It is not certain, whether our Saint had been first
interred at Inverdaoile, or at Glendalough : for yEngus tells us, that St.
interred at Inverdaoile, or at Glendalough : for yEngus tells us, that St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
, says : Daganus abbas Regulam monasticam a Lugido sive Molua conditam ad Gregorium .
1.
Roraam detulit : qui ea coram omnibus summopere 'laudata, salutem authori per internuncium ilium retulit.
"—" Britanni-
carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates. " Index the English bishops, in these terms " Sed, :
Chronologicus, p. 535. ut supra docuimus, a decima quarta luna, 61 "
See. Colgan's Acta Sanctorum usque ad vigessimam Dominicae Resurrec-
Hiberniae," xii. Martii. Vita S. Dagani, cap. tionis diem observandum esse putarent,
vi. , p. 585. scripsit cum coepiscopis suis exhortatoriam
fe
See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- ad eos Epistolam, obsecrans eos et
land," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, vii. , n. 94. , p. 209.
contestans unitatem pacis et Catholicae observationis cum ea, quae toto orbe diffusa
—"
able Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum. " lib. ii. ,
63 This letter may be seen, in the Vener- "
est Christi Ecclesia tenere. "
Historia
Anglorum," lib. ii. , cap. 4.
64 This bishop succeeded St. Augustine,
cap. 4.
*» No doubt, also, it applied to the Scots,
Vol. IX. —No. 6.
x
Accordingly, in conjunction, with
6?
the first Archbishop of Canterbury, who died on the 26th of May, A. D. 605.
6s He was Bishop of London, and in the year 610, he went to Rome during the reign of Pope Boniface IV. to confer with him on the affairs of the English Church.
66
Justus was consecrated bishop and set over Kent by St. Augustine Archbishop of
322 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September13.
and the terms of which were to the following effect : —According to its custom
throughout the world, the Apostolic See had sent us to those western parts
to evangelize the Pagans, it has occurred, and also, into this island called
Britain, without a previous knowledge of it. We believed that the people
acted according to the custom of the Universal Church ; having great respect
for their sanctity, we have reverenced them, whether Britons or Scots. But
on knowing the Britons, we thought the Scots had been better. However,
through Dagan the Bishop 7° coming into this island we have named, and
throughColumbanus,? 1 theAbbotinGaul,wehavelearned,thattheScots
differ not in conversation from the Britons. For on Bishop Dagan coming to
us, not only was he unwilling to eat with us, but even he would not dwell in the
same house in which we were entertained. That Dagan had gone to Britain,
for the purpose of conferring with Laurence, is very probable, and it seems
to be hinted at in the letter, where he is said to have come to the Roman
2 prelates. ?
A phrase in their letter conveys the idea of his having paid the Roman
Bishops a visit, whether to do so was his chief object in passing over to
Britain, or, that happening to be there, he thought it right to call upon them. Nevertheless, his interview with them had not been productive of inter- changing harmonious opinions, so much to be des-ired at the meeting of Christian Prelates. The subject of their conference regarded the proper time for celebrating Easter ; and Dagan, who was attached to the Irish practice, refused to eat,? 3 not alone in company, but even to live under the same roof with those British Bishops, who favoured a different discipline. After conferring or disputing with the Roman Bishops, whether Dagan became determined, besides shunning their society, not to communicate with them in divinis, is not sufficiently clear. If so, he went further than he ought to have done ; as whatever difference occurred between the parties regarded neither faith nor any essential article of ecclesiastical discipline. 74 Wherefore, it is an absurdity on the part of certain writers 75 to represent this matter as tantamount to a real excommunication, and an irreconcilable differencebetweentheChurchofIrelandandofRome. Eveninthesupposi- tion that Dagan proceeded so far as a separation in divinis, this is to be understood, not as if he considered them excommunicated in the full sense
an Irish colony, then settled in the Southern parts of the present Scotland.
70 Sir James Ware says, it is possible, that the Bishop Dagan to whom Laurence addressed his epistle, was identical with Dagan, the contemporary of St. Fintan Munna, who died in 634 or 635. See "-De Scriptoribus Hibernise," lib. i. , cap. hi. , p.
17.
71 His festival occurs on the 2ist of
November.
? ' In the letter we read " Danganus
:
episcopus ad nos veniens," &c.
73 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan observes :" It
will be asked, how could he have induced himself to visit persons, with whom he would not condescend to take food. To this I answer, that, if, as in all appearance was the case, he did really visit those bishops, his refusing to eat or even stay in the same house with them could not have been in consequence of any pr . 'determination to that effect, but of something that occurred
after his paying the visit. The best manner to account for the matter is to admit, that in their conversation concerning the dis- puted points, some hot words were uttered and that Uagan felt himself so hurt, that he refused to partake of their hospitality. To suppose that he was previously resolved to keep up no sort of communion with them is directly opposite to the fact of his visit, and would indicate a line of conduct very unbecomingabishop. Surelyhewouldnot have prejudged them before he had heard their proposals—and what they had to say in
74 i n a similar case, St. Columbanus, firm as he was on those points, did not cease to hold communion with the Gallican clergy, notwithstanding his being constantly teased by them.
"Ecclesiastical of History
their defence. "
Ireland," vol. ii, chap, xiv. , sect, xvi. , n. 223 , pp. 367 to 369.
"
7S See the remarks of Dr. Ledwich, in his Antiquities of Ireland," p. 369.
