Gallus, of Loch Techet, now Lough Gara, Counties of
Roscommon
and Sligo.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
29
is broken on the top, however, and round the doorway. ^ This latter is very low in position, and near the surface of the adjoining graveyard. The old people gave the Round Tower « here the name of Cloichteach, or Belfry. ? Very ancient crosses and fragment of tombs are to be seen there. On the other
side of the principal street, in Clones, there is a ruined monastery, iine
and chiselled stones are on its outside. -" Old tombs he scattered
square
through the cemetery, which is surrounded by a wall. In the
"
Diamond,
or public square, an old Irish cross stands. "
Towards the close of life, a multitude of celestial Spirits came from hea-
ven, to receive the soul of St. Tighernach, when it was about to leave his body ; and, they returned to the place of his rest, singing canticles of ravishing harmony. " According to Fitzsimon's Manuscript, our saint died, on the XI. of the Kalends of January (22nd of December) ; but, the BoUandists remark, that they found no feast recorded, in any of the Calendars, and referring to him, on that day. Two chapters of our Saint's life, as given by them, have been added, from the MS. of Ward's Hymns for Vespers and Matins, in which Tigernach'svirtuesareparticularlyrecorded. '3 FromtheAnnalsoftheFour
Masters, we learn, on the year 548, that several saints fell victims to a pesU- lence, which proved fatal to many of the clergy and people of Ijeland. '* Our
saint, however, was not one of the many victims to this plague,'5 although he died within that year. The Annals of the Four Masters state, that Tigher- nach died, on the 4th of April, a. d. 548. -* But, Ussher, in his Chronologi- cal Index, assigns his death to the year 550 ;' as, in like manner, we find it in the Chronicon Scotorum. The Rev. Jeffrey Keating merely states, that the pious Tighernach, Bishop of Cluain Eos, died during the reign of King
town of Clones. See " County of Armagh and Monaghan Letters of the Irish Ord- nance Survey. " One volume, pp. 142 to 144. Mr. O'Donovan's Letter, dated Cluain
—so those who do not speak Irish call the
Eois, May 31st, 1835.
' This parish of Clones, in Monaghan O'Donovan, when he visited the place.
County, has been described by Dr. O'Donot van, who remarks, that there are a great number of Clons throughout this parish. It
"The accompanying illustration was drawn on the spot, by William F. Wake- man, and it was transferred by him to the wood. ItwasengravedbyMrs. Millard.
" The writer noted these particulars, dur- ing a visit to the place, in July, 1868.
is
that the townland, on which the
strange, principal part
of Clones town stands, is not called Clona, but Crossmoyle. Perhaps
this derives its name, as Mr. O 'Donovan
" Vita S. Tigemaci, cap. ii. , sec. 13, Acta Sanctorum," tom. i. v. Aprilis.
sug- " from an ancient cross, which stands m
gests,
the Diamond. This venerable relic, he
"
' Harris' In
grey as a dniid, and as old as St. Tigemach. "'
office
says, looks as
' An illustration
— thus
Adest dies Celebris
priest
'5 Vet, Dr. Lanigan enumerates him,
"
de-
of the Round Tower here will be . Sancti Tigernaci. " Vol. i. ,
scription
found in Mr. and Mrs. Hall's
and a
corresponding
"
"
Scenery, Character," &c. , vol. iii. , p. 30.
' A
spirit
treme poverty, the nobler feelings are either
of Clones made many efforts
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 186 to 189.
to collect as much money, as would repair this Round Tower, or at least, as would fasten the top stones and prevent them from being constantly blown down, to the rapid destruc- tion of St. Tierny's work, and to the great flanger of persons [rassing through the churchyard ; but, he did not fully succeed, his flock being too poor, their patriotic could not second those efforts. In ex-
Ireland :
its
Clogher," p. 177.
See Dr. O'Donovan's
totally extinguished, or greatly deadened by
feai of want. Hence, it. Tiirn^s docker gue. Ibid, pp. 188, 189,
is like a Belfry— wasting away
burning taper. It had been lowered only a yard, how-
ever, in the memory of a man aged 40.
' Such is a statement, made by Dr.
we are
of this Saint " is extant in the
that the Library of St. Bmnet's College, Cambridge, with a
Hymnbeginning —
among the victims to it. See sec. xiii. , p. 70.
Ware,
told,
Ecclesiasti- cal History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. ,
'
See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, voL i. , pp. 186, 187. In the same Annals, the names of several saints are mentioned, who died in the year of a mortality called the Cron-Chonaill, which was the first Buidhe- Chonaill. St. Ciaran, Abbot of Clonmac- nois, and our saint, did not die of the pla-
"
Bishops
of
30 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS
[April 4.
