March, in 11 74, having attained the
seventieth
year of his age.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
990, King Aulaf Tryggvesson was en-
gaged on a plundering expedition in Ireland, when he collected a great herd,
of cows, sheep and goats. While driving them to his ships, a poor Irishman begged of Aulaf, to give up his cows and sheep, so that he might drive them
home. " How can I do it," said
" since neither
nor else you anyone
letmesend
that poor man immediately complied with the chief's request. * Whereupon, Aulaf gave him a heavy ring of goId,3 and they both parted as friends. * That
he was specially venerated in Scotland, on this day, is manifest, from the ScottishMartyrologists,Breviaries,andHistoriesextant. IntheKalendarof
Arbuthnott,5 we have, at the 30th of March, St. Olave, King and Martyr, ix. Lect. ; whileasimilarentryistobefound,intheKalendaroftheAberdeen
themfromsucha
in," replied the poor man, " and he will find them out. "
could
Bollandists ^ that a state,
Martyrology
of has Ado,
NOTHING
parents impress
Aulaf,
my dog " If your dog can do it, you may send him in, but mind, that he does not delay us long. " Having obtained such permission, the man made a sign to his dog. In about half-an-hour, this animal collected the cattle, for their former owner. Astonishedattheextraordinarysagacityofthedog,Aulafaskedforit, and
separate
great
Only
"^ attheiii. ofthe Kalends. Adam Breviary, April
^ atthe of King has, 30th
March : S. Ole King of norwege and mart, vnder henrie ye crowkit. The
of the
Manuscript copy
the feast of Olaus, King of Norway and Martyr, at this date, although his
Natalis is properly referable to the 29th of July. To this latter day, we direct the reader's attention, for further particulars, regarding this illustrious historical character.
Cl)ii%firs;t laai? of ilartft*
ARTICLE I. —ST. MELLA, ABBESS OF DOIRE-MELLE, COUNTY OF LEITRIM.
[EIGHTH CENTURYJi
can prove more advantageous to the interests of religion,
than for to the tender minds of children with
high and holy purposes. Some account of this holy woman is given by Colgan^' and by the Bollandists. ^ St. Mella flourished, about the middle of the
'° SeeDr. 0'Donovan's"AnnalsoftheFour presenting so many precious deposits, in the
Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1014, 1015, andn. (r. ) Royal Irish Academy. '"
Article XVI. — See "The Scandinavian '•See Scripta Historica Islandorum," History of Dublin. '* by Charles Haliday, vol. X. Historia Olavi Tryggvii filii, cap.
with some notice of the author's life, by xiii. , p. 234^
"
John P. Prendergast, p. Ixiv.
s See Bishop Forbes' Scottish Saints," p. 98.
*
Kalendars of
"" We are further
Latin Vigius, was the name of this dog, the most sagacious of all others known, and
Olafus was his master, for a long time. See "
informed,
that in Vigi,
iii. j Rev. James Johnstone's Aiitiquitates Martii xxx. Among the pretermitted
Celto-Scandicse," pp. 74, 75.
3 Perhaps this account may serve to
saints, p. 796.
Article i. —' See Colgan's "Acta Sane*
torum ttibemise," xxxi. Martii. Dc S»
throw some light on the torques of gold, or
ring money—as it has been called—repre- Mella,
Abbatissa.
p. 796.
herd? " "
Ibid. , p. 114.
^ See his Kalendar. Ibid. , p. 1 48. * See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
1030 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 31.
eighth century, in the northern parts of the Connaught province. 3 This, has been inferred, from the circumstance of her son SL Tighernach's *> death,
having been recorded, at a. d. 805. 5 The devout matron, by God's holy decree, was the happy mother of two sons, whose names are found on record,
in the pages of our Irish Martyrologies. These are named respectively, St. Cannech,^ a Priest, and St. Tigernach, an Abbot. ? Having been deprived of her husband, by death, she afterwards formed the resolution of embracing
a religious life. St. Tigernach erected a religious house, near Lough Melve, —now known as Lough Melvin,—in the county of Leitrim, and within the diocese of Killmore. ^ He left this establishment, in favour of his mother ; and, he then retired to another monastery, named Kill-Acaidh, or " the church of the field," the situation of which is unknown. St. Mella presided overacommunityofholywomen,attheformerplacej which,fromher,took the name of Doire-Melle, which signifies, the " oak grove of Mella. " We are told, it had been situated in Rossinver parish, county of Leitrim, although the name is not known, at present. 9 It is said, she ruled over her nunnery for many years ; but, little more has transpired respecting her. She is sup- posed to have died, before the year 787,^° as her name occurs, in the Martyr- ology of Tallagh. In it" we find inserted, Mella, at the 9th, and Doire
Mella,added,atthe31stofMarch,tothesameetymon. IntheMartyr- ologies of Marianus O'Gorman, and of Cathald Maguire, there is a Mella, belonging to the church of Cluainai, set-down, for the 1 9th of March. But, shemayhavebeenadistinctperson. " TheMartyrologyofDonegalgives her this title of Doire Mella, on the 31st of January,'3 when alluding to her son Cainneach ; but, at the present day, it has no record of her feast. By her influence and authority, St. Mella awakened in the souls of her religious, as of her own two sons, the love and fear of God. This she effected, like- wise, in the spirit of gentleness, forbearance, and true charity.
