Colgan
as to whether his feast should be — to this in doubtful,3 assigned day
was
which case he must be identical with the present saint or to the i6th of April, where another St.
as to whether his feast should be — to this in doubtful,3 assigned day
was
which case he must be identical with the present saint or to the i6th of April, where another St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
Ernan, sonofEoghan,
Cluain Deochra, at the nth of January. 3. St. Ernain, son of Caomhan, same day. 4. St. Ernain of Tegh Ernan, at the 17th of
at the 23rd of February. 7. St. Ernin, at 28th of February. 8. St. Ernin, bishop, at 12th of April. 9. St. Ernin, at 12th of
May. 10. St. Ernain, son of Aedh, at l6th of May. 11. St. Ernin, of Creamh- choill, at the 31st of May. 12. St. Ernin, of Cluain, at the 4th of June. 13. St. Ernin, of Cluain-finn, at the 28th of June. 14. St. Ernin, at the 1st of July. 15. St. Ernin, of Inis-caoin, at the 13th of July. 16. St. Ernin, of Cluain-Railgheach, at the 5th of August. 17. St. Ernain, at the 17th of
Januar)'. 5. St. Ernain, bishop, 26th of
176 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 11.
ArticleVI. —St. Orthinis,orCarthinisa,Bishop. \Possiblyinthe Fifth Ceutury. ] The Franciscan copy of the Martyrology of Tallagh' has this saint's name written, apparently Oanthinis, or possibly Oarthinis, bishop. Orthinis, a bishop,^ is mentioned in the Martyrology of Donegals on this day. Differently indeed the published Martyrology of Tallagh+ registers him, under the designation of Carthinisa, bishop. About him, nothing more appearstobeknown. AconjecturehasbeenofferedbyColgan,astohow he may have been that Temoreris^ or Tememoreris,^ who has been classed by Tirechan among the disciples of St. Patrick, and who founded a holy church. 7
Article VII. —St. Alten, or Eltene, Son of Maolan of Seanchua,
NOW Shancoe Parish, County of Sligo. We find the simple entry, Alten,
without any other designation, in the Martyrology of Tallagh' at the nth of January. ^ But again, Eltene, son of Maolan of Seanchua, is mentioned in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 as having a feast on this day. Senchua, now Shancoe, was in the territory of Tiroilill, now the barony of Tirerrill, in the county of Sligo. * This church is alluded to in the annotations of Tirechan,s and in the Lives of St. Patrick,^ as one of his foundations. ^ It is situated on the confines of Leitrim county,^ and, with some good land, a large portion of this parish is under bog and mountain tracts. ?
ArticleVIII. —St. Beandan,AbbotandConfessor. Thisholyman
braved persecution and exile as the consequence of his becoming a champion of the faith. He was a native of Ireland, where his parents were distinguished persons. ' Leaving his native country, this noble athlete of Christ, contended against certain British heretics,^ who conceived a violent enmity towards him. 3
tinguished at the 28th of February, at the * St. Ailbe of this place, venerated on the
1 2th of April, at the 12th of May, at the 1st 30th of January, died a. d. 545. See Dr. "
of July, at the 1 7th of August, at the 23rd O'Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters,"
of December. See tiiit. To these he might have added one at the 26th of January, and at the 27th o—f October.
'
Art. VI. The reading seems to me
OAnchimp epi. Yet the first 11 may possi- bly be resolved into ]\, partially obliterated.
"
vol. i. , pp. 184, 185, and n (h), ibid.
5 "Book of Armagh," fol. 15, a. a.
®
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cv. , p. 89, and n. 119, p. 113. Also Septima Vita S. Pa- tricii, lib. ii. , cap. xxxv. , p. 134, and n. 70, p. 176.
7 See "Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Pa- tricii. " cap. , xxiv. p. 271. , ibid.
"Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 550.
9 See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Sligo. " Sheets 27, 28, 34> 35- On Ummeryroe Townland (Sheet 28) in this parish, a graveyard is noted, but
In a note Dr. Todd says, at this word, There is here added in a more recent hand, '•Alii CATpciniofA. ' The Mart. Tamlacht
''
omits Orthinis and substitutes
* See Lewis'
CA^cmif-A epifcopi, adding in a more modern Italian
''
hand, AmadeusseuAma-Jesus, whichisa
translation of the name Carthiniosa. "
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
12, 13.
