9* It is intimated, that this sen- tence was one Divinely inspired ; and, although it fell heavily on the soul of Columba, he meekly bowed, and
accepted
it as the will of Heaven.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v6
, p.
356.
Duffy's edition.
63
Plain of Culdrumman formerly Cul- This is said to have been made by Frae-
61
See Father Stephen White's Manu-
"
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 359
wassenttoadmonishhim,thatasamagicalcircle63 laybetweenthecontend-
ing hosts, misfortune should come upon the army that attempted to force its
passage. The place, where St. Columba prayed behind the northern and
western forces, was afterwards known by the name Suidhe Choluim Chille,
orthe"SeatofColumkille. " There,KingDermod'sforces,tothenumber
of 23,000 charioteers, cavalry, and foot soldiers, had assembled, and St. Finian
accompanied them to the field praying for their success. However, an Angel
of the Lord appeared in the camp of King Dermod ; he seemed to be of
giganticsize,andhewasclothedinarmour. Thisportentcreatedapanic
amongst their bravest warriors, and these are said to have engaged in battle
without order, frequently trampling down their own men in the rush of
chariots and 6* The commenced with both cavalry. engagement great vigour,
armies contending for a victory that was long doubtful. The carnage appears to have been great, especially among the bands of King Dermod. This
obstinate battle was
Conaill territory.
southern Hy Neill.
Finian continued to pray for their respective clients. During this internecine contest, St. Finian is said to have been praying for the success of the King ; while, on other side, Columba prayed for that of his relatives and friends. 6 ? We are told, besides, that the prayers of the latter saint proved more effica-
68 andthathesenta
" This day, my dear son, has prepared for me a long journey
cious,
message
toFinian
stating,
Almighty
6* on the confines of and ofthe Cinel Connaught,
fought,
It was waged between the chiefs of the northern and
Nor could it be decided, so long as Columba 66 and
thatasthe
had assured his friends of victory, it must only be prolonged, and bloodshed must be all the greater, unless he ceased to pray. Knowing that Columba would not be guilty of falsehood, Finian yielded to his request. Then, the Monarch's army gave way, and the Northern and Western forces prevailed. King Diermit's army was defeated with a loss, estimated at 3,000 men. 6? When the battle was over, and his friends brought word to Columba, that they had triumphed, the latter turned to his disciple Scandalan, who was present,
and he said
from my family and to a strange land. But, mention it not, until the event becomes manifest. "? Ainmire ? ' was one of Dermot's successful opponents
:
chan, son of Teniusan, who made the Erbhe- on this occasion by him. See vol. i. , pp.
Druadh—or Druidical charm—forDiarmaid. According to the Leabhar Buidhe, or Yellow
Book of Mac Firbises, Manuscript of Trinity
College, Dublin, classed H 2. 16, this seems
to have been a circle drawn around King Cuildremne, and it is very probable, with- Diarmaid's army, which, if passed, must out his having been at all concerned in prove fatal to the transgressor. Both Father bringing it about, that St. Columba prayed Colgan and Rev. Dr. O'Conor fail to render for the protection of his kinsmen and their this legend correctly. We are told, that subjects against the fury of Diermit. He, it
Tuathan, son of Dimman, placed the Erbhe- Druadh over Diarmaid's head. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 194 to 196, and nn. (w, x). ibid.
64 Such is the account given in Father
would seem, was bent on exterminating them. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, xii. , pp. 148 to 153, with notes.
^ All that has been said about Columba having been the cause or occasion of that battle, and consequently of his departure
from Ireland, rests upon no other authority than the jarring fictions of some poetasters, who strove to embelish their rhapsodies with tales of saints, contending against each other,
Stephen White's Manuscript Life of St. "
Columba. See Ussher's Britannicarum
Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 468.
6s According to the "Annals of Tiger-
nach, a. d. 561. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's
" Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus in support of the respective armies, for ii. , p. 142. which they implored victory. See ibid. , pp.
66 An Irish poem is quoted in Dr. 148, 149.
O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Mas- 69 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
ters," as having been composed and spoken Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 194, 195.
194, 195.
6? It is the opinion of Dr. Lanigan, that
there is scarcely a word of truth in the nar-
rative, except that a battle was fought at
36° LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
at Cooldrevny; and some years afterwards, he became monarch over Ireland. ? 2
In their antagonist army, there fell only one man,73 according to the legendary
account, and this happened because he dared to cross the Druidical circle. 74
This, however, is quite incredible ; but, it seems the battle was a decisive
one, and the carnage was great, in proportion to the desperate struggle on
both sides. Peace was soon afterwards proclaimed between King Uermod
and St. Columkille. To the latter was assigned his transcription. In course
of ages, it was enclosed within a beautiful chased silver cover, and it was
preserved as a highly-prized relic in Tyrconnell. It was called the Cathach or Prseliator ; because, according to the tradition of the country, whenever it
was borne thrice around the armies of the O'Donnells, and with due rever-
ence,75 before their enemies engaged them, victory was expected to alight on
the standards of 6 A scion of that clan, to which Tyrconnell. ? distinguished
the holy man belonged, still retains proprietorship of the Cathach," and with a commendable spirit of true generosity and of national feeling, it has been
deposited for some years, by its hereditary owner,78 in the Museum of the RoyalIrishAcademy. Atpresent,itsfewrelicsareinaverymutilatedcon-
dition. 7? 1 These are in a ornamental case of most curious kept highly
antique
workmanship.
