ThisRonanusissaid^tohavebeenthesameashe who is mentioned by
Venerable
Bede.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
Commentarius prasvius,
33 This is related in the Life of St. Com- gall, chapter Iv.
the loth of May, a. d. 601. See his Life at
num. 5, p. 67. ''
that
35 Colgan supposes St. Meldan died before
the year 626. See "Acta Sanctorum Hi- bemias," vii. Februarii. De S. Meldano, Episcopo et Confessore, cap. v. , and n. ii, p. 271.
'^See ActaSanctorumHibemise,"Feb-
day.
ruariivii,, n. I, p. 271.
43 The reader is referred to their Acts, at
that day, where further remarks, in reference to the Saints Meldan and Beoan, of St. Fursey's vision, will be found.
394 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIJ^TS. [February 7.
Ivechia, in Ultonia. They dwelt near Lake Bricreann. 44 These tliree are called Nasad; Beoan and Mellan. They lived in the same church. As tlieir province was Ultonia, however, this seems alone sufficient to make us doubt, if the Beoan and Meldan of St. Fursey's vision can be identified with two of thenumberhavingaccordantnames. ^s Thissaintmusthavebeenfamous atonetime,sincemanychurcheswerededicatedtohim. Sometimes,aswe aretold,heiscalledMedan. ^*^ Theremovalofhisremains,toafardistant land, does not appear to have occasioned forgetfulness of his merits and miracles in the province, which seems to have been the one that can best lay claim to his nativity. Around the beautiful shores and islands of Lough Corrib, his name was long a household word. He is mentioned in the list ofsaintsfoundintheMartyrologyofDonegal. 47 Thereweread,asbeing venerated on this day, Meallan, Mac Ui Cuinn, of Inis Mac Ui Cuinn, in
LochOirbsen,inConnaught. TheRev. S. Baring-Gould,remarkingonthe loss of his Acts, refers his period to the end of the sixth century. ^^ At pre- sent, not even a trace of his former hermitage remains.
Article V. —St. Aid, Aedh, or Aidus, Bishop of Sleaty, Queen's County. \Seve71th Cefitury. '\ Beside the River Barrow, where St. Fiach^ founded his early religious establishment, in the fifth century, dwelt this venerable man, who is called an anchorite. He appears, further- more, to have attained a still higher distinction, in connexion with this place. The name. Aid, Bishop of Sleibthe, is the only mention made of him, in the Martyrology of Tallagh. ^ He was probably abbot, as well as bishop, over the religious community, that lived at Sleaty or Sletty. The situation of this house has been pointed out, by Ussher, as having been on the White Plain, neartheRiverBerbhaorBarrow. 3 Forthisstatement,hequotesthetesti-
mony of the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick ; and, yet, in that copy, published by Colgan, we look in vain for verification of this reference. * It has generally
been assumed, that Sleibthe,5 so written by all Irish autliorities,^ must have derived its name from its contiguity to the hills or mountain range of Slieve
Marigue. ^ Itshouldberemarked,however,thatSleatyorSlettyoldchurch^ was on a level site, surrounded by its enclosed graveyard, near the right bank of the River Barrow, and removed some miles from the Sliabh Mairge
^° It lies two miles northward of Carlow and it seems town,
range.
44 This account is confirmed by the Scho-
liast on ^ngus, and by the Martyrology of Cashel.
45 The time, moreover, does not
For the Mellan or Meldan of St. Fursey's acquaintance flourished long before Beoan and Mellan, here mentioned, who are called the uncles of St, Cuthbert. Their respec- tive pedigrees also differ.
4^ See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of
the Saints," vol. ii. , February vii. , p. J93. *^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
40>41-
4^ See "Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. ,
February vii. , p. 193.
Article v. —' See his Life at the 12th
of October.
=
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xv.
3 See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 449.
See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Septima
pretty
agree.
^ See Dr. P. W. " and Joyce's Origin
History of Irish Names of Places," part iv. , chap, i. , p. 367.
^ It now gives name to a barony in the
Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. xxi. , to xxv.
pp. 152, 153. s"
Pronounced Sleaty. "
Queen's County.
« **
See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (c), p. 300.
9 The townland and small parish of Sleaty
are noted on the " Ordnance Survey Town-
landMapsfortheQueen'sCounty. " Sheet
32. ^o
Yet, the author of the Tripartite Life, who seems to have known the situation well, translates Slepte, by the Latin word
"montes. " See Colgan's "Trias Thau- maturga. " Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. m. , cap. xxiii. , p. 153.
February 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 395
evident," that in former times the Barrow once formed a lough, in the inter-
mediate space. " We read in the Martyrology of Donega^s as being venerated
on this day, Aedh, Bishop of Slebte. The " Ciin Adamnain" states, that he
was one the saints whom Adamnan ^'> found as to free the among security,
women of Ireland from every slavery which was upon them. Both of these holy men were contemporaries ; and the year of Adamnan's death we know to have been 703. ^5 Colgan^° and the Bollandists^7 assign the festival of St. Aidus, to the 7th of February. Yet, Colgan has no special Acts at the present date. Under the head of Slebhte, Duald Mac Firbis enters Aedh, a disciple of Palrick,^^ Bishop of Slebhte, at February the 7th. '9 His death is set down at A. D. 696,=^° 698^' or 199. " His birth and death appear to have happened within the seventh century.
