They also drove their cattle into the fort, and made them drink the water of this holy well, which was believed to possess the
efficacy
of preserving their animals from all contagious distempers, during the ensuing year.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
R.
O'Flanagan's "Blackwater See " Sancti Rumoldi, Martyris Inclyti,
in Munster," pp. 33, 34.
25 See James Fraser's " Handbook for
Travellers in Ireland," Route 51, p. 285.
26
See Sheffield Grace's "Memoirs of the
Family of Grace. " This rare book, pro- Januarii xxix. Vita S Gildae Badonici, n.
fusely illustrated with elegant views and his- toric portraits, was published by the author in London, 1823, 4to.
27 See an account of him, and of his place,
at that date, in the First Volume of this
work, Art. ii.
28
See notices of him, at that date, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. xiv. , and the references to St. Critan, Criotan, or
Finncridan, of Craibhaigh, or Creebee, in
4, p. 188.
3sTheRev. Dr. Laniganremarks "One
:
of them was probably the founder of that monastery ; for faidh is, I believe, a sur-
name, facia or fad, "long. " At what time he lived, I cannot form any conjecture; and,
for aught I know, he might have belonged to the fifth century. "—'"Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, vi. , n. 47, p. 195.
viz.
place, Molana,
day.
30 The reader is referred to that date—in
the Eleventh Volume of this work—the day for his feast.
3I For this he quotes Ward, p. 16© (recte
159), as an authority.
32 See " Monasticon Hibernicum," pp.
77 and 695.
33 However, Father Hugh Ward, or
Father O'Sheerin, the editor of his post- humous work, draws a distinction between both of those saints, on the page referred to.
Archiepiscopi Dubliniensis, Mechliniensium Apostoli," &c. Dissertatio Historica, sect. ix. ,num. 9, p. 159.
3* See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
204 LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 14.
is the same as Moelan. We are told, that Darinis had a church, dedicated to St. Molanfide, who founded it in the sixth century. 36 There is another Darinis, near Wexford, in which a monastery was founded, and most probably
8
by St. Coeman, or St. Cayman,37 about the beginning of the sixth century ;3 andnot,asArchdallthoughtsbySt. Nemhan,40 wholivedintheseventh/1 Owing to the similarity of name, both of those places have been often con- founded by writers who treated on Irish ecclesiastical history and antiquities.
Article IV. —St. Werenfrid, Priest and Confessor, Missionary in Frisia. {Eighth Century? ^ This holy man was one of the many mis- sionaries that left the theological schools of Ireland, to carry the message of Gospel peace to the intellects and souls of unbelievers in distant countries. Like many such preachers, although almost unknown in the country he had left, memorials have been preserved among those people who had profited by his teaching. A most ancient manuscript, belonging to the church of Utrecht, furnished Surius with matter to introduce at this day the Acts of St. Werenfrid. On this day, Greven, Molanus, and several other Martyrologists, assign a festival for St. Werenfridus ; and the Bollandists, while transferring notices of him to the 27th of this month, still mark his feast at this date. 1 In the work of Bishop Challenor, we find an account of St. Werenfrid, Priest
23 andConfessor,atthe14thofAugust. ThePetitsBollandistes alsonotice
St. Werenfrid or Guerfroy, at this date. He was an Englishman by birth,
and probably he was born in the kingdom of Northumbria. For greater
improvement in the science of the saints, he forsook country and friends, to dedicatehimselfwhollytotheserviceofhisfellowcreatures. Hethereupon passed over into Ireland, where he served God in solitude and recollec- tion. He is said to have been one of those twelve apostolic men belonging totheEnglishnation,whoweredestinedforamissionarycareer. Withtheir leaderSt. Willebrord,*theseweresentoutofIrelandbySt. Egbert. * These were destined to carry the word of life to the Frisons, Saxons, and other pagans in Germany. The exact time of St. Werenfrid's arrival there, is not so wellknown. HewasoneofthoseGospelpreachers,however,towhomthe Netherlanders were indebted for their Christian teaching. He particularly plantedthefaithandchurchofChristintheIsleofBataviaorBetuwe. He likewise converted the inhabitants of Medemblick, Durostadt, Elst, and Westerwort. Hisadmirablevirtueswereveryremarkable. Thewriterofhis Acts assures us, that it was impossible to express how rich he was in all good work, and how careful he had been in administering comfort to the afflicted. He was incomparable for his humanity, while he was an exemplar of charity towards the poor. He was assiduous in his watching, and rigorous in his fasting. He was diligent in prayer, and he excelled in chastity. In fine, he
36 See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "Antiquities vol. ii. , chap, ix. , n. 121, and chap, xii. , of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 266. sect, iv. , and n. 47, pp. 193 to 196.
—
37 See an account of him, in the Sixth Article iv.
Volumeofthiswork, at the 12thofJune, tomusHi. ,August! xiv. Amongthepreter-
Art. vi.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Vita S. Finniani, n.
38
niai," Februarii xxiii.
2 See "Britannia
Sancta," part ii. , pp.
'
6, p. 397.
82, 83.
3 ^ee " Les Vies des
Saints,"
tome
ix. ,
39
See
" Monasticon
Hibernicum,"
xive 4
d'Aout,
bee an account of him, at the 7th of
See Colgan's
p. 735.
