In the
Martyrology
of Tallagh, at the ii.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
The holy Muredach is stated to have been son ofEocTiaid, son to Alild, son
of Guaire, son to Lugid, son of Laoighaire, son to Niall of the Nine Hos- 10
tages, &c, according to the Sanctilogium Genealogicum, which thus
11
weaves his pedigree.
may well synchronize with the middle and close of the sixth century.
Wherefore, in tracing his descent from Leogaire, King ofIreland,Muredachappearsthesixthingeneration. Suchaplaceinorder
Article1. —Chapter —'
i. SeeColgan's
"Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. lxxxv. , p. 141.
a See his Life in the Third Volume of this work, at the 17th of March, Art. i.
6 See Harris' " Ware, vol. i. ,
Bishops of
3 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Killala," p. 649.
"
» See Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, xii. , p. 253.
8
See ibid. , vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, i. , and n. 13, pp. 183, 186.
4 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints,'' vol. viii. , August xii.
5 See Index Chronologicus ad Ann. ccccxxxiv. , p. 517, Ussher's " Britannica- rum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates. "
See his Life, at the 9th of June, in the
BishopfOf
Killala," p. 649. ""
9
Sixth Volume of this work, Art. i.
,0
Chapter iii.
"See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi-
berniae," Februarii xv. Vita S. Farannani Confessoris, Ex Hibernico versa, n. 21, p. 339.
August 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. *75
He is spoken of as being one of those persons, assembled at Easdara or 12
Ballysodare, in Sligo County, for the purpose of paying respect to the Apostle of the Picts. This was on the occasion of St. Columba being at
that place, soon after the dissolution of a celebrated assembly held at Drum-
x
ceat. 3 Already,anaccountofthesynodconvenedatEasdarahasbeengiven,
in connexion with the Acts of St. Farannan *«4 and among the notables named, as assisting thereat, is Muredach of Killala,^ in Tyr-Amhalga^ih. Therefore
View of Killala, County of Mayo.
it would seem, that towards the close of St. Columba's life, our saint had been bishop there, and that he had the honour and pleasure of greeting the great Apostle of Caledonia.
However, we have no reliable account, regarding the exact period of St.
Muredach's promotion, nor is there any statement to fix those years, during
which he ruled over the See of Killala. Nevertheless, we read in the Life of
16 1 18 St. Corbmac, that St. Patrick, St. Brigid, ? St. Columkille, St. Cannech,
" The notice there given of him is thus 15 Already in the Life of St. Kellach or expressed in the ancient Life : "Muredachus Cellach, Abbot and Martyr of Killala, a
de Kill-aladh in Tyramhalgaidh," &c. See cap. xii. , p. 337.
view is presented of an approach to the town, in the Fifth Volume of this work, at the 1st of May, Art. i. Here, a different point of view shows the Round Tower, Church Spire and Town. It was drawn on the spot by William F. Wakeman. The engraving is by Mrs. Millard.
16 Some of our Calendarists his festi- place
13
After referring to the Life of St.
Farannan, as published by Colgan, a—t the
:
15th of February, Dr. Lanigan adds " It
may be objected, that in said Life other
persons are named as present at Ballysodare,
who could not have been there at certainly
that time. But there are other convincing val, at the 26th of March. However, his
arguments to show, that Muredach did not
live prior to St. Columba's time. "—" Eccle-
siastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, i. , p. 184.
! u See the Second Volume of this work, at
Acts have been reserved for the 13th of December, which is another festival day, on which he was venerated.
*? See her Life, in the Second Volume of
this work, at the 1st of February, Art. i.
the Art. 15th February,
ii. , chap.
ii.
18 See his
Acts,
at the nth of
October,
176 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 12.
and St. Muredach, bishop, had blessed the port of Killala. It does not seem probable, that Muredach should have been placed so low down in the list of these names, had he been contemporaneous with St. Patrick.
CHAPTER II.
c
SITUATION OF KILLALA—THE NATALIS AND COMMEMORATIONS OF ST. MUREDACH—
THE PERIOD OF HIS DEATH UNRECORDED—BRIEF HISTORIC NOTES REGARDING THE SEE OF KILLALA—CONCLUSION.
The town of Killala is situated on the River Muad or Moy, in Mayo County, and it lies very near to the Atlantic Ocean. Our ancient annalists sometimes called the prelates over this See the Bishops of Tirawley. They were like- wise called Bishops of O'Fiacra-mui, or Hy-Fiachrach, on the River Moy, from a territory distinguished by that name. 1 This is said to have extended along the river in question. This territory was distinct from another, in the
of and southwards in the of 3 The province Connaught, County Galway.
latter was known as O'Fiacra-Aidne.
