Front matter
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A FINE OF 3 CEN * > .
Preface To The Fourth Edition
Some smaller inaccuracies in the previous Editions have been corrected in this Edition ; but no other changes have been made.
Mount St. Bernard, J OHN HEALY, D.D.,
October, 1902. Bishop of Clonfert
Preface To The Second Edition
Vj ri
The First Edition of this work has been very favourably received both by the critics and by the public. It was exhausted nearly twelve months ago ; but other engrossing occupations left the author little time to revise the text and prepare a new edition. In this Second Edition many errors of the press have been corrected ; several explanatory notes have been added, and some few inaccuracies have been rectified. Maps of the Aran Islands and Clonmacnoise have been inserted, and the Index has been greatly enlarged. It is hoped also, that the lower price of the present edition will bring it within the range of a wider circle of readers, and still further carry out the author’s purpose of vindicating and enlarging the just renown of Ireland’s ancient Saint* and Scholars.
Mount St. Bernard, Easter, 1893,
JOHN HEALY, D.D.
UBR^
PBEFACE
.4-
In the following pages it lias been the author's purpose to give a full and accurate, but at the same time, as he hopes, a popular account of the Schools and Scholars of Ancient Ireland. It is a subject about which much is talked, but little is known, and even that little is only to be found in volumes that are not easily accessible to the general reader. In the present work the history of the Schools and Scholars of Celtic Erin is traced from the time of St. Patrick down to the Anglo-Norman Invasion of Ireland. The first three centuries of this period is certainly the brightest page of what is, on the whole, the rather saddening, but not inglorious record, of our country’s history. It was not by any means a period altogether free from violence and crime, but it was certainly a time of comparative peace and security, during which the religious communities scattered over the island presented a more beautiful spectacle before men and angels, than anything seen in Christendom either before or since It is an epoch, too, whose history can be studied with pleasure and profit, and in which Irishmen of all creeds and classes feel a legitimate pride.
It has been questioned, indeed, if the Monastic Schools of this period were really so celebrated and so frequented by holy men, as justly to win for Ireland her ancient title of the Insula Sanctorum et Doctorum — the Island of Saints and Scholars. The author ventures to hope that the following pages will furnish, even to the most sceptical, conclusive evidence on this point. It has been his purpose to show not merely the extent, the variety, and the character of the studies, both sacred and profane, pursued in our Celtic Schools, but alsc
Preface
Vll the eminent sanctity of those learned men, whose names are found in all our domestic Martyrologies.
Perhaps the most striking feature in their character, speaking generally, was their extraordinary love of solitude and mortification. They loved learning much, it is true ; but they loved God and nature more. They know nothing of what is now called civilization, and were altogf t'her ignorant of urban life ; but still they had a very keen perception of the grandeur and beauty of God’s universe I ne voice of the storm and the strength of the sea, the majesty of lofty mountains and the glory of summer woods, spoke to their hearts even more eloquently than the voice of the preacher, or the writing on their parchments.
The author has sought throughout to put all the information, which he could collect in reference to his subject, in a popular and attractive form. At the same time he has spared no pains to consult all the available authorities both ancient and modern ; and he has always gone to the original sources, whenever it was possible to do so. He does not pretend to have avoided all mistakes in matters of fact, nor to be quite free from errors in matters of opinion. But he can say that he has honestly done his best to make the study of this portion of our Celtic history interesting and profitable to the general reader. And there is no doubt that the study of the holy and self-denying lives of our ancient Saints and Scholars will exercise a purifying and elevating influence on the minds of all, but more especially of the young ; will teach them to raise their thoughts to higher things, and set less store on the paltry surroundings of their daily life.
With the single exception of Iona, which may be considered as an Irish island, this volume deals only with our Monastic Schools at home. Irishmen founded during this period many schools and monasteries abroad ; but vm
PREFACE.
it would require another volume to give a full account of those monasteries and their holy founders.
There are many friends to whom we owe thanks for assistance ; but we have reason to believe that they would prefer not to have their names mentioned in this preface.
