34 It would seem, that
is called Kildaree on the
"
Ordnance Survey
the immediate relatives of a deceased person greatly lamented, have often been known to
resist, or reluctantly permit, the removal of a corpse from the house when the usual time for interment had arrived.
is called Kildaree on the
"
Ordnance Survey
the immediate relatives of a deceased person greatly lamented, have often been known to
resist, or reluctantly permit, the removal of a corpse from the house when the usual time for interment had arrived.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
(Edh-finn, was Fearghaeus ; while the father of Brandubh was Eocha-
"
dius, according to the
ster Kings," and other authorities.
"
7 See Lanigan's Ecclesiastical History
of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , sec. vii. , and n. 55, pp. 449, 451. We are told the name of this prince has been variously written by different authors. In the rythmical life of St. Foillan, he is called Aigiulphus. In a prose life of St. Foillan, he is designated Adselphius ; and in the Sygniacensian MS. published by Colgan, at the i6th of January, he is in all instances called Aedfind. In all Irish MSS. , however, the name reads Aedhfind or Aidhfinn, and the latter forms of this name are preferable for adoption, as being in all likelihood most conformable to the national formation of Irish proper names.
^ " On the Mothers of Irish Saints. " Num. 23.
9 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Furssei, n. 9, p. 89.
'° See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
niae," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Fursasi. , lib. i. , by Colgan, at the 9th of February, cap. i. , p. 75.
chap, i; Colgan remarks, that there are " In other acts of St. Fursey, he is called three arguments, which may be opposed to Brendin, King of Magh-Murthemne.
in his Life of St.
as may be seen in that version published
James Desmay,
Fursey,
King of Leinster
;
while Brendinus is called
Hugh the White. "
Catalogue of Lein-
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 235
Leinster, by whom he was honourably received, and widi every demonstration of affectionate regard. It is stated, that Fintan conducted himself in such a manner, as to acquire the friendship and love of this king, and of all his chief- tains. He'afterwards repaired to uiiidphindus," who is called the brother of KingBrandubh. This^dphindequalled,ifhedidnotsurpass,hisbrother in kindness and hospitality. At his court, Fintan acquired the esteem and
affection of all its frequenters. The young man displayed qualities of mind and person, that rendered him an object of admiration and endearment to those with whom he became acquainted. He was enabled to embrace and retain a wide circle of personal friends, because he was respectful towards all. Among the gloomy and sorrowful he was taciturn, and among the gay he was lively ; when with the old he was grave, and with the young he was sportive ; thus, towards every class he conducted himself with judgment, and a due sense of what ought to have been his proper line of conduct. '3 In the older acts of our saint the account runs, that having remained some time with Brendan, Fintan betook himself to Aedfind, the younger brother of Brendan. Aedfind lived a considerable distance from where his brother resided. Fintan received equal marks of kindness at the hands of this younger brother. Those attentions were doubtless deserved on account of his amiable personal
''^ qualities.
The date of our saint's birth, or even its exact place, cannot be ascertained
with accuracy. Saint Fursey and his brothers, Ultanus and FuUanus or Foil-
""
lanus, are unwarrantably said to have been base sonnes of a king of
Leinster, according to Hamner. 's This petty king, it is stated, by name Fintan, ruled over a territory named Fyltant, and afterwards raised himself to thethroneofMunster. ^^ Theromanceofhismarriageisrelatedintheacts of our saint. For the present, we must pass it over, and merely remark, that Gelgeis, daughter to Aedfind, was a lady remarkable for her extraordinary beauty and accomplishments. '7 For the purpose of recreation she walked to a spot where some exhibition—most probably a sportive or military game— took place. Here her attention was directed to Fintan. It is stated, that a marriage took place while Fintan was at this court of Adh-fin, but without his consent being obtained, and that the married parties, having incurred the king's displeasure, were driven out of his dominions. This may account for the rumour of our saint's illegitimacy. The account of Aedhfinn's wrath
against his daughter, as Dr. Lanigan observes, is evidently of a poetical and theatrical kind. She was to be burned to death; but she escaped this punish- ment in a wonderful manner. Then she fled with her husband to St, Brendan, and after some years she was taken again into favour by her father. This story was invented to make it appear that Fursey was baptized, educated, &c. , by St. Brendan, and that, because he studied in Inisquin, he had also been born there. '^ If we are to attach credit to the preceding account, St.
" This name has been printed Aelfind, parents ; Fintan, his father, being the son but in Irish documents he is more properly of Finloge, King of South Munster ; and
called Aedhfind, Prince of Hy-Briuin.
his mother the daughter of Adh-fin or Hugh
the White, Prince of in Con- Hy-Bryun
naught. He was baptized and educated by his uncle, St. Brendan, Abbot of Clonfert, and early embraced a religious life. " See Wills' "Lives of Illustrious and Distin-
guished Irishmen," vol. i. , part i. , p. 139. '7 The name of this saint's mother was
Gelgesia, according to Harris' Ware, vol, iii. ; "Writers of Ireland," Book i. , p. 34.
'^
See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , J vii. , n, 62, pp, 453,454.
'3 See
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," ix. Februarii. Desmay's Life of St.
Fursey, chap, i. , pp. 282, 283.
'* Fintan, we are told, was a person of fine natural disposition, of industrious habits, and versed in militaiy tactics. See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Furssei, lib. i,, cap. ii. , p. 75.
'5 See " Chronicle of Ireland," p. 152.
'*
l6th. "Fursey was of royal blood by both
Baillet's "Vies des Saints," at Jan.
236 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 16.
Fursey must have been bom before a. d. 577. ^9 This, or 576, was the year of SL Brendan's death. ^° But Furse/s birth as related, and as having occurred
at Erbsen, is not considered trustAvorthy. ^' And it is even supposed, that he
couldnothavecomeintotheAvorlduntilaftertheyearlastmentioned. The
province in which he was born is still doubtful ; however. Dr. Lanigan is
willingtoallowtheeventmayhavetakenplaceamongtheHy-Briun. " It
seems most likely, he was bom in some part of the province of Connaught.
