Insula Sanctorum et Doctorum; Or, Ireland's Ancient Schools and Scholars

by John Healy

The principles enumerated in this passage are eminently just in themselves; they were well suited to the circumstances of the times, and admirably calculated to put down a mercenary spirit, and foster the growth of tender affection between the pupils and their master. As we have already shown, the professional schools were to a great extent peripatetic; and when actually on their rounds the pupils were to be fed, and lodged, and taught by the master. He was bound to communicate all his knowledge and all his art, both theoretical and practical, to his pupils without reserve; and thus prepare them for their professional degree or formal admission to the ranks of the Bards, Brehons, Chroniclers, or Readers, as the case might happen to be. He might chastise the pupil for misconduct, but in so doing the teacher was not to be unduly severe, so as to cause injury to the mind or body of his scholar. He was also to supply him with food, clothing, and lodging, except provision were otherwise made for these purposes. The law even prescribes the quality of the food to which the pupil is entitled as a matter of right. No professor in ancient Erin could keep a Do-the-Boys Hall with impunity. The teacher was a literary foster-father, and as such, he was bound by the laws of fosterage to supply wholesome food in abundance to his pupils according to the rank of their parents. “What are their victuals? Stirabout (lithe) is given to them all, but the flavouring was to be different.” It was salt butter for the sons of inferior grades; fresh butter for the sons of chieftains; honey for the sons of kings. The stirabout of oat-meal might be made on water, or on butter-milk, or on new milk, and given to the different classes in like manner.

On the other hand the teacher, or professor, was amply provided for. That provision of the law which compelled the foster pupils to assist their tutors in poverty, and maintain them in old age, was an admirable institution, calculated to preserve the most kindly feelings between both all through their lives. Then the honour price of the degree, and the first fees earned after obtaining it, were no doubt considerable, in order to enable the professor to maintain his pupils at home, whenever they were not at free quarters during their learned excursions and other official visits.

Corporal punishment was certainly not unknown in the monastic schools, as well as in establishments of later date; it was sometimes found necessary to have recourse to corporal punishment even when dealing with young ‘saints.’ We are told in the Life of St. Colman Ela of Lynally in the King’s County, that he once punished St. Baithen, the nephew of St. Columcille and his successor in the abbacy of Hy, for neglecting his studies. The boy thereupon fled from the church, in which the school it seems, was taught, to the woods, no doubt, to hide, and avoid both his lessons and the chastisement of his master. There he saw a man building one of the circular wicker-work houses then very common, and observed that although he only worked one rod at a time, the wicker-wall rose up steadily to the roof. “Ah,” he said, “if I only learned a little each day, I too should grow learned.” Then he took shelter from a shower under the spreading branches of an oak tree. While standing beneath the boughs he observed a drop of water dripping from a leaf and falling on the ground. He made a hole with his heel on the spot where the drop was falling, and soon noticed that the hole was filled. Here he made a similar mental reflection, and, vowing that never again would he neglect his daily task, he returned to his master and grew up to be a very learned and a very holy man.[479]

We have not in the foregoing pages by any means exhausted the list of our ancient Schools and Scholars. But we have sought to notice all the more frequented schools, and the most celebrated scholars of ancient Erin, who flourished in their native land. It would require a separate volume to do justice to the history of the Irish monks, who bore the name and fame of Scotia to so many foreign countries, in which the memory of their virtues and their learning is still fondly cherished. In these pages, however, we have said enough to vindicate the right of ancient Erin to that glorious title, by which since the twelfth century she has been known to the scholars of all Europe—INSULA SANCTORUM ET DOCTORUM[480]—The Island of Saints and Scholars.

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GENERAL INDEX.

Abban, St., comes to School of Beg-Erin, [157];
visits Rome with his uncle, St. Ibar, [157].
Abban, priest, baptizes St. Finnian, [195].
Abbot, jurisdiction of, in an Irish monastery, [98], [99].
Achadh Duirbchon, church of, founded by St. Finbarr, [477].
Achaia, life of Sedulius (poet) at, [32-33].
Adamnan, ninth abbot of Iona, little known of his early youth, [336];
descent of, [337];
curious story told of, [337], [338];
goes to Iona, [338];
made abbot of Iona, [339];
pays a visit to Ireland, [339], [340];
a second visit, [341], [342];
returns to Iona, and writes Life of Columbkille, [342];
pays a third visit to Ireland and promulgates the “Lex Innocentiae,” [342], [537];
the works of, [343];
death of, [345];
his relics brought to Ireland, [345].
