46 See "
Chorographical
Description of Iar-Connaught," edited by James Hardi- man, p.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v9
Finbarr, Bishop of Cork.
Messrs.
chapters.
13 To this rev. gentleman, the author is
indebted for many other useful notes, which serve to illustrate the Life of St. Finbar ;
"
besides for the very interesting
St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork," compiled from Records in the British Museum, &c,
Hodges' and Smith's quarto paper MS. , (No. 150), contains a Lile of St. Barr, alias Finbarr, of Cork. Messrs. Hodges' and Smith's small quarto paper MS. , (No. 168), in the R. I. A. , contains a Life of St. Finbar,
Bishop of Cork.
20
Annals of
In Smith's time among the Manuscripts it was numbered 37.
•» Mr. Hitchcock told Mr. Windale, that
quarian Gleanings," vol. vi. Notes on Life of St. Finbar, p. 751. MS. in R. I. A.
18
In the Manuscript, classed E. 3. 11.
fol. 109.
19 In Messrs. Hodges' and Smith's collec-
The Manuscript in question has the
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 549
An Office for our Saint bad been recited in the Cathedral Church of Cork,
some time previous to the 19th of April, 1624," and whilst Irish Catholic affairs
were in a tolerably prosperous state. This Office had nine proper Lessons,
and it is deserving of attention, chiefly because it shows in what veneration
our Saint had been held in that diocese, of which he is the reputed patron.
There is also a proper Mass for the feast of our Saint, set down at the 25th
of 22 and from which some extracts are in the "Acta Sanc- September, given
torum. " WearetoldbytheeditorSuyskens,thatitdoesnotaboundinany of those extravagancies related in the Office. ^ In the Bollandists' "Acta
Sanctorum,* at the 25th of September, Father Constantine Suyskens has edited a Life of this Saint, so far as he had been able to procure materials from various sources. 25 The editor remarks that a Life of our Saint, the commencement of which he quotes, is filled with those fables, common in the Acts of our national Saints, so that it becomes impossible to separate what is truthful from what is false. Moreover, the Bollandists appear to have possessed a Manuscript copy of St. Barr's Life, similar to that in the Codex Kilkenniensis. It belonged to Father Hugh Ward, the celebrated Irish Minorite friar. But, Suyskens did not regard it as worthy of being printed, on account of the many fables it contained. This same Bollandist
father had another Manuscript Life, from the collection of Henry Fitzsimons,
with an additional 26 In this St. Barr is called Macu- copy.
S. J. , together
linus. 2? It would seem, however, that the Life to which he refers was
different, in many respects, from the Manuscript preserved in Marsh's
28 The Bollandist editor would not several fables in the Library. publish
Life to which he had access. Therefore, he is contented with giving a brief summary of it. This appears to have been transcribed literally from an Office of St. Barr. Some later writers have given us lives or memorials of the present Saint. Thus, Archbishop Ussher,29 Sir James Ware,3° and his
12
editor Walter Harris^ also Philip O'Sullivan Beared Roderick 0'Flaherty,33
"
title, Irish Researches," vol. vi. , see p. the Bollandists. Colgan promised to pub-
731. 21
At this date, Bernard Mede, an Irish
lish this Life, at the 25th of September, but he did not live to fulfil that engagement.
2? It would seem to have been a
scribed it for his brother Doctor Gerard of our Saint, pronounced on his feast, from
Minorite would seem to have tran- friar,
panegyric
Mede. Afterwards, this copy found its way to the Bollandist collection of Manuscripts. 22 Taken from " Missae Propriae Sanctorum Patronorum ac Tutelarium Franciseet Hiber- nise," dementis XII. Papae jussu edita,
the exordium quoted by Suyskens: yet we are also informed, it was full of fables, and
not worth publishing.
28 He " habere me Vitam MS. says : ejus
ex Sectionario sive Officio Corcagiensi a Ber- A. D. 1734. It was printed in Paris, and nardo Medo Corcagice descriptam, cu/us
sanctioned by the Archbishop of that city, Charles Gaspar William de Vintimille, as also by Luke, Archbishop of Dublin.
initium est : Erat quidam rex in Hibernia, nomine Tegernacus, qui ancillam habuit pulchram nimis ; a quo edictum exiit per ejus dominium universum, ut nemo predi—c-
23 See, ibid. , sect, i. , nn. 8 to 12, p. 143.
24 See tomus vii. Septembris xxv. De tarn virginem praesumeret deflorare, &c. "
S. Barro vel Finbarro Ep. Corcagiensi in Hibernia, et forte alio Episcopo Cathenensi in Scotia.
25 It is issued in a Commentarius Histo- rico-Criticus, containing four distinct sec- tions, having sixty-one paragraphs, pp. 142
Ibid. , sect, ii. , p. 144.
2? See " Hritannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 493. Also p. 503. 3° See " De Hibernia et Antiquitatibus
to 151. 26
Colgan possessed
a Life of St.
Barr,
of Cork,'' p. 556.
