573, it seems pro- bable, that his son Aedh
immediately
suc- ceeded him, and consequently, that the in- cidents, recorded in the text, occurred dur- ing that or a subsequent year.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v2
9, p.
346.
'^ From this statement, and from similar
ones, contained in the Acts of our saints,
we gather incidentally pictures of ancient social and religious conditions of life.
on the and wood,
engraved, by
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 541
the mountains. The milk-giving cow sent forth piteous lowings, for the
slaughter of her calf. The legend relates, however, that St. Berach repaired thisloss,inamiraculousmanner. Thisstory,andseveralotheraccounts, contained in his Acts, do not deserve any special credit.
It happened, about this time, that Foilan,'7 the son of Colman,^^ King of Leinster, was a ward of St. Kevin. ^9 He probably had been receiving that
instruction, becoming his rank, at the monastery of the holy abbot. The royal youth was seized with a grievous infirmity. Coming to St. Kevin, he
"
Internally, I feel violent inflammation, and apples and sorrel'° should
said :
be procured as remedies for this intolerable pain. " Then, St. Kevin called
:
forhisbacull,andsaidtoBerach "Mybrother,goforthimmediately,and
finding, what shall be necessary for the sick prince, bear it to him. " Our
:
saint, therefore, went out to the top of a neighbouring hill, and, desiring to fulfil the abbot's commands, he knelt down to pray. Berach had an interior admonition, that his prayers should be heard. He saw some willows near him. It happened to be winter time, when all the trees and grass around seemed chilled and decaying. However, turning towards the willows, Berach said
" In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who created all things out of nothing, I pray that these willows may produce apples, and that the grass around may be filled with sorrel, so that all may know, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, that thou art a God, able to produce all things out of nothing. " Immediately, beautiful blossoms spread over the willows, and theseweresucceededbyastoreoftemptingapples. And,atthesametime, from the cold earth sprung the summer growth of sorrel. The fruit and vegetables required, Berach brought to St. Kevin. =^ The latter bore them to the sick prince, who, on tasting them, was soon restored to health. To perpetuate the memory of this wonderful miracle, it is related, that the willows continued to produce apples,^' at Glendalough, for many subsequent ages, and that these were used by infirm persons, who thereupon recovered health. ^3
No less wonderful was the young prince's preservation from the magic
*7 He afterwards succeeded his father as former of miracles here related, while em- King of Leinster, and died A. D, 665. See ploying St, Berach as an agent, more im- Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four mediately effecting them.
Masters," vol. i. , pp. 278, 279. By in-
ference from our saint's Acts, he must have
attained an extreme old age.
" It is a very remarkable fact, that after the English invasion, Giraldus Cambrensis alludes to this miracle, which he attributes
'^
of Cairbre, his predecessor in the princi- which produced apples for healing of the pality of Leinster. He died at Sliabh- noble youth and of many others, stood near Mairge, A. D. 576. Seeidid. , pp. 208, 209, the church in Glendalough. He tells us, Hence we may infer, the present narrative
This king is said to have been the son to St. Kevin. He says, that the willow,
must be assigned to some previous or to the same date.
*9 St. Kevin brought him up as a lay student, according to his Acts.
moreover, that willow, with other cuttings from it, had been transplanted to an orchard, which grew around the cemetery, in his time. The leaves and branches were veritably of the sallows' nature ; while white and oblong
The Irish for this herb is '"^
sanihadh,
apples
—more
health-producing
than tooth-
which has an acid
SAtfiA-o is rendered into " common sorrel,"
and in Latin, "rumex acetosa. " See held in such esteem, that not only the people
miracles,
which are here related of
for the of diseases. See healing
taste; byEdwardO'Reilly,
They
" Sanas Gaoidhilge-Sagsbhearla. An Irish- English Dictionary," sub voce.
="' The
St. Berach, are attributed to St. Kevin, in his peculiar Acts, yet in a form somewhat different, as may be seen, in his Life, at the 3rd of June. Colgan maintains, there is no substantial difference in both narratives, as St. Kevin might be regarded as the per-
some— on those trees. grew
of Glendalough, but others, from the most remote parts of Ireland, desired to procure
were known as "St. Kevin's apples," and were
them,
"Opera," Giraldi Cambrensis. De Mira-
bilibus Hiberniae, dist, ii. , cap. 29.
=3 The author of the First Life of St.
Berach, as published by Colgan, states, that such a phenomenon continued to his own time. See chapter the ninth.
542 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February15.
arts of a queen, his wicked step-mother,^* and, who, from the narrative, appears to have been a Pagan. ^s She desired he should suffer the loss of life or of limbs, lest coming to reign after his father's death, her own off- spring might lose the inheritance. For this purpose, taking with her some adepts in diabolical practices, she ascended a certain hill, and began to invoke evil spirits. But, by a special inspiration from Heaven, Berach was led to ascend this same hill—one probably in the neighbourhood of Glendalough — to look after the cattle. Understanding the nature of that ceremony he then beheld, he prayed to God for the preservation of the young prince, and the Spirit of the Lord soon overcame the spirits of hell. The legend further relates, that the wicked queen and her accomplices were doomed for signal destruction, because of their cruel and impious designs ; the earth opened and swallowed them alive,"'' as formerly Dathan and Abiron*7 experienced a similar and most terrible judgment, from the Almighty power. "^
CHAPTER III.
ST. BERACH's departure from glendalough—HE SETS OUT IN A DIRECT COURSE FOR CLUAIN-COIRPTHE—DISPUTE WITH A MAGUS—BOTH ARE REFERRED TO iEDAN, KING OF SCOTLAND—^RETURN TO IRELAND—ST. BERACH FOUNDS A CELL AT DUBBERAITH—DESCRIPTION OF KILBARRACH, COUNTY OF DUBLIN.
When Berach's extraordinary merits had thus been manifested, at Glenda- lough, he seemed, as it were, a luminary, destined by the Almighty to
spread a great light, in some more distant place.
For, one night, he was favouredwithavision,whenanangelspoketohim "To-morrowmorning,
you shall meet a deer, at the gates of the monastery, and having placed your baggage, on this animal, follow its direct course, until it stop, at a certain place, when you shall rest, likewise ; for that shall be your station, and your memorial, through all future time. " Wherefore, on rising the next day, our saint found a deer at the monastic fence. '^ He then St.
sought Kevin, telling him, and the other monks, about the vision. He obtained their per- mission to depart, as also their benediction. In a perfectly tame manner, and with slow steps, the deer preceded, carrying that burden imposed ; while the saint and a servant walked after it, singing the Divine praises. When
=* The name of this queen was Cainech, as found in some original Irish document, seen by Father Colgan.