Article II. —St. Machabeo, or Gilda Machai-beo, Abbot of Armagh. \Twelfth Century7\ Although the oak-tree's trunk cease for a time to put forth branches and leaves, its roots do not fail to grow vigor- ously, while they extend in the earth. So when religious life appears diminished to the gaze of men, its hidden workings do not present less effec- tive results, in the sight of God. St. Machabeo, or, as he is sometimes
'"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
xxxi. Martii. Among the pretermitted festivals, p. 898.
3 See Colgan's note i, p. 796.
•• His feast occurs, at the 4th of Novem- ber.
s See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 414, 415.
' His feast has been referred, to the 31st
of January.
'In the attributed "Opuscula" of St.
ruined church of Rossinver is supposed to have been that of the nunnery of Doiremelle, founded by St. Tigernach for his mother. See, vol. ii. , p. 537.
» See Dr. 0'i3onovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (g), p. 415.
'" See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xxxi. Martii. De S. Mella, p. 796. This assumption of Colgan may be ques* tioned, as also his argument, in support of it.
iEngus, we read
:
" Mella mater fuit Can-
We know, that the Martyrology of Tallagh includes the names of its reputed
deDore Melle. " Lib. iv. , cap. viii. Colgan is of opinion, that the Cannech here named was identical with St*' Cannech Praesbyter, the son of Uchil, commemorated at the 31st of January, in the Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Marianus O'Gorman, and of Donegal. See
n. 2, p. 796.
' In Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary
Saints Mselruan and ^ngus, as
nechi— eiS.
Prassbyteri Tigernachi
compilers,
'3 Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, oi Ireland," it is said, the ancient and pp. 32, 33.
also afterthem. See saints, who lived long
Introduction to this work, sect, ii. , vol. i.
''
See the copy edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, pp. xviii. and xx. In the Franciscan copy, at this date, we find metlA t)o1i\e lllebL
" See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," Martii xxxi. , nn. 7, 8, p. 796.
March 31, LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
1031
called, Gilda Machai-beo,^ means, " servant of the living Mochai ;" and, Colgan, who has given an account of him, at the 3Tst day of March,== sup- poses the name to have been imposed,3 in honour of St. Mochai, Abbot of Nendnim,-* who is related to have lived one hundred and fifty years, in Heaven, and in a state of repose. The present saint was bom, in the year 1 104,5 as we collect from the Irish Annals. He embraced the monastic pro-
Cathedral, as restored, at Armagh.
fession, in the city of Armagh,^ and, in its former monastery, consecrated to St. Peter and St. Paul. He was probably a student, with the great St.
Malachy O'Morgair,? and under the tuition of that holy Abbot, Imar
O'Aedhacan. ^ It is also probable, that our saint succeeded this latter, by
the — after his in the — The office of governing monastery, death, year 1134.
Abbot he exercised if this opinion be well grounded
9
during forty years,
with the greatest sanctity. According to our ancient Martyrologies, he was the tower of Devotion and of Mildness in his time, the Ark of Wisdom and
ofScience,ofLabourandofPrudence. ^" Heisalsooneofthelatestsaints, recorded in the Martyrologies of our country. He died, on the 31st of
Article ii. —• Marianus O'Gorman and the Martyrology of Donegal have both ap- pellations applied to him.
^ His feast has been assigned to the 13th
of August.
9 This supposition is further confirmed by
* See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," the circumstance, that we do not find the
Martii xxxi. De S. Machabco Abbate Ard- machano, pp. 795, 796.
3 See ibtd. , n. i, p. 796.
^ His feast occurs, at the 23rd of June.
5 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 12, 13.
^ The accompanying illustration of the old Cathedral, as restored in our own times, was drawn by William F. Wakeman, and transferred to the wood-block, engraved by
Mrs. Millard.
"> See his Life, at the 3rd of November.
death of any Armagh Abbot recorded, in our ancient Annals, between that of Imar O'Aedhacan and of Machabeus. Yet, our Annalists, about this period, were in the habit, not only of recording the deaths of Archbishops and of Abbots m Armagh, but even the year when Scribes, Chronogra- phers, and Prefects of its schools, died, with others of inferior rank, distinguished by piety and learning.
" Such is the eulogy, pronounced on him. by Blessed Marianus O'Gorman, Abbot of
1033
* LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 31.
March, in 11 74, having attained the seventieth year of his age. " We find
mentioned, on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal," Machabeus, />. , Gilla Mochaidhbeo, Abbot of the Monastery of Peter and Paul at Ardmacha.
The BoUandists briefly notice him, at this date,'3 but they print, incorrectly, Mcxxxiv. , as the year for his death.