40 See some notices of him, in the Third
Volume of this work, at the 8th of March, the date for his festival, Art. vii.
November, the date for his feast.
' See his Life, at the 24th of April, in the
Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
41See"EcclesiasticalHistoryofIreland,"
6
See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
See "Acta mittcd saints, p. 146.
Sanctorum,"
Jour
p. 533.
. August 14. j LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 205
was conspicuous for all good qualities. Great success attended his labours ingainingsoulstoChrist. Inagoodoldage,hereceivedtherewardofhis labour. He departed some time in the eighth century. His body was in- terredatElst. ThereformerlystoodacollegiatechurchdedicatedtoGodin hisname. Thiswasmuchfrequented,becausemiracleswereoftenwrought within it. St. Werenfrid's feast is kept as a Double in the diocese of Utrecht, on the 27th day of August. The 14th was the day of his decease, however, according to the best accounts. 6 He is likewise entered in the anonymous Calendar of national saints, at the 14th of August, as published in O'Sullevan Beare's work. 7
Article V. —Saints Echlech, Cuimmein and Coemhan, three
Sons of Daighre. In the of 1 Caeman Martyrology Tallagh, Cummine,
and Aicclig, are the names set down in separate lines and in the preceding
order, but without any further designation of their parentage. In that copy, containedintheBookofLeinster,theyareplacedinlikeorder. 2 IntheMartyr- ology of Marianus 0'Gorman,3 these saints are commemorated at this date. In the Martyrology of Donegal, the entries for this day commence with the wordMidhaighre,*whichisfoundenclosedwithinbrackets. s Thereisaparish dedicated to a saint having the name of Cummein, and which is called Kil- cummin. 6 It is situated in the barony of Magunihy, County of Kerry. The old church belonging to this parish is situated on a ridge of fertile land, within the glebe of Kilcummin. In 1841, it measured on the inside 56 feet in length, and 19 feet 6 inches in breadth. Its side walls were 3 feet 5 inches in thickness, and 10 feet in height; being built of green unequally sized
stones, cemented with lime and sand mortar. The west gable was destroyed
nearly down to the ground ; only 3 feet of its height then remaining, but the other walls were nearly perfect. The internal portion of the east window was disfigured, but its external part was in a state of excellent preservation. The window, measuring 5 feet 2 inches in height, and 11 inches in width, was pointed and formed of cut lime-stone ; the sill was 4 feet 8 inches, from the outside ground level. At the distance of 8 feet from an east gable, there was a window in the south wall. This had been destroyed on both sides, with the exception of one stone left on either external side, These were chiselled lime-stones, and the distance between them was only 7 inches. 7 A rude
6
7 See " Historian Catholicse Ibernise Com- irregular in form, being bounded on the
Sancta," part ii. , pp. 82, 83.
This parish is of great extent and very north, by the parishesof Ballincuslane, Dysert,
pendium," tom—us i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50. "
Article v. Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly,p'. xxxii,
3
-diccbj;.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
doe,andKillaha; andontheeast,byCork
on the ofKilcredaneandAghadoe; onthesouth,
Thus entered: Cutnn CoeniAin, by the parishes of Killarney, partofAgha-
3 See
ni*," xii. Januarii. De S. Cumiano Epis- ctnmin, which means the "church" or
Colgan's
county.
Irish,
this is called Cilt parish
copo, n. 6, p. 59.
4 Dr. Todd says : "This name is added
"
7 "At the distance of 12 feet 6 inches by the more recent hand, quoting 'Mar. ' from the west gable there is a doorway on as authority. But Mar. O'Gorman, at least the south wall ; its internal part, which is
in Mr. Curry's copy of the Erussels MS. formed of hammered stones, forms a segment '
mentions not Midhaighre,' but meic arch at top, and measures 5 feet 10 inches in
Daigre,i. e. ,
therefore some confusion.
'
thesonsofDaigre. ' Thereis
height,butitsbreadthcannotbedetermined, as its east side is destroyed. On the outside
it is pointed, and formed of cut lime-stone, and measures 5 feet 8 inches in height, and 3 feet 5 inches in width. There was another doorway on the north wall, at the distance of 9 feet from the west gable, but it
"
5 In a superadded comment, the Rev. Dr.
"
Reeves continues :
for meic "OxMgjxe, and a blundering anticipa-
tionof thecal meiCOAi5hr\e,four lines lower down. "
It is evidently an error
Killeentierna
;
west, by
the
parishes
In
cell of St. Cummin. "
206 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 14.
representation of the head and face of St. Cummin—as is believed—was carved on brown sand stone, which projected from the wall, near the northern extremityoftheeastgableandontheoutside. Therewasalsoalargegrave- yard attached to this church. In the townland of Gortnagowan, in the east division of this parish, there stood aca/ierov circular stone fort, called Caher- Crovderg, i. e. , the Fort of the Red-handed. 8 On the eastern side of it, a holy well lay, at which stations were performed by the peasantry, on May eve.
They also drove their cattle into the fort, and made them drink the water of this holy well, which was believed to possess the efficacy of preserving their animals from all contagious distempers, during the ensuing year. 9 Colgan thinks St. Coeman,a deacon, and a disciple of St. Patrick, to be identical with one of these saints. He was set over the church of Ard-lice, commonly called Sean Domhnach. 10 In the
O'Clerys'
the three sons of 12
Daighre, Echlech,
Calendar of 1 we find Donegal,'
Cuimmein and tion given them at the 14th of August.
