Walsh Ecclesiastical History Diocese of Cork

214 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF IRELAND

CHAPTER XXI SEE OF CORK Its founder St Barr or Finbarr is supposed to have been raised to the episcopacy about the beginning of the 7th century He was a native of Connaught of the sept Hy Bruin Ratha a district lying to the northeast of Galway and in the barony of Athenry As Lochan was the name of the family Finbarr was only his surname and it means white haired This eminent saint was educated under Mac Corb a disciple of St Gregory the Great Having travelled through Britain Gaul and Italy in quest of knowledge he returned to Ireland and erec ed a monastery and school near Loch eire at the south side of the river Lee on a site granted him by a chieftain named Odo Barr was a great favorite with St Aidan bishop of Ferns and is said to have been the companion of his journeys to Britain and thence to Rome It appears that on his return to Ireland he had been a bishop Of his successors in the see the list is very incomplete until the year 1152 when Gilla Aeda O Mugin bishop of Cork attended the synod of Kells Since that period the succession is complete St Finbarr died at Cloyne on the 25th of September about the year 622 and was interred in Cork having presided seventeen years The reputation of St Finbarr for sanctity and knowledge soon spread over Ireland and reached the Continent Multitudes of scholars native and foreign repaired to his establishment and in a few years it contained several hundred monks many of whom became professors in various schools both in Ireland and in foreign countries The celebrated Gar van from whom Dungarvan is supposed to have taken its name was a disciple of the saint and also the learned Nessan whose character as a professor of sacred literature attracted still greater numbers to the school of St Barr Cork thus became a populous and extensive city and subsequently was enlarged and improved by the Danes who settled there but to whom its origin is to be by no means ascribed St Finbarr the founder of the see in 606 died about 623 St If essan the disciple of St Barr probably not a bishop This Nessan is different from Nessan of Mungret who died in 552 Numbers of disciples from all parts flocked hither under St Nessan as to the habitation of wisdom and to the sanctuary of all Christian virtues according to the biographer of St Barr The festival of St Nessan is observed at Cork on the 17th of March and on the 1st of December The year of his death is unknown Russin son of Lappin comorban of St Barr and bishop of Cork died on the 7th of April 685 Selbac died in 773 Cathmogan died in 961 Columb MacCiarucain called comorban of St Barr died in 990 Cellach O Selbac who died on a pilgrimage in 1026 he is called bishop successor of Barr and chief of the wise men of Munster Neil O Mailduib died in 1027 Airtri Sairt died in 1028 Cathal died in 1034 Mugron O Mutan comorban of Barr and bishop of Cork was inhumanly murdered by robbers of Cork in 1057 Clerech O Selbac died in 1086 Mac Lothod O Hailgenen died in 1107 Patrick CSelbaic died in 1111 The see being vacant in 1140 St Malachy of Armagh nominated a foreigner and a man of sanctity and learning to the see with the approbation and applause of the clergy and people but the name is unknown however the following Bishop Gilla is supposed to have been the person whom St Malachy named Gilla Aeda O Mugin a native of Connaught and of the family of the monastery of Errew of Loughcon sat in the see of Cork in the year 1152 and assisted at the council of Kells He died in the year 1172 and was highly celebrated for his virtues by the Irish historians who call him the chief prelate for devotion wisdom and chastity in all Ireland Others of them say that he was sanctified by God and a man full of God's blessing This bishop is reckoned among the principal benefactors to the church of Cork The abbey of Augustin Canons of St Finbarr's Cave commonly called Gille Abbey took its name from this bishop and of which he had been abbot Gregory succeeded in 1172 He granted to the abbey of Thomas court near Dublin the church of St Nessan at Cork Gregory having presided about fourteen years died AD 1186 Reginald the time of whose consecration or death is unknown O Selbaic bishop of Cork died in 1205 Supposed to be identical with Reginald Geoffry White in the year 1215 was recommended to the archbishops of Dublin and Cashel by King Henry HI as a learned provident and honest man It does not appear whether he was consecrated or not Marian O Brien bishop of Cork in 1224 was translated to the see of Cashel in this year by provision of the Pope Gilbert archdeacon of Cork was consecrated in 1225 and died in 1238 Before his death this prelate with the consent of his chapter granted in fee farm to Michael de Drnelle one plow land part of the possessions of his see lying between Kilmahanock and the lands of Duf glay to hold of God and St Barr and of him and his successors at the rent of sixteen pence Lawrence who succeeded died in 1264 William a Cistercian monk of Jerpoint succeeded in 1266 and was confirmed by the Pope's legate It seems he sat but a very short time Reginald or Reynold treasurer of Cashel obtained the temporals of this see in August 1267 In the year 1270 Prince Edward then lord of Ireland by donation of his father granted to this prelate and to his successors for the relief and amendment of the state of the church of Cork the right of patronage and advowsons of the churches of the blessed Virgin of Nard and Kilmahanock and also of the chapel of St Peter at Cork But he reclaimed those advowsons to the crown when he afterwards ascended the throne Reginald died at Cork in December 1276 and was buried in the church of St Barr Robert MacDonagh a Cistercian monk of great learning succeeded in 1277 and also obtained the temporals The advowsons granted to his predecessors were recovered from this prelate as is already noted He died in March 1301 having sat twenty four years John MacCarwill dean of Cork was unanimously elected by the chapter in June 1302 obtained the royal assent and was confirmed by the archbishop of Cashel in July following He was translated to the see of Meath by Pope John XXH in 1321 and afterwards to Cashel in 1327 Philip of Slane was a Dominican friar appointed by the Pope and obtained the temporals in July 1321 Three years afterwards he was sent an embassador to the Pope by King Edward H and discharged his commission with such address that he was on his return called to the privy council of Ireland The Pope armed this prelate the archbishops of Dublin and Cashel with a commission to inform themselves of what things were wanting and expedient for the peace and tranquility of Ireland On his return to Ireland a council was called at which a large number of the nobility and gentry attended and at which it was resolved as necessary for the welfare and quiet of the realm 1st That the disturbers of the peace and invaders of the king's rights should be excommunicated by the archbishops and bishops by virtue of the apostolic authority 2d That the small and poor bishoprics not exceeding twenty forty or sixty pounds a year and which were governed by mere Irish should be united to the more eminent sees 3d That the Irish abbots and priors should be enjoined by apostolic authority to admit the English into a lay brotherhood in their monasteries in order to establish a brotherly love and concord between the two people When the council concluded its business Philip bishop of Cork was despatched to the king who forwarded those resolutions to the Pope to be by him sanctioned with the weight of his authority The Pope thought proper to annex the three cathedrals of Enach dune Achonry and Kilmacduach to the see of Tuam This affair was kept a secret from the king nor was it notified to the respective bishops and chapters The king Edward III afterwards complained in the year 1330 to the Pope when Malachy MacAeda archbishop of Tuam seized the bishopric of Enaghdune by virtue of this union The bishop of Cork now dead escaped the king's resentment The junction of Achonry and Kilmacduach was not attempted Philip bishop of Cork died in 1326 and before the end of that year John le Blond canon of Cork was elected to succeed He either sat a short time or was never consecrated Walter le Rede or Rufus canon of Cork was promoted by the Pope John XXII and obtained the temporals in October 1327 From his see of Cork he was translated by the same Pope to the archdiocese of Cashel AD 1330 John de Baliconingham rector of Ardwinhin in the diocese of Down was appointed to the see of Cork in the year 1330 though the Pope annulled his election to the see of Down a little before that time John died on the 29th of May 1347 having governed the see about seventeen years John Roche canon of the cathedral of Cork and a man descended of a noble family elected by the dean and chapter in 1347 was consecrated by Ralph Kelley archbishop of Cashel about the Christmas of that year He sat ten years and six months having died on the 4th of July 1358 Gerald de Barry a person descended