32 See " Historiae Catholicae Iberniae Com-
which from quotations given in "Acta pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 51. 33 "
Sanctorum Hibernias," Suyskens deems to See Ogygia," pais iii. , cap. lxxix have been different from Lives in custody of p. 376.
ejus," cap. xxvi. , pp. 196, 197. 3I See Harris' Ware, vol. i.
"Bishops
550 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September25.
and Bishop Challoner34 mention him. The Rev. Alban Butler 35 has some notices of St. Barr or Finbar, first bishop of Cork, at the 25th of September.
"
The Rev. Dr. Lanigan has a memoir of this Saint in his
Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland,"36 illustrated as it is with accompanying notes. Richard
Caulfield, B. A. , has more recently edited with notes, etc. , "The Life of
Saint Fin Barre, first Bishop and Founder of the See of Cork. "37 Also, in
the works of Rev. M. J. Brenan,38 Bishop Forbes,39 Professor Eugene
40 Rev S. 1 and Alfred Webb/2 St. Bairre is recorded O'Curry, . Baring-Gould,*
in brief biographies.
The Manuscript Lives inform us, that the holy Saint and worthy pontiff
Barrus derived his origin from the Hy-briun Ratha,43 of the Connacian race. Hy Briun Ratha was situated in West Connaught. 44 It comprised the present Barony of Athenry/s and it was a sub-territory of the Briuin Seola on the extreme coast of Iar-Connacht. 46 According to a legendary Life of our Saint, a chief of Hy-bruin district is said to have had a son, named Amergin. 4 ? Another son is said to have been born, and to have been thrown into a
the desert. 4? But, a she-wolf is said to have suckled him, until he was fully grown. The infant was remarkable for his beautiful form. Some swine- herds, making their rounds through the desert, found this child in the woods, andbroughthimtotheirhome. Theyafterwardscarriedhimtotheirchief- tain, who recognized the child as his own son. The father, as stated in this strangely contradictory narrative, dearly loved the child, and took him into his household. Yet, being ashamed of a crime previously committed, the father with his son is stated to have sought a dwelling in the territory of
1
There his posterity afterwards increased in number, so that they could not remain in one place. They separated themselves throughout divers territories of
34 In "Britannia Sancta," part ii. , pp. Connaught, and that it contained fourteen 142, 143, and also in "A Memorial of villages or townlands. Within it is the site
——
river/8 Amergin was left so runs the story to be devoured by beasts in
Hualiathain,s° in the southern part of the Minister provinces
ancient British Piety," p. 135.
35 See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs,
and other principal Saints," vol. ix. Sep- tember xxv.
36 See vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, iv. , pp.
313 to 319.
37 From MSS. , in the Bodleian Library,
Oxford, Archbishop Marsh's Library, and Trinity College Library, Dublin. Published in London, 1864, 8vo.
3* See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
Seventh Century, chap, i. , pp. 96, 97.
39 See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints,"
48 According to the Codex Kilkenniensis 40 See " Lectures on the Manuscript MS. and the Bodleian MS. the two sons
pp. 275, 276.
Materials of Ancient Irish History," Lect.
xvi. , p. 340.
41 See "Lives of the Saints," vol. ix. ,
September 25, pp. 377, 378.
42 See "Compendium of Irish Biography,"
p. 178.
43 "Hewas of the race of — son of Brian,
of Knocktiia, where a battle was fought be- tween Kildare and Clanrickard, in 1504. This was about six miles to the east of Gal-
way town. See lxxix. , p. 376.
"
Ogygia," pars iii. , cap.
45See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. "Antiquities of Ireland," cliap. vii. , p. 50.
46 See " Chorographical Description of Iar-Connaught," edited by James Hardi- man, p. 369, and Map facing the Title- page.
47 In some Manuscripts called Amargenus, and in others Amyrgenus.
were twins.
49 The Burgundian Manuscript Life of St.
Fin Bairre altogether omits this silly legend. so This territory was nearly co-extensive
with the present barony of Barrymore, in the County of Cork. See leabhAp ti4
or the Book of edited 5-Ce^fc, Rights, by
—"
44 We are told by Roderick O'Flaherty, giensi. " Roderick O'Flaherty's Ogygia,"
•• Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin. " Martyr-
John O'Donovan, pp. 72, 73, n. (s. ).
ology of Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd 5 ' " Darius Kearb, &c, genuit Achaum and Reeves, pp. 258, 259. Liathanach, ex quo Hyliathan in agro Corca-
that Hy Briun Ratha was situated in West pars iii. , p. 381.
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Minister. A certain division of them came to the chief of Rathluyn's terri-
2 From this of the tory. s portion
account has The Scottish —
St. Barr is said to have—
tribe, descended.
that St. Finbar or
is found written was born in the Island of Cathania,S3 which was on the
Amergin,s
8 the father of our
Saint,
came from
Connaught
and took a
He became the
at Achadh Durbeon,59 in the country of Musgry Mitine. 6°
—
53 Now Caithness the shire of this deno-
it,
Fymbarrus
as his
name
western side of Scotia, having Rossia54 on the south and the Orkadesss or Orkney Islands to the east. However, there are no true historic grounds for the statement, that our Saint had been a native of Scotland, although after death, his memory was held there in veneration. At what exact time he was born in Ireland has not transpired, but it was probably after the middle of the sixth century. It is contended, moreover, that his real name was LochaiV6 and that Finbarr, i. e. " white-haired"—contracted into Barr— must be considered only as his acquired surname. *? It is related, that
chief blacksmith to the Chief of Rathluin. This latter was called Tyager-
61
nach, the son of Cas, and descended from the race of Echach. The
Scottish account, as contained in the Breviary of Aberdeen, calls him
Tigrinatus.
