41
Its depth varies with the unevenness of
the stone, being six inches in the deepest with this Bishop ; but, his Festival is cele-
Ordnance of Survey
the son of is said to Lenin,
vol.
Its depth varies with the unevenness of
the stone, being six inches in the deepest with this Bishop ; but, his Festival is cele-
Ordnance of Survey
the son of is said to Lenin,
vol.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
" Additional Notes, Note A, p.
[28,
202 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 6. named Mongfinn—rendered "Lady of fair Tresses "^—daughter of Kirdub-
ofdieCenneann 16 to attributedTreatiseI7 on family, according Angus'
han,
the Mothers of Irish Saints, in the seventy-fifth paragraph. ?
from this
most probable, that Jarlath was born it is said atTuam
to be
black and swarthy. " 10
:
" The special sept of the
same writer adds
Kenneans in the sixth century in the terri- tory known in after limes as County Galway, was deemed illustrious, and amongst the nobles of the period. It is quite natural to
youthful Jarlath, and others, became his dis- ciples and pupils, and in due time, Jarlath was raised to the dignity of priest, abbot, and bishop. These promotions of Jarlath required time, and must be considered not alone in relation to the youth of Clonmacne, but also to St. Benignus himself, who after- wards succeeded in due course the Apostle Patrick as Primate of All Ireland in the See
think, that some of the descendants of this '
sept adopted Kinnean,' as a family name. It is a well-known and not uncommon sur-
name in County Galway to this day. In like '
18 1
While some writers are of opinion, that Jarlath had come into the world so early as a. d. 425,*° others place his birth at a somewhat later period, while the learned Irish ecclesiastical historian, Dr. Lanigan, thinks it quite irrecon- cilable with his computation to suppose, that Jarlath was born at, or before, a. d. 438. Yet, almost every circumstance related, in connection with his life, tends to confirm us in the impression, that his birth cannot be far removed,
From all concurrent—
year. testimonies, however, thought
—it is
in the earlier part of the fifth century, and even that he flourished towards its close. Yet, one
speaking natives, long, thick, flowing hair. Mong is applied to one who has abundant
flowing hair, commonly applied to the hair flowing from the mane of a horse, or the mane itself. From the second part of the
'
name 'fionn,' which signifies 'fair in contra-
about the year A. D. 425, that is seven years before St. Patrick came as Bishop to preach the faith of Christ to the Irish. We shall further on show fully how this opinion has been arrived at. A few words here will suffice for the present. In about the year A. D. 443, the Apostle Patrick came to Kil- binin,nearTuam. Hewasaccompaniedby St. Benin, who baptized Jarlath, and his father and and the cousins
distinction to black or red, one is made aware that she was of the Milesian stock, and not one of the common people of Connacht, at that time the '
who were, as a race, In that communication just cited, the
mother, boy's german. Benignus was appointed Bishop of the district around Kilbinin, and the
Firbolg,'
manner the Kioiduban,' or Kinvan, may of Armagh even while the great Apostle
have been adopted by those known to this hour as Kirwan. There are names, for in- stance, that of Lynch, which are at the same time Milesian or native, and also foreign. The name can be traced to one of two dis- tinct surnames. The same may be said of the Kirwan family—that all the branches of that distinguished race did not come from one of the Galway tribes, but that Kirduban, father of Mongrinnia, may have had his patronymic adop:ed in the twelfth century by some of his descendants. "
17 The present writer has a copy of this
Tract Transcribed from the Leabhar Lecain,
an ancient Manuscript belonging to the Royal
Irish Acaoemy. In it is the following para-
graph : inomjpirvo mgen Cirvoubam t>o Clioneb Chmeiro niAcen lanLacln CIuiaivia
•oa ^uaIauo.
18 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nian,' xi. Febiuarii. Vita S. Hierlatii, cap.
i. ,p. 308.
*» There he states, that Mongrinnia was
"
the daughter of Kirdubhan,
neann," and that she was "mater S. Hie—r- latii lilii Logse de Tuaim da gualann. "
Ibid. , n. 5, p. 310.
20 Thus writes the Very Rev. Canon Ulick
himself was still alive. These points fully considered will lead one to the conclusion that Jarlath must have been at least seven years when Patrick, Bi>hop, receive! the apostolic authority from Pope St. Celes- tiue, to preach the Faith of Christ to the Irish. "
21
Thus writes, Very Rev. Ulick J Canon Bourke, in the article already quoted : " Now Jarlath's father must have lived near Tuam, which was not then a town, but a collection of a few huts anil houses, and amongst them the chieftain's residence ; for he is styled Louis of Tuaim, as if it had been said that Tuam was his dwelling-place. This opinion has been formed from the words in Father John Colgan's narrative re- garding the saint's father and mother : 'Mater Sancti Jarlathi filii Logha de Tuaim da uarleann. ' that is, mother of ]arlath, son of Louis of Tuam da-uarleann. Hence, one
can infer that Louis, with his family, dwelt '
de stirpe Cen-
J. Bourke: "The child Jarlath was born on the lands belonging to his tribe, at
21
at Tuam, and that
claim the honour to have been the birth- place of Jarlath, his son. This view is con- firmed by the fact that in after life, when Jarlath was consecrated Abbot and first Bishop of that territory, he erected a church
consequently
' Tuam can
June 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 203
of our most learned historians seems to have arrived at the conclusion, that our saint was probably born, about the commencement of the sixth century. In the supposition, that Jarlath received Holy Orders from St. Benignus, we
should admit, that he was born at the latest,' in 438, according to a conjecture
of Rev. Dr. 22 As Lanigan.
