But, when the saint arrived, all its gates were
miraculously
opened, and even the door of that very prison, in which Cormac had been confined ; the chains also fell from the captive's limbs, to the great alarm of his guards.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
One of these desired to remain there, as a monk, and the other as a guest, for ten days.
When Fintan had seen both, he told his brethren apart, that the intended monk should only remain with them for ten days, and should then escape to the world, during the darkness of night ; while their guest as announced
would alter his resolution, and continue with them as a monk, to the end of
his days. '7 The prediction of our saint was fulfilled, in this instance, as . 'ii other cases.
One of Fintan's monks, named SinchelV^ had a father, who, with his fosterer,^9 lived a bad life, in the world. Sinchell asked permission from St. Fintan to visit them, that he might urge them to repentance. But, he laboured fruitlessly to persuade them, and then the monk returned to Fintan, with an announcement of his failure.
""
See Bishop Challenor's Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. I2I.
r. eems to have been identical, in Colgan's opinion, with St. Lonan, mentioned in the 12th chapter of St. Finnian of Clonard's Life, and whose feast was kept on the 24th of October, according to our Martyrologists. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," xvii. Febniarii, n. 13, p. 354. For a notice of St. Lonan, there spoken of, the reader is referredtoSt. Finnian'sLife; but,hewill find that Colgan contradicts himself, in what he here asserts. That saint is Lonan, son to Senan, and whose feast is placed, at the
12th of November, according to our Ca- lendars.
's See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , pp. 121, 122.
'^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani,
cap. x. , xi. , p. 351.
'7 See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 122.
'^ a the 20th of See noticeofthissaint,at
June, which is thought by Colgan probably to have been the day for his feast,
'9 This sort of alliance in Ireland was re garded as forming a kind of relationship.
'•^ " See Colgan's
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani,
cap. ix,, pp. 350, 351.
'* The Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Ma-
rianus, of Maguire and of Donegal, mention several saints, having the name, Lonan. Thus, we find Lonan Fionn, at the 22nd of
January ; Lonan, son to Darius, at the 7th of February ; Lonan, at the 6th of June ; Lonan of Ard-Cruinn, at the nth of July ;
Lonan, son to Lonan, son to Lasre, at the 2nd or at the 20th of August ; Lonan, of
Cluain Tibrinne, at the 24th of October; Lonan, son to Talmuigh, at the 1st, and
Lonan of
vember. Colgan's enumeration of these saints, and of their festivals, is both imper- feet and inaccurate. The present Lonan must not be confounded with most of those,
as be may
Cill-Uailleach,
at the 12th of No-
to his
age. Nor, can he be considered the Lonan, who was a disciple of St. Patrick, and whose feast is celebrated, on the 12th of November, according to the foregoing authorities. He
seen, by referring
parent-
:
To-day,
The saint desired him to go back,
February 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 5^^
and to bring his friends with him. When they came, while St. Fintan and Sinchell sat in the middle, the father to this latter monk took his place on the left, and the fosterer on the right, side of our holy abbot. Finding them yet persevering in their evil ways, St. Fintan whispered his disciple, in a low voice, that as they were then placed—one on the right and the other on the
left hand—so should it be with them, on the day of judgment. The
saint declared, that Sinchell's father should die impenitent, and that his substance
must be divided between rulers and princes, who should care little about his
and divide his substance among the poor and God's servants thus, departing in peace, this latter should stand, at the right hand of Christ's judgment seat. =° Certain monks of Clonenagh, filled with an eagerness for travel, wished to leave their native country. Without obtaining permission from their abbot, however,
=^^
in the northern pro- vince,thatthencetheymightpassoverintoBritain. ^^ Sometimeafterwards, one of his brethren came to Fintan, telHng him, that he had heard, those absent monks were sojourning with their friends. St. Fintan declared, with a smile, that he had been misinformed ; for, on that day, those brethren, who had left for God's sake were on their way to a British port. One of his monks, whose brother had absconded, approaching the abbot, with tears,
besought in God's name to be allowed to leave Clonenagh Monastery, in
soul
; while,
the
his —should fosterer, seeing unhappy death, repent
they left his monastery, and went to that of Bangor,
This monk declared, that he felt inconsol-
feet, for he found no comfort while he was absent from us. " These various
predictions were fulfilled, in such a manner, that it was quite evident a pro- phetic spirit illuminated the soul of Fintan, so as to enable him to declare with great certainty all future events. ^3
On another occasion, St. Fintan and St. Canice were together in Clone-
naghMonastery. Onasudden,theyheardshoutsoftriumphraisedbysome
soldiers, who had obtained a victory over their enemies. St. Fintan said to
his " In this I hear the voice of an innocent lamb for, companion, clamour, ;
one among them, named Kieran,^^ son to Tulchan, shall become a monk in
order to accompany his brother.
Our saint
because your brother will return to this place to-day, and you shall wash his
able,
after his brother's
departure.
replied,
" Be consoled, son, my
=° The author of St. Fintan's Life adds
:
"Quodestinfutui'onon dubitamus, videntes praeterita completa secundum vaticinium viri
=3 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani,
probable, in Colgan's opinion, that the pre- sent St. Kieran was a brother to one or both these saints, by the same father. St. ^ngus the Culdee, in his "Opuscula," lib. i. , cap. 2, enumerates the sons of Tulchan among many saints, who were brothers or
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
cap. xii. , xiii. , xiv. , xvi,, p. 351.
^^ Jn Adamnan's "Vita S- Columbas,"
Dei. "—
niae," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani, lib. iii. , cap, 23, mention is made of St. cap. xiii. , p. 351. And at n. 15, p. 354, Lugid, son to Tulchan, and of St. Fintan,
Colgan infers from this passage, that the
author of our saint's Life must have lived
at a time, when those things occurred ; as,
he says, that he had seen a part of the pro-
phecy of St. Fintan fulfilled : viz. , either
the father of Sinchell dying unhappy, or
the fosterer doing penance—although he
could not know what took place in the
other Hfe. The word "videntes," how- sons of the same parent. It is probable, ever, appears to have been used in this pas-
sage, to express "knowing," or " believ- ing ;" yet, I would not undertake to decide
postively, that Colgan's meaning is not more
correct. If so, a very remote antiquity must
be accorded to this Life.