=s In the Acts of St. Kevin, this sorceress
is said to have been divorced by Colman,
against whom, and his second, or perhaps, only lawful, wife, she entertained insatiable resentment. She is said, by her magic in- cantations, to have put all their children, except Faolan, to death.
'^ This we are told, in St. Kevin's Acts, occurred at a spot called Cassain, on the south side of Glendalough. The mountain, where the sorceress stood, was called Eanach. There, too, she is said to have been hurled from the mountain top over a steep and into
a valley. Perhaps, this happened at Poul- anass waterfall, or at that remarkable rift, or land-slide, in the rocks near it, which the local guides tell the stranger had been cleft
open by a stroke of Finn Mac Cumhail's sword.
=7 See Numbers xvi. , 31, 32,
=^
Not only do our Irish Annals—with a few exceptional dates and details—wonder- fullyaccord; but,whatisveryremarkable, they often agree, as in the foregoing ac- counts, with our saints' Acts. Even, the legendary narratives of the latter receive
frequent corroboration by comparison with each other,
Chapter hi. —' While Colgan has ad- duced several instances of similar miracles having been related, in the Acts of various saints, mentioned in the *' Lives of the P'athers ;" it is intimated, likewise, that in the Irish Life of St. Berach, the statement is varied, for, there it is said, that St. Kevin directed the deer, to come from a neigh- bouring mountain.
:
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 543
a long and fatiguing journey had been accomplished, the deer arrived, at a certain spot, and there resting for a time, Berach's luggage was set down.
The animal itself instantly disappeared. Then the holy man, thanking the
Almighty, ordered his servant to go and search out a suitable place for their
hermitage. While thus engaged, that disciple found the dead bodies of
eighteen men appearing, as if that very hour they had been slain. It is
related, that two sons of kings,' who were enemies, had been found among
the killed. Struck with astonishment and horror, the disciple returned to
his master, and told what had been discovered, on a spot very suitable for
their dwelling, only that it had been defiled by the blood of men lately slain,
and as it were Then said Berach " hast thou a corrupted. : Rightly given
name to the unknown place, for, henceforth, it shall be called " the Field of
Corruption. " Thenceforward, the Irish-speaking people called it Cluain- coirpthe. 3 Then, our saint went to the place in question, and piously prayed the Almighty, that the slain might be restored to life. This wonder- ful miracle was accomplished. The dead arose once more, and prostrated themselves, at the holy man's feet, giving thanks to God and to his saint. The two king's sons became firm friends, in after time, as likewise faithful servants of God. -^
It would seem, that at this time and place, Gentile superstitions still prevailed ; and, there, a Maguss laid claim to the place, which our saint had selected for his hermitage. This action, on his part, led to a controversy between him and Berach ; which, for decision, it was referred, in the first instance, to the local regulus,^ and, by the latter to ^dan,7 the son of Gauran, who then ruled over Scotland. For the purpose of settling this dispute, the contestants were obliged to set out for the castle of the Scottish monarch. ^ The magician contrived to be foremost, in the prejudgment of
^
rather the commentator, on an Irish Life of
St. Berach, states these to have been Dun-
chadh of Themoria and Tiprad, son to
Thaddeus, of Cruachuin. This, however, the supplementary notes, for the Irish Life
Colgan. tells us, that the author, or nia. Vita Prima, incerto auctore, cap. ii. ,
cannot be reconciled with the saint's Life, For, while Dunchadh lived, in the time of Colman, King of Leinster, who died in 576; Tiprad, the son of Tadgaeus, King of Cruaciiain, and of Connaught, died in the
"
year 781, as the
ters," or of Donegal, relate. Wherefore, that Tiprad, resuscitated by St. Berach, must have been distinct from the last- named. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xv. Februarii, n. 17, p. 346.
3 According to Colgan, Cluain means a
of St. Berach, to obtain further details re- garding him. See " Acta Sanctorum Hi-
bernise," xv. Februarii, n. 19, p. 346. Yet, both in the Irish Life itself, and in the notes, Colgan omits allusion to these, and to many other details, contained in the First Life.
^
According to an Irish Life of St. Berach, he is said to have been Aedus, the son of Eochaidh Tirmcharna, King of Con- naught, and who was killed, about the year 574 or 576. See ibid.
Annals of the Four Mas-
7 He is represented, as being the forty- spot altogether removed from resort by ninth King of Scotland, and to have reigned
men or cattle, and therefore it might be designated "a hiding place," or "a hermit-
age;" while CazV/M^ or CV/y/Z/z^ signifies "corrupted," possibly on account of the number of dead bodies then and there un-
buried, or it may mean "a chariot," that stood here, and be used in the latter sense
to indicate, that conveyance, by which, ac- cording to the legend, the deer brought St. Berach to this place. See ibid. y n. 18, p. 346.
4 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii,, Februaiii xv. De S. Berachio sive Beracho Abbate et Episcopo in Hiber-
thirty-four years, viz. : from A. D. 570 to A. D, 604. See an account of his rule, in Buchanan's " Rerum Scotticarum Historia," lib. v. ,. pp. 142 to 144.
"^ Adamnan, in his "Vita S. Columboe," lib. i. , cap. 19, p. 48 (Dr. Reeves' edition), relates the approach of a certain Berachus to St, Columkille, in the Island of lona. This is also stated in O'Donnell's Life ot
St. Columba, chap. 159. Hence, Colgan
the Berach there named to be iden- tical with our saint. See "ActaSancto- rum Hibernias," xv. Februarii, n. 20, pp. 346, 347. But, Dr. Reeves shows this in*
num. 12, 13, pp. 834, 835.
s We are told, that his name was Dier*
mitius, and we are referred, by Colgan, to
infers,
544 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS [February15.
