The principal
curiosity
at Lia-Conaill is an ancient stor.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
134, 135.
^ Arturus de Monstier, has well described the monastery of St. Sidonius or St. Saens,
'
Article xiii. — —
1578, 4to.
^ See Hector Boece, " Historic Scoto-
'
tions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. Ixxx.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxi. De Sanctis Martyribus Timotheo, Pollio, et Evtychio Diaconis in Mavritania, pp. 4, 5.
rum," lib. ix. , fol. 176.
3 See " Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis
Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , p. 151.
• He writes : " Chroniacus Episcopus et
Abbas Manuallo monasterio.
s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii
xxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
According to John in his work "Neustria Pia. " See idid.
Lesley, " De Origine, Moribus, et Rebus Article xv.
According to the Gestis Scotorum," lib. iv. , p. 159, Romae, " Feilire "of St. yEngus. See " Transac-
542
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 22. CU)entj). geronti Qap of iBap.
these may be found, in Lieut-Col. \V. G. Wood-Martin's "Lake Dwellings of Ire- land : or Ancient Lacustrine Habiiations of Erin, commonly called Crannogs," Dublin, 18S6, 8vo.
^ Sometimes, at low water, the Island of Inishkeel is connected as a peninsula with the mainland, and over the sands it is pos- sible to walk dry-shod.
' This river runs through a very romantic valley, and from the mountains surrounding
s—
ARTICLE I. —ST. CONALL OR CONALD COEL, ABBOT OF INISCOEL, COUNTY OF DONEGAL.
\SEVENTH CENTURY. ']
WHILE the interior scenes of Donegal consist of fine mountain ranges and deep valleys, througli which restless torrents flow ; on its sea- board are steep cliffs and indented caverns, with the rolling Atlantic waves ever moaning beneath. Clouds of white gulls and other sea-fowl sweep round on expanded wings, over the water surface, and they float at every con- ceivabledegreeofaltitudearoundthosecrags. Hereandthere,islandsex- tend along the shores, whence views of a most romantic and varied character can be obtained. On some of these, many ascetics chose to live, as did the lake dwellers in their own almost inaccessible crannogs and stockaded forts. ' Among the island hermits and abbots, St. Conald Coel was a remarkable saint in his day. Colgan promised to give some particulars, regarding him, on the day of his feast ;'' but, he did not live to accomplish that object. The Bollan-
dists 3 only present a meagre account of him, at this date. The Rev. Alban Butler,* who calls our saint Abbot of Ennis-Chaoil, in the county of Tyr- connel, has some notices of him.
According to the Naemhshenchus, and other authorities, St. Conall descended from the Cinel Conaill. ^ His father was ISIanius Coelius, son of Caither, son to Ennius, surnamed Bagan, son of Conall Gulban, accord- ing to the Genealogies of the Irish Saints. 7 This lioly man was Abbot over a monastery, which had been built in the Island of Inis-coel,^ near the mouth of Gweebarra River 9 and Bay,'° on the coast of Donegal, adjoining Boylagh and Bannagh Baronies. St. Conall Cael was abbot here, and at an early period,inthehistoryofournationalchurch. " AcelebratedChristianpoet, St. Dalian '^ wrote a work, in praise of this saint ; but, Colgan was not aware of its existence, in his own time. '3 However, Dalian '"^ appears to have been his most intimate friend, and to have met his death, whilst visiting our saint,
Article i. — ' An interesting account of Columboe, cap. iii. , num. 10, p. 4S0.
^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," xxix.
Januarii. De S. Dallano, Martyre, n. 16, Glenties—a village at no great distance
p. 205.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Mali xxii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 125.
* He refers his readers to Colgan's MSS. , at the 22nd of May, as the basis for this ac- count.
5 See "Lives of tlie Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May 22.
*See the " Martyrology of Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 136, 137.
most extensive and magnificent views of Lind and ocean scenery are revealed. See " Use- ful Hints to Donegal Tourists," by Lord George Hill, p. 35.
"' I'heformationofthisBay,withitsre- lation to the adjoining shores and islands, is shown, on the "Ouinance Survey Town- land Maps for the County of Donegal," sheet 64.
" See Kinnfaela's "Cliff Scenery of South- western Donegal," chap, xxi. , p. 146.
" His festival is on the 29th of Januaiy.
"'He writes: "Hoc memoratur in pra:- dicta prxfatione : sed an hodie cxtet mihi turga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. incomperlum est. Quse hie scquentia ha-
' Chap. i. See Colgan's " Trias Thauma-
May 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
543
at his monastery. When that holy man's dead body was brouglit to Conald, the head being cut off and thrown into the ocean, our saint earnestly besought the Almighty, with fervent prayers and burning tears, to reveal that exact spot, where Dallen's head should be found. Shortly afterwards, it appeared float- ing on the waves, which bore it towards the shore. There, the head of Dalian was recovered ; and, being united to the Martyr's trunk, it became firmly joined once more to the body.