^^
This must have occurred, after St. Comgall had there founded his monastery.
" Probably, St. Columkille had been re- sident there, at that time.
says Colgan, that the feast of this present St. Kieran had been celebrated on the 5th
son to Tulchan, at lib. i. , cap. 2. See Dr. Reeves' edition. It is not certain, but rather
of January, or on the 19th of May, as may be seen, by referring to the Martyrology of Tallagh, the Scholiast on St. ^ngus, and Marianus O'Gorman. \^2ngus in his "Book
of Homonymi," lib. i. , cap. 5» mentions a St. Kieran of Cluain-edhnach. Circum- stances of place and of time exclude saints bearing the same name, and venerated on
586 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February17.
this place, and after a life of perfection he shall die. " The soldiers brought away the heads of their enemies, as a trophy of victory, and deposited them
nearClonenaghMonastery,whentheyapproached. Takingtheseghastly remains,themonksburiedthemwithintheprecinctsoftheircemetery. One of the brothers asked Saints Fintan and Canice, what this availed those corpses, whose heads were buried there. He received for reply: "We believe and trust in the Lord, that owing to the merits and virtue of all the saints in this place, who shall be buried here, and who living, shall also pray for the souls of those who may be here buried, that these men shall not be condemnedonthedayofjudgment; for,themoredignifiedpartsoftheir bodies lie deposited with us, and therefore do we hope clemency for their souls. " Afterwards, Kieran, seeking admission to Clonenagh Monastery, was received ; and, as St. Fintan predicted, he happily departed this life. ^5 Meantime, subjects presented themselves, from different provinces in Ireland, to embrace the rules of St. Fintan. Many distinguished disciples flocked to that hive of wisdom, to gather stores of evangelical knowledge, which its holy and learned abbot could not fail to impart. Amongst others, the celebrated
St. Comgall, founder of Bangor'^^ Abbey, was one of those disciples, who studied under our saint,=7 at his celebrated monastery of Clonenagh. ''^
Again, having heard a certain priest, named Gobban, offering up the Holy Sacrifice,=^9 the abbot trembled with sudden emotion ; and, on his brethren
enquiring the cause, he told them, that while they supposed themselves hearing the voice of God's minister, he had heard only sounds of a wicked
triumph, owing to the commission of a grievous sin. He declared, more- over,thatthispriestshouldnotendhislifewiththem. Ashadbeensaid, the priest abandoned his cell and habit. Returning to the world, he lived a very sinful life, until, in fine, he died impenitent. 3°
CHAPTER III.
ST. FINTAN HEALS AN INFIRM MAN—HIS NOCTURNAL PRAYERS—HE PROCURES THE RELEASE FROM CAPTIVITY OF CORMAC, A PRINCE OF HY-KINSELLAGH—FERGNA, SON OF COBHTACH—ST. FINTAN VISITS ACHADH FINGLASS—THE ANCIENT BOOK OF CLONENAGH.
At a time, when our saint was passing over a plain, many persons assembled to bless, and pray for the holy abbot, whose fame had been so widely
are found on Sheets I, 2.
=7 See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p, 123.
other clays, from being confounded with the "
present Kieran. See Colgan's Acta Sane- torum Hibernise," xvii. Februarii, n. i6, p.
of
January,
and at the
19th
of the May,
ivy cell,"
It will be seen, however, at both the
""^
The name of Clonenagh is Latinized
354.
5th
patronymics of both Saints (Kierans) there venerated destroy Colgan's conjecture.
=s See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- rum," tomus iii. , Februarii xvii. De S.
into " latibuhim haderosum" or "
inEnglish. ThelateDr. JohnO'Donovan
supposes, the vast majority of such places,
called, Clon, in Ireland, were formerly bog
islands.
=9 The words in his Life are—"vocem
parish is described on the
vey Townland Maps for the County of
Down. " Sheets i, 2, 3, 5, 6. The deno- rum," tomus iii. , Februarii xvii. Vita S. minations of Bangor Bog and Bangor town Fintani, cap. ii. , num. 16, p. 19.
Fintano
num. 15, p. 19.
""^
Vita,
&c. , cap. ii. ,
Presbytero.
Bangor and Islands form a large parish, partly in the barony of Lower Ards, and partly in that of Lower Castlereagh. This
"
another instance, regarding the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of Mass, by our ancestors in the Faith, and in the early ages of our Irish
Ordnance Sur-
Church.
3o gee the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
presbyteri sacrificium offerentis"
February 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 587
divulged. Among the rest, a man, whose son was afflicted with paralysis, and, in a wretched condition, came to him. Prostrating himself, at the feet of Fintan, that man asked in God's name, that his son might be healed. Then, St. Fintan extended his hands in prayer. Through the favour of
Heaven, that paralytic arose in perfect health, praising and blessing the source of all good, in presence of all there assembled. ^ It was customary
with our abbot, to rise during night, and to devote many an hour to prayer,
when passing out, for this purpose, to the adjoining cemetery. While thus engaged, one of his monks, desiring to see the saint at his orisons, sought him in vain for some time. At last, going into the graveyard, although the
night was very dark, he beheld a bright light, surrounding the holy abbot, whom he regarded for some time, at a distance. On the following day, he received a reproof from St. Fintan, who warned him not to intrude, for the future, on his private devotions. ^
Colman,3 King of Northern Leinster, held in captivity Cormac, son to Diermad, King of Hua-Kinsellagh, whom he intended putting to death. 4 Hearing of this, and being desirous to liberate the young prince, Fintan took with him twelve disciples. These proceeded towards that place, where Colman lived. It was denominated Rathmore. 5 This cruel prince, hearing
of our saint's approach, and suspecting his intention, gave his retainers an order to guard carefully his captive, and to exclude God's servant from his
castle.