62 In his
territory
lived a
girl
of rare
beauty,
whom the
chief
wishedtoretainashiscompanion. Heordered,thatnomanshouldtake
her as a wife. But Amergin disobeyed his order, for he became passionately
in love with that female. In due course of time, Bairre was conceived. 63 Hearing about this matter, the chief fell into a violent fit of anger. He
reproached the young woman with her disobedience, and she acknowledged to whom she had been married. Filled with rage, the chief ordered both
52 Rathluin was the name of O'Magh-
59 This place has not been identified. In the Codex Kilkenniensis the denomination is spelled Dunteon.
60 Now the Barony of Muskerry, County of Cork.
61 "— Called by Hanmer Tegernatus. "
thamna's or O'Mahony's district, extending on both sides of the River Bandon. See Richard Caulfield's note, attached to his Life of St. Fin Barre, p. 8, n. (b).
mination being in the extreme north-eastern
part of the Scottish mainland. An Island
of the name is not to be found on the Map to Eachach, son of Cas, son of Core, of Scotland, and the position here assigned
to it is a geographical mistake.
54 Now Ross—the shire of that name is
separated from Caithness by Sutherland, and it lies across the whole of Scotland in the northern part from the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.
62 It is curious to compare the different versions of a tradition, which may be traced to a common—even if not reliable—historic source, and in places so far apart as the extreme northern parts of Scotland and the
ss See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of extreme southern parts of Ireland. Both
Scottish Saints," p. 275.
56 The Bollandist editor Suyskens says,
have reference to our Saint. A legend in Torfteus describes a feud between two northern chiefs, in which the one carries off the daughter of the other. Being worsted in a sea-fight, the abductor swims ashore with her, and marries her in an irregular manner, in the cottage of a poor man. The couple had a son named Bard, who tra-
that he was called, in the first instance.
"
Loanus seu Luanus,"
57 See, Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. ,
sect, iv. , p. 314. This opinion Dr. Lanigan seems to have drawn from Sir James Ware,
who says: "Propriis Hibernorum veterum velled and acquired great learning. He
nominibus addita sunt cognomina, vel a re gesta, vel ab animi qualitate, vel a colore,
was afterwards bishop of Ireland, and he
wrought great miracles. See "Orcades,"
lib. i. , cap. 10.
4
3The Scottish account of St. Finbar, both before and immediately after his birth, is somewhat in accordance with the Irish Lives of him, printed by Richard Caulf eld, LL. D.
64 See Miss M. F. Cusack's " Histoiv of
vel a corporis sive nota aliqua, sive defectu, vel a casu, vel ironice. Sic . . . S. Barrus,
—"De Hibernia et Antiquitatibus ejus," cap. ix. ,
Finbarrns, sive Barrus Albus," &c.
p. 41.
s8 Called by Hanmer Amorgen. " See
"
" Chronicle of Ireland," p. 108.
—
ibid. This chief Tighearnach was son to Hugh the Arrogant, son of Criomthann, son
according to the Bruxelles Manuscript Life of St. Fin Bairre, chap. i.
55*
place
55* LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September25.
husband and wife to be bound in chains. He then directed his servants to construct a large pile of dried wood, so that when it should be set on fire,
both might be cast into it.
However, Providence decreed, that the pile
should remain unconsumed 64 for a great hurricane arose at the time, with ;
thunder, lightning and heavy rain, which prevented the fire being lighted. Then, Bairre spoke from his mother's womb, according to the tradition, and reproached the chief with the crime, meditated against his innocent parents. 65 This miraculous event is attributed to the circumstance, that St. Barr was yet in his mother's womb. 66 When such a result had been known to the
chief, Bairre's parents were brought before him, and finally they were dismissed with pardon. 67
Soon after these occurrences, the holy infant Barr was born. 68 Imme- diately, as if recognizing some foretaste of the child's future sanctity, the chief went to see this infant and to ask his benediction. The child is said to have spoken and to have asked the chief as their patron to receive his
parents. ^ The chief fulfilled his promise, by granting his parents all they choose to ask. 7° Then they joyfully returned to their own territory, which is
1
called the plain of Dunteon. ? This place is probably to be regarded as
identical with Achadh Durbeon, where the first name given to their son in
was and there he was nursed for seven 7a Thenceforward baptism Loan, years.