* Edited
Rev. Dr.
there seems — other hardly any object
'
of interest. "
by
s " De Cairce, sen Cairrec. "
xii.
Kelly, p. *"
Colgan says perhaps he is the same as St. Morthennis or Demorthennis, who is venerated at the nth of January. See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. p. 268. He evidently meant this Orthinis or Carthinisa.
7 Quam tenuit familia Clonoauis. " See "
lic Martyrology at this day.
' These were probably Pelagians, whose
errors spread in Great Britain, although they did not obtain any countenance in Ireland.
We are incorrectly told, however, by Richard of Cirencester, that Saints Germanus and Lupus came into Britain to extirpate the
Ussher's Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti- Pelagian heresy, "annis circiter trecentis
quitates. " p. 950.
Art. VII. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
p. xii.
'
In the Franciscan copy ^Iceri.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
quadraginta quattuor. " This was many
12, 13.
^ PelagiuswasaScotbybirth,whopassing
Art. viii.
So it is stated in the Gal-
years before Pelagianism. See
"
Speculum Historiale De Gestis Regum Anglias," vol.
i. , cap. Ixi. , p. 248. Edited by John E. B. Mayor, M. A. , for the Master of the Rolls.
January ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 177
From insular Britain he was obliged to seek a refuge in Gaul, where he embraced the rule of St. Benedict, which then began to flourish in the country where he found an asylum. In that religious house in which he lived, Beandanwasanexemplarofheroicvirtuetoallhiscompanions. Hislife was renowned, and miracles were even wrought through him. To the general regret of all his disciples, this holy man passed from their companionship ; but they were consoled, because he ranked among the blessed in heaven. His festival was observed on the nth of January, and this is probably the date for his holy rest from earthly labour. Colgan, who has entered some notices of him at this day,* is of opinion, his right name should be Breandan,5 which was one very common in Ireland. ^
ArticleIX. —St. Ronan. Nothinghastranspiredtoconnectthepresent
saint with any particular locality. In the Martyrology of Donegal,' we find Ronan as having a festival on this day. Phocas, or Phocianus, is found ap- pendedtotheentryofhisnameinthetabletothiswork. = Asimilarentry is to be met in the Martyrology of Tallagh,3 at the i ith of January. 4 We are not able to glean further information about him.
Article X; —St. Failbe. [Possibly in the Fifth Century. 1 A festival, in
honour of St. Failbe, is entered at the nth of February, in the Martyrology
of Donegal,' as edited by the Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves. It would seem,
there was a St. Falveus, a disciple of St. Patrick, and a bishop of Kill-fobhuir.
He was a of St. in the conversion of — companion Benignus,^' Jarmonia.
Colgan
as to whether his feast should be — to this in doubtful,3 assigned day
was
which case he must be identical with the present saint or to the i6th of April, where another St. Failbe is honoured. We are told that Fortrui, the queen of King Echinus, came to St. Benignus, and requested him to arrange for a friendly conference with St. Patrick. He requested this queen, a relation of his own, to proceed with the king, and her children, to a place called Cluain-na-Coinne. '^ This request was complied with, and St. Patrick met them at this^ village, where he founded the cell of Kill-Fobhar,s for St.
from insular Britain, became a monk in Palestine. About the commencement of the
fifth century, he urged certain errors against the Catholic doctrines of Grace, and of Origi-
at this date, call him Beandanus, while Ar-
nold Wion, and others, write his name, Blandanus. TheIrishneverusedsuchforms for proper names. Besides, the mistake of a single letter might easily convert Brandanus into Beandan—us or Blandanus.
'
Art. ix. Edited by Drs. Todd and
Reeves, p. 13.
'
See ibid. , pp. 462, 463.
^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii.
* In the F—ranciscan copy we have HoiiArii.
'
Art. x. See pp. 12, 13.
nal Sin. See Cabassutius'
"
Notitia Ecclesi-
asticaHistoriarum Conciliorum,"&c. Eccle-
sise Quinti Sceculi Historica Synopsis, § i6.
pp. 186, 187. The history and tenets of
this heresiarch are well detailed in Bergier's
"
Dictionnaire de Theologie. " Art. Pelagi- anisme.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberni? e," xi. Januarii. Vita S. Beandani, and n. i, pp. 56,
57.