of a noble and ancient family of the Barrys and dean of Cork was consecrated bishop of Cork in 1359 and sat upwards of thirty four years He died worn out with sickness in the 90th year of his age on the 4th of January 1393 and was buried in his own cathedral Roger Ellesmere a friar succeeded by provision of Pope Boniface IX and having sworn fealty to the king obtained the temporals in March 1396 He sat in this see ten years and died in 1406 Gerald succeeded in the year 1406 Nothing more known of him Patrick Ragged succeeded and was translated to the see of Ossory AD 1417 In the years 1415 and 1416 he attended the council of Constance and while there acquired a vast reputation for his learning and other endowments Miles Fitz John dean of Cork succeeded in 1418 consecrated in the same year and died in the year 1430 During his incumbency Adam Pay bishop of Cloyne strove to unite the see of Cork to that of Cloyne The parliament not deeming the affair within its cognizance the cause was referred to the court of Rome and those sees on the death of Miles were accordingly united by Pope Martin V Jordan succeeded to both sees in 1431 Jordan was chancellor of Limerick and was promoted by provision of Pope Martin V In 1465 attempts were made to deprive him of his see William Roche archdeacon of Cloyne by false suggestions to the Pope representing that the Bishop Jordan was so worn out with age and deprived of strength and sight and therefore unable to discharge the pastoral offices obtained his appointment as coadjutor of Cork and Cloyne and by virtue thereof seized all the rents and revenues of the see To give effect to the plot Gerald a clergyman of Cloyne and before then the domestic of the prelate Jordan caused some instruments to be forged in which it was set forth that the aged bishop constituted this Gerald and John O Hedian archdeacon of Cashel his proctors to make a resignation of his bishopric O Hedian employed the bishop elect of Ardagh who was then at Rome as his substitute to make this resignation into the hands of Pope Pius H On this being done the archdeacon of Cashel obtained a provision for him to the sees Bishop Jordan applied to the king and to the Pope the latter sent a commission to the archbishop of Cashel and to the bishops of Exeter and Limerick authorizing them to make a strict inquiry into the case of bishop Jordan and if found as Jordan represented to remove the coadjutor and also compel him to return an account of the revenues of the sees Bishop Jordan succeeded and was restored to his rights he afterwards continued quiet in the possession of his see during life The year of his death is unknown His incumbency continued over thirty years Gerald Fitz Richard who was so active in invading the rights of Bishop Jordan succeeded He appropriated the vicarages of Clonmolt Danigin Donilbane and Bally espillany to the abbey of de Choro Benedict Middleton and died in the year 1479 William Roche who by false suggestions was appointed coadjutor to Bishop Jordan succeeded in 1479 and resigned in the year 1490 Six years afterwards he procured a pardon from Henry VII for being implicated in the rebellion of Perkin Warbeck Thady MacCarthy called by some Mechar succeeded in 1490 by provision of Pope Innocent VHI Died in 1498 Gerald bishop of Cloyne and Cork resigned in 1499 John Fitz Edmond descended of the Geraldines succeeded by provision of the Pope on the 26th June 1499 The year of his death is not ascertained John Bennet or Ferret died in 1536 Lewis MacNamara a Franciscan friar was appointed to the sees of Cork and Cloyne by the Pope but did not obtain possession of the temporals as Henry VHI thrust a schismatic Dominick Tirrey into occupation which he held about twenty years Lewis died a few days after his appointment at Rome John Hoyedon canon of Elphin was appointed by a papal provision also in November 1540 Edmund Tanner was bishop of those sees in 1580 Was grievously persecuted in Elizabeth's reign William Therry bishop of those sees in 1620 Richard Barry bishop of those sees in 1646 was a doctor of sacred theology His name is appended to the sentence of excommunication which the nuncio Rinuccini issued in 1648 subscribed the resolutions of Jamestown and again signed the commission of the celebrated Nicholas French bishop of Ferns and of Sir James Preston to the Duke of Lorrain Norbert or Robert died in 1667 Peter Creagh succeeded and was translated to Dublin John Baptist Skynne succeeded in 1701 died in 1709 Denis MacCarthy succeeded Year of his death is not recorded Timothy MacCarthy bishop in 1730 The see of Cloyne is again reconstituted by Benedict XIV in the year 1748 Richard Walsh bishop of Cork appointed by the illustrious pontiff Benedict XIV Richard it seems was living when Thomas de Burgo bishop of Ossory published his Hibernia Dominicana Honorable James Butler afterwards Lord Dunboyne succeeded Was translated to Cashel In the year 1787 James Butler in order to gain possession of his family estate renounced his religion in the parish church of Clonmel Faith is a precious gift which does not depend on man's strength it is the boon of heaven more precious and more valuable than all the perishable goods of life to which man is so attached and as those things require care and economy and a faithful dispensation in their use and application lest they be wasted and consumed so it is with this holy gift In order to retain possession of it humility prayer and grateful acknowledgments to the Father of mercies who abundantly showers his graces and benedictions on his children are necessary The best and first of Christians have lost their faith He who stands should beware lest he fall Lord Dunboyne persevered in this wretched course until May 1800 when sickness reminded him of his defection from the Catholic church and of the imperative obligation of quickly returning to the fold which he deserted In that month the archbishop of Dublin Doctor Troy received two letters from Lord Dunboyne with which his physician Dr Purcell had been entrusted one of which Lord Dunboyne desired to be addressed to the Pope expressing contrition for the rash act he had committed and soliciting his reception into the bosom of the Catholic church The letter to Rome was accordingly forwarded by the archbishop of Dublin But his illness becoming too serious to admit of delay Dr Troy directed the Rev Dr Gahan for whom Lord Dunboyne entertained the highest esteem to proceed to the castle of Dunboyne and comply with the wishes of the dying prelate During this illness Lord Dunboyne bequeathed to the trustees of Maynooth college an estate which he possessed in the county of Meath worth 1000 per annum however this legacy was contested by Lady Dunboyne with whom in virtue of an act of parliament made specially for this occasion a compromise was effected and half of the original sum has in consequence become the permanent property of the college This annuity together with a sum of 700 which the parliament granted in the year 1813 through the influence of Vesey FitzGerald member for the county of Clare and chancellor of the Irish exchequer is applied to the maintenance of twenty students selected from the most distinguished members who have completed the usual course of studies in the college Their time is devoted to the study of ecclesiastical tical history canon law the Hebrew language and to the composition of dissertations on various theological subjects This important establishment since called the Dunboyne was placed under the superintendence of the Rev Charles MacNally now bishop of Clogher in the year 1828 and is at present ably and efficiently conducted by the Very Rev John O Hanlon DD During the trial of the suit which Lady Dunboyne instituted at Trim Dr Gahan who attended the dying prelate was one of those who underwent six painful examinations in the chancery office on previous occasions and was directed to answer various questions to which he could not conscientiously respond His refusal was declared by Lord Kilwarden who presided at the trial as a contempt of court and the venerable Gahan was sentenced to undergo a week's confinement in the prison of Trim To his sentence he submitted with fortitude and Christian resignation affirming and assuring his lordship that like Eleazar of old he would sooner lay his head on a block and forfeit his life than reveal the secrets which had been disclosed to him in the ministerial discharge of his duty He was soon after as he had acted from principle discharged by the decision of the court Francis Moylan was translated from Kerry in 1786 Died universally regretted in the year 1815 Florence MacCarthy coadjutor to Doctor Moylan in 1800 died in 1810 John Murphy consecrated in April 1815 accompanied Daniel Murray the archbishop of Dublin on his journey to Rome as the representatives of the Irish bishops when the vetoistical arrangements were in contemplation for the Irish church During an incumbency of thirty years Doctor Murphy accumulated the largest private library in Ireland He died in 1847 William Delany succeeded Was consecrated in August 1847 and now happily presides