The antiquities, which are very interesting and yet remaining on Inis- coel, consist chiefly of two ancient and ruined churches. That church, which appears to have been most ancient, and which probably dates back to the time of St. Conald Caol, lies towards the south. It is about 45 feet in length, by 16 in width. It stands near the shore, and on a rocky foundation. Various alterations, from time to time, appear to have bien made, in its doors and windows. Theoldgraveyard,surroundingthischurch,hasbeenmuchused, from a remote period, for purposes of interment. Several antique tombs are seen, partially buried in the soil ; and, it is probable, many are completely covered by the green sward. Within the southern old church, there may be observed a very curious horizontal slab,'5 supported on loose stones,'^ and it measures about three feet or more, in length, by two and a-half, in width; but, it was shaped irregularly, and undoubtedly, it had been of much greater length. Near one end, a hole had been bored quite through it ; and, the sur- flice seemed covered with strange Runic-shaped and raised tracings. A ceme- tery,^? still greatly frequented, is on the Island. Bearing northwards- from the church already described, there are ruins, belonging to another very old structure, apparently once divided into nave and chancel. The nave is about 30 feet in length, by 15 in width ; while the chancel is about 18 feet in length,
by 13 in breadth. This building has an old Gothic doorway in the side, with a few finely turned antique window arches yet visible. The walls are rudely constructed. They consist of large and small stones alternating. Both churches are mostly constructed with shale flagstone. Some finely fluted pieces of shafts and capitals seem to have been built into the upper parts of walls yet remaining, in order to replace materials removed—probably by acts of Vandalism. On one corner of Inis-coel ruins, fluted quoins are to be seen.
Most probably, the 22nd day of May was that of St. Conall's death. '^ The year of his departure is not known, but it occurred sometime in the seventh cen- tury, and this seems a probable opinion, when we come to examine his parent stem, ^9 and to compare it with that of the illustrious St. Columkille,^° among whose disciples this holy Abbot is classed. St. 'Conald Coel was buried in the church, or monastery, of Iniscoel. After the death of St. Conald Coel, his memory was held in due veneration, on the Island, where his feast was kept, on the 22nd of May,^^ Not far from this island, on the
bentur, ex prsedicta prjefatione desumpta covers some old tracery. Another small up-
sunt. "—Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- ni£e,"xxix. Januarii, Vita S. Dallani, n. 15, p. 205.
"* The Acts of this Saint will be found, at the 29th of January, in the First Volume of this work, Art. v.
'5 This may have been used formerly as an altar-stone, for it is still held in great rever- ence by peasants, who assemble in thousands each year, to make stations at this stone, and around the church.
^^ When seen by the writer.
'7 In it, there are two singularly curious upright stones. One of those has a cross carved on either side, and the other dis-
right stone—probably monumental—is less remarkable.
'S See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xxix. Januarii, Vita S. Dallani, cap. viii. , ix. , x. , p. 204.
'9 As found in the Irish Genealogy of Saints. See Colgan's "Trias Thauma- turga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Co- lumbce, cap. iii. , num. 10, p. 480, also, cap. x. , num. 32, p. 489.
^° See his Life, in the succeeding volume of this work, at the 9th of June, Art. i.
-' " Hsec Ecclesia est Insula Oceano cir- cumfusa in regione Tyrconallias quae Bugel- laigh appellatur ; et Dioecesi Rathbothensi
;
—:
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 22.
mainland, there is a beautiful cascade, known as Eas-nangach, or the Wrinkled
Cataract, descendini^ from a great height, and tumbling down a mountain
steep, near the hamlet of Lia-Conaill ^^—no doubt, taking its name from the
present holy Abbot. He is titular saint, however, and the most celebrated
patron over a very extensive parisli, Iniskeel, in which he is honoured with
extraordinary devotion. ^3 Springing from the cavity of a rock on the Island,
there is a celebrated well, which, with the church not far distant, bore our
saint'sname. Itwasyearlyvisitedbyagreatconcourseofpilgrims,^tonthe
22nd of each returning MaVi^^s and the custom is still continued. A very
curious relic, called the Bearnan Chonaill,^^ or Bell of St. Conall,^? had long
beenpreserved,inthisimmediateneighbourhood. ^^ Thatbellwasenclosed
in an elaborately ornamented case or shrine. There was an inscription on it, in
blackletter,butgreatlydefaced. ^9 ThepresentSt. Conallappears,also,tohave
been connected with a holy well and with a relig or cemetery at Bruckless,
not far from Killybegs, in the parish of Killaghtee, barony of Banagh, and
county of Donegal. Various interesting objects of antiquity are there pre-
3°
served.
The entry regarding Conaill, Inse Cail, appears in the Martyrology ot
Tallagh,3'atthe22ndofMay. AccordingtotheMartyrologyofDonegal,3^ veneration was paid on this day to Conall, Abbot of Inis Caoil, in Cinel Conaill. At this date, also, the Rev. Alban Butler places his festival, and he says, it was most famous. A festival of St. Conall, Abbot, is entered, likewise, in the Circle of
544
in qua S. Conallus 12, Maii colitur. "—Col- gan's ''Acta Sanctorum Ilibernise," xxix. Januarii, h. 16, p. 205. Tlie 12th is apparently a typographical mistake for the 22nd.
" "To the inhabitants of this group of cot- tages, the sun for months in the winter time never seems to rise, as during that space they are completely immerged in the shadow of the mountain.
The principal curiosity at Lia-Conaill is an ancient stor. e cross, said to have been erected here by St. Conall of Inis- Caoill, and having the name Lia-Conaill, which signifies the stone or flag of Conall. " Kinnfaela's "Cliff Scenery of South- Western Donegal," chnp. xxi. , p. 149.
*3 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May 22.