Jarlath
was a native of Conmacne, in the
opinion
of that historian,^ it was thought not wrong, to throw him into the num-
ber of the disciples of St. Benignus. But, granting St. Jarlath had attained
his twentieth year, and that St. Benignus died, shortly after this installation ;
we shall endeavour to make it appear, that all succeeding events of our holy
bishop's life are perfectly reconcilable, with such a supposition. TheearlytrainingofSt. Jarlathis saidtohavebeenunderaholyman,named
2 He Benignus. *
2?
is thought to have been the successor of St. Patrick,
as this
Benignus
Jarlath belonged to the Second Class of Irish Saints, who did not become
2
distinguished until about 540, it has been assumed, ? likewise, that the idea
of our saint having been his disciple is purely gratuitous. Yet, it is expressly asserted, in the Life of that holy man, that besides others, St. Jarlath, son of Loga, received literary instruction and was first initiated to the rudiments of
See of
Armagh. Now,
26 died, in the 468, and as year
literature through his care.
28
It is stated, that Benignus promoted our saint
to Holy Orders, with his cousin Callian, and afterwards, he is said to have
consecrated their churches. 29 There is nothing more usual, however, nor at
the same time more perplexing, in many of the acts of our saints, than their
authors making them either masters or pupils of certain eminent men, despite
the clearest chronological data. All of those actions, previously related, must
have taken place, before the year 468, when the death of Benignus, Prelate
of Armagh, took placed It has been contended, 3 1 that our saint must have
been at least thirty years of age when ordained, and before he was appointed
to the charge of a congregation. To this it may be replied, that at a much
later period, in the Irish Church, and when in all likelihood, a demand for
ministerial labour was not so urgent, St. Malachy O'Morgair received Priest's
orders in the twenty-fifth year of his age, and almost immediately afterwards,
he appears to have been called upon to discharge important trusts in the
2
church. 3
No sooner had St. Jarlath been released from the supervision of his
former master, than he appears to have returned to his own country; where having selected a site for the erection of a monastery, in Conmacnie, he
'
Cluain-fois,'ortheretreatofrest,ormea-
dow of rest, situated about two statute miles
south-west from—the present town of Tuam.
The old c—hurch the only remnant of the nise," xi. Februarii. Vita S. Hierlatii,
monastery is to be seen to this day. " cap. ii. , p. 308. 22 °
However, he deems the statement to
chap, x, sect, ix. , n. 137, p. 42.
43 See ibid.
24 It seems to be a matter of doubt, as to
whether or not, his identity can be exactly ascertained,
25 See his Life, in the Third Volume of this work, at the 17th of March, Art. i.
26
His festival occurs, at the 9th of Novem- ber.
3 At a. d. cccclxviii. , Ussher writes:
Chronologicus, p. 522.
3I By Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
32 See his Life, already separately pub- lished by the author, and also to be found re- vised, at the 3rd of November.
33 Colgan tells us, that this church, in his day, became a chapel, not far from Tuam, and belonging to the Cathedral Parish, ac- cording to a Catalogue of Churches in the
have been a and built fable,
" Acta Benignus Episcopus (qui
its
been recorded, that Benignus had preached in Conmacne, and in other parts of the west- See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sect, i. , and accompanying notes, pp 374 to 377, and ibid. , vol. ii. ,
Patriciiadhuc viventis scripsisse dicitur) mortuus est ; et lit alii quidem volunt, Glastoniae, ut alii Arm ichias sepultus est: (p. 426, 448, 455), quanquam Annales Inisfallenses Romse mor- tuum eum fuisse notent. "—" Britannicarum Ecclesiaium Antiquitates. " See Index
27
By Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
upon
having
28 "
See EcclesiasticalHistoryofIreland,"
vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, ix. , n. 137, p. 42.
29 See Colgan's
<:
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
in the
204
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 6.
built one at a place, called Cluainfois,33 not far from Tuam. 34 Here, in due courseoftime,aschoolwasattachedtotheMonastery. 35 Cluainfoisisnow thenameofatownland, Cloonfush 6 inthenorlhendofthis
Anglicized ? and,
townland, a short distance from the river of Clare, to the east, is remaining a
portionofanoldchurch,calledTeampulJarlaithe;37 atwhichchildrenwere lately interred, although the place around, at present, does not present the appearance of a burial-place. 3s The west gable remained, in 1838, being then three yards broad and retaining nearly its original height. The actual height was then between nine and ten feet ; while two yards of the length, on
Cluainfois, near Tuam, County of Gahvay.
the north side wall, attached to this gable, were standing. Its highest part was then about 7! feet. The west gable appeared to have had a window or
opening, on or near, its top. The original length of the building inside, so far as was definable by the foundation, which could then be traced, was 13
Tuam Diocese, which thus names it :
part of the territory designated Ui Dpiuin
" Capella
de Cluainfois in in the same parochia SeaLa,
Tuamensi.
"
"
Acta Sanctorum Hibeinias," xi. Februarii,
"
country.
35 See Rev. M. J. Brenan's "Ecclesiasti-
cal History of Ireland," Sixth Century,
chap. ii. . p. 74.
3° It is bounded on the north, by the
Parishes of Belclare and Kilhannon ; on the south and west by the Parish of Killoir, and by the townland of Kilmore ; and on the east, by Killaloonty townland.
Fos has the Latin signification, commoratio," and Cluainfois is Latinized, "recessuscommorationis. " Thus, it appears to
have been named, from the circumstance of
our saint having dwelt there with his disci-
ples, before he removed to Tuam. See
n. 10, p. 310.
34 In Irish the place is cUiaui £oir\
Although in the Acls of St. Jarlatli, as pub-
lished by Colgan, it is said that Cluainfois is
situated in the territory of Conmacnie ; yet,
in Mr. O'Donovan's Ancient Map of Gahvay,
it is placed a little to the south of ConinAicne William F. Wakeman, and it was engraved CineiL Dublin territory, and in the northern by Mrs. Millard.