5 To the acts of St. Cera, at the 5th of
January, the reader is referred for a number of Irish saints, bearing this name. Brendan of Ardfert, had many churches in Britain.
*
This is mentioned in a Life of St. Benig-
St. Brendan of venerated Clonfert,
• This is " Villa Latinized,
Again,
on the 1 6th of May, is said to have erected
Conventionis," or "The Village of Meeting," in English,
many monasteries in different islands. ibid. , n. 2, p. 57.
' We are told that Vol. I.
and
See Maurolycus Felix,
5 It does not appear an easy task to iden- tify this place among the modern denomina- tions of Ireland.
N
nus, chap. x. This life Colgan promised to publish at the 9th of November.
"
3 See "Trias Thaumaturga,
pendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 268.
Quinta Ap-
178 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 12.
Falveus, bishop. St. Patrick asked St. Eenignus to bless Echinus, and prophesied that this king, and his posterity, should afterwards serve him in
return for this blessing. ^
CtDelftl^ Bap of Sanuarp*
ARTICLE I. —ST. LAIDGEN, OR LAIDCEND, OF CLONFERT MOLUA, NOW KYLE, QUEEN'S COUNTY.
ISE VENTH CENTUR Y. ]
*
Sheet 15. There also are noted, not alone St. Molua's Abbey, but his graveyard and grave. Not far from the cemetery enclosure a"e to be found a curious upriglit rock, called S:. Molua's Stone, and another object called St. Molua's Trough.
s Taken by the writer in May, 1872. The engraving is by Mrs. Millard.
brief notices of St. Laidgen have been collected by Colgan,' and inserted in his at the 12th of the date for his festival.
SOME
This saint was son to a man named Baithus Bannaigh, or Buadhach, which means Baithus the Victorious. Laidgen thus belonged to a very respectable parentage. Yet, we are told, he abandoned the riches and honours of this world,tobecomeamonkinClonfertMoluaMonastery. Thismusthave been soon after its foundation. Here, under the direction of its abbot, St. Lactan,^ the disciple became distinguished for all the virtues of his state ; and in order to forget worldly allurements, St. Laidgen's thoughts were continually
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumiturga. '' Appendix iii. , ad Acta S. Patricii, § xxvi:. , p. 204.
AuT. I. --' See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," xii. Januarii. Vita S. Laidgenni, pp. 57, 58.
' He was the immediate successor of the founder, as appears from the Life of St.
Molua, cap. liii.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 230, 231. The " Annals of Ulster" place his death at A. D. 608.
* It is represented on the " Ordnance Sur- vayTownlandMapsfor the Queen's County,"
"
See his Life at the 4th of August.
work, January,
occupied with enjoyable meditations on eternal life.
He was exercised in all
the humble practices of penance. He spent many years in performing his usual monastic observances, and in the cultivation of extraordinary virtues, which were the admiration of his fellow religious. He wrought many miracles. It seems possible—but by no means certain—that this holy man may have been under the direction of the illustrious founder, who died in the year 605. 3
This once-renowned sanctuary of Clonfert MoUoe, now so desolate, within
the barony of Upper Ossory and Queen's County, is still represented by the parish of Kyle. It is in a townland also ca'led Kyle,* where some remains of the
ancient church may still be seen. The^e fragments are faithfully represented in the accompanying sketch. s Here St. Lua or Molua^ established a religious foun- dation, in the sixth century ; and from him the place was anciently known as Clonfert Molua. Various popular traditions are rife regarding this holy founder, among the peasantry in the neighbourhood of Kyle. Its graveyard has long been a favourite place for burial. Laidgen does not appear to have reached a higher station than that of a simple monk at Clonfert Molua, although the contrary has been s::ated,7 without sufficient examination. The memory
7 By Archdall, who is a very unsafe autho-
rity. In his account of Clonfert Mulloe, ifi-
correctly placed in the King's County, he
" 12, died the Abbot 660, January
writes,
Laidgene," &c. See " Monasticon Hibei;-
nicum," p. 379.