Aedh Guaire, murders high steward of King Diarmaid Mac Cerbhaill, [218];
the king seeks revenge and is cursed, [218].
Aedh Finn, and his daughter Gelges, [227].
Aedh, son of Brendan, prince, grants a site for School of Durrow, [301].
Aedhan, bishop of Mayo, [539].
Ængus, king of Munster, grants Aran Islands to St. Enda, [169].
Ængus, the Culdee, descent and early life of, [405];
lives a solitary and penitential life at Dysert-Enos, [406];
goes to monastery of Tallagh, [407];
his identity discovered, [408];
writings of, [408-412];
Dr. Stokes on his writings, [412];
death of, [413].
Agha (Achad-Finglass), monastery of, St. Fintan of Clonenagh at, [403].
Aghold (Achadh Abhail), Saint Finnian builds a church at, [199].
Agilbert, bishop of Paris, a student in Ireland, [595].
Agilulph, king of Lombardy, St. Columbanus at the Court of, [377].
Aidan, Saint, bishop of Ferns, [427].
—— sent to preach in Northumbria, [527];
appointed bishop of Lindisfarne, [527].
Ailbe of Emly, St., ordained by St. Patrick, [150];
Life of, as given in the Salamanca MS., [151];
preaches the Gospel in Connaught, [152];
the Life of St. Declan regarding, [153];
evidence against the authenticity of Lives of St. Ailbe and St. Declan, [155].
Ailbhe, daughter of Cormac Mac Art, poem attributed to, [28].
Aileran (the Wise), St., writings attributed to, [206], [207].
Ailill, abbot of Mungret, death of, [510].
Ainmire, king, grants site for School of Derry, to St. Columba, [299].
Alcuin, distinguished scholar, a student at Clonmacnoise, [272], [273].
Aldfrid, king of Northumbria, releases the Irish captives at intercession of Adamnan, [340];
spends his youth in Ireland, [468], [469].
Alexander III., Pope, convokes a general Council to Rome, [442];
safeguards the independence of the Church in Ireland, [443];
conceives a strong regard for St. Laurence O’Toole, [443].
Alexandria, Christian school at, [188].
Alithir, abbot of Clonmacnoise, [270].
Alphabet Ogham, history of, [13];
invention of, [14];
letters of, [15];
inscribed on rods or tablets of wood, [15].
Alphabets, or catechisms of Christian doctrine, St. Patrick writes, [63], [64].

Amergin, poet judge, [6].
Annaghdown, monastery of, founded by St. Brendan, [219].
Annals of Four Masters, quoted, [18], [26], [58], et seq.
—— Ulster, quoted, [148].
—— Clonmacnoise, quoted, [218].
—— Innisfallen, copies of, [503], [504].
Annegray, monastery of, St. Columbanus established at, [373].
Apostles, Twelve, of Erin, visit St. Finnian at Clonard, [201].
Aran, Isles of, geographical description of, [169-172];
inhabitants of, [172];
Pagan remains in, [172-177];
the stronghold of a warrior race, [176], [177];
St. Enda founds a monastery on, [177];
visited by numbers of saints, [177], [178];
ancient churches in, [181-187].
Art, Celtic, at Clonmacnoise, [550-565].
Art the Solitary, slain at battle of Magh Mucruimhe, [17].
Artificers of St. Patrick, [66].
Asicus, St., an artificer in metal work, [66], [161];
placed over church of Elphin, [161];
goes into Donegal, [161];
death of, [162].
Asterius, Turcius Ruffus, Consul, [34].
Athens, School of, under a pagan professor, Saints at, [189].
Auxilius, bishop, accompanies St. Patrick to Ireland, [59], [80];
founds a church, [60];
present at first Irish Synod, [60].
Baithen, abbot of Iona, remarkable for his spirit of prayer, [331];
sent to govern the monastery of Heth, [332];
death of, [332];
character of, [333].
Ballaghmoon, battle of, [611].
Bangor, description of, [367], [368].
Bards, application of the term, [6];
functions of, [7];
fined for extortion, [7];
qualifications required to become chief-poet, [7], [8];
chief duty of Historic Poet, [8], [601];
course of studies required by law, to become Chief Poet, [8];
some distinguished Poets, [8-10];
St. Patrick’s alliance with, [56], [57];
St. Columba protects the, [320-323].
Barinthus, monk, tale told to St. Brendan by, [215].
Barry, Gerald, cited, [197].
Bede, Chronicles of Picts and Scots, quoted, [166], [167], [296], et seq.