the child was silent, until the time proper for infants to exercise the gift of speech. There, their little son was diligently instructed, and his good morals
were admired by all. So far as inaccuracy of expression in the Manuscript allows us to state, owing to some cogent reason, three anchorites, originally from Leinster but then living in Minister, were returning about that time towards their own territory. Coming by the house of Amergin, father to St. Barr, they received from him hospitality for that night. These travellers greatly admired the boy's appearance. One of these seniors remarked, that beautiful as the child's features were, his gifts of true faith were still more
" and the holy spirit dwells in him ; would that he were with us to study, because the grace of God shines through his features. " His father on hearing this
admirable. u I know he is the elect of God," continued this
the City and County of Cork," chap, iii. , PP-33. 34-
65 According to the Burgundian Mann- script Life of St. Fin Bairre, chap. i.
66
According to the popular tradition of the people living at Gougane Barra, County of Cork, St. Barr was born near Bandon, and in the Rath, which occupied that site now covered by Castle Mahon, and later still called—Castle Bernard, Lord Bandon's residence. Letter of
senior,
some other incidents relating to our Saint's Life. —Ibid. , pp. 109, no, III.
** In the Burgundian Manuscript Life of St. Finn Bairre, his pedigree is thus traced : Bairri, the son of Aimirgin, son of Black Dunne, son to Art, son of Carthann, son to Flann, son of Deadh, son to Brian, son of Eachadh Muighmeadhoin.
65>" Bairre spoke in his mother's womb, and also immediately after his birth, in order
Reeves, pp. 258, 259.
7° The Burgundian Manuscript Life of St.
that the Saint asked the chief to liberate his father and mother, when Tigheamach not only complied with the request, but gave himse—lf and his posterity
Very
Hurley, P. P. , to the writer, and dated
justify
Inchigeela, County Cork, March 15th, 1889.
67 Some of the foregoing particulars seem to have been contained in the Office of our Saint, to which allusion has been made by the Bollandists. Dr. Hanmer appears to have had access to some old Life of our
Fin Bairre has
it,
Rev. Patrick to
her, as his Life
Saint, as he relates substantially the fore- ""
going legend. See Chronicle of Ireland. " pp. 107, 108. Subsequently he quotes
to Bairre in perpetuity. Chap. i.
7I One Manuscript Life reads, Campum Dimteon. " Underanyformofthisname,
the has not been identified, place
72 According to the Burgundian Manu- script Life of St. Fin Bairre, chap. ii.
several Latin hexameter " lines,
sung yearly
on his day, being the 25th of September. " Those lines allude to the foregoing and
his father and mot— states in the first chapter. "
"
of Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and
Martyrology
September 35. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 553
said to them " If you wish it, take him with you, then let him study ; for :
and we offer him to God. " The seniors present, he shall not come with us, for we proceed farther ;
" At
but we shall
we are his
parents,
replied :
again return, and afterwards we shall go to the Lagenian territory. Then on
our departure, let him come with us, for such is the will of God. " Accord- ingly at another opportunity, and in the summer season, these holy seniors on returning took with them from his parents this child of benediction.
When they had come to a place called Muncyll Monaid," feeling thirsty, Barr called for a drink of milk. Seeing a hind on a mountain near them, one of the seniors told his servant to milk her, and bring the milk to the boy, whose holiness would cause the animal to become tame. This accordingly happened, and the servant obeyed his senior's injunctions. At the same
"
place and time, one of those seniors said to his companions :
where God wrought such a wonderful miracle for this holy child, he should there read the alphabet, and his hair should be shaved, in the Lord's name. "
Accordingly, he received tonsure, and then read the alphabet, to the great astonishment of those who were present. 74 They wondered very much, at
" The hair, which covers that servant of God, is very beautiful. " And another
his extraordinary mental powers. While shaving him the senior said
:
senior " You have replied :
because his name must be
and he shall henceforth be called Fyndbarr. " However, at that time, he
spoken truly,
changed, was not so named ; they only called him Barr, 75 the boy having been pre-
known as Locan. On the same
miracles, in the name of Christ. 77 When he was on the same mountain of
viously
day,
8 where the crosses of St. Brendan afterwards stood,? * this Saint wept bitterly, yet afterwards he smiled. His disciples asked the reason for
Muncyll,?
that act. The strange
" I will disclose to
senior
you the cause, my most beloved sons; when I smiled, it was because of a
certain little boy, who now stands near us. God has wrought great miracles, and shall still work more ; this boy is called Barre, and he shall be greatly honoured, both by God and men. And therefore I am sad, because I have not obtained from God, what I have just now asked from Him. 8° This
petition, God has granted to that holy boy, who had not requested the favour. "81 St. Brendan then declared his wish, that after his own death, his
73 As called in the Scottish
language. It has not been identified. Another reading is Munchillimoni.
74 See Miss Cusack's "History of the
childe. " —"Chronicle of Ireland," This must be about A. D. 570.
p. 107.
City p. 36.
and
County
of
Cork," chap, iii. ,
? 8 The Burgundian Manuscript Life has Sliabh Muincille, chap. iii.
79 The Life states Burgundian Manuscript
in bAiti Ackc Cfiof-A bjienAinx) . amp,
rendered "at the — where Brenain's p^ce
crosses are to-day.
chapters.