The whole of this notable story ends by telling us, that Columba felt re-
morse for the part he had acted in these troubles, and that he declared to his friends, how an Angel had warned him to leave Ireland for ever, because
his
but also in the battles of
so Cuilfedha,
had been 80 not alone in that slain,
through
instrumentality
many
battle,
70 According to Father Stephen White's
Manuscript Life of St. Columba. See
"
Ussher's BritannicarumEcclesiarumAnti-
quitates,"cap. xvii. , p. 468.
71 Tir-Ainmirech was the old name for the
barony of Boylagh, in the county of Done-
are damaged at head and foot. "—" Fac- similes of National Manuscripts of Ireland," edited by John T. Gilbert, F. S. A. , M. R. I. A. , Part i. , Introduction, pp. vii. , viii.
anditwasderivedfromhim. SeeDr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters,"
at A. D. 1343, vol. iii. , p. 582, n. (f).
72 His death is placed, at a. d. 569, in the " Chronicum Scotorum," edited by William
M. - Hennessey, p. 58, 59.
" He is called Mag Laim, in Dr.
"
Annals of the Four Mas- ters," vol. i. , pp. 194, 195.
74 Though Columkille's prayers were able to preserve his forces while they remained within their own limits, the individual who passed beyond the consecrated limits de- scribed by the saint, into the vortex of the magical circl—e ot the Druid, immediately lost his life. '' Ibid. , n. (x), 196.
t> See " Inishown : its Maghtochair's
gal,
O'Donovan's
"
75 One of the moral requirements was a
lach-fedha and also of Bealach Dathi, which
was fought a. d. 586, according to the
Chronicum Scotorum, or 587, according to Tighernach. In this, Aedh, son of Ainmire, was victor, and the battle took place to avenge the death of Baedan, Monarch of Ireland. ItwasfoughtbetweentheNorthern and Southern branches of the Hy Niall. See Rev. Dr. Reeves'Adamnan's"LifeofSt.
conditionofbeingsupportedupont—he breast of a clerk free from all mortal sin. "
81 and Cuilrathin. 82
Colman the 83 Great,
Additional Notes
Rev. S. Baring-Gould's Lives of the 249, 254. The Preface to the Altus Prosa- Saints," vol. vi. , June 9, p. 97. tor fixes the place near Clonard, and Mac- 76 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," geoghegan conjectures it to be Belanaha,
Columba,"
near Mullingar. In Dr. Jeoffry Keatin<;'s "General History of Ireland," this battle is stated to have been fought, through the procurement of St. Collum Cill. See Part
This battle is not found recorded in our Annals, but it took place after St. Columba leaves, many of which at the commencement went to Iona. The place is now known as
"
Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. iii. , p. 409.
"
B, pp. 248,
The present casket or cumdach of the barr O'Donnel, head of the clan, towards
77
Cathach was made by direction of Cath-
the close of the eleventh
ii. , p. 376, Duffy's edition. 83
. . .
century.
The manuscript now consists of fifty-eight
78 Sir RichardiO'Donnel, Bart. , of New- port, in the county of Mayo.
History, Traditions and Antiquities," chap, iv. , pp. 26, 27.
80 At this passage, in Prince O'Donnell's Life of St. Columba, the text has been inter-
81
This is also called the battle of Bea-
or transcribed so
polated, incorrectly published by Colgan.
that,
;
it is difficult to make sense of the version
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 361
second son of Diermit, and Boetanus,8* the son of Ninned, King of Ireland, were slain, while relying on the protection of Columba. Fiachna,85 son of
Boadan, and their confederates, who were the descendants of Roderic, fought on the Dalaradian side, in the battle of Coleraine. 86 This is said to have
been instigated, through the instrumentality of St. Columba, who had received
some affront from St. 8? there seems to be suppositious Comgall. However,
no good authority for such a statement. It is related, that St. Columba was
directed by several holy men88 to undergo whatever penance should be
8
enjoined on him, by St. Lasrean, or Laisren, 9 also called Molaish,9° or
2 On
of Inis
ordered him to quit Ireland for ever,93 and to exert himself for the salvation of as many souls, as had perished in that war.