hisrival; while,heinducedsomenobleyouths,whowereplayingatballin the royal court-yard, to insult and cast stones, at Berach, when he arrived. Forthis,theyweremiraculouslypunished. Thelegendrelates,thatasthe
magus was dressed in elegant raiment, he was courteously received, at first, bytheScottishking; whileBerach,whoonlyhadonhimameanhabit, was treated with contumely, until the king ascertained who he was, and then hewasreceivedwiththehonourhedeserved, ^danevenkneltatBerach's feettomarkhisrespect,andtoindicateregretforhispreviousmistake. He then heard the whole case pending between himself and the magus; and, having taken counsel with his chiefs, the Scotch king recommended, as arbitrators in the cause, Odo or Aedh, the Black,9 King of Breiffney, and Odo or Aedh,'° King of Teffia. The King of Scotland offered Berach ample possessions, should he chose to remain in Albania ; but, the holy man refused them, in- asmuch as the Almighty had conferred on him another place for his re- sidence. While, in Scotland, he healed two lepers, by sprinkling them with water he had blessed. At the same time, three blind persons had some of this water applied to their eyes, and instantly they were endowed with the faculty ofvision. "
It is said, St. Berach founded a cell, at a place, which in Irish was called Disert Beraigh, or Berach's Desert. This is thought to have been identical with Dubberaith, in Bregia, East Meath. " To this latter place, he is said to have come with the Druid, after both had crossed the sea, on leaving Scotland. In this order, the First Life of our saint relates about Berach having been refused a drink, when weary and thirsty he asked for it, and that miracle which subsequently took place, when the king of this district gave him lands, and all things necessary, for the purpose of founding a cell. '3 All this, as we are told, occurred, while the magus was present ; and, yet, he could not be moved to repentance, nor to faith. His malicious feelings, against St. Berach, were further manifested ; while, the latter bore all his attacks with admirable patience. ^-^
By some, it has been thought, that the place for this foundation was at Kilbarrach, />. , "the church of Berach," which is styled by Archbishop
ference cannot be established, on sufficient grounds. See his edition of Adamnan's
of Teathbha, or Teffia. As Breannainn's death is recorded, at A. D.
573, it seems pro- bable, that his son Aedh immediately suc- ceeded him, and consequently, that the in- cidents, recorded in the text, occurred dur- ing that or a subsequent year. See Dr.
•'
Life of St. Columba," n. (a), p. 48.
9 This was the name he had, before he
was baptized by holy Maidoc, as related in
the Acts of this latter saint, at the 31st of
January. Afterwards, he was known as O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Mas- the Fair or Beautiful.
was called
was distinguished, as the Sliocht-Aedhafinn,
or the race of the Fair Aedh. These sub-
sequently branched off, into the two noble
Irish families of the O'Roorkes and cap. iii. , num. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, pp. O'Reillys. This Aedh is said, by Colgan,
to have
the
of Ulster. " See, also, Col- 'See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xv. rum," tomus ii. , Februarii xv. De S.
^"Annals
Aedhfionn,
and his
posterity
flourished,
before A. D. when 574,
" See Dr. " Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
Hence, in Irish, he
ters," vol. i. , pp. 208, 209.
" See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
his compatriot, Aedh, son of Eochaidh
Tirmchama, King of Connaught, had been
killed, by the Ui-Briuin. See Dr. O'Dono-
"
van's
i. , pp. 208, 209, and n. (q), ibid. Yet, the Louth to Glendalough, and when St.
Annals of the Four Masters," vol.
killing of Aedh is placed, at A. D. 576, in Berach was on his way to the latter place,
fan's
ebruarii, n. 20, p. 347.
Berachio, sive Beracho, Abbate cap. iii. , num. 20, 21, 22, p. 836.
"
of Breannainn, son of Brian, and the chief
Episcopo
This Aedh is said to have been the son
rum," tomus ii. , Februarii xv. De S. Berachio, sive Beracho, Abbate ct Episcopo in Hibemia, Prima Vita, incerto auctore,
835, 836.
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , section
vi. , p. 324.
»3 In the Second Life, these events are
related, as if occurring on the journey from
et
in Hibernia. Vita Prima, incerto auctore,
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
545
in his "
old inhabitants of Baldoyle remember this old ruin, as " The Abbey of Mone," so called from marshy land, which formerly existed, in the immediate neighbourhood. '^ The name of Paulinus, or Polan,'7 associated with this church, at a very early period, may be due to the decay of his church at
Alan,
Repertorium Viride," thus,
"
Capella de Mone. "
^s
^^^^^&:^'^
Kilbarrack Church Ruins, County of Dublin.
Stapolin; hence,hismemorywouldbenaturallypreservedinaneighbouring church/^ As we have already seen, the Acts of St. Berach'9 state, that he
got, from the regulus of Bregia, a church site in that territory, called subse-
quently Dubberaith, i. e. , Domus Berachi, or Disert Berach. This may be identical, we are told, with the picturesque ruins on the shore of Dublin
bay. The church, here, was re-edified, in the 13th century. A window, on the north side of the chancel, is the only specimen of the architecture of that period. A well is on the north side of the church, and it is called St. Berach's Well. The waters of this, being of an astringent nature, were reputed as curative for affections of the eyes.
Our saint is said to have been of Kilbarrack. ='° It is an patron possible,
early religious erection stood, on the site, now so well known to the citizens
oftheIrishmetropolis. ThepresentdilapidatedoldchurchatKilbarrack,^'^ near the northern sea-shore of Dublin Bay, is said to have owed its erection
^sHeadds "istaestannexa :
ibid. ^°
praebendae de Howth, quae vocatur Kilbarrach," Ca-
There is a sketch engraved, and a de-
pella de Mone, is, unquestionably, the
"
scription of its ruins, by John S. Sloane,
C. E. , in his *' interestingpapers, Antiquarian
^^ The accompanying illustration of Kil-
barrack was drawn, on the spot, by William
F. Wakeman, and afterwards transferred pp. 233, 234. In the adjoining graveyard
Mona" of the " of Martyrology Dunegal. "
by him, to the wood : it was engraved, by George A. Hanlon.
'7 See notices of him, at the 2ist of May.
See William J. Fitzpatrick's
"
Ireland be-
^^
valuable contribution Loca Patriciana,"
part X. , in the "Journal of the Kilkenny
and South East of Ireland Archoeological Society," vol. iv. Fourth series.
^9 Tlie genealogical table, containing St. Berach's descent will be found in No. v. ,
n. , p. 26, vol. iii. , part i. Fourth series, Vol. II.
See Rev. John Francis Shearman's
" =^
Cill
Rambles in the County of Dublin. " See
"
was the tomb of a noted character, " The Sham Squire ;" but, it is now a wreck.
Irish Literary Gazette," vol. i. . No. xv,,
fore the Union," chap. viii.
The townland denominations of Upper
and Lower Kilbarrack as also the parish, having a like name, in the barony of Coo-
"
lock, are to be seen on the
vey Townland Maps for the County of Dublin. " Sheet 15.
2 N
Now, the
Ordnance Sur-
546 LIVES01^THEIRISHSAINTS. [February15.
to the famous Sir John De Courcey," in the twelfth century. Some beauti- ful stanzas are found^3 in reference to the present ruins. These are situated a mile from Sutton, and are a conspicuous object to the visitor, from the railway passing to Howth,24 in the county of Dublin.
CHAPTER IV.