But, when the saint arrived, all its gates were miraculously opened, and even the door of that very prison, in which Cormac had been confined ; the chains also fell from the captive's limbs, to the great alarm of his guards. These hastened to their king, whom they aroused from sleep. They told him, at the same time, what had occurred. Colman was in turn alarmed, and, he asked the advice of his friends, as to what should be done. He was counselled, to grant whatever Fintan might desire, lest he might incur the displeasure of God, who wrought such wonders through his saint.
Colman fell
hastening
upon, St. Fintan said,
before
him, saying :
Fintan,
prostrate
Hereupon, " It becomes
I, therefore,
Child of Satan, thou shalt be slain in a short time \
to
us, O saint, to honour thee, Avhom the Lord hath magnified : releasehim,whomyouseek,andallwhoareinbondagewithhim. " Giving his benediction to the king, Fintan prepared to depart with Cormac, the liberated prince. Afterwards, a multitude of soldiers were encountered on theway. Amongthesewasamanofroyallineage,whodesiredCormac's death,buthewasdissuadedfromthispurpose,byhiscompanions. Here-
"
Chapter hi. —* See the Bollandists' is numbered among the Leinster kings, as
•*
Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Februarii Colgan was enabled to assert, from an ex- xvii. Vita S. Fintani, cap. iii. , num. 17, amination of various catalogues, enumerat.
ing the monarchs of this province. These
were in his possession,
s There are many places bearing this
name, in the territory around Clonenagh.
It would not be an easy matter to identify Colgan, Colman is called Colum. He was the exact place, to which allusion is here
p. 19-
^ **
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani, cap. xvii. , p. 352.
not an immediate descendant of Cormac, as stated in this Life ; but, rather a grand- son, and a son to Corbre or Cairbre. His death is thus recorded, at the year 576, in O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Mas-
*'
ters," vol. i. , pp. 208, 209,
of Cairbre, King of Leinster, died at Sliabh- Mairge. " Hence, we are enabled to dis- cover, that St. Fintan flourished, before
that year.
_
3 In the Life of St. Fintan, published by
*
Neither Cormac, nor his father Diermad,
May.
Colman, son
made; but, it does not appear, probable, that the site must be sought for near St.
Fintan'smonastery. Itwasprobablysome considerable distance from it.
^Colgan supposes, he might have been that saint, whose feast is celebrated, on the 7th—or rather the I ith—of May, at Achad Finnich, in Leinster. Ibid. There are some notices of this Cormac, son to Dier- mad, in St. Comgall's Life, at the loth of
588 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February17.
and, he whom thou desirest to slay, shall long rule over his kingdom, and shall end his life in the practice of good works. " Before a month had passed, that chieftain was slain. As had been predicted, the prince Cormac^ ruled over Hua Kinsellagh territory. 7 Having relinquished the sceptre, in more advanced years, he became a recluse, under St. Comgall, in Bangor Monastery. There,too,heendedaholylife. ^
On another occasion, whilst our saint was travelling along the plains of Liffey, a respectable and pious man, named Fergna,^ son to Cobhtach, met him. The saint, immediately alighted from his chariot, and bent his knee beforeFergna. ^° Fullofhumility,thelatterasked,withacertainconfusionof
"
demeanour, why a sinner had been so honoured. Fintan answered,
Unless
I had seen thee, amongst angelic choirs, in Heaven, and upon earth, I would never have acted after this manner. But, I entreat of thee, that thou wilt quickly abandon this world's pleasures and assume the religious habit. " Fergna replied, that he had twelve sons" and seven daughters," a virtuous and a beloved wife, together with a people devoted to him ;^3 all of wliich ties united, he could not break. " Return to thy house," said Fintan, who
*'
had a supernatural intuition of what should take place, and I will prosecute
this journey ; but, on my return, I must visit thee. " From the moment of this interview, Fergna found his heart powerfully moved to abandon those
pleasures he had formerly enjoyed with such relish, so that day and night he anxiously looked for Fintan's return. After a delay of two weeks, the latter called at his friend's house. Leaving all his possessions, Fergna became a disciple of our saint, and assumed the religious habit. '-^ He afterwards happily departed to a better life. 's
At another time, when Fintan was sojourning among the people of Idrone,^^
7 In St. Fintan's Life, we read, that by St. ^ngus the Culdee, in the first part Cormac, son to Diermad, lived a long time of his "Opuscula," lib. 2, cap. 18.
in the kingdom of Leinster. By this we " In the " Book of the Island" it is said, are to understand, that he ruled in the that Fergna had twelve daughters. ^Engus
southern of part
or in Kinsel- Hy
the in his " Culdee,
lib.
Leinster,
lagh ; as in a previous portion of the text, his father is called king over that part of
Ireland.
cap. xviii. , p. 352, and nn. 18, 19, p. 354.
Opuscula,"
and lib. 3, cap. 6, speaks of Fergna's several
sons and daughters, who were numbered
amongthesaints; andtheMartyrologiesof
Tallagh, of Marianus Gorman and of Done- niK," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani, gal state, that . the festival of Fergna's
^ **
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
daughters was celebrated on the 7th of
these Calendars do not de- clare the number or names of these saints ; nor was Colgan able to discover, whether they were sons and daughters to this, or to It seems probable, to Colgan, that some other Fergna ; although, he thought, it probable, they were children to this holy
man, mentioned in the Life of St. Fintan.
"
whom Fintan saw amongst angelic choirs, both on earth and in Heaven, was a relative to our saint, and
5' This
Feargna,
January, But,
belonging to the family of St. Brigid. '°
Fergna was numbered among the Irish Saints ; his festival might be that one,
*3 See Colgan's This Fergna, beyond all doubt, had pendix, cap. i. , p. 46.