9* It is intimated, that this sen- tence was one Divinely inspired ; and, although it fell heavily on the soul of Columba, he meekly bowed, and accepted it as the will of Heaven. 95 Ano- ther legend prevails, that St. Molaise, who had condemned Columba to per- petual exile, enjoined him never more to behold Erinn, and thenceforth he is said to have worn a sear-cloth over his 6 We to show the
Molassius,^
Muiredhaigh. 9
being applied to,
it is the latter said,
eyes. 9 may add,
fatuous character of this legend, that Columba's exile was not perpetual, for after leaving it, he returned several times to Ireland. Then, his various monasteries, over which he still retained full jurisdiction, were visited. Columba performed many important works, during his missionary career ;
and, even in the affairs of state, his judgment was often exercised. 9?
Another version of the foregoing incidents is related, and as may be seen, it
Coleraine. The territory west of Coleraine
was debatable ground between the Dal-
Araidhe, St. Comgall's kinsmen, and the Hy-Niall of St. Columba's tribe.
83 His death is noted at A. D. 552, in Dr.
"
imposed the penance, and as to the nature of it.
89 The son of Declan.
90 Many writers have incorrectly thought, he was the saint venerated on Daimhinis or
Devenish, on the 12th of September.
91 His festival clay occurs, on the 12th of
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 188, 189. It is entered in the Annals of Ulster twice, viz. , at A. D. 554 and The Annals of Clonmacnoise place his death, at A. D. 561. He was killed in his chariot, by Dubhshlat Ua Treana, one of the Irish Cruithni or Picts. He was ancestor of the Clann-Colmain of Meath.
See ibid. , nn. (k, 1).
84 Baedan was slain at Leim-an-eich, or
O'Donovan's
at a. d.
557.
August.
92 An Island off the north coast of
the Horse Leap, A. D. 567, according to Dr. "
Additional Notes G, n. (x), p. 287.
93 We find Columba remaining in Ireland for about two years after the battle, instead of fulfilling his penitential task, and after- wards returning to it, notwithstanding that pretended condemnation to perpetual banish- ment. Nor does it appear, that the attempt at excommunicating Columba, which was frustrated by the interposition of Brendan of Birr, took place after the battle of Cul- dremni, it being much more probable, that
it occurred several years prior to it.
94 See Rev. Dr. " Ecclesiastical Lanigan's
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, xii. , pp. 148, 149.
95 See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbse, cap. iv. , v. , pp. 409, 410,andnn. 4, 5, p. 452.
96 See Dermod O'Connor's Keating's
"History of Ireland," Partii. , pp. 374, 375. Duffy's edition.
97 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," chap, xi. , sect, xi. , and xii. There, this unfounded story is fully related and admirably refuted.
98 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
O'Donovan's Annals of the Four Mas- ters," vol. i. , pp. 204 to 207. He was killed
by the two Comains, viz. , Comain, son of Colman Beg, and Colman, son of Libren, at the instigation of the former.
8s He was lord of Dalaradia.
85
It is stated, that the origin of this battle
was to a the church owing dispute concerning
of Ross-Torathair, the modern name of which is not known, but it lay somewhere near Coleraine. The contest is said to have been between St. Columba and St. Com- gall of Bangor. See teAbhA^linuiun. "The Book of Hymns of the Ancient Church of Ireland," edited by Rev. Dr. James Hen- thorn Todd. Fasciculus ii. , Note A, p. 224.
"
87 See Rev. Dr. Jeoffry Keating's
ral History of Ireland," Part ii. , p. 366. Duffy's edition.
88 The retailers of this story differ among themselves, as to the person or persons who
Gene-
Sligo, now called Innishmurry. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba,"
362 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
is quite contradictory to the narrative we have given. A short time before St. Columba sailed for Britain—as we might be inclined to infer from Adamnan's
—
order of narrative ° 8
he paid a visit to his old master, St. Finnian of Magh-
Scythia,
story
migration
one,
00 with an
of the Lord as his 100 to one companion. According
Angel
havecriedout " hastthou : Rightly
bile,
highly imaginative report of this occurrence, his object was to receive penance from the holy Bishop Finnbarr, for the part he had taken in the battle of Cul- Dreimhne. The sentence pronounced by Finnian was, that Columba should gainasmanysoulsforHeaven,asperishedinthatwar. Oursaintissaidto
passed judgment
that in consequence of Columba's action, he was reproved in a synod, for urging
hiskindredtobloodshed whiletheseniorsofIrelandaresaidtohavesent ;
IOX
promoting mutual charity. When Gildas read those letters in order, and
an Epistle to St. Gildas
through faithful messengers, for the purpose of
when he found one written by Columba, he kissed it and said
:
" The man
who wrote this is filled with the " That is so," one of Holy Spirit. " replied
the messengers, yet stating, that Columba had been condemned in the Irish
race
Gildas,
However, it may be admitted, that not having been
relatives, and to make them desist from deadly feuds, in which they engaged, this unhappy state of things may have been an additional motive for Columba leaving Ireland. That he communicated his plan to some of the distinguished
document,
kings ;
Then returned
" How fatuous is
your
understanding
synod.
nothing intelligently. "
able to succeed in his endeavours to reconcile those princes, who were his
saints of that and consulted them period,
is 102 concerning it, very probable.