September 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 323
of the word, that is, as quite out of the Church ; but it may indicate that sort of partial separation, of which we have innumerable instances in Ecclesi-
astical History, and according to which some particular bishops or churches declined communicating together, while at the same time both parties were in communion with the great body of the Catholic Church. ? 6 It is said, our Saint wrote a book to defend the Irish mode of celebrating Easter ;77 but, if so written,thisbookisnotknowntobeextant,atthepresentday. Thiswork
had for its reputed title
:
" Ad Britanorum Ecclesias," lib. i. ? 8 It has been
79 stated, that
our Saint
subsequently
embraced the Roman
rite,
8° which he
had so
difficulty he was induced to make the change.
81 with
earnestly opposed
in debates. previous
According
to
Lesley,
An opinion has been offered, that our Saint was not raised to the episcopacy, until he had visited the Eternal City, or after his return from Rome. Although no account has come down to us of our Saint having visited Rome in the time of Pope Gregory the Great, on this subject regard-
82
ing the Pashal controversy; yet, such an idea has been suggested by Colgan. It is by no means improbable, if Dagan was in Rome, that the principal object he had in view was to obtain correct information on this point, at the centre of Catholic Unity. It is stated, moreover, that he was present at the
Synod of the White Field, where he strenuously supported St. Fintan Munnu83 in a controversy, regarding the time most appropriate for celebrat- ing Easter. 8« The particulars relating to this remarkable convention are more fully set forth in the Life of St. Laserian, Bishop of Leighlin, at the 18th
of
8*
April.
Our Saint performed many miracles ; and many virtues of an exalted
character also distinguished him, during his career upon earth. This holy
Abbot died in the year 639, according to the " Chronicum Scotorum," 86 and
the "Annals of the Four Masters. " 87 Tighernach has named a. d. 641, for
88
that event.
Credan, Medan and Dachun—interpreted Dagan—were interred at Bosmanach near the Sabrinian Sea. 89 However, this is an incorrect state- ment,andcontrarytoourIrishtraditions. Inthe"Feilire"ofSt. ^ngus,9°
According to John Leland, the three disciples of St. Petrock,
76 One of the penalties or censures used in
the African church was, that in certain cases
a bishop was suspended from communion
with other bishops, still, however, re- Ireland," book i. , chap, iv. , p. 24.
taining the government and communion of his own particular church. See Tillemont's " Memoirs pour servir a l'Histoire Ecclesi- astique des six premiers Siecles, avec une Chronologie et des Notes," tome xiv. , p. 412.
8s See at that date, the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
86 See William M. Hennessy's edition, pp. 86, 87.
77 Such is the statement of xiv. , n, 13.
Bale,
centur.
— died on the Inbher-Daeile, 13th day
of
78 See Sir James Ware, " De Scriptoribus Hiberniae," lib. i. , cap. hi. , p. 17.
79 By Hanmer, in his "Chronicle of
Ireland," p. 60, and Huntingdon, lib. iii. ,
See Dempster's Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iv. , num. 382, p. 209.
September. " Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol.
i. , pp. 256, 257. —
p. 187.
80 "
81 See " De Origine Scotorum," lib. iv. ,
p. 153-
82 "
See Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xii. Martii. De S. Dagano Abbate et Episcopo, cap. vii. , p. 585.
"3 Abbot and Bishop of Clonenagh. His
festival occurs at the 2ist of October, in the Tenth Volume of this work, Art. i.
s* See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. " Writers of
87 " The Age of Christ, 639, St. Dagan of
88 "
Thus
Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip- tores," tomus ii. Tigernachi Annales, p. 194.
8» " Extat Petroburgi libellus de Scpultura Sanctorum Anglorum ; ex quo liquet Cre- danum, Medanum et Dackunum, viros sanctitate vitaeillustreis,et Petroci imxtztoxcs, in Bosmanach fuisse sepultos. "—M Com-
mentarii de Scriptoribus Britannicis," auctore Joanne Lelando Londinate, tomus i. , cap. xxxv. , p. 61.
9° In the " Lea—bhar Braec" copy is the following stanza ;
:
Quies Dagain Imbhir Daile. "
324 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 13. at the 13th of September, our Saint is commemorated as u the champion of
battle Dagan of Inber Doele. '
festival of
day Dagan,
,
1
Brief notes by a scholiast are appended. ' The 13th day of September was the date of his festival, as marked in the IrishCalendars. Atthisday,thepublishedMartyrologyofTallagh02notices Dagan Sac. Mac Colmada Inbir doile ; Marianus O'Gorman, 3 and Maguire * also commemorate him likewise, the Calendar of Cashel, ^ and Annals of
;
the Four Masters, so place the date for his death. St. ^Engus calls him,
Dagan, the victorious'6 leader of Inbher-daoile. At this day, he is comme-
morated, in the Martyrology of Castellan. '? Also, corresponding are the Ides of September, when his feast is found entered in the Kalendarium Drummondiense. 98 The day before the Feast of the Cross" in harvest is the
100 as related in an Irish Life of St. Mochoemoc. 101 Colgan has his acts written for the 12th of March, which he asserts corre-
with Calendars in his 102 This latter would seem to have possession.
sponded
been the commemoration of a translation of our Saint's relics, or some other
festival, referring to him.
It is not certain, whether our Saint had been first
interred at Inverdaoile, or at Glendalough : for yEngus tells us, that St. Dagan of the former is enumerated among Saints reposing at the latter place. This scatement seems to indicate, either that his remains had been translated from Inverdaoile to Glendalough, or if he had been buried in the first instance, at this latter place, that his body afterwards had been removed to Inver- daoile. 10^ The circumstance of the two different festivals for our Saint
appears adding some weight to the foregoing opinion, and to the statement of^Engus. WerethereonlyonefestivaldayforthisSaint,weshouldstill be inclined to suppose, that he was buried at Glendalough, and venerated at
"OLotn t>nf Archie
Easter in public assemblies ; and his defence of ancestral traditions rendered him con-
spicuous among those of our countrymen, who engaged in similar controversies. In these he also appeared to bear away the palm of victoiy not unfrequently, even
cotneic noebi lar-in cinrit> baige
1)45411 Inber* "Ooebi.
