9
Dempster
will have it/° that he wrote some works," and that he flourished, a.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v3
] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
335
this day, the holy Pontiff, Pope Gregory of the Golden Mouth, was greatly revered, by our ancestors in the Faith. The Bollandists^ record his Acts,3
at great length ; but, the generality of English readers will find them re- corded, in their own language, by the Rev. Alban Butler. * Underthe head of Rome, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Gregory of Rome, March i2th. s
Article VII. —St. Melcoirgeas, or Maelcorghais. The Martyrology
of Tallagh' records S. Melcoirgeas, or Melecorgais,^ at the 12th of March. The Bollandists quote as well Marianus O'Gorman ; and, at this date, they
name the present saint Moelcorgusius. 3 The Martyrology of Donegal'^
registers on this day, as having veneration paid him, a saint, called Maelcor-
ghais. No place is particularized, in connexion with the entry of this saint's name.
Article VIII. —St. Cillin, or Killian, of Lilcach. An entry is found in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 12th of March, regarding a St. Cillen, of Lilchaig. ^ Besides this, although Colgan notes St. Killianus of Lilcaich, at the 14th of February,3 with many other saints of the name, he omits all notice of him, at the present date, as the Bollandists observe. •* Cillin, of Lilcach, occurs, in the Martyrology of Donegal,s at this day. The place of this saint cannot be readily identified. ^
Article IX. —Festival of St. Dagan, Bishop of Achadh-Dagan, or
Ennereilly, County of VVicklow. \Sixih and Seventh Centuries^ We
find Dagan, Bishop, set down in the Martyrologies of Tallagh' and of Donegal,^ as having a festival on this day. This however does not seem to
'" See
Cibteni tibchAi^.
3 See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemias," xiv,
Februarii. De S. Killiani Martyris et Soci orum ejus Translatione, n. 3, p. 331.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. Martii xii. Among the pretermitted saints
Martii xii.
Before arriving in his country, For Christ he mortified his
Martii xii, Among the pretermitted saints-
body,
The slaughter [er] of an 74, 75.
hundred victories
Gregory of Rome, the intrepid.
Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , De S. Gregorio Magno, Pontif. Romano et Eccles. Doctore, pp. 121 to 211.
Article viii. —' Edited by Rev. Dr Kelly, p. xviii.
3 These are preceded by a previous com-
mentary, in eight sections, containing 40 paragraphs. This is followed by an anony-
mous but synchronous Life, taken from p. 103.
ancient Codices, in 5 chapters, comprising
28 paragraphs ; a Life by the Deacon John,
having a prologue, and in Four Books, con-
taining altogether 42 chapters, in 274 para-
graphs. An epilogue, in Latin verses, identical with Bective, in the county of concludes the latter Life. Several notes are
added by the Bollandists, by way of eluci- dation.
* See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
other principal Saints," vol. iii. , March xii. "
s See Proceedings of the Royal Irish Lieltrede, and in Latin, De Beatitudine.
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 124, 125.
However, Lieltrede seems to differ from
Lilcach. — Article ix. '
Article vii. —' Edited Kelly, p. xviii.
Rev. Dr.
Edited
Kelly, p. xviii. In the Franciscan copy,
"^
In the Franciscan copy, we find, Sci
TneLeco'vjAii'.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. .
the entry stands, 'OAgAri epi.
-
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 74, 75-
by
by Rev. Dr.
p.
10^.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp
^
In the Franciscan copy, it reads
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp 74, 75-
* We find, however, a MS. note of Mr. Hennessy, suggesting a query, if it could be
Meath. We are then referred to a notice, in Grace's " Annales Hibemise," edited by Rev. Richard Butler, M. R. I. A. , note (i) at p. 20, A. D 1 195. We there read, that Bec- tive, in the Irish language, had been called
336 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 12
have been his principal feast. Under the head of Inver Dagile,3 Duald Mac Firbis enters, Dagdan, Bishop, at March 12th. The place is identical with Ennereilly. '« AccordingtoourIrishCalendars,onthisday,thereisafestival,
commemorating St. Dagan, Bishop over Achadh Dagan, His Acts, which are given at this date by Colgan,5 will be found, deferred to the 13th of Sep- tember. The Bollandists^ allude to his festival, at the 12th day of March, This is thought to have been the anniversary for some translation of the saint's reUcs.