ArticleIII. —St. Colman,ofCamachadh. Thebrightestandfairest flowers bloom in solitude and soon wither, while they still perfume nooks, in which they grow, with delicious odours. So have bloomed and have been forgotten the localities and memory of many holy persons. Thus, when in- troducing his commemoration of the three saints, Colman, Foilan, and Fethadius, at, the 31st of March, Colgan remarks, that he united their names, because he found little of a distinctive character, in their Acts ; indeed, he observes, that although the Irish saints, venerated on this day, were not few in number, as many of our domestic Martyrologies proved, yet, very few records of their lives were to be discovered. ' We prefer, however, to dis- tinguish those saints ; and, hence, we begin with St. Colman's name, which occurs, in the Irish Martyrologies, at this day. However, Colgan confesses himself unable to discover the exact location of Camachadh, with which place,St. Colmanappearstohavehadconnection. Therewasachurch,in the diocese of Ossory," which was called Camchluain ;3 as, also, another in that of Derry, named Cambos, and Camus,* in our Martyrologies, At this latter church, a St, Colman was venerated, on the 30th of October ; but, whether he was a distinct person from our saint, Colgan had not been able to determine. Another church stood, in the region of Clannuadach,5 in Connaught, and it was named Cammagh,^ while its ruins are yet to be seen, 7 Colgan conjectures this name to have more nearly resembled Camachadh, in sound and signification, than any of the former denominations. Reinterprets
Camachadh, or Cammagh,^ by the Latin words,
*'
campum procurvum," and
Louth Monastery, in the diocese of Armagh :
"S. Machabeus, qui et Gilda-Mochaibeo, abbas monasterii Divorum Petri et Pauli,
Kilkennix, in Synodo Dioecesana. Die 8
Junii, 1873," I do not find any St. Colman, referable to the present day.
^ Now known as Camcloon, in the parish of Offerlane, and barony of Upperwoods. It Prudentiae, &c. " Colgan's "Acta Sancto- is marked, on the "Ordnance Survey rum Hibemiie," xxxi. Martii. Vita S. Townland Maps for the Queen's County,"
Armachoe, Turris Pietatis et Mansuetudinis, Area Sapientise —et Scientiae, arx Piorum et
Machabei, p. 796. The Martyrologies of Sheet 23,
Donegal and of Cathal Maguire have a nearly similar panygeric, at the 31st of March.
" His death is thus recorded, at the year 1 174: "Gilla Mochaibeo, Abbot of the Monastery ofSS. Peter and Paul at Armagh, a diligent and faithful servant of the Lord, diedonthe31stdayofM—arch,intheseven- tieth year of his age. " Dr. O'Donovan's •'Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 12, 13,
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
"
Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Martii xxxi. Among the pretermitted
^. This parish, in the barony of Lower
"
Strabane is shown, on the
vey Townland Maps for the County of Tyrone," Sheets 4, 5, 10. The townland is on the latter Sheet.
5 This was the territory of the O'Fallons. It was situated, in the barony of Athlone, and county of Roscommon. In Irish, it is written, cLAnn uAtJAch, and, it will be found so represented, on the Ancient Map, prefixed to "The Tribes and Customs of Hy-
Many," so judiciously edited by the late Dr. O'Donovan.
90, 91. '3 See
feasts, p. 897. —
Article hi. 'See Acta^ Sanctorum
as Cammoge, in the parish of Elphin, and barony of Roscommon, It is noticed, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Roscommon," Sheet 22.
"> The church was called Camach formerly
Brighdi, and at present Camma, in the diocese of Elphin. It lies about eight miles,
"
Hibemise," xxxi, Martii, De SS. Colmano
Foilano et Fethadeo, Confessoribus, pp.
800.
799,
'
Among the Patron saints, as given in the "Statuta Dioecesis Ossoriensis edila
*
Now, probably, the townland, known
Ordnance Sur-
March 31. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 1033
" the
has not been recorded, nor even the age, in which he flourished. However, it must have been at a rather early period, since in the Martyrology of Tal- lagh,'° at the 31st of March, we find, Colman am (cam) Achaid. Also, Marianus O'Gorman and Cathal Maguire commemorate him. Colman, of Camachadh, occurs, in the Martyrology of Donegal," on this day. The Bollandists briefly notice this saint, at the 31st of March," It is likely, this pious man sought an asylum in a solitude, which the proud and ambitious so much disdain, but which furnish tranquillity and enjoyment to the truly religious.
Article IV. —St. Faolan, or Foilan, son of Aedh. The name of
it is
Anglicized,
very
crooked
plain. "
9 The of our saint's death year
Faolan,
sonof
Aedh,
isfoundinthe of ^ atthe of Martyrology Tallagh 31st
March, as also in that of Blessed Marianus O'Gorman. ^ In like manner,
Colgan places the festival of a St. Foilan, at this day 3 He is supposed to
be identical with that St. Failan, a notice of whom occurs, at the 4th of June,"* and who is called the son of Aedh, or Aidus. s being descended from a royal stem, belonging to the Munster province. The festival in honour of Faolan was celebrated, on this day, according to the Martyrology of Donegal. ^ The Bollandists 7 have entered a notice of this saint, at the 31st of March.
