, they began to extol the sanctity and power of his holy servants/5 St. Natalis predicted the future greatness and sanctity of his disciple, St. Senan, and advised him to depart for another place,whereheshouldfoundamonastery,andruleovermanymonks. As his memory was celebrated at Kilmanagh, on the 31st of July f6 this was probably the day of Naal's death. The feast of St. Naul or Natalis is yet kept with great veneration on the 31st of July, at his holy well, which is to be seen
of 2^ of Marianus Martyrologies Tallagh,
2? Afestival,inhonour of Natalis or Natal, of Cill-manach, or Cill-na-manach,28 is set down in the
inthe of inthe of
parish Kilmanagh, county Kilkenny.
O'Gorman,
31st of July. The Rev. Dr. Lanigan supposes, that our saint might have
lived until the year 564.
s1
But, there is no authority, for a conclusive opinion
2
on this point. From this saint, it is probable, that Killenaule,3 situated in
the county of Tipperary, took its name. 3^ As seems most probable, it was
- In the Diocese of Killaloe. See ibid. ,
recte 535.
23 See/^/V. Metrical Life of St. Senan, n.
10, p. 611, rccte 525.
'-'* See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum I liber-
nioe," xxvii. Januarii. De S. Natali Ablate
et Confessore, cap. xiii. , p. 173.
25 In giving this narrative, as found in the
text, St. Senan's prose Life has been chiefly
followed. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum
Ilibernioe," viii. Martii. Vita S. Senani,
cap. xv. , p. 611. It is more diffusely set
forth in his metrical Life. See ibid. ,
608,609. At the Acts of St. Natalis, copied vol. i. , chap, ix. , sect, iv. , n. 53, pp. from this Life, the chapter is marked xiii. 448.
26 This notation of the festival of Naal of '-' It is in the of and barony Slievardagh,
Kilmanagh is an additional proof of his distinguished, on the "Ordnance Survey
n. 6,
p. 539,
dated 30th of October, 18S7.
23 A note by Dr. Todd says, at Cill-na-
manach : "The more recent hand adds here, 'p<\pAii. Mar. et M. Tam. , 1. Sinc-
peib. M. Tarn. , i. e. , both Mar. O'Gorman and the M. Taml. mention Papan here as one of the sons of Nadfraich,' the M. Taml. adds, that he was 'in Sintreibh,' or rather Sentreibh, i. e. , Santry, count" Dablin. "
*» Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxx.
3° Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves,
pp. 206, 207.
having been different from the I»'aal of Iver- naal, &c, whose festival was held on the 27th
"
Townland Maps for the County of Tippe- rary," sheets 48, 54, 62. The town and townland are on sheet 54.
33 See "The Legend of Iniscathy," in Duffy's "Hibernian Magazine,'' voli i. ,
p. 37.
34 July 6th, 1752, the paii:,h chapel u a in
of January. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's chap, ix. , sect, iv. , n. 54, p. 448.
Eccle- siastical History of Ireland," vol. i. ,
3'
Rev. Nicholas Murphy, to the writer, and
Letter of the Parish Priest there, Very
pp.
3t See"Ecclesiastical ofIreland," History
and of 3° at the Donegal,
July 31. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
dedicated to the present St. Naal ; although that tradition had been lost, in the middle of the last century. 34 A new church has been erected by the Rev. Martin Laffin, parish priest of Killenaule. It was built about the year 1860. 35 In the same county of Tipperary, and in the barony of Lower Onnond, there are two other townlands designated Killenaule^ one of these is in the parishofDorrhn,whiletheotherisinthatofLoaghkeen. Bothplaceswere probably called after the present holy man. There is also an old church at Kilnamanagh,37intheparishofDonohill,countyofTipperary. s8 Farawayin
Kilnamanagh old Church, County of Tipperary.
the west, among the wild and truly picturesque hills of Kilnamanagh, lies in primeval beauty a lonely dell, through which wind the limpid waters of a mountain stream, commonly known in that locality as the Multeen. Rath- crowned hills look down from either side, upon this spell-bound valley ; and the subtle fragrance of bursting flowers and of waving foliage fills the air with a
good repair, and the pastor was a Rev. John Christopher Butler and Archbishop James Mannin, as we discover from the Visitation Butler. The altar vessels too are nowa- Book of Archbishop Butler, in Extracts days superb, and the vestments, &c, are rich
printed from it in the " Limerick Reporter," of February 18th, 1873, under the heading
in the extreme. What a difference between these and those of the days of 1752. " Ibid.
36 Both are shown, on the "Ordnance
"
Cashel of the Kings. "
35 We are told by Maurice Lenihan, Esq. ,
proprietor and editor of the "Limerick Tipperary," sheet 5.