Article X. —Festival of the Blessed Bryan Boroimhe, King of Ireland and Martyr. \^Tenth and Eleventh Centuries. '] The Bollandists remark,' at this date, that the English Martyrology inscribes a festival to
His Life will death. Col- typographical
Article XI. —Festival of St. Kessog, Mackessog, or Mackessagus, BishopandConfessor,PatronofLennox,Scotland. [^SixthCentury. ] The Martyrology of Usuard, enlarged by Hermann Greuen, gives the feast of Kessogus, Bishop, in Scotia, at this date, as the Bollandists observe. ' We have already inserted his Acts, at the loth of March.
Article XII. —St. Coman, Commanus, or Corman, Presbyter of
loNA, Scotland. [Si'xtA and Seventh Centuries. '] With regard to this holy man, Colgan' thinks, that a Corman may be identical with a St. Coman,^ a
Presbyter, who was a nephew,3 on the sister's side, of St. Virgnoius or Fergna,* Abbot of Hy,5 and whose feast has been assigned to the i2tlf or to the18thofMarch. St. CormanissaidtohavebeenthefirstIrishorScotch preacher of the Gospel, among the Northumbrians. ^ However, as we are told, the subtihty of his intellect, and his peculiar style of eloquence, were unsuited to the capacity of his hearers ;
3 See " of the Irish Proceedings Royal
Brian, King and Martyr, in Hibernia, at the 12th of March.
be
at the of found, 23rd
April, him,^
the — for his anniversary glorious
most
a errorforthe12th ofMarch;however,atneitherdayhasheredeemedthis
—reat of gan promised to t
at the
13th
probably
promise.
ad Acta S. Co- Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part lumbse, cap. x, num. 30, 38, p. 489.
^ Adamnan alludes to as i. , pp. 112, 113. him,
* The parish of Ennereilly, in the barony of Arklow, is shown on the "Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Wicklow," Sheets 35, 36, 40, 41. The townland proper is on Sheet 41.
5 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," xii. Martii. De S. Dagano, Abbate et Episcop. Ex variis, pp. 584 to 587.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Martii xii. Among the pretermitted saints, •
p. 104.
Article X. —' See " Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus ii. , Martii xii. Among the preter-
having given information, regarding a miraculous vision, related by Virgnous. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Lifeof St. Columba,"
lib. iii. , cap. 19, p. 225.
3 He had for brothers St. Cuimine Fioim,
the seventh Abbot of Hy, who was vene- rated on the 24th of February, and whose pedigree and Acts will be found, at that date, in our collection. He had another brother, who is called Becan, and who has a atthe
mitted
"^ See"ActaSanctorumHibernise,"xxii.
turga," n. 22, p. 386.
• Also called St. whose Fergna Britt,
saints, p. 103.
Januarii.
et n. Ep. ,
Article XI.
^ He was the fourth in order. abbot,
Hystorie Scoto- "De Praesulibus
De S. Colmano Lismorensi Abb.
10, p. 155.
—
'
See
"^" Acta Sanctonim," See Hector Boece,
tomus ii. , Martii xii. Among the preter- rum," lib. ix. , fol. clxxv.
mitted ^ See Francis
Article xii. —'See "Trias Thauma-
saints, p. 103. Godwin,
so that his mission proved a failure,?
turga. " QuartaAppendix
ofMarch. See
n. (e). Also Colgan's "Trias Thauma-
festival,
17th
ibid. .
Acts will be month,
found,
at the 2nd of this
Anglice," pars, ii. , p. 91.
March 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 337
and he returned again, to make way for the more fortunate mission of St. Aidan. ^ John Lesley classes him among the saints.