Thus translated by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. :
rYlAj\cif\
11
much of holiness with the — of ; champion
battle, Dagan of Inber Doele," "Trans- actions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol i. , part i. , on the Calendar of Oengus, p. exxxvii.
91 These only inform us, that Dagan, i. e. , "in Dal Mescorb he is. " And again, that Doel is a river in the east of Leinster. See ibid. , pK cxlv.
Declare two and twenty martyrs with although his opinions did not finally
92 Thus :
Inbir doile. "
The Book of Leinster copy has TjAjjAn epr bi mac Colma'OA 1nbir\ T>oiLe.
'*
94 Maguire has, " Daganum itineratorum, de Dalmessincorbiorum in Lagenia. "
95 On this day, the Calendar of Cashel
calls him " Bellatorem, qui et in regione de Dalmacorb in Lagenia. " The name,
however, is suppressed, perhaps through
"
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 24.
9» TheFeastoftheExaltationoftheHoly
Dr. Kelly's edition, p. xxxiv
93 Marianus O'Gorman has, praeplacidum nobilemque de Inbher-daoile in Orientati Lagenia. "
Cross at Jerusalem, in 335, was celebrated
by the Greeks and Latins as early as the
fifth and sixth centuries. See Rev. Alban
"
Butler's
and other principal Saints," vol. ix. , Sep- tember xiv.
100 Professor O'Looney's translated Life
of St. Mochoemoc, chapter 28, has such a statement.
101
See his Life,at the 13th of March, Art. i. 101 The Martyrologies of Tallagh, Marianus O'Gorman, Maguire and Donegal treat of
St. Dagan, whom they call a bishop, at the 1 2th of March.
the of a transcriber, in oversight
Colgan's copy. This title of "bellator," he would seem to have obtained, owing to his advo- cacy of the Irish practice for celebrating
Daganum
prevail.
96 for So called, probably,
assigned in the previous note.
"
9? Thus :
titulo episcopi colitur in paroecia Dalmas- corb in I^agenia, ubi fuerit abbas monasterii Inber- Daoile, postquam ab infantia instruc- tus erat per S. Mochoemocum. "
98Thus "inHiberniaSanctiConfessoris "Dagan Sac Mac Colmada et Presbyteri Dagain. "—Bishop Forbes'
:
In Hibernia, S. Dagani, qui
Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs,
the reason
September 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 325 Inverdaoile. However, in that admirable but almost unknown poem of John
D'Alton, intituled,
"
Dermid ;
or Erin in the Days of Boru," special allusion
is made to St.
Dagan's cell,
10* the ruins of which he were to be found in says
thevalleyofGlendalough. Ifthisbealocaltradition,itmayhavebeenthe
vault,whereinhisremainshadbeendeposited. Seeminglywithoutashadow
of authority Dempster states, that our Saint was venerated on the 22nd day
of March I05 and Ferrarius in his Catalogue falls into the same error, relying
;
on such a statement. 106 In treating of the Scottish Saints, Camer—arius is at
10 variancewithallotherwriters. ? —saysfirst,
He that St.
Dagamus supposed to represent the present Daganus was venerated on the 29th of May; secondly, that he flourished in Gallouidia ; and thirdly, that from his tender
years, he inbibed the principles of piety in Benchor Monastery, which was celebrated among the Scots. 108 We are told, that the letter m is often con- founded with // in the Scottish lists of saints, and therefore Dagamus is the sameastheDaganusofBeda. TheDunkeld-LitanyhasDagamach. I09
On the southern bank of Three Mile Water—not far from Ennereilly— there is an ancient cemetery, still largely used for interments by the people of the surrounding country, and within it are traces of the old church founda- tions, with two fragments of side-walls still remaining. One of these is clothed with ivy. The river running through a deep glen beneath has en- croached on the cemetery bounds, so as to cause a considerable land-slide of the enclosure. To prevent the repetition of such an accident, in June 1897, a wall was in course of erection beside the water-course, and the grave-yard has been of late enclosed by a stone-wall, at the expense of the rate-payers and by order of the Poor-law guardians. The interior of the old church is greatly crowded with head-stones over the graves. The bank on the opposite side of the stream rises very steeply over the course of the river, and on the summit has a hedge-row crowned with a range of finely grown trees.
Article II. —The Daughters of Colum, of Tech-inghen-Coluim,
in Cremhthann. At the 13th of September, according to the Martyrology 1
of Donegal, veneration was given to the Daughters of Colum, of Tech- inghen-Coluim, in Cremhthanna. We are told, that the territory of Cinel Crimthainn extended around the fortress of Dunamase, and comprised the
103 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi- berniae," xii. Martii. Vita S. Dagani, cap. ix. , p. 586.
104 In the following lines :— "No more shall Glendalough repeat
of David Camerarius, at the 29th of May,
The martial
The warrior's sun of glory's set,
The light of piety is dim, The ivy wraps St. Dagain's cell,
Confessor in Galloidia Scotise provincia. "
Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish
Saints," p, 237.
Io8
However, Colgan remarks, that the celebrated Monastery of Benchor, was situated within Down diocese, in the well- known Ulster province of Ireland, and that before his time no author said there had
been another monastery bearing this name,
105 Thus
"
Clarus habetur anno nor salut.
even
in
time was
any such to
,! Martii. "
" Historia
:
Colgan's
clang,
the choral
hymn,.
That gave a patron to the vale. " —Canto v. , sect, iii. , pp. 123, 124.