January 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 179
of St. Laidgen was celebrated at Clonfert Molloe^ with a devotion second only to that entertained towards the founder of this house. ^ Our saint died on the 1 2th of day of January/" in the year 660. " He was buried in Clonfert Molua. That this saint was notable amongst most distinguished holy men in his time may be collected from the circumstance of his being named in the Festilogy of St, ^ngus," written before or soon after the year 800 ; for in this no. saint is mentioned who was not considered to hold a high rank in the Irish Church,
Old Church of Kyle, or Clonfert Molua, Queen's County.
and whose memory was not honoured by a special festival. The name of this
' Many holy persons are venerated in berniiE," xii. Januarii, n. 5, p. 58. At this
that place, such as Luanus, at the ^. th of August ; St. Lactan, his disciple and succes- sor, at the 19th of March ; Saints Chrittanus, Lonanus, and Mellanus, sons to Dareus, at the 7th of February ; Soergalus, Moenachus Finginus, with other saints and celebrated abbots. Of none, however, with the excep- tion of our saint, is it remarked that their tomb is there to be seen.
9 All our annalists and martyrologists are
unanimous in recording these facts, as may
be seen to " Acta Sanc- by referring Colgan's
torum Hibernise," xii. Januarii, pp. 57, 58.
'°
At this day all our Menologies record the death of St. Laidgen.
noise," of Roscrea, of All Saints' Island,
and of Ulster, place his demise at the year
660. See Colgan's
same year his death is thus recorded by the Annals of the Four Masters, "St. Laidh- geann, son of Baeth, of Cluainfearta-Molua, died on the I2th of January. "—O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 270, 271.
" The following Irish stanza and its Eng- lish translation were supplied by Professor O'Loonev, from the Laebhar-Breac copy, R. I. A. , fol. 79.
"The" of Martyrology
E. ii. id. "The ofMus- great martyrdom
centi
With his numerous gentle
clerics
Christ hath the secret of his
deserts
Laidcend, son of Bath Bai^-
Donegal" agrees with these foregoing authorities, as to the day on which our saint's natalis had been celebrated. It also coincides as to the year of his death. The " Annals of Clonmac-
"
Acta Sanctorum Hi-
dach. "
e. I'i.
I'D.
m<ifCi\A mo^ 1Tlu]*cenci
CoTiA CAin chlei^
clantxMg
CiMfC {i\ ^xuriAi-o |\in-OAi5 tATOcent) triAC b^ich bAiroAig.
i8o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 12.
saint is written Laidcenn mac Baith Banaigh, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,'3 atthe12thofJanuary. '* TheCalendarsofCashel,andofMarianusO'Gorman attest the same festival. The " Kalendarium Drummondiense" observes that on the 12th of January the holy confessor Ladchend ascended to the stars. 's In the Martyrology of Donegal,'^ we find recorded on this day Laidhgenn, sonofBaeth,ofCluain-fearta-Mulloe,orClonfertMolua. Therehisburial- place is said to have been. All our hagiologists and annalistic writers com- memorate this saint. '7 Besides this saint Laidgen, there were three other saints/^ bearing the same name, and recorded in our Annals. Having thus so many bright examples and names before our minds, we should raise up our hearts to God, and ask Him to give us something of that purity and unsel- fishness, and ennobling nature, perfecting us to face the world to come. God'slovetomandemandsman'slove,thatbelongstoHim. Ourfervour will make us less ignoble, and less unworthy that holiest and most subHme of all titles to become saints, and close imitators of those who formerly adorned
our island.
Article II. —St. Conain, or Conan, of Aeg, or Ega, now the Is- land OF Egg, in Scotland. This remote unit among the Hebride group of islands is remarkable for the martyrdom of St. Donnan and his fifty-two companions, on the 17th of April,' a. d. 617. This event rendered the spot a scene of religious dearth, probably for some time ; but missionary life re- sumed its usual course. Conan, of Aeg, is recorded in the Martyrology of Donegal" on this day, and also in the Martyrology of Tallagh,3 on the 12th of January. * In a nearly similar manner, he is called Conain Ega, in this latter record. He flourished probably in or after the seventh century ; nor is he the only Irish saints connected with that island.
