Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 09.djvu/223

 that he found his namesake, the younger Carthach, on the banks of the Mang (? Mainne) in Kerry, and ordained him priest. From the latter saint's life (A. SS., 14 May, 379), we learn that it was the habit of St. Carthach to traverse his diocese singing the Psalms, in alternation with his accompanying priests. Dr. Lanigan would date the first friendship of the two Carthachs about the year 577, assigning 580 as an approximate date for the elder Carthach's death. It is evident, however, that this is hardly consistent with the admission that he was already one of St. Ciaran's disciples before 490. St. Carthach's principal church was at Saighir in King's County, where he succeeded St. Ciaran. To this the authors of the ‘Acta Sanctorum’ add (from the ‘Martyrology of Tamlacht’) a church at Druim Ferdhaimh, a place which, according to the same authority, Marianus O'Gorman located at Carbery in Kildare. A third church was at Inis Vachtair on Lough Silenn (Leabhar Breac, ap. Stokes's ‘Angus,’ p. lx), and perhaps a fourth at Inis Carthach, near Lismore (A. SS., 393). The ‘Dictionary of Christian Biography’ adds a fifth at Tir-Boghaine (Banagh Barony) in Tyrconnell (i. 411); and Mr. Shearman a sixth dedication at Cill Carthach, now Kiltcar in Donegal (Loca Patriciana, p. 298; for other churches in Ossory possibly founded by this saint, Kilmocar, Kilmogar, and Stamcarty, see the same writer). St. Carthach is said to have been the father of St. Molua (Leabhar Breac). There seems to be an unvarying tradition that makes him the tutor of St. Carthach the younger; but as regards the details of his life there can be no absolute certainty. [See remarks on .] His day is 5 March. 

CARTHACH,, the younger (d. 636) called also , the founder of the famous monastery at Rahen, and bishop of Lismore, was the son of Finnall (Annals Four Masters, sub an. 631). According to his legendary life, which, however, seems to have preserved much that is historical, he was born in Kerry, of the race of Fergus, ‘qui fuit fortissimus heros Ultorum,’ but had been driven from his native place by Oidell, king of Connaught. His father's name, according to this account, was Fingen of Kerry, his mother's, Mead, ‘de gente Corcoduidne’ (? Corcaguiny in Kerry). Fingen, swineherd on the Mainne, a man of some position under the king or ‘duke’ of Kerry, employed his young son; and while serving in this capacity the boy found favour with the king, Moeltule, and his wife, who was granddaughter to the king of Munster. His time was now divided between court service and pasturage, till one day, being ravished by the chanting of his namesake, Carthach the elder, he insisted on forsaking his worldly employment for that of God. It was in vain that Moeltule called the young enthusiast into his presence and made him offer of sword and shield and kingly robes if he would only undertake his father's duties and position. After having received the priesthood, Carthach was once more brought before the king, whom he blessed, and to whose descendants he promised long rule in Kerry, ‘all which things,’ says his biographer (Vita, ii. 379), ‘are being fulfilled according to that prophecy.’ From his cell in Kell-Tulach, ‘between the Mainne and Mount Mysis,’ Carthach set out for North Ireland, the home of his race, and spent a year with Comgall at his great monastery of Bangor (in co. Down), on leaving which place he acted as bishop in Kerry. Later on, passing through the southern parts of Leinster, he came to Clonfert, where he dismissed all his companions and proceeded on his journey alone, having on his shoulders two lethæ full of books. By the advice of St. Colman-Ela he constructed himself a cell at Raithin—now Rahen in King's County—somewhere about A.D. 590. This expanded into the great Irish monastery over which he ruled for forty years, and whither disciples—to the number of 867—flocked from all parts of Ireland and Britain. His rule appears to have been very strict, and we are told in his life that he forbade his monks to use cattle in their agricultural works till, at the request of St. Fintan, he relaxed the severity of this order. Carthach appears to have retained the bishopric of Kerry (Vita, c. iii. 24, with which cf. 14), returning at times to his home at Rahen, where we read that he was visited by St. Columba. Great possessions were heaped upon the saint by Cathal, king of Munster (d. 620). Meanwhile, Rahen was growing in fame as an ecclesiastical school, and among the crowd of Carthach's scholars twelve names stood out with special prominence—‘the twelve disciples of Mochuda.’ Of these the most important are Mochemog, Ædan, and Mochua or Cronan.

After forty years of quiet, Carthach was driven from Rahen with his company of monks about the year 631 (A. F. M., but cf.