At this time, the Picts—a wild and ferocious race—inhabited the northern
districts of Britain.
Their origin—lost in obscurity—has been traced from
I03 and the
is a curious
10* as back dating
of their
from a remote period. At first, those adventurers landed and settled in Ireland.
known as the Pictish 10* their nation a line Chronicle, gives long
A
of
terms of rule are not so clearly established. Cruithne, the son of Cing, is there stated to have been the father of the Picts. From Ireland a great number left for Scotland, inquest of new settlements. IO? The causes and motives assigned for their departure are largely blended with fable ; and, whether their course of action was voluntary or compulsory has not been clearly determined. Adjoining the northern coasts of Ireland were the
IO° however, the historical evidences for their respective names and
of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 4, pp. 195, the Scots, among whom they desired a settle-
196. merit, but their request was denied. See """
99 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Angloriun. History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect. lib. i. , cap. i. , pp. 21 to 26. Cambridge
xii. , p. 149.
100 -yy-g nave ai ready alluded to this, as
more likely to have happened, at an earlier stage of our saint's career.
edition, 1644, fol.
I04 See the account, inDermod O'Connor's
"
General History of Ireland," part i. , pp. 149 to 152.
'°s This is to be found, in a Manuscript of St. Columba, he is stated to be de genere Trinity College, Dublin, and classed H,
101 In Stephen White's anonymous Life of "
Saxonurn ;" but, as Ussher remarks, this saint was a Doctor of the Britons. See
3, 17. ,0°
See them set forth, in William F. Skene's" Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots, and other early Memorials of Scottish History," pp. 396 to 400.
I07 According to the teabliArx bneach- nach Annfo v-if, or Irish Version of the Historia Brilonum of Nennius, edited by Rev. Dr. James Henthorn Todd and the Hon. Algernon Herbert, pp. 50, 51, w—e find
"
Biitannicaium Ecclesiaruni Antiquitates,"
cap. xvii. , pp. 468, 469.
102 "
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
xiii. , p. 149.
103 There was a tradition, in the time of Ve-
nerable Bede, that from this country, the Picts sailed in a few long ships round the coasts of Britain, and came at last to the northern part of Ireland. There they found the nation of
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect.
Keating's
onme. "
itis
it stated, that Cruit—
hne, son of Inge
ano- ther form for Cinge seized the northern part
Again,
stated,
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 363
mountainous regions of Northern Britain, known to the Celtic people as Alba or Alban, and to the Romans in the first century of the Christian era, as Caledonia,108 whileits inhabitants were designated Caledonii Britanni, or Caledonian Britons. 100 These, however, are not known to have been a dis- tinct people from the Cruithne or Picts ; but, probably among them were
tribes descended from British originally
110 The Picts are immigrants. gene-
rally supposed to have been the primitive race in Caledonia. The Roman
writers, ascertaining their wild manner of living, applied to them the epithet
Caledones or woodsmen. 1 " all the of the Roman Notwithstanding, strength
legions had been unable to subdue that hardy and warlike race.
According to the legendary history of Irish colonization, the more ancient name for the Picts was that of Cruitne or Cruithnigh, who according to some
112
accounts came from the land of Thrace,
while still older accounts have
it,"3 that they came originally from Greece into Ireland. These are said to
have descended from Fenius Farsad,"4 whose son Nel "S married Scota,"6
and by her he had a son, named Gaedhel Glass. "? From the latter Miledh"8
was descended, and he was the son of Scota. 110 It is said he married two
of the Island of Britain, and divided his ter- ritory into seven divisions, one portion of
which was given to each of his seven sons, according to an Irish poem, attributed to St. Columcille. —The stanza is thus translated
different 120andScota. 121 Histhreesons, Here-
wives, namely, Seang, Heber,
mon and Ir, succeeded the Tuatha De Danann, as colonizers and rulers in Ireland. Along with these is mentioned Ith, son of Breogan. All of these are mentioned by our historians, as representing different races of which
into English
" Seven of the children of Cruithne Divided Alban into seven portions ; Cait, Ce, Cireach of the hundred
children,
Fib,_Fidach, Fotla, Foirtreann. "
The portions are said to heve been united
under the sovereignty of Aenbeagan, son of Cat, while Finacta was prince of Eri at that time and took hostages from the Cruith- nians.
108 See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot- land : a History of Ancient Alban," vol. i. , booki. , chap. i.