Cluain Deochra, at the nth of January. 3. St. Ernain, son of Caomhan, same day. 4. St. Ernain of Tegh Ernan, at the 17th of
at the 23rd of February. 7. St. Ernin, at 28th of February. 8. St. Ernin, bishop, at 12th of April. 9. St. Ernin, at 12th of
May. 10. St. Ernain, son of Aedh, at l6th of May. 11. St. Ernin, of Creamh- choill, at the 31st of May. 12. St. Ernin, of Cluain, at the 4th of June. 13. St. Ernin, of Cluain-finn, at the 28th of June. 14. St. Ernin, at the 1st of July. 15. St. Ernin, of Inis-caoin, at the 13th of July. 16. St. Ernin, of Cluain-Railgheach, at the 5th of August. 17. St. Ernain, at the 17th of
Januar)'. 5. St. Ernain, bishop, 26th of
176 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 11.
ArticleVI. —St. Orthinis,orCarthinisa,Bishop. \Possiblyinthe Fifth Ceutury. ] The Franciscan copy of the Martyrology of Tallagh' has this saint's name written, apparently Oanthinis, or possibly Oarthinis, bishop. Orthinis, a bishop,^ is mentioned in the Martyrology of Donegals on this day. Differently indeed the published Martyrology of Tallagh+ registers him, under the designation of Carthinisa, bishop. About him, nothing more appearstobeknown. AconjecturehasbeenofferedbyColgan,astohow he may have been that Temoreris^ or Tememoreris,^ who has been classed by Tirechan among the disciples of St. Patrick, and who founded a holy church. 7
Article VII. —St. Alten, or Eltene, Son of Maolan of Seanchua,
NOW Shancoe Parish, County of Sligo. We find the simple entry, Alten,
without any other designation, in the Martyrology of Tallagh' at the nth of January. ^ But again, Eltene, son of Maolan of Seanchua, is mentioned in the Martyrology of Donegal,3 as having a feast on this day. Senchua, now Shancoe, was in the territory of Tiroilill, now the barony of Tirerrill, in the county of Sligo. * This church is alluded to in the annotations of Tirechan,s and in the Lives of St. Patrick,^ as one of his foundations. ^ It is situated on the confines of Leitrim county,^ and, with some good land, a large portion of this parish is under bog and mountain tracts. ?
ArticleVIII. —St. Beandan,AbbotandConfessor. Thisholyman
braved persecution and exile as the consequence of his becoming a champion of the faith. He was a native of Ireland, where his parents were distinguished persons. ' Leaving his native country, this noble athlete of Christ, contended against certain British heretics,^ who conceived a violent enmity towards him. 3
tinguished at the 28th of February, at the * St. Ailbe of this place, venerated on the
1 2th of April, at the 12th of May, at the 1st 30th of January, died a. d. 545. See Dr. "
of July, at the 1 7th of August, at the 23rd O'Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters,"
of December. See tiiit. To these he might have added one at the 26th of January, and at the 27th o—f October.
'
Art. VI. The reading seems to me
OAnchimp epi. Yet the first 11 may possi- bly be resolved into ]\, partially obliterated.
"
vol. i. , pp. 184, 185, and n (h), ibid.
5 "Book of Armagh," fol. 15, a. a.
®
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. " Sexta Vita S. Patricii, cap. cv. , p. 89, and n. 119, p. 113. Also Septima Vita S. Pa- tricii, lib. ii. , cap. xxxv. , p. 134, and n. 70, p. 176.
7 See "Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Pa- tricii. " cap. , xxiv. p. 271. , ibid.
"Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , p. 550.
9 See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Sligo. " Sheets 27, 28, 34> 35- On Ummeryroe Townland (Sheet 28) in this parish, a graveyard is noted, but
In a note Dr. Todd says, at this word, There is here added in a more recent hand, '•Alii CATpciniofA. ' The Mart. Tamlacht
''
omits Orthinis and substitutes
* See Lewis'
CA^cmif-A epifcopi, adding in a more modern Italian
''
hand, AmadeusseuAma-Jesus, whichisa
translation of the name Carthiniosa. "
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
12, 13.