Diarraiud, which he extends, from a. d. 528, to sso. '^ Dr. Lanigan, also, places the death of this saint, at the year 549, following the authority of the FourMasters,withhisusualmodeofemendation. '? InaCatalogueofthe Bishops of Clogher, according to a Registry of that See, transcribed by Ware, the death of St. Tigernach is said to have occurred, on the 5th of April, 555, or in 549, according to other accounts. '" He died, on the 2nd of March, ac- cording to some accounts. " The Nones (sth of April), or as Usher remarks, the day previous," was that assigned for his feast. St. ^ngus the Culdee '3 has the Feast of St. Tighernach entered, in his Festilogy, at the 4th of April. We find, the entry, Tighearnach, Cluna Eoais, only, set down in the Martyr- ology of Tal]agh,='t at the same date. Several ancient foreign Martyrologies commemorate the festival of St. Tigernach of Clones. Thus, the Utrecht Martyrology of St. Jeromej^'s Florarius, Maurolycus, Felicius, and Ferrarius;=« the Manuscript Martyrologies of Canons Regular at Albergense, of St. Caeciha, at Leyden, of St. Gudule, at Bruxelles,='7 and of Florarius,"^ as also Greven. The Martyrology, printed at Cologne, a. d. 1490,^9 and also, that printed, at Lubeck,3° the same year, have notices of this saint. 3' We find en- tered, in the Martyrology of Donegal,3» as having been venerated on this day, Tigernach, who was Bishop of Ciuaineois, or Clones, in Fera-Manach. Between Fera-Manach and Oirghialla, Cluain-eois lies. In Scotland, he was venerated, also, on this day, as we find an entry, in the Kalendar of Drum-
mond,33 and inThomasDempster's "MenologiumScoticum. "34 Underthe head of Cluam-eois, Duald Mac Firbis enters Tighernach, son of Cairbre, the holy
bishop of Cluain-eois, quievit 548,3s April 4th. Even yet, the people in and about Clones have a great veneration for St. Tierney, as the patron is locally called. Several curious memorials of him are remaining. Thus, the natives pomt out, on the Belturbet road, and close to the town, where stood a stone,3« which was denominated Cloch Tighernach,37 and which seems to have had some forrtier connexion with the saint.
No longer does the matin bell call the cloistered monk from his last slum-
I'See"BntannicarumEcclesiarumAnti-
quitates. " Index Chronologius, p. 531.
'^ "
See his "General History of Ireland," part ii. , p. 355. Duffy's edition.
"'See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. li. , chap. X. , sec. xiii. ,p. 70, and n.
=5Jthas, "InScotiaS. TygernagiEpis- copi et Confessoiis. " Perhaps, this is not the most ancient copy,
"> These have, " In Scotia Tigemaci Epis- copi. " Molanus, Galesinus and Canisius add " et Confessoris. "
"7 This has " Scotiam. " =' apud
This reads "In Scotia S. Tigernagi Episcopi et Confessoris. "
'> In this, the name is written Tigernagii.
223, pp. 72, 73. Ibid.
"> See Hams Ware, vol.
, i. ,
Clogher," p. 177. ="
"
of
'3 version
3> See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus i. , Aprilis v. . Commentary^, sec. 3j,- pr. 401.
3> Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 94, 95.
3i Thus : "Apud Hiberniam Sanctus Con-
fessor et Episcopus Tigernac migravit ad Christum. " See Bishop Forbes' " Kalen- dars of Scottish Saints, p. 9.
34 Thus: "In Scotia ad Sedem Anima- rum Tigemaci Abbatis. "—/*/rf. p. 196.
3s See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy,"IrishMSS. Series,vol. i. ,• pfarti. ,' pp. 100, loi.
^6 This is now to be seen in Clones, and it is held in great popular esteem.
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae, Martii 1. , p. 439, n. 9. " "
30 in this is
by an error is printed for T.
See BntannicarumEcclesiarumAnti- quitates," Index Chronologicus, p. 531.
printed Germagii, the letter G
It IS—thus given, in Dr. Whitley Stokes' :
Cam ttjeiMiAcn cpeTJAl Al\ciMrc cecVimbA. r biAUt)-
. arAmbpucVic fpudim j-oAif ClutiA Aille eoAif.
"Sing pious Tigernach—for Christ he
vanquished all folly—out of whom burst a
stream of knowledge (Tigernach) of beauti- ful Cluain Eoais. "
^EditedbyRev. Dr. Kelly, p. XX. Inthe
Franciscan copy, we find CigtiAcll e<\pi CluAin eoif.
Bishops
April 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 31
bers in Clones. The old procession, the rites and ceremonies of former times, have not been witnessed there, for many a long day ; since the sacrilegious spoiler and exterminator have left only ruins, to attest the holiness of this
Round tower, moat, abbey church, and old graves, lend an air of solemnity and awe to the scene, which even in desolation must deeply im- press the imagination and thought of a pensive tourist or an antiquary, when he turns thither, from the more crowded thoroughfares of our larger towns and cities. The religious mind is filled with like emotions, while the wreck around discloses ample proof of time's changes, and proclaims the mutabi- lity of a nation's fortunes.