ST. BERACH GOES TO CLUAIN-COIRPTHE—LEGEND CONCERNING HIS CONTEST WITH THE MAGUS—HE FOUNDS A MONASTERY, AT A PLACE AFTERWARDS CALLED KIL- BARRY—HIS MIRACLES—PERIOD ASSIGNED FOR HIS DEATH—HIS VENERATION— CONCLUSION.
Although the locality, referable to a legendary account, which follows, in the Acts of St. Berach, be not indicated ; yet, we may infer, from the narra- tive, that it has more immediate reference to Cluain-coirpthe, the chief foundationofthisholyman. Thither,heappearstohavegone,afterleaving the territory of Meath. We are informed, that tlie case pending, between himself and the magus, had been referred to the judges, who not daring to decide it themselves, called in St. Samthanna,^ St. Attracta,^ as assessors, withsomeprelates,virgins,andholymen. Weareinformed,likewise,that the magus invoked the aid of demons, and sacrificed in their honour, so that he might contend against St. Berach's friends. These formed a very con-
"
siderablenumber. Beforemeetingthem,Aedh,theBlack,said:
tjnfor-
tunate man, that I am, deformed and ill-favoured in countenance, to be
present with so many fine, respectable men and women. What avails my
wealth and station, when my deformity must be observed by them ? Where- fore, I shall go to those saints, whose power I know to be so efiicacious, in healing bodily infirmities, and I shall implore them to improve the guise of
my poor body. '' to afford him aid.
ordinary favour ;
He then asked all the saints in turn, and, lastly, Berach, The latter told Aedh, that he had asked for a very extra- but, at the same time, encouraging him to have faith in the
='
Lord of Raheny and Kilbarrack.
land Maps for the County of Dublin. "
"3 To them are
G. H. S.
postfixed
the milials
Sheets — 15, 16, 19.
. ,' . ,. ,
The ivy climbs on gray Kilbarrack wall,
,. . ,, ,
,,
Chapter iv.
her, at the iQth of December.
. gee her Life at the nth of August. We And storm, and nipping frost, and ^,^ informed, that the magus laid claim to
beating rain,
And winter sea-wmds, waste their
wrath in vain
To rob the ruin of that ivy pall.
Emblem of constancy, it clings as fast
Around those portals, as in ages past Emblem of friendship, tried, unchanged,
which had been conferred on
1^^. ,,^^^ ^i^^ j^j^^g of Connaught, fearing the magus sliould satirize him, as had been
wished to refer the claim con- tested to another tribunal. This is said to ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ „^j^^i„j, portions of the j^ish Life. Relying on the king's neutrality or connivance, and on his own colourable title, the magus began to insult the man of God vol. viii. . No. 53, p. 844. At present, no before the people, charging him with being
^,''\" . }\^^^* . Old Al)bey !
• 1 , , ,
now it decks thy gloomy
threatened,
a pretender, an imposter and an invader of another's just rights. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," xv. Februarii, n. 30, p. 347.
' r,,^^,, ,
. ,.
In thy high hour of pride it never grew,
But came when thou wert crumbling to "^'^^y-
—See The Nation of August 30th, 1 851,
ivy remains on the ruin.
=4 The parish, townland, and town of
Howth, in the barony of Coolock, are de- scribed on the "Ordnance Survey Town-
^
See notices,
regarding
^j^j^
Y>\3,ce,
j^im, by . Edus, King
reward for a poem, which had been com-
^. ^^^ j^ :^^^ ^f ^^^^^ monarch. Yet, it is ^^j^j ^j. ^ spot granted had, by a prior and a
^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ i,,^,, to St. Berach ^-^^^^^
;
of as a Connaught,
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 547
Most Holy Trinity, it was indicated, that he should see the power of God, after he had been covered with Berach's hood. This the king took, and
lying against our saint's breast, he fell into a profound sleep, for one whole
hour, during which a fervent prayer had been offered on his behalf. Then
awaking, instead of being small in stature, as before he had been, the king
became a tall and stately man ; while, his original deformity gave place to greatcomeliness. 3 Hisveryservantscouldnotrecognisehim,afterthischange;
naymore,heevendoubtedhisactualidentity. Themagus,notwithstanding those signs of Divine power he witnessed, refused to be convinced, like Pharaoh of old. ^ He contended, that only in a place, called Rathin,5 would hehavejudgmentpronounced; because,therestoodalargetree,inwhich the Pagans believed an evil spirit had been enclosed, by magic art, and was accustomedtogiveoracularresponsestohisworshippers. ^ Thisproceeding he thought must serve to effect a judgment in his favour; for, that spot around and beneath the tree was supposed to be influenced by Gentile
spells. The judges declared, however, that if the magus could, he ought rather take the tree therefrom to that place, where the assembly had been convened, as he had such faith in magic art. Otherwise, should Berach be able to effect this matter, through his prayers, they resolved to decide in his favour, as bound by Divine manifestations. We may infer, from the legend, that the magus declined such a miraculous test. Wherefore, as in the case, when the rod of Aaron swallowed the rods of the Egyptian Magi,7 Berach taking with him holy men and women to where the tree grew, these con- tinued there in earnest prayer for fully four hours.
Meantime, a thick darkness fell around the people so numerously as-
sembled when, lo ! the tree was seen moving through air, as Habbacuc ;
formerly approached Daniel, confined in the lion's den. ^ It descended to earth in their presence, and became firmly rooted there, while the people gave
praise to God, and to his saints, for so great a miracle. Instantly, the dark shadows were dissolved, and a glorious brightness shone in the Heavens.
: Thevoiceofanangelwasthenheard "TheLordhathaccordedthis,as
a magnificent sign, to reveal the heavenly condemnation of the perfidious magus. " The judges and the people at once accepted such a miracle, as confirming the claims of Berach. But, the magus still continued, in his in-
credulity ; and, even he blasphemously asserted, that all, which had taken place before their eyes, was an illusion. St. Berach denounced him, for such
impiety; while, as a punishment for his malignity and blasphemies, the wretched man was deprived of the use of his tongue.
This magus was still obdurate, and he retired to a place, far removed fromthehauntofmen. There,forawholeyear,heinvokedassistancefrom his false gods, but he found it not. At the end of that time, the king's hunters chased a deer to the very place, where he lived ; when, looking through the window of his house, to learn what caused such an outcry, a son of the chase happened to launch a javelin after the quarry. His aim was missed ; but, the spear alighting went directly through the forehead of the magus, while the deer altogether vanished from before the hunter's eyes.
3 In the Life of St. Maidoc, at the
31st
of January, a different cause is assigned for
this change in his appearance.
"^ See Exodus, vii. , viii.
