O'Conor's " Rerum
Hibernicarum
Scrip- tores," tomusii.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
This Baltray is now included, in the townland of Dromis- kin.
Ibid.
, p.
153.
3^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 124, 125.
,
yEnea filio) nepotero Achaii, Fothartam LifTei orientalis nepotes Fergusii Tarbra;i, Fothartam Imchlair juxta Ardmacham sobo- les Sednaei filii Artcorbi, Fothartam Fea semen Adnadii filius Artcorbi, a cujus Ad- nadii semine Fotharta de Moy-itha quoque habitata. Sunt etiam Fotherta File, Fotherta Thuile, et Fotharta Bile. Bressalius Conlce filii Arlcorbii ex Denio filio nepos, a quo Hy-bresail in Hyfalgia proavus extitit Sanc- tissim. -e virginis Thaumaturgce Brigida; com- munis Hiberniae patronce. "—Cap. Ixiv. , pp. 324. 325-
3° It was thus called, from one of its prin- cipal churches, Cill Osnadha, now known as Kellistown.
37 So called, fiom Magh Fea, according to the Book of Ballymote, fol. 77b.
3^ Or Fothart of the Carn, so called from Carnsore Point. See " The Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'lluidhrin," edited by Dr. O'Donovan, n. 469, p. Ivi.
39 Now the Hill of Croghaii.
'° This was eastward of the present River Liffey.
< According to Dr. O'Donovan's " An- nals of the Four Masters," vol, i. , pp. 482, 483, and n. (z).
•" Sec William M. Hennessy, "Chronicum Scotorum," Index, p. 386.
*3Seethe"LcAbh^iA11. \ 5-Ccon\c,orthe
33 Otherwise written Ohy Finn Foihart [Fohart]. See Dr. Patrick W. Joyce's " Origin and IIi-,tory of Irish Names of Places," part ii. , chap. ii.
p. 126.
^ So called on account of his numerous battles. He ruled over Ireland from a. d. 153 to A. D. 182, according to Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran, who relates his adventures in the "General History of Ireland," vol. i. ,
Book v. , chap, vii. , pp. 231 to 241.
35 See Roderick O'FIahcrty's "Ogygia," pars iii. He states : " Quare in Lageniam perrexit, ct rex illius provincise duas plagas Fothaitas ex ejus agnomine dictas, unani . \ Momoniae conlinio ad ostium Slanii, alteram ab ad versa ripa, Slanio intcrutiamque meilio in Wexfordix sinum occurrcnle. Ibi do- minati sunt nepotes per multa sKCula ad in- territum non ita pridcm O Nuallan ultimi domini. Alias quoquc rcgioncs contlidcrunt, quae Fotharta; dicuntur ; utpote Fotliartam
Book of Rights," edited with translation and notes by John O'Donovan, Esq. , p. 211, and n. (j), and p. 221, n. (y).
'*' See Colgan's '• Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nix," xxvii. Januarii, De S. Nalali, Abbate et Confessore, n. —8, p. 173.
marked, on sheet 21.
^ " Dima filius Cassii. " See the " Acta
Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Maii xii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 2.
Article vi. ' Kelly, p. xxiv.
Edited by Rev. Dr.
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 124, 125. See, also the Table, appended to that work, pp. 402, 403.
= In the Franciscan copy, we find OininiAe niAC CAij'f.
3 This parish, in the barony of Kenry, is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Towiiland Maps for the County of Limerick," sheets 4, 11, 12. The town and townland are on sheet 12.
* The patron saint of Ardmore. See his Life, at the 24th of July.
Article vii. —' See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. Ixxix.
—
'AY 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
of May. 2 We are informed, that this saint was the patron of Cill-Dioma, now Kildimo,3 in Caenraighe, belonging to the county and diocese of Lime-
rick. There, he had a hohday, as also, a festival, and a station.
to have been the master of Dec! an,4 and of Coirbre, son of Colman, bishop. HehadrelationswiththeDesiofMumhain. AmongstourIrishmissiona- ries of the fourth of fifth centuries, who preached and founded religious establishments in Ireland, was the pious Dima. This holy man's name is said to have been given to a church, called Kildimo, in the county of Lime- rick. s It is still retained, in connexion with that locality,^ which is near Adare. 7 Besides the Bollandist notice of him,^ this Dimma, son of Cass, is entered in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ at the same date.