Article II. —St.
Gallus, of Loch Techet, now Lough Gara, Counties of Roscommon and Sligo. A distinguished statesman has ob- served, that there is no greater folly being circulated on the earth, than a dis- position to. undervalue the records of the past, and to break the links, which united. human beings of the present day, with the generations that had been called to their account. ' The Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 4th April, in-
serts the notice, Gall, Locha Teiget. This lake, at present, is known as Lough Gara, or Lough O'Gara, near Boyle, and on the borders of the counties of Roscommon and Sligo. ' The river Boyle has its source from this lake. We are informed, that St. Patrick,^ while in Connaught, resolved to visit Moy- lurg, and that passing through Bearnas Hua Noililla, or the gaps of Colloo- ney,s he moved onward towards the River Buill—now the Boyle—which takesitsriseinLochTechet. ' AccordingtotheMartyrologyofDonegal,^ on this day was venerated Gallus, of Loch Techet, and in the BoUandists' work ' he is likewise commemorated.
Article III. —Cruimhther Corc, of Cill-m6r-Ua-Niallian, now KiLMORE, County or Armagh. This holy man offered the unbloody sacrifice for his people, and discharged all his duties, with fervour and spiritual advantagetohisflock; for,sowemayfairlyinfer,fromtheprefix,whichhas been set to his name. This occurs, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 4th of April, as Cruimthir Corc, Cille Moire. The BoUandists » notice him as Crumtherus Corc, Presbyter, de Kill-mor. This particular spot, which is
spot
" In Irish Cloc CigeA|\n4iJ. Against that, the countrymen coming to market were in the habit of Itnocking their backs ;
for, if they neglected to do so, it was popu- larly supposed, that no luck should attend them on that day. See the County of Armagh and Monaghan Letters of the Irish Ordnance Survey. John O'Donovan's Let- ter, dated Cluain Eois, May 31st, 1835, p. 147-
* See the account, in his Life, at the 17th
of March, chap. xiii.
' The townland and town, so named, are
in the parish of Ballysadare, and Barony of Tirerrill, as seen on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Sligo," sheets 20, 26.
'See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (k), pp. 357.
358.
' Edited Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. by
94, 95.
»
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomusi. , Apnlis '*• Among the pretermitted saints, p. 319.
Article ii. —'
Gladstone, at the opening of the Welsh Na- tional Eisteddfod, at Mold, August 19th,
1873.
'Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx.
Speech
of William E.
Article ill. — Editedby Rev. Dr. Kelly, The Franciscan copy gives it 5Att toe* p. xx. The Franciscan copy has Ci\umchin
Ceicec.
' See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 6, 7.
Co|\c CibLe Tno^ve.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis
iv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 319.
32
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 4.
more fully written in the Martyrology of Donegal, means, the great church of O'Neilland. It is now known as Kilmore. s in the Barony of O NeiUand
West and Lower Orior, in the County of Armagh/ In the Martyrology of Donegal,5 we find entered, on this day, Cruimhther \t. e. Priest] Core, of Cill-mor, Ua Niallain. A great Catholic writer has observed, that society pays for the merchant's commodities their well ascertained values ; but it pays not sufficiently the sacrifices of the priest, the justice of the judge, or the blood of the soldier. *
Article IV. -St. Caemh, or Coine, Virgin, of Cill-Caoimhe, or CoiNE, PROBABLY KiLKiNE, CouNTY OF WiCKLOW. The great ones of earth pass away from life obtaining human applause, often undeserved y be- stowed: but, the good should be held, in each Christians grateful and affectionate remembrance, as the present holy woman deserved to be known in her day. On the 4th of April, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' we find her
Iim
Killkine Graveyard, County Wicklow.
name and place inserted, as Coini i-Cill6 Coine. The Bollandists ' have it, Coina de Kill-Coine. There is a Kilkine 3 old church, in the parish of Bally- kine,* in the County of Wicklow. The present saint may have been the sister of St. Kevin,5 founder of Glendalough, and, it seems not improbable, that she lived in the place previously mentioned ; or, at least, we do not find any nearer correspondingdenomination,ontheIrishOrdnanceMaps. Theoldgrave- yard of the place is still much used, but only a few fragments of the old church walls are to be seen there ;* and the situation—a peculiarly retired one—lies
3 This parish is shown, on the "Ordnance
Townland Maps for the County of
—
p. XX. The Frahciscan copy has it Coine
Citli Cornie.
» See ' ' Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis
iv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 319. 3 This is not found on the "General Al-
Survey
Armagh," sheets 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14. townland proper is on sheet 9.
The
Article iv.
•
Edited by
Rev. Dr.
