In the fine church, built at Kildare, and already described, some time after their
respective
deaths, thebodies of St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v5
Several of these were entirely destroyed, and many others are hastening to decay.
" See " Trias Thaumaturga," Appendix Quinta ad Acta
in Ireland ; its first bishop was Lonius, and
after him Ivorius. St. Brigid is its patron.
The city of Kildare is situated in the pro-
vince of Leinster, about twenty English miles
from the city of Dublin, and westward from
the same metropolis. It is not only the head
of Kildare diocese, but of the whole county
of Kildare, which takes name from it. In
that chuich of Kildare, there were formerly
four or five dignities, viz. , the Archdeaconate,
Deaconate, Chancellar}', Treasurership, and
Chantorship. There were also four canons,
and eight prebendaries, with a canonical col-
lege, built near the church. The greatest
length of Kildare Diocese extends from the
town (Keonen^is? )—Clane is probably S. Brigidre, cap. i. , pp. 627, 628. There meant—within seven English miles of were also four Vicars foreign in the dio-
Dublin, to a road, called Bealach-Garbhain, in the Slieve Bloom mountains, being about twenty-four miles. The road of Bealach- Garbhain divides Leinster from Munster, on that part. The breadth of this diocese does not extend beyond twelve or fourteen miles from the limits of the towns of Bally-Sonain and Kilruith, with Narrachmore and Buaile-bhcg on the southern side, to the
cese.
'« By Colgan.
'7 The aforesaid abbot and his monks
seemingly belonged to the corresponding canonical institute for men.
'^ This same writer supposes the abbot and abbess of Kildare belonged ab initio to a similar religious institute.
;
'9 Now preserved in the Royal Irish Aca- River Boyne on the northern part, and demy.
which there divides the diocese from that of Meath. Throughout its whole northern limits, the diocese of Kildare is bounded by that of Meath, on the east ; and, partly on the southern side, it is bounded by the Dub- lindiocese; thedioceseofLeighlinalsoex- tends on its southern confines ; while, on the west, it is bounded by the dioceses of Killa- loe and of Meath. This diocese of Kildare is divided into the four forane deaneries, or vicarages of Kildare, Naas, Killeigh, and Clane. The deanery of Kildare is situated in the middle of this diocese, and it sur-
-" The following is the text :
P|MmAi|\ee chjAAinx) c]\uiche C]\ifc conibti|\ buAixie
b>. \r ConbAit) CAiiiAige Veilnu\]\niun\eUAi^e.
Thus translated, by Dr. WTiitley Stokes :
" The first finding of the wood of the Christ's Cross with many virtues. (The) death of Condlad, a fair pillar. Marj' (the) Virgin's
great feast.
" Dr. Todd remarks, that this passage
— —
May 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 89
termination. He would not be dissuaded from his purpose, however, and this act of disobedience towards the holy Brigid is said to have been the cause of an accident on the way. The Rev. Dr. Todd deems the lioly bishop probably felt a natural desire to revisit Rome, to procure a new set of pontifical vest- ments, for the more solemn celebration of Divine service; the former ones havingbeenbestowed,asanalms,onbehalfofthepoor. ^3 Hethinks,also, St. Conlaed's artistic skill and taste may have formed a strong motive with him, to visit Rome, even in opposition to St. Brigid's commands. ==* The holy man seems to have journeyed onwards from his own place towards the sea. We are next informed, that wild hounds or wolves eat him at Sechai Condlad,^5 at the side of Liamain, in Mag Laighen, or the plain of Leinster. This level would appear to have been a very extensive range—perhaps too a very un-
—
O'Donovan seems to place it chiefly, in the northern part of the present
county of Kildare. "^ However, a very excellent and distinguished Irish
scholar,^? pronounces this Leinster plain to have extended into the barony
of East Narragh,^^ in the county of Kildare, and to have reached even within
the borders of Wicklow County. Wherefore, it seems, that within the wide
extent of this plain, we must seek out the exact locality of Sechai Condlad,
" at the side of Liomain. "-9 The former denomination now appears to be
obsolete but,thesiteofthelatterisminntelydescribed,intheDinnsenchus=°
defined one
in the province from which it had been denominated. Dr.
;
tends to prove, that Latinum in Italy, and not Letauia in Brittany was intended in St. Broj^an's metrical Life of St. Biigid. See "St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," Introduc- tory Dissertation, n. 2, p. 25.
-^ To such account is added, that Brigid prayed for him to get a sudden death, on the way, and this is what was fulfilled.
^3 Dr. Todd adds : " But this design the stern severity of his patroness discounte- nanced; and if he was 'eaten by wolves' on his journey, such an event would inevitably be attributed to having disobeyed the com- mands or wishes oi St. Brigid. "—" St Patrick, Apostle of Ireland. " Introductory Dissertation, pp. 25, 26.
•"^ See ibid. , pp. 26, 27.
^s '• SechA! Con-oLAit), that is, * Bones of Condla. ' In O'Clery Glossary, ^^eic is
glossed CTiAin, that is 'bone. ' IS^ote by O'Beirne Crowe, A. B. It must be added, that William M. Hennessy renders Secha
"
Conlaid, ' Conlaid Passing. '
^^ He remarks, that this is another name
O'Huiilhrin," p. xlvii. , n. 368.
'^ William M. Hennessy, M. R. I. A.
^^ Usk or Uske, within this barony, is de-
scribed, asbelongingto the plain of Leinster, according to him.
