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Category: Irish Saints

  • Saint Sciath of Ardskeagh, September 6

     

    There are a number of interesting saints commemorated on September 6, but below is an account of a lesser-known Irish female saint, Sciath of Ardskeagh, taken from Volume 9 of The Lives of the Irish Saints:

    St. Sciath, Virgin, of Fert-Sceithe, now Ardskeagh, in Muskerry of the Three Plains, County of Cork.

    Veneration was given, at the 6th of September, according to the Manuscript copy, as also in the published Martyrology of Tallagh, to Scieth of Fiort Sceith, in Muscraithe tre Maighi. Immediately afterwards is mentioned, The Arrival of the Relics of Scethi, daughter of Mechi, at Tamlachta, or Tallagh. Although in a separate line, we can hardly believe it is intended to commemorate a different feast from the former celebration. The festival of Sciath is to be found in the Feilire of St. Oengus, at the 6th of September. Already we have noticed a feast for this holy virgin, at the 1st of January.

    She descended from the race of Conaire, monarch of Erinn, who sprung from the seed of Heremon. Eilhue, daughter of Concraidh, was her mother, according to the O’Clerys. The Muscraighe Tri Maighe, or Muskerry of the Three Plains, in which the saint’s place was situated, had been regarded as the territory of the O’ Donnegan’s. The Church of Fiort Sceithe, which is placed by the Calendars of Marianus and the O’Clerys at September 6th, in Muscraighetri-maighe, is known at present by the name of Ardskeagh. This is a small parish, in that part of the barony of Fermoy, bordering on the baronies of Orrery and Kilmore. In the ancient taxation of the diocese of Cloyne, there is a rural deanery, called Muscry-donnegan. It contains the parishes now comprehended in the baronies of Orrery and Kilmore, with small adjacent portions of Duhallow and Fermoy. Among the Churches in this deanery, Orwerg, (i.e. Orbraidhe or Orrery) and Fersketh, (i.e. Feart Skeithe,) called Ardskagh are two. This latter is now known as Ardskeagh. Thus, the identity of Muscraighe-tri-maighe and the barony of Orrery is proved to a demonstration. Ardskeagh is now a parish, in the barony of Condons and Clongibbons, in the County of Cork. This Parish, also called Ardskreagh, is separated from the main body of the barony in which it is included, by the intervention of the northern part of the barony of Fermoy. Some remains of its old Church yet exist in the burial ground. In the Martyrology of Donegal, at this same date, the patroness is recorded as Sciath, Virgin, of Fert Sceithe, in Museraighe of the Three Plains, in Munster. This saint was venerated, likewise, in Scotland, and at the 6th of September, she is entered as Scetthe, in the Calendar of Drummond.

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  • Saint Bricin of Tuaim Dreacain, September 5

    Canon O’Hanlon has a note of a Saint Bricin whose feast is commemorated on September 5. The scholiasts attempted to offer an explanation of the epithet ‘Brecc-buaid’ attached to this saint, and their notes will make more sense if you are aware that the word bua means victory in Irish. Canon O’Hanlon had given the translations of the entries from the Martyrology of Oengus in the fotnotes but I have inserted these into the text. It is interesting to note that Saint Oengus records that this saint was ‘called forth from Ireland’ but there are no further details of his mission outside this country:

    ST. BRECC-BUAID OR BRICIN, SAID TO HAVE BEEN OF TUAIM-DREACAIN, NOW TOOMREGAN, COUNTY OF CAVAN.

    In the Calendar of St. Aengus, there is a commemoration of Brecc-buaid, who was called forth from Ireland:

    “With Breccbuaid, who was called forth from Ireland,
    I reckon Eolang,
    holy, fair pillar of Achad Bo,
    a victory of piety.”—

    It occurs at this date. A comment is found affixed, which very fairly gives us to understand, that the scholiast had no precise knowledge regarding the saint there recorded.

    The Irish is thus rendered into English by Dr. Whitley Stokes :

    ” Briccine of Tuaim Drecoin, in Brefne of Connaught, I reckon.

    Or ‘with Breccbuaid,’ i.e., various victory, i.e., men and women giving him victory, namely, in undergoing Martyrdom together with him, for thai is a victory to him, since he it is that preached unto them God’s word.”

    It may be observed here—once for all — that the O’Clerys are too apt, in following the authority of this scribe, to suppose that he is always reliable, and frequently they assume, that his conjectures in notes on the Calendar of Aengus may be resolved into statements to be accepted. Accordingly, in the Martyrology of Donegal, we find set down at the 5th of September, a festival in honour of Bricin. A space is left there for an insertion , the compiler of the Calendar having been uncertain whether Bricin should be classed as a bishop or as a priest. It is remarkable, that in the Scottish Kalendar of Drummond, he is noticed as a Confessor, and belonging to Ireland. According to the calendarist, Bricin is said to have been of Tuaim Dreacain, in Breifne of Connaught. But, immediately afterwards, he adds, it is in Breifne Ui Raghallaigh. The place of this saint has been anglicised as Toomregan. In the County of Cavan, there is a parish so called, and a part of which extends within the adjoining County of Fermanagh. Another conjectural emendation for his locality, and reference to the designation Brecc-Buaid— rendered ‘various reward,’ and applied to him—is given by the scholiast on the Calendar of Oengus.