Caemhan,
had venera-
Article VI. —St. Dinil. In the copy of the Tallagh Martyrology, to
1 there
Leinster, nameandfeast,occurringonthe14thofAugust. Wehavemoreconfusedly
Article VII. —St. Brocan or Broeadh, Son of Lugdach. The Martyrology of Tallagh * enters a festival at the 14th of August in honour of
is now filled up with rude mason-work, and portion of that of Killaha. But Slicve
befoundintheBookof
appears
tobeacorrect ofthis entry
inthe
Eps,ocusAbb. Hence,itwouldseem,thatbeingdenominated"sonofthe carpenter," he is likewise recognized as a bishop and an abbot. These latter appellations,however,seemmoreproperlybelongingtoadifferentsaint. 3 The Martyrology of Donegal 4 merely registers Dinil, s at this same date.
recorded, also,
published Martyrology
there is a vault built up against it on the in-
side. It was formed of cut lime-stone on
the inside, and of hammered stones on the
outside In the townland of River in Cork. And the engraved map Kilquan in this parish is an old graveyard, from the Down Survey places a part of the in which a church formerly stood, but no mountain of Sliabh Luach, in the parish of part of its walls is now visible. And there Ballycaslane, in the barony of Trugha- is a similar graveyard in the townland of
Freemount, but no remains of a church ;
the church which stood in this latter — grave-
yard was called Knockacappul church. "
" Letters containing Information relative to
the Antiquities of the County Kerry, collected during the Progress of the Ord- nance Survey in 1841. " Letter of Mr.
9 See ibid. , pp. 193, 194. I0 "
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
218, 219.
" A note by Dr. Todd states at Daighre,
"The more recent hand adds ' Sed here,
Marian videtur alios vocare 1111c An c-Saoij\. '
O'Donovan,
1841, pp. 191 to 193.
dated
Killarney, August 30th,
8 " We have no historical reference to
this fort unless it be the Teamhair Luachra
of the ancient writers ; but it is now difficult
to determine whether it is, or not, as the we find 'Dinil mac an t Sair eps. et abb, name Teamhair Luachra is no longer re- but in O'Gorman he is simply called Dinil, membered. The mountainous district of uieic 'OAijpe—La Dinil, 'sons of Daigre
Sliabh Luachra on which Teamhair Luachra
ma sitmted, is well known, and forms a
Roman Catholic parish, comprising the cfAlP«,
parish of Kilcummin, and a considerable
"
'
of 2 DinilMacantsair Tallagh,
Luachra was originally a far more extensive district than it is considered at present. Dr. Smith shows it as east of the lilackwater
nacmy. "—Ibid. , p. 194.
See Colgan's Trias
Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xlvii. , p. 136, and n. 88, p. 177.
There is nothing, however, in Mr. Curry's copy of M. O'Gorman about Mac an t Saoir
(son of the carpenter). In the Mart. Taml. ,
with Dinil. — Ibid. ,
Article vi.
l
p. 219.
Thus: "Dnul iuac 111
'
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
Thaumaturga. "
August 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 207 BrocanmacLugdach. Therefore,welearnthathewasthesonofLugdach,
or more of 9 At the same date, the simple perhaps correctly Lughdu.
Brocadh,3 appears in the Martyrology of Donegal/
entry
Article VIII. —Reputed Feast of Forty Martyrs, in Mayo, 1
Ireland. According to Chrysostom Henriquez, in the very celebrated Monastery of Mayo, and during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, no less than forty monks belonging to the Cistercian Order, together with their Abbot, suffered for the Faith ; but, the Bollandists 3 who allude to his statement at this day, treat it with doubt, since he does not give any date for the occur- rence, nor do they find any corroborated account from Irish authorities. Although Queen Elizabeths was a notorious persecutor of the Catholics,4 during her reign ; yet, she had little power to exercise her authority over those living in Mayo, and, moreover, in our Irish Annals, no allusion whatever is tobefoundregardingsuchanevent. Besides,theconcludingportionofthat narrative is evidently fabulous.
ArticleIX. —ReputedFeastofSilvesterScotus. Atthe14thof
1
August, the Bollandists remark, that Camerarius has entered a festival for
Silvester Scotus. Whether venerated as a saint or otherwise they desire further information.
Article X. —Reputed Festival of Betta, First Apostle among the Mercians. \_Sevenih Century]. Already at the nth of February,
some notices of this have been holy Missionary
1 At the
however, Dempster 2 and Camerarius 3 have given him a feast, as the
Bollandists remark,4 at the 14th day of August.
3
They are also apparently misplaced, as
they now read in the Book of Leinster copy,
coming immediately after the entry already
given, and in this form : ItlAc in cfAein
epr- aj;ur- <\bb. T>Air\1nir- 1YUebiAntMiT>.
4 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
218,219.
s A note by Dr. Todd at Dinil, " Here runt. "
the more recent hand has 'Mar et M. Tarn. quod vocat true &x\ cSAor\. '"
Article vil—j Edited Kelly, p. xxxii.
by
Rev. Dr.
2
TJrxoccAm mac Lu^rm.