°* This fountain is said to have been blessed by St. Conald Coel, and from it, these pilgrims drink three different times.
^= See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 100.
precious relic, at the same time (which must have been many centuries ago) when it was deposited and sealed up in its new and costly shrine. "—Kinnfaela's " Cliff Scenery of South-Western Donegal," chap, xxi. , p. 146, note.
°7 Engravings of this bell and its cover, with a notice by Dr. Petrie, in his " Essay on Ancient Irish Consecrated Bells," may be seen in "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy. " This Essay was read, February 26th, 1838.
*^ In 1835, we are informed, that had been sold to a Major Nesbitt of Woodhill, by Conall Mac Michael O'Breslen, then living at Glengesh. From an Inquisition, takeninthe7thofJamesI. , O'Breslenap- pears to have been one of the Erenachs of Iniskeel. The poor man who sold the bell was regarded as the senior of liis name, and a representative of the original herenach. On the death of Major Nesbitt, a. d. 1844, this bell of St. Conall unaccountably disappeared. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. vi. , A. D. 1611, n. (w), pp. 2372, 2373.
** I find the following account of it
" A lady who had often seen this in-
teresting relic, and taken a drawing both of
the Ijell and its case, and who was present
when the seal of the latter was broken and
the bell taken out by Dr. Petrie, describes it
to the writer as a Mass bell square in form,
and very much worn and thinned from age,
or by long u. --c, having quite a number of Mr. W. II. Patterson of Belfast. See dinges and apertures showing upon it. It had
no tongue, but appeared, when long used,
to have been struck like a gong. Its pur-
jjose, however, being merely to i)r<)tect the
ijcll from further injuries, and to protect it
for future ages, it is plain, the laiter must
have been looked upon as an ancient and
-9 Fromthis,however,thenames,Mahon O'Meehan and O'Breslen, were legible.
^° These have been delineated by engrav- ings, and described in a paper, written by
"Journal of the Royal and Archa;ological Association of Ireland," vol. i. , Fourth Series, April. 1S71, No. 6, pp. 466 to 470.
" Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxv.
"'-' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, J 36, 137-
pp.
———
May 22. 1 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 545
the Seasons. 33 The scenery around the Island of Iniskeel is uncommonly- grand ; for, the adjoining mainland is deeply indented with fine bays, and crowned with noble mountain ranges inland, with rocky promontories, often jutting far into the Atlantic Ocean. 34
Article II. St. Baoithin, of Ennisboyne, County of Wicklow. \_Seventh Century. '] Around few places have we lingered with more agreeable after reminiscences of beautiful scenery, kindly feeling, and associated historic tradition, than in the secluded vale and now transformed island, that formerly separatedSt. Baoithinfromdistractingintercoursewiththeouterworld. The rich yellow-blossomed furze and the pale yellow of tufted primroses, with spangled violets in full bloom and fragrance, spread around the sloping sides of that glen, when our April visit was made to this spot ; while every green bud and blade of grass were glistening, under the influence of passing showers. ' In the "Feilire"^ of St. yEngus, on the 22nd of May, the festival and name of Baethine Mac Findach are specially commemorated. This holy man lived, it is said, in the seventh century. The name Baithin mic Finnach occurs, also, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,3 at the 22nd of May. On the same authority, and on that of Colgan, the Bollandists ^ notice Bait- hinns, son of Finnachus. By race, he was a Leinsterman ;5 but, hie father Findach is stated to have been a robber, in a commentary on that copy of St. Angus' " Feilire," which is to be found in the " Leabhar Breac. However, as the account given is quite improbable and legendary, we may dismiss it, and the other circumstances referring to our saint's birth, which are beneath notice. ^ Wearetold,elsewhere,thathedescendedfromtheraceofLaoigh- sechCeannmor,sontoConallCearnach. Trea,daughterofRonan,sonto Colman, son of Cairpre, and a daughter to the King of Leinster, was his mother ; while, the Scholiast on the " Feilire," in the " Leabhar Breac," calls her Cred, daughter of Ronan, King of Leinster, and in Dal Messincorb,^ moreover, he afterwards lived. This latter narrative seems to intimate, that Boethine had been born in or near Inis Boethine, and ther&, too, he proba-
33 See p. 143.
The following is Dr. Whitley Stokes' Eng- lish translation : —"Ronan (the) Fair's soul went to starry heaven, with the man bright, prolific, Baethine mac Findach. "—"Trans- actions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the
Calendar of Oengus, p. Ixxxi.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxv.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomns v. ,
Mali xxii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 126.
s See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xix. Februarii. De S. Baitheno, Epis- copo, p. 369, and n. 4.
"See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Majiuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. Ixxxix.
3* These remarks are the result of personal observation, and of information, obtained on the occasion of a visit to this Island and to its very interesting group of ruins, in July, 1868.
Article ii. —' Truly we felt how homely, descriptive, appropriate, fanciful, and faith- ful, were the lines of our national poet :
" In climes full of sunshine, though splendid the flowers,
Their sighs have no freshness, their odour no worth ;
'Tis the cloud and the mist of our own Isle of showers.
That call the rich spirit of fra- grancy forth. "
7 The Dal Messincorb and some of the old Leinster Pedigrees are set forth as the * In the "Leabhar Breac "copy, we No. i. , to illustrate the Genealogical Tables, in Rev. John Francis Shearman's " Loca
—Moore's "Irish Melodies. " read :
CecliAinj Animm lloriAin pnt) ^o|\]Mchet) jMnnAch tAfinpeix CAin cbAnnAcb bAicheni niAc pnnAch.