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
of Marianus Gorman, at the l8th of Sep- ni? e," xvii. Februarii, nn. 20, 21, p. 354.
tember, or at the I ith of October. Also, ix. Januarii. Vita S. Finani. Ap-
placed by the Martyrologies of Tallagh and
"
one sainted son, who was called P'inanus. His descent is thus traced by the " Sanc- tilogic Genealogy," at cap. 15 : "S. Finanus was son of Fergna, son to Cobhthac, son of Muredach, son to Lasre, son of Darius, son of Dercan, son to Denius, son of Conla, son to Artcurb, son of Carbre surnamed Niadh. This St P'inan is mentioned by the Martyr- ologyofTallagh,bytheSchohastofvEngus, and by Marianus Gorman, at the 9th of Jan- uary, as also at the 13th of February, Like- wise, a Colman. son to Fergna, is mentioned,
'* See ibid,, xvii. Februarii. Vita S.
Fintani, cap. xix. , p, 352.
'S See the Bollandists' ** Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus iii. , Februarii xvii. Vita S. P'intani, cap, iii,, num. 18, 19, 20, 21, pp.
19, 20. — "^ The people of this territory
compris- ing the present barony of Idrone, and that part of Kildare and Leighlin diocese, on
the west side of the Barrow—are so called, because they are derived from Drona, the fourth in descent from Cathaeir Mor. See
2, cap. 6,
February 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 589
at Achad-Finglass Monastery,^? on the eastern side of the River Barrow/^ and near Leighlin city, '9 a certain humble and holy bishop, named Brandubh,
from Hy-Kinsellagh,=^° came to him, and proposed becoming a monk under his rule. Fintan, who rejoiced at the arrival of this prelate, advised him rather to enter Achad-Finglass Monastery, where the rule was less strict than at Clonenagh. =^^ In the Salamancan MS. of our saint's Life, Ardglais is sub- stituted for Achadh-Finglaiss. It has been thought, that Achadh-arglais was situated not far from Sletty church, in Lefnster. ^ But, Achadh-arglais, or Achadh-Fuinglass, has been more correctly identified with Agha,'3 a town-
Door of Agha Old Church, County Carlow.
land, containing the ruins of a very ancient church, in the barony of Idrone East, and in the county of Carlow. It is about four miles to the east of old
Leighlin. ^4 The length of the old church interiorly is 45 >^ feet, and its breadth is 15}^ feet. In the east gable, about 5 feet from the ground, there
Dr, O'Donovan's " Leabhar na g-Ceart ; or the Book of Rights," ii. (k), p. 212.
^^ Archdall incorrectly makes St. Fintan
p. 230.
=0 In the old Life of St. Fintan, this is
said to have been the more celebrated part of Leinster.
=^ This shows, that both places could not have belonged to the same abbot ; as the discipline and rules were different.
"See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernix," xvii. Februarii, n. 23, p. 354.
23 The townland and parish of Agha, in in the barony of Idrone East, are shown on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for
abbot over this place. See Hibernicum," p. 35.
"
Monasticon
'8 In the published Life of St. Fintan, we read, that Achadh-Finglaiss was situated " contra civitatem Lethghleann, in oriental! parte fluminis Bearuo,"
'9 Following a conjecture of Colgan, Dr. Lanigan thinl^s Achad Finglass was more
probably, in that part of Idrone, county of Carlow, west, rather than east, of the Bar- row. Se "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land, "vo. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, xi. , n. 168,
the County of Carlow. " Sheets 12, 16. "
24 See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (f ), p. 789-
590 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS [February17.
is a window, with a semicircular arch of chiselled granite stones, at the top, tothespringofwhich,thewindowis5feetinheight. Thearchis3feet,in addition, to the upper key-stone. The sides and arch are built with granite
Another curious win—dow is in the south side wall.
in the
accompanying large lintel crosses the doorway, and it reaches nearly the whole thickness of the wall. =*^ By in- dents seen, in the stones at the south side, it must appear, there were strong fastenings used in closing the door. ='7 As the ancient church was built on ground, declining in a western direction, the side walls were extended farther thanthewestgable,tosupportthestructure. Thesidewallsappeartoretain their original height, and these rise about 1 1 feet 9 inches, in this old church of the twelfth century. ^^^ The courses of masonry are very curiously arranged ; but, the walls are exceedingly well grouted. The top of the west gable is
down, and the walls of this church are nearly 3 feet in thickness.
At this interview with Fintan, it was urged by Bishop Brandubh,=9 on St.
Fintan " have I ruled over and now under the rule of : Hitherto, others,
another, I wish to resign my soul to God. I here present myself to the Lord and to thee ; whatsoever, therefore, thou shalt say to me, I shall will-
ingly observe ; yet, this request alone I ask, that I may not long survive, it thou depart from this life before me, but that thou wilt speedily come to me and receive my soul. " St. Fintan promised him, that God would be pleased to approve his request. Our saint survived this promise, for three years, and his prophecy was miraculously fulfilled. 3°
The people of the neighbourhood yet believe, that a famous school existed at Clonenagh, in St. Fintan's time. It is very certain, that after his
decease, this seminary flourished, and that it produced scholars of the most profound learning and of the highest culture. Among the missing or lost books of ancient Erinn, the " Book of Cluain Eidhneach," in Leix, is specially
enumerated ;3^ and, according to a popular tradition, this had been written
stones, of unequal size.
In the west— is the gable
quadrangulardoorway figured engraving^s and which has inclined sides. At the top,
a
^s Copied from the large folio drawings of George V. DuNoyer, contained in the Royal Irish Academy's Library, vol. iv. , No. 40. It has been reduced from the drawing, and engraved very accurately by Mr. Gregor Grey, of Dublin.
"
rum," tomus iii. , Februarii xvii. Vita S.