37 In Irish CeampaLl, lA]\l<Mr;e, and in Latin Templum S. Jarlaithe.
i8 The accompanying illustration is from a sketch made by the writer on the spot. This has been transferred to the wood, by
June 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
yards, by 4 yards. 39 The cement was composed of lime and sand—.
°
distance of 6 or 7 yards from the south-east corner lies a stone 4
circular cavity nearly central in it, which is about one foot in diameter, and which narrows gradually to the bottom, where it does not exceed three inches in diameter. 41
Over the monastery and school at Cluainfois, our saint presided, with
a great reputation for piety and learning. Among other disciples, who placed themselves under St. Jarlath's direction, was the celebrated St.
Brendan of Clonfert. 42 He was a pupil, about the beginning of the sixth century, when Jarlath had already become old and infirm. This could hardly be said of our saint, if he were not at least approaching the seventieth year of his age. On his way to St. Jarlath, Brendan is said to have met with Colman44 sonofLenin,whomheinducedtoquitthepursuitofworldlythings. 45 There is no reason, why we should suppose Colman,46 to be otherwise than a very young man, at this time, and if at all, little older than Brendan. Now, as Colman afterwards became a disciple of St. Jarlath, and died in the year 600, accordingtotheAnnalsoftheFourMasters,4? butaccordingtoColgan,48 and according to Ware, in the year 604 4? Dr. Lanigan asserts, that it is
being a grown man,50 when frequenting this school. 51 Jarlath must have flourished in the year 500, 52 it is supposed, if Brendan, in youth, had been his scholar. The period, when our saint flourished, has been more generally assigned to the middle of the sixth century. However this maybe, St. Jarlath ofTuamisreckonedamongIrishSaintsoftheSecondClass; andaccordingly, it is assumed, he began to be distinguished after the year 540. This is the
;
unlikely he was St. Jarlath's pupil, before the middle of the sixth century, he
39 When the writer of this place visited Cluain-fois, in i860, only a small fragment of this ruin surmounted the lonely graveyard, where the old establishment had been erected.
40 This stone it is said, was originally a holy water font ; and people, who go on the occasion of attending a child's funeral to the place, sninkled themselves with the water found in it. The common phrase was, that they blessed themselves with it. See the "Letters containing Information relative to the County of Galway, belonging to the
September 3rd, 1838.
41
Its depth varies with the unevenness of
the stone, being six inches in the deepest with this Bishop ; but, his Festival is cele-
Ordnance of Survey
the son of is said to Lenin,
vol.
45. Thomas O'Conor's Letter, dated Tuam,
Coleman,
1838,"
i. , pp. 44,
part, and gradually lessening on another side to two or three inches.
42 His feast is celebrated, on the 16th of May, and his Life will be found in the Fifth Volume of this work, at that date. Art. i.
43 These circumstances are alluded to in
the Life of St. Brendan of Clonfert, to be
found at the 16th of May, in the Fifth
Volume of this work, Art. i.
44
If it be true that St. Colman studied under Jarlath, we must bring down that school to, at least, 550, the year in which Ware says that Jarlath flourished. See " De ScnptoribusHibernise," lib. L, cap. ii. ,p. 11.
*i SeeColgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nice,"xi. Februarii. Vita S. Hierlatii, cap. iii. , pp. 308, 309.
—brated at Cloyne, on the 24th of November. "
Harris of vol. Ware, "Bishops Cloyne,"
46 He is surnamed Mitine, also, and he is the reputed founder of Cloyne. See Rev. M. J. Brenan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," Sixth Century, chap, ii. , pp. 74- 75-
the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 222 to 225, and n. (d).
48 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niie," viii. Martii, n. 15, p. 339 {recle) 535.
49 Ware places his death at this year, and on the 4th of November, through inadver-
"' See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of
tence.
" One
have written the Life of St. Senan in Metre, and to have died in the year 600. I will not be positive whether he was the same person
Hence, Harris' conjecture is correct :
i- PP- 573.
50 The assertion, that Colman could not
have been a grown up man, commenc- ing the sixth century, and have afterwards
lived to its close, may admit of question. The age which he attained is not known ; but, if we are willing to allow, in the absence of positive testimony, that he reached the age of one hundred and ten or twelve years, the account of his being Jarlath's scholar could not be fairly controverted.
574-.
51 See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. 7, p. 29, and ibid. , n. 99. P- 32-
52 See Ussher's " Index Chronologicus.
53 See Rev. P. J. Carew's "Ecclesiastical
205
At the
having a
2o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 6.
period, to which his episcopacy over the See of Tuam has been ascribed, by various writers. 53 Moreover, Sir James Ware states, that he flourished, in the
as his Latin has it 55 it seemsto original ; and, this,
to be a
us,
year 550,54
very probable computation.
55
CHAPTER II.
THE PLACE OF ST. JARLATH's FUTURE REST INDICATED BY ST. BRENDAN—THE HOLY
MAN DEPARTS FOR TUAM—HE BECOMES ITS FIRST BISHOP—
HIS SANCTITY AND SPIRIT OF PROPHECY—PERIOD OF HIS DEATH—FESTIVALS—ANTIQUITIES AT TUAM —VENERATION OF THE PEOPLE THERE AND THROUGHOUT THE DIOCESE FOR
THEIR PATRON—CONCLUSION.
