[ 441 ] 
XXXVIII. 
01^ A-N ANCIEOT MS. LIEE OE ST. CAILLIN OF EENAGH, 
AND 01^ HIS SHEIKE. Br the EEV. DENIS MURPHY, 
S.J. 
[Read June 28, 1886.] 
Two antique objects have lately come into my hands, by way of loan, 
through the kindness of their respective owners, the Archbishop of 
Cashel and the Eishop of Ardagh, which may be of some interest to 
the Members of the Academy. Botb have reference to St. Caillin, 
the patron of the Clan O'Eourke, as Columkille was of the O'Donnells 
and Moling of the MacMorroughs, who were in ancient times chiefs 
of Ereffney, the modern counties of Cavan and Leitrim, for O'Dugan 
tells us that " hereditary to the O'Eourke is that kingdom." Caillin's 
church and monastery are still standing, in part at least, at Eenagh, 
which is about three- miles to the south-west of Eallynamore in Cavan. 
Our Saint's genealogy is given in this book up to Eury, the grand- 
father of Eergus Mac Eoy, who lived about the beginning of the 
Christian era. We are told, moreover, that '^Einnlan, by whom he 
was fostered, commanded him to go to Eome to learn wisdom and 
knowledge there," a command which, no doubt, was readily obeyed, 
since one of the most common practices of our ancient saints was 
"peregrinari pro Christo." 
The Martyrology of Donegal says of him, that "he was the son of 
Niatach, and bishop of Eiadnacha of Magh Eein. He was of the race 
of Cormac, son of Eergus, son of Eoss, son of Eudraighe. Deidi, 
daughter of Tren, son of Dubhtach Mac Ua Lughair, was his mother. 
Maedhog of Eerns was a school- pupil of Caillin. He was an atte- 
nuated pious man ; he was a virgin, he was chaste. He was a burning 
fire to burn the persecutors of God and of the Church. He was a sea 
without ebbing in signs and miracles." His feast-day is November 
13th. None of our hagiographers have come down so far in the year 
as that : neither Colgan, the EoUandists, nor the Eev. J. O'Hanlon. 
They might be able to give us a life written critically. It is almost a 
E.I.A. PKOC, SER. III., VOL. I. 2 1 