9 Dempster will have it/° that he wrote some works," and that he flourished, a. d. 630 ; while his
"
Menologium Scoticum. " There he enters, in Scotia, Gorman, a Bishop, and an Apostle of Anglia. He
festival is assigned to the 12th day of March, in the
quotes Hector Bcetius, for this statement. "
Article XHI. —St. Fetchuon, Fiechnon, also called Fethuo, • Fethchuo,FiechnoandFetno,ConfessorandMissionaryamongthe
Scots and Picts- \_Sixth Century. ] Among the missionary disciples of St. Coldmba,^ when he left Ireland, to preach the Gospel, among the Scots and Picts, this devoted servant of Ghrist is to be classed. He is stated to have
brought his neophytes back to the piety of St. Ninian's days. ^ Colgan has inserted some notices regarding him, at the 12th of March. 3 The Bollan- dists* notice him, likewise, at the same date, as also Bishop Forbes, under the name of Fechno, or Fetno. s Colgan thinks his true appellation was Fethchno or Fethchu,^ or, at least, Fiechno or Fiechna, which names are to be found attached to saints, in our Irish Calendars. It seems likely, this holy missioner was born in the north of Ireland,^ early in the sixth century, and that he spent some time there, under St. Columba's religious discipline. Again, Dempster^ has notices of St. Fethuo, and among other gratuitous
statements,
this man is made an and the writer of " ad holy abbot,? Epistolse
Patres in lona," lib. i. According to John Lesley,'" he lived in the year 606.
At the 12th day of March, with a eulogy for his piety, zeal, erudition, and
extraordinary evangelical labours, David Camerarius has noticed St. Fetno,"
Confessor " his real name is and he is said to have died ; but, Fiachna,'^
about th—e year 580. '+ Miracles were wrought at his sepulchre's Colgan
—been set down for Fethuo's or supposes althoughthe12thofMarchhas
be the Fiechnon, or Fiachna, venerated in our Irish Calendars, at the 30th of March, or the Fetchchuo, commemorated, at the 23rd of July, or at the 2nd
Fecoenon's feast by foreign Martyrologists that in reality, he may of August. '^
^ See his
at the of
Life, 31st August.
Fethuo and Rus—
of Adamnan, St. Coluin-
9 See his Scottish History, lib. iv. , p. 158. '° ''
— were the two sons of Rodan. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba,"
See Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco- torum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num. 257, p. 154. "These are thus enumerated: Docu-
Additional Notes, A, p. 245, and n. (1. )
^ "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis See
Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. vi. , num. 535, p.
293.
» " inter Sodo- Dempster adds, et puto
renses illos Scotos montanos. "
"
1^2. "
menta Fidei ad
Conciones, lib. i. , Commentaria in Scriptu- ras, lib. i. , Acta Legationis, lib. i.
"See
Forbes' " Scottish Saints," p. 194.
'' See Boethius,
* See
Bishop
Kalendars of Life, at the 9th
Articlexiii. —' Seehis of June.
See "Historia Scotorum," lib. iv. , p.
Camerarius, "
at
Northanhumbros, lib. i. ,
p. 116. He quotes Hystorie Scotorum," lib. ix. , fol. 166 a. ed. 1575. The feast of St. Ni-
man occurs, at the i6th of September.
By this name, he is so called, likewise, in the Dunkeld Litany, in the English Martyrology, and by Ferrarius.
" See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 235.
'3 See ibid. , p. 336.
"» According to John Wilson's English
3 See "Acta Sanctorum
Martii. De S. Fetchuone, sive Fiechnone,
Scotorum et Pictorum Apostolo, ex variis, pp. 588, 589.
"
Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Martii xii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 103. s See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
33^*'
This Irish word denotes "a wolf. "
7 According to an addition in Codex B.
Hibernije," xii.
ba's missionary companions to Scotland
Martyrology, Phillip rius.
Ferrarius and Camera-
'5 So it is stated, by Camerarius. See " De Statu Hominis Veteris simul ac novae Eccle- siae, et Infidelium Conversione," lib. i. , cap.
iii. , sect. 2, p. 165.
'« See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xii.
Y
338 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS: [March 13.