Article V. —St. Fethaidh, or Fecacius. An entry is found, in the
Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 31st of March, of St. Fethaidh. At the same
date, Colgan presents a few unsatisfactory notices, regarding St. Fethadius, or Fecacius. ^ TheBollandists3merelynoticeFethadiusseniorMur-Mugensis, said by the Irish Martyrologists to have had a festival, at this date. We are to presume, however, that Thas been substituted for F, in the first letter of the name. It has iDeen remarked, by Colgan, that he is called senior of Murmagense, which is interpreted, in Irish, Murmagh, which signifies, in
English,
plain. "
locality,
" the maritime
he be identified thinks, may
' This
with Mag Murthemne, the maritime plain of Conall Murthemne, in Ultonia,
north-westwards from Athlone. See "The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many," n. (d),
•
pp. 78, 79.
^ This coincides with the name of a parish
church, in the barony of Athlone, and county of Roscommon, dedicated to St. Bridget. The small village of Tober Brighde, generally called in English Brides- well, is in it. We learn from a tract, pre- served in the Book of Lecan, fol. 92, treating of O'Kelly, and his people of Hy- many, that all the Hy-Many were baptized here. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (x), p. 258.
Kelly, p. xx. In the Franciscan copy, we
read, -pelAni ^itn, the rest obscure.
" See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," xvi. Januarii. Appendix, cap. i. , p. 104.
3 See "JActa Sanctorum Hibemise," xxxi.
Martii. De SS. Colmano, Foilano et
Fethadio, p. 799.
See, at that date, the account of St.
Faithlenn, son of Aedh Diamhan.
= According to the Genealogies of the
Irish Saints, chap, xxxiv.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
90, 91.
7 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Martii xxxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 898.
Article v. —'Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xx. In the Franciscan copy, we
have ITechAiTDe.
' See "Acta xxxi. Sanctorym Hiberniae,"
Martii. De SS. Colmano, Foilano et Fetha- dio, pp. 799, 800.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xxxi. Martii. Acta SS. Colmani,
Foilani and Fethadii, p. 799.
" Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. In
the Franciscan copy, we find, Colman cam ^chAiT).
"
QQ gi^
" See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
9 See
Colgan's
Edited by Drs. Todd and;";^Reeves, pp.
^ Martii xxxi. Among the pretermitted See
'•
Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus
saints, p. 898.
Article iv. —-' Edited by Rev. Dr
Martii xxxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 898.
iii. ,
I034 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [^[ARCH 31.
in which Lughmagh, or Louth, had been situated. And, as among the other holy men, who died, a. d. 784,* we find mentioned the demise of Feadhach, son to Cormac, Abbot of Lughmhadh,5 Slaine and DaimhUag f so it has been conjectured, that the latter may have been identical, with the present saint. Marianus O'Gorman and Cathal Maguire, who mention his name, at the 31st of March, throw no further light on his age and locality. Separated by a line, and as if it were a distinct entry, we read, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,7 that Senior Murmaige's feast was celebrated, at this date. More- over, on this day, we find recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ Feth- aidh.
Article VI. —Reputed Festival of St. Regulus, or St. Rule,
Scotland. We have already alluded to the feast of this holy man, at the
preceding day ; but, the Bollandists,^ citing a Manuscript Martyrology, be- longing to Prague, as also a Kalendar of the church at Aquileia,^ and a Manuscript Kalendar of a Breviary, used about the Rhine, have a brief allusion to St. Regulus, Bishop and Confessor, at this day. In the Kalendar of the Breviary of Aberdeen,3 we find at the 31st of March, or Pridie Kalen- das Aprilis, St. Regulus, Bishop, with a Double Office. *
Article VII. —Reputed Festival of St. Patto, Bishop of Verden,
*
Saxony. At Verda, and as a Scottish saint, Dempster enters Patto, second
BishopofthatSee,atthe31stofMarch. ' TheBollandistsmerelyalludeto this entry. 3
Article VIII. —Feast of the Holy Anissus, and of his Com-
panions,Martyrs,inAfrica. AsinmanyoftheoldMartyrologies,the Feilire^ ofSt. . ^nguscontainsthecelebrationofSt. Anissus,andofhiscom- panions, who suffered death for the sake of Christ There can be no question, but that these were the holy African Martyrs, who are commemo- rated at this^day, in the ancient ^Iartyrology, attributed to St. Jerome,' as
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
'See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 194.
3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Martii xxxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 897.
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 390, 391. s Now Louth.
* Now Duleek.
7 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx.
