INSULA SANCTORUM ET DOCTORUM

OR,

IRELAND’S ANCIENT SCHOOLS AND SCHOLARS

BY THE MOST REV. JOHN HEALY, D.D., LL.D., M.R.I.A., BISHOP OF CLONFERT; COMMISSIONER FOR THE PUBLICATION OF THE BREHON LAWS; EX-PREFECT OF THE DUNBOYNE ESTABLISHMENT, MAYNOOTH COLLEGE.

SIXTH EDITION.

DUBLIN: SEALY, BRYERS & WALKER, 86 Middle Abbey Street. M. H. GILL & SON, 50 Upper O’Connell Street. LONDON: BURNS & OATES, Limited, 28 Orchard Street, W., and 63 Paternoster Row, E.C.. New York, Cincinnati and Chicago: BENZIGER BROTHERS. 1912.

PRINTED BY SEALY, BRYERS AND WALKER, MIDDLE ABBEY STREET, DUBLIN.

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.

✠ JOHN HEALY, D.D., Bishop of Clonfert.

Mount St. Bernard, October, 1902.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.

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 Saints and Scholars.

✠ JOHN HEALY, D.D.

Mount St. Bernard, Easter, 1893.

PREFACE.

In the following pages it has 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 also 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 knew nothing of what is now called civilization, and were altogether ignorant of urban life; but still they had a very keen perception of the grandeur and beauty of God’s universe. The 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 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 obscure 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, 1890.

“May the tongue of Sage and Saint be lasting.”

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. PAGE

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

Neidhe 9

Ollioll Olum 10

Ossian 10

III.—The Brehons 11

Office of Brehon thrown open to all possessing necessary qualifications 11

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 Miodhchuarta 21

Writings ascribed to Cormac 23

Saltair of Tara 23

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 Marmoutier 44

St. Germanus of Auxerre 46

Patrick accompanied Germanus on his journey to Britain, A.D. 429 48

St. Patrick in the Island of Lerins 49

St. Patrick commissioned by St. Celestine to Preach the Gospel in Ireland 50

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 Erin 51

Patrick burns the idolatrous books at Tara and overturns the idols in Leitrim 52

III.— St. Patrick Reforms the Brehon Laws52

The Senchus Mor 52

Commission of Nine 53

Benignus 54

Church Organization 55

Friendly Alliance with the Bards 57

Church Music 58

St. Patrick accompanied by Bishops and Priests in his Mission to Ireland 59

Synod of Patrick, Auxilius and Iserninus 60

Holy See Supreme Judge of Controversies 60

Duties of Ecclesiastical Judges and Kings 61

Oral Instruction communicated by St. Patrick to his Disciples during Missionary Journeys 62

Books used by St. Patrick 63

Elements, or “Alphabets” of Christian Doctrine 63

Equipment of the young Priest beginning his Missionary Work 64

Patrick’s Household 65

Patrick’s Artificers 66

CHAPTER IV.

THE WRITINGS OF SAINT PATRICK AND OF HIS DISCIPLES.

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 71

Patrick met opposition in preaching the Gospel in Ireland 72

II.—The Epistle to Coroticus 73

III.—The Lorica, or the Deer’s Cry 75

IV.—Sechnall’s Hymn of St. Patrick 77

Secundinus 77

Sechnall, son of Patrick’s sister, Darerca 79

Sechnall’s father 79

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

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

Writing 104

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 111

Daire 111

Patrick founds Armagh 112

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 Moralia 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 and 1179 120

Imar O’Hagan 121

The Book of Armagh 122

The Mac Moyres 124

II.—The School of Kildare 125

St. Brigid 125

St. Mathona 126

St. Ita 127

St. Brigid born at Faughart 128

Events of her marvellous history 129

Brigid’s religious vows 130

Brigid founds Kildare 130

Brigid the “Mary of Ireland” 131

Monastery of Men at Kildare 132

St. Conlaeth 132

St. Ninnidhius 132

Great Church of Kildare 133

Six Lives of St. Brigid 133

St. Brogan Cloen 134

Cogitosus 135

Round Tower of Kildare 138

Perpetual fire of Kildare 138

Art of Illumination in the Monastic Schools of Kildare 139

The Book of Leinster 140

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 144

II.—The School of Louth 145

St. Mochta 145

School founded 147

The Druid Hoam 147

Book of Cuana 149

III.—The School of Emly 149

St. Ailbe 149

Pre-Patrician Bishops in Ireland 150

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-Eri 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