'^ From this statement, and from similar
ones, contained in the Acts of our saints,
we gather incidentally pictures of ancient social and religious conditions of life.
on the and wood,
engraved, by
Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 541
the mountains. The milk-giving cow sent forth piteous lowings, for the
slaughter of her calf. The legend relates, however, that St. Berach repaired thisloss,inamiraculousmanner. Thisstory,andseveralotheraccounts, contained in his Acts, do not deserve any special credit.
It happened, about this time, that Foilan,'7 the son of Colman,^^ King of Leinster, was a ward of St. Kevin. ^9 He probably had been receiving that
instruction, becoming his rank, at the monastery of the holy abbot. The royal youth was seized with a grievous infirmity. Coming to St. Kevin, he
"
Internally, I feel violent inflammation, and apples and sorrel'° should
said :
be procured as remedies for this intolerable pain. " Then, St. Kevin called
:
forhisbacull,andsaidtoBerach "Mybrother,goforthimmediately,and
finding, what shall be necessary for the sick prince, bear it to him. " Our
:
saint, therefore, went out to the top of a neighbouring hill, and, desiring to fulfil the abbot's commands, he knelt down to pray. Berach had an interior admonition, that his prayers should be heard. He saw some willows near him. It happened to be winter time, when all the trees and grass around seemed chilled and decaying. However, turning towards the willows, Berach said
" In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who created all things out of nothing, I pray that these willows may produce apples, and that the grass around may be filled with sorrel, so that all may know, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, that thou art a God, able to produce all things out of nothing. " Immediately, beautiful blossoms spread over the willows, and theseweresucceededbyastoreoftemptingapples. And,atthesametime, from the cold earth sprung the summer growth of sorrel. The fruit and vegetables required, Berach brought to St. Kevin. =^ The latter bore them to the sick prince, who, on tasting them, was soon restored to health. To perpetuate the memory of this wonderful miracle, it is related, that the willows continued to produce apples,^' at Glendalough, for many subsequent ages, and that these were used by infirm persons, who thereupon recovered health. ^3
No less wonderful was the young prince's preservation from the magic
*7 He afterwards succeeded his father as former of miracles here related, while em- King of Leinster, and died A. D, 665. See ploying St, Berach as an agent, more im- Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four mediately effecting them.
Masters," vol. i. , pp. 278, 279. By in-
ference from our saint's Acts, he must have
attained an extreme old age.
" It is a very remarkable fact, that after the English invasion, Giraldus Cambrensis alludes to this miracle, which he attributes
'^
of Cairbre, his predecessor in the princi- which produced apples for healing of the pality of Leinster. He died at Sliabh- noble youth and of many others, stood near Mairge, A. D. 576. Seeidid. , pp. 208, 209, the church in Glendalough. He tells us, Hence we may infer, the present narrative
This king is said to have been the son to St. Kevin. He says, that the willow,
must be assigned to some previous or to the same date.
*9 St. Kevin brought him up as a lay student, according to his Acts.
moreover, that willow, with other cuttings from it, had been transplanted to an orchard, which grew around the cemetery, in his time. The leaves and branches were veritably of the sallows' nature ; while white and oblong
The Irish for this herb is '"^
sanihadh,
apples
—more
health-producing
than tooth-
which has an acid
SAtfiA-o is rendered into " common sorrel,"
and in Latin, "rumex acetosa. " See held in such esteem, that not only the people
miracles,
which are here related of
for the of diseases. See healing
taste; byEdwardO'Reilly,
They
" Sanas Gaoidhilge-Sagsbhearla. An Irish- English Dictionary," sub voce.
="' The
St. Berach, are attributed to St. Kevin, in his peculiar Acts, yet in a form somewhat different, as may be seen, in his Life, at the 3rd of June. Colgan maintains, there is no substantial difference in both narratives, as St. Kevin might be regarded as the per-
some— on those trees. grew
of Glendalough, but others, from the most remote parts of Ireland, desired to procure
were known as "St. Kevin's apples," and were
them,
"Opera," Giraldi Cambrensis. De Mira-
bilibus Hiberniae, dist, ii. , cap. 29.
=3 The author of the First Life of St.
Berach, as published by Colgan, states, that such a phenomenon continued to his own time. See chapter the ninth.
542 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS. [February15.
arts of a queen, his wicked step-mother,^* and, who, from the narrative, appears to have been a Pagan. ^s She desired he should suffer the loss of life or of limbs, lest coming to reign after his father's death, her own off- spring might lose the inheritance. For this purpose, taking with her some adepts in diabolical practices, she ascended a certain hill, and began to invoke evil spirits. But, by a special inspiration from Heaven, Berach was led to ascend this same hill—one probably in the neighbourhood of Glendalough — to look after the cattle. Understanding the nature of that ceremony he then beheld, he prayed to God for the preservation of the young prince, and the Spirit of the Lord soon overcame the spirits of hell. The legend further relates, that the wicked queen and her accomplices were doomed for signal destruction, because of their cruel and impious designs ; the earth opened and swallowed them alive,"'' as formerly Dathan and Abiron*7 experienced a similar and most terrible judgment, from the Almighty power. "^
CHAPTER III.
ST. BERACH's departure from glendalough—HE SETS OUT IN A DIRECT COURSE FOR CLUAIN-COIRPTHE—DISPUTE WITH A MAGUS—BOTH ARE REFERRED TO iEDAN, KING OF SCOTLAND—^RETURN TO IRELAND—ST. BERACH FOUNDS A CELL AT DUBBERAITH—DESCRIPTION OF KILBARRACH, COUNTY OF DUBLIN.
When Berach's extraordinary merits had thus been manifested, at Glenda- lough, he seemed, as it were, a luminary, destined by the Almighty to
spread a great light, in some more distant place.
For, one night, he was favouredwithavision,whenanangelspoketohim "To-morrowmorning,
you shall meet a deer, at the gates of the monastery, and having placed your baggage, on this animal, follow its direct course, until it stop, at a certain place, when you shall rest, likewise ; for that shall be your station, and your memorial, through all future time. " Wherefore, on rising the next day, our saint found a deer at the monastic fence. '^ He then St.
sought Kevin, telling him, and the other monks, about the vision. He obtained their per- mission to depart, as also their benediction. In a perfectly tame manner, and with slow steps, the deer preceded, carrying that burden imposed ; while the saint and a servant walked after it, singing the Divine praises. When
=* The name of this queen was Cainech, as found in some original Irish document, seen by Father Colgan.
=s In the Acts of St. Kevin, this sorceress
is said to have been divorced by Colman,
against whom, and his second, or perhaps, only lawful, wife, she entertained insatiable resentment. She is said, by her magic in- cantations, to have put all their children, except Faolan, to death.
