658. The bishop St. Dima Dubh's died this year, far advanced in the vale of life. His festival is held here on the 6th of January.k

771. Died Anfceally, abbot of Coynre and Lynnealla.1

865. Died Aidhecar, 16 abbot of Coynre and Lynnealla,m or Condoire and Lanela ; he was a bishop and a learned chronologer.

949. Died the abbot Flannagan M'Alchon; he was abbot also of Muckamore.n n

954. Died Malbrigid, son of Redan, successor to St. M'Nessy and Colmanell, that is, abbot of Connor and Muckamore. 1038. Died Cudenius, 18 the professor of Condoire.P

1063. Eochad,19 another professor, died this year.209

Vard. p. 353, Act. SS. p. 16. •Act. SS. p. 387. Tr. Th. p. 632. feast as kept on 20th January and 3rd September. His genealogy is thus given :"Mac Nise, the son of Fobriac, the son of Erc, the son of Fiacca, the son of Mael, the son of Carthargh, &c., of the race of Eatach Mac Muireadha." It was not unusual in the earlier Christian annals of Ireland to introduce in such genealogies the mother's name instead of that of the father. Thus, Muirchertach Mac Erc was so called from his mother, Earca; and Fergus Mor was also called Mac Mise, in accordance with his mother's name.

M Geog. Id. Act. SS. p. 784. "M' Geogh.
¶Id.

On the death of Dermot, King of Ireland, in 558, his body was interred in the monastery of Connor, whilst his head was conveyed to Clonmacnoise.

The Ann. of Four M. also record the destruction of Connor by fire in A.D. 612, and its plunder by the Danes in 831. It continued thenceforward for many years a stronghold of the northern pirates. Twice it was plundered by the Irish chieftains whilst seeking to rid themselves of such marauders, viz. :-by the King of Ailech, in 960, and by the King of Ulidia, in 968. In 1315, it was the theatre of a great battle, in which Edward Bruce was victorious, and large booty of “corn, flour, wax, and wine," rewarded the victor.

In Notes and Queries (2nd series, vol. 3. p. 217), a letter from Belfast, written in 1820, gives the following intelligence :-" On opening the vaults where stood the cloisters of the old Catholic Abbey of Connor, the workmen discovered an oaken chest, whose contents on being opened proved to be a translation of the Bible in the Irish character, and several other MSS. in that language." Some of these MSS. being examined proved to be bardic poems, translated at Connor by an Irish Friar, named Terence O'Neal, in 1463.

The Ann. of F. M. in A.D. 658, place the death of "Dioma Dubh (i.e., niger), bishop of Connor, on the 6th of January." The Martyr. of Don. adds, “Diomma Dubh, bishop of Connor. I think that this is the Dioma Dubh, son of Ænghus, son of Cairthenn Finn, son of Bloid, son of Cas, &c., who is of the race of Cormac Čas, son of Oilill Oluim. I think that he is the Dima to whom Declan was sent to be educated.-Vit. Decl. cap. 5, A.D. 658." St. Dioma was one of those to whom the letter was addressed from Rome on the Paschal Controversy in the year 640.-(Bede, Hist. Ec. ii. 19.)

16 In Ann. of F. M. at A.D. 865, "Oegedchar, abbot of Connor and Lan-Ela, bishop and scribe, died."

1766 Flannagan, son of Alchon, Coarb of Mac Nissi and of Colman-Ela, died A.D. 952." Ibid. The Ann. of Ulster place his death in 953.

18" Cuinden, bishop, abbot, and lecturer of Connor, Coarb of Mac Nisse, and Colman-Ela, died."-(Ann. of F. M. ad an. 1038.)

19 A.D. 1063. "Eochaidh O'Dallan, Airchennech of Connor, died." (Ibid.)

20

In addition to the names mentioned in the text we find the following:"A.D. 725. St. Dochanna, the devout, bishop of Connor, died on the 15th of

(To be continued.)

THE IRISH

ECCLESIASTICAL RECORD.

APRIL, 1869.

MONASTICON HIBERNICUM;

OR,

A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE ANCIENT
MONASTERIES OF IRELAND.