The situation of St. Jarlath's religious establishment was beside the Clare
River, which rises in the southern parts of Mayo County, flowing southwardly until it falls into Lough Corrib. Such was the humility of St. Jarlath, that he
wished to become, at Cluain-fois, a disciple rather than the master of Brendan, for whose sanctity and gilts of prophecy, he entertained an extraordinary veneration. Already, it is said, that St. Benignus, the disciple and companion of St. Patrick, became the first Apostle of all that country, extending from Dunmoreto 1 and
that,
aboutthe
Kilbannon, or Killbenin. " the Church of Benin," situated about two miles
Cong,
year 440
north-west of Tuam. 2 desirous of Being
when it should God please
knowing,
to call him away, from the prison of this body ; our saint requested his scholar
Brendan, to indicate the place of his resurrection. Brendan desired him to ascend his chariot, he being then old and infirm ;3 and, wherever it might break down on the way, there Jarlath should depart this life, and thence also, he declared, that many would arise with him, on the day of General Judg- ment. Our saint obeyed these directions. * He had not proceeded far, from thatplace,whenthewheelsofhischariotaresaidtohavebeenbroken,5 at Tuam 6 This
which must have occurred in the
ning of the sixth century, gave occasion to* erecting a church, on that spot.
in
Dagualand.
incident,
begin-
History of Ireland," Appendix, p. 420.
54 The — translation of Harris English places
him at 540 probably this is an error of the
5 Tradition pointed out that spot, in John
press.
55 See "De
in Shop-street, Tuam, in 1838. It was called the Chair of Tuam, in which sat after his
Scriptoribus Hibernise," elevation,
the member
formerly
returned to
lib.
Chapter ii. See an account of this
Parliament
by Tuam,
See
ii. , —II. i. , cap. p.
borough.
*
place, with woodcut illustrations of its ruins,
the Antiquities of the County of Galway, Handbook of the Midland Great collected during the Progress of the Ord- Western Railway and Guide to Connemara nance Survey in 1838," vol. i. Thomas
"
and the West of Ireland," pp. 61 to 64. Dublin, no date, l2mo.
" 'See Very Rev. Ulick J. Canon Bourke's
Life and Times of the Most Rev. John
MacHale, Archbishop of Tuam and Metro-
politan," chap, xxi. , p. 202. Dublin, 1882, l8mo.
3 " Erat enim Episcopus, et senex ante- —quam Ecclesia Tuamensis esset exstructa. "
Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," for 'da uladhain,' or 'da lilainn,' »>. ,
xi. Februarii. Vita S.
Hierlatii,
n.
16,
" Mound of the two altar tombs. " Tuaim being prefixed. See "Life and Times of Most Rev. John MacIIale, Archbishop of
p. 310.
4 See #*</. , cap. i\\, p. 309.
Costello's
who was a merchant garden, living
to hebuiltachurchat 444,
as a
"Letters containing Information relative to
O'Conor's Letter, dated Tuam, September 3rd, 1838, p. 31.
6 The signification of CuAmTOAJu aLahi, is not locally explained. It has been rendered
"mound of the two shoulders,' by Very Rev. Ulick J. Canon Bourke, who admits this to have no special meaning. It is his opinion, that such form has been substituted for 'da ualann,' another phonetic attempt
June 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 207 Over it, St. Jarlath afterwards presided as Bishop ;i but, it must be added,
8
that great obscurity involves the period of his consecration and installation. Whether St. Jarlath was consecrated before, or after the foundation, of Tuam church ° is unknown. St. Benignus is said to have blessed this church. 10 The boundaries of Tuam Parish are now of very irregular outline. 11 The present parish of Tuam was heretofore divided into two parishes, one of which was called
"the ofthe parish
shrine,"
12 from
1
Teampall
naSerine. 13 Theother was part
known as St. Jarlath's Parish, * while its church was called the Temple of St.
Jarlath. 15 The former was the eastern part of the present parish, and the
latterthewestern 16 Tuamafterwardsbecamean
of
archbishops,
dune or Annaghdown was annexed to it; while, in 1559, the bishopric of Mayo was also united. 10 It is certain, St. Jarlath was the first bishop over the See of Tuam ; but, whether he had been consecrated, so early as a. d.
2° well be the exercise of his func- 455, may questioned. During episcopal
tions, Jarlath continued his former practices of penitential works and constant
21
Notwithstanding his great age and growing infirmities, he suffered no day to elapse, without making three hundred pious genuflections, and as
portion. andthechurchfoundedtherewasdedicatedinthenameofSt.
1? The See of Tuam is said to have been founded, about the beginning of the sixth century. Its prelates are sometimes called by the Irish annalists, bishops, or
prayer.
many during each night.
22
St. Jarlath was said, also, to have been distin-
Connaught.
18 In the the ancient See of Enach- year 1324,
Tuam and Metropolitan," chap, xxx,, pp. 207. 208.
^ It is somewhat remarkable, that after St.
Patrick, Benin, son of Seisgnen, succeeded
in the See of Armagh, and died a. d. 467,
when St. Jarlaithe, son of Treana immedi-
ately followed, and died A. D. 481. See Rev.
Robert " Memoir to the King's introductory
cap. v. , p. 309.
I "Some writers place it so early as A. D. 18 See James Godkin's " Ireland and
501. See Hely Dution's "Statistical and her Churches," part second, chap, xxx. ,
Early History of the Primacy of Armagh/' p.
68. We fear there may be some confusion
between the holy men thus named, in con-
nection with Armagh, and those similarly ni. e," xi. Februarii. Vita S. Hierlatii, named as connected with Tuam.
Agricultural Survey of the County of P- 363-
"
Galway," chap, v. , sect, xxv. , p. 479.
9 On the authority of Conry, Archdall states, that an Abbey was founded here, and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, so early as A. D. 487, and that St. Jarlath con- verted it into a Cathedral Church, in the
19 See Hely Dutton's
Statistical and
beginning of the sixth century. See " Life and Times of the Most Rev. John
" Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 297.
Mac Hale, Archbishop of Tuam and Metro-
politan," chap, xxi. , p. 205.