The
copy
and, afterwards, ttlAige.
the stanza is found following
— tomus iii.
gaged on a plundering expedition in Ireland, when he collected a great herd,
of cows, sheep and goats. While driving them to his ships, a poor Irishman begged of Aulaf, to give up his cows and sheep, so that he might drive them
home. " How can I do it," said
" since neither
nor else you anyone
letmesend
that poor man immediately complied with the chief's request. * Whereupon, Aulaf gave him a heavy ring of goId,3 and they both parted as friends. * That
he was specially venerated in Scotland, on this day, is manifest, from the ScottishMartyrologists,Breviaries,andHistoriesextant. IntheKalendarof
Arbuthnott,5 we have, at the 30th of March, St. Olave, King and Martyr, ix. Lect. ; whileasimilarentryistobefound,intheKalendaroftheAberdeen
themfromsucha
in," replied the poor man, " and he will find them out. "
could
Bollandists ^ that a state,
Martyrology
of has Ado,
NOTHING
parents impress
Aulaf,
my dog " If your dog can do it, you may send him in, but mind, that he does not delay us long. " Having obtained such permission, the man made a sign to his dog. In about half-an-hour, this animal collected the cattle, for their former owner. Astonishedattheextraordinarysagacityofthedog,Aulafaskedforit, and
separate
great
Only
"^ attheiii. ofthe Kalends. Adam Breviary, April
^ atthe of King has, 30th
March : S. Ole King of norwege and mart, vnder henrie ye crowkit. The
of the
Manuscript copy
the feast of Olaus, King of Norway and Martyr, at this date, although his
Natalis is properly referable to the 29th of July. To this latter day, we direct the reader's attention, for further particulars, regarding this illustrious historical character.
Cl)ii%firs;t laai? of ilartft*
ARTICLE I. —ST. MELLA, ABBESS OF DOIRE-MELLE, COUNTY OF LEITRIM.
[EIGHTH CENTURYJi
can prove more advantageous to the interests of religion,
than for to the tender minds of children with
high and holy purposes. Some account of this holy woman is given by Colgan^' and by the Bollandists. ^ St. Mella flourished, about the middle of the
'° SeeDr. 0'Donovan's"AnnalsoftheFour presenting so many precious deposits, in the
Masters," vol. ii. , pp. 1014, 1015, andn. (r. ) Royal Irish Academy. '"
Article XVI. — See "The Scandinavian '•See Scripta Historica Islandorum," History of Dublin. '* by Charles Haliday, vol. X. Historia Olavi Tryggvii filii, cap.
with some notice of the author's life, by xiii. , p. 234^
"
John P. Prendergast, p. Ixiv.
s See Bishop Forbes' Scottish Saints," p. 98.
*
Kalendars of
"" We are further
Latin Vigius, was the name of this dog, the most sagacious of all others known, and
Olafus was his master, for a long time. See "
informed,
that in Vigi,
iii. j Rev. James Johnstone's Aiitiquitates Martii xxx. Among the pretermitted
Celto-Scandicse," pp. 74, 75.
3 Perhaps this account may serve to
saints, p. 796.
Article i. —' See Colgan's "Acta Sane*
torum ttibemise," xxxi. Martii. Dc S»
throw some light on the torques of gold, or
ring money—as it has been called—repre- Mella,
Abbatissa.
p. 796.
herd? " "
Ibid. , p. 114.
^ See his Kalendar. Ibid. , p. 1 48. * See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus
1030 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 31.
eighth century, in the northern parts of the Connaught province. 3 This, has been inferred, from the circumstance of her son SL Tighernach's *> death,
having been recorded, at a. d. 805. 5 The devout matron, by God's holy decree, was the happy mother of two sons, whose names are found on record,
in the pages of our Irish Martyrologies. These are named respectively, St. Cannech,^ a Priest, and St. Tigernach, an Abbot. ? Having been deprived of her husband, by death, she afterwards formed the resolution of embracing
a religious life. St. Tigernach erected a religious house, near Lough Melve, —now known as Lough Melvin,—in the county of Leitrim, and within the diocese of Killmore. ^ He left this establishment, in favour of his mother ; and, he then retired to another monastery, named Kill-Acaidh, or " the church of the field," the situation of which is unknown. St. Mella presided overacommunityofholywomen,attheformerplacej which,fromher,took the name of Doire-Melle, which signifies, the " oak grove of Mella. " We are told, it had been situated in Rossinver parish, county of Leitrim, although the name is not known, at present. 9 It is said, she ruled over her nunnery for many years ; but, little more has transpired respecting her. She is sup- posed to have died, before the year 787,^° as her name occurs, in the Martyr- ology of Tallagh. In it" we find inserted, Mella, at the 9th, and Doire
Mella,added,atthe31stofMarch,tothesameetymon. IntheMartyr- ologies of Marianus O'Gorman, and of Cathald Maguire, there is a Mella, belonging to the church of Cluainai, set-down, for the 1 9th of March. But, shemayhavebeenadistinctperson. " TheMartyrologyofDonegalgives her this title of Doire Mella, on the 31st of January,'3 when alluding to her son Cainneach ; but, at the present day, it has no record of her feast. By her influence and authority, St. Mella awakened in the souls of her religious, as of her own two sons, the love and fear of God. This she effected, like- wise, in the spirit of gentleness, forbearance, and true charity.