3 A note by Dr. Todd, at Brocadh, states, "The more recent hand adds br»o§An, mac
tuj'oAc (Brogan, son of Lughaidh), Mart. Taml. "
4 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
In the Book of Leinster copy, we read :
218, 219. " Article viii. — x He thus relates :
In
Hibernia
passio quadraginta
monachorum
coenobii Magiensis, Ordinis Cistertiensis,
qui simul cum suo abbate pro fide feliciter occubuerunt. Nam cum hseretici in eorum
monasterium armata manu
x
irruerent, ipsi
Article x. — ' Seethe
Second
Volume
given.
ante venerabile Sacramentum hostem expec-
tantes, intrepidi eorum se gladiis objecerunt, seque invicem ad mortem pro Christi amore tolerandam invitantes, capitis obtruncatione vitam finierunt. Sed eodem die, resumptis miraculose capitibus, Vesperas in honorem Deiparse Virginis in choro suaviter cecine-
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Augusti xiv. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 145.
3 She reigned ever England and Ireland, from November 17th, 1558, to the 24th of March, 1603.
4 In the " Analecta Sacra Nova et Mire,
de Rebus Catholicorvm in Hibernia, pro
Fide et Religione gestis," and published at first in 1617, although numerous instances are adduced in proof, yet there is no men- tion made of such martyrdom. See new edition of that work, by Most Rev. Patrick
F. — of
Moran, Bishop Ossory.
Articleix.
tomus iii. , Augusti xiv. mitted saints, p. 145.
"ActaSanctorum," Among the preter-
See
present date,
2 o8 LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August. 15.
ArticleXI. —FeastofSt. Fortunatus,MartyrinSyria. Inthe
u"1
Feilire of St. ^Engus, at the 14th of August, the feast of St. Fortunatus, a
martyr in Syria, is announced. With other companions in martyrdom, the Bollandists, at this same date, present us with a few notices of them, as found
a
jftfteentl) 23ap of august.
ARTICLE I. —ST. MACCARTHEN, BISHOP OF CLOGHER, COUNTY OF TYRONE.
[FIFTH AND SIXTH CENTURIES. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—AUTHORITIES FOR HIS ACTS—FAMILY AND DESCENT OF ST. MACCARTHEN—A DISCIPLE OF ST. PATRICK—A CONSTANT COMPANION OF THE IRISH APOSTLE—PROPHECY OF ST. PATRICK IN REFERENCE TO THE SEES OF CLOGHER AND OF DOMNACH-MOR MUIGETOCHUIR.
bishop in the Church is a direct and lineal descendant from the
in ancient Martyrologies.
EVERY thus
Apostles, establishing
and
the
his glorious office. Hovv numerous have been the labourers thus established
in the Lord's vineyard, and how extended the fields on which they have
wrought, may be gleaned from general ecclesiastical History. Restricting our regards to Ireland alone, we find along list of holy chief pastors to adorn her annals. Like the Apostles, all virtuous missionaries cast away not only the open but the occult occasions of sin, thus doing nothing unworthy of their ministry, and rejecting everthing that might bring with it disgrace or the ruin ofsouls. Moreover,theyengagedonactivedutiestoprocuretheirownandthe salvation of others, while leading most exemplary lives. Such models for admiration and imitation have nourished in the primitive Christian times, while in all our Irish dioceses, as patrons, many bishops and saints are still
venerated, as in the present instance.
of this work, at that date, Art. xi.
3 In his Menologium Scotorum, he writes: "Xiv. In Noithumbria Beati Bettae gentis Apostoli, qui cum S. Aidano e Scotia veniens innumeram muhitudinem pio labore convertit ct Fenda ie^e praesente baptizavit.
B. F. "—Bishop Scottish Saints," p. 208.
Forbes' "Kalendars of into _
3 He also has a feast for this saint, at the nth of February. See " De Duplici Statu Hominis, veteris simul ac novae Ecclesia;, et Infidelium Conversione," lib. i. , pars, ii. , cap. iii. , sect. 2, p. 147.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Augusii xiv. Among the pretermitted
saints, p. 145.
Article XI. — 1 See "Transactions of
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu- script Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calen- dar of Oengus, p. cxxiii.
Tlimopjreit ariAicriiriec ppmAchaip Apnachap
—
3
teaching
missionary
character of
x
The " Feilire " of St. y£ngus having no festival, at the 24th of March,
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Augustixiv. DeSS. MM. Fortunato,Euse- bio, Titulo et Conditore, in Syria, p. 149.
Article — — copy
Chapter
at this date the following Rann, rendered
I.
contained in the "Lcabhar Breac," we find
English prose by LL. D. :—
Whitley
Stokes,
CofLog jug r\Ati clochap yenx)* chnich cam CAchafx.
"On a great feast is her commemoration, our Father's true Mother. With a king's
host—right splendid assembly—
Fer-da- chrich (' man of two districts') a fair shield? "
"
Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy,"
Irish Manuscript series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, pp, cxxiii. , cxxiv.
i. 'In that
August 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 209
in any way relating to St. Maccarthenn—yet, at the 15 th of August commemo- rates with eulogy Fer-da-chrich—the title usually applied to the Patron Saint of Clogher diocese. The scholiast has affixed an explanatory comment,2 to the entry.
in Munster," pp. 33, 34.
