error, and that the Ulster annals are perfectly correct. It is highly honourable to our national records, that whilst they are corroborated in their statement of historic facts, by the most celebrated writer of the age in which he lived, they correct that writer in matters of science.* SEGENE died on the 24th of May, 688. FLAN-FEBLA, a lineal descendant of the regal family of Colla-Dacrioch, succeeded SEGENE in the primacy. This prelate assisted by Killene Mac Lubney, abbot of Sayghir, and forty other bishops, held a synod in the year 695, whose canons were extant in the seventeenth century, and in possession of Colgan.† FLAN-FEBLA died on the 24th of April, 715, and was succeeded by SUIBHNEY MAC CRONUMAIL, who governed the see fifteen years, and died on the 21st of June, 730.‡ His successor CONGUSA, who was both a poet and a divine, was consecrated in 730, and died in 750. In his time Aid Ronan king of Ultonia, pillaged some churches in the diocess of Armagh.§ In the days of this primate, King Flathbert abdicated his sceptre, and embraced a monastic life at Armagh, in the year 734. He died there in 760. Contests concerning the primacy seem to have originated betwixt FONDALOCH and the next in succession, Dubdalethy, and another claimant Gormgall. He is said to have died in the year 794.¶ Usser Brit. Eccl. See Ant. p. 490, 491. Appendix, No. VIII. Meanwhile the see, thus warmly contested, probably remained in a kind of abeyance, till the year 778, when DUBDALETHY, the son of Sinach, was consecrated bishop. He died in 793.* A. D. 770, Armagh was consumed with fire, and again on Saturday the 2d of August, a conflagration was kindled in the city, by lightning, and infinite damage ensued.t In the seventh century, a Culdean monastery and church were built in Armagh, probably by some of Columba's successors in the famous establishment at Hi. In 779, Cearnach, the prior of the Armagh Culdees, died and was buried in that city. In process of time the city was adorned with many other edifices, built by devout men, and appropriated to the worship of God. As I cannot discover the exact period when some of these were erected, so as to reduce the whole to chronological order, I will here briefly recite the public religious buildings of Armagh. Cathedralis, vel Summum Templum-The Cathedral, built by SAINT PARICK on the summit of the hill.‡ Basilica Petri et Pauli-The Church of Saints Peter and Paul, which, with the monastery and academy annexed to it, was founded by SAINT PATRICK, near his own mansion-house. These edifices were rebuilt by Imar O Hædhagain. Some parts of them still exist, and were lately inhabited by Mr. John Richardson. The materials of the remainder were used in the year 1722, in building the Presbyterian Meeting-house. Basilica Saballensis-Church of Sabhal. I Basilica Toensis.**. Of these buildings I can find no trace. Basilica Velus Concionatoria-The Old Preaching Church:++ Ibid. p. 294. Ware's Mon. 293: Burk. App. Ware, vol. 1, p. 42. +Tria. Thaum. p. 294. tt Tria. Thaum. p. 298, Templum Na Fearta, or church of the Miracles, built (according to the author of "The Tripartite Life,") by SAINT PATRICK.* Templum Brigidis-Temple Brigid built by SAINT PATRICK; not very remote from the spot where the Roman-Catholic Chapel now stands.† Templum Columbæ. It is traditionarily said, that this church stood in Abbey-street, where Rocque has marked it in his map of the city, and it is believed that the late Dr. Grueber's school-house was part of the edifice :§ But as the Culdee tenements were chiefly situated in Castle-street, it is more likely that Columba's original monastery was erected near the site of the old Vicars'hall. A Dominican Friary.|| A Franciscan Friary, built by Primate O Scanlain, in 1263, according to Ware; but Wadding says it was founded in 1291.¶ The Basilica Vetus Concionatoria was probably used, in later times, as the parish church, of which there only remains a very small fragment contiguous to the front gable of the eastern aisle of the cathedral; and here, since the destruction of the building, the rectors of Armagh have (generally speaking) been inducted, on their respective promotions. Ware's Mon. p. 269. Burk app. Mon, 736. + Ibid.-Temple Breed and Temple Na Fearta were granted to Francis Annesley, Esq. on the 9th of January, 1618.