Walsh Ecclesiastical History Monasteries

ECCLESIASTICAL MIBTORY OF IRELAND 383
History of the Irish Hierarchy: With the Monasteries of Each County, Biographical Notices of the Irish Saints, Prelates, and Religious 1854 Thomas Walsh

CHAPTER XL

COUNTY OF CORK

Abbey Mahon in the barony of Barryroe Monks of the Cistercian order built this abbey at their own expense The Lord Barry endowed it with eighteen plowlands which constitute the parish of Abbey mahon At the suppression of monasteries these lands were seized by the crown The walls of the monastic church are still standing Ballybeg in the barony of Orrery and Kilmore Philip de Barry founded this priory for canons regular of St Augustine and dedicated it to St Thomas and in the year 1229 endowed it in remembrance of which his equestrian statue in brass was erected in the church David his grandson enlarged the revenues which belonged to the priory in 1235 David de Cardegan was prior in the reign of King Henry HL and John de Barry was prior in the succeeding reign The possessions of this house were in the sixteenth year of Queen Elizabeth granted for the term of twenty one years to George Bourchier Esq who forfeited them by the non payment of rent Those lands and tithes were granted in trust to Sir Daniel Norton for the wife of Sir Thomas Norris president of Munster and were found in the year 1622 to be of the yearly value of 2 6s Of this abbey there yet remain the east window and the steeple which is a strong building and the traces of the foundation with a high tower to the south west prove it to have been a magnificent structure Ballymacadane four miles from the city of Cork Cormac MacCarthy son of Teigue the Strong about the year 1450 founded an abbey here for canonesses of St Augustine others affirm for friars of the same rule

Ballyvourney in the barony of Muskerry Saint Gobnata who was descended from Conor the Great monarch of Ireland was abbess of Burneach her festival is on the 14th of February The church which is dedicated to her is 104 feet in length and 24 broad St Abban is said but without sufficient authority to have presented her with this abbey

Bantry from which the barony takes its name Dermot O Sullivan Beare built a small monastery on the sea shore near the town of Bantry for conventual Franciscans The founder died in 1466 Bridgetown on the river Blackwater in the barony of Fermoy A priory was founded in the reign of King John and supplied with canons regular from Newtown in the county of Meath and from the abbey of St Thomas in Dublin The family of Roche largely contributed to the possessions of this priory In the year 1375 King Edward III directed his writ to the bishops and commons to elect competent persons who were to repair to England to consult with his majesty and council concerning the government of the kingdom and the war in which he was then engaged Thomas prior of Bridgetown was one of the persons selected for that business Brigoone in the barony of Clongibbons There yet remain at this place the walls of a church built of large blocks of a fine freestone brought with much labor from the mountains and the ruins of a round tower which fell about the year 1720 The erection of this establishment is erroneously attributed to St Abban Some suppose it to have been erected by St Finchu whose staff was kept there as a relic and his festival observed on the 25th of November

Buttevant in the barony of Orrery and Kilmore David Oge Barry Lord Buttevant founded a monastery for conventual Franciscans in Buttevant AD 1290 and dedicated it to St Thomas the martyr AD 1306 David was prior AD 1311 John FitzRichard was prior AD 1318 Thomas was prior AD 1330 William Ketche was prior AD 1342 John FitzRichard was prior and was indicted for assaulting with some of his brethren John Reynolds in the city of Dublin and for imprisoning the said John In the year 1545 it was confiscated to the crown In the year 1604 the Roman Catholics repaired this convent

Cape Clear Island the most southern part of Ireland contains twelve plowlands On the north west stands a castle built on a rock in the sea which is called Dunanore St Kieran of Saigir was born in that island See the diocese of Ossory AD 820 23 and 51 this island suffered from many devastations AD 953 died the abbot Dunlang son of O Dunagan AD 960 the island was again wasted Oirigiliky in the parish of Miros in West Carbery There are the foundations of extensive ruins with a large cemetery It appears this was the site of the abbey of Maure of the clear spring which was founded AD 1172 by Dermod MacCormac MacCarthy king of Desmond who supplied it with Cistercian monks from the abbey of Baltinglass AD 1252 Patrick was abbot AD 1291 the abbot sued Dovenald O Maythan for a messuage and four carucates of land in Ardocherys AD 1519 the abbot John Imurily was made bishop of Ross In the thirtieth year of Queen Elizabeth this abbey with its appurtenances of houses and lands and the rectories of Maure and Lyslie was granted for ever to Nicholas Walsh at the annual rent of 28 6s 6d

Castle Lyons or Castle Lehan in the barony of Barrymore John de Barry founded this monastery in the year 1307 for Dominican friars It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary The choir nave and steeple of the church still remain About the year 1673 Constantine O Cuiffe provincial of the order instituted at the instance of the earl of Barrymore although a Protestant William Barry as prior and to whom he restored all the possessions of this abbey when James II ascended the throne of England and of Ireland The possessions of this monastery were granted to Richard Boyle earl of Cork who bequeathed the rents and profits arising therefrom to his daughter who was married to David Barry first earl of Barrymore to buy her gloves and pins A Carmelite friary was founded here by de Barry

Cloggagh There is no account of this abbey except in the inquisition taken in the seventeenth year of King James I

Clonmene in the barony of Duhallow and on the south side of the Blackwater O Callaghan founded a monastery for canons of St Augustine in this place

Cloyne in the barony of Imokilly A bishop's see founded by St Colman about the year 580 See his acts at the diocese of Cloyne
A.D. 978 the monastery of Cloyne was plundered by the people of Ossory and again plundered in 1089 by Dermot O Brien.
A.D. 1159 O'Dubery, abbot of Cloyne, died. In the annals of Innis fallen he is called Bishop Dubrein.

Cluain different from the former situated between the mountains Crot and Marige St. Sedna or Sidonius, a disciple of St. Senan, presided over a church erected in this place Sedna, was buried at Kinsale probably owing to his having spent his last days there in the monastery which his brother, St. Gobban, founded and who was the disciple of the great St. Ailbe of Emly.

Cluain Finglass. Saint Abban founded this abbey. This great saint was of the illustrious house of Hua Cormac in Leinster and nephew of St. Kevin of Glendaloch. His first establishment was at old Ross in the county of Wexford, where he presided as abbot about the close of the sixth century. His ardent zeal for the salvation of souls and his anxiety to promote monastic discipline soon called him from his favorite retreat. He is said to have visited a considerable part of Ireland preaching in the towns and villages forming religious communities and laying the foundations of new establishments. This eminent saint, after years of difficulties almost insurmountable, returned to Hy Kinsellagh, his native country, and founded his last house at Maudlinton, near the site on which the present town of Wexford stands. In this retreat St. Abban spent the remainder of his days in prayer contemplation and solitude. He died on the 27th of October and about the year 630.