25 See James Fraser's " Handbook for
Travellers in Ireland," Route 51, p. 285.
26
See Sheffield Grace's "Memoirs of the
Family of Grace. " This rare book, pro- Januarii xxix. Vita S Gildae Badonici, n.
fusely illustrated with elegant views and his- toric portraits, was published by the author in London, 1823, 4to.
27 See an account of him, and of his place,
at that date, in the First Volume of this
work, Art. ii.
28
See notices of him, at that date, in the Third Volume of this work, Art. xiv. , and the references to St. Critan, Criotan, or
Finncridan, of Craibhaigh, or Creebee, in
4, p. 188.
3sTheRev. Dr. Laniganremarks "One
:
of them was probably the founder of that monastery ; for faidh is, I believe, a sur-
name, facia or fad, "long. " At what time he lived, I cannot form any conjecture; and,
for aught I know, he might have belonged to the fifth century. "—'"Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, vi. , n. 47, p. 195.
viz.
place, Molana,
day.
30 The reader is referred to that date—in
the Eleventh Volume of this work—the day for his feast.
3I For this he quotes Ward, p. 16© (recte
159), as an authority.
32 See " Monasticon Hibernicum," pp.
77 and 695.
33 However, Father Hugh Ward, or
Father O'Sheerin, the editor of his post- humous work, draws a distinction between both of those saints, on the page referred to.
Archiepiscopi Dubliniensis, Mechliniensium Apostoli," &c. Dissertatio Historica, sect. ix. ,num. 9, p. 159.
3* See "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae,"
204 LIVES 01 THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 14.
is the same as Moelan. We are told, that Darinis had a church, dedicated to St. Molanfide, who founded it in the sixth century. 36 There is another Darinis, near Wexford, in which a monastery was founded, and most probably
8
by St. Coeman, or St. Cayman,37 about the beginning of the sixth century ;3 andnot,asArchdallthoughtsbySt. Nemhan,40 wholivedintheseventh/1 Owing to the similarity of name, both of those places have been often con- founded by writers who treated on Irish ecclesiastical history and antiquities.
Article IV. —St. Werenfrid, Priest and Confessor, Missionary in Frisia. {Eighth Century? ^ This holy man was one of the many mis- sionaries that left the theological schools of Ireland, to carry the message of Gospel peace to the intellects and souls of unbelievers in distant countries. Like many such preachers, although almost unknown in the country he had left, memorials have been preserved among those people who had profited by his teaching. A most ancient manuscript, belonging to the church of Utrecht, furnished Surius with matter to introduce at this day the Acts of St. Werenfrid. On this day, Greven, Molanus, and several other Martyrologists, assign a festival for St. Werenfridus ; and the Bollandists, while transferring notices of him to the 27th of this month, still mark his feast at this date. 1 In the work of Bishop Challenor, we find an account of St. Werenfrid, Priest
23 andConfessor,atthe14thofAugust. ThePetitsBollandistes alsonotice
St. Werenfrid or Guerfroy, at this date. He was an Englishman by birth,
and probably he was born in the kingdom of Northumbria. For greater
improvement in the science of the saints, he forsook country and friends, to dedicatehimselfwhollytotheserviceofhisfellowcreatures. Hethereupon passed over into Ireland, where he served God in solitude and recollec- tion. He is said to have been one of those twelve apostolic men belonging totheEnglishnation,whoweredestinedforamissionarycareer. Withtheir leaderSt. Willebrord,*theseweresentoutofIrelandbySt. Egbert. * These were destined to carry the word of life to the Frisons, Saxons, and other pagans in Germany. The exact time of St. Werenfrid's arrival there, is not so wellknown. HewasoneofthoseGospelpreachers,however,towhomthe Netherlanders were indebted for their Christian teaching. He particularly plantedthefaithandchurchofChristintheIsleofBataviaorBetuwe. He likewise converted the inhabitants of Medemblick, Durostadt, Elst, and Westerwort. Hisadmirablevirtueswereveryremarkable. Thewriterofhis Acts assures us, that it was impossible to express how rich he was in all good work, and how careful he had been in administering comfort to the afflicted. He was incomparable for his humanity, while he was an exemplar of charity towards the poor. He was assiduous in his watching, and rigorous in his fasting. He was diligent in prayer, and he excelled in chastity. In fine, he
36 See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "Antiquities vol. ii. , chap, ix. , n. 121, and chap, xii. , of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 266. sect, iv. , and n. 47, pp. 193 to 196.
—
37 See an account of him, in the Sixth Article iv.
Volumeofthiswork, at the 12thofJune, tomusHi. ,August! xiv. Amongthepreter-
Art. vi.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Vita S. Finniani, n.
38
niai," Februarii xxiii.
2 See "Britannia
Sancta," part ii. , pp.
'
6, p. 397.
82, 83.
3 ^ee " Les Vies des
Saints,"
tome
ix. ,
39
See
" Monasticon
Hibernicum,"
xive 4
d'Aout,
bee an account of him, at the 7th of
See Colgan's
p. 735.
40 See some notices of him, in the Third
Volume of this work, at the 8th of March, the date for his festival, Art. vii.
November, the date for his feast.
' See his Life, at the 24th of April, in the
Fourth Volume of this work, Art. i.
41See"EcclesiasticalHistoryofIreland,"
6
See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
See "Acta mittcd saints, p. 146.