Miracles at this time manifested the future greatness of the saint. Although
his acts tell us, that Fursey was bom, baptized,^3 and reared in the island,
and that, when he had attained a proper age, he was taken into the monastery
by St. Brendan, with whom he remained until he had built a house for himself;
yet, for various weighty reasons, this part of the narrative seems quite irre-
concilable with Saint Brendan's history. Independently of other considera-
tions, it is sufficient to show that the whole romance deserves very little
credit. ^4 Fursey applied himself to study with great perseverance. Filled
with the Divine Spirit, the boy proved to be a most diligent student. He
was found to be very amiable towards all with whom he came in contact.
Whatever he acquired, from the teaching of his sage tutors, was deeply trea-
sured in a mind of great natural powers. It likewise rested in the safe keep-
ing of a pious soul. And lest his talents might be unprofitably hidden, or
lest he might render himself useless or disobedient to the wishes of his
superiors, he endeavoured to spread a saving knowledge of the GospePs by
constant preaching, so far as his youthful zeal permitted. Fursey illustrated
his sermons by the example of good works, everywhere labouring to extirpate those weeds which might overrun the harvest of Christ. Almost beyond
human powers, he gave food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothing to the naked, medicine to the sick, a home to the wanderer, joy to the sorrow- ful, refuge to the desolate, and aid to the destitute. He afforded consolation
to the truly penitent, strength to the weak, protection to the persecuted, and assistance to the needy. That his good works might be recapitulated, in a brief manner, becoming a faithful imitator of the Apostle, he was all things to all men that he might gain all to Christ.
With the advice of St. Brendan and of his monks, St. Fursey retired to a place which was near Lough Esbran, or Orbsen. ^^ There he built a
and n.
Ussher places his departure at A. D. 577.
"
208, 209. ^'
'9 See ibid. , §
vii. , p. 449,
60, pp.
and that some afterwards, through
452, 453- *°
depraved dialect, it passed into Fursa, a form of this
See Index Chronologicus,
Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," p. 532. In Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," it is recorded at A. D. 576. See vol. i. , pp.
holy man's name.
*• See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , § vii. , p. 449.
Britannicarum
"s Throughout his life of our saint, Desmay has drawn on his imagination for statements, Dr. Lanigan shows other putative in- not apparently contained in the original
"
consistencies in this narrative. . See Ec- source, from which his narrative had been
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
chap, xvi. , § vii. , p. 449, and n. 60, pp. 452,
453- *^
These people belonged to the family of St. Fursey's mother.
taken. Thus he tells us, that St. Brendan, like another Zacharias, predicted many and
great things regarding St. Fursey after his birth ; such as that he should be a burning and shining light in the Church ; that he should gain manysouls toChribt byhispreach-
*3 It has been said, that the name Fursey,
in the Irish or Scottish language means ing and example, and that he should open "virtue. " Colgan, however, remarks that he public schools in this world, where the could not discover such interpretation, unless love of God, and his neighbour might be through some corruption of the term. He taught.
conjectures that the etymology of the word
might have been Fearta, which has the
presented bythe present old church of Killfursa or Killursa, two mileseast of Lough Corrib. It
meaning of
"
virtues," in the Irish language ;
^Theplaceinquestion is supposed to be re-
January T 6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
237
monastery of sufficient dimensions for a large religious community, which, through the Providence of God, he was shortly enabled to collect around him. Although said to have been near the lake, Rathmat is called an island. ^7 Rathmat, near Lough Corrib, had been founded by St. Fursey in the sixth century,^^ according to Harris, who adds, that the place is at present Kil- fursa, a parish church. ^9 Dr. Lanigan adopts this opinion. The Acts of St, Fursey, published by Surius, give his monastery no particular name. The old author of St. Fursey's Acts makes Clonfert3° an island, so that he seems to have had an aptitude for giving localities false appellations.
While living at Rathmat or Kill-Fursa, the following miracle took place,
so far as the old acts of our saint can be found reconcilable with
The son and daughter of a family, related to King Brendan, are said to have died on the same day. 3^ These children were also twins, which rendered the coincidence still more extraordinary. They were young at the time of their death, and respected for their innocence, while great hopes were entertained regarding the future course of their lives. These circumstances caused them to be mourned by their acquaintances and relatives, who were in a state of distraction for their untimely fate. Their surrounding friends could scarcely consent to allow their bodies to be committed to the earth, until at leas* wiser counsels prevailed. 3^ At length, it had been resolved that their bodies should be removed during the night,33 and be placed on board a vessel, that
they might be privately conveyed for interment to where the holy Bishop Brendan is said to have dwelt at this time. His residence, we are told, was
beside a sea or lake ; and although, by order of the king, the dead bodies
were to be conveyed thither with a favouring gale, yet it so happened, that Providence directed their course to another quarter.
34 It would seem, that
is called Kildaree on the
"
Ordnance Survey
the immediate relatives of a deceased person greatly lamented, have often been known to
resist, or reluctantly permit, the removal of a corpse from the house when the usual time for interment had arrived. The author has himself witnessed some remarkable instances of this kind,
^3 The older acts state that they were re-
moved " who were bearers by vespillones,"
or persons that carried out dead bodies by night. Allusion is m—ade to the office in
Townland Maps of the County of Galway. " Sheet 41. See also John O'Donovan's letter
dated Tuam, September 20th, 1838, in " Letters Containing Information Relative
to the Antiquities of the County of Galway, collected during the Progress of the Ord-
nance Survey in 1838," vol. i. , p. 171.
=7 Micatreer Island, in the
lannin, is a little north of Inchiquin.
the ruins of an abbey and a tower marked within a graveyard. See "Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Gal- way. " Sheet 41. Perhaps Rathmat, the name of which is now
been there; but this is a very vague con- jecture.
°* But from the sequel of St. Fursey's
history, it would appear that the monastery in question had not been founded for several years, after the commencement of the seventh
^9 See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "Antiquities of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 267.