Article VI. —St. Ronan, Bishop and Confessor, Scotland. \Seventh Century? ^ In our collection, the names of many saints, connected with Scodand, are to be found, because especially during the sixth and seventh centuries, the Scottish missions were most generally served by natives of Ireland. When the nativities of such missionaries are undiscovered or doubtful—as in the present case—we feel inclined, most usually, to believe,
when the names are thoroughly Irish, when the time fell within the Albanian missionary period, and as Ireland was almost the sole recruiting soil—to furnish Scotia Minor with her ministers, that we may c-onditionally claim —at least untilpresumptionofthefactbedisturbedbyconclusiveevidence aplace in our national records, for several of the early Scottish saints. No doubt, many of the latter were natives of Scotland, and had no further connexion with Ireland, except in so far, as they received their religious training and instruction, from Irish ecclesiastics and teachers, at lona, and elsewhere, in Scotland. But, the investigations of Irish and Scottish searchers, in the domains of antiquity, are still further required, to determine the nativities of numberless individuals, noted in the old kalendars and breviaries of Scot- land. ^ The task, no doubt, is a discouraging one, owing to its inherent difficulties ; yet, with perseverance and discrimination, much may be done. In the Kalendars of Ferrarius and of Adam King, at this date, a festival is assigned to a St. Ronane, who is called a bishop and a confessor. ^ There arenolessons,however,norrubricaldirectionsconcerninghisservice; neither ishementionedintheArbuthnottKalendar. 3 HeflourishedinScotland,'^
" From an examination of the river's Academy. " Irish MSS. series, vol. i. , part
valley-conformation. i. , pp. 126, 127.
•^ ^^ **
Carlow is so called, from its ancient "cahir," where the old castle of the town now stands, and from the "loch," imme- diately north of it.
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
40, 41.
^* See his Life at the 23rd of September.
"
^s See Dr. O'Donovan's
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 304 to 307.
^^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise,"
xxxi. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S . Mai- doci, cap. i. , p. 221.
^7 See "Acta Sanctorum," Februarii vii. ,
See William M. Hennessy's Chroni- con Scotorum. "
-^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 299 to 301.
^^ " — thisdate. The AnnalsofUlster"give
^ of Article vi. The circumstance
various missionaries and saints, in Scotland, being omitted from our Irish martyrologies and annals does not militate against our claim to their nativities; for, many of the most celebrated Irish saints, venerated in Great Britain, and on the Continent of Europe, are only known to us, through the study of foreign records,
^3
"
jecti," pp. 2, 3. Old edition.
tomus ii.
Prsetermissi et in alios dies re-
^^ We do not think this
to
19See"ProceedingsoftheRoyalIrish
title, however, be warranted on any good authority.
p. 144.
Annals of the
^
Scottish Saints,"
3 See ibid. , p. 441. 4Ferrariusstates,about603. Dempster
See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
396 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 7.
under King Malduine,s who is said to have reigned from a. d. 664 to 684. ^ St. Ronan lived in Kilmanora, or Kilmanoren, in the Scottish province of Lennocia,7orLevenax.
ThisRonanusissaid^tohavebeenthesameashe who is mentioned by Venerable Bede. 9 The present saint is supposed to have been connected with the following places in Scotland. '" The Kil- maronen, in Levenax, is probably the parish of Kilmaronock," which name is formed from that of the saint ; thus, Ma-ron-og, with an honorary prefix and suffix, Kilmaronag, in Muckairn ;" Tempul Ronain,'3 the ancient name for the parish church of Hy ;'^ Eoroby, in the old parish of Ness ;'5 Island of Ronay, off Raasay ;'^ Rona Island,'7 sixty miles north-north-east of the Lewes j'^ St. Ronan's Isle, which is a peninsulated eminence at high tide, and lying off the west coast'9 of the mainland in Zetland,=° Port-Ronain, the principal landing-place in the Island of lona f^ all the foregoing places are thought to have been called after the present St. Ronan. He is not mentioned in our Irish Calendars, at this date, although he may have been anIrishmanbybirth; but,hemustcertainlybedistinguishedfromSt. Ronan Fionn,commemoratedatLannRonain. -^' However,PatherInnesconfounds both ;-3 and the present saint may or may not be the Scottish Ronan,=4 by
nation, who was St. Finan's polemical opponent. A singular mistake has been committed,^5 in identifying the latter with a patron of Insula Ronan. '^^ Bede's Ronan flourished about the year 652, and yet his death is placed at A. D. 778. At the year 736, the "Annals of Ulster" enter the death of Ronain, Abbot of Cinngaraid f^ but, as we are told, St. ^ngus^^ places this saint, at the 9th of February, we may doubt, if he may be identified with the
has a St. Ronan, Bishop of the Scots, at the Here, too, are some crosses,
sect,
"
^^
year; —
same but, his feast is assigned to the
Local legends relate, that St. Ronan came to Rona from Eorapiall where a chapel was dedicated to him—on the back of a whale. It is said, he found it inhabited by hairy creatures, who backed out into the sea before him, while leaving their marks in scratches on the rocks. See Muir's "Cha- racteristics of Architecture," p. 199, and Martin's "Western Islands of Scotland," pp. 19 to 25.