< See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (c) p. loio.
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 94. 95-
"
tome v. , Les Poesies de Jacopone, p. 240.
'See Ozanam's
j^iuvres Completes,"
,^.
Kelly,
April 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 33
within a well-wooded demesne,' known as Whaley Abbey, near Avondale House and Demesne,' as also, near the celebrated Meeting of the Waters. " The festival, in honour of Caemh,'° Virgin, of Cill Caoimhe, was celebrated on this day, as we read, in the Martyrology of Donegal. " The first successor of St. Peter, in his chair at Rome, had decreed, that all women should enter the churches, with their heads veiled," as a mark of respect for the hoUness of God's House. In after time, this veiling of pious females was peculiarly a
distinctive usage of religious Virgins.
Article V. —St. Croinseach, or Cronsecha. Simply the festival
Cronsigi, is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 4th of April. The Bollandists ' enter Cronsecha, at the same date. We find the name of Croin-
seach entered, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ as having been vene- rated on this day.
Article VI. —St. Beghanus, or Beganus, Abbot. Such is the name of a Saint, found at this day, in the Anonymous Catalogue of our National Saints, published by O'SuUivan Beare. " His name as Beganus, Abbot, at
"
the 4th of April, is to be met with, likewise, in Henry Fitzsimon's
Aliquorum Sanctorum Iberniae ;" and, he —cites the Carthusian Martyrology, for
the Bollandists ' the of —a Manu quoting authority
this statement.
script Copy of Florarius, and Greven, in his additions to Usuard have a notice of Abbot Beganus, in Hibernia, at the 4th of April.
'
nell, Esq. , M. P. ;
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Ap- Among the pretermitted saints, p.
Again,
Article VII. —St. Colman Fionn, or Colmanus Candidus. The poor and unpretending minister of God is often the greatest attraction the lowly and humble find, in a large extent of country. The humble pastor, too,
phabetical Index to the Townlands and
depart,
Ere the bloom of that valley shall fade
from myheart. "
" In a note, Dr. Todd here
Towns, Parishes, and Baronies of Ireland.
"
*Thisparishissituated,intheBaronyof
Ballinacor South, and it is described, on the-
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Wicklow," sheets 29, 30, 34, 35, 39, 40.
5 See his life, at the 3rd of June.
' The accompanying sketch was taken, by the writer, on the spot, in July, 1873. It was drawn, on the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and engraved by Mrs. Millard.
' The Demesne, and church ruins within it, are noted, on the townland of Bahana. They are shown, on the '-Ordnance Survey
TownlandMapsfortheCounty of Wicklow, sheet 35.
" The more recent hand notes, Caoine CiLle CAOine,Mart. Tamlact; meaningthatshe is called Caoine of Cille Caoine, in the
The residence of Charles Stewart Par-
and, for a beautiful descrip-
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
tion of this place, the reader is referred to J. "
94, 95. — Article vi.
N. Brewer's Beauties of Ireland," vol. i. .
pp. 324 to 326.
' Immortalized by Thomas Moore, in the
charming Ir—ish Melody, which begins with
these lines
" 319-—
:
There is not in the wide world a valley so sweet,
As that vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet.
Oh! the last ray of feeling and life must
rilis iv. the saints Among pretermitted
, p.
Martyrology of Tallagh. "
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
94,95-
" See " Breviarium Romanum," at the
Feast of St. Li—nus, the 23rd of September. '
Article v. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
p. xx. The Franciscan copy has Cjuni-
feachi.
319.
^
" rilis iv.
See "Historiae Catho- licae IbemiaeCompendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. ,
cap. xi. , p. 50.
"
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Ap-
Article vii. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. The Franciscan copy has CoLmAni
ptiv>.
'See Acta Sanctorum, tomus i. , Ap-
rilisiv. Among thepretermitted saints, p. 319. C
""
Catalogus
says,
34 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 4.
effect on a
is good, and therefore love him," than could the most eloquent and courtly
of preachers, by the most cultivated art of rhetoric, or by the most eloquent sermon he could preach. We have no doubt, many of the almost unknown saintsofIrelandmightbeinstancedasexamples. Anentryappears,ofCol- man Find, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 4th of April. The BoUandists '^ mark this festival, also, as one sacred to the memory of Col- manusCandidus. Afestival, inhonourofColmanFionn,wascelebratedon this day, according to the Martyrology of Donegal. ^
Article VIII. —King Conuallus, said to have been venerated,
IN Scotland. [Sixth Century. ] According to Camerarius, there was a King, named Conuallus, and the first bearing this name, who was venerated
in Scotland, at the 4th of April. " He was remarkable, for his piety, and for his respect to the clergy f while, he is said, to have merited the commenda- tion of St. Columba himself. The name is Irish, but little seems to be known, regarding the origin of this Conuallus.
