Page:A Compendium of Irish Biography.djvu/27

  Culdees (or "Servants of God") were religious communities. They are first mentioned in Irish history in 811. Their chief foundations in Ireland were at Tallaght, Armagh, Clonmacnoise, Clondalkin, Devenish, Clones, and Scattery Island. 

Aengus M'Uathamore, a distinguished Firbolg chief of the 1st century, who after the battle of Moytura, where the Firbolgs were defeated by the Tuathado-Dananns, took refuge in the Aran Islands with his brother Conor. Meave, Queen of Connaught, granted them the sent islands. He is generally reputed to have been the builder of Dun Aengus, the great fort on Aranmore, upon the summit of the southern cliffs, 300 feet above the seas. Its sea front measures about 1,150 feet. The walls are some 13 feet thick and 18 feet high. The land approaches are defended by rude cheveux-de-frise of splintered rocks, Sir William Wilde characterized this fort as "the greatest barbaric monument of its kind in Europe" A fort on Inismaan is called Dun Conor, after Aengus' brother Conor; while the name of his brother Mil is associated with the strand of Port Murvey, known in Irish as Muirveagh Mil, or "The sea-plain of Mil." 

Aidan, Saint, born in Ireland early in the 7th century. Oswald, King of Northumberland, induced him to go over to England to help in the conversion of his subjects to Christianity. Oswald at first translated into Saxon, Aidan’s Gælic. We are told that he wrought a great conversion, and that he travelled up and down, persuading those who were infidels, and comforting and strengthening the Christians. He founded the monastery of insisted Lindisfarne, and governed it for seventeen years, and was the first in the line of bishops that take their title from Durham. Greatly to the disgust of his biographer Bede, he sided with the Irish Church in the differences regarding the celebration of Easter. St. Aidan died in 651. His festival is 31st August. 

Ailbe, Saint, patron and first bishop and of Emly, County of Tipperary, a convert and friend of St. Patrick in the 5th century. O'Curry mentions a poem by him. He was born in Munster, and is said to have been consecrated at Rome; after converting his native province, he was anxious to proceed on a mission to other parts of Ireland, but was forced by King Aengus to abandon his intention, and remain with him. "The reputation of this holy and learned man was so great, that he was styled ‘Another Patrick,' and was reckoned among the principal fathers of the Irish Church." He died in 541, and was buried in Emly Cathedral. His festival is 12th September. 

Albin  or Albinus, an eminent Irish monk, who about 792, with his friend Clement, proceeded to Paris in search of a missionary field. They cried through the streets, "If anybody wants wisdom, let him come to us and receive it, for we have it to sell," and were sent for by Charlemagne, who was so much pleased with them that he entrusted Clement with the education of a. number of young men, and Albin into Italy, assigning to him the monastery of St.Augustine at Pavia, where he afterwards died. Some epistles of his were extant in Ware’s time. 

Allen, John, Archbishop of Dublin. He had been Treasurer of, St, Paul’s, London, and was consecrated Archbishop, 14th March 1528, being appointed by Wolsey mainly to resist and embarrass Gerald, Earl of Kildare. Soon after his arrival he was invested with the Chancellorship, of which office he was deprived in 1532 through Kildare’s influence. During Lord Thomas' revolt in 1534, the Archbishop, apprehending a siege of Dublin Castle, endeavoured to escape to England. He embarked at Dame Gate, but his boat stranding at Clontarf, he took refuge in the house of a Mr. Hollywood at Artane. Early next morning, 28th July 1534, Lord Thomas arrived before the house in hot pursuit of him. The Archbishop was dragged out in his shirt, and, falling on his knees, begged for mercy. "Take away the churl," exclaimed FitzGerald to his followers. The old man was then set upon and murdered. Lord Thomas subsequently insisted that he meant only that the Archbishop should be removed in custody. Archbishop Allen was the author of the Liber Niger of Christ Church. “He was of a turbulent spirit, but a man of hospitality and learning, and a diligent enquirer into antiquities." 

Allen, John, Colonel, was an associate of Robert Emmet’s in the emeute of 1803 and one in whom he placed unlimited confidence. He was partner in a woollen-drapery business at 36 College-green. After Emmet’s failure he was for a time concealed at Butterfield-lane, and then in Trinity College, escaping eventually as a member of the College Yeomanry Corps. On his arrival in France he entered the Trinity College, escaping eventually as a member of the College Yeomanry Corps. On his arrival in France he entered the army, slid rapidly rose, through his daring services, to the rank of colonel. He served with distinction in the campaign of Leipsic; he joined Napoleon on his return from Elba; and it is stated that his surrender was demanded by the British 3