Sanctorum,"
Jour
p. 533.
. August 14. j LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 205
was conspicuous for all good qualities. Great success attended his labours ingainingsoulstoChrist. Inagoodoldage,hereceivedtherewardofhis labour. He departed some time in the eighth century. His body was in- terredatElst. ThereformerlystoodacollegiatechurchdedicatedtoGodin hisname. Thiswasmuchfrequented,becausemiracleswereoftenwrought within it. St. Werenfrid's feast is kept as a Double in the diocese of Utrecht, on the 27th day of August. The 14th was the day of his decease, however, according to the best accounts. 6 He is likewise entered in the anonymous Calendar of national saints, at the 14th of August, as published in O'Sullevan Beare's work. 7
Article V. —Saints Echlech, Cuimmein and Coemhan, three
Sons of Daighre. In the of 1 Caeman Martyrology Tallagh, Cummine,
and Aicclig, are the names set down in separate lines and in the preceding
order, but without any further designation of their parentage. In that copy, containedintheBookofLeinster,theyareplacedinlikeorder. 2 IntheMartyr- ology of Marianus 0'Gorman,3 these saints are commemorated at this date. In the Martyrology of Donegal, the entries for this day commence with the wordMidhaighre,*whichisfoundenclosedwithinbrackets. s Thereisaparish dedicated to a saint having the name of Cummein, and which is called Kil- cummin. 6 It is situated in the barony of Magunihy, County of Kerry. The old church belonging to this parish is situated on a ridge of fertile land, within the glebe of Kilcummin. In 1841, it measured on the inside 56 feet in length, and 19 feet 6 inches in breadth. Its side walls were 3 feet 5 inches in thickness, and 10 feet in height; being built of green unequally sized
stones, cemented with lime and sand mortar. The west gable was destroyed
nearly down to the ground ; only 3 feet of its height then remaining, but the other walls were nearly perfect. The internal portion of the east window was disfigured, but its external part was in a state of excellent preservation. The window, measuring 5 feet 2 inches in height, and 11 inches in width, was pointed and formed of cut lime-stone ; the sill was 4 feet 8 inches, from the outside ground level. At the distance of 8 feet from an east gable, there was a window in the south wall. This had been destroyed on both sides, with the exception of one stone left on either external side, These were chiselled lime-stones, and the distance between them was only 7 inches. 7 A rude
6
7 See " Historian Catholicse Ibernise Com- irregular in form, being bounded on the
Sancta," part ii. , pp. 82, 83.
This parish is of great extent and very north, by the parishesof Ballincuslane, Dysert,
pendium," tom—us i. , lib. iv. , cap. xi. , p. 50. "
Article v. Edited by the Rev. Dr. Kelly,p'. xxxii,
3
-diccbj;.
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
doe,andKillaha; andontheeast,byCork
on the ofKilcredaneandAghadoe; onthesouth,
Thus entered: Cutnn CoeniAin, by the parishes of Killarney, partofAgha-
3 See
ni*," xii. Januarii. De S. Cumiano Epis- ctnmin, which means the "church" or
Colgan's
county.
Irish,
this is called Cilt parish
copo, n. 6, p. 59.
4 Dr. Todd says : "This name is added
"
7 "At the distance of 12 feet 6 inches by the more recent hand, quoting 'Mar. ' from the west gable there is a doorway on as authority. But Mar. O'Gorman, at least the south wall ; its internal part, which is
in Mr. Curry's copy of the Erussels MS. formed of hammered stones, forms a segment '
mentions not Midhaighre,' but meic arch at top, and measures 5 feet 10 inches in
Daigre,i. e. ,
therefore some confusion.
'
thesonsofDaigre. ' Thereis
height,butitsbreadthcannotbedetermined, as its east side is destroyed. On the outside
it is pointed, and formed of cut lime-stone, and measures 5 feet 8 inches in height, and 3 feet 5 inches in width. There was another doorway on the north wall, at the distance of 9 feet from the west gable, but it
"
5 In a superadded comment, the Rev. Dr.
"
Reeves continues :
for meic "OxMgjxe, and a blundering anticipa-
tionof thecal meiCOAi5hr\e,four lines lower down. "
It is evidently an error
Killeentierna
;
west, by
the
parishes
In
cell of St. Cummin. "
206 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August 14.
representation of the head and face of St. Cummin—as is believed—was carved on brown sand stone, which projected from the wall, near the northern extremityoftheeastgableandontheoutside. Therewasalsoalargegrave- yard attached to this church. In the townland of Gortnagowan, in the east division of this parish, there stood aca/ierov circular stone fort, called Caher- Crovderg, i. e. , the Fort of the Red-handed. 8 On the eastern side of it, a holy well lay, at which stations were performed by the peasantry, on May eve.
They also drove their cattle into the fort, and made them drink the water of this holy well, which was believed to possess the efficacy of preserving their animals from all contagious distempers, during the ensuing year. 9 Colgan thinks St. Coeman,a deacon, and a disciple of St. Patrick, to be identical with one of these saints. He was set over the church of Ard-lice, commonly called Sean Domhnach. 10 In the
O'Clerys'
the three sons of 12
Daighre, Echlech,
Calendar of 1 we find Donegal,'
Cuimmein and tion given them at the 14th of August.