Patriciana. See No. ii. , p. 16.
^ See Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary
of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 577.
'These and the following observations
are from notes and observations, taken on IM
546
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [MAY;:
bly spent his religious days, in retirement from all worldly concerns. This place, now known as Ennisboyne, sometimes called Ennisboheen,^ or Dun- ganstown, seems to have derived its denomination from him. This is now aparish,situatedinthebaronyofArklow,andcountyofWicklow. Notfar from the county town, there are some few ruins of an ancient church to be seen. Around it is a burial ground. Formerly the church was situated on a small low-lying island, within a deep ravine, through which flows the Three Mile Water River. 9 Within the memory of persons yet living, this island was recollected ; but, one branch of the stream having been dried up, the river has taken a particular bend, so as to form that island into a peninsula. Still human bones and old rude headstones are there turned up, while no trace of a building can be seen. The surface only appears, at present, as a very green pasture, with the blackest of mould underneath. High stepping-stones
Inishboheen Cemetery, County of Wicklow.
now cross the stream into the former island. Tradition has it, thata suicide oran insane person having been interred there, at a period long remote, the church became elevated to the high bank, on the south side of the river, during a singlenight. Therationaleofthislegendmustbe,thattheoldchurchhaving fallenintodecaycenturiesago,it wasdeemednecessarytobuildanotheron the slope of the ravine, so as to render it less exposed to floods and more accessible to frequeiiters. This last church is even now a shapeless mass of ruins. Jt once consisted of a nave and choir ; tlie former was internally 46 feet, 3 inches, in length, by 22 feet, in width—while the choir was 17 feet, in length, by 15 feet, 5 inches, in breadth. The situation is uncommonly
the spot, after a visit with an okl and of Kill)ride was built.
esteemed friend, the Very Rev. Michael Maloney, P. P. , of Ennisboyne, Kilbride, and Castlctimon parishes, during the month of April, 1871. His parish was called Ennis- bethan, before A. I). 1795, when the chapel
'" The accompanying illustration of the scene is from a drawing by the writer, in July, 1S73, on the spot, and since trans- ferred to the wood, by William E. Wakeman. It was engraved by Airs. Millard.
—
May 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
romantic, at the plateau over a deep glen, through which the Three Mile Water winds along to the high sand banks, a little below where it enters the sea, at Maghera Point. '° Here, the people have a tradition, St. Patrick " first landed, when he reached the Wicklow coast. Only two fragments of the choir walls remain, and all the nave walls are nearly levelled with the ground. However, the former dimensions are quite traceable. Two granite caps of windows lie within the graveyard, still much resorted to for interments. " Tiie turning of an arch is yet traceable, between nave and choir. The church walls are 2 feet, 10 inches, in thickness, on an average. The burial-ground has been enclosed with a modern wall ; but, at one angle, the river below has undermined the upper clay bank, and a semicircular land-slide there has been the consequence. The scenery around thi. ; old church is of the most delightful character. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,'3 Baoithin, son to Finnach, of Inis Baithin, in the east of Leinster,'4 had veneration given
him, on this day.
ArticleHI. St. RonanFinn,ofLannRonain,CountyofDown. For the 22nd of May, a festival is recorded, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ to honour Ronan Find, of Lan Ruadain Ronain f and, at the same date, the "Feilire"ofSt. yEngusmentionshim,withspecialeulogy. Accordingtothe scholiast on that copy found in the " Leabhar Breac," Ronan the Fair was son of Saran, son to Colgan or Colcu, son of Tuathal, son to Cruindbel,^ son of Fedlimid, son to Fiacha Cassan, son of Colla da Chrich, son of Echaid Doimplen. + This saint is noticed, in the Book of Lecain. s The Bollandists ^ have some account of St. Ronnanus, Bishop and Confessor, at this date, althoughtheyacknowledge,thatlittleisknownabouthim. Hemusthave flourished, in the early part of the seventh century, if we are to attach credit to certain romantic fragments of our national history. Some Scottish writers callhimadiscipleofSt. Benedict; but,theygivenowarrant,forsuchastate-
ment. Theepithetappliedtohim—bytheIrish—ofFinnsignifies"white," or " fair. " He was the son of Saran, son to Colgan, and he sprung from the family of Orgiell, or Colla Dachrioch,7 according to the poem, which is called the Naemhshenchus of the Saints of Inis Fail. The mother of Ronan, and the mother of Fionnchu, of the Bri Gobhann, were sisters. ^ Elsewhere, he is conjecturedtohavebeenthesonofBerach. 9 Allusionismadetothissaint,
" See his Life, in the Third Volume of this work, at March 17th, Art. i.
" An old cut stone, with an inscription 1698, lies at the head of a grave. It is very rudely carved.
'3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 136, 137.
"In
it is again corrected. See ibid. , pp. 362,
Lan Ruadain Ronain, in manu recenti. "
3 'fhe scholiast adds, " a quo Hui-Cruind-
beoil. "
'' See " Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. Ixxxi.
^ Arturus de Monstier, has well described the monastery of St. Sidonius or St. Saens,
'
Article xiii. — —
1578, 4to.