As the Natalis of a saint is understood to coincide with the day of his
death, the 12th of August apparently commemorates the anniversary of St. Muredach's demise, as of his festival ;3 but, we cannot find any date or year to determine the period for his existence. St. Muredach's Natalis was cele- brated in Killala Church and See, on the 12th of August, according to the Talla. ght Martyrology. * At this date, according to Marianus O'Gorman, the feast of St. Muredach is celebrated in the diocese and church of Killala. s The continuator of^Engus also notes his festival at this day. In the Irish Calen- dar belonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey, on the day before the August Ides—12th of the month—there is a festival tohonour Muireadhach, Bishop of Cille Haladh. 6
After the rule of St. Muredach over the See of Killala, the names of only
two or three bishops can be found, as his successors, before the Anglo- N—orman Invasion of Ireland. ? After that period, we find the church of Killala
the day for his feast. we find this following entry, at the I2th of
or as it is usually written Cill-Alaidh
herenachs. The u Annals of Loch Ce "8 contain entries of their deaths. * The
Chapter 11. — * The fullest account of
this region is that contained in "The o Cill alaidh. " See Rev. Dr. Kelly's Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy- "Calendar of Irish Saints," p. xxxii. In Fiachrach, commonly called O'Dowda's that copy, contained in the Book of Leinster, Country. " Now first published from the we read : tnupch,<yo o CilL aL&\x>.
Book of Lecan, in the Library of the Royal
Irish Academy, and from the Genealogical
Manuscript of Duald Mac Firbis, in the
Library of Lord Roden, with a Translation
and Notes, and a Map of Ily-Fiachrach, by
John O'Donovan. Dublin : Printed for the
Irish
4to-
Archaeological Society, mdcccxliv. ,
"
See TheTopographicalPoemsofJohn
J " See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
Bishops of
O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh 9 See vol. i. , at A. D. 1235, the death of
O'Huidhrin," edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , M. R. I. A. , p. xliii. , nn. 326, 327.
3 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, i. , and n. 15, pp. 184, 186.
Isaac O'Maelaghmhair, pp. 320, 321, and of Maelpatraic Mac hEli, at A. D. 1257, pp. 422, 423. Both of these were airchinnechs. At A. n. 1328, the death of a learned and
accomplished canon-chorister, Maurice O'Gibillan, is recorded. He was a pro-
4
In the published Martyrology of Tallagh,
—had its
August:
"Murchadh
(Muiredhech potius)
special canon-choristers and
s Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Februarii xv. Vita S. Farannani Confessoris,
Ex Hibernico versa, n. 21, p. 339.
6 Thus entered in the Irish characters, muipe<y6A6 Carp Cille h<\l<v6. " Common
Place Book F,"p. 7.
Killala," 8Editedby\V. M. Hennessy,M. R. I. A.
pp. 649, 650.
August 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 177 engraved arms of this See—prefixed to the account of its bishops in Harris'
Ware—are
10 In Killala diocese, this saint's memory is recorded and honoured with the celebration of a First- Class festival, and an octave. An indulgence commences also on the day
already named, and it continues during that octave.
Article II. —St. Muredac, of Iniscaoin, in Lough Erne, County
of Fermanagh.
In the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the ii. of the Ides, or
1 2th of August, we meet with the name Murchadh, or rather Muiredhech of
1
Kill alaidh. It is possible, the present saint may not have been distinct
from him. However, as their localities and pedigrees are distinguished, we have only to relate what has been stated by other writers. St. Muredac of Iniscaoin is said to have been son to Endeus, son of Corbmac, son to Ferguss, of the Colla Dachrioch race. He was brother to St. Mochoemoc,
supposed to have been Abbot there,* and to have flourished in or about the
seventh century. Whether the present holy man held such a responsible office or not, we can now hardly ascertain. However, they must have been contemporaries. Inishkeen is situated, about two miles southwards fiom Enniskillen town, within the parish of Enniskillen, barony of Tirkennedy, and County of Fermanagh, as marked on the Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the latter county. * This island is situated in the narrow part of Lough Erne, and it is of considerable extent ;
point by
a Bible
expanded,
and with
clasps proper.
:
bearing sapphire,
a crozier in in the fess pale, topaz, suppressed
on the
was venerated at Iniscaoin, or Iniskeen, on Lough Erne. 3 His brother is
whose feast is
kept
13th
of
April ;
every side, by a channel of moderate width.
map at this island's north-eastern extremity.
Iniskeen was formerly denominated Inis Cavin. 6 There is also an island, called Inishkeen, situated in Upper Lough Macnean, which separates Fermanagh county from that of Leitrim. This island last-named belongs to the former county ; but, it does not appear to have any associated historical notices. There is another island, called Inis caoin, or Inishkeen, in Lough Melvin, which also separates the counties already named. This is situated within the bounds of Leitrim county. It is covered with wood of considerable size, and the neat cottage of a caretaker has been built upon it. There was formerly a friary on this island. ? The ancient territory of Cuil or Coole was
partly comprehended within the present barony of Tirkennedy, in the county
fessor of Ogham writing, of philosophy, of poetry, and of other arts. See pp. 608, 609. 10 Killala is valued in the King's books by an extent, returned Anno 28 Eliz. at
,£23 6s. 8d. , sterling. In a marginal note affixed to the copy of Harris' Ware, in the
writer's possession, and formerly belonging
to Mr. Patrick Lynch, we read in the hand-
writing of this capable scholar : " Here are
a Dean, Archdeacon, Provost, and the two of the Ordnance Survey. " One volume,
PrebendariesofKilncharpyandKillanley. " Article 11. — r "Mur—chadh (Muiredhech
p. 7.