is broken on the top, however, and round the doorway. ^ This latter is very low in position, and near the surface of the adjoining graveyard. The old people gave the Round Tower « here the name of Cloichteach, or Belfry. ? Very ancient crosses and fragment of tombs are to be seen there. On the other
side of the principal street, in Clones, there is a ruined monastery, iine
and chiselled stones are on its outside. -" Old tombs he scattered
square
through the cemetery, which is surrounded by a wall. In the
"
Diamond,
or public square, an old Irish cross stands. "
Towards the close of life, a multitude of celestial Spirits came from hea-
ven, to receive the soul of St. Tighernach, when it was about to leave his body ; and, they returned to the place of his rest, singing canticles of ravishing harmony. " According to Fitzsimon's Manuscript, our saint died, on the XI. of the Kalends of January (22nd of December) ; but, the BoUandists remark, that they found no feast recorded, in any of the Calendars, and referring to him, on that day. Two chapters of our Saint's life, as given by them, have been added, from the MS. of Ward's Hymns for Vespers and Matins, in which Tigernach'svirtuesareparticularlyrecorded. '3 FromtheAnnalsoftheFour
Masters, we learn, on the year 548, that several saints fell victims to a pesU- lence, which proved fatal to many of the clergy and people of Ijeland. '* Our
saint, however, was not one of the many victims to this plague,'5 although he died within that year. The Annals of the Four Masters state, that Tigher- nach died, on the 4th of April, a. d. 548. -* But, Ussher, in his Chronologi- cal Index, assigns his death to the year 550 ;' as, in like manner, we find it in the Chronicon Scotorum. The Rev. Jeffrey Keating merely states, that the pious Tighernach, Bishop of Cluain Eos, died during the reign of King
town of Clones. See " County of Armagh and Monaghan Letters of the Irish Ord- nance Survey. " One volume, pp. 142 to 144. Mr. O'Donovan's Letter, dated Cluain
—so those who do not speak Irish call the
Eois, May 31st, 1835.
' This parish of Clones, in Monaghan O'Donovan, when he visited the place.
County, has been described by Dr. O'Donot van, who remarks, that there are a great number of Clons throughout this parish. It
"The accompanying illustration was drawn on the spot, by William F. Wake- man, and it was transferred by him to the wood. ItwasengravedbyMrs. Millard.
" The writer noted these particulars, dur- ing a visit to the place, in July, 1868.
is
that the townland, on which the
strange, principal part
of Clones town stands, is not called Clona, but Crossmoyle. Perhaps
this derives its name, as Mr. O 'Donovan
" Vita S. Tigemaci, cap. ii. , sec. 13, Acta Sanctorum," tom. i. v. Aprilis.
sug- " from an ancient cross, which stands m
gests,
the Diamond. This venerable relic, he
"
' Harris' In
grey as a dniid, and as old as St. Tigemach. "'
office
says, looks as
' An illustration
— thus
Adest dies Celebris
priest
'5 Vet, Dr. Lanigan enumerates him,
"
de-
of the Round Tower here will be . Sancti Tigernaci. " Vol. i. ,
scription
found in Mr. and Mrs. Hall's
and a
corresponding
"
"
Scenery, Character," &c. , vol. iii. , p. 30.
' A
spirit
treme poverty, the nobler feelings are either
of Clones made many efforts
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 186 to 189.
to collect as much money, as would repair this Round Tower, or at least, as would fasten the top stones and prevent them from being constantly blown down, to the rapid destruc- tion of St. Tierny's work, and to the great flanger of persons [rassing through the churchyard ; but, he did not fully succeed, his flock being too poor, their patriotic could not second those efforts. In ex-
Ireland :
its
Clogher," p. 177.
See Dr. O'Donovan's
totally extinguished, or greatly deadened by
feai of want. Hence, it. Tiirn^s docker gue. Ibid, pp. 188, 189,
is like a Belfry— wasting away
burning taper. It had been lowered only a yard, how-
ever, in the memory of a man aged 40.
' Such is a statement, made by Dr.
we are
of this Saint " is extant in the
that the Library of St. Bmnet's College, Cambridge, with a
Hymnbeginning —
among the victims to it. See sec. xiii. , p. 70.
Ware,
told,
Ecclesiasti- cal History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, x. ,
'
See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition, voL i. , pp. 186, 187. In the same Annals, the names of several saints are mentioned, who died in the year of a mortality called the Cron-Chonaill, which was the first Buidhe- Chonaill. St. Ciaran, Abbot of Clonmac- nois, and our saint, did not die of the pla-
"
Bishops
of
30 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS
[April 4.