^ See Hector Boece, " Historic Scoto-
'
tions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus. By Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. Ixxx.
^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii xxi. De Sanctis Martyribus Timotheo, Pollio, et Evtychio Diaconis in Mavritania, pp. 4, 5.
rum," lib. ix. , fol. 176.
3 See " Historia Ecclesiastica
Gentis
Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , p. 151.
• He writes : " Chroniacus Episcopus et
Abbas Manuallo monasterio.
s See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. , Maii
xxi. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 3.
According to John in his work "Neustria Pia. " See idid.
Lesley, " De Origine, Moribus, et Rebus Article xv.
According to the Gestis Scotorum," lib. iv. , p. 159, Romae, " Feilire "of St. yEngus. See " Transac-
542
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 22. CU)entj). geronti Qap of iBap.
these may be found, in Lieut-Col. \V. G. Wood-Martin's "Lake Dwellings of Ire- land : or Ancient Lacustrine Habiiations of Erin, commonly called Crannogs," Dublin, 18S6, 8vo.
^ Sometimes, at low water, the Island of Inishkeel is connected as a peninsula with the mainland, and over the sands it is pos- sible to walk dry-shod.
' This river runs through a very romantic valley, and from the mountains surrounding
s—
ARTICLE I. —ST. CONALL OR CONALD COEL, ABBOT OF INISCOEL, COUNTY OF DONEGAL.
\SEVENTH CENTURY. ']
WHILE the interior scenes of Donegal consist of fine mountain ranges and deep valleys, througli which restless torrents flow ; on its sea- board are steep cliffs and indented caverns, with the rolling Atlantic waves ever moaning beneath. Clouds of white gulls and other sea-fowl sweep round on expanded wings, over the water surface, and they float at every con- ceivabledegreeofaltitudearoundthosecrags. Hereandthere,islandsex- tend along the shores, whence views of a most romantic and varied character can be obtained. On some of these, many ascetics chose to live, as did the lake dwellers in their own almost inaccessible crannogs and stockaded forts. ' Among the island hermits and abbots, St. Conald Coel was a remarkable saint in his day. Colgan promised to give some particulars, regarding him, on the day of his feast ;'' but, he did not live to accomplish that object. The Bollan-
dists 3 only present a meagre account of him, at this date. The Rev. Alban Butler,* who calls our saint Abbot of Ennis-Chaoil, in the county of Tyr- connel, has some notices of him.
According to the Naemhshenchus, and other authorities, St. Conall descended from the Cinel Conaill. ^ His father was ISIanius Coelius, son of Caither, son to Ennius, surnamed Bagan, son of Conall Gulban, accord- ing to the Genealogies of the Irish Saints. 7 This lioly man was Abbot over a monastery, which had been built in the Island of Inis-coel,^ near the mouth of Gweebarra River 9 and Bay,'° on the coast of Donegal, adjoining Boylagh and Bannagh Baronies. St. Conall Cael was abbot here, and at an early period,inthehistoryofournationalchurch. " AcelebratedChristianpoet, St. Dalian '^ wrote a work, in praise of this saint ; but, Colgan was not aware of its existence, in his own time. '3 However, Dalian '"^ appears to have been his most intimate friend, and to have met his death, whilst visiting our saint,
Article i. — ' An interesting account of Columboe, cap. iii. , num. 10, p. 4S0.
^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," xxix.
Januarii. De S. Dallano, Martyre, n. 16, Glenties—a village at no great distance
p. 205.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus v. ,
Mali xxii. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 125.
* He refers his readers to Colgan's MSS. , at the 22nd of May, as the basis for this ac- count.
5 See "Lives of tlie Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May 22.
*See the " Martyrology of Donegal," edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 136, 137.
most extensive and magnificent views of Lind and ocean scenery are revealed. See " Use- ful Hints to Donegal Tourists," by Lord George Hill, p. 35.
"' I'heformationofthisBay,withitsre- lation to the adjoining shores and islands, is shown, on the "Ouinance Survey Town- land Maps for the County of Donegal," sheet 64.
" See Kinnfaela's "Cliff Scenery of South- western Donegal," chap, xxi. , p. 146.
" His festival is on the 29th of Januaiy.
"'He writes: "Hoc memoratur in pra:- dicta prxfatione : sed an hodie cxtet mihi turga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. incomperlum est. Quse hie scquentia ha-
' Chap. i. See Colgan's " Trias Thauma-
May 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
543
at his monastery. When that holy man's dead body was brouglit to Conald, the head being cut off and thrown into the ocean, our saint earnestly besought the Almighty, with fervent prayers and burning tears, to reveal that exact spot, where Dallen's head should be found. Shortly afterwards, it appeared float- ing on the waves, which bore it towards the shore. There, the head of Dalian was recovered ; and, being united to the Martyr's trunk, it became firmly joined once more to the body.