Beg-Erin, island, St. Ibar builds an oratory on, [156];
no longer an island, [158], [159];
the Danes plunder, [158].
Belisarius, scholastic or general? poem attributed to, [38].
Benignus, Saint, Member of Commission of Nine, [54];
meeting with St. Patrick, [54];
writings attributed to, [55], [116], [117];
elected as choirmaster by St. Patrick, [58];
death of, [59], [96], [116];
brief story of his life, [114], [115];
descent of, [159];
monastery of Kilbannon established by, [159], [542].
Beoit, father of St. Ciaran, [259].
Berach, Saint, favourite disciple of St. Kevin, [421].
Bernard, Saint, Vita Malachiae, quoted, [393], [394], [395];
at Clairvaux, St. Malachy meets, [396].
Bishops, pre-Patrician, in Ireland; the existence of discussed, [150-155].
Bishops and Abbots, lay, [395], [396].
Bite, bishop, placed over Church of Elphin, [161].
Blaithmac, Saint, dies a martyr, [347].
Bobbio, monks of, copy poems of Sedulius, [35];
St. Columbanus founds monastery of, [378].
Bodkin, Christopher, archbishop of Tuam, [540].
Books, pre-Patrician, now lost, [29].
—— Caroline, published [386];
refuted by Pope, [387].
Book of Armagh, quoted, [58], [59], [60], et seq.;
history and contents of, [122-124];
now in Trinity College, [121].
—— Aicill, introduction to, quoted, [24];
motive for which it was written, [25].
—— Ballymote, quoted, [22], [23].
—— Durrow, contents of, [304];
now in Trinity College, Dublin, [305].
—— Kells, history of, [309], [310];
now in Trinity College, Dublin, [310].
—— Leinster, quoted, [3], [21], [27], et seq.;
described, [140].
—— Lismore, history and description of, [473], [474].
—— Rights (Leabhar Nag-Ceart), authorship of, attributed to St. Benignus, [97];
quoted, [54], [259];
history and contents of, [116], [117].

—— Hymns, reference to Saint Brigid in, [135].
Borumha, or cow tribute, remitted, [341], [428].
Bothchonais, church of, situation of, [353].
Brandon Hill, St. Brendan builds an oratory on, [214];
description of, [214].
Brecan, Saint, tomb of, discovered in Aran, [183];
descent of, [183];
and St. Enda, [184];
church of, [184].
Bregentz, St. Columbanus and his monks at, [376], [377].
Brehons, the, during pre-Christian period, [11];
in the reign of Conor MacNessa, [11];
Senchus Mor, compiled from legal maxims of, [12].
Brehon Laws, reformed by St. Patrick, [52-66];
sources to which they owed their existence, [52];
motives that prompted the revision of, [53].
Brendan, of Clonfert, Saint, birth and descent of, [210];
baptized, [210];
fosterage of, [211];
progress in learning, [211];
visits school of St. Jarlath, near Tuam, [212], [543], [544];
an angel appears to, [213];
performs a miracle, [213];
receives the order of priesthood, [213];
builds an oratory on Brandon Hill, [214];
his wanderings through the Atlantic, [215];
returns home, [216];
founds a monastery on Inis-da-druim (Coney Island), [215];
visits Wales and Iona, [217];
other places visited then, [217], [218];
and St. Ruadhan curse Tara, [218];
founds a church in Leinster, [218];
founds monasteries of Annaghdown and Inchiquin, [219];
founds a monastery on Inishgloria, [219], [220];
founds monastery of Clonfert, [220], [221];
death of, [221];
poems attributed to, [222];
baptizes St. Fursey, [227];
at school of Ross, [491].
Brendan, of Birr, Saint, founds his monastery at Riverstown (Biorra), [522].
Brian Boru, place of his burial, [113];
and Maelsuthain O’Cearbhaill, [501];
repairs church of Iniscaltra, [621];
achievements of, [622].
Bricin, Saint, Life of, [602], [603].
Brigid, Saint, “the mother of all the Saints of Erin,” [125];
parentage of, [127-129];
memorials of, at Faughart, [128], [129];
birth of, [129];
receives the religious veil, [129], [130];
founds school of Kildare, [130], [131];
character of, [131];
tradition regarding, [132];
death of, [132];
first of six Lives of, [133-135];
second Life of, [135-137];
remaining four Lives of, [137].
Brogan Claen, Saint, Life of St. Brigid, attributed to, [137].
Bronach, mother of St. Mochae, [123].
Buildings, connected with an Irish monastery, [94-97].
Buite, monastery of, Flann of, [625], [627];
founded, [628].