? See the County Fermanagh Extracts,
One to the volume, formerly belonging
Office of the Irish Ordnance Survey, and now preserved in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy, p. 63.
8 This conclusion was arrived at by John M
potius) o Cill alaidh. "
"Calendar of Irish Saints," &c, p. xxxii.
3
See an account of him, at that date, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
3 See Colgan's • Acta Sanctorum Hi-
Rev. Dr.
Kelly's
2 and, like the latter, his memory
being separated from land on A grave-yard is marked on the
According to Mr. O'Donovan,
berniae," xxi. Martii. Appendix ad Acta S.
Endei, cap. iv. , p. 713.
* See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni-
cum," p. 262.
s See sheet 27.
6
See Letter dated Enniskillin, October
12th, 1834, in "Letters containing Informa- tion relative to the Antiquities of the County
of Fermanagh, collected during the Progress
178 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 12.
of Fermanagh. 8 The feast of St. Muredac of Iniscaoin was observed on the 1 2th of August. 9
Article III. —St. Molaisse or Laisren, Patron of Inis-Muiread- hagh, now Innismurry, County of Sligo. [Sixth Century. '] Over most of our Saints' Lives, the impenetrable mist of ages has fallen. We cannot roll away the darkness, nor even guess what are the interesting concealments. Nevertheless, isolated incidents, full of life and character, are well worth contemplating and investigating, even though they are too meagre to be woven into a connected biography of some particular saint The historian need hardly enquire, what the Irish Church ought to have believed ; but, he interrogates her monuments and records, to learn what may have been her
1
actual doctrines and teaching.
point, in the old Irish Litanies, is in the circumstance, that they comprise
2
Hence, the cele- brated Litany of St. Mngus, as a doctrinal relic of our ancient literature, could not be looked upon with much favour by those who pretend to inherit thedoctrinesofourearlyIrishChurch. Itstestimonyisclearandobjective. But, whether the piety of ^Engus deserves sympathy, or whether his invoking saintsbearemarkablecircumstance,isclearlyonething; andthefact,that iEngus did invoke saints is altogether another matter. Nor is this an isolated document, and unsupported by other evidence, to establish the veneration of many holy persons, whose light and fame have been eclipsed,
like those stars that are in distant space and surrounded by orbs of greater brightnessormagnitude. TheremoteIslandofInnismurryiscelebratedin Irish legend and is still remarkable for the manners, dress, and customs of its inhabitants. 3 But, until it was selected as a lonely site for the establish- ment of a religious settlement, it seems to have had little or no historical or
"
traditional renown. In the ancient record of St. Angus' Feilire,"* St.
Laisren of the Isle of Muredach is commemorated with a special eulogy, on
numerous invocations to a vast number of dead saints.
O'Donovan, who travelled in 1834, through t he parish of Enniskillen, while he got some of the native Irish people to pronounce for him in Irish many of the local denomina- tions. He writes : "It would appear from
—John O'Donovan's Letter, dated Ennis-
killen, Friday, October 17th, 1834. "Letters containing Information relative to the Anti-
quities of the County of Fermanagh. " One Volume, p. 16.
9 See " Acta Sanctorum Hi- Colgan's
berniae," xxi. Martii. Appendix ad Acta S.
the names of some
tions in the country, that it was anciently in
territory
places,
and from tradi-
of Cuil. The names I allude
geous palace of Lord Curry (rectius Lowry), Moran's
the
to are Castle-Coole, the splendid and gor-
iv. , — Endaei, cap. p. 713.
which is called by the Irish CAiplen via cuile, i. e. , the castle of Coole territory. The Annals always prefix the article to the nameof this territory asm Agin-Dip nA Cuile, i. e. , Maguire of the Coole: O'CAipei-oe via Cuile, i. e. , O'Cassidy of the Coole. In like manner the Irish people of Enniskillen parish always insert the article riA in the name of Castle Coole. Again, there is a
proverbial expression current in the parish, that Carrickmacmea townland in Enniskillen
(in Irish CeAfjpArh mictndifc, i. e. , McMea's
2
Quarter), is t—he best quarter in Coole.
It
the historic importance of this document,
where he says, that the piety of yEngus is
such, as can meet with little sympathy, in
the mind of a well-instructed and enlightened
Christian. See Rev. Robert King's
"
Primer of the History of the Church of Ireland," vol. i. , bookii. , chap, xi. , p. 255.
3 See Miss Owenson's "Patriotic Sketches
rhymes thus
:
of in Ireland, written
Connaught,"
vol. i. ,
sketch ix. , p. 47, n. "*"
Thus, the most striking and remarkable
CeAtpAirn true niec, ceAcpAift pAe^A In the "Leabhar Breac copy, is the iia Cuile. " following stanza, at this date, and it has
Article III.
See Most Rev. Dr. Essays on the Origin, Doctrines, and Discipline of the Early Irish Church," Essay on Teaching of the Ancient Church of Ireland, regarding the Blessed Eucharist,
chap, iv. , p. 220.