Cork is a bishop's see founded by St Finbarr who died AD 623 and is the second city of Ireland in importance wealth and commerce St Finbarr's remains were deposited in a silver shrine and his festival is held on the 25th of September The abbey was founded AD 606 St Nessan who is distinct from the great Nessan of Mungret died March 17th St Aengus the Culdee invokes in his litany seventeen bishops probably chorepiscopi and seven hundred monks whose remains lie at Cork with St Barr and St Nessan AD 685 the abbot Russin died April 7th AD 773 died Selbac the successor of St Barr AD 822 to 839 the Danes plundered and burned the city AD 908 Ailill M Eogan the abbot of Cork lost his life in the same battle in which Cormac MacCullenan bishop of Cashell and king of Munster met his melancholy fate AD 910 to 960 the Danes renewed their depredations AD 961 died Cathmogan the successor of St Barr AD 970 the Danes destroyed the abbey AD 990 died the Comorban Columb M Ciaragan AD 1025 Dongal Hua Donchada king of Cashell forsook the world and having dedicated himself wholly to the service of God died in this abbey AD 1026 Cellach O Selbac comorb of St Barr and chief among the sages in Munster died this year on a pilgrimage AD 1027 died the comorb Nial O Maelduibh AD 1028 died Airtri Sairt the comorb AD 1034 died Cathal or Charles comorb AD 1057 Mugron O Mutan the comorb of St Barr was murdered in the night by his own people AD 1089 Dermot O Brien son of Turlogh spoiled and plundered the town and carried off the relics of St Barr AD 1107 Maclothod O Hailgenan comorb of St Barr died AD 1111 Patrick O Selbac comorb also died AD 1134 this abbey was refounded for canons regular under the invocation of St John the Baptist by Cormac king of Munster or of Desmond The son of the founder assures us that his father rebuilt this abbey for the strangers from Connaught who were the countrymen of St Fjnbarr AD 1152 Giolla Aeda O Mugin of Errew of Lough Conn in Mayo was abbot of this monastery and became bishop of Cork He assisted at the famous synod of Kells which was celebrated in the presence of three thousand priests besides the bishops Giolla the abbot was justly esteemed for his piety This abbey from him acquired the name ofGille The monks of this abbey erected the first salmon wiers on the river Lee near the city of Cork Some possessions of this abbey were granted to Cormac MacTeige MacCarthy on the 26th of June and in the thirty third year of Queen Elizabeth they were regranted to Sir Richard Grenville knight The remains of St Finbarr's monastery were totally demolished about the year 1745 Gray Friar's abbey Dermot MacCarthy Reagh founded this monastery for conventual Franciscans AD 1514 and dedicated it to the Virgin Mary The founder dying in the year 1219 his son Finian continued the work and the lord of Newcastle Philip Prendergast was a great benefactor having rebuilt the abbey in 1240 Henry HI and Edward I were great benefactors to this house A chapter of the order had been held here in 1291 In 1500 the rule of the strict observance was adopted in this abbey Several illustrious members of the house of Desmond have been interred in this monastery In the eighth of Elizabeth this abbey with its appurtenances forty acres and seven gardens was granted to Andrew Skydie and his heirs in capite at the annual rent of 2 18s 8d This building which was situate in the north side of the city is now entirely demolished Dominican Friary called the abbey of St Mary of the Island because erected on an island Cross green at the south side of the city by Philip Barry in the year 1229 AD 1340 John le Blound was prior AD 1484 license was given to Maurice Moral prior provincial to reform this convent by the general chapter of the order held at Rome The 20th of December and the thirty fifth of King Henry VIII a grant was made to William Boureman of this monastery and its appurtenances to hold the same in capite for ever at the annual rent of 6s 9d sterling AD 1578 in October Mathew Sheyn Elizabeth's bishop of Cork did publicly burn to the great grief of the Irish inhabitants at the high cross in the town the image of St Dominick which had belonged to this monastery In this zealous bishop the Protestant church of Ireland which English law and German bayonets strove to establish was blessed with an Iconoclast heretic A picture of a saint martyr or confessor or an image of Christ crucified whereby we may be reminded of the heroic virtues of the one the fortitude and the patience with which the martyr shed his blood for his faith the austerity and the calmness with which the confessor bore his chains and confessed his faith before the persecutor the dolors and the ignominy which the only begotten Son of God endured and whom the pure and immaculate Virgin Mary conceived and brought forth for the redemption of his own sinful creatures cannot be tolerated by those wretches who would rob that virgin mother of her glory and dignity the saints of that respect and veneration which is their due as the sincere and faithful servants of the Most High and the Catholic people of Ireland of that precious torch of faith by which the devoted Catholic is taught to despise worldly goods and in despising them to sigh after heavenly treasures which are imperishable in which he finds solid comfort to sustain him in all the afflictions and trials of life and in which alone the sincere Christian can work out his salvation by rendering them conformable with the life and sufferings of his Saviour While the Protestants cf England and Ireland do not blush to retain representations of cats and dogs and other vile animals they ought at least not to molest the Catholic people of Ireland in cherishing the memorials of the saints the remembrance of whose virtues and whose resignation under trials affronts and injuries has rendered the Irish Catholics docile patient and enduring beyond any other people on the surface of God's earth About the year 723 a captain of the Jews called Sarantapechis induced the Caliph Jezzid to commence a destructive war against the sacred images in the Christian churches promising a long reign to the caliph as his reward He accordingly published an edict ordering the removal of all images The Christians however refused to obey and in six months afterwards God removed the caliph by death Constantius the bishop of Nacolia in Phrygia introduced this Jewish doctrine among his flock and was expelled from his see in punishment of his perfidy by his own diocesans He at length ingratiated himself with the emperor and induced him to declare against the images of Christ and his saints In the early part of the year 730 the emperor convoked a council in which he enacted a decree against sacred images wanted the patriarch St Germanus of Constantinople to subscribe it but the holy bishop firmly refused and preferred resigning his dignity He threw off his pallium and said It is impossible my lord that I can sanction any novelty against the faith I can do nothing without a general council and the patriarch left the assembly The emperor enraged at the intrepid conduct of the patriarch sent armed officials to eject him from the archiepiscopal palace they executed their duty with blows and outrages not even respecting the venerable age of eighty years St Germanus repaired to the house of his family and lived there as a monk having left in consequence of the violent proceedings of the emperor the see of Constantinople which he had governed fourteen years in a state of the greatest desolation Germanus died a holy death and the church venerates his memory on the 12th of May Be it then a consolation to the Irish Catholic to know that a Jewish captain and a Mohammedan governor originated this unholy warfare against the Catholic practice of venerating and respecting the memorials of Christ and his saints Augustinian Friary now called the Red Abbey was founded on the south side of the city in the reign of King Edward I A grant was made of this abbey in the reign of Elizabeth to Cormac MacTiege MacCarthy with its appurtenances at the annual rent of 13 Of this building the steeple which is sixty four feet high and the walls of the church still remain The east window the only one in the choir was truly magnificent and measured thirty feet in height and half that number in breadth The whole structure was converted into a sugar house

Carmelite Friary was founded in Cork. De Burgo mentions it.