^9 To William M. Hennessy, the writer is gratefully indebted for the following literal translation of the extract referring to it, as also for identification of places therein named, and found enclosed within brackets. "Liamain, whence is it? Not difificult, Liaman, Lcndcan, Forcartain, and Mianach, and Truistin, were four daughters of Dubh- tach Dubtaire, son of Fergna, King of the Deisi-Biegh. (Deece, Co. Meath). The four sons of Aicher Cerr, son of Echadh ordot, of the Ernai of Monster, of the race of Mogh-Lamha, son of Lughaidh, son of Cairpre Cromchind, loved them, and the four youths came from the west to Dubh- tach's house. Their names were Fer-dubh, Fornacht, Roimper, and Fomu, and bound themselves for a-year to Dubhtach. They were there, after soliciting their reward, and
Dubhtach would not give it, until they should stay a month and a year with him, forit was Dubhtach that required a month to watch,
J.
for the territory of the Ui Faelain in which
the church Claenadh (Clane) and Uachter-
ard (Oughterard), were situated. See" Leal-
har na g-Ceart, or Book of Rights," pp. and a year's companionship. Dubhtach
205 to 207, nn. 222, 223. Also " Annals of
the Four Masters," vol. ii. , p. 496, nn. (n, o).
But, in a subsequent passage, at A. D. I171,
it is stated, " A predatory excursion was
made by the son of the Earl, and he plun-
dered the churches of Magh Laighean and
many of the Ui Failain," ibid. , p. 1187.
Hence, a distinction seems intended, be-
tween Maigh-Laighen and the Ui-Faelain.
See, likewise, " The Topographical Poems were all slain, viz. , Fer-Dubh at Dubh-atha
of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na naomh Maisten (the Blackford of Mullaghmast),
then went on a foray to Laighen (Leinster). They pretended to be sick, in order that they should not go with him. Dubhtach afterwards went ; and they escaped in his absence, and Dubhtach's four daughters with them. DubhtachmetwiththeminLaighen and killed the entire eight, viz. , Fomu, Fer- Liamna-Roimper, Fercantana, Fornocht, Fer Manca, Fer Dubh with Truistin. They
90 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 3.
—an old topographical tract, contained in the Book of Ballymote. ^' There can be no reasonable doubt entertained, that the thickly wooded and wild moun- tainous districts, in the plains of Leinster, were at that time infested with wolves, 3' lying i" '^vait for lonely and adventurous travellers. Whatever may be thought concerning the mode and place for this saint's death, we may take it for granted, the commentator has inserted an absurd popular tradition, which referred his violent end to a disobedience of St. Brigid's wishes, and especially to her prayers. Such infelicitous introductions, among the Acts of our National Saints, are greatly to be deprecated ; since they render the Irish hagiologist's task one of extreme caution and delicacy, when seeking to dis- criminate between fact and fiction. Professor Eugene O'Curry identifies this Liamhain ^3—where a great battle had been fought—with the present Dun- lavin,inthecountyofWicklow. HeretherewasanancientseatoftheLein- ster Kings. 34 This was probably on or near the celebrated INIoat of Tornant, which forms so prominent an object, and which rises over the town of Dun- lavin, at no great distance from it. The writer has been informed, however, by a competent investigator of Irish topography and antiquities,35 as also by one who has a specially intimate knowledge of this locality and of the adjoin- ing places, that no denomination, at all resembling Sechai Condlad, can be tracednearDunlavin. FormerlythisplacewascalledDunLianhna,aswell as Liamhain. 3^ It is celebrated in ancient documents, and it seems to have been in a district, not far from the sea, from allusion there made to it. 37 This circumstance should tally well with the accounts, that St. Conleth was obliged to pass near it, before embarking for Britain or the Continent, when prosecut- ing his intended journey to Rome.
Probably, we may find the rationale of the foregoing account, and it may consist solely in these facts ; viz. , that for special good reasons ofhisown,St. ConlethmayhavedesignedajourneytoRome; thatSt. Brigid might have warned him of danger to be apprehended on the way, especially if he undertook thr journey without sufficient protection, or alone; and that the sad event of death, occurring in the manner described, fully justified her pre- science, her fears and her warnings. The year for this latter occurrence was 519, in the sixteenth year of King Muircheartach's reign, according to the Annals
died on Cnoc-Dumha Aichor in Hy Fel- metha (in the parish of Tullophelim, Co. Carlow? ")
3° At Fol. 194, b. b.
" This is a much-prized Manuscript pre-
served in the Royal Iri-h Academy's Library. 3' The last descendant of those Irish wolves disappeared, only about the com-
mencement of last century.
niacan Eigeas, in the year 942, n. 59, p. 36.
-7 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Leabhar na-g- Ceart, or Book of Rights," pp. 40, 41, and n. (o). Al^o, n. (x), p. 203, and n. (m), pp. 228, 229. Also, n. (r), p. 231.
38 Sce Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiber- nicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 13.
39 See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
The Annals of Tighernach refer his
of Ulster,38 and of the Four Masters. 39
Fornocht at Fornocht (Fornaughts ? ) Roim-
per at Glas-Roimpair, Fomu in Fomina ;
Liamain on Liomain (Dunlavin), Mianach in
her Cul (Corner, i. e. , Cul-Mianach), Forcar-
tain in Forcariain, Truistin on his ford [i. f.
Ath Trui>ten, near the hill of Mullaghmast
on the Greece. ) Their mother then came
from the west, i. e. , Luachair Bairnech was
her name, and from Bairend of Corcomroe
she came ; and when she obtained reliable
knowledge regarding the killing of her sons,
her heait broke within her. F"rom her is
named Luachair Bairnech. (This name is
still preserved in that part of the Burren
River, Co. Carlow. ) Aichor went, and he Neill, Prince of Aileach," written by Cor- \
33 Allusion is made to Liamain, in one ot these three poems, yet preserved in the Book of Leinster, and attributed to Dubhtach Ua Lug. iir, chief poet to the monarch Laegaire, who flouri>hed, A. D. 432. It refers to the triumphs of Enna Censellach and of his son Crimthann, Kings of Leinster.