* Edited
Rev. Dr.
there seems — other hardly any object
'
of interest. "
by
s " De Cairce, sen Cairrec. "
xii.
Kelly, p. *"
Colgan says perhaps he is the same as St. Morthennis or Demorthennis, who is venerated at the nth of January. See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Quinta Appendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. p. 268. He evidently meant this Orthinis or Carthinisa.
7 Quam tenuit familia Clonoauis. " See "
lic Martyrology at this day.
' These were probably Pelagians, whose
errors spread in Great Britain, although they did not obtain any countenance in Ireland.
We are incorrectly told, however, by Richard of Cirencester, that Saints Germanus and Lupus came into Britain to extirpate the
Ussher's Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti- Pelagian heresy, "annis circiter trecentis
quitates. " p. 950.
Art. VII. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
p. xii.
'
In the Franciscan copy ^Iceri.
3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
quadraginta quattuor. " This was many
12, 13.
^ PelagiuswasaScotbybirth,whopassing
Art. viii.
So it is stated in the Gal-
years before Pelagianism. See
"
Speculum Historiale De Gestis Regum Anglias," vol.
i. , cap. Ixi. , p. 248. Edited by John E. B. Mayor, M. A. , for the Master of the Rolls.
January ii. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 177
From insular Britain he was obliged to seek a refuge in Gaul, where he embraced the rule of St. Benedict, which then began to flourish in the country where he found an asylum. In that religious house in which he lived, Beandanwasanexemplarofheroicvirtuetoallhiscompanions. Hislife was renowned, and miracles were even wrought through him. To the general regret of all his disciples, this holy man passed from their companionship ; but they were consoled, because he ranked among the blessed in heaven. His festival was observed on the nth of January, and this is probably the date for his holy rest from earthly labour. Colgan, who has entered some notices of him at this day,* is of opinion, his right name should be Breandan,5 which was one very common in Ireland. ^
ArticleIX. —St. Ronan. Nothinghastranspiredtoconnectthepresent
saint with any particular locality. In the Martyrology of Donegal,' we find Ronan as having a festival on this day. Phocas, or Phocianus, is found ap- pendedtotheentryofhisnameinthetabletothiswork. = Asimilarentry is to be met in the Martyrology of Tallagh,3 at the i ith of January. 4 We are not able to glean further information about him.
Article X; —St. Failbe. [Possibly in the Fifth Century. 1 A festival, in
honour of St. Failbe, is entered at the nth of February, in the Martyrology
of Donegal,' as edited by the Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves. It would seem,
there was a St. Falveus, a disciple of St. Patrick, and a bishop of Kill-fobhuir.
He was a of St. in the conversion of — companion Benignus,^' Jarmonia.
Colgan
as to whether his feast should be — to this in doubtful,3 assigned day
was
which case he must be identical with the present saint or to the i6th of April, where another St. Failbe is honoured. We are told that Fortrui, the queen of King Echinus, came to St. Benignus, and requested him to arrange for a friendly conference with St. Patrick. He requested this queen, a relation of his own, to proceed with the king, and her children, to a place called Cluain-na-Coinne. '^ This request was complied with, and St. Patrick met them at this^ village, where he founded the cell of Kill-Fobhar,s for St.
from insular Britain, became a monk in Palestine. About the commencement of the
fifth century, he urged certain errors against the Catholic doctrines of Grace, and of Origi-
at this date, call him Beandanus, while Ar-
nold Wion, and others, write his name, Blandanus. TheIrishneverusedsuchforms for proper names. Besides, the mistake of a single letter might easily convert Brandanus into Beandan—us or Blandanus.
'
Art. ix. Edited by Drs. Todd and
Reeves, p. 13.
'
See ibid. , pp. 462, 463.
^ Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xii.
* In the F—ranciscan copy we have HoiiArii.
'
Art. x. See pp. 12, 13.
nal Sin. See Cabassutius'
"
Notitia Ecclesi-
asticaHistoriarum Conciliorum,"&c. Eccle-
sise Quinti Sceculi Historica Synopsis, § i6.
pp. 186, 187. The history and tenets of
this heresiarch are well detailed in Bergier's
"
Dictionnaire de Theologie. " Art. Pelagi- anisme.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberni? e," xi. Januarii. Vita S. Beandani, and n. i, pp. 56,
57.
