Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 19.djvu/48

Fintan He subsequently founded the famous monastery of Benchor (Bangor) in Ulster. Fintan when on his deathbed appointed as his successor Fintan Maeldubh. In the 'Lebar Brecc' notes on the 'Calendar' of Oengus there are said to have been four Fintans there. His life was a continual round of fasts, night watches, and genuflexions. He is termed by Oengus 'Fintan the Prayerful,' and on the same authority we read, 'he never ate during his time, save woody bread of barley, and clayey water of clay.' In the parallel list of Irish and foreign saints, he, as 'chief head of the monks of Ireland,' is compared with Benedict, 'head of the monks of Europe.' His day is 17 Feb. [Colgan's Acta Sanct. Hiberniæ, p. 349, &c. ; Codex Kilkenniensis ; Marsh's Library, Dublin, p. 74 aa ; Calendar of Oengus, lii. liii. ; Martyrology of Donegal, p. 51 ; Lanigan's Eccl. Hist. ii. 227-30.]  FINTAN or MUNNU, (d. 634), of Tech Munnu, now Taghmon, co. Wexford, was son of Tulchan, a descendant of Conall Gulban, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, his mother, Fedelm, being of the race of Maine, son of Niall. He used to leave his father's sheep to go for instruction to a holy man named Cruimther (or presbyter) Grellan, who lived at Achad Breoan. The sheep did not suffer, and it was even rumoured that two wolves were seen guardingthem. St. Comgall of Bangor on his way from Connaught met with him at Uisnech (now Usny), in the parish of Killare, barony of Rathconrath, co. Westmeath. Comgall allowed the boy to join him, and on the first day initiated him into his discipline by refusing to allow him a draught of water until vespers in spite of the heat. Fintan is said to have gone next to the school of St. Columba at Cill mor Ditraibh ; but this seems inconsistent with the dates of his life. His regular studies were carried on under Sinell of Cluaininis, an island in Lough Erne, who is described as 'the most learned man in Ireland or in Britain.' With him he continued nineteen years, studying the Scriptures in company with nine others. In making their bread they were not permitted to separate the chaff from the wheat ; but all being ground together, the flour was mixed with water and baked by means of stones heated in the fire. On the completion of his studies he went to Hy to enter the monastery, but found that St. Columba was dead, and Baithin, his successor, refused to accept him, alleging that St. Columba had anticipated his coming, and directed him not to receive him. 'He will not like this,' he added, 'for he is a rough man ; therefore assure him that he will be an abbot and the head of a congregation.' This story, which is not only found in his lives, but in Adamnan's 'Life of Columba,' is stated in the latter to have been communicated to the author by Oissene, who had it from the lips of Fintan himself. Fintan is described as fair, with curly hair and a high complexion. On his return to Ireland he took up his abode in an island named Cuimrige or Cuinrigi, where he founded a church at a place called Athcaoin ; but having ascended a mountain to pray he was so disturbed by the cries and tumult at the battle of Slenne (perhaps of Sleamhain, near Mullingar, A.D. 602) that he left the island. He next passed on to his own neighbourhood in the territory of Ely, but did not visit or salute any one. Here he built Tech Telle (now Tehelly), in the north of the King's County, where he remained five years. He permitted his mother to visit him with his two sisters, but said that if she came again he would depart to Britain. Probably in allusion to this a poem attributed to Colum Cillé, says : 'The mother that bore thee, O Fintan, Munnu, bore a son hard to her family.' Soon afterwards a virgin with five companions presented herself at Tech Telle, and said to the steward : 'Tell the strong man who owns this place to give it to me, for he and his fifty youths are stronger than I and my five, and let him build another for himself.' Fintan complied, ordering his pupils to bring only their axes, books, and chrismals with their ordinary clothing, and the two oxen which drew the wagon with the books. But he refused to bless her, and told her that the church would not be associated with her name, but with that of Telle, son of Segein. He and his party then proceeded to the Ui Bairrche (now the barony of Slieve Margy in the Queen's County), where there was a monastery of Comgall of Bangor, over which one of his pupils named Aed Gophan (or Guthbinn ?) presided. He was obliged to go away into exile for twelve years, and left Fintan to take charge during his absence. Meanwhile, Comgall having died, 'the family' of the monastery came to Fintan, but he refused their several requests either to accept the abbacy of Bangor, or to become one of the monks there, but said that he would leave the place if he could surrender it to Aed Gophan, who entrusted it to him. Then they said : 'You had better go and seek for him, even if you have to go to Rome, and we will wait your return.' He therefore set out with five companions, but after crossing one field he met with Aedh returning after twelve years of exile. Leaving Ui Bairrche, Fintan came to Achad Liacc, in 