In conclusion, we have only to add, that these pages have not been written in a controversial spirit ; because in our opinion little or nothing is ever to be gained by writing history in a spirit of controversy, which tends rather to Dbscure than to make known the truth. It is better from every point of view to let the facts speak for themselves ; and hence not only in quoting authorities, but also in narrating events, we have, as far as possible, reproduced the language of the original authorities.
A few of the papers here published have appeared in the Irish Ecclesiastical Record , but they are now presented in a more popular form.
JOHN HEALY, D.D
Palmerston House, Portumna,
‘ • May the tongue of Sage and Saint be lasting.”
PAGE
Chapter I. State Of Learning In Ireland Before St
PATRICK.
I. — The Druids 1
Learning of the Druids ... 1
Religious Worship ... 2
Sacrifice of Human Victims 3
Worship of the Elements... 3
Enchantments ... .. 4
Acquaintance with Letters 4 Sun-Worship ... ... 5
II. — The Bards 7
The Files 7
The Ollamh-Poet ... ... 7
Historic Poet ... ... 8
Ollioli Olum 10
Ossian 10
III. — The Brehons ... ... 11
Office of Brehon thrown open to all possessing necessary qualifications 1 1 Morann ... ... ... 12
Their Course of Instruction 12
IV — The Ogham Alphabet ... 13
Inscribed Stones 13
Invention of the Ogham ... 14
Letters of the Ogham Alphabet 15
Chapter II
IRISH SCHOLARS BEFORE ST. PATRICK.
I. — Cormac Mac Art 16
Battle of Magh Mucruimhe 17 Fenian Militia ... ... 18
Finn Mac Cumhail ... 19
Feis of Tara 19
The Teach Miodchuarta ... 21
Writings ascribed to Cormac 23 Saltair of Tara ... ... 23
PAOR
Schools at Tara 23
Book of Aicill ... ... 25
Death of Cormac ... ... 26
Torna Eigas 28
II. — Sedulius 29
Evidence of Irish Birth ... 29
Religious Training ... 32
Writings of Sedulius ... 35
Carmen Paschale ... ... 36
Elegiac Poems ... ... 37
III. — Caelestius and Pelagius 39 Caelestius not an Irishman 39 Pelagius of British Birth, but of Scottish Origin ... 40
No evidence to show that Caelestius was either a Briton or Scot— His Character ... ... ... 41
Chapter III
LEARNING IN IRELAND IN THE TIME OF ST. PATRICK.
I. — St. Patrick’s Education... 43
Life at M armoutier ... 44
St. Germanus of Auxerre... 46 Patrick accompanied Germanus on his journey to Britain, a.d. 429 ... 48
St. Patrick in the Island of
St. Patrick commissioned by St. Celestine to Preach the Gospel in Ireland ... i0
II. — St. Patrick’s Literary
Labour in Ireland ... 50
Arrival in Ireland... ... 50
He lights the Paschal Fire 51 Miraculous Destruction of the two Chief Druids of
Patrick burns the idolatrous books at Tara and overturns the idols in Leitrim ... , . ... 52
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PAGE j
III.— St. Patrick Reforms the
Brehon Laws ... ... 52
Chapter IV. The Writings Of Saint Patrick And Of His Dis- Ciples
I. — St. Patrick’s Confession... 67
Evidence in favour of its
authenticity 68
The Saint’s motive in writing it ... ... ••• 69
Patrick’s parents in Britain 7 1 Patrick met opposition in preaching the Gospel in Ireland ... 72
II. — The Epistle to Coroticus 73
III. — The Lobica, ob the
Deeb’s Cry 75
IV. — Sechnall’s Hymn of St.
Patrick 77
Sechnall, son of Patrick’s lister, Darerca ... ... 79
Sechnall’s father 79 l paoh
V. — The Hymn Sancti Venite... 80
St. Sechnall the first Christian Poet in Erin ... 81
VI. — St. Fiacc of Sletty ... 81
Fiacc receives grade • or orders ... ... ... 83
He founds two Churches... 83 Fiacc’s Metrical Life of St.