21 See "Acta Sanctorum "Colgan's
Hibernia;," xi. Februarii. Vita S. Hierlatii, cap. vi. , p. 309.
202 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 6. named Mongfinn—rendered "Lady of fair Tresses "^—daughter of Kirdub-
ofdieCenneann 16 to attributedTreatiseI7 on family, according Angus'
han,
the Mothers of Irish Saints, in the seventy-fifth paragraph. ?
from this
most probable, that Jarlath was born it is said atTuam
to be
black and swarthy. " 10
:
" The special sept of the
same writer adds
Kenneans in the sixth century in the terri- tory known in after limes as County Galway, was deemed illustrious, and amongst the nobles of the period. It is quite natural to
youthful Jarlath, and others, became his dis- ciples and pupils, and in due time, Jarlath was raised to the dignity of priest, abbot, and bishop. These promotions of Jarlath required time, and must be considered not alone in relation to the youth of Clonmacne, but also to St. Benignus himself, who after- wards succeeded in due course the Apostle Patrick as Primate of All Ireland in the See
think, that some of the descendants of this '
sept adopted Kinnean,' as a family name. It is a well-known and not uncommon sur-
name in County Galway to this day. In like '
18 1
While some writers are of opinion, that Jarlath had come into the world so early as a. d. 425,*° others place his birth at a somewhat later period, while the learned Irish ecclesiastical historian, Dr. Lanigan, thinks it quite irrecon- cilable with his computation to suppose, that Jarlath was born at, or before, a. d. 438. Yet, almost every circumstance related, in connection with his life, tends to confirm us in the impression, that his birth cannot be far removed,
From all concurrent—
year. testimonies, however, thought
—it is
in the earlier part of the fifth century, and even that he flourished towards its close. Yet, one
speaking natives, long, thick, flowing hair. Mong is applied to one who has abundant
flowing hair, commonly applied to the hair flowing from the mane of a horse, or the mane itself. From the second part of the
'
name 'fionn,' which signifies 'fair in contra-
about the year A. D. 425, that is seven years before St. Patrick came as Bishop to preach the faith of Christ to the Irish. We shall further on show fully how this opinion has been arrived at. A few words here will suffice for the present. In about the year A. D. 443, the Apostle Patrick came to Kil- binin,nearTuam. Hewasaccompaniedby St. Benin, who baptized Jarlath, and his father and and the cousins
distinction to black or red, one is made aware that she was of the Milesian stock, and not one of the common people of Connacht, at that time the '
who were, as a race, In that communication just cited, the
mother, boy's german. Benignus was appointed Bishop of the district around Kilbinin, and the
Firbolg,'
manner the Kioiduban,' or Kinvan, may of Armagh even while the great Apostle
have been adopted by those known to this hour as Kirwan. There are names, for in- stance, that of Lynch, which are at the same time Milesian or native, and also foreign. The name can be traced to one of two dis- tinct surnames. The same may be said of the Kirwan family—that all the branches of that distinguished race did not come from one of the Galway tribes, but that Kirduban, father of Mongrinnia, may have had his patronymic adop:ed in the twelfth century by some of his descendants. "
17 The present writer has a copy of this
Tract Transcribed from the Leabhar Lecain,
an ancient Manuscript belonging to the Royal
Irish Acaoemy. In it is the following para-
graph : inomjpirvo mgen Cirvoubam t>o Clioneb Chmeiro niAcen lanLacln CIuiaivia
•oa ^uaIauo.
18 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nian,' xi. Febiuarii. Vita S. Hierlatii, cap.
i. ,p. 308.
*» There he states, that Mongrinnia was
"
the daughter of Kirdubhan,
neann," and that she was "mater S. Hie—r- latii lilii Logse de Tuaim da gualann. "
Ibid. , n. 5, p. 310.
20 Thus writes the Very Rev. Canon Ulick
himself was still alive. These points fully considered will lead one to the conclusion that Jarlath must have been at least seven years when Patrick, Bi>hop, receive! the apostolic authority from Pope St. Celes- tiue, to preach the Faith of Christ to the Irish. "
21
Thus writes, Very Rev. Ulick J Canon Bourke, in the article already quoted : " Now Jarlath's father must have lived near Tuam, which was not then a town, but a collection of a few huts anil houses, and amongst them the chieftain's residence ; for he is styled Louis of Tuaim, as if it had been said that Tuam was his dwelling-place. This opinion has been formed from the words in Father John Colgan's narrative re- garding the saint's father and mother : 'Mater Sancti Jarlathi filii Logha de Tuaim da uarleann. ' that is, mother of ]arlath, son of Louis of Tuam da-uarleann. Hence, one
can infer that Louis, with his family, dwelt '
de stirpe Cen-
J. Bourke: "The child Jarlath was born on the lands belonging to his tribe, at
21
at Tuam, and that
claim the honour to have been the birth- place of Jarlath, his son. This view is con- firmed by the fact that in after life, when Jarlath was consecrated Abbot and first Bishop of that territory, he erected a church
consequently
' Tuam can
June 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 203
of our most learned historians seems to have arrived at the conclusion, that our saint was probably born, about the commencement of the sixth century. In the supposition, that Jarlath received Holy Orders from St. Benignus, we
should admit, that he was born at the latest,' in 438, according to a conjecture
of Rev. Dr. 22 As Lanigan.