Article XIV. —St. - Indreachtach or Innrechtach O'Finachtain,
Abbot of Iona, Scotland, and Martyr. \_Ninth Century. '] We learn,
from the Annals of Innisfallen,' that the surname of this holy man was Uo
Finachta or Ua Finachtain. ^ Idreachtach O'Finachtain is called Coarb of
Columbkille,3 and from this it has been inferred, he was abbot over London-
derry Monastery, in the olden time. * However, this title he obtained, because
he was the twenty-first Abbot of Hy, and he held office a. d. 849, in which
year he went to Ireland, with St. Columba's relics. s As the date of his pre-
decessor's death is not recorded, although we know, that Diarmait, the
twentieth abbot, visited Ireland, on a similar errand ; it cannot be known,
when St. Innrechtach began his rule, over the Iona monks. He was regarded
as an eminent sage. On the 12th of March, a. d. 852, he suffered martyrdom,
among the Saxons, according to the Annals of the Four Masters. ^ He was
on his way to Rome. 7 According to the Annals of Ulster,^ the date for his
departure to Christ is a. d. 853, while the Rev. Dr. Reeves places it, at a. d.
A
ARTICLE I. —ST. MOCH^MHOG, OR MOCHCEMOC, ALSO CALLED PUL- CHERIUS, ABBOT OF LIATH-MORE, OR LIATH-MOCH^MHOG, NOW LEIGH, IN THE PARISH OF TWO MILE BORRIS, COUNTY OF TIP- PERARY.
[SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES. ^ CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—VARIOUS ACTS OF ST. MOCHCEMOC—HIS PARENTAGE, BIRTH AND EARLY EDUCATION—HIS STUDIES AND ORDINATION, AT BANGOR—HE IS SENT TO FOUND A MONASTERY, WHICH HE ERECTS AT ANNATRIM.
the Irish, as among the Jews of old, it was customary to record the of remarkable and St. Ambrose finds a
854. 9
legend,
by
Malmesbury,
misdates his
martyrdom, by
AMONG
'°
William of
one hundred and sixty-five years, and places it near Glastonbury. "
Cf)irteeutl) Ba^ of ilarrO*
pedigrees holy persons.
reason for this ancient practice, by stating, that the writers of the Sacred
Scriptures not only desired to praise the morals of great individuals, but even to show how virtues and renown have descended as an heirloom from their
Martii. De S. Fetchuone sive
&c. , and nn. 6, 7, pp. 588, 589.
Fieclinone,
* See Dr. O'Donovan's vol. edition,
See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 468.
^ At a. d. dcccliii. " Heres Columbe
'7 Article XIV. — At a. d. 840.
° See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
of St. Columba. " Additional Notes 390;
(O), p.
3HisLife
See "Memoir of the City and North-
Saxones "Annales Ulto- martyrizatur. "—
Western Liberties of sect. 2, p. 27.
nienses," p. 222.
' See his edition of Adamnan's " Life of
St. Columba. " Additional Notes (O), p.
occurs,
atthe
of
9th June.
Londonderry," partii. , 5 See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemica-
390.
" Yet in
" tomus iv. Annales Ulto-
rum
nienses, a. d. DCCcxlviii. , p. 219.
Scriptores,
"
Manuscript,
See Iladdan's and Stubb's "Councils
pp. 486, 487.
cille, sapiens, optimus, lY. , Id. Marcii apud
i. ,
March 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 339
ancestors. ^ We have reason to believe, as in case of the present saint, that the genealogies of our holy persons descend to us from more reliable sources, than do the wonderful miracles too frequently attributed to them, through those unauthenticated stories collected by so many legend-mongers.
There is an Irish Life of St. Mochoevog, transcribed by Michael O'Clery, among the Burgundian Manuscripts, at Bruxelles. ^ There is also a Vita S. Mochcemoci, but imperfect at the beginning. This is marked fol. 49, in a
Trinity College, Dublin, Manuscript. 3 Likewise, in that Manuscript of Marsh's Library, Dublin, and which has been called, but incorrectly, the Codex Kilkenniensis, there is a Vita S. Mochcemoci seu Pulcherii Abbatis, Liatmorensis, in Hibernia. * Pulcherius is regarded as a Latin rendering of theIrishname. Anidea,thatthelegendaryLifeofSt. Mochoemoc,aspub-
lished, had been written by one of his contemporary disciples, seems un- founded, s Fleming has published Acts of this holy abbot,^ but without any critical acumen.
this day, the holy Pontiff, Pope Gregory of the Golden Mouth, was greatly revered, by our ancestors in the Faith. The Bollandists^ record his Acts,3
at great length ; but, the generality of English readers will find them re- corded, in their own language, by the Rev. Alban Butler. * Underthe head of Rome, Duald Mac Firbis enters, Gregory of Rome, March i2th. s
Article VII. —St. Melcoirgeas, or Maelcorghais. The Martyrology
of Tallagh' records S. Melcoirgeas, or Melecorgais,^ at the 12th of March. The Bollandists quote as well Marianus O'Gorman ; and, at this date, they
name the present saint Moelcorgusius. 3 The Martyrology of Donegal'^
registers on this day, as having veneration paid him, a saint, called Maelcor-
ghais. No place is particularized, in connexion with the entry of this saint's name.