Article II. —St. Machabeo, or Gilda Machai-beo, Abbot of Armagh. \Twelfth Century7\ Although the oak-tree's trunk cease for a time to put forth branches and leaves, its roots do not fail to grow vigor- ously, while they extend in the earth. So when religious life appears diminished to the gaze of men, its hidden workings do not present less effec- tive results, in the sight of God. St. Machabeo, or, as he is sometimes
'"
See Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
xxxi. Martii. Among the pretermitted festivals, p. 898.
3 See Colgan's note i, p. 796.
•• His feast occurs, at the 4th of Novem- ber.
s See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 414, 415.
' His feast has been referred, to the 31st
of January.
'In the attributed "Opuscula" of St.
ruined church of Rossinver is supposed to have been that of the nunnery of Doiremelle, founded by St. Tigernach for his mother. See, vol. ii. , p. 537.
» See Dr. 0'i3onovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (g), p. 415.
'" See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xxxi. Martii. De S. Mella, p. 796. This assumption of Colgan may be ques* tioned, as also his argument, in support of it.
iEngus, we read
:
" Mella mater fuit Can-
We know, that the Martyrology of Tallagh includes the names of its reputed
deDore Melle. " Lib. iv. , cap. viii. Colgan is of opinion, that the Cannech here named was identical with St*' Cannech Praesbyter, the son of Uchil, commemorated at the 31st of January, in the Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Marianus O'Gorman, and of Donegal. See
n. 2, p. 796.
' In Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary
Saints Mselruan and ^ngus, as
nechi— eiS.
Prassbyteri Tigernachi
compilers,
'3 Edited by Rev. Drs. Todd and Reeves, oi Ireland," it is said, the ancient and pp. 32, 33.
also afterthem. See saints, who lived long
Introduction to this work, sect, ii. , vol. i.
''
See the copy edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, pp. xviii. and xx. In the Franciscan copy, at this date, we find metlA t)o1i\e lllebL
" See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," Martii xxxi. , nn. 7, 8, p. 796.
March 31, LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
1031
called, Gilda Machai-beo,^ means, " servant of the living Mochai ;" and, Colgan, who has given an account of him, at the 3Tst day of March,== sup- poses the name to have been imposed,3 in honour of St. Mochai, Abbot of Nendnim,-* who is related to have lived one hundred and fifty years, in Heaven, and in a state of repose. The present saint was bom, in the year 1 104,5 as we collect from the Irish Annals. He embraced the monastic pro-
Cathedral, as restored, at Armagh.
fession, in the city of Armagh,^ and, in its former monastery, consecrated to St. Peter and St. Paul. He was probably a student, with the great St.
Malachy O'Morgair,? and under the tuition of that holy Abbot, Imar
O'Aedhacan. ^ It is also probable, that our saint succeeded this latter, by
the — after his in the — The office of governing monastery, death, year 1134.
Abbot he exercised if this opinion be well grounded
9
during forty years,
with the greatest sanctity. According to our ancient Martyrologies, he was the tower of Devotion and of Mildness in his time, the Ark of Wisdom and
ofScience,ofLabourandofPrudence. ^" Heisalsooneofthelatestsaints, recorded in the Martyrologies of our country. He died, on the 31st of
Article ii. —• Marianus O'Gorman and the Martyrology of Donegal have both ap- pellations applied to him.
^ His feast has been assigned to the 13th
of August.
9 This supposition is further confirmed by
* See " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," the circumstance, that we do not find the
Martii xxxi. De S. Machabco Abbate Ard- machano, pp. 795, 796.
3 See ibtd. , n. i, p. 796.
^ His feast occurs, at the 23rd of June.
5 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 12, 13.
^ The accompanying illustration of the old Cathedral, as restored in our own times, was drawn by William F. Wakeman, and transferred to the wood-block, engraved by
Mrs. Millard.
"> See his Life, at the 3rd of November.
death of any Armagh Abbot recorded, in our ancient Annals, between that of Imar O'Aedhacan and of Machabeus. Yet, our Annalists, about this period, were in the habit, not only of recording the deaths of Archbishops and of Abbots m Armagh, but even the year when Scribes, Chronogra- phers, and Prefects of its schools, died, with others of inferior rank, distinguished by piety and learning.
" Such is the eulogy, pronounced on him. by Blessed Marianus O'Gorman, Abbot of
1033
* LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[March 31.
March, in 11 74, having attained the seventieth year of his age. " We find
mentioned, on this day, in the Martyrology of Donegal," Machabeus, />. , Gilla Mochaidhbeo, Abbot of the Monastery of Peter and Paul at Ardmacha.
The BoUandists briefly notice him, at this date,'3 but they print, incorrectly, Mcxxxiv. , as the year for his death.