Buite, Saint, founds a monastery, [628].
Burke, MacWilliam, plunders monastery of Mayo, [540].
Caelestius, monk, not of Irish origin, [39];
no evidence to show he was either a Briton or Scot, [41];
his early life, [41].
Caemhin, of Annatrim, Saint, under care of St. Columba of Terryglass, [400].
Cæsar: De Bello Gallico, quoted, [2-4].
Caimin, Saint, descent of, [517];
writings attributed to, [517], [518];
his influence over public events, [518];
characteristic story told of, [518].
Cairell, bishop, placed over convent of Tawnagh, [126].
Cairnech, Saint, member of Commission of Nine, [54];
and monastery of Rosnat, [167].
Caius Julius Solinus, Polyhister, [253].
Calphurnius, father of St. Patrick, [44];
descent of, [70].
Cannech, Saint, at Glasnevin, [297].
Canons, most celebrated of, attributed to Synod of Patrick, Auxilius and Iserninus, [60], [61].
Caplait, Druid, converted to the faith of Christ, [51].
Carmen Paschale, work, description of, [36].
Carthach the Elder, Saint, trains St. Carthach the Younger at his monastery of Slieve Mis, [448].
Carthach the Younger, Saint, birth and descent of, [447];
receives his early training at monastery of Slieve Mis, [448];
founds a monastery at Kiltulach, [448];
visits monasteries of Bangor, Landelo (now Lynally), and Clonfert-Molua (now Kyle), [448];
founds a monastery at Rahan, [449];
expelled from Rahan, [450];
his journey to the south, [451], [452];
founds monastery of Lismore, [453];
retires from community life before death, [454];
one of his striking miracles, [454], [455];
rule of, [455-457].
Cassian, John, monk, founds school of St. Victor, [190];
sketch of his life and writings, [181];
the most celebrated disciple of, [191].
Cassiodorus, senator, statesman, and monk, eulogises Sedulius (poet), [35].
Cathaldus of Tarentum, Saint, the Life of, [457];
place of his birth, [458], [459];
descent of, [459];
difference of opinion about date of his birth, [459], [460];
in school of Lismore, [460];
made bishop, [461];
his Irish See not determined, [462];
goes on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, [462];
reforms the licentious people of Taranto, and becomes their bishop, [463], [464];
death of, [464];
relics of, [464];
writings and prophecy attributed to, [465].
Cathedral of Armagh, [113].
Cathedral of Tuam, old, described, [557], [558].
Cathmael, Saint, early life of, [197].
Ceallachan, king of Cashel, plunders monastery of Clonfert, [243].
Ceddi, bishop of Iona, death of, [345].
Ceile De, or Culdee, the appellation, [405].
Celestine, Pope, commissions St. Patrick to undertake his mission to Ireland, [48].
Cellach, son of Cormac Mac Art, abducts the daughter of Sorar, [24].
Celsus, Saint, driven by usurpers from the See of Armagh, [395];
death and burial at Lismore, [471].
Celtic Scotland, quoted, [163].
Cennfaeladh, at the battle of Magh Rath, [603];
at school of Tuaim Drecain, [603];
treatises composed by, [603], [604].
Chad, Saint, educated in Ireland, [593];
appointed to the See of Lichfield, [594];
death of, [594].
Chalice of Ardagh, description and history of, [562-564].
Charlemagne, king, Dungal’s letter to on the two solar eclipses said to have taken place in A.D. 810, [382-384];
convenes Synod of Frankfort, [336].
Charles the Bald, patronises John Scotus Erigena, [578], [579];
the Pope’s letter to regarding Scotus, [584].
Christianity, knowledge of, in Ireland, in third century, [26].
Chronicler (Historic poet), duty of, [8].
Chronicon Scotorum, work, history of, [278-280].
Church, Irish, St. Patrick’s provisions for training a native ministry in, [58].
Church, Nuns’, at Clonmacnoise, description of, [552], [553];
founded by Dervorgilla, wife of Tiernan O’Rorke, [553].
Churches, ancient, in Aran, [181-187];
ruined, at Clonmacnoise, [266-269].
Cian, son of Oilioll Olum, branches of family of, [160].
Ciaran of Clonmacnoise, Saint, descent of, [259];
is baptized and receives his early training at hands of deacon Justus at Fuerty, [259];
at Clonard, [259];
at Aran, [179];
founds two churches, [261];
founds school of Clonmacnoise, [262];
death of, [263];
his festival day still celebrated, [264];
leads an extremely ascetic life, [265].