Jarlath
was a native of Conmacne, in the
opinion
of that historian,^ it was thought not wrong, to throw him into the num-
ber of the disciples of St. Benignus. But, granting St. Jarlath had attained
his twentieth year, and that St. Benignus died, shortly after this installation ;
we shall endeavour to make it appear, that all succeeding events of our holy
bishop's life are perfectly reconcilable, with such a supposition. TheearlytrainingofSt. Jarlathis saidtohavebeenunderaholyman,named
2 He Benignus. *
2?
is thought to have been the successor of St. Patrick,
as this
Benignus
Jarlath belonged to the Second Class of Irish Saints, who did not become
2
distinguished until about 540, it has been assumed, ? likewise, that the idea
of our saint having been his disciple is purely gratuitous. Yet, it is expressly asserted, in the Life of that holy man, that besides others, St. Jarlath, son of Loga, received literary instruction and was first initiated to the rudiments of
See of
Armagh. Now,
26 died, in the 468, and as year
literature through his care.
28
It is stated, that Benignus promoted our saint
to Holy Orders, with his cousin Callian, and afterwards, he is said to have
consecrated their churches. 29 There is nothing more usual, however, nor at
the same time more perplexing, in many of the acts of our saints, than their
authors making them either masters or pupils of certain eminent men, despite
the clearest chronological data. All of those actions, previously related, must
have taken place, before the year 468, when the death of Benignus, Prelate
of Armagh, took placed It has been contended, 3 1 that our saint must have
been at least thirty years of age when ordained, and before he was appointed
to the charge of a congregation. To this it may be replied, that at a much
later period, in the Irish Church, and when in all likelihood, a demand for
ministerial labour was not so urgent, St. Malachy O'Morgair received Priest's
orders in the twenty-fifth year of his age, and almost immediately afterwards,
he appears to have been called upon to discharge important trusts in the
2
church. 3
No sooner had St. Jarlath been released from the supervision of his
former master, than he appears to have returned to his own country; where having selected a site for the erection of a monastery, in Conmacnie, he
'
Cluain-fois,'ortheretreatofrest,ormea-
dow of rest, situated about two statute miles
south-west from—the present town of Tuam.
The old c—hurch the only remnant of the nise," xi. Februarii. Vita S. Hierlatii,
monastery is to be seen to this day. " cap. ii. , p. 308. 22 °
However, he deems the statement to
chap, x, sect, ix. , n. 137, p. 42.
43 See ibid.
24 It seems to be a matter of doubt, as to
whether or not, his identity can be exactly ascertained,
25 See his Life, in the Third Volume of this work, at the 17th of March, Art. i.
26
His festival occurs, at the 9th of Novem- ber.
3 At a. d. cccclxviii. , Ussher writes:
Chronologicus, p. 522.
3I By Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
32 See his Life, already separately pub- lished by the author, and also to be found re- vised, at the 3rd of November.
33 Colgan tells us, that this church, in his day, became a chapel, not far from Tuam, and belonging to the Cathedral Parish, ac- cording to a Catalogue of Churches in the
have been a and built fable,
" Acta Benignus Episcopus (qui
its
been recorded, that Benignus had preached in Conmacne, and in other parts of the west- See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. i. , chap, viii. , sect, i. , and accompanying notes, pp 374 to 377, and ibid. , vol. ii. ,
Patriciiadhuc viventis scripsisse dicitur) mortuus est ; et lit alii quidem volunt, Glastoniae, ut alii Arm ichias sepultus est: (p. 426, 448, 455), quanquam Annales Inisfallenses Romse mor- tuum eum fuisse notent. "—" Britannicarum Ecclesiaium Antiquitates. " See Index
27
By Rev. Dr. Lanigan.
upon
having
28 "
See EcclesiasticalHistoryofIreland,"
vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect, ix. , n. 137, p. 42.
29 See Colgan's
<:
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
in the
204
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 6.
built one at a place, called Cluainfois,33 not far from Tuam. 34 Here, in due courseoftime,aschoolwasattachedtotheMonastery. 35 Cluainfoisisnow thenameofatownland, Cloonfush 6 inthenorlhendofthis
Anglicized ? and,
townland, a short distance from the river of Clare, to the east, is remaining a
portionofanoldchurch,calledTeampulJarlaithe;37 atwhichchildrenwere lately interred, although the place around, at present, does not present the appearance of a burial-place. 3s The west gable remained, in 1838, being then three yards broad and retaining nearly its original height. The actual height was then between nine and ten feet ; while two yards of the length, on
Cluainfois, near Tuam, County of Gahvay.
the north side wall, attached to this gable, were standing. Its highest part was then about 7! feet. The west gable appeared to have had a window or
opening, on or near, its top. The original length of the building inside, so far as was definable by the foundation, which could then be traced, was 13
Tuam Diocese, which thus names it :
part of the territory designated Ui Dpiuin
" Capella
de Cluainfois in in the same parochia SeaLa,
Tuamensi.
"
"
Acta Sanctorum Hibeinias," xi. Februarii,
"
country.
35 See Rev. M. J. Brenan's "Ecclesiasti-
cal History of Ireland," Sixth Century,
chap. ii. . p. 74.
3° It is bounded on the north, by the
Parishes of Belclare and Kilhannon ; on the south and west by the Parish of Killoir, and by the townland of Kilmore ; and on the east, by Killaloonty townland.
Fos has the Latin signification, commoratio," and Cluainfois is Latinized, "recessuscommorationis. " Thus, it appears to
have been named, from the circumstance of
our saint having dwelt there with his disci-
ples, before he removed to Tuam. See
n. 10, p. 310.
34 In Irish the place is cUiaui £oir\
Although in the Acls of St. Jarlatli, as pub-
lished by Colgan, it is said that Cluainfois is
situated in the territory of Conmacnie ; yet,
in Mr. O'Donovan's Ancient Map of Gahvay,
it is placed a little to the south of ConinAicne William F. Wakeman, and it was engraved CineiL Dublin territory, and in the northern by Mrs. Millard.