Diarraiud, which he extends, from a. d. 528, to sso. '^ Dr. Lanigan, also, places the death of this saint, at the year 549, following the authority of the FourMasters,withhisusualmodeofemendation. '? InaCatalogueofthe Bishops of Clogher, according to a Registry of that See, transcribed by Ware, the death of St. Tigernach is said to have occurred, on the 5th of April, 555, or in 549, according to other accounts. '" He died, on the 2nd of March, ac- cording to some accounts. " The Nones (sth of April), or as Usher remarks, the day previous," was that assigned for his feast. St. ^ngus the Culdee '3 has the Feast of St. Tighernach entered, in his Festilogy, at the 4th of April. We find, the entry, Tighearnach, Cluna Eoais, only, set down in the Martyr- ology of Tal]agh,='t at the same date. Several ancient foreign Martyrologies commemorate the festival of St. Tigernach of Clones. Thus, the Utrecht Martyrology of St. Jeromej^'s Florarius, Maurolycus, Felicius, and Ferrarius;=« the Manuscript Martyrologies of Canons Regular at Albergense, of St. Caeciha, at Leyden, of St. Gudule, at Bruxelles,='7 and of Florarius,"^ as also Greven. The Martyrology, printed at Cologne, a. d. 1490,^9 and also, that printed, at Lubeck,3° the same year, have notices of this saint. 3' We find en- tered, in the Martyrology of Donegal,3» as having been venerated on this day, Tigernach, who was Bishop of Ciuaineois, or Clones, in Fera-Manach. Between Fera-Manach and Oirghialla, Cluain-eois lies. In Scotland, he was venerated, also, on this day, as we find an entry, in the Kalendar of Drum-
mond,33 and inThomasDempster's "MenologiumScoticum. "34 Underthe head of Cluam-eois, Duald Mac Firbis enters Tighernach, son of Cairbre, the holy
bishop of Cluain-eois, quievit 548,3s April 4th. Even yet, the people in and about Clones have a great veneration for St. Tierney, as the patron is locally called. Several curious memorials of him are remaining. Thus, the natives pomt out, on the Belturbet road, and close to the town, where stood a stone,3« which was denominated Cloch Tighernach,37 and which seems to have had some forrtier connexion with the saint.
No longer does the matin bell call the cloistered monk from his last slum-
I'See"BntannicarumEcclesiarumAnti-
quitates. " Index Chronologius, p. 531.
'^ "
See his "General History of Ireland," part ii. , p. 355. Duffy's edition.
"'See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. li. , chap. X. , sec. xiii. ,p. 70, and n.
=5Jthas, "InScotiaS. TygernagiEpis- copi et Confessoiis. " Perhaps, this is not the most ancient copy,
"> These have, " In Scotia Tigemaci Epis- copi. " Molanus, Galesinus and Canisius add " et Confessoris. "
"7 This has " Scotiam. " =' apud
This reads "In Scotia S. Tigernagi Episcopi et Confessoris. "
'> In this, the name is written Tigernagii.
223, pp. 72, 73. Ibid.
"> See Hams Ware, vol.
, i. ,
Clogher," p. 177. ="
"
of
'3 version
3> See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus i. , Aprilis v. . Commentary^, sec. 3j,- pr. 401.
3> Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 94, 95.
3i Thus : "Apud Hiberniam Sanctus Con-
fessor et Episcopus Tigernac migravit ad Christum. " See Bishop Forbes' " Kalen- dars of Scottish Saints, p. 9.
34 Thus: "In Scotia ad Sedem Anima- rum Tigemaci Abbatis. "—/*/rf. p. 196.
3s See "Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy,"IrishMSS. Series,vol. i. ,• pfarti. ,' pp. 100, loi.
^6 This is now to be seen in Clones, and it is held in great popular esteem.
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae, Martii 1. , p. 439, n. 9. " "
30 in this is
by an error is printed for T.
See BntannicarumEcclesiarumAnti- quitates," Index Chronologicus, p. 531.
printed Germagii, the letter G
It IS—thus given, in Dr. Whitley Stokes' :
Cam ttjeiMiAcn cpeTJAl Al\ciMrc cecVimbA. r biAUt)-
. arAmbpucVic fpudim j-oAif ClutiA Aille eoAif.
"Sing pious Tigernach—for Christ he
vanquished all folly—out of whom burst a
stream of knowledge (Tigernach) of beauti- ful Cluain Eoais. "
^EditedbyRev. Dr. Kelly, p. XX. Inthe
Franciscan copy, we find CigtiAcll e<\pi CluAin eoif.
Bishops
April 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 31
bers in Clones. The old procession, the rites and ceremonies of former times, have not been witnessed there, for many a long day ; since the sacrilegious spoiler and exterminator have left only ruins, to attest the holiness of this
Round tower, moat, abbey church, and old graves, lend an air of solemnity and awe to the scene, which even in desolation must deeply im- press the imagination and thought of a pensive tourist or an antiquary, when he turns thither, from the more crowded thoroughfares of our larger towns and cities. The religious mind is filled with like emotions, while the wreck around discloses ample proof of time's changes, and proclaims the mutabi- lity of a nation's fortunes.