63
Plain of Culdrumman formerly Cul- This is said to have been made by Frae-
61
See Father Stephen White's Manu-
"
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 359
wassenttoadmonishhim,thatasamagicalcircle63 laybetweenthecontend-
ing hosts, misfortune should come upon the army that attempted to force its
passage. The place, where St. Columba prayed behind the northern and
western forces, was afterwards known by the name Suidhe Choluim Chille,
orthe"SeatofColumkille. " There,KingDermod'sforces,tothenumber
of 23,000 charioteers, cavalry, and foot soldiers, had assembled, and St. Finian
accompanied them to the field praying for their success. However, an Angel
of the Lord appeared in the camp of King Dermod ; he seemed to be of
giganticsize,andhewasclothedinarmour. Thisportentcreatedapanic
amongst their bravest warriors, and these are said to have engaged in battle
without order, frequently trampling down their own men in the rush of
chariots and 6* The commenced with both cavalry. engagement great vigour,
armies contending for a victory that was long doubtful. The carnage appears to have been great, especially among the bands of King Dermod. This
obstinate battle was
Conaill territory.
southern Hy Neill.
Finian continued to pray for their respective clients. During this internecine contest, St. Finian is said to have been praying for the success of the King ; while, on other side, Columba prayed for that of his relatives and friends. 6 ? We are told, besides, that the prayers of the latter saint proved more effica-
68 andthathesenta
" This day, my dear son, has prepared for me a long journey
cious,
message
toFinian
stating,
Almighty
6* on the confines of and ofthe Cinel Connaught,
fought,
It was waged between the chiefs of the northern and
Nor could it be decided, so long as Columba 66 and
thatasthe
had assured his friends of victory, it must only be prolonged, and bloodshed must be all the greater, unless he ceased to pray. Knowing that Columba would not be guilty of falsehood, Finian yielded to his request. Then, the Monarch's army gave way, and the Northern and Western forces prevailed. King Diermit's army was defeated with a loss, estimated at 3,000 men. 6? When the battle was over, and his friends brought word to Columba, that they had triumphed, the latter turned to his disciple Scandalan, who was present,
and he said
from my family and to a strange land. But, mention it not, until the event becomes manifest. "? Ainmire ? ' was one of Dermot's successful opponents
:
chan, son of Teniusan, who made the Erbhe- on this occasion by him. See vol. i. , pp.
Druadh—or Druidical charm—forDiarmaid. According to the Leabhar Buidhe, or Yellow
Book of Mac Firbises, Manuscript of Trinity
College, Dublin, classed H 2. 16, this seems
to have been a circle drawn around King Cuildremne, and it is very probable, with- Diarmaid's army, which, if passed, must out his having been at all concerned in prove fatal to the transgressor. Both Father bringing it about, that St. Columba prayed Colgan and Rev. Dr. O'Conor fail to render for the protection of his kinsmen and their this legend correctly. We are told, that subjects against the fury of Diermit. He, it
Tuathan, son of Dimman, placed the Erbhe- Druadh over Diarmaid's head. See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 194 to 196, and nn. (w, x). ibid.
64 Such is the account given in Father
would seem, was bent on exterminating them. See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, xii. , pp. 148 to 153, with notes.
^ All that has been said about Columba having been the cause or occasion of that battle, and consequently of his departure
from Ireland, rests upon no other authority than the jarring fictions of some poetasters, who strove to embelish their rhapsodies with tales of saints, contending against each other,
Stephen White's Manuscript Life of St. "
Columba. See Ussher's Britannicarum
Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," cap. xvii. , p. 468.
6s According to the "Annals of Tiger-
nach, a. d. 561. See Rev. Dr. O'Conor's
" Rerum Hibernicarum Scriptores," tomus in support of the respective armies, for ii. , p. 142. which they implored victory. See ibid. , pp.
66 An Irish poem is quoted in Dr. 148, 149.
O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Mas- 69 See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
ters," as having been composed and spoken Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 194, 195.
194, 195.
6? It is the opinion of Dr. Lanigan, that
there is scarcely a word of truth in the nar-
rative, except that a battle was fought at
36° LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
at Cooldrevny; and some years afterwards, he became monarch over Ireland. ? 2
In their antagonist army, there fell only one man,73 according to the legendary
account, and this happened because he dared to cross the Druidical circle. 74
This, however, is quite incredible ; but, it seems the battle was a decisive
one, and the carnage was great, in proportion to the desperate struggle on
both sides. Peace was soon afterwards proclaimed between King Uermod
and St. Columkille. To the latter was assigned his transcription. In course
of ages, it was enclosed within a beautiful chased silver cover, and it was
preserved as a highly-prized relic in Tyrconnell. It was called the Cathach or Prseliator ; because, according to the tradition of the country, whenever it
was borne thrice around the armies of the O'Donnells, and with due rever-
ence,75 before their enemies engaged them, victory was expected to alight on
the standards of 6 A scion of that clan, to which Tyrconnell. ? distinguished
the holy man belonged, still retains proprietorship of the Cathach," and with a commendable spirit of true generosity and of national feeling, it has been
deposited for some years, by its hereditary owner,78 in the Museum of the RoyalIrishAcademy. Atpresent,itsfewrelicsareinaverymutilatedcon-
dition. 7? 1 These are in a ornamental case of most curious kept highly
antique
workmanship.
