In this letter Thomas O'Conor recounts aspects of the history of Drumcullen. The old church still stands. In the second letter reprinted here John O'Donovan writes of Seir Kieran

ORDNANCE SURVEY LETTERS KING'S COUNTY

[ Letter no. 32 from Thomas O'Conor ]

Birr,
Jan. 26th 1838.

Sir,

The name of Drumcullen Parish in the Barony of Eglish is in the Irish Calendar written Druim Chuilinn, where we read:- ...

"Bairfionn, Bishop from (of) Druim Chuilinn and from (of) Killbarfinn near Eas Ruadh to the north. He was of the race of Conall Gulban who was son of Niall, etc."

Colgan in AA. SS. p. 193, citing Usher, says:-

"A.D. 591. S. Barrindeus, Abbot of the Monastery of Druimchuilinn, flourished."

And in p. 451 of the same work in Note 76, he gives these words:- "Barrindum suum cognatum capite 91." The Genealogy of this Saint, as it is here set forth, is given in the Genealogy of Saints, Chapter 1. He is venerated on the 21st of May in Druim Chulinn in Meath and in Kill Bairfhinn in Tirconnall, as Marian Gorman gives at the same day. Barrindus, he says, Bishop of Druim Chuilinn and of Kill Bairfhinnd near Eas Rauidh to the north sprung from the race of Conall Gulban.

The Martyrology of Tamlact, the Martyrology of Donegal, Maguire, treat of him at the same day. The Annals of the Four Masters record at A.D. 721, that: "St. Cuana of Druim Cuilinn died."

And at A.D. 740 that: "Ceannfaola, Comharb of Druim Cuilinn, died."

On the north side of the Walk River and in the south part of Knockbarron Townland, the old Church of Drumcullen is in ruins within a graveyard. There is within the Church at the west end, an apartment with roof of stone work.

St. Bairfionn (Barrindus) is not now known here as the Patron Saint of the place, nor is even the day on which he was venerated remembered.

St. John's Day is the Patron Day of the Parish, whose holy well is on the top of Knockbarron Hill about the centre of Knockbarron Townland. The well lies a short distance to the south west of a rock called Saint John's Rock. Knockbarron. Qu? Cnoc Bairfhinn, i.e., collis S. Barrindi.

The ruins of Killyon Abbey are in this Parish to the south of the road leading from Birr to Kinnitty. Killyon is the name of a townland and village. It signifies according to the Irish orthography of it Cill Liadhain, the Church of Liadain, who was mother of St. Kieran of Saiger.

Archdall under the heading "Killiadhuin" writes:-

"All we can learn relating to this friary is that about the beginning of the 5th century St. Kieran of Saiger founded the Nunnery of Killiadhuin near to his own Abbey for his mother Liadana."

And refers to AA. SS. p. 464. Let an extract be made of what relates to this Abbey from Colgan and Usher.

There are two wells in Knockbarron Townland, the one of which is called Tobar na Lice, "Well of the Flag", and the other Tobar Taiodheach.

An old castle lies in ruin in the west part of Killadrown Townland.

Your obedient humble servant,
T. O'Conor.

ORDNANCE SURVEY LETTERS KING'S COUNTY

[ Letter no. 33 from John O'Donovan ]

Birr,
January 28th 1838.

Dear Sir,

I want Usher's and Colgan's account of St. Kieran the elder, commonly called Kieran of Saigir, who is said to have preached Christianity in Ireland thirty years before the arrival of St. Patrick. Mr. Smyth of College Green has a MS. Irish Life of this old soldier of Christ, but it is so fabulous that I fear it will be but of little use for our topographical purposes. It states that when this Saint retired to the wilderness, he had daily visits from the fox and the badger, who (which?) prayed to be admitted as monks into his establishment.

Curious accounts are given of the birth of this Saint and of the conduct of his fosterson, St. Carthach (my old friend at Kilcara and Lough Sheelin) which reflect no very great honor upon them but we will leave these narrations to Colgan, who was acquainted with the theological rules by which such conduct was regulated.

Usher introduces St. Kieran, the elder, and St. Patrick, as conversing together on the Continent, when Patrick desires his fellow labourer to settle in Ireland near its centre at a fountain called Uar. The Speckled Book has the same.

"Thirty years before Patrick's arrival Kieran settled at Saigir, as Patrick himself said:-

"Approach Uar ------------
Build a city on its brink
At the end of thirty years
I and thou shall there meet."

St. Kieran of Saiger was an illustrious personage; numerous were his cattle; for there were ten doors on the house of his cows; ten enclosures (stalls or crows) for each door; ten lying places for each cro and ten cows in each lying place.

10 doors
10 enclosures
_____
100 enclosures
10
_____
1,000 lying places
10
_____
10,000 cows! a rich hermit.

"But Kieran never during his life tasted of even the smallest quantity of their great produce, but divided it among the poor and needy of God. He had besides fifty horses for plowing and tilling the earth. His supper each night was a small piece of barley bread and two roots of Murthach? and spring water. The skin of the wild fawn formed his raiment and he always slept in a stone bed covered outside with wet Cuilche (bed clothes).

"Cuirnech Mael was the scribe of (to) Kirean. It was he wrote the celebrated manuscript (book) entitled The Emigration and Wanderings of Ciaran, and this book is still extant at Saigir, and let whoever reads it give a blessing on the soul of Cairneach Moel." - Leabhar Breac, fol. 32.

Colgan must have given a life of this Saint, as he was, and is still, venerated at Saigir on the 5th of March. The Calendar of the O'Clery's thus speaks of him:-

"March 5. Kieran of Saigir, Bishop and Confessor. Innumerable were the miracles and prodigies wrought thro' him on the earth. He caused the stones to light to a flame by a blowing his breadth on them. He was used to visit a rock situated far out in the sea to visit his nurse, Coca, and return again without boat or vessel."

Your obedient servant,
J. O'Donovan.