13 To this rev. gentleman, the author is
indebted for many other useful notes, which serve to illustrate the Life of St. Finbar ;
"
besides for the very interesting
St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork," compiled from Records in the British Museum, &c,
Hodges' and Smith's quarto paper MS. , (No. 150), contains a Lile of St. Barr, alias Finbarr, of Cork. Messrs. Hodges' and Smith's small quarto paper MS. , (No. 168), in the R. I. A. , contains a Life of St. Finbar,
Bishop of Cork.
20
Annals of
In Smith's time among the Manuscripts it was numbered 37.
•» Mr. Hitchcock told Mr. Windale, that
quarian Gleanings," vol. vi. Notes on Life of St. Finbar, p. 751. MS. in R. I. A.
18
In the Manuscript, classed E. 3. 11.
fol. 109.
19 In Messrs. Hodges' and Smith's collec-
The Manuscript in question has the
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 549
An Office for our Saint bad been recited in the Cathedral Church of Cork,
some time previous to the 19th of April, 1624," and whilst Irish Catholic affairs
were in a tolerably prosperous state. This Office had nine proper Lessons,
and it is deserving of attention, chiefly because it shows in what veneration
our Saint had been held in that diocese, of which he is the reputed patron.
There is also a proper Mass for the feast of our Saint, set down at the 25th
of 22 and from which some extracts are in the "Acta Sanc- September, given
torum. " WearetoldbytheeditorSuyskens,thatitdoesnotaboundinany of those extravagancies related in the Office. ^ In the Bollandists' "Acta
Sanctorum,* at the 25th of September, Father Constantine Suyskens has edited a Life of this Saint, so far as he had been able to procure materials from various sources. 25 The editor remarks that a Life of our Saint, the commencement of which he quotes, is filled with those fables, common in the Acts of our national Saints, so that it becomes impossible to separate what is truthful from what is false. Moreover, the Bollandists appear to have possessed a Manuscript copy of St. Barr's Life, similar to that in the Codex Kilkenniensis. It belonged to Father Hugh Ward, the celebrated Irish Minorite friar. But, Suyskens did not regard it as worthy of being printed, on account of the many fables it contained. This same Bollandist
father had another Manuscript Life, from the collection of Henry Fitzsimons,
with an additional 26 In this St. Barr is called Macu- copy.
S. J. , together
linus. 2? It would seem, however, that the Life to which he refers was
different, in many respects, from the Manuscript preserved in Marsh's
28 The Bollandist editor would not several fables in the Library. publish
Life to which he had access. Therefore, he is contented with giving a brief summary of it. This appears to have been transcribed literally from an Office of St. Barr. Some later writers have given us lives or memorials of the present Saint. Thus, Archbishop Ussher,29 Sir James Ware,3° and his
12
editor Walter Harris^ also Philip O'Sullivan Beared Roderick 0'Flaherty,33
"
title, Irish Researches," vol. vi. , see p. the Bollandists. Colgan promised to pub-
731. 21
At this date, Bernard Mede, an Irish
lish this Life, at the 25th of September, but he did not live to fulfil that engagement.
2? It would seem to have been a
scribed it for his brother Doctor Gerard of our Saint, pronounced on his feast, from
Minorite would seem to have tran- friar,
panegyric
Mede. Afterwards, this copy found its way to the Bollandist collection of Manuscripts. 22 Taken from " Missae Propriae Sanctorum Patronorum ac Tutelarium Franciseet Hiber- nise," dementis XII. Papae jussu edita,
the exordium quoted by Suyskens: yet we are also informed, it was full of fables, and
not worth publishing.
28 He " habere me Vitam MS. says : ejus
ex Sectionario sive Officio Corcagiensi a Ber- A. D. 1734. It was printed in Paris, and nardo Medo Corcagice descriptam, cu/us
sanctioned by the Archbishop of that city, Charles Gaspar William de Vintimille, as also by Luke, Archbishop of Dublin.
initium est : Erat quidam rex in Hibernia, nomine Tegernacus, qui ancillam habuit pulchram nimis ; a quo edictum exiit per ejus dominium universum, ut nemo predi—c-
23 See, ibid. , sect, i. , nn. 8 to 12, p. 143.
24 See tomus vii. Septembris xxv. De tarn virginem praesumeret deflorare, &c. "
S. Barro vel Finbarro Ep. Corcagiensi in Hibernia, et forte alio Episcopo Cathenensi in Scotia.
25 It is issued in a Commentarius Histo- rico-Criticus, containing four distinct sec- tions, having sixty-one paragraphs, pp. 142
Ibid. , sect, ii. , p. 144.
2? See " Hritannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 493. Also p. 503. 3° See " De Hibernia et Antiquitatibus
to 151. 26
Colgan possessed
a Life of St.
Barr,
of Cork,'' p. 556.
32 See " Historiae Catholicae Iberniae Com-
which from quotations given in "Acta pendium," tomus i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 51. 33 "
Sanctorum Hibernias," Suyskens deems to See Ogygia," pais iii. , cap. lxxix have been different from Lives in custody of p. 376.
ejus," cap. xxvi. , pp. 196, 197. 3I See Harris' Ware, vol. i.