^9 In the bay of Scalloway. =° "
17th of February.
s He is noticed as the fifty-fifth King of
Scotland.
^ See the Chronology of George Buchanan,
in " Rerum Scoticarum Historia," lib. v. , pp. 146, 147.
^ According to the Breviary of Aberdeen. ^ By Camerarius, "De Scotorum Forti-
tudine," p. 96.
9 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis An-
glorum," lib. iii. , cap. 25, p. 233.
'° See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," pp. 441, 442,
See Hubert's Shetland," p. 456. Here are the foundations of an old chapel.
^^ See "
Parochiales Scotiae,"
" Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes
P,p, 417.
^*
At the 22nd of May, where an account of him will be found.
^3 See ' ' Civil and Ecclesiastical History
of Scotland,' book ii. , sect, xxv,, p, 161,
=4 The editor of the " Parochiales Origines
Scotiae" having stated, that Scotia was Ire-
land, yet, makes Bede's Ronan a Scotch-
man. See part ii. , pp. 285, 296.
=3 By Camerarius.
-<^ See "De Scotorum Fortitudine, at
February 6th, p. 96.
^7 See Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibemi-
carum Scriptores," tomus iv. Annales Ul-
Origines
pars i. , p. 34. Among the antiquities are
two Roman Catholic chapels. Also, the ** Old Statistical Account of Scotland," vol. xi. , p. 206.
"See "Origines Parochiales Scotise,"
parsii. , pp. 132, 827.
*3 Old records mention it, in connexion
with "the personaige of Tempill-Ronaige. " *4 See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes
P,
part ii. , p. 388, and Martin's Western
Isles of Scotland," p. 27.
i. , pp. 416, 417. "
'S See Origines Prochiales Scotiae," *'
^'^ A small inhabited
the parish of Glenelg, in Inverness-shire.
See Fullarton's "Imperial Gazetteer of 11A111 fig-oA, or, "Bishop Ronan the
Scotland," vol, ii. , p. 643.
'7 On there is a little 14 it, TeampuU,
feet 8 inches long, by 8 feet 3 inches wide.
-^ He is commemorated as, Onauc tlo- kingly. " Upon this is the note, . 1. tiof
island,
belonging to
tonienses, 86. p.
^'
See Rev, William Reeves' Adamnan's
mochu'OA " In Lismore
ino|\
Mochuda he is.
"
ACA, or,
February 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 397
present holy man. ^s Dempster states, that Ronnanus, the bishop, died in Levinia. 3° OnaccountofcontradictorystatementsregardingthisSt. Ronan, the Bollandists wish to pass over his Acts—although they include him at this day—because they hoped further light might be thrown on his obscure
31 history.
Article VII. —Saints Lonan, Criotan and Miolan, called like- wise, THE THREE SONS OF DaIRE, OF MoiN-MlOLAIN, PERHAPS, MONA- molin, County of Wexford. The Martyrology of Tallagh^ records at the 7 th of February, the three sons of Daire, Lonan and Cretan and Maolan. Then follows the designation Mona Maolain, from which we might be in-
"
clined to think, that from the latter saint some Mona or
bog" had been named. Wemayfairlyinfer,thattheseholybrothershvedduringorbefore the ninth century. Who their father Daire was has not transpired. These united names. Saints Lonan, Criotan, and Miolan, belonging to Moin-Mio- lain, and three sons of Daire, are registered in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ as having a festival celebrated on this day. It will probably prove as un- availing to discover the place or places, where these holy men were venerated, as. the exact time when they flourished. Yet, there is a parish, called Mona- molin,3 in the baronies of Ballaghkeen and Gorey, in the county of Wexford. Among the known denominations of Irish places, this seems to accord best with Mona-Maolain. 4 The last-named of the three saints appears to have therefore, is it — he was the most
name to their
given place
and, distinguishedamongthem. —ThereisaKilcredans whichmightbederived
=9 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 441.
3°See"MenologiumScoticum. " Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
191.
3^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Februarii vii. Prsetermissi et in alios dies
^ In a letter from Maurice Lenihan, Esq. , and dated Limerick, September 22nd, 1873, he gives a very interesting description of this place and its traditions. Not far from it is shown Lios Liathan, which is supposed to have been the fort held by Liathan, the
" own man" or " body servant," to the cele- brated Monarch of Ireland Brian Boroimhe. An account, regarding him will be found in
rejecti, p. 3.
Article vii. —^ Edited
Rev. Dr.
by "
xiv.
Kelly, p.
== Edited
by
Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp.
*'TheWarsoftheGhaeilandGaill, asalso in Hardiman's "Irish Minstrelsy. " Here
again is Cragg Mountain, on which Eabul or Aibhile, the banshee or familiar sprite of the Dal-Cas is said to have lived. This too tradition says she haunted, and that she told Brian Boroimhe, he should not survive the great battle at Clontarf. This fact, it is stated, he told to his servant Liathan, when the Danes were approaching his tent to murder him.
7 General Sarsfield rode through this place, when he made the celebrated detour on Ballyneety, where he blew up King
William Third's battering train and ammuni- tion.
40, 41,
3 It is defined on the '* Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Wex- ford. " Sheets 16,17,21,22. The town and townland of this parish are shown on Sheet 16.