III.—Pagan Remains in the Isles of Aran 172

Dun Ængusa 173

Dun Conchobhair 175

These Islands in ancient times the stronghold of a Warrior Race 176

IV.—Christian Aran of St. Enda 177

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 Romani 184

Ruins at Kilmurvey 185

Tempull na-Cheathair-Aluinn 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 John Cassian near Marseilles 190

Monastery of Lerins 192

II.—St. Finnian of Clonard 193

Finnian’s birth 194

Goes to Britain 195

Dubricius 196

St. David 196

Cathmael 197

Finnian returns to Erin 198

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 Clonfert 209

Fostered by St. Ita 211

Brendan’s progress in learning under St. Erc 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. Fursey 226

Birth of Fursey 227

III.—St. Cummian the Tall, Bishop of Clonfert 228

Birth of Cummian 229

Pupil of St. Finbar 230

Cummian and King Domhnall 232

Paschal Controversy 233

The Irish Usage 234

Main charge brought against the Irish 235

A National Synod at Magh Lene 236

Cummian’s Paschal Epistle 237

He appeals to the authority of the Church 238

Quotes the Synodical Decrees of St. Patrick 239

The Liber de Mensura Poenitentiarum 240

IV.—Subsequent History of Clonfert 242

Turgesius and the Danes 242

Old Cathedral of Clonfert 243

CHAPTER XI.

THE SCHOOL OF MOVILLE.

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

The Cathach 252

St. Finnian’s Rule 253

His Death 254

The Hymn of St. Colman 255

II.—Marianus Scotus 256

CHAPTER XII.

THE SCHOOL OF CLONMACNOISE.

I.—St. Ciaran of Clonmacnoise 258

Clonmacnoise 258

St. Ciaran at the School of Clonard 259

He goes to Aran 260

Visits St. Senan at Scattery 261

Founds Churches at Isell Ciaran and Hare Island, and the Monastery at Clonmacnoise 261

Origin of the Diocese of Clonmacnoise 262

Death of St. Ciaran 263

Festival of St. Ciaran 264

The Eclais Beg 265

II.—The Ruined Churches at Clonmacnoise 266

Round Tower 267

O’Rourke’s Tower 268

De Lacy’s Castle 269

Inscribed Tombstones 269

III.—The Scholars of Clonmacnoise 270

Grants to the School of Clonmacnoise 271

Colgan, or Colgu the Wise 272

Alcuin 272

The Ferleginds 273

The Prayer of St. Colgu 273

Scuap Chrabhaigh 274

Plundered by the Danes 274

Felim Mac Criffan 275

IV.—Annalists of Clonmacnoise 276

Tighernach 276

Chronicon Scotorum 278

Gilla-Christ O’Maeileon 279

Annals of Clonmacnoise 279

V.—The “Leabhar-na-h-Uidhre” 280

Conn-na-m-Bocht 280

VI.—Dicuil, the Geographer 281

The De Mensura Orbis Terrarum 281

His Learning 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 and Kells 301

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

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 the Bards 320

Threatened destruction of the Bards 320

Convention of Drumceat 321

Columba’s defence of the Bards 322

The Bardic Schools 323

III.—Death of Columba 324

IV.—Writings of Columba 326

The Altus Prosator 327

In te Christe 328

Noli Pater 328

Irish Poems attributed to Columcille 329

Columba’s Prophecies 329

V.—Lives of Columcille 330

VI.—Other Scholars of Iona 331

Baithen 331

Death of Baithen 333

Laisren 333

Seghine 333

Suibhne 334

Cuimine the Fair 334

VII.—Adamnan, Ninth Abbot of Hy 335

Greek Tongue taught in 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 transferred to Ireland 343

Adamnan’s writings 344

De Locis Sanctis 344

Expulsion of the Columbian Monks by the Pictish King Nectan 345

The “Gentiles” make their first descent on the Hebrides 346

Martyrdom of St. Blaithmac 347

The Rule of Columba 347

CHAPTER XV.

THE LATER COLUMBIAN SCHOOLS IN IRELAND.

I.—Kells Head of the Columbian Houses 348

Kells pillaged by the Danes 348

The Cathach 348

II.—Marianus Scotus 349

Commentaries on the Epistles of St. Paul 351

III.—The Later School of Derry 352

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 Mac-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

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

Death 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 Gaul 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 Luxeuil 376

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 to Charlemagne on the two solar eclipses said to have taken place in A.D. 810 383

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

Dungali Responsa contra perversas Claudii Taurinensis Episcopi Sententias 390

Character of Dungal’s writings 391

His death 392

IV.—St. Malachy 393

Sketch of his life 393

He rebuilds the monastery at Bangor 394

Becomes Bishop of Connor 394

Founds the Monasterium Ibracense 395

Malachy transferred to the Primatial See 395

Difficulties in Armagh 395

Malachy honoured at Rome by Pope Innocent III. 396

Death at Clairvaux 397

CHAPTER XVII.