    The note in Irish is thus translated:

    “i.e. folk of every age he brought to Christ, or he won a victory from divers champions,
    i.e. , Briccin of Disert, Briccin in Ui-Drona, or Briccin of Tuaim-Drecain, in Brefne of Connaught.”

    So that Briccin seems to have been his real name.

    According to the O’Clerys, this saint belonged to the race of Tadhg, son to Cian, son of Oilill Olum. We cannot rely, however, on the accuracy of this statement ; nor can we at all find materials, to disclose any reliable facts in relation to him. Neither in the Martyrology of Tallagh, published by the Rev. Dr. Matthew Kelly, nor in that contained in the Book of Leinster, is there any entry of Brecc-buaid or Bricin, at this date. If we are to accept the statement, that Brecc-buaid was called forth from Ireland; perhaps he was one of the many missionaries who left our country to spread the Gospel in more distant lands. The names of numerous Irish saints are endeared to grateful Catholic memories; but, the record of a still greater number of worthies is now wholly forgotten.

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  • Saint Ultan of Ardbreccan, September 4

     

     

     

     

     

     

    September 4 sees the feastday of the first of the saints with a special link to Saint Brigid to be commemorated this month, Ultan of Ardbreccan. As we will see from Canon O’Hanlon’s account of his life below, Saint Ultan is said in some of the sources to be both an uncle of Saint Brigid and to have written a hymn in her honour and to have compiled a record of her miracles. His other reputation in tradition was as someone who took care of destitute children, whilst maintaining a strict ascetic regime himself:

     

    ST. ULTAN, SAID TO HAVE BEEN BISHOP, OR MORE PROBABLY ABBOT, OF ARDBRACCAN, COUNTY OF MEATH.

    DISTINGUISHED for his sanctity and learning at an early period, St. Ultan is said to have been the founder of an ancient Irish See, at present merged in the Diocese of Meath. He is commemorated in the Felire of Oengus, at this date, and with allusion to what must have been a more ancient legend regarding him. In the “Leabhar Breac” copy is the following rann rendered into English, by Dr. Whitley Stokes:—

    “The great sinless prince,
    in whom the little ones are flourishing,
    greatly play the children
    round Ultan of Ard Breccain.”

    At the 4th of September, likewise, in the published Martyrology of Tallagh, we find a festival recorded in honour of Ultan Mac Hua Conchobar. He was therefore held to be of the O’Connor family. An entry is to be found in that copy, contained in the Book of Leinster, and somewhat different. The words “in Ardbrec” are added, as if to intimate, that he belonged to Ardbraccan. He was descended from the race of Irial, son to Connel Cearnach, according to the O’Clerys.” He is said to have been related to the great St. Brigid, on the maternal side. Her mother, as we have already seen, was Brodsecha, daughter to Dalbronaigh. St. Ultan is said to have been the brother of Broicsech, daughter of Dallbronach, i.e., they were both of the Dal Conchubhair.

    According to very ancient legend, one of his usages was to feed, with his own hands, every child who had no support in Erin. Another account states, that he he had a most charitable care for the infants of those women, who died of the Buidhe Chonaill or yellow plague. The first mention of the Bolgach or Small Pox, appears in the Annals of lnnisfallen, at A.D. 569 ; but, this is supposed to have been a mistake for the leprosy, which was an epidemic about that time; whereas, only about A.D. 675, or 676, did the Bolgach first prevail in Ireland. However, the first outbreak of another pestilence, known as the Buidhe-Chonnaill is said to have taken place in Magh-Itha, in Fotherta of Leinster, in 663; while it seems to have culminated in a still greater mortality the following year. A remarkable eclipse of the sun preceded this public calamity in the month of May, A.D. 664. According to Venerable Bede, it happened on the 3rd of May, the same year, and about ten o’clock in the morning; while, besides the ravages produced throughout Ireland, that pestilence depopulated the southern coasts of Britain, and afterwards extending into the province of Northumbria, it wasted the country far and near, destroying a great multitude of persons. Among those who died of the Buidhe Chonnaill this year in Ireland is mentioned St. Ultan Mac hUi-Cunga, Abbot of Cluain-Iraird or Clonard; and, it is not improbable, he may have been confounded with the St. Ultan, who wrote St. Brigid’s Acts. For the exercise of his great charity, when Fursa had been removed from the abbacy of old Mochta of Louth, Ultan was elected. It is stated, he often had fifty, and thrice fifty children, with him together, although it was difficult for him to feed them all. To St. Bracan or Brecain has been attributed the foundation of Ardbraccan Monastery, and from him the place has been named. It seems probable, that Ultan was for some time under his rule in that place. We find it stated, that after St. Bracan had departed for the Arran Islands, our saint became Abbot of Ardbraccan Monastery, in the County of Meath. Ussher supposes Ultan to have been a Bishop at Ardbraccan. He belonged to the Third Class of Irish Saints. This holy man is said to have lived on terms of great intimacy with St. Fechin of Fore. From the latter, it is stated he asked a request. His habit of penitence was accompanied by great austerity. Cuimin of Coindeire remarked, that St. Ultan had a prison of stone, or of boards against his side; and that he used to bathe in cold water, during the prevalence of a sharp wind.