4 There is another townland of Monamo-
Ian, in the parish of Templeludigan, barony of Bantry, and county of Wexford. See
? <J/(/. , Sheets 18, 24.
s This townland lies in the parish of
O'Brien's bridge, barony of Lower TuUa. See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps fortheCountyofClare. " Sheet45.
;
probable,
one mile and a-half from O'Brien's Bridge, in the county of Clare. It lies within three miles and a-half mile south-west from Killaloe. Tradition has it, that a St. Credan built a church here ; yet, whether he was identical or not with the St. Cretan or St. Criotan this day venerated must be left for mere conjecture. It is in a very out of-the-way place ; yet, the spot is interesting for many reasons, and the people are greatly attached to it. ^ The cemetery of Kil- credan is approached by Ballycorney,^ through a series of fields, each field
from St. Criotan or Credan on the townland of Ross, about
398 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 7.
nearly one fourth of a mile in length. As you enter the churchyard, a
squared piece of granite, about five feet in length, is placed on the stile. It is usual to rest coffins on it, when funerals enter the cemetery. The view towards the north is bounded by a series of fine mountains ; south and west the Tipperary, Cork and Kerry mountains loom in the distance. The cemetery is well filled with deceased members of various local families. ^ Hardly a remnant of the old church now remains. 9 Near it is a holy well, which is furnished with cups and jugs, arranged in a row about it. ^° There is another Kilcredane, or Kilcredaune,"at the mouth of the Shannon, in the parish and barony of Moyarta, and in the county of Clare. " There is a parish and townland called Kilcredan, in the barony of Imokilly, in the east riding of Cork County. '3 In the county of Kerry, in the barony of Ma- gunihy, there is a parish, called Kilcredane. ^^^ Again, there is a Kilcreevin townland, in Kilmorgan parish, barony of Corran, and county of Sligo. ^s AH of the foregoing, however, are far apart from Monamolin, in point of situa- tion.
Article VIII. —St. Brigid, Daughter of Doma or Droma. The
name of St. Brigid, daughter to Doma, Dioma, Domma, Droma or Drona, as variously written by different authorities,^ is set down in our Irish Ca- lendars, at this day. Various distinct saints, called Brigid,^ are noticed in our calendars. In the Rev. Dr. Kelly's version of the Martyrology of Tal- lagh, the present saint is called Brigit ingean Droma, on the 7th of February. 3 At the same day, she is mentioned in the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gor- man and of Charles Maguire. It is stated, likewise, that ^ngus the Culdee and Geoffrey Keating mention this saint. ** We read, in the Martyrology of
^s See " Ordnance Survey Townland
for the — of Sheet Maps County Sligo. " 33.
^
Article viii. Speaking of the many
saints, bearing the name of Brigid, in Ire- land, we find the following enumeration in Dermod O'Conor's translation of Keating's
" of Ireland :" " The wo- History religious
men that were known by the name of Brid-
get in that kingdom were fourteen, and were those that follow : Bridget, the daughter of
Dioma ; Bridget, the daughter of Mianaig ; Bridget, the daughter of Momhain ; Bridget,
the daughter of Eana ; Bridget, the daughter of Colla ; Bridget, the daughter of Eathtair
Ard ; Bridget, of Inis Bride ; Bridget, the daughter of Diamair ; Bridget, the daughter of Seannbotha; Bridget, the daughter of Fiadnait ; Bridget, the daughter of Hugh ; Bridget, the daughter of Luinge ; Bridget, the daughter of Fischmaine ; Bridget, the daughter of Flainge," book ii. , p. 389.
^
Many of the preceding proper names are altogether differently spelled, by Col- gan, in his Latin version of this extract from
"" Keating. See Trias Thaumaturga.
*3 See "Ordnance Survey Towniland Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidse, cap.
^ The Minahans, the Ryans, the Hurleys
and the
Hickey, who gave the first vote to Daniel O'Connell, at the Clare election in 1828, is buried here, and the people point out his grave with a laudable pride.
Hickeys
are most numerous. Patt
9 The church was furnished with a which, the natives aver, rang of itself.
bell, however, was taken across the Shannon, about one quarter of a-mile distant, when the tongue fell out, and it never rang more.
" An antique quern, called a Druid's stone, lies in the cemetery, which is filled with trees, and lately enclosed, by the Li- merick Poor Law Guardians, with a good stone wall. The ancient rude stones of the
church are now used as grave-stones. ""
See Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Clare. " Sheets 65, 72.
" The foregoing communications, with a rough sketch of the first-iiamed Kilcredan Cemetery, were sent to tiie writer, in the letter to which allusion has been already made.
bell, The
Maps for the County of Cork. " The parish . is defined on Sheets 77, 78, 79, and the townland on the two former sheets.
'* This is shown on the " Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of Domcer
Kerry. " Sheets 48, 58. * See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
i. , p. 611.
33 This is related in the Life of St. Com- gall, chapter Iv.
the loth of May, a. d. 601. See his Life at
num. 5, p. 67. ''
that
35 Colgan supposes St. Meldan died before
the year 626. See "Acta Sanctorum Hi- bemias," vii. Februarii. De S. Meldano, Episcopo et Confessore, cap. v. , and n. ii, p. 271.