DLV, e —utvenusalii anno dcix. die xxn. be found in Scotland. Neither did
. Y I any
Ecclesiastica Gentis writer before Camerarius state, that St. Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iv. , num. 382, Dagan derived the rudiments of piety and
P* 209-
105
According to his careless and loose want of method, Dempster says, that Bede alone speaks of our Saint ; when even him- self relates that Huntingdon and Lesbey in certain passages refer to Dagan.
I0? In the Scottish Entries in the Kalendar
learning from Banghor, that he even set foot in Galloidia, or in fine, that he had been venerated on the 29th day of May.
I09 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp. 320, 321.
Article II. —1 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 248, 249.
we find
" :
Sanctus et Dagamus Episcopus —
326 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September13.
2
barony of Maryborough East, in the Queen's County.
a part of Leix. 3 It would seem, that owing to some mistake, the daughters of Colum have been noted in the Martyrology of Tallagh,* on the day follow- ing, as Inghena Coluira i Caillifollomon. s There is a small parish known as
6
Killenny, situated in the barony of Stradbally, Queen's County, and just
adjoiningapartofthebaronyofMaryboroughEast; sothateventhisparish may have constituted a portion of ancient Cinel-Crimthainn of Leix, as already described. There is an old ruined church? covered with ivy, and a
Old Church of Killenny, Queen's County.
8 The latter is and within a hawthorn- cemetery adjoining it. nearly circular,
ditch enclosure. The old name 10 have been somewhat Killenny may
contracted in pronunciation, and in English the equivalent translation seems
to stand " the church of the 11 In the of Marianus Daughters. " Martyrology
2 See " The Topographical Poems of John O'Duhhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'lluidhrin. " Edited by John O'Donovan,
LL. D. , n. 424, Appendix, p. lii.
3 See John O'Donovan's " Leabhar n.
g-Ceart, or Book of Rights," n. (9), p. 216.
at the dividing line between the baronies of
Maryborough East and Stradbally.
8 The rude old church measures 36 feet in
length, by 16 in breadth, interiorly. The south side-wall is almost destroyed. In the middle of the eastern gable there is a small window. The remaining walls are massive, and built, in a great measure, with large hammered stones. A small square recess in the side-wall was probably to the right of the former altar
9 The accompanying illustration, drawn on the wood and engraved by Mr. Gregor Grey, is from a sketch taken on the spot by the
4
5
Edited by the Rev. Mr. Kelly, p. xxxiv.
But, this appears referable to a territory
in Meath, as seen in the subsequent account
ofCoemhan Breac. atthe 14th of September.
6
It is described en the "Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the Oueen's County," sheets 9, 13, 14. The townland proper is on the two latter sheets.
7 The old ruins are
near the Great where a rather modern Catholic Church has been erected
They stand, moreover, just
author, July, 1873.
11 A writer on the Irish Ord- employed
Heath of beside them.
it is
pronounced Killinny, by the native peasantry.
quite Maryborough,
10 thus Although
This territory was
written,
September 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 327
O'Gorman, 12 at this date, is entered a festival forColumb's chaste daughters ; while a scholiast states, they were from Tech Ingen Coluimb in Cremthain. These holy daughters of Coluim are noticed in the Life of St. Daigh, which occurs at the 18th of August 13 but their place is said to have been in Ui
;
Crimhthann, in the Barony of Slane, and County of Meath.
ArticleIII. —St. NemanorNaemhanMacUaDuibh.
{Probably
in the Seventh We find entered in the of Tallagh,1 Century^ Martyrology
the feast of Neman Mac h. Duibh, at the 13th of September. Marianus
O'Gorman has a commemoration of this holy servant of God, at this same
date, with the designation of his being prudent, while a commentator calls
Noeman the of Dub. 2 to this man great-grandson According Colgan, holy
accompanied St. Fechin, Abbot of Fore,3 when the latter went to obtain the liberation of one Aid or ^Edus from Blaithmaic and Diermit II. , joint
Sovereigns of Ireland. -* Hence his period must be assigned probably to the Seventh Century. We have recorded in the Martyrology of Donegal,5 the
name Naemhan Mac Ua Duibh, as having a festival, at the 13th of Septem- ber. In the Table appended to this latter record, we meet the Latin word
6
Article IV. —St. Maeltolaigh, of Drumbeg Parish, County of Down. The Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman1 enters the feast of Mael Tolaig, "of the strong effort," at the 13th of September. In the Martyr-
2 it is
Article V. —Reputed Festival of St. Batheneus, Confessor.
1
(sanctanus) introduced, after the entry of his name.
of
Ulster,3 was venerated at the same day. The place is now known, as being included within the present parish of Drumbeg,* intersected by the River Lagan, and situated partly in the County of Down5 and partly in the County ofAntrim. TheProtestantchurchoccupiestheancientsite,onahill,com- monly called the Drum, in the County of Down. 6
ology
Donegal,
mentioned,
that
Maeltolaigh,
Camerarius inserts a festival for St. Batheneus, at the 13th of September.
2
Bollandists,
this saint has been noticed in the Life of the great Abbot of Iona, St.
At this same the date,
quoting
him as an that authority, state,
nance Survey supposes Killenny to have derived its name from a St. Ethne. This, however, does not merit much attention.
12 See Dr. Whitley Stokes' " Felire Hui
Gormain," pp. 176, 177.
13 See the Eighth Volume of this work, at
that date, Art. i.
Article hi. —1 Edited
2
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
by
Kelly, p. xxxiv. In the Book of Leinster
64.
s That portion of Drumbeg parish, in the
copy, we read lleniAii mac h 'Ouib. 2"
See Dr. Whitley Stokes' "Felire Hui
Gormain," pp. 176, 177.
3 See the Life of this Saint, at the 20th of
January, in the First Volume of this work, Art. ii.