'^ This we are told, in St. Kevin's Acts, occurred at a spot called Cassain, on the south side of Glendalough. The mountain, where the sorceress stood, was called Eanach. There, too, she is said to have been hurled from the mountain top over a steep and into
a valley. Perhaps, this happened at Poul- anass waterfall, or at that remarkable rift, or land-slide, in the rocks near it, which the local guides tell the stranger had been cleft
open by a stroke of Finn Mac Cumhail's sword.
=7 See Numbers xvi. , 31, 32,
=^
Not only do our Irish Annals—with a few exceptional dates and details—wonder- fullyaccord; but,whatisveryremarkable, they often agree, as in the foregoing ac- counts, with our saints' Acts. Even, the legendary narratives of the latter receive
frequent corroboration by comparison with each other,
Chapter hi. —' While Colgan has ad- duced several instances of similar miracles having been related, in the Acts of various saints, mentioned in the *' Lives of the P'athers ;" it is intimated, likewise, that in the Irish Life of St. Berach, the statement is varied, for, there it is said, that St. Kevin directed the deer, to come from a neigh- bouring mountain.
:
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 543
a long and fatiguing journey had been accomplished, the deer arrived, at a certain spot, and there resting for a time, Berach's luggage was set down.
The animal itself instantly disappeared. Then the holy man, thanking the
Almighty, ordered his servant to go and search out a suitable place for their
hermitage. While thus engaged, that disciple found the dead bodies of
eighteen men appearing, as if that very hour they had been slain. It is
related, that two sons of kings,' who were enemies, had been found among
the killed. Struck with astonishment and horror, the disciple returned to
his master, and told what had been discovered, on a spot very suitable for
their dwelling, only that it had been defiled by the blood of men lately slain,
and as it were Then said Berach " hast thou a corrupted. : Rightly given
name to the unknown place, for, henceforth, it shall be called " the Field of
Corruption. " Thenceforward, the Irish-speaking people called it Cluain- coirpthe. 3 Then, our saint went to the place in question, and piously prayed the Almighty, that the slain might be restored to life. This wonder- ful miracle was accomplished. The dead arose once more, and prostrated themselves, at the holy man's feet, giving thanks to God and to his saint. The two king's sons became firm friends, in after time, as likewise faithful servants of God. -^
It would seem, that at this time and place, Gentile superstitions still prevailed ; and, there, a Maguss laid claim to the place, which our saint had selected for his hermitage. This action, on his part, led to a controversy between him and Berach ; which, for decision, it was referred, in the first instance, to the local regulus,^ and, by the latter to ^dan,7 the son of Gauran, who then ruled over Scotland. For the purpose of settling this dispute, the contestants were obliged to set out for the castle of the Scottish monarch. ^ The magician contrived to be foremost, in the prejudgment of
^
rather the commentator, on an Irish Life of
St. Berach, states these to have been Dun-
chadh of Themoria and Tiprad, son to
Thaddeus, of Cruachuin. This, however, the supplementary notes, for the Irish Life
Colgan. tells us, that the author, or nia. Vita Prima, incerto auctore, cap. ii. ,
cannot be reconciled with the saint's Life, For, while Dunchadh lived, in the time of Colman, King of Leinster, who died in 576; Tiprad, the son of Tadgaeus, King of Cruaciiain, and of Connaught, died in the
"
year 781, as the
ters," or of Donegal, relate. Wherefore, that Tiprad, resuscitated by St. Berach, must have been distinct from the last- named. See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
niae," xv. Februarii, n. 17, p. 346.
3 According to Colgan, Cluain means a
of St. Berach, to obtain further details re- garding him. See " Acta Sanctorum Hi-
bernise," xv. Februarii, n. 19, p. 346. Yet, both in the Irish Life itself, and in the notes, Colgan omits allusion to these, and to many other details, contained in the First Life.
^
According to an Irish Life of St. Berach, he is said to have been Aedus, the son of Eochaidh Tirmcharna, King of Con- naught, and who was killed, about the year 574 or 576. See ibid.
Annals of the Four Mas-
7 He is represented, as being the forty- spot altogether removed from resort by ninth King of Scotland, and to have reigned
men or cattle, and therefore it might be designated "a hiding place," or "a hermit-
age;" while CazV/M^ or CV/y/Z/z^ signifies "corrupted," possibly on account of the number of dead bodies then and there un-
buried, or it may mean "a chariot," that stood here, and be used in the latter sense
to indicate, that conveyance, by which, ac- cording to the legend, the deer brought St. Berach to this place. See ibid. y n. 18, p. 346.
4 See the Bollandists' "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii,, Februaiii xv. De S. Berachio sive Beracho Abbate et Episcopo in Hiber-
thirty-four years, viz. : from A. D. 570 to A. D, 604. See an account of his rule, in Buchanan's " Rerum Scotticarum Historia," lib. v. ,. pp. 142 to 144.
"^ Adamnan, in his "Vita S. Columboe," lib. i. , cap. 19, p. 48 (Dr. Reeves' edition), relates the approach of a certain Berachus to St, Columkille, in the Island of lona. This is also stated in O'Donnell's Life ot
St. Columba, chap. 159. Hence, Colgan
the Berach there named to be iden- tical with our saint. See "ActaSancto- rum Hibernias," xv. Februarii, n. 20, pp. 346, 347. But, Dr. Reeves shows this in*
num. 12, 13, pp. 834, 835.