Caemhan,
had venera-
Article VI. —St. Dinil. In the copy of the Tallagh Martyrology, to
1 there
Leinster, nameandfeast,occurringonthe14thofAugust. Wehavemoreconfusedly
Article VII. —St. Brocan or Broeadh, Son of Lugdach. The Martyrology of Tallagh * enters a festival at the 14th of August in honour of
is now filled up with rude mason-work, and portion of that of Killaha. But Slicve
befoundintheBookof
appears
tobeacorrect ofthis entry
inthe
Eps,ocusAbb. Hence,itwouldseem,thatbeingdenominated"sonofthe carpenter," he is likewise recognized as a bishop and an abbot. These latter appellations,however,seemmoreproperlybelongingtoadifferentsaint. 3 The Martyrology of Donegal 4 merely registers Dinil, s at this same date.
recorded, also,
published Martyrology
there is a vault built up against it on the in-
side. It was formed of cut lime-stone on
the inside, and of hammered stones on the
outside In the townland of River in Cork. And the engraved map Kilquan in this parish is an old graveyard, from the Down Survey places a part of the in which a church formerly stood, but no mountain of Sliabh Luach, in the parish of part of its walls is now visible. And there Ballycaslane, in the barony of Trugha- is a similar graveyard in the townland of
Freemount, but no remains of a church ;
the church which stood in this latter — grave-
yard was called Knockacappul church. "
" Letters containing Information relative to
the Antiquities of the County Kerry, collected during the Progress of the Ord- nance Survey in 1841. " Letter of Mr.
9 See ibid. , pp. 193, 194. I0 "
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
218, 219.
" A note by Dr. Todd states at Daighre,
"The more recent hand adds ' Sed here,
Marian videtur alios vocare 1111c An c-Saoij\. '
O'Donovan,
1841, pp. 191 to 193.
dated
Killarney, August 30th,
8 " We have no historical reference to
this fort unless it be the Teamhair Luachra
of the ancient writers ; but it is now difficult
to determine whether it is, or not, as the we find 'Dinil mac an t Sair eps. et abb, name Teamhair Luachra is no longer re- but in O'Gorman he is simply called Dinil, membered. The mountainous district of uieic 'OAijpe—La Dinil, 'sons of Daigre
Sliabh Luachra on which Teamhair Luachra
ma sitmted, is well known, and forms a
Roman Catholic parish, comprising the cfAlP«,
parish of Kilcummin, and a considerable
"
'
of 2 DinilMacantsair Tallagh,
Luachra was originally a far more extensive district than it is considered at present. Dr. Smith shows it as east of the lilackwater
nacmy. "—Ibid. , p. 194.
See Colgan's Trias
Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. ii. , cap. xlvii. , p. 136, and n. 88, p. 177.
There is nothing, however, in Mr. Curry's copy of M. O'Gorman about Mac an t Saoir
(son of the carpenter). In the Mart. Taml. ,
with Dinil. — Ibid. ,
Article vi.
l
p. 219.
Thus: "Dnul iuac 111
'
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xxxii.
Thaumaturga. "
August 14. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 207 BrocanmacLugdach. Therefore,welearnthathewasthesonofLugdach,
or more of 9 At the same date, the simple perhaps correctly Lughdu.
Brocadh,3 appears in the Martyrology of Donegal/
entry
Article VIII. —Reputed Feast of Forty Martyrs, in Mayo, 1
Ireland. According to Chrysostom Henriquez, in the very celebrated Monastery of Mayo, and during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, no less than forty monks belonging to the Cistercian Order, together with their Abbot, suffered for the Faith ; but, the Bollandists 3 who allude to his statement at this day, treat it with doubt, since he does not give any date for the occur- rence, nor do they find any corroborated account from Irish authorities. Although Queen Elizabeths was a notorious persecutor of the Catholics,4 during her reign ; yet, she had little power to exercise her authority over those living in Mayo, and, moreover, in our Irish Annals, no allusion whatever is tobefoundregardingsuchanevent. Besides,theconcludingportionofthat narrative is evidently fabulous.
ArticleIX. —ReputedFeastofSilvesterScotus. Atthe14thof
1
August, the Bollandists remark, that Camerarius has entered a festival for
Silvester Scotus. Whether venerated as a saint or otherwise they desire further information.
Article X. —Reputed Festival of Betta, First Apostle among the Mercians. \_Sevenih Century]. Already at the nth of February,
some notices of this have been holy Missionary
1 At the
however, Dempster 2 and Camerarius 3 have given him a feast, as the
Bollandists remark,4 at the 14th day of August.
3
They are also apparently misplaced, as
they now read in the Book of Leinster copy,
coming immediately after the entry already
given, and in this form : ItlAc in cfAein
epr- aj;ur- <\bb. T>Air\1nir- 1YUebiAntMiT>.
4 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
218,219.
s A note by Dr. Todd at Dinil, " Here runt. "
the more recent hand has 'Mar et M. Tarn. quod vocat true &x\ cSAor\. '"
Article vil—j Edited Kelly, p. xxxii.
by
Rev. Dr.
2
TJrxoccAm mac Lu^rm.