34 c^ge " Lectures on the Manuscript Ma- terials of Ancient Irish History. " Appendix iii. , p. 492, and n. 71. Ibid.
35 Rev. John Francis Shearman, C. C. , Howth.
2* See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition of the " Circuit of Ireland, by Mircheartach Mac
May 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 91
death to the year 520/° St. Conleth's remains are said'*' to have been at first buried in Killeen Cormaci^ It \yould appear, however, that tlie bones and probably other reHcs—of St. Conlelh, had been recovered and conveyed to the former place of his abode. No doubt, St. Brigid took special care, that his sacred remains should be interred or enshrined, with all that religious reverence and honour, due to the distinguished virtues and merits of her holy bishop and counsellor.
In the fine church, built at Kildare, and already described, some time after their respective deaths, thebodies of St. Brigid and of St. Conlaeth''^ were deposited in rich shrines. These were placed relatively on the right and left sidesofadecoratedaltar. Theirreliquarieswereornamentedwithgold,silver, gems, and precious stones, having been surmounted with crowns of gold and silver. 44 We are told, by CogitosuSi-ts that his remains were interred, near the high altar of the great church at Kildare ;46 and, in the year 799,^7 according to the Annals of Ulster,48 the relics of Conlaid or Conlaoi were placed in a shrine of gold and silver. 49 Under the year S36, it ii: recorded, that the Danes plundered and burned the noble abbey and churches at Kildare, taking with them the rich shrines of St. Brigid and of St. Conleath. 5° In a previous part
of this biography, it may be seen, that such an account apparently conflicts with a local tradition. However, it is possible, a translation of St. Conlaeth's remains may have taken place ; for, while some portions of his relics may have been preserved at Old Conall, other parts had possibly been enshrined
pp. 170, 171.
'*° See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 129.
"•' ByRev. JohnFrancisShearman.
*- See a very complete account of the origin and antiquities of this curious burial ground, in a very uiteresting seiies of papers intituled, "Loca Patriciana. " They were published in the '"Journal of the Royal Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland," vol. ii. , Fourth Series, April, 1S73, No, 14, pp. 339 to 361. July, No. 15, pp. 4S6 to 498.
*'' Colgan observes, that although for cen- turies before his time, the bodies of Saints Patrick, Brigid, and Columkille were de-
617, 618, 619, and n. 17, p. 526.
"t* Regarding the church and city of Kil-
Thaumaturga. " Vita Secunda S. Brigidse, cap. xxxvi. , p. 524. In a note on this pas- sage, Colgan remarks on the Scotorum terra being identical with Ireland, as the city of St. Brigid, as Kildare, at some distance from the chief city, Dubhn, was undoubtedly in Ireland. Seen. 19, p. 526, ibid.
45 See Messingham's " Florilegium Insulas Sanctorum. " According to Messingham's version of this Life of St. Brigid, we find it in chapter xiv. , at p. 199.
t" See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Secunda Vita S. Brigidse, cap. xxxv. , p. 523. 47 In Harris' Ware, vol. i. , after treating about Conleth"s death, it is said : " But his bones 281 years after, i. e. , A. D. Soo, were translated into a silver gilded shrine adorned
dare," p. 3S0. It may not be quite correct to state, that such a length of time had been suffered to elapse, before his remains were first enshrined ; all that should be observed is, at or before the commencement of the ninth century, his relics were placed in a new and beautiful reliquary.
''^ See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hiber- nicarum Scriptorej," tomus iv. Annales Ul- tonienses, ab A. D. cccxxxi. to a. d. dccc. Ex codice Bodleiano, pars i. " Positio reli- quiar. Conlaid hi serin oir agus oirget. [in scrinio auri et argenti. "] p. 120.
posited in Down, of Ulster
yet, the remains of St. Brigid were first buried at Kildare, in Leinster, as appears from this passage, and from other observations, which are made in the Fourth Appendix to our Saints' Acts. See "Trias Tliaumaturga," cap. vi. , pp.
—
with precious stones. " " Bishops of Kil-
tota Scotoium terra, cum suis omnibus fugi- tivis. " In it were preserved the treasures of kings most religiously, and under its highly adorned covering. See Colgan's " Trias
chap, ii. , p. 160.
5' No doubt, St. Brigid desired to have a
part of his bones removed, to her great church, built at Kildare,
;
dare, Cogitosus remarks, that it would not be
possible to describe sufficiently the great
beauty of this church, and the many miracles
wrought in this city, "si fas est dici civitas
de qua vita in se multorum nomen accepit.
Maxima hsec civitas et metropolitane est : in
cujus suburbanis quae sancta certo limite de-
signavit Brigida. " He adds, that no carnal
adversary, nor concourse of enemies, was
feared there, in his time, as the city was one
of safe refuge for all living elsewhere, "in ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book x. ,
49 Allusion has been made to it already, in a previous chapter.
S' See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene-
—
g2
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 3.
at Kildare. s' It is probable, that this reliquary had been destroyed or re- moved, during one of the Danish or northern incursions, with which this city hadbeenfrequentlyvisited. s^' But,theforegoingobjectofart,withitsmuch prized contents, had been long preserved and exposed, for the admiration and veneration of Christians at Kildare.
—known too as Condail of oftheKings—wasunderthespecialpatronageofSt. Conleath. Thename Condail may be rendered, also, " the place of meeting. "53 It is not impro- bable, that it was identical with the present remarkable mound, already de- scribed, and which may have been the folk-moat of olden times. After the celebrated victory of the Leinster chiefs and heroes, obtained in the battle at
the Hill Allen, in a. d. 722, and about five miles northwards from Kildare, it is related, that they assembled at Condail of the Kings. That victory is said to have been obtained, under the patronage of St. Brigid, whose presence was seen over the Leinstermen, either before or daring the battle. However, the heroes of Leinster spent the night in high spirits, each describing his achievements, at Condail of the Kings, while wine and mead circulated, and merrimentseemedtheorderofthatnight. s* Thewholeofthisaccount,how- ever, is mingled with romantic and extravagant incidents. Near it, the an- cient church of Old Connell probably stood, when the Leinster heroes cele- brated their famous victory ; and, it seems likely, that St. Conleth was re- garded as its patron, even before the eighth century. Possibly, a considerable portion of his relics were preserved in it ; for, according to local tradition, his
remains were deposited within the cemetery.