3° See its position and antiquities marked on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
"
he calls Brendin—and ^'dphind.
3* It is curious to observe, that in Ireland
Sheet loi.
3' Desmay states, that they were children of a certain noble, related to Brendubh^as
for the County of Galway.
parish
of Kil- It has
unknown, might
have
See Dr. " Ecclesiastical Lanigan's
if St. Brendan then dwelt at Clon- fert. The river here is very wide, being an
"
century.
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , § viii. , nn. 68, 69, p. 456.
Shannon,
these lines of Martial
"Chirurgus fuerat, nunc est vespillo Diau- lus :
— clinicus esse Coepit, quo poterat,
modo. " "Epigramma. " Lib. Epi. xxxi.
i. ,
:
34 Jn commenting on the words "trans
mare," whither the sailors were bound,
Colgan remarks, that the sea in question could have been no other than the River
arm of the sea, and thus the term
often applied to it, as maybe observed in the Acts of St. Senan and in other records. Clonfert lies between Lough Ree and Lough Derg, on the banks of the Shannon, which separates the ancient provinces of Meath and Connaught. Those loughs in question being some miles in width, Colgan says they maybeconsideredassmallinlandseas. But he rather supposes that St. Brendan dwelt in
locality.
mare" is
! 38 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6.
at this time St. Fursey dwelt in a cell, near the shore. There removed from
worldly converse, his mind was refreshed by heavenly contemplation. The sailors landed and removing the bodies from the vessel left them before the
door of St. Furse/s cell, the saint being unacquainted with their proceedings. Afterwards, those mariners retired to their bark. At early dawn, according
to his usual custom, the holy young man opened his cell door in hastening towards the monastery. The first objects, that met his view, were the un- covered deceased bodies. Bowing himself in prayer, he suppliantly besought the Almighty, that through His unwearied bounties, life might be restored to the inanimate forms now lying at the door. Scarcely had he finished this prayer, when the brother and sister arose, beholding no other person present save our saint. The latter placed them in his cell, until he could provide clothing necessary for them. Afterwards, he led those revived persons to the church, where during the whole day he offered up thanks and praises for this manifestation of Almighty power. Then St. Fursey is said to have asked the young people what had been their wishes. They expressed a great desire for returning to their o\vn part of the country. But a boat or bark was re- quired for this purpose. They earnestly entreated our saint to furnish them with some means for returning. Fursey chanced to hold a ^vriter's ruler^s in his hand, at this time. This he threw into the waters, and it miraculously directed those young persons towards a port, so that they landed near to their parental habitation. On approaching, crowds of their relations and friends were observed standing before them in fixed amazement, beholding those whom they had deplored but a short time ago, as removed from life, thus appearing joyous and restored to them. Their friends were unable to com- prehend at first the nature of this miracle, which they had witnessed, nor to whose power it must be attributed. The children declared, that owing to the merits of the holy young man, Fursey, they had been restored to life, and that in obedience to his orders, following the guidance of a wooden ruler through the waters, they had escaped all danger. They also requested, that this ruler should be preserved in the church, and venerated as a relic of their holy patron, St. Fursey, so as likewise to commemorate the power and glory of the Omnipotent. 3^
Wherefore, the king and inhabitants, living in that part of the country, conceived an extraordinary affection and veneration for our saint. They are said to have respectfully visited the latter, to have commended themselves to his prayers and to those of the religious living under him. If we are to at- tach any credit to such accounts, it would seem from the context of this nar-
the island of Inisquin, situated on the large Lake Orbsen, which is called a sea in this passage of the saint's acts, on account of its
"
great length and breadth. See Acta Sane-
torum Hiberniae," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Fursaei, n. 13, p. 89. It may likewise be observed, that the Shannon could not have the term " mare" applied to it, in the im- mediate vicinity of Clonfert. There, the
river, although wide, yet does not at all ap- proach the appearance of a sea, so far as its breadth of water is concerned.
might thus ascertain tlie method adopted by
pensmen when employed on MS. chiro- graphy. It seems, that a wooden niler had been used to direct the lines of MSS. , not only at that particular period, but most pro- bably for a long time previous. The use of such an instniment will be rendered apparent to those investigators, who have often had an opportunity of consulting very ancient MSS.
^ In Desmay's Acts of our saint, I find in continuation, that their request was coni- plied with, and that for many years the ruler had been preserved as a precious relic
es Little as we may value legends of this
class, in a historical point of view, yet they
are often valuable, as illustrating various in that part of the country. It may be customs and social habits of the period at asked, was there any sufficient authority for which they were written. Could we exactly this assertion?
determine the time and place of writing, we
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
239
rative, that St. Fursey must have been placed over a community by St, Brendan, on the same island where the latter dwelt, or on some island or spot quite convenient, and to which easy access might be attained. Again we are told, the enemy of mankind employed his efforts in exciting the minds of some monks, who lived under Furse/s rule on the island. These became envious ofanddisobedienttowardstheirholysuperior. Understandingtheprevalence of such feelings, Fursey asked leave from St. Brendan that he might retire to another island, named Rathmat. 37
CHAPTER III.
ACCOUNT OF AEDFIND's CONVERSION AND INTERVIEW WITH ST. FURSEY—THIS HOLY MAN IS THOUGHT TO HAVE FOUNDED KILFURSA OR KILURSA—DESCRIPTION OF THE RUINS—KING FINDLOG SUCCEEDED BY ST. FURSEY'S FATHER, FINTAN— FURSEY A DISCIPLE OF ST. MELDAN—SOME OF ST. FURSEY'S RELATIONS LIVED UNDER HIM—HE RESOLVES ON VISITING THE PROVINCE OF MUNSTER.