4 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xx.
Januarii. SeetheSecondLifeofSt. Fechin,
chap, xxvii. , p. 136, and n. 16, p. 141.
carum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates. " Index the English bishops, in these terms " Sed, :
Chronologicus, p. 535. ut supra docuimus, a decima quarta luna, 61 "
See. Colgan's Acta Sanctorum usque ad vigessimam Dominicae Resurrec-
Hiberniae," xii. Martii. Vita S. Dagani, cap. tionis diem observandum esse putarent,
vi. , p. 585. scripsit cum coepiscopis suis exhortatoriam
fe
See "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- ad eos Epistolam, obsecrans eos et
land," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, vii. , n. 94. , p. 209.
contestans unitatem pacis et Catholicae observationis cum ea, quae toto orbe diffusa
—"
able Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum. " lib. ii. ,
63 This letter may be seen, in the Vener- "
est Christi Ecclesia tenere. "
Historia
Anglorum," lib. ii. , cap. 4.
64 This bishop succeeded St. Augustine,
cap. 4.
*» No doubt, also, it applied to the Scots,
Vol. IX. —No. 6.
x
Accordingly, in conjunction, with
6?
the first Archbishop of Canterbury, who died on the 26th of May, A. D. 605.
6s He was Bishop of London, and in the year 610, he went to Rome during the reign of Pope Boniface IV. to confer with him on the affairs of the English Church.
66
Justus was consecrated bishop and set over Kent by St. Augustine Archbishop of
322 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September13.
and the terms of which were to the following effect : —According to its custom
throughout the world, the Apostolic See had sent us to those western parts
to evangelize the Pagans, it has occurred, and also, into this island called
Britain, without a previous knowledge of it. We believed that the people
acted according to the custom of the Universal Church ; having great respect
for their sanctity, we have reverenced them, whether Britons or Scots. But
on knowing the Britons, we thought the Scots had been better. However,
through Dagan the Bishop 7° coming into this island we have named, and
throughColumbanus,? 1 theAbbotinGaul,wehavelearned,thattheScots
differ not in conversation from the Britons. For on Bishop Dagan coming to
us, not only was he unwilling to eat with us, but even he would not dwell in the
same house in which we were entertained. That Dagan had gone to Britain,
for the purpose of conferring with Laurence, is very probable, and it seems
to be hinted at in the letter, where he is said to have come to the Roman
2 prelates. ?
A phrase in their letter conveys the idea of his having paid the Roman
Bishops a visit, whether to do so was his chief object in passing over to
Britain, or, that happening to be there, he thought it right to call upon them. Nevertheless, his interview with them had not been productive of inter- changing harmonious opinions, so much to be des-ired at the meeting of Christian Prelates. The subject of their conference regarded the proper time for celebrating Easter ; and Dagan, who was attached to the Irish practice, refused to eat,? 3 not alone in company, but even to live under the same roof with those British Bishops, who favoured a different discipline. After conferring or disputing with the Roman Bishops, whether Dagan became determined, besides shunning their society, not to communicate with them in divinis, is not sufficiently clear. If so, he went further than he ought to have done ; as whatever difference occurred between the parties regarded neither faith nor any essential article of ecclesiastical discipline. 74 Wherefore, it is an absurdity on the part of certain writers 75 to represent this matter as tantamount to a real excommunication, and an irreconcilable differencebetweentheChurchofIrelandandofRome. Eveninthesupposi- tion that Dagan proceeded so far as a separation in divinis, this is to be understood, not as if he considered them excommunicated in the full sense
an Irish colony, then settled in the Southern parts of the present Scotland.
70 Sir James Ware says, it is possible, that the Bishop Dagan to whom Laurence addressed his epistle, was identical with Dagan, the contemporary of St. Fintan Munna, who died in 634 or 635. See "-De Scriptoribus Hibernise," lib. i. , cap. hi. , p.
17.
71 His festival occurs on the 2ist of
November.
? ' In the letter we read " Danganus
:
episcopus ad nos veniens," &c.
73 The Rev. Dr. Lanigan observes :" It
will be asked, how could he have induced himself to visit persons, with whom he would not condescend to take food. To this I answer, that, if, as in all appearance was the case, he did really visit those bishops, his refusing to eat or even stay in the same house with them could not have been in consequence of any pr . 'determination to that effect, but of something that occurred
after his paying the visit. The best manner to account for the matter is to admit, that in their conversation concerning the dis- puted points, some hot words were uttered and that Uagan felt himself so hurt, that he refused to partake of their hospitality. To suppose that he was previously resolved to keep up no sort of communion with them is directly opposite to the fact of his visit, and would indicate a line of conduct very unbecomingabishop. Surelyhewouldnot have prejudged them before he had heard their proposals—and what they had to say in
74 i n a similar case, St. Columbanus, firm as he was on those points, did not cease to hold communion with the Gallican clergy, notwithstanding his being constantly teased by them.
"Ecclesiastical of History
their defence. "
Ireland," vol. ii, chap, xiv. , sect, xvi. , n. 223 , pp. 367 to 369.
"
7S See the remarks of Dr. Ledwich, in his Antiquities of Ireland," p. 369.
September 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 323
of the word, that is, as quite out of the Church ; but it may indicate that sort of partial separation, of which we have innumerable instances in Ecclesi-
astical History, and according to which some particular bishops or churches declined communicating together, while at the same time both parties were in communion with the great body of the Catholic Church. ? 6 It is said, our Saint wrote a book to defend the Irish mode of celebrating Easter ;77 but, if so written,thisbookisnotknowntobeextant,atthepresentday. Thiswork
had for its reputed title
:
" Ad Britanorum Ecclesias," lib. i. ? 8 It has been
79 stated, that
our Saint
subsequently
embraced the Roman
rite,
8° which he
had so
difficulty he was induced to make the change.