The whole of this notable story ends by telling us, that Columba felt re-
morse for the part he had acted in these troubles, and that he declared to his friends, how an Angel had warned him to leave Ireland for ever, because
his
but also in the battles of
so Cuilfedha,
had been 80 not alone in that slain,
through
instrumentality
many
battle,
70 According to Father Stephen White's
Manuscript Life of St. Columba. See
"
Ussher's BritannicarumEcclesiarumAnti-
quitates,"cap. xvii. , p. 468.
71 Tir-Ainmirech was the old name for the
barony of Boylagh, in the county of Done-
are damaged at head and foot. "—" Fac- similes of National Manuscripts of Ireland," edited by John T. Gilbert, F. S. A. , M. R. I. A. , Part i. , Introduction, pp. vii. , viii.
anditwasderivedfromhim. SeeDr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters,"
at A. D. 1343, vol. iii. , p. 582, n. (f).
72 His death is placed, at a. d. 569, in the " Chronicum Scotorum," edited by William
M. - Hennessey, p. 58, 59.
" He is called Mag Laim, in Dr.
"
Annals of the Four Mas- ters," vol. i. , pp. 194, 195.
74 Though Columkille's prayers were able to preserve his forces while they remained within their own limits, the individual who passed beyond the consecrated limits de- scribed by the saint, into the vortex of the magical circl—e ot the Druid, immediately lost his life. '' Ibid. , n. (x), 196.
t> See " Inishown : its Maghtochair's
gal,
O'Donovan's
"
75 One of the moral requirements was a
lach-fedha and also of Bealach Dathi, which
was fought a. d. 586, according to the
Chronicum Scotorum, or 587, according to Tighernach. In this, Aedh, son of Ainmire, was victor, and the battle took place to avenge the death of Baedan, Monarch of Ireland. ItwasfoughtbetweentheNorthern and Southern branches of the Hy Niall. See Rev. Dr. Reeves'Adamnan's"LifeofSt.
conditionofbeingsupportedupont—he breast of a clerk free from all mortal sin. "
81 and Cuilrathin. 82
Colman the 83 Great,
Additional Notes
Rev. S. Baring-Gould's Lives of the 249, 254. The Preface to the Altus Prosa- Saints," vol. vi. , June 9, p. 97. tor fixes the place near Clonard, and Mac- 76 See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga," geoghegan conjectures it to be Belanaha,
Columba,"
near Mullingar. In Dr. Jeoffry Keatin<;'s "General History of Ireland," this battle is stated to have been fought, through the procurement of St. Collum Cill. See Part
This battle is not found recorded in our Annals, but it took place after St. Columba leaves, many of which at the commencement went to Iona. The place is now known as
"
Quinta Vita S. Columbse, lib. ii. , cap. iii. , p. 409.
"
B, pp. 248,
The present casket or cumdach of the barr O'Donnel, head of the clan, towards
77
Cathach was made by direction of Cath-
the close of the eleventh
ii. , p. 376, Duffy's edition. 83
. . .
century.
The manuscript now consists of fifty-eight
78 Sir RichardiO'Donnel, Bart. , of New- port, in the county of Mayo.
History, Traditions and Antiquities," chap, iv. , pp. 26, 27.
80 At this passage, in Prince O'Donnell's Life of St. Columba, the text has been inter-
81
This is also called the battle of Bea-
or transcribed so
polated, incorrectly published by Colgan.
that,
;
it is difficult to make sense of the version
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 361
second son of Diermit, and Boetanus,8* the son of Ninned, King of Ireland, were slain, while relying on the protection of Columba. Fiachna,85 son of
Boadan, and their confederates, who were the descendants of Roderic, fought on the Dalaradian side, in the battle of Coleraine. 86 This is said to have
been instigated, through the instrumentality of St. Columba, who had received
some affront from St. 8? there seems to be suppositious Comgall. However,
no good authority for such a statement. It is related, that St. Columba was
directed by several holy men88 to undergo whatever penance should be
8
enjoined on him, by St. Lasrean, or Laisren, 9 also called Molaish,9° or
2 On
of Inis
ordered him to quit Ireland for ever,93 and to exert himself for the salvation of as many souls, as had perished in that war.
