Donahoe's Magazine, Volume 15, No. 2, February 1886 — John Shaqi
Donahoe's Magazine, Volume 15, No. 2, February 1886Various
History
Donahoe's Magazine, Volume 15, No. 2, February 1886
Various
Periodicals
But Derry had other enemies than the Danes. In 1124 we find "Ardgar,
Prince of Aileach, killed by the ecclesiastics of Doire-Columbkille in
the defence of their church. His followers in revenge burned the town
and churches." The then abbot was St. Gelasius, who, after presiding
sixteen years over the monastery, which he had entered a novice in early
youth, was, in 1137, raised to the Primatial See of Armagh; and dying in
1174, nearly closes the long calendar of Irish Saints. The first year of
his abbacy (1121) had been marked by the death in the monastery of
"Domwald Magloughlin Ardrigh of Erin, a generous prince, charitable to
the poor and liberal to the rich, who, feeling his end approaching, had
withdrawn thither,"--a fact which shows the great veneration in which
this monastery was held.
The name of the next abbot, Flathbert O'Brolcan, or Bradley, is one of
the brightest in the Annals of Derry. He was greatly distinguished for
his sanctity and learning, but still more for his administrative
abilities. As abbot of Derry he was present at the Synod of Kells in
1152. Six years after, at the Synod of Brightaig (near Trim, county
Meath), a continuation or prorogation of that of Kells, Derry was
created an Episcopal See and Flathbert appointed its first bishop. A
much more honorable distinction was given him, when by the same synod,
he was appointed "prefect general of all the abbeys of Ireland," an
appointment which must probably be limited to the Columbian Abbeys,
which were at the time very numerous. Some idea of the wealth and power
of the Columbian order may be gathered from the records that the Masters
have given us of Flathbert's visitations. "In 1150 he visited Tireoghain
(Tyrone), and obtained a horse from every chieftain; a cow from every
two biataghs; a cow from every three freeholders; a cow from every four
villeins; and twenty cows from the king himself; a gold ring of five
ounces, his horse and battle-dregs from the son of O'Lochlain, king of
Ireland." "In 1153 he visited Down and Antrim and got a horse from
every chieftain; a sheep from every hearth; a horse and five cows from
O'Dunlevy, and an ounce of gold from his wife." And in 1161 he visited
Ossory, and "in lieu of the tribute of seven score oxen due to him,
accepted four hundred and twenty ounces of pure silver."
But though thus honored by the hierarchy and people, enemies were not
wanting to him. In 1144 the monastery had been burned and hostile clouds
were again gathering round it, when in 1163 Flathbert erected a cashel
or series of earthen fortifications, which baffled for a time the enmity
of the plunderer. A passing calm was thus assured him, of which he took
advantage, in 1164, to commence the building of his Cathedral, called in
Irish "Teampull-mor," a name which one of the city parishes still
retains. But the times were troublous, and hardly was the Cathedral
finished than we find in 1166 "O'More burning Derry as far as the church
Dubh-Regles."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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