Patrick ... ... ... 85
I VII. — The Sayings of Saint
Patrick 87
VIII. — The Tripartite Life of
St. Patrick 88
Its date and authorship ... 89
Chapter V. Irish Monastic Schools In General
I. — General View of an Irish
Monastery ... ... 91
Monasticism always existed and always will exist in the Church ... ... 92
St. Martin of Tours, the Father of Monasticism in Gaul ... 93
II. — The Buildings ... ... 94
Cells of the Monks... ... 95
Monastic Hospitality ... 96
III. — Discipline 97
The Abbot 98
The Monastic Family ... 99
The Rule ... 99
Food 101
Ordinary Dress ... ... 102
IV. — The Daily Labour ^of
the Monastery 102
Religious Exercises ... 103
Study 103
Manual Labour ... ... 104
Church Furniture.. ... 105
V. — The Three Orders of
Irish Saints 106
Chapter VI Schools Of The Fifth Century
I. — The Schools of Armagh... 110
Emania ... Ill
Daire Ill
Patrick founds Armagh ... 112
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
XI
PAGE
Ecclesiastical Buildings at Armagh ... ... ... 113
St. Benignus ... ... 114
Death of Benignus ... 116 The Book of Rights attributed to Benignus ... 116 The School of Armagh, primarily a great Theological Seminary ... ... 117
The Moral ia of St. Gregory the Great ... ... 117
Gildas the Wise ... ... 118
His Destruction of Britain 119 English Students at Armagh 119 Churches and Schools of
Armagh burned and plundered between a.d. 670
Imar O’Hagan
The Book of Armagh
The Mac Moyres ...
IL —The School of Kildare...
St. Brigid ...
St. Mathona
1*6
St. Ita
St. Brigid born at Faugh-
art...
Events of her marvellous
history
Brigid’s religious vows ...
Brigid founds Kildare Brigid the “ Mary of Ireland”
Monastery of Men at Kil-
dare
St. Conlaeth
St. Ninnidhius
Great Church of Kildare...
Six Lives of St. Brigid ...
St. Brogan Cloen ...
Cogitosus ...
Round Tower of Kildare...
Perpetual fire of Kildare...
Art of Illumination in the
Monastic Schools of Kil-
dare
The Book of Leinster
Chapter VII. Minor Monastic Schools Of The Fifth Century
I. — The School of Noendrum 141 St. Mochae ... ... ... 141
St. Colman of Dromore ... 143 Mochae of Noendrum enchanted for 150 years by the song of a Blackbird 141 I
PAGE
II. — The School of Louth ... 145
School founded ... ... 147
The Druid Hoam ... ... 147
Book of Cuana ... ... 149
III. — The School of Emly ... 149
Pre-Patrician Bishops in
Life of St. Ailbe of Emly... 151 Ailbe preached the Gospel
in Connaught 152
Life of St. Declan... ... 153 Sts. Ciaran, Ailbe, Declan, and Ibar yield subjection and supremacy to Patrick 153 Difficulties against the authenticity of the Lives of St. Ciaran, St. Declan, and St. Ailbe 155
IV. — St. Ibar 155
Beg-Fri 156
School of Beg-Eri ... ... 157
Beg-Eri no longer an Island ... ... ... 158
V. — Early Schools in the
West of Ireland ... 159 College at Cluainfois ... 160 School of St. Asicus of Elphin 161
Chapter VIII. Schools Of The Sixth Century
THE MONASTIC SCHOOL OF ST. ENDA OF ARAN.