Article VII. —The Festival of St. Cvriacus, with Three Hundred CoMPANiOx^JS, Martyks. The Fcilire ' of St. yEngus commemorates, at the 12thofMay,themartyrdomofSt. Cyriacus^ andofhisthreehundredcom- panions. The Bollandists 3 quote various ancient Martyrologies, at this same (lay, in reference to those holy Martyrs. In some records, it is found stated, that they numbered over fifty-four ; while, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, l. 'csides Cyriacus, said to have found the cross of our Lord, there are others named, and in addition to them three hundred and six Martyrs. The date for iheir passion is not recorded, nor the occasion that caused their fidelity to ihe Faith ; but, it is thought, that they suffered at Rome.
Article VIII. St. Hernen, or Ernin. The name, Hernen, occurs in the published Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 12th of May; as also, in the Franciscan copy. ^ From the same source, the Bollandists 3 notice Ernenus, or Hernanus, for the same date. Nothing further seems to be known, in reference to him, or to his place, in our ecclesiastical history. The
= See Ferrar's "History of Limerick," tuor. Item Alexandro, Moisete, Lucio. pp.
part iii. , chap, iii. , p. 184.
*See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's " Gene-
ral Histoiy of Ireland," vol ii. , Book vii. , chap, ii. , p. 9.
^ This parish, situated in the baronies of Upper Connello, Coshma and Kenry, is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Mapsfor the County of Limerick, "sheets II, 12, 20, 21, 30. The town and townland are
25, 26. — Article viii.
Kelly, p. xxiv. Thus he^neni.
'
Edited by Rev. Dr.
~ On his name, the scholiast has observed, " qui invenit crucem Domini et Judas nomen ejus prius. " Note at p. Ixxxvi. Ibid.
^ See " Acta Sanctorum," Maii xii. De Sanctis Martyribus Cyriaco, Maximo, Grado, Sothere Virg. Rothere, Joanne, Achille, iloiseo, Aphiodito, et aliis Quingentis Qua-
'^ See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Maii xii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 2.
'» Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, 124, 125.
pp.
He is said
329
230
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 12.
festival, in honour of Ernin, was celebrated on this day, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal. *
Article IX. Reputed Feast of St. Coxgal, or Comgall, in Dercomgal, or Holywood, Scotland. \Sixih and Sevetith Centuries. ^ At the 1 2th of May, the festival of St. Congal was celebrated, in the Church of Scotland. ' However, it would seem, that he is not a different person from St. Congal, or Comgall, Abbot of Bangor; but, his feast was celebrated, in
Scotland, at the present date. He was an Irish Pict, who, after a rule of seven years over Bangor, is said to have crossed over to that part of Britain, now called Scotland, in 598, and to have founded a church in Terra Heth,^ or Tiree. His differences with St. Coluniba led to the battle of Culdremy. 3 In the Antiphonary of Bangor, there is an alphabetical Hymn, concerning St. Comgall. '* An ancient Life of him, quoted by Fordun,5 gives an account of the arrival from Ireland of Fergus, son to Ferquhard. ^ The Breviary of Aberdeen makes him tutor to the blessed Merenus ; and, it assigns the site for his ailius to Drum Congal, by which Dercongal is probably meant. How- ever, the latter place is usually associated with St. Drostan,? in the Scottish Kalendars. Ithasbeenconjectured,^also,thattheCongal,inDercongal,? has nothing whatever to do with the name of Comgall ; but, that in a primary sense, it may be regarded as meaning " a habitation," and in a secondary sense, as "a monastery," or "an ecclesiastical establishment. " His churches in Scotland are Dercongal, or Holywood,'° and Durris, where his fair is still held. According to Dempster," St. Congallus, Abbot of Haliwode, was
remarkable for his sanctity of life ; an observer and a maintainer of virginity ;
so that, by association with him, even the most dissolute were attracted to the virtue of continence. This is said to have been declared in the Book of his Miracles. " The Bollandists '3 who notice St. Comgall, Abbot of Haly- woode (Latinized Sacri Nemoris) in Scotia, state, on the authority of Thomas Dempster, that he was illustrious for his religious continence, while they add, that Camerarius has attributed to him many things, taken from the Life of St. Comgall, Abbot of Bangor, in Ultonia, which they had published, at the loth of May. There our biography of him will be found. If such be the case, not only have several of the Scottish writers mistaken his identity, but even the period, when he flourished. Thus, at the 12th of May,'+ Adam King
Article ix. — ' See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp. 30S to 310.