The antiquities, which are very interesting and yet remaining on Inis- coel, consist chiefly of two ancient and ruined churches. That church, which appears to have been most ancient, and which probably dates back to the time of St. Conald Caol, lies towards the south. It is about 45 feet in length, by 16 in width. It stands near the shore, and on a rocky foundation. Various alterations, from time to time, appear to have bien made, in its doors and windows. Theoldgraveyard,surroundingthischurch,hasbeenmuchused, from a remote period, for purposes of interment. Several antique tombs are seen, partially buried in the soil ; and, it is probable, many are completely covered by the green sward. Within the southern old church, there may be observed a very curious horizontal slab,'5 supported on loose stones,'^ and it measures about three feet or more, in length, by two and a-half, in width; but, it was shaped irregularly, and undoubtedly, it had been of much greater length. Near one end, a hole had been bored quite through it ; and, the sur- flice seemed covered with strange Runic-shaped and raised tracings. A ceme- tery,^? still greatly frequented, is on the Island. Bearing northwards- from the church already described, there are ruins, belonging to another very old structure, apparently once divided into nave and chancel. The nave is about 30 feet in length, by 15 in width ; while the chancel is about 18 feet in length,
by 13 in breadth. This building has an old Gothic doorway in the side, with a few finely turned antique window arches yet visible. The walls are rudely constructed. They consist of large and small stones alternating. Both churches are mostly constructed with shale flagstone. Some finely fluted pieces of shafts and capitals seem to have been built into the upper parts of walls yet remaining, in order to replace materials removed—probably by acts of Vandalism. On one corner of Inis-coel ruins, fluted quoins are to be seen.
Most probably, the 22nd day of May was that of St. Conall's death. '^ The year of his departure is not known, but it occurred sometime in the seventh cen- tury, and this seems a probable opinion, when we come to examine his parent stem, ^9 and to compare it with that of the illustrious St. Columkille,^° among whose disciples this holy Abbot is classed. St. 'Conald Coel was buried in the church, or monastery, of Iniscoel. After the death of St. Conald Coel, his memory was held in due veneration, on the Island, where his feast was kept, on the 22nd of May,^^ Not far from this island, on the
bentur, ex prsedicta prjefatione desumpta covers some old tracery. Another small up-
sunt. "—Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- ni£e,"xxix. Januarii, Vita S. Dallani, n. 15, p. 205.
"* The Acts of this Saint will be found, at the 29th of January, in the First Volume of this work, Art. v.
'5 This may have been used formerly as an altar-stone, for it is still held in great rever- ence by peasants, who assemble in thousands each year, to make stations at this stone, and around the church.
^^ When seen by the writer.
'7 In it, there are two singularly curious upright stones. One of those has a cross carved on either side, and the other dis-
right stone—probably monumental—is less remarkable.
'S See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xxix. Januarii, Vita S. Dallani, cap. viii. , ix. , x. , p. 204.
'9 As found in the Irish Genealogy of Saints. See Colgan's "Trias Thauma- turga," Quarta Appendix ad Acta S. Co- lumbce, cap. iii. , num. 10, p. 480, also, cap. x. , num. 32, p. 489.
^° See his Life, in the succeeding volume of this work, at the 9th of June, Art. i.
-' " Hsec Ecclesia est Insula Oceano cir- cumfusa in regione Tyrconallias quae Bugel- laigh appellatur ; et Dioecesi Rathbothensi
;
—:
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 22.
mainland, there is a beautiful cascade, known as Eas-nangach, or the Wrinkled
Cataract, descendini^ from a great height, and tumbling down a mountain
steep, near the hamlet of Lia-Conaill ^^—no doubt, taking its name from the
present holy Abbot. He is titular saint, however, and the most celebrated
patron over a very extensive parisli, Iniskeel, in which he is honoured with
extraordinary devotion. ^3 Springing from the cavity of a rock on the Island,
there is a celebrated well, which, with the church not far distant, bore our
saint'sname. Itwasyearlyvisitedbyagreatconcourseofpilgrims,^tonthe
22nd of each returning MaVi^^s and the custom is still continued. A very
curious relic, called the Bearnan Chonaill,^^ or Bell of St. Conall,^? had long
beenpreserved,inthisimmediateneighbourhood. ^^ Thatbellwasenclosed
in an elaborately ornamented case or shrine. There was an inscription on it, in
blackletter,butgreatlydefaced. ^9 ThepresentSt. Conallappears,also,tohave
been connected with a holy well and with a relig or cemetery at Bruckless,
not far from Killybegs, in the parish of Killaghtee, barony of Banagh, and
county of Donegal. Various interesting objects of antiquity are there pre-
3°
served.
The entry regarding Conaill, Inse Cail, appears in the Martyrology ot
Tallagh,3'atthe22ndofMay. AccordingtotheMartyrologyofDonegal,3^ veneration was paid on this day to Conall, Abbot of Inis Caoil, in Cinel Conaill. At this date, also, the Rev. Alban Butler places his festival, and he says, it was most famous. A festival of St. Conall, Abbot, is entered, likewise, in the Circle of
544
in qua S. Conallus 12, Maii colitur. "—Col- gan's ''Acta Sanctorum Ilibernise," xxix. Januarii, h. 16, p. 205. Tlie 12th is apparently a typographical mistake for the 22nd.
" "To the inhabitants of this group of cot- tages, the sun for months in the winter time never seems to rise, as during that space they are completely immerged in the shadow of the mountain.
The principal curiosity at Lia-Conaill is an ancient stor. e cross, said to have been erected here by St. Conall of Inis- Caoill, and having the name Lia-Conaill, which signifies the stone or flag of Conall. " Kinnfaela's "Cliff Scenery of South- Western Donegal," chnp. xxi. , p. 149.
*3 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints," vol. v. , May 22.
°* This fountain is said to have been blessed by St. Conald Coel, and from it, these pilgrims drink three different times.