THE SCHOOL OF CLONENAGH.

I.—St. Fintan 398

Churches founded round the base of the Slieve Bloom mountains 398

Clonenagh 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

II.—St. Ængus 404

A Ceile De 405

He leads a solitary life 405

Dysert-Enos 406

Penitential Exercises 407

Ængus 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 Ængus 412

Death of Ængus 413

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE SCHOOL OF GLENDALOUGH.

I.—St. Kevin 414

Sketch of his Life 414

Kevin is placed under the care of St. Petroc 415

He goes to Glendalough 416

Description of Glendalough 417

St. Kevin’s Bed 418

Tempull-na-Skellig 419

Glendalough, a Seminary of Saints and Scholars 420

Kevin meets Columba, Comgall and Canice at the hill of Uisnech 421

Death of Kevin 421

Writings attributed to Kevin 422

II.—Ruins at Glendalough 422

The Cathedral 423

St. Kevin’s Kitchen 423

Our Lady’s Church 424

Trinity Church 424

Kevin’s Yew Tree 425

III.—St. Moling 425

St. Moling 426

Teach Moling 426

Moling becomes Bishop of Ferns 427

Remission of the Cow-Tax 428

Writings attributed to St. Moling 429

Glendalough ravaged by the Danes 429

“Gilla-na-naomh Laighen” 430

CHAPTER XVIII.—(continued).

THE SCHOOL OF GLENDALOUGH.

St. Laurence O’Toole 432

His Parentage 433

He goes to Glendalough 434

Lorcan as a Student 435

He is placed at the head of St. Kevin’s Great Establishment 436

Consecrated Archbishop of Dublin 437

Synod of the Irish Prelates at Clane 437

He reforms the Clergy 437

His Spirit of Mortification and Prayer 438

Dermott McMurrough and Maurice Fitzgerald attack Dublin 440

He stimulates the slothful king, Rory O’Connor, to action 441

Laurence O’Toole attends a General Council in Rome, and secures many privileges for the Church in Ireland 443

He travels to England in the interests of Rory O’Connor the discrowned king 444

Detained a prisoner in the monastery of Abingdon 444

His death 445

Canonization 446

CHAPTER XIX.

SCHOOLS OF THE SEVENTH CENTURY.

I.—The School of Lismore, St. Carthach 447

He visits the School of Bangor 448

He founds a monastery at Rahan 449

“Effugatio” of Carthach from Rahan 450

He founds Lismore 453

Retires from community life to prepare for death 454

Miracles 454

Rule of Carthach 455

II.—St. Cathaldus of Tarentum 457

The Life of St. Cathaldus 457

His Birth-place 458

A Student at Lismore 460

He becomes a bishop 461

See of Rachau 462

Pilgrimage to Jerusalem 462

Taranto 463

Cathaldus endeavours to reform the licentious inhabitants of Taranto 463

His death at Taranto 464

Invention of the Saint’s Relics 464

III.—Other Scholars of Lismore 465

St. Cuanna 465

St. Colman O’Leathain 467

Aldfrid, King of Northumbria 468

IV.—Subsequent History of Lismore 466

Lismore ravaged by the Danes 469

Scenery at Lismore 471

Inscribed stones 472

The Crozier of Lismore 472

The Book of Lismore 473

CHAPTER XX.

THE SCHOOLS OF DESMOND.

I.—The School of Cork 475

St. Finbarr 476

Gougane Barra 478

Cork in A.D. 1600 480

Death of St. Finbarr 482

His character 483

Assassination of Mahoun 484

Giolla Aedha O’Muidhin 486

II.—St. Colman Mac Ua Cluasaigh 487

Pestilence in Ireland 487

St. Colman’s Hymn 488

III.—The School of Ross 490

St. Fachtna 490

Geographical Poem of Mac Cosse 494

IV.—The School of Innisfallen 495

St. Finan the Leper 496

St. Finan Cam 497

V.—The Annals of Innisfallen 500

Maelsuthain O’Cearbhail 500

Curious anecdote of Maelsuthain 502

Annals of Innisfallen 503

Description of Innisfallen 505

CHAPTER XXI.