" See a paper on the Island of Tiree, in
the "Ulster Journal of Archeology," vol. ii. ,
pp. 233 to 244.
3 Tliis was fought in 561, according to
the Annals of Tigernach. See Rev. Dr.
O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip- tores," tomusii. , p. 142.
^ See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 17, n. (b), p. 220.
s III his " Scotichronicon," vol. i. , lib. ii. , chap. 12, p. 48. Goodall's edition.
7 Hisfeastoccurs,atthe15thofDecern- ber.
^ By "William F. Skene.
' This has been interpreted " the Oak- wood of Congal," from an Irish recluse, so named. See the "Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. i. , p. 89.
" According to " Registrum Episcoporum Glasgua:," vol. i. , p. 117.
" See " Ilistoria Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomui i. , lib. iii. , num. 266, p. 158.
" Dempster adds, "quern Patricius An- dersonus se vidisse scribit. "
"^ 5^5 "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , * On this subject, sec the remarks of Maii xii. Among the pretermitted saints,
William F. . Skene, in his preface to tiie "Chronicles of the Picls, Chronicles of the Scots, and otiier early Mcmori. ils of Scottish History," pp. clxxi. to clxxviii.
p. 2.
'•Sec Bishop Forbes' " Kalendare of
Scottish Saints," p. 151.
'S Thus : " S. Congall abet of haliwode
—
May 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
enters in his Kalendar,'S St. Comgall, Abbot of Holywood, a confessor in Scotland, under King Malcolm II. , who flourished, a. d. 10 13. With some additions of his own, Thomas Dempster'^ quotes King, for this entry, at the same date. '? He is followed by Ferrarius. '^ The Bollandists '9 cite, like- wise, a Manuscript Catalogue, in their possession, in whicli his name, position, place,andperiod,aremarked. ^° HewroteTrophaeaCruceSignatorum,'' lib. i. , in elegant verse, and Catenam Bibliorum, MS. Parisiis, lib. i. , accord- ing to Dempster. Among the Scottish entries in the Kalendar of David Camerarius^^ is one for St. Comgall, at the 12th of May. ^s According to one authority,^'^ his body was preserved at Fulda ; but, we do not attach much credit to this statement, especially if the present saint has been con- founded with St. Comgall of Bangor. Churches are said to have been decU- cated to him, in various parts of the kingdom of Scotland. =5
Article X. Reputed Feast of another St. Congallus, in Scot- land. Thereseemstobenojustfoundationforintroducingthisnotice,from any of the Kalendars. At the 12th of May, however, Dempster,' quoting the authority of King," has an account of a St. Congallus, who flourished a. d. 446. He is said to have been distinct from and to have preceded the former, by nearly six hundred years ; that he was an abbot, and a holy bishop of the Culdees,3 is also asserted. It is possible, this notice is drawn from that of Camerarius, who has a St. Comgallus,* at the 2nd of January; his period being fixed at a. d. 600. He appears to have been confounded with St. Com- gall, of May loth, whose Life has been there given.
ArticleXI. ReputedFeastofSt. AntoninaandSixCompanion Virgins and Martyrs of St. Ursula, Cologne. In the Church of St. John the Baptist, in the city of Cologne, these holy Virgins and Martyrs are said to have been venerated, on the 12th of May. As companions of St. Ursula, their commemoration may be referred to her chief feast, celebrated on the 2ist of October. '
cites the Scottish Breviaiy. See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num. 266, p. 159.
Article x. — ' See " Historia Ecclesias- tica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num. 248, p. 149.