Fintani, cap. iv. , num. 22, p. 20.
would alter his resolution, and continue with them as a monk, to the end of
his days. '7 The prediction of our saint was fulfilled, in this instance, as . 'ii other cases.
One of Fintan's monks, named SinchelV^ had a father, who, with his fosterer,^9 lived a bad life, in the world. Sinchell asked permission from St. Fintan to visit them, that he might urge them to repentance. But, he laboured fruitlessly to persuade them, and then the monk returned to Fintan, with an announcement of his failure.
""
See Bishop Challenor's Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. I2I.
r. eems to have been identical, in Colgan's opinion, with St. Lonan, mentioned in the 12th chapter of St. Finnian of Clonard's Life, and whose feast was kept on the 24th of October, according to our Martyrologists. See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," xvii. Febniarii, n. 13, p. 354. For a notice of St. Lonan, there spoken of, the reader is referredtoSt. Finnian'sLife; but,hewill find that Colgan contradicts himself, in what he here asserts. That saint is Lonan, son to Senan, and whose feast is placed, at the
12th of November, according to our Ca- lendars.
's See Bishop Challoner's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , pp. 121, 122.
'^ See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani,
cap. x. , xi. , p. 351.
'7 See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p. 122.
'^ a the 20th of See noticeofthissaint,at
June, which is thought by Colgan probably to have been the day for his feast,
'9 This sort of alliance in Ireland was re garded as forming a kind of relationship.
'•^ " See Colgan's
Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niae," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani,
cap. ix,, pp. 350, 351.
'* The Martyrologies of Tallagh, of Ma-
rianus, of Maguire and of Donegal, mention several saints, having the name, Lonan. Thus, we find Lonan Fionn, at the 22nd of
January ; Lonan, son to Darius, at the 7th of February ; Lonan, at the 6th of June ; Lonan of Ard-Cruinn, at the nth of July ;
Lonan, son to Lonan, son to Lasre, at the 2nd or at the 20th of August ; Lonan, of
Cluain Tibrinne, at the 24th of October; Lonan, son to Talmuigh, at the 1st, and
Lonan of
vember. Colgan's enumeration of these saints, and of their festivals, is both imper- feet and inaccurate. The present Lonan must not be confounded with most of those,
as be may
Cill-Uailleach,
at the 12th of No-
to his
age. Nor, can he be considered the Lonan, who was a disciple of St. Patrick, and whose feast is celebrated, on the 12th of November, according to the foregoing authorities. He
seen, by referring
parent-
:
To-day,
The saint desired him to go back,
February 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 5^^
and to bring his friends with him. When they came, while St. Fintan and Sinchell sat in the middle, the father to this latter monk took his place on the left, and the fosterer on the right, side of our holy abbot. Finding them yet persevering in their evil ways, St. Fintan whispered his disciple, in a low voice, that as they were then placed—one on the right and the other on the
left hand—so should it be with them, on the day of judgment. The
saint declared, that Sinchell's father should die impenitent, and that his substance
must be divided between rulers and princes, who should care little about his
and divide his substance among the poor and God's servants thus, departing in peace, this latter should stand, at the right hand of Christ's judgment seat. =° Certain monks of Clonenagh, filled with an eagerness for travel, wished to leave their native country. Without obtaining permission from their abbot, however,
=^^
in the northern pro- vince,thatthencetheymightpassoverintoBritain. ^^ Sometimeafterwards, one of his brethren came to Fintan, telHng him, that he had heard, those absent monks were sojourning with their friends. St. Fintan declared, with a smile, that he had been misinformed ; for, on that day, those brethren, who had left for God's sake were on their way to a British port. One of his monks, whose brother had absconded, approaching the abbot, with tears,
besought in God's name to be allowed to leave Clonenagh Monastery, in
soul
; while,
the
his —should fosterer, seeing unhappy death, repent
they left his monastery, and went to that of Bangor,
This monk declared, that he felt inconsol-
feet, for he found no comfort while he was absent from us. " These various
predictions were fulfilled, in such a manner, that it was quite evident a pro- phetic spirit illuminated the soul of Fintan, so as to enable him to declare with great certainty all future events. ^3
On another occasion, St. Fintan and St. Canice were together in Clone-
naghMonastery. Onasudden,theyheardshoutsoftriumphraisedbysome
soldiers, who had obtained a victory over their enemies. St. Fintan said to
his " In this I hear the voice of an innocent lamb for, companion, clamour, ;
one among them, named Kieran,^^ son to Tulchan, shall become a monk in
order to accompany his brother.
Our saint
because your brother will return to this place to-day, and you shall wash his
able,
after his brother's
departure.
replied,
" Be consoled, son, my
=° The author of St. Fintan's Life adds
:
"Quodestinfutui'onon dubitamus, videntes praeterita completa secundum vaticinium viri
=3 See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani,
probable, in Colgan's opinion, that the pre- sent St. Kieran was a brother to one or both these saints, by the same father. St. ^ngus the Culdee, in his "Opuscula," lib. i. , cap. 2, enumerates the sons of Tulchan among many saints, who were brothers or
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
cap. xii. , xiii. , xiv. , xvi,, p. 351.
^^ Jn Adamnan's "Vita S- Columbas,"
Dei. "—
niae," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani, lib. iii. , cap, 23, mention is made of St. cap. xiii. , p. 351. And at n. 15, p. 354, Lugid, son to Tulchan, and of St. Fintan,
Colgan infers from this passage, that the
author of our saint's Life must have lived
at a time, when those things occurred ; as,
he says, that he had seen a part of the pro-
phecy of St. Fintan fulfilled : viz. , either
the father of Sinchell dying unhappy, or
the fosterer doing penance—although he
could not know what took place in the
other Hfe. The word "videntes," how- sons of the same parent. It is probable, ever, appears to have been used in this pas-
sage, to express "knowing," or " believ- ing ;" yet, I would not undertake to decide
postively, that Colgan's meaning is not more
correct. If so, a very remote antiquity must
be accorded to this Life.