Cill Cluana, church of, founded by St. Finbarr, [477].
Cin Droma Snechta, book, [29].
Cir, poet, [9].
Claudius, bishop of Turin, an extreme Iconoclast, [389];
his reply to the letter of the pious Abbot Theodemir, [390];
Dungal’s treatise against the doctrine of, [390], [391].
Clonard, relics at, [205].
Clonmacnoise, ruined churches at, [266-270];
Celtic Art at, [550-565].
Cluaninis, monastery of, St. Columbanus at, [372].
Cluain Imaine (Clonamery), St. Brendan founds a church at, [218].
Cobthac, professor of Kildare, death of, [138].
Coelan (Chilien), monk, a Life of St. Brigid attributed to, [137].
Coemell, mother of St. Kevin, descent of, [414];
family of, [415].
Coemhain, Gilla, poet, [628].
Coemlug, father of St. Kevin, descent of [414];
family of, [415].
Cogitosus, monk and writer, cited, [127];
his Life of St. Brigid, [135-137].
Coirpri Lifechair, assumes sovereignty of Erin, [24].
Colga, king of Munster, causes St. Cathaldus to be made Bishop, [461].

Colgan, professor of Clonmacnoise, [272];
story which proves he was a diligent student of St. Paul’s Epistles, [272];
his position in Clonmacnoise, [273];
writings of, [273], [274].
Colleges, discipline of lay, [628-631].
Colman of Cell Riada, Chamberlain of St. Patrick, [65].
Colman of Dromore, Saint, placed under training of St. Mochae, [143];
goes to St. Ailbe of Emly, [143];
again visits Noendrum, [144];
the first teacher of St. Finnian of Moville, [246].
Colman, abbot of Moville, Saint, regarded as the author of a Latin hymn, [255];
English translation of this hymn, by Denis Florence M‘Carthy, [255], [256].
Colman, king of North Leinster, and St. Fintan of Clonenagh, [402], [403].
Colman of Mayo, Saint, receives his education in Iona, [526];
appointed Bishop of Lindisfarne, [527];

on the Easter Controversy, at Conference of Whitby, [527-529];
defeated at Whitby, by Wilfrid, [529];
leaves Northumbria and retires to island of Innisboffin, [529];
founds monasteries of Innisboffin and Mayo, [530];
interesting memorials of, in Innisboffin, [531], [532];
death of, [533].
Columba of Terryglass, Saint, Fintan of Clonenagh placed under care of, [400];
founds a temporary establishment at Clonenagh, [401];
descent and early youth of, [513], [514];
at Clonard, [514];
visits to Home and England, [514];
founds three churches, [514];
established at Iniscaltra, [514], [515];
again visits Clonard, [515];
death of, [515];
his body buried first at Iniscaltra afterwards transferred to Terryglass, [516].
Columba, Saint, a typical Celt, [291];
birth and descent of, [292];
his early life and training, [293];
at Moville, [294];
places himself under the instruction of a Bard, [291], [295];
at Clonard, [295];
at Glasnevin, [296];
returns to his native territory, [297];
founds school of Derry, [298], [299];
personal description of, [300];
founds school of Durrow, [301];
interesting incidents connected with, [302];
writes Book of Durrow, [304];
School of Kells, founded by, [307];
writing of Book of Kells attributed to, [309];
and battle of Cuil-Dreimhne, [310];
ordered to leave Ireland for the sin of urging his kinsmen to fight this battle, [311];
sets sail for Alba, [312];
island of Iona (Hy) granted to, [316];
protects the Bards, [320-323];
subsequent history of, [323];
death of, [324-326];
writings of, [326-328];
poems and prophecies attributed, to, [329];
Lives of, [330], [331].
Columbanus, Saint, date of his birth, [371];
early life of, [371], [372];
leaves his home, and goes to Monastery of Cluaninis, [372];
admitted to Bangor, [372];
with some companions, go first to England, from thence to Gaul, [372];
preaches the Gospel through the towns and villages of Gaul, [373];
and his companions get established at Annegray, [373];
founds a monastery at Luxeuil, [374];
and his monks have to bear a sore trial, [374], [375];
driven from Luxeuil, [376];
and his monks establish themselves at Bregentz, [376];
leaves Bregentz, crosses the Alps, and founds monastery of Bobbio, [377];
death of, [378];
writings of, [378-380].
Columbian schools, sacred learning in, [318], [319].