3 A note by Dr. Todd, at Brocadh, states, "The more recent hand adds br»o§An, mac
tuj'oAc (Brogan, son of Lughaidh), Mart. Taml. "
4 Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
In the Book of Leinster copy, we read :
218, 219. " Article viii. — x He thus relates :
In
Hibernia
passio quadraginta
monachorum
coenobii Magiensis, Ordinis Cistertiensis,
qui simul cum suo abbate pro fide feliciter occubuerunt. Nam cum hseretici in eorum
monasterium armata manu
x
irruerent, ipsi
Article x. — ' Seethe
Second
Volume
given.
ante venerabile Sacramentum hostem expec-
tantes, intrepidi eorum se gladiis objecerunt, seque invicem ad mortem pro Christi amore tolerandam invitantes, capitis obtruncatione vitam finierunt. Sed eodem die, resumptis miraculose capitibus, Vesperas in honorem Deiparse Virginis in choro suaviter cecine-
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Augusti xiv. Among the pretermitted feasts, p. 145.
3 She reigned ever England and Ireland, from November 17th, 1558, to the 24th of March, 1603.
4 In the " Analecta Sacra Nova et Mire,
de Rebus Catholicorvm in Hibernia, pro
Fide et Religione gestis," and published at first in 1617, although numerous instances are adduced in proof, yet there is no men- tion made of such martyrdom. See new edition of that work, by Most Rev. Patrick
F. — of
Moran, Bishop Ossory.
Articleix.
tomus iii. , Augusti xiv. mitted saints, p. 145.
"ActaSanctorum," Among the preter-
See
present date,
2 o8 LIVES OP THE IRISH SAINTS.
[August. 15.
ArticleXI. —FeastofSt. Fortunatus,MartyrinSyria. Inthe
u"1
Feilire of St. ^Engus, at the 14th of August, the feast of St. Fortunatus, a
martyr in Syria, is announced. With other companions in martyrdom, the Bollandists, at this same date, present us with a few notices of them, as found
a
jftfteentl) 23ap of august.
ARTICLE I. —ST. MACCARTHEN, BISHOP OF CLOGHER, COUNTY OF TYRONE.
[FIFTH AND SIXTH CENTURIES. ]
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—AUTHORITIES FOR HIS ACTS—FAMILY AND DESCENT OF ST. MACCARTHEN—A DISCIPLE OF ST. PATRICK—A CONSTANT COMPANION OF THE IRISH APOSTLE—PROPHECY OF ST. PATRICK IN REFERENCE TO THE SEES OF CLOGHER AND OF DOMNACH-MOR MUIGETOCHUIR.
bishop in the Church is a direct and lineal descendant from the
in ancient Martyrologies.
EVERY thus
Apostles, establishing
and
the
his glorious office. Hovv numerous have been the labourers thus established
in the Lord's vineyard, and how extended the fields on which they have
wrought, may be gleaned from general ecclesiastical History. Restricting our regards to Ireland alone, we find along list of holy chief pastors to adorn her annals. Like the Apostles, all virtuous missionaries cast away not only the open but the occult occasions of sin, thus doing nothing unworthy of their ministry, and rejecting everthing that might bring with it disgrace or the ruin ofsouls. Moreover,theyengagedonactivedutiestoprocuretheirownandthe salvation of others, while leading most exemplary lives. Such models for admiration and imitation have nourished in the primitive Christian times, while in all our Irish dioceses, as patrons, many bishops and saints are still
venerated, as in the present instance.
of this work, at that date, Art. xi.
3 In his Menologium Scotorum, he writes: "Xiv. In Noithumbria Beati Bettae gentis Apostoli, qui cum S. Aidano e Scotia veniens innumeram muhitudinem pio labore convertit ct Fenda ie^e praesente baptizavit.
B. F. "—Bishop Scottish Saints," p. 208.
Forbes' "Kalendars of into _
3 He also has a feast for this saint, at the nth of February. See " De Duplici Statu Hominis, veteris simul ac novae Ecclesia;, et Infidelium Conversione," lib. i. , pars, ii. , cap. iii. , sect. 2, p. 147.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. ,
Augusii xiv. Among the pretermitted
saints, p. 145.
Article XI. — 1 See "Transactions of
the Royal Irish Academy," Irish Manu- script Series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calen- dar of Oengus, p. cxxiii.
Tlimopjreit ariAicriiriec ppmAchaip Apnachap
—
3
teaching
missionary
character of
x
The " Feilire " of St. y£ngus having no festival, at the 24th of March,
See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Augustixiv. DeSS. MM. Fortunato,Euse- bio, Titulo et Conditore, in Syria, p. 149.
Article — — copy
Chapter
at this date the following Rann, rendered
I.
contained in the "Lcabhar Breac," we find
English prose by LL. D. :—
Whitley
Stokes,
CofLog jug r\Ati clochap yenx)* chnich cam CAchafx.
"On a great feast is her commemoration, our Father's true Mother. With a king's
host—right splendid assembly—
Fer-da- chrich (' man of two districts') a fair shield? "
"
Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy,"
Irish Manuscript series, vol. i. , part i. On the Calendar of Oengus, pp, cxxiii. , cxxiv.
i. 'In that
August 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 209
in any way relating to St. Maccarthenn—yet, at the 15 th of August commemo- rates with eulogy Fer-da-chrich—the title usually applied to the Patron Saint of Clogher diocese. The scholiast has affixed an explanatory comment,2 to the entry.