9* It is intimated, that this sen- tence was one Divinely inspired ; and, although it fell heavily on the soul of Columba, he meekly bowed, and accepted it as the will of Heaven. 95 Ano- ther legend prevails, that St. Molaise, who had condemned Columba to per- petual exile, enjoined him never more to behold Erinn, and thenceforth he is said to have worn a sear-cloth over his 6 We to show the
Molassius,^
Muiredhaigh. 9
being applied to,
it is the latter said,
eyes. 9 may add,
fatuous character of this legend, that Columba's exile was not perpetual, for after leaving it, he returned several times to Ireland. Then, his various monasteries, over which he still retained full jurisdiction, were visited. Columba performed many important works, during his missionary career ;
and, even in the affairs of state, his judgment was often exercised. 9?
Another version of the foregoing incidents is related, and as may be seen, it
Coleraine. The territory west of Coleraine
was debatable ground between the Dal-
Araidhe, St. Comgall's kinsmen, and the Hy-Niall of St. Columba's tribe.
83 His death is noted at A. D. 552, in Dr.
"
imposed the penance, and as to the nature of it.
89 The son of Declan.
90 Many writers have incorrectly thought, he was the saint venerated on Daimhinis or
Devenish, on the 12th of September.
91 His festival clay occurs, on the 12th of
Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 188, 189. It is entered in the Annals of Ulster twice, viz. , at A. D. 554 and The Annals of Clonmacnoise place his death, at A. D. 561. He was killed in his chariot, by Dubhshlat Ua Treana, one of the Irish Cruithni or Picts. He was ancestor of the Clann-Colmain of Meath.
See ibid. , nn. (k, 1).
84 Baedan was slain at Leim-an-eich, or
O'Donovan's
at a. d.
557.
August.
92 An Island off the north coast of
the Horse Leap, A. D. 567, according to Dr. "
Additional Notes G, n. (x), p. 287.
93 We find Columba remaining in Ireland for about two years after the battle, instead of fulfilling his penitential task, and after- wards returning to it, notwithstanding that pretended condemnation to perpetual banish- ment. Nor does it appear, that the attempt at excommunicating Columba, which was frustrated by the interposition of Brendan of Birr, took place after the battle of Cul- dremni, it being much more probable, that
it occurred several years prior to it.
94 See Rev. Dr. " Ecclesiastical Lanigan's
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect, xii. , pp. 148, 149.
95 See Colgan's " Trias Thaumaturga," Quinta Vita S. Columbse, cap. iv. , v. , pp. 409, 410,andnn. 4, 5, p. 452.
96 See Dermod O'Connor's Keating's
"History of Ireland," Partii. , pp. 374, 375. Duffy's edition.
97 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," chap, xi. , sect, xi. , and xii. There, this unfounded story is fully related and admirably refuted.
98 See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
O'Donovan's Annals of the Four Mas- ters," vol. i. , pp. 204 to 207. He was killed
by the two Comains, viz. , Comain, son of Colman Beg, and Colman, son of Libren, at the instigation of the former.
8s He was lord of Dalaradia.
85
It is stated, that the origin of this battle
was to a the church owing dispute concerning
of Ross-Torathair, the modern name of which is not known, but it lay somewhere near Coleraine. The contest is said to have been between St. Columba and St. Com- gall of Bangor. See teAbhA^linuiun. "The Book of Hymns of the Ancient Church of Ireland," edited by Rev. Dr. James Hen- thorn Todd. Fasciculus ii. , Note A, p. 224.
"
87 See Rev. Dr. Jeoffry Keating's
ral History of Ireland," Part ii. , p. 366. Duffy's edition.
88 The retailers of this story differ among themselves, as to the person or persons who
Gene-
Sligo, now called Innishmurry. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba,"
362 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [June 9.
is quite contradictory to the narrative we have given. A short time before St. Columba sailed for Britain—as we might be inclined to infer from Adamnan's
—
order of narrative ° 8
he paid a visit to his old master, St. Finnian of Magh-
Scythia,
story
migration
one,
00 with an
of the Lord as his 100 to one companion. According
Angel
havecriedout " hastthou : Rightly
bile,
highly imaginative report of this occurrence, his object was to receive penance from the holy Bishop Finnbarr, for the part he had taken in the battle of Cul- Dreimhne. The sentence pronounced by Finnian was, that Columba should gainasmanysoulsforHeaven,asperishedinthatwar. Oursaintissaidto
passed judgment
that in consequence of Columba's action, he was reproved in a synod, for urging
hiskindredtobloodshed whiletheseniorsofIrelandaresaidtohavesent ;
IOX
promoting mutual charity. When Gildas read those letters in order, and
an Epistle to St. Gildas
through faithful messengers, for the purpose of
when he found one written by Columba, he kissed it and said
:
" The man
who wrote this is filled with the " That is so," one of Holy Spirit. " replied
the messengers, yet stating, that Columba had been condemned in the Irish
race
Gildas,
However, it may be admitted, that not having been
relatives, and to make them desist from deadly feuds, in which they engaged, this unhappy state of things may have been an additional motive for Columba leaving Ireland. That he communicated his plan to some of the distinguished
document,
kings ;
Then returned
" How fatuous is
your
understanding
synod.
nothing intelligently. "
able to succeed in his endeavours to reconcile those princes, who were his
saints of that and consulted them period,
is 102 concerning it, very probable.