All our Irish Martyrologists place his festival, at the 3rd of May,
the date assigned for his death. 55 In the Metrical Martyrology of St. yEno-us the Culdee, and known as the Feilire-^ngus, at this date, and'^when recording his death, it is stated : Bas Conlaid, cain-aige, " The death of Condlaid, beautiful pillar. "56 The name of this holy bishop is written Roncend, in the ALirtyrology of Tallagh,57 at the 3rd of May. This Roncend is not a distinct saint from Conleth, who is venerated onthisday,andwhosefirst name,aswehavealreadyseen,wasRoincenn. We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,5S likewise, that a festival was cele- brated, in honour of Roineheann,59 on this day. In the diocese of Kildare,
The place where he lived, Old Connell
—
5= "We have the most indisputable histo- ricalevidence, not only of the existence of one of tlie two shnnes noticed by Cogitosus, as preserved at Kildarein his own time, but also of the costliness of its materials ; and it will surely not be doubted that the religious com- munity of Kildare, who paid this reverence to the relics of their first bishop, would have had a similar, if not a still more splendid
shrine, to preserve the relics of the great founder and patronessof their establishment. " —Dr George Petrie's "Ecclesiastical Archi- teclui'e and Round Towers of Ireland," part ii , sub. sec. i. , pp. 203, 204.
S3 According to \Villiam M. Hennessy.
5< See "Three Fragments of Annals, copied from Ancient Sources," by Dhubal- tach Mac Firbisigh, and edited by Dr. O'Donovan, pp. 33 1051. This work was
the feast of St. Conleth
at the 3rd of May—
is observed as a double of the first-class, with an octave. There is no proper ofifice for this saint, however; but the psalms, lessons, &:c. , are taken from the common to a confessor and bishop. For the other dioceses of Ireland, this office is recited as a double,
published, in the year iS6o.
S3 See Dr. O' Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 170, 171.
so in the " IMartyrology of Tallagh, ' as edited by the Rev. Matthew Kelly, at p. xxiii. , we find, besides the enti7 of Connlai, Bishop of Cill Dara, two other entries, at the 3rd of May, viz. , Roncend. and Mocbona Daire. All these designations are referable to one saint. The same repetition is notice- able, in the "Martyrology of Donegal,"
edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 118 119, and at ihe same day of the month,
57 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxui. In the Franciscan copy is Con-oUe'o Cilli Oa|\a Honcenx) piMinuf.
=« Eiiiied by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
I18, II9.
,
a note by Dr. Todd says, at Koin-
59
^ ^ ,,
May 3. LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
93
but without an octave. Even De Burgo ^° altogether omitted St. Conleth from his Hst of Irish Saints, although he has compiled proper offices for others, not more celebrated, and for several totally unconnected, as to special vene- ration, in connexion with our national sees.
Towards the close of the last century, when many of our old chapels had been erected, the Catholic people of Ireland were a cower- ing and proscribed race. Among other nations, however, their melan- choly music, their impatiently borne wrongs, their tried fidelity to country and religion, had made them known. But, their former places of wor- ship had been dismantled, and these passed as spoils into the hands of other worshippers. The haunts of their former saints had almost been forgotten. The old parish chapel of Newbridge was a wretched build- ing, on the strand of the Liffey, and not far from the site of St. Conleth's pre- sent imposing parochial church. For years, many a prayer was offered up, that a new parochial church might be built. At 'ast, in the year 1848, just as the nation was emerging from famine and prostration, the parish priest, the Rev. 'I'imothyKavanagh,andthepeople''' ofNewbridge,undertooktobuild a larger church.
The great efibri was to make out funds, during what were justly called the "Bad Times. '^s^ This, however, was soon effected, but with much difficulty. 63 The drawings and sjDe-
St. Conleth's Catholic Church, Newbridge, County of Kildare.
cifications for the the church were supplied by some friendly architect, whose name has not transpired. ^* The style of that new building is Gothic ; it has a tower or bel- fry -65 but the spire is not yet built. In 1852, the church was dedi- cated to St. Con- leth, and opened for Divine ser- vice. This is the only church in the diocese of Kil- dareand Leighlin —we believe it may be stated in
all Ireland—dedi-
cated to St. Con- leth. ^^ Out of the debris of the old chapel, and in close connection with St. Conleth's new church, a comfortable parochial house and good out-offices ckeann : " The more recent hand adds, *° AUusion is made to his work—now
"Vide Conleadh," whose first name was rarely procurable, " Otficia Propria Sancto- Roincenn. rumHibernise. " Yet,surelysufficientma-
94 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 3
were afterwards built. Active and earnest exertions were made ^^ to orna- ment the interior of this fine church, and to improve the external grounds and approaches to it. Since that time, further spiritual advantages have been secured for the parish. ^^ The foundation stone of a new convent at New- bridge was laid, by the Right Rev. James Walsh, D. D. , and Bishop of Kil- dareandLeighlin,onAscensionDay,22ndMay,1873. Itspositionisquite close to the church, and the establishment has been dedicated to St. Conleth. ^9 The community in possession is known as the Oblate Sisters 7° of the Imma- culate Conception. 7' These nuns first came to the convent, on the 26th of
terials are available, for the compilation of a proper office for St. Conleth.
" They contributed about ;^500. and after expending this sum on t'.
in Ireland ; its first bishop was Lonius, and
after him Ivorius. St. Brigid is its patron.