[N.B.-The text of the "Monasticon" is taken verbatim from Archdall: the notes marked with numbers are added by the Editors.]

COUNTY OF ANTRIM.

DOMNACHBRUIN was built by St. Patrick, in the terri

tory of Hy-tuirtre."s

Now unknown.

▾ A small territory on the eastern bank of Lough Neagh. Tr. Th. p. 182. (Continuation of Note 20, from page 296.)

May. (Ann. of F. M.) "He was of the race of Eoghan, son of Niall.". (Martyr. of Don.)

"A.D. 896. Tiopratte, son of Nuadhat, Abbot of Connor, Lann-Ela, and Laith: rech-Briuin (i.e., Larabryne), died."-(Ann. of F. M.) As this abbot was son of Nuadhat, to whom Maynooth (i.e., Magh-Nuadhat) belonged, we may understand how it was that he held the church of Larabryne, near Maynooth, at the same time with his own See of Connor.

“A.D. 917. Maolene, son of Maolbrigid, Abbot of Lann-Ela and Connor, and ornament of Ireland, died."-(Ibid.)

"A.D. 963. Joseph, Coarb of Mac Nisse and of Colman-Ela, died."—(Ibid.) "A.D. 974. Conang, son of Finan, Abbot of Connor and Lann-Ela, died."—(Ibid.) The "Annals of Ulster" place his death in the same year, and style him “Coarb of Mac Nisse and of Colman-Ela."

66

A.D. 1038. Maolmartan Cam, lecturer of Connor, died."-(Ann. of F. M.) "A.D. 1081. O'Robhartaigh, Archinnech of Connor, in penitentia decessit.”—(Ann. of Ulster.) The "Ann. of F. M." call him "Archinnech of Louth."

VOL. V.

20

Demnachcoinre was built by the same saint in Cathrigia, or Machaire dna Morna. Colgan thinks it probable that this was the church now called Kildomnach. The two Saints Conann are patrons of it."

This is also unknown.

Domnachcombuir, or Commor, was built by the same saint ;22 it seems to be a parish church in the diocess of Connor, now called Magh-combuir."

It is now unknown.

Domnachfothairbe was founded by St. Patrick in Hy-tuirtre.x Unknown.

Domnachlibeir was also built by him in the same territory.y Unknown.

Domnachmoelain, built by the same saint in that territory." Also unknown.

A territory in Dalriedia.

W

" Tr. Th. p. 182. Id. Act. SS. p. 375, 378.

* Tr. Th. p. 183. Id. Id. "A.D. 1117. Flann O'Scula, Bishop of Connor, died."-(Ann. of F. M.) "A.D. 1124. St. Malachy O'Morgair is ordained Bishop of Connor."-(Ibid.) His translation to Armagh is subsequently mentioned at the year 1132. Malachy O'Morgair was elected Coarb of Patrick at the prayer of the Ecclesiastics of Ireland."

66

"A.D. 1174. Maolpatrick O'Banan, Bishop of Connor and Dalaradia, a man to be venerated, full of sanctity of life, gentleness, and purity of heart, died in a good old age in Hy-Columcille."-(Ibid.) This bishop attended the Synod. of Kells in the year 1152. For some other bishops of this Diocese, see infra at Linnally and Muckamore. The episcopal succession in later times will be found in Reeves (Ec. Antiq. of Down and Connor, p. 256), and in “Irish Eccles. Record,” vol. i. p. 262. The boundaries of the Diocese of Connor as fixed by the Synod of Kells, comprised the present Dioceses of Down and Connor and Dromore and the north-east part of Derry. They extended "from Beann-Fhoine (i.e., Ben-Evenew, a mountain on the east side of Lough Foyle,) to Torbhuirg (ie., Torr-head, in the county Antrim); from Port-Murbhuilg (now Maghera, at the foot of Slieve Donard, in the county Down,) to Ollarbha (now the Larne Water, in Antrim); and from Cuan-snamha-aighneach (the ancient name of Carlingford-Loch) and Gleann-Righe (the valley of the Newry river) to Colbha-Gearmann (i.e., German's pillar, not yet identified).”—See “Cambrensis Eversus," edited by Rev. M. Kelly, vol. 2nd, p. 786. 21 Colgan was unable to identify this church, which is called "Domnach-brain,” in St. Patrick's Life.-(Tr. Th. p. 184, n. 233.) Dr. Reeves refers to the similarity of name with Donnabaran in the Deanery of Tullaghoge, mentioned in Swayne's Register," fol. 60 (loc. cit. p. 294).