5 To the acts of St. Cera, at the 5th of
January, the reader is referred for a number of Irish saints, bearing this name. Brendan of Ardfert, had many churches in Britain.
*
This is mentioned in a Life of St. Benig-
St. Brendan of venerated Clonfert,
• This is " Villa Latinized,
Again,
on the 1 6th of May, is said to have erected
Conventionis," or "The Village of Meeting," in English,
many monasteries in different islands. ibid. , n. 2, p. 57.
' We are told that Vol. I.
and
See Maurolycus Felix,
5 It does not appear an easy task to iden- tify this place among the modern denomina- tions of Ireland.
N
nus, chap. x. This life Colgan promised to publish at the 9th of November.
"
3 See "Trias Thaumaturga,
pendix ad Acta S. Patricii, cap. xxiii. , p. 268.
Quinta Ap-
178 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 12.
Falveus, bishop. St. Patrick asked St. Eenignus to bless Echinus, and prophesied that this king, and his posterity, should afterwards serve him in
return for this blessing. ^
CtDelftl^ Bap of Sanuarp*
ARTICLE I. —ST. LAIDGEN, OR LAIDCEND, OF CLONFERT MOLUA, NOW KYLE, QUEEN'S COUNTY.
ISE VENTH CENTUR Y. ]
*
Sheet 15. There also are noted, not alone St. Molua's Abbey, but his graveyard and grave. Not far from the cemetery enclosure a"e to be found a curious upriglit rock, called S:. Molua's Stone, and another object called St. Molua's Trough.
s Taken by the writer in May, 1872. The engraving is by Mrs. Millard.
brief notices of St. Laidgen have been collected by Colgan,' and inserted in his at the 12th of the date for his festival.
SOME
This saint was son to a man named Baithus Bannaigh, or Buadhach, which means Baithus the Victorious. Laidgen thus belonged to a very respectable parentage. Yet, we are told, he abandoned the riches and honours of this world,tobecomeamonkinClonfertMoluaMonastery. Thismusthave been soon after its foundation. Here, under the direction of its abbot, St. Lactan,^ the disciple became distinguished for all the virtues of his state ; and in order to forget worldly allurements, St. Laidgen's thoughts were continually
See Colgan's "Trias Thaumiturga. '' Appendix iii. , ad Acta S. Patricii, § xxvi:. , p. 204.
AuT. I. --' See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," xii. Januarii. Vita S. Laidgenni, pp. 57, 58.
' He was the immediate successor of the founder, as appears from the Life of St.
Molua, cap. liii.
3 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 230, 231. The " Annals of Ulster" place his death at A. D. 608.
* It is represented on the " Ordnance Sur- vayTownlandMapsfor the Queen's County,"
"
See his Life at the 4th of August.
work, January,
occupied with enjoyable meditations on eternal life.
He was exercised in all
the humble practices of penance. He spent many years in performing his usual monastic observances, and in the cultivation of extraordinary virtues, which were the admiration of his fellow religious. He wrought many miracles. It seems possible—but by no means certain—that this holy man may have been under the direction of the illustrious founder, who died in the year 605. 3
This once-renowned sanctuary of Clonfert MoUoe, now so desolate, within
the barony of Upper Ossory and Queen's County, is still represented by the parish of Kyle. It is in a townland also ca'led Kyle,* where some remains of the
ancient church may still be seen. The^e fragments are faithfully represented in the accompanying sketch. s Here St. Lua or Molua^ established a religious foun- dation, in the sixth century ; and from him the place was anciently known as Clonfert Molua. Various popular traditions are rife regarding this holy founder, among the peasantry in the neighbourhood of Kyle. Its graveyard has long been a favourite place for burial. Laidgen does not appear to have reached a higher station than that of a simple monk at Clonfert Molua, although the contrary has been s::ated,7 without sufficient examination. The memory
7 By Archdall, who is a very unsafe autho-
rity. In his account of Clonfert Mulloe, ifi-
correctly placed in the King's County, he
" 12, died the Abbot 660, January
writes,
Laidgene," &c. See " Monasticon Hibei;-
nicum," p. 379.