I- — Life of St. Enda of Aran 163 Monastic Character of the Early Irish Church ... 163 Family of St. Enda ... 164 His Sister, St. Fanchea .. 165 He goes to Candida Casa 167 Goes to Aran 169
II. — The Isles of Aran ... 169 Aran Mor ... ... ... 170
HI. — Pagan Remains in the
Isles of Aran ... ... 172
Dun iEngusa ... ... 173
Dun Conchobhair ... ... 175
These Islands in ancient times the stronghold of a Warrior Race 178
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TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
IV. — Christian Aran of St.
The Curragh Stone ... 177 Enda founded his First Monastery at Killeany... 177 Scholars of St. Enda ... 178 Columba and Ciaran at Aran ... ... ... 179
The Life of Enda and his Monks, simple and austere 180
V. — Ancient Churches in
Aran 181
Churches in Townland of
Killeany 181
Telagh-Enda 182
The “ Seven Churches” ... 182 The Tomb of St. Brecan ... 183 The Septem Rutnani ... 184 Ruins at Kilmurvey ... 185 Tempull net -Cheathalr- Aluinit ... ... ... 186
Chapter IX
THE SCHOOL OF ST. FINNIAN OF CLONARD.
I. — Preliminary Sketch of
Christian Schools ... 188 The First Christian Schools 188 Schools of the Pagans ... 189
Episcopal Schools 190
School founded by J ohn Cassian near Marseilles 190 Monastery of Lerins ... 192
II. — St. Finnian of Clonard Finnian’s birth Goes to Britain Dubricius ...
St. David ..
Cathmael ...
Finnian returns to Erin ...
III. — The School of Clonard 199 Scholars of Clonard ... 201 Instruction altogether oral 202 Knowledge of the Sacred
Scriptures 203
“Tutor of the Saints of
Ireland”... 203
Remains at Clonard ... 205
St. Aileran the Wise ... 206
Chapter X. The School Of Clonfert
I. — St. Brendan of Clonfebt 209 Fostered by St. Ita ... 21 1
PAGE
Brendan’s progress in learning under St. Ere ... 211 Seminary at Cluainfois ... 212
Brendan’s Rule 213
St. Brendan’s Oratory on the summit of Brandon
Hill 214
Brendan’s Voyages ... 215 He goes to Britain ... 217 The Cursing of Tara ... 218 He founds the Monastery of Inchiquin ... ...' 219
Founds Clonfert 220
Death of Brendan ... ... 221
II. — St. Moinenn 222
St. Fintan ... 224
The Abbot Seanach Garbh 225
St. Fursev 226
Birth of Fursey 227
III. — St. Cummian the Tall,
Bishop of Clonfert ... 228 Birth of Cummian... ... 229 l’upil of St. Finbar ... 230 Cummian and King Domh-
nall 232
Paschal Controversy ... 233
The Irish Usage 234
Main charge brought against the Irish ... 235 A National Synod at Magh Lene ... ... ... 236
CummiarTs Paschal Epistle 237 He appeals to the authority
of the Church 238
Quotes the Synodical Decrees of St. Patrick ... 239 The Liber deMensura Poeni - tentiarum ..„ ... ... 240
IV. — Subsequent History of
Clonfert 242
Turgesius and the Danes... 242 Old Cathedral of Clonfert 243
CHAPTER XI. THE SCHOOL OF MOVlLLE
I.— St Finnian of Moville ... 245 His Boyhood and Education 246 Candida Casa ... ... 246
Finnian at Candida Casa... 247 He goes to Rome ... ... 248
Returns to Ireland and founds a School at Moville 249 Columcille’s Copy of St.
Finnian’s Psaltery ... 251
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PAGE j
The Cathach
... 252
St. Finnian’s Rale...
... 253
His Death ...
... 254
The Hymn of St. Colman
— Marianus Scotus...
... 256
Chapter XII. The School Of Clonmac
NOISE.
I. — St. Ciaran of Clonmac-
noise
St. Ciaran at the School of
Clonard
He goes to Aran ...
Visits St. Senan at Scattery
Founds Churches at Isell Ciaran and Hare Island, and the Monastery at
Origin of the Diocese of
Death of St. Ciaran
263 1
Festival of St. Ciaran
264 !