Article VIII. —St. Cillin, or Killian, of Lilcach. An entry is found in the Martyrology of Tallagh,^ at the 12th of March, regarding a St. Cillen, of Lilchaig. ^ Besides this, although Colgan notes St. Killianus of Lilcaich, at the 14th of February,3 with many other saints of the name, he omits all notice of him, at the present date, as the Bollandists observe. •* Cillin, of Lilcach, occurs, in the Martyrology of Donegal,s at this day. The place of this saint cannot be readily identified. ^
Article IX. —Festival of St. Dagan, Bishop of Achadh-Dagan, or
Ennereilly, County of VVicklow. \Sixih and Seventh Centuries^ We
find Dagan, Bishop, set down in the Martyrologies of Tallagh' and of Donegal,^ as having a festival on this day. This however does not seem to
'" See
Cibteni tibchAi^.
3 See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemias," xiv,
Februarii. De S. Killiani Martyris et Soci orum ejus Translatione, n. 3, p. 331.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. Martii xii. Among the pretermitted saints
Martii xii.
Before arriving in his country, For Christ he mortified his
Martii xii, Among the pretermitted saints-
body,
The slaughter [er] of an 74, 75.
hundred victories
Gregory of Rome, the intrepid.
Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , De S. Gregorio Magno, Pontif. Romano et Eccles. Doctore, pp. 121 to 211.
Article viii. —' Edited by Rev. Dr Kelly, p. xviii.
3 These are preceded by a previous com-
mentary, in eight sections, containing 40 paragraphs. This is followed by an anony-
mous but synchronous Life, taken from p. 103.
ancient Codices, in 5 chapters, comprising
28 paragraphs ; a Life by the Deacon John,
having a prologue, and in Four Books, con-
taining altogether 42 chapters, in 274 para-
graphs. An epilogue, in Latin verses, identical with Bective, in the county of concludes the latter Life. Several notes are
added by the Bollandists, by way of eluci- dation.
* See "Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
other principal Saints," vol. iii. , March xii. "
s See Proceedings of the Royal Irish Lieltrede, and in Latin, De Beatitudine.
Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part i. , pp. 124, 125.
However, Lieltrede seems to differ from
Lilcach. — Article ix. '
Article vii. —' Edited Kelly, p. xviii.
Rev. Dr.
Edited
Kelly, p. xviii. In the Franciscan copy,
"^
In the Franciscan copy, we find, Sci
TneLeco'vjAii'.
3 See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. .
the entry stands, 'OAgAri epi.
-
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 74, 75-
by
by Rev. Dr.
p.
10^.
" Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp
^
In the Franciscan copy, it reads
s Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp 74, 75-
* We find, however, a MS. note of Mr. Hennessy, suggesting a query, if it could be
Meath. We are then referred to a notice, in Grace's " Annales Hibemise," edited by Rev. Richard Butler, M. R. I. A. , note (i) at p. 20, A. D 1 195. We there read, that Bec- tive, in the Irish language, had been called
336 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [March 12
have been his principal feast. Under the head of Inver Dagile,3 Duald Mac Firbis enters, Dagdan, Bishop, at March 12th. The place is identical with Ennereilly. '« AccordingtoourIrishCalendars,onthisday,thereisafestival,
commemorating St. Dagan, Bishop over Achadh Dagan, His Acts, which are given at this date by Colgan,5 will be found, deferred to the 13th of Sep- tember. The Bollandists^ allude to his festival, at the 12th day of March, This is thought to have been the anniversary for some translation of the saint's reUcs.