The city of Kildare is situated in the pro-
vince of Leinster, about twenty English miles
from the city of Dublin, and westward from
the same metropolis. It is not only the head
of Kildare diocese, but of the whole county
of Kildare, which takes name from it. In
that chuich of Kildare, there were formerly
four or five dignities, viz. , the Archdeaconate,
Deaconate, Chancellar}', Treasurership, and
Chantorship. There were also four canons,
and eight prebendaries, with a canonical col-
lege, built near the church. The greatest
length of Kildare Diocese extends from the
town (Keonen^is? )—Clane is probably S. Brigidre, cap. i. , pp. 627, 628. There meant—within seven English miles of were also four Vicars foreign in the dio-
Dublin, to a road, called Bealach-Garbhain, in the Slieve Bloom mountains, being about twenty-four miles. The road of Bealach- Garbhain divides Leinster from Munster, on that part. The breadth of this diocese does not extend beyond twelve or fourteen miles from the limits of the towns of Bally-Sonain and Kilruith, with Narrachmore and Buaile-bhcg on the southern side, to the
cese.
'« By Colgan.
'7 The aforesaid abbot and his monks
seemingly belonged to the corresponding canonical institute for men.
'^ This same writer supposes the abbot and abbess of Kildare belonged ab initio to a similar religious institute.
;
'9 Now preserved in the Royal Irish Aca- River Boyne on the northern part, and demy.
which there divides the diocese from that of Meath. Throughout its whole northern limits, the diocese of Kildare is bounded by that of Meath, on the east ; and, partly on the southern side, it is bounded by the Dub- lindiocese; thedioceseofLeighlinalsoex- tends on its southern confines ; while, on the west, it is bounded by the dioceses of Killa- loe and of Meath. This diocese of Kildare is divided into the four forane deaneries, or vicarages of Kildare, Naas, Killeigh, and Clane. The deanery of Kildare is situated in the middle of this diocese, and it sur-
-" The following is the text :
P|MmAi|\ee chjAAinx) c]\uiche C]\ifc conibti|\ buAixie
b>. \r ConbAit) CAiiiAige Veilnu\]\niun\eUAi^e.
Thus translated, by Dr. WTiitley Stokes :
" The first finding of the wood of the Christ's Cross with many virtues. (The) death of Condlad, a fair pillar. Marj' (the) Virgin's
great feast.
" Dr. Todd remarks, that this passage
— —
May 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 89
termination. He would not be dissuaded from his purpose, however, and this act of disobedience towards the holy Brigid is said to have been the cause of an accident on the way. The Rev. Dr. Todd deems the lioly bishop probably felt a natural desire to revisit Rome, to procure a new set of pontifical vest- ments, for the more solemn celebration of Divine service; the former ones havingbeenbestowed,asanalms,onbehalfofthepoor. ^3 Hethinks,also, St. Conlaed's artistic skill and taste may have formed a strong motive with him, to visit Rome, even in opposition to St. Brigid's commands. ==* The holy man seems to have journeyed onwards from his own place towards the sea. We are next informed, that wild hounds or wolves eat him at Sechai Condlad,^5 at the side of Liamain, in Mag Laighen, or the plain of Leinster. This level would appear to have been a very extensive range—perhaps too a very un-
—
O'Donovan seems to place it chiefly, in the northern part of the present
county of Kildare. "^ However, a very excellent and distinguished Irish
scholar,^? pronounces this Leinster plain to have extended into the barony
of East Narragh,^^ in the county of Kildare, and to have reached even within
the borders of Wicklow County. Wherefore, it seems, that within the wide
extent of this plain, we must seek out the exact locality of Sechai Condlad,
" at the side of Liomain. "-9 The former denomination now appears to be
obsolete but,thesiteofthelatterisminntelydescribed,intheDinnsenchus=°
defined one
in the province from which it had been denominated. Dr.
;
tends to prove, that Latinum in Italy, and not Letauia in Brittany was intended in St. Broj^an's metrical Life of St. Biigid. See "St. Patrick, Apostle of Ireland," Introduc- tory Dissertation, n. 2, p. 25.
-^ To such account is added, that Brigid prayed for him to get a sudden death, on the way, and this is what was fulfilled.
^3 Dr. Todd adds : " But this design the stern severity of his patroness discounte- nanced; and if he was 'eaten by wolves' on his journey, such an event would inevitably be attributed to having disobeyed the com- mands or wishes oi St. Brigid. "—" St Patrick, Apostle of Ireland. " Introductory Dissertation, pp. 25, 26.
•"^ See ibid. , pp. 26, 27.
^s '• SechA! Con-oLAit), that is, * Bones of Condla. ' In O'Clery Glossary, ^^eic is
glossed CTiAin, that is 'bone. ' IS^ote by O'Beirne Crowe, A. B. It must be added, that William M. Hennessy renders Secha
"
Conlaid, ' Conlaid Passing. '
^^ He remarks, that this is another name
O'Huiilhrin," p. xlvii. , n. 368.
'^ William M. Hennessy, M. R. I. A.
^^ Usk or Uske, within this barony, is de-
scribed, asbelongingto the plain of Leinster, according to him.