"Bishops
550 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September25.
and Bishop Challoner34 mention him. The Rev. Alban Butler 35 has some notices of St. Barr or Finbar, first bishop of Cork, at the 25th of September.
"
The Rev. Dr. Lanigan has a memoir of this Saint in his
Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland,"36 illustrated as it is with accompanying notes. Richard
Caulfield, B. A. , has more recently edited with notes, etc. , "The Life of
Saint Fin Barre, first Bishop and Founder of the See of Cork. "37 Also, in
the works of Rev. M. J. Brenan,38 Bishop Forbes,39 Professor Eugene
40 Rev S. 1 and Alfred Webb/2 St. Bairre is recorded O'Curry, . Baring-Gould,*
in brief biographies.
The Manuscript Lives inform us, that the holy Saint and worthy pontiff
Barrus derived his origin from the Hy-briun Ratha,43 of the Connacian race. Hy Briun Ratha was situated in West Connaught. 44 It comprised the present Barony of Athenry/s and it was a sub-territory of the Briuin Seola on the extreme coast of Iar-Connacht. 46 According to a legendary Life of our Saint, a chief of Hy-bruin district is said to have had a son, named Amergin. 4 ? Another son is said to have been born, and to have been thrown into a
the desert. 4? But, a she-wolf is said to have suckled him, until he was fully grown. The infant was remarkable for his beautiful form. Some swine- herds, making their rounds through the desert, found this child in the woods, andbroughthimtotheirhome. Theyafterwardscarriedhimtotheirchief- tain, who recognized the child as his own son. The father, as stated in this strangely contradictory narrative, dearly loved the child, and took him into his household. Yet, being ashamed of a crime previously committed, the father with his son is stated to have sought a dwelling in the territory of
1
There his posterity afterwards increased in number, so that they could not remain in one place. They separated themselves throughout divers territories of
34 In "Britannia Sancta," part ii. , pp. Connaught, and that it contained fourteen 142, 143, and also in "A Memorial of villages or townlands. Within it is the site
——
river/8 Amergin was left so runs the story to be devoured by beasts in
Hualiathain,s° in the southern part of the Minister provinces
ancient British Piety," p. 135.
35 See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs,
and other principal Saints," vol. ix. Sep- tember xxv.
36 See vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , sect, iv. , pp.
313 to 319.
37 From MSS. , in the Bodleian Library,
Oxford, Archbishop Marsh's Library, and Trinity College Library, Dublin. Published in London, 1864, 8vo.
3* See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland,"
Seventh Century, chap, i. , pp. 96, 97.
39 See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints,"
48 According to the Codex Kilkenniensis 40 See " Lectures on the Manuscript MS. and the Bodleian MS. the two sons
pp. 275, 276.
Materials of Ancient Irish History," Lect.
xvi. , p. 340.
41 See "Lives of the Saints," vol. ix. ,
September 25, pp. 377, 378.
42 See "Compendium of Irish Biography,"
p. 178.
43 "Hewas of the race of — son of Brian,
of Knocktiia, where a battle was fought be- tween Kildare and Clanrickard, in 1504. This was about six miles to the east of Gal-
way town. See lxxix. , p. 376.
"
Ogygia," pars iii. , cap.
45See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. "Antiquities of Ireland," cliap. vii. , p. 50.
46 See " Chorographical Description of Iar-Connaught," edited by James Hardi- man, p. 369, and Map facing the Title- page.
47 In some Manuscripts called Amargenus, and in others Amyrgenus.
were twins.
49 The Burgundian Manuscript Life of St.
Fin Bairre altogether omits this silly legend. so This territory was nearly co-extensive
with the present barony of Barrymore, in the County of Cork. See leabhAp ti4
or the Book of edited 5-Ce^fc, Rights, by
—"
44 We are told by Roderick O'Flaherty, giensi. " Roderick O'Flaherty's Ogygia,"
•• Eochaidh Muighmheadhoin. " Martyr-
John O'Donovan, pp. 72, 73, n. (s. ).
ology of Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd 5 ' " Darius Kearb, &c, genuit Achaum and Reeves, pp. 258, 259. Liathanach, ex quo Hyliathan in agro Corca-
that Hy Briun Ratha was situated in West pars iii. , p. 381.
September 25. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
Minister. A certain division of them came to the chief of Rathluyn's terri-
2 From this of the tory. s portion
account has The Scottish —
St. Barr is said to have—
tribe, descended.
that St. Finbar or
is found written was born in the Island of Cathania,S3 which was on the
Amergin,s
8 the father of our
Saint,
came from
Connaught
and took a
He became the
at Achadh Durbeon,59 in the country of Musgry Mitine. 6°
—
53 Now Caithness the shire of this deno-
it,
Fymbarrus
as his
name
western side of Scotia, having Rossia54 on the south and the Orkadesss or Orkney Islands to the east. However, there are no true historic grounds for the statement, that our Saint had been a native of Scotland, although after death, his memory was held there in veneration. At what exact time he was born in Ireland has not transpired, but it was probably after the middle of the sixth century. It is contended, moreover, that his real name was LochaiV6 and that Finbarr, i. e. " white-haired"—contracted into Barr— must be considered only as his acquired surname. *? It is related, that
chief blacksmith to the Chief of Rathluin. This latter was called Tyager-
61
nach, the son of Cas, and descended from the race of Echach. The
Scottish account, as contained in the Breviary of Aberdeen, calls him
Tigrinatus.