The legendary Acts of St. Fursey relate, that his holy manner of living at Lough Orbsen' came to the ears of his tyrant grandfather, Aedfind. Ac- companied by his brothers Brendan and Feredach,^ it is said Aedfind, with many among the most distinguished chieftains of his principality, paid the saint a visit. On approaching the holy young man, Aedfind, prostrate on the ground, placed ashes on his head. Having his body covered with sack- cloth for past offences, and especially for that cruelty meditated against his amiable daughter, Gelgesia, he asked Furse/s pardon. First reproving this maternal grandfather for his tyrannical conduct, Fursey afterwards accosted him in a more gentle and pious colloquy. ^dfind obtained forgiveness from his daughter, and absolution from his grandson. Then we are told, that he joyfully conducted his daughter, and son-in-law, Fintan, with their family, to his own home-circle of friends.
By some writers, it is said, that after the foundation of Rathmat Monas-
tery, which they place on Inchiquin Island, St. Fursey also built a distinct religious house, at the place now known as Kill Fursa. 3 This is situated within the present parish of Killursa,* which margins on the eastern shore ot
37 Colgan supposes, that the monastery, which our saint is said to have built at Rath- mat, had been situated near Lough Orbsen. He thought it identical with a parish church belonging to the deanery of Enachdown, in the diocese of Tuam, and which in his own time was called Kill-fursa, from the name of Fursey himsel—f.
is said to have been the resting-place of Dermod and Grace, during their flight from
Chap. III. 'It is said to have been so called from Orbsen Mac Allod, one of the Dannann nation. See "A Chorographical Description of West or H-Iar Connaught," written A. D. 1684, by Roderic O'Flaherty, Esq. Edited
A.
' "Its northern boundary is the Owen-
duff, or 'Black River,' which, passing under ground below Shrule, rises again to the sur- face to the east of the Castle of Moyne, and, running by the ruins of Ross, enters the lake
by James Hardiman,
M. R. I. A. ,
Corrib,itsShoresandIslands; withNotices
ofLoughMask,"chap,v. ,pp. 98,99. This
beautifully-illustrated guide-book to the dis- trict is all that such a work could be made—
topographically and historically accurate, vividly descriptive, and profusely illustrated with engravings, its possession is indis- pensable for the local tourist and resident,
pp. 20, 21. ^
Menologic alogy," chap, viii. , this prince was grand- father to St. Modwena, virgin, who is com-
memorated at the 5th of July.
3 Near this church there is a Cromlech,
calledLeabhaDearmidagusGraunye, It
According
to the "
Gene-
Tara. See Oliver J. Burke's
"
Abbey of Ross, its History and Details," Appendix
about a mile beyond the Castle of Anna- "
keen. " Sir William Wilde's I. ough
240 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 16,
Lough Corrib, This church at present is in ruins,s and these Ue within the townland of Ower, the property of the Ower Burkes. In the west gable there is a curious Egyptian-looking door-way. All the walls are still standing, although considerably dilapidated. ^ This church^ is mentioned in the Taxa-
Kilfursa Church Ruins, Co. Galway.
tion of Pope Nicholas V. , in a. d. 1306. This document is preserved in the British Museum, at London. ^ Kilfursa is the only very old church in this neighbourhood which has the east gable standing. 9
If the visit of St. Fursey's grandfather, ^dfinn, took place, most probably it was to Kilfursa. '° The people on the banks of Lough Corrib had a local tradition, that Kilfursa or Killursa, Killany and Kilcuanna had been erected by three brothers, named Fursa, Eidhne or Eany, and Cuana," who flourished
5 Through the kind intervention of Very 75, 76. This is a beautifuiiy written and Rev. Canon Ulick J. Bourke, President of illustrated little work, on an interesting St. Jarlath's College, Tuam, the Rev. subject, and by a writer familiar with local Patrick Ryan, P. P. of Kilfursa, has kindly
forwarded various sketches of the ruins takeninMarch,1874. Fromthese,William F. Wakeman has drawn his subject on the wood : George A. Hanlon being the en- graver.
*
history, traditions and scenery.
9 Tradition says, that it was saved by a
;
It is of the Daivihlaig-mor class of church.
It seems probable that when the present
church was constructed on the site of the old
one, it was enlarged towards the north, as
well as in length, the antique door-way Patrick Ryan, P. P. , Kilfursa, in January, having been left ht situ, while the present
rough, unhewn, incongruous lintel had been
placed above it. See ibid. , pp. 104, 105.
' " A cross wall cuts off nine feet four inches of the western end, which portion was probably occupied in later times by the officiating priest or friar. " See ibid.
This place, erroneously called Kildaree, from the neighbouring townland of that name, is to be seen on " The Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Galway. " Sheet 41.
"See Sir William Wilde's "Lough Corrib, its Shores and Islands ; with Notices of Lough Mask," chap, iv. , p. 83.
* See Oliver J. Burke's " Abbey of Ross, its History and Details," Appendix A. , pp.
man named Bourke, who was seen advancing
on a charger, by a few of Cromwell's soldiers, who were in the act of throwing the east gable
down, when panic-stricken they tumbled to the ground and were killed on the spot. The graveyard covers about three quarters of an acre, while some fine thorn bushes and ashtrees shade the enclosure. Letter of Rev.
1874-
'°
January i6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 241
intheearlyagesofIrishChristianity. " Theirchurchesweresai—dtohave been built in the same form and style, and having the same extent sixty feet in length by eighteen feet in breadth. But the style of all these churches, forthemostpart,iscomparativelymodern. Yetasmallpartofthewestern gable of Kill-fursa contains a square-headed door-way, at least 1200 years old. '3 It measures five feet four inches in height; only two feet in breadth atthetop,andtwofeetfiveinchesatthebottom. Thegreaternumberofthe stones extend the whole thickness of the wall, which is two feet six inches in width. The time-worn lintel of the door measures three feet eight inches in length. Every other church feature here is in the Gothic style. There is a small window piercing the west gable ; in the south side wall are a Gothic doorandtwosmallwindows. TheeastwindowcontainsabeautifulGothic window of considerable size, which is partially covered with ivy. There is no window in the northern wall. Local tradition says that this church was built by St. Fursey, the celebrated traveller, who was the son of Fintan.