Article II. —St.
Gallus, of Loch Techet, now Lough Gara, Counties of Roscommon and Sligo. A distinguished statesman has ob- served, that there is no greater folly being circulated on the earth, than a dis- position to. undervalue the records of the past, and to break the links, which united. human beings of the present day, with the generations that had been called to their account. ' The Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 4th April, in-
serts the notice, Gall, Locha Teiget. This lake, at present, is known as Lough Gara, or Lough O'Gara, near Boyle, and on the borders of the counties of Roscommon and Sligo. ' The river Boyle has its source from this lake. We are informed, that St. Patrick,^ while in Connaught, resolved to visit Moy- lurg, and that passing through Bearnas Hua Noililla, or the gaps of Colloo- ney,s he moved onward towards the River Buill—now the Boyle—which takesitsriseinLochTechet. ' AccordingtotheMartyrologyofDonegal,^ on this day was venerated Gallus, of Loch Techet, and in the BoUandists' work ' he is likewise commemorated.
Article III. —Cruimhther Corc, of Cill-m6r-Ua-Niallian, now KiLMORE, County or Armagh. This holy man offered the unbloody sacrifice for his people, and discharged all his duties, with fervour and spiritual advantagetohisflock; for,sowemayfairlyinfer,fromtheprefix,whichhas been set to his name. This occurs, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 4th of April, as Cruimthir Corc, Cille Moire. The BoUandists » notice him as Crumtherus Corc, Presbyter, de Kill-mor. This particular spot, which is
spot
" In Irish Cloc CigeA|\n4iJ. Against that, the countrymen coming to market were in the habit of Itnocking their backs ;
for, if they neglected to do so, it was popu- larly supposed, that no luck should attend them on that day. See the County of Armagh and Monaghan Letters of the Irish Ordnance Survey. John O'Donovan's Let- ter, dated Cluain Eois, May 31st, 1835, p. 147-
* See the account, in his Life, at the 17th
of March, chap. xiii.
' The townland and town, so named, are
in the parish of Ballysadare, and Barony of Tirerrill, as seen on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Sligo," sheets 20, 26.
'See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (k), pp. 357.
358.
' Edited Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. by
94, 95.
»
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomusi. , Apnlis '*• Among the pretermitted saints, p. 319.
Article ii. —'
Gladstone, at the opening of the Welsh Na- tional Eisteddfod, at Mold, August 19th,
1873.
'Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx.
Speech
of William E.
Article ill. — Editedby Rev. Dr. Kelly, The Franciscan copy gives it 5Att toe* p. xx. The Franciscan copy has Ci\umchin
Ceicec.
' See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 6, 7.
Co|\c CibLe Tno^ve.
' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis
iv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 319.
32
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 4.
more fully written in the Martyrology of Donegal, means, the great church of O'Neilland. It is now known as Kilmore. s in the Barony of O NeiUand
West and Lower Orior, in the County of Armagh/ In the Martyrology of Donegal,5 we find entered, on this day, Cruimhther \t. e. Priest] Core, of Cill-mor, Ua Niallain. A great Catholic writer has observed, that society pays for the merchant's commodities their well ascertained values ; but it pays not sufficiently the sacrifices of the priest, the justice of the judge, or the blood of the soldier. *
Article IV. -St. Caemh, or Coine, Virgin, of Cill-Caoimhe, or CoiNE, PROBABLY KiLKiNE, CouNTY OF WiCKLOW. The great ones of earth pass away from life obtaining human applause, often undeserved y be- stowed: but, the good should be held, in each Christians grateful and affectionate remembrance, as the present holy woman deserved to be known in her day. On the 4th of April, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' we find her
Iim
Killkine Graveyard, County Wicklow.
name and place inserted, as Coini i-Cill6 Coine. The Bollandists ' have it, Coina de Kill-Coine. There is a Kilkine 3 old church, in the parish of Bally- kine,* in the County of Wicklow. The present saint may have been the sister of St. Kevin,5 founder of Glendalough, and, it seems not improbable, that she lived in the place previously mentioned ; or, at least, we do not find any nearer correspondingdenomination,ontheIrishOrdnanceMaps. Theoldgrave- yard of the place is still much used, but only a few fragments of the old church walls are to be seen there ;* and the situation—a peculiarly retired one—lies
3 This parish is shown, on the "Ordnance
Townland Maps for the County of
—
p. XX. The Frahciscan copy has it Coine
Citli Cornie.
» See ' ' Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Aprilis
iv. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 319. 3 This is not found on the "General Al-
Survey
Armagh," sheets 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14. townland proper is on sheet 9.
The
Article iv.
•
Edited by
Rev. Dr.
< See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (c) p. loio.
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 94. 95-
"
tome v. , Les Poesies de Jacopone, p. 240.