Nunnery of St John the Baptist William de Barry and John de Barry in the year 1327 did together with John Fitzgilbert and Philip Fitz Robert grant several quarters and parcels of land tithes and ad vowsons of churches to Agnes de Hereford and other women to serve God in the habit of nuns in the house of St John the Baptist in St John's street within the suburbs of Cork. This nunnery of which there are now no remains was situated near the present market house and the site of it was accidentally discovered in digging up some old tombs. Queen Elizabeth, according to a tradition amongst the people, did liberally reward the composer of an Irish song, which is found in Hardiman's collections, for the purpose of bringing contempt and derision on the friars and nuns of Ireland. That song is called Roisin dhub, i.e., Black Rose, and the words of it seem to corroborate the assertion of the natives of Ireland. If it failed in producing that desirable object among the Catholics of oppressed Ireland, the hatred and malignity to the religious order which then did and does still pervade the masses of England has been shamelessly reechoed in the senate of proud England and which would again recur to the torch and the faggot if prudential considerations did not restrain the bigotry of her people.

Preceptory of Knights Templar William le Chaplain was master of Cork about the year 1292. All the foundations of the templars were abolished or suppressed and their possessions given to the knights of St John of Jerusalem called Hospitallers.

Priory of St Stephen. A house for the support of lepers was founded in the south suburbs of the city of which Edward Henry was keeper AD 1295. This priory when suppressed was granted to the city of Cork about the year 1674.

Donagh more in the barony of Muskerry. Fingen a disciple of St. Finnbar was abbot of Domnach mor mitine.

Fermoy in the barony of Clangibbon and on the river Blackwater An abbey was founded in Fermoy under the invocation of the Virgin Mary for Cistercian monks AD 1171 who were brought hither from an abbey on the Suire in the county of Tipperary AD 1248 the abbot was fined in the sum of 10 for divers offences AD 1290 Maurice le Fleming made a considerable grant to this abbey AD 1301 the abbot Maurice Garton fell from his horse into the river Funcheon and was drowned AD 1311 Dionysius was abbot AD 1355 David Rawyr O Kyffe was abbot AD 1367 Henry was abbot In the same year William Fleming was elected AD 1480 the abbot Nicholas O Henesa was made bishop of Waterford Elizabeth granted to Sir Richard Grenville knight and his heirs this monastery with eighteen townlands containing according to estimate five hundred and fifty acres at the rent of 15 18s 4d Irish money

Glandy said to have been a daughter to the Cistercian abbey of Jerpoint in the county of Kilkenny Was called the abbey of the Vale of God Glanore in the barony of Fermoy The family of Roche founded this abbey in the year 1227 for the order of St Dominick It was dedicated to the holy cross De Burgo bishop of Ossory thinks it was built at a later period

Grange or Graney in the barony of Muskerry and a mile east of Kilcrea Saint Cera or Chier is said to have been the daughter of Duibhre and of an illustrious family of Muskerry in the present county of Cork It is supposed that she was the St Chier who together with five other virgins applied to St Fintan Munnu when he was residing in Ely O Carroll for a situation on which she could establish a nunnery and to whom Fintan is said to have assigned the place where he had lived himself afterwards called Tech telle in the King's county It obtained this name from St Telle the son of Segen who was contemporary with Fintan Munnu and whose memory is revered on the 25th of June Returning thence to her own country she founded a nunnery called from her name

Kilcrea a few miles south west from the city of Cork which she governed until her death in the year 680 her reputation was very great and her festival was observed at Kilcrea not only on the 5th of January the anniversary of her decease but also on the 16th of October as a day of commemoration Besides this saint of Kilcrea three other holy virgins of the same name are mentioned in the Irish calendars The foundation of this nunnery is said to be according to the records at Grange or Grany Inchrie a Cistercian abbey built here was dedicated to the Virgin Mary It was a cell to the abbey of Maure and is now unknown

Inniscarra in the barony of Barretts and on the river Lee Saint Senan of Iniscathy founded this establishment and left there eight of his disciples Innishircan or Inis Kieran an island between Cape Clear and the main land In the year 1460 Florence or Dermot O Driscol founded a small monastery for Franciscan friars of the strict observance in this island In 1537 the citizens of Waterford destroyed all the villages of this island with the mill castle and friary

Inispict in the barony of Carberry and near Innishircan Saint Carthag mochuda having visited Munster about the year 620 erected the monastery of Inispict and left there three brothers Gobban Sraphan and Lasren sons of Nescain with the bishop Saint Domangen and twelve disciples The monastery of Innispict was for a long period held in high repute The anniversary of Gobban was held on the 17th of March St Domangen's memory was revered on the 29th of April at Tuaim Muscraighe Killbeacan St Abban built an extensive monastery in this place and set over it St Beacan or Mobecoe There were several saints of this name Killbeacan is situated on the north side of Mount Crotte in Muscry ciure See Rossmic trian county of Wexford

Kilchuilin supposed to be in the barony of Bantry A nunnery existed here of which St Cannera was abbess and who died in the island of Inniscathy Kilcrea See Grange or Graney St Cera was the foundress Franciscan Monastery Cormac MacCarthy the great prince of Desmond founded this convent in the year 1465 under the invocation of St Brigid The founder and Thomas O Herlihy bishop of Ross were interred in this abbey When James I ascended the throne of England the Catholics vainly supposing that the calm of toleration had set in undertook to repair the abbey of Kilcrea but the king surpassed if possible his predecessors in intolerance and the splendid abbey of Kilcrea permitted to moulder in its ruins affords an instance of the architectural taste and grandeur with which the Catholic religion is associated This abbey was first granted to Lord Muskerry In 1650 it was taken by Cromwell and soon after transferred to his favorite Lord Broghill A great part of this building still remains with the nave and choir of the church on the south side of the nave is a handsome arcade of three Gothic arches supported by marble columns the arcade continues to form one side of a chapel being a cross aisle The steeple a light building about eighty feet high and placed between the nave and choir is still perfect and supported by Gothic arches

Killcruimther Colgan is of opinion that a priest Fraech whose memory is there revered founded this house This place was situated in the modern barony of Barrymore and is unknown Killna marhban Church of the Dead attributed by some to St Abban was near the town of Brigoone The tradition of the place attributes the erection of the church of Brigoon to a St Finachan or Finchu who was according to Colgan in the sixth century a bishop at a place called Druimenaich without telling where it lay Several places in the now county of Cork are named Drumanagh

Kinsale A corporate town well known for its excellent harbor and its strong fortifications Priory of Regular Canons St Gobban a disciple of St Ailbe of Emly was patron of this monastery of Kinsale St Sedna who presided over Cluan between the mountains Crotte and Marige in Munster was buried in this monastery White Friars This abbey was founded by Carmelites in the year 1350 by Robert Fitz Richard Balrayne Part of its ruins still remain in the north end of the town In the thirty fifth of Henry VIII it was confiscated to the crown Legan John de Compton was prior of this monastery in 1301 and at the suppression of religious houses the prior of St John's in Water ford was found to be seized of this priory Lueim was situated near the city of Cork and David de Cogan was patron in the year 1318 Maur See Carigiliky

Middleton Pleasantly situated in the barony of Imokilly and is a market and borough The Fitzgeralds or the Barrys founded a Cistercian abbey in this town AD 1180 and supplied it with monks from the abbey of Nenay or Magio in the county of Limerick it was called the abbey of Saint Mary de Choro or of the choir of St Benedict Donald the abbot was succeeded by Robert who presided AD 1309 AD 1476 Gerald bishop of Cloyne appropriated several vicarages to this abbey The 26th of July thirty first of Henry VlJLL the abbot was seized of the abbey dormitory cloister chapter house a hall within the precincts containing one acre of the annual value of five shillings besides reprises also one hundred and twenty three acres of land in the town of Chore a salmon weir in said town a water mill one hundred and twenty acres of land in Killynemaraghe and Ballygibbon and the rectories Downbolloge Kylowane St Katharine's and Moygyelle with their reprises all situate in the county The 17th of September and seventeenth of Elizabeth this abbey with two hundred and eighty acres in the town and lands of Chore one hundred and twenty acres in Kilmanagh Downmacmore and Ballygib bin a messuage and garden in Carrigh a parcel of land containing fifteen acres the rectories of Chore Donbolloge St Katharine's near Cork Kilrowan Kilcollehy and Moygelly and the vicarage of Balline chore all belonging to the abbey of Middleton were granted in capite to John Fitzgerald and his heirs