Article X. —Festival of the Blessed Bryan Boroimhe, King of Ireland and Martyr. \^Tenth and Eleventh Centuries. '] The Bollandists remark,' at this date, that the English Martyrology inscribes a festival to
His Life will death. Col- typographical
Article XI. —Festival of St. Kessog, Mackessog, or Mackessagus, BishopandConfessor,PatronofLennox,Scotland. [^SixthCentury. ] The Martyrology of Usuard, enlarged by Hermann Greuen, gives the feast of Kessogus, Bishop, in Scotia, at this date, as the Bollandists observe. ' We have already inserted his Acts, at the loth of March.
Article XII. —St. Coman, Commanus, or Corman, Presbyter of
loNA, Scotland. [Si'xtA and Seventh Centuries. '] With regard to this holy man, Colgan' thinks, that a Corman may be identical with a St. Coman,^ a
Presbyter, who was a nephew,3 on the sister's side, of St. Virgnoius or Fergna,* Abbot of Hy,5 and whose feast has been assigned to the i2tlf or to the18thofMarch. St. CormanissaidtohavebeenthefirstIrishorScotch preacher of the Gospel, among the Northumbrians. ^ However, as we are told, the subtihty of his intellect, and his peculiar style of eloquence, were unsuited to the capacity of his hearers ;
3 See " of the Irish Proceedings Royal
Brian, King and Martyr, in Hibernia, at the 12th of March.
be
at the of found, 23rd
April, him,^
the — for his anniversary glorious
most
a errorforthe12th ofMarch;however,atneitherdayhasheredeemedthis
—reat of gan promised to t
at the
13th
probably
promise.
ad Acta S. Co- Academy," Irish MSS. Series, vol. i. , part lumbse, cap. x, num. 30, 38, p. 489.
^ Adamnan alludes to as i. , pp. 112, 113. him,
* The parish of Ennereilly, in the barony of Arklow, is shown on the "Ordnance
Survey Townland Maps for the County of Wicklow," Sheets 35, 36, 40, 41. The townland proper is on Sheet 41.
5 See "Acta Sanctorum Hibemiae," xii. Martii. De S. Dagano, Abbate et Episcop. Ex variis, pp. 584 to 587.
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. ,
Martii xii. Among the pretermitted saints, •
p. 104.
Article X. —' See " Acta Sanctorum,"
tomus ii. , Martii xii. Among the preter-
having given information, regarding a miraculous vision, related by Virgnous. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's "Lifeof St. Columba,"
lib. iii. , cap. 19, p. 225.
3 He had for brothers St. Cuimine Fioim,
the seventh Abbot of Hy, who was vene- rated on the 24th of February, and whose pedigree and Acts will be found, at that date, in our collection. He had another brother, who is called Becan, and who has a atthe
mitted
"^ See"ActaSanctorumHibernise,"xxii.
turga," n. 22, p. 386.
• Also called St. whose Fergna Britt,
saints, p. 103.
Januarii.
et n. Ep. ,
Article XI.
^ He was the fourth in order. abbot,
Hystorie Scoto- "De Praesulibus
De S. Colmano Lismorensi Abb.
10, p. 155.
—
'
See
"^" Acta Sanctonim," See Hector Boece,
tomus ii. , Martii xii. Among the preter- rum," lib. ix. , fol. clxxv.
mitted ^ See Francis
Article xii. —'See "Trias Thauma-
saints, p. 103. Godwin,
so that his mission proved a failure,?
turga. " QuartaAppendix
ofMarch. See
n. (e). Also Colgan's "Trias Thauma-
festival,
17th
ibid. .
Acts will be month,
found,
at the 2nd of this
Anglice," pars, ii. , p. 91.
March 12. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 337
and he returned again, to make way for the more fortunate mission of St. Aidan. ^ John Lesley classes him among the saints.