^ Now it is amusing to find, that King's Congallus is said to have flourished, under King Malcolm II. , a. d, 1013, and at Hali- wode.
^ jje adds : " dum Ertha ab insula Buta cum S. Blano filio in ulteriorem Scotiam ap- °° In this form: " Congellus Abbas de pulit, ut ex Hist. EcclesiDe Dumblanensis et Sacro-Bosco et Confessor anno 1013. " Vita S. Blani ex Georgio Neutono archidia- "' Fordun is said to have praised it. cono liquet, S. Kennethi collega. Vide supra " See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of lib. 11. in S. Blano. Scripsit Conciones ad
Scottish Saints," p. 237. Scotos et Pictos, lib. i. Homiliarum Opus, °3 Thus: "12 Die. Sanctus Congallus lib. i. Contra, Arrianos, lib. i.
and conf. in Scotland vnder king mal- colme 2. "
'* In "Menologium Scoticum. "—Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 199.
' Thus : " Monasterio Sacri Nemoris Haly VVoode Congalli abbatis, religiosa continentia clari. K.
'* In " Catalogus Generalis Sanctorum. "
"' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Mali xii. Among the pretermiited saints, p. 2.
Abbas Rathurelfigi monasterii in Scotia. " This is the Rathmelsigi of Venerable Bede.
^t See Fordun's " Scotichronicon," vol. i. ,
• See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 310.
Article xi. —' See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Mali xii,
lib. vii. , cap. 28, p. 406, Goodall's edition.
^s For the latter statements, Dempster Among the pretermitted saints, p. 4.
231
ArticleXII. —' Atthexxvii. Junii.
rum,tomusv. , MarianiScottiChronicon,
ji. 557.
' SeehisLife,alreadygivenatthe30thof
January, in the First \'ohimc of this work, Art. i.
* See Rev. James O'Laverty's " Historical Account of the Diocese of Down and Connor, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , p. 10.
5 See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
—
232 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. May 13.
ArticleXII. ReputedFeastofSt. Merexus,AbbotofBangor. On the authority of Camerarius/ the BoUandists^ have noted a feast on this day, for Merenus, as he stated, it was held, as also on the 28th of June. For this, the Aberdeen Breviary is quoted ; but, the Bollandists remark, in their copy of it, printed a. d. 1509, at neither date is there such an entry. Whether this presumed Abbot of Bangor had connexion with Ireland, or otherwise, is not made very clear.
CI)utfrntI) Gap of i¥la|>
ARTICLE I. —S'l\ TIGHERXACH, OF HOIRCHE, OR MOURNE, COUNTY OF DOWN.
{ELEVENTH CENTURY. ]
DURING this lovely month of May, we are introduced to the genial warmthofsummer. Thebeautyandfragranceofflowersovers[)read theland; but,thesweetodourofvirtuecanbeextractedonlyfromtheflowers of Heaven. From age to age, the spirit of sanctity is perpetuated in the Church of Christ. This distinguished and holy teacher was universally esteemed and beloved by the clergy of Ireland. The scene of his labours was but a small island, set in the bosom of the Atlantic ; but, the seed he had sowed was destined to produce a harvest of souls among his pupils. This pious doctor is supposed to have been master to Marianus Scotus,' and he is called the chief anmchara of Ireland. St. Tighernach—or as styled also by his disciple Tigernncb Borchecb ^—probably belonged to the eleventh cen- tury. Even those faults of character, which to the world seem trivial and of little consequence, are otherwise viewed by the saints, and, represented in their full deformity. They are judged by holy persons, according to the standard of Heaven, and when weighed in the balance of their estimation, the com- pensating merits are found wanting, without acts of great penitence. Marianus Scotus declares, that from his superior Tigernach, he learned the causeofAmnchad'sorAnmchad's3 exile,ontheoccasionofhishavingcom- mitted a slight fault. That superior of the celebrated chronologist is supposed to be identical with the present holy man. We are told, he was one of the Abbots of Bangor ;* yet, I cannot find his name on the list of Archdall, of Rev.
3^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 124, 125.