    Among the Irish writers, St. Ultan of Ardbraccan has been classed. To him is attributed an Irish Hymn, in praise of St. Brigid. It has been published of late in the Liber Hymnorum. We are informed, moreover, that it was he, who made the Latin verse at the end of it. The Latin poem which comes after the Life of St. Brigid by Cogitosus, was written by him. It begins with “Cogitis me Fratres.” Its style is similar to that in the Book of Kilkenny; yet, it is not the same production. In the time when the two sons of Aodh Slaine were Kings, Ultan is said to have composed the Life, as also the Latin and Gaedhlic Poems. Others think St. Columba was the author of the Hymn. The Third Life of St. Brigid, as published by Colgan, is assigned to the authorship of St. Ultan, Bishop of Ardbraccan. This Manuscript Life was received from the learned Father Stephen White, an Irish Jesuit, who was well versed in the antiquities of his native country. The author does not publish his name, says White; he nevertheless, reveals himself, as being from the Island of Hibernia,and as being of Irish origin. That St. Ultan was the author of this Hymn, and consequently of the Third Life, would seem to be established, in Colgan’s opinion, from certain remarks of an old Scholiast, on the same Hymn. Those comments are given in a note. Even, although the Scholiast doubts, whether St. Nennidius, St. Fiech, or St. Ultan be its author, his very words are thought to be conclusive, in showing this latter, to have been the writer, both of the Life and Hymn, since he is said to have composed both one and the other, in praise of St. Brigid, and both were contained in one book. The Scholiast even cites a portion of a line, from this Hymn, which agrees with what has been published, by Colgan. Now, it is not known, that St. Nennidius or St. Fiech wrote a Life of St. Brigid, whether in one tract, or in more than one part…

    …To St. Ultan has been attributed the spirit of prophecy. It is said his prophecies remain in metre, and in the Irish language. A prophetic poem extant is ascribed to St. Ultan of Ardbraccan. He is said to have foretold the arrival of the English in Ireland, and that they should annex it to the Kingdom of England. He is stated also to have been the teacher of Tirechan, who wrote from the dictation of Ultan, two Books, on the Acts of St. Patrick. These Books are yet in manuscript, and Archbishop Usher frequently quotes passages from them, so that we may conclude, he had them in his possession. These Annotations are in the Book of Armagh. Ultan is said to have written a Life of St. Patrick, but this is uncertain. It was he, as we are told,that collected the miracles of St. Brigid, into one book, and he gave them to Brogan Claen, his disciple. It is said, likewise, that Ultan commanded him to turn them into verse, so that it was the latter that composed, ” The victorious Brighit loved not,” as it is found in the Book of Hymns.

    St. Ultan died at Ardbraccan, about three miles from Navan, in the present County of Meath. He is said to have completed the extraordinary age of one hundred and eighty years. The O’Clerys’ Irish Calendar even adds, that he was one hundred and eight-nine years old, when he resigned his spirit to heaven. This does not seem, however, to rest on any sure basis of calculation. He died on the 4th day of September. According to the Annals of Clonmacnoise, his death occurred, A.D. 653; Ware has it at the date 655; but according to the Annals of Ulster, those of the Four Masters, and most other authorities, it happened A.D. 656. The Annals of Ulster again note his death, under the year 662 ; and, as they state, according to another Book, which had been in possession of the author. In the Martyrology of Christ Church he is recorded as a Bishop and Confessor, at the ii. Nones of September. He is not noticed, however, in the Calendar prefixed. By Greven he is set down as Vultan, at the 4th day of September, and as an Abbot in Ireland ; while a similar entry is given in the Florarium Manuscript, in possession of the Bollandists. The Martyrology of Donegal registers him as Ultan, Bishop of Ard-Brecain, at the 4th day of September. At this same date, he has been commemorated in Scotland. Thus, in the Kalendar of Drummond, he is mentioned with special eulogy.

    The feast of this Saint had been celebrated with an office in former times, as we learn from various manuscripts still preserved. Even local traditions regarding him exist. In the demesne of the Protestant bishop of Meath, near Ardbraccan, St. Ultan’s well is still shown. It is circular, and in diameter it measures nine feet and a half. It is reputed sacred, and to a period not far distant, stations were there made on the vigil of St. Ultan’s feast. Several other holy wells and stone crosses, bearing his name, exist in the County of Meath. Long after St. Ultan’s time, A.D. 784, we read of a Translation of his relics at Ardbraccan. The monastery and its abbots appear in our annals; but the ravages of the Danes are often recorded, during the ninth, tenth and eleventh centuries. At length, the abbey of Ardbraccan fell into dissolution, and the town into obscurity, after the English Invasion.

     

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