37 In Irish CeampaLl, lA]\l<Mr;e, and in Latin Templum S. Jarlaithe.
i8 The accompanying illustration is from a sketch made by the writer on the spot. This has been transferred to the wood, by
June 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
yards, by 4 yards. 39 The cement was composed of lime and sand—.
°
distance of 6 or 7 yards from the south-east corner lies a stone 4
circular cavity nearly central in it, which is about one foot in diameter, and which narrows gradually to the bottom, where it does not exceed three inches in diameter. 41
Over the monastery and school at Cluainfois, our saint presided, with
a great reputation for piety and learning. Among other disciples, who placed themselves under St. Jarlath's direction, was the celebrated St.
Brendan of Clonfert. 42 He was a pupil, about the beginning of the sixth century, when Jarlath had already become old and infirm. This could hardly be said of our saint, if he were not at least approaching the seventieth year of his age. On his way to St. Jarlath, Brendan is said to have met with Colman44 sonofLenin,whomheinducedtoquitthepursuitofworldlythings. 45 There is no reason, why we should suppose Colman,46 to be otherwise than a very young man, at this time, and if at all, little older than Brendan. Now, as Colman afterwards became a disciple of St. Jarlath, and died in the year 600, accordingtotheAnnalsoftheFourMasters,4? butaccordingtoColgan,48 and according to Ware, in the year 604 4? Dr. Lanigan asserts, that it is
being a grown man,50 when frequenting this school. 51 Jarlath must have flourished in the year 500, 52 it is supposed, if Brendan, in youth, had been his scholar. The period, when our saint flourished, has been more generally assigned to the middle of the sixth century. However this maybe, St. Jarlath ofTuamisreckonedamongIrishSaintsoftheSecondClass; andaccordingly, it is assumed, he began to be distinguished after the year 540. This is the
;
unlikely he was St. Jarlath's pupil, before the middle of the sixth century, he
39 When the writer of this place visited Cluain-fois, in i860, only a small fragment of this ruin surmounted the lonely graveyard, where the old establishment had been erected.
40 This stone it is said, was originally a holy water font ; and people, who go on the occasion of attending a child's funeral to the place, sninkled themselves with the water found in it. The common phrase was, that they blessed themselves with it. See the "Letters containing Information relative to the County of Galway, belonging to the
September 3rd, 1838.
41
Its depth varies with the unevenness of
the stone, being six inches in the deepest with this Bishop ; but, his Festival is cele-
Ordnance of Survey
the son of is said to Lenin,
vol.
45. Thomas O'Conor's Letter, dated Tuam,
Coleman,
1838,"
i. , pp. 44,
part, and gradually lessening on another side to two or three inches.
42 His feast is celebrated, on the 16th of May, and his Life will be found in the Fifth Volume of this work, at that date. Art. i.
43 These circumstances are alluded to in
the Life of St. Brendan of Clonfert, to be
found at the 16th of May, in the Fifth
Volume of this work, Art. i.
44
If it be true that St. Colman studied under Jarlath, we must bring down that school to, at least, 550, the year in which Ware says that Jarlath flourished. See " De ScnptoribusHibernise," lib. L, cap. ii. ,p. 11.
*i SeeColgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nice,"xi. Februarii. Vita S. Hierlatii, cap. iii. , pp. 308, 309.
—brated at Cloyne, on the 24th of November. "
Harris of vol. Ware, "Bishops Cloyne,"
46 He is surnamed Mitine, also, and he is the reputed founder of Cloyne. See Rev. M. J. Brenan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," Sixth Century, chap, ii. , pp. 74- 75-
the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 222 to 225, and n. (d).
48 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- niie," viii. Martii, n. 15, p. 339 {recle) 535.
49 Ware places his death at this year, and on the 4th of November, through inadver-
"' See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of
tence.
" One
have written the Life of St. Senan in Metre, and to have died in the year 600. I will not be positive whether he was the same person
Hence, Harris' conjecture is correct :
i- PP- 573.
50 The assertion, that Colman could not
have been a grown up man, commenc- ing the sixth century, and have afterwards
lived to its close, may admit of question. The age which he attained is not known ; but, if we are willing to allow, in the absence of positive testimony, that he reached the age of one hundred and ten or twelve years, the account of his being Jarlath's scholar could not be fairly controverted.
574-.
51 See " Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, vol. ii. , chap, x. , sect. 7, p. 29, and ibid. , n. 99. P- 32-
52 See Ussher's " Index Chronologicus.
53 See Rev. P. J. Carew's "Ecclesiastical
205
At the
having a
2o6 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 6.
period, to which his episcopacy over the See of Tuam has been ascribed, by various writers. 53 Moreover, Sir James Ware states, that he flourished, in the
as his Latin has it 55 it seemsto original ; and, this,
to be a
us,
year 550,54
very probable computation.
55
CHAPTER II.
THE PLACE OF ST. JARLATH's FUTURE REST INDICATED BY ST. BRENDAN—THE HOLY
MAN DEPARTS FOR TUAM—HE BECOMES ITS FIRST BISHOP—
HIS SANCTITY AND SPIRIT OF PROPHECY—PERIOD OF HIS DEATH—FESTIVALS—ANTIQUITIES AT TUAM —VENERATION OF THE PEOPLE THERE AND THROUGHOUT THE DIOCESE FOR
THEIR PATRON—CONCLUSION.