,
yEnea filio) nepotero Achaii, Fothartam LifTei orientalis nepotes Fergusii Tarbra;i, Fothartam Imchlair juxta Ardmacham sobo- les Sednaei filii Artcorbi, Fothartam Fea semen Adnadii filius Artcorbi, a cujus Ad- nadii semine Fotharta de Moy-itha quoque habitata. Sunt etiam Fotherta File, Fotherta Thuile, et Fotharta Bile. Bressalius Conlce filii Arlcorbii ex Denio filio nepos, a quo Hy-bresail in Hyfalgia proavus extitit Sanc- tissim. -e virginis Thaumaturgce Brigida; com- munis Hiberniae patronce. "—Cap. Ixiv. , pp. 324. 325-
3° It was thus called, from one of its prin- cipal churches, Cill Osnadha, now known as Kellistown.
37 So called, fiom Magh Fea, according to the Book of Ballymote, fol. 77b.
3^ Or Fothart of the Carn, so called from Carnsore Point. See " The Topographical Poems of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh O'lluidhrin," edited by Dr. O'Donovan, n. 469, p. Ivi.
39 Now the Hill of Croghaii.
'° This was eastward of the present River Liffey.
< According to Dr. O'Donovan's " An- nals of the Four Masters," vol, i. , pp. 482, 483, and n. (z).
•" Sec William M. Hennessy, "Chronicum Scotorum," Index, p. 386.
*3Seethe"LcAbh^iA11. \ 5-Ccon\c,orthe
33 Otherwise written Ohy Finn Foihart [Fohart]. See Dr. Patrick W. Joyce's " Origin and IIi-,tory of Irish Names of Places," part ii. , chap. ii.
p. 126.
^ So called on account of his numerous battles. He ruled over Ireland from a. d. 153 to A. D. 182, according to Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran, who relates his adventures in the "General History of Ireland," vol. i. ,
Book v. , chap, vii. , pp. 231 to 241.
35 See Roderick O'FIahcrty's "Ogygia," pars iii. He states : " Quare in Lageniam perrexit, ct rex illius provincise duas plagas Fothaitas ex ejus agnomine dictas, unani . \ Momoniae conlinio ad ostium Slanii, alteram ab ad versa ripa, Slanio intcrutiamque meilio in Wexfordix sinum occurrcnle. Ibi do- minati sunt nepotes per multa sKCula ad in- territum non ita pridcm O Nuallan ultimi domini. Alias quoquc rcgioncs contlidcrunt, quae Fotharta; dicuntur ; utpote Fotliartam
Book of Rights," edited with translation and notes by John O'Donovan, Esq. , p. 211, and n. (j), and p. 221, n. (y).
'*' See Colgan's '• Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nix," xxvii. Januarii, De S. Nalali, Abbate et Confessore, n. —8, p. 173.
marked, on sheet 21.
^ " Dima filius Cassii. " See the " Acta
Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Maii xii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 2.
Article vi. ' Kelly, p. xxiv.
Edited by Rev. Dr.
' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 124, 125. See, also the Table, appended to that work, pp. 402, 403.
= In the Franciscan copy, we find OininiAe niAC CAij'f.
3 This parish, in the barony of Kenry, is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Towiiland Maps for the County of Limerick," sheets 4, 11, 12. The town and townland are on sheet 12.
* The patron saint of Ardmore. See his Life, at the 24th of July.
Article vii. —' See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. Ixxix.
—
'AY 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
of May. 2 We are informed, that this saint was the patron of Cill-Dioma, now Kildimo,3 in Caenraighe, belonging to the county and diocese of Lime-
rick. There, he had a hohday, as also, a festival, and a station.
to have been the master of Dec! an,4 and of Coirbre, son of Colman, bishop. HehadrelationswiththeDesiofMumhain. AmongstourIrishmissiona- ries of the fourth of fifth centuries, who preached and founded religious establishments in Ireland, was the pious Dima. This holy man's name is said to have been given to a church, called Kildimo, in the county of Lime- rick. s It is still retained, in connexion with that locality,^ which is near Adare. 7 Besides the Bollandist notice of him,^ this Dimma, son of Cass, is entered in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ at the same date.