81 with
earnestly opposed
in debates. previous
According
to
Lesley,
An opinion has been offered, that our Saint was not raised to the episcopacy, until he had visited the Eternal City, or after his return from Rome. Although no account has come down to us of our Saint having visited Rome in the time of Pope Gregory the Great, on this subject regard-
82
ing the Pashal controversy; yet, such an idea has been suggested by Colgan. It is by no means improbable, if Dagan was in Rome, that the principal object he had in view was to obtain correct information on this point, at the centre of Catholic Unity. It is stated, moreover, that he was present at the
Synod of the White Field, where he strenuously supported St. Fintan Munnu83 in a controversy, regarding the time most appropriate for celebrat- ing Easter. 8« The particulars relating to this remarkable convention are more fully set forth in the Life of St. Laserian, Bishop of Leighlin, at the 18th
of
8*
April.
Our Saint performed many miracles ; and many virtues of an exalted
character also distinguished him, during his career upon earth. This holy
Abbot died in the year 639, according to the " Chronicum Scotorum," 86 and
the "Annals of the Four Masters. " 87 Tighernach has named a. d. 641, for
88
that event.
Credan, Medan and Dachun—interpreted Dagan—were interred at Bosmanach near the Sabrinian Sea. 89 However, this is an incorrect state- ment,andcontrarytoourIrishtraditions. Inthe"Feilire"ofSt. ^ngus,9°
According to John Leland, the three disciples of St. Petrock,
76 One of the penalties or censures used in
the African church was, that in certain cases
a bishop was suspended from communion
with other bishops, still, however, re- Ireland," book i. , chap, iv. , p. 24.
taining the government and communion of his own particular church. See Tillemont's " Memoirs pour servir a l'Histoire Ecclesi- astique des six premiers Siecles, avec une Chronologie et des Notes," tome xiv. , p. 412.
8s See at that date, the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
86 See William M. Hennessy's edition, pp. 86, 87.
77 Such is the statement of xiv. , n, 13.
Bale,
centur.
— died on the Inbher-Daeile, 13th day
of
78 See Sir James Ware, " De Scriptoribus Hiberniae," lib. i. , cap. hi. , p. 17.
79 By Hanmer, in his "Chronicle of
Ireland," p. 60, and Huntingdon, lib. iii. ,
See Dempster's Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iv. , num. 382, p. 209.
September. " Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol.
i. , pp. 256, 257. —
p. 187.
80 "
81 See " De Origine Scotorum," lib. iv. ,
p. 153-
82 "
See Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," xii. Martii. De S. Dagano Abbate et Episcopo, cap. vii. , p. 585.
"3 Abbot and Bishop of Clonenagh. His
festival occurs at the 2ist of October, in the Tenth Volume of this work, Art. i.
s* See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. " Writers of
87 " The Age of Christ, 639, St. Dagan of
88 "
Thus
Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip- tores," tomus ii. Tigernachi Annales, p. 194.
8» " Extat Petroburgi libellus de Scpultura Sanctorum Anglorum ; ex quo liquet Cre- danum, Medanum et Dackunum, viros sanctitate vitaeillustreis,et Petroci imxtztoxcs, in Bosmanach fuisse sepultos. "—M Com-
mentarii de Scriptoribus Britannicis," auctore Joanne Lelando Londinate, tomus i. , cap. xxxv. , p. 61.
9° In the " Lea—bhar Braec" copy is the following stanza ;
:
Quies Dagain Imbhir Daile. "
324 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [September 13. at the 13th of September, our Saint is commemorated as u the champion of
battle Dagan of Inber Doele. '
festival of
day Dagan,
,
1
Brief notes by a scholiast are appended. ' The 13th day of September was the date of his festival, as marked in the IrishCalendars. Atthisday,thepublishedMartyrologyofTallagh02notices Dagan Sac. Mac Colmada Inbir doile ; Marianus O'Gorman, 3 and Maguire * also commemorate him likewise, the Calendar of Cashel, ^ and Annals of
;
the Four Masters, so place the date for his death. St. ^Engus calls him,
Dagan, the victorious'6 leader of Inbher-daoile. At this day, he is comme-
morated, in the Martyrology of Castellan. '? Also, corresponding are the Ides of September, when his feast is found entered in the Kalendarium Drummondiense. 98 The day before the Feast of the Cross" in harvest is the
100 as related in an Irish Life of St. Mochoemoc. 101 Colgan has his acts written for the 12th of March, which he asserts corre-
with Calendars in his 102 This latter would seem to have possession.
sponded
been the commemoration of a translation of our Saint's relics, or some other
festival, referring to him.
It is not certain, whether our Saint had been first
interred at Inverdaoile, or at Glendalough : for yEngus tells us, that St. Dagan of the former is enumerated among Saints reposing at the latter place. This scatement seems to indicate, either that his remains had been translated from Inverdaoile to Glendalough, or if he had been buried in the first instance, at this latter place, that his body afterwards had been removed to Inver- daoile. 10^ The circumstance of the two different festivals for our Saint
appears adding some weight to the foregoing opinion, and to the statement of^Engus. WerethereonlyonefestivaldayforthisSaint,weshouldstill be inclined to suppose, that he was buried at Glendalough, and venerated at
"OLotn t>nf Archie
Easter in public assemblies ; and his defence of ancestral traditions rendered him con-
spicuous among those of our countrymen, who engaged in similar controversies. In these he also appeared to bear away the palm of victoiy not unfrequently, even
cotneic noebi lar-in cinrit> baige
1)45411 Inber* "Ooebi.