ArticleIII. —St. Colman,ofCamachadh. Thebrightestandfairest flowers bloom in solitude and soon wither, while they still perfume nooks, in which they grow, with delicious odours. So have bloomed and have been forgotten the localities and memory of many holy persons. Thus, when in- troducing his commemoration of the three saints, Colman, Foilan, and Fethadius, at, the 31st of March, Colgan remarks, that he united their names, because he found little of a distinctive character, in their Acts ; indeed, he observes, that although the Irish saints, venerated on this day, were not few in number, as many of our domestic Martyrologies proved, yet, very few records of their lives were to be discovered. ' We prefer, however, to dis- tinguish those saints ; and, hence, we begin with St. Colman's name, which occurs, in the Irish Martyrologies, at this day. However, Colgan confesses himself unable to discover the exact location of Camachadh, with which place,St. Colmanappearstohavehadconnection. Therewasachurch,in the diocese of Ossory," which was called Camchluain ;3 as, also, another in that of Derry, named Cambos, and Camus,* in our Martyrologies, At this latter church, a St, Colman was venerated, on the 30th of October ; but, whether he was a distinct person from our saint, Colgan had not been able to determine. Another church stood, in the region of Clannuadach,5 in Connaught, and it was named Cammagh,^ while its ruins are yet to be seen, 7 Colgan conjectures this name to have more nearly resembled Camachadh, in sound and signification, than any of the former denominations. Reinterprets
Camachadh, or Cammagh,^ by the Latin words,
*'
campum procurvum," and
Louth Monastery, in the diocese of Armagh :
"S. Machabeus, qui et Gilda-Mochaibeo, abbas monasterii Divorum Petri et Pauli,
Kilkennix, in Synodo Dioecesana. Die 8
Junii, 1873," I do not find any St. Colman, referable to the present day.
^ Now known as Camcloon, in the parish of Offerlane, and barony of Upperwoods. It Prudentiae, &c. " Colgan's "Acta Sancto- is marked, on the "Ordnance Survey rum Hibemiie," xxxi. Martii. Vita S. Townland Maps for the Queen's County,"
Armachoe, Turris Pietatis et Mansuetudinis, Area Sapientise —et Scientiae, arx Piorum et
Machabei, p. 796. The Martyrologies of Sheet 23,
Donegal and of Cathal Maguire have a nearly similar panygeric, at the 31st of March.
" His death is thus recorded, at the year 1 174: "Gilla Mochaibeo, Abbot of the Monastery ofSS. Peter and Paul at Armagh, a diligent and faithful servant of the Lord, diedonthe31stdayofM—arch,intheseven- tieth year of his age. " Dr. O'Donovan's •'Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. , pp. 12, 13,
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
"
Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Martii xxxi. Among the pretermitted
^. This parish, in the barony of Lower
"
Strabane is shown, on the
vey Townland Maps for the County of Tyrone," Sheets 4, 5, 10. The townland is on the latter Sheet.
5 This was the territory of the O'Fallons. It was situated, in the barony of Athlone, and county of Roscommon. In Irish, it is written, cLAnn uAtJAch, and, it will be found so represented, on the Ancient Map, prefixed to "The Tribes and Customs of Hy-
Many," so judiciously edited by the late Dr. O'Donovan.
90, 91. '3 See
feasts, p. 897. —
Article hi. 'See Acta^ Sanctorum
as Cammoge, in the parish of Elphin, and barony of Roscommon, It is noticed, on the "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Roscommon," Sheet 22.
"> The church was called Camach formerly
Brighdi, and at present Camma, in the diocese of Elphin. It lies about eight miles,
"
Hibemise," xxxi, Martii, De SS. Colmano
Foilano et Fethadeo, Confessoribus, pp.
800.
799,
'
Among the Patron saints, as given in the "Statuta Dioecesis Ossoriensis edila
*
Now, probably, the townland, known
Ordnance Sur-
March 31. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS 1033
" the
has not been recorded, nor even the age, in which he flourished. However, it must have been at a rather early period, since in the Martyrology of Tal- lagh,'° at the 31st of March, we find, Colman am (cam) Achaid. Also, Marianus O'Gorman and Cathal Maguire commemorate him. Colman, of Camachadh, occurs, in the Martyrology of Donegal," on this day. The Bollandists briefly notice this saint, at the 31st of March," It is likely, this pious man sought an asylum in a solitude, which the proud and ambitious so much disdain, but which furnish tranquillity and enjoyment to the truly religious.
Article IV. —St. Faolan, or Foilan, son of Aedh. The name of
it is
Anglicized,
very
crooked
plain. "
9 The of our saint's death year
Faolan,
sonof
Aedh,
isfoundinthe of ^ atthe of Martyrology Tallagh 31st
March, as also in that of Blessed Marianus O'Gorman. ^ In like manner,
Colgan places the festival of a St. Foilan, at this day 3 He is supposed to
be identical with that St. Failan, a notice of whom occurs, at the 4th of June,"* and who is called the son of Aedh, or Aidus. s being descended from a royal stem, belonging to the Munster province. The festival in honour of Faolan was celebrated, on this day, according to the Martyrology of Donegal. ^ The Bollandists 7 have entered a notice of this saint, at the 31st of March.