January 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 179
of St. Laidgen was celebrated at Clonfert Molloe^ with a devotion second only to that entertained towards the founder of this house. ^ Our saint died on the 1 2th of day of January/" in the year 660. " He was buried in Clonfert Molua. That this saint was notable amongst most distinguished holy men in his time may be collected from the circumstance of his being named in the Festilogy of St, ^ngus," written before or soon after the year 800 ; for in this no. saint is mentioned who was not considered to hold a high rank in the Irish Church,
Old Church of Kyle, or Clonfert Molua, Queen's County.
and whose memory was not honoured by a special festival. The name of this
' Many holy persons are venerated in berniiE," xii. Januarii, n. 5, p. 58. At this
that place, such as Luanus, at the ^. th of August ; St. Lactan, his disciple and succes- sor, at the 19th of March ; Saints Chrittanus, Lonanus, and Mellanus, sons to Dareus, at the 7th of February ; Soergalus, Moenachus Finginus, with other saints and celebrated abbots. Of none, however, with the excep- tion of our saint, is it remarked that their tomb is there to be seen.
9 All our annalists and martyrologists are
unanimous in recording these facts, as may
be seen to " Acta Sanc- by referring Colgan's
torum Hibernise," xii. Januarii, pp. 57, 58.
'°
At this day all our Menologies record the death of St. Laidgen.
noise," of Roscrea, of All Saints' Island,
and of Ulster, place his demise at the year
660. See Colgan's
same year his death is thus recorded by the Annals of the Four Masters, "St. Laidh- geann, son of Baeth, of Cluainfearta-Molua, died on the I2th of January. "—O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. , pp. 270, 271.
" The following Irish stanza and its Eng- lish translation were supplied by Professor O'Loonev, from the Laebhar-Breac copy, R. I. A. , fol. 79.
"The" of Martyrology
E. ii. id. "The ofMus- great martyrdom
centi
With his numerous gentle
clerics
Christ hath the secret of his
deserts
Laidcend, son of Bath Bai^-
Donegal" agrees with these foregoing authorities, as to the day on which our saint's natalis had been celebrated. It also coincides as to the year of his death. The " Annals of Clonmac-
"
Acta Sanctorum Hi-
dach. "
e. I'i.
I'D.
m<ifCi\A mo^ 1Tlu]*cenci
CoTiA CAin chlei^
clantxMg
CiMfC {i\ ^xuriAi-o |\in-OAi5 tATOcent) triAC b^ich bAiroAig.
i8o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 12.
saint is written Laidcenn mac Baith Banaigh, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,'3 atthe12thofJanuary. '* TheCalendarsofCashel,andofMarianusO'Gorman attest the same festival. The " Kalendarium Drummondiense" observes that on the 12th of January the holy confessor Ladchend ascended to the stars. 's In the Martyrology of Donegal,'^ we find recorded on this day Laidhgenn, sonofBaeth,ofCluain-fearta-Mulloe,orClonfertMolua. Therehisburial- place is said to have been. All our hagiologists and annalistic writers com- memorate this saint. '7 Besides this saint Laidgen, there were three other saints/^ bearing the same name, and recorded in our Annals. Having thus so many bright examples and names before our minds, we should raise up our hearts to God, and ask Him to give us something of that purity and unsel- fishness, and ennobling nature, perfecting us to face the world to come. God'slovetomandemandsman'slove,thatbelongstoHim. Ourfervour will make us less ignoble, and less unworthy that holiest and most subHme of all titles to become saints, and close imitators of those who formerly adorned
our island.
Article II. —St. Conain, or Conan, of Aeg, or Ega, now the Is- land OF Egg, in Scotland. This remote unit among the Hebride group of islands is remarkable for the martyrdom of St. Donnan and his fifty-two companions, on the 17th of April,' a. d. 617. This event rendered the spot a scene of religious dearth, probably for some time ; but missionary life re- sumed its usual course. Conan, of Aeg, is recorded in the Martyrology of Donegal" on this day, and also in the Martyrology of Tallagh,3 on the 12th of January. * In a nearly similar manner, he is called Conain Ega, in this latter record. He flourished probably in or after the seventh century ; nor is he the only Irish saints connected with that island.