Thus translated by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. :
rYlAj\cif\
11
much of holiness with the — of ; champion
battle, Dagan of Inber Doele," "Trans- actions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol i. , part i. , on the Calendar of Oengus, p. exxxvii.
91 These only inform us, that Dagan, i. e. , "in Dal Mescorb he is. " And again, that Doel is a river in the east of Leinster. See ibid. , pK cxlv.
Declare two and twenty martyrs with although his opinions did not finally
92 Thus :
Inbir doile. "
The Book of Leinster copy has TjAjjAn epr bi mac Colma'OA 1nbir\ T>oiLe.
'*
94 Maguire has, " Daganum itineratorum, de Dalmessincorbiorum in Lagenia. "
95 On this day, the Calendar of Cashel
calls him " Bellatorem, qui et in regione de Dalmacorb in Lagenia. " The name,
however, is suppressed, perhaps through
"
Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 24.
9» TheFeastoftheExaltationoftheHoly
Dr. Kelly's edition, p. xxxiv
93 Marianus O'Gorman has, praeplacidum nobilemque de Inbher-daoile in Orientati Lagenia. "
Cross at Jerusalem, in 335, was celebrated
by the Greeks and Latins as early as the
fifth and sixth centuries. See Rev. Alban
"
Butler's
and other principal Saints," vol. ix. , Sep- tember xiv.
100 Professor O'Looney's translated Life
of St. Mochoemoc, chapter 28, has such a statement.
101
See his Life,at the 13th of March, Art. i. 101 The Martyrologies of Tallagh, Marianus O'Gorman, Maguire and Donegal treat of
St. Dagan, whom they call a bishop, at the 1 2th of March.
the of a transcriber, in oversight
Colgan's copy. This title of "bellator," he would seem to have obtained, owing to his advo- cacy of the Irish practice for celebrating
Daganum
prevail.
96 for So called, probably,
assigned in the previous note.
"
9? Thus :
titulo episcopi colitur in paroecia Dalmas- corb in I^agenia, ubi fuerit abbas monasterii Inber- Daoile, postquam ab infantia instruc- tus erat per S. Mochoemocum. "
98Thus "inHiberniaSanctiConfessoris "Dagan Sac Mac Colmada et Presbyteri Dagain. "—Bishop Forbes'
:
In Hibernia, S. Dagani, qui
Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs,
the reason
September 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 325 Inverdaoile. However, in that admirable but almost unknown poem of John
D'Alton, intituled,
"
Dermid ;
or Erin in the Days of Boru," special allusion
is made to St.
Dagan's cell,
10* the ruins of which he were to be found in says
thevalleyofGlendalough. Ifthisbealocaltradition,itmayhavebeenthe
vault,whereinhisremainshadbeendeposited. Seeminglywithoutashadow
of authority Dempster states, that our Saint was venerated on the 22nd day
of March I05 and Ferrarius in his Catalogue falls into the same error, relying
;
on such a statement. 106 In treating of the Scottish Saints, Camer—arius is at
10 variancewithallotherwriters. ? —saysfirst,
He that St.
Dagamus supposed to represent the present Daganus was venerated on the 29th of May; secondly, that he flourished in Gallouidia ; and thirdly, that from his tender
years, he inbibed the principles of piety in Benchor Monastery, which was celebrated among the Scots. 108 We are told, that the letter m is often con- founded with // in the Scottish lists of saints, and therefore Dagamus is the sameastheDaganusofBeda. TheDunkeld-LitanyhasDagamach. I09
On the southern bank of Three Mile Water—not far from Ennereilly— there is an ancient cemetery, still largely used for interments by the people of the surrounding country, and within it are traces of the old church founda- tions, with two fragments of side-walls still remaining. One of these is clothed with ivy. The river running through a deep glen beneath has en- croached on the cemetery bounds, so as to cause a considerable land-slide of the enclosure. To prevent the repetition of such an accident, in June 1897, a wall was in course of erection beside the water-course, and the grave-yard has been of late enclosed by a stone-wall, at the expense of the rate-payers and by order of the Poor-law guardians. The interior of the old church is greatly crowded with head-stones over the graves. The bank on the opposite side of the stream rises very steeply over the course of the river, and on the summit has a hedge-row crowned with a range of finely grown trees.
Article II. —The Daughters of Colum, of Tech-inghen-Coluim,
in Cremhthann. At the 13th of September, according to the Martyrology 1
of Donegal, veneration was given to the Daughters of Colum, of Tech- inghen-Coluim, in Cremhthanna. We are told, that the territory of Cinel Crimthainn extended around the fortress of Dunamase, and comprised the
103 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi- berniae," xii. Martii. Vita S. Dagani, cap. ix. , p. 586.
104 In the following lines :— "No more shall Glendalough repeat
of David Camerarius, at the 29th of May,
The martial
The warrior's sun of glory's set,
The light of piety is dim, The ivy wraps St. Dagain's cell,
Confessor in Galloidia Scotise provincia. "
Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish
Saints," p, 237.
Io8
However, Colgan remarks, that the celebrated Monastery of Benchor, was situated within Down diocese, in the well- known Ulster province of Ireland, and that before his time no author said there had
been another monastery bearing this name,
105 Thus
"
Clarus habetur anno nor salut.
even
in
time was
any such to
,! Martii. "
" Historia
:
Colgan's
clang,
the choral
hymn,.
That gave a patron to the vale. " —Canto v. , sect, iii. , pp. 123, 124.
DLV, e —utvenusalii anno dcix. die xxn. be found in Scotland. Neither did
. Y I any
Ecclesiastica Gentis writer before Camerarius state, that St. Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iv. , num. 382, Dagan derived the rudiments of piety and
P* 209-
105
According to his careless and loose want of method, Dempster says, that Bede alone speaks of our Saint ; when even him- self relates that Huntingdon and Lesbey in certain passages refer to Dagan.