'^See ActaSanctorumHibemise,"Feb-
day.
ruariivii,, n. I, p. 271.
43 The reader is referred to their Acts, at
that day, where further remarks, in reference to the Saints Meldan and Beoan, of St. Fursey's vision, will be found.
394 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAIJ^TS. [February 7.
Ivechia, in Ultonia. They dwelt near Lake Bricreann. 44 These tliree are called Nasad; Beoan and Mellan. They lived in the same church. As tlieir province was Ultonia, however, this seems alone sufficient to make us doubt, if the Beoan and Meldan of St. Fursey's vision can be identified with two of thenumberhavingaccordantnames. ^s Thissaintmusthavebeenfamous atonetime,sincemanychurcheswerededicatedtohim. Sometimes,aswe aretold,heiscalledMedan. ^*^ Theremovalofhisremains,toafardistant land, does not appear to have occasioned forgetfulness of his merits and miracles in the province, which seems to have been the one that can best lay claim to his nativity. Around the beautiful shores and islands of Lough Corrib, his name was long a household word. He is mentioned in the list ofsaintsfoundintheMartyrologyofDonegal. 47 Thereweread,asbeing venerated on this day, Meallan, Mac Ui Cuinn, of Inis Mac Ui Cuinn, in
LochOirbsen,inConnaught. TheRev. S. Baring-Gould,remarkingonthe loss of his Acts, refers his period to the end of the sixth century. ^^ At pre- sent, not even a trace of his former hermitage remains.
Article V. —St. Aid, Aedh, or Aidus, Bishop of Sleaty, Queen's County. \Seve71th Cefitury. '\ Beside the River Barrow, where St. Fiach^ founded his early religious establishment, in the fifth century, dwelt this venerable man, who is called an anchorite. He appears, further- more, to have attained a still higher distinction, in connexion with this place. The name. Aid, Bishop of Sleibthe, is the only mention made of him, in the Martyrology of Tallagh. ^ He was probably abbot, as well as bishop, over the religious community, that lived at Sleaty or Sletty. The situation of this house has been pointed out, by Ussher, as having been on the White Plain, neartheRiverBerbhaorBarrow. 3 Forthisstatement,hequotesthetesti-
mony of the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick ; and, yet, in that copy, published by Colgan, we look in vain for verification of this reference. * It has generally
been assumed, that Sleibthe,5 so written by all Irish autliorities,^ must have derived its name from its contiguity to the hills or mountain range of Slieve
Marigue. ^ Itshouldberemarked,however,thatSleatyorSlettyoldchurch^ was on a level site, surrounded by its enclosed graveyard, near the right bank of the River Barrow, and removed some miles from the Sliabh Mairge
^° It lies two miles northward of Carlow and it seems town,
range.
44 This account is confirmed by the Scho-
liast on ^ngus, and by the Martyrology of Cashel.
45 The time, moreover, does not
For the Mellan or Meldan of St. Fursey's acquaintance flourished long before Beoan and Mellan, here mentioned, who are called the uncles of St, Cuthbert. Their respec- tive pedigrees also differ.
4^ See Rev. S. Baring-Gould's "Lives of
the Saints," vol. ii. , February vii. , p. J93. *^ Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
40>41-
4^ See "Lives of the Saints," vol. ii. ,
February vii. , p. 193.
Article v. —' See his Life at the 12th
of October.
=
Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p. xv.
3 See " Britannicarum Ecclesiarum Anti-
quitates," cap. xvii. , p. 449.
See "Trias Thaumaturga. " Septima
pretty
agree.
^ See Dr. P. W. " and Joyce's Origin
History of Irish Names of Places," part iv. , chap, i. , p. 367.
^ It now gives name to a barony in the
Vita S. Patricii, lib. iii. , cap. xxi. , to xxv.
pp. 152, 153. s"
Pronounced Sleaty. "
Queen's County.
« **
See Dr. O'Donovan's Annals of the Four Masters," vol. i. , n. (c), p. 300.
9 The townland and small parish of Sleaty
are noted on the " Ordnance Survey Town-
landMapsfortheQueen'sCounty. " Sheet
32. ^o
Yet, the author of the Tripartite Life, who seems to have known the situation well, translates Slepte, by the Latin word
"montes. " See Colgan's "Trias Thau- maturga. " Septima Vita S. Patricii, lib. m. , cap. xxiii. , p. 153.
February 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 395
evident," that in former times the Barrow once formed a lough, in the inter-
mediate space. " We read in the Martyrology of Donega^s as being venerated
on this day, Aedh, Bishop of Slebte. The " Ciin Adamnain" states, that he
was one the saints whom Adamnan ^'> found as to free the among security,
women of Ireland from every slavery which was upon them. Both of these holy men were contemporaries ; and the year of Adamnan's death we know to have been 703. ^5 Colgan^° and the Bollandists^7 assign the festival of St. Aidus, to the 7th of February. Yet, Colgan has no special Acts at the present date. Under the head of Slebhte, Duald Mac Firbis enters Aedh, a disciple of Palrick,^^ Bishop of Slebhte, at February the 7th. '9 His death is set down at A. D. 696,=^° 698^' or 199. " His birth and death appear to have happened within the seventh century.