Comgall, Saint, at Glasnevin, [297];
birth and parentage of, [365];
his early youth, [365];
becomes a disciple of St. Fintan, [366-402];
pays a visit to Clonmacnoise and receives the priesthood there, [367];
founds school of Bangor, [367];
visited there by St. Columba and some of his followers, [368];
performs a miracle, [368];
pays a return visit to Columba, [369];
death of, [310].
Commission of Nine, members of, [54];
real authors of Senchus Mor, [55].
Conall Derg, king, family of, [164].
Conall, king, grants the inland of Iona to St. Columba, [316];
descent of, [317].
Conall, Saint, bishop of Ross, [492].
Conchessa, mother of St. Patrick, [44].
Conchobhar (Connor), deprives poets of exclusive privileges, [7].
Conference, Paris, production of, [388].

Confession of St. Patrick, evidence in favour of its authenticity, [67], [68];
the Saint’s motive in writing, [69];
reference to Saint’s personal history and Apostolic labours in, [70-72];
shows he was a native of Britain, [72].
Cong, members of O’Duffy family buried at, [539];
remains of the abbey of, [558], [559];
Rory O’Connor retires to monastery of, to die, [559], [560].
Conla Cainbrethach, distinguished judge, mentioned in introduction to Senchus Mor, [11].
Conlath, Saint, selected by St. Brigid to govern her churches and monasteries, [131];
an artificer in metal work, [137].
Conmach, Primate of Armagh, gets the clergy exempted from military service, [410].
Conn the Hundred Fighter, descendants of, [16].
Conn-na-m-Bocht, holy man, descendants of, [280].
Convention of Drumceat, the three questions considered at, [321], [322].
Coolbanagher, church of, St. Ængus beholds a vision of angels at, [407].
Corban gives Aran up to St. Enda, [177].
Corc, king, member of Commission of Nine, [54].
Corca Laighde, territory of, [490];
race of, [490].
Cormac, son of Diarmaid, king of Hy-Kinsellagh, and St. Fintan of Clonenagh, [402], [403].
Cormac, king of Hy-Bairrche, retires to Bangor before his death, [370].
Cormac, bishop and abbot of Glendalough, death of recorded, [425].
Coroticus king, difference of opinion regarding, [73];
the Book of Armagh regarding, [75].
Cosgrach, professor of Kildare, death of, [138].
Council of Nice, second, on image worship, [385];
censured at Synod of Frankfort, [386];
at Paris Conference, [388].
Crimthan, king, [82].
Cronan, of Roscrea, Saint, founds monastery of Roscrea, [523];
a specimen of the miracles given in his Life, [523];
the Book of Dimma, [523], [524].
Cross of Tuam, described, [554], [555], [556].
Cross of Cong, history and description of, [560], [561].
Crozier of Lismore, description of, [472], [473].
Cuanna, Saint, descent of, [466];
goes to the school of Rahan, [466];
founds monastery of Killcooney, [466];
made abbot of Lismore, [466];
death of, [467].
Cuil-Dreimhne, battle of, [250], [310], [311];
story of, regarded by some as the invention of a later age, [311];
site of, [312].
Cuilmen, book, [29].
Cuimine the Fair, abbot, Life of Columba attributed to, [330];
the Paschal Epistle attributed to, [334].
Cummian (the Tall), Saint, birth of, [229];
in St. Finbarr’s school, [230];
his appointment to Clonfert, [230], [231];
characteristic story told of, [231];
his relations with King Domhnall, [232];
the part he played in the Paschal Controversy, [233];
and the Synod of Magh Lene, [236], [237];
analysis of his Paschal Epistle, [237-240];
probably the author of Liber de Mensura Poenitentiarum, [240], [241];
death of, [241].
Cummian Finn, Saint, writings of, [241].
Daghda, king and poet, [8].
Dagobert, king of Austrasia, a pupil in college of Slane, [590].
Daire, king, member of the Commission of Nine, [54];
remarks on, [55];
grants a site for Cathedral of Armagh to St. Patrick, [111], [112].
Dairinis, Island of, St. Finnian visits, [195-198].
Dallan Forgaill, chief bard, reorganises and reforms the Bardic Order, [323];
compositions of, [616].
Danes, the, plunder Armagh, [120];
burn and pillage Louth, [149];
plunder Beg-Erin, [158];
plunder Clonard, [207];
Clonmacnoise, [274], [275];
Glendalough, [429];
Ross, [493];
Mungret, [510];
Iniscaltra, [521].
Darerca, mother of St. Ciaran, [259].
Darinia, sister of St. Enda, [169].
Dathi, king, mentioned, [28].
David, Saint, birth and parentage of, [196];
founds a great college, [196];
appointed archbishop, [196], [197].