I0? In the Scottish Entries in the Kalendar
learning from Banghor, that he even set foot in Galloidia, or in fine, that he had been venerated on the 29th day of May.
I09 See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp. 320, 321.
Article II. —1 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 248, 249.
we find
" :
Sanctus et Dagamus Episcopus —
326 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September13.
2
barony of Maryborough East, in the Queen's County.
a part of Leix. 3 It would seem, that owing to some mistake, the daughters of Colum have been noted in the Martyrology of Tallagh,* on the day follow- ing, as Inghena Coluira i Caillifollomon. s There is a small parish known as
6
Killenny, situated in the barony of Stradbally, Queen's County, and just
adjoiningapartofthebaronyofMaryboroughEast; sothateventhisparish may have constituted a portion of ancient Cinel-Crimthainn of Leix, as already described. There is an old ruined church? covered with ivy, and a
Old Church of Killenny, Queen's County.
8 The latter is and within a hawthorn- cemetery adjoining it. nearly circular,
ditch enclosure. The old name 10 have been somewhat Killenny may
contracted in pronunciation, and in English the equivalent translation seems
to stand " the church of the 11 In the of Marianus Daughters. " Martyrology
2 See " The Topographical Poems of John O'Duhhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'lluidhrin. " Edited by John O'Donovan,
LL. D. , n. 424, Appendix, p. lii.
3 See John O'Donovan's " Leabhar n.
g-Ceart, or Book of Rights," n. (9), p. 216.
at the dividing line between the baronies of
Maryborough East and Stradbally.
8 The rude old church measures 36 feet in
length, by 16 in breadth, interiorly. The south side-wall is almost destroyed. In the middle of the eastern gable there is a small window. The remaining walls are massive, and built, in a great measure, with large hammered stones. A small square recess in the side-wall was probably to the right of the former altar
9 The accompanying illustration, drawn on the wood and engraved by Mr. Gregor Grey, is from a sketch taken on the spot by the
4
5
Edited by the Rev. Mr. Kelly, p. xxxiv.
But, this appears referable to a territory
in Meath, as seen in the subsequent account
ofCoemhan Breac. atthe 14th of September.
6
It is described en the "Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the Oueen's County," sheets 9, 13, 14. The townland proper is on the two latter sheets.
7 The old ruins are
near the Great where a rather modern Catholic Church has been erected
They stand, moreover, just
author, July, 1873.
11 A writer on the Irish Ord- employed
Heath of beside them.
it is
pronounced Killinny, by the native peasantry.
quite Maryborough,
10 thus Although
This territory was
written,
September 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 327
O'Gorman, 12 at this date, is entered a festival forColumb's chaste daughters ; while a scholiast states, they were from Tech Ingen Coluimb in Cremthain. These holy daughters of Coluim are noticed in the Life of St. Daigh, which occurs at the 18th of August 13 but their place is said to have been in Ui
;
Crimhthann, in the Barony of Slane, and County of Meath.
ArticleIII. —St. NemanorNaemhanMacUaDuibh.
{Probably
in the Seventh We find entered in the of Tallagh,1 Century^ Martyrology
the feast of Neman Mac h. Duibh, at the 13th of September. Marianus
O'Gorman has a commemoration of this holy servant of God, at this same
date, with the designation of his being prudent, while a commentator calls
Noeman the of Dub. 2 to this man great-grandson According Colgan, holy
accompanied St. Fechin, Abbot of Fore,3 when the latter went to obtain the liberation of one Aid or ^Edus from Blaithmaic and Diermit II. , joint
Sovereigns of Ireland. -* Hence his period must be assigned probably to the Seventh Century. We have recorded in the Martyrology of Donegal,5 the
name Naemhan Mac Ua Duibh, as having a festival, at the 13th of Septem- ber. In the Table appended to this latter record, we meet the Latin word
6
Article IV. —St. Maeltolaigh, of Drumbeg Parish, County of Down. The Martyrology of Marianus O'Gorman1 enters the feast of Mael Tolaig, "of the strong effort," at the 13th of September. In the Martyr-
2 it is
Article V. —Reputed Festival of St. Batheneus, Confessor.
1
(sanctanus) introduced, after the entry of his name.
of
Ulster,3 was venerated at the same day. The place is now known, as being included within the present parish of Drumbeg,* intersected by the River Lagan, and situated partly in the County of Down5 and partly in the County ofAntrim. TheProtestantchurchoccupiestheancientsite,onahill,com- monly called the Drum, in the County of Down. 6
ology
Donegal,
mentioned,
that
Maeltolaigh,
Camerarius inserts a festival for St. Batheneus, at the 13th of September.
2
Bollandists,
this saint has been noticed in the Life of the great Abbot of Iona, St.
At this same the date,
quoting
him as an that authority, state,
nance Survey supposes Killenny to have derived its name from a St. Ethne. This, however, does not merit much attention.
12 See Dr. Whitley Stokes' " Felire Hui
Gormain," pp. 176, 177.
13 See the Eighth Volume of this work, at
that date, Art. i.
Article hi. —1 Edited
2
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
by
Kelly, p. xxxiv. In the Book of Leinster
64.
s That portion of Drumbeg parish, in the
copy, we read lleniAii mac h 'Ouib. 2"
See Dr. Whitley Stokes' "Felire Hui
Gormain," pp. 176, 177.
3 See the Life of this Saint, at the 20th of
January, in the First Volume of this work, Art. ii.
4 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xx.
Januarii. SeetheSecondLifeofSt. Fechin,
chap, xxvii. , p. 136, and n. 16, p. 141.