Article VI. —St. Ronan, Bishop and Confessor, Scotland. \Seventh Century? ^ In our collection, the names of many saints, connected with Scodand, are to be found, because especially during the sixth and seventh centuries, the Scottish missions were most generally served by natives of Ireland. When the nativities of such missionaries are undiscovered or doubtful—as in the present case—we feel inclined, most usually, to believe,
when the names are thoroughly Irish, when the time fell within the Albanian missionary period, and as Ireland was almost the sole recruiting soil—to furnish Scotia Minor with her ministers, that we may c-onditionally claim —at least untilpresumptionofthefactbedisturbedbyconclusiveevidence aplace in our national records, for several of the early Scottish saints. No doubt, many of the latter were natives of Scotland, and had no further connexion with Ireland, except in so far, as they received their religious training and instruction, from Irish ecclesiastics and teachers, at lona, and elsewhere, in Scotland. But, the investigations of Irish and Scottish searchers, in the domains of antiquity, are still further required, to determine the nativities of numberless individuals, noted in the old kalendars and breviaries of Scot- land. ^ The task, no doubt, is a discouraging one, owing to its inherent difficulties ; yet, with perseverance and discrimination, much may be done. In the Kalendars of Ferrarius and of Adam King, at this date, a festival is assigned to a St. Ronane, who is called a bishop and a confessor. ^ There arenolessons,however,norrubricaldirectionsconcerninghisservice; neither ishementionedintheArbuthnottKalendar. 3 HeflourishedinScotland,'^
" From an examination of the river's Academy. " Irish MSS. series, vol. i. , part
valley-conformation. i. , pp. 126, 127.
•^ ^^ **
Carlow is so called, from its ancient "cahir," where the old castle of the town now stands, and from the "loch," imme- diately north of it.
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
40, 41.
^* See his Life at the 23rd of September.
"
^s See Dr. O'Donovan's
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 304 to 307.
^^ See "Acta Sanctorum Hibernise,"
xxxi. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S . Mai- doci, cap. i. , p. 221.
^7 See "Acta Sanctorum," Februarii vii. ,
See William M. Hennessy's Chroni- con Scotorum. "
-^ See Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. i. , pp. 299 to 301.
^^ " — thisdate. The AnnalsofUlster"give
^ of Article vi. The circumstance
various missionaries and saints, in Scotland, being omitted from our Irish martyrologies and annals does not militate against our claim to their nativities; for, many of the most celebrated Irish saints, venerated in Great Britain, and on the Continent of Europe, are only known to us, through the study of foreign records,
^3
"
jecti," pp. 2, 3. Old edition.
tomus ii.
Prsetermissi et in alios dies re-
^^ We do not think this
to
19See"ProceedingsoftheRoyalIrish
title, however, be warranted on any good authority.
p. 144.
Annals of the
^
Scottish Saints,"
3 See ibid. , p. 441. 4Ferrariusstates,about603. Dempster
See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of
396 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 7.
under King Malduine,s who is said to have reigned from a. d. 664 to 684. ^ St. Ronan lived in Kilmanora, or Kilmanoren, in the Scottish province of Lennocia,7orLevenax.
ThisRonanusissaid^tohavebeenthesameashe who is mentioned by Venerable Bede. 9 The present saint is supposed to have been connected with the following places in Scotland. '" The Kil- maronen, in Levenax, is probably the parish of Kilmaronock," which name is formed from that of the saint ; thus, Ma-ron-og, with an honorary prefix and suffix, Kilmaronag, in Muckairn ;" Tempul Ronain,'3 the ancient name for the parish church of Hy ;'^ Eoroby, in the old parish of Ness ;'5 Island of Ronay, off Raasay ;'^ Rona Island,'7 sixty miles north-north-east of the Lewes j'^ St. Ronan's Isle, which is a peninsulated eminence at high tide, and lying off the west coast'9 of the mainland in Zetland,=° Port-Ronain, the principal landing-place in the Island of lona f^ all the foregoing places are thought to have been called after the present St. Ronan. He is not mentioned in our Irish Calendars, at this date, although he may have been anIrishmanbybirth; but,hemustcertainlybedistinguishedfromSt. Ronan Fionn,commemoratedatLannRonain. -^' However,PatherInnesconfounds both ;-3 and the present saint may or may not be the Scottish Ronan,=4 by
nation, who was St. Finan's polemical opponent. A singular mistake has been committed,^5 in identifying the latter with a patron of Insula Ronan. '^^ Bede's Ronan flourished about the year 652, and yet his death is placed at A. D. 778. At the year 736, the "Annals of Ulster" enter the death of Ronain, Abbot of Cinngaraid f^ but, as we are told, St. ^ngus^^ places this saint, at the 9th of February, we may doubt, if he may be identified with the
has a St. Ronan, Bishop of the Scots, at the Here, too, are some crosses,
sect,
"
^^
year; —
same but, his feast is assigned to the
Local legends relate, that St. Ronan came to Rona from Eorapiall where a chapel was dedicated to him—on the back of a whale. It is said, he found it inhabited by hairy creatures, who backed out into the sea before him, while leaving their marks in scratches on the rocks. See Muir's "Cha- racteristics of Architecture," p. 199, and Martin's "Western Islands of Scotland," pp. 19 to 25.