66

22 The "Vita Tripartita" of St. Patrick narrates how Conla, the son of Coelbadh, offered a large tract of land (insigne prædium), on which he erected the Monastery of Commor.-(Tr. Thaumat. p. 147.) Jocelyn, in the parallel passage, states that St. Patrick erected a church there, at a place called Elom, and that the church was called "Domnach-Combuir;" and Colgan adds the following note:—“ Hodie sine addito vocabulo, Comur est nobile Coenobium Diæcesis Dunensis et Connorensis" (p. 114, col. 2). The "Annals of Ulster" record, at the year 1031, that Mac Eochaidh led an army as far as Iveagh, burned Kill-Cumbair with its oratory, killed several of the clergy, and carried away thirty captives. The name Comber means a confluence, and in the present instance it marks the townland where the river Enler enters Strangford Lough, in Co. Down. Muckamore, i.e., MaghComuir, "the plain of the confluence," is situated at the junction of the SixMile-Water with Lough Neagh. For further notes on the Monastery of Comber, or Commor, see under this head in county Down.

Domnachmor, in Magh-damhorna,23 in Dalrieda. St. Patrick built a church here; it is, as Father Colgan observes, either the chapel called Kildomnach, or the parish church called Rathmor.a

Domnachriascaigh44 was built by St. Patrick in Hy-tuirtre.b Unknown.

Domnachrighduin, another church founded there by the

same saint.c

Unknown.

Domnachsainre,25 founded there also by St. Patrick.d
Unknown.

Druimindeich,26 in Dalrieda: this abbey owed its erection likewise to that saint, about the year 460. He placed St. Enan over it.e

Unknown.

Drum La Croix,27 in the diocess of Connor; an abbey was founded here for Premonstrant or White canons; it was a daughter of the abbey of Drieburgh in Scotland ;f see GOOD

BORN.

Gleanindeachta,28 in the territory of Trian-Conguill; this valley Tr. Th. p. 183. "Id. Id. Id. •Act. SS. p. 747. Le Page, quoted by

Allemande.

23

Magh-damhorna formerly gave name to a Deanery in the Diocese of Connor; it is now confined to a portion of the parish of Glynn, a little to the south of Larne. It is remarkable as having been the birth-place of the great St. Comgall. See Reeves' " Ec. Antiq." p. 269.

24 This is the modern Donaghrisk, in the parish of Desertcreat. In the taxation of Armagh Diocese, in A.D. 1291, the name of this church is given as Donaghberesca; in the later Registers it is called Domnaghreasca and Downaghryske. The Dungannon Inquis." of 1609 represents Donoghreiske as a chapel with two balliboes of Erenagh-land attached to it. It was the ancient burying-place of the sept of O'Hagan.

66

25 This church is called in the text of Colgan, Domnach-Fainre (Tr. Th. p. 148); but, by a misprint in the notes, it is called Domnach-Sainre, which name is erroneously retained by Archdall. It is now called Donaghenry, and gives name to a parish bordering on Lough Neagh, in the county Tyrone. In the Registries of Armagh it is generally written Domnaghfenra and Dompnachfionnray.

26 The "Annals of the F. M.," at the year 818, record a meeting of the Northern and Southern Hy Niall at a place called Druim-Indech. Our text, however, probably refers to the modern townland Drumeeny, in Glenshesk. There is a very ancient burial ground there called Killeena, near the ruins of an old church. The "Vit. Trip." states that St. Patrick erected this church in Druimindich, in the region of Cathrigia, i.e., Carey, in the neighbourhood of Ballycastle, and that he gave it in care to St. Enan.-(Tr. Th. p. 146.) Killeena is in the parish of Ramoan; two old tombstones from the burial ground have been preserved, one with a crucifix carved on it, the other with a cross; we will again meet with St. Enan, infra at "Rath-Modhain."