Reporter," and who likewise contributed
the papers entitled "Cashel of the Kings,"
that the modern church " is a masterpiece of
architectural beauty, and one of the finest Tipperary Records. See vol. ii. in the rural parochial churches in the archdiocese,
indeed we may add in the south of Ireland. A far different temple from the humble straw- covered cabin in which the Divine Mysteries were celebrated in the times of Archbishop
Library of the Royal Irish Academy.
38 It is partly in the barony of Lower Kil- namanagh, and partly in that of Clanwilliam,
while it is shown, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Tippe-
Survey Townland Maps for the County of
v Of this a drawing, by the late George V. Dunoyer, is found among the Irish Oid- nance Survey Sketches for the County of
I5
5 i4 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [July 31,
balmysweetness. Thatoldchurchnowpresentsonlyafewfragmentsofits
walls. 39 It was 60 feet in length, by 21 feet in breadth ; but, the gable is now
the only part remaining, being four feet in thickness, and built of long girt-
stones gathered on the mountain, but not quarried. It had two windows one placed within two feet of the present ground-level ; but, both are now
entirely disfigured. From this church that barony, formerly belonging to the O'Dwyers, took its name. 4° There are various Kilnamanaghs enumerated
among our Irish townland denominations, viz. : 1. Kilnamanagh, in the
parish of Tallagh, barony of Uppercross, and county of Dublin. 2. Kilna- 1
managh, a parish,* in Frenchpark barony and, 3. Kilnamanagh, a town-
;— land/intheparishofSt. Peter's,baronyofAthlone bothinthecountyof
2
Roscommon. 4. Kilnamanagh, in the parish of Ballysadare, in the barony
of Leyny, and county of Sligo.
5. Kilnamanagh Beg, and 6.
Kilnamanagh
and — of county
both in
More —both in the
of of Glenealy, barony
and 8.
Wicklow. 4 3
parish
7. KilnamanaghLower,
Arklow, KilnamanaghUpper
the parish of Kilnamanagh, barony of Ballaghkeen, and county of Wexford. 4- 4 There is also a Kilnamanagh parish, in the barony of Bear, and county of Cork. ^5 Among the ancient churches on the Island of Aran, there was a Kill-
';
the church
to have been dedicated to St. Cathradoch or Caradoc, the monk, who was
3
also surnamed Garbh, or the Roughs There is a place called St. Nathalis/ north of Glanworth, in the county of Cork. This has been identified, by Mr. Joseph O'Longan, with Achadh Loisethe, mentioned in the old Tract, caih-d
" na-manach, meaning
" 46
or cell of the monks. '' This is said
This treatise is to be found, in the "Book of Lismore. " Thatplacemayhavereceivedits designation,likewise,fromthe
%i Forbuis
prcFent holy man.
Dromadamhghaire. ''^
Article III. —St. Colman, Son of Dairine, Bishop of Derkv-
more, King's Countv. [Sixth Cen1ur$. '\ This holy man, it seems
probable, flourished during the fifth and sixth centuries. His father is said
to have been /Enguss, King of Minister, and also the son of Natfraich.
1
In the "Feline" of St. ALngus, at the 31st of July, Colman, son of Daraine,
lary," sheets 45, 51, 52, 59.
39 The accompanying illustration, from
Du Noyer's drawing, has heen copied by William F. Wakeman, and transferred by him to the wood, engraved by Mis. Millard.
40 See "Letters containing Information re- lative to the Antiquities of the County of Tipperary, collected during the Progress of
vey Townland Maps for the County of Cork," sheets 114, 126, 127.
< 6 See Archbishop Keely's List of Churches, in Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernian," xxi. Martii. Appendix ad Acta S. Endei, cap. vii. , p. 715.
4 ? See the Fifth Volume of this work, at
May 19th, Art. iv.
*>* The of St. Nathlash, in the
in 1840," vol. L Letter of John O'Uonovan, dated Cashed, Septem-
ber 21st, 1S40, p. 262.
4 ' This is shown, on the " Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of Ros-
the Ordnance
Survey
parish
barony of Fermoy, is shown on the Ord-
sheets land is on 9, 15.
The town-
< 9 Translation, n. 8, p. 2, fol.
ARTICLE ill. — 1 In the " Leabhar
common,"
8, 9,
10,
15.
42 It is described on sheet 52, ibid.
43 These are to be found, on the
"
Breac
copy, the following stanza is found : :
Orel- nance Survey Townland Maps for the County
Stokes,
LL. D. ^
ut
Of WickldW sheets 30, 31.
44 1 he /| is shown, on the " Ordnance parish
Survey Townland Maps for the County of
mylo
Wayfowl "(. licptcjr. 99 Wexford," sheets 21, 22.
Tlip tn\vn1nnil« seon The townlands
roncniAOA atvo ai-c b
eJroo ah Ahem
named are on sheet 21.
4s This is shown, on the "Ordnance Sur-
t)<JpAl11'
"July's host, a protection of thousands.
nance Survey Townland Maps for County of Cork," sheets iS, 26.
