O'Donovan recounts legends of St. Brendan, Kieran and St. Briget.

Before I conclude my topographical observations on this County I shall translate a few little stories about the old Saints of Ireland, which Mr. Curry has found in that rich mine of Hagiology, the Speckled Book of the Mac Egans. I don't insert them to laugh at them (God forbid that I should ever become such a heretic) but to ask Usher a few questions about the Protestantism of ancient Ireland. Moghradh his logic! May be they didn't believe in Purgatory? If I live for a few years, I will shew how Usher was led astray. His argument is sophistry.

  1. The competition between St. Brendan of Birr (Clonfert) and St. Bridget for sanctity. The Sunbeam Story.

    "On one occasion St. Brendan came from the west of Ireland to Moy Liffey to visit St. Bridget, having heard of, and wondered at, her fame for miracles and signs. Bridget went away from the sheep!! to welcome Brendan, and as she entered the house she hung her wet mantle (cucullus) on the sun beams, which supported it like a drolu (a line to hang clothes on.) Brendan told his servant to place his mantle (cocholl) on the same sun beams; the servant did so, but it fell down twice. Brendan himself then rose up with rage and anger, and placed the mantle on them the third time, and they supported it. The Saints then communciated their consciences to each other mutually. Brendan said: "I never passed over seven furrowes without having my mind fixed on God." Bridget said: "Since I placed my mind on God, I have not diverted it from him for one moment."

    There are no features at Birr bearing the name of St. Brendan but his well, which lies in the Demesne. A curious stone was removed from the Town by the celebrated Steele, which he placed in O'Connell's Chapel in Clare! ( chapel dedicated to O'Connell). This is probably the stone mentioned by Usher. The following reference to the situation of Brendan's Church of Birr bears me out in my idea of the extent of Feara Ceall:-

    Hi ccoicrich Eli agus Fear Celd (Cell) hita Birra
    "On the confines of Ely and Feara Ceall Birra is."
    - Felire Aenguis.
    [ This stone is now back in Birr ]

  2. The Saints of Ireland fast and pray to God for the death of St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise.

    The Saints of Ireland fasted for the shortening (destroying) of the life of St. Kieran, the son of the Artifex (envying him) for his having the half of Ireland under his jurisdiction. However, God did not do this for them until he himself fasted along with them, for he knew not wherefore (why) they fasted, until an Angel told him. (He therefore left it as an injunction on his Monks never to promise anything till they knew all about it.) But St. Odhran of Latteragh Odhrain and Mac Cuillinn of Lusk went afterwards and told him the cause for which they fasted. You (ye) say then do so, said Kieran; meet in a Synod, and you shall obtain your request: Ut dixit Kieran."

    An mea est domus Calesty?
    An rium a ri an richid?

    All this poem, in which Kieran complains, is in the College Library in very old language. (Buain goirt ria siu ros apuidh (ape) Cuir an cagaid (just) a righ rind. St. Kieran!)

    He was only thirty three (33) years of age when he died. The three worst things (acts) which were ever done in Ireland by advice of the Saints were:-

    1. The shortening (destruction, Timdhibhe) of the life of Kieran.
    2. The banishment of Columbkille.
    3. The banishment of Mochuda from Rahan."


    Mogradh do Saints. I know a worse thing. This was carrying pious envy far enough, I guess? They frightened the life out of the poor carpenter's son!

  3. St. Comgal renders a barren woman fruitful.

    "Comgall of Bangor goes to the house of the father of Colman Duibh Chuilinn, whose wife was barren. St. Comgall gives the barren woman a Duibh Scribhind (i.e., dark, obscure, or mystified writing - a gospel?) coitur (atuagar) and Colman is conceived. Unde Colman Duibhachuillinn dictus est."

    "Cuilend is the name of a mountain which is at Bealach Chonglais in Leinster."

    This is the Kill-cullen Hills, and Bealach Chonglais is the track of the road across the Curragh.

    IV. St. Briget was consecrated a Bishop.

    (Father Bollandus complains of the silliness of the writers of the lives of the Celtic Saints; and the Benedictines complain of the folly even of St. Jerome and Augustin!.)

    "Bridget was desirous that a degree of Penance (gradh Aithrighe) should be conferred upon her. Hearing that Bishop Mel was at Bri Ele (Croghan old Church) she repaired thither, accompanied by seven Nuns. But on their arrival the Bishop was not there, but had gone into the country of the Hy Neill "terra nepotum Neill" (Meath). On the morrow she passed in search of him in company with Mac Caille (the Bishop of Brig-Ele) who guided her over the bog of Monaidh Fathing, which she converted into a flowery plain. When they had come close to the Town (Baile) where Bishop Mel was, Briget told Mac Caille (Macaleus) to put (place) a veil on her head, that she did not wish to appear unveiled before the Clergy. Upon her arrival a pillar of fire sprung (colum, a glory? rose, shot out) from her head, reaching even to the roof of the Church. When Bishop Mel had seen this, he asked: "Who are the Nuns" Mac Caille answered: "This is Briget, the celebrated Nun of Leinster."

    "My affection to her, said Bishop Mel, it was I who predicted her greatness, even while she was in her mother's womb, and it is I who will confer orders on her."

    "This (gloss) alludes to one occasion that Bishop Mel came to the house of her father, Dubhthach; he saw the wife of Dubhthach grieved and sorrowful, and he asked whence the cause of her sorrow. I have cause of sorrow, said she, for Dubhthach admires (loves) the handmaid who attends. This is just (meet, dethbhir) said Bishop Mel, for thy seed shall serve (obey) the seed of this handmaid, alluding to Bridget." (Bridget was illegitimate, but not the worse Bishop for that, and ----).

    "Then Mac Caille placed a veil (caille, cowl) on the head of Briget. Wherefore, from that day to this, the Coarb (successor) of St. Briget (Abbess of Kildare) is entitled to receive the grade (dignity, orders) of a Bishop."
    "Wherefore have the Nuns come? said Bishop Mel. To have orders of Penance conferred on Bridget, said Mac Caille. Then he conferred orders on Briget, and it was the orders of (gradha eps.) a Bishop, that Bishop Mel conferred upon her!"

    (Columbkille intended to get himself made a Bishop, but the Consecrater made him only a Priest by mistake. The authorities of the Irish Bulls Begins with Brian Boru).

    "While St. Briget was being ordained, she held the foot of the altar (the altar was like a little table) in her hand; and (since that time) seven Churches were burned down, in which this altar was, but it received no injury from the fire: Sed servata est per gratiam (favor) Brigidae. Dicunt alii, that this Church, to which Bishop Mel had gone, is in Feratullach. Ita ut alii putant." (Fartullagh is near Bri Ele). - Liber Maculatus, Leabhar Breac, Fol. 31.

Colgan was ashamed of this. Cogitosus has not a word about it, or if he has, Colgan has suppressed it. I don't laugh at these stories, for I think they are very nice if they were well told.