Mourne in the barony of Barretts A preceptory for knights templars was founded in the reign of King John by Alexander de Sancta Helena or he was a principal benefactor to it At the suppression of this order it was granted to the Hospitallers Thomas Fitzgerald was commendator in the years 1326 27 and 30 John FitzRichard was commendator in the years 1334 35 37 and 39 The prior of Kilmainham appointed the said John to this com mandery and the act was dated at the commandery of Tully in the county of Kildare AD 1335 We have granted unto friar John Fitzrichard the whole government and custody of our house of Mora or Mourne with the appurtenances thereunto belonging both in temporals and spirituals he paying the dues usually paid by that house And we require that within the space of the next ten years he shall at his own cost and charge erect a castle there completely finished both as to size workmanship and materials The body of the church 180 feet in length yet remains The foundation walls of the commandery inclosed several acres It was defended on the south by a strong castle and by two on the west The possessions were granted to Teige MacCarthy whose descendants forfeited them in the year 1641

Omolaggie A grant was made the twentieth of Queen Elizabeth to the provost and fellows of the Holy Trinity near Dublin of twenty acres of land contiguous to a cross and parcel of the possessions of the abbey of the Corbe of Omolaggie This house was tributary to the abbey of Cong in Mayo There is at present no vestige of Omolaggie

Ross in the barony of Carberry an episcopal see St Fachnan was the founder A city grew up in this place in which there was a large seminary In the year 1131 the people of Connaught under the command of Donough MacCarthy plundered this asylum of religion and learning they were soon after justly defeated and Hugh O Connor the son of Constantine and O Cachy the chief poet of Connaught were killed AD 1353 Cornelius was prior AD 1378 Odo was prior This monastery has been generally given to the regular canons of St Augustine It professed afterwards obedience to the Benedictine abbey of St James without the walls of the city of Wurtzburgh in the province of Mentz in Germany The ruins still remain

Timoleague in the barony of Ibawn and Barryroe This abbey was founded by William Barry lord of Ibawn about the year 1370 for the order of St Francis In 1400 the rule of the strict observance was received Provincial chapters of the order were held in this house in 1536 and in 1563 At the suppression of the religious establishments this convent with four acres of land were granted to Lord Inchiquin De Courcey a minorite bishop of Ross and John Imurily a Cistercian bishop of that see also were buried in this convent The Roman Catholics repaired this monastery AD 1604 the walls are yet entire but unroofed They enclose a large choir with an aisle formed by arcades on the south leading to a lateral wing There is a handsome Gothic tower about seventy feet high between the choir and aisle and on one side of the aisle is a square cloister arcaded with a platform in the centre the arcade leads to several large rooms the chapel the chapter house refectory a hall dormitory and a spacious apartment for the father guardian

Tracton in the barony of Kinalea Maurice Mac Carthy founded this abbey AD 1224 for Cistercians AD 1231 the abbot was indicted for protecting his nephew Maurice Russell who had committed a rape on an Englishwoman was found guilty and fined the sum of forty pounds Had she been a mere Irishwoman the offence would be overlooked AD 1311 Owen was abbot AD 1380 parliament enacted that no mere Irishman should be suffered to profess himself in this abbey The abbot of Tracton sat as a baron in parliament Queen Elizabeth granted this abbey to Henry Guilford and Sir James Craig on their paying a fine of 7 15s sterling Sir James Craig assigned it to Richard earl of Cork who passed a patent for the same in the seventh of James I

Tuaim Musgraidge now unknown Saint Domangen whom St Carthag left at Inispict with twelve disciples was venerated here

Tulaeh Mhin in the barony of Fermoy St Molagga one of the Irish saints who survived the great pestilence of 665 was born in this barony of poor but pious parents and is said to have been baptized by St Cummin Fada St Molagga received his education in his own country and having distinguished himself by his piety and learning established his monastery and school at Tulach Mhin He is said to have afterwards visited other parts of Ireland particularly Connor in Ulster and to have passed over to North Britain Molaga seems to have had some establishment in Fingall near Dublin where his memory has been revered and where he is said to have placed a swarm of bees thence called Lann beach At length he returned to Tulach Mhin where he died on a twentieth of January His festival was celebrated on the anniversary of that day at Tulach Mhin and Lan beach aire There were other saints of this name Tullelash in the barony of Duhallow Mathew MacGriffin founded this priory for canons regular of St Augustine It became afterwards united to that of Kells in the county of Kilkenny Weeme near Cork An abbey of canons regular was here founded and was dedicated to St John the Evangelist AD 1311 Thomas was abbot Being deposed Altan O Nulla nagaly was elected Gilbert was abbot David was abbot in 1339 Thomas succeeded Richard OTenewir was abbot

Youghal a seaport and borough The Franciscan friary on the south side of the town was founded in the year 1224 by Maurice Fitz Gerald In 1232 Maurice the founder was lord justice of Ireland after which he retired to this convent and embraced the institute of St Francis He died in 1257 and was buried in his own convent of Youghal This convent was the parent of the order in Ireland Thomas the second son of the founder completed the building at his own expense and having died on the 26th of May 1260 was also interred in this abbey which continued for centuries the cemetery of the Desmond family Several provincial chapters were held in this convent and it received the reform of the order in 1460 During the terrors of Elizabeth's reign this extensive convent had been pillaged and so completely demolished that not even a vestige of its ruins remains Such of the friars as had escaped the storm took refuge in the mountains of the county Waterford where they were protected tected and finally settled in a retired and picturesque spot called Curragheen under the patronage of the benevolent family of Dromanagh The Dominican Friary of Youghal called of St Mary of Thanks at the north end was founded by Thomas Lord Offaley in the year 1268 AD 1303 Robert Percival an eminent benefactor to this abbey was interred here on the 22d of October AD 1281 and 1304 general chapters of the order were held in this abbey AD 1493 this house was reformed by Bartholomew de Comatio general of the order A statue of the Virgin Mary was preserved in this monastery which is mentioned in the acts of the general chapter held at Rome AD 1644 In the twenty third of Elizabeth this convent and eleven houses in the town of Youghal were graated to William Walsh at the yearly rent of 2s Irish

Blessed Thaddeus McCarthy (IER)(2)

From the Irish Ecclesiastical Record, Volume 1 (1836), at pages 375 and following:

Side Altar of Blessed Thaddeus McCarthy

in Cobh Cathedral, County Cork

I. The Pilgrim of Ivrea was an Irish bishop who died in the year 1492. The most diligent search through our Irish annals will not discover another bishop to whom even so much of the poet's description will apply but Thaddeus McCarthy, Bishop of Cloyne. About that date there were indeed in Ireland five bishops named Thaddeus: 1. Thady, Bishop of Kilmore since before 1460, but his successor Furseus died in 1464 and Thomas, the third from him, died before 1492. 2. Thady McCragh of Killaloe succeeded in 1430 full sixty years before our saint's death at Ivrea. His third successor died in 1460. 3. Thady, Bishop of Down, was consecrated in Rome 1469, died in 1486 and his successor, R. Wolsey, was named before 1492. 4. Thady of Ross died soon after his appointment in 1488 succeeded by Odo in 1489. 5. Thady of Dromore, appointed only in 1511 and the see was held by George Brown in 1492. The date 1492 is alone enough to prove that B. Thaddeus of Ivrea was not any of the preceding bishops and there was no other of the name for full sixty years after or before but the Bishop of Cork and Cloyne the date of whose death fits exactly all the requirements of the case. Ware quotes from Harold that he was appointed by Innocent VIII (sed. 1484-1492), that he succeeded W. Roch resigned 1490, and further that Gerald who succeeded resigned in 1499, after obtaining a pardon from Henry VII in 1496 (Lib. Mun., i, p. 102).