^= See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni- cum," p. 100.
precious relic, at the same time (which must have been many centuries ago) when it was deposited and sealed up in its new and costly shrine. "—Kinnfaela's " Cliff Scenery of South-Western Donegal," chap, xxi. , p. 146, note.
°7 Engravings of this bell and its cover, with a notice by Dr. Petrie, in his " Essay on Ancient Irish Consecrated Bells," may be seen in "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy. " This Essay was read, February 26th, 1838.
*^ In 1835, we are informed, that had been sold to a Major Nesbitt of Woodhill, by Conall Mac Michael O'Breslen, then living at Glengesh. From an Inquisition, takeninthe7thofJamesI. , O'Breslenap- pears to have been one of the Erenachs of Iniskeel. The poor man who sold the bell was regarded as the senior of liis name, and a representative of the original herenach. On the death of Major Nesbitt, a. d. 1844, this bell of St. Conall unaccountably disappeared. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. vi. , A. D. 1611, n. (w), pp. 2372, 2373.
** I find the following account of it
" A lady who had often seen this in-
teresting relic, and taken a drawing both of
the Ijell and its case, and who was present
when the seal of the latter was broken and
the bell taken out by Dr. Petrie, describes it
to the writer as a Mass bell square in form,
and very much worn and thinned from age,
or by long u. --c, having quite a number of Mr. W. II. Patterson of Belfast. See dinges and apertures showing upon it. It had
no tongue, but appeared, when long used,
to have been struck like a gong. Its pur-
jjose, however, being merely to i)r<)tect the
ijcll from further injuries, and to protect it
for future ages, it is plain, the laiter must
have been looked upon as an ancient and
-9 Fromthis,however,thenames,Mahon O'Meehan and O'Breslen, were legible.
^° These have been delineated by engrav- ings, and described in a paper, written by
"Journal of the Royal and Archa;ological Association of Ireland," vol. i. , Fourth Series, April. 1S71, No. 6, pp. 466 to 470.
" Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxv.
"'-' Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, J 36, 137-
pp.
———
May 22. 1 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 545
the Seasons. 33 The scenery around the Island of Iniskeel is uncommonly- grand ; for, the adjoining mainland is deeply indented with fine bays, and crowned with noble mountain ranges inland, with rocky promontories, often jutting far into the Atlantic Ocean. 34
Article II. St. Baoithin, of Ennisboyne, County of Wicklow. \_Seventh Century. '] Around few places have we lingered with more agreeable after reminiscences of beautiful scenery, kindly feeling, and associated historic tradition, than in the secluded vale and now transformed island, that formerly separatedSt. Baoithinfromdistractingintercoursewiththeouterworld. The rich yellow-blossomed furze and the pale yellow of tufted primroses, with spangled violets in full bloom and fragrance, spread around the sloping sides of that glen, when our April visit was made to this spot ; while every green bud and blade of grass were glistening, under the influence of passing showers. ' In the "Feilire"^ of St. yEngus, on the 22nd of May, the festival and name of Baethine Mac Findach are specially commemorated. This holy man lived, it is said, in the seventh century. The name Baithin mic Finnach occurs, also, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,3 at the 22nd of May. On the same authority, and on that of Colgan, the Bollandists ^ notice Bait- hinns, son of Finnachus. By race, he was a Leinsterman ;5 but, hie father Findach is stated to have been a robber, in a commentary on that copy of St. Angus' " Feilire," which is to be found in the " Leabhar Breac. However, as the account given is quite improbable and legendary, we may dismiss it, and the other circumstances referring to our saint's birth, which are beneath notice. ^ Wearetold,elsewhere,thathedescendedfromtheraceofLaoigh- sechCeannmor,sontoConallCearnach. Trea,daughterofRonan,sonto Colman, son of Cairpre, and a daughter to the King of Leinster, was his mother ; while, the Scholiast on the " Feilire," in the " Leabhar Breac," calls her Cred, daughter of Ronan, King of Leinster, and in Dal Messincorb,^ moreover, he afterwards lived. This latter narrative seems to intimate, that Boethine had been born in or near Inis Boethine, and ther&, too, he proba-
33 See p. 143.
The following is Dr. Whitley Stokes' Eng- lish translation : —"Ronan (the) Fair's soul went to starry heaven, with the man bright, prolific, Baethine mac Findach. "—"Trans- actions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the
Calendar of Oengus, p. Ixxxi.
3 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxv.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomns v. ,
Mali xxii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 126.
s See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xix. Februarii. De S. Baitheno, Epis- copo, p. 369, and n. 4.
"See "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Majiuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, by Whitley Stokes, LL. D. , p. Ixxxix.
3* These remarks are the result of personal observation, and of information, obtained on the occasion of a visit to this Island and to its very interesting group of ruins, in July, 1868.
Article ii. —' Truly we felt how homely, descriptive, appropriate, fanciful, and faith- ful, were the lines of our national poet :
" In climes full of sunshine, though splendid the flowers,
Their sighs have no freshness, their odour no worth ;
'Tis the cloud and the mist of our own Isle of showers.