9 Dempster will have it/° that he wrote some works," and that he flourished, a. d. 630 ; while his
"
Menologium Scoticum. " There he enters, in Scotia, Gorman, a Bishop, and an Apostle of Anglia. He
festival is assigned to the 12th day of March, in the
quotes Hector Bcetius, for this statement. "
Article XHI. —St. Fetchuon, Fiechnon, also called Fethuo, • Fethchuo,FiechnoandFetno,ConfessorandMissionaryamongthe
Scots and Picts- \_Sixth Century. ] Among the missionary disciples of St. Coldmba,^ when he left Ireland, to preach the Gospel, among the Scots and Picts, this devoted servant of Ghrist is to be classed. He is stated to have
brought his neophytes back to the piety of St. Ninian's days. ^ Colgan has inserted some notices regarding him, at the 12th of March. 3 The Bollan- dists* notice him, likewise, at the same date, as also Bishop Forbes, under the name of Fechno, or Fetno. s Colgan thinks his true appellation was Fethchno or Fethchu,^ or, at least, Fiechno or Fiechna, which names are to be found attached to saints, in our Irish Calendars. It seems likely, this holy missioner was born in the north of Ireland,^ early in the sixth century, and that he spent some time there, under St. Columba's religious discipline. Again, Dempster^ has notices of St. Fethuo, and among other gratuitous
statements,
this man is made an and the writer of " ad holy abbot,? Epistolse
Patres in lona," lib. i. According to John Lesley,'" he lived in the year 606.
At the 12th day of March, with a eulogy for his piety, zeal, erudition, and
extraordinary evangelical labours, David Camerarius has noticed St. Fetno,"
Confessor " his real name is and he is said to have died ; but, Fiachna,'^
about th—e year 580. '+ Miracles were wrought at his sepulchre's Colgan
—been set down for Fethuo's or supposes althoughthe12thofMarchhas
be the Fiechnon, or Fiachna, venerated in our Irish Calendars, at the 30th of March, or the Fetchchuo, commemorated, at the 23rd of July, or at the 2nd
Fecoenon's feast by foreign Martyrologists that in reality, he may of August. '^
^ See his
at the of
Life, 31st August.
Fethuo and Rus—
of Adamnan, St. Coluin-
9 See his Scottish History, lib. iv. , p. 158. '° ''
— were the two sons of Rodan. See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life of St. Columba,"
See Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Sco- torum," tomus i. , lib. iii. , num. 257, p. 154. "These are thus enumerated: Docu-
Additional Notes, A, p. 245, and n. (1. )
^ "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis See
Scotorum," tomus i. , lib. vi. , num. 535, p.
293.
» " inter Sodo- Dempster adds, et puto
renses illos Scotos montanos. "
"
1^2. "
menta Fidei ad
Conciones, lib. i. , Commentaria in Scriptu- ras, lib. i. , Acta Legationis, lib. i.
"See
Forbes' " Scottish Saints," p. 194.
'' See Boethius,
* See
Bishop
Kalendars of Life, at the 9th
Articlexiii. —' Seehis of June.
See "Historia Scotorum," lib. iv. , p.
Camerarius, "
at
Northanhumbros, lib. i. ,
p. 116. He quotes Hystorie Scotorum," lib. ix. , fol. 166 a. ed. 1575. The feast of St. Ni-
man occurs, at the i6th of September.
By this name, he is so called, likewise, in the Dunkeld Litany, in the English Martyrology, and by Ferrarius.
" See Bishop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 235.
'3 See ibid. , p. 336.
"» According to John Wilson's English
3 See "Acta Sanctorum
Martii. De S. Fetchuone, sive Fiechnone,
Scotorum et Pictorum Apostolo, ex variis, pp. 588, 589.
"
Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Martii xii. Among the pretermitted saints, p. 103. s See "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p.
33^*'
This Irish word denotes "a wolf. "
7 According to an addition in Codex B.
Hibernije," xii.
ba's missionary companions to Scotland
Martyrology, Phillip rius.
Ferrarius and Camera-
'5 So it is stated, by Camerarius. See " De Statu Hominis Veteris simul ac novae Eccle- siae, et Infidelium Conversione," lib. i. , cap.
iii. , sect. 2, p. 165.
'« See " Acta Sanctorum Hibemise," xii.
Y
338 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS: [March 13.
