HISTORY. 
been removed from Ardstraw to Rathlury, the present Maghera, but the exact time of this 
change has not been ascertained. 
The subsequent establishment of a distinct episcopal see in Derry, as now constituted, is sup¬ 
posed by all our modem ecclesiastical historians to have taken place in the year 1158, when Flaher- 
tag'h O’Brolchain, the then abbot of the monastery, was undoubtedly raised to the episcopal 
dignity by a decree of the council held at Brigli-mac-Taidlig, in the north of Meath. The cir¬ 
cumstances relative to this event are thus related by the Four Masters:—- 
“An assembly was held by the Irish clergy at Brigh-mac-Taidhg, in the territory of ITy-Laoghaire, 
at which were present 25 bishops, together with the apostolic legate, for the purpose of establishing 
ecclesiastical discipline and the improvement of morals. In this assembly the coarb of St. 
Patrick, or archbishop of Armagh, and the clergy of Ireland, decreed by common consent, that 
a bishop’s chair [cacaoip Gappoicc], and the supreme superintendence of all the abbeys in Ireland 
[that is, of the Columbian order,] should be given to the coarb of Saint Columbkille. The 
bishops of Connaught set out on their way to this synod, but they were robbed and beaten, and two of 
their people killed, by the soldiers of Dermot O’Melaghlin, king of Meath, at the wooden bridge 
at Clonmacnoise, after they had passed through the town. They then returned home.” 
The promotion of O’Brolchain to the episcopal dignity was the result of the friendship of the 
celebrated primate, Gelasius, or Gilla-mac-liag, who was distinguished not less for abilities and 
virtues than for the zealous assistance, which he gave, in establishing the discipline and influence of 
the church of Rome in Ireland. Gelasius was himself of a Derry sept, as it appears that he had 
been coarb, or erenagh, of the monastery of Derry, previously to his promotion to the archiepis- 
copal chair of Armagh. These facts are ascertained from the Life of Gelasius, as quoted by 
Colgan, (TV. Th. page 504) :— 
“ Blessed Gelasius, an indefatigable undertaker of pious labours, presided over an assembly 
convened in the territory of Meath, in which, after enacting many sacred and wholesome institutes 
concerning morals, and the discipline of the clergy and people, he caused Flahertach O’Brolchain, 
a student of Derry, and formerly his disciple whilst he presided over that community, and the 
brother (as I suppose,) of blessed Maolbrigid O’Brolchain, [suffragan] bishop of Armagh, not only 
to be promoted to the episcopal dignity, but also to be placed as chief director over all the abbeys in 
Ireland.”— Life of Gelasius : cap. 31. 
But though the authorities now quoted leave no doubt as to the fact of O’Brolchain having- 
been raised to “the episcopal dignity ,” they are far from being so conclusive as generally deemed 
in respect to the establishment of a new see in Derry ; and there is much, if not satisfactory, 
evidence to shew, that this event did not take place for a century later. In the first place, 
it is no where stated (as it most probably would if it had been the fact,) that a bishopric was 
fixed here with its limits or boundaries defined, at this period; and, if the elevation of the abbot 
be held sufficient to imply the establishment of a bishopric, there w'ould be equal reason to con¬ 
clude that there had been one two centuries earlier, as several of O’Brolchain’s predecessors in 
the abbacy had been of the episcopal order. Next it is certain that O’Brolchain did not resign 
his abbacy on his promotion in rank, but retained it till his death. And, lastly, no successors 
of that abbot in the bishopric can be found for an entire century—the supposed successors 
being, as will be proved in the notices of the prelates, not bishops of Derry, but of Tyrone or 
Rathlury. 
Be this for the present, however, as it may, we find from the Annals that the new bishop lost 
no time after his elevation in collecting funds, and making- other preparations to erect a church 
in Derry, more worthy of his rank and power than that already in existence. 
1161. “ O’Loughlin led an army into Meath, to hold a conference wdth the men of Ireland, 
both clergy and laity, at Ath-na-dairbrighe, and he received hostages from them all. It was on 
this occasion that the churches of Columbkille in Meath and Leinster were liberated by 
Flahertach O’Brolchain, coarb of Saint Columbkille, and their tributes and government given up 
to him. These churches were under slavery till then.” 
“ The visitation of Ossory was made by Flahertach O’Brolchain, and his due was 140 oxen, 
but in their place he chose to receive 420 ounces of pure silver.” 
1162. “Flahertach O’Brolchain, coarb of Columbkille, and Muirchertach O’Loughlin, 
king of Ireland, removed the houses from the Abbey church of Derry. On this occasion 80 
houses, or more, were removed from their places, and the coarb of Columbkille erected 
Caipeal an Uplaip, [the enclosure of the level], and he left a curse on him that should ever 
come over it.” This caiseal, or cashel, was the circular wall, or fort, which surrounded the abbey, 
&c. 
1163. “ A lime-kiln, seventy feet everyway, v r as built by Flahertach O’Brolchain, coarb 
of Columbkille, and by the congregation of Derry.” Colgan erroneously states that this kiln 
was erected to burn lime for the repairs of the abbey, which was destroyed by fire in 1149, but 
its true purpose will be seen in the following account of the erection of the Temple More. 
G 