At this time, the Picts—a wild and ferocious race—inhabited the northern
districts of Britain.
Their origin—lost in obscurity—has been traced from
I03 and the
is a curious
10* as back dating
of their
from a remote period. At first, those adventurers landed and settled in Ireland.
known as the Pictish 10* their nation a line Chronicle, gives long
A
of
terms of rule are not so clearly established. Cruithne, the son of Cing, is there stated to have been the father of the Picts. From Ireland a great number left for Scotland, inquest of new settlements. IO? The causes and motives assigned for their departure are largely blended with fable ; and, whether their course of action was voluntary or compulsory has not been clearly determined. Adjoining the northern coasts of Ireland were the
IO° however, the historical evidences for their respective names and
of St. Columba," lib. iii. , cap. 4, pp. 195, the Scots, among whom they desired a settle-
196. merit, but their request was denied. See """
99 See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's Ecclesiastical Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Angloriun. History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xii. , sect. lib. i. , cap. i. , pp. 21 to 26. Cambridge
xii. , p. 149.
100 -yy-g nave ai ready alluded to this, as
more likely to have happened, at an earlier stage of our saint's career.
edition, 1644, fol.
I04 See the account, inDermod O'Connor's
"
General History of Ireland," part i. , pp. 149 to 152.
'°s This is to be found, in a Manuscript of St. Columba, he is stated to be de genere Trinity College, Dublin, and classed H,
101 In Stephen White's anonymous Life of "
Saxonurn ;" but, as Ussher remarks, this saint was a Doctor of the Britons. See
3, 17. ,0°
See them set forth, in William F. Skene's" Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots, and other early Memorials of Scottish History," pp. 396 to 400.
I07 According to the teabliArx bneach- nach Annfo v-if, or Irish Version of the Historia Brilonum of Nennius, edited by Rev. Dr. James Henthorn Todd and the Hon. Algernon Herbert, pp. 50, 51, w—e find
"
Biitannicaium Ecclesiaruni Antiquitates,"
cap. xvii. , pp. 468, 469.
102 "
See Rev. Dr. Lanigan's
xiii. , p. 149.
103 There was a tradition, in the time of Ve-
nerable Bede, that from this country, the Picts sailed in a few long ships round the coasts of Britain, and came at last to the northern part of Ireland. There they found the nation of
Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sect.
Keating's
onme. "
itis
it stated, that Cruit—
hne, son of Inge
ano- ther form for Cinge seized the northern part
Again,
stated,
June 9. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 363
mountainous regions of Northern Britain, known to the Celtic people as Alba or Alban, and to the Romans in the first century of the Christian era, as Caledonia,108 whileits inhabitants were designated Caledonii Britanni, or Caledonian Britons. 100 These, however, are not known to have been a dis- tinct people from the Cruithne or Picts ; but, probably among them were
tribes descended from British originally
110 The Picts are immigrants. gene-
rally supposed to have been the primitive race in Caledonia. The Roman
writers, ascertaining their wild manner of living, applied to them the epithet
Caledones or woodsmen. 1 " all the of the Roman Notwithstanding, strength
legions had been unable to subdue that hardy and warlike race.
According to the legendary history of Irish colonization, the more ancient name for the Picts was that of Cruitne or Cruithnigh, who according to some
112
accounts came from the land of Thrace,
while still older accounts have
it,"3 that they came originally from Greece into Ireland. These are said to
have descended from Fenius Farsad,"4 whose son Nel "S married Scota,"6
and by her he had a son, named Gaedhel Glass. "? From the latter Miledh"8
was descended, and he was the son of Scota. 110 It is said he married two
of the Island of Britain, and divided his ter- ritory into seven divisions, one portion of
which was given to each of his seven sons, according to an Irish poem, attributed to St. Columcille. —The stanza is thus translated
different 120andScota. 121 Histhreesons, Here-
wives, namely, Seang, Heber,
mon and Ir, succeeded the Tuatha De Danann, as colonizers and rulers in Ireland. Along with these is mentioned Ith, son of Breogan. All of these are mentioned by our historians, as representing different races of which
into English
" Seven of the children of Cruithne Divided Alban into seven portions ; Cait, Ce, Cireach of the hundred
children,
Fib,_Fidach, Fotla, Foirtreann. "
The portions are said to heve been united
under the sovereignty of Aenbeagan, son of Cat, while Finacta was prince of Eri at that time and took hostages from the Cruith- nians.
108 See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scot- land : a History of Ancient Alban," vol. i. , booki. , chap. i.