^9 In the bay of Scalloway. =° "
17th of February.
s He is noticed as the fifty-fifth King of
Scotland.
^ See the Chronology of George Buchanan,
in " Rerum Scoticarum Historia," lib. v. , pp. 146, 147.
^ According to the Breviary of Aberdeen. ^ By Camerarius, "De Scotorum Forti-
tudine," p. 96.
9 See " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis An-
glorum," lib. iii. , cap. 25, p. 233.
'° See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of
Scottish Saints," pp. 441, 442,
See Hubert's Shetland," p. 456. Here are the foundations of an old chapel.
^^ See "
Parochiales Scotiae,"
" Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes
P,p, 417.
^*
At the 22nd of May, where an account of him will be found.
^3 See ' ' Civil and Ecclesiastical History
of Scotland,' book ii. , sect, xxv,, p, 161,
=4 The editor of the " Parochiales Origines
Scotiae" having stated, that Scotia was Ire-
land, yet, makes Bede's Ronan a Scotch-
man. See part ii. , pp. 285, 296.
=3 By Camerarius.
-<^ See "De Scotorum Fortitudine, at
February 6th, p. 96.
^7 See Dr. O'Conor's "Rerum Hibemi-
carum Scriptores," tomus iv. Annales Ul-
Origines
pars i. , p. 34. Among the antiquities are
two Roman Catholic chapels. Also, the ** Old Statistical Account of Scotland," vol. xi. , p. 206.
"See "Origines Parochiales Scotise,"
parsii. , pp. 132, 827.
*3 Old records mention it, in connexion
with "the personaige of Tempill-Ronaige. " *4 See Rev. William Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba. " Additional Notes
P,
part ii. , p. 388, and Martin's Western
Isles of Scotland," p. 27.
i. , pp. 416, 417. "
'S See Origines Prochiales Scotiae," *'
^'^ A small inhabited
the parish of Glenelg, in Inverness-shire.
See Fullarton's "Imperial Gazetteer of 11A111 fig-oA, or, "Bishop Ronan the
Scotland," vol, ii. , p. 643.
'7 On there is a little 14 it, TeampuU,
feet 8 inches long, by 8 feet 3 inches wide.
-^ He is commemorated as, Onauc tlo- kingly. " Upon this is the note, . 1. tiof
island,
belonging to
tonienses, 86. p.
^'
See Rev, William Reeves' Adamnan's
mochu'OA " In Lismore
ino|\
Mochuda he is.
"
ACA, or,
February 7. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 397
present holy man. ^s Dempster states, that Ronnanus, the bishop, died in Levinia. 3° OnaccountofcontradictorystatementsregardingthisSt. Ronan, the Bollandists wish to pass over his Acts—although they include him at this day—because they hoped further light might be thrown on his obscure
31 history.
Article VII. —Saints Lonan, Criotan and Miolan, called like- wise, THE THREE SONS OF DaIRE, OF MoiN-MlOLAIN, PERHAPS, MONA- molin, County of Wexford. The Martyrology of Tallagh^ records at the 7 th of February, the three sons of Daire, Lonan and Cretan and Maolan. Then follows the designation Mona Maolain, from which we might be in-
"
clined to think, that from the latter saint some Mona or
bog" had been named. Wemayfairlyinfer,thattheseholybrothershvedduringorbefore the ninth century. Who their father Daire was has not transpired. These united names. Saints Lonan, Criotan, and Miolan, belonging to Moin-Mio- lain, and three sons of Daire, are registered in the Martyrology of Donegal,^ as having a festival celebrated on this day. It will probably prove as un- availing to discover the place or places, where these holy men were venerated, as. the exact time when they flourished. Yet, there is a parish, called Mona- molin,3 in the baronies of Ballaghkeen and Gorey, in the county of Wexford. Among the known denominations of Irish places, this seems to accord best with Mona-Maolain. 4 The last-named of the three saints appears to have therefore, is it — he was the most
name to their
given place
and, distinguishedamongthem. —ThereisaKilcredans whichmightbederived
=9 See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 441.
3°See"MenologiumScoticum. " Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
191.
3^ See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Februarii vii. Prsetermissi et in alios dies
^ In a letter from Maurice Lenihan, Esq. , and dated Limerick, September 22nd, 1873, he gives a very interesting description of this place and its traditions. Not far from it is shown Lios Liathan, which is supposed to have been the fort held by Liathan, the
" own man" or " body servant," to the cele- brated Monarch of Ireland Brian Boroimhe. An account, regarding him will be found in
rejecti, p. 3.
Article vii. —^ Edited
Rev. Dr.
by "
xiv.
Kelly, p.
== Edited
by
Drs. Todd and
Reeves, pp.
*'TheWarsoftheGhaeilandGaill, asalso in Hardiman's "Irish Minstrelsy. " Here
again is Cragg Mountain, on which Eabul or Aibhile, the banshee or familiar sprite of the Dal-Cas is said to have lived. This too tradition says she haunted, and that she told Brian Boroimhe, he should not survive the great battle at Clontarf. This fact, it is stated, he told to his servant Liathan, when the Danes were approaching his tent to murder him.
7 General Sarsfield rode through this place, when he made the celebrated detour on Ballyneety, where he blew up King
William Third's battering train and ammuni- tion.