62 In his
territory
lived a
girl
of rare
beauty,
whom the
chief
wishedtoretainashiscompanion. Heordered,thatnomanshouldtake
her as a wife. But Amergin disobeyed his order, for he became passionately
in love with that female. In due course of time, Bairre was conceived. 63 Hearing about this matter, the chief fell into a violent fit of anger. He
reproached the young woman with her disobedience, and she acknowledged to whom she had been married. Filled with rage, the chief ordered both
52 Rathluin was the name of O'Magh-
59 This place has not been identified. In the Codex Kilkenniensis the denomination is spelled Dunteon.
60 Now the Barony of Muskerry, County of Cork.
61 "— Called by Hanmer Tegernatus. "
thamna's or O'Mahony's district, extending on both sides of the River Bandon. See Richard Caulfield's note, attached to his Life of St. Fin Barre, p. 8, n. (b).
mination being in the extreme north-eastern
part of the Scottish mainland. An Island
of the name is not to be found on the Map to Eachach, son of Cas, son of Core, of Scotland, and the position here assigned
to it is a geographical mistake.
54 Now Ross—the shire of that name is
separated from Caithness by Sutherland, and it lies across the whole of Scotland in the northern part from the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.
62 It is curious to compare the different versions of a tradition, which may be traced to a common—even if not reliable—historic source, and in places so far apart as the extreme northern parts of Scotland and the
ss See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of extreme southern parts of Ireland. Both
Scottish Saints," p. 275.
56 The Bollandist editor Suyskens says,
have reference to our Saint. A legend in Torfteus describes a feud between two northern chiefs, in which the one carries off the daughter of the other. Being worsted in a sea-fight, the abductor swims ashore with her, and marries her in an irregular manner, in the cottage of a poor man. The couple had a son named Bard, who tra-
that he was called, in the first instance.
"
Loanus seu Luanus,"
57 See, Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. ,
sect, iv. , p. 314. This opinion Dr. Lanigan seems to have drawn from Sir James Ware,
who says: "Propriis Hibernorum veterum velled and acquired great learning. He
nominibus addita sunt cognomina, vel a re gesta, vel ab animi qualitate, vel a colore,
was afterwards bishop of Ireland, and he
wrought great miracles. See "Orcades,"
lib. i. , cap. 10.
4
3The Scottish account of St. Finbar, both before and immediately after his birth, is somewhat in accordance with the Irish Lives of him, printed by Richard Caulf eld, LL. D.
64 See Miss M. F. Cusack's " Histoiv of
vel a corporis sive nota aliqua, sive defectu, vel a casu, vel ironice. Sic . . . S. Barrus,
—"De Hibernia et Antiquitatibus ejus," cap. ix. ,
Finbarrns, sive Barrus Albus," &c.
p. 41.
s8 Called by Hanmer Amorgen. " See
"
" Chronicle of Ireland," p. 108.
—
ibid. This chief Tighearnach was son to Hugh the Arrogant, son of Criomthann, son
according to the Bruxelles Manuscript Life of St. Fin Bairre, chap. i.
55*
place
55* LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [September25.
husband and wife to be bound in chains. He then directed his servants to construct a large pile of dried wood, so that when it should be set on fire,
both might be cast into it.
However, Providence decreed, that the pile
should remain unconsumed 64 for a great hurricane arose at the time, with ;
thunder, lightning and heavy rain, which prevented the fire being lighted. Then, Bairre spoke from his mother's womb, according to the tradition, and reproached the chief with the crime, meditated against his innocent parents. 65 This miraculous event is attributed to the circumstance, that St. Barr was yet in his mother's womb. 66 When such a result had been known to the
chief, Bairre's parents were brought before him, and finally they were dismissed with pardon. 67
Soon after these occurrences, the holy infant Barr was born. 68 Imme- diately, as if recognizing some foretaste of the child's future sanctity, the chief went to see this infant and to ask his benediction. The child is said to have spoken and to have asked the chief as their patron to receive his
parents. ^ The chief fulfilled his promise, by granting his parents all they choose to ask. 7° Then they joyfully returned to their own territory, which is
1
called the plain of Dunteon. ? This place is probably to be regarded as
identical with Achadh Durbeon, where the first name given to their son in
was and there he was nursed for seven 7a Thenceforward baptism Loan, years.