•
The Rev. Mr. King seeks to discredit
"
August 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 1 79 the 1 2th of August. In the scholion annexed, he is called Molaise, son of
Declain, of Inis Muiredaig in the north. 5
One of the most interesting monographs on Irish topography and antiquities we possess is that written by William F. Wakeman, on Inis Muiredaich, now
of 6 at the 12th of ology Tallagh,
in honour of Molaise mac
of Inuse Muiredhaigh. 7 This place is now known as Innismurry, an island in the parish of Ahamlish,8 barony of Lower Carbery, and county of Sligo. 9
10 To this we are indebted for of the Inismurry. many
August,
Deglain,
succeeding notices, which must necessarily be abbreviated ; while under the different headings
here presented, every class of monumental remains described may be found
on this singularly interesting island. 1. The Caiseal, or Stone Fort, with its Cellae. The opinion is, that the great walled enclosure here belongs to the class of antiquities known as the Dun, Caher, Lis or Cashel, and that its origin must be referred to old Pagan times, when it had been intended for a
somewhat the
The Cellae resemble the clochans, so commonly met with, especially in the western and south- western parts of Ireland. Those, too, are built of stones and without cement. Rude door-ways pierce the walls. r 3 2. Teach Molaise, the oratory or dwelling of St. Molaise, called after the island patron, is still well preserved ;
but, its proportions are extremely small, measuring internally only eight feet, ten inches, in length, by seven feet, ten inches, in breadth. The side walls are of great thickness, in order to sustain a stone roof, which still remains unimpaired, although the storms and frosts of full twelve hundred years have
1
done their worst upon it. * Entered by a doorway in the western end, it is
been translated into English, by Whitley tion of Ireland, vol. vii. , Fourth Series,
fortification. It
with the corners rounded off, while it is composed of uncemented and undressed stones. The present height of this cashel ranges from seven to thirteen feet, while there were four entrances through the thickness of the walls, varying from seven to fifteen feet wide, with traces of inclines on the
12
military
presents
figure
interior, and several chambers or covered passages.
Stokes, LL. D. :—
CogAi^m LAr^en 1 trope muirve-DAig mor\ mochcAe Cocbeir\ rioeim nAX)Aichbe
1885, 1886. It is preceded by a Map of the island, drawn on a scale of six inches to one statute mile. Afterwards follows among the Proceedings and Papers the Article " Inis Muiredaich, now Inismurray, and its Antiquities,"pp. 175to332. Agreatnum-
£eilSevernpochbAi.
"The calling of Laisren of the Isle of the spot by Mr. Wakeman, serve to illustrate
Muredach, the great and magnified : with a holy train—that ebbs not, the feast of famous
ber of engravings, from drawings made on fully this highly interesting Tractate,
Segene. " "Transactions
of Irish the Royal
Mr. and Wakeman,
inan
engrav-
Academy. " Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , parti. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. cxxiii.
5 See ibid. , p. cxxx.
6 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
7 In the copy of the Tallagh Martyrology contained in the Book of Leinster the read-
ing is ttlobArfi 111AC 'OeclAin inp mujvi- •OA15.
presented
ing, while two engravings represent external
views of the Cashel, as it appeared before the alterations recently made by the Board of Public Works. It appears the latter body —as in. so many other instances—has con- trived to transform the original structure in an attempted restoration.
I2
Several of the details have received illustration, and in a most ample manner.
8 It is described, on the " Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of Toorybrenell, or the School-house, Trahaun-
Sligo," sheets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8. Inishmurray is shown on sheet I.
9 See Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 24, 25.
10 This appeared in " The Journal of the Royal Historical andArchaeological Associa-
a-chorres, or the Lent Trahaun, as also Teach-an-alais, or the Sweat-house.
M Two different engravings, and from
opposite points of view, are given of the exterior. Other details of the building have also received illustration,
II
The ground plan has been drawn, by
A festival occurs in the Martyr-
of a rude 11 triangle,
I3 There are engravings representing
i8o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 12.
lighted by a single window in the opposite gable, at a considerable distance
from the ground. Mortar, composed of lime, was freely used throughout this building ; but, in the eastern end, there is an altar constructed of rude stones of various sizes and roughly laid together without any kind of cement.
the
effigy spot by
Interior of Teach Molaise on Ennismurry.
been supposed, that this was the Teampull Mor, or great church of the establishment. There is a legend on Inismurray, that St. Columkille and St. Molaise were partners in the erection of this church, but that owing to the difference in their respec- tive dispositions—the one being impetuous and enterprising, the other mild and retiring—they could not alwaysUhoroughly agree, and so Columbamade up his mind to leave the Island. This church measures twenty-five feet, six
•s The accompanying illustration shows been appropriated respectively to males and
the interior of Teach Molaise, with the altar females. See Lewis' "Topographical Dic-
and of St. Molaise. It was drawn on tionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 24, 25.
of Guaire, son to Lugid, son of Laoighaire, son to Niall of the Nine Hos- 10
tages, &c, according to the Sanctilogium Genealogicum, which thus
11
weaves his pedigree.
may well synchronize with the middle and close of the sixth century.