^^
This must have occurred, after St. Comgall had there founded his monastery.
" Probably, St. Columkille had been re- sident there, at that time.
says Colgan, that the feast of this present St. Kieran had been celebrated on the 5th
son to Tulchan, at lib. i. , cap. 2. See Dr. Reeves' edition. It is not certain, but rather
of January, or on the 19th of May, as may be seen, by referring to the Martyrology of Tallagh, the Scholiast on St. ^ngus, and Marianus O'Gorman. \^2ngus in his "Book
of Homonymi," lib. i. , cap. 5» mentions a St. Kieran of Cluain-edhnach. Circum- stances of place and of time exclude saints bearing the same name, and venerated on
586 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February17.
this place, and after a life of perfection he shall die. " The soldiers brought away the heads of their enemies, as a trophy of victory, and deposited them
nearClonenaghMonastery,whentheyapproached. Takingtheseghastly remains,themonksburiedthemwithintheprecinctsoftheircemetery. One of the brothers asked Saints Fintan and Canice, what this availed those corpses, whose heads were buried there. He received for reply: "We believe and trust in the Lord, that owing to the merits and virtue of all the saints in this place, who shall be buried here, and who living, shall also pray for the souls of those who may be here buried, that these men shall not be condemnedonthedayofjudgment; for,themoredignifiedpartsoftheir bodies lie deposited with us, and therefore do we hope clemency for their souls. " Afterwards, Kieran, seeking admission to Clonenagh Monastery, was received ; and, as St. Fintan predicted, he happily departed this life. ^5 Meantime, subjects presented themselves, from different provinces in Ireland, to embrace the rules of St. Fintan. Many distinguished disciples flocked to that hive of wisdom, to gather stores of evangelical knowledge, which its holy and learned abbot could not fail to impart. Amongst others, the celebrated
St. Comgall, founder of Bangor'^^ Abbey, was one of those disciples, who studied under our saint,=7 at his celebrated monastery of Clonenagh. ''^
Again, having heard a certain priest, named Gobban, offering up the Holy Sacrifice,=^9 the abbot trembled with sudden emotion ; and, on his brethren
enquiring the cause, he told them, that while they supposed themselves hearing the voice of God's minister, he had heard only sounds of a wicked
triumph, owing to the commission of a grievous sin. He declared, more- over,thatthispriestshouldnotendhislifewiththem. Ashadbeensaid, the priest abandoned his cell and habit. Returning to the world, he lived a very sinful life, until, in fine, he died impenitent. 3°
CHAPTER III.
ST. FINTAN HEALS AN INFIRM MAN—HIS NOCTURNAL PRAYERS—HE PROCURES THE RELEASE FROM CAPTIVITY OF CORMAC, A PRINCE OF HY-KINSELLAGH—FERGNA, SON OF COBHTACH—ST. FINTAN VISITS ACHADH FINGLASS—THE ANCIENT BOOK OF CLONENAGH.
At a time, when our saint was passing over a plain, many persons assembled to bless, and pray for the holy abbot, whose fame had been so widely
are found on Sheets I, 2.
=7 See Bishop Challenor's "Britannia
Sancta," part i. , p, 123.
other clays, from being confounded with the "
present Kieran. See Colgan's Acta Sane- torum Hibernise," xvii. Februarii, n. i6, p.
of
January,
and at the
19th
of the May,
ivy cell,"
It will be seen, however, at both the
""^
The name of Clonenagh is Latinized
354.
5th
patronymics of both Saints (Kierans) there venerated destroy Colgan's conjecture.
=s See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- rum," tomus iii. , Februarii xvii. De S.
into " latibuhim haderosum" or "
inEnglish. ThelateDr. JohnO'Donovan
supposes, the vast majority of such places,
called, Clon, in Ireland, were formerly bog
islands.
=9 The words in his Life are—"vocem
parish is described on the
vey Townland Maps for the County of
Down. " Sheets i, 2, 3, 5, 6. The deno- rum," tomus iii. , Februarii xvii. Vita S. minations of Bangor Bog and Bangor town Fintani, cap. ii. , num. 16, p. 19.
Fintano
num. 15, p. 19.
""^
Vita,
&c. , cap. ii. ,
Presbytero.
Bangor and Islands form a large parish, partly in the barony of Lower Ards, and partly in that of Lower Castlereagh. This
"
another instance, regarding the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of Mass, by our ancestors in the Faith, and in the early ages of our Irish
Ordnance Sur-
Church.
3o gee the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
presbyteri sacrificium offerentis"
February 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 587
divulged. Among the rest, a man, whose son was afflicted with paralysis, and, in a wretched condition, came to him. Prostrating himself, at the feet of Fintan, that man asked in God's name, that his son might be healed. Then, St. Fintan extended his hands in prayer. Through the favour of
Heaven, that paralytic arose in perfect health, praising and blessing the source of all good, in presence of all there assembled. ^ It was customary
with our abbot, to rise during night, and to devote many an hour to prayer,
when passing out, for this purpose, to the adjoining cemetery. While thus engaged, one of his monks, desiring to see the saint at his orisons, sought him in vain for some time. At last, going into the graveyard, although the
night was very dark, he beheld a bright light, surrounding the holy abbot, whom he regarded for some time, at a distance. On the following day, he received a reproof from St. Fintan, who warned him not to intrude, for the future, on his private devotions. ^
Colman,3 King of Northern Leinster, held in captivity Cormac, son to Diermad, King of Hua-Kinsellagh, whom he intended putting to death. 4 Hearing of this, and being desirous to liberate the young prince, Fintan took with him twelve disciples. These proceeded towards that place, where Colman lived. It was denominated Rathmore. 5 This cruel prince, hearing
of our saint's approach, and suspecting his intention, gave his retainers an order to guard carefully his captive, and to exclude God's servant from his
castle.