the child was silent, until the time proper for infants to exercise the gift of speech. There, their little son was diligently instructed, and his good morals
were admired by all. So far as inaccuracy of expression in the Manuscript allows us to state, owing to some cogent reason, three anchorites, originally from Leinster but then living in Minister, were returning about that time towards their own territory. Coming by the house of Amergin, father to St. Barr, they received from him hospitality for that night. These travellers greatly admired the boy's appearance. One of these seniors remarked, that beautiful as the child's features were, his gifts of true faith were still more
" and the holy spirit dwells in him ; would that he were with us to study, because the grace of God shines through his features. " His father on hearing this
admirable. u I know he is the elect of God," continued this
the City and County of Cork," chap, iii. , PP-33. 34-
65 According to the Burgundian Mann- script Life of St. Fin Bairre, chap. i.
66
According to the popular tradition of the people living at Gougane Barra, County of Cork, St. Barr was born near Bandon, and in the Rath, which occupied that site now covered by Castle Mahon, and later still called—Castle Bernard, Lord Bandon's residence. Letter of
senior,
some other incidents relating to our Saint's Life. —Ibid. , pp. 109, no, III.
** In the Burgundian Manuscript Life of St. Finn Bairre, his pedigree is thus traced : Bairri, the son of Aimirgin, son of Black Dunne, son to Art, son of Carthann, son to Flann, son of Deadh, son to Brian, son of Eachadh Muighmeadhoin.
65>" Bairre spoke in his mother's womb, and also immediately after his birth, in order
Reeves, pp. 258, 259.
7° The Burgundian Manuscript Life of St.
that the Saint asked the chief to liberate his father and mother, when Tigheamach not only complied with the request, but gave himse—lf and his posterity
Very
Hurley, P. P. , to the writer, and dated
justify
Inchigeela, County Cork, March 15th, 1889.
67 Some of the foregoing particulars seem to have been contained in the Office of our Saint, to which allusion has been made by the Bollandists. Dr. Hanmer appears to have had access to some old Life of our
Fin Bairre has
it,
Rev. Patrick to
her, as his Life
Saint, as he relates substantially the fore- ""
going legend. See Chronicle of Ireland. " pp. 107, 108. Subsequently he quotes
to Bairre in perpetuity. Chap. i.
7I One Manuscript Life reads, Campum Dimteon. " Underanyformofthisname,
the has not been identified, place
72 According to the Burgundian Manu- script Life of St. Fin Bairre, chap. ii.
several Latin hexameter " lines,
sung yearly
on his day, being the 25th of September. " Those lines allude to the foregoing and
his father and mot— states in the first chapter. "
"
of Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and
Martyrology
September 35. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 553
said to them " If you wish it, take him with you, then let him study ; for :
and we offer him to God. " The seniors present, he shall not come with us, for we proceed farther ;
" At
but we shall
we are his
parents,
replied :
again return, and afterwards we shall go to the Lagenian territory. Then on
our departure, let him come with us, for such is the will of God. " Accord- ingly at another opportunity, and in the summer season, these holy seniors on returning took with them from his parents this child of benediction.
When they had come to a place called Muncyll Monaid," feeling thirsty, Barr called for a drink of milk. Seeing a hind on a mountain near them, one of the seniors told his servant to milk her, and bring the milk to the boy, whose holiness would cause the animal to become tame. This accordingly happened, and the servant obeyed his senior's injunctions. At the same
"
place and time, one of those seniors said to his companions :
where God wrought such a wonderful miracle for this holy child, he should there read the alphabet, and his hair should be shaved, in the Lord's name. "
Accordingly, he received tonsure, and then read the alphabet, to the great astonishment of those who were present. 74 They wondered very much, at
" The hair, which covers that servant of God, is very beautiful. " And another
his extraordinary mental powers. While shaving him the senior said
:
senior " You have replied :
because his name must be
and he shall henceforth be called Fyndbarr. " However, at that time, he
spoken truly,
changed, was not so named ; they only called him Barr, 75 the boy having been pre-
known as Locan. On the same
miracles, in the name of Christ. 77 When he was on the same mountain of
viously
day,
8 where the crosses of St. Brendan afterwards stood,? * this Saint wept bitterly, yet afterwards he smiled. His disciples asked the reason for
Muncyll,?
that act. The strange
" I will disclose to
senior
you the cause, my most beloved sons; when I smiled, it was because of a
certain little boy, who now stands near us. God has wrought great miracles, and shall still work more ; this boy is called Barre, and he shall be greatly honoured, both by God and men. And therefore I am sad, because I have not obtained from God, what I have just now asked from Him. 8° This
petition, God has granted to that holy boy, who had not requested the favour. "81 St. Brendan then declared his wish, that after his own death, his
73 As called in the Scottish
language. It has not been identified. Another reading is Munchillimoni.
74 See Miss Cusack's "History of the
childe. " —"Chronicle of Ireland," This must be about A. D. 570.
p. 107.
City p. 36.
and
County
of
Cork," chap, iii. ,
? 8 The Burgundian Manuscript Life has Sliabh Muincille, chap. iii.
79 The Life states Burgundian Manuscript
in bAiti Ackc Cfiof-A bjienAinx) . amp,
rendered "at the — where Brenain's p^ce
crosses are to-day.