Wherefore, in tracing his descent from Leogaire, King ofIreland,Muredachappearsthesixthingeneration. Suchaplaceinorder
Article1. —Chapter —'
i. SeeColgan's
"Trias Thaumaturga," Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. lxxxv. , p. 141.
a See his Life in the Third Volume of this work, at the 17th of March, Art. i.
6 See Harris' " Ware, vol. i. ,
Bishops of
3 See Harris' Ware, vol. i. , Killala," p. 649.
"
» See Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, vol. i. , chap, v. , sect, xii. , p. 253.
8
See ibid. , vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, i. , and n. 13, pp. 183, 186.
4 See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and other principal Saints,'' vol. viii. , August xii.
5 See Index Chronologicus ad Ann. ccccxxxiv. , p. 517, Ussher's " Britannica- rum Ecclesiarum Antiquitates. "
See his Life, at the 9th of June, in the
BishopfOf
Killala," p. 649. ""
9
Sixth Volume of this work, Art. i.
,0
Chapter iii.
"See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hi-
berniae," Februarii xv. Vita S. Farannani Confessoris, Ex Hibernico versa, n. 21, p. 339.
August 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. *75
He is spoken of as being one of those persons, assembled at Easdara or 12
Ballysodare, in Sligo County, for the purpose of paying respect to the Apostle of the Picts. This was on the occasion of St. Columba being at
that place, soon after the dissolution of a celebrated assembly held at Drum-
x
ceat. 3 Already,anaccountofthesynodconvenedatEasdarahasbeengiven,
in connexion with the Acts of St. Farannan *«4 and among the notables named, as assisting thereat, is Muredach of Killala,^ in Tyr-Amhalga^ih. Therefore
View of Killala, County of Mayo.
it would seem, that towards the close of St. Columba's life, our saint had been bishop there, and that he had the honour and pleasure of greeting the great Apostle of Caledonia.
However, we have no reliable account, regarding the exact period of St.
Muredach's promotion, nor is there any statement to fix those years, during
which he ruled over the See of Killala. Nevertheless, we read in the Life of
16 1 18 St. Corbmac, that St. Patrick, St. Brigid, ? St. Columkille, St. Cannech,
" The notice there given of him is thus 15 Already in the Life of St. Kellach or expressed in the ancient Life : "Muredachus Cellach, Abbot and Martyr of Killala, a
de Kill-aladh in Tyramhalgaidh," &c. See cap. xii. , p. 337.
view is presented of an approach to the town, in the Fifth Volume of this work, at the 1st of May, Art. i. Here, a different point of view shows the Round Tower, Church Spire and Town. It was drawn on the spot by William F. Wakeman. The engraving is by Mrs. Millard.
16 Some of our Calendarists his festi- place
13
After referring to the Life of St.
Farannan, as published by Colgan, a—t the
:
15th of February, Dr. Lanigan adds " It
may be objected, that in said Life other
persons are named as present at Ballysodare,
who could not have been there at certainly
that time. But there are other convincing val, at the 26th of March. However, his
arguments to show, that Muredach did not
live prior to St. Columba's time. "—" Eccle-
siastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, i. , p. 184.
! u See the Second Volume of this work, at
Acts have been reserved for the 13th of December, which is another festival day, on which he was venerated.
*? See her Life, in the Second Volume of
this work, at the 1st of February, Art. i.
the Art. 15th February,
ii. , chap.
ii.
18 See his
Acts,
at the nth of
October,
176 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 12.
and St. Muredach, bishop, had blessed the port of Killala. It does not seem probable, that Muredach should have been placed so low down in the list of these names, had he been contemporaneous with St. Patrick.
CHAPTER II.
c
SITUATION OF KILLALA—THE NATALIS AND COMMEMORATIONS OF ST. MUREDACH—
THE PERIOD OF HIS DEATH UNRECORDED—BRIEF HISTORIC NOTES REGARDING THE SEE OF KILLALA—CONCLUSION.
The town of Killala is situated on the River Muad or Moy, in Mayo County, and it lies very near to the Atlantic Ocean. Our ancient annalists sometimes called the prelates over this See the Bishops of Tirawley. They were like- wise called Bishops of O'Fiacra-mui, or Hy-Fiachrach, on the River Moy, from a territory distinguished by that name. 1 This is said to have extended along the river in question. This territory was distinct from another, in the
of and southwards in the of 3 The province Connaught, County Galway.
latter was known as O'Fiacra-Aidne.
