AN

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY

OF

IRELAND, &c.

CHAPTER XVII.

Death of Colman Stellain-St. Colman Hua Fiachra -The priest Failan or Foilan-Priest ErnanCronan of Roscrea--Erection of the monastery of Roscrea-Priest Commian-Camin of Iniskeltra-St. Abban-Supposed to be two Saints of that name, one living in the fifth and the other in the sixth and seventh centuries-Monastery of Ros-mic-treoin founded by St. Abban-St. Gobnata-St. Pulcherius or Mochemoc-founds the monastery of Liathmore-several miracles ascribed to him-Death of St. Pulcherius-St. Mochelloc-St. Manchan of Menodrochit-supposed to be the same as Munchin of Limerick-St. Aidus bishop of Kildare-Dachua or Mochua Luachra-Conang O'Daithil, bishop of EmlyBaithan abbot of Clonmacnois, said to have been bishop-Segenius abbot of Hy succeeded by Suibhne Suibhne succeeded by Cumineus Albus or Cummin the White-St. Mura or Murus governed the monastery of Fathen-Mura-Bachull-Mura preserved as a relique-St. Monenna founds the nunnery of Fochard-Brighde -appoints Orbila or Servila abbess at Fochard,

VOL. III.

and relires to near Slieve Gullin, where she erects a church-said to have gone into North Britain and erected seven Churches there-said to have gone into England where she was known by the name of Movenna or Modwenna-St. Conchessa-St. Athracta-St. Fechin-erects the monastery of Fore in the Co. WestmeathSt. Aileran the Wise-he is sometimes called Helern, Aireran, or Ereran-Ultan abbot of Clonard, and Colman Coss and Cumin, both abbots of Clonmacnois, carried off by the plague that raged in the year 665-Colman successor of Finan in Lindisfarne-Dispute relative to the observance of Easter renewed--a synod held for the purpose of deciding this controversy-In this synod Colman supports the Irish mode of observing the Easter festival, and Agilbert and Wilfrid the Roman practice-The decision of the synod in favour of the Roman observanceThe dispute about the tonsure also decided in the synod in favour of the Roman fashion.

SECT. I.

RETURNING now to Ireland, and endeavouring to follow the order of time as well as I am able, I have first to observe that Colman Stellain, abbot of Tirdaglas, and seemingly the immediate successor of Mocumin, (1) died in 624 or 625. (2) Whether or not he was the Colman mentioned among the priests of the third class of saints, (3) it is impossible to determine, as several other Colmans were distinguished at that period by their sanctity, (4) and particularly St. Colman Hua-Fiachra, a descendant of prince Fiachra the brother of Neill Neigilliach. (5) He was contemporary with St. Maidoc of Ferns, (6) and seems to have been abbot, and perhaps founder, of the monastery of Seanbotha in the territory of Hy-kin

selagh, situated at the foot of the mountain, called in Irish Suighe Lagen, that is, I believe, Mount Leinster at the borders of the now counties of Carlow and Wexford. (7) Of his further transactions or the year of his death we have no account. His memory was revered at Seanbotha on the 27th of October, the anniversary of his death. (8) An uncertainty, similar to that relative to the Colman of the third class, occurs also with regard to the priest Failan or Foilan, who also is reckoned among them. He was neither Foillan the brother of St. Fursey, nor the Foillan, who is said to have accompanied St. Livin to Brabant; whereas none of the Irish saints, who removed to the continent, are named in that catalogue. (9) Besides many other saints of this name, (10) there was Failan or Foilan son of Aidus a Munster prince, (11) perhaps the Aidus, who was a young man in the time of St. Senan, (12) and whose posterity ruled in Iveagh a part of the now county of Cork. (13) If so, this Failan might have belonged to the period of the third class, and have been the Failan, who is called the son of an Irish dynast, and said to have been baptized and educated by St. Coemgen or Kevin. (14) But, in the want of distinctive circumstances, no decisive opinion can be formed. In the same third class we meet with a priest Ernan. I think there can be no doubt, that he was the same as Ernene son of Crescen, who, as Adamnan says, (15) was famous and greatly known throughout all the churches of Ireland. Ernan

He

was a servant boy in the monastery of Clonmacnois, when Columbkill visited it about the year 590. was endeavouring to touch the hem of his cloak, when the saint, perceiving what he was about, took hold of him and placed him before his face. On the bystanders observing that he ought not to take notice of such a troublesome boy, he desired them to have patience, and giving him his blessing said to them; "this boy, whom ye now despise, will henceforth be

very agreeable to you, and will improve from day to day in good conduct and virtue; and will be gifted by Go with wisdom, learning, and eloquence." (16) It is a misfortune, that very little is known concerning this eminent man. He was, in all probability, a native of the vicinity of Clonmacnois. It was there he went through his studies and with great proficiency. (17) He is called in some Irish calendars Ernene of Rathnui in Hi-Garchon, Rathnew in the county of Wicklow) whence it seems that he governed some establishment in that place. His memory was revered there on the 18th of August; (18) and his death is assigned to the same year as that of Fintan Munnu, viz. A. D. 634 (635). (19)

(1) See Chap. x. §. 13. Not. 239.

(2) The Annals of Innisfallen have A. 624. The 4 Masters A. 625. (ap. AA. SS. p. 247.) Usher says, (p. 968 and Ind. Chron.) A. 634. I suspect that 634 has been substituted by mistake for the 624 of the Innisfallen Annals, which are usually very correct. (3) See Chap. xiv. §.8.

(4) Colgan, omitting other Colmans, mentions (AA. SS. p. 247) Colman son of Comgell, who died in 620; (but he was probably a bishop, see Not. 22. to Chap. XIV.) Colman Huabardan, abbot of Clonmacnois, died in 623; Colman, abbot of Glendaloch, died in 659, &c. There was a Colman Cass, abbot of Clonmacnois, who died in 664 (665). See AA. SS. p. 90. These and other Colmans belonged to the period of the third class. Harris has (Monasteries) a St. Colman, who, he says, founded the monastery of Disert-Mocholmoc in the county of E. Meath, and in the sixth century. Of this Colman I can find no further account. Archdall places it in Westmeath, four miles S. W. of Mullingar, and calls it Dysart. He adds, that a house for Conventual Franciscans was afterwards founded there. Mr. Carlisle (Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, ad loc.) makes Archdall say, that this Franciscan establishment was founded by St. Colman. Archdall was not so ignorant as to commit such an unchronological blunder. Surely Mr. Carlisle ought to know, that there were no Franciscans for hundreds of years after the times,