But, when the saint arrived, all its gates were miraculously opened, and even the door of that very prison, in which Cormac had been confined ; the chains also fell from the captive's limbs, to the great alarm of his guards. These hastened to their king, whom they aroused from sleep. They told him, at the same time, what had occurred. Colman was in turn alarmed, and, he asked the advice of his friends, as to what should be done. He was counselled, to grant whatever Fintan might desire, lest he might incur the displeasure of God, who wrought such wonders through his saint.
Colman fell
hastening
upon, St. Fintan said,
before
him, saying :
Fintan,
prostrate
Hereupon, " It becomes
I, therefore,
Child of Satan, thou shalt be slain in a short time \
to
us, O saint, to honour thee, Avhom the Lord hath magnified : releasehim,whomyouseek,andallwhoareinbondagewithhim. " Giving his benediction to the king, Fintan prepared to depart with Cormac, the liberated prince. Afterwards, a multitude of soldiers were encountered on theway. Amongthesewasamanofroyallineage,whodesiredCormac's death,buthewasdissuadedfromthispurpose,byhiscompanions. Here-
"
Chapter hi. —* See the Bollandists' is numbered among the Leinster kings, as
•*
Acta Sanctorum," tomus iii. , Februarii Colgan was enabled to assert, from an ex- xvii. Vita S. Fintani, cap. iii. , num. 17, amination of various catalogues, enumerat.
ing the monarchs of this province. These
were in his possession,
s There are many places bearing this
name, in the territory around Clonenagh.
It would not be an easy matter to identify Colgan, Colman is called Colum. He was the exact place, to which allusion is here
p. 19-
^ **
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani, cap. xvii. , p. 352.
not an immediate descendant of Cormac, as stated in this Life ; but, rather a grand- son, and a son to Corbre or Cairbre. His death is thus recorded, at the year 576, in O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Mas-
*'
ters," vol. i. , pp. 208, 209,
of Cairbre, King of Leinster, died at Sliabh- Mairge. " Hence, we are enabled to dis- cover, that St. Fintan flourished, before
that year.
_
3 In the Life of St. Fintan, published by
*
Neither Cormac, nor his father Diermad,
May.
Colman, son
made; but, it does not appear, probable, that the site must be sought for near St.
Fintan'smonastery. Itwasprobablysome considerable distance from it.
^Colgan supposes, he might have been that saint, whose feast is celebrated, on the 7th—or rather the I ith—of May, at Achad Finnich, in Leinster. Ibid. There are some notices of this Cormac, son to Dier- mad, in St. Comgall's Life, at the loth of
588 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February17.
and, he whom thou desirest to slay, shall long rule over his kingdom, and shall end his life in the practice of good works. " Before a month had passed, that chieftain was slain. As had been predicted, the prince Cormac^ ruled over Hua Kinsellagh territory. 7 Having relinquished the sceptre, in more advanced years, he became a recluse, under St. Comgall, in Bangor Monastery. There,too,heendedaholylife. ^
On another occasion, whilst our saint was travelling along the plains of Liffey, a respectable and pious man, named Fergna,^ son to Cobhtach, met him. The saint, immediately alighted from his chariot, and bent his knee beforeFergna. ^° Fullofhumility,thelatterasked,withacertainconfusionof
"
demeanour, why a sinner had been so honoured. Fintan answered,
Unless
I had seen thee, amongst angelic choirs, in Heaven, and upon earth, I would never have acted after this manner. But, I entreat of thee, that thou wilt quickly abandon this world's pleasures and assume the religious habit. " Fergna replied, that he had twelve sons" and seven daughters," a virtuous and a beloved wife, together with a people devoted to him ;^3 all of wliich ties united, he could not break. " Return to thy house," said Fintan, who
*'
had a supernatural intuition of what should take place, and I will prosecute
this journey ; but, on my return, I must visit thee. " From the moment of this interview, Fergna found his heart powerfully moved to abandon those
pleasures he had formerly enjoyed with such relish, so that day and night he anxiously looked for Fintan's return. After a delay of two weeks, the latter called at his friend's house. Leaving all his possessions, Fergna became a disciple of our saint, and assumed the religious habit. '-^ He afterwards happily departed to a better life. 's
At another time, when Fintan was sojourning among the people of Idrone,^^
7 In St. Fintan's Life, we read, that by St. ^ngus the Culdee, in the first part Cormac, son to Diermad, lived a long time of his "Opuscula," lib. 2, cap. 18.
in the kingdom of Leinster. By this we " In the " Book of the Island" it is said, are to understand, that he ruled in the that Fergna had twelve daughters. ^Engus
southern of part
or in Kinsel- Hy
the in his " Culdee,
lib.
Leinster,
lagh ; as in a previous portion of the text, his father is called king over that part of
Ireland.
cap. xviii. , p. 352, and nn. 18, 19, p. 354.
Opuscula,"
and lib. 3, cap. 6, speaks of Fergna's several
sons and daughters, who were numbered
amongthesaints; andtheMartyrologiesof
Tallagh, of Marianus Gorman and of Done- niK," xvii. Februarii. Vita S. Fintani, gal state, that . the festival of Fergna's
^ **
See Colgan's Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
daughters was celebrated on the 7th of
these Calendars do not de- clare the number or names of these saints ; nor was Colgan able to discover, whether they were sons and daughters to this, or to It seems probable, to Colgan, that some other Fergna ; although, he thought, it probable, they were children to this holy
man, mentioned in the Life of St. Fintan.
"
whom Fintan saw amongst angelic choirs, both on earth and in Heaven, was a relative to our saint, and
5' This
Feargna,
January, But,
belonging to the family of St. Brigid. '°
Fergna was numbered among the Irish Saints ; his festival might be that one,
*3 See Colgan's This Fergna, beyond all doubt, had pendix, cap. i. , p. 46.