Article V. —St. Fethaidh, or Fecacius. An entry is found, in the
Martyrology of Tallagh,' at the 31st of March, of St. Fethaidh. At the same
date, Colgan presents a few unsatisfactory notices, regarding St. Fethadius, or Fecacius. ^ TheBollandists3merelynoticeFethadiusseniorMur-Mugensis, said by the Irish Martyrologists to have had a festival, at this date. We are to presume, however, that Thas been substituted for F, in the first letter of the name. It has iDeen remarked, by Colgan, that he is called senior of Murmagense, which is interpreted, in Irish, Murmagh, which signifies, in
English,
plain. "
locality,
" the maritime
he be identified thinks, may
' This
with Mag Murthemne, the maritime plain of Conall Murthemne, in Ultonia,
north-westwards from Athlone. See "The Tribes and Customs of Hy-Many," n. (d),
•
pp. 78, 79.
^ This coincides with the name of a parish
church, in the barony of Athlone, and county of Roscommon, dedicated to St. Bridget. The small village of Tober Brighde, generally called in English Brides- well, is in it. We learn from a tract, pre- served in the Book of Lecan, fol. 92, treating of O'Kelly, and his people of Hy- many, that all the Hy-Many were baptized here. See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the Four Masters," vol. iii. , n. (x), p. 258.
Kelly, p. xx. In the Franciscan copy, we
read, -pelAni ^itn, the rest obscure.
" See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," xvi. Januarii. Appendix, cap. i. , p. 104.
3 See "JActa Sanctorum Hibemise," xxxi.
Martii. De SS. Colmano, Foilano et
Fethadio, p. 799.
See, at that date, the account of St.
Faithlenn, son of Aedh Diamhan.
= According to the Genealogies of the
Irish Saints, chap, xxxiv.
* Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
90, 91.
7 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Martii xxxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 898.
Article v. —'Edited by Rev. Dr.
Kelly, p. xx. In the Franciscan copy, we
have ITechAiTDe.
' See "Acta xxxi. Sanctorym Hiberniae,"
Martii. De SS. Colmano, Foilano et Fetha- dio, pp. 799, 800.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xxxi. Martii. Acta SS. Colmani,
Foilani and Fethadii, p. 799.
" Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx. In
the Franciscan copy, we find, Colman cam ^chAiT).
"
QQ gi^
" See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
9 See
Colgan's
Edited by Drs. Todd and;";^Reeves, pp.
^ Martii xxxi. Among the pretermitted See
'•
Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus
saints, p. 898.
Article iv. —-' Edited by Rev. Dr
Martii xxxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 898.
iii. ,
I034 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [^[ARCH 31.
in which Lughmagh, or Louth, had been situated. And, as among the other holy men, who died, a. d. 784,* we find mentioned the demise of Feadhach, son to Cormac, Abbot of Lughmhadh,5 Slaine and DaimhUag f so it has been conjectured, that the latter may have been identical, with the present saint. Marianus O'Gorman and Cathal Maguire, who mention his name, at the 31st of March, throw no further light on his age and locality. Separated by a line, and as if it were a distinct entry, we read, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,7 that Senior Murmaige's feast was celebrated, at this date. More- over, on this day, we find recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ Feth- aidh.
Article VI. —Reputed Festival of St. Regulus, or St. Rule,
Scotland. We have already alluded to the feast of this holy man, at the
preceding day ; but, the Bollandists,^ citing a Manuscript Martyrology, be- longing to Prague, as also a Kalendar of the church at Aquileia,^ and a Manuscript Kalendar of a Breviary, used about the Rhine, have a brief allusion to St. Regulus, Bishop and Confessor, at this day. In the Kalendar of the Breviary of Aberdeen,3 we find at the 31st of March, or Pridie Kalen- das Aprilis, St. Regulus, Bishop, with a Double Office. *
Article VII. —Reputed Festival of St. Patto, Bishop of Verden,
*
Saxony. At Verda, and as a Scottish saint, Dempster enters Patto, second
BishopofthatSee,atthe31stofMarch. ' TheBollandistsmerelyalludeto this entry. 3
Article VIII. —Feast of the Holy Anissus, and of his Com-
panions,Martyrs,inAfrica. AsinmanyoftheoldMartyrologies,the Feilire^ ofSt. . ^nguscontainsthecelebrationofSt. Anissus,andofhiscom- panions, who suffered death for the sake of Christ There can be no question, but that these were the holy African Martyrs, who are commemo- rated at this^day, in the ancient ^Iartyrology, attributed to St. Jerome,' as
See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
'See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 194.
3 See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Martii xxxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 897.
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 390, 391. s Now Louth.
* Now Duleek.
7 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xx.
The
copy
and, afterwards, ttlAige.
the stanza is found following
— tomus iii.