s We are told, that his name was Dier*
mitius, and we are referred, by Colgan, to
infers,
544 LIVESOFTHEIRISHSAINTS [February15.
hisrival; while,heinducedsomenobleyouths,whowereplayingatballin the royal court-yard, to insult and cast stones, at Berach, when he arrived. Forthis,theyweremiraculouslypunished. Thelegendrelates,thatasthe
magus was dressed in elegant raiment, he was courteously received, at first, bytheScottishking; whileBerach,whoonlyhadonhimameanhabit, was treated with contumely, until the king ascertained who he was, and then hewasreceivedwiththehonourhedeserved, ^danevenkneltatBerach's feettomarkhisrespect,andtoindicateregretforhispreviousmistake. He then heard the whole case pending between himself and the magus; and, having taken counsel with his chiefs, the Scotch king recommended, as arbitrators in the cause, Odo or Aedh, the Black,9 King of Breiffney, and Odo or Aedh,'° King of Teffia. The King of Scotland offered Berach ample possessions, should he chose to remain in Albania ; but, the holy man refused them, in- asmuch as the Almighty had conferred on him another place for his re- sidence. While, in Scotland, he healed two lepers, by sprinkling them with water he had blessed. At the same time, three blind persons had some of this water applied to their eyes, and instantly they were endowed with the faculty ofvision. "
It is said, St. Berach founded a cell, at a place, which in Irish was called Disert Beraigh, or Berach's Desert. This is thought to have been identical with Dubberaith, in Bregia, East Meath. " To this latter place, he is said to have come with the Druid, after both had crossed the sea, on leaving Scotland. In this order, the First Life of our saint relates about Berach having been refused a drink, when weary and thirsty he asked for it, and that miracle which subsequently took place, when the king of this district gave him lands, and all things necessary, for the purpose of founding a cell. '3 All this, as we are told, occurred, while the magus was present ; and, yet, he could not be moved to repentance, nor to faith. His malicious feelings, against St. Berach, were further manifested ; while, the latter bore all his attacks with admirable patience. ^-^
By some, it has been thought, that the place for this foundation was at Kilbarrach, />. , "the church of Berach," which is styled by Archbishop
ference cannot be established, on sufficient grounds. See his edition of Adamnan's
of Teathbha, or Teffia. As Breannainn's death is recorded, at A. D.
573, it seems pro- bable, that his son Aedh immediately suc- ceeded him, and consequently, that the in- cidents, recorded in the text, occurred dur- ing that or a subsequent year. See Dr.
•'
Life of St. Columba," n. (a), p. 48.
9 This was the name he had, before he
was baptized by holy Maidoc, as related in
the Acts of this latter saint, at the 31st of
January. Afterwards, he was known as O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Mas- the Fair or Beautiful.
was called
was distinguished, as the Sliocht-Aedhafinn,
or the race of the Fair Aedh. These sub-
sequently branched off, into the two noble
Irish families of the O'Roorkes and cap. iii. , num. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, pp. O'Reillys. This Aedh is said, by Colgan,
to have
the
of Ulster. " See, also, Col- 'See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto- "Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xv. rum," tomus ii. , Februarii xv. De S.
^"Annals
Aedhfionn,
and his
posterity
flourished,
before A. D. when 574,
" See Dr. " Ecclesiastical His- Lanigan's
Hence, in Irish, he
ters," vol. i. , pp. 208, 209.
" See the Bollandists' "Acta Sancto-
his compatriot, Aedh, son of Eochaidh
Tirmchama, King of Connaught, had been
killed, by the Ui-Briuin. See Dr. O'Dono-
"
van's
i. , pp. 208, 209, and n. (q), ibid. Yet, the Louth to Glendalough, and when St.
Annals of the Four Masters," vol.
killing of Aedh is placed, at A. D. 576, in Berach was on his way to the latter place,
fan's
ebruarii, n. 20, p. 347.
Berachio, sive Beracho, Abbate cap. iii. , num. 20, 21, 22, p. 836.
"
of Breannainn, son of Brian, and the chief
Episcopo
This Aedh is said to have been the son
rum," tomus ii. , Februarii xv. De S. Berachio, sive Beracho, Abbate ct Episcopo in Hibemia, Prima Vita, incerto auctore,
835, 836.
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xiv. , section
vi. , p. 324.
»3 In the Second Life, these events are
related, as if occurring on the journey from
et
in Hibernia. Vita Prima, incerto auctore,
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
545
in his "
old inhabitants of Baldoyle remember this old ruin, as " The Abbey of Mone," so called from marshy land, which formerly existed, in the immediate neighbourhood. '^ The name of Paulinus, or Polan,'7 associated with this church, at a very early period, may be due to the decay of his church at
Alan,
Repertorium Viride," thus,
"
Capella de Mone. "
^s
^^^^^&:^'^
Kilbarrack Church Ruins, County of Dublin.
Stapolin; hence,hismemorywouldbenaturallypreservedinaneighbouring church/^ As we have already seen, the Acts of St. Berach'9 state, that he
got, from the regulus of Bregia, a church site in that territory, called subse-
quently Dubberaith, i. e. , Domus Berachi, or Disert Berach. This may be identical, we are told, with the picturesque ruins on the shore of Dublin
bay. The church, here, was re-edified, in the 13th century. A window, on the north side of the chancel, is the only specimen of the architecture of that period. A well is on the north side of the church, and it is called St. Berach's Well. The waters of this, being of an astringent nature, were reputed as curative for affections of the eyes.
Our saint is said to have been of Kilbarrack. ='° It is an patron possible,
early religious erection stood, on the site, now so well known to the citizens
oftheIrishmetropolis. ThepresentdilapidatedoldchurchatKilbarrack,^'^ near the northern sea-shore of Dublin Bay, is said to have owed its erection
^sHeadds "istaestannexa :
ibid. ^°
praebendae de Howth, quae vocatur Kilbarrach," Ca-
There is a sketch engraved, and a de-
pella de Mone, is, unquestionably, the
"
scription of its ruins, by John S. Sloane,
C. E. , in his *' interestingpapers, Antiquarian
^^ The accompanying illustration of Kil-
barrack was drawn, on the spot, by William
F. Wakeman, and afterwards transferred pp. 233, 234. In the adjoining graveyard
Mona" of the " of Martyrology Dunegal. "
by him, to the wood : it was engraved, by George A. Hanlon.
'7 See notices of him, at the 2ist of May.
See William J. Fitzpatrick's
"
Ireland be-
^^
valuable contribution Loca Patriciana,"
part X. , in the "Journal of the Kilkenny
and South East of Ireland Archoeological Society," vol. iv. Fourth series.
^9 Tlie genealogical table, containing St. Berach's descent will be found in No. v. ,
n. , p. 26, vol. iii. , part i. Fourth series, Vol. II.
See Rev. John Francis Shearman's
" =^
Cill
Rambles in the County of Dublin. " See
"
was the tomb of a noted character, " The Sham Squire ;" but, it is now a wreck.
Irish Literary Gazette," vol. i. . No. xv,,
fore the Union," chap. viii.
The townland denominations of Upper
and Lower Kilbarrack as also the parish, having a like name, in the barony of Coo-
"
lock, are to be seen on the
vey Townland Maps for the County of Dublin. " Sheet 15.
2 N
Now, the
Ordnance Sur-
546 LIVES01^THEIRISHSAINTS. [February15.
to the famous Sir John De Courcey," in the twelfth century. Some beauti- ful stanzas are found^3 in reference to the present ruins. These are situated a mile from Sutton, and are a conspicuous object to the visitor, from the railway passing to Howth,24 in the county of Dublin.
CHAPTER IV.