THE SCHOOLS OF THOMOND.

I.—The School of Mungret 506

St. Nessan 507

St. Munchin 508

Mungret plundered by the Danes 510

“The Learning of the Women of Mungret” 511

II.—The School of Iniscaltra 513

Island of Iniscaltra 513

St. Columba of Terryglass 513

Death of St. Columba 515

St. Caimin 517

Round Tower of Iniscaltra 519

St. Caimin’s Church 519

Sculptured stones 520

Iniscaltra ravaged by the Danes 521

III.—Other Monastic Schools of Thomond 522

St. Brendan of Birr 522

St. Cronan of Roscrea 523

Book of Dimma 524

CHAPTER XXII.

LATER SCHOOLS OF THE WEST.

I.—St. Colman’s School of Mayo 527

The Easter Controversy 527

Inisboffin 531

Death of Colman 533

II.—St. Gerald of Mayo 534

Life of St. Gerald 534

Adamnan promulgates the celebrated “Lex Innocentiae” 537

Date of St. Gerald’s Death 537

III.—Subsequent History of the School of Mayo 538

Cele O’Duffy 539

IV.—The School of Tuam 540

St. Jarlath 541

“Meadow of Retreat” 542

St. Brendan visits St. Jarlath’s School at Cluainfois 543

St. Jarlath founds Tuam 544

CHAPTER XXII.—(continued).

CELTIC ART IN THE WESTERN MONASTERIES DURING THE REIGN OF TURLOUGH O’CONNOR.

I.—The O’Duffys 547

II.—Celtic Art at Clonmacnoise 550

The Ollamh-builder 551

Gobban Saer 551

Religh-na-Cailleach 552

Crosses and Architectural Ornaments in Sculpture at Tuam and Cong 554

Turlough rebuilds the Cathedral of Tuam 557

The Abbey of Cong 558

The Cross of Cong 560

The Chalice of Ardagh 562

The Shrine of St. Manchan 564

CHAPTER XXIII.

IRISH SCHOLARS ABROAD

I.—St. Virgilius, Archbishop of Salzburg 566

Country of St. Virgilius 566

Accusations against Virgilius 569

Doctrine of the Antipodes 570

Virgilius, the Apostle of Carinthia 572

Discovery of the Tomb of Virgilius 573

II.—Sedulius, Commentator on Scripture 574

Writings of Sedulius 574

III.—John Scotus Erigena 576

Born in Ireland 576

Patronised by Charles the Bald 579

His Liber de Prædestinatione 581

Alleged Errors about the Real Presence 583

His Translation of the Pseudo-Dionysius 584

His Treatise De Divisione Naturae 586

This Book condemned A.D. 1225 587

His Death 588

IV.—Foreign Scholars in Ireland 589

College of Slane 590

Dagobert, a Pupil of Slane 590

Egbert in Ireland 591

Studies in Connaught 592

St. Chad in Connaught 593

St. Willibrord in Ireland 594

Agilbert, Bishop of Paris, in Ireland 595

CHAPTER XXIV.

GAEDHLIC SCHOOLS AND SCHOLARS OF ANCIENT ERIN.

I.—Organization of the Gaedhlic Professional Schools 597

The Learned Professions in Erin 598

Degrees in Poetry, in Law, in History 600

II.—School of Tuaim Drecain 602

Three Schools at Tuaim Drecain 602

Cennfaeladh, Professor in all the Faculties 604

III.—Cormac Mac Cullinan 605

Disert-Diarmada 605

Cormac, King of Cashel 607

Not Bishop of Cashel 609

Cashel then a Royal Dun 610

Battle of Ballaghmoon 611

IV.—Writings of Cormac Mac Cullinan 612

Psalter of Caiseal 613

Cormac’s Glossary 612

CHAPTER XXIV.—(continued).

I.—Gaedhlic Scholars of the Sixth and Seventh Centuries 614

Amergin Mac Awley 615

Dallan Forgaill 616

II.—Gaedhlic scholars of the Ninth and Tenth Centuries 617

Maelmura of Fathan 617

Flann Mac Lonan 618

Eochaid O’Flinn 619

III.—Gaedhlic Scholars of the Eleventh Century 620

Mac Liag 620

His writings 623

Cuan O’Lochain 624

The Monastery of Buite 625

IV.—Discipline of the Lay Colleges 628

Relations between pupils and Teachers laid down in the Senchus Mor 629

Corporal punishment sometimes inflicted 630