"
dius, according to the
ster Kings," and other authorities.
"
7 See Lanigan's Ecclesiastical History
of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , sec. vii. , and n. 55, pp. 449, 451. We are told the name of this prince has been variously written by different authors. In the rythmical life of St. Foillan, he is called Aigiulphus. In a prose life of St. Foillan, he is designated Adselphius ; and in the Sygniacensian MS. published by Colgan, at the i6th of January, he is in all instances called Aedfind. In all Irish MSS. , however, the name reads Aedhfind or Aidhfinn, and the latter forms of this name are preferable for adoption, as being in all likelihood most conformable to the national formation of Irish proper names.
^ " On the Mothers of Irish Saints. " Num. 23.
9 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Furssei, n. 9, p. 89.
'° See "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
niae," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Fursasi. , lib. i. , by Colgan, at the 9th of February, cap. i. , p. 75.
chap, i; Colgan remarks, that there are " In other acts of St. Fursey, he is called three arguments, which may be opposed to Brendin, King of Magh-Murthemne.
in his Life of St.
as may be seen in that version published
James Desmay,
Fursey,
King of Leinster
;
while Brendinus is called
Hugh the White. "
Catalogue of Lein-
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 235
Leinster, by whom he was honourably received, and widi every demonstration of affectionate regard. It is stated, that Fintan conducted himself in such a manner, as to acquire the friendship and love of this king, and of all his chief- tains. He'afterwards repaired to uiiidphindus," who is called the brother of KingBrandubh. This^dphindequalled,ifhedidnotsurpass,hisbrother in kindness and hospitality. At his court, Fintan acquired the esteem and
affection of all its frequenters. The young man displayed qualities of mind and person, that rendered him an object of admiration and endearment to those with whom he became acquainted. He was enabled to embrace and retain a wide circle of personal friends, because he was respectful towards all. Among the gloomy and sorrowful he was taciturn, and among the gay he was lively ; when with the old he was grave, and with the young he was sportive ; thus, towards every class he conducted himself with judgment, and a due sense of what ought to have been his proper line of conduct. '3 In the older acts of our saint the account runs, that having remained some time with Brendan, Fintan betook himself to Aedfind, the younger brother of Brendan. Aedfind lived a considerable distance from where his brother resided. Fintan received equal marks of kindness at the hands of this younger brother. Those attentions were doubtless deserved on account of his amiable personal
''^ qualities.
The date of our saint's birth, or even its exact place, cannot be ascertained
with accuracy. Saint Fursey and his brothers, Ultanus and FuUanus or Foil-
""
lanus, are unwarrantably said to have been base sonnes of a king of
Leinster, according to Hamner. 's This petty king, it is stated, by name Fintan, ruled over a territory named Fyltant, and afterwards raised himself to thethroneofMunster. ^^ Theromanceofhismarriageisrelatedintheacts of our saint. For the present, we must pass it over, and merely remark, that Gelgeis, daughter to Aedfind, was a lady remarkable for her extraordinary beauty and accomplishments. '7 For the purpose of recreation she walked to a spot where some exhibition—most probably a sportive or military game— took place. Here her attention was directed to Fintan. It is stated, that a marriage took place while Fintan was at this court of Adh-fin, but without his consent being obtained, and that the married parties, having incurred the king's displeasure, were driven out of his dominions. This may account for the rumour of our saint's illegitimacy. The account of Aedhfinn's wrath
against his daughter, as Dr. Lanigan observes, is evidently of a poetical and theatrical kind. She was to be burned to death; but she escaped this punish- ment in a wonderful manner. Then she fled with her husband to St, Brendan, and after some years she was taken again into favour by her father. This story was invented to make it appear that Fursey was baptized, educated, &c. , by St. Brendan, and that, because he studied in Inisquin, he had also been born there. '^ If we are to attach credit to the preceding account, St.
" This name has been printed Aelfind, parents ; Fintan, his father, being the son but in Irish documents he is more properly of Finloge, King of South Munster ; and
called Aedhfind, Prince of Hy-Briuin.
his mother the daughter of Adh-fin or Hugh
the White, Prince of in Con- Hy-Bryun
naught. He was baptized and educated by his uncle, St. Brendan, Abbot of Clonfert, and early embraced a religious life. " See Wills' "Lives of Illustrious and Distin-
guished Irishmen," vol. i. , part i. , p. 139. '7 The name of this saint's mother was
Gelgesia, according to Harris' Ware, vol, iii. ; "Writers of Ireland," Book i. , p. 34.
'^
See "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , J vii. , n, 62, pp, 453,454.
'3 See
Colgan's
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber-
nise," ix. Februarii. Desmay's Life of St.
Fursey, chap, i. , pp. 282, 283.
'* Fintan, we are told, was a person of fine natural disposition, of industrious habits, and versed in militaiy tactics. See Colgan's " Acta Sanctorum Hibernise," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Furssei, lib. i,, cap. ii. , p. 75.
'5 See " Chronicle of Ireland," p. 152.
'*
l6th. "Fursey was of royal blood by both
Baillet's "Vies des Saints," at Jan.
236 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 16.
Fursey must have been bom before a. d. 577. ^9 This, or 576, was the year of SL Brendan's death. ^° But Furse/s birth as related, and as having occurred
at Erbsen, is not considered trustAvorthy. ^' And it is even supposed, that he
couldnothavecomeintotheAvorlduntilaftertheyearlastmentioned. The
province in which he was born is still doubtful ; however. Dr. Lanigan is
willingtoallowtheeventmayhavetakenplaceamongtheHy-Briun. " It
seems most likely, he was bom in some part of the province of Connaught.