ST. BERACH GOES TO CLUAIN-COIRPTHE—LEGEND CONCERNING HIS CONTEST WITH THE MAGUS—HE FOUNDS A MONASTERY, AT A PLACE AFTERWARDS CALLED KIL- BARRY—HIS MIRACLES—PERIOD ASSIGNED FOR HIS DEATH—HIS VENERATION— CONCLUSION.
Although the locality, referable to a legendary account, which follows, in the Acts of St. Berach, be not indicated ; yet, we may infer, from the narra- tive, that it has more immediate reference to Cluain-coirpthe, the chief foundationofthisholyman. Thither,heappearstohavegone,afterleaving the territory of Meath. We are informed, that tlie case pending, between himself and the magus, had been referred to the judges, who not daring to decide it themselves, called in St. Samthanna,^ St. Attracta,^ as assessors, withsomeprelates,virgins,andholymen. Weareinformed,likewise,that the magus invoked the aid of demons, and sacrificed in their honour, so that he might contend against St. Berach's friends. These formed a very con-
"
siderablenumber. Beforemeetingthem,Aedh,theBlack,said:
tjnfor-
tunate man, that I am, deformed and ill-favoured in countenance, to be
present with so many fine, respectable men and women. What avails my
wealth and station, when my deformity must be observed by them ? Where- fore, I shall go to those saints, whose power I know to be so efiicacious, in healing bodily infirmities, and I shall implore them to improve the guise of
my poor body. '' to afford him aid.
ordinary favour ;
He then asked all the saints in turn, and, lastly, Berach, The latter told Aedh, that he had asked for a very extra- but, at the same time, encouraging him to have faith in the
='
Lord of Raheny and Kilbarrack.
land Maps for the County of Dublin. "
"3 To them are
G. H. S.
postfixed
the milials
Sheets — 15, 16, 19.
. ,' . ,. ,
The ivy climbs on gray Kilbarrack wall,
,. . ,, ,
,,
Chapter iv.
her, at the iQth of December.
. gee her Life at the nth of August. We And storm, and nipping frost, and ^,^ informed, that the magus laid claim to
beating rain,
And winter sea-wmds, waste their
wrath in vain
To rob the ruin of that ivy pall.
Emblem of constancy, it clings as fast
Around those portals, as in ages past Emblem of friendship, tried, unchanged,
which had been conferred on
1^^. ,,^^^ ^i^^ j^j^^g of Connaught, fearing the magus sliould satirize him, as had been
wished to refer the claim con- tested to another tribunal. This is said to ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ „^j^^i„j, portions of the j^ish Life. Relying on the king's neutrality or connivance, and on his own colourable title, the magus began to insult the man of God vol. viii. . No. 53, p. 844. At present, no before the people, charging him with being
^,''\" . }\^^^* . Old Al)bey !
• 1 , , ,
now it decks thy gloomy
threatened,
a pretender, an imposter and an invader of another's just rights. See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibernioe," xv. Februarii, n. 30, p. 347.
' r,,^^,, ,
. ,.
In thy high hour of pride it never grew,
But came when thou wert crumbling to "^'^^y-
—See The Nation of August 30th, 1 851,
ivy remains on the ruin.
=4 The parish, townland, and town of
Howth, in the barony of Coolock, are de- scribed on the "Ordnance Survey Town-
^
See notices,
regarding
^j^j^
Y>\3,ce,
j^im, by . Edus, King
reward for a poem, which had been com-
^. ^^^ j^ :^^^ ^f ^^^^^ monarch. Yet, it is ^^j^j ^j. ^ spot granted had, by a prior and a
^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ i,,^,, to St. Berach ^-^^^^^
;
of as a Connaught,
February 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 547
Most Holy Trinity, it was indicated, that he should see the power of God, after he had been covered with Berach's hood. This the king took, and
lying against our saint's breast, he fell into a profound sleep, for one whole
hour, during which a fervent prayer had been offered on his behalf. Then
awaking, instead of being small in stature, as before he had been, the king
became a tall and stately man ; while, his original deformity gave place to greatcomeliness. 3 Hisveryservantscouldnotrecognisehim,afterthischange;
naymore,heevendoubtedhisactualidentity. Themagus,notwithstanding those signs of Divine power he witnessed, refused to be convinced, like Pharaoh of old. ^ He contended, that only in a place, called Rathin,5 would hehavejudgmentpronounced; because,therestoodalargetree,inwhich the Pagans believed an evil spirit had been enclosed, by magic art, and was accustomedtogiveoracularresponsestohisworshippers. ^ Thisproceeding he thought must serve to effect a judgment in his favour; for, that spot around and beneath the tree was supposed to be influenced by Gentile
spells. The judges declared, however, that if the magus could, he ought rather take the tree therefrom to that place, where the assembly had been convened, as he had such faith in magic art. Otherwise, should Berach be able to effect this matter, through his prayers, they resolved to decide in his favour, as bound by Divine manifestations. We may infer, from the legend, that the magus declined such a miraculous test. Wherefore, as in the case, when the rod of Aaron swallowed the rods of the Egyptian Magi,7 Berach taking with him holy men and women to where the tree grew, these con- tinued there in earnest prayer for fully four hours.
Meantime, a thick darkness fell around the people so numerously as-
sembled when, lo ! the tree was seen moving through air, as Habbacuc ;
formerly approached Daniel, confined in the lion's den. ^ It descended to earth in their presence, and became firmly rooted there, while the people gave
praise to God, and to his saints, for so great a miracle. Instantly, the dark shadows were dissolved, and a glorious brightness shone in the Heavens.
: Thevoiceofanangelwasthenheard "TheLordhathaccordedthis,as
a magnificent sign, to reveal the heavenly condemnation of the perfidious magus. " The judges and the people at once accepted such a miracle, as confirming the claims of Berach. But, the magus still continued, in his in-
credulity ; and, even he blasphemously asserted, that all, which had taken place before their eyes, was an illusion. St. Berach denounced him, for such
impiety; while, as a punishment for his malignity and blasphemies, the wretched man was deprived of the use of his tongue.
This magus was still obdurate, and he retired to a place, far removed fromthehauntofmen. There,forawholeyear,heinvokedassistancefrom his false gods, but he found it not. At the end of that time, the king's hunters chased a deer to the very place, where he lived ; when, looking through the window of his house, to learn what caused such an outcry, a son of the chase happened to launch a javelin after the quarry. His aim was missed ; but, the spear alighting went directly through the forehead of the magus, while the deer altogether vanished from before the hunter's eyes.
3 In the Life of St. Maidoc, at the
31st
of January, a different cause is assigned for
this change in his appearance.
"^ See Exodus, vii. , viii.