Article VII. —The Festival of St. Cvriacus, with Three Hundred CoMPANiOx^JS, Martyks. The Fcilire ' of St. yEngus commemorates, at the 12thofMay,themartyrdomofSt. Cyriacus^ andofhisthreehundredcom- panions. The Bollandists 3 quote various ancient Martyrologies, at this same (lay, in reference to those holy Martyrs. In some records, it is found stated, that they numbered over fifty-four ; while, in the Martyrology of Tallagh, l. 'csides Cyriacus, said to have found the cross of our Lord, there are others named, and in addition to them three hundred and six Martyrs. The date for iheir passion is not recorded, nor the occasion that caused their fidelity to ihe Faith ; but, it is thought, that they suffered at Rome.
Article VIII. St. Hernen, or Ernin. The name, Hernen, occurs in the published Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 12th of May; as also, in the Franciscan copy. ^ From the same source, the Bollandists 3 notice Ernenus, or Hernanus, for the same date. Nothing further seems to be known, in reference to him, or to his place, in our ecclesiastical history. The
= See Ferrar's "History of Limerick," tuor. Item Alexandro, Moisete, Lucio. pp.
part iii. , chap, iii. , p. 184.
*See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's " Gene-
ral Histoiy of Ireland," vol ii. , Book vii. , chap, ii. , p. 9.
^ This parish, situated in the baronies of Upper Connello, Coshma and Kenry, is shown, on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Mapsfor the County of Limerick, "sheets II, 12, 20, 21, 30. The town and townland are
25, 26. — Article viii.
Kelly, p. xxiv. Thus he^neni.
'
Edited by Rev. Dr.
~ On his name, the scholiast has observed, " qui invenit crucem Domini et Judas nomen ejus prius. " Note at p. Ixxxvi. Ibid.
^ See " Acta Sanctorum," Maii xii. De Sanctis Martyribus Cyriaco, Maximo, Grado, Sothere Virg. Rothere, Joanne, Achille, iloiseo, Aphiodito, et aliis Quingentis Qua-
'^ See " Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Maii xii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 2.
'» Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, 124, 125.
pp.
He is said
329
230
—
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 12.
festival, in honour of Ernin, was celebrated on this day, as we read in the Martyrology of Donegal. *
Article IX. Reputed Feast of St. Coxgal, or Comgall, in Dercomgal, or Holywood, Scotland. \Sixih and Sevetith Centuries. ^ At the 1 2th of May, the festival of St. Congal was celebrated, in the Church of Scotland. ' However, it would seem, that he is not a different person from St. Congal, or Comgall, Abbot of Bangor; but, his feast was celebrated, in
Scotland, at the present date. He was an Irish Pict, who, after a rule of seven years over Bangor, is said to have crossed over to that part of Britain, now called Scotland, in 598, and to have founded a church in Terra Heth,^ or Tiree. His differences with St. Coluniba led to the battle of Culdremy. 3 In the Antiphonary of Bangor, there is an alphabetical Hymn, concerning St. Comgall. '* An ancient Life of him, quoted by Fordun,5 gives an account of the arrival from Ireland of Fergus, son to Ferquhard. ^ The Breviary of Aberdeen makes him tutor to the blessed Merenus ; and, it assigns the site for his ailius to Drum Congal, by which Dercongal is probably meant. How- ever, the latter place is usually associated with St. Drostan,? in the Scottish Kalendars. Ithasbeenconjectured,^also,thattheCongal,inDercongal,? has nothing whatever to do with the name of Comgall ; but, that in a primary sense, it may be regarded as meaning " a habitation," and in a secondary sense, as "a monastery," or "an ecclesiastical establishment. " His churches in Scotland are Dercongal, or Holywood,'° and Durris, where his fair is still held. According to Dempster," St. Congallus, Abbot of Haliwode, was
remarkable for his sanctity of life ; an observer and a maintainer of virginity ;
so that, by association with him, even the most dissolute were attracted to the virtue of continence. This is said to have been declared in the Book of his Miracles. " The Bollandists '3 who notice St. Comgall, Abbot of Haly- woode (Latinized Sacri Nemoris) in Scotia, state, on the authority of Thomas Dempster, that he was illustrious for his religious continence, while they add, that Camerarius has attributed to him many things, taken from the Life of St. Comgall, Abbot of Bangor, in Ultonia, which they had published, at the loth of May. There our biography of him will be found. If such be the case, not only have several of the Scottish writers mistaken his identity, but even the period, when he flourished. Thus, at the 12th of May,'+ Adam King
Article ix. — ' See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp. 30S to 310.
