と

THE

SAINTLY TRIAD,

OR

THE LIVES OF

ST. PATRICK, ST. COLUMBKILLE,

AND

ST. BRIDGET,

COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE THREE. PATRON SAINTS OF

IRELAND;

WITH A CONCISE HISTORY

OF THE MISSIONARY LABOURS OF ST. COLUMBKILLE'S
FOLLOWERS IN ENGLAND.

TO WHICH IS ADDED

AN ACCOUNT OF THE CURSING OF TARAH WITH
BELL, BOOK, AND CANDLE;

THE VISIONS ATTRIBUTED TO ST. PATRICK
AND ST. BRIDGET;

AND

THE PROPHECIES ASCRIBED TO ST. COLUMBKILLE
RELATIVE TO THE FUTURE STATE OF IRELAND.

The whole taken from the ancient Irish records published by
the learned Father Colgan and other eminent men.

DUBLIN:

SOLD BY THE BOOKSELLERS.

INTRODUCTION

TO THE LIVES OF

ST. PATRICK, ST. COLUMBKILLE, AND ST. BRIDGET.

WHAT Irishman is there that has never heard the illustrious names of Patrick, Columbkille, and Bridget, the three reputed patrons of the green soil of Erin? And what Irishman is there that does not regard their memory with a sort of mysterious reverence and awe? A reverence that is scarcely lessened by the deep ignorance with respect to them that generally prevails. And yet surely if their memory be worthy to be had in reverence, their lives must be worthy to be known among us, and their characters, as far as we can become acquainted with them, worthy our attentive consideration.

To admire we know not what, and to venerate we know not why, is unworthy of rational and intelligent creatures, and can only have the effect of making ourselves and our opinions contemptible in the eyes of strangers. It is however unquestionable that much general ignorance prevails on the subject of the lives of our ancient saints, and all that concerns them; and this ignorance is the more unpar