^9 To William M. Hennessy, the writer is gratefully indebted for the following literal translation of the extract referring to it, as also for identification of places therein named, and found enclosed within brackets. "Liamain, whence is it? Not difificult, Liaman, Lcndcan, Forcartain, and Mianach, and Truistin, were four daughters of Dubh- tach Dubtaire, son of Fergna, King of the Deisi-Biegh. (Deece, Co. Meath). The four sons of Aicher Cerr, son of Echadh ordot, of the Ernai of Monster, of the race of Mogh-Lamha, son of Lughaidh, son of Cairpre Cromchind, loved them, and the four youths came from the west to Dubh- tach's house. Their names were Fer-dubh, Fornacht, Roimper, and Fomu, and bound themselves for a-year to Dubhtach. They were there, after soliciting their reward, and
Dubhtach would not give it, until they should stay a month and a year with him, forit was Dubhtach that required a month to watch,
J.
for the territory of the Ui Faelain in which
the church Claenadh (Clane) and Uachter-
ard (Oughterard), were situated. See" Leal-
har na g-Ceart, or Book of Rights," pp. and a year's companionship. Dubhtach
205 to 207, nn. 222, 223. Also " Annals of
the Four Masters," vol. ii. , p. 496, nn. (n, o).
But, in a subsequent passage, at A. D. I171,
it is stated, " A predatory excursion was
made by the son of the Earl, and he plun-
dered the churches of Magh Laighean and
many of the Ui Failain," ibid. , p. 1187.
Hence, a distinction seems intended, be-
tween Maigh-Laighen and the Ui-Faelain.
See, likewise, " The Topographical Poems were all slain, viz. , Fer-Dubh at Dubh-atha
of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na naomh Maisten (the Blackford of Mullaghmast),
then went on a foray to Laighen (Leinster). They pretended to be sick, in order that they should not go with him. Dubhtach afterwards went ; and they escaped in his absence, and Dubhtach's four daughters with them. DubhtachmetwiththeminLaighen and killed the entire eight, viz. , Fomu, Fer- Liamna-Roimper, Fercantana, Fornocht, Fer Manca, Fer Dubh with Truistin. They
90 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 3.
—an old topographical tract, contained in the Book of Ballymote. ^' There can be no reasonable doubt entertained, that the thickly wooded and wild moun- tainous districts, in the plains of Leinster, were at that time infested with wolves, 3' lying i" '^vait for lonely and adventurous travellers. Whatever may be thought concerning the mode and place for this saint's death, we may take it for granted, the commentator has inserted an absurd popular tradition, which referred his violent end to a disobedience of St. Brigid's wishes, and especially to her prayers. Such infelicitous introductions, among the Acts of our National Saints, are greatly to be deprecated ; since they render the Irish hagiologist's task one of extreme caution and delicacy, when seeking to dis- criminate between fact and fiction. Professor Eugene O'Curry identifies this Liamhain ^3—where a great battle had been fought—with the present Dun- lavin,inthecountyofWicklow. HeretherewasanancientseatoftheLein- ster Kings. 34 This was probably on or near the celebrated INIoat of Tornant, which forms so prominent an object, and which rises over the town of Dun- lavin, at no great distance from it. The writer has been informed, however, by a competent investigator of Irish topography and antiquities,35 as also by one who has a specially intimate knowledge of this locality and of the adjoin- ing places, that no denomination, at all resembling Sechai Condlad, can be tracednearDunlavin. FormerlythisplacewascalledDunLianhna,aswell as Liamhain. 3^ It is celebrated in ancient documents, and it seems to have been in a district, not far from the sea, from allusion there made to it. 37 This circumstance should tally well with the accounts, that St. Conleth was obliged to pass near it, before embarking for Britain or the Continent, when prosecut- ing his intended journey to Rome.
Probably, we may find the rationale of the foregoing account, and it may consist solely in these facts ; viz. , that for special good reasons ofhisown,St. ConlethmayhavedesignedajourneytoRome; thatSt. Brigid might have warned him of danger to be apprehended on the way, especially if he undertook thr journey without sufficient protection, or alone; and that the sad event of death, occurring in the manner described, fully justified her pre- science, her fears and her warnings. The year for this latter occurrence was 519, in the sixteenth year of King Muircheartach's reign, according to the Annals
died on Cnoc-Dumha Aichor in Hy Fel- metha (in the parish of Tullophelim, Co. Carlow? ")
3° At Fol. 194, b. b.
" This is a much-prized Manuscript pre-
served in the Royal Iri-h Academy's Library. 3' The last descendant of those Irish wolves disappeared, only about the com-
mencement of last century.
niacan Eigeas, in the year 942, n. 59, p. 36.
-7 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Leabhar na-g- Ceart, or Book of Rights," pp. 40, 41, and n. (o). Al^o, n. (x), p. 203, and n. (m), pp. 228, 229. Also, n. (r), p. 231.
38 Sce Rev. Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hiber- nicarum Scriptores," tomus iv. , p. 13.
39 See Dr. O'Donovan's edition, vol. i. ,
The Annals of Tighernach refer his
of Ulster,38 and of the Four Masters. 39
Fornocht at Fornocht (Fornaughts ? ) Roim-
per at Glas-Roimpair, Fomu in Fomina ;
Liamain on Liomain (Dunlavin), Mianach in
her Cul (Corner, i. e. , Cul-Mianach), Forcar-
tain in Forcariain, Truistin on his ford [i. f.
Ath Trui>ten, near the hill of Mullaghmast
on the Greece. ) Their mother then came
from the west, i. e. , Luachair Bairnech was
her name, and from Bairend of Corcomroe
she came ; and when she obtained reliable
knowledge regarding the killing of her sons,
her heait broke within her. F"rom her is
named Luachair Bairnech. (This name is
still preserved in that part of the Burren
River, Co. Carlow. ) Aichor went, and he Neill, Prince of Aileach," written by Cor- \
33 Allusion is made to Liamain, in one ot these three poems, yet preserved in the Book of Leinster, and attributed to Dubhtach Ua Lug. iir, chief poet to the monarch Laegaire, who flouri>hed, A. D. 432. It refers to the triumphs of Enna Censellach and of his son Crimthann, Kings of Leinster.
34 c^ge " Lectures on the Manuscript Ma- terials of Ancient Irish History. " Appendix iii. , p. 492, and n. 71. Ibid.