40, 41,
3 It is defined on the '* Ordnance Survey
Townland Maps for the County of Wex- ford. " Sheets 16,17,21,22. The town and townland of this parish are shown on Sheet 16.
4 There is another townland of Monamo-
Ian, in the parish of Templeludigan, barony of Bantry, and county of Wexford. See
? <J/(/. , Sheets 18, 24.
s This townland lies in the parish of
O'Brien's bridge, barony of Lower TuUa. See "Ordnance Survey Townland Maps fortheCountyofClare. " Sheet45.
;
probable,
one mile and a-half from O'Brien's Bridge, in the county of Clare. It lies within three miles and a-half mile south-west from Killaloe. Tradition has it, that a St. Credan built a church here ; yet, whether he was identical or not with the St. Cretan or St. Criotan this day venerated must be left for mere conjecture. It is in a very out of-the-way place ; yet, the spot is interesting for many reasons, and the people are greatly attached to it. ^ The cemetery of Kil- credan is approached by Ballycorney,^ through a series of fields, each field
from St. Criotan or Credan on the townland of Ross, about
398 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [February 7.
nearly one fourth of a mile in length. As you enter the churchyard, a
squared piece of granite, about five feet in length, is placed on the stile. It is usual to rest coffins on it, when funerals enter the cemetery. The view towards the north is bounded by a series of fine mountains ; south and west the Tipperary, Cork and Kerry mountains loom in the distance. The cemetery is well filled with deceased members of various local families. ^ Hardly a remnant of the old church now remains. 9 Near it is a holy well, which is furnished with cups and jugs, arranged in a row about it. ^° There is another Kilcredane, or Kilcredaune,"at the mouth of the Shannon, in the parish and barony of Moyarta, and in the county of Clare. " There is a parish and townland called Kilcredan, in the barony of Imokilly, in the east riding of Cork County. '3 In the county of Kerry, in the barony of Ma- gunihy, there is a parish, called Kilcredane. ^^^ Again, there is a Kilcreevin townland, in Kilmorgan parish, barony of Corran, and county of Sligo. ^s AH of the foregoing, however, are far apart from Monamolin, in point of situa- tion.
Article VIII. —St. Brigid, Daughter of Doma or Droma. The
name of St. Brigid, daughter to Doma, Dioma, Domma, Droma or Drona, as variously written by different authorities,^ is set down in our Irish Ca- lendars, at this day. Various distinct saints, called Brigid,^ are noticed in our calendars. In the Rev. Dr. Kelly's version of the Martyrology of Tal- lagh, the present saint is called Brigit ingean Droma, on the 7th of February. 3 At the same day, she is mentioned in the Martyrologies of Marianus O'Gor- man and of Charles Maguire. It is stated, likewise, that ^ngus the Culdee and Geoffrey Keating mention this saint. ** We read, in the Martyrology of
^s See " Ordnance Survey Townland
for the — of Sheet Maps County Sligo. " 33.
^
Article viii. Speaking of the many
saints, bearing the name of Brigid, in Ire- land, we find the following enumeration in Dermod O'Conor's translation of Keating's
" of Ireland :" " The wo- History religious
men that were known by the name of Brid-
get in that kingdom were fourteen, and were those that follow : Bridget, the daughter of
Dioma ; Bridget, the daughter of Mianaig ; Bridget, the daughter of Momhain ; Bridget,
the daughter of Eana ; Bridget, the daughter of Colla ; Bridget, the daughter of Eathtair
Ard ; Bridget, of Inis Bride ; Bridget, the daughter of Diamair ; Bridget, the daughter of Seannbotha; Bridget, the daughter of Fiadnait ; Bridget, the daughter of Hugh ; Bridget, the daughter of Luinge ; Bridget, the daughter of Fischmaine ; Bridget, the daughter of Flainge," book ii. , p. 389.
^
Many of the preceding proper names are altogether differently spelled, by Col- gan, in his Latin version of this extract from
"" Keating. See Trias Thaumaturga.
*3 See "Ordnance Survey Towniland Appendix Quarta ad Acta S. Brigidse, cap.
^ The Minahans, the Ryans, the Hurleys
and the
Hickey, who gave the first vote to Daniel O'Connell, at the Clare election in 1828, is buried here, and the people point out his grave with a laudable pride.
Hickeys
are most numerous. Patt
9 The church was furnished with a which, the natives aver, rang of itself.
bell, however, was taken across the Shannon, about one quarter of a-mile distant, when the tongue fell out, and it never rang more.
" An antique quern, called a Druid's stone, lies in the cemetery, which is filled with trees, and lately enclosed, by the Li- merick Poor Law Guardians, with a good stone wall. The ancient rude stones of the
church are now used as grave-stones. ""
See Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Clare. " Sheets 65, 72.
" The foregoing communications, with a rough sketch of the first-iiamed Kilcredan Cemetery, were sent to tiie writer, in the letter to which allusion has been already made.
bell, The
Maps for the County of Cork. " The parish . is defined on Sheets 77, 78, 79, and the townland on the two former sheets.
'* This is shown on the " Ordnance Sur-
vey Townland Maps for the County of Domcer
Kerry. " Sheets 48, 58. * See Colgan's "Trias Thaumaturga. "
i. , p. 611.