Miracles at this time manifested the future greatness of the saint. Although
his acts tell us, that Fursey was bom, baptized,^3 and reared in the island,
and that, when he had attained a proper age, he was taken into the monastery
by St. Brendan, with whom he remained until he had built a house for himself;
yet, for various weighty reasons, this part of the narrative seems quite irre-
concilable with Saint Brendan's history. Independently of other considera-
tions, it is sufficient to show that the whole romance deserves very little
credit. ^4 Fursey applied himself to study with great perseverance. Filled
with the Divine Spirit, the boy proved to be a most diligent student. He
was found to be very amiable towards all with whom he came in contact.
Whatever he acquired, from the teaching of his sage tutors, was deeply trea-
sured in a mind of great natural powers. It likewise rested in the safe keep-
ing of a pious soul. And lest his talents might be unprofitably hidden, or
lest he might render himself useless or disobedient to the wishes of his
superiors, he endeavoured to spread a saving knowledge of the GospePs by
constant preaching, so far as his youthful zeal permitted. Fursey illustrated
his sermons by the example of good works, everywhere labouring to extirpate those weeds which might overrun the harvest of Christ. Almost beyond
human powers, he gave food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, clothing to the naked, medicine to the sick, a home to the wanderer, joy to the sorrow- ful, refuge to the desolate, and aid to the destitute. He afforded consolation
to the truly penitent, strength to the weak, protection to the persecuted, and assistance to the needy. That his good works might be recapitulated, in a brief manner, becoming a faithful imitator of the Apostle, he was all things to all men that he might gain all to Christ.
With the advice of St. Brendan and of his monks, St. Fursey retired to a place which was near Lough Esbran, or Orbsen. ^^ There he built a
and n.
Ussher places his departure at A. D. 577.
"
208, 209. ^'
'9 See ibid. , §
vii. , p. 449,
60, pp.
and that some afterwards, through
452, 453- *°
depraved dialect, it passed into Fursa, a form of this
See Index Chronologicus,
Ecclesiarum Antiquitates," p. 532. In Dr. O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," it is recorded at A. D. 576. See vol. i. , pp.
holy man's name.
*• See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical His-
tory of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , § vii. , p. 449.
Britannicarum
"s Throughout his life of our saint, Desmay has drawn on his imagination for statements, Dr. Lanigan shows other putative in- not apparently contained in the original
"
consistencies in this narrative. . See Ec- source, from which his narrative had been
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
chap, xvi. , § vii. , p. 449, and n. 60, pp. 452,
453- *^
These people belonged to the family of St. Fursey's mother.
taken. Thus he tells us, that St. Brendan, like another Zacharias, predicted many and
great things regarding St. Fursey after his birth ; such as that he should be a burning and shining light in the Church ; that he should gain manysouls toChribt byhispreach-
*3 It has been said, that the name Fursey,
in the Irish or Scottish language means ing and example, and that he should open "virtue. " Colgan, however, remarks that he public schools in this world, where the could not discover such interpretation, unless love of God, and his neighbour might be through some corruption of the term. He taught.
conjectures that the etymology of the word
might have been Fearta, which has the
presented bythe present old church of Killfursa or Killursa, two mileseast of Lough Corrib. It
meaning of
"
virtues," in the Irish language ;
^Theplaceinquestion is supposed to be re-
January T 6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
237
monastery of sufficient dimensions for a large religious community, which, through the Providence of God, he was shortly enabled to collect around him. Although said to have been near the lake, Rathmat is called an island. ^7 Rathmat, near Lough Corrib, had been founded by St. Fursey in the sixth century,^^ according to Harris, who adds, that the place is at present Kil- fursa, a parish church. ^9 Dr. Lanigan adopts this opinion. The Acts of St, Fursey, published by Surius, give his monastery no particular name. The old author of St. Fursey's Acts makes Clonfert3° an island, so that he seems to have had an aptitude for giving localities false appellations.
While living at Rathmat or Kill-Fursa, the following miracle took place,
so far as the old acts of our saint can be found reconcilable with
The son and daughter of a family, related to King Brendan, are said to have died on the same day. 3^ These children were also twins, which rendered the coincidence still more extraordinary. They were young at the time of their death, and respected for their innocence, while great hopes were entertained regarding the future course of their lives. These circumstances caused them to be mourned by their acquaintances and relatives, who were in a state of distraction for their untimely fate. Their surrounding friends could scarcely consent to allow their bodies to be committed to the earth, until at leas* wiser counsels prevailed. 3^ At length, it had been resolved that their bodies should be removed during the night,33 and be placed on board a vessel, that
they might be privately conveyed for interment to where the holy Bishop Brendan is said to have dwelt at this time. His residence, we are told, was
beside a sea or lake ; and although, by order of the king, the dead bodies
were to be conveyed thither with a favouring gale, yet it so happened, that Providence directed their course to another quarter.
34 It would seem, that
is called Kildaree on the
"
Ordnance Survey
the immediate relatives of a deceased person greatly lamented, have often been known to
resist, or reluctantly permit, the removal of a corpse from the house when the usual time for interment had arrived. The author has himself witnessed some remarkable instances of this kind,
^3 The older acts state that they were re-
moved " who were bearers by vespillones,"
or persons that carried out dead bodies by night. Allusion is m—ade to the office in
Townland Maps of the County of Galway. " Sheet 41. See also John O'Donovan's letter
dated Tuam, September 20th, 1838, in " Letters Containing Information Relative
to the Antiquities of the County of Galway, collected during the Progress of the Ord-
nance Survey in 1838," vol. i. , p. 171.
=7 Micatreer Island, in the
lannin, is a little north of Inchiquin.
the ruins of an abbey and a tower marked within a graveyard. See "Ordnance Sur- vey Townland Maps for the County of Gal- way. " Sheet 41. Perhaps Rathmat, the name of which is now
been there; but this is a very vague con- jecture.
°* But from the sequel of St. Fursey's
history, it would appear that the monastery in question had not been founded for several years, after the commencement of the seventh
^9 See Harris' Ware, vol. ii. , "Antiquities of Ireland," chap, xxxviii. , p. 267.
3° See its position and antiquities marked on the " Ordnance Survey Townland Maps
"
he calls Brendin—and ^'dphind.