Article XIV. —St. - Indreachtach or Innrechtach O'Finachtain,
Abbot of Iona, Scotland, and Martyr. \_Ninth Century. '] We learn,
from the Annals of Innisfallen,' that the surname of this holy man was Uo
Finachta or Ua Finachtain. ^ Idreachtach O'Finachtain is called Coarb of
Columbkille,3 and from this it has been inferred, he was abbot over London-
derry Monastery, in the olden time. * However, this title he obtained, because
he was the twenty-first Abbot of Hy, and he held office a. d. 849, in which
year he went to Ireland, with St. Columba's relics. s As the date of his pre-
decessor's death is not recorded, although we know, that Diarmait, the
twentieth abbot, visited Ireland, on a similar errand ; it cannot be known,
when St. Innrechtach began his rule, over the Iona monks. He was regarded
as an eminent sage. On the 12th of March, a. d. 852, he suffered martyrdom,
among the Saxons, according to the Annals of the Four Masters. ^ He was
on his way to Rome. 7 According to the Annals of Ulster,^ the date for his
departure to Christ is a. d. 853, while the Rev. Dr. Reeves places it, at a. d.
A
ARTICLE I. —ST. MOCH^MHOG, OR MOCHCEMOC, ALSO CALLED PUL- CHERIUS, ABBOT OF LIATH-MORE, OR LIATH-MOCH^MHOG, NOW LEIGH, IN THE PARISH OF TWO MILE BORRIS, COUNTY OF TIP- PERARY.
[SIXTH AND SEVENTH CENTURIES. ^ CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION—VARIOUS ACTS OF ST. MOCHCEMOC—HIS PARENTAGE, BIRTH AND EARLY EDUCATION—HIS STUDIES AND ORDINATION, AT BANGOR—HE IS SENT TO FOUND A MONASTERY, WHICH HE ERECTS AT ANNATRIM.
the Irish, as among the Jews of old, it was customary to record the of remarkable and St. Ambrose finds a
854. 9
legend,
by
Malmesbury,
misdates his
martyrdom, by
AMONG
'°
William of
one hundred and sixty-five years, and places it near Glastonbury. "
Cf)irteeutl) Ba^ of ilarrO*
pedigrees holy persons.
reason for this ancient practice, by stating, that the writers of the Sacred
Scriptures not only desired to praise the morals of great individuals, but even to show how virtues and renown have descended as an heirloom from their
Martii. De S. Fetchuone sive
&c. , and nn. 6, 7, pp. 588, 589.
Fieclinone,
* See Dr. O'Donovan's vol. edition,
See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," p. 468.
^ At a. d. dcccliii. " Heres Columbe
'7 Article XIV. — At a. d. 840.
° See Rev. Dr. Reeves' Adamnan's " Life
of St. Columba. " Additional Notes 390;
(O), p.
3HisLife
See "Memoir of the City and North-
Saxones "Annales Ulto- martyrizatur. "—
Western Liberties of sect. 2, p. 27.
nienses," p. 222.
' See his edition of Adamnan's " Life of
St. Columba. " Additional Notes (O), p.
occurs,
atthe
of
9th June.
Londonderry," partii. , 5 See Dr. O'Conor's " Rerum Hibemica-
390.
" Yet in
" tomus iv. Annales Ulto-
rum
nienses, a. d. DCCcxlviii. , p. 219.
Scriptores,
"
Manuscript,
See Iladdan's and Stubb's "Councils
pp. 486, 487.
cille, sapiens, optimus, lY. , Id. Marcii apud
i. ,
March 13. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 339
ancestors. ^ We have reason to believe, as in case of the present saint, that the genealogies of our holy persons descend to us from more reliable sources, than do the wonderful miracles too frequently attributed to them, through those unauthenticated stories collected by so many legend-mongers.
There is an Irish Life of St. Mochoevog, transcribed by Michael O'Clery, among the Burgundian Manuscripts, at Bruxelles. ^ There is also a Vita S. Mochcemoci, but imperfect at the beginning. This is marked fol. 49, in a
Trinity College, Dublin, Manuscript. 3 Likewise, in that Manuscript of Marsh's Library, Dublin, and which has been called, but incorrectly, the Codex Kilkenniensis, there is a Vita S. Mochcemoci seu Pulcherii Abbatis, Liatmorensis, in Hibernia. * Pulcherius is regarded as a Latin rendering of theIrishname. Anidea,thatthelegendaryLifeofSt. Mochoemoc,aspub-
lished, had been written by one of his contemporary disciples, seems un- founded, s Fleming has published Acts of this holy abbot,^ but without any critical acumen.