The situation of St. Jarlath's religious establishment was beside the Clare
River, which rises in the southern parts of Mayo County, flowing southwardly until it falls into Lough Corrib. Such was the humility of St. Jarlath, that he
wished to become, at Cluain-fois, a disciple rather than the master of Brendan, for whose sanctity and gilts of prophecy, he entertained an extraordinary veneration. Already, it is said, that St. Benignus, the disciple and companion of St. Patrick, became the first Apostle of all that country, extending from Dunmoreto 1 and
that,
aboutthe
Kilbannon, or Killbenin. " the Church of Benin," situated about two miles
Cong,
year 440
north-west of Tuam. 2 desirous of Being
when it should God please
knowing,
to call him away, from the prison of this body ; our saint requested his scholar
Brendan, to indicate the place of his resurrection. Brendan desired him to ascend his chariot, he being then old and infirm ;3 and, wherever it might break down on the way, there Jarlath should depart this life, and thence also, he declared, that many would arise with him, on the day of General Judg- ment. Our saint obeyed these directions. * He had not proceeded far, from thatplace,whenthewheelsofhischariotaresaidtohavebeenbroken,5 at Tuam 6 This
which must have occurred in the
ning of the sixth century, gave occasion to* erecting a church, on that spot.
in
Dagualand.
incident,
begin-
History of Ireland," Appendix, p. 420.
54 The — translation of Harris English places
him at 540 probably this is an error of the
5 Tradition pointed out that spot, in John
press.
55 See "De
in Shop-street, Tuam, in 1838. It was called the Chair of Tuam, in which sat after his
Scriptoribus Hibernise," elevation,
the member
formerly
returned to
lib.
Chapter ii. See an account of this
Parliament
by Tuam,
See
ii. , —II. i. , cap. p.
borough.
*
place, with woodcut illustrations of its ruins,
the Antiquities of the County of Galway, Handbook of the Midland Great collected during the Progress of the Ord- Western Railway and Guide to Connemara nance Survey in 1838," vol. i. Thomas
"
and the West of Ireland," pp. 61 to 64. Dublin, no date, l2mo.
" 'See Very Rev. Ulick J. Canon Bourke's
Life and Times of the Most Rev. John
MacHale, Archbishop of Tuam and Metro-
politan," chap, xxi. , p. 202. Dublin, 1882, l8mo.
3 " Erat enim Episcopus, et senex ante- —quam Ecclesia Tuamensis esset exstructa. "
Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," for 'da uladhain,' or 'da lilainn,' »>. ,
xi. Februarii. Vita S.
Hierlatii,
n.
16,
" Mound of the two altar tombs. " Tuaim being prefixed. See "Life and Times of Most Rev. John MacIIale, Archbishop of
p. 310.
4 See #*</. , cap. i\\, p. 309.
Costello's
who was a merchant garden, living
to hebuiltachurchat 444,
as a
"Letters containing Information relative to
O'Conor's Letter, dated Tuam, September 3rd, 1838, p. 31.
6 The signification of CuAmTOAJu aLahi, is not locally explained. It has been rendered
"mound of the two shoulders,' by Very Rev. Ulick J. Canon Bourke, who admits this to have no special meaning. It is his opinion, that such form has been substituted for 'da ualann,' another phonetic attempt
June 6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 207 Over it, St. Jarlath afterwards presided as Bishop ;i but, it must be added,
8
that great obscurity involves the period of his consecration and installation. Whether St. Jarlath was consecrated before, or after the foundation, of Tuam church ° is unknown. St. Benignus is said to have blessed this church. 10 The boundaries of Tuam Parish are now of very irregular outline. 11 The present parish of Tuam was heretofore divided into two parishes, one of which was called
"the ofthe parish
shrine,"
12 from
1
Teampall
naSerine. 13 Theother was part
known as St. Jarlath's Parish, * while its church was called the Temple of St.
Jarlath. 15 The former was the eastern part of the present parish, and the
latterthewestern 16 Tuamafterwardsbecamean
of
archbishops,
dune or Annaghdown was annexed to it; while, in 1559, the bishopric of Mayo was also united. 10 It is certain, St. Jarlath was the first bishop over the See of Tuam ; but, whether he had been consecrated, so early as a. d.
2° well be the exercise of his func- 455, may questioned. During episcopal
tions, Jarlath continued his former practices of penitential works and constant
21
Notwithstanding his great age and growing infirmities, he suffered no day to elapse, without making three hundred pious genuflections, and as
portion. andthechurchfoundedtherewasdedicatedinthenameofSt.
1? The See of Tuam is said to have been founded, about the beginning of the sixth century. Its prelates are sometimes called by the Irish annalists, bishops, or
prayer.
many during each night.
22
St. Jarlath was said, also, to have been distin-
Connaught.
18 In the the ancient See of Enach- year 1324,
Tuam and Metropolitan," chap, xxx,, pp. 207. 208.
^ It is somewhat remarkable, that after St.
Patrick, Benin, son of Seisgnen, succeeded
in the See of Armagh, and died a. d. 467,
when St. Jarlaithe, son of Treana immedi-
ately followed, and died A. D. 481. See Rev.
Robert " Memoir to the King's introductory
cap. v. , p. 309.
I "Some writers place it so early as A. D. 18 See James Godkin's " Ireland and
501. See Hely Dution's "Statistical and her Churches," part second, chap, xxx. ,
Early History of the Primacy of Armagh/' p.
68. We fear there may be some confusion
between the holy men thus named, in con-
nection with Armagh, and those similarly ni. e," xi. Februarii. Vita S. Hierlatii, named as connected with Tuam.
Agricultural Survey of the County of P- 363-
"
Galway," chap, v. , sect, xxv. , p. 479.
9 On the authority of Conry, Archdall states, that an Abbey was founded here, and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, so early as A. D. 487, and that St. Jarlath con- verted it into a Cathedral Church, in the
19 See Hely Dutton's
Statistical and
beginning of the sixth century. See " Life and Times of the Most Rev. John
" Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 297.
Mac Hale, Archbishop of Tuam and Metro-
politan," chap, xxi. , p. 205.
21 See "Acta Sanctorum "Colgan's
Hibernia;," xi. Februarii. Vita S. Hierlatii, cap. vi. , p. 309.