That call the rich spirit of fra- grancy forth. "
7 The Dal Messincorb and some of the old Leinster Pedigrees are set forth as the * In the "Leabhar Breac "copy, we No. i. , to illustrate the Genealogical Tables, in Rev. John Francis Shearman's " Loca
—Moore's "Irish Melodies. " read :
CecliAinj Animm lloriAin pnt) ^o|\]Mchet) jMnnAch tAfinpeix CAin cbAnnAcb bAicheni niAc pnnAch.
Patriciana. See No. ii. , p. 16.
^ See Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary
of Ireland," vol. i. , p. 577.
'These and the following observations
are from notes and observations, taken on IM
546
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [MAY;:
bly spent his religious days, in retirement from all worldly concerns. This place, now known as Ennisboyne, sometimes called Ennisboheen,^ or Dun- ganstown, seems to have derived its denomination from him. This is now aparish,situatedinthebaronyofArklow,andcountyofWicklow. Notfar from the county town, there are some few ruins of an ancient church to be seen. Around it is a burial ground. Formerly the church was situated on a small low-lying island, within a deep ravine, through which flows the Three Mile Water River. 9 Within the memory of persons yet living, this island was recollected ; but, one branch of the stream having been dried up, the river has taken a particular bend, so as to form that island into a peninsula. Still human bones and old rude headstones are there turned up, while no trace of a building can be seen. The surface only appears, at present, as a very green pasture, with the blackest of mould underneath. High stepping-stones
Inishboheen Cemetery, County of Wicklow.
now cross the stream into the former island. Tradition has it, thata suicide oran insane person having been interred there, at a period long remote, the church became elevated to the high bank, on the south side of the river, during a singlenight. Therationaleofthislegendmustbe,thattheoldchurchhaving fallenintodecaycenturiesago,it wasdeemednecessarytobuildanotheron the slope of the ravine, so as to render it less exposed to floods and more accessible to frequeiiters. This last church is even now a shapeless mass of ruins. Jt once consisted of a nave and choir ; tlie former was internally 46 feet, 3 inches, in length, by 22 feet, in width—while the choir was 17 feet, in length, by 15 feet, 5 inches, in breadth. The situation is uncommonly
the spot, after a visit with an okl and of Kill)ride was built.
esteemed friend, the Very Rev. Michael Maloney, P. P. , of Ennisboyne, Kilbride, and Castlctimon parishes, during the month of April, 1871. His parish was called Ennis- bethan, before A. I). 1795, when the chapel
'" The accompanying illustration of the scene is from a drawing by the writer, in July, 1S73, on the spot, and since trans- ferred to the wood, by William E. Wakeman. It was engraved by Airs. Millard.
—
May 22. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
romantic, at the plateau over a deep glen, through which the Three Mile Water winds along to the high sand banks, a little below where it enters the sea, at Maghera Point. '° Here, the people have a tradition, St. Patrick " first landed, when he reached the Wicklow coast. Only two fragments of the choir walls remain, and all the nave walls are nearly levelled with the ground. However, the former dimensions are quite traceable. Two granite caps of windows lie within the graveyard, still much resorted to for interments. " Tiie turning of an arch is yet traceable, between nave and choir. The church walls are 2 feet, 10 inches, in thickness, on an average. The burial-ground has been enclosed with a modern wall ; but, at one angle, the river below has undermined the upper clay bank, and a semicircular land-slide there has been the consequence. The scenery around thi. ; old church is of the most delightful character. According to the Martyrology of Donegal,'3 Baoithin, son to Finnach, of Inis Baithin, in the east of Leinster,'4 had veneration given
him, on this day.
ArticleHI. St. RonanFinn,ofLannRonain,CountyofDown. For the 22nd of May, a festival is recorded, in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ to honour Ronan Find, of Lan Ruadain Ronain f and, at the same date, the "Feilire"ofSt. yEngusmentionshim,withspecialeulogy. Accordingtothe scholiast on that copy found in the " Leabhar Breac," Ronan the Fair was son of Saran, son to Colgan or Colcu, son of Tuathal, son to Cruindbel,^ son of Fedlimid, son to Fiacha Cassan, son of Colla da Chrich, son of Echaid Doimplen. + This saint is noticed, in the Book of Lecain. s The Bollandists ^ have some account of St. Ronnanus, Bishop and Confessor, at this date, althoughtheyacknowledge,thatlittleisknownabouthim. Hemusthave flourished, in the early part of the seventh century, if we are to attach credit to certain romantic fragments of our national history. Some Scottish writers callhimadiscipleofSt. Benedict; but,theygivenowarrant,forsuchastate-
ment. Theepithetappliedtohim—bytheIrish—ofFinnsignifies"white," or " fair. " He was the son of Saran, son to Colgan, and he sprung from the family of Orgiell, or Colla Dachrioch,7 according to the poem, which is called the Naemhshenchus of the Saints of Inis Fail. The mother of Ronan, and the mother of Fionnchu, of the Bri Gobhann, were sisters. ^ Elsewhere, he is conjecturedtohavebeenthesonofBerach. 9 Allusionismadetothissaint,
" See his Life, in the Third Volume of this work, at March 17th, Art. i.
" An old cut stone, with an inscription 1698, lies at the head of a grave. It is very rudely carved.
'3 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 136, 137.
"In
it is again corrected. See ibid. , pp. 362,
Lan Ruadain Ronain, in manu recenti. "
3 'fhe scholiast adds, " a quo Hui-Cruind-
beoil. "
'' See " Transactions of the Royal Irish
Academy," Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. Ixxxi.