II Another line of the old fragment seems to name the see of the B. Thaddeus whom the poet describes as lamenting his death abroad far from the "solum Chariense" or "Clovinense," which we interpret far "from Kerry," the burial place of his family, and "from Cloyne," his episcopal see. Cloyne is variously Latinized, even by Irish writers, Cloynensis, Clonensis, Cluanensis, and often Clovens or Clovinen in Rymer's Foedera.* What more natural than that a poet would describe the pilgrim as longing to be buried either in his cathedral church of Cloyne or with his fathers in Kerry.

III. The passage which seems to us most decisive is that which points to the royal extraction and name of this holy bishop "Regia progenies alto de sanguine Machar." Observe how, in the notice from Harold, Bishop McCarthy was called also 'Mechar.' Clearly both were one and the same name. Thus, Mac Carthaigh, anglicised McCarthy, is pronounced Maccaura, with the last syllable short as in Ard Magha (Armagh) and numberless like words. Hence Wadding,** in speaking of the foundation of Muckross Abbey, Killarney, by Domnal McCarthy, Prince of Desmond, quotes to this effect a Bull of Paul II in 1468 in which Domnall's name is spelled Machar, a form identical with that in the contemporary fragment. In truth there is no Irish family name like "Machar" at all but "Meagher" which is invariably spelled with "O," especially in the Latinized form and the O Meaghers had no claim to royal blood.

IV. The Blessed Thaddeus was "regia progenies." Now there was no royal family name in Ireland like that in the inscription except the truly royal name made more royal still by the saintly Bishop of Cloyne. Without insisting with Keating that the ancestry of the McCarthy family could be traced through twenty eight monarchs who governed the island before the Christian era, we may assert with the Abbé MacGeoghan, in a note (tom iii, p. 680), strangely omitted by his translator, "that if regard be had to primogeniture and seniority of descent the McCarthy family is first in Ireland." Long before the founders of the oldest royal families in Europe, before Rodolph acquired the empire of Germany, or a Bourbon ascended the throne of France, the saintly Cormac McCarthy the disciple the friend and patron of St. Malachy, ruled over Munster and the title of king was at least continued in name in his posterity down to the reign of Elizabeth. Few pedigrees if any, says Sir B. Burke, "in the British empire can be traced to a more remote or exalted source than that of the Celtic house of McCarthy... They command a prominent perhaps the most prominent place in European genealogy." Plain then is it that in no other house could the "regia progenies" be verified more fully than in the McCarthy family.***

V. The date of death, the wished for burial place his native soil (Kerry) or his diocese (Cloyne) the name and royal extraction, all point to the Bishop of Cloyne as the saint whose relics are still worshipped at Ivrea. If we add that 'Chiar' is the usual Irish form of Kerry, that Domnall's (the founder of Irralagh) father's name was THADDEUS, not improbably our Saint's uncle, the evidence seems to be overwhelming.

VI. We have said there is no account in Irish writers of even the Bishop of Cloyne, except the few lines in Ware. The continental annalists of the religious orders do however speak of one celebrated Thaddeus, without mentioning his surname or country. Elsius (quoting De Ilerera and Crusen, whose works are not within our reach) notices Thaddeus de Hipporegio sive Iporegia as "a man distinguished for learning, religious observance, preaching, holiness of life and experience, a man of great zeal and a sedulous promoter of the interests of his order." He was prior, he adds, of several convents, seven times definitor, thirteen times visitator, four times president of synods, nine times vicar general and his government was ever distinguished for the greatest love of order and edifying example. See Els Encom August p. 645. After quoting these words in substance from the Augustinian chronicler, Dr. Renehan adds: "After the most diligent inquiry I could make at Ivrea, wherever I could hope for any little information, particularly at the episcopal palace where I was received with marked respect as a priest from the country that sent out the B. Thaddeus, and of the Bishop's secretary, the vicar general and many others whose kind attention I can never forget, I could find no vestige of any other Thaddeus called after the city Eporedia but our own blessed Irish bishop and I was assured, over and over again, that he was the only Thaddeus known in its annals or who ever had any connection with the town by birth, residence, death or any way known to the present generation. It is not then unreasonable to suppose that the Thaddeus so celebrated in the Augustinian Order was no other than our Bishop. True, Elsius gives 1502 for the date of the friar's demise but Elsius is never to be trusted in dates and the printer may easily take MCCCCXCII, the true date, for MCCCCCII. Indeed 1492 is not so different from 1502 that an error may not have crept in.

Dr. Renehan's theory, then, with regard to B. Thaddeus, fully detailed in the letter to the Bishop of Ivrea was this:-

Thaddeus McCarthy was born in Kerry, where the McCarthy More branch of the family resided, and where, in the monastery of Irialac (now Muckross), or in Ennisfallen (see Archdall), the princes of the house were always buried. The young Thaddeus went abroad at an early age and embraced the monastic life. His virtues and piety soon attracted the notice of his religious brethren, as manifest from their chronicles. They became in time known to the ruling Pontiff Innocent VIII who raised him to the episcopal dignity. The B. Thaddeus repaired to Rome, in the first place to receive consecration and jurisdiction from the successor of St. Peter, imitating in this the example of our great patron saint. He stopped at Ivrea, probably on his way home, fell sick there and died, God witnessing to His servant by signs and wonders. The silence of our annalists is thus accounted for to a great extent by the long residence of B. Thaddeus abroad. This theory is remarkably borne out by the independent notice in last Record. Having little to help us to arrive at any correct notion of the saintly bishop's life beyond the epitaph and the slender tradition at Ivrea, we entirely subscribe to this view. Other sources of information may be opened now that we have ventured to bring for the first time the name of B. Thaddeus before the Irish Catholic people, and for this service, little as it is, and entirely unworthy of our saintly bishop, we still expect his blessing in full measure.

Footnotes

*Clove CIoyne fiymer's Foedera Tom v par iv p 105 Lib Mun Tom i par iv p 102
**"Maccarthy=Carthy=Macare=Maccar." Wadd. Annal. Min. ad. an. 1340 n. 25, ed. Roman, tom. viii, p. 241; ibid tom. xiii, p. 432, et pp. 558-9.
***"Kings of the McCarthy race," Annuls of Innisfallen, ad an. 1106, p. 106, an 1108, 1110, 1176. Annals of Boyle, an. 1138, 1185. Annals of Ulster, an. 1022-3, 1124. Gir. Cambr. lib. i, cap iii. S. Bernard in Vit. Malac., cap. iv. "Their burial place," Archdall Monast. Hib. pp. 302, 303.