The Eclais Beg
II. — The Ruined Churches at
Clonmacnoise ...
Round Tower
O’Rourke’s Tower...
De Lacy’s Castle ...
Inscribed Tombstones
/II. — The Scholars of Clon-
MACNOISE
Grants to the School of
Colgan, or Colgu the Wise
Alenin
The Ferleginds
The Prayer of St. Colgu ..
Scuap Chrabhaigh ...
Plundered by the Danes ...
Felim Mac Criffan
IV. — Annalists of Clonmac-
noise
Tighernach...
Chronicon Scoiorum
Gilla-Christ O’Maeileon ..
Annals of Clonmacnoise
279 1
Uidiire” ...
280 1
Conn-na-m-Bocht
PAGE
VI.- -Dicuil, the Geographer 281 The De Mensura Orbis Terrarum ... ... ... 281
His Learning1 ... ... 284
Irish Pilgrimage to Jerusalem ... ... .. 285
The “ Barns of Joseph” ... 286 Dicuil’s reference to Iceland 287 Love of the Ancient Irish Monks for island solitudes ... ... ... 288
Iceland and the Faroe Isles occupied by Irish Monks prior to discovery of these islands by the Danes ... 289 Dicuil’s testimony that Sedulius was an Irishman 290
Chapter XIII. The Columbian Schools In Ireland
I. — St. Columba’s Education... 291
St. Columba, a typical Celt 291
Early History 292
Goes to the School of St.
Finnian at Moville ... 294 Columba at the School of
Clonard ”'295
Columba at Glasnevin ... 296 He returns to his native territory 297
II. — Columba founds Derry ... 298
Columcille’s original Church 298 Personal description of Columba ... . . .. 299
III. — The Schools of Durrow
Columba founded the Monastery of Durrow... 301 Interesting incidents ... 302 Cormac Ua Liathain ... 303 The Book of Durrow ... 304 Ancient remains at Durrow 305 Assassination of De Lacy 306
IV. — The Foundation of Kells 306
King Diarmait ... ... 306
St. Columba’s House ... 308 Round Tower of Kells ... 309 Book of Kells ... ... 309
This MS. caused the Battle of Cuil- Dreimhne ... 310 Columba’s departure from Derry . .. ... 312
Port-a-Churraich ... ... 314
XIV
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
Chapter XIV. The Columbian School In Alba
I. — Iona 315
Columba settles in Iona ... 316
Reilig Odhran ... ... 317
Columba’s Monasteries ... 318 Scribes in Iona ... ... 319
Rule in Iona ... ... 319
II. — Columba Protects tub '
Threatened destruction of the Bards... ... ... 320
Convention of Drumceat ... 321 Coluxnba’s defence of the
Bards 322
The Bardic Schools ... 323
III. — Death of Columpa ... 324
IV. - -Writings of Columba ... 326
The Altus Proscitor ... ... 327
In te Christ e ... ... 328
Noli Tate.? 328
Irish Poems attributed to Columcille ... ... 329
Colunba’s Prophecies ... 329
V. — Lives of Columcille ... 330
VI. — Other Scholars of Iona 331
Baithen 331
Death of Baithen 333
Seghine 333
Cuin.ine the Fair ... ... 334
VII. - -Adamnan, Ninth Abbot
of Hy 335
Greek ToDgue taught jn the School of Hy 1170 years ago ... ... 336
Adamnan’s Birth... ... 336
His Parentage ... ... 337
King Finnachta ... ... 337
Adamnan goes to Iona ... 338 Vita Columbae ... ... 339
Adamnan introduces the new Paschal observance into Ireland ... ... 341
Dispute between Adamnan
and Finnachta 342
Canon of Adamnan ... 342 Death of Adamnan — relics tranBf erred to Ireland ... 343 Adamnan \s writings ... 314
De. Loots Sanctis ... ... 344
PAGE
Expulsion of the Columbian Monks by the Pictish King Nectan ... 345 The “ Gentiles ” make their first descent on the Hebrides 346
Martyrdom of St. Blaithmao ... ... ... 347
The Ride of Columba ... 347
Chapter XV. The Later Columbian Schools In Ireland
I. — Kells Head of the Colum-
bian Houses 348
Kells pillaged by the Danes 348 The Cathach 348
II. — Marianus Scotus 349
Commentaries on the Epistles of St. Taul 351
III. — The Later School of
The Ua Brolchain ... ... 352
St. Maelisa O’Brolchain ... 353 Flaithbhertach O’Brolchain 354 The Abbot of Derry resolves to renovate his monastery and collects funds for the purpose ... ... ... 355
Synod of the Clergy of Ireland convened at Bri Mac Taidgh in Laeghaire ... 356 See of Derry established ... 357
IV. — Gelasius 358
His name of Mac Liag ... 358 Gelasius becomes Abbot of
Derry 359
He reforms the morals of clergy and people ... 359
Synod of Kells 360
Synod of Mellifont ... 361 Synod of Brigh Mao-
Taidgh 361
Synod of Clane 362
Gelasius consecrates St.