35 Rev. John Francis Shearman, C. C. , Howth.
2* See Dr. O'Donovan's Edition of the " Circuit of Ireland, by Mircheartach Mac
May 3. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 91
death to the year 520/° St. Conleth's remains are said'*' to have been at first buried in Killeen Cormaci^ It \yould appear, however, that tlie bones and probably other reHcs—of St. Conlelh, had been recovered and conveyed to the former place of his abode. No doubt, St. Brigid took special care, that his sacred remains should be interred or enshrined, with all that religious reverence and honour, due to the distinguished virtues and merits of her holy bishop and counsellor.
In the fine church, built at Kildare, and already described, some time after their respective deaths, thebodies of St. Brigid and of St. Conlaeth''^ were deposited in rich shrines. These were placed relatively on the right and left sidesofadecoratedaltar. Theirreliquarieswereornamentedwithgold,silver, gems, and precious stones, having been surmounted with crowns of gold and silver. 44 We are told, by CogitosuSi-ts that his remains were interred, near the high altar of the great church at Kildare ;46 and, in the year 799,^7 according to the Annals of Ulster,48 the relics of Conlaid or Conlaoi were placed in a shrine of gold and silver. 49 Under the year S36, it ii: recorded, that the Danes plundered and burned the noble abbey and churches at Kildare, taking with them the rich shrines of St. Brigid and of St. Conleath. 5° In a previous part
of this biography, it may be seen, that such an account apparently conflicts with a local tradition. However, it is possible, a translation of St. Conlaeth's remains may have taken place ; for, while some portions of his relics may have been preserved at Old Conall, other parts had possibly been enshrined
pp. 170, 171.
'*° See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum
Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus ii. , p. 129.
"•' ByRev. JohnFrancisShearman.
*- See a very complete account of the origin and antiquities of this curious burial ground, in a very uiteresting seiies of papers intituled, "Loca Patriciana. " They were published in the '"Journal of the Royal Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland," vol. ii. , Fourth Series, April, 1S73, No, 14, pp. 339 to 361. July, No. 15, pp. 4S6 to 498.
*'' Colgan observes, that although for cen- turies before his time, the bodies of Saints Patrick, Brigid, and Columkille were de-
617, 618, 619, and n. 17, p. 526.
"t* Regarding the church and city of Kil-
Thaumaturga. " Vita Secunda S. Brigidse, cap. xxxvi. , p. 524. In a note on this pas- sage, Colgan remarks on the Scotorum terra being identical with Ireland, as the city of St. Brigid, as Kildare, at some distance from the chief city, Dubhn, was undoubtedly in Ireland. Seen. 19, p. 526, ibid.
45 See Messingham's " Florilegium Insulas Sanctorum. " According to Messingham's version of this Life of St. Brigid, we find it in chapter xiv. , at p. 199.
t" See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Secunda Vita S. Brigidse, cap. xxxv. , p. 523. 47 In Harris' Ware, vol. i. , after treating about Conleth"s death, it is said : " But his bones 281 years after, i. e. , A. D. Soo, were translated into a silver gilded shrine adorned
dare," p. 3S0. It may not be quite correct to state, that such a length of time had been suffered to elapse, before his remains were first enshrined ; all that should be observed is, at or before the commencement of the ninth century, his relics were placed in a new and beautiful reliquary.
''^ See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hiber- nicarum Scriptorej," tomus iv. Annales Ul- tonienses, ab A. D. cccxxxi. to a. d. dccc. Ex codice Bodleiano, pars i. " Positio reli- quiar. Conlaid hi serin oir agus oirget. [in scrinio auri et argenti. "] p. 120.
posited in Down, of Ulster
yet, the remains of St. Brigid were first buried at Kildare, in Leinster, as appears from this passage, and from other observations, which are made in the Fourth Appendix to our Saints' Acts. See "Trias Tliaumaturga," cap. vi. , pp.
—
with precious stones. " " Bishops of Kil-
tota Scotoium terra, cum suis omnibus fugi- tivis. " In it were preserved the treasures of kings most religiously, and under its highly adorned covering. See Colgan's " Trias
chap, ii. , p. 160.
5' No doubt, St. Brigid desired to have a
part of his bones removed, to her great church, built at Kildare,
;
dare, Cogitosus remarks, that it would not be
possible to describe sufficiently the great
beauty of this church, and the many miracles
wrought in this city, "si fas est dici civitas
de qua vita in se multorum nomen accepit.
Maxima hsec civitas et metropolitane est : in
cujus suburbanis quae sancta certo limite de-
signavit Brigida. " He adds, that no carnal
adversary, nor concourse of enemies, was
feared there, in his time, as the city was one
of safe refuge for all living elsewhere, "in ral History of Ireland," vol. ii. , Book x. ,
49 Allusion has been made to it already, in a previous chapter.
S' See Dr. Sylvester O'Halloran's "Gene-
—
g2
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 3.
at Kildare. s' It is probable, that this reliquary had been destroyed or re- moved, during one of the Danish or northern incursions, with which this city hadbeenfrequentlyvisited. s^' But,theforegoingobjectofart,withitsmuch prized contents, had been long preserved and exposed, for the admiration and veneration of Christians at Kildare.
—known too as Condail of oftheKings—wasunderthespecialpatronageofSt. Conleath. Thename Condail may be rendered, also, " the place of meeting. "53 It is not impro- bable, that it was identical with the present remarkable mound, already de- scribed, and which may have been the folk-moat of olden times. After the celebrated victory of the Leinster chiefs and heroes, obtained in the battle at
the Hill Allen, in a. d. 722, and about five miles northwards from Kildare, it is related, that they assembled at Condail of the Kings. That victory is said to have been obtained, under the patronage of St. Brigid, whose presence was seen over the Leinstermen, either before or daring the battle. However, the heroes of Leinster spent the night in high spirits, each describing his achievements, at Condail of the Kings, while wine and mead circulated, and merrimentseemedtheorderofthatnight. s* Thewholeofthisaccount,how- ever, is mingled with romantic and extravagant incidents. Near it, the an- cient church of Old Connell probably stood, when the Leinster heroes cele- brated their famous victory ; and, it seems likely, that St. Conleth was re- garded as its patron, even before the eighth century. Possibly, a considerable portion of his relics were preserved in it ; for, according to local tradition, his
remains were deposited within the cemetery.