"This monastery is supposed to have stood about half way between Belfast and Carrickfergus, in the parish of Carnmoney, where now stand the ruins of "White Abbey." There is a plan of this abbey in Benn's " History of Belfast," p. 265. Some antique bronze ornaments, including a crucifix, were found near this spot some years ago.-(Reeves' Eccles. Antiq., p. 277.)

29 This name is written Gleann-Fineachta in an old Irish verse preserved by Usher (opp. vol. 6, p. 146). It is now called Glynn. The ruins of the old church occupy a picturesque spot at the river side, in a shady glen.

still retains this name, says Father Colgan, in the diocess of Connor. St. Patrick founded a church or abbey in that part of the glin which is called Machaire-morna, or Mudhorn.g

Glenarm,29 on the sea-coast, gives name to the barony. A monastery was built here, for Franciscan Friars of the third order, in the year 1465, by Robert Bisset, a Scotchman.h

This monastery, and the lands belonging thereto, were granted to Alexander M'Donnell, ancestor to the Earls of Antrim.i

There are still some remains of this building on the bay of Glenarm.k

Gluaire,30 in the territory of Latharn, in Dalrieda. St. Patrick built a church here, in which rests St. Molassius.1 Unknown.

Goodborn, or Woodborn,31 not far from Carrickfergus; a

1

Tr. Th. Allemande. Harris Tab. Pococke's Journal. Tri. Thau. p. 147. 20 Besides the Franciscan Abbey, the ruins of other ancient religious institutions are met with in Glenarm. Thus, there are the ruins and cemetery of St. Mary's, on the brink of a stream within the Glenarm demesne. Of another church Reeves thus writes: "In Bridge-street was formerly an ancient chapel, the ruins of which were removed to make way for the ornamental school-house which now stands there. There was a burying-ground attached to it, which is now converted to other purposes. The name of this chapel is now forgotten.”(Ibid. p. 299.)

30 The old churchyard of Tickmacrevan, near Glenarm, is to the present day called Glore, and it retains the ruins of an ancient church, popularly called "St. Patrick's Church."

31 The Abbey de Goodborn, or Woodborn, took its name from the river Woodburne, on the left bank of which it stood, about half a mile to the west of Carrickfergus. It was commonly known as "St. Mary's Abbey." Gillerath MacCourath, or MacCura, was the last abbot. On the confiscation of the abbey lands by Henry the Eighth, he, with the monks, retired to Island Magee, where they died. (King's "Collect.," p. 256.) The Franciscan, Edmund MacCana, who visited these districts about the year 1640, has left the following interesting details regarding this monastery :-" At three or four miles distance from Belfast, on the north, is an ancient monastery of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, commonly called White-Abbey, in Irish, Mainister-Fhionn, of which some portion of the walls and the rubbish are all that is now to be seen. What were its possessions is now forgotten through the troubles of the times. Not far from this is a chapel which was occupied by some monks; but to what religious house or order it belonged I could not tell, unless I were to conjecture. In Irish it is called Kill-na-manach, that is, 'Church of the Monks.' A portion of the walls of the chapel remains. I may, however, venture the guess that it belonged to the monastery of Goodburn, which is about two miles distant to the east, near the town of Karrick-fergus, on the bank of the river Good-burn, and only one mile outside Karrick-fergus on the west. Of this monastery of Good-burn not a particle now remains, not even the rubbish; for, at the very beginning of the reign of Elizabeth, when all things divine and human were confounded, all the stones of that holy monastery were removed by a citizen of Karrick-fergus into the city to build a dwelling house beside the walls of the castle, which went by the name of the New Works, or, in Irish, Obairnauth; but, under the just judgment of God, he was deprived by the governor of the town of both the house and other premises that were attached to it. Of this sacrilegious act, and of the merited punishment which was inflicted by heaven, I have met many eye-witnesses. I have met many persons who, when boys, saw the aged abbot of that monastery, Macura by name; but they were not old enough to think of asking to what order it belonged."