Laurence O Toole ... 362 Death of Gelasius 363
Chapter XVI. The School Of Bangor
I. — St. Comgall of Bangor ... 364 Birth and parentage ... 365 Comgall enters the Monastery of Fintan . ..... 366
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
XV
PAGE
He visits Clonmacnoise, and receives the priesthood 367 Description of Bangor ... 367 St. Columba visits Comgall at Bangor ... ... 368
The fame of Comgall attracts crowds to Bangor 369 D^ath of Comgall 370
II. — St. Columbanus 370
His early life 371
Goes to Cluaninis and places himself under the
care of Sinell 372
He enters Bangor ... ... 372
Preaches the Gospel in Ga ul 373 He buries himself in the depths of the forest ... 373 Increase of Disciples ... 374 Founds a monastery at Luxeuil ... ... ... 375
Columbanus and his Irish Monks banished from
They establish themselves
at Bregentz 376
He founds the Monastic Church of Bobbio ... 378 Death of Columbanus ... 378 His writings ... ... 379
The Bobbio Missal ... ... 380
The Antiphonarium Benchorense ... ... ... 381
III. — Dungal 381
Theologian, astronomer and
poet 381
Dungal was an Irishman... 382 Probably educated in the School of Bangor ... 382 Dungal goes to France ... 382 His Letter tc Charlemagne on the two solar eclipses said to have taken place
He opens a school at Pavia 385 The last struggle of Western Iconoclasm ... ... 385
The Libri Carolini... ... 386 Synod of Frankfort ... 386 The Council of Nice ... 387 The Paris Conference ... 388 Claudius of Turin ... 389
writings 391
PAGE
IV. — St. Malachy 393
Sketch of his life ... . . 393
He rebuilds the monastery at Bangor ... ... 394
Becomes Bishop of Connor 394 Founds the Monasterium Ibracence ... ... ... 395
Malachy transferred to the
Primatial See ... ... 395
Difficulties in Armagh ... 395 Malachy honoured at Home by Pope Innocent III. ... 396 Death at Clairvaux 397
Chapter XVII. The School Of Clone
NAGH.
I. — St. Fintan ... 398
Churches founded round the base of the Slieve Bloom mountains ... 398
Fintan’s Rule ... ... 401
St. Comgall a pupil of the School of Clonenagh ... 402 Miracles of St. Fintan ... 403 Fintan, “Father of the Irish Monks ” 404
I II. —St. JEngus 404
A Ceile De 405
He leads a solitary life ... 405 Dysert-Enos ... ... 406
Penitential Exercises ... 407 ^Engus arrives at Tallagh 407 Martyrology of Tallagh ... 408 The Felire ... ... 409
Fothadh-na-Canoine ... 410 Invocation of the Saints ... 411 The Saltair-na-Rann ... 412 Opinions of Dr. Stokes with regard to the writings of
iEngus 412
Death of iEngus 413
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