" See a paper on the Island of Tiree, in
the "Ulster Journal of Archeology," vol. ii. ,
pp. 233 to 244.
3 Tliis was fought in 561, according to
the Annals of Tigernach. See Rev. Dr.
O'Conor's " Rerum Hibernicarum Scrip- tores," tomusii. , p. 142.
^ See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Life of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 17, n. (b), p. 220.
s III his " Scotichronicon," vol. i. , lib. ii. , chap. 12, p. 48. Goodall's edition.
7 Hisfeastoccurs,atthe15thofDecern- ber.
^ By "William F. Skene.
' This has been interpreted " the Oak- wood of Congal," from an Irish recluse, so named. See the "Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland," vol. i. , p. 89.
" According to " Registrum Episcoporum Glasgua:," vol. i. , p. 117.
" See " Ilistoria Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomui i. , lib. iii. , num. 266, p. 158.
" Dempster adds, "quern Patricius An- dersonus se vidisse scribit. "
"^ 5^5 "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , * On this subject, sec the remarks of Maii xii. Among the pretermitted saints,
William F. . Skene, in his preface to tiie "Chronicles of the Picls, Chronicles of the Scots, and otiier early Mcmori. ils of Scottish History," pp. clxxi. to clxxviii.
p. 2.
'•Sec Bishop Forbes' " Kalendare of
Scottish Saints," p. 151.
'S Thus : " S. Congall abet of haliwode
—
May 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
enters in his Kalendar,'S St. Comgall, Abbot of Holywood, a confessor in Scotland, under King Malcolm II. , who flourished, a. d. 10 13. With some additions of his own, Thomas Dempster'^ quotes King, for this entry, at the same date. '? He is followed by Ferrarius. '^ The Bollandists '9 cite, like- wise, a Manuscript Catalogue, in their possession, in whicli his name, position, place,andperiod,aremarked. ^° HewroteTrophaeaCruceSignatorum,'' lib. i. , in elegant verse, and Catenam Bibliorum, MS. Parisiis, lib. i. , accord- ing to Dempster. Among the Scottish entries in the Kalendar of David Camerarius^^ is one for St. Comgall, at the 12th of May. ^s According to one authority,^'^ his body was preserved at Fulda ; but, we do not attach much credit to this statement, especially if the present saint has been con- founded with St. Comgall of Bangor. Churches are said to have been decU- cated to him, in various parts of the kingdom of Scotland. =5
Article X. Reputed Feast of another St. Congallus, in Scot- land. Thereseemstobenojustfoundationforintroducingthisnotice,from any of the Kalendars. At the 12th of May, however, Dempster,' quoting the authority of King," has an account of a St. Congallus, who flourished a. d. 446. He is said to have been distinct from and to have preceded the former, by nearly six hundred years ; that he was an abbot, and a holy bishop of the Culdees,3 is also asserted. It is possible, this notice is drawn from that of Camerarius, who has a St. Comgallus,* at the 2nd of January; his period being fixed at a. d. 600. He appears to have been confounded with St. Com- gall, of May loth, whose Life has been there given.
ArticleXI. ReputedFeastofSt. AntoninaandSixCompanion Virgins and Martyrs of St. Ursula, Cologne. In the Church of St. John the Baptist, in the city of Cologne, these holy Virgins and Martyrs are said to have been venerated, on the 12th of May. As companions of St. Ursula, their commemoration may be referred to her chief feast, celebrated on the 2ist of October. '
cites the Scottish Breviaiy. See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num. 266, p. 159.
Article x. — ' See " Historia Ecclesias- tica Gentis Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num. 248, p. 149.