As the Natalis of a saint is understood to coincide with the day of his
death, the 12th of August apparently commemorates the anniversary of St. Muredach's demise, as of his festival ;3 but, we cannot find any date or year to determine the period for his existence. St. Muredach's Natalis was cele- brated in Killala Church and See, on the 12th of August, according to the Talla. ght Martyrology. * At this date, according to Marianus O'Gorman, the feast of St. Muredach is celebrated in the diocese and church of Killala. s The continuator of^Engus also notes his festival at this day. In the Irish Calen- dar belonging to the Irish Ordnance Survey, on the day before the August Ides—12th of the month—there is a festival tohonour Muireadhach, Bishop of Cille Haladh. 6
After the rule of St. Muredach over the See of Killala, the names of only
two or three bishops can be found, as his successors, before the Anglo- N—orman Invasion of Ireland. ? After that period, we find the church of Killala
the day for his feast. we find this following entry, at the I2th of
or as it is usually written Cill-Alaidh
herenachs. The u Annals of Loch Ce "8 contain entries of their deaths. * The
Chapter 11. — * The fullest account of
this region is that contained in "The o Cill alaidh. " See Rev. Dr. Kelly's Genealogies, Tribes and Customs of Hy- "Calendar of Irish Saints," p. xxxii. In Fiachrach, commonly called O'Dowda's that copy, contained in the Book of Leinster, Country. " Now first published from the we read : tnupch,<yo o CilL aL&\x>.
Book of Lecan, in the Library of the Royal
Irish Academy, and from the Genealogical
Manuscript of Duald Mac Firbis, in the
Library of Lord Roden, with a Translation
and Notes, and a Map of Ily-Fiachrach, by
John O'Donovan. Dublin : Printed for the
Irish
4to-
Archaeological Society, mdcccxliv. ,
"
See TheTopographicalPoemsofJohn
J " See Harris' Ware, vol. i. ,
Bishops of
O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh 9 See vol. i. , at A. D. 1235, the death of
O'Huidhrin," edited by John O'Donovan, LL. D. , M. R. I. A. , p. xliii. , nn. 326, 327.
3 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, i. , and n. 15, pp. 184, 186.
Isaac O'Maelaghmhair, pp. 320, 321, and of Maelpatraic Mac hEli, at A. D. 1257, pp. 422, 423. Both of these were airchinnechs. At A. n. 1328, the death of a learned and
accomplished canon-chorister, Maurice O'Gibillan, is recorded. He was a pro-
4
In the published Martyrology of Tallagh,
—had its
August:
"Murchadh
(Muiredhech potius)
special canon-choristers and
s Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," Februarii xv. Vita S. Farannani Confessoris,
Ex Hibernico versa, n. 21, p. 339.
6 Thus entered in the Irish characters, muipe<y6A6 Carp Cille h<\l<v6. " Common
Place Book F,"p. 7.
Killala," 8Editedby\V. M. Hennessy,M. R. I. A.
pp. 649, 650.
August 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 177 engraved arms of this See—prefixed to the account of its bishops in Harris'
Ware—are
10 In Killala diocese, this saint's memory is recorded and honoured with the celebration of a First- Class festival, and an octave. An indulgence commences also on the day
already named, and it continues during that octave.
Article II. —St. Muredac, of Iniscaoin, in Lough Erne, County
of Fermanagh.
In the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the ii. of the Ides, or
1 2th of August, we meet with the name Murchadh, or rather Muiredhech of
1
Kill alaidh. It is possible, the present saint may not have been distinct
from him. However, as their localities and pedigrees are distinguished, we have only to relate what has been stated by other writers. St. Muredac of Iniscaoin is said to have been son to Endeus, son of Corbmac, son to Ferguss, of the Colla Dachrioch race. He was brother to St. Mochoemoc,
supposed to have been Abbot there,* and to have flourished in or about the
seventh century. Whether the present holy man held such a responsible office or not, we can now hardly ascertain. However, they must have been contemporaries. Inishkeen is situated, about two miles southwards fiom Enniskillen town, within the parish of Enniskillen, barony of Tirkennedy, and County of Fermanagh, as marked on the Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the latter county. * This island is situated in the narrow part of Lough Erne, and it is of considerable extent ;
point by
a Bible
expanded,
and with
clasps proper.
:
bearing sapphire,
a crozier in in the fess pale, topaz, suppressed
on the
was venerated at Iniscaoin, or Iniskeen, on Lough Erne. 3 His brother is
whose feast is
kept
13th
of
April ;
every side, by a channel of moderate width.
map at this island's north-eastern extremity.
Iniskeen was formerly denominated Inis Cavin. 6 There is also an island, called Inishkeen, situated in Upper Lough Macnean, which separates Fermanagh county from that of Leitrim. This island last-named belongs to the former county ; but, it does not appear to have any associated historical notices. There is another island, called Inis caoin, or Inishkeen, in Lough Melvin, which also separates the counties already named. This is situated within the bounds of Leitrim county. It is covered with wood of considerable size, and the neat cottage of a caretaker has been built upon it. There was formerly a friary on this island. ? The ancient territory of Cuil or Coole was
partly comprehended within the present barony of Tirkennedy, in the county
fessor of Ogham writing, of philosophy, of poetry, and of other arts. See pp. 608, 609. 10 Killala is valued in the King's books by an extent, returned Anno 28 Eliz. at
,£23 6s. 8d. , sterling. In a marginal note affixed to the copy of Harris' Ware, in the
writer's possession, and formerly belonging
to Mr. Patrick Lynch, we read in the hand-
writing of this capable scholar : " Here are
a Dean, Archdeacon, Provost, and the two of the Ordnance Survey. " One volume,
PrebendariesofKilncharpyandKillanley. " Article 11. — r "Mur—chadh (Muiredhech
p. 7.