All our Irish Martyrologists place his festival, at the 3rd of May,
the date assigned for his death. 55 In the Metrical Martyrology of St. yEno-us the Culdee, and known as the Feilire-^ngus, at this date, and'^when recording his death, it is stated : Bas Conlaid, cain-aige, " The death of Condlaid, beautiful pillar. "56 The name of this holy bishop is written Roncend, in the ALirtyrology of Tallagh,57 at the 3rd of May. This Roncend is not a distinct saint from Conleth, who is venerated onthisday,andwhosefirst name,aswehavealreadyseen,wasRoincenn. We read, in the Martyrology of Donegal,5S likewise, that a festival was cele- brated, in honour of Roineheann,59 on this day. In the diocese of Kildare,
The place where he lived, Old Connell
—
5= "We have the most indisputable histo- ricalevidence, not only of the existence of one of tlie two shnnes noticed by Cogitosus, as preserved at Kildarein his own time, but also of the costliness of its materials ; and it will surely not be doubted that the religious com- munity of Kildare, who paid this reverence to the relics of their first bishop, would have had a similar, if not a still more splendid
shrine, to preserve the relics of the great founder and patronessof their establishment. " —Dr George Petrie's "Ecclesiastical Archi- teclui'e and Round Towers of Ireland," part ii , sub. sec. i. , pp. 203, 204.
S3 According to \Villiam M. Hennessy.
5< See "Three Fragments of Annals, copied from Ancient Sources," by Dhubal- tach Mac Firbisigh, and edited by Dr. O'Donovan, pp. 33 1051. This work was
the feast of St. Conleth
at the 3rd of May—
is observed as a double of the first-class, with an octave. There is no proper ofifice for this saint, however; but the psalms, lessons, &:c. , are taken from the common to a confessor and bishop. For the other dioceses of Ireland, this office is recited as a double,
published, in the year iS6o.
S3 See Dr. O' Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 170, 171.
so in the " IMartyrology of Tallagh, ' as edited by the Rev. Matthew Kelly, at p. xxiii. , we find, besides the enti7 of Connlai, Bishop of Cill Dara, two other entries, at the 3rd of May, viz. , Roncend. and Mocbona Daire. All these designations are referable to one saint. The same repetition is notice- able, in the "Martyrology of Donegal,"
edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 118 119, and at ihe same day of the month,
57 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxui. In the Franciscan copy is Con-oUe'o Cilli Oa|\a Honcenx) piMinuf.
=« Eiiiied by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
I18, II9.
,
a note by Dr. Todd says, at Koin-
59
^ ^ ,,
May 3. LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
93
but without an octave. Even De Burgo ^° altogether omitted St. Conleth from his Hst of Irish Saints, although he has compiled proper offices for others, not more celebrated, and for several totally unconnected, as to special vene- ration, in connexion with our national sees.
Towards the close of the last century, when many of our old chapels had been erected, the Catholic people of Ireland were a cower- ing and proscribed race. Among other nations, however, their melan- choly music, their impatiently borne wrongs, their tried fidelity to country and religion, had made them known. But, their former places of wor- ship had been dismantled, and these passed as spoils into the hands of other worshippers. The haunts of their former saints had almost been forgotten. The old parish chapel of Newbridge was a wretched build- ing, on the strand of the Liffey, and not far from the site of St. Conleth's pre- sent imposing parochial church. For years, many a prayer was offered up, that a new parochial church might be built. At 'ast, in the year 1848, just as the nation was emerging from famine and prostration, the parish priest, the Rev. 'I'imothyKavanagh,andthepeople''' ofNewbridge,undertooktobuild a larger church.
The great efibri was to make out funds, during what were justly called the "Bad Times. '^s^ This, however, was soon effected, but with much difficulty. 63 The drawings and sjDe-
St. Conleth's Catholic Church, Newbridge, County of Kildare.
cifications for the the church were supplied by some friendly architect, whose name has not transpired. ^* The style of that new building is Gothic ; it has a tower or bel- fry -65 but the spire is not yet built. In 1852, the church was dedi- cated to St. Con- leth, and opened for Divine ser- vice. This is the only church in the diocese of Kil- dareand Leighlin —we believe it may be stated in
all Ireland—dedi-
cated to St. Con- leth. ^^ Out of the debris of the old chapel, and in close connection with St. Conleth's new church, a comfortable parochial house and good out-offices ckeann : " The more recent hand adds, *° AUusion is made to his work—now
"Vide Conleadh," whose first name was rarely procurable, " Otficia Propria Sancto- Roincenn. rumHibernise. " Yet,surelysufficientma-
94 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [May 3
were afterwards built. Active and earnest exertions were made ^^ to orna- ment the interior of this fine church, and to improve the external grounds and approaches to it. Since that time, further spiritual advantages have been secured for the parish. ^^ The foundation stone of a new convent at New- bridge was laid, by the Right Rev. James Walsh, D. D. , and Bishop of Kil- dareandLeighlin,onAscensionDay,22ndMay,1873. Itspositionisquite close to the church, and the establishment has been dedicated to St. Conleth. ^9 The community in possession is known as the Oblate Sisters 7° of the Imma- culate Conception. 7' These nuns first came to the convent, on the 26th of
terials are available, for the compilation of a proper office for St. Conleth.
" They contributed about ;^500. and after expending this sum on t'.