3* It is curious to observe, that in Ireland
Sheet loi.
3' Desmay states, that they were children of a certain noble, related to Brendubh^as
for the County of Galway.
parish
of Kil- It has
unknown, might
have
See Dr. " Ecclesiastical Lanigan's
if St. Brendan then dwelt at Clon- fert. The river here is very wide, being an
"
century.
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xvi. , § viii. , nn. 68, 69, p. 456.
Shannon,
these lines of Martial
"Chirurgus fuerat, nunc est vespillo Diau- lus :
— clinicus esse Coepit, quo poterat,
modo. " "Epigramma. " Lib. Epi. xxxi.
i. ,
:
34 Jn commenting on the words "trans
mare," whither the sailors were bound,
Colgan remarks, that the sea in question could have been no other than the River
arm of the sea, and thus the term
often applied to it, as maybe observed in the Acts of St. Senan and in other records. Clonfert lies between Lough Ree and Lough Derg, on the banks of the Shannon, which separates the ancient provinces of Meath and Connaught. Those loughs in question being some miles in width, Colgan says they maybeconsideredassmallinlandseas. But he rather supposes that St. Brendan dwelt in
locality.
mare" is
! 38 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January i6.
at this time St. Fursey dwelt in a cell, near the shore. There removed from
worldly converse, his mind was refreshed by heavenly contemplation. The sailors landed and removing the bodies from the vessel left them before the
door of St. Furse/s cell, the saint being unacquainted with their proceedings. Afterwards, those mariners retired to their bark. At early dawn, according
to his usual custom, the holy young man opened his cell door in hastening towards the monastery. The first objects, that met his view, were the un- covered deceased bodies. Bowing himself in prayer, he suppliantly besought the Almighty, that through His unwearied bounties, life might be restored to the inanimate forms now lying at the door. Scarcely had he finished this prayer, when the brother and sister arose, beholding no other person present save our saint. The latter placed them in his cell, until he could provide clothing necessary for them. Afterwards, he led those revived persons to the church, where during the whole day he offered up thanks and praises for this manifestation of Almighty power. Then St. Fursey is said to have asked the young people what had been their wishes. They expressed a great desire for returning to their o\vn part of the country. But a boat or bark was re- quired for this purpose. They earnestly entreated our saint to furnish them with some means for returning. Fursey chanced to hold a ^vriter's ruler^s in his hand, at this time. This he threw into the waters, and it miraculously directed those young persons towards a port, so that they landed near to their parental habitation. On approaching, crowds of their relations and friends were observed standing before them in fixed amazement, beholding those whom they had deplored but a short time ago, as removed from life, thus appearing joyous and restored to them. Their friends were unable to com- prehend at first the nature of this miracle, which they had witnessed, nor to whose power it must be attributed. The children declared, that owing to the merits of the holy young man, Fursey, they had been restored to life, and that in obedience to his orders, following the guidance of a wooden ruler through the waters, they had escaped all danger. They also requested, that this ruler should be preserved in the church, and venerated as a relic of their holy patron, St. Fursey, so as likewise to commemorate the power and glory of the Omnipotent. 3^
Wherefore, the king and inhabitants, living in that part of the country, conceived an extraordinary affection and veneration for our saint. They are said to have respectfully visited the latter, to have commended themselves to his prayers and to those of the religious living under him. If we are to at- tach any credit to such accounts, it would seem from the context of this nar-
the island of Inisquin, situated on the large Lake Orbsen, which is called a sea in this passage of the saint's acts, on account of its
"
great length and breadth. See Acta Sane-
torum Hiberniae," xvi. Januarii. Vita S. Fursaei, n. 13, p. 89. It may likewise be observed, that the Shannon could not have the term " mare" applied to it, in the im- mediate vicinity of Clonfert. There, the
river, although wide, yet does not at all ap- proach the appearance of a sea, so far as its breadth of water is concerned.
might thus ascertain tlie method adopted by
pensmen when employed on MS. chiro- graphy. It seems, that a wooden niler had been used to direct the lines of MSS. , not only at that particular period, but most pro- bably for a long time previous. The use of such an instniment will be rendered apparent to those investigators, who have often had an opportunity of consulting very ancient MSS.
^ In Desmay's Acts of our saint, I find in continuation, that their request was coni- plied with, and that for many years the ruler had been preserved as a precious relic
es Little as we may value legends of this
class, in a historical point of view, yet they
are often valuable, as illustrating various in that part of the country. It may be customs and social habits of the period at asked, was there any sufficient authority for which they were written. Could we exactly this assertion?
determine the time and place of writing, we
January i6. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
239
rative, that St. Fursey must have been placed over a community by St, Brendan, on the same island where the latter dwelt, or on some island or spot quite convenient, and to which easy access might be attained. Again we are told, the enemy of mankind employed his efforts in exciting the minds of some monks, who lived under Furse/s rule on the island. These became envious ofanddisobedienttowardstheirholysuperior. Understandingtheprevalence of such feelings, Fursey asked leave from St. Brendan that he might retire to another island, named Rathmat. 37
CHAPTER III.
ACCOUNT OF AEDFIND's CONVERSION AND INTERVIEW WITH ST. FURSEY—THIS HOLY MAN IS THOUGHT TO HAVE FOUNDED KILFURSA OR KILURSA—DESCRIPTION OF THE RUINS—KING FINDLOG SUCCEEDED BY ST. FURSEY'S FATHER, FINTAN— FURSEY A DISCIPLE OF ST. MELDAN—SOME OF ST. FURSEY'S RELATIONS LIVED UNDER HIM—HE RESOLVES ON VISITING THE PROVINCE OF MUNSTER.