? See the County Fermanagh Extracts,
One to the volume, formerly belonging
Office of the Irish Ordnance Survey, and now preserved in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy, p. 63.
8 This conclusion was arrived at by John M
potius) o Cill alaidh. "
"Calendar of Irish Saints," &c, p. xxxii.
3
See an account of him, at that date, in the Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
3 See Colgan's • Acta Sanctorum Hi-
Rev. Dr.
Kelly's
2 and, like the latter, his memory
being separated from land on A grave-yard is marked on the
According to Mr. O'Donovan,
berniae," xxi. Martii. Appendix ad Acta S.
Endei, cap. iv. , p. 713.
* See Archdall's " Monasticon Hiberni-
cum," p. 262.
s See sheet 27.
6
See Letter dated Enniskillin, October
12th, 1834, in "Letters containing Informa- tion relative to the Antiquities of the County
of Fermanagh, collected during the Progress
178 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 12.
of Fermanagh. 8 The feast of St. Muredac of Iniscaoin was observed on the 1 2th of August. 9
Article III. —St. Molaisse or Laisren, Patron of Inis-Muiread- hagh, now Innismurry, County of Sligo. [Sixth Century. '] Over most of our Saints' Lives, the impenetrable mist of ages has fallen. We cannot roll away the darkness, nor even guess what are the interesting concealments. Nevertheless, isolated incidents, full of life and character, are well worth contemplating and investigating, even though they are too meagre to be woven into a connected biography of some particular saint The historian need hardly enquire, what the Irish Church ought to have believed ; but, he interrogates her monuments and records, to learn what may have been her
1
actual doctrines and teaching.
point, in the old Irish Litanies, is in the circumstance, that they comprise
2
Hence, the cele- brated Litany of St. Mngus, as a doctrinal relic of our ancient literature, could not be looked upon with much favour by those who pretend to inherit thedoctrinesofourearlyIrishChurch. Itstestimonyisclearandobjective. But, whether the piety of ^Engus deserves sympathy, or whether his invoking saintsbearemarkablecircumstance,isclearlyonething; andthefact,that iEngus did invoke saints is altogether another matter. Nor is this an isolated document, and unsupported by other evidence, to establish the veneration of many holy persons, whose light and fame have been eclipsed,
like those stars that are in distant space and surrounded by orbs of greater brightnessormagnitude. TheremoteIslandofInnismurryiscelebratedin Irish legend and is still remarkable for the manners, dress, and customs of its inhabitants. 3 But, until it was selected as a lonely site for the establish- ment of a religious settlement, it seems to have had little or no historical or
"
traditional renown. In the ancient record of St. Angus' Feilire,"* St.
Laisren of the Isle of Muredach is commemorated with a special eulogy, on
numerous invocations to a vast number of dead saints.
O'Donovan, who travelled in 1834, through t he parish of Enniskillen, while he got some of the native Irish people to pronounce for him in Irish many of the local denomina- tions. He writes : "It would appear from
—John O'Donovan's Letter, dated Ennis-
killen, Friday, October 17th, 1834. "Letters containing Information relative to the Anti-
quities of the County of Fermanagh. " One Volume, p. 16.
9 See " Acta Sanctorum Hi- Colgan's
berniae," xxi. Martii. Appendix ad Acta S.
the names of some
tions in the country, that it was anciently in
territory
places,
and from tradi-
of Cuil. The names I allude
geous palace of Lord Curry (rectius Lowry), Moran's
the
to are Castle-Coole, the splendid and gor-
iv. , — Endaei, cap. p. 713.
which is called by the Irish CAiplen via cuile, i. e. , the castle of Coole territory. The Annals always prefix the article to the nameof this territory asm Agin-Dip nA Cuile, i. e. , Maguire of the Coole: O'CAipei-oe via Cuile, i. e. , O'Cassidy of the Coole. In like manner the Irish people of Enniskillen parish always insert the article riA in the name of Castle Coole. Again, there is a
proverbial expression current in the parish, that Carrickmacmea townland in Enniskillen
(in Irish CeAfjpArh mictndifc, i. e. , McMea's
2
Quarter), is t—he best quarter in Coole.
It
the historic importance of this document,
where he says, that the piety of yEngus is
such, as can meet with little sympathy, in
the mind of a well-instructed and enlightened
Christian. See Rev. Robert King's
"
Primer of the History of the Church of Ireland," vol. i. , bookii. , chap, xi. , p. 255.
3 See Miss Owenson's "Patriotic Sketches
rhymes thus
:
of in Ireland, written
Connaught,"
vol. i. ,
sketch ix. , p. 47, n. "*"
Thus, the most striking and remarkable
CeAtpAirn true niec, ceAcpAift pAe^A In the "Leabhar Breac copy, is the iia Cuile. " following stanza, at this date, and it has
Article III.
See Most Rev. Dr. Essays on the Origin, Doctrines, and Discipline of the Early Irish Church," Essay on Teaching of the Ancient Church of Ireland, regarding the Blessed Eucharist,
chap, iv. , p. 220.