^ Now it is amusing to find, that King's Congallus is said to have flourished, under King Malcolm II. , a. d, 1013, and at Hali- wode.
^ jje adds : " dum Ertha ab insula Buta cum S. Blano filio in ulteriorem Scotiam ap- °° In this form: " Congellus Abbas de pulit, ut ex Hist. EcclesiDe Dumblanensis et Sacro-Bosco et Confessor anno 1013. " Vita S. Blani ex Georgio Neutono archidia- "' Fordun is said to have praised it. cono liquet, S. Kennethi collega. Vide supra " See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of lib. 11. in S. Blano. Scripsit Conciones ad
Scottish Saints," p. 237. Scotos et Pictos, lib. i. Homiliarum Opus, °3 Thus: "12 Die. Sanctus Congallus lib. i. Contra, Arrianos, lib. i.
and conf. in Scotland vnder king mal- colme 2. "
'* In "Menologium Scoticum. "—Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 199.
' Thus : " Monasterio Sacri Nemoris Haly VVoode Congalli abbatis, religiosa continentia clari. K.
'* In " Catalogus Generalis Sanctorum. "
"' See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Mali xii. Among the pretermiited saints, p. 2.
Abbas Rathurelfigi monasterii in Scotia. " This is the Rathmelsigi of Venerable Bede.
^t See Fordun's " Scotichronicon," vol. i. ,
• See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scot- tish Saints," p. 310.
Article xi. —' See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Mali xii,
lib. vii. , cap. 28, p. 406, Goodall's edition.
^s For the latter statements, Dempster Among the pretermitted saints, p. 4.
231
ArticleXII. —' Atthexxvii. Junii.
rum,tomusv. , MarianiScottiChronicon,
ji. 557.
' SeehisLife,alreadygivenatthe30thof
January, in the First \'ohimc of this work, Art. i.
* See Rev. James O'Laverty's " Historical Account of the Diocese of Down and Connor, Ancient and Modern," vol. i. , p. 10.
5 See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the
—
232 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. May 13.
ArticleXII. ReputedFeastofSt. Merexus,AbbotofBangor. On the authority of Camerarius/ the BoUandists^ have noted a feast on this day, for Merenus, as he stated, it was held, as also on the 28th of June. For this, the Aberdeen Breviary is quoted ; but, the Bollandists remark, in their copy of it, printed a. d. 1509, at neither date is there such an entry. Whether this presumed Abbot of Bangor had connexion with Ireland, or otherwise, is not made very clear.
CI)utfrntI) Gap of i¥la|>
ARTICLE I. —S'l\ TIGHERXACH, OF HOIRCHE, OR MOURNE, COUNTY OF DOWN.
{ELEVENTH CENTURY. ]
DURING this lovely month of May, we are introduced to the genial warmthofsummer. Thebeautyandfragranceofflowersovers[)read theland; but,thesweetodourofvirtuecanbeextractedonlyfromtheflowers of Heaven. From age to age, the spirit of sanctity is perpetuated in the Church of Christ. This distinguished and holy teacher was universally esteemed and beloved by the clergy of Ireland. The scene of his labours was but a small island, set in the bosom of the Atlantic ; but, the seed he had sowed was destined to produce a harvest of souls among his pupils. This pious doctor is supposed to have been master to Marianus Scotus,' and he is called the chief anmchara of Ireland. St. Tighernach—or as styled also by his disciple Tigernncb Borchecb ^—probably belonged to the eleventh cen- tury. Even those faults of character, which to the world seem trivial and of little consequence, are otherwise viewed by the saints, and, represented in their full deformity. They are judged by holy persons, according to the standard of Heaven, and when weighed in the balance of their estimation, the com- pensating merits are found wanting, without acts of great penitence. Marianus Scotus declares, that from his superior Tigernach, he learned the causeofAmnchad'sorAnmchad's3 exile,ontheoccasionofhishavingcom- mitted a slight fault. That superior of the celebrated chronologist is supposed to be identical with the present holy man. We are told, he was one of the Abbots of Bangor ;* yet, I cannot find his name on the list of Archdall, of Rev.