Dearbhforgaill, dies in pilgrimage at Glendalough, [430].
Death of St. Columba, [324-326].
Declan, Saint, Life of, [153];
evidence against its authenticity, [155].
De Gray, John, bishop of Norwich, [269].
De Lacy, Walter, refounds monastery of Clonard, [208].
De Mensura Orbis Terrarum, treatise, account of its contents, [281], [282], [284-290].
Demetrias, Epistle of Pelagius to, [41].
De Rochford, Simon, transfers See of Meath to Trim, [208].
Derry, See of, established, [357].
Dervorgilla, wife of Tiernan O’Rorke, builds a church at Clonmacnoise, [553].
Dialogue of the two Sages, circumstances which led to, [9].
Diarmaid, king of Meath, makes grants to Clonmacnoise, [271].
Diarmaid, bishop of Iniscaltra, [521].
Dicuil the Geographer, his treatise De Mensura Orbis Terrarum, [281];
personal history of, [282];
where and by whom he was educated, [282-284];
sources from which he derived the information contained in his treatise, De Mensura Orbis Terrarum, [284];
his reference to the Irish pilgrimage to Jerusalem, [285], [286];
his reference to Iceland and the Faroë Islands, [286], [287];
his reference to the poet, Sedulius, [289], [290].
Discipline, of an Irish monastery, [97-102];
of lay colleges, [628-631].
Disert-Diarmada, monastery of, [605].
Doctor in Poetry, qualifications required in early times to become, [7].
Domhnall, king, St. Cummian’s relations with, [232];
death of, [233].
Donovan, chief of the Hy-Fidhgente, makes Mahoun a prisoner, [484].
Dorbene, abbot of Iona, [336].
Drogonus, archbishop, translates the relics of St. Cathaldus, [464].
Druids, learning of, [1];
religions tenets of, [1], [2];
the British, [2];
places of worship, [3];
Irish, [3];
worship of, [3];
functions of, [4];
acquaintance with letters, [4];
abodes of Irish, [5];
idolatrous practice of sun-worship, [5].
Drumcullen, monastery of, Saint Carthach at, [451].
Duach Galach, descent of, [226].
Dubhthach, chief poet and Brehon, member of Commission of Nine, [54].
Dubricius, bishop of Landaff, consecration of, [196];
his monastery at Llancarvan, [196].
Dunchadh, archdeacon of Mungret, death of, [511].
Dungal, theologian, astronomer, and poet, [381];
an Irishman, [382];
place or date of his birth not fixed, [382];
his letter to Charlemagne on the solar eclipses, [382-384];
opens a school at Pavia, [385];
writes a book in which he defends the Catholic doctrine regarding Iconoclasm, against the trifling of Bishop Claudius, [390], [391];
character of his writings, [391], [392];
death of, [392].
Dunlaing, king, massacres attendants of Cormac Mac Art, [18].
Dysertenos, Saint Ængus leads a penitential life at, [406].
Eamhnat, mother of St. Moling, [426].
Ecgfrid, king, slain, and his army routed, [340].
Egbert, Saint, of Northumbria, comes to Ireland, [590];
studies in Connaught, [591];
a vision appears to, [592];
sets sail for Iona, [592];
death of, [593].
Eithne, mother of St. Columbkille, descent of, [292].
Elegia, poem by Sedulius, description of, [37].
Elitheria, monastery of, founded, [535], [536].
Elphin, monastery at, [160], [161].
Embroideresses, of St. Patrick’s household, [66].
Enda of Aran, Saint, descent of, [164];
conversion of, [165];
gives proof of the sincerity of his conversion, [165], [166];
founds a monastery at Killeany, [166];
repairs to monastery of Rosnat, [165-168];
visits Rome, [168];
death of, [168];
founds his monastery on Aran, [177];
is visited by several of the contemporary saints, [177], [178];
leads a simple and austere life, [180], [181].
Eochaid, Tirmcharna, descent of, [226].

Eoghan, king, [111].
Epistle, to Coroticus, of St. Patrick, [73-75];
reference made by the Saint to his own personal history in, [74].
Erc, bishop, judge in St. Patrick’s household, [65];
baptizes St. Brendan of Clonfert, [210];
takes Brendan under his own charge, [211];
confers the order of priesthood on Brendan, [213];
death of, [213].
Ercnat, daughter of King Daire, gets enamoured of St. Benignus, [115].