•
The Rev. Mr. King seeks to discredit
"
August 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 1 79 the 1 2th of August. In the scholion annexed, he is called Molaise, son of
Declain, of Inis Muiredaig in the north. 5
One of the most interesting monographs on Irish topography and antiquities we possess is that written by William F. Wakeman, on Inis Muiredaich, now
of 6 at the 12th of ology Tallagh,
in honour of Molaise mac
of Inuse Muiredhaigh. 7 This place is now known as Innismurry, an island in the parish of Ahamlish,8 barony of Lower Carbery, and county of Sligo. 9
10 To this we are indebted for of the Inismurry. many
August,
Deglain,
succeeding notices, which must necessarily be abbreviated ; while under the different headings
here presented, every class of monumental remains described may be found
on this singularly interesting island. 1. The Caiseal, or Stone Fort, with its Cellae. The opinion is, that the great walled enclosure here belongs to the class of antiquities known as the Dun, Caher, Lis or Cashel, and that its origin must be referred to old Pagan times, when it had been intended for a
somewhat the
The Cellae resemble the clochans, so commonly met with, especially in the western and south- western parts of Ireland. Those, too, are built of stones and without cement. Rude door-ways pierce the walls. r 3 2. Teach Molaise, the oratory or dwelling of St. Molaise, called after the island patron, is still well preserved ;
but, its proportions are extremely small, measuring internally only eight feet, ten inches, in length, by seven feet, ten inches, in breadth. The side walls are of great thickness, in order to sustain a stone roof, which still remains unimpaired, although the storms and frosts of full twelve hundred years have
1
done their worst upon it. * Entered by a doorway in the western end, it is
been translated into English, by Whitley tion of Ireland, vol. vii. , Fourth Series,
fortification. It
with the corners rounded off, while it is composed of uncemented and undressed stones. The present height of this cashel ranges from seven to thirteen feet, while there were four entrances through the thickness of the walls, varying from seven to fifteen feet wide, with traces of inclines on the
12
military
presents
figure
interior, and several chambers or covered passages.
Stokes, LL. D. :—
CogAi^m LAr^en 1 trope muirve-DAig mor\ mochcAe Cocbeir\ rioeim nAX)Aichbe
1885, 1886. It is preceded by a Map of the island, drawn on a scale of six inches to one statute mile. Afterwards follows among the Proceedings and Papers the Article " Inis Muiredaich, now Inismurray, and its Antiquities,"pp. 175to332. Agreatnum-
£eilSevernpochbAi.
"The calling of Laisren of the Isle of the spot by Mr. Wakeman, serve to illustrate
Muredach, the great and magnified : with a holy train—that ebbs not, the feast of famous
ber of engravings, from drawings made on fully this highly interesting Tractate,
Segene. " "Transactions
of Irish the Royal
Mr. and Wakeman,
inan
engrav-
Academy. " Irish Manuscript Series, vol. i. , parti. On the Calendar of Oengus, p. cxxiii.
5 See ibid. , p. cxxx.
6 Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
7 In the copy of the Tallagh Martyrology contained in the Book of Leinster the read-
ing is ttlobArfi 111AC 'OeclAin inp mujvi- •OA15.
presented
ing, while two engravings represent external
views of the Cashel, as it appeared before the alterations recently made by the Board of Public Works. It appears the latter body —as in. so many other instances—has con- trived to transform the original structure in an attempted restoration.
I2
Several of the details have received illustration, and in a most ample manner.
8 It is described, on the " Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of Toorybrenell, or the School-house, Trahaun-
Sligo," sheets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8. Inishmurray is shown on sheet I.
9 See Lewis' " Topographical Dictionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 24, 25.
10 This appeared in " The Journal of the Royal Historical andArchaeological Associa-
a-chorres, or the Lent Trahaun, as also Teach-an-alais, or the Sweat-house.
M Two different engravings, and from
opposite points of view, are given of the exterior. Other details of the building have also received illustration,
II
The ground plan has been drawn, by
A festival occurs in the Martyr-
of a rude 11 triangle,
I3 There are engravings representing
i8o LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 12.
lighted by a single window in the opposite gable, at a considerable distance
from the ground. Mortar, composed of lime, was freely used throughout this building ; but, in the eastern end, there is an altar constructed of rude stones of various sizes and roughly laid together without any kind of cement.
the
effigy spot by
Interior of Teach Molaise on Ennismurry.
been supposed, that this was the Teampull Mor, or great church of the establishment. There is a legend on Inismurray, that St. Columkille and St. Molaise were partners in the erection of this church, but that owing to the difference in their respec- tive dispositions—the one being impetuous and enterprising, the other mild and retiring—they could not alwaysUhoroughly agree, and so Columbamade up his mind to leave the Island. This church measures twenty-five feet, six
•s The accompanying illustration shows been appropriated respectively to males and
the interior of Teach Molaise, with the altar females. See Lewis' "Topographical Dic-
and of St. Molaise. It was drawn on tionary of Ireland," vol. ii. , pp. 24, 25.