-Lodge, vol. 1, p. 274. Tria. Thaum. p. 309. Charter of King Charles to the Vicars Choral. Many human skeletons were lately found in the rear of these premises, which was used till after the reformation as a cemetery. Tobacco pipes, and copper coins bearing the imprimatur of Michael Wilson, were also dug up, some of which are now in the possession of Mr. Bell, landscape painter. Burk, 339. Burk App. Mon. Wad, apud All, Wares's Mon. P. 278. Ware's Bishops, p. 42. Prior to the year 799, the primate of Armagh, and his suffragan bishops were necessitated to attend the royal army of the king of Ireland, when that monarch proceeded on any warlike expedition, CONMACH deemed it indecorous and improper that the ministers of peace should be compelled to witness the horrors of war. At his request the abbot Fothad drew up a remonstrance styled "Opuscula pro Cleri Defensione et immunitate,' which was presented to the king. In consequence of this work, the bishop and his clergy were exempted from this uncanonical duty.* TORBACH was immediately succeeded by NUAD, the son of Segene, abbot of a convent near a lake in Brefiny, county of Cavan, called "Lough Vamba," Lake of the Cave," from which it is said to flow. This prelate who was an anchorite, had reluctantly accepted the abbatial and primatial dignities. He made a visitorial circuit in Connaught, and was the first bishop of Armagh, who since the days of CORMAC, the third in succession after SAINT PATRICK, had visited that province, as patriarch of the kingdom. He died on the 19th of February, 812, or according to Colgan, 811.+ FLANGUSS MAC LOINGLE, Succeeded in 812, and died in 822. ARTRIGE was consecrated in 822, and in the same year visited the whole province of Munster. He was probably the first archbishop who, since the days of SAINT PATRICK, had exercised his primatial rights in that district, by visitorial circuit. In 824 he also visited Connaught. The Ulster annals state that about this period, the law of SAINT PATRICK was propagated through Munster, by Felim Mac Crimthan, its monarch, and ARTRICE bishop of Armagh. Ussher thought that this law was a monastic rule, but Colgan conceived that it related to the metropolitan jurisdiction, and the power of visiting • Act. Sanct. Hib, p. 581, 583. O'Halloran vol. 2, p. 153; ↑ Ware, vol, 1, p. 43. Tria Thaum. p. 294. Primord. p. 1050. and exacting certain provisions and dues from the provinces. The same law was subsequently established in Connaught.+ Shortly before this period the Ostmen had made frequent hostile incursions into Ireland. The annals of Ulster assert that about the year 795, the isle of Rechrin to the north of the county of Antrim, was pillaged by pirates. These maurauders are said by Ussher to have been Danes or Normans. They wasted a part of Ireland, and made captives of Findan and his sister.+ The piratical tribes by which Ireland was so dreadfully infested in the ninth century seem to have been a mixed crew of Danes, Frisians, Norwegians, Swedes and Livonians. Of these, one tribe were styled Leth-manni, whom Ussher and other writers deem Livonians, whose country was named Letten or Letta. One sept was called by the Irish, “ Fion-Gail, or Fingal," the White Strangers, and another "Dubh-Gail," the Black Strangers, from the colour of their hair. Other generic terms were applied to these northern invaders, such as Lochlans" pirates; "Dubh-Loch-Lannice," and Fion-LochLannice." Loch-Lonnach or Lannice denotes powerful at sea. In the ancient Welsh language, Lychlynnyan signifies a Norwegian. The adjectives Dubh black, and Fion or Fin white prefixed by the Irish, were indicative of the relative complexion of these tribes or rather of the colour of their hair. Fingal was probably a a settlement of the Fair-haired Strangers; Donegall or Dubh-Gail of those of darker hue. The more general denomination was Danfhir, i. e. bold men. These Danfhirs or Danes after they had settled in Ireland, were distinguished by the countries or districts in which they resided. Thus we read of the Danes of Lecale, the Danes of Loch-Foyle, the Danes of Dublin, &c. By the English, whom these adventurers molested exceedingly, they were denominated Oestmen and Danes. • Tria Thaum. p. 294. Keating part Eccl. Ant, p. 496. Ind. Chron. p. 542. Lancarv. apud Usser Brit, Eccl. Ant. p. 496. but, more probably “Dun-na-Gail" The strong 2nd, p. 42, 47. + Brit, Chron. Camb. Caradoci § So O'Halloran says; Hold of the Strangers. |