The legendary Acts of St. Fursey relate, that his holy manner of living at Lough Orbsen' came to the ears of his tyrant grandfather, Aedfind. Ac- companied by his brothers Brendan and Feredach,^ it is said Aedfind, with many among the most distinguished chieftains of his principality, paid the saint a visit. On approaching the holy young man, Aedfind, prostrate on the ground, placed ashes on his head. Having his body covered with sack- cloth for past offences, and especially for that cruelty meditated against his amiable daughter, Gelgesia, he asked Furse/s pardon. First reproving this maternal grandfather for his tyrannical conduct, Fursey afterwards accosted him in a more gentle and pious colloquy. ^dfind obtained forgiveness from his daughter, and absolution from his grandson. Then we are told, that he joyfully conducted his daughter, and son-in-law, Fintan, with their family, to his own home-circle of friends.
By some writers, it is said, that after the foundation of Rathmat Monas-
tery, which they place on Inchiquin Island, St. Fursey also built a distinct religious house, at the place now known as Kill Fursa. 3 This is situated within the present parish of Killursa,* which margins on the eastern shore ot
37 Colgan supposes, that the monastery, which our saint is said to have built at Rath- mat, had been situated near Lough Orbsen. He thought it identical with a parish church belonging to the deanery of Enachdown, in the diocese of Tuam, and which in his own time was called Kill-fursa, from the name of Fursey himsel—f.
is said to have been the resting-place of Dermod and Grace, during their flight from
Chap. III. 'It is said to have been so called from Orbsen Mac Allod, one of the Dannann nation. See "A Chorographical Description of West or H-Iar Connaught," written A. D. 1684, by Roderic O'Flaherty, Esq. Edited
A.
' "Its northern boundary is the Owen-
duff, or 'Black River,' which, passing under ground below Shrule, rises again to the sur- face to the east of the Castle of Moyne, and, running by the ruins of Ross, enters the lake
by James Hardiman,
M. R. I. A. ,
Corrib,itsShoresandIslands; withNotices
ofLoughMask,"chap,v. ,pp. 98,99. This
beautifully-illustrated guide-book to the dis- trict is all that such a work could be made—
topographically and historically accurate, vividly descriptive, and profusely illustrated with engravings, its possession is indis- pensable for the local tourist and resident,
pp. 20, 21. ^
Menologic alogy," chap, viii. , this prince was grand- father to St. Modwena, virgin, who is com-
memorated at the 5th of July.
3 Near this church there is a Cromlech,
calledLeabhaDearmidagusGraunye, It
According
to the "
Gene-
Tara. See Oliver J. Burke's
"
Abbey of Ross, its History and Details," Appendix
about a mile beyond the Castle of Anna- "
keen. " Sir William Wilde's I. ough
240 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 16,
Lough Corrib, This church at present is in ruins,s and these Ue within the townland of Ower, the property of the Ower Burkes. In the west gable there is a curious Egyptian-looking door-way. All the walls are still standing, although considerably dilapidated. ^ This church^ is mentioned in the Taxa-
Kilfursa Church Ruins, Co. Galway.
tion of Pope Nicholas V. , in a. d. 1306. This document is preserved in the British Museum, at London. ^ Kilfursa is the only very old church in this neighbourhood which has the east gable standing. 9
If the visit of St. Fursey's grandfather, ^dfinn, took place, most probably it was to Kilfursa. '° The people on the banks of Lough Corrib had a local tradition, that Kilfursa or Killursa, Killany and Kilcuanna had been erected by three brothers, named Fursa, Eidhne or Eany, and Cuana," who flourished
5 Through the kind intervention of Very 75, 76. This is a beautifuiiy written and Rev. Canon Ulick J. Bourke, President of illustrated little work, on an interesting St. Jarlath's College, Tuam, the Rev. subject, and by a writer familiar with local Patrick Ryan, P. P. of Kilfursa, has kindly
forwarded various sketches of the ruins takeninMarch,1874. Fromthese,William F. Wakeman has drawn his subject on the wood : George A. Hanlon being the en- graver.
*
history, traditions and scenery.
9 Tradition says, that it was saved by a
;
It is of the Daivihlaig-mor class of church.
It seems probable that when the present
church was constructed on the site of the old
one, it was enlarged towards the north, as
well as in length, the antique door-way Patrick Ryan, P. P. , Kilfursa, in January, having been left ht situ, while the present
rough, unhewn, incongruous lintel had been
placed above it. See ibid. , pp. 104, 105.
' " A cross wall cuts off nine feet four inches of the western end, which portion was probably occupied in later times by the officiating priest or friar. " See ibid.
This place, erroneously called Kildaree, from the neighbouring townland of that name, is to be seen on " The Ordnance Survey Townland Maps for the County of Galway. " Sheet 41.
"See Sir William Wilde's "Lough Corrib, its Shores and Islands ; with Notices of Lough Mask," chap, iv. , p. 83.
* See Oliver J. Burke's " Abbey of Ross, its History and Details," Appendix A. , pp.
man named Bourke, who was seen advancing
on a charger, by a few of Cromwell's soldiers, who were in the act of throwing the east gable
down, when panic-stricken they tumbled to the ground and were killed on the spot. The graveyard covers about three quarters of an acre, while some fine thorn bushes and ashtrees shade the enclosure. Letter of Rev.
1874-
'°
January i6. ]
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 241
intheearlyagesofIrishChristianity. " Theirchurchesweresai—dtohave been built in the same form and style, and having the same extent sixty feet in length by eighteen feet in breadth. But the style of all these churches, forthemostpart,iscomparativelymodern. Yetasmallpartofthewestern gable of Kill-fursa contains a square-headed door-way, at least 1200 years old. '3 It measures five feet four inches in height; only two feet in breadth atthetop,andtwofeetfiveinchesatthebottom. Thegreaternumberofthe stones extend the whole thickness of the wall, which is two feet six inches in width. The time-worn lintel of the door measures three feet eight inches in length. Every other church feature here is in the Gothic style. There is a small window piercing the west gable ; in the south side wall are a Gothic doorandtwosmallwindows. TheeastwindowcontainsabeautifulGothic window of considerable size, which is partially covered with ivy. There is no window in the northern wall. Local tradition says that this church was built by St. Fursey, the celebrated traveller, who was the son of Fintan.