'See Ozanam's
j^iuvres Completes,"
,^.
Kelly,
April 4. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 33
within a well-wooded demesne,' known as Whaley Abbey, near Avondale House and Demesne,' as also, near the celebrated Meeting of the Waters. " The festival, in honour of Caemh,'° Virgin, of Cill Caoimhe, was celebrated on this day, as we read, in the Martyrology of Donegal. " The first successor of St. Peter, in his chair at Rome, had decreed, that all women should enter the churches, with their heads veiled," as a mark of respect for the hoUness of God's House. In after time, this veiling of pious females was peculiarly a
distinctive usage of religious Virgins.
Article V. —St. Croinseach, or Cronsecha. Simply the festival
Cronsigi, is found, in the Martyrology of Tallagh," at the 4th of April. The Bollandists ' enter Cronsecha, at the same date. We find the name of Croin-
seach entered, likewise, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ as having been vene- rated on this day.
Article VI. —St. Beghanus, or Beganus, Abbot. Such is the name of a Saint, found at this day, in the Anonymous Catalogue of our National Saints, published by O'SuUivan Beare. " His name as Beganus, Abbot, at
"
the 4th of April, is to be met with, likewise, in Henry Fitzsimon's
Aliquorum Sanctorum Iberniae ;" and, he —cites the Carthusian Martyrology, for
the Bollandists ' the of —a Manu quoting authority
this statement.
script Copy of Florarius, and Greven, in his additions to Usuard have a notice of Abbot Beganus, in Hibernia, at the 4th of April.
'
nell, Esq. , M. P. ;
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Ap- Among the pretermitted saints, p.
Again,
Article VII. —St. Colman Fionn, or Colmanus Candidus. The poor and unpretending minister of God is often the greatest attraction the lowly and humble find, in a large extent of country. The humble pastor, too,
phabetical Index to the Townlands and
depart,
Ere the bloom of that valley shall fade
from myheart. "
" In a note, Dr. Todd here
Towns, Parishes, and Baronies of Ireland.
"
*Thisparishissituated,intheBaronyof
Ballinacor South, and it is described, on the-
"
Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Wicklow," sheets 29, 30, 34, 35, 39, 40.
5 See his life, at the 3rd of June.
' The accompanying sketch was taken, by the writer, on the spot, in July, 1873. It was drawn, on the wood, by William F. Wakeman, and engraved by Mrs. Millard.
' The Demesne, and church ruins within it, are noted, on the townland of Bahana. They are shown, on the '-Ordnance Survey
TownlandMapsfortheCounty of Wicklow, sheet 35.
" The more recent hand notes, Caoine CiLle CAOine,Mart. Tamlact; meaningthatshe is called Caoine of Cille Caoine, in the
The residence of Charles Stewart Par-
and, for a beautiful descrip-
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
tion of this place, the reader is referred to J. "
94, 95. — Article vi.
N. Brewer's Beauties of Ireland," vol. i. .
pp. 324 to 326.
' Immortalized by Thomas Moore, in the
charming Ir—ish Melody, which begins with
these lines
" 319-—
:
There is not in the wide world a valley so sweet,
As that vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet.
Oh! the last ray of feeling and life must
rilis iv. the saints Among pretermitted
, p.
Martyrology of Tallagh. "
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
94,95-
" See " Breviarium Romanum," at the
Feast of St. Li—nus, the 23rd of September. '
Article v. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
p. xx. The Franciscan copy has Cjuni-
feachi.
319.
^
" rilis iv.
See "Historiae Catho- licae IbemiaeCompendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. ,
cap. xi. , p. 50.
"
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus i. , Ap-
Article vii. Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. The Franciscan copy has CoLmAni
ptiv>.
'See Acta Sanctorum, tomus i. , Ap-
rilisiv. Among thepretermitted saints, p. 319. C
""
Catalogus
says,
34 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 4.
effect on a
is good, and therefore love him," than could the most eloquent and courtly
of preachers, by the most cultivated art of rhetoric, or by the most eloquent sermon he could preach. We have no doubt, many of the almost unknown saintsofIrelandmightbeinstancedasexamples. Anentryappears,ofCol- man Find, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 4th of April. The BoUandists '^ mark this festival, also, as one sacred to the memory of Col- manusCandidus. Afestival, inhonourofColmanFionn,wascelebratedon this day, according to the Martyrology of Donegal. ^
Article VIII. —King Conuallus, said to have been venerated,
IN Scotland. [Sixth Century. ] According to Camerarius, there was a King, named Conuallus, and the first bearing this name, who was venerated
in Scotland, at the 4th of April. " He was remarkable, for his piety, and for his respect to the clergy f while, he is said, to have merited the commenda- tion of St. Columba himself. The name is Irish, but little seems to be known, regarding the origin of this Conuallus.