Blessed Thaddeus McCarthy (IER)(1)

From the Irish Ecclesiastical Record, Volume 1 (1836), at pages 375 and following:

 

The Reliquary of Blessed Thaddeus McCarthy

In the North Cathedral, Cork City

BLESSED THADDEUS McCARTHY

In an article of the Record for April page 312 we briefly referred to a Bishop of Cloyne and Cork who is venerated as blessed in Ivrea a town of Piedmont. In conformity with the few fragments preserved in the archives of Ivrea and elsewhere regarding him we adopted the opinion that his name according to modern orthography should be rendered Thaddeus Maher. Since the publication of the article just mentioned a paper containing much valuable matter has been communicated to us through the great kindness of the Very Rev. Dr. McCarthy, the learned Professor of Scripture in Maynooth College, who had prepared it long before the article in the Record was published and before he could have had any knowledge of our views on this subject. We are anxious to publish every document that we can find on this interesting question in the hope that by discussing it light may be thrown on the history of a holy Irish bishop who is honoured beyond the Alps but so little known at home that there is great difficulty in determining his real name. In one of our next numbers we shall return to this subject.

On June 23rd 1847 the Most Rev Dr Murray Archbishop of Dublin received at Maynooth a letter covering a bill of exchange for £40 (1,000 francs) sent for the relief of the famine stricken poor of Ireland by order of the good Bishop of Ivrea. The town of Ivrea anciently Eporedia is the capital of the Piedmontese province of the same name which extends from the Po to the Alps. The province contains a population of over one hundred thousand of whom about eight thousand reside in the town where is also the bishop's see. The letter to Dr. Murray enclosed a separate paper of which the following is a copy:-

De Beato Thaddeo Episcopo Hiberniae

Anno Domini millesimo quadringentesimo nonagesimo secundo, die vigesima quarta Octobris, Eporediae (antiquae urbis Transalpinae in Pedemontio) postremum obiit diem in hospitio peregrinorum sub titulo Sancti Antonii, quidam viator incognitos; atque eodem instante lux mira prope lectum in quo jacebat effulsit, et Episcopo Eporediensi apparuit homo venerandus, Pontifi calibus indumentis vestitus THADDEUM MACHAR Hiberniae Episcopum ilium esse innotirit ex chartis quas deferebat, et in Cathedrali ejus corpus solemni pompa depositum est snb altari, et in tumulo Sancti Eusebii Episcopi Epbrediensis, atque post paucos dies coepitmulta miracula facere.

Acta et documenta ex quibus ejus patria et character episcopalis tune innotuerunt, necnon ad patratorum miraculorum seu prodigiorum memoriam exarata, interierunt occasione incendii quo seculo xvii. Archivium Episcopate vastatum est. In qua darn charta pergamena caracteribus Gothicis scripta, quae in Archivio Ecclesiae Cathedralis servatur haec leguntur:

"Marmoreis tumulis hoc templo Virginis altuae Corpora Sanctorum plura sepulta jacent Martinus hic...
"Inde Thaddeus adest quern misit Hibernia praesul
Sospite quo venit saepe petita salus
Regia progenies alto de sanguine Machar,
Quern nostri in Genua nunc Latiique vocant.
Ingemuit moriens quem Hiberno sidere cretum
Non Cariense tenet, non Clovinense solum.
Sic visum superis; urbs Eporedia corpus
Templo majore marmoreo claudat opus.
Hicjacet Eusebii testudinis ipse sacello,
Pauperiem Christi divitis inde tulit.
Hunc clarum reddunt miracula sancta: beatus
Exstat et in toto dicitur orbe pius.
Huc quicunque venis divum venerare Thaddeum
Votaque fac precibus: dicque viator, Ave.
Mille quadringentos annos tune orbis agebat
Atque Nonagenos: postmodum junge duos."
 
Verbis illis solum Cariense vel Cloviense et Clovinense desi nari a poeta civitates Hibemiae in quibus Thaddeus aut natus aut Episcopus fuerit, putandum est forsan Clareh, Carrick.

Quamobrem exquiritur utrmm in Hibernia habeatur notitia hujus Episcopi THADDEI MACHAII - loci ubi natus fuerit, - ejus familiae quae regia seu princepssupponitur in poesi, - civitatis seu ecclesiae in qua fuerit Episcopus. Desiderantur quoque notitiae si quae repenri poterunt et documenta quibus illius vita et gesta illustrari possint; insuper utrum labente saeculo xv. an qua persecutio in Hibernia ad versus Episcopos facta sit, quemadmodum argumentari licet ex quibusdam Epistolis Innocentii VIII. circa immunitatem ecclesiasticam. (End of paper)

As our space precludes a literal translation of this paper a summary may be acceptable to the reader:

On the 24th of October 1492 died at Ivrea in St. Antony's Hospice for Pilgrims Blessed Thaddeus, an Irish bishop, whose body was deposited under the high altar of the cathedral in a shrine over the relics of the holy patron St. Eusebius. At the time of death a brilliant light was seen round his bed and at the same moment to the Bishop of Ivrea there appeared a man of venerable mien clothed in pontifical robes. Several other miracles were also wrought through his intercession. The papers found with him showed he was an Irish bishop and these as well as other documents proving his great sanctity religiously kept in the episcopal archives were destroyed by fire in the seventeenth century. In an old parchment written in Gothic letters still preserved in the archives of the cathedral church are these lines:

Neath marble tombs in this the virgjn's shrine
The bones of many a saint in peace recline
Here martyred Thaddeus there
From Erin's shore he came
A bishop of McCarthy's royal name
At whose behest were wondrous cures oft made
Still Latium Genoa invoke his aid
Dying he mourned that not on Irish soil
Where sped his youth should close his earthly toil
Nor Cloyne nor Kerry but Ivrea owns
For God so willed the saintly bishop's bones
'Tis meet that they in marble shrine encased
Should be within the great cathedral placed
Like Christ whose tomb was for another made
He in Eusebius cenotaph is laid
Soon sacred prodigies his power attest
And all the Earth proclaims him pious blest
O ye who hither come our saint assail
With prayers and votive gifts nor traveller fail
To greet with reverence the holy dead
Since Christ was born a thousand years had fled
Four hundred then and ninety two bacide
Had passed away when St. Thaddeus died.

When Dr Murray received the Bishop of Ivrea's letter he placed it in the hands of the late venerated President of Maynooth College from whose MSS it is now copied together with the very literal translation of the verses made by one of the junior students at the time Dr. Renehan undertook to collect all the notices of Blessed Thaddeus in our Irish annals and to give the best answers he could to the bishop's questions. He even visited Ivrea in the summer of 1850 in the hope of finding traditional records of the life of Blessed Thaddeus but to no purpose. He found the task more difficult than might be expected. All the knowledge regarding the saint's family, see, etc., that can be gathered from Irish or British sources is found in these few lines from Ware on the Bishops of Cloyne:

"THADY McCARTHY succ. 1490. Upon the resignation of William, Thady McCarthy, by some called Mechar, succeeded the same year by a provision from Pope Innocent VIII as may be seen from the Collectanea of Francis Harold" Ware's Bishops (Harris) p. 563

The Blessed Thaddeus's name is unhonoured then in his own country; his biography if ever written is at least not recorded by the Irish historians. Even the scanty information which the industrious Ware supplies was gleaned not from our annals but from Harold's Collectanea probably notes and extracts taken from documents in the continental libraries. Dr. Renehan had therefore little to add on our saint's life. He was however fully satisfied that Blessed Thaddeus of Ivrea was no other than the Bishop of Cork and Cloyne mentioned by Ware. His arguments may be seen in a rough outline of his answer to the Bishop of Ivrea's letter among the O'Renehan MSS in Maynooth, almost the only authority we had time to consult for this notice. Sometimes the very words of the letter are given in inverted commas:-