Erigena, John Scotus, of Irish birth and education, [576];
the English and Scotch strive to make him their own, [577], [578];
in the palace of Charles the Bald, [578], [579];
witticisms of, [579];
publishes his Liber de Prædestinatione, [581];
alleged errors about the Real Presence, [583];
translates the writings of Pseudo-Dionysius, [584];
the Pope complains of its publication without the Apostolic sanction, [585];
composes his work, De Divisione Naturae, [586];
this Book condemned, [587];
death of, [588].
Esker Brenain, church of, [199].
Etan, princess and poetess, [9].
Eu or Augum, monastery of, St. Laurence O’Toole in, [444];
his death in, [445].
Fachtna, Saint, birth and early training of, [490];
goes to school of Cork, [491];
founds monasteries of Molana and Ross, [491];
becomes entirely blind, [492];
death of, [492].
Family, monastic, members of, [152];
virtues and penances practised by, [99-101];
ordinary meal of, [101];
ordinary dress of, [102].
Fanchea, nun, converts her brother (St. Enda), [164], [165].
Faolain, father of St. Moling, [426].
Faughart, memorials of St. Brigid at, [128], [129];
Edward Bruce buried in churchyard of, [128].
Faustinus Arevalus, admits that the story of Sedulius (poet), he being a Spaniard, in fabulous, [31].
Feargus, prince, descendants of, [226].
Fedelmith, king, and St. Finan Cam, [498].
Feis of Tara, national parliament, in existence before time of Cormac Mac Art, [19];
object of, [20];
the meetings of, [20].
Felimy (Fedhlimidh), father of St. Columbkille, descent of, [292].
Felire of St. Aengus, described, [409], [410], [411];
Dr. Stokes on its authorship, [412].
Ferceirtne, royal poet, [9].
Ferdomhach, professor of Kildare, death of, [138].
Ferdomnach, scribe, transcribed Book of Armagh, [103].
Fergus, poet, member of Commission of Nine, [54].
Fiacc of Sletty, Saint, descent of, [81];
offers himself for the service of the Church, [83];
founds two churches, [83];
his life at Sletty, [84];
death of, [85];
writings of, [85], [86].
Finan Cam, Saint, birth and descent of, [497];
founds monastery of Kinnity, [497];
evidence which goes to show he was founder of Innisfallen, [497], [498];
miracles attributed to, [498], [499].
Finan the Leper, Saint, commonly regarded as founder of Innisfallen, [496];
evidence for and against this theory, [496], [497], [498];
monasteries mentioned in connection with, [497].
Finan, bishop of Lindisfarne, [527].
Finbarr, Saint, history of his birth, [476];
placed under care of a holy man, [477];
founds several churches, [477];
his retreat in Gougane Barra, [478], [479];
founds school of Cork, [480];
goes on a pilgrimage to Rome, [481];
death of, [482];
character of, [483];
writing of, [484];
tragical event which took place in connection with this writing, [484], [485].
Finchad, Saint, bishop of Ross, [492].
Findath, mother of St. Fintan of Clonenagh, [399].
Findlug, father of St. Brendan of Clonfert, [210].
Findmath, mother of St. Carthach, descent of, [447].
Finloch, father of St. Finnian, descent and family of, [194].
Finn Cummian, [241].
Finnachta, king of Ireland, and Adamnan, [337], [338];
remits Borumean tribute, [341], [428];
death of, [342].
Finnachta, abbot, [626], [627].
Finnian of Clonard, Saint, descent and birth of, [194];
visits the saints of Wales, [195];
their history, [196-198];
miracles performed in Wales by, [198];
returns to Ireland, [198];
founds two churches, [199];
founds school of Clonard, [199], [200];
lives an austere life, [200];
visited at Clonard by all the distinguished saints of Erin, [201];
the routine of daily life in school of, [202];
his power of expounding the Sacred Scriptures, [203];
death of, [204].
Finnian of Moville, Saint, boyhood and education of, [246];
goes to monastery of Rosnat (Candida Casa), [247];
goes to Rome, [248];
returns to Ireland, and brings with him copy of entire Bible, [249];
founds school of Moville, [249];
Psaltery, copy of, [250], [251];
Rule composed by, for his monks, [253], [254];
death of, [254];
was, it seems, a bishop, [255].
Fintan Corach, Saint, the immediate successor of St. Brendan in Clonfert, [224];
encourages the study and practice of sacred psalmody, [225];
death of, [225].
Fintan, Munster prince, travels as a soldier of fortune into North Connaught, [226];
secretly marries the daughter of king of Connaught, [227].
Fintan Maeldubh, raised to the abbacy of Clonenagh, [404].