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
of Marianus Gorman, at the l8th of Sep- ni? e," xvii. Februarii, nn. 20, 21, p. 354.
tember, or at the I ith of October. Also, ix. Januarii. Vita S. Finani. Ap-
placed by the Martyrologies of Tallagh and
"
one sainted son, who was called P'inanus. His descent is thus traced by the " Sanc- tilogic Genealogy," at cap. 15 : "S. Finanus was son of Fergna, son to Cobhthac, son of Muredach, son to Lasre, son of Darius, son of Dercan, son to Denius, son of Conla, son to Artcurb, son of Carbre surnamed Niadh. This St P'inan is mentioned by the Martyr- ologyofTallagh,bytheSchohastofvEngus, and by Marianus Gorman, at the 9th of Jan- uary, as also at the 13th of February, Like- wise, a Colman. son to Fergna, is mentioned,
'* See ibid,, xvii. Februarii. Vita S.
Fintani, cap. xix. , p, 352.
'S See the Bollandists' ** Acta Sancto-
rum," tomus iii. , Februarii xvii. Vita S. P'intani, cap, iii,, num. 18, 19, 20, 21, pp.
19, 20. — "^ The people of this territory
compris- ing the present barony of Idrone, and that part of Kildare and Leighlin diocese, on
the west side of the Barrow—are so called, because they are derived from Drona, the fourth in descent from Cathaeir Mor. See
2, cap. 6,
February 17. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 589
at Achad-Finglass Monastery,^? on the eastern side of the River Barrow/^ and near Leighlin city, '9 a certain humble and holy bishop, named Brandubh,
from Hy-Kinsellagh,=^° came to him, and proposed becoming a monk under his rule. Fintan, who rejoiced at the arrival of this prelate, advised him rather to enter Achad-Finglass Monastery, where the rule was less strict than at Clonenagh. =^^ In the Salamancan MS. of our saint's Life, Ardglais is sub- stituted for Achadh-Finglaiss. It has been thought, that Achadh-arglais was situated not far from Sletty church, in Lefnster. ^ But, Achadh-arglais, or Achadh-Fuinglass, has been more correctly identified with Agha,'3 a town-
Door of Agha Old Church, County Carlow.
land, containing the ruins of a very ancient church, in the barony of Idrone East, and in the county of Carlow. It is about four miles to the east of old
Leighlin. ^4 The length of the old church interiorly is 45 >^ feet, and its breadth is 15}^ feet. In the east gable, about 5 feet from the ground, there
Dr, O'Donovan's " Leabhar na g-Ceart ; or the Book of Rights," ii. (k), p. 212.
^^ Archdall incorrectly makes St. Fintan
p. 230.
=0 In the old Life of St. Fintan, this is
said to have been the more celebrated part of Leinster.
=^ This shows, that both places could not have belonged to the same abbot ; as the discipline and rules were different.
"See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernix," xvii. Februarii, n. 23, p. 354.
23 The townland and parish of Agha, in in the barony of Idrone East, are shown on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for
abbot over this place. See Hibernicum," p. 35.
"
Monasticon
'8 In the published Life of St. Fintan, we read, that Achadh-Finglaiss was situated " contra civitatem Lethghleann, in oriental! parte fluminis Bearuo,"
'9 Following a conjecture of Colgan, Dr. Lanigan thinl^s Achad Finglass was more
probably, in that part of Idrone, county of Carlow, west, rather than east, of the Bar- row. Se "Ecclesiastical History of Ire- land, "vo. ii. , chap, xii. , sect, xi. , n. 168,
the County of Carlow. " Sheets 12, 16. "
24 See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters," vol. ii. , n. (f ), p. 789-
590 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS [February17.
is a window, with a semicircular arch of chiselled granite stones, at the top, tothespringofwhich,thewindowis5feetinheight. Thearchis3feet,in addition, to the upper key-stone. The sides and arch are built with granite
Another curious win—dow is in the south side wall.
in the
accompanying large lintel crosses the doorway, and it reaches nearly the whole thickness of the wall. =*^ By in- dents seen, in the stones at the south side, it must appear, there were strong fastenings used in closing the door. ='7 As the ancient church was built on ground, declining in a western direction, the side walls were extended farther thanthewestgable,tosupportthestructure. Thesidewallsappeartoretain their original height, and these rise about 1 1 feet 9 inches, in this old church of the twelfth century. ^^^ The courses of masonry are very curiously arranged ; but, the walls are exceedingly well grouted. The top of the west gable is
down, and the walls of this church are nearly 3 feet in thickness.
At this interview with Fintan, it was urged by Bishop Brandubh,=9 on St.
Fintan " have I ruled over and now under the rule of : Hitherto, others,
another, I wish to resign my soul to God. I here present myself to the Lord and to thee ; whatsoever, therefore, thou shalt say to me, I shall will-
ingly observe ; yet, this request alone I ask, that I may not long survive, it thou depart from this life before me, but that thou wilt speedily come to me and receive my soul. " St. Fintan promised him, that God would be pleased to approve his request. Our saint survived this promise, for three years, and his prophecy was miraculously fulfilled. 3°
The people of the neighbourhood yet believe, that a famous school existed at Clonenagh, in St. Fintan's time. It is very certain, that after his
decease, this seminary flourished, and that it produced scholars of the most profound learning and of the highest culture. Among the missing or lost books of ancient Erinn, the " Book of Cluain Eidhneach," in Leix, is specially
enumerated ;3^ and, according to a popular tradition, this had been written
stones, of unequal size.
In the west— is the gable
quadrangulardoorway figured engraving^s and which has inclined sides. At the top,
a
^s Copied from the large folio drawings of George V. DuNoyer, contained in the Royal Irish Academy's Library, vol. iv. , No. 40. It has been reduced from the drawing, and engraved very accurately by Mr. Gregor Grey, of Dublin.
"
rum," tomus iii. , Februarii xvii. Vita S.
Fintani, cap. iv. , num. 22, p. 20.
